The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-25 00:00:00

"SANITAS AC FELICITAS."

Just published, 71st thous tuti , price Is., post free for 13
stamps, sold by Mann, 39, Cor nhill, London ; or direct from
the Author.
DR. LA'MERT on the Treatment and cure of
NERVOUS and PHYSICAL DEBILITY, resulting
from pernicious habits contracted in Youth, excesses in Man-
hood, or residence in Tropical Climates. With Cases and En-
gravings from Life, representing the various Organs in
Health and Disease.

The extensive circulation of this work may be attributed in
great measure to the fact that the Author is the only duly
qualified and legally registered Practitioner who for 20
years has made the Diseases arising usually. from
Imprudence the peculiar objects of his attention. The im-
pediments which so often either prohibit wedlock, or embitter
and render it a state of misery, by disappointing its fondest
hopes and marring its highest objects, are, though varied in
form, closely analogous in reality. The mischief may arise in-
nocently, from deleterious influences devolved from the
necessities of position—from circumstances which occurred
years before the sufferers were born, from aecidenkor the in-
fluence of tropical climates, but chiefly from Self-incurred
Afflictions, dating back, in too numerous instances, to a period
long preceding that at which reason could be matured by ex-
perience.
A professional prejudice, which happily is now fast disap-
pearing, though it still lingers with no little obstinacy in
some of the more antiquated medical schools, for a long time
almost ignored the morbid affections comprised under the
general designation "Nervous and Physical Debility," though
these affections are probably more destructive and widely pre-
valent than any others.
The consequence of so important a department of pathology
being neglected is, that sufferers from the infirmities in
question, virtually repelled from consultation with prac-
titioners of standing and character, are thus liable to fall into
the hands of unqualified Empirics, sometimes assuming titles
of Physicians'and Surgeons, whose names are net to be found
in the Medical Register (whereby they incur serious legal
penalties), whose ignorant meddling with the treatment of
these cases render these disorders a standing reproach to the
medical profession. Those who may have a suspicion
that any of the observations here made have peculiar applica-
tion to themselves, may consider that cases are indeed rare
in which practised science cannot fully realise long-deferred
hopes, remove all causes of mutual reproach, and replace
chronic embitterment by permanent content.
Pr. La'Mert. M.D., Himorary Member of the London Hos-
pital Medical Society, is the only legally qualified regis-
tered practitioner who, for 20 years, has devoted his attention
to the treatment of these disorders. At home for consulta-
tittiOU daily, from 10 till 2, and from fi till 8.
g 7, ISLDFORDSQUAiIIe,, LONDO3,

AMERICA.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.

LIVERPOOL, THURSDAY.
The North American, which touched at London-
derry yesterday, arrived here this morning.

The following Message from the President was
[aid before the Senate on the 9th :

3To THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTA-

TIVES.

" At the opening of your present Session I called
your attention to the dangers which threatened the
existence of the Union. I expressed my opinion
freely concerning the original causes of these dan-
gers, and recommended such measures as I believed
would have the effect of tranquillising the country
—saving it from the peril in which it had been
needlessly and most unfortunately thrown.
" Those opinions and recommendst;ons I do not
propose now to repeat, My own convictions upon
the whole subject remain unchanged. The fact
that a great calamity was impending over the
nation was, even at that time, acknowledged by
every intelligent citizen. It had already made
itself felt throughout the length and breadth of
the land. The necessary consequences of the alarm
thus produced were most deplorable, Imports fell
off with a rapidity never known before, except in
time of war, in the history of our foreign commerce.
The Treasury was unexpectedly left without means,
which it had reasonably counted upon, to meet the
public engagements. Trade was paralysed, manu-
factures stopped, thebest public securities suddenly
sunk in the market, every species of property de-
preciated more or less, and thousands of poor men,
who depended upon their daily labour for their
daily bread, were turned out of employment.
"I deeply regret that I am not able to give you
any information upon the state of the Union which
is more satisfactory than what I was then obliged
to communicate. On the contrary, matters are still
worse at present than they then were. When
Congress met a strong hope pervaded the whole
public mind that some amicable adjustment of
the subject would be speedily made by the
representatives of the States, mdlich might re-
store peace between the conflicting sec-
tions of the country. That hope has been
diminished by every hour 9f delay, and as the pros-
pect of a bloodless settlement fadea away the public
distress becomes more and more aggravated. As
an evidence of this, it is only necessary to say the
Treasury notes authorised by the Act of the 17th
of December last were advertised according to law,
and that no responsible bidder offered to take any
considerable sum at par at a lower rate of interest
than 12 per cent.

