22 JANUARY 1848, Page 4

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Fitawoo.—The debate on the address was brought to a close on Satur- day; all the paragraphs being adopted, with the usual addition on the na- .tionality of Poland.

A great deal of interest was excited by the speech of the Count de Moutalembert, on Friday. With much eloquence' and more warmth, he -denounced the spirit in which the victorious Radicals had acted in Switzer- land, as the oppression of right by violence. It was not, he asserted, only against the Jesuits that the Radicals had been warring, but against all religion. As the advocate of true liberty, he denounced Radicalism as its -destroyer. K de Montalembert then crossed the Channel- " Bat, since I have thus denounced to you the crimes which have been com- mitted in Switzerland, whom do you imagine I consider as the principal offender? The Foreign Secretary of State of her Bntannic Majesty (Sensation, agitation.) When noble Peers stand up in this tribune and speak what they think of the Emperor of Austria and of Prince de Metternich, I may surely declare my opi- nion of Lord Palmerston. It is he who, in my eyes, is the executioner of the in- dependence of Switzerland; it is he who, at the moment of making a manifesta- tion in favour of the good right, insisted on a previous understanding among the Cabinets, and so produced procrastinations, daring which he pressed on hostili- ties in Switzerland. And at a later period, when the work of iniquity was ac- complished, it is he who declared in the House of Commons that he had nothing to say to the excesses which were being committed. It is he, in fact, who enveloped by his patronage those who put down independence and justice in Switzerland. I have always been a partisan of the English alliance; I have defended it, under many circumstances, against the attacks of its ad- versaries: moreover, I am a passionate admirer of that great English na- • -tion who first presented to Europe the model of constitutional government But these sentiments cannot stifle the expression of my opinions and my judgment on -the present line of policy pursued—a policy everywhere the same. Where is the great man who at this moment represents England in Switzerland going when he quits Berne? To Constantinople—and why? To promote a war on Greece, on that young monarchy which is the enfant chiri of Europe, and one of the glorious works of the present day. There can be no doubt that the Minister who sends him there has caused the death from grief of one great Minister, M. Coletti, whose praise ii in every mouth. (Marks of adhesion.) There are no Jesuits in Greece. (Laughter.) No, but there is French influence' and he cannot suffer that; and if he has opposed justice in Switzerland, it is that the cause of justice is the -cause of France. ("Hear, hear!") We have also had in our history many -gloomy days, but never such sad pages. We have had our days of despotism, lint it was a glorious despotism. Anarchy has also been, at other periods, carried in Europe at the point of our bayonets; but then at least we preserved at home peace, order, security, and justice. (" Hear, hear!") It is not with impunity that England will have followed her policy. The encouragements giveu to anar- chy in Greece, in Switzerland, will not remain unpunished; the flames of that

conflagration will cross the Channel, and will show England that propriety, jag

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tine, and liberty, are not the privilege of one nation alone." A motion was made to print Count Montalembert's speech; but it fell to the ground, as a proceeding totally unprecedented. It is supposed, how- ever, that the Ministers would have suffered the motion to be carried, on account of the tirade against Lord Palmerston. On Saturday, M. Guizot, defending the part taken by France in the af- fairs of Switzerland, produced the following extract of a despatoh from Lord Palmerston to Mr. Percy, dated 9th June 1832.

"The events which have taken place in Switzerland during the last session have attracted the attention of his Majesty's Government. Great Britain having been a party to the treaties of 1814 and 1815, by which the neutrality and invio- lability of Switzerland were guaranteed, and in consequence of which the system has been established which unites the separate Cantons in a general Confedera-

