The Sun. — London, England, 1865-02-07 00:00:00

THE CONFEDERATE STATES. THE FIRST BOMBARDMENT OF WILMINGTON. (From the Times' Special Correspondent) WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA, Dec. 27, 1864. Those of your readers who take interest in Ame rican affairs have long been aware of the alleged importance to the Confederates of the retention of Wilmington. In spite of much pretended mystery In Richmond about the incomings and outgoings of blockade-defying vessels connected with this port, I have reason to know that the fullest and most accurate information is week after week in the pos session of Mr. Lincoln and of his navy about every Vessel which leaves or enters Wilmington, about the names and circumstances of every English or Con federate merchant or company connected with blockade-running ventures, and about the senti ments which prevail in the streets of this filthy little entrepa In regard to the tone and sentiment of most of the population which has been attracted to Wilmington as vultures to the carcase it is not ne cessary for me now to say more than that it is widely different from that which animates General Lee and his noble army. But I may be permitted to express a passing opinion that if the abundant in ternal resources of the Confederacy were available wherever they are wanted—in other words, if the railroad transportation between Georgia and Vir ginia was as ample and well regulated as between Illinois and Washington—it would be rather a bles sing than otherwise to the Confederates if the port of Wilmington were shortly closed. So long as the war continues there will be a demand for muskets, nitre, medicines, blankets, army clothing, and shoes, notwithstanding the abundant introduction of those articles which has already taken place ; but it is doubtful whether a sufficient supply could not be sucked in through the numberless creeks and rivers which intersect the 3,000 or 4,000 miles of seacoast between the Rio Grande and Chesapeake Bay. These rivers are now becom ing:well known to the blockade-running captains, and, come what may, whether Wilmington or Charleston fall or not, it is absurd to think that the coast of Secessia can ever be hermetically sealed. But in the existing decline of Confederate virtue, and under the painfulness and weary exhaustion of this strife, could the Confederates stand the moral discouragement entailed by the loss of Wilmington? Your readers may answer the question for them - selves, but if Confederate virtue and stanchness, like that of General Lee, were equal to the shock, I believe that before six months had passed it would be found in a dozen ways that the loss of Wilming ton was a blessing in disguise. It is necessary I should premise that the little town of Wilmington lies on the east bank of the Cape Fear river, which, running from north to south, debouches into the sea 22 miles below the town. Opposite the mouth of the river lies Smith's Island, shaped in the form of an acute-angled tri angle, with the apex pointing out to sea. The river being about two miles wide at its mouth, forces its way to sea through two channels, one to the east and the other to the west of Smith's Island, of which the easier and more frequented channel is called the New Inlet, whereas the other is known by the name of the Western Bar. Smith's Is land is Surrounded by dangerous shoals and reefs, and the stations occupied by the Federal vessels - which endeavour to blockade these two channels are more than forty miles apart. The consequent difficulty of closing the mouths of the Cape Fear river is well pointed out in Mr. Welles's recent re port to the Washington Congress. Add to this that the North Carolina coast is lashed, especially in winter, by one of the most capricious and boisterous of seas, and by a surf which, under the impulse of a south-east wind, is scarcely inferior in fury to that which has made the coast of Madras a terror to navigators. The attack of the 24th and 25th inst. was directed only against the works which protected the new inlet. Your readers must understand that the tongue of land between the east bank of the Cape Fear river during the last 30 miles of the course and the sea is in the shape of the letter V. The new inlet channel runs for several miles parallel to the coast, and its last five miles are protected by Confederate bat teries scattered along the beach, and which termi nate at the latter point of the V in a large work called Fort Fisher. This work, which is of an irregular shape, and which was commenced before ' General Whiting took charge of the defences of Wilmington, consists strictly of three distinct com partments. First, upon the river—that is to say, at the lower end of the left stroke of the V, stands a strong naval battery called Fort Buchanan, named after the distinguished Confederate - admiral of Merrimac and - Mobile celebrity. Secondly, at the point of the V stands a pyramidal mound, a mo nument of the energy and persistency of Colonel Lamb, who has long been in command of Fort Eisher. The mound in question was commenced in 1862 by Colonel Lamb upon a bare and exposed spit of sand, and was long regarded as such a hope less undertaking that it went by the name of Lamb's Folly. But gradually, and little by little, chiefly by the slow agency of spade labour, the mound crept upwards until it had attained an elevation of 60 feet. Its sides are knit together and clothed by the long sea grass which grows on this coast, and upon the summit, in addition to two heavy guns, is placed the Fresnel light, which is such a guide and assistance to incoming vessels. Thirdly, comes Fort Fisher proper, named after a North Carolina colonel killed at the battle of Bull Run. Its sea face coin mencesabout a quarter of a mile from Lamb's Mound, and running upwards for nearly half a mile alonk - the right stroke of the V connects with a long curtain which stretches across from the sea to the river, and which runs at right angles to the sea face of the fort. Few works of more interest to the military engineer than this scientific row of sand hills have ever been constructed, nor can it be doubted that Fort Fisher reflects the highest credit upon the ability of General Whiting, its constructor. The platforms upon which the 50 guns of Fort Fisher are mounted stands at an elevation of about 40ft. above the beach ; but at the end of the sea face, which is nearest to Lamb's Mound, there is a Columbiad battery, at a lower elevation, in which, during the bombardment, the men suffered more heavily than in any other portion of the work. Each gun is protected and divided from its neigh bour by a lofty sand traverse, and under each tra verse is alternately a bombproof (or shelter-cham ber for part of the garrison) and a magazine. Through these traverses runs a continuous covered passage. The whole work involves an immense expenditure of labour, and evinces an amount of energy highly creditable its to artificers. Upon the evening of the 19th the inhabitants of Wilmington were startled by the tidings that a huge Yankee flotilla, variously estimated at from 50 to 150 sail, was off the coast, and apparently medita ting mischief. The excitement was scarcely less feverish than on the occasion when there was a cry of the Spanish Armada as being off the Cornish coast —a cry which roughly interrupted the memo rable game of bowls in which Drake and Hawkins and Frobisher were e onga ' .ed on the Hoe at Ply atouth. -o lon g e r by to head land, but, beacon light from headland upon the lightning breath of elec tricity the new s told the great a l n v d as wafted to Richmond, which grave soldier who has so long barred it s entrance against the F e d era l s t h at hi s flank was menaced. tac Tickly respondin challenge, Gen. Lee de mergen a body of troops amply g to the sufficient to meet the e but such was the maladministration of the railrocady', over the Grteanilsyborough, 48 miles which divide Danville from eB ttiat, but for a providential incident, the troops s e nt sthio2uld to cover the land approach to Fort Fish e r have been too late. Upon the night of E r.. and during the whole of the 21st a violent g a l e in from the north-west. It may be conceiv ed le such a composite flotilla of transports, gunb oat , , ironclads, frigates, sloops of war, and ferry boats as the Federals had at sea must have suffered cruelly, and there are stories here of a regiment of United States' regulars, of part of a negro brigade, and of many hundred horses having been lost; but your readers will have gathered from the New York press a nearer approach to truth than the idle speculations of the North Carolinians. The storm delayed the