The Express.
London, England, 1863-04-29 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29.

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WINDSOR CASTLE, Arnn. 2&
The Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, Prince Louis
of Home, Prince Alezasider and Prime Henry of Hesse,
attended by LielliOßlLlSteGeaeral Koollya, Captain Grey,
major Cowdt, o.ptein Wraterweller, and Baron de
Botainann, went to Aldershott this morning.
The Prince of Wales and Priors Alfred proceeded after-
wards to London, and the Princes of Hesse returned to
Wbecteer Castle.
The Primrose of Wales, attended by the Hoe. Mrs. Bruce
and the Hen Mts. Bloom, left Windsor Castle this after-
noon for Marlborough-honee.
The Prisons Helena, attended by Lady Caroline Bar-
ringteu sod Sir W. Host., accompanied the Princem of
Wales to Loudest, and went to Backingham Palace.
The Queen held • Privy Council this miter nocichohich was
attended by Earl Gsseville, the Duke of Newcastle, Earl
Hassell, and the Right Hoe. W. Z. Glaciates*.
The Right Hon. George Earl de Grey, by command of theQ".ll.Th.
Q". 11. was sworn of her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy
Conseil. The Queen having been pleased to appoint Earl
de Grey to be one of her Majesty's principal Secretaries of
State, his lordship was sworn one of the Queen's principal
Boundaries of State.
Mr. Helps, Clerk of the Conseil, attended.
The Spanish Minister was presented at an audience by
Earl Rusesll.
Earl Granville sod Earl Russell had aefiencee of the
Queen.
Mr. need has been honoured with sittings by the Queen
to complete the model of his It:storied group of the Queen
and Prince Cowart for Windsor Cootie.
Mr. Geroge Crnikehank has had the honour of submitting
for her Majesty's inspection at Windsor Castle his large pic-
ture of the " Worship of Becolum."

The Prince and Prince's of Wales honoured with their
pregame lam looming, in state, the Royal Italian Opera,
covent-earden, where a festival performs's)" was given, by
command of the Queen, in honour al the marriage of their
royal higlineame.
The Peace and Primes", with the Ladies and Gentlemen
in Waiting, appeared in full dress.
Their royal highnesses were accompanied by the Princes'
Helms and Paso" Alfred, and quitted Marlborough-house
with their suit* at ten 'Mania before eight o'clock in five
of the Queen's carriages, the servant' ia date
liveries. The first carrier. conveyed Major Cowell,
Hon. Robert Hoary Heade, sad Captain Grey.
The second oarriage conveyed the Earl of Monet Edge-
combo, Lientensati General Bean sad Sir William Haste.
The third mirks conveyed the Counties de Grey, the
Han. Mrs. Stowe, and Lord Harris. The fourth carries*
conveyed the Princess Helena, Prince Alfred, and Lady
Caroline Barrington. The fifth earrings conveyed the
Priam and Princes' of Wales. A detachment of Life
Guards imported their royal highnemes to the theatre.

A deputation in reference to the eateries of the =We-
speeton of ['Maim bad an interview with the Right Hon.
Sir G. Grey yesterday at the Homewlike.
Despatches were received yesterday at the Coloebd-odlos
from the Governon of the West India Wands, British
Colombia. end from the Lord High Commiuioosr of the
lonian Wands. Despatches were sees to the Lord High
1 Counsimiceer of the balm Weeds.

Ir is quite natural that those among us whom
military inquiries have led them to advocate the
extensive use of fixed fortifications for coast and
harbour defence should make much of the vic-
tory of forts over iron ships in the recent action
off Charleston. We are not going to deny that
appearances are in their favour ; but in the public
interest, as well as in the interest of scientific
troth, we must observe that any judgment on the
question pretending to finality would be premature.
We cannot for • moment admit that the attack
and defence of Fort Sumter, under the known
circumstances of the ease, is decisive of the
great oontroversy of forte against ships. At
present we are vary imperfectly informed of
the sonditions under which the contest was carried
on ; but we know that the ships fought at a great
disadvantage, such as need not always attend their
use in similar operations. The immense superiority
of the defenders in respect of the number of guns,
the proportion being something like 300 to 30, was
a most important element of their success ; but the
inferiority of the assailants, in the same respect,
was not owing to the nature of the operations, nor
yet to the situation in which they were carried on.
It arose from the kind and quality of ship they
employed. Most of them were vessels of the
Monitor clam, not built, we apprehend, with a
primary view to such service as they have just
been employed in. These vessels carry fewer guns
than those of any other class. In fact, seven out
of the nine bon-clads had only two guns each.
After what was published yesterday, it is clear that
these Monitors were not even good representatives

