fortiga nut &Luigi.

FBANCE.—The Emperor stayed but a short time in the South, return- ing with the Empress to Paris on Monday. The result of the Loan is matter of public astonishment. The sum re- quired was 30,000,0001.; the sum subscribed is no less than 144,000,0001. The number of individual subscribers is 310,000; and a third of the sum actually required has been subscribed in small sums, of fifty francs Rente, or a capital not exceeding 501. As a tenth part of the whole sum ten- dered by subscription was at once deposited by the public, no less than 14,000,0001. were paid into the Bank of France. But as it is the policy of the Government to accept all tenders for less than 50 francs Rente in full, and to complete the loan by a rateable proportion on the larger sums, a large portion of the deposit will be returned. Nearly 40,000,0001. were subscribed in the departments; and 24,000,0001. in foreign coun- tries. In London alone nearly 2,000,000/. were paid into the hands of Rothschild and Baring last week by way of deposit on the demands made through them. The Timer makes some interesting comments on the character of the loan.

"The extreme eagerness with which the public have taken up the loan proves that the price at which it was issued by the Government was lower than the actual credit of France required, and that a considerable profit was anticipated by the holders of the scrip at the expense of the State. The loan was for 30,000,0001. sterling, and, whether much or little was sub- scribed, the actual demand upon the country was limited to that sum. The price was fixed by law at 92 franca 25 centa for the Four-and-a-half per Cent B.entes, and at 65 francs 26 cents for the Three per Cent Rentes. At this rate, aided by some further advantages to the subscribers in the mode of payment, the profit which may be realized on the Three per Cent Rentes is about 4 per cent on the capital named. Thus we find it stated that a man who makes a deposit of 109 francs on a claim to 50 francs Rents might so- cure a profit of from 50 to 60 francs on this preliminary operation. The eagerness shown by the public, therefore, is something like that which. was displayed in the allotment of shares at the height of the railway mania in this country, because the whole profit which may attach to the share or the Rentes may be realized on the first deposit. No wonder that such terms as these brought every one into the market, more especially as it was provided that the demands for 50 francs Rents were not to be subject to reduction. This, again, is a circumstance accounting in some degree for the enormous multitude of the subscribers and the enormous amount subscribed. As the small tenders were to have a preference over the large ones, it became the interest of persons wishing for a certain amount of the loan to subdivide their applications into small amounts. A man applying for 1000 francs Rents would only obtain on the fival adjustment about one-tenth of what he asked for ; but tne same man applying for twenty inscriptions of 50 francs Rents in the names of his children, his clerks, or his servants, would get all that he required. This species of substitution has been practised on a very large scale. In one instance we are told that a company of the National Guard sent in its names to swell the list of its captain ; and every sort of expedient of this kind was attempted. This circumstance accounts in tome

degree for the multiplication' of the subscribers ; another equally explains the amount subscribes', for, as it was generally believed that the allotments of the loan would be materially reduced,, nothing was more simple than for a subscriber to ask for ten times as much as he hoped to receive."

GERMANY.—The German Diet resolved, on.Thursclay week, to maintain the federal contingents on the war footing, in accordance with the con- current advice of Austria and Prussia but Austria did not obtain from the Diet any expression of approval regarding her course of action ; and Prussia failed to obtain any extension of the time allotted to the minor States to produce their contingents. Nevertheless, these States are dis- banding every man they can decently spare.

In Hanover, the struggle for the constitution is regarded as approach- ing a climax. This constitution was granted to the Hanoverians by the late King Ernest Augustus during the pressure of 1848. The privileged classes have always looked upon it with disgust and hostility, and have many times endeavoured to abrogate its liberal provisions. Failing in the Chambers, they had recourse to the Federal Diet ; and the Diet, questioning the legitimacy of a constitution granted under pressure, and alleging that its provisions are inconsistent with federal laws, have de- creed its subversion. The Chambers contend against the validity of the decree of the Diet. The King, taking sides with the reactionary party, dismissed the popular Ministry, and formed a new one favourable to the change. It is anticipated that the Diet will be called upon to insure obedience to its decree by force of arms. A remarkable motion was brought before the Wurtemberg Chamber of Deputies on the 18th July. It calls for the revision of the Federal Diet ; which, it alleges, has been admitted by all parties to be imperfect, and which has been kept so by Russian influence ; and proposes a Diet based on popular representation. The Deputies supporting the motion contend that the present time is peculiarly favourable for a revision.

