Battle of Blue's Gap

JANUARY 25, 1862.]

HARPER'S WEEKLY.

51

(Previous Page) of your enemy upon his passage." To the objection that, as rebellious agents, they are not embassadors, Mr. Everett says : "But on this supposition, the emissaries of a rebellious province, going abroad in quest of foreign succor, the very case and the very circumstance on which the law of nations is founded that authorizes the arrest of the enemy's embassadors—could never be seized."

Both these gentlemen, relying upon Vattel and Sir William Scott, hold that rebel emissaries are embassadors of the enemy ; therefore contraband: therefore liable to seizure. The lawful method of seizure we do not here discuss.

Upon this point of the contraband of persons the great French authority, De Hautefeuille, entirely differs from the views advanced by Mr. Seward and Mr. Everett. He states the case broadly in this way: "Any ship freighted expressly for the transport of land or sea troops, of recruits for the service of a belligerent, would not be carrying contraband of war. It would be guilty of a direct participation in the hostilities : it would lose its neutral character : it would be a belligerent, and if it fell into the hands of the adversary it would share the fate reserved for belligerent vessels—it would be confiscated with all its cargo." By all the treaties, he says, the only isolated persons who can be removed from a neutral vessel are those who are in the military service of the enemy, and then not as contraband, for persons can not become so." And he sums up the French position upon this point as follows : "First, that in no case can there exist contraband of war on a neutral vessel sailing between two neutral ports. Second, that even if there were contraband of war, the sole right of the cruiser would be to seize the vessel and to carry it into one of the ports of his own country to have it legally sentenced. Third, that persons can not, in any case, be considered as contraband of war. Fourth, that Messrs. Slidell and Mason, not being in the military service of the Southern Confederation at the moment of their arrest, could not be carried off from the neutral vessel in which they were sailing."

There is evidently "not an entire agreement" in these views. They can be harmonized only by an international Congress. But it is clear that France and the United States will not seriously differ; for Mr. Marcy's improvement upon the Treaty of Paris, that free ships make free goods, and that neutrals between neutral ports are to be visited only to determine that they are such, will in time doubtless become the maritime law of the world. Mr. Seward justly bases his recent action upon the generally acknowledged doctrine of to-day—namely, that the neutral flag covers what is not contraband of war. That is the doctrine of the Treaty of Paris, and that is the latest general law.

FROM ENGLAND.

A FRIEND long resident in Paris writes to the Lounger under date of December 14:

" We have allowed ourselves to speak very contemptuously of them (the English) sometimes; they will have a chance now to retaliate. At the Guildford Agricultural Society dinner (see Galignani's Messenger of this morning) the Rev. G. Portal (rector of Alburv), after having urged an effective extermination of the hybrid Germano-Anglo, etc., etc., etc. mixture, gave as a sufficient reason for his sanguinary and Christian counsels that 'a Yankee was as great a parody upon an Englishman as a monkey was upon the human race.' Think of it, my dear fellow, after all you are nothing but a parody !

"Well, if you are a parody, you can retaliate and tell t'other that he is a pretext. It is well understood here that they were trying to make a pretext * * * of the Nashville and Harvey Birch affair when the Trent turned up. The Admiralty lawyers were sent for. Their report was that in face of the Queen's proclamation nothing could be said. ' But,' cried out Palmerston, ' by-, you must cook up something.' They could not; so the common law lawyers tried their skill. ' Why don't you publish their report ?' I said to my English friend. 'Oh! d- it, it was so weak that we could do nothing but make a report of their report. All we wanted was a pretext.'

"My dear friend—I mean my unfortunate parody—if you have any country left at the end of the English crusade, do not call it Anglo-Saxon, or say that liberty is the mission of that race again. * * * The 'pretexts' are the veriest hypocrites and blood-thirsty slaves of Mammon that God's sun has shone upon. Why, this same day's paper contains a nice calculation : when embarrassed by prisoners, one Enfield bullet was enough for eight Sepoys; now one Whitfield ditto will finish eleven and a half 'parodies.' If you are in the line, pray put yourself at the tail of it!

