foreign anb 4501 011idi. Fuearcn.—The President of the Republic has

made another progress in the provinces; a briefer and a more successful one than before. It was on occasion of the opening of the Epernay section of the Paris and Strasburg Railway. The Journal des Debuts and Galignanis Messenger are the only journals which give a full account of the trip, and those papers agree that there were very few cries of " Vive la Republique!" and a great prepon- derance of "Viva Napoleon!" with occasionally "Vice l'Empereur!" At Meaux, about forty artillery-men raised very marked acclamations in honour of the Republic; but their voices were instantly drowned by shouts in personal honour of the President. At Epernay, the Bishop of Chalons, at the head of his clergy, presented an adulatory address; to which Louis Napo- leon replied with brief discretion. On his return to Paris, the President found a crowd assembled at the station to greet him. "Very many of the National Guards presented petitions and letters to the President; all of which be readily received. One old man, in presenting his petition, fell on his knee; but the President hastily raised him. This act excited loud ap- plause. Several of the country-people and National Guards pressed for- ward and shook the President by the hand." A grand banquet was given on Friday sonnight by the exhibiters of the products of national industry, at the Jardin d'Hiver in the Champs Elysees. Upwards of twelve hundred guests were assembled, including the President of the Republic, M. Odilon-Barrot, M. Dufaure, and M. Passy. The President acknowledged the toast of his health in the following terms- " Gentlemen, the true Congress of Peace was not in the Salle Cecille. It is here: it is you who compose it—you, the elite of French industry. Elsewhere wishes only were expressed; here are represented all those great interests which peace alone can develop. When one has admired, as I have done, all those pro- digies of industry which have been spread out before the eyes of all Frame—when it is remembered how many hands have ceeiperateci in the production of these objects, and how many existences depend on their sale—one is conseled with the idea of having arrived at that period to which is reserved another glory besides that of arms. In fact, at this time it is by the improvement of manufactures, by the conquest of commerce that the struggle is to be carried on with the whole world; and in this struggle you have convinced me that you will not succumb. But do not forget to instil into the minds of the workmen the sacred doctrines of political economy, by allotting to them a just part in the reward of labour: prove to them that the interest of the rich is not opposed to that of the poor. I thank you for the flattering manner with which you have appreciated my efforts for pro- moting the public good; and I propose as a toast, To the prosperity of French industry! To its honourable representatives !' " (Much applause.) The Moniteur has this announcement—" Several journals have spread a report of an approaching marriage of the President of the Republic. We axe authorized to state that this report is devoid of foundation. Attention has been given to the proceedings of the Departmental Coun- cils, which have been holding their annual sittings. It was much ru- moured that the reactionary spirit of the provinces would here first mani- fest itself in the definite form of simultaneous proposals for a revision of the Republican Constitution. It was expected that projects would be dis- cussed for prolonging the term of the Presidency, and decentralizing the general administrative machinery of the country. The marked character of the elections of Council-Presidents encouraged these anticipations; for the elections almost universally favoured the reactionary party. So far, however, as the deliberations of the Councils have at present gone, they have had no reference to any constitutional or political questions-' and there seems a probability that the apprehensions were premature. How- ever, a strong feeling has been manifested against the 'Minister's proposed income-tax, and also against the remission of the tax on potable liquors; so strong a feeling, it is said, as to cause M. Passy some annoyance and anxiety. 'TALL—General Oudinot has announced to the Romans, and to the Army of Occupation, that his mission at Rome is ended. In an address to the Romans, he says—" By preserving you against political reaction, we have at the same time fulfilled our duty and followed the dictates of our feelings." Announcing to the soldiers that "the army, now strongly esta- blished at Rome and in the cantonments, will be reduced in numbers," he delivers the command to General Rostolan. It is said that serious misunder- standings have arisen between the Gaeta conference and the French Go- vernment. A sharp remonstrance on the conduct of the Cardinal Commis- sioners al Rome had been received in bad part, and tartly answered: there- upon a rejoinder had been returned, in terms that mortified and alarmed the Pope and his advisers- " The French Minister announced, in a tcne not to be mistaken that his Go- vernment would no longer allow itself to be trifled with, and that the conduct of the Cardinals was the means of perpetuating the elements of insurrection throughout the whole of Italy; that the acts done iu the name of the Pope would render him odious to his people; and that, in fact, an end must be pat to such a system before long."

Some of the French journals, however, say that these are fictions, in- vented at Paris to redeem the unpopular Roman expedition in Parisian favour.

