The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-05-13 00:00:00

Ihreign ant Colontal intctligcucc.

FRANCE.—An article is published by the Con-
afiturionnef advocating a policy of conciliation and
mediation in reference to the American struggle. The
Pais correspondent of the Heratt says it is •• beyond
doubt" that the French Government seriously cot name
the idea of recognising the independence of the South.
BELGIUbI.—Hi3 Majesty King Leopold seems to be
in a very bad way. A fresh operation was performed
on him on Sunday, from which he received considerable
relief, but on Monday evening unfavourable symptoms
agalit manifested thsinselves. It is said that tie
suffix:egg of the monarch have recently been so great
that his son, the Count of Flanders, hes not been per-
witted to see him. His Majesty is kept in ignorance of
the gravity of his case, in order to avoid exciting his
apprehensions. King Leopold wan burn in 1790. hi
his youth lie adopted the profession of a soldier, having
entered the Raglan army in 1808, end was present at
the battle,' of Letzen, Beautzen, Coins, Leipsic, Arcis-
sur-Aube, and La Fere Chaupenoise. Ile was also
present at the capitulation of Paris. Leopold is interest-
ing to Englishmen for many reasons—to the older
inhabitants of these realms he is chiefly interesting as
having been the husband of that Princess Charlotte
whose early death plunged the nation into such bitter
grief. His history is an interesting one. In 1830 lie
wan offend the throne of Greece, but refused it, and in
the folios tug year lie entered Brussels as King of the
Belgians. His Government has always been distin-
guished by fairness and discretion.

MEXICO.—We have intelligence from Mexico to the
effect that, after a preliminary conference of the allied
plenipotentiaries at Orizaba. the French resolved their
expeditionary division should advance to Mexico city,
taking upon theiraelvea the responsibility of that deter-
mination. The French would guarantee to England
and Spain the advantages arising from the claims to be
made against 'Mexico. The Spanish and English have
resolved to withdraw their troops. It was said they
were prepaiing to return to Vera Cruz. The French
had left for Mexico city.

AMERlCA.—Southern journals report that the
Fedeials had commenced the bombardment of Fort
Jackson, below New Orleans, on the 23rd ; 1,000 shills
had fallen in the fort. The Confederstes think that
the Federal ammunition must soon fail, and assert that
they can stand the bombardment.

Tie Norwegian, which arrived at Londonderry on
Wednesday, brings' among other items of intelligence,
what is called a "doubtful report," which says that
the governor of North Carollers has offered to surrender
the who'e State to General Burnside. The report, we
should think, is very rioubtfid indeed. According to
the Richmond Examiner the Feelera!s have 1,000 guns
in position at Yorktown, and some anxiety was ex pretwed
by the Southern journals as to the movements of the
Federal Geneial Mitchell, in Northern Alabama and
Western Georgia. Four new Confedt rate gunboats are
reported as having been launched at Norfolk. B.
Mercier hod returned from Richmond, and on his arrival
at Fort Monroe sent despatches to New York, it is said,
for direct transmission to Frame. The New York
press, through its Washington correspondents, continues
asserting that the mission had no political signification.
The valley of the Mississippi is being vigorously dtfended
by the Confederates. It is said they had cut through
the level on the Alkalises side of the river, flooding
the country for 40 miles, to prevent the land advance
of General Pope's force. General Ifalleck was aitivtly
preparing at Pittsburg Landing, and engageno,nts were
expected immediately. The municipality of Frede-
ricksburg had appointed a committee to itforni General
McDowell that no resistance would be made to the
Federal occupation of Fredericksburg, but that the
population will remain loyal to the Confederate States.
Both belligerents appeared to be snaking strategic
movements in the neighbourhood of Gordonsville, and
both bad considerable force in that neighbourhood.
There is apparently is general rush of the Ministers of
Foreign Powers at Washington setting in the direction
of Richmond. Along with the news of MCrcier's return
we have intelligence of the Danish and Spanish Minis-
ters having left for Fort Monroe, en route, it was supposed,
for the Southern capital. The New York Herald al,o
asserts that an agent of the British Governmeht had
left for Richmond.

