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FlaNCE.—The first Foreign Minister to acknowledge the Empire was the Marquis d'Antonini, Ambassador of the King of Naples; who pre- sented his new credentials on the 3d instant. He has been followed by Lord Cowley from England, M. Firmin Rogier from Belgium, M. de Kis- seleff from St. Petersburg, and others. Lord Cowley was conveyed to the Tuileries in Imperial carriages, and presented by Count Bacciochi, the "introducer of Ambassadors." It is understood that while the Nea- politan envoy recognized the title of Napoleon III, the other envoys only recognize "Napoleon, Emperor of the French." The other European Ambassadors have presented their new credentials since. - The Empire was proclaimed throughout France on Sunday. In all the churches of the diocese of Paris, the " Domine salvum fac Iinperatorem nostrum Napoleonem" was chanted, according to the form prescribed by the Papal See in 1804. The new Emperor attended mass in the chapel of the Tuileries.

The Senate met on Monday, to receive two projects of a Senatfis-con- sultum ; one modifying the constitution, the other relating to the civil list. The new constitution has the merit of brevity : it consists of sixteen short articles. The Emperor has taken to himself all but absolute power. He grants pardons and amnesties. He authorizes all public works by decree. All control over the finances is taken away from the Legislative Corps. The budget will be presented to them in sections under the heads of the administrative departments, for their simple acceptance or rejection. Senators will receive an annual salary of 30,000 francs ; the Deputies of the Legislative Corps "receive an indemnity" of 6000 francs a year. The Emperor may nominate Senators to the number of one hundred and fifty. The members of the Imperial Family called ultimately to the suc- cession, and their descendants, are made French princes. The eldest son of the Emperor will be called the Prince Imperial. They will be Sena- tors and Councillors of State. The oath of allegiance is— ' I swear obe- dience to the Constitution and fidelity to the Emperor."

The second Senatils-consultum leaves the fixing of the civil list to the Senate. The Crown claims all the old Royal domains as an "immove- able dotation " : the moveable dotation consists of thejewels, pictures, libraries, museums, works of art and furniture at the Imperial palaces : they are inalienable. Debts or pensions granted by the Emperor cannot be charged on the Imperial domain. The "private property " of the:Em- peror is united to the State. The jointure of the Empress will be fixed at the Emperor's marriage. An annual dotation of 1,500,000 francs is reserved for the Emperor to distribute at his pleasure among the Princes and Princesses. The following is the "table of property appropriated to the dotation of the Crown."

"The Palaces of the Tuileries, the Louvre, the Elys4e, and the Falai!, Royal, with their dependencies; the chateaux, houses, buildings, lands, farms, woods, forests, &c., composing principally the domains of Versailles, Marly, St. Cloud, Meudon, Samt Germain-en-Laye, Compiegne, Fontain- bleau, Rambouillet, Pau, Strasbourg, Villeneuve l'Etang, Lamothe-Beuvron, and La Grillerie ; the manufactures of Sevres, Gobelins, and Beauvais ; the Garde Meuble of the Ile des Cignes ; the woods and forests of Vincennes, Stuart, Dourdan, and Laigne."

The lioniteur of Thursday announced, in its non-official part, that the Emperor will restore to liberty, to their families, and to their country, all those suffering from the consequences of civil discord, excepting such as have been guilty of crimes reproved by morality, on the sole condition of submitting to the national will, and engaging not to commit henceforth any act against the Government of the Elect of the country.

M. de Morny has received the grand cross of the Legion of Honour, ostensibly for services rendered in 1851; but, as the talk of his master's marriage with the Princess de Wasa has again come up, people fix on De Morny as the Imperial Ambassador in that delicate matter. It is pretended that the French Government consider the preparations now making for the defence of England as levelled against France. It is also reported that M. Duces, the Minister of Marine, sent for the depu- ties of the naval departments, and laid before them the views of the Go- vernment. The conversation is given as follows-

