LATER ENGLISH AND AMERICAN NEWS.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1661, 19 March 1862, Page 5

LATER ENGLISH AND AMERICAN NEWS.

THE COMMISSIONERS GIVEN UP. [From the “Sydney Empire,’’ March 7.J The following telegram, confirming the news which reached Sydney on the previous day, was published at our office, yesterday, at 4 p.m.

Melbourne, 3.13 p.m. A Californian paper, dated Providence, January 2nd, says that Slidell and Mason were given up and sent to England, having embarked that day on board the British gunboat Rinaldo. The American law officers considered their arrest illegal. At a later period of the day the following was issued by our contemporary;— We have confirmation of the rumour of yesterday. Official communication has passed between Lord Lyons and Secretary Seward, and Lord Lyons is informed that Captain Wilkes acted on his own authority, and committed an error for which the Federal Government is willing to make reparation. Messrs. Slidell and Mason were sent on board a British gun-boat. Friendly relations are re-established between the two Governments. English papers were still discussing the Trent affair, but with the expectation that peace would be preserved. The receipt of further particulars was prevented by interruption of the line beyond Berrima by a thunderstorm.

From our ( Sydney Empire') Melbourne files, received yesterday, we take the following further intelligence by the Thomas Brown:—

The following is a translation of a letter of the special correspondent of the Commercial Gazette , dated Paris 26th December;—

The contention arising out of the rencontre between tne English mail steamer Trent and the American ship San Jacinto is the principal fact of the month now drawing to a close. It is the great event which has kept the press of England as well as the press of France in breath during the month, and to which all other events give place. At the time of the departure of the present mail, this question of peace or war between England and America, between the mother and daughter, has not yet received its solution. Never was a problem more palpitating with interest put; never was an answer waited for with more anxiety, above all by the commercial world.

Immediately alter the arrival of the news in England there was an immense excitement, with cries of unanimous indignation. When the news of the monstrous act committed by Captain Wilkes was received in London, there was throughout the capital a universal commotion. The news was read at all the theatres during the representation, and the spectators thundered out with one common voice, “ God Save the Queen.” The law officers ot the Crown were called together and decided that the aggression of the San Jacinto was a flagrant violation of the code of nations, and a direct insult to England. It was impossible, in fact, even by forcing the sense of the text in the most extravagant manner, to include Messrs. Mason and Slidell among articles contraband of war. None of the States of Europe had recognised the Confederation of the South as a separate State; it was therefore impossible to admit legally that the commissioners of the slaveowners were anything else that simple passengers covered by the British flag. The American law officers, on their side, have approved of the act of the San Jacinto. A meeting of the populace held at Washington, at which a great number of members of Congress assisted, frantically applauded the officers of the San Jacinto there present. The Senate and the Congress of Washington decided with unanimity that the Southern Commissioners were properly taken, and declared that they would accord no satisfaction to England. Messrs. Mason and Slidell were conducted to the fortress of Warren. A sword of honour has been awarded to Captain Wilkes, of the San Jacinto. In the meantime the British Government has forwarded the most precise instructions to Lord Lyons. He has been authorised to demand complete satisfaction; the immediate liberation of Messrs. Mason and Slidell, with apologies. If not accorded, it will be his duty immediately (sar la champ) to demand his passports, and retire with the whole of his staff. The reply of the Government of the United States to this ultimatum cannot arrive at London until the beginning of January. Awaiting that reply England is making formidable preparations. They are working night and day in embarking ammunition. The solemnity of the Sabbath arrests not the labour of the Dockyards. A proclamation by the Queen prohibits the exportation of gunpowder, saltpetre, arms, lead, and other munitions of war.

Convoys of vessels of war have been appointed to the steamers carrying despatches. Tour thousand of the Grenadier Guards have received orders to embark for Canada. The soldiers which have embarked at Liverpool for Canada have been the object of an enthusiastic popular ovation. The sailors of the fleet have welcomed them with hearty cheers. The merchant ships about to depart have been fitted up with a view to warlike operations. The Cape of Good Hope Mail Company has received orders from the Government to arm their steamers. A banquet has been given at Plymouth to Captain Williams, ol the Trent. The Captain responded patriotically, and read the letter which he had received from the Admiralty approving of his conduct. Meetings have also been held at Rochdale and at Manchester.

