NEWS OF THE WEEK.

THE long-expected answer from America arrived on 6'1'3 8th instant about eight P.M., and by ten it was known throughout London that Messrs. Mason and Slidell had been restored. Mr. Seward's despatch has been pub- lished in New York, and it is known that he affirms the surrender to be in accordance with American principles and an act of simple justice to England. There is also, it is said, evidence of a desire to regard the demand as a concession on the part of Great Britain, but there is no wish on this side to scrutinize words too closely. The Federal Government has yielded, whatever the motive ; and people are too much relieved to do more than remark that an arrest allowed to be unjust in December must also have been un- just when it occurred, when it was applauded by the House of Representatives, and when it was endorsed by a Secretary whose report was submitted before publication to President Lincoln. The Funds rose at once to 93f, a very high price, and, despite the expected wrath of the Western States, it is felt that as America palpably is not seeking war, peace may yet be secured for years. Nations are not vindictive, or Russia and England might still be at war, and the normal position of England and France would be one of active hostility.

We understand that Mr. Seward's despatch, though it disowns and repudiates the course taken by Captain Wilkes, asserts that, had the Trent been taken into a prize-court for adjudication, she would have been liable to condemnation under the law of contraband. This, though quite immaterial to the present issue, is a very grave augury for the future. We believe that no legal ground for such a decision, in the case of an ordinary mail packet, carrying between neutral port and neutral port, could be sustained at all. And we should fear for the permanence of peace should such a case actually arise.

The Northern stone fleet has arrived at its destination. Sixteen whalers, laden with granite, have been sunk across the harbour of Charleston, and according to a detailed re- port have been carefully so arranged as to make the destruc- tion of the harbour permanent. Just sufficient water-flow has been left to prevent the waters of the Ashley and Cooper from cutting new channels for themselves, while the torrents of sand brought down will silt up around the ves- sels and form a permanent bar with a granite bottom. If this statement is true, which even yet we can hardly believe, the act is one of hostility to the whole human race. Such a scheme carried out on both sides would seal up the Western Continent, and permanently arrest its civilization. The North must beware how it alienates that remnant of moral sympathy which its possible action against slavery still helps to secure. The Austrian Government did .innch evil in Hungary, but it never destroyed the Danube, • Nothing of the slightest political interest has occurred in England this week. The Windham case still drags along its slimy length, but no verdict has been given, and public opi- nion remains unaltered.

Mr. Mark Lemon has begun a course of very entertaining, and, in their motley way, instructive, lectures on Old London, The life of a great capital is full of miscellaneous oddities. and its eras are marked by grand spectacles. It would appear from Mr. Lemon's lecture, that while the miscellany of Lon- don life is now more complex than ever, the spectacles of the nineteenth century, whether intentional or accidental—the pageants or the conflagrations—are not nearly so grand as those of the reigns of the Plantagenets. Royal processions with nymphs standing in Cheapside distributing silver cups of wine to the king and retinue—processions of mob help- ing themselves without the aid of nymphs, to silver and wine also—Aldermen with garlands wreathed round their "honour- able brows"—May-day peasants hastening to the Maypole-- the Evening Watch that paraded London streets one night only in the year—and many other picturesque or stately trams, wind, in quaint or grand costume, through the scenery of Mr. Lemon's lecture. And the admirable paintings with which he illustrates his stories, gratify the love of spectacle still lingering in modern Londoners.

Sir George Clerk will, we believe, be Provisional Governor- General of India in' the interval between the departure of Lord Canning and the arrival of Lord Elgin.

The Queen, by an Order in Council, has directed us to pray in future for "Albert Edward," instead of calling him merely by his father's name. If this be by way of transi- tion to the use of the second name alone, the title of our future King would be Edward VII., which has a truly royal sound.

