The Local news. [volume], January 09, 1862, Page 1, Image 1

About The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862

Image provided by: Library of Virginia; Richmond, VA

                
Fjkk Meeting.—At the meeting held at
Relief Hall, last night, in relation to a Fire
Department, J. W. Atkinson in the Chair.
The committee appointed at the last meet
ing to wait upon the Military Commander,
and confer relative to the proposed organi
sation, reported that they had conferred
with Gen. Montgomery, U. S. A., upon the
subject, and had been informed that firemen
wearing proper badges, would be allowed to
pass at night in case of fire without the
countersign—no person to receive a badge
without first taking an oath of allegiance to
the United States government—each compa
ny to organize separately according to 'this
plan.
The report having been adopted as the
basis of the action of the meeting, J. W.
Atkinson retired from the chair.
John Birrell was then called to the Chair,
and the meeting agreed to organize a
Union Fire Company upon the new basis.
A committee was appointed to draft con
stitution and by-laws for the new company,
arid the meeting adjourned.
Death of Col. Godwin.—Col. S. Godwin,
well known in this community, died last
night, at his residence near this city, of an
affection of the heart. Col. Godwin removed
to Alexandria from the interior of tbe State
some years since, and, during his residence
in this community, has won many friends by
a cordial warmth of disposition which has
been very rarely equaled. He was, at one
time, a member of tbe Virginia House of
Delegates, and, under the administration of
Mr. Buchanan, Col. G. held the position of
Deputy Collector of the port of Alexandria.
Many regrets from our people will follow him
to bis grave.
Cut Through by lea.—The U. S. steam
tag Telegraph arrived at this port last night
in a sinking condition, and was grounded in
Prince street dock. She was cut through
astern about sundown while near Fort Wash
ington in endeavoring to turn around. She
bad on board at tbe time some federal sol
diers, who were taken off by tbe boats of the
U. S. brig Perry. Two corpaas were also
taken off. Tbe boat now lies in shoal water,
ber atern submerged, and her bow aground.
River Movements.—A dense fog over*
•preads tbe surface of tbe river Potomac,
and with the ice renders navigation well
sigh impossible. A small vessel with oysters
bas arrived up in spite of the blockade, the
ice, and the fog. The ferry boats between
Alexandria and Washington have made no
trips since the beginning of the fog.
Alexandria and Washington.—-In th*
absence Of tbe ferry route, communication
between this city and Washington, is kept
up by omnibuses which go overland.
,
St. Paul's Church.—We learn that ser- ,
vices at St. Paul's Church will be resumed
on Sunday next.
Ice.—The ice upon the Alexandria Canal, <
yesterday, was four inches thick, and very l
olear and beautiful.
It is, after such weather, as we now have, '
tbat the roads in Virginia, become almost '
impassable. '
Mr. Zachary, of New Orleans, taken off the
British schooner Victoria, by Com. Ridgeiey,
in the Gulf of Mexico, some six weeks ago,
and for some time confined in Lafayette, was
released from that place of imprisonment
about a fortnight ago, and bas sinoe been at
large in New York. The U. S. government,
it is said, believes that he has been buying '
gunny bags for shipment to Matamoras, with '
a view to the occupation of that place by a
British force, and the establishment of trade
in cotton and munitions of war between <he '
Confederates and the English.
A few days ago a clergyman from Phila
delphia, arrived at Old Point, on his way
South, bad his trunks examined, in which
were iound letters, maps, plans, &c, also, a
large quantity of. cloth, shoes, needles
thread, kn. He was arrested. So says the
Philadelphia Inquirer.
Five different bills are pending ia the U. |
S. House of Representatives, for the con
struotion of a passenger rail way, on Perm.
sylvania avenue, in Washington. I
Nothing new in the Boston Boot and Shoe.
; market. Total shipments of boots and shoes
Iby rail and *ea, for the week, 4038 cases.
Thurlow Weed writes from London: "We
have nothing to hope, in the event of a war,
from this side of the Channel. The "Mor
rill Tariff is believed to be impoverishing
French manufacturers and starving French
operatives."
The Massachusetts 23d Regiment will
man the gunboats in the Burnside expedi
tion.
The Providence (R. I.) Post say a tbe bay
is frozen over as far down as Warwick Neck,
a distance of some fifteen miles.
On Sunday morning, a train of one hun
dred army wagons reached Washington from
Perryville, Pennsylvania, each wagon being
drawn by six mules. The teams were in
bid condition, and looked aa if they bad
been subjected to unnecessary hard treat
ment.
Tbe imports at New York of foreign dry
goods for tbe year just ended, are only about
40 per cent, of the total for 1860, and but
lit'Je over one-third of the total of 1859.
