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\ MISCELLANEOUS. \ Relie cf the Olden Times The following letter is fiom the original man uscript. handed us bv a friend, written by Ben -amii. Hawkins, well known in the history of Geoigiaas an Indian Agent. It will be read with interest by the Citizens of Cherokee Geor who novv inhabit, a country, which at the Uateu the letter was the hunting ground of the Cherokees. The only part ot the letter which excited our wonder is that the writer (an o u bachelor) should have won so much upon tje regard of nature’s dames —the squaws. Fort Finius. 4th of March, 1797. How. my most estimable frienu, could you bestow ten miles of compliment or. an old bach elor and a long chapter on morals from your drooping and melancholy city!—on one who has traversed the Cherokee mountains and Creek hills, for four mouths without a tent, with but one bear skin and two blankets, and has not suf fered himself to be stopped by rivers, rain or snow. Can such a man who is easy and inde pendent in bis circumstances, be in his senses? He does not want money, and he has the happi ness of being one among a few chosen friends who jastly estimate each other. Hearanarra- , tive which must explain this enigma:— Friday, Ist December, I sat out for Etawwau (Etowah. — ed) and arrived there cold, wet and hungry. I had dismissed my pilot and interpre ter, and depended on the directions of an Indian who pointed out iny way for me, and informed me of two women—Sarah Watson and Sally Hews—both hall breeds who spoke English well, I missed the path, and travelling through the woods, entered the town at the opposite end from that intended. Here I applied to eight or ten persons before I could get one to direct me to the interpreters; and this was an aged woman. She conducted me to the house of Ogoseetah, the principal chief; his wife received me kindly, and sent immediately for Sarah Waters. She arrived, I informed her who I was and what I wanted' She interpreted it to be* aunt, who kindly replied—“ You must stay in the house where you are—it is yours. I will go to the town house; I have plenty for your horses, and homminy, pork, fowls and potatoes lor yourself. My husband will be proud of this visit when he returns.” I accepted her (offer, and her niece consented to stay with me while I remained.— Mrs. Waters was formerly a wile of Col. Waters, of Georgia—has two children by him, a boy and a girl. The young man has been educated in England, under the direction of his father, and now resides in Georgia. My other interpreter was a fine young widow, sixteen years old, who surprised me by speaking correct English, and saying she was proud of my having selected her with Mrs. Waters, to explain the benevolent views ol the U. States to her country women In the evening I visited the old men and women in the hothouse, and remained three hours with them. They enquired with much anxiety into their future prospects. I explained the object of my mission, my love for the red women and de termination if practicable, to better their situa tion. They expressed much satisfaction that they might remain in their towns in peace, and that the government meant seriously to assist them. They would follow the advice of their great fath er, General Washington. They would plant cotton and learn to spin and weave it, and they hoped I would get some wheels and cards for them as they should be ready for them. They could make corn enough, and were willing to la bor, if they could be directed to turn it to ac count. The next day I was visited.by all the women in the town, and I had a long and interesting conversation with them. They informed me that they performed almost all the labor them selves; that the assisted them but little and that in the corn. They generally made plenty of corn, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, beans, ground peas, cymblins.water and musk mellons, gourds, cole worts and onions; they had planted some cotton, made sugar, hair baskets, sifters, earthen pots and pans. They had some hogs, cattle and poultry. That the men hunted in the proper season, and aided them with skins to pro cure clothing and blankets such as I saw; but, that this was not sufficient to make them com foitivble,und th , poor old men, women and chil dren y iukWm fPU O-Viitait V a»- T I SB'* them, : aired in the hot house. That taey suffered much for the want of salt; that tfiey | used hut little from necessity, and when they *v*re able to provide (or themselves plentifully with meat, they were unable to preserve it for , the want of salt. In the evening they told me that many men . had been sent into their nation to their chiefs, , but I was the first who thought it worth the j while to examine into fhojsitiiation ol the women 1 had addressed myself to them, and talked f freely and kindly to them, and they were sure I t meant to better their condition. They wou'd follow mv advice ; they said they were healthy; ( lived to old age ; borne few had ague and fever , c but that generally speaking they were never too | unwell to labor. When they bore children, they weretheirown midwives, could the mostol them 8 turn out the next day alter they had delivered , themselves, and pursue their ordinary occupa tions. They bathed every morning in cold wa- ( ter, which made them healthy, and they some of thorn suffered much anxiety of mind from the j neglect ol their husbands, who were g : ven to j change, and would often put them away without assigning any cause. In such cases some had , destroyed the fruit of such a connection, some , had brought their pride in aid of them and sur- , moun‘edthe insult, and some had fallen a prey to the constancy of affection, and died of their own hands. , In every house I enter, I find the children ex- ] tremely alarmed a the s : ght of me, and many , of them scream out. Yet when they are in- j formed who l am, they execute any order I give, with eagerness. I inquired particularly o! the mothers what could be the reason of this T hey