4 JANUARY 1851, Page 10

lamp Colautal.

Onsatarrv.—From. Dresden we have the accounts of the speeches made by Prince Sehwarzenberg and Baron 3Ianteuffel, at the opening of the Conferences ; and are little the wiser. The Ministers were mutually po- lite, and that was all. Tueir hopes of harmony, do nut seem to have been interrupted by Bavarian demands of representation for the peoples, as was Lest week reported : it' any such demand was made we have no fur, they pertieular of it ; and it is most- likely that the real expression used related to the minor governments and not their peoples. The plenipo- tentiaries had organized themselves into five Committees, to de-liberate respectively on the sphere of operations of the Diet, the frame of the high- est organs- of the Diet, the powers of the highest authorities of the Diet, the material interests of the Confederation, and the business duties- of protocolling, the whole matter in form. The Elector of Hesse has been carried back to his Northern capital, at the head of Austro-Bavarian troops ; and it is reported that the Austrian army is under immediate orders for Holstein, to enforce the resolutions of the two great " collectivities " of German States, which are now repre- sented by Austria and Prussia in executive harmony, as the Federation was hitherto represented by Austria alone. The papers have published a portion of a despatch by Prince Schwarzenberg "to only a very few of , the important Ministers of the Emperor in foreign countries." An in- genious Prussian might, perhaps, as he cons its phrases, reconcile the whole to a formal consistency with Prussia's success in her diplomatic game at Olmiitz and in the diplomacy of the general arming subsequently, but it is impossible for him to misinterpret the tone of contemptuous suc- cess which the Austrian Cabinet adopts in covert reference to Prussia— ; "You have been informed by my despatch of the 27th ultimo that the Baron de Manteuffel had demanded of me an interview in the most earnest manner, and that some hours later he informed me by the telegraph that, in pursuance of the positive orders of the King of Prussia, he should proceed to Ohniitz without even waiting for my answer. His Majesty the Emperor considered it his duty- to meet the wishes so ardently expressed by the King. I consequently received the order to repair to Olmfitz; where I conferred on the 27th and 29th ultimo with the Minister, M. de Manteuffel. It was necessary to overcome great difficulties, in order that an effort at arrange- ment should at that moment produce any result. But we did not for a sin- gle instant forget how many interests were at stake if in the actual position of Europe a conflict between Austria and Prussia was not avoided; and we fully recognized how favourable was the concurrence of circumstances to en- able us to meet on such an occasion the sincere efforts of so decided a repre- sentative of the Peace party in Prussia. Our sincere desire was to cooperate in these efforts, and to contribute as much as possible in ensurins to them a victory over passions and fatal pretentious. We have, then, been very much disposed to prove by all means in our power that we were very far frompro- filing by the immense adrantages of oar position to humiliate Prussia, or to deprive her of the portion of influence she isjustly entitled to. We, moreover, sought to appreciate the benefits which would result from a sincere recon- ciliation as highly as our duties permitted us. The subjoieed protocol contains the result of the Conferences of Olmii tz. This protocol has received th approval of the Emperor, our most gracious master, and also, as I learn from a de- spatch from Berlin, that of his Majesty the King of Prussia. We have just recommended it to our allies, in orderthat they also may give it-their ap- proval. It will not escape' your notice, that the Imperial Cabinet, while consenting to a cessation of the isolated position of Prussia in the affairs of the Germanic Confederation, will not havedesired to make any sacrifice which could not have been made without prejudice to the essential object of the policy followed by Austria and by, the other German Governments that have remained faithful to their duties as members of the Confederation. In order to understand that it could-not be otherwise, it is sufficient to cast a glance on the position we occupied previous to the Conferences of Ohniitz, and on that we shall be ready to take in consequence of these conferences. Austria entered into the lists to maintain the Federal Constitution of Ger- many created by treaties. It became our duty to enforce our absolute rights eon this fundamental question, in which the foreign powers themselves, as it appears to us, could not remain completely, and without danger, neutrrd. From the very commencement we. have acted with confidence in the moral force of this position, and have renounced, with general approbation, any. thought of exercising the least constraint with respect to the members of the Confederation who thought they could withdraw themselves from the recog- nition of the legal organ of the Confederation. When these members of the Confederation became thus excluded from their task of watching in common over the affairs of the Confederation, the measures of execution were neces- sarily limited-to repel the attacks that might be attempted against-the action of the Federal Diet, acting in virtue of the appeal-that might be made-on it by the states which recognized- it. It became necessary for us to prevent such attacks, and we did so by obtaining from Prussia, from the commence- mentof the-last- nroirtlr, the- solemn' assitraneerthat the' ex-eau:nen-of' thee Federal/decisions. intl.:Materiel:Reese and be Holstein? shOuld, not encounter! any,oppositMn.. "Prussia has corroborated -those assurances at Ohntite • In place, oft. ae simple laissez-faire; whittle was not -without grave iaconvenietaree she- hese offered hor active cooperation in thesense of the-Federal decieionse Undete these. circumstances; it becomes- necessary to appretia to the -great: value. ofJ this recent and.happr change, with: reference to'. the grave- questions, whit:the aftbet the Confederation. We have disclaimed all pretensions of a share- in the direction of- the Federal afters beyond the legal forme,: and disclaimed.: such so-long as it.could be feared that a concession in this repeetemight beg- corns, in the hands, of, those who were lately our adverninee; a; netems..ofe callingin-question.the fundamental basisof the Confederation and- the ae-

