Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-03-06
NATIONAL. INTELLIGENCER.
RrsIGNArIoN ,e THE BRITISH MINISTRY.

with Liverpool and London dates to the 2lst ult,
She brings the intelligence, unexpected at this
time, of the resignation of the British Ministry
The bill lately brought forward by Lord JOHN Rus
SELL for organizinga militia force being under con-
sideration, an amendment was proposed by Lord
PALMERsToN upon which the Ministers joined issue
The vote proved the latter to be In minority OF
eleven votes--l25 against 1876, the Irish members
voting with the majority. Such an event was un-
looked for, as the preceding night the Ministry
had been sustained, upon another question, BY re-
ceiving 1877 votes out of 232.
Lord PALMERsToN amendment was the striking
out of the bill the word "local, so as not to con-
fine the mlitiamen to their respective counties, but
permit them be sent to any quarter Of the Kingdom
where their services were required. In moving 1t
he urged that the country was in situation liable
to war and, its peace armament not being sufficient
to meet the emergency of war, he desired to have
ready trained force prepared for instant action.
Tt is said that the announcement of his resgna-
ton by Lord JOHN RUSSELL was received with the
greatest astonishment, as was prepared for
such result.
Many rumors prevailed at Liverpool as to sue
known It is said that the QUEEN will not appoint
Lord PALMERsToN, and that the Earl of DERBY is
willing to accept the office.
In Fr;nce LOUIS NAPOLEON has issued decree
regulating the Press which does not give satisfaction
The Queen of Spain has entirely recovered from
the wounds lately inflicted by the regicide Merino,
and her restoration to health has been publicly cele
brated at Madrid.
The Liverpool cotton market had been active du-
ring the week. and prices had advanced an eighth of
a penny, with large sales.
Items of int diligence from various parts of Europe
brought by theAmerica, make mention of war
like preparat ions of the different Powers. In the
annexed sun mary the reader has bird's-eye view
of them:
Adyices fir ON Lisbon of the 18th February state that
the Porug preparing for all contingencies and
for the everualties of European Recruiting was
going all over the country and heavy guns being
mounted all the fortresses from which artillery had
been withd rawn after the civil war of 1S47
The PARIS correspondent Of the London News states that
confidential order had been issued by the Minister of
War to all the Generals to hold themselves ready with all
their personnel and materiel for a movement which is
fixed for the Odd February The initiative to be
taken this time by the troops Lyons under the
mand of Gen. Castelane. On the 22d twas supposed
that the empire would be proclaimed The impending
.scoup de main !" is colored by reports in favor of a
French Protectorae in Italy Louis Napoleon is repre-
scented to be in state Of complete exhaustion both of
mind and body which usual after periods of great
ergy and excitement
Agents of France are said to be at work, sedulousy
sapping the allegiance of the Belgian army that mill
tary declaration in favor Of annexation France might
easily be got up in any Belgian garrison.
The Belgian Government has ordered an augmentation
of hundred men in each of the battaons of the reg
ments of the line of the army of Belgium As there
battaons the total the forces
will be 800 men. 1t reported TINT the Government
about to apply to the Chambers for credit of six
millions of francs for the establishment of intrenched
camp in the envrons Of Antwerp, and for putting into
state Of defence the tete de Flanders.
Several Of the Swiss journals reiterae report that
had obtained considerable currency to the effect that the
Federal Council had demanded the Intervention Of Great
Britain against France and that the French Minister
preparing depart The French Cabinet has presented
note complaining of the hostility of the Swiss press
The forts Of Milan be Immediately completed and
every preparation made for the eventuality Of
The Russian force in the Baltic at the present moment
numbers forty sail Of the line all powerfully equip
The Paris correspondent Of the London Times affrms
that the Government of Louis Napoleon is on good
with the Emperor of Russia and thata decided cool
ness.exists
The London Times has the following summary OF
the debate in Parliament on the 10Th ultimo, when
Lord JOHN RUSSELL laid before the House his pro-
position for organizing the national deences against
the chance of INVASION
Lord JOHN RUSSELL observed that in 1913 he had sug
gested the expedency of forming the foundation Of per-
manent militia force In this country. That proposition
being coupled with another for increase Of taxation
was not paatable the House. and persevered
in He renewed the proposition now in the hope that the
House and the country would consider il wise to have
permanent force Of militia Notwithstanding the assurance
contained in her Maestys speech that relations with
foreign Powers friendly. There many reasons
why this country should be wholly unprepared for
waragessions by foreign States disputes with respect
to the rights Of British subjects obligations by treaty
10 defend other countries of attack and
nexons with the general system Of Europe any territorial
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT by which State would disturb the ba-
lance Of power There still another reason, namely
that since the introduction Of steam navigation this
try could not be considered against invasion
formerly. With this change OF circumstances must be
coupled the fact that military establishment very
far below that Of other countries We had generally reck
oned il wise as well constitutional TO maintain
siderable militia as TO regular army; and
the Government proposed 10 establish local militia upon
the following plan Twohirds of the officers to be APP
pointed by the Lord Leutenants field officer in each
corps and onetd Of the others TO be appointed by the
Crown; qualification for officers Of certain amount of
landed property to be dispensed with.
With respect 10 the il proposed that instead
Of the limitation Of eighteen and thirty years Of age un
der the Local Militia act the limits subecng parties To
the ballot should be in the first year from twenty TO
tyhree years Of age and in the second from twenty 10
twenty ve but any persons between twenty thirty
might volunteer and they would year less than
baoted for whose period Of service would be four
years which might be extended six months longer by
der in Council and six months longer still by act Of Par
lament Ii was proposed that the should be formed
into battaons and assembled for training twenty egh
days the first year, and fourteen days in each subse
quent year In the event Of danger OF invasion, the
hn diaA and If