The Press. — London, England, 1857-05-09 00:00:00

MAY 9, 1857. satisfied ; but their lordships of the Committee on Education refused to recognise the schoolmasters as servants of the State. Mr. Coweuß again assured the deputation that all the matters they had brought before hint should r eceive the most attentive and deliberate consider ation. lortip any 6olonial ]attlligentr. FRANCE. THE NEUFCHATEL QUESTION. The Aloniteur of Monday administered the follow ing sharp rebuke to the Berne papers for the pre mature publication of what they stated to be the terms of the treaty agreed to by Switzerland and rrussia:— The Berne newspapers have just published what pro fesses to be a statement of the articles of the treaty and protocol intended for the settlement of the Neufchatel question. This publication, which can only be the result of a most unjustifiable indiscretion, is moreover at variance in many respects with the trite text of the documents to which it relates ; and it should be borne in mind that the text itself had not as yet been definitively decided upon. This abuse of confidence in the case of a negotiation not as yet concluded is the more to be regretted as it may possibly compromise its success. Colonel Denzler, commanding the Republican troops, and a member of the Grand Council of Neuf chatel, has published a letter addressed by him to the Cantonal Governmen', blaming the acceptance of the treaty without consulting the Grand Council. The colonel expresses a hope that the people and Grand Council of Neufchatel will declare themselves against the treaty, to which he considers the status quo preferable. The Bund of Berne publishes the text of the first instructions given to Dr. Kern. They simply show that they have since been modified by the acceptance of the draught of the treaty drawn up by the repre sentatives of the powers at the Penis Conference. The instructions are dated the 21st of January last. Dr. Kern has returned to Paris. The Grand Duke Constantine of Russia has met with a most distinguished reception in Paris. His Imperial Highness was entertained on Wednesday afternoon with a grand review of 50,000 troops in the Champ de Mars; and in the evening the Corpo ration of Paris gave a brilliant fete at the Hotel de Ville, at which his Imperial Highness was present. Prince Napoleon left Paris on Thursday for Berlin. His Imperial Highness was accompanied by General tle Salles, Lieut.-Colonel Bertrand, Commandants Ferri Pisani, and Captain Weidner. The Prince is said to be charged with a mission from the Emperor to the King of Prussia. _ Baron Gros has been appointed to proceed on an extraordinary mission to China. His Excellency has been received by the Emperor at two lengthened private audiences. The Constitutionnel gives some details as to the precise object of Baron Gros' mission : This diplomatist will have to demand from the Chinese Gcvernment reparation for wrongs peculiar to France atone. Among others is the murder of M. Chappedelaine, the :missionary who was last year put to death under the most atrocious circumstances. lie is also to demand a fresh treaty of cotnncerce. The French squadron is so composed as to be able to ascend the rivers, and thus act so strongly on the Chinese Government as to compel it to satisfy the demands made. The Moniteur observes, in announcing this appoint ment : Lord Elgin has received from the Government of her Britannic Majesty an analogous mission, with the same title, and the two plenipotentiaries will lend each other mutual assistance in the negotiations which are confided to them, and the success of which would, without any doubt, open a new field to Christian civilisation and the commerce of all nations. M. le Baron Gros will almost immediately embark on board the frigate Audacieuse. He will be accompinied by M. Duchesne de Bellecourt, secretary of the first class, M. the Vicomte de Contades, secretary of the third class, M. the Marquis de Moges, and 141. the Comte de LatoutsMattbourg, attaches to this extraordinary mission. Lord Elgin embarked for Malta on the Ist, from Marseilles. The reorganisation of the Bank of France will be restricted to a modification, said to be simply an increase of 4,200,000/., wrich, instead of being lent directly to the Government, is to bo employed generally " in the service of commerce, industry, and public credit." It is still affirmed, however, that the Bank will open a credit of 2,000,0001., or 2,400,0001., in favour of the Treasury, upon three months' bills. The preliminaries for the marriage of Prince Napoleon with a Princess of Germany, it is confi dently stated, are considerably advanced. AUSTRIA AND SARDINIA. The continued reported reconciliation between the Courts of Turin and Vienna, is denied by Le Nord. " Nothing (observes that journal) has occurred which indicates in any way a modification of the existing THE PRESS. situation." The Marquis Cantono has been nomi nated to the vacant po-t at Munich. The Military Gazette of Piedmont says : We Are assured th it the camp which, according to a previous announcement, was to have been formed at Aless• andria in the month of April, will not be established ; but it appears