The Express.
London, England, 1863-08-17 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 17, 1863.

AMERICA.

(uvraea rzczoiums.)

The Royal Mail steamship Africa, from Boston
on the sth and Halifax on the 7th inst., arrived at
Queenstown at 9.45 p.m. on Saturday. She brings
96 passengers, and 7,5781. in specie.
The Africa landed all her mails and eight passen-
gers, and proceeded for Liverpool immediately.
All well. She was detained at Halifax by fog.

(Per the Africa.)
NEW YORK, Aeons: 3, Ersams.
General Lee'e army is concentrated near Cul-

pepper.

General Buford's cavalry crossed the Rappahan
nock on Saturd►y and proceeded towards Culpepper
near which place they encountered a large force of
Confederate infantry with artillery. A Senn light
ensued, General Buford being compelled to with-
draw to Brandy Station.
The expedition from Vicksburg has arrived at
Port Hudson. General Grant is said to command
in person.

The Northern journals state that the Raleigh
(North Carolina) Standard denounces President
Davis's government, and urges North Carolina to
send a delegation to Washington, to see what terms
can be obtained, without waiting for Davis.
The Richmond Inquirer urges President Davis
to suppress the Standard, and to wipe out the North
Carolina Supreme Court.
It is stated that 100,000 negro troops will be
organised to defend the navigation of the Missis-
sippi.

The ground given for the condemnation of the
Peterhoff was that " she was laden with contraband
of war with the knowledge of the owners. She was
not truly destined to Matamoras for the purposes
of commerce within the authority and intendment
of public law, but to some other place both in aid
and for the use of the enemy, and in violation of
the law of nations. The ship's papers were simu-
lated and false as to her real destination."
The schooner Stephen Hart and the barque
Sally Magree have been condemned. The brig
Isabella Thompson and her cargo have been restored
to the owners without damages or costa, and with
permission to the libellants to furnish further proof.
The schooner Glen and her cargo have been
restored to the owners with coats and damages.
NEW YORK, Aucuer 4, EVENING.
The Richmond Despatch of the Ist inst. asserts
that the Confederate General Taylor has engaged
the Federals under General Banks in Louisiana,
and completely routed them, capturing 6,000
prisoners.

News from Charleston to the 31st ult. states that
the Federal fleet had bombarded Cummings Point
without material result.
Fort Wagner kept up its bombardment upon the
Federal position on Morris's Island. The Confe-
derates have erected fresh batteries upon James'
Island.
The Union ticket has been elected in Keatucky
by a large majority.
A collision has taken place between the " Copper-
heads " and the " Union men " in lowa. It is
reported that the former number 4,000, and are
fully armed. The military have been despatched
to the scene of conflict.
Messrs. William Yancey and John B. Floyd are
very ill, and are not expected to recover.
News received here from Havannah states that
over 1,500,000 dollars worth of property was de-
stroyed by the late fire.

CO3LILERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, AuGusr 4, EVENING.
Money abundant. Gold, 24 per cent. premium.
Exchange on London—Bankers' bills, 140. Stocks
firm and advancing. New York Centrals, 132 ;
Illinois, 1191 ; Erie, 107; ; Six per Cent. United
States bonds, 106.

(By Telegraph to Halifax.)
NEW YORK, Arcusv 5, Evans°,
General Lee's forces, excepting Hill's corps, are
reported to be south of the Rapidan.
A brigade of General Longatreet's corps occupies
Fredericksburg heighta.
The Confederates have sent quantities of stores
to Fredericksburg.
The Washington Star says :—" It is generally
believed that the bulk of Meade's army has crossed,
the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford, forcing General
Lee either to retreat beyond the Rapidan or to risk
a general engagement, the former being most
probable."
Advices from Charleston are to the 2nd instant.
At that date the situation was unchanged. The
Confederate infantry had made a sortie from Fort
Wagner, but were repulsed with considerable loss.
Heavy Federal reinforcements were arriving.
The Federal steamer Ironsides has sunk a vessel
endeavouring to run out of Charleston. It is sup-
posed that her crew and a cargo of cotton are lost.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, Aucusr 1, EVENING.
Money easy. Gold 211 per cent. prem. Ex-
change on London—Bankers' Bills, 140 i. Stocks
steady. New York Centrals, 1314 ; Illinois,
1181 ; Erie, 106} ; Six per Cert. United States
Bonds, 1064. Cotton very firm. Middling up-
land 66c. Flour and cern advancing. Wheat
slightly firmer. Provisions inactive. Coffee and
sugar quiet. Molasses steady. Crude Petroleum,
I 32 to 33.

(By Telegraph to Halifax.)
NEW YORK, Auouer 6, Evasmc.