"I don't know what our movements will be. The pretexts have more that 4000 guns out with us, or on their way (at least by the 8th of January). They count on Baltimore and Annapolis, and a combined movement with the rebels on Washington. Also on Portland, Maine ; and the ' indemnity,' of which their official journal talks, is that port and so much of Maine as they consider necessary for Canada. This information is accurate." * * * * *

The Rev. G. Portal, rector of Albury, may be a very amiable rural British saint, but his amusing talk is significant only as indicating a public state of mind which could tolerate it. That Great Britain would gladly have accepted a war upon the Trent issue is beyond question. That the British nation—partly through willfulness, partly through ignorance and the falsehoods of rebel agents—is sorely inflamed against us, is equally indisputable. But it becomes us, as a nation of superior general intelligence, and resolved upon justice, not to retort by losing our temper ; but by calm reply, and incessant and ample preparation, to avoid any collision which may be honorably avoided; and if it can not be, to accept the struggle with the determination that it shall be the last in which these two nations shall engage.

HUMORS OF THE DAY.

THE rudeness of Dr. Parr to ladies was sometimes extreme. To a lady who had ventured to oppose him with more warmth of temper than cogency of reasoning, and who afterward apologized for herself by saying "that it was the privilege of women to talk nonsense." " No, Madam," he replied, "it is not their privilege, but their infirmity. Ducks would walk if they could ; but nature suffers them only to waddle !"

A man who cheats in short measure is a measureless rogue. If in whisky, then he is a rogue in spirit. If by falsifying his accounts, then he is an unaccountable rogue. If he gives a bad title to land, then he is a rogue in deed. If he gives short measure in wheat, then he is a rogue in grain.

A lady, suspecting that her female servant was regaling her young man upon the cold mutton of the larder, called Betty and inquired whether she had not heard some one speaking to her down stairs. "Oh no,ma'am," replied the girl, "it was only me singing a psalm." " Well, Betty," replied the lady, "I have no objection to your singing psalms; but let us have no HIMS, Betty—I have a great objection to HIMS."

An Irishman had been sick for a long time, and while in this state would occasionally cease breathing, and life be apparently extinct for some time, when he would again come to. On one of these occasions, when he had just awakened from his sleep, Patrick asked him: "An' how'll we know, Jemmy, when you're dead—you're afther wakin' up ivery time?" "Bring me a glass o' grog, an' say to me, ' Here's till ye, Jemmy!' an' if I don't rise up an' dhrink, then bury me!"

A bickering pair of Quakers were lately heard in high controversy, the husband exclaiming, "I am determined to have one quiet week with thee!" " But how wilt thou be able to get it?" said the taunting spouse, in "reiteration," which married ladies so provokingly indulge in. "I will keep thee a week after thou are dead!" was the Quaker's rejoinder.

A good story is told of St. Kevin, a religious gentleman, who lived by the fish he caught in the Irish lakes, which shows he was subjected to a severe temptation during one of his piscatorial excursions, but whether he fell into the snare laid for him or not, we do not remember. It seems that a belle of that ilk, named Kate, put the following leading questions to him:

"You're a rare hand at fishing," says Kate.

"It's yourself, dear, that knows how to hook 'em; But when you have caught 'em, agrah!

Don't you want a young woman to cook 'em?"

A young lady at Notting Hill is so refined in her language that she never uses the word "blackguard," but substitutes "Ethiopian Sentinel."

At the examination of a boy of nine years of age for admission to one of the public schools in a suburban town, the teacher, after a satisfactory result in reading and spelling, asked, "What do you know about the United States?" The youngster promptly replied, "Don't know nothing: nobody does—all gone!"

A countryman in the depths of dyspeptic despair called on a physician. The doctor gave him some plain advice as to his food, making a thorough change, and ended by writing a prescription for some tonic, saying, " Take that, and come back in a fortnight." In ten days Giles returned, blooming and happy, the picture of health. The doctor was delighted, and proud of his skill. He asked to see what he had given him. Giles said he had not got it. " Where was it ?" " I took it, Sir." "Took it ! What have you done with it ?" "I ate it, Sir ! You told me to take it!"

An English judge being asked what contributed most to success at the bar, replied: "Some succeed by great talent, some by a miracle, but the majority by commencing without a shilling."

An old bachelor, seeing the words "Families Supplied" over time door of a shop, stepped in and said he would take a wife and two children.

"I say, Bill, what have you done with that horse of your'n?" "Sold him." "What did you sell him for?" "Why, he moved so slow at the last of it, that I got prosecuted half a dozen times for violating the law against standing in the street. The policeman at one time sighted him by a building five minutes, and couldn't see him move."

