The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-15 00:00:00

LA TEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

SPAIN.
MADRID, FEB. 14.
The newly-born royal infant is dead.
The Cortes will be closed for three days in testi-
mony of regret at this event.

FRANCE.

PARIS, FEB. 15.

In the debate on the Address in the Senate yes-
terday the Duke de Persigny delivered a speech
showing that English Parliamentary institutions
were unfitted for France. The Emperor, he said,
has given to France durable liberty, founded upon
the solid basis of authority. History shows us
-various forms of liberty. The Emperor has made
the Constitution to contain the principle of liberty,
and it depends upon public opinion to develope it.
M. Rouland said the existing liberties were suffi-
cient, while the Marquis de Boissy maintained the
contrary opinion. M. Rouher eulogised the speeches
of the Duke do Persigny and M. Rouland.
The address in reply to the speech from the
throne was finally adopted unanimously.
The Emperor will receive, on Sunday, the depu-
tation from the Senate, who will present the address
to his Majesty.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

PLYMOUTH, FEB. 15.

The Union Company's mail steamer Roman ar-
rived here this morning from the Cape of Good
Hope on the 15th, St. Helena- on the 23d, and
Ascension on the 27th January.
She brings 79 passengers, including the Hon. Mr.
and Mrs. Davidson, and a general cargo, consisting
of 800 bales of wool, 2,551 bags of copper ore, 851
of hides, and .145 of goat skins ; also 170 packages
of tallow, and 100 cases of sundries.
The Roman experienced light southerly winds
from the Cape to the Equator, then strong N.E.
trade winds to Madeira, and thence to Plymouth
heavy gales from S.W. to N.W. with heavy sea.
At the Cape of Good Hope the distress among
the working classes from want of employment, as
well as the distress among a large section of
farmers caused by the failure of the crops, and by
fatalities among the stock through drought, con-
tinued almost diminished, nor did there appear to
be any hope of an immediate improvement for either
of the suffering classes. Within a circle of 50 or
60 miles from Cape Town abundant rains had fallen,
but all districts beyond that had suffered from the
drought with more or less severity.
The Governor's proposal to raise £20,000 by pri-
vate guarantee, to be expended on public works for
the relief of the existing distress, had failed, and no
public works were likely to be carried out at present.
A day of humiliation and prayer on account of
the prevailing drought was observed on Jan. 12.

A gigantic scheme of irrigation had been pro-
posed at Port Elizabeth, by which the Governor
would be authorised to spend £500,000, interest to
be met and capital ultimately repaid by an export
tax on wool. It was meeting with extensive op-
position, and it was expected the measure would
be defeated.

The rust had done great damage among the wheat
crop, and seed wheat of varieties not liable to the
disease had been sent home for by the present mail.
Sugar growing and coffee planting are being car-
ried on in Natal with great vigour. The appear-
ance of the crops was promising very remunerative
and increased returns this season. The introduc-
tion of coolie labour from India had been most suc-
cessful. Dr. Mann, the Surveyor-General of the
Colony, was coming to England as an immigration
agent, and was to be instructed to obtain the right
class of settlers, viz., moneyed agriculturists of
moderate income, who were much required.
The blockade of Valparaiso had caused a consi-
derable rise in the price of breadstuffs in the colony.
With the exception of this, commercial matters were
dull.
The war between the Free States and Basutos
continued, but only in name, no belligerent opera-
tions having taken place on either side lately.
Attention had again recently been called to the
systematic slave trade carried on in the Transvaal
Republic, where young Kaffirs of both sexes, from
three to twelve years of age, were being publicly
sold at prices varying from £l5 to £22105. per head.

Dr. Colenso was continuing to hold services in
Maritzburg Cathedral, at which large audiences
attended. The Bishop of Cape Town had offered
Dr. Colenso a new trial, the conditions of which
were declined. It was generally expected that the
sentence of excommunication would shortly be
published against the recusant Bishop.