finnan nut Catmint.

Iranre.—The Emperor and Empress still keep their rustic court at Biarritz. They do not appear to maintain the retirement practised by the Emperor at Plombieres. Each day, some local notable—now the Bishop or the Mayor of Bayonne, now Marshal Bosquet, or a foreigner of position like Marshal Serrano—dines with their Majesties. One day last week, the Emperor gave a quiet evening-party and ball ; dancing with Madame de Lourmel, and waltzing with the Empress. Nor are excur- sions wanting. On Saturday they cruised along the coast in the Pelican war-steamer.

The Itieldpeadance Beige tells a story in its Parisian correspondence, which, whether true or not, has the merit of being suggestive. "Just as the Emperor was about to leave Paris for Biarritz, the Commis- sion of the United Mutual Benefit Societies waited upon him to present their general report. The President of the Commission had a most import- ant conversation with the Emperor on this occasion. Calling his Majesty's attention to the great falling-off in the number of subscribers—there are 80,000 fewer members of the societies than there were last year—he ex- plained that these figures of 80,000 represented the workmen who could no longer find lodgings in Paris, and had emigrated extra muros, where they lived as they could. The Emperor was much startled by the statement, and exclaimed—' But they are building a great deal in Paris ; they are building incessantly.' Yes, Sire,' the President answered, but unfortunately the houses now building are only suited to the rich and middle classes." I must,' said the Emperor, absolutely find a remedy for this state of things.' Such was the rapid conversation, the accuracy of which I can certify. Rents are augmented every quarter; workmen, clerks, porters, and people of small property, know not where to house themselves. The sufferings arising from this cause, joined to the alimentary crisis, the financial crisis,

and the monetary crisis, render the life of the Parisian labourer intoler- able."

The Councils-General of the Departments are now in session, and the merits of a free-trade policy are said to be frankly discussed.

The journals have published, by anticipation, a page or two of "the forthcoming number of Course Familier de Litterature, by M. de Lamar-

tine." Those pages treat of what their author intended to do for Italy, and describe the part he intended France to play in Italy in 1848. lie has been sometimes asked, in a tone of reproach, he says, why he did not see that he was " the man " to save Italy in 1848. In reply, he pro- mises to reveal his most secret thoughts; remarking that " in history silence is falsehood—he who knows not everything knows nothing " ; and adding, melodramatically, " I will tell all." Then he expounds to the world that he was " not a radical Republican, a subversive Repub- lican, a chimerical Republican," but " an improvised Republican, a Re- publican from expediency"—in fact, "a conservative Republican, up- holding everything that ought to be upheld in society." Ho might have let the flames of France kindle the world; but he refrained. "I confess my weakness. My conscience—the conscience of a man who fears God—spurned that game of human bloodshed whereof the stake is the

life of his fellow men. Despise me, but acquit me. I kept the Republic from an offensive war, as a crime to humanity and to God." Nevertheless, he knew they would hear the throbbings and agitations of Italy. " I knew from the days of my youth the hesitating, repenting, relapsing, in short, to use a Latin word, the extemporaneous character of Charles Albert. I mis- trusted the unreasonable hurry with which he would advance his army, or which he would submit to from his people. With this anticipation, too soon verified, it was necessary for the Republic to assume a strong position of expectation by the Alps. I issued a decree for the army of the Alps, consisting of 60,000 men, and echeloned from Lyons to the frontier of the Var. What was the meaning of the army of the Alps? In my mind, it had a twofold meaning : first, to be ready to descend into Piedmont on the first sign of peril to that power ; next, to be ready to put down the religious, civil, Socialist, and Democratic commotions, which might at any moment burst forth in the South of France." Why did he not move it ? He felt sure that Charles Albert would suffer a reverse ; he knew that Austria, ready to evacuate Italy on the payment of her Italian debt, would not hazard all on a single battle. "In such extremi- ties, there is little doubt but that 100,000 French covering 60,000 Pied- montese in the plains of Piedmont would have achieved, by their mere presence, or by the prestige of their name, the freedom of Italy. What would then have happened in Italy? We have not the secrets of fate, but we may assert that we should have had what France would have advised, and what is consistent with the old constitution of five or six Italies- namely, an united patriotic confederation of all these Italics under their various political character, and under the protecting mediation of France." " The armed mediation of France would have been a dictatorship of com- mon safety, accepted from necessity until the time when this amphyctyony of allies could be replaced by the amphyctyony of the Italians established and armed in their own towns." " My duty was not to flatter Italy, but to save her." " The day on which the defeat of Charles Albert was foreseen at Paris was the day when the order of march for the army of the Alps was without a moment's hesitation drawn up by the Govern- ment of the Republic." But then arose the Democratical insurrection of June. " The fatal coincidence of the battle of Paris with the defeat of Piedmont entombed in the same abyss all the plans and all the dreams. A stranger since that day to the Government, I know not what were the thoughts and the necessities of the successive Governments of the Republic in regard to Italy. All I can assert is, that the events of June, notwith- standing their importance, would not have hindered me from sending the army of the Alps down into Piedmont."