Not long since a premium was offered by an agricultural society for the best mode of irrigation; and the latter word, by mistake of the printer, having been changed to "irritation," a farmer sent his wife to gain the prize.

A fashionable baronet has said, with no less feeling than high moral sense, " Happy, thrice happy the man who has time means to keep a servant to stretch the tight boots before he wears them himself!"

"Anyt'ing pite you dare?" inquired one Dutchman of another, while engaged in angling. "No, not'ing at all." "Vell!" returned the other, "not'ing pite me too."

"Your hand annoys me exceedingly," said a French nobleman in Paris to a talkative person who was sitting near him at a dinner, and who was constantly suiting the action to the word. "Indeed, my lord," replied the gabbler, "we are so crowded at the table that I do not know where to put my hand." "Put it in your mouth," said the nobleman.

If the cat had wings, no birds would be left in the air. If every one had what he is wishing, who would have any thing?

"What is the difference between a good soldier and a. fashionable young lady?" "One faces the powder, and the other powders the face."

"Wife, I thought you said you were going to have a goose for dinner?" "So I did? and I've kept my word." "Where is it?" "Why, my dear, ain't you here for dinner?" Smithers couldn't see the point of that joke.

Frederick the Great, after a very terrible engagement, asked his officers, "Who behaved the most intrepidly during the engagement ?" The preference was given to himself. "You are all mistaken," replied the King ; "the boldest fellow was a fifer, whom I passed twenty times during the contest, and he did not vary a note during the whole time."

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.
CONGRESS.

ON Tuesday, 7th January, in the Senate, petitions for the emancipation of slaves, and for the exchange of prisoners of war, were presented and referred. A resolution was adopted, instructing the Naval Committee to inquire how the practice has prevailed ln the navy of making purchases through other than recognized agents, and if such have been made, whether larger prices have been paid. The bill to increase the number of cadets at time West Point Military Academy was then taken up, discussed, and rejected by a vote of twelve yeas against twenty-five nays. Senator Wilson's bill providing for the punishment of army officers, by dismissal from the service, who shall detain fugitive slaves, was taken up. A motion by Senator Saulsbury, of Delaware, to indefinitely postpone the subject, was defeated—yeas thirteen, nays twenty-three. The further consideration of the bill was then, on notion of Senator Carlile, of Virginia, postponed for the present.-In the House, the documents relative to the settlement of the Treat affair were received from the President. Mr. Vallandigham, of Ohio, expressed his dissatisfaction at the surrender of Mason and Slidell, and predicted that in less than three months we shall be involved in war with Great Britain, or else submit to the recognition of the Southern Confederacy and the breaking up of the blockade. Mr. Thomas, of Massachusetts, justified the capture of the rebel envoys, and said that England did us grievous wrong in demanding their surrender. A lengthy, lively, and interesting discussion ensued, and finally the documents were referred to time Committee on Foreign Affairs.

On Wednesday, 8th, in the Senate, resolutions of the Kentucky Legislature, in favor of constructing a railroad to connect Kentucky with loyal East Tennessee and Western North Carolina, were presented by Senator Powell and referred. A series of resolutions adopted by the Kentucky Legislature, assuming the State's quota of the direct national

