The Express.
London, England, 1862-10-06 00:00:00

WAR NEWS.

The New York Herald of the 24th ult. furnishes
us with the following manse of the situation of
affairs on the morning of that day :

Telegraphic news from General M'Clallan's army yester-
day state' that all was quiet at the Shepherditown Ford,
the forces on either side cautiously watching each other.
The rebels were keeping their men oat of view, but it was
thought that they were in hopes of entrapping some of oar
troops in an ambush if they ventured over the river at that
point. We hold Sliarpebarg and Williamsport, without the
possibility of being assailed at either point, while it is said
that the rebels are not posted in much force opposite the
former place. The rebels, it is reported, admit a terrible
loss of officers in the battle of Autietam—Cienerabi Branch,
of North Carolina, and Colquitt, of Georgia, being killed,
and Generals Longetreet, Anderson, and Wright were
wounded. They acknowledge to a loss of 93,000 men in this
battle, and 30,C30 slum they invaded Maryland.
. . . .

The full amount of our lass in the late battle has not been
ascertained. That of General Sumner's army corps, how-
ever, numbers 5,280.
The Pennsylvania militia, having gallantly done their
dcty on the border, have been sent home, their services
being no longer needed at that point.
Information from Harrisburg yesterday reports that our
troops were crossing the Potomac into Virginia, at Williams.
port, at which plane General M'Clellan had his
head-quarters. It was said that General %only was
in the advance on Sunday night, and that General
Couch followed on Monday, preceding General
Franklin's division, which was to follow immediately. Oar
oorrespondence from Hagerstown, however, locates Gene-
ral Bally at that place on Sunday, where be had just
arrived from Baltimore. There is probably some mistake
in the statement that be had led the advance on that night
across the river. Despatches from Harrisburg hat evening
say that the entire force of the rebels hes not yet abandoned
Maryland, but that they are in considerable numbers
around Williamsport, and that heavy skirmishing is going
on in that vithaity on both sides of the river.
A cavalry reconnoissance wa■ sent out from Washington
by General Banks as far as Asby's Gap, in the Blue Ridge
Mountains, yesterday, and dispersed a regiment of rebels
who were hanging about there—capturing several of
them. They were sent out to capture a heavy train of
provisions, said to be on its way south, but they failed
to meet it.

The latest news from Cincinnati reports that Genera
Bragg is advancing on Louisville with an army of 30,000
men, which may possibly be reinforced by the junction of
Kirby Smith's forces. Bragg had got as far as Bardstown.
We have several gunboats lying in the river off Louisville
which will give him a warn reception, and our forces are
so well intrenched that the city it considered perfectly de-
(eatable. General Buell is said to be close in the rear of
General Bragg. No battle is expected at Louisville for a
day or two.
THE CONFEDERATE PROPOSALS OF
PEACE.

Mr. Foote, of Tennessee, had offered the fol-
lowing resolution in the Confederate Howie of
Representatives :
Resolved,—By the Congress of the Confederate States of
America : That the signal snorer with which Divine Provi•
deuce lies so continuously blessed oar arms for several
months part would fully justify the Confederate govern•

meat in desuatchiog a commissioner or commissioners to the
government at Washington city, empowered to propose
the terms of a jest and honourable peace.

(uvrzz's

INDIA, CHINA, JAPAN, AND AUSTRALIA.
(From Telegraph to India Company's Statics, Jabal.)
CALCUTTA, SEPT. 17.

Shirtings quiet. Indigo unchanged. Copper,
nothing doing. Exchange on London, 2s. Oil
Government securities, Four per Cents, 95i ; ditto
Five per Cents., 1041.

BOMBAY, Birrr. 17.

Mule twist and piece goods higher. Government
securities, Five per Cents., 112 j. Freights ad-
vancing.

CANTON, Auousr 27.
The rebels are again moving and obstructing the
conveyance of silk.
Colonel Ward has captured three cities. A fierce
engagement was fought on the 2nd inst., resulting
in the capture of Quyaon (1), thus clearing a large
portion of the canal.
A treaty has been concluded between the im-
perial government and the Belgian Consul.
Intelligence from Japan states that affairs were
somewhat quieter, but an outbreak against the
party favourable to foreigners was considered im-
minent.

The government at Yeddo was doing its utmost
to maintain order. The guard of the British and
French Logations had been increased.
The representative of the Daimios at the impe-
rial court had committed suicide.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

The Canton market for ahirtinp is unchanged.
Tea active. Total exports, 27,750,0001 b.
Exchange on London, 4.134.
SHANGHAI. Mauer 19.

