fforeign anti eolonfal.

FRANCE.—The Moniteur of Wednesday officially announced the resig. nation of Milr hat Soult as President of the Council, and the appointment of M. Guizor to the post. M. Guizot retains his office as Minister of Fo- reign Affairs: no salary being annexed to the Presidency of the Council.

Marshal S.,ult's resignation was conveyed in the following letter to the King— " Soultberg (Tarn), 15th September.

" Sire—I was in the service of my country sixty-three years ago, when the old Monarchy was still standing, before the first dawnings of our national Revolution. A soldier of the Republic and lieutenant of Napoleon, I have taken part without ceasing in the immense struggle for the independence, the liberty, and the glory of France; and I was among those who sustained it till the last day. Your Mo. jesty deigned to believe that my services might be useful to the new and not less patriotic struggle which God and France have called on you to sustain for the firm establishment of our constitutional order; and I render thanks to your Majesty for it. It is the honour of my life that my name thus occupies a place in all the labours, warlike and pacific, which have assured the triumph of our great cause. The confidence of your Majesty sustained me in the last services that I endeavoured to render. My devotedness to your Majesty and to France still exists as strongly as ever; but I feel that my strength is not equal to it. Let your Majesty permit me to devote what strength remains to me to repose and reflection, now that I am arrived at the end of my laborious career. I have devoted to you, Sire, the activity of my latter years: give me the repose of my old services, and permit me to place at the foot of your Majesty's throne my resignation of the Presidency of the Council, with which you deigned to invest me. I shall enjoy this repose in the midst of that general security which the great wisdom of your Majesty has assured to France, and to all those who have served her and love her. lly gratitude for the goodness of your Majesty, my wishes for your pros- perity and that of your august family, will accompany me in that repose to my last day, and will not cease to equal the unchangeable devotedness and the pro- found respect with which I have the honour to be, Sire, your Majesty's most humble and most obedient servant, MARSHAL Due DR DALMATIZ."

It is understood that Marshal Soult will accept the office of Governor of the Invalides, a sinecure with a salary of 40,000 francs, a house, and other advantages.

A royal ordinance has at length appeared in the columns of the Aroniteur appointing the Duke d'Aumale to be Governor-General of Algeria, in the room of the Marshal Duke of Tab-.

Generals Reille and Dodo de la Brunerie have been created Marshals of France.

At a patriotic dinner given at Cernay, in the Upper Rhine, M. Rissler, the Mayor of the town, proposed the health of the King in these words- " To the King of the French, to whom France confided seventeen years ago the guardianship of her destinies and glory! May he soon respond to our long expectation!" " That toast," says the Courrier d'Alsace, "was re- ceived with cries of La Marseillaise!' " The printers of Paris have annually had a public dinner; but when they asked the usual permission from the Prefect of Police for this year, it was refused. The men, to the number of five or six hundred, then made ar- rangements to dine privately; but as they were sitting down to table, on Sun- day, two Commissaries of Police entered the room and ordered the printers to disperse; which they did without resistance.

BELolUat.—The Free-trade Congress, which assembled at Brussels on the 15th instant, commenced discussion on the 16th; and during that and the two following days was engaged in considering the theory of Free Trade and Protection. The statistics of the subject were not forgotten; the representatives of the Free-traders of England contributing in large pro- portion. The attendance of visitors increased considerably after the first day; the fresh arrivals including Prince Napoleon Bonaparte, General Du- pont, nearly all the members of the Commercial Council of Brussels, Count de Glpner' member of the permanent Council of Brabant, the Marquis de Rumigny, French Ambassador at the Belgian Court, and Mr. Wilson, M.P. Only two champions of Protection took part in the discussion—M. Ductha- taus and M. Rittinghausen. The former, who came only as a spectator, and was drawn into the discussion by seeing so few defenders of Protection, earned some laurels by the ability be displayed in expounding his views. An amusing novelty was introduced into the discussion by M. Gamier;

who, instead of a speech, read two songs by the poet Beranger, "Le Con- trebandier," and " Les Quatre Ages." Towards the conclusion, M. Blanqui made an eloquent speech on the abuses of the customhouses. He was fol- lowed by Mr. Ewart; whose address, like those of all the English speakers, was received with marked attention. The business of the Congress closed on Saturday evening, with a grand banquet given to the foreign members of the Free-trade Association of Belgium. Among the toasts, " the health of Sir Robert Peel" was received with particular distinction.

