The intelligence of the week from America is important, as
con- taining the first official admission of weakness from the South. The Confederate Congress has risen, having first passed an address in which they affirm that continued " unity of purpose" is alone essential to their success, and declare that they would rather accept a European protectorate than reunion with the North. The first utterance indicates a consciousness that the States are splitting off from each other, while the second means despair. Only two Powers in the world could protect them, and neither Great Britain nor France are likely to purchase an unreal ascendancy by a real con- test for life with the Northern States. For the rest, General Sherman appeals to be moving westward upon some plan of opera- tions not yet evident but combined with General Grant ; and Admiral Farragut with his fleet is supposed to be off Mobile.
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