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Bangkok June 16th.

The news from the United States of A- merica by last mail to those of us who are citizens of that country is full both of joy and sorrow. The surrender of the two prin- ciple armies of the rebellion to the Federal commander, must be a source of joy to the whole civilised world whatever differ- ences of opinion may have hitherto existed. But it is appalling to think that such a struggle which had already cost so much blood should end in such a tragedy. Noth- ing could be more lamentable than that the South after having laid down their arms should be avenged by the hand of an assassin.

That the death of ABRAM LINCOLN at such a time as this is a calamity to the whole civilized world we presume there are few who will attempt—to deny.

The storm which burst upon the United States in the spring of 1861, had been gath- ering for thirty years. Again and again did the Southern leaders break out, and threat- en to dissolve the Union, and as often was the matter hushed up again by “pouring oil upon the troubled waters” and making new concessions to the slaveholders. A point however was eventually reached be- yond which the North could not go. The fugitive slave law which was one of the con- cessions made, had become a dead letter, as the great majority of the people in the Northern States could not conscientiously whole civilized world we presume there are ed the slaveholders very much.

The refusal to admit the taking of slave property into any of the free states or ter- ritories, was also very irritating to the South. When however a strong opposition arose in the North to the extention of slave territory, the wrath of the South was be- yond bounds.—In 1856 the Republican party was formed, which adopted as the prin- cipal plank of its platform the leaving of slavery in the states where it already ex-

isted, to those states themselves, but to op- pose the extention of slave territory. This the South declared was not a national par-. ty, nd should such a party be successful they would immediately secede. The par- ty with J. C. Fremont at its head was de- feated in 1856. Mr. Buchanan. was elected, and although a Northern man was a strong Southern sympathizer. He chose his cabinet officers chiefly from the South. During the whole of his administration they were preparing for secession. They robbed the treasury, and sent all the arms and muni- tions of war South.

During this time, however, Providence was raising up one who should guide the nation through. the pending struggle. The Republican party in 1860 nominated A- bram Lincoln as their Candidate. Why he was nominated, we suppose no one can tell. He was at the time comparatively unknown to the nation. He had raised himself by force of character to a respectable position as a lawyer in Illinois and eventually to con- gress. But when the Republican conven- tion at Chicago in 1860 could not agree on any of its prominent candidates, and began to look around for one not so exten- sively known, why they chose Mr. Lincoln rather than a hundred others we can't tell, unless they were governed by an overruling Providence, Mr. Lincoln was elected. The storm broke upon the country. Lincoln soon proved himself to be no ordinary man. The manner in which he took hold of the reins of government and conducted the country through that fearful contest, is familiar to all who read the news of the day. He was the choice of the majority of the people, and when the flag of the nation was insulted, that people rushed to the as- sistance of their Chief Magistrate. Every thing that a free people could do to sustain his hands was done. Still he had not only a powerful enemy to contend against, but he had also a very strong opposition party in the North, which was throwing every ob- stacle possible in his way. He had also the opposition of the principle powers of Europe to contend against. At the out break of the rebellion scarcely a power in Europe believed the North would ever be able to subdue it. The whole tone of the press, and the influence of the principle men of England, and France, with a few honorable exceptions, was to that effect. Not the least daunted by all this, President Lincoln remained firm in his purpose to preserve the Union. With that object he started out, and he firmly adhered to it. True he sometimes, in cases of military, necessity, resorted to expedients, which were declared by his enemies to be not in accordance with his avowed object, but still he retrected nothing. No President ever relied more upon his own judgment and resources than did Mr. Lincoln.

Wholly a self made man, and never hav- ing had the advantages of a finished educa- tion, still his state papers are acknowledged to be models of style and power. In his social qualities, although the butt of ridicule for courtly Journals, and often betrayed too clearly that he had not been brought up in the atmosphere of the court, still he possess- ed high conversational powers, an original- ity of thought, and richness of joke, which any courtier might have envied.

He was no less renowned for his honesty. Actuated by no ambitious motives he start- ed out with one object in view, and of that object he never lost sight. The preservation of the Federal Union was his highest am- bition and the people felt the country was safe in his hands. “Honest Abe. Lincoln” will be the watchword of future generations.

He also displayed great ability in steer- ing the country clear of foreign difficulties. The strong sympathy displayed for the re- bels among certain classes in England, and the supplying them with arms and muni- tions of war and vessels to prey upon the commerce of the United States, was cal- culated to irritate the loyal people of those States. There was a strong pressure from certain influential quarters to demand from England reparation for property destroyed by the Alabama, and other privateers, and to push that demand even to war if neces- sary. Mr. Lincoln's course however was such that no one could take exceptions to it.

The magnanimity which he in the end displayed towards his own enemies, and the enemies of the country, of itself proves him a great man. The rebels had tried to destroy the country, they had heaped upon him also the vilest abuse, they starved, and murdered in cold blood the Union prisoners but still, when they yielded, he manifested no disposition for revenge, no desire to vent a personal spite, but was willing to bury the past, and offer the right hand of fellow- ship to all who were willing to return. The crowning act of his life however, or that which will perpetuate his name to pos- terity more than any thing else, was his emancipation proclamation, freeing millions of the human race who were held in bond- age.

That President Lincoln should be per- mitted to fall by the hand of wickedness just at this time, when the rebellion was subdued, is one of those dark Providences which we cannot penetrate. His work doubtless was done. Taken away however at this time, he will live forever in the hearts of the American people. Had he been permitted to live longer, he might possibly have committed some blunder which could have tarnished his fair name. Had James Buchanan been called away before he oc- cupied the Presidential chair, he might have been lamented in his death by a grate- ful people. But he disgraced the Presi-

dential chair by his weakness and Southern sympathy, and will go down to his grave unlamented by his countrymen. Presi- dent Lincoln was undoubtedly a firm be- liever in the doctrines of Christianity, and had a high respect for the services of the sanctuary. It is to be hoped therefore that amidst all his other duties he did not whol- ly forget his duty to his Great Creator and Redeemer.

