The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-20
Especial despatch to Mew y Herald ,

I'll
IMPORTANT RUMORS RESPECTING ENGLISH
AND FRENCH ACTION ON AMERICAN
AFFAIRS.
WASHINGTON, May, II, I86l.-It is useless to dis
GulSe the tact that the leading members of the din
lomatic corps in Washington are engaged in con-
slant and anxious discussion the course it NAV ba
necessary for them at any day to adupt They
nave recently received urgent instructions from
their respective governments to inform them with
the utmost precision OF the chances of the two sec
tons in their present deadly quarrel 1t is LEAKING
OUT that the governments in question declare that
tAelr commercial interests in 4 great degree
with the South, and that il they are forced into ia
King sides with either, they will be compelled to
look carefully alter cotton and free trade
England is disposed to move cautiously in this i'm
portant matter, and is playing her usual game of
urging France to take the chesnuts out of the fire
The country may not generally be aware that there
IS at TINS moment an agent of the French Emperor
travelling in the South, by the name of Barocbe-
ne Is instructed to say that he is simply collecting in
formation for the Commercial Bureau for the Min
lister OF Public orks but this artifice is ton trans
parent to deceive the most creduous. He is A no.
iltcal more than he is commercial agent and his
dispatches, regularly forwarded TO Paris necessar
ly exercise great influence over the mind of the En-
peror. w hat may be the final conclusions of France
whether she will think it her interest to plsv into
Tue hahuS OF the revolutionary party in the South
remains to be seen. Our government are nrer,rinn
Tor Such an emergency, and it were better Tor the
leading Powers in question to reflect long and deem
~ before they take steps which NAV involve them
In consequences they little dream of perhaps at this
moment. " '
1t is beginning to transpire that Mr.. Russa1 tho
correspondent of the London Times is not merely
writing letters TO that Journal bat that his nrivata
GgommGncatlons for higher quarters contain a good
deal OF Interesting matter he does not think alto.
ge'her discreet to put print.
Fort PICKENs.-The Mobile ADVERTISER in coun
selling patience to those who are clamorous for
Gen. Bragg to order an attack upon Fort pickens
SAYS
Cen Bragg is an old soldier and famousIv
pIS'e ana shrewd one and will not begin the work
before he Is ready, or be provoked into BEGINNING
II; and be will not consider himself ready to begin
before be is ready to end the work victoriouslv
Inc magnitude of the preparations which the
commanding General considered necessary to ma
King sure job OF the bombardment of Pickens
may be estimated by considering the number If
men who have been asi1gly at work for 50
long. A small city could have been built NV tb;s
force while it has been preparing for the dpstrnc
ton OF one erection. When the .bombardment
commences 1t will be of the grandest events of
the sort record. ~ Va
From the forts and batteries occupyine an area
OF near three miles continuous storm of shot and
smell VIII be rained upon a common centre tho
stronghold of the Linconites and if il long holds
out against this destructive shower it will disan-
point the calculations of men best yersed in tba
science OF warfare. WV
The able engineering officer who superintendent its
construction says it can not Withstand the attacking
odttelIes- W nave neard oil no complaints of the
oeay IN the attack, but much natural impatience
Is felt Better that the army of the Coniederacv
should wait six months, if necessary, and make
sure thing OF the attack, than make it prematureIy
and encounter repulse. But Bragg's "big guns"
are arriving, and certain signs indicate that the
end is at hand. ' 'A'
letter received in this city from private of
the Confederate force besieging Fort Pickens,
represents everything as progressing very satfsfac
torlly there. "Some eight men-ofwar are living off
the harbor, and Fort Pickens looks mighty saucv
at us, but it is the opinion of Gen. Bragg tina.
after we commence fire On her she can be taken in
forty-eght hours.'
EFFECT OF THE AMERICAN WAR on TUE IRISH lin
EN- lRADE.-A letter from Belfast, Ireland of Nav
the I'd, published in the London St.,day Times
contains the following remarks on the above sinh
Ject:-Ihe effects OF the unfortunate outbreak of
hosttles in the United States are BEGINNING tn ba
lelt In earnest in Belfast the seat of the Irish linen
trade ard capital of Ulster. Already the hand
leon weayers of Baliymacarrett Lisburn, New
towards, Belfast, &c, are in state of nositiva
stafVatlon rivaling in intensity the terrible vista
ton OF 1871. Local committees, though of verv
limited influence, in the several afflicted Ioaalitias
are unceaslng IN their efforts to collect the means
OF aHording temporary relief, but their exertions
| labor under the disadvantage of not BEING clash
l0napie, and but thrilling assistance is afforded
Inc United States have been large importers of
irish linens, which the recent Northern tariff will
now almost entirely exclude.
The issue of the Annapolis (Marylandl RenpbZ;-
can VIII De suspended for few weeks