The message of President Lincoln, which was so impatiently expected, does not decide the question, nor can it do so, for the note to .Lord Lyons had not arrived, and it is with the Congress alone that the decision rests. Captain Wilkes has been promoted by the Minister of Marine to the rank of Commodore. We are driven to conjecture as to the course which will be taken by the Government of the United States. Each day’s news of the most contradictory kind is in circulation respecting the attitude of this Government, sometimes pacific, sometimes bellicose. This mail cannot cany to you the solution of the mystery, since the definite response will not arrive until the commencement of the new year. There is consequently immense anxietyand a sort of commercial paralysis. Nothing but lamentations are heard. Prance has pronounced on the question of the Trent. The despatch addressed by M. de Thouvenel, Minister of Poreign Affairs, to all the agents of Prance, is perfectly explicit, and founded on true principles. He withholds his belief that the Government of Washington consents to acknowledge its liability (/a solidarite) or identification with the act of the San Jacinto, and he counsels it, in the name of the principles which the United States have always maintained, in the name of the general interest, of the liberty of commerce and navigation compromised by practices againstwhich the United States have strongly protested at other times, to yield to the English Cabinet by releasing the passengers taken on board the Trent, with such sufficient explanations as will divest the act of all offence towards the British flag. The official proclamation of the principles on which the security of neutral powers rests, on the eve of a conflict of this kind, binds the French Government to defend them in case of need. The French press has received the felicitations of the English press, and its testimonies of sympathy on the occasion of the Anglo-American conflict, nearly the whole of the Prench writers having shown themselves favourable to the thesis maintained by England, a circumstance which shows the good understanding which exists more than ever between the two peoples. The English press has been equally sensible of the just homage rendered by the Prench journals to the memory of Prince Albert, who died on the 15th of December, at eleven o’clock at night, at the age of forty-two. England and America have had concentrated upon them all the interest of the period which has elapsed since the departure of the last mail; the events which have passed in other nations, of mediocre importance, are eclipsed by the grand eventualities of an AngloAmerican war. In Italy General Gaylor is in concert with the military authorities of Naples for the repression of brigandage. Our troops have succeeded in cutting oft the base of operations of the Chief Chiavone. The Bourbonian Captain, Borges, had been taken and shot by Major Franchim on the Bth December, at Paghacozzo. The Parliament of Turin is animated by an excellent spirit. The discussion on the affairs of Home and Naples had been closed, and the Chamber, by a largo majority, had passed a vote of confidence in the existing cabinet. It had renewed its vote of the 17tn March last, which declared that Rome was the capital of Italy. By March next Italy will have three hundred thousand combatants under arms. People still sigh for a solution of the Papal and Komis question. The Const itutionnel calculates that the maintenance of the army of occupation at Rome has, during the last seven years, cost I ranee one hundred and twenty-eight millions of francs. . There has been at Torre del Greco an eiuption of Vesuvius. It has now subsided, but has caused the most serious perturbations. There is nothing of prominent, interest from Germany. The Keichsrath has been called together to vote the Austrian budget for the year 1562. Ihe minister of finance has presented a detailed exposition of its administration. The deficit for the year 1860 reached sixty-five millions of florins, that of I8G) one hundred ana thirty-nine and a h&U xnillions of florins. These are tall figures.