The Saturday Review of last week, in answer to our charge of reckless misstatement concerning General James H. Lane, the Senator for Kansas, refers, without specification, to a communication in the New York limes as its authority, stating that "the error, if any, was committed by the American writer, and it was not corrected by the editor of the New York Times." We conclude the reference is to the paper on General Jim Lane in the New York Times, of December 3rd, which we have disinterred after some trouble. The letter not only does not support the statement of the Satur- day Reviewer, that General James H Lane had formerly led. "the Border Ruffians of Missouri," but to any one who had. the smallest knowledge of Kansas politics directly proves the contrary. That General Jim Lane "was born in a Slave State,. muted by a slave," and had for the earlier years of his life "pro-slavery prejudices," the very speech on which the Satur- day _Review was commenting explicitly stated; and an inherited. bias can scarcely be said, perhaps, to be a discredit to him.. It is a great credit that, going with strong pre-slavery pre- judices into Kansas, he should at once have taken his stand on the popular side, and resisted with all his powers the ma- chinations of the Missouri ruffians. The passage on which the Saturday Review founded its amusing blunder was, no doubt, the following: "Going there [to Kansas] a pro-slavery democrat of the sternest type, wishing, it is said, that he could take the first slave into Kansas, he has yielded to all the strong changes of popular sentiment, till he is to-day the recognized prophet of emancipation. In the Topeka Constitutional Convention he led the Black Law party, which in- sisted on the exclusion of free negroes from the prospective' State; in the Leavenworth Constitutional Convention he managed to evade the issue entirely.' That there was a party among the _Free-soilers who wished to exclude free blacks from the State, though they also wished to exclude slavery, every one who knows anything of the politics of the Kansas troubles is well aware ; and General Lane, by virtue of his antecedents, naturally belonged to its ranks. But to suppose that any member of the Topeka and Leavenworth Free-soil Assemblies belonged to the spurious legislature of the border ruffians of Missouri, is one of those- ludicrous blunders which can only be paralleled by a confu- sion between the Hungarian Diet at Pesth and the Austrian Reichsrath at Vienna. The words "leader of the border ruffians of Missouri" are never mentioned throughout this communication, and were an interpolation of the writer's confused fancy. General Lane commanded a division of the Free-soil troops throughout the contest. Surely it would be well to entrust the American articles in the Saturday Re- view to writers with some other qualification besides hatred of Americans ?

The American Government is more embarrassed by the conduct of its own officers than by any other of its many difficulties. The captain of the Iroquois at Martinique was within an ace of drawing the fire of a French man-of-war, and now the captain of the Tuscarora, at Southampton, is watching the Nashville so closely that "sensation telegrams" are flashed to London, and observers fully expect to see her violate the neutrality of the port. It is not quite certain, indeed, whether another Trent case has not already occurred, -two Southerners having been taken out of the Eugenia Smith, a schooner sailing under the British flag between -Matanzas and the Havannah. It is still, however, doubtful whether she were not owned by Southerners, though, if that were the case, it is difficult to understand why she escaped capture. The Government, it is said, have applied for re- dress, as the precedent of the Trent, in the event of her being a British ship, completely covers the case.

Ireland seems to be changing fast. Within the week, the notorious Father Daly has been suspended by his Bishop— nominally for disobedience in attending the Harbour Board, really for interfering too much in politics. Archdeacon Sullivan has delivered from the altar at Kenmare an address denouncing treason with hearty severity, bidding the people remember that England stood by them in their need, telling them that they are already the freest population on earth, and quizzing the M`Manus demonstration and all secret societies as only an Irish priest dare do. The Archbishop, it will be remembered, recently prohibited priests from at- tending the "martyr's funeral," and it would almost seem that the word had gone forth to separate the "Catholic cause" from the cry of "Justice to Ireland !" What will the Brigade do ?

The Ministerial crisis in Italy seems to have ended, the majority in the Chambers having once more agreed to support Ricasoli. We 'confess the discontent seems to us to have been exaggerated. Every vote taken has ended in a victory for the Baron, and the only distinct charge against him is want of vigour in his internal administration. Even on this point the only proof offered is the apparent increase of crime, which seems mainly due to the fact that the police have ceased to hush anything up. It is not the amount of crime committed, but of crime committed with impunity, which brings disgrace on a Government. For the rest, Baron Ricasoli's policy, to mature opinion and trust to schism to secure unity, is the soundest yet devised.