attack upon Fort Fisher until the 24th, and it was not until the evening of the 25th that the beach to the north of Fort Fisher was trodden by the foot of a Federal soldier. But before that time enough troops were at hand to protect the town of Wilmington from a land attack, or to in terfere with the Federals in the event of their at tempting to stretch across the tongue of land be tween the river and the sea, and to cut -off Fort Fisher and its dependencies. Recovering as best they might from the rough handling of the sea, and availing themselves of the bright, cold, and clear weather which followed the storm of the 21st, the Federals stood in upon the morning of the 24th, and formed a lunette or cres cent of ships, extending for about three miles, and stretching from the wreck of the Modern Greece in front of the land face of Fort Fisher to Smith's Island, until the fire of the last ship on the left of the Yankee squadron swept the " ramp," or sloping tramway which ascends to the rear of Lamb's Mound. Upon the extreme right horn of the Federal half moon lay the monitors, four in number, distant from 1,800 to 2,000 yards from the land face of Fort Fisher, and firing right into the embrasures of the guns from a direction such as to render the traverses of no effect. It may be remarked that the heaviest guns which Fort Fisher mounts are upon its sea face. The guns which responded to the monitors were too small in calibre to be of any avail against their iron ribs. In the centre, and opposite to the sea face of the fort, lay at a distance of nearly two miles the large frigates, such as the Colorado and the Wabash, one of them carrying the flag of Admi ral Porter. The left horn was occupied by sloops of war, by some frigates, and by crafts of divers kinds, carrying guns which throw shot of every conceivable shape and calibre, from the 15-inch shell of the monitors to the 3-pound shell of the lightest field gun. Behind the ships of war lay the transports, ready to disembark their living cargoes and to throw them against a fort in which, after two days of unprecedented bombardment, it was calculated that there would be little left ex cept dead, wounded, or panic-stricken men. At about noon of the 24th the lunette of Federal ships was arrayed ; and never since the 20th of July, 1588, when Lord Howard of Effingham first came in sight of the Spanish Armada, stretching in a crescent of seven miles from horn to horn, did a " navy more irresistible and disdaining prevention " (to borrow the words of Sir Francis Drake) ride the waves. Conunencing shortly after noon, there burst simultaneously upon a given signal from the throats of hundreds of guns such a storm of shells as has never before been rained upon any fort or work of human construction. It was in vain that General Whiting or Colonel Lamb attempted to make an accurate calculation how many guns were thundering at the fort, how many jets of flame issued from the infuriated ships, or how many shells were dis charged in each minute. Suffice it to say that the reports of the artillery, usually as distinct as the strokes of a bell, swelled up to heaven in a dia pason as continuous and uninterrupted as the roar of Niagara ; and that three miles of the horizon were checkered with puffs or wreaths of white smoke, which showed against the sky as though Jupiter was pelting the earth with gigantic snow balls, For five weary hours upon the 24th the iron hailstorm, without one instant's cessation, de scended upon or around the fort, tore great rents in the palisades which protect the land face, set fire to the wooden quarters of the garrison, swept away every vestige of flag or flagstaff, howled above Lamb's Mound without injuring a hair of the head of its defenders, scattered iron splinters broadcast over the beach, bored great holes and chasms into the sides of the mound, the slopes of the fort, and the barren waste Of sand that surround them, and occasionally, flying wildly inwards, lashed the water of the Cape Fear River into lofty columns of spray. From 5 in the afternoon of the 24th until about 10 in the morning of Christmas-day there was a lull in the firing, followed by its resumption for seven hours with unabated fury and ferocity upon the latter day. The burning buildings in the interior of the fort, when darkness closed in, cast a lurid glare over the scene, as the men wild with excite ment, but calm and pale with set teeth, issued from the bomb proofs, and looked in wonder at their comrades, to see so many unwounded survivors after a bombardment such as mortal ear never heard before, and of which the reality seemed, even now, but an unsubstantial dream. What, it will be asked, was the damage effected by the tons upon tons of iron which now lie buried in the sand of North Carolina ? Briefly summed up, two or three guns were dismounted, three men were killed, and 55 wounded. As for the damage done to the mounds of sand which constitute Fort Fisher, it was scarcely visible yestirday, and will be wholly invisible within a week from this time. Upon the first day of the bombardment the fort responded more excitedly than upon the second, firing 660 shots during the five hours' bombardment of the 24th, and rather less than 600 shots during the seven hours' bombardment of the 25th. Two English guns especially distinguished themselves— an 8-inch, or 150-pounder, Armstrong shunt gun, and an 8-inch Blakeley. It is believed that upon each occasion when the Armstrong gun was discharged (it was only fired thrice) a Federal ship shifted its posi tion, or hauled out of action. The Blakeley gun was fired much more frequently, and with excellent effect. The value of these gum, as compared with the Brook gun, which gained such credit for sinking the Keo kuk off Charleston in April, 1863, is now satisfac torily settled, according to the judgment of the de fenders of Fort Fisher, in favour of the English pieces. In regard to the minor incidents of the action it is worthy of record that upon the afternoon of the 25th several boats or barges were lowered from the Federal frigates on the extreme left of the arc, which boats approached the rip at the mouth of the river, under the guns of Fort Buchanan, and were believed to have been feeling for torpedoes. A gun from Fort Buchanan opened upon them, and at its fourth dis charge a shot cut a Federal barge in two, scattering its crew upon the water. The men were picked up by their comrades in the other barges, which im mediately proceeded to withdraw from action. It remains for me to narrate the fortunes of that portion of the Federal forces which disembarked upon the beach. About 4in the afternoon of Sun day, the 25th, several surf boats were lowered from the transports and ferryboats, which were an chored off shore in the deep water, about three miles to the north of Fort Fisher. It is believed that, availing themselves of leading lines warped to the shore, these boats landed three brigades of Federal troops under the command of General Ames. The woods and beach in the neighbourhood of their landing-place had been swept previous to their debarkatio n b y a storm of shell and sh:apnel, which drove off Generalliirk-land and hi s brigad e of Confederates, who would otherwise have prevented the landing of any Federal troops. Immediately after landing, the Federals possessed themselves of a redoubt upon the beach, named Battery Anderson, and threw a strong line of pickets across the tongue of land upon which Fort Fisher stands. Just before sunset a strong demonstration (assault it could hardly be called) was made, chiefly against th e l and face of Fort Fisher, and it will readily h be believed that this:was the most anxious moment experienced by its gallant defenders. It seems to have been the impression of the Federals that after such a bom bardment as the fort had sustained the resistance to an attack could not have been otherwise than feeble. It is probable that at no moment during the last 18 months had Colonel Lamb so small a garrison available for the defence of his cherished fort. But, calling upon his gallant little hand of about 900 men, half of them tried and seasoned troops, and half con sisting of Governor Vance's junior reserves, Colonel Lamb rushed down to man the palisades, and his efforts were nobly responded to by his men. Imme diately that the Federals saw the defenders of Fort Fishe r swarming over the parapet, an d rus hi ng forward with undiminished heart and in unabated number s to the defence of its palisades, all vigour wd hope departed ' from the assailants, and the fort as their s4 a V rr a ell s . fog of A ll night the Federal pickets lay upon , dim dawn of the 26th the revealed