Such is the explanation, after a silence of eight years, of the position of M. de Lamartine in 1848.

11 5 i . —Until some time after the 7th September we shall have little from Moscow respecting the coronation. One of our daily papers printed on Monday a telegraphic account of the entry of the Emperor, on the 29th August. According to this statement, the Emperor Alex- ander rode out from the Petrovski Palace at a quarter-past three o'clock, preceded by a huge procession, composed of soldiers, mounted nobles, and Asiatics in full costume; and followed by the Princes of the Blood on horseback, and a long train of carriages, containing the Empress, the Empress-Mother, and the Grand Duchesses. The bells of Moscow rang incessantly from noon until the Emperor was housed in the Krem- lin. As he entered the city, a salute of seventy-one guns proclaimed the fact. He was received by the Military Governor and the civil authorities. At the gate of the Resurrection, the Emperor, the Em- presses, and the Princes and Princesses of the Blood, dismounted and knelt before the image of Our Lady of Iberia. When they reached the cathedral of the Assumption, a salvo of eighty-five guns was fired. " The Holy Synod and the functionaries of the Cathedral met their Majesties at the parvis, and preceded them into the church chanting the second canticle for Palm-week. After kissing the images and relies, their Majesties proceeded to the Cathedrals of the Archangel Michael and the Annunciation, in both of which the ceremony of kissing the images and relics was gone through. In the Cathedral of St. Michael they also prostrated themselves before the tombs of his Majesty's an- cestors. On quitting the Cathedrals, their Majesties, accompanied by the court, walked to the Palace of the Kremlin." The people lined the streets, and sometimes their shouting drowned the uproar of the bells.

The Morning Post correspondent gives some curious details respecting the working of the Russian post-office. He writes, on the 22d August, to account for not sending off the programme of the coronation in time. He had carried the said programme to the post-office on the 21st- " That the Russian post-office still fully adheres to the principle that the various letters of which it is the carrier are all, without exception, legiti- mately subject to examination, in ease of any fancied need, is positively certain. Nor do the authorities affect the slightest demureness or mystery in the matter. For example, when I was shown into the room which I have just mentioned at the post-office, the chief of the officials present im- mediately selected the large and heavy envelope which contained the pro- gramme, weiAed it rudely in his hand, and, in reply to my question what the postage would be, said, Tell me, first, what this contains.' Another thing : no letter, I find, leaves Moscow on the same day on which it is posted. I was at the office yesterday before nine a. m. ; the first train for St. Petersburg starts at eleven a. ; no matter, my letter could not go yesterday out of this city—' Jamais, Monsieur, une lettre ne pcut quitter Moscou le jour on elle y est miss a la poste.' This is arranged in order to afford the needful time for the possibly needful examinations." The Verona Gazette, published at the seat of the Government of Aus- received the answer at Odessa, he returned to Serpents' Island and triaa Italy, has taken up the cudgels on behalf of the King of Naples. stationed himself there, sending down the gun-boat which had been It highly approves of the spirit with which the Kingthrew in the face of put at his disposal with the news to the Admiral; who sent back in- the English Government the unexampled barbarism of its rule in Ireland structiens to him to remain there in observation, and prevent any attempts .and India. Drawing a fancy sketch of the condition of Ireland under the Russians might make to increase their force. This precaution was not

of the Irish. He then hints a menace— blishment of the lighthouse.. The Conseiller 'd'Etat, when he made the

