The Express.
London, England, 1865-01-17 00:00:00

AMERICA.

The Africa arrived at Liverpool about noon yes-
terday with New York journals of the evening of
the Srd ; Boston, morning of the 4th ; and Halifax,

evening of the Mk inst.
New Year's day falling on Sunday the usual
holiday was observed on Monday, the 2nd. At
Washington the President's mansion was freely
thrown open, as Is customary, and large crowds at-
tended to pay their respects, including all the
foreign: ambassadors. ke.
An alleged peace mission to Richmond of Mr.
Blair and his son had attracted some attention, but

it had fallen through.
A Washington despatch of the Srd whys of it :
" Mr. Blair and his son returned hawthorn the
front last evening, and the judge went to Balti-
more. They only went to Grant's hessignartere,
where they remained two days. Whether they
could cot get through the lines to Richmond, or
whether they did not really mean to go there, is •
topic of talk to-day."
Another Washington telegram says :—" A para-
graph has been copied into many newspapers within
the past three days, that the Brazilian representa-
tive near this government has accepted Secretary
Seward's letter in relation to the seizure of the
Florida as satisfactory. This is not true, for the
reason that the Chargd d'Affaires was not antlio-
rimed so to determine. The letter of the secretary
has, however, been transmitted to the government
of Banal, and in *Wine as. rawer •wilL be for-
warded through the proper channel, which, it is not
doubted, will be of a responsive, friendly character.
The Brazilian Chargd d'Affaires accompanied the
other foreign representatives to pay his respects to
the President yesterday, and afterwards called
upon the Secretary of State at his residence."
Washington despatches say that adrices from
General Sherman must be received before the
Federal government will grant any permits to carry
merchandise to Savannah.

Much interest was felt es to the probable decisi4

of the United States Supreme Couh in the case of
the prize steamer Circassian, which was claimed by
British subjects.
The New York Commercial Advertiser gives the
following resum4 of affairs on the evening of the
3rd inst.:—
Nearly all the steamers composing the portico of the
expeditionary Asst under the command of Nefor-Genend
Butler, have returned in :safety to Fortress Monroe, aot-
withstandiag the errors storm experienced aloog the west,
and while anchored off Wilmington. A rebel despatch
from Wilmington, dated the 28th, says :—" The Federal
diet has disappeared. Only the usual blockaders remain.
General Bragg reports that with present means and dispo-
'Rios of farces, no danger used be apprehended. Had re-
iaforoemente armed sooner we might have captured many
promo's. The enemy drew up in a semicircle, and
poured a concentrie Are into Fort Fisher, destroying every
house, sod ploughing up the ground. Colonel Lamb sad
the garrison deserve meek credit, as well as the junior »-
sem& The enemy threw over many homes in the gels,
sod suffered much otherwise'
The Commereicd Advertiser of the 3rd says
"The 30,000 bales of cotton captured at Savannah
by General Sherman are to be brought to this city
and sold. Collector Draper hes been directed to
proceed to Savannah and examine the cotton, and
take testimony relative to its ownership and the
rights of the owners, if they shall be found to have
any rights, to be settled hereafter. Mr. Draper
will leave for Savannah vid Port Royal to-morrow."
The following are the latest telegrams from New
York, published in the Halifax papers :—A tele-
gram of the 4th says :—" oorrespoodenoe from
Savannah shows a strong Union feeling among the
citizens. The Mayor bad called a public meeting,
largely attended, in which parities resolutions
were adopted—among them, one requesting the
Governor to Cell a convention of the people of
Georgia to say whether they want the war conti-
nued. Savannah River is being cleared of obstruo-
tions. Sherman was preparing for an advance on
Charleston."
A New York despatch of the sth says :—" A
Federal transport, arrived here from Charleston Bar
on the 30th nit., reports that tbe fleet of iron-clads
bad returned to Charleston harbour, and were to
co-operate with General Sherman in an attack on
that city. It is reported that Hardee had been
brought to a stand, and would probably be obliged
to surrender."
Despatches from Nashville state that news from
General Thomas will hereafter be received from
another direction. His whole army launder march-
ing orders. All the sick and wounded have been
sent to Nashville.
The storm through which Admiral Porter's fleet
rode in safety was stated to have been the mast
seven, that had occurred on that coast for years.
Dispatches from General Butler's headquarters
state On Sundayafternoon, the bulkhead of the
Dutch Gap Canal was blown out in part, but the
mass of disturbed earth fell back Ist* the water.
The explosion thus failing of its object, dredging
will therefore become neemesary should the pro-
jector persevere in continuing the work. The sound
produced was low and rumbling, but accounts differ
as to the large amount of powder used on the occa-
sion."

PATE6T-07MB MIISRUIt, &LITZ KENBINGTON.
—Numbs of ashen
afee the week iodine les 14.
2,007 • total numbs O the *peeing el the suntan ha
4487 Oth Mob 1114. 884.809.