The Illustrated Usk Observer and Raglan Herald

T O W 07". TALK. l' BY JOUR TON DON CORRESPONDENT. *< —- »• —■ Out- readers leitt understand that we do ito't Uld ourselves responsibUfor onr able (JorreSp<Yf¿dent''q ¡¡pinions.. P" d- THE colapletion of the greatest railway improve- ment of London is promised for the 1st of November. On that day the Charing-cross Railway station is to open, and the hotel and ornamental part is to follow as soon as possible. It would be difficult to find a better position for a railway terminus at the intersection of so many of the great thoroughfares of London. It was always easy of access from the West-end, and even now will be more conveniently approached from the East than any of the stations on the Surrey side of the Thames when the embankment of the river is finished it will become naturally one of the great starting places for goods and passengers. The trouble and delay of getting across the bridges will be done away with. The coming success, certain as it is, is curious enough, for the Charing-cros station was forced on the South-Eastern directors by the success of their rivals, the Chatham and Dover, and Brighton and South-coast, in esta- blishing the Victoria station in the heart ofs Belgravia. By that step the old route to France and Belgium was considered to be for ever check- mated and the fortunate Brighton Company triumphed in a West end route to the Crystal Palace and the South-coast. The idea of buying up Hungerford Market and bringing a railway there from London-bridge was so audacious that the Brighton directors laughed at it at first. Now it is done and, moreover, -there is a whisper of a junction with the London and North Western, by means of an underground line from Euston-square. Indeed, it would seem probable that every northern railway will eventually be obliged to come to Charing-cross. Fortunately, the Thames embank- ment will find room for them all, and if not, the Duke of Northumberland must be bought out. As to the Thames embankment, that may be said to have commenced, as the tender for the principal section from Westminster to Waterloo-bridge has been accepted, and it is to be hoped that neither the Metropolitan Board nor the contractor will have cause to rue the bargain. Half a million, less" five thousand pounds, does not seem much for so good a work. Those who live another ten years will see wonderful changes in London, caused by new hotels and railway stations, underground rail- ways, and river embankments. For the want of some better subject, there has been a great deal of newspaper correspondence on fire insurance conditions-arising, of course, out of the Woolley case. Some people seem to think it a hard case that insurance companies should have a right to insist on particulars of the property said to be burned. Indeed, according to the tonl, of some of these letters, it is the public.who are'the victims of the cruel, grasping fire insurance com- panies. But the statements are overdone. It is well known that a percentage of the claims on fire insurance companies are fraudulent. Some are resisted, and the claimants get hints that make them withdraw; some are compromised, but many are paid; because it is (fontrary to the interest of an office to dispute, if dispute can be avoided. There are people who make almost a trade of taking shops, insuring, and burning down, and the assurance offices keep up a sort of private detective police, who can tell some very curious stories. As these salamanders change their names, photography sometimes comes in as evidence, and, after a look at an album of cartes de visite, the proposal to insure is declined without thanks. We have had a succession of French actors speaking English with more or less accent,, and with tolerable success. Mr. Fechter is a very clever man, and Mdlle. Stella Colas is very pretty- so the Hamlet of the one and the Juliet of the other drew for a time but the commercial treaty with France has not .produced any more extraordinary exchange than the ap- pearance—the successful appearance-of the ever- green Mr. Charles Mathews on the French stage. The French are really beginning to tolerate English rivalry, and this is the most striking example we have seen. The French newspapers are evidently surprised at the good temper of their countrymen. The. gain is with the French, for Charles Mathews is a delightful actor, who makes you laugh in the pleasantest possible way. And what is better than a hearty, cheery laugh for man, woman, or child? We have had so large a dose of tall American talk that we believe very little that comes uncor- roborated across the Atlantic. It seems as if the Australians had been vaccinated with the same disease. A Mr. Edward Wilson, who is proprietor of a Melbourne newspaper, has been threatening all sorts of dreadful things if England continues to send convicts to the Swan River colony, now called Western Australia, this being about as far from Melbourne as Norway is from France, and nearly as difficult to reach by land. These bump- tious Australians forget that without convict labour none of these colonies would ever have been founded, or, if founded, would have perished. They are all grafts of the old convict colony of New South Wales, better known as Botany Bay in old times. I remarked some time since on the oddness of an old true blue and orange Protestant paper becoming the advocate of the Pope's power; still more strange is it to find a peace and Puritan paper shocked at hanging four murderers at Liver- pool, and yet with not a word to say against the shooting of five wretched foreign fticitives-not deserters from the Federal army-in the presence of twenty-five thousand civilians! Let us sup- pose that during the Crimean war our War-office had shot five of the German Legion for deserting to London, what would the journal representing this party havesaid ? Z.Z. »

