EUROPEAN NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 322, 23 November 1864, Page 3

EUROPEAN NEWS.

[From the Mnmbuj Ihra!d.~]

So then while certain of Australia's patriots were denouncing the Ihitish Ministry lor rciu-ing to become principals in tin; P>]i>h <pi-»stion — while tbev were complain ng of heartless indiffeience to lhe suffering- 5 and oppression of a country whose history has but few points of unity with our own—Russia was preparing to stiike .Australia a blow irom which \cars would not haw reeoveied us. There are many lovers ofli-"'i ty in t his colony, and of the indep«.ndenee of nations, who would have lejoieed to hear that- a hostile fleet was mailing up the lhame.s, but cunt our Fenien blethers would hardly have welcomed tho soldiers of the Czar a» repiercutatives ul their cause. Holy Rus-ia looks on all leliuions, 1 t which the Emperor not the head, as so many perni< iou*< heresies ; and the truest ion oi legislative union would l»y him be detenuim d hy a I'kase ami Siberia. I v>'ii, Jiowrvcr, if we weie satisfied with hisoiliiodoxy, and rejoiced in hi* h tied of Fngian 1, we sh' iihl not hel hss distutljrd at the exaction uf a large contribution. We do not know how iar tlie may have committed it* authority to the statement of the plan of operat ions, but the scheme is not only /easi : le. hut n»"cf p2">]»-ihle. Within communication with >t. ret«'i>burgh by wire, there is a Unssian tleel. that would be able to reach tlie coL-nus long before we could have any notice of its designs, or even of our danger. The .Russian Admiral ohfain for sixpence all the infonnation possessed by our Governm«'nl>, as to the he-t j> )iut of attack ; he woird find <'h(-mies of Kngland even among her own jjeople, who would ai l him in his enlcnuise; he would hive the choice of time, and in the absence ot men of war, whose wne:o.lb >uts being utik.i-ywn, he uoul i om'otrnter no resi>t nice.

What would be done in such a case. Tho hostile force would probly oiler itnns of r-uisom. These terms would be arranged noon a cal illation of tho properly which be destroyed : one-third or one-hilt', according to the temper of the Commander or the nature of hi> instructions. < >r perhaps, a Government pro'.'erring revenge to money, ami con.-idoring that, a prolonged suspension of our relations with Englan 1 would tell with more eil'eet than an exaction which a loan would rover, might clioo-e rather to destroy. ft niu>t be recollected that a ransom is a debt, and that tho public honour ofa nation would ii 't Miller it invasion. .11 is a concession made to the raptured town, and when once contracted is derlared a sacred obligation. Kniflaud would be exp -eti-d to enforce tho bar-fain. It is one of the measures which humanity ha-. devised to lessen the pers nal snflbrings of civilians, who are thus made res-

u-nisible only for their fair share of the burdens ot liiu i'voii tile American Courts have pronounced in favour of bills of ransom paid to ihi! ' \labama' by their merchants, ami when the war -ball terminate they will be t dcen into account, r.icre arc some m who have such a strong mnEdcnco in our eonrago .-nd invincibility thai ihey would encounter a lloaling ballon* or ironclad in any cock-boat; others would swim < ti'— their swords in (.heir teeth—and biing any ship ishoio by main force — ut. least we have leard of such valiant defenders. Others icake no scruple to assort that they would take t> the I'duo Mountains. repudiate, and smile at the impotent rago ot the enemy. These persons are numerous enough to ptov- nt- any means of defence being ado - ted. Ih' j" think they h >ve saved the public t ea-u-v by as-orting ewry where their confidence of perpetual

peace. 'J hey will, doubt less, reu.ier tho warning voice of tile Tinwn si-4 p .vvriiess as our frequent remonstrances have been, and »v shall go oil its wo n:v nntii the port is shut up and the oitj' in cihee.

