16 FEBRUARY 1850, Page 7

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Fameem—The French Government is said to have resolved on remodel- ling the military organization of the country. The departments are at present grouped under seventeen military commands ; the general officers holding them report direct to the Minister of War. It is proposed to throw this organization into five great commands, and moreover to invest each great commander with the power of declaring a state of siege over the whole district for which ho is responsible. The names of the Com- manders arc already mentioned—Generals Changarnier, Castellane, Ge- meau, Magnan, and Rostolan.

M. earlier wages unmitigated war with Socialism ; whether with the simple object of suppressing that political development, or of covering less abstract designs, is matter of speculation even in Paris. He has issued another long proclamation, a complete political essay, to the Com- missaries of Police on their duties in reference to approaching elections. Premising the phrase " I do not ask you to use your authority in favour of one candidate more than another "- lie proceeds to require of them that they " prevent delusion, rectify' false ideas, and establish the truth of facts." They must point out how the word Socialism has become a confusion of lying hypocritical' ideas—has degenerated into a revo- lutionary pretext, and become the mere flag of demolition ; must show honest men of what elements the party who propagate Socialist writings is composed—the idle and envious intrigans of all ranks, who have nothing to lose and everything to gain by anarchy. Quoting the language of the President, that the duty of every government is to combat false ideas and to direct those which are true, by placing itself boldly at the head of them," "our duty is pointed out to us in these lines. Let us prove, gentlemen, that the Police is not merely a vigilant and repressive authority ; it is a moral magistracy." They must enlighten, and the more prevent evil that they may have the less to repress offences and crimes. Useful reforms are held out as the prize within reach : Reform is progress, Socialism is barbarism."

The Courtier de Lyons states that much agitation prevails among a certain portion of the population of that city, in reference to the supposed plans of the Government against the present Republican institution. The Government has redoubled its military preparations, and rendered more stringent its police restrictions, especially on the movements of the work- people. A circular has been issued by the " Commissary Extraordi- nary Prefect of the Rhone," to the mayors of that department, sharply recalling to their mind instructions they have not carried out, that all persons travelling without papers, vagabond; and persona who give no account of themselves—all, in short, who despite the Government, and without its regular authorization, repair to Paris on the plea of seeking work, should be sent back and held liable to prosecution under the laws relative to vagabondage. They are all to have the usual permits for travelling and certificates of employment, which are not to be passed without regular official counter-signatures..

GB-BECK—Accounts from Athens, to the 28th instant, include an offi- cial expose of the ease on the side of the Greek Government in the dispute with England. " The demands made by the Right Honourable T. Wyse " are enumerated seriatim : and it is said that they expressly included the claim of "the isles of Cervi [Elaphonisi] and Sapienza," " as appertain- ing to the Ionian States." The history and refutation of each demand is given. 1.. As to the insult to the British flag, with other national flags, at Petri's,— the hoisting of the flag was regarded as an attempt to excite a tumult, with- out distinction of its nationality: the alleged. "tortures" were pretended only. 2. As to the ill-treatment of islanders at Pyrgos—they were simply arrested as having no passports ; and they have since avoided giving testi- mony by disappearing from Pyrgos. 3. The soldiers alleged to have com- mitted piracy at Salerno were brigands, malefactors wearing the army crown as a.clIsguise. 4. The claim of. the Jew Pacifico, 886,736 drachmas, is noto- riously greater than his whole fortune in Greece : he has successively claimed to be a Spanish, Portuguese, and British subject : the Government was in- " g when Sir Edmund Lyons despotically closed the discussion. b. Mr.

ey's demand was exorbitant : though it had already been referred to ar- bitration, with Sir Thomas Wyse's knowledge, it was nevertheless not ex- cepted from his claims. 6. As regards the claims to Cervi and Sapienza, the most important of all the claims, the Greek Government has fully answered the dabs, and has never received any reply to its answer. Both the Chambers had met, and had unanimously and emphatically expressed their approval of the attitude taken by their Government.

