The New York Herald Newspaper, December 27, 1856, Page 2

2 the general tone of diplomatic society, no idea of an usplessant termination to the renewed conference. Russia bas no thought of stirring up the ashesof the fire which was so fortunately for her damped out in March of the present yesr. She will be satisfied by huving gained the point ofa conference at all, after evel detiant terms had been used in reference to it by Kugiand. Aftera show of resistance she will find occasion to add her crochets to the mediation of Frence, and a great object will have been gained in exhibiting before the nations ef the continert and the world in general, the increased and increasing am ty between herself aud the great military nauon with whom she has been so recently at war. Toat the day is not far distaut when this amity will takes practical character aud assume a hostile troatagainst England is certainly a very popular error, if error it be; and many do not scraple to assert the renewed conference will form an admirable screen for some reeres treaty highly prejudicial to the liberties of vhe world. "Itis the opimon of many sound pies] men that the present nt ot che polit events, which began in 1853 and ended with the treaty of Paris, is precisely such asthe Emperor Napoleon had been Prronghot Jaboring to-effect. As things were Russia could never have been anything te the dynasty of Bonaparte but a cold triend; but a littie good humored wrestling aud an awkward black eye or two, has now ren- dered the friends for life. These long- sighted men content themselves with expressin; their firm belief that whenever another war shall break out, whatever may be its nature and its eause, France and Russia will be found on the same But there is certainly another view of the ques- tion. There are those who persist in believing that Russia is still menacing and redoubtable, tor she will gain from the allies money for those railroads which ten years hence she will not fail to tura inst them. With these, it is said, wnen Louis japoieon and Lord Palmerston bave long passed away from the scene, she wil! transport sone five or six hundred thousand men to those frontiers where no fleet ot Frauce or England will be able to with- stand them. Then she will only need to cross the Danube in order to euter thas land—always to her flowing with milk and honey—of Tarkey, the pos- session of which she believes will endo # her wita we domination of the world. Austria might, indeed, oppose her by means of Hungarian and Wallachtan railroads, but much cannot be expec'ed from that Power. Inthe meantime the part which the West is performing is instructive. Journalists, diploma ‘sts, and influential parties of all kinds, ar basy squabbing about Navies, and other matters, which, in comparison with a great danger, are in the nigh- est degree trival and absurd. Tbe Emperor, accompanied by an officer of his household, both in plain clothes, drove oa Mouday in a phaeton throngh different parts of Paris. His Majesty foliowed the Rue de Rivoli as (ac as the Faunourg St Antoine, and returned by the Rass de Rambutean, Traince. Coquillitre, &, to the gate way of the Punt Tournant, where the Emperor abghted, and walked through the gurdeas to the Tuileries The Prefect of the Seine has just delivered his ‘apnual report on the financial situation of the cry which, from revent reports, has been looked for 1 unusual interest, The land tax, personal and farnitare tax, and that ou doors and windows, for 1856, amouvts t» 16 671,515 fr., being an increase since 1436 of 036 fr., and which will be still greater by 9fr. in 1557. In other words, tne taxes of Paris in twenty years are half a3 mach again. In order to remove an impreasion that generally prevails that it is the richer quar ters of Paris which have most been benefitted by the number of new buildings, the report states that the eighth arrondissement, which comprises the Faubourg St. Antoine, and where the working crasees principally reside, has only had 130 hoases taken down, while one fourth of the total number of new buildings is in that quarter. I: also declares it to be a mistake that the new buildings are not as much subdivided as the old ones, and consequently Jess efficient in accommodation. “I am,” however, says the Prefect, “far from disputing that a greater number of disposable accommodations would not have been useful, in order to keep down rents; but what | deny is the cause which is genera ly assignea for the increase of rent, and whic) appears to have also taken place inall great towns whee the ex tension of railway communication has caused a sad den increase of population.” The repo:t goes on throw al! the blame,of financia| difieulty on the year 1638, which, from a disastrous law of tne loth o May, rendered the city of Paris incapable of meet- ing the charges imposed upon it. “Thanks,” it adds, “to the measures of finance of 1856, we have now entered on a new era, and we henceforth bo to be able to maintain an equilibrium between the receipts and expenses. This will not at first be ef. fected without difficulty, but the government of the Emperor, who has resolutely undertaken the difficult work from which former governmeuts have shrank —that of re establishing order in the departmental budgets—wil. devise means for preventing a recur- rence of the emnbarrassments of the past. Paris, Dec. 4, 1856. Snow in Paris—The City Finances—The Imperial Prinee—The Imperial Displays, in Public $e., &e. ‘The ground is covered with snow, and the frost isso sharp that all building operations are sus pended; and there is that dull livery of gray per- vading the atmosphere which promises a contina- ance of severe weather. The appearance of the city, as the eye wanders over it from the heights of Pasey, is singularly picturesque; the domes of tae Hotel des Invalides and of the Church of the As somption, and in the far distance that of the Pan theon, have a majestic effect, as, looming throagh the frosted atmosphere, their snow-white robes, like gigantic parachutes, swell over the panorama, and spire, and tower, and fluted portico, glistening in their pare winter panoply, are only relieved from @ monotonoly of white by the thousands of trees which, leafless and gaunt, shoot up their