furrigu null tolnnial.

FRANCE.—M. de Kisseleff was present at a ball at the Tuileries on Monday ; and, of course, was received with courtesy by the Emperor. The dancing was opened by the Emperor and the Princess Mathilde, Lord Cowley and the Empress completing the quadrille. Lord Gough was pre- sent, and talked with the Emperor.

It is again asserted that a large body of troops are ready for instant em- barkation should they be required in the East ; and the reports go so far as to state that the railroad companies have received orders to have in readiness the means of transport for the soldiers at the shortest notice.

This year, the 21st of January, the anniversary of the execution of Louis XVI, was not observed, as heretofore, by the Legitimist journals. They did not appear with the customary black border. But the service for the dead was performed in the expiatory chapel at the end of the Rue d'Anjou St, lionore. Here, however, the usual marks of respect were not shown, for the Minister of State withheld the black hangings formerly furnished from the garde-meuble.

Mademoiselle Martin the daughter of Daniel Manin, President of the short-lived Republic Of Venice in 1848, died recently in Paris. Her funeral, on Wednesday, was raised above an ordinary burial by the fact that General Cavaignae, M. Emile de Girardin, and other Republican leaders, were present.

TURKEY.—No news from the seat of war, giving a clear and authentic account of the conflicts near Kalafat, has yet been published ; but per- haps we can make those operations more intelligible by a compilation from the confused accounts before us. Kalafat, as many of our readers know, is situated at a bend of the Danube, opposite the fortress of Wid- din. Both flanks of the intrenched works rest on the Danube ; and are strengthened in front by outworks. Krajowa, the Russian head-quarters in Lesser Wallachia, lies North of Kalafat ; and Russian posts have been pushed forward almost within sight of the Turkish forts. One of these .advanced bodies took possession of Zetati, a village lying near the Da- nube a little above the left flank of the Turkss and on the road towards sOreova. Here they threw up a redoubt on the North-west side of the village, Between Kalafat and Zetati lie Maglavit and Gunia. On the morning of the 6th instant, a series of conflicts began, as we have before recounted, by an attack upon Zetati. The Turks marched from Ka- lafat; and leaving a body at the foot of the rising ground on which stands Zetati, stormed the village in front, while a body of cavalry pro- ceeded by a ravine on the right to cut off the retreat. The village NM taken ; but the cavalry were slow, and the Russians got into the redoubt. While 'attempts were made to storm it, a Russian reinforcement was observed making for the Kalafat road. The re- served battalions had therefore to make front to the rear ; which they readily performed. The Russians, in column, charged the right of the Turks drawn up in line, and, broken by the fire of the Turks and met by the bayonet, were driven off the field. They appear to have fallen back towards Radovan, as a Turkish corps from Kalafat menaced their communications with that place. As to the engagements on the four suc- ceeding days, we have no narration at all intelligible. It would appear that reinforcements arrived on either aide; that the Russians made another attempt to take Zetati ; that they were beaten ; and that the Turks finally pushed their advanced parties to within eight miles of Ra- doyen. In these conflicts, the Turks, we are told by a medical writer, Iota at least 1300 men, and the Russians twice as many. According to the latest accounts, Prince Gortschakoff had gone to Krajowa with more troops ; and meanwhile, General Aurep had been ordered not to attack the Turks.

Some operations have been effected on the Lower Danube, about Matchin ; but it is doubtful whether the Russians have established them- selves on the right bank. A concentration of strong masses, with heavy artillery, intended to act against the centre of the Turkish line, is vaguely reported ; but unless Prince Gortschakoff has been greatly reinforced, he cannot have men enough to keep up his communications to the right and left and to force the Turkish centre. On the other hand, forays have been made by the Turks across the Danube at Turnul and Kalarash. Omer Bache was last reported to be at Widdin. Letters from the Danubian Provinces received in Paris state that it is impossible to form an idea of the terror which the exactions of the Rus- sians, under the most futile pretences, have caused there. They arrest, dispossess, and seize moveable property of all sorts. Several persons of high distinction are mentioned, who, after having been stripped of all they possessed, were trembling for their lives.

A telegraphic despatch, dated "Sebastopol, Jan. 10," states that "on the 7th two steamers of the English fleet appeared before Sebastopol, to

announce officially to our Admiral that the fleets had entered the Black Sea, having left the Bosphorus on the 4th. The two steamers then de- parted to join the fleets, which will sail towards Batoum. Since then, no vessel—French, Eeglish, or Turkish—has bern seen before Sebastopol. The Russian fleet is distributed at different points."

It would seem that the combined fleets have had splendid weather, and that after proceeding towards Batoum they made for Varna. The Pus. skins were cruising near the Sea of Azoff. It is believed that the Governor of Sebastopol contented himself with answering to the notification of the entry of the fleets into the Black Sea,

that he was astonished at so unforeseen a communication; that be could not understand what they wanted of him, Russia being at war only with Turkey ; and that, consequently, he could not say what he should do un- der the circumstances.