complishment ofite duties; and of thus putting ineperil the.equilibrinm-and. the peace of Europe, But if-these fears were successfully removed—if peer"

tire guarantees could be obtained that-the' action of Prussia would beide harmony with the object of the Confederation, we,ought.to suggest to.ouree selves the-question, if in this ease itweuld not be more advantageous-for thee Federal -body, Rafter all Europe, while awaiting a-complete reiirganization.ot the Confederation; to open once more-to the members who. were net any' longer sop:ended from us but by mere difficulties of forra.themeansof parti- cipation in-the affidre-of the Confederation. "The Imperial Cabinet could net- hesitate to reply in' the affirmative to this. question, in presence of the -engagements-, contracted- by Prussia at Ole nviitz: Even some time previously, the Constitution of the Union • of- thee 28th of May 1849had been abandoned ; and there was consequently-a pro-, bability that thedeliberatioas commenced with respect to the revision-of thet Federal Pact might be arranged so as. to secure the approbation-of all members..

"It was-for-thosereasons that it was agreed-at Olininz, to actin .coramon and in conformity with the decisions of the Diet in the affairs of-Electoral& Hesse and of Holstein: In thisstate of affairs, we were enabled to under- take to persuade the 'Elector not to continue his reclaniations againstthe stay- of-the' •Prassian troops in his states; and to. suggest, that by an express re= quest addressed to the Prussian Government, he should afford.that Govern, ment an opportunity of taking part'-without any violation of the law— in the measures intended to pacify the country:

"As for- Holstein, it was the decisions-adopted at Frankfort in the-name' of the Confederation, in which Prussia undertook to cooperate. It is.a great satisfaction to us, that the execution so warmly desired by all the powers- who signed the treaty concluded with Denmark is one of the- first objects for the aeconiplishraent of which the members of the Germanic Confeclera- tionhave agem -united."