hard. black, staring boughs, ia living testimony of the fleeting nature of beauty and luxuriance. The accounts from the departments all concur in speak- ing of a very marked change in the weather siace Sunday. Snow had fullen heavily on Monday at Lyons, Valence Bordeaux, Havre, Cherbourg, and in the whole northern part of France; in fact, winter would seem to have set in with considerable severity. In Paris yesterday morning, mow came down heavily, and continued to fall during the day. The thermometer is now at 26 Fahrenheit. It ‘s impossible not to feel some misgiving as to tranquillity being preserved should the present weather prove a presage of lengthened severity. The governmen*, it is well known, has made ample provision, as faras regards Paris, to meet casual necessities. The manutention is stored with every description of corn, and government purveyors are prepared to enter the market as purchasers for the relief of those whom the inclemeucy of the season shall have cast upon their hands. The power of an ab- solute government is so complete that it has nothing bat to will an interference with the laws of com- merce, in order to meet an exceptional demand, and its will becomes law. Still, the distress in a city gorged with tens of thousands of laborers, attracted to it by such gigantic works as have been going on for the last five years, cannot but be enormous; if from any circamstance the employment is suspend- ed, it will require no commom vigilance and provi- dence to keep it from assuming a restless form. ‘The Prefect of the Seine has just presented to the Departmental Commission the budget of the city of Paris for the year 1857, in which the receipts are estimated at 59,972,212fr.; expenses, 59,964,920fr.; surplus, 7,292fr. In the list of ordinary expenses he Prefecture of the Seine stands for 2,883,140fr.; Prefectare of Police, 183,112fr.; optional expenses, bat of departmental atility for both prefectures nited, 1,090,300fr.; extraordinary expenses for re- pairs of Palais de Justice and other edifices, ith- provement of departmental roads, &c., 54,154,653fr.; special expenses for vicinal roads, 504,473fr., &c. ‘The assistance given to orphan children requires an augmentation of credit of 215,200fr., and that for lunaties 5 ‘fr., the total increase in expenses being 402,140fr. The Prince Imperial was yesterday, in spite of the coldness of the weather, taken out for air and exercise in the garden and court of the Tuileries. In the afternoon his imperial highness was carned in a carriage, with a military escort, to the Park of Mon where be remained an hour and a half. What ¥ grow up tottis ng, healthy looking child, he is agsuredly, eot, far [rom prepossessing in appearances * gross and altogether unc are long and prominent; the cc y Bat pe is Inaty nine months old, be rolls himself over and Over alter any object which attracts him, with gur- | mely; the plexion ossible to say, but though | as a young eagle, | NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1856. Hs He i int sa Nh $2 f 1 z £26 mt tt aFicE i * Be e = abstraction, and will sit for hours s: doing nothing; and yet, it is evident that this is not @ state of inaction, for there are uamistakable indi- cations of his mind being in constantoperation. He has an affection of the instep—a sort of tic douleu. reux, he calls it—which otten prevents him drawing on his boot, and indisposes him to move about. His gone health appears excellent, and thus secures im from the imputation of gout. Sledges are pre- paring for the court, of the most magaificent des- pats gs and it is expected that to-day the Emperor Empress wilt drive to the Bois de Boulogne, where, 11 the weather continue, there will be superb a, oy the tine sheets of ice the rozenreservoirs will afford. - The French law treats the appropriation by the finder of articles in the streets as robbery; and within the last three weeks several cases of con- demnation have been recorded; yesterday a seller of roasted chestnuts was sentenced to four months igyprisoument by the tribunal of Correctional Police for having offered for sale to a jeweller, for 72f., a event box, in god, which he happened to pick ap in the strects. The jeweler not being satistied as to the man’s right to sell the article, called him aside and delivered him over to durance wle. brow Spain we hear that the Queena has been anxious that O'Dcnneil should accept the St. Peters- burg mission, but that fe has respectfully declined the golden ostracism. The greatest possible anxie- ty is felt about the reported risiog in Sicily, but as yet we are aljinthe dark Tbe most curtus inci- dent in the political world is the suddsn transtor: mation of the Assembiee Nutionate into a thick and thin advocate of the English and French alliance against Russia, whose org in it was during the war, and whose faithtul advocate it has remained will within the last two or three days. Indeed, it has en- dured martyrdom formerly ia the cause ot Russia, and in consequence of its too energetic language had its mouth stopped by the censorship, for two months. It now maintains that the meeting of the new con- ference is a check for no one, uoless to the Power which is obliged to sacrifice tts pretensions to a de- cision of the majority, and on these points it is of the same opinion as the Morning Post, that Lord Pslmerstou bas,nothing to fear. Is adds:—"It ap- pears certain that Pracce has rallied to the opinton } of England in th tioi he T-land of Serpents and of the new avian frontier This pont gained, the Eugleh Cabinet could feel no objection inappreving ot the conference, sinve it was certain ain the trinuph of its views.’ meo Danaos rents,” some people will exclaim at this cbopping round of the political vane of the hice Nationale, wh'ch, to be complete, only re- quires a few stirring articles on the justice of the Neapolitan interference. By the by, there is a tele- grapbic despa om Naples to-day, which states that partof the Swiss guard had been sent against the Sicilian ineurgents, and taat a movement has oc- curred at Girgenti, (the ancient Agrigentam,) oa the southern coast of Sicily. An appeal to the Nespoliten army on the part of the people has been circulate. with creat diligence and much secresy. The splendid pon-bon shops of Paris are prepa ing their Christmas attrictions, or rather tor that dies nefasta, the jour de lan, when everybody is expected to give to every bod ut even Parisian ingenuity is mortal, and bas its its, and therefore it must hot be expected that having dived so deep as it has already in the well of discovery, there are many lower depths stil for it to sound. As far as one Can judge at present, many of the novellics ex- hibited have an unmistakeable look of old acqua’ ances renovated like the sleeping beauty a/ver a year's retirement from the busy world. Douptless the “great gas” are kept back till the last. fa the meantime, | confess, as an havitue whose annual day of suflering is drawing near, | look with a some- What jaundiced eye on vbe preparations making for giving a tangible form to the aspirations of my many caimants, I cannot go toa house without finding my young friends engaged in framing lists of wants ior the jour de Van, which simply as an ingenious curiosiy, are shown to the visiter, of course with no idea that he will avail himself of so agreeable an opportunity of supplying ther desires; and as for servants, of all descriptions, from the concierge down to the scullery maid, their interest in my health, in bat of my wife, in my children, in_ my very cat and dog, is so painfully feeling that I am in danger of becoming an invalid when T contemplate the im- possibility of agreeably remunerating so much inye- Lions solicitude. While in the act of tolding up my igtter, my atten- tion is drawn to the window of my sfudy by a crowd of persons following one of the Imperial cirriages. It makes one smile in mockery at tue absurd shifts monarchical government is compelled t> have re- course to in order to maintain its proper positon. The carriage contains that poor aton of humanity, the baby Prince Imperial. There he goes, down the avenue del Imperatrice. at a slow pacg on ac- count of the glassy state of the road. On te box is a fat imperial coachman, in gorgeous green and . Bebind stand three footmen six feet high. The carriage itself is barnished ali over with mt and varnish and gold. A troop of guides » guarde tenue clustre at the wheels, tne windows, ond in ita rear; and by the side, as commander-in- chief of this expedition,which is presumed to coavey the hopes of all France, rides in scarlet and gold, one of the mareschals of the Palais. The poor iittle baby, thst so many horses, so mach tailoring, so many gay and fat and valiant men should be ail afoot, doing that which a decent nursemaid with astrong arm and kindly soul, would do ten times better by herself, and that all this should be thought necessary to give him importance in the eyes of those millions it is fondly hoped he will live and rule! Surely the gew-guyvsa and ginger- breadism of the sovereignty of one must be near ita end, when in the last half of the nineteenth century the great grandson o' a Corsican avocat can, by such means, be converted into as rightful a king as though the Imperiat purple had for centaries -dorned his ancestors! I know nothing so weak in the Bonspartist pretensions as their siavish imita- tion of Bourbon pageantry and etiquette! Should Henri Cing ever find his way back again, as many sy he will some day, he will certainly find little to alier. His palace will have been swept and gar- Dishe li wholesome checks of a popular character remo and Richard may be hiaself agin, with very little concession. Our Bertin Correspondence, Bertin, Dee. 2, 1856. Opining of the Prussian Chambers—Neufchatel— Composition of the Chambers— Prussian Finances —Increasd Taxation—The Resources of the Kingdcm—Coal, Lignite and Zine—The Iron Works, §¢. The opening of the Chambers, which, from the little sympathy felt by the people for their nominal representatives, passes off in general almost unno- ticed, was looked forward to this year with anusual interest, it having leaked out that there would be a passage in the royal speech referring to Newfchatel, of quite an energetic and even bellixose character. Notwithetand!ng this impression, however, it was hardly anticipated that his Majesty would make use of such very decided terms as he actually has done. Our Diet, as it is called, met on Saturday morning, and after allading to internal affairs, the satisfactory result of the harvest, the efforts of the Prussian gov ernment to insure the execution of the treaty of Paria by “all parties concerned” —a palpable hit at Eng land and Austria—the King proceeded as followa:— I have been painfelly aifecied by the recent events in my Principality of Neutebatel, where the sotagoniem ex isting mince 1848 hetwoen my sadoubled title and the an toa) condition of pudlic irs, bae thrown fartaful mon into the power of thetr acversarics, The moderato with Which, for the sake of the psacs of Farope, | beve acted in reapect to the stale of thie Principality, has daly ac Knowietged by the Furopean Powers. | am desirous, even after the Iate unfortunate cou'let, and after my in digpatadie righ been ogain ra tied by @ unaaimous resolution o! man Confederation, to eolve this diff. culty by negotiation in a manner conformabie to the dig nity of my crowD. Bat | caunot and will not permit my nimity to be converted into an arm agaiast my right iteeif, My people may rest assured that any fur ther steps [ ehali take will be guided by the serious and well weighed consideration of my duiles and of the polid cai relations of Eurepe, but lam equally convinoed thet, if clroumstances ehould require it, my poople will dispiay their accustomed veal, fidetity and devotion in vindioa- ting the honor of my crown. The King pronounced the last sentence in a loud tone of voice, and with visible emotion, There can be no doubt that he wrote this part of the speech | himself, as it is impressed with the usual character- | istics of the royal style, and forma a striking con- trast to the unimpassioned and business-like tenor | of the rest of his harangue. In fact, his Majesty has greater command of language than any of his ministers, and prides himself nota little on his eloquence. The assembly, who are mostly composed | of government officers, civil apd military, received the King’s appeal to the “zeal, fidelity and devo- tion” of his with