31 MAY 1856, Page 7

furtigu Ruh Cohnial.

l'reur?.—Paris is all agog with its anticipated cattle-show, which divides attention with the approaching baptism of the Imperial infant. Notre Dame is undergoing prodigious ornamentation to fit it for the latter ceremony, which will take place in about a fortnight. Everything will be done to impress on the minds of the volatile Parisians the fact that they have an Imperial Prince, a sort of hostage to fortune. It is a fact that the sum of 600,000 francs has been subscribed in Paris, apropos of the birth of the Child of France, "as a token of gratitude and devo- tion," and presented to the Empress. The Minister of the Interior an- nounces that the money will be made a "fund of charity for the chil- dren of the people" under the patronage of the Imperial boy.

The "Universal Exhibition of Cattle and Agricultural Productions" will be opened on the 1st of June—tomorrow. Stalls and pens are pro- vided for 1000 animals, some of which have arrived from foreign coun- tries. Splendid apartments have been fitted up for the Emperor and Empress, and admirable accommodation for the public, the competitors, and officials.

Our Queen's birthday was celebrated at Paris hy Lord Cowley on Sa- turday. At a dinner to the French and Foreign Ministers, the health of the Queen was proposed by Count Walewski.

Secret societies, it is well known, have not been extirpated under the Imperial thgime. Only the other day, eighteen persons were sentenced, at Cognac, to periods of imprisonment varying from two years to one month for belonging to a secret society. The Paris correspondent of the Times throws some light on the subject in an interesting letter describing the moral and geographical traits of the compressed agitation. Paris and Lyons are its centres ; Paris is the head, Lyons is expected to be the hand of the revolution. In the associations of Lyons are men of all political colours, but the predominant hue is a reflection of 1793; and Robespierre Babceuf, Marat, &c. are its guides and philosophers. It is remarked tliat the doctrines and influence of this—the party of the Revo- lution—follow the course of the great rivers, the Rhone, the Sa6ne, the Loire and their effluents. The agents for the dissemination of those doctrines, and for the organization of the party, are chiefly the rivermen —notably the flotteurs of the Nievre and the debardeurs of the Yonne. Socialism founds its strength upon the Lyons districts, and has its head- quarters in Lyons, Rive de Glen, and St. Etienne. It is strong also in the Nivernais, at La Charite, Come, Clamecy, and Fouichambeault. The hawkers, sznall attorneys and advocates, and the rivermen, are the active agents of communication. The bulk of the population acted on by revolutionary agencies is subject to much local oppression, and con- demned to a miserable and cheerless life. These things are well known to the Government, and they cannot form very pleasant food for the contemplations of the Elect of DAniber. The Moniteur of Thursday s at "the work of Baron de Bazen- court borrows no official character ri m the fact that it is dedicated to the Emperor. M. de Bammeourt has written his book according to his own views, and he alone is responsible for the facts and opinions con- tained therein." [This would have more effectively met the requirements of the ease had the official organ of the French Government expresssd some regret that M. de Bazancourt, a writer appointed by the Minister of Public Instruction, had been seduced into partial and unfair statements of the events he was instructed to narrate.]

S ill ht.—Some unpleasant indications of the unquenchable spirit that animates the Lombards have shown themselves. Ominous writings on walls, such as, "Viva Vittorio Emmfumek !" "Viva ll nostro Re !" "Viva Cavour ! " "Viva il Ministro Italian° !" have appeared suddenly in Milan and other towns of Lombardy. At Genoa, the students have held a grand banquet—their toast "Unity of Italy." Placards contain- ing insults and threats against the Austrian Consul have been pasted at the corners of several streets, and torn down by the Police. On one evening several persons assembled under the windows of the Consul, threw stones against the door and at the Austrian arms over it, and ut- tered cries of "Down with the Consul ! war with Austria!" The walls of Turin are covered with the words, "Death to Austria ! Long live Victor Emmanuel, King of Italy !" Such are the statements in the journals. It is stated that Austria is seeking a guarantee of her Italian posses- sinus from' the European Governments ; a report, however, not in any way authenticated.

It is remarked that Baron Werner, Under-Secretary for Foreign Af- fairs at Vienna, has gone or is going to Italy, probably Rome, for the benefit of his health ; but the true reason of the journey is supposed to be "some mission to the Papal Government." M. de Walewski, the brother of the French Minister, recently passed through Genoa, on his way. to Rome' "on a mission connected with the reforms recommended by France to the Papal Government." It is said that Austria's desires of reform at Rome would be satisfied by compliance with the following recommendations—" 1, A change in the system of public instruction. 2, A radical reform in the administration of justice. 3, Troops to be raised in the country. 4, Construction of the projected railroads, and incite- ment to commercial enterprise on the part of the Government."

M. Manin, the distinguished defender of Venice, has published a letter against the "theory of the poniard." He refuses to argue the ques- tion. "The feelings of every honest man in Italy and abroad reject, reprove and abominate such a doctrine—the doctrine of destroying human life by acts of treachery, at any time, in any place, and for any motive whatever." The National party must separate itself solemnly and irrevocably from assassins. It seems strange that in denouncing assassination he should have to add that he is performing "an act of courage."