TUILERIES-During the

The Palace of Versailles since its com- pletion in 1702, had been the usual re- sidence of the French Monarch. Here Louis XIV spent the last years of his long reign, and Louis XV the whole of his. For the first fifteen years, also, after Louis XVI came to the throne, the Court con- tinued to be held at Versailles. But on the memorable 5th of Oct. 1789, that ill- fated Monarch and his Queen left this sumpt- uous abode never to return. On their arrival at Paris in the evening, in the hands of the mob, they were conducted first to the Hotel de Ville and thence to the Tuileries. This Palace was their ordinary dwelling, and eventually it may be said their prison, till the deposition of the King on the 10th Aug. 1792, when he and his family was removed to a more secure place of confinement. The removal of Louis XVI from Versailles to Paris was followed in a few days by that of the National Assembly. The first sitting which this body held in the national capital wasAssembly, on the 19th Oct. 1789, when they met in one of the Halls of the Archiepiscopal palace in the Ile de la Cite. Here they remained till the 9th Nov. when they re- moved to an apartment, which had been prepared for them, in the Manege, a riding house attached to the Tuileries. The Hall in which the assembly met is said to have been both inconvenient and mean. *

The convention which followed also met in this apartment on the 21st of Sept. 1792, but removed in April next to the splendid hall in the Palace formerly called the Salle des Machines, and now forming the Salle des Spectacles, or Theatre. On the closing of the convention and the establishment of the constitution of the year III, in Oct. 1795, this Hall was appropriated to the council of the Ancients, and the council of the Five Hundred met in the Manege, which was repaired for their use. The two legislative bodies continued to occupy the same place of meeting till they were transferred to St. Cloud by Bonaparte in Nov. 1799. † The 28th of Feb. is known in the annals of the revolution by the name of la journee des poignards, the day of the poniards. On the morning of that day the mob, (let the reader imagine the bravest Irish rabble to be ever witnessed, and then he will hardly realize the grovelling characteristics of a French mob,) had assembled in consider- able strength in the Faubourg St. Antoine, with the intention of proceeding to Vin- cennes and demolishing the palace there, and massacring every one who should offer the least opposition to their unnatural fury. These rioters were headed by Santerre the Commandant of the Faubourg. They had actually carried their purposes into execution to some extent, when Gen. Lafayette arrived at the head of a detach- ment of the national guards, and without much difficulty dispersed them, taking fifty or sixty of their prisoners. On his return to Paris, however, Lafayette encount- ered considerable opposition from the rabble, and so much personal outrage that he narrowly escaped with his life. His aid-de-camp who was mistaken for him was fired at more than once as he passed through the wood of Vincennes. In the course of the evening the rumour of these events spread over the capital. It was said that Gen. Lafayette was killed, and that the royal residence was on the point of being demolished. Alarmed by these reports, about nine or ten o'clock that night, a considerable body of the noblesse and other persons of monarchical prin- ciples, amounting it has been said, to about five or six hundred persons, present- ed themselves at the Tuileries and ob- tained admission by means of orders obtained from the Duke de Villiquier and the gentlemen of the bed chamber. They were armed with swords, pistols, hunting knives and daggers. They came they said to defend the person of the king in which they believed to be in imminent danger. Whatever Louis might have thought of the motives which inspired this offer, he felt its extreme imprudence, and than placed as he was, it was impossible to avail himself of it. The Parisian guard, to whom the defence of the palace properly belonged, exclaimed against their introduc- tion, and the king in reply to their profes- sious of loyalty, and zeal for his safety, desired them to surrender their arms and retire, adding " I am in perfect security amidst the national guard." At last La- fayette himself who had been reported killed, made his appearance. Perceiving at once the disastrous consequences which were likely to result from their rash enter- prise, he could not refrain from insisting in warm language that they should immedi- ately deliver up their arms. They however attempted to resist his demand, but were without much difficulty overpowered, and at last laid down their arms, as ordered, on the tables which stood in the anti-chamber of the royal apartment.

These miscellaneous weapons were at once seized by the national guard as trophies of their victory, and their late possessors were then subjected to the additional hu- miliation of being made to pass forth from the palace between two rows of those troops, who, with as little generosity as could be expected from the jealousy, which the known character and political senti- ments of the intruders were so well calculated to excite, not only insulted the hapless cavaliers with hooting and all manner of derision, but added still more violent acts of outrage and injury on the most distin- guished members of the noblesse among hemt.

It is understood that the result of the jour- nee des poignards, and the conviction im- pressed on the King's mind, led to the re- newal in a more urgent manner on the part of the royal family, of overtures, which had already been made sometime before, to the celebrated Mirabeau, to secure the aid of his great talents for the monarchical party. The negotiation had been completed, the orator gained over, the price of his deep treachery settled, part of it paid, and the plan which he was to commence oper- ations in his new character arranged, when he was suddenly attacked on the 28th of March with an illness which proved fatal on the fifth day after. He died on the 2nd April 1789. Here let us give a passing glance at the real character of this remark- able French patriot.

Honore Gabriel Riquetti Count de Mira- beau, was born at Aix in the year 1749, and was one of the Marquis de Mirabeau, author of the “Ami des hommes” and one of the chiefs of the sect of the Economists. This apostle of public liberty was the tyrant of his family, and his harshness was one of the principal causes of the irregularities and vices of his son, whose youth was agi- tated by the most violent passions.‡ Return- ing to his country, after having served some time in Corsica, he at the age of twenty five undertook to carry off a young lady of interesting appearance, from the person to whom she was promised in mar- riage. Being little scrupulous about the means of accomplishing his object, he made use of calumny, and in a little time she who was the subject of it, had no other way to save her reputation but to marry the man who had tarnished it. It was impossible that this union could be happy. The mis- conduct and dissipated life of Mirabeau caused his father to take the most vigorous measures against him, and even to cause him to be banished. In consequence of a pri- vate quarrel he was shut up in the castle of Jouix in Franche Comte.

