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London, England, 1864-02-22 00:00:00

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ENV S.PAPEA

NEW YORK, Feb. 21.
The Confederates are again threatening Newham
and Washington, North. Carolina.
The Confederate ironclad gunboat at Kingstown is
completed, and will co-operate with the land forces.
The Federal communication between Knoxville
and Cumberland Gap was cut off by the Confede.
rates on the 10th.

THE SUN, LONDON MOADAY EVENING,

VURNI FURE, CARPETS, BEDDING, and
FLOORCLOTIT, CARRIAGE-FREE to any house in
the kingdom, regardless of amount or distance. First. class
goods at second-class prices. Terms peculiarly liberal to
Clergymen and Gentlemen. An immense stock to select
rom, displayed in Showrcotas occupying an acre of
Every article warranted.ground.

Knoxville despatches of the 31st report that the
Federal cavalry were defeated in an engagernent near
Marysvill:', and were retreating on Knoxville, with
the Confederates in pursuit. Seven Federal officers
were killed. No other particulars are given.
The Confederates had occupied Liverville,
Gold, 159/ Cotton, 833.

CIA.I h GYMEN and GENTLEMEN ABOUT TO FUR-
NISH are respectfully informed that Messrs. Cobbett and
. are publishing. an entirely New Edition of their un-
equalled HOUSE FURNISHING GUIDE, illustrated by4lo
admirable engraving's of every description of Furniture and
Bedsteads, with prices attached. A copy sent palls and
post-free on application. This costly work also contains
complete estimates for furnishing' on the following revised
cale

A Six-roomed Parsoiage
An Eight-roomed ditto
A Ten-roomed ditto . ....... 259 15 6
A Twelve-roomed ditto
Together with a Price List of purified Bedding, and a mass
of valuable informationto all requiring househ3ld furniture,
carpets, or bedding. References kindly permitted to Clergy-
men andi gentlemen in or near Great Malvern, Southampton,
Chichester, Bury Ely, Preston, Grimsby, Ityde, Plymouth,
Wells, Oxford. Brighton, Gainshorough, Margate. Kidder-
minster, Wellington, Croydon. Cambridge, Staines, Dorking,
St. Alban's, Worcester, Ipswich, Peterborough, St. David's,
Wrexham, and above 500 other places in all parts of Great
Britain.

QUEENSTOWN, FRIDAY NIGHT.
The Canard Royal mail steamer Australasian,
from New York, the 10th, has arrived.
New Orleans advices to the 2d state that the Free
States' Convention, in accordance with General
Banks's plan, met on the Ist.
The New York World states that the siege of
Charleston was raised, and a diversion made by the
Army of the Potomac, in order to allow General
Butler to make a raid upon Richmond to release
the Federal prisoners confined there. The World
says:—

COBBETT and CO., General House Furnishers, Deptford-
bridge, London, B.E,

A N APPEAL to the SHAKSPERE COM-
MITTEE for the ROYAL DRAMATIC COLLEGE.—
Patronised by her Most Gracious MAJESTY and his Royal
Highness the Prince of WALES.—The noblemen and gen-
tlemen forming the various klakspere Committees are ear-
nestly prayed to cons der the appropriateness of devoting a
portion of the funds collecting for the Tercentenary Celebra-
tion of the great Poet to the above Institution, founded for
"the poor player who struts and frets his hour upon the
stage, and then is heard no mote," and the education of their
children. What nobler monument could be erected to the
memory of Shakspere, himself a player, than the building-
and endowing the two schools of this College in his name,
and enabling a few worn-out actors to pass in comfort to
their last home who have contri.,lt,?.G d
otood myyou lorprld, willeasure
see the players well bestowed!you
amusement? Shakspere
1)o you hear, let them be
well used ; for they are abstract and brief chronkles of the
time." B. WEBSTER, Master.

