inttign filar ifillottial.

r HIM—The Conference did not hold its second sitting until Tuesday; of that sitting the following account is published in the Moniteur. 'The representatives of the contracting Courts in the Congress of Paris, assembled this day in conference at the hotel of the Minister of Foreign

Affairs, signed a protocol, which puts an end to the difficulties encountered in the execution of the treaty of the 30th of March.

"As is already' known, the nature of the locality had not allowed the Boundary Commission to come to an understanding upon all the points of the new frontier line between Turkey in Europe and Russia; and on the other hand, it was necessary to make up for the silence which the treaty had kept relative to the fate of the Isle of Serpents ; in the last place, also, the strict application of the 21st article, by annexing the delta of the Danube to Moldavia, took away from the immediate sovereignty of Turkey a territory which had formerly belonged directly to the Sublime Porte. "Inspired with the same resolutions as the Congress, and wishing to reconcile all the interests concerned, the Conference, by unanimous consent, has decided that the frontier line shall follow the Val de Trajan as far as the river Yalpuck, leaving Bolgrad and Tobak to Moldavia, and that Russia shall retain on the right bank of that stream the town of Konuot, with a territory of about 300 versts square. "The Isle of Serpents has been considered as a dependency of the mouths of the Danube, and. it has been agreed that it shall follow their destination. "The Conference has recognized that it was the intention of the Congress to reestablish, by article 21 of the treaty of peace, in their former condition the territories situated West of the new boundary ; and in order to conform itself to the previsions of the negotiators of the peace' it has decided that those territories should be annexed to Moldavia, with the exception of the delta of the Danube, which shall return direct to Turkey. "It has been decided, moreover, that by the 30th of next March at latest, the fixing of the boundary shall be effected ; and that,. by the same date, the Austrian troops and the British squadron shall have evacuated the Danubian Principalities and the interior waters of Turkey. "The Commission of the Principalities, the members ot which are already at Constantinople, may therefore at that period proceed to those provinces and discharge the mission intrusted to it. As soon as that Commission shall have terminated its labours, it will render an account thereof to the Conference, which is to meet at Paris according to the terms of the 25th article of the treaty, to sanction by a convention the final agreement made between the contracting parties relative to the organization of the Principalities."

This leaves much to be desired by way of explanation. But as the Noniteur says nothing either of the starting-point of the frontier on the Black Sea or its termination on the Pruth, we may presume that the Russians accept the original tracing at the extremities, as they have accepted the line traced by the Allies in the centre. Thus, starting from the Black Sea, East of the lake Bourne Solo, the frontier will proceed thence to the Akerman road ; take that as the boundary until it reach the Valium Trajani ; follow the course of this landmark to the river Yalpuck, so as to include both Bolgrad and Tabak, and then cross tho river. Here a divergence in the original boundary will take place. Instead of following the river Yalpuek to Saratsika, it crosses the river, is prolonged some distance Westward, and then turns North-west, running up to Saratsika. This piece of land on the left bank of the Yalpuck is the " compensation " for the surrender of Bolgrad, of which wo have heard so much. From Saratsika the frontier runs to the Pruth near Kakamori.

A very unusual crime was committed at Paris on Saturday afternoon. Monsigneur Sibour, Archbishop of Paris, formed one of a procession in honour of St. Genevive in the church of St. Etienne du Mont. Before entering the vestry, he turned round to bless the people ; and at that moment a man dressed like a layman stabbed him twice, in spite of the efforts of a Sister of Charity, who in tying to throw herself between the assassin and the prelate received a wound in the hand. As he fell, the Archbishop cried "Le malheureux !" He was carried into the Vestry ; and M. Surat, the Vicar-General, had barely time to absolve him before he expired. The murderer was instantly arrested and detained, in spite of an effort to escape. This man turned out to be one Verger, a priest of the diocese of Meaux, who had been twice suspended for preaching against the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. One account states that he cried, in assailing the Archbishop, "A priest should not be allowed to starve !" another, that he cried, "No goddess ! " Ic Droil states that "when asked why he committed the crime, he said, Because I was suspended, and I was told I should not ho pardoned.' Why,' they said, did you exclaim "No goddess"?' ' Because I do not believe in the immaculate conception ; upon which I explained myself in the pulpit. I wished to protest once more against so impious a doctrine.'" Verger is of course looked upon as deranged. His pockets were found full of documents relating to the injustice done him : he had affixed a placard on the Madeleine declaring that he was perishing of hunger ; and his violence and eccentricity had drawn upon him the notice of the police.