The Berlin correspondent of the. Times gives an abstract of the financial resources of Prussia for the present year: " The revenue from the indirext taxes for 1861 is estimated at 30,066,300 tinders. In 1849 they amounted to 29,171,924 thalers: the increase of 894,376is eseribed to the greater amount received on the stamp-duty and the, tax on beet-root sugar. The whole amount of the revenue-is made up • from the •following items—import, export, and, transit-duties, 13,600,000' thalers; importeduty on wine and tobacco in leaf, 200,000 thalers;' duty on beet-root sugar, 800,000 tinders; from weighing; sealing, and. ticket.- fees, 40;0000 thalers; navigation-tolls on the Elbe, the Weser, the Rhine.'. and the Mosel, 520,000 thalers; duty and transit-duty' on brandy, 5,100,009 thalers; duty on malt and beer, 1,100,000 thalers ; duty on native-grown, wine, 40,000 thalers; duty on native-grown tobacco, 130,600 -thalers; the octroi on flour- and cattle, 2,290,000 thalers; highway tolls; 1,200,000 thalers; tolls on -bridges, harbours, and canals, 800,003 dialers; fees- on. mortgages and legal 'documents in the Court- of Appellation of. Cologne,. 160,000 thalers; fines for defrauding. tolls and i. other indirect taxes, 62,000 thalers; duty on almanacks, 2,012 thalers; miscellaneous, consisting .of the contributions of the cemmunes to thereat of official residences anclother expenses, 121,688 thalers."

FRANCE.--The Legislative Assembly, has again been ee war of authority with the Executive. Allais, the denouncer of a-plot-to aSSEtS8i. nate M. Diipin and Changarnier the-members of the Committee of 'Pere manenee which sat while the Assembly enjoyed its brief holyday a few weeks since; was tried before the Correctional Court of Pollee on!Thurs- day last week, for the calumnious 'denunciation. His declarations- atthee trial, like his original-denunciation; iseleseribed as' filll.of absurdities-and- glaring untruths ; and yet it is maintained and believed by many in Paris that some sort of pled was concoctede-thate probably Allais wasonly an: unconscious instrument The correspondent of the Times thus sums up; the curious features of the conduct of M. You, the special Commissary,of Police of the Assembly, to -whom the denunciation was first made- " Allais makes his report to his immediate superior, -31. Yon, induced by, the promise-of the-latter that-it iato.be -kept a secret from. all. This Mee portant report is kept by the Commissary of Police of the Assembly several, days without communicating it to the proper authority ; and it is only when the-day appointedlor the murder of General Changarnier and M. Damn had; long passed away that it is communicated. When. the Magistrate urges -the necessity of producing Allais ass witness against- those -accused of meditating, murder; the Commiseary. of Police promises to find out this impertantwit-- nees, and then keeps limtconcealed for three days in, a. hidingeplace in the Assembly itself.. T he Commissary now. declares- Allais -to be a. trustworthy; honest man ; while sonic short time since,. when.the -same .Allais wasunder. a similar charge as the present, he described him. to be a silly follow, ine capable of being intrusted with anything, and unworthy of belief."

Allais was found guilty ; and -was-cendemned to be imprisoned for a year, and fined 300 francs .and costs. It seems that -a fortnighteince, the Government called -on: the' Bureau of-the Assembly to dismiss M. You for want of discretion, and also for informal conduct in the Allais busi- ness in not reportthg.the matter to-M. earlier, the Prefect of Police. M. Yon appealed to the Assembly to maintain him as its own independent' officer, owing no duty to the Prefect. The Assembly, took up his case in; this light, and refused to dismiss him. M. liaroche threatened to resign.; and the question was throwing the Ministry into a new crisis,. when M. Yon considerately removed, the-original.

tary resignation.

