The New York Herald Newspaper, January 28, 1862, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. OFFICE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. advance, mail will beatthe rE DAILY Hi two centeper copy. $7 perannum. | Bd fe oe cmemte per | canaum to any part of Great Bricate, | i Continent, toth to tnclude Gi ‘a ircanicinassies os ere | THh raMile Renal. on Wednesdny, ot four conn ar | “VoLumtame CORRESPONDENCE, containing important i frm ane gear the orld, ao wilog 5¥ REQUESTED 70 SEAL ALL amp Pack. FU NOTICE taken of anonymous correepondenct. Wedono | aDy 1; advertisements ine | Se. *. See Famine and in the California and Editions. | JOB PRINTING executes with neatness, cheapness and de | AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—Wxaxse—A Rowanp FoR aN Ouse. WINTER GARDEN, Broadway.—Naiap QusEN—ToopLas, WALLACK’S THEATRE, No. 94 Broadway.—Bow GStavar 10a a Hvasand. LAURA KEENE'S THEATRE, Broadway.—Ovr eax Cousin. ae WEW BOWERY THEA‘ Fox Wownrep uy Bowtwace—> orto. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Sricxngr's Nationa, BARNUM’S AMERICAN MUSEUM, Broadway.—1 Bvening.—Onpixa—Hirrororams, Waa.s, aa ‘Omen Ove BRYANTS’ Lg rey Mechanics! Hall, Broad- ‘way.—Wuo Srauck Bitty Parrerson. vis HOOLEY’S MINSTRELS, Stuyv BHOCLEY'S MINSTRELS, Stuyvesant Institute, No, 669 IRVING HALL, Irving place.—Sor Feaxcatss— Vaupevintr, Commby AND CHAsSOMNESES. MELODEON CONCERT HALL, No. 539 Broadway.— Sones, Dances, Burtesques, 4c.—Houipar in Tasuaws. CANTERBURY MUSIC HALL, 585 Broadway. Dances, Bumirsquas, &0.—Mazou, THE NGuT Owl. GAIETIES CONCERT ROOM, 616 Broadway.—! Row Eivrsutaixunnrs, BALLETS, PaxtOMinss, Pances, bo AMERICAN MUSIC HALL, 444 Broadway.—Sonas, Bar- _ urs, Pawtominns, A0.—PontRal? Fantze CRYSTAL PALACE CONCERT HALL, No. 45 Bowery.— Buatesques, Soxas, Dances, £0.—O' FLANAGAN AT THE am PARISIAN CABINET OF WON’ i Open daily from WA M.GLOT Me Broadway. NOVELTY M ALL, 616 1 sNOYELTY MUSIC HALL, 616 Broadway.—Buucesqvxs New York, Tuesday, January 28, 1862, THE SITUATION. No official information from the Burnside expe- dition has been received at Washington, though, as will be seen by the Southern news, below refer- red to, the mysterious action of the fleet is the Source of considerable excitement and alarm ‘among the rebels all over the South. Im pursuance of the order recently issued by Mr. Stanton, Secretary of War, with regard to the ap- pointment of Commissioners to visit Richmond and other Southern cities where prisoners of war from our army are confined, and minister to their com- forts, ex-Governor Hamilton Fish, of New York, and Bishop Ames, of Ohio—a leading dig- nitary of the Methodist Episcopal church— have been selected as such Commissioners, and have accepted the service. We give sketches of both these eminent gentlemen in our columns to-day. It has been arranged that the Commissioners shall accompm@y ao body of rebel Prisoners from Fortress Monroe, under 8 flag of trace, to the land of rebeldom, and if the Jebel authorities consent to the fulfilment yf their charitable mission, they will proceed bo its execution; but if they should refuse, Bishop Ames and Mr. Fish will return. It is to be hoped, however, that the rebel leaders will not object to the humane mission of our Com- missioners. Acchange has just taken place in the Ordnance Department at Washington which still further il- lustrates the sagacity of our new Secretary of War. The position of Chief of the Ordnance Department, one of the most important bureaus of the War De- partment in the present condition of affairs, has been heretofore occupied since August last by Brigadier General Jas. W. Ripley, an officer who has been in the service for forty-seven years. He has now been replaced by Brevet Major Alexander Brydie Dyer, a much younger and more active officer, who graduated at West Point in 1837. He Stands at the head of the Captains of Ordnance in tg Army List of September, 1861. We give in our columns to-day very interesting sketches of General Ripley and Major Dyer, the retiring and succeeding Chiefs of the Ordnance Department. We publish in our columns to-day another in- stallment of extracts from rebel newspapers, rela- tive to our recent victory at Mill Spring and other interesting subjects. The Petersburg Erpress of the 25th inst. considers ‘‘the tidings gloomy and discouraging.” The Norfolk Day Book of the same date thinks “it is the most serious reverse that we have yet experienced.” It further admits that ‘‘a cordon is being drawn around Virginia, and she may be within the foul coils of the serpent unless the important point now referred to be strengthened immediately.’ Secretary of State Hunter has been elected to the Senate of the rebel bogus Congress, which Position will oblige him to resign the former post. The Union light boat, lately stationed néar the Middle Ground, at the mouth of the Chesapeake, Went ashore at the Pleasure House beach, near Cape Henry, on the 24th inst., and with its crew, consisting of seven men, were captured by the rebels. By an order recently issued by the Assistant Ad- jutant General of Virginia, the two hundred and fifty rebel soldiers who were capturéd by the Union expeditionists at Hatteras, N.C.,and sub- sequently released from Fort Warren, Boston har- bor, are released from parole, they having been exchanged by General Wool of the United States Army. The Burnside expedition still continues to ex- dite the fears and apprehensions of the rebel mewspapers. The Norfolk Day Book of the 25th gays:—That a gentleman who reached that city on the 24th direct from the North Carolina coast, states that the report of 4 large Union fleet being dn Pamlico Sound, turns out to be entirely un- founded. The same paper considers the expedi- tion an entire failure, and that the next news from Europe will be that the Southern confederacy has been recognized by France and England, and that these nations have detern ined to disregard the {inefficient blockade. , N“W YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1862. says that the gale on the North Carolina coast has been perfetly awful for the last few duys, and that the surf has been beating around B wnside’s vessels in a furious manner, and that at least eight vessels of the expedition have been drivia ashire and burned to prevent their falling into the hands of the rebels. The same paper states, in another column, that the large number of vessels lately reported in Pamlico Sound had disappeared and the coast was clear at the last accounts. It considers the expedition all ‘‘a mystery,” as it evidently is to the Southern journalists. It must be remembered that these stories of the expedi- tion come exélusively from rebel sources, and must be received accordingly with the value which attaches to them. , Our correspondent in the Bahamas, dating at Nassau, N. P., on the 18th of January, furnishes a lengthy letter in denial of the position assumed by the writer of a communication published in the Henatp of the 16th of December, to the effect that the inhabitants of the island were inevery way hostile to Northern American interests, insulting to Northern American visiters, and aotive in rendering aid and sympathy to the trade and cause of the Southern rebels. The first items of the charge he denies in toto, but acknowledges that the majority of the colonists consider the Southern people have the best side of the cause in the present civil strife. He says:—‘That the sympathies ofthe ma” jority are in favor of-the South there can be but little doubt. And why? A great many of the leading people are the lineal descendants of royal- ists who, when the United States rebelled, and in 1776 declared their independence, came to and settled in the Bahamas; besides which, merchants have a great deal of Southern business.” CONGRESS. In the Senate yesterday, petitions in favor of the establishment of a national armory west of the Al- leghany Mountains, against all further traffic in public lands, in favor of the continuance of the coast survey, for the employment of homeopathic physicians in the army, and‘in favor of the eman- cipation of slaves, were presented and referred. Resolutions adopted by the New York Assembly in regard to frauds upon the government were also presented. The Committce on Naval Affairs made a report in reference to the answer of the Secre- tary of the Navy to the resolutions in regard to Mr. Morgan’s purchase of vessels for the govern- ment. We give the report among the proceed- ings of Congress in to-day’s paper, from which it will be seen that the committee censure the action of the Secretary. A joint resolu- tion was adopted to the effect that the Superin- tendent of the Census Bureau furnish the War Department with statistical information from time to time, with the view of developing, concen- trating and bringing into use the mechanical re- sources of the country for the suppression of the rebellion and future defence of the nation. A reso- lution making inquiry as to whether the ship-of-the- line Alabama can be converted into a steamer was laid over. Mr. Wilson introduced a bill providing for the more effectual suppression of the slave trade. A resolution amending the joint rules of both houses so that in certain contingencies either house may hold secret sessions on matters pertain- ing to the suppression of the rebellion was dis- cussed at some length, and postponed until to-day. The resolution in reference to the expulsion of Senator Bright was then taken up, and Mr. Latham, of California, made a speech against expulsion. At the conclusion of his remarks the Senate went into executive scssion. In the House of Representatives, a bill in aid of the construction of a military road via forts Lea- venworth and Riley to Denver City was referred to the Select Committee on the Pacific Railroad. Mr. Colfax introduced a bill to render more uniform the postage on printed matter. In Committee of the Whole a debate onthe rebellion and slavery question took place, and the Military Academy Appropriation bill was reported to the House without amendment and passed. The consideration of the bill making appropriations for the executive, judicial and legislative branches of the government was then resumed; but the House adjourned with- out taking action on the subject. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. The State Senate at Albany was in session last evening, but no business of great importance was transacted. Some bills were introduced. Among them was one for an amendment of the Revised Statutes, so as to facilitate the effecting of judg ment on ejectments, and one empowering the Governor to appoint a commission of three citi. zens to remedy the defects in the present laws with regard to taxation, so as to bring about an equalization in the proposed national taxes. The latter was laid over fgr the present. The bill amending the insurance laws with regard to agen- cies of foreign companies was ordered to’ a third reading. Progress was reported on the bill amending the general insurance act so as to provide for the retention of funds sufficient to cover the amounts of unearned premiums. In the Assembly a large portion of the morning session was occupied with a variety of subjects of no general interest. Debates were in- dulged in over a report in reference to the rules of the House, and matters similarly devoid of interest to the public. The resolutions in favor of an amendment of the excise laws, and an amendment of the constitution to prohibit the sale of intoxi- cating liquors as a beverage, were called up and discussed, and various motions were made and amendments proposed; but no vote was reached. The Assembly held a short evening session, which was consumed in a continuation of the debate on the resolutions relating to the national direct taxes: The steamship City of Manchester—as will be seen by an advertisement in the Hrratn—will sail from this port for Liverpool, by the way of Queenstown, at three o'clock this (Tuesday) efter. noon. The City of Manchester is despatched on this voyage as anextraship by the Liverpool, New York and Philadelphia Steamship Company. The regular Havana packet Columbia will sail from this port to-day. She will touch at Port Royal, 8. C., and leave a mail. The Seventh New Hampshire regiment, Colonel Putnam, recently quartered in this city, has been, it is stated, ordered to the South. As soon as means of transportation can be proeured by,the Quartermaster's Department, the embarkation of the regiment for Fort Jefferson, Tortugas, will take place. It is believed other troops will soon follow. Two full regiments—the Ninetieth and Ninety-first of the State of New York—are at Key West. The Seventy-sixth New York regiment, Colonel Greene, at present stationed on Riker’s Island, is also understood to be under marching orders, to what point is not stated. Our Bahamas correspondent, writing from Nas- sau on the 18th inst., says:—Our Legislature meets for despatch of business on the 18th of February. Governor Bayley (who is expected to arrive here soon, with the newly created Bishop of the Baha mas) may open the session; but should he not come in time the duty will devolve upon the Jieutenant Governor, 0. M. Nesbitt. The two most important battles of the present tome = fought on Sunday—the first on the 21st of July, 1861, and the other on the 19th of January, 1862. We Charleston is one of the mest atrocious crimes which have disgraced the history of mankind— give below a table showing the losses on both sides | that, in fact, it is without a parallel; for thus at each battle:— ‘ai Bull Bum. Spring. ‘Rée’. “Union. Rebel, Killed. fy m6 Wounded. it us Prisoners, ~ 45 Total 106 876 Union refugees. One thousand eight hundred dol- lars’ worth of books, belonging to Dr. Robert Bar- clay, lawyer, was seized on the 23d inst.; and on the 22d eight hundred dollars’ worth of carpets was taken from the store of James Kennard & Son, to pay an assessment of three hundred dollars on each. An order has been received in Cincinnati com- manding all the members of the gunboat service to report at Cairo immediately. A sudden movement 8 expected. A’full battery of twelve-pounder howitzers, the finest and best equipped the State has yet fur- nished, left Indianapolis, Ind., on the 24th instant, for Kentucky. The Fifty-second Indiana regiment will leave for Kentucky this week. A public meeting in St. Joseph, Mo., has endors- | ed the Unionism of Senator Wilson. The entire debt of the State of Indiana amounts to eleven million four hundred thousand dollars. We have been informed that.a large deputation of citizens of the State of Maine, conducted by ex. last week Senator Evans, visited Washington made an application to President Lincoln for a pardon for Captain Gordon, convicted before Judges Nelson and Shipman of dealing in the slave trade. In the event ofa pardon being denied, the deputation pray for a commutation of the punish- ment. The President has not yet given an answer to the deputation; but, as rumor anticipates on the one hand a favorable and on the other an unfavor- able response, we must wait for the President's decision in this case, which is of so much import: ance at this particular crisis of affairs. The ice in the Central Park yesterday was very rough and unpleasant to skate upon; but, consider- ing the state of the weather on Saturday, it may be classed as tolerably good. Skating was al- lowed during the usual hours of the day and even- ing, and after dark the ice was illuminated. The re- turns of the gatekeepers gave twenty-six thousand as the number of visiters up to seven o’clock, and fall six thousand more persons arrived after that hour. There is a great outcry for the promised music, and we hope that, as all our neighboring ponds have that necessary addition to the sport: the Central Park will not lag behind. Several propositions have been made for this purpose, but, at present, without any definite result. The