LATEST ENGLISH NEWS.
[From the Melbourne Morning Herald t May 16.] We have received, by the Eagle, a file of English papers, to the 21st of February, being six days later than our previous advices. The first and most important item that we observe in these papers is the unqualified declaration of Lord John Russell in the House of Commons, and of the Earl of Aberde*en-in the Upper House, fehat the relations - between England and France continue to be of the most friendly nature ; and that the best understanding prevails between the two Governments as to European affairs generally. On the other side of the Channel the, assurances of a pacific disposition are equally ■" strong. On the 14th of February, Louis Napoleon, in opening the Legislative session of 1853, stated that he was deiermined so to administer affairs as to tranquillize France and Europe. He added, " With that view he had firmly resolved to diminish the expenses and armaments ; to consecrate all the resources of the country to
useful purposes ; to enter into frank and cordial relations with foreign nations, in order to prove to the most unbelieving that, when France formally expressed the intention to remain at peace, it would keep its word ; for it was strong enough not to fear, and, therefore, , ■ not to deceive, any one." He further added, with reference to the finances and army of France, "You will see, gentlemen, by the Budget that will be presented to you, that our financial position has not been better for the last twenty years, and that the public^ revenues have augmented beyond all anticipation. Nevertheless, the effective forcie of the army, already reduced by 30,000 men, in the course oMast year, is about to be again reduced by - -20,000 men/ In the House of Lords, on' the 17th of February, the Duke of Newcastle said the attention of the Government had been drawn to the subject of transportation to Van Diemen's Land, ond they had arrived at the conclusion that transportation to that colony should cease altogether. With regard, however, to the colony of West Australia, Her Majesty's Government had decided that it would be more advisable not to discontinue transportation to that colony at once, though before long he hoped it would cease to that colony also. Consols closed on the 17th of February at 99-f 99 f for money, and* 99% for account. The following day the funds retrograded a quarter per cent., owing to the intelligence from Vienna. Monday continued easy and abundant, both on the Stock Exchange and out of doors. In the Gold Mining Market business was very animated, The Australian Companies are quoted as follows : — Australian, £5 paid, 6| ; Australian Freehold, |\ ; Australian Consols, \\ : British Australian Gold, 11-16, 13-16; Nugget Vein, 3| 4| ; Port Phillip, Iff; Austialian Agricultural, 255; North British Australian Land, If £ ; South Australian Land, 59 61 ; Scottish Australian Investment, 1| | ; Scottish Bank of Australia, l\\\ Peel River, 8£ 9. It is estimated that the next return of the Bank of England will shew a decrease of £300,000 in the stock of bullion, and a large decrease in the " other," or private securities. The London Morning Herald states — " Some anxiety has been felt for some time past in reference to the supply of labour for the Australian markets, but the opinion on the Stock Exchange and in other quarters now is that China, even the United Kingdom, and other European countries, will shortly contribute a large number of labourers, who disappointed with the result of their adventures at the diggings, will rather bestow their work in carrying out commercial undertakings which have the sanction of capitalists who are prepared to pay them the full value of their labour, than to trust to^the chances of obtaining a livelihood at the mines. Her Majesty and the Court were at Buckiugham Palace. The Post, Office authorities had advertised that ship letter bags would be made up on the 26th of February, for despatch to Port Phillip by the screw-steamer Hellespont. Intelligence has been received at Pernambuco, from Paraiba, of the total loss of the barque Sir Fowell Buxton, near Assu, with 240 emigrants on board for Australia, A Brazilian man-of-war and a vessel with provisions had been despatched by the Government to her assistance. The English brig Richard, of 290 tons, had been chartered to convey the passengers to Port Phillip for the sum of £3,200, free of'fitting berths and finding provisions. No lives were lost. The Board of Trade Returns for the* 12 months ending sth January have been issued, and show, in their general results, an improved state of prosperity of the trade of the country, and increased comfort of the working- classes. These returns, however, are stated to be very far from perfect, and occasionally as likely to mislead as to assist