jforeign anb Colonial.

FRANCE.—The MinisterialTcrisis last week has resulted in some resig- nations and replacements. The Monitetsr of Saturday announced the de- finitive withdrawal of Messieurs Leon de Maleville and Bixio; and the fol- lowing appointments—

N. Faucher to be Minister of the Interior, in the place of M. Leon de Maleville.

M. Lacrosse to be Minister of Public Works, in the place of M. Leon Faucher.

M. Buffet to be Minister of Commerce and Agriculture' in the place of M. Blab. It now appears that other causes besides the checks received in the As- sembly on the Salt-duties Bill have shared in causing the changes. Among many accounts, the following, from the Morning Chronicle, is one of the most comprehensible and credible- " On Wednesday last (the 27th December) a Cabinet Council was held at the Palace of the Elysee, at which Louis Napoleon was present, as well as M. Leon de Maleville and the other Ministers. In the coarse of the proceedings, some- thing having been said on the subject of communicating the telegraphic despatches received by the Ministers to the President, M. Leon de Maleville declared that, as Minister of the Interior, he had a right to take cognizance of all telegraphic de- spatches before they were communicated to the President, and of even suppressing all knowledge of them if he chose so to do. A short time afterwards, a question having arisen with respect to some public offices to be filled up, and the President of the Republic having mentioned the names of some persons whom he would wish to have appointed, M. Leon de Maleville said that all the offices in the De- partment of the Interior were in his gift, and that he would insist upon filling them just as he chose. Prince Louis Napoleon said nothing in reply to these inopportune observations, but was, as is usual with him, exceedingly reserved. Immediately after the rising of the Council, however, he wrote a letter to M. Leon de Maleville, in which he told him that he had no idea of being a President of the Republic in the style of 'the Constitution of Sieyes'—in other words, a cochon a engrais,' and that he would insist on taking his share in the adminis- tration of the state. He added, that he expected that the Ministers nominated by him should execute the orders which he gave them. He also alluded, in the same letter, to some documents connected with the Boulogne affiiir, which he had de- manded, and which M. Leon de Maleville had made some difficulty about pro- ducing them, declaring that he should have them tomorrow; and that he did not choose that the notes and documents sent to the Moniteur should have the Visa of the Minister of the Interior, as in the time of Louis Philippe, but that they should be sent to the editor of the Moniteur direct from the President for inser- tion. M. Leon de Maleville immediately took the advice of M. Thera on this letter, who recommended him to resign. M. de Maleville thereupon at once sent in his resignation." "On Friday another Cabinet Council was held; at which Prince Louis Napo- leon, acting on the advice of his friends, gave some explanations of his letter, by way of apology to M. de Maleville- and it was thought that these explanations were so satisfactory that M. de Maleville would have been induced to retain his office. He however, refused to withdraw his resignation ; and the consequence was the modification of the Cabinet, of which the decree in the Moniteur is the result."

The two new members of the Cabinet are described by the correspond- ent of the Morning Chronicle- " MM. Lacrosse and Buffet are both untried men, so far as their administra- tive powers are concerned; but the name of the former has long been before the public. M. Lacrosse was for many years an active member of the Chamber of Deputies, and one of the most ardent opponents of the Cabinet of M. Guizot. For several sessions he was chosen, though a member of the Gauche, as one of the Secretaries of the Chamber; and his name frequently occurs in the debates as the advocate of a reformed administration of the navy, which he always contended ought to be put on a footing that would enable France, in the event of a naval war, to contend with England. In his youth, M. Lacrosse had served in the navy: but he left it early and entered the army, in which, during the years 1814 and 1815, he saw a good deal of service, and was two or three times desperately wounded. In 1815 he quitted the service, and does not appear to have held any public employment till sent, in 1834, to the Chamber of Deputies as member for Brest. He has always been a stanch supporter of M. Tillers. His friends think

i that he is misplaced n the department of Public Works, and that he would be better suited for the Marine.

"M. Buffet, the new Minister of Commerce, is a young man in the thirtieth year of his age, and almost unknown beyond the walls of the Assembly. Till February, he was a provincial advocate, at Mirecourt; and having taken an ac- tive part in politics at the period of the revolution of February, he was sent to the National Assembly as representative of the department of the Vosges. Within the last few months, he has distinguished himself in the Club of the Rue de Poi- tiers as an active and intelligent member of the Moderate party; and, as his father-in-law was an officer under the Empire he is supposed to have a leaning towards that regime. Beyond this he is not 'known; and so far is that from being a disadvantage, that it is a position which many of the statesmen of these revolutionary times envy him. His fame in the Assembly is founded on a single speech which he made last August, in reply to M. Pierre Leroux."

