The Press.
London, England, 1857-05-02 00:00:00

THE "NORTHERN BELLE."

MIL DALLAS, the American Minister at her Ma-
jesty's Court, has addressed a despatch to Lord
Clarendon, calling the attention of the Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs co the circumstances under
which the crew of the American ship Northern Belle
were rescued foam death on the 6th of January last
by the heroic exertions of the Margate and Broad-
stairs boatmen. Mr. Dallas details at length the
circumstances of the wreck, and concludes :
These are the leading features, as reported to his Govern.
ment by the Consul of the United States in London, of
the series of successful acts of courage and humanity
which it is the desire of the President to mark by tokens
of American gratitude and thanks. The undersigned has
therefore been specially instructed to lay betnre the Earl
of Clarendon tle list, accompanying this letter, of those
truly heroic spirits who manned the lifeboats, and to beg

toreign ant, (colonial 3ntttlignue.

SWITZERLAND AND PRUSSIA.

The propositions of the allied powers have been
accepted by Switzerland.
The Federal Council has decreed the signing and
the immediate publication of the treaty, as also of
an annexed protocol, adding to it the tenor of the
primitive demands of Prussia and the first instruc-
tions given to Dr. Kern.
A letter from Berne, dated 27th April, gives the
following account of this treaty, which is drawn up
under the express guarantee of Austria, England,
France, and Russia :
The first article of the project is very categorical, and is
couched in these terms :

" His Majesty the King of Prussia renounces for himself
and for his successors for ever all claim to the sovereignty
which Art. 23 of the Treaty of Vienna of ltil3 assured to
him over the Principality of Neufchatel."
This stipulation is formal, and does not stipulate any
reserve or restriction.

The second article qualifies the position of Neufchatel
towards Switzerland and towards foreign States. Neufchatel
is recognised as a sovereign and independent State ; it
will continue to enjoy the same rights and guarantees as
any other Sovereign State of the Swiss Confederation, as
was stipulated in the declaration made at Vienna on the
20th of March, 1815.

This article, therefore, confirms the full independence of
the Canton of Neufchatel, and its right of constitution.
. .

The third article is thus conceived:-" The Confederation
will pay to the King of Prussia the sum of 1,000,000 f."
Nothing is said about why this sum is paid; and it is
worthy of observation that the word indemnity is not men-
tioned, probably purposely, in the treaty.
The other articles mcy be summed up as follows :
The Confederation will proclaim a general amnesty fur all
political and military offences, and offences of the press
relating to the events of September 3,18 A. The Con-
federation itself will provide for the expenses caused by the
recent events, and the State of Neufchatel will only have
to pay its proportional share of the money-contingent.
No special tax is to be imposed upon any class of indi-
viduals fur this purpose. The Church property, which in
1845 was incorporated with the fortune of the State, can-
not be employed fur any other object, and the revenues
are to be applied to those particular objects. The funds
of charitable institutions, arising from private donations,
such as those of Baron de fury and the Pourtales
cannot be employed for other purposes, and shall
continue to he employed henceforth according to the
intentions of the donors.

Intelligence has not yet been received whether
Prussia has also acceded to the terms, hut every
confidence is expressed in favour of her acceptation
of the same.

FRANCE.

The Grand Duke Constantine of Russia arrived
at Paris at five o'clock on Thursday evening. He
was conveyed in an open carriage to the Tuileries,
along the Boulevards, accompanied by Prince Napo-
leon. An immense crowd welcomed his Highness
as the Imperial carriages passed along the Boulevards.
On arriving at the Tuileries, the Grand Duke was
warmly welcomed at the top of the grand staircase
by the Emperor, who conducted his guest to the
Salle des Alarechaux, and intro:lined him to the
Empress, who was surrounded by the principal
members of the Court.

A grand review of the garrison of Paris, comprising
50,000 men of all arms, will be held on the 13th, in
honour of the Grand Duke.

Intelligence from Algiers of the 2.2nd announces
the arrival of Marshal Randon i i that town, where
he was received with the usual ceremonies by the
troops and civil authorities. The expedition against
Kabylia will commence without delay, and all the
regiments that are to take part in it are already con-
centrated in the advanced stations.

Le Nord states that the intentions of the French
Government as regards China are as follows : The
French authorities will formally demand a permanent
embassy at Pekin, and, in case of a refusal, will en-
deavour, in concert with the English forces, to pene-
trate to the capital by water, and there dictate terms
to the Chum Government,

AUSTRIA AND SARDINIA.

