fortigu au

cf rant e.—Paris has, like London' enjoyed a fine healthy Christmas season, and the streets and public walks have been crowded with holi- day-makers and venders of all kinds. There is hardly along the Boule- vards a space without its stall, and in each stall a choice display of wares supposed to be suited to the season. The Emperor has been unwell; a fact made known to the public by his absence from a Council of Ministers and the countermanding of a re- view. The question of agricultural assurance, debated the other day before the Council of State au grand complet, the Emperor presiding, is for the present at an end. The project of M. Perron savoured too much of Socialism to be popular with the Council. It was rejected by a ma- jority of 47 to 3, 50 being the total number present. The Council will soon meet to take into consideration the question of the usury laws.

It is said that Marshal Pelissier has prevailed upon the Emperor to permit the return of the whole of the exiled Generals to France, without exacting any conditions. Charles Lagrange a veteran Revolutionist, has died at the Hague, after a long and painful illness.

Another instance of private vengeance in France is recorded. A young man named Basset fell in love with the daughter of the Mayor of Ail. She received her lover in her bedroom. The father discovered the intrigue; and, ordering his daughter to sleep in another room, placed his son in the girl's room armed with a gun, telling the youth to shoot any one who got through the window. Basset appeared, and was killed. Both father and son have been arrested, much to their amazement.

lustria.—Lord Stratford de Redeliffe has been much feted at Vienna. He arrived there on the 22d December, intending, it is said, to continue his journey on the 24th; but the invitations that poured in upon him from the Emperor downwards made it impossible for him to resume his journey so soon.

The Times, at the close of a long article, recalling the services of Lord Stratford in Turkey and elsewhere, thus estimates his more recent labours- " The veteran statesman is now to return home for a time, perhaps for ever. All his fierce feuds, his personal discourtesies, his favouritisms, and his strange dislikes, will soon be forgotten. His faults of temper will linger only in the remembrance of a narrow circle. On the other hand, his exer- tious for his own country, for Turkey, and for the world, will probably rise in estimation with every succeeding year. He has certainly achieved a weak in which a less stern and resolute character would have failed. His very &teas seem to have been necessary to success in his peculiar mission. If he had been a goodnatured, easy diplomatist of the usual type, he could never have held his position among the demoralized cliques of Constanti- nople. During the moat momentous period of modern Turkish history he has been the controlling spirit of the Porte; incorruptible in the midst of universal corruption; unterrified while all around him were shrinking ; of preternatural activity, with sloth and apathy on every side; carrying on a ceaseless warfare against every kind of evil' positive or negative, which came within the circuit of his view. He has roused a lethargic Sultan into action, taught self-seeking Pashas honesty, terrified distant Governors into justice, foiled the sedition of Greeks, restrained the cupidity of Armenians, protected missionaries, checked Mussulman persecution and extended

i ChrChristianrights. In fact, Turkey as it is today is mainly his work. All the younger race of Pashas who shrink in decency from the enormous cor- ruption of their fathers have received from him the education which has made them whet they are. If the sick man' is ever destined to be whole again, the world will recognize in Lord Stratford de Redcliffe the physician who has worked the cure.'

The Emperor of Austria has determined to enlarge Vienna by razing the fortifications. The population had outgrown the house-accommo- dation; rents are accordingly exorbitant. The only cure was to throw down the walls. The ground they now occupy will be sold, and the pro- ceeds devoted to public buildings. "The fortifications are first to be done away with on the Northern and Western sides of the city; and there is to be a broad quay along the canal of the Danube, which runs along the Northern part of the city. The pa- rade-ground, on the South-west side of the city, is to be properly regulated. In the new part of the city between the suburbs of Roseau and Alser-Vor- stadt, (the IsTorth-east part,) there is to be a fortified caserne containing a military prison and bakehouses. The open space before 'the Imperial Palace, which is on the South side of the city, and the gardens on each side of it, are to remain as they now are until further orders. The space between the outer Burggate, and the Imperial stables is to be left in statu quo; as is that ill-placed edifice which overlooks the Leopoldstadt, and which is known as the Francis Joseph Caserne. When the above-men- tioned alterations have been made the city will be enlarged on its South- eastern side, where is the Barntlm:r-gate. Among the public buildings to be constructed, are a palace for the General Commando of the army, a residence for the Town Major, an operahoube, a record-office a lib , rary, a municipal palace, Museums, &c. Inside the quay of the Danube, and consequently round the inner city, there is to be a Boulevard. The breadth of the street, including causeways, is to be 240 feet. On different parts of the glacis the homes are to have large gardens, and all the prin- cipal streets are to be very broad; even the side-streets are to be 48 feet in breadth. All European architects will be at liberty to send in general plans for enlarging and beautifying the city. The reward for the beet plan will be 2000 ducats (about 900/.), for the second 1000, and for the third 500 ducats." ltal IL—Before the Piedmontese Legislature broke up for the Christ mas holidays, the Liberals tried their strength with the Clerical party, but on a question of slight importance. The liberals carried the vote by 82 to 59 : the Ministers did not vote. The earthquake at Naples continued four days. It has been far more serious than was at first supposed. In extent it stretched from the Medi- terranean to the Adriatic, with varying violence ; doing most damage in the Basilicata, but inflicting great sufferings on the people in all the pro- vinces South of Naples. Some villages have disappeared ; others have been nearly destroyed ; scores have been seriously damaged. But the loss of life has been terrible. In one town, 2000 persons were killed' in another, 400 ; in a third, 300 ; and all over the region affected by the shock so many lives have been sacrificed that the lowest estimate of the loss is 13,000. The Government is said to have promptly rendered aid to the sufferers; but other accounts represent the aid rendered as very in- efficient.