"The want of apowerful Germany to act as a bulwark against Russia has been made convincingly evident to the English and French nations. They cannot but wish that a legitimate influence in the management of German affairs should be accorded to the German people, the infinite majority of which is Anti-Russianly disposed, and views in the struggle of the Western Powers against Russia a struggle for its own cause. On the one side Rus- sia, whose flag is at the present moment excluded from every sea' possesses no power to prevent the work of union in Germany, and even her moral influence there has sunk, since it has become clear to every thinking man how little Russia really is the asylum of Conservatism, and that she has only pretended to be so for the purpose of promoting disunion between the Sove- reigns of Germany and their people ; at the same time, the internal affairs of the people of Germany, which leave the Governments perfect liberty and leisure, are peculiarly favourable to the reform of the federal constitution."

Irerx.—The Austrian journals state that "the Central Congregations will be convoked in the Lombardo-Veneto kingdom." It is remarked that a notice of similar import appeared just before the revolution of 1848.

"In order to understand what is meant by these 'Central Congregations' it is necessary to explain that they consisted of two deputies from each pro- vince—one a noble and one a plebeian—and one deputy for each royal town. Each deputy for a province was required to be a funded proprietor and pay at least 1000f, direct taxes, but for the representatives of the towns the pos- session of a manufactory or commercial funds of equivalent value sufficed. The deputies were elected for six years, and were eligible for refilection. The candidates were indicated in the first place by the Imperial delegates, and elected pro forma by the Communal and Provincial Councils. During their term of representation they received an allowance of between 5000f. and 6000f. a year from the Treasury, and the Government reserved to itself the power of excluding from the Congregation those individuals who ren- dered themselves unworthy of the faith reposed in them. These Congrega- tions were originally instituted in 1816 'for the purpose of arriving by regu- lar means and with exactitude at the desires and the wants of the inhabi- tante, and to turn to account in the public administration the lights and counsels which the representatives could furnish for the advantage of the country ' ; but, as they never were, in fact, used for any higher object than as consultative bodies on questions of internal administration, and as, from their vitiated constitution, they were entirely subservient to the dictates of the Viceroy, they had no attraction for men who might really have proved the true medium of conciliation between the supreme Government and its most violent opponents."

SWITZERLAND.—The National Council of Switzerland, at its sitting on the 24th July, adopted by a large majority the conclusions of a committee appointed to report on the enlistment question, and ordered that the laws forbidding the enlistment of Swiss subjects for foreign service shall be enforced throughout the Cantons.

THE CREISEA.—The intelligence from the seat of war has again been scanty, and not marked by any events of great importance. No further sorties of the enemy, either upon the French or the English position, have been reported. Prince Gortachakoff supplies two items of news—that two fresh divisions of infantry had joined him ; and that on the 27th July, the French cannonaded the Flagstaff battery for two hours and a half. The accounts still continue to note the- steady approach of the French against the Malakoff; and in some of the letters from the camp, purport- ing to come from French officers, the foremost lines are said to be only a stone's throw from the outer line of the great Russian work. "We have crowned with a strong gabionnade," says General Pelissier, writing on the 17th July, "the quarries situated between the Brandon re- doubt (Mamelon) and the Malakoff tower, thus forming a continuous line, the right of which is secured on the Careening ravine side by a large Place d'armes and the left of which is well defended by good ambuscades nearthe Karribehusla ravine. A temporary ambuscade, occupied only by a few skirmishers in holes, was made on the extreme left, with a view to attract the enemy's fire. The Times correspondent, writing two days later, throws sonic light on the position.

