The Express.
London, England, 1863-04-23 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, APR/Is APNI"--
the highest sense • national beneftelor. 'ATM rNTELLIGENCIL AMERICA.-;?
can be no question that Sitaimmana
helped not only to purify the taste, but
raise the tone and reform the mariners of lisle&
But on even broader grounds than the just de-
lineation and judgment of individual character and
action his works have a public bearing, and his
name well deserves popular commemoration. They
breathe throughout the genuine spirit of freedom,
that mingled love of liberty and reverence for law
which is in principle and tendency fatal to tyranny
and oppression in every form. Everywhere he
shows the invincible respect of a great, • well-
ordered and independent nature for justice and
right, for individual rights, social rights, public
rights, and everywhere he visits with scathing re-
buke those who attempt to trample them under
foot. In the widest sense, therefore, and apart from
his wonderful truth of individual portraiture, he is
the true poet of humanity, the poet who in spirit
and purpose directly and powerfully ministers to
the true freedom, mcral elevation, and social pro-
gress of the race. •
What, however, is of peculiar interest to us,
and ought to be specially remembered on his
birthday, is the great Poet's rare simplicity of life
and manners. Amidst the toils and excitement of
his City life, brilliant associations, and literary
labours, he maintained unimpaired the freshness of
his early feeling, his quiet love of nature, his at-
tachment to the scenes, the pastimes, and the
companions of his youth. During the whole time
of his residence in London, we are told on good
authority, "he was wont to go to his native
" country once • year ;" and having realised
• competence by his writings, he retired
to Stratford to live amongst his relations and
friends, and enjoy again the rural walks amongst
the meadows and woods of Warwickshire that had
delighted him in his youth. After enjoying for a
few years the retirement he loved and had so long
looked forward to, he died amidst his old friends,
beloved as he had lived. The example of such
fresh and natural feeling, such perfect simplicity
of life, maintained to the end by one who holds the
first place in the literature of the world, is instruc-
tive, and may be remembered with advantage
even in our own more advanced and more enlight-
ened days.

ebt Court.

WINDSOR CASTLE. Aria 22.

The Queen, accompanied by the Princess of Wales
and Princess Beatrice, sad attended by the Maraidoomw el
Ely and Major-Geaseal the Ron. A. Head, visited the
Windsor Royal Infirmary yesterday.
The Priam aad PASOMB 01 Wales, attended by the Ron.
Hrs. Stoner and Oa Lein Grey, went to Leaden, and re.
tamed in the main.

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday, at
the official residence of the First Lord of the
Tressury, in Downing-street. The Ministers pre-
sent were Viscount Palmerston, the Lord Chan-
cellor, Earl Granville, the Duke of Argyll, Sir
George Grey, Earl Russell, the Duke of Newcastle,
Sir Charles Wood, the Chancellor of the !:che-
quer, the Duke of Somerset, the Right Hon. T.
Milner Gibson, the Right Hon. Edward Cardwell,
Lord Stanley of Alderley, and the Right Hon.
C. P. Villiers.

• MEWS
It is will known that a difficulty was raised on
the subject of the vacancy of the Greekthrone, and
Prince Christian was desirous to legitimatise, as it
were, the accession of his son by means of a formal
abdication of the ex-King Otho. This obstacle,
we (Morning Port) understand, will be overcome by
a protocol drawn up by the three powers, on the
basis of the protocols of 1890 and 1832, declaring
the state of things then established to have
passed away, and making, as it were, a tabula
rasa of the reign and the pretensions of the
Bavarian dynasty. In this liberal proposition
Prince Christian has cheerfully concurred ; and on
the basis of such a declaration, King George L of
Greece will ascend his throne with not leas of legal
and titular security than Otho. In this manner one
of the difficulties for some time in suspense has been
cleared away. The other main condition made by
Prince Christian referred to the provision which
his son should enjoy ; and Prince Christian and
his family have expressed their readiness to
leave in the hands of the British government
the settlement of that question with the
Greek National Assembly. In this manner, also, the
pecuniary difficulty to which the Copenhagen journal
adverts has also been surmounted. Immediately on
George I. attaining the royal age, a few mouths
hence, he will enter upon the duties of government ;
and due provision will be made for the satisfactory
administration of the affairs of the Greek kingdom
during the abort interval. That brief period will
serve in some measure to prepare his mind for
the new duties which he is about to undertake ;
and will serve also for the execution of such
technicalities as are required to complete the for-
mal union of the lonian Islands with the Greek
kingdom. King George will continue to be a pro-
testant, with the ready concurrence of the Greek

AUSTRIA.