During the Week of the earthquake at Naples the thieves plied their trade, and the lottery-offices were as much frequented as if no public calamity had occurred. A report by Mr. Acting-Consul Barber to the Earl of Clarendon on the past and present condition of two English engineers imprisoned at Salerno has been published. Mr. Barber writes, that in reply to him the Attorney-General had stated that Park and Watt were detained when the crew were released because a letter from Miss White was found on Watt. This statement, the Acting-Consul says, "is com- pletely false." The paper found on him was a notice enforced on both engineers at the dagger-point by the insurgents, that if they did not do their duty as engineers they would be killed. They worked the engines of the Cagliari under a guard armed with a pistol. Mr. Barber appends a metnorandum describing the cruelties inflicted on the engineers by the Neapolitan authorities in the Vicaria prisons at Naples and afterwards at Salerno.

t ?III tt II —The Government of the Swiss Confederation is now constituted as follows: General Politics, M. Furrer ; Interior, M. Plods; Justice and Police, M. Hansel; War, M. Frey-Herosee ; Finances, M. Staempfli ; Commerce and Tolls, M. Fomerod ; Post-office, M. NaelE

urkr4.—it is reported that "a note addressed by M. de Boutenieff to the Porte declares that the occupation of Perim by the English is con- trary to the integrity of the Turkish territory." Another rumour is, that "the Shah of Persia invited the various Am- bassadors to be present at the coronation of his son; and that the Eng- lish Minister refused to attend, making a reservation in favour of the rights of another heir to the throne, now a refugee at Bagdad."

telegraphic despatch from Alexandria, dated the 14th De- cember, states that the different detachments brought there by "the steam-transports Sultan and Nemesis have arrived at Suez under the command of Colonel Mackirdy. These detachments formed a total of about 1100 men; of whom only four were 'on the sick list, and not with any serious illness. The transit from Southampton to Suez was effected in the most satisfactory manner. It is stated that the India Company have made arrangements for the passage of a thousand men a month through Egypt to Calcutta or Bombay."

$1131i 11.—The fuller despatches of the Bombay overland mail arrived in London on Monday morning, and those of the Calcutta mail on Thursday. They do not increase our information very much either in substance or detail; but they correct an impression produced by the first telegraphic message that Sir Colin Campbell was master of Lucknow.

