The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-21 00:00:00

AMERICA.

(From the Times Correspondent.)

(Per the Asia, via Roche's Point, March 21,

11.10 a.m.)

NEW YORK, MARCH 9, 1 P M.

In the absence of official information from Gen.
Sherman, most unfavourable reports continue to
circulate. One account, via New Orleans, states
that on the 16th ultimo he was defeated near Meri-
den, with the loss of 15,000 men, and that, with
the remnant of his army, he was retreating to
Vicksburg, pursued and harassed by a large force
of Confederate cavalry.
Travellers who left Vicksburg on the 3d instant
assert that he had arrived in that city, but do not
state whether with the whole or a part of his army.
The Confederate Generals Migruder and Taylor,
with 20,000 men, are reported to be advancing into
Eastern Louisiana, from Berwick's Bay.
Admiral Farragut opened fire upon Fort Powell,
on Dauphin Island, commanding Grant's Pass Chan-
nel to Moble, at daylight on the 23d ult. One
Federal gunboat was sunk, but the result of the
bombardment iE unknown.

Confederate telegrams from Charleston of the 4th
report that 1,250 Federal shells had been fired at
the city during the previous fortnight, but without
doing any damage. Blockade running had been
actively resumed, and an average of two vessels
weekly had succeeded in reaching the city.
The Confederates, under General Pickett, are
again threatening Newbern, Plymouth, and Wash-
ington, North Carolina. Four Confederate rams,
plated with 10 inches of iron, and carrying four
guns each, will eo-operate with the land forces.
The steamers S. P. Thomas, Titan, and Jollar,
plying on Chesapeake Bay, were captured by the
Confederates on the sth inst., and taken up the
Rappahannock.

One of the four Federal colonels killed in Kil-
patrick's recent raid upon Lee's communications
was a eon of Admiral Dahlgren. On his dead body
were found an address and instructions to the
soldiers under his command, which declared that
when once they were in Richmond the city must
be destroyed, and Jefferson Davis and his Cabinet
killed.
General Meade has been summoned before the
War Investigation Committee, in consequence of
statements by Generals Sickles and Doubleday that
Meade ordered a retreat of the Federal forces on
the first day's battle at Gettysburg, and again on
the second, which orders only failed to be executed
through General Sickle's engaging the enemy.
Meade is also accused of having expressed the
opinion that the Confederates could not be con-
quered.
Admiral Wilkes is also to be subjected to a court-
martial for disobedience of orders and insubor-
dination.

General Grant has arrived at Washington, and
been received by the President, whom he met for
the first time.
An amendment of the Constitution of the State
of New York, permitting soldiers to vote in camp,
was yesterday carried throughout the State by a
large Republican majority.
The Asia takes out 271,626 dole. in specie.
The steamers Australasian and Sidon arrived this

morning.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Renewed rumours of European intervention,
coupled with the unfavourable reports from the
Armies of the Potomac and the Cumberland, and
the uncertainty as to the fate of General Sherman,
have kept the gold market in a feverish state. Gold
yesterday advanced from 61 to 65 premium, and
this morning, at 11 o'clock, went as high as 68,
It afterwards rose to 681.
Government Sixes, registered, 1881, 1121 ; Trea-
sury 7-30 Notes, 112.
New York Central Railway, 138; Erie, 122 i ;
Illinois Central, 1381.
Cotton, 77c. Breadstuff irregular. Provisions
quiet, but firm. Sugars, 121 c. to 14!c. Coffee
steady.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

NEW YORK, MARCH 8 (Evening.)

(Per the Asia via Roches Point.)

It is reported positively that General Sherman
returned to Vicksburg on the 3d inst.
Southern despatches state that he was at Canton
on the 28th badly harassed by the Confederate
cavalry. He laid waste the country along his
route.

Doubtful rumours from New Orleans state that
Polk defeated Sherman on the 16th ult. near Meri-
dian with severe thee.

General Johnson was pressing the Federal lines
in Tenneesee. The Federals have withdrawn from
Tunnelhill to Ringold.

