The Express.
London, England, 1864-02-16 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 16, 1864.

Mr. Fsacrrr on the poll, had reason to expect
a certain amount of support in Brighton
through family connexion. But we believe his
friends had the best means of knowing a week or
ten days ago that he had not a chance of moor
with Mr. MOOR and Mr. FAWCZTI as compe-
titors, It is therefore greatly to be regretted
that after the rejection of the ballot he
did not exercise an unbiassed judgment,
and withdraw from the field. Mr. Fsw-
cm's resolution to go to the poll is jus-
tified by the preponderating number of votes re-
corded for him, being nearly twice as many as
were polled by Mr. GOLDSILID. For the sake of
the Liberal cause, and for the credit of the House
of Commons, it is exceedingly to be regretted
that a gentleman uniting so many rare qualifications
for a member of parliament has not been returned.
A general election, however, cannot be far die-
tent, and we trust that on that occasion Mr.
Fswerrr will again offer himself, and that Brigh-
ton will take better security against a needless waste
of electoral power.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

THE INVASION OF SLESWIG.

The position of the opposing forces remains very
nearly unchanged, the Danes and Austrians re-
maining as they were, the former at Duppel and
the latter at Flensburg, whilst the Prussian army
has taken up a position to the north of Duppel. It
is stated that the Prussian general, after having
reconnoitered the Danish works, has declared that
an attack by force would cost too many lives, and
that he is having mortar batteries constructed in
order to bombard the place and compel the Danish
troops to abandon it.
As to the armistice proposed by England, it
appears to be very decidedly refused. At Vienna,
Count de Rechberg is said to have laid down, as a
condition of his acceptance, the evacuation of
Duppel and of the island of Alsen ; but at Berlin,
on the contrary, the refusal has been positive and
unconditional. Advioes from this last-named
capital further state that Prussia is resolved on
carrying the war into Jutland, if the Danish
vessels should attack the Prussian coasts of the
Baltic.

General de Meza has addressed to his govern-
ment a report on the military operations in Sleswig,
while the army was under his orders. In this
document the general explains that he ordered the
Dannewerke to be evacuated because he had not
sufficient men to defend the Schlei, which river,
between Sleswig and the sea, might be crossed at
three different points. The general adds that events
justified the measures he had adopted, as if the
Danish army had not had a start of fourteen hours
it would have been turned by the Prussian corps
which crossed the Schlei at Arnie. General de Alma
concludes by declaring that his movement saved the
Danish army, and that history will render him
justice.
A letter from Copenhagen states that General de
Mera will in all probability be shortly restored to
the command in chief of the Danish troops. His
report has been well received both by the govern-
ment and public opinion.
The Danish fleet has arrived on the coasts of the
Island of Allen. At the moment of its departure
from Copenhagen, Captain Lutken, of the Danish
Navy, Minister of Marine, proceeded on board the
steam-frigate Niels-Juel, which he had formerly
commanded, and which vessel now forms part of
the fleet, and declared to the officers and crew,
whom he had assembled on deck, that they were
about to render a great service to the country by
attacking the Prussians, who hoped with a number
of transports to invade the Island of Alsen ; the
Danish fleet was sufficiently strong to stop the in-
vaders, and inflict great losses on them.
The Danish seamen who had been sent to the
Thinnewerke have now been charged to serve the
artillery in the batteries at Duppel and in the
Island of Alsen.

THE SECONDARY STATES OF GERMANY
AND THE AIISTRO-PRIISSIAN ALLIANCE.

THREAT OF CIVIL WAR.

The following passages from a Hanover journal,
the Nord Dutsche-Zeittmg, show in what light the
secondary states regard the Austro-Prussian
alliance :

It would be strange to expect us to be grateful for the
sanguinary deliverance of the Duchies. After having waited
so long, who will profit by the victory ! Have we not good
reasons to distrust what will soca be prsposedto us by Counts
de Rechberg and de Bisrnark! Austria does not wish the
German nationality to be altogether victorious in this
struggle ; she does not want the centre of gravity of the Ger-
manic) body to be displaced and removed further towards
the North. Preemie, on her side, is bound to Russia ; she
has Russian sympathies, and her government detests Ger-
many end whatever may flatter the hopes sod sentimeate of
German nationality. We now have everything to fear ;if
the two powers separate and dismember the Duchies, there
will soon be other partitions, ss in the case of Poised. If
the two great powers proceed in this manner, and if Prussia
claims the Duchies for herself, why should she not also ex-
tend her frontiers at the expense of Hanover, Saxony, sad
Bavaria! Why, in short, should she not give the Rhine
provinces to Preece! Let us save the Duchies ; let
them remain German, sod Germany will be saved. But
for that let us compel the two powers to act only in ac.
°ordinal with the decisions of the Diet. flow shall this
be effected! Why, in the following manner: the secondary
' states have in time of peace 181 battalions, la 4 squadrons,
75 batteries, and 19 companies of pioneers, forming an
effective of 250,000 men ; ea a war footing, this number
might easily be raised to 430,000 men. Is it not possible
therefore to propound to Austria and Prussia the question
whether or not they wish fora civil war ! And is not the
whole German nation behind these 550,000 soldiers! If
the secondary states, with such means at their disposal,
cannot find the courage to act, let them abdicate and
submit to the fate which awaits them.

and the expenditure at 2,143 millions. The ex-
traordinary budget amounts to 469 millions.

