THE ENGLISH JUNE MAIL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 137, 28 August 1863, Page 3

THE ENGLISH JUNE MAIL.

G ENERAL SUMM AR Y. (From the Home News, June 26.)

TLe narrative of the American war for the last month offers a few varieties in the way of movement; but contains no decisive events. All is as yet in prospect ; and little more can be said as to the future than that we seem to be nearer to a catastrophe than we were a few weeks ago. Tin? two central points of interest are still the Mississippi and the Rappahannock. Fortune fluctuates at both points, and the occurrence is yet to take place which is destined to turn the scale finally, one way or the other. Early in the month it was reported that the Confederates had evacuated Vicksburg. A little later it was reported that Lee had evacuated Frederickburg. The frequency of such reports, and the fact that there is not a grain of foundation for them, naturally weakens the credit of the Northern channel of information from which they come. That the Federals have as yet got the best of the position on the Mississippi seems, however, to be certain. General Grant, after a succession of what, are called bloody battles, is stated to have at last succeeded in regularly investing Vicksburg. The Confederates, on the other hand, furnish a version of the situ-

ation which, although it does not conceal the peril in which they are placed, greatly modifies its proportions. According to their statements, they have established a position in the rear of Grant’s army, which is seriously calculated to harass ami impede his movements, if not ultimately to defeat them. There is no doubt, however, that Vicksburg is in danger. The Richmond papers speak of its fall as an incident within the range of probability, and they do not disguise the injurious eft'ect it would have upon their cause.

The first news we had of General Lee was that he had put his army in motion, and commenced a forward motion across the Rappahannock. His precise object was unknown ; but the passage of the Rappahannock was regarded as an unmistakeable invasion. He contemplated a descent upon Maryland and Pennsylvania, or a direct assault on Washington. Whatever it might he, the issue was looked forward to with the deepest interest. The Federals prepared for the worst by strengthening Washington, and the Governor of Pennsylvania began at once to set his house in order. There was hardly time to reflect on this intelligence, when fresh news arrived to the effect that Lee had evacuated Fredericksburg, and that Hooker had crossed and taken possession of the city. The disappearance of Lee is involved in the profonndest mystery. The world was soon relieved from its suspense. The whole statement was a pure fabrication. Lee had merely moved some of his troops into a healthier situation, and his army, instead of vanishing into thin air, had received reinforcements. Hooker, deceived by his motions, had sent two detachments across the river, which were met by the Confederates, defeated, and obliged to retreat hack to their old quarters. And thus matters stood at the date of the last advices. It was generally believed in the Federal lines that Lee was preparing for the invasion of Maryland. The arrest, summary trial, and condemnation! of Sir. Vallandigluun for a speech he made against the war, has produced tremendous excitement in the North. An application for a writ of haheus corpus having been refused, the wildest indignation burst out on all sides, and public meetings were held, at which fierce resolutionss were passed assorting the outraged rights of the people. Yet nothing has come of it. Yallandigham had been sentenced to imprisonment as long as the war lasted, but, by way of commuting bis sentence, he was transported beyond the Federal lines to the headquarters of the Confederates at Shelbyville. Here he found himself realising the old adage of out of the frying pan into the fire. Jefferson Davis no sooner heard of his arrival than he telegraphed to him that unless he immediately took the oath of allegiance to the Southern Confederacy he should not be allowed to remain on Southern soil. But suppose his conscience will not allow him to take the oath of allegiance, what is to become of him ? To what point of the compass in that vast republic may a man turn with safety, who being banished for free speech in the North, is not permitted to live except under coercion to the South ? It is not unlikely that these complications in poor Mr. Vallaudigham’s case may be considerably increased by his election by the people of Ohio to the post of governor, which seems to be in contemplation.

There is so little hope from within of a peaceful solution of the contlict between North and South, that we must look for it from without: and. notwithstanding the obstinacy of the Federate on the point of intervention, it is not wholly impossible that necessity may at last bring them to listen to reason. The Emperor of the French is said to be determined to persevere in his project of endeavouring to bring about an amnesty, and has re-opened his negotiations witli England on the subject. Should England still decline, he will have recourse to Spain, whose Cuban revenues have suffered severely from the war, and who is consequently, directly interested in the recognition of the South, shouktethere be no other means of terminating the strife.