answered that this town was the remains of several towns formerly settled on Tugalo and Keowee, who had been much harrassed by the whites ; that the old people remembered their former situation and sufferings, and frequently spoke of them ; that these tales were listened to by the children, ami made an impression which showed itself in the manner I saw. * * ■* * * * * I shall leave this in a few days, and enter again the Cherokee country. I received a lew days past a new commission in company with General Winchester, to run ’he line between the citizens a id Creeks. Cucrekees and Chicka aws. This is as difficult a trust as has been vested in me, but if I live I will execute it. I have ap plied myself to learn the Creek tongue,and with some success. This Ido byway of amusement. I ain not yet married, nor do I smoke or drink. The Indians were a little disappointed on this score, as well as at my speaking my mind frank ly on all subjects, and not suffer them to play the spoiled child. Pray remember me to the family where you are, to your son. your neigh bors, the H irrisons, and all our dear friends. I have been Talking all day with Indi ans, and close this at two o’clock in the morn ing. With sincere w ; shes that you may become Queen of Tentcoliatches, I am Affectionately yours, Benjamin Hawkins. Singular Prociiecy. —The subjoined predic tion was made not three months since, about the latter part of December, and by the last news from Europe dark hints are thrown out that the Emperor Nicholas met a violent death. This prophecy may elucidate the mystery : '■ F.re three months have passed, dating from this hour, an assassination of a crowned head will astonish and bewilder the magnates of Eu rope, and overturn an empire in another quarter; a traitor to his king, but a ioya! man to his God and to his fellows, shall turn his strength against his master, and raise the banner of the people. This shall be sometime after the fust events ot which I have spoken ” The above prediction was made by the spirit of Napoleon. Ic grand, • o one o r om distinguish ed spiritual mediums, about ihe 20 h ot iar.t De cember.—JPennsylvaniuni, 17<A imt. Railroad Convention. Griffin, Ga., March 14th, 1855. Pursuant to a resolution adopted at a meet ing of the citizens of the county of Henry, held on the 6th day of February last, a convention was this day held in the city of Griffin, to con sider the projectof constructing a Railroad from the city of Covington via McDonough, Griffin, Greenville, Hamilton, to the city of Columbus, Ga. On motion of Col. A. A. Gaulding. Rev. W. D. Martin, of the county of Meriwether was called to the chair, and R. M. Stell and T. J Gunn, requested to act as secretaries. ~ On motion of Maj. Henry Moor, the coun ties interested in the construction of said Road were called, when the following delegates ap peared and enrolled their names: From the county of Henry, H. Tomlinson, L. H.Turner,A- W. Turner,Ber j. Morris,G..M. No lan, I. W. Callaway, E. W. Beck, J. B. Crabb, P. B. Turner, J. H. Low, T. D. Weems, A. W. Walker, and R. M. Stell. From the county of Spalding, J. B. Reid, A. A. Gaulding, Thomas Brooks, Wm. Parker, Henry Moor, Wm. Arnold, W. J. Jossey, Hend ly Varner, Wm. Freeman, H. P. Kirkpatrick, A. A. Porter, O. H. Johnson, E. P. Daniel, Wm. Cline, Wm. Crittenden, J. N. Simmons, Wm. M. Blanton, John Dobbs, Jason Burr, Garling ton Leak, G. W. Prince. G. J. Green. From the county of Pike, Leonard Worthy, and Isaac McLeroy. From the county of Meriwether, G. G. How ard, Nathaniel King, P. M. Martin, H. R. Harris, W. D. Martin, Freeman McClendon, A l ’ 11 MM A* A. Turner. From the county of Harris, B. F. White, Ran dal Morgan, T. J. Gunn. On motion of A. A. Gaulding, Mr. J. B. Cunningham, of the county of Muscogee, was requested to take a seat in this Convention and act as a delegate from said county. On motion of A. A. Gaulding, the resolutions and proceedings of a recent meeting held in the county of Henry, were read by wait of ex plaining the objects and business of this Conven tion. On motion of C. H. Johnson, the committee consisting of Dr. J. N. Simmons, of the county of Spalding; Levi H. Turner, of the county of Henry; and W. W. Clark, of the county of Newton; appointed by the recent meeting held in the county of Henry, to procure a competent surveyor to survey and locate said Railroad from the city of Covington to the city of Griffin, were requested to make their report. Dr. J. N. Simmons reported that the commit tee had not acted definitely and finally in refer ence to the duties assigned them, and asks for further time to consider the same, which was granted. On motion of Henry Moor, the chair appoint ed the following gentlemen to act in conjunc tion with the committee appointed by the meet ing in the county of Henry, ; n procuring a compe tent surveyor to survey and locate said Road to wit: Col. T. Lomax, of the county of Musco gee; Dr. C. C. Gibbs,ot the county of Harris; Isaac McLeroy, of the county of Pike. On motion of H. R. Harris, Rev. W. D. Mar tin was .appointed on said committee for the county of Meriwether. On motion of G. G. Howard, the following gentlemen were appointed as alternates to fill any vacancy that shall happen in said commit tee. For the connty of Newton, John Harris, Thomas F. Jones; for the county of Henry Humphrey Tomlinson, A. C. Sloan: for the county of Spalding, E.P. Daniel, H P. Kirk patrick; for the county of Pike, W. D. Alex ander, Giles Driver; lor the county of Meri wether, H. R. Harris. G. G. Howard; for the county of Harris, G. H. Bryan, Mathew Robert son ; for the county of Muscogee, Jno. Gwin, John E. Bacon. On motion of C. H. Johnson, a committee con sisting of two from each countv, were appoint ed by the chair to prepare and report suitable matter to this convention for its consideration to wit: C. H Johnson, Chairman, and A. A. Gaulding, for the county of Spalding ; A. W. Turner and Geo. M. Noland for the county of Henry; Leonard Worthy anj Isaac McLeroy, for the county of Pike; Freeman McClendon and Henry R Harris, for the county ot Meri wether; B, F. White end Randal Morgan, for i oaunty of On motion the convention then adjourned uu til 2 o’clock, P. M. 2 o’clock, P. M. The convention met pursuant to adjourn ment. Mr. C. H. Johnson, from the committee ap pointed to prepare and report business to this meeting for its consideration, made the follow ing report: The committee appointed to report matter for the action of this convention, beg leave to report that, in their opinion the proposed Railroad from Covington to Columbus via McDonough, Griffin Greenville and Hamilton is practicable, and can be built, and beg to offer tbe following reso lutions : Ist. Resolved, That we will build this Road, and that it shall be known and styled tbe Middle Ground Rail Road. 2d. Resolved , That it is expedient to survey experimentally the route at present. 