From- these facts it appears that in a Govern-
ment organised like ours, domestic strife, or even a
well-grounded fear of civil hostilities, is more de-
structive of our public and private interests than
the most formidable foreign war.
" In my annual message I expressed the convic-
tion, which I have long deliberately held, and
which recent reflection has only tended to deepen
and confirm, that no State has the right by its own
act to secede from the Union, or throw off its federal
obligations at pleasure. I declared my opinion that,
even if that right existed, and should be exercised
bpyaranyenSt of h State
e of the t
bad no authority
y
tm
under the constitution to recognise its validity by
acknowledging the independence of such State.
This left me no alternative, as the chief executive
officer under the Constitution of the United States,
but to collect the public revenues and protect the
public property, so far as this might be practicable
under existing laws. This is still my purpose. My
province is to execute—not to make the laws. It be-
longs to Congress exclusively to repeal, modify, or
enlarge their provisions to meet exigencies as they
may occur. I possess no dispensing power. I cer-
tainly had no right to make aggressive war upon
any State, and I am perfectly satisfied that the Con-
stitution has wisely withheld that power even from
Congress. But the right and the duty to use mili-
tary force defensively against those who resist the
Federal officers in the execution of their legal func-
tions and against those who assail the property of
t he Federal Government, is clear and undeniable.
But the dangerous and hostile attitude of the States
towards each other has already far transcended and
cast into the shade the ordinary executive duties
already provided for by law, and h-ts assumed
such vast and alarming proportions as to place the
subject entirely above and beyond executive con-
trol. The fact cannot be disguised that we are in
the midst of a great revolution. Therefore I com-
mend the question to Congress, as the only human
tribunal under Providence possessing the power to
meet the existing emergency. To them exclusively
belongs the power to declare war or to authorise
the employment of military force in all cases con-
templated by the constitution, and they alone pos-
sess the power to remove all the grievances which
might lead to war, and to secure peace and union
to this distracted country. On then, and on them
alone, rests the responsibility. The Union is a
sacred trust, left by our revolutionary fathers for
their descendants, and never did any other people
inherit so rich a legacy. It has rendered is pros-
perous in peace and triumphant in war. The
national flag has floated in glory over every sea,