A list of fourteen appointments to departmental Prefectures appeared in the Moniteur of Monday, in which were many well-known members of the Orleans party, who were displaced by the revolution of February. Among them are M. Brun, Prefect from 1830 to 1848, and M. Ernest Leroy, a friend of M. Guizot, and an influential elector of the arrondissement of Lisieux..

Monday was devoted by the President of the Republic to the " map- don " of an enormous concourse of New-year's-day visitors, who luitsined

to pay their respects to him in the Palace of the Elysee National [Bour- bon].

"Daring the ceremony, the President was supported by M. Odilon Barret and the other members of the Cabinet; bz Marshal Molitor, the Chancellor of the Legion of Honour ; General Changarnier, and a great number of general officers of the highest rank. At eleven o'clock in the evening he received the Corps Di- plomatique: then the chief functionaries of the Courts, and the Municipal Cor- poration of the department of the Seine; the representatives of the University and different learned bodies, the Society of Agriculture, Sic. No set speeches were made as was the habit under the Monarchy: only a few words of conversa- tion were exchanged between the President and the pnncipal persons forming the deputations. The number of persons who attended was tally as great as during similar receptions in the time of Louis Philippe. "The Prince wore the uniform of a General of the National Guard, with the grand cordon and star of the Legion of Honour; and stood in the centre of the magnificent saloon on the ground floor, in front of the Marshals, and uncovered. The company passed him, moving from the left to the right. All the members of the Diplomatic Corps were in full dress of ceremony: The Pope's Nuncio was the first, the British Ambassador the second, followed in succession by the Spanish and Belgian Ambassadors, the Dutch and Swedish Ministers and the Charges d'Affaires of the other Powers. The President advanced towards the Apostolic Nuncio, and expressed his hope of soon seeing his Holiness reestablished in his States. This marked reception seemed to have a lively effect on the representative of the Court of Rome. The President gave all the other Ambassadors assurances of his sincere desire for peace and union. The other constituted bodies passed the President in the following order: the old officers of the Empire, the superior officers in non-activity; the Courts of Cessation and Accounts; the superior Council of the University, the Court of Appeal in their robes, with their first Presidents and Precursors-General at their head. The President addressed the first President, M. Portalis, and spoke of the illustrious reputation of his father and the high esteem in which he was held by the Emperor. On receiving M. Troplong, recently made first President of the Court of Appeal, the President of the Republic expressed his satisfaction at having had to place one of his first sig- natures to the nomination of so eminent a lawyer, called to that post by public opinion. When the Board of Admiralty came forward, the President addressed Admiral Hugon, and expressed his admiration of his fine conduct at the battle of Navarino, the siege of Algiers in 1830, and in 1811, when he commanded the fleet in the East."

Among those who went to pay honour to the nephew of Napoleon, were some fifty or sixty old soldiers of the Imperial army. Their procession to the Palace attracted much notice- " They marched along the Boulevards, accompanying a gigantic bouquet, which was borne on the shoulders of the most robust and the least stricken in years amongst them. The veteran band comprised the representatives of every arm of the old Imperial army. Amongst them might be distinguished the red uniform of the Lancers of the Imperial Guard, the green of the old Dragons de l'Imperatrice, the light blue and white of the Cavalry of that country which first gave the lance to the armies of Europe, and the familiar blue with red facings turned up with white of the Old Guard. A party of ten or twelve walked in front of the bouquet, another in the rear; and the cordons of the immense box from which shot up the flowers and shrubs were held on each side by the oldest of the band. On the sides of the box that contained the offering were traced four or five letters, inter- woven in a cipher, and intended, no doubt, to represent the name and rank of the nephew of him whom these veterans had served in other times—the letters were L. N., P. It The band slowly marched along the Boulevards, and proceeded to the official residence of the President of the Republic. Large crowds were at- tracted by the sight; and by the time it reached the Rae Faubourg St. Honore, the streets in that direction were nearly impassable: yet, notwithstanding the multitude that formed the cortege, not a cry was heard, and all passed off in the most tranquil manner."

The Times correspondent concludes his description of the gayeties with a remark on a more important manifestation-

" I have alluded to the stirring appearance of the capital today and yesterday, and in particular last night to an advanced hour. It is satisfactory to add, that a good deal of business appeared to be doing in the shops, and the trade in bonbons, toys, and articles of cheap jewellery, was very brisk. Those shops, how- ever, where articles of a higher kind and of a more delicate and costly workman- ship are exhibited for sale, did not generally present the same busy and crowded appearance."

It is now stated that the honours of the Palace are to be done by the Dowager Grand Dutchess Stephanie of Baden. The Dutchess was a Made- moiselle Taschar de la Pagerie, and is a near relative of Josephine's first husband.

M. Jerome Bonaparte has been installed in the Governorship of the Invalides.

On Monday morning the President of the Republic, by way of etrenne, presented to the Prince de Moskowa, son of Marshal Ney, the decree ap- pointing him Minister of the Republic at Berlin, in the place of M. Emanuel Arago; and to Count Walewski (a natural son of the Emperor) the decree appointing him Moister of the Republic at Turin, in the place of M. Bois Jo Compte.

ITALY.—Rome continues in a state of much excitement. The Ministers were accused of insinuating by their organs that the cry for a Constituent Assembly was raised by foreigners: on the other hand, the Executive Power was charged with exciting the populace against the refugees of Lom- bardy, and pointing the latter out as the cause of agitation.

"On the 19th," says the Roman correspondent of the Daily News, writing on the 23d December, at four p.m. the generals was suddenly heard. An hour afterwards, the Civic Guard was assembled in the Piazza SS. Apostoli, with two pieces of cannon. The line were on the Piazza di Venezia' with cavalry. The re- maining artillery was ready on the esplanade of the fort St. Angelo, and strong patrols paraded the city: Meanwhile, some Civic Guards had drawn up an address to their general, declaring that they wished for a Constituent Assembly as the basis of every operation. At seven the General himself appeared in the square, and heard every one call for a Constituent Assembly. The Ministry, which had not resigned, immediately met in council; and after the lapse of two hours, Ster- bini appeared on a balcony, and, after a flattering speech to the Civic Guard, he concluded by saying that the Junta of State was composed, and that its first measure would be to propose a Constituent Assembly to the Chambers. He add- ed, that, to adhere to the wishes of the Civic Guard, they would expel from Rome those persons who were believed to be the pertarbatent of public tranquillity. The troops and Civic Guard then retired."

On the 20th, the Junta, whose nomination by the Chambers we mention- ed last week, proclaimed their acceptance of the Executive power; but de- clared they would only hold it a moment after the Assembly of the " Costituente "; they would hasten by all means that assembling, and Would immediately on its accomplishment yield up their authority.

Letters from Naples, dated the 24th December, state that the Calabrian provinces are again in a state of disturbance; and the movement was so serious that Marshal Statella WU sent in person to suppress it. A force of

17,000 men was maintained at Messina, 3,500 of whom were kept on guard daily.

The Sicilian question is the subject of continued negotiation between the Neapolitan Government and the English and French Legations. Mr. Temple and M. Rayneval had presented a note repeating the advice of their Governments, that the King should " accord, by an act of his gracious will, the establishment of a Sicilian army, of a separate administration, separate Chambers, and above all, a full and general amnesty to all who have taken any part, directly or indirectly, in the revolution of the island." Prince Cariati in reply, on the 20th December, observed that " the de- sire for peace expressed appeared difficult to be reconciled with the opi- nions presented." The King was still resolved to secure the national rights which had been endangered, and was still of opinion that he could only do that by preserving the present amalgamation of the Neapolitan and Sicilian forces. " However," inquired the Prince, " suppose the King were to become a partaker of Mr. Temple's opinions," what guarantee would be given that the Palermitans would submit to his ultimatum ?—" The atti- tude which was assumed by the forces of France and England on the 11th September cannot be entirely forgotten; as Admirals Parker and Baudin then menaced to arrest by force the victorious expedition in Sicily. I therefore feel I have a right to ask if, in case of need, you will take an at- titude capable of solving this difficulty." The Prince informs Mr. Temple,

that Spain has formally claimed to intervene in any conference held on the dynastic question. No reply to this note had been sent by Mr. Temple or

