jforrign an Golonfal.

Fnexca.—King Louis Philippe opened the session of the Chambers on Monday. He left the Tuileries at one o'clock, accompanied by his four sons and a numerous cortege. Meanwhile, the Peers and Deputies had taken their accustomed places, in the lower chamber: all the " notabilites" of the Deputies were present. The attendance of diplomatists was full; even Lord Normanby being there. The Ministers surrounded the throne. The Queen, the Queen of the Belgians, and the other ladies of the Royal Family, arrived soon after one. About twenty minutes later, the King en- tered, took his seat with the usual interchange of courtesies, and read the following speech "in a firm and sonorous voice."

"Gentlemen, Peers and Deputies—In summoning you to resume the labours of the session, my first wish is that you should afford my Government all your cooperation, in order to relieve the sufferings which this year distress a part of our population. I have hastened to order the measures best calculated to attain that object. I trust, that by the firm maintenance of order, by the liberty and security of commercial transactions, by an ample and judicious application of the public resources efficiently aiding the zeal of private charity, we shall mitigate these trials, with which Providence sometimes visits the most prosperous states. "My relations with all the Foreign Powers afford me the firmest confidence that the peace of the world continues secure.

" The marriage of my. beloved son, the Duke as Montpensier, with my beloved niece the Infanta of Spam, Luisa Fernanda, has completed the satisfaction and consolation which Providence has vouchsafed me in my family. This union will be a fresh pledge of those good and intimate relations which have so long sub- sisted between France and Spain, and the maintenance of which is as desirable for the prosperity as for the reciprocal security of the two states.

I have reason to hope that the affairs of La Plata will before long be adjusted conformably to the views adopted by my Government, in concert with that of the Queen of Great Britain, for the reestablishment of the security of our commercial relations in those countries.

"I have concluded with the Emperor of Russia a treaty of navigation, which guarantees to us, by a just reciprocity in our maritime relations with that em- pire: advantages which it was important to us to preserve. "An unexpected event has impaired the state of affairs founded in Europe by the last treaty of Vienna. The republic of Cracow, an independent and neutral state, has been incorporated with the empire of Austria. I have protested against this infraction of the treaties.

"At home, the constant progress of the public revenue, despite of causes which might have checked it, demonstrates that the activity and resources of the coun- try continue to increase. The finance laws, and various other laws relative to important improvements in the legislation and administration of the kingdom, will be submitted to your deliberation. ." The great public works which we have undertaken shall be completed with the perseverance which the interests of the country command, and with the pru- dence indispensable to the maintenance of public credit.

"You will also have to direct your attention to measures calculated to second in our African possession the progress of colonization and its internal prosperity. TranquiPity, so happily restored in Algeria by the valour and devotedness of our army, permits us to examine maturely that important question, respecting which a special bill shall be presented to you.

tientlemen a continua feeling animates us. You are all, like me and my family, devoted to the happiness and grandeur of our country; and already long experience has enlightened us as to the policy best suited to her interests, both moral and material, and which must secure its present prosperity and the future pacific and regular development of its destinies. 1 expect with confidence, from your patriotism and wisdom, the cooperation necessary to the accomplishment of this great task. Let us assist each other in supporting the burden, and France will reap the fruit of our efforts."

The speech was heard for the most part in silence; but the Montpensier and Cracow paragraphs were applauded, with renewed and prolonged ap- plause at the conclusion.

The new Peers and Deputies took the oaths; the session was formally declared; and the King retired.

The Chamber of Deputies met on Tuesday, to organize the nine Stand- ing Committees into which it is divided. All the Chairmen and Secretaries elected belonged to the Conservative party, and were returned by a large majority. In the course of the day, M. Guizot placed in the hands of the President the documents relative to the Spanish marriages and the affair of Cracow; and announced that he had given orders that they should be immediately printed and distributed among the members of both Cham- bers. M Cunin Gridaine, Minister of Commerce and Agriculture, pre- sented a bill for regulating the importation of foreign grain.

The Minister of Finance also produced his budget, with some other fiscal documents. The state of financial affairs is not flourishing: as will be seen from the chief results, thus set forth by the Aurnal des Debate-

" A year ago, the deficit amounted to 25,102,029 francs, (about 1,000,0001. sterling); today, although the Minister gives credit for a surplus of 33,000,000 francs in the receipts over the expenditure, he nevertheless estimates the actual deficit at 81,237,963 francs, (nearly 3,300,0000; which may be reduced to 79,305,899 francs, that is, if we deduct from the gross deficit the estimated sur- plus of receipts of last year. Among the expenses which have produced this sad result, are' 6.500,000 franca distributed in relief of the suffering population, 14,600,000 francs on account of the increased price of provisions for the war and navy departments, 33,000,000 francs of extraordinary credits opened for those two departments fur the service of Algeria, and 14,600,000 francs added to the ordinary vote of credit for the navy for the different naval stations, particularly those on the coasts of Africa."

The Chamber of Peers also held a short sitting on Tuesday, and after- wards retired into its Standing Committees. Food riots are reported at Renne, Lencloitro, and other places; provoked by the continued rise in the price of corn.

POLAND.—A letter from Cracow, of the 5th instant, states that the Russian General Rudiger, [who took possession of Cracow last year,) with 10,000 troops, had occupied the frontiers of the old republic of Cracow, and even those of Gallicia Proper. An Austrian corps instantly received orders to observe them.

A letter from Warsaw, of the 2d January, complains that never was the conscription so rigidly enforced there as at the present moment: boys fifteen years old were comprehended in it!

