The Express.
London, England, 1865-04-10 00:00:00

POLITICAL DUEL IN BELGIUM.

The Journal de Charleroi contains the following
details of a disagreement which occurred at a recent sitting
of the Belgian Chamber between M. Dolma, themember for
Antwerp, and the Minister of War, daring a debate on the
Mexican questioe. As will be men by the telegram which
follows, a duel boa been the result :—" A painful occurrence
took plum at the sitting of the Sth inst. In replying to M.
Delaet, who had given out that blanks bad been left in the
orders of authorisation delivered to the Mexican volun-
teers, in order that the power of proceeding against
them u deserters should be reserved in ease they made use
of their leave of absence for soy other purpose than that of
going to Mexico, the Minister of War said that those only
were capable of committing such infamous acts who attri-
, bested to others the thought of doing so. At the word in-
famous M. Detest nee, and addressing the President in a
deeply agitated voice, asked if the Chamber meant to let
such an expression pus without censuring the speaker who
bad made me of it. To the great astonishment of
the tribuues the President answered not one word,
and M. Delest was obliged to sit down without having
received from either the right or the left benches
the slightest indication of sympathetic support. But no
sooner had the Minister of War concluded his speech
than a messenger of the chamber delivered a sealed note to
him from the member for Antwerp (M. Delaet), the con-
tents of which I am ignorant of, but which appeared to
produce a deep impression upon him, for immediately after
receiving it, and while M. COMAS was replying to his
speech, I saw him ries from his chair and go down into the
hemicycle, where some deputies, amongst others M.Vrilive
and M. Rosier, at once joined him. What took place at
this little conceit I cannot say, but conversation was
extremely animated, and in the tribunes it was generally
thought there was a challenge to a duel. This supposition
became still more probable after M. Coonnan's speech. M.
Dales& asked to speak, in order to repeat the queetioe he
had in vain put to the President once before. Thus brought
to the point, M. Vandenpureboom asked the speaker to ex-
plain the sense he had attached to the words he had uttered
the previous day ; this M. Delaet did, declaring that he bad
DOS the slightest intention of imputing any infamous act to
the Minister of War, but that if the minister did not with-
draw his words he Amid have to consult himself alone in
order to obtain reparation for the outrage which had just
been committed against his dignity Al a representative in
parliament. The minister remained silent. So the matter
stands."

It may be added in explanation that M. Delaet is opposed
to the policy adopted by the government in permitting the
formation of a Belgian legion. for Minion. and that in the
course of the debate be had attacked the ministers for
exposing the country to the hostility of the United States
by unnecessary intervention in Mexican ►ffain.

(corn's =mum.)
BRUSSELS, Ann. 8.

A duel with pistols took place to-day between
Baron Chazal, the Minister of War, and M. De-
laet, he deputy for Antwerp, in consequence of
language used towards M. Delaet by Baron Chazal
at the sitting of the Chamber of Deputies on the
6th inst. General Chazal was very slightly wounded
in the side.

THE PRITCHARD CABR.—From all we can learn
amid the close secrecy preserved, it would appear that the
quantitative analysis in the case of Dm. Pritchard is nearly
if not quite completed, with the result, we hear, of show-
ing that exceptionally large quantities of tartar emetic or
tarterised antimony were lodged in the tissues, especially of
the stomach. The extent to which the body
saturated with the drug would seem to indicate talaitz:
edmiaistratios had extended over a long period. In ex-
planation of the erroneous rumour regarding the deceased
lady, to the effect that she was in the habit of using
wine, we may mention that it may not impossibly be
shown that, duriag her fatal illness, the delirium of as
apparent fever was induced by the administratioe
Hwines og and ametthetics At first, there
world to have been, among scientific moo,
a suspicion that mookshood had beep an agent in
the death of Mrs. Pritchard ; but it is understood
that this suspicion has not been supported by the analysis.
Oe Friday Professor Penny, of the Andersoniaa
' University, Glaalgow, visited Edinburgh, kiwis' been called
in by the antbentiss to aid in the iavertigatioe, with the
view, if required, to corroborative *videos). With regard
to the inquiry into the mums of the death of Mrs. Taylor,
; the information which we were enabled to give last week
I bas bees fully, verified—tics authorities in Glasgow harts;
received a oommuniestion from Edinburgh, to the tank we
believe, that the appearances presented in the body of the
deceased lady were set of the nature that tsigid have been
expected had death resulted from pate yyasiiss or spoxy
as certified by Dr. Pritchard when beregistered tie death;
This repot, however, of coarse has no application to the
I amnia east*, at the organs of the Me Nis. Taylor,
I which is sow esly is proosm—Scotonsw.