tion, it is impossible that his Majesty's Government can see without uneasi- ness the perspective of any important changes in the Federal Compact which might affect the political relations of Switzerland with the neighbounng states, His Majesty's Government has been informed by you that a proposition will be made to the Diet at its next meeting for a revision of the Federal Compact; but it has not heard what engagements in that compact it may be expected to see proposed. There may perhaps be changes to be made in the regulating provisions of the compact to which no foreign power can offer any reasonable objection. But any alteration which would tend to destroy the independent sovereignty of the separate Cantons, and to submit them all to the arbitrary authority of a Central Government, might produce a change so important in the political condition of Swit- zerland with regard to her foreign relations, and would be so much in disaccord with the stipulations under which the neutrality and inviolability of the Swiss ter- ritory have been guaranteed, that the guaranteeing Powers would be undoubtedly authorized to raise objections against such a change. The neutrality of Switzerland is essentially united to the Federal system actually established in the country; and consequently, when, in 1815, the Great Powers of Europe proposed, for the interest of all not less than for the particular advantage of Switzerland, to invest her territory with the character of perpetual neutrality and inviolability, the contract- ing Powers required, as an indispensable preliminary of such a guarantee on their part that all the Cantons without exception should sign the Federal Compact. You must therefore lose no time in taking the necessary steps in order to make known in the proper quarter the sentiments of the English Government. On this subject you will say, that it is far from being its intention to interfere in affairs of a purely domestic character of the Swiss Governments; but that, in a matter which has so direct a relation with the stipulations of the treaties to which Great Britain is a party, the Government of his Majesty persuades itself that a candid and unreserved expression of those opinions will be received as a proof of interest and friendship. You will say, that if the changes which it is proposed to make in the Federal Compact bear solely on the regulating clauses, it may be more pm dent to postpone them to a future period, when the public mind shall be less agi- tated than it is at present, for fear that in raising questions in the present state of public feeling, other more embarrassing discussions may arise. But if there is an idea of making such changesas may infringe on the independent sovereignty, and the political and separate existence of the Cantons, you will strongly represent all the difficulties and the dangers which the execution of such a project may pro- duce; as it appears to be incompatible with the arrangements established in virtue of the treaties of 1815. You will cause it to be observed, that it is quite impro- bable that all the Cantons will agree to a plan which will inflict a manifest injury on many of them; and that, consequently, any attempt to carry such a reform into execution will lead to a civil war."

Matters took a somewhat unexpected turn in the Committee of the Chamber of Deputies chosen to draw up the address. When the paragraph on the Reform banquets came under consideration, Messieurs Plougoulm, d'Angeville, and Cousture, took exception to the dry repetition by the on porter of the words " blind and hostile passions," and proposed a paragraph drawing a distinction between the real wishes of the nation and the exag- gerations of certain "blind and hostile passions." After a long discussion, the proposition for alteration was withdrawn; but only to reappear in the shape of a distinct paragraph expressing the hope of a desirable change in the present state of "public morality." The Committee, however' decided

' against the addition- and Messrs. Plougoulm and d'Angeville threaten to move the paragraph front the tribune.

Unfavourable rumours regarding the King's health were rife in Paris on Monday, and caused great alarm. The effect was felt on the Bourse, Rentes going down to 73 francs. A correspondent of the Morning Chro- nicle has put together the various statements derived from reliable sources, and the result is the following account of the actual state of matters. At the opening of the session the King had a very severe cold; and in read- ing the speech his voice broke down. Two days afterwards, the death of Madame Adelaide gave him a serious shock: nevertheless, he travelled to Dreux, a distance of eighty miles, to attend the funeral, and bore the journey well. Still, as a precautionary measure, his physicians bled him. The cold has continued to hang about the King, but has not increased. He has kept his apartment for some days. There is no doubt, however, that on Saturday and Sunday the King transacted business with two of his Ministers.

"With respect to the ring's general health, I wrote to you some time ago that there was no concealing that he was not by any means the hale and robust man which he was a few months ago. In personal appearance he has considerably fallen off. Though not yet the 'lean and slippemd pantaloon,' he is con- siderably thinner than formerly. His step is by no means so firm as it used to be, and he has not the upright carriage for which he was remarkable even to a recent period. In his personal habits also, I understand that there have been some remarkable changes. In former times he was noted as a good sleeper: he could throw aside the cares of state on shutting his chamber-door, and sleep as tranquilly as the most humble of his subjects. In this respect be is now greatly altered: he sleeps badly, frequently gets up in the coarse of the night, and writes for hours. He has also become much more irritable than in former times; and he gives way to fits of passion, which during her lifetime Madame Adelaide had alone the power of allaying."

On Wednesday, the King received a deputation of two hundred Peers, who presented the address: his Majesty delivered his reply with animation in a clear firm voice; making, perhaps, a rather studied display of stamina

The ultimate destination of Abd-el-Kader is still undecided. Mean- while, he has been imprisoned, with a portion of his suite, in Fort La- malgue; the remainder being incarcerated in Fort Malbousquet. The Emir is said to complain bitterly of the breach of faith. There is a very general feeling that he will be detained in France. The Journal de l'Indre asserts that the chateau of M. Masson, at Villedieu, has been selected by the Government as Abd-el-Kader's future asylum.

