THE WEEK ABROAD.
Fasscz.—There is a political lull in France, and the public still occupies itself with the Roman Question. General de Goyon re- turned on Wednesday to Paris, and Marshal Niel will, it is said, be ordered to "inspect,' and therefore temporarily command the troops in Rome. Prince Jerome is on his way to Naples, and the Patric declares semi-officially, that events are pointing to "a solution un- favourable to further compromise," i.e. we presume, to the evacuation of Rome. The Moniteur, however, rebukes the papers for forming "exaggerated" conclusions, and private information assures us that the Emperor still hesitates. All the reports from the interior tend one way, indicating that if he quits Rome, the Ultramontanes, priests, Reds, and Bourbonists will unite to control the elections, and perhaps place a hostile majority in the Chamber. On the other side are one or two attendants, Prince Jerome, and the Emperor's own convic- tions, and he waits for his usual ally, Time. Much speculation also is caused by the visit of M. Mercier, Minister at Washington, to Richmond. The Paris papers said at first he had gone to see after some tobacco, a matter not trifling, as the London papers say, but of grave importance to the French. revenue. The Constitutionnel, however, now hints, in very large type, that the war has lasted thirteen months, that there is no prospect of a termination by merely hostile means, and that it is willing to " hope, with the public, that the French Minister may induce the adverse parties to listen to words of conciliation and peace." The correspondent of the Times, usually well informed when the subject is important, says the Em- peror and a majority of Ministers are Southern, and M. Thonvenel Northern in tendency.
The King of Holland is in Paris, and gossips have it that the Prince of Orange will marry a lady of the Murat family. Is Belgium to be the dower ?
ITALY.—The King arrived in Naples on 28th April, and was re- ceived with a burst of most unexpected enthusiasm. Naples is well suited for a fête, and the people were determined to mark their attachment to the King in an unmistakable manner. Quarters of the town were literally abandoned, the whole population crowding to welcome Victor Emanuel, who proceeded to the palace amidst showers of bouquets, cheers, and outbursts of regard. In the evening the city was magnificently illuminated, the people vieing with the officials, and vast as was the crowd, not one instance of disorder occurred. The King visited the poor-hodse and hospitals, and ordered a strict inquiry into their condition, which is wretched, and redeemed all pledges under three ducats, a common and curious form of largesse which the people of Italy always seem to appreciate. The King was received by the upper classes at the great theatre of San Carlo, which was crowded to suffocation, and a hymn was sung amidst wild enthu- siasm, pledging him to attempt the throne of the Caesars. The King, usually too impassive, appears to have been strongly moved. It is worthy of note that the description of the reception most read in England comes from the Times correspondent, who has always re- corded every instance of discontent or autonomic feeling. The scene has produced a great impression in France, where the belief of the King's unpopularity in the South was widely entertained.
We are enabled to state that the story of the Pope having nomi- nated a successor is totally without foundation. What he has done is to write a letter recommending that the conclave should, in the event of his death, nominate one of three cardinals—a recommen- dation treated with intense respect while he is alive. The bishops of the Catholic world are hurrying up to Rome, where about 400 will shortly be collected. The 'Italian bishops have been, however, discouraged from attendance, and a religious demonstration will shortly be made in Italy, which will overbalance the moral effect of the bishops' attendance. The Pope has been for a few days to Porto d'Anzio (Antium), and rumours of his flight were very widely cir- culated. He has a little steamer, the Immaculate Conception, lying there, to which it is said he trusts to carry him awa7 when Rome is no longer tolerable. For the present he has returneu to Rome.
AUSTRIA.—On the 1st of May the Emperor transmitted to the
Reichsrath a message, saying " his Majesty has been pleased to order his Ministers to inform the two Houses of the Reichsrath that the declaration made by them in the Lower House on the 2nd of July, 1861, that they were also (auch) responsible to the Reichsrath for the maintenance of the constitution and for the exact fulfilment of the laws, was given with the express consent of his Majesty the Em- peror." His Majesty not only approves the principle, but consents that a bill shall be brought in to embody it in a law. The message was received with hearty cheers, and seems to be accepted as a proof that large concessions are intended. It is reported that Count von Rechberg will retire from the Foreign Office, to be succeeded by Count Mensdorff Ponilly. There is no intelligence from Hungary, but it is said the Emperor has admitted that the principle of inter- vention in foreign countries must be given up.
Paussfa.—The pressure of the Government on the elections has induced the people to vote in greater numbers than heretofore, and it is understood that the elections have gone altogether in favour of the " Fortschritt," or Liberal party. The returns of the deputies, who were elected on 6th May, have not yet been received, but M. von Vincke, Herr Patow, Herr Twesten, Waldeck, and other Liberal leaders have been returned, while M. von de Heydt has been re- jected. It is believed that the King, though irritated, will not attempt a coup d'etat, and that the policy of Government is to sur- render the absolute control of the finances to Parliament, but retain that of internal and foreign policy. It is remarked that in the Rhine Provinces, where the Catholic element is very strong, the priests have been distinctly beaten, and the new Chamber will not allow the Government to guarantee Venetia to Austria. Reports are circu- lated of an addition of 12,000 men to the garrison of Berlin, and of consultations with the generals, but it must not be forgotten that the army consists of mea taken from the people for a very limited time, and that the mass of the people are drilled.
Russia.—General Lambert has been permitted to resign the Go- vernment of Poland. His successor has not been appointed. The Pope has, it is said, checkmated M. Felinski, the new Archbishop of Warsaw, who showed himself Russian in sympathy. His Holiness has addressed him a breve, telling him to implore the Em- peror for the release of the clergy imprisoned or sent to Siberia, and to visit Rome. The Archbishop will obey neither injunction, but he cannot, in the face of the letter, punish priests for national ideas, and his power over the people has gone. No Nuncio, it is announced, will be sent to St. Petersburg, as the Czar demands that all commu- nications from the Pope shall be sent through the Minister of Public Worship.
AMERICA.—The latest intelligence from America extends to the 26th April, up to which time little of importance had apparently occurred. We say "apparently," for the censorship maintained over the press makes all news unreliable. The Federate were, on 25th April, bombarding Fort Jackson on the Mississippi, and when that is taken have to bombard Fort Wright, defended, it is said, by seven- teen gunboats; and when that is captured are still seventy-eight miles from Memphis. A battle is reported as occurring at Pittsburgh, but the only evidence appears to have been the sound of heavy fi heard by some one on the river. General Halleck was in common at Pittsburg, and Beauregard at Corinth, and a battle was consi- dered, at all events, imminent. Turning Eastward, nothing is re- ported till we reach General Fremont's command, Western Virginia, where he is hunting guerillas. From Yorktown we have nothing but reports, all tending to show that McClellan is building heavy batteries and intends to go methodically to work, and that the Confederate lines are exceedingly formidable. The Merrimac has not ventured out, but there are reports that she has been repaired since the bursting of her huge gun, and that the four other steamers, some of them plated, have been sent out from Norfolk.
A treaty has been signed between England and the United States for the suppression of the slave trade. This treaty concedes to both parties the right of search, and if honestly carried out will inflict a final blow on the trade.
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