The A ustrian Gazette of the 18th says :

THE ATTACK ON CHARIASTON.

801JTHAMPTON, Tiusauf&

The North German Lloyd's steamship Ilene%
from New York on the 11th inst., has arrived here
with 208 passengers and 102,940 dollars for Lon-
don, and 26,200 dollars and 400 tons of cargo.
The following is the " situation," from the New
York 'Jerald of April 11 :
The long expected attack upon Charleston commenced on
Tuesday last. In the early part of the day only four of
our iron-clads were engaged—probably three fitted with
submarine devils, and one other. According to the rebels
the firing from both parties was very heavy, and during the
notion the trembles grounded, but got off and dropped out
of range.
About 2 o'clock in the afternoon seven Monitor batteries,
the Keokuk and Ironsides, again renewed the contest at
about one mile and three-quarters distant, as in all proba-
bility no abstractions were found, and for three
hours the firing was rapid and heavy. Fort Sumter
seams to have been the object and aim of the opera-
tions at that time. At 4 o'clock the Ironsides and
Keokuk withdrew, leaving the other vessels to continue the
work for an hour longer. It is probable that the signals
from the flag ship were not readily seen on account of the
dense smoke from the guns, and it was not until sometime
afterwards they noticed she had left. This may account for
their remaining an hour later. It is apparent that the rebels
have but little confidence in their iron-clads, as they did
not attempt to engage until oar reseals withdrew. The
casualties in Fort Sumter were one klllcd and five badly
wounded, showing that some good gunnery was exhibited
either at their barbette or throegh the embrantres. No
reports bad been received from the other rebel batteries at
the time of sending the despatch to Itichmond, and it is fair
to presume that our wooden vessels, with their long range
rides, had been engaging some of the rebel earthworks.
Wednesday there seemed to have been no signs of a
renewal of the snuck; but of course the rebels bad no
means of knowing the intentions of Admiral Dupont, and
therefore they are not justified in feeling very Joyous over
the fact that no signs were visible of a movement.
Twenty.two Union weekly were reported off the tar. These
cowries the wooden gunboats, the ordnance vessels and
skeeshipa. The Keokuk was evidently injured—ehe is re-
ported sunk off Morris Island—ea only eight ironelade are
reported inside the ter on Wednesday. It is pos-
sible that she may have been penetrated by a shot,
end was beached, in hopes to repair the damage by
plugging up the hole, and then get her off. She must have
been out of the range of the rebel guns, or they would have
made an effort to keep up snob a bet fire upon her as topes-
vest us from extricating her from her position.

It is possible, therefore, that our fleet went up to draw the
fire of the forte, to feel for the rebel obstructions and prepare
fora dash by the forte, and that as soon as they are in readi-
ness another more in greater force would be made on Thursday
or yesterday, for certainly the wooden vessels, with the
number of heavy guns they carry, can do something to
draw off some of the fire from the forte, which would other-
wise he directed at the iron-cla3s.

The New York Tribune of the 11th says that
the rebel pipers do not boast at all of the
gnomes with which they have resisted the
attack. The rebels expect that Charleston
will be taken, and are removing their hospitals.
Motions have been made in the rebel Congress to
recall Mason and remove the seat of government.
The New York Times says that the arrival of the
Federal iron-clad fleet inside Charleston bar is a
triumph.

The Federal ram Switzerland is reported to have
repaired the injuries she received in passing the
Vicksburg batteries, sod to have started up Red
River.