a lp morning iostrongstrongin ing the momentarily lifted up and lined of soldiers s t an di ng a h nos t elbow to elbow an the river. Again tho s t chin g from the sea to fell and obscured liftedthe had diaap and cleared. THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 7, 1865. peared. Upon the night of the 26th and during the early morning of the 27th they took to their boats, and this attack upon Fort Fisher, either by land or sea, was at an end. The memorable bombardment of Fort Fisher will not be without profit to England, if it teaches her the lesson first learnt at Sebastopol in regard to the value of defensive works constructed of earth or of sand. Upon Lamb's Mound, raised 60 feet above the plateau of the beach, not a man was scratched, or a gun dismounted, although it was subjected for hours to one of the most terrific fires which ever issued from mortal guns. Upon the more elevated portion of Fort Fisher the damage sustained by the garrison was insignificant, and the loss to which its defenders were subjected was principally incurred in the Columbiad battery, which stands at a much lower elevation than the land face and a portion of the sea face. So true is the remark of Sir Howard Douglas that elevated batteries engage ships under circumstances of great advantage to the battery, whereas batteries on a level with the water, a Fleur d'eau, never fail to sustain severe and damaging in jury. It remains also for England to weigh well the advisability of her defensive stone forts at Portland Breakwater, at Portsmouth, and elsewhere, and to ask herself whether, commanding (as she does) any amount of instantly available labour, and gallant Volunteers in abundance to man works, it would not be advisable to trust. most of the defences of her shores to such scientific sand hills or earthworks as have made the name of Fort Fisher memorable throughout the civilised world. Monitors and Ironsides were directed to take up the fire during the night. The enemy had long ceased to respond to our fire, and kept in his bomb-proofs. I could see that our fire had damaged some of their guns, and I determined that before the army went to the assault there should be no guns within our reach to arrest their progress. Having found that the rebels could still bring some heavy guns to bear, I determined to try another plan ; and on the morning of the 14th ordered in all the small gun boats carrying llin. guns to fire slowly and try and dismount the guns on the face of the works where the assault was to be made. The Brooklyn was ordered to throw in a pretty quick fire to keep the rebels from working their guns. The attack was commenced at 1 p.m., and lasted till long after dark. One or two guns were fired this day from the upper batteries, inflicting no serious damage on any of the vessels except cutting away the mainmast of the Huron and hitting the Unadilla once or twice. These guns we always silenced when a rapid fire was opened. The attack of the gunboats lasted until long after dark, and one vessel was employed firing (an hour each) throughout the night. On this evening Gen. Terry came on board to see me and arrange the plan of battle for next day. The troops had got rested afterltheir long confinement on shipboard and sea voyage, and had recovered from the drenching they received when landing through the surf. Having been long enough on their native element, they were eager for the attack. It was arranged between the general and myself that the ships should all go in early, and fire rapidly through the day, until the hour for the assault came on. The hour named was 5 p.m. I detailed 1,600 sailors and 400 marines to accompany the troops in the assault, the sailors to board the sea face, while the troops assaulted the land side. Most all of the sailors were armed with cutlasses and revolvers, while a number had Sharpe's rifles or short carbines. I herewith inclose the order of attack on the fort and the man ner of approaching it. There was a perfect under standing between the general and myself, and a system of signals established (by the army code) by which we could converse at our pleasure, though nearly a mile apart, and amid the din of battle. At 9 a.m. on the 15th the squadron was signalled to attack in three lines, or assume position marked on the plan herewith inclosed. All the vessels reached position about 11 a.m., and each opened fire as they got their anchors down. The same guns in the upper batteries opened again this day, with some effect, as you will see by reference to the reports of different commanders, but no vessel was injured sufficiently to interfere with her efficiency. The fire was kept up I furiously all day. The Mound Hill battery kept up rather a galling fire with its two heavy guns, but the rebels were driven away from their works into their bombproofs, so that no vessel was in the least disabled. At 2 o'clock I expected the signal for the vessels to change the direction of their fire, so that the troops might assault. The sailors and marines had worked by digging ditches, or rifle-pits, to within 200 yards of the fort, and were all ready. The troops, however, did not get into position until later, and at 3 o'clock the signal came. The vessels changed their fire to the upper batteries ; all the steam whistles were blown, and the troops and sailors dashed ahead nobly, vieing with each other to reach the top of the parapet : we had evidently we thought injured all the large guns so that they could not be fired to annoy any one. The sailors took to the assault by the flank along the beach, while the troops rushed in at the left, through the palisades that had been knocked away by our fire. All the arrangements on the part of the sailors had been well carried out ; they had suc ceeded in getting up to within a short distance of the fort, and laid securely in their ditches. We had but very few killed and wounded to this point. The marines were to have held the rifle-pits and cover the boarding party, which they failed to do. On rushing through the palisades which extended from the fort to the sea, the head of the column received a murderous fire of grape and canister, which did not however check the officers and sailors who were leading ; the parapets now swarmed with rebels, who poured in a destructive fire of musketry. :At this moment, had the marines performed their duty, every one of the rebels would have been killed. I witnessed the whole affair, saw how recklessly the rebels exposed themselves, and what an advantage they gave our sharpshooters, whose guns were scarcely fired, or fired with no precision. Notwithstanding the hot fire, officers and sailors in the lead rushed on, and some even reached the parapet, a large number having reached the ditch. The advance was swept from the para pet like chaff, and notwithstafiding all the efforts made by the commanders of companies to stop them. The men in the rear seeing the slaughter in front, and that they were not covered by the marines, commenced to retreat, and as there is no stopping a sailor, if he fails on such an occasion on the first rush, I said the whole thing had to be given up. In the meantime the troops were more successful on their side. The rebels, seeing so large a body of men coming at them on the sea side, were under the impression that it was the main attack, and concen trated the largest part of their forces at that point, and when they gave three rebel cheers, thinking they had gained the day, they received a volley of mus ketry in their backs from our gallant soldiers who had been successful in gaining the highest parapet. Then commenced such a system of fighting as has never been beaten. Our soldiers had gained two traverses, while I directed the Ironsides to fire on the traverses occupied by the rebels. Four, five, and six traverses were carried by our troops in the space of an hour. These traverses are immense bomb-proofs about 60ft. long, 50ft. wide, and 20ft. high, 17 in all, being on N.E. face. Between each traverse or bomb-proof are one or two heavy guns. The fighting lasted until 10 o'clock at night, the the Ironsides and Monitors firing through the traverses in advance of our troops, and the level strip of land called Federal Point being enfiladed by the ships to prevent reinforcements reaching the rebels. General Terry himself went into the fort, and I kept up constant communication with him until three hearty cheers, which were taken up by the fleet, announced the capture of Fort Fisher. Finding that the General felt anxious about the enemy receiving reinforcements, I directed the sailors and marines to relieve the troops in the outer line of our defences, and a large