LATEST ENGLISH NEWS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 854, 8 October 1853, Page 3

LATEST ENGLISH NEWS.

The " Government of India Bill" bar been printed. It consists of forty- one clause*, none of them very long. There are a few rather important provisions in it which were not raentionedby Sir Charles Wood in his statement. Of the twelve ejected Directors six must be persons who have I een ten years in India, in the service either of the Crow nor the company. The Directors who are to be appointed by the Government will not thereby be incapacitated (or sitting in Parliament. Candidate!, fur Directorships are to be forbidden to canvass or solicit votes, under a penalty not exceediog £100 for the first offence, and for the second offence disqualified for office, Nevr furlough regulations may be made by'thc Court of Directois without regard to w bat art known as the limits of the Company's charter*

The time for the meeting of tbe new Legislative Council for India it to be fixed by tbe Governor General by proclamation, but must net be laterthin six months after the commencement of the Act — which is lo take effect od the 30tb of AprilJSS4. Sir Charles Woofl, the other day, in reply to tbe question whether tbe meetings of the 'Legislative Council would be held with open doors and might be reported in the newspapers, stated that tbe Government bad no 'intention of forbidding such publicity. This will be a very important innovation — perhaps, on the whole, tine most momentous change that will be effected in this Bill. It is curious to remark the directly opposite "views expressed by the different classes df critics who censure the Government scheme with equal' bitterness. The Directors do not at all approve ■of the alterations proposed in tbe constitution of their board. At a General Court, held tbe other day, there were loud complaints made in reference to this part of the scheme. Speaking of the intended reduction in the number of the Board,"Colonel Sykes pronounced it to be an "odious proposition," and declared that " he could not venture to expresshimielf'in tbe terms that occurred to him in respect to the proposed mode of that excision." 'On the other hand, Mr. Bright and bis friends, at a meeting in Manchester, condemned the Bill •as heartily because it did not sweep away the "Board of Directors altogether. The two meetings ■being reported on tbe same day, in adjoining columns of the Times, this contrast of sentiments 'had a rather diverting effect. Lord -Stanley last evening proposed tbe motion of which 'he had gfreh notice, to tbe effect that; 'further information was necessary to enable Parliament to legislate with advantage for tbe per- : tnanent government of India, and that at this late period of the sesrion it was inexpedient to proceed with a measure wbicb, while it disturbs existing arrangements, cannot be considered a 'final settlement, The motion is obviously worded to catch tbe votes of tbe Indian reformers. Lord Stanley supported it in a long speech, showing tbe extensive knowledge of the subject which be ■might be expected to possess. He is not, however, an effective speaker. The House was thin, and tbe interest evinced was very .slight. Mr. Lowe repHed rather 'briefly, dwelling chiefly upon the poiDt rbat tbe measure was not proposed as a permanent one, and would be open to future amendment. Sir Robert IngKs and Mr. Herries, though not altogether approving the government scheme, opposed the motion, on tbe ground that it provided no substitute, and tbere is little chance of a better plan being proposed next year than now. They were rather disposed to maintain the existing system, without modification. The debate was adjourned, on motion of Mr. Hume, till to-day. Tbere is no doubt that Lord -Stanley's •motion will be defeated, and -very little doubt that the ministerial scheme will be adopted, with no material alterations. . ' Hardly any proceedings of importance have taken place in Parliament during the past month. Both bouses bave been busy with tbe Budget, 'which branches out into endless details, and keeps Mr. Gladstone pretty constantly employed in explanation and argument. The stamp duty on newspapers is to be so amended as to allow a .journal, of tbe full size, to be enlarged by onehalf, with no increase of taxation. The proposed new licenses on various trades are to be given up having been found not to admit of equitable adjustment. Some few other alterations bave been made in the financial measures, but none of much •consequence. Mr. Keogh, tbe Irish Solicitor General, has been made the subject of a very unfair attack by Lord Eglinton and some other Derbyite peers, and has come off with flying colours. He was assailed as a virulent partizan, and bis appointment to office was pronounced to be " disreputable ;" whereupon he showed that Lord Derby's Irish Secretary, Lord Naas, had made overtures to him, with tbe concurrence of Major Beresford, lo ascertain whether he would take office in Lord Derby's Administration. Lord Naas discreditably attempted to deny this, but tbe evidence against bis assertion was conclusive. Mr. Berkeley's annual motion for the adoption t)f tbe ballot at elections was negatived, on the 14th by 232 votes to 172. Tbe adverse majority is smaller by about 40 votes than it was last year. Most of tbe Ministers opposed the motion, but Sir William Moleswortb, Mr. Osborne, and others of the younger members of the administration voted for it. The bill for tbe inspection of nunneries was shelved, tbe other day, by 207 votes to 178. The ministry opposed tbe bill, and used great exertions to defeat it. The hostility of the Roman Catholics to it was singularly earnest and determined. A greater number of petitions were presented against it than have been collected, in so short a time, against any other measure, during many years past. The camp at Cbobbam is a great attraction for holiday makers. Tbere bave been reviews and sham fights, at one of which the Queen was present. The weather, however, has been sufficiently unpleasant to give tbe soldiers a taste of some of the real miseries of campaigning. Their discipline •nd appearance t rebigbly praised by good judges. Tbe uncertainty about ' the Turkish question •till affects business. on tbe continent a good deal, but less in tbis country. Tbe chief difficulty in tbe manufacturing districts arises from the disputes about wages. Several extensive "strikes" have ftken place in some of the northern towns* About 85,000 persons are stated to have thus deprived themselves, or been deprived of employment in Stockport and Blackburn. In most other places, the masters and workmen bave compromised their differences to their common advantage. As might be anticipated, the most desperate strikes , occur in towns notorious- for the ignorance' of the lower classes of their population. Epsom Races. — "The Derby" was won by M r . Bowes's West Australian, ridden by Frank Butler; tbe second horse was Sittingbouroe, ridden by Sam Rogers ; the third was Cioeas, ridden by Butnby; and tbe fourth, Rataplan. Betting at starting— 6 to 4 agst. West Australian, 5 to 1 agst. Orestes, 6 to 1 agst. Honey wood, 8 to 1 agst. Sittingbourne, 20 to 1 agst. Umbriel, 20 to 1 agst. Pharos (offered), 25 to 1 agst. Nionybammer, 30 to 1 agst. Cineas, 30 to 1 agst Peggy, 50 to 1 each agst. Cbedder, Barbaius, and Rataplan, 100 to l r agst. Coomburland Stathesmon. "An excellent start," says the sporting reporter, " all getting off in a cluster, except Coomburland Suthesmon, who was some lengths behind. Cheddar and Cineas started in front ; but they bad scarcely proceeded half-way op the hill when

