AMERICA.

North Otago Times, Volume 1, Issue 1, 25 February 1864, Page 6

AMERICA.

The American news is important. The Liverpool Daily Post, of Dee. 21, Bays •— " We consider ourselves in a position to state that Lord Lyons, in a despatch to Earl Russell from Washington, announces that the war m America will be terminated Avitlun the next three months. The j Confederates being in the greatest extremities, will have speedily to propose an armistice. In our informant we have the fullest confidence." But from the two Presidential Messages there is not a single sentence indicative of how or when the conflict will end. " President Lincoln congratulates the country on its friendly relations with Foreign Powers. President Davis bitterly complains of the help rendered to the Federals by England and France, under the guise of neutrality ; alludes with pride to the courage and patience of the people, and again calls upon them for additional means to carry on the struggle." Charleston still holds out. Even the ruins of Fort Sumpter cannot be taken. Accounts from the besieged city, via Richmond, btato that on the 9th of December the Federal batteries opened fire on the city, but were silenced by Fort Moultrie after the eighth discharge. The army of the Potomac have gone into their winter quarters, and leave of absence is freely granted to numbers of the officers and men. The Federal Government adheres to its determination to refuse exchange of prisoners until the Confederates agree to exchange coloured troops The Confederates decline to comply with thiß demand. It is estimated that the expenditure of the 'Federal Government for the support of the War, Navy, and other Departments, together with the interest upon the public debt, during the ensuing year, will amount to 800,000,000 dollars. The Russian flag- ship and three gunboats left New York on the 27th November, for Fortress Monroe, where they intend staying during the winter. The French frigate Guerriere sailed from New York on the 26tli President Lincoln and Ihb cabinet were, by order of the C/ar, to be invited to a grand entertainment on board the Russian flag-ship.