SPAIN.—There is nothing in the Spanish news of the slightest importance.   It was currently rumoured on the 19th that government had finally decided on the dissolution of the Cortes and that a change of minsters was at hand, the Moderados themselves being heartily sick of Gonazales BRAVO, whose tenure pointed out on all hands as his successor.  Prim Remains in Catalonia, but had resigned his command to General BLANCO.  The Gazette contains the official report of the surrender of FIGNERAS.

 

FRANCE.—The debate on the address in the French Chamber occupied the whole of last week, and was expected to close on Saturday.   It has continued throughout favourable to the government, every attempt of opposition to make a stand against M. GUIZOT having been defeated.   M. BILLAULT'S amendment, which had for its object to create an impression that there was not a cordial understanding between France and England was rejected on Monday without a division.   The bold determination expressed my M. GUIZOT to stake his tenure of office on the maintenance of the English alliance as the basis of European tranquility, took the adverse party so completely by surprise that they dared not venture to take a vote.   Had they done so, it is reckoned that Ministers would have been in a majority of forty.  The paragraph discussed on Tuesday was on the Right of Search.   Here again Ministers were successful, for upon M. GUIZOT'S stating that the British Government had consented to some modification of the obnoxious treaties, M. BILLAULT'S amendment that they be abolished altogether, was withdrawn.  On Wednesday, the subjects that came under discussion were the French treaties of commerce with the United States and the South American Republic, the conduct of government at Mount Video, the construction of railroads and the liberty of education.   Beside M. GUIZOT, the ministers of the Marine, of Public Work, of Finance, and of Public Institution, took part in the debate.  M. GUIZOT announced that negotiations were still going on with the United States relative to the tariff which had weighed so heavily on the commerce of England and France, but added that with the Congress he could not hold out hopes of the success of these negotiations; and it was not likely that any treaty would be concluded before the passing of the Customs Bill.   Negotiations were in progress for the settlement of the Guiana boundary, and pressing demands had been made for reparation for injuries inflicted on French commerce.   Should the last representation prove ineffectual M. GUIZOT promised to resort to force.  Admiral MACKAN declared that the war at Monte Video was nearly at an end; and that France should soon reap the benefit of her policy in that quarter.  In the course of a brief discussion on railroads the minister of public works declined, albeit hardly pressed, to communicate to the Chamber the intentions of the government; but it was generally understood that the government meant to execute the several proposed new lines without the intervention of private companies.   On Thursday the discussion on the seventh clause was continued, and the clause was ultimately  adopted.  On the whole the government appears fully to have settled the question of its stability.   Whilst they have not lost a single vote, they have made several converts from M. DUFAURE'S section.  M. de LAMARTINE proposes to remain neuter, and although strongly pressed to speak on the paragraph condemnatory of the Legitimists, he has declined so to do, and has also refused to join the Mole-Thiers coalition.   The Moniteru publishes the returns of the principal articles of merchandise imported into France during the month of December last, the duties on which amounted to 11,538,000 francs, or 1,017,000 les than in 1842, and 194,000 less than in 1841.   There is, however, in the proceeds of the year a comparatively large improvement, the receipts of 1843 having been 143,054,703 francs; those of 1841, 129,679,125; and those of 1842, 137,434,593.   The importation of flaxen and hempen threads and linens was fast recovering, not withstanding the elevation in the tariff and rising to the importance it had acquired in 1841.   In December last the former amounted to 9,582 metrical quintals, and the linens to 3,315.

 

GREECE.—By the Levant packet, a summary of the projected constitution of Greece has been received, draw up by the committee to whom the tack was entrusted.   The following are the principal articles, which were brought under discussion forthwith in the national assembly:—The dominant religion of Greece is that of the orthodox church of the east.   The Greek church, in all spiritual matters and dogmas, is united to the Christian church of Constantinople; in civil matters, it is independent, and governed by a synod.   There is, nevertheless, freedom in Greece for all religious persuasions.  All citizens are equal before the law.  Individual liberty is inviolable. The slave trade is prohibited.   A slave of any nation is free on setting foot on the soil of Greece.  There is liberty of the press, and the censorship is not permitted under any pretext.   There are three powers,—the king, the senate, and the chamber of representatives.   The person of the king is inviolable—the ministers alone are responsible.   The King appoints the ministry, commands the armies, declares war, makes treaties, sanctions and publishes the laws, and prorogues and dissolves the chambers.   The crown is hereditary, and passes to the descendants of King OTHO, from male to male, to the absolute exclusion of females and their descendants.  In default of heirs of King OTHO, the crown descendants to his brother, Prince LEOPOLD.  The king's majority to be fixed at the age of eighteen years.

 

 

AMERICA.—Liverpool, Monday.—The American ship Ohio, Captain LYON , sailing from New York, on the 6th ultimo, arrived at Liverpool on Monday morning, with intelligence from that city two days later than before.   The news of the arrival is not of much importance.   In the senate, on the 29th ultimo, Mr. ALLEN brought forward a number of petitions and memorials, signed by the citizens of Ohio, including whole brigades of militia, asking the immediate occupation of the Oregon territory.   General THOMPSON, United States minister at Mexico, had resigned, but no person had been named as his successor.  It is stated that the President intended to nominate Mr. SPENCER as justice of the Supreme Court, vacant by the death of Judge THOMPSON.  The interest in the repeal question was again reviving.   A meeting of the Irish inhabitants was held in New York, on the 3rd ultimo; being on, the Herald states, of a series of simultaneous meetings, which were to be held the same evening throughout the union.   Avery brutal murder of a woman and her infant child had been committed at Staten, Island, New York, by a woman named BODINE, and her paramour WAITE, both of whom were in custody.  The woman (BODINE) it is believed she willfully suffocated, as it was found dead beside her with marks of violence.

 

 

NEW ZEALAND.—We have files of New Zealand papers of the 21st of September, brought by the brig Nelson , from which vessel they were put ashore at Dover.  There is nothing of much interest in further illustration of the unfortunate affair of Cloudy Bay.  Of the four persons previously reported missing, one had returned, and the body of another had been found in the bush, and two remain unaccounted for.   Nor formal account is given of the proceedings of Major RICHMOND with the military force at Walrau, but it was understood that he would make no retaliatory aggression upon the aboriginal tribes, and that nothing definitive would be done in the matter until the arrival of the new governor, Captain FITZROY, who is fully instructed by the Home Government, as far as such general instructions can be rendered available, to meet the contingent events.  There has been a meeting of the inhabitants of Port Wellington, at which strong resolutions were passed, censuring the conduct of the police magistrate, Mr. DONAGHAN, and expressive of their sympathy for the people of Nelson who had lost their relatives and connections.  The Nelson brig brings a full cargo of flax, oil, and whalebone, and considerable expectations are formed of their being able to supply the first of these articles in greatly increased quantity, if it is found to suit the home market.    The aborigines are employed in considerable numbers in its production and collection, and the present cargo is much better prepared than any of the flax previously sent home.   Their perseverance in its culture will depend much upon the report which may be sent back respecting the value of the present cargo, and the prospect it may offer for a future market.