The Express.
London, England, 1861-11-30 00:00:00

THZ FRANKFORT DIET.

•
. The Coterie ;1... the following ere
the chief points of the pro for the reorganisation
of the German Federal et, drawn up by M. de
Beast, Minister of Saxony :
The present Federal compact is to be renewed and con-
solidated. The present Dist is to cease to be permanent,
and is not to bold its meetings at Frankfort, but is every
year to sit for one month at Ratisboe, under the presi-
dency of Austria, and for another at Hamburg, where it is
to be presided over by Frugal*. It is to be compoaid of the
representatives of the governments of the Confeignition.
la addition to it there is to be an assembly of digraties,
soesisting of 120 moralism nominated by the Herman
Chambers. In that assembly Prussia and Austria are to be
represented by an squid number of deputies, forming the
smaller portion of the body, but the members composing
the majority are to he elected by the other states. The
assembly is not to have the right of taking the initiative of
enamurs, but the Diet is to submit to it bills relative to
matters of general interest and to the safety of Germany.
During the ten month, of the year in which the two assem-
blies are not to sit, Austria, Prussia, and another state are
to form an executive government entrusted with extssuin
powers. The project does not say where the executive
gores ament is to be established, nor in what form it is to
act ; neither is any stipulation made as to what it is to do
when the Diet and the Chamber of Deputises:o amembled.
The Federal Chancery is to remain at Frankfort.

THE QUESTION BETWEEN ENGLAND AND

AY ERICA.

The following document was drawn up on
day on board the Preafient, sad signed by all the ma of
the Naval Reserve is that ship. It is understood (says
the Shipping anzeitel that a similar expression of feeling
is about to emanate from the naval volunteers at oar
principal outposts : —" To Captain Lacy, R.N., her
Majesty's ship President, City Canal. Mir, Having
beard that our flag has been grossly insulted by an American
ship of war, and people who claimed its protection forcibly
taken from it and made prisoners, we write this to let you
know that we are ready to fulfil oar engagement, and Pro-
tect the honour of our flag, our good Queen. and country,
whenever called upon to do so. We respectfully request
yon will make this our determination known in the proper
quarter."—(Synced ,on behalf of the Volunteer Reserve on
board the President.)

LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY.

Attention is still absorbed upon this exciting topic,
to to. complete neglect of busies's. Yesterday people
were beginning to settle down to the conviction that the
stoppage of the Trent and the misers et the Confederate
Cornmimionere, though a very ugly sad nauseous pill to
swallow, could not be legally objected to ; but a revulsion
of feeling immediately took place to-day, on the re-
ceipt of the telegraphic advices to the effect that the
law officers of the British Crown had decided that
the action of the Federal officers was unjustifiable. War
or the prospect of war with America, is of mum, le a
part like Liverpool, a matter which causes the most intense
anxiety and iuterest. As the day advanced a greater se.
sursoce and quietude took possession of the public mind,
aa, upon reflection, the probability piped ground that Mr.
Lincoln's government would make a prompt and handsome
acknowledgineut that their officials hadexceeded the autho•
rity given to them under international law. There was no

demonanation ou 'Owego to-day, and the '7l;l%u:tiou;
nwetiug of Wedaeaday is uuw generally regarded as a moat
premature and inconsiderate manifestatiou. The sales of
cotton to-day were only IAMM boles, the smallest amount
kaolin for a quarter of a century.

MANCHESTER, Nov. 29.
The excitement arising out of the stoppage of
the Treat, mail•teimer, by an American war frigate, has li
occasional au entire suspeusion of business in this market,
and more especially MOW the receipt of telegraphic advice'
from London that the law officers of the Crown had de-
clared the act to he one of illegality. and that the govern-
ment were determined to demand reparation. Most people
here seem to display • good deal more cahuneas than it
appears by all reports to hand has been the case in London,
Liverpool, and some other towns; but at the same time it
is undoubted that there is a strong war party, who will not
riper/ way out of the difficulty but that which would
upon the arbitrament of the award Some
of the Americans here seem to think that their
government will be dewed to make every reparation con.
intent with honour, if it shall be shown that they have
acted contrary to the law of nations as laid down in such
matters, whilst others regard the metier as one almost sure
to lead to war, seeing the strong sympathy which prevails
for the Confederates on this side the Atlantic. People are
not at all disposed to do business. Some of our manufac-
turers have been very anxious to sell, and are offering shirt-
ings at a reduction of as much as 6d. per piece, but it dole
nut appear that any sales have been made, or indeed that
business could be effected at any prices. The yarn market
is greatly deranged. Prices are reported weaker, but there
is no business doing at all. Many of the spinners and menu.
['Morena attending the market have left town much dis-
heartened at the prospect of rain and misery which must
result to this district in the eveut of war, however triumphant
1 te British arms might be the result of a contlict.