The Prussian Government has replied to the proposals of Saxony for a reorganization of the German Federation. They do not consider the time prepitious for the creation of any central authority in Germany. Neither will they con- sent to the foundation of three Powers, as proposed by Wur- temberg. But the Court thinks it possible to unite a portion of Germany into a stronger league, which shall leave to its head the military command and the direction of foreign affairs. This points to the adhesion of several smaller States to Prussia, retaining their internal powers but surrendering their external autonomy. The despatch has excited great interest in Germany, as the first announcement that the King is ready to assume a leadership over the smaller States.

There has been a palace revolution in China, which, so far as it is intelligible to outer barbarians, mans pretty much this : Prince Kung, at the head of the party friendly to Europeans, or afraid of Europeans, has defeated the advisers of liien-Fung, gained possession of the boy-Emperor, pro- claimed himself Regent, and executed one or two Chinese Lord Eldons. The effect of that movement is to place China for eight or ten years under a man of considerable energy, and inclined to maintain the treaties with Europe, and is therefore exceedingly satisfactory.

The embassy to the new King of Madagascar has arrived at Antananarivo, the capital, and been received by Ha- dams the Second. This prince, nominally a Christian, though by birth a Malay, rules a population of about four millions, scattered through an island half as large again as Great Britain. The mass of his people are almost savages, but the ruling race, the Hovas, seem capable of civilization, build good houses, are fond of luxuries, are willing to trade with Europeans, and are by no means indisposed towards Christianity. The late sovereign, the mother of Radama, was a fanatical Pagan, who tried to suppress Christianity and foreign trade by wholesale massacres, but who had sufficient natural feeling to spare her son. He has commenced his reign with a resolution to shed no blood, and will probably consent to the settlement of Europeans. The country is, perhaps, the very finest of tropical regions, full of mountains and lakes, rich in mines, and with means for supplying every variety of produce. If the King can maintain decent order, and the settlers do not improve the Hovas off the face of the earth, the island may become the centre of an important trade.

Mr. H. Adams, a son of the American Minister in London, has published in a Manchester paper a diary of his proceedings in England. He was requested, it appears, to ascertain the state of public feeling in Manchester on the subject of break- ing the blockade, and his report is satisfactory. There was no wish in Manchester to make such an attempt unless the war were protracted for years, and one Member of Parliament considered it possible to make a demonstration of feeling in favour of the North. Altogether Mr. Adams seemed satisfied that the recognition of the South by the North would pre- cede her recognition by this country.

The county magistrates are getting up a crusade in favour of a more stringent game law. The Quarter Sessions of Chester, Warwick, Worcester, and, lastly, Leicester, have agreed to a petition to Parliament, the effect of granting which would be to employ the county police in searching suspected poachers for game on their return from their ex- peditions, and to make the possession of such game sufficient evidence of the crime without catching them in the act. The plea of the county magistrates is humanity, not the game. So much bloodshed arises in the struggles with the poachers, they say, that measures should be taken which would throw the duty of apprehending them on a larger force and in a more convenient place and time. In Warwickshire, a minority of ten out of about thirty magistrates, in Leicestershire of only four out of about the same number, resisted the petition. It would, in fact, amount to pressing the county police into the service of the landed gentry as under-gamekeepers. We are sure that Parliament will not consent to aggravate the severity of laws which even now reflect but ill the popular conscience on the subject, mistaken though that conscience is. Whenever an offence against the law has a popular feel- ing in its favour, or at least in extenuation of it, it is the true policy to require the most indisputable evidence of its commission. We do not fear any return to the game-law legislation of George III. The result would certainly be a great intensification of the ardour of poachers.

Suitat—The Corps Legislatif will open on the 27th instant.

A case of some interest to all Russians has just been decided in Paris. The late Marshal Michael Woronzoff, in 1856, received an anonymous note advising him to give Prince Dolgorouki, an exile in Paris, 8000/. if he wished his pedigree well spoken of in a forthcoming work on Russia. His son claimed damages for the letter, and Prince Dolgorouki replied by a counter-action on the imputation cast upon him. The court decreed in favour of Prince Woronzoff, believing the anonymous letter to have been written by Prince Dolgorouki himself.

