The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-01-28
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THURSDA Y, JANUARY %.
The Foreign News.

uLlLLsA VI -Ao Now iSNNiFtS ~ III ChA&
Young Hector, on Sunday, and ship George Pea
body. on Tuesday. Nothing very startling has
occurred during the interim of two weeks, COW
cred by these arrivals. y portion of that time,
the wires were down, and communication inter-
rurted by one of the most severe snow-storms
that have ever been known. The continental
wires pass in some sections through hundreds of
miles of dense forests and uninhabited regions,
where the falling trees or the malicious acts of
Indians cause Interruptions. requiring days to
restore the COMMUNICATION
During the winter months. when rains, snow
storms and bad roads p~rcdominate, the Union
armies can make no great progress. In all quar-
tiers, however, preparations will be actively going
forward for an early and vigorous prosecution of
the war as soon as spring opens, and from pres
ent indications, Grant will be able to advance
into the heart of Georgia, if not to reach even
the sea-board at Savannah while Burnside or
Foster will invade and hold the whole of North
Carolina, thus dividing the 'Confederacy' into
rather small fragments, and enabling the people
to speak their loyal sentiments, If they wish to.
In one of our exchanges, we find the following
anecdote of President Lincoln, which, as it is
quite characteristic of him, we insert. He prob
ably knew as well as any one, that communica-
tions sent through the foreign Offices of Wash
ington and London, are generally 80 ~encumbered
with 90 red tape that the chances of their ever
reaching Victoria would BE- small. And he
knew, moreover, that she is Queen of England,
and her word could stay and disperse any threat
encd war-cloud. Here Is the item. and it is
doubtless true
There is u well-authenricated story in private cir
cles. that a few months ago, when the rebel rama
were about ready TO leave Liverpool, and our affairs
with England were most fearful and threatening,
President Lincoln wrote "A personal private letter to
Queen Victoria. on the subject; and from its reception
by her dates the new and more just policy of the
English Government towards US.
By the clipper we hear an item OF news that
partakes of the sensation stripe, but which, for
all that, may prove true. IT is, that the arch
pirate Semmes is bound for the Pacific. He was
last reported at Calcutta, bound for Hongkong
and the China seas, where no will find a rich
field for his lawless depredations. From China
he may cross the Pacific, perhaps touching at
UnnoInln vfarn after finding a nri7a or two
in the shape of a China clipper bound past, with
a rich cargo Of silver and stores, he may wend
his way to San Francisco, and lay that city I'M
der tribute. Here is the telegram:
CHICAGO, Jan. sth-Special dispatches from Wash
ingtou say The fact that the Alabama is believed
I o y G making = why lOWdIuS lHC L aSiiC Ohs bbS
st last aroused the attention of both the War and
Navy Departments to our defenceless situation there.
II is said by Californiaus that \ single 3O-gun frigate
could take the harbor OF San Francisco, or any other
harhor along the coast. The Navy Department have
determined TO send two or three men-of-war 70 that
place. at the earliest possible moment. Senator Con-
ness has also secured from the War Department the
assignment of a prominent and able Major General
10 the Pscihc coast, with several batteries Of artillery
and \ small addition TO the infautry force. This re-
lieyes Gen. Wright. Californians have for some time
been making urgent representations oi the need for
these changes and achievements
On which the Bulletin comments rs follows:
The COMING "~ALABAMA."-The reported coming
OF the -4!u5dma has created less excitement about
town than was anticipated. People have no objection
to her coming into the harbor if she will only moor in
the same place the -7quiia did. The question Of
whether she can or cannot pass Fort Point and Alca-
iraz has resolved itself into insignihcance In compar'
ison with the moro momentous one What Will she
do after she gets here? Sscklng the town would
scarcely pay. Very little but assesslble stock in in
accessible mining claims could be found in the pockets
of citizens or the vaults of bankers, and as for the mu-
nicipal treasury, the Supervisors long since gave over
in despair the idea OF making anything out OF thar.
The buccaneers would scarcely take Spring Valley
water stock in i;s present Deprecated condition, nor
yet would they take q contrac, for raising the Co
znG7che.
The chances are. however, that when he gets
to China, and finds such u large field for his ope-
rations there. and few American cruisers
capable of overhauling HIN, he will dodge around
the China ports for some months, before ventur-
ing across this ocean.
In the papers at hand by thesa arrivals, We
find the report of the American Secretary at
War and that of the Navy. Both are very in
teresting documents, but quite too lengthy for in
sertiou. In the latter We observe some statistics
regarding the growth of the navy, which is re-
ported 10 be as follows: