_foreign anb eolonial.

Faiwcz.—The new topic in the Paris papers is the modification of the Ministry; which was definitively made known, on Monday, by the official announcement of the new Ministers in the ifoniteur; as follows— "hi. Damon, Secretary of State for the Department of Public Works, to be Minister of Finance, in the place of M. Lacave Laplagne. M. Trezel, Peer of France, Lientenant-Geaeral commanding the Twelfth Military Division, to be Minister of War, in the place of Lieutenant-General Moline de Saint Yon; whose resignation is accepted. The Duke de Montebello, Peer of France, Ambassador at the Court of the King of the Two Wilke to be Minister of Marine and Co- lonies, in the place of Admiral Baron de Mad.an ; whose resignation is accepted. M. Jayr, Peer of France, Prefect of the Department of the Rhone, to be Minister ef Public Works, in the place of IL Dumou; nominated Minister of Finance."

A separate ordinance charges M. Guizot, Minister of Foreign Affairs, with the interim of the Ministry of Marine and Colonies, during the absence -of the Duke de Montebello, who is residing at Naples.

It is observed that the ordinance appointing M. Dumon Minister of Finances says nothing of his predecessor's resignation having been ac- cepted: it was well known at Paris, that to the last M. Lacave Laplagne had refused to resign, and insisted upon being formally dismissed, as laving, in his mismanagement of the finances, only obeyed the mandates of Louis Philippe, and his influential colleagues Gnizot and Duchatel. The new appointments are not accounted to give much additional strength or weight to the Administration. The Duke de Montebello is the only man of any note among the new Ministry; and his acceptance of the office to which he is appointed is doubtfuL General Trezel was for a. short time Governor of Algiers, and was previously employed in a sub- ordinate office in the War Department. He is a Peer of France, but has never distinguished himself as a speaker. M. Jayr has been Prefect of the Rhone since 1842: he is a hearty partisan of M. Gaizot.

The Courtier Francais mentions that the three Ministers who have seceded from the Cabinet have fallen into complete disgrace. The Baron de Mackau has been refused the command of a naval division in the South 'Seas.

- In the Chambers, M. Cremieux brought forward a proposition that no member of the Chambers should hold the place of director in any railway company. This led, on Monday, to a most extraordinary scene, in which the worst disorders of the British House of Commons, or even the Ame- rican House of Repreiatatives, were far exceeded. In the course of his speech, M. Grandin stated that sixty-nine members of both Houses were connected with railway companies. The words were no sooner uttered than roars of "Name, name!" burst from the Ministerial benches. M. Grandin endeavoured to explain, first, that he could not decipher the names, and then that the President forbade him to mention them. His voice was lost in the hubbub, and a whole hour was occupied in the up- roar; the President continually ringing his bell, and striking the desk; the Centres shouting " Namel " with gestures of rage mingled with shouts of laughter; and the Opposition vainly trying to restore order. M. Lacave Laplagne was present, but did not speak. The affair ended in the resolve, carried by a large majority, that M. Cremieux's motion should be taken into consideration.

The civil action which led to the disclosures implicating General Cubieres and M. Teste has terminated in favour of the General. It was brought by M. Parmentier, ostensibly to compel M. Cubieres to complete his engage-

manta as a shareholder in the mining company, but really to extort a large sum for hush-money under a threat of publishing his letters. These letters, according to M. Cubieres, were written at the suggestion and at the dicta- tion of M. Parmentier, as his groundwork for calling upon the company to contribute the shares demanded by Cubieres; but with a full understand- ing that they were to be private and confidential. The Court has ruled that General Cubieres owed nothing to the company, and M. Parmentier's suit has been dismissed with costs.

The Committee of Peers appointed to draw up the charges against General Desfans de Cubieres, accused of corruption and escroquerie, con- sists of the President of the Court, Duke Pasquier, the Duke de Broglie, the Duke Decazes, Count Portalis, Viscount Dode' Baron Girod de l'Ain, the Duke de Fezenzac, M. Bertha, M. Persil, M. Legagneur, and M. Re- nonard. They met on Saturday, at the Palace of the Petit Luxembourg, and began the examination of General Cubieres; which closed on Tuesday. After the first day's examination, orders were given to seize and seal up all papers belonging to General Cubieres or M. Parmentier, chairman of the salt company. On Wednesday began the examination of M. Parmeu- tier. The proceedings are taken under articles 179 and 405 of the Penal Code. The former directs proceedings against any one engaged in a con- spiracy to corrupt a public officer, and declares that the corrupter shall suffer the same penalty as the corrupted—fine and imprisonment. The latter clause prescribes the same punishment for any one guilty of fraudu- lently creating an imaginary credit.

General Cubieres has resigned his post as President of the Council of Administration of the Pawls and Strasburg Railroad.

The French Government has taken measures for extending to the 31st October the act for admitting corn duty-free. On Monday, the Minister of 'Commerce spoke of the prospects of the next harvest as extremely promising. Meanwhile, the markets are still rising in many parts of France. Wheat has risen in the markets near Paris from 50 centimes to 2 francs.

