_foreign anti Colonial.

Fitawcs.—Both Chambers have been engaged in discussing their respect- ive addresses. In the Chamber of Peers, several long speeches have been delivered on a great variety of topics. M. Charles Dupin descanted on the increasing deficiency of the revenue, on the 'state of commerce and manu- factures, and instituted comparisons between France and England. The Marquis of Boisay treated of electoral reform, and ended by accusing the Government of committing errors in the gofernment of Algeria. M. de Montalembert lamented the persecutions to which the Marmonites wars

subjected in Syria, and attributed the state of that country to the decline of French influence in the East.

Copies of correspondence between the Governments of France and England, on the subject of the annexation of Texas, have been submitted to the Chambers. These documents show that both Governments were perfectly of accord in thinking that the independence of Texas ought to be preserved; and that the views of each had been fully communicated to its representative in Texas, when the subject was under discussion.

The Journal des Debate publishes the following table of the receipts of the French railroads for the year 1845, as also those of the preceding year-

1845.

Francs. Cents.

1844. Francs.

Orleans and Corbel' 7,666,331 88 • • • • 6,734,693 Rouen 7,338,155 45 .. • • 8,531,048 Strasburg (month of December not included) 2,103,560 39 .. • • 2,420.017 Gard (month of December not included) 2,296,700 40 • • 2,189,795 St. Germain 1,204,153 32 ... • 1,093,208

Versailles (Right) 1,478,491 72 .. • •

1,447,431 Versailles (Lett) 794,013 15 ... • 859,214

—

22,881,406 — 21,273,506 Total

31

There may likewise be added to the sum total about 350,000 francs, for the receipts during the month of December last of the Strasburg and Basle and the Gard Railroads; which will give a total of 23,230,000 francs for the year just ended; showing an augmentation of nearly 2,000,000 francs, Gsrarawr.—Acoording to the Post Ampt Gazette of Francfort, the Prus- sian Government has given orders for the strictest watch to be kept over the assemblages of the journeymen, and care taken that Communist and Socialist doctrines be not propagated amongst them.

There was a stormy discussion in the Saxon Chamber of Deputies on the 7th instant. A petition had been presented from the editors and printers of some Liberal journals which the Government had suppressed. Several members denounced the conduct of the authorities and vindicated the liberty of the press. The Minister of the Interior justified his conduct by saying that the doctrines contained in the suppressed journals tended to unsettle people's minds and lead to revolution. He was met with remarks that free discussion corrected itself, and that the Government feared the light. After much strong recrimination, the Opposition carried their point to the extent of having the petition referred to a Standing Committee.

SPAIN.—Don Enrique, son of Don Francisco de Paula and cousin- german to the Queen, has issued an address to the Spanish nation. He declares that, be the choice of the Queen for her marriage what it may, it will be respected by him ; distinctly leaving it to be understood that he makes this declaration under the conviction that she will choose for her husband only a prince warmly attached to the cause of liberty ; and at the same time reminding the Spanish nation that he is a fervent partisan of the Liberal system, from conviction and sympathy, and from the example of his family. The address made a great sensation-' and Ministers ordered Don Enrique, who is a Captain inthe Navy, to join his ship: whereupon he resigned his commission.

Among other questions put in the Cortes, on the 5th instant, one related to the Queen's marriage. In replying, Narvaez alluded to this topic- " I have come to a very delicate question, that of her Majesty's marriage. Here, gentlemen, I shall say neither more nor less than is necessary, considering both the delicacy of the topic and the respect due to the illustrious person in question. Her Majesty has not yet expressed the desire to contract a matrimonial alliance. Her Ministers have not deemed it advisable to kindle such a feeling in her heart. When it may please her Majesty—when she shall herself have named the person whom she may wish to marry—and she has not yet named one—her Ministers, acting as faithful knights and men of honour, will come and inform the Cortes of it, ' as commanded, by the Constitution.' "

Buezu..—A letter received at Liverpool, and written at Rio de Janeiro on the 20th November, makes a gloomy report on the state of diplomatic relations with this country-

" Oar political horizon is very much darkened since my last communication. I understand this Government will not continue further negotiations until satis- faction is obtained respecting that most unfortunate bill lately passed, and which I fear will make mischief. The Brazilians complain, and with reason, that their coasting trade has suffered serious inconvenience by the policy and unjustifiable acts of some of our cruisers on this coast., The Brazilians also complain, that if a couple of shackles were found in a coasting-vessel, with all clearances in order, she was in consequence detained.; and as they navigate their coasting-vessels partly with slaves, these were necessary to have on board, even as on board our vessels of war men are sometimes confined in irons.

" Again at the Cape, vessels taken there have been condemned for having those loose wooden boxes on board in which the captain and mate sleep, because one captain gave evidence in one case that these boxes were not in use in the coasting-smacks. Now we all know well, that many if not all coasting-smacks use this kind of boxes.

" There is no doubt but that if our Government would limit their Slave-bill to intercepting vessels with slaves, and not interfere with the legitimate goods trade between this and the coast, and which is as legal as the goods trade from Liver- pool to the coast, the Brazilians would make some sort of a treaty with us; and if we do not curtail the working of the Slave-bill recently passed, to interceptieg slaves, we shall undoubtedly have a rumpus before long with this country; and it now behoves us all to use extreme caution in shipments."

UNITED STATE8.—The mail-steamer Acadia, which left Boston on the 1st instant, arrived at Liverpool on Thursday. The proceedings in Con- gress had been multifarious and important. The formal motions to com- plete the annexation of Texas had passed in both Houses, by large ma- jorities, and without debate. On the subject of Oregon, war, and cognate matters, a variety of curious motions had been made in both Houses.