Oude. The concentration of the relieving force under Sir Colin Camp- bell before Lucknow was not accomplished until the 10th November. The first to cross the Ganges was the Delhi column, 3460 strong, under Brigadier Hope Grant. They met with no opposition until they had crossed the river Sye by the Bunnee bridge; but parties of the enemy hovered around, intent on reaching the baggage. Some of them occu- pied a village from which they were speedily muted, on the 3d Novem- ber. Brigadier Grant halted his column at Nawabgunge, within hear- ing of the sound of firing at Lucknow. Here he was first joined by de- tachments from several regiments on the 8th and 9th, and on the 10th by Sir Colin Campbell with 1500 men. The Commander-in-chief then had under his orders about 6000 men eleven heavy guns two 18-pound- ers eighteen field-pieces, and several mortars. Ills first operation was to 'take and blow up the fort of Jellalabad, and to clear the ground around Allumbagh ; his next, to turn as far as possible the strong posi- tions of the enemy, and reach the Residency by a circuitous route. Some idea of the severe nature of the operations may be obtained from the fol- lowing description of the obstacles. " Allumlegh stands South of Lucknow about three miles. A direct mad runs due North, crosses the canal at right angles in a point called the Char- bagh bridge, and, diverging slightly to the Westward, cuts through the heart of the city, and stops at the Balee guard. or Residency. The canal, which runs nearly East and West, falls into the Goomtee, at a point North of the Martiniere school. The Muchee Bawun and Residency abut on the river, which flows almost due East and parallel to the canal ; but at some dtaiii ce the course of the stream alters and winds South, joining the canal above the Martiniere school. Thus Lucknow, the Muchee Dawun, the Re- sidency, and other buildings, are enclosed North, South, and East, by a barrier of waters, which bathe an area forming almost a rectangle. Near the junction of the canal and Goomtee, and consequently near the Mar- tiniere several bridges are built on the canals, that which is nearest the river leading to a group of buildings called the Mahals. These Mahals are the residence of Wajid hree hundred wives; and are an extensive structure built of buck., ...owing excellent covering positions to infantry, but incapable of resistance to artillery. Near them are Seounderbagh, the barracks, and mess-house. Troops occupying the Mahals and other build- ings just named are under fire South-eastward from the Residency. Ar- tillery placed on the canal in front of the Martiniere could fire on them in a North-westerly direction. It is, then, obvious that by an advance of our troops from the Southward or Martiniere direction the occupants of the Mahals would be under a double fire. At no great distance in rear South of Martiniere is Dilkhoosha, literally Heart's Delight, a palace of brick, com- posed of two rectangular blocks of buildings, forming half a square." Avoiding the direct road and the cross fires, Sir Colin Campbell moved by his right, and occupied the Dilkhoosha and Martaniere on the 15th, alter a running fight of two 1.0.. when he was well established, the rebels made a counter-attack, but were repulsed, with small loss on our side. On the 16th, Sir Colin, having turned the position, advanced di-

molly on the Residency ; Crossing the canal, battering Secunderbagh with his artillery, and storming it after a severe struggle. Without halting, the heavy guns were turned upon another large building ; the fire was kept up for three hours ; and at dusk it was carried, after one of the severest fights ever witnessed." Such was the work of the 16th. There now remained between the relieving force and the Resi- dency, the palaces, the mess-house, and the barracks. Here again Sir Colin made a great use of his big guns, with Peel's sailor gunners work- ing them ; and when the balls and shells had broken a way into the buildings, the troops dashed through and won possession at the point of the bayonet. This was achieved before the sun had set; and on the bloody field so stoutly won, the three Generals, Outram, Havelock, and Campbell, met in the dusk. There was again hard fighting on the 18th and 19th, of which we have no particulars. But since the garrison of the Residency, and the women, children, sick, and wounded, were re- moved on the 20th, and sent on to Cawnpore, it may be inferred that other obstacles in the way of a complete communication with the Resi- dency, than those encountered on the 17th, had to be overcome. Beyond the 20th all is dark. Of the heavy fighting on the 21st we have no de- tails. It is clear, however, that on the 21st the British had not cap- tured Lucknow, for the whole of the Western end of the city is unac- counted for.

No approximate estimate of the losses on either side has been pub- lished. Outs is supposed to have been smaller than the severe nature of the operations seems to warrant. The losses of the rebels must have been very large, since 1500 dead bodies were counted in the Se- cunderbagh. This may well be, since our infantry are armed with rifles, and among Sir Colin'e artillery were some 68-pounders.

According to one report, Fyzabad, where the rebels hail set up a King, was to be the scene of their next stand, after Lucknow shall have been 'wrested from them.

'easel:pore. General Windham, left at this station to forward rein- forcements and secure the commanication with Allahabad, was threat- ened *hen the mail was despatched by the Gwafior mutineers coming -from Calpee. This erratic and vacillating force is said to have crossed 'the Jumna according to one account, strong in all arms, and led by Nana :Sahib ; and General Windham was supposed to have marched out to meet them. But according to another account, deterred by :the reports of the arriyal of troops at Cavenpore, they had turned back at the bank of the river, and had set off either for Jhansi or Gyration Another ac- 'count states that they were still at Cale, suffering from divided eoun- sels.

