,furrigu nut talnuial.

FRANCE.—On his way to the Crimea in the summer, Kr. Augustus Stafford took passage from Marseilles in the Etna, on board which were some French soldiers. During the voyage they were afflicted with cholera, and Mr. Stafford rendered valuable personal services to the un- fortunate men. On his return home through Paris, last week, the Em- peror made inquiries of him respecting his conduct ; and on the 12th De- cember addressed to Mr. Stafford a letter of thanks.

"Your incessant care for our soldiers, attacked as they were by cholera, during the whole of the passage, your self-denial, your courage, the perilous forgetfulness ess of yourself n presence of the epidemic—everything in your conduct presents a rare example of devotedness to your fellow creatures. Already you have obtained the most pleasing recompense in those letters in which the officers and soldiers of the different corps express to you their ad- miration and their gratitude; and I am happy to add to it the expression of my own gratitude, and of my sentiments of high esteem for you." • The Sleek speculates as follows on the forces that might be put in mo- tion in a Baltic campaign. The details regarding the French army will

be read Withinterest. .

" Admitting that Sweden were to furnish 70,000 men and Denmark 80,000, the Western Powere would have to furnish 100,000 men, or 70,000 French and 30,000 English. France could even increase her contingent if the military', organization of our neighbour were not to permit them to com- plete theirs, for our country possessis a military strength really formidable. Thus is constituted the Preach army—Infantry of the line, 328 battalions ; light infantry (rifles), ,30 ditto ; artillery, 248 companies; siege-train, 20 ditto; engineers, 54 ditto ; sappers, 11 ditto—cavalry, 373 squadrons; gend- armes and firemen of Paris, 119 !squadrons or companies; veterans of all arms, 17 companies. It is not a question here of an • improvised force. At the advent of time Government of the 28 December, the army was composed of 327 battalions of infantry., 313 squadrons of cavalry, and 240 companies of artillery. It has thus only beenaugmented by 30 battalions of infantry and 60 squadrons of cavalry. Without any 'offence we may say that thm great army has been Organized udder the constitutional rigime, and had

found in Algeria the traditions of victory. like to hear the roar of cannon in Algeria, said Louis Philippe ; "Enrope does not hear it.' Europe has since heard this African Cannon, and friends and enemies know that it fires well, •• kgreat expedition V. the Baltic is therefore not impossible. England will pay her alliance in :vessels, and our soldiers will Ind at Cronstadt an- other-Malakoff." .

GERMANY.—Count Valentine Esterhazy, the Austrian Minister to the Court of St, Petersburg, left Vienna on Sunday for that city, carrying with him "the ultimatum that Austria has resolved to press upon the acceptance of the Czar." The teriour of the contents of that ultimatum, Bays the Morning Part, is no secret ; and the same journal proceeds to in- dicate the character of the stipulations. "The annihilation of the maritime supremacy of Russia in the Black Sea, by the exclusion from its waters of all ships of war—)y the dismantling of her fortresses on its coasts—and by the residence of Coilduls, who may certify that no purposes but those of legitimate commerce are "'ever attempted to be compassed—would free Turkey .from all danger by seld from her great neigh- bour; whilst the utter renunciation of all rights of interference with the Sultan's dominion over his subjects, and of protectorate over the Danubian Principalities, together with the cession of a portion of Bessarabia, compris- ing the mouths of the Danube, would secure the Porte in undisputed posies- aion of its European territorial rights. These conditions, when confirmed by material guarantee as well all by treaty, would solve the Eastern question. Other important terms, it is true, are demanded, such as that Bomersund

should not be rebuilt ; but of these we do not wish to state more than that all is exactly and finally laid down."

• The Post also positively asserts that the document is so distinct and un- mistakable that only two answers are possible "a positive refusal, or a positive acceptance." In the event of a refusal, Austria, it is said, will withdraw her Ambassador from St. Petersburg. The result of this pro- ceeding on the part of Austria will not be known for a fortnight. A remarkable article in the Constitutionnel throws some light on the view taken by the semi-official press of France respecting the probabili- ties of peace. "All tbat the Eastern war could give to France either in moral or poli- tical results, in strength, consideration, or influence in the councils of Eu- rope, it has granted. Why, therefore, if the precise aim for which the war was commenced has been accomplished, should not France agree to a peace on the conditions proposed since the commencement of hostilities by the Allied Powers, provided such be the wish of Russia. France could not de- sire the continuation of the war unless in the view of passing beyond the aim stipulated in the treaty of the 10th April, when it would become a question of dismembering the Russian empire. The latter act could alone Se done at the profit of some one Power. Would not France in that case require a compensation for the advantages which would accrue to our Euro- pean state. Would it not be justified in exacting that compensation? But in that case it would no longer concern the Eastern war with its special aim, as the treaty of the 10th April with its particular character; it would be nothing less than the reconstruction of the map of Europe, and a revision of the treaties of 1815. Certainly, if it could enter into the thoughts and policy of England to propose to France a similar measure, and it would be found convenient and proper to France to entertain the proposal, the continuation of the war with that aim in view might appear desirable to many. And it must be admitted that a conflict of that nature, notwithstanding the sacri- fices it would demand, would be popular. But the Eastern war has not called that question into existence ; it is nowise the aim with which Eng- land and France armed themselves against Russia' and from the moment when there is no question of going out of the limitsof the treaty of the 10th April7 there can be no reasonable motive to desire the continuation of the war.

