Inept Ruh eutnial.

FRANCE.—The Emperor's summary method of finance has now visited the English. In 1847, three English companies established to form rail- ways, from Hazebrouck to Fampoux, from Lyons to Avignon, and from Bordeaux to Cette, were declared to have forfeited their contract. A clause in the contract renders them liable to forfeit their caution-money, which amounts in all to 22,500,000 francs. But difficulties in the way of execution were interposed by the Government itself: for example, the Government, which directs the precise line to be taken, had neglected to do so in one case, if not in all ; and a question at law is, we believe, pending between one of the Companies and the Government. The mat- ter remained thus unsettled ; until, by a recent decree, the Emperor de- clared the money forfeited, offering to return half, on condition that the companies forego all further claims and all present proceedings. The other half goes to help in balancing the budget of 1854.

By a decree of Saturday last, fifteen new Senators have been nomina- ted. This augments the number of the Senate to 144; leaving it within six of the number allowed by the law. Among the new Senators are, the Marquis de Boissy, M. Larabit, the Duke de Trevise, (a son of Mar- shal Mortier,) M. Dariste, M. de Thorigny, li. Ducos, Minister of Marine, M. Ferdinand Barrot, and Baron de Vareunes. Among the late act; of the Emperor, is a decree extending pardon to 164 political convicts.

The alleged reduction of the army was some time since explained by the anticipation of what is now in course of performance. The 50,000 men lately dismissed were within sex months of their term of service. A bill is before the Legislative Body for calling out 80,000 men whose ser- vices will extend to seven years. The discharged men are invited to volun- teer into the Gendarmerie and the Corps d'ELites.

Colonel de Sercey, one of the Emperor's staff, has been arrested on a charge that looks like swindling. He borrowed money, so the story runs, amounting to 150,000 francs, from a M. Morisseau ; offering as a secu- rity the name of Prince Jerome the elder, and alleging that he wanted the money to invest in a lucrative undertaking. Satisfied with the word of Colonel de Sercey, M. Morisseau lent the money, but declined the secu- rity. It was not repaid at the proper time ; and Morisseau has been re- porting in Paris that de Sercey borrowed the money on false pretences. The result was a challenge; which Morisseau declined, alleging that De Sercey was out of the pale of the law of honour. The Colonel then way- laid his creditor, and caned him. In return, Morisseau stated the case to Marshal Magnan ; the Marshal advised the hushing-up of the matter, " on account of the scandal it would occasion." Morisseau persisted, and the Emperor's staff-officer has been lodged in the Abbaye.

GERMANY. —The latest accounts represent that the health of the Em- peror of Austria had so much improved that he had been driven out in a carriage, and permitted to smoke a cigar, for which he had an intense longing.

The Vienna Journal publishes an interesting letter purporting to have been written by the Archduke Rainer to his brother the Governor of Hungary, giving an account of the attempted eganasination.

"Feb. 20, 1853.

" My dear Albert—I write you a few lines in a great hurry, on events here. I was sitting at my table, reading, on the 18th, about half-past twelve in the day, when my ehasseur rushed into the room, and exclaimed, 'His Majesty is coming up-stairs, bleeding ; he must have had a fall.' I told him to get linen and cold water, and rushed out just as his Majesty entered the ante-room. He said to me, They have been trying their Milan tricks on me now.' I was almost petrified when he showed me his handkerchief soaked with blood, which he had been holding to the back of his head. O'Donnell and I washed the wound with cold water. I left O'Donnell, and ordered out the carriage to fetch the nearest surgeon. The wound is on the back of the head, about an inch in length ; it was gaping, and bleeding copiously. There was a stream of blood down the shirt as far as the waist, and spots of blood all over his dress. Both his and O'Donnell's handker- chiefs were soaked with blood. As soon as all was in order, I hastened to the palace, met Seeburger on the way, and informed Griiune of what had oc- curred. The latter turned deadly pale, and could scarcely speak. On my return, I met Charles (Archduke) in the Augustiner passage, on his way from the Emperor to Sophie. We then placed his Majesty in a carriage, and drove him to the Belaria. His Majesty told me, whilst I was applying the cold water, that he had received a blow on the head like the shot of a /Adel ; that it made his eyes flash, and that when he looked round he saw O'Donnell struggling with a man on the ground. O'Donnell told me that they had. not walked ten or twelve steps on the bastion when he saw a fellow spring upon his Majesty, flourishing a knife ; that he immediately seized him, and pulled him down. His Majesty said to me, O'Donnell has saved my life.' He had half-strangled the man when people came up to render assistance. They would have put him to death, but his Majesty ordered him to be taken to the guard-house. Everything was in commotion, everybody in despair. The lines were immediately closed, the railway stations occupied, the troops consigned to their barracks, two batteries telegraphed for. At the Te Deum, an immense crowd and rejoicing. Every one showed the warmest sympathy. I trust all will be as well at Ofen. At Milan, two of Kossuth's emissaries have been arrested, each provided with 30,000 franca. They were trying to enter the town the day after the row. His Majesty is getting on well; the wound is closed. Today, his headache has subsided, or is only felt when he coughs ; but there are symptoms of a slight concussion of the brain. His Majesty sees quite well with his right eye, but the left eye is still dull. To prevent inflammation, ice is placed continually on his head ; the physicians think this willprovide against it and prevent all danger. They are quite satis- fied hitherto, but his Majesty will have to remain eight or ten days perfectly quiet in bed, without occupation or much talking. Albert of Saxony ar- rived here yesterday evening. Ernst was here yesterday for a few hours. Leopold comes on the 23d. 'Yours, Archduke RAINES."

