only remarkable circumstance is the death of
Rasserauha, the famous New Zealand Chief, at the age of
nearly eighty. He had a regular Christian burial, in
the European manner, and conducted with the utmost
decorum. The service was read by Mr. Ronaldson, a
missionary teacher; and the large assemblage were
hospitably entertained by Tamahaua, the son and heir
of the deceased.
PROGRESS OF EMIGRATION AND COLONISATION.
The first preliminary meeting of intending Emigrants
upon Mrs. Chisholm's Plan took place on the 4th, for the
purpose of the various families being formed in groups.
Upwards of two hundred persons were present; and
Mr. Sidney Herbert and other gentlemen explained to
the emigrants the nature of the plan and measures to be
adopted. Two thousand pounds have already been
subscribed by the working classes, and there have been
donations from Mr. Sidney Herbert of £200, Lady
Pembroke of £25, and Mr. Scott Russell of £5. The
first ship upon this plan is expected to sail next month.
There was another Embarcation of Female Emigrants
on the 16th, consisting of the fourth detachment of
young women sent out under the auspices of the Female
Emigration Society, on board the William Stevenson, at
Gravesend, their destination being Sidney and Adelaide.
They were sixty in number, and their appearance, dress,
and modest demeanour were very prepossessing; many
of them were Irish. Besides these girls, there were
two young ladies of excellent connexions, desirous of
going to Australia, who had placed themselves under
the protection of the Society for the voyage, paying
their own passage. Mr. Sidney Herbert gave each girl
a printed paper, conveying Mrs. Herbert's anxious
wishes for their welfare, giving them some kind advice,
and intimating that any of them, by remitting £6 10s.,
will be entitled to name a female relative or friend for a
passage, provided she be a fit person, and has a prospect
of a place on her arrival.
NARRATIVE OF FOREIGN EVENTS.
ENGLAND has been unexpectedly dragged into a quasi collision with her most powerful neighbour, by the
sudden recal of the French ambassador on the alleged ground of a want of proper consideration for
French dignity and good offices in the affair with Greece. Pending the mediation at Athens, a friendly
arrangement had been completed in London; but, before it reached the mediating parties, Mr. Wyse, acting
on previous instructions, and considering that Baron Gros had thrown up his office of mediator, resumed a
hostile attitude, and compelled King Otho's submission to the terms first demanded. The dispute between
England and France turns wholly upon two questions: what Mr. Wyse's original instructions, communicated
also to the French mediator, actually were; and in what specific terms Mr. Wyse received notice from Baron
Gros of the supposed failure of his mission. Only the explanation of Mr. Wyse himself can finally settle
these points; but there is not now much doubt that the settlement will be amicable, and the ultimate issue
favourable to the wishes of those who see in the concord of France and England the only guarantee possible
(however feeble it may hitherto have proved) against the unchecked predominance of despotism abroad.
Meanwhile the explosion of Greek fire at Paris has proved a temporary diversion for our lively neighbours
from dangers which threaten them more nearly in their electoral affairs. Momentarily stunned at the
election of the Socialist candidate by a majority over his competitor of more than eight thousand votes, the
party of "order" have been since engaged in a struggle for existence, the desperation of which is implied in
their proposed immediate disfranchisement of large masses of the artisan-class by a law they have presented
to the Assembly. This law has had the unhappy effect of temporarily ranging such men as Cavaignac and
Lamartine on the side of what is called the Mountain, and it is impossible to foresee the issue. All the
fiercest passions of France are flung into the debate, and the tribune has not witnessed such agitation since
the momentous days of February.
German politics continue to be the profoundest of mysteries; another Congress of princes, and another
conference of plenipotentiaries, having appeared and vanished, and left the horizon darker than ever. Meanwhile
a desperate fanatic has done his best to deepen the gloom by attempted assassination of the only German
prince in whom sensible men place hope for the future. The ray of present comfort in the lamentable prospect
of affairs seems to us to come from the direction of Austria. Bound almost helplessly to Russia in her
military and material interests, that misgoverned empire is now in gradual progress of surrender, morally
and intellectually, into the hands of her own Roman Catholic clergy; and in proportion as she thus loses
liberty of action and thought, her baneful influence against federative freedom must gradually be neutralised
and destroyed.
The French have departed from Rome, but arrests continue, spies increase, and the opposition of the
Romans grows more and more marked and significant. Signor Mazzini has arrived in England. From Spain
we have intelligence of overtures which have ended in the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with the
English Court; and we receive frequent descriptions of court incidents which resemble rather the intrigues
of the middle ages than events of modern civilisation. The Emperor of China, Toa-Kouang, has departed
this life; "mounting upwards on the dragon," in the language of the Chinese court-newsman, "to be a guest
on high;" and his son and successor, Yih-Chu, who proclaims through the same authority that his tears are
of blood, and that he beats his breast and tears the ground in the fury of his grief, has very quietly mounted
the throne.
The month's mails from America have brought generally good tidings. Sir Henry Bulwer's mission has
been perfectly successful in removing that incipient rivalry of interests to which the representatives of both
countries had somewhat indirectly committed themselves in Central America; and, as one of many indications
of the better understanding growing up between ourselves and our republican cousins in mercantile
policy, we have to record a proposal of the British minister for the opening of the navigation of the
St. Lawrence to American merchant vessels, in exchange for the admission of Canadian produce to the
United States on a footing of complete reciprocity, which is understood to have met with a favourable
reception from the ministry of General Taylor. The home politics of America are at present in renewed
agitation from what is called the Slavery Compromise, Mr. Webster's assent to it having alienated many of
his supporters, and the Anti-Slavery party generally denouncing it as a treason to the non-slave-holding
Dickens Journals Online