The situation o 1 Constantinople is more deplorable than ever. Confusion is at its height in that unhappy country, and is of a nature to destroy all hope for the welfare of Turkey. The officers of the Government, solely are guilty o< bringing about this state of things. The insurgents of Herzegovia have during the month gained several brilliant victories. Omar Pacha is reduced from 40,000 to 20,000 men, demoralized and deficient in every point. Austria has interfered to succour Turkey. The German troops, coming from Castelnuovo, penetrated the Suthorina, assailed and took, without striking a blow, the batteries raised by the insurgents. The Austrian troops demolished the batteries, and carried away two guns. Joseph Karam, the popular chief of the Christians of Mount Libanus, in Syria, has been traitorously arrested on simple suspicion by Daoud Pacha without any formal accusation that he’ had broken his parole not to interfere with affairs at the mountain. The Turkish Governor has made the English and Austrian Commissioners believe that Karam was a French agent charged to revolutionise the populace. To the French and Russian Commissioners he represented that Karam was an agent of England. Karam has since been liberated, but has fallen into such a state of illness

that his life is despaired of. In Poland, the same oppression continues. The Russian Government has entered into a conflict with

the national clergy of Poland. The police have opened by force the doors of the Church of St. Basile, and broken in the doors of the Church of the Bernardinos, there to celebrate mass. Many priests have been arrested, and forty students of the Monastery of Kien have been sent to Siberia.

In France nothing very remarkable has occurred during the month. You know by the despatch of AJ. de Thouvenal, what is our attitude on the AngloAmerican question, and in whose favour the right and generous feelings of the nation has inclined. Perhaps the mediation of France, should she be invoked to mediate, will have a salutary effect. The Senate has assembled in session extraordinary

to consider and regulate the financial future of France. The project of the Seuatus-Consulte has been placed on the table of the Senate by His Excellency M. Baroche. The project to be considered is divided into two First, the mode of voting the budget by sections. Second, the necessity for an act to open supplementary or extraordinary credits. This is the new system inaugurated by M. Fould. and which he is endeavouring to realise and put in practice. A decree from the Compiegne, dated Ist December, confirms the new minister of finances in his right of control preliminarily over all sorts of financial measures. For the future every decree authorising or ordering public works, and measures of any kind having the effect of adding to the charges in the budget, will not be submitted lor the Emperor’s signature unless viseed by the Minister ofFinance. The project of the Senatus Consulte has been adopted unanimously save one noncontent, the Cardinal Mathieu. The session has been closed till 15th January, when the regular work of legislation begins. The Corporation of the Agcnts-de-Change of Paris has been the subject of great ridicule, apropos of the suppression of tourniquets. This e cpression is applied to the right of entrie to the Bourse on paying one franc each person, and which every person must pay each time of entry. A decree of the Emperor has suppressed this payment, and the Agents-de-Change in the fullness of their gratitude addressed a letter to the Emperor in which was requested permission to erect a station inside the Bourse apropos of tourniquets. The Emperor happily quizzed the memorialists in the following reply, which has been much applauded. “Messieurs,—The terms in which you appreciate my efforts for the good of France and the improvement of credit alike with the intention of giving me such a public proof of your gratitude touches me profoundly, but is it not exaggerating the value of the service to wish, on the occasion of such a simple measure to raise of me a statue within the very precincts (I’encientc) of the Bourse? However flattering your proposition, permit me to withhold my assent thereto. I consider it more natural that I should offer you my portrait to be placed in your hall of business, and I pray you to accept it. It will recall to you how precious to me has been the manifestation of your sentiments. Recevez, etc., etc., Compiegne, 29tli November, 1861.” There are other tribunals and judicatory affairs which have had the priviledge of attracting public attention. And firstly, the affair of the Marquis de Flers, Referendary Councillor of the Court of Accounts, brought betorc the Court Imperiale of Paris, under the imputation of having carried on with foreign journals a correspondence hostile to the Government, has been pleaded by M. Dufaure, and the accusation has been sustained by M. le Procureur General Chaix and d’Est-Ange himself. The Marquis de Flers has been condemned to pay 2000 francs, and two months imprisonment. He resigned his office as Referendary Councillor, and went to prison. A process sufficiently strange has been unravelled before the tribunal correctional of Niort. It relates to the Maire of Coulonges, M. Plassiart, who during ten years has exercised an authority nearly despotic, and has reigned by terror nearly over the whole canton This village pacha made of his power the most revolting abuse. The process has revealed numerous acts of corruption, illegalities, and electoral frauds. He menaced with imprisonment all who would not vote for him, and he contrived means of learning how all the electors voted. He presided at a scrutiny where his candidature was in question; but what Poitcvin peasant would dare anything against the person who “ breakfasted with the Emperor when he went to Paris, —who could dismiss prefects and remodel conscriptions at will?” Plassiart has been condemned to two years in prison, and 5»0 francs fine. Eugene Pelletan has been condemned by the Tribunal Correctionnel of Paris to three months imprisonmentforan article in the Gourrier du JDimnnc/ie. Many other processes against the Press of less importance have been similarily disposed of. The petition of Mires and of Comte Simeon against the judgment of the Court Imperiale of Paris of 29th August, has been submitted to the Court of Cassation, criminal jurisdiction. , Of literary and theatrical news my budget is very meagre. Patching up old material in theatricals es in literature is the order of the day, ma foi the old is better than the new. Shall I speak of a new opera, comiqne, Les Recruteurs, by M. Lefebure Wely, condemned in three acts? This celebrated organist is said to play the organ expressively in church, but makes barbarous music in the theatre; but it is not worth while to speak of such works There is nothing in them. Genius sleeps, to be awakened perhaps by the flourish of trumpets on the advent of the year 1862, which approaches adorned with toys and charming gew-gaws, which already encumber the Boulevards, but charged perhaps with political storms and menacing eventualities.