3d. Resolved, That a committee of five be ap pointed to draft a charter to be presented for passage to the next Legislature. 4th. Resolved , That a committee of three in each of the counties of Pike, Meriwether, Har ris and Muscogee, be appointed to procure the right of way for the contemplated Railroad Hirojgh their several counties, and that the committee appointed for the counties of Spald ing. Henry and Newton, are hereby requested to retain their appointments until they have obtained the right of way through their coun ties. sth. Resolved. That a committee of be ap pointed in each of the counties of Newton Henry, Spalding, Pike, Meriwether, Harris, and Muscogee, to open books of subscription to build said Railroad headed sj as to bind ail subscribers as thoroughly as though tbe charter was now obtained.—Rejected. Tbe report of the Committee was taken up, and the preamble first, second, third and fourth resolutions read and adopted— seriatim. The fifth resolution having been read, A. A. Gaulding offered the following as a substitute— which was read and adopted. sth. Resolved. That a Committee of three be appointed each for the counties of Newton. Henry, Pike, Spalding, Meriwether Harris and .Vluscogee, to ascertain the probable amount or that Stock will be subscribed for the building of said Road and that said Committee make report thereof to the Board of Directors hereafter to be provided. Under the 3:1 Resolution adopted,the chairap pointed the following Committee. To wit: Hon. James H. Stark, Henty Moor, G. S. Green, A. R. Moore and John B. Reid. Under the 4th Resolution the Chair appointed the following committees for the counties there in named. To wit: For the county of Muscogee, Archibald Kim brough, John W. Jhompson and William A. Redd. For the county of Harris, George H. Bryan, J. M. Mobly and Randall Morgan. For the county of Meriwether—Dr. JosephStin som. James Freeman and Dr. H. S. Wem’uush. For ttre county of Pike, Cadesman Pope, Giles Driver, William Pryor. Under the sth Resolution the chair appointed tbe following Committees for the purposes there in specified. For the county ot Newton—Permedas Rey nolds, Lewis Z ;chry ana Shelly Downs. For the county of Henry—Levi H. Turner. A. C. Sloan and A. W. Walker. For the county of Spalding—William J. Jos sey. William Crittenden and l)r. J. N. Simmons. For the county of Pike—W. D. Alexander, John Foxwonh and Richard Johnston. For the county of Meriwether—G. G. How ard, F. McClendon and John H. McMath. For the county of Harris—William 1 Hudson, vs. O. Farley and N. H. Barden. For the county of Muscogee—F. B. Nance, Jo eph Downer nod Samuel Rutherford. On motion of Georgo M. Nolan, T. D jWeems was appointed by the chair upon the Committee to procure the right of way through the county of Henry to fill the vacancy now existing in said Committee occasioned by the removal from s«dJ county of William Watkins. G. J. Green, Esq., submitted the following Resolution which was read and adopted. Be it further Retolved. That a commitfle of fourteen be appointed by the chairman of this meeting, whose duty it shall be to act as a Board of Directors of this Railroad project, until tbe organisation of the contemplated company. Under the above resolution the Chair appoint ed the following board of Directors. For tbe county of Newton—John M. ClarV and Dr. W. D. Conyers. For the county of Henry—John H. Low and John Stilwell. For the county of Spalding—Dr. J. N. Sim mons and John Dobbs. For the county of Pike—W. D. Alexander and Cadesman Pope. For the county of Meriwether—Col. A. Wel born and Hon. O. Warner. For the county of Harris—James N. Ramsey and Dr. E. C. Hood. For the county of Muscogee—Wiley Williams and Henry T. Hall. _ P. M. Martin submitted tbe following resolu tion, which was taken up, read and adopted . Be it further Retolved, That a committee of three, consisting of Col. A. A. Gaulding, Rr M. Stell and J. M. Clark, be appointed to prepare for publication an Address, setting forth tbe ad vantages to be realized from the construction of the Middle Ground Railroad, and that said Ad dress be published in the American Union with the request that it be copied by all papers friend ly to the enterprise. On motion, Dr. J. N. Simmons was appoyit ed, by a unanimous vote. President of the Board' j of Directors, whose duty itshould be to act in that capacity until the Board of Directors should meet and organize by the election of their own ’ officers. W On motion of G G Howard, it was That each and all of the committees ap|iointed by this convention, have power to fill any vacan cy that may hereafter occur, and that said com mittees be instructed to do so. V On motion of H. R. Harris, it was Retolved. That the Board of Directors arrange the terms of subscription and furnish a copy thereof to the different committees appointed to ascertain the probable amount of stock that can be raised in the counties interested in the construction of said Road. On motion of G. J. Green, the thanks of .the convention were tendered to the chairman and secretaries, for the able and impartial manner in which they have discharged the duties of the offices they have filled