number of soldiers were thus enabled to join our forces in the fort. It will not be amiss for me to remark here that I never saw anything like the fearless gallantry' and endurance displayed by our troops. They fought like lions, and knew no such word as fail. They finally fought and chased the rebels from tra verse to traverse, until they reached Battery Lamb, at the mound, a face of work extending about 1,400 yards in length. At this point the rebels broke and fled to the end of Federal Point. Our troops fol lowed them up, and they surrendered at discretion. Thus ended one of the most remarkable battles on record, and one which will do mare damage to the rebel cause than any that has taken place in this war. 2,300 rebels manned Fort Fisher ; 1,900 were taken prisoners ; the rest were killed or wounded. I may have stated some inaccuracies with regard to these military matters, which I will leave to General Terry to supply. I have since visited Fort Fisher and its adjoining works, and find their strength greatly beyond what I had conceived. An enginere might be excusable in saying they could not be captured except by regular siege. I wonder even now how it was done. The work, as I said before, is really stronger than the Malakoff Tower, which defied so long the combined power of France and England ; and yet it is captured by a handful of men, under the fire of the guns Of the fleet, and in seven hours after the attack commenced in earnest. I cannot say too much_ in praise of the conduct of the fleet during the time we have been en gaged in these operations. I do not know an officer in command who has not performed his duty to the best of his ability. There may be some who have done better than others, but, after all, that may be a mere matter of opinion, or a matter of prejudice and partiality ; all did their best, and we can ask no more. To make invidious distinctions in a report of this kind would be causing matter for dispute, and I shall content my self with saying that the Government may well be proud of those whom it has entrusted here with the command of the vessels. I leave each comman der to tell what his subordinates have done, and refer the department to the report of divisional commanders for an account of what they saw and did. I will, howevei, make a special report of what I consider due to those who have been engaged in this contest, and have persistently fought for the Union. I refer you to Lieut. Commander H. R. Breese, who led the assault. The result was not what I expected when I planned the attack ; but it would have succeeded without severe loss had the Marines performed their duty. As it is, we lost heavily, and the country has lost some gallant offi cers, who fell on the enemy's ramparts. The suc cess is so great that we should not complain. Men, it seems, must die that this Union may live, and the Constitution under which we have gained our pros perity must be maintained. We regret our com panions in arms, and shed a tear over their remains ; but if these rebels should succeed, we would have nothing but regret left us, and our lives would be spent in terror and sorrow. As soon as the forts were taken I pushed the light draught gunboats into the river—that is, as soon as I could find and buoy out a channel and take up the torpedoes, which were very thick. We found the wires leading to many, and under-ran them with boats. We found the torpedoes too heavy to lift with our ordinary boats, and they must have contained at least a ton of powder. The rebels seem disposed to pay us back for the famous torpedo Louisiana, which ex ploded in their harbour and did them no harm. We had some difficulty in getting the vessels across the bar and into the river, as the channel is narrow and the bar very shoal ; a few of them got stuck, but were got off again with the tide. We all came to the conclusion that we had. followed the right plan to capture Fort Fisher, one in which the nautical man of any sense will concur. After I got three of the gunboats inside the bar and under the mound the rebels prepared to evacuate Fort Caswell. Two steamers near the fort, which I think were the Talla hassee and Chickamauga, were set fire to and blown up after the rebels had set fire to the fort ; that blew up last night with a heavy explosion, followed by some minor ones. The barracks were apparently in flames all night, and some little works between this and Caswell blew up. I have sent vessels to see what has been done, and shall be governed ac cordingly. I think they are burning up everything in Wilmington, and are getting away as fast as they can. In the meanwhile a large force of gun boats occupies the river between Caswell and Wil mington ; that place is hermetically sealed against blockade-runners, and no Alabamas or Floridas, Chickamaugas, or Tallahassees, will ever fit out again from this port, and our merchant vessels will soon, I hope, be enabled to pursue in safety their avoca tions. I send you a list of killed and wounded. We have lost more than I first estimated. We expended in the bombardment about 50,000 shells, and have as much more on board. I feel much indebted to the Bureau of Ordnance for so promptly supplying us with ammunition and guns. I regret that some one stopped our supply of coal (which should have been doubly increased), for it came very near de feating this expedition. Had we not been sup plied by the army this expedition would have been a failure. We shall move along carefully ; have no vessels blown up with torpedoes, if I can help it ; and I think we shall be in Wilmington before long. We may rest satisfied, sir, that the gate through which the rebels obtained their supplies is closed for ever, and we can sit here quietly and watch the traitors starve. I enclose you a number of reports (dry, though necessary details), with which I will not overload my report (already too long) on such an interesting occasion. The number of guns captured in these works amounts to 75, many of them superb rifled pieces of very heavy calibre ; all those facing the ships were dismounted, or injured so that they could not be used, or the muzzles were filled up with sand or dirt, which rendered them useless. I only saw two that were not rendered useless. I believe we have burst all the rifled guns left in the fleet (one on the Susque hannah, one on the Pequot, one the Osceola), and I think the reputation of these guns is now about ruined. I shall take occasion in another de spatch to call your attention to those officers who I consider worthy of the most praise, and the appro bation and notice of the department. " I am, sir, very respectfully, your obt. servant, " DAVID D. PORTER, Rear-Admiral. "The I-lon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy." The report of Fleet-Captain Breese, who led the assault, is as follows : " Flagship Malvern, off Fort Fisher, North Carolina, Jan. 16. " Sir,—l have to report that in obedience to your order I represented your flag in commanding the as sault on Fort Fisher, and beg leave to state as fol lows :—Lieut. S. W. Preston had charge of a force of about 10 men from each ship, with shovels and picks, and threw up, within 600 yards of the fort, a well protected breastwork, and that gradually ad vanced to within 200 yards a succession of rifle pits, which were most promptly occupied by a line of skir mishers composed of marines under Second-Lieu tenant L. E. Fagon. The manner in which this was done reflects most creditably upon Lieut. Preston. As the advance was made he came to me and reported his work finished, and asked that he might be em ployed in any way. Lieutenant Preston's services were most useful to me, and in his last moments he attempted to send me word that he had carried out my orders. The assaulting party was composed of about 1,600 seamen and 400 marines, divided into four lines as follows :—First line composed of marines, Capt. L. L. Dawson, commander; second line, composed of the landing party of the first and fourth divisions of the squadron, Lieut.