The New York Herald Newspaper, December 20, 1862, Page 4

Richmond papers olaim the fight et Fredericksburg as the greatest viotory yet gained by the rebels, They state that “the ropalse of the Vankecs ex: ceeded that of the olf Bull ran." These papers TRRWE cash in advance. Money sont by mail will be | ostimate the rebel loge at two thousan’ five hun- 2 NR JAMBS GQURDUN BSNNERTT, DITOR AND PROPRIETOR. GUTLON MN. W. CORMIER OF FULTON AND NASSAU OTS. NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, DECEMBEX. 20, 1862. NEW inst. Sad Jouraale Grete Mert Carolan and 9236 a 9234 for money. The Liverpool cotton mar- | the other maritime Powers. YORK HERALD. other pointe in the South to the 14th inst, ‘The | Ket Caryn dy oe ag Constant interference with the Sould have ooh ey y a ° oe] ys those nations, in some 1868 three-fourths of a penny to the 5th inst, | ots of violence; for it would be ‘ble to ‘The market was not eo strong on that dey, and closed quiet and unchanged on the 6th inst: Broadstuffs were dull, with » deolining tendency, on tho 6th inst. Provisions closed beavy, looking exeroise any check upoa tho conduct of a! the Persons who would have command of these »‘rl- vateers. We have seon—in the case of tik’ @A the risk of the sonder. None but Bank billa curreut in Mew York takes. (QHE DAILY HERALD, Temes cents per copy. WHE WEEKLY HERALD, overy Saturday, at Fiva cents Per copy. Annual subscripiion price — 5 8 Bi Any larger number, addressed to names of subscribers, @B BO cach. An oxtra copy will be sent to every club of (en. Twenty copies, to one address, one year, $25, and Quy larger numbor at same price. An extra copy will be @eat to clubs of twenty, ‘These rates make the Wert Fimmatp (he cheapest publication in the country, i ‘Tho Ecrorsan Epitiow, every Wednesday, at Fiva cents — @er copy; $4 per annum to any part of Great Britain, | ‘@r OG to any part of the Continent, both to include (poatage. ‘The Cauuronms Evrmow, on (he Ist, 1th and 2ist of @ach month, at Sux oonte per copy, or @3 per annum. , @overrcumests, to a limited number, will be inserted We tho Weextr Hsraip, and in the European and Cali- foroia Fditions. VOLUNTARY CORRESPONDENCE, containing import- | Qnt news, solicited from any quarter of the world; if | ‘wood, will be liberally paid for, ag= Our Fornion Con- RESPONDENTS ARE PARTIOULARLY REQUESTED TO SEAL ALL LET- | ‘TERS AMD PACKAGES SENT US, NO NOTICE taken of anonymous correspondence. We do not return rejected communications, Volume XXVII.... AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING, RIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—Evim. WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway—Tzrr at Law. WINBER GARDEN. Broadwi W FoR Lapis—Inish Assuic ALY Hacrow Evr— ND YANKEE MopEsty, LAUBA KEENE’S THEATRE, Broadway. ~Bioxpert#. NEW BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery,—Waairn ov rie Ke—KinG. Dem any Ds HLL LO—TLLUSTRIOUS ANGER—HARLEQUIN JACK D. | BOWERY THEATRE, bow —Fuisxy Cossixr—Jace ery.—Camitiz—Ronix Hoop RHPARD, dred in killed, wounded and missing. The wounded have been taken to Richmond. They also acknowledge the loss of two general officers killed—Generals Gregg and Cobb—which ac» 92 | cords with General Lee's report. They say tha® | their position back of Fredericksburg is impreg- nable, and that they oan remain in that position as long as our forces can maintain their ground on the north side of the river. The Ricmond papers alao contain an account of General Foster's expedition against Kinston, N.C., which place thoy say was attacked on the 14th by @ large body of “abolitionists,” when a severe battle waa fought between three thousand rebels, under General Evans, and the “invaders.” The fight lasted from eight A. M. to one P. M., when the rebels were compelled to retire. This accords with our information, and it is worthy of remark that the same mail which brought the above news brought also the contents of the Post Office at Kinston entire, which was captured by one of the Hrrap's correspondents, in company with the agent of the Associated Press. The Scotia, at this port, brings news from Eu- rope to the 7th instant—a week later. Mr. Gladstone, Chancellor of the English Ex- chequer, has written another letter on the subject of the American war. He says he has not “‘ex- pressed any sympathy” with the Sonth, or ‘pass- ed any eulogium onzPresident’Davis."" He says he is “a much better friend to the North Ameri- cans than those who have encouraged and are en- evere in their hopeless “couraging them to pe and destrucrive enterp: In reply to complaints sent to the Foreign Office from the Chamber of Commerce of Liverpool, re- specting the destruction of British property on hoard federal vessels captured by the Confederate | steamer Alabama, Earl Russell states that the owners of such property—not contraband of war, GERMAN OPERA HOUSE. Broadway—Nozex Dz Ficaro | THEATRE FRANCAIS, Nib} Jou Faw Peon— 472 Broad | a0—iice cath street.—Cawrseur's | D BURLESQUES, | BROADWAY MENAGERIE, Broadway.