Newspaper Page Text
Thb Orphan Asylum.—The calamitous
condition of this section of the country,
upon which has fallen no large a share of
the evils of war, has materially lessened tbe
revenue of the Female Orphan Asylum.
Many of its benefactors are absent from the
city, and the means of many others are
largely lessened by tbe pending difficulties
We trust, however, that tbe charity of our
people will be more than equal to the emer
gency, and the additional contributions will
hereafter suffice to supply any deficiency in
ordinary revenue. A box to receive contri
butions for this purpose has been placed at
the Post Office and we trust that every
visitor will contribute at has; a mite for
the Orphans.
Eiver Movements.—The river side was
very quiet this morning, the only arrival be.
ing the schooner White Pigeou, Capt. Sini
monds, with oysters. The captain reports
that he passed the Confederate batteries in
safety, but when in Nanjenioy Reach, hag
ging the Maryland shore, he was fired at j
from one of the fish-houses at Nulley's land- '
ing, on the Maryland shore. Three shots, J
apparently from muskets or rifles, were made I
two of the balls passing over the vessel, and'
the third struck the chicken-coop, killing a J
ohiektn The ball which lodged iv the coop '
is an ordinary Minie musket ball.
Posr Office.—The Post Office in this city
is now doing an immense business. As a
single example of the large incoming mails,
we learn that there were received and distri
buted at that offioe this morning the large
number of 20,000 letters, beside a great
quantity of newspapers, periodicals, Ac.
Overb iabd —The horses attached to on c
of the U. S. army wagons backed the vehicle
iuto King street dock this morning, and the
falling vehicle drew the horses after it. A
large - crowd soon gathered, and, by dint ot
considerable exertion, the horses were de
tached, and swam around to the beach, and
the wagon was also saved.
Camphbne Explosion.—A camphene lamp
exploded at the residence of Mr. Davis, on
Wolfe etree\ near Fairfax, on Tuesday night,
and set fire to the dress of one of his daugh
ters, but no serious injury resulted.
A N_w Tribunal.—ln order to lessen the
number of oases which are daily brought up
at the Mayor's offioe, we learn that three
members of tbe new court—Messrs. Perm,
Sidebottom and Ware—will hold a semi*
weekly session, similar to what is called in th e "
country places of (Virginia warrant tryings
at one of tbe rooms in the old Court House,'
Market square.
Mayor's Officb.—S« me police cases of
no interest were up this morning, and one
of the parties fined, after which he took a
voluntary oath to take two drinks m< re, and
then refrain from tbe use of intoxicating
drinks for.a period of twelve months.
A synopsis of the report of the "Van Wyck
Investigating Committee" is published in
the newspapers. It makes most astounding I
developments of speculation, peculation, I
fraud and malfeasance in tho furnishing of j
Epplies, 4c., to the U. S. army. In the pur- '
aseof arms, the chartering of steamboats I
c buying of cattle, of horses and mules j
the building of fortifications at St Louis, 4c , I
Ac, there seems to bave been an effort as to I
who could cheat most, and who could make
the most money. The Philadelphia Press
(torney's paper) says, that, in reading this
report, "words of burningindignation spring
(instinctively to the lips." The document will
«ate great "sensation " at the North, and
be curiously scanned in Europe."
Turkeys are selling in Baltimore at from
* cents to $1, and geese at In
lexandria the prices are double or morel
tnan double. Canvass backs in Baltimore!
are from 75 cents to $1 25 per pair. Here I
just twice as much. I
The grumbling, growling, and complain-1
|ng against Gen. McClellan in sections of
the North and West, and amongst, portion
of the members of Congress, oontinues.
ihere is a talk about having an "onward"
t-ioutenant-Oeneral.
FOREIGN NEWS.
The steamship Jura, brings Liverpool
dates to the sth inst. Cotton declined ld@
l.d. Breadstuff's steady. Warlike prepa
rations continue in England. Large num
bers of troops are under orders for Canada.
Seamen on leave were ordered to join their
vessels. The American shipping interest
was already disastrously affected. It was
reported that Mr. Adams, the C. S. Minister
regarded his recal as certain. The London
News thinks that war might be avoided if
the U. S. government would treat the great
difficulty in the same spirit that Oeneral
Scott did.
| The U. S Consul a Paris had cominuni
cued to the French papers a letter from
Gen. Scott, in which he declares there is no
J truth in the report that the Cabinet had or
dered a seizure of the Southern Commis
sioners even under the protection of a neu
tral flag. He is quiet; ignorant of the dcci.
sionof his government, but says it is neces
sary to preserve gjod relations between
America and England; and England, he
hopes, will agree on a solution of the ques
tion whether the prisoners were contraband
or not. If they were agents of the Confede
rates, he says, it will be difficult to convince
even, impartial minds that they were less
contraband of war than Confederate soldiers
or oannon. In conclusion, Gen. Scott ex
presses his conviction that war between
America and England cannot take place
without more serious provocation than at
(.resent given.
The Paris Patrie learns that the San Ja
cinto, in November, searched a French, Dan
ish, and Portuguese vessel. 'These facts,
says the Patrie, are of some impurtance, us
proving that the Washington Cabinet fancies
that it has the power to exercise the right of
search to the fulj extent.
The tone of reserve of the French press
increases. Several of the leading Paris pa
pers blame the British Government for hav
ing yielded to the pressure of public opio
! represented merely by Manchester
rerpool, and for having acted too bas
the Trent affair,
iron-clad frigate Warrior is coaling
ice on the North A nerican o. ust.
c was quite a rise iv sugar and salt
•al papers have leaders on Mr.
s speech. The Times says: "Let
a judge, by the speech of her great
irer, how little can be eaid for her
upon a friendly, although neutral
reported that the French Minister at
gton has reported to his Government
sal on the part of the Washington
to deliver up despatches addressed
ns to the French Consuls at New
and Charleston.
FFAIRS WITH ENGLAND.
Tew York Evening Post learns from
commercial letters of tbe highest
r, received from London, that the
Jovernment proposes to seek expla
nations of the Trent affair, and perhaps an
I apology will be asked for our irregular pro
ceeding; but no mention is mnde of a de
; maud for the surrender of the Confederate
prisouers. Tne E iglish writers hope that
the subject will be trotted by us with pa*
I tience aud a kindly spirit.
Private letters received at Boston by the
Europa and Jura, md cato firmness on the
part of the English public to insist in the
surrender of Slidell and Mason, but express
the hope and belief that the Government
will give them up at once. Other oorres
pondents predict that England will t*o to
war without wasting time in negotiations.
The indications are that American stocks
owned in England would be sent here for
sale, but it is believed that no great amount
have yet been sent forward.
Mr. Carlisle's speech in the Senate, the
other day, in reply to Mr. Lane, in which he
said, "if this war is to be waged for the ov-r
--throw of slavery, the United States would
find their army melting away like snow be
fore a Southern sun," is not relished in some
quarters at the North. The N. Y. Tribune's
Washington correspondent intimates that he
is nearly as bad as his predecessor, Mr. Ma
son, now at Warren.
SOUTHERN NEWS.
Pc General Assemby <)f Virginia, on tbe
inst., adopted a resolution tendering
sympathy to the citizens of Charleston, and j
instructing the committee on finance to in
quire into the expediency of an appropria
tion for their relief.
A dispatch from Augusty, of the 19th in
stant, says it is reported that the Georgia
Legislature has appropriated $100,000 fori
the relief of the sufferers by the Charleston
fire.
The Richmond Whig calls upon all farmers
of Virginia near the lines of the railnads<o
build ice houses and collect large supplies
of ice during the present season, as the
whole Siuth will have to get its ice from
Virginia in the coming summer.
A series of resolutions adopted by the
Legislature of Tennessee relative to the open
ing of the Southern ports, and recommeud
mg that no crop of cotton be seeded in the
ensuing year, had been received by the Vir-
I ginia Legislature.
An adjourned meeting of the citizeus of
Richmond was to be held last night to take
into consideration the manning of the batte
ries around that city.
The Confederate Congress is said by the
Richmond Examiner to have coufirmed up
to yesterday, not less than seven thousand
Iy appointments,
ie Charleston Mercury of Friday says
Jrday was a gloomy day for Charleston,
ness was universally suspended, and,
one impulse, our community united in (
ig sympathy and aid to the victims of
;reat public calamity. The Courier says:
fearful conflagration that has just pass
er our city will cause ihe llth and 12th
roam bar, 18G1. hereafter to be remem-
J as one of tloise dark and trying pe
which for the moment seem to paralize
all the long cherished hopes and bright an
ticipations of the future.
Silver is selliog in Richmond at 25 cents,
and gold at 35 cents.
The 3d regiment of Georgia volunteers
has returned to Norfolk from Roanoke Is-1
GENERAL NEWS.
The British Government has now fifty
four vessels, carrying one thousand three j
hundred and sixty guns and ten thousand!
four hundred and fourty-four men, in the
waters of North America, and tbe West In
dies, the Gulf of Mexioo, and tbe Pacific
ocean.
The New York Insurance companies, iuis
generally understood, will make no change
in rates till the Cabinet at Washington has
decided upon its action.
The subject of tbe defences of Philadel
phia is being urged upon the National Gov- j
eroment by Gov. Curtin. He is also actively I
engaged in preparing arms for State de
fence.
The strength of the U. S navy is being I
canvassed in England The Times says that'
although the whole Federal navy scarcely
presents a dozen worthy antagonists, it would |
be imprudent in the extreme to despise the
power of the Americans at sea.
The National Intelligencer says that the
keneral-in-chief, in accepting rho'services of
■ tho French princes on his staff, did not re
quire an oath of allegiance from them.—
They decline to receive any pay.
It now appears that the office where Ber- !
I nurd Levy, the broker, in New York, was j
| found dead—murdered or a suicide—had |
I been robbed of a considerable amount of 4
The Irish government organs take sides
against the United States, as to the late affair
of the Trent—while the opposition or anti
government papers support the course of the
United States.
In consequence of the natura and oharao
ter of Mr. Ellet's pamphlet, in relation to
the conduct of the present war, and the com
ments on it in the public press, it is i Q great
demand in Washington and elsewhere. Mr.
E. is said to be very severe on Gen. Mc-
Clellao.
The Long Bridge has not been passable
for wagons for a day or two back.
Efforts are being made in the U. S. Senate
to expel Senator Polk, of Missouri, from his
seat. The House of Representatives has
declared that Mr. Foster, of N. C, claiming
to be a representative from that State is not
entitled to a seat.
In the U. S. House of Representatives,
the "Homestead bill" has been postponed
until February.
Some 250 Hatteras prisoners lately at
Fortress Monroe have been sent on to Rich
mond to be exchanged for U. S. prisoners
there.
The New York banks up to yesterday re"
fused to suspend specie payments. Ditto,
Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore.
It is remarked that at the late great fire
m Charleston, the negroes manifested great
zeal in their efforts as firemen and laborers.
It is said that Gen. Shields has accepted
a commission in the U. S. Army, and is on
his way to Washington from New Mexico.
As Gen. T. F. Meagher's brigade was
coming on to Washington, at Trenton, they
made a rush to get on the cars,.and several
of them were killed and wounded acciden"
tally.
The Apache Indians have fallsn upon a
number of whites uear Stanton, and mur
dered them.
Platte City, in Missouri, has been partial
ly burned. It is said it was fired by Con
federates.
An inquiry has been ordered in the U. S.
I ate as to whether Gen. Phelp,' famous
siamation was authorized by the Adrain
-tion. In the same body a bill is repor
"for the collection of direct taxes in re
itionary districts or states."
he New York World says:—"The repor
battle at New Orleans is, of course,
sr nonsense. The landing of Federal
ps at Shipping Island no doubt alarmed
inhabitants of tbe Crescent City, who
ed an immediate attack, and hence sent
reinforcements from the Upper Missis
i. From this probably arose the report
battle, to which we allude. Equally
rd is the reported evacuation of Fort
jports say that Leesburg has been of
reinforced by from four to five thousand
men. It is thought that Jackson's force
could be easily strengthened on short notice.
There is no truth in the statement that
the Strasburg and Winchester Railroad has
been completed. Not many days ago seve*
ral loads of railroad iron were sent to Stras
burg from Winchester, which probably gave
rise to the report. Tbe bulk of the. rails are
still piled up near Winchester.
Secretary Chase denies positively any in
tention on thepait of the governmentto for
bid the exportation of specie.
Henry 0. Burnett and Judge Monroe took
their seats in the Confederate Congress on
Monday last as Senators from Kentucky.
, It is reported that both Confederate and
Federal privateers are cruising at the en
trance of the English channel.
Capt. Seymour, tbe Queen's Messenger,
with dispatches to Lord Lyons, has arrived
in Washington.
tTlie Postoffice Committee in the U. S
ouse of Representatives will report in fa
vor of abolishing the franking privilege
and against any further privileges in the case
of soldiers' letters.
It is said that Mr. Foster, of N. C, now
says himself, that be has no right to a seat
fin the U. S. House of Representatives.
DIED.
Of .l.yptheria, at the resident of h.r unci., T.
a. Oxb-.urn, near Marlborough, Md.. on th« A»K
in 8 t.,Misa ALICE M. gCOTX dau.hte, of fo
late Edward P. Scott, Georgetown!D*£ , .Ad »
years. This is the fourth death from this tlfrribl.
thi'Tll ° CCUrred ln Mr -'° B °°«*"-'« family
MINCE MEAT.— Just received, a nice article
of Mince Meat. J x COOK
decl9 Old Poat'offic. Corn.r.
Fj o^ 8 ;^™ 811 Eg « 8 ' ja,t in time, for a»l. l.w
|±A by the dezea. j. T . COOK,
j deol9 Old Post Office Cor.er.
j JOWL.—Juat received, . lot of new
iAM Jowls, varyjaice. J. x. COOK,
Old Post Office Corner.
