EUROPEAN EXTRACTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 185, 26 July 1854, Page 7

EUROPEAN EXTRACTS.

(From the " Home News.")

DECLARATION OF WAR

The Gordian knot has been cut at last The sword that hovered so long over the entangled problem has descended; and long before this sheet shall have reached its distant readers the cannon of the English fleet will, in all human probability, have swept the Russian coast of the Baltic. A message from her Majesty was sent down to both Houses of Parliament on Monday, the 27th of March, announcing that all hopes of a pacific settlement of the differences with Russia were at an end, and that it remained for her Majesty to take that course which the faith of treaties, the dignity and honour of the country, and the security of Europe demanded. Three days before the public were in possession of the fact, by means of the electric telegraph, that the Czar had refused the ultimatum of the Allied Powers; but the official statement did not reach London by the courier conveying despatches till Saturday night, the 25th ult. It then appeared that the Czar, apprised of the approach of the messenger charged with the ultimatum (whose journey, it seems, had been impeded, so that a day or two were lost on the road,) had left St. Petersburg before, his arrival, transmitting a message to the foreign consuls that there was no answer to the demands of the Western Powers. By this manoeuvre, so thoroughly in keeping with the spirit of chicanery and subterfuge that has marked the conduct of his Majesty throughout the whole of the negotiations, a little' time was gained; and, while the courier was on his way back to England with the blank result of his mision, the Emperor was already preparing his measures for anticipating .the consequences of its reception.

The steps adopted by the English Cabinet on receipt of this intelligence, were in strict accordance with their previously declared intentions, and were carried into execution at once. Upon all points of form and detail the most perfect concert has marked the proceedings of the French and English courts. On the same day that the rejection of the ultimatum was communicated to Parliament, a similar announcement was made to the Legislative Corps and the Senate in Paris. The orders in Council adopted and issued two days afterwards in London, were in like manner reflected in spirit and substance in the corresponding orders of the French Government. The unity of action has been complete and simultaneous.

The Fleet.—Her Majesty inspected the Baltic fleet at Spithead oa Saturday the 10th of March. Up to nearly one o'clock the grim war fleet was in silence ; when suddenly the Fairy, hearing the Queen, and the royal family from Oshorne, appeared on the scene, followed by the Admiralty yacht, the Black Eagle, the Fire Queen, and the Elfin ; and as her Majesty neared the fleet the rigging was alive with men, and a royal salute, followed by true sailors' cheers, gave almost the first indication of the vitality there was afloat in the fleet; and in a few minutes the officers went on board. The reception was brief but cordial; the Queen shook hands with each, and spoke some parting words. When the officers had returned to their ships the signal was given to weigh anchor ; and then it became apparent that the steam fleet, taking advantage of the favouring breeze, would depart under sail. Her Majesty, in the royal yacht, steamed out at the head of the squadron as far as the Nab. Out at sea, the Queen stopped and watched the fleet pass, each ship giving out three volleys as she sped by; and as the Duke of Wellington, the last ship at that point, receded, with huzzahs, the Queen stood waving her handkerchief to bid them farewell.

On the 20th. Sir Charles Napier arrived

at Copenhagen. It appears that the King was too ill to give him an audience. This royal sickness may in the end prove more fatal to his Majesty than his advisers anticipate, unless he recovers in time to save consequences. .........

Prince Hohenzollern Sigmaringen has arrived at Paris, on a special mission from his relative the King of Prussia. He was charged to give explanations respecting the neutrality of Prussia, but he appears to have failed to give satisfaction ; he was told, it is said, that the best proof which the King of Prussia could give of his desire to maintain the peace of Europe, would be to join the Western Powers in resistance to Russian aggression. Another account of the object of his mission seems on the face of it absurd, namely, that he was directed to state that the Emperor of Russia would be satisfied if the Western Powers obtained from Turkey a guarantee for. the full rights of the Christians, and that the Russians would evacuate the Principalities as soon as that guarantee should be negotiated.

