HOME SUMMARY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIV, Issue 1089, 4 December 1857, Page 3

HOME SUMMARY.

Parliament was prorogued on the 28th of August. The Queen's speech contains a hit of some of the most important measures passed during the last session, from which it will be seen that the nevr Parliament devoted itself to its work throughout its short sitting with extraordinary energy. The speech is in other respects, all that could be desired. It announces the pacific state of our relations with the powers of Europe, «nd refers to the mutiny in India with a touching expression of the deep grief her Majesty feels at the sufferings to which so many of her loyal subjects have been exposed, declaring, at the same time, her full confidence, under Providence, in the powerful means at her disposal for the restoration of tranquillity.' These are not mere words of course. On this occasion the language of the royal speech -is not intended to conceal the thought of the speaker, but is, on the contrary, too weak to give it adequate utterance. We have reason to know, apart from the public channels of information, that her Majesty is profoundly afflicted at the disasters which hare occurred in India, and that she watches the course of event* there with the most painful interest. Therprofound and universal sympathy felt through* out England, and indeed we may justly add, Europe, tor the sufferings of our brave fellow-countrymen, cannot be adequately described. All the foreign journals, ' French and German, and even the Russian organs, hare .expressed sentiment* honorable to them at such a time, and, we believe, that if it were necessary, or desirable, iwe obuld obtain any amount of help in the way of levies "~ from die continent. In Germany, our consuls have declined the offers of service which have been tendered to them. "Nor isit'the least remarkable feature in the general demonstration on behalf of the English soldiers in India, that the Americans, always loath to meddle in foreign <ji<4irrel«, ha,?e fctiznatet) their willingness to aid.

vi. At home, the progress, of .events, in the disturbed presidency ia almost the only, topic ,diiouised. The dAily pipers teem with extracts from letters written, from forti and stations by beleaguered officers and their wires, iisters, arid daughters/ and if we add to these the "Correspondence that pours in from all parts of the United Kingdom— not a titnVof ■which, is published — containing advice and cbmmenttriea, and if we crown the whole, with the # leading articles which daily appear under the editorial sanction, it may be inferred what space India occupies in the journals. Nor is it merely in this shape that the general interest is shown. It takes a more immediately available form in the direction of large subscriptions fur the bereaved widows and children of theslnin. The first movement of this kind originated in London, under the aus- I pices of the Lord Mayor, and hasheen nobly responded to. The provinces have since taken up the benevolent agitation, and the principal towns are now in course of organising subscriptions. Amongst the most prominent persons who have already con tributed.we find thenames of. the Queen, of the Emperor of the French, and of Lady Forbes, for £1000 each, followed by a train of munificent donations of lesser amounts. No limit can bo anticipated to the accumulation of th« fund, except that of the necessities which have called it into existence. The aspect of affairs in Europe is peaceful and hopeful. The Emperor Napoleon has established a grand picturesque camp at Chalons, where he is amusing himself receiving guests, and playing at soldiers, with an ulterior view no doubt to any emergencies which may hereafter arise. A meeting has been fixed to take place between him and the Czar at Stuttgardt. and, as might be expected, it has given occasion to many surmises. But whatever may be the object of the meeting— if it j have any special object— we have no grounds to suspect the loyalty of Louis Napoleon in his alliance with England. The King of Prussia has been invited to be present ; and, it is said, the Czar is afterwards to proceed to Paris to meet Queen Victoria. Of the truth of this latter rumour we have no means of judging. A report that Persia would take advantage of the mutiny in India to refuse to execute the treaty of peace, or to evacuate Herat, proves to be without foundation. After a delay, which has been satisfactorily accounted for, Herat has been evacuated, and our relations with the Shah placed upon the most- friendly basis. Mr. i Murray is said to have established hiirself on the best understanding with the Government, and, having completed his mission, to be about to leave the country on account of his health. ,We hear from Constantinople that Schamyl had achieved a succession of brilliant victories over the Russians. He had recovered a part of Daghestan, forced and interrupted communications between Kiplar and Derbent. and obtained possession of no less than ten forts, built by the Russians, in the face of incredible obstacles, during the last twelve years. Scharayl justly exults'over his triumphs in a proclamation, in which he tells his people that the time is come for the assertion of Islam independence.