es of our
English contemporaries will be generally adhered to; but the utmost care
and candor will be evinced in every _resume_ of affairs or opinions
admitted to our pages.

THE UNITED STATES.

As the session of Congress draws near to its close, its proceedings
become more animated and interesting. It is already evident, however,
that but few of the questions recommended for its consideration can be
disposed of before its adjournment. One of its most important acts was
the passage of the Cheap Postage Bill, in the House, on the seventeenth
of January, by a vote of 130 to 75. This bill provides for a uniform
rate of three cents per half-ounce, on letters, and a material reduction
in the rates charged for newspapers and periodicals. The Senate
Committee to whom the bill was referred, have reported amendments
raising the postage to five cents on unpaid letters, striking out the
provision allowing newspapers to go free within thirty miles of their
place of publication, and reducing postage on magazines fifty per cent
when prepaid. The French Spoliation Bill, after considerable discussion,
passed the Senate on Friday, January 24th. The bill provides for the
payment of claims based on the detention of vessels in the port of
Bordeaux, the forcible capture and detention of American citizens, and
depredations on American commerce in the West Indies, to the amount of
$5,000,000.

The bill to ascertain and settle Private Land Claims in California,
introduced by Mr. Fremont towards the close of last session, was called
up by Mr. Gwin, his colleague, on the twenty-seventh of January. Mr.
Gwin offered a substitute, which was agreed to in Committee of the
Whole, when the bill was reported to the Senate. After a most animated
debate, in which the bill was strongly opposed by Mr. Benton, it finally
passed the Senate on the sixth of February.

The bill introduced in the House for the establishment of Branch Mints
in New-York and San Francisco gave rise to an exciting debate. The bill
was discussed for several days, the Pennsylvania members opposing it in
a body. Its defeat was finally accomplished on Wednesday, February 5th.
Since then Mr. Gwin has introduced in the Senate a separate bill for the
establishment of a Branch Mint in San Francisco. A joint resolution,
reported to the Senate by Mr. Rusk, providing that dead letters
remaining in the post-offices of California and Oregon shall be opened
at the post-office in San Francis