LATEST ENGLISH INTELLIGENCE.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 119, 15 June 1844, Page 60

LATEST ENGLISH INTELLIGENCE.

The following is the English news brought by the Bella Marina, which, left Plymouth on the sth of February.

[From Murray's Review.']

On the Ist of February, Parliament was opened with the usual ceremonies, by the Queen in person. - At the conclusion of the speech, the Speaker and the members of the House of Commons withdrew, and her Majesty and her suite left the House in the same older in which they had entered it.

. Both Houses of Parliament met in the evening. ' Lord Eldon moved, and Lord Hill seconded, the address in the Lords. Lord Clive (Lord Powys' eldest son) moved, and Mr. Cardwell seconded, the address in the House of Commons, both of were mere echoes of the speech. In respect to additional powers to coerce Ireland, Lord Normanby considered more information was necessary before they were granted. . No division, however, took place. In the Commons, Mr. Sharman Crawford movetl an amendment, demanding redress of the Irish grievances, which was lost by 235 against 49. In the course of the debate, reference was made to an occurrence which took place in the Court of Queen's Bench, in Ireland, during the " State, Trial," which we find fully detailed in the Morning Chronicle of the Ist of February, ih a- separate article, headed, " The Attorney-General and Fitzgibbon ;" we have now only time to give its substance. On Tuesday, the 30th January, Mr. Fitzgibbon addressed the Court for Dr. Gray, one of the deTendants, in a splendid speech. When he had concluded, the Attorney-General passed a note to him across the table. He asked the AttorneyGeneral whether he was its author, to which he received no reply. He then addressed the Court, justifying his conduct in a speech, in which he insisted he had not exceeded his duty to his client. He stated that the AttorneyGeneral's note demanded an apology or a challenge, for having made use of the following words: — "I should despise myself if I was capable of observing upon an unfavourable part of the defendant's case and leaving unobserved all that was favourable to it." The AttorneyGeneral said that both himself and his friends considered that Mr. Fitzgibbon had accused him of unworthy motives, and he had, therefore, demanded the apology. Mr. Fitzgibbon replied, that if the Attorney-General had told him that he thought any words I uttered were personally offensive, I do not know what my own feelings as a gentleman would have me to do in regard to his, but, if he thinks that coming- pistol in hand will' draw an apology, he is much mistaken. The Court, after consulting, took no notice of what had pass£ci,.but called -on- Mr-Mgoj^-wlio was'a"Sout to address the Court. Mr. Moore, after expressing his unwillingness to interfere in such a matter (the constant course in Ireland) proposed that the Court would interpose by giving both parties time to get rid of the excitement. The Chief Justice was much obliged to Mr. Moore for the suggestion, and coirimented upon the excitement in which, no doubt, the proceeding originated on both sides. His lordship said — " The Attorney -General is the last man who should have allowed himself to have been betrayed into such an expression off eeling." The Attorney-General again referred to the irritation, and withdrew the note. " 1 wish I had not written it," said he, " and I leave to the gentlemanly feelings of Mr. Fitzgibbon to take what course he pleases after this." Mr. Fitzgibbon then explained, that he never intended anything in the least personally offensive to the Attorney-General. Both gentlemen expressed themselves satisfied.

Mr. O'Connell's trial (for his, it is in fact, although so many others are mixed up in it) had proceeded to the sixteenth day when the last intelligence left Ireland. The case for the Crown closed suddenly, on the 31st January. On the next day, Mr. Shiel, M.P., commenced the defence of Mr. John O'Connell. His speech is spoken of with the highest admiration as a master-piece of eloquence and argument. The defence cannot take less than ten days, the replies of the Crown lawyers probably three, the summing up at least two more, so that the verdict cannot be expected to be delivered before the 20th February, at the ea/liest. Little more is necessary to be said respecting " the State trials" They had reached the sixteenth day. The Attorney-General's opening speech givesthe whole case for the Government, which the Crown lawyers endeavoured to substantiate by their witnesses: The defence, which began on the 27th, was commenced by Mr. Shiel, M.P., who came from a sick bed, but whose speech is said to exceed in brilliance any oration- of recent delivery. The defence will most probably last ten days. It is supposed the Govern mem will call evidence to rebut that produced by the defendants, upon which they will comment, arid then the Government having to reply generally, renders it not unlikely that the trial will continue at least to the 15 th February,, the day named by the AttorneyGeneral for the prolonged extent of Hilary term; but it appears that, by an old rule of Court, the term is held to coatinue until any case" commenced in it is concluded. There is much severe -.comment in all the " Liberal" papers,- and little, if atiy, justification by the Tory journals, tot the packing the jury.