Delhi. The moveable column which started -frcrm Delhi under Bri- gadier Showers has been actively engaged in scouring the country South of Delhi ; dispersing' small bands, cutting up marauders, burning vil- lages, seizing and executing prisoners, and altogether doing much execu- tion. One part of the column under Colonel Gerard met with an unex- pected enemy. The Jeirdpore Legion, led on, it is supposed, by a belief that Delhi had not fallen, moved ,up all the way from Awa in Raj- pootana, intending to enter Delhi. They were heard of between Nar- nool and Rewarree and -Colonel Gerard hastily collected a force and marched to meet them; the Legion, trusting to its numbers, quite ready for a fight. The action lasted all day. The Legion held a strong stone building, and fought stoutly. Hut by sunset the rebels were driven off the field in a confused rout, with the 'Guides and Carabineors on their heels. Both leaders were killed—Sumnud Khan, chief of the Legion, on the spot; and Colonel Gerard, being mortally wounded, soon died. We lost 70 killed and wounded. From Delhi itself we have little news. One a the sons of the King has been allowed to live, on account of his youth. The papers have ex- pressed great indignation because Colonel Rogge carried him out en his elephant at the request of Mr. Sanders, the Commissioner, for an airing of an evening. The journalists at Calcutta are enraged because any one is spared. They ask that a special envoy should be sent to Delhi with full power to do anything except pardon." The Bombay correspondent of the Daily New writes- " Justice seems tardily to have taken its course at Delhi. Twenty-four of the inferior members of the Royal Family of Delhi were executed on the 20th November, by order of a military commission, before which they were tried. Hukeem Abdool }Ink, who was one of the most influential rebels, and fore- most in his hostility to our Government, was executed on the 21st. There are others remaining to be dealt with. A fatal spirit of lenity, the ghost of Mr. Colvin's policy, lingers there. Numerous prisoners sent in from time to time are treated with respect and tenderness. The King is sumptuously atteutled in his so-called confinement, and receives the customary forms of ceremonial to which his old rank entitled him. A son of the King of Delhi is seen taking airings on an elephant, with Colonel liog.ge and Mr. C. B. Sanders mated behind him in the howda. Noted leaders of the rebellion are in custody, and should be tried. Their names have been published : they are—Hoossein Khan a Persian, who commanded a regiment at Delhi ; Nu- wab Ahmed Kooli Khan' father-in-law of the King, who went out to meet the Bareilly'brigade and escorted them into the city ; the Nuwab of Jhu-ur, and Nuwab Ameen Oodeen Khan, accused of assisting in the murder of Fraser."

Central India. Brigadier Stuart, with the Mhow field force, has been successful in &feeling the rebels in Malwa. He gave them battle near Mundesore, and inflicted on them a severe loss. In the night they abandoned Mundesore. Another body of rebels, hanging round Nee- much, when they heard of the defeat of their comrades at Mundesore, abandoned that place. Rampoora, a town further Northward, seems to be the point where the scattered bands of insurgents' united. "Sir Hugh Rose, gazetted to the command of the united brigades sepa- rately led hitherto by the two Stuarts, takes the field immediately, and is now on his way to head-quarters • the measures which he is instructed to pursue having been duly concerted at Matheran, between him Lord El- phinstone, and Sir R. Hamilton. The Mhow column, thrown 'forward to the vicinity of Mundesore, stands fast at that place, after forcing the rebels to evacuate the neighbourhood. Its strength has already been increased by the junction of Orr's Edlabad force' near Mehidpore. Brigadier Stuart's Aurnngabad column-, lately halted atAsseerghur, will proceed to Hoshunga- bad at once. Whilst with this army Sir Hugh advances Eastward as rapidly as the ground and means of transport will permit, Whitelock's Madras co- lumn, now in course of formation at 2fing, win keep tho right bank of the Nerbudda. On the West, General Roberts's brigade will push forward from Deem; on the North-west, Lawrence's brigade will move from Aj- Inere the Delhi deffielnuente will here ie the insurgents from the North," The Punjaub. Some disorder has occurred here. It was occasioned by the activity of the marauding tribes, who sallied forth and plundered right and left. They were pursued by flying detachments ' • many have been caught and slaughtered, and some chiefs have been hanged. One body was surprised in its stronghold, and a large head of cattle and much stolen property were recovered. Lieutenant Neville was murdered by one band as he was proceeding down the Sullej on his road to Bombay to meet his intended bride.

Bengal. A new mutiny has broken out. Just before the despatch of the mail on the 24th November, news reached Calcutta that three com-

panies of the 34th Native Infantry stationed at Chittagong had mutinied, plundered the treasury, opened the gaols, and marched off for Dacca. They committed no murders. Some companies of British Infantry were to start from Calcutta for Dacca on the 25th. The Indian Government have sent an expedition to explore the Anda- man Islands with the view of ascertaining whether a penal settlement can be established there.

A long and detailed order has been issued by the Governor-General- decidimr what compensation shall be given to sufferers from the rebellion. Grants are to be made on a fixed scale to all persons who have suffered loss of property during the mutiny, whether they be connected w ith the Company or not ; and pensions to the families of those who have been killed. The scale of pensions is liberal, but the compensation for loss of property is very small. Natives who rendered active assistance to the Government will be compensated ; those who (lid not will receive no compensation. Free passage on steamers has been and will be given to all women and children from up-country stations to Bengal, and from Calcutta Nome.

