The Dissolution.
the Fleet for the South--its Destination — condition of Fort Pickens--an interesting letter from there, &c.The Washington dispatches generally point to the use of force by the Administration. --Those to the New York Herald indicate that a blockade of the Mississippi is threatened. --The steam frigate Minnesota, the steam sloop Powhatan, and the brig Perry, have been ordered to the Belize, while sealed orders have been sent to the Cumberland, Pocahontas, and Dolphin: The Minnesota is a steam frigate of 3,200 tons, carrying 40 guns. She was built in 1855, and has been lying in ordinary in Boston.--The Perry is a brig, carrying 6 guns and 280 tons burthen; she is fitting out at the Brooklyn Navy-Yard. The Powhatan is a first class steam sloop, of 2,415 tons; she carries 11 guns, and is at present attached to the Home squadron. She is also preparing for sea at the Brooklyn Navy-Yard. The sloop-of-war Cumberland is the flag ship of the Home squadron, and bas been doing duty at Vera Cruz. She is 1,726 tons burthen, and carries 24 guns. The Pocahontas is a second class steam sloop. She was purchased by the Government in 1855, and has been attached to the Home squadron. She carries 5 guns, and is 694 tons burthen. She is at Norfolk. The brig Dolphin is also at Norfolk, where she is lying in ordinary. Like the Perry, she is of light draught, being but 224 tons; she carries 4 guns. A dispatch from Washington to the Herald, says: ‘ At last the ball has opened. The corps of Sappers and Miners left here this morning, and to-day three of the batteries now in this city received orders to leave forthwith, all being required to report at Fort Hamilton, New York. That these troops are destined for Fort Pickens there can be no doubt. In less than a week the country will learn whether we have a Government or not. The Home squadron is to be increased and ordered South, and Pensacola and other Southern ports will be blockaded. Fort Pickens is not in need of additional men, but will soon be in want of supplies, which will be furnished forthwith. ’ It is believdd that Gen. Sumner has been ordered to New York, and perhaps South, to direct the movement of the troops, as he left here very suddenly. Gen. Scott's private secretary also left yesterday on short notice for New York. Several interviews have been had to-day between the President and Secretary of War, and the latter with General Scott. Orders have been issued to-day, in the Navy Department to the several Bureaus, to an extent that almost precluded everything else.--Every available naval ship will be called home. Those on the coast of Africa, it is said, cannot be recalled without violating the treaty with England requiring the United States to keep at least eighty guns there. The Cabinet were in session to-day for several hours, and Gen. Scott was present. Among the important questions discussed was the recent affair in St. Domingo. The foreign Ministers here express the opinion that the Spanish Government will not countenance the course of the Governor-General of Cuba, in sending troops from Havana to St. Domingo to sustain the Spanish flag. The Spanish Minister asserts that his dispatches from Madrid have contained no reference to the subject. Report says that the British and French Ministers have indicated to the Secretary of State that, if the United States should interfere in the matter, their Governments will will keep hands off. It is argued in high official circles here that the best policy for the Administration is to inaugurate a war with Spain or Mexico, or both, as the best means for averting internal strife. A difficulty is said to exist in regard to the appropriation for the construction of the seven new steam sloops. It is that the money was appropriated for the fiscal year ending 1st of July next, and that it cannot be used until on and after that time. This is one of the reasons why an extra session of Congress cannot be prevented. The Administration is crippled in a similar manner by other appropriations. Instructions were to-day given to all the heads of Bureaus in several of the departments not to hold any further official communication with any persons residing in the seceded States. The Secretary of War has been locked in his private room all day, refusing to see any one except his assistants, who have, however, been in frequent communication with the President. Several of those belonging to the kitchen cabinet pretend that they know what is going on. They assert that the Spanish matters are mixed up with it. Quite a number of the department clerks have been busy for two days in hunting up matters connected with the St. Domingo question. A dispatch from Washington, dated the 3d inst., says: ‘ Lieutenant Gilman, one of the officers at Fort Pickens, arrived here this evening from Pensacola, having left there on the 31st of March. He states that no reinforcements had been landed from the Brooklyn or any other vessel, but that she had gone to Key West for supplies. He states that the Confederate troops were arriving there in large numbers, and in a few days they would have five thousand well provisioned. He says it is impossible for the Government to land troops at Fort Pickens without the Confederate authorities knowing it, and whenever they attempt it hostilities will at once commence. He says he met large numbers of troops on the route for Pensacola; that Gen. Bragg will not wait the action of the Washington Government much longer before they commence operations. He says the impression there was that Fort Pickens was to be abandoned. Such assurances were given out there. ’