<Lavixe Wu | satis.” AMERIOAN MUSIC HALL, No. Bat Lats, Paxtouruxs, Bunirsares, ac. mrs tacpaeine aes PARIGIAN CABINET OF WONDERS, Open dally ftom 1AM. Aa 1D PMs 2 Broadiray. cw HOOLEY'S OPERA (HOUSE, Brook’ js EHOrIAy @onos, Daxoss, Burtesaves &€ ow York, Saturday, December 20, 1862. — on = THE SITUATIONS of course—must seck compensation in a “Confede- j rate Prize Court." All through his letter of reply | Karl Russell speaks of the Alabama as a “war BARNUM'S AMERICAN MUSEUM, Broadway.—=Derre. | gace’s Perronwing Beans-—-G14ant GIRL, Ac., et ali hours, Couesy Bows, at 8 aud bok P.M. * GRYANTS’ MINSTRELS’ Mecianics’ Hall — Songs, Buriesgves, Dari Dr. WOOD'S MINSTROL HALL, 54 Broadway.—Eraioriam | » Dances, &6.—iRd Hunters. PALACE OF MUSIC, Four Mumstasts—sonas, Dayces vessel” of a ‘‘belligerent;"’ saying that if British | subjects ship articles contraband of war on federal ships they must endure the loss resulting from capture by the vessels of the other belligerent. ‘The French government has made contracts for the supply of its armies in Mexico for a term of two years; and the inference drawn from this fact is, that the Emperor Nepoloon intends to maintain a large army in Mexico for an indefinite period of time. The Paris Monitevr notices, quasi-officially, the late appearance of French war vessels of New Orleans, and says that the presence of the Empe- ror’s ships gave satisfaction to the entire popula- tion of the city. Queen Isabella of Spain opened the session ‘With the exception of a few shots fire? from the Onion batteries en the hills to disperse some bands of rebels which appeared to be gathering a numbers sufficiently large on the opposite side Of the river, there was no hostile movement made by oither army on the Rappahannock yesterday. | of the Cortes with a speech from the throne, in the cOurse of which she alluded to the “excellent | relations maintained with the United States government.” She seemed to hope for a re- arrangement of the Ktropean league respecting Mexico, but atthe same time indicated that the The enemy's pickets are lining the south bank fhiokly; but they observe @ peaceful and some- what friendly aspect towards our men. .The offi- ial reports of our losses in the battle of Saturday feduce the number slightly. So far the killed are Onumerated af 1,100, and the wounded at 8,000. Rumors were afloat yesterday that General Burnside had tendered his resignation, but that | the President refuacd to accept it. We do not | find, howover, any confirmation of the story. j The report of the defeat of General Foster at i Kinston, North Carolina, which was promuigated | in @ despatch from the rebel General Evans, proves | to be entirely false. So far from being a defeat | the affair proves to be a victory for the Union | arms. After three days skirmishing and fighting, | Pommencing on the 11th inst., General Foster cap | * tured Kinston, driving off the forces of Gen. Evans, | Killing and wounding two hundred and ity re | taking nine hundred prisoners and eleven pi of artillery. Our loss in the action was not more : Phan two hundred. After this success our troops @dvanced in the direction of Goldsboro and Weldon, | polics of Spain was to gather the Spanish people in every conntry of the world under one govern- ment. CONGRESS. In the Senate yesterday a joint resolution to pay Senators and members of Congress mileage for the present session, was referred to the Fi- uance Commiitee. Aresolution authorizing the | publication of the annual Naval Register was adopted. A resolution calling on the Secretary of | War for information relative to the court of in- quiry upon the operations of Generai Buell in Kentn ¥ was laid over. Aresolution calling for ce between correspon ¢ State Department and our Minister to England concerning telegraphic communi nh between the mouth of y river and San Franc adopted. porial of the V ee of New York, asking Congress to aut the issue + | of.detters of marque for the capty the rebel | crniser Alabame, was presented. A bill granting aid to Missonri for emonci rred to the Judiciary Committe sideration of the resolution provi t special commi | pecunia wa e on the su their slave« the occupation of these places being the main ob- | sa States for the emancipat fect of the expedition. The accounts by our cor- ; Wes postpa A bill Providing fe constrnc- Yespondents to-day contain all the particulara of | fo" of Toa nai bee : saga et becie Rife ad this important movement. We also give o map | tay Af Wik wheted aay me ai rapa Of the locality to illmstrate the design of General | ¢o citizens who have beor od and imprisoned Foster. Our gunboats attempted to support the | that they would not sue or bring any action against land forces, but, owing to the shoal water in the | these who arrested iE ey age rat Ay ig ssed, Neuse river, they were not able to render much barca’ a raataeeseepe eed: ap ai Be ae i ry assistance, The gunboat Allison, however, of the | and the Se ate adjourned. y Marine artillery force, showed some fight, but was | In the House of Representat the Senate hill muet by a battery of the enemy within two miles of | to facilitate the discharge e Lane J sx se nd Kinston, the fire from which did her some serious | bt sada M4 ra; ease % ie a ron he na damage, and finally compelled her to retire. The ew member from Louisiana, were presented, flotilla, on its return down the river, wae constantly motion