furrign filth toinitiul.

/tau r.—The article in the alfoniteur on the union of the Principalities has caused some discussion at Paris. The Pays and the Oonstitutianad, both influenced by the French Foreign Office, support the arguments of the Honiteur. It is stated that Prussia, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey, are in favour of the union of the Principalities • thus reducing the opponents of that proposition to England and Austria. The Austrian and Turkish Ambassadors have both asked for explanations. The Vienna _Prase says " The mask has now been laid aside, and the question of the Principalities is to be made an affair of the highest importance. The declaration of the Mon:Your will give fresh vigour and courage to Russia; for the union of the Danubian Principalities will be the first great step towards the breaking up of Turkey—it will be a positive encroachment on the sovereign rights of the Sultan, and an act of hostility towards the Powers which closed up the land and sea routes from Russia to Constantinople."

Itespecting Mr. Disraeli's "secret treaty," the Constitutionnel of Saturday had thus much to say

" The Queen's Ministers were only explicit on one single point, the pretended secret treaty by which the Western Powers were asserted to have guaranteed to Austria her Italian provinces. That is a last year's fable, revived by Mr. Disraeli to adorn his speech with some oratorical effects; but it is only a fable. The truth is, that in conformity with its policy of peace and moderation, France informed Austria, during the war, that it was not her intention to seek to make conquests in any part of Europe, and that consequently France would not disturb Austria hi her Italian possessions. But this seems to us a widely different thing from the language attributed to the Emperor's Government by Mr. Disraeli. Between not attacking a power and engaging to defend it—between not i desiring to appropriate its possessions and undertaking to guarantee them in their integrity—there is the width of an abyss."

[This is the article to which Lord Palmerston referred in his reply to Mr. Disraeli on Tuesday.]

St814.—The Emperor of Austria remains at Milan. He has been visited by the King of Bavaria ; who, it is said, had intended to visit Turin, but he did not get beyond Milan. The Austrian troops evacuated Parma on the dth January, thus terminating an occupation of eight years. At Naples the anniversary of the constitution granted on the 29th January 1848 was marked by an event which made a deep impression-79 persona were thrown into prison, The Liberals covered the walls of the Toledo with hi-coloured placards.

A telegraphic despatch from Naples, dated the 11th instant, says, that "the creation of a free port, and the complete revision of the customlaws, have been decided in Council by King Ferdinand."

2 US iti ft.—Sir Hamilton Seymour has officially congratulated the Austrian Government on the granting of an amnesty to the political offenders of Lombardo-Venetia. He is said to be very popular in Vienna "at present."

err tr.—It is stated that the Protecting Powers have made propositions to King Otho respecting the finances of Greece, and that he has accepted them. The Powers, it is said, further required that the King should change his Ministers and appoint others more disposed towards the Western Governments ; and the King has consented to that arrangement, but on condition that the foreign troops shall first evacuate the Pirmus.

115515,—A letter from St. Petersburg, dated the 1st instant, states that Prince Gortschakoff and Lord Wodehouse had been busily discussing the recall of the English fleet from the Black Sea, the evacuation of Greece, and the Anglo-Persian difficulty. "Lord Wodehouse," says the -writer, who displayed much more moderation in these negotiations than was expected, announced to Prince tortschakoff that the English fleet will have evacuated the internal waters of Turkey by the period fixed by the protocol of the 6th of January, that is to say the 30th of March. This declaration was made without any reserve, so that it is not possible to doubt that it will be acted on. Prince Gortschakoff declared, in Ins turn, that Russia was ready to admit English consuls into the Black Sea. Lord Wodehouse is, no doubt, convinced that Russia is occupied with other things than schemes of conquest and territorial aggrandizement, and that she considers the development of her internal resources as the most urgent of her existing duties, lie has communicated that conviction to his Ltovernment."

The Nord states that the English merchants at St. Petersburg, headed by the British Consul, M. Eastland de Michele, had audience of the Emperor on the 2d. The Emperor "told them, that he received them with pleasure ; and reminded them that throughout the war the English merchants enjoyed in peace the protection promised them by the late Emperor Nicholas at the commencement of hostilities. The Emperor concluded with expressing the lope that the commercial relations between Russia and England would become more and more developed, to the great advantage of both nations. The deputation retired charmed with the kindly reception accorded them."