Tbe New York associated bankn, at their
meeting on Saturday, adopted resolutions
relative to the probably large issue of de
mand notes. Before consenting to receive
such notes on deposit and in payment of
debts, the banks require tbat the U. S. Con
gress shall provide by law for tbeir speedy
redemption.
There was a riot at Carbonear, ia New
Foundland, on tbe 7th, in whioh twelve or
fourteen persons were severely wounded.
The military had to be called ia.
Phillips k Best's glass works, in Pitts
burg, Pa., were destroyed by fire, on tbe 7th.
Pennsylvania has now in the Federal ser
vice, over 93,000 men.
I Tbe wholesale druggists in New York
have resolved to confine their sales ta cash
'or four months' credit.
Large numbers of counterfeit notes, on
Northern and Western banks, are reported.
One bank in Indiana has not "suspended."
Counterfeits on the New Orleans Canal bank
are io circulation.
In tbe U. S. Senate, yesterday, tbe naval
committee reported back tbe House bill for
the construction of twenty iron-clad gun
boats, with an amendment providing tbat
the expenditure be made under the direction
of the President, instead of the Secretary of
the Navy. The contended election case
from Kansas, (Mr. F. Stanton claiming the
seat of Mr. Lane) was debated. In the
House of Representatives, Mr. Lovejoy of
fered a resolution instructing the committee
on public lands to report a bill looking to
the sequestration of Confederate property,
and giving homesteads to actual settlers in
such parts of the States as may be con
quered. Adopted. On motion of Mr. Up
ton, it was resolved that the Committee of
Ways and Means be instructed to consider
the expediency of reporting a bill at their
earliest convenience amending the eighth |
section of the act of August last, so as to
provide for raising one hundred millions in
stead of $20,000,000, by,direat taxation; and
that in this connection they consider the ex
pediency of telegraph and stamp duties, and
excise duties upon cotton, tobacco and all
malt and distilled liquors.
The recent election of the Board of Direc-!
tors of the Baltimore Corn and Flour Ex
change, having resulted m the success of
the ticket composed of persons opposed to
the present war, and in favor of the South,
a meeting of the members of the Exchange
friendly to the United States and the govern
ment was held yesterday for tho purpose of
organising a new Exshange.
Some of the persons recently convicted of I
burning bridges in Tennessee, and seuten
ced to be hung, have been pardoned.
Mrs. Greenhow, lately in Washington, ,
was sent North, last evening, in charge of
two U. S. government agents.
The Spring fisheries on the Virginia and
North Carolina shores, will, it is thought,
be completely broken up, this spring.
The Richmond Whig says that the recent I
operations in Charleston harbor will "make
Charleston, what it never was before, an ex
cellent harbor and an impregnable city."
Edward Everett is lecturing, in New York,
i~n the present war, and explaining bis poti
on on the Trent affair.
The Ridden depreciation of Treatury
otes, in New York, is much commented on,
i the Northern papers.
An election took place in Baltimore to-day
for State Senator, in the place of Mr. Cole
man Yellott. There is no opposition to Mr.
Dennison, the Union candidate.
A native of Canada, just from Richmond,
via Q!d Point, wbitber he had come under a
flag of truce, was arrested in Baltimore yes
terday, having in his possession a number of
unsealed letters from Mary landers in Virgi
nia to their friends. Having been vised at
Old Point, he was, after examination, dis
charged.
The account of the British government's
reception of the news of the release of Ma
son and Slidell will reaoh this country about
the 20th inst.
Tbe Provost Marshal's guard, in Wash
ington, continue to play havoc with the
liquor dealers' stores, where liquor is dis
pensed contrary to the military regulations.
Col. Harlan, of tbe 11th Pennsylvania
cavalry, U. S. A., has been removed from
tbe service.
Tbe Washington Star says that tbe Quar
ter Master's Department are after some offi
cers of tbe U. S. A., who have been selling
tha fuel they draw as supplies to which they
are entitled.
Col. Kerrigan's defence has commenced
before the Court Martial which is trying
bim.
Tbe N. Y. World says that "the pressure
brought to bear on Congress, the Executive
and tbe heads of the army, for an advance
movement ia beyond all precedent in the
history of this war. The 'On to Richmond'
fever was nothing to it."
Mr. F. A. Conkling said in the U. S.
House of Representatives the other day,
"tbat tbe fate of the republic would be de
cided within the next thirty days."
It is now settled to the satisfaction of all
parties, that there are no grounds for the
charges against Adjutant General Thomas,
or any member of bis family.
The top hamper of the U. S. steamer Pen
sacola, it is said, has been taken down, the
better to protect her from damage from the
Confederate batteries, when she moves down
tbe river, which she is expected to do now
every day.