Felice Orsini, one of Mazzini's most determined followers, who was arrested at Hermanstadt in Transylvania in 1854, and afterwards con- fined in the castle of St. Georgie, Mantua, under sentence of death, has escaped, and has informed his friends by letter of the interesting feet- There were three cells in the corridor where he was confined, six feet long by three broad. The windows were two yards from the floor' and were. guarded with two rows of iron bars a yard apart, and outside them an iron wire grating. The distance from the window to the ditch was thirty yards. Eight soldiers watched in the corridor, who with the keepers maintained an almost constant surveillance over the prisoners.

"About the end of January, I was put into cell No. 4, the worst in the castle, and I almost despaired of ever being able to escape from it ; the wine dew was more than two yards from the ground, and to work at it I was ob- liged to stand on the back of my chair. The rows of iron bars were a yard

apart ; the outside grating being one-tenth of the distance beyond. Thebars were extremely thick, especially the inside ones, and the height from

the window to the level of the ditch was thirty yards—I myself measured it with a string. I could not work at night, because the noise of the saws, though very slight, would have been heard by the sentinel, who, after the half-past nine o'clock visit, came every five minutes to the door. I worked therefore in the day-time ; and my ear had become so accustomed to the step of the sentinel, that before he opened the door I always contrived to get down and put my chair in its place, and sometimes I would be walking up and down humming. I covered over the marks of my work with brick- powder mixed with black wax and bread. By thus working in the day- time in the intervals of the visits, in twenty-four days I had cut away seven of the outside bars and one of the inside ones, where they were fixed into the wall ; and from the wall I had extracted eight bricks, which I hid in the straw of my mattress. As for the cord, I had thought of that before. On the 1st of February I kept back, without their knowing, the sheets that I ought to have sent away to the wash ; and on the 1st of March I kept back the towels, which were as wide as e sheets and a little longer ; and by cutting these

into strips, ning e4; it with sailor's knots, let it down into the ditch to try its length, and

found it even longer than necessary. The 28th and 29th I passed in great fear of discovery, being more than usually persecuted by the at- tentions of the sentinel, so that I could not attempt my escape. I therefore pretended during those two days to be ill, and did not rise from my bed, for fear they might chance to examine my straw mattress. They had ceased, in my ease, to examine the bars. At half-past nine on the evening of the 29th, at the usual visit from the cape custode, I pretended to be asleep ; but the moment they were gone, and while they were going the round of the other visits, and so making some noise, I rapidly removed the iron bars I had cut—made up two little bundles of necessary clothing—fastened the cord to one of the remaining bars—let it down all its length—hid the bars I had removed in the straw, and then lay still again till the second visit, at half-past one. I again pretended to be asleep ; and the instant they were gone I rose and quite calmly proceeded to let myself down by the cord. When within six feet from the ground, I felt I could no longer sustain my-

self. I looked at the depth below me, and let myself drop. A sort of swoon came over me. I however moistened my mouth with an orange I had had the precaution to have upon me, and lay for some moments quiet, to recover myself. I then dressed myself, and wandered round and round the castle, seeking some means to get out of the ditch ; but I had so hurt my foot in the fall that I could scarcely walk. I hoped to escape from the ditch into the lake ; but the entrance to the lake was barred by a grating. I then en- deavoured, with the help of two nails, to scale the wall of the ditch, about six feet high, and had almost reached the top when the foot I had hurt failed me, and I fell to the bottom. Fortunately, there had lately been a little. water in the ditch, and the soft mud prevented the sentinels hearing the noise of my fall. I remained there, in the dread of being retaken, till five in the morning, when the city-gates were opened ; and then some rut: went by. I called to them, saying that the night before I had been

and fallen into the ditch, and begged them to help me out. Some refused, but at last some bolder ones helped me ; and I was dragged out with muds difficulty, as I could scarcely help myself. My hands were cut in many places. I was very lame, and covered with the mud of the ditch above the waist; yet in that condition I had to cross the bridge within gunshot of the castle. What happened after that I must not tell. In eight days I was in Switzerland, and able for the first time to attend to my foot. What the Austrians would have done or given to get me again, you can imagine. Police circular followed circular, and telegraphic despatch followed tele- graphic despatch. All letters were indiscriminately stopped and opened at the post-office, and perquisitions made in every part of Mantua; but this did not prevent the citizens from openly rejoicing over my escape. We shall now soon meet."

1111551 .—There is some talk of a new Russian loan ; reports of the summoning of bankers from Hamburg and Cologne to Berlin ; and a rumour that Russia is about to have a Credit Mobilier.

The Emperor of Russia has extended his tour from Warsaw to Berlin. The Crown Prince of Wurtemberg accompanied him. The Queen of Saxony, sister of the Dowager Empress of Russia, is also present at the Prussian Court. Count Nesselrode and Prince Woronzoff are on their way to the same centre of attraction.