ved that he he yaalitie r. Val fired upon by guerillas from the shore. The latest | lo am, however, objected, and the papers rebel acoounts to the 15th inst. report that arti! lery firing was heard below Golbsboro on that day. No fighting ocourred up to the 16th. We publish to-day General Lee’s offivial report Of the battle of Fredericksburg. He puts the rebe! jons at 1,800, including the deaths of Generals jomas RK. R. Cobb, of Georgia, and Maxey Gre; pf Bouth Carolina, { Tho vessels of the Banks expedition are unfortu- Mate. Another ouc,in addition to those alread, reported—-amounting fn ail to about poing compelled to seek shelter in an unseaworthy Cendition, has been barely Biruction by the timely aid of bark Gemsbock And the United States transport Blackstone, Thig yossol was the M. Sanford, which ran ashore two eight— saved from utter d Piles south of Carysfort reef, with $00 troc board, belonging tothe Banks expedition. 1) Were fortunately rescued and taken to Key Weet The news from Te n nnesser i¢ to the effect that Goneral Dodge was fighting General Forrest in the vicinity of Corinth, Miss, with twenty-five hhandred cavalry ond five 7 of artillery, on the Yoth inst. The resuit.is not stated; but it is said hat Colonel Napior, with two ov three thousand Gavairy and four can seed the Tennessee tiver to Carrollaville on Mondoy last to join For Tope We ere in posseasion of Rigumond papers of the jttee on Elections w referred the Cow The bill making appror other pensions was passed. explanation as to the finan eme recently int troduced by lim, saying it was his own act, with- ont consultation with the Committee of Ways and Means or with the Secretary of the Treapury. He vas opposed to the financial scheme of Mr. Chase, Joint resolutions thanking Licutenant Commanding | Morris, of the Cumberland, and Lieutenant Com- m: Worden, of the Monitor, for their gallan- | tryin the engagement with t err rere. | ported. These thanks are a neceswar nary tions for inval Mr. Stevens mas ! ' ean ne prelir to the prom: n of these officers r. Scdgwick’s resolut was adopted Hing upon the Secretary ot the Navy to communicate information concern: ing all causes in the 1s showing the present condition of the prize cases, and the names and | number of the men who received their share of the disbursements; the charges of all officers vod men claimi nd i prize money; stating how much has been distributed to the cap" tore, and whether distribution has been made ac- ording to law. In Committee of the Whole Mr, isficld, of Maryland, made a gpeech on nat political topics, and Mr. Kelley, of Penns j spoke at consid rable length in support of the Pre- | sident pation proclamation. Both houses adjourned till Monday. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, _ The steamship Scotia, from Queenstown on the | 7th instant, arrived at this port early yesterday | morning. Her news is one woek later than the adviece of the Arabia, Covsols closed ia London, om the 6th instant. at and | downward, on the samo day. The people of Greece commenced voting on the quostion of the lection of a now king on the éth instant, Prince Alfred, of England, had sn im- ‘Mense majority of the votes given on the first day, Gnd -his election was considered certain, Ho had the support of the provisional government of Greece. The tone of the London press was in fa- vor of his accepting the throne. The London Times says theevent wijl annoy both France and Russia. This seems to be a rather gerious aspect Of thecase; for it is said that Russia had officially asserted that the principle of the treaty of 1830—which provides that no member of the houses of the three protecting Powers shall be king of the country—-must be upheld. The Rataz- ai Cabinet had been dissolved in Italy, and Victor Emanuel had failed to organize a ministry up to the evening of the 6th instant. The prospects of the Atlantic Telegraph Company were very favora” ble to the project of laying a new cable at an early date. The Hamilton Bermudian of the 10th instant is received. It contains no news. The citizens of Hamilton were about taking measures to rolicve the suffering poor in England. The sun commences to change its course to-day. It set last evening at twenty-nine minutes past four o'clock. This evening it will set at four o'clock and thirty minutes. Yeaterday was the day the President set for the execution of thirty-nine Sioux Indians in Minnesota. In the Board of Aldermen yesterday a remon- strance was presented from owners of property round the Central Park, protesting against the proposition to take the control of the Park from the Commissioners and placing itin the hands of the Street Committee. It was referred to the Finance Committee. The proposition referred to was then taken up, and, on motion of Alderman Boole, the investigation into the administration of the commission to continue in the meantime. The ordinance authorizing the Croton Board to remove all obstruction and replace all pavements in the streets, with the view of testing the validity of certain railroad grants, was adopted by a vote of twelve to one. The Board then adjourned till this afterneon, In the Board of Councilmen last evening the resolution to increase the