The Week.

sure that result greater economy has had to be practised in fche public service , and especially in the Avar department . This latter has been effected by reducing the regimental cadres . Commerce and agriculture are flourishing , and an inquiry into the state and wants of agriculture is promised . Next comes a paragraph denouncing the " unquiet spirits , " who

in the name of liberty hinder its progress . The constitution of France is Aveighed against that of England , and the latter kicks the beam . " Every Government , " says the Emperor , Avith something like spiteful humility , "has its defects ; but in casting a glance upon the past I am gratified to see at the end of fourteen years France respected abroad , tranquil afc home , wibhout political

prisoners in its gaols , and Avithout exiles beyond its frontiers . " Lastly comes a grandiloquent exhortation to cease the discussion of theories , and to consider how the condition of the people may be ameliorated by education and the principles of religion The budget of the Italian Minister of Finance is by no means so satisfactory as it is to be hoped that Mr . Gladstone's in April

next will be . Signor Scialoja finds that there was in the public treasury on the 1 st insfc . a balance of 70 millions of lire . The Treasury bills in circulation , the balance of the last loan , and the proceeds of the sale of the State railways will enable the public expenses for this year to be met , including the payment of interest due January 1 , 1867 . The ordinary expenditure

for the year is 92 S millions of lire . Reductions to the extent of 55 millions are to be made , of which 30 millions will be effected in the army and navy . Still there would be a deficit of 211 millions . By the imposition of fresh taxes this deficit is to be reduced to 80 millions . Loans are deprecated , and reforms in the mode of keeping the public accounts are promised . The Chamber is asked to prolong tlie provisional budget for two more months . The usual official report on the state of tiie

French empire has been published . So far as the telegraph enlightens ns as to its contents it presents no striking features . On all foreign subjects it is characterised by the same moderation as the Emperor's speech . One sentiment is expressed with Napoleonic point , and will excite a smile . " AA ' e went to Mexico to obtain redress , not to iiroselytise for the cause of monarchy . " Our readers Avillread the description of the

opening of the French Chambers with great interest . Prince Otho , the third son of the King of Italy , died at Genoa on Monday . AMERICA . —AVe have intelligence from New York to the 6 th inst . Ifc presents features of considerable importance . In the first place , the diplomatic correspondence between France and

the United States relative to the affairs of Mexico had been submitted to Congress , It begins with a despatch of Mr .. Seward to Mr . Bigelow remonstrating with the French Government on the ground that the Imperialists had put native Mexican prisoners of war to death in cold blood . Mr . Seward called upon France to lend no countenance to acts so repugnant

to civilisation and humanity . The verbal answer Avhich M . Drouyn de Llmys returned to Mr . Bigelow ' s representations Avas most remarkable . " We are not the Government of Mexico . You do us too much honour to treat us as such . AA'e had to go Mexico Avith an army to secure certain important interests , but we are not responsible for the Emperor Maximilian

or his Government . He is accountable to you , as to any other Government , if he violated its rights ; and yon have tiie same remedies there that Ave had . " O'Mahony , who , we suppose must now be called the Fenian Pretender , has sent a bombastic message to the Fenian Congress , declaring that if his hands had not been tied by the senate ho would ere this have hurled thunderbolts at England both on land and sea . The Australasian has arrived at Liverpool , bringing news from New York

The Week.

to Jan . 10 . She did not call afc Queensfcown , owing to the heavy gale . The news is chiefly made up of abstracts of the correspondence which has taken place between the Uuited States and France on the subject of Mexico . This correspondence is of a most serious character . It comes down to Dec . 16 . A proposition by France to withdraw its troops from Mexico , if the AA'ashington Government Avould recognise Maximilian , Avas

declared by Mr . Seward , on the part of the President to be impracticable . The French Government is assured that it is placing the friendly relations between the two countries in jeopardy by continuing to keep French troops in Mexico . To one letterof this character , read by Mr . Bigelow to M . Drouyn de L'Huys , fche latter replied that he derived neither pleasure nor

satisfaction from its contents . The House of Representatives afc AA' ashington had requested the President to take steps in reference to fche adoption by Maximilian of a son of Iturbide A bill providing for the issue of Forty-year Gold Bonds has been reported to Congress . Its purpose is the funding of the floating debt . The interest is to be afc the rate of 5 per cent .

if made payable in Europe , and 0 per cent if in America . The bill also provides that interest-bearing notes shall cease to be a ' legal tender at maturity . The Fenian Congress has taken strong measures with those Avho dispute its authority . They are excommunicated—cut off from association with the Brotherhood . Gold on January 10 afc New York was quoted at 139 .

The most interesting feature of fche news brought by the Citif of Zondon from New York is thafc relating to France and Mexico- Further diplomatic correspondence has been published . It states that a letter from Captain Maury to Benjrmin AA' ood had been intercepted , in which ifc was stated thafc the French Government favoured the Gwynn enterprise—to

colonise lands on the borders of California . Mr . Seward enclosed fche letter to Mr . Bigelow , and instructed him to inform the French Government that if fche statements in the letter were true the Emperor Napoleon had departed from his policy of neutrality to give aid fco fche South . On fche 14 th of December Mr . Seward wrote urging Mr . Bigelow to get the positive declaration of the Emperor as to whether he intended to withdraw his troops . Upon these questions no further

information is given . INDIA , CHINA , & C . —By way of New York we have advices from Valparaiso to fche 9 fch . The blockade continued . Two ships of the Spanish fleet had gone in search of the " Esmeralda . The Chilians seem to have done another sinarfc thing . On the 2 nd inst . they took the crew of the store-ship Salvador Vidat Avhile the Spanish frigate Avas at sea searching vessels . Spanish dip lomatic relations with Pern had wholly ceased .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

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