" It appears that England herself is interested that the idea of interven- Turkish commander acquainted with his mission, which was to see the tion should not be generalized for every occasion, or that it should be pre- lighthouse restored, was told that the thing had been donee and that the tended that one state has the right of meddling in the internal affairs of commander of the Turkish detachment had no orders to receive any further another without restriction, precisely because she has institutions which, reinforcement of Russians on the island. Seeing that his intention of land- .either by their nature or from the abuse of their application, give offence to ing an additional force on the island had been foiled by the precautions all other states with few exceptions, and might therefore provoke a general taken by Admiral Lyons and the Turkish Government, M. Botianoff left intervention to her disadvantage. If England, not having any interests of in the evening, in the direction of the mouths of the Danube. Captain her own, desired that Sicily should be governed by a constitutional form, Hillyar, suspecting that this was done with the view of taking the superior who could prevent all Europe from demanding that in England should cease commanding Turkish officer there by surprise, and gain an order of admis- once for all that apathetic legislation which allows the English territory to sion through him to the island, sent the Snake gun-boat, which overtook become the hiding-place in which political assassins can conceal themselves, and passed the Russian steamer ; so that when M. Botianoff arrived he found -and which leaves =curbed a licentious press that vilifies all governments, the Turkish commander an it to what had passed and on his guard, and all institutions, all principles, when they don't agree with its caprices ? " -his object was foiled there just as well as at the island?'

the King of Sardinia on the 29th instant, and handed in his credentials. 19th ; and this released Kiprali Pasha, who set out on the same day for "The Ministerial party in Piedmont," says the Courrier des Alpes, Moscow.

'" is employing all the means at its disposal to animate the national sub- Lord Lyons, it is said, will not quit the Bosphorus till after the comp scription for the hundred cannons. But the Mazzini party has commenced plete evacuation of all Turkish territory at present occupied by Russia.

a dangerous rivalry : the Italia e Popolo of Genoa, an organ of Mazzini, The Government of the Sultan have purchased two steamers to ply on opens another national subscription for the purchase of ten thousand the Euphrates between Bagdad and Bassora. muskets destined to reward and to support the efforts of the first Italian province which rises against the common enemy." e filfili.---Prussia is engaged in a dispute with the Viceroy of Egypt respecting the navigation of the Nile. It appears that the Egyptian gi Ill iii E r i KU it .—Since 1848, the Canton of Neufchatel has been a mein- Government has never permitted any vessels except pleasure-yachts to her of the Federal Union of Switzerland. Before that date it had been navigate the Nile under any other flag than that of Turkey. Europeans for above a hundred years possessed by the Kings of Prussia. Suddenly have been permitted to build and employ on the Nile as many boats as the telegraph announced, that on the 3d instant, the Royalists, in other they like, subject to this condition. Some two months ago, a Prussian words the Prussian party, rose, crying " Vive le Roi !" carried the merchant sent two steamers up the river carrying the Prussian flag. The Château, seized the authorities, and hoisted the Prussian flag. A de- river authorities, taken by surprise' as it is alleged, made no opposition ; patch from Paris, however, dated on Thursday, states that " the Federal but when the steamers returned to Alexandria the Government raised an troops have retaken the town, and the insurgent leader, Count Pourtalin) objection. has been arrested." " The Prussian Consul," says a correspondent of the Times, "was re- f; }tai ti—The last statement of the course which, it is said, Marshal monstrated with upon this flagrant breach of international law by a Pros- O'Donnell will pursue, is quite consistent with all that he has hitherto sian subject, and called upon to prevent a repetition of the offence. The done. Consul replied, that he considered the act of his countrymen legal, in virtue "The Constituent Assembly will be dissolved, and the Constitution of of certain clauses in existing treaties between Russia and the Porte in re- 1845 will be reestablished ; not, however, as has been asserted, with modi- re- ference to the navigation of the Danube, which clauses, in his interpre- fications in a Liberal sense. The question of modifications will he left to Cation, were equally applicable to the Nile ; and as Prussia, under the 'fa-

voured nation clause,' was entitled to every privilege granted to any other the new Cortes, to be summoned according to the electoral law of 1837, with

elections by provinces instead of districts. It is said that the elections will nation, he considered the act in question perfectly legal, and arrogantly re- take place in November ; but apparently nothing positive is known on this fused all interference. Accordingly, the steamers returned. on a second

head. A new Senate is 'to be appointed." voyage ; but on arriving at Atfeh, where the canal communicates with the