Making an ill use of some relaxation of his captivity, he committed another flagrant crime and fled to Holland. He was con-

demned to death for this crime—and being arrested by surprise in 1777 he was again imprisoned in the dungeons of Vincennes. While in prison he devoted himself with all the vehemence of his character to study.

Being set at liberty in 1780 he published two years afterwards his works on "Lettres de Cachet" and "State Prisons." Not long after this he was employed by the ministry on a secret mission to Prussia. He there witnessed the last moments of the Great Frederick, and the beginning of the reign of his successor, whose character and weak- ness he unveiled in his "Secret History of the Court of Berlin," a libel which appeared in 1789.

Rejected by the nobility of Provence on the election of the deputies to the States General in 1789, like another Clodius he renounced the rights to which his birth en- titled him, and got himself elected by "Tiers etat" of the city of Aix. He pro- moted the reunion of the three orders and declared himself openly in insurrection, almost in the King's presence in the sitting of the 23rd of June, by replying to the grand master of the ceremonies, who brought to the assembly the order for them to separate, "Go and tell those who sent you that we will not quit our places until compelled by their bayonets," "No body," says the Mar- quis de Ferrieres speaking of the sudden extinction of this brightest luminary of the assembly, "dared to seize the sceptre which bad dropped from the grasp of Mirabeau". La- trape and other writers have drawn the character of this famous orator, whom, if we please, we may call a great man; but woe to the country and age that may pro- duce a number of great men like him.

‡ The Historic Gallery

American Generals.

After two years further, service Captain Grant resigned his commission in the army, and removed to St. Louis Missouri to try his fortune at civil life. He secured a small farm in the neighborhood of Mr. Dent's his father-in-law, and commenced farming. He has frequently been seen during the winter season seated upon his wagon, with felt hat, blouse, coat, and pants tucked in- side of his boots, driving his load of wood to town for sale. He afterwards engaged in business in St. Louis under the firm of Boggs and Grant, but it appears the firm for some reason or other was not eminently successful. In 1839 a proposal was made to Captain Grant by his venerable father, to go into the leather business with him in the west. His tannery education now served him to a good purpose. He ac- cordingly removed to the city of Galena, on the banks of La Fevre river, in Jo Da- vies County Illinois. There he commenced business under the firm of Grant and Son. Their business prospered. The quiet unob- trusive manners of Captain Grant, attracted customers throughout the great state, and soon the firm became extensively known. Here Captain Grant was quietly attending to his business when the rebellion broke out. It is said that one morning upon reaching his office, he received the morning papers and after reading the account of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, he walked behind the desk, drew on his coat, and said, "Uncle Same educated me for the army, and although I have served through one war I feel that I am still a little in debt for my education, and I am willing to dis- charge the obligation. I am for the war to put down this wicked rebellion."

He immediately went out and consulted with some of the leading men of the place, and the result was that they soon raised a company, which Captain Grant took to Springfield and offered to the Governor. A gentleman called on the Governor and recommended Capt. Grant as a suitable person for a military position. There was however no rush at the time for military positions, and Governor Yates had already had many applications from men in fine clothes, of commanding appearance, and large muscular forms, and it is said that he carefully eyed the little man in home spun, before him, and after due consider- ation concluded that he had no appoint- ment for him, so Capt. Grant left. Govern- or Yates however being no military man himself, was soon perplexed and distressed in raising the quota of troops for the state. He had many applications for military positions, but a very great majority of them knew nothing of military organizations. In his embarrassment Governor Yates ap- plied to the gentleman already alluded to, and asked him if he could render him any assistance. The gentleman replied by pre- senting before him again Capt. Grant, the plain little man in homespun. "Do you understand the organisation of troops?" ask- ed the Governor. Grant replied in the af- firmative. "Will you accept a desk in my office for that purpose?" asked the Gover- nor, "Any thing to serve my country" was the reply. He accordingly soon proved to the Governor that he knew how to raise and manage men. The mustering depart- ment however did not satisfy his military spirit.

In two weeks after he entered the de- partment Gov. Yates began to realize his worth, and told his that he was requested by the President to propose the names of two persons from the state, for Brigadier Generals, and desired that his should be one of them, but his honor Grant deemed it prudent to positively decline, on the ground that he was a "stranger" and that he did not seek promotion. After finishing his duties in the mustering department he went to visit his parents who now resided in Kentucky, and whilst there he received a commission from Governor Yates making him Colonel of the Twenty First Regiment of Illinois Volunteers. After the term of the three months men had expired his re- giment reinlisted and he retained the com- mand. A little circumstance soon occur- red which illustrates his character as a commander.

Applications were made to Governor Yates to send a regiment of men to Quincy, a town one hundred and twenty miles dist- ant. He had plenty of regiment but no means of transportation. Grant told him to send his regiment, and he would find means of transportation. The command was given and before night the regiment was marching on foot to Quincy. The first active service given the Twenty First Regiment was in the district of North Missouri in the de- partment of Gen. Pope. Several regiments were ordered on the same service and it became necessary to have an acting Briga- der General, and although Grant was the youngest Colonel in the lot he was pro- moted to a Brigadier General. He was still however by no means a showy Briga- dier, and was recognized chiefly by a rather bad looking "stove pipe" hat he was accustomed to wear, before he could be persuaded to doff it for the cap, and yellow lace. His first command was small having his head quarters at Cairo Tennes- see. He soon managed to gain several vic- tories which although small were neverthe- less important. When Gen. Fremont was superseded by Gen. Halleck Gen. Grant's command was considerably enlarged. Hal- leck saw in him the making of an excellent commander, and entrusted to him the com- mand first in importance in his own de- partment.

