English Extracts.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 394, 16 August 1856, Page 7

English Extracts.

FRANCE. (From the "Times" Correspondent.) j Paris, Tuesday, April 15th, 6 p.m. The Congress sat yesterday, and will sit again to-morrow it is said for the last time. If I am to believe the reports that fly about, the sitting of to-morrow will be less for business than for compliments and leavetaking, the last important sederunt having been held yesterday. Yet it may turn out that this last sitting will belike the post- , script to a letter, which is popularly supposed to contain the /eal" thoughts of the writer. Everything that has transpired during thejpresent week goes to corroborate, substantially, if not literally, the information I have already given of the acte of the Congress relative to the affairs of Italy. It is rather amusing, by the way, to see the papers, foreign and domestic, contradict each other in what they say of the proceedings of the Congress; and while each is declaring the impossibility of knowing anything of what passes, it gives its own account which it pronounces as exclusively to be relied on. A writer in the ' Constitu- | tionnel,' dating his communication from Vienna, has more than once affirmed that the question of Italy has never been mooted at all; he denies that any proposition has been submitted on it; and he will, in all probability, once more declare that the word "Italy " has not even been pronounced before the Congress. In contradiction to what he has already stated he has, however, admitted the existence of a Sardinian memorandum, he may even go further, and say that a memorandum may have privately— that is extra-officially —been communicated to'certain of the Plenipotentiaries, but that that the said memorandum has not formed the subject of deliberation ; and he will employ many plausible arguments to show that on the principle of non-intervention, France and England could not entertain the question. If the Congress separate without a strong and formal recommendation to the Italian Governments to remedy the evils of which the people complain. I fear they will soon have cause to repent it. It is certain that great hopes were entertained of something being done during the meeting of the Congress ; the people' of Italy had their eyes fixed on Paris. The Congress was the last hope of those who groan under a stupid regime, which is not rescued from contempt by independence, nor from destruction by a single virtuejjof bold-faced depotism ; and if, while we provide for the well-being of Turks and Moldo-Wallaehians, we abandon the fairest portion of Europe to its present degradation, it is not difficult to predict the consequences. .Discontent may be kept down for a while, but it will eventually show itself in an unmistakeable "form. The Italian people are cherishing their wrath, but

only to keep it warm : and if all satisfaction be denied '.hem the wild justice of revenge will not have to be waited for long. Austria may hope to interfere in the event of disturbances occurring in Naples,but it remains to be seen whether England and France will stand quietly by and see the whole Peninsula overrun by her troops.

Proclamation of the Peace in London.—On Tuesday evening, 29th April, her Majesty's Proclamation of Peace was read at various stations throughout the cities of London and Westminster. The grand naval review took place on April 23rd, in the presence of her Majesty, and the principal members of the Houses of Peers and Commons. The French Admiral and suite were also present. Treaty of Peace Ratified. —An address to her Majest.v, congratulating her on the terms of peace, was carried in the House of Lords. In the House of Commons the debate was adjourned to May 6th. The Governorship of Victoria.-^— Prior to the (assumed) acceptance of this appointment by the Marquis of Chandos, it was offered to Lord Courtenay and to Mr. Robert Lowe, M.P., for Kidderminster, and by them refused, as it had been previously by Lord Elgin and Lord Monck. The Wooli,Sales —which were in progress since 22nd April, brought a large attendance of buyers, the total quantity announced for the sale was 12,060 bales; large parcels of Australian wools were sold by private contract at an advance of 2d. to 3d. per lb. on the prices of last London sales. France.—The ' Moniteur ' publishes a decree ordering the reduction of 52,000 men in the effective strength of the army. The French journals contain no news of political interest. The Empress is restored to perfect health, and the Imperial Prince has been enrolled a member of the Imperial Guard, and orders have been given to receive him with the same military honours as his august parents. Both these proceedings have been much laughed at in the French capital. Russia.—An Imperial manifesto published at St. Petersburg announces that the coronation of the Emperor will take place at Moscow in August. The Treaty of Peace is published. The reduction in the fleet is effected. Three divisions will be stationed in the Baltic. The Pontus fleet will letain the denomination of the Fleet of the Black Sea. The Russians have commenced the evacuation of the fortresses of Remi and Ismail. The principal physicians of the army at Sirnpheropol are to be tried by court-mar-tial, for not having taken active measures for the welfare and medical treatment of the sick. The Italian Question. —Several of the leading French journals appear to be alarmed at thd consequences of seriously grappling with the Italian question. The " Parma Gazette " contradicts the statements that the Austrian General will exercise civil authority during the absence of the Duchess, and that the Austrian 'troops now quartered in the Duchy are to be augmented. It is stated that an amnesty will be granted at Naples, and the pending political prosecutions will be abandoned by the Government.

The sea-serpent is reported u> have appeared in "an inland fresh-water lake," in the parish of Lochs, Lewis (in the Highlands). It is said to be forty feet long, and to have swallowed a blanket, incautiously hung out to dry on the bank of the lake. The 'Uuivers' boasts that £oO sent by Muzzini'lou friend in Rome had been stopped ai the Post-office, and applied towards the fund for raising a statue to the immaculate Virgin. The 'Debats' and 'Siecle' denounce this act of robbery in mast indignant terras.