LATEST ENGLISH NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume II, Issue 118, 28 November 1846, Page 3

LATEST ENGLISH NEWS.

[From the Stdxby Morning Heeald, Nov. 11.]

The Russell Ministry is much stronger than it was supposed Lord Jobn could have formed, and there was every probability that it would be further strengthened by the introduction of some of the younger members of the late cabinet. The continuance of the Duke of Wellington, as Commander-in-Chief, leads us to suspecis that there must be some truth in the oft-repeated report that the Queen wishes to place Prince Albert at the head of the army, and that Lord John Itussell, feeling that he could not justify such an appointment to the country, and anxious to avoid a rupture with her Majesty, had persuaded the Duke to remain in office a short time longer.

The appointment of LorJ Grey to the Colonial Office is much to be regretted. He is so wedded to the WakeSeid system that wo fear the settlement of thesquatfing question will be more difficult than ever. We have hopes, however, that his lordship will be with the colonists on the convict question. On the 12th June, Lord Lyttleton laid upon the table of the House of Lords, papers relating to New Zealand, to the Management of Convicts, and to the Waste Lands of New South Wales. The supplies having been voted for the year, the business of the session may almost said to have been concluded, so that the new ministry, would be pressure to remain in office until February

next. . . The changes in the laws rela-wg to commerce, and the uncertainly as to the ministry had had ihe effect of depressing the mercantile interests, but as thiags became more settled, a revival was expected. [From the Australian Journal, Nov. 12.] It is stated in circles likely to have well informed on the subject, that her Majesty, wishine to murk her approval of the services of the Premier, offered him a peerage which was respectfully but firmly declined.

Tills Is the arcond time iliat Sir Robert Peel has rcfusoil thi-s disthieiion. lti s stat-d that afW Sir Ito'iert Pee) had de-clino-l a peer.ge for himself, hor Majesty repeatedly offered a for La-lv Peel. Mr. Cudden had addressed ilie'conßiftuency of Stockport. He thanks them for having heen the instrument* «.t [ilaeing him in Parliament, and giving him th.< opportunity of doing such services as lie may have rendered. He says he ceived jiermiesion t) ab.ent himself from Parliament lor 1113 remaind r of this Session, and will not be a!>k> to attend Parliament next year. He therefore resigns his seat imo their hands. Lord Brongham declares his intention of opposing the new Administration to .he utmost of his power. It is rumoured that Pope Pins will be as favourable to railways as his predecessor was oppuesed to them. The A.bs ! ractofthe nett produce of the Revenue of Great Britain, for ihe year ending sth July, 1846, shows a decrease on the year of £1,011,773, and an increase onthe quarter of £375,593. « Vloney is easy and all bills have been promptly met."

One of the last ministerial act 3of Sir Robert Peel wa3 the recommendation of Mr. M'Culloch to her Majesty for a pension of £900 for the services ha had rendered by his writings on political economy. The fact of the United States Senate having empowered the President to si<m the treaty proposed by ihe British Government, had cau-ed much stir at Washington —led to much abuse of Mr. Polk—and produced ihe resignation of Mr. Allen, the Chairman on the Committee on Foreign Relations. &

The Weather and Crops. —The generality of the Irish papers speak in glowing terras of the refreshing showers which have fallen, Here and there wa read a complaint of disease on the potatoes, but on the whole the reports are extremely favourable of the harvest prospects. During the past week several persons connected with the Post-office have been dismissed for breach of the discipline that is enforced in that pnblic department. Amongst others, a clerk, holding an excelleat appointment and most respectably connected, was discharged for having accepted an accommodation bill. The John o' Groat's Journal publishes a letter from Lerwick announcing the existence or great distress in the Shetland Islands :—" Want and misery are now written on many a face, where till now such had not been seen; and, if not promptly relieved in some way or other, there is great reason to fear that during summer, and before the crops can come oa so far as to be made available, evea in a half ripe state, for the pressing wants of the population, cases of death from actual starvation will be neither few nor rare. Daring the years 1837,1835 t and 1839—well termed the ' bad years '—the want of food through these islands was not greater than it is at the present time. At this moment individuals are known to the writer of this who have not tasted bread-for a whole week ; and others who have neither tasted bread nor meal in any shape for periods varing from ten to fifteen days, who when they had scraped together the sum necessary, had to take their bags under their arms and to travel distances of from six to eighteen miles—Zetland miles too— before they could procure the small quantity of meal which they were able to purchase, at a most exorbitant price. The breakfast of shell fish has to be gathered in the morning, at the seaside, among the rocks, before the cravings of hung-er can be satisfied; then the nest meal, consisting of fish, with perhaps a lew potatoes, and if they have a little meal, fish and bread, or else fish and potatoes again, before going to bed, comprises all they can afford; fish and potatoes being the chief, almost the only articles of diet, and bread being used more like a luxury than as the staple article of food. These are not cases of rare occurrence.''

