THE WEEK ABROAD.
FRANCE.—The Emperor, it is said, will be unable to carry his 'budget through the Corps Legislatif, and the new duty on salt has already been withdrawn. The members are afraid to face their constituents with a new project of taxation. No other proposal has been substituted, and M. Fould, it is believed, presses for a further reduction of 30,000 soldiers. The five Republican members intend to open serious discussions by formal motions for a reduction of the Army by 100,000 men, for placing the budget of the city of Paris under the control of the Legislature, for an inquiry into the cost of all branches of the public service, and for abolishing official plural- ism. The object in each case is not to obtain a hostile vote, which is out of the question, but to make a thorough expose of the state of affairs. The third motion on the budget of Paris will create excitement, as the Parisians feel their excessive expenditure very bitterly, and the city budget -affords the Ministry an opportunity of spending without Parliamentary inquiry, of which they have taken advantage. The Roman embassy remains unfilled, and rumours are incessant. One day M. Benedetti will be despatched, accredited to Italy, but residing at Rome, a significant diplomatic hint. Another day Marshal Niel is to be diplomatist and commandant both, and then no minister will be appointed. The latest statement, Probably true, is that the Count de Montebello, aide-de-camp to the Emperor, will be appointed commandant of the Army of Occupation, and M. Lavalette will proceed to Rome, bearing an ultimatum from the Emperor. According to this statement, made by the Paris -norre.spondent of the Times, the Marches and Umbria will be re- stored to the Pope on condition that he recognizes Italy, admits the right of the Italian Parliament to sit in Rome, and sends deputies thereto, that Parliament of course to make laws for all Italy. The proposition seems absurd, and the Moniletir warns the public that M. Thouvenel has assured the Pope no change has taken place in the position of the Roman question.
ITALY.—The King's journey to Turin has been hurried by the re- cent plot of the Ganbalclians to enter Austrian territory. Before his departure he ]aid the first stone of the new port of Naples, amidst a scene of unparalleled enthusiasm, in the midst of which, however, it was necessary to call out tlie National Gaard to repress a mob anxious to urge on the King the fecal of some Mazzinian exiles. At Rome the assembled Cardinals and Bishops from all parts of Europe have voted the canonization of the monks martyred in Japan, and it is said the Pope is consulting them as to the propriety of giving up the contest with Italy and the Emperor. Rome, however, is full of rumours, all about equally untrustworthy. The last is that Cardinal Autonelli has informed M. Thouvenel that if the French troops are withdrawn Spaniards will take their place. He forgets, if he ever made the statement, that Italy, though not yet able to drive the French from Rome, is strong enough to destroy the Spanish feet, and so finally prevent the said 'despatch of troops.
RUSSIA.—The Grand Duke Constantine has been appointed Viceroy of Poland, with Marquis Wielopolski as his adieus, or as we should say, Premier. The appointment is fall of hope for the Poles, for the Grand Duke, besides being a decided Liberal, is a really competent man, and, from his position in the empire, can act with a freedom and vigour no bureaucratic viceroy would venture to display. It is probable, moreover, that he has made certain reforms, such as liberty of speech, and the re-establish- /neat of the universities, a condition of his appointment. He is excessively ambitious, though, following the tradition of his House, he avoids a separate position in polities, and steadily supports bib brother. He is said in Russia to be a determined advocate of the peasantry, and to entertain secretly the dislike for the nobles which the Romanoffs have often displayed, and which has perhaps, more than any other cause, kept them firm to the cause of eman- cipation.