The Commander-in-chief has published an order laying down rules for the disposal of Native soldiers on furlough belonging to mutinous or dis- armed regiments. All Native officers, non-commissioned officers., and Sepoys of mutinous regiments, who report themselves on the expiration of their leave, will be paid and discharged ; those of disarmed regiments may rejoin at the expiration of their leave. Commanding-officers may report the cases of faithful men who belonged to mutinous regiments, for consideration. .411 who overstay their leave will be liable to dismissal, with forfeiture of pay : they must give satisfactory proof of the manner in which they were employed during their unauthorized absence. The Times Calcutta con-espondent brings under notice an order issued three months ago by Mr. R. Montgomery in the Punjaub with the sanc- tion of Sir John Lawrence. It notifies, that thenceforth "the system of caste could no longer be permitted to rule" in the British service ; and that Native Christians would be eligible, equally with undoes and Ma- hometans, for appointments in the judicial and police departments. Up to that time, there had not been a single Native Christian in any em- ployment under the Government of the Punjaub.

The Moonshee Anteer Ali. The appointment of this gentleman as As- sistant-Commissioner at Patna occasioned severe attacks upon the Indian Government. Mr. Samuels, the Commissioner of Patna, has explained and defended the circumstances that led to the appointment, in a letter to the Secretary of the Government at Calcutta. Moonshee Amcer All was a leading pleader in the Sudden Court ; his professional income is estimated at from 3000 to 4000 rupees a month. His father was a loyal servant of the British, and he was known to be loyal. When Mr. Samuels was about to quit Calcutta for Patna, the Moonshee offered his services and, knowing that he was intimately acquainted with the history Of every private family in Behar, Mr. Samuels asked the Moon- shoe to report his offer to the Lieutenant-Governor. He did so, and it was accepted. But to make his services useful with the Zemindars, it was necessary that he should hold an appointment ; and he was ac- cordingly made Assistant-Commissioner at a salary of 700 rupees a month. Mr. Samuels acknowledge: the great services he rendered. "His assistance was most useful to me during the Mohurrum. By my desire he assembled the inhabitants of the different Muhullahs in rotation, and explained to them, according to a programme I had previously given him, the precise position of affairs and the power and resources of the British Government; answering all their questions, satisfying all their doubts, and confirming their confidence in the stability of the British rule. He explained to them at the same tune the rules I had laid down for their guidance during the Mohurrum, and the necessity of carefully avoiding every demonstration which might lead to a breach of the peace. He at- tended at the Jurgah on the great day of the lIohurrum, and super- intended all the police arrangements at that spot in person ; and it was un- doubtedly owing in a great measure to his exertions that the Mohurrum, which gad' been looked forward to with dread by so many persons, passed off more quietly than it had ever been known before in the city of Patna, and this without any coercion of the people or any display of military force. Since that period Moonshee Ammer Ali has been occupied in conducting the extensive correspondence which I have had with Native zemiudars and others on affairs connected with the disturbed state of the country, and in ace quiring information for me on the s:ate of feeling among the Natives in all parts of my jurisdiction. In all this, his zeal, tact, and intelligence have been conspicuous ; and I should be most unjust if I did not ac- knowledge in the fullest manner the assistance which I have derived from him in this department of my duties."

But Mr. Samuels regards the appointment as useful in a political point of view, and censures the press for its ceaseless vituperation of Ameer Ali and the Mahometans in general.

"The main ground of attack against him was however, that he was a Mahometan ; and I confess I think, had his appointment served no other purpose, that it would have been of the greatest utility in proving practi- cally to the Natives that the Government did not sympathize with the vio- lent tone which the press assumed towards the Mussulman community, and had no intention of acting upon its suggestions. The whole of the Calcutta press, apparently without exception, have taken up the idea that this is a Mahometan rebellion, not merely in the sense that the Sepoys were worked upon by individual Mahometans, which may or may not -be true, but that

the entire Mahometan community is disaffected, and merely waits its op- portunity to rise and throw off the British yoke. I need not point out how

destitute of foundation this notion is' how entirely unrestrained many mil- lions of Mahometans in Bengal have been during the last four months ex-

cept by their own feelings of loyalty, and how quiet the Mahometan villages," of Southern Behar have generally remained While the Rajpoot and Brahmin"