The It:dependance Beige is now one of the chief depots of Spanish Nile by means of locks, these, by order of the Government, were kept closed, and the Prussian eagle forbidden ingress to the Nile. Thereupon a gossip on the Continent. Some of its statements have been pointedly violent protest was entered by the Prussian Consulate against the Egyptian contradicted by the Dukes of Alba and Medina Ceeli. How far either as- Government, holding the latter responsible for all losses, damages, &C., oc- sertion or contradiction is worthy of belief, it is impossible to say. In a casioned by this so-called violation of treaties. Such is the case as it oc- recent impression, the Belgian journal prints a letter from Madrid, con- mined."

taining the following melodramatic story— Rai hit A tabs.—The Arago arrived at Southampton on Thursday, "Before the revolution of 1854, and under the ' Moderate ' Government,

General Ortega, an intimate friend of Narvaez, was Captain-General of the

Canary Islands. One of the richest proprietors of the colony died, leaving The close of the session of Congress was marked by unusual incidents. a wife, the sole heir to his immense fortune. General Ortega, in con- It was stated last -week that the House of Representatives attached a pro- fedemey with two superior officers, set up some false heirs, with whom he visa to the Army Appropriation Bill, and to other bills touching the ap- .shared a great part of the deceased's property. The Moderado Government propriation of the supply for the year. These provisoes were struck off would have winked at this iniquity, for it was itself guilty of the most by the Senate, restored by the Representatives, rejected and restored shameful malversations. Happily, the revolution of July broke out, and again by both respectively for several days. The Houses conferred to- Espartero's Government lent a willing ear to the complaint of the rightful gether—on one occasion throughout Saturday the 16th August, and fax heiress. An inquiry was ordered, and the Court-martial has only within into Sunday the 17th—without success. At length the House of Repre- the last few days brought its investigation to a close. I am assured that the sentatives agreed to recede from its position with regard to the civil bills, Auditor at War demands a sentence of twenty years' imprisonment in irons against Ortega. It is even said this very day that the Government is dia- but would not give up its proviso to the Army Appropriation Bill. That loosed to ask the French Government for the extradition of Ortega and his proviso was as follows— accomplices. Marshal Concha has taken immense trouble to hush up the " Provided nevertheless, that no part of the military force-of the United affair ; but all his efforts have been ineffectual. He went personally to the States herein provided for shall be employed in aid of the enforcement of Auditor at War, and said to him, ' It is impossible that a Spanish General the enactments of the alleged Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Kan- • can bo guilty of so serious a charge.' The Auditor only replied by showing sus, recently assembled at Shawnee Mission, until Congress shall have him the papers, and the Marshal was forced to admit that the accusation was enacted either that it was or was not a valid Legislative Assembly, chosen well-founded. Marshal Serrano also took steps to procure an acquittal, but in conformity with the organic law by the people of the said Territory : and desisted when he saw the evidence." provided that, until Congress shall have passed on the validity of the said Legislative Assembly at Kansas, it shall be the duty of the President to use fru tr.—There having been some reports in the journals to the ef- the military force in said Territory to preserve the peace, suppress insurrec- feet that the Allied troops would be shortly withdrawn from Greece, the tion, repel invasion, and protect persons and property therein, and upon the Morning Post published the following announcement— national highways in the State of Missouri from unlawful seizures and " We believe we shall be found correct in anticipating that the Allied searches. And be it further provided, that the President is required to dis- forces will not be withdrawn from Greece at present. Intelligence in our arm the present organized militia of the Territory of Kansas, and recall all possession makes it certain that there is no intention of taking a step which the United States arms therein distributed, and to prevent armed men from would be most unadvisable in the actual condition of affairs at Athens itself going into said Territory to disturb the public peace, or aid in the enforce- and throughout the Greek kingdom." meat or resistance of real or pretended laws."

