The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-12-19 00:00:00

01 1EIGN INTELLIGENCE f fi FRANCE. (PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, TUESDAY EVENING. lei l rn he daY's news is not unimportant. First, I that , m y iro - own peculiar sources of information, ma new an d very artful attempt i s b e i ng ma d e s f e Parate Fran ce f rom E ng l an d. The King of to a p pi rn es ' it appears, has been advised to propose tr t4 k e a o e — and he has done so underhand—to finsuch concessions as will satisfy her, and will able her to re-establish diplomatic relations with 1341' leaving England to act as she pleases. It is R ev s- uut of th s I am not sure—that the French f a , er hment has received these overtures • not nil . ' al trabl So w f ere eof the Belgian papers say that the Con- . a a „ a ce will not meet until the first week or of", k a arY ; but I am again told that the intention Pla oe the different governments is, that they shall take at the, latest, in the last week of this month laat ear t oo, that its sittings are not expected to One tha n t h ree d ays. le t neo ! the principal morning papers publishes A ers t ,,„ from Constantinople, which says that the to t 17 .411 Ambassador, Ferouk Khan, will not come perris city.ci H e, I am told, will come, thoug h t h e t a d his arrival is not fixed . gra p ii h t t hy' most important news comes by tele (t is the The 'Journal de Constantinople of the Sth tind er organ of the English embassy) announces ci nder the head " grave news," that the Russians, /W e i; G eneral Philipson, had captured Soujouk 4 .' r ° ll l the Circassians, after a desperate a ir,, l a ,‘; and, Avhat is far more grave, had captured tret e - . " s h brig and eighteen smaller vessels, on I laci rice that the papers were not in order. Persia Published a proclamation accepting war with el l it ". The English had taken the isles Ormuz Ar a $ o rraCk. The Russians were collected at be~be 13e rlin telegraph says that it continued to , e ved that th e governmen t wou ld make an the te‘-, inte rvention in Switzerland, in the event of on e "ast prisoners being condemned, and that p: its or gans, the Kreuzzeitung, ha d pu bli s h e d viol articl e aga i nst E ng l an d , Pret en d Pete rs b urg l etters rece i ve d i n ' thi s c ity, til ee ult that a n i nt i mat i on of the R uss i an govern is to had been made on behalf of Persia, that say, in plain terms, war with England kticiu.neidered not at all improbable. It is even Tho us ln ,one of the l e tt ers , th a t a corps o f f o rty on o ,__au Men has already b een or d ere d to collect Al an Persia n f ront i er, and that a comp l e t e bhag O e f n Ca raPaigr, for the defence of the country. 11 1 . 1 ci cis th a -il t . drawn up for, that corps. It even theo nsth - e ",., Russia:Lis were to commence opera °, the — " ner 'etheir general should beinformed - 1: • ar.ation of the English in Persia. Lgent i , -4 e, t is stated, alarmed at these move -15;rato-01.°11:, the Russians, has collected troops to `Ahhis own territory. a ?aria,Berman ambassadors are :about to leave bl oat de Salvandey, for many years Minister of 3,4ll4,°,,lnstruction under King Louis Philippe, died liai".. r ullY morning, aged sixty-one. He was an )!l ame Politician, not undistinguished as a par fatt4 nr Mary orator, and was for some time ambas- Ilete. ill Spain. He was also an author of some ' T t Thhe °urea has again declined to-day. t hat se mi - offfcial Patrie of this evening, asserts, ' 6 01E," . ra nee has not changed her opinions on the Ileitt r „ sci and Isle of Serpent questions, and that enga-t.e neat to vote in a particular way. PARIS, WEDNESDAY. .. 1 : 11 1 11 11.r e °V ent of the day is, a declaration in the offi ,that'foiliteur against Switzerland , in the Neuf 'Afte:t affair. ' Whilst the Moniteur, lb ri a recital of what has taken p lace,``p has found in 4 8 1 8 ; 14 moderation,—a sincere desire to terminate ; Ar o -c ate question, and a courteous deference, A . ip t el: politi ca l s it ua ti on — s h e has found in zerl an d , on the contrary, obstinacy, exagge • Iv he'rd susceptibility, an d com pl e te indifference to 4 e , Counsels. Switzerland need, therefore, not t h e : surprised if, i n th e course of events, she .t ce l lid not find the good will which it was easy to , r ll . l- ` 3 for herself at the price of a very slight l ce. This declaration against Switzerland Or "Pected—the French Emperor owes a debt gr atitude to that country for having nearly gone Ilhe r to preserve him from the clutches of Louis i)e ar ,PP o, —and gratitude is a heavy burden to ` 1 111i„' --- Ile has conce i ve d a very y sudden friend ,te for the King of Prussia, and des us to o bli ge hi m ; and h e i s a d espo t, and los b s i , P ,. °t ' naturally sympathises with a brother a gainst a free country—so, of course , kreet 4ert and is sacrificed. The Bourse has zed t he language em ployed by the Moniteur flo he Ve ; in it s eyes , S w it zer land being aban -1337 France, will be obliged to, cede to the ° f c 0 a' and so there will be one chance the less I I h 17 " t ima in Europe. h as ear that the trial of the Sicilian insurgents th ern e° mnienced at Palermo, and that some of kin g be co n d emne d to d e ath, but that the ' l .lte r 'd . "` E l given orders that none shall bo exe • 'congr It is said th a t th e French Emperor has ti 414 4 _ si na atnlated the King upon his escape from tion. ~ a Lry, A. --a nd review o f th e I m perial Guard, infan ralrYs and artillery, has been passed tho :Nip)! t he Emperor, in the court yard of t vrh e ": : 'es) in honour of the Prince of of i s 'i n a• It was, as usual, very brilliant. Upwards be ing -°° men were under arms. The weather *itr l e' s - pe, though cold, a crowd assembled to d h d • A good deal of enthusiasm is state ha been • 41 Pe ror n manifested by the troops for the 1 : 01 , 0-ereM. Hubner, Austrian Ambassador -onf e i ,, - t 0 represent his Cabinet in the approaching t he has not yet, I hear, received powers o d e Th e • '4) 3 " arrival of the Persian Ambassadar is expected he th e 22na. ost French Emperor has ordered General I ,"° Et t 7, 11 . m . , who commands the 9th military division, 'ice, to offer his Majesty's respects to the , Th e -8s of Russia. '44\ t 0 feast of Brest has voted 10,000 fr. Who a l ~"3 feast the officers of the Russian squadron, •A. Shortly expected in that port., king °f letter says that the Emperor of the_ "`kinlige(ci• P russia accepted an invitation to visit the -rrussia in that city next spring. " e°l lno - , 2 "i rclin g to a St. Petersburg letter, militar e y . rati c ,;" B Were being held to devise a plan of op nst x it l ii. Persia, or, as some persons supposed, l ‘ta " va, on , d despatch announces at last that e M. ae been nominated ambassador at Rom . F another source we learn, under date of Th e PARIS, WEDNESDAY. Emperor, through the channel of the Illoni- Nth, :e ads a lecture to-day to the Swiss, and fo r th-r s evere lecture it is. It was first intended Ingt i , ri t t Ordinary rese rvoir of semi official outpour and' Coustitutionnel. It was then withdrawn, °N, D ,P r ePared t o su it the regular goiernment Ivi t G• It w as aga i n w i t hd rawn , and this second nient"rtawal led some to suppose that an arrange not b etween the Federation and Prussia was f3ll ol 4a Probable. Its publication this morning s:s t hat that chan c e is for the present postponed. 1 44 111 s curious thoughts are suggested by a Pe tub d of this document, which is certainly less 11 4 ec i than if it had to be addressed to a power / °ld a nsSia, and it is the more remarkable from the aid d friendly associations between Switzerland str e t he Emperor of the French. Considerable rli etf B is laid on the fact that the Imperial Govern ?f Prance cannot, in spite of the interest fait ch 't feels t o wa r ds Switzerland, disregard the F r of treaties. One would suppose that the Pe o ° , l 7 h Moniteur is not the best authority to lecture on the immorality of violating solemn tr e , - „genaents, whatever form they may take,whether li a ","s • or otherwise. The crown the Emperor as P°t eon wears is in defiance of treaties, as soleMn a nY on record, so far as relates to foreign policy ; and the obligations incurred on the 10th December 1848 are, historically, too recent, and the coup d'etat still more so for the display of excessive puritanism on the violation of solemn obligations. The tans ,fagon manner in which the revolution of 1848 is alluded to, savours a little of ingratitude. But for the catastrophe of 1848 where would the Em peror of the French now be, or what would he be ? If Prussia, as the Moniteur implies, is justified in employing intimidation to prevent men from being legally tried who had unfurled the Royal standard against the de facto Government, on the ground of their having fought for " right and for legality," a legitimist or Orleanist insurrection should not be condemned. True, the King of Prussia, as the Moniteur states, has protested against the revolution of 1848; but Louis XVIII. protested with no less solemnity against the first Empire, and his protest did not save the Vendeans or Bretons from the doom of rebels when taken in arms. Charles X. protested against the " usurpa tion" of 1830 ; but that protest did not prevent Louis Phillippe from detaining in captivity his own neiee, nor from exposing that Princess to the scuffs and derision of the world. The Orleans Princes would no doubt pkotest against the revolution of 1848, did that protest afford a chance of success to the cause; a collec tive protest did not prevent the confiscation of the (Means property. The Legitimists regard Henry V., and none other, as their King ; and in him alone are centred " right and legality." Supposing the Marquis de Pastoret and the Marquis de Larochejacquelin, under some sudden inspiration from former con victions, rising to morrow in their place as mem bers of the Imperial Senate, unfurling the white flag, and shouting, instead of as now " Vice Napoleon 111. ! "—" Trifle Henry V. ! " I wonder whether the consciousness of their having pro claimed "right and legality" would save them from imprisonment and trial? And if it did not, would the Emperor Napoleon admit the right of Henry V. himself to interfere ? The liberation of the prisoners on demand is in point of fact the whole question. The eagerness to save them cannot arise from any apprehension on the part of Prussia that they will be treated with inhumanity ; if they had a " right," as the Moniteur all but declares, to revolt for the over throw of the de facto government, the de facto government has a right to put them on their trial. The concluding passages are still more harsh than the opening. All this compliment and flattery to the King of Prussia, the heir presumptive to whose crown is now feasted at the Tuileries, and whose long desired visit to Paris is not ye despaired of; and all is cold and harsh to Switzer land. "On one side," says the Moniteur, " France has met with a sincere desire to terminate a deli• cate question ; on the other, on the contrary, an obstinacy is to be regretted, an exaggerated susceptibility, and a complete indifference to her counsels." From thik crime of obstinacy I' fear there is no way of defending poor Switzerland. The reproach of the , Moniteur is, alas, too true. S w it z e r land has before now displayed her obsti nacy on other matters. That characteristic fault of hers has brought her into trouble more than once. It is proved by the following letter addressed by the Duke of Montebello to the Federal Direc tory in January, 1838 : After the events of Strasburg and the act of generous clemency of which Louis Napoleon Bonaparte had been the object, the King of the French could not expect that a friendly country like Switzerland, and with which the ancient relations of friendly neighbours had lately been so fortunately re-established, would suffer that Louis Bona. parte should return to its territory, and, with a contempt of all the obligations imposed on him by gratitude, should dare to resume there criminal intrigues and avow loudly insensate pretensions, of which their very folly cannot absolve him since the attempt at Strasburg. It is notorious that Aranenberg is the centre of intrigues which it is the right and the duty of the King's Government not to tolerate. Vainly would Louis Bonaparte deny the pamphlet he has published both in Germany and France— that which the Court of Peers has recently condemned — to which it is proved he had given his assent, and had distributed it. Facts, which prove that the object of his return from America was not only4o pay the last duty to a dying mother, but likewise to recommence plans and announce pretensions which, it is now demonstrated, he never renounced. Switzerland is ton honourable and faithful an ally to permit that Louis Bonaparte shall call himself one