Putnam—The ceremony of taking the oath to the new Constitution was performed by the King and the two Chambers, in the Hall of Knights, on the 6th instant ; Divine service having first been attended in the Cathedral. The King and the Princes of the blood royal entered' the hall together ; the Prince of Prussia absented himself : the two Chambers were present in immethodical mass, packed together wherever they could stand in the narrow hall : the Constitution of the 31st Janu- ary lay on a table in front of the throne. The King having taken his. seat, rose, and in a tone solemn, though not without humour, said he would avail himself of the last occasion to address them unbound by the influence of Ministerial responsibility. The speech follows.

" Gentlemen—I beg for your attention. What I am about to say are my' most intimate words; for I stand before you this day such as I never did be- fore nor ever shall again. I am not here to exercise the born and hereditary' holy rights of the royal functions, which are high removed above my will or that of parties. I am here, above all, imehielded by the responsibilities of my highest advisers—as myself alone—as a man of honour, who will give- his dearest—his word—a yes ! energetically and considerately.

" On that account, then, a few previous words. The work to which. I am this day about to set my affirmation emanated from a year which the fidelity of generations to come will tearfully but vainly wish were expunged from our history. In the form in which it is laid before you, it Is doubtless a propitiatory work of fidelity of men who have saved this crown, towards whom my gratitude can only terminate with my life. But it was nevertheless, in the literal sense of the word, in the days when the very existence of our fatherland was menaced. It was the work of the moment, and it bore the broad stamp. of its origin. The question isjustified, how I, holding such opinions, can give to it my sanction. Nevertheless, I will do it, because I can ; and for that I can, I have only to thank you,. gentlemen. You have laid an improving hand thereon ; you have removed. from it objectionable and introduced beneficial parts. Through your ex- cellent labours, and acceptance of my last propositions, you have given me guarantees that you will bring to maturity that commencement which has re- ceived your sanction • and that, through our mutual honourable exertions, we shall give additional force to the vital conditions of Prussian existence, by constitutional means. I dare to affirm this result, because I do so full of hope. I acknowledge with warmest thanks, and I declare it with joy and emotion towards you, gentlemen, you have merited the thanks of our father.- land. Thus do I deckre—be Almighty God my witness—that my solemn oath to the Constitution is true, faithful, and without reserve. "But the life and blessing of the Constitution depend upon the fulfilment of sage conditions, that you and all noble hearts in the country must ac- knowledge. You, gentlemen, must help me, and the Chambers that may succeed you, and the fidelity, of my people must help me, against those who.. might seek to convert the freedom accorded to them by the San' g into a shield of malice, and turn the same against the authority appointed by God —against those who may regard this constitution as an equivalent through, Divine Providence for our historical rights and the all-ancient and holy fidelity. All the strength of the land must unite now in fidelity as subjects, in respect towards the Monarchy and this Crown, which rests on the victo- ries of our armies, in observance of the laws, and in faithful accomplish-. ment of the oath of homage according to the new oath, Truth and obedi- ence to the King and conscientious maintenance of the Constitution ' : is a. word, its vital conditions are, that government with these laws shall be ren- dered possible for me. For in Prussia the King must govern' — --

and I go-- vern, not because it pleaseth me, God knows, but because God so ordains L

- and, this being the case, I will govern. A free people under a free king- that has been my desire for ten years ; such is it thus day ; such will it ever be so long as I breathe.