prize for the ladies’ skating match, to be presented by the Messrs. Walton, is now ready, and is very handsome and elegant in its construc- tion. Nothing is now wanting to make the affair pass off with eclat with the exception of good ice and a few ladies’ names. We hope the lady skaters will come forward. The trial of Samuel H. Merritt, charged with shooting John Swain for uttering secession senti- ments ina lager bier saloon in Prince street, on the 3ist of May last, was commenced yesterday in the General Sessions. The Attorney General, Mr. Dickinson, appears for the prosecation, and Messrs. Brady and Holmes for the defence. Two witnesses were examined, who detailed the occurrence. The case will in all probability be finished to-day. United States Commissioner J. B. Henry held an examination into the charge against William Do- naldson (not the William Donaldson who was on the British steamer with Captain Comstock) yes- terday; but, as there was no proof of the accused having been engaged on the Montauk, he was dis- charged. According to the City Inspector's report, there ‘wero 391 deaths in the city during the past week— a decrease of 22 as compared with the mortality of the week previous, and 12 less than occurred daring the corresponding week last year. The recapitulation table gives 3 deaths of alcohol- ism, 3 of diseases of the bones, joints, &c.; 72 of the brain and nerves, 5 of the generative or- gans, 12 of the heart and blood vessels, 155 of the lungs, throat, &c.; 5 of old age, 67 of diseases of the skin and cruptive fevers, 6 premature births, 31 of diseases of the stomach, bowels and other digestive organs; 28 of uncertain seat and general fevers, 7 of diseases of the urinary organs, 6 from violent causes, and 1 unknown. There were 271 natives of the United States, 5 of Eng- land, 1 of France, 26 of Germany, 73 of Ireland, 4 of Scotland, and the balance of various foreign countries. ‘Ths cotton market was rather more activo yesterday, with @ good spinning demand. The sales footed up about 600 4 700 bales, in lots, on the basis of 32. a 330. for middling uplands, chiefly at the latter figure. The for- eign news bad a depressing influence on the market for flour, which fell off abont 5c. per barrel. Wheat, from the sume cause, was heavy and rather casier, while holders manifested a good deal of firmness. Transactions were to a mode! extent. Sugars were quiet, and the ouly sale of tin Lhds. was 100 sold by auction, and 604 boxes were sold to the trade at 8c. a 8%. Pork was rather firmer and in fair request, with sales of new miss at $12 75 @$13, and new prime at $9 25 9 $9 50. Lard aud beef were tirm. Freight engagemcnts were to a moderate extent, chiefly for Liverpool and London. British Indignation Over Our Stone Fleet Blockade of Charleston. With the pacific settlement of the Trent afiair it appears that Mason and Slidell have “fallen from their high estate” in England, down to the status of a pair of runaway ne- groes; but it does not appear that this adjust- ment has appeased the yearning bowels of John Bull for our Southern cotton. His sympathies still incline that way; and, in counting the enor- mous profits which he would derive from the opening at this time of a brisk trade with Jeff. Davis and his confederates, the burly John sees everything connected with our war to put down this great rebellion through a dark and distoried medium. If “Lincoln’s blockade” were only raised the shoddy factories of Eng- land could soon enrich themselves and the cot- ton mills of Manchester by supplying our Southern rebel armies with woollen shoddy in place of their cotton overcoats. Thus English eupidity, and English jealousy of our “model republic” and its commercial developement, combine to keep alive the sympathies of John Bull for Jeff. Davis and his hopeless enterprise— the disruption of this powerful Union into two, three or half a dozen fighting republics of the South American order. This interpretation, we think, will apply to the late jeremiads of the London Times touch- ing our stone fleet blockade of Charleston’ With an affectation of virtuous wrath, which is simply ludicrous, that pretentious expounder of British public opinion, the Times, says of our stone blockade of Charleston harbor that, “among the crimes which have disgraced the history of mankind, it would be difficult to find one more atrocious than this,” and declares that ‘‘no belligerent has the right to resort to such a warfare.” Is not this ® most charming specimen of cool hypocrisy and unblushing im- pudence? We think it exceeds anything pre- viously attempted by that notorious blunderer, the Thunderer, in its unscrupulous efforts to degrade the cause of our government in this war, and to give “aid and comfort” to this utterly indefensible rebellion. Mark the shameless effrontery of our accuser, ‘Dee Peveesbors (Vox) Beprese, oth0 3th inet, | warwtgnn of Balk BA OM ML Apwinc-enace | mip Iie wigs Wed Me vionn Dlgcbade of ' wile Vale the London Times has declared it, in one of its several foolish articles on the subject. Mark how a few historical facts will silence this im- pudent and empty declamation. For every- thing which we have done in the prosecution of this war, on the land and water, we can appeal to the usages of civilized nations and the laws of war; for every