Potter's Electric News

AMERICA. NEW YORK, JUNE 29, EVENING.-General Hooker has been relieved from the command of the army of the Potomac at his own request. General Meade, a West Point graduate, and commander of the Fifth Corps of the Potomac army, has been appointed his successor. General Meade is not connected with any political faction. General Hooker has issued an order saying that he parted from the army impressed with the belief that his usefulness as a commander was impaired. General Meade has issued an order stating that be accepted the command, which was totally unexpected and unsolicited, with just diffidence. He relieved an eminent and accomplished soldier, and relied upon the troops to assist him in discharging his trust. The sudden change of command at the present crisis has caused general astonishment. The whole of General Meade's army is upon the North tide of the Potomac. General Lee, with the last of Longstreet's and Hill's corps, passed through Hagerstown on Saturday, and Lee's whole army is now in Pennsylvania, which it is believed, he intends to make the future battle-ground. General Stuart's cavalry has followed Lee across the Potomac. Ewell's, Hill's, and Longstreet's corps are estimated at 75,000 men. The Confederate advance in Pennsylvania has not yet met with any organised resistance, though the inhabi- tants appear to be a little more roused. Business in Philadelphia is entirely suspended, and the Pennsylvania collieries are closed. General Dana has issued a proclamation stating that the Confederate strategy was sufficiently understood to make it certain that Philadelphia was their object, and urging the people to arm for defence. The mayor of Philadelphia has called upon the people no longer to closlt their eyes to the startling danger and disgrace banging over the state and city. The Confederates occupied Caalisle on the 27th instant, and on the following day advanced to within three miles of the Federal fortifications opposite Harrisburg, where there is a large Federal force, and there resistance is expected to be offered to a further Confederate advance. The Confederates at M'Conellshurg have also marched towards Harristourg. General Early's division has moved from Harrisburg to a point between York and Hanover Court-house, cut the telegraph wires, and destroyed numerous bridges, cutting the railroad communications between Harrisburg and Baltimore. There now only remains one railroad line connecting the Northern States with Washington. The Confederates have also occupied York, Mechanics. ville, and Wrightsville, when the Federals destroyed the bridge stretching across the Susquehannah to Columbia, in order to prevent the Confederates advancing further. The bridge was one mile and a quarter long, and cost a million dollars. General Ewell has issued an order enforcing rigid discipline, and warning his troops that wandering, and plundering are forbidden, What is required for the army will be taken under regulations established by the commanding general, according to the usages of civilised warfare. A large force of General Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry has passed within 14 miles of Washington on the north side, and it is supposed that they are striking for the piece of trestle work upon the railroad between Washington and Annapolis Junction. Another Confederate cavalry force made a dash into Annandale on Sunday, destroying stores and capturing waggons. Nine hundred Federal cavalry fell into an ambuscade, near Fairfax, on Saturday, the 27th inN., and were badly cut up by General Lee's cavalry. General Rosencranz's army, with the exception of one division, commenced moving on the 24th instant. General Banks issued an order on the 15th instant say. ing that with one more advance the works of Port Hudson would be captured. He calls upon the troops to organise a volunteer storming column of 1000 men. This last assault was to be made on the 20th inst., and if not suc- ceseful it was supposed General Banks would fall back to Baton Rouge. The Port Hudson works are considered impregnable. Heavy cannonading continued at Vicksburg on the 26tb. The crew of the privateer Tacony, under Lieutenant Reed, transferred themselves to the schooner Archer, into Portland harbour on the 26th, at night, and boarded and seized the revenue cutter Caleb Cushing, putting her crew in irons and sailing out of Portland "with the Caleb Cushing and the Archer. On the 27th, morning two Steamers, with 30 regular troops, and 100 armed citizens of Portland, started promptly in pursuit and soon over- hauled the Caleb Cushing and the Archer, and after a few shots were fired by both parties the privateer's crew abandoned the revenue cutter in small boats and blew her up. The latter, however, together with the Archer and her crew, were afterwards captured by the steamers and taken into Porttand, where they are held prisoners. NEW YORK, JUNK 30, EVENING-rGeneral Dix, with a strong force, has occupied White House, and sent out a cavalry expedition, which destroyed the Virginia Central Railroad bridge across the South Anna River, brought in prisoners and stores, and captured Confederate General Fitzhugh Lee, who was lying ill at a private house, The same cavalry force penetrated within nine tides of Richmond. The Confederates in Tennessee retreated fighting before General Rosencranz's advance, aad Rosencranz's advance occupied Manchester and Shelby ville, the Con. federates falling baek to Tullahoma, which it was supposed Bragg woutd abandon and retreat to Cbattanoega. News from New Orleans to the 22nd states that the Confederates have re-occupiedi. Thibandeau and the Attakapas country, and advanced to Lafoarche Crossing, but were driven back. They also seised the Opelousas, Railroad, and cut off the Federals at Brashear