The New York herald., 1862-02-28

| tne l4tn instant. Prices tended sthl upward bt
were unchanged. The stock on hand was est
mated at 525 900 bales, of which l94 500 bales wer
American. Breadstaffs were steady snd provision
! dull.
| Inc news from Germany is important, as il re
ports the commencement of an agitation amons
thepowers swhichconstitute the Confederationwhicl
may eventually leadto the dissolution of tat body
The immediate cause of it is to be found m \ Pras
sian despatch to the other German governments
requesting general consideration of a reform of
the organization, and the absolute refusal of Saxo
ny to accept it, Austria Bavaria, Coburg, Bsaen,
with other States, have taken different view of
the matter from Prussia and a dissolution of she
Federal Dietwas expected in consequence. De-
monstrations and printed manifestoes in favor of
Victor Emanuel as king, and Rome as the capital
of Italy had been made at Genoa, Milan and other
places. Sixteen'coal mixers had been drowned in
pit at Norweld, in Wales, The Pemberton pit
Newcastle, England, was flooded, and thousands Of
persons were thrown out Of employment thereby
Senior Mon is appointed President of the Spanish
Council. The inmdations in Germany had pro-
duced the most disastrous consequences, eighty
thousand persons having tobe provided for by the.
public in one district.
Late advices from the West Coast Of Africa re-
present the slave trade 40 exceedingly active.
Since the witsdrawal of the United States squad
ron the American flag was hoissed very freely by
the dealers.
The State Senate an Alb0ny yesterday passed
the New York Port Captain and Harbor Masters
BILL and the bill relative to- Nvidends of life insur
ance companies. Onsthe bsas regulating shenas'
fees and tepermit ths-loaring of money in small
amounts for more than the present legal rate u in
terest, adverse reports were made from theeom
mittees, and they were rejected. A majoriy re-
port was made in,favor Of Incorporating thu New
York State HomeopatAie Society. The Brooklyn
Charter Amendment bill was reported COM
plete and ordered to third reading. The
bill amending the act of 1860 relative the rights
and liabilities of husbands and wives vas ordered
to . third reading. Progress was rep3rted on the
BID confer1ing ON the Metropolitan pslice addition
al powers relative to the inspection of steam boil
ers. In the Assembly the Speaker announced the
committee of five resolved upon the previoss day
to revise and consolidate all the game laws of the
State into one law. The bill TO improve tae Gen.
trail Park was ordered to third reading; also that
authorizing the Historical Society to establish
museum Of antiquities ana science and gallery Of
arts in the State Arsenal building. The Public
Defence bill was taken up and discussed at length
the greater part Of the day'a session being con-
sumed overit. Progress was finally reported on it,
andit WAa made the first special order for Saturday
The Railroad Committee Of the Assembly held
meeting yesterday and heard arguments on the
Broadway Railroad. Several gentlemen addressed
them, and the argument was closed. The COM
mittee will make their report on the subject next
Monday. They have appointed Tuesday next to
| = Cvr; Do n.
day, on the bill to reduce the fare city railroads
generally; and Thursday, for arguments on the
Tenth Avenue and Forty-second Street Railroad.
This day is to be devoted to fasting, humiliation
and prayer throughout the bogus Confederate
States of America, in response to proclamation
| issued by JEFF Davis.
says that throughout the widespread limits of Re.
beldom personal liberty and private rights have
] been duly honored." The evidences to sustain
this assertion may be found il the psrsscgtions q
| Parson Brownlow, the hanging Of Eve Union med
| in Tennessee, and the order of the Secretary oi
War to ''let them hang;" the impressment opera
tions in Memphis, the statement of the Richmond
ENQUIRER that there are two hundred Union pris
oners in the as in that city and the sending ofmer
| in New Orleans six months to the workhouse FOL
! expressing Union sentiments.
| JEFF. Davis, in his inaugural address, estimates
the aggregate strength of the two armies at q mil
| lion of men. He knew that the Union forces mum
bered over six hundred thousand, and we there
fore cannot do otherwise than accept his state
ment as an admission that his rebel followers d.
| not count four hundred thousand.
According to the letter of NJ. F. Maury, the re
| bells are secretly building somewhere one hundret
steam gunboats of the following dimensions:-l1
feet long, 81 feet BEAM III tons burthen, and 81,
feet draft. Their armament is to be one nine-incl
gun forward and thirty-two FOUNDER aft. The,
are to be ready about the 1st of June.
The people along the Hudson and Mohaw
rivers, and on the East and West Canada creeks, i
this State, are in great dread of an approaching
food. The snow in the northern section is said I
be five and six feet deep on a level. A sudden rs
in the streams depends in great measure upon tn
manner in which the snow is carried of. If |
should be melted by warm rain there is no doub
great food would follow; but If carried off gra
dually by the warmth Of the sun, as in many sea
sons has been the case, there would be no danger
Another snow storm visited US yesterday. I
commenced about one o'clock in the morning, an
fell to the depth of three inches, but turned to
drizzng rain about noon. The Sound boats wer
detained about two hours, but the railroad train
came in at the regular time. The city horse car
were obliged to use double teams.
The Board Of Aldermen adjourned on Monday
sine die, for want of quorum, and, no call for
meeting having been made, they did not organic
last evening.
The Military shoddy Contract Committee r.
sumed their investigations at the st. Nchola
| UotaI yoatardav SaveraI witnoseea xxara n,
amined, among whom were some officers connecte
with the State Military Department. The commi
'tee seem determined to make the strictcst invest
CATION as to how and by whom the shoddy swind
was perpetrated. Some startling development
have already been made, and those who connive
at the manufacture of such worthless clothing ft
our soldiers during the commencement Of the wa
are "shaknb in their boots"