atrocity charged upon us, and for any atrocity which the inge- nuity of savages could devise, we could appeal {p British precedents. There were numerous examples of this sort for the seizure of Mason and Slidell, and there are at this day in the roads of Boulogne the remains of an experi- mental British stone blockade, from which we obtained the hint of our granite embargo against Charleston. Here we might pause, in having effectually silenced our flippant accuser. But, when he speaks of the most atrocious crimes in the history of mankind, we are reminded of some of the most atrocious which blacken the escutcheon of England. Without dwelling upon that horrible massacre of the Irish garrison and some two hundred:wo- men and children at Drogheda, after the capitu- lation of that fortress to Cromwell, a massacre which was approved by the British Parliament; without reciting how the Scots at Glencoe were rewarded by the butchery of the whole tribe, while yet engaged in dispensing their hospitalj- ties to their treacherous visters; and passing by all that fearful catalogue of atrocities which marked the subsequent civil wara of England, as the crimes of a country not yet emerged from the darkness of barbarism, the history of the philanthropic England of the nineteenth cen- tury will furnish sufficient matter for our pre- sent purpose. Tn the year 1814 the city of Washington was entered ang occupied by the British army under General Ross. By his orders the Capitol, President’s House and other public build- ings were destroyed—an atrocity without a parallel in the wars of any other civilized nation. In 1839 the Emperor of China was involved in a war with England, from his confiscations of British opium brought into his dominions against his express probibitions, and destroyed because of its fatal effects as a poison among his opium eating and opium smoking people. In this business England, by the en- lightened public opinion of the present day and of the future, will be held guilty of a most in- famous atrocity. We think, too, that her skirts were stained with some unnecessary acts of vandalism in the Crimea, and with some need- less cruelties in the suppression of the late re- bellion in India. We are quite sure that the impartial and enlightened historian will set down the late wanton destruction of the sum. mer palace of the Chinese Emperor as an atrocity which could serve no other purposes than those of pirates and robbers, who invade an island or town only to plunder, burn and destroy. But again, while the British press can find so much in the acts of our government, fleets and armies, in this war, to denounce as so very tainly be brought to bear upon it by ai! the other European governments. In taking the lead in forcing her to assume a consistent posi- tion on this question, Russia evinces the same ‘friendty feeling and intelligent appreciation of the motives and policy of our government wee have all along marked her conduct towards The Past and Present of “Those Fellows,” Mason and Slidell. When the gallant Captain Wilkes, miscon- ceiving the precept and practice of his own government, but following English precedent and conforming to English laws, stopped the Trent off the Bermudas, and took from her deck two rebellious traitors, the English nation be- came terribly excited. The mane of the British lion bristled threateningly in England. The tail of the British lion wagged ferociously in Canada and the other British provinces. The voice of the British lion was a savage growl, and it said to us, “Deliver up Mason and Sli_ dell, or I’ll exterminate you.” From the position of a couple of fugi- tives from deserved halters, Mason and Sli- dell were suddenly, elevated into the levers which moved all the world. About them all civilized Europe was concerned and anxious. Russia, Prussia, Austria and a dozen other Powers wrote letters abont them. France was excited and nervous at the pros- »pect of a general war throughout the world, be- cause of Mason and Slidell, and sent long des- patches to our government upon the subject. England fumed and fretted; sent over special messengers; prohibited the export of saltpetre; Shipped troops, cannon and ammunition to Canada; excited that little provincé to thy iight- ing point; prepared her steel-olad Warrior to bombard Annapolis; discovered that Secretary Seward had always hated England, had said as much to the Duke of Newcastle, had long been seeking, and at last had found, a pretext for an Anglo-American war; and all Great Britain assured itself and the world that we Yankees were the most insolent, criminal and intolerable people on earth; that the rebels were the best, bravest and most worthy of man- kind, and that Mason and Slidell would be taken away from us by force. The rebels con- gratulated themselves upon the immediate European recognition of the Southern confederacy, the raising of the blockade by European fleets, and the annihilation of the North by European armies—all because of Mason and Stidell. Verily, these two arch rebels were important men at that time, and upon them all mundane affairs hinged. But the American government preferred the permanent triumph of a vindication of its own policy and an assertion of its own correct ap- preciation of neutral rights to the evanescent credit of being too