LONDON LETTER IN THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES.

Evening Post, Issue 44, 30 March 1865, Page 2

LONDON LETTER IN THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES.

From India we learn the capture of Bhootan hill fortresses and their annexation to the British dominions. In the first brush with the enemy, on the taking of Dalinikok, December 6th, we lost seven officers and about 70 men killed and wounded ; but it was conjectured that the dissensions amongst the Bhootaneese themselves would render the conquest of the Bengal Dooars and all other positions necessary for the protection of our frontiers, a comparatively easy matter , and that the expedition will be a success without much further loss of life. In Japan two British officers of the 20th Regiment, Captain Baker and Major Baldwin, have been recently murdered— for this, full justice is demanded, and as a conciliatory spirit is shown by the native authorities! hostilities may be avoided, and the friendly relations on which we have mutually entered remain undisturbed ; but our countrymen must be avenged at all hazards. " London Dressmaking Company Limited," announced, directed and patronised by the Bishops of London and Oxford, Earl Shaftesbury, and Lady Palmerston, besides Duchesses', Ambassadresses and Lady Commoners of the highest fashion. It starts with a capital of £20,000 in £10 shares ; and aided by all this philanthropy and benevolence we now have some hopes of relief from milnight toil to our poor little half-starved, overworked needle-women. Should the good Queen and Princess Alexandra but lend their powerful influence to this movement, the thing would be at once accomplished ; and not all the " Mantalinis," male or female, could evermore restore the odious system of long hours, by which the white slaves of England are kept for years at starvation-point and finally driven to an early grave. Spain still wavers 'twixt national pride and common honesty — whether San Domingo is to be abandoned, and the Peruvian burglary relinquished and atoned for, are hard nuts for haughty Spaniard to crack ; and it remains to be proved how far straitened finance and large army -deaths, accompanied by European condemnation, will suffice to induce Queen Isabel to listen to the voice of selfpreservation, and at the same time do justice unto others. A Congress of the South American Republics have got to business, and are seemingly in earnest on Spanish aggression— the Chincha Islands are to be recovered forthwith, and Peru takes the lead in any amount of hostilities necessary to stop the arrogance of the Dan — there was to be no mistake in this, and within a given number of days the Islands were to be restored, or the Peruvian President would have to answer for it. Curiously enough just then the Spanish Admiral's &i\£ ship blew up ; there was one ship less to fight against, and the contest may even now be over — " for one or both of us the time is come" — there's clearly not room for two claimants on the rich field of guano. Peruvian ships are likewise in English waters beating up for recruits, and two vessels have been nearly filled with Englishmen for war against Spain— of course our policy here is non intervention, and all parties are warned ; nevertheless, as in the American case, temptation is great, and recruiting captains are in trouble. Mr. Shol, who murdered his fellow countryman, and afterwards decapitated the corpse and buried the head to prevent recognition j is convicted, will expiate his deed of bio v to-morrow, at Chelmsford. We shall next have to deal out juitioe to F — -, an Italian/

for using his knife in Saffron Hill, killing an Irishman named Harrington, and fearfully wounding others in a public house brawl Really, Jack Ketch has no sinecure, for what with foreign cutthroats in London, and an awful abundance of native crime all over the kingdom, the common hangman is in constant requisition. Our Turfites are recovering from their melancholy vacation, and looking out their harness for the approaching term. " Wales" leads the van, and 1865 is destined to show us something. It is reported that the Prince has a fine stud and means business ; he is well in for handicaps and other good things, and is consequently spotted as fortune's favorite for the year— the " coming man" is supposed to be found at last, and racing never looked so gay; nevertheless first class nags are in the field. Merry is as sweet on his " Liddington" as I'Anson is] on Breadalbane and Broomie. law ; and not even Master Wale 9 may snatch the blue ribbon on Epsom downs without a tussle. Meantime the " two thousand" will try the mettle of the best of them ; and until that in decided all the cracks now entered will have their respective admirers for the one great race in Surrey.