The first important movement in Grant's new command was commenced in conjunc- tion with the gun boats up the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers against Forts Henry and Donelson. He had an army of nine- teen regiments of infantry, and six of cav- alry and seven batteries of artillery. These were divided into three columns under Generals Paine, McClernand and C. F. Smith. Fort Henry is on the east side of the Tennessee, and the still more for- midable Donelson is on the west side of the Cumberland. Com. Foote was in command of a fleet of seven gun boats, four of which were iron clad, Henry was the first place of attack In consequence of bad roads, and some miscalculations of distance, the troops did not reach the fort as soon as the gun boats and the energetic Foote attacked the fort and compelled its surrender before they arrived. Next came Donelson. Two days march, and two nights sleep upon the cold ground, brought Grant's troops to some of the action. The gun boats made the attack but the current be-

ing very strong and some of them be- coming disabled they dropped down the riv- er. It was now Grant's turn, but whilst he was maturing his plans the rebels hurled a large body of troops upon his right. It was a bloody contest, and that night the troops slept upon their arms. The next morning the rebels again made a terrible onslaught. The lines swayed to and fro and those of the Union forces were well nigh broken, when timely reinforcements ar- rived. Another disaster also occurred. A regiment of Union forces coming on the field mistook their friends for rebels, and fired upon them and they in consequence fled to the river. Gen. Pillow of the rebels hasty telegraphed to Nashville. "On the honor of a soldier the day is ours." Grant however still thought otherwise. He sat at his head quarters as cooly as if nothing were going on. Messenger after messen- ger brings him the reports of his officers. He scans them over and looking up to one of the staff officers exclaims. "We have them now." Smith and Wallace are ordered im- mediately to take the rifle pits at the north west corner of the Fort. This was done and an approach made for the batteries to shell it. The sun set that day upon a gory scene. Again they slept upon their arms. The next morning however a white flag floats over the Fort. The rebel Generals Floyd and Pillow had' escaped witha few troops in the night, in a small steamer, and Gen. Buckner who was left in charge saw that he could not hold out successfully de- cided to surrender. He accordingly sent Grant the following note.

Gen. U. S. Grant, U. S. A.

Sir—In consideration of all the circum- stances governing the present situation of affairs at this station, I propose to the com- manding officer of the Federal forces the appointment of commissioners, to agree upon terms of capitulation of the forces and Fort under my command, and in that view suggest an armistice till 12 o'clock to-day.

Gen. Grant's reply to the above note was the first thing that brought him into general notice:—

Sir—Yours of this date proposing an armistice, and the appointment of commis- sioners to settle terms of capitulation is just received. No terms other than immediate and unconditional surrender can be accept- ed. I propose to move immediately upon your works.

From these circumstances, and the first two initials of his name he received the sobriquet of Unconditional Surrender Grant. Gen. Buckner could do nothing else than surrender unconditionally. Gen. Grant took at Donelson 13,000 prisoners, 3000 horses, 48 field pieces, 20,000 stand of arms and a large quantity of stores.

For the taking of Donelson Grant was promoted to the rank of Major General in the regular army. His rising reputation however soon began to excite jealousy. A committee waited upon Gen. Halleck be- fore the news of the taking of Donelson had reached St. Louis, requesting Grants removal. The principal cause urged for his removal was that he indulged in the use of intoxicating liquors. Gen. Halleck however whatever else he lacked, did not fail to see in Grant, a great soldier, and his answer to the committee was : "I am satis- fied with Gen. Grant and I think you soon will be." The deputation were still stop- ping at the Hotel in St. Louis when the news of the capture of Donelson and 13- 000 prisoners arrived. Gen. Halleck posted the news upon the Hotel bulletin with his own hands, and when all crowded around to read, he remarked in the hearing of the same deputation, "If Gen. Grant is such a drunkard as reported and can win such vic- tories as this, I think it my duty to issue an order that every man found sober to- night in St. Louis shall be punished with fine and imprisonment." This remark was aimed at the committee who evidently were not so much afraid of intemperance, as of Gen. Grant's rising reputation. No greater libel upon Gen. Grants character could have been manufactured, for he does not indulge in intoxicating liquors of any kind. One who has fought long under him and has the following testimony: "I know that he is one of the most moderate of all men in his desires. His purity is equal to his modesty. His personal character to my certain knowledge is without a blot."

Telegram.

Surrender of Lee and his troops confirm- ed. Twenty two thousand men

Czarewich of Russia dead.

Prussian Secretary of Legation assassin- ated at Paris, reported dead.

London, April 26—President Lincoln and Seward murdered, tremendous excite- ment.

Lincoln's assassination caused universal indignation to be felt.

Johnston is President.

London, April 26th a. m.—Lincoln shot dead by an assassin; an attempt also made to assassinate Seward who still lives.

London, 27th April p. m.—Dhollers Fair.

Seward wounded, progressing favorably.

New York, 27th—The Assassin of Lincoln was shot dead, whilst resisting capture. Sherman has concluded a truce with Johnston, to negotiate for all the Confederate Armies. The Federal Gov- ernment has disapproved and ordered the immediate renewal of hostilities. Grant has arrived as Raleigh, terminated truce, and assumed direction of operations.

London, 28th Evening-—Cotton eleven. large business. Confederates burned nine- ty thousand bales Cotton. Montgomery, Wilkers. Both murderer of Lincoln shot dead. Maryland accomplices taken prison- ers; and several others arrests made. Grant terminated truce issued upon surrender of Johnston.

London. 29th. America, 19th.—John- ston made speech without proclaiming policy. Mobile occupied. Sherman oc- cupied Raleigh. Johnston retreating his surrender expected. Seward recovering. Lincoln nuried today. Dhollera eleven. Market advancing. Week's sales hundred six thousand. Stock five hundred twenty thousand.

London, April 29th

Cotton eleven pence; advancing

President Johnson made speech without declaring policy.

Sherman occupied Raleigh.

Johnston retreating; his surrender ex- pected.

London, May 1st-—Dollers 11d Market healthy.

Admiral Fitzroy committed Suicide.

Seward recovering

New York, 29th April.—Johnson has surrendered with his whole army to Sherman on same terms as Lee.

Davis reached South Carolina

London, 12th May—-evening.

New York, 3rd May. Scattered Con- federate forces surrendered; reduction of Military establishment commenced; 400,000 troops to be disbanded.

Johnston removed restricts on internal commerce with south.

