The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-25 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE. I

[REITTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

SPEECH OF THE KING OF HANOVER.
HANOVER, FEB. 21.

A banquet was given in the Royal Castle to the
members of the Diet upon the day the Chambers
were opened. In the course of the evening the
King made the following speech :
" Gentlemen,—l have called you together upon
this occasion at a momentous period—a period
such as has not been known in our common father-
land for many ycar3.

" A sanguinary war rages in the northern marches
of Germany. A brigade of my army, inspired by a
lofty spirit beyond all praise, has gone to the Duchy
of Holstein, ready to fight for the fame of the arms
of Hanover, for German honour, for German right,
for a cause to which I have long specially dedicated
myself, because I am convinced of its justice, and
because I found Hanover, as the largest immediate
neighbouring State, especially called thereto. We
must leave the result to the Divine disposer of
events.

" Among all the mournful circumstances by which
we are surrounded, we have yet cause to be thank-
ful to the Almighty for having until now preserved
to our immediate country the blessings of peace.'
Let ns pray that he will still in future preserve us
from the pressure of war
"But if the misfortune of war has still kept far
from us, the times are insecure and pregnant with
events. The more, gentlemen, is it necessary to
preserve peace and maintain strength at home, to
be prepared for all eventualities that may come
from abroad. Heaven be praised that I can greet
you with tranquillity and joy, thoroughly convinced
that you are animated by the genuine spirit the
Hanoverian people has inherited from its fathers,
which has always led it to display the most un-
shaken love, fidelity, and devotion to the ruling
house when the times were gravest. I know,
therefore, that you have come here filled with the
most perfect confidence in myself and my Govern-
ment, to support me the more readily in carrying
out my paternal intentions for the welfare of my
people, all of whom I love as my own children."
His Majesty concluded by heartily welcoming
his assembled guests.

SPAIN.
ROYAL DECREE OF AMNESTY.

MADRID, FEB. 21.
The following Royal decree of amnesty for
political crimes has been published today ;--
" Taking into consideration the report of my
Council of Ministers, and in conformity with their
recommendation, I hereby decree :
" Article 1. I concede an ample and general am-
nesty for all political crimes committed in the
peninsula and the adjacent islands up to the pro-
mulgation of this my Royal decree in the same;
excluding only from the benefit thereof those
criminals who have relapsed in abuse of the Royal
clemency.
"Article 2. The Ministers whom the present
decree concerns will immediately take the necessary
measures to secure its punctual and complete
execution both by judicial and Governmental order.
" Given at the Peace, this 19th Feb., 1864.
" ISABELLA;

" The. President of the Council of Ministers,

Lorenzo Arrazola."

The above is preceded by a letter signed by all
the Ministers, recommending the Queen to issue a
decree of amnesty in commemoration of her happy
delivery and return to public affairs.

BOMBAY AND MAURITIUS MAILS.
SOUTHAMPTON, FEB. 25.

The Peninsula and Oriental Co.'s steamer Poonah
with the above mails has arrived here. She brings
55 passengers, including his Excellence Rainan.
drain Rainferingia and the Embassy from Mada-
gascar, with the Rev. Mr. Duffus, interpreter. The
Poonah has 459 packages cargo, including raw silk
value £40,000 sterling.
On the 22d she passed the Pera with the out-
ward mails of the 20th inst.
Sir Moses Montefiore returned to Gibraltar on
the 17th inst. in her Majesty's ship Magicienne from
the Court of Morocco. His efforts on behalf of his
co-religionists in the Sultan's dominions have been
successful, Sir Moses having obtained an Imperial
edict which cannot fail to improve the position of
the Jews in the interior of Morocco, and otherwise
advance the cause of civilisation.

A powder magazine has exploded in Morocco,
causing a loss of life estimated at 900 persons.
Her Majesty's troop ship Orontes, from Ports-
mouth, left Gibraltar on the 16th for Malta.
Gibraltar exchange on London, 53 1-16 to I;
on Paris, 5.28; Madrid, par to prem.
HAMBURG, FEB, 25.

According to an announcement of the Danish
Consnl•General in this city, Holstein and Schles-
wig ships carrying the Danish flag and Danish
papers and signals will retain the rights of Danish
ships.