The Week.

to it numbered 187 . On Saturday the amendment in favour of electoral meetings was discussed and rejected by 233 against 17 votes . The first paragraph of the address was then adopted . The news of the death of Mr . Cobden was received with great regret in Paris , where the lamented gentleman was well known ancl had numerous friends . AU the journals p-iy a tribute of respect to his memory . The official Moniteur

concludes a long article in his praise with the following expression : — - "Cobden was able to understand France , ancl he loved her . She will never forget him . " Iu the Corps Legislatif also the event was referred to in terms of genuine feeling . " This death , " said M . cle Roquette , "is a misfortune not only for England , but for France herself , who will sincerely

deplore his loss , ancl share the deep regret it causes . " " Yes , " responded another deputy , " let England know that our regret is unanimous . " Some modification in the press law is understood to be contemplated by M . Lavalette , by which an incriminated writer will have an opportunity of defending himself before the official warning is shaken over his head .

Anxiety is beginning to be felt in the French capital on account of the plague now raging in Russia , and represented to be making a movement eastward . -According to a Turin letter , a military convention has been concluded between France and Italy for the purpose of authorising the Italian troops to outer the Papal territory in pursuit of brigands , and the French to

pursue brigands from the Pope ' s dominions into the Italian provinces . -The Spanish Chambers on Saturday adopted the bill for the abandonment of Santo Domingo by a large maority . The Government will no doubt take an early opporjtunity of withdrawing all its forces from the island . The American Minister at Lisbon has lost no time in demanding " satisfaction " for the cannonade opened upon the Federal

steamers Niagara and Sacramento by the Portuguese forts . The American commanders have denied that they were about to leave the Tagus in pursuit of the Confederate ironclad Stonewall when fired upon , and affirm that they were merely preparing to change their anchorage . This , we presume , is the ground upon which the Portuguese Government is called upon to give * ' satisfaction , " to dismiss the Governor of Fort Belem , ancl to

honour the American flag with a salute of twenty-one guns . Monte A ideo has surrendered to the Brazilian General Plores , who is said to have temporarily assumed the Presidency of Uruguay . This event , says a letter from Lisbon , " has resulted in the re-establishment of peace . " The semi-official Northern Post of St . Petersburg asserts that the reports of

the appearance of the Siberian plague in that city , are unfounded . The illness which prevails at present is described as having no epidemic character ; and it is stated that only the poor people who neglect sanitary regulations are suffering from any unusual attacks . AusTB . vr . iA , CHINA , & C . —By telegraph from Suez we havo

intelligence from Melbourne to February 23 . Hostilities had recommenced in New Zealand , ancl in a conflict with the rebels a detachment of British troops nearly suffered a defeat . The rebels had murdered and decapitated one ofthe members of the Provincial Council . It is to bo hoped that the report that the rebel leader AVilliam Thompson had surrendered to General

Carey , will prove to be well founded . -Many of the Chinese provinces are still in a very disturbed state . The Mahomedans had succeeded in capturing two towns , ancl the Chinese garrison at Hunghow had mutinied . AMERICA . —The announcement of two sharp actions in North Carolina constitutes the chief military news brought by the Peruvian and City of Washing ton . In both these actions—of which the accounts proceed from desnatches transmitted to

The Week.

Richmond by Generals Johnston and Hardee—the Confederates claim the victory . In the first—which occurred on the 16 th ult . at Averysborough , a town or village on the Cape Fear river , aud on the high road from Fayetteville to Raleigh—General Hardee states that he defeated General Sherman , who was repulsed from the Confederate position , ancl estimates the Federal losses at 3 , 000 men while the Confederate loss is said not to have

exceeded -150 men . In the second—which occurred on the evening ofthe 10 th ult . near Beutonville , a little town or village not very far from the southern bank of the Neuse river—General Johnston states that he attacked and defeated the Federals and captured three guns . The Federals , who appear to have formed part of General Schofield ' s corps , fell back upon reinforcements , and

then renewed the engagement , which lasted until nightfall , and on the following morning they were found to have intrenched themselves . General Johnston states that the Confederate loss was " sm ? . U , " but apparently makes no estimate of the Federal losses , and observes that "a , dense thicket prevented active operations . " It was reported in the North that

Generals Sherman and Scliofield had formed a junction , and that General Schofield ' s corps now constituted the right wing of General Sherman ' s army . It was also rumoured that the Federals had occupied Goldsborougb , which the Richmond journals admitted to have been evacuated by the Confederates . Both General Lee ' s and General Grant's armies were stated to he " ready to move ; " but no attempt had apparently been

made by either . Gen . Sheridan was asserted to be " preparing another movement for the purpose of intercepting Gen . Johnston ' s retreat . " It was reported that a strong Federal corps , under the command of General Thomas , had commenced its march from ICnoxville , in East Tennessee , for AVestern Alrginia . A body of 10 , 000 Federal cavalry had begun a " raid" from Eastport , in

Mississippi , with the object of destroying the remaining railways iu Alabama and Mississippi . A rumour that the Confederates had evacuated Mobile , and that the city had been , occupied by the Federals , had been transmitted from Memphis ; but it was no doubt unfounded , as it was also stated , probably by telegrams published in the Richmond journals , that Mobile was

expected to be attacked by land and sea on the 22 nd ult . Some companies of negro soldiers had already been organised in Richmond , and it was said that the Confederate General Kirby Smith had armed and trained 25 , 000 negroes in Texas and Arkansas . The Confederate Congress , before its adjournment , had empowered President Davis to "borrow "—meaning

apparently to take from the banks—3 , 000 dollars in coin for the support of the army . It had also issued an address to the Southern people , declaring that a conquest of the Southern Confederacy is " geographically impossible , " and expressing confidence that independence will be achieved . President Lincoln was visiting General Grant at City Point , " for the sake of his health , " as it was said ; but his visit had caused a " renewal of peace rumours . "

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

Bros . AVEBSTER ancl AYRE are thanked . J . S . —AVe have forwarded your letter to the brother named . K . S . —It is impossible for us to tell you what prospect you would have of becoming a Grand Master . BETA . —Send us the paper to which you refer . T . G . —Received with many thanks . AA . A . —Your communication shall appear next week . AV . B . —Decidedly not . ' ,