City. The abandonment of the siege of Port Hudson hv General Banks is considered probable. Advices from Vicksburg are to theMth inst The Federals. bad blown up one of the forts on the left, ahd had mounted two guns in the abandoned fort. Southern journals assert that General Pemberton receives reinforcements from across the river. It is rumoured that General Johnstone has moved southward to attack General Banks. Much alarm prevails in Kentucky and Ohio. Generals Pegram slid Marshall, with 15,000 meu are reported to be advancing through Cumberland Gap. Preparations for defence are being made at Cincinnati. The reported depredations by privateers at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy are not credited. The steamers Hecla, City of Baltimore, and China have arrived out. The steamers Planter and Neptune have been captured off Mobile. NEW YORK, JULY 1, MORNING.—The Confederates have retired from the line of the Susquehanna, and General Lee is reported to be concentrating his army on the line of the Cumberland Valley Railroad, between Shippens- burg and Chambersburg, as if expecting an attack from Meade's army. Various Confederate cavalry forces who have been marauding in close vicinity Of Washington are said to have returned and joined Lee. The present position of Lee's (Hooker's?) army is not known, but it is reported to be in rapid motion, and its progress thus far has relieved the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad of Confederate cavalry, and restored telegraphic communication with Frederick. News of a collision between the main armies of General Lee and Meade is hourly expected. Up to Saturday 37,000 Confederate troops, with 104 pieces of artillery, passed through Chambersburg, and on that day General Lee mid staff, in company with Generals Longstreet and Hill, left Chambersburg on the Baltimore pike, in the direction of Gettysburg and the Northern Central Railroad. General Early has levied a contribution at York of 150,000 dols., and large quantities of supplies from the inhabitants. He received 30,000, and gave the inhabi. tants. twenty days to pay the balance. Entrenchments are being dug round Philadelphia, the ntfeftehants of that city have forwarded large quantities of goods to New York for safety. The governor ot New Jersey has again called oat the militia to go to the aid of Pennsylvania. The public clamour for M'Clellan's reappointment con- tinues. The Confederates continue to respect private property, but thet Richmond Enquirer says that Lee may purposely adopt this policy, to avoid alarming the population, until General Meade's army is well cleared out of his path and General Lee is enabled to throw the whole Confederate army into Pennsylvania io one combined movement, en.! ▼eloping Washington on one side, Harrisbyrg on the other( «jde, 'andao forward until the Confederate tag reflects itself in the Delaware. Then,' continttes the Richm&hd Enquirer, the just retaliation which the Con- fedeN^48w^'Wtt.be A* liberately organised.A'; AI-. •. >/• President Davis has called upon the Confederates for troops for home defence to replace Lee's invading army. NEW YORK, July 1, (Afternoon).—Martial law has been proclaimed in Baltimore and Western Maryland. It is reported that the Federal cavalry under Gregg, has driven Stuart's whole cavalry force from Westmin- ster, Maryland, 18 miles, to Hanover, Pennsylvania. General Kilpatrick then drove Stuart out of Hanover, and was pursuing him. Part of Stuart's force is going towards Gettysburg and part towards York. Yesterday the Confederates burned Cashtown, Penn- sylvania. THE REVOLUTION IN MADAGASCAR. At length we have a full and reliable account of the recent revolution in Madagascar. The narrator is the Rev. William Ellis, the agent of the London Missionary Society, and we learn that the revolution is not likely to prove so disastrous to the cause of Christian evangeliza- tion as was at first feared. The late King, although a friend of religious toleration, appears to have been an exceedingly bad ruler. He had a weak mind, which he weakened still further by leading a drunken and dissolute life, and latterly he was induced to issue decrees which seem sufficient to prove that he was absolutely mad. The knot of drunken courtiers with whom Radamahad surrounded himself were not as favourable to Christianity as. their master was. They set themselves to work to produce a revolution in his sympethies, and, by the aid of wine and superstition, they very soon effected their purpose. They induced the King to consent to the assassination of a number of Christians and of the leading nobles who might oppose his proceedings. But, in order to shield the intended assassins from punishment, it was necessary to legalise murder; so Radama issued a decree ordering that persons wishing to fight with arms should not be prevented, and that any person killing another in such a fight should not be punished. This insane law brought about a crisis. The chief men of the country could not see the nation thrown into a state of chronic civil war without resistance. They met at the Prime Minister's, sent a deputation to ask the King to annul the obnoxious decree, and on meeting with a positive refusal resolved upon accomplishing a revolution. They seized and put to death "Several of the King's intimates. It does not appear, however, that the conspirators had any designs against the Sovereign's person until he set up pretensions which induced them to think that his death was necessary for their own safety and the tran- quility of the country. He declared that his word was law, that his person was sacred, that he was super- naturally protected, and would find a way of punishing those who opposed his royal will. They then determined on his death, and speedily put the determination in