SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5531, 18 December 1878, Page 2

SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

ARRIVAL OF THE ZEALANDIA. The Spanish Government anticipates a general European war, and is preparing for it. Don Carlos congratulated the ex-Queen Isabella on the escape of her son Alfonso from assassination. ’ The police found eighteen bottles of dynamite iu a chamber near Madrid. Disaffection to an alarming extent exists in the Spanish army. Fears of an insurrection at Seville are entertained. An ex-soldier had attempted to assassinate General Areixgua, the Minister of War. Seuor Jauo, formerly a Senator from the Basque provinces, implores the King by letter to restore the local iaws. This wiil avert the threatened total ruin in the north. Aloncasi, the assassin, has been sentenced to death. By his own confession, the attempt on the King's life was premeditated since 1870. A Ministerial crisis is threatened. Morocco indemnifies the families of Spaniards who wore assassinated, and salutes the Spanish flag. Tho passage of the proposed Press laxv for Spain is considered certain. The principle of religious toleration has been accepted by the old Aloderate party in Spain. A Federalist plot was discovered among the naval officers at Carthagena. Belgium, November 9. Charles Glislain, statesman, is dead, GERMANY. Socialist organisations are being disbanded all over Germany, and Socialist newspapers and pamphlets are being suppressed. The Government intends to propose an import duty on grain, wine, hides, and some other articles. The Freetrada League combats the spread of protectionist tendencies. The Tagsllatl asserts that the object of the present protectionist movement is the establishment of a Customs Union iu Eastern Europe, under the leadership of Germany, against Western Europe, especially England. Bismarck, on the occasion of his daughter's marriage, was presented by the Emperor with a Grand Cross of the Order of the Red Eagle, only once before conferred by the King of Prussia, on Baron Manteufel. The Pru-sian deficit for the fiscal year 1878 is 78,000,000 marks. Archbishop Ledochowski was again fined 18,000 marks, or two years imprisonment, for excommunicating a local priest. The exiled German bishops have written to the Pope expressing a wish that a good understanding may be arrived at betiveen them and the Vatican. The Emperor William, in a recent speech, said tho Emperor hoped that every nation would imitate Germany’s example in resisting the criminal tendencies of the age. The Berlin Post, in an article relative to the closing of the Paris Exposition, says that Germany observes without anxiety the renewed power of Prance, which would only be dangerous if tho nation snrrendex-ed its right judgment to adventurous usurpers. The present moderate and conservative republic offers a guarantee against all excesses iu foreign policy. The Government sold £IOO,OOO worth of silver at 6s. 2Jd. per ox. 102 Socialist societies, 26 newspapers, and 88 Looks have been suppressed since the passage of the anti-Socialist law.

A serious riot has occurred in Lemberg on account of the police prohibiting a procession in honor of Deputy Hauser. , A belief is curx-ent that a plot exists for the assassination of all the Sovereigns of Europe. It is stated that the Prussian Judges, when examining Nobeling’s case, were led to believe in the existence of a central organisation for this purpose. Investigations are still going on. An official gazette contradicts the statement which appeared in the Paris Estafelte, that the German Government had decided to occupy the whole of the Samoan Archipelago. The gazette deolax-es that Germany does not contemplate acquiring or founding colonies beyond the Atlantic. A dispute in regard to the Samoan islands will naturally be settled by a treaty which will secure to Germany and other States interested the privileges granted to the most favored nations. Tho exiled Swiss bishops have been notified to return. The Vatican will re-establish relations with Switzerland, consequent on the defeat of the Radicals there. Jean Jacques Fazey, political economist, died at Geneva on the sth inat. The Government h is given notice of withdrawal from the Latin monetary convention. The election for members of the Great Council for the canton of Geneva resulted in favor of the Democratic Conservative party (?). This ensures the return of tho dispossessed Catholic priests, the cessation of the religious war, and the eventual separation of Church and State, but does not ensure the return of Bishop Mermillod, as he was expelled by the Federal Government. Iu Zurich and the Grisons the cottou mills are working short time. ITALY. Mount Vesuvius is active. Negotiations between the Vaticau and Germany are progressing sloxvly. A new Baptist Church has been opened at Rome, near Valle Theatre. The Pope is seeking to bring back the Armenian separatists to the Roman allegiance. Italy agrees to abolish paper money for smaller amounts than five francs. The Clerical party will make an effort at the Central elections, following the contemplated extension of the franchise. Mgr. McCabe succeeds the late Archbishop Cullen at Dublin. Violent stoxms have occurred throughout central Italy. The Tiber overflowed and caused great destruction. . The Council of State has decided that the See of Naples is under the Royal patronage. The Archbishop appointed by the Vatican cannot enjoy the temporality of the sea until he has obtained investiture and exequatur from the King. The Kcfetta Piazza, tho Pantheon, Via Pordenona, the Piazza Saint Angelo, and the Ghetto were flooded, also the smaller streets of Romo. A man named Giovanni Passaunte attempted to assassinate King Umberto on tho 17th xxlt. He scratched his left arm, and inflicted a wound on the left thigh. Signor Cairola was sitting in the carriage beside the King while the cox-lege was entox-ing Naples in state. The reason given by Passaunte is that he is poor, and does not like kings. Indignation throughout Italy is very great. The assassin is an Internationalist.

