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THE GARDENERS CHRONICLE. 
[Jan. 14, 
to protect the legitimate interests of France. The 
speech touches lightly on the occupation of the Marquesas 
Islands, and on the negotiations now in progress for 
improving the trade and industry of the kingdom by com- 
mercial treaties with Foreign Powers. The question of 
the Right of Search is not mentioned, but it is said to be 
the main point upon which the Opposition will make their 
attack on Ministers in the debate on the Address—From 
Spain we have accounts of the return of the Regent to 
Madrid, and of the dissolution of the Cortes. The 
Regent’s reception by the people was. cold, and little 
enthusiasm was manifested by the troops or National 
Guards, The dissolution of the Cortes was not un- 
expected, as it had become evident that the Ministry could 
not hold office while the Chambers remained so hostile 
to its measures. The new Cortes will not assemble until 
the 3d of April.—From Lisbon we learn that the Portu- 
guese Cortes were opened on the 2d by the Queen in 
person. The speech mentions with satisfaction the arrival 
* of the Ambassadors of the Great Powers of the North, and 
the anxiety of the Government to give additional develop- 
ment to its foreign relations by means of treaties of com- 
merce and navigation. The necessity of equalising the 
receipts and expenditure of the State is again adverted 
to, and the negotiations with the Pope are described 
g towards a fi ble settlement.—From 
the United States we have no political news, public 
attention being exclusively absorbed by the details 
ofan attempted mutiny on board one of the ships of the 
American Navy. The object of the conspiracy was to 
convert the ship into a piratical cruiser, and intercept all 
vessels passing between Europe and New York. It was 
headed by the son of the Secretary at War, who was sum- 
marily tried and hung at the yard-arm as soon as the 
conspiracy was discovered, Ifit had succeeded, the packet- 
ships from London and Liverpool might for some time 
have been the scenes of fearful atrocities. The accounts 
from Canada describe the health of Sir Charles Bagot as 
much worse, and give slight hopes of his Excellency’s 
recovery. 
ome Nets. 
Courr.—Her Majesty, Prince Albert, and the Princess 
Royal continue at Claremont, and are quite well. The Prince 
of Wales is at Windsor Castle, and is still suffering from the 
effects of teething, but in other respects is in good health. 
During the week her Majesty and Prince Albert have 
taken their usual walks in Claremont-park, and the Prince 
has shot over the preserves at Ox-shott Common and at 
Stoke whenever the weather has permitted... The Court is 
expected to return to Windsor on Monday next; 
Parliamentary Movements.—A cireular has been sent 
by Sir. R. Peel to all the supporters of his Government, 
informing them that the meeting of Parliament having 
been fixed for Thursday, the 2d of February, public busi- 
ness of importance will be brought forward without delay, 
and expressing an earnest hope that it may be consistent 
with their i to bein attend at the opening 
of the session.—A rumour has been current during the 
week that Mr. Barnard is about to retire from the repre- 
sentation of Greenwich, but there is no foundation for the 
report, and Mr. Barnard has given it an unqualified con- 
tradiction.—The election for North Shropshire will take 
place on Monday; the only candidate is Viscount Clive, 
who will be returned without opposition. 
National Debt.—The Lords of the Treasury having 
certified to the C issi ‘or the Reduction of the 
National Debt that the actual expenditure of the United 
Kingdom exceeded the actual revenue for the year ended 
the 10th October last by the sum of 2,523,823. 13s. 11d., 
the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National 
Debt have given notice that no sum will be applied by 
them on account of the Sinking Fund, under the provi- 
sions of the Act, between the 7th Jan. and the 5th April 
in the present year. 
fforeiqn. 
