The Week.

can carry through the loan or not . Ifc is said that a party m the Cabinet are desirous of breaking off the affair . The Austrian and Russian legations have addressed strong notes to the Turkish Government relative to the importation of munitions of Avar into the Danubian provinces . Ifc is said thafc the arrival of five more ships so laden has been announced . Tho comitat of Arad has adopted a programme , demanding the re-establishment of the laivs of ISISaud of the integritof Hungary ; the taxes and levies of

, y soldiers are to be sanctioned by tlie Hungarian Diet , of Avhich the comitat demands the speedy convocation . The Comitat of Neustra , following the example ofthe other comitats , have resolved on a programme embracing a responsible government for Hungary , a Diet elected on the basis of the laws of ISIS , the removal of foreign troops , and a liberal constitution to the other CI-OAATI lands , & c . The Emperor , ifc appears , signed the decree convoking the

Hungarian Diet , on the Sth instant , but according to law- ifc cannot be opened till the 2 nd of April , ivhen it will meet at Ofen . The agitation in Hesse Cassel for the restoration of the constitution of 1831 continues in full force , and it is reported that the Grand Duke of Baden , as well as the King of Prussia , has seriously advised the Elector to restore peace to his country , by meeting the wishes of his subjects . In Hesse Darmstadt , also , demands by several communes are made on the Grand Duke for the abolition of the

Concordat , a neiv organisation of the Chambers , and a cessation of the prosecutions against the National Association . This latter body , undaunted by the prosecutions , continues its agitation against the Government . The Jloors have announced to the Spanish Government that they are prepared to pay a further instalment of forty million reals . Accounts from Rome state that the reactionary movement in the Marches has been suppressed , but is on the increase in the Abruzzi . As the Sardinian troops are noiv

quickly approaching the latter district , the insurgents will , no doubt , be speedily dispersed . Great consternation had been created among the Royal party at Rome on learning the news of the departure of the French fleet from Gaeta . The Papal Government , in its excess of zeal for the " holy" cause of Francis IL , is likely to get into difficulties with France . To the demand of General Goyon for explanations as to the object of the movement

of Papal troops toivards the Neapolitan frontier , JI . Jferode has refused any reply . The French general has remitted the matter home , and Avaits instructions from the Emperor . On the 15 th the diplomatic corps and the Papal Nuncio left Rome for Gaeta to congratulate King Francis on his birthday , the cessation of the bombardment affording them a safe , as Avell as most probably last , opportunity of paying this mark of respect to Neapolitan Royalty . From Turin ive learn that there is no truth in the report that

General Fanti had resigned , or thafc the political committees Avere enrolling volunteers . In Naples the Jluratisfcs got up another riot on Tuesday last , which was , as usual , dispersed and several arrests made . In Palermo , La Farina having ordered the arrest of Crispi , the National Guard opposed the execution of the order , and compelled the Lieutenancy Council to resign . All this exhibits a very unsettled state of affairs , and it will take all the skill and energy of A'ictor Emmanuel and Count Cavour to bring order out of the

mass of confusion pervading the King ' s IIOAV dominions . The gratifying announcement that the French fleet is really to depart from before Gaeta on the 19 th has given rise to a rumour that Piedmont has , in return , consented to make certain territorial concessions to France . The fact also that the French fleet ivill cruise in the Adriatic , in combination with the continued increase in the French army and navy , is viewed ivith suspicion . In the meantime Sardinia ivill vigilantly lvateh Gaetaand has expressed her

, resolve to allow- of no interference on the part of any other power with her naval operations against that fortress . A decree has been published in the Moniteur convoking the French Chambers for the dtb of February . By a comparative table published in the Government journal it appears that the revenue derived from indirect taxation in 1800 amounted to twenty-one millions of francs less than in 1 S 59 . The A ' cic Prussian Gazelle says the French army in Syria will be increased ba portion of the French troops

y returning from China , and that in spite of England the French will not leave Syria in March . AA ' e do not consider the Gazette to be a very reliable authority on such a matter , and tho announcement has an . infci-Eng-lish tone about it . The 5 th of February is now near at hand , and then our Liberal rulers must enlighten the country on this as well as several other matters .

