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Wellington Independent, Volume I, Issue 25, 25 June 1845, Page 3

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It is believed that Queen Victoria and the Prince will visit Paris in the ensuing spring. Preparations are said to be making for the reception of these illustrious visitors at Fontainbleau and Versailles. A vessel called the Pagoda was fitting out at the Cape for an experimental cruise to the 65th degree of south latitude, by the Winchester's officers and men. The Royal Exchange was thrown open to the public on New Year's day. We understand that the hopes which have been entertained by the King of Hanover and their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Hanover, on an event which was likely to add to the domestic happiness of the royal pair, are for the present frustrated. It is said that the Ex-President of the United States, and bis lady, will visit this country in May next. The Rev. Mr. Wright, of Philadelphia, who is at present on a visit at Belfast, has addressed a letter to the Northern Whig, in which he speculates as to what sort of reception will be given in this country to this "presidential man-stealer," whom he accuses not only of being a slaveholder and dealer, but of actually selling several of his own children. Handsome Speculation.—lt is stated that within forty yr-ars the United States have extinguished the Indian title to 430,000,000 acres of land for 800,000 dollars. At this rate, they paid the Indians an average of less than twenty cents per acre. Now, if the United States disposed of these lands to their citizens at the present low government price of 1 dollar 25 cents, they have received into their treasury the sum of 455,500,000 dollars above the original cost. Mr. O'Coxnei.l and the Pope.—We respect all eminent men. We can espy "desert" even in an adversary, and genius in one from whose opinions we most thoroughly dissent. We suppose we must, at this rate respect Mr. O'Connell, and, as far as in us lies, we wish we could do so. Indeed, if ever, now is our time to respect him, for now we suspect that O'Connell is in a bad way. The Pope, it seems, has declared against him. The Roman Catholic Church does not choose to have its name mixed up with sedition, or treason, or agitation, or whatever civiler title can be found for Mr. O'Couiiell's operations in Ireland. The Church of Rome, as a Christian Church, is not ambitious of earning for herself the title of hostility to good government and wise laws, and has accordingly warned its Irish priests that they must desist from the course they have hitherto been pursuing. Religious fanaticism is a weapon plucked out of the hand of Mr. O'Connell's, hand. We rejoice at this sincerely, for, although ourselves no disciples of the Vatican, we have ever seen, with regret, the connection hitherto subsisting between a seditious agitator and the ministers of religion to so large a body of our fellow-subjects. The Queen has approved of the sum of £4000 per annum as the salary of his Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land. Mr. Lough has been appointed to execute a statue of Prince Albert, to be erected by subscription of the leading merchants of the c 'ty, in the Royal Exchange, in commemoration of the laying of the first stone of that building by his Royal Highness. m A requisition to the Lord Mayor is in course of signature, for the purpose of passing an address to her Majesty, at the next Court of Common Council, deploring the schisms of the Church, and the innovations °f the Piiseyites. In a parliamentary return, just printed, we find that the net produce of the revenue of Scotland, for the year ending the sth of January, 1844, was £5,145,563, whereas in the previous year it was £4,675,943. showing an increase on last year of £469,620. A correspondent at Exeter states that the Rev. Mr. Courtenay, the curate of St. Sidwell's, in that city, was nearly deserted by its congregation on Sunday, when lie went into the pulpit in his surplice. On retiring from th'J church, both after the morning and after-

noonsemee he was surrounded and hooted at by a considerable number of persons, whom oju corespondent describes as of the middle .From the report of the week ending Jan.. I ' ,! n P cf ea ? lhat the tOtal »»•»»'« of deaths out Jiil ' tha S lo » 8 of occurred without v oences that those from diseases of the respiratory organs amounted to 406 ; and woThv r? 11^1050 ' * "noteworthy of observation that the number of births m the metropolis during the same period, exceeded the deaths by 202. ' The Brazilian Government has issued a decree, relieving foreign vessels that may arrive at any of the Brazilian ports in ballast, from tonnage dues. This measure has given much satisfaction, as being calculated to promote a constant supply of vessels for the conveyance ot produce thence, and thus relieve shipowners from a heavy tax. H.M.S. Pelican, 16 guns, Philip Justice commander, had arrived at Portsmouth, from China, with 1,000,000 dollars of the ransom money. _ A new steam sloop, with a screw propeller is ordered to be laid down in Woolwich dockyard. She is to be of 900 tons, and of 350 horse power. The Osprey, 12 tons, commander Patten, one of the experimental brigs, has sailed for Hongkong with specie re-coined from the Sycee silver. By the late accounts from the Holy City, Nauvoo, the Mormons appear to have settled down into a state of tranquillity. They boast that their great and magnificent temple will be completed in a few months. Dr. Wolff was on hid way from Teheran to Erzeroum, according to the very latest accounts. More rioting has taken place in Montreal, which has led to some loss of life. Caplaiu G. Smith has submitted to the Admiralty the plan of a boat adapted to screw-propelled steamers, and the Board has directed Mr. Cowell, of Woolwich Yard, to j build one forthwith. The midship section is j similar to a paddle-box boat, but the boat is fitted io general purposes, and her bow and stern are alike—so that in embarking troops, or her crew, from a beach, she may at oncj shove off without winding, and thus more quickly get out of a musket fire. Captain Smith has also greatly simplified the mode by which his paddle-box boats are put into and taken out of the water, the double-jointed davit being got rid of. France.—The Guizot ministry appear to ! be at a great discount, and it is not at all improbable that they may be compelled to resign. The refusal of M. de Salvandy to take office has thrown the ministry into confusion. A somewhat remarkable assertion was made in one of the daily journals the other day—that the Duke of Brunswick, who is so well known in London, is one of the proprietors of the National newspaper, which, as your readers are aware, is one of the ablest and most powerful organs of the republican party in Europe. It is rather remarkable that a personage like his Highness of Brunswick, who may be supposed to entertain the high monarchical principles—the principle of " the right divine of kings to govern wrong," in all its integrity—shculd have a pecuniary interest in a thorough republican newspaper. It is so remarkable, in fact, that it is difficult to believe it, notwithstanding the confidence with which it is asserted. Despatches from the Governor of New Zealand, were received at the Colonial-office on Sunday, January 18. It is an interesting circumstance, and one confirmatory of the improvement of the trade, that there are fewer unemployed seamen in the port of London than for many years past. Shipping entered the Port of London, with cargoes from foreign ports : —ln 1843, 6,138 ships ; burthen, 1,536,738 tons. In 1844 —6,852 ships; burthen, 1,356,614 tons. Increase in 1844 —1714 ships; burthen, 49,876 tons. By order in Council, dated the 13th inst., two companies are to be added to the Artillery branch of the Royal Marine service, without increasing the strength of the corps. This is a very desirable resolution, as the number of large gutis recently introduced in ships of war and war steamers, will require the aid of a branch of the service instructed for that particular duty. The Marine Artillery is composed of men selected from the various divisions of the corps at the halfyearly inspections, and consequently prove generally the best and most efficient in the service. Honorary medals were presented to the undermentioned men for long service and good conduct, in presence of the Woolwich division, viz. : Edward Sutton, colour-ser-geant, medal and gratuity of £15 ; Andrew Donkin, private, medal and gratuity of £5. The mail from England to Sydney, per the biig Amelia, contained about 5,934 letters, and 19,169 papers. The winter continued very severe: and so

intense was the cold in London, that the supply if coals was not equal to the demand, and had consequently risen to 435. per ton. The number of colliers usually employed in this trade had been considerably reduced, by their having been taken up for the Guano trade.