of their class. They were small, hastily built, and
defective in workmanship, as appears bythestarting
of so many of their bolts. Their armour was com-
posed of • series of 1-inch plates Waked of one
thickness of iron ; and the vessel that was riddled
and sunk wore armour of not more than half the
thickness of that of her oonaorta. No doubt these
vessels were the best the Federal. bad—the best
that exist in the New World ; but we cannot allow
that they were such vesicle ea Englishmen would
accept as the best that could be devised for their
purpose. Doubtless this sal: off Charleston is
full of instruction, and we shall await further par-
ticulars of it with some arms= ; but we cannot
allow that the result of a contest so unequal ought
to be madders& so decisive as to settle aloe for
all the pre-eminence of fort& over iron-clads ; and
even if it were, we may observe that it would be
far from justifying the whole system of works
which have been projected for the Meow of
Portsmouth.

Tits final decision of the Qtrwr upon the style
and character of the Memorial of the Pumas
CONSORT has given pleasure to all classee of her
MS./MYR subjects. The opinion of the rabbis
is everywhere expressed that • right choice has
been made, and that in the Memorial Cross we
shall have a monument in harmony at once with
the national character and with that of the
lamented Yams. Now that all indecision is at
an sod, the work will be carried forward without
unnecessary delay. It has been deemed proper
that the laying of the foundation of the Memorial
should be a public and ceremonious act. Such an
office belong by pre-eminent right to the Queen,
not less in virtue of her high personal interest in
the memory to be perpetuated thee as the best re-
presentative of the feelings of the nation, and we
have reason to believe that before the summer
is far advanced we shall see the Qom
coining forward and associating herself with
the country in this sacred duty. We think that
without trespassing on that perfect liberty of the
Quasw which public opinion would never permit
to be infringed, we may express the respectful but
earnest hope that the performance of this act of
piety may 'mark a new period in the QVII2e3

•
TEE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY
_
public life, and that her MsJestr, Win once • LATEM INTRLLIGIGNOr.
more met her people, will not again withdraw her- -
self into seclusion, but remain thenceforward Omoria's saissaans-i
among them as aforetime to countenance their •
AMERICA. •
social life, and receive the testimonies of their
constant affection. NEW YORK, Aron. 17, Mimeo.
(Per RV d Now York.)
Information has reached Fortress Monroe that
steamer with one regiment and supplies hail sue-
ceeded in reaching General Foster at Washington
(N.C.) on the 14th inst.
The Confederates under Longetreet, to the re-
ported number of 30,000 strong, continue to invest
Suffolk, where the Federals are fortifying them-
selves. Heavy skirmishing daily occur.. The
Confederates have attempted to get round Suffolk
and cut off the Federal communication. with Nor-
folk. It is supposed that in case of the capture of
Suffolk by the Confederates the Federal' would burn
Norfolk.
Southern despatches from Vicksburg, to the
10th inst., state that two more Federal transports,
filled with troops, had gone up the Mississippi and
others were preparing to follow.
Fifty-three Federal gunboats had proceeded up
the Coldwater River.
A Federal ironclad was abandoned and destroyed
at the month of the Amite River.
Refugees from Vicksburg state that there are
sufficient supplies there to last the garrison for
two years. Vicksburg is fortified by 225 cannon.
At present it is held by not more than 5,000
troop", but in case of attack reinforcements can be
had. The Confederates are constructing three gun-
boats up the Red River. The steamer Indianola
is lying at Plaissnoe, on the Red River, ready for
action.
At Jackson, Miss., the Confederates are said to
have an extensive foundry and powder manufac-
tory. There are reported to be 800,000 bales of
cotton in and around Jackson. Sixty thousand
bales are hid away in swamps and woods.
The Federal' have closed the Memphis Lines for
60 days ; neither contraband' nor cotton would be
admitted.