enthusiasm, vie- ing each the deafening fervor of their cheers, to which the royal orator responded by dof ing his helmet—for, although personally one of the most peaceable of men, he always appears on such occasions in full uniform, with a thing on his head much like the basin of Mambrino—and bowing graciously to the assemble. “peers and pillars of the State.” Whether the country at large will be equally delighted, is another question. Up to the present moment no one seriously believed in a rup- ture with Switzerland, or had any idea that this Nenfchatel farce would assume the dimensions of a tragedy; but there is a party near the throne who are evidently determined to push matters to extre- mity, and who, in spite of their legitimist predilec- tions, do not hesitate even to pay their court to Louis Napoleon, in the hope of obtaining his co- operation or acquiescence. It eannot be denied that they are wise in their generation, for in this case, even more than in the Oriental and Neapoli- tan difficulties, everything depends upon the Freaca autocrat, \ho is next neighbor te Switzerland, and without whose consent no ove could think of attack ing her. If he turns a deaf ear to the flattering overtures of the Prussian statesmen, the latter will have to confine themselves to negotiation, and all their blustering will go for nothing; but if ne conn” tenances them in requiring the Swiss government to release the Neufchatel prisoners without a trial, and thus tacitly acknowledge the sovereignty of Prussia in that Canton, or if he only promises to remain neutral, there will be no alternative but for Switzer: land to submit, or to run the risk of an armed inter vention of Prussia and the Germanic body. With- out derogation to the traditional valor of the brave mountaineers, it may be doubted whether they would be able to resist such overwhelming odds as could be brought to bear against them in that evefit; and to Switzerland therefore, as wel as to Prussia herself, who has nothing to gaia by a wer except the gratification of dynastic pride, a pacitic solution of this difficulty must be highly desirable, if it can be obtaiaed without sacri ficing the independence of the only republic now left in Europe. Perhaps this would be a good op: portunity for the United States to inter’ere in be half of their European brethren, by forming a “Holy Alliance ” sith England for the defence of liberty. At present Jom Bull is too jsolated and too appre- hensive of giving umbrage to his slippery friend ou the other side of the channel to act with his usual spirit in this business, but he would pluck up courage if he were backed by the Young Giant across the Atlantic. There having been no new election this year, the Chambers are composed of nearly the same ele ments as last session. A few members have died and afew members have vacated their seats, but their places have been filled by kindred spiri's, and the formidable majority atthe disposal ot mi: remains uniwpaired. In the Upper Honse, Prince Hoheoloe, the jeader of the ultra aristocratic fa: tion, bas been chosen Presiaent by an alsnost unani- mous yore. Yesterday the Lower House re-elected Count Eulerburg, the government candida‘e, who sveceeded last sexsion in ousting Count Schwerio, the bead of the constitaticnal party. It is eviden’, therefore, that the opposition will ‘stand no chance in either Chamber, unless the adherents of govern ment should turn restive at finding themselves at- tacked in their tenderest part—the pocket. I mentioned in wy last that the Prossian finances were in rather a dilapidated condition, and that winisters would probably come down to the Cham bers with seme proposals for supplying them witn the sine ws of war. This ne has been fully yal speech, which contains the ce that “the resources of the re increasing in productiveness,” but several pressing and important requisites long been adjourned, must no longer be neglected,” in consequeace of which “an accession to the revenue has become imperatively ne-essary,” His Mojesty concludes by recommending the finan cial projects which his government will sabmit to ihe Chambers for this purpose, to their carefal con- sideration. We are as yet in the dark as to the na- ture of these projects, and there are various versions afloat respecting them. Raising the income tax appears out of the question—moneyed clases, where interests are predominant in the present Le gislature, being, of course most violently opposed t> any such measure. Many of the necessaries of life—meat, flour, coffee, sugar, Xc., are heavily taxed already. There isa land tax (from which, however, a great part of the nobility are exemp!,) and a house tax, license duties and stamp duties and imposts varying trom ten to a hundred per cent on all foreign manufactures. It is not unlikely that an additional duty will be proposed on tobact which is consumed here in enormous quantities. and which pays at present from eight to twenty thalers a cwt. Sumptuary taxes are also talked of, which would not ce quite unacceptable to the wealthier classes, as they would prevent persons of mocerate fortunes from vieing with them in exter- pal appendeges— fine houses, elegant equipages, and so forth. It is doubtful, however, whether such partial imposts would suffice to meet the necessities of government, aud I thing it tikely that some more comprehensive scheme of taxation will be resorted to. fortunately, the whole financial system of Prvssia is extremely defective, and all the tinkering it has been subjected to of late énly serves to render its inberent viciousness the more conspicuons. In spite of the difficulties the population have t> struggle with, and the heavy burthens that cramp their industry, his Majesty's assertion that the resources of the country are increas ing in productiveness is mot quite devoid of foundation. In a former communication | gave you some data relative to the production of bituminous and anthracite coal, which had risen last year to upwards of torty millions of tons, repre- senting a value of more than nineteen millions of thalers. Another combustible material of great uti lity is the “Braunkoble,” or lignite, the prodace of which amounted in 1854 tol 2,515,670 tons—1,660,504 thalere in value—and had advanced