(From the *• Sydney Empire,’’ March 7.)

The intelligence announced by us in a slip published yesterday, and repeated in this day’s Empire, confirms the news that peace between England and America had been assured. We feel naturally gratified thatour anticipations have been justified by results, but still more pleasing is the certainty of the continuance of paace. It is stated that the American Law Officers pronounced the arrest of Messrs. Mason and Slidell to have been illegal. We need not now pause to inquire into the character of the pressing arguments that led to this decision. The redress demanded has been conceded, and there the matter must end. The promptitude with which England acted in the case, after the proper course had once been determined, is quite worthy of her fame. In little more than one month from the time when all Boston and Washington was enthusiastically greeting Captain Wilkes as a hero, and defying the power he had braved, his act is disavowed, his prisoners are surrendered, and a British ship of war is conveying them to England. So far as mere triumph is concerned. Great Britain may feel perfectly satisfied, and much more so than if such a result had been brought about by bloodshed and the unnatural assistance which that would afford to the South. It will, probably, turn out as we suggested yesterday, that the counsels of General Scott have had much to do with this prompt reparation. However this may be, there can be but one opinion as to the sound sense of the act. Nothing more obstinately mad and suicidal could be conceived than to rush into a destructive war on such an occasion as this. The Unionist forces have effected a footing in Carolina; the Federal fleet was preparing to force a passage into the Confederate ports, and the army of the Potomac was about to encounter the enemy. In such circumstances as these, a war with England’ would have involved national ruin to the North. If, amongst the more ardent and fiery spirits, there is any dissatisfaction felt that the counsels of true patriotism have prevailed, they may console themselves with the reflection that the South has much more reason to feel disappointed. Bv bringing a foreign power into their quarrel, success to’their cause would be certain ; but their hopes have failed, and they are again left to the unaided support of their own arms. The Northern States are preserved from an unequal contest, and England is spared the discredit of an unprincipled alliance. . While wo are thus left again mere lookers-on at the domestic strife now waging in the States, the lesson of the last few weeks ought not to be lost upon Australia. It has been seen and felt that a circumstance, apparently of light importance in itself, but involving great principles on the other side of the globe, may expose •his all the horrors of war, at very brief The unprotected state of this harbour has been * them? of common* for year*, and only

