fortign au lt olonial.

FB.ANCE. —The Emperor opened the Legislative session of 1855, in the Salle des Marechaux at the Palace of the Tuileries, on Tues- day the 26th. Besides the Senators and the members of the Legisla- tive Body, deputations from the Clergy, the Judges, the National Guard, and the Army, were• present. On the right of the throne was a seat for Prince Jerome ; on the left one for Prince Napoleon, now in the Crimea ; and on either side these, places for the Princes of the Blood and the great Officers of State. A little before one; the Empress entered, accompanied by the Princess Mathilde, and. took her place in the gallery. Then the Emperor was informed that all was ready, and he entered in the midst of a procession of great functionaries. Having taken his place in front of the throne, he delivered the following speech, frequently interrupted by acclamations from the audience.

"Senators and Deputies—Since your last meeting great events have been achieved. The appeal which r addressed to the country to provide for the expenses of the war has been so well answered that the result has even Surpassed my hopes. Our armies have been victorious as well in the Baltic as in the Black Sea.- Two great battles have added new lustre to our flag. A brilliant testimony has been furnished in proof of the intimacy of our re- lations with England. The English Parliament has voted its thanks to our

generals and our soldiers. A great empire, made young again by the chi- valrous feelings of its Sovereign, has detaohed itself from the Power which for forty years threatened the independence of Europe. The Emperor of

Austria has concluded a treaty, defensive at this moment—perhaps very soon to become offensive—which unites his cause to that of France and England.

" Thus, gentlemen, the more the war is prolonged, the greater becomes the number of our allies, and the closer are drawn the ties which were already formed. What bonds can be more firm than the names of victories common to the two armies, and recalling a common glory—than the same anxieties and the same hopes agitating the two countries—then the setae views and the same intentions animating the two Governments in every quarter of the globe ? Moreover, the alliance with England is not the effect of a transitory interest. or of a policy of circumstances. It is the union of two powerful nations, associated for the triumph of a cause in which, for more than a century, their own greatness, no less than the civilization and the liberty of Europe, have been involved.

" Unite with me, then, on this solemn occasion, and in the name of France, in thanking the English Parliament for its cordial and hearty de- monstration, and the English army and its worthy chief for their brave cooperation. " In the coming year, if peace should not then be reestablished, I hope we shall have to offer the same thanks to Austria, and to that Germany of which we desire the union and the prosperity. " I am happy to pay a well-deserved tribute of praise to the army and the fleet, which by their devotedness and their discipline, in France as in Algeria, in the North and in the South, have nobly responded to my endeavours. The army of the East has hitherto endured everything, and surmounted everything—an epidemic, fire, tempest, privations, and incessant rain ; but it is now furnished anew with resources, and defended by a formidable artillery by land and sea : two hostile armies, superior in number—nothing has been able to weaken its courage or check its buoyancy. Every man has done his duty nobly; from the Marshal, who seemed to compel Death to wait till he had himself achieved a victory, to the soldier and the sailor, whose last cry in expiring was a prayer for France—an acclamation for the Elected of the nation. Let us, then, join in declaring that the army and the fleet have deserved well of their country. " War, it is true, involves cruel sacrifices ; but every consideration impels me to prosecute it with vigour. To this end I rely upon your concurrence. The army consists of 581,000 men and 113,000 horses; the navy of 62,000 sailors afloat. To maintain this force in an effective state is indispensable ; and to fill up the vacancies occasioned by the annual disbanding, and by the war, I shall ask you, as I did last year, for a levy of 140,000 men. A law will be presented to you, having for its object to improve, without aug- menting, the charges upon the treasury, and to ameliorate the position of the soldier who regnlists. It will produce immense advantages, by increasing the number of old soldiers in the army, and by enabling me, at a more distant period, to lighten the pressure of the conscription. This law, I hope, will very soon receive your sanction. I shall ask from you authority to contract a new national loan. This measure will, no doubt, increase the public debt ; but we must not be unmindful that, by the conversion of the Rentes, the interest of this debt has been reduced by twenty-one millions and a half. My efforts have had for their aim to keep the expenses within the limits of the receipts; and the ordinary budget will show you both equally balanced. None but the resources arising from the loan will be applied to the necessities of the war. You will see with pleasure that our revenue has not diminished ; that industrial activity is well sustained ; that all the great works of public utility continue to proceed; and that Providence has been pleased to grant a satisfactory harvest to our necessities. The Government, nevertheless, does not shut its eyes to the pressure produced by the high prices of provisions. It has taken all the measures in its power to anticipate and relieve this pressure. It has created, in various localities, new elements of labour. The struggle which is going on is circumscribed by moderation and a sense of justice; and, while it may cause the hearts of some to palpitate, it will but little affect the general interests, which will shortly collect here, from all parts of the world, the productions of peace. Foreigners cannot fail to be struck with the remarkable spectacle of a nation, in reliance on the Divine protection, carrying on with energy a war at a distance of six hundred leagues from its frontiers, and developing with the same ardour its internal riches; a nation where war does not prevent agri- culture and industry from prospering or the arts from flourishing, and whero the genius of the people discloses itself in whatever tends to contribute to the glory of France."

The Minister of State administered the oath of "obedience to the con- stitution and fidelity to the Emperor" to the newly-elected Senators and Deputies. The session was then declared opened ; and the Emperor and' Empress withdrew.

The Legislative Body met on Wednesday, under the presidence of M. Moray. M. Parieu presented a bill authorizing the Minister of Finance to borrow 500,000,000 francs, to be raised by national subscription, and to be employed in carrying on the war. The Chamber at once with- drew into its bureau; to examine the bill ; which it subsequently adopted.