O II attn.—The affair of the Isle of Serpents has now been explained stated at great length the reasons that led. the House of Representatives by the press. As is pretty well known, this island is a barren rock off to adopt such a measure. He vindicated the right of the House to take the mouths of the Danube, whereon there is a lighthouse. The Turkish the step. A Territory had been invaded by an armed force of nonresi- Government sent a party of fifty men to the island, for the purpose of dents, who by force and fraud usurped its government and established a restoring the light. When peace was signed, the Russian Government tyranny over its people; and the President of the United States had not sent an officer and seven marines unarmed, apparently for the same pun- only sanctioned the usurpation but had employed the standing army to pose. When this came to the knowledge of the Porte, it created a great maintain it. The usurping Legislature of Kansas had passed several enact- stir at Constantinople - and Lord Lyons sent Captain Hillyar with the ments. One of those enactments excluded all persons conscientiously-op- Gladiator to ascertain 'the facts. He found the Russians subsisting on posed to the holding of slaves from juries in all cases affecting slave property; Turkish hospitality. At this time the Turkish flag waved over the another prohibited free persona front writing or speaking against slavery, beacon. or inducing slaves to escape, under penalties of felony—imprisonment Captain Hillyar was instructed " to offer to the Russian Lieutenant coin- with hard labour ; a third suspended the habeas corpus act in the case of raanffing the detachment on the Serpents' Island to give him and his men a fugitive slaves ; a fourth condemned all felons undergoing imprisonment passage to Odessa ; and, if they did not consent to this, to proceed to Odessa with bard labour to work in. a chain-gang,, each felon having a six-feet and ask for their removal by the authorities there. Captain Hillyar pro- chain with a six-inch ball of iron at the end attached to his ankle ; a Stalq.—The announcement last week of the arrival of Baron Iliibner seeded accordingly to the is'_and, and made his offer; which, as might be at Naples, was it seems, premature : the Baron had on Saturday week expected, *was not accepted by the Lieutenant, who excused himself by his

o ere to remain on the island until further instructions from his superiors.. only reached Venice where he was enjoying sea-bathing. The Sicilians

So Captain Hillyar went to Odessa, and asked, according to his instructione, have issued a manifesto " to their brothers of Naples ' enjoining union, for the removal of the Russian detachment on the Serpents' Island. The denouncing the King in no measured terms, and boasting of the unani- Governor asked for forty-eight hours' delay, to telegraph to St. Pe- mity that prevails in Sicily. It is stated that Prince Murat has issued teraburg for instructions. The answer from there was that the Rus- a manifesto to the people of Sicily and Naples ; • but the report, is denied. slams could not be removed until the question of the Semoents' His presence at Aix lea Bains has troubled the Neapolitan Government. Island was settled by the Conference at Pans. When Captain Tlillyar The Verona Gazette, published at the seat of the Government of Aus- received the answer at Odessa, he returned to Serpents' Island and triaa Italy, has taken up the cudgels on behalf of the King of Naples. stationed himself there, sending down the gun-boat which had been It highly approves of the spirit with which the Kingthrew in the face of put at his disposal with the news to the Admiral; who sent back in- the English Government the unexampled barbarism of its rule in Ireland structiens to him to remain there in observation, and prevent any attempts .and India. Drawing a fancy sketch of the condition of Ireland under the Russians might make to increase their force. This precaution was not useless, as the sequel chased ; for on Friday last, the 15th August, a Russian the oppressive rule of England, the writer taunts the English with show-

steamer made her appearance before the island, having onboard M. Botianolf„ ing so much sympathy for Poland and Italy and so little for the wrongs Conseiller d'Etat, and Gentilhomme de la. Cour, and a staff for the reestas of the Irish. He then hints a menace— blishment of the lighthouse.. The Conseiller 'd'Etat, when he made the

