The New York Herald Newspaper, April 1, 1862, Page 6

6 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. OFFICE N, W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU 8TS, TERMS cash in advance. risk of the sender, None but Bank billi taken THE DAILY HERALD, two cents per copy, $7 per annum. THE WEEKLY HERALD, cvery Saturday, at six cents per pean Edition every Wednewlay, num to any part of Great Britain, inent, both to include postage; the Ath and 21st af each month, at size cents per copy, or $2 75 per annum. urrent in New York copy, or $3 per anna the tats cans per copy: $4 or $6 12 toumy part oF th Volume XXVII AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—Witp Oats—Buack Evep Sunas. WINTER GARDEN, Broadway.—Camtix. WALLACK'S THEATRE, Cuaax LAURA KRENE’S THEATRE, Broadway.—Tax Ma- ‘CARTHY; OB, THY PER? oF Day. NEW BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Auiwe—Raisinc THe Wine idipeky Lane. MARY PROVOST'S THEATRE, 435 Broadway—Ricnanp T—Maurtisix Axy. No. 844 Broadway.—Love BARNUM’S AMERICAN MUSEUM, Broadway.—Cow- Worr—Livinc Hirrororauvs, Wats, &0.. at wl hours.— Bapax ano Katasavi oon and erening. BRYANTS' MIN: Mechanics’ Hall, 672 Broad. ‘way.—Down i ULD K-¥-KY. MBLODEON CONCERT HALL, 539 Broadway.—Son ‘Danons, Bu: KS, &C.—CONTRABAND CONVENTION. 0 CANTERBURY MUSIC HALL, 585 Broadway.~So ™ Dances, Burixsquus, &¢.—INavcur ation Pyrite , GAIETIES CONCERT ROOM, 616 Broadway,—Drawina Room Ewreerannaxnts, Balers, Pantomtans, Fances, £0. AMERICAN MUSIC HALL, 444 Broadway. Danwxy—Rarinosp—Cobuistos— ony Miuveme ees CRYSTAL PALACE CONCERT HALL, No. 45Bowery, — KS, SONGS, DaNcus, &6.—two Clowns. MEXICAN MUSEUM, 663 Broadway.—Da: Even- tng—Couimetion oF Cakvap Wax Provaas 04 Even PARISIAN CABINET OF WONDERS, 563 Broadway.— ‘Open daily trom 10 A. M. Ud P.M. NOVELTY MUSIC HALL, = omen Damen an IALL, 616 Broadway.—BuRizsqves ke. G New York, Tuesday, April 1, 1862, A despatch to the Navy Department yesterday from Commodore Dupont reports the result of an expedition from his flect into Mosquito Inlet, Fla., by the Penguin, Lieutenant F, A. Budd, and the Henry Andrew, S. W. Mather commanding, in which both these officers were killed, together with sixseamen, and seven others were wounded. The object of the expedition was to capture any vessels lying there which were supposed to con- tain arms transhipped from British vessels from Nassau, and to protect from incen- diarism large quantities of live oak timber, cut and ready for shipment. After making a survey of the inlet in their boats, the two commanders, on their return, landed in the vicinity of some wbandoned earthworks near a dense grove, from which a heavy fire was unexpectedly opened upon their men, killing Lieutenant Budd and Acting Master Mathers, and the number of men above stated. The rebels who made this attack were a Portion of the garrison who abandoned St. Augus- tine on the approach of our troops. On the fol- lowing morning ¢the 234 ult.) upon the arrival of Com. Rodgers, the place was found to be evacuat- ed, but the bodies of the two officers were deliver- ed up under a flag of truce by a rebel officer, Cap- tain Bird, who came from a camp atsome distance. The prize rebel steamer Magnolia, with a cargo of one thousand and fifty bales of cotton, arrived here yesterday from Key West. We give else- where a detailed account of her capture, and a full description of the vessel. Our news from the Gulf to-day will be found highly interesting. We give to-day some further particulars of the killed and wounded at the battle of Winchester. ‘The wounded are generally reported as doing well. A full official list cannot be received for a few days to come, owing to the scattered positions of the different regiments. General Shields is rapidly Fecovering. / Despatches received at St. Louis yesterday state that a skirmish took place between a de- tachment of the First Iowa cavalry and a guerilla band of rebels under Colonel Parker on the 29th, about ten miles west of Warrensburg, in which fifteen rebels were killed and twenty- five prisoners, including Colonel Parker and Captain Walton, were taken. On our first page will be found a comprehen- sive map of Memphis and the shores of the Mississippi river on both sides, together with a description of that city and its railroad ap- proaches. A Northern man at Nashville writes to a Louis- ville paper that there will be a rebel force on the new line, extending from Decatur, Alabama, to Island No. 10, of two hundred thousand men. Evans, of Georgia, he says,has arrived from Ma- nassas with the flower of the army which fought us last July. From all the indications, the impend- ing battle will be far the most important of any that has yet been fought in this war. The rebel force at Coriath is said to number seventy thou- sand. These facts are important, though not un- expected, as it has been long known that the rebel troops have for some time been moving westward, under Beauregard, Evans, and other officers. They also prove that General McClellan's policy of moving his Western forces southward before he advanced those of his own department to be both judicious and a proof of good general- ship. Virginia will be won without much