The discoveries of modern science are, notwithstanding, all favourable to d fence. It is proved that a fortified city cannot; be conquered except by a siega of long and doubtful issue, and that floating towers mav safely awa.t the shock of any veseei which can cross the ocean. A defence which could baffle au assault an.l keep back an inva.ier for a short time would render his position extienely critical. Ih© cities of this hemisphere are idl well situated for defence none more than this ; but we are evidently resolved tu do nothing effectual, and perhaps the next beat is to do nothing. .No Ministry is likely to risk d frat tor a purpose so little valued by party# and which must exact f*ui\iei)3 and sacr.fices as tho price ot security to the lives an.t propirtv of the people. \\ e may, however, remind our re iders that our relations with Russia anil other l-owcrs sti 1 more dangerous, are liable io disturbance If not for I oliind, we sha 1 probably find ourselves involved with the &atne Tower wh se ambition meets us on the chores of the Black fc>ea, and 0:1 the borders of i er-ia; and now in great force on the Chinese Ocean. IMand is fallen, for no nation could save her hr own people hare been her ruin—they were ever remarkable, when independent, for anarchy and intolerance. Ihe heroism of thousands has in vaia a tone J for the folly and violence of former ages, and they ait- lost, cxct pt by some act of providence such as is always hoped lor, but does not always some even in aid of vi tue.

\\ e set* wi/h much regret that the commercial affairs at Home are a good deal disturbed. This could not be ejected to bo lomr averted. The waste of pr<ip. rty an 1 tiie loss of [?rc>fit in the desolating war ut America imwt teli on both nations, but anything ue may suller will ;»iob;ib'y not be a ripple 0u the Mtitac-' compared with the rack and ruiu which will tollow Da? s -ttlement of accounts when h« th North cast up their losses nd gains. The breaking of a bank or two in Knglan l will not be of much inom.*nt whoie such acci er.tsare precipitated otu-n b_\ cau>e.s ot iu great extent. The cotton trade may be expected to take same \ears before its new ci n litioi.s will b.; thoroughly ascertained, and the M<pply aitd demand, the p;oduc ion ot" raw uiuteri and tne >ysteni ot manul t icturo bo adjusted after being m) pr.•fovaulty shaken.

l>ur n.a.l h;ijs r.ireiy br.Might a painful cataloguti ui puuiic or piiva emisi'oitunes. The calamity "biuii haa befalkn Calcutta n.ust be accepted as from the m i (.ion. All eastern climates are liable to great eunvul ions, which tear i<p and sweep away and bmy Die works and the families of men. Over t.ii--> ciojtolition and devastati-ii, liovvevcr, the chasm i* soon closed, and new labours and fresh life resume and replenish the void.

Tin- l owei- oi' a uvclonu is inconceivable to persons who have not witnessed it. Ottuu moving* in u welldo'ined courso, iis mvagw 1110 ;is e nupl = tu us it' thev woiv j.i-o.Jiii'cd by s ,i iie ini-ch nical engine. If on land, it mows down hiie-.ts as a acytho levels the corn. \\ c Inttrjv road of a visitation whose resistless cour.-e v\a> visii.le in its swelling eil'ects within fright ut a sjiftrt..tor standing within an atmosphere compatibly t-;dtii. It i-> a great misfortune that the lino h"taiiioal gardens of Calcutta ate total;** destroyed. 1 hey have lt.r many years been considered among iis choicest attractions.

Hie 1 ussl'>, however, of capital and stoppage of the course of tijide oiten lead tu a still more serious los 3 in tae suspension of employment and general destitution.

The explosion of the Erith Powder Works is even more dis. resting, because obviou.-ly the result of mi>inaiiHg nient and incaution. 3u,ui)o barrels ought never smeh to be deposited in c •imnuniuUion. This deplorable disaster wnl suiely lead Lo anangementa wnieh may make one similar impossible. The lesson co u:» is t«» aM-enum the safety ot our own magazines, and tj inquire how lar munieip.d laws aie sufiici-nt in compa. s and execution to protect our own city fr-iin a similar disaster. \\'e have received from time lime string saWnieuts of the careless deposit and c.\cea.>ive quantity of this aiticle in the city. It is too late t > cry out when the misehiet is dono.

Ihe muvemtiit tor the union of the American piovinees will bo watched whh interest and curl .>ity. hngland has so otten expressed through her lending libeials her disgust and weariness of coiwiial tmpiic, that we cannot doubt what this union implies and portends. Bo great prosperity Uin .s to it- own worth, anu the peifection of growth is the prediction oi decay.

Ilie American news by the mail confirms the sfatenit'iif- ol t; c iat est telegram of Ja-t month to theefleet that Grant had occupied a position on the W'eldon ladroan. J lie possession id this point- would seem to lune been hotly contested, fur it was taken, retaken, ■uid taken 'lhe Fedoais occupy a, length ot* three mdes mar ihe Keums Station, which is about tin mihs to i lie south of JL\ tersburg. *J his is suflici nt to cut oil the direct coinnuuiKatioii with Aorth. aroliua, ami b\ this means aie uveuue by which, supplies can icaeh the Kiehraond army is cut 08'. Greater slruin is thrown upon the other lines, and tlu; movement- ot Confederate troops aud supplies is lu 1 liiit extent I'eli crctl more 1 diiieuit.

