AMERICA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1721, 2 May 1862, Page 5

AMERICA.

CAPTURE OP ROANOKE ISLAND, AND DESTRUCTION OP THE CONFEDERATE FLEET. General Burnside's expedition has captured Roanoke Island, destroyed the fleet, and occupied Elizabeth city, after a severe fight, with the loss of 1,000 men on each side. The Federal troops in Tennessee have bombarded and captured Fort Henry, seized the bridge across the river, aud out off the main communication between Memphis and Columbus. Fort Donaldsou is about to be attacked, and it is rumoured that the Confederates have evacuated Bowling Green. Great consternation prevails, in consequence of these reverses being considered very serious. The House of Representatives has passed a Bill tnakiug States notes a legal tender, and the Senate a bill for the issue of demand notes for ten million dollars. The Tax Bill is nearly completed Most of the articles of general consumption are to be moderately taxed. The Federal forces are being concentrated in Missouri for combined operations against General Price. The American Government declares the closing of Charleston Harbour to be only temporary. The armies on the Potomac are still motionless General Beauregard has been appointed commander of ihe Confederate army in Kentucky. A telegram from Madrid, dated 23th February, states that the captain of the Sumpter has been arrested at Tangiers, at the instance of the American Consul at Gibraltar, and of the commander of the Tuscorora, who went for that purpose to Tangiers. The " New York Times"' considers the admission of the Sumpter at Gibraltar as a gross wrong to America, aud says the rights of the Sumpter under the protection of neutrality were void, after the burning of the vessels she attacked. The aotual expenditure of the Federal Slates upon their land and sea foroes is at the rate of 152 millions sterling a year, and it is calculated that the two sections of the Union must be spending between them nearly one million sterling a day. The Southern Journals now take a gloomy view of the Confederate oause, and inveigh bitterly against the despotism of Mr. Davis. :

The debate on the address in reply to the emperor's speech has led to a scene , of great violence between the Legitimists"; acid Liberals. Prince Napoleon attacked the papacy in stroog terms, openly de* dared against the temporal power of the Pope, demanded that National Education in France should be taken out of ihe hands of the priests, and claimed for France the freedom of the press. I The Emperor has read the Episcopate a severe lesson. The Papal Government summoned bishops of all countries to convocation in Rome in May uexl ; but the French bishops are prohibited from attending, by command of the French Government! The Pope is suffering from disease of the heart, and is not expected to live for more than a few days, if so long. Mr. Slidell had an interview with the Emperor. Groat sensation had been caused in Paris by a letter fiom the Emperor to General Montauban, passing a censure on the Legislative Corps for its opposition to the Dotation Bill for the general services in China. The question of Federal reforms and national German unity is about to be discussed in the Prussian Chamber of Deputies. Austria, being unequal to the task of keeping Venetia and Hungary singlehanded, seeks to raise up a confederacy "* in Germany, so constructed as to commit • its members to the defence of her foreign provinces, against which scheme Prussia protests. The consequence of this disagreement may be that Germany will be divided into two confederations, which will involve momentous consequences to the rest of Eutope. The recognition of the kingdom of Italy by Prussia is said to have been decided. The new Archbishop of Warsaw has urged the people to be quiet, and reopened the churches, but military repression is still carried out with the greatest severity. The Portuguese Ministry has resigned and a new Cabinet formed under the pre- ■ sidency of the Marquis of Soule. The Allied forces in Mexico have advanced beyond Vera Cruz without oppoI sition, and submitted their demand to the Mexican authorities, tt is rumoured that the throne of Mexico will be offered I to an Archduke of the House of Austria in exchange for Venetia. This project (Napoleon's) has been muoh discussed. The Italians are menaced with a new difficulty A strong party around the King is urging him to suspend Parliamentary government, and assume the dictatorship. The Bourboaists are organizing a new. invasion of the Neapolitan provinces. Great demand for all foreign and colonial securities. Colonial Government debentures firm, and rising; Victorian Six per Cents are quoted at 107£ to 107£ ; the new issue, 104 to 104£ ; New South Wales Five per Cent (186.0), 99 to 100. Latest price of Consols, 93£ to 93 J cash ; bank rate of discount, two and a half per cent; money abundant. The chief event in mouetary circles has been an attempt of the French Government to borrow four millions sterling in the London market, in order to force through the conversion of- the Four and a Half Per Cent. Rentes into Three Per Cents, This loan could not be carried out owing to the inability of the French oontraotors to supply the French securities. ' . The Board of Trade returns for ,1861 have been published, and are considered satisfactory, notwithstanding the cotton difficulty, and the prohibitory tariff of the United States. . . Woql Report, February, — Market inactive, few inquiries, and those mostly for. wool at last sales' rates, which dealers will uo.t accept. Next sales commence on the 28th February. Stock on hand — total, 45,312 bales. It is anticipated that a decline of one penny per pound will occur next sales, owing to unsatisfactory accounts from the Continent, and ; and general slackness of trade. Arrivals for May sales expected to be very large. Produce Markets. — Hides in limited demand, prices rather lower. Good crop. realised large prices. Bark— Mimosa, good, sold at £9 per ton. Tallow-^ Heavy sales of Australian at a decline of 6d. to 9d. per cwt. Metals— Burra - l copper sold< at per £93 10s. to £90, British copper reduced £d. per. pound. Quioksilver— steady at £7 per bottle. * Svgar — large business done at adVanoe of from 6d. to Is. per cwt: ,the stock is muoh reduced. Corn— English Wheat maintains former rote ; foreign has declined from Is. to 2s. per quarter. ' Oats givenrway 6d. per quarter.