Maryland free press. [volume] (Hagerstown [Md.]) 1862-18??, 1863-03-13

SEfFENSOk DANtS
by the President ..
j. T. BENJAMIN, Secretary of State.
AMERICAN AFFAIRS IN EUROPE.
The Charleston Blockade. Char arleston
Corr espondence Of the London Times
Exports OF Cotton from Liverpool
to America, &C.
The steamer Now York, from Southampton,
arrived at New York on Wednesday night
The English files brought by her, contain the
following in relation to American Affairs:
THE CHARLESTON BLOCKADE.
On the 18th ult, in the House Of Commons,
Mr.. Bentinck rose to ask the noble lord at th q
head Of the government whether the govern
ment are in possession of any official informa-
tion on the subject of tho reporte defeate By
the Confederates of the blockading squadron
at the mouth of Charleston river; and, If SO,
whether that information is Of character to
raise tho question of the legality of the future
blockade of that port.
Lord Palmcrston.-He Majesty's govern.
ment have no information with regard to this
transaction other than that which has been
conveyed by the kilograms which arc known
to everybody. They simply state that the
blockade was raised on the morning of one
day and rcimposci on the succeeding day.
An honorable member-"On the same day."1
The same information states the raising ofthe
blockade and its renewal. With regard to the
application of the general law, depends so
much upon tho circumstances Of the .case-
[hear, hoar, that until 1t Is well-known
| what has really happened it would be improp-
er in her Majesty's government TO commit
themselves to any opinion as to tho effect
which this occurrence may have. Hear.
CHARLESTON AND ITS DEFENcEs.
[Charleston (s. C.) Correspondence of ths
London Times, Jan. le.
To assert that Cha loston, in it's present at
titude, is impregnable Would obviously be
ludieroIs fallicy: but 1t is none tic less true
that it could not be taken without an enormous
force attacking simultaneously by sen and
land, and that tho attack, even in that casd
would have TO bc conducted with desperate
valor bcfors it could be successful. At the
entrance of the harbour Fort Sumter, thor
oughly repaired and mounting enormous gups
en- bdr6tRs frowns at the blockaders, while the
| neighboring points, on Moras Island and Sui
liven's Island from which tho memorable pt.
tack upon the fort on the 18th of April, 1861;
was conducted, are in possession of the Con-
federates, and are not likely to, pass out Of
their hands. Behind Fort Sumter new fort,
which takes its name from General Ripley.
and is built almost entirely Of palmetto wood,
enhances the difficulty to which ships are ex-
posed in approaching the town. In reference
to the palmetto tree-the peculiar emblem Of
the State Of South Carolina-it shopld be no.
ticed that it possesses far moro valuable PRO
per les than strangers would be apt to I'm.
agine. Palmetto wood is much used for
facing wharvcs works under water, as It Is
never injured by tho topedo. 1t affords ex-
cellent material for tho construction of forts,
inasmuch as cannon balls soon, loose tbelr
force in lis spongy substances and While they
penetrate but little they make no extended
fractures, nor do thoy detach any dangers
ous splinters. .,.
In addition to the other land and sea de-
fenses Of Charleston, great credit Is due to its
defenders for the energy with which theS
have built and equipped two large iron-elad
rams, which are now lying At the wharf, and
are liko!y to b, very prominently hoard of If
ever the long-threatened assault shall fall
Upon tie dSvSted head of this ".pOstilent nest
oisedition.' Three other similar iron -e!dd
rams are in an advanced stage Of progress -
AS regards the efficiency of, tho blockade,
which clutches this throat of Charleston har-
Dor, it may bo that nothing more efficient
could under the circumstances, be instituted
by any hatioh' But If The efficiency of b,ock:
ade bc tested by the frequency of the capture
of the ships attempting ogrcss and ingress. IL
is farce to consider Charleston, Wilmington;
Savannah and Mobile efectually blockaded.-
Scarcely dark night passes but vessel goes
in or out ofonc ofthese ports; and yet Il would
be difficult, so far as the number Of b,ockadinr
vessels is concerned, for any nation to insti.
tutc more restrictive blockade.
COTTON FROM LIVERPOOL TO AMERICA.
tFrdni the London Times; Feb. III
The high price to which cotton has advanccx
in New York has again induced holders in th,
country to export. Accordingly tbeso screw
steamers, almost entirely Cotton ladon, have
been dispatched from Liverpool during the
prosetit week. These we-o the Kedar tbe
Plantagenot and the Damascus, which amonr
them carroll out considerably upwards Of
1900 bales. The Inman steamship City of
New York, which sails to-day, and tho same
company's steamer Kangaroo to sail on Sat
urday, also take out considerable quantity:
and the Canadian mail steamer Hibernian..
Tomorrow, from Liverpool for Portland. will
take quantity. In all the export ofthe meek
from LirerpOolto TO Now York VIII not fall short
Of, but may anceed, 5000 bales.