ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXIII, Issue XXIII, 3 May 1864, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH MAIL.

[fbom our own cobbespondent.] Londo>~, February 26. The news from New Zealand this month iff neither uncertain nor unsatisfactory. There can be no doubt of the meaning of the engagement at Rangiriri, which has fully justified the confidence generally felt in General Cameron ; and no doubt as to the effect it will have bad on the natives, but only as to the time it may take to drive the lesson into them. For permanent result, however, we count still more upon the scheme of settlement of the confiscated land of the rebels. We are glad to see that the scheme has been sanctioned by your Parliament, in spite of the appeal from home against such a policy, of which I spoke in my last letter; for that address was very far from expressing the general feeling of the country on the subject. On the 4th, Parliament was opened by Commission. The Queen's speech, as read by the Lord Chancellor, resembled most Queen's speeches, and differed from those of the European oracle, in carefully avoiding, as far as possible, everything of interest, and everything that might be construed into a pledge on the part of Government. After sketching the history of the Dano-German difficulty, it says — " Her Majesty has been unremitting in her endeavours to bring about a peaceful settlement of the difficulties between Germany and Denmark, and to ward off the dangers which might follow from a beginning of warfare in the north of Europe, and her Majesty will continue her efforts in the interests of peace." * * * " The insurrection which broke out last year among some portion of the native inhabitants of New Zealand, still unfortunately continues, but there is reason to hope it will before long be put down." * * * " Her Majesty has directed that a Commission shall be issued for the purpose of revising the various forms of subscription and declaration required to be made by the clergy of the Established Church." There was nothing ehe of any interest whatever. The debate on the address was not very damaging to the Government in either House ; though it was amusing in the Lords', thanks to Lord Derby's power of speech. He made himself merry most mercilessly at the expense of the Foreign Secretary. He accused him of greedily seizing every opportunity of getting himself and the country into trouble ; and then subsiding into a roar " as gentle as any sucking dove." Lord Russell was at no loss for an answer, and made out a sufficiently good case for himself and the Government, as also did Lord Palmerston in reply to Mr. Disraeli in the other House. The great point of both the opposition speakers, was the isolation of this country in Europe, resulting from our foreign policy — that we have not a single friend among the nations of Europe, which -the Times answers effectively by saying, " neither have we an enemy." It seems as if the day of the sailing of the mail, and a, few days after, were generally fruitful in topics of interest, which one just misses the opportunity of speaking about, and which have so far lost their freshness in the course of the month as to be almost in danger of being passed over. A few hours after the despatch of my last letter, Mr. Bright was speaking at Birmingham, his first public appearance since that at Rochdale, which gave rise to the angry controversy between Mr. Cobden and the Editor of the Times. Mr. Bright did well to reserve himself for this occasion. Whatever his pen may be there is no doubt that he has the tongue of a ready speaker, and a very powerful one too. 'His sturdy self confidence contrasts very favourably with his friend's over-sensitiveness and quick temper, and consequent unfairness. His speech is a very able exposition and comment upon the policy, which first invited the Times' criticism. He could not but strike a blow for j the friend who got into trouble in his ' defence. But even that is not badly done on the whole, considering his very awkward position. ' About the same time rumours were heard of Earl Russell's resignation, which, however, did not long prevail, and if they had any foundation in fact, they were soon pronounced untrue. But it is still hinted at from time to time. Punch's cartoon this week represents him as a small boy, splashed all over with ink, while indulging his favourite amusement of despatch-writing, and receiving a box on the ears from Britannia, who tells him to put down that pen with which he has made himself in such a mess.

