LATEST ENGLISH NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1501, 1 March 1861, Page 3

LATEST ENGLISH NEWS.

[From the Correspondent of the S. M. Ife^ald*'}: . : London, Friday, Deoemtar 21;|jV Count Persigny has ratified tho ■Hber^<.-\| of the press in France. .i^vli? All the " warnings" to theFrejnclhipress^-lp have been cancelled up to the lQthjiu^|||y This concession to the '"times' ' : .j -^i 'J^l§36 doubtedly great, an/jt must gfftt|]fjj[V"j;l^^^ff Frenohi 'people, whp^iif ' pieirmitted^lQ ; t||jg^ their effervesoonoe"* down _wiilj : . : prap|^i^^ not proceed to de.eds of r^Yolujtip.^§|fp^oi^ Another great ohangeL Q^|||iff6|||^g import is a tnodiftoation 'o^^e^Augtn|ii(^ll rniuisiry. .BarojvSohmerlJLii^'J^aCjlotf^l^^^ the offioe of'Ministeiv^dj-'Stat^^i^tfpi^^y

condition that his programme of policy be adopted. This effects a complete revolution in the Ministerial policy, and oannot but have a most important influence on the destiny of Austria. The programme includes the abolition of the Concordat, religious equality, the repeal of the provisional statutes recently promulgated, and a constitution common to all the empire except Hungary and Venetia. In Hungary, the Comitat of Pesth has declared in favour of the restoration of of the laws of 1848, and great excitement prevails there and in other towns, which has caused the concentration of troops at all poiDts. Hungary, in a few words, is all but ripe for a declaration of independence, and this will, no doubt, take place in the spring, when the Italian campaign is reopened. 11l Poland, also, popular demonstrations have taken place, but the authorities wisely have not interfered, and all has quieted down again. The Prussian Government has instituted State enquiry into its police, and disclosures of the grossest kind have been made in consequence. The police from the highest to the lowest have set all law and justice at defiance ' Russia is re-colonizing the Crimea. The secession movement iv the United States continues, but with übated force. Matters in Mexico are approaching a crisis. Merango has seized £200,000 belonging to the bondholders of this country that had been placed in the strongroom of the British Legation. The seals had been brokeu, and the room forcibly destroyed to get at the money, under protest of all the foreign representatives. After such an act as this the British Government must interfere- -it is in fact a casus belli. So much for politics. Now for a little domestic news, and first of all let me announce the name of the hew J Governor of New South Wales, in the person of Sir John Young, formerly Lord High Commissioner of the [onian Islands. The Princess Alice is betrothed to the Grand Duke Prince Louis of Hesse. The marriage is to take plaoe in 1862, when the Princess will be in her nineteenth year. It will interest all Freemasons, of whom I am one, that H. R. H. the Prince of Wales, will, I believe, be installed next year. I derive this interesting information by a private whisper from the Grand Lodge. * Her Majesty the Empress of the. French.: left Loudon, on her return to France, on Wednesday evening, and arrived at Paris, the following eveuing. Her Majesty was, on Monday last, visited at Claridge's Hotel, by her Majesty the , Queen, the Prince Consort, the Prinooss Alice, Prince Arthur, and Prince Louis of Hesse, the visit lasted an hour. The Frenoh people are delighted with the reception her Majesty received here. The Earl of Aberdeen died yesterday i morning, in his 77th year. , London, Saturday, Deo. 22. The news this week from China is highly interesting. On last Saturday afternoon a telegram was received at the Foreign Office through St. Petersburg, aud communicated to the Sunday papers that intelligence had been received from China to the effect that peace was concluded and the ratifications exchanged. Pekin evacuated. On Thursday a despatch from Sir John Crampton, her Majesty's Minister at St. Petersburg, announcing the receipt of a letter from Lord Elgin, dated Bth November, was received confirming the news. To the valuable assistance of General Ignalieff, the Russian Minister at Pekin, are we indebted for the early accomplishment of our designs. Subsequently Sir John Crampton received the substance of a despatch of the Russian Government from Pekin giving the names of the persons who had beon massacred by the Chinese. The French Government have also a despatch from Pekin announcing the completion of all the objects of the allies. As you will before this have received particulars of the course of events in China, I do not repeat the details. The King of Naples firm — he refuses to accept the advice of France, England, and Russia to abandon the defence of Gaeta and retire, and the bombardment of that place, which had been suspended at the request of the Emperor Napoleon until the negotiations had terminated, has been resumed. The French fleet, in consequence of this resolution of the King, will retire from Gaeta, and thus leave the Sardinian squadron at liberty to attack the place from the sea. The King has despatched letters to Vienna, Berlin, St. Petersburgh, and Madrid, calling for help, and entreating those powers to urge France not to 'withdraw from him the protection of her fleet. He has also issued a proclamation to the Neapolitans, calling upon them to make a last effort to preserve their nationality, and guarantees their liberty, — to graut distinct Parliaments to the Two Sicilies, and an amnesty. In other words, in the last dying moments of his sovereignty, he will, rather than lose all, promise anything, — but the time has gone by for such claptrap pledges. His Majesty states that if obliged to succumb, he will maintajn a firm hope of returning to his dominions. He has likewise issued a proclamation to his troops, praising their courage, and calling upon them to defend the fortress to the last. The bombardment of Gaeta was to recommence on the 19th inst. A pamphlet has appeared in Paris, entitled "The Emperor Francis Joseph I.

