The Portland daily press., 1867-12-27
EUROPE.


GREAT BRITAIN.
LONDON, Dec. 24.-At a banquet given at the
Royal Polytechnic on Saturday night last, IN
reply to the following sentiment from .ne
Duke of Wellington, teicitous despatcn
received amidst great enthusiasm. Not lit
tie of The interest attaching to these despatch
es grows out of their rapid trans In
The message Of the Duke u Wellington to
the President of the United states was as fol-
lows: ar
LONDON, Dec. 81.
"The Duke of Wellington, the directors and
scientific guests now at the Royal Polytechnic
London, England send their most respectful
greeting 10 the z resident of the United States.
their apology being that to the discoveries of
science the Intercourse between the two gre at
nations as indebted"
Inc above message was 9 minutes 80 seconds
~ transit from London to Washington, as fol-
yws: London to Hearts Content, four min
utes thirty seconds; Hearts's Content to
Hiaister Cove, one minute thirty seconds; at
PLASTER Cove thirty seconds; Plaster Cove
to New York one minute thirty seconds; New
York to Washington, one minute thirty Sec
onds. Iar 4fsl
The following is the reply of President j ohn-
son:
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. q.
Duke Of Wellington, London :
Il reciiroeate the friendly salutation of the
parry dJ Juc ISOfdl IOlylt
and cordially agree with them in the sentiment,
that free and quick communication be3we en-
governments and nations is important
agent in preserving peace and good under
standing throughout the world and advancing
all the interests of civilization.
"ANDBEw JOHNSON"
The reply occupied 20 minutes in actual
TRANSMISSION.
On the same evening a message of twenty
two words was started from the Polytechnic for
Hearts Content, at exactly nine o'clock P. NJ,
and at ten minutes past nine the reply of
twenty-four words was delivered.
Accounts have been received at Massowah
OF the condition and progress of the British
expedition in Abyssnia. They were all ia
vorable, The army was steadily advancing in
to the interior. Up to the date of the latest
dispatches they had met with no opposition,
but, on the country, they had been received in
friendly manner by the natives everywhete
along the line of march.
Dispatches from China state that owing to
the urgent circumstances and formidable dem
onstratons made by foreign powers, the For
mosans have promised to treat shipwrecked
sailors VITA humanity hereafter and the Chi
nese government has guaranteed that the
promise shall be kept. -1a
LONDON. Dec. "A Noon. The Fenians are
still active. The newest sensation is an effort
made last evening to destroy the gas works at
Glasgow. Attempts had been made the night
before to destroy the gas works at Warning
ton, near Liverpool. In both cases the efforts
were unsuccessful The authorities in these
cities are doubly watchful and no further
trouble is apprehended. Dispatches from va
rious parts of the kingdom report everything
quiet to-day.
Dispatches from Naples mention that the
eruption of Mount Vesuvius is continually
increasing IN power and splendor. Immense
sheets OF white, yellow and crimson flame
rise hundreds of feet above the crater, and at
night the Bay of Naples is lighted up for
miles. Lava is pouring down the mountain
SIDE In Immense quantities, and large stones
are occasionally thrown out from the mouth
of the volcano. A deep rumble like reverber-
berating thunder is heard from time to time
as IN the bowels of the earth, and many of the
people in the vicinity have left their homes,
fearing an earthquake or other calamity. No
such eruption has probably occurred IN We
suvius for centuries, and the spectacle is re-
garded as one of the most magnificent and
sublime ever witnessed
Thursday as well as Wednesday will be OBJ
served as holiday, and on both days business
will be entirely suspended, and the exchange
and markets, here and in Liverpool, will be
closed. H F ..5. Is
FRANCE.
PARIS, Dec. M.-The debate on the bill for
the organization of the army was continued in
the Corps Legislatif yesterday. Marshal Neil
made speech, in which he defended the bill
on the ground tn such measure would have
tendency to prevent war, and was, in effect,
AMY VI peace. M. JuleS faVre spoke
for second time against the BILL denouncing
It in strong terms as dangerous instrument.
M. Oliver said the introduction of the bill at
this time proved that the government antici-
pated an early war. He thought France
would be much stronger and better prepared
Tor hostile contingencies should constitution
al system OF government be granted to the
nation. This, he most earnestly wished, the
country would eventually have.
Evening-The unsettled condition of affairs
rraI Il.
changes bending in the Italian government, it
is feared, will place Italy in q menacing atti-
tude toward France. The feeling on the
Bourse is uneasy, and rentes have been fat
and nominal all day.
I h--V ITALY,
FLORENCE, Dec. 24-The existing cabinet
is not to be dissolved. Some change in its
composition will be made, but General Mena-
brea will remain at the head of the govern
ment, and under his direction the organiza
ton of the ministry will proceed.
AUSTRIA. ,
VIENNA Dec. 24.-The bill for the emanci-
patton of the Jews has passed the Reichsrath
LONDON, Dec. 25.-The Times of to-day has
an editorial on the subject of the Abyssinian
war, which it fears will be protracted until
next year. 1t blames Sir VIM. Napier, the
commander of the British forces, for the delay
which the expedition has encountered and says
nothing of consequence can be done during
the present season.
The Russian government has addressed
note to tbs government of France protesting
earnestly against the shifting policy of the lat
ter upon the Eastern question.
Advices from China by the overland mail
and telegraph, report that the rebels are meet
ing with success in their operations against the
Imperial government. E
Tonnage was scarce in the various Chinese
ports and exchange on England had declined.
Is New YORK, Dec. 26-Fifty thousand refu-
gees have been taken off the Island of Crete
TO Athens, and other parts OF Greece. The
latest news from the island is highly favorable
to the Turks, who seem determined, now that
the insurgents hrve forced them to renew hos
tlities, to carry on the war with energy. The
troops have moved and occupied nearly all the
mountain passes to the great dismay of the
insurgents. The Eastern and Western Dis
tricts have sent in their submission, and the
Central only show signs of resistance.
The reorganization of the government of tho
island is most favorable to the future welfare
OF the inhabitants. A Governor and three
Christian sub Governors have been appointed.
A general council and three district councils
are to be created. The Cretans are the least
taxed subjects OF the porte, paying about 50
per head annually. When these reforms are
carried into effect the grand Vizer will return
to the capitol
A Constantinope correspondent writing on
Cretan affairs says:
Present appearances indicate that the funds
OF the Cretan Committee are exhausted. So
tobS do tHe siHeWS Oh war existed JDere was no
lack of adventures and fillibusters ready to
join the insurgents, but now they all desert
the cause and leave the unfortunate Cretans
to their fate. If Russia does not hasten to
comply with her secret engagement by render
ing more mrterial aid the insurrection w III
surely fail, and her influence in the East will
be irretrievably lost.
Mr.. Stillman, who for some years has been
the o. s. Consul at Gambia, has had his exc
quatur Withdrawn by the Turkish authorities,
and is about to leave for Wash.n gton.
LONDONDERRY, Dec. "a The steamer Mes
torian, from Portland. Me-, Dec. 14th, touched
at Neville to-day, and sailed for Liverpool.
rHs MisceIia ncous Dispatche-.
KEY WEST Fla Dec 26-The shin Mer;.