LATEST SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 889, 2 November 1867, Page 3

LATEST SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

London.

Napoleon has returned from Salzburg. He has made pacific speeches in his progress through France. * The Spanish insurrection is spreading. General Prim. has assumed its direction. The dethronement of the Queen is contemplated. The American Government refuses to submit the Alabama claims to arbitration, deprecating England's recognition of the South. Correspondence is closed. Active preparations for the Abyssinian war are going on. Several transports have been engaged. Sir Robert Napier is to command the army. Wool sales are progressing favorably, Professor Faraday is dead. Australian Government securities are in demand. Large investments have been made at advanced prices. LFBO3I OUE OWN CORRESPONDENT.] London, August 26. What does it all mean, and whereunto shall it lead P— is the natural question with regard to the round of Imperial and Royal visits lately paid in Europe. Is every Monarch bent upon seeing the inside of his neighbour's house, and mayhap detecting the flaw in his " dear brother's " armour? — or is the Millennium near at hand, that those who have so lately been fighting are now going to be so friendly towards each other. The newest thing in Imperial visits, is that now being paid by Louis Napoleon to Francis Joseph. There are two or three ostensible reasons why this visit should be paid — the most prominent of which is that .the least Napoleon can do is to condole with the Kaiser on Maximilian's untimely end brought about by French designs for glory. But all Europe looks for other and more solid reasons for the meeting. France without doubt now stands quite isolated on the Continent. Without one apparent ally the Emperor of the French naturally desires to possess a staunch and powerful friend, ready to help him in time of need. Russia's terms for such an alliance would doubtless be too high — nothing short of Constantinople would be the price demanded by the . Czar ; and Louis Napoleon would shrink from agreeing to such a bargain, as England must have its word in that matter. It is evident that Bismark intends to stand alone, believing fully that Prussia is capable of .holding all she has ; and, if necessary, acquiring more — therefore he prefers being a standing menace to, rather than an ally of, France. Austria and France combined would doubtless prove a match for any European combination; but Austria is German, and would, in all probability, at jhe last moment shrink from striking at Prussia ; besides, she has a vulnerable point on her southern frontier, and, supposing Italy to make common cause with .Prussia, it will take fully naif of Austria's men to keep Victor Emmanuel in check. Still, as there does not seem to be any other point to which Louis Napoleon can turn, Europe decides for him — that he has gone to Salzburg for the purpose- of entering into an alliance with the Kaiser. It is said that the French Emperor desires a gathering of the European monarchs, for the purpose of settling various points that, if left unsettled, may be provocative of war. If he can manage this, he will be a real benefactor to Europe : and will, by such means, do more to establish his dynasty than by any war of conquest and glory. Of course the meeting has been very cordial, and to all appearance the two Emperors are glad to be in each other's company; but it has been after such meetings that Europe has seen two great wars — will a third follow this meeting? If it does, it will be one compared with which those of the first Napoleon were child's-play. All we can do is to wait, and get ready for what may " turnup."

A new trouble has fallen upon Pius IX. Rome and South Italy have been invaded by the cholera, and its ravages are terrible ; among its victims is a Cardinal, who did all ho could to alleviate the pain and suffering around him, and who fell at his post. This visitation has shewn to us the dark side of the Italian character. Thepeople, steeped in ignorance, now naturally develop the effect of their'superstitions, and, turning from all the means employed with effect in other countries to meet the dread foe, rely wholly on the priesthood and the prayers ordered to be said. In several places the people have taken it. into their heads that the doctors go about poisoning the wellsj and the professors of medicine have had to flee for their lives. So Cholera, with his two best allies, dirt and ignorance, has got a merry time of it in Italy, and we can only expect him to leave off when the Weather gets colder.

At last King Theodoras is to be spoken to properly about the Abyssinian, captives. Never has England been so patient, or resorted to such expedients for the liberation of any of its subjects — but there is a limit to all things. This dusky monarch seems to rely upon the supposed inaccessibility of his dominions — but a plan for a campaign has been drawn up, and an ultimatum sent to him, behind which lie will quickly see a few thousand bayonets. In addition to this little trouble, he has

