LATEST ENGLISH NEWS. [From the Lyttelton Times, May 7.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 812, 14 May 1853, Page 3

LATEST ENGLISH NEWS. [From the Lyttelton Times, May 7.]

\ The Hampshire, 627 tons, Captain Reynell, in our harbour yesterday morning. The Hampshire left Gravesend on the 10th December, and, having been detained in the Channel for several weeks by south-west gales, Torbay on the 16th January. She has had a favourable passage thence of 110 days, with the exception of a heavy gale off Desolation Island, where she was compelled, although the wind was fair, to lay to. Stewart's Island was sighted on the 28th April, and Port Cooper Heads early yesterday morning. The Hampshire brings 39 Cabin and Intermediate passengers, and 15 in the Steerage, mostly all for this Settlement : the cargo, also, we hear, is chiefly for this Port. We have been favoured with several numbers of the Times to the 10th January, but the incompleteness of the files disenables our giving anj connected report of news. The Earl of Aberdeen had completed the formation of his Ministry, which, according to the Times, was regarded with favour and confidence by the public. " If," says that Journal, " England does not love a coalition she has been at par*ticular pains to conceal her dislike. The reelections of Lord Aberdeen's colleagues are not quite over, and there may be some quarter in ' which the suppressed flame of latent discontent may break forth; but hitherto all has gone well, and disapprobation has been confined to the speeches of Lord Derby, and the columns of one morning and one evening journal." The The severest opposition was to the re-election of Mr. Gladstone for the University of Oxford, but at the close of the poll on the Bth January, he was 87 a-head of his opponent, Mr. Peiceval, a gentleman who, according to the Times, is only known from the fact of his " having a father 40 years ago, but what and where he has been in the long interval we ask in vain." The following is the list of the Aberdeen administration :—: — First Lord of the Treasury— Tha Earl of Aberdeen. i Lord Chancellor — Lord Cranworth. Chancellor of the Exchequer — Mr. Gladstone. Secretaries of State — (Home) Lord Palmerston ; (Foreign) Lord John Russell ; (Colonial) Tbe Duke of Newcastle. First Lord of the Admiralty — Sir James Graham. President of the Council — Earl Granville. Lord Privy Seal— The Duke of Argyll. Secretary of War — Mr. Sydney Herbert. President of the Board of Control— Sir C. Wood. First Commissioner of Public Works — Sir W. Molesworth. The Marquis of Lansdowoe. The above form the Cabinet. In addition, we believe the following appointment have taken place :—: — Piesident of the Board of Trade-*-Mr. Cardwell. President of the Poor Law Board-*-Right Hon. M. T. Bainei. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster — Right Hon. E. Strutt. Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland — Earl St. Germain*. Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland — Sir J. Young. Lord Chancellor of Ireland — The Right Hon. M. Brady. Attorney- General for Ireland — Mr. Brewster. Attorney-General — Sir A. Cckburn, Solicitor-General— Sir W. P. Wood. Judge-Aflvocate-General — Mr. C. P. Villiers. Umler-Secretary of State for tbe Colonies — Mr. F. Peel. Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs — Lord Wodebouse. Secretary of the Treasury — Right Hon. G. Hayier. Joint-Secretaries to the Board of Control — i A. H. Layard, Esq., R. Lowe, Esq. The Quarterly returns of the Revenue were most favourable. There never was, says the i Times, in our recollection, a more prosperous statement. The increase is upwards of £500,000 ; and this in spite of the diminished duties on sugar. A frightful railway collision occurred on the 3rd January, on the Buckinghamshire railway, in which seven persons were instantaneously killed, and many more severely injured. " The trains met as two squadrons of cavalry charging each other might have met on a battle-field."

Of six men in charge of the engines five were instantly killed. Fortunate'y there were but 21 passengers, el«e the tragedy would have been yet more appalling. Mr. Thackeray's new novel —the History of Henry Osmond, E*q., — has appeared, to which the Times devotes three columns of criticism. "We are neither," says that journal, " surprised nor disappointed by this first complete novel from the skilful pen of the author of " Vanity Fair," The history is not a very striking one, and the most remarkable fact it proves.beyond a doubt, is that folks very like our contemporaries lived and prospered in the days of Queen Anne. Infinite pains are taken (.0 beguile us into Ihe notion that we are reading a book written and printed a century ago, and both author and publisher have done their part in the matter ; but perfect contentment does not, after all, dwell upon the mind of the reader." Various parts of England have been visited with great floods, which have inflicted an immense amount of injury. A hurricane burst over London on Christmas day, more severe than was ever remembered. The entire roof of the Eastern Counties Railway station was lifted up by the force of the wind, add the new Crystal Palace, now in course of erection, was greatly damaged. Lamps were blown oat, and chimnies knocked down in scores. The Marco Polo, which made such a rapid passage to Melbourne, has had ah. equally favourable return to England, having arrived at Liverpool on December 27, in 75 days, with Melbourne news to the 11th Oct. 'The Marco Polo brought £100,000 in gold dust on freight. She also brought fifty passengers, several of whom have large sums of money : one of them is reported to have £45,000 on board. The voyage out and hdme is unprecedented, having been accomplished in the remarkably brief space of five months and 21 days. The outward passage occupied 68 days, and the homeward 75 days. During the voyage she made 315, 318, and 306 miles for three days successively. Going out, she sailed from the parallel of the Cape of Good Hope to Port Phillip in 23 days. Heavy bets vrere laid upon the Marco Polo against the steamer home, from the fact of her having beaten her out. The Marco Polo was built by Mr. James Smith, of St. John's, New Brunswick, who also built the Celebrated ships Tippoo Saib, Ben Nevis and Alfred. From France we gather no news of importance. The three great Northern Powers have recognised the new Emperor ; this iecognition is stated to be accompanied by certain reservations with reference to the numeral attached to the title of Emperor, and the hereditary power. The Emperor was to give a series of entertainments on a large and expensive scale. The 6plendour of the Imperial Court bids fair to outstrip all that has been before it, and those whose emoluments are high will be obliged to spend every franc on them unless they resolve on keeping away from Gcurt receptions. The parties who are most gratified by the Emperor appearing to insist on 'the public money being spent in this way are the tailors and modistes, who must be making their fortunes*