city bounty to volun- teers to $200 was indefinitely postponed. A reso- lution to donate the sum of $10,000 to the Sixty- ninth regiment, New York National Guard, was referred to a special commitieo of three. The Board then adjourned until this evening at fo ur o’clock. The case of Mrs. Walton, widow of John Wal- ton, who was murdered, was resumed yester- | day, before Judge Hoyt. Ji was’ an action | against William T. Walton for assault and battery | in the church in Twentieth street, alleged to have | been committed on Mra. Walton while atiending the funcral ceremonies of her husband, a8 report- ed in yesterday's Heratp. Further testimony, of a similar character to that alrcady published, was adduced; Mrs. Walton's character was impugned, her melancholy career was scathingly portrayed by Mr. Field, and her rights 23 a woman—however unfortunate and checkered her life may have been—to the protection of the law were cloquent- dy advocated by Mr. Edwin James. The Judge charged the jury clearly and impartially, and ins very brief time they rendered a verdict for the defendant. ‘ t The stock market was higher yestorday, with the ex. | coption of governments, which were weak and lower: The most buoyant of the speculative securitics were Pacific Mail and Mich:|gen Central. Money wag easy at 6 | percent. Gold fell from 13224 at one hour of the day to 13274815215 at sho close. Exchange closed at 145350 1a6, The usual trade tablea for the month will be found wm the money article. Businese in cotten yesterday exlidi'-d more animation and firmness, sales of 800 bales having been reported at 66c. 3 663zc. for middling. ‘The trade in flour, wheat and corn was limited; four declined 5c.a20c., wheat Ic. & 2c.,and corn was tending downward. There was more activity in hog products, and mess pork advanced to } $14 124414 25. The movements in petroleum were ex- ‘tensive, and prices were higher. There was very little done in groceries, which were heavy. The demand for Lay, hope, ingot copper and tallow was fair. Thoro were light gales of whiskey ond tobacco eflected. Freights were inactive and rates teuding downward. Important from North Carolina=—A Vic. tory Instcad of a Repulse. We are very happy to annonnee that the telegram of the rebel General Evans, which ¥ erday end iven in our issues of yes the day before, of the repulse of General Fos- ter’s troops at Kinston, N. C., turne ont to be | entirely false. Our despatches from our spe- spondents on the spot reached us | of three ‘days’ h ight, giving the detail fighting, and the entire success of the expedi- This victory, at this | tion up to last accounts. is portance. because of the depr paticular moment, of considerable im. ion of the pub- Tic mind growing out of the recent terribic slaughicr at Frederichsturg. The d profound secret until the return of some of the vessels engaged on of the expedition was kept a in Newbera, and it wi | q | $ no! in the attack that the affair was made public } there. Our troops fought well. General W brigade of Massachusetts soldiers acted a con. spicuous part in the advance, while the Ninth d Jer | markable for their bravery and untiring devo: tion to the Stars and Striper. The Ninety-sixth | New York alao come in fora share of praise. Indeed all did well. The rebel prisoners re- port great demoralization in the rebel army in North Carolina, and seem to look upon the cause of the rebellion as hopeless. The latest accounts state that Gen. Foster is advancing upon Goldsboro, an important rail- | road station. It is therefore manifestly the | duty of the government to sec that he has troops \ enough to maintain his position and hold that General Evans will un- y and Tenth Connecticut were re- line of operations. rebel army in Richmond, released from duty there by the disaster at Fredericksburg. No time should be lost by our government in push- ing forward fresh troops to reinforce our gal- lant soldiers on the New Prorosko Issvn or Lerrer, The instructions given to the Naval Commitice to consider the expediency of issuing letters of marque with a view to destroy the Confederate 11 not, we hope. be reported npon ov Marqur.— | privateer favorably. Whilet such a measure would not have tho effect intended, it wonld result to a doubiedly be reinforced by a portion of the | Tront—how iffioult i¢ is for an offloer under officis! instructions to discriminate as to the exact Line of his duty, and how near involv- ing us in war a slight excess of zeal may prove: If the government, with the immense navy which it has at command, cannot rid us of the Alabama, then we had better boar patiently with the infliction. it will not oure the evil to rush on others fraught with infinitely more dis- satrous consequences. Tae Barts or Freperickssunc—Covares. stonaL Inquiry Inro THe Cause or Tax DisasreR— Upon the motion of Senator Wilkinson (re- publican), of Minnesota, the Senate has directed an investigation into the causes of the late disaster at Fredericksburg, the Joint Committee on tho Conduct of the War being appointed for that purpose, and ordered to report to the Senate. The committeo is enjoined to particu- larly inquire “what officer or officers are re- sponsible for the assault which was made upon the enemy's