tax, pledging the State to be true and loyal to the Constitution and the Union, protesting against Congressional interference with slavery, and approving the President's modification of General Fremont's proclamation, were also presented by Senator Powell. The Naval Committee reported the House bill providing for the construction of twenty iron-clad steam gun-boats, with an amendment authorizing the President to have the work done, instead of the Secretary of the Navy. This implied censure on the head of the Navy Department created a lively discussion, which continued till the expiration of the morning hour, when the subject was laid aside.-In the House, the Judiciary Committee were authorized to send for persons and examine witnesses relative to the telegraphic censorship of the press; also to compel the production of papers and dispatches sent or proposed to be sent. The Ways and Means Committee was instructed to consider the expediency of reporting a bill at their earliest convenience amending the eighth section of the act of August last, so as to provide for raising $100,000,000 instead of $20,000,000 by direct taxation, and that in this connection they consider the expediency of telegraph and stamp duties, and excise duties upon cotton, tobacco, and all malt and distilled liquors. On motion of Mr. Colfax, a resolution was adopted instructing the Committee on Ways and Means to inquire into the expediency of taxation for the support of the Government, as follows: One mill per mile on all railroad passenger travel; one-eighth per cent. on all transfers of stock, notes discounted, and bills of exchange; and five dollars docket fee on all suits commenced in any court of record. The Judiciary Committee were instructed to inquire and report as to the Constitutional power of Congress to make Treasury Notes payable on demand a legal tender. Mr. Blair offered a preamble setting forth the action of the French Government relative to the Trent affair, and concluding with a joint resolution declaring that the people of the United States are not insensible to the kindness which animated the French Government in its prompt and wise interposition, and for reasserting the principles of international law and neutral rights which have been held by both France and the United Stated. Mr. Vallandigham, regarding the dispatch of M. Thouvenel as hostile to the United States, called for the yeas and nays on the passage of the resolution. Mr. Lovejoy expressed a desire to debate the resolution, and it was laid over under the rule. Mr. Lovejoy offered a resolution, which was adopted, instructing the Committee on Public Lauds to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill for the consideration of the House empowering the generals in command of the army who may take possession of any inhabited portion of the rebellious States to appoint commissioners of sequestration, whose duty it shall be: First—To take possession, for the use of the United States, of all property, real and personal, found without owners. Second—To convert all such personal property into money, to be paid into the Treasury of the United States. Third—To sell at auction all homesteads sequestrated. Fourth—To give homesteads not exceeding one hundred and fifty acres to such settlers as shall occupy the same for three years. Fifth—The remainder of the lands to be surveyed and disposed of as other such property of the United States.

On Thursday, 9th, in the Senate, the House resolution in regard to bonded sugar and coffee was passed, by a vote of twenty-three to fifteen. Senator Hale introduced a bill to punish fraud, on the Treasury by a fine to the amount of money fraudulently obtained, and imprisonment, at hard labor, for. not more than ten years; also, that any officer of the Government convicted of fraud be discharged and punished, and ever after held ineligible for any office. Referred. Bills providing for a Signal Department of the army; to regulate the pay of army officers : organizing the staffs of the divisions of the army; regulating the appointment of chaplains and to allow Jewish chaplains, and to increase the clerical force of the Adjutant-General's office, were presented by the Committee on Military Affairs. The communication from the Secretary of State in regard to the Trent affair was then taken up, and Senator Sumner, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, delivered an elaborate exposition of the policy of the Government as regards the settlement of the recent difficulty with Great Britain. At the conclusion of Senator Sumner's remarks the Iron-Clad War Steamer bill was taken up, and the proposed amendment of the Naval Committee, that the ships be built under the direction of the President, instead of the Secretary of the Navy, gave rise to a discussion. The debate was closed by Senator Wilson's offering a resolution, which was adopted, requesting the Secretary of the Navy to report to the Senate the facts in regard to the employment of George B. Morgan to purchase vessels, and the amount of compensation paid him, and the Senate adjourned.-In the House, bills to establish an arsenal at Springfield, Illinois; to punish frauds on the Government, and providing for the payment of interest, in certain cases, on claims against the Government, were presented and referred. The bill abolishing the franking privilege was then taken up. After debate, a motion was made to lay the subject on time table, and on this test vote time opponents of the bill were defeated by a vote of fifty-one against seventy-eight. Without further action the House adjourned.

On Friday, 10th, in the Senate, the report of the Judiciary Committee in favor of expelling Waldo P. Johnson and Trusten Polk, Senators from Missouri, who have joined the rebels, was adopted unanimously, and the Vice-President was instructed to notify the Governor of Missouri of this action of the Senate. The motion to refer the credentials of Mr. Stark, the newly-elected member from Oregon, whose loyalty is questioned, to the Judiciary Committee, was then taken up, discussed at some length, and finally adopted by a vote of 28 to 11. The bill organizing the signal department of the army was passed. The bill relative to the appointment of sutlers and defining their duties was taken up. Senator Lane, of Kansas, offered an amendment abolishing the sutler system, as it was a nuisance and an injury to the service. Senator Carlile moved to recommit the bill, with instructions to abolish sutlers and furnish soldiers tobacco rations; but without any action on the motion the subject was dropped. In the House, a letter was received from the Secretary of War, in which he states that measures have been taken to ascertain who is responsible for the disastrous movement at Ball's Bluff, but that it is not compatible with the public interest to make known those measures at the present time. The paper was referred to the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War. In Committee of the Whole, the Civil Appropriation bill was taken up, and a long discussion ensued on an amendment offered by Mr. Stevens, appropriating $150,000 to supply the deficiency for printing Treasury Notes, in which frauds between the officials of the Treasury and the engravers were charged.

