United States vessels and the Confederate batteries erected upon the shores of the Potomac.

It is impossible to gain any reliable information of the number of the Confederate troops now in Virginia. It is known, however, that in addition to those of the State, the whole disposable force of the Confederation has been pushed northward. The estimates made vary from 75,000 to 150,000. They occupy a long irregular line from Harper's Ferry on the north to Norfolk on the South. Strong detach ments are stationed at Richmond, Lynchburg, and Petersburg; while advance forces are posted in numbers at Manassas Junction almost directly west of Washington. Here, or at Harper's Ferry, it seems probable that the first serious encounter will take place. President Davis, with a portion of his cabinet, arrived at Richmond early in June, for the pur

the Federal troops, and a company of Virginia cavalry were captured; after a detention of some days they were released upon taking the oath of allegiance to the United States. Intrenchments were thrown up around Alexandria, and upon Arlington Heights, which command a portion of the capital. Bodies of troops were pushed forward toward the Manassas Junction, with the object of interrupting the communication between Richmond and Harper's Ferry. On the 1st of June a company of cavalry set out on a scouting expedition to Fairfax Court House, about 20 miles beyond the outposts. Some hundreds of Virginia troops were stationed here, and a sharp skirmish ensued. About twenty of the Virginians are reported to have been killed; one of the United States troops was killed, four or five wounded, among whom was the commander, Lieutenant Tompkins. The cavalry withdrew, having made five pris-pose of taking the command of the Confederate forces. oners, and leaving two of their own number as prisoners. On the following day the same cavalry company made another dash to Fairfax, and rescued their comrades who had been left behind.

The Congress of the Confederate States adjourned on the 20th of May, to meet at Richmond, Virginia, on the 20th of July, unless some public emergency should arise which in the judgment of the PresOn the 27th of May the United States volunteers ident should render it impolitic to meet at that place, stationed at Wheeling, Virginia, marched toward in which case he is to call the Congress together at Grafton, an important station on the Baltimore and some other convenient place, to be selected by him. Ohio Railroad. On the same day two Ohio regi--On the 6th of May an act was passed "recognizments crossed into Western Virginia. This portioning the existence of war between the United States of the State is strongly loyal to the United States, and the Confederate States, and concerning letters as is manifested by the vote on the ordinance of se- of marque, prizes, and prize goods." The preamble cession. Before the Ohio troops advanced, General says that the efforts made to establish friendly relaM'Clellan, commander of the Department of Ohio, tions between the Government of the United States issued a proclamation saying that the Government and that of the Confederate States have proved unhad abstained from sending forces across the Ohio availing; the President of the United States has until after the State election had been held, in or- issued proclamations calling for troops to recapture der that no one might be able to say that the slight- the forts within the Confederate States, and setting est effort had been made to influence a free expres- on foot a blockade of their ports; and the State of sion of opinion. The proclamation concludes: Virginia having seceded, and formed an alliance with the Confederate States; and the States of Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Missouri having refused, and it being believed that Delaware, and the Territories of Arizona, New Mexico, and the Indian Territory south of Kansas would refuse to co-operate with the Government of the United States: Therefore the President of the Confederate States is authorized to use the whole land and naval force of the Confederacy to meet the and reprisal against the vessels and property of the war thus commenced, and to issue letters of marque United States, and those of their citizens, with the exception of the States and Territories above named. The general provisions for privateers are the same as those indicated in the proclamation of Mr. Davis noted in our last Record. It is further provided that the proceeds of all prizes shall be distributed among the owners, officers, and crews of the capturing vessels according to any written agreement between them; in the absence of any written agreement, half goes to the officers and crew, and half to the owners. Prizes, before breaking bulk, must be carried into some port of the Confederate States, or of On the 2d of June two columns, consisting of Vir- some friendly State, to be proceeded against before ginia, Ohio, and Indiana troops, set out from Grafton some competent tribunal, which may make restitufor Philippi, about 25 miles distant, where a body tion, or decree damages, in case the capture shall of 2000 Secession troops were posted. The march have been made without probable cause. All perwas made through a drenching rain. The columns sons found on board of any captured vessel are to be reached their destination just at daybreak. The placed in charge of the authorities of the Confederaenemy were taken by surprise, and fled after a brief tion, who are to take charge of their safe-keeping struggle, leaving behind their arms and equipments. and support. A bounty of twenty dollars is to be Fifteen or twenty are reported to have been killed. paid for every person on board of any armed vessel Colonel Kelly, the commander of the loyal Virginia of the United States which shall be destroyed by any volunteers, was severely wounded.Several inde- vessel of equal or inferior force, and twenty-five dolcisive engagements have taken place between the lars for every prisoner brought to port, and delivered