" He said nothing of the great activity displayed in the French naval de- partments for some time past; and seemed, on the contrary, to wish to ;m- press on those gentlemen that nothing had been done by the Fre nch Go vernment beyond what was strictly necessary to keep the estab lieh ments of their ordinary footing ; but he said that the recent measures a nn ounced b England had completely altered the aspect of affairs. He remark ed that i was England who had taken the initiative in preparing, and not France, England had not only made a large increase to her navy and ma lines, and organized her militia, but she was at the present moment raising defences on her coast ; and what showed that these operations were directed against France was, that she was fortifying the Channel Islands, which are within a few miles of the French coast, and rendering them much stronger than ever they had been before ; moreover, that she was making a formidable and impregnable harbour for ships of war at Alderney, within a few miles of the French naval port of Cherbourg. It was impossible that France could accept this state of things. The French ports were in general open roads. Even at Cherbourg and Toulon the fortifications were by no means ona. plete. He therefore thought it necessary to inform the deputies, that the French Government thought it advisable to put her seaports in a state of defence, in order that France might be prepared for whatever might occur. He declared that France would follow England step by step in whatever she might do. If England raised an additional naval force, France would do the same. If England built thirty war steamers, France would build thirty steamers also. It was absolutely necessary that France should follow the example of England and other European nations in increasing her steam force. He therefore stated, that although he had no intention of exceeding the estimates, he thought it might be his duty to apply a larger portion of the money already voted for the service of the navy than was originally in- tended to the building of steamers, and less to the building of sailing-ships In fact, the estimates would, he hoped, remain the same ; but less would-be devoted to the sailing-fleet, and more to the steam-fleet. The change, he said, had been forced on the French Government by the conduct of England and other nations, which were daily enlarging their steam force. It was not intended as a threat against any country, for France was peaceably dis- posed, and had given to all the Powers the strongest assurances of her pacific intentions."

But a different interpretation was put on affairs by the president of a military banquet on Friday last, at the Boole Militaire. He said- " Gentlemen, the Emperor reckons upon your services abroad, as he has reckoned upon your services at home. The reestablishment of the Empire is the reestablishment of our national frontiers—those of the Rhine. If people do not choose to give those frontiers up to us, we know how to take possession of them ourselves, and the Emperor will be at our head." Enthusiastic applause followed this short speech. Not long ago, the Prefect of the Department of the Isere and the Mayor of La Guillotie.re used similar language : it was disclaimed, but not so austerely as to overawe repetition. It is a curious peace doctrine ! Besides, the Em- peror, above all, report says, desires to organize his household militarily. It is said that amongst the persons to form part of it are the four Dukes, De Mouchy, De Beauffremont, De Guiche, and De Bassano.

SPAIN.—The news from Madrid is brief, but significant. For sonic time we have heard that a coup d'etat, after the example set by Louis Napoleon last year, would be attempted in Spain : the report seems to have met with some credence in that country ; and a strong opposition was organized against the Ministry of Bravo Murillo. The Cortes met on the 1st December ; and the Deputies at once proceeded to elect their President. The result was, that the Ministerial candidate, Sefior Tejeda, was defeated, and Martinez de la Rosa elected, by a combined vote of 121 to 107. Next day, when the new President took the chair, Bravo Murillo read a decree dissolving the Cortes, and convoking a new Cortes for the lat of March 1853.

Having dissolved the Cortes, the Ministers have published, under per- mission granted by a Royal decree, the bills they intended to submit. One of these provides for a reform of the Constitution. The Senate to be composed of hereditary members, and senators for life ; to be nomi- nated by the King; to be twenty-five years of age ; and to pay taxes amounting to 7500 francs on real estate. The Chamber of Deputies to consist of 271 members, who for two years have paid a certain amount of taxes ; to be directly elected, each from one district, by constituencies composed of 150 persons who pay the highest taxes. The budget of the state to be permanent ; but the accounts to be submitted to the Cortes for examination and approval. The following gratuitous declaration of innocence from the Paris Mord- teur of the 7th may throw some light on the matter-

" Some foreign journals persist in mixing up the name of France in re- ports, more or less well founded, which have been spread in Europe on the projects of the constitutional reform attributed to the Government of her Catholic Majesty. The relations of France with Spain are of the most friendly character ; and the statesmen who direct the Cabinet of Madrid have kept them up in a spirit of union, for which we can only congratulate ourselves. But the more these relations are satisfactory for the respective' interests of the two countries, the less could the French Government think of exercising on the councils of a great state an influence as contrary to its general policy as to its respect for the independence of all nations." The Madrid journals of the 4th instant remark that General Narvaez, who is one of the combined Opposition, had had an interview with the Queen of Spain. According to a letter from Pampeluna, a party of French infantry had crossed the Spanish frontier at Irati, taken possession of a house used as a timber-store, and carried off the timber over the frontier. When questioned, the officer in command is said to have replied, that he acted under the orders of his Government.

