The recent news from the United States is unfavourable to
the Federal arms. It appears that General Gilmore was ordered to penetrate into Florida, and, if possible, occupy and revolutionize that State. He was met by General Bragg and 15,000 men of whose existence he was unaware on the 20th of February, and driven back to Jacksonville with a loss of 1,500 men and a considerable number of guns. General Sherman, who had struck across the State of Mississippi, has, perhaps, returned to Vicksburg without accomplishing much, and General Kilpatrick's cavalry raid towards Richmond has totally failed. The Administration is accused of having attempted too many things at once, and gold has risen to 62 premium. It does not appear that, except in Florida, the failure was owing either to the energy or success of the Southern leaders, but the country is terribly fitted by its vastness for defen- sive war. Attacking it is like biting an East Indian shaddock- the whole length of the teeth does but pierce the skin.
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