The Express.
London, England, 1861-05-09 00:00:00

(Stamped, Id. Additional.) [TWOPENCE

THE CONFLICT IN AMERICA.

The correspondent of the tory and high church
Guardian, writiog from Philadelphia on the 23n1 ult., thus
discusses some of the questions on which doubts have been
felt in England:

It is bit eight days since the proclamation of the Pre-
sident calling for troops was put forth, and already the
whole land is in arms. By every line of railway the men
of the North and West are hurrying towards Washington,
eager to take part in its defence. The feeling everywhere
is far more than excitement, it is • deep emotion impelling
to personal sacrifice of every kind. There is something
majestic in this sudden uprising of the people, putting
from them as they do all differences of opinion, and re-
solving to preserve, at any cost, that form of government
to which, under God, we owe so much. Aod certainly
everything is et stake—life, property, order, our continuance
as a nation. The virtue, intelligence, evenly, and cool
determination of the North is to be pitted against the more
impetuous courage, the better military skill, but I must
think the far less noble instinct/ of the South. As to '
the ultimata issue of the contest I cannot doubt, what-'
ever may be the first results. We have greatly the supe-
riority in numbers, and we have other most important ad-
vantages. First of all, we have absolute command of the
um; net a port of the retaliates but can be closed to cam-
mere% so that suppliance every kind will at once be cut off.
Man we have the vast solver tege d denadmit matey te-
till=i.whenata sat is rcud Mir ilsgsissi
ptey. Virginia has within a few days, by secret vote
of her winvention, united with the libuthern Confederacy ;
the ilia result of-this is • dashes of from 20 to 20 per moot
in her securities—they lavaboes aides low as 37 for 1110 paid
—a sheet time ago they were at par. The bank-note cur-
neatly of the state, as well as dell the seceding states—the
circulating medium of the regioo—is worthless outside their
own limits. The credit of the South is, in short, annihi-
lated. And there looms op the fearful danger of the rising
of the slaves. This is alinceta certainty now, seeing that the
first act of the Jaren= Davis government since the virtual
declation of war is the issuing of a proclamation inviting
applications for letters of marque and reprised against
against northern commerce. If this is acted upon, the feel-
ing which will be aroused will undoubtedly lead to ret•lia-
Con on the private property of the Southern people ; and
what more unmediately inviting than that which will remove
itself at the merest s of the North ?
You will risk in England, could not this war have been
prevented ?—might sot separation have been peaceable, and
the world hays base spared the spectacle of • war, brother
against brother? We reply, there war no possibility of Reece
except by the North yielding everything, and thenbawaitang
the seat humiliate& which a people fully armed and
emboldened by sum= might see fit to require. If the
South could rule us they would submit to • union and
peace. If Fort Sumter had been surrendered, Fort Pickens
would have bees ant demanded, then Tortugas and Key
West, and so the slave-holding, slave-trading confederacy
would have had every facility for the beginning of their
career of conquest. Washington would, of course, have
been required, as being within the limits of the slave eaten
A powerful 000federacy would thus have been inaugurated,
founded en the principle that slavery is the true basis of •
acid system—to use Mr. Stephens 's wads—upon the idea
with regard to the negro that " slavery, submission to the
surecyiso crtime, is his natural and normal condition :" a con-
too, which has a military leader at its. head, and
which eOnsiders that, like the republics of antiquity, the
chief business of its freedom will be the work of government
and the duties of war, the tilling of the earth sedthe ordinary
labours of life being performed by 'laves. You may say these
are mere conjectures, sad that it will he time enough for
the North to take up arms when danger really threatens.
We reply that, in regard to the intention. of the Southern
pe
ople there can be no doubt, when one onside:B who their
are, and further, that for years past scene a day has
gone by that some northern man has not suffered indignity
at the., bands. Five years ago, from one end of the South
to the other, the people rose up to approve of the brutal
attack on Mr. Sumner in the Senate Clamber at Washing
ton. An Lot like this to be applauded in a community
shows • spirit and temper which is sure to result in aggres-
sion on a neighbouring people, and in war.
But apart f-om all other justification for the course which
we of the North are pursuing, is our sense of the clear duty
which is upon us of defending our constitution, union, and
government. The divine right of existing authorities is a
truth we do not question, and we go to battle with almost
a cheerful heart from our undoubting conviction that we owe
idlegisam to our government, seeing that its rule has
hitherto been as peaceful and beneficent as any upon earth -
and we bound at its call to hasten to its defames. It is true
it La solemn moment in our history, and what the future
has in store for us none can know. Whether a fragment of
the country shall be permanently separated from us, or whs•
Cher, after sharp conflicts, sorrow and suffering may lead
the way to reunion and peace, are among the uncertain
issues of the coming time.
My own belief is, that it is growing to be the settled pur-
pose of the twenty millions of freemen of the North to
make a floral sod of this slavery agitation, and to put down
for ever what they consider to be merely rebellion and
anarchy. As President Lincoln has said, " the central ides of
secession is the essence of mare_
_._hr" reading it ea we
have now resolved to do, we shall hardli_ stop short of sub-
jug/aloe should this be neemasey. We shall, in other
words, conquer • peace. You would not doubt either our
ability or determination could you see the flame of enthu-
siasm which has been kindled here, and note how the whole
people are transported with rage. Here in Philadelphia
there is excitement which one would say could not be ex-
ceeded ; people are all in the streets, flags from every
window, military computes moving in every direction, and
the enlistment aloes throaged. At least 15,000 men are
drilling in this city to-day, and when tee regiments go
which are now under, new ones of equal numbers will in-
stantly be formed.
Virginia has at heart the possession of Fort Munroe
at the entrance of Chesapeake hay. Here, too, there
was danger; but the government has succeeded in rein-
forcing the post, and it car be held now against all comers.
Virginia, by madly refusing to stand by the general go-
vernment in this time of trial, and, indeed, by suddenly
and basely levying war against it, bas sealed her own ruin.
Maryland, too, which has equally failed us in our extremity,
and has assailed our troops when on their way for the de-
fence of the national capital, will share her fate. The soil
of theme states becomes the battle-ground, and it is Iluite '
among the probabilities of the future that the Northern
army may find it necessary to declare that its lag, " where-
ever it floats shall float over the free." This is, indeed, a
fearful possibility, seeing that • servile insurrection may be I
attended with such horrors • but the responsibility is not
with us of the North. Women and children flying from
these dangers are reaching this city, and many more, I doubt,
tiot, are to come. . . . . . .

