ortian anb eolontal.

FRANCE.—The Chamber of Deputies has been engaged in considering two measures of reform. On Saturday, M. Guizot presented a bill for altering the constitution of the Criminal Courts in the Colonies, with the object of redressing some of the evils recently brought to light. The bill grants to six members of the Cour Royale of each colony, who are to form the criminal court, the right of jurisdiction in all cases whore a free person has a complaint against a slave, or a slave against a free person. It takes away the jurisdiction of the Assize Courts in such cases, but leaves to them the jurisdiction in cases where justice is demanded between slaves and slaves, or between freemen and freemen.

The debate on a proposition by M. Glaiz-Bizoin, for an uniform rate of postage, commenced on Monday. Most of the speakers admitted the ne- cessity of alteration; and in moving the adjournment, M. Durnon promised to explain the views of the Government .at the next sitting.

A curious subject came before the Chamber of Peers last week. The Chapter of St. Denis was instituted by Napoleon, as a body to watch over the ancient tombs of the French Kings—" which," says the Journal des Debats, "though void of royal bones, are tilled with recollections of majesty "; and as an asylum for aged ecclesiastics of merit: after the Revolution of July, it was desired to do something more for the Chapter—to make it extra-dio- cesan, and give it an independent Dean: negotiations were opened with the Pope to sanction that arrangement by an "exemption"; all "exemptions" are against a fundamental law, and a bill became necessary to legalize the present arrangement. This bill was opposed by the Church party, as tend- ing to raise up a party within the Church but independent of the Church: it was discussed with animation for several days; but ultimately it was adopted, on the Thursday, by 109 to 59.

M. Duchatel, Minister of the Interior, left Paris on Monday, for the re- covery of his health: he had been suffering from intermittent fever. Lord William Hervey acts as Minister Plenipotentiary during the ab- sence of Lord Nornaanby.

M. Ganneron, the eminent banker of Paris and Member of the Chamber of Deputies, died at his residence in Paris on Monday morning. The temperature of Paris has undergone a remarkable elevation: on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, the weather was nearly as hot as in the hottest part of last season; on Sunday the thermometer stood at 85° of' Fahrenheit's scale.

SPIN.—Accounts from Madrid, to the 21st instant exhibit a very un- settled state of things; a chronic Ministerial crisis, and an increased dis- cord in the Palace. The most strenuous efforts had been made by the Ministers to put an end to the unbecoming separation of the Queen and the King Consort; but they failed. When the Cabinet visited Don Francisco, at the Prado, he positively refused to repair to Aranjuez or return to Ma- drid, unless the Cabinet should guarantee a change of the personnel of the Royal household, the removal of certain officers, and the appointment of the King's hangers-on in the interior of the Palace. On learning the result of their mission to the Prado, the Queen, greatly excited, is said to have demanded that the Cabinet should at once consider the question of divorce, under pain of dismissal. Another account describes the Ministers as having threatened to resign; but as having given way on finding the Queen indif- ferent to such a result, only stipulating for time to deliberate.

Don Francisco now resolutely denies his own free consent to the mar- riage; declaring that he was forced into the match. On the other hand, there is talk of written evidence that he bound himself to pay 8,000,000 francs to certain parties now in France, who persuaded him they had the power of bringing about his marriage with Isabella.

Notifications of the marriage of Don Henrique with Mademoiselle de Gastellan were circulated among the aristocracy of Madrid. The Faro mentions that the Infante had petitioned the Queen for leave to return to Spain; which had been refused.

PonToom..—The accounts from Lisbon are to the 19th instant. Co- lonel Wylde had returned on the 18th from Oporto, having failed to induce kinti.Tuntl_to accept the convention. The modifications they finally in- sisted on did not, however, comprise the confirmation of their financial operations. Hostilities were still suspended; and the British Minister had assured the Government that no modification of the terms of the conven- tion were now admissible, as England was determined upon an effective armed intervention.

It was known that St da Bandeira had agreed to a further armistice; and it was believed that he was negotiating the terms on which he would come over to the Government with the bulk of his division.