But concurrently with the Yon affair, there has also been the " affaire Maugain." M. Maugahr, a member of the•Assembly, was east into the prison of' the Rue de Olichy, on an arrest -for debt founded- on a judgment pronounced by the Tribunal of Commerce- on the 7th January 1815.. lid claimed the privilege accorded by the Constitution of 1848; ,which gives Representatives an exemption from-imprisonment- for civil and:commercial matters ; and M. de Larochejacquelin brought the matter, before the Assuan, bly. In the Charter of 1830. this exemption was:cleaely -expressed, but in the Constitution. of 1848 the exemption is.not so clear,: freedom from arrest in criminal cases is provided far, but noparollf-11 provision is made in civil cases; because, said! M. de Larochejacquelim corporal punishit moat in; civil cases was abolished when the -Constitution, was passed. MI Reuher, the Minister of Justice, insisted.on the constitutional wisdom of preserving clearly the distinctness of. the legislative andjudicial func- tions, and the independence of the juclleature. V. Vatimesnil vigorously asserted the "paramount sovereignty of the Assembly, which was per- sonified in its members." If ODE Representative might be arrested, the Assembly might be mutiliited by the arrest of a hundred. The Il2Linister reiterated his points with earnest pertinacity ; but a large majority over- ruled him, and* determined.to send an officer immediately with an "order" for the liberation of M. Mauguin. V. Dupla with alacrity despatched.

Barre, the Assembly's chief huissier—a zealous equivalent to the dig- nified Sergeant-at-Arms-in the English House of Commons : the gaolers of V. Mau min were told that military would be brought in case of re- sistant*, and thereupon_ they set their prisoner at liberty. The Executive, angry at this defeat, instigated the creditor, to bring an action for the illegal rescue ; and some members of the Assembly in their turn bribed. him to quietness by an offer to pay the debt. He has sided with the Exe- cutive, and given notice of an action.

The Paris correspondent of the Times quotes from the Constitutionnek aad vouches as "correct," the following,conversation between. President Bonaparte and 3L Deign, on Wednesday, when.the President of the As- sembly and some members of the Bureau waited on the President. of the Republic to pay hinithe compliments of the season.

M. Dupin—" Monsieur le President, I bring you the sincere wishes of the Bureau."

The President of the Republic—" Monsieur le President, I receive the wish- es which your bring me, and I doubt not that they are sincere. It is im- portant that the good harmoey of the powers should not be disturbed in the times of difficulty through which we have to pass." Dupin—" All the ads of the Assembly., all those of the Bureau, are in- spired by a deep attachment for your person. and the warmest desire to pre- serve a _good. understanding between the two powers of the state." The Presillent of the Republic—" I am willing to believe it, Monsieur lc President, since you tell me so. You and I, each within the limits of our functions, ought to occupy ourselves in making the laws of the country and the authority given us by the constitution respected, without one power en- croaching- on the other. I do not care about.the prolongation of my powers, but I am anxious, when I deliver up to the people the power which I have received from it, to return it intact and respected. My conviction is that France desires peace and order, and it will consider that of the two powers whiCh should attack the other in the wrong." M. Dupin.—" It has always been so in our country. You may rely upon the sentiments which I express to you."

The President of the Republic—" It ii fortunate that there are epochs which. separate, as it were, the past from the future. One cora has just finished, another commences. Let us hope."

INDIA.—The IndMit mail from Bombay at the middle of December is generally of trifling interest. One point in the latest news is painful : our troops in the Punjaub are suffering deeply from disease. Of the gar- rison at Lahore, 7471 rank and file, 1192 were in hospital ; one regiment of 819 men had 396 in hospital At Phshawur the Seventy-first Native Infantry had moved, into camp at Chumkunee, a few miles. on the Attock road; with_ 600 men in hospital. The three regiments at Delhi are said to be "disorganized for all purposes of discipline," by low intermittent fever. A Court-martial on. Major Bartleman, of the Forty-fourth Native In- fantry,. had found him "guilty of conduct unbecoming the character of an officer and a gentleman, in having at Barrackpore, in pursuance of an. endeavour to seduce the affections of Mrs. Shelton, wife of Lieutenant Shelton, Thirty-eighth Light Infantry, written to her, on or about the 22d of August 1850, a highly unbecoming note." The Court had sen- tenced him to be cashiered, but had recommended him to mercy on the ground of Major Bartleman's long services,, and on the ground that his fault, "however reprehensible, has still. not always been considered as- necessarily subversive of military discipline." Sir Charles Napier had confirmed the sentence of cashiering with, sharp animadversions on the reeommendanen. to- mercy, as an endeavour by the Court "to throw upon the Commander-in-chief the odium of refusing-. that which its own son-- fence renders it impossible for him to grant without insulting the officers of the Bengal Army in general and those of the Forty-fourth in parti- cular.