It has been observed that the whole of the military Peers who spoke on the subject of Abd-el-Kader contended that the convention should be rati- fied and carried into effect. Among others, the Prince de la Moskows pointed out as an example the conduct of England with regard to the con- vention of Cintra; which, though most disadvantageous to England, and most unpopular in that country, was honourably carried out.

ITALY.—The movement in Lombardy is gaining ground. Theists affair at Milan has been followed by a collision at Pavia on the 8th and 9th instant, between the students and the Austrian garrison; in which ten civilians were killed and forty wounded. The University is closed, and the students have crossed the frontier into the territories of King Charles Albert

Private letters from Milan, to the 10th, represent that city as being in a state of the greatest exasperation; but no new disturbance had taken place. The deaths that happened on the 3d, and afterward; amongst those who had been wounded, were ascertained to be eighty. •

There appears to be no doubt that the King of Sardinia is making large military preparations. He has called under arms the military contingent of 1848; has ordered that the soldiers who have completed their time of service in February are not to be dismissed, and that all officers and soldiers absent on leave are to be recalled. The additional force called out will amount to 25,000 men. The Turin official gazette contains a FOclamation from the Marquis of Planangia, Governor of Genoa, on the violent proceedings of the 3d and 4th: he declares that the Government is determined to repress disturbances.

The Jesuits settled at Genoa had closed their convent and church, and retired, some to Nice, and the remainder to their country-seat of Monte- bello.

There appears to have been a serious disturbance at Leghorn on the 6th instant, in consequence of an attempt made by some injudicious persons to get representatives chosen to convey to the Grand Duke their complaints at the delay in organizing and arming the Civic Guard. A Commission, beaded by the Marquis Ridolfi, left Florence for Pisa and Leghorn on the 7th, to inquire into the consequences. The Commission arrived in Leg- horn on the 9th; and the Marquis Ridolfi, who was very well received, published a proclamation recommending moderation; and he caused the leaders in the riots to be arrested. Their names were, Guarazzi, Mugniani, Mastacchi, Vignozzi, and La Cicilia of Naples. The prisoners were con- veyed in a steamer to Porto Ferrajo. The new Duke of Parma appears to be favourable to some reforms. He is said to have left Modena precipitately, after a serious altercation with its Duke, in which he declared to be null and void the convention of 1844 for the cession of Guastalla in exchange for a loan of 4,000,000 francs. He will refund the money, but not deliver up the town. The Italian° of Bo- logna mentions a rather extraordinary rumour—that the Duke of Parma has declared apocryphal the manifesto of the 26th December issued in his name, and has applied to the King of Sardinia to deliver him from the occupation of his states by Austrian troops!

Letters from Rome of the 10th instant announce that the Pontifical Ca- binet was composed as follows—Cardinal Ferretti, President of the Coun- cil and Minister for Foreign Affairs; Monsignor Amici, Minister of the In- terior; Cardinal Mezzofanti, of Public Instruction; Monsignor Roberti, of Justice; Monsignor Morichini, of Finance; Cardinal Riario, of Commerce, Agriculture, and Fine Arts; Cardinal Massimo, of Public Works; Mon- signor Ruscoin, of War; Monsignor Savelli, of Police.

The Consulta of State had voted, by a majority of 20 to 4, a loan of a million of south.

SPAIN.—The Salamanca affair has taken an unexpected turn. In the Chamber of Deputies, on the 10th instant, the Committee on the impeach- ment was elected, and the result was found to be favourable to Salamanca: out of seven members, five had been opposed to the impeachment. This took the Ultra-Moderado party by surprise. It was due partly to the ex- treme activity of Salamanca's friends, but chiefly to the sudden diversion of the Progresista party. The Ministry had all along set its face against the prosecution, as an inconvenient precedent; particularly as Salamanca had threatened to make awkward revelations.

Seilor Buschental, the friend of Sefior Salamanca, had challenged Sefior Fidel; but the seconds of the challenged party declined the honour for him.

The popular enthusiasm excited by General Espartero's arrival had suf- fered no abatement. On the evening of his return, the Queen gave him an audience, at which she is reported to have welcomed him affectionately. Espartero paid a short visit to the King, and subsequently called to see his old friend, companion, and former secretary, General Linage, then lying at the point of death. Espartero has been much shaken by the emotions he has undergone. He was exceedingly affected when the son of the hapless Znrbano presented himself, and when he subsequently saw the widows and mothers of those who were shot at Carrel.