The Penitentiary Congress held its first sitting on Monday, in the Gothic Hall of the Hotel de Ville. The Presidency was conferred on M. de Mussy, the Belgian Minister of Justice; Colonel Jebb, and M. Weloker, a member of the Baden Legislature, were elected Vice-Presidents. The number of Vice-Presidents was subsequently increased by the election of Mr. Rotch,(Chairman of the Middlesex Magistrates,) M. Gustave de Beau- mont, and some other gentlemen. Colonel Jebb advocated the Separate system; the advantages of which, he said, were coming to be generally ac- knowledged. Among the speakers who followed was M. de Zehe, a gentle- man of the chamber of the Emperor of Russia; who spoke to the commence- ment of penitentiary reform in Russia. Within the last two years the knout had been abandoned—and, M. de Zehe confessed, the cat-o'-nine-tails has been substituted! Mr. George Sumner, of Boston, laid on the table a number of official reports from the various prisons of the United States; and he read from them many passages to prove the superiority of the Separate over the Silent system.

The discussion on the second day turned upon the punishment of juve- nile offenders and the construction of prison-cells.

SWITZERLAND.—At the sitting of the 14th instant, the Grand Council of Berne, on the demand of the Director of Military Affairs, M. Ochsen- hein, voted an extraordinary credit of 155,000 Swiss francs to complete the arming and equipment of 20,000 men, destined to carry into effect the re • cent decree of the Vorort for the dissolution of the Sonderbond, should op- position be attempted.

ITALY.—The great popular demonstration at Florence, on the 12th instant, to commemorate the establishment of the National Guard, passed off with admirable order. The procession included the municipal body of Florence, officers of the troops, deputations from all the religious orders and the professions of Tuscany, representatives of the different great towns, and many residents of foreign birth: on the march, the Bolognese courte- ously claimed the lead for the English, as the most cordial in their sym- pathy with Italian liberty: the gross number was at least 50,000. On the banners were such inscriptions as " Long live Leopold," " Long live Pius the Ninth," " The Independence of Italy," " To the English," &c. The colours borne were principally the Tuscan; those from Leghorn and Pisa bore also the Italian tricolor. On the arrival of the first flag at the Pitti Palace, the Grand Duke, the Grand Dutchess, (who had not before made a public appearance since her confinement,) and the Princesses, came out on the balcony to greet the procession: the processionists passed with loud acclamations•' to which the Duke and his family replied by waving pocket- handkerchiefs and affectionate salutes. The procession took three hours to pass in review. The most perfect order prevailed throughout, and the evening closed with a superb illumination.

On the following day, the Duke issued a decree to his "good and faith- ful Tuscans," expressing the lively emotions with which he had witnessed the popular demonstration, and calling on the people to return quietly to their avocations, in order that the Government might proceed calmly with the contemplated reforms.

The people at Leghorn had put off their agitation, and resumed their accustomed avocations.

A fete had been announced at Genoa for the 12th; but it did not take place. Several thousand cockades had been prepared, consisting of the Sardinian and Roman colours united; and a national hymn had been com- posed, to be sung in the evening on the promenade of L'Acqua Sola. In the morning, a notification from the Governor forbade the wearing of any cockades excepting of' the Sardinian colours; and a stop was therefore put to the demonstration. Subsequently, the inhabitants decided on a petition to the King, soliciting the organization of the National Guard, and a par- tial liberty of the press. The Government has shown signs of displeasure at the manifestation: it has ordered three young nobles, who have taken an active part in the demonstrations, the Marquises Giorgio Doris, Giacomo Balbi, and Raggi, to appear in the capital. They departed for Turin on the 15th.

Although the accounts from Naples are by no means explicit, enough may be gleaned to show that the insurrections in Sicily and Calabria are becoming more serious every day. Reggio, which was held for some days by the insurgents, has been bombarded by a division of Government war-steamers under the Count d'Aquila, with the loss, it is said, of a great many lives. In Calabria, the movement has reached the Abruzzi, and, it was believed, Teramo and Catanzaro. Romeo di San Stefano, a high officer of customs, and his brother, are at the head, of the revolt.

Arrests were very numerous at Naples. Twenty-five of the persons en gaged in the late tumult at Messina were shot on the 13th instant: they were all young men, from twenty to thirty years of age.

