The Express.
London, England, 1861-10-30 00:00:00

AMERICA.

NEW YORK, Ocr. 17.
(Per Norwegian, via Quebec,
)Londonderry,
and LiverpooL
The Neic York Herald of to-day describes the
situation of affairs as follows :

" The rebel batteries on the Potomac, although
silent for some time, are evidently in full command
of the river, and are well manned all along the
banks from Aquia Creek to Ocooquan Creek. The
government has received positive information that
there are from 30,000 to 40,000 rebels located
within that distance, the main body being stationed
at Evansport, or Shipping Point, by which name
it is generally known. Yesterday, while she
Pawnee and Mount Vernon were going down the
river, they were fired on from the batteries at Ship-
ping Point, and a battery further down joined in.
"The object of maintaining these batteries is
undoubtedly to prevent a flank movement of our
troops upon Fredericksburg, which the enemy con-
siders a very weak point.
"The State Department has issued an important
circular to Governor Morgan, and other governors
of the loyal States bordering on the sea-coast and
lakes, urging upon them the necessity of putting
the Aorta and harbours in a state of defence, and
Cr:garrisoned by the local militia, in view of the elects
made by the rebel government to obtain aid
and comfort from foreign nations.
"The recent escape of tho steamer Nashville from
Charleston, with Messrs. Slidell and Mason on
board, rebel ambassadors to London and Paris,
shows the necessity of a more vigilant guardianship
of all our ports. The Nashville got oil in spite of
the blockade on Friday last, but we are glad to bn
able to state that the government has promptly
taken measures to intercept her and bring back the
rebel ministers. Fur this purpose three swift
gunboats, the Connecticut, Alabama, and Augusta,
sailed from this harbour yesterday, and will doubt-
less overhaul the Nashville before many days have
elapsed."
The following is the circular referred to in the
above, which has been addressed by the Secretary
of State to Governor Morgan on the improvement
of the sea-coast and lake defences.

Similar circulars have likewise been sent to the
governors of all the seaboard and lake defences :

Department of State, Washington, Oct. 14.
To his Excellency the Governor of the State of New York.
Sir. —The present insurrection had not even revealed
itself in arms when disloyal citizens hastened to foreign
countries to invoke their intervention for the overthrow of
the government and the destruction of the Federal Union.
These agents are known to have made their appeals to some
of the more important states without success. it is not
likely, however, that they will remain content with such
refusals. Indeed, it is understood that they are Maus.
tnously endeavouring to accomplish their disloyal purposes
by degrees and by indirection. Taking advantage of the
embarrasameota of agriculture, manufacture, and commerce
in foreign countries, resulting from the insurrection they
have inaugurated at home, they seek to involve our immmon
country in controversies with states with which every public
interest and every interest of mankind require that it
shall remain in relations of peace, amity, and friendship.
I sin able to state for
iyour satisfaction that the prospect for
any such disturbance is now less serious than it Les been at
any previous period during the course of the insurrection.
It is, nevertheless, necessary now, as it has hitherto beeu,
to take every precaution that is possible to avoid the evils of
war to be superinduced upon those of civil commotion which
we are endeavouring to cure.
the of the meet obvious of such precautions is that our
ports and harbours on the seas and lakes should be put in a
condition of complete defence, for soy nation may be said
voluntarily to incur danger in tempestuous seasons when it
fails to show that it has sheltered itself on every aide from
which the sterns might possibly come.
The measures which the executive can adopt in this emer-
gency are such only as Congress has sanctioned and for
which it has provided.
The President is putting forth the most diligent efforts
to execute these measures, and we have the great satisfac-
tion of seeing that th,,,e efforts are seconded by the favour,
aid, and support of a loyal, patriotic end self-sacrificing
people, who are rapidly bringing the military and naval force
of the United States into the highest state of efficiency.
But Congress was chiefly absorbed during its recent extra
erasion with those measures, and did not provide as amply
as could be wished fur the fortification of our sea and lake
coast'.

previous wallah. loyal States have applied themselves,
by independent and separate activity, to the support and aid
of the Federal government in its arduous responsibilities.
The same disposition his been manifested in a degree emi-
nently honourable by all the loyal States d uring the present
insurrection. In view of this fact, and relying upon the in-
crease and continuance of the mune disposition on the part
of the loyal States, the President has directed me to invite
your consideration to the subject of the improvement and
perfection of the defences of the State over which you pre-
side, and to ask you to submit the subect to the consi-
deration of the legislature when it shall have assembled.
Such proceedings by the State would require only a tem-
porary use of its means.
The expenditures ought to be made the subject of con-
ference with the Federal government. Being thus made
with the concurrence of the government for general defence,
there is m ery reason to believe that Congress would sum-
Mon what the State should do, and would provide for its
reimbursement.

Should these suggestions be accepted, the President will
direct the proper agents of the Federal government to confer
with you, sod to superiuMnd, direct, end conduct the pro-
secution of the system of defence of your state.—l hove the
hoeour to be, sir, your obedient servant,
W. H. BawoßD.