blood- shed, and the actual fighting will yet be carried on in the cotton States, where it properly belongs By the Jura at Portiand we have news from Eu Tope to the 2ist of March, two President Lincoln's emancipation mess. been received in England, ond it was commented on by the press, was regarded as of the utmost importance, and likely to produce a very favorable effect for the Union canse in 1 , The London Times acknowledges this to a great extent, but the writer, towards the close of the article, talks of the State paper as @ “bid made towards patting an end to the war,” he not being, 80 far aa perhaps, able to comprehend the scope of the policy of the Washington ( Russell, of the London 7/mes, was out again asa war prophet and sympathizer with the rebela, He Praises the constancy and tenacity (2) of the Bouthern troops, and asserts that the Northern soldier fur ‘are weary of war” and “élamorous for Such are his fictions of the 3d of Money sent by mail will be at the NEW March, immediately before the advance of the Army of the Potomac. The lieutenant of the privateer Sumter, with the ex-Consul of the United States at Cadiz, who were lately arrested by the Moors at Tangier, at the instance of the American Consul, had been shipped for Boston, on the Harvest Home, from the federal gunboat Ino. France was forwarding more troops to Mexico. A new brigade was to leave Toulon for that repub- lic within a week. CONGRESS. In the Senate yesterday, a joint resolution ap- pointing Theodore Woolsey, of Connecticut, Re- gent of the Smithsonian Institution, in place of C. C. Felton, deceased, was adopted. A resolution calling on the Secretary of War to furnish the re- port of Brigadier General Mansfield relative to the engagement between the floating batteries Merri- mac and Monitor was also adopted. bill creat- ing a Bureau of Transportation was introduced and referred. The bill transferring the inspection of lighthouses from the navy to the revenue ser- vice, under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, was discussed. A bill providing a Ter- ritorial government for Arizona was introduced: Mr. Fessenden presented joint resolutions from the Maine Legislature in favor of extending pe- cuniary aid to the States for the emancipation of their slaves; also cordially approving of the Pre- sident’s Message, and declaring that Maine will cheerfully furnish her quota of the amount; also asking Senators to vote for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia. The bill for the abo- lition of slavery in the District of Columbia was then taken up, and Mr. Sumner, of Massachusetts, made a long speech in its favor. In the House of Representatives, the Senate bill remitting duties on arms imported by States or con. tractors was passed. A resolution fromthe Com- mittee on Elections, declaring S. F. Beach not elect- ed to the House from the Seventh Congressional dis- trict of Virginia, was adopted. The remainder of the session was spent in Committee of the Whole on the Tax bill. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. The newspaper details of our European adviees, to the 19th of March, are published this morning. These reports contain matter of much interest and importance. A perusal of the compilation will enable the reader to comprehend the situation of affairs abroad to the latest moment. The Epoca of Madrid asserts in the most posi- tive manner that there has never been any design on the part of the Spanish government to recall General Prim, and that that officer is faithfully carrying out the views of his government. The Spanish papers also speak of an increasing irrita- tion between Spain and Morocco on the subject of boundaries, and fear that it will end in war. The Jura, from Liverpool the 20th aud London- derry the 21st of March, reached Portland yester- day. Her news is two days later than that of the City of New York. Consols rated in London at 9374 a 94 for money on the 21st of March. The bullion in the Bank of England increased $2,605,000 in the week. Cotton advanced from one-eighth to one-fourth of a penny during the week in Liverpool. The market closed firm at the advance of the 2lst of March. The stock in port footed up 403,500 bales. Breadstuffs were quiet but steady. Provisions remained steady. The Atlantic Telegraph enterprise idea was pro- gressing in public favor in England. Italy was still agitated. Austria was strengthening her mi- litary posts on the Venetian frontier with double guards and advancing troops all along the river Po. Garibaldi remained in Turin, at the request of the Prime Minister. Our advices from Adelaide, South Anstralia, are to the 25th of January. Commercial matters continued dull. The wheat crop had been nearly all gathered in; but the harvest was considered un- satisfactory. Flour was quoted at £lla £115a. per ton; copper at £96 10s. per ton. We have advices from Pernambuco to the Ist of March. Freights for Europe were active, and principally consisted of sugar and cottou—the latter of very good quality—Brazil in future will produce an immense quantity. The improvements in the interior (railroads and factories) were ex- tending very rapidly, and the province quiet and healthy. By the arrival at this