and Europe," which is understood to represent the views of the Emperor Napoleon and the French Cabiuet on the question of the proposed sale of Vonetia. The English ambassadors ftt Berlin and Vienna have been summoned to London to take part in deliberations on the quastion of Venetia. , . Hungary is about to solicit" from' the Emperor of Austria the grant of the electoral law of 1848. The President's message has been received from America. It is very pacifio and conciliatory, and therefore pleases ueither the North nor the South, and a stormy discussion has taken place in the Senate ; reference being made to the coming " civil war/ by the Southern States seceding from the Union. If the North attempted to coerce, war would ensue, &c, &c. The Dowager Queen of Sweden, widow of Bernadotte, died suddenly on Tuesday evening. She was about to visit the Theatre to see the representation of •• Life is a Dream." The Turkish loan has been" taken by M. Mores of Paris. Allow me to direct your atteution, editorial and otherwise, to the bankruptcy disclosures in the leather trade here, re Steatfield, Lawrence, and Mortimore. There is much instruction to be gathered from their perusal. The Marquis of Dn.lhousie died on Wednesday evening, in his 48th year. London, Wednesday, Dec. 26. A merry Christmas and a happy New Year to Australia ! The wish is present, its receipt future, yet at the same time past. Your correspondent feels the influence of yesterday's cheer — the roast beef and plum pudding of Old England — and mightily disinclined to work, so if you find my closing communication brief, please excuse it for the sake of " Old Christmas," who this year has really appeared in his old English dress of a sharp frost of some day's duration, and a snowy mantle — genuine old English Christmas weather for once in a way. Monday was made a holiday, and yesterday of course was one. To-day it is again a holiday with the working-classes — one half the shops are closed to-day, as also on Monday, and a general disinclination to do any kind of business or perform any kind of work is everywhere appareut. One half of the people are lazily inclined from yesterday's racket; the other half are bent upon present enjoyment, in return for yesterday's extra labour. Sally and Suky, Susan and Sue, have joined Willy and Billy, Bobby and Ben, and are out for a day's holiday on Boxing Day, finishing off at the thealres, or rather, I should say, the the-a tors. Theirs is real enjoyment, for no oares intrude to mar their pleasure. Well, I suppose I must begin with the real matter of fact record ofpassing events, and the state of public affairs. I Despatches have at last araived from China with the particulars of the important events at Pekin, at the close of October and the beginning of November. The indemnity money is to be doubled, amounting to £2,400,000 for Franoe, and the same for England. A British Minister is to reside at Pekin. Tientsen is opened to trade ; and Kowloou ceded to the British Crown. The King of Naples is firm in his defenoe of Gaeta to the very last, which is being bombarded by the ' Sardinians with great vigour. Some of the shells and shot on the 7th instant fell into the garden of the palace, where the King and Queen were dining with the Spanish ambassador. His Majesty, in reply to a letter from the Emperor Napoleon expressive of sympathy, but urging that his defence has been carried far enough for honour's sake, thank 3 the Emperor, but considers it his duty to persist in the defence of Gaeta. Arms and munitions of war are being forwarded by Austria, Spain, and his Holiness the Pope. The Wiener Zoitung of Sunday contains a circular by Baron Schmerling to the governors of the provinces, explana- j tory of the leading principles of his policy. The Baron says: — "It is the mission of the Ministers of State to carry out fully and effectively the resolutions and intentions of the Emperor, as expressed in. the Imperial manifesto of the 20th October. " As regards freedom of religious worship, it is the will of the Emperor that political and civil rights shall in that respect also be preserved against any en.croachment, and that the mutual relations of the different confessions shall be established upon an equitable footing, aud upon the real love for one's neighbour (Nachslenliohe). "Public instruction will be promoted by every possible means. " The free development of tho nationalities is accorded. " With respect to the public press every preventive interference is removed. " Pbe development of agriculture, commerce, and industry will be pursued with redoubled energy on the path hitherto followed. "Tho communes will enjoy an hide pendent existence. " The administration of justice is to be separated from the govermental administration. "Publicity and the oral form of proceeding are to be introduced into the civil and penal courts of law." As regards the Provincial Statutes, the Ministry of State has been authorised to introduce into the fundamental laws the principle of representation^ the different interests by moans of direot elections and the extention of eleotoral rights and eligibility, the right of initiative, and the publicity of debates. . !