The Canadian mail 'teenier Jura, Captain Aiton,
which left Quebec ou the 16th instant, arrived in
the Mersey at 9.30 this morning.
By this arrival we receive New York papers to
the 14th, and Canadian to the 16th inst.
A Waanington telegram gives the following offi-
cial report from the commander of the squadron at
Port Royal to the Secretary of the Navy :

Flagship Webs•h, off Hilton Had, Port Royal
Harbour, Nov. 8.
Sir —I have the honour to inform yon that yesterday I
attacked the batteries of the enemy on Bay Point and Hilton
Head, as well as Forte Walker and Beaureganl, and suc-
ceeded in silencing them after an engagement of four hams'
duration, and dnvieg away the squadron of rebel steamers
under Commodore Tatmall. The reconnaissance of yesterday
made us aware of the superiority of Fort Walker, and to
that I directed my special efforta, engaging it at a &stenos
of NOO, and afterwards at 6110 pods ; but the plan of the
attack brought the squadrons ufficiently near Fort Bemire-
mird to receive the fire, and the ships were tregnently fight-
ing on both sidegat the same time. The action was begun
on my part at twenty minutes after nine, and at half-put
twelve the American amnia was hoisted on the legated at
Feet Welber end this outer. stmletiee Cu Wm at Fad
iltrirlt of Use init S 1111 W :teat
sod confusion, their qrsi apd NW. sten-
lomat without as MMmyt M esi army debit *public or
private property. The growl ever yid* May fed wee
stoma with tips same private seldiese t tpd the
°Moen relied is leo, mush Mete to admit of the mecum.
brume of their molds. Lad* my marines and a CCM.
sand
held 'llllllllll/11, took possamks of the deserted groaad,
and the forts on Hilton/lead till the arrival of Omani
Merman, to whom I had the hoaoar to trawler thew com-
mand. We have caption' 43 pieces of memo, most of
them of the heaviest calibre, and of the improved descrip-
tion. The bearer of these despetchee will have the honour
to carry with the captured dogs two small brass teid-pieces,
which lately belonged to the stale of Bo.M Oarelina. A
detailed account of this battle will be submitted hereafter.
—I have the honour, hc. S. P. Dormer.

Another despatch of the 1131 h nays :
A steamer from Pod Royal ow the 13th arrived last sight. I
The troops had all bine leaded. whin stone sad maraca I
from various vessels of the fleet were being rapidly die-
ttlees rewound at Fort Walker Yet the tinkle
piekets ee the oppoelto aide of the inland, weer Sarawak
Ferry, had bra attacked by the Nebel& ltaatoreemeets
were being soot from the forts.
The Federal troops would take formal posseeloa of Beau.
fort on Thursday, the 14th.
The Charleston papers of the 12th inst. state
that General Lee is making extensive preparations
to defend Beaufort ; that the place bad nut been
occupied by General Sherman • that the negrose
were engaged in removing cotton and other pro-
petty, and that two Yankee gunboats were aground
near the village. These statements, as well as the
following from the same sources, are, it will be
seen, flatly contradicted by the New York journals
of the latest dates :

The Charleston Courier states that there is littleinotka
-erred at or arr Beaufert.
The sum of the Lady Davis sad Hunters have beau pieced
is the battery at Port Royal Ferry, under the command of
Drusserst, when a stand will be made.
On fiatardy. aosordi to the Charleroi papas,
Ore ware no mu of General taking roman of
Reasfort.
The Roils* tootuatad riflemaw started for Beaufort on
Sr* wring.
A &Wannest of mounted riflemen of Colonel Clinguard,
NiZziosesetswas also on the way.
Lee hard at work near Beaufort, and Greta'
Ripley at Boyd's Landing, for the defence of the Charleston
aad Tesneere Relined.