On Monday, January 13, in the Senate, petitions for the emancipation of slaves were presented and referred. The house bill, appropriating $150,000 for completing the defenses of Washington was reported by the Military Committee. The Judiciary Committee reported on the resolution to expel Senator Bright, of Indiana, that, the allegations being insufficient, the resolution do not pass. A motion to take up the bill indemnifying the owners of the British ship Perthshire, for damages sustained by reason of illegal capture by the blockading squadron, was disagreed to. Senator Carlile offered a resolution, which was laid over, that the Committee on Finance consider time expediency of providing by direct taxation on all kinds of property for a revenue of two hundred millions of dollars, and issuing bonds for that amount; also for the issuing of bonds to the amount of $800,000,000, and to establish a fiscal agency for New York, etc. Senator King introduced a bill, which was referred, to authorize the Secretary of time Treasury to issue Treasury Notes to the amount of $100,000,000, at 7 per cent. interest, and providing for a direct tax of $10,000,000 for the payment of the interest.-In the House, the Army Appropriation Bill was reported, and referred to the Committee of the Whole. Mr. Andrew J. Clements was admitted to a seat as representative from the Fourth District of Tennessee, and was qualified by taking the usual oath. Mr. Dawes delivered a speech showing the frauds that have been perpetrated in the Government contracts, and Mr. Baker, of New York, advocated the passage of a tax bill to realize one hundred millions of dollars. With regard to the Treasury Note Printing appropriation, Mr. Dawes offered an amendment appropriating $150,000 for this service in addition to the former appropriation, provided no part of it be applied in payment or liquidation of any sum due on any existing contract for engraving and printing Treasury bonds or notes. This was agreed to—95 against 44. With regard

to the Treasury note engraving, Mr. Dawes moved a similar proviso, appropriating $100,000. Adopted.

RETIREMENT OF SECRETARY CAMERON.

Hon. Simon Cameron, Secretary of War, has resigned, and accepted the mission to Russia, from which Cassius M. Clay is about to retire, in order, it is said, to take a command in the army. Mr. Cameron's successor is Edwin M. Stanton, an eminent lawyer from Pennsylvania, and formerly a conspicuous member of the Ohio bar. Mr. Stanton, it will be remembered, was appointed Attorney-General of the United States in December, 1860, when Judge Black was transferred to the State Department, and was one of those members of Mr. Buchanan's Cabinet who took the place of the three traitors, Floyd, Thompson, and Cobb.

DEPARTURE OF BURNSIDE'S EXPEDITION.

The Burnside expedition, upon which so much of the public interest has been concentrating for some time past, sailed from Hampton Roads very suddenly on Saturday night and Sunday morning, leaving a few vessels behind, no doubt to bring on further reinforcements. The weather there at that time was very pleasant, notwithstanding that it was very foggy and disagreeable here. It may be that the sudden departure of the expedition was decided upon because of the favorable weather, or it may have been the result of some news received by General Burnside.

HUMPHREY MARSHALL'S FORCE SCATTERED.

Intelligence is received, from three different sources, that the second invasion of Eastern Kentucky by the rebels has ended still more disgracefully for them than the first, and that Humphrey Marshall, from whom the rebels expected so much, has failed signally in establishing his reputation as a military leader. On 6th instant Colonel Garfield, in command of the National forces, had advanced up the Big Sandy River as far as Painesville, seven miles from the rebel camp, when he was met by a flag of truce from Marshall, who wished to know if matters could not be arranged without a fight. Colonel Garfield, however, had no arrangement to offer but a fight or an unconditional surrender of the rebel forces. Whereupon Marshall addressed his men, and gave them the choice of scattering or surrendering, and they concluded to scatter, after burning all their wagons, tents, camp equipage, etc. Nothing was taken away by the rebels but their cannon, which were expected to be captured by Colonel Garfield's cavalry, which went immediately in pursuit.

THE MISSISSIPPI EXPEDITION.

The news from Cairo and Chicago is to the effect that the advance of the great expedition had commenced a Southward movement, and the main body of the troops had embarked preparatory to leaving. The various brigades were to be placed under the command of Generals Paine, McClernand, Smith, and Wallace.