Cotton heavy.

AMERICA

The first act of the American War has closed with a tremendous finale. For three days together the great Confederate General maintained himself in fierce and even doubt- full battle against the combined forces of his adversaries; but at last he succumbed to numbers, and resigned to the enemy the strongholds which he has defended so long. Richmond and Petersburg are in the hands of the North, and though Lee, even in these desperate straits, has retired in good order with the remnants of his army, it is impos- sible to anticipate that his resistance can be effectually prolonged. The South retained but one great army, and that has now been half destroyed. The loss of Richmond might in itself have been, perhaps, sustain- ed, but, coupled with the defeat of Lee, it represents a veritable catastrophe.

The event has been unicipated not only in America, but in this country for some time past, and yet it did not occur in con- formity with the prevalent speculations. Farragut had no part in it, nor Sherman either. There was no flotilla, no bombard- ment, no combined attack by land and water. It is due to General Grant that his military abilities should be recognised and his suc- cess acknowledged. It was his army in the end which captured Richmond. He did "fight it out on that line," as he had pledged himself to do, not only all through the summer, but through the winter, and through the following spring. Often and often was he repulsed with dreadful losses, but he clung with unconquerable tenacity to his work, and never once relaxed the grip which he had obtained. He forced his adversary into Richmond, and sat down before its ramparts with the resolution, which he has well maintained, that sooner or later the city should be his. It is true that he had the assistance of Sheridan, and that without that co-operation the final assault would probably not have been attempted. The hardest of the fighting, indeed, fell to Sheridan's share, and he seems to have displayed much of that genius which won him so remarkable a victory in the Shen- andoah Valley. But the whole work, sub- stantially, was the work of Grant, and it was the work for which he had waited in patience and confidence through nearly twelve months of discouragement. He was the first General of the North who refused to recognise defeat, and the reward of for- titude is his at last.

After paying, however, this tribute to the conqueror, we are bound to give due honors to the vanquished, and the task will not be difficult. General Lee has forleited none of the renown which gives him so dis- tinguished a place in the eyes of the world. All that a consummate commander could do under extreme difficulties he has valiant- ly done. He did not decamp from his position, nor try to cut his way out; still less did he resign, as was prognosticated, all hope of resistance. He waited in his lines, reoeived the great assault with ex- iraordinary intrepidity, and fought to the last. Then he withdrew deliberately from the field, evacuating his strongholds and carrying off what remained of his army. If we may accept as unexaggerated the esti- mate of his losses, he can have but a slender force left. A reckonin of 25,000 prisoners and 15,000 killed and wounded will acoount for the greater part of what was but a moderate army to begin with. The South- ern General is retiring, it was supposed, upon Lynchburg, but s Federal force has recently been advancing on that town from the west, and the road may be no longer open to the Confederates, For months passed, indeed, the Northern forces have been closing grimly round the single army of the South, and it is to the combination of foes that Lea at length has yielded. He had upon him at once the Grand Army of the Potomac under Grant, the Army of the Shenandoah Valley under Sheridan, and the Army of Tennessee under Sherman. They shut him in on every side. Though Sherman was not present at the last en- gagement, he was at so short a distance and was so formidably posted that Lee was com- pelled to detach troops to keep him in check. Then upon his weakened forces fell Grant and Sheridan together, the former with his old stubborn strategy, the latter with his impetuous and brilliant valour. The Federals had troops enough to fight and watch to- gether, to engage the Confederates at every point, and to take advantage of the slightest opportunity, Suddenly, after three days' fighting, Richmond and Petersburg were discovered to be empty, and the Northern Generals seized their prize.

ITEMS

Death.

Died June 12th, Charlotte Elizabeth, infant daughter of Mr. C. Hewetson aged thirteen months and twenty one days— "Of such in the Kingdom of heaven"

Go to thy dreamless bed,

Gentle and undefiled,

With blessings on thy head.

Fresh flowers in thy hand,

Buds on thy pillow laid,

Haste from this fearful land,

Where flowers so quickly fade.

Because thy smile was fair,

Thy lip and eye so bright;

Because thy cradle care

Was such a fond delight,

Shall love, with weak embrace,

Thy heaven-ward flight detain?

No! Angel, seek thy place,

Amid heaven’s cherub train.

The community has been charmed for several evenings past, at the British Con- sulate with excellent music by the superb Brass Band, accompanying H. B. M. Ship Princess Royal. Nothing could have been more opportune at such a time as this, than their arrival amongst us. It breaks the reigning monotony of the place and revives the drooping spirits of all.

Robbery.

On Thursday the 8th inst., about 7 o'clock a. m. N. A. de Fonseca a Portuguese, (who for a long time and till quite recently was Interpreter to H.R.H. Krom Hluang Wongsa Tirat Sanit.) went to the palace of H. R. H. and when H. R. H. was yet asleep stole a Chronometer gold watch, a long gold chain, a box containing the like- ness of H. R. Highnesses mother, and a box containing a compass. There were many witnesses of these several thefts.

H. R. H. Krom-Hluang, being informed of the robbery, requested Mawm Rachot'ei, the International Judge, to give due inform- ation of the same to Mr. Moor the Portu- guese Consul, who despatched an officer to the floating house of Fonseca, where he found many things belonging to H. R. H. which Fonseca had stolen some time before.

One of the slaves of Fonseca testified that Fonseca had stolen a box containing money belonging to H. R. H. that in the act of taking it, he wrapped it up with red cloth like that used for bunting, and gave it to him to carry to Fonseca's floating house, early one morning when H. R. H. was a- sleep this was done many months ago.

In that box there were several purses of silver and gold. One was full and contained ten cattics of silver, another a white purse, contained more than five cattics, another was made of green silk and contained gold earrings, and money more than three cat- tics, and another was wrought with gold thread and contained gold weighing 55 ticals.

Fonseca must have stolen property from H. R. H. before this to a large amount, He never was engaged in any regular bu- sines but was a great gambler, staking of- tentimes 100, and even 200 ticals at once. He gambled with Chinese brass cubes, and cards. He has from time to time bought slaves for his own service until they have become very many, and he has purchased gardens, orchards and rice fields; also cows and buffaloes to a large amount.

