LITER NEWS FROM AMERICA AND EUROPE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 111, 1 May 1863, Page 3

LITER NEWS FROM AMERICA AND EUROPE.

(VIA SAN FRANCISCO). PROGRESS OF THE WAR. THE QUEEN’S SPEECH. THE WAS IN MEXICO. By the Charlotte Andrews, from San Francisco, we (Otago Daily Times) have received Californian papers to the 22nd of February, with telegraphic news from New York to the 21st, and England to the Bth February. EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE. Dates to Feb. 8. Haxifax, February 21.—The steamer Canada, from Liverpool, the 7th, via Queenstown, the Bth has arrived. Her dates are one week later. She brings 759 Lancashire operatives, sent out by the Missionary Committee. The Polish insurrection was spreading. Werepnzow had been taken by the Russians, after a sanguinary battle. The Queen of England’s speech contains very little of importance, except the following :—Her Majesty has abstained from taking any steps in view of the cessation of the conflict between the contending parties in the North American States because it has not as yet seemed to her that any overtures could bo attended with a probability of success. Her Maiesty has viewed with the deepest concern the desolating warfare which still rages in those regions, and she has witnessed with heartfelt grief the severe distress and suffering which the war has inflicted on a large class of her subjects, but which has been borne by them with great fortitude and resignation. It is some consolation to her Majesty to be led to hope that this suffering and distress is rather diminishing than’ increasing, and that some renewal of employment is beginning to take place. In the House of Lords, the question being an address in reply to the Queen’s speech, the Earl of Derby had no objection to make to the course of the Government, but regretted they had not joined with France iu an attempt, however hopeless, to effect an armistice and a cessation of hostilities which would lead the two armies to reflect on the miseries and hopelessness of the war in which they are engaged. AMERICA. Headquarters Army of the Potomac, February 16th.—Expeditions sent for the purpose of breaking up the contraband trade between rebels in Maryland and the South, and to prevent the execution of the Conscript Act in the counties on the Neck, ordered to take place on the 14th to the 17th, had returned successful, bringing a number of horses and mules, and a largo quantity of provisions seized. A large number of contrabands returned with the expedition. Several vessels used in carrying supplies across the Potomac were also seized and destroyed. Richmond papers of the 14th contain the following : A Bill authorising the impressment of slaves and property for the use of the array, passed the Confederate Congress; and resolutions were adopted instructing the Committee on Judiciary to report a Bill providing for the sale of all negroes taken in arms against the Confederacy, the proceeds to be divided amongst the captors. Cairo, February 17.—The steamer Polar Star, from Vicksburg, with dates to Wednesday, has arrived. The work on the canal and at Lake Providence and Yazoo Pass is still progressing. On Tuesday the 14th Wisconsin and 11th Illinois were attacked near Lake Providence by three rebel regiments. The latter were repulsed and a number taken prisoners. One report says that an entire Mississippi regiment was taken. St. Paul, February 17th. — A messenger to the Red Lake and Pembina tribes of Chippewas has returned, and reports that 1500 Sioux warriors were at Devil’s Lake, who were to move on Fort Abercrombie shortly. The officers -at the post were aware of their danger, and have strongly fortified it. New York, February 17. — The Herald's Hilton correspondent says enlistments in the Negro Brigade had fallen off considerably of late, and General Hunter had ordered all the able-bodied negroes in his department capable of bearing arms, to be at once drafted into the military service—the force thus raised to bo employed in garrison and fatigue duty. To every 400 negroes, however, a detachment of 100 whites is tojbe assigned as a managing and overseeing force. Advices from Port-au-Prince report that the Alabama had made two or three new prizes within six days after leaving Kingston. A fire at Norfolk, Va., on the 12th destroyed property valued at from $150,000 to $200,000. The fire was supposed to be the work of an incendiary.

