THE JULY MAIL.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1725, 22 September 1862, Page 1

THE JULY MAIL.

The steamship Lord Ashley, Capt Wheeler, with almost clock-work punctuality, was signalled yesterday at 2-30, and took her berth alongside the Queen-street Wharf about G p.m., having made an excellent passage from Sydney, with the English mail and news from Europe to the 26th July. The great and paramount interest still centres in the American struggle. By the June mail, we were apprised of the successes of the Confederates in James River. By the present mail we have intelligence that the long-expected battle (or rather continuation of battles) before Richmond had been fought,

iu which the Federals had been outgeneralled, out-manoeuvred, outflanked, and forced to retreat with a heavy loss of men and munitions, so much so that the President, by large bounties and other strong inducements, had called for a furtl er levy of 300,000 men; but these not seeming disposed to come at his call, a “ tall talk” of raising the requisite force by conscription seemed to be the order of the day. There is quite a change in the aspect of the war. Victory has exalted the Southern banners and re-animated the Southern heart. Summer had set in—disease was doing its work in the Southern swamps—and “ Yellow Jack” (the yellow fever) may prove to be quite as potent an ally of the Confederates as Janvier and Favrier, those generals in whom the Emperor Nicholas of Russia reposed such trust. The question of mediation had again occupied the attention of the British Parliament, but no motion was pressed, Lord Palmerston insisting that the fitting moment had not yet arrived.

Europe appears to be in an uncertain state. Russia wasting under incendiary fires. The life of the Czar attempted in the capital; and that of the Grand Duke Constantine narrowly escaping the assassins bullet at Warsaw. Italy, too, is more incomprehensible than ever. Movements in Rome; on which Garibaldi is said to meditate an attack, against which six sail of French steamers, with certain battalions of soldiery, lave been called into requisition.

The Princess Alice was married to the Prince of Hesse on the Ist July. The ceremony took place at Osborne in a private manner, in the presence of the Queen and Royal family. The general intelligence of the month is devoid of any particular interest. It is reported that Prince Alfred will shortly take a cruise, visiting in his course the several colonies of Australasia.