The church of St. Etienne was placed under interdict on Saturday, and hung with black cloth. "The church will remain under interdict until an expiatory ceremony" shall have been performed.

The late Archbishop, Marie Dominique Auguste Sibour, was born in 1792; he was consequently in his sixty-fifth year, though he looked several years younger. He was named Bishop of Digne in 1839: and was promoted to the Archdiocese of Paris in August 1818, by the Government of General Cavaignac. He is said to have exhibited much talent in the administration of the diocese of Paris ; and was respected for the purity of his life and his eminently Christian virtues. It is reported that the successor to the late Archbishop of Paris will be Monsignor° Bonaparte; who is now in Rome, awaiting, it is supposed, a Cardinal's hat. He bears a high reputation as a churchman, but is still quite a young man.

urifirrlaut.—Throughout the week there has been one uniform tone in the correspondence on the Neuchatel question, and that tone has been pacific. The United States Envoy at Berne did go to Berlin, it appears, to make a proffer of his services ; but he met with a courteous rebuff. It is the Swiss Envoy at Paris, Colonel Barman, the medium of personal communication between Berne and the Tuileries, who has succeeded in putting the matter in train for arrangement. Collective action on the part of England and France is spoken of with great confidence ; and the basis of the settlement is again said to be the liberation of the prisoners in exchange for a guarantee that the King of Prussia will renounce his sovereignty. The Duke of Saxe Gotha is mentioned as zea, lens but unsuccessful in his attempts at mediation.

The latest statement respecting the negotiations now pending is, that the Federal Council has decided that the propositions of the Emperor Napoleon, supported by England, "are such as are acceptable to Switzerland " ; and that the Federal Assembly is convoked for the 14th instant to receive them. The propositions are thus described "The Federal Council is requested to release the prisoners, solely out of regard for the friendly sentiments of the Emperor. The Emperor, in return, engages to endeavour to obtain from the King of Prussia the complete renunciation of Neuchatel. Should the King of Prussia refuse to negotiate on this base, the Emperor will oppose any aggression on the part of Prussia against Switzerland, and will defend the independence of Neuchatel."

The Federal Council has nevertheless, in preparation for the worst., issued a moderate but firm appeal to the patriotism of the nation ; and the Swiss respond with earnest warlike preparations. Money has been freely offered to the Executive by capitalists in Holland, EngIand, France and America and Swiss subjects abroad have shown a lively patriotism in forwarding subscriptions, scene towards the expenses of war, 801110 for the relief of families impoverished by the absence of husbands, sons, and brothers, in the field. It was stated that some of the Royalists of Neuchatel had gone to Berlin to dissuade the King from insisting on his claims ; but the statement is not well authenticated.

Baron Manteuffel, whose despatches during the late war were so remarkable for the obscurity of their style, has shown that he can be clear when it suits him. In a circular despatch on the Neuchatel question, dated December 28, he describes with great distinctness the intentions of the King his master. Taking great credit for the moderation of his Majesty, he points out that the Prussian army had been for some days completely prepared for mobilization, but that the order had been withheld until the 15th January, in order to give "the Great Powers of Europe that have solemnly recognized the rights of the King as Prince of Neuchatel, a new proof of his extreme moderation, as well as an opportunity for them to exert their diplomatic influence in a stronger, more concentrated, and more efficacious manner, on Switzerland, for the purpose of attaining the prompt accomplishment of the only condition on which the King insists previous to entering into negotiations,"—that is, the unconditional liberation of the prisoners. So far the King has contented himself with making that demand ; but the order for mobilization once given, the aspect of the affair would be entirely changed. The order, "called for by the most ardent wishes of the army, must be followed by speedy action, and neither the dignity nor the interest of the King would permit him then to pause half-way. The simple liberation of the prisoners would be "no longer an object proportionate to the sacrifices imposed on the country." Nevertheless, he desires to see "assured to Switzerland, after the end of the present conflict, a place more honourable and independent amongst the states of Europe, and such as to afford them further guarantees for order and repose." Iteplying on the same day to a note from Count Buol, proposing to refer the consideration of the question to the Powers who signed the protocol of London,—and expressing: a hope that the King would not go to

• War to assert his "incontestable rights," without having the authority of a decision of the European Powers at his back,—Baron Manteuffel imputes the "false notions" of the Swiss to the inactivity of the said Powers ; and intimates, that the King delays the final order for mobilizing the army until the 15th, in order that he may not exclude the diplomatic action, "more or less united," of the Cabinets of Europe. 'But he can wait for that no longer than the 15th instant.

