THE SUEZ MAIL.

Southland Times, Issue 1541, 23 February 1872, Page 2

THE SUEZ MAIL.

(From the Melbourne Argtu.) December 29: Since last mail day we have passed through a terrible crisis, owing to the excitement and anxiety consequent upon the dangerous and protracted illneaß of the Prince of Wales. Until December 7 no alarm was felt ; the typhoid symptoms were decreasing, and the crisis was believed to be past. Oq the Bth, however, the physicians issued alarming bulletins. On the 9th, the relapse showed aggravated features. Oa Sunday, the 10th, heaviness and grief was generally felt, and prayer ascended from the hearts of millions for the safety of the Prince. On the 11th, the shadow of death settled upon the whole nation ; business was neglected, and gloom was manifested upon all faces. The anticipated loss of the heir to the throne was the topic of general conversation. On the 12ch there was a slight flush of hope, but on the 13th all amendment was lost, and suffocation was feared, owing to irritation in the bronchial tubes, and the Eoyal family were warned that the end was at hand. The 14tb, the anniversary of his father's death, was universally dreaded ; but the Prince was relieved by sickness. On the 15th some sleep relieved him from the delirium, though he was fearfully prostrated. Since then the improvement has been steady. " Henceforth," says The Times, " the fatal 14th will commemorate the restoration of the Prince as well as the death of his father." The watchful skill and energy of Drs Jenner, Gull, and Lowe, and the unwearied devotion of the nurses, including the Princess Alice, humanly speaking, saved the Prince. The Irish Fenians' Republican Clubs passed votes of sympathy for the Queen and Royal Family. The outburst of affectionate loyalty has astonished everybody, and the progress of republicanism is arrested. Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Parsees, and Mohatnedans rallied round the throne in the hour of peril. America and Canada were profoundly stirred. European emperors, kings, and presidents sent messages of anxious sympathy to Sandringham. Meetings for political discussions were postponed, social discords stilled, and festivities were unheard of during the week of suspense. A long regency was dreaded. It is hoped that an effectual drainage system will result from the national trouble. General surprise was felt at the Firei brace verdict. The children- are under i the protection of the Court. The report of the Megaera Commission is ready to be presented at the opening of Parliament. The death of Bishop Patteson has aroused public attention to the Polynesian slave trade. Mr Cowper, in The Times, defends the Sydney Government against Captain Palmer's charges. The petition against establishing a great penitentiary at New Caledonia has been referred to the French Colonial Minister. The Eastern mails via Southampton will leave two days earlier in future. The newspaper postage via Brindisi is 3d. The last British regiment has been withdrawn from Quebec. Parliament was prorogued till Feb. 6. The Rt. Hon. E. J. Deniaon retires on account of ill- health, taking the title of Baron Ossington. Mr Grant Duff has delivered a brilliant survey of English politics to his Elgin constituents. Prince Arthur presided at the annual dinner of the Dover sailora' home. Kelly's second trial for firing at the policeman has been postponed, on the ground of prejudice excited by comments in the public journals. The proposed Orange celebration at Derry was cheeked by the presence of soldiers and police.

A bank manager and his clerk have been shot near Nenagh. Five hundred telegraphists at Liverpool and other large towns resumed work after 10 days' strike. They gained nothing by the movement. Two thousand midland employes at Derby struck work for a few days. The threatened strike of ironworkers at Staffordshire has been abandoned, The greyhound Master M.' Grata died on Christmas Day. The steamer Delaware, from Liverpool to Calcutta, was totally wrecked in a gale off Scilly. Forty-five lives were lost. Two mates were saved. The G-eographical Society offers a hundred guineas to any messenger bringing a letter from Livingstone. The "University of Oxford has accepted the Cambridge challenge to race on March 23. The survey of the proposed railway through Upper Egypt has been commenced. The Madagascar bishopric scheme has been revived. The French farmer's seed fund amounts to £51,582, and the Persia famine fund to £11,000. The Empress Eugenic* has returned to England. The Leith Pier and Borough-roads School have been destroyed by fire. William Anthony, the fire-raiser, has been sentenced to 12 years' penal servitude. Mr Childers addressed his constituents yesterday. He supports the Queen, church, "and House of" Lords, but advocates reform in the administrative departments. He ridicules home rule, and returns to Parliament as a supporter of the Gladstone Government. The Iron Duke takes a number of emigrants to Sydney, the Light Brigade emigrants to Queensland. The Great Britain, with emigrants to Melbourne, put back to avoid the gale in which the steamer Delaware was lost. The Windsor Castle came into collision with a French barque with -emigrants bound for South America. The latter foundered, and several lives were lost. Mr William Purday has again written to " The Times " on the Australian mail service. He advocates powerful steamers by the Suez route, and economy in the time spent at coaling stations. Sir Daniel Cooper received an address from the~Agricultural Society of Queensland. Obituary. — Sir William Eamsay ; Sir James Murray, M.D. ; W. W. Wood, I formerly M. P. for Pontefract ; Mr Justice George, of the Irish Court of j Queen's Bench ; Dr Smith, ex bishop ! of Hong Elong; Lady Georgina Cathcart ; Mrs Rives, the notorious claimant to royalty ; Mr Turbeville, editor of the " Independent " (very suddenly) ; Lord Kinmore ; Sir John Bayley, bart. ; Mr Bobert Barnes, of Manchester ; and Frank Vizetelli, "Illustrated News" correspondent, who was drowned on a i voyage to the Cape.