Litchfield enquirer., 1861-12-19
Ae,vs ot ths M'ssk.

THE NEWS FROM MEURoPE.-The advices brought by the Europa, and confirmed by the City ct
 Washington, convey the startling intelligence that the English Government, after submitting the case of the Trent to the law officers of the Crown, has decided to regard the seizure of Ma son and Slidell as violation of international law, and to demand of the American Government an apology for the act, and restoration of the rebel envoys to the shelter of the British flag Queens messenger bearing dispatches to Lord Lyons, conveying this demand, was on board the Europa, and arriving at Boston Tuesday Enight, and reached Washington Wednesday. In the meantime, the most energetic preparation for war are making in England. Every dock yard is active, and steamers are taken up by the Government to carry troops, arms and artillery; heavy and light, to Canada, while it is under stood that the, frat cruise of the mailed monstsr, the Warrior, will in the event of a rejection of an English ultimetum, be made in American wa ters. A royal proclamation has forbidden the exportation of arms, of gunpowder, ard of aay material used in the manufacture of that eIpls- sive. The popular excitement was intsHse.- which he referred in the friendliest terms to the cause in which the North ia engaged, and sx- pressed hope that Q rupture might still be l avoided. Mr. Golden has written a letter mo- derats ia tone, invoking suspension of iuds- ment. But the entire drift of opinion appeared to be in the direction of war, the Ministerial Press fanning the popular flame by promising to clear the sea of the American navy in 8 mouth i, acknowledge the Southern Confedsracy; snd, ky breaking the blockade, letting out cotton, and letting in British manufactures. blockade of the Northern ports is also on the war programmed The London ObserSer, the most intimate nsuth- piece of tae Ministers, dselsrss it would be not only proper, bat easy, to cause S!idell and Ma con to be delivered .s . British frisate. anehoz- ed ia frcat of Washington, with twelve etAsr roysl mes -ef-~aY, attending as witnesses es the humiliating spectacle. The toss of the Press generally is violent aRd incorporating; and littls hope is expressed that the United States will make concessions. Tke London Times, in deed, declares war to be sought by Mr. Seward through this transaction; end remark said to have been made by Gen. Scott since his arrival at Paris. is cited as showing the insult to have been deliberately planned by the Washington Cabinet.
 The effect of the war policy of the Government upon the markets has been striking The funds have fallen three per cent; American sseuroities have Ga'en six, and Canadian securei!ies ten per cent. The speculative demand for cotton has al- most ceased, in view of the early opening of the cotton ports resulting from hostilitss, while breadstufs have advanced.
 HI IIeiCS, tNS HSHS LII tHS SUE uCsHtO OK ploit has been rscsived with profound sensation The Press is unanimous in its condemnation ; and it's opinion is inst the American Government will be constrained to make reparation. From the teRe of articles in what are understood to be semi official ;ournaIs 1t is inferred that France is prepared to make common cause with England, and that the acknowledgement of the Southern Confaderacy, and 6 forcible opening of the block ads will be at once effected, upon the refusal of Shn ,1,, .Jl, amends. In the meantime, runlov discordant with these assertions obtains currency, namely, that the Emperor Napoleon has offered his msdi- ation in the matter. As the moment for such an offer will only arrive with the refusal of the Un-
 ted States 10 concede the requirements of Eng land, tho rumor is prabably premature. j
 TREMENDOUS FIRE IN CHARLESTON, s. c. THE CIrY LAID IN ASHES! SUPPOSED WORK OF THE NEGROES 1.-The New York papers Of Monday give accounts Of great conilagraticn as raging in Charleston. Nearly the whole Of that pcstilent city has been destroyed by sn in cendisry fire, tAe torch being applied by negro "a free negro, the dispatches state. 1he fire communicated to buildings on the opposite side, when, under the impulse of s.i@ breeze, the conhagration soon assumed 6 formidable char actsr-aided, perhaps, (thoush thetlisPatehes do no: so ssa:e~ by tie iocendiaries. The business portion of the City appears to have been almost entirely swept awsy, including the Institute and St. Andrews Hall, tie Theatre, tbe Catholic Chus.a-and last, though rot least, ;ile Hcrcury (,,,r IaIa +o 10 o'clock on Thussday night, when she fire was still raging, as 1t had been since o'clock OF the previous eyening-twerty-Eve hours. Thousands of houseless persons wete huGdlea in the streets, and supplies for their relief were being sent in from the surrounding country. But the most inn portaGt announcement in connection with this confagration Is that it was intended as only one scene in tie horrible tragedy of slave insurrec- ton. The plot is said to have been disclosed by the bod dy-servant of q military officer, and the discoveries which hsd followed had crested the greatest consternation. Families were closing and barring their windows, and taking other measures to secure themselves. There are ru- mors, also, that Instructions had broken out in the interior of the State two days before the fire, and at last accounts were still raging unchecked.
 BG THE ABfssvAL of the steamship Columbia, we have fuller details of the fight at Pensacola.
 It seems that two rsbel vessels had been in the habit of passing the fort, running from the town to the navy yard, and Colonel Brown had notified General Bragg that the next appearance of the vessels would be the signal for firing upon them. l On the morniug of the 22d they again appeared, and Colonal Brown opened fire upon them. One was disabled, but the other escaped. Shot were also thrown into the rebel batteries, and at 10 1 o'clock, half an hour after the first firing from
 Fort Pickens, the rebels began ts reply. Fort Pickens engaged Fort Barrancss, sRd the steam CTS Richmond and Niagara, snd Battery Scott, y directed their shell and shot to Fort AcRae and number of water batteries. During the after
 noon Fort McRae was silsnced, it's walls badly
 knocked out of shape, and some guns dsmount- ed. The Richmond WAS struck, willie high on a
 wave, below the water line, and small leak
 sprung. On the 22d, firing was again common ced at l03 o'clock. Hot shot was fired from the
 United States forts and ships, and the towns of
 Warrington and Hoolsey were completely burn ed, as well as all the buildings in the navy-yard
 that would take fire. One of OUT men was killed
 by a shot from the enemy, and six by the explo-