ENGLISH NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 79, 10 July 1852, Page 4

ENGLISH NEWS.

We have English dates to the 14th of February, brought to Sydney, via the Cape. The most interesting matter, irrespective of the Queen's speech, in respect to the Australasian colonies, is the announcement that the Australian Steam Company (via the Cape) had purchased two large iron steamers for the commencement of the line, one of which would be positively despatched early in April for Sydney. It appears that the boats purchased are two out of six iron "which were recently built at Glasgow for the Cunard Company, originally intended for the establishment of a cheap line to New York; and that the option of taking two more of these steamers had been secured by the New Australian Company. The steamer announced to start in April, is described as 1500 tons register. The "news of the Ballarat diggings reached England on the 18th January, via India, and was prominently noticed in the city article of the Times.

Recruiting op the Akmy. — Instructions have been forwarded from the Horse Guards to a number of line regiments to send out recruiting parties to enlist men for the immediate augmentation of the army, it having been resolved by Government to increase the number of men in the regiments of the line to the extent of 5000, as early as recruits can be obtained to make up that number. It is also fully expected that when the army estimates are brought before Parliament, a vote will be called for of an addition of 10,000 men, and that the other 5000, or nearly that number, will be added to the Royal Artillery and Cavalry Regiments. Rifle Clubs.—At a meeting at Newcastle, a resolution was. adopted approving of a Rifle Club, provided her Majesty's Government sanctioned its formatioD. Dr. Glover was instructed to write to Sir G. Grey, who replied that her Majesty's Government appreciated the patriotic motives of the gentlemen; but as the subject of sanctioning the formation of such corps is at present under the consideration of the Government, he must defer for a short time a definite answer to the inquiry. Fifteen thousand shells have been ordered to be immediately packed, ready for service, at the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich, and sent away for the different ports throughout England. A still larger order is expected.

On the 13th of February, Reform Bills for Scotland and Ireland, similar in the principle of enfranchisement to the English measure, were introduced in the House of Commous, the former by the Lord Advocate, the latter by Sir W. Somerville.

M. Thiers, who iv the early part of February was visiting Lord Ashburton at the Grange, Hants, was about to publish a pamphlet on the present state of affairs in France, to be entitled " An Appeal to Europe."

The Protestant missionaries at Pestli had been expelled by the Austrian Government, and the importation of English bibles prohibited. In reference to this subject, Mr. C. Anstey, in the House of Commons, on the 12th of February, asked the intentions of the Government. Lord John Russell, in explanation, said, " It was true that certain persons, ministers of the Scottish Free Church, who were residing in the Austrian territories for the purpose of converting- the Jews to Christianity, had been expelled from these territories. They were persons who never interfered with the Roman Catholics, or attempted to make them proselytes to the Protestant faith. They certainly never supported any political agitation or discussion (hear). When the honourable gentleman asked him whether, under the ancient law of Hungary and the Constitution of IS4B they ought not to have been expelled, he could only say, the well-known ancient laws of Hungary were extremely favourable to religious freedom (hear, hear); so, also, he believed, was the Austrian Constitution of 1848 ; but those laws had at present no effect, and the Austrian Government had thought proper to expel these persons, When information on the subject ivas conveyed to Earl Granville, a communication was addressed to Her Majesty's minister at Vienna. He doubted very much whether he could say the proceedings of the Austrian Government were either against the municipal laws of Austria or the national rights but undoubtedly they ought to make reparation to the parties who had endured the hardship of an expulsion, and lost besides considerable property (hear,)"

On the 12th of February a crowded meeting; of the operative engineers, on strike throughout England, was held in the Free-Trade Hall, Manchester, at which, the Times says, between 5000 and 6000 persons were present. The following resolution was adopted: " That inasmuch as the employers continue their workshops closed against workmen, who refuse to resume employment on terms both unjust and disgraceful, this meeting is decidedly of opinion, that the only means of successfully opposing such tyranny is the establishment of co-operative workshops, in which the workmen may at once employ their own capital and their own labour for their own benefit and welfare, as well as for the accommodation of the public'

Jamaica papers state that not fewer than 40,000 persons in that island were destroyed last year by the fatal ravages of Cholera. Emigrants Avere leaving Waterford for America, via Liverpool, at the rate of 200 per day.

London Wool Bepobt, Feb. 14th.—The wool market is very firm, and holders are not at all disposed to press sales. The expectation is, that prices will advance, and the next auctions of Colonial are looked for with considerable interest. The forthcoming public sales are expected to reach about 20,000 bales, and to go off steadily. The latest accounts from Australia show that the clip will be got in better than might have been expected.