OUTLINES OF THE WEEK. .J ¡ THE last repo: ts f-om America represent! the re- treat of General and the corresponding and subsequent advance of Meade andi the ^apparent Certainty of the Federal possession of-Charleston appears to have elevated New York to a pinnacle of enthusiasm. The Confederates,, however, are determined to fight to the last. But the principal event which is now recorded is the sus- pension of the Habeas Corpus Act by President Lincoln. It is contended that this is a step that ought to have been taken at the very commence- ment of the war; that he is only following the example of England in this matter, for when, in 1848, there were some disturbances in Ireland, and a cry from a few for separation (or secession), the ministry of the day promptly passed an Act for the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act in this country, though there had not been a blow struck, and so by making themselves masters of the per- sons of the leaders in that ridiculous escapade the remotest probability of rebellion was crushed. All our readers are of course aware of the im- portance we assign to the Habeas Corpus Act we consider it as second only to the great Magna Charta in upholding freedom, because it establishes the principle that no freeman (and every person is free in England) shall be taken or imprisoned except he is proved to have offended against the laws of the land; the suspension of this, then, gives power to arrest or imprison by those in authority without the privilege of appeal or of claiming the protection the law allows under its existence. We trust ere long the Habeas Corpus Act will be in full operation throughout the whole continent of America, and every man, woman, and child, whatever their colour, or whatever their position, may be free to act, free to think, free to labour, and free to worship one Almighty Being, to whose family we all belong, and who respects not one colour more than another, or the wealthy more than the poor. BUT two events have come under our notice during the past week that deserve consideration; they are very opposite in character, yet prove one and the same thing-namely, that England has been sincere in her neutrality. The one circum- stance that we allude to is the eloquent address of Mr. Sumner at New York. This gentleman is a highly respected member of the United States Congress, and he has thought proper to hit very hard at Earl Russell, as a man of irascible temper, &c., which we pass over; he then attacks the British Government generally, and complains "that, beyond acts and words, the same British rabies shows itself in the official tone which has been adopted towards the national cause in its un- paralleled struggle, especially through the corre- spondence of the British Foreign-office." There is no friendship, Mr. Sumner proceeds to say, in any of Earl Eussell's letters; no sympathy with the struggle with which the North is engaged against z, the rebel slavemongers." In remarking upon the total lack of sympathy, Mr. Sumner observes that he is not in the least degree surprised at it. "Naturally," he says,; "the tone is in harmony with the sentiment." Sympathy with the "slave-. | mongers" in their rebellion against the Federal power will allow of no kind expression towards those who are battling to put them down. The minister who permitted Confederate pirate ships to sallyforth from British harbours would naturally be indifferent to the tone of. what he wrote. Mr. Sumner dwells with satisfaction upon-the different treatment which has been experienced at the, hands.ofthe French Government. The Emperor, though acting, he says, in concert with the British Cabinet, has not displayed a temper of so little international amiability;" and the y correspondence .under, his direction, even in the most critical moments, leaves little to be desired in respect of form." Now, per contra, the other event we alluded to is the withdrawal of Mr. Mason as the representative of the Confederate States in this country. It will be remembered the trouble Messrs. Slidell and Mason caused us on their voyage to Europe, and how they were re- leased from the custody of the Federal authorities because they were taken prisoners when on board an English vessel. Their mission appears to have been to explain to the Foreign Ministers of Eng- land and France the causes which had led to the secession; to inform them officially of the position and pretensions of the Confederate States; and to press for a recognition of themselves as diplomatic envoys of the new republic. Mr. Slidell was sent to France; Mr. Mason remained in England. He has been amongst us a couple of years, and he never