10 MAY 1845, Page 8

.foreign anls Colonial.

Faitster--Thursday the 1st instant was the King's four de fete, and was ob- served as a close holyday in Paris. The public bodies waited on the Sovereign' with the usual addresses. They, with the replies, were singularly destitute of any remarkable point.

In the Chamber of Deputies, on Friday, M. Thiers drew attention to the state of the law iespecting the Jesuits. He glanced at the history of that order in France—its foundation, its suppression in the eighteenth century, its reesta- blishment by the Pope in 1814, its reintroduction into France, and its growth ha wealth and power on the sufferance of the State. He showed that the laws or the Revolutionary Governments against the order, as one of the suppressed religious. societies, are still in full force • and that it is also liable to the law of April 1884 against secret societies. He Called upon the Cabinet to execute those laws. M.. Martin (du Non!) admitted that the laws were against the order; but contended, that the present was not a proper time to exercise the right against them, since: the clergy would regard such a proceeding as hostility to the Church. The de- bate proceeded with some warmth on that day and on Saturday. M. Thiers expected to follow up his speech with a peremptory resolution in the same sense; but on Saturday he moved the following— The Chamber, in confiding to the Go- vernment the care of the execution of the laws, passes to the order of the day." M. Martin (du Nord) having, on the part of the Government, declared his in- tention of supporting the resolution, M. Thiers remarked, that Government would be allowed some discretion in giving effect to the resolution. "It has had recourse to the spiritual authority. I approve of that proceeding, but upon one condition:. it is this, that whatever may be the result of the negotiataons with that authority,. (an authority which I respect, but to which I would not submit the laws of my- country,) the laws shall be put in execution." The resolution was carried by an: immense majority, against about forty Members—Legitimists and extreme Liberals.

On Monday began the debate on the bill authorizing the gradual armament of the fortification round Paris-' the completion of which is expected to take five. years. The Government had demanded a credit of 17,000,000 francs; which the Committee had reduced to 14,130,000. The bill was opposed by several Deputies, on the ground that it is needless, as there is no prospect of aggression k and sup- ported by several, on the ground that it is proper to prepare for war in time of peace. The oratory attracted little attention until ht. Arago delivered a curious. speech. He reproached military people with never thinking of anything but can- non, and neglecting the arms supplied by improvements in science. The consti- tutionnel thus gives the pith of Ins suggestions. "If he were master, he would es- tablish at the Pont Neat an ingenious and moveable dam, which would place the, river at his disposal. He would carry the river-water by these means into the ditches that surround the city, from which he could retire them at his pleasure. He would raise the waters by means of powerful engines, to a height from which he could distribute it to all quarters of the place, and by that means suppress any fire that might be produced by the enemy's bombs. He would throw into the trenches opened by the enemy a sort of artificial rain, an intelligent inundation,„ which would destroy the works and disconcert the workers. Add to this—mune- rous lighthouses placed upon and sheltered by the ramparts, which by the aid of mirrors would illuminate the country and prevent surprise; steam-cannon ball;

which would render an assault impossible, and would decimate regiments by the dozen."

The event of Tuesday was a fiety and dormant speech by M. Laroartine, on the whole subject of the fortifications- which he vehemently denounced. He de- clared that the tendency of every Administration since 1880, to the present time, was to destroy the effects of the Revolution of July and to restore absolute power to the Crown. The bill for the fortification of Paris he considered a portion of the same system; and the effect of it would be to throw additional weight into the balance in favour of Government and against public liberty,. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, says the Constitutionnei, has sent out an order to M. Perrin, the French Consul at Bolivia, to proceed to the Sandwich Islands and enter into treaty with their authorities. The Minister of the Marine has it is said, placed a ship of war at the disposal of M. Perrin on the occesion of this mission.

M. Godefroy Cavaignac, one of the stanchest of the Republican party, and a principal writer in the Riforme, died in Paris on Sunday mght, after a long, and painful illness. His funeral, on Wednesday, was attended by a concourse of nearly three thousand persons, including a number of officers and privates of the National Guard. M. Arago, and several other persons of political note, are stated to have been seen in the procession. Over the grave sundry speeches were delivered; one by M. Louis Blanc, the celebrated author, which made a deep im- pression on the audience.

Swrrzitalaistro.—By the 2d instant, Lucerne had suffered all the prisoners made by its troops to depart, under the stipulations for ransom. A letter from Lucerne gives an account of a curious sentence, at Nidwald, upon a Lieutenant Nermann, who had joined the Free Corps in the attack upon Lucerne. He is condemned to stand in public for form hours, with a rod in his hand, then to be flogged with it, and afterwards imprisoned for six months, during which he Is to receive "religions instruction."

lienra.—The over-land mail brings intelligence from Bombay to the lot April, and from China to the 4th February. There is nothing new from the Celestial Empire; and from India the accounts rather explain the news brought by the last -mail than add to it.

