The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-21

THE SITUATION OF AFFAIRS.

Race on Saturday night, and summary of who's
news we give to-day, that it was confidently be
heved, when she left Liverpool on the 18th inst
that letters of marque from the Montgomery e
vernment had reached Liverpool and Lol
don, and that vessels had actually left Live
pool with these letters. meeting of til
Privy Council and law officers of the Grow
was held at Whitehall on Sunday for the pu
to be issued on the Tuesday following, warnin
British subjects agnst illicit or overt compcit
in the civil war now raging in America. Lor,
Derby had expressed the hope in the House o
Lords that British subjects interfering in our con
test would get no redress from their govern
ment, but that their blood should be on their own
the natural result, of course.
The intelligence from Washington to-day is OF
the most important character. The first fight in
that quarter came off on Saturday afternoon be-
tween two United States vessels and the rebel
battery al sewall's Point in Hampton Roads, six
miles from Old Point Comfort. The battery is
still unfinished and is the eighth and last of the
works now in the hands Of the rebels, which de-
fend The approaches to Norfolk, and is regarded
as very important work of offence against the
blockade of James river, where there are now
lying twenty prizes laden with tobacco. The
United States steamer Star formerly the Month
cello), commenced cannonading the fort at noon
on Saturday with she'll from ten inch mortars
which seemed to have good effect. The fotilla
from New York, commanded by Captain Ward, ar
rived during the action and the steamer Freeborn
Immediately Joined ill., opening heavy fire with
her thirty.two Founders, driving ont the rebels,
who we're commanded by mounted officer. She
then hauled off, and proceededto Washington
with dispatches by orders of Commodore String
ham. On her way up she captured two small ves-
sells on Sunday near CedaRoint, one of them hav.
ing fifty men on board bound for the rebel army.
The Freedom brought her prizes to Washington,
and anchored them under the guns of the Navy
Yard.
The rumored attack on coast guard boat in the
Potomac by propeller from Richmond, is autho-
relatively denied. 1t appears that Richmond is so
efficiently blockaded as to render the sailing of
any rebel craft impossible,
The Postmaster General has issued an order to
} cut OF all the steamship mails on the coast, and
all the mails on river steamers plying to the Sc
ceded States. The Secretary Of War has also
issued order for the rigid inspection Of the bar.
racks and quarters in and around Washington by
competent medical officers for sanitary purposes.
Colonel vosburgh, of the Seventy-frs New
York regiment, died of hemorrhage Of the lungs
at the Washington Navy Yard yesterday morning.
The rebels at Harper's Ferry are being reinforced
from the South. 1000 troops from Mississippi
arrived there on Saturday, and two regiments
from Alabama on Sunday. They are said to be a
hard looking set Of fellows. There were in all
about 5000 troops there. An important move.
ment was made from that point yesterday
A body of 700 men were sent to take
up position opposite Williamsport, Q
small town in Maryland, seven miles from
Hagerstown, and twenty six miles south Of Cham
bersburg. 1t was said that there are several Che
rokee Indians from North Carolina In the ranks
Another force of 1900 men are expected o.
williamsport in day or two, where 1t was sup
posed that permanent camp will be established
government contractor of Harrisburg, who has
just reiurned from Harpers Ferry reports that the
troops look very badly, the only efficient looking
men being the Kentucky. companies, and they were
fighting among themselves, They were Selling
quantities of -four on the trains Of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad, bound for Baltimore. Small.
=. is raging among the men.
-, mel Ruggles commanding portion Of the
.,.,.,, res in Virginia, has issued general order
e.. -. In 'dquarters at Fredericksburg, in which
bo s,a,es tina. the troops are only called out to de-
,eDa ,beir home. their fresdes and their families
from the assressiOns ola tyrant.
The Committee on &c reign Affairs of the Mont
gomery government, IN their report on the mes
sage q Nj. Davis go into an elaborate history o.
southern grievances, and narrate all the causes Of
The present movement, which they claim to be as
legitimate and justiAable as the Revolution Of the
Colonies in l77e.
with reference to the position Of Cairo, we have
important and reliable news. The garrison there
corsis,s o. COO men, besides reserve force Q
he,wecn three and four thousand In the immedat
vicinity. There are fifteen guns mounted IN Oa'
-, . .,sit;or commanding both the kissi;