met with the slightest encouragement from the British Government; so, by the orders of Pre- sident Davis, he has just informed Earl Russell that his mission is at an end. The reason of his withdrawal, as explained in a Richmond dispatch, is the conviction that the British Government has no intention of receiving him as the accredited agent of the Confederate States. Not only is the past acknowledged to be fruitless, but there is absolute despair as to the future. President Davis believes that the British Government has "determined to decline the overtures" of friendly relations with the Confederate States made through Mr. Mason, and that the interests and dignity of the Confederate Government require his instant departure from London. Mr. Mason is now in Paris; he has shaken off the dust of his feet as a testimony against us, leaving the Confederate organ in London, the Index, to make known to the world the indignities he has endured. We are told that with the exception of a single and formal interview with Earl Russell on his first arrival—held not at the Foreign-office, but at his lordship's private resi- dence—Mr. Mason has been admitted to no inter- course whatever with the Government. Now, which is right, Mr. Sumner or Mr. Mason ? It is believed that they are both correct. Perhaps Earl Russell might have been more civil to both parties without any compromise of policy, but he has, at any rate, proved that he has exercised a strict neutrality, and never in any way given reason to the Con- federates to believe that he would acknowledge them as a nation until they had legitimate au- thority. Even if that time should ever come, England would exert all her influence to do away with that curse on humanity—-slavery. MEMBERS of Parliament are, many of them, making good use of their time in the country; their presence is expected at sundry meetings, whether it be agricultural, philanthropic, or useful, and, of course, on all occasions, they com- pliment their audience on the prospects of peace and plenty around them. They point with pride to the Channel fleet that is starring first on one coast then on another they admire the stamp of the old British tar therein displayed, and they- pray that his hands may be kept from bloodshed, and that he may ever, as now, be received with open arms as a friend, petted-as a faithful dog, who would only growl and bite when an enemy approached our threshold. They point to the glorious harvest and the 'stack-yards filled with gr.ain, and thank a bountiful Providence for all his mercies. They see hope in. the future for th. e Lancashire operative, and they speak 'with proud satisfaction of educational institutions and of the national advantages derived therefrom. They highly approve of the opportunities afforded the working man of recreations that are innocent and healthful; they point to people's parks already in existence and others that are to follow. They applaud working men's institutions of all kinds that shall lead them from vicious haunts or pot- house brawls; and, no doubt, they are sincere in their good wishes for the community at large, and their constituents more especially. But it has been contended that, generally speaking, there is one great omission in their speeches; they do not say what they are going to do themselves towards the well-being of the country, or how far our ex- penses may be economised or taxation lessened. There are, however, some exceptions to this rule. MR. STANSFELD, recently appointed to the Admiralty, has, it is said, been occupying his vaca- tion time in a way which promises to be useful to his country, and confirms the belief that the right man is in the right place to aid in introducing re- forms and retrenchments into those branches of the naval service where they are required. The organisation, account keeping, &c., of the dock- yards have been the object of his scrutiny, and there is no doubt in due time he will unfold a system of reform beneficial to public interest. EARL EUSSELL again-at an entertainment given to him on the Meiklour estate, where he has been staying for some weeks—made a speech upon foreign affairs that was highly interesting. He briefly alluded to what had been done in Italy; and then, turning to Poland, said that while fully. prepared to hold to everything he had done in reference to that country, he did not think it was proper for England to go to war for Poland. As to Mexico, he justified the part which England originally took in the expedition to that country. That expedition, he said, was undertaken to inter- vene between the Mexican Government and the English subjects who had been wronged. But when it became a question of intervening between the internal affairs of Mexico, England with- drew. If, however, the Mexicans chose to have an Emperor to rule over them, let them by all means have one. His lordship afterwards' referred at considerable length to the war in America, and vindicated the policy which had been pursued by the Government. As to the fitting out of ships in our ports for the Confederates, he declared that whatever could be done should be done to stop it, l even though Parliament had to be asked, to pass new measures on the subject; at the same time nothing should be done that would be contrary to