FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 72, 2 October 1852, Page 4

FOREIGN.

(From the European Times, May 14.)

At Vincennes a terrible explosion destroyed all the fireworks destined for a grand fete to come off in Paris on the 10th May. A decree decides that in the course of the month of May the officers of all arms, and the functionaries of the war department, are to take the oath of fidelity to the President. The government steamer " Bertholiet" arrived at Havre for the purpose of taking on board 371 political prisoners, sentenced to transportation by Court Martial. The first portion of the sale of books belonging to the Orleans family had produced much less than had been anticipated — £6000 ; this sum was deposited for the late king's creditors, but has been seized by the present Government, and the continuation of the sale is forbidden for the present. The refusals to take the oaths to the Constitution and the President are more numerous than was expected, as in several of the departments members of the Council-General have refused to take the oath, as also some of the tribunals of commerce ; at Evreux the functions of the tribunal have been suspended in consequence of the refusal. In the Southern Departments the cases of 3030 prisoners have been examined, of whom 1377 were set at liberty, and commutations granted to 1047. Buchart, Comr. of Pardons, has, out of 2500 condemned, liberated one-third. It is now stated that Louis Napoleon is about to marry a daughter of Don Pedro by his second marriage : if this alliance should take place, Louis Xapoleon would be the brother-in-law of the Prince de Joinville, his most inveterate enemy, the mother of the intended bride being a daughter of Beauharnais.

.In Spain, by a royal decree, all sentences of fine or imprisonment for offences against the Press laws are annulled, and all pending prose-

culions ordered to be abandoned. This act of the sovereign has given general satisfaction.

Switzerland. — A letter from Fribourg, in the " Suisse" of Berne, of May 7, states that a pacific demonstration on a large scale is about to be made in Fribourg against the Constitution. Of 22,000 inhabitants of this canton 18,000 refused_ to take the oath, and of the 4000 who did take it the greater part were in a manner forced to do so, to preserve their places or to escape fines. It is now proposed to get up a monster procession to the great council to complain of 1 the Constitution never having been ratified, and to expose their political views.

Germany. — A Frankfort letter says, although the weather had been unfavourable, good crops might be expected. Great misery, and even famine, prevailed in some parts of the neighbourhood.

Baden. — Letters from Baden state that the afflicted Prince Louis, hereditary Grand Duke of Baden, has spontaneously, and for ever, renounced his sovereign rights in favour of his younger brother, Prince Frederick, now administering the affairs of the Government in his name.

Italy. — The Pope has given the powers to understand that his ' ultimatum' for arranging with Piedmont consists of these three conditions :—l,: — 1, to repeal Monsignor Fransoni, archbishop of Turin ; 2, to give up the civil marriage bill ; and 3, to pass a repressive law against abuses of the press in religious matters. In compensation, the Pope will consent to the abolition of the ecclesiastical jurisdiction which the Piedmontese Chambers have already voted. The ministry and the Chambers have decided upon rejecting this ' ultimatum.' According to letters from Florence, the Ministerial crisis had entered a new phasis ; the new constitution was to be abolished, in order to deprive the Jews of their civil and political rights, and to incapacitate them from holding public functions.

Turkey and Egypt. — Alexandria, April 21 — By this mail is advised the important intelligence of the settlement, through the medium of Fouad Effendi, for the time at least, of the differences between the Sultan and Abbas Pacha, the former having agreed to wave all claims for a period of 7 years. The Government of Egypt will consequently be carried on as before this period, at the end of which the Porte will of course have the option of again putting forth its demands. Arrangements have been made by our resident postmaster with the Egyptian Government, by winch the latter undertake the conveyance of the India and China mails through the country — the homeward mails from Si<ez to Alexandria in 70 hours, and the outward from this to Suez in 75 hours ; thus effecting a saving of 10 to 12 hours. For this service £6000 a year is to be paid to the Government. The railway is progressing favourably. Several vessels with rails are shortly expected to arrive.

India. — The war with the Burmese has led to some positive results. The British troops attacked the town of Rangoon, by bombardment from vessels in the river, and after an effective fire, the troops were landed, and carried the town, and also the great Pagoda. The Burmese fought with great intrepidity, and the number of British troops killed was 17, with 132 more or less severely wounded. The town of Martaban, which stands on a sheet of water, with a long line of river defences, was also taken, but this was done with scarcely any loss, although stated to have been defended by upwards of 5000 Burmese. An Extraordinary Gazette, in giving the despatches, announces also the high approbation of the GovernorGeneral of India, as to the valour and skill displayed ; and it is highly probable that after this effective display of British power, the Burmese will sue for peace, and submit to terms.