" It appears that England herself is interested that the idea of interven- Turkish commander acquainted with his mission, which was to see the tion should not be generalized for every occasion, or that it should be pre- lighthouse restored, was told that the thing had been donee and that the tended that one state has the right of meddling in the internal affairs of commander of the Turkish detachment had no orders to receive any further another without restriction, precisely because she has institutions which, reinforcement of Russians on the island. Seeing that his intention of land- .either by their nature or from the abuse of their application, give offence to ing an additional force on the island had been foiled by the precautions all other states with few exceptions, and might therefore provoke a general taken by Admiral Lyons and the Turkish Government, M. Botianoff left intervention to her disadvantage. If England, not having any interests of in the evening, in the direction of the mouths of the Danube. Captain her own, desired that Sicily should be governed by a constitutional form, Hillyar, suspecting that this was done with the view of taking the superior who could prevent all Europe from demanding that in England should cease commanding Turkish officer there by surprise, and gain an order of admis- once for all that apathetic legislation which allows the English territory to sion through him to the island, sent the Snake gun-boat, which overtook become the hiding-place in which political assassins can conceal themselves, and passed the Russian steamer ; so that when M. Botianoff arrived he found -and which leaves =curbed a licentious press that vilifies all governments, the Turkish commander an it to what had passed and on his guard, and Count Stackelberg, the Russian Minister at Turin, was presented to M. Boutenieg the Russian Minister, arrived at Constantinople on the the King of Sardinia on the 29th instant, and handed in his credentials. 19th ; and this released Kiprali Pasha, who set out on the same day for re-

N

with ad-vices from New York to the 23d August.

King Otho is still in Germany, treating of the succession to his crown. In supporting this proviso in the Senate, Mr.. Seward of New York

fifth enacted that male slaves committing petty larceny should receive thirty-nine lashes, and female slaves twenty-one lashes.

"And how," asked Mr. Seward, "have these atrocious laws been exe- ented in Kansas ? The Marshal of the Territo , an officer dependent on the President of the United States, has as a volunteer militia, at the expense of the Federal treasury, an armed band of confessed propa- gandists of slavery from other States ; and this so-called militia, but really unconstitutional regular force, has been converted into a posse comitatus to execute these atrocious statutes by intimidation, or by force, as the nature of the resistance encountered seemed to require. This has been the form of executive action. What has been the conduct of the judicial department? Courts of the United States have permitted grand juries to find, and have maintained, indictments unknown to the laws of the United Staten, to the common law, and to the laws of all civilized countries,—an indictment of a tavern as a nuisance, because the political opinions of its lodgers were obnoxious ; an indictment of a bridge over a river for a nuisance, because those who passed over it were of opinion that the establishment of slavery in the Territory was injurious to its prosperity; indictments even of print- ing-presses as nuisances, because the political opinions which they pro- mulgated were favourable to the establishment of a Free-State government. Either with a warrant from the courts, or without a warrant, but with their connivance, bands of soldiers, with arms belonging to the United States, and enrolled under its flag and directed by its Marshal, combining with .other bands of armed invaders from without the Territory, and -without even the pretence of a trial much less of a judgment, have abated the alleged nui- sance of a tavern by levelling it to the ground, and the pretended nuisances of the free presses by casting type and presses and compoeators' desks into the Kansas river. Moreover, when the citizens, whose obedience to these laws Was demanded, sought relief in the only constitutional way -which remained open to them, by establishing conditionally, and subject to the assent of Con- gress to be akterwards obtained, a State Government, Provisional Execu- tive Officers and a Provisional Legislature, indictments for constructive treason were found in the same courts, by packed grand juries, against these Provisional Executive Officers • and a detachment of the army of the United States entered the legislative halls and expelled the representatives of the people from their seats. During the intense heat of this almost endless summer, a regiment of Federal cavalry performs its evolutions in ranging over the prairies of Kansas, holding in its camp as prisoners under martial law, without bail or mainprize, not less than ten citizens, thus indicted in those Federal Courts for the pretended crime of constructive treason. The penalty of treason under the laws of the United States is death. What chance for justice attends those citizens ? Thus, Senators, the Executive authority, not content with simple oppression, has seized upon the judiciary and corrupted and degraded it for the purposes of executing these pretended and intolerable laws of Kansas. The Judge who presides in the Territorial Courts is a creature of the President of the United States, and holds his office by the tenure of Executive pleasure."

The persistence of the House of Representatives in refusing supplies under these circumstances led to the loss of the bill. The closing scene of the session is described as follows by the Washington correspondent of the Times.