TJmbriel look up the running, with Cheddar, Cineas, Orestes, Ethelbert, Nionyhammer, and Rattle were laid up, and directly in their wake were Pharos, Honeywood, and Filbert ; West Australian, with Sittingbourne in close attendance upon him, being (be next two. No material change occurred until they arrived at the turn into t'-e straight, wbern Umbriel began to drop off; Rattle immediately went on with the lead, but at the road wts passed by Cineas, and at 'the same time West Australian, with Sittingbourne at hisquarters, was seen to draw forward. At the distance these two singled themselves out, and a very exciting race home ended in favour of West Australian by a neck. 'Rataplan, who left the ruck in the last quarter of a mile, and gradually improved his position, finished about half a length behind the third. Honeywood and Rattle were the next two. Barbatus pulled up lame." This race was run in two minues fifty-six second*. The stakes amounted £5425. Mr. Bowes has thu3 carried off the ".Blue Riband of the turf" four times. - In 1835, he run the race wilh Mundig.; in 1843, with Cotherstone-; in 1852, with Daniel O'Ronrke ; and this year", West Australian. The splendid screw-steamer Himalaya, built by Messrs. Mare and Co. of Blackwall, for the Peninsular asd Oriental Company, was launched on Tuesday. She is 3550 tons burden, 340 feet long, and 46 feet 2 inches in breadtb. It is the largest steamer extant. Last year, 1,054,000 tons of shipping left Newcastle with coals for 31 1 foreign ports. Hamburg was the largest customer, taking 107,147 tons of'coah A gentleman who has recently returned from a tour in the Mofussil has .given the following description of a scene witnessed by him in one of the Company^ courts. *• The Judge, who was but too apparently ignorant of the language of the district, directed one of the Native officers of the court to put a question to a witness, and not ob- | taining any reply, repeated it ; but the witness returned uo answer, and his silence being looked, upon as contumacious, the Judge ordered the i summary infliction of the rattan ;*jwbich was ac-' cordingly administered in open court, as the readiest mode of eliciting bis evidence. It proved, however, a total failure, as the question having been again and again put without effect, it was at last discovered that the poor fellow was deaf and dumb." — United Service Gazette. The Italian journals report one of the most atrociously ingenious crimes ever perhaps committed, even in Italy, the hind of a Borgia and aTofana. " Mendaco was a person of fortune, and held the position of Syndic or Mayor of his native town, Veigotti, some twenty-four miles from Genoa. He became violently enamoured of a young and handsome woman of the same place, Maria Giusto, at the time a widow with four children. An illicit 'connexion ensued between them ; and after some time, Mendaco, with the connivance of bis mistress, resolved to get rid of bis wife by killing her. His scheme was roost artfully contrived. On the night selected for the murder he invited two of his friends to sup with him and his wife, as he stated Itis intention of going on * journey the next day. He took- care to display.,on this occasion the most affectionate kindness for his wife^ who, after some throe, retired to rest, leaving her husband still at supper with bis boon companions, whom he plied so copiously with liquor that they fell at last intoxicated on the floor. The mistress of Mendaco, as concerted, now made her appearance, and the two wretches set about their horrible work. Stealing into the chamber of the sleeping wife, the husband succeeded in strangling her with a cord, while his accomplice smothered ber cries by stopping her mouth with her hand. What added to the horror of the act, was the fact of the poor victim being enceinte at the time, and in ber agony she gave premature birth to a child. The deed once done, the assassins coolly proceeded to carry out the plan previously settled on. While the woman washed the linen of the bed and floor, the husband carried the corpse into the adjoining garden of a neighbour, wilh whom his wife had lately had a violent dispute, thus hoping to cast this foul murder on an innocent man. At daybreak Mendaco roused up his drunken companions of the previous night, and the three left the house together. In a few moments Mendaco pretended that he had come off without money, and returning together to tbe house, be cried out from the outside to his wife to throw him his purse. His paramour, who was secreted in his wife's chamber awaiting tbis ingenious manoeuvre, tbrew out tbe money demanded, without showing herself; and Mendaco's friends naturally thought, and declared, that his wife was in her bedroom when they all left the house in company. When the murder was discovered* suspicion naturally fell upon tbe unfortunate man in whose grounds the body was discovered, and he v/as arrested and thrown into prison. Tbis nefarious plot was, however, providentially defeated. Two of Mendaco's children had overheard the death-cries of their unhappy parent ; and in spite of tbe menaces and entreaties of the guilty father, they revealed what they had overheard* The arrest of the criminals followed, and upon trial they both confessed and accused each other. The chief witnesses against the murderer were his own children. Sad to relate, the poor man who was first arrested, and detained in prison, lost his senses from terror. Upon the first trial, both were condemed to death ; but a second one was ordered for some informality. The result was the 6ame, and a second condemnation was registered against' both tbe criminals. Repeated efforts were made to save the woman from execu* tion. A deputation of noble ladies belonging to the Misericordia went lately from Genoa to Turin to intercede with the King and Queen for a commutation of the sentence ; but the case was too atrocious to merit it.' 1 Accordingly, Mendaco and Maria Giusto were executed at the end of the old mole of Genoa, on tbe 30th April. The execution, by hanging, was attended with circumstances of great horror, and must have been almost as revolting to the public as the murder. A frightful disaster occurred on board the London, a 90-gun ship, one of Admiral Corry's squadron, returning from Lisbon to Portsmouth. Tbe squadron was at the time three days -from Lisbon, "and there being a calm,, the steamers were ordered to take the sailing vessels in low. The London was taken in tow by iheJm i ,e'rieiM4 i 50-guo screw frigate } the tow rope from the latter being fastened to the London's chain messenger, which ' Was attached to a ring bolt on the lower deck. It would appear that the