"Before I proceed to the business of the day, I will renew two solemn vows. This is inspired by a retrospective view of the past ten years of my government. First, I renew, repeat, and reaffirm, solemnly and explicitly, the vow I made before God and menu pon the day of homage at Konigsberg and at this place. Yes, yes ! that will so help me God ! Secondly, I renew, repeat, and reaffirm, solemnly and explicitly, the only vow which I pro- nounced upon the 11th of April 1847—' To serve the Lord with my whole house.' Yes, yes ! that will I, so help me God ! This vow stands paramount above all others. It must be retained by each, as well as all other vows, let them be of other value—must be retained as verified by the pure water of life. Now, however, and whilst, in the fulness of my kingly power, I here• by confirm this Constitution : I swear, solemnly, truly, and explicitly, before God and men, to maintain firm and inviolable the Constitution of my country and kingdom, and to govern in accordance with the laws. Yes, yes! [exclaimed the King, raising his voice, and elevating his oyes and right hand towards heaven,] that will I, so help me God ! "And now I confide the prescribed law to the hands of .Almighty Goff. whose divine intercession in the history of Prussia is manifestly evident ; that it may please him to convert this work of mortal hands into a work of benediction for our dear fatherland, especially the confirmation of his holy rights and ordinances. So be it !"

The speech was listened to with the deepest and most eager attention ; loud hurrahs burst from the assembly at its close. Count Brandenburg approached, and read the formula of the oath. The King, uncovering himself, pronounced the oath, raising his hand and eyes to heaven, and then with fervour exclaimed—" I, Frederick William, swear it—swear it so true —God help me !" The Ministers were sworn to be faithful and obedient to the King, and conscientiously to observe the Constitution. All the Members of the two Chambers were in like form sworn, each separately and each according to his religious belief, raising three fingers of the right hand, and adding the characteristic asseveration of his creed. The

Mi-

nister then addressed the King in terms of homage and gratitude; the King replied by an invocation of God's blessing on the work, and de- parted; the assemblage broke up with loud shouts of applause.

Sorrrn AIISTRALIA.—Files of papers to the 8th September last have been received from Adelaide. The Adelaide Observer devotes much space to the exposure of some grievous misdoings on board the emigrant-ship Indian. Charges of cruelty had been made against Captain English and Dr. Sand- ford, the captain and surgeon of the Indian emigrant bark, and of gross immorality and brutality against Mr. Ross, the second mate of that vessel A public meeting was called by Captain Brewer, the Emigration Agent; eighty of the passengers by the Indian attended ; and the charges are said to have been supported by the evidence of a multitude of witnesses. Miss Caroline Arnold was the chief witness : she gave her evidence by letter, having obtained a situation in Morphet Vale. She stated, that the purser had " intruded limaslf into her own apartment," and attempted to take liberties with her ; she repulsed him, and he retired verllangry ; after that time, she met with constant annoyance and injury from from the com- mander Captain English, and front the surgeon Dr. San ord. Boss, the second mate, constantly came into the room of the young single woman while they were dressing, and persisted in staying there. She had slept in her clothes for weeks together from this cause, not daring to undress. The other girls "looked with scorn and revenge" on her "because of the second mate' ,• and they made a set attempt, with the encouragement of the Cap- tain and the Doctor, to duck her on the poop, for "telling tales." Miss Hill, in person, declared that the second mate used to be in certain of the girls' beds at night, and sometimes in the day. Miss Lewis declared that the scenes witnessed on board the vessel justified the term applied to it—" a floating brothel." Mrs. May, the matron of the ship, gave Mies Arnold a very high character; though she was once vexed with her on account of an im- putation that Mrs. May and others were the worse for wine after a birthday celebration during the voyage. Mrs. Mav stated that she had seen the second mate "lying on the young women's beds," and had reported the fact to the Doctor. Two married women confirmed the statement that an attempt had been made to duck Miss Arnold for telling tales. Several witnesses gave evidence that Dr. Sandford had neglected suffering patients ; and there was an unanimous concurrence of testimony that the provisions were shortened and partially doled out. Mr. Hill deposed to a brutal assault committed on him by the second mate, for his threatening to complain at Adelaide of irregularities and injuries.

Captain Brewer, the Emigration Agent, announced to the meeting that he should send a full report of the whole matter to the Colonial Govern- ment.