THE "NOTHING EXTENUATE; NOR SET DOWN AUGHT IN MALICE." SATURDAY MORNING, 27th AUGUST. THE JUNE MAIL.

Wellington Independent, Volume XIX, Issue 2096, 27 August 1864, Page 3

THE "NOTHING EXTENUATE; NOR SET DOWN AUGHT IN MALICE." SATURDAY MORNING, 27th AUGUST. THE JUNE MAIL.

Ax 'the moment when the Mail left, the Danish Question absorbed the undivided attention of the Parliament, Press, and people of England. The sittings of the Conference were resumed on May 28th, but the several meetings held ware as abortive for good, as those which had.preceded them. The Danes strongly objected to, and ultimately rejected a proposal emanating from the neutral powers, for the partition of the Duchy of Schleswig. " Against the division of Schleswig, says an influential London paper " there are many influences at work ; indeed like all compromises, it is at the first outset popular with no one. The Danes cannot bear the idea of surrendering the southern districts of what they consider an integral part of the kingdom. Although the proposition of the neutrals is that only about a third of the Duchy should be added to Holstein, and although the part they would take from Denmark is wholly German, and is, if possible more hostile to Danish supremacy than Holstein itself, still the Danes persist in believing that with the country between the Eider and the Schlei, they would give up all that made their State considerable iv Europe, and would, in fact surrender it as a dependency of the hated Confederation. It is easy to conceive the existence of these feelings when we remember that by the most liberal party in Copenhagen,' the Eider has always been looked upon as the boundary of Denmark." Nor were the German Powers more inclined to a pacific settlement of the question. . Every proposition submitted by the neutrals was received by the plenipotentaries of the belligerent powers ad referendum, that isjitwasleft for future consideration, andsuch being the attitude of the parties most interested, it is little wonder if the conference ended in utter failure, and that hostilities were at once resumed. The final meeting took place on the 25th of Juno, and from that moment the utmost anxiety was felt to learn the course Great Britain would pursue. "Would she go to war for Denmark ; and if bo, by whom would she be aided against the great German powers, and what alliance might be formed against her ? These were the questions on the lips of everyone, and ! the Ministerial statement to be made in the i House of Commons on the 27th, was eagerly looked for. But on that day the mail left, and the intelligence broke off at the most interesting point. Fortunately, however, we are in possession of one day's later news, to the 28th, which is published by the Sydney Morning Herald, and taken from the Semaphore de Marseilles. Lord Palmerstonmade his explanation to the House of Commons that evening. After the failure of the conference, another proposal had been made by the French plenipotentiary, with the object of averting hostilities, which was refused by Denmark. "Then" continued the noble lord, "it became the duty of the English Government to reflect seriously on what should be dona?" Whatever may be the wish of the people and Parliament, it is clear that Lord Palmerston and his Ministry have determined that England shall not, for the present at least, go to war for the Danes. The reasons alleged for this decision are that Denmark has been wrong in the origin of the war ; that in the conference she rejected a reasonable proposition, which would have brought about a pacific solution of the difficulty ; that France and Russia have refused to take an active part on her side, and that England alone would have to support the undertaking of driving away the German troops.

Under those circumstances the Government had not thought it their duty to advise her Majesty to declare hostilities, but this decision might be modified, if the war were transferred to the Danish Islands, or Copenhagen attacked, or the King of Denmark made a prisoner of war. Though the peace policy of the cabinet has the support of the Times and other leading English journals, yet a strong feeling has boon evinced against it, and by the latest telegrams it is stated that Mr Disraeli, the leader of the opposition, had given notice of a motion expressing concern at the result of the Conference, and regretting that by mismanagement the influence of England had been lowered. This- is

