LATEST ENGLISH INTELLIGENCE.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume III, 10 August 1844, Page 89

LATEST ENGLISH INTELLIGENCE.

[From the Sydney Herald, June 24.] By the Georgetown we received our regular files of London papers to the end of February, and were favoured by Captain Bell with a Times of March 2.

The papers are nearly filled with matters relative to Ireland.

The trial of O'Conuell and others for conspiracy closed on Monday, February 12th (having lasted twenty-five days), when a verdict, finding the defendants Guilty, was returned. Mr. O'Connell spoke in his own defence — his speech fills eleven columns in the Morning Chronicle; it was considered inferior to the generality of his efforts upon important occasions. The defendants called very few witnesses. The SolicitorGeneral took two days for his reply, and the Chief Justice two days to charge the jury. On Saturday afternoon, the jury retired about four o'clock, and, after a few hours' absence, returned with the verdict; as it was not in legal form, they were again directed to retire, and as they had not returned into Court at twelve o'clock, 1 the defendants objected to the verdict being received on- a Sunday, and the jury were locked up until Monday morning, when they delivered the finding we have given above. On the first day of term a four-day rule for judgment win be served on the traversers, and, on its expiration, the Attorney-General will pray the judgment of the Court on them. It is stated, however, by those in the confidence of the defendants, that, before the expiration of the fourday rule, a motion on the part of the traversers will be made in arrest of judgment. Should the Court decide against this motion, judgment will be passed, and then a writ of error wfll be sued on the part of the travellers, which will be argued before the twelve judges ; and, should their decision be adverse, an appeal will lie to the House of Lords. The question is, whether pending that appeal the Court will proceed to carry judgment on the traversers into execution. The grounds of the application in arrest of judgment

will be — Ist. A'misdesription of a juror's name: 2d. The omission of proof of any unlawful act done by the traversers in the county and city of Dublin. 3d. That no judicial act should have been done after twelve o'clock on Saturday night by the Court, whereas the Court after that hour adjourned »to Monday. Mr. O'Connell left Ireland the day after the trial, and took his seat in the House of Commons, where he presented one hundred and ninety-six petitions, having three hundred and eighty-seven thousand signatures, praying for a repeal of the union. He also spoke on the motion for a committee to inquire into the state of Ireland.

In the House of Lords the Marquis of Normanby moved for a committee to inquire into the state of Ireland, which was refused by a majority of 175 to 97. A similar motion was made in the House of Commons by Lord John Russell. The debate lasted nine nights, and ended in Ministers having a majority of 99 — the numbers being for the motion, 225; against it, 324. TheMinisters declared that every concession had been made to Ireland that justice demanded, and they should oppose any attempts to interfere with the Irish Church, although they would not object to additional grants to put Maynooth College upon a more efficient footing. The thanks of both houses of Parliament were voted to Sir C. Napier and the army of Scinde, for their gallant conduct in that country. Mr. S. Crawford made his annual motion for stopping the supplies, until the grievances of the country were inquired into, which was rejected by 130 to 22. It may be remembered that a few months since, a statement appeared in several papers that the Queen was so much involved in debt that an application must be made to Parliament. In answer to a questien put to him, Sir R. Peel declared there was not the slightest foundation for such a report : there was not a farthing of debt on the Civil List.

The conduct of Admiral Dv Petit Thouars, in taking possession of Tahiti, had attracted considerable attention. The French Government had entirely repudiated the Admiral's conduct, and published an official notification that he had exceeded his authority, and the island must be delivered back to Queen Pomare. The French opposition members were very angry at this determination, which they considered was truckling to the English. In the Chamber of Deputies, M. Guizot said that the Admiral had acted with "neither prudence nor wisdom." Captain Bruat will therefore have to return to the Marquesas. His Serene Highness the Grand Duke of Saxe Coburg and Gotha, the father of Prince Albert, expired suddenly on the 29th January. His Serene Highness was uncle and father-in-law to the Queen, father to Prince Albert, and brother to the King of the Belgians and the Duchess of Kent. He had just reached his 60th year. His Serene Highness was suddenly carried off by cramp in the stomach. The intelligence proved a great shock to the Queen and her illustrious consort, inasmuch as no previous intimation had been received in London of the illness of his Serene Highness. Among the deaths we notice the names of Archibald Lord Douglass, aged 71 years ; the Grand Duchess of Oldenburg ; the Archduchess Maria Caroline Augusta of Austria ; the Earl of Besborougb, aged 86 years; Lord Viscount Glentworth, aged 35 years; Lord Viscount Sidmouth, aged 87; and Archdeacon Hall.

Trade continued brisk, and money was plentiful. Speculation was getting rife. A concerted plan to raise the price of cotton had been detected and exposed. Railway shares were rapidly increasing in price, and new lines were talked about. In alluding to the revival of speculation, the Leeds Mercury remarks — " In the article of sheep's wool there is no ground I for advance, so far as we are aware, but the improved state of trade; and this would scarcely justify the very rapid advance that has taken place, and that has been established at the recent wool sales in London." This referred to the advance of twopence a pound which took place at the February sales. There was no sale advertised for March. A very strong opposition to the Anti-corn-law League was being organized. Meetings were being held, and funds raised, in all the agricultural districts of England and Scotland. By the following paragraph from the Standard, it would appear that some new regulations respecting Colonial Customs Duties are in contemplation :— " We observe with satisfaction that Lord Stanley has sent out very special instructions to the Governors of the colonies, to furnish him with all necessary information, to enable him to judge clearly of the extent and effect of the duties imposed upon imports and exports by the various colonial legislatures.*' [Prom the Sydney Herald, July 16.]

Lond6n papers to the 26th of March cams to hand by the Lloydf, but they do not contain news of any great importance.

The King of Sweden (Marshal Bernadotte) died on the Bth March, aged 80 years. Lord Lonsdale died on the 24th March, aged 84 years.

The Ministry had had, for the first time since their accession to power, a majority against them in the House of Commons. In a bill for regulating Factories, there was a clause preventing women and children from working more than, twelve hours a day. On this clause Lord Ashley moved an amendment that ten should be substituted for twelve; this was strenuously resisted by the Government, who were backed by the (manufacturers, but the!,, amendment was carried by a majority of seven, and subsequently affirmed by eight. Sir James Graham had obtained four day's time to determine what course he would pursue. It was supposed he would withdraw the bill entirely.

Trade still remained good, and the crops were looking well.