Theilotentenitercery °madonna the steam in which
the Coofedentes have prepared for tbs imeergemoy.
A Richmond telegram of the 11th says :
Colored Careens, threemptaloo, and Minns
all of whom were captured in the actin of Neltl"ea,"Z
been selected by lota to be hanged by way of retribution
for the hanging of Colonel Baker, and the crew of the
Southern privateer, Savannah. la can the court at New
York coodetaned the crew of the Savannah to death, the
Federal ogicere would be immediately hanged.

On the Bth instant five railway bridgos were de-
stroyed by the Unionists in Kist TOOD811144X).
The New York Independent publishes the follow-
ing paragraph :

- - - - Just aswe are going to press, we receive • most impor-
tant piece of information from • reliible source. It is
nothing less than the is:premed meridian of Mr. Sward
that the government cannot succeed in this war ; that the
Confederacy will probably be recognised by the European
powers; and that peace will be the result in sixty days.
Is view of this, .Mr. Thurlow Weed bag been sent to Eng-
land, and if he should lied the British ministry tleter.
mined to recognise the Confederacy, the government bete
will prepare at once for peace.
Colonel Cochrane, of the New York Ist Chaa-
seurs, had made another speech to his regiment at
Washington, and his remarks are said to have been
formally and cordially approved of by becretary
Cameron, who was present at the time. After ex-
patiating on the objects of the war, and extolling
the efforts that were being made by the Unionists.
Colonel Cochrane proceeded in strong terms to urge
the necessity of seizing and arming the slaves, and
bidding them strike for the liberty of their race.
A Boston telegram says the collector of that port
has received instructions from Washington to stop
the exportation of saltpetre and gunpowder.
The Canadian news is quite unimportant.

ARRIVAL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
LIVERPOOL., FRIDAY.

The Liverpool, New York, and Philadelphia
Company's screw-steamer City of New York, Capt.
Petrie, with New York advices to the 16th instant,
which arrived at Queenstown yesterday, leached
Liverpool this afternoon after a detention of some
hours at the Irish port.
" The situation" is thus epitomised in the New
York Herald of the 16th inst. :

The army of Gaseml M'Clellan has 44 yet made no
active movement ; the troops, however, for the past few
days have beeu engaged in noontouitring.
The " rebel" hattei ies on the Lower Potomac yesterday
kept up a continuous lire on all the small vessels passing up
and down the river, but, as far as we can kern, they did no
damage.
Information received from Poolesville yesterday states that
the " rebels" evacuated Leesburg, and it was surmised that
they had moved towards Romney to attack General Kelly.
On the other hand, it was supposed that they had gone
South ore hearing of the naval victory.
Nothing later concerning tho state of affairs at Port
'loyal has arrived.
Though the Charleston papers of the 12th instant state
that Beaufort was not then in possession of the Union
troops, yet the fact that we publish in our columns to-day
advice* from there on the very same date, proves that the
assertion of the Charlestou journals is without foundation.
According to the same authority " rebel " reinforcements
were being sent to Beaufort.
The petition of the Baltimore merchants, asking the
goveruweut to give a share of its patronage to the loyal mid
suffering mechanics of that city, praying for the establish-
ment of a naval depot there, mad the participation iu con.
tracts for government supplies, has been met by the Presi-
dent with a good graoe. He promises that the Baltimore
mechanics shall receive the fullest cousideratiou from the
heads of the various departments.
The Pacific mail steamer, winch arrived here yesterday
from California, brought Senator: Gain and two other gen-
tlemen as prisoners, on charge of treasouable preemies.
General Sumner, who was on board the swirlier, made the
arrests, and brought the three sorties with him to this
city, where they are now at large on their parole of honour
not to leave the country. Certain papers found in the
baggage of Mr. Gwin, it is said, connecting hinitwith the
Southern rebellion, warranted General Sumner iii placing
him and his companions under arrest. They await the
orders of the government from Washington.
We learn from Missouri that the Union forces have
evacuated Springfield. The divisions of Generals Seigel
and Asboth are moving towards St. Louis. The Union
men of Springfield sod its vicinity are leaving with the
army, not Wing willing to risk theirlives iu the hairdo of the
_ . .