M. Rayneval ; but it is said that the Neapolitan Government has sent in another paper, informing Mr. Temple that the King has charged the Prince of Satriano (General Filangieri) with the conduct of all negotiations rela- tive to Sicily, and requesting that all communications might in future be addressed to him, and not to the Prince Cariati. His Majesty had also deemed it proper to inform the Ministers of Russia and of Spain, and of all powers parties to the treaties of 1815, of his desire that they should partici- pate in any negotiations that may take place for the purpose of effecting a reconciliation between him and his Sicilian subjects. It is said that in con- sequence of this, M. Rayneval and Mr. Temple have hinted that they must receive fresh instructions from Paris and London.

The Pialmentese Gazette, of the 27th December, states that the garrison of Venice at present amounts to 15,000 men, not including the naval force,

amounting to 4,500 men, nor the new corps that are actually organizing. The Austrians, it is said, are concentrating forces to attack all the forts at the same time. The son of Radetzky, who is at Oriago, and the brother of Jellachich, who is at Dolo, disapprove of this plan.

AtisTaLt.—The Imperial arms continue successful. Raab has been occupied by Prince Windischgriitz on one side of Buda; and the fortress of Arad, near to the Transylvanian frontier, has fallen into the hands of Marshal Berger. Leopoldstadt has been taken by General Simonich, after some fighting under its walls. The Austrian front now approximates to what is stated to be the real line of Hungarian defence exterior to the walls of Buda, namely, the country right and left of the great fortified post of Komorn. Prince Windisclignitz cannot advance on Buda, without taking this great post, which is capable of regular and long defence.

The Vienna Gazette of the 26th December published an official declara- tion that the Emperor, "readily following the impulse of his heart, means

to renew, thtdiplomatic relations, so important to the religious interests of his people, with the Pope." An Imperial Ambassador is preparing to set out for the Holy Father's residence at Gaeta, with the mission of convey-

ing "those expressions of the Emperor's sincerest sympathies, to which the virtues the misfortunes, and the exalted position of Pius the Ninth, entitle that Monarch." This announcement is prefaced by an historical recapitu- lation of Italian events; the style of which seems indicative. of the spirit that will govern the policy of the new Austrian regime-

" The necessity of radical reforms in the administration of the Papal dominions was generally felt when Pius the Ninth ascended the Papal throne. The new Pope judged rightly of this necessity, and, amidst the applause of all Europe, he struck at once into the path of legal progress. Most conspicuous amidst the enthusiastic admirers of Pins the Ninth, were the members of a party which held all authority, no matter whether clerical or secular, in unmitigated detestation and which for

years had made the Italian peninsula the scene of their destructive intrigues. Nor was it difficult to look through these men. They were aware that nothing could so much forward the object they had in view as the covering their intrigues with the august name of Pius the Ninth. From that moment they strained their powers to the utmost at Rome; and they succeeded in converting that city of peace into an arena for outrageous passions, and making it the centre of an agi

Union which soon urged the minds of men in a direction which the Pope could not but condemn, and the torrent of which carried them far beyond the goal which

his benevolence had in view. The Italian Republic one and indivisible— for it is this that Transalpine Radicalism aims at—was not within the range of possibility so long as the power of Austria on the Po and the Ticino continued

to resist the waves of the revolution. The expulsion of the Austrians was there- fore naturally the chief object of the Radical party: nor is it a matter for astonish- ment that they should have tried, at any cost, to create a quarrel between the Go- vernments of Rome and Vienna; for they judged rightly that the extraordinary popularity of Pius the Ninth would turn the scales to the disadvantage of his ad- versaries. If the low intrigues of the Revolutionary party failed to produce a rupture between the two Governments during the Ferrara quarrel, their being

foiled in this instance is chiefly owing to the moderation and longanimity of Aus- tria; for Austria was aware of the perplexities of the Holy Father, distanced as he

was by the superior speed of the Revolutionary party; and Austria could not and would not forget the fact of the Sovereign of Rome being also the head of that church to which the majority of the Austrian population belongs. But this mo- deration, far from being recognized as such, excited the Revolutionary party to

fresh outbreaks of their savage fury. The Austrian flag and the arms of the Empire on the palace of our Ambassador at Rome were insulted and torn down; and although the Holy Father himself condescended to express to the Ambassador his deep concern at this gross violation of international rights, yet his Govern- ment was overawed by the licentiousness of faction, and unable to make repara- tion for the injury which was done. At that time the Papal troops, too, in con- tempt of the direct and public will of their Sovereign, crossed the Po, and joined the ranks of the enemies of Austria. This was the surest proof of the Pope's authority in his own country having dwindled away to something as unsubstan- tial as a shadow."

