THE UNITED STATES.

The Columbia steam-ship brings intelligence from New York to the 1st instant.

No very marked alteration had occurred in the state of affairs since the previous advices. The subject of the national defence still engaged the attention of Congress. In the House of Representatives, on the 25th February, the Navy Appropriation Bill was considered in a Com- mittee of the whole House. The bill devoted 1,225,000 dollars to build- ing and repairing vessels of war. Mr. Salstonstall, of Massachusetts, moved to increase that sum to 2,000,000. The amendment gave rise to a debate, in which it was contended by many members, that the navy was in a most dilapidated condition ; and Mr. Salstonstall said that, after the specific appropriations directed by the bill, only 100,000 dollars would remain for the increase and improvement of the naval force, in place of 500,000, which had been annually applied for the purpose from 1816 to 1840. From that sum of 100,000 dollars the Navy Commis- sioners had to complete two steam-vessels, to build a third with Ericson's propeller, to complete the sixty-gun frigate Congress, and to replace the Guerriere. Mr. Salstonstall referred to the late seizures of United States vessels on the coast of Africa, as showing the necessity of Strengthening the marine. On the other hand, Mr. Jones main-

tained that 750,000 dollars would remain for the gradual increase cif the navy. The following extract from a report of the speech of Mr. Waddy Thompson throws some light upon the question, and the mode in which it was viewed-

" Mr. Thompson said that he felt no great apprehension on the subject of war. He admitted there were great difficulties in the way of adjusting our re.- lations with Great Britain, but lie trusted they would all be overcome. But still we should be in a condition, if not to fight, at least to negotiate with dig- nity. It should he recollected, that nearly one-third of the military force of the British empire was now on our borders, and that there was a large contract now in Philadelphia for the construction of steam-frigates for the use of a fo- reign government, to be employed in our immediate neighbourhood. The basis of the estimates submitted by the Military Committee bad not been founded on any anticipation of war, but respected the necessities of the country in a state of profound peace. • • * The chairman had spoken of the conr dition of the navy, and had declared it to be prosperous. Now, Mr. Thompson knew something of the subject, and he asserted its condition to be one of rano and dilapidation. He would state but one fact ; and if the Secretary and all the officers should contradict it, he would assert it still, for he personally knew it to be true. When the French squadron were lately blockading the whole coast of Brazil, and the interests of the American merchants there required support and defence, a small ship was sent to New York for Commodore Ridgeley ; hat when she was about to sail, she was found to be so rotten as not to be sea- worthy, and we had no other ship afloat which could go. And in this urgent and pressing state of circumstances we had to wait, to leave our commerce un- protected for months, till at last a little sloop was found and sent. Was this. evidence of the good condition of our navy ? Mr. Thompson thought not. As to defence by fortification, his own inclination was opposed to any but smaft forts. We were the prominent force on this continent, and abundantly able to defend (ourselves upon land ; but on the ocean the case was widely different." After two days' debate, it appears that 500,000 dollars were added to- the original sum for the increase of the navy, 400,000 to be employed in the building of steamers.

According to the accounts given by the speeches in Congress and in the comments of the papers, the existing warlike resources of the country are not very formidable. The regular army of the United States amounts to 12,530 men, the militia to 1,503,592 ; but the latter is in posse rather than in esse. The navy comprises 68 ships of war,. including those on the stocks : 33 are in actual service—namely, 1 ship of the line, 5 frigates, 13 sloops, 4 brigs, 7 schooners, 2 coast- steamers, and 1 store-ship. Two steam-frigates are building at Brook- lyn and Philadelphia. By the bill of the Committee of Representatives on Military Affairs, 1,687,000 dollars are to be appropriated for fortifi- cations this year, and 50,000 dollars for the erection of a fort at Balti- more. The Army Appropriation Bill gives 1,068,816 dollars for carry- ing on the Florida war. General Harrison's inaugural address is expected tq be pacific.

At a visit which the General paid to Pittsburg, he made a declaration of his opinions on one or two points. He avowed "a principle whieh had governed him through life—to wit, submission to the will of the people." The charge that he was an Abolitionist and a Federalist, he scorned and repudiated. He should use every exertion consistent with the honour and rights of his country to maintain peaceful relations with all the world ; but he was assured the people of Pittsburg would. be among the last in the Union to forgive him for what might even. savour of a compromise of the national honour.

It is reported that Mr. Clay will be specially deputed to the Court of St. James's to attempt a settlement of the existing differences.

There has been another angry correspondence between Mr. Forsyth, the Foreign Secretary, and Mr. Fox, the British Minister, respecting Mr. M`Leod's arrest, and other matters in dispute. Its particular pur- port had not reached the papers.

