ENGLISH NEWS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 416, 28 July 1849, Page 3

ENGLISH NEWS.

The Queen had conferred the honor of Knighthood on G. W. Anderson, Esq., the new Governor of the Mauritius, George Russell Clerk, Esq., late Governor of Bombay, Heniy Light, E^q., late Governor of British Guinea, Major-General Archibald Galloway, of the East India Company's service, and Colonels Duncan M'Gregor and Charles [ Rowan. The King of Holland expired at the Hague, on the 11th March, and was succeeded by his son the Prince of Orange, who was in England at the time of his father's death. The Saxon also brings a report of the death of the King of Hanover, (Ernest, Duke of Cumberland,) Imt the report appears to want confirmation. The Dowager Queen of Sardinia, only surviving sister of the consort of Louis Philippe, die 1 at Savona, on the 1 lth March. Earl Clarendon, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and Earl Spencer, were the new Knights of the Garter. Mr. Moreton, an American printer, who died recently at Paris, has bequeathed£4o,ooo to be given as a premium to any body who shall succeed in constructing a machine capable of striking off 10,000 copies of a newsj paper within an hour. A discussion on the transportation question took place in the House of Commons, on the Bth March, on the motion of Lord Mahon, for the production of some despatches on the subject. The noble Lord complained that Earl Grey since he came into office had made no less than five changes ia the arrangements of his proceedings as to the disposal of convictd, and he suggested the expediency of resuming the scheme of establishing a new penal settlement in North Australia. After some discussion, in which Mr. Herbert, Sir George Grey, Mr. Hume, Sir J. Pakington, Mr. Ewart, Mr. Alderman Sidney, and Mr. Poulett Scrope, took part, the motion was agreed to. Mr. Cobden had given notice of his intention to move, that an address be presented to her Majesty, praying her to be graciously pleased to direct her principal Secretary of State for Foreign affairs to enter into communication with foreign powers, inviting them to concur in treaties, binding the respective parties, in the event of any future misunderstanding, which cannot be arranged by amicable negociation, to refer the matter in dispute to the decision of arbitrators. The state of affairs in Ireland was dreadful. It is said that unless some aid — whether under the authority of a rate or a loan — be speedily given to the country, the wretched population of the distressed unions will be subjected to frightful privations and sufferings. The provincial journals teem with reports and descriptions of the most revolting nature, in reference to the existing destitution, while so little hope of the future remains among the better class of farmers, that they are literally flying in crowds from our shores. Certainly it would be difficult to conceive a condition more desperate. The landlords

bankrupt, the farmers abandoning ihe land, and the labourers not only suffeiing from want and destitution, but actually dying in huudreds of famiue. The cholera was still spreading. The total number of cases, up to the 20th March, were — in London, 1198; in the country parts of England, 1070 ; in Scotland, 12,037. Her Majesty's surveying brig Pandora, commander Wood, was bringing home nine tons of Californian gold, valued at £900,000 sterling. Mr. Sheriff Gordon had been elected Lord Rector of Marischal College, Aberdeen, iv opposition to Lord Robertson, one of the Judges of the Court of Session in Scotland. The inauguration of the new President of the United States of Ameiica had taken place. The Right Hon. T. B. Macaulay was installed on the 21st March, as Lord Rector of the University of Glasgow. Mr. Drummond's Transfer of Real Property Bill, was opposed by the government on the tecond reading, but carried on division by a majority of 10. Mr. Monsell had given notice of his intention of calling the attention of the House of Commons lo the subject of emigration. The British Government had declined appointing a Consul at Caliloruia, at present, on the ground lhat there is no form of Government there with whom a Consul could communicate. A second reading of the Bill for the abolition ot the Navigation Laws was carried, in the House of Commons, by a majority of 266 to 210. The Observer (a semi-official organ) states that Sir Charles Napier " proceeds to India with more extensive powers for the management of the war and the settlement of the Punjaub than are usually granted to Generals commanding the forces in India." Sir Charles had chosen Captain John Pitt Kennedy as his military secretary. The movements of the Russians on the Danube, and their interference in Transylvania, were looked on with great suspicion by other European powers ; and it was thought not unlikely that if the Russians persisted in their interference in the Turkish and Austrian Dauubian provinces, a general war might result.

Removal of John Mitchell. — The Cork Examiner says — "Orders, we understand, have been issued for the removal of John Mitchell from Bermuda to the Cape of Good Hope. The climate of the latter colony is very genial, and peculiarly adapted for persons affected with pulmonary complaints, so much so, that it is considered a MaJeira for the East Indians." The contract for the conveyance of her Majesty's mails between the United Kingdom and Sydney by pockets will terminate on the 29th instant. The convenience of fixed pepiods of departure has been recognised by all who are connected with our Australian possessions, although it must be admitted that the speed of the vessels has not always afforded later information than that obtained by private merchantmen. A service performed by sailing vessels under any contract must be subject to such occasional drawbacks, against which steam communication can alone secure us, and this, it is sincerely hoped, may ere long be in operation. More than one plan has been hefore the public for the accomplishment of this important end ; and, possibly, Government anticipating the development of oue or other of them, has wisely decided not to bind itself by a further agreement for a term of years. However this may be, it is certain that, for the present, correspondence for New South Wales and New Zealand will be forwarded by private ships, as frequently as occasion offers, the usual rate of Bd. ou letters and Id. on newspapers, being the charge.