The Portuguese Consul appears to have taked the part of Fonseca, and has not de- cided that those articles of stolen property shall be restored to H. R. H. He has only decided that Fonseca is guilty of having stolen the Chronometer from H. R. H. be- cause there was many witnesses to corro- borate the fact, and has ordered that Fon- seca make full restitution for the Chrono- meter, be imprisoned in Bangkok for six months, and then banished to Macao.

Now there is yet much property in the possession of Fonseca, which his wives are daily pawning in the market, and he is in- debted to many persons. Since the Por- tuguese Consul has adjudicated the case in this manner, refusing to seize the goods and chattels of Fonseca and cause them to be sold at public auction, and using the avails thereof to make restitution for the property stolen from H. R. H. and for the payment of his several Creditors according to Por- tuguese law in Europe, he seems not to be righteous.

On Wednesday the 7th inst, witnessos having testified to the stealing of the Chro- nometer, Fonseca confessed that he had indeed stolen it, but that seeing he was likely to be detected, he threw it into the river on the 2nd inst. But there is another person who testifies that he saw the watch in the possession of Fonseca on the 3rd inst. This the Portuguese Consul refuses to investigate.

We publish the above by special request and are in no way responsible for the senti- ments or assertions contained in it.

"Princess Royal"

H. B. M. Ship Princess Royal, 3126 Tons. Capt. W. G. Jones, bearing the Flag of Vice Admiral G. St. V. King. C. B. arrived from Singapore, enroute for China, on the 9th inst.

Officers (Admiral and his staff)

Vice Admiral—George St. Vincent King C. B.

Secretary.—F. Penfold Esq.

Flag Lieut.—Richard King.

Secretary's Clerks.—Messers. Dawson, Mackern, Williams and Wheddon.

Executive Officers

Captain—W. G. Jones.

Commander—Alexander Buller.

Lieut.—Carter, Rivington, Maclear, Lord Walter Kerr, Blount and Royce.

Sub Lieut. Dowding, Stewart, Douglas, Meade, Lukcraft, and Ives.

Mishipenman—Langley, Cochran, Wells,

Fanshawe, l'Estrange, Moore, Beauchamp, Durnford, Canning, Hall, Glennie, and Duffield.

Officers. (Civil)

Chaplain—Rev. H. E. Yeoman M. A.

Paymaster—J. F. Phillips Esq. Assistant, to Paymaster—Messrs. Lyne Seriven, Dixon, and Bates.

Surgeons—Dr. F. Toms, M. D.

Ass. Surgeons Drs. Hague, M. D. Good- all, M. D. Dyle, M. D.

Engineer Chief. E, Boulton Esq. and five assistants.

Messers. Stanton: Gunner. Day. Boat swain, Beer. Caprenter.

Capt. J. F. Sanders, Lieut. Hawes, Gib- son and Hill

John. Lawless Esq.

Marines 130.

Armaments. 73 guns: consisting of one 110 pdr. Armstrong, 10: 40 pdrs. Arm- strong (these guns range nearly 5 miles.)

On main deck 30, 32 pdr, 58 cwt guns.

On Lower deck 32, 8 inch, 65 cwt guns.

Boats, 3 large boats which carry 25 pdrs.

Armstrong guns. 2 smaller boats which carry 12 and 24 pdr. rockets tubes.

At night with all hands in bed, ship will be ready for action in 10 minutes.

Can land for service in the Field 500 riflemen, and 2, 20 pdr. Armstrong Field Pieces.

Auxilliary Steamer 400 horse power. Engines by Maudsley, can steam 9 knots per hour, carriee 300 tons of coals, and stores 6 months stores and provisions, of all sorts except water, and can distill 35 tons of water in 24 hours.

She was launched in 1853, length 240 ft. beam 63 ft. draught 27 ft. sails very well, best run her 318 knots in 24 hours, she was commissioned in Feb. 1864. In her first commission she was in the Russian war.

Admiral Kings command on the China and Japan stations, consists of 36 steam screw ships of all classes, carrying about 6000 men, and 320 guns.

Tour to the Hot Springs

It was a strange act to break the chain of my journal, as I did, in the middle of that extraordinary breakfast in the wilder- ness. But it was the best that I could do in the circumstances, because I had spun out my details to such an extent that no more of my yarn could be crammed into the nut-sheets allowed me at the time. And now, since I have some inkling that prolixity is a weakness, I shall try to guard against it a little by saying nothing more of the after part of that breakfast, though I think my pen could easily make a little volume of quite readable matter from the incidents that occurred to my observation during that half hour.

Breakfast being over, we each spread out his blanket or mat over the dry leaves of the place in the densest shade we could find, and endeavored to make up for the loss of sleep we had sustained the last night, and to mollify somewhat the chafing and bruising we had had by sitting in an unac- customed saddle six successive hours before breakfast. With but one exception, each found it next to impossible to sleep; in an at- mosphere so close among myriads of black and red ants, which have their homes under every dry leaf of the forest, and were to be seen animating every green one we had in our arbor. This exception, though a delicate merchant, seemed to have been originally designed for the rough and tumble life of a boundary line surveyor, or a soldier, for he could sleep while the ants were using his person as a bridge, and the sun streaming upon him in great power, and never seemed to mind it. One of the party complained of a cracking headache, which he judged to be premonitory of an approaching fever.

Soon after breakfast our ox carts were ordered off to the next station, a Karen vil- lage. One of the men conveyed a letter from the Governor of Petchaburee to its Karen chief, requiring him to receive us with all due attention and hospitality. Our party were to remain until 3 o'clock P. M. and then resume our journey in the cool of the day.