DENMAILIC.—The King of Denmark has issued a proclamation from Fre- dericksburg, protesting against the violation of the essential conditions of the armistice with Prussia, by the collective Government of the Dutchies. His Majesty says that it will not at present be for the interest of the Dutch- ies that he should resort to any other means than those of negotiation for the redress of these abuses; but till such negotiations are terminated, "he assures his Schleswig subjects, that he does not consider it obligatory on

their part to recognize the present forced authority as the legal power, and that he will not regard their refusal to submit to that power as violation either of their duty or their oath."

INDIA.—Anticipatory despatches of the December mail from Bom- bay arrived in London on Thursday. The news from Moultan is brought down to the 20th, and from Lord Gough's camp on the Chenab to the 21st November; from Calcutta to the 25th November, and from Bombay to Sunday the 34 December. The Bombay papers observe that this is the first instance in which the mail has been despatched on a Sunday.

The accounts from the Punjanb are chequered. In the South we have gained a battle in spite of desertion, and are said to have narrowly missed the prize of Moultan itself. The Delhi Gazette supplies the following facts. The insurgents having, about the beginning of the month, established a battery in a deep watercourse within range of the camp of Eievardes and Corti:Ludt, opened

a tire on our allies, which, though distant, was annoying to them; and General Whish accordingly determined to construct a battery a mile or so in front, com- manding the flank of the enemy. This was armed with two 18-pounders, two howitzers, and four mortars, which played on the insurgents at the distance of 900 yards with considerable effect. On the 5th, our firing was returned by the enemy with great energy. Instead of bomb-shells, they fired pewter canisters from their mortars. The cannonade was resumed on the morning of the 6th, and the guards at the advanced post had some severe skirmishing with the enemy, who came in front and dared them to advance. Under such an insult as this, the men were not to be restrained ; thrice they threw themselves on the enemy, and thrice drove them back in disorder. It was resolved to attempt a surprise of the annoying outwork. On the evening of the 6th, accordingly, two brigades of in-

hunry were directed to prepare next morning for an attack. These consisted of

400 each, one under Lieutenant- Colonel Franks, H. M. Tenth Foot, the other under Lieutenant-Colonel Brooke, H. M. Thirty-second Foot, and 600 cavalry un-

der Major Wheeler, with Anderson's troop of Horse Artillery; the whole under

Brigadier Markham. It was resolved that they should move out an hour before daylight to the Eastern side of the nullah that flanks the allied camp; and,

making a circuit, take the position in flank ; Major Edwardes's force at the same time down the nullah (Wollee Mahomed's Canal) on its Western side. Our troops were moved into position at midnight of the 6th; but had hardly reached their stations "when six companies of Cortlandt's regiment, in fact all the Poorbeas of the corps, went over in small detachments to the enemy, leaving Lieutenants Pol- lock, Patton (of the Engineers), and Bunny (of the Artillery), to congratulate

themselves on not having been carried prisoners to Moolraj." Lieutenant Bunny,

who was in charge of the two guns, immediately sent up to camp for his horses and reinforcements. The outlying and inlying pickets of the right brigade (two companies of Europeans and four companies of Native infantry) went down to the post; the British officers (Lieutenants Pollock, Patton, and Bunny) remaining firm at their posts, notwithstanding their critical position.

Day broke in this position of affairs, and there was no longer any chance of surprise; an order was therefore given to the men to cook and make a light meal, and be ready at half-past nine a. m. They had hardly commenced when news

arrived that Major Edwardes's camp was attacked in force by the enemy, who had outflanked his batteries. There was a most obstinate fight; the Sikh troops

under Edwardes remaining stanch, and fighting with great animosity against the deserters. The Dewan's troops were worsted and thrown into confusion; and at this juncture the British troops came to the rescue. They waited on the Eastern aide of the canal to form their columns,' made a detour to the right, and went in

at the enemy, cavalry and infantry emulating one another. Battery after battery was taken, with trifling loss; and all the enemy's guns were taken possession of.