-Commander C. 11. Cushman, commanding ; third line, composed of the landing party of the second division of the squadron, com manded by Lieutenant-Commander James Parker, who most generously waived his seniority upon reading your orders that I should represent you on on shore ; fourth line, composed of the landing party of the third division of the squadron, com manded by Lieutenant-Commander T. 0. Self ridge. The second, third, and fourth lines were of about equal strength. It was intended that the men should assault in line, the marines acting as sharp shooters, and the different lines were to charge over them, but from the difficulty I had of inform ing myself of the time when the army was to assault which was to guide our movements, that moment found us too far off to move to the attack unless under cover. When I discovered that the army was moving to attack the fort, I ordered the men to ad vance by the flank, along the beach, hoping to be able to form them for the assault under cover of marines ; but 400 yards distant, exposed to a most galling fire of musketry, threw a portion of the marines into the first line, and the rest of them did not take position as they should. The second and third lines came along, and the heads of the three lines joined and formed one compact column, which filing up to the sea face of Fort Fisher assaulted to within 50 yards of the parapet, which was lined with one dense mass of musketeers, who played sad havoc with our men. Although exposed to a most severe fire from the enemy, the men were rallied three times under the personal encouragement and expo sure of their commanding officers; but failed to gain much ground. A few officers and men reached the parapet. I don't know their names, but they will doubtless be found in the reports of the officers ac companying the party. The marines having failed to occupy their position, gave the enemy an almost unmolested fire upon us. Men armed with Sharpe's rifles and a few marines in the front opened the fire, but it was to feeble too be of avail. Finding the rear of the men retreating, I hastened toward it to form them under cover, and have them use their rifles, but they were too far distant for me to reach them, and I accordingly returned to a position near the works. As I did so, the remaining men, notwith standing all attempts to stop them, fled, with the I exception of about 60, among whom were Lieuten ant Commanders James Parker, C. H. Cushman, T. - O. Selfridge, and M. Sicard, and Lieutenants, N. 11. Farquhar and R. 11. Lamson, the latter of whom was wounded, and several volunteer officers, whose names I unfortunately do not: know. The fire of the enemy was so severe that the few men remaining had to seek such cover as they could, - and , there remained until dark, when a demonstration upon the part of the rebels in duced all to make a fresh rush, and most succeeded in escaping. The country will regret the death of Lieut. S. W. Preston, acting as my aid in carrying orders, who was killed in front, and of Lieut. B. H. Porter, killed in the early assault at the head of the column, and of several volunteer officers, seamen, and marines, killed during the attack. Of Assistant Surgeon Wm. Longshaw special mention should be made, on account of his great bravery and attention to the wounded under the hottest fire, until finally he fell a victim in the very act of binding up the wounds of a marine. I can but attribute the failure of the assault to the absence of the marines from position, as their fire would have enabled our boarders to use their cutlasses and pistols most effectively. By this I would imply the lack of pro per organisation, it being impossible in the short space of time, on account of throwing so many squads of men from the different vessels together in one mass, lacking proper company formations, and wholly unacquaintedwith each other, to secure such organisation. This led to the confusion exhibited, for it was not due to any want of personal valour on the part of the officers or men. Although the officers and men were exposed to a severe fire from the enemy, to them of a novel character and upon a novel element, which would have tried veterans, yet they advanced nobly, and the survivors must be satisfied that they contributed, in no small degree, to the success of the army. The enemy believing, as I am informed, that the main assault was to come from us, we were much surprised upon looking to their rear to find the army so far advanced in their works. The medical officers sent on shore with the landing party established their field hospital at a work about a mile from the fort, where Assistant- Surgeon B. H. Kidder took charge of the wounded who were conveyed there, and their wants attended to as well as circumstances would permit. As near as I could estimate there were about 65 killed and 200 wounded. Lieutenant Commander W. R. Cushing, in the extreme front, finding no thing could be done, left with the retreating men, and succeeded finally in rallying them, and at the request of Gen. Terry occupied the lines near his head-quarters, which enabled him to withdraw men to reinforce his force in the fort. Being a witness to the assault of the army after our repulse, I cannot but express my admiration of the extreme gallantry of its attack. Where one act of personal bravery was displayed on the part of the enemy, a dozen or more were conspicuous on our part ; and it was a most imposing sight to see how splendidly our brave soldiers did their work. In conclusion, I would say that I may have omitted the names of officers who have distinguished themselves by their gallantry, yet I could not fail to mention those above-named who came personally under my notice, and I trust that the commanding-officers of the assaulting lines will do justice to all. To Lieut.-Commander James Parker, I would say that I was a witness to his efforts to advance the men to the free exposure of his person, and, although ranking me, he would let no obstacle of that nature interpose and check his endeavours to do his utmost to capture the fort. To your secretary, Mr. C. P. Porter, acting as my aid, lam very much indebted. Though frequently sent in the rear with orders, he was promptly back, and, at the assault, he was found at the front. Although the assaulting party failed, I think it but due to those who advanced, and to the memories of the slain, to claim for them through their strong demon stration a correspnding resistance from the enemy, and a weakening of the rebel defence towards our army. I have been informed by the officers who conversed with prisoners that the enemy .believed ours to be the main assault, and concentrated against us their main force. In saying this I would not wish to be understood in the least to detract from the splendid gallantry exhibited by our army, which was worthy of the highest commendation that can be bestowed. " Very respectfully, your obedient servant, " K. R. BREESE, Fleet Captain. " Rear-Admiral David D. Porter, Commanding North Atlantic Squadron." Rear-Admiral Porter has also made an official report on the conduct of the Monitors engaged against Fort Fisher. It is as follows : " North Atlantic Squadron, flag-ship Malvern, off Fort .Fisher, North Carolina, Jan. 15. "Sir,—My late experience with the Monitor class of ves sels under firo at sea and in riding out heavy gales justifies me in making a special report in the matter. I feel the im portance of the Government's receiving accurate informa tion in relation to a class of vessels about which there has been a difference of opinion, and of which we are building quite a number. "My experience has been with the Monadnock Saugus, Mahopac, and Canonicus, all vessels of some difference of construction, and built, I believe, by different contractors. "Before leaving Hampton Roads, and while waiting for the army to provide troops for the land part of this expe dition, I sent the monitors Canonicus, Mahopac, and Saugus up the James River, to try what they could do with the rebel batteries at Howlet's, and above that point. At Howlet's the enemy had a heavy gun mounted (a 200- pounder Brookes rifle) which was frequently fired at the monitors, but seldom hitting them. One of their shells or shot, however, struck the Saugus fair on the turret, and knocked out and loosened 40 of the bolts. " This was owing to the bolts being driven from inside to out, instead of from outside to in. The turret was not materially injured, and was repaired again in about two weeks, and I have been using the Saugus here against these works, where she has done effective service. c , The Canonicus, Mahopac, and Monadnock left Hamp ton Roads on the 18th ult., the former two in tow of steamers, the Monadnock going under steam with a steamer in company. The weather was quite rough, and at times the sea would go over the turrets and down the funnels, but I passed them while at sea, and they wore making excellent weather of it. On asking their commanders afterwards how they got along, the answer was, Oh, quite well, sir ; only a little damp.' " On arriving at Beaufort, North Carolina, I filled them up with coal and ammunition. I found a defect in a pump on board the Canonicus centrifugal pump' they called it), which did not fetch the water until there was a foot or more in the vessel. This was a serious