The woods in which we stopped consist- ed largely of the trees called ton yang and mai-ta-baak. The former is quite remark- able for its lofty bearing and uprightness. It is the tree from which the natives obtain a brownish pitch or oil in great use among them, in connection with the resin, (which I have previously noticed), for making their boats impervious to water. The mode of obtaining the oil is to cut a large notch in the tree three or four feet from the ground at a certain season, and then to burn the wound until the upper superficies of it become quite black. The lower part is cut into a concave form to make a basin for holding the dripping oil. From one to two quarts may be caught in every such basin every twenty four hours. Without the charring the oil will not flow. All the ton yangs in that region seemed to have been brought into such service to man, evidenced by the old and new notches we saw in them. It appeared not to be the proper oil season at that time, as but little of the article was to be seen in any of the basins.

The texture of the wood of the oil tree is rather soft, and but little used, except- ing for the main pillars of the funeral pal- aces for kings and other extraordinary per- sonages. These are required to be perfectly straight and about 150 ft. high. This timber is sometimes used for flooring when the planks made of it can be protected from the weather.

The Mei ta-baak, in its prime, is also a splendid tree, and remarkable for its green- ish-white and smooth bark, and for the great effort every tree makes to spread out its base into a half a dozen or more dis- tinct pillars. Its texture is quite close, and planes very smoothly, but it will not bear exposure to rain and sun. It is almost as much a favorite timber for the white ants to riddle as fir and pine. Planks of it are in common use by the natives for flooring purposes.

Finding myself ill at ease at our resting place, I walked out a little way at noon, following a cart road, or I heard the charm- ing music of chopping trees in the forest in that direction. Presently I found six Laos men, each having in charge a yoke of oxen and a cart. They were on a journey of a day and a night in pursuit of a certain long grass for thatching their houses, and had stopped to rest and feed their teams until the sun should decline a little to the west, when it becomes cooler. The men were quite busy,—some in repairing their vehicles—some in cutting and splitting bam- boos for making baskets and various other utensils,—and some in cutting and splitting green rattans into strings for tying the thatching material on their roofs.

Their stoutest oxen were only the seize of an ordinary European yearling steer, and worth as they informed we from thirty to sixty Ticals a pair. Their carts indicated pretty fair handy-work of a cart-wright, but were of the old patriarchal model, most awkward in shape, and most prodigal in their demands of muscular strength to haul them about. A usual load for a single yoke of oxen, the Laos told me, is about three piculs, which is nearly equal to 400 lbs.

Having by such conversation introduced myself to the good graces of those Loatians, I then introduced the far more important subject of religion. They expressed them- selves very strongly as being poor and op- pressed by heavy taxation, and hence as longing to find some future rest. I pointed them to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ as being a sure and straight way to com- plete and everlasting rest.—that He and His and our common Almighty Father are still living and will live forever the un- changable God—that this God is the maker and preserver and proprietor of the universe, and that we all live and have our being in Him alone. They caught hold with ap- parent eagerness of the idea that the almighty and eternal Father is a Spirit, and exclaimed —O that is just what we hold, and hence when we fall into any great trouble we look up to Him and make offerings to propitiate His favor. This testimony substantiates what the missionaries have often learned of this tribe of Laotians, and is an apparently encouraging feature in them as subjects for evangelization. But it should ever be borne in mind, that they are no nearer gospel con- vertion, by this phase of religious views, than are the wildest American Indians, or the most bigoted Mahomedans, or the most legal Hebrews.

At 4 p.m. we mounted our ponies again, and set off for the Karen village called Ta- p'long. It was a ride of about ten miles in a dense forest of primitive trees nearly all the way, the timber being much like that already discribed. Occasionally we saw a grand specimen of the sacred tree called ton poh improperly denominated the ban- yan tree. Its leaf is like the wild poplar of Am. The Siamese regard it with much veneration because tradition says that Buddh sat under its shade "once on a time" and shed upon it the beams of his glory. We saw one of them holding in its firm embrace a lofty salow tree. A singu- lar peculiarity of the sacred poh is to throw its numerous arms all around some other tree, as a false religion does its influence around its votaries, which it never relaxes till the death of its subject. The way it does this, is to deposit its gummy seeds, by the agency of birds, in some angle of a limb or some crevice or crack in the bark, or on a little deposite of earth which the ants have made on some convenient lodging place, and then the seed, being the most tenacious in the germinating principle of all seeds, is sure, to sprout and shoot down its roots in all direction around the trunk of the tree, taking care that every one of them shall cleave fast to the bark wherever it goes, un- til it reaches the ground. While seeking their mother earth, they spread out and expand until the most of them unite and form apparently one entire envelope, with only here and there an opening through which you may see the trunk of the tree which it has invested. It is the most common thing to see palmyra trees of Petchaburee held in such embrace. We saw a few small trees of teak. The proper home, however, of this timber is far up the Menam Chow Phya and its tributaries.

We reached Taplong about 6 p.m. Our ox carts had arrived in good time, and the chief of the place had been duly informed by the Governor of P. that he should re- ceive us with all the attentions we might need. Having no house or shed in which he could accomodate us, he prepared for us a most comfortable lodging place under an arbor made by the natural tops of sever- al thrifty pomelo trees meeting together. There he spread a large bamboo mat 15 by 10 feet for a carpet, and in the middle of this he set a table, consisting of a plank 8 feet by 2, a little elevated from the carpet by blocks. Each weary, dusty, thirsty, hungry traveler of us hailed this place of rest as if it had been the best hotel he had ever seen, and each chose his berth in it with all eagerness and gladness. One of our number, who had had a fever nearly all day, with strong pains in the head and loins, exclaimed as he laid himself down on his blanket, having an extemporized straw pil- low for his weary head, "I never in all my life was so glad to get to a resting place."

Having rested a little, we were politely conducted by the chief to a bathing pool supplied by a spring of cool water in the same place. O how refreshing was the bath we each took! Never could the most refined bath in an European hotel have been more so. Our host had no trouble in providing for our table, for all that we needed, and a good deal more had been brought along in our carts; and our stew- ard had made it all ready. The kindness of the missionary ladies at P. in their provision of pies and cakes was then, as at our breakfast, quite conspicuous and was gratefully reciprocated. Though we had no chairs to sit in at our table, we did not feel the need of any, as a seat flat down on our carpet was, under the circumstances, a great luxury excluding all desire for any other of the kind.

