THE CONGRESS.

Marlborough Press, Volume I, Issue 9, 2 March 1860, Page 3

THE CONGRESS.

England has agreed to the Congress being held in Paris, and most of the European powers coincide. The invitations to the Congress, it seems, have as yet only been issued to those states which took part in the Vienna Congress of 1814; that is to say, to the five great powers, and to Spain, Sweden, and Portugal. When these states have accepted the invitation, and when the Congress will be thus constituted, the three Italian States, Naples, Rome, and Sardinia, will be called upon to make their appearance at its table. —Illustrated Times. MOROCCO. Three Spanish army corps landed at Ceuta, on the coast of Morocco; but up to the present time they have been compelled to act purely on the defensive. The Moors have attacked them several times, with immense spirit. Whilst the loss is said to be large on the part of the Moors, the Spaniards allow themselves to have had 88 killed, 644 wounded, and 73 contused. The Emperor of Morocco, since the 15th of October, bad been at Mequinez, where the Imperial treasure, which is considered to be very large, is always located. Between that place and Rubat he had assembled 30,000 men. His advanced guard was at Ain-Haya, a strong position commanding the read. The Moors were busily occupied in throwing up entrenchments and con-.

gtructing batteries to protect the capital, which is fortified. In Spain, the war fever appears to suffer a relapse. The people are beginning to ask, why was this war undertaken, if it is to be carried on in this hazardous way; and there are suspicions as to the statements in the official gazettes. It appears also that the Government had promised all the documents connected with the expedition to Morocco should be laid before the Cortes; but when the time came that this should be done, prorogued the Cortes.

* ITALY. The arrangement for settling the affair of the Pro-Regency in Italy, which has been decided on, is this: —M. Buoncompagni takes the title of Governor-General of the league of the States of Central Italy; M. Ricasoli, remains President of the Provisional Government of Tuscany; and M. Farini Dictator of Parma, Modena, and Romagna united.— Home Neivs. AMERICA—SAN JUAN. General Scott has arrived in the Island of San Juan, and has superseded Harney, who is said to have left the place in much disgust. General Scott has been instructed to disavow, on the part of the Washington Government, the forcible act of General Harney, in taking possession of the island, and at the same time to declare that San Jnan should remain neutral property, as at was'before, and until a proper deliverance has been obtained on the question of right. The dispute, therefore, may be considered at an end, and it has lost all its bitterness and danger at present. The British naval force has been withdrawn, all but the steamer Satellite.— lllustrated Times.

FRANCE. The Government of France were led to determine that M. Billault should read the press a lesson ; and M. Billault accordingly addressed a circular to the journals of France, through the prefects of the several departments, warning against the use of unfriendly language towards an ally. This circular produced an instantaneous effect. Not only did the attacks on England at once cease, but several of the journals which had taken a prominent part in those attacks forthwith commenced a series of articles in praise of English institutions.

The French war in Morocco is completely over. In twenty days General de Martimprey chastised the tribes, took booty, exacted a ransom from the people cf Ouchda, and lost one-fifth of his effective force by sickness and disease. This is a pleasant prospect for the Spaniards. The French.army was to be reduced by the discharge of'warrant officers and men who may have completed forty months’ service.-;— Tlome News-

The dockyard authorities at Cherbourg have received orders to lay down the keels of two large transports for the conveyance of horses. They will have screw propellers, and are to be large enough to accommodate 300 horses and as many men. The severity of winter has had the effect of driving wolves out of their haunts in Normandy, and Rouen papers state their appearance at the very entrance of that great manufacturing city, attacking sheep, and giving battle to shepherds.— lllustrated London News.

M. de Lesseps is gone to Constantinople, where, it is said, the French Minister has been instructed to act with the Russian, in order to overcome British influence. Orders have also, it seems, been sent to Egypt to protect the interests of the Suez Canal Company, and, if possible, to set the works again in progress.— ld. By the Emperor’s orders all the expeditionary army to China will be paid in Mexican piastres, which alone are not liable to loss in exchange in China. The troops are to be provided with all the clothes necessary for the different climates. For the artillery, 1200 horses will be collected at Shanghai from India and Manilla. The troops will leave Brest and Toulon about the 15th December. The officers of the staff will not leave till the 15th January, as they go by overland route, and yet will arrive a month before the troops, during which interval they will have time to concert measures with the English staff and naval commanders. It is expected that the expedition will arrive at its destination in April, and begin the campaign at once. The Emperor has ordered that a half monthly mail shall be established between Canton and Toulon, via Suez, —News of the World.

A recent circular from the Director General of the “ Waters and Forests ” calls upon his subordinates to forward him accurate and minute information respecting the various rivers, water-courses, canals, lakes, springs, fish, &c., under their superintendence, with a view to give great extention to the practice of pisciculture. They are to state whether the present regulations are favourable or not to the increase of fish ; to indicate the streams frequented by salmon, trout, &c., and also which streams they prefer, and which they do not visit at all; what species have disappeared or diminished;

what causes affect the production of fish, &c —ld.

The French negotiations with the authorities of Cochin China were broken off on the 7th September, and it was advisable before the rainy season to secure |the tranquillity of the position which they occupied on the river. At daybreak on the 15th September the columns reached the enemy’s works, and rushed forward to scale them with cries of “ Vive L’Empereur,” under a warm fire of artillery and musketry. The enemy had increased the number of obstacles to oppose us; double ditches had been dug with spikes of bamboo placed ,at their edges, a number of deep holes slightly covered over had been dug, and chcvaux de frisc placed in .every direction. Nothing, however, could stop the enthusiasm of the troops, and all the enemy’s lines were speedily carried. Their defenders took to flight, and fell under the bayonet, or the balls from the carbines. When once the enemy’s positions were in the power of the French, Captain Lacour commenced the work of destroying the artillery ; forty large guns were burst by loading them to the muzzle. Many of them were of admirable workmanship, and had been but recently cast at Hece. The different parts of the works were then set fire to, and their perfect ruin completed. The French loss was ten killed and forty wounded.

AUSTRIA

The Austrian Government is represented as deliberating on the question —Shall the state of seige be proclaimed in Hungary ? Large bodies of troops have been quietly moved in that direction. And well may Austria feel alarmed. Hungary is alive with political excitement, and has witnessed, within the last few weeks, several popular demonstrations of a very remarkable kind. The Austrian Government have intensified the law of the press, holding it an offence to publish, even in the character of a rumour, information such as only can have been derived from an official source, and that whether the information be true or false, if it have a tendency to bring official personages into ridicule, or to throw any slur upon government, its publication shall be criminal.

SARDINIA

The confidence in Piedmont is clearly evinced by the result of its appeals for a loan of a hundred million francs, four hundred million having been offered in all by different Italian eities.

CHINA AND JAPAN

Our relations with the Chinese at various parts continue as before, and there have been no fresh disturbances at Shanghai. An unusual feeling, however, appears to exist, and foreigners can no longer go into the country with safety as heretofore. At late advices his Excellency remained at Shanghai. Admiral Hope arrived at Hongkong on the 9th October, quite recovered of his wounds.

In Japan, matters are on a very unsatisfactory footing, and the Government throw all sorts of obstacles in the way of a friendly settlement according to treaty. The murder of a Russian officer and sailor has brought about the dismissal of the Governor of Kanagawa.