British law, and there would be no yielding to foreign menace. BUT, perhaps, Lord Stanley, in addressing a Liverpool audience, touched upon the point which in our domestic relations is most de- serving of our consideration—namely, the housing of the labouring classes of our population. Nothing more distinctly marks the progress of real refine- ment and civilisation than the improvement of the dwelling places of man; nothing more decisive of real social advancement can be imagined than a love of home, its comforts, and enjoyments. With English people home is a word which ex- presses all that makes life really enjoyable. It is the little sphere in which man's true nature is seen. His tastes, his feelings, his enjoyments, his leisure occupations, are all developed or moulded here, and no truer index of a man's character can be found than the appearance his home presents. A crowded, ill-ventilated, ill- drained dwelling place is the worst foe which morality and health have to encounter; and in every large city we can pick out .such places by the hundred. The hot, stagnant air of a close dwelling place is the greatest provocative of dissipation. A man, after a day's hard work either in the open air or the roomy workshop, needs a place where he can enjoy a quiet hour, where he can breathe uncontaminated, if not ex- actly fresh air, where he can lay aside the cares of life for a season, and where, above all, a comfort- able and refreshing sleep may be had. How rarely such blessings can be obtained for a working man in a large city or town the experience of every business person can decide. But bad as the houses generally of the labouring classes are in' large towns, the cottages of the peasantry are even worse. A cottage labourer is often not better housed than the pig, nor half so well sheltered as the landlord's horse or cow. A list of cottagers' dwellings in the county of Norfolk has lately been published by a sanitary inspector, and it reveals a state of things that would disgrace a semi-barba- rous community, and yet it is merely a sample of the dwelling places of our rural population. Out of a hundred cases that he mentions we select the following, though there are others equally bad:— "A small cottage, occupied by a man, his wife, and nine .children; all sleep in one small, ill- ventilated bedroom. The ages of the children were as follows: girl, 20; boy, 17; boy, 14; boy, 12; girl, 10; boy, 8; girl, 4; and another." "The stench of this place," says the inspector, "was so sickening I was compelled to leave the room quickly." There is no drainage, he says, to most of the houses, and there are generally cesspools around the house. Attention is now, we are happy to say, drawn to these matters, and we trust that ere long landlords will find it both advantageous and desirable to provide healthy homes for the labouring population. .— _♦ —

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HAMtEST HOME "AT WILTOti-HOUSE. The tenants and labourers on the Pembroke estate assembled last week at Wilton-house to celebrate their annual harvest home. S&tice: the return of Lady Herbert from the continent hjj'^ appeared in public on several occasions, and bife dispensed that -charity among the inhabitants of tBif digmcts as-^yas hfer wont during the lifetime of the TateLoVd Herbert. The tenantry and labourers met at the mansion at two o'clock, and having formed in procession they marched, accompanied by Lady Herbert, who was supported by the young Earl of Pembroke, to"'Wilton Church, which Was- beautifully, decorated, wtth. flowers; miniature sheaves of corn, &c.where Divine service was held. The sermon was to have been preached by Dr. Hook, Dean of Chichester, but owing to his having met with an accident he was incapacitated, from fulfilling his appointment. |Th#f Rev. ■Prebendary^CliermsMle^ th^ .yicajr o| the^arjjph, jiccprdinglyofficiated, and pifeached a most eloq&enfr ser&oh appropriate "feto" the occasion. At the conclusion of the service the procession re- formed, and marched back to Wilton-house, where a bountiful repast was provided in the riding-school. Lady Herbert, Earl Pembroke, and a number of dis- tinguished ladies and gentlemen, visitors at the mansion, waited upon the guests, who appeared thoroughly to enjoy themselves. The toast of "her Majesty" was very warmly received, and the Hon. Michael Henry Herbert, the youngest son, proposed the "Health of the Prince and Princess of Wales," which was duly honoured. The Rev. Prebendary Qhermside then very feelingly proposed The Health of Lady Herbert," with which he coupled that of the young Earl of Pembroke, and alluded in touching language to the late peer, and the delight they all felt at seeing her ladyship again among them. Earl Pembroke, after thanking them for their reception of the toast, said he hoped he should grow up to be to them what his father had been, and that when he should come to die he might, like him, be able to say, "I have tried to do my best." These expressions were received with immense cheering. "The health of the steward, Mr. Robson, and the Bishop and Clergy," coupled with Mr. Chermside, followed, and the company then commenced dancing, which was kept up till late. The proceedings concluded with a display of fireworks in front of the mansion.