We have nothing further of importance regard* ing the reported military movements of the Army of the Potomac than is contained in yesterday’s dispatches. The steamer Creole, with dates from Hew Orleans to the Bth, has arrived. Banks had issued orders suspending the navigation of the Mississippi to vessels exclusively engaged in private trade, except those engaged coastwise or foreign commerce ; also prohibiting the foreclosure of mortgages against loyal citizens, and exempting the property of loyal citizens from foreclosure for debts and obligations incurred subsequent to the date of this order, which should have remained uncalled for, for six months. The World?s Washington special despatch says that Fremont goes to Texas in command of the Department of the Gulf. The House Committee have agreed to take up the Senate’s Conscription Bill from the Speaker’s table and pass it without the usual reference to a committee. Washington, February 17, —Accounts, military and naval, from all quarters, are enconragirtg. The official report of Lieut. Blake, commanding the stermer Hatteras, is published. It adds nothing to the facts already telegraphed. He felt assured that during the chase and before the firing commenced, from the general character of the vessel she (the captor) was the Alabama. The President sent a message to the House yesterday, with statements by the officers of the Department of the Interior, regarding the causes of the outbreak of the Indian tribes in the Northwest. They give no adequate cause for mischief and outrages of such magnitude. The Senate remained in session until midnight. The Conscription bill amendment—that the President under the call proposed in the Bill, should take into account the number of troops furnished by each State, and make an apportionment among the States accordingly—was adopted. An amendment was also adopted that persons drafted should be exempt, on procuring a substitute, or on paying a sum not exceeding S3OO, to be fixed by the Secretary of War. Failing to appear when drafted, or to procure a substitute, or to pay the required sum, they will be arrested and tried by court-martial.

An amendment making the first class include those persons bet ween the ages of 20 and 35, instead ot between the ages of 18 and 30, was adopted. An amendment exempting ministers of the gospel was rejected. A discussion arose on the amendment exempting persons who are exempt by State Constitutions. Some Senators argued that if this were not done, revolution in the North would follow. M’Dougall said that if it was to be a revolution in the North, let it come; but lie did not believe that there would be any. The amendment was not concurred in—lo to 12.

An amendment exempting members of Congress, was rejected—l 6to 20. M’Dougall offered an amendment, which was adopted, including denizens of foreign birth who may have declared their intentions to become citizens. An amendment exemyting Governors of States was adopted, and the bill passed.

llpad Quarters of the Army of the'[Potomac, February 19.— The Richmond Enquirer of yesterday, has a telegram dated Charleston and Savannah. He says the movements of the enemy’s (Federal) Fleet indicate an early attack on one or both cities, and tells those unable to take an active part in the coming struggle, to leave, and calls on all the able-bodied mcnj from the seaboard to the mountains, to rally with arms,' pikes, spades and shovels, for the protection of their firesides. All the final preparations for the expected attack are being rapidly prosecuted. The troops and people are said to be calm and confident. The Enquirer, in its leader, says there have been no intentions, or pretence of intentions,S to mediate, on the part of France. The South wants no mediation while hostilities go on. The Eichmond Despatch says the North is fighting as much for self-protection as for Southern subjugation, and that the time is past when the National'Government sought the extinguishment of the South, and the further prosecution of the war is to save the North from the avalanche of ruin which ,the success of the South must precipitate upon it.

Washington, Feb. 19.—Admiral Porter communicates the followug to the Secretary of the Navy, dated February Bth:—l am happy to inform you that the steamer Viclcshurg was so bad* ly damaged by the Queen of the West that she has to bo kept afloat by large coal barges fastened to her sides. Her machinery has been taken out. and she is likely to be destroyed. This is the fifth steamer of which we have deprived the rebels at "Vicksburg. She was the largest and strongest steamer on the river, and I think they were repairing her for service against our transports, she being very fleet. Her guards and wheels were smashed in, and a large hole knocked in her side. So deserters report.” Persons in position to know say that at least twenty-five millions of dollars have been stolen in the Quartermaster’s Department during the last few months. 20th February.—Official information has been received that the rebel Congress has refused to sus:ain Jefferson Davis’ proclamation regarding the non-exchange of Federal Officers. They have also taken action with the view of releasing the Unionists in the South, arrested and imprisoned for political offences. MEXICO. - The steamer Eagle has arrived from Havana. Mexican advices represent the small-pox and dysentry as making sad havoc amongst the French troops. The French war steamer Dance was burned and abandoned at Tampico. The vessels laden with ammunition, and two others with provisions, were also abandoned. The Mexicans claim to have beaten 1200 French near Puebla, causing them to retreat with a loss of 25 killed, and 30 or 40 wounded. The Mexicans have also recaptured Jalapa. The French have established themselves at Peroto, were they had some 2000 sick in the hospitals. The Times says it has been positively stated in Washington that an attack on Charleston and Savannah is to take place to-day, the 20th,