, 1861-12-23

WARLIKE PREPARATIONS C0K-
TRUE


TINUE.
Troops and Vessels Fitting Out.
RUM0RED POSITION OF FRANCE.
HALIFAX, Dec 21-TAe America, from
Liverpool Dec. 7th, and Queenstown 9Th. put
n IN here b. this MOI morning: short Of coal. Her
Wa1iiEe sentiments and preparations arc
unabated in England. 4 large anti-war meet
ing had, however, been held at Dublin.
The British Government sent letter ap-
mail agent on board the Trent.
Paris papers assert that the British Gov
eminent, in answer to petitions from the
manufacturing districts, had stated that the
cotton ports Of the Southern States would be
opened By February at the Latest.
The British Parliament had been further
prorogued till the 7th Of January.
ItWas stated that orders for the purchase Of
half a million quarters Of wheat had been
sent to the Black Sea ports from London
within the last few days, for present and fa-
ture use.
The British frignte Warrior Was taking 76o
tons Of coal, preparatory to service on the
North American coast. i considerable nun
ber Of additional English troops were to be
sent to Canada~
French journals say that France will remain
neutral in the event Of a WIZ between England
and the United States.
The Hero, carrying 90 guns, was to leave
Portsmouth on the 18th, for the North Alneri-
can coast.
In London, in reference to the important
question Of the attitude likely to be assumed
BY France, the opinion continues to be that
however des1rous the Emperor might be to
give employment to his navy, and divert pub
lie attention in France from the state Of the
French finances, he is not likely to do any
thing to cause difference NTH the British
Government, because serious results might
follow in France if the distrust there should
increase and cause a.further depression OF
trade. The London Globe warns its readers
that they must take the French version Of the
| worth, and purely rs the French idea of them.
The Shipping Gdzette has an article on the
question Of our corn supplies, in the event Of
| war with North America It does not
| alarm. The Slipping Gazette is perfectly sat
| isfed that our importations Of food during the
| coming year will excel in extent those Of the
last four or tlEe seasons.
| The London Daily Ne7rs correspondent,
writing from Paris, says it is the very general
opinion that the fhtrie WAS imperectly in
formed of the intentions Of the French Gov
eminent, when it spoke of France joining
t England in an armed mediation.
A large force Of engineers, it is stated, Will
| be immediately sent to Canadn.
One hundred and twenty pound Armstrong
| the ships preparing for sea.
The Defiance, az az iron plated frigate, is to
hare crew Of $50 men She will be nan-
ned without the least difficulty. The CunaFd
steamships Australasia and Persia are to
convey troops to Halifax, and number Of
| others have been chartered. The screw
steamer Orphcus, carrying q guns, called
last evening at Plymouth Sound, whence
she is to convoy the screw transport Mel
bourne with troops! arms "a and stores to the
t says that the first battalion Of the Rifle
Brigade, now stationed at Dublin, and the
first battalion Of the 10th regiment, stationed
Mt Sheffield, received orders yesterday to
| EMBARK
The ship silas Grcenman, from New York,
having 105 tons Of lead on board, was stopped
in tic river Thames, the export Of tue article
having been prohibited :.
A great mass meeting was held in the
Rotunda, at Dublin, to take into considera-
tion the aspect and position Of Irish national
affairs Of the present crisis. The following
resolutions passed:
s.Reso1rea That the population Of the Republic
from the st. lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico, and
from tho Atlantic to the Pacific shores, being
largely composed Of men Of Irish birth and Irish
land could renain an Indifferent spectator between
England and America,
lively dictate to all IEishmen forgetfnlne=s the
past differences, and united rally for the o1dcause
Of their country:
"Reso1sed, Tint q chairman two secretarie:
and committee Of twenty-one members, eact
having been duly and separately proposed and sec
onded, be chosen By majority of voices At A th!F
visibility Of an organization IN the present STATE
! OF affairs at home and abroad"
The Liverpool Iost says the whole purpose
Of the meeting was to express on every yari
quite natural that this should be the tendency
Of the Irishn1cn, apart from their hatred tt
England, for scarcely any Irish family is IN
represented in the United States, The meet
| ing however, was useless and needless.
The Liverpool Mercury says that the Onl.
United States, H.the brief abstract Of the I'D
dress Of President Davis to the Confederate
Congress. The address, it adds, is hopefu
and determined in tone, and shows that 4 va
so sturid1y persisted in By the North eanno
It is stated that evidence will be hid befor
the European Governments to prove that th'
| blockade Of the Southern ports is Intellectual
and consequently Illegal. It is also stated thu
the State Legislature Of Missouri has passed
secession ordnance
/ The London Ti7nes city article says it mus
be kept in view that the designs Of Mr.. Sew
ard are reported for some time to have beel
the cause Of disagreement in the Washington
Cabinet, and that tho decision Of thu presen
question, therefore, is not entirely in tn
awaited with great anxiety, as it is seen tha
the course Of circumstances may be mucl
+ ! modified BY anything that may take place be
tween the opposing armies in the interva
| from now and the arrival Of the British DE-
mands. 4 victory by the Fedcralists might
! a+,Ya f. f1+a Y1111t N h
: Government to act independently aud on til
othcr hand d defeat might be equally product
ire of pacific tone. at the sa1ne time, how
t ever, there is danger that the bad features q
the situation may be aggravated BY INTEL
v gence Of some new ohunse on the part Of til
y | Federal Commissioners.
j. FRAScE.-Paris papers assert that dt:
patches sent by the British government t
1 Lord Lyons, although couched in modcrat
c language, arc never!heless intiexible in the
Commissioners. If this is refused, Lor
G Lyons is TO leave Washington, with all tt
$ members Of the legation. The same journ'
= afirms that the English war vessels whic
y arc now being prepared for sea won1
l. Of January. The R1tric publishes the folloy
v ing under the head Of latest intelligence: g
!, is stated that the dispatche addressed by tt
IL British Cabinet to Lord Lyons, to be comm
), nicated TO President Lincoln, are bGsed excl
q l EIfEl} Ou 1tl1HA Cuus1ucIAl49us- Lilo AGE1slN
establishes that tic commander OF the So
! Jacinto, by acting as he has done, has con
mitted . tiagrant breach Of maritime l.
lc and insulted the English flag; that tt
:. only right that officer Wilkes possesst
was to compel the Trent to go
some American port, where the case cou
E. have been brought before the proper author
ties in presence Of the English Consul; th
i If in his search dispatches had been four
establishing that Messrs. Mason and sidt
! were on a mission directly OR immediate
D. connected with military operations, Il
l. Commodore would. have been justiti'
;. in seizfpg these dispatches and arres
| ing the ENJOYS, sending in q detail'
" report Of the transactions with such notes q,
observations as the English Consul might s
fit to annex; that these formalities not hayil
been fulfilled, no charge can be es2blish'
against the two prisoners arrested; that ths
arrest, therefore, must be regarded rs nul
that the Trent, being the victim Of an arbitr
~ act contrary to every principle Of Tigt
r England acting in coneiliatory and friend
Is point Of view, hes asked, as the only repa1
=, tion for this gross act, the liberation Of Mas
IL and Slidell and that if she does not obtain
Lord Lyons wonld leave. Washingt'