of her citizens, and the pretender to the Throne of France—that he shall call himself a Frenchman whenever he may conceive a hope of convulsing his country for the furtherance of his plans, and a citizen of Thurgovia when the Government of his country wishes to prevent a repetition of his criminal attempts. How Prince Louis Bonaparte felt on that oc casion may be seen by the following : Aranenberg. September 22, 1838. Monsieur le Landamann—When the note of the Duke of Montebello was addressed to the Diet I would not submit to the exigencies of the French Government, for it was necessary for me to prove, by my refusal to retire, that I had returned to Switzerland without violating any engage ment ; that I had a right to reside there, and that I should find there aid and protection. Switzerland bas demonstrated, daring a month, by her energetic protests, and now by the decisions of she great Councils which have assembled up to the prssent time, that she was prepared to make the greatest sacrifices for the maintenance of her dignity and her right. She has done her duty as an independent nation. I shall perform mine and remain faithful to the voice of honour. I may be per secuted, but I shall never be dishonoure d. The French Government having declared that the refusal of the Diet to comply with its demand would be the signal of a conflagration of which Switzerland might be come the victim, it only remains for me to quit a country where my presence is the subject of such unjust pretensions —where it cifoull be the pretence for such great calamities. I request you therefore, M. Is Landamann, to announce to the Federal Directory that I shall leave as soon as I shall have obtained from the Ambassadors of the different Powers passports necessary for me to proceed to a place where I may find a secure asylum. In voluntarily a uitting to-day the only, country in- Europe in which I found support and protection—in with - drawing from places which had become dear to me in go many respects, I hope to prove to the Swiss people that I was worthy of the marks of esteem and affection they lavished on me. I shall never forget the noble conduct of the cantons wbo declared so courageously in my favour, and particularly the recollection of the generous hospitality accorded me by the canton of Thurgovia will remain pro foundly en graved in my heart. I trust that this separation may not be eternal, and that a day may come when I shall, without compromising the interests of two nations which ought to remain friends, recover the asylum where a residence of twenty years and acquired rights had created for me a second country. Be, Monsieur le Landamann, the interpreter of my grateful feelings to the Councils, and believe that the idea of sparing Switzerland from trouble can alone assuage the regret I experience in quitting it. Accept the expression of my exalted esteem and of my distinguished sentiments. NAPOLEON LOUIS BONAPARTE. To His Excellency the Landamann Anderwert, President of the Lower Council of the Canton of Thurgovia. The fact is, a taint of ingratitude runs throughout the whole of this business in Switzerland. In days of destitution, danger, and exile, it was in S witzer land that Louis Phillippe found shelter. The Duke of Montebello, whose family now occupy some highpand, I hope, lucrative offices in the Imperial household, might have been an industrious black smith, instead of the son of a Duke and Marshal of France, but for Napoleon the First, the expulsion of whose nephew from that neutral ground of the exile he insisted upon. It is true the Prince ended the difficulty by voluntary retirement ; but from no one less than from the Emperor should come words of reproach and lectures on political morality to Switzerland. The people discover in the article in the Moniteur a fling at the English government, or at least at Lord Palmerston. The allusion about " dem• gogues" is thought to be to his address. Others believe that the attitude thus assumed by France will bring the quarrel to a speedy solution. Against Prussia and France what can Switzerland do. about two or three months ago the Emperor certainly took the Swiss view of the question. It was only after M. Hatzfeld had arrived at Biarritz with an autograph letter from the King, that a change was perceptible. That change has gone on since then. After the article in the Moniteur surely the King of Prussia cannot refuse visiting Paris. I just learn that the probability of an arrangement is again spoken of, and even that the Confederation will send a special agent to Berlin. A private letter from Turin of the 14th inst. ob serves that it is now eight months since the Italian question was introduced to the notice of the Paris THE NORTHERN TIME S.---LIVERPOOL, PRIDAY. Congress, and that during that period events have proved the accuracy of the opinions expressed by the Sardinian Plenipotentiaries when they deClared that it was necessary to ameliorate the political situation of the Italian Peninsula. The declarations of the municipal councils of Bologna and of Ravenna, the address of the provincial congrega tion of Brescia, the legal resistance of the inhabitants of Pesaro, the refusal of the pro- vincial council of Benevento to allow in the budget a sum for an indemnity to the Consultore of Finance, and other significent facts of the same nature, demonstaate the progress of liberal ideas in Italy and the development of the spirit of legal resistance which must continue to gain ground. The movement in Sicily, the administration chaos in the Roman States, and the judicial atro cities committed in Naples have proved, on the other hand, that by persisting to shut one's ears to the language of sagacious and moderate men the revolutionary element is encouraged rather than suppressed. In fact, the present state of Italy is the most eloquent commentary on the note of the inth of April. The question resolves itself to this. If it be seriously intended to secure the peace of Europe something must be done for Italy. If nothing be done for Italy the peace of Europe will be ever uncertain and precarious, and after all it cannot be durable. The Italian cause is-a cause of order, of justice, and of legality. It can never triumph except by order, justice, and legality. The following private telegraphic despatch has been received : TURIN, DEc. 16. The Chevalier Boncompagni, President of the Chamber of Deputies, has been named Minister Plenipotentiary at