furrigu nub Column!.

,f1 ant —On Thursday "the Empress received the Members of the great bodies of the State, and addressed a speech to the presidents of each body. Her Majesty said to Count Moray, President of the Corps Legis- latif, that she depended on the enlightened patriotism of the Deputies to maintain in their several departments that confidence which all must feel in the energy of the army, and, when the day of victory shall have come, in the moderation of the Emperor. Her Majesty further said, that she reckons upon the loyal support of the entire nation, which, during the absence of the chief it has chosen, will never be found wanting to a woman and a child. Loud and long applause followed the conclusion of her Majesty's address."

The Manikin. states, that "a note of the French Government has been sent on the 3d of May to the foreign Governments, announcing that orders had been given to respect the territories and the commerce of neutral states, and to observe the principles consecrated by the Paris Congress."

The French Government, it is understood, have ordered the immediate organization of an Army of the East. This is the result of the Prussian i war measures. There s also to be an Army of the North. This is the garrison of Paris. On the 16th, the Amazone embarked at Toulon 250:political prisoners, to be increased by 250 from Algeria; all destined by the paternal Government of France for the swamps of Cayenne.

Sillti.—The King of the Two Sicilies died on the 22d, at half-past one. A telegraphic despatch says that during the last agony of the King troops were encamped round Caserta. Troops have also been as- sembled at Naples, and their generals lodged in the forts of the town. The Duke of Calabria caused several persons to be arrested, charged with being opposed to his ascending the throne. Nevertheless, he ascended the throne, and as Francis II. has assumed the reins of go- vernment, tranquillity prevails throughout the kingdom.

At Foggia, the second city of the kingdom of Naples, a false report having been circulated of the death of the King, two parties suddenly arose, the one for the Hereditary Prince the other for the Count of Trani. A contest took place with bloodshed. The adversaries of the Hereditary Prince had the worst of it, and were put to flight. A Nea- politan correspondent of the Opinions reports that whilst the Govern- ment declared for neutrality, reports were circulated of glorious victories already obtained by the Austrians and a thousand other tales fabricated in accordance with the wishes of Government. The following is a fact which promises little for the new king. While his father was still living, an Inspector of Woods and Water was by the Prince himself de- prived of his office because his son had escaped to Piedmont to join the army. Similar dismissals were also ordered by him. Instructions were also given to the Count of Syracuse, previously to the death of the king, that he should not occupy himself in political affairs. Little good can, therefore, be hoped for from the rule of Francis II.

Venice is blockaded, and sixty French men of war domineer on the Adriatic. The tricolour is visible from the tower of St. Mark.

The Austrians have ordered the exaction of a forced loan of 75 millions from Lombardo-Venetia. There is a strong feeling in the Papal States kept down, however, for the present. The Austrians are said to be ex- citing the Lombard peasants against the nobles. The policy of the papacy is decidedly Austrian.

Smitivriautr.—The Swiss Federal Council, anxious that the war in Italy should not infringe upon the neutrality of Switzerland, has issued the following orders.

"1. The export of arms and of any munition of war over the Swiss Italian frontier is interdicted. The accumulation of such articles near the Italian frontier is likewise prohibited. In case of acting against this order, all wares of the kind above mentioned will be confiscated. 2. Arms brought from Italy into Swiss territory by fugitives, deserters, or in any other way, will Pie sequestrated ; except weapons carried by travellers provided with regular passports, or by those fugitives who immediately go on to the inte- rior of Switzerland. 3. All fugitives shall be directed to a canton which is in becoming distance from the Italian frontier, and will have to remain there. Old men, women, children, and sick persons, shall be treated with due regard concerning this order. 4. The passing of persons, able to bear arms, in order to go from the territory of one belligerent power to that of the other, is, in all cantons joining to Italy, interdicted. Should the in- truders not go back, they are to be ordered into the interior of Switzerland. All deserters or fugitives who do not keep quiet will be expelled."

ffrrn an4.—The King of Saxony opened the Lrindtag on Wednesday. In his speech, which among other things contains a demand for money supplies, there is this passage-

" War threatens to make those treaties doubtful on which the rights of Europe now rest. His Majesty is upheld as well by the consciousness that i

he has always raised his voice n behalf of that which the honour of Ger- many and the maintenance of just principles demand, as by the conscious- ness that these his sentiments are shared by the whole Saxon people. Should war ensue for the protection of the just cause, his Majesty hopes with con- fidence that God will be with Saxony and Germany in general.

