HOME NEWS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 174, 13 May 1864, Page 6 (Supplement)

HOME NEWS.

(rr.oir cun coniu-;spoxi)K\T.) Yorkshire, February IS, 186 i. Fumao.v. Tin: Austrian and Prussian armies invaded Schleswig at I lie beginning of February, ami being nearly double in number to the Danes, have driven the latter almost out of the Province. The Duimcvcrke,” which the Danes expected would withstand their foes, had to be evacuated, their being great danger of the Prussians, (who were crossing the river Schlci), getting to rear of the Danes, and so cutting oil" their retreat, and consequently annihilating them. it is evident that the Danish army was not sufllcicntly numerous to hold their position against the numbers assailing them but they cannot but feel much grieved lit having to abandon their fortifications; indeed their has been a riot at Copenhagen m consequence ol'tlie populace supposing the country had been betrayed. Our Government has cut a sorry figure in the matter, having indirectly encouraged 0 the Germans in their demands lust year, then counselled the Danes not to resist the Germans entering Holstein, and to yield even to the revoking of the constitution by which Schleswig was incorporated with Denmark ; the latter concession was more than Germany had a right to ask, and was the utmost it asked before ; but when under foreign pressure (British included), Denmark offered °to yield that point, Austria and Prussia would not consent to wait for that, but gave only forti/-e///ht hours notice , and then crossed the Eider to occupy Schleswig as a territorial guarantee. Our Go”vernment protested against tins step, but Ear! Russell’s despatch on that subject was generallv ridiculed in Germany, ami treated as nothing by Austria and Prussia. We drilled into the Russian "iir, when probably a u decided remonstrance ” would have kept the Czar (rom commencing hostilities ; ami we have very nearly drifted into a war again, either because we did not speak plain enough, or because we had by our policy lately lost the confidence of the rest.'of Europe!! It is to be feared that the personal feelings and sympathies of our Queen have had something (o'do with the conduct of our Government in this matter ; the Angustonburg who claims Schleswig Holstein is married to our Queen’s niece; the °whole Cobonrg family influence is with him, (and that influence is not slight at our Court) ; Duke Ernest of Gotha, (brother of the fate Prince Consort), has fried to lead the German movement against Denmark ; the King of Prussia, and the Crown 1 mice (oni Queen s son in law) ore both prominent in the movement. Earl Russell is said to have written a despatch “when writing Duke Ernest at Gotha,” in which ho advised Denmark to yield all the most; pretentious Germans asked ; and it is only natural to suppose that Duke Ernest had contrived to instil his own nations into tho Earl s head, and so, by inference at least, to drag the British nation in as supporters of’his views. Since the meeting of Parliament the conduct of our ministers has been severely criticised, but nothing satisfactory has been elicited ; the despatches of Austria and Prussia are evasive of the questions on which information was sought. “ IJam ” appears to bo waiting to see which way public opinion will run, before lie commits himself to a war, Eotiie .Napoleon likewise is waiting

on events, having declined to join in with England to protest and forbid' Austria and' Prussia despoiling Denmark; although a protest from such a quarter would probably have been etfeetual. Bnt is it certain that he desires peace ? Or is it not equally probable that a general row would be acceptable to him, seeing he could hardly fail to increase his territories in the scramble. Ho has not got that Mexican job off his hand yet, and the 50,000 soldiers employed on it would be needed if he got into a tourney ; but still it is scarcely likely that he will allow a re-arrangement of the divisions of Europe without having a voice in the matter. The conduct of Austria and Prussia appears little short of madness (unless they have a secret engagement with France, which is not probable) in risking a general war,'out of which they could not expect to come unscathed ; Hungary on one side, and Italy on another, ought to deter Austria from aggression, seeing France would be able to make a diversion on the Rhine against both Prussia and Austria, and Great Britain would be either neutral or friendly to Italy and Denmark. The Polish struggle still continues, but the Russians appear to be more successful during the winter than they were in summer. It is a war of extermination. Home Parliament met on the 4th inst., but the Queen did not appear. The speech was, if possible, more meagre than any of its predecessors. It stated that Her Majesty had been striving, and would continue to strive, to maintain peace; whereas peace had been broken by our “ good allies” before the speech was delivered, and news “ from the seat of war” had been for three days’ the leading topic in the public press. The Home Secretary was overhauled somewhat about the “ mad doctor’s case.” His conduct in the case is indefensible. When the Derbyshire magistrates remonstrated with him for reprieving Townley, he assured them that he was only respited, but his sentence was “ not commuted but immediately he had the certificates of his sanity, instead nl allowing the law to have its course, he commuted the sentence to penal servitude, thus by his own act saving Townley from the gallows. Ao doubt Manchester and the so-called advanced liberals would have preached somewhat ifTowueley had expiated his crime in a halter; but a whig goverdment could not have taken such a subject as that into consideration ! The Irish exodus continues, and will probably increase considerably with (he spring. The situation in America has altered but little lately, and President Lincoln has issued an order for a draft of 500,000 men for three years service or the war. It is amusing to read the comments of the English press on American affairs, coloured as they generally are to one side or other. Few of our influential journals keep a really independent and impartial course. Although the peace at any price policy has so utterly failed in the colony, yet some of its votaries in England want to try it over again, as witness address to Governor Drey, sent out by the last mail, desiring him to take the earliest opportunity of ending the war, and bo merciful to the Maories, as the only way to secure a lasting peace. 1 n other words, as soon as they are tired of lighting, make another truce, and let them have time to prepare for their next venture with us. The colonists often notice the ignorance of the English press on colonial questions, but it is easilv accounted for. The leading metropolitan journals will not admit discussion or explanation *• from outsiders” on A'ew Zealand affairs, so that errors once made, cannot be rebutted here, unless taken in hand by some person of high standing. A Midbourne correspondent of the Times may be as ignorant of Aew Zealand geography and polities as a Cockney, but his data would be considered indisputable.