SWITZERLAND.—By advices from Geneva, to the 9th instant, we learn that, in accordance with the vote of the popular meeting of November last, the members of the late Government of Geneva have been called upon by the present authorities to pay into the Treasury a sum of 42,500 francs for damage done during the late insurrection. It was thought that, for fear of fresh disturbances, this extortionate demand would be complied with.

In less than a week after the Vorort had been established at Berne, the Liberals of Fribourg, aided by Free Corps from Vaud, marched in two columns against Fribourg. They were, however, met with vigour, and com- pletely routed. Protestant Berne exhorts victorious and Catholic Fribourg to be" moderate."

Irmx.—The activity and popularity of the Pope continue unabated. He recently took a ride towards Ostia, to inspect the ravages made by the floods; giving directions for drainage and raising the wages of the la- bourers. Some of the cavaliers who ;ode with him complained of his hard riding. On New-Year's Day several corrupt subordinate officers of police wire dismissed. On that day the Pope won a loud expression of affection by the simple act of motioning to the people, crowded to pay their respects to him, that they should put on their hats during a shower of rain. The Pope has founded a chair of political economy at the University of LA Sapienza.

His Holiness is engaged in a dispute with the Emperor of Austria, who claims the right to appoint the Bishop of Mantua, under a concordat ob- tained by Joseph the Second: the Pope contends that it does not embrace the Italian provinces of Austria, annexed to the Empire since the concordat was signed. The funeral of the patriot Count Federigo Gonfalonieri, at Milan, on the 30th December, was attended by an immense concourse, including all the patrician families, and Count Casati, Podestit of the city. The authorities were so alarmed at the growing sensation, that the theatres were closed in the evening. Alarmed at risingd isaffection, the Grand Duke of Tuscany is said to.have asked for aid from Austria.

Soarsr.—According to letters of the ith instant, the Government had determined to send Seism Olozaga back to France; evidence, at least, that there was no valid ground for his arrest. The provincial authorities have been furnished with instructions to arrest another member of the Cortes, Senor Gomez de la Serna, should he enter the country. This gentleman'll offence is, that in 1843, as Minister of Justice, he countersigned the protest which Espartero issued on board the Betis. Some time ago a discloistercd nun, calling herself Sor Patrocinib, made a sensation in Madrid by the exhibition of stigmata on her hands, feet, and side, similar to those of St. Francis of Assissi. An Ecclesiastical Com- mission, however, had pronounced the Sor an impostor, and she retired into obscurity. She now comes forward again, under the patronage, it is said, of Queen Christina and the King, Don Francisco de Assis.

PORTUGAL—By intelligence received from Lisbon, to the 6th instant, it would appear that the insurrection was at its last gasp. Two thousand Miguelite Guerillas, under Macdonald, were entirely defeated at Braga on the 21st December, by the Queen's troops under Cazal, with a loss of only 40 men. The Miguelites had 240 killed.

Saldanha had reached Condeixa, a short distance from Coimbra. The Municipal Chamber of that place had declined to cooperate with Das Antes, and had entreated him to spare the town the miseries of an encounter. Das Antas accordingly continued his retreat to Oporto: he had lost nearly 100 men by desertion. Schwalbach was marching against Evora; and the Guerillas all through Portugal were flying to their homes on the receipt of the news of the vic- tory of Torres Vedras. On the last day of the Old Year, the Queen gave a grand banquet to Admiral Parker and the officers of the British squadron. Colonel Wylde and Mr. Southern were also present.

UNITED STATES AND MEXI00.—The Cambria arrived at Liverpool on Thursday morning, bringing the usual American mails.

The President had addressed another message to Congress, on the 23d December. In this he communicated various departmental reports con- nected with the Mexican war: he " repudiated " any sanction of the per- manent territorial government in New Mexico, which had been assumed by "the military commander " who had conquered and occupied it: any ex- cess in this respect he excused, on the ground that it was occasioned by a patriotic desire to confer on the inhabitants the valued privileges attached toentizens of the United States. The message provoked " smiles" in the reading, and was much debated in Congress. Mr. Baker of Illinois had arrived, hot from the scene of war, and, in a speech delivered in the House of Representatives, had denounced the in- efficiency of the means at present employed in Mexico to" conquer a peace." He said that two thousand soldiers had perished without meeting cat enemy! Means were in progress to raise more soldiers; but the real difficulty was to raise more money.

At the seat of war, matters remained without material change; the slight alterations in the position of the several military bodies being totally be- neath the trouble of tracing.

The United States brig-of-war Somers had been totally wrecked, on the 7W December, in a "Norther," off Green Isle, at Vera Cruz. Nearly forty of the officers and crew were drowned.

The commercial intelligence from New York possessed some interest. Cotton, corn, flour, and freights, had all advanced in price. The results of the new tariff had been most favourable.

CAPE or TrOOD HOPE.—The accounts from the Cape are to the 10th of November. The operations in the Amatola seem to have produeed a very striking impression on the Kafirs; and the war was considered at an sad. Macomo had surrendered; and Sandilla also had submitted, and was beginning to send in his guns. The desire for peace among the Kafir and Tambooskie chiefs was much strengthened by understanding that it was the Governor's intention to take their lands from them if they per- sisted in the rebellion. This belief was understood to have its origin in thb contemplated settlement of Colonial Natives in the territory between the Fish and Keiskamma rivers; a plan designed by the Governor to form a barrier along the neutral territory.

NEW Zwassiers—By the barque Mary, accounts have been brought from Auckland to the 20th September. That settlement remained tranquil, and once more gave signs of active speculation. Emigrants were arriving 1Yom Sydney and Hobart Town. A mounted police, composed partly of Nittives, which had recently been established, is said to be of much use. There is no further intelligence of the Governor's operations in the South against Rangihaeata.