proud to do justice; and so Mason and Slidell were sent back to England, and a splendid diplomatic note from Secretary Seward prepared the way for their fit reception. The rebels read the note first, and were mightily chopfallen by its arguments, its logic and its conclusions. Still, after the first deep disap- pointment had been alleviated by the sober disgraceful that they call for the interposition of | second thought, they concluded that the case other nations, it is remarkable that our virtuous British contemporaries can discover nothing amiss on the part of Davis and his confederates. They have sunk a number of old hulks in the entrance to Norfolk and in the main chan- nel to Savannah, in the way of a blockade against us; they have destroyed hundreds of canal locks, and culverts and dams, railway bridges, locomotives and machine shops, and hundreds of miles of railways, in many instances for no conceivable purpose except that of savage revenge against Union stockholders; they have turned the whole population of some beautiful rebel villages adrift,“and have laid them in ashes, for fear that they might otherwise be- come in some way useful to our troops. But, worst of all, against, “the common rights of mankind,” our innocent rebels have ex- tinguished the friendly lights of one hundred and twenty-five lighthouses erected by the United States along our Southern seaboard for the guidance of the mariner of every flag against the hazards of shipwreck. Of course all these acts are directed against the United States as an enemy; but what apology can the London Times advance for the extine- tion of these one hundred and twenty-five light- houses, in view of the “common rights of man- ind?” atte simple truth is, that while this war, on the part of the government, is prosecuted with adegree of charity, forbearance and modera- tion which is exciting the indignation of a con- siderable portion of our citizens of the loyal States, the rebels are wasting, burning and destroying with a vindictiveness utterly un- worthy an intelligent people. Their atrocities, however, are beginning to react against them- selves; and we dare say that before the ex- piration of another month England herself will be convinced that this rebellion has exhausted its strength, and that its days are numbered. Use Mane or tHe Trent Arrair By Rvssta— Enoianp tN A Trowr PLace.—When our domes- tic troubles assumed a character menacing to the integrity of the republic, Russia was the only Power that held towards us the language of cordial sympathy. The letter of the Empe- ror, to whioh Mr. Seward returned so stinted an answer, will be long remembered as one of those spontaneous acts of friendship which, performed in the hour of adversity, and when all the rest of the world held the lan- guage of discouragement towards us, cannot easily be effaced from the national heart. On the question of international law involv- ed in the capture of Mason and Slidell, Russia held herself cautiously aloof from the con- certed efforts made by the other European go- vernments. The Cabinet of St. Petersburg was, unquestionably, not sorry to see an issue raised which must, whatever way it eventuat- ed, curtail the domineering pretensions that Great Britain had hitherto always maintained on the ocean. But it had the delicacy and good feeling to leave to our government its own dis- cretion in the matter, confident that its decision would be in strict consonance with the liberal principles that have always guided its conduct on this question of neutral rights. Now that the result has justified its anticipa- tions, the Russian government is one of the first to push to its legitimate conclusions the victory gained to the commerce of nations by the posi. tion in which we placed England in the Trent affair. It calls upon the Cabinet of St. James to give to the world solemn guarantees that it will be bound forthe future by the principles which it has itself, contrary to the precedents previously established by it, enforced. We do not see how England can now, with any show of decency, resist the pressure for a convention was not so bad as it might have been, and that Mason and Slidell, landing in Europe from an English war vessel, and with all the eclat of popular ovations, would be pretty sure to suc- ceed in their original mission. Canada and the provinces read Secretary Seward’s letter next, and took off their shoulder straps and trowsers’ stripes, stopped playing at soldier, and waited, with duo humility, for England to say what should come next, Then, at last, Europe re- ceived the letter. England regarded it as “‘per- fectly satisfactory;” thought that we Americans were excellent fellows, after all; became “eulo- gistic of our government,” and accepted our return of Mason and Slidell as “an indemnity for the past and no small pledge of future secu- rity.” France was delighted to take the same view of the case. Russia congratulated us upon “the uprightness and intelligence of our policy.” Prussia, Austria and the other smaller States followed in the track of their more powerful neighbors, and everybody now says that the United States is a very great country, and Seward is a very great man. But how have the mighty Slidell and Mason fallen! From thie hub upon which all the uni- verse turned, they have become as