LATEST ENGLISH NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume V, Issue 397, 1 August 1849, Page 3

LATEST ENGLISH NEWS.

(From the Corio Chronicle, June 29. )

Colonial matters have excited a good deal of attention in the house, and are expected to excite a good deal more. The chief topic has been the conduct of Lord Torrington at Ceylon, upon which there is now a committee of enquiry sitting, the granting of which (it was wrung from the Government, who feared a defeat or a division) is equivalent to condemnation, and it is momentarily expected, as soon as the news reaches him that he will resign; if, indeed Lord Grey have not before this sent out a friendly hint to to him, amounting to a recall, for Brougham has literally threatened impeachment. The subject of transportation has been several times before the House ; but is just in the same state of ambiguity and perplexity as before, but the chances are that there will be something defiuite determined upon by the date of my next despatch.

Mr. Scott, M.P., the agent for New South Wales, has had a motion on the books of the house for some weeks, the object of which is to procure for the colonies, especially Australia, all the advantages of self-government. He has not yet been able to bring it on, but next week is expected to do so. It "will be a most elaborate affair, will be seconded by Hume, supported by Lord Mandeville and the Tories, by Molesworth and the Manchester Radicals, and will be the " beginning of the end " of that tragic farce, the regime of the colonial office which all parties, scarely excepting the Whigs themselves, unite in denouncing as the chief curse of both colonies and mother country. — Correspondent Melbourne Daily News, dated London, March 27, 1849.

On Tuesday, the 13th March, Mr. Trelawney, in the House of Commons moved "That it was necessary steps should be taken for the immediate abolition of church rates." The motion was lost by 119 to 84. On Wednesday, a Landlord and Tenant Bill was, on the motion of Mr. Pusey, read a second time. On the motion of Mr. Bouvine, a Bill to relieve clergymen of the Church of England dissenting therefrom, was a read a second time.

The debate on Mr. Disraeli's motion to relieve the land from certain burthens caused by local taxation, was then resumed; after a lengthy discussion, which was continued on Thursday, the resolution was rejected by a majority of 280 to 183.

On Friday, the 16th March, the House was called on to go into a consideration of the Navy Estimates. Mr. Hume moved that it was inexpedient to consider any portion of the expenditure until a general financial statement was laid ..before the House. The motion was lost by a majority of 97 to 48. The House then went into Committee, and Mr. Ward moved a vote 40,000 men; Mr. Hume moved that the number be reduced to 35,000: the amendment was lost by a majority of 144 to 59, and the vote agreed to, after which the House adjourned.

In the House of Lords, on the 20th of March, petitions were presented against the rate-in-aid by the Earl of Erne, from the high sheriffs and grand juries of the counties of Carlow and Armagh, and also from the landowners, farmers, merchants, and other ratepayers of the county of Carlow; by Lord Monteagle, from an union in the county of Antrim, and from the grand jury of Dublin ; and by Lord Brougham, from the union of Dunhoe, in the county of Londonderry, and from the ratepayers of the union of Lame.

Lord Brougham presented a petition against the dilatory proceedings in Chancery. What makes this petition more conspicuous is, that it emanated from an "old woman," whose name his Lordship did not mention.

In reply to Sir .John Partington, who asked the intention of Ministers respecting certain improvements in the Poor Law, Mr. Baiues stated in the House of Comraons on Friday, 23rd March, that his predecessor had directed very comprehensive inquiries into the kw of settlement; the results are not yet fully known, and he did not think that the subject would be ripe for legislation this session. He proposed no measure on the law of rating this session, exceptto renew the temporary enactments of the Union Charges Act. A firm and discriminating use of powers already conferred by law would suffice to cure the evils of vagrancy without further legislation

The Navigation Laws are, of necessity, doomed ; the interests of a vast surplus of poor people in Britain, dependant upon the trade of foreigners, imperatively demand the concession. History informs that the first Navigation Law was passed A.D. 16-51, under Cromwell's auspices, and as a measure of retaliation against the Dutch, whose carrying trade it was intended to destroy. Since that period a complete change in commercial politics has been brought about, and it is now very generally admitted in Britain that the Navigation Laws do more to damage the national intercourse with continental neighbours than all the rest of the restrictions allowed to remain by the British Government.

At Leeds, the advance demanded in the cloth halls, consequent on the increased rates paid at the late wool sales, has caused a cessation of buying for the moment; we, the Leeds Mercury, do not however, consider that it will be of long continuance, and although the absence of our expected demand from Ireland has somewhat limited our trade thus far, we are of opinion that our sales for the Spring will reach a full average. The stuff district is in full operation, the demand for yarns being very great both for export and home consumption. For piece goods there is also great inquiry, notwithstanding that many orders have been withdrawn in consequence of the increase which has taken place in prices. Orders to a considerable extent have been received from the United States, but many having limits based on the low pi'ices of last year must remain unexecuted. The blanket manufacturers are fully employed, orders having already been given out for the United States sufficient to keep them employed until June.

By the accounts from Rio clc Janeiro, it appears that the discriminating import duties, intended as a retaliatory measure against England, have been deferred, and are not to go into operation before the Ist of January, 1850. The trade statistics received by this arrival show that the import of manufactured goods during 1848 had declined; hence, there was a healthier appearance in the market, which was strengthened also by a decision on the part of sellers to shorten credits.

The coffee crop continues to increase, and the export was 69,147 bags more than in 1847.