THE CAPE OP GOOD Horn—Papers from, Cape Town, of the 6th November, say that the apprehensions of a Caere inroad had vanished.. Sir.Harry Smith had scampered to King Williams Town, and been present unexpectedly at a meetingof the chiefs there; on the 26th October: There, was present Jan Tzatzoe, Path, Umbala, Umkie, Sawayna, Toise, Johan- nes,. Nonoebie, Jabblar, Klb %Int (Sandilli's brother,) Tolo, Dodo„Stock's brother, and Sonto's son. The chiefs said they preferred being under the British rule, and having their property protected, to- living like monkeys in the bush. They did not want. war. They were the children of his Excellency; "if they were disobedient he must punish them ac- cordingly." Kin-Kin said his brother Sandilli.had not coma because a fall from his horse had hurt him and made him unable to rise. Sir Harry Smith answered—that was a lie-; Sandilli was afraid: But, said Sir Harry, "tell hint I do not wish to hurt hint; let him come-in as my son; I will protect him." The Frontier Timex thus reports the rest— "On mentioning the rumours that were spread abroad in the colony, Sir H. Smith wished to know who had thus alarmed the colonists ; he understood they had' originated with the native Gaika tribes. He was suprirsed that they should be such fools as to believe in such a fool —a, boy prophet who was all over grease, and as black as a coal. If they were not happy, continued his Excellency, and wanted war, he would make war with them (holding up a long stick with a braes knob at the end, -called generally the stick of peace). I will, make war, and bring my troops from Cape Town in four days as I came myself; and I will drive you all over the Kei, and get Krili-to drive you to the Umzimvoobo, and I will be there too—I was there once; you know it— le then get Faku to drive- you, further ; and then you will be scatterel over the earth, as beasts of the field and vagabonds. But the good I wI pretest and asasist, and, be their father. I will kill every one that will not fight on my side. There is a. God above ; ha knows all thing-s. "There were about 350- Kaffirs in all., and.the meeting separated peace- ably, his Excellency inviting the chiefs into the house. The chiefs were very humble, more especially Path ; and came forward at his Excellency's request to shake hands with him, as a, token of peace and allegiance to the Queen, as British subjects. 'It ib understood that C. Bresudee has gone to find- out Shardslli; and endeavour to get him' to 00E10 here beforethneirvernor leaven UNITED Sreres.—The American accounts include the annual report of the Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Corwin, on which are based most or the recommendations in the recent message from President Fillmore. Mr. Corwin calculates the present and prospective cost of the Mexican war, and' sets forth the comparative receipts-and expenses of the Governtneut the year ending June 1852. He estimates, that " the sum of 138,148,330r dollars, exclusive of 13,387,544 dollars interest of the war-debt, will be in- quired to sustain the faith of the Government, or arising in consequence ()fits acts during a period subsequent to June 1845 and prior to the let July 1852." The receipts of the fiscal year 1849-50 (ending 30th June) were 49,606,713 dollars, including a balance from the previous year of about two millions of dollars : the receipts of the same year were but 43,002,168 dollars ; 80 that there was a surplus on the 1st July 1850 of 6,604,544 dollars. The expenses of 1850-51 were 54,312,544 dollars ; the receipts 53,853,597 dollars ; giving- a surplus of only 458,996 dollars. In the year 1851-52, the receipts will be 47,2.38,996 dollars, and the expenses 48,124,993 dollars ; leaving a deficit of 865,996 dollars, It is to meet this progressive decrease, ending in a deficit, that Mr. Corwin has made the suggestions which President Fillmore em- bodied in recommendations for the imposition of higher tariff-rates. Such rates, the report argues, will both augment the revenue and afford a fostering protection to the interests of American manufactures.