The Comtitutionnel publishes, obviously under inspiration, the following warning to all political writers in France : "Now this con- stitution, capable of improvement in certain points, is immutable in its basis—its basis which the Emperor has formally declared has been consecrated b4r a plebiscite; and it does not belong to any one to touch it, to criticize it, even to discuss it, or to use it as a subject for controversy. It does not appear to us to be without utility to place before the eyes of our readers these fundamental articles, and the inviolable principles which are the essence, or pact, concluded between the French people and the dynasty of the Napoleons : I. A

resPeusihief. 2. Ministers depending only on the Executive Tuweir,1 A Council of State preparing the laws and carrying on the "'ion before the Corps Legislatif. 4. A. Corps Legislatif discus:and voting the laws. 5. A second Assembly—a prepou. deta„t'bwer—the guardians of the fundamental pact and of the Pum;erties. This is what distinguishes France of the present day France of the Restoration and France of the July Govern-

,

Teellis is what the French people, in accord with the Emperor,

•

and what it sanctioned by the almost unanimity of its votes. A This is what in this world depends only on the Emperor and the Trench people. This, consequently, must not be attacked and must not be discussed."

Literally, nothing has occurred in France during the week, and we must content ourselves with the eulogiuin which M. Miguet read before the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences on Mr. Hallam : "Mr. Hallam united the highest qualities of soul to the solid merits 'of mind. His very person proclaimed what he was. Tall, of noble presence, the elegant purity of his morals, the sustained dignity of his character, the active penetration of a strong intellect, the un- ruffled equity of a superior judgment, his gentleness, at once, amiable and firm, his tranquil modesty, his unvarying rectitude, were all por- trayed in his noble features. His forehead was broad and calm ; his ye quick and limpid ; his lips, pure and truthful, never open for -equivocation or insincerity, spoke all the candour of his feelings, and .all the nobleness of his ideas. In social intercourse he was most agreeable; and the strict justice which he exercised in history was in him blended with the assiduous practice of the rarest goodness in private life. He could be most generous, and could not be otherwise -than beneficent. In his affectionate mnnificeace he had bestowed a dowry on the betrothed of his son, and he was so full of compassion that people scrupled to speak much of the destitute in his presence. He relieved all he knew of. The man was as much revered as the -writer was esteemed. To the high character which his works had won for him the Prime Minister of- England wished to add another. He offered to Mr. Hallambaronet, the title of as a mark of favour from the Crown to the historian who in his time did most honour to his country. Mr. Hallam declined the honour with touching dignity. 'My age, he wrote, `and the loss of those who might have shared -this tide with me, indispose me against changing my name. He re- mained with that simple but glorious name, which he nobly name., even to his 82nd year; and when quitting life, in the midst of universal respect, he left that name attached to an imperishable monument, -which will transmit it to posterity in all its solid splendour. That mime will live so long as the purest virtue is esteemed and good books read."

Vritesist.—The Prussian Government has addressed a despatch to Washington, of which the following are the most important para- graphs:

"it is not requisite that I should now enter into an explanation of the point of law precisely involved. Public opinion in Europe has expressed itself with rare unanimity, and in the most decided manner, in favour of the injured party. We ourselves have only hitherto hesitated to acquaint you with our views upon the transac- tion, because, in the absence of reliable inielreence, we doubted whether the captain of the San Jacinto had been guided in the -course he adopted by instructions received from his Government or not. We still at present prefer to believe the latter supposition -correct. Should, however, the former prove to be the actual state -of the case, we should feel ourselves compelled to ascribe a more serious importance to the matter, and to regard in it, to our great regret, not an isolated fact, but rather an open threat against the rights appertaining to all neutrals. We are as yet not positively ac- quainted with the demands forwarded upon the part of England to the Cabinet of Washington upon compliance with which the main- tenance of peace appears to depend ; as far, however, as we are in- formed of them, we entertain the conviction that no terms have been proposed by England by which the dignity of President Lincoln could reasonably be offended.. His Majesty the King, animated by the sincerest wishes for the well-being of the United States of North America, has commanded me to advocate the cause of peace with President Lincoln through you in a most emphatic manner. We should consider ourselves fortunate if we succeeded by this means in c ontributing to a peaceful solution of a conffict out of which the greatest dangers may spring'. It is possible that the President may have already taken and expressed his resolution; but, of whatever nature this may be, it will be consolatory to the King's Government, looking back upon the uninterrupted relations of sincere friendship which have existed between Prussia and the United States since their foundation, to have frankly submitted to the Cabinet of Wash- ington its view of the present case, as well as the wishes which are therewith connected."