The King received 1000 congratulatorytelegrams, including one from the Pope. During the passage of the procession of veterans at Florence, in honor of his escape, a bomb exploded among them, killing two and slightly wounding several. Signor Melio, the editor of the Censor, of Naples, was arrested as au accessory to the attempted assassination. He was formerly au associate of Passaunte, and was arrested with him in 1870 for posting revolutionary placards. A shopkeeper who sold Pasaaunte tha knife with which he attempted to kill the King has also been arrested. President Hayes congratulated the King on his escape from assassination. TURKEY. Tho Porte charges Russia with fomenting the insurrection in Bulgaria. Tho extent of the rising in that country is disquieting. The Russian troops are concentrating at Adrianople and in Eastern Roumelia. Russia intends to raise her army in Turkey to 200,000. Pirates in the Persian Gulf have been severely punished, Eighteen boats wore captured. Tho.Loudon Telegraph says that the machinations which threaten the fulfilment of tho settlement of Eastern Europe are closely watched, and will be thwarted by the resolute vigilance of Lord Beaconsfield’s Government. With the loyal support of France and Austria and the approval of Germany, the Treaty of Berlin will bo sustained to the letter. Five thousand Russian troops land at Bourgas weekly, Russian officers are in command of the insurgents in the Macedonian District. Hordes of Mahomedan refugees are starving, and are refused permission to return to Koumelia. Twenty-five Greek familes have been exiled from the Balkans by tho Russians. They ask aid from tho British Commissioners. A revision of the Treaty of Berlin is seriously proposed. Tho idea originated in Berlin or Vienna. The Manchester Guardian says—Before the Plenipotentiaries loft Berlin Lord Beaconsfield and Count Andrassy signed a treaty providing that if Russia should endeavor to remain on Turkish territory after May, 1379, England and Austria will insist on a complete withdrawal. If Russia should urge that

Turkey 13 unable to protect the Christians, owing to the disturbed state of affairs in Roumelia, England and Austria will furnish a garrison to relieve the Russians.. The purport of the treaty was communicated to Russia. The Rhodope insurrection is ended. There will be no Turkish Parliament convened for this year. Russia is establishing a second line of defence at Adrianople. Several prominent Turks say that a second war will soon follow, on account of the attitude of the Russians in Ronmelia, A Greek vessel was seized in the Dardanelles by pirates, who killed the sailors. The vessel was rescued by boats from the British fleet, but the pirates escaped with the booty. They are said to be deserters from the Turkish army. The pirates wore afterwards captured by the English boats, and delivered to the Turkish authorities. The Porte accepts the principle of the rectification of the Greek frontier on Thessaly as the line. England is assisting the Porte to conclude a loan, guaranteed by the revenues of Syria and the surplus of Egyptian revenue. The amount of the loan is £15,000,000. An insurrection against the Turkish Government_ has broken out in the Najo district, Arabia, Roumania. The Russians demand as a condition for evacuation the right to. occupy and fortify Kustendji and other strategical points in the Dobrudsoha, and to maintain a military road through the country.

