,farrign uu entouial.

FRANCE.—The principal news from France is still of warlike pre- paration. The Minister of Marine has issued an order for arming twelve additional ships of the line ; several on the stocks are hurried for- ward ; and activity prevails in all the ports. An extraordinary levy of seamen has been ordered in the ports on the coasts of Britanny ; and more than one Chamber of Commerce has represented to the Ministry that the measure will be disastrous to the families of the cod-fishermen and boat- men. Nor is the preparation confined to the navy : each cavalry regi- ment will receive this year 400 horses per regiment, instead of 120, the number required in ordinary times ; and the complements of the engineer regiments are in course of being filled up. For mentioning these things, some of the journals have been privately reprimanded, and told not to continue the practice. The old story about a military expedition to Con- stantinaple is again revived ; and the African General Pelissier, now in Paris and high in favour, is, indifferently named as the probable com- mander of the expedition, or as Minister of War.

It is stated that M. Thiers and M. Guizot concur in thinking that the Emperor of Russia will not give way. Among the current gossip at Paris, is a story of an interview between the Princess Lieven and the Empress, in which the veteran Princess warmly urged the advantages of a Russo- French alliance in "the interests of peace." The journals have been censured • for indiscreetly alluding to some fancy-balls contemplated by the Court. The Empress, it was said, would appear as "Ia Figlia del Reggimento."

The funeral service over the body of M. Armand Berlin, in the Church of St. Thomas Aquinas, on the 13th instant, was attended by a great assemblage of eminent persons. Among them were the statesmen Guizot, Thiers, Dupin senior, Duchatel, De Salvandy ; the writers Cousin, Ville- main, St. Marc Girardin, Viennet ; the ministers, Router, Berger, General Rulhiere, De Royer, Petit, and the staff of the Journal des Debate. The whole of these gentlemen, however, were not able to follow the corpse to the grave in the cemetery of Mont Parnasse, but the followers were very numerous. An oration over the grave was delivered by M. Saint Marc de Girardin, broken by his tears.

That the food pressure continues to be felt, is evidenced by a decree in the Moniteur of Thursday, prolonging to the 31st of July next the permis- sion granted to foreign vessels to carry on between France and England the transport of corn, flour, meal, and other alimentary commodities.

TURKEY.—The entry of the combined fleets into the Black Sea, on the 3d instant, not only quieted the restless spirits of Stamboul, but gave an impetus to the military operations of the Turks. It is now generally ad- mitted that in the Asian army, the right wing of the Turks has been driven back upon Kars, perhaps Erzeroum ; and that the dashing general Selim Pacha is rather pressed by the Russians at Batoum. Taking advantage of the sailing of the fleets, the Turks embarked a large reinforcement, variously stated at from 10,000 to 15,000 men, and sent them to Batoum. This will prove a seasonable assistance, and will enable the Turks to re- sume the offensive in conjunction with Sehamyl.

It appears that the whole French and British force, with the exception of two ship A has, under the command of Admiral Dundas, sailed into the Euxine. t plan of operations he is instructed to execute, the public have not yet been informed. But up to the eve of the day when the

fleets sailed out of the Straits, Russian ships were cruising off Trebizond, Batoum, and the Circassian coast; at least so says the telegraph. But the Commander of the flotilla in the Sea of Azof seems in a fright, for he has sent for protection to Sebastopol ; and the Governor of that strong- hold itself has reinforced his garrison from the Crimea and the Military Colonies. Batteries, we are also told, have been erected on the Circas- sian coast, and the direction of the fires and lighthouses has been changed.

The message sent by the French and British Ministers, respectively, to the Governor of Sebastopol was couched in these terms. " To the Governor of Sebastopol.