The irregular cavalry charged the batteries in their zeal, and entered them with trifling loss. A troop of the Eleventh Irregular Cavalry, under Lieutenant and Adjutant Matheson, charged a one-gun battery, and took it. The enemy retired into Moultan, with such precipitation that, it is said, we might have followed

them and seized the town, had our force been larger. Moolraj did not command in person: he was engaged at a temple just concluding the funereal rites of a nephew who had been killed on the 6th, when he heard that his troops were run- ning in. He called to the Sirdars, "You gave them the guns, eh? I thought you promised me that by this time the whole camp should be moved to Soojabad. Go and break your heads with your devices." The loss of the enemy is rated near 1,000 killed or wounded; that of Edwardes's allies at some 200 killed or wounded: our own loss was only two European privates killed and about a score wounded. Since the 7th, nothing of the least note has occurred ; and our officers were busy with sky-racing on the 14th November.

The force moving up from Roree advances slowly. A portion of it reached Ooch on the 17th, but was there stopped by orders from its rear. It is said that a misunderstanding has arisen about these reinforcements between General Auchmuty and General Whish; and that the latter has sent repre- sentations to Lord Gough on the subject.

The army of Ferozepore has crossed the Raves in detachments, and ad- vanced to the North-west of Lahore, so as to stand between it and the insurgents under Chuttur Singh and his allies. Lord Gough was within twelve miles of the camp on the 20th November, and no doubt he assumed the command in person on the 21st. Our force—about 20,000 men, a full proportion of it European—was encamped close to Ramnuggur on the Chenab, and purposed crossing the river immediately. Shore Singh is said to.hold 15,000 troops close before us, on the West of the Chenab, and at the foot of the difficult bill country there commencing. Gholab Singh's troops under Colonel Steinbach remain at Rotas on the Jailum, joining neither army.

In the North-west we have been unfortunate. The Peshawar Sikhs have at last revolted; and Major Lawrence has escaped with difficulty to Kobaut. Attack still held out, but was not expected to do so long. The retreat of Major Lawrence to Kohaut instead of to Attack confirms. the view that Captain Abbott was about to retire from the latter place.

The news from other parts of India gives proofs how extensive is the Sikh conspiracy against us. A plot has been discovered in Calcutta itself.

The Artillery at Dum Dum has been tampered with; and several persons have been arrested, through the revelations of Native soldiers. They state that Sikh agents are in every town of India plotting against us; and that the King of Burmah is in the game. It is a fact that he has lately brought a great army of " observation " upon our frontier.

UNITED STATES.—The mail-steamer Canada arrived at Liverpool on 'Wednesday; having left New York on the 20th, and Halifax on the 22d December.

The Slavery topic is assuming prominence in connexion with the pro- posed constitutions of States about to be formed in the territory of Colum- bia. Both inthe Senate and in the House of Representatives the question has been warmly debated; and the progress of events hitherto favours the Abolitionists.

In the Senate, three plans have been proposed-1. The scheme sub- 'mitten last session by Senator Clayton, which left the whole matter to the Supreme Court. 2. A bill by Senator Douglas to organize California into *State, from which slavery should be excluded. 3. A petition lately pre- Dented by Senator Benton, of Missouri, on behalf of the people of New Mexico, praying for the institution of a government " excluding domestic slavery from the borders of that country." On the presentation of the New Mexico memorial, Mr. Calhoun protested against it, as disrespectful and insolent to the South. The territory of New Mexico belongs to the whole United States; and he deemed it insolent for a conquered people to propose depriving a portion of the States (the Southern portion) of that which is the common property of all. Senators were indignant at Itir. Calhoun's expression, and demanded its withdrawal; but be persisted. On a division, Mr. Calhoun was defeated; the Senate resolved, by 33 to 14 votes, to receive the petition.

In the House of Representatives, the question has advanced further. Two propositions are before that body-1. The House has passed a resolu- tion, by 107 votes to 80, instructing the Territorial Committee to report bills of territorial government for New Mexico and California, which shall exclude slavery. On a motion made some days after to reconsider and re- scind this resolution, it was reaffirmed by 106 to 85 votes. 2. Mr. Gid- dings, Ohio, a noted Abolitionist, on the 12th December submitted a bill giving the "people" in the district of Columbia "the privilege of express- ing their sentiments on the subject of slavery in the said district,"—in- eluding the Blacks as well as the Whites among the word "people." It was ordered to lie on the table, by 105 to 77.

