The Week.

Prussia will soon take part in tho existing conflict ; but wc believe , " says the journal , " that we are not mistaken in stating , that no resolution of such a nature has as yet been taken , nor is it immediately imminent . If Prussia should be caused to take further steps for the development of her warlike power , her only object would be to make the position she has hitherto held of greater avail . " The Naples correspondent of a contemporary remarks : — "The new king has spoken . On June -ith was held the first council of state of this rei " and

gn , judging from the decrees then signed , a wretched programme was produced . Imbeciles or bigots , all the old ministers arc retained ; those who have so long consented to register the acts of Ferdinand II . will continue to register those of Francis II . ; those under whose power or feebleness every branch of the administration has fallen into a state of utter disorganization remain to perpetuate them . Bright days are dawning for reactionists , peculators , ancl policemen , for the . seal of the royal approbation has been set the old ministers and the old policyIt

upon . is with sorrow that I send you this intelligence , for it is not difficult to see tho results of it . The only proceeding that could save the dynasty and the kingdom from disorder would have been a bold progressive policy , instead of which we have still in power the same wretched men against whom all Europe has spoken , aud who have sanctioned all the follies ancl crimes of tho last few years . " - Tho principal news from the Australian colonies relates to tho gold fields . The Sydney Mommy Herald says , that the decrease in the quantity of gold produced this year

as compared with the two jirevious years , is mainly to be j attributed to tho sudden withdrawal during the last two months of large masses of the mining population from the scene of their previous labours to the newly discovered gold field at Daisy-hill . At Melbourne , Dr . Evans has succeed Mr . Duffy in the post of chairman of public works . The latter gentleman resigned his seat in the ministry in consequence of his disagreeing with the vest of the cabinet . The return oi Sir . John Thomas Smith without knighthood being conferred upon him , gave great offence to a portion ofthe city counciland a resolution expressive of this

, feeling ivas passed by that body . The matter , however , was quietly shelved by the governor , and laughed at by the great body of the colonists . Accounts have reached Sydney of another of those wholesale massacres of which the unclnistiauized islands of Polynesia are so frequently the scene . The captain and most of tho crew of a Sydney vessel had bra \ murdered , it was reported , in cold blood , by the natives of Malik ; , ono of the New Hebrides . The vessel , however , escaped and arrived under the charge of the mate , at the settlement of New Caledonia . the arrival of the

By Canada , at Liverpool , we have dates from New York to the aist ult . The intelligence from the States is of little interest , the European war absorbing the attention of the American people . An instruction ha . d been issued to all merchant vessels to be prompt in the display of the American flag to protect them from the chance of detention or seizure during the hostilities . The Belly contract has been ratified . A terrific tornado had occurred at Jacksonville , iii Illinois ; sixteen persons were killedand seriously injured Forgeries ' of

, many . bills to a rather large amount have just been brought to light . The person implicated , named Jolm Locl . l _ .-u .. Morton , is described \ is merchant and bill-broker , of Finch Lane . Ho appears to have had transactions in the timber trade , and also to have made consignments to Australia . His connexions are highly respectable , and his attainments are described as of a high order . This person was taken before the Lord Mayor , and remanded on a charge of forging and uttering a bill of exchange for . £ 500 , purporting to be accepted by Messrs . P . AV . Flower & Co ., of Princcsstreetwith intent to defraud

, tho London Discount Company , ivho are the prosecutors . Other bills , believed to be fictitious , are held by this company , but tho amount , as far as can yet be ascertained , is only moderate . There is a rumour that the total amount of the forgeries by this individual is not less than £ -J 0 , 000 . Morton' was finally examined at the Mansion House , on . Saturday , aud committed for trial . The prisoner read to the court a statement , in which he acknowledged his guilt , detailed the circumstances that led to the perpetration of the crime , and lastly expressed his willingness to suffer the full penalty of the law . A melancholy result of family quarrels and indulging an unbridled passion , was shown at Southwark Police-court , on Saturday , when Mr . Bureham committed a young man ,