An Imperial decree makes the following changes in the tariff, for the benefit of commerce.

It reduces the import-duties on foreign sugars by about 'four francs per 100 kilogrammes. It takes the duty entirely off morasses which are the produce of the French colonies, and admits foreign molasses, which have heretofore been prohibited, at a duty of 13 francs. It reduces the duty on dried raisins from 17 francs to 2 francs. The duties on oil, grease, and oleaginous seeds, are reduced one-half; those on candles are reduced from 27 francs to 10 francs. The duties on the articles used in the manufacture of composition candles, according to their quality, are reduced from 65 francs to 25 francs, and from 91 francs to 35 francs.

Last Sunday, a "Madame Cl. de T—" was arrested in her chateau at Brunoy, Seine et Oise, on a charge of conspiracy against the person and government of the Emperor. Letters from French refugees at Brussels, it was observed, were addressed to a female servant in the house. The master gave up the servant, and she implicated her mistress. The police seized a correspondence giving full details of the conspiracy. The lady is now in rigorous close confinement.

THB CRIMEA.—The latest intelligence from the seat of war was pub- lished in the Monitcur of Thursday, in the shape of a telegraphic despatch. " Balaklava, December 18.—The situation is excellent, notwithstanding unavoidable delays. Reinforcements continue to arrive. The Napoleon has landed materiel and 1100 men, who were taken on board at Constantinople. The Turkish troops embarked at Varna are beginning to arrive."

A good deal of petty fighting had been going on before the trenches, which both on the English and the French side run close down to the outer works of the place. One night early in this month, the Fiftieth Regiment did duty in the "Ovens," that post captured by Tryon's rifle-

men; in the night the Russians crept up, bayoneted some cif our men in their, blankets, and obtained momentary possession of the holes and corners held by our men ; but the Rifles were coming to- Miley° guard ; they 'quickened their steps on hearing the firing,• and ejected the • enemy. When one of them was asked what had been going on .he, Said, "Oh, the Russians relieved the Fiftieth, and we relieved the leusaittnee" On the 6th; the Vladimir and another steamer passed the sunken ships at the entrance of the harbour, and shelled -the French left near Streletski Bay ; but ran in again on seeing the Valorous, the Caton, the Mtegere dashing up to the attack. On the night of the 6th, the Russian corps under Liprandi burned their huts and the village of Kamera, and retired, partly nearer to the Tehernaya, and partly beyond that overflowing river. On the seine day, a strong body of French infantry made a reconnaissance; and retook and reoccupied the

redoubts which the Turks abandoned on the 25th October ; so that the lines of communication between the Camp and Balaklava, by the regular roads, so long interrupted, were recovered. On the 10th, the Russians received a very considerable convoy by the coast road—three hundred covered waggons; but whether they contained provisions or soldiers, is not known.

On the llth December, upwards of a thousand sick men of the English

regiments were carried down to Balaidava by the French ambulance corps. "They were brought on the mule .pannier scats, , two sick men being carried by each mule. Some were taken lying at full length, with a covered hood and curtain protecting the face and body, but the ma- jority were sitting. They were sent in certain proportions to each regi- ment, and, after receivieg their. convoy, were formed up at the head- quarters of each division. The journey to Balaklava was performed in half the time which would have been Occupied by the ambulance wag- gons. All the mules were fat and sleek, not a nail was wanting in a shoe, not a strap tar buckle appeared to he out of • order. The Corps d'Infirethers, who conducted the train, officers and men, were all active, in good health, cheerful, and manifestly understood all the details of the employment in which they were ()Coupled. The hospitals were full ; so the poor fellows had to be sent on board ship. But no arrangements had been made for their reception, and our dying soldiers had to be laid down on the liquid mud of the beach. Their sufferings were great, and one

man died then and there on the mud of the beahh." • The 'reads have been improved by the French. A thousand Zouaves who had been set to work some days before the Iltb; had in a short time made a splendid road from Balaklava to Kadiltoi. In another week the French road up to the camp would be completed. It is breed; and011 the holes and pitfalls are filled up, and it is covered, with a thick layer of broken stones and gravel, and there is a deep ditch.en• either side to draw, off the Water: - • • , • On the Whole, although the 'weather had caused great suffering, the

aspect of affairs was improving at the latest dates. Many new- guns had been got up, and new batteries had been constructed ; and there were evidently a larger number of nice in the camp than at any previous

period. . . •

The accounts from the seat of war by letter come down to the 13th December ; !and-inelude, besides the usual despatches of the newspaper correspondents, a number of-letters from officers and soldiers.