defect, and one for which the constructors were very culpable. The Mahopac's decks leaked considerably, and made the officers and crow very uncomfortable. " The monitors started from Beaufort on the 18th ult.. the Canonicus and Mahopac being towed, the Monadnock declining such assistance. Indeed, she did not require it, outrunning the largest vessels easily, and keeping ahead of all, except the very fastest. " On the 21st ult. it came on to blow hard from the south west, and a very heavy sea commenced rolling in. The vessels were all anchored in 13 fathoms of water, with a long scope of chain out. Most of the largo vessels dragged during the gale. The Tuscarora and Juniata put to sea (I think unnecessarily), while the monitors rode it out beautifully. I was anchored quite near them, and witnessed their per formance. T at first thought I had been imprudent, and had unnecessarily risked the lives of officers and men ; but I wont to sleep the first night of the gale quite easy in my. mind in regard to the monitors. " I saw that they were making the best weather, and riding easier than any of the other vessels in the fleet. All the transports cut and run, though I think that was quite unnecessary. After the gale I inquired of the commanders of the monitors how they passed through the ordeal, and they seemed to think they got along very well. The smaller monitors, Mahopac and Canonicus, at times almost disap peared from view, and the commander of the former vessel complained of discomfort owing to the decks leaking, but the vessels were in no danger at any time. As to the Monadnonck, she could ride out a gale at anchor in the Atlantic Ocean. She is certainly a most perfect success so far as the hull and machinery are concerned, and is only defective in some minor details, which in the building of these vessels require the superintendence of a •thorough seaman and a practical, ingenious man, " The Monadnock is capable of crossing the ocean alone (when her compasses are once adjusted properly), and could destroy any vessel in the French or British navy, lay their towns under contribution, and return again provided she could pick up coal) without fear of being followed. She could certainly clear any harbour on our coast of blockaders in case we were at war with a foreign Power. As strong and thick as the sides of this vessel are, one heavy shot from Fort Fisher indented the iron on her side armour, without, however, doing any material damage. These vessels have laid five days under a fire from Fort Fisher, anchored less than 800 yards off, and though fired at a great deal they were seldom hit, and received no injury except to boats and light matter about decks, which were nearly well cut to pieces. Compared with the Ironsides their fire is very slow, and not at all calculated to silence heavy batteries, which requires a rapid and continuous fire to drive men from the guns, but they are famous coadjutors in a fight, and put in the heavy blows which tell on casomates and bomb proofs. " The smaller class of monitors, as at present constructed, will always require the aid of a steamer to tow them and take care of them. In smooth weather they ought to go along by themselves, and when towed the tow rope should never be lesi than 200 fathoms in length. It strains them very much to have a short tow-line. " I do not know yet what their real durability is, or would be in a continuous fire against their turrets. Solid 11-inch or 200-pounder rifles are apt to break something when they stride, and I should be much better satisfied my self to be behind wooden bulwarks and take what comes than be shut up in an iron turret not knowing whether it dice 0► is properly constructed. This, though, is t he P rer a sailor, and should have no weight whatever. 6 , st " The commanders of the monitors seem t o feel ga l- 4t home and safe in them, and apprehend no more dasger°Nt, sea than in any other kind of vessel. Commander Par ; of the Monadnock, remarked ho did not see any dafereilc sf i e r between her and anything else. The Saugus joined te round the first day's fight, off Fort Fisher, and was towed 00 from Norfolk by the Nereus, in very rough e vessel leaked a good deal through her bows, and some 4 ioo , manses was felt for her on that account; but her OP qualities were spoken of as good. The difficulty Wasties mechanical one, and in no way detracts from the ci nitil of the vessel. There is of comfort 0 no great amountcodes, but board these vessels at sea ; that is conceded on all 81 ".,g they are seldom at sea and only exposed when nu niters voyage. This is the first time, I believe, that the 111°-1 11 r have ridden out heavy gales, in at ancd ' Weather. an open seal 1 , though they have ridden out gales in Charleston 1ie,i3(0'0,,, r " I have only to remark that the principle i s a - far of if the vessels are all built like the Monadnock . The etho these vessels continued with the fire of such v essels a s r t' New Ironsides and heavy frigates is very effective, 1 o no l or larly against heavy plated vessels, bomproofs , and eoP brick walls. I have never yet seen a vessel that°Us 05 to my idea of what is required for offensive OP erati°ll 0 4 much as the Ironsides. Sho combines very ilia' qualities. The most important is the comfor t with wnu the people on board of her live, though she Davin orniord match for the Mon,adnock in a fight, the latter '' speed. "- e t h Ito r " The accuracy of fire is, I think, in favour turrets sides, judging from what I I have seen here. That- uot• get filled with smoke, and do not clear as quick stl e g boill sides, though that defect could be avoided by net mine ste guns so near together. These impre ss i on s of 03 Tth i0 formed from a short experience with monitor s, but pro' they will be found correct, provided the mon itors are ' perly built. olc' •'I have the honour to be, very respeetfullYt 5°- dient servant, Ado° l ' " DAvrn D. PORTER, Bear' "lion. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Nall' Washington, D.D." The Capture of Fort Fisher, The following is Admiral Porter's official report of the attack upon Fort Fisher : " North Atlantic Squadron, United States' flagship Malvern, off Fort Fisher, Jan. 17. " Sir,—l had the honour to make you a short re port on the 15th, stating to you that Fort Fisher had been captured by the military and naval forces now here. I beg leave to submit now a detailed report of the operations, having received all, or nearly all, the information required to make out a complete report. As soon as Major-General Terry arrived at Beaufort, North Carolina, which he did on the Bth of January, we arranged together a plan of operations, which have proved successful. The weather was threatening, and I advised the General to get his transports inside the harbour to avoid the violence of the coming gale ; most of them, however, laid outside. The gale blew very heavy for two days and nights. The ships-of-war all held on, and road out at their anchors, except the Colorado, which vessel was obliged to go to sea, having only one anchor left, with which alone she could not possibly have ridden out the gale, the sea being very heavy from the south-west, and breaking clean over the vessels. Knowing that the transports had arrived, the commanders all made strenuous exertions to keep their vessels at anchor off Beaufort, to be ready for the move that was about to be made. Having expended almost every every shot and shell in the first bombardment, it became necessary to take in about 1,500 more, and fill up with coal, which was done under the most adverse circumstances, the large vessels all laying outside in a heavy sea, and filling up as best they could. The fleet, accompanied by the transports, steamed away on the 12th for Fort Fisher, and the wind being fair and moderate, I was in hopes that we would be able to land the troops by nine or ten o'clock that night. The wind changing to south-west we were obliged to anchor off Half-moon Battery . for the night. The fleet sailed in three columns : Line No. 1 led by the Brooklyn, Capt. Jas. Alden, consisted of the Mohican, Commander D. Ammen ; the Tacony, Lieut.-Commander W. T. Truxton ; the Kansas, Lieut.-Commander G. P. Watmough ; the Yantic,. Lieut.-Commander T. C. llarris ; the Unadilla, Lieut.-Commander T. M Ramsay; the Huron, Lieut.-Commander T. 0. Selfridge ; the Maumee, Lieut.-Commander R. Chandler ; the Pequot, Lieut.-Commander D. L. Braine ; the P au tuxet, Commander J. H. Spotts; the Seneca, Lieut.- Commander M. Sicard ; the Pontoosac, Lieut.