Srartr.—The hollow reconciliation has lasted but a few days; and the Queen has gone alone to Aranjuez for the summer. She left Madrid on the 5th instant, accompanied by her father-in-law, Don Francisco de Paula, and the Infanta Isabella. The King Consort is to remain at Madrid.

On the evening of the 5th, two shots were fired at the Queen's carriage while returning from the Prado. The outrage was perpetrated by a man with a double-barrelled gun, who fired from another carriage: he has been arrested. The affair appears to have caused but little excitement; the fact being not altogether without doubt: some supposed, and still suppose, that the explosions were only those of toy petards thrown down by boys. Senor Castro y Orozco, President of the Chamber of Deputies, died sud- denly, on the morning of the 4th instant.

The Cortes were prorogued on the 4th, immediately after the budget had been presented; a manoiuvre which occasioned some remark.

PoaTn0aL.—Lisbon was the scene of a serious Omente on the afternoon of the 29th April, the anniversary of the Pedro Charter. While the Queen was holding a levee at the Palace of the Necessidades, at which most of the military officers attended, the gaolers of the Lirnoeiro, or common gaol, who had been previously tampered with, let loose about 120 of the politi- cal prisoners. Some of the prisoners immediately made for the castle, with the intention of surprising it. In this, however, they were foiled; and an receiving a smart fire, they dispersed; some crossing the river, into Alemtejo. Meanwhile, the rest of the prisoners, felons, and others, as- sisted by the galley-slaves, effected their escape, to the number of eight or nine hundred. Alarm was quickly given; the troops beat to quarters; and an indiscriminate attack was made upon the fugitives, many of whom were cut down. About sixty were killed; 300 were recaptured; but the others escaped, including almost all the political prisoners. Quiet was re- stored next day. It was believed that this miserable affair was the fruit of some political conspiracy.

A subsequent arrival from Lisbon brings the accounts down to the 9th instant. There had been a sharp engagement near St. Ubes. Sit da Ban- deira's promise to Colonel Wylde, to suspend his operations pending a reference to the Junta, gave way before the provocation of seeing the Queen's troops coolly construct a redoubt in an inconveniently commanding posi- tion. An attack was made, and the fortification was destroyed; but the Royalists rallied, and, after many hours of bard fighting, the battle was considered drawn. The loss is put down at about 800 on each side. After this brush, both the belligerents listened to Colonel Wylde's proposition for a renewed armistice.

ITALL—A banquet was given at Florence, on the 29th of April, to Mr. Cobden in the gallery of the Borghese Palace. Signor Vincenzo Per- ruzzi,

Cobden, of the city, presided. Mr. Cobden made a brief but

excellent speech. He cited the names of illustrious Tuscan writers, Neri, Fabbroni, Fossombroni and others, and lauded Tuscany for having pre- ceded England in free trade on pure principle, by half a century- " I am not in the habit of addressing my hearers in terms of flattery; and I shouldlike it to be understood that the few words I have to add are intended for those who may chance to read my remarks in other countries, rather than as com- plimentary phrases offered to a Tuscan audience. Upon this my first visit to Italy, I have felt naturally curious to witness the effects of free trade, particularly in corn, upon the moral and material condition of the people. I must confess that I entered Tuscany with feelings of enthusiasm, such as a devotee experiences in visiting the shrine of his faith. But I have endeavoured to cast an impartial eye upon all that I have seen; and if what I state as the result of my observation be erroneous, it will be open to correction by others. During the last eight months, I have been travelling in nearly all the countries of Southern En- rope• and I am bound to state, without wishing to disparage other nations, that I find the condition of the population of Tuscany superior to that of any people I have visited. The surface of the country resembles that of a well-culti- vated garden; the people are everywhere well dressed; I have seen no beggars, except a few lame or blind; and in this season of general scarcity there is less of saffenng from want of food here, with a perfect freedom of export and import of

corn, than in probably any other country in Europe. I find such industries as are natural to Tuscany carried on with success; and that in particular of its in- digenous straw manufacture has attained a development which has surprised me. But I do not confine my observations to the material condition of the people. Where a country had enjoyed for fiftyyears the advantages of commercial liberty, I expected to find the spirit of free trade entering into the character of its people,

abating their natural prejudices destroying the spirit of egotism, and imparting to them a sentiment of brotherhood towards other nations. And in this respect I have not been disappointed in the inhabitants of Tuscany.. I am only repeating the opinion of every traveller when I Hay that they are eminently courteous and mild towards strangers. Foreigners make this country their favourite abode, not merely because here there is no impediment to a cheap and abundant supply of luxunes and comforts from every part of the globe, but because they find a charm in the amiable cordiality of the Tuscan people. Such is a description of the only country in Southern Europe which enjoys the advantages of free trade; and I will not add a word of comment, but leave the facts I hare stated for the instruc- tion of other nations."

