GENERAL SUMMARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 6, 26 November 1863, Page 4

GENERAL SUMMARY.

|Trom tho " Ilomo News," September 27.] The Polish question has entereda new phase. Bussia has declared that whilst she generally recognises tho six points, she will not enter upon the amelioration of Poland till the insurrection shall have been suppressed. Such is in brief the substance of the answers which havo been received to tho last despatches of Austria, France, aud England. Prince GortschakofF in the frankest manner possible avows the policy of Russia. Negotiation is at an end. There are various speculations afloat as to the probable solution of tho situation. The only incident that really justifies a speculation of any kind is the publication in tho Monileur of the elaborate manifesto issued by the Polish National Committee, in which they supply a categorical answer to the statements in Prince Gortsclmkoff's previous despatches, demand from other countries recognition as beligerents, and announce their inflexible determination to fight to the last. Tho appearance of this remarkable document in the French official organ is, not unreasonably, regarded as an adoption, in some sort, by the French Government of the case, or cause of the Poles ; and there is no doubt that, for whatever so unusual a proceeding may be worth, it has raised expectations which ought not to have been evoked, Hnless something more than mere paper declarations were intended to follow. With this single exception, we know of no authentic data upon which it would bo safe to build a conjecture as to what course is, or is not, likely to bo taken by the Cabinets to whose hands the issues are confided.

That the door of diplomacy has been shut by Prince Grortschakofr—rather abruptly, too, in the face of the other powers —is certain. The ground upon which he stands is plain enough; ho maintains that at the time of tho treaty of 1815, Russia held Poland by right of conquest; that the constitutional gnarautecs inserted in tho treaty wero not imposed upon the Emperor Alexander, but wero voluntarily granted by him; and that tho Powers have no right of interference whatever, either under the treaty or otherwise. He therefore puts an end to the discussion, and, in effect, dismisses his correspondents with a broad hint to mind their own affairs. The intimation that Russia is prepared to abide tho responsibility of this view of the subject, has, at least, the merit of leaving nothing in obscurity. The other powers cannot complain of ambiguity on the part of the Russian minister.

The Poles are prosecuting their struggle in the face of difficulties which, unless aid comes soon, must, to all appearance, overwhelm them. The policy of Russia is clearly to destroy the revolution by protracting it over the winter. In the inclement season, when the naked forests can no longer afford shelter and security to the insurgents, when food will be scarce, and the means of supporting roving bands will be reduced to famishing point, it is easy to anticipate tho result of a conflict waged on such unequal terms. Rauging tho elements on her side, while Europe looks on motionless, Russia can hardly fail to crush out the last drop of the national blood. But it. is to be hoped, in the interests of humanity, that some means will be found for bringing this ghastly contest to an end. It is rumoured in political circles that a new ground of interference may be opened by tho Three Powcre, and that, although they may not declare war as a necessary consequence of the failure of their negotiations, they may decide upon other measures pretty nearly equivalent. At all events, it is not to be credited that England, France, and Austria will permit Russia to annihilate with impunity an entire people in the heart of civilized Europe. There is always a resource in the eleventh hour. Ministers, who have pledged themselves to a particular course, have it always in their power to create an opportunity for the country to revise their policy.

People at a distance from the scene of conflict in America are apt to suppose, when an astounding piece of news comes in, that the war is approaching the beginning of the end. Hut this expectation has been so often disappointed, that we doubt wether the fall of Fort Sumter, and the shelling of Charleston with Greek fire, are likely to bring us a step nearer to the close than we were before. It appears, indeed, that the Federals have by far the best of the situation, and that, with the exception of Lee's army on the Potomac, which is expected every hour to make a swoop upon Washington, the Confederates are very nearly reduced to extremity.

The facts about Fort Sumter are striking. It was bombarded for seven days by a battery of Parrot guns which poured in 4500 shots at the unprecedented distance of 25 miles, 2623 of which took effect. If this statement be .correct, America has discovered a power in projectiles utterly unknown to science elsewhere. The conduct of tho Federal general with reference to Charleston is condemned on all hands. Without allowing suiiicient time for non-combatents to leavo the city, he flung Greek fire into the midst of the populous streets, an agent which, to quote an Americau paper, civilisation amongst Christian nations has hitherto refrained from employing even in the most bloody campaigns. Yet this barbarous proceeding, this vertiable,/eu d'enfer, did not Bhake the constancy of Beauregard and the devoted garrison. Not a man flinched from his post, and, although 42 Federal vessels, including Monitors, had advanced inside, or close to, the bar, the Confederates maintained that they could hold tho city against any force the enemy could collect. How far this confident declaration is well founded remains to be seen; but even if Charleston fall, tho Federals will not be much nearer to the conquest of the South.

