ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 398, 26 May 1849, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

Frequent Cabinets—Question of War and Peace. —lt is no just cause of surprise lhat so much anxiety pievails in the Treasury and Cabinet Councilsiupon the subject of the New French President, and upon the probable consequences to the Continent and to England of his election. It is now, we believe, finally understood that Lord J. Russell and his whole Cabinet are unanimous upon the point of abstaining from all armed and hostile interference in the affairs of the Continent, whatever aspect foreign affairs may assume, so long as, on the part of France, there shall be no intermeddling with the positive rights of our own Government. In this, of course, is included that the President of France shall make no declaration of supporting any principles of foreign policy, or in aid of foreign liberties, which, by direct construction, shall indicate any purpose of fostering insurrection in England, Ireland, ot any part of the British dominions. Now, with the exception vhat nothing of this kind shall be done by the new President and his Council, it is understood to be the fixed resolve of Lord J. Russell's Cabinet, that England shall take no part or share in any Continental war; that everything, indeed, shall be attempted which can be effected by amicable negotiation, but that no failure of such attempts shall render us parties in any war which may ensue. —Bell's Dec. 25.

Messenger, France.-The New MiNisTRY.-The new Cabinet,though,with theexception of M.Odillon Barrot himself, not composed of men who have hitherto held the highest offices in the state, contains men of undouhted ability and talent, and some of whom have had a good deal of official experience. M. Drouyn de Lhuis was for several years Director of the commercial department in the office of foreign affairs under M. Guizot, but was forced by that Minister to resign his office, in consequeuce of his

having voted against him in the Chamber of Deputies on ihe Tahiti question. He has also served in the corf s diplomatique, having been Secretary of Legation at the Hague, and Secretary of the Embassy at Madrid. The choice of M. Drouyn de Lhuis as Minister of foreign affairs is considered an excellent one. M. Leon de Malleville was Under Secretary of State in the department of the interior in 1840, when M. Thiers was prime minister. In the Chamber of Deputies he was one of the most distinguished members of the Centre , Gauche. M. Passy is considered one of/the most able financiers in France, and was also a member of M. Thiers 1 Cabinet. M. Leon Faucher enters office for the first time, with the character of an able man oi business, and a distinguished political economist. He occupies the department of public works, for which his past studies peculiarly qualify him; but every one must regret that the new President has not placed him in the department of commerce and agriculture (as be in the first instance intended), and in which his liberal and enlightened opinions would, no doubt, have introduced many of the reforms which are much needed. M. Bixio is a personal friend of General Cavaignac, and a Republican de la veille. He refused to take office till urged to do so by General Caraignac himself, who intimated that it wa3 not his intention to offer any opposition to the new government. General Rulhieres has seen a great deal of service in Africa, but he is not much known as a politician. Prince Louis Napoleon is considered as having shown considerable self denial in the choice of his Cabinet. He has looked rather to what wouid be useful to the country than to what would be agreeable to himself. He has not only not pushed forward his own personal friends, but he has admitted persons into his Cabinet who have, perhaps, been indifferent to his cause, as M. M. Passy and Drouyn de Lhuis, and some who have been declared opponents, l.ke M. M. Tracy and Bix'o. M. Bixio voted against Louis Napoleon at the election, and very candidly told him so before consenting to take office.- Times Germany. — Several persons have been tried in Prussia for taking part in the riots of August. The sentences upon those who have been convicted are considered severe. The prisoners have all appealed to the superior court. It is well known that negotiations are in progress with the King of Prussia to induce him to accept the dignity of chief of the empire, and that his Majesty will accept it if assented to by the Sovereign Princes of Germany. The King of Hanover, it is reported, will not give his assent. The Hanoverian envoy has returned to Berlin, report says, to protest, in the name of his Sovereign, against the King of Prussia's accepting the imperial crown. Upwards of 3,000 persons have been deported from Berlin since the commencement of the stage of siege. The elections are to take place simultaneously on the 22nd Jan. The ex-Eraperor Ferdinand has been refused permission to visit Vienna by the new Emperor. The financial difficulties of Austria are increasing every day. Bank notes can only be exchanged for silver at a sacrifice of ten per cent. The quantity of notes issued by the bank is enormous. Scarcely any one has any money in Vienna except these notes. The Diet of Vienna has authorised the Ministry to raise a loan of 50,000,00011. The Frankfort Journal of the 19th says that Russia is making great preparations to decide the fate of Europe by the sword. This is the reason ot her forces being concentrated on tbe frontiers of the empire. The Emperor is reported to have said be would not permit the people to revolt against his brother of Prussia, and is prepared to march 500,000 men to his assistance. — Liverpool Albion, December 31.

Defeat of the Hungarians. — Accounts from Vienna of the 18th relate that the Hungarians had been defeated in several engagements by the imperial troops. Jellachich repulsed them near Pandorf, and afterwards advanced to Wieselberg. The fortifications of the town of Kaschau were stormed by Lieutenant Count Schlick on the 10th, | when several imperial officers, among whom was the adjutant of Count S., were slam. j The towns of Eperies and Sovar fell on the 11th into the hands of Count Schlick, amidst I the hearty congratulations of the people. On the 16th, Prince Windischgratz made a general reconnoissance, offering the Magyars battle, which they refused, and then retired. la one or two instances the rebels attempted a defence, but it was soon abandoned, and the Austrian troops quietly took possession of Kazimishof, Kittsee, and the city of Oedenhurg. The Magyars succeeded in obtaining reinforcements, and opposed the imperial army near Tyrnau. General Siraonich gave them battle on the 16th, and, after two hours engagement, the insurgents were defeated, losing 766 prisoners, 43 horses, 5

pieces r bf artillery, and 1 standard. The Austrian general entered tbe city of Tyrnau shdttly afterwards. When these accounts came away, the outposts of Prince Windischgratz were on the hank of ihe Danube, op- i posite Presburg ; the left bank was occupied by another corps. The attack on Presburg was fixed for the 17th. — Observer, Dec. 31. . • Storms.—S cotland and Ireland weref'visited with a* very violent and destructive gale 1 of wind on Friday week. From Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Paisley,^ Dublin, and Cork, accounts have arrived of considerable mischief; chimneys, walls, and trees, bave been blown down ', many persons have been hurt, and some killed. At Glasgow, ■a 1a 1 wall bounding a railway was blown down ; three young men who were passing were crushed by it; two were taken out dead, and the third, the brother of one killed, has since died. At Aberdeen, the roof of the retort- house of the new gasworks was forced in, and tbe ruins fell upon three stokers, one .of" whom was killed,, and t«o suffered fractuies and dislocations of legs and arms ; five other stokers narrowly escaped by a portion of' the roof remaining attached to the wall. At Cork, ' to the disasters of the hurricane was addfed a flood ; the river overflowed its banks, and the lower parts of the city were inundated.' Nearly the entire roof was blown from a house on Sullivan's Quay into the road ; several persons were passing at the moment, but no one was hurt. A quarryman' of Buttermere perished in the whirlwind, having been carried away by a violent gust and precipitated from a mountain in - sight of his two sons. The corpse was found next day, with the bones all crushed. — Liverpool Albion, December 25.