The Press. — London, England, 1856-01-19 00:00:00

does not imply the rupture of the relations between the two States, and cannot modify the neutral policy observed by the Government. The chiefs of the legations at Teheran will see that no change has taken place in the attitude of Persia, and that she has not left the path of neutrality. DENMARK. The existence of a Danish circular despatch, repu dieting Denmark's solidarity with Sweden's treaty, and promising to maintain strict neutrality in future, is denied by the official journal at Copenhagen. SPAIN. A futile attempt on the 7th inst. to excite an in surrection, made by a detachment of the National Guard on duty at the Palace of the Cortes, was speedily suppressed by the Due de Victoria in person. An investigation into the matter is now proceeding. Marshal O'Donnell is sufficiently recovered to attend to his duties, AMERICA. By the arrival of the Asia, with dates from Boston of the 2nd and Halifax of the 4th, we have at length received the President's Message, which was unex• pectedly delivered on the 31st ult., no Speaker having been elected, and the house still unorganised. The Message—scarcely of the ordinary length of such documents—opens with an explanation of the growing misunderstanding between England and the United States as to the interpretation of the Clayton. Bulwer Treaty. By that convention,! concluded on the 19th April, 1850, the entire independence of the present States of the former republic of Central America was agreed to by both Governments. Both parties covenanted that "neither will ever occupy, or fortify, or colonise, or assume, or exercise any do minion over Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Mosquito coast, or any part of Central America." This clause the American Government interpreted into the re linquishment by England of all territorial claims between Mexico and New Granada, with the exception of the wood dyeing establishment at Balize. Hence the right assumed by the English Government to an extension of territory on the Mosquito coast the President holds to be defective both in politics and law, contrary to the spirit as well as to the letter of the convention of April, and therefore " renders it impossible for the United States to acquiesce in such a construction of the respective relations of the two Governments to Central . America." To a demand for explanations upon this point, the British Govern ment has replied that the treaty is prospective only, and does not require Great Britain to abandon or contract any possessions held by her in Central ♦merica at the date of its conclusion. This reply the President states cannot be admitted, as the United States Government deny, prima facie, that " Great Britain had any possessions there, other than the limited and peculiar establishment at the Belize," and maintain that, it she had any, they were sur rendered by the convention : There is, however (concludes the President), reason to apprehend that, with Great Britain in the actual occupa tion of the disputed territories, and the treaty therefore practically null so far as regards our rights, this interna tional difticulty cannot long remain undetermined without involving in serious danger the friendly relations which► it is the interest as well as the duty of both countries to cherish and preserve. It will afford me sincere gratifica tion if future efforts shall result in the success anticipated heretofore with more confidence than the aspect of the ease permits me now to entertain. Upon the " Recruitment Question " the Message contains an elaborate report setting forth the good faith and respect for law which have characterised the citizens of the United States in not fitting out privateers or depredatory expeditions upon the pro perty of either of the powers at war—the strict nature of the municipal laws of the States with re spect to the enlistment of Americans for service against States with which America was at peace— and the infraction of these laws in 1854 by the agents of Great Britain. The necessary steps being at once taken to punish the parties concerned, representa tions were made to the English Government : Thereupon it became known, by the admission of the British Government itself, that the attempt to draw re cruits from this country originated with it, or at least had its approval and sanction ; but it also appeared that the public agents engaged in it had " stringent instructions " not to violate the municipal law of the. United States. The subject being still under discussion, the Presi dent promises to commun►cate Le result in due time. The question of the Sound dues with Denmark is briefly treated, the Message expressing an opinion that the due, are no longer to be submitted to, a. the payment is a tacit recognition -f the right of Den• mark to close the free way of the sea, yet stating a willingness to compensate Denmark with commer cial advantages for the improvement and safety of the navigation of the Sound and Belts. Passing