Florence. Letters from Bologna state that Count Lavatelli died of his wounds after three:days' suffering. The Milanese journals assert that le was stabbed, like Count Rossi, by Mazzinians, for having joined the Pontifical Government, and that pamphlets writ ten by Mazzini was found on the assassin. A letter from Janina of the Ist, in the Itioniteur, says, — The province has just been freed from those malefactors who had established their haunts in the mountains of Kour velech. Hussien Pacha returned to Janina a few days since, bringing with him in chains the noted brigand chief Birbi Aga. forty four of his band, and about the same number of individuals accused of having taken a more or less direct part in the depredations which have been carried on for some years past in the district of Argyrocastro. Hussien Pasha, whose ardour is indefatigable, is preparing to set out again for Thessaly, where bands of brigands are being orga nised, and who find recruits at this season among the Wal lachian mountaineers, who come down into the plains for the winter. A letter from St. Petersburg of the 9th say : The fete ',of the military order of St. George was cele brated at the palace yesterday. The Emperor was present at Divine service, and afterwards gave a dinner to all the Knights of the Order. It is said that, about the 17th, the Emperor will remove from Tzarskoe-Selo, to take up his definite residence at St. Petersburg. M. Cheremetieff, Minister of remains, has had an attack of apoplexy, and his life is in danger. Changes in the civil service are about to take place. Hitherto Russian educational establishments have been divided into three categories, so that employes had greater chances of promotion if educated in a superior establishment than in an inferior one; but it is now said that this distinction is to be abolished. It is also rumoured that no rank in the civil service is henceforth to give rights of nobility. MARSEILLES, DEc,lB. M. Bouree, the French minister to Persia, has arrived here, and is going to Paris, General Rostolan, commander of the troops in the department of the Bouches du Rhone, has just left Marseilles, with the Colonel of the staff, and an aidado-camp, to visit the Empress Dowager of Russia, at Nice. TURKEY. CONSTANTINOPLE, DEC. 8. As long as the question whether the dispute about Botgrad and the Serpents Island should be referred to the Conferences or not was pending the undivided attention of the Grand Vizier had to be given to the subject. It was not alone the importance of the questions involved in the dispute which rendered Redschid Pasha so anxious about the settlemeut of this matter, there was likewise another and not less urgent reason in the circumstances which led to his accepting office. The reckless manner in which his predecessors had given contradictory assu rances to the different European Governments placed him in a most awkward posiiion. Although he could scarcely have been expected to take the responsibility of the folly of the late Ministry upon himself, yet he could not prevent those to whom such contradictory promises had been made look ing to him for their fulfilment, especially as their nonfulfilment would be easily made a pretext for new demands. Now this question of conference or no con. ference being settled, one would have thought that this difficulty would-have been removed; but such seems not to be the case, and every day brings new proof that nearly en every subject the late Ministry had followed the same time-serving policy as on the question of the conferences, and had given syste matically contradictory assurances to the European Powers. By this short sighted policy all the most important questions are in such a confusion that the persons alone who caused it can give the key to it. It was this consideration above all which induced the Grand Vizier to keep as long as possible all the members of the former Ministry around him, and when this became impossible to name Aali and Fuad Pashas, as the persons most concerned in producing the confusion, members of the Cabinet without a portefeuille. As it became necessary to ask them continually for explanations, it would have been no doubt easiest to summon them before the Ministerial Council whenever explanations were wanted which one had so much more the right to do as both Ali and Fuad Pashas draw a pension of about £6OOO a year for their past services. But as they were his political adversaries, and at the same time proteges of France and Austria, Redtohid Pasha was anxious to avoid anything which would have been construed into personal animosity, either towards the persons themselves or towards their protectors, and preferred having them attached to his Cabinet as ministers without a portfolio. All one must wish and hope is that he may not have reason to regret his generosity by introducing his enemies into the Ministry, which is so much the more dangerous as the Ministry has not yet been cleared of the men who are compromised in the acts of the late Cabinet. He may find himself thus one day left in a minority in his own Council, just at a moment when he would most require the unanimous support of the whole Cabinet. Ho could, indeed, in such a case use his prerogative as Grand Vizer, and take the responsibility of a con trary decision upon himself ; but even fora man with Redschid Pasha's personal influence it will be up-hill work to act under such trammels. I give you these details in order to place before your readers the difficulties with which Redschid Pasha is surrounded, and thus to prevent rash conclusions if he should not immediately succeed in satisfying the expectations which are connected with his advent to power. He must first clear the ground before him, and prepare by degrees the materials 1 with which he has to work, and he has to do this under the most delicate circumstances: He is looked upon as a devoted partisan of Eng land. Now there can be no doubt that he knows the importance, nay the necessity, of an intimate alliance between England and Turkey. He fully understands the value of the daily increasing commercial relations between these two countries, and he perfectly appreciates the disinterested advice of England, proceeding as it does from the desire of seeing a strong Power established on the Bosphorus, which, by its own vitality, should be canable of resisting all foreign encroachments; but by his adversaries this leaning towards England as the Power