The Chamber of Deputies of Turin, on the 30th August, voted a sum of 100,000 livres to relieve the refugees from the different parts of Italy. The Minister of the Interior announced that he would shortly submit to the Assembly a project of colonization in Sardinia, which would offer those refugees a more proper and comfortable asylum. M. Yogi invited the Chamber to declare in principle, that Piedmont, having assumed the initia- tive of the war of Italian independence, and being still the centre of the hopes of Italy, opened its arms to all Italians compelled to quit their country, whatever might be their principles and doctrines. The Minister of the Interior combated the proposal; it was rejected, and the principle of the bill was voted by 123 to 2.

AUSTRIA.—The news from Vienna is chiefly that of promotions and honours showered on the officers of the Imperial and Russian armies and of rumoured appointments. Among the most remarkable of the fatter, are those of the Austrian General Count Chem Gallas to the post of Aide- de-camp to the Emperor Nicholas, and of a Russian General to a similar post near the person of the Emperor Francis-Joseph. These amicable in- terchanges in the capital are somewhat combated, however, by differences and jealousies in the provinces. It is stated that the Austrian officers are excessively annoyed at the distinction shown by the Russians to Gorgey and the Magyar officers, and have refused to meet "traitors" at the mess and elsewhere. Discordancy is also said to have been shown in relation to the paper currency of the Magyar Government. At the commencement of the campaign, the Austrian Government declared Kossuth's notes null and void. General Haynau has caused them to be burnt wherever found, and has imposed severe penalties on persons passing or even possessing them. But the Russian officers everywhere receive this currency as legal and good; and it is said that superior Russian orders have ratified this About all the Magyar leaders, including Gorgey himself, there is little couAr authentic intelligence. Several accounts agree that Gorgey had started with Prince Paskiewicz for Warsaw. The latest statements give him a free pardon by the Emperor Francis-Joseph, and despatch him to private life in Styria, " till the feeling regarding him have abated." Nothing certain is known concerning the fortresses of Comorn or Peter- wardein ; or concerning the defeated Hungarian and Polish commanders. It was reported that Bern had been taken prisoner by General Lilders, and was in the hospital at Bucharest dangerously ill. Kossuth, Dembinski, and Perczel, had most probably placed themselves in the custody of the Turkish commanders of the Ottoman frontier. The following letter, addressed by Kossuth to Count Casimir Bathyany, forms an interesting sequel to recent events. " Dear Count—You will receive this letter from Colonel von Kalmany, who is charged to communicate my wishes to you verbally. The apprehensions I stated to you at Szegedin on the 23d of June have been realized. Gergey's conquest of Ofen was the last gleam of the setting sun of the Republic, for immediately after_ wards Dembinski was defeated in the North and Perczel in the South; then GOrgey fell into his fatal position at Comorn ; and, finally, Bern was compelled to retreat before Liiders. My slender hopes of being able, by resorting to extraor- dinary measures to give our cause a more favourable turn, have been wholly de- stroyed by the shameful ingratitude of Gergey; for the sudden revelation and execution of his plans, which I had long perceived and feared, was a treason to the cause of the nation, and inflicted on me and through me on the Republic, a deathblow. Oar misfortune has cost us 200,000 cannon-balls, and a flight al- ready become dangerous is the grave of so ninny glorious victories. "Our cause is now utterly lost. The immense fatigues I have lately under- gone have wearied my spirits and shattered my bodily strength: I sigh for repose. My greatest consolation in my present critical position is the knowledge that those most dear to me after my native land—my family, are in safety. "I go tonight with Csanyi and Henreth to Lugos; where I shall expect your verbal answer through Colonel von Kalmany.

"In the mean time, accept the assurance of my profound respect.

"Arad, Aug. 11. KOSSUTH." Letters from Venice, of the 28th August, state that the Austrians were on that day in complete possession of the city. President Mania, General Pepe, and forty persons most compromised in the revolution, had embarked in the French war-steamer Pluton, for Corfu. General Garzkewski had been appointed Civil and Military Governor, and M. Mazzani Prefect of Venice.

