11 MAY 1861, Page 1

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

OUR intelligence from America is to the 27th of April, only three days later than that recorded in our last issue. Events, how- ever, advance so rapidly, that even three days have produced a change in the position of affairs. Washington, which by the last advices was reported in danger, is now considered comparatively safe. The tele- graph and the post from the South are both stopped, and the infor- mation which reaches the North is defective to an almost incredible degree. It is, for instance, actually doubtful whether a Southern Army is encamped near Washington or not. According to the most reliable accounts, however, President Davis is at Richmond, the Virginian capital, organizing arrangements for an immediate attack on Wash- ington. About ten thousand troops are on their march from the South, and twenty thousand Virginians are already mustered. A much larger body is asserted and denied to be held in reserve, but the Northern papers admit that Mr. Davis may attack the capital with sixty thousand men. When the spring is to be made is as uncertain as'ever ; but Washington is being rapidly placed in a position of defence. One Massachusetts regiment has arrived, and four from New York. Six regiments were between Annapolis and the capital. and one more is lying in the Chesapeake. Six batteries of flying artillery were in readiness in the city, and the President has taken possession of the heights which command the capital. The Potomac is still open, and the panic which has for some days raged in the city has subsided. The greatest change, however, has taken place in the position of Maryland. The Secessionists are in full possession of Baltimore, which commands the direct route to Washington; but their rule is distasteful to the majority of the people. The men of the country districts are not, it is said, strong against the Union, are annoyed to see Maryland turned into a battle-field, and are, above all, frightened at the possible emigration of their slaves. No less than five hundred blacks have fled into Pennsylvania already, and as there is not a chance of the Fugitive Slave Law being applied, it is possible that the entire negro population may emigrate en mane. Actuated by these feelings the Marylanders are beginning to protest against seces- sion, and threaten the Legislature with death should they vote the State into the confederacy. The people upon the Annapolis route readily offer provisions, and as the town is'now strongly occupied, the route may be considered safe. Baltimore holds out, and the citizens are preparing for street warfare, but the Pennsylvanians seem determined to clear the way, and a regular assault, followed by the destruction of the town, is warmly advocated in New York. It seems clear that Maryland must yield either willingly, or to coercion, and will be retained in the Union, if necessary, by force. Delaware, also, has agreed to furnish troops to Mr. Lincoln, and Washington is now accessible to the South only from one direction. The enthusiasm in the North seems to suffer no abatement. The State of New York has already twenty-five thousand men in movement, and twenty thousand more have just been called out, while a Home Guard has been organized of twenty thousand men, who may be very useful in reducing the rowdy element. So active is the enlistment that a New York piper records the numbers from hour to hour, observing at five o-clock, "Seven companies have been enrolled since one P.M." There is, however, great want of organization and commissariat ar- rangements. Illinois has collected six thousand men, and offers

twenty, while Ohio has five thousand :soldiers encamped at Cleve- land. Two thousand more have reached Annapolis, but without arms, and the Northern papers speak confidently of an army of one hundred thousand men ready by 1st June. There is, however, no leader named, no commissariat organized, and some want of arms. Agents have arrived in Europe to purchase them, and large quantities will, it is said, be pbtained from the arsenals of France.

Perhaps the most.striking illustration of the enthusiasm prevalent in the North is the fact that the Quakers of Pennsylvania have sus- pended their peace roles, and permit their sons to join the war for liberty. It must be noted also that a strong feeling is rising against Mr. Lincoln; who is considered unequal to the occasion.

The naval preparations of the Government are not clearly reported, but the President probably awaits the return of the Mediterranean and Pacific squadrons, and meanwhile he is chartering every avail- able steamer, and intends, it is said, to purchase the Great Eastern. The latter vessel, unscrupulously used, ought to prove or disprove the utility of great steamers for running down a foe.