" The greatest aggravation of the evil, and that
whiclt'ivbuld place us in the most unfavourable
light both before the world and posterity, is, as I
am firmly convinced that the secession movement
has been chiefly based upon misapprehension at the
South of the sentiments of the majority in several
of the northern States. Let the question be an-
swered from the political assemblies to the ballot-
box, and the people themselves would speedily
redress the serious grievances which the South have
suffered. But, in heaven's name, let the trial .be
made before we plunge into an armed conflict upon
the mere assumption that there is no other alterna-
tive. Time is a great conservative power. Let us
pause at the momentous point, and afford the peo-
ple, both of the North and South, an opportunity
for reflection. Would that South Carolina had been
convinced, of this truth before her precipitate action.
I therefore appeal through you to the people of the
country to declare in their might' that the Union
must and shall be preserved by all constitutional
means. I most earnestly recommend that you de-
vote y ourselves to the question, how this can be
accomplished in peace. All other questions, when
compared with this, sink into insignificance. The
present is no time for palliatives. Prompt action
is required. A delay in Congress to prescribe or
recommend a distinct and practical proposition for
conciliation may drive us to a point from which it
will be almost impossible to recede. A common
ground on which conciliation and harmony may be
produced is surely not unattainable. The proposi-
tion to compromise by letting the North have ex•
elusive control of the territory above a certain line,
and to give Southern institutions protection below
that line, ought to receive universal approbation.
In itself, indeed, it may not be entirely satisfactory,
but when the alternative is between reasonable con-
cession on both sides and destruction of the Union,
it is an imputation on the patriotism of Congress to
assert that its members will hesitate for a moment.
Even now the danger is upon us. 'ln several
States which have not yet seceded the forts, arse•
nals, and magazines of the United States have
been seized. This is by far the most serious
step which has been taken since the commence-
ment of the troubles. This public property has
long been left without garrisons and troops for its
protection, because no person doubted its security
under the flag of the country in any State of the
Union. Besides, our small army has scarcely been
sufficient to guard our remote frontiers against
Indian incursions. The seizure of this property,
from all appearances, has been purely aggressive,
and not in resistance to any attempt to coerce a
State or States to remain in the Union. At the
beginning of these unhappy troubles I determined
that no act of mine should increase the excitement
in either section of the country. If the political
conflict were to end in civil war, it was my deter-
mined purpose not to commence it, nor to furnish
an excuse for it by any act of the Government.
Dip opinion remains unchanged, that justice as well
as sound policy requires us still to seek a peaceful
solution of the questions at issue between the North
and the South. Entertaining this conviction, I
refrained even from sending reinforcements to Major
Anderson, who commanded the forts of Charleston
harbour, until an absolute necessity for doing se
should make itself apparent, lest it might be
regarded as a menace of military coercion, and thus
furnish a provocation, or at least a pretext, for an
outbreak on the part of South Carolina. No neces-
sity for these reinforcements seemed to exist. I
was assured by distinguished upright gentlemen of
South Carolina that no attack on Major Anderson
was intended, but that, on the contrary, it was the
desire of the State authorities, as much as it was
mine, to avoid the fatal consequences which must
eventually follow a military collision. And here I
deem it proper to submit for your information
copies of a communication dated December 28,
1860, addressed to me by R. W. Barnwell, T. H.
Adams, and James L. Orr, Commissioners of South
Carolina, with the accompanying documents, and
I copies
nfurther
explanationa ns w answer
Anderson's Decembermber 31
re-
moval from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter, it is
proper to state that after my answer to the South
Carolina Commissioners the War Department
received a letter from that gallant officer, dated
December 27, 1860, the day after his movement,
from which the following is an extract :
" I will add as my opinion that many things
convinced me that the authorities of the State
designed to proceed to a hostile act (evidently
referring to the orders, dated December 11, of the
late Secretary at War). Under this impression I
could not hesitate that it was my solemn duty to
move my command from a fort which we could not
probably have held longer than 48 or 60 hours to
this one, where my power of resistance is increased
to a very great degree.
" It will be recollected that the concluding part
of the order was in the following words :
" ' The smallness of your force will not permit
you, perhaps, to occupy more than one of the three
forts ; but an attack on or attempt to take posses-
sion of either one of them w;11 be regarded as an
act of hostility, and you may then put your com-
mand into either of them which you may deem most
proper to increase its power of resistance. You are
also authorised to take similes defensive steps when-
ever you have tangible evidence of a design to
proceed to a hostile act.
" It is said that serious apprehensions are to some
extent entertained, in which I do not share, that
the peace of this district may be disturbed before
the 4th of March next. In any event, it will be
my duty to preserve it, and this duty shall be per-
formed.

" In conclusion, it may be permitted to me to
remark that I have often warned my countrymen
of the dangers which now surround us. This may
be the last time I shall refer to the subject officially.
I feel that my duty has been faithfully, though it
may be imperfectly performed, and whatever the
result may be I shall carry to my grave the con-
sciousness that I at least meant well for my country.
" JAMES BUCHANAN.

