filisallantous.

Tuesday's Gazette formally announced the appointments of several of the Ministers—namely, of the Earl of Liverpool, Lord Ernest Bruce, Mr. Goulburn, Lord Ellenborough, the Earl of Jersey, Sir Henry Har- dinge, Sir William Rae, Sir Robert Peel, Mr. Onkel], Mr. Henry Bing- ham Baring, Mr. Pringle, the Earl of Haddington, Sir George Cock- burn, Sir William Gage, Sir Francis Seymour, Captain Gordon, and Mr. Corry. Captain Henry Meynell was gazette(' as one of the Queen's Grooms in Waiting.

It was also announced that a writ has been issued to summon Lord Lowther, the second son of the Earl of Lonsdale, and the new Post- master-General, to the House of Peers, by the style and title of Baron Lowther of Whitehaven, in the county of Cumberland.

In the suite of Prince Albert some changes have taken place. The Marquis of Exeter is at the head of the establishment, and Viscount Jocelyn is one of its anembers. The retirements which are known at present are those of the Earl of Morley and Lord Robert Grosvenor.

Lord Ashley explains, in a letter, to the usual recipient of his com- . munications, why he is not in office-

" Mr. Crabtree—In answer to your inquiry on behalf of the operatives of the Vest Riding of Yorkshire, 1 have to reply that an office wa stendered to me by Sir Robert Peel. having, however, ascertained that his opinions on the subject of the factory question were not matured, and that be required further time for deliberation, 1 declined the acceptance of any place under circum- stances which would impede or even limit my full and tree action in the ad- vancement of that measure, which I consider to be vital both to the welfare of the working-classes and the real interests of the country. In taking this course, however, I neither express nor feel despair: it will be your duty and mine not only to persevere, but to redouble our efforts; and I still entertain a hope that her Majesty's advisers, after an investigation conducted with sym-- pathy and candour, will, under God's good providence, give to us all an answer of happiness and peace."

The Marquis of Londonderry, who was sent for to the Foreign Office last week, has left town again.

The now openly-avowed Conservative Duke of Richmond is honoured with the proxy vote of Earl Grey in the House of Lords.—Neweastle Journal.

The Journal des Debuts delivers the following dictum on Sir Robert Peel's difficulties-

" The difficulties which await Sir Robert are less than is supposed. For algainst the Opposition he has his majority, and against the majority his own personal force; for the Tories cannot do without him. Other leaders of their party command more of their sympathies, but Peel alone is imposed upon them as a necessity ; and the strongest proof of the Tories being unable to do without him, is their allowing him still to be their chief."

A Cabinet Council was held at twelve o'clock on Monday, at the Foreign Office. It was attended by Sir Robert Peel, the Duke of Wel- lington, Lord Lyndhurst, Lord WharnclifFe, the Duke of Buckingham, the Earl of Aberdeen, Lord Stanley, Sir James 'Graham, Mr. Goulburn, the Earl of Haddington, the Earl of Ripon, Lord Ellenborough, and Sir Henry Hardinge. The Council sat an hour and a half.

After the Council, the Earl of Aberdeen, as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, received visits from the Foreign Diplomatic Corps, at his office in Downing Street. Their Excellencies, with one or two ex- ceptions, attended the reception in uniform.

Lord Wharncliffe, Lord President of the Council, gave a dinner to his colleagues on Thursday, at his residence in Curzon Street. Among the Ministers present were Sir Robert Peel, the Duke of Wellington, Lord Lyndhurst, the Earl of Aberdeen, Lord Stanley, Earl of the Had- dington, the Earl of Ripon, and Lord Ellenborough.

Lord and Lady John Russell, it is said, intend to pass the remainder of the autumn at Endsleigh Cottage, in Devonshire.

Sir Thomas Lethbridge has been suffering from severe indisposition, at Lnxbrough in Somersetshire ; he is now fast recovering.

In a letter to the Times, Mr. Braude contradicts the insinuation that Mr. Faraday is indisposed-

" If I remember rightly, the same or a similar statement appeared last year, when Mr. Faraday was really much indisposed, and when he was advised tem- porarily to discontinue his scientific labours. This advice has, 1 am happy to say, been successfully followed ; and he is now enjoying himselfin Switzerland, in excellent health and spirits, and with every probability of being able to resume his usual occupations on his return, which will be in the course of the ensuing month."