INDIA.
BOMBAY, JAIL 20.
The Alabama is off the West Coast of India.
She has burnt the ship Emma of New York.
The Viceroy will remain in Calcutta.
The first ships with the Persian Gulf telegraph
cable have left Bombay.

AMERICA.

(intrina's 11Lnannme.)
(Per the City of New York yin Reehe'e Point. )
NEW YORK, Fa. 5, EMINGI.

Official despatches from Newbern to the 2nd
inst. state that the Confederates have attacked
Newbern. They hold the railroad between New-
born and Morehead city, and may be forced to re-
tire to Fort Macon. They captured the gunboat
Underwriter.

Despatches to the 3rd inst. state that the enemy
had retired on Kinston, and that Newbem had
been relieved.

Western Virginia despatches to the 4th state that
the Federals had overtaken the Confederates at the
ford of the river at Moorfield. The Confederates
were disputing the passage of the river. The
Federals were in position, and bad commenced to
open fire with their artillery.
It is reported that General Thomas or General
Hunter will be assigned to the command of General
Meade's army, and that General Hooker will mo-
oted Thomas in Tennessee.

No confirmation of the reported emente in Lee's
army has been received, and the reported desertions
are said to be much exaggerated.
The Confederates employ artillery in attacking
PiMisaippi steamers. They lately engaged three
Federal gunboats for a considerable period before
they were repulsed.

The restrictions on trade within the Federal
military lines in Western Virginia have been
removed.

The New York Tribuse asserts that Mr. Dayton
will be recalled from Paris, and that General
Fremont will be appointed in his place. The
republican journals, however, assert that nothing
would induce General Fremont to leave the country
at the present time.
The Federal state officers chosen by convention
have been inaugurated at Little Rock, Arkansas.
The New York legislature has resolved to add
2,000,000 dols. to the recruiting fund, and to in-
crease the state bounty to 300 dole.
The examination of the Chesapeake pirates at St.
John's continues. They have produced certificates
to prove themselves naval officers appointed under
the Confederate government.
The excitement in Nova Scotia concerning the
gold discoveries is increasing.

The Arabia has arrived at Halifax.
The Jura has arrived out.

Posricairr.—General Kelly telegraphs that after
six hours' fighting, the Confederates had been
driven from Moorfield, Western Virginia ; and
that his cavalry was in pursuit, and sharply en-
gaged with them on the south fork of the river.
The Philadelphia Ledger contains a rumour that
Admiral Farragut's fleet and 20,000 men attacked
New Orleans (1 Mobile) on Saturday last by way of
Pascagoula. This requires confirmation.

NEW YORK, Fix. 6, Nownw.

The Confederates have been driven back in
Western Virginia and have retreated from before
Newbern, North Carolina. Southern advioes re-
port that the Federals have been repulsed in East
Tenneese.

Latest advices from Western Virginia state that,
in consequence of General Kelly's vigorous attack
and pursuit, General Early had retreated upon the
south fork of the South Branch, towards the She-
nandoah Valley. The Feder*ls have driven the
Confederates out of Petersburg.
Southern advice. from Loogstreet's army to the
30th state that General Martin attacked the Fe-
derail; on the 28th, and, after a stubborn fight,
drove them from the field. The Federal& retreated
in the direction of Sevierville.

Southern despatches state that the Confederates
entered Corinth, Mississippi, on the 30th, capturing
a quantity of arms. The Federals left as the Con-
federates entered.

The Eeeniny Post contains a letter re-affirming
the abandonment of Fort Pillow by the Federsls.

Advice' from Charleston to the let inst. state
that the Federals kept up a fire ou the city and
Fort Sumter. The Confederates have mounted
five guns on Sumter, and are piling up sand bags
and cutting ravines through the rubbish. The flag-
staff was shot away on the 30th, but replaced.
A Federal expedition, under General Sherman,
is fitting out at Vicksburg. It is supposed that it
will operate against Mobile, or in the trans-
Mississippi department.

The Tribune asserts that General W. F. Smith
will probably succeed Meade.
The House of Representatives has passed the
confiscation resolution by 82 to 74 votes. By this
resolution the lands of the Confederates may be
confiscated in fee and not merely for life.
The Richmond Sentinel, of the list inst., says
that the steamers Pet and Hercules have run the
Wilmington blockade.