The Express.
London, England, 1862-02-20 00:00:00

AMERICA.

(mom ova OWN

mom%)
BOSTON. Fia. 3.

The highly favourable turn which affairs have
taken in Kentucky still continues to cheer and en-
oourage the North. This is especially true of the
West, where the army has felt in a peculiar degree
its electrifying influence. Unlike preceding battles,
the victory proves to have been far more important
and decisive than was at first reported. General
Zollicoffer pursued the tactics which the Confe-
derates on former occasions have so suoceesfully tried.
By concentrating all his available 'troops on a por-
tion of General Thomas's army, he Loped by a
sudden dash to annihilate it. But meeting a much
larger force than he expected, his plan signally
failed. As a whole, this has been one of the most
' open and equal battles of the war. The Confederates
had the largest number, and after the struggle
began it became chiefly an infantry fight. There
are a few points made clear by this encounter.
Here, as at Drainevslle, the superiority of the
Federal weapons was unmistakable. The
' muskets were of longer range and grealei.'
accuracy, and were handled with more deadly
effect. The bayonet also proved more than
• match for the favourite bowie-knife of the
rebels even in a personal encounter. At one
time the combatants came so near as to blacken
each other's faces by the smoke of the powder.
Both aides carried on the fight with determination

and bravery, and the Seoessaionista made a stand
three successive times, until atlast they were driven
from the field. The German soldiers more than
sustained the previous reputation they had gsiued,
and the Ohio 9th—almost entirely composed of
these sturdy Teutons—by their firm, steady, and
irresistible bayonet charge, made the first decisive
break in the enemy's line. After this the Seces-
sionists scattered in different directions, so that
the rout became a flight, and nothing but the im-
passable condition of the roads prevented a large
number from being captured. Some of the rebels
took to the woods, while others fell back to the
camp, from which, under the cover of the night,
they stole away, leaving everything but their arms
behind. The abundance of provisions and
comfortable huts found by the victors
(dearly teaches us that the rebels were well
cared for, and that the stories of famishing soldiers
have no existence beyond the imagination. The
Federals regaled themselves on poultry and beef-
steaks, roast pork and sweet potatoes—eurely not
very poverty-stricken fare for tired and hungry
men. In all that belongs to the commissariat the
rebels were not inferiort—in fact, in everything
except in the quality of their weapons, clothing.
and amount of hospital stores, they were bounti-
fully supplied, and had the appearance of having
settled down into permanent winter quarters.
But the universal feeling of joy throughout the
North has been tempered by the delay and casual-
ties of the Burnside expedition. There is always
danger attending the movement of a large naval
force. This is especially true in view of the pre-
vailing storms which at this season lash the shores
of Hatteras.
No such terrible disaster awaited General Burn-
side as betel the Spanish Armada. The loss of
materials was not of such magnitude as to cripple
his military resources, while it has opened the
minds of the people to the hazards attending such
movements, and also somewhat sobered the popular
expectations. The results at Hatteras and Port
Royal were such as to excite among the more ardent
Unionists too sanguine expectations, so that they
had already pictured the march of the Federal
troops into the interior of North Carolina. In.
stead, however, of hearing the announcement of
startling and brilliant victories, they are compelled
to read of the fleet as being tossed on the waves
lashed by the fury of the tempest, and of the slow
creeping of steamers and transports over sand ridges
rolled up by the violent storm-currents. All
this has awakened a feeling of disappointment,
as unreasonable as the previous anticipations were
over sanguine. The commander at no time during
the storm was disconcerted. With unremitting
labour be directed affairs, and in the hour of peril
was self-relying and energetic. Like Commander
Dupont in somewhat similar circumstances, Geueral
Burnside maintained a constant faith in the accom-
plishment of his object. When baffled by storm,
and the cupidity of fraudulent coutractors, his
mind was a stranger to despondency; and with
kindness of manner, persistent courage, and wise
forethought, he laboured with cheerful confi-
dence when the storm was wildest and danger
most imminent that all might come out
right, the exhibition of these characteristics
give assurance of high soldierly qualities.
The storm has delayed the expedition, and given
the enemy more time for preparation. But it
ie only a delay. The telegram may convey by
the steamer which carries this the news of a be-
ginning. Be this as it may, the hour and the day
hasten. The fight will soon begin, and the ground
will be more hotly disputed step by step than at
Fort Clarke or Hilton Head.
To pass to the subject of finance. There is an
unreasonable complaint by the press at the tardy
action of Congress on the bills for taxation. The
subject is new, various large mind conflicting inte-
rests are involved, the details have to be arranged
with caution and a comprehensive kuowledge of
the subject. A bill hastily drawn and rushed
through the house would be in danger of seriously
damaging the national credit from its inefficiency.
Hence the committee show their wisdom by careful
deliberation. In respect to the more important
question, about which many European writers ex-
prose a doubt—that is, will the
_people pay their
taxes I—the case is very clear. The past history
of the United States is the beet guarantee of the
future. Only make the people believe that these
burdens are necessary and that the money will be
honestly used to quell the rebellion, and they
will pay though they groan. The suspen-
sion of specie payment was • measure of
precaution as much as one of absolute ne-
cessity, and in periods of great national emer-
gencies is by no means uncommon. Were it not
for the interest of certain partiesto prove the bank-
ruptcy of the United States government, this act
of suspension under the circumstances would have
excited far less surprise •, and as to the picture of
the American army on the Potomac melting away
from the lack of means of support, this danger has
no existence beyond the excited imagination, and
the wish is the father of the thought. An intelli-
gent American is at a loss whether to laugh at the
absurdity, or be indignant at the falsehood of such
statements. So also there is au evident attempt
to play upon American sensitiveness by reports
that the European powers intend soon to break
the blockade. It has heretofore been the tactics of
the Secessionists to excite the people of the North
against England, with the hope that in the compli-
cations which might arise the two nations would be
plunged into • war. When Messrs. Mason and
Slidell were arrested their joy was unbounded. The
time so long sought and desired had at last come.
Mr. Yancey was in high glee, and the more astute
and wily Davis doubtless congratulated his