France.—The opening of the Session of the French 
Chambers, to which the political circles have for some time 
looked forward with unusual interest, took place on Mon. 
day with a speech from the throne. The streets were 
lined with troops, who loudly cheered his Majesty in his 
Rie ess from the Tuileries. The King was accompanied 
y the Queen, the Princess Clementine, Mademoiselle 
Adelaide, the Duke de Nemours, and the Duke de Mont- 
pensier. The Chamber was very fully attended*by Peers 
and Deputies, and by all the members of the Corps Diplo- 
loud and repeated cries of « Vive le Roi.” The King seemed 
and after a few minutes’ pause delivered 
: es 
Behave waned my cobtge/ GR of Seah 
ing from grief, but full of confidence in your devotedness 
in calling you myself together to resume the course ef your 
labours, I wished to conclude to-day what my grief had 
compelled me to leave incomplete at the pening of your 
session. You have already achieved much for the security 
and future prosperity of France; I thank you in her 
name. Whatever may be our trials, I and my family will 
devote to her service whatever strength and life the 
Almighty shall grant us. Thanks to the maintenance of 
public order and peace, the national prosperity, attested 
by the rapid increase in the public revenue, manifests 
itself beyond our most sanguine hopes. The solid empire 
of the laws is the best security for the well-being of all, as 
it is for the power of the state; and the conviction every- 
where established, that the laws will be religiously ex- 
ous hearts.’’—The official Moniteur states that the Hon. 
Capt. Grey has arrived at Toulon, in H. M.’s frigate Bel- 
videra, to convey to Vice-Admiral Baron Hugon the ex- 
pression of the gratitude of Admiral Sir E. Owen, 
C der-in-Chief of the British naval forces in the 
7 
ecuted, renders less frequent the enforcement of their 
penalties. I congratulate myself on our having obtained 
those happy results. I feel confident that our prosperity 
will pursue its course without either interruption or 
obstacle. My relations with foreign Powers continue to 
be pacific and amicable. The good harmony prevail- 
ing amongst the Powers has strengthened the repose 
of the East, and procured in Syria for the Christian 
populati the blist of an dmini i 
conformable to their religious faith and their wishes. 
I deplore the disturbances which have recently agitated 
Spain. In my relations with the Spanish monarchy my 
sole object has been to protect our legitimate interests, to 
preserve for Queen Isabella II. a faithful amity, and to 
testify for the rights of humanity that respect and protec- 
tion which honour the name of France. By the occupa- 
tion of the Marquesas Islands I have secured to our navi- 
gators in those distant seas a protection and refuge, of 
which the necessity had been long felt. Thanks to the 
persevering efforts of our brave army, our dominion in 
Algeria becomes everywhere stable and respected. The 
vigilance and regularity of the administration will complete 
the work so gloriously prosecuted by the courage of our 
soldiers. I have opened with several states negotiations 
which will have the effect of imparting to our agriculture, 
our and f; more active develop- 
ment, and to procure for our national interests additional 
facilities. Laws of finance, and various bills intended to 
introduce into our legislation and administration important 
improvements, shall be immediately presented to you. 
Gentlemen, the world is at peace! France is free, active, 
and happy! My object has been, and ever shall be, until 
my last breath, to secure those blessings for my country. 
It is with your constant and loyal co-operation that I 
have succeeded. You will aid me in maintaining and 
in consummating the work which we have commenced in 
common. This will be for all the most worthy recom- 
pense: and for me the only consolation that I can here- 
after hope for.’” The paragraph referring to the Spanish 
question was slightly applauded, but the cheering was 
more animated at the conclusion. The King looked well, 
but seemed to have a cough, which impeded his free reading 
of the discourse. His voice faltered at the first and last 
paragraphs, but by an effort he regained his composure. 
After the usual forms, the Minister of the Interior 
declared the session opened, and the King retired amidst 
the accl ions of the The Chambers have 
since been occupied with the usual routine business. In 
the formation of the bureaux, or monthly standing com- 
mittees, the Ministers have obtained a signal triumph, not 
only over the Opposition, but over the party of Count 
Molé. Only one member of Opposition, M. Barrot, has 
been appointed ; all the others are of M. Guizot’s opinions. 