Tuekey.—On the 15th of March the Russians opened the campaign, and on the 23rd succeeded in crossing ' the Danube from Brailow to Matchin. The Russians are represented as following up their success with great energy, and it was feared that the delay of the Western contingents would prove serious;

In the Home News of the 3rd April, the following vessels were laid on. for New Zealand. For Auckland and New Plymouth, the Cashmere; for Wellington and Auckland, the Cordelia; for Wellington aud Otago, the Monarch ; for Nelson, Canterbury and Otago, the Ashmore. The Norman Morrison, Thelis, Sf Eliza Moore, are reported to have sailed for New Zealand all in March. <

The steamer "Nelson arrived yesterday morning from Auckland, via Taranaki and Nelson, bringing a heavy English mail transhipped from the " Egmont," and Auckland and Nelson papers, the first to July the 7th, and the latter to the 15th. The "Nelson" was compelled, from the state of the weather, to proceed round the North Cape to Auckland, instead of going into Manukau. The passage up was of a boisterous character, and occupied six days, the steamer only arriving at Auckland on July Ist. Amongst her passengers for Auckland there were, in addition, to our own Superintendent, the Superintendent of Nelson, and Mr. Travers, the new member for the Waimea.— Wellington Independent. [The " Nelson " arrived at Lyttelton on Sunday the 23rd, and left for Otago on the 25th inst. She will call at Lyttelton on her way to the Northern parts from Otago.]

We have been requested to publish the following extract of a letter for general information.' The letter is dated Melbourne, June 16, and is written to a gentleman of this town;—

" We have a fine steamer, the Queen, in our charge, which we intend to run between this colony via Sydney to Auckland, Wellington and Nelson, and thence to Sydney home. She-is to sail from hence on Saturday next, and, all well, may reach Wellington on or about that day fortnight, on the way to Nelson. We thus intend to open up this trade for steam •which I have no doubt will be of great advantage to the colony, and we will continue in it if we receive support, and soon have a consort to the Queen, when the scheme is sufficiently developed to warrant it. Will you then oblige by talking about this as much as •you can, and letting our intentions be known, as of course we will not have long time to spend in port, although being an exploratory voyage, we sb<aU be a day or two longer, than on future occasions," Wellington Independent. ■

We extract the following from the " Provincial Government Gazette," of July 22nd. Provincial Secretary's Office, Christchurch, 10th June, 1854. The following appointments, which have been made by the Reverend the Commissary of the Lord Bishop of the Diocese, are notified for general information ; — The Rev. Geobge Gotteriii;, to be tlead Master of the Grammar and Commercial School, Lyttelton, the appointment to bear date the 15th May. Mr. Frederick Thompson to be Commercial and Assistant Master, under the Rev. Henry Jacobs, of the Grammar and Commercial School, Christchurch. ; Mrs. Frederick Thompson^ be Mistress of the Christchurch District Girls' School. Miss C. A. Roworth to be Mistress of the Governor's Bay District School. The above appointments to bear date from the Ist of July inst. Mr. John BiiiTon to be master of the Christchurch District Boys' School. Mr. Gilbert Mayo to be Master of the Lyttelton District' Boys' School. Mrs. Mary Ann Mayo to be Mistress of the Lyttelton District Girls' School. The above appointments to bear date from the Ist April last. H. G. Gothland, • Provincial Secretary.

Amount of the Notes in circulation at the Office of the Colonial Bank of Issue, Wellington, on the 24th day of June, 1854. Amount of Notes in circulation on the 24th day of June, 1854, being the close of the preceding four weeks, viz.: £5 and upwards . . £ 13,815 Under_£s . . . 19,880 £33,695 Total Amount of Coin held by the same Office, on the same day, viz.: v, Gold . . . £13,206 -Silver ... 489 £13,695 I, Henry St. Hill, being the Acting Manager of the said Bank, do hereby certify that the above is a true account of the Notes in circulation and of the coins held by the said office as required under Ordinance No. 16, Session 8. (Signed) Henry St. Hir.ii, Acting Manager. Colonial Bank of Issue, Wellington, June 24, 1854. The sum "of Twenty Thousand Pounds sterling has been invested under the Warrant of His Excellency the Governor, in the Public Funds in England, through the Commissariat Department, by arrangements made through the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury. (Signed) Henry St. Hili.,