last year 580 tons—value, 1,576,481 thalers—being ase of no lees than 11-8 percent. The beds of lignite are touna chiefly in tue province of Saxo- ny, which furnishes three-fourths of the whole pro- duce; and as other kinds of fael—such as wood, coal and peat—are extremely scarce in that pro vince, the bountiful supply of lignite is an inestim. ble benefit to the population. In other parts of tag kiogdom—Pomerania, East Prussia and Posen several beds of lignite have been recently discover. ed and are beginning to be worked. The immense forests with which the provinces were formerly covered have been mostly cat down for building and firewood, and they are obliged in consequence to turn their attention to mineral fuel. There is every reason to believe that the extensive valley of the Vistula abounds in lignite, traces of it having been detected in various districts. The production ot zine is of still higher importance than that of lignite, andhas made greater progress lately than any other branch of mining, exceeding even the activity displayed in the coal fields. In 1855 the quantity of zine produced amounted to 4,287,205 owt, against 3,578,577 ewt. in 1854, showing an in- crease of 19 per cent, the value of the former being 2 110 thalers, and that of the latter 1,937,260 thalers. In fact, there is no other country in tne world that yields so large a quantity of zinc ore as Vroseia, elthough the United States are said to be treading close upon her heels, and will probably out- strip her ere long. The iron works would seem to be ina less 8 condition, presenting an in- crease only of 3.0 per cent (2,225 317 tons, against 2,144,509). The production of lead had risen 13-5 r cent; that of copper only 2-7 per cent. Gold tnd silver are ‘obtained in infiaitesaiimal quantities the whole amount of the former not exceeding 2,99 thalers, and that of the latter 251,619 thalers. On reviewing the whole mining operations of Prus- sia in } it appears that the total value of their productions amounted to 27,463,061 thalers, and the number of male laborers employed to 100,804; whereas in 1854 the value of the productions was only 21 024 thalers, and the number of opera: tives 00,471. The increase of the latter is limited by the more extensive application of steam power and machinery, which is gradually superseding human Jabor in many of the departments of mining indus try. Our Vienna Correspondence. Vrenaa, Dec. 1, 1856. Interview between Louis Napoleon and the Russian Ambassador—The Neufchatel Affair— Peace Conferences—Francia Joseph's Visit to Maly— Danish Encroachments, &c. If you be desirous of having a sample of a Ger- man correspondent's audacity, I am able to give you a most striking one, There lives in Paris an Aue- trian refugee, one Mr. Hirsch, (which in English signifies ‘‘stag,”) who is the dear ‘own correspon: dent” of the Cologne Gazette and the Hamburg Nave. This gentleman tips both newspapers, by helping them to political or other news of his own invention, which he prepares with different sauces @ la tatare, Thus, for instance, in the Hamburg News, of Nov. 21, he relates a curious story con cerning a secret interview the Russian Ambassa lor, General Kisseleff, had with the Emperor of the French, daring which Louis Napoleon, in a most cordial and good natured manner, exposed bis dip!o matic views and ideas, and gave to the Rasian General several hints relative to the state of affair. Napoleon, so Mr. Stag tells his credulous readers, im this secret conversation said to the other ag fol- the Paris Conferences, as this would save me a good deal of trouble vis-d-vis the French people and Kiseeleft it in the dsereton of acioas a Dy ‘Bay a tlemen. I, for my part, cannot he!p admiring re envying Mr. Stag for being on the most intimate terms with Louis Napoleon (else a very reserved and taciturn prince) or a Russian am! ir, whe likewise is not known fora very talkative and com- municative person, and for his being initia‘ed into the secrets of a conversation which nobody was al lowed to approach. The Cologne Gazette and the Hambarg News, I dare say—and nobody will contradict me—are in nappy to have a correspondent of their “own” whom n» otner correspondent on this side of the Atlantic might agents thus I humbly strike my correspon dential , and freely acknowledge the superiority of Mr. Stag. The only thing I, poor “know nothing ' as I am, could learn soncerntng te &bove mention- ed conversation is that Louis Napoleon dii not say a word relative to Austria. But what did he say’ “Ay, there’s the rub,” and Europe must feel ver) much obliged to Mr. Stag for his sharp ears. With regard to the Neafchatel affair, his Majesty the King of Prussia, in his last pablic speech, no« only mentioned his moderation, but speaking about the heroism and devotedness of his hooey. conde- scended to shed some heartfelt tears, which inflamed the Prussian deputies to so high a degree or enthu siam that there is a hope for peaceably settling the whole affair. A peaceful arrangement would indeed be profitable to both parties. Neapolitan and Bolgrad questions are stil! unanswered, but new conferences, en miniature, are. it 18 believed, to be heldinthe course of next month. England, too, seems not alwgether disinclined to have the different European questions resolved at these conferences, which she formerly abhorred, bat now looks upon with a more pleasant eye, as the in fluence of a very high and illustrious person is said to prevail ia the royal private cabinets. Whether these conferences are to meet in Paris, Brussels or elsewhere is as yet undecided. The Emperor Francis Joseph has been received by the people of Trieste with every demonstratio of joy, and the utmost cordiality, wnich, we dar say, was still surpassed by the general enthusiasn he was greeted with at Venice. Thus the hypocriti- cal fears which several newspapers uttered, lest bi- majesty might prejudice his own rank and dignity by paying a visit to the Italian provinces, proved utterly unfounded and vain. Numerous acts o: clemency, donations, grants of pardon, have takeu place, and prepossessed the lively Italians ia favor of the young, generous and chivalrous monarch. With regard to the Danish encroachments on the privileges of the Duchies of Holstein and Lauen- burg, on the rights of the German Confedera- tion in general, and on the late convention wit! Austria and Prussia, Austria has declared not to yield the least iota of the rights of Germany, and invited Prussia to join this declaration. Our Madrid Correspondence. Mannip, Nov. 29, 1856. Insignificant Facts—Captain General Concha- " The Queen and the Pope—Ministerial Perme nencies—Buchanan, Alarm and Preparation— Buckingham Smith, Esq.