FOREIGN NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 15, 19 April 1851, Page 2

FOREIGN NEWS.

Our pages have been so completely occupied lately with matter more immediately connected with our own affairs, that we have had little space to devote to English or Continental news.

France.—The files of papers which we have recently received from England contain nothinoof startling interest under the Lead of France! Before the opening of the House of Assembly a quarrel between General Chang-arnicr, who

commands the troops in Paris, and General d' Houtpoul, the minister at war, was the principal subject for the press. It resulted in the resignation of the minister who was appointed to the command of the army in Algiers. General Schram succeeded to the seals of office, but he appears to have had no more success than his predecessor, in acting in concert with the coininarder of the troops. There appears to be some clearer definition required between the functions of these two offices.

The President of the Republic sided with his minister, and a jealousy arose between him and. the general, who however will not quit his post unless absolutely dismissed, by the President, feeling that he is bound to the National Assembly to continue his services. An occasion arose from cries raised by some of the soldiers, and even it was said, by officers of the army, when being reviewed by the President, of which the Commander-in-Chief took advantage to display his jealousy of the popularity which Louis Napoleon has acquired with the army, cries--such as "Vive l'Empereur," " Vive Napoleon," which occasioned some excitement in Paris, General Changarnier issued the following order to the army:— " According to the terms of the law, the army does not deliberate ; in virtue of the regulations of the army, it is bound to abstain from every demonstration, and utter no cries when under arras. The General-in-Chief reminds the troops under his command of these orders. Changarnieb, General-in-Chief." Paris, Nov. 2. General Changarnier declares that this order was not issued to annoy the President, and an interview toak place between these two illustrious personages, which is said to have terminated in a satisfactory manner to each party. A number of most devoted adherents of Louis Napoleon went to him as a deputation from the more moderate and sage portion of the Bonapartist party. Among them were MM. Vieillard, de Casa Bianca, Abbatucci, and others of the most intimate friends of the EJysee. Their object- was to warn the President with respect to the injurious effect of the advice under which he had for some time past been acting, and of the danger he incurred from the characters of some of those who were supposed to be among his familiars, and whose very names were distasteful to the Kepublic. The deputation did not conceal from the President that in their opinion he had adopted the very worst means possible to obtain a prolongation of his powers, and that the effect had been, that the foolish temerity of his partisans had alienated successively all the factions of the Moderate party in the Assembly from his interests, as well as a portion of the bourgeoisie.. The President did not deny the fact of the Assembly being opposed to him, but he doubted if the deputation were right as regarded the bourgeoise. Pie was, at all events, confident that the people of the country—the rural population generally—were just as much devoted to his cause at the present day as they were on the 10th of December, when they elected him. In fine, the deputation, it is said, strongly recommended the President to renounce all idea of pushing forward the subject of a further prolongation of power for the present. The President listened to all these observations with much calmness : he thanked the deputation for their honourable frankness, and, without making any declaration on the various points touched on, he gave them at least an assurance that it should not be his fault, if henceforward the most cordial harmony did not exist between hi-n and the Assembly. The interview then ended, both parties separating on the best possible terms.

_ The President's Message.—The Legislative Chamber re-assembled in session after its short recess. The attendance of Representatives was pretty full, there being- upwards of 500 present. The proceedings on the occasion were merely of a formal nature. The streets were~mucb thronged by spectators, particularly the Place de la Concord, the bridge, and the quay ; but the greatest order was observed, and no cries were uttered. Strong detachments of infantry, cavalry, and police kept the passage clear, and preserved order. On Tuesday, M. Dupin, the former President of the Assembly, was re-elected to that office by a large majority. The Minister of the interior, M. Baroche, then rose and read the message of the President of the Republic, which, though partaking of the great length which seems'to be a characteristic of Republican, as contradis-

tinguished from Royal documents of that kimi, was listened to throughout with great attentioil] and appeared to give general satisfaction, ex*~ cept in one or two instances, when the " Mountain " growled a little. The satisfaction of the Assembly seems also to be shared in by the journals, with the exception of the National and by the public generally, in Paris. The' journals which most approve of it, praise it for its frankness and its disinterestedness, which they say, must recommend the chief of the executive power to the sympathies of France.