"Washington City, Jan. 8."
A discussion ensued, Senator Davis, of Mississippi,
taking exception to the President's tone, defending
the South Carolina Commissioners, and moving that
their letter to the President should be read ; his
motion was carried by 36 to 13.
Mr, HOWARD (of Michigan) moved that the
message be referred to a special committee of five,
with instructions to inquire whether any executive
officers of the United States have been, or are now
treating or holding communication with any per-
son or persons for the transfer of forts and other
property; whether any demand for their surrender
has been made, and by whom and what answer has
been given; whether any officer or officers have en-
tered into any pledge not to send reinforcements
of troops to the harbour of Charleston, and if so,
when, where, by whom, and on what considera-
tions ; whether the custom-house, post-office, or
arsenal at Charleston have been seized, by whom
held in possession ; whether any revenue cutter
has been seized, and whether any efforts have been
made to recover it. The committee have lower to I
send for persons and papers, and report from tinue
to time such facts as may be required by the
national honour, &c.
Mr. TlousToN (Ala.) raised the point that such
instructions were against the rules.
Mr. HOWARD (Md.) replied, and moved the pre-
vious question.
Mr. CRAWFORD (Ga.) said there was no cause for
excitement. They had passed beyond that point.
VOICES—There is no excitement ; we are calm•
Mr. CRAWFORD continued—Men should be calm,
and understand the line on which they arc going.
He ineffectually sought to offer a substitute for the
resolution.
Mr. GARNET desired to have the President's
Message considered in the committee of the whole
on the state of the Union.
Mr. PHELPS (of Mo.) remarked that the Presi-
dent informed them that they were in the midst of
a revolution, inviting the adoption of such mea-
sures as may avert civil war. The President
appeals to Congress to make an effort to restore the
fraternal relations which ought to exist. The

Mr. Kennedy presented a memorial from 12,000
citizens of Baltimore, praying for means to restore
peace and harmony.
Mr. Bigler presented a memorial of citizens of
New Jersey, praying for the adoption of mea-
sures for the States calling a Convention to
amend the Constitution ; also a memorial of citi-
zens of Philadelphia praying for the adoption
of the resolution of the Senator from Kentucky,
proposing amendments to the Constitution. A
debate then ensued on the state of the Union.
On the 11th Messrs. Bigler and Cameron
presented sundry memorials favouring the
passage of Crittenden's resolutions. Mr. Critten-
den's resolutions were then taken up, and after a
debate the subject was adjourned. In the course
of the debate Mr. Hunter said the South had all
the elements of an empire within itself. The only
thing that would preserve peace now was the adop-
tion of the following amendments to the Congress:—
" 1. Congress shall have no power to abolish
slavery in any State or the district of Columbia, or
in any of the dockyards, forts, and arsenals of the
Government. _ _

" 2. Nothing shall be done to obstruct the slave
trade between the States.
" 3. It shall be the duty of each State to suppress
armed invasions of another State.
" 4. Any State shall be admitted into the Union
with or without slavery, according to the inclina-
of the people.
" 5. The States shall restore fugitive slaves, or
pay their value.
" 6, Fugitives shall be deemed to be those offend-
ing the laws within the jurisdiction of the States,
and escaping therefrom.
" 7. Congress shall recognise and protect pro-
perty wherever the Government has exclusive
jurisdiction."

On the motion of Mr. Leake, the Select Com-
mittee on the President's special Message was in-
structed to inquire whether any arms had recently
been removed from Harper's Ferry to Pittsburg,
and, if so, by whose authority and for what
reasons. The resolution was amended so as to
extend the inquiry to the removal of arms from
all the arsenals.

No business of importance was transacted on
;he 10th and 11th.

The Republicans at Washington were to meet in
caucus on the 12th to discuss the proposition of
the Border States. The House Committee of
Thirty-three stood adjourned, subject to the call of
Mr. Corwin, the chairman, who was expected, in
the meantime, to make up a report to be submitted
when it next met. Upon this was to come a test as
to whether the Republicans would compromise.
The National Intelligencer states that a caucus of
Senators from Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Missis-
sippi, and Louisiana had passed resolutions to seize
the military and political power of the South, and
asserts—
" They then telegraphed orders to their confede-
rates to seize the forts, arsenals, Custom-houses,
revenue cutters, &c., and advised their Conventions
to secede immediately, but to retain their Congres-
sional representatives until the spring, to prevent
unfriendly legislation. They advised the seceding
States to send delegates to Montgomery on the 13th
of February to form a Provisional Government.
They resolved to dragoon the tobacco States into
secession, and rely for the success of their treason-
able purposes on defection from the United States'
army and navy. They rely to support their power
upon various Southern Leagues and the Knights
of the Golden Circle."
According to a communication from Washington
the leading men of South Carolina and Georgia had
agreed upon the following programme of commer-
cial policy :
" The cotton crop will be moved for ' account of
whom it may concern,' and an accredited agent
will proceed to hypothecate the crop thus shipped.
The commissioner will be intrusted also with the
political negotiations growing out of this cotton
movement for direct trade with Europe. The plan
of execution is simply this :—lf the United States
Government attempts to collect the revenue on
foreign imports at the South by placing revenue
cutters off the different har ours, then the
seceding States, not deeming it expedient
to declare war, will pronounce for direct
taxation, as their exclusive source of re-
venue, passing an ordinance to that effect. The
foreign Ministers resident at Washington will then
be informed that the ports of the cotton States are
thrown open for the entrance of foreign merchandise
free of duty, and that any duties imposed by the
United States Government are levied contrary to
law, and without authority from the Southern Con-
federacy. The revenue question will then be trans-
ferred from the South to Europe. It will become
a question with France or England whether or not
it will defend the free trade rights thus conferred
on its manufacturers against the revenue duties of
the northern States. And in such an appeal to
British or French cupidity, it is expected the na-
tional sympathy for free negroism will yield to the
national interest in favour of free trade: This plan,
which I submit to your readers without comment,
for moving the cotton crop through the already
organised machinery of direct trade,' as well as
the free trade counter movement against the Federal
Government's revenue policy, was devised by Mr.
C. G. Baylor, who has been intrusted with the
delicate mission of putting the design in operation.
The Southern commissioner to Europegr is. Limayi a c.er's
distinction, and acts in harmony with
direct-trade programme."
fr. Dix Secretary
n
The President had appointed lk •
to the Treasury; he had accepted the resignation of
Mr. Thompson, Secretary
hid clerk in
of the Interior, and ap-
that depart-
pointed Mr. Kelly, late c
ment, to the vacant y.ad received assurances from
The Government h
Major Anderson that Fort Sumter was quite pre-
lengthened siege. It had, however,
pared for a
been determined to reinforce him at any risk. The
steamer Joseph Whitney left Boston on the 10th
with troops on board ; destination unknown.
The Secretary for the Treasury had advertised
for proposals for the taking of the 5,000,000
Treasury notes under the act of December last.
The bids were opened on the 19th January.
The question of introducing a clause into their
policies respecting the risk occasioned by the dis-
organised state of the Union, was being discussed
by the Marine Insurance companies.
The Charleston Courier of the 10th gives the fol-
lowing account of the firing upon the Star of the

