furrip rtu Culnutul.

Fmaiscn.—" The Minister of Russia left Paris on Monday." Such was the brief announcement of the departure of M. Kisseleff, in the Moniteur of Tuesday. M. Kisseleff had then arrived at Brussels.

The news is still of war preparations, said to be on a gigantic scale. Enormous orders for projectiles have been sent to the iron-founders of St.

Quentin and those of -the Ardennes. A new kind of ball is made at Lorient in large quantities : it is called " boulet asphyxiante" ; is hollow, and filled with a composition that on exploding-stifles those among whom it falls. The Atlantic fleet, under Admiral Bruat, sailed from Brest on the 6th instant. It is thought this fleet willOke the first portion of the expeditionary army from Algeria. The result of Prince Napoleon's visit to Brussels is startling, if we may credit the Paris correspondent of the Times. At en interview be- tween Prince Napoleon and the King of the Belgians, the former is said to have hinted, that " as hostilities were probable between France and Russia, the Emperor Napoleon wished to be assured of the attitude which Belgium would assume in such an emergency ; that his Belgian Majesty had at his disposal 100,000 troops, and in the event (improbable though it be) of Prussia taking part with Russia, 50,000 Belgians might be sent to

the Prussian frontier ; that the Emperor did not wish any force to be sent to the French frontier, but that the force in question should guard the Prussian. To that proposition it is added that the King assented. With re-

spect to the fortresses along the French line, the wish was expressed that they should be in part reduced ; and to that also his Majesty is said to have assented. The Prince suggested, that, as King Leopold was a con-

stitutional King, it would be necessary to have the sanction of the Minis- ter for Foreign Affairs to the arrangement. The Minister was sent for, and his approval was given to the proposed arrangement. Such, it is stated, on very fair authority, was the object of. Prince Napoleon's mis- sion, as also its result."

TURKEY. —The news from Constantinople is vark,In subject this week ; a change of Ministry, a detected conspiracy, amt. ...tic return of the fleets to the Bosphorus.

Respecting the change of Ministers, the information is limited to the bare facts, that the Seraskier is dismissed, that Riza Pacha has succeeded

him, and Achmet Pasha has succeeded Riza as Minister of Marine. Advmes from Vienna characterize the modified Ministry as " one in favour of a compromise with Russia." But, in the first place, this is pnlikely ; and in the second, the report comes from Vienna. The conspiracy involves a great many persons—more than one noto- riously Russian agent : of the latter, Baron Oelsner is in custody. A

Greek priest, Athanasius, was arrested at Widin. Even "eminent per- sons at she Court of Athens," and M. Meters, Greek Minister at Con- stantinople, are said to be implicated. About forty persons had been arrested. The combined fleets returned to the Bosphorus on the 23d January ; on the plea, it is said, of short provisions and stormy weather. Mean- while, the Niger, with despatches for Admiral Dundas, was cruising four days without falling in with them. This return to Beicos has excited a good deal of speculation. It was unlooked-for even by the Ambassadors,, and drew from them the following protest "The Ambassadors cannot but express their astonishment at learning the sudden resolution of the Admirals,particularly at the present moment, when a Turkish flotilla is on the point of setting out with stores and ammunition, for the army of Anatolia. "The orders of the French and English Governments; which arrived here ten days back by the Caton, were formal and precise as to the protection which the combined fleets ought to accord to the Turkish flag and territory ; and the two Admirals are again requested to make themselves perfectly alive to the peremptory nature of those instructions, which have already been com- municated to them.

"It would seem that the Admirals are of opinion that the measures, the execution of which is intrusted to them, may be as well effected whilst the fleets are at Beicos Bay as if they were at Sinope. In that matter the Ad- mirals can only consult their own opinion, and the responsibility will remain with them.

"The Ambassadors abstain from all intervention in what relates to mat- ters of nautical interference. The wishes and intentions of their Govern- ments having been duly notified to the two Admirals, it is for them.to con- form to them, and to find means of taking them more clearly into considera- tion to carry them into execution."