Another paper states that the Archduchess Sophia, mother of the Em- peror, has ordered masses to be said for the repose of the soul of Libeny, as she "knew of no other person who would think of performing this act of religion" ; and it was for her "as a mother, grateful to the Almighty for the preservation of the life of her son," to accomplish the duty. She promises that the mass shall be repeated on the anniversary of Libeny's execution as long as she lives. For some time past a prosecution has been carried on against Professor Gervinus, by the Government of Baden. The charge was high treason, for publishing a book called an "Introduction to the History of the Nine- teenth Century." The tendency of the work was to prove from the past, that, by natural historical development, Germany is destined to become united and republican ; but this work was of an exclusively philosophical character. M. Gervinus has just been tried by the Criminal Court of Mannheim. In his defence, he denied that, as an historian treating an historical subject, he could by any possibility be guilty of treason; but he declared his determination, whatever might be the result of the trial, to continue to write history according to his convictions. The Court 9-C- quitted him of the charge of high treason, but found him guilty of "ex- citing to sedition." He was sentenced to ten [? two] months' imprison- ment, and his book was ordered to be destroyed. The greatest military precautions, short of the state of siege, have been taken in Bavaria and Baden.

HIINGARY.—Four persons of note connected with revolutionary move- ments in Hungary were executed at Pesth on the 3d of March, three by hanging, the fourth by powder and ball. Karl Juhbal was a tutor of Kossuth's sister's children, and an active agent in preparing for a new outbreak. Noszlopy was a magistrate and member of the Defence Com- mittee in 1849. His later offences are described as brigandage in the Bakony Forest—the Sherwood of the Magyar outlaws since the war of independence. Sarkiizy was a private soldier, messenger between Pesth and the Bakony outlaws. These were hanged. Andrasffy had been an officer of Hussars: his offence was desertion. He was arrested so long ago as December 1851, and shot now in March. ITALY.—The sequestration decree against the Lombard exiles is severer than it at first appeared to be. On behalf of the Emperor, Radetzky an- nounces, from the fortress of Verona, that the sequestration includes not only those who may not, but those who may have obtained permission to emigrate: whoever may be considered a political refugee shall lime the whole of his property ; no regard will be paid to contracts or legal liens on that property. Everybody and anybody appointed to adminster the de- cree of confiscation must do so under the heaviest pecuniary penalties. The consequences of this decree are tremendous, as it includes a host of _Lombard exiles, who, with the permission of Austria, had become citizens

of Piedmont Among them aro Count Borromeo, Marquis Pallavicini Tri- vulzio, Count Enrico Martini, Count Gabrio Casati, and Count Ercole Oldofredi. The value of the property is very great. It is said that the Sardinian Government has applied for advice to the British Govern- ment. The Commission of Sequestration was sitting at the Palace Borromeo.

It appears that the King of Naples has anticipated Radetzky in confis- cating property. Some time ago, the property of Neapolitan emigrants was placed under sequestration, without a decree or legislative act, but by the mere decision of the police.

Three executions took place at Mantua on the 3d of March : the names of the victims were Count Speri of Brescia, a very young man ; Count Montanara of Verona; and the Arch-priest Mitrete of Revere, aged seventy. Some twenty have been condemned to imprisonment with irons, for terms varying from ten to twentyyears ; and upwards of a hundred re- main in prison.

Among the late condemnations there is one peculiarly atrocious. Ac- cording to the Italia e Popolo, Anna Celzera, aged twenty-two, was flogged with twenty-five stripes of the stick, for "insulting expressions towards the military authorities of the German nation." Six men have been sentenced to imprisonment in irons, one for possessing a "subver- sive" pamphlet, three for singing "subversive" songs, and two for " sub- versive " conversation. Four of the men were to be beaten with the stick.

Quoting a letter from Florence, dated the 11 instant, the _Parlament° of Turin states that Mr. George Crawford, an officer in the Etitish Army and brother of a Member of Parliament, had just arrived at Florence, but had been peremptorily ordered to quit the country. The charge, against him was that he was there to organize a revolutionary committee in the in- terest of Mazzini. He indignantly denied the charge, and the represents". tive of England demanded the revocation of the order : in vain—he could not obtain an hour's delay.

