Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-17
TWO DAYS LATER FROM EUROPE

X
orally admitted that maritime warfare has un
dergone a change, and that the Monitor is a
solution between wooden vessels and iron
ones.
PETERSBURG. April 5.-The Academy Ga.
zette states that the minister of the interior
has officially announced that the government
intends preserving the censorship over all pc.
riOdicaIs, but 10 do away with it gradually, by
| judicial proceedings
PARIS, April The question of the socie-
| ty of st. Vincent de Paul is definitely settled.
| The conferences of the society will hencetorth
be separate and Independent OF the Central
Tie.
MADRID, April ct is officially declared
that the Spanish government has most recent
ly determined no; to attempt TO infringe on
the sovereignty and independence Of the Mex
leans.
BERLIN, April GA confidential letter
from the minister of finance to the minister OF
war is published, ur yently requesting the re-
duction OF the military budget by two and a
half millions, in order to remove the present
additional taxes.
GENERAL NEWS.
The steamship Hammonia from New York
reached Southampton on the night of the Sd
inst The steamer Great Eastern is adver-
tised to leave Milford tor New York on the
9Th OF May.
In the house of lords on the Sd inst, the
| duke of Somerset said that in the course Of
| the present year England would have ten ef-
fective armor plated vessels afoat, and in the
course of the next year five or six more.
In the house OF commons the same evening,
Mr.. Fitzgerald gave notice that he would soon
call attention to our relations with Mexico.
Lord Palmerslon announced that parliament
would adjourn for the Easter recess from the
l1th to the 18th Of April.
Mr. Gladstone made his financial report.
He stated the actual expense of the govern
ment, the past year, was 970,038,0O and the
revenue 1874, 479, showing a deficit OF
Gl 100000. He estimates the revenue next
year at 970 10000, and the expenditures at
E70.040 900, thus showing a small surplus.
AS regards changes in duties and taxes the
only alteration Of consequence is u commute
tiOn of the hop duty the amount of which is
10 be gotin the future from beer at the rate
OF Sd per barrel. The duty on playing cards
is reduced from one shilling 10 three pence.
Foreign bonds and loans OF all descriptions are
to pay one eighth per cent. The other
changes are merely notifications OF Sunday
licenses and the wine duties. The 10th OF
September is the day fixed Tor the repeal OF
the hop duty. Mr. Gladstone in the course Of
his speech adverted to the great draw backs
turned out worse than anticipated. The cot
ton crisis was most serious feature to Eng.
land. A blockade had of course been expect
ed, but ii proved far more vigorous and ex-
tended over a greater line of coast than had
been anticipated, and its effect had been near
ly to double the price OF cotton. The loss on
American trade was great, the exports having
fallen from nearly twenty-five millions ster-
ing in 1860 TO only nine millions in 1861.
Trade with America according TO recent re
turns was, however, improving.
In the house of lords, on the 4th inst, the
marquis OF Normandy again required to the
Italian grievances, and lord Dennalrd advert
ed 10 Russian violence i'll Poland. Earl Rus
sell gave some explanations, but declined 60
ing into the general question OF the two
countries.
Mr. Layard said that the government had
received official information that a convention
had been entered into between the commits
sioners of the allied powers and the govern
ment of Mexico, and it was true, that the
British forces had been withdrawn from Mex
leo, except a small body OF men, and that it
| was not the intention OF the government that
they should lake any part in the expedition
into tine interior; and they would all be
brought home except about one hundred who
would be left there Tor ii performance OF or
binary duties. Although her majesty's gov
ernment did not entirely approve OF all the
articles Of the convention, they approved OF it
gener lily.
Mr.. Denman called attention TO the Polish
question. Lord PalmerstOE, in response, re-
viewed the position OF Poland and expressed
sympathy with the Poles, but recommen ed
them to wait patiently, and he believed that
the kindly feelings Of the emperor OF Russia
would ultimately grant their desires. The
subject was one in which England could not
wisely interfere
Mr.. Osborne moved the resolution that it is
expedient to suspend the construction OF the
proposed forts at Spithead until the value of
iron rooted gunboats for defense shall have
been fully considered. He referred to the ex.
ploits OF the Merrimac and Monitor, and
claimed that the invention of the principles
OF the Monitor belonged to Captain Cole,
whose plans were long since submitted to
the admiralty aud reported tavorably upon
and then shelved. lie opposed permanent
Notifications, and hoped that the government
| would not plunge into useless expenditure on
them. Sir Morton Peter seconded the resolu.
ton. Lord Palmerston admitted the great inn
portance of the question, and reJoiced that it
was not brought forward in a party speech.
The question had occupied the earnest aten'
| ton OF the government. He did not deny that
the action OF the Merrimac and Monitor had
| taught a lesson but whilst it had done that
| in one direction, it had also given warning
! in another, showing what they could not do as
well as what they could do. He pointed out
the draw backs OF the Monitor and what Eng
| land was doing with iron ships, aud said that
tenders had been sent out tor the construction
of ship on Capt Coles principle. lie urged
the inexpediency of entirely negecting torti-
ficatons, and favored both forts and floating
batteries He said the government was not
averse to suspending the works at Splthead
for a time. The defence committee had been
instructed to reconsider the subject, aud after
Easter he would bring the whole subject
again before the house
Alter some further debate the resolution
was amended to the effect that the house will
at an early day empower the government 10
expeud the money voted for Notifications, etc,
on iron sheathed vessels, and was then agreed
to-
Preparations had commenced for cutting
down the Royal Sovereign, one OF the finest
ships in the English navy, from loI screw
three decker to II gun ship, on Capt. Coles
plan. The Bulwark, VI guns, was also 10 be
converted into an iron plated trlgate
A prospectus is issued Of British Column
bia Overland Transit Co, whose Object is 10
establish regular transport system Tor ma'is
and passengers, by carts and relays Of horses
through British territory
The army and navy gazette observes taat
there is more than the usual element OF ulI-
certainty about the issue OF the civil war IN
America, owing 10 the ignorance OF the rear
capacity OF the south to resist and OF tie c :
pacity of the north to move. line ieueraiS
will have to prove, by getting to hlchmOhu'
that they have a quartermasIer general de'
| 4 at a