FOREIGN NEWS.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 73, 11 April 1843, Page 3

FOREIGN NEWS.

FRANCE

The Paris journals contain reports of a great meeting of the delegates from the towns and cities of France, in opposition to the proposed union of the French, and Belgian customs. Their observations are not, however, important, but we collect from the Journal des Debats new proof that the King has not relinquished the intention of carrying the project. “Everyday,” says the Journal des Debats, “ brings new manifestations in favour of the Belgian union. The merchants and vine growers of Bordeaux have addressed a letter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, repudiating all connection with the adversaries of the union. The Chamber of Commerce of Lyons adopted, on the 3d instant, a resolution in favonr of the union. We did not expect less from the manufacturers of Lyons.” The Gazette des Tribunaux states that between the Ist of November, 1841, and the Ist of the present month, there have been declared 649 bankruptcies, amongst which were 66 joint stock companies. Amongst the bankruptcies 104 have been convicted of fraud : and within the same period eight bankrupts of former years have had their names removed from the list of bankrupts, having paid all their debts with interest.

The. Minister of Commerce and Agriculture has purchased the racing stud of the .late Duke of Orleans at Murdon for 550,000 f., for which a special credit will be demanded of the Chambers. “ By this means,” observes the Commerce, “ an establishment, which was formerly maintained at the expense of the Prince Royal will now be kept up by the State.” The Journal des Debats states, “ that the works of the railroad from Paris to Belgium,

contracted for on Monday, will cost 1,1‘22,000f., of which 400,000 f., will be expended on embankments, the remainder on works of art. Messrs. Sherwood, who were declared the contractors, are the same who constructed the

railroad from London to Croydon, under the direction of Mr. Gibbs, the engineer. This is the second instance of English contractors who, after having constructed railroads in their own country, come to France to execute ours. This is a considerable advantage to this country, as the English system in many respects is much superior to ours, particularly with respect to embankments,” La Presse confirms the statement of the Toulonnais respecting the reduction ordered to be made in the French navy. La Presse approves the measure, and observes, “ that there exists in France an unfortunate propensity to increase unnecessarily the military establishments of the country. . Thanks to this tendency an immense effective is every year maintained, to the great injury of our finances and to our agricultural pursuits.” Our private letters state, and are borne out by the Ministerial papers, that although the idea of a Customs’ union between France and Belgium had, for the moment, been abandened, the King was resolved that it should be resumed, and the measure carried.

The Havre Journal states, that the works for the salvage of the Telemaque were progressing rapidly, and would he shortly crowned with complete success. It was expected that the vessel, which was then lifted to within a foot of the surface of the water, would be definitely raised on Thursday, when it would be immediately unloaded. The bulk of the vessel could already he distinctly seen from the hank of the river.

GERMANY. The Cologne Gazette contains a report that the Grand Duchess Olga, daughter of the Emperor of Russia, was to he united to the Prince of Hesse. “It is probably,” adds this journal, “ this branch of the house of Hesse, which has the prospective of occupying some day the throne of Denmark.” This Princess is the lady fixed upon some months since by the Morning Herald as the spouse of the Duke of Bordeaux, Henry Cinq. We learn from Berlin, in letters of the 30th ult., that the Assembly of the Provincial States by a majority of 90 against 8, decided in favour of the project to establish a universal system of railroads in Prussia, to connect all the provinces of the monarchy together. Turkey. —A letter from a correspondent at Constantinople, dated the 19th ult., announces the extraordinary fact that. Ibrahim Pasha was hourly expected at Constantinople, in company with the ex-Capudan Pasha (Ahmed), whose pardon had been obtained through the intercession of Mehemet Ali.

We have received by our express from Paris, letters from our private correspondent in Constantinople, dated the 17th ult. It states that 'M. Boutenieff, the Russian Ambassador there, had withdrawn all opposition to the confirmation of the new sovereign in Servia; reserving, however, his decision until his own Government should have expressed its opinion,. The Divan had appointed Emir Effendi to proceed to Servia to withdraw the decoration from Prince Michael and to invest Prince Alexander with it. M. Boutenieff had obtained one great advantage by the dismissal of Prince Ghike from the Government of Wallachia. Notwithstanding the Ramazan, several councils had been held by the Ministry, and business continued to be transacted. Mustapha Pasha, governor of Candia, had been permitted by the Sultan to return to that island, and a steam-boat had been ordered for his conveyance. Some injury had been sustained in the Black Sea by a hurricane on the 9th ult. Algiers. —The Toulonnais of the 6th inst.. brings us intelligence from Algiers of the 28th ult. The mayor of that city, Baron Hubert, had been superseded in that post by M. Des Foisins, the civil commissioner, hut the cause of his removal is not given. On the arrival of the Duke D’Aumale, who was shortly expected, an expedition was to be placed under the command of that prince, with direction to take possession of Tenez, a small town situate on the coast between Cherchel and Mostaganem, which, it was believed, would be obstinately defended by its inhabitants and the neighbouring tribes. Colonel Lelievre, so celebrated for his heroic defence of Mazagram, had been placed on half pay.