ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 518, 20 July 1850, Page 2

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

In the House of Commons, Lord Palmerston, in replying to a question put by Colonel Anstey, stated that no blockade, properly so called, had been established in the Piraeus ; that purely Greek vessels alone were detained, and that the commerce of neutrals was not interfe.ed with. In answer to Mr. Hume, Lord Palmerston afterwards stated that reprisals had ceased ; that diplomatic relations were suspended, and that the mediation of France had been accepted. Mr. Hume moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend the national representation, by extending the elective franchise to resident occupiers of houses, or lodgers for a year, rated to the poor ; and by enacting that votes shall be taken by ballot; the duration of Parliaments limited to three years ; and the proportion of representatives made more consistent with the amount of population and property. The motion was lost by 242 to 96. Mr. W. J. Fox moved and obtained leave to bring in a bill to promote the secular education of the people of England. Mr. Aglionby, in the House of Commons, on Tuesday, February 26, gave notice, that on going into cojnmittee on the Australian Colonies Bill, he would move that its provi-

sions respecting free institutions should be extended to New Zealand, and if that were refused, that they should he extended to the southern portions of that colony. In the House of Commons, on Thursday, 28th February, Mr. E. Ellice presented a petition from the colonists of Moreton Bay against the transportation of convicts there. On the same day in the House of Lords, Lord Monteagle presented a petition, signed by several of the influential inhabitants of the colony of Port Phillip, complaining of the restrictions of the franchise, and praying for Its extension. Lord Mountcashel called the attention of the house to several cases in which the care of emigrants had been committed to incompetent or inexperienced persons. In the House of Lords, on Thursday, March 1, Lord Monteagle inquired as to the information which the Government might have received respecting the popularity of the one chambered constitution which it was proposed to confer upon that colony. Earl Grey replied, that the official despatches contained no definite intelligence on the subject. From the reports of meetings and articles in the colonial journals it was, however, evident that the measure had given great satisfaction to the colonists. The Female Emigration Society, set on foot by Mr. Sydney Herbert, sent out their first party on Monday, March 4, by the ship Culloden, for Port Phillip. The individuals selected for this first experiment were 38 in number, and are described as young women of excellent character. The ship selected for them carries out a number of other emigrants, and it is said to be the determination of the society thus (o draft off their protegees in the ordinary vessels sailing for Australia, rather than to charter ships specially to carry those only who receive the assistance of the society. A deputation of gentlemen, with Sir James Duke at their head, had an interview with the Secretary of the "Treasury on Wednesday, the 28tk February, for the purpose of advocating the Cape of Good Hope route for the conveyance of the proposed government mails by steam to Australia. The deputation received an intimation that the statements made would be laid before her Majesty's government, and receive due attention. It is in contemplation to form a separate convict establishment in Western Australia under the superintendence of Commander Henderson, of the royal navy. Captain Henderson, R.N.. has taken his departure for Western Australia. The Standard says that the office of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland is to be abolished. Lord Denman retired on the 28th February from his judicial functions. Lord Campbell is to be his successor. This sets at rest an uncomfortable question. Mr. Elliott, the late master of the Childers, who was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, for desertion, has been released from the Queen's Bench Prison, the terra of his sentence having expired. A lieutenant and ten seamen of her Majesty's ship Ganges had been wrecked at the Piraeus, and, afterwards escaping to the Island of Lypso, had perished miserably of cold and hunger. While a man named Pippr, in the service of a tanner of Dewsbury Moor, was superintending the chopping of some bark, he fell amongst the knives of the mill, and his body was chopped to pieces. The Moniteur contains the following oificial announcement, to show that France is not likely now to be embroiled in war with Austria, Russia, or Prussia: — "Thealarming reports which persons have endeavoured to put in circulation for the last two days had to-day acquired more consistency. We are authorised to declare that they are devoid of all foundation. The Government has received, this very day, despatches from Russia, Prussia, and Austria, and they enable us to affirm that the peace of Europe was uever more secure. The news of the entry into Switzerland of the French, Prussian, and Austrian armies is therefore completely unfounded." The Journal dcs Debats mentions that the Minister of France announced to the committee on the budget, that the revenue would be sufficient to provide for the public service during the present year, without having recurrence to any new taxes or a loan. Fifty-four of the insurgents of June confined in the Fort of Hommet, had been pardoned by the President of the Republic. Twenty-seven left for Paris, and the remainder were to follow. A dreadful case of animal combustion occurred in Paris, in a wine shop at the Barriere de l'Etoile. A journeyman painter, long noted as a iurd drinker, betted with some companions with whom he was drinking, that he would eat a lighted candle. He put the flame to his mouth, and immediately uttered a cry. At the same moment a blue flame was seen to play about his mouth, and shortly af-

terwards he fell. When his friends raised him, they were horrified at finding that he was burning in the interior, and in half an hour his head and breast were carbonised. Two physicians'were sent for, but they could do nothing. The Emperor of Russia has ordered the erection of a Hue of forts along the boundary towards Prussia. The principal object of this measure is said to be the concentration of a considerable force at the western extremity of the imperial dominions, to be ready in case of any evert of importance occurring in Central Europe. Letters from Naples announced the cessation of a very violent eruption of Vesuvius. The lava had found an issue on the southern side of the mountain towards Mauro d'Ottiano, and flowed down in three directions, the principal stream following the old bed. Notwithstanding this favourable circumstance, a good deal of damage had been done to property. Of three persons who had approached too near to wituess the phenomenon more at their ease, one was killed, and the two others severely wounded by red hot stones. The Patrie says — " Russia completely unites herself to France on the Greek question. The Russian Ambassador in London, M. de Brunow, has received from his government orders to act in accord with the Fienrh Ambassador in the negociation to which our meditation has given rise." Letters from Syra state that more than 1,000 vessels had been seized and coufiscued in the different ports of Greece. Tise maritime commerce" suffd red severely, ami it the blockade continues much longer there were few who would not be reduced to bankruptcy.