It is reported from Berlin that "the Emperor of Russia has written to the King of Prussia, stating that, if he wished, he could not agree to the demands of the Western Powers, the nature of which he was perfectly familiar with, although they had not reached him in an official form."

The Augsburg Gazette states that "the Austrian Government has or- dered the sale of no fewer than seventy thousand horses, at present at- tached to the artillery and land-transport services of the third and fourth army corps, in process of reduction to a peace footing."

The Austrian Citsdit Mobilier seems to have met with a great success. The Governor of the National Bank states that "the results of the sub- scription are beyond all expectation From the beginning of the public subscription to its close on Saturday at six o'clock, a sum of about 644,666,000 florins was subscribed by 25,076 persons." The public, who did not succeed in obtaining shares, consider themselves aggrieved by the early closing of the subscriptions.

Russia.—Besides the regular budget of accounts representing the in- ternal situation of Russia as deplorable, some passages intended to throw a light on the aspect with which Russia is likely to view the peace pro- posals of Austria are published.

"Austria," says the Paris correspondent of the Times "is not the first that has, after a certain interval of time, made renewed adempts towards an arrangement. It is not long since Baron Werther, the Prussian Minister at St. Petersburg, had a long and animated conversation with M. de Neseelrode on the same subject ; and, though the representative of such a Sovereign as- Prussia is biased with, spoke, it is said, with surprising boldness, the te- merity of a friend, an associate, if not of an accomplice, is pardonable when it does not go beyond words, and M. de Nesselrode listened with patience to the end. When Baron Werther had exhausted all his own rhetoric, as well as the borrowed eloquence of his master, M. de Nesselrode replied= Russia will not accept such conditions ; Russia will never treat while there is a single foreign soldier on her territory!' Baron Werther again pressed the subject : he dwelt on the danger of a change of policy among the German States of the second order; spoke feelingly of the visit of the Bavarian and Saxon Ministers to Paris ; of the impression made upon them by the Empe- ror and his Minister for Foreign Affairs; of the effect throughout Germany of the Emperor's speech at the Paris Exhibition ; in a word, he made use of every topic likely to touch the mind or heart of the Russian : but the reply was still the same, and M. de Werther retired from the conference unsuccess- ful."

The following anecdote is told in a letter from St. Petersburg, Decem- ber 6, published in the Paris correspondence of the Times ; evidently of French origin.

"One of the principal seigneurs of Moscow has a great number of domes- tics, all from his own villages, whom he transformed from slaves into ser- vants. Among them there are three_whose occupation during the winter is to keep the stoves hot ; they are only occupied a few hours each day, from six to eleven in the morning, after which they go to sleep, or pass the day drinking tea and amusing themselves. About a fortnight since, these three servants, thorough Russian peasants, believing themselves alone in the dark room where they have their beds, began to talk about the affairs of the Crimea. One of them said to his companions= Ali, you see, brute, how cu- rious it would be to see the French come as far as Moscow, as they did the year of the Kremlin (the buruing of Moscow) ; they would give us all our freedom. Look at the French who are here ; they are not slaves, they have no want of passports, and they have no seigneurs, as here, who have the right to punish them with stripes." Y.“,' the other replied, if they only wanted a blow of a hatchet to open to them the gates of Moscow, mine is sharp, and I should not fail to let it fall three times on the barrier to break it.' These and similar remarks were overheard by the Intendant, who was in an adjoining room, and who reported them to his master. He, like a good Muscovite &pad, went and made his declaration to the Chief of Polies of his quarter. The three stove-warmers were arrested, and without any form of trial received each 150 stripes. The fact soon came to the knowledge of the Government, and the master, who considered that he had sufficientlypuniahed the poor wretches, saw them taken off and sent to Siberia." The eclogue Gazette publishes a letter dated Odessa, November 30, men- tioning a large fire at the military settlements, from which the cavalry have just been drawn. Vast stores collected by the troopers for men and horses have been destroyed.