Grey shirtings unchanged. Silk continues active.
Settlements during the past fortnight, 9,000 bales.
Total export to date, 21,000 balm.
Exchange on London id. lower. Freight, 42.10 a.
to 62.

MELBOURNE, AVMS 26.
Frightful inundations have oecurred all over the
country, doing an immense amount of damage.
Mr. Limburg, the explorer, has returned, after
having successfully crossed the Australian conti-
nent. He has made a favourable report.
Trade at Melbourne dull.

6, 1862.

THE BOMBAY AND MAURITIUS MAILS.
The following telegram has been received at Mr.
Renter's office from the Peninsular and Oriental
Steam Navigation Company

ALEXANDRIA. OCT. 4.
The Euxine, with the above mails, left for Mar-
seilles this evening.
The Delta leaves at noon to-morrow for South-
ampton, where she may be expected about the 18th
instant.
The China brought the Bombay mail and a large
cargo to Suez, arriving there on the M.
The Benares left Suez for Bombay on the 27th
ult.

The Ceylon, from Southampton on the 20th ult.,
and the Valetta, from Marseilles on the 28th, have
arrived at Alexandria.

POLAND.
THE GRAND DUKE CONSTANTINE'S
ADDRESS.

The following speech was made by the Grand
Duke Constantine at the opening of the session of
the general assembly of the Council of State on
October 1. The speech was delivered in the Polish
language:

Gentlemen,—ln addressing you for the first time in this
assembly, I wish above all things to emure you that the
painful circumstances which prevented me from taking part
in the proceeding, of your lad session have not chilled my
good intentions towards the country. Fall of faith in the
protection of Providence, I reckon on the loyal sentimentsand
attachment of good citizens, of which the Council of State has
already given proof. In fulfilling the duties which the
will of my august brother, our gracious sovereign, has do.
volved upon me, I shall never eras to look forward to the
welfare of the kingdom of Poland. The government of
which I am the head will never deviate from the legal path
and will never permit any departure from it with impunity.
I shall consider myself happy in being able to exercise
liberally the noblest of the prerogatives with which
I am invested—the prerogative of mercy ; but in its
exercise I cannot allow myself to lose sight of
public justice, the interests and the security of the
community. Out of 499 persons who have been
condemned since the stets of siege, 134 have undergoes
their punishment, 289 have been pardoned, 7 have fled, and
69 are still undergoing their sentence. The institutions
which were granted last year are everywhere about to
come into operation. The district councils in the greater
part of the country have concluded their first session. The
delegations which have issued from them will commence
their important labours regarding the taxation, and will, no
doubt, justify the confidence which the legislature has re-
posed in them. The municipal councils are performing
their duties with advantage. The petitions of seven-
teen towns, recently presented, for the establishment of
similar councils in them, are a new proof that the utility
of this institution is fully appreciated by the country.
Simultaneously with your deliberations the opening of a
superior school and of a polytechnic school has taken
place, as well as those other educational establishment.

which you considered to be required by the wants of the
country, when you last year voted the law on public
education, the elaboration of which forms one of the great
merits of my colleague, the chief of the civil
power. Since your last deliberations, his Majesty,
in his paternal solicitude, has deigned to give new
guanidine to the administrative autonomy of the
country by decreeing the independence of several branches
of service, such as those of the post-office and public high-
ways. The reforms effected last year will require some
change in oar financial system. The abolition of the oonyee,
which obliges the proprietors of the land to employ hired
labour, has exhibited the inconvenience of the tax to which
the tillers of the soil and other agricultural servants are
exposed. The koszerne tax, inasmuch as it is exclusively
religious, is not in harmony with the spirit of recent
legislation as regards the equality of the civil right'
of the Jews, in the introduction of which the
government of his Majesty has received from you such
active co-operation. The abolition of both those taxes is
projected, and, in order to replace the deficit which will be
occasioned thereby, it is proposed to increase the duty on

the manufacture of spirits. Moral considerations and the
true interest of the propnetors, as of the cultivators,
equally require these alterations. Besides those projects,
you will have to examine the budget of the receipts and ex-
penditure of the kingdom for the year 1863, as well es the
reports of the officials for the year Put past. A bill on
;creed expropriation, on the payment of taxes sod treasury
rents, on the establishment of a court of appeal in the Coun•
cil of State for business relating to the taxes, and, kitty,
a bill for the internal organisation of the Council of Biota,
will be submitted to your deliberation. I now declare the
'anion to be open.