Longstreet's cavalry hold Bull'sGap,s6 miles from
Knoxsville. His army is at Greenville.
The Federals occupy Morristown, 42 miles from
Knoxville.

Colonel Dahlgren, who was cut off from Kil-
patrick's command, was killed. Upon his person
papers were found, informing the troops that their
mission was to burn Richmond, release the Federal
prisoners, and not allow Jefferson Davis to escape.
Kilpatrick's loss is variously estimated at from
150 to 50 men.

The bombardment of Fort Powell, Mobile, on the
30th, is confirmed.
The Confederate ram was lying under the gunb
of Fort Morgan, and reported to be preparing to
attack the Federal fleet.

The Bohemian has broke up and is a total loss.
The City of New York, Nova Scotian, and
Bavaria have arrived out.

The Federals at Newbern are preparing to
resist the threatened Confederate attaek. The
Confederates have two rams ready to co=operate
in their movement.

It is reported that 20,000 Confederates are
advancing from Texas towards Western Louisiana.
Active dispositions are being made by the Federals
to check this movement. The Federals are also
sending reinforcements to hold Jacksonville, Florida,
but have abandoned further expeditions into the
interior.

The Confederate General Preston has left for
Mexico, for the purpose of concluding a commercial
treaty, based upon the mutual recognition of the
Confederate and Mexican Governments.

The House of Representatives has passed the
bill, authori3ing Mr. Chase to anticipate the pay-
ment of interest on the public debt, but not to sell
gold.

The Republican ticket has been elected by a
large majority in New Hampshire.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
NEW YORK, MARCEL 9, 1 p.m.
Money easy. Gold advanced under an active demand
to 69.
Exchange on London, 182; on Paris, 3.7 k.
Stocks firm and advancing. New York Centrals. 138;
Illinois, 1381 , Erie, 122. _ _

Petroleum firm and advancing. Crude, 31 33; refined
49 to 50.

The Asia arrived at Queenstown at 10.30 a.m.
to-day, with 86 passengers and 60,800 dollars in
specie. She landed mails and passengers, and
proceeded for Liverpool. She experienced easterly
weather on the voyage at 10.55 B,m.

Books Received.

Clara Vaughan : a Novel. 3 vo!s. Macmillan and Co.
Ra'hlynn. By the Author of The Saxon in Ireland.'

3 vols. Hurst and Blackett.
The Small House at Allington. By Anthony Trollope.
Illustrated by Millais. 2 vols. Smith, Elder, and Co.
The Bar Sinister: a Tale. By Charles Allston Collins.
2 vols. Smith, Elder, and Co.
Aristotle : a Chapter from the History of Science. By
G. H. Lewes, Smith, Elder, and Co.
The Roman and the Teuton. By Professor Kingsley.
Macmillan and Co.
The Practical English Grammar, By Roscoe M,ngan
Longman and Co.
The Practical Spelling Book. By Roscoe Mongan,
Longman and Co.
Spiritualism. By H. Powell. F. Pitman.
Hottentot Fables and Tales. By W. H. J. Bleek.

Tiiitner and Co.
A Dark Night's Work.

Ey Mrs. Gaskell. Illustrated

Edition. Hurst and Blackett.
Memoirs of Queen Hortense, Mother of Napoleon 111, By
Sir Lascelles Wraxall, Barr,, and Robert Wehren.
Hurst and Blackett.

A Journ, y Due East. By Christopher Cooke. Hall,
Smart, and Allen.
The Chess Congress of 15(32. By I. Lowenthal. H. G.
Bonn,

Literature, Science, and Art,

(From the Athenceum.)