chain messenger was not well secured to the '" bits "; and fi sadden, strain occurring, the whole force of it was concentrated on the ring bolt, which gave way, and flew round with terrific violence, killing First Lieutenant Wellesley ■Pole Chapman, and 6 men. Nine others were hurt; one person's thigb, arms, and wrist, were broken, and be is not expected Co survive. The Emperor of Russia, on the 12th instant, visited the harbor of Cronstadt, where the Baltic; fleet is concentrated. ' A Maltese paper reports a recent victory obtained by the Circassians over a Russian force, of 40,000 men and 36 guns. Scbamyl drew the Russian army into a position from which they could not extricate themselves. He captured 23 guns. Five battalions of Poles went over from the Russian army to the Circassians. The marriage of Prince Albert of Saxony to. the 'Princess Carola Wasa was celebrated on Saturday last, in the cathedral of Dresden. It is reported that Dr.fJagot, Bishop of Batb and Wells, will shortly resign his office, in con- , sequence of infirmities tinder which he has for some trrae laboured. The clergy of tbe diocese of St. David's have resolved to have a portrait of Dr. Thirl wall,, their Bishop, in token of their high esiimauan of his character. It will be painted by Mr. Samuel .Laurence. A young man, having finished his medical studies, applied to -an old gentleman to know bis neighbourhood would be an eligible situation for a physician. " Why," replied the old msn, " what can you do ?* " Why, sir, I can feel a, pulse, and discover from it wlfat disease tbe patient is subject to." " Here, then, feel mine," said the old man stretching out his «rn>. *'You are troubled with the headache," said tbe young physician, after a very sagacious look. " Never had it in my hTe, sir," said the old gentlemath This was a poser. Profound silence .ensued. " I suppose you think me a fool," sard the physician, retiring. "Ah," he' replied " you know what I think, but you don't know what I feel." — Leeds Mercury.