hostilities are imminent do those who should provide for our protection appear to give the subject serious attention. When half a dozen smart privateers might have been preparing for a raid on Sydney, it was all at once discovered that our fortifications were ineffective. Great works that would take years for their completion were then projected and discussed. One proposed to arm the east face of Garden Island ; another to fortify Shark Island, and a third had visions of engineering works at Huschcutter Bay. In the meantime, the dreaded enemy might have entered the port, got under convenient shelter at Garden Island and Woolloo- ! mooloo Bay, and shelled the city into submission and a heavy ransom. This, we say, might have been done but for one little circumstance —the accidental presence, namelv, of three of her Majesty’s ships of war. In these Jay all the hopes of the city, and it must be acknowledged that Commodore Seymour, by his constant vigilance, and the splendid condition for service in which he had placed his little fleet, succeeded in dispelling all fear of any successful attack. Utterly helpless if left to ourselves, we were all perfectly easy under the protection of the navy. But the presence of these vessels was, we repeat, in great measure accidental. If affairs in New Zealand had not taken a pacific turn, or if sudden hostilities in the waters of India or China had rendered naval reinforcements necessary, we should have had to rely entirely upon batteries which could not reach the enemy, and fortifications which had their only existence in imagination. Our floating batteries were our only reliance, and this leads us to consider whether we ought not to secure, if possible, some permanent protection of a similar character. It would be imprudent and unwarranted to calculate upon the constant presence of a British squadron. Great events are yet looming in the future, and none can say how soon their advent may be announced. Without anticipating evils, we may yet be justified in guarding against them. Sydney would be an easy prey to the flying cruisers of any maritime power if deprived of naval protection. Considering, then, the direction that ship-building for warlike purposes is now taking, it is surprising that attention has not before been applied to the means of obtaining permanent floating batteries, to be heavily armed, moved by well protected steam power, and covered w’ith shell proof iron casing. It would not be necessary to build ships for this purpose. Many an old hull now broken up, or left to rot in Her Majesty’s dock-yards might be made efficient for this service. Two such vessels, serviceably plated, armed, and manned, would be able to give a formidable reception to the light craft of an enemy, and would possess the advantage of being able to follow the foe to his sheltering-places,_ and engage 1 him where the guns of our town batteries would be harmless. It is notorious that the forts already constructed require more men than we could possibly supply; but the floating-battery service would be popular, and volunteer naval brigades could then be organised 1 with some hope of usefulness. There is nothing impracticable in the suggestion, nor would the cost of maintaining such defences be heavy in time of peace. If something of this kind be not attempted while the opportunity is afforded, it is possible that some fine morning, after a brief and helpless panic, we may find the shells of an enemy’s ship tumbling the chimney pots about our ears, while a few sportive shots from our fortresses pass harmlessly over it, or find a bed in the high land that forms its protection.

FUNERAL OF PRINCE ALBERT. No vulgar pomp and parade was to be lavished upon one who, by the highest intellectual gifts of mind, cultivated to the highest degree by unbounded amiability, by a love of all things great and beautiful, and by the constant practice of the truest domestic virtues, had ennobled the Court to which he was called, and won the supreme affection of the whole nation. A prince like this, a man like this, did not stand in need of a torchlight funeral, or of those mediteval pageantries so loved and courted by other monarchs; he knew that he had left behind him an example of domestic virtue and the highest fulfilment of duty, the memory of which will live in the hearts of all, which could not be increased by anything that the pomp of funerals could bestow. 1 Alt was simple as became his calm and philosophic mind. There was no ostentatious lying in state; a short and becoming procession from the Castle of Windsor to St. George’s Chapel, the booming of the minute guns, and all was over as far as the mere mortal remains of the much-loved' Prince Albert was concerned. On the coffin a modest inscription pointed out the nation’s loss in these few plain words:— Depositum Illustrissimi ct celsissimi Alberti Principis Consortis, Ducis Saxoniai, De Saxe Coburg et Gothic Principis. Nobilissimi Ordinis Periscelidis Equitis, Augustissimce et potentissimoe Victoria Reginaj Conjugis porcarissimi, Obiit die 14 Decembris, 1861, anno mtatis suae 43.

