West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 207, 18 May 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1866.

By the arrival of the South Australian at the Bluff, we have telegraphic news from England to the JBth April. The mail dates are to the 26th March. A full Summary of intelligence received by Electric Telegraph from the Bluff was published in the Despatch of last evening. The general tenor of the news is undoubtedly disquieting, and the effect of

tho critical posture of affairs is seen in the low rates of Consols quoted. The quarrel between the two leading German powers, arising out of the question of- thc|*Duchies, is approaching a point at which escape from war will bo impossible. Tho friendly mediation of the powers most interested indirectly in the maintenance of peace has been rejected. Probably a rupture between Prussia and Austria, more serious than the intoruption of diplomatic relations , is one of tho inevitable issues of the future, and a war between them cannot fail to bo productive of important changes in tho present territorial settlement of Europe. It would act at once as a signal for a new movement in Italy for tho annexation to that kingdom of tho rich territories still retained under tho sway of tho Government of Vienna. In such a struggle, England would probably find no reason to depart from that course of non-intervention in European affairs which has now become tho established policy of tho Empire. It is so much tho custom, however, for great powers to indulge in angry language towards each other, and to make menacing military demonstrations which do not result in actual hostilities, that it would bo premativo to assume that the peace of Europe is about to be broken. The English Government appears to have quite enough to do in the suppression of Fenianism, both at homo and as threatening the tranquility of Canada. No doubt the movement had assumed such dimensions that no steps less prompt and decisive than thoso adopted by the civil and military authorities would have sufficed to deal with it. In Irelaud its strength has been utterly broken. The exposure of plots, the objects of which have in all probability been known to the Government, and the wholesome terror inspired by the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, havo had their effect in breaking up a vast and ramified organisation. In the North American Provinces the danger was more immiment. Under tho friendly shelter of the American flag the conspirators havo enjoyed tho fullest opportunity of disseminating without check their revolutionary doctrines and of maturing a formidable force. For the protection of tho British colonios, and the maintenance of tho integrity of the Empire, tho Government have adopted energetic steps, and the presence of a large fleet, and of an army of well-trained and veteran soldiers, we may anticipate put an effectual stop to tho menaced invasion of tho Canadian soil. The United States aro themselves passing through as critical a stage in thoir history as at any period since the first declaration of Independence. Tho7 work of re-construction seems to be one of as groat difficulty as was the work of conquest^ and it is only an evidence of the excited passions that have been called into play by a protracted civil war, that the Fenian movement has enlisted so large an amount of popular sympathy, at a time when tho undivided attention of tho whole people- is imperatively required to bo given to the task of setting their own " house in order.