" The Malakoff and hfamelon stand on an elevated plateau, while the ridge that joins them is itself higher than the land around. It is along this ridge that the French sap extends in a zigzag to within 170 yards of the hill which the Russians hold. As the incline is somewhat steep, the French working parties are already out of the reach of the Russian guns, which can- not be sufficiently depressed to be used against them. They therefore can work on without danger, except from the riflemen, who hold every spot of vantage, and use their best endeavours to pick off every enemy who shows a part of his cap within their range ; but, as these can be replied to by French marksmen, while the guns of the M.amelon are hourly thundering against the Russian stronghold, the advantage is clearly on the side of the French. The latter have also thrown up a small battery of field-pieces at the extremity of their sap, which have hitherto prevented the egress and formation of Russian troops for a sortie against them. These guns entirely command the points on which the Russians are in the habit of leaving their works, and they consequently have been reduced to reply to all the advances of their enemy merely by fires of musketry from the embrasures." But he mentions that a party of Russians had crept eighty yards from their works, and had, unobserved, constructed some ambuscades.

litanies& has been turned into a fortress, and a large quantity of ship.. ping have assembled in the bay. A report has been current, somewhat favoured by an ambiguous article in the Constitutionnel, that an assault will be made on tho Eastern suburb; that if it fail the siege will be raised; that a garrison will be left at Kamiesch; and that the main body will proceed to Varna. The language of the Constitutionnel is at least curious-

" In every yossible contingency the possession of Kamiesch, fortified as it now is, will aid in the accomplishment of the object with which the war in the Crimea was undertaken. Sebastopol commanded by Kamiesch, which holds it, so to speak, by the throat, can never henceforth be of any use to the Czar. On the supposition that events should call the army to fresh points of the Russian territory, who does not see that the presence of a few French and English ships at Kamiesch would suffice to nullify the entire offensive power of Sebastopol ? Therefore, the possibility of the mobilisation of the Allied army and of the nullification of Sebastopol are the two grand results of the transformation of Kamiesch into a place of war. It is now the sentinel—the keeper of the Russian citadel France now knows that without abandoning its conquest it may at will send an army of 100,000 men to any point where the glorious cause fur which it is fighting by the side of England may call for their services." A Supplement to Tuesday's Gazette contained an interesting despatch from General Simpson describing the position of the covering army.

General Simpson to lord l'annsure.

"Before Sebastopol, July 21.

"My Lord—I have great pleasure to inform your Lordship that the health of the army has greatly improved ; cholera has nearly disappeared, and al- though more sickness has appeared amongst the officers, it is not of that cha- racter to cause uneasiness.

"With reference to the exterior army, the Russians hold their strong i3oai- tion on the Mackenzie Heights, extending by Aitodor to Albat, with ad- vanced posts by Chouli, Ozenbash, and the strong range of heights overhang- ing-Urkusta and the Valley of Baidar. It is reported they have also a force of artillery and infantry at Alupka. The French have pushed forward the whole of their cavalry into the Valley of Baidar, resting upon the Sardinians, upon the left bank of the Souhai river, and communicating with the French upon the Tchemaya, whilst the high ridge protecting Balaklava is guarded by the Turkish army. "I purpose sending four squadrons of light cavalry into the Valley of Balder tomorrow, to protect and afford convoys to the commissariat for the purpose of bringing in forage and supplies for the use of the army.

"Major-General Markham arrived on the 19th instant, and, agreeably to the instructions conveyed in your Lordship's telegraphic message, I have appointed him to the command of the 2d Division. 'Sir Stephen Luehington, K.C.B., having been promoted to the rank of Admiral, has been relieved in the command of the Naval Brigade, by Cap- tain Honourable Henry Keppel. I take this opportunity of recording my sense of the ability and zeal with which he has throughout conducted his arduous and responsible situation of commanding the Naval Brigade, which has rendered such excellent service in our batteries.

"I beg also to report to your Lordship that Mr. Commissary-General Filder has been obliged to relinquish the command of his important depart- ment, and will have to return to England upon the recommendation of a medical board.

"I enclose the list of casualties to the 19th instant.