The two Governments, it is repotted, have given
orders to suspend the usual annual military exer•
cises. The Marquis Cantono has left Vienna for
Turin.

The Inclipendance of Brussels repeats its state-
ment, which had been denied, about the existence of
a circular note dated the Bth of April, from Count
Buol, addressed to the Austrian Ministers at the
different German Courts, in which Count Buol com-
plains bitterly of his not having received from Count
Cavour any satisfactory reply to the last note, speci-
fying certain alleged grievances, which was handed
to the Sardinian Minister by Count Paar ; and also
complains that from the Marquis Cantono di Ceva,
the Sardinian envoy at Vienna, he has been able to
get no further explanations than a vague and general
declaration that the Sardinian Government, notwith-
standing the rupture of their official intercourse,
intends still to perform all the obligations which are
imposed upon it towards Austria by existing treaties.
A dispute has broken out between Sardinia and
Monaco upon the annexation by Sardinia in 1848
of the communes of Menton and Roquebrun. Sar.
dinia denies the legitimate claims of the house of
Monaco, declines restoration, but offers pecuniary
indemnity. Austria supports the pretensions of the
Prince of Monaco.

The Sardinian Government has just concluded the
preliminaries of a contract with the company of the
Victor Emmanuel Railway for the passage and tun-
nelling of Mount penis. The sum of forty millions
having been deemed sufficient for completing the
tunnel and galleries required to complete the plan as
previously sanctioned, the Government has consented
to take twenty millions on itself and the company an
equivalent sum.

SPAIN.
THE QUEEN'S srEEcir.

The Wats this week publishes an,analysis of the
Royal Speech, which was read by General Narvaez, in
the Queen's name, yesterday, at the opening of the
Spanish Cortes. The speech is drawn up by M.
Yid al :

It will announce the re•Establishtnent of a good under-
standing between Spain and Rome ; renewal of friendly
relations with the Court of Russia. The hope is expressed
that the difference with Mexico will be amicably settled,
but nut unless the honour of Spain is satisfied, and the
interests of Spaniards in Mexico guaranteed in future, and
an indemnity paid to those who have suffered. Should the
conditions put not be granted, Spain, despite her sincere
wish for peace, will not hesitate to have recourse to coercive
measures.

'Vile Queen calls the attention of the Cortes to the in-
ternal condition of the country. Peace and order prevail
everywhere. A veil of oblivion is to be thrown over the
past.
The difficulties caused by the high price of provisions
have been happily overcome by a series of well•combined
measures. The loan is especially mentioned as having
enabled the Government to act without complying with the
enormous exactions of Spanish capitalists. The conditions
of the loan have been faithfully fulfilled.
_ . _

The Queen will recommend a series of political and
financial reforms; a bill for the reform of the organisation
of the Senate will be brought forward very early in the
session, as also a bill for reforming the regulations of the
two Chambers. The Senate, as now constituted, consists
exclusively of members appointed by the Queen for life. It
is proposed to introduce a new element into this great body
which will give it greater authority and add to its lustre.
The Senate would lose nothing if it comprised a certain
number of hereditary Senators selected from the Grandees
of Spain and possessors of large territorial fortunes. The
fortune would he the flotation of the title, and would descend
from generation to generation with the title to the eldest
sons of the Senatorial families. The existing regulations
of the Senate and of the Chamber of Deputies have en-
gendered many abuses which continually impede the
public service and the progress of the tiovernment,land
will ultimately throw discredit upon the parliamentary
system.
Finally, the Speech from the Throne will give some
explanations on the bills that will be presented by the
Government for the regulation of the finances, with a view
to establish the financial system upon the principles of
economical science and the wisdom of experience.
The Queen will inform the Cortes that the plans of the
Minister of Finance will be submitted to them at the
same time as the Budget of ISSS.
Espartero has publishad his manifesto to the Pro-
gresistas, justifying his abstinence from all active
interference in the recent crisis .

how could I (be asks) take part in the fratricidal strife
which had commenced in spite of all my solicitude. when
it was evident to me that the fatal imprudence of those
who had provoked it had rendered impossible that its
result should not be the immediate, although transitory,
ruin of one of the institutions to whose support and
defence T have consecrated my whole life? I will say no
more. Yon will divine that which duty forbids me to
speak. I will say no more, whatever the provocation
addressed to me, whatever the imputations cast upon me.
The document is of great length, but it has not been
well received.