villages were rising round them. In this neighbourhood, in particular, air: the Lieutenant-Governor is aware, the Mahometans have been foremost iee'r acts of devotion to the State. When a few fanatics, principally- Oude nos attempted to excite an 4rneute in the town of Patna, proclaimed a j- holy war, and carried before theta a banner inscribed with a ver Koran, not above twenty or thirty persons of the enormous Mahoraetan population of this town showed the least sympathy with them. A Maho- nietan Darogah was the first to attack them, and lost MB life in a gallant attempt to arrest them with the aid of his Burkandayes alone. Numerous ether acts of devotion on the part of Mahometans might, as you are aware, be cited. But the press could see no virtue in the act of a Mahometan ; and it was seriously contended, in issue after issue of the different papers, that the entire race should be proscribed ; that no employments of trust should be given to them ; and that we should treat them, in fact, as our na- tural enemies, people on whom our heels should be constantly pressed. I confess it appears to me that articles of this description are much more likely to endanger the stability of the Government than any amount of abuse, whether of the persons or the measures of the members of the Government. They,have a direct tendency to excite disaffection among large masses of the population, and to convert what is now a military revolt into a national rebellion. I cannot conceive a more sure method of inciting the whole Ma- hometan population of the empire to rise' than to persuade them that the Rnglish Government is determined for the future to treat them as disaffected subjects, and to exclude them from every honourable office. At all the sta- tions which I passed on my way up the river, I understood that the violent tone which the papers had assumed towards the Mahometan community had excited alarm and anxiety. among them, and that they were in dread lest the Government should Issue an edict of proscription such as the Calcutta papers advocated. The ap.pointruent of Moonshee Ameer Ali, and the ho- nours liberally bestowed since on other Mahometans who have shown their devotion to the State, have done much to satisfy the people that the Govern- ment are not likely to be led by popular clamour into the commission of such an act of folly and injustice.'

If 4iua .—The advices from Hongkong come down to the 15th No- vember. The Russian and United States Ministers had arrived there. No attack had yet been made on Canton, but it was understood that the -operations would begin at the end of the month. The French were to cooperate, and the force at the disposal of the allies is said to be 5000 of all arms. Yeh was much pressed by rebels in the Kwangtung province.

uif1r13 taitc—The America arrived at Liverpool on Monday, with advices from New York to the 18th December.

The separation of Mr. Douglas from Mr. Buchanan on the Kansas question, and the fortunes of the Utah expedition, form the prominent political topics. Mr. Douglas takes his stand on the out-and-out Demo- cratic doctrine that the whole constitution intended for Kansas should be submitted to the people ; and he disputes the validity of the proceedings of the Leeompton Convention, whereby only a clause of the consti- tution was so submitted. The President recognizes the validity of the proceedings of the Convention. Governor Walker and acting Governor Stanton took the same view as Mr. Douglas; - and Mr. Stanton thought himself justified in calling the new Territorial Legislature together at Le- compton, a body well-known to be in favour of free institutions. It is for this act that the President has dismissed Governor Walker and Mr. Stanton ; thus practically leaving the destinies of Kansas for a time in the hands of Calhoun, the " Regent " appointed by the Convention. But the Free Statemen have not been inactive. Called up by Stanton, they came in great numbers ; and at present civil war seems not far distant. It is supposed that the key to the defection of Mr. Douglas is to be found in his prospects for the next contest for the Presidency. The posi-

tion he has taken is that of the thoroughgoing Democrat, determined to mettle everything on extreme Democratic principles. Hence his protest on behalf of the Democracy of Kansas is considered as an appeal to the Democracy in general, whose leader and champion he aspires to be.

Very contradictory accounts have been received from the 'Utah expe- dition. One represents the troops as almost certain of obroining shelter, fuel, fodder, and a good position for the winter, in some happy valley of the Rocky Mountains ; another draws a doleful picture of their -struggles in that difficult country, wanting in all things, cut off from their resources, and destruction before and behind. All the accounts describe the forces its divided at least into three if not more bodies ; and none place their joint numbers higher than 1600 of all arms. When Captain Van Vleit was at the Salt Lake City, Brigham Young preached a sermon before him.