.*• Thrbe Cheer 3 fob the Ladiks. —One Sunday, a few months ago, during high mass, at twelve, in the chapel of the little village of Giengariff, three ladies of the protestant faith were last July obliged to take shelter from one of those heavy summer showers which so frequently occur in the South of Ireland. The officiating priest, knowing who they were, and wishing to appear respectful towards them, stooped down to his attendant or clerk, who was oa his knees, and whispered to him," three chairs for the protestant ladies." The clerk, who was rather an ignorant man, mistook the word, stood up, and shouted out to the congregation, " three cheers for the protestant ladies," which the congregation immediately took up, and gave three hearty cheers, while the clergyman actually stood dumb-founded.

The tiara or triple crowa now used in the coronatioa of the Popes is that which Napoleon presented to Pius VII. There is another given by the last Pope, Gregory XVI. The tiaras and valuable mitres are kept in the Fort of St. Angelo, whence they are brought on the occasions of coronations. Tho tiara presented by Napoleon is formed ot while velvet, on which the three crowns are wrought in sapphires, emeralds, and rubies. On the top is a very large emerald, surraonnted by a diamond cross. It is estimated at SO.OOO Roman crowns, or 428.0G0 francs.—Winchester GuarJian ,

"Ratification of the Oueqon Treaty. —The rapidity with which t'»e Oregon has been hurried through the. Senate (for we believe it was ratified last evening) enables us to anntiUHCe at this early day, the confirmation of our own predictions, so often reiterated ihe past few months in relation to our controversy wih England. The question is settled. The treaty has now been signed and formally ratified by at least one of the Governments —if not by both ! Yes, probably by both. Our minister in London (Mr. M'Lane) had friendly in:erviews with Lord Aber deen, the English Secretary of State, during the months of April and May, and with th it frankness which would mark a new , and lirghter era in the diplomacy of thn >f o]j ns.i-j;)ns could only see their best interests in adopting it, they devoted their attention to ihe formation of a treaty in accordance wi'h the views and instructions of thtir respective Governmen's. The action of the Senate having been directed to the same praiseworthy object, and the Executive having given its assent to the views of the Senate, as expresse 1 in the notice resolution, the treaty -was signed in London and despatched to Washington by the steamer of the 19ih May, arriving about two weeks ago. For some days it wa3 doubtful whether the discretionary powers conferred on Mr. Packenham would not warrant him in withholding the treaty from our Government until the arrival of the Great Western, so as to ascertain whether the Mexican war had produced a change in the views of his own Government. But this uncertainty soon vanished, and on Friday last the Senate approved of the terms of a treaty, which, we believe, was ratified yesterday, as stated. II is unnecessary for us to dwell upon the services of the public men, to whom both countries are indebted for the victory over those who wished to win popularity by urging on a long and bloody war between kindred nations. A glory more lasting than the blood-stained renown of Napoleon awaits them. The following were the votes in the Senate on the Oregon proposal :— Ayes 38 Nays 12 Majority 26 Peel for Ireland.—Peel, the future Premier bids for Ireland. Hie price is the highest—Liberal or Radical, Whig or Precursor, ever ventured to demand. He offers full identification in all respects •with England. The Iri-h franchises, representation, and municipal powers, the national religion, and the education of the people-—all to be put on a footing of equality with England. That is Peel's offer— the first instalment of a subsidy paid to the Repeal agitation. And, by and by, when the Whig 3 have fretted their little hour upon the stage, Peel will do all this for he has tasted the blood of monopoly, and we will hound to the death. A few places secured, a few titlee bestowed, a few jobs perpetrated, a general election tried and lost, 'and. the Whig 3 will stagger at office to make room for the destroyer. England is calling for him already by the non-ofiicial voice of andnewepaper, and London crowds— she will call for him by and by in a less equivocal manner —in a manner not to be disputed, and the doom of monopoly will be accomplished. For Ireland, all this angurs exceedingly well—better than the wisest could have altogether foreseen, or the hottest anticipated. Whatever the Whigs accomplish more or less—all Peel can, and assuredly will do, to sweep away the monopoly of ihe Church, of the bench, of the jury system of the executive, clear out a path to repeal. Monopoly is the rampart which keeps the Irish race asunder—which constitutes two nations on one soil. That gone, there remains but one nation, one hope,one interest, and hence one purpose, in all Ireland. —From the Nation.