This important state document, is divided into several sections, under the following heads ; viz, Interior, Finances, Public Works, Agriculture and Commerce, Justice, Public Instruction and Religious Worship, War, Marine, Foreign Affairs, and concludes with a general rm»w/of the President's own sentiments on the duties of his present position. Under the first head the internal state of the country is stated to' have considerably improved since the month of June, 1849, owing to the best understanding existing between the Assembly and the Exe* cutive Power. The Message then goes on under the heads above mentioned, to state that the financial affairs have been gradually advancing, owing to the judicious policy of the Government—that public works have been much attended to, particularly the railroads, from which great benefits must arise—that agriculture and commerce, though weighed down by peculiar circumstances, are improving and that the labours of the executive would never be wanting to alleviate those classes from the sufferings to which they are exposed ; that due regard will be had to the better administration of justice, so that all classes might reap its advantages. Upon the subject of public instruction and religious worship, great satisfaction is expressed at obtaining from the Holy See the creation of three colonial bishoprics and the appointment of three new cardinals. The land forces are said to be placed on a sound foundation, but they will be reduced, if political circumstances should permit. The marine also maintains a respectable footing. The Message then notices the success of the French forces in Rome and in the Levant. Greece and Spain had also derived great benefits from the good offices of in their disputes with England. France, while she deeply regrets the political conflictions which divide Germany, has observed a strict neutrality, and will continue to do so while her interests and the equilibrium of Europe shall not be compromised. France (it observes) is the strong advocate for peace, order, and right, and her voice is listened to' throughout Europe with deep attention. France desires repose above all things. If the constitution contains vices, let the country point them out. He (the President) is bound by his oath to keep within the strict limits of that constitution, to which he will steadily adhere. If there be a wish fora revision of the constitution, that wish must be addressed to the legislative power, and he is the elect of the people, he shall always conform to their desires when expressed in a legal manner. His anxiety is not to know who will govern France in 1852, but to employ the present time in such a way, that whenever a change shall take place, it may be effected without trouble. The Message concludes as follows:—

" The most noble and the most dignified object of an elevated mind is not to seek, when one is' in possession of power, by what expedients it may be perpetuated, but to watch without ceasing- over the means of consolidating, for the advantage of all, the principles of authority and of morality which defy the actions of men and the instability of the laws. I have honestly opened my heart to you. You will respond to my frankness by your confidence, to my good intentions by your cooperation, and God will do the rest," The director of the Presm was prosecuted for publishing, on Monday evening, a document which it gave as the Message of the President, but which was nothing more than a eolle^licw of extracts from some of the works of Pi:'^ Louis Napoleon. Several persons were deceiL,i by this stupid hoax, which for several hours occasioned much agitation and no small alarm. He has been sentenced to 2,000f. fine and one year's imprisonment. The mischievous results produced by the hoax in the provinces is assigned as the cause of this severe sentence. Ihe Municipal Council^ Paris lias recently directed the taking of a.detailed account of the labouring population of that city, with a.view to ascertain precisely their -"number, various

'■"/■• ~ occupations, condition (as to daily earnings, locality of residence and of labour, house room, &c.), and whether migratory or constantly resident in the city. A great part of the materials have already been collected, and are found to be so far complete as to warrant the expectation that the final result will be a closely detailed and tolerably acurate view of the industrial operations —as well as of much of the revolutionary material of the French capital. The enquiry has been conducted, and the digest of the information obtained is being prepared, under the immediate superintendence of M. Say, whose name is a sufficient guarantee tor the bestowal of the care and ability due to such a work. A number of arrests have been made in the city of Lyons, amounting to from 12 to 15. The Courier de Lyons says it is assured that the papers which have been seized prove the existence of a revolutionary plot, which was to have been put in execution simultaneously in the southern and eastern departments. Some persons have been arrested in Paris, alleged to have been connected with the conspiracy at Lyons, among whom is an actress engaged at one of the theatres. Others have been arrested at Nismes and Montpelier. Letters from Algiers announce the most disastrous effects of the cholera, no less than one hundred and fifty persons having fallen victims to that disease in two days. GERMANY. The appearance of affairs in Germany is such as to render the possibility of an European war far from remote ; judging at least from the diplomatic aspect of affairs. The real unlikelihood of such a disaster is to be looked for in the absence of any great and stirring cause, capable of arousing the passions of the masses of the people of the leading powers of Europe. The casus belli, during the month of November, was the continued war between Denmark and the Dutchies, and the revolution in Hesse; this is the nominal cause; the real danger, however, is in the rivalry of Prussia and Austria for the leadership in the German States. Austria threatens to put down the opposition of the people of Hesse to their Elector. The king of Prussia on the other hand, prepares to meet such interferences by armed assistance to the popular cause. He has accordingly advanced an army towards the frontier of Hesse, amounting to 80,000 men. While within a few day's march of those troops, the Bavarian and Wurtemburg forces, reckoning nearly an equal strength, prepared to act on receiving the word from Austria.

