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EUROPE.

FRANCE. The Moniteur of the 24th December contained an ordonnance regarding the dissolution of the Chamber of Deputies. The Electoral Colleges are convoked, and the Session of the Chambers of 1824 is to meet on the 23d March next, when, of course, the grand projects for new-modelling the Chambers will be brought forward. The latest accounts state, that the Royalist party is likely to predominate in the new elections. On the 16th December, a grand fete was given by the city of Paris, in honour of the Duke d'Angouleme and the Spanish campaign. The Hotel de Ville was splendidly fitted up, and all the Royal Family, the King excepted, were present. In the preceding part of the day, the good people of Paris were, as usual on fete occasions, amused with scrambling for bread, sausages, and wine, distributed in the Champ Elysees by the government.

It is said to be stipulated in the treaty to regulate the military occupation of Spain by France, that the whole of the French troops are to be withdrawn from that country by July next. Of course, however, this period has been contingently specified, as less likely to excite discontent than a longer one; but it may be renewed, in case Spain be not then tranquil.

SPAIN. The amnesty promised by Ferdinand has not yet appeared: and it is now said that, when it does, it will contain a multitude of exceptions.

It appears to be the determination of the restored government not to sanction any of the acts of the Cortes; and as they cannot hope to raise money in any foreign country, without first guaranteeing those loans raised by the Constitutional Government, applications have been made to the clergy for assistance in the present embarrassed state of the finances. The chapters of the dignified clergy, to whom this application was first made, have announced their inability to furnish the supply wanted, and suggest that the other public bodies, especially the monks, should bear their part; so that the ministry will perhads be obliged to lay an extraordinary contribution on the great nobility, the clergy, the monks, and the merchants, to meet the most urgent

wants.

Ferdinand has bestowed orders on some

of the higher clergy, and has instituted a new order for those who distinguish themselves for the cause of legitimacy and religion, which is to bear the motto of "The King to the Faithful." A military junta has been named for the organization of the army. The DirectorGeneral of the Police of Spain has issued a very rigorous order, to be enforced in Madrid, which enjoins the Magistrates to register the names of all the inhabitants within their jurisdictions, to which are to be annexed their age, condition, profession, and remarks on their conduct. The proprietors of inns, lodging-houses, &c., are bound to notify to the police all arrivals and departures the instant they occur. Servants are forbidden to change their places without magisterial authority. The inhabitants of the capital, generally, are forbidden to receive into their houses any relation or friend, until they have given 24 hours notice thereof to the Magistrates of the district in which they reside.

In the meantime, as might be expected, the state of the country is described as truly lamentable, dreadful atrocities and reprisals being made on each other by the two opposing parties. It appears that the Constitutionalists venture to appear publicly in the streets of Barcelona, and this is remonstrated against as an act of audacity and outrage; but in other places, the Serviles, in the absence of the French, take ample revenge. The General of the Faith, Sampere, succeeded the French in the government of Alicant. His conduct has been such, that he cannot venture abroad without a strong escort, and has his house protected by pieces of artillery. His avowed system is to exterminate all the partisans of the Constitution. In the provinces of Valencia and Murcia, 5000 Constitutionalists have been incarcerated.

SICILY. A dreadful inundation took place at Messina on the night of the 14th December, which is thus described in a letter of the 15th." A deluge of rain, during the greater part of last night, has destroyed a great number of the small houses in these suburbs, carrying them and their wretched inhabitants along with it, many of them into the sea. To what extent the melancholy effects have reached is not yet ascertained; but a church not many yards distant from my house already contains twenty-three dead bodies-men,

women, and children. The sea is covered with wrecks of buildings; and the dead bodies of the victims, who have there found a temporary grave, will soon be floating on the waters, to increase the horrors of the scene. So dreadful a visitation is not remembered by the oldest inhabitants to have taken place here before. The greater part of the calamity is owing to the high lands, at the back of the town, been reduced to cultivation instead of being planted, as the laws direct, with an annual increase of large trees. The rubbish and loose mould mixing with the waters, became irresistible, and swept away every thing in their progress to the sea."

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.-From a statement in the Vienna Gazette, it appears that all matters are not yet amicably settled between Turkey and Russia. In answer to a formal demand of the Austrian Internuncio, for the evacuation of Moldavia and Wallachia, a new note had been written by the Reis Effendi, in which it is declared, that the Turkish forces shall not be withdrawn from these Principalities unless the troops of Russia are previously withdrawn from the Ottoman frontier. The Emperor Alexander, on his part, had given positive orders that the Russian armies shall remain in their present cantonments until the differences with the Porte are finally settled. The Vienna Gazette says, that the note of the Reis Effendi has actually been received in the Austrian capital by an extraordinary courier.

ASIA.