with which Turkey has in nearly every question the same interest, is construed into a blind servility to every whim that may cross the head of the British Ambassador. He is thus placed between two fires : he must moderate the over-zealousness of his friends, and at the same time avoid giving umbrage to those who are not his friends. This is so much the more difficult as it has become a habit to convert every question into a personal one, and instead of judging it on its own merits, to look upon it only so far as it may serve to increase in appearance one or another foreign influence. I say in appear ance, because in most cases this seems to be much more cared for than the reality. Now seems the time to put an end to this state of things, and establish a Government neither English, French, Russian, nor Austrian, but Turkish in the first instance. The two Western Powers, if lam well informed, have come themselves to this conclusion, and have sent assurances to that effect to Redschid Pasha, as well as instructions to their respective ambassadors. As England and France have taken this view it will be easy to keep all other foreign interference within proper bounds. The information received by the Persian Ambas sador about the taking of Herat has since been confirmed from other sources. The town sur rendered from want of provisions. When the news of the taking of Herat arrived at Teheran it was celebrated by festivals, which were to have lasted three days, but which were prematurely interrupted by the death of the eldest Prince and heir of the Shah, a child of six years of age, who had been ailing for some time. All the details of the surrender are from Persian sources, and according to these everything passed in the most perfect order, and no excesses of any kind were committed. The negociations with Feruth Khan have taken within the last few days an unexpected and deci dedly unfavourable turn ; whether this be due to the taking of Herat, or to other causes, would be, perhaps, difficult to decide. The consequence of this change is that the negociations, far from being concluded, as it was hoped, are in a far more critical state than they were in the beginning. However much it may 'be regretted that delays and a want of decision during the first stages of the dispute should ' have increased an originally paltry quarrel into a serious difference between England and Persia, it is difficult to see how England can give way without risking some of her privilege in Central Asia, espe• cially as the taking of Herat will be trumpeted forth as a triumph of Persia over England. But before embarking in a war it will not be amiss to calculate its consequences, and whether we are prepared for the sacrifices it may entail, for if ever England draws the sword she cannot sheathe it without having obtained her object. An expedition on a small scale to the Persian Gulf has been pre paring for some time. From the nature of it one can conclude that its object will be confined to the taking of Karrak, Bushire, Mohammerah, or at most Shuster, the capital of the province of Khuzistan ; that this may be effected, and the whole country up to the mountain passes subjected with these means there can be not much doubt, for the power of Persia in those parts is not much more than nominal ; but it may be just questioned whether the occupation of a territory which yields' nothing to the Shah's treasury, and which is more an embarrassment than an advantage, will be a sufficiently urgent reason for the Persian Govern ment to give in ; and if it should not give in, what else remains than a serious campaign into the heart of the country, which no one can say where it may lead. A war then with Persia ought not to be considered as a trifling expedition, and it may well be asked before beginning it whether the means could be found to arrange a quarrel in which, turn it as we may, English Government agents were in the wrong, at any rate in the beginning. The whole question has been very much envenomed in Eng land by the idea that Persia is a tool of Russia, who, defeated in her attempts in Europe, has begun a series of intrigues which led to a breach with the British Government. Nothing can be more wrong. All impartial persons know that the system pursued in Persia by the English Mission was in itself sufficient reason to account for the decline of English and rise of Russian influ ence. I have often before remarked that one ought never to lose sight of the fact that the Persian Government is, as everybody knows, feeble, and placed between two strong Powers —England and Russia. It is a natural physical law, that if there is pressure from one side, Persia must lean towards the other. This is the explana tion of the present Russian influence. To think that the Persians have sympathies for Russia is an absurdity ; they have no smypathies either one way or another ; they want to live as quietly as they can. If the pressure on our side were withdrawn, only for one year, all those who know Persia will have no hesitation in saying that every Persian would be with the English as those farthest off. 'lt ought likewise not to be forgotten, that tho seige of Herat was begun in consequence of the rupture with England, and that the Persians have, even after the capture, declared themselves ready to retire from Herat, and to offer a compensation to the Heratees. The Persians are likewise said to be ready to give full and entire satisfaction in the Murray affair. If this be true, as lam assured by well informed persons, why push things to an extreme ? _ _ Mr. Layard, M.P., arrived the day before yester day. He has lost nothing by waiting, for nothing has been as yet done in the Bank business, except the appointment of a commission by the late Ministry to investigate the respective claims of the competitors, and even this committee is not likely to remain as it was packed by the late Ministry. AUSTRIA. VIENNA, DEC. 15. The Paris correspondents of the English and German papers announce that the Conference is not likely to meet as soon as was a few days since ex pected, " because the representatives of the Powers are unable to agree which of them shall preside." Within the last few days a new difficulty has arisen, but you may believe that the question of presidency has not yet been discussed. As you were a week ago informed, it was agreed that the frontier question should be settled according to the spirit of the treaty of March 