18 FEBRUARY 1860, Page 7

,furtign nub enhaial.

PAWL—The meeting of the French Chambers has been postponed from the 23d of February to the 1st of March ; a measure supposed to be occasioned by the postponement of the debate on the treaty in our House of Commons.

A report that Austria had sent to Paris an answer to the English pro- posals is declared to be untrue. Prussia has not adhered to those pro- posals. A telegram from Russia states that Prince Gortschakoff has in- formed the French Government that Russia does not consider the Eng- lish proposal to be altogether a satisfactory solution of the Italian diffi- culty, and that a real understanding could only result from a conference of the five great Powers. It is said that the French Ambassador has ex- pressed to Prince Gortschakoff the readiness of his government to adhere to the: proposals of Russia. This seems to have caused a report that the Four Powers would confer without Austria. It is incorrect.

M. Thouvenel has also replied to the famous encyclical letter of the Pope, in a despatch to the French Ministers abroad. He says-

" I will not for the moment stop to notice the reproaches, more or less explicit, which are directed by the encyclical letter against the line of policy followed by the Emperor with regard to the Holy See in the difficult air- cumstanees of these latter times. History in its impartiality will one day say whether the responsibility of the events which have occurred falls on the Sovereign whose efforts have been constantly employed to prevent them, or on those who, refusing any concession or any reform, and confining them- selves to inexplicable inaction, have allowed things to grow worse and worse, until they threaten to reach a point at which the evil will become so great that it cannot be remedied.

" What in particular has attracted the painful attention of his Majesty's Government is the forgetfulness of diplomatic usages which, in so important a matter, the Court of Rome has displayed, by transporting directly to the field of religion a question which before all things belongs to temporal order. We see, with sentiments of sincere and profound regret, the Holy Father appealing to the consciences of the clergy, and exciting the ardour of the faithful, with respect to an affair the discussion of which can only take place advantageously between Government and Government.

" It is not intended, in fact, to make the slightest encroachment on the spiritual power of the Sovereign Pontiff, nor on the independence required for the exercise of that power within the limits of his rights. The question of the Romagna, now, as at other periods, has arisen from political circum- stances; and it is in its political aspect that we should examine it, by seek- ing the beat means of satisfying necessities in the presence of which the Pontifical Government would not find itself fatally placed, if, instead of im- prudently waiting for the development of the situation, it had listened to our counsels and seconded our efforts. No, whatever a party which does not fear to assume the appearance of religious zeal may say,—no, whatever may be done to lead to the belief that the interests of jibe faith are in peril, the question in discussion between the Government of his Holiness and that of the Emperor is, thank God ! a purely temporal one. We may therefore dis- cuss it without failing in the deference and respect which all France feels honoured in entertaining for the Father of the Faithful, and of which his Majesty has always been happy to be the first to give the example." Showing how in early times the temporal and spiritual powers of the. Pope became blended together, he points out that by the progress of mo- dern society the two domains have been separated, and that this separa- tion is a benefit. " The Holy See has therefore, placed itself in diaaceord not less with thsr general spirit of the times than with international rules, by making an ap- appeal to men's consciences in the name of faith for an interest which, when nghtly considered, is simply temporal.

" I add that this attempt is far from being supported by the authority i and the precedents of history. In fact, this is not the first time that, at periods not far distant from our own, the situation of the Romagna and the possession of that district have been the subject of political discussion. In 1797, the Pope, in consequence of events of which he was obliged, as Sove- reign, to accept the responsibility, ceded by the treaty of Tolentino, that province to France, and at the same time abandoned the ancient rights of the Holy See to the territory of Avignon; and, great as was the regret he felt at a diminution of his domains, Pius VI. no doubt believed that he might subscribe to that convention without failing in his duties as Sove- reign Pontiff and as guardian of the faith. The two contracting parties were not the only ones who saw in this transaction only a temporal act, in

nowise encroaching on religion. The preliminaries signed at Leoben two months later between France and Austria, prove that the Court of Vienna did not think differently from France on the subject. After having main- tained during the war close relations with the Court of Rome, Austria, nevertheless, supported an arrangement which awarded to her part of the States of Venetia, and indemnified the latter by transferring to them the possession of the three Legations of Romagna, Ferrara, and Bologna. The treaties of Campo Formio and Luneville confirmed, in another form, the separation of those provinces ; and, in the different arrangements which were then entered into, it is never seen that the Governments which took part in them had to pay any attention to the prerogatives of the Holy See, as regards its spiritual power and religious interests. "If we were to examine contemporary history on other points, who would not remember that at the beginning of this century ecclesiastical territories, such as the Bishopric of Salzburg, the Provostship of Berchtelsgaden, and the Bishoprics of Trent, Bruen, and Eichstadt, served on the de- mand of Austria to indemnify its Archdukes dispossessed in Italy ? With regard to these territories, as for the Legations and for the Electorate of Mentz, no solidarity was recognized between the temporal rights of the pos- sessor and the interests of religion; the ecclesiastical character of the Sove- reigns was not an obstacle the combinations which circumstances had ren- dered necessary. The participation of the Court of Vienna in these different transactions certainly does not permit regarding them as an application of new principles for the use of France. Nothing can be a better proof of this than what occurred some years latter. Pope Pius VII. was returning to Rome, and resuming the exercise of his temporal power, when, by a secret treaty signed at Naples on the 11th of January, 1814, the Emperor Francis, with a view to attaching King Joachim to the cause of the European coali- tion, engaged, in order to procure him a strong military frontier in accord with the political necessities of the two Powers, to assure to him an addition to the extent of 400,000 souls, to be taken from the Roman States, and to lend his good offices to obtain the consent and sanction of the Holy Father to that concession.'