-Com mander W. G. Temple ; the Nereus, Commander J. C. Howell. Line No. 2, Minnesota, Commander J. Lammon, leading, consisted of the Colorado, Com mander H. K. `.Thatcher; the Wabash, Captain M. Smith; the Susquehanna, Commander S. W. Godon ; the Powhatan, Commander J. F. Schenck ; the Juniata, Lieut.-Commander F. S. Phelps ; the She nandoah, Capt. D. B. Ridgley ; the Ticonderoga, Capt. C. Steedman ; the Vanderbilt, Capt. C. W. Pickering; the Mackinaw, Commander J. C. Beau mont ; the Tuscarora, Commander J. M. Frailey. Line No. 3, the Santiago de Cuba, Capt. 0. S. Glis son, consisted of Fort Jackson, Capt. B. F. Sands; the Oneida, Commander J. M. B. Clitz ; the Sassa ens, Lieut.-Commander J. L. Davis ; the Chippewa, Lieut.-Commander E. E. Potter ; R. C. Cryler, Commander C. IL B. Caldwell ; the Maratanza, Lieut.-Commander G. W. Young; the Monticello, Lieut. W. B. Cushing; the Alabama, A. V. Lieut. A. R. Langthorne ; the Montgomery, A. V. Lieut. T. C. Dunn; the Rhode Island, Commander S. Trenchard ; the lasco, Commander John Guest. The reserve division, under Lieut.-Commander J. 11. Upshur, in the A. D. Vance, consisted of the Brittania, A. V. Lieutenant W. A. Sheldon ; the Tristram Shandy, A. V. Lieutenant F. M. Green ; the Lillian, A. V. Lieutenant T. A. Harris ; the Fort Donelsoit, Acting-Master G. W. Frost ; the Wilderness, Acting-Master H. Arcy ; the Aries, A. V. Lieutenant F. S. Wells ; the Governor Bucking ham, A. V. Lieutenant J. M'Diarmid. The Nanse mond, Acting-Master J. H. Porter ; the Little Ada, Acting-Master S. P. Crafts, and the Eolus, Acting- Master E. S. Keyser, and the Republic, Acting- Ensign J. W. Bennett, being used as despatch vessels. Great enthusiasm was displayed in the fleet when it was ascertained that troops had come to review the attack on Fort Fisher, for great was the disappointment on account of the late failure. Some of the vessels that accompanied the last expedition were badly damaged in various ways. The Sassacus had both rudders disabled, but her energetic com mander, Lieut.-Commander J. L. Davis, was ready in time.` The Mackinaw, Commander J. C. Beau mont, had one of her boilers knocked to pieces, but her commander went with one boiler. The Osceola, Commander J. M. B. Clitz, in the same condition— one boiler smashed up with shot, and a hole near the bottom—was ready for anything, and I heard no complaint from any one. With such a disposition on the part of the officers, I anticipated the most favour able result. At daylight on the 13th inst., line No. 1 took position within 600 yards of the beach to land the troops, lines No. 2 and 3 anchoring close to and outside of them, and the reserve taking charge of the provision vessels. At 8.30 a.m. signal was made to the fleet to send boats to transports to land troops. At 2 p.m. we had handed 8,000 men, with 12 days' provisions and all their intrenching tools. In the meantime the New Ironsides, Commodore William Radford; the Saugus, Commander E. R. Colhoun ; the Canonicus, Commander George E. Belknap ; the Mahopac, Lieutenant-Commander A. W. Weaver ; and the Monadnock, Com mander E. G. Parrott, were ordered in to take a nearer position, the outside vessel (the Ironsides) being 1,000 yards from Fort Fisher, which was the l a n sa i l i l. d rlt o e n ei; w g h which it. c h l e i lat t :: h dp e o es ir int o ? n ra v io :s u ru e t l vessels a.weredis mountn. i t i o w th po o e r ur k g : onpdeende3dvitfihroeutdeliberately. opposition, atT h 3 e p. t in ro . or 4 h m a a v il h e i d g line No. 2 to get under way and go in and .attack. Line No. 1 was signalled to take position in front of the battery, and :line No. 3 was to remain and cover the landing party and get the field artillery on shore. The different lines formed into line of battle, steamed towards Fort Fisher, the Colorado leading (the Minnesota having got a hawser around her propeller). The vessels took their_ positions handsomely—having had some practice at that place--and delivered their fire as they fell in. The rapid fire of the Monitors and Ironsides kept the principalaalnldl a ordered a rebels partly away from their guns, and they inflicted no damage on the fleet, the fire being very unsteady; indeed, I don't see how they could fire at all. After lines No. 1 and 2 got fairly anchored in position, was continued without intermisson from 4 o'clock the bombardment were very ra p id and severe. - This p.m. until some time after dark, wh en the wooden vessels were ordered to haul out and anchor. The COUNTRY MARKETS GRANTHAM.—FEB. 4. ea Old white wheat, 42s to 448; old red, 388 to 4 1/ S ' PO; white, 42s to 458; new red, 37s to 39s 3 6 s t°ile 37 s P e ley for malting, 308.t0 348 per qr. ; grinding , 2 18 Pe r l it. 4 30 stone. Oats, old, 258 to 275 . ; new, 228 to b otoll stene. Beans, old, 41s to 435; new, 36s to 380 Pe r Peas, 34s to 36s per 36 stone. o ld NORTHAMPTON.—FED. 4 • 38s, New white wheat, 398 to 42s ; new red, 378 134 3 0 white, 43s to 445; old red, 38s to 39s per 36 stonigs P e : oo e. for malting, 31s to 33s per qr. ; gr i n ding, 26s t_,,°,.245„', 5 5, stone. Oats, old, 27s to 34s • new, 18s to 28 5 r: fi e. Beans, old, 36s to 40s ; new, '3ss to 38s per 38 s' ° '" 34s to 40s per 36 stone. 4tD—FEB. 3. nt tory hich met a alovr sal ° orn dull. .3 6,1 34 5 Peas, Partridge.•*.si s White......-". ...... -' .30 Baling ..... 315 ....ew 1 ditto, n": 3,1 , 5 Beans, Tick, (Ad.."' --El Ite , ic n5O A HarrOW neVb:3 3o Mazagan .•••• CHELMSFO A good supply of wheat, w last week's prices. Spring c Wheat, old white....4os 458 new _ 40s 448 old red 390 90; new. 37s 40s BaYley ••••.• 25s 32s Lhevalier 26s 33s Grinding 20s 88 Malt OlB 678 Chevalier 64s 68s Oats O COLCHESTER--Fm 4. d IWO & lel A moderato supply of wheat, prices unalt ere fair" in fair demand at late rates. Beaus and peg 1 ' 3 0 last week's prices. 9 40 Wheat, white red 40s Rs Beans, Illaza s ,l 4 ll o igi4 ; I !: . 3es 428 B a d , anu ~ ... ~A 0 Barley vBs 35s Peas, white .... . ..'" Oat .......20s 26s grey .... . ••• ABERDEEN—FEB. 4. sl Business still continues dull, and prices rem same as last week. White wheat 33s Od to 37s Od Red wheat 31s Od to 33s Od 0 62 0) /311'" btlo 4U@9t -001. A. 31 011) 0 1b. of 14 0P' bo o f 2 6 sac' Potato oats 16s Od to 16s 6d Common oats 15s Od to 15s 6d, Bere 20s Od to 20s 6d Barley 20s Od to 20s 6d, Oatmeal 13s Od to 14s Od Flour, fine 32s Od to 33s Od KIRKCALDY—FEB. 4. Good supplies of all kinds of grain. Sales P-°'l°W. 6d cheaper. Wheat at late prices. 00 5 Wheat. Barley. los va , First...... 30s Cd 1 21s 6d I ; 7 , Od eeettd.... 32s Od 225 Od ;„' t Od Third . 31s Od 215 - 0 d "-- COAL MARKET, JAN. 30. . Price per ton at the close of the market' (1. 6 d. , < Bowers West Hartley 15 0 Lamberts W.HartleJ 0 0 Carway and Duffryn Walker Primros e •'''' 1 5 Malting 22 0 West Hartley •........ Ships at marke ;t, 11; sold, 11. Foreign Mail Packet List' 09 , . 1 2, Australia and New Zealand, via Southampton ..... yet , 3 , Ditto, via Marseilles ........................ mt. „!, Brazil and Cape Verde, by British paoL et ........ %re, Ditto, by British packet ........... 'fe u. is, Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Ilelene•o'.rep 11 China, Penang, and Singapore, via Sou hamP t° . rep' Ditto, via Marseilles ........................... • it , Falkland Islands ....... • ..... .rep , 01 , Gibraltar, via Southampton ...... ''' ell' 0. India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via SouthaluP ton v „ et). Ditto, via Marseilles .......... ".. .. 5 , India (Bombay), via Southampton.. ...... • ..... Fey ll' Ditto, via of arseliles .......... • •1 1 e' ...... Mauritius, via Southampton .. „ 1 Ditto, via Marseil et. ............ e''' Newfoundland ............................................... Portugal •••• Ditto, by private ship to Lisbon... ..... United States and British North America, PI tish packet ...... Ditto. by United States packet, via South ten ...... • • ........................•••.•: 0, Ditto, via Cork . .. ... Fe b la Ditto, by Canadian packet, via LondonderrY• yelP West Coast of Africa, M a d e i ra , an d Tenetiff e ',',,..b . , 1 3 ' West Indies and Pacific (except Bahamne• . 9. and Mexico . . ............. Bahamas, via New York. ........... ........... lce 1). ;5' Bermuda, ditto ........................ . .............. Feb Cuba and Mexico ................................. tiP/ a The inquest on the bodies of the sti ffe fe re r, accident in the Catholic schoolroom, Westnainst!poecl'A sumed yesterday. Several witnesses were 0%,.% rsn 5 4 t chief being Mr. Vulliamy, the ar chitect to Works, who had inspected the bu il ding. He er;oliscf opinion that inferior wood had been used in l ' e to tion of the place. The inquest was adjourne d e f it next. titi°, o " BREAKFAST BEVERAGE.