30th. The Sardinian government officially informed the British Cabinet that it shared the opinion of England, Austria, and Turkey, in respect to Bolgrad and the Isle of Serpents, and the French government gave its allies to understand, that it intended to play the part of neutral mediator at the Conference. There is reason to believe that neither England nor Austria was greatly edified by the policy of the Paris Cabinet, but both Powers were desirous that the conditions of the Treaty of Peace should be realised as speedily as possible, and they therefore no longer turned a deaf ear to the proposal of France to meet her again in confer 'ence. If the information given me be correct, the British ambassador some days since informed Count Walewski that his government did not object to the proposed conference, but Count Buol, who has recently learnt to his cost that implicit confidence cannot be placed in France, still holds back, and is likely to continue to do so, as Count Walewski now professes to believe that "some compensation" ought to be given to Russia for Bolgrad. What Russia claims instead of the town in question is a piece of land lying between the river Yalpuck and one of its tributaries, and persons who are well versed in the merits of the question are inclined to think there is no good reason why she should not have it. Russia has laid a trap for England and Austria, and they will have fallen into it should they agree to let her retain the territory in question as a compensation for the loss of Bolgrad. Russia would like to prove to the world that she is a very ill-used Power, and she would be able to do so if the Earl of Clarendon and Count Buol were to acknowledge that an indemnification is due to her for the loss of the chief town of the Bulgarian colo 'flies. The Conference will probably meet after Christmas—that is, before the beginning of the new year. As has repeatedly been said, the order to evacuate the Danubian Principalities will be issued as soon as Bolgrad is in the hands of its proper masters ; but there has been a thaw during the last few days, and it is doubtful whether the Austrian troops will be able to return home until fresh snow has fallen and another frost set in. By means of sledges the artillery, baggage train, &a , may be moved over firm snow ; but when, at this season of the year, there is a thaw, the so-called roads of the Danubian Principalities are like unto bottomless pits, According to the last advices from Galatz the Danubian Commission has made the discovery that the Kilia arm of the Danube is more easily navigable than the Sulina. The-bed of the Kilia arm is in perfectly good condition, and the bar at its embouchure is much less formidable than those before the mouths of the Sulina and St. George's arms of the-river. On good maps it is to be seen that the St. George is the principal arm of the river, and Danubian sailors tell me that vessels bound to Constantinople would save much time if they could pass through it. The reports which reach this city from Milan are extremely contradictory. According to some Italian writers the clemency displayed bythe Emperor since he has been at Venice has produced an excellent effect on the inhabitants of the cities in Lombardy ; according to others, the people are as refractory as ever. The impression said to prevail in high offi dial circles is that his Majesty will be well received by the lower classes in Lombardy, coolly by the burghers, and coldly by the nobles. There is a rumour in the city that Count Grunne, the first General Adjutant to the Emperor, has been shot at by a Venetian, but my endeavours to obtain relia ble information on the subject have failed. The behaviour of the Emperor and Empress to their Venetian subjects' does not find favour in the sight of some highly placed persons in this city. It is thought that their Majesties are too kind and condescending, and averred that the Italians can be much better governed by the sword than by the sceptre. The sword and musket system bas had a fair trial, and has completely failed ; but still there are people who cling to it as if it were a panacea for every evil. The state of public feeling is so bad in Hungary that the represen tatives of the different circles are about to'meet in order to consult on the means to be taken to improve it. The heads of the different de partments wil propose to the Archduke Governor such changes in the provincial administration as May appear necessary or desirable, and he, after having duly examined the propositions, will either reject or recommend them to the consideration of the Emperor. On the 12th instant there was a TeDeunt sung, and solemn thanksgivings offered up to the Most High for the providential escape of the King of Naples. In obedience to telegraphic instructions received from Venice, the following members of the Imperial family were present in the Italian Church in this city :—The Dowager Empress Caroline, the Archduchesses Sophia, Elizabeth, Maria (the sister of the Queen of Naples), and the Archdukes Francis Charles, Ferdinand, William, Leopold, Reignier, Henry, and Maximilian d'Este. All the Austrian Ministers appeared in full uniform, and most of the diplo matists were present. A Vienna correspondent of the Frankfort Post Zeitung positively denies that France has offered to mediate between Denmark and the great German Powers, and he 'is probably right; but it is here generally believed that the Emperor Napoleon is employing his newly acquired influence over the King of Prussia, in order to keep him from doing his duty, to the German Confederation. Prince Daniel is still endeavouring to persuade France to acknowledge the independence of Montenegro, and it is here believed that Count Kisseleff is doing all in his power to serve him. The " subvention " granted by the present Czar to Prince Daniel, is considerably larger than that paid to him by the late Emperor. It is believed that the needy Potentate has to thank Prince Gortschakoff, who was the friend of the late Vladika, for the increase in his salary. As you will probably already have learnt from your Berlin correspondent, the Prussian Cabinet on the Bth addressed a note to France, England, and Austria on the Neufchatel question. The language employed by Prussia is extremely menacing, but the Swiss Confederation is resolved that the revo lutionary royalists shall be brought to trial, " be the consequences what they may." General