—Orders to the Fiect Not to Sail for Vera Cruz—Charcoal Sketches of Men on the Political Stage of Spain——Tir Sword and the Mitre—The Countess Monti; § Potato Bread and Lord Howden—Journey 0; Diplomats—Pensioning of Authoresses—Caro lina Coronado, §c. I am not going to tell you today, friena HERaxp, those very reserved secrets which I an nounced to youin my last letter, because they are 80 important they merit being kept another week in my inkstand. This letter might be lost in France, and the intermeddling police of his Imperial Ma- jesty get the benefit of my particular gossip, which is my treasure. Prudence and cireumspection! The opportunity will soon come for sending you the secrets. What I am going to tell you now are the insigni- ficant things. For example: It is definitively re- solved by the Spanish government to dismiss Concha from the post of Captain General of Cuba. They are waiting the arrival of the next mail from the Havana, which it is expected will bring ius resignation. If it does not, he will be dismissed without further ceremony. Second item—Queen Isabella has written another autograph letter to the Pope, promising to do all that he wishes in the matter of the sale of the church property in Spain. Third item—There is no change in the Cabinet, and Pidal has determined not to resign the place of Minister of State. But let us talk seriously: Your election of a Pre- sident has been an election very little to the taste o: us Spaniards. The man among us who says least says that Buchanan is a filibuster, and you kno what that means in a Spanish mouth. The pres tears its hair in commentaries upon this elec, and the government is already thinking what it... do if Buchanan sends out here a filibustering Mini+- ter. The Cabinet is having serious councils about the means of defending the island of Cuba, and they are making haste to the difficult questions which we have pending with Mexico and San Do- mingo. 1 can also assure you that the squadron which we have prepared in the port of Havana to send to Vera Cruz is ordered not to sail, and will not sail unless it should have got uuder weigh before the orders reach it. Do you want me to tell you frankly who is the man who could do somet sing here for the democratic party, and for Cuba? Weil, it is the excellent Sec- retary of Legation, Mr. Buckingham Smith. His talents, his know! of the language, and the sym- hies he has excited at the Court, would make im an excellent Minister to Spain. The truth is to be told, Mr. Henanp, and Mr. Smith is a man of mach merit. Now, then, just a few strokes of the charcoal to give you an idea of the men actually on the stage of ree at Madrid. 4 . jarvaez, you see, wears a wig, an jne nt SE ESET w ao ant on exposes bal the air, an as you see his head is cool. >A Nocedal is trim and pretty as a steel engraving, and so his slender soul is of steel also, a kind of thin Toledo blade, which ka, cute, doubles up, whips about, and does not k. He is one of the most dangerous enemies to liberty. Moyans is pug-nosed and ugly—but his talent is sharp and his intellect well proportioned. He com- bate a without scruple, and wins by his tenacity. But Snongh of the ministers. Bravo Murillo, without being minister, figures largely in the royal councils. The Queen ts him 4 everything. Bravo Murillo would enter the Cabinet if it were not for pg yw had ha hgh he ment now is dressed in uniform, and Bravo Marillo would dress it in a caseock, or at least in a black coat and respectable silk hat. When Narvaez wished to come to an _understand- ing with Bravo Murillo about the formation of a new Cabinet, the dialogue was in this wise :— Narvaez—Bravo, pick up the sword, man! Bravo Murillo—Duke, put on the mitre ! Narvaez— And the army? Bravo Murillo—And the clergy ? Narvaez—Rub-a-dubt-rrub-rr-mbr-t-rrub! Bravo Murillo—Dominus tecum ! Meantime other things come to pass not less im- ortant for the country; and this one is an item of et and bighly interesting intelligence. The Coun- tess Montijo has given a dinner at which the guests ate potato bread; she, the mother of the Empress and grandmother of the Son of France, eating po- tato Grent—and eating it with rtridges—tete de veau, supréme de volaiile—even with ham, has been an example so edifying that Lord Howden has im- mediately givenfanother dinner, at which they have eaten to bread with roast beef, plam pudding, and all sorts of things. ‘This ia for a shame te the who in die sol bupege if Seay con's eat Pa ever nach insolouse bread, bg Countess, mother of Emmperors, @nd the neble Lord, eat bread ! ve you ever seen such part of the such gluttony as this of the democra- cy? But they will be forced at lagt to compre- hend that the virtue of is in those who ive the preference to tbe bumble. potats e erent Sink: heat al sae ont : length in the place which its merit ‘att ace, whit she which has been so foolishly considered the support of the + This is a great advance in those coun- tries which are pinched with hunger. Sr. Soesweting! Charge d’ Affaires of the United States, Mr. doratio G. Perry, and one of the most popular and best loved organ of the democratic party, ve seen the Oriterio recall the name of Fernon Oabaliero, and the Sitado recall the name of tRe Senora Avelianedo, and ‘them to the national bude We, without ati thelr merit, would recall to-day one ot the truest glories of our literature, the popalar rame of the Senora Donna Carolina Gvronato, the poeters by excellence, in whose sweet vorses breathe the pure aroma of oman’s heart, ani moves ee a5 a sensitive plant, luminous as a Senora Cor ‘s the poetess of nature; 1 er compositions the creation is d, taking the tints of of # sublime inspiration, Bhe is benides the pootoss of the domestic circle. The es of tho fatully—the sentiments most jatimaw aud sa cred of ife—have