NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE Congress bas assembled. The first sitting was held in the Radzivil Palace, now the Foreign Office of Berlin, on Thurs- day, the 13th inst. The representatives of Germany, Russia, Austria, England, France, and Italy were present, and those of Turkey, who had been delayed by a storm, arrived in the evening. The Plenipotentiaries unanimously elected Prince Bismarck President, and he made a short speech, said to have been " conventional." Nothing was done beyond verifying powers, and nothing said by the other Plenipotentiaries beyond regrets for the attempt upon the German Emperor. The first serious meeting will be upon Monday, but it is still reported that business will be very quickly concluded, possibly within ten days or a fortnight. Prince Bismarck has asked for secrecy, but the matter .is left to the discretion of individual Plenipotentiaries. The resolutions of Congress, if it is successful, will take the form of a Treaty of Berlin, to supersede the Treaty of Paris, and will be drawn by Herr Bucher, a confidant of Prince Bis- marck. The Plenipotentiaries are, of course, all visiting each other, and the Crown Prince has entertained all at a grand banquet, at which nearly a hundred guests were present. It is stated that Lord Beaconsfield is the centre of attraction, and we note that Lord Salisbury is scarcely named.
