LATEST ENGLISH INTELLIGENCE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1328, 2 March 1859, Page 5

LATEST ENGLISH INTELLIGENCE.

(Correspondent of the Melbourne Art)us.) London, December, 17, 1859.

For some time past there has been a disposition on the part of public writers and politicians ti> siug pasans of rejoicing over renovated -Irelaad. The ban and curse of her former history, had, it was fondly believed, been removed. Recent events, however, have dispelled the happy illusion. The yawning absysses of revenue, deadly hatred, inplacability, and blood-shedding are still UHclosed. The lute assassination—the shelter of the murderer of Mr. lily, by a confederate population, in spite of the allurements of a £1000 reward—the rapid reorganisation of Ribbon associations, and the extension of the detestable conspiracy by means of apostles of murder—make up a.very disheartning picture; All true friends of the country look en aghast. It is only fair to state that some of the Romish priests hare come boldly forward and denounced these dastard combinations and diabolical crimes, and have declared their determination to refuse absolution to all persons fouud to be implicated in them. Would that all the priesthood were equally faithfiil.■Within the past few days a royal proclamation has been promulgated against the Hibernian Thugs, and a large batcli of Rihhon-men ,ha'vc been seized, who are said to be iiuplioa ted in-an iiUcmpt to promote an'invasion of Ireland by American filibusters.

To and to the excitement and consternation of the public mind, announcements of wholewholesale arrests have followed in quick succession! On Sunday evening last a Ribbon was captured in Belfast, in a public-house, where they were''congregated. Fifteen persons were inarched off to Antrim Gaol. This batch consisted of working men, of ages ranging from youth to grey hairs. On the preceding evening a similar sweep was made in the town of Kenmare and Kill irney ; the captured in this instance being generally young men of the clerk and shopkeeper assistant class. Tho arrests were effected with great secrecy and quietness, but the terror inspired is intense. M.uiy more apprehensions aro anticipated. The informers are understood to be traitorous associates, and in one instance it was the very man who had administered the treasonable oath to many of the unhappy dupes of designing villains. . ; .

The question as to the replacing of the Atlantic telegraph cable is likely to' be decided in a few days.. The company bare made applica

tion to the Government for a guarantee of 4i per cent, on £537,000, subject to the siine conditions as that of the Ked Sea line, and this has been backed by rrie.norials signed by the leading firms, nut oiily of London, but of Manchester, Liverpool, Birminjjhatn, Leeds, Halifax, Bradford, Hull, Glasgow, Paisley, and Norwich. Supposing it to be granted, contracts' will immediately be concluded fur a new cable, and any negotiations that may be thought desirable with the American Government will subsequent ly be entered into. No attempt can be made with any prospect of success, to lift the old cable until the return of calm weather, at the end of April or May; and, evenunler thebestcircumstances, the expectations with regard to the operation are not favourable. Meanwhile, it has been definitively ascertained that the existing damage is not at the shore end. The laying of the new end has been completed to a distance of 12 miles out frum Valentia, and the portion taken up was found to be in a perfect condition for all electrical purposes. Experiments lately undertaken by a person previously unconnected with the enterprise strongly support the original inference, that the main fault is about 270 miles from the Irish coast, at adepth probably of 900 fathoms. There h also a fault on the other side, which is thought to be about 3CO miles from Newfoundland. Currents, however, still continue to be received, although a kind so feeble and uncertain as to be useless for any practical purpose, ~„-.

Taming from the physical to the political world, We are forcibly struck by the contrast presented. Instead of storm we here find silence, and almost stagnation. Now and then a breeze of transient excitement ruffles the aii, but presently all is again still and quiet. Whether it is the hush of expectancy, or of indifference is uncertain. On this point opinions are divided. Some public organs stoutly, affirm that the prevailing apathy plainly shows that the people do not care a straw about reform; while others as confidently declare, that as soon as some actual Bill is propounded there will be stir and earnestness enough evoked throughout the country to astonish all those who defend the statu quo. Up to the present time nothing reliable has transpired respecting the form or features of the Government electoral measures. They have kept their secret well. Meanwhile, the reformers out-of-dours are by no means harmonious.' The middle classes, to a large extent, repudiate Mr. Bright's nomination, and are rather disposed to fall under the leadership of Lord John Russell, who, it is believed, will also be prepared with his Bill. If the disunion among politicians abroad be reflected by their representatives on the assembling of Parliament, ordinary sagacity and dexterity will enable the Ministry to circumvent all competitors for office, and more firmly hold their own. Since the great Birmingham demonstration there have been comparatively few meetings held for the agitation of the Reform question until yesterday, when Messrs. Bright and Gibson paid their long promised visit to Manchester, and addressed an immense concourse, and inaugurated a great Reform League in that city. Some particulars of the topics ventilated on the occasion will be found in my supplementary letter. In the prosecution of the same mission, Mr. Bright has engaged to attend monster meetings at Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Rochdale. Efforts like these will in all probability thoroughly ronse thenorthernpopulation, and it is to be hoped that their fire and enthusiasm will infect the hitherto ..apathetic inhabitants of the metropolis. •

