fartign nut entattial.

PHIL—The Legislative sesflion of 1857 was opened on Monday, by the Emperor, with a speech to the Senators and Deputies who waited on him in the Mall of the Marshals at the Tuileries. The customary state was observed. Around the throne were the Princes of the blood and the groat officers of state. The Empress and the Princesses of the blood sat in a gallery. All present were in full dress. At one o'clock, a salute of 101 guns announced the arrival of the Emperor; and as soon as he had seated himself, the Grand Master of the Ceremonies called out, "Gentlemen be seated." Then the Emperor delivered the following

Messieurs lea Senatours et Messieurs lea Deputes—Last year my opening speech ended with an invocation of the Divine protection. I besought it to guide our efforts in the way that should be most conformable to the interests of humanity and civilization. That prayer seems to have been heard. "Peace has been signed, and the difficulties of detail arising from the execution of the treaty of Paris have come to an end by their being fortunately surmounted. "The dispute that arose between the King of Prussia and the Helvetic Confederation has lost all its warlike aspect, and it is permitted us to hope soon for a favourable solution.

"The good understanding reestablished between the three Protecting Powers of Greece renders henceforth useless a prolonged stay of the English and French troops at the Pirseus. If a regretable disagreement has taken place respecting the affairs of Naples, we must impute it to that desire which animates both the Government of Queen Victoria and my own to act every

where in behalf of humanity and civilization. Now that the best understanding prevails between all the Great Powers, we ought to work seriously to regulate and develop the national wealth and energies at home. We ought to contend against those evils from which society in a state of proSTOW is not exempt.

"Civilization, though it has for its objects the moral improvement and material welfare of the greatest number, marches, it must be admitted, like an army. Its victories are not obtained without sacrifices and victims. Those rapid paths which facilitate intercourse, and which open new routes for trade, at the same time derange existing interests, and leave those countries behind that are still without them. Those machines which are so useful, which multiply the labour of man, at first displace him, and for the moment cause many hands to be unoccupied. Those mines which dif fuse through the world such an amount of metallic money as was never before known—that increase of the public means which tenfold augments consumption and tends to make the value of all things vary and rise—that

inexhaustible source of wealth which we denominate credit—are bringing forth marvels. Nevertheless, speculation, carried to excess, ruins many an individual. Hence arises the necessity, without staying our progress, of coming to the aid of those who cannot follow its accelerated march. We most stimulate these, and moderate those ; aliment the activity of this breathless, unquiet, and importunate society, which in France expects everything from the Government, but which it is a duty to confine within the bounds of the possible and the calculations of reason.

"To enlighten and to direct—this is our duty. The country prospers ; that fact is undeniable, for, notwithstanding the war and the dearth, the

onward movement has not slackened. The product of the indirect taxes, the sure index of the public wealth, has surpassed in 1856 by more than 50 millions the amount, in itself so exceptional, of 1856. Since the establishment of the Empire these revenues have spontaneously increased, without taking new taxes into the account, by 210 millions. "Nevertheless, there is among one portion of the community great suffering; of which, unless Providence send us a good harvest, the millions given in private charity and by the Government will be but kettle palliatives. Let us then redouble our efforts to remedy those evils which are beyond the reach of human foresight.

"During the past year several departments have been attacked by the scourge of inundation. Everything makes me hope that science will ulti mately succeed in conquering nature. It is with use a point of honour that in France the rivers shall be made to return, like the lievolutiou, to their -channels, no more to leave them. "Another not leas serious cause of uneasiness has its seat in the state of mon's minds. When a crisis arises, it springs from false rumours or false doctrines propagated by ignorance or malevolence. It has even gone so far

AS to disquiet the national industry ; as if the Government could desire anything but its development and prosperity I The duty of good citizens, then, is to diffuse everywhere the wise doctrines of political economy, and especially to confirm those vacillating minds which, I will not any at the first breath of adversity, but at the slightest check to our prosperity, are wont to sow the seeds of discouragement and to increase the prevailing uneasiness with their imaginary alarms.