" Conformably with the orders of my Government, the British (French)

i

squadron, in concert with that of France (England), is on the point of ap- pearing in the Black Sea. The object of this movement is to protect the Ottoman territory from all aggression or hostile act. I apprize your Excel- lency thereof, with a view to prevent all collision tending to disturb the amicable relations existing between our Governments ; which I am desirous of preserving, and which, no doubt, your Excellency is equally anxious to maintain.

"To this end, I should feel happy to learn that your Excellency, ani- mated by these intentions, had deemed it expedient to give the requisite in- structions to the Admiral commanding the Russian forces in the Black Sea, so as to obviate any occurrence calculated to endanger peace.

"REDCLIFFE.

(3A.RAGUAY D'HILLIERS.)"

The report, last week, of engagements on the left bank of the Danube, in which the Turks were victorious, is now confirmed ; but the details are still wanting, nor are the exact localities of the conflicts indicated with sufficient precision. It is known by letters from Schumla, dated Decem- ber 20, that Omer Pacha was aware of the intention of Prince Gortscha- koff to attack Kalafat with as little delay as possible. English, corre- spondents immediately started for the scene of hostilities; calculating that nine days at least must elapse before the hostile armies should en- gage. It would appear that the Russian commander sent about 25,000 men to reinforce the General, probably Dannenberg, at Krajowa, with orders to concentrate on the Turkish lines and storm Kalafat. It would also appear that a body of Russian troops got round on the left flank of the Turkish intrenchments, and at Citale threw up redoubts close to the Danube. These bands the Turks first engaged, storming their redoubts, on the 6th, and driving them off. It is probable that, with the view of frustrating the attack on Kalafat, Selina Pacha and Ismail Pacha sallied from their lines in strong force, and attacked the Russians before they reached the Turkish position. Where and by what relative numbers the battles of the 7th, Sth, and 9th were fought—whether all at or near Citale, or not—we are without information. Neither can we speak accu- rately as to the loss on either side, having no reports on this head except those given last week. It is admitted, htwever, that General Aurep was wounded severely in one of these combats ; that the Russians have re- turned to their original positions about Krajowa, and the Turks to their intrenched lines at Kalafat. It is likely that some .other movements,_ lower down the river, have been made by the. Turks; but, at present, no authentic or even intelligible statements have reached England.

A letter from Constantinople, dated the 2d January, gives some inte- resting details respecting the regiment of Cossacks organized to fight against- Russia.

"A regiment of Cossacks, originally from the neighbourhood of the White Sea, arrived here three days back. They are the descendants of those men who, under the command of Henko Razine and Jhuat Nekrassa, fought against the Russians in the time of the Empress Catherine I., in defence of their own peculiar religious tenets of Old Believers, and of their independence. Obliged to yield to numerical force, they withdrew to the Kuban; where, under the Khans of the Crimea, they again fought against Russia. After the downfall of that part of the Turkish empire, they withdrew to Anapa, and took service under the Government of that province, then appertaining . to Turkey. They afterwards settled in Turkey Proper ; where they obtained certain privileges from the Sultan. In every war of Turkey against Russia, and in the various revolts of Greece, they have always fought most faithfully and bravely for Turkey. They have now fitted out their present force at their own expense, and entered Constantinople with the old colours of Henko Razine displayed. Amongst these men are to be found the families of the Yessimoff, Orloff, Vlassoff, Boutouk, Hohol, and other old Russian families of the nobility of the Cossacks of the Don. They are to take their departure in a few days for the camp of Schumla, and will without doubt act as gal- lantly as they have done on all former occasions."

The Prince of Servia, although favourable to Turkey, has hitherto declined to promulgate the firmans of the Sultan abolishing the Czar's protectorate of Servia, and confirming all the privileges enjoyed by the Servians.

A terrible fire at Constantinople, on the 1st of January, destroyed about 400 houses, among them those of the Greek Patriarch and the Patriarch of Jerusalem.