It was whispered about town, a few weeks ago, that the country was to be jockeyed, if possible, out of a Reform Bill by a retaliating manoeuvre of Lord Palmerston. The rumour was to the effect, that immediately after the Royal Speech, the noble ex-Premier was to submit a Resolution condemnatory of the con duct of the Government towards Portugal iv the late collision with our ally. Relying on the strong sympathies of the House and the nation on the subject, and their abhorrence of any truckling to the insolent policy of the trench Emperor, it was thought that the Ministry would bs driven from their place by an indignant adverse vote, or compelled to appeal to the country. In either case it was calculated that Reform would be surely burked for another year. A recent event, however, has shown, the extreme improbability that Lord Palmerston will adopt such a course. Everybody feels that the ex-Premier has too far compromised himself by his late scandalous visit of friendship to the Imperial Court at Compeigue, at a time when the tyrannical trial of Montalembert was> pending, ever to propose a vote, of censure even od bis political rivals, for subserviency to the master of the fire-eating colonels . The indecent fraternization of two such statesmen as Lords Palmerston and Clarendon with the arch-despot of Europe, at a moment when tlu noble eulogist of our country «as being treated with indignities due only to a common criminal, has been regarded as an humiliation of the nation, and will cause the movemeuts of these Whig leaders to be watched with jealous suspicion.

Apart, however, from the incidents of the lonian embmglio, the political eventualities of Mr. Gladstone's appointment have been a pood deal discussed. This partial adliesionof the first orator in the House of Uoramons to Lord ;Derby's Government 13 likely materially to affect the balance of Parliamentary parties'. It is'thought that this acceptance of temporary office indicates a disposition to form a closer connection'with the existing Ministry ; and the hint is even thrown out that, to make way for Mr.Gladstone as the leader of the House of Commons, Mr, Disraeli may be bought off at the- cost of his elevation to the viceregal throne of:lndia. Such rumours are afloat.

•.As Lord Leigh was driving over his estate a fewdays since, in a dogcart, the horse took fritfbt, and he was thrown from the vehicle with such violence that his collar-hone was dislocated. His lordship is doing well, aud has fortunately received no permanent injury.

Tbe lovers of scandal hare lately had their appetite cloyed with the disgusting revelations of a life of domestic infecility and wretchedness, which, for the credit of matrimony, it is to be hoped i» comparatively of rare occurrence. The case was beard.before the new Court of Probate and divorce, in which Mrs. Marchmont, until recently a rosy sherry-drinking: publican's wido-v in possession. 'of N £do,ooo, appeared with a petition praying for a judicial separation from her second husband; an ex-inidister of the Congregational body. This ill sorted pair bad only been married about. 12 ' months, and the entire period was one uubroken scene of quarrelling, insult, flights and recoveries, and private and public outrage. The husband was covetous o( the golden hoard which continually eluded his grasp, and tbe wife was qo-uiean and avaricious as to grudge him every penny "which was disbursed.: Eight days were occupied in listqning to the revolting- .letails of the case, "until the public were fairly, nauseated.; Never,, perhaps,

has there been divulged, in all ita hideousness of retributive vv>e, a mire terrible example of the punishment which so often overtakes the reckless fortune hunter. Mr. Marchraont's fatal experiment will Jong be cited to " point a tnorai and adorn a tale."

The omnibus rivalry case, to wbich I referred last month, after three protracted hearings before the Bow-street magistrate, haa been adjourned to the 21st December. But it'is hoped that, before that date, soma amicable arrangements will be come to between the competing companies. The monopolists have been distinctly wirned, that, if their eystem of obstruction and annoyance is persisted in towards the younger and wetker company, an application will be made for au Act of Parliament to restrain and puuish them. - ...