THE ROMANCE OF THE RED SHIELD. Among all the congresses held this summer, of princes, lawyer*, musicians, schoolmasters, social science men, political economists, and a hundred others, one very notable meeting has almost escaped public attention. A few days ago our Paris corre- spondent told us that a congress of the members of the illustrious house of Rothschild has been sitting at Paris. The purpose of the meeting was nothing less than to re-arrauge the dominions of the great banking dynasty. In one word the great object of the Roths- child congress was to reduce the five branches of the uovv house who nowjrule Europe to four, and, following the example of Garibaldi, to strike another sovereign of Naples from the list of reigning monarchs. Hence- forth there are to be but four kings of the house of Rothschild, with secure thrones at London, Paris Vienna, and Frankfort. It.is now exactly a hundred years since a poor Jew, called Mayer Anselm, made his appearance at the city of Hanover, barefooted, with a sack on his shoulders, and a bundle of rags on his back. Suc- cessful in trade, like most of his co-religionists, he returned to Frankfort at the end of a few years, and set up a small shop in the," Jew-lane," over which hung the sign-board of a red shield, called in German roth-schild. As a dealer in old and rare coins, he made the acquaintance of the Serene Elector of Hesse-Cassel, who, happening to be in want of a confidential agent for various open and secret pur- poses, appointed the shrewd-looking Mayer Anselm to the post. The Serene Elector being compelled, soon after, to fly his country, Mayer Anselm took charge of his cash, amounting to several millions of florins. With the instinct of his race, Anselm did not forget to put the money out on good interest,;so that, before Napoleon was gone to Elba, and the illustrious Elector had returned to Cassel, the capital had more than doubled. The ruler of Hesse-Cassel t]jpipht it .almost a marvel to get his money safely reined fisem the Jew-lane of Frankfort, and at the Cotrjlr c»s of tVlenna was never tired of singing the praise s of nib Hebrew agent to all the princes of; Europe. The dwellers under the sign of the Red Shield laughed in their sleeves; keeping carefully to themselves the great fact that the electoral two million of florins had. brought them four millions of their own. Never was honesty a better policy. Mayer Anselm died in 1812, without: having the supreme satisfaction of hearing his honesty extolled by kingg-and princes. He left five sons who succeeded him in the banking and money-lending business, and who, conscious of. their social value, dropped the vulgar Jewish name of Anselm, and adopted the higher sounding one of Rothschild, taken from the sign-board over the paternal house. On his deathbed, their father had taken a solemn oath from all of them to hold his four millions well together, and they have faithfully kept the injunction. But the old city of Frankfort clearly was too narrow a realm for the fruit- ful sowing of four millions and, in consequence, the five were determined after awhile to extend their sphere of operations by establishing branch banks at the chief cities of Europe. The eldest son, Anselm, born 1773, remained at Frankfort; the second, Salomon, born in 1774, settled at Vienna; the third, Nathan, born in 1777, went to London; the fourth, Charles, the enjant terrible of the family, established himself in the soft climate of Naples; and the fifth and youngest, James, born 1792, took up his residence at Paris. Strictly united, the wealth and power of the five Rothschilds was vested in the eldest born; neverthe- less, the shrewdest of the sons of Mayer Anselm and the heir of his genius, Nathan, the third son, soon took the reins of government into his own hands. By his faith in Wellington and the flesh and muscle of British soldiers, he nearly doubled the fortune of the family, gaining more than a million sterling by the sole battle of Waterloo, the news of which he carried to England two days earlier than the mail. The weight of the solid millions gradually transferred the as- cendancy in the family from Germany to England, making London the metropolis of the reigning dynasty of Rothschild. Like the Royal families of Europe, the members of the house of Rothschild only intermarry with each other. James Rothschild marited the daughter of his brother Salomon; his son Edmond, heir-apparent of the French line, was united to his first cousin, the daughter of Lionel, and granddaughter of Nathan Rothschild; and Lionel again-M.P. for London-gave his hand, in 1836, to his first cousin Charlotte, the daughter of Charles Rothschild, of Naples. It is un- necessary to say that, though these matrimonial alliances have kept the millions wonderfully together, they have not improved the race of old Mayer Anselm of the Red Shield. Already signs of physical weak- ness are becoming visible in the great family. So at least hint the French pap3rs in their meagre notices about the Rothschild Congress at Paris. From all that can be gathered out of a wilderness of