The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-11-18 00:00:00

foreign anti Colonial ittclligrnce.

FRANCK.—The litoniteur of Thursday publishes a
despatch of Drouyn de Idinys, dated October 30, pro-
posing to the Cabinets of London and Petersburg to
come to an understanding in order to cause a cess tion
of hostilities now raging oh the American continent.
Drouyn do Lhuys says these hostilities provoke sacri-
fices and efforts of a nature to inspire an idea of perse-
verance and energy on the part of both people. The
Minister recalls that France considers it • duty to
observe a strict neutrality, and continues : "But, far
from imposing upon the Powers nn attitude resembling
indlfference, neutnility should dispose them to render
themselves useful to both parties, and aid them to
emerge from a position which at present appears
without issue." The despatch proceeds to state that the
sitnation of the belligerents does not permit a hope of
marked advantage likely to accelei ate the conclusion of
of peace, but points out the opportunity for an armis-
tice, to which in the present state of things no strategic
interest appear to make an obstacle. Dispositions
favonrable to peace begin to manifest theinselvea in the
North as well as in the South, and Would second steps
for the conclusion of a truce. The Emperor has
charged me to propose to the Cabinets of London and
St. Petersburg, to come to an understanding to employ
their Influences at Washington and in the Confederate
States, in order to bring about • suspension of hostilities
for six months, during which all direct or indirect sots
of war should emote, both on sea and land. These
overtures would imply no judgment upon the origin or
issue of the quarrel, and no pressure linen the negotia-
tions which might be conducted. Our part only would
be to smooth away difficulties, and only to intervene in
the measures determined upon by both parties. The
aooord of the three Powers would impress the steps they
might take with an evident character of impartiality.
If our counsels were not listened to we should have ful-
filled the duties of humanity; and even in remaining
without result our efforts would not be entirely useless,
for they might encourage in American public opinion
a movement towards conciliatory ideas, and assist in
hastening the moment when the return of peace inight
become possible.
SPAIN—The King of Spain Irks had • fall from hit
horse and dislocated his arm. His Majesty is, however,
progressing as favourably as could be expected after the
accident.
POLAND,—The horrible occurrence which has just
taken place in Warsaw—the murder of the chief of the
motet police—has led to renewed and increased severity
on the part of the Government authorities. The crime
has afforded an excuse, if it has not actually given a
reason, for the adoption of the most stringent measures ,
to maintain order, and the streets of Warsaw may 'once
more be said to be in the possession of the mit ittry. Strong
patrols traverse the town in all ditections. In some
instances the approaches to certain points of the city
are literally occupied by the military, and over sixty
persons have already been arrested. For the deed,
perhaps, of a solitary assassin the whole population are
doomed to suffer.
AMERlCA.—lnielligence brought by the Kangaroo
from New York on the morning of Nov. Ist, informs ,
us that the New York Republicans were still holding
meetings anl passing wordy resolutions, deereelhg the
subjugation of the South, and approving of the Lincoln
proclamation, but nothing, or next to nothing, seems to
bays been doing in the field by either party to beaten
the eonalusion of the contest. General Curtis, it is
true, reports the defeat of a body of Confederates in
Arkansas, but a victory on that soil does little service
to the Federal cause. General Butler has, according
to the Southern journals, landed at Pensacola with
7.000 men, intending, it is thought, to advance to the
junction of the Mobile, Montgomery, and Pensacola
Railroad, with what precise object before him is not
stated. It is also reported that Nashville is entirely
surrounded by the Confederates, and that the inhabi-
tants, all supplies being net:ester-ay cut off from them,
had well nigh reached the starvation point. The most
important item of information is that which relates to
the movements of the Confederates in front of the
Potomac. Instead of having retired, as has been so
frequentlybinted—the wish, of course, being father to
the thought—they were, on the Ist, still in great and
ominous force in front of M'Clellan. Burnside, it is
said, had effected • juncture with Siegel by moving
down along the eastern balm of Blue Ridge Mountain} I
but, as a counterbalance to this addition to the Federal
forces, it was reported at Mtiellati's head quarters
that Bragg, after his successful raid in Kentucky, was
on his way from Cumberland Gap to join Lee. The
latter general evidently intended to have another brush
with M'Clellan, and, as the Federal Commander-in-
Chief seems incapable of taking the initiative in offence,
the Confederate general will take him at his own time.
Another disaster to the army of the Potomac would be
fatal to its prestige, and very likely to the Lincoln
Government, and each a disaster is, we need not say,
extremely probable. The Federal Governor of North
Carolina, we are told, had proposed a meeting with the
Confederate Governor of the same State, for the per. i
pose of dimming, in a friendly way, the aspect of the
war, and publics affairs generally.
General Mitchell has been attempting to Cu; off the
Confederate communications between Charlestown and
Savannah, and has met with a severe repulse. The
Northern press lectures him on his temerity. The
doings of the Alabama continued to excite great dis-
satisfactian in New York, the Government being
charged with culpable negligence in not adopting
measures for the capture of the daring vessel Merti-
mac the Second is reported ready for sea and se •
complete success.
The North American from Quebec, Which arrived
at Londontiery on Friday with New York dates to the
3rd, Via Cape Race, came too fast "upon the heels of '
the Kangaroo to bring much news worth particular
attention.—We are told that the army of M'Clellan
continued to advance, and that Federal General ]
Pleasanton had had • brush with the Confederates, is
which he seems to have had the best of it at one time.
At the latest accounts, however, heavy firing was
heard in the neighbourhood of Phillinons, where the
brush had taken place, but the result was not known.
The Alabama had captured eight more vessels, all of
which she had destroyed, with two exceptions, which
gave a bond of 88,000 dollars, payable to Piesident
Davis, after the declaration of peace. A report was
current at Port Royal that the new Confederate
ram tamed the Savannah was coming down the
river.

lIORRIBLE ACT OF RETALIATTON Br A FEDERAL
GENERAL —ln Missouri ten Confederates have been
shot at Palmyra by order of General McNieL It
appears that after the general regained possession of
the place, an old man named Andrew Allsman
missing. A notice was issued that, if he were not
returned within ten days, retaliation would take place.
No answer being returned ten Confederates previetudy
selected were taken to the place of execution; each
man was then seated upon the end of a roughly made
coffin, and, after prayer, the orders "Ready," "Aim,"
"Fire," were given: Two fell dead into thdreolikes.
Captain Sidner sprang forward, having requested to be
shot through the heart, and died immediately. The
remaining seven being only woanded, • ISring party in
reserve despatched them with revolvers. Seven of the
bodies were claimed by frieads, and three buried in the
public cemetery. They generally displayed great cool-
ness—only two of them accepted bandages. Capt.
Sidner was the only man of note among them, end he
went to the place of execution in a suit of black broad
cloth, with a white vest, and having a beautiful and
luxuriant growth of hair rolling down epos his
shoulders,