cabinet on the propitious turn of affiiirs. They had
succeeded in their plans and the looked-for recogni-
tion was at hand. But the paper of Mr. Seward
completely checkmated them, and now, as the next
beet thing, they hope to keep alive the feeling of
irritation, by repeating the old story of a speedy
recognition. For a day or two the tone of several
English papers was quoted by the Federal press,
and some uneasiness was awakened, but the assur-
ances from Washington that the foreign relations
were all of a highly peaceful character, and that
the administration felt no apprehension, at once
quieted the public mind. The thinking portion of
the North will not as readily believe such stories
as they have heretofore, and were it not that these
reports may give rise to sharp words from some of
the Northern editors, to be spread over England as
an evidence of Yankee spite, the subject would not
be worth notice. But this part of the game is well
nigh played out, and a repetition of the old trick
will be very likely to rebound upon its authors.

MALTA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN.

(nou on owl

MALTA, Fm. 14.

The 10th of February, the anniversary of St.
Peers shiptheek at Malta, 111 kept ea • " testa," and a pro-
wemial,Rh •• stets. of the mint, parades the primped
streets of the town. This year there was an attempt to
make it Into a political exhibition.; the saint appears to
hare been lost sight of, and Pio IX. s bstitated is hie
stead. Oo last Saturday, the day preoedisg the anniversary,
the principal streets of the town bad very large flap hung
throes them, with inscriptions on them, among which some
bogie, " Chriatus Newer, Itegnat et. hope:at !” " Viva Plo
IX. !" and such like inscriptions ; but the most numerous
were, "Viva Pio IX., Papa lie!" This gave offence to some
Italians. and from the fact of "Papua" being a duck in the
Italian language, it gave rise to some very ugly allusions.
The police wisely abstained from any interference with the
kinaesthesia of the people, bet this calling the Pope "King"
they coosidered giving a political colour to • religious (re-
tina ; they therefore, in the gentlest terms, requested the
removal of the Sage bearing this inscription. This was
does after some delay, but the flags were soon afterwards
hoisted gain, with a slight alteration in the ithcription
such as "Papa Re" being changed into" Pape Rte eg." anci
others into " Papa Re Ihno." ; bat the testa never lost its
character of being in honour of Pius IX. rather than
of the Apostle Null. There were two or three small rows
between the Italians and Maltese, the former crying " Viva
Garibaldi," while the latter were body and soul in favour
of the Pope. All Sunday 'tumbles of people were busily
employed in ornamenting the street and preparing (dr
the illumination and fireworks in the evening, and
this under the direction of the priest. sod close to
the churches. In front of St. Paul's church, bands
playing all the afternoon popular opera music, with
oommonal cheers from the little boys in favour of Par IX.
It bed much more the appearance of a carnival than of a
religious feast.
Lab, the church of St. Paul was one mess of splendour
and magnificence, the frosts of all the altars being of mu-
sive silver, and the twelve apostles of the same precious
' metal. The mosaic pavement was covered with Eastern
carpets, and the sides garnished with splendid satins and
hash flowers. The mono sad vocal singing were of the vary
beet kind, but from the crowded state of the church it was
difficult to obtain threw. The streets leading to the
