ENGLISH NEWS.

Southland Times, Issue 1755, 17 June 1873, Page 3

ENGLISH NEWS.

A fight has occurred in Louisiana, between whites and negroes. Two hundred negroes wei'e burned to death whilst defending the Courthouse.

The result of Sir Bartle Frere's mission to Muscat is that Synd Turki has signed a treaty undertaking to forbid the importation of slaves, and declaring free all negroes and other bondsmen hereafter arriving in the territory of Oman. He will also put down all public slave marts, and anyone proved having imported slaves will be dealt with by law. Similar engagements have been entered into with the sheikh afc Makullah, on the Hadramaunt coast. The Political Resident at Bushire will make all safe on the Arabian shore of the Persian Gulf. Sir Bartle Frere proceeds to Mahableshwar, to have an interview with the Governor, and thence to Simla.

The ex-Emperor Napoleon's will, dated April, 1865, has been made public. It bequeaths to the Empress his property, which is expected to realise £60,000. He charges his son to preserve the relics, and study the deeds and correspondence of his uncle, and remember that the people's cause is the cause of France.

The Spanish Government has surrendered Bidwell (oue of the Bank of England forgers).

A very strong commission of enquiry, with the Duke of Somerset as its chairman (writes tbe Home News), has been appointed to investigate the whole subject which Mr Plimsoll opened up so dauntlessly. The Duke of Edinburgh is a member of it. There are business men nominated who wilt take care that no part of the question is evaded or eluded. The general charge that there is criminal carelessness in regard to the safety of our merchant ships will not be sustained, but there is no. doubt felt that Mr Plimsoll will be able to substantiate some very terrible accusations. The fund for supporting him acquires proportions which show how the heart of the nation has been stirred by his revelations. They have also had the good effect of proving that in a majority of cases the shipowners exercise the most meritorious watchfulness over their vessels.