"It determined to await the result of the State election, desirous that no one might be able to say that the slightest effort had been made from this side to influence the free expression of your opinions, although the many agen cies brought to bear upon you by the rebels were well known. You have now shown under the most adverse circumstances that the great mass of the people of Western Virginia are true and loyal to that beneficent Government under which we and our fathers have lived so long. As soon as the result of the election was known, the traitors commenced their work of destruction. The General Government can not close its ears to the demand you have made for assistance. I have ordered troops to cross the river. They come as your friends and brothers; as enemies only to armed rebels who are preying upon you. Your homes, your families, and your property are safe under our protection. All your rights shall be religiously respected. Notwithstanding all that has been said by the traitors to induce you to believe our advent among you will be signalized by an interference with your slaves, understand one thing clearly: Not only will we abstain from all such interference, but we will, on the contrary, with an iron hand, crush any attempt at insurrection on their part. Now that we are in your midst, I call upon you to fly to arms and support the General Government; sever the connection that binds you to traitors; proclaim to the world that the faith and loyalty so long boasted by the Old Dominion are still preserved in Western Virginia, and that you remain true to the Stars and Stripes."

Government of the Confederate States, was passed on the 21st of May, by unanimous votes of the Convention; a proposition to submit the matter to the people having been defeated by a vote of 73 to 34. Tennessee has also virtually, though not in form, joined the Southern Confederacy. The Legislature has passed a Declaration of Independence, which is to be submitted to the people on the day (June 8) upon which we close this month's Record. Meanwhile a military league has been formed with the Confederate Government, in virtue of which the forces of Tennessee are to be employed to aid the Confederate States.

up. Upon all goods captured by any private armed ship and brought into the Confederacy a deduction of one-third is to be made in the duties imposed by law. Five per cent. upon the value of all prizes is to be retained by the Government as a fund for the support of those who have been disabled in action, and for the families of those who have been killed. -An Act was passed prohibiting the export of cotton or cotton yarn from any of the Confederate States, except through the sea-ports, under penalty of the forfeiture of all exported or attempted to be exported, and a fine of not exceeding five thousand dollars or imprisonment for not more than six months. Every steamboat or railroad car used, with the consent of the owner or person in charge, for the violation of this Act, is to be forfeited. Any person giving information of any such violation is entitled to half the proceeds of the forfeited goods. This Act, which is to continue in force so long as any ports of the Confederate States are blockaded by the United States, does not apply to the exportation by land of cotton to Mexico.-It was proposed in Congress that the cotton planters should be invited to put their crops into the hands of the Government, receiving bonds for its value, the Government to dispose of it in Europe for cash.-The Postmaster-General, on the 1st of June took charge of the transmission of the mails in the Confederate States; and the Postmaster-General of the United States announced that on that day postal communication would close with the seceding States, with the exception of some counties in Western Virginia. All letters for these States are sent to the Dead Letter Office at Wash-fense of the State.Of similar purport are the proington.

Two more States-Arkansas and North Carolina -have formally seceded from the Union, and joined the Confederate States. In Arkansas the State Convention, on the 18th of April, had passed an ordinance submitting the question of secession to the people, at an election to be held on the 3d of August, and making other provisions, as noted in our Record for May. When the requisition of President Lincoln was received, Governor Rector, on the 22d of April, replied to the Secretary of War, "In answer to your requisition for troops from Arkansas to subjugate the Southern States, I have to say that none will be furnished. The demand is only adding insult to injury. The people of this Commonwealth are freemen and not slaves, and will defend to the last extremity their honor, lives, and property against Northern mendacity and usurpation." On the same day the Governor gave orders for the seizure at Napoleon of a large quantity of military supplies belonging to the United States. On the 6th of May, the Convention, which had reassembled, unanimously passed an ordinance of secession. The preamble says:

Whereas, In addition to the well-founded causes of complaint set forth by this Convention in resolutions adopted on the 11th March, A.D., 1861, against the sectional party now in power at Washington City, headed by Abraham Lincoln, he has, in the face of resolutions passed by this Convention, pledging the State of Arkansas to resist to the last extremity any attempt on the part of such power to coerce any State that seceded from the old Union, proclaimed to the world that war should be waged against such States, until they should be compelled to submit to their rule, and large forces to accomplish this have by this same power been called out, and are now being marshaled to carry out this inhuman design, any longer to submit to such rule or remain in the old Union of the United States would be disgraceful and ruinous to the State of Arkansas. The ordinance then goes on to repeal the ordinance and laws by which Arkansas became a member of the Federal Union.. -In North Carolina the ordinance of secession, and one ratifying the Provisional