The Condition of the Troops.—" We sleep in rain and mud, getup in rain

and mud, walk about in rain and mud, and in the evening retire to our oozy beds with feelings of grim dissatisfaction that we were not born tortoises or alliga- tors, so that we might look forward with something like-satisfaction to the pros- pect of passing the next six months in a puddle. If there is 'any truth in the virtue of a Cold-water cure, 'assuredly we 'might to be the healthiest army in Europe. Of course your readers, thinking of the dirty crossings in Bond Street and Pall Mall, will soliloquize over a comfortable breakfast, and say, 'Yes, the camp must be very muddy'; but let Me entreat them to believe they know nothing about it. During the course of my wanderings I have seen some dirty places, but I never &INV sheer, deep, tenacious mud, till I came to 'the Crimea. In fact; if you can iniagine an Irish bog that has had the horse, carriage, and passenger traffic of a large 'city over it for three weeks, you will be able to form some idea, though but a faint one, of the state of the route betweenthe camp and talallave. From the appearance of this path, it seems perfectly astonishing how any 'communication can be maintained between the camp and the source of our supplies.' Ever since the repulse we received at Balaklava, when we lost our redoubts, and the main road. to Sebastopol, (and none of 'which, no 'matter what miserable evasion our official despatches may make about the matter, we have retaken up to this-day,) the path to the English 'camp has lain over the sea-side hills to the French lines, and so along them to the English. This route is about three miles lenger than that which we formerly possessed but the distance would be nothing if the road was good. As it is, it is a mere path over, a stiff clay soil; winding down ravines amid up -steep hills perpetually. Yet by this road, such as it is, the whole communication between Balaklava and the camp has to be carried on. All thecomenissariat 'carts, all the forage, pro- visions, shot, shell, and ammunition of all kinds, ambulances, artillery, and cavalry, have to ofil113 -over it daily ; and the effects of three weeks' rain on such a route may be imagined far easier than described. In some places between. steep hills, where the mud has settled down, the path 'has been quite aban- doned and•a new one made; yet even by the new one , the horses hare to struggle 'up to their bellies in thick slush. The sides Of the road, are quite dotted with dead horses; broken-down artillery-waggons, or commis- sariat-carts stuck fast in the tenacious'inire. Another Week's rain, and this road must be impassable."—Ceerespondent of the ,3forning Herald '; Nov 28:

" The 'Maslen Emperor's 'most powerful and faithful ally, disease, has

been activelfat work among the British 'troops. The continued rain, the. insufficient diet, even of the salt ration,! from -the failure of the means of transport' and the almost impassable state of the roads the constant exposure and absence of shelter, spare clothing and want of fuel for firing, have been the chief agents of this ally. -The regiments lately arrived,,nod the recent draughts, from England, have particularly suffered. The 46th Regiment have now buried upwards of 160 of their number ; the 97th Regiment, which has. only been encamped a fortnight, have already lost 86. then. One-seventh of the Light Division is on the sick list, and the daily burial are numerous. In spite of all that has beeMwritten on the subject In the English journals, and the outcry raised 'among the. public, there is a great want of medicine and medical comforts in cam. The regimental surgeons complain that they cannot obtstin the particular kinds of Medicine they require, nor any medicines in uffic i en t quantities.' --(The division (the Fourth) has been without meet for two days, others have been on half or quarter rations. - The only division haring full rations:has been the 'First. Thence hes been discontinued for some time past.- I believe it has been given to the Ottoman troops. The coffee is still issuedin the green- state. When the arabas became disabled, and the cattle, already weakened by a shat-sighted parsimonious allowance of grain eud fodder broke down also, the commissariat officers placed their chief dependence for bringing tip the supplies to the regiments-on the com- pany bar basely .eight mdl Which ' harl,been,, landed' -forlithe service of each regiment;;;,Buttheser 'worn •outt.by their...hoary load and daily joumies, their boors worn.] down. and feet-tender,. because; there have•notheen any arrangements' made by •which 'these could be shod; have now in a.. great number failed.• Their 'allowance. of •barley has been increased-from six to nine pounds daily; but this measure comes too late, Roads: also are beiqg paved, both near Balaklava and in the direction of the new' rodoubtri,:watting far their guns.on_theriglitof the position aboye §ebastepol.; but, as may be inaagied5tic accuthulationmud,, and the earaparatiie difficulty of obtain- ing the necessary stones for' the 'purpose,' now renders' this operatiOn.iery

difficult."—Correspondent of the Daily Non's; Dec. 6. , • "There are many points on which' little attention•and'eare wohld.save

greet trolible to the men, and • husband their strength. For instance, the coffee which is served out to the men is the green unburntberry. The men have neither roasting nor grinding apparatus. The tope a inee-s-tiniarnade to do duty for 'theone and is spoilt ; :a couple of stonea are need lieu a the .other,. and spoil the coffee ; but the hardship of roasting and grinding the berry Over small. bits of sticks, and in wet and storm, can. only be knewn.by those who try to get a breakfast by adopting these conditiona of obtaining it. Why not send out good coffee ready 'ground in handy Una ? Surelv it is not worth while to practise econeniy: on' such irdear article as a•Micliee. The Frehdh.aie generally provided with coffee-bailie Lid masters but even When they haven° such appliance' experience 'has suggested a tamdred' means of supplying the deficiency. These are not 'grumbles,' but honest complaints against the perpetuation of remediable grievances. Thewant of clothing, the want of fuel, the want of shelter, the want of food, which:have, cost the army and the nation so dearly, might, I sincerely and solemnly believe, hare been obviated by a small exertion of ordinary 'pr4voyance.' The Articles • which are arriving today in the Belgravia should have been here long ago ; and the supplies ive arc expecting daily, however welcome, are late. - They will be of service only to those who have survived, or 'bare maintained health and strength under cold and wet.- We have tents; but cannot get them up' to' the ratty,- There is •a great defithenev of hospital mariatieeeioad, horrible asit is to•think of such a thing, it is•no-less true, that, aceording:to informatioareceived from no doubtful source, five men of.a battalion of- the Guards were found ,dead outside ene of the tents within the last thirty hours."--Coerespencientqf the 2Ysl4 Elee. "Putting aside the lives sacrificed to carelessness ittld,p4ippft, an increased mortality in our young army, in this its first winter campaign, was what might-livid- been and -haw been expected. 'Peace 'arniles ire mere brute material, Which war refines -and. melts down and • hardens; toils uses.. .An army fresh from home, • like the-Jewish recruits whoneGideoncommanded when campaigning against the Midianites,. wanbta good many trials, andits numberamust be cat down, to turn out such body of/ veterans es we alone camheak,fer to eflent the conquest of.proriuces and the oT_P•45w. of•PoPj•FOs- Ting painful process is now in its woad stage; and already: Our Seasoned soldiers, thin and worn as they are, display an immensesuperiOrity ater their plump and rosy-cheeked comrades, who, cheering,. and with their bands plajing, land in her Majesty's town of Balaklava. Those veterans of an eight-months campaign are not; perhaps -more • brave-than the' yokIng regiments just sent out; for these too are Englishmen, and three months