force. They then drew up a scheme of constitutional govern- ment, and gave the Queen the option of assuming the crown on the proposed terms, or of allowing them to find a ruler elsewhere. She choose to be a constitutional sovereign, signed the constitution, and was warned by the nobles who had just strangled her husband that if she broke her promise they would do to her exactly as they had done to Radama. — ACCIDENTAL DEATH INSURANCE COMPANY. The annual report of this company shows very satisfactory progress in its business. The premiums received from all sources during the year amount to upwards of against J647,878 in 1861. The claims during the year were 34,579 4s 7d, giving a total since the com- mencement of the society of no lesa a snm than £ 215,579. The office of managing director has ceased, the duties now being performed by nine members of the Board in rotation, in conjunction with their secretary, Mr Oram. The entire business of the company is now carried on at the offices in the Old Jewry, The year having termi- nated in a large reduction in the expense of the company, and a large increase of premiums from all sources, it is not unnatural to suppose that the company will prosper, and maintain itself in the front rank of kindred institu- tions, of which it is the parent. FATAL ACCIDENT TO A VOLUNTEER.—On Friday night last, a gunner, named M'Dougal, belonging to the 3rd Middlesex Volunteer Rifle Artillery, expired at the Royal Ordnance Hospital, Woolwich, from the effeots of injuries received whilst engaged at gun drill with other members of the corps at the Government practice range, Plumstead, on the previous Saturday afternoon. It ap- pears that the deceased, whilst near the platform of a gun at the moment it was fired, was knocked down by the re- coil, and the rear truck, or hind wheels of the carriage, passed over his left ankle, inflicting such frightful inju- ries that amputation of the limb was immediately per- formed by Dr Rice, surgeon of the 3rd Middlesex. The sufferer was then removed to the Ordnance Hospital, and carefully treated by the Army Medical StaS, arrange- ments being also made for his wife to remain at the hospital. By direction of the commandant, Major-General Sir R. J,,Dacres, K.C.B., a court of inquiry was instituted at thej garrison a few days since to ascertain and report as to the cause of the accident. On Saturday Mr C. J. Carttar, coroner for the district, opened an inquest, but the evidence not being complete the proceedings were adjourned. THs H'LACHLAN CASE.—ALLEGED CONCESSION OF riJ:iB.. CONVICT.—-The North British Mail publishes a statement made, by Mr Dixon, the agent of Mrs M'Laoblan, of an interview which he had with her after her trial for the Glasgow murder. If the story be true she seems.to have made a confession of the murder. Her statement sayd -—In answer to the question, Who had opened the door to the milk-boy, if she had not seen the old man at all,' she stated that she herself had opened the door to the milk-boy, and that the old man was in bed at the time,' she supposed. On being then asked whether §he therefore meant to say that it was she who had committed the murder—she said that she could not t'it that she knew nothing about it. On being re- quested to explain what she meant by this, as if the old man did not do it she must have done it, she went on to say that Jessie and she bad been drinking; that there had been a good deal of drinking going on, that Jessie got sick with the drink, and was lying on the kitchen noor vomiting; that she, Mrs M'Lachlan, washed the vomit' from Jessie's face, and brought in blankets and pat them over her; that Jessie vomited on the blankets, and she (Mrs, M'Lachlan) afterwards washed part of them; and the blankets were not washed to remove bloodstains; and she then washed up the floor after Jessie began to get better. She then said that from drink and nausea she herself became sick and retched violently, and Jessie (who, she said, was always in the habit, of. working with laudanum, when anything went wrong with her), made her take a large dose of laudanum to stop the vomiting. She then said that the effect of laudanum upon her bed always been to take her head and make her delirious; that her husband and her aiater could tell that when the doctor gave her a sleeping draugbt,during one .of her illnesses,instead of composing ing her, it had the effect of making her start out of bed, and rush about the room, and that they had to hold her—(a statement which the husbaad and sister afterwards con- tradicted to Mr Dixon). That the laudanum given her by Jessie produced the same effect, and took her head; and she bad no tememberance of any quarrel, or of any- thing except al confused recollection of Jessie crying, f Jessie! Jessie! what are you doing?' and that she (Mrs M'Lachlan) was creeping about in the dark on her hands and knees, somewhere, she did not know where. After that she bad no recollection of any thing whatever, till ehe found the body in the morning; that,the old man was not down the stairs that night or morning at all-a 'atatement which she reiterated again and again; that she could not tell whether any other person had been in the honsa or not. She repeated that she had opened thedootto the milk-boy, and on being reminded that the old man himself and the milk-boy bad sworn that it was the(old man who opened the door, she said that she th^t, but it was she that did it notwith- standing. She said she remained in the boqse till near, nine o'clock, and that she was so 'dazed' with the drink and the Jaudanujn that she never thought of escaping sooner, and that ehe left by the back-door," The North British Mail points" (Hit that this story is contradicted in many points by other witnesses, but adds that it is tre. tably in the main true.