Thirty Federal boats and 12 gunboats have left
Memphis to operate on the Cumberland River.
The Richmond Nrhig says :—" A fight took place
at Williamsburg, Va., on the 4th (114th). The
Confederates under General Wise drove in the
Federal pickets and occupied the town. The
Federal' retired to Fort Magrada, from which
point they shelled Williamsburg. General Wise
has entrenched one side of Williamsburg, and is
going to attack Fort Magrada."
ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT DAVIS.
In compliance with a request of Congress, Presi-
dent Davis has issued an address to the people of
the Southern States. After recapitulating the dif-
ferent events of the war, and declaring that the
present position of the South was well calculated
to inspire confidence in the success of the Southern
cause, he says :
" There is but one danger which the government regards
with apprehension, and to avert this I appeal to the spirit 1
and patriotism of the people. The harvest of last year was
far Wow the average yield, *apse ally in the northern part
of the Confederacy, when supplies an most needed far the
army. If, through confidence in early peas, the I
people now plant cotton and tobacco instead of
gnat and articles necessary for the entisistease of
the people and the army, the consequences may prows
serious if not disastrous, especially if the mama ram I
proves as the last. The wheat harvest in mere salsa
states premier an abundant yield ; but the difficultirs elf
transportation will embarrass military operations and same
suffering among the people, if the crops in the middle and
northern portions of the Coefedereey prey* deficient. No
UZIAMIIiDIIOII is felt for the MOM supply of bread for the ma
It was for oorn and forage to raise 'live stock sod
supplies for animals used in military operations that
the deficiency of last harvest was mostly felt." The
President them urges the people to raise exclusively
corn, oats, beam, peas, potatoes, sad other food for
man and beast, and to sow ecru broad-mat for fodder Is
the immediate vicinity of railroads and canals. The
supply of meat is deficimt ; the deficiency is, how-
ever. only temporary, as =ensues have hese adopted
which it Is believed will son restore fell ration'.
The ration is now reduced sometimes to one-half the usual
quantity he some of the Southern armies. The supply of
meat in the country Is sufficient for the support of all, but
transportation is an difficult, sod speculators having caned
the surplus in the hoods of producers to be withdraws
from sale, government has been unable to gather full on-
plies. The Secretary of War has prepared a plan by which
people will be enabled to assist government officers to pur-
chase bacon, are, pork, and beef, knows to exist in large
quantities in different pins of the Confederacy. The ad-
dress concludes as follows :—" Entertaining no fear that
the people will misconstrue the motives of this address, or
fail to respond to the all of patriotism, I piece the facts
fully sad frankly before the people. Thera is little doubt
that if the people units in doiag their duty, the sovereignty
and %dependence of the Confederate States will be mein.
Waal"

THE GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK.
The Governor of New York has sent a massage
to the legislature recommending it to pass an
amendment to the constitution giving the legisla-
ture power to passe law to enable absent soldiers
to vote, which, if concurred in by the next legisla-
ture, could then be submitted to the vote of the
people, and if their decision was favourable the
next legislature could take the necessary action.
He recommends this course in preference to the
passage of an unconstitutional law, or one of ques-
tionable validity upon this subject. He says :
The deduct of the high officials hes owed great distrust
in relation to freedom from restraints sad coercion in voting
which shosid be wooded to absentees. It would be worse
than mockery to allow voiding and waxed vote if they are
act allowed to receive letter end papers from their friends,
or if they have no freedom in reading public
journals. If officers are to be subject to dismissal
and soldiers to inereased hardship. for the expression of
opinion by votes or by customary political actioo, the game.
el civil war will be kindled at the North. The governor
solids with regret the attempts of some officers of the
Federal government to interfere with the free enjoyment of
political opinion by persons in the army. These inexcusable
sets of official tyranny are rendered more objectionable by
the language used in their exeentioo, which is at ones
erarehrioas in terms and a wanton and unjust attack upon
half the people of the loyal MAWS. While subordinate
edema are padded for doing their duty as citizens at ,
home, affirm of high rank have been employed to inter-
hie in ;owner of the states of which they are not rani-
dente, it. pee* will not permit the army to be used for
eieetioneering pm:penes by three seeking an additional
term of power. The governor hopes the wisdom of
the adminiskation will admonish it in season of
the clanged of acts marked by these features
ef wrong and oppression. The governor, however, ban
nodded* that the widom of the people and the legisla-
ture of New York will be sufficient to aecore to ahead
soldiers and seamen the freedom of political opinion.