SWITZERLAND.—The fact of an intended intervention by Russia, Aus- tria, and Prussia, in Switzerland, is certified by an apologetic and explana- tory article in the Paris Assemblee Nationale, a paper habitually receiving inspirations from the Absolutist Courts. The Morning Post vouches the rumour of Swiss invasion as containing more truth than many late ru- mours, and states that "some Austrian troops have absolutely marched." The following is the Assemblie's article- " Some French, Belgian, and German journals of the Rhine, have been giving for the last few days the incredible intelligence that the Great Powers had decided amongst themselves on the partition of Switzerland, on the foundation of the several nationalities that compose it. We are in a position to affirm that such an absurd idea never entered the thoughts of European statesmen. No doubt, the journals which publish it desire to deprive the European intervention in Switzer- land of its real meaning. This meaning we will explain. "A partition would be odious, and contrary to treaties; and what is required, on the contrary, is a return to the letter of these very treaties. The fundamental conventions of Switzerland recognize the independence of the small as well as the large Cantons: now demagogues have destroyed the liberty of the smaller Cantons, and this state of things cannot be allowed to exist. By treaties, the authority of the King of Prussia over Neufchatel is recognized; now that sovereignty must be proclaimed anew. No principle of international right can authorize Switzerland to become the receptacle of all the refugees of Europe, in such a way as will allow the agents of permanent conspiracies to be directed at will towards Germany, France, or Italy. This state of things must cease. Austria thinks it necessary, in the interest of the special safety of the Lombardo-Venetian territory, to occupy that part of the Canton of Tessin which stretches to the St. Gothard. This pre- tension may be contested, for it is not in the treaties; but in this Austria is sup- ported by Russia. Such is the real state of the Swiss question. Nothing more is required on one or the other hand; but we think we are in a position to know that, in order to reach these ends, the Powers are decided to follow the same system of firmness and resolution that they have followed in the sad affairs of Italy and Hungary." Gunnar:v.—The Prussian Government have issued a circular to all the German states who have not adhered to the constitution of the three Kings, fixing the 15th of this month as the last day for giving definite answers of rejection or adherence. After that date, Prussia will consider the protocol closed, and will proceed at once to the practical establishment of the Bond. Bremen has followed the example of Hamburg, and adhered; and Lu- beck will most likely do the same. In the Second Berlin Chamber, on the 29th August, the Minister of Fi- nance, M. Von Rabe, presented the statement of the finances of Prussia for this year. The deficit, amounting to 5,608,000 Prussian Osiers, has been covered by the surplus of this year and the year 1847. No extraordinary taxes or loans have been rendered necessary. UNITED STATES.—The advices by the steam-ship America bring the news from New York down to the 22d August. The President was making a progress through the country; in the course of which evidences of great personal popularity were abundantly displayed. He had suffered lately from a tholeraic affection, but was recovered. The election-returns had still gone against the Whigs; and all accounts now agree that General Taylor and his Ministry will have to face a Legislature the majority of which will be opposed to them on the distinctive political features which mark the two leading parties in the Union. It is expected that General Taylor will sacrifice his personal predilections, and "govern in consonance with the expressed will of the nation."

Little more is heard Of the "expedition to Cuba," as it is unanimously named. It is singular that the concurrence of circumstances, and the mystery and concealment observed as to the real destination of the exe pedition, have not led to surmises of its being a sympathizing adventure up the St. Lawrence.

Father Mathew has signalized his early days in the Republic by some want of courtesy to a large section of the people, who have very generouste received him as the apostle of Temperance. " A committee of the most prominent members of the Massachussetts Slavery Society waited on Father Mathew in Boston," the Times correspondent states, tendering him an official invitation to attend an anniveniary in celebration of the abolition of slavery in the British West Indies. Unfortunately for the reve- rend gentleman, who might with great propriety have replied to them, that his life was dedicated to one great purpose which prevented his mixing himself with any other, be abruptly declined the invitation; observing to the committee, that he was not aware of any passage in Scripture forbidding the existence of slavery. is want of courtesy on the occasion has induced them to retort, by publishing a circular letter, issued some time since by himself, together with the late Daniel O'Connell and others, addressed to the Irish residents in the United States, strongly urging them to unite with the Abolitionists, and never cease their efforts till perfect liberty be granted to every one of the inhabitants, the Black man as well as the White.'" CANADA.—The steam-ship America brings intelligence of renewed riots and bloodshed in Montreal, consequent on the arrest by Go- vernment, at last, of several persons charged with being concerned in the burning of the Houses of Parliament. The telegraphic-despatches which furnish the materials of the ordinary accounts are but meagre, and not altogether consistent in details. The Montreal correspondent of the Morning Chronicle contributes (though with an obvious bias) the most intel- ligible narrative, down to the 20th August. "It became known on Tuesday last, [the 14th August,] the day after! wrote yen, that our two Colonial Polignacs, Messrs. Lafontaine and Baldwin, intended to make a coup d'etat Upon this the excitement among the opponents of the Government became serious and very alarming; and on Wednesday, the following day, the parties against whom warrants had issued, finding that the popular fer- ment was likely to prove dangerous to the peace of the city, either surrendered themselves immediately, or intimated to the chief constable, that upon his serving them with proper warrants they would straightway accompany him to the police- office. In this manner seven or eight were brought up, all for misdemeanours ex- cept two, charged with felony punishable by imprisonment. Some were English, some Irish, others Scotch; and all gave bail.