got a rebellion , going on in his kingdom, and the rebels seem to have.' got hold of two or three of the strongest;places, and this may give a quick ending to the matter. , • " ' Spain having experienced the •usual term of tranquillity, has been mdulginginanother "insurrection," which the" authorities, according to the form " duly provided," declare is "at an. end." But our experience of Spanish affairs does not induce us to place implicit faith in such " endings." Affairs are far from settled in Isabella's dominions, and some day, perhaps one not far distant, Spaniards may be seized with a fit of energy when the last of the Bourbons may arrive' at her " ending. Though all Europe has been constantly assured that the. Cretan insurrection is quelled, it is a fact that it still continues — perhaps only " dragging ifa slow length along." But it is certain that various European Powers have addressed remonstrances to Turkey. It is even whispered that Crete eventually (unless the insurrection is sooner quelled) will become a free State. As I shall want to speak about a good many " home affairs, ' I shall vary my usual course, and allude to America next. The state of parties in the " United " States is such as not to enchanf beholders very much with democratic institutions. Mr. Johnson, unable any longer to " put up with" Mr. Stanton, has suspended him, — appointing General Grant to the office of War Secretary. Mr. Stanton now says he shall try the question as to Mr. Johnson's power so to remove him ! ! The various " parties " are now preparing for the Presidential election of 1868, and at present there seems to be considerable doubt as to who the candidates for the occupation of the White House will be. General Grant carefully maintains silence, refusing to commit himself to any political section of the great community. He has at present a popularity, hence each party is desirous of securing him. The extreme radicals are desirous of nominating a black Vice-President — in order to vindicate the " equality of race " doctrine, and should they succeed in this, there is just the bare probability that in a few years time we may see a "nigger" President of the great Republic, and then we shall scarcely know what next to expect. Mexico, having got rid of a war between a President and Emperor, is now likely soon to be in the enjoyment of a war between two other rivals for power — Escobedo and Juarez. For the moment Juarez is in possession of supreme power — but as a change is absolutely necessary for Mexican comfort, Escobedq, 'is determined to upset his master if possible. Meanwhile the scenes that are taking place daily in various parts of the country are sickening — executions taking place everywhere to the strains of martial music. The Americans refuse to intarfere except as a last resort — as they not untruly say, Mexico, would be a bad bargain at any price. The sequel may perhaps prove that the best thing America could have done would have been to have supported Maximilian, notwithstanding the Monroe doctrine. At last Parliament has arrived at the end of its labours, and its members, wearied out by the amount of talking they have had to go through either as orators or hearers, are sent away for their holidays. Parliament was prorogued by Royal Commission on the 21st inst. Of the speech (copy enclosed) there is not mucli to be said except that it was rather long, and passed in review the events that have occurred since the commencement of the session. Of course the [Reform Bill was its chief topic — .King Theodorus and his conduct-furnishing the only sensational paragraph. As to the session that has passed, notwithstanding the immense amount of time that has been consumed in talk," many useful Acts have been passed. The most prominent are the New Poor Law, The Extension of the Factory Acts, and the new Shipping Bill. As to the measure of the session, i.e. the Reform Bill, it is the " leap in the dark" that we are holding our breath over. The. first Parliament' to be elected under its provisions will not assemble before 1870— much to the joy of the election ,agents, who have now a long campaign before them, with a pleasing vista of long bills having heavy totals. I enclose you the full text of the Bill as it now is, my space not allowing me to give you an abstract of it. With regard to boroughs it is clearly " household suffrage pure and simple." Lodgers are only obliged to prove that they pay £10 a year. The County franchise is fixed at a rating of £12 per annum. The only Conservative provision is that, where three members are to be elected for any place, voters will only have the power to vote for two of the candidates. This last clause was made the reason of a great fight in both houses, and is clearly the thin edge of the wedge for the representation of all minorities. It met with strong opposition from some of the Radical Members, whose faith is so great in the voice of the majority. Despite all the hubbub that was raised, it was passed, and we enter upon* quite a new phase of our representative institutions. Viewing the session politically, there can be no doubt that the Conservatives have gained immensely by it. They have done that which for years the Liberals have only talked about, and have passed a measure of far larger scope than ever entered . into the ideas of the Whigs. Their popularity throughout the country lias vastly increased, and had Her Majesty's Opposition made it necessary for Earl Derby to appeal to the country, he would have succeeded in securing more votes than he now possesses in the House of Commons. As for Mr.. Disraeli, his reputation has been considerably heightened oy his performance; nor has one far to go to find the secret of his new-born success. He, at least, has learnt the value of silence ; for while his opponents have talked, he has listened and watched — once the weak points of his enemy discovered, he has descended upon them with amazing swiftness, and • put them to utter rout. As to his straightforwardness, (or rather the want of it) little can be said — by policy he has won, and truth has suffered during his march. With what different feelings must the Ministers have partaken of their whitebait this time, to those they possessed at the termination of the previous session. Then all was anxiety — now all is certainty, and victory proved the " piquante" sauce to the banquet. Speaking of the Houses of Parliament, reminds me of a serious charge brought by Mr. Pugin against the late Sir Charles Barry. Mr. Pugin asserts that his father designed the present Parliament at Westminster, and sold the plans to Sir C. Barry for £400. The charge is a remarkable one, and such as ought to bo sifted to the bottom. Both the parties to the transaction (if any such did take place) are dead, but :their two sons are alive, and both of them architects, with reputations somewhat founded on their deceased fathers' fame, so we are likely to see the matter cleared up. All our Imperial and Royal visitors having taken their departure, a slight shower of honors has descended upon the City of London. ' The Lord Mayor has been created a baronet, and 'the two Sheriffs have been knighted for their little share in the reception of the Sultan. Alderman Rose, too, has at last got his