Of Lee's position all that is known is that he was at Culpepper Court-House on the 26th of August with 60,000 men, and that Lougstrcet and Stuart, each with large forces at their disposal, held Fredericksburg and the fords of the Rappahannock. The general belief was that Lee was maturing a plan for attacking Washington, and the whole employment of the army under Meade was to watch, and, if possible, frustrate his movements. The approach of winter will probably congeal the heroism of both armies. In the South there arc unmistakeable symptoms of distress. The wonder is how so small a white population, not exceeding a million, could have maintained the war up to this time. The pressure has now come with such urgency as to work a revolution in the whole system. The conscription of all men between sixteen and sixty has been rigorously enforced; but even this iB not enough. President I)avis has found it necessary to resort to other means. He has determined to call out an army of half a million of slaveß, promising to them their freedom at tho end of the war, and a grant of fifty acres of land per head. Nobody doubted that the war would ovcntually lead to the extinction of slavery; but who imagined that the extinction would begin in this shape ? The federals, elated with recent successes, threaten offensive measures on all sides. A war with France on account of Mexico, is openly discussed, and in the same breath Canada is threatened. The Federals calculate upon crushing the rebellion out of hand, and believe themselves strong enough to embark in a war with England and France immediately afterwards! In tho meauwMe, the army of the South is moving out of New Orleans in the direction of Tcxa3, and the progress of the Federal arms in Tennessee is checked by the resignation of Burnside. A curious circumstance connected with the American war has occasioned some amusement in London. Mr. Mason, the Confederate Commissioner, has been ordered by his " government" to withdraw from England, and has withdra vn in consequence. In communicating this determination to Earl Russell, Mr. Mason informs his lordship that the English Government haviugdeclincdthcoverturesmado fores tablishing friendly relations between the two governments, it was considered no longer conducive to the interests, or consistent with the dignity of the Confederate government, that its representative shotdd remain in London. The representative has accordingly withdrawn. The grotesque absurdity of this proceeding is as obvious as its impolicy. At the bottom of the affair we believe there is a little foolish offended pride. Mr. Sliddell lias never been officially recognised in France j but he has been personally received with some marks of consideration. Mr. Mason, on the contrary, was admitted only once to au interview with Earl Russell, and luh communications have not elicited the kind of replies which satisfied his own -estimate of the attention to which he was entitled. The original

mistake w in sending these gentlemen to Europe. tSSeßavis ««H hare been in a much better J^drforopeningrelatioasmthEnglandandFran^ a aW* 'SitS Swede* will be paired £ = rrtS\h°t r F C d°e f not only , dUU l^mhed^ upon! but that it is to be put'into been determined up on, Confederation is effoC iu movements that one is apt to thTnobody Bcems to "SfituW Congress having closed its sittings, transmitted to the King of Prussia a full statement of thrreforms they had agreed to, signed by each of tieMsSg sovereigns. To this communication f n TOnVhas replied by rejecting the whole of the eWs?an "demanding a perfect equality between Austria and Prussia. 6is Majesty has also dissolved toParhament,onthe ground that the last Parliament did not represent the "Liberal" principles of on dU is to bo credited the Archduke Maximilian has resolved to M«xu». With Shis news comes intelligence to the eflect that France is negotiating for recognition with the Goni edcrates, who arc ready in their turn to support France Mexico, while the Federals and the ministers ot Central America, protesting against the French occupation, are preparing for hostilities, in which they aro to be joined in alliance with Juarez. Here, is an imbrosho complicated enough to throw the Southern continent into convulsions for the next twelve months. . _, . •■•„/• The harvest of the present season in England is ol unexampled abundance. No farmer now living can recall so prolific a yield of wheat. The whole crop has been estimated at eight millions of quarters, wnicn is an advance of about 25 per cent, upon our average year. Barley and oats are .equally plentiful and equally excellent in quality. This description appließ only to England, for in Scotland and Ireland the prospect does not exceed the average. Even in England, there are variations. A considerable part of the crop has been secured in the southern counties, but m the north farming operations are later. To the fine warm weather of which we have had so long a continuance the splendour of the crops must be mainly attributed but during the last few days there have been some heavy falls of rain which have occasioned much uneasiness in those districts where tho harvest is yet backward. ' Making all allowances for these circumstances, enough remains behind for thankfulness and congratulation.