The will and codicil of the late Mr. James Wood of Gloucester were proved on Saturday, in the Registry of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, by Sir Matthew Wood, Mr. Jacob Osborne, and Mr. John Surman, the surviving executors. The personal property is sworn under 1,000,000L The probate amounts to 13,5001. The legacy-duty is 10 per cent., except upon that portion given to Mrs. Goodlake and Mr. Stamen, which will pay 6 per cent.

There is no alteration in the reports of the harvest ; which continue to be as variable as ever. The weather this week has been no less changeable—sunny, rainy, foggy, -warm, and cold, by turns. If any thing, the expectations of the result are a shade darker than they were last week. The weekly average of the price of wheat is now declared to be 72s. 8d the quarter ; the duty 28. 8d.

Various papers in Normandy and in the North-east of France state that the harvest has turned out much better than was expected. The graziers near Caen have had every reason to be contented with the season.

The Paris papers of Wednesday have been received.

9.1e resurvey of taxes still causes some partial traubles. At Grenoble there were some attempts at resistance, as also at Villegrande. In other places, citizens shirt their houses ; but the registry was effected in one way or another. In Paris, people say the registry goes on, yet no house has been entered ; the fiscal officers contenting themselves with taking information from the porters at the street-doors. Similar forbearance in some provincial towns has avoided fresh tumult, and allayed the opposition.

According to the Echo de la Frontlire of Valenciennes, the arrival of the Comptroller, charged with making the survey on the 1st instant, at Avesnes les Au'bert, excited a formidable commotion. Upwards of a thousand people, armed with soithes, knives, and other rude weapons, rose against the Government agents, and compe/led them to retire without accomplishing their mission. The most absurd reports bad been spread through the couutrj- on the subject of the intended operation.

The papers announce some curious movements in the French fleet. According to the Toulonnais of the 2d instant, the unex- pected return of the squadron of Admiral Hugon, which took place on the 1st, gave rise to many contradictory reports. It was at first believed that it would be ordered to Mahon, to demand satisfaction of the Spanish authorities for the offence lately offered to the French flag in that harbour. Another report was, that the fleet had been recalled merely to be inspected by the Minister of Marine ; and'a third, that it would be sent to the Levant. Six war-ships at Toulon were under orders to sail for Brest. The Sud de Marseilles of the 2d instant states, under date Barcelona, the 28th August, that all the French men-of-war on the station had been suddenly ordered to put to sea, without knowing their destination. The commanders were to open their despatches at a certain distance from the coast.

Madrid letters of the 1st instant announce that the anniversary of the Revolution of September had been celebrated with much eclat, but in perfect tranquillity. Espartero reviewed the National Guards; by whom he was cordially received. In the evening the city was illumi- nated.

The correspondent of the Times states the particulars of the resump- tion of the Isla del Rey in Port Mahon, about -which some misrepre- sentation has been circulated- " The Spanish Government, it appears, had secretly ordered the local autho- rities of Mahon to give notice to the Directors of the French hospital to eva- cuate it at the expiration of the lease. On receipt of this intimation, the Vice-Consul at Mahon immediately communicated the circumstance to hia superior, the-Consul, at Palma ; who wrote to M. Guizot for instructions. M. Gonzales had not said a word on the subject to M. Pageot, the 'French Envoy, or to M. Hernandez, the Spanish Minister in Pare. On receipt of the despatch from the Consul, M. Gnizot sent for the latter and expressed to him his astonishment and discontent at the conduct of his Government, who, instead of applying directly to him through the medium of the re- presentative of France in Madrid, had adopted an irregular and un- becoming course, little in accord with the relations that ought to exist between friendly nations. 11I. 'Hernandez pleaded ignorance of the whole transaction, and hastened to communicate the nature of his inter- view with M. 'Guizot to his Government. A despatch to the same effect was transmitted to M. Pageot by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs ; and 11iL Gonzales seeing that the affair was likely to assume a serious turn, denied having any knowledge of it, and promised to institute an inquiry to ascertain how such an order had reached the authorities of Mahon. M. Pageot told him that he might dispense with making the inquiry ; that the French Go- vernment was determined not to renew the lease of the island, and had taken measures for the removal of the sick to Toulon and Eyeres."

The Vienna correspondent of the Morning Post states that the notes of Prince Metternich had procured the assent of France to the disarm- ing of Europe. The reduction of the Austrian army is to take place in October ; when, it is said, the entire Landwehr will be dismissed.