"While these events were going on, the excitement in the streets towards the close of the dav increased considerably; and in the evening a mob of two or three hundred, chieffy boys, made a visit to Mr. Lafontaine's dwellinghonse. This gen- tleman had already, in April last, suffered severe loss at the hands of a mob. His out-buildings were burned, his house much injured, and his furniture de- stroyed. On that occasion he was absent, but on this he was at home and pre- pared. He had filled his dwelling with armed men, consisting principally of his colleagues in the Ministry, and others his personal friends, with, I believe, some radians. When the mob reached his premises, with what demonstrations I can- not safely say, a volley was fired from the house upon the rioters; and one boy, a line lad about nineteen years of age, of the name of Mason, was killed, and several others wounded. Thereupon the mob retreated, and the firing ceased. Much agitation prevailed all that night; and several barricades were raised in the streets, but not with a view to resisting the troops. When these last arrived at a barricade, the mob cheered, withdrew, and the barricades were removed. What the intention was in raising these obstructions, I have not learned.

"All day Thursday and Friday the excitement continued ; and daring these two nights large fires took place, one of which was Donegana's great hotel. These confiagations, though not attributed to political incendiarism, increased the agitation and tumult. Great crowds filled and paraded the streets, no doubt with a design to intimidate; they raised barricades, and bravely thrashed ob- noxious individuals who were passing quietly through the town; and all this with the most perfect impunity. Some of the street-lamps were broken, the others were extinguished; and amidst the darkness, yelling, and uproar, the city wore an aspect of anarchy and desolation. "On Saturday the remains of young Mason were interred with great pomp and solemnity. The following is the strange card of invitation to his funeral obsequies, posted in every part of the city, in placard form, the previous evening—

'Murder ! The first Anglo-Saxon blood Turn out to a man to the funeral, that you may remember for ever the murdered victim and the glorious cause ! Tomorrow morning at ten o'clock the body of young Mason will be carried from Craig Street to the grave. Let the shops be shut —Friday, Aug. 17, 1849:

"The pall-bearers and mourners wore red scarfs and white bands,—emblems, they say, of innocence and ruthless murder, with an ominous intimation of ven- geance to be wreaked upon the perpetrators of the bloody deed. There does, in- deed, seem to be more truth than poetry in their symptoms of hostility to Mr. Lafontaine. About two thousand persons attended the funeral. I mention these details to give you some idea of the state of society in which we live just now. In Montreal we may vie with any part of Texas, and we are fast relapsing into the rudeness and disorders of savage life. If this state of things continue much longer, every man will have to go armed, and the assassination of his neighbour will be his only means of security "An evening extra of one of our papers, on Saturday, thus discourses respect- ing the inquest and Mr. Lafontaine-

' The inquest on the murder of young Mason was suspended until Monday morning at ten o'clock, in consequence of the unexpected, but we suppose convenient, absence of Mr. J. H. Jobin, one of the jurors, and of the refusal of the Honourable L. H. La- fontaine to obey the summons of the Coroner to appear as a witness.

The first Law-officer of the Crown manifests his contempt for the law.

`Lord Elgin's Prime Minister sets at defiance the order of a high court engaged In a solemn duty.

'People of Canada! what are you coming to ? Judges, juries, and witnesses, laugh at the provisions of law.

'Society, with Lord Hight at the head of a political party, has become disorganized.'

"As to Mr. Lafontaine's refusal to appear before the Coroner's Jury, I cannot speak positively, but I should hardly believe it possible. In private life, I have always taken Mr. Lafontaine for a humane and honourable man ; and I am sure he regrets that blood has been shed, though he may feel justified in what lie did, or caused to be done. Whether he comes voluntarily or involuntarily, he will be examined today. There is a general impression among impartial men, (in which I confess I do not yet participate,) making every allowance for Mr. Lafontaine, that his friends fired prematurely; and they say, that in any event he should have warned the mob, which it appears quite certain he did not. If I recollect rightly, Lord North, under almost similar circumstances, gave notice of impending resist- ance, and the mob dispersed. Be this as it may, it is a very unpleasant business altogether. The Coroner, who is a Canadian and a personalfriend of Mr. La- fontaine, was, it is said, (and I believe it to be a fiwt,) one of the defenders of the Prime Minister's house, and there when the volley was fired. I regret to say, so far as I have seen, he conducts the inquest in a most partisan spirit. I suspect we shall have a good deal of trouble before it is all over. We have not had time to hear how the affair will be viewed in other parts of the province."

On the 20th, while M. Lafontaine was giving evidence, the hotel in which the Jury were sitting took fire. "The confusion was dreadful: the soldiers on guard raa about with fixed bayonets. M. Lafontaine was eventually es- corted to the Government House in the centre of a square of troops."

