The Week.

rational channel , and thus avert the calamity of resorting to a display of physical force . One reassuring circumstance is the decided fiasco which attended the attempt of the party of action to get up a popular demonstration at Milan on the subject . A protest has been entered against the appropriation of Florence as a capital for Italy by its former Sovereign , the

ex-Grand Duke of Tuscany . We learn from Turin that a decree of amnesty in behalf of the prisoners taken at Aspromonte Avill soon be issued , having been signed by the King . The city of Turin is quiet , and there is no truth in the report that a loan was about to be raised . A gentleman who has just returned from Caprera gives a curious summary of conversation he seems

to have had with Garibaldi . In the first place , the General intends to re-visit this country next year , "if events in Italy permit , " and he is now quite convinced that "it was owing to no pressure from foreign powers , but entirely oat of consideration for his health , " that Mr . Gladstone and his other friends recommended in April last to leave England without completing

what may be called his provincial engagements . With reference to the struggle in America , he holds that on the part of the North it is a war "for power and to satisfy wounded pride , " while it " has become a war of self-defence on the part of the South , which has shown the truest patriotic feeling , the greatest

bravery , and the finest generalship . " He denies " most emphatically" that he ever offered his services to the Federals . He is " very much annoyed" about the Franco-Italian Treaty , and declares that it is altogether owing to the course taken by the Emperor of the French that Venice aud Rome are still separated from the rest of Italy . The definitive treaty of peace between Denmark and the German Powers appears to be on

the point of completion ; for we are told by a Vienna telegram that at the next meeting of the Conference the " general wording of the treaty will be discussed . " The next session of the Austrian Reichsrath will be opened on the 16 th November . We have very serious news from Brazil . The great banking firm of Souto at Rio has failed for a large amount , leading to

the failure of several other firms , and the commercial crisis was so severe that the Government had decreed the suspension of cash payments by the banks . War had been declared between Brazil and Uruguay . It is announced that a steamer , supposed to be " a Spanish vessel * bound from Antwerp to Matamoras , was seized on Monday last by the Federal cruisers

Niagara and Sacramento , while some nine miles from the southern , coast of England . It is added , however , that on Wednesday she was set at liberty by her captors , who must have discovered that her cargo , or her destination , was such that she could not be made a lawful prize .

AMERICA . —The Persia , from New York , has brought us some details of General Grant ' s recent operations in the neighbourhood of Richmond , but no accounts of any further fighting . From these details it appears that on the 29 th ult . two Federal corps , under Generals Ord and Birney , which had suddenly crossed from the gsouth to the north bank of the James River ,

advanced , towards Richmond , and carried the works at Chap ' m's Bluff and Newmarket Heights , but subsequently failed to take a position held by the Confederates at Laurel Hill , and withdrew to the junction of the Varina and Newmarket roads . On the 30 th ult . the Confederates unsuccessfully attempted to retake the positions captured by the Federals on the previous

day ; and on the 1 st instant there was no fighting , though a Federal reconnaissance was pushed on towards Richmond . In these engagements the Federal correspondents appear to admit that their losses amounted to at least 2 , 000 men ; and their black regiments , which are said to have behaved very

The Week.

gallantly , suffered especially great losses . Active operations on the south of the James River did not commence before the 30 th ult . on which day two Federal corps advanced , on the extreme left of the Federal lines , and carried some Confederate positions , but were ultimately stopped by a strong line of defences . On the 1 st inst . the Federals advanced a little further , but then

halted as they found the Confederates behind earthworks , which it was not prudent to assault . The Confederates still held positions covering the Southside Railway and the road by which they communicate with the Weldon Railway , and their defences were too formidable to be easily stormed . In these actions on the south of the James River the Federal correspondents admit

losses amounting to more than 2 , 000 men , of whom more than half were made prisoners . Rumours of fighting , and of the death of General Butler , had been current in Washington , but were declared to be devoid of foundation . The latest accounts from General Sheridan ' s head-quarters were from Harrisonburg , and asserted that lie was preparing to attack the Confederate

position at Brown ' s Gap , but the Southern journals affirmed that he was retreating . There was no news from Atlanta ; but there were many and conflicting accounts of the operations undertaken by bodies of Confederates , under General Forrest aud other commanders , for the purpose of impeding or destroying General Sherman ' s railway communications . The

Confederate invasion of Missouri caused the greatest alarm in St . Louis , aud nothing was certainly known of the fate of the Federal General Swing's brigade , which had been compelled to evacuate Pilot Knob , and endeavour to join the Federal forces elsewhere . Secretary Fessenden had issued proposals for a new loan of 40 , 000 , 000 dollars , to bear 6 per cent interest , payable in gold .

IlsTUA , CUIXA , & c . —The Calcutta and China mail has arrived , but brings little or no intelligence which has not been substantially anticipated by previous telegrams . It was expected by the Europeans in Japan that hostilities would soon be begun by the English squadron against the Prince of Nagato . The advices from New Zealand show good reason for hoping that the surrender of the Tauranga tribes will soon be followed by the submission of all the revolted Maories .

To Correspondents.

TO CORRESPONDENTS .

J . V . M . ( Holloway ) . —We cannot insert advertisements from unknown correspondents unless previously paid for . THE BARON DE CAAIIN . —Will M . M . and the P . Prov . S . G . W . Cork and Munster favour the Editor with their addresses when they shall hear from him by letter . J . W . ( West Lancashire ) . —As a rule Thursday morning is in

time for reports intended for the coming number ; but last week proved an exception . We regret that you should have been annoyed by the terms of the notice to correspondents . B . D . —Yes , in 1856 . S . S . —We cannot put impertinent questions to brethren with whom we are unacquainted . You can do so yourself if you

think it safe . Rusxrcus has only to set himself closely to the work with the assistance of a friend , and he will find that they run so smoothly that there is no difficulty in becoming Master of the Ceremonies . Faint heart never succeeds . G . M . —We have received your communication , and will give it our earliest consideration . A . F . —Certainly not .