'ego but few of oar men had heard the hissing of a shell: but these veterans

are More eeteieetablethan the young Soldiers,' With their careworn, bronzed, and 'haggard 'faces,' 'and thin- limbs, they laugh at fatigues and privations whieh'Utterly ruin such regiments as the-round and-bean-fed 46th—for suth, at leest, they were when they landed. They are very different now, having drunk the bitter waters of 'Sebastopol plains, and Ted (for the first in their lives) on dry ration biscuit and raw salt jenk."—Correspendent of the _Daily News ; Dec.16. • • •• • • The Navat Sortie.—" On the 6th, at twe.ini the ofternoen, two:Russian vessels, one of which was the famous Wladintitpartibadout•of the harbour in the direction of Streletaksia Bay, protected _throughout their course by the qu,artuatiee fortifications. . Their. object. seemed;to us to be to reconnoitre the positions of our left, and lade .somo damage if poseible to the ..cetentond another. of our steamera, at anchor in the bay. But the Megere lavfiloovhich was en vidette before the port, having signalled their niatimuge, onFearls

miesch Bay got up their, Steam, and prepared to make However, the distance trete the port of Sebastopol tQ Streletzkam'B beIng very short, the Russlans ships had' time enough to approach theliiii;` ri'dog the little Megere (which only carries -two guns) before them: Theyibegan

to fire upon the Caton, 'which bravely responded, 'While this was going opy-;we saw. the English frigate Terrible*. rush like an enraged lion upon the Iivaiian ships.. They had already received some well-directed bullets from the'Os n, and as /300n 4.% they Haw the Terrible coming they -sheered off as fastos ey could under the protection of their batteries. I never saw a more 44 1 spectacle than the advance of the Terrible. .She flew like,.). arrow.= 1- though the Russians ran away too aeon for the Terrible; to come'tiy1 with them, she sent two :rattling broadsides. 'after them; and bravely 'store/the fire Of the 'batteries, " which opened 'upon' her vigorously. 'In spite offthis precipitate flight., the enemy must. have Sustained' some loss both fromthe CatowanththeTerrible. The only loss in the whole affairon the sideof,the Allies was two men on board the Terrible. •I must net forget to say that the Megere gallantly followed the Terrible,nnd blazed away with her two.guns as resolutelyos if she had been a.great ship."—Ldier in the .6eneti testi° amt. The "Divisible" Generals.—Clanrobert and the French (ienerals' are to be seen each day, no matter what the state of the weather, riding round the camp, inspecting the French troops, and visiting the hospitals. On our side, I (Iota thuik sinee the campaign began a general Milder was ever seen in an hospital ; 'and for the last fortnight, as far as I can ascertain, mot a general officer haS•been seen abbot the camp it all. Of 'course;: ae believetherore in the -camp -but, for all we know of their presenee,•(exemiting,olwaysabir Colin Campbell,) they might as well all be at St. James's or Windsor' I state these fade with reluctance, though they -are strietly.truer.and, what is more, already form the subject of bitter comment throughout' out, canton- ments.—Correspondent of thellforning Heralt Dec. 12. it [Another writer, however, bed seen Lord Raglan within the' fortnigf , L•Lord Raglan and the members of his Staff rode through, he whofe:Orthe4 British eamplesterday. After the drenching'tain'of the pAvions!eigtht, he saw the state of the troops in' its true colonts., 'Mai Lordship halted fre- quentlY,, and asked many-questions even, of- private soldiers whom heisaw puddlinrabout.";--Coeresporident of the Horning Toot.; Dee. 5. ; Temper ofthe Troops.—" Our; Cominiasariat," -says' an' Assistant Pay- master, "is very good; and the 'powers that be certainly do their utmost for the comfort of the eoldiersi" "Fancy," says this young man, .whe certainly does not boast of being a hero, "-being fifty nights.witheut undressing4,.hut, thank God, I ant in:the.hest of health." "Our rations,']..saye a non-com- missioned officer, ...are.very good, „although biscuit is.rather, scarce,70me1se my appetite •has.sharpened with the cold ioeatlaer.". Nethipg, catt.JM. ore decidedly- Speak the candid spirit of the writer • than that last touch. .,,The rations are praised•by a Welsh Fusilier, who calls over his allowance, "It' a man could notraanage for a Month:or soon that, I do pot know what sort of stuff he is made of." " liardships.oro -numberless," says a colour- [s It 'was the Valeria:Li, not he Terrible.] sergeant to his wife—"but what of that?" "Here we are, soldiers, sailors, and everybody else,"-says, an artilleryman, "whistling or ranging, and us splashing through the mud, and the rain coming down in streams, and obliged to let ourolcithes remain on—but all content." A non-commissioned officer speaks 'of 'Lord Raglan as giving a supply of one flannel shirt and- a pair of woollen stockings to each man, "out of his private purse," "with his usual liberality."

Russii.—The Emperor has issued an ukase ordaining that any soldier who commits acts of cruelty on a wounded or unresisting enemy shall suffer death.

A. telegraphic despateh from Warsaw December 25, says--." The military engineers have positive orders Lam St. Petersburg to finish the citadel -of Alexander by the middle of January. Paskiewitch has ordered the formation of three parks of flying artillery. The frontiers of the kingdom of Poland next to Prussia are denuded of troops."

