ittrrigu net Colnutat.

FRANCE.—Much to the astonishment of the French press, though with little care, as it seems, by the French people, the new law of the press has been carried through the Assembly, with provisions even more re- strictive and repressive than it originally proposed. In addition to the clauses imposing the necessity of signature to articles, there have been introduced clauses which levy new duties on classes of publications hi- therto exempted, and heavier duties than the existing ones on publica- tions already taxed : newspapers publishing a feuilleton are to pay an additional centime stamp. The measure was finally passed, on Tuesday afternoon, by the large majority of 392 to 265.

SPAIN.—Early in the week, a telegraphic report arrived from Madrid through Paris, that the Queen of Spain was delivered "at four o'clock on the afternoon of the 13th instant, of a prince, who died a few minutes after." Subsequent accounts to the 15th add only that the Queen's health was good.

The Count of Montemolin, son of Don Carlos, was married on the 10th instant, at the Royal Palace of Caserta, near Naples, to the Princess Caroline, sister of the King. On the same day, the Duke of Rivas, Spanish Ambassador, quitted Naples, on board a Spanish steam-frigate; having first remonstrated against the progress and ultimately protested against the completion of the match.

DENNABIL—The Holstein-Schleswig question has assumed a new phase. The parties to the contest are changed, and war seems on the verge of recommencement. The negotiations some time pending between the five Great Powers, in mediation between Germany represented by Prussia, Denmark, and the Dutchies, were lately stated in Parliament to have resulted in a treaty of peace between Germany and Denmark, which left the Dutchies and their King-Duke to come to a settlement, or to fur- ther fight it out between themselves. It would seem, however, that only an initialled protocol of agreement was the result as yet attained on the 4th instant ; and it is stated by journals which seem to speak with authority, that both the Prussian and the Austrian Governments are dissident from the proposals of the other three Powers, and. that Prussia immediately protested against the conclusion of a treaty on the bases of the protocol, in "strong if not menacing language." Subsequently, Che- valier Bunsen has renewed his protest in set argumentative form In answer to the article which expressed the desire of all the Powers for the maintenance of the present status of the possessions united under the crown of Denmark, he avers that the provinces of which the King of Den- mark is now the head never had been considered or admitted to Germany to be parts of the Danish monarchy, and that such a declaration can never be made by Austria or Prussia as members of the Confederation, however they may be disposed to entertain a fair proposal for the regulation of the succes- sion, with a due regard to the honour and the rights ofthe Confederation and to the personal claims of all parties interested. The protocol is a dangerous meaeure, because it has been drawn up without Germany, on Germany, and against Germany : it is unjust and illegal, inasmuch as it lays down the prin- ciple of the integrity of the Danish monarchy to the prejudice of certain German rights : the signature of this document is a departure from the prin- ciple of the mediation of Great Britain, for the arrangement would authorize

gland, France, and Russia, to exercise a species of protectorate, not only over Denmark but over Germany. Meanwhile, the parties most interested, the King-Duke and his sub- jects of Schleswig and Holstein, are believed to be already on the march to give each other fresh battle.

Accounts from Kiel, of the 15th instant, state that the Danes had en- tered Flensberg, and that the Holsteiners had occupied Schleswig: each party had therefore crossed its Rubicon.

AMERICA.—The intelligence from New York is brought down to the 6th instant, The Slavery question made no progress in Congress. From hints by Mr. Clay, that the Pa-esident exercises his personal influence against the Compromise Bill, it is surmised that the chance of its becoming law is lessened ; the State of Delaware has unexpectedly declared against it, and instructed its numerous representatives to act against it.

Professor Webster had made a confession of the murder of Dr. Berkman. It is very long, and drawn up either with the naturalness of full truth, or the perfect art of a consummate last effort in be- half of life ; and the American papers seem undecided in which light most to regard it. The point of it is, briefly, that the homicide was wholly unpremeditated, but provoked on the instant by Dr. Farkman's bitter speeches and violent menacing gestures. Dr. Parkman produced an old letter from Dr. Hossack, written many years ago, compli- menting him on his success in getting Dr. Webster appointed to his office ; and, thrusting that letter in the debtor's face, Dr. Parkman exclaimed, "You are I got you into your office, and now I'll get you out of it!" Pushing

his fist in Dr. Webster's face, and taunting him with opprobrious epi- thets, Dr. Parkman exasperated the other beyond control; in this state. Dr. Webster seized the first thing at hand—a large and heavy piece of a

grape-vine trunk—and struck Dr. Parkman with all his force a blow on the side of the head : it killed him on the spot. The dismembering, and attempted destruction of the body by fire, were the only means of con- cealment, prompted by horror and the overwhelming fear of infamy an& destruction. All the details which have appeared are interwoven into the

of confession, and made to bear an interpretation consistent with this version ; and the document closes with a solemn avowal in reply ter questions put, as to a dying man, by the Reverend Dr. Putnam, Dr. Web- ster's spiritual adviser.

"Search to the bottom of your heart6,';oitaid Dr. Putnam, " for the history

of your motives, and tell me before did it never occur to you, before the decease of Dr. Parkman, that his death, if you could bring it to pass, would be of great advantage to you ; or at least that personal injury to him might possibly be the result of your expected conference with him ? As a dying man, I charge you to answer me truly and exactly, or else be silent— had you not such a thought?" "No, never !" said he, with energy and feeling; "as I live, and as God eir

my witness—never ! I was no more capable of such a thought than one of my innocent children. I never had the remotest idea of injuring Dr. Park- man until the moment the blow was struck. Dr. Parkman was extremely severe and sharp—the most provoking of men ; and I am irritable and pas- sionate. A quick-handed and brief violence of temper has been a besetting sin of my life. I was an only child—much indulged ; and I have never acquired the control over my-passions that I ought to have acquired early ; and the consequence is all this."

"But you notified Dr. Parkman to meet you at a certain hour, and told him you would pay him, when you knew you had not the money."

"No," he replied. " I did not tell him I would pay him, and there is no,

evidence that I told him so. Except any own words spoken after his disap- pearance, and after I had determined to take the ground that I had paid him, those words were of the miserable tissue of falsehoods to which I wan committed from the moment I had begun to conceal the homicide. I never- had a thought of injuring Parkman." The Executive Council of the State doubted if instantaneous death could be caused by a blow from a piece of grape-vine, and took surgical opinions : it is said those opinions were adverse to Dr. Webster, and much doubt is felt whether the confession will save the criminal's life.

A large mass of the great Table Rock at Niagara Falls has been shaken into the abyss of waters. A carriage with people in it was on the mass. at the instant of its descent; the carriage went with the rock, but the people in it leaped out and escaped without harm—say the American ac- counts.