TURKEY AND PERSIA-A treaty of peace between these two powers was concluded on the 28th of July 1823. The basis of the treaty provides that the stipulations made in 1744, relative to the ancient frontiers of both empires, shall be observed, as well as the stipulations of former treaties relative to pilgrims, merchandise, fugitives, prisoners, and the residence of Ambassadors at both Courts respectively. All places on the frontier of the Ottoman empire, of which the Persians took possession in the course of the war, are to restored, in their actual state, within the term of sixty days. The prisoners taken on both sides are to be restored mutually. By the first article, it is provided, that neither power shall interfere in the internal affairs of the other; that the Persian Government shall in no wise intermeddle in the districts of Bagdad and Curdistan, nor assume any sort of authority over the present or the former occupiers of these countries. Such persons as may pass from the frontiers of

one empire to another, for the purpose of temporary sojournment, shall be subjected to the usual tribute and regulations. Persian pilgrims to Mecca and Medina shall be free from all tribute, and be treated with all convenient attention, according to their rank. The subjects of both empires shall be liable to a duty of no more than four per cent., to be paid once only. The trade in tobacco-pipes, from Schiraz to Constantinople, shall be free. If the Kurdes shall pass the Persian frontier, and give themselves to pillage, the Turkish authorities shall endeavour to prevent it, and to punish the guilty. the Turkish authorities should fail in their efforts, the protection of the Porte shall be withdrawn from these tribes. The said tribes shall be free to transport themselves in Persia, but not to return again into Turkey. The seventh article provides, that there shall be appointed to the two Courts respectively new Ambassadors every third year.

If

Con

RUSSIA AND CHINA.-The Petersburgh Court Gazette, of December last, contains the following article regarding the inland trade between Russia and China :-" All the merchandise sent to China does not amount to a million sterling a-year. Their carriage to Kiatcha costs about three times the original purchase. The conveyance from Petersburgh to Kiatcha is accomplished in five months, when no obstacles intervene. But if, as frequently happens, the goods change owners in the mart of Nischenei Novogorod, a year may elapse before they reach their destination. The produce of China takes nearly as long in reaching the European markets of Russia. sequently a commercial transaction between Petersburgh and Kiatcha cannot be settled in less than two years. The orders begin to be given in November, and continue to the month of March. The mart of Nischenei Novogorod opens in the month of August. At that period, the Chinese come to Kiatcha, which is a large village situated 6508 wersts from Pekin. A bridge separates the Russian and the Chinese empires. Beyond the bridge is a Chinese village, completely uninhabited. Kiatcha, on the contrary, is inhabited during the whole year. These two villages were built in 1728, in consequence of a commercial treaty concluded between the two empires. Each is defended by several pieces of artillery of large calibre. From 40,000 to 50,000 chests of tea are annually imported by the way of Kiatcha, one thousand of which is sold at Novogorod. In 1820 there were sold in that mart 27,000 chests of Borg tea, independently of the

green in packets, called by the Russians little lozenge tea. The Russians are extremely jealous of their trade with China. None but native merchants, furnished with imperial licences, can repair to Kiat cha. The Chinese, on the contrary, have created a privileged company, which has a monopoly of the trade on their part. No English goods can reach Kiatcha except by smuggling, Russian merchandise being alone admitted. There are regular markets in Chinese Tartary, to which, however, the natives only are admitted. The road from Pekin to Kiatcha passes through a barren plain. The merchandise is brought to Kiatcha in waggons."

INDIA. It appears (says the London Courier) that the Siek Chief, Runjeet Sing, who has lately so successfully invaded the country of the Afghans, and placed himself on the throne of the great Subactagi, at Cabool, or Cabul, has now acquired such power, and with it the usual concomitant of usurpation, insolence, that in some late discussions he even hinted he had many Russians in his service, and that it would be easy for him to get more. Here, then, we see, in this, Chieftain's successful attempt on an independent nation, the first dawning of a union between Indian and European politics. There can be no doubt that the Indian government will keep a watchful eye upon the future projects of Runjeet; but the only possible cause for apprehension is, that one Chief should possess the countries on both sides of the Indus, as is now the case with Runjeet Sing. He will have much to do, however, before he consolidates his power, and many obstacles may be thrown in his way without proceeding to open war. Our Ambassador at the Persian Court will be able to contribute much towards this object.

AMERICA.

UNITED STATES. A copy of the President's message to the Congress of the United States, which assembled on the 2d December, has been received. This document contains, as usual, a view of the internal condition and foreign relations of the United States. The country being at peace, is of course flourishing; the coffers of the treasury are replenished by an increasing revenue, and the public debt is gradually decreasing. In the mean time, the utmost attention of Government is directed to the improvement of the army and navy, and to establish fortifications on the different points of the coast.

Alluding to the amicable relations existing between the United States and the Allied European Powers, the President states, that the North American GovernVOL. XIV.

ment has never intermeddled with their wars in matters relating to themselves but with the movements in their own hemisphere the case was different. He declares, therefore, that with the Governments who have declared their indepen dence and maintained it, and whose independence they have acknowledged, they will permit no interference. "We could not," says he, "view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing them, or controlling, in any other manner, their destiny, by a European Power, in any other light than as the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition towards the United States. In the war between these new Governments and Spain, we declared our neutrality at the time of their recogni tion; and to this we have adhered, and shall continue to adhere, provided no change shall occur, which, in the judg ment of the competent authorities of this Government, shall make a corresponding change on the part of the United States indispensable to their security." This is, in fact, saying as clearly, and indeed much more clearly than diplomatic language generally speaks, that the emancipated South American provinces must be left to themselves, and that any interference with them by any European Powers will be regarded by the United States as a sufficient ground for war.