port last evening of the schooner Euphemia, Captain Bayle, we have ad- vices from Vera Cruz to March 8. The English forces had withdrawn, and the Spanish were also leaving as fast as possible, the French having taken possession. There were rumors of battlea in the interior; but there had been no confirmation of them. There had been a great deal of sickness and death among the allied troops. Captain Jacob A. Cobb, master of the steamer Acorn, lately arrived at Havana from New York, publicly declared his intention of running the blockade with her and of entering the Confede- rate service. She is a fast propeller, making easi- ly from eleven to twelve knots, and will, under her adventurous captain, who is well known inthis city, prove a troublesome customer to our block- ading fleet. In the State Senate at Albany yesterday, the bill correcting errors in the Brooklyn assessments was passed. The bill to incorporate the Home of | the Friendless, at Newburg, was ordered to a third reading. A favorable report was made on the bill for encouraging investments by persons of | limited means in State stocks. The Congressional Apportionment bill was made the special order for to-morrow (Wednesday). The Excise bill was taken up and debated. In the Assembly, petitions were presented in favor of the M tropolitan i Health bill and the Broadway Railroad. The bill amending the Long Island Railroad charter receiv- ed a favorable report. The bills incorporating the State Homeopathi ciety and for the completion of the Chenango Canal were reported from the committees. An unfavorable report was made on the bill for the construction of railroads in cities by the State. The Concert Saloon bill and the Peo- ple’s College $10,000 Appropriation bill were made tke special order for to-morrow (Wednesday). A | | _sesolution calling onthe Cities Committee to re- port the bill for the construction of railroads in all the streets and avenues of New York wasintrodaced and laid on the table. The *pring Street Railroad | bill was moved forward to the first unengaged Committee of the Whole. The Capital Punishment bill was ordered to a third reading; also the bill defining the rights of husband and wife. The Grinding Committee reported to the House a num- ber of bills, among which were the Church Pro- perty bill, the bill for licensing ballast lighters in this port, and that to enable the Kings county Supervisors to borrow money to build a new Brooklyn Court House. The select committee of investigation into the proceedings of the State Military Board have nearly completed their labors, and are expected to make their report in a day or two. ‘The Southern civilian generals have been very unfortunate inthe present war. There are eleven of this class, who received no military education, and who never before had a military command, The following are their names:— Honry A. Wise, whipped in Virgin John B. Floyd, whipned everywhe Robert Toombs, been in battle, Richard Taylor, ‘Thos. B. Flo L. 0'B, Branch, whipped at Newbern Wm. H. Carroll, never on a eld Kt. K. Rhodes, never on a field | There are now encamped at Leroy, Coffee | us YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 1862.—TRIPLE SHEET. county, Kansas, between six and seven thousand friendly Indians, belonging to the Creeks, Semi- noles, Cherokees, Chickasaws, Wichitas, Quapaws and Senecas. Among them are about two thou- sand warriors who are anxious to take the field against the rebels, who drove them from their homes in the Indian Territory. Four of the rebel generals were born in Massa- chusetts, one in New York, one in Pennsylvania, one in New Jersey and one in Ohio. The Board of Aldermen did not organize last evening, a quorum not being present. The Board of Councilmen were in session last evening, and disposed of considerable routine bu- siness. A resolution was unanimously adopted tendering the use of the Governor's Room to Par- son Brownlow, who is soon expected to visit this city, to receive those who may wish to expres their congratulations for his devotion to the Union. A resolution was also adopted directing the Com- mittee on National Affairs to take immediate mea- sures to render all possible aid and comfort to such wounded soldiers as may pass through the city from the battle field. The Board concurred with the Aldermen by a vote of 16 to 7 in making the the Daily Times a corporation paper. The Comptroller sent in a communication trans- mitting a detailed statement of the moneys received from the Corporation Attorney during the month of December, and stating that he had paid the sum of $819 47 to meet the balance of expenses in the office of the Corporation Attorney. The communication of his Honor the Mayor relative to the harbor defences of New York, which was sent to the Board of Aldermen last week, was received and gave rise to a debate, which culminated in the adoption of a resolution offered by Mr. Orton, re- questing the Mayor to memorialize the Legislature of this State for the immediate passage of an act to provide adequate means for protecting the harbor of New York against the approach of iron-clad ves- sels-of-war. The first quarterly report of the Au- ditor was received, and 1,500 copies ordered to