Naas, M.P., praying for the immediate establishment of
steam communication with the Australian colonies. It
was also announced that petitions to the legislature on
behalf of the object were in course of signature.

At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Company
on the 4th, it was resolved to resign the charter and
dissolve the company, on the ground that their means
were exhausted, and that the proceedings of the government
had rendered them unable to carry on the work of
colonisation. It was also resolved to address a letter on
the subject to the colonial secretary. Another meeting
was held on the 16th, with Mr. Aglionby in the chair.
He stated that no answer had been received to the letter
addressed to Earl Grey; that the company still existed
as a corporate body, as the proprietors had as yet only
expressed their readiness to resign the charter, and the
surrender had not actually been accepted; and that no
expenditure would be allowed but such as was necessary
for winding up the affairs of the company; but, he
added, all this would depend on the answer received
from the colonial office.

The sixth party of Female Emigrants, sent out to
Australia by the society lately formed under the
auspices of Mr. Sidney Herbert, embarked, on the 19th,
on board the William Hyde, to proceed to Port Adelaide.
This party is comparatively small, only twenty-one in
number. It is the last that will be sent to Australia this
season; it being the wish of the committee to obtain
some intelligence of the success of the first party that
went out in the Culloden some months ago, before they
send more to that quarter of the world.

A parliamentary paper just issued, gives some useful
information respecting the Australian Colonies. The
population of the colonies (omitting New Zealand) in
1839 was 170,676, and in ten years (1839 to 1848) it had
reached 333,764, being an increase of 163,088. The
imports had decreased in the ten years, having been
£3,376,673 in 1839, and £2,578,442 in 1848. There was
an increase in the exports in the ten years of £1,008,887.
They amounted in 1839 to £1,845,428, and in 1848 to
£2,854,315. The shipping inwards was 267,353 tons in
1839, and 353,321 in 1848, being an increase of 85,968,
whilst the shipping outward was 267,133 tons in 1839,
and 341,583 in 1848, showing an increase of 74,450 tons.

Another of Mrs. Chisholm's Family-group Meetings
of Emigrants, was held on the 16th at the Royal British
Institution, City Road. The hall was crowded, and all
the persons of distinction, who co-operate with Mrs.
Chisholm in her benevolent plans, were present. The
meeting was of the same character as those which
preceded it, but on a much larger scale. In the course
of the evening the following information was given as
to the intended proceedings of the society. It is proposed
to send out 25,000 emigrants, for which purpose loans
will be required to the amount of £50,000. The whole
number of 25,000 is to be spread over four years: in
the first year 8300; in the second, 6000; in the third
6500; and in the fourth, 4200. The loans towards the
passage will be repaid at or before the expiration of two
years; and the groups, consisting of families and single
individuals, will pay a proportionate forfeit if any one
of the group should prove a defaulter.

NARRATIVE OF FOREIGN EVENTS.

THE French kaleidoscope changes again. The variable and very brittle atoms misnamed " order," in the
Assembly and the Elysée, have been thrown into a quite new combination with the bit of rusty but
resolute iron called Changarnier, and people will still be found to admire and be hopeful, till the wretched
toy takes another shape, and the Elysée or the Tuileries receives another tenant. The attitude of all parties
at present is that of waiting for a coup d'état, which no party has the courage or even the means to attempt.
Meanwhile the press is gagged; and from the committee of permanence which as it were holds the power
and authority of the chamber during the term of prorogation, the partisans of the President have been
carefully and scornfully excluded. There does not seem to be a doubt, that, like the horses of Duncan, and
perhaps maddened, like them, by the near prospect of the violent dissolution of their respective masters, all
the various despotic sections which have for the past year done their best to make a military barrack of
France, are now preparing to devour each other. It is too much to hope that a moderate and rational
republican government should finally arise in their place. No one can reasonably anticipate any present
realisation of constitutional government in France.

That worst of all nuisances, a war between two small states, involving the inconvenience, and likely at last to
compel the re-interference, of more important neighbours, has arisen from a precipitate ratification of peace
between Denmark and Prussia; the latter somewhat shabbily withdrawing the troops she had sent to the
help of the Schleswegers and Holsteiners, it is said at the dictation of Russia. The gallant and obstinate
little duchies have again in consequence challenged Denmark to the field; and the result of the struggle,
whichever way it turn, will yet more gravely complicate that most inextricable of all complications, the
"German question." The disgrace of Haynau is a signal example of retribution; though the Nemesis (as
frequently happens in such cases) falls from a quarter least looked to or expected. The civilian tools of
despotism had become weary of the arrogance of their too capable military instrument.

The sudden, and much to be lamented, death of the President of the United States, has lifted an obscure man
to the presidency, who will probably (as Mr. Tyler did) fall into the hands of abler and less scrupulous men.
Violent party advice had already sadly worried poor General Taylor, and is not likely to meet with much
sober or statesmanlike resistance in President Fillmore.

The French Assembly, on the 29th of June, received
the report of the committee on the proposed bill for
restricting the Liberty of the Press. The debate on this
measure commenced on the 8th inst., and gave occasion
to a violent scene. M. Rouher, the Minister of Justice,
had described the Revolution of February as a
"disastrous catastrophe;" the opposition exclaimed loudly
against the expression as an indignity to the Republic,
and called on the President, M. Dupin, to censure the
speaker. M. Dupin refused, saying that "he would not
be forced by clamour to call a minister to order." M.
Girardin entered the tribune pale with excitement,
declared he would not sit in an assembly where such
language was permitted, and exhorted the opposition to
resign en masse. This appeal being received with
laughter by the Right, he came down and wrote
something which was supposed to be his resignation. In the
evening there was a meeting of above 200 of the
opposition, who agreed to a protest which was handed in by
M. Crémieux at next day's sitting, but the President
refused to receive it. The debate then proceeded on
the first article of the bill, which enacts that proprietors
of journals shall lodge in the treasury a cautionnement,
or security, varying in amount according to the
population of the town in which the journal appears, and the
frequency of its publication. M. Victor Hugo made a
powerful speech against the bill; and several amendments
were made and rejected. On the 10th, M. Tinguy
moved an amendment that all articles in journals should
be signed by their writers. It was violently opposed, and,
after a stormy debate, was unexpectedly carried by
313 to 281. Much agitation ensued, and, the sitting