works,” and also “who is responsi- ble for the delay in meeting tho enemy.” We learn that the committee have already proceed- ed to the Rappahannock to prosecute the in- vestigation; and it is further stated that thoy are accompanied by Sonator Wilson, of Massa- chusett, and several others. This last infor- mation is not very welcome to our readers, who recollect that Wilson’s visits to the army have been always followed by some calamity, owing to his fatal mieddling with the generals. After the battle of Antietam he paid an omi- nous visit to the Army of the Potomac. Gene- ral McClellan was speedily removed from the command. The object of his visit to Falmouth just now is undoubtedly sinister, and probably to screen the really guilty parties and to throw the responsibility where it does not belong. Wo hope, therefore, that the committee will be on their guard against his suggestions, and that they will make no scapegoats of subordinates, but conduct the inquiry with thorough impar- tiality, 80 as to get out all the facts. The in. quiry is highly important, and the result onght to be laid before Congress and the people with- out any unnecessary delay. It will soon be seen whether it is meant as a whitewashing investigation, resulling in the verdict “Nobody to blame,” or whether the committee will have the courage and integrity, at this evitical mo- ment in the extstence of the republic, io strike at high gaino, wud don tie criminals, who- ever they may be. It is not because we have plenty of men that their lives ove to be unpro- tected or thrown away by the 15,000 at a time. If such a course should be persisted in, our great army, thus decimated, would soon be frittered down toa handful. Enough of use- less massacres and purposeless slaughters have been perpetrated. - We perceive that asum of seven hundred and fifty millions has been voted by Congress for army expenditure. It is very easy for mem” bers of Congress to vote money out of the pockets of the people. It is not so easy for the people to pay it. Before they do they want to know in what manner the money already raised for the army has been expended, and whether it is mot incumbent on the President to appoint an entirely different set of men to manage fa- ture expenditares. The people are willing to expend their treasure and their blood to any amount for the restoration of the Union, but nota cent or a drop of blood to carry out the visionary, impracticable ideas of fanatics; nor will they patiently look on while their sons and brothers and neighbors are slaughtered by wholesale through the criminal carelessness or ignorance of pretenders, who have never seen a battle, and who undertake, at Washington, to lead in the field armies of 150,000 men. at sixty or one hundred miles distance, by a click of the telegraph. Let the people, therefore, have light on this vastly important question before it is too late, and “let justice be done, though the heavens-should fall.” Tur Rorren Sutrs THF B. Exprpi- o rion.—By reference to our news columns it will be seen that the M. Senford—one of the ships of the Bar dition, hay ight bundred ed in the Gulf t the —has been wre it troops on bow near Key Wesi. did not find a wa them. several of tie saved from character of ips which have into port in a leaky and disabled condition, she was probably rotten, The Niegare was compelled to put into Pl sinking ¢ here. planks of he a smdoth ze sound and u for the Inke tr: adelphi e sailed from lition two days ¢ She is describe 1 open in eck having been and her huil be vessel was bailt le, in 1644, and was nev l to the expedition, an’ of the same Port Royal by the sson, on the Sth, with four hundved men on board. appears marvellows to those who bave ‘sur- veyed her. It was necessary to knock the heads out of the ater casks and throw the rations of the troops overboard to keep her from sinking. An examining board at Port Royal pronounced her rotten and unsea- worthy. lives of four hundred men on board of ber, Three days efter the Quincy, another of the expedition, was towed into Port Royal by the the Salvor in a very dangerous condition. She had heen out seven days from this port, and had four companies on board. Hgy boiler was Themes, another v belor ription, was towed into leaking, and it was necessary to put the fires | | | out, and she was otherwise unseaworthy. She: | too, was a lake boat, built in Buffalo, and | traded thence to Detroit with cargoes of grain. \ The Salvor wanted coal aud water; and we are not informed whether it was necessary for her to throw her supply overboard to save her from going to the boitom. The ,propellers Albany and Prometheus, of the same expedition, reach- ed Port Royal only afler a passage of nine days from New York. The Prometheus, itis said, put in for water and coal; but the Albany sought port from fear of sinking. Another of the expedition put into Norfolk, leaky. On the Jersey coast, between Sandy Hook and Barnegat, within a few days, evidences of wreck have been washed ashore, the articles marked “U, 8.” Certain it is that some eightor nino have been either wrecked or forced to seek shelter in a friendly harbor, owing to the fact of their | being entirely unfit for such service. It is true