RUSSIA.
By an ukase of the Emperor Alexander, the male population of Poland has, with few exceptions, been made liable to the military conscription, from twenty to thirty years of age.—A rescript to the governor of Cherson, in favour of the Duchobooze, a sect of dissenters from the Greek Church, is highly honourable to the humane feelings and enlightened views of this monarch.
TURKEY.
Letters from Constantinople of the 1st February state, that the British minister is still in negotiation relative to the affairs of the Ionian Islands, of which the divan pertinaciously refuses to acknowledge the independence. Yet it was not unknown at Constantinople, that General Maitland had arrived at Corfu, and had convoked the Grand Senate to pronounce definitely on the administration or organization of the state. If we may credit letters from Vienna, inserted in the Paris papers, it would seem that the Porte has to contend with a rebellious subject in the person of the Pacha of Bagdad, who having been formally deposed by a firman from Constantinople, refused to resign his power, and acknowledge his successor.—It is also stated in the same journals, that the Pacha of Egypt, the most powerful of the Turkish governors in the Mediterranean, is preparing to dispute the sovereignty of that province with the Ottoman Porte.
America.
UNITED STATES.
The president of the United States transmitted to both Houses of Congress, on the 4th December, a message by Mr Todd, his secretary, of which we can only give the general outline. It begins by noticing the partial failure of the crops, the depression of particular branches of manufactures, and of navigation,—complains of the British government for prohibiting a trade between its colonies and the United States in Amerirican vessels—notices the attack on the American flag by a Spanish ship of war, and the uncertain state of the relations with Algiers—expresses much satisfaction at the tranquillity that has been restored among the Indian tribes, and between these tribes and the United States—recommends a reorganization of the militia, provision for the uniformity of weights and measures, the establishment of a university within the district which contains the seat of government, an amendment of the criminal law—and suggests, that the regulations which were intended to guard against abuses in the slave trade should be rendered more effectual. The expediency of a re-modification of the judiciary establishment, and of an additional department in the executive branch of the government, are recommended to the consideration of Congress.—On the subject of finance the president expresses much satisfaction. The actual receipts of the revenue during 1816 are said to amount to about 47,000,000 of dollars, and the payments to only 38,000,000; thus leaving a surplus in the treasury, at the close of the year, of about 9,000,000 of dollars. The aggregate of the funded debt, on the 1st January 1817, is estimated not to exceed 110,000,000 of dollars, the ordinary annual expenses of government are taken at less than 20,000,000, and the permanent revenue at 25,000,000. The state of the currency and the establishment of the national bank are then noticed; and Mr Madison concludes this moderate and well-written document, by referring to the near approach of the period at which he is to retire from public service, and with animated expressions of satisfaction at the tranquillity and prosperity of the country.
It is pleasing to observe the facility with which useful institutions are adopted, under the harmony at present subsisting among mankind. The Provident or Saving Banks, which have been established so beneficially in Britain, are likely to be soon very generally resorted to in the United States. The plan was in progress at Boston before the close of 1816, and was countenanced by a large body of the state legislature.
From the report of the late secretary to the treasury, it appears that the gross revenue for the year 1816 amounted to 59,403,978, and the expenditure to 38,745,799 dollars, leaving an excess of receipts, amounting to 20,658,179, exclusive of the sum in the treasury on the 1st of January 1816.
A bill has been brought into Congress, to prevent citizens of the United States from selling vessels of war to the subjects of any foreign power, and more effectually to prevent the arming and equipping of vessels of war intended to be used against nations in amity with the United States. This bill is supposed to be chiefly directed against the insurgents of Spanish America, and to have been brought forward through the representations of the Spanish minister.
It has been officially announced, that Mr Monro has been elected president, and Mr Tomkins vice-president, for the constitutional term of four years from the 4th of last month.
An act of Congress has passed, by which all British vessels entering the ports of the United States, from our colonial possessions, are to be subjected to an additional duty of two dollars per ton. This proceeding is resorted to, in consequence of the exclusion of the American shipping from our West India islands.
It has been proposed, in the House of Representatives, to reduce the peace establishment to 5000 men, and also to repeal all the internal taxes.
The exports from the United States, for the year ending 30th September 1816,