A guard of honour of the Grenadiers, of which the Prince was Colonel, mounted guard at Windsor Castle; the short line from the castle to St. George’s Chapel was kept by the Scots’ Fusiliers, and a few Life Guards escorted the hearse. . The chief mourners were the Prince of Wales, supported by Prince Arthur; His Royal Highness the Duke of Saxe Coburg and Gotha, the Duke of Cambridge, the Crown Prince of Prussia, the Duke de Brabant and the Count of Flanders, the Duke de Nemours, Prince Louis of Hesse, Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, the Prince of Leiningen, Count Gleichen, and the Maharajah Dhulcep Singh. All the Ministers, Sic., were present with the foreign ambassadors, and the representatives of foreign courts. It is consoling, in the highest degree, to witness the sympathy of the whole continent on this melancholy occasion. Her Majesty, like her mother the Duchess of Kent, intends to have a private mausoleum of her own erected, and, when this is completed, the remains of the JPrince Consort will be placed, there; at present the coffin will remain on the bier outside the iron gates which close the royal vault. Her majesty and family left Windsor for Osborne on the 19th (Thursday last), and on the 20th an Order in Council was published to omit the name of the Prince Consort from the Book of Common Prayer and the usual Church services. It is most gratifying to mark with what unanimous and unfeigned sympathy the sad event was marked not only by toe Emperor and Court, but by the whole French nation; every paper of every shade of political feeling, even those so generally hostile to England, forgot for the time their hostility, and all united to express their sympathy and regret at the great loss the Queen of England had experienced. The telegraphic despatch announcing the Prince Consort’s death reached Paris early in the morning of Sunday, 15th, when the Emperor and Empress immediately sent a telegraphic message to Windsor full of condolence to the Queen; and during the day the Emperor sent one of his aides-de-camb to Windsor with an autograph letter, and on the following day the Empress Eugenie sent one of her gentlemen in waiting with her autograph letter to the Queen. Without waiting for any formal announcement, the Emperor, through the Monileur, ordered the Court to go into mourning for twenty-one days; all festivities and receptions have been suspended at the Tuilleries, and the national flag was hoisted half-mast high until after the funeral on Monday last. Such sympathy, at such a moment, is indeed gratifying, and will be rightly appreciated by the people of England.

ARRIVAL OF THE SUFFOLK. [From the Melbourne “ Herald, ** February 27.] Messrs. Money Wigram’s fine ship, the Suffolk, arrived in Hobson’s Bay at half-past one to-day, after a splendid run of seventy-nine days, bringing two days’ later news. By the kindness of Captain J. B. Martin, to whom we have been on three former occasions indebted for later English news, we have received papers to the 28th, containing important information confirming our telegraphic announcement of the Federal attack by the San Jacinto, upon the Royal Mail Company’s steamer, the Trent and the seizure of the Commissioners Messrs. Sliddell, Mason, Eustace, and Farland. The greatest excitement prevailed, and public meetings were being conveyed, full particulars of which we subjoin. The Suffolk has brought out Sir Dominic Daly, the new Governor of South Australia. Considerable excitement manifested in London and the provinces during the day. Southampton, Wednesday.— La Plata has arrived. She brings news that Messrs. Sliddell and Mason, the Confederate Commissioners, were forcibly taken out of the Royal Mail Company’s steamer Trent, whilst on ner passage from Havannah to St. Thomas, by the American war ship San Jacinto. The steamer Theodora, with the Commissioners on board, ran the blockade of Charleston on the 18th of October last. Mr. Sliddell was accompained by his wife and three daughters. They left Havannah on board the Trent, on the 7th inst. and on the Bth, as she was approaching a narrow passage between a reef opposite theParadon Grande Lighthouse, Old Bahama Channel, a large war vessel was observed waiting ahead, and showing her colours. On coming nearer the Trent hoisted her ensign, which met with a response from the war vessel. When within about an eighth of a mile, the stranger, it is said, fired a round shot across the Trent’s bows, at the same time hoisting the American flag. ' Immediately afterwards, it is reported she fired a shell from a long pivot gun on her forecastle, which burst about a hundred yards to leeward of the Trent. Captain Moir, of the Trent, thereupon hailed the captain of the other ship, asking him what he meant by slopping his ship. He replied he wished ) to send a boat on board ; at the same time one was l9wsr*d> cTOfainlttg two ugh'?!" snS fen res"< who