DEFEAT OF THE CONFEDERATES AT
PETERSBURG.
farm's ransame.)
(Vie Crothhaven.)
QUEENSTOWN, Aria 9.
The Royal Mail steamship Africa arrived at 9.20
p.m, with 90 passengers and 540 doh. in specie.
She landed 123 sacks of mails and three passengers,
and proceeded at 9.35 p.m. AU well.
NEW YORE, Meson 28, &maim
It is officially announced that before daylight on
the 26th, three Confederate divisions under General
Gordon made a sudden and determined attack on
Fort Steadman, in front of Petersburg, overpower-
ing the garrison, capturing the fort, and turning
the guns upon the Federals. A battery close by
was also captured, but quickly re-taken. The Con-
federates also attacked Fact Askell, but were re-
pulsed with great loss. The Federals on either
flank maintained their ground. Reinforcements
arriving, they charged, drove out the Confederates,
and re-occupied Fort Steadman, capturing num-
ljbererimeimmers. The gum of the fort wear bead
uninjured.
The second and sixth corps pushed forward, cap-
tured the Confederate entrenchments, and turned
them upon the Confederates, who made unsuccess-
ful efforts to retake them. The battle lasted until
eight o'clock in the evening.
The loss on both sides was heavy. Grant esti-
mates that the slaughter of the Confederates at the
point where they entered the Federal lines was
3,ooomen. He captured 1,800 prisoners. The
Federal lore in killed, wounded, and missing was
2,000 men, including General Bl‘Laughlin, who
was taken prisoner.
Despatches from General Sherman to the 22nd
inst. state that he had had severe fighting since
leaving Fayetteville, with very heavy loss to the
enemy iu killed and wounded. He bad captured
over 2,000 prisoners. His loss since leaving
Savannah amounted to 2,600 men, many of whom
were only slightly wounded.
General Schofield announces his occupation of
Goldsboro' on the 21st. He met with slight oppo-
sition. General Terry would probably resell
Goldsboro' the same night. According to unofficial
despatches, a portion of Sherman's forces from
Fayetteville flanked and overpowered the Confede-
rates at Mount Olive on the 21st. The Confede-
rates retreated in confusion towards Smithfield.
The Federals claim that the engagement at
Averysboro' on the 16th was a victory for Shar-
man, and that after atemporary repulse at Benton-
ville on the 19th, they drove back Johnston, who
retreated on the 20th across the Nouse River.
Sheridan's whole force crossed the James River
at Deep Bottom on the 26th to joint Grant.
The movement against Mobile commuted ou the
17th, the Federals, moving towards Bon Secours,
and also from Barrancas, had occupied Pascagoula.
The Confederate Secretary of the Treasury has
proposed to hypothecate to the banks and capital-
ists 60,000 bales of government cotton at 20 cent*. '
the pound, with the privilege of exportation, as se-
curity for a loan of 3,000,000 dole. in specie.
The Federate have destroyed the privateer
schooner Anna Dale, in Malagorda Bay.
The Confederate steamer Owl, Captain Moffitt,
has cleared from Havana for Matamoras. It is be-
lieved she is going to Galveston to be fitted out as
a privateer.
Robert J. Walker has written a letter, denying
that he was visiting Canada to promote the annexa-
tion of that country to the United States.
The America and Virginia have arrived out.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, MARCH 28, Briars°.
Gold, 153 i. Exchange on London, 164. Paris,
3.53. Stocks declining. New York Central, 90i.
Illinois, 961. Erie, 1523. 5-20 Bonds, 105 g.
NEW YORK, MAacli 30, WISING.
General Lee's report of the attack on Fort Stead-
man states that he captured 9 guns, 8 mortars, and
500 prisoners, amongst whom were a brigadier-
general and a number of officers. He swept the
Federal lines from left to right for a distance of
500 yards. Two efforts to recover the captured
works were handsomely repulsed, but, finding that
the enclosed works in the rear could only be taken
at a great sacrifice, the troops were withdrawn to
their original position. As it was impossible, how-
ever, to remove the guns, they were disabled. Lee
says his loss was not heavy. The troops behaved
very well.
The entrenchments captured by Grant consisted
of an advanced Confederate picquet line, which he
still holds. The Confederates unsuccessfully
attempted to reoccupy the line on the 27th.
Northern correspondents state that Lee's troops
fight with undiminished enthusiasm.
Sherman issued an order, dated 22nd, near Ben-
tonville, stating that the concentrated armies of the
enemy had, on the 21st, been beaten on their chosen
ground, and were fleeing in disorder, leaving their
dead and wounded, and burning the bridges in their
retreat. On the same day Schofield occupied
Goldsboro. The campaign bas resulted in a
glorious success. The army will now rest.
Northern accounts of the battle at Bentonville
state that on the 19th two Federal divisions were
driven back two miles, losing three guns. The Fe-
derals were reinforced on the 20th, and on the 21st
drove the Colifederates through Smithfield, in the
direction of Raleigh, capturing 10 guns and from
5,000 to 7,000 prisoners.
Southern accounts of the fighting on the 20th
and 21st state that it consisted of heavy skirmish-
ing, in which the Federal attacks were repulsed.
Johnston broughtoff all the wounded. On the 20th,
Sherman's, Schofield's, and Terry's armies were at
Goldsboro refitting.
The Richmond Sentinel declares that Sherman has
been forced to take up a fortified position, and was
acting on the defensive. Johnston's army was full
of enthusiasm.

Sherman arrived at City Point on Monday, and
held a council of war there with Lincoln,Grant, and
Sheridan.
It is reported that a movement by Grant's army
commenced immediately afterwards.
Lincoln's visit to City Point has caused the
revival of peace rumours, it being asserted that
Lee, convinced of his inability to hold Richmond,
bad renewed his request for a military peace con-
ference.

General Dix has prohibited all travellers except
emigrants horn entering the United States by sea
without passports.
The old issue of 7-30's has been fully subscribed
for. The new issue will commence immediately.
The steamers Aida, City of Manchester, and
Damascus have arrived out.