canards, thin facts, and thick fiction, it appears that the sovereigns of the Stock Exchange met in conference for the double purpose of centralising their money power and widening their matrimonial realm. In other words, the five reigning kings, descendants, according to the law of primogeniture, of the five sons of Mayer Anselm came to the decision to reduce their number to four, by cutting off the Neapolitan branch of Charles Rothschild, while it was likewise decided that permission should be given to the younger members of the family to marry, for the benefit of the race, beyond the range of first cousinship. What has led to the exclusion of the Neapolitan line of Rothschild, seems to have been the constant exercise of a highly blameable liberality unheard of in the annals of the family; Charles, the prodigal son of Mayer Anselm, actually presented, in the year 184(5, ten thou- sand ducats to the orphan asylum of St. Carlo at Naples, and the son and heir of Charles, Gustavus, has given repeated signs of his inclination to follow in the foot- stepsiof his father. Such conduct, utterly unbecoming j of the policy of the house of Rothschild, could not be < allowed to pass unnoticed, and accordingly—we quote g the rumour of Paris journalism—the decMance of the 1 Neapolitan line has been pronounced. However, t Baron Gustavus de. Rothschild is not to retire into c private, life, like famous Charles V., with only a cas- i sock on his shoulders and a prayer-book in his hand; ( but is allowed to take with hini a. small fortune of 150,0Q0,Q00fr., or about six, millions, sterling—a mere t crumb from the table of the descendants of poor Mayer n Anselim, who wandered shoeless through the electorate p of good King George III. It is certain that no romance n of royalty is equal to the romance of the House of v Rothschild. v

M MEXICO. j NEW YORK, SEPT. 12. Advices from San Luis Potosi assert that the repre- sentatives of all the South American republics have urged Juarez to form a continental alliance with them to resist European encroachments. The Federal Government has been invited to send a delegate to co- operate in the movement.

AMERICA NEW YORK, SEPT. 14. General Beauregard reports that 113 Federals were captured in,the recent unsuccessful assault upon Fort Sumter. NEW YORK, SEPT. 15. General Pleasanton's cavalry has crossed the Rar- pahannock and passed through Culpepper, driving the Confederate cavalry before him and capturing three. guns and 100 prisoners at Culpepper. He afterwards, advanced to the Rapidan, where he found Lee's forces in a position to prevent his crossing. An impression, however, prevails that Lee has sens a large force to reinforce Beauregard and Bragg, and is falling back towards Richmond. General Gilmore, it is said, has received instructions to shell Charleston until it surrenders. Southern accounts state that the Massachusetts State flag floats over Fort Wagner, which is garrisoned by Massachusetts negroes. The capture of Little Rock, Arkansas, by the Federals is not confirmed. 17,000 Confederates are reported to be on this side of Little Rock awaiting Steele's advance. Negroes man the upper batteries of Vicksburg. Peace propositions in the Virginia Legislature have been voted down by 38 to 1. The President has refused to accept General Burn- side's resignation. The Canadian Parliament has voted a sum of 400,000 dollars for the organisation of 10,000 fresh militia. NEW YORK, SEPT. 17. President Lincoln has suspended the Habeas Corpus Act throughout the United States in all cases where the military, naval, or civil Government officers hold persons under their command or custody as prisoners of war, spies, aiders, or abettors of the enemy, enrolled, drafted, enlisted, or mustered officers, soldiers, or seamen in the Federal service, or deserters. This suspension will be continued in force during the dura- tion of the rebellion, or until President Lincoln revoke it. The reported capture of Moultrie and the occupation of James Island by the Federals is untrue. General Gilmore has tendered his resignation OIL account of a disagreement with Admiral Dahlgren.' It is supposed the latter will be superseded. The Confederate rams building in England, and the probability of the French recognition of the South, attract much public attention, and cause uneasiness. Earl Russell's reply to the Emancipation Society is considered unsatisfactory, and the ill-feeling against England continues. The New York Tribune says there is unanimity in the Federal fleet in favour of war with England. The New York municipality has tendered a public reception to the officers of the Russian frigate, being the first ever visiting New York, and as an expression of the appreciation of Russian steadfastness and fidelity to international obligations, as contradis- tinguished from the course which certain other- European Powers have thought fit to pursue. Great Battle impending in Tennessee. NEW YORK, SEPT. 18. The Confederates hold a strong position on the Rapidan, but are not in large force. Considerable- skirmishing has occurred, and 150 Federal cavalry are said to have been captured by the Confederates. The Southern journals state that. the Confederate General Wheeler had a skirmish on the 11th inst. with. the Federals near Lafayette, and retired before a superior force. Buckner has captured 300 Federal prisoners. The capture of Little Rock by the Federals is officially reported. The Confederates retreated south- ward, pursued by the Federal cavalry. 