Dreadful Wreck op an Emigrant Ship — nearly2oo Lives lost. — Harwich, Sunday, 6th March. — With the deepest regret 1 we Lave to record one of the most frightful catastrophes that probably ever occurred on this part of the English coast, viz., the total loss of a large emigrant ship on the Long Sands witli nearly 200 souls on board, during the tempestuous and fearful weather on Wednesday last. The ill-fated vessel was the barque Floridian, 500 tons burthen, Mr, E. D. Whuraore, master, from Antwerp. She was the property of Mr. E. D. Hulbert, of New York, and had been chartered by a German company for the conveyance of emigrants to the United States. The ship was worked by a crew of nearly 20, part of whom were Englishmen, commanded by a Captain Whitm..re, a surgeon on board to attend the emigrants. It was late on Tuesday evening when the Floiidian put out to sea. — The exact number of passengers on board was 160, of whom there were (as the seamen estimate) between 20 and 30 married women, and from 15 to 20 children, several being infants at the breast. There were eight cabin passengers, persons of much respectability, and the re-

mainder, forming the larger portion of the emigrants, were married and single young men of different grades and trades. They were all natives of Germany, and some of the superior passengers had a considerable amount of property about them. The crew with Captain Whitmore, who had his wife on board, amounted to 14. The weather, when the Floridian put to sea, was everything that could be desired ; it was quite clear, and the wintl was fair for the Downs. Another ship kept company with her — the barque Dyle, Captain Lane, bound to Havannah. (This vessel was lost on the Long Sands three hours after the Floridian had struck.) She struck at about \ past 3 o'clock, when the shrieks of the emigrants, rushing about and crowding the decks, completely paralyzed the ship's crew. Captain Whitmore ordered the men to force them to go below, in order that some means of escape might be prepared for them ; but it was in vain, for, as the man Hill states, " What could 13 seamen do with 160 frantic passengers ?" The captain, finding by the broken fragments that were coming up on each side, that the vessel was breaking up, directed the boats to be launched. His intention was to take the passengers to the barque lying off. Tiro men, named Charles Barrett and John Tillman, got into the first boat lowered to bale out the water she had shipped. The passengers, however, got hold of her, and were hauling the boat alongside to jump in ; but Barrett, apprehensive of her being stove in, cut away the painter, and the boat drifted astern. The life boat, capable of containing about 20 persons, was then launched, Captain Whitraore directing the men to stand by so as to prevent too many gettiug into her. He was the first to enter with the intention of assisting his wife into the boat ; the emigrants, however, conceiving that it was his intention to abandon them and the vessel, rushed headlong over the quarter-deck into the boat. She was instantly filled, capsized, and all were drowned ; the captain and chief mate, who had gone to assist the passengers into the boat, disappearing with the rest. Mrs. Whitmore, who had been unable from the pressure, to get in, was on the quarterdeck, and witnessed the fate of her husband. As the boat went down a fearful scream rent the air. Most of the emigrants huddled together on the poop. Those in the forecastle, cook and round house were speedily drowned by the sea sweeping them overboard. For some time Mrs. Whitmore was observed in the centre of the group of unfortunate creatures on the poop. She had her hands crossed on her bosom, and with her head raised to heaven appeared to be in deep prayer. Some were in a kneeling position earnestly praying, while others were shouting for help to the barque at a distance. Their fate was speedily scaled — a terrific sea rolled on to the wreck, and at one swoop carried the entire poop overboard. At least from 80 to 120 unhappy creatures were upon it, and for a moment or so it floated like a raft. Another sea, however, turned it over, and the living mass was struggling in the agonies of death. Several managed to regain the wreck, but they were eventually washed away and perished. Some 30 or 40, among whom were several women, could be observed clinging to the floating portions of the cargo as they were washed out. At length, from exhaustion, they sank, and were drowned. Before night had set in the wreck had broke in two, and the part which remained was the bow and the foremast, to which the survivors and others clung. They underwent dreadful sufferings for three days and nights, exposed to the most fearful weather in the rigging. It has been ascertained that the vessel got on the outside of the Long Sands. They ate of the same description as the Goodwin. The revenue cutters which have since arrived report that not a vestige of the wreck remains. As yet none of the bodies have been brought ashore. A great number have been seen floating ; most of them being naked, leads to the presumption that they have been previously picked up and stripped of their clothing. Mauy were known to have large sums of money about their persons, some to the extent of £300 and £400. Lost Luggage Office at the Euston Station. — At a short distance from the terminus of the up-trains there is a foundling office, termed the Lost Luggage Office, in which are received all articles which the passengers leave behind them, and which, on the arrival of every train, are brought by ths company's searcher to this office. Without describing in detail this property, we will at once proceed to a large, pitch-dark, subterranean vaulted chamber, warmed by hot-air iron pipes, in which are deposited tbe flock of lost sheep, or, without metaphor, the luggage of the last two years. Suspended from the roof, there hangs horizontally in this chamber a gas-pipe, about eight feet long, and as soon as the brilliant burners at each end were lighted the scene was really astounding. It would be infiuitely easier to say what there is not, than what there is, in the forty compart-