Nothing has yet been done on either side, however, and it is hoped that all will pass over without bloodshed.

Within the territory itself a corps of 60,000 men was concentrated in and around Vienna, and the necessary instructions sent to the Hungarian and Italian regiments for that purpose. Meanwhile the Emperor of Austria, accompanied by his Prime Minister, Prince Schwartzenberg, and aides-de-camp, went to take counsel with the Emperor of ltussia, who, with the great officers of his empire, was at Warsaw. The deliberations between Austria and those powers of the German Confederation favourable to the leadership of that state, and to the maintenance of the Bund on the basis settled in 1815, as distinguished from that lately sought to be established by Prussia, and the measures which were agreed upon at the Conferences of those powers with the Emperor of Russia at Warsaw, resulted in Austria's taking a bold and decisive step to re-adjust (as she used to do of okl), the political differences of a federal character which at present create so much confusion throughout the whole of " Fatherland," from the Baltic to the Danube.

In accordance with the treaty entered into ?r;-"Bvegenz., a Bavarian corps of 8000 men, mider, the command of the Prince Thuvn and '"•xis, and accompanied by 1000 Austrian villus and 20 iicld-pieces, entered the city of Hunan, in Hesse, on the Ist inst. The corps having been reviewed in the city by the Prince Tazis, a strong detachment of it proceeded in the direction of Gelnhausen. The head-quar-ters 'remained at Hanau, supported by 3500 troops—horse, foot, rifles, and artillery. Immediately on this movement becoming known, the Prussian General Groben sent a body of his troops, not quite so numerous, on the next clay, across the frontier from Warburg into the territory of the Electorate, as an

answer to the defiance thus thrown out by the allies of the Bund ; but the position they took up was at Cassel, so that not to precipitate a contest by advancing in the direction occupied by the Austrians and Bavarians.

At Fulda (in Hesse) there were also 4000 Prussian troops assembled; and a Prussian corps of observation concentrated in the Nassau territory, in the immediate vicinity of Frankfort. General Groben declared that he thought only of occupying the Etappe (military transit) roads, and that he would not attack the Bavarians and Austrians unless they were to endeavour to push him out of his positions.

While this is the aspect of matters in HesseCassel, Austria advances with her mediating mission in Schleswig-Holstein. On the 3rd an Austrian officer arrived at Kiel with despatches commanding an immediate cessation of hostilities, and declaring that ( should the Statthalterschaft refuse to obey, the troops of the Bund would be called in to enforce submission. These active measure having given the coupe de grace to the wavering, half-peace, half-war policy of Prussia, which had been introduced by General Yon Radowitz, the Minister of Foreign Affairs at Berlin, and which had been abandoned by the Representatives of Prussia at the Warsaw Conference, it only remained for that minister to retire ; and he accordingly, on the 3rd inst., sent in his resignation, which the King accepted. MM. Ladenberg and Yon der Heydt had also sent in their resignations, but that of the last named only was accepted.

