EUROPEAN NEWS

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1325, 19 February 1859, Page 6

EUROPEAN NEWS

TO 25j.ii NOVEMBER.

Captain Burns of the Daniel Webster arrived from Newcastle yesterday, has kindly favoured us with Sydney Morning Heralds to tbe 25th January from which we condense the following particulars of the news by tbe November muil which reached Sydney i"v the Oneida on the 23rd January.

London, November 15, 1858. The last month lias yielded little news ofstirrii'ig import, political or otherwise. Europe conJinues buried in a lethargic stillness, broken only by occassional titful murrniirings, just enough to show that the sleep is not death. There is "one dark shadow over all,"—as in the Laureate's house of mourning—whose name is Napoleon. France is the land of perpetual afternoon, dreamt of by tbe Lotus-eaters—the land where all things always seem the same. It is iv Russia where we look for the morning of freedom. B

lii I'rance, the Emperor has given us one more occussion to admire that mingled wisdom moderation, and magnanimity, which are claimed by his admirers as attributes peculiar to the Imperial regime. Scarcely has the affair of the Chailes et Georges been settled, and Portugal made to "stand und deliver" her just and acknowledge rights, when a little matter of domestic diliiculty occurs on purpose, as it were, to ' exhibit the beneficence of thejlmperiid rule,'and the confidence ivhich it entertains in itself and the blessed people of Prance. For some time there has been uo opportunity of showing Eu rope how firmly the Emperor reigns in the hearts of his grateful subjects—how secure is lie in possession of their lore and loyalty ; and how safe against enemies of all kinds, excepting always the Italian assassin and the Red Republican canaille. The Counte de Muntalembert has furnished the needed opportunity Neither assassin nor republican, the Count is still to his misfortune, an enemy of ihe Imperial system. Although a staucli and even bi'n--otted adherent of the Roman Catholic Church he is blind to the virtues of him who has taken that Church under his pious patronage—who bus established relations so tender and touehinowith that Church. The Com te de Montulem"bert, whose genius and lofty character are hold in high esteem in England, has been lately | employing himself iv odious comparisons. The Comte though a Catholic and an Absolutist from his very heart, has yet the singular taste to prefer our English to his native institutions. Taking for his subject an Indian debate in the lust session of Parliament, M. de Montalembcrt has contributed to tho columns of a French journal, a most eloquent, thoughtful, and out-spoken article—in which while no direct allusion is made to the Imperial Government, the bitterest sarcasms are levelled, by implication, at tbe Emperor and bis sys'tein. The article has created a piofound sensation, as well in England as in Franco ; and is undoubtedly tbe severest condemnation yet offered on the Imperial regime. It abounds with praise of England, of her liberty of thought aud freedom of discussion. It eulogises in glowinnterms, the heroism of our soldiers and generals during the war in India; and it defends, in a spirit, of intelligent generosity strance to Frenchmen, our whole conduct before and during the Indian mutiny. As a matter of course he has given offence to the French Emperor fur whatcan beagreater satire upon France than the present condition of England ! The " saviour of society" bad but one course—to put down M. dc Montulcmbevt, as be has put down every spark of honesty, freedom and intelligence in bis dominions. The fundamental principles of tbe Empire require tbe extinction of Alontaloinbert. In the eulogist of England there is no place in the kingdom of ignorance and, brute force. Europe could not expect otherwise than that M. de Montaletnbert should be silencedand Europe is uot disappointed. A prosecution has been instituted against tbe audacious writer for seeking to bring the Emperor into contempt, to confound order, and to destroy the peace of Fiance. Aud here we are penetrated with a keen sense of the stability of a system so sensitive to tbe tongue of the freo speaker!

The form in which M. de Montalcmbert is to be prosecuted involves the greatest tesults. It is uot merely an affair of a newspaper annalissement. The Cotnte de Montalembert is

higher game than any which has filled the Imperial bag since the famous battue of tho 2nd December, 1851. The consequences to him of a conviction will he most serious—nothing short of transportation for life to Cayenne or Algeria. So much for free speaking in France 1

In England, the case of Comte do Montalembert has excited great sympathy and indignation. The Times, in two or three stirring leaders, has well expressed the national sentiments. It is asked, with much pertinence, whether it is a great crime in France for a public writer to speak well of England ? The utmost license has been given to those foulmouthed blatant creatures who crawl at the feet of the Emperor, lo vilify England in all manner of dirty v.ays ; and now, when, for the first time we hear one good and true word, is the speaker to be punished with slow death in swamps of Cayenne. How long ivill it last ? is now the universal question among us English, and the wishes which accompany that query would not be pleasant for the Emperor to hear.