The arrangements of the Snakepere Festival are so far
completed as to admit of the following announcements :
On Thursday, April 21, there will be given a great concert,
in the Agricultural Hall, under the control of Mr. Jules
Benedict. On Friday, April 22, a great concert will take
place at the St. James's Hall, which Mr. Benedict will also
conduct ; on the same evening a Grand Shaksperian masque,
at the Agricultural Hall. On Saturday, April 23, there
will be Shaksperian performances at Drury-lane, the Hay-
market, Princess's, Adelphi, and St. James's; also, a grand
Shaksperian fete at the urystal Palace. On Monday even-
ing, April 25, there will be a Shaksperian performance at
Sadler's Wells and at the Strand ; on Tuesday, April 26, at
the Victoria ; and on Thursday, April 28, at the Surrey and
the Britannia. All these performances will include a play
or a scene from Shakspere. Mr. Buckstone will perform
" Twelfth Night," "Bunkum," and " Venus and Adonis ;"
Mr. Falconer "Henry the Fourth;" and Mr. Fechter
" Hamlet."

THE SHAKSPERE TERCENTENARY.—The mana-
gers of the London theatres had a meeting on Satur-
day at the rooms of the National Shakspere Committee,
120, Pall-mall, to arrange the time for the performances
which are to take place in,aid of the Monument Fund. Mr.
Benjamin Webster, by whom the meeting had been con-
vened, presided, and many of the leading managers were
present. It was finally agreed that the best time for such
performances to take place would be during the weeks com-
mencing Monday, April 18, and ending on Saturday, the
30th. The plays awed will, for the most part, be Shakspere's
own, and, on the night of the day itself, as wrl.l as those
immediately before and after it, " special and interesting
features," according to the report of the daily papers, " will
be imported" into these performances. Of the nature of
the said "features," however, we are left in the dark.
Did it ever occur to any of those who are interesting them-
selves in the present movement that we are about to cele-
brate the tercentenary of Shakspere on a day which is not
the anniversary of his birth at all? Shakspere was born,
lived, and died during what is called " the old style,"
when the calendar was 12 days behind what it is now.
The real anniversary of his birthday, therefore, is not the
23d of April, but the sth of May. Perhaps it was wiser to
maintain the apparent rather than the real exactness ; but
those whose enthusiasm has not exhausted itself by the end
of April may have a second celebration on the sth of May,
with gretater appropriateness than at the earlier date.—
London Review.

The will of this illustrious man, which consists of three
sheets of brief paper, has, by direction of the judge of
the Court of Probate, been very carefully cleaned,
and each sheet placed in an elaborately polished oak frame,
between sheets of plate glass. The frames are made air -
tight, and on the top of each is a brass plate engraved,
Shakspere's Will, 25th March, 1616 ;" and each one is
fastened with one of Chubb's patent locks, This excellent
plan prevents its being handled when shown to the pubiio,
and will very much add to its preservation. The three
frames fit into a beautiful oaken box, and the memorial is
now well worth seeing by those who take an interest in the
coming Shakspere Tercentenary. The judge has also sane-
ti,,ned the taking of photographs of it, but in the presence
of one of the record keepers of the court. This permission
was refused by the late Sir Cresswell Cresswell.

LONDON ARTILLERY BRIGADE —A detachment
of this corps attended gun practice at Plumstead on Satur-
day last, when some excellent shooting was again made,
worthy of that of the Royal Artillery. There is to be a
full-dress inspection of the corps by the commanding officer
in Westminster Hall on Thursday evening, preparatory to
the Guildford review.

DUPREZ'S SINGING PUPPETS.—After a grand
dinner given last week at the Tuileries, the Einpres3
favoured her guests with a private performance of the famous
Guignol of Duprez. This anain-nt artist has recently con-
structed for his own amusemciit, at the village of Valmon-
dois, of which he is mayor, a sma2l theatre of singing pup-
pets. The figures are masterpieces of art, and are particu•
larly successful when they sing, beint animated by the
voices of Duprez's children, Madame VanJanheuvel, and
Leon Duprez, who give parodies of all the best scenes of
the operas performed at the Grand Opera and Opera Co-
mique with such cleverness as to excite the admiration and
laughter of their audience. The Emperor occupied a stall
in the first row, and the whole performance was most stic-
cessful, particularly in the part where Madame Vanden-
heuvel sang the air of the " Traviata" and M. G.
Duprez the " Gastibelzl," of his own composition. Since
this performance at Court, numerous applications have been
made to Duprez to give private performances, but his
puppets only sing for their Majesties find for his own inti-
mate friends.