be printed. A resolution authorizing the payment of $3,800, expended in celebrating Washington's birthday, was adopted. According to the City Inspector’s report there were 406 deaths in the city during the past week— a decrease of 11 as compared with the mortality of the week previous, and the same number as occurred during the corresponding week last year. The re- capitulation table gives 4 deaths of alcoholism, 2 of diseases of the bones, joints, &c.; 86 of the brain and nerves, 6 of the generative organs, 17 of the heart and blood vessels, 141 of the lungs, throat, &c.; 5 of old age, 39 of diseases of the skin and eruptive fevers, 8 premature births, 57 of dis- eases of the stomach, bowels and other digestive organs; 20 of uncertain seat and general fevers, 10 of diseases of the urinary organs, 10 from violent causes, and 1 unknown. There were 303 natives of the United States, 6 of England, 64 of Ireland, 3 of Scotland, 23 of Germany, and the balance of various foreign countries. ‘The stock market was languid and weak again yestor- day. Government sixes declined 3 per cent, and the gencral railway list about 3{. Speculators and investors are alike waiting tor news. Money was uncbanged in value, and net very active. Exchange was firm at 112 | for bankers’ sterling. Gold was better, closing 10154 bid. The banks showed an increase of $818,412 in specie, and a decline of $2,593,656 in loans. The cotton market opened steady yesterday, and closed firm in'the afternoon. The sales embraced 400 a 500 bales, on the basis.of 273/c. a 28c. per Ib. for middling uplands, chiefly at tho latter figure. Near- ly all the gales were made to spinners, and to gv out of market. Flour was in moderate demand, chiefly from the home trade; common to medium grades were dull, while cxtra qualities were firm. Wheat was inactive and salea limited; inferior and com- mon grades were ueglected, while prime to choice quan- tities were scarce and in good request for milling: Corn was rather firmer, with fair sales of Western mixed, chiefly at 58. in store and delivered Pork was hoavy and casier, with sales of now mors at $12 87}; a $13, and for June delivery at $13, and now prime at $10 26a $10 50, Sugare were steady and in good request, with sales of 1,200 hhds. Coffee was quict and nominal. Freights wore unchanged, while engage ments were poor in oxtent. Progress of the War for the Union—Resto- ration of Tennessee and Florida. While our encircling armies, fleets and flotil- las are steadily and irresistibly advancing upon the contracting lines of the rebellion, the question still recurs, what are we to do with our revolted States as they are rescued from the military despotism of Jeff. Dav Are they to be encouraged quietly to re their old order of things under the Union, or are they to be subjected to a sweeping military programme of confiscation, emancipation and an anti-sla- very reconstruction of their local governments? We have the answer, explicit and satisfactory, in behalf of Mr. Lincoln’s administration, from Tennessee and Florida, and in the initiatory steps commenced in those two States for their complete restoration to the “old flag.” Tennessee, next to Virginia, has been made the dupe, the tool, the fool, the drudge, the packhorse and the impoverished victim of this rebellion. With the expulsion of the rebel armies from her capital, her people, to a great extent, were found to be incredulons, stupefied, bewildered, sullen and poisoned with the virus of secession, apparently beyond the reach of any but the most violent remedies. But, for all this, Mr. Lincoln’s Provisional Military Governor, Andrew Johnson, substantially assures those people that he comes among them only to enforce the supreme authority of the Union, so fur as may be necessary, untily with the expulsion of the armed forces of seees- sion throughout the State, the people of Ten- nessee nay proceed themselves to reorganize their State government under the supreme law of our federal constitution, and with all their local rights and institutions, slavery and all, as they were before the outbreak of this rebellion. Such is the ground taken by Governor John- son in his official “appeal to the people of Ten- nessee;” but ina subsequent public speech at Nashville on the 22d ultimo he — takes particular pains to assure them that, so far is be from entertaining any sentiment in common with our abolition re- formers of the North, that he regards the aboli- tionist and the secessionist with the same ab- horrence. He says, and he says truly, that “there are two parties in existence who want dissolution;” that the abolitionists constitute one of these parties, and that “the two occupy the same ground; that “abolition is dissolu- tion, dissolution is secession; one is the other; both are striving for the same object,” and that the only difference between them is, that while the abolition party think that dissolution will destroy slavery, the secession party believe that dissolution will save slavery. Governor Johnson repudiates both these parties, and pro- claims his policy to be that of President Lin- coln, and of the two houses of Congress, as de. clared by them in July last—the simple policy of the restoration