heart's desire, by being knighted— he having been Lord Mayor of London at the time the Princess of Wales cape to England. ••■■■• Doubtless you will remember the "row and scandal/ that took place ; at Simla between Sir William Mansfield and Capt. Jervis with reference to some bottles of pickles &c. — how Capt. Jervis was tried by court martial, and how Sir William scolded the court lie had created, as also how, having succeeded in convicting Capt. Jervis of a minor, offence, he dismissed him the service. All this has been brought up again by the Duke of Cambridge being called upon to deliver his final judgment in the matter. He has written a dispatch wherein he does not spare the General, but refuses to restore Capt. Jervis to the service. Sir William Mansfield cannot do less than resign — for which he certainly has chiefly to thank his wife — whose ideas of an aide-de-camp's duties are to say the least "very peculiar." Her ladyship seems to' have been of opinion that the General's aide-de-camp should act in her household as a kind ot well educated footman — to receive and talk to her ladyship's visitors. Capt. Jervis ha* himself to thank chiefly for his misfortunes,, as he appears to have for some time acted in the peculiar capacity Lady Mansfield assigned to him. The House of Lords has confirmed the decision of Vice-Chancellor Malms in the Overend, Gurney and Co.'s case. No other result could have been anticipated, and though it will cause a great deal of suffering to the shareholders, it is evidently the only just mode of dealing with the matter. The simple proposition made by the shareholders amounted to this — that they, having been swindled by their partners into taking shares in a rotten concern, must cease to be liable for any loss parties trading with their firm might incur. This simply strikes at the root of all partnerships. In fact these very shareholders would have been glad enough to take the profit — if there had been any — but immediately want relief when a loss falls upon them. We have had 14 tailors tried at the Old Bailey, and convicted of conspiracy, inasmuch as they "picketed" the t shops of those masters against whom they had struck." Their idea of liberty seems to have been to post sentries opposite the obnoxious shops, and " mob ' all those who came in oi* went out. Sometimes there would be as many as 500 of these non- working men in one street, and those poor tailors who chose to work were duly persecuted. Baron Bramwell gave all these worthies a good lecture, and upon their promising not to repeat the offence, they were discharged — except one, who had resorted to personal violence, for which he has got three months' hard labour, with bread and water, to think over. It is to be hoped that we have now heard the last of the tailors' strike. At Sheffield, the saw-grinders seem determined to outrage all decency, inasmuch as they refuse to expel Broadhead and his friends from tneir Union. Fortunately the magistrates have had an opportunity of redeeming the town from some of its disgrace, as Mr. Broadhead, upon applying for his renewal of the license of his pot-house, was refused — the Bench considering that " he is not a fit and proper person for a license." His solicitor had the impudence to enquire the reason why, but the magistrates, remembering Lord Eldon's celebrated advice to the Cojonial Judges, said " they had to give their decision, but not their reason." . . . . A trial for murder took place at Maidstone recently, at which the evidence was particularly conflicting; and an alibi being in a measure established by hard swearing, the" prisoner obtained the benefit of the doubt. The plea of insanity having been worn rather threadbare, and the Commission appointed to enquire into the, question of capital punishment having recommended that a distinction should be drawn between planned murders, and those committed without any premeditation, learned counsel now rely upon the plea of sudden temptation, &c. . The last case of the kind is. one at Birmingham, where a man killed his wife, and then tried to burn, her body. He pleaded guilty to being the cause of his wife's death, but urged that he never intended to kill her. The jury found him guilty of murder, and he is sentenced to be hanged. We have as yet to see if this plea will prove sufficient to save him from the halter. . On Thursday last the south of London was thrown into a ferment by the discovery that a respectable woman had murdered her two children, and then destroyed herself, — a slight indulgence in drink is supposed to. have sent her mad, so the jury called to look at the three dead bodies returned the stereotyped verdict " temporaryinsanity." To day another fearful affair has come to light — being nothing more nor less than the violation and murder of a girl 8 years old, and the mutilation of the body by the supposed violator.