The nature of the compromise agreed to by the Powers at Warsaw are to this effect:—On the one hand, Prussia consents that the whole Austrian Empire shall be included in the German Confederation, and that this mass of territories shall have a Diet of Plenipotentiaries at its head. On the other hand, Austria abandons the mock Diet assembled under her patronage at Frankfort, and she finds the less difficulty in doing so, after having unsuccessfully solicited its recognition from both France and England. Free Conferences will forthwith be opened, to decide on the federal union that is to connect the heterogeneous population of North Germany, Hungary, Austria, the South German kingdoms, the Rhine, and Lombardy. It was understood that Prussia retained her supremacy over her allies among the minor States, and that their runted poulation would be represented by a Parliament at Erfurt. The free Conferences were to adjust the sphere in which this Alliance would move within the wider Confederation.. Bvit M. Van Radowitz's resignation makes it doubtful how far this part of the scheme will be carried out. It is understood that this compromise received the sanction of the Emperor Nicholas. The hostile armies of Prussia and Austria came into collision, originating in a misunderstanding between the outposts near the city of Bronzell, on the Bth of November, and blood was shed. Still, war is not declared. The more thinking portion of the Prussian people generally are at a loss to know what the real cause is, for which they are called on to shed their blood. In the meantime, the national militia has been called out, and at Berlin a royal order was published on the evening of the 9th, by which all subjects of Prussia belonging to the army, landwehr, or reserve are recalled from any foreign state, whether they have leave of absence or not. The order will be a fatal blow to the Holstein army, as it will deprive it of its best officers, and 3000 or 4000 men. Hanover has protested against the intended passage of Austrian troops through her dominions, on their march to Holstein. Large masses of Russian troops are moving to the west, and it would appear that these troops are intended to occupy the eastern provinces of Austria, if a war with Prussia should really take place. The question of peace or war between Austria and Prussia still hangs trembling in the balance visibly inclining however, towards a pacific solution. Negotiations are still going on between the two Cabinets; and though they do not breathe a hostile spirit, the armament, nevertheless, proceeds in Prussia, and the advance of Austrian troops northward towards Hesse has not been checked. From Berlin we learn that the last Austrian note was accompanied by a private communication to Baron Prokesch, the emperor's ambassador at that city, the purport of which Avas to express the pacific intentions and hopes of the

Vienna Cabinet. Austria offers to discontinue her armaments, if Prussia will do the same. _ The court of Vienna also concedes to the Prussian Cabinet the recognition dejure of the old confederation, but still the Frankfort diet is to be the organ of that body de facto ; and it adheres to its resolve that a Federal army shall proceed to the pacification of Hesse as well as Holstein, admitting, however, that during this intervention the Prussian troops will be allowed to remain on the Etappe or military roads of Hesse. In the meantime, an armistice has been concluded for eight days, and a line of demarcation separating the two armies has been drawn along Eiterfeld, Rosenkirchen, and Hasselstein. The head-quarters of the Federal General, Prince Taxis, aye at Fulda, and his troops extend about eight miles in the rear of that city. To the left they lean on the border of the grand duchy of Hesse, and to the right on the Bavarian frontier, which facilitates their concentration. They have, moreover, occupied all the roads and defiles within their reach. On the 16th and 17th Nov., the Austrian troops of the Vorareberg corps entered Hesse by way of Buckenau, Schluchtern, and Neuhoflj and took their position at Loschen road, in a line with the corps of Prince Thurn and Saxis.

The Parliament of Prussia was opened by the king in person on the 21st Nov., with a Speech from the throne, in which his majesty in reference to the questions which at present agitate Germany, and the actual position of matters in the Confederation, states, that his intention to create a Constitution which shall answer to the wants of the German nation has hitherto failed—that, in his hopes of the future, he has clung to the idea which pervaded his endeavours —but that he cannot resume its realization on a new foundation until after the decision respecting the new formation of the German Confederation—that he hopes that the negotiations on this subject will soon come to a prosperous end—that he hopes that the Prussian armaments will suffice to protect their rights—that, if that point can be gained, that armament has no danger for the tranquillity of Europe, for his people are not only strong, hut also" considerate—that he seeks not war, nor to infringe the rights of anybody, but that his endeavours tend to effect an arrangement of the common fatherland, which shall be suitable to the condition of Prussia.

- The royal speech was regarded as being favourable to war; the chambers, however, having not yet replied by address to the Speech from the throne, nothing certain upon the prospect of the future in this respect can be inferred from the proceedings of parliament. But the general tone of the intelligence, both from Vienna and Berlin, is pacific. Under date of the2sth Nov., we learn from the latter capital, that a despatch had been received by the Prussian Government from Lord Palmerston, insisting upon the necessity of keeping peace with Austria, leaving the Holstein question to be settled by the four great powers. Despatches had also arrived from St. Petersburgh from which it appears that Russia supports the Austrian claims. Strengthened by this support, the cabinet of Vienna presses on the Prussian Cabinet for an immediate decision on its demands respecting Holstein and Hesse.

