FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 184, 26 July 1859, Page 3

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

THE MEDITERRANEAN. [prom our own correspondent.]

Marseilles, Saturday, 8.30 p.m. Judging from personal observation, and from what can be gathered in conversation, I think the average number of men embarked daily from this port will be found to have been about 4000, irrespectively of horses, arms, and munitions of war, materiel of all sorts, food, waggons, and even wheel-barrows for earthworks. When the resources of the French navy are taken into consideration, the greatest credit is duo to the authorities for the promptitude, ease, and security with which they have effected the conveyance of such enormous masses of men, horses, and stores.. Nor has the movement been confined to Marseilles; Toulon lias had its fair share of the work, and from numerous small ports down along the coast, food for man and beast is now being shipped in considerable quantities, for one of the evils of the war being localised is tiiat the whole of the JFreuA army has to be led from Prance, and so it is believed has no insignificant portion of the Piedmontese troops. As long as the Allies are p'evmted from entering Loin hardy, all the supplies will have to come from France, or to be purchased with French money. It is therefore not at all improbable that feeding the army will he the most difficult and costly problem which the Emperor will have to solve. And it remains to he seen how the nation will relish being compelled to n;ake the heavy payments that will be required for that purpose, and for an object which many do not hea.tate to affirm, does not directly concern them. The recoiit education of Frenchmen in industrial and stock exchange transactions do not ren.kr them disposed to play the part of Don Quixote, cither collectively or individually. If the war could be made to support itself—if generals could be enriched with the plunder of the people they wer.t to liberate-r-aud, if Paris could l>e heaped with tho spoils of the nations they professed to remier independent, the feeling might be different. But. as tiiis is impossible, the prospect.of having to support the war, which may he both long and costly, has cooled down enthusiasm for Italian nationality. How far I may be. justified in saying it, time will show, but I think the war is not so popular among tho officers of tho army as it is represented to he. The reason or excuse for this subsidence of martial fervor will be obvious when it is remembered I hat most of tiie officers spring from the bourgeoisie, and that their pecuniary position in life ia dependent upon the prosperity of trade. The men that embark now appear to he chiefly furlough men and convalescents on their way to join the headquarters of their regiments. Two batteries of the iOdi Uegiment of Field Artillery embarked (o-day. A Russian screw frigate entered the harbor today, from Naples, and landed several members of the. Imperial family. She is a fine-looking vessel, currying nine guns on a broadside, besides, I am told, two large pivot guns. People here fancy that she is to otter her services to onvey troops to Genoa. But of course that is absurd, and 1 only mention the rumor to shew how I'o-ply rooted in the public mind is the belief of an intimate alliance with Russia, and of the right of France to count on her mareii il aid when requisite. Alongside the Russiau frigate, is a Fiench gunboat, and then comes a Spanish steam corvette, emblems of the triple alliance. The masters of several English merchant ships have applied from time to time to the authorities for Government freights to Genoa, and have been invariably refused, on the ground that during the Indian rebellion tho British Government and East India Company declined to engage French tonnage. The authorities also said that they did not want any foreign aid; the military and mercantile navies of France were quite sufficient for all her wants. But recently the case has altered, and application has been made, in several instances, to English chips for the conveyance of stores to Genoa. An American skipper was applied to the other day, and he declined the offer. The reason he gave for doing so vvaa highly creditable, lie was not satisfied in his own mind that the war was honest, conducive to freedom, and likely to benefit humanity; he therefore did not feel justified in lending his aid to its promotion. The following is the strength of the French fleet at Toulon :—ln Commission—The Biefngne, HO guns; the Ville de Paris, 120 guns; the Algcsira-, 100 guns; the Redoutable, 100 gurjs; the Napoleon, 90 guns; the Eylau, 90 guns; the Arcole, 90 guns; the Alexandra, D'>) guns; tho Fontenay, 90 guns; the Donawerth, 80 guns; and the Suffren, gunnery ship. The reserve is composed of the Montebello, 120 guns ; the Fsvi.lmnd, 120 guns; the Souverain,-120 guns; the Fieurus, 1.00 guns; the I'Tavarin, 100 guns; the Prince

Jerome, 100 guns; tho JVna, 00 guns ; the Char, lomagne, 90 guns; and the Dupeire, 82. I use tho term reserve, although the authorities declare the ships to be laid up in ordinary : for they aro moored stern on to the quay on which mo their gun 3, arranged in order and ticketed ready for shipment. Tho stores are all stowed away ready at hand, and the crews aro in Toulon, toady to bo marched on hoard. The Napoleon find Eyluu, accompanied by two steam frigates, have sailed for the Adriatic, under Admiral Juriea do Lagraviere.

While speaking of nautical matters, I have to correct an error in so mo of the French papers, Captain Foley, commanding her Majesty's gunboat Coquette, detached here from the Malta 6ta* tion, did not accompany the Reinc flortense farther than just outside, for he could have had no orders, seeing that no one knew that the Emperor was going before he left Paris. When Captain Folcy was informed of the Emperor's arrival, he manned his gig and went on hoard the Reino Hortense, and was present at the embnrcation of his Majesty, who appeared much gratilied at this piece of courtesy. So soon as the Emperor went below, Captain Foley returned to the Coquette, lying off the lighthouse, and as the Reine Hortense passed lie fired a Royal salute of 21 guns. The authorities and people here were highly pleased at this attention, which has produced a good effect on the-conduct of certain parties towards English residents in the town. Jieing one of those who have benefited, I trust Mr. Williams will not call for a statement of the cost of that salute, and take objection to the expenditure of so much of her' Majesty's gunpowder.— Times^ May 18.