The Prussian correspondent of the Telegraph, generally well in- formed, gives us an analysis of a despatch signed by the Foreign Secretary on the reorganization of the Federation. It has created, it is said, some sensation, and indicates that the King, though re- luctant to place himself at the head of Germany, is not unwilling to see the smaller States place themselves under his protection. "In any altercation among the members of the Confederacy, the chief point to be brought into prominence is, that greater regard should be paid to the real relations of power possessed by the several States than has been the case hitherto. This, the principal defect of the old Federal constitution, has been left entirely undisturbed by Herr von Beust. According to this statesman, the two great Powers should still be left with the inadequate privilege of possessing a seventeenth only of

the collective votes of the Assembly. Thus, in the popular represen- tation, as proposed by Herr von Beust, those two great Powers would not be able to contribute even the half of the deputies. The im- possibility of creating for the totality of Federal members an or- ganization possessing as its essential distinction one central power holding sway over the whole, is again maintained in the despatch, as it relates to the several chief points of the proposal, and, above all, to that handing over the executive power to three princes of the Confederacy. Equally impracticable would it be for a Federal law to be competent for deciding the constitutional questions of those States only partially belonging to the Confederacy. Not the less doubtful would be that of raising the commission for technical military de- tails—especially in its present composition—to the dignity of an in- dependent board of administration. A strong central power, whether in a simple or more composite form, would be impracticable for the Confederacy as a whole; but—and here the despatch gives expression to a positive decision—it would be practicable to establish a closer league within the limits of the existing arrangement, of a more intimate nature and a more extensive application. This narrower body might then unite in one hand the supreme leadership of the army, as also the representation of its diplomacy. In a subsequent addition to his memorial, Herr von Beust has expressed the opinion that the asso- ciation of a part of the Federal members in a narrower league must result in its sinking down to a mere treaty of alliance dependent upon the shifting politics of the day. Count Bernstorff asserts that there is no ground for such a view of the case. It was yet to be seen how far the establishment of a closer league within the limits of the Confederacy was incompatible with the continued existence of the latter, and how the application of the Federal law, contained in Article II. of the Federal Charter, by a part of the members, would alter the rights and duties of the rest. By such establishment the resisting power of the whole Confederacy would be strengthened, and that to the advantage also of the part not sharing in the narrower body. Count Bernstorff concludes with the acknowledgment of Herr von Beast's services in speaking out so frankly upon the absolute necessity of Federal reform, and expresses the conviction that, in. the interest of law and order, it was high time for a mutual understand- ing to be arrived at among the several members of the Confederacy."

Indrig.—The plan of mortgaging the estates of the Church for a loan of 15,000,000/. sterling has been mooted in the finance com- mittee of the Reichsrath ; it was of course rejected, but the seizure is ultimately inevitable. The Austrian Government, in a despatch dated 18th December, 1861, has recommended the Government of Washington to "perform an act of equity and moderation," which it may do "without the slightest sacrifice of its dignity."

Vedneal.—The King is still Well, and the Cortes are pressing his Majesty to marry at once.

114—Vesuvius is rapidly destroying Torre del Greco. On the 28th December, 50 or 60 houses had fallen and 320 were about to fall, while the remainder were uninhabitable from the poisonous gases exhaled in every direction. Out of twenty thousand inhabit- ants fifteen thousand are in flight, and the remainder are exposed to terrible danger. It is remarked as a symptom of the new organiza- tion of Italy that the inhabitants were loud in their praise of the armed police or carabineers.