to be certain that the troops belonging to the garrisons of Turin, Genoa, Alessandria, Novara, and Ver celli will be assembled for some field manwuvres. The discussion on the bill for a naval establish ment at LA Spezzia was still continued in the Chamber of Deputies at 'Turin, on the Ist. Advert ing to some observations made by a former speaker, General de la Marmora said : Anstria is much farther from Mantua and Verona than we are from La Spezzia. With batteries established on the island of Palmuria, at Castellano, Santa Maria, and Pezzinn, all emitting their fires, it will he easy to defend the gulf against any fleet whatever. LA Spezzia is the place whither the American fleet of the Metlitei ranean proceed to repair damages, and French and English ves• sels often do the same. Some have said that a fleet is a superfluity for us. Is the Crimean war already forgotten ? Without a national fleet we should have cut but a sorry figure. We shall not want a prrisoit at La Spezzia; the marine guard will sitlfic.e, and in time of war Genoa is only at five hours' distance. Austria is constructing an arsenal at rola ; if we want to have a good fleet, let us transfer it to La Spezzia. The Austrian Government has given some large orders in France for machinery for the eleven steam ships of war in construction at Trieste, Venice, and Pola. Of these one is a ship of the line, three fri gates, and two corvettes. RUSSIA AND JAPAN. The text of a treaty of commerce recentiy con• eluded between Russia and Japan has been pub lished in the St. Petersburg journals. The stipula tions of this treaty were decided on in 1855, and the ratifications exchanged at Simoda on the 7th of December, 1856. The concessions made by this document are much more extended than those of the treaty signed in 1854 for the English by Admiral Stirling. Among the concessions made by Japan to Russia there is one which establishes nearly direct commercial relations between the Russians and the inhabitants of Simoda and Hakodadi. The payment and exchange of the merchandise are to be made at the Japanese entrepot, but the Russians have the right to select themselves the merchandise in the warehouses and to conclude their bargains direct with the sellers. SPAIN. The Royal Speech with which the Spanish Cortes were opened upon the Ist of May, the more impor tant portions of which appeared in THE PRESS of Saturday last, now appears in the Madrid journals in full. It does not seem that the passages which were omitted contain any announcement of general interest. Marshal O'Donnell did not take his place in the Senate at the opening, but was expected to do so in a few days. It was said that dissensions had broken out in the Government majority ; that an insnrrcc tion in the province of Granada was imminent, and that the local authorities were on the qui vivo; also, that among other precautions, they had sent off two large detachments of troops to Antequera and Honda, with orders to crush any attempt at disturbance. The discovery of a conspiracy in Andalusia was spoken of. A bill for the reform of the mortgage system was to be presented to the Cortes. The Mexican affair, it is to be hoped, will be satisfactorily settled. Intelligence from Mexico states that the case of the Spanish assassination, have terminated in proof of the guilt of the sons of General Alvarez. If an execution should take place, of which there is reason to doubt on acs .unt of the weakness of the Government, the intelligence will be forwarded to Havanna!), in order to prevent the arrival of the Spanish fleet. On the other hand, the British Charge d'Affaires has communicated a note from his Government, which allows nine days to bring M. Degallado before the tribunals, failing which, the Minister will retire, together with the members of his legation. AMERICA. A telegraphic despatch from Washington, received at Boston, states that instructions had been sent by the George La w for the United States' squadron at the Isthmus to I►old itself in readiness for any emergency that might arise. It was understood that the United States' steamers in the West ln.lies would also proceed at once to join the squadron at the Isthmus. It was said Government would make one more effort to arrange the pending difficulties by negotiation, but, failing this, the United States would proceed to take possession of both sides of the Isth mus. Diplomatic relations had been sus; ended with the Granadian Government. The British and foreign Ministers at Washington I►ed been informed of the intended actizn of the American Government. The New York Courier writes : As the invaders of Nicaragua are by this time expelled or exterminated, that country must soon come under the operation of the Dallas and Clarendoi treaty. It will be 451 the first duty of the British and American Governments to unite with those of the other Central Ainerican States to regulate the affairs of this region in such a manner as will repair, so far as possible, the evils caused by the late war. It will probably be for the interests of all the States to abandon the plan of partitioning Nicaragu i, and leave her to the protection of the treaties between the powerful