"I shall treat," he said, "every army and every armed company that attempt to come here as a mob." (The congregation responded "Amen.") "You might as well tell me that you can make hell a powder-house as to tell me that you could let an army in here and have peace ; and I intend to tell and show them this if they do not keep away. . . . . Before I will suffer what I have in times past, there shall not be one building, nor one foot of timber, nor a stick, nor a tree, nor a particle of grass and hay that will burn, left in reach of our enemies. I sin sworn, if driven to ex- tremity, to utterly lay waste in the name of Israel's God As I said this morning ten years ago on this ground, I stated that we would not ask any odds of our enemies in ten years from that date; and the next time I thought of it was ten years afterwards to a day ! They are now sending their troops was the news ; and it directly occurred to me, Will you ask any odds of them ?' No, in the name of Israel's God,, we will not, for as soon as we ask odds we get ends—of bayonets I am aware that you want to know what will be the result of the present movement against us. Mormonism will take an almighty stride into influence and power, while our enemies will sink and become weaker and weaker, and be xto more ; and I know it just as well now as I shall five years hence. The

Lord Almighty wants a name and a character and He will show our enemies that He is God, and that He has set Ms hand again to gather tryIsrael, and to t our faith and integrity. And he is saying, 'Now, you, my children,. dare you take a step to promote righteousness, in direct and open opposition to the popular feelings of all the wicked in your Govern- ment? If you do, I will fight your battles.'"

Brother Heber C. Kimball also made an exhortation at the same meet- ing, of greater directness and blasphemy.

" Wake up, ye saints of the most High, and prepare for any emergency that the Lord our God may have pleasure in bringing forth. We never WWI leave these valleya till we get ready—no' never, never ! We will live here till we go back to Jackson County, Missouri. I prophesy that in the name of Israel's Gad." (The congregation shouted " Amen !' and Presi- sident Brigham Young said, "It is true.") The Deseret News of the 7th of October publishes the resolutions adopted by the Mormon Legislature at its last session, and forwarded to Mr. Buchanan. The pith is, that they "will resist any attempt of Go- tvemment officials to set at nought the Territorial laws, or to impose n them those which are inapplicable and of right not in force in this erritory."

While the North and the South are struggling for the possession of the remote Territory of Oregon has settled the question of slavery

by the adoption of a constitution excluding slavery, with which it will appear this winter at the bar of Congress, asking admission to the Union.

Among the papers presented to Congreea, is a long report from the In- dian Bureau to the Secretary of the Interior, throwing a favourable light upon the position of the Indians in the States and Territories, and de- scribing the various and complicated relations existing between them and the Federal and State Governments. The instances where the Red men have settled down to anything like a semblance of civilized life are few and far between. The tribes are now mere remnants, excepting these on the Western frontiers.

C ft' if al 11111 I if 1L—William Walker, the Filibuster, at the head of 200 men has once more planted his standard in Nicaragua. Early in November he was arrested at New Orleans on a charge of violating the neutrality laws. Bailed out instanter, he put to sea with his men in the steamer Fashion, madelilearagua about the 26th November, landed fifty men at the mouth of the Colorado, and, passing under the guns of the United States corvette Saratoga, landed the remainder and six guns op- posite Greytown, where he was to await Henningsen with a stronger band. The Fashion went to Aspinwall. Overhauled by an American reell-d-wer, her " -pePers " were found to be "correct." Her captain said he had taken two hundred " coffee-planters " to Nicaragua, and had "asked no questions." It is stated that two English and two American men-of-war had set off on receipt of the news of Walker's landing for the San Juan.