by a number of other topics, foreign and domestic, the President states that the estimated balance on the Ist July, 1856, over the expenditure of the current year will amount to 15,623,873 dols., and that Mexico has called for the interposition of the United States in settling their affairs. THE PRESS. To render the navy more effective, the President recommends "a gradual and systematic increase," as the force is "still inadequate to the contingent exigencies of the protection of the extensive seacoast and commercial interests of the United States." The Kansas question is curtly disposed of in a brief paragraph, stating that "nothing yet has occurred under circumstances to justify the interposition of the Federal Executive " ! The Message then concludes with a lengthy ex planation of the President's peculiar views upon the nature and functions of the Federal Government, and upon " the constitutional relations of slavery." After reviewing the rise and progress of the States, the President speaks ;of the struggle between the north and the south, and characterises the hatred of slavery as " the passionate rage of fanaticism and partisan spirit," disregarding the interests of twenty five millions of Americans, trampling under foot injunctions of moral and constitutional obligation, and engaging in plans of vindictive hostility against those who are associated in the common heritage of national institutions. At the conclusion of the reading of the Message several members expressed their entire concurrence with its views, especially with reference to those expressed upon the interpretation of the Bulwer- Clayton Treaty, and the house adjourned. The Pacific, with dates to the sth, arrived on Thursday. The President's Message had been severely criticised in the Senate. No Speaker wax yet elected, Mr. Banks, though at the head of the poll, still wanting six votes to complete the required majority. Advices from Havana to the 28th Dec. state that political arrests were frequent in that city. An American ship containing Nicaraguan emigrants had been captured off the coast by a Spanish man-of war, and carried into the Havana. From Mexico, intelligence of the 18th December announces the resignation of Alvarez, and the installation of Comonfort as President, with a new Ministry. EAST INDIES. The despatches from Calcutta of the 9th Decem ber announce the probable termination of the San thal rebellion. Martial law had been proclaimed ; General Lloyd, commanding the attacking force, had defeated the rebels in several partial engage ments, and was believed to be carrying out such a plan of operations as must i❑ a short time complete the suppression of the revolt. The amount of punishment to be awarded to the rebels was a question exciting no little discussion in the Council. The most popular plan was one recommending the employment of the prisoners upon roads to be cut through their country. Several measures of importance had been brought before the Council; one prohibiting the exportation of saltpetre except to London or Liverpool had passed, and a second, under discussion, promised to ameliorate the condition of Hindoo widows by per mitting them to marry. The fall of Herat was not verified, though gene rally credited in Bombay. Dost Mahomed and the Candahar chiefs were about to coalesce and make a demonstration in force against Persia. Matters were quiet in Oude, but the feeling was prevalent that the period of annexation, or something less was not far distant. Lord Dalhousie returned to Calcutta on the 29th Nov. MRjor Phayre, with the Ava mission, had also returned from Burrnah. A convention between Japan and this country, lately concluded (Oct. Litb, 1851), by Sir James Stirling, and ratified on Oct. oth, 1855, opens the ports of Nagasaki (Fisen) and llakodadi ( Matamai) to all British ships, subject to certain restrictions as to anchorage, de., for the purpose of provisioning, watering, or for repairs, the local government under taking to supply men and material according to a fixed tariff. Ships in distress only to be permitted to enter any other port, though her Majesty's ships are to be permitted the right of any port in the unavoidable performance of their public duties, or upon giving satisfactory explanations to the Imperial authorities. The laws of Japan in the two open ports are to he strictly obeyed, and henceforth all British ships and subjects are to be entitled to an equality of advan tages with the most favoured nation, excepting the Dutch and Chinese. It is also agreed that hereafter all official communications between the two Govern ments, when the Japanese shall have had time to learn English, shall be made in that language, and a British burial-ground is to be set aside on Medsume Sinia. As a check upon the conduct of the vessels in port, the Japanese authorities have demanded that all merchant vessels arriving shall be furnished with a certificate of registration, to be submitted to the supervision of the port officials. The standing