in this convention. On motion of Geo. M. Nolan, it was Ordered, That the proceedings of this convention he lished in the Columbus, Hamilton, Griffin and Augusta papers, and that all others friendly to the enterprise be requested to copy. The convention then adjourned tine die W. D. Martin, Chairman. R. M. Stell, I c . . T. J. Gunn,r SeCretaneß -of the late Czar. BY SIR ARCHIBALD ALISON. In the recently published second volume of Sir Archibald Alison’s “ History of Europe” (new series), we find the following striking portrait of the late Emperor of Russia:— Nicholas I. is tbe greatest sovereign that Rus sia has known since Peter the Great; in some respects be is greater than Peter himself. Not less energetic in character and ardent in im provement than his illastrious predecessor. h< is more thoroughly rational, and he has Hrorgbt the nation forward more completely in the fatii which nature had pointed out for it. Peter was a Russian only in his despo’ism: his violence, his cruelty, his benificence, his ardor for improve ment, his patriotic ambition, were ail borrowed from the states of Western Europe. As tfcese states were greatly further advanced in the ca reer of civilization than his was, his reforms were in a great part premature, his improve ments abortive, his refinements superficial. He aimed at doing by imperial what so many ardent men hav<-- endeavored to effect by democratic despotism—to ingraft on one nation the instjtu j -vs of miotVwr. unrf re Afr,>nn Jh<Ai civilisation the fruits of it»^-natuiiy“.. tempt failed in his hands, as it has ever df--.-*.. those of his republican imitators, as it wilt do in those nl their successors, whether on the throne or in the tribune, to the ei.d of the world His civilization was all externa! merely; it made a brilliant appearance, but it did not extend be neath the surface, and left untouched the strength and vitals o f tbe state. He flattered himself he had civilized Russia, because he ruled by a po lice which governed it by fear, and an army re tained it in subjection by discipline. Nicholas, on the other band, is essentially Russian in all his ideas. He is heart and soul patriotic, not merely in wish, but in spirit and thought. He wishes to impiove and elevate his country, and he has done much to effect that no ble object; but he desires to do so by developing, not changing the national spirit, by making it become a first Russia, not a second France or England. He has adopted the maxim of Mou tesquieu, that no nation ever attained to real greatnpss but by institutions in conformity with its spirit. He is neither led away by the thirst for sudden mechanical improvement, like Peter nor the praises of philosophers, like Catherine, nor the visions of inexperienced philanthropy, like Alexander. He has not attempted to erect a capital in a pestilential marsh, and done so at the expense of a hundred thousand- lives; uor has be dreamt of mystical regeneration with a visionrry sybil, and made sovereigns put their hands to a holy alliance from her influence. He neither corresponds with French atheists, nor English democrats; he despises the praises of the first, he braves the hostility of the last. His maxim is to take men as they are, and neither suppose them belter nor worse. He is content to let Russia grow up in a Russian garb, animated with a Russian spirit, and mould ed by Russsian institutions, without the aid either of Parisian communism or British liber lism. The improvements he has effec ted in the government of his dominions have been vast, tbe triumphs with which his external policy have been attended unbounded ; tut they have all been achieved, not in imitation of, but in oppo-ition to, the ideas,, of western Europe. They bespeak, not less than his internal govern ment, the national character of his policy. But if success is the test o* worldly wisdom, he has not been !ar wrong in his system, for he has passed the Balkan, heretofore impervious to his predecessors; he has conquered Poland, conver ted the Euxine into a Russian lake, planted the cross on the bastions of Erivan, and opened through subdued Hungary a path to Constanti nople. Nature has given him all the qualities fitted for such an elevated des’iny. A lofty stature and princely air give additional influence to a majestic countenance, in which the prevailing character is resolution, yet not linmixed with sweetness Like Wellington, Caesar, and ma ,y other of the great men recorded in history, bis expression has become more intellectual as he advanced in years, and became exercised in the duties of sovereignty, instead of the stem routine of military discipline. Exemplary in all the relations of private life, a faithful husband and an affectionate father, he has e-hibiled in a bril liant court, and when surrounded bv every temp tation which life can offer, tbe simplicity and affections ot patriarchal life. Yet is he not a perfect character. His virtues often border upon vices. His excellencies are akin to (.elects.— Deeply 'tnpressed with the responsibility of his situation, bis firmness has sometimes become sternness, his sense of justice degeneiat, d into e» verity. (Sir Archibald explains, in a loot note :—“ It is in regard to political ofiances ot a serious dye, however, that this sevrity chiefly applies ”j He knows how to distinguished the innocent from the guilty, and has often evinced a noble and magnanimous spirit in separating the one from the other, and showing oblivion ol injury, even kindness to the relatives ot those who h«d conspired against his throne and life: huf towards the guility themselves he has not been equally compassionate. He has cot always let the passion of the contest pass away with its termination. He is an Alexander the Great in resolution, but not in magnanimity. We wants the last grace in the heroic character —he odes not know bow to forgive. From the Charleiton Courictk European Intelligence. We leceived by yesterday’s Mail, our foreign files of papers and letters by the Africa. The Liverpool Times