The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-31
T r IPLE SHEET,
New York, Thursday, October 81, 1861.
THE SITUATION.


The rebel batteries on the Lower Potomac
poured heavy fire on the Maryland shore yester-
day, bat without any damage. The rebel steamer
Page ran aground in the Quantco creek, at point
as far up the creek as she could advance.
The great naval expedition which had been de-
iayed at Hampton Roads by stress of weather,
went out on Tuesday morning in splendid style, the
Wabash taking the lead and the Cahawba bringing
up the rear.
We learn by our news from Havana that Messrs.
Mason and Slidell, the Ministers of the rebel 20.
vernment to France and England, received a very
warm reception in Cuba It is said that the British
Consul at Havana waited on them in full uniform
and presented them to the Captain General The
Theodore, which took them to Cardenas, Is re.
ported to have sailed again for Charleston with
cargo Of coffee arms and provisions, together with
about twenty passengers.
Messrs. Mason and Slidell were about to take
passage for Europe in the British mail steamer
of the 9Th of November. The Theodore runs 4
fair chance Of being ovcrhauled by some of our
blockading squadron before she reaches Charles
ton. il our naval officers know their business.
Our news from Missouri rccounts another sue.
cessful skirmish on the part of the Union troops
A despatch from Jefferson City to st. Louis, dated
the Goth, says that General Prentiss, who left St.
Louis on Saturday last with force Of infantry to
surprise and capture the rebels at Fulton, in Cal.
ioway county, has returned, and reports that be.
fore he reached Fulton General John r. Hender.
son of the State Militia, had made a COM
promise with the rebels at Dyer's Mills, near
Concord, by which he agreed that the government
would not make any arrests if the rebels would
lay down their arms and return to their homes
General Prentiss acquiesced in the compromise.
The rebels, it appears, were four hundred strong,
and General Henderson's force numbered 500.
The proposition for compromise came IRON the
rebels.
The brig Ashley reports, by vessel just arrived
at Philadelphia, that while at st. Petre Guadaloupe
on the 18th inst, she heard cannonading going on
for nearly two hours, which was supposed to be &C.
casioned bya conflict between United States yes.
sci and privateer. Numbers of war vessels. car
rying the flags of different nations, are said to be
lowering in that vicinity.
BY the Europa at Halifax we have news from
Europe dated to the goth instant three days later
France and England had, it is alleged, re.
newed their negotiations on the subject Of
the basis of common policy on the Ameri-
can question. It was thought that the re-.
port Of Prince Napoleon to the Emperor had
induced the French monarch to accord the lead to
Great Britain in any future action which NAV be
undertaken. Washington letter Of October
in the London Times, g, E indication tina. the
writer was fully impressed with an idea Of
the power Of the great federal naval expe.
dition as well the probability Of its com
manders being able to open cotton port or two foe
tive member of the English Parliament, had adyo.
Gated the cause of the rebels before his constituents
The free trade bait Of the Confederate Congress,
contained in the Memminger manifesto Of last Au.
gust was again held out to the traders of England
by portion Of the London press, as an induce
nient, no doubt, TO them to sympathize
with the South At On abotionist and Arr.
can cotton growing meeting in England a
New York clergyman advocated an exodus ~
colored folk from America to Africa. Thew wore
TO go as cultivators Of cotton ia that country oa
thus abolish slavery in the South by rendering the
rest Of the world Independent or cur planters for
it's supply of the staple.