RUSSIA. The Russian Press is extremely hostile towards England, and rejoices over the delay in the Afghanistan operations. The Oolos says : —“While peace continues Russia may give arms and money to any one.” The Vedemesti says;—“ A great struggle with England has been preparing for centuries. She will occupy Afghanistan.” The Ruslcimir declares : “ The hour has coma when England must be held responsible for past delinquencies.” Russia, in replying to the Porte’s overtures, expresses her willingness to reopen negotiations for a definitive treaty. The project of raising a fresh loan is for the present abandoned. A change in the principal military commanders will shortly take place. K iuff mann will probably be made Minister of War. The Imperial yacht Divad was swamped with the Grand Duke Sergius and suite on board. All saved. The yacht has gone to pieces. There is no hope of a satisfactory result to the negotiations between the Vatican and Russia. . Russian piratical schooners are robbing the whalers in the Arctic Ocean. Gortchakoff has been ordered to South Europe on account of failing health. The Oolos says ; —“ It is impossible, under present circumstances, tor Russia to fulfil the Berlin Treaty." Several thousand Russian soldiers and officers permitted to volunteer will shortly start for Afghanistan. The construction of a number of ironclads has been ordered. In St. Petersburg!! Lord Beaconsfield'a speech on the Afghan question is considered pacific, although the basis of his policy is still antagonistic. Gortchakoff’a influence is declining. The Czar has written an autograph letter in answer to the French Minister Waddington’s circular, declaring his intention to abide by the Treaty of Berlin. The Pope intends to appeal direct to the Czar in favor of the Polish Catholics. The British Vice-Consul has been insulted by Russians at Bourgas, and the British gunboat Condor has been ordered to investigate the matter. The Russian army is to be increased to 632 battalians in time of wav. General Kauffman sent a sword to the Ameer of Afghanistan, with a message that whoever sided with Russia need not fear that a hair of his head would bo injured, AUSTRIA AND HUNGARY. There has been a tremendous snowstorm in Vienna. The telegraph lines were prostrated within a radius of 100 miles of the city. General Phillipovich reports that Bosnia is all right, and asks leave to return to Prague. The Emperor administered a sharp rebuke to the Croatian delegation for advising him regarding the definite annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Croatia. The Budget shows expenditure 94,551,715 florins for 1877, 3,000,000 less than the preceding year. A general amnesty has been granted to Bosnia. HUNGARY. A supplementary credit of 40,000,000 florins is asked for from the delegations towards the expense of occupying the Turkish provinces. The Premier Tirzsa declares that the policy of Austro-Hungary is to prevent Turkey from becoming a prey to Russia ; he expressed a firm hope that the Berlin Treaty would be punctiliously observed. However, if auy Power should resist the execution of the treaty, Austria, who had been able to harmonise her interests with those of Europe, would not stand alone in the fight that might ensue. The River Saave overflowed, involving a loss of life and immense destruction of military stores. AMERICAN SUMMARY. San Euahwsoo, November 25. A serious decline in mining stocks, especially in Sierra Nevada, has taken plaoe, and caused great distress. An explosion at the Sullivan coal mine, Pennsylvania, killed thirteen miners outright, and wounded many others. Mr. Angel, the defaulting secretary of the Pullman Palace Car Company, was arrested at Lisbon. The Samiatia, having on board the Marquis of borne, Governor-General of Canada, arrived at Halifax on the 23rd, after a rough voyage. The Duke of Edinburgh visited the vessel immediately after its arrival. The barque Princess Louise was chartered at New York for Sydney at 30s, per ton. Kearney, the agitator, having contributed to the defeat of Butler by ill-advised speeches in Massachusetts, proposes to return to California to settle. The Samoan Legislative Assembly has ratified the treaty with the United States giving to that country the control of Parzoparzoo harbor and other special commercial privileges. An accident has occurred on the New Brunswick (Canada) railroad by which a child was burnt to death by the ignition of the car and fifteen persons were badly injured. . A number of prominent women of Awasso, Michigan, have tarred and feathered Mr. IngersoU, editor of a local paper, for a sourrillous publication. Captain John Sleeper, formerly editor and part proprietor of the Boston Journal, is dead. He was the “'Hawser Martingale” of juvenile literature.