ARRIVAL OF ENGLISH NEWS TO MARCH FIRST.

Colonist, Volume VII, Issue 677, 22 April 1864, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF ENGLISH NEWS TO MARCH FIRST.

WAR IN EUROPE !

DEFEAT OF THE DANES

Late American News.

The steamer Ladybird arrived at Nelson shortly after 11 a.m. yesterday, bringing English News to March Ist, in anticipation of the Mail due here on 26th instant. Having undergone an entire overhaul at Sydney, she left there on Thursday last week, and experienced heavy weather from the eastward, during almost the whole of the passage. She brings nine passengei's principally for Wellington.

GENEEAL ENGLISH INTELLIGENCE.

The Australian December mails were delivered, via Marseilles, on the 12th; and via Southampton, on the 18th February.

OPENING OP THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT,

Parliament was opened by Commission on the 4th of February. The Royal speech referred to the birth of a son to the Prince of Wales, and then adverted to the Danish question. It recited the leading stipulations of the Treaty of 1852; stated that the Queen had the same desire to preserve the peace of Europe as it was one of the declared objects of all the powers who were parties to that treaty; and went on to say that her Majesty had endeavored to bring about a peaceful settlement of the matter in dispute between Denmark and Germany, in the hope of averting the danger of an outbreak of war in the north of Europe. It was added that her Majesty would continue her efforts in the interests of peace. Thespeech then referred to the affairs of Japan, and regretted the continuance of tile natire insurrection in New Zealand, which however, there was reason to hope, would soon be suppressed. The speech announces the conclusion of a treaty for the surrender of the protectorate of the lonian Ihlanda, and a treaty for their annexation to Greece.

It was stated that the condition of the country was satisfactory, and that the amount of its commerce was increasing. The distress in the manufacturing districts had decreased, and there was reason to look forward to a supply of cotton for the mills.

The speech concluded with an announcement that a commission was about to be issued to revise the form of subscription to the declarations required from the clergy ; and stated that various merisures of public usefulness would be submitted to Parliament.

The address in reply to the speech was adopted in both Houses, after a debate on the foreign policy of the Government.

In the House of Lords on the 9th of February, Earl Russell said that the Government had not received any guarantee that Austria and Piussia would evacuate (he Duchies of Schleswig-Holstein when the November Constitution was revoked, but those powers had stated that they would not attack the integrity of Denmark. On the 14th of February, Lord Campbell called attention to the several treaties guaranteeing Schleswig to Denmark, anJ stated that they were still binding on this country. Earl Russell declined to express any opiuion as to the validity of these guarantees, but thought that every means, by conference and negotiations, should be exhausted before taking steps calculated to produce hostilities. On the 16th, Earl Russell stated that the Government were in no way responsible for the alleged losses by the assaults of the Confederate steamer Alabama, as claimed by the Government of America. lie trusted that the Federal Government would modify its views on the point. In the House of Commons on the Bth, Lord Palmerston said that the Government had remonstrated with Austria and Prussia for allowing the proclamation of the Prince of Augustenberg as Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, and denounced the the idea of war putting an end to treaties aa a doctrine which no Government, having a regard for good faith, could uphold. On the 9th, Lord Palmerston said that the treaty of 1852, was binding on the German powers. On the 12th, Mr. Fitzgerald called attention to the capture of British vessels by Federal cruisers, and especially referred to the murder of Mr. Gray, mate of the ship Saxon, by a lieutenant of a federal ship. Lord Palmerston replied that representations had been made to the Government of Washington on the subject. On the 15tli, Mr. Layard said that the Government had proposed an armistice between the belligerents at Schleswig, but the proposal was unsuccessful.

On the 19th, Sir George Grey brought in a bill to amend the Penal Servitude Acts. The bill was mainly founded on the recommendations of the Itoyal Commissioners; but the Government had resolved to defer to the wishes of the colonists of Australia, by abandoning the proposal to send all male convicts to Western Australia, and by continuing the present system with certain modifications.

On the 22nd a motion for the postponement of the Naval Estimates brought on a debate, which was accepted by the Government as a challenge equivalent to vote of want of confidence. The division gave the Government a majority of 173. On the 23rd, Mr. Locke King brought in a bill to extend the county franchise to 410 occupiers. On the 25ih, Lord George Paget, in bringing in the naval estimates, stated that the condition of the Navy was satisfactory as gathered from all accounts, and that it was bring improved and remodelled. The sum aked for tlie Naval service was £10,432,610, against £10,736,032 lust year. The number of seamen required wes 71,960, against 76,000 last year: and the sea going ships numbered 158, against 154 last year, while the number of other ships whb 243 against 236 last year. The number of iron-plated ships in commission was 76 in June,.and 6 more in December. In all, there were 25 now building.