SWEDPN.—England and France concluded, on the 21st November, an important treaty with Sweden and Norway ; being moved thereto by a desire to prevent every complication that may trouble the balance of power in Europe. The Gazette of last night published the text . of the treaty ;- •fr.m which we extract the stipulations. "Article I. His Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway engages not to cede to nor to exchange with Russia, nor to permit her to occupy, any of the territories belonging to the Crowns of Sweden and Norway. His - jesty the King of Sweden and Norway engages, further, not to cede to Russia any right of pasturage, of fishery, or of any other nature whatsoever, either on the said territories or upon the coast of Sweden and Norway, and to resist any pretension which may be put forward by Russia with a view to esta- blish the existence of any of the rights aforesaid. " Article II. In case Runk should make to his Majesty the King of Swe- den and Norway any proposal or demand, having for its object to obtain either the cession or the exchange of any part whatsoever of the territories belonging to the Crowns of Sweden and Norway, or the power of occupying certain points of the said territories, or the cession of rights of fishery, of pasturage, or of any other right upon the said territories and upon the coasts of Sweden and Norway, his Majesty the King of Sweden and Norway en- gages forthwith to communicate such proposal or demand to her Britannic Majesty and his Majesty the Emperor of the French ;. and their said Majesties, on their part,engage to furnish to his Majesty. the Wing of Sweden and Norway sufficient naval and military forces to cooperate with the naval and military forces of his said Majesty for the purpose of resisting the preten- sions or aggressions of Russia. The description, number, and destination ef such forces, shall, if occasion should arise, be determined by common agree- ment between the three Powers.

"Article III. The present treaty shall be ratified, and the ratifications shall be exchanged at Stockholm as soon as possible. " In witness whereef, the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have affixed thereto the seal of their arms. Done at Stockholm, the 21st of November in the year of our Lord 1855. " UTE.= C. MAGENI8. V. LOIFSTRIN. STIMMELD." THE Carme.a.—The Gazette of Tuesday contained despatches from Sir William Codrington, Sir Edmund Lyons, and Captain Osborn. Sir William Codrington's despatch, dated December 4, is brief, but im- portant. He states that the enemy continue to fire occasionally, some- times heavily, on the town. "They must have expended a considerable quantity of valuable ammunition, without causing us any loss or incon- venience." He encloses the firat casualty from this fire. It is that of Captain Lord It. Brown, of the Seventh Regiment, slightly wounded by the bursting of a shell in Sebastopol

"It may seem unimportant," Sir William continues, "to refer to the state of roads and weather here, but their condition affects the essential com- munications and wellbeing of the army. The winter broke upon us suddenly on the 26th and 27th with snow, and has varied with gales and rain ; and a very deep state of the ground has damaged all communications. Constant presence of labourers and constant attention are requisite, and are being given to-the road, which, from a peculiarity of soil and condition, was worked into holes, but which is and will continue to be of the greatest service to the army and its supplies."

Dr. Hall reports, that, up to the 4th December, the army was in a good state of health. The admissions to the hospital during the week had been 2.01 per cent to the strength ; the deaths to strength had been 0.07 per cent ; and the proportion of sick to well was 6.08 per cent. The despatch from Sir Edmund Lyons encloses a despatch from Cap- tain Osborn, dated "off Kerttli, November 24," reporting the close of the operations in the Sea of Azoff. Captain Osborn had made a tour of the sea, in order to ascertain that all the neutral vessels permitted to seek cargoes of wheat had departed. He found all the roads and har- bours empty, and not a single boat of the smallest description could be seen. The ice had begun to form. The Russians tried to detain the neu- trals, but failed ; and it appears that they had to depart without cargoes.

Measures had been taken in the camp in the Crimea to restrain drunk-

enness, and facilitate the transmission of money home. The Provost- Marshal was waging a war of extermination against the dealers in raki. Wherever the abominable fluid was found, it was started into the sea, and the owners compelled to quit the Crimea. The native vessels laden with raid had been seized and their cargoes confiscated. All canteens where raid was sold were shut up, and the proprietors deported. If a drunken soldier was found on the premises of a canteen or storekeeper, the keeper was fined five pounds.