The permanent Committee of the Chambers of Wurtemberg has unanimously voted in favour of the protest against the passage of the Prussian troops. The Committee has, moreover, called for papers showing the -actual state of negotiations on the subject The Assembly of the Burghers has petitioned the King to avert the dangers which menace the material interests of the country.

'43 ra If ill. —The Prince of Prussia's "jubilee," meaning the fiftieth anniversary of his entry into the array, was celebrated at Berlin, with great "pomp, pride, and circumstance,' on New Year's Day. Early in e morning, the bands of all the regiments of the Guards assembled in the music-hall of his palace, and played sacred and military music ; and as he entered to thank them the whole mass cried as one man, " Gillen Morgen!" Shortly afterwards, the Prince and Princess drove to Charlottenburg to make a new-year's call upon the King and Queen. The King presented the Prince his brother a splendid sword, the hilt of pure gold, and bearing the names of the battles at which the Prince was present in 1814 and 1815 and the Baden insurrection of 1849: the King also gave him a regiment of cavalry. The next stage in the ceremonies of the day, was a grand assemblage in the Music-hall, which included the Royal Family, deputations from the army, the nobles, the two Chambers, the clergy, and the citizens ; besides the diplomatic body and deputations from the Austrian and Russian regiments of which the Prince is chief. Here a silver shield, purchased by the officers of the anny, including the King, the Emperor of Russia and his three brothers, was presented to the Prince by the King. This was followed by speeches and hand-shaking. Next, in another room, the Prince received from the soldiers of the old wars a helmet made after the fashion of the old cavalry helmet; and then, in a private room, Sir Colin Campbell, accompanied by three aides-de-camp, representing each arm of the British service, presented the Prince with Queen Victoria's gift—the Grand Cross of the Bath. After this many deputations with presents waited on the Prince ; and the evening closed with a grand dinner given by the King.

The only reference made to the Swiss affair by the Prince of Prussia in the various speeches he made on jubilee-day occurred in his answer to the deputation of the House of Deputies. To them he said " We stand on the eve of great and grave events. It is to be expected that his Majesty the King will shortly have occasion to summon a portion of the army to arms ; and every one, I know for certain, will obey the summons of his King with readiness and joy."

'Ste I 11,—A telegraphic despatch from Turin states that the King opened the Sardinian Parliament in person, on Wednesday. "His Majesty's speech was greeted with a most enthusiastic reception. Especially, the allusions which it contained to the great national cause of the independence of Italy appeared to excite an almost rapturous expression of patriotic feeling. With reference to the budget, which is to be presented by Count Carour, for the year 1857, it has been announced that the income of the past year was sufficient to corer the expenses. The Minister of the Interior proposes certain important reforms in the administration; but it is foreseen that great difficulties have to be encountered in carrying them into effect."

It will be recollected that a magazine on the Mole at Naples lately exploded. Verylame reasons were assigned to account for that incident. It has been followed by another still more remarkable, as will be seen from this brief announcement

" The Neapolitan war-steamer Charles Ill has blown up, or been blown up. Forty men were killed." A number of discharged soldiers, who were about to be conveyed to Palermo, perished in the explosion ; but a considerable number were picked up by the British cruiser Vixen. Baron Bentivegna, the leader of the late Sicilian revolt, was shot, near Palermo, on the 20th December. He died with great courage, and requested permission to be shot with his eyes uncovered. This favour was, however, refused him. He had made a will in favour of his mother and brothers. He declared himself the sole instigator of the late rebellion, and implored the mercy of the King on behalf of the other prisoners.