Mr. Angus M'Leod, the brother of Alexander M'Leod who is in prison at Lockport, has written a letter to the New York Journal of Commerce, dated Kingston, Upper Canada, 11th February, denying that the accused was present at the burning of the Caroline steamer. The following is the material portion of Mr. AngusM`Leod's letter- " On the 29th December 1837, my brother and myself, and thousands be- sides, were at Chippewa, for thepurpose and with the determination of defend- ing our country against any attack from several hundreds of rebels and pirates assembled on Navy Island. In the course of that day, a small steam-boat was seen plying between Schlosser and the island, evidently busy in the cause of its occupants. She was rightly conjectured to be the Caroline ; which it was well known had been getting ready for the purpose for days before, at Buffalo. Any patriotic mind can easily conceive the feelings which the sight of this boat and her occupation engendered in the minds of our people; and deep and loud. were the imprecations against her, but not a word at the attempt of capture was made public; and certain I am, my brother was not one of those to whom it was made known, or very probably he might have been one of the party. But in the. evening, from the want of accommodation at Chippewa, be rode down to Stem-- ford, a village four miles from the former place; where he stayed, at a friend's house, till next morning. I went to the quarters of some acquaintances, volunteers from this town, where I lay down for the night ; but was awoke about midnight by one of them, who said, We must turn out;. there is something going on.' We did so, and proceeded to the mouth of the Chippewa, where a fire was being lighted. Immediately we observed on the opposite shore a vessel on fire, partially at first, but soon in a blaze, and moving. down the river towards the Falls. It was the Caroline. She met her fats. What the full consequences may be, time must tell. I remember well, while I watched her hurrying on to destruction, and felt that her fate was just, I like- wise thought of the ill-feeling she was likely to occasion between the two na- tions, considering the cause which the American Border people had espoused. She had barely passed on to complete destruction, when her captors landed where I stood, from several boats. Had my brother been there, I should have seen him, but I confess I did not look far him. I never thought of his being- there ; and there he was not. He knew nothing of the burning of the Caroline till the next morning; and, if I am not mistaken, he knew it first from me, The rise of the rumour of his being there, I can only account for thus:. he was active, and sufficiently daring to assist in that which in either of our navies would be only thought a common cutting-out' affair,_ and had been round the island that day in a boat, along with several who were really at the destroying of the boat. Had he been there, I feel certain. that no fear of consequences would have made him deny it ; but to be stigma- tized as a murderer on one- side, and foolishly lauded by some as a hero on the other, on account of a transaction in which he had no share, can be any thing, but pleasant."

At the departure of the Columbia from Boston, on the 2d instant, the commercial affairs of the United States were in a deplorable condition. There was quite a panic in the money-market. United States Bank Shares, which at the date of the previous arrivals were quoted at 2fi or 27, had fallen as low as 16, the last quotation at New York being I 17. The notes of the Bank were selling at 14 to 18 per cent. discount. Exchange on England was 8 to 8ft premium ; on France, 5 224.

A bill, which has advanced sofar as to be reported, in the Penn- sylvania House of Representatives, for the regulation of the banks of that State, contains some remarkable provisions. It suspends the penal clauses of the resolutions of the 3d April 1840, until the 15th May 1843. It prohibits voting by proxy, except where the party giving the proxy resides fifty miles or more from the bank, and where the au- thority is executed within thirty days, and acknowledged before a justice of the peace. It limits alt dividends to 7 per cent. per annum, and in non- specie-paying banks to 5 per cent.; and in the latter case subjects the dividend to a tax of 8 per cent. It authorizes for five years the issue of one, two, and three-dollar notes, to the amount of 15 per cent. on the capital, and restricts the total issue of notes to 125 per cent. on the capital paid in.

The bad state of the money-market had the worst effect upon trade ; and an improvement is not expected to take place for some months. The correspondent of the Times," A Genevese Traveller," says-

" Of the monetary affairs of the United States these are not the times to hazard opinions; but, if they were, the journals of the country present them in abundance. One thing is certain, and that is, that at present, South and West of New York, there is no currency, but an irredeemable depreciated paper; and as there is no immediate prospect of a change, the spring trade in New York will be hazardous, and, consequently, limited. No man can foresee whether remittances from the South and West will be made at 5 or 10 per cent. loss ; and therefore, no man will know at what prices he is to dispose of his goods." The holyday-makers of the Union were crowding every road to Washington, in order to witness the inauguration of the President, on the 4th instant.

The State of Maine had ordered its civil posse to withdraw from the disputed territory, merely leaving an agent on the spot, to deal with trespassers. The maintenance of the civil body cost the State 50,000 dollars during the past year.

A United States paper publishes the following letter-

" Halifax. (N.S.,) 19th February 1841. " Several regiments have been ordered to New Brunswick ; and we are in- formed that orders have been sent from the Home Government to the West Indies, to embark all the regular troops there for this place; the islands to be garrisoned by the militia."

This seems very improbable.

The accounts from Montreal come down to the 20th February. A new Executive Council had been appointed.

Writs were issued on the 19th for a new Parliament, to be returnable on the 8th April; Parliament to assemble on that day at Kingston. Sir George Arthur had received a new commission to administer the affairs of Upper Canada, for a short time longer it is said, as " Deputy- Governor" of that part of the Province.