of our revolted States to the Union and to the constitution of the United States, State lines, State institutions, slavery and all. We are not, therefore, surprised to learn that since these declarations from Governor John- son there has been a manifest Union reaction going on among the people of Tennessee with, in the protecting lines of our armies, Let get the pump of the rebel army and the rebel State government of Harr's out of Memphis, and among his retreating con- federates in Arkansas or Mississippi, and doubt- less we shall have a speedy and universal acknowledgment by the people of Tennessee of the provisional Union government of Andrew Johnson, As Maryland, Kentucky and Mis- souri have been saved from secession without disturbing their local institution of slavery, 50 President Lincoln believes the States which have seceded may be reclaimed. Hence this conservative Union policy which, under his Provisional Governor Johnson, has been inau- gurated in Tennessee. The same ground is covered by the concilia- tory proclamation of General Sherman to the people of the State of Florida, from which the armed forces of the rebellion have been ex- pelled. We congratulate the country, there- fore, concerning these things, because we be- lieve that they settle the question, and remove all grounds for doubt and despondency in re- gard to the final restoration of our revolted States to the supreme government of the Union. With the suppression of the’ military power of the rebellion in those States, the people thereof have only to fall into line, submit to the strong arm of the government, and they will be re- stored to its protection, full and complete, without further trouble, and withoutany neces- sity, in any quarter, for tinkering or tampering with their paramount institution of slavery. This is the true policy for the restoration of the Union. It has worked admirably in Mary- land, Kentucky and Missouri; it opens woll in Tennessee, and the people of Florida, in accepting it, cannot restrain their rejoicings at their deliverance from the insupportable des- potism of Jeff. Davis and his armed incendia- ries. Another Union victory or two in Vir- ginia and in the Mississippi Valley will at once effect the deliverance of three or four more States, and then we may expect to see the un- dermined and unroofed fabric of Yancey’s “Southern confederacy on military principles” tumbling to the ground with a glorious crash. Very soon now we expect to report the glad tidings of the expulsion of the rebels and the rebel government from Virginia and North Carolina; and we have reason to believe that, when this good work shall have been achieved, the people of the cotton States themselves will speedily end the groans and pains of the London Times under its silly conceit that this war is to go on through half a dozen gencra- tions. The overwhelming armies, navies and war- like means and facilities of all kinds placed at the disposal of President Lincoln for the sup- pression of this Southern rebellion will assuredly within a few weeks reduce its means ,of resistance to a petty guerilla warfare in -distant holes and corners. How long, then, will such a miserable and useless resistance as this be tolerated by the exhausted people of the South? Not for a month, we dare say, after the flight of Jeff. Davis across the Mis- sissippi river. On the contrary, with all the inducements of safety, protection and the blessings and prosperity of the Union heid out to them, we believe that the people of the cot- ton States will begin to rebel against the rebel- lion with the expulsion of Jeff. Davis from Vir- ginia. We shall not have long to wait for the settlement of this opinion; and we have un- bounded confidence in the best results, even in South Carolina, from the wise and infallible restorative policy inaugurated by authority of Pyesident Lincoln in Florida and Tennessee. The Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia. The Senate has been engaged for several days past in debating the bill for the abolition of slavery in the Distriet of Columbia. There seems to be no question of the jurisdiction of Congress over the District, and from present indications it appears probable that the bill will pass both the Senate and the House. Then it will have to be signed by the Presi- dent, in order to become a law; and what his opinions are upon the subject is a question which does not seem to be considered or dis- cussed by the learned Senators. The Presi- dent's opinion, however, is of some importance, and a knowledge of it will aid our legislators to prepare the bill in such a form, and with such provisions, a8 may seeure the President's approval. During his memorable debate with Doug Ins, in 1858, President Lincoln de- claved that he might be in favor of the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, provided that, as a pre- liminary step, the measure was endorsed by a majority of the people of the District. In his emancipation scheme, recently submitted to Congress, the President takes the same ground, and makes the abolition of slavery dependent upon the wish of the people of the States con- cerned, adding, also, an offer from the general government to pay