The Queen had returned to Windsor from Osborne. Her Majesty's health was said to be unequal to the performance of State ceremonials. For this reason the Prince and Princess of Wales had held levees and drawing-rooms in her Majesty's name. The-Princess of Wales had entirely recovered, after passing a fortnight at St. Leonard's.

Ihe Prince and Princess returned to town on the 22nd February. The infant Duke of Cornwall was in perfect health. The christening is to take place early in March. It as said that the King of Belgium, the Queen of Denmark, and her eldest daughter will attend.

The Queen had issued letters patent declaring that all children of the sons of English sovereigns are to have the title of \ " lioyal Highness." The Princess of Wales was churched in ', the private chapel at Windsor. The first two names of the infant Duke of Cornwall are to he Albert and Victoria. The trial of the alleged French conspirators was about to open in Paris. The indictment includes Mazzini, but it created little attention,

QIIASHING OF THE PaLMEESTON DtVOECE Case. —The Palmerston Divorce case is quashed. The petitioner, O'Kane, declined to proceed with the case, alleging that it had been compromised. The respondent and co-respon-dent deny being parties to any such compromise. The Judge Ordinary severely censured the petitioner, declaring that no stain rested upon the fair fame of the noble co-respondent. Lord Palmerston was heartily cheered by both sides, in the House of Commons, after the divorce case against him had been abandoned.

The news of the Santiago tragedy created an intensely painful sensation in England.; There is much anxiety concerning the fate of Dr. Livingstone.

The Channel fleet has been ordered to return to England.

Seamen for the American Federal navy were being enlisted in Calcutta.

Execution of Pirates at Newgate.— Much excitement prevailed in London on the 22nd February, owing to the execution of five prisoners at Newgate. The prisoners had been convicted of murdering the captain and several of the crew of the ship Flowery Land, and running away with the vessel. Great precautions were taken to prevent accidents, and they proved effectual, The widowed Countess of Elgin had arrived at Dover, from India.

Mr. J. K. Yorke, a Conservative, had been returned for Tewkesbury, succeeding Lygon, who has been elected for "West "Worcestershire. For Durham, Henderson, a liberal, succeeds the late Sir E. Atherton.

The Commission appointed to revise the forms of clerical declarations, comprises names belonging to all parties in the Church.

The ecclesiastical census of Ireland discloses the fact that their are hundreds of parishes without a churchman in them.

The judgment of the Privy Council in favour of the Essayists and Reviewers, with costs of appeal, created great sensation in the English Church. The Archbishops of York and Canterbury dissented. Dr. Pusey appeals to all churchmen to repudiate the judgment. The decision has caused, says the Sydney Serald's telegram, a very great sensation. The Privy Council Committee, through the Chancellor, have established a rule that clergymen may assert, that though the Bible contains the word of God, all that 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.

The Swindler, Bathurst, well known in Australia, has been sentenced to three years' penal servitude.

The case between the Press and Parliament of Victoria —Dill v. Murphy and another—has been heard before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and dismissed.

At the first sitting of the Bankruptcy Court, Levy and Robertson, printers and shippers, declared themselves bankrupt. Liabilities, £35,150, besides several hundreds due to separate estates. Cause of failure said to be private speculations of Franklvn, one of the partners, in Melbourne. Heavy losses expected; dividend, however, expected of fifteen shillings in the pound. Printing materials, &c, in Melbourne valued at £20,000 in July 1862. The creditors released Franklyn from liabilities, he having retired from the firm in June.

The steamer Great Eastern has been sold for £SO,OOO to the Great Eastern Steam Company. The Alexandra case has to go before the House of Lords.

The Duke of Newcastle is recoveriug his health.

The Prince of Wales fell from his horse while hunting, but was not injured.

QBITUAKX

The Rev. Sir Charles Harding, Bart., Lady Louisa Lygon, Lucy Aiken, Miss Proctor, Mr. Dyce, R.A., Mr. Hunt, Dean Newman, D.D., Lady Louisa Stewart, The Hon. P. Peirrepoint, The Baroness Ruthven, The Duchess of Gordon, The Hon. R. Petrie, Sir B. Hickens, Mr. Potter, M.P., and the Dowager Viscountess of Hereford, Admiral Henderson, Colonel Thompson, Mr. Adderley, Duchess of Parma, Lieutenant General Kennedy, Major General Macpherson.