THE WEEK ABROAD.
rits.xcz.—The contest between M. de Lavalette and General Goyon, 'who have for some weeks represented Intramontanism and the Revo- lution at the Imperial Court, seems to have terminated. The general has, at the eleventh hour, after Paris had been filled with rumours of his victory in intrigue, been recalled, and M. de Lavalette will return to Rome. This appears to imply that the Emperor has re- solved to put an end if not to the Roman question, at least to the as- sistance given to brigands, and the residence in Rome of Francis II. This conclusion is strengthened by the appearance of a pamphlet, written by M. Pietri, a Corsican, and trusted agent of the Em- peror, who arranged the "vote" in Nice and Savoy, and has recently been travelling in Sardinia, and who argues, first, that the occupation of Rome by France must cease; secondly, that the substitution of any other Power would be a declaration of war on France • thirdly, that to say that the Pope will be in danger is futile ; and, fourthly, that to remove the Papacy to another oity is to destroy it. The French Corps Legislatif sat on Monday, and a bill was dis- cussed calling out 100,000 men of the contingent of 1862. Count de la Tour, a soldier, delivered a speech recommending a redaction of the army to 380,000 men. He saw no reason for so large a force, the real necessity for increase being on the side of the marine. Eng- land had increased her sailors from 25,000 to 80,000 men, and must, therefore, entertain designs inimical to the policy of France. M. Henon, one of the five members of Opposition, also demanded reduc- tion in the army, the conscription being felt, he said, as a scourge. So strong was the feeling against enlistment, that the Government was constantly obliged to raise the substitution fee, which, originally 40/., was now 901. If France would disarm, all Europe would fol- low, for it was tired of a war establishment of 3,000,000 of men. As for England, she was no longer the England of Pitt, but devoted to the arts of peace. The feeling in the Chamber was, it is said, in favour of reductions, but the number of men demanded was voted by 214 to 9.
The Minister of the Interior is about to adopt the system of keeping all prisoners condemned to imprisonment for more than three months in the large towns. This arrangement always creates economy, and, moreover, enables Government to employ its prison- ers in remunerative works. There is no reason whatever, except mismanagement, why prisons should cost anything. A. man's labour is always worth his keep.
Izscr.—The King arrived in Naples on 28th April, and according to a statement signed by the correspondent of the Man, as well as the official account, he was enthusiastically received. He gave a court dinner on 29th, at which the English and French representatives attended, and is said to have remarked that the Roman question made progress, and that, with order in the interior, all might be achieved. -The'important question was internal order, but with that, said the King, he could almost promise Rome in the year 1862. It is said that the priests in Northern Italy are becoming dissociated from Rome. They feel with their flocks, and at Cremona recently received Garibaldi. At Le,cco 700 priests signed a petition to the Pope to abandon the temporal power. In Milan a petition is pre- paring from the priests to the Pope urging him to reconcile himself with Victor Emanuel, and near Parma a priest. attracts crowds by praises of Garibaldi. There is still, however, small movement towards Protestantism, the priests having an intense dread, -which is visible also in Spain, of the political consequences of divided creeds. It is felt that if Italy pits the Catholic church it must be as a nation, and with the priesthood leading the way. The addition of Venice would possibly quicken this process, the Venetians never having had much care for the Pope.
PRIISSIA.—It is said that the result of the Prussian elections yet known stands as follows : At Konigsberg, out of 334 waldmanner, 287 are Fortschritt, 27 Constitutional, 13 Conservative; at Dant- zig, out of 287, 261 are Fortschritt; Potsdam, 102 against 56; at ; Breslau the Fortschritt party has 300 out of 521; at Gorlitz, 102 out of 111; Effort, 115 out of 124. The total result will probably be to give the Liberals a strong majority, most of the wahlmanner, or I electors, being pledged to nominate the former members. There are rumours of new combinations within the Ministry, and especially of ; the appointment of Count Biswark-Schoenhausen as Foreign Secre- tary. He is a Tory in domestic matters, but anxious that Prussia' should take the lead in Germany. These statements are, however, mere rumours, the only fact being that the existing Ministry will be defeated when the new Parliament meets.
AVSTRIA.—The imeste reported by telegraph from CT800Vt seems to have occurred in this wise. On Easter-Sunday the crowd in St. Mary's Cathedral began to sing a national hymn, when the police entered and made some arrests. The young men demanded the re- lease of the prisoners, and a crowd gathered round the door, upon which a regiment was turned out, and fired over the heads of the people, who instantly dispersed. Several arrests were made, but the accused were speedily set at liberty.
It is reported, and only reported, that the Government is about to introduce a billsecuring Ministerial responsibility.
MEXIC0.—The latest diplomatic proceedings will be • found ,de- amibed in another column, but a correspondent of the Trams, writing on 26th March, gives a few facts as to internal events. The Juarez Government has imposed a tax of 2 per cent, upon capital, and a letter was recently sent to the proprietors of the Mint enclosing a demand for 500,000 dols., and ending thus : "The instructions of the President are that, taking into consideration the urgent and grave necessities of the nation, and with a view of saving the sacred rights of the country at a time when the ordinary re- sources of the Republic are entirely absorbed, he has resolved to meet the difficulties of his position by taking possession of private property, particularly all such as may consist of ready money, where- ever it may be found." This is a direct menace to civilization, but it must be remembered that British demands have produced these desperate expedients. The worst feature in the case is that money is levied on Spaniards among others, and they are exempted by formal treaty. Then Juarez has orderedGeneral Robles to be Shot, against the determined protest of the Prussian Minister, and though, it is said, protected by a French guarantee. All these events pat weapons into the hand of France, and General Lorencez has now 40,000 men under his command, exclusive of the Spanish Contingent.
AMERICL.—The latest American news extends to only the 19th April, and only explains previous advices. General Grant's official report of the battle of Pittsburg has been published. He says that on Sandal, 6th April, he was attacked by the enemy, who drove the troops from their rifles half-way to the landing. Late in the afternoon the Confederates made a desperate effort to seize the landing, and so secure the transports, but were driven back by the fire of the gun- boats and the arrival of General Bud's 'vanguard. During the night two other divisions arrived, and an attack was ordered for the dawn. The enemy, who appear to have encamped for the night in the Federal lines, was driven out of them after a contest which lasted from 9 8..81. till 5 P.M. General Grant could not pursue, but "General Sherman followed the enemy, finding that the main part of their army had retreated in good order," a sentence we do not profess to comprehend. The Federal General adds that his loss was 1500 killed, and 3500 wounded, while the enemy left still more dead on the field, but carried off his wounded to Corinth. After the retreat General Beauregard applied for permission to bury the dead, which was refused, they being already buried.
No further news has been received from Yorktown, but Fort Pulaski, near Savannah, in Georgia, has been taken with a loss of one killed on the Federal, and three wounded on the Confederate side. General Banks, too, has occupied Newmarket, another suc- cess more upon the coast.
The President has signed the bill emancipating the slaves in Co- lumbia, adding that he never doubted the authority of Congress to abolish slavery in the district, and always wished it exerted. He is, however, gratified that the principles of compensation and colonization are embodied in the act.
Nothing new is reported of the Merrimac or the Monitor, but the Navy has invited tenders for four iron gunboats, with two turrets, for Mississippi and Gulf service. The iron is to be three inohes thick on the sides and eight inches on the turrets, and the vessels are not to draw more than six feet when laden ready for service.
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