General Espartero took the oaths and his seat in the Senate on the 13th. After the sitting, Narvaez went up to him: they shook hands cordially, and conversed together for some time.

PORTUGAL.—The Lisbon mail has brought accounts to the 9th instant. The Queen opened the Cortes in person on the 2d, in a speech which, having been sent to England before delivery, has already been noticed in our columns. Sir Hamilton Seymour was the only Foreign Minister absent. This circumstance, and the omission of the usual ceremony of dressing the ships and firing a salute in the British squadron, were considered as a renewed protest against the elections. The Cortes could not proceed to business for want of sufficient members to make a quorum. The great bulk of the Deputies were on board the Mindello steamer, detained by bad weather within the bar of Oporto.

The Conde de Thomar had been named Minister at Paris; and the Duke de Terceira Ambassador at Vienna.

The public tranquillity was undisturbed.

GREECE.—The Opposition papers of Athens publish a despatch by Lord Palmerston to Sir Edmund Lyons, but it seems that the document was not perfect: the Morning Post gives a version which it vouches for as "en- tire."

"Sir—I have received your despatch, dated October 4, enclosing a copy of a letter from M. Glarakis, Minister for Foreign Affairs in Greece, by which he re- news the complaints of the Hellenic Government as regards the protection afforded to General Grivas by Mr. Saunders, her Majesty's Consul at Prevesa. "I request you will make known to M. Glarakis, that, in the opinion of the Queen's Government, that of Greece has no just motives to complain against the conduct of Mr. Saunders in this affair; and that it does not appear that the asser- tion of M. Glarakis, that General Grivas, during his stay at Prevesa, prepared another attack against the Greek territory, has any foundation. In fact, General Grivas took no step of this kind during the time he remained at Prevesa, nor did anything on his part indicate such intentions. On the contrary, the motives which prolonged his stay in that city were negotiations which he had entered into with the Turkish authorities, for the purpose of ascertaining to what place in the interior of the Ottoman empire he could proceed with his followers: as soon as this was arranged, he left Prevesa for Jannma.

"M. Glarakis will do well for the future to abstain from unfounded accusations against the Queen's Government and its agents. He should bear in mind that it is not by such means there can be any hope of placing the relations between the English and Greek Governments on a footing more satisfactory to the Cabinet of Athens.

"As to General Grivas, there is nothing in his past conduct, or in his political opinions, which can render him an object of undue favour to the English Govern- ment; and if it has viewed him with any sympathy, it is solely because he has been the victim of tyranny and injustice.

"M. Glarakis states, that as far as discontent and revolution in Greece are con- cerned, the Hellenic Government is in the right path, and intends persevering in it The British Government has received this declaration with profound regret. The system followed for some time past by the Greek Government, and which it declares itself resolved to continue, has been a system of illegality and of corrup- tion of violence, of injustice, and of tyranny, oppressive and disgusting to the Greek nation wherever the action of the Government and its agents haa been felt; and, as a natural consequence, it has produced open revolt. It is remarkable that the revolt was declared by men who were not political enemies of the Governineut, but who, and that even very recently, were its supporters, Ministerial favourites, and who had been employed by them as the instruments of a misgoverning power. Nevertheless, when these men began to feel the bitterness of the oppressive sys- tem which they had assisted the Government to impose on others, they took up arms to resist a tyranny which they found intolerable.

" Her Majesty's Government had hoped that this iniquitous system would cease with the life of the Minister who was generally considered as its author, because he was its chief organ. But as M. Glarakis declares that he means to persevere in the same system, it is evident that this system originated and is supported by other influences equally hostile to the welfare of Greece, and contrary to the true interests of her King. It is therefore evident, that M. Coletti was only an instru- ment, though a willing one, employed by those influences to carry on their disas- trous policy. " If the Greek Government desires to prevent insurrection, to maintain order and tranquillity, to encourage industry in the kingdom, it is not by arbitrary ar- rests, nor by illegal violence, nor by the ruin of whole provinces, like that which has recently taken place in abuse, that these results can be obtained.