thumb were covered with laurel. The balconies of the
houses on each side were bang with silk damask, and the
fronts of each house with lamps fur the illumination
in the inning. /Depth wreaths hung morose the street,
surmounted by the tars and the keys of St. Peter, which,
strangely enough, differed in pattern, each designer eve-
dandy following his owe fusty. There were three meg.
bikini triumphal 'ram completely across the st.reeta,
and the whole of the Goldsmiths' portian of Strut
Santa Lucia was on each side formed into
arcades, very tastefully etheinsated. All dunes of
cestributed towards the expenses. The
people
urchin from his pocket-money gave at
least two-thirds, all for the glory of the Pope. Some of the
101 Wilt at the populace surrounded the door of the Italian
consul and the Iboollo/ Of KIM o/ the ltaltaa liberals, shout-
ing "Vin Pio IX., Papa Re," " Abbaseo Garibaldi;
" Abler. Vittor Emaauele." England seems to have been
entirely lest sight of during the festivities, excepting a
dimisetivis flag is ooe of the sills streets. Probably in no
part
wthe world is the Pope so popular as he is among the
Too much credit stead be given to the police, who
forbore from interfering with the religious part of the
ceremony, and only, is the gentlest manner, instated on the
withdrawal of the digs with political inscriptions. The go-
vernment of Rohs has wisely observed the moscizie.t
of
neutrality between the Italians different political
Had the pain interfered, in all human probability there
would have been • riot, and both parties would have united
nowt the police. As it is, they have been allowed to
show their feelings sod give expression to them, as long as
they did not commit • breach of the pesos. The result has
been • few trifling pohce cases, scarcely worth men-
tioning, in which some of the scum of society were in-
rand.
We learn from Naples, that at the same time this was
going on at Malta, there was a great demonstration there
against the Pope ; above 50,000 people parading the streets,
sad cryiug " Abhaeso il Papa Ile! Viva Vittor Emanuele!
per Roma, per Romeo ! "
The royal yacht Osborne arrived on the 9th. She had
bees detained by had weather fourdays at Brest, and had to
put into Gibralthr and Algiers to coal. She left on the 10th
for Corfu and Trieste.
The learns arrived on the 13th from England.
The seams. of the ships that had been paid down Lave
had leave on shore, and, owing mainly to the wise measure.
of the Commander-in-Chief (Sir William Martin) in having
patrols on shore, there has not been a drunken or riotous
tailor to be seen in the streets. . .

here on a vidt. A few
days ago the whole of the troops were ordered to march out
for a day's exercise, at which his lordship was to Lave bees
preseat, but owing to heavy rains, the troops were ordered
back to barracks, but unfortunately not till they had got
well soaked..

On the 14th there was a feigned attack on theme defences
of Valetta. The fleet was represented by the steam chips
Hearty and Enterprise,which were stationed at !IWO yards
disteat from the port, and on a rocket being fired from the
Vrstemmed at full speed to the entrance of the port.
at.rne signal gave notice to the troops who had already
lined the fortifications to prepare for defence, and all the
artillery that could be brought to Lear upon the vessels was
fired at them as they came within range. Lord Dalhousie
witnessed the whole affair, which had a very pretty effect,
sad showed how far the line regiments could manage the
guns. His lordship leaves this evening for Marseilles.