_foreign anti colonial.

FRANCE.—Tbe President of the Republic gave a soirée at the Ely-see Nationale on Thursday the 8th, which appears to have been remarkable in its brilliancy. It is well described by the Paris correspondent of the Times.

" The salons of the Palais are, as is well known, but of moderate extent for the official residence of the Chief of the State. They are capable of containing about 600 persons—that is, not more than 600 can congregate at ease Avid with- out inconveniencing each other. Last night, however, there could not have been less than 800; and the result was, that in more than one part of the rooms com- pact masses were formed without any possibility of moving about until the crowd began to thin. Those accustomed to the pomp and etiquette of Royal receptions could find no difference whatever in the state of this Republican display. The ladies who represented the beauty and rank of the aristocratic Faubourg of St. Germain, and of the wealth of the financial quarter of the Chaussee d'Autin, were splendidly dressed. The glitter of embroidery, the blaze of diamonds, the gloss of satin, and the rich softness of velvet, recalled some of the best days of Royal festivities. " One of the first things that struck all who had the honour of being present last night at the Elysee Nationale was the Imperial character of the scene ; and if an old general or statesman of the Empire could for a moment forget the his- tory of the last forty years, he might well imagine that he was assisting at one of those gorgeous receptions in the time of Napoleon. As you entered the salon d'attente, you first encountered six tall grooms of the antechamber, dressed in the rich livery of the Emperor, motionless, silent, and stately as statues. Then your card was delivered, and your name written in a book, where a list had been previously made out, which served to check the cards presented. Your name was then pronounced in a loud solemn tone of voice; and you were forthwith ushered into a second saloon ; where the President, was standing in the centre, in the attitude that has become so classic in France, notwithstanding its ungraceful ness, namely, with his hands behind his back. The Red Republic would, doubt- less, see something suspicious in the fact. After bowing to the President, you then moved about at your pleasure, from one group to another of the distinguished men and beautiful women you saw in all directions. The ladies, whose names were announced, were invariably accompanied by aides-de-camp; who, with the exquisite grace and gallantry (when Frenchmen choose to be graceful and gal- lant none are more so—few so much, except perhaps the Spanish gentleman) which distinguish the accomplished soldier, introduced them to the Chief of the State; who received them with a bow, and always had a few words to address to. them.

"In an inner saloon there was music. The whole of the apartments were fur- nished in the style of the Empire ; and the garde-meuble had been diligently searched for the objects of vertd and of art which reminded the old of days and of scenes now long gone by. The productions of the great masters adorned the walls; lustres of antique and gorgeous fashion depended from the ceiling; pen- dnles of exquisite workmanship and of gigantic size glittered on every side; and carpets of the finest fabric, in the soft depths of which the foot buried itself, spread out their richness on the floor ; and beautiful and transparent vases of Sevre porcelain gave forth the most exquisite odours from the rarest flowers. "Some of the most distinguished characters of the day were present; and to none did the President manifest more attention—more respect, mingled with the fond familiarity of a son to a parent—than to Count Mole. He was occasionally seen to lean on his shoulder, and even once or twice folded his arm round his aaist. M. Thiers was also honoured in a marked manner; and the most perfect friendli- ness was exhibited to the Ministers, who were all, I believe, present.

"Among the many Generals, who were all in uniform and wore their decora- tions, General Chsugarnier was not the least remarkable.

"The whole of the Diplomatic Corps was present. The Duke of Solomayor sat for a long time by the side of the Princess Matilda, who did the honours of her cousin's house ; and to no one was the President more marked in his atten- tions than to Lord Normanby, with whom he conversed frequently in English. At one o'clock the company began to thin."