We have the conclusion of the debate in the Senate on General Cass's motion for inquiry into the condition of the navy, the militia, the national defences, &c. The motion was carried without any dissentient vote; but in the course of the debate some speakers objected to the resolution as ill-timed, and still more to the spirit of General Cass's speech. Mr. Crittenden subjected the mover to a process of questioning; under which General Cass explained away one main position that he had taken up: he now said, that if at the end of the twelvemonth's notice Great Britain persisted in her claim to the whole of the territory, war would be inevitable. [Great Britain does not claim the whole of the territory.] Mr. Web- ster did not believe that the President really contemplated war, or that any such dreadful exigency was seriously to be apprehended. Some speakers on the oppo- site side objected to the " quiet " policy of the Whigs [or, as they are now some- times called, the Conservatives]. Mn-Allen was violent; and Mr. Sevier spoke long "in a tone of patriotic defiance." Mr. Allen had introduced a " joint resolution" to be adopted by both Houses, declaring, the joint occupancy of the Oregon at an end. This stood over for future discussion.

Mr. Atchison had introduced resolutions instructing committees to inquire and, report upon the expediency of establishing a territorial governmeni in Oregon, granting land-titles to settlers, and constructing forts and block-houses from Missouri to the mouth of the Columbia river. Referred to the veal com- mittees.

Mr. Jenness had presented resolutions previously passed by the New Hampshire, declaring that, warned by " theuplicity of E North-east boundary question, the United States Congyess should rights of the United States to 54 degrees 40 minutes; and arguing interference in Texas wouldjustify the United States in interferin any portion of the people of the American continent from " British co

salage." Ordered to be printed. 1.1; Mr. Hannegan had moved a series of resolutions, declaring the Oregon to be part and parcel of the territories of the United States; the Federal Govern- ment to have no power to part with it; and the doing so to be an abandonment of honour. Mr. Calhoun moved a series of counter-resolutions, declaring that the President has the power, with the advice of the Senate, to make treaties and settle boundaries; and that to offer the 49th parallel as a boundary would be to act for the best interests of the country. Debated on the 30th December, and adjourned.

lift. Levy (of Florida) had proposed an instruction to the President to open negotiations with Spain for the cession of Cuba to the United States; but he withdrew the motion on the following day. [By some this withdrawn motion is regarded as a mere invitation to Cuba.] Important motions had also been made in the House of Representatives. Mr. Bowlm had presented resolutions to inquire into the expediency of "employing a portion of the home (naval) squadron in our territory of Oregon"—the expe- diency of surveys and Indian agencies in Oregon—organizing a militia in Oregon, &c. "Laid over" for debate.

Mr. Douglass had introduced a bill, recommended from the Committee on Territories, by which the laws of Iowa are to be extended over the "United States' territory, of Oregon, from 42 deg. N. to 54 deg. 40 min."—lands granted and titles of land given—forts and stockades built from the United States to Oregon, and in Oregon—courts opened, &c.; all to be done with due regard to the existing treaty-stipulations. "Laid over."

Mr. Winthrop, of Massachussetts, had proposed a series of resolutions to thin effect—that the differences between England and the United States on the sub- ject of Oregon are still open to negotiation and compromise; that a war, on a subject of no immediate practical interest, would be a dishonour to both nations and to the age in which we live; that should all other means fail, it would be due to the spirit of Christianity to resort to arbitration; and that arbitration does not necessarily infer a reference to crowned heads, but that " a commission of able and dispassionate citizens, either from the two countries concerned, or from the world at large, offers itself as an obvious and unobjectionable alternative." Mr. Douglass had offered connter-resolutions—" That the title to any part of the Oregon territory South of 54 degrees 40 minutes of North latitude is not open to compromise, so as to surrender any part of the said territory. That the question of title to the territory should not be left open to arbitration." These, as well as Mr. Winthrop's, were also " laid over" for debate. Touching the general state of the dispute on the subject of Oregon, there are several reports.

The New York Journal of Commerce mentions rumours "that the question has been taken up in London between our Minister there [Mr. l'il`Lane] and the British Government, under circumstances of considerable promise." The. Washington correspondent of the Charleston Courier reports Mr. Paken- ham, the British Minister, to have contradicted the rumour " that Lord Aberdeen had disapproved of his rejection of the offer of the 49th parallel. He also denies that he has any instructions to accept that offer." According to the Baltimore Patriot, Mr. Pakenham, in conversation with "a distinguished Senator," had expressed his belief that there was no probability of a war on the Oregon question. A friend at Washington writes to " Publicus " of the Morning acronicle;— " Depend on it, there will be no war. Mr. Pakenham and Mr. Bachanita have been closeted together two or three times during the past week; and it is said that negotiations have actually recommenced, and a line drawn on a new principle. When matters are much nearer to an extremity than they are at present, they will be settled."

A week later, Publicus quotes another letter, just received from Washington. The writer says that "Mr. Calhoun has nobly ;aimed in" between the extreme parties. "Under Mr. Calhoun's recommendation and auspices, negotiations will probably be reopened, and the 49th parallel again be thought of. I. am told that the President, Mr. Polk, said, during the exertions of Mr. Calhoun—'There will be no war: God forbid that there should.' My informants say that several of the most violent, alarming, and belligerent bills and measures before Co

will either be withdrawn at the recommendation of Mr. Calhoun, or the bills for increasing army, navy, &c., be suffered to go to debate without reference to the Oregon—for you must remember that the latest news from Mexico also looks squally." Commercial matters were dull: even the flour-market was so; exhibit- ing a fall of 75 cents per barrel since the departure of the previous steamer. stare of d' in the tain the British reecne S