By an ukase- dated the 13th, a levy of ten men in every thousand throughout the Eastern half of the Russian empire is decreed. This levy

• will commence on the 15th of February, and must be finished by the 15th of March. The Jews are not exempt. The Czar has named Vice-Admiral Novossilsky a Knight of the Order of St. Vladimir, first class, for his courage while commanding the second line of defence at Sebastopol.

The Emperor of Russia, not to bo outdone by the Western nations, has forwarded sixty Sisters of Charity to the Crimea to tend the wounded in -the military hospitals. The St. Petersburg Journal announces that "gifts" will be received, either in kind or money, for the behoof of the army and navy in the Crimea ; and that the Grand Admiral of the Em- pire, the Grand Duke Constantine, has made special arrangements for the receipt thereof. It is also stated that Counsellor Kryloff has been sent to visit all the wounded seamen, to inquire into their wants, to note down 'their names, the whereabouts of their families, and their wishes, and to assure them that everything possible shall be done for them. From pri- tate contribetions 8000 silver roubles have been sent for the wounded ; but, it is added, a part of that sum has been employed to pay for the transport of the Sisters of Charity.

DENDIAILY.—The new Parliament, opened at Copenhagen last week, was attended by the new Ministers, except Scheel, whose brother appear- ed for him, all the deputies, and a great crowd of the people. Rottwitt was elected President, and Bishop Monmd and Broberg were chosen Vice- Presidents of the Volksthing. The programme of the new Ministry was submitted to both Houses—in the Landsthing, by Bang, the Premier ; in the Voilesthing, by Hall, Minister of Justice. The real object of the Ministry is " the definitive settlement of the constitution of the Danish monarchy," "the perfect union of the different parts of the kingdom into one well-organized whole, to be kept together ,and strengthened by one joint constitution."

Ministers "will consider it necessary to the full vindication of their prin- ciples to carry out a modification of the intended definitive settlement of the constitution of the Danish monarchy, as contained in the Royal ordinance of the 26th July of the present year, in such a manner as to give it a really constitutional charaeter ; and especially with reference to the necessity of investing the representative body with the fall and unquestioned right of voting and exercising a veto in all financial questions and other legislative enactments, whilst at the same time the Volksthing, as the direct repre- sentative of the people be invested with greater atributes and elements of more legislative power people, they now possess."

With respect to foreign policy, the programme only remarks, that in direct concurrence with the sentiments entertained on this subject by the King, they do not intend to propose any change. Both Houses received the programme with loud acclamations. In the evening, an old custom was revived, and the members dined with the

lng in the Palace of Christian.sborg. The King was also serenaded by tore light, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather.

GERMANY.—Aceonnta from Berlin show that the people of Prussia sympathize- with the Western Powers, and look with presentiments of national degradation upon the policy orthe Russian party now in power. The journals say that the Berlin Christmas has been saddened by these feelings, and predict that Prussia will sink from her political position in Europe.

Colonel Manteuffel has been sent to Vienna to learn the intentions of the Austrian Cabinet, and the interpretation put upon the four points by -the Western Powers. It is said that Baron Manteuffel recently re- quested to see this interpretation before he would advise the King to accept the treaty of December 2; and that the request was refused. 'The field hoapitals of the Austrian mobile array have been placed under the command era Colonel. The Third Artillery Regiment is being placed on a full war footing, and in a' few weeks iS to proceed with a powerful staff to Galicia. Several companies of engineers and pioneers have also recently received order to be prepared to march.

The Berlin Correspondence of the 25th says, there is a probability that the enrolment of German troops for foreign countries will be forbidden, seeing that, by article 18 of the Act of' the German Federation, it is ex- pressly forbidden to German subjects to enter into the military service of foreign states.

A telegraphic despatch"from Vienna' dated Thursday, says—" A great 'diplomatic conference will be held today at Lord Westmoreland's hotel. The Russian Ambassador, Prince Gortschakoi4 will be present and take

part." ,

Icart.—The ,Tinges correspondent at Turin, under date December 21, forwards a letter touching the efforts of two partiea in Italy, the agents of - Russia, and the Italian national party headed by Mazzini He remarks that the Italian Republicans in London have recently become more active, , aiming their. attacks .chiefly at Piedmont; that the "demagogues" in ' Italy boast of ;laving "got millions," supposed to have arrived from St. Petersburg ; and that Russian agents are pursuing a doubled-faced policy

• everywhere. He gives some instances of this.

"Within the last few days, Count Orloff passed through here under an *teemed name on his way to Florence; - which of course has given rise to endless ...speculation as to the object of his journey. Of him or his further movements I know nothing; but there are others whose contradictory acts and language are deserving of note. Forinstanca, at Genoa there is a Count Skariatine, .8e6etary to the Russian Legation at Rome, and formerly Charge d'Affaires at Turin in 1848, who has oome to' Genoa on the plea of his wife's health, where be excites the hopes of the Republican party by speaking of Ins master being the natural friend of rising nationalities,' while he assures his ancient friends among the retrogrades in this country that 'the Emperor will never play the game of either Kossuth or Masson.' hi Lombardy the same double-facedness• is the distinguishing characteristic of Muscovite in- trigue. There Russian propagandism has been carried to the officers of the Selavonie regiments, and the agents talk loudly of the old alliance of Austria and Russia, but sotto voeo to those Whom it [mita of the contempt with which their Emperor regards Francis Joseph. In Tuscany it is the same. There the Baroness Mayendorf, (a relative of the late Russian Minister at Vienna,) and Count Orsini, of Alexandria, are the recognized agents of Russia; and at Naples Count Kakkoschine, the Russian Minister, who has been long resident in Italy, spares no exertions for the diffusion of similar two-edged principles."