the expenses of emancipa- tion. Now, itis by no means likely that the President will take other or newer grounds in regard to slavery in the District; and the bill, in order to secure his approval, will obviously have to contain a provision for securing the as- sent of the people, and a provision, also, to pay for the slaves liberated. This latter idea is, if we are not mistaken, adopted by most of the Senators; but they seem to have overlooked entirely the opinion of the President, that the people must decide upon their own domes- tic institutions—that of slavery among the rest. In effect, the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia may be attained by simply passing the emancipation resolution of the President, after amending it #0 as to include the District as well as the border States. According to the expressed views of the President, it would seem that no abolition bill can secure his signature unless it conform to the ideas of his resolution. Why not, then, amend and pass the resolution at once? Such Congressional action would secure the support of conservatives and abolitionists alike. The conservatives take the emancipation scheme very coolly; for it endorses their opinions fully, and is strictly constitutional. In it the Presi- dent amply recognizes slavery as a State insti- tution, to be decided upon by each State for itself. Whether or not the resolution will practically affect slavery at present, therefore, is left to the slave States themselves to decide. If emancipation does result from it, the District of Columbia may very soon be free; but @ great many years must elapse before this result is attained in all the States. Indeed, we are of opinion that in the same, or @ less time, slavery would have been abolished had no such message ever been written by the President. We endorse it, however, because its practical and immediate effect is to demolish the abolitionists and to alienate from them al} popular sympathy. The abolitionists are be- ginning to perceive this, and their blatant praises of the President's scheme resemble the loud whistles of a frightened schoolboy as he Passes a churchyard. Still they have to vote for the resolution, lest the country should ac- cuse them of turning their backs upon them- selves; but, like Beau Hickman in the House, they make wry faces about it, try to stab the President under the fifth rib, and slash at every- thing and everybody in the desperate style of @ maniac threatened with a strait waist- coat. That the abolitionists should be thus forced into endorsing a message which sinks them for ever is the best practical joke of the season, The President's Message, then, is practical enough, and we, who are practical people, decidedly approve of it. It kills abolitionism; and, that monster once dead, the slaves of the District of Columbia and of the border States will no doubt be emancipated, as they would have been thirty years ago if Greeley, Beecher, Cheever, Garrison, Phillips and other fanatics had not riveted their chains. Let the resolution of the President be amended so as to include the District of Columbia, therefore, and imme- diately passed: The abolitionists may shout and glorify themselves because the temple of slavery will then fall in the border States. It is satisfaction enough for us to know that, like Samson, these agitators will be crushed beneath the ruins. The War and the Opera. The first blast of the trumpet of Mars in April last produced an almost magical effect upon every department of business, every phase of society, every kindof amusement. Manufac- tories were at a stand still; trade drooped; com- merce took in reefs in her sails, and all sorts of business tottered and fell. Society stopped in its gay whirl; the cotton and codfish aristocra- cies dropped out of the ring; the Central Park seemed like a corporation desert. The Opera was closed; the impresarii, the prime donne and the tenors took refuge in small cottages in the country, as the rebels creep into their man- holes on the approach of a Union shell, and all the singers who had courage enough to say anything announced their intention of leaving for Europe by the next steamer. Even religion did not pay; for people were too much occupied with temporal affairs to think about spiritual; and 80 the May anniversaries were postponed; the contribution boxes, passed around by seedy but benevolent clergymen, were returned as empty as the Tribune’s till, and the clergymen afore- said—who believe that charity begins at home—were unwillingly compelled to brush up their old clothes for another year. Those were very sad and gloomy times all around. The gates of the temple of Janus flew open with a crash; the God of War cried havoc and let loose his dreadful dogs, and everything and everybody were paralyzed, bewildered and frightened at the unexpected crisis, as Horace» caught off his guard, was nearly scared to death by a sud?