of Saturday morning, not only contains the proceedings of Parliament of Friday night, the 2d instant, and tbe remaiks of- Lords Clarendon and Palmerston, announcing ,tbe death of tbe Czar, which have already ap peared in our telegraphic column, but the follow ing leading editorial on the subject: “This event was announced to Parliament last night by the Ministers of the Crown as having taken place, and the sensation which it produced in both branches ot tbe Legislature was not greater than that which it will cause throughout Europe and the world. Os the cer tainty of the Emperor’s death, no doubt need be entertained. Lord John Russell, who is now in the Prussian capital, first telegraphed home that he had been struck by apoplexy,—was on the point of death, aud had just taken leave of his family. This was shortly followed by another telegraphic message from the Brit'sh Minister at Berlin, to the effect that he actually expired at St. Petersburg yesterday morning atone o’clock. “It is hardly possible to overrate the impor tance of the extinction of this single life in the present circumstances of this and other coun tries. Its effects must be great and immediate, and it is more than probable that the bloody struggle impending before Sevastopol, in which .-thousands ol lives would certainly be sacrificed, “fnay be spared by the event which we announce this morning. In the case of the extinction of a despotic monarch like the Emperor of Russia, whose will was the law of fifty or sixty millions of people, the policy which he embodied while liviqg, dies with him, and the restoration of X,pear& becomes, under tbe circumstances, less a a matter of doubt than of certainty. “ The fate which has overtaken this great but unscrupulous Monarch, supposing him to have died a natural, arid not like many of bis prede cessors, a violent death, demonstrates, ill the strongest possible manner, how feeble the most potent become when unsustained by that morai power which is stronger than cannons or bayo nets, or the most deadly insrrum-nts of war.— Twelve months back, before I he declaration of hostilities, Nicholas Romanoff, who now lies a mass ot clay in his ancestral halls on the Neva was the most pioud, the m *st powerful, and the most arrogant soveieign on this planet; but this sma'l interval of time has served to reduce him to a condition more pitiable than the humblest of his serfs, for in his nefarious attempr to sub jugate a weak and a near neighbor, he outiaged justice, provoked the hostility of the Wes'ern Powers, stirred up resistance throughout Europe to bis dictation, and lived long enough to disco ver that the prepared streng* h of a long reign and an almost boundless empire, was utterly fu tile in tbe pursuit of a bad purpose. The most conservative ruler in the world fell almost lite rally by bis own band when he pushed his ag gressions on the property of others beyond the bounds of endurance. The violation of the commandment which told him to respect bis neighbor’s property ended in his destruction in that prostration of tr e mental and the physi cal powers which superindueed apoplexy. “ Although our enemy, it is useless to deny that the lead Czar was a gieat man as well as a mighty potentate. Notwithstanding the mel ancholy fact of a quar'er of a million of human creatures having perished, one way or another, since this war began—sacrificed, in point of fact, to the insatiable ambition ol an unscrupulous ru ler, yet he had many tine qualities of head and heart; and to such ot the British nation as set tled in Russia, he was extremely partial, and al ways paid them the most marked attention.— The lion prays not upon carcasses. We can al sord to do justice to departed worth even in the person ol a foe, and it is not too much to say that if lie had terminated his career without the 1 urk ish aggression which p oduced this war, histoiy would have enrolled him amongst tbe most in- ' leilectual and successful Monarch* of innder j Europe. Perhaps if is as well for tbe future I of the world that this outbreak of Russian >. ifliwy wU-.v ,<• A* ,y -V e-nrill now be (Tiloreed which ffecUiallv pre its repeti*ion. The fangs of the woil will oe drawn, and the lesson which he has been taught will tell upon his successors for centuries “ The Czar was born on the 6th of July, 1790 and ii he had lived until summer would have at. tained his 59th year. He died not of old age. but ol a broken heart—of the disappointment caused by the utter failure of all his schemes ol aggrandisement, the prostration of ail his hopes —a terrible example of the effects of uuhniiow ed ambition. “ Before a great event like this, all tbe other foreign affairs of the week fade into insignifi cance. In relation to the alleged insurrection in Aus tralia, the London Morning Herald, of Thurs day, March 1, publishes - dispatch dated Trieste, 28th u!t., to the following effect: “ Dispatches from Ceylon at the Ist announce that the people of Australia have risen and de dared their independence. Some troops sent to put down tbe insurrection had fought sanguina ry engagements. Melbourne was in a state ot siege. This rews has, of course, arrived by the Overland Mail, and no doubt refers to the dis turbances at the diggings. The Australian d-de are not given, and the dispatch has evidently been cooked for continental circulation ” “The Fcench Government still maintain* that Prussia, as a preliminary condition to taking part in the conference of Vienna, must engage her-eltto abide by the majority, whatever Hat may be, and Prussia, or rather General de Wed ell, decline- that engagement, asserting that th • point is one which a proper matter for discus sion by the conference which he asks to be ad mitted to.” We find the following dispatches relative to the Conferences at Vienna: “Paris Feb. 26.