furrtgu nub &lomat.
FBA/reg.—The Senate and the Legislative Body are again in session. The formal opening took place on Monday. The Senate met first at
the Luxembourg, andthe Legislative Body in their own chamber ; whence both set out, duly escorted by cavalry, for the Imperial Palace of the Tuileries. Here at mid-day they assembled in the Salle des Marechaux, in company with the Council of State and the Judges. The Emperor, accompanied by the Empress, soon afterwards entered the hall, and de- livered the following speech. "Senators and Deputies—A year since, I called you together in this place to inaugurate the Constitution, promulgated in virtue of the powers which the people had conferred on me. Since that period, tranquillity has not been disturbed. The law, in resuming its sway, has allowed the majority of the men who were made the subject of necessary severity to return to their homes. The riches of the nation have increased to such a point that that portion of our floating capital, the value of which can be estimated, amounts to about two milliards. The activity of labour develops itself in every branch of industry. The same progress is being realized in Africa, where our army has just distinguished itself by heroic successes. The form of the Government has been changed, without any shock, by the free suffrages of the people. Great works have been undertaken without the creation of any new tax, and without a loan. Peace has been maintained without ser- vility. All the Powers have recognized the new Government. France has institutions nstitutions which can defend themselves, and the stability of which do not depend on the life of one man.
"These results have not cost great efforts, because they wero in the minds and for the interest of all. To those who would doubt their importance, I will reply, that scarcely fourteen months ago France was delivered up to the hazards .of anarchy. To those who may regret that a wider field has not been given to liberty, I will reply, that hberty has never aided in founding a durable political edifice; it crowns it when it has been consolidated by time. Let us, besides, not forget that the immense majority of the country has confidence in the present and faith in the future. There still remain in- corrigible individuals, who, forgetful of their own experience, of their past terrors, and of their disappointments, obstinately persist in paying no atten- tion tothe national will, deny the reality:of facts, and in the midst of a sea which everyday grows more and more calm, call for tempests in which they would be the first to be swallowed up. These occult proceedings of the different parties serve no purpose but to show their weakness; and the Go- vernment, instead of being disturbed at them, only thinks of governing France and tranquillizing Europe. For this double object, it has the firm determination to diminish expenses and armament, and to devote to useful purposes all the resources of the country ; to keep up with good faith inter- national relations, in order to prove to the most incredulous that when France expresses her formal intention to remain at peace, it may be believed, for she is strong enough not to deceive any one. "You will see' gentlemen, by the budget which will be presented to you, that our financial position has never been better for the last twenty years, and that the public revenue has increased beyond all anticipation. Never- theless, the effective force of the army, already reduced by 30,000 men in the course of the last year, is about to be immediately reduced by 20,000 more.
"The majority of the laws which will be presented to you will not go be- yond necessary exigencies ; and that is the most favourable indication of our situation. The people are happy when governments do not find it necessary to resort to extraordinary measures.
"Let us, therefol-e, thank Providence for the visible protection which it has accorded to our efforts ; let us persevere in this course of firmness and moderation, which reassures without irritating, which leads to good without violence, and so prevents all reaction. Let us always reckon on God and on emrselves, as on the mutual support which we owe to ourselves; and let us ..e proud to see in so short a time this great country pacified, prosperous at t ome, and honoured abroad."
There was a scene at the sitting of the Legislative Body on Tuesday. M. Bouhier de PEcluse sent in a letter, which, said M. Pirault, the President, contained language not fit to be read aloud ; adding, that as M. Bouhier refused to take the oath, he was de- clared to have given in his resignation. M. Bouhier loudly demurred to this, and retired. Shortly afterwards, he sent in another letter, declaring be had not given in his resignation, nor refused to take the oath. M. Billault stated that the oath could not be taken with reservations : if M.
Boulder did not make up his mind to take the oath pure and simple, in a fortnight, he would be declared no longer a member.
The Idoniteur of Sunday last had an article on the Lettres .Franques of M. Billot ; upon which Government would have nothing to say were it- not that " silence would be falsely interpreted." The cry of " L'Empire c'est la pain" is reiterated ; and the Moniteur rather faintly condemns the pamphlet. It has also been censured by the Constitutionnel ; and drawn forth a vehement defence of the Bourbons of the elder branch from the Assemblie Nationale. All the press seem disposed to denounce M. Billot ; but his pamphlet has been selling very rapidly in Paris, and Government does not interfere.
Lord Brougham was in Paris last week ; on Saturday, he took part in a discussion on secondary punishments held in the Academy of Moral Sciences. Among the other celebrated persons present were M. Dupin, M. Duchatel, M. Guizot, M. de Broglie, M. de Remusat, M. Leon Fau- cher, and M. Cousin.