The principal change was in the Panjanb, where the anarchy increased. Rajah Coolab Singh had ensconced himself in the heights of Jarnoo; and the Khalsa troops, which rule in Lahore, had stationed themselves near the mountain-chief, to make terms for themselves. Goolab was rendered uneasy by their propinquity, and Goolab got rid of them by a trick. On approaching his fastnesses, the Sikh -army sent vakeels or agents to confer with him as to the largesse they were to receive; but he insisted that deputies from each regiment should attend. They did so; and he, before he heard: their propositions, spoke of his services and of those of his family, and contended that the soldiers were not sufficiently paid, and that he, if in. power as Minister, would have their pay doubled. The soldiers heard this decision with satisfaction, yet they insisted on having a largesse. He gave five lace; and the vakeels were going away with that sum, when a party of .Croolab's own soldiers followed them, murdered the vakeeis and carried back the treasure. The atrocity roused the spirit of the Khals; soldiery, and they advanced in great force to attack the traitor; but he defeated them, and forced them to retire towards Lahore. This defeat is calculated to produce the most important consequences, for the Sikhs admit that they have found troops equal if not superior to themselves in the mountaineers. Meanwhile, in Lahore itself, the utmost discontent was excited by the tyranny of Jowahir Singh. Here is an example. "Misr Joda Rain, an officer If distinction, had [before the last re- volt] given information to the late Heem Singh of the designs of Jowahir Singh in regard to the young Maharajah; in consequence of which Jowahir Singh was seized and imprisoned. Finding an opportunity, in the absence of the troops, of wreaking his vengeance, he seized the miserable Joda Ram, ordered his hands, ears, and nose to be cut off; after which he was placed on an ass, paraded about the capital, and cast into prison. He was afterwards released at the instance of Dewan Deena Nath, and conveyed to his house; but the disgrace he had suffered, with the mutilation, rendered life a burden, and he cast himself from a window in his house into the street, and expired on the spot. The event had caused a great sensation at Lahore; nor was it known what efflict it would have upon the troops in camp."

There is a new version of the report that Peshawar is to be invaded. It is Bald that a sort of convention had been formed between Goolab Singh and the Afghan leaders, by which the latter were to attack Peshavrnr, while the former enamtained his position in the hills of Jamoo. Alchbar Khan had gone from Jel- lashed to see Ins father at Cabal; and they both, having made arrangements for paying the arrears of their troops, were to set out in the middle of February, in order to invade the province of Peshawar, which has during more than twenty years been subject to the Sikhs. The Afghan chiefs on the frontier had promised their active help; and, although the Dost was hampered for want of cash, the /chances of the Sikh kingdom's being speedily disorganized are accounted great.

In the mean time, the British Government was quietly assembling a large army on the banks of the Sutlej, for the alleged purpose of defending its own terri- tories,- but it is highly probable the young King Dhudeep and his mother will BOOR have to apply for "protection."

Kholapore was quiet: and the Ranee, mother to the boy Rajah, whose influence had begotten mismanagement and discontent, was on her way to Benares, there to remain for the rest of her days in British keeping. The reports of Sir Charles Napier's success in the mountains West of Poolajee are confirmed. The search for the enemy was long and tedious, and the British troops suffered from reduced rations and other hardships; but at length, after a month's search, Beejah Khan, the chief leader of the plunderers, and all his fol- lowers, were found in a strong position on the top of a ridge of hills about one thousand feet high, to which there was a most difficult ingress through a narrow defile. The British General took up his station, and began firing with mortars. The enemy returned the fire, but fortunately with scarcely any injury.. Another means of entrance was discovered, and promptly used. The Murree chiefs served as negotiators; interviews took place between the General and some of the leaders of the tribes; some gave themselves up, others resisted; but they were all cap- tured, with the exception of Islain Khan, one of the heads of the Boogties, who escaped. It is understood that their country is to be given over to the friendly tribe of the Murrees, who, having already learned the advantages of the British alliance, are disposed to adhere strictly to it; and that some of the tribes are to be removed to the districts bordering on the Indus, where they will have lands granted to them for cultivation.

Negotiations had been carried on between the Government of Bombay and that of GI for the surrender of the rebel fugitives from &want Warree, who had sought refuge in the Portuguese State. Captain Arthur, the son of Governor -Artminr, had twice been to Goa on the affair. The Portuguese Governor had con- fined the refugees; but he refused to give them up, standing on his neutrality. It was rumoured: that the East India Company had began to negotiate for the pur- chase of the state of Goa.

The Court-martial on Colonel Wallace, for the descent of Wallace Droog, was to take place at Belganm at the end of March.