Meanwhile, the London Times concludes a review of the present condi- tion of Portuguese affairs in the following manner—

"Upon the receipt of the last intelligence in London, the final determination of the Queen of Portugal's allies was taken with great promptitude; and within forty-eight hours the vessel which brought that information was despatched back to Portugal, with instructions to enable the officers in command on that station to take active measures for the relief of the Queen's cause both at Setubal and at Oporto. It is also probable that the Spanish forces now concentrated on the fron- tier will be called into action; though this still appears to us to be the most deli- cate part of the proposed intervention."

The Times correspondent at Oporto writes, on the 20th instant, to con- tradict a report that Don Miguel had landed. Captain Bennet, of the yacht Julia, has declared on his honour that he had not conveyed Don Miguel to Portugal. [This statement receives corroboration from a letter published in Thursday's Times, signed A. R. Saraiva, stating that Don Miguel is now in London, from which he has not been absent for four Months.]

GREECE.—Letters from Athens, to the 10th instant, state that the Greek Government had at last resolved to accept the terms offered by the Porte

for the settlement of the Mirssurus dispute. - Coletti was busy appointing his creatures to conduct the elections for the new Chambers. On the other hand, his enemies were not idle: their emissaries traversed Peloponnessns and Continental Greece, urging the people to refuse the payment of the taxes and enlisting men for an insur- rectionary movement, which was to be headed by General Kalergi.

Paussia.—The United Diet is growing very stiffnecked. It has deter- mined to pass no finance bill until it has obtained certain guarantees which it requires; and accordingly, on the 15th instant it rejected, by a majority of 337 votes, a law proposed by the Government for establishing the Rente Rank. This institution had for its object the affording to the peasantry, on easy terms, the means of redeeming the chief rents which they pay to the lords of the soil for the parcels of land which they cultivate. All the efforts of the Ministers and their friends, such as Count D'Arnim, M. Hell- dorf, and Prince Lichuowski, could not prevail against the amendment of M. de Vinke; who proposed to refer the law to the Provincial Diets.

INDIA. AND Carnrs.,--The overland mail brings advices from Calcutta to the 7th, and from Bombay to the 15th April.

In the Panjaub all was perfectly tranquil, and the British troops at La- hore were healthy. The death of Akhbar Khan, who is allowed to have died from sadden. sickness—in other words, from poison—had paralyzed all the schemes of his partisans. Nothing of his plans had transpired; but it seems evident that up to the time of his death he contemplated a religions war with the English. His father was averse to his acts; and, aeoosding to Afghan morality, it is understood that the notorious son was sacrificed to remove his father from difficulties.

There had been a disturbance at Lucknow. The new Sovereign had: ordered a temple to be pulled down because it had been polluted by the Mahometans: the different sects quarrelled thereupon, and fought.

In the Nizam's dominions affairs were not in a satisfactory state, and a commotion VMS anticipated.

The intelligence from Hong-kong comes down to the 29th of March. It is announced in the Friend of China, that Sir John Davis was about to' visit Pekin, in the war-steamer Vulture, having full power to treat for the, prevention of riots at Canton. He was then to visit Japan, and endeavour, to open a trade with the country.

The same paper mentions, that although the American treaty with Chinas was concluded in July 1844, the United States had not granted to her Con- suls the judicial powers stipulated for. By this neglect Americans enjoy a

perfect impunity, the Chinese having surrendered their judicial rights. . Another daring piracy had been committed by Chinese at the Eastern entrance of the harbour. The perpetrators escaped; two had been traced to Canton; but the Mandarins refused to give them up. The commercial accounts are by no means satisfactory. Prices of aottotta, woollens, and metals, had fallen below precedent, and sales were exceeding: ly dull. This applies to the markets of Bombay and Calcutta as well as to Shanghae and Canton.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.—Accounts have been received from Cape Town to the 27th March. The latest news from the frontier describes Sir Henry Pottinger as nearly ready to recommence operations against Pato and other contumacious chiefs. The colonists appear to view this second campaign. with considerable dislike.

The papers mention the wreck of' another emigrant ship, the Gilbert Henderson, in Algoa Bay; but no details are given.