\ The next day, the 27th, brought us un- ! comfortable news from Japan, to the effect I that they had refused to pay the indemnity ' for the murder of Mr. Richardson, and that i an oi'der had been issued for the expulsion |of all foreigners. But this was soon coutra- | dieted by news that the money had been paid, and that everything Avas going on most j satisfactorily. This is not the first time that j such a trick has been played us in the trans- ! mission of news from Japan. There is comj monly a notable difference between news dei rived from French and English sources. Then came the horrible news of the burnI ing of the church at Santiago ou the Bth j December, which will have reached you long j ago, and which I therefore only mention on I account of its useful effect here, in calling ' public attention to the very defective proI vision for safety in case of accident at nearly 1 all our theatres and other places of public amusement, a term which might not unfairly include some of our metropolitan churches. Even though there should be no immediate practical result, the mere ventilation of the subject is useful. We heard of the successful termination of the little frontier war in India, before the end of the month, without any serious result. Nor have any further rumours reached us of a Sikh rebellion hatching. This time it is in Cabul that trouble is anticipated. Sir John Lawrence has landed, and the Government of India will not now fail in strength. His appointment is not regarded with such complete satisfaction iv India as here. Anglo-Indians have their traditions and prejudices, perhaps stronger than any other section of the Anglo-Saxon race. The Great Eastern steamship has been sold, after the failure of one or two previous attempts. So she will have a chance now (after ruining one set of shareholders) of trying whether under anew management she can be made to pay. For she has never yet had a fair trial. Her enormous size was to enable her to compete successfully with smaller vessels on long voyages. She could carry coal enough for a voyage to New Zealand and back. But she has not yet been tried beyond crossing the Atlantic. And every voyage she has made has consequently been a ruinous loss. It is a great pity that the big ship should rank with the Thames tunnel and the Great Western railway, and other magnificent ideas of poor Brunei, carried out at the expense of enterprising shareholders. The day is coming however when they will all pay. The Thames tunnel, is soon to be used for a railway — the fourth we shall then have crossing the Thames in London. Strange that until within the last few years the Thames should have been allowed to intercept all traffic. This however by the way — I was speaking of the size of ships. The tendency has always been to increase their size as our mechanical powers improve, from the very earliest days to the present, that is if we take the cockle-shell of the Argonauts as the primitive vessel, and not Noah's Ark, which is too big a mouthful for us to swallow whole with the consent of Bishop Colenso. The same is true of ships of war as well as merchant ships. And the consequence, to the national breeches pocket had become really alarming. Most fortunately Mr. Reed does not think effectiveness exactly proportioned to magnitude, while he knows that expense is so ; and we have begun the construction of a fleet of smaller ironclads, which we hope will be equally effective with their overgrown sisters. The Research, an ironplated vessel of only 1,250 tons, having given full satisfaction on her first trial, is to be followed by ten more small ironclads, ranging from 1,000 to a little over 4,000 tons. On the 9th the Enterprise was launched, the smallest armour plated vessel yet built. Her extreme length is only 180 feet, breadth 36 feet ; and tonnage 990. She is to carry four 1101b., rifled guns ; and a crew of 100 men. She is expected to make nine knots per hour. Mr. Reed has certainly fully carried out his protest against bulk ; and if these pigmy ships prove a success, he will have well earned the gratitude of the nation. The wholesome effect of this change has to be seen hereafter. Other causes have produced a reduction this year in the army and navy estimates together of about half a million. I think I told you last month how the Confederate States still continue to supply themselves with vessels of war at our expense — I mean as to character — for doubtless they are " all honourable men " and mean to pay at least money debts, though the Confederate loan has not yet become very popular in the city. The Alexandra case failed in the further appeal to the Court of Error, from the decision, of which I last told you : on technical grounds, in consequence of the form in which the chief Baron caused the appeal to be made on the first trial. The Court decided by a majority of four to three that the Court of Exchequer had exceeded its powers in granting an appeal to them, as they had no jurisdiction in the matter. In delivering the judgment of the majority, the Lord Chief Justice intimated that the Crown could still carry the question