The Ministerial crisis in Italy has lasted throughout the week. On the 2nd, Baron Ricasoli called the majority together and ex- plained to them that he could find no Home Secretary, and must meet Parliament without one. 'If, however, Parliament chose to support him, he could, with his present Cabinet, get through the bills necessary to the unification of the country and the finances. The assembly retired partly satisfied, and on the 8th another was called together. The arguments employed have not been reported by tele- graph, but the meeting resolved unanimously to support Baron Rica- soli, who is now therefore safe till next session. The chief accusa- tion against him is that crime is not vigilantly repressed, to which he retorts that he has only 14,000 policemen when 19,000 are neceesary, that the proportion of crime is less than in England, and that it is necessary to introduce the penalty of transportation, which strikes most Italians with horror.

The reports from Naples are most favourable. The conscription has been extended to Naples, and 36,000 youths, double the usual number, have been called out. Instead of resisting, as was expected, the Neapolitans professed themselves delighted, and in some places volunteered in excess of the required number. The conscripts have been sent to the north, and are said to be excellent material for all corps except the Bersaglieri, for which, indeed, most Piedmontese are unfit. Those corps are made up chiefly from Savoy, Sardinia, and the Riviera. Much depends upon the fitness of these men for actual warfare, but the conscription has now been extended throughout Italy except in Rome. In Venetia it exists in a form to which the Italian conscription will seem light. The abolition of the Lieute- nancy at Naples, it is said, is exceedingly popular, the Neapolitans being well aware of the need of absolute unity. Nothing has occurred at Rome beyond a few quarrels between the Papal officials and General Goyon, and between the Pope and M. de Lavalette, the French Ambassador. The Pope wished to sum- mon a great Conclave of Bishops to pronounce the independence of the Holy See, a dogma of the Church, upon which M. de Lavalette sig- nified that the hrench troops would be withdrawn, and the resolution was abandoned. The incident is remarkable as the first interference with the Pope's spiritual power. 3linira.—The Spanish fleet arrived off Vera Cruz on the 5th De- cember, and took possession of the town, which was evacuated by the Mexicans. Mrsbal Serrano will however wait for the French and English squadrons, of which the French one passed Teneriffe on the 25th November. It is expected that the whole force will be off Vera Cruz by the 5th January. The Mexican Government is bitterly indignant at the intervention, and its Foreign Secretary has forwarded a letter to the Mexican Consul in London, affirming that the Govern- ment was about to give new guarantees for its debts, that within a year it would be able to meet all engagements, that all charitable institutions supported by Government have been kept up, and that the Constitutional Government loses no opportunity to support order and morality, and that "if fresh calamities are in store, the Mexican Government has not provoked them, and it is therefore determined not to spare any means to avoid them in a pacific, reasonable way, but also to use all its energies to uphold the national honour." Juarez has collected about 18,000 men, and confided the defence of the country to Michael Doblado, perhaps the only man capable of defending it.

"The Federal steamer Santiago de Cuba has overhauled, on the coast of Texas, the schooner Eugenia Smith. She found nothing contraband on board the Eugenia Smith, but took from on board two passengers, who from the papers found upon them were supposed to be agents of the Confederated States.

"These passengers, Messrs. Zacchiri and Rogers, have arrived at New York, and have been confined in Fort Lafayette.

" The Key West correspondent of the New York Herald says the Eugenia Smith was sailing under British colours between Matanzas and Havannah. "The New York Herald thinks that the commander of the Federal steamer

ihurrita.—The following telegram was received from Londonderry, by M. Reuter, on Friday moriung :

"Nair YORK, Dec. 28th. "The diplomatic correspondence in reference to the case of Messrs. Mason and Slidell has been published. "It commences with a despatch from Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams, in London, declaring that Captain Wilkes acted without instructions, and hoping that the British Government would consider the subject in a friendly temper. Mr. Seward says also that the British Govern- ment may expect the best disposition on the part of the Federal Government.