been sung by tho Senora Coronado with a aimplicity and a charm which is beyond our eu lume. The sexora Donna Carolina Coronado is doubtless one of the most fs ingd eww ed Bames of our literature, and best worth: consideration of all those who esteem the lustre of our arts. All which being duly set forth, we are prepared to dive again and come up next week. The Isthmus of Darien Cana). TO THE EDITOR OF THE LONDON TIM#s. The expedition sent out by the mments of England, France and the United States of america, in December,.1853, to survey the prevose canal route across the Isthmus of Darien from Caledonia bay on the Atlantic coast to the Gulf gf San Miguel on that of the Pacific, is generally supposed to have proved a complete fi , and, indeed, the circum- stance that none of the engineers engaged in it have made any report would seem to justify that supposi- tion. It can, however, be easily shown that notwith- standing the deplorable mismanagement of the expe- diticn, and the very hasty and incomplete examina- tion made of ley, ith a tunnel of three miles in length a between these two points is practi- cable. The only igo accounts of the expedi- tion are Commander Prevost’s “official report,” in the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society for 1855, and a pamphlet by Dr. Cullen, entitled the Mismanaged Darien Expedition of 1854, pub- lished by Effinham Wilson. Commander Prevost's report has no bearing on the question of the practi- cability of the canal, as the course he took from the Pacific side was three points of the compass weat- ward of the proper route. Appended to it, however, there 18 a section of the isthmus, and a very accu- rate map, compiled, I believe, by Captain Fitzroy and Mr. Arrowsmith, in which the longitude of each coast is corrected in accordance with the surveys of Commander Parsons and Captain Kellett. The rivers Sucubti and Chuquanaqua are in it laid down from an accurate gba survey found in the archives of Bogota. The levels are those taken by Mr. Gisborne and his assistants, Messrs, Ben- nett, Armstrong, Devenish, and Bond. From this ae — section the following tacts appear to be es- tablished :— 1. The harbors on both coasts are admirably adapted for termini of a grand ship canal. 2. The Savana river is quite free from obstruc- tions, and is navigable to the mouth of the Lara. 3. From the junction of the Lara with the Savana to the Chnquanaqua, opposite the mouth of the Suoubti, a distance of twelve miles, the country is of such @ character as to present no engineering difficulties, nor for that distance would any deep cutting be required in the construction of a canal. 4. The next stage, from the Chuqnanaqua to the confiuence of the rivers Asnati and Sucubti, a dis- tance of nine miles, the country is of the same character. 5. From the confluence of the Asnati and Sucubti for the next six miles, to the little Indian hamlet of Sucubti, there is no difficulty to be surmounted. 6. For the next three miles the land gradually rises from 180 feet to an elevation of 420 fee’. 7. In the next three miles, in the direction of the Atlantic, the ground rises into a peak 930 feet high, so that here a tunnel would be required. 8, From the foot of this peak to the Atlantic sea- board. a distance of only two miles, the ground is very low, and presents no difficulty whatsoever. 9, The whole length of the canal to be cut would be 35 miles. Such are the facts, and it should be borne in mind that in the map and section which 1 have mentiened above the existence of a valley aeross the Cordillera is not taken into account, and I regret to say no search was made for it. i myself have repeatedly and distinctly seen it from Caledonia bay, and taken the beasing of its entrance, which was nearly doe west of del Oro or Golden Island. The moun- tain which, according to Mr. Gisborne, would re- nire tunrel ling, is southeast of it. This mountain, br. Cullen says, is called Agia by the Indians. The country Lend ov wn by a dense forest of tall trees and hig! wood, and Mr. Gisborne having made only a very hurried examination of it, the valley remained unseen by him, and its exis- tence was therefore ignored. ‘It is, however, very lainly marked on Commander Parsons’ survey of nia bay and Port Escoses, 1854, lately pab- liahed by the Hydrographic office Again, Dr. , who accompanied Commander Prevost, in a conversation which I had with hima few weeks ago, distinctly informed me that he"de- scended into another valley transverse to the’Cordil- lera, several rage b oes northwest of that opposite Goléen Island. would show that the mountain sence Doren to the shore of Caledonia bay, in- stead ing, as is generally supposed, part of an unbroken range, is really isolated. Mr. Gisborne himself, in a letter to Commander wife Hancock, dated Her Majesty's p Papiegle, Cale donia Bay, April 4, 1864, says am quite aware that in now concludi my ing operations there is a great deal of interesting information still wanting, and that the examination of the Isthmus is not near so perfect as | had hoped to make it.” Commander Prevost, ina despatch to Rear Ad- miral Fai: Moresby, C. B., at Callao, dated Her Majesty's ship Virago, Savana river, Jan. 7, 15¢: says:—'‘For the river, (the Choquanaqua,) we began to ascend, entering, as we supposed, the Cvr- dillera, and during our progress over several hills, the highest of which we at seven eight hundred feet in height. From this and other summits we ywere able th indistinctly, over the ing 7) showed the ranges of nilis to broken, a sugarloaf form, apparently having nar- row passes or valleys at their bases, along which several rivers and mountain streams may find their way into the Atlantic.” Ta fine, I think there are sufficient to jus = her haajesty's it in a few ves sels of war to ia Bay and the Gulf of San Miguel, whence of sailors, marines and engi- neers might be landed to survey the four or five miles of ground which —— the head waters of the Aglaseniqua and the Sucubti, and which are, I believe, traversed by a . Thave the honor to be, sir, your obedient humble servant, Wit.iam M'Dexmorrt, M. D., Surgeon R. N., Late of nd Majesty's ship Espiegle, on the Darien ex] jon. ORTHUMBERLAND stREET, Strand, Dec. 8. z 23 Return of Rev. Dr. Livingstone