The Journal dv Havre of 27th June contains the following:—" The pogrseripts of several commercial letters from Buenos Ay res, dated May 8, brought by the Cariolon, merchant vessel, which arrived here yesterday, state that two Sardinian brigs and an English vessel having succeeded during the night in forcing the blockade of the combined squadron, the E glish and French commanders imtnrdiaiely despat -bed armed boats in pursuit of them. They were soon overtaken. The two Sardinians having run aground, were set on fire, and the English vessel was brought off and placed at the disposal of the British Commander. An English officer, sent with a flag of truce to Buenos Ayres, bad been massacred by the mob. Tuat event had caused a deep sensation,

and the Commanders of the combined forces were inn king preparations to revenge that murder."

Sin Robert Peel*—During the brief sittingofthe House of Commons last night, a large concourse of persons assembled in front of the House of Parliament, anxious to Jtarn the determination of Ministers. On the n-'journmentof the House of Commons, which took place soon after seven o'clock, considerable impatience was raanifeaied by the crowd for the appearance of Sir R. Peel. The right hon. baronet, however, did not leave the Mouse by the members' entrance, but by the passages which afford a means of exit through West minster-hall into Palace-yard. T-iis circumstance having been commun : cated t • the crowd (which included well-dressed p Tsons), they rushed in a boJy to Palaceyard, and, on their arrival there, Sir Robert, leaning on the arm of Sir G. Clerk, was just -emerging from the hall. The ex-Premier was saluted with loud and enthusiastic cheering, and a large portion of the crowd, closing round him, accompanied him through Parliament-street to his residence in Whitehall Gardens, cheering him repeatedly during his progress. Sir Robert seemed much gratified at his reception, notwithstanding the somewhat rude and inconvenient pressure to which he was subjected by some of his more eager and enthusiastic admirers. EXPRESS FROM PARIS. From the London Daily News, 4th July. We have received by express the Paris journals of Wednesday, with our private correspondence. The Chamber of Peers concluded, on Wednesday, its discussion on the grants for Algeria. They were voted by a majority of 108 to 17. The price of bread in Paris has been fixe(i for the first fortnight of June, at 40 centimes the kilogramme, about 2d. per pound. The French squadron of evolution, under the command of the Prince de Joinville, left Palraa on the 22nd alt., for Tunis. The Bill of »he French Western Rail way, after having been voted by the Chambers, is now, it appears, abandoned by its promoters, who request from the Government six months delay, to con>ider If they will carry it into execu ion. The coronation of Pope Pius IV., took place on the 21st Jnne, in St Peter'd Cathedral, at Rome. The House of Peel.—The following passage occurs in the Rev. John Wesley's Journal, bearing date July 27,1787:—1 was invited to breakfast at Bury, by Mr. Peel, a calico printer, who a few years ago began with ,£500., and is now supposed to have £50,000."

Noble Sacrifice.—John Day, jun., immediately he heard that " a minister should.he a man of a stable miud," sent word to her Majesty, to say that he was ready to undertake to-morrow, if his country required it, the dntiea of Prime Minister.—Punch.

Messrs. Brunei and Gooch have projected an enoine which they calculate will run 80 miles per hour; it is to outdo the atmospheric. This engine is to have 18----inch cylinders, 2 feet stroke, 8 feet driving wheel, and an increased diameter of boiler to contain 270 tubes.

The Presse states that it was rumoured at Rome on the 19th instant, that the present Pope (Pius IX.) intended to grant a general amnes'y in favour of all political offenders as soon as he had entirely organized the new Pontifical Administration.

The Real Ratlway Kino.—A gentleraan in the Queen's Bench has paperejd his room with nothing but railway shares. The effect is very ricfi. It is calculated that no less than three millions of capital has been sent in this way to the wall. Every country in the United Kingdom is there represented. The whole railway world is compressed into the space of eight fea by six. The gentleman break fasis in England, takes his tiffin in India, dines at Paris, and sleeps in Switzerland, just according as he moves bis chair. We must not forget to mention that every share has been made to ran in the direction of the fire-place. In this way the flue ingeniously represents the grand central terminus of all lha lines in the world. —Punch. In the case of the Queen v. tho Nation newspaper, for the publication of an inflammatory and seditious libel on railways, the jury were discharged, not being able to agree, Several French Catholic Priests are to proceed forthwith to China. Lord Elgin, tho Governor of Jamaica, had arrived in England on leave of absence.

