EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 418, 25 October 1861, Page 3

EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE.

(From the Sydney Herald's City Correspondent.)

London, Saturday, August 10,1861. Parliament was proiogued on Tuesday. The Queen's speech announces friendly and satisfactory relations with Foreign Powers, and expresses * a hope' that there is no danger of any disturbance to the peace of Europe, and an earnest wish that the affairs of Italy may be settled in a manner best suited to the welfare and happiness of the Italian people. With regard to affairs in the United States it laments the calamitous results of the dissensions in the States, and reiterates the declaration of strict neutrality. The rapid improvements in the internal condition of affairs in India is alluded to, and the material substance of the Queen's speech ends.

The great matter of interest at this moment is the news from America, The first great battle between the North and South was fought, won, and lost on the 21st July (Sunday), at 'Bull's Run, about fifteen miles from Manasses Junction—and resulted in a disastrous defeat of the Federal army, which was completely panic-stricken and fled tumultously towards Washington, with a loss to them of the whole of the artillery of rifled cannon and large quantities of arms. The whole Federal army, under General M'Dowell, advanced on the Confederate's positions, and after nine hours' fighting, succeeded in taking three batteries, and seemed about to gain the day, when, in consequence of a backward movement by a small body of artillery, the teamsteit of the waggons took fright, thinking there was a defeat, instantly cut the traces of the horses, jumped on their backs, and bolted. This gave the troops an idea that things were going wrong, and in an instant the whole army took fright and fled in the utmost disorder. At this moment General Beauregard, the commander of the Confederate army,, was reinforced by General Johnstone with 25,000 men, who pursued the panic-stricken ' grand army ' of the north as far as Fairfax. The Federal army ' bolted'—nothing could stop them until they reached Washington, The loss on both sides is estimated at between 2000 and 4000 killed and wounded.

Jefferson Davis, the President of the Southern Confederacy, commanded the centre in person.

The Union Defence Committee and the New York Press attiibute the disaster to the incapacity of the Cabinet; and General Scott has admitted that they forced him to fight the battle contrary to his judgment, and before he was prepared. M'Dowell has been,1 surperseded by General M'Clellan, of known repute. An additional army of 80,000 men has been voted, and Congress and the people of the North have declared their readiness to make any sacrifice of men and money, with the view of retrieving the disgrace sustained.

At the latest date an attack by the Confederates was expected on Harpur's Ferry, and probably one on Washington. Affairs in Hungary are approaching a crisis. The Lower House at Pesth has adopted an address from the Diet, in answer to the rescript of the Emperor, declining to send deputies to the Council of the Empire —declares that the Diet must cease to transact any buisness, and finally states that further negotiations are broken off. This is throwing down gage to the Emperor. It is to be seen what will follow— a rupture, of course.

At the same time the Croatian and Sclavonian Diet has also resolved not to send representatives to the Council of the Empire.

The Italian loan of £20,000,000 is a complete success.

At Warsaw (Poland) the people have assembled in great crowds before the residence of the English Consul, and deposited bouquets of flowers with shouts of' Long live Queen Victoria.' The bouquets were offered to the British nation in grateful acknowledgment of its sympathy for Poland.

The Sultan is effecting great reforms in Turkey throughout tho public offices. • The King of Sweden, and Prince Oscar of Sweden; are on a visit at St. Cloud to his Majesty the Emperor of the French.

Sir George Grey, ' Administrator of the Government of New Zealand,' has been appointed ' Governor and Commander-in-Chief.*

The iron-clad frigate Warrior has proceeded down the river. Tenders are invited for three more iron clad frigates twenty feet longer, and 15£ inches broader than the Warrior, the tonnage to be 6620* tons, with 1250 horse-power.

Saturday, August 17th. Eoyal visits are the order of the day just now. The Archduke Maximltan, the Queen-Mother of Spain, Christina, and suite, the King of Sweden, and Prince Oscar, the latter being about to marry one of our Princesses (Alice), the Count Prince and Princess of Prussia—are all in this country.

The Holstein difficulty is settled, the Danish Government having made concessions satisfactory to Germany.. It consents to allow the contribution of Holstein from its special revenue to the common budget ofthe monarchy, to be provisionally limited for the current year to the quota allotted to Holstein by the normal budget of 1856. The German Diet accepts this, and will take no further measures on the subject. Baron. Ricasoli has sent a circular to the Italian representatives abroad, proclaiming that Italy has constituted herself, although a portion of Italian territory is still in the hands of others, that Euiope seeing the strength and fitness of the Italians for Constitutional Government, must be convinced of her right to possess the entire Peninsula.