"Considering the various exigencies of the present situation, I have resolved to reduce the expenditure, without suspending the great works

which are going on, and without compromising the substantial results which have been obtained. I have resolved to diminish certain jutposts, without impairing the financee of the state. The budget for 18.58 will be presented to you, duly balanced. All the items of estimated expenditure which can be foreseen are included in it. The amount produced by the loans will prove to have been sufficient to defray the expenses of the war. All departments of the public service may be provided for without our being obliged to have recourse again to public credit. The estimates for the War Department and Marine have been reduced within due limits; care being taken to preserve the cadres, to respect the degrees of rank which have been so gloriously gained, and to maintain an armed force worthy of the greatness of the country. It is with this view that the annual contingent has been fixed at one hundred thousand men. This number is twenty thousand below that of the ordinary enlistment in time of peace. But, according to the system which I have adopted, and to which I attach great importance, about two-thirds of these conscripts will only remain two years with their colours, and are afterwards to form a reserve that will supply the country at the very first appearance of danger with an army of six hundred thousand disciplined men. "The reduction of the effective force will permit me to improve the pay* of the lower ranks and of the line; a measure which the dearness of proYili0118 renders indispensable. In like manner, it yields a sum of five mil

lions to begin with, f i

or raising the inferior salaries of some of the officials in the civil departments, who, amidst the hardest privations, have set a good example of probity and devotedness. "Nor have we forgotten to set apart a grant for the purpose of establishing a line of Transadantic steamers, the creation of winch has been so long required. Notwithstanding these increased expenses, I shall propose to you to suppress, from the let of January 1868, the war-tithe added lately to the registration-dues. The abolition of this will be a sacrifice of 23 millions ; but as a compensation for it, and in conformity with the wishes expressed on several occasions by the Corps Legialatif, I have caused to be taken into consideration the imposition of a new duty on all moveable property.

"An idea wholly philanthropic had induced the Government to remove the Bagnes to Guiana. Unfortunately, the yellow fever, which had been unknown in those regions for fifty years, has appeared, and arrested the advance of colonization. A plan is being prepared for the removal of those establishments to Africa, or elsewhere.

"Algeria, in which, under skilful bands, we see agriculture and commerce daily extending, deserves to attract our special attention. The decree of decentralization recently issued will favour the work of administration; and I shall neglect no care to offer you, according to the circumstances, the measures best adapted for the development of the colony. "I invite your attention to a law that tends to bring into cultivation the landes of Gascony. The progress of agriculture ought to be one of the objects of our constant solicitude; for the prosperity or decline of empires may be dated from its improvement or neglect. "Another project of law due to the initiative of the Marshal Minister of War will be laid before you. It is a complete military penal code, which consolidates, whilst harmonizing them with our institutions' the scattered and often contradictory laws that have been issued since 1790. You will be glad, I doubt not, to affix your name to a work of this importance.

"Messieurs les Deputes—Since this session is to be the last of your le

gislature, permit me to thank you for the devoted and active assistance that you have afforded me since 1852. You have proclaimed the Empire. You have taken part in all the measures that have restored order and prosperity to the country,. You energetically supported me during the war. You shared my grief during the epidemic and during the scarcity. You shared my joy when Heaven gave me a glorious peace and a well-beloved son. Your loyal cooperation has enabled me to consolidate in France a form of government based on the will and interests of the people. It was a difficult task to perform, for which real patriotism was essential, that of accustoming the country to new institutions. To supersede the licentious freedom of the tribune, and those stirring contests that announced the fall or elevation of ministries, by free but calm and serious debate, was a signal service to the country, and to liberty itself; for liberty has no enemies more formidable than the excesses of passion and violence of speech.

"Strong in the assistance of the great bodies of the state, and in the devotedness of the army—strong, above all, in the support of this people, which knows that all my time is consecrated to its interests—I foresee for our country a future full of hope.

"France, without injury to the rights of any one' has resumed in the world the rank that was her due and may devote herself in security, to the promotion of all that is most due, grand in the works of the genius of Peace.

"May God not be weary of protecting her ; and soon may we be able to say of our age what a statesman, an illustrious and national historian, has written of the Consulate, 'Satisfaction was universal, and whoever had not in his heart the evil passions of parties was happy in the public welfare.'" After the delivery of the speech, the Senators and Deputies elected since the last session were called up by name to the Throne, where they took the oaths. Each, holding up his right hand, said, "I swear !--I swear obedience to the Constitution and fidelity to the Emperor !" The Minister of State then declared the session opened for 1857. Another salute of 101 guns proclaimed this fact to Paris.

