fortign nub Colonial.

PIM—The Conference is understood to be drawing to a dose ; but it is not now expected that the treaty of peace will be signed this week. The Plenipotentiaries have sat from day to day, but they could not overcome certain difficulties. Rumour ascribes at least one of the difficulties to Prussia. The story is, that the representatives of Prussia desired to take their place in the Conference on the same footing as the other Plenipotentiaries. To this, we are told, according to one report, Lord Clarendon stoutly and successfully objected ; maintaining that Prussia must follow the precedent of 1841, when France resumed her place in the European concert by signing the treaty agreed to by the other Powers. Another account represents Turkey as the objecting party, and Lord Clarendon as the champion of Turkey. The result, as confidently, stated, is that " an arrangement was adopted, by which the Allies. "should sign one protocol, and that a second should be drawn up to which Prussia and the Allies should of their signatures." Whether the treaty la signed or not before the 31st, it is said that orders will be Sent to, the Crimea directing the Generals to refrain from recommencing hostilities. One of the arrangements of the treaty, it is asserted, will provide for the occupation of different parts of the Turkish empire by Engith and French troops for a limited time.

The news of the Empress, the baby, and Prince Jerome, continues to be " satisfactory."

i41 Cr lint 11—The principal news relating to the seat of war touches on the condition of the Frenqr troops. The Crimean correspondents of the journals have all agreed in representing the rate of mortality among them as very great—from 120 to 170 a day. This immense rate of lose is traced to " bad clothing, bad housing, and bad feeding." The Paris correspondent of the Times, on the faith of a private letter, stated that " many of them throng about the British camp and pick up waste biscuits, and even the refuse food which the English soldiers throw away" ; and implied that the army which had done so much to consolidate the power of the Emperor was forgotten. This drew forth a reproof from the lioniteur, and an official statement on the question of clothing and feeding. "The army is so well-provisioned as to allow the men fresh bread every day" ; there is "flour in store for three months" ; and the "greater por- tion" of the French troops are supplied with fresh vegetables. As re- gards clothing—" Each soldier in the Crimea has received, in addition to his usual kit, a complete winter suit, consisting of a woollen cap lined with felt, a hooded mantle, a pair of Bulgarian gaiters, a woollen or flannel girdle, a pair of woollen stockings, a pair of wooden shoes, and a pair of gloves." The Moniteur admits that the army has suffered from sickness ; but that arises from the position of the French camp, "on the very theatre of the struggle," "on a ground which, having served as a sepulchre for so many victims, is far from offering those conditions of salubrity which the English army finds at Balaklava." CAll very well from the official organ of the French Government : but it is as undoubtedly the fact that the French army has suffered severely from less perfect arrangements than our own, as it is that the British army is not wholly, or even in great part, at Balaklava.] 11155i3.—The French journals have distinguished themselves by publishing letters from Russia ; some of them certainly totally un- worthy of credit. Whether all are so it is impossible to say, but the statements they contain are frequently worth attention. The letters in the Constitutionnel begin to show at least the light in which some Frenchmen desire that France should be regarded by Russia and Russia by France. One of the latest of these productions, dated St. Peters- burg, March 11, gives a flourishing account of one of the Czar's recep- tions, held on the 10th.

"During the reception, the Empress was so cheerful and animated as to excite the notice Of the persons invited ; and the Emperor conversed with different groups, to whom he declared that peace appeared to him to be more and more certain, and that he could now occupy himself with important works at home and with useful modifications in his empire. To one of the groups, composed of nae,gibers of the Corps Diplomatique; the Empress said— The war has only been an accident, or rather a misunderstanding. It will not have changed in any way the good personal relations between the Russians and the French; who have some remarkable points of resem- blance. They have certainly fought too long, but it has been always with courtesy and humanity. The Russian prisoners have been treated by the French not as enemies, but as brothers ; and I have been anxious that proper treatment should be shown to the prisoners whom the fortune of war