'NEW TORK, SEPT. 19. The whole of General Meade's army is moving for- ward, and a general engagement is. expected on the Rapidan. No. positive information has been receiver as to the strength of General Lee's army, but it is. supposed to have been depleted by the dispatch -of troops to Tennessee and other parts. It is stated at. FortiMonroe that Lee is evacuating Virginia) but this amounts to little more than surmise. 16,000 Confederates attacked General Negley's di- vision, 5,000 strong at Bird's Gap, and drove him back three miles and a half. On the following day, how- ever; General Negley recovered his ground with the- loss of thirty-five men. General Bragg has massed his army at Lafayette and holds the gaps of Pigeon Mountain, directly in. front of the Federal General Thomas's column. The lines of the opposing armies are represented to be a, crescent, shaped by Pigeon Mountain, which extends, like the arc of a circle, around Lafayette. The Con- federates hold the interior and the Federals the exterior lines. Both armies are within a few miles of each other, but separated by a range of mountains. General Longstreet is reported to have passed through Resaca with 20,000 men. His advance is positively stated to have reached Lafayette. The Confederate troops were hurrying to Atlanta from all directions. According to advices from Charleston of the 15th inst., General Gilmore was shelling Fort Moultrie from Fort "Gregg. The Confederates had strengthened Fort! Moultrie. The Federals from New Orleans are moving on Texas in three columns ope by way of the Gulf to Sabine Pass, another by way of Red River to Opelousas, and another along the Teche. Two gunboats of the ex- pedition arrived at Sabine Pass, which was found to be. well fortified. One of the gunboats was destroyed by the Confederate batteries, and the other was captured v by two Confederate gunboats, which came out for that purpose. The remainder of the expedition retired 1———

Manhattan says that four brothers .named Fish, have been drafted in New York, and out of Twenty-, seventh-street. Some people, he says, would call this a miraculous draft of fishes. Mr. W. Williams, M.P., presided lately at a. meeting at Walworth, for the establishment of a Working Men's Club in that locality. The hon gen- tleman strongly advocated the movement. Several other speakers subsequently addressed the meeting- and resolutions in accordance with the objects of the gathering were passed. "Cabby "his own Lawyer.—Mr. Harris, a- gentleman residing in Camberweil, was summoned at Lambeth Police-court by a cab-driver for refusing to pay his fare. There were two grown-up persons and a child of two years old in the cab, and the question was whether the cabman was justified in charging 6d. extra for the child. The cabman submitted that there had been a decision by the Court of Queen's Bench that even a child in arms was to be charged as one person. Mr. Norton referred to the Act of Parliament, which stated that two children under ten years old were to be considered as one adult. It had, however, been decided by the Lord Chief Justice upon an appeal in April last, that an infant in arms might be charged for. It was true that the judge himself did not feel much confidence in his decision, and as there appeared to be great doubt upon the question, Mr. Harris would, perhaps like to have it tried again on appeal.—Mr. Harris said he should much prefer paying the 6d., and he did so. Preparations for War in Russia.—The Siècle says :—" The dispatches of the Russian Government are warlike, and its acts are not less so. It parades its military preparations. At Helsingfors it tells the people of .b inland that it relies upon them if the integrity of Russia should be menaced. After the orders bestowed on Mouravieff, itrewards Vice-Admiral Novossilski for his labour in superintending the fortifications of Cronstadt.' New war vessels are to be constructed in Finland,, where 20,000 troops are already stationed. Eleven platel and turreted gun- boats will leave the dockyards of St. Petersburg in the spring. Lastly, on the banks of the Amour a body of troops, composed of Baskirs, Calmucs, and Chinese is being formed, to be made use of, says the Ureslaxl Gazette, against the French and English." Fearful loss of life in Bnglana takes place simply through the people being ignorant of the fact that there is a medicine in existence that will enre them. Therefore it is our xmnden duty to inform them that PAGE WOODCOCK'S WIRB PULLS are the best and safest medicine for wind in the stomach idigestiOn, debility, nervousness, biliousness, &c. Of all medicine vendors, at Is. lid., or free for fourteen stamps from Fare Noodccfk, Chemist, Lincoln.