jortign anb (Colonial.
FRANCE.—Paris has been startled by the appearance of the Prince de Joinville as a pamphleteer, in opposition to the Ministry but in harmony with the War-party. Ministers are reported to have protested against the publication of the Prince's lucubrations ; the King himself is said to have exerted his paternal authority in an endeavour at suppression ; but the royal agitator was obstinate, and the pamphlet was published on Wednesday. It is a Cassandra-like warning on the state of the French navy. The author disclaims animosity to England and desire for war ; but speculates freely on the feasibility of attacking this island, and of destroying our confidence in our insular position and in our com- mercial marine. When sailing was the only resource of the navy, he says, France could not compete with England, because success belonged to whichever nation could furnish most sailors. Now an engine takes the place of a hundred sailors, and France could always furnish enough soldiers and money for a steam-marine. To preserve peace, one must be prepared for war ; and steam-navigation gives France an opportu- nity of attaining equality with England. But her Ministers have al- lowed England to get the start ; hence his pamphlet.
SPAIN.—The new Ministry is uneasy in its seat ; and S. Men, the Finance Minister, is said already to have talked of resigning rather than face the difficulties of his post. S. Gonzales Bravo has been appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at the Portuguese Court.
POEM/AL.—Lisbon letters of May the 7th have some further parti- culars of the capitulation of Almeida, as ridiculous as any thing in the course of the revolution, The Commander of the Queen's troops, Viscount Fonte Nova, stipulated that the garrison should lay down their arms "within the nnprorogable period of two hours "; and that the treaty of capitulation should be " impreteribly carried into effect before the expiration of two hours." Bomfim and his friends took seven hours. He and his officers, to the number of forty-three, went into Spain : only one surrendered, having no money for travelling. On the way to the frontier, a soldier attempted to assassinate the
retreating chief; but Bomfim escaped. The non-commissioned officers and men of the insurgent army, 724 in number, proceeded to stations allotted to them in three villages ; to be distributed in small numbers among different regiments of the army, "ready to turn out whenever. there is a new rebellion."
BAVARIA.—Letters from Munich to the 7th instant announce the' termination of the beer-riots. The brewers, on the injunction of the King, had reduced the price to its former rate. It is understood that the King was moved to that intercession by the fact that the troops had refused to fire on the people. The first accounts were exaggerated, only two or three persons having been killed ; but 200 rioters had been arrested for examination.
UNITED STATES.—The Acadia steam-ship, which left Boston on the 1st instant and Halifax on the 4th, arrived at Liverpool early on Wed- nesday morning. The intelligence from Washington is strange : a treaty of annexation between Texas and the United States had been concluded by Mr. Calhoun, Mr. Isaac Van Zandt, and Mr. J. P. Hen- derson. It had been submitted, in a commendatory message by Presi- dent Tyler, to the Senate ; by whom it had been referred to the Com- mittee on Foreign Affairs. The following is an abstract of the chief provisions in this treaty- ,. 1. The Republic of Texas cedes to the United States all its territories, to he held by them in full property and sovereignty, and to be annexed to the United States as one of their ' territories,' subject to the mune constitutional provisions as their other territories. 2. The citizens of Texas are to enjoy the privileges of the constitution, and admitted, as soon as may be consistent with its principles, to the enjoyment of all its immunities. 3. All titles and claims to real estate which are valid by the laws of Texas are to be held so by the United States. 4. The public lands are to be subject to the laws regula- ting the public lands in other territories, as far as applicable. 5. The United, States assume and agree to pay the public debts and liabilities of Texas, how- ever created ; which are estimated not to exceed 10,000,000 dollars. 6. To ascertain the amount of debts and liabilities, four Commissioners are to be ap- pointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, to proceed- to Washington Texas, and there to examine and decide upon all claims."
Nothing is said about the boundaries of Texas, the claims of Mexico, or slavery. The treaty is dated the 12th April 1844.
Of course this document had created a great sensation. The Mexi- can Minister had suspended his functions, and retired from Washington to New York, to await the decision of the Senate for or against ratifica- tion. Mr. Clay, the sole Whig candidate for the Presidency, had pub- lished a letter against the measure; thus summing up his reasons— "1 consider the annexation of Texas at this time, without the assent of Mexico, as a measure compromising the national character, involving us cer- tainly in a war with Mexico, probably with other foreign powers, dangerous to the integrity of the Union, inexpedient in the present financial condition of the country, and not called for by any general expression of public opinion." Also Mr. Van Buren, now the sole Democratic candidate for the Pre- sidency, had excited some surprise by a letter opposed to the treaty. He expresses himself prepared to bow to the popular will, either way, if distinctly expressed ; but deprecates the measure, as calculated to lead. to a war with Mexico. It is not expected that the Senate will affirm. the treaty.
A vessel arrived at New Orleans bore, as a passenger, Captain Elliot,. the British Chargé d'Affaires in Texas ; who had retired from his. mission, and was on his return to England. Ile intended to pass soma time at the White Sulphur Springs, in Virginia, for his health.
Previous page