The. Polish insurrection makes rapid progress. The power exercised by the secret government is so great and decisive that the Russian authorities may be said to be superseded in Warsaw. Several instances occurred recently. Certain documents in the hands of the Prussian officials were necessary to procure the conviction of one of the State prisoners. The secret government issued its order, or commands, that these documents should be transferred to their hands. The order was no sooner made known than the documents disappeared. An English com-

pany had entered into a contract for the water supply of Warsaw. The secret government issued a decree declaring the contract null and void, in common with all contracts to which the Pussian authorities were parties, and the company immediately withdrew. The secret committee wanted five millions of silver x’oubles. The sum immediately disappeared from the treasury of the Warsaw Bank, and with it four of the officials. When the Commissioners of the Exchequer came to investigate the matter, they found, in the place of the money, a receipt duly signed by the National Government. An insurgent chief and a Capuchin priest were hung in Warsaw. The archbishop and the clergy protested against this proceeding, and demanded the body of the priest for interment. The answer of the government was a summons to St. Petersburg, to which place the archbishop has repaired the consequences of his act. At this point of the story, the National Government interposed, transmitting a private message to the Grand Duke Constantine that it could no longer be responsible for his safety. If insurgents and priests are to be ignominiously hung by one government, the Poles are resolved toilet it be seen that grand dukes may be rendered amenable to wild justice by another government.

It is much the same in the field. Almost everywhere the insurgents are the victors. At Nora Weiss, after a long and desperate light, the Russians were totally routed, and obliged to fly. Another victory, of a still more important character, was gained by Oxinski in the neighbourhood of Kaliseh. Here the number of Russians reported to be killed and wounded is stated to have been very large. In the Ukraine the revolution spreads steadily. In Yolhynia the Russians outnumbered the insurgents, but in the Palatinate of Augustowo the peasantry are up in arms to a man. It is not to be supposed that iu all cases the insurrection is triumphant. There are some exceptions. The Russian occasionally overpowers his agile and indefatigable opponent; but there is no doubt that there is a heavy balance of successes in favour of the Poles. In one affair at Konskie two Russian companies w'ere completely destroyed ; and another conflict, attended with equally important results, occurred in the Palatinate of Plock. The Russians, unable to cope in these engagements with their active adversaries, take their revenge in barbarities. Mouravieff has established a reign of terror in Lithuania, which increases every day in horror. Neither age nor sex secures those who are even suspected of disaffection from a cruel death. One of the barbarities attributed to Mouravieff, that of condemning to the ignominious punishment of the knout all women who wear mourning, has been disclaimed by Prince Gortschakoff on behalf of the authorities ; but enough of proved barbarities remain behind to reflect indelible disgrace on the Russian government. Happily, there is at last a chance of obtaining a settlement of some kind for the Poles. England, Franco, and Austria have forwarded to St. Petersburg three notes, nearly identical, laying down the basis of an arrangement for Polish independence, Politicians who have the best means of forming an opinion on the subject, do not venture to prophecy the result; but should Russia continue obstinate, diplomacy must, inevitably, sooner or later, give place to intervention of a more peremptory character.

The wolf has come at last that is to eat up the innocent Greek sheep. Prince William has been formally invested with the sovereignty of Greece at Copenhagen, and he made a speech on the occasion which was distinguished by its good sense and its brevity. The ceremony was imposing as well as solemn; and the part played by the King of Denmark in the scene was worthy of a constitutional king who thoroughly understood the responsibilities of that, wo hope, auspicious inauguration. Now that the difficulties are all disposed of, and the cup lias reached the lip, and is likely to be drained to the dregs, the Greeks may be fairly congratulated on the choice they have made. There is no doubt that the alliance is an excellent one in every respect, and is free from the hazards which might have followed in English alliance. London, 2Gth June. The Australian April mails were delivered in Loudon on the 12th and 17th June. On the 10th June, the inauguration of a statue of the late Prince Consort took place with the greatest eclat. The Prince and Princess of Wales are everywhere received with unbounded enthusiasm.