In Kentucky a determined effort is still made to preserve a strict neutrality. Governor Magoffin, as before noted, refused peremptorily to comply with the President's requisition for troops. On the 20th of May he issued a proclamation declaring that every indication of public sentiment in Kentucky showed a fixed determination of the people to take neither side, but to maintain a posture of self-defense, forbidding the quartering upon her soil of troops from either section, in the hope that the State might yet become a mediator between the parties. He therefore warns all States, whether separate or united, and especially the Confederate and the United States, against making any occupation within the State of Kentucky, without the permission of the Legislature and Executive authorities. All citizens of Kentucky are forbidden to make any demonstration against either of the sovereignties, but are directed to make prompt and efficient preparations for the de

ceedings of the "Border States Convention," held at Frankfort. Virginia, North Carolina, and Arkansas, having joined the Southern Confederacy, of course sent no delegates; none appeared from Maryland, and only one from Tennessee, and four from Missouri. The remainder were from Kentucky. Senator Crittenden was chosen President. Two addresses, one to the People of the United States, and the other to the People of Kentucky, were adopted. The essential point in the first address is the recommendation that Congress shall propose such Constitutional amendments as will secure the legal rights of slaveholders; and if this should fail to bring about a pacification, that a Convention be called composed of delegates from all the States, to devise measures of peaceable adjustment.

"In

The address to the people of Kentucky defends the action of the Executive in refusing troops to the Federal Government, as called for by the peculiar circumstances in which the State was placed. all things," says the address, "she is as loyal as ever to the constitutional administration of the Government. She will follow the stars and the stripes to the utmost regions of the earth, and defend it from foreign insult. She refuses alliance with any who would destroy the Union. All she asks is permission to keep out of this unnatural strife. She has announced her intention to refrain from agression upon others, and she must protest against her soil being made the theatre of military operations by any belligerent." The address goes on to censure the conduct of the States who have withdrawn from the Union, affirming that there was in the Constitution a remedy for every wrong, and provisions to check every encroachment by the majority upon the minority. In withdrawing the States committed a great wrong, for which they must answer to posterity. But Kentucky remained true to herself, contending with all her might, for what were con

from taking part in any way in the contest, by enlisting in the army or navy of either party; by fitting out or arming any vessel; by breaking any lawfully established blockade; by carrying to either troops or any articles contraband of war. All subjects violating any of the provisions of this proclamation are warned that they will incur the penalties provided by law, and will moreover do so at their own peril, forfeiting any protection from any liabilities or penal consequences. This proclamation, taken in connection with the explanations of the Ministers and the speeches in Parliament, has an unfriendly aspect toward the United States, recognizing, as it does, the Confederate States, as bel

sidered to be the rights of the people, and although | lamation then goes on to forbid all British subjects one after another of the States that should have been by her side ungenerously deserted her, leaving her almost alone in the field, yet she did not surrender her rights under the Constitution, and never will surrender them. She will appear again in the Congress of the United States, not having conceded the least atom of power to the Government that had not heretofore been granted, and retaining every power she had reserved. She will insist upon her constitutional rights in the Union, and not out of it." The address goes on to say that if the war is transferred to Kentucky, it will matter little to her which party succeeds; her destruction will be the inevitable result; "and even the institution to preserve or control which this wretched war was un-ligerents, and, by implication, entitled equally to dertaken, will be exterminated in the general ruin." In Virginia the vote upon Secession has resulted in a large majority in its favor. In the northwestern part of the State the vote was largely in favor of the Union. A Convention of the Western Counties convened at Wheeling on the 13th of May, at which resolutions were passed pronouncing the ordinance of secession null and void. The Convention ad journed to meet on the 11th of June.

the right of carrying prizes into the ports of Great
Britain.-In the House of Commons, Lord John Rus-
sell said that the character of belligerency was not
so much a principle as a fact; that a certain amount
of force and consistency acquired by any mass of
population engaged in war entitled them to be treat-
ed as a belligerent. A power or a community which
was at war with another, and which covered the sea
with its cruisers, must either be acknowledged as a
belligerent or dealt with as a pirate. The Govern-
ment had come to the opinion that the Southern Con-
federacy, according to those principles which were
considered just, must be treated as a belligerent.-
In reply to questions in the House of Lords, the Earl
of Granville said that a lawful blockade must be

The position of Missouri is similar to that of Kentucky. The State endeavors to avoid taking part in the war. Troops had been organized with hostile designs against the Government. These were forced to surrender by Captain Lyon (since appointed General). At St. Louis an attack was made by the populace, on the 10th of May, upon the Unit-maintained by a force sufficient to make ingress or ed States volunteers; they returned the fire, killing some twenty; an émeute on the next day resulted in the loss of several lives. General Harney, who had been put in command of this district, entered into an agreement with the State authorities, which seems to have been disapproved, as he has been relieved from the command, which has been given to General Lyon.