Russia.—The note from England, announcing the intended entry of the fleets into the Black Sea, and their objects there, reached Sir Hamil- ton Seymour on the 9th ; but as the French note to the same purport did not arrive until the 11th they were not presented to the Russian Govern- ment until the next day. This is the latest positive news from St. Peters- burg ; but there have been two private telegraphic despatches, one from Vienna, the other from Berlin, which assert that the Emperor has posi- tively rejected the propositions of the Vienna Conference. This, how- ever, it is admitted, is barely credible intelligence ; as the determination of the Czar must have been come to, and have oozed out, before he even saw the propositions officially. Yet the tenour of the intelligence from the North leaves no hope of the continuance of peace. Preliminary indications of a rupture show them- selves in extensive levies of conscripts—increasing desire for money— popular irritation against France and England. The St. Petersburg Court Gazette of the 9th published a most violent article against England. Great Britain, it is said, is the moving cause of all European commotion, and the mischievous intermeddler who has filled the barren fancy of the Turk with an absurd and whimsical notion of " independence?' Decrees have been issued " mobilizing " both the active army and the reserve battalions of Grenadiers and Guards. New contracts for supplying the Russian army in the Principalities with food and forage, from the month of March next till the end of June, have just been made. A letter from Warsaw, dated the 7th instant, contains the following characteristic anecdote-

" The director of the society of the Landed Property Bank of the kingdom of Poland was recently sent for by Marshal Paskiewitch. We are in se- rious circumstances,' said the Prince, and I must request the society to perform an act of patriotism and fidelity to the Emperor. It must be pre- pared to advance the funds requisite for a loan, to assure the service of the army in the kingdom.' But, replied the director, 'the society is not insti- tuted for that purpose ; it can only advance money to landed proprietors, on a mortgage on their property ; any other act is contrary to the statutes, which but recently received the renewed approbation of the Emperor.' All that is well,' replied the Prince, ' in ordinary times ; but we want money, rid if an order from the Epreror is necessary, you shall have one.' "

• .

GERDL&NY.—A treatY his beat concluded between Prussia and Olden- burg, by which the latter grants to Prussia the Bay of Jande as a military,

port, at the price of half a million of dollars. Land sufficieht h finc anu forts is ceded with the port. The money was unhesitatingly voted by the Second Chamber. The new Prussian navy is to consist of twelve frigates of 60 guns ; ten steam-corvettes of from 8 to 12 guns ; fourteen despatch- steamers of 4 guns ; five transports, thirty-six gun-boats, and six smaller craft ; in all ninety-four vessels, at a cost of fourteen millions of dollars.

Swrrzrau.ssn.—The Federal Assembly was opened at Berne on the 9th instant. The President referred, but in vague terms, to the relations between Switzerland and Austria.

"If we are asked for a solution," he said, "I beg of you to take the de- mand into serious consideration ; for if a solution is asked, it is not a com- mon solution, but a solution at all price. A people that has suffered for ten months with constancy and dignity will not lightly risk the loss of its noble devotion. An honourable solution ought to be possible now that all is cleared up, even the inutility of hostile measures adopted ; but what is certainly possible is the fraternal word and vivifying action of this high Assembly speaking and acting in the name of the nation."

ITALY.—An important bill concerning the Jews has been presented to the Piedmontese Chambers by the Government. By this bill, the Israel- ite population of the kingdom, now divided into the Universities of Pied- mont, Monferrato, Alessandris, and Nice, are authorized to exercise self- government in matters relating to their religion and worship. For this purpose, the Israelites of the kingdom are divided into twenty electoral circles, each of which is to elect a representative to a General Assembly, which is to meet at Turin every third year, or whenever the Minister of the Interior shall convoke it. The General Assembly fixes the duties of the rabbis, the taxes for the cost of public worship, the general budget, the stipend of Grand Rabbi, &c. One half of the General Assembly is renewed every three years. The General Assembly appoints a central direction of five members, whose duties con- sist in executing the deliberations of the Assembly, exercising vigilance over all the Hebrew communities of the kingdom, suspending rabbis, &c. Every University elects a council of administration, composed of five members, for the superintendence of local interests and worship. The Government is empowered to determine, by Royal decrees, the minor rules to be observed in the execution of the above measure.