There must, of course, be terrible anxiety everywhere at
the South. Even Baltimore 18 threatened with swift pu-
nishment for its misdeeds from Fort M'Henry, which COM-
numb' the ctt,. It is understood the garrison are instructed
to shell the town in case they see attacked, as it is not int.
probable they will be. And the Northern army, which has
sprung as it were from the earth, is steadily and rapidly
moving towards Maryland, and before many days such a
host will tread the soil of that state as will suffice for any
blow that it may seem needful to strike. Already the Pena-
-1 sylvanians have pushed their way to within eighteen miles
of Baltimore, and are prepared to act against coy attempt
of Virginia to throw troops from the Harper's
Ferry region on Washington, and. at the same time,
U:icthe line from this city to Wsahingtoo by way of
retde Grace. This line, it ia probable, will be kept
open, but from Annapolis to tVashington there may 'mild&
unity. A single regiment holds Annapolis, and there is
another half-way on the route. It is mid an attempt
will be made tomorrow by the rebels to throw a strong
column of troops into this narrow strip of land, in the hope
of attain the approach to the capital by that side. Should
this 'noosed it would be infinite trouble, fur although the
city is provisioned for a siege, and could bold out for a good
while, it would require a costly effort to force a passage for
arelieving army. In one respect Washington is- well pro-
vided—there are 11 batteries of flying artillery there of six
guns each, managed by men thoroughly disciplined ; then the
buildings, the Capital itaelf on its superb natural elevation, as
well as other great edifices, are susceptible of easy defence.
One other important item of news has just been received—
the destruction at tho navy yard, Norfolk, by order of the
general government, of the vessels of war which were lying
there, and which could not be removed. Old vessels they
were, as well as one which was on the stocks. A large
amount of war maMriel has also been destroyed, and guns
have beeo spiked, and altogether a very vigorous course of
action has been pursued. Virginia fails thus in obtaining
the government property at this point, precisely as she did
at Harper's Ferry.
The mention of this latter locality leads me to refer to a
fact I learned to-day—that John Brown, jun., son of the
brave but misguided man who was hung a year and more
ego, is working with intense earnestness iu this contest ;
keeping his own counsel, and pursuing his own plans, tut
making no secret as to what he considers the one purpose of
his life—theavenging of his father's and his brother's
blood. He can never rest, he says, until he has hung Go-
veroor Wise. Yon may look to hear of some startling
acts, depend upon it, as this war There is cause
for the most real anxiety in Eoglsod now in regard to the
cotton supply of this year, from the turn matters have
taken. Although the seed is all in the ground, there can be
nothing like the requisite attention given to the growing
plant as the war goes on. It may be that but half • crop
will be the result.