Colonel Barnett, the British Consul-General for Egypt, hoisted the British colours at his residence in Alexandria on the 20th August ; on which day he delivered his credentials to the Pasha. He was accom- panied to the Viceregal Palace by an unusual number of attendants ; as, in addition to the British residents, there were many officers of the Rodney, Calcutta, Inconstant, and Medea, now in the port. Colonel Barnett was naturally warmly welcomed, receiving the usual compli- ment, a horse and sword. He delivered an addressto the Pasha, laying great stress on the Turkish commercial treaty and the abolition of mo- nopolies. The Pasha replied, that he was anxious to abolish all mono- polies—he bad observed that the most flourishing nations had abandoned all such restrictions : now that he was ender the orders of the Sultan he had nothing to do with diplomacy, but would attend to the interests of agriculture ; but he added, that Egypt had been a country of mo- nopolies for ages, and a sudden change might prow injurious to the people.

A projected expedition of the Porte against the revolted Bey of Tunis inspires some uneasiness among the Powers of Eurape. The France asserts that Lord Palmerston had delivered to Mr. Bulwer a sharp note protesting against any intervention of the French Govern- ment in a dispute between the Sultan and his vassal the Bey of Tunis ; and declaring that if Prance took any part in the affair, England would espouse the Sultan's cause. Upon this, the Courrier Francais remarks, that it was quite true That a serious misunderstanding had broken out between the London and Paris Cabinets ; but it does not believe that threats 'had been used towards France. It wits said, indeed, that the ap- pearance of a Turkish fleet in the waters of Tunis would certainly be the signal of a conflict between the naval forces of England and France ;.bat it was added, continues the Courrier, that England, feeling that it was not becoming in her at this moment to assume an attitude of provoca- tion, was endeavouring to dissuade the Porte fromthis expedition. The Portafoglio Maltese of the 27th says, it was supposed that Sir John Om- mane;, who bad arrived at Malta, was about to sail fur Tunis with several British vessels.

The Indian papers contain a long and able report which Keshen, the Chinese Commissioner, had presented to the Emperor, setting forth in plain terms the inabffity of the Chinese forces to cope with the British. Qualifying his disagreeable truths with many admissions of his own incapacity and dulness of understanding, and courting the rolral clemency with assurances that his anxiety had deprived him of relish for his morning meal, Keshen proceeds after the following fashion : he is speaking of the forts of the Bogue- " Now we all know that the principal cause of these forts being erected was a barrier to merchant-ships which draw more water, and which in time of peace, when they submit to constraint, dare not pass the bounds, or to go round about; but if they were to bring troops with intention to rebel, they may sneak in clandestinely through every hole and corner; there is no necessity for their passing before the forts, and thus may they proceed straight up to the Provin- cial City itself. Moreover, after having passed the Bocce Tigris, though we may add obstruction to obstruction, yet such is the nature of the country that there is no important point by which we may hold it.

" In referenceto guns mounted on these said forts, their whole number hardly exceeds two hundred ; barely adequate to defend their fronts, while their sides are left quite unprotected. Moreover, among their number those which may be used at a moment's notice are not many, for in point of endurance as well as make they are alike defective. The bodies of the guns are immensely large, but the bore is very small, and the sea in those parts is extremely wide, so that they scarce carry to the middle. Thus, as regards their number, they are fewer than those mounted on the foreign ships ; and if we speak of their power, they are not equal to those which the foreign ships carry. Moreover, the embrasures on the forts are as wide as doors, almost large enough to allow people to creep out and in by. if we bad to sustain a broadside, they would offer no protec- tion to our people, and may be said in a word to be wholly without strength. Just now we are making inquiries after a cannon-founder, to see if he can cast guns upon an improved model, when we shall have such cast; but if we can in very deed get them cast according to this plan, that will only do as a preventive against the future, and not at all be in time for the present emergency. Thus there is nothing good in our military weapons that we may place reliance on them.