On the 25th, a division of the fleet departed again, for Varna, with a con-

voy; on the 28th the remaining ships were to convoy Turkish trans- ports to Batoum.

The Fury had been sent on-a mission to Sebastopol, connected with the treatment experienced by the Retribution on her recent visit.

A report has been current that Omar Pasha has been ill ; the latest ac- counts speak of him as restored to health. Nothing of moment has been accomplished on the Danube ; and we are without information as to the ition-of the troops on either side.

e cruelty of the Russian rule does not seem to be relaxed. The pea- sants of two villages recently refused to comply with the Russian-re- quisitions, and withdrew to the mountains.

" Prince Gortscbakoff, on hearing of this unexpected act, sent troops to surround the villages; announced, that if on the instant the remaining inhabitants did not thmselves submit and answer for the return of their companions, fire and sword should be set to work. The peasants refusing to answer for the absent, the villages were burnt to the ground, and a great number of persons massacred. This dreadful piece of unneceseary cruelty had excited indignation in the whole country. The mountains were being filled with guerilla corps composed of the young peasants. Two of these bodies equated of not less than 1200 men. Unfortunately, they have very few guns and ammunition."

A telegraphic despatch says—" According to General Schildera's report to the Russian Embassy, the army of occupation is in a pitiable condition, the Original corps 'being 3,901) men weaker than when it crossed-the J'ruth in July last" L .,and of Russia is clearly seen in the opposition of the Senate to the promulgation of the firmans guaranteeing the rights of the Serviana.

GERMANY.—Count Orloff prolonged his stay at Vienna until the 8th ; aknd then, instead of visiting Merlin; or going to the Hague to meet Baron Brunnow and M. Kisseleff, be set out direct for St. Petersburg. What be proposed is understood to have been shortly this,—that the Turks should send a Minister to treat directly with Russia at the head-quarters of Prince Gortsehakoff ; that the old treaties should be renewed ; that p9litkal refugees should no longer be harboured in the Ottoman domi- nions; and that the Greek protectorate should be conceded. These pro- positions were at once rejected. Count Orloff modified them somewhat— entirely striking out the first—but equally failed. It is stated that he obtained a positive assurance that Austria and Prussia would remain neutral : but this is very doubtful.

M. de Budberg, the Russian Minister at Berlin, has been at Vienna.

ITALY.—The subject of the exemption of religious persons from mili- tary service has long occupied the attention of the Piedmontese Parlia- ment On the 3d instant, the Senate adopted the Recruiting Bill, by 38 to 12 ; one of the clauses of which fixes the number of students for the service of religion who shall be entitled to exemption from the conscrip- tion in the proportion of 1 in 20,000 of the population, instead of leaving the number to be determined yearly by the Minister of Grace and Justice.

Silvio Pellico, the celebrated author of Hie Trigioni, died on the 1st instant, at Moncaglieri, near Turin. The story of Silvio Pellico is well known. He was a tutor in the family of Count Porro, when, in 1820, he was seized as a Carbonaro by the Austrians at Milan, and confined in the fortress of Spielberg for ten years. Released by the amnesty of 1830, he found shelter at Turin, and was employed as librarian in the house of the Marchese Barolo until he died. His imprisonment had ruined his health, and he took no further part in politics. But he was not forgotten. Gioberti dedicated one of his books to him, as " the first of Italian patriots" ; and Charles Albert bestowed on him the decoration of St. Maurice.

Great excitement prevails in Lombardy ; and Marshal Radetzky has issued a proclamation, to the, effect that all persons detected in spreading false reports, "for the purpose of exciting the people with all kinds of vague ideas," shall be tried by court-martial.

A fich Sicilikejentleman, named Piraino, long a resident at Florence, has been ordered to quit the Tuscan dominions. His offence is a novel one : he was accused of being " a constant visitor at the house of Lord Mink " I

Throughout the South of Italy public feeling is much excited. It is well known that the Muratist party is very strong. M. Brennier' one of the chief secretaries of the French Foreign Office, has been making a tour in Italy from Turin to Naples. The King of Naples is said to be meeting the mute agitation in favour of Murat by efforts at regaining his lost popularity.