equivalent to a vote of censure on the Ministry, which, if successful would be followed by their resignation and a general election. j Tims the Tories might again seize the reins of power by taking advantage of tlie popular feeling. There is nothing equal to a good party cry. A few years ago Lord Palmerston appealed to the country to support his war policy in China, and was reinstated in power by a triumphant majority. But times aro changed since then, and the plucky Premiei*, " the judicious bottle holder," as Pimcli used to term him, has changed also. He will now if the occasion should arise, appeal to the breeches pockets of the electors, who will be called upon to decide whether they will maintain the ancient prestige of England, as a great European power and save a brave people from destruction, even at the risk of a lengthened war and a heavy income tax. But it may be, that the Government will escape the danger that has threatened it, as often before has been its happy fortune. Meantime, the bloody work of war had again commenced. Alsen had been captured by the Prussians, with a loss to the Danes of 3,000 men, and Jutland was occupied as a pledge. The best and most generous impulses of our nature are enlisted on the side of a people, hopelessly over-matched, yet struggling bravely against arbitrary and irresistible pewer.

In America the war still rages, and blood is poured forth lilco water. Grant, the Federal General, pressing forward with unflinching determination, had sustained heavy losses. In attacking the Confederate works North of the Chiekahorniny, he was repulsed with a loss of 6,000 men, and this dearly bought experience, it is stated, had taught him that uew combinations would be necessary to effect the capture of Eichmond. The Confederate side has also suffered, but the balance of success is decidedly in its favor. The latest telegram reports a Federal | repulse at Petersburg!! with a loss of 8,000 men. A panic had ensued in the commercial circles of New York ; a loan bill had been passed, authorising the issue of 400,000,000 (d 015.,) forty year six per cent, bonds, whilo gold was quoted at 210. With continued disasters in the field, with a daily government expenditure of two millions live hundred thousand dollars, with a public debt of 700,000,000 dollars, and with national bankruptcy impending, surely the North will ere long cease from its hopeless efforts of conquest. The end is not yet, but it draweth near. 'One victory indeed, the North has gained, in the destruction of the Alabama. Senames, her commander and his crew fought gallantly till the muzzles of her guns were under water, only abandoning the vessel as she sank. There will be great rejoicing in New York when this news is received. The Yankees will be frantic with joy, that that scourge of the seas now lies many a fathom deep ; but they will also be frantic with rage that Captain Semmes has escaped. " A long rope and a short shrift, might have been his fate had he been caught. As it is, he is safe under the aegis of a neutral flag, and may ere long be once more on blue water in a fresh ship, with a fresh crew, ready to play havocs again amongst the { mercantile marine of the Federals. Thore is but little purely Home intelligence on which to comment. Mr Gladstone, whose famous reform _ speech created so profound a sensation, it is said, would cease to represent Oxford, and intended at a general election to seek the suffrages of the Lancashire electors. " A mind like Mr Gladstone's," says a London journal, " must have pondered deeply upon the consequences of such a. step. In giving up Oxford for the most important commercial and manufacturing constituency in the kingdom, he is severing himself from the Liberal-Con-servative party, with which he has acted since the commencement of his public life, to identify himself more immediately with the Manchester school, or as it is more usually termed, the lladical party." Ireland is poverty stricken, and thelargeand inincreasing exodus of its people to America had again become the subject of discussion in Parliament. The Queen, of whom but little now is heard, had held a court at Buckingham Palace, while the Prince and Princess of Wales had been constantly before the public, in the graceful performance of those duties appropriate to their high station. The reception of the latter at Cambridge was enthusiastic ; an undergraduate, in imitation , of Sir Walter Raleigh,, gallantly throwing his gown on the pathway for her to walk on. " The true secret of her power to win all hearts," says an observer, " lies iv the Princess's simplicity of manner, fin the openness and unrestrainedness of her enjoyment, in the freedom with which she shows her delight in the enjoyment and festivity of which she is the centre. It is impossible to imagine a more marked contrast than between the Princess and the great ladies of her suite. She seems an impersonation of simplicity, freedom and capacity for enjoyment, beside their moro artificial manners and guinde bearing. I suppose she would be even open to censure by admirers of what is called aristocratic breeding, for want of restrainedness and repose, and of the power of concealing her pleasure. But there is something inexpressibly delightful in this spontaneousness. It seems to tell of her earlier years, of narrow fortunes, simple habits, small state, and scanty pleas\ires, and one cannot but wish that it may long survive the influence of English Court etiquette, and the freezing, fettering, soul-subduing influences of English Court life."