'ft S i is reported that Persian troops have been sent into the

province of Fars to make head against the English. "The advanced guard, commanded by Fezlali Khan, was to take up a position in the Bakhtery defile, on the banks of the Bendemir, and to intercept the English in ease of their leaving Bushire for the interior. In the war of 1828, when the Russians were victorious on all other points, they were never able to force this position, which was then defended by AbbasMiran."

General Buhler, described as a Swiss in the pay of Persia, and the conqueror of Herat, had been sent to the seat of war.

Great agitation prevailed in the province of Ilrmia. Signs of disaffection showing themselves at Tabriz, the Governor sent for the garrison of Maraga, a town near the confluence of the Saffee with Lake Urmia. In the absence of the garrison the town and its mosques were

sacked by the neighbouring tribes. garrison, was thought probable at Ispahan. The latest news from Teheran is to the 3d January—" Since the taking of Bushire the English have attempted nothing. A squadron had appeared off Port Mohammaree, at the mouth of the Shat-al-Arab. The garrison were ordered to resist."

A telegraphic despatch from Constantinople reports the unexpected anal questionable news, that "the English, under Chamberlayne, have entered Cabul, marching with an Affghan army, under Bost Mahommed, on Herat."

The Teheran Gazette has published a reply to the English declaration of war. The Persian writer alleges that we have broken the treaty of

Gulistan, which contained a stipulation "that the English Government should not interfere in Persian and Afghan affairs except as a mediator with the consent of both parties." The first infraction of that treaty was when, in 1838, we compelled the late Shah to raise the siege of Herat. Next, Colonel Shell, by interfering in the affairs of Herat, broke the convention he had himself negotiated. Mr. Thompson, the British Chargé d'Affaires, promised, in a letter, alleged to be in the Persian archives, to send Synd Mohamed, the late Governor of Herat, arms, ammunition, and 480,000/. The Persian Government, it is also alleged, are in possession of letters showing that Dost Mohamed, "with the aid of English promises," caused Herat to revolt, in order that he might seize it, as he had seized Candahar in defiance of treaties. It was Bost Mohamed who bribed Esa Khan to drive out Sam Khan, sent by the Persians to the succour of Herat.

"However, the Court of Teheran, to maintain the friendship and the alliance of England, was resolved, ever since the capture of Herat, to organize there an Afghan Government according to the conventions. Still more, it was not disinclined to give to Mr. Murray such satisfaction as was compatible with the dignity of the Persian Government. But that did not suffice ; to those two demands others have been added. Lord Clarendon and Lord &deli& proposed those two conditions, and conferences were held with the Persian Charge d'Affaires at the Sublime Porte. In consequence of the new exactions, Ferukh Khan was sent with full powers, and his mission was notified to the English Ambassador." The Persian Government complains that time was nbt allowed to settle the question peacefully ; that Lord Stratford put forward inadmissible claims ; and that while Ferukh Khan was communicating with his Government the English invaded Persia.

tr tr5.—The America arrived at Liverpool on Wednesday, with advices from New York to the 29th January. Mr. Preston S. Brooks, the ruffian Representative who assailed Mr. Charles Sumner in the Senate House at Washington, died there, of "croup," on the 27th January.

The Committee of inquiry mto the alleged corruption in Congress had met with obstacles. The correspondent of the New York Times, Ms. Simonton, summoned as a witness, refused to answer questions put to him ; refused to give up the names of the members of Congress who asked him to get money for their votes. Thereupon the Committee reported the fact to the Congress, the Congress ordered the Sergeantat-Arms to take Simonton into custody for his contempt ; and Simonton gave notice of an action for false imprisonment against the Sergeants at-Arms. In order to meet future cases, a short bill was "rushed" through Congress. It provides that "any person wilfully refusing to give testimony or to produce papers before any Committee shall be liable to indictment for misdemeanour, and on conviction pay a fine of not more than 1000 dollars nor less than 100 dollars, and be imprisoned in the Penitentiary not more than one year nor less than one month. No person thus testifying shall be held to answer before any court of justice for any facts disclosed before the Committee of either House."

Four other witnesses, it is said, had resolved to defy the Committee ;. but it was thought probable that the "names" of the culprits would after all come to light.