The Washington Republican, a semi-official organ,
says :—" If there should be a slight occasion for
hostilities, and England and America were likely
to be involved in war, the Federal steam marine
will at once be converted into privateers, and
British commerce will be driven from the ocean.
War is not desirable with England, but war is not
the highest of evils. A spirited nation cannot
submit to injustice, insolence, and outrage through
a series of years, and make uo effort to avenge its
wrongs. The course pursued by England has
alienated every American of the loyal States.
These facts indicate what the future has in store for
America."

MEXICO.
(Pee th• Atria.)
(By Taliatraph to Halifax.)
NEW YORK, Amon 5, Everwo.

News hash.= received here from Vera Cruz to
the 16th ult. It was reported that Comonfort and
Doblado had given their adhesion to the French
intervention. Juarez had sent a plenipotentiary to
Washington to demand assistance.

General Earthier, with 2,500 men, was asid to
be marching on San Luis Potosi.

JAPAN.
(Per the Africa.)

NEW YORK, Auourr 4, Eviarixo.

The New York papers publish intelligence from
Kanagawa to the 24th of June, via San Francisco,
stating that the Japanese government bad paid the
indemnity of 400,000 dollars demanded by Eng-
land for the murder of Mr. Richardson, but had
refused to surrender his murderers, under the pre-
tence that they were unable to take them forcibly.
Negotiations concerning the surrender of the mnr-
derers were still pending. The foreign residents
were apprehensive that war was inevitable.

NAVAL AND MILITARY.

PORTSMOUTH, Amon 16.

The Clio, 22, screw corvette, Captain Thomas
Miller, arrived at Spithead yesterday moroiog from the
Pacific) atatioo, and exchanged salutes with the flag•ship of
the commander-in-chief. This morning idle sailed for
Sheernees to pay off, having bees upwards of four years In
coesestielos.

—The Orontes, 2, iron mew troop ship, Captain Henry W.
Him. sailed yesterday morniog for the Mediterranean,
having on board a few superunimearies. She will be em•
ploysd for a time in removal of troops between Gibraltar
end Malta. _

-1117-IVeep, 17, screw sloop, was removed into the steam
bake yesterday to be brought forward for coma:salon.

CHATHAM, Auotyer 16.

ARRIVAL OF ROYAL ARTLLLISRY.—The mouoted
0 battery of the 9th Brigade Royal Artillery arrived at the
garrison, yesterday, from Shorncliffe, and are now quartered
at Brompton Barracks. The strength of the battery is six
oMcers, 172 non-oommiesioned officers and men, Zi women, 3ff
children, with &I horses, six 12-ponader field Armstrongs,
waggons, hr. The following officers arrived with the bat-
tery :—Captain F. C. Elbon, Lieutenant S. C. Kyle, Lieu-
tenant F. A. Hand, Lieutenant F. Nicolas, Staff Assistant
Surgeon W. Hemphill, M.D., and Veterinary Surgeon W.
Walker.

The lords of the Admiralty have decided on constructing
• second iron-cased frigate in all respects similar to the
Lord Warden, which has been commenced at this dockyard,
and which is to be built on Mr. Reed's plan. The new fri-
gate is to be named the Lord Clyde, and she is to be
commenced forthwith. Like the Lord Warden she will
have the same thickness of armour-plating on her bow as on
her broadsides, and will carry a powerful battery of bow
cum. Both vessels will also be furnished with • huge pro-
jecting prow, to be covered with steel plates, and to be
used in running down • hostile vessel. The Lord Warden
and the Lord Clydeare both expected to be afloat in eighteen
months from the present time.
Admiralty orders have been received for • report to be
made of the value of the bulls and the machinery of the
following paddlewheel and other steamers attached to the
steam reserve at this port, preparatory to their being sold
out of the service—viz. : the Dragon, 6, 1,270 toys, 560
bone-power; the Victor, 6, 859 tons, 350 horse-power ;
the Cyclops, 6, 1,196 tons, 320 horse-power ; the Phomix,
6. 809 tons, 260 horse-power : and the Hermes, 6, 830 tons,
220 hone-power.

WOOLWICH, AuGusr_l6,

His Royal Highness Prince Arthur visited the
Royal Military Academy yesterday, accompanied by Major
Elphinstooe, and took lemma in the art of swimming from
Sergeant Hamlin, at the pond attached to the institution.
His royal highness then returned to his residence at Green-
wich. . . .

The Dee, paddle steam-vessel, baa left the harbour for
Deronport, with an immerses chain-cable of 600 fathoms,
sod weighing 112 tons, and four anchors, each weighing
112 cwt., for the iron-cased steam-meal Agincourt, of
6,621 toes, building at Birkenhead. She also took out
50 lads from the Fiagard, for service on board the Impreg-
nable training-ship.