,Foreign anti Zolonial.
Yeatatat.—The event of the week is the "inauguration" of the Great Northern Railway connecting Paris with Brussels, which took place on Sunday. The Dukes De Nemours and De Montpensier took part in the ,totes._ At Lille the Princes were met by the Archbishop of Carnbrai; who with the usual ceremonies pronounced the benediction on the new railway. Two thousand persons subsequently dined together in the same tent. The Princes remained at Lille till Monday morning; then started for Brussels; -where they were received by the King and Queen of the Belgians. In the evening a ball was given at the Railway station to 8,000 persons in honour of the opening.
The Courrier Francais circulates the following gossip-
" We are assured that the Government has received from Tahiti news of the most serious character. Some she engagements have taken place between our soldiers and the natives of the different islands, for the subjection of which M. Brest has given orders. But the most serious fact is the connivance of English znissionanes, who have openly sent arms and ammunition to the insurgents. Several cases of cartridges, concealed under Bibles and religious books, have been seized; and muskets have been found, abandoned by the Natives on the field of battle, bearing the stamp of English manufacture."
The Presse says—" The Central League, which desired to establish itself at Paris for the furtherance of free trade, having demanded permission from the Minister of the Interior to constitute itself; has been for the present refused such authorization."
The same journal states that many large orders to French manufacturers from America had been countermanded, on account of the declaration of War between the United States and Mexico.
Poaxucar..—The revolution has received the royal assent. In the Diario of the 6th instant, the Queen's reply to the notifications of the Junta of Santarem and the province of Estremadura, relative to the objects of the insurrection, is published. In that document, which is counter- signed by the new Ministers, the Queen states that she recognizes in the proceedings of the Junta "the most unquestionable proofs of loyal, pure, and disinterested intentions, directed solely by patriotism, sincere attach- ment and fidelity, to her constitutional throne and royal person; and is pleased to declare to the said Junta, each of its members, its auxiliary branches, authorities, and persons of all classes who follow the route of loyalty traced out by it, that they have deserved well of their country and the Throne." The Queen's sincerity in making this declaration is much questioned; and the surmise is that at a fitting moment she will break through it.
The insurgents of Tras-os-Montes and of the Southern margin of the Douro still retained their arms, although returning home quietly; and state their intention of remaining armed until they shell have obtained complete possession of the " guarantee " of the National Guard. Great embarrassment continued to exist in the mercantile community. The Government had published a financial programme, in which extensive
retrenchment was. promised, and the fulfilling, as far ascsible,of the-L= national engagements. The-foreign dividends would be, eta isviolQbl Roauc.—A Paris journal mentions the following as the Probable can dates for the Papal throne: Cardinal Fransoni, aged seventy-one; Cardinal Castrucci° Castracane, sixty-seven; Cardinal Orioli, sixty-eight; Cardinal Micara, seventy-one; Cardinal Polidori, sixty-eight; and Cardinal Mattel, My-four.
UNITED STATES.—The steamer Britannia, which arrived at Liverpool late on Sunday night, has brought intelligence from New York to the 31st May, from Boston to the 1st June, and from Halifax to'the 4th.
Previous accounts from the Rio Grande left the United States army, consisting of about 3,000 men, under General Taylor, in a threatened con: dition; surrounded by a superior force, and unable to make any movement for the relief of Point Isabel By the present arrival the aspect of matters is completely changed. General Taylor has relieved Point Isabel, routed the Mexican force in two engagements; driven the remnant of the army across the Rio Grande, and was preparing to follow up his advantage. The United States fleet, too, had commenced a blockade of the Mexican coast. The details are shortly as follows.
