The Press.
London, England, 1853-12-31 00:00:00

440 i

SW EDEN.

King Oscar, on the 16th inst., invited the Diet to
nominate a small number of its members possessing
its entire confidence, to whom, as a secret committee,
the Government may make an important communi-
cation. It is believed that the Government, wished to
bring some momentous facts connected with foreign
affairs to the knowledge of the Diet. Contempo-
raneously with this notification, a report was current
in Stockholm that the King bad received a letter
from the Czar "commanding" him to suspend all
commercial intercourse between Sweden and Eng-
land.

The King has reorganised the higher departments
of the Swedish military and naval administration,
with a view to securing greater unity and efficiency
in the event of hostilities.

Diplomatic negotiations are pending between the
Govennnents of Sweden and Denmark, having for
their object the conclusion of a league, offensive and
defensive, between the two States. Sweden is arming
by sea and land, and Denmark will immediately for-
tify her coasts, and place Copenhagen in a state of
.defence.

ITALY.

The Roman Council of State met on the sth
to deliberate on the financial position of the Papal
teiritories. The Sovereign Pontiff presided in per-
son, and delivered the opening address. His Holi-
ness dwelt at much length upon the crisis which
weighed on the finances of the country : he confessed
his total ignorance of fiscal and economic science,
and avowed his impotence to remove the poverty of his
States. He then appealed to the better knowledge
possessed by the members of his Council to provide
a remedy for so great misery. For his own part,
he repudiated all responsibility for the public misfor-
tune, declaring himself guiltless before God. He
closed his address with tears, exhorting his coun-
sellors to find some means of amelioration, for which
purpose he said sundry proposals would be sub-
mitted to their consideration. In the course of his
speech the Pope gave utterance to many complaints
and reproaches against England and the United
States for propagating subversive and anti-religious
doctrines under the shield of their respective Govern-
ments.

In the sitting of the 26th, the Turin Chamber of
Deputies elected M. Iloncompagni, the Ministerial
candidate, as its President, by a majority of 74, out
of 107 who voted. The candidate of the Left only
got 211 votes.

SPAIN.

The)Duke and Duchess of Montpensi.r arrived in
Madrid on the 20th, and held a levee on the follow-
ing day at the palace.

DECEMBER 31, 1853.

The Count of San Luis (Sartoriusl still continued
so much indisposed as to be unable to attend to public
business.
The last medical report respecting the condition
of M. de Turgot was more favourable than the pre-
ceding one, and stated that the febrile symptoms
had somewhat abated. It was thought, however, that
amputation of the leg would be necessary.
In consequence of the conclusion of the literary
convention between France anti Spain. the Govern-
ments of both countries have followed the usual
continental custom of sending orders and tleeora
tions to the Ministers who took part in it. The
French Government have sent the Count of San

Luis, who was already grand officer of the Legion
of Honour, the grand c- for of the same ; and have
conferred the place ot Arend officer of that order
on Senor Calderon de la Banea 9 • and the Spanish
Government have sent the grand cross of Charles
111. to the French Ministers of Foreign Affairs and
of the Interior. The basis of the convention is
that the press of neither country shall publish the
original works of the other ; anal a stop is put to the
trade carried on between Paris and Ameriea in
Spanish books, and between Brussels and Madrid in
French books.