has thrown into our hands. When peace shall have been signed—and everything leads me to believe that it is about to be so—France and Russia may hold out the hand to each other, may esteem and love each other as in the past ; for, although the struggle has been warm, it has been carried on is all honour and without hatred.' The Emperor Alexander also spoke in the most affectionate manner of Napoleon III., and did full justice to the acts. of his government, and to his love of peace, which, he added, is as sincere as my own.' " The lnralide Russe states that the famous Russian helmets are to make way for the French kepi ; the long grey coat will be retained, but the ordinary coat will be " a sort of frock imitated from the French." It concludes with the announcement that "the Russian army is at present being organized after the plan of that of Napoleon I." According to a letter from Nicolaieff in the Moniteur tie la Flotte, the naval establishments at that place have been entirely dissolved and broken up, and the stores removed en route to the Baltic. All the schools con- nected with the army and navy have been given up. Similar measures

are to be applied to Kherson. In addition, in order to correspond with all these measures, the defences and arsenals of Otchakoff, Ovidiopol, Te- -impel, and Vosnesensk, and other fortified points of. that zone established to cooperate with the idea in virtue of which Sebastopol and Nicolaieff were created, are about to be notably diminished." A. telegraphic despatch from St. Petersburg, dated March 18, states that " in the course of the ensuing week the Emperor Alexander will undertake an excursion into Finland, for the purpose both of inspecting the works of defence and of visiting some portions of the interior which he has not yet seen. His route will be by Helsingfors, Abo, Tavast- hous, and Kekholm." A-later despatch states that he had left St. Pe- terburg.

4e Salt ir.--The Baltic squadron has been reinforced by the ar- nivel of the two.ships of the line, the Majestic and the Caesar, at Kiel. Captain Watson, with the Imperieuse and the Pylades, bad steamed up the Baltic to the entrance of the -Gulf of Finland. They cut their way easily through thirty miles of ice. Having satisfied themselves that the ice in the Gulf had not- broken up, they put about, and returned in a course parallel to the coast of Finland to Dantzic ; whence, after" com- pleting coal," they steamed for Faro. During the cruise, they fellin with two Lubeek.brigs fast fixed in the ice. They had started on the let February, bound for Port Baltic, and arrived on the 8th within fifteen miles ; the ice prevented any further progress.

In Si ria.—The Papal Internuneio at Vienna has convoked a Synod of the Austrian Bishops, and has quite forgotten to notice that the Emperor has called a similar gathering. This caused some -trouble at Vienna: tlle Ministers met in council ; and the Government instantly sent the Imperial-Chancellor Hoffinan to Rome. It is stated that "the number of the antagonists of the Concordat increases daily," and that amongst the most important of these is the Finance Minister, Baron Bruck. At the council above mentioned, he is said to have "stated without hesi- tation, that the execution of the Concordat rendered the realization of his plans of reform more difficult."

It is understood that a corps of Engineer officers will shortly be se* from Vienna to map out the Danubian Principalities, which were com- pletely surveyed last year. " Austria has recognized her vocation to open these lands to civilization" ; in -other words, she desires to see a railroad between Galatz and Hungary.

Sill e.—Parina has been subjected to martial law, in consequence of certain political assassinations. Gaetano Bordi, Auditor of War, in company with another officer, was walking in the street on the evening of the 17th March ; suddenly he was stabbed, by a person who instantly escaped. BoIrdi died the same night ; and the Duchess Regent instantly proclaimed martial law, and directed the police and military authorities "to concert measures for the disarmament of the inhabitants, domiciliary visits, and the expulsion of all individuals who have not obtained leave to reside in those localities." This is the fourth assassination in Parma within two years. The victims were the Prince of Parma ; Lunati, the President of a tribunal which tried and sentenced certain political incen- diaries in 1854; Count Megawly Ceratti, one of the Ministers ; and Bordi. GObbi, the public prosecutor, was stabbed some time since, and recovered with difficulty. It was reported that Count Giovanni, Presi- dent of the Criminal Commission, had been murdered, but it proves in- correct. Rumour names Lombardini, another Minister, as having re- ceived an intimation-that his turn will come next.