the finest and meanest of the dust of the balance. In- stead of going to England triumphantly ina national war vessel, they are kicked off the Rinaldo at St. Thomas, and left to get to Europe the best way they can. Already John Bull is grumbling at the trouble these “fellows” have given him, and sorrowfully thinks of the ten or twenty millions of dollars they have cost him. He has found out that these rebels, and not Mr. Seward, are the “blind and habitual haters and revilers of England.” He scornfully. calls them “worthless booty;” and, for fear they shduld trouble him further, even with their gratitude, he tells them that “England would have done just as much to rescue two negroes.” Poor Com- mander Williams was not so far out of the way when he compared Mason and Slidell to fugi- tive slaves. They are, indeed, like a couple of their own darkies, who, having at a vast deal of time, toil and expense been brought from their Southern “bondage” to Northern “free~ dom,” find themselves helpless, uncared for and insulted—without a friend or sympatbiser in the world—those who rescued them being the first to kick them out into the cold, and those from whom they expected the most favors being the most bitterly hostile. We commend the many morals of this affair to our readers, and leave it an open question which will astonish, depress and weaken rebel- lion the more, the late victory of the Union arms at Somerset, Kentucky, or the victory of Usion policy, Union diplomacy and Union up- rightness in this affair with those “fellows,” Mason and Slidell? Wuat tae State Learstatcres Overt to Do.—Just now, when the question of Paxation is being discussed, and pending the passage in Congress of the necessary measures for ra‘sing an annual revenue of a hundred and fifty mil- lions to meet the expenses of the war, it is highly desirable that the State Legislatures should take the matter into consideration. Of these there are eight or nine now in ses- sion—namely, Massachusetts, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and New York. It would be well for them to pass bills authorizing and providing for the collection of the quota of revenue attaching to their respective States as soon as it is levied— so making the machinery already established in each State ava'lable for this extra pur- pose. We are convinced that this may be done with only trifling additional expense; and the Sepand Ippon, on Woh WL com: | Sipse Legialaguase, by aatiplpeting the action | Of Congress, will remove all ground of. ob- Section as to the difficulty and cost of ® sufficient income to meet the wants of the country. Tas Barres or Muu Srrinc—Reser Esme mats or Losses.—In the Union accounts et the casualties on both sides at the recent battle at Somerset, those of our army were set down at thirty-nine killed and one hundred and twenty-seven wounded, while the rebels were stated to have had one hundred and fifteen killed and two bundred and six‘cen wounded (one hundred and sixteen taken prisoners), and forty-five prisoners unhurt. The Norfolk Day Book acknowledges to three hundred killed, and adds that the rebels lost all their horses, tents and equipages, with eleven guns spiked or thrown into the river. The Richmond Dis- patch of a later date informs its readers that from accounts received at the War Department, the defeat was more decisive than even North- ern statements had led it to believe. It ex- presses its fears for the safety of the communi- cations between the rebel capital and the South, placed in danger by this victory of the Dnion troops, and urges the vital importance of completing the connection between Richmond and Darville and the. North Carolina railroads-. The “Onward to Richmond” howlers will see from this chart of General McClellan’s plans, ‘traced out by the fears and quakings of the rebel junta, that the longest road is oftenest the surest one. Abolition of Slavery in Western Virginia. ‘Wuseiia, Jan. 27, 1962. In convention to-day Mr. Battelle, of Obio county, of- fered the following propositions relative to slavery in the new State:— No slaves shall be brought into the State for permanent residence after the adoption of this constitution. All children born of slave parents in this Stato on and after the 4th of July, 1865, be free, and the Legislature provide, by goneral laws, for the apprenticeship of 1 children during minority for subsequent colonization. ‘Tho above propositions were referred to the Committee on Genoral Provisions, which committee will probably report some day this week. It is not expected that the comtitttes will report any provision of the abovo charac- ter, the majority boing adverse to the consideration of slavery; but it is thought that when they make their re- port 8 proposition embodying tho sentiments of the free State mon will be brought forward, and willbe, from present indications, fercely contested. Seizure of a Danish Vessel., PHMLADELPHIA, Jan. 27, 1862. ‘The Danish bark Jurgen Lorentzen, Reimer, from Rio Janeiro, ont fifty-six days, bound to Havana, but in consequence of some informality in her papers supposed to be bound to New Orleans, with a cargo of 4,800 bags of coffee, was sefzed on the 25th ult., in latitude seven dogrees north, longitude thirty-two degrees thirty minutes west, by the United States ship Morning Star, and