AMERICA.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 33, 22 August 1863, Page 6

AMERICA.

INVASION OF THE NORTH. New York, June 13. Affairs are going on more decisively in favor of peace. Meetings have been held in the Northern States, and resolutions passed condemning the Government for prosecuting the war, urging peace at any price, and demanding that the wishes of the people be respected. The accounts of last month's proceedings, as reported by the Federal Government, are not relied on by the Northerners themselves. Authentic reports say that General Lee's army, numbering 100,000 men, supported by an immense cavalry force under General Stuart, is on the move towards Winchester and Harper's Ferry. The greatest alarm prevails in Washington. Preliminary arrangements for the enforcement of the Conscription Act had led to a breach of the peace and then murder. It is thought Government will not be able to carry out the measure. The voluntary enlistment of the black population is now the grand idea, as Lincoln and his principal advisers despair of much further

white aid for the conquest of the Southerners. Meanwhile, Lincoln says that, as the nation elected him President, he will act as such. Vicksburg has been attacked by the Federals, under General Grant, who was victorious in a series of attacks, but was finally repulsed. General Pemberton declared he could hold out until reinforced by Johnston, who, it was expected, would attack Grant in the rear and cut him up. Fort Hudson was invested by the Federal army and fleet. After several engagements the Northerners were repulsed. General Banks lost an arm, and General Sherman died of his wounds. Admiral Wilkes has been superseded, on the representation of the British Government. The arrest and condemnation of Mr. Vallandigham, for a speech made against the war, produced a tremendous sensation in the North. Application for a writ of habeas corpus was refused, and the refusal excited wild indignation. The Democratic party have nominated Vallandigham for the Governorship of Ohio. At a monster meeting, at which 25,000 people were present, the military despotism of the North was severely censured. The people are crying out for the freedom of discussion. The French Emperor had re-opened negotiations with England on the subject of mediation between the Federals and Confederates. Should, England decline, he will have recourse to Russia and Spain, as it is now thought utterly impossible for the seceding states to return to the Union. Lord Palmerston is in favor of submitting the American quarrel to the arbitration of the King of the Belgians. Provided the contending American factions agree to this arrangement, a suspension of hostilities, pending the decision and award of Leopold, will be imposed. The new element of negro soldiers employed by the Federals increases the fury of the Confederates, who give no quarter to blacks, and thus add greatly to the horrors of the war. General Banks reports the conduct of the black troops in the attack on Fort Hudson as being most heroic. When ordered to the front to storm the Confederate's position, they rushed in a body over the parapets and siege guns, and reached the interior of the fort. A hand to hand conflict ensued, unprecedented for ferocity. No quarter was given. Out of 800 negroes of the storming party, 600 were killed; the remaining 200 escaped by jumping headlong over the walls of the fort. The Federal loss in the late Vicksburg fight is given at 40,000. Admiral Porter, on the Yazoo River, had done considerable harm to the Confederates, and wantonly destroyed a large amount of public and private property The report of the evacuation of Fredericksburg by General Lee, and its occupation by Hooker, is wholly unfounded. The editors of the New York journals have passed a resolution asserting their right to criticise acts of administration, and deny the right of the military to suppress papers published far from the seat of war. The steamer Norwegian, sister ship to the ill-fated Anglo-Saxon, has been wrecked off St. Paul's, in the St. Lawrence, steaming in a fog. No lives were lost.

FRANCE. The Paris elections resulted in the entire defeat of the several Government candidates, and a complete change of Ministry has ensued, M. Billault replacing Count Walewski as Minister of State. The folloTing is the new list:—Baroche, Minister of Justice; Boudet, Minister of the Interior; Dueny, Minister of Education ; and Behie, Minister of Commerce, &c. This Cabinet secures the confidence of the French people, as it is believed to be the first step towards Ministerial responsibility. The French Government are* preparing for war, and it is asserted that France wishes to join with England in creating a free Poland. BRAZIL. The King of the Belgians has given his award in the dispute between England and Brazil, in favor of the latter country. POLAND. The Polish question causes great anxiety in England and on the Continent. The Poles are still fighting victoriously. Russia would consent to an armistice, but the Polish National Government insists on the following three conditions :—First, the armistice mirt extend throughout the whole kingdom of Poland, as it existed previous to the first division in 1772. Secondly, a plenipotentiary on the part of the National Government must be admitted to defend the interests of Poland at the conference; and thirdly, a national diet, composed of delegates from the provinces, as well as from the kingdom of Poland, must meet under the guarantee, not merely of Europe, but also of the national army, which occupies all the provinces. Should these conditions not be complied with, " freedom or death" is to be the watchword. Extensive warlike preparations are being made in Russia.

PRUSSIA. Affairs in Prussia are getting from bad to worse. The Crown Prince, having publicly expressed himself very clearly on late affairs, regretting the turn they had taken, the King, his father, sent him a sharp letter, demanding a retraction. This the Prince refused, and requested that he might be permitted to lay down his dignities, and retire, with his wife and family, to where he could not be accused of interfering with affairs of state. Deputations from all parts of the country are arriving at Berlin in defence of the conduct of the representatives of the people, and urging an abrogation of the recent order gagging the voice of the Prussian press. AUSTRIA. In the Council nearly all the members, in discussing an address to the Emperor, expressed sympathy for Poland, advocating its complete independence. GREECE. Prince William of Denmark has formally accepted the throne of Greece, under the title of King George I. The lonian Islands have been ceded to Greece. ITALY. France has made fresh remonstrances at Rome, to obtain the withdrawal of Francis 11. from that city. Garibaldi's health is still very poor. The Italian Chamber of Deputies has passed a vote of confidence in the Ministry by 202 votes to 52. Out of the debate a duel arose, between M. Ratazzi and M. Mainghitti, the Premier. Ratazzi was wounded. MEXICO. The Mexicans are preparing for a desperate defence of the city of Mexico. INDIA. Bombay advices state that Nana Sahib has been captured at last, beyond all doubt. He was taken at Ajaniere, in a Hindoo temple, by Major Davidson and three officers. A widespread conspiracy is indicated by his papers. An impostor, calling himself Tantia Topee, is at Salamba, with 5,000 Bengal sepoys. The longprotracted siege of Herat is ended, Dost Mahommed's troops having taken the city by storm. Calcutta, July s.—Violent south-west gales have prevailed in the Bay of Bengal, causing much loss and damage to shipping. JAPAN. In Japan, matters have assumed a more peaceful aspect, the Tycoon having partially accfted to our demands. WESTERN AUSTRALIA. The system of granting conditional pardons is to be abolished. All convicts are to remain in the colony until the expiration of their original sentence. Three English men-of-war are to be converted into transports for the conveyance of prisoners to Swan River. Larnack's exploring party has returned unsuccessful.