3 boarded the Trent and demanded her list of passengers) 3 which was refused. Lieut. Fairfax, the officer in comt mand of the party from the warsteamer, which proved t to be the San Jacinto, then said that Captain Wilkes, . his commander, had received reliable information that i Messrs. Sliddell, Mason, Eustace, and Farland were ) on board the Trent, and demanded that they should be : given up. This was peremptorily refused, both by ; Captain Moir and Commander Williams, R.N., the > naval agent in charge of Her Majesty’s mails ; the r former stoutly denying the right of the Federal vessel ■ to take any person from under the English flag. The 1 Commissioners were standing near and boldly declared > that they were all present, but being on board a , British ship claimed protection of the flag. The lieutenant then said he would take charge of the steamer, and waved his hand to the San Jacinto, when three more boats were sent alongside, in which were i 30 marines and about 60 sailors. Commander Williams thereupon made the following protest:—“ In this ship I am the representative of Her Majesty’s Government, and I call upon the officers of the ship, and passengers generally, to mark my words, when, in the name of the British Government, and in distinct language, 1 denounce this as an illegal act, in violation of international law, and an act of wanton piracy, which, had we the means of defence, }’ou would not dare to attempt.’’ The men in the boats then boarded and came on the deck of the Trent with bare cutlasses, and the Commissioners were forthwith arrested and forced into the boats. Mr. Siiddell said he hoped the case would bo fully represented. The Americans stated that they were short of provisions, and asked for a supply to maintain their prisoners. Captain Moir complied with the request, but said distinctly they were for the exclusive use of the four gentlemen. The American Lieutenant afterwards said his orders were to take Captain Moir and his papers on board the San Jacinto, and that the Trent was to be moored nearer.—Captain Moir replied—“ You will find me on the quarter deck : if you want me, you will have to come there for me,’’ and immediately afterwards walked on deck,—The Lieutemant, however, called his men together and ordered them into the boats, finally telling Captain Moir he wanted nothing further. The boats then returned to the San Jacinto, and the Trent proceeded on her voyage. The dispatches of the commissioners did not fall into the hands of the Americans and have arrived in the La Plata. The indignation on board the Trent was s) great that ever}' person was willing to take part in the defence of the ship, had an order been given ; this was, however, out of the question in the presence of such fearful odds. The two other persons taken were the secretaries of the commissioners. The Admiralty agent has gone up to London by special train. Liverpool, Wednesday, 4.30 p.m. — This afternoon a public meeting was held in the cotton sale rooms, Exchange Building, to consider the question of the arrest of Messrs. Sliddell and Mason on board the steamer Trent,

A resolution denouncing the act, and calling upon the Government to assert the dignity of the British flag was carried. Great excitement prevailed on ’Change, and hundreds could not gain admission to the meeting. Captain Wilkes, of the American war ship San Jacinto, arrived at Havannah on the 2nd inst. on her way to New York, and gaining intelligence there that Sliddell and Mason were on board the Trent, he started in pursuit and overtook the Trent on the Bth inst.. in the narrow passage of Old Bahama Channel. On the boat leaving the Trent with the Southern Commissioners on board, Mr. Sliddell said he expected redress from the British Government for the outrage whilst under protection of its flag, and called upon the English captain to represent the case properly. When the American officers first boarded the Trent, Captain Moir pointed to the British flag and said he should resist, whereupon the captain of the man of war said—“lt is no use mincing the matter, we have evidence that you have persons on board whom we want, and you must give them up.” On Captain Moir refusing, the Trent was immediately boarded by the crews of five armed boats and some marines, on a signal from the captain of the San Jacinto, who then demanded the rebels (as they were called), and took them by force. It is said the armed boats contained 150 men, and as the Trent had not sufficient arms on board it would have been useless to have resisted.