We all partook of our dinner with a keen relish save the one sick of a fever. The physician very providentially with us (like all other events of life) prescribed for him rigid fasting after his cold bath, and a heavy dose of the bitter quinine, and this to be repeated in four hours; so he re- tired at once into his own corner, and fell into a sound sleep.

While eating, it was remarked by one of the party, that not less than four classes of European society were represented by our little company,—vis. Rulers in the person of one consul of two nations.—the Clergy in two missionaries—Physicians in one person and the half of another, and Merchants, in two of the number. Surely there was dignity in our professions enough to have stamped that Karen cottage in the wilderness with everlasting importance.

And now, for the second time, I am forced to snap assunder my long and splendid thread. O what a pity! *

In a postscript of a private note, dated New York April 4th, we receive the following:—-

"Mr. J. L. Hoon the U. S. Consul for Siam, with Mrs. Hood, and an assistant was to sail for Hong Kong, in the "Amaranth" April 3d.

Police Cases.

THE FRENCH IN MEXICO.

The situation of the French in Mexico has been fully canvassed in the French Corps Législatif, and the course taken by the government has been strongly condemn- ed by the Opposition as being likely to embroil the country in a war with America. The answer of the ministers has the merit of being distinguished by this utmost candour. They did not attempt to blink the question, but declared that the honour of the French flag was concerned, and that they were determined to support the Emperor Max- imilian, cost what it might. This, at least, was plain speaking; but it should be added that the French government entertains the strongest confidence in the financial regen- eration of Mexico, and believes that the cost of their friendship will be amply repaid by and by. As to a war with America, M. Rouher has no apprehensions of any such issue; he thinks, in the first instance, that the Americans have no inclination to quarrel with France, and in the second, that they have no desire to interfere in the affairs of Mexico. On these points he may be wrong or right; but in any case he has shown consummate judgment by adopt- ing a conciliatory tone towards the North, in the same breath with the announcement of the determination of France to maintain the empire of Maximilian. America can- not complain hereafter of having been misled or deceived. France is resolved to fight for Mexico, if fighting be necessary, and has already testifled the sincerity of her support by pledging her own credit for a Mexican loan.

It is not surprising, under these circum- stances, that the belief in the likelihood of a war between France and America should be revived, and acquire increased currency. This time it comes associated with a ru- mour, important if true, but which is as yet unsupported by authority. It is said that, in anticipation of a hostile movement on the part of the Northern States of Ameri- ca, France has proposed to England to enter into an engagement of joint action and mutual support, in the event of an aggre- sion on Mexico or Canada.

A Romantic Courtship and Mar-

riage.—The Sunderland Times prints the following:—Some time ago the mate of a Sunderland vessel, while at a Chinese port, fell ill of fever and subsequently died. An Englishman and his wife, living in the land of " barbarians," were kind to the dying man, and in his last moments strove by their attention to ease, as far as they could, his passage from this troublesome world. The kindness shown to the suffering seaman came to the knowledge of his widow in Sunderland, and she, in a letter to the Eng- lishman and his wife, thanked them for what they had done, and begged they would, in return, send her their cartes as a remembrance of the debt she owed them. After the lapse of some months, she receiv- ed an answer from the Celestial Empire, from the Englishman, in which he convey- ed the melancholy intelligence that, shortly after the departure of the vessel to which the mate belonged, he had the misfortune to lose his wife, who now lay interred by the side of his friend, the husband of the woman to whom he was writing. Acting upon the high encomiums he had heard of the character and qualities of his fair cor- respondent, he judged she was a suitable person to fill the place of his deceased part- ner, and at once "popped the question," giving as a reason for his promptness that so long a time was required for the trans- mission of a letter and its answer, it would be half a year before he knew what her reply would be. Enclosed was his portrait, and he begged a return of the favor. The letter, as may be imagined, was a surprise to the widow; but after weighing all the circumstances, she consented to be 'wooed.' The courtship thus strangely commenced, continued to progress until a few weeks ago, when the happy man who was to be the bridegroom arrived in England, was not long in finding his way to Sunderland.

and the 'banns' were at once proclaimed in Bishopwearmouth Church.

The Siamese Twins are again be- fore the public attention. They have con- tinued unmolested on their plantation in North Carolina during the rebellion, being ineligible to the draft. They dress in the Confederate grey, and attend as members Baptist church. Domestic troubles have overtaken them; in consequence of the jealousy of their wives,-not, as was custom- ary at the South, because of conjugal infidelity, but because of the excess of children with which one was favored. The old question remains unsettled, and grows grimmer as the brothers advance in years— they are now over fifty—Will both die together, or can one exist without the oth- er, and the connecting bond be out? They fear secession when it comes home to their own persons. Much more have they reason to fear a situation like that of North and South before the war-—a living body bound to a corpse.

Answers to Enigma No. 2.

Come, see the Lion in his wrathful mood.

His roar terrific echoing rocks rebound,

And nature trembles at the dreadful sound;

His furious tail he works from side to side,

His bristly mane he shakes with awful pride;

His eyes, wild rolling, glare with starting light,

With paw upraised, he stands prepared for fight,

And wherefore stands he thus with warlike look?

He sees his image in the quiet brook.

Man, born to reason, like the foolish beast,

Lets rage hot boiling fester in his breast,

The cause as futile: he himself possess’d.

Of evil tempers, colors all the rest.

—-"Yes, Mrs. Miffin," said a visitor to her hostess, "dear Emma has your features, but I think she has her father’s hair." "Oh, now I see," said dear little Emma; "it’s because I have father’s hair that he wears a wig."

-—A ten years old Sunday School boy was asked by his teacher, not long since, what the phylacteries of the Pharisees were-—"Broad hems, such as ladies wear on their dresses," was the reply. "But the Pharisees didn't wear them for the same reason that ladies do, did they?" "O yes," was the wicked answer, "to be seen of men."