OUR ENGLISH LETTER.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1013, 12 January 1869, Page 3

OUR ENGLISH LETTER.

London, Nov. 6, 1868. The great event of the week that has elapsed since the departure of the last mail, has been the presidential election in America. The result has fulfilled the general expectation, and for the next four years General Grant will be at the head of affairs in the United States of America. This time the citizens of the " greatest country in the airth" have chosen one who has resolutely refused to " stump it" in any sense, make, or manner, but have contented themselves with a man who has scarcely spoken a hundred words since the election campaign has commenced, with regard to political matters. The nation has without doubt accepted him on trust, and his success at Richmond has secured his entrance to the White House at Washington. Is the Republic of the United States going the way of all Republics, i.e., passing into the hands of a military; dictator? Before General Grant now lies the uncompleted task of Mr. Johnson — the pacification of the South, and the effacing if possible, all recollection of that fearful four years struggle that went near to dissolve the union. Baron Buest, above all people, caused a little " sensation" the other day by telling his committee of ways and means that the Austrian army ought to consist of at least 800,000 men. As this was a war footing, Europe was alarmed ; after all, it turned out that what he really meant to say was, that at war time 800,000 men, folly trained, and armed, must be at hand, and that during the time of peace at least 600,000 must be either fully enrolled or undergoing the process of being " made soldiers of." Remember we are all at peace, and according to kings and emperors, at profound peace ; yet every nation has more soldiers and sailors at command than heretofore. The Spanish Provisional Government are still hard at work repealing old laws, enacting new ones, and doing all they can to raise money wherewith to carry on numerous works as well as meet the " engagements " entered into by the " kicked out" ministry. At home still the same excitement and hubbub exists with regard to the elections ; both sides, as they near the day, are getting warmer at the work, lon mots elegant (?) squibs, and recriminatory letters of all kind, are making their appearance. A terrible commotion was made when it was rumoured that Mr. Disraeli did not intend to dissolve till the 20th inst. However, it is now all but settled that the 11th will see us without the "third estate" of the realm, and then for nine days we shall have all the excitement of a " really well contested" election. The "working men" candidates are not faring very well at the hands of the electors generally. Lately one of them, a Mr. Odger, who was a third liberal candidate where only two were wanted, agreed to submit his claim to the arbitration of three individuals, all liberals of the " advanced" ticket, and they decided in favour of his opponent. Again, at Stoke upon Trent, a Mr. Hartwell, a great man among trades unions, has found himself compelled to send the hat round, and by such a proceeding has called down upon something very far from heavenly fire from Messrs. Mill & Co. As yet Mr. Disraeli has not appointed a new Archbishop of Canterbury in the room of Dr. Longley ; indeed it is a very delicate and difficult task to have to perform on the eve of a general election, especially when that election is to turn upon a Church question, and the Church of England is at the present moment so divided on various points. And this puts me in mind that on the 18fch inst. the great ritualist question is to come before the Privy Council, on appeal in re Martin v. Maconochie. An array of counsel something terrible to read of are to appear, and then gerhcvps we shall get a final decision of how far ritualists may go. A curious trial has lately taken place at Brussels, in which Mr. Doulton, the member for Lambeth, has been tried on a charge of obtaining money under false pretences. The case occupied some time, and was rather intricate ; but, being simply stated, it amounts to this, that Mr. Doulton obtained a concession from the Belgian Government for the purpose of improving Brussels. He then contracted with Messrs. Mention, of Liege, to do the work' for £497,000, and, subsequently, made a second contract with them for £598,000— he (Mr. Doulton) having to receive the balance between the two sums, viz., £101,000. The ex-M.P. now declares that of this £101,000 he had to part with nearly all to different parties for " ideas," &c. The whole trial was a nice expose of how limited companies were got up and done for.