The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-05-22

New York. Thursday, May 2a, 1864.
THE SITUATION.
despatch from General Mcclellan to the War
Department last night, states that he is following
close on the heels of the enemy; that all his camps
have advanced in the pursuit. This TALES with
the news received in the afternoon, that the at
tempt of the rebels to defend their position at
Bottoms Bridge failed under the fatal effect of our
artillery, which threw shell to an extent that was
Irresistible, and drove the enemy back The head
quarters of General Mcclellan were within few
miles Of Richmond at last accounts, and as it was
supposed that the rebels are going to risk battle
In front of Richmond (Which may be doubtfuD, va
shall soon hear either of great battle, or of the
occupation of Richmond by General McClellan's
army.
The members Of the State Convention of North
Carolina which has recently been in session in
Raleigh. and which has displayed such decided
Aankering after the Union, were chosen by the
people on the 2sth Of February, 1861 by an aggre.
gate unconditional Union majority of over sixty
thousand. They stood, when elected, as fol-
lows
Secessionists. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. So
Union majority. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 8
The Convention did not meet, for the reason that
Che people decided at the time the members were
elected that no convention was necessary. But
Governor Ellis and the Legislature thought differ.
ant. Another election was ordered, and seces-
sion convention was chosen by comparatively
uall VOTE and it was this latter body that passed
the State over to the tender mercies Of JEFF Davis
and his rebel confederacy. The Old North State
Is Union to the core.
Our letters from London, Paris and Berlin. re-
ceived by the Scotia, portray very accurately the
expression Of public feeling current in Europe on
the American question: up to the time of the de-
parture Of that vessel from Liverpool.
Rumors with respect to direct Intervention in
our war affairs by Napoleon, reports Of an ap-
preaching allied Intervention the part of France
and England with speculations relative to an offer
of mediation by the Emperor of France filed the
minds Of the people, and served to intensity the
iiterest in the progress of the war towards its
termination, this event having become Of abso-
luteiy vital importance to the industrial classes,
as well of very great individual interest to the
rulers Of France and England.
/ The writer's do not pretend to say what form the
Intervention idea is to assume, but all agree in at
taching some significance, with regard to its as
pect, to the result Of NJ. Merciers late visit to
Richmond. The Paris Pdtrie, of the 9Th Of May
says:-"we have reason to know that important
conferences are going on at the present time, at
Richmond, between Baron Mercier, the French
Minister, and the government of the Southern
States. The existence Of negotiation Of that
kind appears to indicate that the overtures made
by the French representative to President Davis
have in principle been favorably received" Our
intelligence from Washington, however, states
that NJ. Mercier's visit to Richmond was one Of
curiosity simply.
The Paris correspondent of the London Post,
writing on the eth instant, remarks:-"M. Mer-
Cier's visit to Richmond was not intended as an
official visit, nor had he any official mission to
perform. On the other hand, M. Mercier's vsft
may not be unattended by most important re-
suits"
The London Times, contradictng all its former
predictions and assertions with regard to the
weakness and daily increasing exhaustion Of the
Union government and treasury, labors to prove
shat the rebels alone require foreign aid comfort
or advice; and that If such calamity as nterven.
Zion should come on the country, it must come at
Washington Cabinet) have already possession Of
che seas, and the whole British navy could give
chem nothing more. We might lend them money,
but Of this, too, in some form or other, they have
got enough TO allow Of q present expenditure Of
EsOo 900 day. As TO sending them men, all the
Effective troops now serving in England might be
landed in New York without causing any perceptible
Increase in the fabulous numbers of the Northern
armies. We might send them three times as many
soldicrs AZ we sent to Canada without adding above
Eve per cent to their forces in the field. No rule,
~ me ,corld, not eren the first Napoleon, erey dis
posed Of so many men on so much n,oney as Abra.
ham Lincoln. lie has fuuy $50 900 troops nou