West :
" About half-put six o'clock yesterday morning

,15:54
17:-.-:•75,,,,,,111\''s;Fi
i 4-44
(
~7',' 1.,:,
r General Clinch discovered the steam-v::' -,,,,, itl,
ship Star o he West, and signalled her approach rr' ..4-,1;.,7;
to the occupants of the battery on Morris Isliiird'a-''-42.5.L '---`/_...."
As soon as the signals were seen by those on gpd. as
there Morris Island was astir with men at their
posts before the orders could be given them to pre—
pare for action. They remained in anxious suspense,
but ready for what they believed was sure to come,
—a volley from Fort Sumter. The Star of the
West rounded the point, took the ship channel
inside of the bar, and proceeded straightforward
until opposite Morris Island, about three-quarters
of a mile from the battery. A ball was then fired.
athwart the bows of the steamer. The Star of the
West displayed the Stars and Stripes. As soon as
the flag was unfurled the fortification fired a suc-
cession of heavy shots. The vessel continued on
her course with increased speed, but two shots
taking effect upon her she concluded to retire.
Fort Moultrie fired a few shots at her, but she was
out of their range. The damage done to the Star
of the West is trifling, as only two out of 17 shots
took effect upon her. Fort Sumter made no demon-
stration except at the portholes, where guns were
run out bearing on Morris Island."
After the firing had ceased, a boat from Fort
Sumter, bearing Lieutenant Hall with a white flag,
approached the city. Lieutenant Hall had an inter-
view with Governor Pickens, and was afterwards
escorted to his boat, and re-embarked for Fort
Sumter. The communication from Major Ander-
son is as follows :
"To HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR OF SOUTH g.
CAROLINA.
" Sir,—Two of your batteries fired this morning
on an unarmed vessel, bearing the flag of my
Government. As I have not been notified that war
has been declared by South Carolina against the
United States, I cannot but think this a hostile act
committed without your sanction or authority ;
undes 'tilt hope I refrain from opening a fire on
your batteries. I have the honour, therefore,
rpspeetfully to ask whether the above mentioned
act, which I believe without parallel in the history
of our country or any other civilised Government,
was committed in obedience to your instructions,
and notify you, if it is not disclaimed, that I regard
it as an act of war, and I shall not, after reasonable
time for the return of my messenger, permit any
vessel to pass within the range of the guns of my
fort. In order to save, as far as it is in my power,
the shedding of blood, I beg you will take due noti-
fication of my decision, for the good of all concerned,
hoping, however, your answer may justify a further
continuance of forbearance on my part.—l remain
respectfully, "ROBERT ANDERSON." ,41
" Governor Pickens," the Courier continues,
" after stating the position of South Carolina to the
United States, says that any attempt to send United
States troops into Charleston Harbour to reinforce
the forts would be regarded as an act of hostility,
and, in conclusion, adds that any attempt to rein-
force the troops of Fort Sumter, or to retake and
resume possession of the forts within the waters of
South Carolina which Major Anderson abandoned,
after spiking the cannon and doing other damage,
cannot be regarded by the authorities of the State
as indicative of any other purpose than the
coercion of the State by the armed force of the
Government. Special agents, therefore, have been
off the bar to warn approaching vessels, armed and
unarmed, having troops to reinforce Fort Sumter
aboard, not to enter the harbour. Special orders
have been given the commanders at the forts
not to fire on such vessels until a shot across their
bows should warn them of the prohibition of the
State. Under these circumstances the Star of the
West, it is understood, this morning attempted to
enter the harbour with troops, after having been
notified she could not enter, and consequently she
was fired into. The act is perfectly justified by
me. In regard to your threat about vessels in the
harbour, it is only necessary for me to say, you
must be the judge of your own responsibility. Your
position in the harbour has been tolerated by the
authorities of the State, and while the act of which
you complain is in perfect consistency with the
rights and duties of the State, it is not perceived
how far the conduct you propose to adopt can find
a parallel in the history of any country, or be recon-
ciled with any other purpose than that of your
Government imposing on the State the condition of
a conquered province.

" F. W. PICKENS."
',Second Communication from Major Anderson,)

" TO lIIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR PICKENS.

" Sir,—l have the honour to acknowledge the
receipt of your communication, and say that under
the circumstances I have deemed it proper to refer
the whole matter to my Government, and intend
deferring the course I indicated in my note this
morning until the arrival from Washington of such
instructions as I may receive. I have the honour
also to express the hope that no obstructions will
be placed in the way, and that you will do me the
favour of giving every facility for the departure and
return of the bearer, Lieut. T. Talbot, who is
directed to make the journey.
" ROBERT ANDERSON."

Governor Pickens immediately granted the per.
mission desired, and directed Lieutenant Talbot to
have every facility and courtesy extended to him as
bearer of despatches to the United States' Govern-
ment, both in going and returning. Great prepa-
rations were being made to give the Federal steamer
Brooklyn a warm reception. A large steamer,
called the Marion, of the Charleston and New York
line, had been purchased by South Carolina, and
ordered to be razed for a man-of-war. Her upper
cabin was to be taken off, and she was to be supplied
with a complete armament.
An armed steam-tug was employed as a cruiser
by the State Government. Forts Johnson and Cas-
well (North Carolina) were taken possession of on
the night of the Bth by the Smithville Guard.
Three military expeditions had left New Orleans to
seize the forts at Jackson and Pike, and the Baton
Rouge Arsenal.
A special despatch from New Orleans to the
_Herald says that Major Haskins, with two com-
panies, refused to surrender the Arsenal at Baton
Rouge. He was surrounded by 600 State troops,
and after a parley with Governor Moore and the
Mayor he surrendered at noon. The excitement
is great.
Alabama passed the secession ordinance on the
11th :