SWITZERLAND.—By a majority of 66 to 2, the National Council have adopted a report renewing a vote of last summer by which the settlement of the questions in dispute between Austria and Switzerland was left entirely in the bands of the Federal Council. Unlimited credit is given to them, either for the defence of the Confederation or for the relief of the suffering Ticinese. The Connell are further recommended to conduct the negotiations with the energy becoming a good cause and a free and independent maim Porerneat.—The doctrines-of Free-Trade have recently made a woo. derful progress in, Portugal. At the instance of the Government, the Commercial Association of Oporto produced a report recommending the speedy adoption eke complete system of commercial freedom. The pro.. hibitory system and the neglect of public works are denounced as the prime causes which hays degraded..Portugal. The internal. modes ee transit are so bad.that potatoes, grown ie. the Tries es, Mentes are worth tent time&their coat-price at Oporto ; yet such. is the expense of carriage, that they would, if taken, to that market prove a, losing speculation, The roads are so bad that mules only carry one-fifth of their proper load, and travel at four instead of ten leagues a day. " We are forced to confess," it is added, "that it is more difficult to. travel through Portugal than in any other country of Europe, or perhaps in the world: Articles con- veyed from Oporto to Braganza (about. ninety miles). cost. more.earrisge than they would pay freight from Oporto to Brazil and back again in our own ships." The report recommends the abolition of the oetroi barriers, so obstructive to commerce. The reform, of the tariff should be. gradual, so as not to ruin protected interests; but certain goods not manufactured in. the country might at once. be admitted at. a nominal rate. The repeal of British wine-dutiess is not, of course, overlooked ; and. the. committee observe, that instead,of waiting for that enlightened measure, it is thelus- siness of Portugal to go into the right path irrespectively of it. " If Great. Britain," they remark, " would admit, our wines for consumption at,101. per pipe, or even et double that duty, all. Portugal might be converted into vineyards." Finally, with fegard to the material undertaking* that should.attend the new system, the most important are an improvement of the bar. of the Douro, as well as of the harbour and river,, the. construc- tion of docks, the formation of interior road's, the canalization of rivers, the introduction of new agricultural implements; &c. How far the Govern- merit will adopt the report,. remains to be ascertained.

INDIA AND CHINA.—The usual telegraphic summary of the overland mail arrived in London yesterday. The dates are—Rurmali, December 26 ; Hongkong, December 27; Bombay, January 14:

"The steamer sent up the Persian Gulefor intelligence had not returned to Bombay. "Captain Latter, the Deputy-Commissioner at Prome, had been assassi- nated. The Indian steamer Medusa had been-lost between Promo and.Mea- day. A dacoit chief had 5000 men near Tonghoo ; and. the garrisons at Moulmein and Martaban were apprehensive- of attack. The Governor- General arrived at Rangoon on the 14th of December, but left far Nome, "Madras is threatened with famine; the rains- and crops having failed; and there will be great loss of revenue in Nellore. The Nizanes dominions are in a bad state, and the country is overrun by predatory Robilla hordes.. The North-west frontier is tranquil.

" Canton and Ningpo remained quiet. Matters had resumed their usual; course at Amoy. A large portion of Shanghai had been destroyed-by fire by the Imperialists. Aportion of the rebel forcer had proceeded Northward. from Nankin, and had taken Tien-Sing, about eighty miles from Pekin.

"The Emperor of Japan-was dead, and the Court would go into mourning for two years, during which no embassies could be received.

AIISTRALIA.—The Government at Sythiey has been informed, that, onthe 24th September, the French Commander in the Pacific had landed at &- lade, in New Caledonia, and takeii possession of that island and its de- pendencies in the name of the French Emperor.

In the river Murray, 1400 miles from the sea mouth, the first cargo of wool was shipped, on board the Lady Augusta steamer, on the 211 of last October, This is considered " an event" by the squatters.