Intelligence of the capture of a large British steamer
laden with arms and muni.imis of war, mid supposed to be
the Fingal!, from Greenock, Scotland. by a United States
frigate, which took her prize into Key West, reaches us
from Holmes Hole yest.nlay, where the brig Munzoni has
just arrived from Cardenas.
Our sews from Sea Francis° also mentions the arrest of
a supposed privateer (the schooner Neva) at that poet by
the captain of the revenue cutter Mary. It appears that
the Neva was fitted out at Shangluie, Chios, and that in-
fortn►tioo of this fact preceded her arrival at San Francisco.
Immense excitement was created in Savannah upon the

The; New York lierubls cairrespoudont, writing
on the 13th inet., nays :
Three thousand of General Butler's New England division
are under orders to leave camp, near Lowell, on Wednesday
next. They will embark at Boston in the sew steamer Con.
stitutios and some transport vessels, taking full field aqui•
page and supplies.
The Transcript is furnished with an extract of a letter
written by an intelligent soldier in the Naval Brigade, at
Fortress Monroe, under date of the 11th, u follows :
" This morning news reached here that 3,000 soldiers of
the rebel army had mutinied at Norfolk, and, with asset of
the citizens, had determiued only to fight for the Union
under the old gridiron. In confirmation of this intelligence,
Captain Lockwood, of the United States, a tugboat, reports
that the sten and stripes were flying gloriously from Big
Point, opposite Newport News, where the rebels have for a
long time had a formidable battery."
The New York Tribune says :
It is knows to be the intention of the rebel government
to pet piratdeal craft into distant eau, where, as our
cruisers have been recently withdrawn, they hope to be
able to prey upon basest commerce with impunity. The
railer repented to be fitting out at believed
be bat sae of a camber which ere to
we fa that vielailY. Yr. Ward, fcister to
China, who ionaneged to get abroad by way Canada, is
thought to be on his way to the (blastula, bearing letters
calculated to further ibis sod. la view et this prospect,
government is urged, and will probably ocieeset, to estab-
bah lines of armed man steemen from New York to Rio
Janeiro, and from San Francisco to China.

A special despatch from Washington on the 15th
inst., in the New York Tribune, says :
Information hes been received by the goverameet from
Port Royal, of date Nov. 11, that the pillage had nearly
missed, owing to the prompt action of Lieuta. Bankhesd and
Watmough. Powder had been secured in the light-house,
and the channel boors recovered. A large force of South
Carolina troops was gathering at Port Royal Ferry, variously
estimated at from 3,000 to 10400. At 2j are of the 11th.
daring • fog, from six to eight musket shots were
fired at the gunboats from the shore below the three.
It was the expressed intention of the cursors of
homes on the island to send ponces to barn
them. The reseeneitering party sent from the fleet to
reported that they found the river banks deseted
eaosilkwy% squads of Dermas, who regarded the troops
curkeity and fear. One of the gunboats was houtiedZ
host's crew of Degrees, who stated that easy ed them
bees shot by their masters. They were saws¢ that the
troops had sot come to take them from their masime, err
to hold them enslaved ; that they were free is ge to Men-
tal or to Hiltoe blend. They mid they nwald go to
Beaufort to make arrangements, and they thought all the
blacks would come in to avoid being rnired. The
eillews of another nachos& reported that they
found Beaufort deserted by every iuhabitaat with
the exception of two, to one of whom the captain
wee conducted by the Degrees, who were rejoiced to see
him, crowding around bins in large numbers, and cheering
the flag.
_Their masters had been firing at them and driving
than back In the woods, to prevent their communicating
with the United States forces. It was judged from their
manner that they would commit any act of retaliation that
opportunity offered. They also stated that the forces for-
merly occupying the St. Philip's fortifications with the
Beaufort artillery had retired to Port Royal ferry, ten
miles distant from the town. Mr. Allen. an old inha-
bitant of the place, but northern by birth, met
the Maws at the entrance of his store, much agi-
tated, sad holding a flag of truce in his band. He said that
the Negroes were perfectly wild, breaking into every build-
ing, and destroying or carrying off all portable property,
sod that the light boats bad been burned immediately after
the surrender of the batteries. An intelligent mulatto boy
dismounted from a horse be was riding, and coming toward
the captain, said, " The whole country have left, sir, and
all the soldiers gees to Port Royal Petry. They did not
think that you could do it, sir." The story that two mi .
lions of cotton bales had been seised at Beaufort reached the
government for the filet time in a New York journal of
today.
The New York Tribune of the 16th instant says it
is announced from various sources that the fOot-
hold at Port Royal is to be at once itaproved for
purposes of commerce ; that a port of entry will
be established, and a town commenced, in case
Beaufort is unavailable • and that already frame
houses have been shipped, and shrewd business
men are on the move thither.