to the House of Lords, where it must in any case have been finally decided. " As the case stands at present, it would seem that it is lawful for a British shipbuilder, to endanger the peace of the country for his own private gain. The correspondence with America on this subject, and also in regard to claims put | forward by her for compensation for losses I inflicted by the Alabama, bears a rather ugly | appearance. Fortunately, Mr. Adams, the j American Minister, being more discreet than Mr. Seward, from whom he draws his instructions, suppressed the last and most 'insolent despatch, which we therefore set < down as " bunkum," written only to look i 1 big enough for the New York papers. We i have been all along in the enviable position i of a bystander interfering in a quarrel between man and wife ; at least, heartily abused by both parties, if not actually suffering at the hands of both. We hear from the Cape that, on the 26th December, the Confederate cruiser Tuscaloosa, formerly the Federal barque Conrad, was seized in Simon's Bay by Admiral Sir Baldwin Walker, acting under orders from home/ on the ground of

illegal condemnation, and conversion by j Captain Semmes of the Alabama. The j alleged illegality consists in the summary j condemnation of the vessel by Captain i Semmes, without taking it to a legally con- j stituted prize court. A claim to the vessel ' 1 was put in Mr. Graham, the United States j consul, who was informed that she would be j detained until she could be handed over to ; her former owners. Other ugly questions , remain to be tried, as between us and the Americans, as to illegal action on the part of j some of their naval officers — notable in the , case of the seizure of the Saxon, and the j j death (alleged murder) of Mr. Gray, the i chief mate. Both Presidents have been exerting themselves to the utmost to carry on the war this year ; President Lincolu, by a call for another large draught and by a large scheme of taxation ; and President Davis, also, by a large draught. To make it effective, he has tried to put a stop to the system of substitutes. And this the people of the Southern States kick agaiust. The President wants men more than money ; and the people are ready to give him money, but not men. This dislike of the wealthier Southerners, lor personal service, was so strongly represented by their principal papers, that some sanguine people read their expressions into a confession of despair and a readiness to abandon the cause as hopeless. But we have, probably, a long while yet to wait before we see the beginning of the end. And now I must come at length to what I have shirked as long as I decently could — ever blessed Schleswig-Holstein. For I cannot revenge myself on my bete noire by omitting to mention it, while it monopolises nearly all the talk, and, directly and indi1 rectly, about a third of the papers. Matters have advanced several stages within the month. On the 31st ultimo, the German troops crossed the Eider. "Within the next three days, two or three engagements followed, in which the Danes did not suffer in reputation, though they were to the attacking force but in the proportion of two to nine. The result in the end, however, could not be doubtful, especially when the larger force is backed by a population in still greater disproportion. The Danes were forced to abandon their strong position, the Dannewerke, and to retreat to the Island of Alsen. The occupation of Schleswig was followed, like that of Holstein, by popular demonstrations in favour of the Duke of Augustenburg. But the population of Schleswig not being so decidedly German, these demonstrations were, to a great extent, got up by the invading troops who only participated in them in Holstein. Since then the Danish army has retreated to Diippel, where it remains strongly posted, determined to fight on to the last. I should mention, by the way, that the Danish Government has purchased Mr. Laird's two steam rams ; also that they have given orders for a number of Blakeney's guns. The invaders have put themselves in the wrong more clearly than ever, by the invasion of Jutland, which forms a part of Denmark proper. And notwithstanding their subsequent withdrawal, an acknowledged wrong has been committed. Curious observers remark that, as events become more critical, the Moniteur becomes more " eloquent by its silence," the tone of its daily bulletins becoming drier and more constrained. This of course stimulates the curiosity and eagerness of the people. There is no doubt that the French government would be backed by the people, as thoroughly as our own should further events give a better pretext for active intervention. Napoleon has returned good for evil, in consenting to the conference, demanded by us, of the powers who signed the treaty of 1852. There is all the difference however between a meeting of the parties interested, to discuss a particular question, and a miscellaneous congress like that proposed by him, which would only make each power interfere with the policy of every other. The Germans have refused an armistice pending the sitting o f such