The Express.
London, England, 1847-12-16 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

THB3 DAY, Four o'Clock.
Accounts from Berne to the 11th, inclusive, give
lie proceedings in the Diet on that day, with refer-
mace to the ease of Neufchatel. The discussion was
a long one, and the following was the decree adopted:
Considering that by the decrees of the 24th and 29th of
October last, all the cantons which did not form pirt of the
freedroband than asislisrp ewe eared npas to pat thole
troops on foot, la order, in tlso first instance, to preserve
order within the territory of the confederation, and to pro-
tect the rights of the federal compact, and afterwards, more
particularly, to dissolve the illegal separate alliance of the
states of Lucerne, Uri, Schwytz, Underwalden, Zug, Fri-
burg, and Valais ;
Considering that the Act of Union of the 19th of May,
1815, stipulates, on behalf of the state of Neufchatel, the
following positive obligation—" That it shall furnish to the
federal army its contingent in the same proportion as all the
other cantons ;"
Considering that the state of Neufchatel, in like manner
as the other states, has been required to furnish its contin-
gent in mu:ley and troops, and has been declared by the de-
cree of the 30th of October to be individually responsible
for the consequences of delay, or refusal to comply with it,
end that in giving its contingent of meney it persisted in
refusing to furnish its contingent of men ;
Considering that this refusal, and the approval of the con-
duct of the seven states in the separate alliance, have had
the efflet of giving strength to the rebellion against the
supreme federal authority, and to their resistance against the
military measures adopted ;
Considering that in consequence thereof the confederation
found itself under the necessity of resorting to an increased
display of force, and that by cause thereof the cantons the
citizens of which had responded to the demand of the
supreme federal authority were obliged to make greater
sserifices ;
Considering that a great number of soldiers, faithful to
their duties, have been obliged to sacrifice not only their
time and their money, but their persons and their lives, in
order to restore tranquillity and order to their common
country, whilst the militia of Neufchatels who ought to have
undertaken the like service, have been allowed to continue
in the tranquil pursuit of their private affairs ;
Considering, finally, that the aafety, internal and ex-
ternal, of the confederation, as well as the stability and
dignity of its existence, would be deeply compromised if
the non-fulfilment of federal obligations remained unpu-
nished ;
It is decreed, that the state of Neufchatel shall, in
expiation of the non-fulfilment of its federal duties, pay to
the confederation, by the 20th of December instant, the
sum of 300,000 f. Swiss (equal to about 4.50,000 f. French),
in ready money, or available securities. This sum shall be
employed in the formation of a pension fund, the interest
of which shall be ivied in affording proper relief to the
soldiers who have been wounded, and to the wives and
orphans of those who have perished in the service of the
confederation.
Previous to the order of the day, M. Ochsenbein an-
nounced the arrival of Sir Stratford Canning, and
stated that in the course of an interview which he had
had with that diplomatist, the latter had informed
him that his government had had an understanding
with the other powers, to the effect that they should
offer to the President of the Diet, collectively, their
mediating services. The British envoy had then
given him the assurance that Great Britain was ani-
mated with the moot friendly intentions towards
Switzerland. The Diet, on the same day, returned a
reply to the Prussian note, couched in similar terms
to those already addressed to France and Austria.