Mr. Albert Smith is in London again, after an absence of less than four months on his journey to and from Canton. He is in excellent health and spirits.

Theil/oniiw/ Post has announced tbe recall of Lord Napier fiom the mission at Washington. "The assigned cause is his lordship's tendency to favour the Monroe doctrine in favour of the supremacy of the United States in America. Mr. Lyons, it is understood, will be promoted from Naples to represent England in the United States. A small English squadron is to be stationed forthe present at Panama.' The ministerial journals contradict this statement.

An open-air Reform meeting was held in Smith-eld a couple of days ago. were curried in favotii of a Reform measure much more comprehensive than that advocated by Mr. Bright. The arrival an Australian mail,perEuropean via Suez, brings the important and deeply interesting news' of the Legislature of New South Wales having voted £50,000 per annum for ten years for a steam postal communication to and from England via Panama. This has given great encouragement to the friends of the question on this side, and we hope something may now be done in the matter.

Two new Bishoprics in Austialia are to be formed—namely, Goiillnini iv New South Wales, and Brisbane in Moreton Bay; and another is spoken of for New Zealand, to make up six for that colony.

Mr. Gladstone has joined the Derby Government, and has gone as a commissioner to the lonian Islands. He will return iv time for the next session of Parliament.

Lord John Russell and the Earl of Derby are on the most intimate teims possible. The great featnie of the next Parliamentary session is to he a grand Reform Bill, the leading feature of which, says the city editor of the Morning Chronicle, is, that Doth " labour" aud "capital'" will bo fully represented in the political voice of the people. The total number of reinforcements now awaiting embarkation will increase the British troops serving in India to close upou 100,000 men of all ranks.

There is great excitement existing throughout the Turkish dominions between the Ma-homed-ns and Christians, which must break out sooner or later into violence and bloodshed. Some movement of the kind may be looked for daily. }

From China we learn that trade is being resumed once more at Canton, and that the commissioners appointed to revise the tariff had at last arrived, at Shangai. 126 piratical junks and boats bad been destroyed by H.M. cruisers. The most important eveiit that canberecorded this year we deem to be the conclusion of a treaty of commerce with England through Lord Elgin, which adds another Empire to the community of nations.

The little Jew boy. Motara, still affords employment to the deplomatists. The Pope refuses to give him up to his parents, claiming for the Church an authority superior to nature. All the respectable European powers have protested and protocoled in vain, and as the Emtyeror Napoleon chooses to be neutral, the Church of Rome is likely to remain in possession of the boy.

_ The Prince of Wales on his birthday, 9th Nov., received his commission as Colonel in the army (Coldstream Guards). This announcement indicates that he is about to take his position in the world as a man.

Mr. Sidney Herbert has brought upon himself the censure of the Press for advocating the system of writers in the public prints signing their names at the 'foot of their articles. A thing not to be tolerated in a free country, and leust of all in England.

Meetings against auricular confession con tinue to take place.

The commanner-in-chief has done himself infinite credit, and the army a great service, by denouncing tbe system of practical joking. Ensign Scott of the 47th Regiment, in spite of the regulations on the subject, had the temerity to gu into the room of an ensigu in the Wexford Militia, upset his furniture, and cause his bed to take lire. After that, he got drunk at an hotel, where he grossly misconducted himself. A court-martial followed, w'n'ch formally acquited him of" conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman," but reprimanded him. The Duke of Cambridge, however, calls things by their right names, and plainly tells the judges of Ensign Scott that the young man's conduct cannot be designated by any other term than, thatof"uiigeiitlomanly;"and in this conclusion every right thinking person will concur. The English Funds were quoted at the same price as they were on the Ist of November Money continues easy, aud the rate of discount s without alteration.

