OUR LONDON LETTER.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 996, 14 November 1868, Page 3

OUR LONDON LETTER.

London, 11th Sept., 1868. The mails have lately followed each other in such quick succession that the news from home must necessarily be made up in small, but frequent parcels ;— in the present instance I have only to speak of the events of ten days. There has been no sign given on the Continent yet. The Emperor of the French, at Chalons, reviewed his soldiers, and expressed himself delighted with their appearance and evident efficiency. It was expected that His Majesty would say something decided on affairs to the army, and operators oa the Bourse consequently arranged the Emperor's speech for him, and the funds fell. He has spoken, and it is still — "Peace! peace!" which by some strange course of reasoning the French people translate as war ! war ! In order to add a little perplexity to the position, some one started the rumor that the Emperor was very ill, and persisted, too, in maintaining it. As it seemed likely to be believed, the Government papers have had to semi-officially deny the report. You have heard all about the proceedings against M. Rochefort for certain attacks upon the Government in his journal, La, Lanterne. M. Eochefort lias had to leave France, but continues to publish his paper at Brussels, from whence it finds its way into France, much to the annoyance of the police, who seize every copy they can lay their hands upon. The witty editor has played them a practical joke lately, for he made up a number composed exclusively of extracts from Louis Napoleon's works, and the'number was duly confiscated; hereupon, M. Eochefort calls attention to the fact that the Emperor's books are no longer allowed to be read in France. Count Bismarck is slowly recovering from the combined effects of ill-liealth and his accident. There can be little doubt, however, that a long period must elapse before the real ruler of Prussia will be able to once more assume the reins. Nothing very remarkable has occurred in the political world at home except that the ferment and hubbub caused by the approaching election increases, and the " free and independent" are being cajoled and flattered more and more every day. The jury empanelled at Abergele have returned a verdict of manslaughter against the two breaksmen who were in charge of the goods train on the day of the accident, and who let the trucks run away down the incline. The jury could hardly have arrived at any other conclusion. In addition to this, they severely censure.d the station-master at Abergele for Iris great carelessness ; and they found fault with the manner in which trains were run on the London and North-Western Eailway. Of course we cannot try all the directors and managers of the great company in question, by whose orders a goods train is allowed to dawdle along in front of a mail train, with just two minutes between life and death — for all have been compelled to place their, safety for the time being in their care (?) and keeping. It is, however, to be hoped that the new Parliament will pass more stringent acts, and in some measure regulate the traffic of these monster monopolies. Certain friends of the victims not feeling satisfied that the station-master should get off with a simple censure have commenced a prosecution against him : so that in all probability three people will be tried for manslaughter. The long-expected prize fight for the championship, between the two men Allen and Gross, collapsed, as jjl predicted ; only this time it seems the parties did not make a " sell" of it, for the police duly captured Allen, after a long chase, and locked him up the night before the fight was -to take place; and, as the " hero" could not find bail, he had the pleasure of having his body and " features" preserved in gaol for three days. At last his friends turned up, and he went back to Manchester to keep his " pub." Soon after, Mr. Goss was introduced to the magistrates at Bowstreet, and having succeeded in obtaining bail was set at liberty. It appears that at last the authorities are determined to put down the ring, and everywhere, both in town and country, the police make it a point to sweep down on the pugilists whenever they try to " come to conclusions." The " noble science," therefore, being all but snuffed out in England, its professors seem determined to try their fortune in new lan<3s, and, according to the New York papers, have selected America as their future home. The first detachment of the gentry arrived lately in New York, and the people of that city looked with alarm at the " low-browed," " broken-nosed" specimens of humanity ; and, when they discovered they were prize-fighters, said there were enough rowdies already, without such an addition. All we can say is, America is quite welcome to all the pugilists we possess. If the prize ring has fallen, the turf seems to be also on the downward road, for scarcely ever now does a great race occur without some " sell" taking place. The last specimen of this has been at Doncaster, over the St. Leger. For some weeks the leading favorite in the betting was the Marquis of Hastings' horse, the "Earl," and lie was backed for a very large amount ; but before the race the horse was scratched, and the backers have been left lamenting. It is certainly very curious that this horse, when he does run, wins nearly all, and that he has been scratched at the last moment almost, for both the Derby and tho Leger. Eumor has it that his noble owner is so completely in the hands of the bookmakers that lie lias to do as he is told. This lie indignantly denies, and the whole affair is to be investigated by the Jockey Club. Certain it is that horse-racing is quickly passing from a sport into a ".profession," wherein the betting man makes a good thing by " arrangements," &c. The news of the goldfield at Auckland, received here on 25th ultimo, is looked upon most favourably by all interested in the colony, and there is little doubt a goodly flow of emigration will soon set in towards the New Zealand Thames. By-tlie-bye, I had nearly forgotten to tell you that we have had a cab strike in London. Cabby felt himself aggrieved because he was not allowed to go into the metropolitan railway stations without paying about Is. per week to the company at whose station lie might ply to and from. The real grievance seems to bo that Cabby had to submit to the inspection of the railway officers, who demanded clean and decent cabs and civil drivers for the protection of their own passengers. The strike has ended in the ignominious defeat of the cabbies, and London, not much inconvenienced by a cab strike, has now got its usual number of those melancholy conveyances at work.