that very severe weather set in just after the for example, | rotten, the | oughly war | intend | How they were saved from destruction | it was surely an outrage to risk the | burg. Those vessels are all under the direc. tion and control of the War Department, and not tho Seordtary of the Navy. A resolution of inquiry has been moved in Congress to ascortain who are responsible, and we hope the truth will be brought out and the guilty’parties punished. Certainly one or more ought to be put on trial for their lives in connection with the Banks expedition, and unless somebody is hanged justice will not have been done. On sea an@land our troops are fearfully sacrificed by the blunders of the War Depariment. Let the law take its course Conreprrare Privareens—Toe = ENarase Working ox Tas Fears ov Our SnirowyEts.— Tt is a noteworthy fact that most of the reports of the appearance of the Alabama here and there on the Atlantic come from British cdm- manders. If wo were to believe all that we hear in this way, it would follow that the far- famed vessel of Semmes Ys endowed with the ubiquitous qualities of the I'lying Dutchman. A Demerara paper, just received, eontains a statement which is made on the same au- thority. It is to the effect that a now rebel privateer, the Virginis—formerly the Wyo- ming—overhauled a British vessel, the Milo, in the West India waters, and after examining her papers let her go. There may be some foundation for this statement; but, seoing the industry with which cimilar reports are cireu- lated hy tho masters of British vessels, we are not inclined to piace much faith in it. It is clearly the object of these men to create such a panic among American shippers as will insure to themselves a monopoly of the carry ing trade enjoyed by our vessels. ‘They, there fore seek to scare them with the reports of such frequent meetings with Confederate pri- vateers as will induce the belief ihat there is but little chance of safety for a Union vessel crossing the ocean. Hven the British govern- ment lends its countenance to this triek, a3 will be seen by the following reply of Earl Russell toa communication addressed to him on the subject by the Secretary of the Liverpool Cham- ber of Commerce: Sim—I am directed by Earl Russell to reply to your lot ter of the 6th ng the destruction by the Confederate bama of Brit ‘operty,, em raed by ‘that to you tha: porty on ol belonging to one of the must be subject to all the 3 and contin ur, so far as the eaptnre of the vessel is con owners of any British property uot contra- band of war on board a federal v 1, captured and de- stroyed by a Confederate ve: wer, may claim, ina Juntederate prize court, compe jon for the destruction Of such property. iv: Tn other words, Earl Russeli recommends that none but British vessels should be em- ployed for British freights, Those freighting federal vessels, he s; must take the risk of the total loss of their property in case of cap. ture; for recourse to a Confederate prize court for compensation is tantamount to this. Although ostensibly intended for the Liver- pool merchants, there is no doubt that his lord- ship’s letter was written for effect at this sile. We trust that our shipowners will not be so silly as to be frightened by such shallow de- vices. If it suits the purpose of British mer- chants to incur the risk of running the block- ade, the exploits of one or two Confederate privateers are surely not sufficient to scare American commerce from its accustomed high- ways Greetey Gowe to Hana tHe Presipent.— Greeley, having at first claimed the Fredericks burg repulse as a “gratifying” victory, is at last compelled by public opinion to acknow- Yedge that somebody is to blame for the useless slaughter of our brave troops at that battle. In yesterday's Tribe the law of the matter Is laid down as follows:—“if any one has done wrong, or proved himself one of those ‘augers that won't bore.’ let him be superseded by all ne? eral commanding who would i lead orsend troops to an assault certain to be | sanguinary. and all but ceriain te prove a fai nre, would be a wholesale murderer, utterly an- Field reds to prove that neither Burnside | fit to live or to. die.” Marshal then pre: } nor I j the F | be inferred 1 nion was responsible for deri¢ Treaster, aud leaves it to | and ¢ sunt to live ov die.” and | worthy ¢ This isthe oid | radical anarel iain. ! cturns tu hia f of depe President and making webody a We know as well as ( floes that the | fight at Fredericksburg a massacre, and we believe that the msible parties should be punished for it, we attack not Pr ent. but the ra < who sie ; round the resident. and = wh satanic in- fluence has been the ruin of the econntry. L them. and not th dent. be “superseded Thea al. Av afternoon y ance of “Bloudette” will be give at Tawra Keene's theatre to-day, Ladies and children wishing to begin (be heliday woek in advance will find , a oxvalient opportunity, The scenery o' ly boantifnl, the machine se will now do very 5 «Bion * ie gore sme better tren’e fairy land can be than ( and other gneh scence in © Plondette ‘ Th ening Mal iida Heron makee her last appearance and takes ber farewell benetit at Niblo’s Garden, ‘The play will be “Faith: or, The Karl's Daughter,’ which i¢ bot three nighte old, and should of jigselt draw a good + Ma ims the Yeading character of peare to oven better advantage her own ‘Belle of the Season 1 atid lly be crowded to-night, a on enjog inany persons were turned from the doors. Revon’s friends eellom remain at home when she takes a heweft, and never when her bene is hose. ‘da Heron y this play p thay in “Cum atso af Mr. Bowery thoate to-n) ty loaned bin the colored stars, Fpl. } and ¥ “Othello” and the “Stranger” (o death, Besides these, a sensation drama, “The Wraith of tho Lake,’ a super. natural deama, “The King, the Devil and the Dese and a splendid pantomime called ‘Harlequin Jack yr wilt bo performed. If Mr, Clarke's andienc orous af the attractions he offers, he will ¢o aynouncee his benefit at the Now ht, Mr. Heary Wood has yenerons. cos of those two twin, twinkling . U. Clarke 3 is as ainly ono cause for dissatiefaction Tue Rene Pinate 290.'—Our naval oMeers to tho Guif are greatly irritated at the doings of the rebel ves ela aflont se of the volunteer and other officers ave ‘ tor the Alweama, Will a give them an opportunity’ The Opera in Philadetphia, Pat.somtrnsa, Dec. 14,1862, | Tho opera of ‘Dinorah’* was produced at tho Academy of Muste to-night with much eat, find Milo. Cordier made or debut undor very flatterivg augpices, ‘The Acndomy LA crowded to its ytmoet @xient by a very fachionabie and enthusiastic aydionge. “Lhe quara will Wave tv be gortainty in involving us in complications with | exmedition sailed; hut thal was to be oxpgeted | rooeates. losanees of human life, in keeping with sh caused the massacre of Fredeticks- Greeley | nuk Brower, who will do | Ge"8TARY OF THA TREASVET BE LATIVE TO THE ra TMENT OF TROOPS, BTC, The Secrotary of tho Tred, Wry, tn answer toa resolution Of the House of Representativ..®, has sent # eommuntos- (tom to Speaker Grow, in which K\* states that ¢he roqulet” tions of the Secrotary of War fer a\eaey for thy; Of troops have always been ot at thefreamu~ ry whee an absolute want of moans did not pepvent. Ho says since the 1st of July leat the sum of $66,565,908 has been paid on such Diaspar drilling and. tae Tho smount of requisitions of this description now in the Troasury Dopartment unpaid ie $28,700,000. These ua- Paid requisitions are about equal to the amount require for pay during one bi-monthly period. 4 portien of theax represent pay whieh fell due befere the of the Iaat bi-m: iod of September aad Ootober, while about cqual utes haya been supplied for pay which bas become due since its commencement, Precise information on these polnta can only be obtained from tho boots of the departmont, When the resources of the ‘Treasury besame landoquate to tho demands :nade ypoy it, the Secretary-0f she Troa- sury communicated the fact to th6 Sere! of Wer and of the Mavy, and requested them’ te designate the particulat requisitions which they regarded ag moat urgent to the amount of about one million of dollane daily, To this extent requisitions are now daily meéty from customs, from internal revenue, from the: proceed Of conversions of tomporary vans, and from now issues of United States notes. These resorrcesy though lurge, are, as Congress bas been already informed, inadequate, No one can feel o deoper tegrag. thaa tho Seoretary that a single American soldier nskae single dollar of his pay, and no offort of his has been wanting to prevent such a condition. It is nob im big power, however, to arrest the accumulation of demands upon the treasury beyond the possibility of @ provision for them under existing legi:tation. Ia bis anaual rer rt he has Iatd vofore Congress the measure which, inte (ginent, will enable him to provide for the ost mated wants of the public gervice. ff, in big {ndgmont, be is fortunate enough (o have their conous reuce he entertains the hope that all grounds of come nb Uroauoe of delays Of payment may be soon ce DISASTER AT FREDERIOKG> NATION OV GENEIAL BURI- The excitement caused by the recent disaster to owe army at Frodericksburg grows deeper and more tntonse almost every hour, Not 2 ra of censure ts hoar& ust Gener: bat it is belicvad Uaat the fait- attributable exclusively to the higher military aut- jeg, and the demand for a change in the military administration is almost universal, It fw» that Mr. Lincoln will throw the mantle of hs houesty over the authors of this tast misfortune, aoe [te it botieved that he participates in tho errors that were committed any further than forbeariag to remove from office thoae who have brought it about. ‘The canses of this aad result are se potent that the most ordinary intelligence cannot fail to perceiyo thom, au@ tu toh astonishment is expressed everywhere, without re- ference to political affinities or partisan proctivitios, that the President does not, without horitation, dit trem his Cabinet and his councils, the Seeretary aud the Geme- ral-in-Chief, under whose administration of army matters there has been only a series of Jamentable diststers, Jt was 6tated last evening, upon very high and reliable: authority, that General Burnzide bas rasiguod the com- 1 of the Army of the Potomac. cretary Seward has determined nut to remain inthe Cabinet unless