—Colonel d’O'berg, aide-de camp oi Genera! de Wedell, arrived at Paris on Sunday evening from Berlin. “Vifnna. Feb. 26 —Official intelligence has been received here of the departure of h r rd John Russell from Paris for Vienna via Berlin and Dresden. '* “Berlin, Feb 27 —Lord J. Russell had an audience of the King of the Belgians on Sunday. He steeps at Magdeburg to-night, and is expect ej here to morrow. Privy Councillor Titoff, the Russian Plenipoten’iary to the Vienna Confer ences, has arrived here. Baron Pokesch von Oaten has been appointed second Austrian Pleni potentiary to the Vienna Conferences. ‘Vienna Feb. 28.—An official article in the Oesteireichiec.be Correspondenz says, that a gen et ai basis has already been formed, for securing the integrity of Tuikey, for i reventing the fu sure encroachments of individual Powers, aud lor maintaining the privileges of all the Chris tian subjects of the Porte witlfsut infer.ering with the rights of the Sul’an. Alter observing that the negociations for peace begin under fa vorable auspices, the Oesterreichische Corres por.denz announces the proximate arrival ol one of the most distinguished statesmen of Turkey, ot M. de Titoff, and of Lord John Russell. It adds that Ba on de Bourquene, the French Am bassador. enjoys the full confidence of his sover eign. and is moreover, so well versed in Oriental affairs that he is not likely to have an Adlatus [t also announces that Baron Prokesch will at tend tbe confeience. “Berlin, March I.—Lord John Russell arrived here yesterday forenoon. He waited upon Baron de Manteuffel. in the afternoon. He had an au dience ot ft e King to-day. M. de Wedell, the Piu<-sian Envoy, left Paris on Thursday night (or Berlin He will return to Paris on Tuesday or Wednesday next. Berlin. March 2 —The dinner at the Court to-day, in hoiitu of Lord John Russell, has been def-rred. “Cologne. March 1 —lntelligence from Berlin states that Lord John Russell is to remain nere only two days. The opening of the Vi -nna Conference being so very near it is do. bMu 1 whether Prussia will be represented there at the beginning. Baron Usedom and Count Al vensleben are designated as Prussian Envoy. There is a rumor that the negotiations have been interrupted through unexpected difficul ties.” Lord Lucan has returned from the Crimea and stated on the 2d instant., in his seat in th»- House of Lords, that he had requested Lord Hardinge to have his conduct investigated by a Court Martial. Tbe Paris correspondent of the London Daily News, says ; “A rumor prevailed at Genoa on the 22d, that a French frigate had been lost with all on board, in the Straits of Bonifacio, between Corsica and Sardinia. No particulars of this disaster are given. The vessel in question was said to be the Semillante frigate, with a crew of 000 men on board. I regret to state that this news is but toe true, and I tear tbe number of men on board is larger than above reported.” The Paris Constitutionnel says: “We have received a confirmation of tbe sad news which has been these two days rumored about in Paris. The frigate lost in the Strait of Bonifaci > is the Semillante, which recently left Toulon with four hundred soldiers on board. The vessel struck on one of the reefs in that passage, and immediately filled. Tbe crew and passengers, making together seven hundre.l men. all perished. No other details have beeß yet received of this catastrophe.” The lamentable loss of the frigate Semil’ante has created a most painful sensation in Paris Seven hundred men have perished,together with a vast quantity of cannon, mortars, sbeils, gun powder and ► hot. Nothing was saved—not a shred. All that has been washed ashore—so far as is known to Government—is two pairs ot trowsers. The Semillante was goieg to the East, and five hundred of the victims on board of her were troops. Singular to relate, the lather and grandfather of the captain of tbe Semillaute both perished by vessels foundering at sea. The well known commission buyers at Man chester, Messrs. Gibson, Ord A Co., have sus pended payment. Their liabilities are supposed ro l-e about (£30,000. of which jCIO.OOO is owing to the Manchester and Salford Bank, and the re mainder will chiefly fall upon bouses in the cloth trade. The Constantinople correspondent of toe London Morning Ohionicle, after describing the impatience ol the Z uiaves for an assult, states r ha* a large armed deputation waited upon Gen Canrobert to insist that he should give orders for Ihe storming, and to declare that unless the orders were giveu at once they themselves would make an attack forthwith. The General tried to reason with them, hut they only bec.amemore obstinate and determined. Seeing that some decisive step must be taken to preserve authority and prevent insurrection, Canrobert oidered out the 47th regiment of the line, and a battery ol field artillery, and having seized the ringleaders in this demand ala Zrioaee, shot twelve of them in presence of the whole camp—a piece olener getic action which had at once the happy effect of rendering the survivors much more satisfied with the conduct of the siege and less disposed to try the resisting power of Fort Constantine, and i*s sister batteries, on their own account. The correspodent adds ; ‘■Tb s affair, which I have every reason to be- | lieve real, was, ol course, as much cs possible hushed up in the camp ; l.ut that it is not a mere idle rumor i may venture to assert, having heard it from a source not likely to he misinformed.” Nesselrode. Count Charles Robert Nesselrode, Chancellor of the Russian Empire, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, was born on the 14th December, 1780, in Lisbon, where his (utber, at the time, was ac credited as Russian Ambassador. The Nessel rode family is of German origin, and lived for merly on he lower Rhine. At an early ege, Nesselrode devoted himself to the study of di plomacy In 180‘2 be was attached to the Sega 'ion in Rer'in in 1805 he went as Secretary of L-gation to Holland, and in 18'i7, as Counsellor of the Russ an Legation to Pm is. His decided abilities soon gained him the confidence «>l the Emperor Alexander. In the war of Russia against France, he concluded the treaty of Bres lau, on the 19th of March, 