Greece.— The Greek journals do not betray any desire for Russian domination. On the contrary, the, lattst manifestations of Greek opinion through the press point to the establishment of 11 a great Hellenic state," a " reconstruction of Greek nationality," with Constantinople for its capita!, as tbe only safe barrier to Russia. The Etrl of Ellesmere and tbe English Commissioners to tbe New York Exhibition, -arrived at New York, in the frigate Leander, on the 10th June. Each Commissioner has a separate mission, and the general scope of their inquiries will comprise the industrial resources of the United States.

Canada. — There bas been some fearful rioting at Quebec and Montreal, arising out of two attempts to deliverlectures by Father GavaJszi. On tbe 4th June Gavazzi gave a lecture at Quebec, wliich was listened to quietly, but with symptoms of insurbordination* The trustees of the church refused him the use of the building for a- second lecture ; but be found quarters in a Scotch Free Church on the 6th. About half-way through the lecture, Gavazzi charged the Irish priesthood with beading tb% Riband-lodges. "It's a lie!" shouted a voice ; and immediately a savage assault was commenced by some persons who entered from the street. They stormed the pulpit ; Gavazzi and his secretary manfully defended themselves — Gavazzi using a bench. But he was overpowered, and flung from the pulpit ; his face and head cut. By this time the police arrived ; and Gavazzi found bis way into a cellar beneath the 'church ; Whence he escaped. For an hour or two all was quiet. Tbe troops were called out ; but beyond parading the streets and smashing windows^ the crowd did no damage. However they serenaded the Sheriff and another person who were sad to have introduced Gavazzi to the town. From Quebec the Father went to Mtmtieal. There, on the 9th, he was proceeding to deliver a lecture, when a mob stormed the church ; but they were repulsed with theioss of three shot dead. Shortly after, in the streets, a disturbance arose; and the troops, firings killed seven persons and wounded sixteen, six of them mortally. Tbe Mayor of Montreal was blamed for ordering tbe troops to fire without sufficient cause.

Beggars Outwitted. — Many years ago, an ingenious plan was adopted by the Grand Duke to rid Florence of beggars. 1$ was proclaimed that every beggar who would appear in the grand square at a csrtain mentioned time would be provided with a new suit of clothes, free of cost. At the appointed time the beggars of the city all assembled, and the Grand Duke, causing all the ! avenues to be closed, compelled the beggars to strip off the old clothes, and gave each one, according to promise, a new suit. In the old clothes thus collected enough of money was found concealed to build a beautiful bridge over the Arno, still called the "Beggar's Bridge," and the city for the time being, was relieved of the beggars by whom it had been previously overrun, as none would give to the well dressed individuals who implored charity, not believing their tali of distress.

, The BeAkS of BERNB.-«*Tbe city of Berne has for some months mourned the want of bears to exhibit its name and arms in bcdily presentment. On the 21st instant this bereavement was repaired, and two animals, obtained from Paris', made their triumphal entry into the city on an ornamental car, a large proportion of the inhabitants having gone out to meet them. The bears of B.erne are supported at tbe public ex* jiense* The animal? which represented Berne when the French took the city were carried captive to Paris as trophies.