THE STEAMER "PENSACOLA" GONE TO SEA.

The steamer Pensacola succeeded in running the blockade of the Potomac on 11th as far as Indian Head, where she remained until 12th, at which time she again started on her way. She was fired at by the rebel butteries, and twenty-two shots were aimed at her, but none hit the mark. She did not return the fire, although heavily laden with cannon and other appliances of war, and fully prepared for hostile service. The safe passage of the vessel is a source of great satisfaction to all parties concerned.

THE WAR IN WESTERN VIRGINIA.

Our army in Western Virginia continues active. A brilliant affair is announced to have taken place at Blue's Gap, east of Romney, at daybreak on 7th, when a detachment of General Kelley's forces, commanded by Colonel Dunning, of the Fifth Ohio regiment, attacked two thousand of the enemy, routing them completely. The rebels had fifteen killed, two pieces of cannon, their wagons, etc., and twenty prisoners, including one commissioned officer, were captured. None of the Union soldiers were killed. A force of three hundred Union troops, belonging to the Thirty-second Ohio regiment, under command of Captain Lacey, dispatched by General Milroy into Tucker County, dispersed four hundred rebels, and captured a large quantity of stores, a commissary, a first lieutenant, and a private soldier. Four of the rebels were found dead on the field, and a large number of wounded. At last accounts the Union troops were in hot pursuit of the fugitives.

AFFAIRS AT PORT ROYAL.

A dispatch has been received at the War Department from General Sherman, giving a brief statement of the objects and results of General Stevens's recent expedition from Port Royal Island. The object was to destroy the batteries of the enemy on the Coosaw River, and to punish him for firing into the steamer Mayflower on her recent passage through that stream. The expedition was successful in every respect. The rebels were driven off, their batteries demolished, and the property found there either destroyed or brought away. General Stevens is on the main land awaiting reinforcements.

GUN-BOAT SKIRMISH ON THE MISSISSIPPI.

A gun-boat skirmish took place last week near Cairo. It appears that three rebel gun-boats attacked the two Union boats, Essex and St. Louis, lying off Fort Jefferson; but the fire being returned, the rebel boats retreated, the others following in hot pursuit until the former were sheltered by the guns of the batteries at Columbus. It is believed one of the rebel boats was disabled during the engagement.

GOVERNMENT SALE OF COTTON.

The Government sale of sea-island Cotton, confiscated by the National forces in South Carolina, was made last week. There were, in all, seventy-three bales sold, weighing about 25,700 pounds. The prices paid varied front 63 1/2 cents for the ginned down to 18 cents for unginned. The total proceeds of the sale were $14,231.12.

DISTRESSES OF THE REBELS.

The Richmond journals are putting forth the most heart-rending appeals to the rebel volunteers, whose time is about expiring, to re-enlist; and proclaiming that the North is about to slaughter and devour the whole South. In the Kanawha region the rebels say they are in a terrible plight; and that if Rosecrans crosses to "Pock's," it will be about up with them. This is a valuable hint for General Rosecrans, now in this town. In East Tennessee, the rebels say the people are rapidly renouncing the Lincoln Government; but it seems they are not entering the rebel service, its a writer from Knox County, which has 3500 voters, says it is "unrepresented in the armies of the South."

LIBERALITY OF VERMONT.

The State of Vermont has opened a bank account for each one of the volunteers from that State, and regularly passes to his credit seven dollars a month. If the money remains undrawn for six months, six per cent. interest is allowed. This makes the pay of the Vermont soldiers twenty dollars a month.

FOREIGN NEWS.

ENGLAND.

JOHN BULL COOLING DOWN.

THE hot-blooded rush to arms in England has cooled down, and the dread of the horrors of war and dangers to commerce are making themselves manifest, while some are considering the chances of "no war at all," and begin to count the cost of their hostile demonstration. It is asserted that the money expended would have relaid the Atlantic cable, by which means so vast a waste of cash would have been saved. Deputations front several religious bodies, peace societies, and other corporations have waited on the Premier, and memorials have been presented to induce him, if possible, to refrain from war; and arbitration, if not recommended, is broadly hinted at.

GERMANY.

PRUSSIA AGAINST US.

The Government of Prussia has addressed a dispatch to the Minister of Prussia at Washington in reference to the arrest of Messrs. Mason and Slidell, condemning the proceeding of the commander of the San Jacinto.