" The race of legislation, accelerated for some time past, became a perfect rush, and the work of weeks was disposed of in minutes ; all the powers were highly condensed and in rapid action. To the outsiders it looked very like confusion; but perhaps it was more in appearance than reality. The Committees and leaders have the threads in hand; and the Speaker, Mr. Banks, was cool, watchful, and self-possessed, the model of a presiding officer. The public galleries were filled to suffocation, though no party or '.campaign' speeches were expected—the time for oratory had passed ; it was all clear and quick voting. Above all, the ladies had gathered in im- mense force, and their gallery was one vast flutter of fans. Considering the state of the thermometer, and the working-day parterre of gentlemen they looked down on, their presence in such numbers was something of a riddle. The rotunda, which divides the House' from the Senate, was the grand promenade of the night, and would have been almost gay but for the serious businesslike look of the men—the expression seen on 'change when the funds are capricious and quotations fluctuating. Many eager faces flitted about in the gas-light, arrested by nothing of art or nature round them ; others took matters more coolly, smoking the time away, having a private understanding with destiny that made them safe. Outside, the rays of a bright Southern moon fell on the white marble portico and terrace ; a wel- come retreat from the ovenlike atmosphere within, whence you looked far through the summer night, over the mingling foliage and roofs of the well- wooded city, to the broad belt of river beyond it ; below, carriages dashed up and departed, with a louder rattle than at noon; while in the foreground gleamed the statue of Washington, directly facing the windows of the Capi- tol, blazing with light at those unusual hours."

No sooner had this bustling scene come to an end, than the President issued the following proclamation, dated, it will be observed, on the same day that the Congress broke up. " Whereas, while hostilities exist with various Indian tribes on the re- mote frontiers of the United States, and while in other respects the public peace is seriously threatened, Congress has adjourned without granting ne- cessary supplies for the army, depriving the Executive of the power to per- form his duty in relation to the common defence and security, and an extra- Ordinary occasion has thus arisen for assembling the two Houses of Con- gress I do therefore, by this my proclamation, convene the said Houses to meet at the Capitol, m the city of Washington, on Thursday the 21st day of August instant ; hereby requiring the respective Senators and Itepre- sentativea then and there to assemble, to consult and determine on such measures as the state of the Union may seem to require. " In testimony whereof, I have caused the seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed, and signed the same with my hand. " Done at the city of Washington, the 18th day. of August in the year of Our Lord 1856, and the independence of the United States the 81st.

" FRANKLIN PIERCE. " By order, W. L. MAIWY, Secretary of State."

This unusual step, it is said, took some of the members by surprise ; but the tenour of the correspondence from Washington shows that it was expected by others. It is stated, for instance, that it "surprised the members as if it had been a kind of coup d'etat" ; but it is also stated that the Southern members had begged the President not to call an extra session.

Congress reassembled on the 21st, in obedience to the summons of the ,.'resident. There were present 182 out of 230 members of the House of Representatives, and about forty of the Senate. The business opened with the reading of a message from President Pierce, dilating on the sad consequences that would follow the rejection of the Army Bill. If funds were not provided, he said, the enlistment contracts would be broken; the army must in effect be disbanded ; the construction of arms, the repair of forts and arsenals, the manufacture of clothing and camp- equipage, must be arrested. Yet at this moment bands of Indians in the

Territories are waging a war of extermination against the Whites, and they are only restrained by the presence of the regular soldiers.

" To refuse supplies to the army, therefore, is to compel the complete cessation of all its operations, and practical disbandment ; and thus to invite hordes of predatory savages from the Western plains and Rocky Mountains to spread devastation along a frontier of more than four thousand miles in extent, and to deliver up the sparse population of a vast tract of country to rapine and murder. Such, in substance, would he the direct and imme- diate effects of the refusal of Congress, for the first time in the history of the Government, to grantsupplies ; the inevitable waste of millions of pub- lio treasure ; the infliction of extreme wrong upon all persons connected with the military establishment by service employment, or contracts ; the recall of our forces from the field; the fearful sacrifice of life and incalcu- lable destruction of property on the remote frontiers ; the striking of our national flag on the battlements of the fortresses which defend our mari- time cities against foreign invasion ; the violation of the public honour and good faith, and the discredit of the United States in the eyes of the civilized world."