" Again, in reference to the strength of our soldiers, I find that the keeping off the foreigners must be done by sea-fights ; and to fight well at sea we must have good marine troops. I have now to feel grateful to your Majesty for specially, sending land troops from the different provinces. This shows the great and sacred anxiety your Majesty feels in the matter. But then, these troops must go on board our sea-going ships before that they can give battle to the foreigners; and if they were not firm, or if they were not accustomed to the winds and waves, it might entail on us the calamities of a defeat. Now, they ere not accustomed to go on board ships and handle them, so that we cannot but use marine soldiers. The marine troops of Canton province are drawn by invitation from the sea-side, and their quality is irregular and un- certain. 1 bad previously heard a rumour, that on the 15th day of the 12th moon (7th January 1841), after the battle, the whole of these soldiers went to their Te tub, or General, and under false pretences extorted money from him, otherwise they threatened to disband. And I lately wont to the said Te tab, an" asked him face to face concerning it ; when he said, that it was quite true, and that be (the Te tub) having no remedy, was obliged to pawn his clothes and things, by which means he was enabled to give a bonus of a couple of dollars to each of his Canton soldiers, and thus got them to remain at their posts until now. lf, then, as it is, the disposition of these soldiers is greatly to be lamented, supposing at the most critical moment when we had actually joined battle these marine forces were to be found weak and with- out energy, it might lead to the most fatal Consequences; and although we might have veteran troops among them, yet there would be no means of in- spiring them with a portion of their skill and steadiness. Moreover, our war- ships are neither large nor strong; they are incapable of sustaining large guns, so that they are unable to repulse the foreigners. And these are the remarks 1

have to offer on the weakness of our soldiery." * • *

" On looking over the records of the past I find, in reference to the patting down of the Ladrones, that these were but so many thieves and robbers; the ships they were embarked in were native ships, and the guns they made use of were native-cast guns; and yet this affair was spun out for many years, and only put an end to by inviting them to surrender under promise of pardon : and under the present circumstances it is to be feared-that the wasp's sting is much more deadly !

" Your slave is vexed to death thinking of these things even till he loathes his food and till sleep has forsaken his eyelids ; forasmuch he does not shrink from the heavy guilt be is incurring in stating all these facts, the result of his diligent in9uiries, and annoying with them the ears of Heaven's son ; and at the same time he takes every thing connected with the foreigners and all the foreigners' letters, and hands them up for Imperial inspection."

Keshen says that the natives of Canton province are not to be depended upon like the citizens of Tinghae : English gold could buy up all the Southern province.

Indignant at the ill success of the truth-telling Keshen, the Em- peror had ordered new preparations against the English, and Keshen's destruction and that of his relatives and retainers, hi these terms— "Let Yihshin and Lung, Yang, Ho, E, Lin, and Tang, put in readiness our troops, and most peremptorily make an entire end of the whole, not allowing one Barbarian to escape hack to his country. And I, the Emperor, will sum- mon a great army, that from the North we may exterminate them by destroy- ing their nests and dens (in England and India), thus cutting them off both root and branch, and not allowing them one foot of ground, in order to appease any Imperial wrath. Keshen having received bribes and hired our troops not to fight, I order that he forthwith be cut in sunder at the waist. And let those who officially attended him, whether great or small, his relations, and all who appertain to him, with those who are arranging the affairs with him, he all indiscriminately decapitated. And let Paoutsung, who was traitorously combined with the English in the affair, be put to a slow and ignominious death, by having his flesh cut from his bones by small bits ; let his native place be laid waste for a hundred lee round, and let his relations be sentenced to the punishment of transportation. Let the peacock's feather be plucked from the cap of Yihshin for his imbecility and tardiness in bringing forward his troops ; let Lungwar be disgraced two degrees of rank ; and let Yangfrang be deprived of the truly brave rank of How. And let every officer in the pro- vince of Canton, whether high or subordinate, be deprived of his official button until they make good their delinquencies by efficiency of effort.—Respect this." it is doubted, however, whether this edict, so far as it concerned Keshen, was intended for actual execution : it is thought to have been issued merely as a terrible threat to be held in terrorent over Keshen and his brother statesmen.

Hong-Kong was again occupied by the British, and the Chief Com- missioner busied himself during some time in laying out plans for a city. He had appointed Captain Caine, of the Twenty-sixth Regi- ment, Chief Magistrate of Hong-Kong, and had drawn up a code of regulations for the administration of justice. Several public buildings were in process of erection on the island, and every thing indicated an intention of its being retained as a permanent possession of the British Crown. Captain Elliot had issued a notice intunating that land would be granted to British subjects on terms something similar to those adopted in Australia. The general impression, however, was that there would be very few purchasers.