The usual complaint reaches us from the Romagna, that the inhabitants live in fear of robbers, not daring to leave their houses after nightfall. The theatre is deserted at Faenza. The exportation of wheat is prohi- bited from that district, and the Romagnese are dependent on Forli and Ravenna for supplies.

Mir= STATES.—The Pacific arrived at Liverpool on Wednesday with advices from New York to the 7th instant.

In reply to a resolution of the Senate, adopted in December last, the President had communicated a set of documents relative to the con- struction placed upon the Bulwer and Clayton treaty touching the affairs of Central America. We are not in possession of all the documents, but three of them have been printed in the journals.

In a despatch to Mr. Crampton, dated "May 27, 1853," Lord Clarendon desires to prevent misunderstanding, by placing the question on its right foot- ing. By the first article of the treaty between Great Britain and the United States it was declared, that neither the one nor the other would maintain exclusive control over the proposed ship-canal through the Isthmus of Pa- nama; "'Agreeing that neither will ever erect or maintain any fortifica- tions commanding the same, or in the vicinity thereof occupy, or fortify, or colonize, or assume or exercise any dominion over Nicaragua, Costa Rica, or the Mosquito coast, or any part of Central America : nor will either make use of any protection which either afford, or any alliance which either has or may have to or with any state or people, for the purpose of erecting or maintaining any such fortifications, or of occupying, or fortifying, or colonizing Nicaragua, Costa Rica, or the Mosquito coast, or any part of Central America, or of assuming or exercising dominion over the same." To those stipulations, continues Lord Clarendon, her Majesty's Government will religiously adhere. But nowhere had Great Britain renounced her right to any of the posses- sions in Central America, or to the protectorate of the Mosquito territory. Schemes of the fairest, most liberal, and practical character, have been pro-

to the Government of the United States for the adjustment of the af- of Central America, and her Majesty's Government were still ready and desirous to adjust those affairs. But until they be adjusted, Great Britain cannot permit Honduras or Nicaragua to settle the question by force of arms. A second document is the opinion of Sir John Harding, the Queen's Advo- cate, on the interpretation put by Mr. Clayton on the first article of the treaty, in a speech delivered in the Senate at Washington. Mr. Clayton argued that the first article prohibited Great Britain from protecting, by force of arms, any state in Central America, notwithstanding any alliance between her Majesty and either of those states. The Queen's Advocate holds that this interpretation is incorrect: the treaty only forbids both Governments from making use of its alliances or protectorates to occupy, fortify, colonize, or exercise dominion, in Central America. Mr. Clayton was equally incorrect in stating that by the treaty Great Britain has abandoned all dominion in the whole of Central America ; and he instances Belize and its dependencies.

The third document is one not handed in by the President, but communi- cated to the Senate by Mr. Clayton. It consists of a letter from Mr. Reverdy Johnson, Attorney-General when the treaty was negotiated. Mr. Johnson at great length contends, that by the treaty the British protectorate was " disarmed ' ; and that it was not so disarmed in express words because such would not have been expedient. It was intended to prevent Great Britain from using any armed force within the prohibited region without the con- sent of the United States. With regard to the establishment of the colony of the Bay of Islands, Mr. Johnson says it depends on the facts as to whether the erection of that colony is a violation of the treaty. There are different opinions as to whom those islands belong, and he will not take upon himself to determine the point.

Mr. Clayton, in the Senate, bitterly complained that his speech had been reviewed by the Queen's Advocate : it was an outrage on his rights as a Senator. But Mr. Pratt, a Whig Senator, from Maryland, re- minded Mr. Clayton that he could scarcely complain of the British Go- vernment for selecting his speech as the ablest argument on the American

side of the question. On the motion of Mr. Cass, the papers were: ordered to be printed.