RUSSIA. —The intelligerce is still replete with stories of the great movement of troops in all directions. Prince Paskiewitch has been in-

structed to prepare a plan of campaign on a grand scale. Osten Sac- ken is appointed Governor of Bessarabia and the Crimea ; and Prince Menschikoff commands on the left bank of the Bug, to facilitate the

execution of military operations. Whenever the Emperor appears in public, he is cheered by the people. The Paris Constitutionnel, on the faith of a letter from St. Petersburg, relates the reports current in the political circles of that city regarding the attitude of the Czar.

" On hearing of the entrance of the fleets into the Black Sea, he is said to have evinced the mod perfect calmness. In the evening, when talking in

his circle of courtiers, composed of the highest personages and superior officers, he is said to have remarked, after announcing to them the entrance of the fleets, When battle is offered to Russia, she always accepts it ; she can wear mourning for a fleet, but not for the national honour. I expected the resolution come to by France and Great Britain. I am not, therefore, taken by surprise ; every order has been given beforehand in anticipation of an act which, by breaking treaties, releases me from the obligations of them.' It appears certain, in fact, that the Emperor asked Prince Mensohikoff whether he could make head against the formidable squadrons the movement of which he expected in the Black Sea. The Grand Admiral is said to have replied, 'Conquer them, no; fight and die to the last, yes!' This answer is too characteristic of that haughty personage to be at all doubted. The same letter from which we take these details adds, that the Emperor Nicholas, while showing himself resolved not to yield, has testified his regret at being in disaecord with the Sovereign who has saved Europe and civilization from such great perils." In Vienna the version of Russian intentions prevalent up to Monday last was, that the Emperor Nicholas would virtually reject the Vienna propositions, and, not recognizing any mediators, would insist upon treat- ing with Turkey alone, and at the bead-quarters of Prince Gortschakofc who has plenary powers to treat on the basis of the Menschikoff demands. He will nevertheless give an answer so evasive, that under cover of it he could keep his Ambassadors at Paris and London, and make a new effort to detach the German Powers from the Western Powers, or to divide the latter. Count Orloff has been despatched to Vienna to bring about an in- terview between his master, Nicholas, the Emperor of Austria, and the King of Prussia; and also to state the terms upon which Russia would agree to a peace. The official Journal de St. Petersboury of the 20th instant states that the notification relative to the entrance of the fleets having been made only verbally to the Cabinet of St. Petersburg, the Russian Government has considered it necessary to require from England and France a cate- gorical declaration with regard to the character and bearing they intend giving to their action. On this declaration will depend the ulterior atti- tude of Russia.

A ukase has been issued ordering the sailors of the Baltic fleet, now on leave of absence, to repair to their ships.

ITALY. —The Piedmontese Chamber of Deputies has been occupied with the tariff, and has made a farther advance towards free trade. In Octo- ber last, the King reduced the duties on corn, by decree ; and Count Ca- your, on the assembling of Parliament, brought in a bill enacting the re- duction proposed. But the committee to whom the question was pro- posed recommended a still further reduction. Upon this Count Cavour said, he was willing to abolish the duties altogether, if the House would supply the deficiency which that step would occasion in the finances. The House took the Minister at his word, and, on the 20th, voted the abolition, not only of the import and export duties on corn, but of the municipal octroi, by 72 to 25. No serious opposition is expected ,in the Senate.

The Sardinian Government is making warlike preparations, at the alleged instance of the Western Powers. France, it is stated, recom- mends the formation of a reserve, and England the arming of Genoa and the coast.

SPAIN.—One of those exploits so common to Spanish Governments was performed on the 18th. To break the strength of the formidable opposition, General Manuel Concha, General O'Donnell, General Jose Concha, and General Armero, have been banished ; the first two to the Canaries, the third to the Balearic Isles, the fourth to Leon. General Prim has been ordered not to return to Spain.

UNITED STATES. —The steamer Alps arrived at Liverpool On Thursday, with advices from New York to the 12th instant.

In the Senate, General Cad and Mr. Clayton continued to wage war against each other on the subject of British proceedings in Central America and the construction of the Clayton and Bulwer treaty. Beyond these personal combats we have no news on the subject. A Committee of Congress was making a thorough inquiry into the arrangements adopted in emigrant-ships, the treatment of the emigrants, and their conduct on board. A bill is in preparation for the better pro- tection of emigrants—especially framed with a view to prevent the com- mingling of the sexes, which now results in frightful depravity. The Walker expedition to Lower California has been "hemmed in; many of the pirates shot, and all captured." But a second party set out on the 15th December, and of their fate we hear nothing.