ordered to Philadelphia, in charge of Lieutenant Geraud and a prize crew. The Canadian Malls. Ponrianp, Me., Jan. 27, 1862. Tho Canadian mail train got off the track throe times last Dight. ‘The train has beon off the track at Yarmouth, ten mites from this city, since twelve o'clock last night. ‘The engines from here have reached Yarmouth, where the down engine is capsized. The mail tram is expected hore by twelve o'clock. European Steamers Inward Bound. Hausrax, Jan. 26,1862. The steamship Europa sailed for Boston at five o'clock this (Sunday) evening, where she will be due early on Tuesday morning. Wind southwest, ‘The steamship City of New York sailed for New York at five o'clock on Saturday ovening, and will be due in that city on Duesday. Salling of the Hibernian. PortLanp, Jan. 27, 1862. ‘The Hibernian sailed at one P. M. for Londonderry and Liverpool. She took news and despatches from New York up to noon to-day. Death of Ex-Comptroller Wright. Atuany, Jan. 21, 1868. Ex-Comptrolier John C. Wright died at Schenectady to-day. ik President. Hantrorp, Conn., Jan, 27, 1862. David F. Robinson, for many years President of the Hartford Bank, and one of our most active and prominent citizens, died last night after a brief {ltness, aged sixty- ‘one years. Death of Markets. PHILADELPHIA STOCK BOARD. Porat n DELPRIA, Stocks weak. Ponnsyivavia State 6’s, 83%; Reading Railroad, 19 13-16: Morris Canal, 39, Long island Railroad, 10%; Pennsylv@Mia Railroad,40%{. Sight exchange oo New’ York at par. Pat aDatrara, Jan. 27, 1862. Breadstuffs are flat, owing to the foreign news. Whoat— $1 40 a $1 50 for white and $1 34 for red. Corn dull and lower: sales of yellow at Sic. Provisions quiet. Pork inactive at $12 50 for meas. Dressed hogs 4c. Lard 120. Coffee firm. Whiskey firm at 25c. a His Generals graying, under this title, haa ja been published by Cowan & Rogers, No. 192 Boadway. Tt contains burts of the late veteran Comma: dir-in- Chief, and all the leading gonerals ongaged in tho present war. Genoral Scott forms the coatre piece of the pic- ture, and is an admirable likeness. Portra''s of Gouerals MeClellan, Banks, Wool, Dix, McCall, Rosecrans, Ande-+ son, Butler, Fremont, Sigol, Lyon and Shorman surround him. ‘This picture, which is the best we have seen of the Prominent military chiefs of the Union army, will prove a ploasing souvenir of the war. Ex-Lieutenant Parker, of the Navy. TO THK EDITOR OF THE HERALD. Jan. 27, 1862. Your valuable journal yesterday contained an extract from the Richmond Dispatch, relating to the perilous eecape of Liout. John Henry Parker, lately dismissed from the United States Navy. The writer of this would not deprive the ex-lieutenant of all the glory he may obtain in Secessia by his doubly dishonorable conduct in resigning and desorting aftet having taken two oaths of allegiance since the 16th De- comber last, both of which aro on record in Washingtos to his eternal disgrace. Soom after the arrival of the Dacotah at this port, all of the commissioned were summoned to the cabin; the commander read an oath and subscribed to it; the same was handed to Lieut. J. Hi. Parkor,and he signod it, as did all of the officers present, in rotation. Some three or four days subse- quently the commander of the Dacotah called up all of the officers of the ship, and stated that a new form of oath ‘been sent from Washington for the officers to take. In this instance, as on the former occasion, that pin! chivalry, ex-Lieut. J. H. Parker, was the first to take subscribe to the oath, without a question. Though he roports in Richmond that he declared on the occasion that it could not be so construed as to provent his resigning, the proof to the contrary is positive. Fx-Lieut. Parker very cunningly kept a rein over hie yngue for the three months previous to his desertion, though his secession proclivities were pretty well known to most on board, and he nover knew that a strict watoh was kept on his movements on the return v from China, A WARDROOM 0} " acanmey or Mvsic.—Tho applications for soate for the opening night of the Opera (to-morrow) are pouring in rapidly. There is evory promise of a large and unusually brilliant house. ed Stavt Trearra.—Miss Johanna Wolf, a rising young actroas, takos hor bonefit at this house to-morrow oven- ing. Sho plays in Scribe’s popular comedy, ‘‘La Bataille dos Damos,’’ and a vaudeville. pateihnadiene Nrevo’s Ganpan.—To-night Lord Byron's play of «Wor- ner’’ will be produced at this establishmont, with Mr. J. W. Wallack, Mr. Davenport and Mr. Whoatley im tho cast. Next weok ‘the combination” proceed to Boston for a short season, ‘The Colleen Bawn,”’ with Mrs. John ‘Wood and Mr. Collins, temporarily replacing them. the ivy. TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. Your correspondent at Hilton Head, 8. C., makes a mistake in stating that the Mohican was the first vessel which noticed the steamer Isabel when sho ran the blockade. The bark Roebuck, G. A. Trundy command” Ing, first discovered her, and firod at her as long as sho was in range; but owing to a strong wind prevailing ff she could not give chase, and the Mohican, Serwomee, stonaned c tan eovirad’ tro tae hemvoel ‘tho intell of a latge stoamor trying to enter the harbor. , however, she could get near eno. wo dg aay sorta, amuage Ut lnghgl rop HO Re