To illustrate the activity of the Republicans, he forwards two documents; one alleged to have issued from the " National Assembly of Action," urging an extensive organization and a rising before Italy becomes the theatre of war either Napoleonic or Royal; counting on Austrian perfidy to the cause of the Mika ; and the diversion America is to make in seizing Cuba. The other document is alleged to be from Mazzini himself.

" National Contribution for Action.

"The present inertness of Italy, in spite of the victims of daily occurrence, before the circumstances of war that tie elsewhere the principal force of Austria, and notwithstanding the universality of the national opinion diffused now more than ever through every class, is a fault towards the common country and a disgrace in face of Europe.

" It is necessary to act, to reap the heritage of 1848 and 1899, or remain for ever silent, and allow the stranger to declare Italy a corpse. The elements of action abound. The people from one corner of Italy to the other are with us. The necessary means for pushing the action are wanting, and to assure the result of the first movement. Unmindful of their duties, careless of the future, before their brothers who spill their blood, the rich do not give. They pay Austria. But with regard to numbers, not thousands, but millions of men, to gather means, to found rapidly the treasury of the people, is an affair of will. This will it is necessary to have. "Every patriot has, small or great, a circle of friends. Give circle upon circle; give locality upon locality ; let all give. The man who cannot give money, let him give, if he has one, his watch ; the woman herring, a gem, a piece of embroidery. Make Italy by her own life, with her own honour, that which poor Ireland was for such a long time with a design of simple amelioration. Let the party of the people do that for themselves which a few ought to do for them. Have regard to the honour of Italy, and the more certain will be the fruits of victory. GIDCEPPR M 1771'11"

"October 1854." •

[It must not be forgotten that Mazzini'a name has before now been forged in documents of this kind.] The King of Naples has quarrelled with the Jesuits ; and his Minister has threatened "to kick them out of the kingdom." The charge brought against the worthy order is that they have taught that the. Pope is su- perior to all earthly sovereigns; no new doctrine, surely, tn the Roman Catholic Church. For this, or for some other reasos, Signer Mazza, the Director of the Police, uttered the unpolite threat alluded fe.

Seam—The Minister of Finance, Senor Coiled°, presented the budget of 1855 to the Cortes on the 18th. Its principal point is a net decrease in the estimated expenses of 104,664,887 reels. The expenses are set down at 1,667,389,804 reale - the receipts at 1,569,080,914 reale. It is thought that this budget will be rejected, and ColLado's retirement is expected.

In the Cortes, on the 19th instant, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Seilor Luzurriega, read the programme of the Espartero Cabinet to the following effect-

" Sovereign liberty of the Cortes to decree the bases of the constitution; a constitutional throne, with all the powers necessary to and inherent in this institution ; royal sanction for the ordinary laws; individual safety, with no other limit save that which is required for the safety of the public ; right of petition ; religious unity in whatever may have an interior character, with- out trespassing on the respect due to other farms of belief; strong parlia- mentary power, in order that the regal power may not be destroyed; orga- nization of parliament in both houses ; the right of refusing taxes not voted by the Cortes; ministerial responsibility ; a national guard ; enlightened de- centralization; • peace and friendship with all nations, whatever their forms of government may be; assimilation of the Colonies to the Peninsula ; gene- ral system of railways ; civil equality for obtaining public situations ; special instruction in the arts and sciences, in order to destroy the mania of getting into public offices ; free press, with trial by jury." Marshal Espartero spoke a few words, and demanded of the Chambers a compact majority and a good constitution. He said that if any one should attempt to make the nation retrograde, he would put himself at the head of the national guard and army, in order to protect the laws.

INDIA AND CIIINA.—The overland mail arrived in London on Thurs- day; bringing advines from Calcutta to the 18th and Bombay to the 28th November.

From Calcutta it is reported, with an air of authority, that friendlyne- gotiations have undoubtedly been opened between Dust Mellowed, the ruler of Cabal, and the Indian Government. It has now for some time been known that Russian influence and Russian emissaries have pene- trated deeply into Central India. The Russians have not yet reached Khiva ; there is not a soldier on the Oxus; but on the Jaxartes them are about 2000 men and six guns at Ark Musjeed. To counteract Russian arms and intrigues, the Court of Kokan sent an envoy to Peshawur ; Dost .11ahomed, preferring the English to the Russian alliance, has sent Mirza Mahomed Hossein to the same place, to make overtures ; and the Khan of Khelat has undertaken to protect the whole of the Seinde frontier, and allow merchandise to pass at a fixed rate of duty, on condition that he receive a subsidy of 50001. a year. To the Cabul envoy Lord Dal- housie returned a friendly reply; in the course of which he spoke of the Anglo-French alliance for the protection of Turkey, the retreat of the Russians from the Principalities, and the victory of the Alma. He reci- procated the wish to form an alliance, and invited Dost Mahomed to send an officer of rank with full powers to conclude a treaty of peace and friendship. Such is the Calcutta statement. From Bombay comes a gloomier view. The writer launches freely into speculations. The de- sign of the Czar, he says, is to unite the Russian force at Kokan with the Persian army at Meru, in order to act against the Turks in Armenia, a junction that would place the resources of Persia, Bokhara, and Affshan- istan, at his disposal, and enable him to harass our frontier. The writer contemplates the establishment of a Russian base of operations at Cabul and Herat ; he avers, that with their magazines and cantonments on the South of the Hindoo Keogh, "a Russian invasion of India would be easier, geographically speaking, than a French invasion of Italy ; and

we could crush theta al they came from the passes, few would _like to eee the fate of India risked in a battle between Sepoys and Ruse eiens." He also points out the comparative scanty British garrison in India, and opines that the Russians will excite the Native •mimes to re. wok. The whole correspondence in the India papers indicates that Rus- eia is extensively intriguing on our frontiers. The Nepaulese Cabinet is increasing its military establishment to such an extent as to enforce the necessity of demanding explanations. The Minister professes the most cordial friendship for the British Government, and replies that the armies are intended for an expedition against Lassa ; but there is reason to suspect that these armaments have some connexion with the progress of Russian intrigues.