The great steeple-chase races came off on the 26th, in a valley between

the French head-quarters and the Monastery of St. George. The day was bright and breezy. Sir William Codrington, Marshal Pelissier, and General La Marmora, were present, and a field of about four thousand horsemen. There were four races,—" the Grand International steeple- chase, the Alliance Cup, and the Sebastopol Handicap, and the Consola- tion Scramble." The winners, except one, were all officers of the Royal Artillery. Captain Smith's Muster-Roll, ridden by Major Yelverton, won the first; Major Biddulph's Viking, the second • Captain Campbell's Portia, the third ; Mr. Baker's Kathleen, the fourth. Mr. Baker is an officer of the Eighteenth Foot.

From Kinburn, to the 26th November, we learn that the sea was covered with floating ice. The troops were partly lodged in the case- mates and partly wider canvass. They were well supplied with all necessaries, and in good spirits.

TIMM:ff.—The fall of Kara is now officially confirmed. The luvalicle .Thesse states that the garrison surrendered themselves as prisoners of war on the 26th November ; that among the prisoners are nine Pashas, and General Williams—the other English officers are not named. It is stated that the park of artillery at Kars on the 26th consisted of 120 field-pieces and a few heavy siege-guns. With respect to the progress of Omar Pasha there are contrary state- ments. One is that he was endeavouring to establish himself firmly on the lower courses of the rivers, and on the coast between Redoutlialeh and St. Nicholas. The other comes by telegraph from Marseilles," and is as follows.

"Marseilles, Wednesday—By advises from Constantinople, just rewired, we learn that, after a battle, Omar Pasha had taken possession of Kbeni, which is five-and-a-half leagues from Kutais. He found in the place 12;OW furs. He had pushed on to the banks of the Rion, and had made prepara- tions to attack Kutais."

SPL121.—A review of the Artillery in the presence of Queen Isabella took place near Madrid on the 9th instant. The Queen drove to the ground in an open carriage. Espartero rode on one side, and O'Donnell on the other. The escort was composed of a squadron of cavalry of the National Guard and one of the Line. A pavilion, "the identical tent used by the Em- peror Charles the Fifth," fitted up with "great splendour," and sur- rounded by "the double-headed eagle and imperial crown, the arms of Spain during the Austrian dynasty," had been prepared. The Queen was received at the tent by General the Duke San hi iguel, who wore the

- white Austrian uniform. Having seen and heard a cannonade of thirty rounds per gun, the Queen returnedto Madrid. Surely altogether a very curious spectacle!

UNITED STATE3.—The Canada arrived at Liverpool on Sunday, from . Halifax; but did not bring the President's message. The advices are to the 6th instant. After two days of balloting for Speaker of the House of ;Representatives, no choice had been effected. The candidate who re- -oeived the greatest number of votes was Mr. Richardson a Democrat, of Illinois. His opponents were three Know-nothings and Whigs. It was anticipated that the difficulty would be solved on the 5th, and that on the 6th the President would deliver his message.

A despatch by Mr. Marcy to the representative of the United States at -Copenhagen has been published. It is a reply to an invitation from the Danish Government to join a convention at Copenhagen for the purpose -of considering a proposal to capitalize the revenue derived from the 'Sound Dues, and to apportion amongst the commercial powers a sum to be paid for the renunciation of the present mode of collection. The United States cannot consider a proposal of that kind, since they deny their liability to pay any contribution whatever. They object on prin- ciple to all ench exactions; and if the principle were yielded in one in- stance, it might be difficult to maintain it in others. If the dues were sanctioned in the Sound, similar charges might be imposed at Gibraltar or Messina, or at the moutlis of navigable rivers bordered by different states at their upper branches. Denmark admits that the dues are a -question not only of commerce or of money but of politics, comprised in a settlement which arranged the balance of power in Europe ; but "the -United States will never consent to the pretension that the New World is to be appropriated to adjust the balance of the Old," and will not in fact enter into the question of the balance of power. The United States are willing to pay any charges for work done, such as the maintenance of !lights, buoys, &c. [The Sound Dues produce to Denmark 217,0001. out -of 1,850,0001., the gross revenue of the state.] botaies.—The Parana arrived at Southauipton on Monday with the 'West India mails. The advices from Jamaica are to the 27th November. The Legislature was still in session when the packet left, and appeared very dilatory in proceeding with the business of legislation. They had' passed a Clergy IBM, with a duration clause of fourteen years whereby . a saving of 12i per cent on the salaries paid to the clergy has been ef- fected, or about 30001. per annum. A. message from his Excellency the Governor had been presented to the House, accompanied by a despatch ,frona the Colonial Secretary, proposing to send out a geologist and mine- ralogist to the West India Colonies, at the expense of the Imperial Go- vernment, providing each colony would pay 208. per diem towards his travelling expenses when actually engaged in such labour. The propo- sition had been agreed to by the House.