The New Regulations fouNigih and Foo Signals.- The Board of Trade have received through the Foreign Office an official notice of the adoption by the Austrian Government, for sliips of war and Merchant vessels of that country, of the new regulations as to Night and Fog Signals established by the British Admiralty, und now in force on board all British seagoing ships. It is stated that these regulations will come into operation in Austria during tho present year, but no date is mentioned. Auiuvai, of a Dutch Squati-on at PoiitsMoimi.—His Netherlands Mujesty's steam squadron, consisting of the following, arrived at Portsmouth on Wednesday afternoon:—The The Evert-en, Captain May, bearing flag of Rear-Admiral Hooft; Admiral Van Wassenaar Captain Van Brakell; Vice Admiral Koupman' Captain Van tier Mare ; Citadel Van Antwemen Gaptam De Gelder; Vesuvius, Captain Caserobroot; all from trie Texel.

Piioroo-APHic Copies c,f Bank notes Prevented.—Recently several attempts to counterfeit bank-notes by means ofphotogranhy have been successful, and this fraud has not been confined to bank-notes, other valuable documents having been copied in, a similar manner. It was thought that this, kind oi

fiaud was rendered impossible by printing tho documents rcfeired to in ink of two different colours, so that photography' should reproduce them both in black. It was soon found, however, that while black ink, which has carbon for its basis, remained unassailable by any chyinical ic-ap'ent, the ordinary coloured inks could be easily temoved from the paper, and a a photographic copy then taken of the remain der. A subsequent operation was employed for printing in the coloured ink upon this paper that portion which bad been expunged from the original. It is obvious, therefore, that what was wanted was a coloured ink capable of resisting all chymical agents; and this, it is said, has been found by Mr. George Matthews, assisted by Dr. Sterry "limit, of Montreal, by calcined oxide of chromium, a substance of a fine green colour, which, manufactured into an ink, known as ''Canada hank note Tint," is used foi printing a geometrical design on the ground of the bank-note, upon which the value and denomination is afterwards impressed in black ink the usual way. This method of printing bank-notes is now in extensive use in Canada and Ihe United States. The process has been patented in England.— Photographic News.

The Sdnkux Vessels at Rkiiastopoi..— We (Galignani) have received the following communication from the party who has contracted to raise the Russian vessels in the harbour of Sehaslopol. It is dated from that port, and bears the date Sept. 30 : —" I noticed an article in your journal relating to the sunken ships in this harbour. As so many contradictory statements have appeared, some declaring that the Americans who contracted for the removal of the sliips had abandoned the work as hopeless; others, that the terrible worm of the Black Sea had entirely destroyed tbe vessels; others that the work was never confided to an American. In answer to all such reports, allow me to state that I contracted with the Russian government in October, 1856, to remove the sliips and vessels sunk in this harbour; Ihet lam an American; that immediately on closing the contract I returned to tbe United States and had such machinery constructed as was necessary, and arrived at this place the following year, and commenced preparing the machinery and materials, which were not completed until May last. Since that time I have raised whole the 1C gun schooner Smelai, the steamers Turk and Groznoi, and also the Xi gnu brig Aenas and Parassianc, and Slrella, and am now engaged on the steamers Danube and Odessa, which will he raised in a few days. In addition to the I above, I have entirely removed the hulls of two old line-of-battle ships and a frigate that were formerly used as prison ships ; also the frigate Ilavannah, and the line-of-battle ship Sagodt'l with the exception of her keel, which is buried in over 12 feet of soft mud. My forces are now engaged in the removal of tbo 130 gun ship Constantine, line-of-battle ship Paris, and transport Benezan, which are ships in the middle of the harbour, and are rapidly being removed. The tornedo has not injured the sunken ship to the extent generally supposed. The Russian government are now repairing the steamer Turk, which is in excellent order; her hull is quite sound, with the exception of her upper works: her engines require some slight repairs; the commission that examined her decided that it would require but five per cent, of her value to restore her to complete running order. The other vessels are in equally as good a condition. I beg further to remark that I contracted to clear the hirbuur of Schastopol, and shall complete tbe work in a faithful manner. The various contradictory statements that have appeared have undoubtedly aiisen from the fact that an American company came here with a wonderful pump (Gwynnes), by which means they supposed that they could exhaust Ihe water from the ships and float them. After ineffectual attempts for some six months, they abandoned their work, and departed for America, «/« Constantinople. Not wishing to depreciate the power of tliciv machinery, they reported tho impossibility of the ships ever being removed, which, has now been practically refuted.—l am, &c, Joiim E. GoWAN."