The New York herald., 1862-04-09

publish in another column. win give our readers
comprehensive idea Of the peninsula upon which
movements Of the most vital Importance in the pro-
gress of the war are now taking place.
A despatch from General Wool TO the War De-
partment states that at two o'clock yesterday az
ternoon tho Merrimac. jamestown, Yorktown, and
four tugs were at Craney Island
/ Upon the whole, we have reason to rejoice at
the news of to-day. The fall of Yorktown is in
all probability but q question now of few hours.
The capture Of Island No. 10, now accomplished,
was foregons conclusion for many days, and the
defeat Of Beauregard and Johnston in an attack
which was undoubtedly intended as surprise upon
our army has been converted into disastrous de-
feat by the sagaoity Of our Generals and the vaor
of our troops. So the war against rebellion goes
bravely on. From victory to victory the banner
of the Union is pressing on even to the Southern
confines Of the rebeliious States.
A man named Henry HotGe writes to the London
Times, announcing himself as the sole commercial
agent Of the rebel States Ia Eaglsnd. He pledges
himself not to assume or counterfeit consular
functions tiH the confederacy ID officially
dealt with by the British government; but he
is prepared to give every information to
all cOmers. 1t thus appears that the
Mason ambassadorial mission has dwindled down
to commercial agency
The London journals Of the 25th, 2eth and 37th
of March have comments on the news report,
brought to England by the Arabia, of the naval
engagement between the Merrimac and Monitor
Some Of the writers appear to have caught up q
very muddled sort Of notion of the facts and all of
them claim victory for the rebel monster. The
editor Of the London Post bors under the delrSion
that the Union States government had two iron
war vessels opposed to the Merrimac; for
he alludes to the Ericsson battery" and
90 the Monitor in the same sentence. The con-
fession is made that complete revolution has
been Effected in naval warfare. 1t acknowledged
that the day Of wooden walls has passed: but
the British still cling to the idea that huge iron
ships of the class Of the Warrior will carry every
thing their own way, like tho oaken monsters of
olt-an opinion which may be dsspated sooner
than they imagine.
C0NGREss.
In the Senate yesterday, several petitions in
favor of the passage Of a uniform bankrupt law
were presented and referred The bill allowing
tha Co h Y~to
ror to fix the salaries of District Attorneys was
taken up but laid aside, and the consideration of
the bill con6scating the property of rebels re-
sumed, when Mr.. Henderson. of Missouri, made
speech in opposition to the proposition. Bills
regulating the pay of the navy and confirming the
act Of the President in accepting the services Of
certain volunteer engineer corps, were introduced
and referred. After an executive session the
Senate adj urned.
In the House of Representatives, a resolution
that Congress adjourn on the third Monday in May
was referred to the Ways and Means Committee
The consideration Of the National Tax bill was
then resumed and, all the amendments having been
acted on the bill was passed by vote of l25 yeas
TO lS nays A bill establishing certain post routes
was reported back by the Committee on Post
Offices and passed. joint resolution extending
to officers and men in sll the military departments
the provisions Of the act securing to officers and
men in the Missouri or Western Military Depart
ment their pay. bounty and pensions, was adopted.
A bill in relation TO the competency of witnesses
in equity and admiralty cases was recommitted. A
bill to punish and prevent the practice of polyga
my was referred t0 the Committee on Territories.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.
Our newspaper files by the Hibernian at Port
land. reached this city from Boston yesterday
evening. The papers are dated to the 27th Of
March, and contain some highly interesting de-
tails of our telegraphic report published in the
HERALD yesterday morning.
Mr.. George Peabody's letter, vesting the sum of
$3.50 900 in the hands Of trustees as free gift to
be employed in ameIiorsting the condition of the
poor of London. with the reply of the trustees.
will be read with interest Garbaldi has address
ed letter to the priests OF Italy, calling on them
10 struggle against the temporal and some of the
spiritual powers of the Pope sspatriots. A report
of the latest condition Of the silk trade in France
is also given to-day.
The exhibit of the strength of the iron armored
navy Of France--now ready for service or far ad-
vanced townrds cOmpietoh-puonsned IN the
HERALD this morning, constitutes one of the most
important items of the European news received by
the Hibernian. A careful analysis OF the statement
enables us to present readers with the signif.
cant facts which it embraces in tabular form. II
i shown that the Minister OF Marine has now at
his immediate disposal the following iron-clsd YES
sells viZ:--
Cas- Guns Cre~s. No veaels.
rrsst. rr,ssi. ..'''.'...'.....'.' ss SO !
FrI-ate e....ss.s..+s....... 80 90 i
Fr gate ......f...ss..sss.. so 90
Frsale le................... s6 $40
shin Magenta ........... 81 800