A Washington correspondent of the Associated
Press, writing on the 15th, soya :
Mr. Dodge, the Chief of Police of Baltimore, acting under
the Federal inathorities, was here to-day, and reported to
the War Department that information was brought to Balti-
more this morning by the boat from Fortress Monroe
that General Sherman had mined 2,0111.1,0U0 dollars' worth
of cotton in the vicinity of Beaufort, S.C., and that numbers
of citizens there had professed loyalty to the government,
and were soliciting arms with which to protect themselves
from the rebels.

The Naval department will, it is said, recommend a
large increase of the naval force, with a view tofuture
operations on the Southern coast, and it is under-
stood that the importance of this measure will be
urged upon Congress at its next )16660U.
A telegram from Mayville, Kentucky, in the
Tribune, compresses the l'ikeville fight into a oom-
watively insignificant affair. It says that the
Federal force attacked 1,000 rebels, killed 80 or 90,
and took 50 prisoners. Thu rest of the rebels ran,
Colonel Williams leading off in the race. Our loss
is stated to be 15 killed and 30 wounded.

Amonling to one authority, the government had
decided to immediately appoint a custuuus collector
for Beaufort, but another account nays that no de-
cision had been come to relative to the permission
for trading at that port.
. . .

The news of the affair of the San Jacinto and the
Trent only reached New York on the morning of
the steamer's departure, su that the journals are
silent upon the subject.
The New York Bank committee had agreed with
Secretary Chase to take the third 30,000,000 debt.
loan, making the total 130,000,000 dole.
Governor Pickens, of South Carolina, in his
memo to the Legislature of that State, recom-
mends that the Confederate government be not
allowed to " tamper with produce " iu order to
raise its support. He desires that Fort Moultrie
should be kept by the State of South Carolina.
He expresses doubts of the endurance of republican
institutions, and looks to " the stronger forms of
the Old World."

(ROM LAST EIGHT'S GAZETTE.)
Fuseioxor►ics, Nuv. 28.—Tho Queen Las been
pleased to approve of Mr. Thomas 11. Dudley as Consul at
Liverpool for the Baited States of America.
Fonnox-orrtcs, Nov. 29.—The Queen has been
pleased to approve of Mr. Adrian Campbell Cater as Con-
sul at lianguou for his Majesty the King of the Belease.
WHITEHALL, Nov. ::B.—The l2utwn has been
pleased to present the Rev. William Ferree White, RA.,
to the vicarage of titonchouse, in the county of Gloucester,
and diocese of Gloucester and Bristol, void by the death of
the Rev. Henry Crime.
REPRESENTATION OF EAST WORA7ENTERSHIRE.—.
The usual formal notice by the Speaker of the House of
COIIIIIIOO, appeals in yestenhiv's bra :elf • that he will issue
his writ fur the election of a representative for ,Esst Wor-
teaterehire, in the room of the late Mr. Foley, at the expi-
ration of fourteen days.
Bustin OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, Nov. 29.—The
Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Privy
Council fur Trade have received from the :ietretary of State
for Foreign Affairs a copy of a despatch from her Majesty's
consul at Brest, reporting that merchant vessels will on
longer be permitted to load bidlast from the excavations in
the dockyanl of that port.
BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL, Nov. 29. —The
Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Privy
Council fur Trade have received, from the Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs, a copy of a despatch from her Majesty's
consul at Loanda, reporting that the cumin of the pro-
vince of Angola has been awiimilated to that of Lisbon.

The Nazione of Turin states that Bishop Gault
has been sentenced to imprisonment for 60 days by the
Tribunal at Pistoia, for publiehiug writiugs of a reactionary
tendency sgsiont the rive, iimeut of the Xing. The same
journal expresses a hope that the sentence will be carried
out, as in more cases than one priests hare sot bees pun-
ished according to their sentence.
THE A estitis:s NAVV.—Acconling to the Espero
of Turin, the Austrian government contemplates making
• new conscriptiou, and, because it knows that the Adriatic
will be the theatre of the next war, has determined that
all the conscripts from Dalmatia shall be employed to man
the fleet. It i■ even said that this measure will be ex-
tended to Istria. lieueeinrth sailors rather than soldiers
will be wanted, and the Esperu gives it as its opinion that
Istria and Dalmatia ought to be able to furnish at least
60,000.