While at Warsaw, the Emperor Alexander received a deputation from_ the inhabitants, and replied to their address to this effect-

" My line of conduct towards your country is, absolute forgetfulness ot the past. I am content with the Poles, not merely because, in spite of revo- lutions and wars in which all Europe has been entangled, they have not for- gotten their duties to their sovereign and to themselves, but still more be- cause those of them who have fought in the ranks of may soldiers have dis- played a bravery and fidelity which have been proof against all temptation. I have them all in my heart, and shall not cease to love the Poles as my own children. Tell this, I pray you, to your fellow countrymen; but tell them also that the time for idle dreams is at an end. No more of reveries. Gentlemen, I wish Poland to be happy, and she can only be so by her union with Russia."

General Williams has been one of the lions of the Russian capital. At a ball given by the Princess Youssopoff, he shared the honours of the even- ing with General Edgar Ney ; but the latter, we are told, was even more remarked, "Russian sympathies for France being greater than any that England can inspire."

iJ8trimu.—The intelligence from the Crimea is only of embark- ations, and the gradual disposal of the surplus stores of the speculative sutlers to the Russians. One report states that several large new cannon have been found in Sebastopol. It has been reported that Marshal Pe- Hasler will return to France in time to be present at the baptism of the "Enfant de France " ; but the report is denied in letters from the camp. The French soldiers who fired upon some of our troops have been ac- quitted.

ft UT k f1t.—Some intrigues appear to be going on to retard, if possible, the evaeuation of the Principalities by the Austrian troops, or at lead to secure a continuance of the authority of the Hospodars either as Hospodars or as Kaimakans. But the latest information from Jassy is not in favour of the system of separation indicated by the Austrian journals. It is stated by these accounts, that the Divan of Moldavia had, previously to its rising, unanimously voted a congratulatory address to the Hospodar on his having demanded from the Congress the union of the two provinces. The news of this vote spread rapidly, and caused the greatest rejoicing. among the population.

atria ft II 'I.—The Paris Pays announces " that Prussia has decided upon the creation of a naval station on the coast of America, with the view to protect Germans, who emigrate across the Atlantic every year. The Austrian Government has adopted a similar resolution, and a squadron of three vessels is about to be armed at Trieste, to form the Austrian station on the American shores. This is the first time that the German Powers have sent out armaments of the kind, and this innovation in their policy deserves attention."

Tinitfli Shim—The City of Baltimore arrived at Liverpool on Wednesday, bringing advices from Philadelphia to the 15th instant.

The only really important item in the news is the recognition of Wal- ker's Government.

"A despatch from Washington, of the 15th instant, states that Secretary Marcy sent for 31. Marcoletta, the Minister from Nicaragua and informed him of the determination of the Administration to receive the Padre Vizil as. the Minister from the new Government of Nicaragua. M. Mareoletta com- plained of it, as violating the laws of God and of nations ; entering his so- lemn protest against the proceeding, and informing Mr. Marcy that he should prepare an expose of all the facts, to be communicated by him to the mem- bers of the diplomatic corps. Another despatch states that the President would send a message to Congress on the 16th, announcing the recognition of the Walker Government, and giving his reasons for that step." Mr. Clayton saw in the newspapers what purported to be a letter from Mr. Crampton to Lord Clarendon, stating that Mr. Clayton on various occasions said that he "considered Ruatan a British possession, as much as Jamaica or any other British West India island." In the Senate, Mr. Clayton "branded this statement as utterly untrue in every. particular.' In February or March last, Mr. Crampton called on him to invite him to dinner. Mr. Clayton was too unwell to accept the invitation, but he asked Mr. Crampton if he knew anything of the charge that Mr. Clayton had ever admitted that Ruatan was exempted from the operation of the treaty ; and Mr. Crampton in most unqualified terms acknowledged that there was no truth in the report. Mr. Crittenden, who was present by accident at the interview, corroborated this account of it. Mr. Fish, in. response to a questMn fr4m Mr. Clayton said that in the course of two interviews with Mr. Crampton, the latter had stated that Mr. Clayton

always denied that Ruatan was a British possession. There must be some mistake in the copy of the letter. No attempt was made to show that the letter was authentic.

II ft i.—The latest intelligence from Melbourne comes down to

the 4th March. The characteristic of the news by this arrival is the steady inflow of gold. The Times correspondent, giving facts and figures, calculates the future weekly supply of gold at full 60,000 ounces, or the raw material of a million of sovereigns monthly.

"We have now three distinct classes of diggers, or rather miners-1, The surface washers, who produce a goad deal of gold, and who earn steady wages; this includes shallow sinking. 2, The deep sinkers, who go for 'nuggets,' 'jewellers' shops,' and so forth; and who like a gambling pur- suit, often running the risk of bottoming a deep hole and finding nothing, on the chance of grasping fortune by a coup de main. 3. The quartz-claim speculators, who work by machinery and employ men at wages. I think it is mainly owing to the last class that we have the steady increase of gold. Their machinery is still imperfect, but it is rapidly. improving ; and as to the quartz reefs waiting to be crushed, as it were, they are inexhaustible." The number of immigrants is stated to have fallen below the real wants of the colony. It is estimated that instead of 20,000, the now average rate, the colony would easily absorb 50,000 persons with benefit to all.