"I have, &c., JAMES SIMPSON, "Lieutenant-General Commanding." The casualties up to the 19th July were 1 officer and 14 men killed ; and 2 officers and 92 men wounded. The names of the officers were — Captain R. A. Fraser, 42d Foot, killed and Captain Roper, 47th Foot, and Captain Charles Hudson, Land Transport Corps, wounded. The Naval Brigade lost 2 killed and 1 wounded.

The Courier de Marseilles announces that the French Government have chartered ninety-seven steamers for river navigation, each to carry 600 men ; and that the flotilla is to make a trial trip before leaving for the Crimea.

On the 8th of July, Innokeorte, the Archbishop of Cherson and the Taurida, celebrated divine service in Sebastopol before Prince Gortscha- koff, General Osten-Saeken, Admiral Nachimoff, and all the officers both of the sea and land services. The Archbishop brought to Prince Gortscha- koff the pictures of the saints sent by the cities of Kieff, Voronwska, Moscow, and other places, and addressed the troops as follows before giving them his blessing- " Valiant warriors, holy Russia prays for you, and sends you these pic- tures, whose power has no equal in this world. Pray to them, and trust in God that it will be His pleasure soon to drive the enemy from the soil of the Crimea."

Prince Gortsehakoff thanked the Archbishop ; and then, turning to the troops, led off three cheers.

TIIRKEY.—Accounts have been published in the Invalide Reese of the progress of -General Moumvieff in Turkish Armenia, down to the 8th July. It appears that the mine had interrupted his operations for several days ; but on the 25th June the weather cleared up, the country became practicable, and he instantly took advantage of the change to send out detachments to scour the country and intercept convoys. Having made a careful reconnoissance of Kars, on the 20th, he moved his camp from Mougaradjik to Kany Kieni ; and leaving a portion of his troops there, under Prince Gagarine, he took col:amend of the main body, and marched, on the 29th, towards the Soghanlu Dagh. On the 29th he rested at Ka- tanly, a village ten miles from Kars. On the 30th the troops again marched, and halted at the foot of the mountain. General Baklanoff was sent forward to Bardous; he reached the summit of the pass on the 1st July, and descended upon the village, leaving a. small party on the heights in an unfinished Turkish intrenchment. At Bardous he took some stores of corn and ammunition ; and following the track of a con- voy destined for Kars, overtook and captured it. Here 137 arabas fell into the enemy's hands. Meantime the main body passed the moun- tain and encamped on the Western incline. Thence Mouravieff sent a detachment to Enghi-Keuv, seized more provisions, and for two dap employed his troops in removing them to the camp. But not having suM- cient transport, much was destroyed. Having sent patrols to Kara Ourg- han and Zevine, and ascertained that they were unoccupied, he quitted the Soghanlu mountain, and returned in two marches to the camp of Prince Gagarine on the 6th July. During the march, he says, different chiefs of the Kurd tribes of both sides of the mountains, under 'Turkish rule, came to him, made their submission, and offered their services. In the same

way the Greek bakers of the villages destroyed "expressed a wish to re- main" with the troops. He found that nothing had occurred during his absence, and that even the convoys from Gumri had not been interrupted.

The Invalids Busse also states that General Sousloff with the Erivan detachment had beaten the Turkish troops at Sourbe Orgbanes, advan- cing to the relief of Kars ; and that Sousloff had passed Toprak Kaleh. "During the march of the Erivan detachment the Kurdish tribes that dwell in those parts came to make their submission."

It is now stated in telegraphic messages that the communication be- tween Kars and Erzeroum has been completely reestablished ; and that Schamyl has made a diversion in Georgia.

" Trebizond, July 20.—The Russians have suspended operations, and con- fined themselves to naming governors for the villages in the province of Rare. Ten guns have been sent to Erzerouni,: which is now defended by 15,000 men."

M. Thouvenel, the French Ambassador, had his first audience of the Sultan on the 25th July. Omar Pasha was received with great distinc- tion by the Porte. He visited General Vivian and inspeetekthe Turkish Contingent.

