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Fitartcs.—The proceedings in the French Chambers have not possessed very great interest. The most stirring topic is the demand by Marshal Soult, of 17,500,000 francs, (700,0004) to defray the cost of arming the fortifications of Paris. There is said to have been a little hitch in the Cabinet, IL Cunin Gridaine, the Minister of Commerce, objected to the duty of 5 francs 50 centimes per 200 poends weight, imposed on sesame by the Committee on the tariff; while his Colleagues wished not to interfere with the vote. He tendered his resignation, was talked over, and withdrew the tender.

The Peers had been playing some strange vagaries. In discussing Count Darn's bill for checking railway speculation, they rejected a provision for prohi- �jitiugg the transfer or sale of shar.es in railway companies not yet absolutely or Iegalfy constituted; as well as another proposition, requiring the sanction of Go- Torment to every prospectus of a railroad undertaking before its issue. On Sa- turd' ay, they retraced their steps, by adopting clauses founded on the same pro- position, which provided that no promises of shares (with receipts for the first instalment attached) shall be ceded, transferred, or negotiated, unless by " an authentic act," (formal undertaking before a notary or other functionary,) under a penalty to the holder of a fine not exceeding the amount of the capital of the stock negotiated; the stockbroker also to incur a fine of not less than 500 francs nor more than 5,000. Finally, on Tuesday, the whole bill was rejected, by 86 to 51.

SwirzEineuen.—Letters of the 29th March describe the preparations in the PrOtestant Cantims to'muster the Free Corps for the attack of Lucerne. Berne, hOwever, had taken active steps to prevent the egress of its own volunteers; and the Executive Council of Argau had issued a tardy decree against the Free Corps: but these reluctant concessions to appearance little affected the fanatics. A band of Bile-country Volunteers took some' cannons and a quantity of ammunition from the arsenal at Leichthal, and joined the Free Corps of Aran; the Volunteers of Solemn were on the march; and the attack on Lucerne was fixed for the mid- night of the 30th. The insurgents are reported to have captured a small town, Susie, on their. road.

Svene.—New disturbances have arisen. Advises from Bayonne, to the 28th March, mention a " pronunciamiento " at Berga, in Upper Catalonia, on the 24th, said by, moat to be a Carlist, but by some a Republican insurrection. Tristany, the Carlist chief, was at the head of an increasing band, of which General Concha was in Pirsuit; and other Carlist leaders were supposed to be in secret activity. -Twenty-seven persona were arrested on the evening of the 26th, in Madrid, and thrown• into prison,. where- no Communication was allowed with them. It was rumoured, as usual in such cases, that they were connected with an Esparterist conspiracy, to murder the Ministers and attack the Palace. One of the prisoners is Manuel Lopez Pentads, a notary, who has made himself rather conspicuous. At the moment of his arrest, he fired upon the Police and wounded one of the officers in the leg. The rest belong to the poorer classes.; INDIA AND Canes.—.The over-land mail from Bombay, of the 1st March, is almost destitute of news. The disturbances in Kholapore and Sawnnt Warree had subsided. The insurgents in Sawunt Warree bad not surrendered, but had passed into the Portuguese state of Goa; of which the Governor had incurred some em- barrassing responsibility, by harbouring the fugitives. The Punjaub was still

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racked by intrigues; and the manifest 'concentration of British troops on the fron- tier was imputed to an intention of melfing war upon the turbulent Sikhs. On the other side, Dost Mohammed and his son Aklibar Khan were watching the events in the Pnnjanb, probably contemplating some aggression. In Scinde, the sickness among the British troops was diminishing. No news had been heard of Sir Charles Naper's expedition. From China, the accounts come down to the 23d of January. Another instal- ment of the war-compensation had been paid; but everything was dull, both in politics and commerce; all parties awaiting the turn of the Chinese year.

New ZzaLaivn.—We were only able to mention in our latest edition, last week, the receipt of Auckland papers to the 28th September. Captain Fitzroy's Pro- perty-tax Bill had been passed by the Council within the week. He profe'ised that the tax would be levied without inconvenience or annoyance to the payer; and the Attorney General said that the measure "was not inquisitorial—it trusted to the honesty of the individual to say how much his property was worth." It contained, however, a provision., that "if it shall be made' to appear to the satis- faction of the collector of the district, on the evidence of two respectable house- holders, that a true return in any instance has not been made," the collector is to call for the items and details of the party's property and income ! The legislation on the subject of the Militia Bill was remarkable, and we subjoin in extenso the re- port of the proceedings.

The Governor, in moving the first reading, said it was for the Council to say whether they would give him that power, but he was authorized by the Home Government to lay it before them. "" Bill read accordingly. " The Governor moved that it be read a second time on Thursday next.

" Dr. Martin wished the bill postponed, to give time for consideration: he did not see any necessity for such a body being, formed, as we had nothing to appre- hend from the Natives • who, he thought, might grow suspicious and troublesome

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if militia were oivaidr-ed. " The Attorney-General was so strongly opposed to the bill, that he would have been glad if- the honourable Member (Dr. Martin) had moved it to be read that day *LT months. It was true, the measure was suggested by the Home Government, but it was for the Legislative Council to decide upon the necessity. " The Colonial Secretary was opposed to the bill.

" Mr. Brown considered, if a militia were formed we could not compete with the Natives; and thought it would have the effect of rousing their angry passious.

" The Governor s opinion against the extreme impohcy and imprudence of the measure was so decided, that had it been entertained by the Council, he should have remained passive till called upon to give his assent, which he most certainly should have withheld: it was his duty, however, to propose it, but in the present state of the colony he would not have given his assent.

" On the motion of Dr. Martin, the bill was ordered to be read that day six months."

Having settled these matters, the Governor had departed for Wellington.

Private advises mention the suicide of Mr. Dudley Sinclair, son of Sir George Sinclair; who was residing at Aucklend, and bad fallen into a train of embarrass- ments through over-speculation.