CONTINENTAL.

Bruce Herald, Volume VI, Issue 304, 23 February 1870, Page 6

CONTINENTAL.

France. The bullion in the Bank of Franco has increased by 10,700,000 francs. Letters from lloino assert that the majority of the French bishops, including Monseigneur Dupanloup, and many of the German bishops, will oppose the dogma of Papal infallibility. Many of the cities of France were illuminated in honor of the inauguration of the (Ecumenical Council at Rome. At Marseilles a crowd of 1500 men made violent demonstrations against the illuminations. They marched through the streets singing the Marseillaise Hymn, destroyed the decorations and transparencies, and committed other depredations, until they were dispersed by the police. In the Corps Legislatif an Opposition Deputy demanded the impeachment of M. Forcade, Minister of the Interior. The scene of confusion which followed is said to have been such as was never before witnessed in the Chamber, and the sitting was adjourned amid great excitement. The RappeJ has been prosecuted for a libellous article written by Victor Hugo. He has been sentenced to pay a fine of 1000 francs, besides being imprisoned for fpur nwnths, and the puplisher has also been sentenced to pay a similar fine and to be Imprisoned for two months. The French Government have intimated to the (Ecumenical Council that the question of the Pope's infallibility ia inopportune from a religious point of view, while politically it places France in a position other than that defined by the Concordat, and releases her from the obligations then accepted. Marfori, Intendant of the ex-Queen Isabella, has published an empathic denial of the story that the Queen took the Crown diamonds with her from Madrid. The Empress Eugenic has written the Pope a letter expressing her regret at not being able to pay him a visit. The Carlist insurrectionists on the French border continue active. Several cases of arms suspected to belong to them have been seized ! at Bayonne. I It is reported that the Empress Eugenic has instructed her Chamberlain to meet Pere Hyacinthe on his arrival in France, and to dissuade him from attempting to approach Paris. On December 18th, the authorities ordered all the Spanish refugees in Paris, who were in any way implicated in the late revolution, to leave the city. In the Corps Legislatif, on December 20th, Mr Rochefort addressed the Government relative to the expulsion from French territory of a political refugee, Senor Paul Angelo, a Deputy of the Spanish Cortes. He concluded his speech by saying, "Then you have only one fear ; it is a republic. This is near at hand , and will revenge the wrongs of both Frenchmen and Spaniards, It is reported that Prince Napoleon will soon resume the Presidency of the Privy Council, (

Spain. The Cortes has rejected the Bill of the Regency for indemnifying exiles under the Monarchy. It has voted unanimously for the restoration of Constitutional guarantees. It is rumored that the King of Italy recently told the Spanish ambassador at Florence that he would refuse his consent to the coronation of the young Duke of Genoa. It is also reported that the Arch-Duke Victor, brother of the emperor of Austria, has refused to entertain overtures made to him by the Spanish Government in connection with the throne. In the Cortes, a resolution ordering an investigation into the robbery of the Crown jewels, was carried by 120 to 5. Minister Figuerola reiterates his charge against the ex-Queen Isabella of having carried off these jewels. The Cortes has adopted a resolution instructing the Committee on the Constitution to prepare a Bill providing for the election of a monarch. Senor Salavajara, Minister of Finance under the ex-Queen, has been stabbed by Senor Revitadinera, who formerly occupied a post under him, but was imprisoned for frauds discovered by Salavajara. The wound has been pronounced mortal by the attending physician. Prim publicly declares that there has been no change of polity on the part either of the Government or the Cortes on the question of monarchy. He states that the Duke of Genoa will probably receive the crown, but should he decline it, the Government will not favor the establishment of a republic. Portugal. On the night of the 10th December placards were posted in the streets of Lisbon, calling the people to arms in the name of the republic, and making a number of revolutionary appeals. Next day a number of suspected parties were arrested, among them being General Azefere. Italy. An Important Papal Bull has been issued under the seal of strict secrecy, establishing regulations for the guidance of the (Ecumenical Council. In the exordium it exhorts the Bishops to live in the practice of charity, humility, sobriety, and pious contemplation during the session of the Council. It also declares that although the right of making propositions for the Council belongs only to the Pope and to the Court of Rome, the Pope desires and exhorts every father to think it his duty to make prop isitions on the following conditions :— Ist. That the propositions be made in writing, and submitted privately to a council of bishops to be named by the Pope. 2nd. That every proposition must have as its object the general interest of the Church, and not of a particular diocese. 3nd. Every proposition must be accompanied by a statement of the motives which led to its pro mentation. 4>h. All proposition must be conformable to the spirit and traditions of the Catholic Church. The Bull further imposes secrecy on every person concerned in these conciliatory labors. The majority of the Bishops are dissatisfied with many of the provisions of the Bull ' A brilliant review of Pontifical Zouaves took place on the 15th, under the command of General Kanzler, Minister of War. Letters from Rome report that the Pope has been appointing Gallican bishops on thu leading Committees. Apprehensions with regard to the health of the Pope have been caused by a report circulated throughout Europe that he h.id had an apoplectic attack, and remained incapable of motion. The report has been pronounced entirely unfounded, the health of the Pope being remarkably good. Austria. The Emperor Francis Joseph opened the Reichsrath in a speech in which ho favored a conciliatory course of dealing with the Dalmatian insurrection. He declared the Austrian Empire had excellent relations with foreign powers, even on a point which had momentarily caused some trouble (referring to internal affairs). He announced that important concessions would be made to the different nationalities by the modifications of the Constitution, and closed by promising that the autonomy of the provinces would be respected as long as it was compatible with the maintenance of the unity and power of the Empire. Russia. News received from St. Petersburg states that secret political societies have been discovered at Moscow, and in the interior provinces of European Russia. They were plotting an insurrection, which was to take place on the 17th February, the anniversary of the emancipation of the serfs.