has, in a case of the utmost importance to the
general weliare of this colony, grossly misrepresented a
series of facts of public notoriety, traduced the character
of a large majority of the colonists of all classes and in
all parts of the territory, and betrayed the interests of
the colony into the hands of its enemies."

The papers also contain reports of the great debate in
the Legislative Council, which ended on the 21st of
August, on Dr. Lang's own motion inviting inquiry
into the charges preferred against him by the Secretary
of State for the Colonies. The Council unanimously
resolved, that there were "foundations for the charges,"
and particularly for the one which accused Dr. Lang of
pledging the duplicates of land-orders representing land
of which he was only the trustee—the said pledging
"was a fraud upon his cestui que trusts, and highly
discreditable."

The Hobart Town papers describe, what some of them
declare to have been, an attempt to escape to California
by Mr. Smith O'Brien. So far as they agree, they state
that a rowing-boat approached a sandy cove; that Mr.
O'Brien ran up to his waist to get to it; that a soldier
rushed and knocked a hole in the bottom of the boat
with his gun, and so took possession of Mr. O'Brien
and the men. But the different accounts are at variance
with each other; and it seems agreed by all that the
Government has made no difference in the treatment of
Mr. O'Brien.

PROGRESS OF EMIGRATION AND COLONISATION.

A meeting of the Colonist Society was held at the
rooms of the Canterbury Association on the 4th inst., to
promote arrangements for the simultaneous departure
of the next or main body of the Canterbury colonists.
Captain Simeon presided and gave the necessary explations.
'The main body of the substantial colonists will
sail the first week in next June in a fleet of ships; but
in the mean time there will be no intermission of the
arrangements for pouring out a constant stream of
labouring emigrants. The Rev. Dr. Rowley, who is
going out to the colony as "head of the chapter," read
a correspondence between the society and the association
on the subject of the coming departure, and also
on a proposal to give the colonists some additional
facilities in dealing with the grants of land which they
buy in this country.

NARRATIVE OF FOREIGN EVENTS.

PENDING the new "Congress of Vienna" which is about to be held under the name of the "Conferences
of Dresden," the interest of Continental politics is almost wholly suspended. France is so marvellously
quiet, that there is nothing better worth mention than the fact of M. de Montalembert's introduction of a
bill against the desecration of the Sabbath, founded doubtless on the principle which he naïvely expressed
in his report, namely, that though the State is not strong enough to govern the Church, the Church is
abundantly so to govern the State. And Prince Schwarzenberg has found himself with so little to do, that
he has been publishing his correspondence with Lord Palmerston in the matter of hangman Haynau's
mustachios, and the damage they received at Messrs. Barclay and Perkins's brewery. From these
documents it would seem that, because the English Government refused to institute any inquiry into the
details of this alleged outrage other than by the usual forms and processes of English law, the Austrian
Government "reserves to itself the right to consider, in a similar case, whether it should or should not act
reciprocally towards a British subject in Austria." We transcribe the warning, for the benefit of British
tourists, especially such as may not think Haynau a hero.

The anniversary of the election of the President of
the French Republic, the 10th instant, was celebrated
in Paris by a splendid fête. The Prefect of the Seine
was the nominal host; and besides the chief guest, there
were gathered round him, in the Hôtel de Ville, ministers,
ambassadors, and distinguished politicians, nearly
two hundred. The programme prescribed the single
toast "To the President of the Republic," and relied on
a calculated spontaneity for the President's complimentary
return of a toast "To the City of Paris."
M. Berger, the Prefect of the Seine, in proposing the
toast, congratulated his hearers on the fact that now
the noise alone of its fêtes interrupts the laborious calm
of the Hotel de Ville; and then ascribed it to the
President Napoleon's efforts and devotedness, that
citizens were at length permitted to set aside all the
interests of politics and speak of the interests of Paris
only. The President replied in a dexterous speech
which was well received. One passage in it, however,
gave rise to much comment: "To tell me," he said,
"that France has beheld her prosperity increase during
the last two years, is to address to me the eulogium
which touches me the most. At present I am happy to
be able to admit that calm has returned to men's minds;
that the dangers which existed two years back have
disappeared; and that, notwithstanding the uncertainty
of matters, a future is reckoned on, because it is felt
that if modifications are to take place, they will be
accomplished without trouble." After the banquet, the
magnificent salons of the Hôtel de Ville, which are
unique in Europe, were thrown open to between five
and six thousand guests. Bands of music were stationed
in the Salle des Fêtes, the Salle du Trône, and the great
ball-room; and the dancing was kept up with great
spirit till four o'clock in the morning.

General Schramm, the Minister of War, has demanded
an extraordinary credit of 3,218,501 francs, for the
expenses during the first six months of 1851 of the
army of occupation in Rome. He stated, that it was
impossible as yet to predict the precise moment when
the presence of the French troops may be dispensed
with.

A Bill has been introduced into the Assembly by
M. de Montalembert, for the better observance of the
Sabbath.

A Bill introduced into the National Assembly by the
Minister of War, for an extraordinary credit of eight
millions and a half of francs to meet the expenses of the
levy of 40,000 men which is to compose the army of
reserve on the north-eastern frontier of France, was
referred to a committee, who made a report, drawn up
by M. Remusat, proposing that the Bill should be
adopted, but at the same time proposing that the
Assembly shall adopt a resolution declaring its convictions
that in the questions which divide Germany at
this moment, the policy of neutrality, such as is expressed
and defined in the Message of the President of the
Republic, is the only policy suitable to France. On
the report being made to the Assembly, the proposition
was adopted without any debate.

The affairs of Germany have been greatly tranquillised
by a convention concluded at Olmutz on the 29th of
November, between the ministers of Austria and Prussia.
It was agreed that the Prussian troops should co-operate
with the Federal armies for the restoration of the
electoral authority in Hesse; that a Prussian commissioner
should proceed with a Federal commissioner to
the Duchy of Holstein to summon the insurgents to
lay down their arms; and that in the event of refusal,
a body of Prussian troops would join with the Federal
forces in the necessary coercive measures. The question
of the internal constitution of Germany was reserved for
the Free Conferences of Dresden, which commenced on