lir 51 ia.—Intelligence from Berlin states that the four Powers who signed the protocol of 1852 have agreed that a conference on the Neuchatel question shall be held at Paris. The Berlin correspondent of the Zones explains the object of the conference— It" is to carry out the undertaking which the four Great Powers entered into with the King of Prussia in 1852, after recognizing his right to the sovereignty of Neuclaitel—namely, to obtain by diplomatic means the restoration of those rights ; and this London protocol of the 8th of May 1852 will form their point de depart. The late liberation of the Neuchatel prisoners restored the status quo as it existed previous to the 3d of September, but will have no further influence on the deliberations. The circumstance of that attempt at a rising having been made, and the possibility of its being repeated, has served to show the necessity of the Great Powers fulfilling the obligations of 1852, which will accordingly form the subject of the approaching conferences. Those who expected that these deliberations were to end in a renunciation of the King of Prussia's sovereignty over Neuchatel will find themselves mistaken, inasmuch as this is expressly not their object, and it is the King's firm intention not to accede to anything of the kind, if it ever should be proposed."

tustric—It appears that a Hungarian Committee has been appointed to receive the Emperor on his visit to Hungary. Among them are Prince Paul Esterhaxy, Counts Bela Wenkheim, Emmanuel Andrasy, john Cairaky, and Felix Zichy. On the 8th, the Committee waited on the Archduke Albrecht, and informed him that the nobles would do all in their power to render the sojourn of their Majesties in Hungary agreeable, but that they could not answer for any enthusiasm on the part of the nation. Count Wenkheim is said to have observed that the Hungarians still deplored the loss of the constitution which they and their forefathers had possessed for eight hundred years. Count Cziraky remarked, that " enthusiasm " was not to be expected from a people which was not permitted to use its mother-tongue when it had to address the authorities in writing. Another member of the Committee remarked, that the country was inundated with foreign employes, who knew as little of the real state of the country as they did of the language of its inhabitants.

Si 114.—The Ion,e stay of the Emperor at Milan is said to have been caused by the difficulties of making a settlement for the future govern ment of the Italian i

.provinces. It s said that the new Governor, the Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, has hinted that he will not be able to discharge the important duties of Governor-General of the LombardoVenetian Kingdom to the satisfaction either of his Majesty or of his subjects, unless some important changes are made in the system of government. He objects to the existing system of rigid centralization.

Meanwhile, a cause of trouble has arisen in Mantua. One Bianchi hiaeed at the theatre ; a dispute arose between him and an Austrian officer, which ended in a challenge. Bianchi, however, was arrested, and could not meet his man. Next day, he was liberated ; the officer met him at a coffeehouse, and the altercation was renewed. "The officer clapped his hand on the hilt of his sword ; but M. Bianchi did not give him time to draw, for he knocked him down with a strong back-handed blow. The quarrel would have ended here, with the discomfiture of the Austrian ; but seven other officers ran up and fell upon M. Bianchi, who, seizing the sabre of the officer he had prostrated, now placed himself against the wall and defended himself; but being outnumbered, he would have been massacred, if persons running up had not hastened to remove and save him. The indignant people rushed in masses to the Austrian barracks, for the purpose of setting them on fire. It was a long time before the authorities succeeded, with great difficulty, in appeasing the popular mind." The municipality of Mantua waited on the Emperor to ask for redress. It is stated that they have failed to obtain it, and have in consequence resigned.

18,11 1.—The Russian Government has acquired by treaty with that of Fenda a niche of territory near Bayazeed, including or commanding the road that runs through the mountains from Persia to Turkish Armenia. This is a great acquisition. The building of forts to secure it is already spoken of. A report from the Russian Minister of War declares that the truce concluded with Schamyl during the Eastern war expired in the month of May 1856, and that operations against that leader have been begun along the whole line of the Caucasus.

31g 16.—The Duke of Valencia has promised, in answer to a Progressista deputation, that the strictest legality shall be observed in the elections for the Cortes, and that the press shall be free. Espartero has resigned his post as a Senator, in the following letter to the Queen, dated Logrono, February 1.

" Senora—The Cortes being convoked for the 1st May, my conscientious duty obliges me to declare to your Majesty that it will be impossible for me to attend the Senate ; for reasons which no one knows better than your Majesty. In consequence, I pray your Majesty to deign to accept my resignation of my dignity of Senator. May God keep your Majesty many

years. BALDOBIBRO ESPAIITEB.0." A quantity of arms has been seized in one of the Madrid theatres, and the director has been arrested.

