FOREIGN NEWS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume 1, Issue 2, 18 January 1851, Page 2

FOREIGN NEWS.

FRANCE,

The only news of importance from France, consists of the continued "progress" of Louis Napoleon through the departments, for the of testing public opinion on the .present state of the country. His last journey was to Cherbourg, the professed object being to review the French naval squadron at that place. The Paris journals intimate that after the President's return, he was about to visit Marseilles.

The Duke dv Bourbon bad held a legitimist court at Wiesbaden. He had directed a mass to be offered up for the death of Louis Phillippe, which the French in the town attended in mourning. In his last speech to his followers, the duke openly assumes to himself the title of king, declaring that on the score of principles there can be no compromises. This declaration was regarded in Paris as a highly important circumstance, putting an end to the stories which had been flying about, of the reconciliation of the bi'anches of the royal house.

The government of the President of the Ec- \ public appears to be preparing the way for some \ great change in the Constitution. The "progresses" of the President through the'provinces, has proved his popularity with the mass of the ■ people, and many of the provincial councils had passed resolutions in favour of a revision of the Constitution. AUSTRIA. Accounts from Vienna of the 19th ult. mention that the Russian Cabinet is particularly anxious that a diplomatic congress of the representatives of the German States should be held in the Austrian capital, there to decide upon a new basis of European policy by which those states shall be governed. The third general peace congress was held in St. Paul's church at Frankfort on the 22nd of August, and the two following days. Amongthe speakers were M. Emile de Girardin of Paris, M. Bach of Durrnstadt, Professor Cleveland, of the United States, Richard Cobden, Esq., M.P. UNITED STATES. The English papers of Sep. 7, give intelligence from New York up to the 21st of August. There was nothing of importance, with the exception of an announcement that the differences between the United States and Portugal have been settled, Portugal consenting to pay in all cases except in that of the General Armstrong, and that is to be left to the arbitration of a disinterested power, probably Sweden. At Washington, the Senate having passed the Utah bill, the bill for establishing a territorial government in New Mexico, and the bill for admitting California into the Union, had taken up the Fugitive Slaves', the Territorial and Appropriation Bills, which were still being angrily debated, without any result. The South was much excited against the bill for the admission of California, and organising resolute opposition to it.in the house of Representatives. Texas continues her preparations for an armed defence of her boundary, and Indian excursions have been renewed on the frontier. CENTRAL AMERICA. The last account from the Isthmus of Panama represent the place as very sickly from the heavy rains. Numbers of persons were dying from scarcity of food, and the want of proper medical attendance. Another affray had taken place between the Indians and Americans, the latter having iired upon the former. The Indians afterwards armed themselves, and drove the Americans to a part of the town of Chagres enjtjrely occupied by them. There is no particular intelligence from Nicaragua. A small steamer had arrived at Greytown, and two more were shortly expected to commence plying on the river, and to carry out the Nicaraguan route to the Pacific. ■. A great number of workmen had arrived to work on the canals, which are to to be formed when the rapids are impassable. The intended road across the isthmus of Panama from the Navy bay, had been commenced by the American Company, hundreds -of labour-ers-having-■arrived to work there from Carthagena and the surrounding country. CALIFORNIA. Life and Pboi>erty at the Diggings.—By a _ gentleman who arrived from, the southern mines, we learn of several murders and other atrocities committed there, which develope a

very bad state of society. On' Friday night last two Americans were murdered in their tent at Jamestown, by some persons unknown. One of them was a Mr. Chase, of New Bedford, and the other a Mr. Hathaway, of Dighton, Massachusetts. The first had his throat cut from ear to ear,besides a stah in his breast; Mr. Hathaway was stabbed in the breast and neck in several places. The tent was robbed of about lOOfi dollars that were known to be in possession S the murdered men. On Wednesday evening! the 19th inst., a Frenchman, named Jean Fer3 rando, was shot by some person unknown, near • the Oregon Tent, about 12 miles above Stock-, ton. On Saturday last, on Wood's Creek, about one mile below Sonora, a Frenchman was shot in the head, and died the next day. On Saturday night last, at Columbus, in the New Diggings, a Chilian was shot by a Mr. John Brannan, in self-defence. The Chilian called upon Brannan for some ammunition ; he told . the applicant he had none to give then, but that if he would call the next day he would let him have some. The Chilian became enraged at the refusal, and as he reached the door, turned about and fired his gun at Brannan, and a man named Jackson Roark, who were standing together. They dodged unr er a table ; but Eoark's hand being up, one o£ his fingers received the bali. Brannan then ran to the door, but there being several around, he was at first unable to distinguish who fired, and while standing a moment, he received three stabs of a serious, but not fatal character. He then drew a pistol and shot the fellow down. An examination was had, and Brannan was justified in the act. A few days ago a Frenchman shot a Chilian in the streets of Sonora. A case happened, a day or two since, in the neighbourhood of Weavesville. A person demanded of a man, known as Dutch George, a debt in an insulting and threatening manner, but the latter, not feeling disposed to be threatened into a measure, made no response at all. Upon this the bully deliberately pulled out a pistol and shot him dead. An old man standing near, remonstrating with the scoundrel, was struck on the head with a weapon, and fired upon twice by the same villain. A reward of 1000 dollars has been offered by the citizens of the place for the apprehension of the murderer, — -Pacific Neivs. The loss of property at the great fire at San Francisco in June was estimated at 5,000,000 of dollars. Coal of good quality has been discovered a short distance from the city of San Francisco. A lump of gold had been brought to Englantf whose weight with quartz was 15}£ lbs. troy. It contains 9 lbs. of pure gold, and was intrinsically worth 400?.