"Thus, therefore, the principle of partitioning the Legations, and even the Marches, between the kingclom;of Naples and Austria was plainly laid down, and its application appeared so independent of every other circumstance, that in the following year we see the King of the Two Sicilies, when restored to the Neapolitan throne, endeavouring to maintain for his own advantage the

j clause which we have just cited. Austria, on her aide, was more successful in her pretensions, as she retained, at the expense of the Holy See, part of the Legation of Ferrara, on the left bank of the Po, a territory which had never belonged to the State of Venice. The Pope protested in vain against that arrangement, as he protested against the non-restitution of the county of Avignon and of the territory of Parma to the Holy See. His demands, which he based both on ancient rights and on reasons of utility to the Church, were not admitted by the Powers, and we shall not be contradicted by the documents relating to the negotiations of 1815 if we add that the Romagna had then a very narrow mew, from remaining separated from the Pontifical States. More than one combination conceived in that sense was brought forward at the Congress of Vienna; and it is well known that Prussia, for instance, proposed to dispose of the Lgations in favour of the King of Saxony, who would have received them as a compensation. It was not without diffi- culty that the Pope succeeded in retaining them, and in making the right he

invoked prevail over the opinion, so worthy of remark, adopted by the ple- nipotentiariea, that the Legations were at the disposal of the allies by right of conquest. In any case, the discussion as to the Roman States was con- stantly maintained, even by the Catholic Powers, in an order of considerations exclusively temporal.

"Such is the sole argument I wish to draw from the examples I have cited, and which prove to what extent the doctrine advanced in the last en- cyclical letter, if it be at present in conformity with the ideas of the Court of Rome, is in contradiction to the most positive data of politics."

The Chevalier Desambrois presented his letters of recall on Sunday. Marshal Niel has been summoned to Paris.

The Gazette de France and the Pram have been warned; the former for disfiguring the history of France, and the latter for mingling what, in M. Billault's opinion, are malicious comments and false reports. The Bretagne, a journal published at St. Brieux, has been suppressed. Its offence was writing a smart article, regarded by M. Billault as a sort of protest against the policy of the Government as regards the Roman questions. The Minister cannot tolerate the open and almost official spread of internal division in the midst of the inhabitants of Bretagne, who are known to be so religious and so devoted to the Emperor.

St f111--While Piedmont, Lombardy, the Romagna, and the Duchies are quiety preparing for the coming elections, Rome, Venice, and Naples are greatly disturbed. An attempt to get up an address among the young men at the Sapienza College in Rome led to an outbreak. The students caught one of their companions busy in collecting signatures, and admin- istered personal chastisement. The Rector arrived, and the boys sur- rounded him, and would not let him go until he had produced the address, and until it was burnt on the spot. Cardinal Mattei arrived in the middle of the uproar, but was compelled to retreat ; and the students ended by shouts for Italy as the Papal address was reduced to ashes. General Goyon has been compelled to interdict demonstrations, to patrol the streets with strong bodies, and prohibit the soldiers from walking with citizens. Furloughs in the French force have been suspended. In the great towns of Venetia the Austrians have instituted a system of terror, putting in force a law which enables them to seize any body at any moment Their efforts arc mainly directed against the families of emigrants ; the fathers and mothers of those who have gone to join the popular armies over the Mincio and the Po. The middle classes suffer most from these persecutiohs. Women are arrested as well as men, and children are not spared.

The Bing of Naples has formed a new Ministry; its members are sup-

rposed be, Prince Cassaro, President of the Council and Minister for

oereei ce gn Affairs; Prince Commitini, Civil Affairs; Signor Savarese, Finances; Signor Bonnuoci, Justice; Signor Spinelli, Public Works; Signor BonzelN Interior.