It is announced that General Gadsden has succeeded in negotiating w treaty with Santa Anna, by which the latter cedes to the United States,, for fifty millions of dollars, such a boundary as will enable them to pro- tect Mexico from the incursions of the frontier Indians. Doubts are thrown on this report, because it is known that Santa Anna has declared that he will never unless by force part with an inch of territory.

Isnme,—Some time ago it was stated that a great meeting would' Be- held at ihnritsir, in the Punjaub, to check infanticide. The following: letter, written from that town by a lady, describes the meeting. "The Umritsir meeting was most splendid. Every civilian in the Pun. jaub was there. The street of the camp was nearly a quarter of a mile long, and composed entirely of civilians' double-polled tents. It was calculated that more than 20,000 natives, independent of the usual inhabitants, were assembled at the holy city to listen to the Governor-General's order on the subject of infanticide. On Monday the 14th November, all were invited to come to the Durbar at eleven o'clock. A small apartment with a fine bam- boo screen was provided for the few ladies who were present, that they might., witness the scene. It was most magnificent. There were 3000 natives in- side the grand shemeana ; 300 were of sufficient rank to have chair' s allowed.. them, which were placed in a semicircle at the end of the tent ; at the end of this semicircle stood all the assembled civilians. All the old Sikh generals and rulers were there, and among them many Hill chiefs who had never before been tempted out of their native mountains. All those who were not entitled to chairs were seated on the ground, and presented one large, compact mass of human heads. "There was the most profound silence in this brilliant assembly, when, Mr. Edmunstone, on whom, in Mr. John Lawrence's absence, devolved the duty of opening and explaining the object of this important meeting, rose to. speak. He made an excellent Hindostanee address, denouncing female in- fanticide as barbarous, cruel, and unholy ; and so powerfully did that address influence his hearers, that every native present signed a solemn agreement on oath never again to allow female infanticide within the circle of his ac- quaintance without denouncing the perpetrators.

" Hitherto the Hill chiefs, and many of the Sikh tribes, have adopted the cruel practice of murdering their female children, rather than bear the great expense of their foolish marriage ceremonies. Government has now limited' those expenses to certain sums proportioned to the rank of the parents, which just now is viewed as a blessing to all parties ; and all the chiefs expressed' their satisfaction and delight at the new law. "You cannot imagine a more splendid scene of Oriental magnificence than the breaking up and separation of this vast assemblage ; the chiefs mounted on their splendid elephants, attended by their numerous followers. In the evening, the whole city, together with the far-famed holy tank of Umritair, was splendidly illuminated. At sunset, we all assembled in the camp-street,. and formed so large a party that twelve elephants were borrowed from the chiefs for our accommodation ; they all stood ready, in a line, laden with scarlet and gold, their heads and trunks painted with different devices. The scene in every direction was strange and interesting. The city was as light as day, and;was literally crammed with people. As our twelve elephants, with their glittering trappings, followed each other in stately procession, it was curious to look back upon the long narrow streets and the tall and irregular houses, blazing with rows of lamps in long lines, until almost lost in the distance. At the entrance of the holy tank the crowd was so dense that they looked like one solid mass. We were conducted to a position from which we could see the whole square, and where carpets and seats were prepared for us. I cannot attempt to describe the magnificent spectacle that met us there. The golden temple, the steps round the tank, the very water itself' seemed on fire : around the edge were packed 20,000 people, and the mur- mur of their voices came up like the roar of the sea in a storm. At the signal of a cannon, fireworks broke out on every side; fountains of fire fell from the roofs and rose from boats in the middle of the tank, rockets yoierced the air and fell again in showers, and fire-balloons in great numbers had the appearance of so many new stars. This period was chosen for the meeting because it is a great Hindoo festival, which always collects crowds at Umritsir, being connected with the worship of fire."