General Taylor having received, through the daring courage and address of Captain Walker, despatches from Point Isabel, resolved to attempt its relief. Leaving a regiment of infant7 and a company of artillery under the command ef Major Brown to protect his entrenched camp which stood opposite the Mexican town of Matamoras, the river flowing between them, he set out on the 1st May, with the main body of his army, consisting of from 1,000 to 1,200 men, cavalry, artillery, and infantry; and on the morning of the following day reached the point without encountering a single Mexican. " On the morning of the 3d, the boom- ing of artillery being heard in the direction of Matamoras, Captain Walker was despatched to ascertain the cause; and on the 5th, having again safely accom- plished his enterprise, that officer reported that the Mexicans, discovering Gene- ral Taylor's absence from the camp, had opened upon it from their batteries at Matamoras and on the left bank of the Rio del Norte, an attack being also made upon the rear of the camp." It was subsequently ascertained that the bombard- ment lasted 160 hours, and that Major Brown was killed by a shell from the enemy's battery. The loss on the United States side was 2 killed and 10 wounded. General Taylor remained at Point Isabel five days; during which time some reinforcements and supplies of various kinds had arrived. On the 7th, he com- menced his return; and on the 8th he was met by a Mexican army, about 6,000 strong, with seven pieces of artillery and 800 cavalry, at a place called Palo Alto. The United States force did not exceed 2,300 men. After a cannonade of five hours the Mexicans were dislodged, with a loss of at least 109 men. In the after- noon of the following day, a more severe and decisive action took place. In his despatch of the 9th, General Taylor says—" I have the honour to report,' that I marched with the main body of the army at two o'clock today, having previously thrown forward a body of light infantry into the forest which covers the Mate- moms road. When near the spot where I am now encamped, my advance dis- covered that a ravine crossing the road had been occupied by the enemy with artillery. I immediately ordered a battery of field artillery to sweep the position, flanking and sustaining it by the Third, Fourth, and Filth Regiments, deployed as skirmishers to the right and left. A heavy fire of artillery and of musketry was kept up for some time, until finally the enemy's batteries were carried in suc- cession by a squadron of dragoons and the regiments of infantry that were on the ground. He was soon driven from his position, and pursued by a squadron,of dragoons, battalion of artillery, Third Infantry, and a light battery, to the river. Our victory has been complete. Eight pieces et artillery, with a great quantity of ammunition, three standards, and scone 100 prisoners, have been taken; among the latter, General La Vega, and several other officers. One general is under- stood to have been killed. The enemy has recrossed the river, and I am sure will not again molest us on this bank." General Taylor bestows high praise on the gallantry of his troops. He eali- mates the loss in both engagements at "3 officers and 40 men killed, and 18 officers and 100 men wounded; while that of the enemy has in all probability. ex- ceeded 800 killed: more than 200 have been buried by us on the two fields of battle."
Major Ringgold died on the morning of the llth, of wounds received in the action of Palo Alto. An exchange of prisoners bad taken place; among theta, Captain Thornton was restored. The wounded prisoners have been sent to Mats- moral—the wounded officers on their parole.- General La Vega and a few other officers have been sent to New Orleans, having declined a parole.
The Mexicans had treated the United States prisoners with great kindness. The fort at Point Isabel had been named Fort Polk, in honour of the President- Congress have passed a vote of thanks to General Taylor and his army, and resolutions expressing sympathy with those whose relatives fell in battle. General Taylor has been made a Brevet-Major-General. The Oregon question has been brought before the Senate again. Mr. Benton delivered a long and powerful speech in advocacy of the 49th parallel, and the right of the United States up to that line. It was expected that Mr. L Cass would reply. A disposition to lay the question on the table seemed to prevail. Various measures for the vigorous prosecution of the war were going through their stages. Several steamers are to be built. The successes on the Rio Grande had given a great impetus to volunteering. The latest accounts at New York from the seat of war aro to the 19th May. A division of the United States troops had taken Barite, without opposition. General Taylor was about to cross the Rio Grande and invest Matamoras. Another report was that the Mexican army had retreated from that city, leaving their supplies behind them.
NEW ZEALAND.—By the ship Augustine, which arrived at Penzance on Thursday from Van Diemen's Land, a copy of the Launceston Examiner of the 28th February, containing news of some importance from New Zealand, has been received. Our troops had succeeded in capturing the pals occu- pied by the chiefs Kawiti and Heki, on the 11th of January, after a can- nonade which had breached it in several places. The loss sustained in the attack on our part was 12 killed and 30 wounded. Governor Grey was present at the attack; and after driving the-Aborigines out, ho published a proclamation offering a general amnesty. This appears to have been ac- cepted by all but Held; who had burned another pah, and had retreated into the bush with his tribe.
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