The captain of the Jefferson Davis is among the passengers of the La Plata, as well as other persons from the Confederacy, for the purpose of buying arms in England. , The Sumter has not been captured ; she was at Martinique on the 11th inst., landing prisoners. The Federal man-of-war Iroquois, left St. Thomas in pursuit of her. Ten p.m.—The report of Government taking any decided steps in the La Plata affair is quite premature, and the question still arises whether the capture was not legal, however impolitic it may be considered. Some decision on the part of England and France as to the blockade being ineffective is considered not improbable.

The recent order to have all the gunboats in the naval stations ready at the shortest notice has been commented on to-day, as snowing some anticipation of their employment. It is not probable that anything will transpire as to intentions of the Cabinet until Friday or Saturday, because communication with the French Government will be necessary, and so grave a matter would require most serious consideration. The general feeling is one of strong indignation. The Evening Herald is informed that immediately on the receipt at the Admiralty of the intelligence, per La Plata, of the outrage on the British flag, a Cabinet Council was summoned by Lord Palmerston to determine whether Mr. Adams's passports should not be foithwith sent him. The Globe , however, makes no mention of these facts.

The Sun, after indulging in surmises as to the legal rights of the case, says : —” The general impression is that the matter creates a real difficulty.” The Globe and other evening papers make no remarks on the subject, probably owing to the news not reaching them until late in the afternoon. Southampton, 27th Nov., 12 p.m.—lt is stated on good authority that the Hansa, which sails to-morrow, at 10 a.m., for New York, has taken on board an immense quantity of muskets and other warlike stores for the Federal Government. Mr. Sliddell, on taking leave of his family, on board the Trent, is reported to have said—“ It is true that I may suffer great personal inconvenience, but, thank God, it is the best thing that could happen for ray country.” t The city articles express fears of a serious complication. Considerable excitement has prevailed at the Stock Exchange and all public places of resort since the publication of the news. A feeling of irritation was general; at the same time ranch discussion arose whether a neutral flag could legally carry persons taking an active part in hostilities.

AMERICAN NEWS TO THE 16th JANUARY. From the “ Sydney Herald’s” Mel bourne Corspudnt., MarchS.) The Albrecht Oswald arrived at the Heads this morning, from San Francisco 16th January. The captain states that affairs between England and America were amicably settled, and that the Federal Government has given up the Commissioners. San Francisco, January 16th.—Private despatches received last evening, by telegraph from New York to Sacramento, and from the latter point forwarded by steamer, state that exchange on London had gone up to 114), or percent, above par. Information was also received, in the same manner, that the recent high tariff rates placed on sugar, tea, and coffee, were not intended to affect those articles already in bond. The loan rate now most prevalent is 2) per cent., though very choice paper is done at 2 per cent. There was another clearance to-day for Australia. The Albrecht Osnald was got off for Melbourne, taking 1966 sacks barley, 12,200 sacks'oats, the whole valued at 15,160 dollars. St. Louis, January 8, 11 p.m.—On the 6th Colonel Dunning, at the head of a Federal regiment, met a force of 2000 rebels in Blue Gap, Virginia, about seventy miles cast of Romney. Colonel Dunning immediately attacked the rebels, and, after a short engagement, completely routed them. The Federals captured a number of prisoners, and all the connon, waggons, and camp equipment in possession of the foes, who retreated in disorder towards Hancock on the Potomac. The rebel loss in killed was fifteen. None of the Federal troops were killed. (The Herald says that this engagement is the one referred to in our despatch yesterday.) Preparations are making for an immediate movement of Federal forces from Cairo on Nashville, Tennessee. The news of movements of the opposing armies transmitted by telegraph is not important, and is evidently the carefully garnered result of an industrious reporter. The most notable feature is the preparations made by the Confederates to repel the reported advance of the great Mississippi flotilla, at Columbus. Chains have been stretched across the river, and very extensive preparations had been made to defend that most important position from the anticipated attack of the United States forces. There has been a second great flood at Sacramento. The following message was yesterday received by the Government: — Melbourne, Wednesday morning. The Albrecht Oswald arrived at the Heads with news to the 16th of January. • The captain states that there is no war, aud that the