The New York herald., 1861-12-18
New York, Wednesday, December Is, 1861.
THE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
The importance OF the question relative to the
arrest of Mason and Slidell and the difficulty with
England arising therefrom is further manifested by
the fact that the steamer Africa which was to have
sailed for Liverpool to-day has been detained until
tomorrow afternoon, by order of Lord Lyons, for
the purpose Of transmitting by her his response
to the dispatches which came from the British go.
yernment by special Queens messenger on board
the Europa. Captain Seymour, the Queens mes
sengcr, and special messenger from our Minister
at London, Mr.. Adams, left Boston last evening for
Washington by the shore route, via this city
They will probably 'arrive here in time for the
morning train to Washington, and thus be enabled
to bring back the dispatches Of Lord Lyons in time
for the Africa. 1t may be, however, that the
Africa will not leave this port before Friday morn
tish Minister cannot be accomplished at an earlier
period.
In thirty minutes after the Europa touched a.
Halifax the British sloopor-war Rinaldo got MP
steam and started of with dispatches, most pfoba-
bly, for the Admiral of the North American squad
ron at Havana.
With the exception of few scouting parties
there is nothing of active character going on in
General McClelIans army.
The report of General Barnard Chief Engineer
of the Army, which has Just been submitted to
Inv Gon eNo a.
fences around Washington consist of forty
works. mounting three hundred guns; that the
whole defensive perimeter occupied is about thirty.
Eve understanding by several miles The famous
de!dwotks OF Torres Eedas, the most extensive
fortifcation of this kind known in modern times.
General Barnard asks the appropriation of $50 900
rom Congress for the completion Of these works
as many of them were thrown up in the
face of the enemy and therefore require
considerable labor to make them perfect
Secretary Cameron has also submitted to
Congress report in favor OF the appropriation of
E,7to0oo for putting our coast defcnces in order,
from the lakes round to San Francisco, large
portion of which is to be devoted to defcnccs Of
New York harbor
The Navy Department has received inteligene
that the ship Montmorenci, of Faith, Me was over
hauled on the 2sth ultimo BY the priv eg sumter
while making for ST. Thomas with Il cargo of Goals
FOR the British Mail Steamship Company 1t
said that she was ransomed foy $50 900 and allowed
to proceed.
The exchange OF rebel prisoners has commenced
The bark Island City left Boston yesterday for
Fortress Monroe with two hundred and fifty Of the
rebels captured at Hatteres, who have been re.
'eased from captivity at Fort Warren by the
government.
We publish to-day further details Of the great
fire in Charleston, which prove it to be most
terrific and disastrous coniagratou.
The news from Kentucky today is interesting
Our army has reached within a short distance of
Bowling Green, towards which point the rebel Ge.
neral Buckner is also fastening to offer battle. The
Union troops have repaired the bridge over Green
river, and are ready to push on towards Nashville
ander General Buell., when that officer is ready to
lake the field in person, which will be in a few davs.
Fen thousand Union troops have been poured into
Kentucky from Indiana within the past ten days.
The rebels were said to be in hourly expectation
Of an attack at Columbus and that they had pre
pared number OF heavy anchor cables for the
purpose OF obsructing the navigation of the river
at that point.
Among the interesting items from the South. by
way Of Fortress Monroe we have the statement Of
the Lynchburg Vityifttd,. that whole MARYLAND
regiment, colonel, staff and all the officers. de.
serted recently from the Union army and marched
INTO Centrcville with the confederate fac aving
we are not informed, however, what regiment !.
was when 1t deserted, or where it rot the rebel
dag SO conveniently at the moment of descrtion
The Charleston Courier publishes renor, sro,,
Beaufort that our troops had crossed Par, po,o,
ferry under cover OF artillery on Tuesday last o,a
destroyed several Of the rebel rife pits or ,,o
main land.
The Paris Pays of the 2sth November savs Tim,
the war in America is every day increasing tbc
Iuictude in England in regard to the cotton