1813. With Metter nirh, he drew up ti e preliminaries of the treaty of i'oplilx bet wen Russia and Austria. In she campaign of 1814, he followed the Krnperor to a-., «. Gmf- —V —* -*■ «r C.l-ret. *.l Ot ailment, c.ie act of the qua.lViple alliuace. In tiie rarnous night of the 30th viaich, ; sainted by Count Orlow, be stipulated (he conditions of the surrender of the city of Paris with Marshal .Maririont. He signed all note* and declarations of the Allied Powers, ai d also the peace of Paris, on the 30lh of May, 1814 In all these transac tions, bis opinion was regarded as of great 1 weight and importance At the Congress ol Vienna, us plenipotentiary, he acted a most prominent part. On the 13th of March, IBts, he signed the act of the Allies which pronounc ed banishment against the Emperor Napoleon, flu .iccompamed the Emperor Alexander to toe Congresses of Aix la Chapelle, Troppau, Lai- ' bach, and Verona, aniWistingnished himself, on all occasions, as a very active man ot business. Nicholas, like Alexander, placed implicit con fidence in Nesselrode, and granted him in 1828 a considerable donation as a reward for his servi ces. Under bis reign, Nesselrode, cs a statesman and diplomatist, succeeded in securing to the in ternal end foreign policy of Russia a progressive imiiortauce. The treaty of Hurtkiar-Skelessi; the preponderating influence of Russia upon the affairs o! the newly established kingdom of G>eece; and the treaty of July, 1840, are prin cipally the results ol his diplomatic activity, in 1848 and ’49 Nesselrode’s policy was to keep aloof from the distractions which convulsed Eu rope, until the defeat of Austria offered bun an opportunity to attach, as he supposed, this treacherous empire to the interests of Russia. About the same time he availed himself very dexterously ol the insurr* clion which broke out against the Poite, in the Danubian Piincipalttieq in securing wider scope, bv toe treaty of Balta- Liman, to the influence ol the Czar. After the convulsions of 1849. tie aim or Nesselrode’s policy was to strengthen the aliiauo.- ot the eastern powers, with a view of securing the peace ot Europe. In this las’ oriental question, Nesselrode, since Ihe commencement ot thedu fic iities. represented ia St Petersburg the prin ciple of moderation and peace. On all occasions he has proved himself a most dexterous arid ex perienced diplomatist and politician. He occu pies in ibis respect, by far ihe lofriert position emopgst the European statesmen ot the pievut day The Emperor N.cbolas, constantly evince ! toe deep-st respect lur the opinions of Ness; !- rode, and has acknowledged hi* gratitude to the veteran staft.-'oen by elevating him to the high est honors Nesselrode, at this moment, is the most important man in the empire of Russia. Upon him devolves the immense responsibility ol leading the ship ol State—tossed ahu it in the most teii'tie tempest (hat ever raged on the po li'ical hor zon ot Europe—into a safe harbor. His old and trembling hand will have to gras - the helm which the strangely suuden death oi Nicholas leaves exposed to the fury of half a worh! in arms. To Nesselrode, therefore, ali eyes turn iu anxious expectation.— U. S. Ga xelte. The Pursuit or Baker.— The New York Express ol Frulay savs: Some 30 or 40 officers have been busy in scour ing New Jeisev. in the vicinity of Amboy, for rbe past two or three days. Captains Wiiliams and Sprieght returned to this city la°t. evening, and report that the man resembling Bake', ami of whom so many various descriptions have Van given, 1 :rr-s out to be a echo u i* „-«.*er pre ciiely representing Baker in • veiy paiticular of hi' inpcarauce, dress. &<•, who for several days has been ou a spree,and sought *he woods in or der to keep the fact of his indulgence in ardent «P'.ri - iV-im his employers In one of his fit.* of drunk: nnen, he tell over a pile stones and in jiu-'d h -i left side, thus causing him to'wdk lam*. In accordance with, these circumstances hav ing !'"«;> discovered by 'he pul ce. lh'*y have gi ven up th - eha* • at least iu this quarter. Vb** cer.-nii supposition now stems to be. ■ hat li • Hi'! ictually proceed 'o sea in the Is abella Jewett. London Bridge Completed. The Loudon Bridge so long considered by outsiders as only having a mythical existenew •nay now take it? position aingog realities. Its cooshnetioa Kargs no longer upon any such coi tmponcies as time and tide, those hitherto potent barriers to its progress; but here it. stands stretching away from one shore to tho other aa accomplished work. On Saturday morning the 17th. the last blow was struck, and the work reported finished. Preparations were immedi ately made for despatching a train across, end thence to Lenoir’s six, miles above, to which point the track is completed. The pleaemg task of running the firs* Locomotive across was as signed to Mr. Krenson, as well as on account of bis well known skill and fidelity as the fact that he is longest in employ of the company—hav ing been connected with the road from its com mencement. His fine Engine, the ‘“Tellie*,” trimmed with evergreen and dags, took her po sition at the lead of the train, and about three in the evening moved on towards the Bridge, where a Urge concourse waited to witness the transit. As the train moved the bridge there was no cracking or creaking of the stric ture; no querulous uneasy complaining of the joints as if they demurred at the weight thus sadden.y thrust upon them—nothing could be heard save a firm ringing sound of the whole under the wheels, like the ringing of a sonad neam of wood As the train neared the oppo site hank of the river, the engine sent up a low/ triumphant blow of her whistle, which Capt. Jaqties’ boat then lying at the wharf evidently considered defiant, for she immediately whistled in no gentle tone her disapprobation at seeing ' her favorite element “got over” in any such roundabout manner. Alter sundry interlocuiory whistle, however, the matter was amicably ar ranged, end both sent up a jubilant peal in