EUROPE.

The attitude to be assumed by the Great Powers of Europe in relation to the American war is of high importance. That of England is indicated by the Royal proclamation, issued on the 14th of May, which says that, "Whereas hostilities have unhappily commenced between the United States of America and certain States styling themselves the Confederate States of America, and whereas we being at peace with the Government of the United States, have declared our royal determination to maintain a strict neutrality in the contest between the said contending parties, we therefore have thought fit to issue this our royal proclamation." The proc

egress not indeed strictly impossible, but certainly extremely difficult. With respect to what articles were contraband of war, he said that in many cases this depended upon contingencies which could only be decided by a prize Court.-The Earl of Derby said that there were two points on which it was desirable that an understanding should be had with the United States. It had proclaimed a blockade of the whole Southern coast, which it could not maintain. It had also declared that it should treat privateers as pirates; but it could not do so by the law of nations; and it was desirable that it should be declared that the infliction of such a penalty on British subjects would not be viewed with indifference by England. Lord Campbell said that a subject of another Power, holding letters of marque, was not guilty of piracy. Lord Kingsdown said that the United States might hold the people of the Southern States to be rebels, and guilty of high treason; but this would not apply to the subjects of other Powers who had become privateers.The French Government has not yet defined its position.

Literary Notices.

merfest, "the most northerly town in the world, and the most unsavory place in the universe," soon after the middle of June.

Seasons with the Sea-Horses; or, Sporting Adven- | less gay and resolute than himself, arrives at Hamtures in the Northern Seas, by JAMES LAMONT, Esq., F.G.S. (Published by Harper and Brothers.) The author of this volume is a jolly Scotch sportsman, with all the natural shrewdness and enterprise of his The party, including the crew of the sloop which countrymen, a keen love of adventure, and a certain was to be the head-quarters of the expedition, convivacity of temperament which he never fails to ex-sisted of sixteen souls. They were amply provided hibit, whether in running down a walrus on the ice, or in penning a description of the eager pursuit. He starts on his exciting trip in quest of the strange game which had touched his fancy in a former experience on the coast of Spitzbergen in the spring of 1859, and, accompanied by a brother sportsman, no

with the necessary outfit for their hazardous adventures; and after reaching the extensive submarine banks to the northeast of the Thousand Islands, were ready to commence operations. Attached to the sloop were two walrus boats, twenty-one feet long by five feet beam, each carrying five or six men.

These boats are among the curiosities of Arctic nav- | all in a foam before and around her. The harpooner igation, and well deserved the elaborate description stands with one foot on the thwart and the other on given of them by the author. They are bow-shaped at both ends, strong, light, swift to row, and easily turned on the centre. They have a very thick and strong stem-piece and stern-piece, to resist concussions with the ice. Each man rows with a pair of oars hung in grummets to stout single thole-pins; the steersman directs the boat by also rowing a pairing and reappearing at the same time. One moment of oars with his face to the bow; the harpooner, who has the command, always rows the bow oars, and he alone uses the weapons and the telescope. The strongest man in the boat usually sits next to the harpooner; he holds and hauls in the line when a walrus is struck, and hands the harpoons and lances to the harpooner when required. The boats are invariably painted white outside, to make them look as much as possible like the ice.

which had the longest and strongest teeth would meet with the best success, and would transmit that style of teeth to their descendants. Now the tusks of the walrus are not a pair of extra teeth, but merely an enormous development of the eye-teeth, such as any large carnivorous animal, compelled to subsist on shell-fish under water, would naturally acquire in the course of a few million of years. He would also soon learn to dive and to hold his breath under water (the author once saw a white bear dive in true walrus fashion); and from generation to generation he would be able to stay longer below. He would

pole must ever continue to be, he thinks it not im- | possible to reach it by land, or rather, by ice. The distance from the extreme northern point of Spitzbergen is about six hundred miles. The method to overcome this is lucidly described by Mr. Lamont, and we wonder that he does not undertake the experiment himself, instead of confining his ambition to the ignoble pursuit of harpooning seals and seahorses. A well-provided vessel should proceed to Spitzbergen in summer with sledges and plenty of good dogs. Selecting a sheltered harbor as far to the north as they could get, they should pass the remainder of the season in killing rein-deer and wild-certainly have very little use for his legs: hence fowl for their own provisions, and walruses and seals to keep the dogs fat and in good condition. A hundred tons of deer, seals, and walruses might easily be laid in in two months. After wintering in Spitzbergen, a plenty of hardy volunteers could be enlisted in Tromsöe and Hammerfest to act as hunters and harpooners to the expedition. During the early spring it would be necessary to exercise the teams, and bring them into the highest possible condition and discipline. At the same time dépôts of provisions should be established, as far as practicable, on their intended route to the north. Advantage being taken of the first available fine weather in March or April, they might reach the pole and regain their ship, according to Mr. Lamont's delightful programme, in about a month or six weeks from the time of their departure.