BELGIVIL—Last week, the now famous law against the press was hotly contested in the Chamber of Representatives. The Opposition declared that the bill was unnecessary ; that its provisions were more severe even than the new Prussian law ; that it was derogatory to the national indepen- dence ; and it was asked what would be thought of such a bill in England. The general debate was closed on Saturday, and the discussion was re- sumed on Monday on the clauses. The amendments on which the discus- sion turned were two : first, the substitution of the words " offences to- wards foreign sovereigns" for " outrages towards foreign sovereigns " this was negatived without a division. The next amendment was to the effect that the clause punishing persons for "maliciously attacking the author- ity of foreign sovereigns" be expunged. There were loud calls for the appel nominal, or calling out of the names of the members voting for or against the amendment. The numbers were-31 for, and 50 against the amend- ment ; M. Rogier and the President of the Chamber voting in the minority. Finally, the five articles of the bill were in succession adopted with two amendments,—one to the effect that in case of a second offence, persons convicted of offences towards foreign sovereigns may be deprived of the rights of citizens for a certain period ; and the other, to the effect that prosecutions are to take place only at the demand of foreign governments. Another amendment, in favour of the suppression of the clause relating to the rights of citizens, was negatived by a majority of 56 to 24. The entire bill was passed by a majority of 67 to 21. This is regarded by the Liberal journals as the death of the liberty of the press. The Independatme, indeed, still contends that the press is vir- tually as free as ever, trial by jury being retained. But the Observateur and the Nation look upon a free press as no longer permitted under the Belgian constitution. Significantly and closely following this vote, we remark, that on Tuesday the Chamber of Representatives, by a majority of 78 to 2, voted the bill granting to Ministers the sum of 6,358,000 franca for the military defence of the country.

Irsiv.—French designs on Italy and Savoy are attracting increased attention at present. The Paris correspondent of the limes, writing on Wednesday, says- " Private letters from various parts of Italy concur in stating the great effect produced there by the reestablishment of the Empire in France : in- deed, the events that take place in this country generally have considerable influence in the Italian peninsula. Before the coup d'etat of the 2d Decem- ber, the Liberal party, which is that of the majority of the Italians, was di- vided into two great sections—the Constitutionalists and the Republicans ; the former more numerous, particularly in Piedmont and the Two Similes. Since the 2d December, a third party has arisen—that of the Bonapartista, which, since the reestablishment of the Empire has much increased, and promises to absorb the Republican party. Notwithstanding the circulars of Me London and Swiss Committees, the partisans of the Republic appear to be losing all hope of establishing in Italy their favourite form of government From information I have received, it would seem that the population of the Lombardo-Venetian kingdom, and of Central Italy, have already begun to turn their eyes to Prange and to cherish the hope that a French army may yet cross the Alps with the object of reconsti- tuting the old' Kingdom of Italy, and of uniting the Iron Crown with the French Imperial diadem; while, again, the same party in the kingdom of 1i aides begins to dream of a restoration of a Murat dynasty: There, however, exists in Italy a national and constitutional party, comprising very many of the enlightened classes, who are in favour of the ascendancy of the Italian element in the government : that party sympathizes with Piedmont, where the representative and liberal system th maintained, owing, it is just to say, to the loyalty of the King, as well as to the prudence and patriotism of the political men of that country. Piedmont and France are the drapeaux to which the Italians appear to rally. The party which calls itself national and independent desires to unite these two Powers, by giving Savoy and Nice to France, and forming the whole Peninsula into two allied and federative kingdoms—Northern Italy for the house of Savoy, and Southern Italy for the family of Murat. This arrangement is as yet only confined to aspirations and hopes; but it is certain that the reestablishment of the Empire in France hes excited great expectations among the people of Italy, and is a cause of earns uneasiness to foreign governments."