Among the points of fact advanced by the statistical portion of the report is the assertion that the supply of gold from the mines of the United' States, in California and elsewhere, may be calculated at 50,000,000 dol- lars annually. Mr. Corwin expresses his belief that the American- Go- vernment "may calculate safely on an export of gold, for several years- to come, of at least from 10,000,000 dollars to 15,000,000 dollars annually, exclusive of what goes abroad direct from. California, without any detrimental effect upon the currency or business of our people." "The amount of coinage at the Mint in Philadelphia during the month just passed has exceeded 4,000,000 dollars; and, if the experiments now pro- gressing under the authority of Congress for testing a new process of assay- ing should equal the expectations which have been formed respecting it, the capabilities of that establishment will be extended to the coinage of 8,000,000 monthly ; and, with the branch mint at New Orleans, will be fully able to furnish coin, without any unreasonable delay, for all the future probable re- ceipts of gold-dust and bullion." Nevertheless, he recommends that the Mint be empowered to grant to the holders of bullion certificates of its re- ceipt at the Mint, which shall be made receivable for all dues of the United States. "Under this system, the holders of bullion would always realize the full value, without abatement or discount, so soon as it was assayed; which, generally, would be in a few days, and without waiting until it was actually coined. Such certificates would be freely received on deposit as specie by all the banks of the country, to be paid out to their customers who might have duties or other dues to pay into the public treasury, and would greatly faci- litate such payments by avoiding the constant counting and recounting of large amounts of coin for the purpose." The other political facts in the news may be briefly stated. In the Senate, Mr. Benton had introduced a bill embodying a magnificent scheme for carrying a treble road from St. Louis on the Mississippi to the Bay of San Francisco on the Pacific coast of California. The line would include a railroad, a plank-road, and a common highway, with military. posts ; the Indian titles would be bought, and a tract of 100 miles wide be granted for settlers and public purposes. The line would be 1600 miles in direct length ; there would be one branch of 300 miles to Santa Fe, and another branch to Oregon of 500 miles : the whole amount of land granted would be 150,000,000 acres. In the House of Representatives, a Government measure for the reduced postage had been made a special order of the day for early discussion. A resolution had been adopted by the House of Re-

I presentatives to refer to the Committee on Naval Affairs a proposition that the President should give notice to Great Britain of a desire to with- draw the 'squadron at present stationed on the West coast of Africa to co- operate with us in suppressing the slave-trade.

The navigation of the American rivers was on the point of being closed by the frost. Boats were already ice-bound on the Mississippi, at St. Louis ; and the closure, of the Hudson was daily looked for. The Anglo-Norman steamer had blown up on the Mississippi, with three hundred persons on board : nearly a hundred were killed. Three editors of newspapers, M. Senator Junius Beebe, and a number of leading citizens, were among those who perished.

The steamer Knoxville, bound for Nashville while pushing from the Levee, on the 18th December, burst all her boilers ; killing and wound- ing about twenty persons, and damaging boats lying alongside.

CANADA AND Nnw Bite-ieswien.—Canadian letters state that a large trade is,springing up between the Provinces and the United States. In 1846 there was "not a bushel of wheat ncr a barrel of flour" imported into Oswego front Canada ; but in 1849 there were received at Oswego 200,000 barrels of flour and 618,200 bushels of wheat, the produce of the Provinces. The imports into the Provinces had correspondingly in- creased. The St. Lawrence was full of ice on the 18th December, and the thermometer had fallen to 7' below zero at Montreal and 13' below zero at Quebec.

A' letter from Halifax, through New York, of the 12th December, states that an immense fire had ravaged the city. It commenced in the North Barracks, and destroyed them and a square of about one hundred- houses, bounded by Jacob, Duke, and Albemarle Streets ; a district mostly inhabited by the poor. The win* of the electric telegraph to New York were destroyed.