After this message had been read, on the 21st, the Senate adjourned; General Cass declaring that the days of the Republic were numbered. The House of Representatives met on the 21st, and immediately passed the Army Bill with the Kansas proviso, by 93 to 85. On the 22d, it was carried up to the Senate ; and there, without debate, the proviso was struck out, by 35 to 7. In the mean lime the electric telegraph had summoned several Democrats back to Washington. In the next divi- sion, the House again refused to strike out the proviso, by 96 to 94 ; and adhered to its disagreement with the Senate, by 97 to 93. Several un- successful motions were made to adjourn "sine die." These failing, the House took a short recess to await the issue of the proceedings in the Senate; and on reassembling, and finding that the Senate had done no- thing but debate, adjourned. The intelligence from Kansas would indicate a determination on the part of the Free-Soilera to drive out the Border Ruffians. They attacked and carried the town of Lecompton, on the 20th ; dispersing Shannon the late Governor and his friends, and rescuing Robinson the late Free- Soil Governor. A number of Ruffians, on their march from Kansas city to Lecompton, were assailed and driven from the field with loss. A. camp of Georgians at Ossawatomie were attacked and driven into the State of Missouri, by " Mr. Brown, at the head of 300 Free-Soilers." A camp of Missourians was established at Washington Creek, not far from Franklin. The Free-Soilers sent an unarmed man, Mr. Hoyt, to parley with them : they shot Hoyt dead. On hearing ;his, a body of men marched from Lawrence, and assailing a large blockhouse, garrison- ed by eighty men, defending the place, took it after a long fight; allow- ing all the garrison to escape except the leader. Next day, the United States troops occupied Franklin. As a general rule, it would seem that the Federal troops had of late shown a disinclination to interfere in the strife. It is anticipated that the Border Ruffians, who have been sur- prised, will severely retaliate. The part likely to be taken by some of the Southern States may be guessed from the fact that the Legislature of Texas has voted fifty thousand dollars to be expended in sending emi- grants to Kansas and supporting thtm when there.

Some acts of the session closed on the 18th call for notice. One nearly doubles the payment of members of Congress, so as to make a seat in either House worth about 7001. a year ; a measure which finds its apo- logy in the increased cost of living at Washington. The payments are to be made in future, not daily, as heretofore, but in one sum of 6000 dollars for the two years. A second act gives native dramatists a copy- right in their productions. A third increases the pay of diplomatic and consular agents, raising the salary of the Minister to England, for in- stance, from 18001. to 35001. a year ; and establishing Consuls-General in British North America, British India, Egypt, Japan, Cuba, Turkey, and the Hanse Towns. Consuls of every rank are forbidden to engage is trade either directly or indirectly. Another bill enables the discoverers of guano on unoccupied or unclaimed islands to occupy them and sell the guano for their own benefit, at four dollars a ton in the native beds, and eight dollars a ton at the ship's side. Grants of land for the con- struction of railways amount to no less than 8,000,000 acres.

Centre/ lltSrir8.—There have recently been no fewer than nine British men of war of various rates, from the 91 gun lino-of-battle ship to the they gun-boat, off Greytown. Their object, unless it were to pro- tect the place from General Walker, was not apparent. The self-elected President of Nicaragua was said to be in the predicament of losing alike the confidence of the natives and of his own soldiers, many of whom have died of disease. Costa Rica and Guatemala were, it is said, about to renew the invasion of Nicaragua, where the deposed President Rivas had collected 3000 men to drive out Walker. A document professing to throw much light on Walker's character and conduct has been recently published in America. It purports to be an affidavit made by seven of Walker's soldiers captured at Rivas by the Costa Ricans, and taken be- fore the United States Consul at Punta Arenas. Two of these men are New Yorkers, three are Germans, one is a Missourian, and one an Eng- lishman. Their professed object is to "implore the young and thought- less of the United Steps not to suffer themselves (as 800 have been) to be deluded by promises more unsubstantial than air, more unreal than. dreams." They say that Walker was bribed by a gift of 52,000 acres to assist one party in Nicaragua to crush another; that ho recruited his small force "by sending to California and the States the most wonderful reports" ; that he prevented letters describing how the soldiers were without pay, &c., from leaving the country by seizing them at the post- office ; and they denounce him in one sweeping sentence, as "no general, no statesman, no lawyer, no judge of human nature, and even a most ridiculous imitator of Don Quixote de in Mancha."