[EXTRACT FROM A PRIVATE LETTER.] London, January 19, 1861.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XX, Issue 28, 30 March 1861, Page 3

[EXTRACT FROM A PRIVATE LETTER.] London, January 19, 1861.

The mail leaves this evening, and I must send you a line by it. In the first place the news of the war is a little better. 'Tis said that Pratt was about to be superseded by a man named Cameron, Commander-in-Chief in Scotland, but whether this last success will save him I don't know. The meeting of colonists, which is held on the arrival of every mail, has decided on seeking an interview with the Duke of Newcastle to urge him to send forward more troops. If English soldiers cannot be sent, there can be uo difficulty in sparing three or four regiments of Sikhs, and they will fight well enough when well led. It is extremely probable that we shall have an European war when spring comes. For Denmark and Prussia are quarrelling about the Duchies, and Garibaldi is determined to attack Austria and release Venetia. Hungary is also expected to rise. We are preparing for war, and in fact could scarcely be more fit than we are. It is of course hard to say whether we can keep clear of the coming storm. I expect Borne people think 'twould be better to fight it out and have done with it, than to have war expenses incurred in time of professed peace, and yet all the fear and anxiety of approaching danger. And not only is the Continent unsettled, but the United States have lost their name, for South Carolina has left the Union, and the States are on the very verge of civil war, which it appears, humanly speaking, impossible to prevent. In consequence of Mr. Lincoln being elected the new President, the Southern States are resolved to leave the Union, and the Northern are determined to put down treason as they call it. So we shall see the wreck of the model Republic in all probability, but not till after much destruction of property and loss of life.

The most remarkable occurrence of the past month at home has been the extraordinary state of the weather. We have bad a month of the severest frost ever known in England. There have actually been 50 degrees of frost. In the northern rivers ice has been ten feet thick. Partridges have been found dead from cold and hunger. And a more extraordinary fact was that five rats were found congealed in

, a piece of ice, being frozen alive. The disf tress has consequently been very great. In t all the large towns the poor have suffered in- > credible hardships. For Coventry alone the I public subscriptions have already amounted to : .£BO,OOO. The ribbon trade there has been ' entirely lost, owing partly to the French treaty ■ admitting foreign ribbons, and partly to the i change of the ladies' attire, hats being universally worn instead of bonnets. The Lord Mayor of London has organized a body of the police to be visiting relieving officers, the distress being so general and so great. Thank God a thaw has begun to day, and I hope a seasonable change has commenced. [From the Special Telegraphic Correspondence of the Sydney Morning Herald."] The great domestic topic of the month has been the unparalleled severity of the weather. The sufferings which have been endured by the poor in England since Christmas are reported aa indescribable. Thermometer registered in many places 14 degrees below zero. The streets in London and all large manufacturing towns paraded by masses of unfortunate labouring men, begging for assistance for their hungry families. The mortality of the metropolis, for the week ending January 19th, reached the appalling number of 1,926 deaths. , The Prince of Wales has gone to pursue his studies. Prince Alfred has sailed for the West Indies. Parliament was again prorogued until the sth February. Several important meetings of the landed capitalists have been held in the manufacturing districts, for the discussion of measures for securing the country against the deficiency in our supply of cotton, threatened by the American crisis. The financial affairs of India are again exciting much discussion, and Sir Charles Wood's recent grant of afc'soo,ooo to the Mysore Prince has been severely condemned. Naples. The siege of Gaeta. Francis 11. having refused the proposals of surrender, and the armistice having expired on the 19th. Admiral Barbier DeTinan with the remainder of the French fleet left the waters of Gaeta on that day, and were replaced by Admiral Persano and the Italian squadron, fourteen in number, on the 20th. The Sardinian admiral at once declared the blockade of Gaeta, and announced that he would allow the inhabitants a few hours' time to leave the city. All the foreign vessels have left the port. Francis 11. intends keeping the fortress some weeks yet, with the idea that Garibaldi will resume hostilities against Austria about Easter, and that then the invasion of Lombardy by the Austrians will force Cialdini to raise the siege, when his Majesty will be left master ot the situation. The shells of the ttedmontese will probably decide the affair before then. There are some sanguine spirits who are sure thai Gaeta will surrender by a fortnight at the least, and there are others who believe it will hold out for ten months to come, and Italy will not remain united for that time under the hand of Cavour. Garibaldi, in answer to a letter from Victor Emmanuel, is said to declare that he will not act without the King's full consent ; recommended the reconciliation of parties, and expressed himself ready to act in political union with Count Cavour. Sardinia is straining every nerve to increase her land and sea forces at the theatre of war in the South. A treaty between Prussia, Austria, and Russia, is said to have been made, guaranteeing to Austria the possession of Venetia. Extraordinary movements and military preparations are now going on in France. The excuse for which is the menacing attitude of Germany towards Denmark, and the speeches of the King of Prussia. There is a talk of a creation of sixty or eighty general officers of the navy. M. Thouvenel, it is reported, has just addressed two circulars to the diplomatic agents of France in foreign countries, one relating to affairs of Gaeta, and the other to Syria. They are reported to contain most pacific declarations. The Porte is forming an army of 50,000 men on the Danube, commanded by Omar Pasha; a demonstration directed equally against the Principalities and Russia, the latter having assembled a large body of troops in Bessarabia.

Stock Exchange, Saturday Morning, January 26th, Eleven o'clock. — Consols for money, 9lf to 91£; for February 7th, 91£ to 91*. Obituary. — Sir Hugh Lyon Playfair, Countess of Eglington, Sir Peter Fairbairn, Dr. Noble, M.P., Major-General Goldsmid, Sir R. P. Jodderell.