" Cannon were fired, bells rung, and great enthu-
siasm manifested generally. The secession ordi-
nance is similar to that of South Carolina, with an
addendum inviting all the Southern States to meet
Alabama in convention for the purpose of forming
a new Government at Alabama on the 4th of Feb-
ruary. The ordinance was adopted by a vote of 61
to 37. After its adoption the doors were opened,
and Mr. Yancey in behalf of the ladies formally
presented a flag to the Convention. The new flag
was waving over the Capitol."
The Union and Douglas Conventions of Kentucky
both recommended the passage of Mr. Crittenden's
resolutions. The ordinance for the secession of
Mississippi was signed on the 10th. Florida
seceded on the same day by a rote of 62 to seven.
The Virginia Legislature had passed the following

resolution :
" Resolved, that in view of the imminent danger
of civil war this Assembly, in behalf of the Com-
monwealth of Virginia, ask respectively on the one
munanicaatceontcheernir.
hand of the President and on the other of the autho-
rities of each of the Southern States, to the end if
preservd,. that they
possible that peace may be
respectively and reciprocally
also that the status quo of
assurances in response;
all the movements tending
to collision on
arses of the nation shall on
ing the forts and. _ maintained
either hand be strictly for the present,
el actual aggressive attempts ; also
except to reP .
that the Gove
rnor communicate by telegraph im-
mediately these resolutions to the President and.
Governors of the Southern States."
Great fear of an insurrection of slaves was felt in

- the neighbouring Virginia counties, and patrols
about every plantation were established ; 25 kegs
of powder were found secreted in various places.

r GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION. Her Majesty's
Emigration Commissioners chartered yesterday afternoon,
the 24th inst., the Utopia, of 949 tons, belonging to Messrs.
J. Barned and Co., of Liverpool, to sail from Birkenhead
for Melbourne, Victoria, at £ls 17s. Gd. per statute adult.
A CIIILDREN'S BALL AT PARIS.—" The children's
ball which was lately given by the Princess Mathilde in
honour of the Prince Imperial was, says the Sport, " most
charming, It commenced at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and
ended about S. The Emperor arrived at 4, and the Princo
Imperial, who wore the costume of a marquis of the old
regime, lat a quarter past. His Imperial Highness was
received by an the little guests, who grouped themselves
on his passage. The orchestra was composed of children,
I all in exceedingly pretty costumes, and the Prince insisted
on dancing with the lad who played the flute. Mademoiselle
•\\ralowska was attired to represent a butterfly, and the
Prince danced several times with her. Mademoiselle
Minetta Vimercati, daughter of the Director of the Mint-
ing Establishment of King Victor Emmanuel, was in the
costume of a Spanish girl, and the son of Madame Bizot as
a postilion of the time of Louis XV. The Princess Ma-
thilde, when the Prince arrived, said with a smile
' Good
day, my child ! Give meta pattc !" (y9ur pawt).after a
Prince looked at the Princess with surprise,dbmuc.t
—his foot 1 The ball concluded with the
moment's reflection stepped back, andyresenteo
Orphcc, undrilio of

war
ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA,
COVENT-GARDEN.
Under the Management of Miss Louisa Pyne and Mr. W.
Harrison, Sole Lessees. • 4
THIS EVENING, and during the Week, Balfe's New
Legendary Opera, NCA, THE BRAVO'S BRIDE :
miss Louisa Pyne, Miss Thirlwall ; Messrs. A. Lawrence,
J. Wharton, H. Corri, A. St. Albyn, G. Kelly, Wallworth, T.
Distin, and W. Harrison.
q with the Grand Pantomime, BLUE BEARD ; or, Harle-
uin and Freedom in her Island Home. Clowns, Messrs. H.
Bolen°, H. Payne. Hildyarcl, and Lilliputians. Harlequins,
Messrs. Milano and F. Payne. Pantaloons, Messrs. Barnes
and Tanner. Columbines, Mdme. Boleno and Clara Morgan.
sprites, the Zelinski Family. Mr. W. H. Payne, Mlle.
Lamoureux, &e.
Conductor—Mr. Alfred Mellon. Commence at Seven.