The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-03-16 00:00:00

FRANCE.

PARIS, FainAt EVENING.
Despatehes have been received this morning
from the French Minister at Berlin; they doubt-
less relate to the Neufchatel question, which has
the disadvantage of wearing out every one's
patierce, except perhaps that of the I. of
Pro.',-igia. It is said that M. Rosenberg is eXpected
on Monday to take part in the negotiations. it' it
be true, as a Berlin paper attrms, that the Paris
Conference has not the right to solve the question,
it might as well dissolve itself at once. The new
instructions are said to be to the effect that the
recognition of the rights of sovereignty is the
express condition of his Majesty's renunciation of
that sovereignty. The Emperor, I presume, now
secs cause to regret his extreme condescendence to
the King, find perhaps but for the esteem in which
M. de Hatzfeld is personally held at the Court of
the Tuileries, his disappointment would be mani-
fested more strongly.

Letters were issued yesterday convoking an ex-
traordinary meeting of the Council of State for this
day, under the presidency of the Emperor. The
object of the meeting was to route to some decision
on the long vexed question of the tax on personal
property. The impost itself, as well as the best
mode of laying it on, has been discussed over and
over again, and has almost turned the heads of
financiers. The only thing all seem unanimous
about is the necessity of providing for the deficit
by some tax or other. The newest project is the
;mposition of 15c on every 100 f on each share or
" obligation," whether French or foreign, taking
as the basis the average value of such noctiritieg
for the last three years.

It appears the hessian Y3overnment have sent
orders to Bordeatix for the construction of a screw
steam frigate of 500 horse power to carry sixty
gtlne, a screw steam steam corvette of 400 horse
power for thirty guns, and a paddle wheel steam
yacht of 400 horse power, for the special service of
the Czar. These vessels, which were ordered three
months ago, are far advanced towards completion.
The corvette will he launched in Alay, the frigate
in September, and the yacht in December. Other
orders of a similar kind are stated to have been
also received.

A communication from the Gulf of Mexico, in
the Idoniteur de la Flotte, corroborates the state•
merit in my letter of yesterday that General
Comonfort had sold to as American Company a
tract of land in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, with
the right to cut a canal to unite the Atlantic with
the Pacific. The plan of canalising the Isthmus
of Tehuantepec is said to be very old, and has
been frequently revived within the last 50 years.
The intention attributed to the company is to unite
the rivers Huascualco and Chitnalapilla by a canal
which will be about 85 miles long, and thus
connect the two oceans. The writer of the article
asserts that competent judges think it the most
practicable and least expensive plan yet suggested.
It eays :
The province of Oatacsk bi o,hich the land granted to
the American company is situate, is one of the most fertile
in the Mexican Confederation. The climate is good, and
it contains Much mineral wealth. The capital is in the
tie' valley granted by Spain to the desend,nts of Fiern
Cortes. and from which they derive the title of Marquis
del Valle. The treaty now in question was signed at
Mexico on the 25th of January last, but it is not to be
definitive until it is ratified by the Government of the
United States. The price to be paid by the company is
25,000,000 dollars. The numerous enemies of G neral
Comonfort attack this treaty. They assert, not without
some show of reason, that it tends to a future annexation
with the United States, as it introduces the Americans to
the centre of Mexico.

The plan of M. Ferdinand de Lesseps for uniting
The Mediterranean with the Red Sea by means of a
slip canal across the Isthmus of Sues was referred
for c nisiloration to the Academy of Sciences of the
Imperial Institute of Prance. The Academy ap-
pointed a commission, composed of MM. Elie de
Baanmont, the perpetual S, cretary Cordier,
Dttfrenay, Baron Charles Dupin, and Vice Admiral
Dnpetit Thonars Baron Charles Dupin was ap-
pointed to prepare the report, which he has done,
and in it he gives M. Lesseps' plan his full and
entire approbation. He then compares the Suez
canal with the Euphrates railway. He shows the
very different character of the twc works, and he
demonstrates for the transport of merchandise
the incontestible superiority of the canal over the

The following paragraph, from the Pays, the
Government journal, corroborates the statements I
made some days since relative to an expedition to
he sent to the Chinese Seas by the French
Government.

It has been said that a convention was signed between
France and England to regulate the mode of co-operation
between the two powers in the affairs of China, and it was
added that. France had engaged to furnish an expeditionary
corps of 20,000 men against the Celestial Empire. We
consider it necessary to rectify both facts. There hag not
been any convention, properly so called, signed between the
two Governments. There was merely an exchange of notes,
which is sufficient ; and, as to the very exaggerated amount
of the expedition, it is reduced to the already known fact of
ships and warlike stores placed under the command of Rear-
Admiral Rigault de Genouilly.
The Imaum of Muscat, whose death on board a
British frigate was lately announced, having left
no legitimate heir, I am informed the English and
French Governments, being the only Powers having
representatives in the late Imaum's dominions,
have declared in favour of Hilal, the eldest of his
illegitimate sons.
It is said that the French Government has
decided that the debt due to it by the Greek Govern-
ment shall be remitted, and the Emperor• expresses
a hope that all the money due to France, and
coming due by the Greek Government, will be
expended in useful public works in the interior of
Greece.

A concert was given last night at the Palace of
the Tuileries. There were about 1,500 persons in-
vited. The well known composer, M. Blumenthal,
who is on his return from Nice, performed a solo
on the piano, which was much applauded, and for
which he was complimented by the Emperor and
Empress. M. Allard played a solo on the violin,
which was equally well recived. M. Blumenthal
is on his return to London from Nice, where he
played several times before the Dowager Empress
of Russia, who presented him with a magnificent
ring set with rubies and brilliants.
A private letter from Nice speaks favourably of
the health of the Dowager Empress of Russia.
She has derived great benofit from the sojourn
there. She takes much exercise on foot and in
her carriage, which is for the most part open. It is
thought she will leave Nice for Rome abort the
end of March. She will then set out for Wilbad
for the Baths, and will probably return to Russia
at the end of June. She intends spending the
Holy Week at Rome.
The following despatch has been received
MADRID, MARCH 1.

The poet Q lintana died yesterday.
The journey of their Royal Highness the Duke and
Duchess of Mentpensier to Madrid is adjourned to the
more h of April.
The Pays announces that the two first battalions
of the 7th regiment of Austrian infantry had
arrived on the 4th at Czernowitz, the capital of the
Bultovine, coming from Jassy, where they formed
part of the garrison. The evacuation of the Danu-
bian Provinces was proceeding without interup•
tion, and it is expected by the French Government
that it will be complete in a few days.
MARSEILLES, MARCH 12.
A report published by the Chamber of Com-
merce shows that forty ships arrived in this port
from Newfoundland between the month of August
last and the 31st December, laden with 69 000
metrical quintals of codfish, of which 30,000
metrical quintals' were re-exported. We have
likewise received 10,000 metrical quintals of cod-
fish from• Cette, cured on the banks of Newfound-
land.

The mail steam-packet Merovee, which sailed for
Algiers the day before yesterday, has been forced
to return in consequence of bad weather.
The Russian Prince do Lieven has arrived here
The receipts of the Paris and Orleans Railway
Company for the week ending the 4th of March
amount to 1,185,355 f 13e, being an increase of
226,813 f 50e as compared with the corresponding