GREECE.—Letters from Athens, of the 30th April, most unexpectedly announce the dissolution of the Chambers. In the Chamber of Deputies, on the 22d, Coletti proposed a direct land-tax; professing a wish to pro- mote a change from the bad system of farming the taxes. But no budget had been submitted to the Chamber ; the Opposition demanded a financial statement before a vote of taxes; and Coletti's proposition was only carried by a majority of 1-55 to 54. He rose, left the Chamber, and made a sign that all his party should follow him; which broke up the Chamber, the re- sidue not being enough for a quorum. On the 26th, the Minister of War entered the Chamber, and in the name of the Minister of the Interior, who was absent, read a royal ordinance dissolving the Chambers, and convoking the Electoral Colleges for the 22d of June in order to the general election. The meeting of the new Chambers is fixed by the same ordinance for the 13c1 of July.

NEW ZEALAND.—By the Ralph Bernal, despatches and papers have been received from Wellington to the 21st of December. Governor Grey had arrived at that settlement on the 19th December. He had stationed a body of 140 soldiers at Wanganui, and works to put that commanding point in a state of strong fortification were proceeding rapidly. These vigorous mea- sures had increased the confidence of the settlers in Captain Grey. Mean- while, the making of the highways was pursued with energy; the presence of the troops, the official expenditure, the improvements, and a favourable turn in affairs generally, had given a marked impulse to the prosperity of the settlement.

Thart.—Advices from Valparaiso, to the 27th February, bring some accounts of the state of affairs in the Pacific. After years of fighting and trouble, the French have obtained entire possession of Tahiti, without bloodshed. By a well-concerted plan, the Native camps were surprised. A party of about thirty French soldiers scaled a precipice on which one of the fastnesses stood, and attacked the encampment, at the same time that a strong party advanced by another route. The Tahitians, taken by surprise, believed themselves lost, and surrendered unconditionally.

An awkward affair occurred at Papeite on Christmas Day. About half the crew of the British war-ship Grampus went on shore for a holyday. They got drunk in the house of an Englishman, and became so riotous as to require the interference of the authorities. Two gendarmes who tried to restore order were ill-treated; a reinforcement being brought up to quell the disturbance, a regular battle ensued; but the Bailors were event- ually overpowered, and thrown into prison. The English Admiral was absent on an excursion, and the affair remained unsettled when the account Was despatched from the island.

UNITED STATES AND MEXIC0.—By the arrival of the Cambria, on Thursday, we have advices from New York to the 30th April.

Information had been brought to New Orleans by the steamer Massa- chusetts, that General Twiggs, with a force of 2,700 men, was advancing against Santa Anna, at Cerro Gordo; where the Mexican chief intrenched himself with 15,000 troops. There had been some skirmishing between Twiggs's advanced guard and the Mexicans. Generals Worth, Patterson, Shields, Pillow, and Quitman, were on the road with their detachments; and General Scott was coming up by rapid marches.

Meanwhile, the diplomatists had been at work in their somewhat slower fashion. The American Government had submitted to the Mexicans, through Seiler Atocha, the conditions on which peace might be brought about; of which the following is an outline— The United States to take the 26th degree of latitude from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific as a line of division. For this territory the Americans to pay 15,000,000 dollars; and to abstain from demanding anything for the expenses of the war, estimated at 13,000,000 dollars. "The United States guarantee that they will never give their consent for any territory of Mexico, or Mexican state, to be annexed to the American Union; and they will equally guarantee the sovereignty of Mexico, more particularly that part of the country that is situated to the South of the 26th degree of parallel." An alliance offensive and defensive is also offered.

The Mexican Government refused to negotiate on this basis.

A letter from Mexico, published by the Tinzes, has furnished some ex- planation as to the revolution of February last. It was proclaimed by the National Guard. They demanded a new Congress, the removal of Gomez Ferias, and the election of a fresh President and Vice-President. Finding themselves, however, not supported to this extent, they limited their de- mand to the removal of Gomez Ferias. When Santa Anna heard of the original movement, he exhorted Gomez Ferias to hold out, and promised to send troops to aid him; but, learning afterwards the more limited de- mand, he cooled in his zeal to the Government, and treated with the Re- volutionists, announcing at the same time his intention to seek the Pre- sidency. This determination proved acceptable to the Congress, and Santa Anna assumed the Government. He has formed a Ministry; in which the War Department is given to General Ignacio Gutierrez, Foreign Affairs to Seilor Barauaa, Justice to Sefior Suarez Inane, and Finance to Don Juan Roeder°. Don Juan is said to be so far remarkable as to be, "for a Mexican," unusually sensitive on the subject of credit. Santa Anna's inaugural address to the Deputies in Congress is spoken of as ex- pressing a firm determination to repel the American invasion; and it will be seen that he subsequently rejoined the army.

There is no domestic news of any interest from the United States. The estimate of the cotton crop has now fallen to 1,750,000 bales; and on the Cambria's arrival out, the price advanced from to 1 cent per pound.

The food prospect is highly favourable. The official statistics of the last year's crops give an excess of wheat in 1846 over 1845, amounting to 10,000,000 bushels; of Indian corn, 42,000,000 bushels; and of rye, oats, &c., 41,000,000 bushels. The quantity exported to England between the 1st of September and the 31st of March does not exceed 8,000,000 bushels; so that the surplus has not yet been exhausted.

The rate of exchange on London had risen to 1061 to 107 for bills of sixty days.