The Press.
London, England, 1853-12-24 00:00:00

BELOWM.

The Belgian Minister of Finances has presented
to the Chamber of Representatives the promisee, bill
relative to the duties on foreign coal. The Lill
authorises the Government to reduce, suspend, or
re-establish the duties.
6ERM.tNY.

The Emperor of Austria left Vienna on tl►e I.oth
for Munich, rhi Dreqden.
The Austrian budget for ls:I1 shows it deficit of
4:i,000,01991. under the head of ordinary expenses,
while the extraordinary expenses create a deficit of
:It►,INNI,INN►iI.
The Prussian 11overnment has published the result
of the inquiries of the Royal Agricultur►l College of
Berlin as to the deficit of the corn ha► vest in 1553.
According to this official document, the deficiency is
It► per cent. on wheat, 10 per cent. on rye, P 4 per
cent. on peas, It► per cent. on barley, 9 per cent. on
oats, and -I:) per cent. on p►tatoes. The result, on
the contrary, is very satisfactory for buckwheat,
millet, beans, lentils, and home-grown tobacco.
The conferences on the Zollverein are prorogued
till 1854.

The differences between the Berlin Government
and the Archbishop of Posen are far from being
settled.

ITALY.

The concentration of the French troops has taken
place at Bonne and at Civita Vecchia. The Poi:ti-
tles' troops have replaced the Fremh at Viterbo and
Castellane, and some remain in garrison at Lome.
The session of the Sardinian Chambers (Tuned on
the lath. The King delivered u speech in which he
congratulated the Picihnontese nation on its intel-
ligence, and recommended the Parliament to eneou.
rage that .spirit of union by the aid of which the Go-
vernment might find force sufficient to maintain in-
tlet the dignity of the country, and preserve the
wade principle of national independence from ally
insult. His Majesty concluded us follows Have
confidence in me, and by our union we will clown the
grand edifice raised loy the hands of my father, find
which mine will defend and preset ve." The royal
speech was received with enthusiasm, and the King
on his pasFage was hailed with acclamations by the
people.
A Vanaois Aural was opened and consecrated in
Turin on the lath inst. A large concourse of people
WAS present at the ceremony. Among the spectators
were Mr. Hudson, the British minister, and M. Bun-
sen, the Prussian charge tratfaires. The remit( ny
was performed very quietly, and only a few loiterers,
Attracted by curiosity, surrouuded the new temple.

THE PRESS.

The eltureli a tine building, ron•tntetevt in a half-
Saxon st)le, with Lombard oorname•nt..

SVAIN.

The 0„‘ eminent has concluded a contract '6llll
the !tank "I Sall Fernando for the payment of the
dividend tine on the -I. th of January next., both in
Spain anti Minim'. The Bank is to advance the
funds necessary at an interest of sick per cent.. and a
t'ollllllllsNitbll tf j per cent. abroad and per cent. in
Spain.
The me.lical ailkisers of the Queen expect her ac.
eonchement front the •2 Ilk to the 1; lb inst.

.1 duel took place near the Prado in Madrid, on
the I lth, between the Duke of Alba and Mr. Soule,
Jun., son of the United States einOy at this Court.
The parties fought with swonls, but fortunately with.
out either being manuleil ; and it ended in the se•
cowls drawing up a minute of the proceedings as
liming been conducted iu a manner satisfactory to
the honour and reputation of both parties. This
affair is said to have arisen MO of some sarcastic re.
•ks made by the Duke upon the dress of Mrs.
Soule, the wife of the Amenean envoy. .eon4l
duel, growing out of the same dispute, was afterwards
fought between Air. Soule, sen., and the Marquis de
Turgot. French Ambassador at Madrid. in which the
latter was wounded in the knee. II llowden
atom as seven,' to the marquis, a hose wound, it is
stated, is not dangerous.
'flue English Ambassador gave, on the I:411, a
grand banquet, at which the IaCIIINTS or the corps
fliphanatipie, some otticeis of the ralaCe, tttttt gst
whom was fount de Savilla Nueva, M. Alartinez de
la lle,sa, the Marquis of %Ilium', ioneral Lersioli,
and the Ministers of Finance, Public %Vivi ks, and Ma
rine, were present.