BERNDT° OF THE SABAH SANDS.—The second calamity that has be- fallen the fleet of transports sent to India with troops was far more se- rious than the mishap of the Austria. The Sarah Sands, screw-steamer, having on board nearly 350 men of the 54th Regiment, with the head- quarters, a number of ladies, soldiers' wives, and children, has been partly burnt at sea ; the saving of the ship and of the numerous lives on board being due only to the courage and Skill of the officers and the good conduct of the men. The voyage appears to have been favourable until the llth of No- vember, when the ship had reached lat. 14 S., long. 66 E. (upwards of 400 miles from the Mauritius). About three o'clock in the afternoon of that day, the troops berthed on the after orlop-deck noticed a smell of burning, which apparently proceeded from beneath them in the hold. It rapidly increasing, the alarm was given to Captain Castle, who at onee ordered the after-hold to be examined, and, to the astonishment and horror of all, the cargo stowed there proved to be on fire. It is stated that the bulk of the cargo there consisted of Government stores. Bale after bale was hauled Up in the hope of getting at the seat of the fire ; but in a short time the smoke became so dense as to defy any of the crew getting further into the hold. There was no confusion, however ; every order was obeyed by the men with coolness and courage. The course of the ship was stopped. Colonel Moffatt was seen in earnest consultation with Captain Castle deci- ding upon measures for suppressing the flames, while the crew were ac- tively employed in taking all sail in and bringing the ship before the wind. Others ran out lengths of hose from the fire-engines, which were passed down to hands below, while hose was also put on to the donkey engine. ft soon became apparent that all these exertions failed in checking the pro- gress of the fire. Colonel Moffatt, at the suggestion of the commander, directed his men to at once cast overboard all their ammunition ; and in a short time they succeeded in clearing out the starboard-magazine. The remainder of the powder in the port-magazine, however, excited great apprehensions.Akft-Trly had the after-part of the ship become almost un- approachable from the dense smoke and heat which filled every portion of it. The Colonel appealed to his men for volunteers to attempt to rescue the contents of the magazine now so threatened. Several brave fellows in- stantly came forward and heroically succeeded in reaching the magazine and clearing it, with the exception it is supposed, of one or two barrels. It was a truly hazardous work ; several nearly lost their lives ; they became overpowered with the smoke and heat, and fell; and when hauled up by ropes to the deck they were senseless. The flames soon afterwards burnt up through the deck, and running along the various cabins speedily set the whole on fire. There was a heavy gale blowing at the cabins, and Captain Castle, perceiving the critical position of the ship, at once took measures for the safe lowering of the boats. They were launched without the least accident. The troops were mustered on deck, there was no rush to the boats, and the men obeyed the word of command with as much order as on parade. Colonel Moffatt informed them that Captain Castle did not despair of saving the ship, but for their own preservation it had been deemed advisable to keep the boats off so as to act in case of emergency. The ladies, women, and children, were lowered into the port life-boat, and she was directed to stand off until further orders, All hands then turned to constructing rafts of spare spars. In a short time three were put together, which would have been capable of saving a large portion of those on board. Captain Castle succeeded in launching two overboard, and the third was left across the deck, to be lowered at a moment's notice. In the meanwhile, the flames had made terrible progress : the whole of the cabins, saloon, &c.' were one body of fire ; and about nine o'clock the flames burst through the upper deck and ignited the mizen-rigging. Through the forethought of Captain Castle in bringing the ship to the wind, the fire and smoke were swept sternways ; but serious anxiety was felt lest the ship should pay oft; and so render her destruction inevitable. During this fearful suspense a dreadful explosion took place, no doubt arising from one or two barrels left in the port-magazine which blew out the pot-quarter. The ship from the main rigging to her stern was in one general body of fire. Captain Castle still had hope, although he expressed his fears to the commanding-officer of the troops [a separate letter from Captain Castle implies that Major Brett was now in command] that the ship would be lost. Providentially the bulkhead of the after-part of the-ship withstood the action of the flames. Here all efforts were concentrated to keep it cool. Party after party of the troops volunteered for the work, and so endeavoured to prevent the fire making its way forward. For hours did this state of affairs continue. Although the men kept the fire at bay below, it gained the main rigging. Mr. Welsh, the chief officer, with several of the soldiers, atones went aloft with wet blankets, and after considerable peril and risk succeeded in extinguishing the flames. As it was, however, some of the yards were destroyed. To- wards two o'clock the following morning the men had the satisfaction of seeing the fire diminishing. The flames were gradually beaten back and by daylight were entirely extinguished. It was not till then that the fearful havoc made by the fire was clearly ascertained. The after-part of the ship was burnt out—mei ely its shell remaining; and now another fate threatened her. The gale still prevailed, and the eship was rolling and pitching in a heavy sea, constantly shipping water at the port-quarter, which had been blown out by the explosion. She had fifteen feet of water in her hold, and active steps were necessary to prevent her foundering. All the men were set to the pumps and baling water out of the hold. Captain Castle, fearing the stern would fall out, got two hawsers under the bottom and made them taut. The next difficulty was to stop the water which was pouring in through the quarter. Spare sails and blankets were placed over the opening, and the leak was partially stopped. There was no abatement in the gale during the morning, and in every heave of the ship the water- tanks in the hold which had got loose were dashed from one side to the other. The state of the ship and the continued severity of the weather rendered the constant working of the pumps and the baling imperative. It was not till two o'clock in the afternoon that the boats containing the women and children could be got alongside. They were got on board ; and the other boats, which had been ordered off during the raging of the fire, returned, with the exception of the gig, which had been swamped during the night ; the officer in charge of her, however, Mr. Wood, and the hands were picked up by another boat. During the remainder of the day, the following night, and succeeding day, the whole of the hands and troops were engaged working the pumps and clearing the ship of the water. By the evening of the 13th the crew succeeded in securing the stern and getting steerage-way on the ship. She had then drifted as far as longitude 13-12 South. Captain Castle then set all sail, and bore up in the hope of making Mauritius ; and, to the joy of all on board, made that port in eight days, where her arrival and marvellous escape excited considerable sensation, The officers in command of the troops speak in the highest terms of the conduct of Captain Castle during the trying occasion. By the latest arrivals, the head-quarters and men of the 54th Regiment continued at the Mauritius, awaiting the arrival of a ship to take them on to their desti- nation."