The Sugar Bill and the Budget were then presented.—We 
learn that the King has made a proposition to sell 
Versailles to the state for 18,000,000f., stipulating to 
employ the money, and more than the money, in 
the completion of the Louvre, which will require, it 
is! said, a million sterling. —The opening of the 
Chambers is of course an event of so much importance 
that it occupies almost exclusively the attention of 
the Journals. The affairs of England, however, and 
particularly the retreat from Affghanistan, afford them 
additional matter for comment. They contrast the 
state of the public revenue in Great Britain with 
that of France, and observe, that whilst the former 
shows an alarming deficit, the latter has improved during 
the year 1842 to the amount of 60,000,000f. In regard 
to Indian news, they all unanimously declare that the eva- 
Mediterranean, for efficient assistance given on the 30th 
November last, to her Majesty’s ship-of-the-line Formida- 
ble, by the vessels of the French station at Barcelona. 
Spatn.—We have accounts from Madrid to the 4th 
inst., bringing the important intelligence of the dissolution 
of the Cortes, and of the return of the Regent from Bar- 
celona. The Regent entered the capital on horseback on 
the Ist, accompanied by the civil and military authorities, 
who had gone out to meet him. The assemblage of people 
was very numerous, and the staff extremely brilliant. 
Among the latter were Generals Rodil, Grases, Ferraz, 
Iriarte, and many others. Two squadrons of the cavalry 
of the National Guard constituted the escort of the Regent, 
who proceeded straight to the palace of the Queen. The 
troops afterwards defiled before her Majesty and the Re- 
gent, who had taken their station on one of the balconies 
of the palace. At 3 o’clock, the Regent, who was suffer- 
ing from fatigue and indisposition, repaired to his resi- 
dence of Buena Vista. His reception by the people was 
cold, and little or no enthusiasm was manifested by the 
troops or national guards. In the evening, the city was 
but partially illuminated. At 4 o’clock, the members of 
the new municipality took the oath of office in presence of 
the Political Chief, by whom they were formally installed. 
In regard to the progress of the Regent through the dif- 
ferent towns on his line of march, his reception appears 
to have been everywhere satisfactory. In every town and 
village he passed through, the corporations, provincial de- 
putations, national guards, and even the clergy, vied in 
demonstrations of respect and adhesion to his regency and 
government. He was waited upon on his arrival in the 
confines of’ Valencia by the Political Chief and the pro- 
vincial deputation. At Almanaza he took his seat in a 
carriage, drawn by six mules richly harnessed, which cons 
veyed him to Valencia, escorted by the National Guard. 
He entered the city under a triumphal arch, and proceeded 
to the hotel prepared for his reception, amidst two lines 
of National Guards, and saluted by the enthusiastic accla- 
mations of the multitude. A telegraphic despatch from 
Barcelona, dated the 2d inst., announces that General 
Seoane, on the 29th, annulled the division of the forced 
war contribution which had been made by the municipality, 
because it weighed too heavily on the Moderadoes, who 
were not engaged in the outbreak. The commercial classes 
are to pay one-half, and the tax-payers the remainder, 
The first payment was to be made on the 5th inst. The 
decree of the Regent dissolving the Cortes is dated on 
the 3d; it announces that the new Cortes will be convoked 
on the 3d April. The projected treaty of commerce with 
England still excites great interest in Barcelona and in 
Madrid. Jn the latter city the editors of the Opposition 
papers drew up and signed on the 3d a strong declaration 
against the conclusion of the treaty. 
PortucaL.—We have advices from Lisbon to the 2d 
inst. The new year was ushered in with the opening of 
the Chambers, and the recommencement of the legisla- 
tive business of the kingdom. Her Majesty opened the 
Cortes in person, with the following speech from the 
throne :—'* Honourable Peers of the Kingdom, and De- 
puties of the Portuguese Nation—It is always an object 
of high satisfaction to me to see the representatives of 
the nation united in this respectable place. I congratu- 
late myself with you on this solemn act, and trust that, 
animated with the most decided desires to employ all 
your solicitude in the h ble effort to lidate the 
representative system, you will adopt for this purpose all 
the means and provisions that your wisdom may suggest. 