The Legislative Council had opened its sittings to the public. Some of the papers disparage this body ; and there is a report that Sir Lawrence Peel is coming home to expose its imperfections.

An embassy from the King of Ava was daily expected at Calcutta, on a friendly mission to conclude a peace. The electric telegraph from Cal- cutta to Prome is making rapid progress, and it is expected that it will be complete in four months. The Governor-General will by that time be residing at the Neilgheries, on the Malabar coast, and will be able to maintain a daily communication with Prome.

The meagre accounts from China do not give a very favourable view of the progress of the insurrection. While on the one hand Canton seemed likely to fall before the increased energy of the insurgents, on the other the Imperialists are said to have gained advantages near Nankin. Sir James Stirling was making arrangements to root out the nests of free- booters in the rivers, and on the Chinese coasts about Hongkong. A body of junks, heavily armed, had beaten off the United States steamer queen; but the Encounter coming up, armed with a 120-pounder, drove the pirates ashore, and their junks were burnt. Captain Collinson, in the Enterprise, arrived safely at Hongkong on the let November; all well on board : he was to depart shortly.

NEW ZEALAND. —Our last report* on New Zealand left the leading members of the General Assembly at Auckland, just after the acting Go- vernor had accepted the principle of" responsible government," when Mr. Fitzgerald, the Superintendent of Canterbury, was charged with forming a Ministry. We now have the sequel down to the 6th of September, narrating the eventful story of a "Ministerial crisis" at the Antipodes ; embodied in several letters from the parties into which the Assembly was subsequently divided, and also in careful accounts from impartial persons ; all which, so far as we understand the story, we will endea- vour to weave into a connected though greatly compressed narrative. Much of the embroilment which took place must be ascribed to want of straightforwardness and openness on the part of the Executive ; but it will be seen that the acting Governor only accepted the situation bequeathed to him by Sir George Grey, or made for him by advisers; and that each party in the dispute appears to have been more at the mercy of untoward circumstances than to have intended to create mis- chief. At the very starting there was a mistake in regard to the prin- ciple upon which the contest arose. It appears to have been taken for granted by some of the leading men that the new constitution provi- ded for an Executive Council, in the forming of which the principle of responsible government might be at once applied. But the Consti- tution Act only provided for two Legislative Chambers. By a document which issued from the Colonial Office in September 1852, the Secretary of State instructed the Governor to form his Executive Council of four officers specieed, and of such others as the Governor might think fit to add. The four officers were, the Commander of the Forces, the Colonial Treasurer, the Colonial Secretary, and the Attorney-General, all for the time being. These offices were at that time filled respectively by Colonel Wynyard, who ens also acting Governor, Mr. Shepherd, Mr. Sinclair, and Mr. Swainson. It is important to lay down this clearly, for the better understanding of the sequel. The instructions issued from the Colo- nial Office in September 1852 were not made public in the colony until March 1854. At the meeting of the General Assembly, Mr. Swainson, besides filling the office of Attorney-General, was a mem- ber of the nominee Legislative Council; neither Mr. Shepherd nor Mr. Sinclair was in either of the two Legislative Chambers. The General Assembly, as we formerly stated, met on the 27th of May ; Mr. Gibbon Wakefield's resolution in favour of responsible govern- ment was carried on the 5th of June; an address to the Governor, founded on that resolution, was carried next day ; Colonel Wynyard ac- cepted on the 7th of June, and "sent for" Mr. Fitzgerild and Dr. Munro. Meanwhile, Colonel Wynyard had consulted Mr. Swainson ; who gave an opinion generally in favour of adopting the principle of the Assembly's -vote, but presenting certain difficulties, particelarly in the fact that ex- isting holders of the four offices which we have named virtually held permanent appointments. It was admitted to be desirable, however, that the Governor should be in a position to call to his Council, and to appoint to the principal offices, persons in whom the country, as repre- sented in the Assembly, could confide ; and it was intimated by the existing holders of office, that, to facilitate such an arrangement, they would willingly retire, whenever called on so to do by the Governor, and whenever provision should have been made to give them retiring pensions; but it was suggested, that during the session then opened, for the sake of public convenience, the present Secretary, Attorney-General, and Treasurer, should continue to hold their offices. On the 15th of June, Mr. Swainson made a communication to the Legislative Council embodying these views ; and Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. 'Weld, and Mr. Sewell, made statements signifying that they appeared es Minis- ters in the House of Representatives, conjointly with the occupants of the offices just named. In the same speech, Mr. Fitzgerald announced several measures,—a bill to define the form and departments of Govern- ment under the new Constitution Act ; a bill to amend the Provincial Governments, making extensive alterations; a bill to regulate the disposal of waste lands, with a minimum price of 58, an acre, leaving the Provinces to fix the price, or to permit sale by auction, and re- gulating the publio reserves for local and municipal purpoies, &c,— the object being to bring 12,000,000 of acres into the market in the course of the next four or five years ; the formation of a Native department to manage affairs with the Natives; a measure to improve the state of the-revenues, finances, accounts, payments of offices, &c. ; ft bill to regulate the judicial department general and provincial; improve- * kipectator, Oet0er 21; page 1104. meats hi the laws relating to convicts, to dower, to the desertion of sea- men, to marriage, customs, larif4 bauk of issueedebentures, steam-naviga- tion, New Zealand Company's debt, and registration. R will be observed that this programme points out a very extensive mass of legislation to be handled by a Government in the first stages not only of its own existence but of the system under which it proposed to itself to exist. No sooner, however, had the new system begun in action, than difficulties arose. The Legislative Council, nominees of the Executive, did not contain a responsible Minister : at the suggestion of Mr. Fitzgerald, Colonel Wynyard appointed Mr. Bartley, representative for Auckland, to be a member of the Legislative Council; and the vacancy thus created in the House of Representatives was filled by Mrz. Brown, returned by ultra majority over his opponent the proprietor of a paper representing the Swainson-Grey party,—a fact which shows that in Auckland as well as in the South the constitutional party possessed the popular majority. Mr. Fitzgerald's waste lands bill was introduced, and the first stage of the measure was carried by a majority of two to one. This bill was opposed by Mr. Gibbon Wakefield; who argued strongly, amongst other things, in favour of reserving lands for members of the working chines. Ife declared the bill, as well as the empowering bill, to be contrary to his fixed ideas of a sound policy for New Zealand ; and he contended that, in the unsettled state of the Government, it was impolitic to nedertake men- sures of so large a nature. Business proceeded in this manner for a short time, with an appearance of smoothness that turned out to be falla- cious.