The Monitbur publltaei a deipttch from M»r. shal Bugeuad, dated Algiers, 19th ln»t., announcing that he continued to receive from all parts of the provinces of Algiers aad Oran the most (Hthfactory intelligence respecting the state of the country.— Every where the roads were free, tho convoys traveiled without any escort, nnd Isolated indivduals a nd merchants proceed in security to the nioit remote posts on the limits of the desert. Colonel Renaut had pursued Abd-el-Ktder as f« «• 'layout. On the first the Emir was at Assela, from which he repaired to Am Sfisifa, where he still remained on the 10th. General Cavaignac wrote from Lalla Maghrnia on the 13th that Abd-el Kader intended to'jain his Deiri, which was stationed at El-Korbi on the Upper Molonia.

The Treasurer to the Guardians of the poor of Birmingham, a Mr. Welsh, has been committed to prison on a charge of embezzling some £1100 of the parish money. The defalcations extend over the years 1843, 1844, and 1845, and are of such a nature that they could not have arisen from ordinary error or negligence.

Sir R. Pkel's Tariff.—The •« Mayo Constitution, a protectionist paper, confesses that, whatever may be the future effects of Sir R. Peel's free-trade measures, we cadidly confess that the cattle-feeders of 11 eland have no cause to complain. There was lately two prices of all kinds of stock which were highly remunerating. Wβ allude to the fairs of Balla and Turlough. At the former the demand for milkers was unprecedented. They rated at from £Q to £"11, and in some instances went as high at £l$ 10s. A gentleman with whom we conversed, on his return from the fair, told as that he obtained at Balla ,30s. per head more for heifers than he would have got a month previous for the same lot in the same state. At both these fairs sheep were advanced in price, but pigs a shade lower."—Manchester Guardian.

Mr. Cobdex.—Mr. Cobden will sot engage in public basiness whatever for the next twelve months or more. He remained in London to vote on the Corn Bill, though advised, for the sake of bis own health, by his personal friends, and the friend* ot the Corn Bill, not to do so, and he has now left London entirely for the present year. Writing to a gentleman in London from Manchester, on the 28th of Jane, he says ; —" I have left town for the session; and for a year, at least, the claims of private duties, and the necessary attention torn? bealtb, will prevent my taking any part in public life."

Monificbnt Dokation.—We understand that Mrs. Magee, of Dublin, lately deceased, has bequeathed the earn of .£20,000, to trustees, for the erection of a Presbyterian College in Ireland, also large bequests in the Home and Jewish Missions of the General Assembly, end handsome prirate bequests to Rev. Dr. Dill, of Dublin, and Councillor Greer. The deceased was relict of the Rev. Mr. Magee, Presbyterian minister of Lnrgao, and sister of Major-General Stewart, of the Royal Irish ft-rtfllery.—Belfast Chronicle.

The Greenwich Railway Traffic during thb Hollidays.—Oα Monday there were 52,000 pasiengers who travelled by the above railway j on Tuesday, 30,000 persons; and on Wednesday, 19,000; making altogether 101,090 persons—a greater number than, have travelled on that lino at any previous Witsuntide.

Australian Copper.—On a recent application of an eminent firm to the revenue authorities upon the subject of the certificates of produce for copper ore shipped at Port Adelaide disagreeing from the quantity stated in the ship's clearance, and requesting that in future an allowance might be made upon ores shipped from a British posieslion, to provide for the discrepances alluded to, as such a concession would prevent the necessity at present existing of a request being made in each instance by consignees to be allowed to give and to be released from giving bond for the differences which exist, and which will necessarily always exist, between the quantity on board, according to the produce certificate, and the Weight actually landed and brought to account, directions have been iisued to the principal officers of the department not to permit copper ore from Australia to be detained for the reason* stated, onless there be a considerable difference between the quantity mentioned in the certificate of clearance and the quantity imported or actually landed. It appears that there is some difficulty in stating in the certificate the exact quantity of ore shipped for this country, and that a discrepancy is almost certain to exist, either by reason of the ore being landed here in a damp or wet state, or from the admixture of dirt or other adhesive substances, or fiom the ore being shipped in a wet or dry state, which will have the effect of causing either an increase or decrease in the weight. Although the excess or surplus quantity is some, what trifling, the officers-have only been enabled,to admit the quantity mentioned in the ships' clear, ance as the produce of Australia, and this order will have the effect of meeting the wishes of the importers, and facilitating the clearance of ores shipped to this country, without being in the slightest degree injurious to the revenue.

The population in Switzerland at preient amounts to 2,362,20(j eouU, of whom 93S # 600 are Papiite, 1,423,000 Protestants, 2600 Jewi.