ADDITIONAL ITEMS OF ENGLISH NEWS.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 653, 3 May 1870, Page 2

ADDITIONAL ITEMS OF ENGLISH NEWS.

The following are some additional items of intelligence taken from the Southern Cross : The Colonial qnestion is still discussed in the Quarterly (Edinburgh) Review, and in the Fortnightly Heview, by Herman Merrivaleand Stuart Mill. He thinks it should be a systematic consultation on Colonial affairs, with representatives chosen by elected authorities of the various Colonies. Fowell Buxton advocates a Federation on the basis of equality, with independent territories, combining for external defence. Greal activity is displayed by the Emigration League. A deputation waited on Mr Gladstone and Mr Bruce, presenting a memorial. Both Ministers promised to give it a favorable consideration, and expressed themselves adverse to any alteration in the relations of the Colonies with the Mother Country. Colonel Maude aud Edward Wilson both read papers on a selfsupporting emigration fund. The British Colonial Society fund amounts to £IO,OOO, and it is arranged to send 550 persons to Canada in April.

The Mordaunt divorce case has engaged public attention for the last fortnight. A plea of insanity is urged on behalf of Lady Mordaunt, and so conclusive seemed the medical evidence that the prosecution were induced to admit the plea as far as concerned the present condition of the respondent; but the witnesses deposed to her perfect sanity when the self-inculpatory confession was made to her husband ; the adultery is charged against Lord Cole, Sir Frederick Johnstone, Colonel Farquhar, and the Prince of Wales. The Prince's letters were put in evidence, but not read, but were surreptitiously published in the newspapers. They contain nothing compromising her ladyship ; the Prince and Colonel Johnstone underwent an examination on oath, and both deny any improper behaviour. Sergeant Ballantyne addressed the jury on behalf of Sir Charles Mordaunt, and Mr Deane on the other side. Lord Penzance summed up, leaving to the jury the question—whether respondent on the 30th April, was ill such a condition as enabled her to answer the allegations of the petition, and to duly instruct her solicitor for the defence; secondly, if in such a condition did she afterwards become insane, and when she ceased to be so. The verdict of the jury declared Lady Mordaunt to be insane now, and also at the time of the citation. A convocation proposes a revised version of the Old and New Testaments.

A sharp contest has occurred in the Irish Church Convention on the question of separate sessions and votes of bishops; the lay feeling is strongly against the episcopal power of veto. Mr Grant Duff has been elected Sector of the University of Aberdeen. Mr Perry, late Inspector of Prisons, has bequeathed ,£2OOO to Dr Colenso ; Charles Egan has given £200,000 to the Catholic charities of Dublin ; an admiring Welshman sends £40,000 to the Marquis of Bute ; Lord Dudley offers £IO,OOO, to complete the choir of Winchester Cathedral. The trial of Peter Barnett for the attempted murder of Captain Lambert in Ireland, has broken down ; 10 of the jury were for a conviction aud two against it. ' '

Threatening letters continue to bo sent, and outrages still contiuue in Ireland; a large seizure of arms was effected at Cork. Prince Pierre Bonaparte will be arraigned at Tours, on March 21st, on the double charge of murder and attemrt at murder. Matters are quiet in Paris. Numerous journalists were arrested, on some of whom papers were found which revealed a plot against the Emperor's life, and in an attempt to capture one conspirator a police agent was shot; the conduct of the Government, in treating the emergency is irreproachable. The Left has split into two sections, the most able siding with Jules Favre, who denounced the recent disturbances declaring that liberty must be dependent solely upon moral force; the law of public safety is to be abolished. Large army reductions are promised, with many radical reforms, should the Ministry survive the powerful attacks upon it. The Emperor and Chamber seem fast allies in the Cabinet. The Empress of the French is suffering from influenza. Decisions have been given against the Revs. Messrs Wix and Purchase for Ritualistic practices. Both are condemned in costs. The total cost of the last general elections, according to official returns, was £1,382,252. Sir W. Edwards is to be prosecuted by the Government for bribery at Beverley. An alliance is spoken of between France and Russia. King-hunting is for the present abandoned in Spain. The Duke de Montpensier, when passing through Madrid, on his way to the baths, had an interview with Prim, Topeto, and the Capain - General. Marfiori is banished from Isabella's household. The ex-Queen promises abdication, provided the candidature of Prince Alfonso is admitted. Carlist agitations have lately prevailed in the Northern Provinces, and a fresh rising appeared imminent on the 23rd. Don Carlos was arrested at Lyons, when proceeding to direct the insurrection. He has since retired te Switzerland. No certain facts are known about the progress of the (Ecumenical Council. The infallibility dogma has been delayed j several European Governments having made their objections, which were lelt so powerfully that the Pope hesitated and all kinds of political embarrassments are foreseen, should the dogma be promulgated. The French Government warned the sacred college, and hinted a speedy termination of its military protection. The Papal injunction of secrecy is of no avail. The opposition stands firm and grows bolder. Two theologians were expelled from Rome for having coniiiiunicat&d to the A.uqsfatry Gazette the anathematising Canons. The Papal mission to the Emperor Napoleon has failed. The Prussian Diet closed on the 12th; the speech w:as read by Count Bismark. The North German Parliament was opened the following Monday by the King, who delivered a speech remarkable for fulness and decisiveness. Bismark and the Diet do not work harmoniously; the Upper House has never reconciled itself to annexation, and on resisting his project for an adjournment was severely rebuked for its narrowness, and threatened with extinction. In both. Houses the Count was defeated on the money vote.