Messra. Stanton and Hulleck slould be die missed PROPOSED REDUCTION OF THE DUTY ON PAPER. The petition presented to-day by Representative Colfax, was referred to the Committee of Ways and Means, Ie was from numerous editors aul publishers of New York, Buflvo, Troy, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, Portland, Washington, Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Wheeling, Al- bany, Pitisburg, New Haven, Hartford, Providence, Man- chester, Milwaukee , Newark, Muscatine, Peoria, Dubuque, Toiedo, Cleveland, and many other cities, ta favor of the reduction or abvlition of the duty on paper. GEN, M’CLELLAN'’S MOVEMENTS A letter from General McClellan of day before yester_ day, in which he mentions nothing of being ordered te Washington, ig a suficiont refutation of any rauente cow corning the General's presence in this city, or (be pro: babilities of hie coming ag a witness in either the Portee or McDowell courts. THE M'DOWELL COURT OF INQUIRY. In the McDowell Court of Inquiry to day Gen, MeDowel contined the presentation of documentary evidence. It is very voluminous, and consists mainly of letters an@ despatches {rom the President aud Secrotary of War These have been introincet by Gen. McDowell to show that subsequent te the evacuation of Fredericksburg he acted in every instance obedience to orders from high aa" thority. The realingof these documents occupied the today. Gen. Sigel will be a witness to-morrow. now in the city, in obedience to che summona.of the er The journal of (he proceedings of thie court up to this Lime cover some cight hundred foolecap pa. ‘The labors: of the ler, Col. Peloura, have Leen ordvous indeede unaesisted by any shorthand writer ‘The testhuony of General Sigel to-morrow, if be speaks | freely, promises to be of importance THE PORTER COURT MARTIAT. ee The evidence in th we of General John Porter ! ony of General Pope aud » Robertay Hl bas aet the damaging effect cttrl by soma } sinister mmepie in presses uni Hy to thi aconget, on account of bie well known friendshig to Gexeral Meciellan, The letters of rat Porter to, ¢, it peentiarly damazing to either Gone: lam, would live been ere this pre- art by the prosecation, ‘Thus far they presented, exeept in part. When the comes on with testimony, they eit) de produced Geueral MeCicilan’s despatch to Genoral Porter Lot be ves (hie former, at least, of any complicity with the disaster of Genoral Pope, and conusels the sallest ow operation by the Army of the Potomac wilh the Army of | Virginia under Ger Pope. it is a patent fact tho the ariny of General Pope was saved only from atter am- vihilation by a portion of General MeClellan's peninsular HIVISION OF THY RULES AND ARTICLES OF WAR. ‘A board of elticers will meet in Washington. in a short to propose amendments or ehange in the rules ane fe of regulations for the govern- uthorized by the laws wr. ‘The board consists of Francis Liebor, . Diy Maje ls Hiteheock, Cadwalader, and Hardsnd and Brigadier Genera! Martindale PXCHANGE OF CIVILIAN PRISONERS OF WAR. jhe Seeretary of War, in answer to a resolution of it yviey relative to the exchange of sutlere and other civi- Jian prisoners, reports that Gencral fliteheock, Commis. sioner for the exchange of prisoners by the cartel of september 25, 1862, made arrangements for tho exchange sutlers, te sand civilians, in accordance with: which exchanges have been made and othors are on the tor excbange, SPERCWES ON THE FMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION. Ju the House today Mr. Crivfleld, of Maryland, spokes in opposition to the emancipation proclamation, and Mra’ ¢ of wary” ie aries In the fete + Kelley (radien!), of Penn-ytvania, made @ powerft epewch in support of it, Mr. Kelley showed no meroyfte the border States men, who. he said, hold out one "Aang to the government and the other to traitors. YDE WOUNDED IN THE BATTRE AY PREDERICK’ABUNG, it will be gratifying to the friends of eoldiers ‘wounded | in the battle of Fredericksburg to kuow that rypen theie ‘own application they can be veut to the military hospitals in their respective States, or in (hoge adjoining, } Powrat Couwestcation wir THe Grtt.—.A good many oflicers of the Gulf Blockading #quadron W gite is to com- | plain that they are entirely ett off from, communteation with their friends by letter. No atte ation, they say, is paid to this matter, and cometines 1 onths intorvens bee the mailing and the receipt 0% a lotter. The sight Ta newipes er among these Uf ave men, who natursliy take go much interest in militar naval affairs, is-rar@ enough ; but letters, tt appears; never reach them, Ong | of our correspondenia thus ot aciudes his lettor :— Rverything: remains abo wy, ag neuAl now at Pensacola. me Vermont Seventh are about relieving Colonel Wilson'a Zouayes, who will be ee at to New Orleans. They wili be in good hands when Ceneral Buuler has thom under hig fatherly care. The ‘Arooklyn has come up from Mobile, | alao the Poeahon'pe ; they are coaling. Tho Potomre, | Pembina, and &sveral other veeris in commission, ara | lying hore, among which is the Kensington, from Key Woat, with no largest mail which hag arrived for « long | time | Dikonly a (aw atraggling lghgre sano the abipa as yeh |