About the commencement of August the responsible Ministers appear to have become jealous of the part taken by the irresponsible Ministers; the former conceived that the time had arrived when it was necessary that they should have the control a the departments to which their legise lative measures referred ; and they asked Colonel Wynyard to call upon Mr. Shepherd and Mr. Sinclair, the Treasurer and Secretary, to resign. The measure to give them the pensions stipulated for had by this time been passed in the House of Representatives; and Mr. Siuclair did resign, on the 2d of August. By Mr. Swainson's advice, however, the Governor did not call for the resignation either of Mr. Shepherd or Mr. Swains= It is understood that the step taken by the Fitzgerald section of the Cabinet was decided on after consultation with Mr. Swainson, who even suggested additional grounds for the Governor's complying with the request. The Governor replied, that he had impairer to grant the request; the gentlemen in question held their appointments during good behaviour directly from the Crown, and he could not ,supersede that authority. Mr. Fitzgerald and his colleagues resigned. Mr. Gibbon Wakefield was invited to form a Government ; but he declined to do so, offering, 'however, to be the Go- vernment confidentiid adviser. A message from the acting Governor was read in the House of Representatives, on the 6th August, stating that the acting Governor held himself to be absolutely precluded by the Royal instructions from establishing Ministerial responsibility in a complete form. Mr. Wakefield ackuowledged himself the author of this message ; which excited great anger; and the House voted an address to the -acting Go- vernor praying for the removal of Mr. Gibbon Wakefield from his secret councils. To this the Governor replied on the 17th, by a message re- capitulating his previous message of the 6th, and declaring the difference between himself and the Assembly to be irreconcilable,

The Speaker had scarcely finished reading this, before a second mes- sage was received from the Governor, to prorogue the House until the Slat of August. The nature of this message was anticipated, and it gave rise to one of the most unpleasant scenes ever witnessed in a legislative assembly. Several motions were made by Mr. Fitzgerald or members of his party—the object being to postpone the reading of the proroguing message until a reply should have been voted to the Governor's former message. A draught of this reply was moved by Mr. Sewell, in the form of resolutions declaring the prorogation to be a deprivation of constitutional government; pledging the House to sustain the rights of the people of New Zealand ; promising to enforce penalties against re- ceivers of revenue otherwise than according to law ; foreshadowing an address to the Queen and reiterating the demand for the removal of Mr. Gibbon Wakefield, &;. In the course of the "row" which ensued, Mr. Sewell endeavoured to eject a member—Mr. Mackay, who, in order to intimate his opinion that the House was no longer in legal Session, walked about with his hat on, distributing the Gazette containing the printed message of prorogation ; and, it is said, Mr. Sewell inflicted blows upon bins. The resolutions were adopted, with Another censuring Mr. Mackay; and then the House received the proroguing message, and se- parated. During the fortnight of prorogation, great exertions were made to form a new Ministry ; and by the 31st August four new members of the Exe- cutive Council were gazetted,—Mr. Jeniingham Wakefield from Canter- bury, son of Mr. E. G. Wakefield ; Mr. Foraaith, representative for Auckland ; Mr. Travers, for Nelson ; and Mr. MacAndrew, for Otago. The avowed principle was, that each Province ought to be represented in the Government; but neither Wellington nor New Plymouth fur- nished a member to the new Cabiaet, every representative from those Provinces, with the-exception of Mr. Gibbon Wakefield himself being a firm supporter of tile Ex-Ministry. Finding themselves in a hopeless minority, the new Cabinet resigned on the 2d September, forty-eight hours after the reassembling of the Legislature. At the latest date—the 6th of September—the Southern representatives were generally evincing a desire to vote estimates necessary for the public service, in order that they might return with all speed to their distant homes. The general expectation appears' to have been that the Government would return to the old state of irresponsibility, and so remain until another session. "Before the crisis occurred," says a private letter, "a Committee of the House of Representatives had examined the state of financial matters, and I hear the result is perfectly horrifying—that Grey basalt ewer- thing in the utmost confusion, inextricable accounts and unintelligible returns—while during Wynyani's short reign the wildest profusion and mismanagement have existed. It seems more than probable that the crisis has been precipitated by Wynyard to avoid or delay exposure, and in the hope that an irresponsible Executive, beaded by Wakefield, may come to his rescue. It makes it all the more necessary that Swainson and Co. should be got rid of before financial matters are discussed, as they are participes criminis both with Grey and Wynyent,, and, as far as they could be under the old system, responsible ,fcr tivaeicts of their Govern-