Pnmsaa.—Herr von der Ileydt made his financial statement on 26th May. The estimates would, he said, be presented in detail, but he sketched out the general result. The deficit of 1862 had been .diminished, he said, by reductions in the military expenditure, and in subventions to the railway fund, to 507,750/. This deficit would be !net by expending the surplus of 1860, which rather more than covers it. The prospective deficit again of 1863, which is apparently not defined, will be met from the surplus of 1861. This is Mr. Gladstone's system, supplementary deficits out of the balances. The Minister continued that Government had no intention of proposing any new taxes, but would suggest some reductions calculated to benefit the working classes. M. von der Heydt was heard in profound silence,
and sat down without having elicited a cheer. An address to the throne has been prepared by Herr von Sybel, and will probably be accepted. In this document von Sybel reviews recent events, and affirms that the interests of the throne and the people are identical, and that Prussia will never deem any sacrifice too great which may be demanded for the safety and dignity of the land." On the Hes. shun question the address advises that the efforts of Prussia shall not be suffered to relax before full and entire satisfaction has been given ; " then, and then only, will the nation gladly offer.to your Ma- jesty, whatever may be required for the attainment of these objects." The address refers to the necessity of a closer Federal Union, and finishes by declaring that " the people of Prussia desire the speedy enactment of such statutes as form the necessary sequel and full development of the constitution. They desire the removal of hier- archic and pietistic influences from the state education department. They desire the extinction, by constitutional means, of the opposition hitherto offered by the component part of the Legislature, to each and every demand that has been raised for reform ;" and it is sup- posed that the King will receive the address without reply.
AMERICA.—We have news, by telegram, from the United States to the 20th May, and by letters to the 17th. According to the former, which is official, the Federal navy has sustained a severe defeat. It would appear that a fleet, comprising, with other vessels, the iron-clad gunboats Monitor, Galena, Nangatuek, Port Royal, and Aristook, ascended the James River to within eight miles of Rich- mond. There they were fired at from a battery mounted on a high bluff, and supported by men in rifle-pits on both banks. The fleet opened fire at about 600 yards from the main battery, but the great gun of the Nangatnek burst, at the first fire, and the Monitor could not point her gun so high as the bluff. The fire from the batteries pierced the Galena in eighteen places, the rifles did deadly execution among the men, and, after a contest of four hours, the Federal fleet withdrew, with a loss of eleven hundred men. Corn. modore Gouldsborongh is preparing a second attack, but meanwhile the gunboats will be unable to operate on the Federal flank. The Confederate force has retreated through the York town penin- sula, and taken up its positions on the Richmond bank of the Chickahominy, some fifteen miles from that capital. The Federals, in pursuit, have already reached the other bank. Ac- cording to one account, it is resolved to abandon 'Richmond and Virginia, and fall back upon the South, whither it is be- lieved the Northern troops cannot follow. Another, however, and more probable statement, is that the Confederate leaders, mindful of the moral effect of the loss of Richmond, have resolved to make a desperate defence, a resolution which will be strengthened by the defeat of the gunboats. Very few facts are reported from the peninsula, but it appears clear that General McClellan is anxious to press on to Richmond before the bad weather arrives. To the West, General Halleck still lies inactive opposite Corinth, where General Beauregard is daily receiving reinforcements. This inactivity is ex- plained by accounts of sickness which has broken out in the Federal camp, and which are unquestionably correct, though perhaps exag- gerated. The World, for example, a strong Union journal, and belongina to General Halleck's party, reports that fever, "the worst forms of skin disease," and bowel complaints, are all frightfully prevalent ; that "one division of the corps of General Thomas" has 2900 men on the sick list, and the admissions into the floating hospitals alone amount to 460 a day, besides the numbers received in regimental hospitals. About fifty per cent. of those seized die or are invalided, but this statement probably applies only to dysentery. The presence of skin diseases, not usual in modern armies, implies great filth, and probably want of nourishing food. It is quite possible that the Southerners suffer as much, but Beauregard's army
is estimated at 170,000 men. .
An important incident has occurred in connexion with slavery. General Hunter, commanding the Federal forces in Georgia, Sonth Carolina, and Florida, finding, it would seem, that negroes were employed by the Confederates in military operations, issued a proclamation announcing that martial law was established in those three states, and all slaves therefore declared free for ever. The proclamation created some excitement at Washington, where the representatives of the Border States pressed Mr. Lincoln to recal his general. The President contented himself with issuing an order declaring the general's proclamation null and void, and reserving to himself power to decide whether martial law should or should not involve enfranchisement. The President ends with an earnest appeal to the Slave States to accept his proposal of compensation:
"I now earnestly appeal to the people of those States. I beseech all to make arguments for yourselves. You cannot, if you would, be blind to the signs of the times. Will you not embrace the proposi- tion? May the past and future not have to lament that you have neglected an opportunity to do so much good !" Meanwhile, General Hunter has formed a corps of a thousand negroes to garrison Port Royal, and has armed them, to the annoy- ance of the Federal officers, who, it is said, are resigning.
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