a conference. It is said that the feeling between Austria and Prussia is none of the best, while these rival aspirants to the leadership of Germany continue to act in concert for their own end. Neither does the feeling improve between the minor German states, and the two great powers. The conference of the former at Wiirzburg might well cause uneasiness at Berlin and Vienna. For though there are but two German powers, yet a union of some of the smaller states might produce a formidable rival to either. The Bavai'ian representative too, looks to France as a natural and traditional ally. But we may safely leave it to time and events to decide what form Nemesis shall take. The Prussians have shown great unwisdom in their treatment of newspaper correspondents. The press is a power which it is not wise to irritate, considering the weapons at its command. Yesterday's Times contains the Acte d'accusation or bill of indictment against the four conspirators against the Emperor's life, or rather five ; for Mazzini is included in it, and is to be tried in his absence for his alleged share. The whole story of the plot, and the watch kept on the conspirators by the police is curious. It is analysed by the Times this morning in an article, the moral of which is, By all means steer clear of the French police, system, which you will be in danger of copying if you once introduce the system of ticket-of-leave supervision. The whole question of the treatment of criminals is now under discussion. There are two rival schemes, before Parliament, Sir George Grey's, on behalf of the Government, embodying many of the suggestions of the comj mission of inquiry, the other is by Mr. Adderly, they differ very widely in principle, but are alike in one respect, both tending towards greater stringency. And though Providence never granted the general prayer a year ago, that the Home Secretary might be garotted, and so learn to take a more reasonable view of criminal human nature, yet even he is disposed to make sentences real. Since my last letter, the sentence on the murderer Townely has been commuted to penal territude for life, the authorities of

i Bethlehem having pronounced him perfectly srme. Sir George Grey lost no time in , | bringing in a bill, according to promise, respecting the treatment of insane prisoners. i After this session we may hope that so 1 shameless a perversion of justice as there I was in this case, will no longer be possible. : On Monday last five men were hanged at | ; Newgate, having been found guilty of j , murder and piracy. Four were Manilla men j and one a Greek. There were eight of the ! crew tried, but one was acquitted of the ■ capital charge, though found guilty after- j ; wards of scuttling the ship. But the j execution of seven men together was too much for the tender heart of the Home Secretary, and he reprieved two of them on i the representation of the Spanish Consul, j So unusual a scene (not witnessed before for thirty-six years), and the very large crowd drawn together to witness it,uaturally brought up the question of public executions for discussion in Parliament. Opinions of eye-witnesses differ to an amusing extent as to the effect upon the crowd of such a spectacle. But the general verdict seems to be in favour of the continuance of the present practice, and certainly' vre are not yet prepared for the abolition of capital punishment. Time is running short, and I must hasten to a close, though not without telling you of the termination, on the 4th instant, of the case in the Divorce Court of O'Kane v. O'Kane andPalmerston. Itended,ashadbeen anticipated, in the failure of even the pretence of a case, the mere threat of which the prosecutor had probably supposed would answer his purpose, whether of extortion or what else. The Judge Ordinary, in dismissing the case, said "It is a matter of great satisfaction to the Court, that the name of the co-respond-ent, which is never mentioned in England without a just pride, should have passed from its annals without a stain." Mr. Gladstone has a measure for further utilizing the Post Office. The Savings Banks having proved so great a success, he proposed to use the same machinery for the sale of deferred annuities, and also of life policies under £100, thus bringing within the reach of the poor, these very great advantages which are at present : enjoyed only by the tipper and middle classes, free from the risk which attends so many of their own benefit clubs. He will meet with serious opposition, I think, only from the lower class of insurance offices. The latest African mails do not confirm the report of Dr. Livingstone's death. It seems certain that the expedition was attacked by natives, but we do not know more. On the Bth February, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council reversed the judgment of the Court of Arches against Dr. Eowland "Williams and Mr. "Wilson, two of the Essayists and Beviewers. The question of University tests is under discussion, as well as that of clerical subscription. It is probable that the former is the place where the wedge can be most easily inserted. j