It has been reported, but not confirmed, that General Beatson has been killed by the Bashi-Bazouks. Letters from that officer, dated July 22, afford some reason for believing that the story of the revolt of his cavalry has been exaggerated.

" We had some desertions the other day, of which Most exaggerated ac- counts have gone forth. To give you an idea bow false the reports were, I may tell you that a story appeared in a Constantinople paper that the de- serters had taken the flag from my tent and trampled it on the ground ; the truth being, that, on the day the desertions took place, I changed my head- quarters, and a volunteer working party from one of the Albanian regiments assisted in digging up the flag-staff: so that, so far from being discreditable to the men, it showed their readiness to do anything they were asked. The men will be easily enough managed if we have fair play, and I doubt not in the end we shall make a first-rate corps."

Tan Bar:rm.—The main body of the fleet continued off Nargen at the latest dates ; and it is surmised that the English Admirals were testing, by actual observation, a plan for the attack of Revel proposed by Admiral Penaud. We have particulars of the action of Friedrichshamm, reported by the telegraph last week, both from Captain Yelverton and other source's. It appears that a six-gun battery had been recently erected there about a quarter of a mile from the town, and the place occupied by 3000 men. The ships arrived on the evening of the 20th July, and on the fol- lowing morning they opened fire at twenty minutes to ten. In one hour the guns were dismounted, and the battery abandoned. The enemy's loss must have been very great ; numbers were seen carried away on stretch- ers; one mounted officer was observed to fall from his saddle, cut in two by a shelL It was not the intention to burn dab town, but some stray rockets set fire to and destroyed some houses in the suburbs, but did not reach the museum, or the church with its beautiful spire. The Cossack escaped without any damage. The Arrogant was hulled several times, but only one man was slightly hurt. The Magicienne had some of her rigging cut ; and the little Ruby had two men wounded, one of them rather severely. The mortar-vessels have all been painted smoke colour, and have gone through a good deal of exercise, throwing their shells beautifully at a very extensive range. Lieutenant Hobart, of the Duke of Wellington, has been appointed to the command of these mortars. The health of the fleet is admirable, and there is no tendency to choleraic disease.

Usirrau STATES.—The North Star arrived at Southampton on Thurs- day, with advices from New York to the 21st July.

Mr. Roweroft, the English Consul at Cincinnati has been tried for en- listing American subjects for the service of the British army in the Crimea. He was entrapped by an Irishman into the illegal act. Cone- ban, a member of the United Irish Society, offered to Mr. Roweroft fifty recruits, and the latter told him that if he would take the men to the Niagara Suspension Bridge he should receive a captain's commission. For this purpose he received an advance of money, but not from the Con- sul. He betrayed the negotiation and hence the arrest of the Consul. The decision of the court is expected to be an acquittaL

Ii.—Political society at Calcutta has been much disturbed by cer- tain alleged mysterious proceedings in relatioh to the Public Works Loan. It is stated that while the Court of Directors authorized in December last a loan for public works, when the exhaustion of the surplus in the hands of the Government should render it necessary, at the same time they dis- tinctly ordered that no loan should be opened without their previous sanc- tion; and that nevertheless, in the absence of Lord Dalhousie, the Go- vernment opened a loan' unsanctioned. The public funds were depre- ciated in consequence. The whole affair, however, has been shrouded in mystery ; but although great efforts have been made to keep the public from a knowledge of the amount subscribed, yet, says the Calcutta corre- spondent of the Times, it is perfectly well known that the subscriptions fall short of a million and a quarter sterling.

A census of the population of the Punjtiub was taken on the last day of 1854. On our first occupation of the country the population was es- timated at 5,000,000—it has been found to exceed 11,000,000. The dis- covery of a rich vein of coal on the Irrawaddy has been reported. Jung Bahadoor has invaded Thibet with 100,000 Nepaulese and 50 guns, and has beaten the troops of the Lama. An attempted settlement of the quarrel by negotiation failed, and it is anticipated that the Lama will fall into the hands of the Nepaulese.