With the arrival at this court of the ministers of Austria 
and Prussia, and with that which has lately taken place of 
cuation of Affghanistan, or rather the mode of 
is more disgraceful to the English name and to English 
honour, than any event of the present century, The 
Ministerial Journal des Debals contrasts the conduct of 
Gen. Pollock with that of the French generals in Algeria, 
who have, it states, the consoling expectation that, by 
adopting measures of extreme rigour, they are rescuing 
the country from barbarism, and laying the foundation of 
future civilization, while Gen. Pollock has had no other 
object than the gratification of mere revenge. ‘‘ What,” 
it asks, ‘‘ had Jellalabad done to deserve the fate it suf- 
fered, a city which opened its gates to Sir R. Sale and 
the rey ive of his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of 
Russia, the diplomatic relations of this country with the 
great powers of the north are completely restored; and 
I have the satisfaction of being able to communicate to 
you, that I continue to receive from all the friendly and 
allied nations the most decided proofs of friendship and 
harmony, My government seeks with anxiety to main- 
tain these political relations, and to give greater develop- 
ment to the commercial ones, by means of treaties of 
commerce and navigation, with which it is unceasingly 
occupied, I trust that it will not be long ere the oppor- 
tune Occasion arrives to make known to you the result of 
= 
gave him provisions? Near 100,000 inhab have 
thus been left without habitations in a climate almost as 
cold as that of Russia. It is frightful !—but what is most 
odious is, that the English have avenged themselves upon 
the inhabitants of the towns, instead of doing so on the 
tribes who destroyed Gen. Elphinstone’s army in 1841. 
In Affghanistan, as well as in Algeria, the warlike part of 
the population is that which wanders with its flocks in 
Search of pasture. The towns are only inhabited by Jews, 
Armenians, Hindoos, Cashmeerians, Tadjiks, slaves, mer- 
chants—that is, by strangers and peaceable people, who 
have never taken up a gun since the beginning of the war. 
These are the people who are to support the weight of the 
revenge of the English. Those whom they ought to have 
pursued were the Ghilzies, the Afridis, the Channaris, the 
Mohmeuds, the Othman Kails—all those whom General 
Pollock has taken care not to go and seek in their moun- 
tains, General Pollock has done what a French general 
would do, who, having to punish a revolt of the Flittas, 
or the Beni-Amer, would go and burn Mostaganem or 
Mascara. He has committed inexcusable cruelties. 
Public opinion, however, has already pronounced itself in 
India against these excesses; and we do not doubt that in 
England also, they will raise the indignation of all gener- 
e 1 between my government and that of his 
Holiness ; and that, without any breach of the preroga- 
tives of the Crown, the necessities of the Lusitanian 
Church may be attended to. The budget for the future 
economical year will be presented so you, and I ought 
especially to call your attention to the urgent necessity of 
equalizing the receipts and expenditure of the state. 
My Ministers will give you an account of the measures 
which they judged urgent to adopt in the absence of the 
legislative body, and will present to you the proposals 
which experi suggests respecting the different branches 
of the public service.’ The arrival of the Suffren 
French line-of-battle ship, and the reports that other 
vessels were ordered there, had excited suspicions that 
the French Government had some sinister designs to 
carry into effect at Lisbon, which were increased by the 
absence of all explanation on the part of the French 
Minister there. The Rodney British line-of-battle ship 
arrived at Lisbon on the 26th ult., and was expected to 
remain there for the present. The negociations still con- 
tinued on the tariff question, without anything further 
having been settled. 
Brxierum.—The Government papers have published a 
Royal ordonnance, dated 6th January, approving the 
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