LATEST ENGLISH NEWS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 677, 28 January 1852, Page 4

LATEST ENGLISH NEWS.

[From the Maitland Mercury, January 7.] At our latest dates, Queen Victoria’s court was still at Balmoral: Prince Albert was almost daily amusing himself deer-stalking : the Princess Royal had got thrown from her horse, but sustained only a slight injury. Great and joyous preparations were being made in Lancashire for the approaching royal visit to the seat of our cotton manufactures, in the early part of October. Further intelligence had reached England of the discoveries of gold in this colony. Extracts from a. letter from Messrs. Smith, Campbell & Co., dated Sydney, June 11th, were published in the London papers, stating that there were then “upwards of 3000 men at the diggings, and gold had been discovered in two or three localities in considerable quantities ; and that the miners continued very oiderly, and cheerfully paid the license fee imposed by the Government.” A meeting of the leading merchants connected with the Australian colonies was held at the George and Vulture Tavern, September 23, to consider the subject, on which occasion the chair was occupied by Mr. W. P. Flower. A deputation was appointed to wait upon the colonial minister with the view of ascertaining what steps would be taken by the GovernDuring the discussion, the necessity of supporting the colonial authorities in maintaining the proper regulations,” was strongly urged by the chairman. At the National Exhibition, September 22nd, there were 60,000 visitors; on the 23rd, 60,310; on the 24tb, 54 449. 011 the 28th, 17,366.

Letters from Smyrna of the 12th September announce the arrival there of the Mississippi, on board of which was the Hungarian chief Kossuth. This vessel was expected at Southampton daily at our latest elates, where preparations were making to give this celebrated political chief a hearty welcome. J The Illustrated London News says—the first specimen of Australian gold arrived on Thursday, September 18th, via Singapore, and was exhibited in the Jerusalem Coffee House. .It seems of good quality. The gold ore tn the Exhibition is from South Australia.

A requisition, promoted by Lady FrankJin, calling upon the Admiralty to give Capt. 1 enuy the means to pursue the traces of Sir

John Franklin up Wellington Channel, had been numerously signed. The Montreal Gazette mentions that the flag of England was publicly burnt on the public square of that city when the news was received that the Queen had signed the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill.

Wool Market, Friday, Sept. 19. — The market is quiet, and there is nothing to give a particular stimulus, the state of trade in Yorkshire being rather languid. The Kaffir war and the Australian gold discoveries may, however, yet affect the future supplies of colonial. The Arctic Searching Expedition.— Since the receipt of the intelligence published last week, corroborative information has been brought to the Admiralty by Captain Penny, whose ship, the Lady Franklin, has just returned. The most important part of the communication is contained in the concluding passages of the report of Captain Austin, dated August 12, 1851, which are as follows Having yesterday been released from our winter quarters, and baying reached those of Captain Penny, I have now the honour to state, that having maturely considered the directions and extent of the search (without success) that has been made by this expedition, and weighed the opinions of the officers when at their extremes, 1 have arrived at the conclusion that the expedition under Sir John Franklin did not prosecute the object of its mission to the southward and westward of Wellington Strait; and having communicated with Captain Penny and fully considered his official reply to my letter, -telative to the search of Wellington Strait by the expedition under his charge (unhappily without success), I do not feel authorised to prosecute (even if practicable) a further search iu those directions. It is now ray intention to proceed with all dispatch to attempt the search of Jones’s Sound ; looking to their lordships’ intention, and to the impression that may become strengthened with reference thereto, I have at the last moment the satisfaction of stating ihat we are proceeding under favourable circumstances.” Only one death took place in the squadron since leav-. ing England, the precautionary measures taken for the health of the men being so excellent. Y\ ben Captain Penny left, the squadron were making preparations for the return voyage. The Lady Franklin passed the Felix, Sir John Ross, returning. The Sophia lias not yet arrived, having parted company with the Lady Franklin on her passage home.— Lloyd's Paper, Sept. 21.

[From the Sydney Morning Herald.] M e have received, via California, English papers to the 27th September. The political world was quiet, the leaders of all parties, both the “ins” and the “outs,” being holiday making. Trade was tolerably brisk. Wool was in demand, and the stock on hand small. Tallow was rather dull. Letters from Sydney had been received via Callao, confirming the previous reports as to the gold discoveries. Dates are not mentioned. The harvest was over, and the crop was said to be a most abundant one. The weather had been very fine all the early part of September, but on the 25th rain set in. With very slight exceptions the crop had all been secured before that date. The Great Exhibition still continued to attract its thousands of visitors from all parts of the country. In France there is evidently much uneasiness, as the time for the election of the new President arrives. It was pretty clear that Louis Napoleon’s friends were determined to use every effort to continue him in office. France and England were reported to have entered into a treaty to protect Cuba against further inroads from piratical attacks of American sympathisers. It is generally believed that Lord John .Lussell will prosecute Dr. Cullen and his priestly coadjutors at the recent demonstration in Dublin. It is rumoured, we fancy without warrant, that S.rG. Grey will be made speaker next Parliament, and that Lord Clarendon is going to the Home Office. Ministerial Changes.—More than onechange in tae composition of the present Cabinet seems probable, if not inevitable, before the end of the year. Declining health, it is eheved, will indispose a prominent and ■ fluential occupant of the Treasury Bench iu he Commons to resume the laborious duties he has hitherto performed ; and the increasing infirmity of two of bis colleagues render daily less reasonable or polite to impose on m the toils or responsibilities incident to New °. n3lng 1 n' lamentary campaign.— Daily Jon *j Fr anklin.—We understand offi ers e Si S r U R °P "T"' 8 ° f lhe Arctic Can. i ’ n Pttrry ’ Slr James Ross - and Captain Beechy, at the Admiralty, last week has been the expression of their unanimous

conviction that Sir John Franklin has v the passage to the north-west out of Welli ton Channel, aud that ho must be sought taking the same route. But it is the oni ’ J of these authorities—while fully recoanisL° a and even insisting upon the advantage?®’, immediately despatching a steamer he ° on the abandoned search in that direction that no vessel can be started with any hon reaching an advanced position in Davi ’ Strait, aud getting into a safe harbour b e fo 8 the winter. To this decision we must '» course, defer ; and we look forward to*th e early spring as the moment for sending the vessels which have so prematurely te turned, with the addition of a powerful steamer obviously so essential to the search —European Times, Sept. 27.