The chief interest about the intelligence brought by
the Asia is of a politird character. The visit of the
French Minister at Washington, M. Mercier, to the
South was still a subject of mucli speculation, and,
although its precise object is not known, it is said he
had expressed great interest to ascertain It hat coin-
mercial treaties the Confederate Government were pre-
pared or disposed to make with France. A despatch
from Richmond states that Mercier bad opened negotia-
tions with the Corfederate Secretary of State. The
Congress had determined not to adjourn until the
termination of Mercier's mission, and any arrangement
that might be come to waa to be made with the Con-
federate President. This was justly regarded as a perfect
acknowledgment by Prance of the independence of the
Mouth The Washington correspondent of the New
York World says—the wish being father to the thought
no doubt—that it was believed in souse political circles
that Mercier would propose to the Confederates the
propriety of surrendering at discretion ! It is stated that
Besnregard was being largely reinforced at Corinth
from Memphis and New Orleans, consequently the
struggle in the Mississippi is likely to be as determined
and bloody as that before Yorktown. The Asia brings
no further intelligence from the latter place. There is
rumour of an engagement having taken place between a
Confederate force and a portion of Burnside's expedition
at Elisabeth City, With heavy loss on both sides. The
fraternal correrpondence between Mr. John Bright and
the New York Chamber of Commerce is being continued.
The Asia brings us &letter written by the member for
Birmingham, in which he says there is no political con-
stutution in existence in the preservation of which the
human race is so deeply interested as in that of
America—a piece of combined Brummagem and bunkum
which lie could scarcely have thought it possible that a
man like Mr. Bright would concoct. Why the
American constitution is not a century old, and it has
fallen to pieces in conseqence of its inherent weakness.
He says further that the overwhelming nisjority of
the English people will rejoice at the restoration of
the Union and the success of the Federate, a pure
assertion, which rests upon no proof whatever. The
New York Tribune stittee that it is believed in some
quarters that the Pederal Government are disposed to
release the lieutenant of the Sumter and his companion,
who were arrested at Tangiers some time since. It is
also stated that the Contederate Government had made
requisition on the slave owners of Prince George and
Surrey countiex for the half of their negroes to erect
fortifications at Williamsburg, for the protection of
York town in the rear.

POLITICAL AIIRESTB IN ASIERICA.—The following is
an extract from a despatch from bard Lyons to Sari
Russell respecting political arrests in the United States:
" Washington, April 14. 1862.—Althouth the power
to make arbitrary political arrests has not been formally
renounced by the executive Government, it has not, so
far an I know, been recently exercised. I am not
aware of any Biitish subject being now arbitrarily de-
tained as a political prisoner. Arrests without form of
law are still made by the military authorities in places
occupied by the forces of the United States ;but they
appear to be confined in general persons accused of
offences affer.ting more or leer, the discipline or the safety
of the arniy."

ITALY.—The grand ball given in Naples, in honour
of the visit of the King of Italy to that city, was a
very brilliant affair. All the big wigs of all the nations
represented at Naples were present. The King had left
for Salerno amidst greet enthusiasm. Tile vhit of
Prince and Princess Napoleon to Naples had been
officially announced to the French ambassador; and the
object of that visit, says the Presse, is to arrange about
the remodelling of certain treaties between France and
Italy. The Patric says that Prince Napoleon's journey
is an event of " great importance," that public opinion,
" always so intelligent„ is not mistaken tis to the
meaning of the incidents of the last few days, and that
" we are bound to note that a considerable impulsion
has been giving to the Italian question in the sense of •
solution which seems to be incompatible with a policy of
compromise." Advices from Turin state that the cleri-
cal party is losing heart. A good many bishops are
?redently burning their private letters. The Bishop
of &duces, who is one of the leaders of the Romenists,
lately said to several of his colleagues, at his country hone
at Villanovetta, that Victor Einmannel's visit to Naples
and the presence of the French fleet, there signified that
their cause was lost, and he recommended priests to be
very careful not to compromise themselves. The
Liberal clergy is greatly encouraged by the reception
which the King has met with at Naples. Father
Pasaaelia has at least 500 partisans among the priests of
Lombardy, and a very good feeling prevails in Tuscany.
The great congress of bishops at Rome will do no harm.
It ii rumoured that two cardinals have already pro-
nounced against the temporal power.