Admiral Porter's official report of his attempt to
reach Yazoo by way of the Sunflower River is
published. During eight days he worked his way
up with his gunboats only 70 miles, and back
again. The channels were exceedingly narrow and
filled with obstructions. The expedition was finally
checked when within 800 yards of the point Ad-
miral Porter desired to reach. He estimates that
the Confederates burned 20,000 bales of cotton
along his route, besides what he himself burned.
Many planters manifested affection for the Federal
Rig, and the negroes were unanimous in devotion
to it.

The Confederates have burned two Federal
steamers on the Tennessee River.

General Curtis officially announces from Missouri
that General Hicks's band of guerillas, who robbed
the steamer Samsaky, hay, been deft dyed, 17
being killed and two hung.
_

The Confederates have crossed the Rio Grande 1
into Mexico, and captured two Federal officers and
three private'. The Mexican authorities, however,
having demanded the surrender of the prisoners,
they were all released except one, who was reported
to have been hung by the Confederates.
The Richmond Sentinel, referring to the recent
riot in Richmond, says it was an attempt to rob
under the excuse of a scarcity of food, as the dry
goods antlered as much as others. There has also
been a bread riot at Petersburg.

Symptoms of insubordination have manifested
themselves among a Maasachusette cavalry regi-
ment at Boston. One of the mutineers was killed
by the colonel.
The majority of the Pennsylvania Senatorial
Investigating Committee, in their report, declare
General Cameron guilty of the charges of bribery
preferred against him.
The prize steamer Dolphin, captured by the Fe-
, deal steamer Wachusset, has arrived at Ha-
vannah.

The steamer Julia has also arrived at Havannab
from Mobile with cotton. _ _ _

The New York legislature has passed the bill
prohibiting the bank from loaning money on
gold.
Preaident Lincoln has reviewed the army of the
Potomac by brigades.
Confederate despatches state that the Federals,
15,000 strong, are advancing on Columbia, Ten-
nessee, and that a battle is imminent.
A new canal, eight miles long, has been com-
menced across the peninsula near Vicksburg, beyond
the range of the Confederate batteries.
General Grant and Admiral Porter have gone up
the Yazoo river on a reconnaissance•

Confederate despatches from Fort Pemberton,
dated sth inst., state that the Federal, had em-
barked on their steamers, and were in full retreat.

Southern journals state that General Banks, with
ten thousani men, has left New Orleans, and gone
down Bayou Plague Mine to reinforce Weitzel and
attack the Bayou reche country.
The Bavaria arrived at New York on the evening
of the 10th, the City of Baltimore on the morning
of the 11th, and on the same day the Bremen
ship No. 197.
The Hansa spoke on the 17th inst. the Prussian
barque 3 D, pendant 8,347, and on the 19th the
American ship Isaac Webb.
The Glasgow and Africa have arrived out.
The City of Washington takes out 189 passengers,
187,284 dollars, and 11,4801. in specie.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW TORE, Aram 9, Dynamo.

The markets are irregular and generally lower;
business being much affected by the continued
fluctuations in the price of gold. Money easy.
Gold, 471 per cent prem. Exchange on London:
Bankers' bills, 161 to 162.
_ . .

Stocks quiet. New York Central, 1131 ; Illi-
nois, 88i ; Brie, 761 ; Six per Cent. United States
Bonds, 104.

NEW YORK. Aran. 10, MOANING.
Gold, 444.

NMI YORK, Ann. 10, EvEuro..

The bill forbidding loans to be effected on gold
has only passed the Senate and the New York
Legislature, bnt it is not supposed that it will pass
Congress.
Money abundant : Gold 49 per cent. premium.
Exchange on London : bankers' bills, 183 to 164.
Stocks improving : New York Centrals, 114 e;
Illinois shares, 88 ; Erie, 761; Six per Cent. United
States Bonds, 104. Cotton market dull : middling
uplands, Ma There is a good demand for flour.
Wheat is quiet, and corn heavy. Provisions in-
active. Coffee improving, and sugar and molasses
quiet. Petroleum very dull.

WIATILER RZPORT.-alith DAY.)

THIMSIST, ►lint 2S, II A. 14