they would gradually become abortive, and resemble fins; the hind legs would grow like the tail of a fish; and the real tail, having no function in the new element, would almost disappear, as is the case with the seal and the walrus. The legs of the walrusthis clenches the argument—although almost abortive, are still legs, and not fins, as he can walk on all-fours on land or ice.

Whatever may be thought of this precious reasoning as a contribution to natural history, no one can deny the skill of the author as a lively and entertaining narrator, and his volume will be regarded as one of the most readable books of travels for which we have recently been indebted to the love of adventure characteristic of so many British sportsmen.

The Alchemist, or The House of Claes, translated from the French of Balzac by O. W. WIGHT and F. B. GOODRICH, is published by Rudd and Carleton, a fantastic, but powerful story of an infatuated adept, who sacrifices his fortune, his character, and the happiness of a devoted wife and family in the vain search for the philosopher's stone.

A Manual of Military Surgery, by S. D. GROSS, M.D. (published by J. B. Lippincott and Co.), is a brief and valuable treatise intended for the use of young physicians in the volunteer service. In addition to the surgical details, which it ably treats, it contains a variety of important practical directions for the preservation of the health of soldiers on march or in the camp.

The Eighth volume of Sheldon's beautiful edition of MILMAN'S History of Latin Christianity has been recently issued, completing the work. In point of

Not less edifying are the speculations of the author on certain moot points of natural history, in which he endeavors to illustrate Mr. Darwin's famous theory of the origin of species. Just look, for example, at the walrus. The original paternity of that delicate monster may be clearly traced to some wonderful polar beast prior to the polar bear, which, by-the-way, is nothing but a variety of the bears inhabiting Northern Europe, Asia, and America. Some individuals of the latter tribes, finding they were getting short of food, ventured on the ice, when pressed by hunger, and caught a few seals which they were able to reach. These fortunate bears were not without a certain modicum of common sense. They found they could get a better living in their new quarters than at the old homestead. Thus, their eye-teeth being already cut and ready to be trans-general interest, this volume surpasses those which formed into walruses' tusks, they took up their resi- have preceded it, containing an admirably condensed dence on the shore, with a view to business on the view of theology, literature, painting, sculpture, and ice. Brown bears by birth and lineage, those of the architecture of the Middle Ages. The work occulightest color (and even now silver-grays are found pies a high place in the modern historical literature among the species, as well as among the ancient fos-of Great Britain, and the manner in which it is now sil Whigs), would have the best chance of surprising seals, while the fattest of them would best stand the Chambers's Encyclopædia. (Published by J. B. cold. The process of "natural selection" would do Lippincott and Co.) The second title of this work, the rest, and in a few million of years more or less, "A Dictionary of Universal Knowledge for the Peodating from the epoch of Weissnichtwenn, the old ple," indicates its design and character. In six brown bear would be transformed into a genuine or seven volumes it proposes to give a digest of white bear, catching seals instead of squirrels, and those branches of human knowledge most important in his whole nature and all his habits "suffering a for the great mass of intelligent readers. This leadsca-change." Now fancy an immense land animal, ing object has been kept steadily in view. In Bilong before the metamorphosis of the bear, living onography obscure names are not recorded; in Geogthe borders of the then existing Polar Sea. It is raphy unimportant places are not described; in Phieasy to believe that, in the perpetual struggle for ex-losophy exploded theories are not revived. The istence, this primeval bear, or whatever he was, may have been compelled to take to the sea-shore, and among other things add shell-fish to his bill of fare. At first he would only go into shallow water; byand-by success and habit would embolden him to go deeper; and he would soon acquire the talent of digging up shells with his feet and teeth. Natural selection would now come into play; those animals | lications of a similar kind.

brought out is an honor to the American press.

space thus saved is devoted to full articles upon Natural History and Science. These are treated in such a manner as to be intelligible to the non-professional reader, while they are strictly accurate as far as they go. The work will be found admirably adapted to the wants of those who are unable to avail themselves of the larger and more costly pub