In the House of Lords yesterday the Crime and
Outrage (Ireland) and the Railways Bills were read
a second time, Lord STANLEY suggesting, with regard
to the latter, that he thought it desirable power should
be given, at the expiration of two years, that the
works might be completed as rapidly as possible,
provided it was done with the assent of a majority of
the shareholders, instead of three•fifths of those who
sent in answers.—lord MONTEAGLE gave notice, that
before the adjournment, or immediately after the re•
cees, he should bring in a bill for the better adminis-
tration of railway affairs, and the more effectual
audit of railway accounts.—The Marquis of LANS-
DOWNE, in answer to the Earl of ST. GERMANS, re-
plied that the subject of a euperannuation fund for
poor-law officers should receive due eonaideration.
In the House of Commons the Public Works (Ire-
land) Bill was rcad a third time and passed. The
nomination of the committee on commercial distress
and the currency led to a protracted debate, but the
list of names as proposed by the CHANCELLOR OP THE
EXCHEQUER. was eventually agreed to, as follows :
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir R. Peel, Lord
J. Russell, Lord G. Bentinek, Mr. Harries, Mr. Goul-
burn, Mr. Alderman Thompson, Mr. Labouchere, Sir
J. Graham, Mr. F. Baring, Mr. T. Baring, Mr. Cob-
den, Mr. Spooner, Mr. W. Beckett, Mr. Cayley, Mr.
Cardwell, Mr. Hudson, Mr. Hume, Mr. Ricardo, Mr.
Glyn, Sir W. Clay, Mr. Disraeli. Mr. Thornely, Mr.
J. Wilson, Mr. H. Drummond, and Mr. Teunent.—On
Mr. Labouchere's name being put Lord GEORGE
Beterincx proposed its omission, and to substitute
That of Mr. Hastie, when the house divided,
the numbers being 194 to 77 in favour of the origi-
nal motion. Mr. Cardwell's name in preference to
that of Mr. W. Brown was decided in the affirmative
by 167 to 101. On Mr. HuME's name being pro-
posed he expressed his hope that the house would
excuse him from attendance, when Mr. tv...taLer
moved " that Mr. Mentz be substitated ;" the original
motion was however carried by 168 to 97. Mr.
WAKLEY thinking, after the desire expressed by Mr.
Hume to be excused, that it was an improper course of
proceeding to persist in returning the bon. member's
name, moved the adjournment of the debate. After
some discussion, Sir R. PEEL stating that if Mr.
Hume persisted in his resolution not to attend he'
should be prepared to vote for the nomination of
Mr. Mintz or Mr. Hastie, Mr. WkKLEY withdrew
his amendment. The retention of the name of Mr.
Ricardo, instead of the substitution of that of Mr.
Henley, was carried by 172 to 10d. The last division
was in favour of the nomination of Sir William
Clay, for whom Lord GEORGE BENTINCK proposed to
substitute Mr. Pattieon, the numbers being 152 to
122.—Mr. BROTHERTON, with reference to the busi-
ness of the home, moved that when any new business
is brought on after 12 o'clock at night, if it be moved
and seconded that such debate be adjourned, the
Speaker so declare without putting the question to the
vote. After some discussion the house divided, when
the motion was rejected by a majority of 24.

THE QuEem DOWAGER.—MADEIRA, DEC. 4.—We
have much pleasure in stating that her Majesty the Queen
Dowager has considerably improved in health since her ar-
rival In this island. Her Majesty occupies a comfortable
mansion belonging to the civil governor, close to the Loo
Bock, one of the most agreeable and healthy situations in this
colony. She generally rides on horseback in the afternoon, as
the roads do not admit of any sort of carriage, and appears
highly delighted with the charming promenades which
every pert of thin sweet place presents. The Queen's
small circle has been strengthened by the arrival of his Serene
Highness the Duke of Saxe Weimar, and Baron Herman,
his second son, who came from Lisbon in her Majesty's
steamer Dragon, commanded by Captain Hall. The Duchess
and her eldest son bad already formed part of her Majesty's
society, and this union of the family is a great comfort and
consolation to the Queen, whose domestic qualities are not
the least of her high attributes.—Aforning paper.
REPRESENTATION OP TAMWORTII—TAMWORTII,
Wednesday Evening.—The writ far the election of a burgess
to serve in parliament, in the room of the Hon. W. Y. Peel,
lately resigned, was received yesterday by E. B. Hamel, Esq.,
mayor. Up to this hoar Kr. Townshend ie the only candi-
date in the field, and it is now generally believed that no
other gentleman will solicit the votes of the eleotors, and
that the return of the gallant captain is certain. Saturday
next is fixed for the nomination.
'rug COTTON TRADE.—The extensive cotton mills
of Mewl. Ashton, of Hyde, commenced working full time
on Monday last.