fforeign ana
FEANCE.-.41. Guizot was taken seriously ill on Saturday morning, with a spasmodic attack, so violent that he was for some time deprived of speech. Me- cal aid was immediately called in, and he was soon relieved by the prompt ap- plication of the warm bath. Some of the papers make light of the attack; but
the correspondent of the Globe says that for some hours the statesman's life was in danger. "The disease was inspissation of bile, and not the common influenza as first reported, although symptoms of that malady also existed. The King has expressed great anxiety on the subject of M. Guizot's health, and was incessant in his inquiries at the moment when doubts were entertained by his physicians."
On Monday began a discussion in the Chamber of Deputies on a motion by AL Muret de Bord, for the conversion of the Five per Cents; but it presented little in- terest for the foreigner. On Wednesday, the Chamber adopted the first article of the proposition of M. Muret de Bord, authorizing the Minister of Finance to re- imburse the Five per Cent Stock at the rate of 100 francs for every 5 francs interest,
or to effect its conversion into Four-and-a-half Stock. The holders of the new stock are guaranteed by the same article against any further reduction during ten years. An amendment proposed by M. De Tracy, exempting from the measure those whose income did not exceed 500 francs was rejected.
The Pre= says that Captain Page has been despatched to Oceania with fresh instructions to Admiral Hamelin; and adds—" We are assured that Captain Page's mission refers to the approaching abandonment of our possessions in Oceania. It is so serious a step that we had better await ampler information on the subject."
SwrrzEriLawn.—Admonitor7 notes:have been received by the Federal Govern- ment, from Sardinia and Prussia; but the Extraordinary Diet makes no way. It is understood that it will most likely proceed no further, but leave the several questions to be settled if possible by the Deputies in the Ordinary Diet, which is to meet in July. The Presse says—" We have received a private letter from Switzer- land, containing news, which we give with reserve, although coming from a good source. According to this letter, the check received by the Free Corps has not discouraged the Radicals, who will not renounce the design of destroying the Federal Compact of 1815. We are informed that Berne, Vaud, Soleure, Argau, and Bale-Country, entertain the project of separating themselves from the Con- federation, and constituting together a Helvetic Republic, one and independ- ent. It is believed, however, that M. Neuhaus, the Avoyer of Berne, to whom in great part this extreme resolution is attributed, will think twice before he make any attempt on a compact which is guaranteed by the great potentates, and which cannot be annulled without the consent of all parties."
Isans.—A mail has been received from Calcutta, by the over-land route, to the 8th March. It brings scarcely any intelligence. Sir Charles Napier's expedition against the robber tribes in his neighbourhood appears to be at an end. The leader, who stood out in his contumacy, Bejar Khan, had "come in," on the understanding that his life was to be spared, and that he was to have some land beyond the Indus. The Punjaub continued in its unsettled state; and all was
peculation as to the future movements of the British troops concentrated on its frontier. "It is, however," says the Bengal Hurkaru, hardly likely that we
aball willingly rush into a war at the beginning of the hot season; and the general impression seems to be, that the Sutlej frontier is being strengthened on the chance of. he Sikhs crossing the river, and that in the next cold season we shall `pluck the pear.'" "The Governor-General," continues the same journal, "yet remains at the Presidency, and still lends the full light of his countenance to the cause of education and internal improvement. He has since our last presided at two scholastic anniversaries, those of the Hooghly College and the Calcutta Madrissa or Mahomedan College. On each occasion he made a speech strongly indicative of a desire for the amelioration of the country and the moral and intellectual ad- vancement of the people. But it is evident that these pacific employments do not engross his attention or divert his mind from the peculiar external relations of the
country at the present crisis; and nobody would be taken by surprise were the next Calcutta Gazette to contain a proclamation of war with the Pumaub, or were the Governor-General next to be heard of on his way to Ferozepore."-
The papers are full of comments on the arrest of Colonel Wallace, for an ex- cess of orders in descending the Elephant Rock in pursuit of the rebels of Sa- Inuit Warree. His object was to take the village of Seevapore. He conveyed 600 infantry, with mortars, ordnance, spare ammunition, commissariat supplies, &c., down a steep 110 feet high. After the descent of that precipice, says the United
'Service Gazette' "the troops and artillery had to pass along the ridge about 200
yards in length, and only wide enough for one man at a time; on the light of which was a perpendicular scarp of about 150 feet, on the left a slope of some sixty degrees, not above twenty feet in width, with a perpendicular fall of several feet on the outside. At the end of the first ridge was a declivity of at least forty feet; leading to a second ridge of about 300 yards in length, and but little wider than the first; terminating m a third fall of about twenty feet; from which a pathway, running over undulating ground covered with a thick jungle, led to the village of Seevapore ; which is about two miles distant from the Elephant Rock, and surrounded with jungles on all sides." Colonel Wallace had received orders from General Delamotte not to advance: but he received the orders after the ad- vance had been partially commenced, when retreat was impossible except at a frightful sacrifice; and success is regarded as justifying his daring manceavre. The rock is now called Wallace Droog. By the last mail intelligence reached this country of a draft act for augmenting the duties on goods imported into British India. The Calcutta Chamber of Commerce met to represent the injurious effects which the proposed measure would have upon commerce, with respect both to the local Government and to the manufacturing bodies at home. It has since been ascertained, "upon good authority," that there is no intention of any immediate change, but that the sotice was put forth by way of obtaining the opinion of those interested.
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