ENGLISH MAIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 140, 25 April 1864, Page 5

ENGLISH MAIL.

NEWS TO Ist MAIiCH.

HOSTILITIES BKTWKKX THE GKUMAN, KKDKRAL AND DANISH TliOOl'S. PROPOSED COXFKRICXCK ON' THE DUCHIES QUESTION. EXCITEMENT IN FRANCE, GERMANY, AND ITALY OX THE AFKAEBS OF DENMARK. CONFEDERATE SUCCESS IN VIRGINIA. FURTHER LEVY OF 300.000 MEN FOR THE FEDERAL ARMY. INDISPOSITION OF THE QUEEN. SALE OF THE GREAT EASTERN FOR £80,000. DIMINUTION OK DISTRESS IN THE COTTON DISTRICTS. GENERAL CAMERON CREATED A K.C.B. FRENCH OCCUPATION OF MEXICO CONDEMNED BY THIERS AND BERRYER. FI3ENCII IMPERIAL GUARD ORDERED TO THE RHINE FKONTIER. OPENING OF BRITISH PARLIAMENT. PACIFIC NATURE OF THE ROYAL SPEECH. SUBSCRIPTIONS OPENED IN ENGLAND FOR WOUNDED DANES. [?Rox tui: "Sydbkv Hi!R.vrj>'B" nja OBOBOK'a BOCMD Sl'UOLi-L TULBOBAJrUIO OOttBRHi'ONBBNT. ] Adelaide Wednesday, G p.in. The Alexandra, brauch etoamor, arrived at Glenolg Pier at four p.m. (o-<lay. Bho made tho passage from King George's Sound in 100 hours ; the upward passage to the Sound oscupied ninety-seven hours. The P. and 0. steamer Madras, Captain Farquhar, arrived at King George's Sound at 7 a.in on the Oth inst.; she left Galle at 7 j).in. on the 125 th March. Captain Pardoc, Admiralty agent. PASSENGERS. For Sydney. —Mr. and Mrs. "Walker and four children, Miss Hood, Mrs. Brown, Miss Williams, Mrs. Baizley, Mr. and Mrs. Farmer, Commander Freemnntle. R.N., Captain Kobinson, R.N., Lieutenant Fannerty, Messrs. Clarke, Speeding, Brencliley, Warden, Wiiitorbottoin, and Dr. Spcers. For Melbourne.—Messrs. "Rail, M'Credie, Twciityman, Quiiilivan, Keightley, Gladstone, Simmons, Briinhle, lliggins. Castles, Spink, Clark, and Lieutenant Liiwstm. The delay in the arrival of the mail was caused by the very long passages of the lied Sea and Mediterranean steamers.

GENERAL SUMMARY.

London, '20th February. The Australian December mails were delivered in London on the 12th and 18th February. The Queen is sit Windsor. Her medical advisers have prohibited her from appearing lit public ceremonials. This announcement has caused universal regret. Tiie Prince and Princess of Wales liavo arrived in London, to take part in the festivals til' the season. Parliament was opened on -tth February, by Jiovjil Commission. Tho only item of importance in the speech related to the complications of the Danish question. The British Government lias announced that it will not eudaiigertliemnintenaneeof the peacn of Europe by rushing into a war in defence of Denmark, but the Government will endeavour to bring iibout. by all possible means, a paeilir .solution of the SehleswigllolsuMii question. Austria ami Prussia have agreed to take part in the Conference proposed by England, without an armistice, to be held in London. Franco and Kussia have agreed to take a part in the proposed Conference on the Danish question. The English will not admit the right of American cruisers to seize British ships when in neutral waters.

A bill has been brought into Parliament by Sir George Grey to amend the Penal Servitude Act. In introducing the measure he referred to the alarm which appeared to exist in the Eastern Colonies of Australia at the prospect of a continuance of transportation. This feeling Sir George Grey censured as unreasonable, and iie protested against tho right of tho Eastern colonists to dictate to her Majesty's Government on the subject of transportation ; the more especially as the colonists of Western Australia had petitioned for more convicts. Tho grand jury and magistrates of Worcestershire, liiivo' presented a- petition praying for the renewal of transportation to Australia. The final decision given by Lord Westbury in tho celebrated Essays and .Reviews case lias caused very great sensation. The Privy Council Committee, through the Chancellor, have established a rule that clergymeu may assert that, though the Bible contains the word of God, allthat is in the book is not inspired, or even true, and also that clergymen may be permitted to hope that there will be no everlasting punishment. On the same subject her Majesty has appointed a new Commission, whose duty it v vi 11 be to revise all the various forms of subscription and declaration required of the clergy of the Church of England. A great mass of correspondence has been published and laid before Parliament between Earl llussell and the American Minister with reference to the proceedings of the Alabama. The Federal Government demands compensation for all loses sustained by the United States through the seizure awl '.taut-ruction of Vedwal vessels by the

Alabama, the ground of l-lJu. being that I she was buili. ?.ud rnnnued by Englishmen. ! Earl Kussell absolutely declines to acknowledge any responsibility. In tlio Divoivo cape, re Paltnereton, the petitioner dei-liueJ to proceed with the suit. It has boon rumoured that a compromise was effected, tlie indgo, howevor, declared that no stain rested upon Lord PalnierstonJs fame. Great cheering and enthusiasm was displayed on his cnteraneo into the House of Commons, after the case had been abandoned. A mass meeting, convened by priests in Dublin, took place," the object of which was to protest against the act of the Corporation of that city in granting a site in College Green for the erection of a statue of the late Prince Consort. About 5,000 persons were present. Tho proceedings were very turbulent, and a disgraceful and general fight terminated the meeting. The trade throughout England is very satisfactory. The distress among tho manufacturing population of the cotton districts has greatly diminished, but, on the other baud, fever, in which scarlatina is the most prominent, is very prevalent in these districts. The five mutineers of the ship Flower}' Laud, were tried, found guilty, and executed at Newgate. An immense concourse' of puonle, estimated at forty thousand, were present on the occasion. M<ijor-(Tenei"il Cameron has been appointed K. C. 13., in acknowledgment of bis services as Commander-in-chief in New Zealand. In tho Australian appeal cases, that from Victoria, Dill v. Murphy and another, was heard before the Privy Council, on the 2nd February. Their Lordships dismissed the appeal. In the New South AVales case, Robertson v. Dumaresq, the Couucil confirmed the decision of Ihe Court below, with costs. After several abortive efforts on the part of tho shareholders of the Great Eastern to dispose of that vessel, she has been at last sold by auction ior £80.000. Reports are current that she will be probably chartered to lay down the Atlantic cable. A new scheme has been started for connecting England with the Continent by railway. The London Sliakesperian Committee are close on dissolution.

OBITUAEY. The Rev. Sir Charles Harding, Bart., Lady Louisa Lygou, Lucy Aikou, Mine Proctor, Mr. Dyeo, E..A,, Mr. ffuut, Dean. Newniftn, D.D., Lady Louisa Stewart, The lion. P. Peirrepoint, Tlie Baroneee Ruth van, The Duchess of Gordon,Tho Hon. 11. Potrie, Sir B. Hiekens, Mr. Potter, M.P., and the Dowager Viscountess Hereford.