Mr. Oliver, the fraudulent stockbroker, finding it useless to struggle against the incriminating evidences of forgery, fraud, and misdemeanor, which daily thickened around him, at length pleaded guilty to all the charges on which he was arraigned. He tsae sentenced to 20 years penal servitude. Severe sentences have been recorded against several fraudulent bankrupts, who made false entries .in their books, and given untruthful evidence in the Bankruptcy Court.

An action, which will attract a great deal <jt attention in the Literary world, is about to be tried at Westminster, arising out of a not Tery creditable quarrel between Mr. Thackeray and Mr. Edmund Yates. The dissension originated in the publication, by the latter gentleman, in the Town Talk (a new weekly penny periodical), of a graphic sketch of the personal appearance and genius of the great satirist Tbis article gave great offence to Mr. Thackeray and led to an unsatisfactory correspondence. Mr. Yates having refused to apologise or withdraw the more objectionable phrases, Mr. Thackeray brought the affair befere the Committee of the Garrick Club, of which literary fellowship both were members. After an impartial investigation of the facts, the Committee resolved that Mr. Yates was bound to make an ample apology, or retire from the club. That gentleman decling either alternative, his subscription was returned to him, and it was inti mated tuat he was expelled. The forthcoming action is to be brought against the club for a restitution of convivial rights. Advices from Valentia state that the'five miles of shore end cable have been submerged ; but, as the offices of the company are unmanned and closed, no further steps hare been taken. Tbe apatny and seeming of the directors astonish the public. Tie shares are sinking lower and lower, as lbp<: gradually expires. It has been stated that the portion of the September Australian mail delivered in Dublin contained the extraordinary number' of 1,400 registered money letters, transmitted by emigrants to relatives and friends in the old country. Even without this rate in aid, whatever it may amount to, money is just now reported to be tolerably abundant among farmers of the smallest class, notwithstanding the comparatively high standard of agricultural wages this year. A week or two since Messrs. Clayton' and Bell had the honor of submitting to the Queen and Prince Consoit specimens of painted glass executed by them for the windows' of the University at Sydney. Sir Charles Nicholson Provost of the University, was present to explain to Her Majesty the plans of the building* At the two last meetings of the Royal Geographical Society, the subject of Australian explorations occupied much attention. After the reading of a paper on Leichbardt and the Australian desert, prepared by the Rev) W. B' Clarke, of Sydney, considerable'discussion" took place. The writer did not think the supposed traces discovered by Gregory satisfactory, and intimated that Leichhardt might still be alive and that another expedition should be organised.' Sir Charles Nicholson, who was present,°thought that little doubt could exist but that Leicbhardt had long ere this perished, perhaps not so much from want as from disease; he should, however, be greatly pleased to see another expedition fitted out, in order to obtain a'satisfactory account of him, and for the exploration of the country. He drew the attention of the meeting to North-easttrn Australia, and expressed an opinion that Government ought to establish a settlement there, for the protection and assisUnce of commerce. Captain Byron Drury and Lord Alfred Churchill both spoke in favor, of a settlement on that part of the continent, and stated from experience that there was much good ground and water in many places, and the climate was not deleterious to Europeans. ' Admiral Fitzroy suggested that the Government should undertake a systematic series of Australian explorations, mitt stioiig-ly advocated the use of the camel. Sir Rudenck Muichison, in adjourning the meeting, remarked that he had' advocated a settlement cither in or near the Gulf of Carpentaria for many years, and he thought that, now flwrtlie. French had taken possession of the adjacent islands, it had become an absolute necessity.

Much attention is at the present time being paid to the introduction of game and song biids, natives of England, into the Australian colonies. Air. James Austin, of Geelong, an old and valued colonist, at present'staying in this country, shipped.last month, in the Pioneer, 92 partridges, 64 pheasants, ,6 hares, and a goodly number of blackbirds and thrushes, for his estute at Ba'rwori Park, 30 miles from Geelong. An experienced gamekeeper has gone out in charge of them. Several private shipments have lately been made ; and there > can be no doubt that gentlemen of private fortune, and moving in the position of Mr. Austin, are in every way able to accomplish their successful introduction to the antipodes. ■ '■•■■'.

The attempt to get up an imposing Protestant demonstration against Popery, on the 17tb (if lust month, the tercentenary of the accession .of Queen. Elizabeth, whs anything but succesful. The'project fell very flat on the public. Knowing all that we do of the Virgin Queen, it was difficult to get up any euthusiasra for her memory. Drs. M'Neil and'Cumming of course were great on the occasion ; but the recolleotion of the Puritan clergy whom Elizabethejected from their pulpits in the metropolis altogether quenched the gratitude and ardor of the Nonconformist bodies.