The Press.
London, England, 1858-11-06 00:00:00

anb (Colonial 3nttlligent.

FRANCE.
MONETARY SCHEME.
There is no news of much importance from Paris.
Public attention is still absorbed by the scheme of
converting the Four-and-a-Half per Cent. Rente
into a Three per Cent. one. The Emperor, who
ins erroneously stated to be ill, has left for Corn-
pi4ne.

THE POPULATION.
An official return gives some statistical details
relative to the increase of the French population. In
1851 France contained 35,078,628 inhabitants, and
in 1856, 36,038,364. This increase, however, is far
from being divided equally over the whole country,
the department of the Seine having by far the
greater share. The population of that department
in 1806 wag 546,856 ; in 1836. 909,126 ; in 1851,
1,053.256 ; and in 1856, 1,171,346. In the arron.
disaemtnt of St. Denis there were in 1806 42,984
inhabitants; in 1836, 110,057 ; in 1851, 233,792 ;
and in 1856, 356,034. The arrondissement of Smut%
contained in 1806 39,925 inhabitants ; in 1836,
87,708; in 1851, 135,511 ; and in 1856, 197,039. The
increaee in Paris has been 11i per cent. in 50 years ;
25 per cent. in 20 years ' and 11 per cent. in 5 years.
In the department of the Seine the augmentation
has been 174 per cent. in 50 years ; 56 per cent. in
20 years; and 21 per cent. in 5 years. If this
movement should continue, not in a geometrical, hut
an arithmetical proportion, while France in 1906
would contain only 38 millions of inhabitants, the
department of the Seine, that is to say Paris, would
reckon neatly 5 millions, or one-eighth of the total
population of the country.

. .
PRUSSIA.
THE NEW MINISTRY.
The following members of a new Prussian Minis-
try have been appointed :—Prince Hohenzollern Sig•
maringen, President of the Council ; M. Scbleinitz,
Foreign Affairs ; M. Betbmen•Hollweg, Public
Instruction ; General Bonin, War. The rest of the
present Ministers are to he dismissed as soon as the
arrangements for supplying their places are com.
pleted. The Prince of Hohenzollern Sigmaringen,
who is mentioned as having been called by the
Prince Regent of Prussia to form a new Administra
tion, is the father of the young Queen of Portugal.
He abdicated his petty sovereignty a few years ago
in favour of the King of Prussia, the bead of the
house of Hohenzollern, and obtained by the King's
order the title of Highness, with the prerogatives of
a junior prince of the royal family of Prussia. He is
a lieutenant-general In the Prussian service, and
commandant of the Dusseldorf military division. He
is hrother in-law to the Marquis Pepoli of Bologna,
the grandson of Murat, King of Naples. The Prime
Hohenzollern Sigmaringen is understood to be a
member of the moderate liberal party.

AUSTRIA.
THE ARMY.

The following is the strength of the Austrian
army .—There arP twelve corps d'artnee, each of
which is composed of two infantry divisions and a
cavalry brigade. Each infantry division consists of
four regiments of the line, of a battalion of Chasseurs
or frontier troops, and of two batteries ; a cavalry
brigade is composed of two regiments and of one
battery of horse artillery. In case of need, Austria
Can bring into the field about 427,000 men; that is,
270,000 soldiers of the line, 20,000 cbasseurs, 30,000
Croats, 15,000 cuirassiers and dragoons, 35,000
lancers and hussars, 45,000 artillerymen with 1,300
guns, and 12,000 engineers, pioneers, sappers and
miners, /cc.

SPAIN.
THE SPANISH FLEET.

The Peninsular Correspondence of Madrid sa3s
:
"Great activity prevails in the principal naval
arsenals of this country. The Spanish navy, wl ich
has 5 steam frigates and 18 smaller vessels more
than last year, is being augmented as fast as the
state of the finances will admit. It now consists of
4 screw steam-frigates, 1 of 50 guns and 300 horse
Power, 1 of 35 guns and 360-horse power, 2 of
31 guns and 360-horse power each ; 9 screw-steamers
of 1 gun and 80 horse power each; 3 paddle-
steamers, 2 of 16 guns, and 1 of 10 guns, and of 500-
horse power each ; 26 sloops of 6 guns and of
different power—in all, 42 steamers of 292 guns,
and 8,910-horse power. The sailing vessels are 2
ships of the line, 2 frigates of 42 guns, 1 of 32. In
addition, 1:1 corvettes are being built, 2 of 30 guns,
lof 24,1 of 20, 1 of 18, 6 of 16, 1 of 12, and 1 of 10
Ms. The number of sailing vessels will therefore
be 41, mounting 560 guns."