ITALY.—As far as can be ascertained from the Austrian accounts, the outbreak at Milan on the 6th did not assume at any stage of its progress a really alarming aspect. On the evening of that day, a body of men, chiefly armed with daggers, made a desperate attack on the Castello, killed nine privates and three officers, and wounded fifty-four men. The object of the insurgents was to get possession of the arms and ammunition in the citadel : but although they forced their way into the castle, the gates of the maga- zines were closed ; they were subsequently overwhelmed, and many were made prisoners. Next day there was a slight attempt to renew the contest; but it was speedily suppressed. Several insurgents, how many it is impossible to say, were shot and hanged. The state of siege was proclaimed by Count Strasoldo. Radetzky issued a proclamation, on the 9th, from Verona, containing the most rigorous provisions. The state of siege was to be maintained with the "very greatest severity" ; all sus- picious strangers to be dismissed ; the families of the killed and wounded to be maintained for life by the city of Milan ; all extraordinary expenses to be paid by the city until the ringleaders are given up ; individuals no- toriously attached to the Government, exempted from the contribution. Nor is this all : "according to the result of inquiries which are being made, a deserved punishment will be inflicted on the city of Milan, or a contri- bution raised."
The effect of the rising on the contiguous states was considerable ; but. no movement in support was made. The Piedmontese frontiers were guarded from the first; the militia of Ticino was called out. Certain refugees have been expelled from Piedmont, and others removed from the frontier.
No other rising has occurred in any one of the Italian cities.
UNITED STATES.—The Europa arrived in the Mersey on Sunday, bringing journals from New York to the 1st February. The discussion on the Monroe doctrine was still proceeding. Mr.. Seward had spoken against the views of General Cass, and Mr. Manguni. had distinctly charged him with desiring war. The General declared that he does not desire war, unless it be necessary to maintain the national honour. But the feeling of the Senate may be estimated by its conduct in regard to another resolution. Mr. Cass moved "that the Committee on Foreign Relations should be directed to inquire as to what action of the Senate, if any, is necessary in consequence of the qualifications added to the Bulwer and Clayton treaty." On the 27th, it was moved that the resolution be laid on the table ; but this was rejected, by 31 to 9. Then. a motion was made to postpone it indefinitely ; but with the same result, there being 17 for and 29 against the motion. At last the resolution was_ adopted. The _Richmond Inquirer of the 28th January contains a formidable re- ply "to the Duchess of Sutherland and the Ladies of England," by Mrs. Julia Gardiner Tyler, widow of the late President Tyler. The writer says that a reply must be the work of some one individual, or must go unperformed; and she sets about the task with gusto, at a length which exhausts several newspaper columns. The main ideas in the document —and they are repeated many times—are, that it was an impertinence in the ladies meeting at Stafford House to address the ladies of the United States at all on the subject of slavery; that it is the only one subject on
which "there is a possibility of wrecking the bark of this '
Union' that England introduced and perpetuated slavery against the wishes of the colonists ; and that, if they look around, enough will be found to do at home in the way of ameliorating the condition of their fellow creatures.. The prolixity of the rhetoric in which these simple allegations are made is indescribable. Mrs. Julia G. Tyler closes with a paragraph on the theme that "America might love England? if England would permit her." The Ericsson caloric ship still occupied attention. The New York correspondent of the Times is among those who doubt (for reasons as- signed) the efficacy of Captain Ericsson's alleged discovery.
LNDLL —An extract from General Godwin's despatch containing an account of his doings after having relieved Pegu on the 15th December, has been published. It seems that he resolved to follow, and attack the Burmese ; who merely retired about four miles from the Pagoda of Pegu, and there established themselves in position. For two days General God- win was engaged in obtaining carriage for his commissariat ; and on the 17th he set out -with 1200 men and six days' provisions. After marching through a very thick jungle, the troops entered a noble plain covered with ripe paddy. The enemy, about 10,000 strong, were intrenched on the plain, having a tope and jungle on their right. General Godwin left 200 men to guard the baggage, and with the remaining 1000 marched on the enemy. They stood their ground until the British Came up, and then fled. There was no fighting beyond a few musket-shots. In the tope the troops rested for an hour, and then marched to a fine village called Lephangoon ; a distance of ten miles. It had been abandoned by the enemy, and there the troops rested for the night. On the 18th, they marched another ten miles to Montsangano. Here the Burmese pre- sented themselves in large masses, formed in order of battle, and threw out skirmishers ; but fled as our force advanced to the charge, leaving a large barrack in our possession, which we burnt. Finding the state of the commissariat would not permit of any further advance, General God- win led his men back to Pegu. Here he left a stronger garrison and re- turned to Rangoon ; proposing to send an expedition against several strong places held by the Burmese.
BunNos ATRES.—Letters from Buenos Ayres, dated the 2d January, brought by the Severn to Southampton, announce that a revolution broke out on the 1st December. The pretext was a dislike of Alsina, the Gc-
vernor. He resigned inconsequence, and a new Government was formed; but that did not stop the revolution. The town was besieged by the Gauchos under Colonel Lagos, and was put to great straits ; but just be- fore the mails were despatched, the Buenos Ayreans sallied forth and drove the enemy from several positions. It is conjectured that the coun- try population desired to make a diversion in favour of trrquiza and re- store him to power. Sir Charles Hotham was at the capital of Paraguay. The British and Americans stood prepared for a self-defensive neutrality.