SwrrzEnrAiin.—The Federal Council has replied to the note of the Austrian Government relative to the late outbreak at Milan, and the al- leged culpability of the Canton of Ticino, in permitting the refugees to plot against Lombardy within the Canton. The reply states that the ac- cusations against the Cantonal Government are without foundation. As to the expulsion of the Capuchins, the Canton had already agreed to in- demnify them. Regretting the course adopted by Austria, the Federal Government reserves to itself its right to take what measures may be ne- cessary for the general and particular interests of Switzerland.

SPAIN.—The new Cortes formally assembled on the 1st of March. Nothing more important occurred than the election of Martinez de la Rosa as President of the Chamber of Deputies, by 152 votes out of 170. M. Santa Cruz obtained 10 votes ; the others were distributed among various competitors, of whom M. Mon obtained 1 vote.

At the meeting of the Senate the same pliancy was not found. The four Secretaries of that body were elected from the ranks of the Opposi- tion; and the entrance of the newly-created Senators was successfully re- sisted until the House should be constituted.

WEST INDIES.—By the Thames, and later by the Orinoco, which ar- rived at Southampton on Tuesday, we have intelligence from the West Indies to the 21st February, at which date the Orinoco left St. Thomas. A return had been laid before the Jamaica House of Assembly, show- ing that of sugar estates there have been, from the 1st January 1848 to 1852, 128 totally and 71 partially abandoned ; of coffee-properties, 96 totally and 66 partially ; of "pens," 30 totally and 22 partially. The number of acres thrown out of cultivation are 391,187. The assessed an- nual value of these properties in 1848 was 98,439/. 19s. 6d.; in 1852 it had dwindled down to 53,2211. 19s. 6d. The average amount of taxes paid annually by these properties, for four years prior to the 1st January 1848, was 13,715/. Is. 6d. ; in 1852 the total amount assessed was no more than 72841. lie. 7d.

The journals contain a running torrent of abuse at the traitorous con- duct of the Derby Government towards the West Indies. A resolution, moved by Mr. Westmoreland, limiting the public expenditure of the current year to 165,000/., "exclusive of what may be necessary to meet the interest on existing debts," was carried on the 2d February by a large majority, only two voting against it. No permanent provision had been made for the revenue, and the continuation bills expire on the 31st March. Emigration to Australia and the Isthmus continued.

Trinidad was tolerably prosperous ; labour in many localities abundant, and Chinamen and Coolies arriving or expected. In the journals the re- form of the Legislative Council formed the topic of discussion, and a petition for adding to it elective members had been published.

The Combined Court of British Guiana was opened by the Governor the 25th January. Here also Coolies and Chinese were arriving ; and Governor Barkly was full of hope for the future of the colony if immigra- tion and the investment of capital be continued.

Yellow fever had nearly ceased throughout the islands.

UNITED STATPS.—We have files of New York papers to the 24th February, brought by the Niagara, which reached Liverpool on Tuesday.

There is the same general lack of interesting news as in last week's advices. General Pierce arrived at Washington on the 21st February ; and being unknown, was enabled to take up his abode quietly at an hotel, and, while awaiting the 4th of March, prepare his Cabinet Several lists of the Cabinet. were handed about, but none of them authentic.

With respect to the late communication made by the President to the House of Representatives, containing the views of Great Britain on the Mosquito and Nicaraguan ship-canal questions, there has been a good deal of discussion in the newspapers, but no general popular feeling. The rival New York journals the Tribune and the Herald both approve of the British propositions for making Greytown a free port, and transferring the protection of the Government to a new ship-canal company ; while the North American, said to be the organ of Mr. Clayton, violently at- tacks not only the propositions but the British Government.

The ship Ericsson has made a trial-trip from New York to the river Potomac. It is variously styled successful and the reverse. The ship left Sandy Hook in New York Bay on the 16th, and anchored at Alex- andria on the 21st February. The weather being very bad, she pitched bow- sprit under ; but the engines worked with great .regularity six auks half

turns in a minute. She consumed less than five tons of coals per day ; and her engines worked seventy-three hours constantly, without re- quiring adjustment. Only one fireman was on duty during the trip.

The diminution in the period of the mail-transit between California and New York to eighteen days had attracted a good deal of attention in the latter city. Proposals had also been submitted to run a regular line of mail-ships between Acapulco and Australia ; and it was credibly reported that the Mexican Government had ceded to an American association the right of transit from Vera Cruz to Acapulco.

MEXIC0.—Revolution seems inherent in the people of Mexico ; they are chronically in revolt. Some time ago, Arista resigned in the face of an advancing and successful revolt of the seabord provinces. Cevallos succeeded him ; and now, he too, the Government troops having every- where been beaten, has resigned. One after another, the insurgent gene- rals have pronounced in favour of Santa Anna ; and at last Uraga, and the garrison of Mexico, follow the provincial lead. Santa Anna's return, therefore, was looked for. The ports express great dissatisfaction with the existing high tariff, and call for low import-duties.