nations who have now assumed the relation of advisers and protectors. There. is no other possible mode of settling the affairs of the country than by a system of active and enlightened intervention. The first duty of the United States is to offer an adequate compensation in money for the outrages of our citizens, who have devas• tated and ruined Nicaragua in the vain attempt to conquer it. It should then restore to the Transit Company its property and business, and adopt the necessary measures to protect this channel of communication from future interruptions. The New York State Legislature had passed a bill declhring in effect that no slaves shall be bought within the boundaries of the State, thus ntillifyin4, as far as possible, the recent decision of the Supreme Court in the Dretl Scott case. A despatch from Mobile says that Havannah news to the 13th ult. had arrived there, from which it hppeared that the assassination of W. Sidney Smith, Britisb Consul at Havannah, had been attempted, on account of his expo , ures of slave transactions. A correspondent at Havannah, writing on the 10th ult., states that the prevailing opinion was that there would not be a war between Spain and ➢iexico. THE AUSTRALIAN MAILS. SAFETY OF THE " The usual overland despatches from Alexandria of the 23rd ult. announce the arrival of the European at Suez on the 19th, with the Oneida's passengers and 50,000/. worth of gA. Her dints are Sydney, March 11 ; Melbourne, 13 ; King George Sound, 21 ; Ceylon, April 5. The Oneida put hack to King George Sound. She broke sole plate and crank pin 400 miles north of Cape Erwin ; the damages were temporarily repaired, and she left the Sound for Sydney, March 22nd. The Australian Ministry at Victoria had be'n defeated by a majority of 29 to 23 on a resolution brought forward by O'Shanassy, and has resigned. The new Ministry is thus comprised :—O'Shanassy, Chief Secretary ; J. H. Chapman, Attorney-General ; J. V. F. Forster, Colonial Treasurer; C. G. Duffy, Commissioner of Public Works; J. J. A. Greeves, Commissioner of Crown and Land Survey ; J. D. Wood, Solicitor-General. The Assembly adjourned for one month, to give time for the elections and arrangements. NeW's from Sydney wag unimportant. The Donald son Ministry was not very secure. THE UNITED STATES AND NEW GRANADA. THE state of affairs between New Granada and the American Government attracts the attention of Western diplomatists. We subjoin an article from the New York Herald:— Mr. Morse, the special commissioner sent by the Pierce Administration to Bogota charged with the settlement of the difficulties arising out of the Panama massacre of the 15th of April, lyiti, and out of the new laws of that republic in reference to tonnage duties and increased impost on mail matter passing through the isthmus, has been corn pletely unsuccessful in his mission. The New Grenadian Cabinet disclaims all responsibility for the loss of life and the pillage occasioned by the Panama riot, and distinctly avers that that unfortunate event arose out of the improper conduct and violence of Americans As to the other matters, the Cabinet declined to discuss them, probably on the ground that it could not interfere with the legislation of Congress. Mr. Morse and our resident Minister there, Mr. Bowlin, then submit'ed an ultimatum that the New Grenadian Government pay art indemnification of 400,000 dollars for the affair of Panama, and grant certain conces sions as to the right of intervention by the United States in the police government of the isthmus. What the con• cessions were had not transpired in Bogota at the time of the departure of the mails. The ultimatum, however, was peremptorily rejected. Thereupon Mr. Morse broke off the negr.tiation, and announced that Mr. Bowlin would also withdraw. The former was on his return to the United States. The question now comes direct home to the Ad ministration of Mr. Bnchanan, what course shall be taken to exact reparation and indemnity from New Granada for the wholesale assassination and pillage of American citizens at Panama, and to afford protection to our citizens crossing the isthmus against a recurrence of such scenes? The course recommended by Mr. Corwine, the commissioner who was sent to investigate the circumstances, would seem to be the simplest and most effectual for the accomplish ment of both these objects ; that is, that our Government should seize and hold military occupation of the isthmus until reparation be made for the past and security ;liven for the future. The New Granadians evidently expect the adoption of that course. Their journals clearly intimate as much, and appeal to the patriotism of the people to prepare to resist the expected aggression. They appear to think that it is the only course left to our Government, unless, indeed, we back down from our demands, and acknowledge that we were wrong and New Granada right. It would appear, too, as if the Administration took the same view of its duty and policy, for the war steamer Wabash has been ordered to Aspinwall, and other national vesssela are to follow the Wabash. 'f his looks like action. It does pot appear that in the negotiations which took M