There is another point in the President's speech of some importance, namely, that which relates to part of the northwest coast of America, which was first explored, we believe, by Captain Cook. Russia had set up some territorial claims which neither Great Britain nor the United States could submit to. They are now the subject of an amicable negociation between the three Powers. But America has thought proper to lay down in limine the principle, that the American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed, and maintain, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European Powers. What effect this notice to the Emperor of Russia, that he must abandon his favourite project of making a settlement upon the American coast, will produce, we are yet to learn.

Among other propositions contained in the speech, there is one for abolishing privateering, as an unlawful species of maritime war, and another for punishing those engaged in the slave-trade as pirates.

MEXICO. The Mexican government has issued a declaration of war against Spain. All political and commercia relations between the two countries are declared to be at an end; but four months

P

are allowed before this notification is to affect vessels arriving from Spain, and forty days for those from the Havannah. After these respective periods, the productions of the Spanish soil will not be admitted to an entry in Mexico under any flag whatever, and all Spanish vessels will be lawful prizes. The commissioners sent out by Spain, instead of being authorized, as was asserted, to recognise the indepen⚫ dence of Mexico, had instructions only to negotiate a commercial treaty. The Mexican government insisted that the basis of any treaty must be an unconditional acknowledgment of Mexican independence, and the "delivery of the castle of St. John de Ulloa as an integral part thereof." The commissioners having no power to accede to these propositions, they were ordered to leave the country in eight days. Gen. Cortez had arrived from Mexico in the United States, to negotiate a political and commercial treaty between them and the Mexican government. Two French officers, who had landed at Vera Cruz, in September, under the character of merchants, but whose real views, it is supposed, were to foment revolt in favour of a Bourbon Prince, had been seized and im. prisoned.

Another of the ci-devant Spanish Ame rican colonies has proclaimed its separate independence. The kingdom of Guatemala, formerly a dependency on the kingdom of Mexico, and which, in the first instance, joined it in declaring their com mon independence of Spain, has since separated, and the Guatemalans have established themselves as a sovereign state. The population of this state amounts to only 1,600,000.

COLOMBIA. Accounts from New York, of the 30th November, convey the important intelligence of the fall of Porto Cabello, the last part of any consequence in Colombia which was in possession of the Spanish Royalists.

"New York, Nov. 30. "Letters from Laguira of the 11th and 13th instant state, that the troops under Generals Paez and Bermudez made an assault on the town of Puerto Cavello on the morning of the 18th instant, and after having put to the sword every one found making resistance, the Colombian troops were, at four o'clock, in peaceable possession of the town. In this assault General Clazada and Colonel Carrera fell at the commencement of the attack. The only remaining fort, (the castle at the entrance of the harbour) surrendered on the 10th-the garrison to be sent to Cuba."

PERU.-Letters received from Buenos Ayres, dated September 29, contain news

of great importance to the independent cause in South America. The letters are deficient in details of the important events related, but are sufficiently precise in the nature of the information to give confidence in their authenticity. It ap. pears, that the Spanish Royalist army, under General Canterac, which retreated from Lima in the latter part of July, was encountered, in its retreat, in the begin. ning of September, by the Colombian forces under General Sucre, when an action ensued, which ended in the total defeat of the Royalists. Cantaras, it is said, was taken prisoner, and Valdes, his second in command, was killed. A second affair had taken place at La Paz, a large and strong town in the interior of Peru, occupied by a divison of the Royalist troops, but who had been driven from that post by a detachment of the Peruvian troops, commanded by General Santa Cruz. The fugitives from La Paz, as well as the remnant of the army of Cantarac, had retired upon Potosi. This intelligence was brought to Buenos Ayres by a special courier from Salla, who reported, that, in the whole of his route from Potosi, he did not fall in with a single Royalist soldier. The positions and force of the Independent troops are represented to be extremely favourable for following up the victory gained over Cantarac, and completing the deliverance of Peru. Bolivar had sailed from Guayaquil on the 21st of August, with 3000 troops, and the same number were collected at Arica. These two divisions were to rendezvous at Arequipa, a large town to the southward of Lima, when Bolivar, who was to take the chief command, would be at the head of 12,000 men. O'Higgins, the late Supreme Director of the Chilian Government, was to have a command under Bolivar. He sailed from Valparaiso, for that purpose, early in September, on board his Britannic Majesty's brig the Fly. Gen. Freire was elected the successor of O'Higgins in the office of Supreme Director of Chile.

Later intelligence from Carthagena states, that Bolivar entered Lima on the 1st of Sept. and was received with enthusiasm by all ranks of the people. He was next day vested by the Congress with the supreme military authority in all the territories of the republic; and no doubt seemed to be entertained, that, with the aid of his name and talents, the Spaniards would soon be driven from this last portion of South America, in which they maintain even the semblance of authority.

WEST INDIES.-It appears from Jamaica papers, lately received, that much