Dufour recommended that the prisoners should be libe rated, but he has left Berne because no attention was paid to his counsel. The Wiener Zeitung, in its non-official part, has a most shameless article on the new marriage laws. The writer, who is believed to be Dr. Fessler, the Professor of Ecclesiastical Law at the University, asserts that the Concordat, with its corollary, the Marriage Law, has given general satisfaction to the nation, but the sequel will prove that he either deceives himself or seeks to deceive others. The Concordat is abhorred by the great bulk of the nation, and the new Marriage Law is one of the principal causes of the general discontent in Hun gary. The ultramontane writer has also the impudence to assert that no countries prosper in which marriage is not recognised as a sacrament. According to this doctrine England, the United States, Prussia, &c., are less thriving than Naples, Rome, and Austria. His Holiness the Pope has pardoned 24 persons who were at the head of revo lutionary corps, and 36 members of the revolutionary parliament. " All these persons," says the Gazzetta di Venezia," will be allowed to return to the Papal dominions." In a few days the Archduke Ferdinand Maximi lian will go to Brussels on a visit to his affianced bride. SPAIN. Our accounts from Madrid are of the 12th inst. It is announced, that on the 2nd of January next will commence the payment of the half-year's interest on the Consolidated and Deferred Three per Cents, due`the Ist of January. A dividend will be paid on the same day on the Madrid and Aranjuez, and on the Olar and Santander Railway shares. M. de Torre Aylion is to continue to represent he Spanish Government at Vienna, and M. Mon is ,o be the Spanish Ambassador at Rome. MILITARY AND NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. The Austrian steam-frigate Radetzky, Captain Pren, 3S hours from the Heider, bound for Lisbon and Trieste, arrived at Plymouth on Tuesday. The screw-steamship Baltic, Captain Durham, from London for Calcutta, put into Plymouth Sound on Tuesday, for slight repairs to machinery. The screw-steamship Flora, from London for Oporto, put into Plymouth Sound on Tuesday. The following appointments have been made at the Admiralty :—W. Lowry, surgeon, to the Melampus ; R. Bernard, surgeon, to the Hawke ; R. W. Billings, assis , tant-clerk, to the Melampus. THE WEST INDIA MAIL. The royal mail packet Magdalena arrived at Southampton on Wednesday night, with the West India mails and Pacific mails. Her dates of sail ing are :—Greytown, Nov. 19th ' • Panama, 23rd ; Jamaica, 26th ; Demerara , 25th ; Barbadoes, 28th ; Porto Rico, Dec. Ist ; Dominica, Nov. 29th ; St. Thomas, Deo. 2nd, 6.30 a.m. The Magdalena brings twenty-seven first class passengers. The freight on board includes specie of 470,350 dollars value in silver, and 49,735 " Plata Pina ;" dollars value, in gold and gold dust, 501,500 ; total, 1,021,585. Lieutenant D. E. Orr, R N., late of the Imaum, died on board on the 14th inst., and was buried at sea. Quartermaster James Bolan, of her Majesty's ship Orion. and John Wilson of the Eurydice, also died during their passage home as invalids. Her Majesty's ship Eurydice was at Barbadoes, on the 28th ult.; Brilliant at St Thomas on De cember 2nd ; Orion, Arrogant, and Intrepid at Colon on the 24th ; Imperieuse, Archer, Pioneer, Cossack, and Victor, at Greytown, on the 26th ; Imaum, Termagant, Euryalus, Amphion, Tar tar, and Atalanta, at Jamaica on the 27th ; the Arachne was expected at Antigua ou the Ist inst. A Spanish squadron, composed of three frigates, six paddle steamers, and one brig, was at Havan nah on the 17th November. The West India mail packet Wye broke down at Grenada, and the Derwent was to take her service on that route. The Jamaica legislature met on the 11th of November, when, in the absence of a governor, Major• General Bell, lieut.-governor, opened the Council and Assembly, for the purpose of enabling them to make such provision for the public service as was rendered necessary by t h e expiry of several important revenue acts on the 31st December next. The House of Assembly two days afterwards voted a reply, in which it was said : Daring the brief period of your Facellency's adminis tration no material change in the general condition of the colony has been perceptible. We rejoice in witnessing the present state of the markets for colonial produce, and the prospects of the coming crops. But, though we regard these circumstances as encouraging, they do not augur any sensible amelioration in the condition of the country, nor promise permanent advantage, so long as the slave trade is permitted to exist in its present aggravated form, in defiance of existing treaties. The early arrival of 500 immigrants from the Cape Verd Islands was expected at Jamaica. The island was healthy. The business of the past fortnight (says Do Cordova) has been remarkably dull, although there have been several arrivals. The market is amply supplied with provisions, but trade is inactive Since our last, considerable inconvenience has been felt in commercial circles for want of silver, which is difficult to obtain even in our banking establishments. Several invigorating showers have fallen throughout the island, and the coming crops seem favourable. The legislature is now in session, but no alterations have been made in the tariff or tonnage dues, as was•contemplated. Exchange on London, 90 days, 4 per cent prem ; 60 days, 1 per cent. prem ; 30 days, 1a per cent. prem ; private bills, at par. In British Guiana considerable embarrassment was experienced, owing to the unexpected failure of the negotiations for a new immigration loan. The Combined Court was to meet on November 28, to consider what could be done. The Gover nor's circular letter to the proprietors of estates who had applied for immigrants, informing them of the failure of the negotiations for an immigra tion loan, and of the consequent impossibility for the colonial government to make any advance, as contemplated by the ordinance, for the payment of the immigrants, who are expected to arrive shortly from India, and that there was no alterna tive but for the parties who wanted immigrants to pay down the whole amount in cash had been much complained of, but its reasonableness was being gradually recognised. The weather during the past fortnight had been too showery to be agreeable to the planters, The exports during the fortnight