— Homoeopathic P end aoc and the medical profession generally, reo00111:0 to e o fri. as being themost healthful of all beverages. Witte e° et trine of homceopathy there were to be obt fined no preparations of t ° ,O ; was first introduced ino c oil p ill tractive to the taste or acceptable to the stoo-,0100,9' was either supplied is the crude state, or 0 ° - o f L ° filO r manufactured as to obtain little notice. J. P., P14 '18 34 ,,f, t° fat Homoeopathic Chemist, was induced in the le"" coo edr e Bt his attention to this subject, and at length o t : il ia , t i v efil l :,o the assistance of elaborate machinery, in -e „„d Ov to produce an article pure in its composition, 1 - 00 it ' o otc'' by the perfect tiituration it receives in the Pr v ,,,„ to e tc c~ a through, as to be most acceptable to the delw",, it s For general use Epps's Cocoa is distinguishe d a rating, grateful breakfast beverage, possessint':;„93 v o t t a dons aroma. Dr. Hassan, in his work , Adulterations," says —" Cocoa contai ns a gr eat ec eo „ A ariet $ e portant nutritive principles—every ingre"; xgain „r CD, the growth and sustenance of the body.'" e;tlPr nutritive, cocoa stands very much higher th of t o ° e P S a o o wr, or tea." Directions—Two te as poonfuls h , 80 1 , i breakfast cup, filled up with boiling water or Moo oi l in tin-lined alb., ilb., and ilb. labelled Pise A ets ' i rti A git 11", all grocers , Confectioners. and chemists•—V D The " r cley [ADVERTISEMENT.]. —HoIIoway's VIM. -- aloof) 00 1 dreary days of winter depress the mind 313 4e 161 ' 4 otif e 4 body ; to the former condition occupation 1 3 s ge 0 e s°` reliec for the latter *state Holloway's oriel 0 0 certain remedies. They cleanse the b 1 01,5 I t, taint, the body from every noxious a general good effect upon the systenl , r os s of 0 11 0 , e , biliousness, headache, dimness of sight, 0 0 t 1 /`:J debility and nervousness disappear under ~,4es. These Pills may be relied upon by both, T o edl c s t t otO climates and circumstances. As a fon ii lly lead are invaluable, because they may be fearles. s ep osoi the moment pain or indisposition is exP erl oo s. avert a long illness and its many a nnoyso inatter,::t iil;peptii LTA; A149,1° II London : ?rioted and Published by WIL n ffice , ..ot9 of No. 112, Strand, Pi it n ter, at Ts Stag to CoP Strand, in the Precinct o f the Sa voy, i ll Middlesex.—Titesday, February 0861' ItEMEMBE - R ! llot /'Oll, yo U, after Fgcelebrated Old `l4lOteEL BRANDT, his P ate, Elild, If elle e f, 801 (1 In Bottles, 3s. Bd. A g e nts in the princi It „91GREAT WIND] ?serve the Red Se, LL Nrhiski the PLOORCLOTH, kingdom, regardless pods at second-class ‘-lergYnen and Gentlei from, displaye ow warranted,EuveeLykilaitruticylemmxand " 181 .1 are respectfully Co are publishing an equalled NOITSE FUR/ ad rn -able engravings of teaSteftdB, with prices Dost-iree on alicaol complete estimates forti ABlx-roOmed F An Light-room • Tenrounded'd • A welve-roomt 4otther with a ?rice L Ltfl infortnationt `4l"Delo, or be Re it and C hiche st z e ntletnen in ol er I3ury Eiy, I ells, Oxford, I 'thton niliNer Wellington rc Alban's, Worceste r, rexhatn, and above 50, trna • COti-IiETT and CO., G Londo. B.E. TUE GENE ASSURANC Ine o I'l?orated under the Habdity ot each shall a konnt of shares held. Capital, 1.,5C0,0:0 , be.poiit on First application, F utur e i nterv als tha n a o to ex n three ca ATI!! Right Hon. Lord H. —. Soares, 143 sq. (Mess! 011 d Lavender Hill, kodigan, Esq. J.P., Esq., The Club, London. Iq'•;Btates Bank), Ohre Bryant, Esq., Mel Caudwell, Esq., 335 , F. 4ubert George Grist, Li Vrllarnsbury-park, 3 nas ilattersley, E addington, and f ord h hi re. Portz , liorner ksq 's 01111ndrew, Esq., "'u,,..Slee Httersle3 '' l atn Paul Clift, MEE P. Power, Esq, It• 1 c Jibliortice Dixon, Esq., Al Ire/41 7 Earle, E I.,,xotinsd_on and WeE ZState6 Ban 15 . R. W CONSU oolhonse, Es( of the In • lat NERAL MANAC o f O 81111-MANAGER f fices, 14, New lii District Offices. I,:elana 33, High-stre, Etull, 21184 1 1 48, ames's 41 Ylnonth-1, Green- b. kt Tll , k is Cornpany PA was orig bit ecraDany's Act, an, La.!ctors hive, consequE IQ of operations and in De ecrapany have alr4 t %MY 20 oo , - Aect a b, 0 per annul 14(1:4..e agents establis (,7 1r ,cughout the cm -peke life insurance, 01 4144 11 Z that of insuran Th ei B It Om accident. the ut c can be no quest( hat pvrl'i,?st tinportance tc ' 4 5 y, -01 properly fond blorrcPriEtorii. There Datie:4lne aq a whole tl as will readily be Company. ',, ll l. 'til r e i t : ~ °r England • • .......... ........ t'llPeri at '• • . ...... .. : • ........ •hip e Life i•Dr,,,, and .... .. qcSi . La. ........ . 4elltZ`misilrance ....... 11,,_K Li te. .11e .. \tits% gugc **" •• •• • • ......... ..... • • 60 h ortig,,,%a kL.ares, it will be , a e t 81 1)1, 4 ;I:Ptlei P olicies rll:e4ul Ynl4ot7ofl;flinlsnii regal ~, ' ,l ades in lieu Ikeim .-',..,ernperance Sec 'Aok6t i;`,loinceopathic 44148,, connection wil to, l ,N‘b a ,l s e the main fe th kt t!ectors feel wa 4,4Erati,nue ahares, as at Oh', at th e The dividen use kte4,oter t ; rate of 7i _pez A with the Con to ale may be al 141hij tqld on each al 1,1,315 otruent. A la tl i: 4tlo o 4ti bed, an the y i 11, tiet te „o the Manager, , 7d epo, i ‘ c ,rB ; but no apl `4ll, et n '„ , " Of 10s. on eacl ce,l4 , New K garden, lIEGISTE] it Depositlt Capi iß e 500 (00 4, 311 Zi " per Sha fil e 1 1 1 / 4 p II 11 1 Z't ?4 , - t ar ta f ell ' a sa , tyr4,l2aVieS ' Es( -4 „4, 1 1 . 41 0, oaken, E N l lirk Wood .. %°4l Garwood, Yl4tre. Willi fir ar4 Lydia ktk ' 65' Yardley e l (W ith Power Union k keNer t a. Davies, 7, °Wl ldes, Surge Or, ' lO Es-27, Cz ISECRE henry C PE i 'N B kilit otripany has bc 1414patisk the p‘egistra N4l/40 Ole provisions of 1 It4-I,°r the n chase of i Itrell alieuardvregiste ,ht is operation of ti „les t f‘se Profits have witi :4htle judicious pureln `lits'`,4 Property in the e...t0 lots for buildin lhlt!_t)rttkoltarcle.rtakings i.sr; tst-Re te itiary rise i -t villa. p * a„ ~ 1 anu the con krow t h '''aQttces —a der tith„h°.fillie national P vriseß i , 'et obstacle lii!li' tieittital, been found in tillltiks .I'''ation the trans Vl:tthhelt"rlve-hexilaelnellunial ,‘ 'to i,"‘eLl Property, tkined`,,_"le(tY this evil mil ,,,,ereby the tra 111krtnric,tuase ef parchmei tif „'act Parliernenta (40,,, ',II'. advantages cot 4.„ hitherto availed tin, 4rjoitl,)rtlY front ignora glials 4,,Partly from difil 4t ~,arising front th e n Thetttile eharzes alreac ritePeroDeeial object of 1 itiiert,,,hO, frc,rn Wa 0 4; e t linable to kipaci el' the Ac. Th( fi01,1,4°14114 recatratio ‘liii't.llkt aTialanda for the it at k bt e D9.rious in ; a Ara a just prop !rotet'ld will also facilita' hV I of le riding or borr ~ tho`,, henat ore -of them Nlsia '°laPa.`l, it will Its/ tierable pr ofit xnust ,Itel,eir advatuage in V444B"Ai ' ,Orrlpa.tiv will pul , an d a re: the n, tyrt,N. of a airnple allL tB,pet4e diStribution al t'Oiti Directors have rec tbli'leiltre4cllll Por°ntti lii,,„'"a i ll , a lucrilattivwe anc obtoPectusea and Forr ftetaed of the Ban tiity i;,eoffetehe Conapany, 1 14 1 14 the evilent of no all( otb,,4ltied in full. of the `tt'' rit e applied far t 5 tlrahll oo allotnie] e applicant. T POltu OF Apr 00,_ , uge iiireetors of the ] pqme,latlethen__traving Wil"lf tt per Share c, tia4%et to rue ge,e.bstc,lroltea), or any i j iiil4.l3,,;:nillt4es t Y to ti l l ' e le:' 14:p e ) p6,7, e ' r e ali t pd vp;:( 4 4 th3e-Vonti)pairiy"rrto IShar, 20 25 100 100 5 Stock 100 200 #ll4 Births. IP „ ,torl, ,11' HussEy.—On the 4th inst., at R. stead Pe- I 0ci,40 • Mrs. W. L. Hussey, of son. ing ..,,„ ti 0, ji KENT.-011 the sth inst., Mrs. William P-en P nt, ter. ,D, .„etiorti' LAnxmo.—On the 4th inst., at the Firs, ts`;'st)P Adela Larking, prematurly, of a daugh""' dfi,s Marriages. b coOrjettjf erta GORMAN—WHYTE.—On the 4th inst., 01 111 of St tl't) a' perary, Edmond Anthony Gorman, titer ter °*"• ~e e' holt, Suffolk, to Ellen, youngest'dath, 'a e Ce° ti, Captain Edward Whyte, R.N. „, St. tray 016 MAULEYERER—ALLEN.—On the 4th ing. ~,- t tO "" 0, '° Dublin, Colonel J. Thos. Mauleverer, 0..,;Pi Alle youngest daughter of the late William P' ' ,O, Captain R.N. Py Deaths. eo. vbilir ,001 Donn.—On the sth inst ,at Wanstead, - afl of 146, Leadenhall-street, aged 65. , Alfre r FITCH.—On the sth inst., at Bayswater, J'ilt. WO ' late of Rood-lane, city, aged 50. . winiao citl HswEn.—On the 6th inst at Battersea, '' ~ Jo Esq., aged 73. ofigertil p' HAGERTY.—On the sth inst., Mr. Daniel '''' 01 GO° street, E.C., aged 55. Nicous.—On the sth inst., at 131ackliegt14 EA"' cf Edward Nicolls, K.C.8., aged 86. ..„, odniall' WoonmAx.--On the sth inst., Joseph. aged" ° 63. 10 13, Somerset-street, Portraan-scinar-1 AP' AN - n 1 ,D 10111: ....