The official Wiener Zeitung publishes a letter of the Emperor to the Archduke Charles Lewis, Governor of the Tyrol, directing him to pre- pare the customary measures for the defence of the Tyrol. The com- mittee of the Tyrolean provincial diet has been increased by the addition of trustworthy persons, in order by that means to learn the views of the intelligent patriots. The Tyrol is to be occupied by 40,000 men drawn from Bohemia, and commanded by General Clans Gallas. An army, 80,000 strong, will also be stationed between Linz and Salzburg, and another in Gallicia. The Vienna correspondent of the Times says there is a rumour that "the Hungarian nobles are about to demand an audience of his Majesty, in order that they may be able to inform hint by word of mouth that they consider the Minister of the Interior the cause of the present dis- tress and disorganization in their native country. The intelligence which reaches me from Hungary is so alarming that I cannot venture to repeat it. The discontent and disaffection of the people increase from day to day, and it hardly admits of a doubt that there will, sooner or later be serious disturbances if some concessions are not made to them. Volun- teers have been raised in considerable numbers in various parts of Hungary, but almost all of them are 'riffraff.'"

it is reported from Vienna that the Montenegrins have destroyed the

Austrian telegraphs in the Sutorina, thereby cutting off communication between Cattaro and Raguso.

111i II. —0 ur Madrid contemporary, El Fenix, reports proceedings which show that the Spanish Government is alive to the necessity of being prepared for eventualities.

"Two of the Cunard Company's steamers the "Alps" and the "Andes" each of 300 horse power and 1370 tons burden have just been bought in Loudon by the Spanish Government. These vessels, destined to convey the transatlantic mails, arc capable of carrying 600 passengers and 1200 tons of cargo.

We see with pleasure that the Government is promptly looking to the fortifications of the Balearic Islands : it has lately sent ample funds so that nothing may be wanting to the speedy completion of the works now pro- gressing in Mahon. Great progress may be noted in the arsenals of the Ferrol, in the marine engine factory amongst others. The schooner Regalia, with her engines fixed, was launched on the 3d. In the shipbuilders yard they are proceed- ing with the steam-frigate Lealtad. The steamer Isabel II, the Velasco, the. sloop Laborde, the bngantine I.Trumea, and the lugger Gaditano are being repaired. The new steam frigate Blanca is taking in her masts and com- pleting her internal arrangements." El Fenix, May 18.

Instralia.—The closing scenes of the first Victorian Parliament were remarkable and instructive. The Assembly terminated its business with the passage of the Appropriation Bill; the Ministers anticipating its final passing in the Upper chamber fixed the day for their dinner, and the Governor fixed the 24th February for the prorogation. The Legis- lative Council, however, thought that the distribution of the fund voted for educational purposes was unequal-92,500/. to the Denominational Board, 32,500/. to the National Board—and they amended the bill by adding 4000/. to the latter, contending that by so doing they were only rectifying a clerical error. They sent the bill down on the 28d, but the Ministers went to dinner and the House was "counted out." On the 24th the Governor went down to prorogue the Parliament, and had to wait until it had decided what to do with this bill. The debate was spun out over the dinner hour, the Governor waiting in an outer room quite disregarded by the Assembly, and when that body adjourned to dine, the Governor sent for his dinner and dined too. At length, by 24 to 15, the Assembly sent the bill back restored to its former state. The Council was asked by one of its members to adjourn, but rejected the motion by 10 to 9. Then a motion was made praying the Governor to send the bill down for amendment ; but as this would have been to do through the Governor what the Council could not do itself, the motion was negatived by 12 to 7, and the bill was passed. At eleven at night, the Governor emerged from his retirement, his patience rewarded ; he gave assent to six and twenty bills, and prorogued the Parliament.

Mr. Duffy had resigned the office of Commissioner of Lands ; and had been succeeded by Mr. Home.