port regulations agreed upon forbid trading or ex change of goods, taking soundings, or communica• lions by boat between any of the vessels in port. SititA WEST INDIM The usual mail, with dates from Itioiedit to Clia 10th Dec., Granada 20th, and St. Thothas ist Jan., arrived at Southampton on Wednesday. There was no political news from the West Indies. At Hayti the Emperor Soulongue had left Jacmel on the t2th Dec., with 33,000 men, to invade the eastern end oT San Domingo. At Panama, seventy miles from Chagres, an extra ordinary rich quartz vein, yielding from five to seven ounces of gold to the ton, had been discovered. FOREIGN MISCELLANEA. LORD HOWDEN, it is reported in letters from Madrid, has sent home the draught of a convention approved by the Spanish Government by which cer tain arbitrary and vexatious charges imposed upon foreigners in Spain are abrogated, and in which the status of the foreigner is finally and amicably deter mined. THE BERLIN PoucE, who look after the morals of their beloved "Berliners" with unexceptionable strictness, have forbidden the newspapers of the capital to admit advertisements of persons pretend ing to want wives and husbands, " such announce ments being contrary to propriety" ! THE SWEDISH GOVERNMENT have issued orders to fit out at once in the port of Carlscrona two ships of the line, three frigates, and four corvettes. A MiNtsrEittAL CRISIS IN CASSEL is supposed to be at hand. The War and Foreign Ministers have both retired, and their places are at present provisionally tilled. M. de Kallenborn and M. de Meyer are men tioned as certain of the appointments, while MM. de Steinberg and Rohde will have the portfolios of the Interior and Justice. A FINANCIAL ASSOCIATION is stated to be at present under formation in Paris, for the purpose of aiding " the Government, the Paris Money Market, and even private trade." The Paris correspondent of the InWpendance Beige this week writes : The affair may be looked upon as concluded. M. de Rothschild, with his houses at London, Frankfort, and Naples, enters into ,it. Other names cited are those of Hoffinguer, Vernes, Blanc Colin, Paccard, Dufour, &c. The association will be on a large scale, and will issue no shares. Operating with its own capital only, no authoriaa- Bon from Government will be necessary, but from a feeling of deference it will come to an understanding with the Minister of Finance, who certainly will regard with great pleasure an enterprise which may be so useful to public credit. THE AUSTRO-ITALIAN ARCHBISHOPS appear to be acting upon the provisions of the Concordat with as much vigour as want of caution. The Archbishop of Venice has followed his holy brother of Milan, and established an " Ecclesiastical Censure," besides restricting the publication, sale, or importation of books. Great dissatisfaction is felt in Lombardy, and a collision between Church and State not im probable. THE KING OF PRUSSIA has replied to the Religious Liberty Deputation which waited upon his Mikiesty some weeks since at Cologne with a view of pointing out to the King certain acts of intolerance committed in the Prussian dominions. The reply is directed to Sir Culling Eardley, and states that his Majesty has ordered a searching inquiry into the cases reported, and that ho has, moreover, instructed his representatives at the Courts of Electoral Hesse, Mecklenburg Schwerin, Sase-Meiningen, and Schaumburg-Lippe, to call the attention of those Governments to the acts of persecution committed in these sevei al States, as set forth also by the depute!• tion—and to urge an inquiry, and the adoption of measures, for insuring religious liberty to Baptist Christians. TUE OFFICIAL RETURNS of the population of Rome for 1855 have lately been published by the General Vicariate. In all, there are 177,461 inhabitants, 5,081 of which are clerical—•iz., 36 bishops, 1,226 secular priests, 2,213 monks and other religious per sonages, 1,919 nuns, and 687 seminarists. „ . . FIVE GREEK BRIGANDS, lately caught at Smyrna, were publicly executed on the 31st ult., for the murder of a Frenchman and several other assassina tions and robberies. The heads of the prisoners were cut off, and their bodies exposed for some hours. PRINCE MENSCBIKOFF, new Military Governor of Cr••nstadt, replaces General Daelin, the constructor of the citadel at Warsaw. General Daelin retires with an immense fortune, the usual result of such employment in Russia. It is of this general the anecdote is told that at the time of the visit of the King of Prussia to Warsaw, the Emperor Nicholas, showing the fortress, was asked by the King, what it had cost? "I can only tell you the amount of the sums which have been charged for it," replied the Emperor; "what it has actually cost, God and General Daelin alone know." THE PROCEEDINGS AGAINSTITHE PREVIOUS COPrN HAGEN MINISTRY have been postponed to the 19th, in consequence of fresh documents, which must be examined by the defendants, being brought forward in support of the charges.