AMERICA . —Intelligence has been received from New York by the Jura , coming down to the 3 rd hist ., giving no indication of a peaceful solution of the secession question . The President has replied to the commissioners of South Carolina , and peremptorily refused to Avithdraw the troops from Charleston Harbour , and informed them that he not only intends to collect the revenue and execute the laivs , but also to defend the property of the United States Avith all the force at his command . This firm position of

The Week.

the President filled the commissioners with coiistematioii , andthey telegraphed to Charleston , and urged the Governor to put the state on a war footing . Tivo war steamers were to be dispatched to Charleston , and it ivas rumoured that all the important posts in the South ivould be immediately reinforced . The militia of Columbia w-as to be re-organised . In the Neiv York State Legislature , in response to a message from the Governor , a resolutionhad beon proposed authorising him to tender to the national administration 10 , 000 militia to put doivn the insurrection in the South .

AUSTRALIA AXD NEIV ZEAT . AXD . —From Australia ive have , again the news of a ministerial crisis at Jlelbourne . The Nicholson Ministry experienced an adverse vote in Parliament , and have once more resigned . The yield of the gold-fields in A'ictoria , as well as Neiv South AA'ales , Avas good , and someAvbat increasing ; and iu commercial affairs there ivas little or no change . From New- Zealand ive learn that a desperate engagement betAveen the British troops and the Maoris took place on the Gth NoA'ember , ivhich

resulted in the defeat of the rebels , and the death of their chief . The AA ' aikatos , AVIIO had crossed the AA'aitara river to join AVm . Kingi , took up their main position in a sivamp , AA'hich Avas defended by a large body posted on the crest of the Mahoetahi Hill . The British troops , which ivere under the command of General Pratt , first stormed and drove the natives from the hill , and then , bayonet in hand , dashed into the swamp , and after a desperate handto-hand encounter , in which the rebels shoived great courage , our

troops succeeded in completely defeating them , the natives retiring precipitately with great loss , among the killed being three of their ehiefs . The many noble deeds ofthe young volunteers especially areworthy of admiration . It is scarcely to be expected that after thigE defeat the rebels will be so presumptuous as to engage in another contest ii-ith our troops , and as Kingi appears to hai'O quietly looked on while the AA ' aikatos ivere bravely engaged in his and their cause , there is likely to be a split in their camp , and , it is to be hoped , a general submission .

INDIA AND CHISA . —The six days' later intelligence from Calcutta , brought by the Overland Jfail , is of a very little [ importance . There ivill he no change in the position of commercial matters , except thafc the Bank of Bengal had again raised their rate of discount one per cent . Dr . Campbell and his party had retreated from Sikk ' nn and succeeded in reaching British territory , AA'here they met a force sent for their relief . From China ive learn that Lord Elgin expresses himself perfectly satisfied ivith the edict of

tlie Emperor ratifying and adopting the treaty and convention , which had been published in the Pekin , Gazette , and printed on placards , and posted in all the conspicuous places of the city . In his interview's with the Prince of Kung his lordship seems fairly tohave impressed him with the advantages that would arise from the more direct intercourse between the foreign ministers and the Government of Pekin which -ivill take place under the new treaties . Jlr . Brucealsoin a private interview with the Princemade a

, , , similar impression on him . The information Jlr . Bruce gave him of the progress of tbe rebels , and the line of conduct the British . Government would take in reference to them , AA-as listened to by the Prince ivith great attention , ivho expressed himself obliged for tbe information , much of which ivas quite new to him . As Lord Elgin found that it AA-as not the intention of General Ignatieff to ivinter in Pekin , and as Baron Gros thought it was not advisable that JI . de Bourbillon should establish himself there till the spring .,

his lordship settled thafc Mr . Bruce should withdraiv to Tien-tsin , and return to Pekin when a suitable residence was prepared for him , Jlr . Adkins , one of the student interpreters , volunteering to remain in the city to superintend the . arrangements . U p to this point , therefore , there seems to he good grounds for believing that we have at length fairly impressed the Chinese Government with the necessity of good faith in their dealings ivith us , and a reasonable hope that the treaty ivill be rigorously observed , leading to an increasing feeling of good will and confidence between our peojile and tlle Chinese .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

A . D . —Three o ' clock is the hour , but a very inconvenient one . AA ' . p ., PORTSEA . —Your bookseller w-as wrong . The " Remembrancer " AA- as issued ivith every number of the JIAGAZINE —not to thoso ivho subscribe afc the office only . Any other course ivotild be both unjust and suicidal . ROYAL NAVAL LODGE ( Gil ) . —In our notice of the last meeting

of this lodge , the name of the J . S . should have been Bro . E . C . Palmer instead of Palmer , as printed . It is difficult to keep proper names correrfc , unless very plainly written .