The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-01-30
Foreign Summary.

summary.
AwAruSG Az ATTACK AT MASAssAs-An extra
pair Of shoes have just been served out to our army
on the other side Of the POtOmac-anotber evidence
that n grand advance IS Contemplated for an early
day. Ia the meantime every deserter or " CONTRA
bIud who comes in from the rebel lines. brings the
assurance that the enemy is awaiting an attack and
preparing TO fall back upon Manassas If pressed, and
/ make a last desperate stand at that point. The
Union army Is in excellent spirits and. generally, in
very good health. All the men ask is 20 be led
against the rebel forces-conf lent Of their ability
soon to find themselves winter quarters in a more
congenial CLINE than Eastern Virginia.
OFFICIAL NoTIcE IL RELATION To PASSWORDS FOR
CALIFORNIA PAssENGERs-It is a settled fact that
passengers leaving New York on California steamers.
must have passports. Probably the same precaution
is taken in San Francisco. Secret sympathizers will
therefore be put TO their trumps TO avoid the precau-
tions Of Uncle sam. The New York Tribune, of the
18th Nov, contains the notice as follows: The
following notice has been received from the Depart
ment Of State, and is published for the information
Of ELL whom il may concern
"There being reason to believe that disloyal per-
sons embark for AsPinwaH for improper purposes,
notice is hereby given, that all passengers by vessels
bound to that port, will in future, be expected to
provide themselves with passports, in the same man
ner as passengers by vessels to Europe"
The SUnPTER AGAIS.-The privateer .Sumpter has
had a narrow escape. 1t appears that she was re-
Gently cOaling nj Port Royal, Martinique. when the
U. ). sloop IriguOis arrived, and was DESTROYS Of
seizing her, but a French vesse[Of- war in the port
objected, rs a breach of neutrality. During the night
the Freedman went 10 sea, and soon after the
IriquOis discovering one vessel gone, took it to be the
privateer, and put out after her, nor did she find out
her mistake until she overhauled her. The Tiquois
then put back TO port to make sure of her prize. but
to the great chagrIn OF those on board they found the
Sumpter had taken the hint in the meantime and put
to sea also at last accounts the Iriquois vas still
looking for Star, 10Th inst.
Mr.. Russell says By the end Of this month (Oct.)
the United States will have a large fleet on the coasts
omI n m tho riverS and I have reason tO think that an
expedition will be organized also TO attack the Texan
secessionists from the West-far rs that is away.
A naval officer said 20 me the other day-it seems as
if the moment an American sees an Englishman he
thinks the latter is going to shy something about cot
tom You need not be afraid Of any Udnt Of COT
ton IA England. By October te 'ciH hare Il feI1
good ports dOrn South, and plenty of cotton for all
The lcorId." Fernandina may possibly go soon; there
IS an eye on Pensacola also, and New Orleans is by
no means safe. The condition to whi:h the blockade
has reduced many classes in the South is bad enough;
it will become still worse. Tea, coffee and clothing
are nearly exhausted. or have, as the American
phrase has it, given OUT because there is none to
give out at all. Lead, sulphur, and salt are very
scarce. Shoes, flannel, quinine, beef and butter,
cloth, tin and leather are in the same category. If
the blockade be enforced the distress and want of all
things, save natural produce, will be intense.
CoSDTrIoS OF GREECE.-A report, lately furnish
ed on the Kingdom of Greece by Mr. Eliot, her
Msjesty's Secretary Of Legation, gives a discouraging
picture of its condition and progress as an independ-
ent State. The population. which Is computed to be
about one million, makes little advance. and there is
an almost total absence OF the spirit of cooperative
enterprise. Roads there are none. in the whole
monarchy, except such rs are Icy courtesy so styled
in the immediate neigbbOrhOod of the Capital; and
even the village of C~ephissia, within two miles Of
Athen, and which is the most agreeable residence in
the summer months, is difficult Of access, and aPpa-
rently in a far less prosperous state than IL was under
Turkish domination. Drainage is neglected. and in
many districts the young are carried off in great
numbers by fever, while those who reach maturity
are chronic sufferers from malaria
BrRxTyG on WELIs-An oil well on fire is thus
described in the TifHsuiIe (Pennsylvnnia) Gazette:
"a dense black cloud Of smoke was distinctly to
be seen as the hill tops were reached on leaving
town. That cloud increased as the well was neared,
until seen from the top Of the hills adjoining the val
ley where the well was located, when the black column
of smoke appeared, in which angry and lurid flames
could be seen constantly leaping and tapping about,
as though endeavOring to lash themselves into greater
fury. The flames rose sixty to eighty feet into the
air, and the noise Of the fame, and the oil. and gas
rushing from the pipe were distinctly heard three
fOurths Of n mile. The stream OF oil, the full size of
the pipe. -four inches in diameter } was thrown ff-
teen TO thirty feet high, and all on fire the instant it
left the pipe. Drops Of oil thrown OF were n lurid
blaze, and drops OF water, converted into stream,
were flying in every direction. Spiral columns of
fame, formed by currents Of air, rose on every side,
and in great fury, presenting most unique spectacles.
The scene was grand, and one lung to be remember
ed"
IMPORTANT ASSURANCE FROM SECRETARY CHAsE-So
far from there being any disposition on the part Of
| the Government 10 Dack down from TINS cOnnict, II Is
evident that the President and Cabinet are expecting
to put forth fresh efforts to subdue the rebels.
The World says that at n meeting of the Bank
Managers, IN which the plan recommended by the
Loan Committee was confirmed, and $50, 900 Of
u. 5. twentyyear six per cent, bonds were taken,
Secretary Chase, in a speech of some length, gave
very strong and pointed assurances that the Govern
ment now saw their way clearly to quell the rebellion;
that they had Information which warranted him in
saying that the public would soon hear glad things Of
success. more startling and more effective in their
results than those from Port Royal and the West {;
that neither the Government nor General Mcclellan
ever had the least idea of placing the army in winter
quarters, hut, on the contrary, the military plans all
contemplated regular, systematic, and energetic ac-
tiyity in pushing forward upon the rebels as prudence
and Judgment dictated that Government had ample
funds to satisfy every liability until February 1st,
and that all the machinery of the Departments were
gradually working into a very satisfactory state Of
efficiency.
The impression made upon the assembled Bank
Managers was increased confidence in the Gov
erument, and a feeling that rapid progress was being
made to suppress the rebellion. 1t Is understood that
/ Mr.. Chase Is convinced Of the wisdom Of adhering to
a specific standard for bank currency, and OF the
prudence Of using sparingly the Treasury demand
notes. The prompt and liberal spirit in which the
associated banks have advanced the immense sums
required by Government, and the cheap terms upon
which they did so, form n striking contrast to the