Archbishop Whately on Mesmerism.— "He was a living monument of the truth of mesmerism, having suffered severely for many year* from rheumatism. When the doctors had done their best or worst, as the case might be, he was advised to have recourse to mesmerism as a last resource. In ibe course of one Week he was perfectly cured, and he has never since experienced any severe return of the complaint, — Speech at the Dublin Mesmeric Association. Antiquity of the Magnifying Glass. — It is curious circumstance that a bond fine magnifying glass, identified by Sir David Brewster as decidedly and designedly such, was recently found by Mr. Layard, in one of the temples of Ninevehg& Mr*' Layard says that many of the cuneiform inscriptions, aud many smaller sculptures, are so delicately cut and so minute as to De " almost unintelligible without a magnifying glass."

Rome, May 20. — Table-moVing is now all the rage iv Rome ; from the Vatican and Qoirinal to the cafe and osteria, the mystic circle of bands is formed with universal success. The pope binotelf has seen and verified the fact, and Cardinal Antonelli had the experiment performed at his palace.

Celebration of He* Majesty's Birthday in Paris. — Tbe correspondent of the Times Ba y 8 — " The ball given at tbe British embassy, in honour of her Majesty's birthday, was, by general adroisiiqn the most brilliant/etc of the season. Over the gates of the embassy was displayed a design in gas representing the royal crown of England, with the initials " V.R." undeYneath, and the whole enclosed in a tasteful garland, in which tbe rose,' tbe shtmrock, and the thistle were combined. In tbe centre ot the fagade of the hotel and lighting up the wh»,le court, blazed the star of the orderbf the garter. Tbe whole of the suite of apartments onthe ground floor was thrown open, and was quickly filled, for company began to arrive a little before ten, and it is said that not fewer than 2000 cards had been issued. Tbe gardens of the embassy were brilliantly illuminated, and wben (about eleven o'clock) tbe drapery which concealed them was suddenly withdrawn, nothing could surpass the beauty of tbe scene which broke on the eye. The whole garden was brilliantly lighted up, and along the trees and shrubs coloured lamps were suspended. The eft feet of these variegated lights was charming. A military band was stationed among the trees, and played select airs. The appearance of the Princess Mathilde, leaning upon the arm of Lord Cowley, was tbe signal for tbe well know njsartant pour fa Syrie. At rtie rower end of tbe gaiden, and surmounting all, "might be seen the royal crown, with the same initials as before. The weather was fortunately very fine. The only members of the Emperor's family who were remarked were the Princess Mathilde and Prince Louis Lucien Bonaparte. Among tbe earlier arrivals vras Marshal Narvaez. At one o'clock the supper rooms were thrown open, and in every respect the arrangements for tbe guests were admirable. After supper dancing was resumed, and kept up with animation till an advanced hour."

ImpkoVed Process foil Refining Gold. — A patent has been recently taken out by Mr. Petrie, lor an improvement in what is termed the " parting " process by refiners, and which is said to promise very important results. The refiners' alloy, consisting of one part impure gold and three parts silver, granulated in the usual manner, is placed in a number of small cells or cylinders, placed upright on an incline, between two parallel rails, which may, if desired, form flues, whereby the cells are warmed while in action. Hot nitric acid is kept continually dropping from a tap into the highest cell, and having passed through the mass of alloy, and through a false bottom, ascends oh- the other side of a diaphragm, and overflows into the next cell ; from thence it flows into all the cells in succession. From time to time the upper cell is removed, and another, containing fresh alloy, is placed at the bottom of the series, the whole being moved up the incline. By the time the nitric acui reaches the bottom cell it is partially saturated with silver, but is sufficiently active to act on the granular surfaces, and as each cell is raised it comes constantly in contact with more energetic acid, until, on atriving at the top, aud before removal-, the whole U dissolved, and the gold left pure in a sponge state. There is also an arrangement for conden&ing the nitrous fumes, which are con^ ducted by stoneware tubes through an apparatus called a gas collector into an oxiciator. They are afterwards drawn off by pneumatic suction, are condensed iuto fiesh strong nitric acid, which flows out in a continuous stream for further condensation, or for immediate use. — Home Netcs.