Mulia anti Oitta.—The fuller despatches of the overland mail are mainly taken up with details of the preparations for reinforcing the Persian expedition' a meeting between Sir John Lawrence and Dost Mohamed, and the state of affairs at Canton.

The troops at Bushire were tolerably healthy, but had suffered somewhat from the brackish nature of the water. A better supply had been discovered. The town was held by the Twentieth Native Infantry ; the remainder of the force occupied an intrenched camp on the plain near the wells. The reinforcements were to consist of the Queen's Four teenth Light Dragoons, First Regiment of Jacob's Scinde Irregular Horse Fourth Troop Horse Artillery, First Company Second Battalion Foot :Artillery, her Majesty's Seventy-eighth Highlanders, Twenty-sixth Regiment Native Infantry, Twenty-third Regiment Native Light In fantry. General Outram, who commands the whole army, sailed from Bombay on the 16th January. General Stalker, who has hitherto com manded the troops will in future command the first division, consisting of the force at Bur:hire. The second division, composed of the reinforcements, will he under the command of Colonel Havelock, a soldier who has seen service in Burmah, Affghanistan, and the Punjaub. He suc ceeded Colonel Markham as Adjutant-General of the Queen's troops in India. Colonel Jacob, of the far-famed Scinde Irregular Horse, and so well known for his experiments with small-arms, will command the whole of the cavalry. Two mountain-trains of artillery, each consisting of eight 12-pounders and six Si-inch mortars, were to be sent for ser vice in the mountain defiles. There was some talk of raising fifteen regiments of irregular horse from the tribes of the coast, —preparations that indicate either large operations or excessive precaution. The Moniteur de l'Artnee states that the troops at Bushire call their encampment " Balaklava," and the inner bay the harbour of Sebasto pol." Two Protestant churches have been established, and the quarter of Bushire containing them is called "Victoria City.' There is a racecourse, and there will be a railway. The Teheran Gazette of the 8th January ,publishes a proclamation of the Shah, announcing the capture of Bushire, and stating his intention of taking the most energetic measures to repel the invasion of the English. It at the same time expresses the hope of an amicable settlement.

The most showy incident in the Indian news is the meeting of float Mohamed and Sir John Lawrence, on the 3d January. Sir John sent a strong force four miles into the Khyber Pass to meet and escort the Affghan chief.

imposing force of two troops of horse artillery, two field-batteries, and a mountain-train, four regiments of cavalry, and six of infantry, three of them English, formed a lane from jamrood to Sir John Lawrence's durbar tent. As the Affghan cavalcade came down the lane' Colonel Edwardes, Commissioner of Peshawur, and the military officers, advanced to meet it. At its head rode Saadut khan, of Lalpoora, the powerful and ofttimes troublesome chief of the Momunds, now on his very best behaviour. Behind him appeared, plainly attired in the national choga,' an old man, worn and wizen4 but with his beard dyed a fine black. This was the Ameer of Cabal. In his train was seen a litter slung between two ponies, in which was carried a notable prisoner of the Host's, not to be trusted out of his presence, the es-King of Balkh. Arrived at the durbar tent, Bost Mahommed was received with a royal salute, and the troops formed in column and marched past in review. Mr John and he then proceeded to open the conferences." Here the intelligence breaks off. The Indian Government had concentrated a powerful army at Umballah, "ostensibly for camp exercise." Speculation is rife as to their future employment, and there are rumours

that Herat is their destination. It is stated that the Persians have improved the defences of this town, mounted fresh guns, and laid in great stores of provisions. The advices from China do not add greatly to the information imparted by the telegraphic messages. It is now certain that the whole of the factories, except one, were consumed in the fire of the 14th December. But the church and the club-house remained uninjured. Around these, and in the gardens, the troops were encamped, covered by intrenehments. The fleet held the river as heretofore. Mr. Cowper, the father of the proprietor of the Whampoa docks, had been decoyed and carried off by the Chinese. It is reported that the Emperor has sent a Mandarin to supersede Yeh, in order that peace may be made by granting the British conditions; the report was not credited at Hongkong. A circular to the American merchants from the office of their Legation intimates that Dr. Parker was not disposed to encourage the resumption of trade, as Yell continued to evade the fulfilment of treaty stipulations. "Means more ample than those now at command will be required to meet the emergency of the public interests of the United States in China, and the satisfactory and proper adjustment of the relation of the five ports is anevent yet future."