The later accounts, by the telegraph, extend to the 22d August, and are brief enough for insertion verbatim-

"Montrea/, August 22.—The Government have addressed a letter to the Mayor, asking him whether he could preserve the peace of the city. His Honour called a meeting of the Municipal Council, but they arrived at no conclusion. The Mayor then replied, that he could not keep the peace.

" All the Executive Councillors have arrived, and held a Council yesterday, as also today.

" The Horse Police are still out of town and it is said that a body of armed men are waiting their arrival. [It is stated that the Police had fired at the pee. pie blank cartridge, one supposes, on Saturday night the 18th ; then went on board a steamer, crossed the St. Lawrence, and remained on the East side of the river.]

" The fire-insurance companies have determined to raise the rate of premiums." The New York Courier and Inquirer writes-- " The inquest on the lad Mason, shot from Mr. Lafontaine's house, was going on under a guard of soldiers ; and even during the investigation the same bitter- ness of feeling was apparent as we find everywhere else in Canada. One _part of the proceedings has struck us with some surprise. A juror asked Captain Wetherell, a Magistrate, who had proceeded to the spot on hearing of the riot, if he knew the names of the parties whom he had seen in the house: to which quern, strange to say, the Coroner objected. But the juror persevered, and extracted from the witness that most of them looked like gentlemen '; and the papers generally agree that the friends of Mr. Lafontaine had proceeded to his house to protect it. It seems, however, that the shots were fired before any damage was committed. The crowd, more than half boys, as is usually the case in such mat- ters, went up huzzaing to the gate, which they broke open; and after having ad- vanced about twenty feet, were fired upon. Upon which a volley of stones MB thrown at the house ; a salute replied to by the inmates with a discharge of fire- arms. The arrival of the troops seems to have stopped further outrage.

" The town seems to be still under great excitement; so much so that a pro- clamation has been issued against riotous assemblages= as stringent measures will be taken to suppress them: The garrison is kept under arms, and the Horse Police brought into town. The latter are a body of men lately raised, who seem to be looked upon with contempt; bearing the unpopular cognomen of the Elgin. Guards'; some of the papers call them ' The Hens.'"

The hostile criticism but cautious advice of the Montreal Herald woulil seem to imply more than is expressed- " Lord Elgin, representing the majesty of England, remains a close prisoner. His Ministers, not wise enough to foresee the dangers of the state, nor firm enough to provide against them, take care of their own property by filling their houses with armed men. While the head of the Government refuses to govern, but re- tains the helm which he should resign to other hands, all government is at an end. The citizens are shot down—perhaps in wrongdoing—certainly not by legal authority, nor in support of law and order. That is our condition. How long this is to continue we know not; but if it lasts much longer, all we can say is, that every decent man will avoid the country, as he would a tribe of Malays in- toxicating themselves previous to running a muck It is perfectly evident that the Provincial Ministry is now acting with the perfect concurrence if not under direct instructions from the Imperial Government. Unless, therefore, that Government in this country is to be overturned by force—and we presume no one thinks of that—abortive attempts at violence will only give occasion for renewed triumphs of vindictiveness. In the end, resistance will be overcome, and the victory of our enemies will be so much greater, as it will be graced by so many more vic- tims."

To the same effect, in less measured language, the Montreal Courier de- clares—

" We look on this whole affair as a battle between French and English. Mr. Lafontaine, in his insolent arrogance, has thrown down the gauntlet ; but we feel confident in the ability of our countrymen to pick it up, and make this truculent upstart pay for his temerity; we know our strength, and how and when to use it.

We must again say to our countrymen, that to make rows in the street, and to pitch on such insignificant and contemptible curs as Tully as objects of indig- nation and punishment, is simply to injure a just and righteous cause. When a man meets with a viper, lie does not pinch off he tail, but he smashes his head, where the fangs are. If the people want a revolution, let them get muskets and ammunition, and go to work like men, and fight it out: but it is not the work of men to make attacks on individuals, which is just the very thing for which we have always blamed the opposite party; nor is it worthy of men of spirit and courage to tar and feather a thing like Tully."

WEST lwriEs.—The steam-ship Dee arrived at Southampton on Tues- day. Her mail includes advices from Jamaica to the 7th, Demerara to the 5th, Trinidad to the 7th, and Barbados to the 10th August,

The Jamaica news alone possesses political interest. The elections were going on very favourably to the popular cause. A large majority of the members returned up to the time the packet left are advocates for retrench- ment. In the parish of St. Thomas-in-the-East, two King's House mem- bers had been returned under protest from the Retrenchment members, whose voters were kept from the poll by the physical force of the partisans of the successful candidates. The parish of St. Mary had elected two gentlemen of the Jewish faith.