Lord Stradbrofte is the new lord-lieutenant of Suffolk.. .

An immense demonstration meeting, in favour of free trade and abolition of the Corn -laws was held at Wakenold, in the last week in January,^. G. MaMgttll in the chair. Similar meetiagil were held at Blackburn, Stockport, and" several other places, all of

which were unanimous on the subject. The result of all these meetings, embodied in petitions, will be laid before Parliament, when the strength of the Whigs and Conservatives will be fairly tested.

Trade wa<? improving, and money exceedingly plentiful. It was considered almost certain that the Darien Canal scheme for joining the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans would be brought into effective operation. On Tuesday, the 29th January, London- was visited with a heavy snow-storm, the effect of which almost defied the patentee street sweepers to keep the streets in passable condition.

An important meeting for the redress of grievances, by moving amendments on all motions of supply, was held at the Crown and Anchor, and numerously attended.

Another meeting for complete suffrage was also 'held in the Crown and Anchor, Mr. Sharman Crawford, M.P., in the chair. Dr. Bowring, M.P., proposed the first sentiment of the evening to the meeting ; and, in doing so, observed, " That it was inattention to the public interest which led to murmuring and discontent among the people — [great cheering] — it was because the people had been forgotten that they had been handed over to a monopoly, religious, commercial, educational, and political — it was because the people had been forgotten that oppression stalked unchecked over Ireland — [cheers] — it was because the people had been neglected that an attempt had been made in Scotland to set up another Christian Church, and that outbreaks had occurred in Wales, for which some were now suffering the severest punishment of law — [cheers]. The time was now at hand when such neglect would be no longer permitted."

The state of Spain occupies much attention. It is now believed that Louis Philippe has outgeneralled Lord Aberdeen, and, by causing the downfall of every Liberal Minister, at last established in office a creature of his own. Although his son is not to marry the young Queen Isabel, yet his nephew is destined for that high alliance. In France, the opening speech expressed in strong terms the close alliance between France and England, which latter approved of the entire conduct of the former in regard to Spain. In the debates which followed in the Chamber of Peers, M. Guizot produced an address, which designated the proceedings of the French nobles and gentry (2,000 in number, who had attended the " Legitimate" Bourbon, called by some openly Charles the Fifth, by himself and the " Moderates " " Due de Bordeaux ") as having been " scandalous." The Duke de Richelieu objected to that term in the address, and the Marquis de Verac delu'ered a very excited address, justifying the visitors of the young" Prince. M. Guiznt replied, and stated that the Queen of England refused to " receive" that--Prince, but'that, when the French Government applied to the English Government to put down the holding the Bourbon Court in BelgraveSquare, the reply was, that they had not legally the power. The Count de Segur demanded to know what were the relations between France and England, respecting " the right of search." M. Guizot admitted that it was a subject of difficulty, " involving principles which could not be abandoned," but that he hoped the pending negotiation would terminate satisfactorily. Now, when it is recollected that, although the Queen refused fetf " receive " the Bourbon Prince, yet that he was treated at Woolwich (Royal salutes alone excepted) with exactly the same honours paid to the Due de Nemours— inspected the same troops, saw the same arsenals, and was attended by the same individuals, of 'course there can be no wonder that jealousies exist; and the more we look at passing circumstancss, the more we see in the recent extraordinary personal civilities betweed the French and the English Royal families reason to apprehend that there is an under current , the strength of which is well appreciated by both, and which readily accounts for the perfect preparation for war in which the British navy is held, and gives reason to believe that the exhibition of three of the largest first-rate ships of war of England and seven of the most powerful steam frigates in the French ports in attendance, so wholly unnecessary and unusual for such an occasion, was to show (notwithstanding the flourishes in the speeches from the throne of both Sovereigns, in which their perfectly amicable relations are so strongly insisted upon as to give rise to suspicion that all is not quite sound) that perfect preparation to the French Minister. In addition to this subject of uneasiness, the American mail of the 14th January gives somewhat more. The Oregon territory question was loudly canvassed in the United States journals, and it seems to be firmly resolved by the whole American Union that Britain shall be dispossessed therefrom. Negotiations there are also pendiug. In Canada matters are also not 'quite on velvet. We copy the following from that excellent provincial' journal, the Hampshire Telegraph: —