In the National Assembly, on Monday, M. Coralli demanded explana- tions respecting certain speeches delivered by Marshal Bugeand at Bourget and Lyons, of which he quoted extracts from Le Constitutionnel and La Pe- trie. On the let of February, the Marshal spoke in these terms atBourges- " There is one opinion which I applaud ; it is that the Departments ought not to submit to the tyranny of the factions of Paris. No, we ought not to permit that a Catalina blow—and even that comparison does them too much honour— should impose their will on the immense majority of the country. The Govern- ment continues to fix my head-quarters at Lyons, but I shall always keep my eyes fixed on Patio ; and if it should ever be necessary that I should enter it with the Army of the Alps and the National Guards that I might rally on my route, let us hope, by Gods help, that order would be reestablished, not only for some mo- ments, as has happened before, but for ever."

Here are some passages from the speech delivered at Lyons, where he was visited by the authorities-

" France has a magnificent army. France cannot send it abroad when it would leave behind it a considerable civil war. Circumstances may arise under which we should have to combat the factions with arms in our hands."

Addressing the Magistrates, he said—" It is for you, gentlemen, to warn the juries against those 'extenuating circumstances'

' which enervate the action of justice and. diserna society, to the detriment of good citizens." Furth r on, he spoke to the army of the prospect of glory which it bad in case cis foreign war; and he added—" The army might find itself in the case of having to suppress outbreak at home; and this task is not less glorious than the other." Finally, he explained to the officers the details of street warfare; details which seemed to make a lively impression on the officers. " If the empire of Austria," he said, " has escaped the dissolution which seemed inevitable, she owes it to her army, whose strong organization has exorcised the danger."

M. Odilon Barrot entered into a very long and deferential speech of ex- planation. He admitted that military officers were bound to maintain great reserve; and he assured the Assembly, that if officers departed from that reserve they would be strictly recalled to their duty. While M. Coralli had acknowledged a certain character of originality and eccentricity in the conversations that had been read, it might also be remarked that the reports also wanted that authenticity which merited attention. As to the remarks on " extenuating circumstances," they were so totally beyond the mission of Marshal Bilge:tad, that M. Barret could not think of calling for any explanation on that head; and as to the hypothesis re- specting Paris,—an hypothesis daily becoming more remote,—M. Barret could not refuse concurrence with the opinion that civil war would paralyze the forces of the country abroad. A long conversation ensued; in which M. Coralli vainly endeavoured to extract some more positive statement or assurance from Ministers; and ul- timately the debate terminated in the vote on a motion to pass to the order of the day—carried by 397 to 285.

In the Assembly, on Wednesday, after warm debating and defeat of amendments, the third reading of the proposition by M. Lanjuinais for the dissolution of the Assembly was carried, by 424 to 387. The new Legis- lative Assembly is expected to meet about the middle of May.

Some disturbances occurred at Cette, in the department of Hdrault, on the 7th instant. A bonnet rouge had hung for some days on a tree of liberty, to the aunoyance of certain citizens, who pressed the authorities for its removal. The local authorities hesitated to move; and the Prefect gave a peremptory order. Some sailors were set to climb the tree, but "were unable"; a great crowd collated, and, amidst much excitement, the Commissary of Police had the tree sawn down. The mob then broke out, and rushed on the Mairie ; but the doors resisting them, they assem- bled before the house of a M. Renaud; "and it must be confessed," says a Paris account, "that the authorities took no measures to prevent it." The windows of this house were broken; the house of M. Beuker and the Commercial Club were sacked. A patrol of the National Guard were disarmed, and the arms thrown into the river; and the Commissary of Po- lice was thrown into the canal. The authorities gave orders to beat the rappel; but the mob broke the drums. The gendarmes despatched infor- mation to Montpelier, and 500 men were immediately sent to Cette by railway. The rioters at last dispersed of their own accord. On the morn- ing of the 8th the town was tranquil. Subsequently the ringleaders were arrested. The Government has also dissolved the National Guard, and dismissed the Mayor.