A good deal of excitement had been caused by the secession of Mr. Hec- tor Mitchel from the ranks of the uncompromising Retrenchment party. Mr. Mitchel has published a long letter explaining and advocating his views, which are in favour of "a compromise"; "not a succumbing to the Council, but an honourable sacrifice to principle, and also to expediency, which is here on the side of virtue." Ile says- " Government having made its decision, it behoves us now to ask ourselves, in sober prudence, to what purpose shall we persist in making that an essential part of our retrenchment scheme, which we may now, upon calm reflection, be morally sure we shall never attain from the present Government I have myself deeply considered this subject in its bearings; and I confess I see no door so entirely open to a proper compromise as one lately suggested for public consideration by a writer in the .Dispatch,—that is, that the ofilicers in question should receive a certain proportion of their salaries.in Exchequer-bills, redeemable at a distant date. To which I would add, that as the Governor could not be expected to receive such payment, a commensurate amount of similar Exchequer-bills, to the extent IA one-third of his salary, should quarterly be issued from the Treasury to any of the

public who might be willing to take them We are all ground down to rain by British policy and British injustice, and all of us admit it to be so. But the Government sees that we are a house divided against itself; and we therefore allow the Colonial Office to remain blind to our condition and deaf to our petitions, be- cause we will not bind ourselves by one common interest in a bond of sakng unanimity Public and private economy will do much, but not enoug .

must seek to put our laws and institutions on the footing best muted to our wel- fare and our wants; and we cannot do this without temperate, well-considered legislation. Shall we lose the opportunity of doing this because we can't clip the incomes of some particular servants?" The Demerara advices are not of marked interest. The bill for the ex- tension of the franchise bad made considerable progress in the Court of Policy: but all excitement on it had faded away. The general tenour of the advices as to the crops is, that the year's pro- duce is below the average in all the islands except Trinidad and Barbados, where there has been a considerable excess.

CALIFORNIA.—A letter from the Times's "own correspondent" at San Francisco, dated July 2, gives by far the completest account which has appeared of the state of things in California. Passing over minor prodi

glie,—such as the rental of " the hotel" of the place being 15,000E a year, thet of a single room for a countinghouse being 1501. a month, and houses 'being altogether so scarce that it was proposed to haul up the hundred *tips, lying idle in the bay and turn them into habitations by cutting doors and windows in their sides,—we invite attention to the following illustra- tions of political and social developments.

ea In California there is de facto no Government and no administration of jus- tice. Those establishments are in a novel if not in an unprecedented state. General Riley is Governor of California, and resides at Monterey, the nominal seat ot government. Commodore Jones is Commander in-chief of the naval forces, and has his flag hoisted on board the Warren frigate, at present in San Francisco har- bour,- and Genend Smith is Commander-in-chief of the land forces in California and Oregon, and has his head-quarters in San Francisco. This array of authority looks well on paper, but from the desertion of soldiers and sailors (particularly the former) the arm of military power is almost powerless. The military are posted in different parts of the country; a few at the Pre.sidio of San Francisco, about three miles and a half from this, situated near the entrance to the harbour from the ocean. A small party of men is at Venicia; and several small parties are posted at different parts of the Sacramento river, the great highway to the gold region. All the soldiers are allowed indulgences to preserve their fidelity. Those at the Presidio are permitted to come into San Francisco to work at all manner of jobs on their own account, by turns on leave of absence. They are also allowed the use of the Government cars and waggons, which they let out on job; while the men in the interior are allowed furloughs to go to the placeros,' to try their hands at 'digging,' by turns; the produce of their labours forming a common fund.

'

"In the absence of legislative measures by the American Congress for the ,government of California, the administration of the country is attempted to be carried on by a mixed and necessarily confused system of Spanish law, grafted on American institutions which it is found impossible to amalgamate and im- practicable to work. The only semblance of a court of justice which exists in San Francisco is that vested in the office of Alcalde. The functions and attri- butes of this magistrate, if fully carried out according to Spanish (Mexican) law, are incompatible with American notions of civil and criminal jurisprudence—in- consistent with free institutions, and totally repugnant to the feelings and senti- ments of American citizens. Hence a good deal of bitterness of feeling has been engendered, and a conflict has arisen between the Alcalde (an American) and many of his fellow citizens." The writer gives an amusing summary of the con- test. 'Some months back, a public election took place here by universal suf- frage in the widest sense of the term (for votes were admitted without regard to qualification by citizenship) for the ostensible object of supplying the district with a government. Out of the members so elected has sprung a body styling itself The Legislative Assembly of the district of San Francisco.' This Assembly completed its arrangements by appointing a staff of salaried officers, such as a Speaker," Clerk," Sheriffs,' &c. One of its earliest acts was to abolish the office of Alcalde on a charge of malfeasance, preferred or alleged against the officer filling the office. It then called upon this officer to de- liver up the archives of his office. The Alcalde resisted, and applied to General Riley, the Governor." Some weeks were spent in fruitless negotiation. "At length the Assembly brought the affair to an issue, by sending its Sheriff, with a posse Who took possession of the records vi et arms. The Alcalde showed light on the occasion, by presenting a loaded pistol; which, as he told me, he always kept at hand, 'as an auxiliary in the dispensing of justice' from the judgment- seat; and threatening to fire at any one who touched his papers.' The Sheriff had anticipated him. He presented a six-barrelled revolver at the head of the magistrate; when the latter, as be expressed himself the next day, 'seeing his chance of the first shot to be lost, gave up further resistance.' The Sheriff and his satellites possessed themselves of what basics and papers they thought might be the records of the office, and carried them away to the Hall of the Assembly,' where they remain locked up and inaccessible to the public. The dethroned Alcalde preferred a second complaint in person to the Governor at Monterey; whereupon