EXPECTED ARRIVAL OF GARIBALDI IN ENGLAND
text week or the week afterwards.—On Thursday
last Signor Casta, a Italian exile, residing at Chelsea,
communicated to the secretary of the Trades Garibaldi De-
mo❑strations Committee (a committee formed about twelve
months since, consisting of delegates from trade societies,
to give a public welcome to Garibaldi, who was at that
time expected) that General Garibaldi would be in London
by the end of the present month at the latest. On receipt
of this communication the secretary at once telegraphed to
Caprera, and received a reply to tne effect that Garibaldi
had left the island, it was believed, en route for England.
If, therefore, no circumstance should arise to prevent it,
Garibaldi's arrival in this couni.ry may be looked for in a
few days. The demonstration committee have been called
together for the early part of the next week, to organise
the proceedings, which it is intended shall consist of a pub-
lic entry into Loudon, and a banquet, probably at the
Crystal Palace. The 3d London Rifle Volunteers have,
through their commandant, Major Richards, cote ented to
act as a guard of honour to Garibaldi on the occasion,—
The Observer.

CUItIoUS CASE OF CONTEMPT OF COURT.—The
rather unusual course of committing a witness for
contempt of court was taken on Thursday by Mr Justice
Ball, at the Belfast Assizes. A man named Liddy was
examined as to his knowledge of the circumstances of a
case of seduction, and amongst other questions his lord-
ship asked him if he was a publican. He replied in the nega-
tive, but stated that he was a shiner ; ana this so offended
nis lordship that he reprimanded him. The witness
sharply retorted that he could not answer questions be
did not understand, adding that he was incapable of doing
a mean thing. His lordship at once wade out a warrant,
and the sheriff took the witness to prisoit.

THE RICH PRAIRIES AND FERTILE LANDS OF
THE RED RIVER AND SASKEWATCHAN.-A corre-
spondent writes :—Wo are glad to find that Sir Edward
Grogan has brought to the notice of Parliament the pre-
posterous claims of the Hudson's Bay Compatly and their
successors to the richest portion of our American colonies,
three times as large as France, with fertile land,; and a
climate free from fever and ague, the curse of the Un;ted
States prairies. If these lands were opened to settlement;
under the Crovin, as intended by Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton,
when Colonial Secretary, they would soon rival the sister
colony of British Columbia founded by him. The lease
of the company was out several years ago, since
which they have been holding as tenants at will, till
we heard the Under Secretary's reply that they are the
owners of millions of acres, to which they have no just or
legal right, but which belongs to the Crown as the trustees
of the public. We want to know how these assumed rights
were obtained and when; we want to know if the case had
been fairly argued before the Privy Council who were the
advocates on behalf the Crown, the public, and Canada,
or, if the thing was done in the dark, an illegal Whig
job which must be brought to a higher tribunal.
The public here won't suffer it, Canada and the
British colonies wont suffer it. We must know the ins and
outs of the whole transaction, which must be brought for
adjudication to the Privy Council, and then decided on its
merits. Parliament has abolished all the monopolies save
this, and the sooner this is done, and all British subjects iu
our colonies placed on an equality, the better. There
must be no exclusive privileges—no monopolies of trade ur
land—no surrender of the public rights to powerful Whig
families, as done by the Government in this case:

The Lisburn bribery case came on for trial at the
assizes for Belfast on Friday. It will be remembered that
Mr, John D. Barbour, who was returned as the represen-
tative for Lisburn in February, 1863, was unseated by a
decision of a committee of the House of Commons, and a
prosecution directed against him and his brother Robert
for bribery and treating, Mr. Robert Barbour was on Fri-
day indicted for these offences, arad after a lengthened
hearing of the case the jury found a verdict of not guilty.
THE ITALIAN FLEET.—From a report presented
to the Italian Parliament, it appears that the Italian fleet
is now composed of 14 ironclads, 34 screws, 36 paddle
steamers, and 18 sailing vessels, carrying an aggregate ,
1,324 guns ano 21,930 men. The total coat is 141,449,205
franca,—(taiipani.