, "An arrival from the United States has brought a full elucidation of the circumstances which led to the recent rupture between Sir C. Metcalfe, the Governor-General of Canada, and his Executive Council. We will endeavour very briefly to abstract the narrative which his .Excellency gives of events as they had occurred. He states that at the Government House, on the previous Friday, Messrs. . Lafontaine' and' Baldwin, after some preliminary- remarks; r had demeuded of the Governor-General thai he should agree to make no appointment, and no offer of an appointment, without previously taking' the advice of the Council'; that the lists of candidates should in every instance be laid before the Council; that they shouFd recommend any others at discretion; and that the Governor-General, in deciding, should nst make any appointment prejudicial .to their influence.' Is it possible to gainsay the construction which

Sir Charles puts on this outrageous proposition ?' ' In other words, that the patronage of the XJrown should be surrendered to the Council, Tor the purchase of parliamentary support ; for if the demand did not mean that it meant nothing, as it cannot be imagined that the mere form of taking advice, without regarding it, was the process contemplated.' The GovernorGeneral replied that he would not make any such stipulation, and could not degrade the character of his office nor violate his duty by such a surrender of the prerogative of the Crown. He appealed to the number of appointments already made by him, on their recommendation; to nis own constant objection to the exclusive distribution of patronage with party views, and hid maintenance of the principle that office should; in all cases, be given to the best qualified; reserving the right of appointing, at his own discretion, "where no such preeminence was to be found amongst the candidates. Understanding from the two gentleman that their continuance in office depended on £is final decision with, regatfd to their demand, he agreed that at the Council of next day the subject should be fully discussed. He accordingly met tlie Council on Saturday, fully expecting the parties would resign, as he could not recede from the resolution he had formed. But three or more distinct propositions' were then made to him, over and over again, in different terms, but (he addd) always aimirimat the same purpose, which, in his opinion, if aceom* plished, would have been a virtual surrender into the hands of the Council of the prerogative of the Crown ; and on his uniformly replying to these propositions in- the negative, his refusal wa# each time followed by "* Then we must resign,' or words to the earae purport, from one or more members of the Council. As sincere friends to all classes in panada, and heartily approving .-of the discontinuance of the paramount paity' policy, we grieve to find the French Canadians (for we must find a designation for tse section represented by M. Lafontaine) doing all, in their power to justify the sinister predictions of the bitter opponents of colonial amelioration in this country. They are, as those opponents declared they would do, visibly attempting, by such unreasonable and absurd pretensions, to undermine British authority and monarchical representation in their noble territory. For our parts, we shall at all times exert our best efforts to resist the practical development of their mischievous theories, which are fast tending to an avowed demand for the institution of a republic, whilst we can boast a Governor-General every way calculated so worthily to represent the dignity and to maintain the rights of a British Sovereign."

| There is nothing of interest in the general occurrences. Distress prevailed throughout Britain unabatedly, . indeed rather increasing. The winter being mild was so far favourable to the wretched homeless, and every town in Britain had followed -the example of London, in establishing nightly houses of refuge for the destitute. The chief landed proprietors were making large abatements in their rents; for example, the Rev. Mr. Isham, of Weston Farville, in Leicestershire, brrther of Sir Justmian, uncle we believe of Gaptain Isham of the 51st, a very large landed proprietor, reduced his Michaelmas rents payable at Christmas twenty per cent., with a promise to reduce another twenty per cent, if the pressure of the times should render it necessary. The Dukes of Northumberland, Cleveland, and Portland, with numerous others, have also made very large reductions, or the best of reasons, says the Dispatch, because the full amounts could not be paid.

The Funds maintain their high rate. Money was in greater abundance than ever. Discount to be had upon any terms, and the papers, teeming with advertisements of hundreds of thousands of pounds to be invested on mortgage. Two and a-half per cent, is the maximum rate of interest in England. Consols, Ist February, 97i.

Contempt. — We sometimes contemn the jpresent by praising the past ; we show our contempt of what now is, by our esteem for what is no more. — Rochefoucav.lt.