GENERAL SUMMARY.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 244, 20 April 1866, Page 2

GENERAL SUMMARY.

London, 26th February. The Australian December mails were delivered in London on the 13th and 17th February. The Queen is residing at Windsor. She intends holding five receptions during the ensuing year. The Queen's speed}, at the opening of Parliament, touched on the termination of the American war, the reconciliation with Brazil, the Jamaica outbreak, the cattle disease, Eenianism, and the Reform Bill. Thirty thousand pounds dowry, and £6000 per annum, is granted as the Princess Helena's marriage portion. Fifteen thousand pounds per annum has been voted to Prince Alfred on his attaining his majority He has been made a captain of the fleet, and will shortly take his seat in the House of Lords. Parliament has unanimously voted a monument to Lord Palmerston in Westminster Abbey. Earlde Grey succeeds Sir Charles Wood. The latter has been raised to the peerage — title, Lord Halifax. Lord Hartington is to be the head of the War Office/ Lord Duiferin is Under-Secretary for War ; Mr Monsell, Vice-President of Board of Trade ; Mr Stansfield, Under-Secretary for India ; Mr Goschen has joined the Cabinet as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The Fenian organisation proves more powerful and extensive than was supposed. The state of the country is so alarming that the G-overnment has suspended the Habeas Corpus Act for six months. Hundreds of persons, Irish and American, have been summarily arrested. Many of the latter fled the country. They had been engaged in drilling, paying and organising the Irish, and bribing the Queen's soldiers to desert and join the Fenians. Strong reinforcements of troops have been sent to Ireland, including the Gfuards. Large quantities of gunpowder, heavy shot, grenades and shells, have been captured by the police in various districts. A Fenian coup d'etat was fixed for St. Patrick's day, 17th March. The Royal Commission on the Jamaica insurrection is still sitting. ' G-overnor Eyre has received numerous addresses from influential classes of the white and colored population, expressing sympathy aud thanks for his wisdom and energy in suppressing the rebellion. Public feeling : in England is generally in liis favor. The Board of Trade returns for the last year show an excess of income over expenditure of £3,248,213. Towards the Coienso fund the subscriptions amount to £4000. There is much dissension among English Churchmen as to the alteration of the liturgy, &c. The Government and the Archbisbop of Canterbury decline to alter' it, and severely censure the ritualists. Mr David Monroe, Speaker of the House of Representatives in New Zealand, is to be knighted under letters patent. •Mr Peabody has given another £l00,t)00 for the same benevolent purpose as his former endowment, making in all a quarter of a million. . The personal property of the late Richard Thorton, London, is valued at two million and a half. Mr Everts has been entrusted with the prosecution of Jefferson "Davis. His fee is 100,000 dollars. On the 4th and 11th February terrific Uurricanes and thunderstorms swept ever all England, unequalled in violence for the last forty years. Serious damage to property and shipping, with loss of life, caused. The ofneial inquiry into the loss oi' the London has closed. The report has not yet been published. The evidence proved that only 340 tons dead-weight was on board, exclusive of 200 tons ballast. — — «*>