to Otviliza- {From the London Times, Dec. 11.) ‘The Rev. Dr. Livingstone arrived at Marseilles from ‘Tunis on the 6th inst., and was then in good health. Hie ‘ett arm is, however, broken and partly useless, it bav pg been torn by a lion. Whom he was taken os board her Mojesty’s ship Frolic, on the Mozambique coast, he had great difficulty in speaking a sentence of English baving disused it so long while travelling in Africa. He had with bim @ native from the interior of Africa, This man, when he got to the Maaritiue, waa so excited with and bio a of Povey | tha went mad, and jum fea and was drow: been absent from England #9 renteen African continent almost in has been where no civiiized ———— his wonderful tra- ia, in which he voyaged from kable for his modesty Is tra «The injury to his arm was sustained in tho desert while travelling with » friendly tribe of Africana. A herd of lions broke into their camp at night and carried of some of their cattle, ‘The natives, in alarm, believed that a neighboring tribe bad them, Livingstone taunted them bewitched with suffering their lonees through cowardice, and they then turned out to face and hunt dowo the enemy. The doctor shots lion, which dropped wounded. It atter. him and canght him by the arm, and, on ‘eanding two natives who drew it of him, it feil | down dead. The wounded arm was not and Dr Livingstone suffered excrutiating agony In sequence, The Ship Resolute and News from the Arc ‘The London Times of 11th inntant, says:—A crowd meeting of the Royal was held Monday iast—Sir R L. ’ been communicated that day by his Excellency American Minister, Mr Dullas. | ‘Captain Sherard Osborn reported that he had just from — Gator, iormerly of ber Majesty’s ship trepid, rvator of the Humber, that Captain Park: Of the Truelove, announces that the Kaquimsux had lar() | of wood, which they had got from « ship toa bad been broken up onthe beach, and that there wa another veesel prestod vpn the ioe, but not yet broke! up, down Prince Regent Iniet, The wood the sledges wer wade of bad treenail holes. These natives Irequent Pom Bay, in Baffin Strat: vessel, the London Timeg, Nov. 11 ‘Tee tababfiante of Portsmoath ae paj.anile to beat! the reception to be given Apogee <i American: ringing to Portemouth her Majonty’ solute, as a present to the Eng! ‘Was introduced at a meeting of the by Mr. Emanuel, and followed up b: Decked up their motion by subscriptions, as the of the fund necessary to be provided to defray the exp Southampten shows an example tn the samo caus¢ there nearly £1,000 have already been subscribed wit)| the ebject of ensertaiaing the Rosolute’s officers. We be heve the naval service at Portsmouth also have it im co SERSAANS V6 Sasha ne Alee east Sots ek Boy q ty. The Accident to the Steamship America. [From the Liverpool Meroury, Dec. 12.) galioai! eassbif Amerion, Captain Lang returned «| mail steal ihe port in a disable stato, Raving encomtered ye gale thecbannel The America sailed from the = on Saturday last, with,a large’number of the urual mails, for Boston After leavin, among the passenger. carrie. ell ag three boats, The steward’s pantry suf of the contenu The vessel susiained other damage, importance. On» of the crew was badly injured, having received @ ccmpound fracture of both his legs. Others 0 the men were more or less bruised, but not seriously ‘The shock was ec great as to knock the farai'ure abou in ail directions, to the great consternation of the = gers, some of whom sustained slight bruises. It is saic that five seamen were carried off the vessel by the sea. but most miraculously driven back by a ret wave poy one— the man previously referred to—rece'! an) serious injory. Captain, Lapg maintained the utmoe coolness and sel!-possestion during the trying scene Finding the vesse! in such a disabled conditien, be hac no alternative but to put her sbout, in order to save th: sbip and pascengerg. This being done, he steamed at rect for this port, where he arrived at an early hour yes: terday morning. Tue America now lies in the Husktasor Do-k, and will require to be laid up for some time for re At half. past six on Wednorday evening the America ex changed signals with the United Staves mail steamer Ba) to, which sailed from the Mersey in the morning for New York. This circumstance wili probably bo the means 0 aliaying any fears on the oiber side of the Aantic as & the safety of the America. Yeeterdey morning the fact of the Amoriea’s returt Was communicated to the government au an Messrs. Maclver, with the promptitade | their extensive ertabliehment, got the Canada im d Bess to pre The mails and } ‘ser gers which is spnounced to leave the Huskiason Dock t! mornirg (Friday), at nine o'clock, and proceed direct 0 her voyage to Boston. Immediately on the arrival of the vessel at this po those of the crew who had been injured were sent the Northern Hospital. Taoey were as foilows:—Williat Allen, contused leg; Frederick Lewis, leg mach brul Matthew leary, com fracture of the nose; and Jobn Wilson, compound fracture of votn legs. i The following document, complimentary to the c ard bis officers, was sigoed by a number of the passemh| gers on board the America:. We, the undersigned passengers on board the British a North Ameriean royal mail sieamshiv America, on her ou! ward passage to Bi while returning their gratefv thanks to Almighty Providence for their safe deliveranc from the fearful siorm upon the morning of the Mh, feel 1 their duty to exprese their unqualified approval of the courage ‘coolness and inirepiaity of Captain ‘and his officers dur ing that trying period, and especially for the saiiful manne | in puiting the sbip sbout in so perilous situation, which | the opinion of the undersigned, was the only method of savin, the ship and passengers. The folowing is the Sarveyors report :— Decemnen 11.—We, the undersigned, being requested survey and report the damage dove to the steamship Amer ca, Lang, master, from being struck by heavy seas in a gal <f'wind,' when late intended voyage hence t re} ou ex = i 8 iz i ‘3 ‘< 7 tf Si tl! tl F i cl Eg i : i ff efi zt Sg ' tne pall F i z 4 z 2 z i i if Hi i q H Be te i i ie ii a Hil i ini $2923 3—¢23525 eld is z = 5 i | i a Z 32 2, il EE Hi Fv Hie | H | A aH z cH: ; SS — ———————