ITALY.—News came to London from Paris early in the week, that the Grand Duke of Tuscany had fled from his capital, driven by outbreak of the Florentine populace. This news is confirmed: the flight was to Sienna, and has been prolonged to some point not known; Piombino, Porto Fer- rajo, Santo Stefano, and the island of Elba, being variously mentioned. Letters from Florence to the 9th simply mention the official announcement of the flight of the Grand Duke and his family, without giving dates or particulars. The National Guard and troops had been called out, and the Chambers instantly wet. The Clubs issued a manifesto, convoking the populace, who assembled in great numbers, and proclaimed a Provisional Government; choosing Montanelli, Guerazzi, and Mazzini as its chiefs. The multitude then proceeded to the Chamber, and, rushing into the gal- leries, compelled the members assembled to asknowledge and confirm the Provisional Government. The Clubs proclaimed the deposition of the Grand Duke; and declared Tuscany to be part of the Italian Costituente, to be disposed of as the Roman Assembly shall hereafter decide.

The British Consul-General at Genoa has addressed a note to the Genoa Gazette, contradicting a statement that the French and British Ministers at Florence had approved of the Grand Duke's adhesion to the Italian Constituent Assembly. Sir G. Hamilton, the British Minister at Florence, declared, on the contrary, that the Grand Duke's adhesion is in direct op- position to the advice given by the said British Minister.

GERMAN Y —The Austrian Government has sent a declaration of its policy to the Central Government at Frankfort: it was published in the Frankfurter Zeitung of the 9th, and is said to have been first placed in the hands of the Prussian plenipotentiary on the 4th. The document concludes a pre- liminary review of the circumstances under which the Central Assembly was formed, with this declaration- " The Austrian Government has never attempted to influence either the debates or the resolutions of the Assembly. Trus to the view entertained by Germans generally, viz. that the wish of Germany for closer unity was to be recognized to the full, but at the same time adhering closely to the principle of accord between the princes and the people, the Government of his Imperial Majesty thought it its duty to await the result of the Assembly's deliberation, in order that it might complete, in un son with the other German Governments, the great work of Ger- mao regeneration, in a way that would be satisfactory to all parties."

Austria wishes for a closer union with the Central State-

" Far from wishing to exclude itself; Austria is ready to cooperate earnestly and sincerely, provided the matter in hand is not the utter transfusion of existing circumstances ; that is, provided the aim in view is the protection of the vigorous organic components of Germany, and not their dissolution and annihilation. The formation of an Unitarian State appears to the Imperial Cabinet neither feasible in respect of Austria nor desirable for Germany. . . . It may be answered, that such a oneness of polity is not intended, but that the establishment of a Federative State is the matter in hand. The Imperial Cabinet can but hold both this declaration and the term federative state 'of equally trifling account.

"The majority of the Assembly has declared itself decidedly in favour of the Gagern programme. This programme, if it could be realized, would establish the so-called Federative State, that is, the Unitarian State just hinted at by us, leaving the bearings of the case unaltered, whether the gravitating point were in Frankfort or in any other part of Germany. Endless difficulties mark such an attempt, from whatsoever point of view it be regarded. It would bring sections 2 and 3 into force, and imply either the exclusion of German Austrians, that is, a laceration of Germany, or a dissolution of the closely interwoven components of Austria."

Alter declaring decisively against the Federative State, and remark-

ing that the formation of such a State would put Austria, as regards her relations to Germany, on a par only with the Netherlands and Denmark, the Austrian Government proceeds-

" Penetrated by the conviction that a united Germany can only be formed by Austria and Prussia working hand in hand in its construction, our first and pare, mount care was to communicate our views to Berlin. We acted therein with full sincerity, and without the intention of securing to Austria a greater share in the conduct of German affairs than her position as the first German power has de facto and de conventions hitherto given her. At the same time, a proposal was made to commence the work of accord in Frankfort, in common with the Princes, and first of all with the Kings of Germany. The intended preliminary under.. standing with Prussia could not, however, be fully consummated. We therefore, instead of acting as we wished, in concert with Prussia, enter alone upon the path of mutual accord with Frankfort. • • * *

"His Imperial Majesty and the Imperial Government protest most solemnly against the subjection of his Majesty to a Central Power administered by another German Prince. To enter such a protest is a duty they owe to themselves—to Austria—to Germany."