proclamation was issued repudiating the conduct of the Assembly, on the ground thatits members bad usurped powers which are vested only in the Congress of the United States.'

"In the absence of a constitutional and universally acknowledged and respected Government, of an effective military force, of legally appointed tribunals of justice, of municipal authorities, of a militia, and of a police, it would naturally be sup- posed that this country was in a state of anarchy, confusion, and disorder, if not of riot, rapine, and bloodshed. This is far from being the case, however extraor- dinary the assertion may appear. blerchandise of all sorts, furniture, and liquors, are exposed in the streets, on the beach, in open yards—in short, all over the town, owing to the want of warehouse-room for storage, and remain, except in very few and solitary instances, untouched by the hands of the robber and the thief.

"The trade of this place does not increase in proportion to the increase of emi- gfation;, because a great many of the emigrants bring goods for sale and provi- sions for their own use, besides houses to live in. The trade of the place is much overdone, and there is a glut of many goods in the market ; the fleet of merchant- then now in the harbour having brought varied and large cargoes from all parts, so that a vast amount of money will be lost by shippers generally." " What must In provided for, in a great measure, are the desires, whims, tastes, and caprices of men hitherto unused to wealth, suddenly enriched by gold-digging, carried away by sudden impulses into a vortex of extravagance and all sorts of wild indulgences ; reckless in their expenditure, and indulging in luxuries that they formerly knew only by name. Hence the great demand fur champagne and liquors of the first class, and of preserved meats and fruits, and other delicacies, which has all along existed, and which still continues, although the increased sup- ply has lowered the price."

In respect to "the diggings," the correspondent gives full and interesting extracts from the journal of a friend, whom he describes as" a scientific and practical miner, at present engaged with a party of fourteen men on the Juba River," and whose "information may be relied on."

Jam at present (June 1849)," writes the 'friend,' "working at a place on the Juba where the gold has already been taken from the surface ; and I find that the deeper I dig the richer the earth Is. As a proof that this gold is all alluvial, (or brought down by the river,) It is found in greater quantities at a bend where the river forms a bar, i.have also observed, that where the bills on the aides of the river are bold and pre- cipitate, the auriferous deposit Is generally greater than where they run in a gentle elope. .As yet, I have seen no veins of gold in these mountains; but a specimen of gold embedded in a matrix of white quartz was shown to me, said to have been brought from the Snowy Ridge. It was exceedingly rich, the greatest part of the stone (ore) being pure gold, and weighing about 41b. Troy.

"Although there has been much exaggeration in the statements with regard to the gold in California which I had seen previous to my arrival in this country, nevertheless Its riches appear almost Incredible, aud I have much hesitation in stating the quan- tities of gold which I know persons to have washed out in a very short time. I will con- fine myself to the fact which has come under my own personal observation, that &man with a common washing-pan, which Is merely a round wooden bowl, containing about the fourth part of a bushel of earth, In six or seven hours' labour obtains from one to tWo ounces of gold—of pure gold too; and this the men under My direction are actually doing. I.-et me remark, that this is a sum which has never been got out of the gold- washings of Chill or Peru, by a regular routine of labour, at their highest pitch Of fer- tility since the conquest." The following Was taken down from the friend's dictation: it confirms the preceding.remarks applying to the coast ports.