You will probably learn by this steamer of acme serious
conflict ; if not, you certainly will by the next. It is all
grim earned now. I will leave you to conjecture what the
shock will be when the Northern tide of stubborn fury
meets the tiger-like dash of the Southern nature.
On Sunday Isat there was a strange coincidence—the First
lemon in the morning service, according to the arrangement
of the American Prayer-book, was from the :ird chapter of
IJoel, beginning at the 9th verse. The first words of it
wet*—" Prepare for war." All over the land, therefore,

such were the stirring words uttered is churches, while all
the air was ailed with the clang of arms.
The President, in the midst of all this agitation, seems
unmoved. One who wee with him four days ago write, :
" I was very glad to notice the tough enduring vitality of
his temperament ;he needs it all. He does not appear to
be worn or ill, but, on the contrary, very fresh and vigorous.
His demeanour woe thoroughly calm and collected, and he
spoke of the present crisis with that solemn earnest Gam-
posure which is the sign of a soul not easily perturbed. I
came away from his presence cheered and encouraged."

The Journal du Havre has the following :
The commercial community of this port have been justly
thrown into alarm by the last news (roan America, which
mentions the resolution come to by the President of the
Southern Confederation to issue letters of marque, and
brings the proclamation of President Lincoln, which puts
the ports of the Southern States under blockade. The
Chamber of Commerce, through its president, M. Aseel,
who is deputy for Havre, immediately called the &Montana
of the minister to the necessity of taking measures for the
protection of French venni in those waters. Immediately
on receiving the letter from the Chamber of Commerce, X
Alice' communicated it to the minister, who has, it is said,
promised to concert with hi colleague of the Marine, •D as
to lams a conference on the subject with the Emperor.

The London American dates that preparations
are being made to hold an American union meeting
in London. Our contemporary says :
War has actually commenced ; the blood of patriotic
dtisens has been shed. On the 19th of April, a der up
sooratde in American history, several eons of Maseselnuelin
fell victims to sectional animosities. They fell doing their
duty, and their memory will be cherished through the
length and breadth of the land. Whatever suocuses the
revolutionists may meet with at fent, the vietcey must
ultimately rest with the friends of the Union.
They are a large numerical majority ; they possess
the resources, and are not wanting in personal bravery.
We have advocated peace, though we have never apolo-
paid for the treason. We have expressed our preference
for an honourable and peaceful separation, believing that
such a rowan would be followed by a speedy reconstruc-
tion, and the horrors of civil war avoided. We know the
beginning, but the end cannot be foretold. There is uow
but one sentiment in the North—every class and every
nationality are ready to defend the constitution with their
property and their lives.
The pliant 69th of New York r(lrish) is already in the
!Uhl, and English, French, Irish, ,an, Scotch, Polish,
Italian, and Swiss regiments are being enrolled. Canada
is sending recruit, for the national army, and the Union
feeling is very strong in nine portions of the South. It is
the unanimous voice of the Northern pram and the people,
that the Union must be preserved. In common with, pro-
bably, nine•tenths of the Americans resident in Europe, we
entertain the same views, and shell labour for its pre-
servation.