roents, lite great wine-bins, in which all this lost property is arranged. One is choke-full of men's hats, another of parasols, umbrellas, and stifles of ever possible description. One would think that all the ladies' reticules on *arth are deposited in a third. How many little smelling-bottles — how many little bills, important little notes, and other very small secrets each may have contained ; we felt that we would not for the world have ascertained ; but when we gazed at the enormous quantity of red cloaks, red shawls, red tartan plaids, and jed scarfs piled up in one corner, it was, we own, impossible to help reflecting, that surely English ladies of all ages, who wear red cloaks, &c, must in some mysterious way ■or other be powerfully affected by the whine of compressed air, by the sudden ringing of a bell, by the sight of their friends — in short, by the various conflicting emotions that disturb the human heart on arriving at the upterminus of the Euston station — for else, how we gravely asked ourselves, could we possibly account for the extraordinary red heap before us ? Of course, in this Rolando-looking cave, there were plenty of carpet-bags, gunrases, portmanteaus, writing-desks, books, bibles, cigar-cases, &c. ; but there were a few articles that certainly we were not prepared to meet with, and which but too clearly proved that the extraordinary terminus excitement, which had suddenly caused so many virtuous ladies to elope from their red shawls — in short, to be all of a sudden not only in a "bustle" behind, but all over— had equally affected men of all sorts ani conditions. One gentleman had left behind him a pair of lea her hunting-breeches, another his bootjack. A soldier of the 22d Regiment had left his knapsack, containing his kit. Another soldier of the 10th, poor fellow, had left his scarlet regimental coat. Some cripple, probably overjoyed at the sight of his family, had left behind him his crutches. But what astonished us above all was, that some honest Scotchman, probably in the erstacy of suddenly seeing among the crowd the face of bis faithful Jeannie, had actually left behind him the best portion of his bagpipes. Some little time ago, the superintendent, on breaking open, previous to a general sale, a locked leather hat-box, which had lain in this dungeon two years, found in it, under the hat, £65 in Bank of England notes, with one or j two private letters, which enabled him to restore the money to the owner, who, it turned out, had been so positive that he had left his hat-box in an hotel at Birmingham, that he had made no inquiry for it at the railway office.— Quarterly Revive. The Ice Trade of the United States of America, which was commenced in 1805 by Mr. Fred. Tudor, of Boston, continued in his sole hands until 1832, when he shipped 4,352 tons from Fish Pond, Cambridge, for the West India Islands— Martiniqup, and Jamaica, for the Havannah, to Charleston, Savannah, "New Orleans, Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay. In" 1847, many other persons having embarked in the trade, the shipments from the port of Boston, in 353 ships amounted to 74,578 tons, of which 51,887 were sent coastwise for consumption in the Southern States, and 22,591 to foreign ports. The freight was estimated at 186,195 dollars. More ice is now shipped in one favourable day than would have supplied the whole trade in 1832. — Branch railroads are made specially for the conveyance of ice from the ponds to Boston. The annual export from thence to London is 2,000 ions. The trade has been of great service to the United States, furnishing cargo instead of ballast on voyages from Boston to the southern ports. It is a cargo which will not of itself pay a remunerative freight.

Postal Arrangements in California. A sort of post-office communication is frequently established by the emigrant companies. The information which they desire to communicate is sometimes written on the skulls of buffaloes— sometimes upon small strips of smooth planks, and at others a stake or stick being driven into the ground, and split at the top, a manuscript note is inserted in it. These are conspicuously placed at the side of the trail, and are seen and iead by succeeding companies. One of the last-de-scribed notices we saw this morning. It purported to be written by the captain of a company from Platte county, Mo., a portion of which was bound for California, and a portion for Oregon. It consisted of sixty-six waggons. They bad travelled up the Platte a considerable distance, passing through the Pawnee villages, with which Indians they had had some difficulties. They had also suffered much from the rains and high waters. They were now one day in advance of us. * * We found near the mouth of " Ash Hollow," a small log cabin, which had been erected last winter by some trappers, returning to the " settlements," who, on account of the snows, had been compelled to remain here until spring. This rude structure has, by the emigrants, been turned into a sort of general post-office. Numerous advertisements in manuscript are posted on its walls outside,

descriptive of lost cattle, horses, &c. ; and inside, in a recess, there was a large number of letters deposited, addressed to persons in almost every quarter of the globe, with requests that those who passed would convey them to the nearest post-office in the States. The place had something of the air of a cross-road settlement ; and we lingered around it some time, reading the advertisemerts and overlooking the letters. — Whatlsait in California.