EM IL—Like other members of the diplomatic body, Mr. Wyse was invited to attend the opening of the Greek Parliament. It is stated that he declined ; giving as reasons, that "as the representative of the oldest and greatest constitutional Power in Europe, he could not attend the inauguration of a Parliament formed under the most flagrant violation of the institutions of the country ; that for several years consecutively he had had occasion to protest against the violation by the Government of his Hellenic Majesty of the constitution which the Greek nation had unanimously given itself; that at the present moment he eagerly embraced the opportunity offered him of once more protesting, and of recapitulating all that he had previously said on the raalversations and immorality of the functionaries whom the Greek Government seemed to consider it an obligation to select, as also against the system, so long practised, of governing a nation despotically with the forms of a constitution."

nritt11.—A telegraphic despatch from Trieste, derived from Constantinople reports that on the 28th December some ships of the Friglish squadron were on the point of sailing for the Circassian coast, in order to demand of the Russian authorities the restitution of the cargoes of those boats which were lately captured by the Russian General who took possession of the fort of Soujouk Kaleh. [Trieste telegraphic despatches on Eastern affairs are not very trustworthy.]

A despatch received in Paris from Marseilles states that Redsehid Pasha has concluded a loan of twelve millions sterling with Mr. Wilkins, the representative of a body of English. capitalists. The loan is negotiated at par, and the interest is fixed at 6 per cent. Six or eight millions sterling are to be advanced to the Government ; and the remainder will be devoted to the organization of a bank, the regularization of the coinage, and the withdrawal of the paper money.

rrsis.—It is stated that the Shah has, in an autograph letter, solicited the advice and assistance of the Emperor of Russia ; and that the latter, declining to grant any assistance, has tendered the advice that his Persian brother should have recourse to the mediation of the Emperor of the French.

Ti HMI Stat.—The Africa arrived at Liverpool on Sunday, with dates from New York to the 24th December.

The American journals publish the greater part of the treaty recently agreed upon between Great Britain and the United States providing for the future of the Mosquito Indians and the port of Greytown. They are to propose certain stipulations to the Republics of Nicaragua said Costa Rica. Those stipulations determine the boundary of Mosquitia ; Nicaragua confirming and guaranteeing the rights of property and local government among the Indians. The Indians are not to cede their territory to any other state without the consent of Great Britain and the United States, but may voluntarily incorporate themselves with Nicaragua, on condition that their rights and duties are the same as those of its other citizens. Greytown is to be a free port, under local government but Nicaraguan sovereignty. The Costa Ricans, however, are to have free navigation of the river. Greytown must not levy any export, import, or transit-duties, except for the purpose of paying an annuity to the Mosquito Indians. Costa Rica and Nicaragua are to submit their disputes as to territory to the arbitration of Great Britain and the United States. Any delay, arising out of the disturbed state of Nicaragua, in the execution of the treaty, is not to impair its validity. It is declared in a separate article that British Honduras is not embraced in the treaty of 1850; and that the Bay Islands, ceded by Great Britain to Honduras, shall be recognized by the United States as territories of that republic. Washington despatches state that orders have been given to Government officers in New York to stop all shipments of men, arms, and provisions, to General Walker.

g. astral is.—The Montmorency, which arrived at Liverpool on Wednesday, brought us files of newspapers from Sydney to the 14th and from Melbourne to the 16th October.

A nice constitutional question had arisen in New South Wales. Some time since Mr. Donaldson, "the Premier," as the colonists affect to call the Chie/Secretary, resigned, not because he was beaten, but because "his success was not marked enough to satisfy him." Mr. Cowper was called in, and formed a Ministry. But in one of the earliest meetings of the Legislature, Mr. Cowper found himself in a minority. He immediately advised the Governor, Sir William Denison, to dissolve the House of Assembly ; but Sir William, after taking time to consider, declined to adopt that course, and Mr. Cowper resigned. The question is, whether Sir William did right in refusing the advice of a responsible Minister ? It is argued for the Governor, that he might fairly consider the circumstances under which that advice was tendered,—the fact that Mr. Cowper had been defeated in the Assembly ; that there had been an election a few months before ; that if he dissolved, the question for the colony would not be a question of policy, but of persons ; and it is urged that the Governor did right, as a dissolution would have disturbed the colony for no legitimate object. Mr. Cowper'S successor is a Mr. Parker. Mr. Donaldson reappears as Minister of Finance, and some of his old colleagues with him. Mr. Parker and other Ministers have been reelected, but Mr. Donaldson has been ousted.

The elections in Victoria were still incomplete when the Montmorency sailed but out of twenty-nine members of the Lower House, then returned, there was a small majority in favour of extreme liberal measures. Thirty-one remained to be returned.

Fresh gold-mines had been discovered in the colony ; quartz rock is actively and successfully worked ; and on the whole the yield is "eeriefactory."