It was reported that his Majesty had ordered General Pinelli, in case l

of need, to act in concert with the Pope's General, Mayerhofer, who commands the ruffiians collected by the Pope in Austria. It is said that a conspiracy has been discovered in the army, and of course it is

" traced" to Piedmontese agency. Sicily is grievously afflicted, and sad stories are told of the cruelty and brutality of the police. " A proclama- tion is now in circulation exhorting the Sicilians to rise in a speedy and general insurrection, in order to reinvest Southern Italy with her former rights in Europe. All parties in Sicily are alike favourable to the oases- tion of despotism. In the above proclamation it is said—' Let us hope that Naples will follow our example. The time for moderation has passed away ; henceforth we must be daring. Let us rise in the name of Italian nationality, and to the cry of Italy and Victor Emmanuel for ever!' "

Parini and Ricasoli have both had consultations with Count Cavour at Turin. The difficulty is how to take the sense of the country. At Bologna, it seems to be believed that Austria is preparing for anew war. This belief is founded on the report that the fortress of Mantua has been put in a state of defence. Not only has the order to have its military stores sold by auction been annulled, but the whole of the sur- rounding country of Pietole, Freddie, San Giorgio, and Pajolo, has been flooded with the waters of the Mincio. The regiments in the Tyrol have been ordered to enter Venetia.

Joseph Dolfi, a baker of Florence, extremely popular in consequence of his stout patriotism and abounding charity, has published a letter in reply to accusations levelled against him by Lord Normanby. It is strong in facts, but moderate in tone, and refutes the charges of his Lordship. The ladies and gentlemen of Florence are about to present Captain Peard—" Garibaldi's Englishman "—with a bust of himself, and an address.

Nangarg.—There is a report current that Austria is at length about to make concessions to Hungary of a nature to satisfy the bulk of the malcontents It does not, however, look like a true report. On the one side and the other the greatest firmness exists ; and Austria shows not one sign of repentance.

f Thiel—The citizens of Geneva have sent an address to the Federal Council touching the alleged project of annexing Savoy to France, which they take for granted Is decided on.

Sliffill .—The Queen, King, and state dignitaries attended a Te Deum in the Church of Atocha to celebrate the glorious victory at Tetuan. Addresses have come in from all parts of the kingdom. The Empress of the French, on receipt of the news from Tetuan, addressed the following telegraphic despatch to the Queen : " The Empress of the French con- gratulates your Majesty with all her heart, because the triumph of the Spanish arms cannot be indifferent to her." The Emperor of the French also congratulated the Queen by telegraph, and his despatch reached her Majesty in the midst of the Te Deum, at the Church of Atocha. The Empress' says the Espana, has given a considerable sum from her privy purse to the fund for the relief of the wounded. The war is beginning to tell on the exchequer. The Spanish Govern- ment, in conformity with the authorization of the Cortes, is about to issue notes to the amount of 200 million reds, the payment of which is to be insured by the sale of national property.

331nrtarg.—According to a Madrid telegram, "Marshal O'Donnell announces in an order of the day, that he will continue offensive opera-

tions until the enemy shall ask mercy of Spain, and until reprisals have been taken for the insults of the enemy, and an indemnity obtained for the sacrifices of Spain." " The Spanish cabinet will listen to no proposals of peace from Morocco until Tangiers has been taken, against which place military operations are to commence immediately."

From Tetuan we learn that the inhabitants have fraternized with the Spanish soldiers; and that the police of Tetuan has been entrusted to a municipality composed of the principal inhabitants. The battle on the 4th was very severe. The Moorish camp was de- fended by steep earthworks, and covered in front by morasses and pools. The Moorish artillery, very weak in number, and poor in quality, was splendidly served, and the gunners kept by their pieces to the last. The Spanish infantry have the glory of the day. General Prim was the first man over the earthworks. It is admitted that the foot soldiers behaved with a steadiness and bravery worthy of their old reputation, and acted with a ferocity towards their enemies worthy of their worst days.

The Moors, according to the latest news from Madrid, have sent de- puties to learn on what conditions Spain will make peace.

Ernmark.—By the death of M. Rottwitt, the Danish Ministry came to an end. Bishop Monrad, at present in Paris, has been asked by tele- graph if he will undertake the formation of a new ministry, with un- limited power. The Duchess of Schleswig and Holstein are ardently agitating for a restoration of their lawful rights.

ill a .—A telegram from St. Petersburg, dated February 14th pur- ports to give late news from Pekin. "The Journal de $t. Petersbourg of today publishes news from Pekin to the 4th of December. The Rnssian mission was going on well. The health of the Emperor of China had improved, and his Majesty had left his palace in the country to return to the metropolis. The rebels were not agiroed among themselves, and the Imperial soldiers had been victorious over them. European men-of-war were off the mouth of the Peiho."

;laid Sitiff.—The latest advices from New York are to the 2d instant. The great piece of news is the election of a Speaker. The fortunate man is Mr. Pennington, who was chosen on the 1st by a ma- jority of 117 in a House of 230. Mr. M'Clernand, the Democratic can- didate, polled 87.

The Boston Chamber of Commerce have adopted a memorial praying Mr. Buchanan to offer his services as a mediator between the Chinese and the Western Powers.