"I will conclude with the mention of perhaps the most remarkable fact con- nected with this remarkable country; which is that although we are entirely without laws or authority in the mines, (as indeed is the case in all other pets

of the country,) and although, tbe miners are generally composed of a bold daring, and adventurous race, A code of honour and justicelsas been voluntarily

established amongst themselves, which is strictly observed. Norniner encroaches

upon the washing-ground of his neighbour' although he sees sometimes that it is vastly richer than his own. Robbery has been hitherto entirely unknown; and

you leave your tent, containing your goods, provisions, and gold, (the hitter buried, however,) and go out to your labour without leaving behind:any other safeguard than the good faith of your neighbours, which on the river Juba has never been violated; though, in case of violation, it has been agreed upon by all that summary and severe chastisement would follow. The penalty of a conviction of robbery before a jury of miners would be certain and speedy death by hanging to a bough of the nearest tree." -

A correspondent of the New York Tribune at Columma Mills, California, narrates Lynch-law proceedings by the White settlers against the "misera-

ble wretches of Indians, very little above the monkey tribe," which equal any atrocities of past times and savage countries in their revolting bar- barity. Five Oregon men had been killed in the Roidalle Fork, and a war-

party of thirty settlers set out to track the tribe suspected of the homicide. The tribe was overtaken, and attacked; twenty-seven men were killed in. the conflict, and thirty-seven men and three women made prisoners, and marched to the Columma station. The writer in the Tribune says- " One of the war-party, as he rode by me, called my attention to the false hair. hanging down each side of his horse's head; which was too readily perceived, by

its black, straight, and shining appearance, to be the scalps of the Indians..

Another drew his knife, and, exhibiting the blade covered with the blood, said that This has done its work ; I shall lay it by.' The wretched prisoners were marched from one end of the village to the other, and made to sit or squat down in rows

under the trees, where they were questioned through an interpreter. Two of them were found guilty. Suspicions were entertained against five others; who, with the two already doomed, were retained, and the others set free. "A meeting was called, and a messenger sent for Captain Sutter to come up and try them; but he having been threatened with death from the Whites, as well as the Indians, gave that as his reason for not coming. When the messenger returned, the Council, consisting principally of the war-party, met and concluded to try them that afternoon ; and at six o'clock, one of them that could con- verse with the Indians told them they were to be matched out to take their seats upon a log and have their trial. He also stated that there had been enough. evidence given to convict two of them, and that the others would probably be cleared. The poor wretches then followed the chiefs out to a triangular space, bounded on one side by the hills, on another by the village, and on the other by the rapid current of the swollen river. When within five paces of the pine tree, which that night had been laid low by one of the peaceful and industrious in- habitants to build him a shelter for the coming winter, they broke and ran, some towards the hills, and others towards the river. The word was given to fire, and. two immediately fell, one upon the log on which he was to have been tried, the other six or seven paces beyond ; and the others who had fled to the hills were overtaken and stabbed with bowie-knives. Of the two who plunged into the al- most freezing water of the American Fork, one was shot, but yet swam till half- way across the river, when some White men were seen running down to the op- posite bank to head him off. He immediately turned and swam back to the shore from which he had first plunged; and when he reached the brush which grew along the bank, one of the Oregon men drew one of Colt's revolvers, and put a ball through his brain: he never moved afterwards; and when I passed again a few minutes after, he was still entangled in the bushes, but nothing but the back of his head could bosom. The other swam to the opposite shore; but. was prevented from landing by two mounted men, who threw stones at him, until one of the numerous stones from this side struck his head, and he sank to rise no more. When the chase was over, and the party returned to where the first shots were fired, the two Indians were still alive: one was lying on his face, with his bed-blanket spread over him. One of the captors, perceiving that he still breathed, drew a knife and plunged it into his side, while another beat his brains out with a large stone, The other miserable victim, who fell over the log, and

whom I saw making an effort to rise as I-passed immediately after he was shot,

at this time was laid parallel with the trunk of the tree; another ball had ex- tinguished the little life that the first fire had left; and his only garment, a spot- ted calico shirt, was burning, having been set on fire by the fire from the pistol, so near was the muzzle when he was shot. Further to the left, on the side of the hill, I saw another of the party bending over his victim, busily engaged in re- moving the scalp. "Captain Greenwood proposed burying the Indians near where they fell. 'No, no!' was the cry ; they burned the bodies of our men, and we will burn them.' But Greenwood a influence prevailed, and the bodies were covered with earth. All that I have related as having taken place here I saw.

"I have little doubt that the innocent suffered in this case as well as the guilty. But I will make no comments; every one has a right to his opinion. "The war-party, early the next day, with few exceptions left and took up their quarters on the other side of the river, intending to move off over the 'Rocky Mountains. At the time this tragedy was being performed, Mrs. Wimmer repre- sents the Indians who have been encamped in the village as being in a dreadful state of alarm. She states that they ran to her, and begged her to save them, ax- they feared that they were all to meet with the same fate. That evening they were gathered around their fires, crying like so many children; but before the sun shone upon this valley they had departed, and now not one of them is to be. seen here, neither has there been since this sad catastrophe."