" The maintenance of tranquillity in Greece, the development of the prosperity of the country, can only be secured by totally different means from those followed of late by the Hellenic Government. The law of uprightness and impartiality ought to be applied; the Judges ought to be independent of the caprices and cor- rupt partiality of the Ministers of the Crown; justice ought to be administered promptly and equitably between the citizens and between the Sovereign and his subjects; the taxes ought to be impartially levied, honestly accounted for; the public revenue ought to be faithfully and economically disbursed for the public service, and for that only; the press should not be shackled; the Municipal and Parliamentary elections should be free; and the Chamber of Deputies should not be converted into a derisive legislative assembly, by the exclusion of every Mall who is not disposed to blindly follow the injunctions of the Ministers of the Crown. If the Hellenic Government would permit the constitution to be a verity—it it respected the laws and compelled others to obey them—if it guaranteed the security of persons and property, encouraging thereby industry, securing to each the fruits of his labour and profits of his capital—in a word, if it administered the affairs of Greece in a way which the Ministers of a constitutional King ought to fulfil their high and important functions, free from all external influences, and looking exclusively to the good of the country—it would very soon find that it would have

occasion to repress internal insurrections, and to pursue in other countries, by diplomatic reclamations, Greek fugitives who have sought an asylum against the oppression and injustice which they suffered in their own. "You will officially communicate a copy of this despatch to M. Glarakis. (Signed) "To Sir E. Lyons, Bart., G.C.B., &c., Athens." " PALMERSTON.

UNITED STATES.—The Hibernia has brought advices from New York to the 2d, and from Boston to the 3d instant. The political news is not important. In Congress, bills had been reported for adding ten regiments of regulars to the army, and authorizing the service of 20,000 additional volunteers; the term being increased to three years. No movement had been taken towards replenishing the treasury. A number of Anti-Slavery petitions had been presented to Congress.

The accounts from the seat of war confirm a previous report, that Gene- rals Worth and Pillow and Colonel Duncan had been arrested by order of General Scott. General Worth had expressed his disapproval of the terms agreed to by General Scott for the capitulation of Puebla; and had subse- quently issued a circular to his division, to which the Commander-in-chief objected. General Pillow's offence lay in his declaring an intention to write direct to the Secretary-at-War, excepting to the finding of a court- martial of which General Scott had approved. Colonel Duncan, in dis- regard of a general order, forbidding officers from individually making re ports on the movements of the army, had avowed himself the author of a letter previously published in the North American, under the signature of "Leonidas."

The Mexican Congress was still in a state of inactivity at Queretaro. They held to their decision against all negotiation with the United States so long as their armies occupied the country. General Bustamente has been appointed General-in-chief of the Army of Reserve and Commandant- General of the State. Paredes still held to his design of placing a foreign

prince on the throne of Mexico. In furtherance of this object, he had opened relations with Jaranta, a guerilla chief. Where Santa Anna was is not mentioned.

The new British Minister, Mr. Doyle, had arrived in the city of Mexico, under the escort of a squadron of American cavalry. Lord Palmerston had protested against the forcible levying of taxes upon English residents in Mexico to support the war with the United States. Those levies were made some six months since, and the English residents then protested against it. The commercial intelligence is satisfactory. The price of cotton was declining.

The New York Courier and Enquirer mentions the actual commence- ment of the works for throwing a railway bridge over the Falls of Niegist a; and the contractor has undertaken to cross on horseback by the middle of June. The bridge is to be of iron cord, aided by a wooden framework; and is to be secured by wrought-iron anchors built into the solid rock 100 feet below the surface.

LIBERIA..—" An Old Subscriber" has sent to the Morning Post an in- teresting account of the declaration of independence by the free Black colony of Liberia, and of a new constitution recently adopted, after the fashion of the United States. The national flag was elevated at Monrovia on the 24th of August last. The first President of the new republic is Mr. J. J. Roberts, late Governor of the colony; Mr. Nathaniel Brander is Vice-President, and Mr. Samuel Benedict Judge. The flag of the re- public was saluted on the 18th of September by the United States brig Boxer; and the Captain of the British sloop of war Favourite had agreed temporarily to recognize the flag of Liberia until the receipt of further instructions. The independence is a measure adopted with a view to give the colony a more imposing and convenient aspect , in its relations with surrounding tribes.

CAPE OP Goon HOPE.—Advices from Cape Town, to the 15th of No- vember, report some decided successes against the Kafirs. On the 3d of that month, by a forced march of thirty miles, Colonel Somerset came up with the force under Pato, eight hundred strong, on some broken ground near a stream called the Chechabe. Before the engagement, Colonel So-

Merset, with a single rifleman, advanced too far, and was surrounded by liafirs: the fleetness of his horse saved him; the rifleman was shot. The enemy were routed. Sir Henry Young had quitted Graham's Town, on his way to South Aus- tralia, vii England!