A private in tbe Fourth Wisconsin regi
ment, now encamped near Baltimore, had
been ill for several weeks, and on Wednes
day last died, as was supposed. A coffin was
prepared for him, and on Thursday morning
he was placed therein preparatory to inter
ment. While the lid was being fastened on
he rose from his recumbent position and sat |
up in the coffin, to the great amazement of
those engaged in tbe service. He was imme
diately removed and placed again under the
care of the surgeons of tbe regiment. He
bad been in a state like that of one dead for
t day and a half.
Senator McDougal, in a note published in I
a New York paper, asserts most positively j
that, in the fall of 18G0, Gen. Shields did say j
to him, in San Francisco, that he (Shield*)
approved the secession of the Southern (Cot
ton) States; that he thought they had just
cause for secession; that the South had both
the will and the power to achieve success,
and that it was sound policy to favor them.
Mr- McD. says if Gen. S. thinks by his late
denial of this, in strong terms, he can influ
ence him (McD.) in his vote on Shield's nor- |
ination for Brigadier General by a menace, I
he will find himself mistaken. Gen. Shields !
has arrived in Washington.
Gen. Burnside procured one hundred tons '
of coal from the British frigate, lying off'
Annapelis, for the use of his fleet. The i
oaptaio and one or two officers of the frigate, |
have visited Washington.
Col. Roger A. Pryor, is in Petersburg, Va. I
Burnside's expedition was expected to
sail from Annapolis to day.
The reconnoisance made by Gen. Smith's
Division was the largest yet made by tho U*
S. Army en tbe Potomac. Twenty thousand
troops with artillery and cavalry, moved out.
The Confederates were seen in large force—
but no engagement took place.
A work, called "The Life and Timos of
James Buchanan," and written by the ex-
President himself, is now printing, and will
be published at Philadelphia.
Tbe Washington correspondent of tbe N.
Y. Post states that there is trouble brewing
between the officers of the regular service
and the volunteers.
Large saline deposits have been found in
Nebraska Territory.
I Io Ohio, lowa, &c, the culture of ths
Chinese Sugar Cane for syrup is to be large
ly increased.
FOREIGN NEWS.
The London Post says that, previous to tha
closing of the coffin enclosing the remains of
the Prince Consort, a wreath of flowers made
by the Princess Alice was placed over tha
corpse, and a miniature of Her Majesty
placed by the hands.
The Marquis del Grillo, tbe husband of
Ristori, bas lately died at Florence, while bis
wife was performing at Wiesbaden. He was
ad amiable incumbrance.
The young King of Portugal ia about to
marry a Princess of Hobenaollern-Sigmarin
gen, a sister of the late Queen.
George Sand has written a new romance
entitled " The Family of Gcrmaodre." Tha
Siecle says ''it is perfectly pure and moraL"
The number of pianos manufactured every
year in Vienna is 2,600.
Discontent is creeping to and from Pari*.
The news from the departments is disastrous,
and every day brigades of gendarmerie da
part towards the four corners of tbe empire
to combat the incendiarism which, as in '80,
bas overrun the rural districts.
Letters of the 20th November from Libe
ria state that a British steamer was then
coming into Monrovia on purpose to protest
them against the threatened Spanish attack.
Tbe French squadron off Mexico is to be
reinforced, also tbe French squadron off tba
Northwestern coast of America.
The steamer Canada has arrived bringing
Liverpool dates to the 29th ult. The Bra
men brings dates to tho 25th. Cotton easier
(it firm. Breadstuff's easier. The Canada
irigs British troops.
In a letter written by Queen Victoria, she
states that the only consolation she can hops
to find in tbe rest of her life, under ber "sad
and hopeless bereavement, is to endeavor to
carry out the wishes and intentions of her
husband.
The Russian government is said to base
sent a note to Washington condemning tbe
seizure of Mason and Slidell.
The frigate Warrior has her sails bent,
and is being kept in readiness to leave, pend
ing the solution of the Amerioan question.
Deputations from various religious denom
inations, including the Congregational Union
and the Baptist Union, have had an inter.
view with Lord Russell on the subject of af
fairs with America.
A body of trained nurses proceed at once
to Halifax.
The army and Navy Gazette says there ia
a prospect of trouble with the Seiks, in In
dia.
War preparations were going on in Eng.
land, preparations at. the navy yards, recruit
ing for the army, calling out the coast guard,
&c, &c; but the idea was prevalent that
Mason and Slidell would be given up and
war averted on that account.
DIED.
At his residence, in Fairfax County, Va., on
the evening of the Bth of January, Col. SHIN
UEL UODVVIN. J 2a9-Tho funeral will taV«
place to-morrow morning, at 11 o'olock, from his
late residence.
MFOR RENT—A comfortable BRICK
DWELLING!, in one of tbe most pleasant
parts of ihe city. Enquire at the Gazette Office,
jau 9—3t