ffinrktii.—There is a great stir in the Danubian Principalities respecting the kind of settlement they are to receive at the hands of the Porte or the Allies. It appears that Aali Paaha carried with him to Paris distinct instruction not to consent to the insertion of the Hatti-humayoun among the articles of peace, and to oppose any arrangement about the Prin- cipalities prejudicial to the rights of sovereignty claimed by the Porte. It seems that the Turkish Government was roused to take this course by the reference of the question to the Paris Conference. Informed by telegraph that the Conference had touched on the question, the Turk- ish Government sent a formal protest by telegraph against the discussion even of the union of the two Principalities, as an interference with the internal affairs of Tnrkey, and as a violation of the sovereign rights of the Porte in those provinces. On the side of the Moldo-Wallachians, there is a protest against the projects of settlement entertained at the diplomatic conferences at Stamboul : they advocate, as the keystone of any settlement of their country, the union of the two Principalities under a national prince, a national administration, and a national legislature. Such is the sense of a petition said to have been presented by some thou- sands of Moldavians to Prince. Ghika, the Hospodar, and also of a petition to Count Walewski, as president of the Paris Conference, from the Moldo- Wallachian residents at Paris.

Melia.--A telegraphic message from Paris states that "letters from Persia say that Dost Mohammed, the Khan-Serdah of Caboul, has taken possession of the province of Candahar. Persian troops were marching against him." It is also reported that the "difficulty " between Persia and the British Government is settled ; Persia having made an " amende honorable."

VLII aril 04 Ai f 5.—The America arrived at Liverpool on Thursday morning, with advices.from Boston to the 12th instant. The Senate at Washington had, on the 10th instant, practically adopt- ed, by 22 to 12, the third reading of the bill appropriatingthree millions of dollars "for increasing the armament and munitions of war, and for the manufacture and alteration of arms," as recommended by the Presi- dent. During the debate, Mr. Bell opposed the appropriation, as not warranted by the exigencies of the country. He did not desire that it should go forth that • the little speck of war " had stimulated such pro- ceedings, Mr. Weller did not apprehend war ; but as the Treasury is full, they might as well prepare for any emergency. Mr. Hunter also thought that they should be ready to meet attacks from any quarter. Mr. Case took up his usual line of antagonism to this country. England had suffered so much in the war with Russia, that she would probably try to retrieve her reputation by a war with "the Western hemisphere. Mr. Iverson thought war was imminent, and therefore supported the It appears that before he received instructions to keep aloof from Ge- neral Walker, Colonel Wheeler, the United States Minister at Nicaragua, had entered into communication with the usurper, and had recognized his government. He has been censured by Mr. Marcy.

No news had been received of the missing steamer, the Pacific. [Two British war-steamers, the Tartar and the Desperate, have been despatched from Portsmouth-in quest of her.]

A telegraphic despatch from New York to Boston reports a terrible ca- tastrophe in Japan.

" NrW York, March 13, 11 p. m.—Japan dates vie California report that the city of Teddo was destroyed by an earthquake on the 12th of November: 100,000 houses in rains, and 30,000 lives lost."

11.—Advices from Melbourne have been received by the Lightning to the 28th December. The new Constitutional Act had come into operation. There was some opposition to this course of proceeding. A difference of opinion arose as to the proper interpretation to be pmt upon certain clauses of the Act ; one directing that the constitution should be proclaimed within a month after its arrival in the colony ; another directing that it should not come into force until certain things were done—until, for instance, " the entire management of the waste lands of the Crown and the proceeds thereof Were vested in the Legislature of the' colony." The Ministry held by the first-mentioned section, and, in spite of opposition, carried their point by the bare majority of one. But their existence was abruptly terminated. Mr. Nicholson moved a resolution in favour of election by ballot, and carried it by 33 to 26. The Ministry immediately resigned ; Mr. Nicholson was sent for "; and at the mo- ment the mail-steamer departed, he was about to submit a list of Minis- ters to Sir Charles Hotham. The defeat of the Ministry was a surprise, and there was some difficulty in forming an Administration. It was an- ticipated that the new Cabinet would pass an electoral act, and an act against bribery, and then dissolve the Legislature.