The Pope has had to exhibit a wholesome severity. A proclamation published on the 11th instant condemns the conduct of a tumultuous mob, who two or three days before had uttered violent and insulting language under the windows of the Austrian Ambassador. Among others who have incurred the Pope's displeasure, is the Prince of Canino, the son of Lucien Bonaparte: not satisfied with merely shouting in the streets, he went into the residences of the Ambassadors of the King of Sardinia and the Grand Dike of Tuscany, and from the balconies gave the signal for a further movement, by shouting out to the people assembled, "Long live the Inde- pendence of Italy!" As a consequence of this imprudence, the Prince has been suspended from his functions in the Civic Guard. He has since gone to Venice, to attend a scientific meeting: on his way he passed through Bologna and Ferrara, in his National Guard uniform. At Ferrara, the conduct of the Austrians has-become less exasperating; but their occupation of the city has every appearance of permanence. Dissensions had broken out among them. A conflict took place between the Tyrolese troops and the Hungarians; the first crying in favour of the Pope, the latter in favour of the Emperor. Several were killed in this affair. Two Tyrolese and one Hungarian were afterwards condemned to death Milan remained under the military occupation of its Austrian rulers. Meanwhile, there has been extraordinary diplomatio activity at Vienna. On the 8th, the Emperor came from Schconbrunn, and, in the presence of Prince Metternich, gave audience to the Pope's Nuncio, Monsignore Via* charged with a pressing letter from the Pontiff. On the same day, an r t- tache of the Sardinian Legation arrived at Vienna, with despatches from King Charles Albert. Prince Metternich held a diplomatic reception in his own house on the 12th instant; and it was observed that he conversed principally with the Roman Nuncio and the Sardinian Ambassador. Count Flabault, the French Austrian Ambassador, who has been in London, took his departure suddenly on Tuesday, for Vienna. In conse- quence of the urgency of his instructions, the Count did not pass through Paris.

Count Bresson has been ordered to his post as French Ambassador at Naples, forthwith. M. Bresson had a long interview with the King before leaving Paris.

According to the National, Lord Nonnanby has just handed to M. Gnizot a diplomatic note from his Government relative to the affairs of Italy-

" England, it is said, declares that in her quality as a constitutional power she cannot permit the intervention of Austria in the independent states of Italy. Europe is interested that no power of the first rank should alone possess infin- ence over a vast confederated territory: treaties have limited the Austrian posses- sions; and it would be to authorize a.compromising extension of power to admit the right of the Cabinet of Vienna to make use of her armed force to retain in her dependence sovereign states, of which recent events have modified their internal constitution."

Sesix.—Accounts from Madrid mention. the continued arrival of ad- dresses to the Queen thanking her for the decrees of amnesty.

On the 13th instant, the completion of the new Cabinet was announced in the appointment of Seiler Goyena, Minister of Justice, to be President of the Council, and of Sehor Modesto Castayar to be Foreign Minister. There have been considerable changes in the subordinate political appoint- ments.

In consequence of a grossly calumnious article on the Queen whiff h appeared in the Courrier Frangais, the introduction of that paper into Spain has been prohibited by the Minister of the Interior.

The refusal of Narvaez to quit Madrid was viewed with much suspicion, He was believed to be exerting himself in the- most unscrupulous manner to overturn the new Cabinet, and to get up a military insurrection against the Government. His known recklessness of character gave encourage, ment to the worst suspicions. Amongst other unfavourable indications, was the discovery at Pampeluna of a serious military conspiracy in favour of Narvaez and the French party, in which several officers of the garrison were implicated.

The Gazette had declared, in reply to an attack of the Eferakdo against Mr. Bulwer, " that it was absolutely false that the Minister of England at Madrid had accused any person or party of conspiring against the Queen or the Government."

Meanwhile, the Carlists were not inactive: the Count de Montemolin had been proclaimed by small bands of his supporters in, the valley of the Cars renza and in Alava.

PoneresaL.—By advices of the 12th instant, we learn that a decree has been issued announcing the intention of the Government to reduce the number of useless public employes, and to select them not as heretofore on party grounds, but for individual fitness. The question of dissolving the Chartist Volunteer battalions was causing much disputation, Ministerial and diplomatic. The Volunteers themselves are tired of the service.

GnsacE.—Coletti, the Prime Minister, expired on the 12th instant, after a fortnight's illness. His malady was known to be incurable some time before his death. His successor is not yet. named.

The country is convulsed with revolutionary movements. At Nanpacte, General Mamoris has been repulsed by the revolted Colonel Pharmaki, who is supported by many eminent officers of the army. Officers who have heretofore adhered to the Government have suddenly left Athens, and disappeared—gone to join the- insurgents. In the Bub:ea, the follow- ers of Grizziotti still keep the country warm, while he is having his wounds cured under Turkish protection-at-Chios.