! On the Counoil of the Empire, to whose province belongs the general legislation, while the Provincial Diets are ouly oorapetentto legislate on pro vinoial questions, is therefore conferred the right of originating projects of law and publicity of debates. . The Council of the Empire will be composed of members unconditionally elected by the Provincial Diets, and will, besides, receive additional members. The Provincial Governments of the minor Crown Lands, recently repressed, are to be re-established. In conclusion, Baron Schmerling exhorts the public functionaries to a oonscientious discharge of their duties, to the furtherance of the interests of the inhabitants of their provinces, to a strict observance of the laws, and to candour in their official reports on the condition of the country.

85th King's Light Infantry,— We learn with satisfaction that this highly ! distinguished corps has been ordered to proceed from the Cape of Good Hope to New Zealand, where we feel convinced that the rebels will have sincere cause to regret the arrival of the King's Light Infantry. Lieut. Colonel Grey, who commands the regiment, is one of the most efficient and estimable officers in the British Army. — News of the World, Nov. 11. , The Government is taking active measures to send out troops and supplies to New Zealand. In addition to the Norwood, which sailed last month with a battery of Horse Artillery and six Armstrong guns, the ships African and Karl of Mar and Kellie are under orders to sail with a large quantity of miscellaneous stores in the course of a few days, and the Mersey follows with a further quantity. We are also given to understand that a considerable commissariat force will shortly be dispatched. — New Zealand Examiner, December i 7. Marriage of the Princess Alice. negociations for the marriage of her Royal Highness the Princess Alioe with Prince Louis of Hesse Darmstadt, which have from time to time been informally mentioned in tho newspapers, are now completed, and the wedding is to take place in the spring. The affectionate interest which the public take in all that concerns the happiness of the royal family is in a very slight degreß complicated in this instance with oonsiderations of national policy. The little Rhenish court of Hesse Darmstadt, at which we are represented by our minister to the Germanic Confederation in his spare hours, is not one likely to draw us into wars, and if Prince Louis pleases the Queen and- the young lady he may very well please us. Prince Louis sustains the same relation to the reigning Duke of Hesse Darmstadt as the husband of the Princess Royal to the> King of Prussia. In each state the sovereign is childless and each of the two sisters will be the wife of the son of his brother, the heir presumptive. Prince Louis will be 24 years of age next Soptember. fib has the rank of a captain in the Prus-N slan service, Jand is titular colonel of a Russian Hussar regiment, He is only distantly related to the foolish and tyrannical Elector of Hesse Cassel, who has just dissolved the Hessian Chambers, and who will certainly have to join the Duke of Moiena and the Grand Duke of Tuscany before he is much older. — Dailg News.