-~ clap of thunderfroma clear, cloudless sky. We have been recovering by degrees from this unexpected collapse, and the recent Union victories have put as all upon our feet again- Trade, commerce, manufactures and all sorts of business, from that of the heavy merchant to that of the decrepit apple woman, have been re- vived and increased. Society is convalescent, and Broadway, crowded with new spring bon- nets, blooms like a parterre of choice fruits and flowers. Revivals of religion follow close in the wake of this social uprising, and Beecher, Cheever, Aaron, Phillips and other abolition orators, after several months of cruel neglect, have been gifted at last with a new and more radical eloquence, and treated to an unsavory but welcome kind of persecution. No wonder, then, that Grau seized _ this auspicious time to crown our happiness with a gem or two of opera. His short season at the Academy has closed, and Boston is now blessed with his festive presence; but he will be sure to come back to us before long. He managed his late campaign here with a strategical skill rivalling McClellan’s and surpassing Beauregard’s. We want him to do so again. Not one of his troupe but felt the inspiration o¢ the recent victories and the reviving influences of the spring sunshine. Upon the principal singers this effect of our Union triumphs was particularly noticeable, and for the sake of the good folks of Boston we hope that it has proved permanent. Brignoli seemed to have been born again after our victory at Newbesn, and looked hand- somer, sang better and was more admired than over. Adonis never could surpass Brignoli in beauty, and Brignoli has much the advantage of Adonis in voice. Not to be eclipsed by the favorite tenor, Madame D’Angri burst upon us like a singing Venus, restored to youth by the fall of Fort Doncison and the bom: bardment of Island No. 10, and looked and sang like the granddaughter of her former self, The exact age which she appeared to be may be accurately stated at twenty-five years, three months and four days, and we can- not believe her » moment older, in spite of all facts to the contrary. The sensation created by this Venus and Adonis may be imagined, but cannot be described. D’Angri renewed her youth like the American eagle, dressed like a bird of paradise, and sang like a flock of canaries. Brignoli brought out his sweet, fresh voice from the bandbox in which he had pre- served it for just such an occasion; acted as though he had caught fire from the footlights, and even went so far, one evening, as to witch the world with noble horsemanship, wpon @ gorgeously caparisoned steed, in a style equal to Eaton Stone or any other famous equestrian. The andiences were enchanted and transported with delight; the habitues of the Opera wept tears of joy and hailed the millennium, and so many people shook hands with Grau, to congratulate him upon his suc- cess, that bis friends are fearful he will meet the fate of President Harrison, who was shaken to death in a month. No doubt this is the reason why the Opera bas gone to Boston, where the people do not shake hends when they are pleased, but write each other stiff, formal, congratulatory notes instead. For the future the prospect is equally bril- liant. Maretzek prefers to wield the baton here rather than the sceptze in Mexico, and has with- drawn bis name as a candidate for the throne of that distracted country, and left the field clear for Prince Maximilian, or any other man. Maretzek, therefore, has joined his forees to those of Grau, and is going to Europe, with a corte blanche from Marti, of Havana, to en- gage artists and discover Grau’s royal parent- age. When he returns we shall have a surplus of operatic wealth; and until that blissful time we have all we can manage to appreciate tn Venus D’Angri and Adonis Brignoli. The Great Impending Battles. The most important events in the history of modern times are now at hand—events which will determine whether the conflict in the United States will be terminated in the restoration ‘of the federal anthority in every State of the Union, or whether it will be an exhausting struggle of years. It is the greatest civil war that has ever taken place in the history of the world. A million of men are arrayed in arms—soldiers of the Union 650,000, Confederates 350,000. Since the French Revolution and the struggle to make it good against the combined Powers of Europe, no other nation has sent so many men to battle. It is no wonder that the people of Europe should take so deep an interest in the contest; for the result will not only affect the condition of the present generation of every country, from the Pillars of Hercules to the North Pole, and from the British Islands to the Ural Mountains, but generations yet unborn. There are three decisive points where a bat- tle may be expected at any moment. The first isonthe line of the Rappahannock and the Rapidan, in Virginia, on which Joe Johnston commands the rebels in defence of Richmond and Norfolk. The second is on the Tennessee river, near the line between the State of the same name and the State of Alabama, and not far from Mississippi. The conflict will proba- bly take place between Corinth, at the north- east corner of the latter State, and Decatur, in Alabama. There the Confederates are making their stand, with the Memphis and Charleston Railroad as the base line of operations—a line of communication for reinforcements and sup- plies absolutely necessary to them. The third blow is at New