"The next despatch is from Earl Russell to Lord Lyons, stating the outrage on the British flag, and hoping that the act was committed without instructions from the Federal Government, as that Govern- ment must be aware that Great Britain cannot allow such an affront to pass without reparation. Earl Russell expresses a hope that the Federal Government will offer suitable redress by giving up the four prisoners to Lord Lyons. "Mr. Seward, who was furnished with a copy of Earl Russell's des- patch, replied that the English Government rightly conjectured that the act was without the authority or knowledge of the Federal Government. He trusts that England will see that the Federal Government neither practised nor approved any deliberate wrong in the transaction, and declares that Great Britain has a right to de- mand the same reparatiou as the United States would expect from any friendly nation in a similar case. Mr. Seward says he is aware that he argues on the British side of the case, but in doing so he is only defending American principles. He quotes the instructions from Mr. Madison, Secretary of State in 1804, to Mr. Monroe, Minister to England, and says : " If I decide this case in favour of my own Government, I must disallow its most cherished principles, and for ever abandon its most cherished policy; but the country cannot afford such a sacrifice. The Government cannot deny the justice of England's claim.' "Mr. Seward, in conclusion, states that the four prisoners are at the disposal of Lord Lyons, and asks his Lordship to indicate a time and place for receiving them. "Lord Lyons, in his reply, says he will forward Mr. Seward's communication to the British Government, and will confer personally with him in regard to the reception of the four gentlemen. "The note from M. Thouvenel to the French Minister on the Trent affair is included in the correspondence."

Another telegram of the same date announces :

"The harbour of Charleston has been destroyed, sixteen whaling hulks filled with granite having been sunk in three parallel lines of interval distances across the channel.

"The flow permitted to the water will prevent the cutting of a new outlet, and the obstruction will soon accumulate a triple line of sand banks across the entrance." that of her beloved husband should stand upon this memorial.

date says that the harbour would not be absolutely destroyed : for the best of fathers, and the gratitude and devotion of my sorrowing heart, I "The sixteen ships of the stone fleet which have gone to their final moorings on Charleston bar, and around which the heavy masses of sand are now settling, will effectually close all passage into or out of the original secession city by that line. They will effectually blockade the port so far as the main ship channel is concerned, and will relieve our regular blockading fleet from duty in that direc- tion. But, as we showed some time ago, there are other channels that lead into Charleston harbours besides the one we have closed, and it is mostly by them, too, that the ships which have lately run the blockade made their entry and exit. Of these the principal one is Malin Channel, which is really, in many respects, the best entrance to Charleston. It can now probably give safe passage to any vessel afloat. In this channel no hulk of the stone fleet has been sunk. Fortn. nately for us, however, if it be a good channel, it is also one which is very easily watched ; and one of our blockaders, placed off Breach Inlet, near Sullivaree Island, can prevent any rebel ship from creeping into or out of Charleston by Maffit's Channel. There are also several other channels leading into Charleston harbour, in which no part of the great stone fleet has been sunk. The stone fleet will thus not absolutely seal up Charleston, nor will it destroy all possibility of future commercial Intercourse with the outside world. It will only render the blockade practically impervious."

The following telegram, dated the 27th, has also been received :

must have known what colours the Eugenia Smith sailed under----'

taken her as a prize. could have

"The New York Evening Post says the Eugenia Smith sai. . colours, but was believed to be an American ship, partly owned er British

chiri and Rogers. srs. Zac-

The Times of Tuesday gives an important article on t ments for our fleet on the North American station. Wnicirce: alarm of war was heard, our fleet, under the commandte first

Milne, consisted of 5 line-of-battle ships, 10 first-class film";

17 corvettes, &c., all steamers, and carrying together 850' ,91111 ring the five weeks, however, which have elapsed since th-.4:1" three vessels, mounting in all more than 1000 guns; have been, or are being, prepared for service. Some have sailed and are already on the station, and others, such as the Black Prince, though not yet commissioned, are being hurried forward with the greatest possible expedition. The Times also gives a detailed description of the various canals and locks on the St. Lawrence, from which it appears that eleven smaller 20-gun frigates could with ease and safety be passed into Lake Ontario, while the Welland Canal, the only practicable communication between Lakes Ontario and Erie, is entirely in the bands of the English, and is capable of passing vessels such as our heavy-armed 6-gun screw-gunboats or 11-gun sloops.