The Indian journals mention a "splendid affair "which had occurred near Khelat-i-Ghilzie, in which a small British force had repulsed a large body of natives. It is related by the Delhi Gazette of June 18th- .. Intimation having been received at Candabar that the force at Khelat- i-Ghilzie, consisting of two of the Shah's infantry corps, commanded by Captain Macan and Griffin.balf of Christie's Horse and two guns, was sur- rounded by 3,000 or 4,000 Ghilzies, whom it was deemed politic that Macau, however anxious, should not attempt to attack, Colonel Wymer, with 400 of our old friends the Thirty-eighth, and,the remainder of Christie's Horse, com- manded by Captain Leeson, and four Horse Artillery guns, moved with stores towards the fort ; but when within two or three marches of their destination, the Gbilzies hastened from Khelat-i-Ghilzie, and made for the approaching troops. Captain Macau, • eager for the fray,' immediately gave chase with a portion of his force ; but not coming up with them, nor being able to gain any intelligence of their movements, the Captain, suspecting a feint, and that perhaps the Ghilzies had returned by another route to surprise the garrison, halted for the night. The Ghilzies moved on, and coming upon Colonel Wymer's force in the night and in crmp, they, full 3,000 iu number, im- mediately attacked out troops, who had formed in front : rushing down to the bayonets, they were repulsed, but again and again made the attempt in very gallant style. This failing, they tried the flank, and turned it, but got well drubbed for their pains; they exhibited a most determined spirit, only exceeded by the truly loyal and gallant behaviour of the Sepoys, who, when solicited by the Ghilzies to give up their charge under promises of reward and protection, replied by discharges of musketry as well as of abuse on all their female rela- tions. Their bravery repulsed every attack, and at length drove the Ghilzies off the field. Next morning seventy of the enemy were found to have fallen : it is impossible to say what the number of wounded may be, as the Gbilzies ran every risk in carrying them away ; but it is no doubt considerable. Colonel Wymer's force was too small to pursue them ; but it is to be hoped that they may fall in with the wing of the Sixteenth, which left Ghuznee under Colonel Maclaren, who was in daily expectation of being joined by the Fifth Light Cavalry. Our disasters were—Thirty-eighth Native Infantry, 1 Sepoy killed, and 10 slightly wounded. Leeson's Horse, 3 killed and 5 wounded. The Artillery, a horse or two killed. Total, 4 killed and 15 wounded. Macao's party did not even hear the firing, or a much more severe lesson would have been read to the Ghilzies; as it is, this little affair will keep them quiet for a time. Colonel Wymer's coolness and arrangements, when surprised, are said to have been admirable; and both officers and men behaved as gallantly as the Bengal Infantry usually do." In a letter to the Morning Chronicle, Captain Harvey Tuckett vindi- cates Lord Auckland's policy in Afghanistan, as having opened a good road for our commerce to central Asia- " The value of goods exported, via Delhi, across the N.W. frontier;-from 1st May 1840 to 30th April 1841, is 431,8131.; the value in the preceding year being only 50,9291.; thus showing an increase of 380,0001. Of this sum the increase on British manufactures and productions is no less than 297,0001. The principal articles are long-cloths—the unbleached being preferred, alit is not only more durable, but it is more easily dyed blue, the favourite colour of the North ; flowered muslins are in much demand, and the finest qualities eagerly purchased; Scotch cambrics and dimities eagerly bought; handkerchief pieces are much purchased as turbans ; broad-cloths of coarse qualities and sombre colours; velvets are very little used in Cahill, but there is a large de- mand for them for the Belk, Bokhara, Kohrassan, and Tabrez markets. Next to cloths, British hardware is sought for, and this article will form one of tho chief staples of our commerce. The Russian commerce has already received a severe check. The imitation gold and silver lace and tissues formerly imported into Cabal from Brune have given place to the rich and beautiful manufactures of India ; and the rich stuffs and brocades of Benares are also much admired. Of the coarse cotton cloths wove in India, those made from English yarn are preferred. This increase is entirely in the trade from Delhi to Cabal, across the North-western frontier; besides which, there arc goods expos from Delhi and Juggadree to Babwulpore, Scinde, and the Punjab ; all of which hay increased in nearly the same ratio as that with Cabal."

The ceremony of opening the railway from Aix-la-Chapelle to Cologne took place on the 1st instant, in presence of an immeuse as- semblage. Soon after six in the morning, about five hundred persons got into the carriages for a trip to Cologne. Among them there were several members of the Government, the Minister of Public Works, M. Desmaisieres, and the Director of the Belgian Railway, M. Mitsui. The train arrived in ninety minutes at Cologne ; where the ceremony of inauguration was performed by the Director of the Railway, the Coun- cillor D'Amnion : and immediately afterwards the company, increased to fourteen hundred persons, started for Aix-la-Chapelle. On arriving there, a splendid dinner was in readiness.