Gareth:1r was still uneasy, with misrule and anticipated disorders. "Rain Rao Phalkea [the Minister appointed under British dictation] has become nearly blind, and is unable to conduct the duties of his office in person: they are delegated: to Underlings, who of course make the best of the opportunity afforded to them, and are fertile in pretexts for increasing the ill-will subsisting between the Ranee and the Munster, he being made to believe that she is constantly engaged in intrigues to subvert his authority. A short time ago, some men obtained entrance to the

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palace at night in an underhand manner, and,,Iseirig arantstgir to have

meditated an attempt on the young Rajah's life, at the tio9 pf the Ranee.

Sir Richmond Shakspear, however, having made personal in nines into the cir- cumstances, appears to have pronounced the Ranee innocent; but the whole is still under investigation, the result of which willrobably become known: it is most likely a contrivance of the Minister's own. Natives represent the country to me to be full of misery, caused by the system of farming districts to persons who oppress the people."

Sir Henry Hardinge was still at Calcutta. Commercial matters remained with- out change—dull and stagnant; periodical holydays having checked some ap- pearance of a reaction; but an improvement was looked for at their close.

UNITED Smrss.—The Great Western steam-ship„ which left New York on the 24th April, arrived at Liverpool on Thursday evening. The Caledonia, which carried out Sir Robert Peel's speech of the 4th April on the Oregon affair, arrived at Boston on the 21st; and the speech had of course excited a lively sensation. From the journals of an inferior class it provoked a storm of angry cries for war. The more intelligent journals receive the matter differently. The New York Journal of Commerce, for instance observes, that the British people, and the Government too, have misinterpreted the langna,ge used by President Polk in his inaugural address; and expresses its conviction that the whole thing will be fully explained away, and the question amicably adjusted to the satisfaction of both countries. The New York Tribune says, the relations have now assumed such an aspect as to render either war or arbitration indispensable; and declares itself in favour of the latter alternative. The New York Courier and Enquirer is glad that the question is now set forth between the two countries in unmistakeable terms; thinks that the Americans have underrated the importance which the English attach to the Oregon territory; recognizes the determination expressed by both nations, but anticipates from their wisdom mutual concession. A letter is published by Mr. Buchanan to General Almonte, dated March 4th, forwarding the Mexican Minister's passport, but accompanying it by a hope that the difference between the United States and Mexico may yet be accommodated. It is said that an immense quantity of salted meat was in preparation for the English market. There had been a frightful conflagration at Pittsburg, rivalling in the extent of destruction that at Hamburg. It broke out in a frame building over an icehouse, about noon on the 11th April, and spread rapidly. The local authorities met, and tried plans for checking the flames; but they raged for twenty-two hours, and did not abate until twelve squares of the city were destroyed, comprising 1,000 or 1,200 houses. There are reports of lives lost, but only one death is mentioned as certain. The loss in buildings, merchandise, &c., is estimated at 10,000,000 dollars.

Miticroo.—By the Great Western, advices from Mexico come down to the 29th March. The Government was preparing for hostilities with the United States, and had begun by exhorting all parties to join against the common enemy. Senor Cuevas, the Minister of Foreign Affairs had submitted to Congress a de- cree, declaring the treaties of commerce, friendship, and navigation with the United States to be at an end; closing all ports against the commerce of the United States; and announcing that no proposition relative to the restoration of friendship will be listened to from the United States, except upon the basis of the relinquishment of the plan of the annexation of Texas." The Chambers pro- ceeded to discuss this decree with closed doors. The United States Minister had been informed that the diplomatic relations with his Government had ceased. It is reported, however, that Mexico is willing to recognize the independence of Texas, provided the new province will decline annexation to the United States.

Tam—The accounts, which come down to the 9th April, are very conflict- ing as to the state of opinion in Texas. The most decided and important state- ment is this, in the New Orleans Picayune, on the authority of private letters of recent date and vouched for as authentic. "President Jones had returned to Washington; and the United States Minister, Major Donelson, had been treated so cavalierly by him and his Cabinet that he spoke of withdrawing from the seat of government to Galveston."

Bnazir...—By the arrival of the Queen's schooner Viper, advices have been re- ceived from Rio de Janeiro to the 23d March. The Brazilian Government 14 taken energetic steps to enforce a more liberal commercial policy on Great Britain. They had officially announced, that as the treaty conferring on British ships of war the right of searching the vessels of Brazil, for preventing the importation of slaves expired on the 13th March, it shall not be resumed until Brazilian sugars are admitted into the British dominions at the same rate of duty as that on sugars from any other country. There had been some dispute between the officials and the British merchants respecting a claim on the property of deceased foreigners; Commissioners had been appointed to treat with the British Minister on the sub- ject; but a like announcement had been made in this case, that nothing farther should be done until Brazil sugar had been put on a footing of equality with other foreign produce.

The papers announce the total pacification of the rebel province of Rio Grande, and a general amnesty.