Whether war or peace be the result of the pending negociations, the people of Prussia are, at all events, about to pay the price of their military marchings and counter-marchings, in the form of an income-tax of five per cent., ■which the cabinet purposes to demand of the legislature,in order to raise the sum of 60,000,000 dollars. TURKEY. According to accounts from Aleppo, bearing date 19th Oct., we have to deplore a sanguinary and treacherous attack made upon the unarmed Christian population of that place by a set of ruffians, from no motive whatever, except frantic hatred of the Franks, and the love of plunder. The details which have reached us are to the effect, that, on the 16th of October, about five hundred malcontents assembled in the part of the city called Bab Mazoun, and, at the instigation of several Mollabs, who acted as their chiefs, marched against a Christian suburb, which they at once pillaged. On the 17th, early in the morning, this formidable body was increased by 200 Arabs of the roving tribe of the Annezies, and they attacked the Christian quarters of Aleppo. The Christians, being unarmed, fled to the Khans, or large stone warehouses. These scenes continued throughout

the whole of the 17th; and when appeal was made to Zarif Mustapha Pacha, the governor, he replied with 450 men (which was the whole force of the Government) it was not in his power to oppose himself to the fury of the insurgents, but that-he would try whether by concessions lie could not bring about an armistice. On the 18th the pillage of the Christians' habitations continued. The murders committed were everywhere of the most savage character. An entire Armenian family was massacred, inclu-. ding the infant at the breast, and even Turks themselves were wounded because they remonstrated against such excesses. The Pacha sent his keyhaya among the insurgents, who demanded, to discontinue their disorders, that — 1. The Christians should no longer wear the turban. 2. That they should wear red instead of yellow slippers. 3. That no religious processions should parade the streets of Aleppo. 4. That the church bells should be pulled down. And other strange demands. The Pacha was willing to ensure those conditions, but the chiefs of the insurgents required the guarantee of the Consuls, which it was out of his power to grant. Subsequently to this the same scenes recommenced, and upwards of 30,000 men were engaged in pillaging the Christian quarters of Aleppo. An attempt was made to burn the Catholic church, and the city was set on fire in three different parts. Hereupon the governor retreated into the barracks, and ordered Keiim Pacha to advance against the insurgents : but this was impossible, as a general massacre would have ensued. Among the foremost of the rioters were the AnnezieJ Arabs. In the meanwhile, Zarif Mustapha sent an express to Emm Pacha, the Commander-in-Chief of the forces of Syria, to inarch against Aleppo. On the evening of the 19th renewed scenes of horror took place; and if the account is not exaggerated, great loss of life is to be deplored. The Christians were arming, and the worst apprehensions were entertained by the peacably disposed. UNITED STATES. Advices from New York to the 6th instant state that the elections for the city of New York had taken place, and, notwithstanding the excitement upon the Fugitive Slave Bill, had been conducted in a spirit of great moderation. The Whigs were high in the majority for all the offices contended i'or, and Mr. Kingsland, a well-known Whig, had been elected mayor. Of members of Assembly, the Whigs have elected 13 out of 16. The excitement caused by the efforts made to enforce the provisions of the Fugitive Slave Bill appeared to be on the increase. A report had been circulated that President Fillmore was about to issue a statement of the views on this subject entertained by himself and his cabinet, but the non-appearance of any such document had thrown doubts on the authenticity of the report. Much anxiety existed at Washington relative to the peace of Boston as connected with this agitation. Humours of an outbreak against the slave hunters had been current. The President, however, was resolved to suppress the disorders, and enforce the law. Several slave hunters had been shot in various parts of the Union. A proposition had been presented to the Virginia Befonn Convention for the expulsion of all free negroes. It was rejected ; but the mere discussion had caused great excitement in the district of Columbia, from an impression that the Virginians contemplated sending all their free into it. are going on in earnest for the World's Fair (as the Americans call it), to be held next year in London. Ships and steamers for the trip " to England and back " are already advertised at all the Atlantic ports. The United States Executive Committee have addressed the Secretary of the Navy, and that officer, with the consent of President Fillmore, has placed the United States store-ship "Fredonia" at the disposal of the committee, for the conveyance of American manufactures to London. So, in Canada, specimens will be forwarded, and, if required, under the supervision or by the aid of a coinnriUee and the Provincial Government.. In March and April next the migration across the Atlantic from the New World"to the Old will be enormous.