Italy has consthuted herself, notwithstanding that a portion of Italian territory is in tlio hands of others. Europe, beholdin;,' us armed and strong, will beqomo persuade] of <wr rigjht to the entire po^esaion Qf our

territory, and will find a guarantee of repose and rest by favoring tho restoration of the part of which is wanting to us. It will also become persuaded that we, a people essentially Catholic, understand better than any other the true interests ot the Church when we ask her to divest herself of the feudal rights which a barbarous age gave her.

The address of the Hungarian Diet to the Emperor of Austria has been adopted by the Upper House without alteration, and presenteo" to his Majesty, who replied in general terms. The Cabinet Council demands that the Hungarian Diet be dissolved, and that an Imperial manifesto be addressed to the different peoples of the Austrian Empire. A crisis is evidently approaching. There have been further disturbances at Warsaw—a collision between the people and the troops—great agitation. The orders of the Governor set at defiance.

The coronation of the King of Prussia will take place on the 15th October. The visit of the King of Prussia to the Emperor of the French is to be postponed in order not to give offence to the Emperor of Russia.

The visit of the King of Sweden to the Emperor of the French has produced some sensation in political circles at St. Petersburg.

The Sultan of Turkey is steadily prosecuting his reforms in the administration of the Empire. There is to be a sale here of the jewellery of the Sultan.

The Pasha of Egypt is following the example of the Sultan by retrenchments in v?rious branches of the Administration and the civil list, &c. He has reduced the army, the police force, the Royal household, sold his hor»es, plate, &c.; in fact, is either turning all he can into money, or cutting down expenses. His debts are £7,000,000 and he is liable for £3,000,000 on account of the Suez canal.

General M'Clellan, the new Commander-in-<3hief of the Federal army of America, has infused new life into the Federal corps. Congress has passed bills to increase the taxes and duties with a view to provide means to carry on the war.

General Beauregard, of the Confederate army, intends to remain on the defensive.

Piince Napoleon had arrived at Washington, and would proceed to the line. The Emperor of the French, on his fete day, last Thursday, remitted or commuted the punishments on 1236 prisoners on the civil side.

The Great Exhibition building of 1862 is fast progressing. The London subscription sto the Indian Famine Relief Fund, have reached £107,500, while the great towns have contributed largely, say £50,000 in all. Boat building is to be done by machinery, under the patent of a Mr. Nathan Thompson, marine engineer of New York. About thirty feet long, &c, can be turned out in a few hours—2soo boats, on an emergency, in thirty days!

Saturday, August 24th. The Queen, accompanied of course by the Prince Consort and others of the Royal family, landed at Kingstown on Thursday morning, and was received by her Irish subjects with the most loyal and considerate sympathy. There was an entire absence of boisterous demonstration—not a cheer as the Queen deserved. Her Majesty still grieves for the los 3of her mother. Her visit to Ireland is of the strictest private character. The crowds assembled to do her honor and give her welcome were immense. Her Majesty drove out at Dublin in so unostentatious array that no one knew it.

The Crown Prince and Princess of Prussia, the Prince William and Princess Charlotte have returned to the continent.

The King of Sweden and Prince Oscar have been paying private visits to the public buildings and large private establishments of London and Woolwich, &c.

Prince Alfred has returned from America on board the mail steamer Aralua.

Queen Christina and her husband have returned to the continent (Boulogne). The Duke and Duchess of Montpensier return to Spain.

The Duke of Oporto ha? .returned to Lisbon, and this, I think, completes the catalogue of the proceedings and movements of royal personages.

The Emperor of Austria has dissolved the Hungarian Diet, and reserves to himself the power of calling another « possibly within six months from this time.'

The Diet have with acclamation adopted a resolution or energetic protest against this violation of the Constitution, and against the other arbitrary acts of the Government, declaring that the dissolution of the Diet is an illegal act.

There is a general expectation that this event will be but the precursor of graver events. Military despotism rules in Hungary, the taxes being collected by military force.

Orders are said to have been given for the formation of two more corps d'armee on a war footing, one of which is to occupy Austrian Poland.

The Sultan has resolved upon a conciliatory policy towards feervia, and the Hei zegovina. Omar Pasha, after defeating the insurgents in three battles, having by orders from the Sultan, issued a proclamation declaring that the Sultan accedes to all the demands made by the Montenegrins. In America the Confederates have, since the battle at 4 Bull's Run,' been repeatedly defeated by the Federalists. General M'Clellan is energetically reorganising the Federal army. What his plans are for the future no one knows, but he has refused to give any information of his movements to the Press—some of the papers having violated the agreement entered into with him.

Prince Napoleon had been presented to President Lincoln on the 3rd August, and in the evening dined at the White House in company with the Cabinet and Generals Scott and M'Clellan, and the British and Jfrench minister?,

The Confederate privateers have been swarming in numbers, and captured numerous vessels of the Federal States.

Tho weather for weeks past has been most brilliant for the harvest. The crop will be good, and we shall have much less to import, therefore less gold to pay.