included— Sugar: 3649 hogsheads, 259 tierces, 68 half-tierces, 1.771 barrels, 350 bags. Rum : 1127 puncheons, 276 hogsheads, 56 barrels. Molasses; 414 pun cheons, 2) barrels. _ _ Trade among the merchants had improved since the issuing of the compensation bonds to the Portu guese. _ _ Freights had also improved during the last fort night, and had risen froth is. to 2s. 6d. for sugar, and from 2d. to 3d. for nun- A correspondent, dating Barbadoes, November 27, says : Our market has continued to receive ample supplies of provisions of all kinds, and shipments having followed each other so rapidly it has been impossible to maintain prices. Constant rains have caused a material improve ment in the appearance of our (lane fields ; and should the former continue, the sugar crop of 1857 will probably reach 35,000 hogsheads, being 9,500 hhds. less than that shipped this year. Prospects as to prices next season are cheering for the planters. The harvest will be general in March. The island is healthy; the weather very pleasant. , POSTAL CONVENTION BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND NEW GRANADA. The Gaceta Oficial of Bogota of the 16th nit., contains a note from Mr. Griffith, H.B.llL's charge d'afaires to Sr. De Pombo, secretary of state for foreign affairs, notifying him that according to the terms of the Postal Convention of 1847, the present Convention will cease on the 17th of December, 1857, but that her Majesty's government is will ing to make a new convention on the basis of the old one, but modified in regard to the payment of a transit tax on the closed mail that crosses the Isthmus of Panama, and also as far as relates to the postage of newspapers from Great Britain. Sr. Pombo replies that his government is ready to make a new treaty with the proposed modifications. PANAMA. Panama was healthy. One railway was in a secure and good state. In harbour, the flag frigate American Independence, and the sloop of war St: Mary, United States. Admiral Bruce, commander in-chief of the English naval forces in the Pacific, was daily expected at Panama from Acapulco, CHILI AND PERU. We have advices from Valparaiso to the Ist, and Callao to the 12th of November. Chili was tran quil. The dispute between the civil power and the clergy had been happily terminated, the bishop having been compelled to submit. Her Britannic Majesty's screw frigate Tribune, 36 guns, had arrived at Valparaiso, after a long passage, from Rio. Business was rather slack in Valparaiso, and freights difficult to be got. Mines in Copiapo ere doing a middling business, and the railroad is being extended into the heart of the mining dis tricts, to facilitate the expottition of the ores. In Peru some agitation in favour of Vivaseo seemed to be spreading in Ariquipa. Troops had left Callao to repress it. Business was very slow. H.B.M's screw frigate Esk, Captain Sir Robert Maclure, arrived at Callao on the 4th October, and left for Panama on the 11th. The same day Admiral Fourichon, commander in chief of the French naval forces in the Pacific, gave up his command into the hands of Admiral Lugeot. The next day Admiral Fourichon left Callao, accompa nied by the officers of his staff for France, on board the English packet Limo. He was saluted in the warmest manner by all the crews of the French ships in harbour. The crew of her Britannic Majesty's frigate President joined the French in the manifestations of regret on the departure of Admiral Fourichon, through the gallantry and kindly feelings of Captain Frederick. PORTUGAL. We have Lisbon. dates to the 11th inst., from which we learn that, by a decree published in the Diario, Indian corn is admitted into the kingdom at a nominal rate of duty. Foreign salt is allowed to be imported at a duty of lOrs. per 1001bs ; the duty on vegetable coal, firewood, Sze., is reduced to a nominal figure. Vessels of all nations, bringing entire cargoes of cereals, are freed from tonnage dues ; and when the cargo is not entirely of cereals. a reduction proportionable to the quantity on board is allowed. The duties on fish aro reduced to, 5 per cent., and an amount of 1 per cent is to be deducted from the produce of this impost, to be devoted to the improvement of the national fisheries by a system to be organised by govern ment. Mr. George Croft, who has discovered a mine of coal and iron near Batalha, which promises to be of great extent and rich in mineral produc tion, has lately had his claim of first discoverer officially recognised by the government. In foreign exchanges the operations had b'en limited, owing to the scarcity of bills. On London the rate fell to 53 for 90 days, but at this rate few remitters would take bills, prefering to send their money in gold. Continental paper was also scarce, and in demand. The following were the quota tions :—London, 30 days, 522- to 53 ; 90 days, 538 to 53. Paris, 100 days, 532. The Belfast Banner says :—" Perhaps there were never such shipments of potatoes from this port as have taken place for some months past. There have been, on an average, three vessels of from 100 to 250 tons burden each loaning at our quay ; and there are at present four vessels of tbis description, either loaded or being roaded with this wholesome and valuable esculent, principally for England." NUMEROUS ROBBERIES By A. TICKET OF LEAVE CONVICT. pretence of being —lnformation siort of a large extensive robberies of property within as many hours, by a of leave. It seems that the first place he visited was 149, James sn2ebs e s e m n it r h e , ce a i l v ia e s d of no less than four Regent street, London gEailnlise,dnuedwmoisustinonn under t whilst the servants were looking up the dirty linen to give him, he helped himself to some valuables within reach. On the l a undress's whereh I man, and obtained posses quantity of shirts, sheets, table cloths, &c., leaving Regent street, he proceeded to 2, New Bond street, where he was equally successful, the booty, however, being much larger. Depositing the proceeds of the above robbe ries in a cab which he hired, he drove off to 11, Ccirk street, told the same tale, and was again •oredited, and obtained possession of a quantity of property ; he was next traced to 9, Montague street, where he stole a gold watch and chain, and a quantity of jewe'lery and wearing apparel. The .police on being inform e d o f t h e ro bb er i es, went i n pursuit, but the fellow contrived to elude them, and got clear away with his booty.