uai son as the train moved off the bridge. The rest of the trip to Lenoir’s and back— through the obstacles that nature had piled in * ’be way, but which mac. has removed—was ae coinplished speedily! and safely, and about six o’clock the ’raid arrived at Loudon. Although' this was no formal excursion, and gotten up with no pomp and circumstance, yet) there was manifest a general spontaneous ox- preesion of joy not frequently wanting amid more elaborate preparation. In conniption vvit'ijthe above, some details of the Bridge '.nay r.ot be unin’eresting. Toe dis tance spanned is 1700 feet; the elevation of the track above low water mark is SO feet. The bridge is built upon the plan long and favorably known to the railroad world as “Howe’s Patent Truss.” . The work of framing and raising the structure has been done under the immediate supervision of Mr. D C. Hunt, agent for the., Contractors,Messrs. Maxwell Briggs & Co , who in spite of the many buftl,ng circumstances has firu-hed his work in a manner creditable to him self, as it is highly satisfactory to ail others coa. cert.ed. —London Free Prett, 21st inst. California Items. * Business at San Francisco was entirely pros trated, caused by the suspension of five banking houses. The news of Messrs. Page, Bacon & Co’s, difficulty reached San Francisco on the 17th ult., causing a great run on the bouse. They met the run, and paid a half million out, and a meeting of merchants and bankers declared the house to be sound, which restored confident?, and afTaiis seemed to wear a better aspect. On the 22d, however. Page, Bacon & Co, suspended, followed on the 23d by Adams & Co., Wells, Fargo & Co., Robinson <St Co., and the Wright’s Miners’ Deposit Bank. The excitement was intense. Adams &Co , closed all their branches without paying a dollar, except in San Francisco, where on the 22d they stood u run of two hundred thousand dollars. Wells, Fargo Me Co., closed at San Francisco, out -» the country branches paid as long as tbe-inein lasted, and were still paying as fast as the coin could be obtained in exchange for dust and bars, l his house announced tha’ tiiey would resume m San Francisco on the 26 h. It was feared that Adams & Co. could not re sume under 60 days, if at all. Page, Bacon b Co. would probably resume m a few days—theirdepositois having granted oa extension on @4OO 000. Their assets are large. These failures c used a detention of the steamer until the 20i.h. There were rumors of heavy laiiurr.r:: :ithe merchants, blit noth >■ lug t y r -a ( Adams it Co.. hcAvover, rn»n Stored abf'Ve, am "J not connected, it is s»id, with Adams’ Kxprest; Co., in the UniUd States. The latter house, therelore, will not be affected by the failure r<; (erred to. We leaiu also the other failuies in San Francisco have no effect on the same firms in New York. Owing to the scarcity of water, but little gold had beeu taken iioun the mines. Heavy iains commenced on t>e 25th, and still continued when the steamer left. No election of United States Senator had yet • ak-n place. The joint convention adjourned sine dn on the 16th, by a vote of sixty-three to lorry lour. Those voting in the minority were principally the triends of Senator Gwin. The news from Kern river is of an excitiap. character. The miners were said to be avera ging from ten to twenty dollars per day. The steamers going there were crowded with passen gers. On the mornir.g of the 13th, the St. Charles Hotel and Holeman’s Hotel, San Francisco, were destroyed by fire—the loss being estimated at fSO COO. In Nevada, sixteen houses were burnt on tbs IS h, arid in Stockton twenty-five houses were destroyed by fire on the 21st. Indian troubles were on she increase. Some ten white men and about seventy Indians were killed. Native Calif :.,.n !.-d held several meeting* , at gat. Francisco, toe tatting steps to emigrate to Sonora. The Mariposa Gold Mining Company, a Lon don concern, had been sold out by th? Sheriff. Washington’s biithday was celebrated at San Francisco by the firemen, wish a parade, and ap propriate ceremonies in the Metropolitan Thea- Owirgtothe monelary difficulties, arrived ships were riot discharging. The steamers Oiegon from Panama, Sierra Nevada and San Juki, hail arrived up. The Oregon Legislature adjourned on the Ist ult. The Lfgisia uie of Washington Territory, have selected Olympia, as the capital of that Territory. A letter from Messrs. Page, Ikcon & Co, 1 states that they would certainly resume business on the Ist of March at San Francisco, aud al all their branches. Th Northern Light brings Sandwich lelaad dates to the 3d of Feb., but there i 6 no news n importance. 1 he United States ship Portsmouth, had arriv ed at Tahiti, al! well, aud wouid soon sa l direct for the United States. I he outbreak at Australia occurred at the Bal larat mines on account or the commissioners having dt manded, w ith drawn swords and fixed bayonets, I censes of the miners. The ven geance cl the miners was aroused, and they mustered in great numbers on the 30'h of Nov., wbe.u a ekiimish ensued, which was renewed on D-;c 4, when a terrific fight occurred. Sunm* 100 soldiers and 150 mounted troops proceeded Hureka camp and died upon tlie msurgen'B. Twelve were killed and many wounded. The soldiers lost 7, and 15 reported of the mounted troops shot from the bush. The miners 'close to f-*y more licenses, and several districts ere supposed to be in a state of revolution. I hr Ocean Steamers. —Some cf the news -1 «p< rs an* laboring under an error as to tire ef 'cc-ol lhe Pn sident’s veto of the O- can Mail I't'.'ur er bill. That measuie proposed to a pro ,,.ia*.> $850,000 a year for the seiviee !o five years, and repeal the reserving t - Con -r■ ■ -*i liet? right to give mx months notice of the discontinuance of the contract. It also required he Collin.*-Company to add another steitner to '*;« fmc. Ti-e appropiiat'i'n, as it now stand* :n the Navy Appruprraiion bill, is 5*.0,000 (nr i. single year, ending the 30'h June, 1850. Tho right to give notice is retained.