Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-03-28
NEW PORK CORRESPONDENCE.
New York, MARCH 20, 1916.

NEW ohk, MAkCH 20 io4o.
deeply regret TO state that my anticipatons and
fears in regard to the effects Of the late gale on our
coast have been realized. On Tuesday night the
ship Henry Clay, from Liverpool, inward bound,
went ashore on Squam Beach, and WILL it is feared,
be total loss. She was the pride of her owners,
and was one Of the noblest merchant ships that
ever foated on the bosom Of old ocean. What will
ultimately be her fate is yet uncertain but il is
thought she will be total loss.
presume that the bomb, TO which yesterday
alluded, has now burst on the stock market. Some
fayorites were probably advised Of the character Of
the reply which President Polk was about to make
to the call of Mr.. DAYTON and upon that informa-
ton commenced selling stocks time, as stated in
my last letter. AS yet, the expected decline has
not taken place. There is fall in prices but it is
not large. II is true, many of the brokers were
prepared for some unfavorable accounts from Wash
ington and great efforts were made at the board to
sustain prices, fearful Of crash.
Believing that the most interesting subject TO you
and your readers, upon which could write, would
be to give you correct view of public opinion on
the late message of the President shall do SO. II
has much less influence than should have inn
agined. The impression that we shall have no war
is strong and universal, that ikanpears to me
that nothing will change that opinion until hostilitiss
have actually commenced. This, | must cali it,
false security, consider unfortunate. The great
majority of the people firm in the belief that the
President will accede to such terms as will be
tisiactory to the British Government. A few think
that the British will agree to surrender the naviga-
ton of the Columbia, after a term of years, to be
agreed upon.
Public opinion has been materially changed, by
this reply of Mr. Polk, in relation to the correctness
of the position assumed by Mr.. HAYWOOD and Mr..
CALHOUN. It is generally thought that Messrs.
AIIEN anil HANNEGAN have friumnhad over the
other two Senators named Most of the intelligent
men with whom have conversed consider Mr..
Polk now in the hands of the party which claims
all Of Oregon or what are termed here $40 40 men.
On this question do not offer any direct opinion
of my own, but give you that Of intelligent men of
all parties, some of whom have been among the
$40 40, men, but have changed. | will, however,
make another remark, and it is not made without
consideration believe the British Government
are less disposed TO make sacrifices this day, inf
nitely less, than they ,oere on the first Of January
last.
When commenced writing it was my intention
to have given my own views to what the friends
of peace in the Senate ought to do in this trying
crisis but pause lest it should be considered pre-
sumptuous. There is not, however, man living
who better knows the difficulties that surrounded
the Administration during the last war, which was
a popular war, than your correspondent, who was
a devoted partisan of the Executive, and no less
ardent advocate Of the war.
One remark may make. The notice to be given
should be cautiously drawn and maturely consider
ed. Due responsibility should be assigned to the
President and he should be held accountable; not,
however, by mere verbal communication to the
chairman of the committee, nor yet to member OF
Congress who could not remember what naval force
the President required to defend the country.