in arriving at a correct knowledge of the state of the foreign trade ; for, while it is shown in these tables that the exports have increased in value nearly £3.000,000, we have no means whatever of comparing such increase with the augmented value of the imports. A dreadful wreck had occurred at the entrance to Dublin Bay. The Queen Victoria steamer, belonging to the Dublin Steam-packet Company, left Liverpool on the afternoon of the 14th of February, .with about 100 deck, and five 'cabin passengers, and a crew of 22 men. She had also a valuable cargo, chiefly sugar. At 2 o'clock the following morning, a dense fall of snow obscured the lighthouse at Howth, and the vessel struck the face of a rock near the Bailey Light, and shortly after went -down, leaving only the tops of her masts above the water. Some of the passengers were landed on a projecting rock ; but about 60 persons perished, including the Captain, who was drowned whilst attempting to- save a woman. The steamer Roscommon came up soon after the disaster, and succeeded in saving 45 of the survivors. Messrs. Fletcher and Firth, fruit brokers, of Liverpool,- ha?e been committed for trial on a charge of defrauding the Customs, by returning amounts of sales for oranges and lemons below the prices realized. A Liverpool paper states -that an unusual interest attaches to Mr. Henry Russell's popular entertainments at the Concert Hall, next week, from the fact that every one who attends receives a ticket, which entitles him or her to the chance of a free passage to Australia, in one of Messrs. Gibbs, Bright and Co.'s Eagle line of packets. The ticket, if not required, is transferable, and may be disposed of by the owner. The Liverpool Times of the 1 7th February, states that, the vessel called Jane Anderson, the property of a house at the Brunswick Dock, connected with the timber trade, was desi patched on Saturday with a full cargo, of deals, &c. for Melbourne. She is said to be consigned to Mr. John Anderson, formerly well known in the town, but now of Melbourne. The same paper says : Messrs. Denny and Rankin of the Clyde, are completing a large iron sailing ship, for Mr. James Smith, formerly of Greenock, and now of this p&rt. The vessel is designed for the Australian trade. Her Register is-7£o tons. Sir James Graham had brought forward the Navy estimates, in committee of supply. The sum required is £6,235,493, being an increase
on the preceding year of £399,905, when they were £5,835,588. Mr. Collier had given notice that, on Tuesday, the Ist of March, he would more for a selet committee to inquire whether the Ecclesiastical Courts might not be advantageously abolished, their jurisdiction over all matters not purely ecclesiastical, being transferred to other existing tribunals, and new courts being established to deal rapidly and effectually with matters purely ecclesiastical ; and also,whether the jurisdiction of the Court of Admiralty might not be advantageously transferred to local tribunals.
Courts-Martial at the Cape. — It is understood that a gaol delivery of the Hottentots now confined in various frontier prisons is now being effected by the purifying process of District Courts-Martial. A rebel Hottentot, a deserter (who had surrendered) from the Cape Corps was, as we understand, lately tried in Graham's Town, and sentenced to be shot. The sentence was returned to the court by the Commander-in-Chief with a request that they would re-consider it. They did do so, and still thought him deserving of death — (the man it is said confessed having committed several murders on the highway) — upon which, the Commander- in-Chief pardoned the culprit, and he is now returned to do duty in his regiment* It is supposed that His Excellency felt himself unauthorised by the terms offered to rebels in his proclamation to take the man's life, having stated in that document that de- : serters who surrendered would be much more mercifully dealt with 'than if they were either taken in arms or brought in as prisoners by others. Sir Henry Lytton Bulwer had a narrow escape with his life recently, while descending the Rhone from Avignon to Lyons, in one of the ordinary passage steamers. The boiler burst, and the vessel sank in the river, Sir Henry, with other passengers, swam for theirlive?, and the former was much exhausted on reaching the shore. Sir Henry is in a very delicate state of health, and it is feared that the accident may seriously retard his recovery.
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New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 819, 8 June 1853, Page 3
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1,556LATEST ENGLISH NEWS. New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 819, 8 June 1853, Page 3
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