" General Butler's mysterious plan to release the
Union prisoners at Richmond, about which we have
heard so much for a month past, has at last been
tried and has failed. It was a very pretty scheme
as Butler conceived it, and as it appeaied upon
paper; but like all military pans, from Big Bethel
down, it was entirely impracticable. He attempted
in short, to cut the Gordian knot of difficulties into
which the exchange of prisoners question had been
entangled by the canning of Ould and the obtuse-
nese of Meredith, with the sword. ' The rebel
Government at Richmond,' he argued, treats me
as an outlaw, and won't give up the Union pri-
soners. Why not solve the problem by capturing
Richmond, prisoners, rebel Government, and all?'
Big with this brilliant idea, Butler rushes up to
Washington and seeks an interview with General
Halleck ; but that officer 'don't see it.' Secretary
Stanton is then waited upon, and he, of course, is
delighted, as moving upon the enemy's works with-
out preparation or adequate force is his favourite
strategy. Finally, Mr. Lincoln is seen, and, as the
scheme is ingeniously absurd, he cordially gives it
hia approval. After much deliberation, it was de-
cided that the Army of the Potomac should make a
feint across the Rapidan to keep Lee employed, while
the real attack was to be made by an army moving
briskly up the peninsula. Bat, then, the question
arose where this army was to come from. It would
not do to send troops down from Washington, as
their movements would be noticed by the enemy,
and Butler had barely enough in his own depart.
ment to guard his lines. At last the bright idea
was hit upon of raising the siege of Charleston, and
with the troops taken from Morris and Folly Islands
to capture the rebel capital. This accounts for the
news from Charleston which has so disheartened
the country; The troops were brought up to the
peninsula and sent upon their fool's errand to Rich.
mond and—back again. General Sedgwick, in
temporary command of the Army of the Potomac,
did all that could be expected of him. He crossed
the Rapidan, and kept Lee employed while the raid
up the peninsula was made; but the Richmond part
of the programme failed, because it was absurd to
suppose that a city which has been menaced for
three years is not at all times proof against the
attack of anything less than a great army. All such.
schemes to capture Richmond by a stratagem are
based upon the theory that the rebel Administration
is composed of a set of improvident fools. So ends
this last 'Oa to Richmond,' the most unmilitary
and sorry exploit of the war. We do not believe
this scheme received the endorsement of any com-
petent military commander, or that it ever had the
remotest chance of success. The story that the
rebels were warned of their fate by a Yankee
deserter is an afterthought to excuse the failure."

The Richmond Examiner of the Bth gives the
following account of the state of affairs at Rich-
mond :

" Some days ago a report was obtained by the
authorities here from a Yankee deserter that the
enemy was contemplating a raid, in considerable
force, on Richmond. The report obtained con-
sistency from a number of circumstances, and im-
pressed the authorities to such a degree that a
disposition of forces was made to anticipate the
supposed designs of the enemy. At 10 o'clock on
Saturday night a force of the the enemy, numbers
not known, but consisting of cavalry with some
artillery, made a demonstration at Bottom's-bridge,
and drove in our pickets. This news was not gene-
rally communicated to the public until Sunday
morning, the first signal of excitement being a tap
of the alarm-bell, which readily summoned the
second-class militia and local forces in the Capitol-
square, and at other places of rendezvous, A.
despatch was also received early yesterday morning
from General Wade Hampton, at Hamilton's
Crossing, stating that the enemy was threatening
an advance. A train was despatched to his relief.
In the meantime, out of the excitement in Rich-
mond had been suddenly produced the most wild
and extravagant rumours, the enumeration of which
would be idle and tedious. In the progress of the
day these reports assumed a more definite form. It
appeared that the enemy made another demon-
stration on Colonel Shingler's lines yesterday
morning, and in this instance were repulsed,
some two or three companies being en-
gaged on our side. The force of the enemy
was not uncovered, but as far it could be per-
ceived consisted of five regiments, mostly
cavalry, it being doubtful, of course, whether they
were only an advance guard or the entire force. It
was not thought necessary to move the local forces
beyond the city fortifications; and the disposition.
of other troops was made to hold the enemy in,
check. Lieutenant-General Hood was assigned to
the command of the defensive forces, and took the
field at an early hour yesterday. After their de-
monstration in the morning at Bottom's-bridge,
enemy, or a considerable portion of his the
cavalry,
crossed the York River Railroad near Despatch-
Chickahominy
sa tta tGi orna,p ae nv
ido
eatht
re
imd
gp
et d
otro
wf o
hr da t t hi
se
More commonly
known as A d
l‘Clellan's bridge, cvi
to get in our rear. They found ently intending
ford the Chickahominy here; on account of the
alarge
ineffectual
eo
outnotaol of
in the swamp. After
they retired in the direction of Talleysville, which
is about eight miles f
late hour afetltleetncipttinatbhegret thritongihmtphoesssibwiaemp
to
rom Bottom's-bridge. At a
Yesterday afternoon information was
brought in by our scouts that a large force of the
enemy, Which
the morning, had been massed at Barkamsville in.
had moved forward to Talleysville,
and was then advancing. The entire force of the
enemy is
distinctly stated as follows :—Three bri-
gades of infantry, four regiments of cavalry, and 12
pieces of artillery. This is reliable. It is probable
that the demonstration of the enemy yesterday was
merely intended as a reconnaisance, and is prelimi-
nary to an important collision to-day. Certainly
the enemy has come in numbers which preclude the
idea that he only meditates a raid. We have no
report of any casualties in the fire at Bottom's-
bridge. But it is supposed that we used our artil•
lery with effect. After the enemy abandoned his
position, there were found nine dead horses, six
Yankee caps, and a fresh grave."

MEXICO.
MEXICO, Jan. 31 (via Havannah).
These advices state that the authorities of San
Luis Potosi had officially declared their allegiance
to the empire. Numbers of other towns had done
the same. Juarez has resigned the Presidency, and
Ortega has succeeded him.
Campeachy capitulated to Captain Clon, of the
French navy, on the 21st.
M. de Montholon arrived at the capits.l on the
23d.
The capture of Zacatecas is not confirmoi I.