Orleans. The operations of Foote, Burnside and Hunter are only subsidiary to these three stra- tegical points. In Virginia, Joe Johnston, aided by Gustavus Smith and Stonewall Jack- son, will be compelled to give battle; for they are surrounded at six or seven points, and can- not escape to effect a junction with Beauregard and Albert Sidney Johnston, in the Southwest. In Louisiana, to fight at once isa military ne- cessity on the part of the rebels; for they must either fight desperately in defence of New Or- leans or surrender it immediately to the formi- dable force sent against it. These are combined movements, the result ofa well laid strategical plan, which can hardly fail to result in decisive victories; and we are confident, from what we know of the disposition and movements of the varioes bodies of troope and the resources at the disposal of the govern- ment, that in three months the rebellion will be crushed out, and every Southern State’ re- stored to the Union, in the same manner as Kentucky, Tennessee and Florida. Two-thirds of the Southern people were always for the Union; and as our armies advance the loyalty of the population will be made manifest by the most indubitable evidences. This is the best answer to all’ the doubters and the English journaliets, who say that the overthrow of the rebellion is impossible, amd that nothing is possible as the result of the war but anarchy era military despotism. Neither one nor the other is possible. It is to prevent anarchy that this gigantic war is waged; and among a people so devoted to liberty as the Americans, a people who have the game in their own hands, and who eleet their Chiet Magistrate every four years, no would- be military despot cam ever be successful. The army he would attempt to wield against the liberties of the country would crumble to pieces in his hands like a rope of sand, and he would soon find himself a suceessful candidate for the gallows. The English journals fear such a des- potism, because they know it would be enabled to direct the whole military force of the country against the British empire, and inflict upon it a deadly blow from which it could'never recover. There is feeling enough in the country against England to render such an enterprise feasible to a military despot.. But the American people have too much practical common sense to: per- mit a dictator to riseup among them, to the destruction of the cherished institutions for which they are now fighting on a scale of vast- ness without a precedent among modern nations. The United States have two to one in the field. They have more endurance than Southern men, owing to the climate in which they were born and the activity of their lives. They are superior in mechanical skill, so valuable in war. They have more money and superior resources, or greater abundancg, of the materiel of war, and they have arms without stint, whereas the rebels are only half armed. But the crowning point is that the su- perior quality of their weapons renders every man that wields them equal to two Confede- rates. The physical force-of the North in the field is thus on the lowest calculation as four to one, to say nothing of the formidable navy on the coast and on the navigable rivers, and the moral force of the cause of the Union against rebellion. How is it possible, under these circumstances, that the arms of the federal government should not be triumphant, and all the Southern States restored in a very brief time to the national fold whence they strayed, one of the most extraordinary political hallucina- tions to be found in the annals of onganized communities? ‘Tue Russian Misston.—The mission to: Russia is, we see, at last completed by the appointment of Mr. Bayard Taylor as Secretary of Lega tion. Mr. Taylor is a litterateur of the penny-a- line, or rather of the half-penny-a-line, stamp— shallow, flippant, unsuggestive and without a spark of eriginality. He is a peet, too. His poetry is, however, of the machine kind, jin- gling prettily to the ear, but devoid of imagina- tion or fire. Mr. Taylor has travelled a great deal, is acquainted with several languages, writes duently, amd would no doubt make as good an average Secretary of Legation as most persoas who are appointed to that post. We have not a word to say against his personal qualifications, which probably have weighed as much with Mr. Cameron as his desire to gratify the abolitionists. There is one objection to his appointment, however, which should make the Senate slow to ratify it. Mr. Taylor, as one of the Washington correspondents of the Tribune, Bas been amongst the most industrions of the assailants and calumniators of General McClellan. He it was who invented the story about the Quakerguns at Manassas, with a view to give color to the assertion that there were only fifty thousand rebel troops there, although the Tribune itself, just previous to the evacua- tion, stated that there were upwards of one hundred thousand behind their lines of defence. Capable as Mr. Taylor may be for the post to which fe has been nominated, it becomes a question whether @ person who has been endeavoring to paralyze the efforts of the gov- ernment to put down the rebellion by secking