The Week.

the Emperor of the French to take away from the Senate and Corps Legislatif the right of voting an address in reply to the speech from the throne . It is said that the Emperor has , after due consideration , set aside the proposition as inexpedient , if not something worse . Tho complete works of the late secretary , M . Mocquard , are announced for immediate publication . M .

Conti , a Corsican , is appointed to the office of the Emperor ' s Chef du Cabinet . That office was held by the late M . Mocquard in combination with the post of Private Secretary , now filled by M . Pietri . It is fully expected in political circles that the statements regarding Mexico in the American President ' s Message will be replied to by an immediate recognition of the

Confederate States . The Patrie says the Message is simply an announcement of the decease of the Union . It is again asserted that M . Fould ' s financial statement will shortly appear in the official journal , and that it will distinctly state that 100 millions is to be employed in public works , and that the money will be raised by a sale of Crown lands . Crown lands to the amount

of 550 million francs are to be sold . The Corps Legislatif is expected to meet ou the 16 fch of January , when the Emperor will deliver his annual address . The Imperial statement is looked forward to with more than ordinary interest and anxiety , on account of important announcements being anticipated on that occasion . Many of the

Italian residents in Paris believe that there will be a war with Austria in the spring , and that Prussia will leave her ally to fight it out unaided . The ate Convention between the French and Italian Cabinets regarding Home and the transfer of tho seat of Government rom Turin to Florence , have been formally sanctioned by King Victor Emmanuel in decrees published in tho Turin Gazette . The Italian Chamber of Duputies on Saturday agreed to

the provisional budget , and then adjourned to the 5 th of January . —— The Court of Cassation at Naples has rejected the appeal of the brigand Cipriano la Gala and his accomplices . These are the gang of brigands who were endeavouring to make their escape from Genoa in a French steamer when they were arrested by the Italian authorities , and having been formally

surrendered to Frence , were then handed back , tried , found guilty of many hideous crimes , anel sentenced to death . Letters from Rome state that the Pope has issued a bull condemning all modern religious and political doctrines having a tendency hostile to tho Roman Catholic Church , and exhorting the bishops to confute them . The bull , which was signed on the Sth of last October , was drawn up by a committee of theologians , presided over by Cardinal Caterini . The Spanish Ministerial

crisis has been brought to a close by the recall of General Narvaez anel his entire Cabinet , the attempt of General Isturitz to construct a new administration , as well as all others , having proved abortive . The opening of the Spanish Cortes took place on the 23 rd instant . The draft of tho address submitted to the Queen proposes the abandonment of San

Domingo . Queen Christina has arrived at Madrid . Marshal Concha has been appointed President of tbe Senate . Lisbon has been visited by a furious hurricane . A large number of vessels of various descriptions and from various countries were sunk and their cargoes lost . The value of the goods lost is estimated at about £ 10 , 000 . Much damage , too , has been done

to the city itself , although happily no lives are reported as having been sacrificed . AMERICA . —The Federal Congress re-assembled at AVashington on the Sth inst ., when the President's message was delivered . President Lincoln declares that no attempts to negotiate with the South can result in any good , as the South will not be satisfied with any conditions but a severance of the

The Week.

Union , which the North cannot and will not grant . The Southerners can , be adds , obtain peace whenever they choose by laying down their arms and submitting to the national authority . He will retract nothing that he bas said regarding slavery , and will not modify his emancipation proclamation . He recommends Congress to pass a law abolishing slavery for ever

throughout the United States and their territories . Tlie foreign affairs of the United States are in a condition which is " reasonably satisfactory , " though " unforeseen political difficulties" have arisen in British anel Brazilian ports , and on the northern frontier of the Union , " which have required a just and conciliatory spirit on the part

of the United States , and the nations interested . " He deems ifc expedient , in consequence of recent events on the northern ¦ frontier , that the Federal cruisers on the Great Lakes shall be increased , and that therefore the six months' notice stipulated by treaty be given to Great Britain . During the campaign , the lines anel positions previously occupied by tho Federal

armies have been maintained , and further advances have been made . The finances have been snccesfully administered ; but further taxation is expedient , and the Federal debt , which amounted to 1 , 710 , 000 , 000 dollars on the 1 st July last , will be increased 500 , 000 , 000 dollars by another year of war . Such is , ifc appears , the . substance of the President's message . Secretary

Fessenden ' s report estimates that on the 1 st July next the Federal debt , will amount to 2 , 223 , 000 , 000 dols ., and that for the ensuing year theexpenditure wiU'amounfc tol , 168 , S 00 , 000 dols ., of which 422 , 000 , 000 dollars must be obtained from loans . He will not resort to further issues of legal tender notes , " so long as the people support the war by loans ; " and he thinks that the

Government ought to place its reliance on securities bearing interest in paper money , but ultimately convertible into bonds bearing interest payable in gold . The accounts of General Sherman's progress in Georgia were utterly conflicting and untrustworthy , and all that was certain was that be had not opemed any communication with the sea-coast . A body of Federal troops , under General Foster , laid left Port Eoyal with the purpose of aiding General Sherman's operations , and was stated to have captured

Pocotaligo Bridge , on the Savannah and Charleston Railway , but was alleged by Confederate accounts to have been afterwards " badly whipped " at Grahamsville . General Hood's head-quarters were saiel to be within six miles of Nashville , where General Thomas was represented to have concentrated the Federal forces ; and part of the Confederate army was reported to have been repulsed with the loss of six guns , from a blockhouse near Murfrecsboroiigh . There was no news of the slightest interest

from the Army of the Potomac or from the Shenandoah A'alley . The Moravian has arrived , with elates from New York to the 10 th inst . According to Richmond papers Sherman was close upon the coast , and ample preparations had been made to oppose him at Savannah . A cavalry engagement had taken place , in which Sherman's troops were defeated , and Ivilpatrick , the Federal general , was wounded . Prisoners report Sherman to be almost destitute of provisions . At Nashville Hood was

cutting off communication by land and water . The city is said to be short of supplies . Grant hael received a largo reinforcement , and a battle was considered imminent . Seward has peremptorily refused Lord Wliarncliffe's request to be permitted to furnish relief to Confederate prisoners from tho bazaar funds . The request he considers to be " a grave insult . "

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

CAKDIFE . —The payment of a salary to a Master of a lodge out of its funds is decidedly illegal , and certainly detracts from the character of Masonry . J . AV . —Cross ' s " Symbols of Masonry " may be picked up at an old print shop : they are out of date . T . T . —We will consider the question when the Christinas holidays are over .

P . M . —Never . R . AV . S ., No I *> -QUisiTioy , anel J ) . MrrtHAY LYON . —Next week .