The correspondent of the same journal at Vienna, writing on the 5th instant, says-

" In Savoy there is a host of young people who, having lived and studied in Paris, are Frenchmen to all intents and purposes. The lower classes are zealous Catholics ;. and the Emperor of the French has, either from con- scientious or political motives, constituted himself the champion of the Papal chair. In Piedmont itself there are still many veterans who, enjoying pen- sions from-France, are the natural trumpeters of the merits of the Empire. The clergy, humiliated as they have recently been, cannot but wish for a change. There is also a strong party in Turin which would willingly relin- quish Savoy, if it could hope to find indemnification in the fertile plains of Lombardy. The ci-devant President has appointed a political agent at Chambery, and Marshal Badetzky has discovered that he has for some time been standing on a volcano. These several considerations led to a very ac- tive correspondence between the authorities in Lombardy and those in Vienna; and it was rumoured in military circles that Sardinia had demanded the assistance of Austria. The fact, however, is, that Radetaky has de- manded reinforcements for the army in Lombardy; and although everything which concerns the movements of the troops is kept as secret as possible, there is good reason for believing that they have been granted. The plot

i

which was discovered some time since, and is already known to you as the Mantuan conspiracy, must have been of a most formidable nature ; for a great number of persons of rank and fortune who had always been consi- dered loyal subjects, took to flight as soon as it became known that a trea- sonable correspondence had fallen into the hands of the authorities. It is credibly related that when Radetzky's special messenger arrived here about a fortnight ago, the Imperial Adjutant,. General Kellner, left for the Mar- shal's head-quarters the very same evening."

We hear of fresh persecution at Florence. Some time ago, Guarducci, a banker's clerk, was arrested, with Count Guicciardino and others, and sentenced to one year's imprisonment for reading the Bible. Mr. Sheil, then our Minister at Florence, interfered, and the sentence was commuted into banishment for that period. Guarducci wont to Piedmont ; and the year having elapsed, he returned to his family, and resumed his old em- ployment in the same banking-house at Florence. On the 21st Novem- ber, the Police entered his house at three in the morning, and found there a copy of Diodati's Bible. Guarducci was arrested instantly; and alarm is felt for his fate, as capital punishment for religious offences is now the law of Tuscany.

Gzasteim—The Prussian Chamber of Representatives has elected as President, M. d'13hden, former Minister, by 154 votes, after three ballot- tinge: Count Schwerin obtained 131 votes. In Bavaria, M. de Pfordten, President of the Ministry, has resigned. He is opposed to Prussian views of the Zollverein. There are symptoms of a desire on the part of Austria to reopen negotiations with Prussia on the Tariff question.

Letters from Vienna of the 4th December state that war has broken out between the Prince of Montenegro and the Turks. Rumour places Austrian influence on the Turkish side, and Russian influence on the side of the Montenegrins.

Distrusting the peaceful professions of "Napoleon III," the Vienna Presse comments on the military preparations of Belgium and Russia. "The economical Belgian Government considers it necessary to increase its military establishment ; Russia, which had withdrawn its divisions into the interior of Poland has again pushed them forward to the Prussian frontier; the construction of the East Prussian railroad has been carried on with such extreme activity that in a very short time considerable Russian corps can, if necessary, be posted on the Rhine; in Prussia and in the smaller German States such measures have been taken that an army can be ready for action in a few days. As such general distrust cannot arise solely from vague conjectures and gloomy forebodings, the causes which can pro- duce such effects must be most important. The honour' of France probably

requires the recovery of the Rhenish frontier, and satisfaction for the defeat at Waterloo."

The Lloyd, however, still considers the Empire the guarantee of peace.

thump STATES.—The Humboldt arrived off Cowes on her way to Havre on Saturday morning. Her dates are from New York to the 20th November.

The Lobos question has been finally settled by Mr. Everett and Seiler Osma the Peruvian Minister. The President recedes from the position taken up by Mr. Webster in August last, without making any conditions whatever. The Peruvian Government voluntarily agrees to charter all the American ships which started between the 5th June and the 25th August, under the impression that they had a right to take guano from the Lobos. This settlement is considered honourable to both Govern- ments.