THs Op.iiT NORTHERN HO/HMI. —The fifth
eantveivary festival of this institution was celebrated yes-
terday at the Albion Tavern ; the Right Hon. the Lord
Chelmsford in the chair. After lii, usual loyal and
patriotic teas* that of the evening was given, when his
lordship made an eloquet appeal in aid of the funds of the
hospital, which, in consequence of the great number of
patients resorting to it for treatment, had not only been
quite exhausted, but a debt of 1,300 f. bad accumulated. It
wee to relieve the valuable institution of this incubus that
be solicited aid from the guests. The appeal of the chair-
man was responded to by the visitors subscribing upwards
of 3001. _

GRL&T FATS or SNOW Ix ms WENT Or ENO-
LAND.-711,0111. WIDIRIDAY.—This morning we expe.
rimmed the vary extmordinary circumstance of • heavy
snow atom in May. From Ave o'clock till noon the fen
was continuous and steady, and in some parte of the country
quite two feet of snow covered the ground. A rapid thaw
set in in the afteroon and little trace of winter is now re-
maining. The oldest inhabitants speak of a simlar visita-
tion some half • century since, but very few of the present
generation remember it. The weather this evening is cold-
—wind S.W.

Snow fell in Southampton yesterday morning.
Newts or ♦ Psanr FERAY.—At the monthly
meeting of the Birkenhead oommissioners it was stated that
the income derived from Woodside Ferry—a penny ferry
daring the mos& of April, was 2,6061. Oa 6d. against 2,5021.
4 id. in the ClOSTOMptladillg mouth of 1660. The Moonlit for
the year ending on the 245 k of April last was 30,2191.
Ifs. 9d.
a againet 30,2621.!. 6d. for the same period of the
T • Plig4diiri 118 WITIJM HOP PLANTATIONS.—The reports
from our correspondent' in moat of the hop-growing districts
in Kent represent the growth of the bme as nearly sta-
tionary dining the peat week. The cold nights and chilly
days have checked peeress, and the plantations are not
pnetelly more advanced than usually in the middle of
April. It is now seen that there are a greater number of
deed hills than were at first anticipated ; and the plants
that have come up are platty, and what is called nettle-
headiid ; that in, they exhibit too much leaf and are exceed-
ingly uneven. In assay grated* there have been slight
attacks of Asa, end the leaves and bin. look yellow and
sickly. From present pea there does not appear
of to be any primmest • largere crop. From Canterbury, we
are informed that the poling in that part of last Kent is
nearly brought to a Gloss; and slthou4b the weather is still
exesenvely cold bar this advanced penal of the seam., the
bins has grown ocesiinahly, rendering it neemeary in many
grounds to commence the opeation of tying. There, as
elsewhere, there are many dead bills, and it is estimated
that about a third of the whets growth will be weak bind.
—South Eastern Gawk.

