It is by no means certain that the United States
intend to endure -this arrangement. The Secretary of State for Washington, it is known, had protested, and by the latest accounts the frigate Pow- liatan and two merchant steamers had gone to sea with sealed orders. They may have sailed for San Domingo, though the destination popu- larly assigned them is Charleston. The telegraph, which brings news to the 18th of April, reports that a panic prevailed in New York, and at Charleston, where a "terrible moment" is believed to be at hand. Every man, it is said, has been ordered on duty, and the officials declare that the present state of affairs cannot last. General Beauregarcl had'informed. Major Anderson that he must evacuate Fort Sumpter or be shelled. The excitement is, of course, "intense," and all intelligence from Fort Pickens has been cat off. This news has been received by telegram, and is not quite consistent withpre- vious advices, except as to Fort Pickens, which was surrounded by five thousand troops of the confederacy. The expenditure of South Carolina on armaments has already amounted to 650,000 dollars. The secession movement in Virginia also was reported to be con- stantly gaining strength, and the leaders are anxiously desirous of -‘‘ precipitating" secession. The special correspondent, of the Times has reached Washington on his way to the South, and we have, therefore, some chance of learning the real aspect of affairs.
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