\\ e gut also a liesh de.-cription of the movement: ref< rre.i to in our re-eut uliioruiaii papers, bv which. Griiut, scud ng troops down the river in the daylightami bringing them b.iuk at night, surprised some C'ofi/cde afe enir. nehments o 1 the north side of the dames i-iver, niid oecii} ied a position six miles from l'ort iJarhng. i lie advantage of this position is that :t (Ui'intaiuU lhe Confederate portion of the river below the 1- rt, thus einbairacing the movements of t :e louiederai e ve-se.s and the free movemcut of Confederate ticops t<» u 1111 fro.

Lee is said to be contemplating an offensive movement against Grant's left. it s•, this would be to recover pussessi.»n of the Wekiou railroad; but DO weight is t«> be attached to these conjectures. Grant imitates ml tlie Fen end gem rals in putting great faith in earthworks, so that cv. ry 1 ositiou h ■ hutds is p;o* bably Welt oeiendcu, and a direct- a-sault on anv of the.u would be a costly atl'atr for the attacking party * 0

ihe report that Leo has recall-d part of Eariv's force is \ery_ Lively to be true. The object of the Maryland mid has been suiliciemiy accomplished, and, in antiejranon 01 fresh attacks" from Grant at any point between Fort J>ai\ing and Learns Station, lie lias none 1.10 many men for lhe defence. That iiariy has been weakened is als > nudeied probable bv the 1 iet that he is leporled in the late.-t news loliavo been defeated by >hendau, whose advance hw had on a previous occasion rej uls.-d.

Sherman s pe.severance in Georgia has been Towarded t length fy the o; Atlanta. Cllio >ui"slit ution 01 i! cod i- «r J«.-bust one as the Confederate General, did 110'. avail to withstand the advance of ihi.' Federal army, ;nd though there have been, several desperate an 1 sanguinary engagements, Sherman has either always held his own or ad vanned. Nothing seems to indicate more strongly the weakness < 1 the ConUueracy than Sherman's steady advance so iar irom lus base of operations, and his unrelenting hold » f ail the euuntiy he has gained, tiu has kept up his supplies and continue! to receive

tvint' and i:;on.h his advance has been dung a line pi eventing many defenydbk: positions, he ha* ly 1 tinicd «;r captured them all. Atlanta is a great centre of railroad communications, and a poi tof \ast blr.it- getie importance. Its loss is ii giv.it blow to the CVniederaey. It *ecms to have • ■null evacuated by the garrison as 110 longer tenable, -durtnan objoct was said by the Northern l*resa to be not only to rapture tho place but to make a complete jou ot the business by capturing the army too. With tiio object oi cutting oil tho lines of ivtreat, his cavalry has been breaking up the lines of raiiruad that converge on Atlanta. The capture of •jiie of the.-e with a part uf his force intertered with tlie completeness ot this plan, and Hood has been able to withdraw his army. His retreat wiJ probably be upon 21.icon. Sherman seems disposed to retain peunanent possession ot* Ailanta, and. jn order t'> get lid ot the uiiliemty of holding a city tenanted by an inimi-.d population, he has ordered all the white who will not take the oath "t allegiance to le.ivu their homes. This is a harsh, measure, but Sherman is in a precarious position, and in contemplating a further advance it would not ao for him to leu.vo a doubtful place in his rear. i\>rr, Morgan, at tiit; entnm vof Mobiie liay, has shared thj fale of tho o»h«.T ibrfc* that defendud the harbour, and lias nnbjd to Admiral Farragut*B guns. The ho>tile licet is nuvv within shellihg distance of the town. T'iio ton.a* ot the news this time, therefore, is nil ag.iin>t . ho Confederates. Tiie jiMspects of tho Picsideniial election are .lm»»st tqual in interest in the eyes of the Americans to those of the war. and according to the. tenor of the news, Mr. Liuc- lu's chances are decidedly in the ascendaut. ,

A cer'ain Load' n hole! being on /ire, one of tho servant* was directed t) waken two gentleman who were a>!c. p in an upstairs mom. She knocked at ihe door, ami said, 'I beg pardon gentlemen for diarurbing you, but the house is on lire/