16 NOVEMBER 1861, Page 2

Sou,—The Queen opened the Cortes on the 8th inst. in

a long speech, which promises an extension of the suffrage and a new law

of the press, and announces that the revenue of the country equals its ordinary expenditure. The following is the declaration on the subject of Mexico :

"Disorder and excess have reached their height in the unfortunate country of Mexico. Treaties having been violated and rights forgotten, my subjects having been exposed to serious attacks and continual dangers, it becarne indispensable at length to make an example of salutary rigour. " With this object my Government had made the nece.gary preparations, when two great nations found that they had to complain of acts of violence on the part of the Mexican authorities. Our wrongs were common ; our actions should be joint. My Government desired as much. Proper steps for this purpose were at first favourable, but the result did not correspond with the desires of the other two nations.

" Subsequently France, England, and Spain arranged together to obtain that satisfaction which was due to them, and to prevent the repetition of offences which scandalized the world and outraged humanity. Thus the designs will be accomplished, the execution of which has been the constant object of my Government. At the proper time an account will be rendered to you of the Convention which, with this object, has been signed by the representatives of the three Powers."

The speech contains an unintelligible statement that Spain has succeeded in inducing the Catholic countries to find the means of giving the Pope, " within his own states," peace and security.