A regular New York conflagration, the fire streaming from a hundred windows at once, has destroyed the Lafarge Hotel and Metropolitan Hall, establishments recently constructed in the Broadway. Daring the last month, it is calculated that the United States have lost fifteen millions of dollars' worth of property by land and sea. The most recent calamity is the loss of the San Francisco, a steamer, sent to sea with a heavy cargo, and a regiment of artillery on board. Her engines were never properly tested. She put to sea from New York on the 22d December ; on the 24th the heavy sea struck her, and she became unma- nageable; the engines were rendered useless, the foremast fell overboard, a succession of seas swept her decks, and reduced her to a log on the waters. After she had been rolling about for two days, a British ship,

followed two days after by an American ship, and subsequently by ano- ther British ship, arrived and took off those who had escaped the sweeping

seas. Two of the vessels, the Kilby and the Three Bells, took their living cargo to New York ; the third brought her contingent to Liverpool. It consisted mainly of soldiers, who have since been shipped to the United States.

AUSTRALIA.—The Melbourne Argus up to the 24th October has reached us, giving some interesting information.

In the Legislative Council, a resolution had been passed in favour of applying 3000/. per month, to pay any and every company that, from March 1854 to March 1855, would engage to carry a regular monthly mail from England to Melbourne, within sixty-five days for the first and sixty days for the last six months of the year. On the 21st October, the Council adopted an address to the Queen, expressing their alarm on hearing that her Majesty had been advised to withhold her sanction from the Convict Prevention Act. It stated that the granting of conditional pardons had worked great wrong and injustice in the colony; 17,748 per- sons had emigrated from Van Diemen's Land last year ; and out of 370 persons sent to the prisons of Victoria, 275 had been previously convicted; and the expenditure for 1854, on account of the administration of justice, police, and penal establishments, is estimated at one million sterling. It is submitted that the custom of granting conditional pardons places the colonists completely at the mercy of the Governments of the penal settle- ments in their vicinity. The recent transfer of Norfolk Island convicts to Van Diemen's Land, and the granting of passes to ninety-eight of them, increases the alarm. The address states that it is the solemn and de- liberate conviction of the Legislature, that "the unrestrained admission of transported felons, under whatever designation, is dangerous to the peace, injurious to the welfare, and incompatible with the good govern- ment of the colony "; and they pray that her Majesty will assent to the act already mentioned. The appearance of a Russian fleet in the Pacific, probably the fleet hovering about Japan, has raised in the Council at Melbourne the question of defences for the protection of Australia.

In 1848, Mr. Francis Cadell, a Scotch gentleman, made some practi- cal observations on the tides of the Lake Alexandrine, which receives the waters of the river Murray at its confluence with the sea ; and his ob- servations convinced him that the Murray could be navigated by steam- ers. After an interval of absence from Australia, he returned, and re- newed his observations in 1851; and, finding that they confirmed his former experiences, he planned a steamer, named the Lady Augusta, and superintended her construction himself. But the scarcity of labour delayed the undertaking so much, that Mr. Cadell re- solved to make for some inland bend of the river, and to explore it seawards. With this view, he constructed the frame- work of a boat, and, cutting stout canvass to cover it, packed these materials together, placed them on a horse's back, and mounting ano- ther horse, set out for Bendigo. Here he picked up a volunteer crew, and made for Swanhill, a hundred miles from the Diggings. At Swanhill he put his boat together, and named it the Forerunner : but the night be- fore the day of embarkation, a hurricane blew off the roof of a house under whose lee the frail craft was resting, and smashed it. Not to be daunt- ed by this, Mr. Cadell repaired his boat ; embarked, and, carefully sound- ing all the way, made a voyage of 1300 miles in twenty-five days, and reached the Lake Alexandrine in safety. Last August, the Lady Augusta arrived off the sea mouth of the Murray ; and, watching his opportunity, Mr. Cadell "rushed the steamer through the breakers of the bar passage," steamed up the river, and reached Swanhill. There the latest accounts loft him on his gallant enterprise, about to proceed further up the river, having Sir Henry Young and other "guests" on board. This successful voyage bids fair to place the internal traffic of New South Wales and Victoria in the hands of the South Australians, in addition to the traffic of their own colony.

INDIA AND CHINA.—Early in the week a summary of the overland mail from India arrived by telegraph; the fuller despatches have not yet been received. The latest dates are from Bombay, December 29; Hong- kong, December 11; Burmah, December 3. "The Governor-General of India left Calcutta on the 9th of December for Burnish. A conspiracy at Rangoon was frustrated on the 231 of November by the preparations of the British authorities. "The Resident of Bushire has reported that 60,000 Persians had reached that neighbourhood, with the object of invading the Pachalik of Bagdad. A combined naval and military expedition is being rapidly organized by the Bombay Government to carry out any orders it may receive from England, or from the Governor-General.

"The important territory of Berar, the garden of India, has lapsed to the British Government by the death of its ruler without issue. "Tranquillity prevails at Canton, and at Amoy the constituted authorities have been restored. The insurgent army had, at the end of October, reached Ginken, about sixty miles from Pekin. Shanghai is still in the hands of the rebels." No mails had arrived from Australia, though one was due.