Meanwhile, South Carolina is bestirring itself. On the 9th December; the State Senate passed a series of strenuous resolutions: one of which So- lemnly denies the power of Congress, under the Federal Constitution, to pre- hibit the introduction of slavery into territory acquired by treaty or by the joint arms of all the Sovereign States; another adopts the resolutions passed last year by the Virginia Legislature, which declare that no Federal law shall be acknowledged that enacts prohibition; another proposes to forego all minor differences with other Slaveholding States and cooperate in protecting "Southern rights, property, and honour." Copies of these re- solutions to be laid before the Washington Congress.

Outside the halls of the Legislature, the absorbing topic is the gold of California.

"It is impossible," says "Publicus," the Philadelphia correspondent of the Morning Chronicle, "to convey any idea of the excitement. There are now an- nounced for California—in New York Si vessels, Philadelphia 17, Boston 9, Port.: land 2, Baltimore 7, Charleston 2, New Orleans ii, and St. Louis (overland route) 5 vessels. Besides these, there are societies forming at Pittsburg, Louisville, Cincinnati, Albany, and many other towns; and within one short month it is believed that nearly 10,000 men will be en route for the modern El Dorado. Men are leaving their families to go to California in the hope of returning in a year or so as rich as Census. The movement is like the impulse of a manut—a crusade !

"It is probable that great suffering will be encountered by those who are anx- ious to reach the gold region by the shortest route and in the quickest time, namely, by Chagres and across the Isthmus of Panama. Chagres is about fours teen days' (by steam), twenty-two to thirty days' sailing, from New York or Philadelphia. Then fifty-two miles by land, across the Isthmus, in the meet intense of Tropical heats (say, three or four days' journey by mules); and then 3,500 miles by sea, in the Pacific, to San Francisco. From San Francisco, five or six days inland to the Rio de las Plumes (Feather River), a tributary of the Sacramento. The difficulty by this route will be chiefly experienced at Panama, where there will not, cannot be, for many months vessels enough to convey the vast number of eager emigrants so soon expected there to assemble. Unless such adventurers are abundantly provided with money, they will not be able to live in the hot desolations of the Tropics, where life is but little valued, and where death is even less regarded. At our last accounts, 2,000 persons were at that place waiting a conveyance—a prey to pestilence, and to the 'hops de- ferred that maketh the heart sick.' The bones of many will whiten the sands of Panama. The entire route by sea (round Cape Horn) is little short of 17,000 miles, with a voyage of five months; yet this route is cheaper, safer, and in the end probably quite as short as via Panama. The passage-money varies from 100 dollars to 850 dollars, (steerage or cabin,) round the Horn, and about 500 dollars to 700 dollars in all by Panama. But by far the shortest route is from Fort Iflv dependence, in Missouri, across to the Feather River, by the Prairies, and over the Rocky Mountains—say about 1,800 miles. This cannot be travelled in the winter, but it will no doubt be dotted with straggling expeditions in the coming spring and summer."

About 145,000 dollars worth of " dust " had arrived, and 35,000 dollars worth had been sent to the mint for coining. The " spangle "gold is found to be very pure—some of it above the assay of the current coin; but some of the " dust " has turned out to contain no gold at all; it is merely a sort of arseniate of copper. On the coining of 500 ounces of "spangle," the loss by refining and coining was only 2i- per cent. It is stated that-some 2,000,000 dollars worth of gold is now on its way to New York.

A railroad across the Isthmus is to be commenced forthwith, or a road of some kind, under a. grant from New Grenada to certain merchants of New York. The following are the chief advantages—An exclusive right of way across the Isthmus, with the right to use gratuitously all the public land lying on the route of the road. An absolute gift of 300,000 acres of public lands to be selected by the company. All the materials used for the road, as well as effects of persons employed thereon, are declared free of duty. Two ports—one oh the Atlantic and one on the Pacifio Ocean, which shall be made the termini of the road—are declared free ports. The company have arranged with an eminent engineer, who is to make 4 further survey at once; and it is thought the road can be in operation by January 1851.