Duimesz IN Gaouss—A Strathspey correepon-
dent of the Ban,fiaire Journal, having had occasion lately
to traverse a • of the moor in Upper Strathspey, ob-
eeveral birds in apparently good condition dead, and
on making iequiry as to the probable cause of the disease,
he ascertained the general impression to 110 that the stunted
Mather with the drought, which retards the growth of the
young heath, causes the bird. to drink more than an ordi-
nary quantity of water, which creates general purging, sad
occasions almost instant death. There is uo great prospect
of a good breeding season.
SHOCKINO ACCIDENT.—An accident of a very
distressing character took place at Mayen, near Mundy, on
Friday last. One of the principal farmers in the district,
Mr. Alexander Robertson, went down to the saw mill there
to order some paling or other work to be done upon his
farm ; and, while in the act of stooping clown to pick up a
piece of wood, his great mat was caught by the saw, which
Instantly severed through the one arm, and whirling him
round, also cut off the other. When Dr. Wilma, of
Meetly, arrived, the unfortunate man was perfectly sen-
sible, though weak from loss of blood. He was able to give
the particulars of the accident in a clear and distinct man-
ner ; but it was evident to relatives and friends that life
was ebbing fast. On Saturday morning he expired, leaving
several children. Deceased was • quiet and industrious
man, and was universally respected.—EdinterTet Courant.
DEATH IN THE LEL-TORE ROOM.—On Wednesday
evening last • lecture on " Wit and Humour" was
delivered in the lecture-hell of the Athemoum, at Bury
St. &lowed', by George Grosiimitb, Req., who,
after some critical observations upon those terms,
related various anecdotes characteristic of English,
Irish, Scotch, and American humour, and read extracts from
Dickens, Hood, Ise., in a manner which appeared to give
much satisfaction to • numerous audience. The Rev. A. H.
Wratialaw occupied the chair. At the termination of the
lecture many who were present learnt the painful fact that,
while they were listening to a lecture of a light description,
• young lady, who had entered the hall as one of the au-
dience, full of life and spirits, had expired in an adjoining
room, from an attack of tetanus, most awful in its sudden-
ness. The officers of the institution, supposing the poor
girl to be simply in an bygonesl state, left her in the hands
of some ladies, and having returned to the hall, knew
nothing of the sad termination of the attack until the lec-
ture was nearly concluded. After consultation it was
thought that it would then be moat unwise and even dan-
gerous to some present to announce what had taken place,
and the lecture, therefore, proceeded to its close without
interruption.—Bury and Berwick Post.
THE DOUBLE CHILD MURDER IN SUFFOLK.—
The miserable woman Salmon, who recently murdered two
of her children at Edwardstoee, near Boston!, has since her
imprisonment in Bury St. Edmund's gaol. manifested such
unmistakeable symptoms of insanity, that it bas been deemed
advisable to place her, without further delay, under proper
restraint. She hasaccordingly been removed to St. George's-
in-the-Fields lunatic asylum.
The Russian journals, which receive early intel-
ligence from China through Siberia, announce that the
Mautchouc army, in garrison at Pekin, has revolted ; the
motive is said to be the delay cm the part of the state is
the payment of the troops.
WATCHER AR A BRANCH (IF FINE ART M•NUFAC-
TRW —"Having extended our search thmugh the West-end
and the City, after all ordinary good Mulish watch, possessing
an artistic define, we have come to the conclusion that but very
few of our English watch mansfactarers have yet properly ap.
pnalated the advance of the public taste for a higher order of
ornamentation from Improved designs. Small though the watch
yetis, It *noon scope for the display of the genies of
en artst. It Is, therefore, with much pleasure that we can
mention one manufacturer who has given especial Mum.
tion to the artistic ornamentation of watches, sad whose
Productions manifest a decided advance In regard to rules
of art and the requirements of ea edwided taste. The manufte-
tnrer here alluded to Is Mr. J. W. Benason,whose recently enlarged
allow-rooms, at 33 and 34, Ludgate-hill, and 46 and 47, Comilla
form one of the conspicuous features of this great City thorough-
fare. The display of gold and silver watches, together with or.
molts clucks of ran designs, Is quite imposing to the passer-by.
Here the purchaser of • watch is afforded every facility of choos-
lag see wiled to his peewee semi mane, and possessing at the
same time all that tan he desired In finish, taste, and deign.--
. Globe. Benson's Illustrated Pamphlet, poet free for two stamps,
is descriptive of every construction of watch now made. Watches
safe by post to all parts of the globe --(Advertlaement. J