The New York Herald Newspaper, December 30, 1862, Page 4

“Volume XXVII 4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNSTT, SDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. @QPWE HN. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU BTS. ‘TERMS cash in advance. Money sent by mail will be ef the risk of the sender. None but Bank bills current in New York taken. ‘THE DAILY HERALD, Tanase cents per copy. ‘THE WEEKLY HERALD, every Saturday, at Five ponte ‘per copy. Annual subscription price:— Any larger number, addressed to names of subscribers, @B 5O cach. An extra copy will be sont to every club of ten. Twenty copies, 'to one address, one year, $95, and ‘any larger number at same price. Am extra qopy will be ent to clubs of twenty. These rates make the Waaxir Him the cheapest publication in the country. ‘The Evaorzan Epimion, every Wednesday, at Frvs cents per copy; @4 per annum to any part of Great Britain, ®r 96 fo any part of the Continent, both to include Postage. ‘The Cauronma Enron, on the Ist, llth and 2ist of each month, at Six cents per copy, or $3 per annum. Apvenrexuents, to @ limited number, will be inserted #8 the Waexty Hamat, and in the European and Cali- ‘fornia Editions. VOLUNTARY CORRESPONDENCE, containing import- @nt news, solicited from any quarter of the world; if ‘weed, will be liberally paid fer. sg- Oum Foaman Con- ‘BESTONDENTS ARE PARTICULARLY REQUESTED TO SRAL ALL LET- "EMR AND PACKAGES SENT UB. - NO NOTICE taken of anonymous correspondence. We do not return rejected communications. seeeeeN@, 362 AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. MIBLO’S GARDEN, Broadway.—F aver ano Manovznir®. WALLACE'S THEATRE, Broadway.—Tax Scnoot ron ‘Scanvar. WINTER GARDEN, Brosawar.—Laxus o” Kittannar— ‘Wats Ausass.poR—Fortuse’s Frovic. LAURa KEENE’S THEA‘ Broadway.—Bioxperrs. NEW BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Busa Rancuns— JARLEQUIN Jack SaxrraRv—Prrate Dey. BOWERY. THEATRE, Bow Wvop—Rospgns or tux PYRE: GERMAN OPERA HOUS! Lovksmira. THBATRE FRANCAIS, Niblo's Saloon, Broadway.—La ame AUX CaMBLias. BAKNUM'S AMERICAN MUSEUM, Broadway.—Dnixs- {paca’s Pxnvorwing Bears—Giant GIRL, &¢., at all hours, Coueen Baws—Day and Kveaing. BRYANTS' MINSTRELS’ Mechanics’ Hall, 472 Broad- way.—Erutoriax Sonos. BURLESQUas, Danoxs, &¢.—K aust AND Manaurnite. .—LittLs Rep Riping BS—SCHOOLMASTER. Broadway.—Masox axp WOOD'S MINSTREL HA! Bones, Dancxs, £0.—Dinon. BUCKLEY'S MINSTRE! Stree\.—Eraiorian Bones. 514 Broadway. —Braiorias An Palace of Music, Fourteenth ances, &c.—Lucretia Boraia. BROADWAY MENAGERIE, Broadway.—Living Witp Antuacs. AMERICAN MUSIC HALL, No. 444 Broadway.—Bat- ‘ars, Pantowinxs, BURLKSQUKs, £0. PARISIAN CABINET OF WONDERS. — daily itow UA. M- Guy Pek Broadway HOOLEY'S OPERA HOUSE, Brookiyd.~Reworiax as, Daxcus, BURLESQUES dct New York, Tacsday, De. THE SITUATION. The most stirring as well as the most recent news from the Army of the Potomac is the dash- ing attack of the rebel cavalry and artillery in front of Dumfries on Saturday. The place was held by the Fifth, Seventh and Sixty-sixth Ohio Volunteers, with a section of a battery. Being ‘worsted at this point, after a brief contest, they pushed on to Occoquan, where they met Colonel Candy's command, and had another brush with them. Considerable loss occurred on both sides, and the enemy again made for Anandale, by way of Bull run and Wolf run, and thence towards Vienna, which place they passed through at midnight. Meantime General Geary hastened to intercept them, and came up with them between Dumfries and Wolf run, chasing them southwards. They seized the telegraph office at Burke's Station and burned the bridge at Acotink. The enemy do not appear to have gained anything by this bold raid except a few autler’s wagons and some ambulanees which they picked up on the way. They captured one gun at Dumfries, but were compelled to abandon it. They were reported to be 4,000 strong, but this is probably an over estimate. The map of the vicinity, which we publish to- day, wiil enable our readers to follow the rebels in their sudden and dashing course. We learn by despatches from Chicago yesterday, that the Union fleet which ascended the Missis- sippi from New Orleans had advanced as far as Port Hudson, which place had fallen inte the hands. of our troops, and-that the @cet was then at a point enly twelve miles below Vicksburg. This rumor was current in Memphis, and the Vicksburg Whig of the 18th inst. confirms the story of the advance. It is possible that this rumor may have reference to the expedition sent by General Banks to Baton Rouge, the result of which, in the capture of the latter city, we announced yesterday. Some doubt, however, hangs over the remainder ‘of the story, concerning Port Hudson and Vicksburg. Our latest dates from Baton Rouge are to the 19th instant, one day later than the statement of the Vicksburg paper, ‘and our correspondent makes no mention of an advance beyond that point, although he mentions that the rebels at Port Hm@ison were anticipating ‘an attack, and had fortified it immensely. We give a map of the letality to-day. The retreat of General Grant's forces to the north side of the Tallahatchie is confirmed. The guerilla chief John Morgan is busy with his men in Kentucky. He macy a successful attack on the Union troops at Elizab Mhtown on the 27th, and drove them back from their stockade defence. It was rumored in Louisville that he had captured six hundred of our men, and destroyed a large portion of the Nashville and Louisville Railroad. Mail communication by this line is, therefore, suspended, as, under the circumstances, the com- j pany refuse to carry it. On the authority of the New Orleans Delta of | the 20th we are informed that an expedition, sent up through Grand Lake, Pass Chicot and the Atchafalaya by Com. Buchanan, succeeded in cap- turing two steamers, the Naniope and the South. ern Merchant, endaleunch. The steamers were Joaded with sugar, and the launch with arms, am- | Manition and one small br deserted the boats when earance and took to the wo The expedition ‘was a complete success, aud much damage was inflieted on the onemy. The Navy Department has sufficiently waked up The crews 8 piece. nboat made its ap- ods, . NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1862. to the necessity California on the Guif, and at the suggestion of Senator Latham, has ordered the armed steamer Connecticut to leave Hampton Roads on the let of January next for Aspinwall, to bring to New York all the treasure at that place from “the Pacific coast. The Etna, off Cape Race, telegraphs European news to the 18th inst.—four days later. President Lincoln's message to Congress at the opening of the sessiomhad been received in England, and was commented on by all the leading London journals. The remarks of the writers were, on the whole, favorable, and the impression produced by the state paper may be termed agreeable. The Papers, however, regard the plans proposed for the abolition of slavery by the liberation of the slaves as “impracticable.” The London Herald says that the message was regarded on the Stock Exchange ‘“‘as of # pacific character,” and thus induced “predictions that the hostilities between the North and the South would speedily be brought to an end.” The London Times gives attention to the Presi- dent’s position towards the rights of neutrals, and praises his proposed action with regard to the ad- justment of complaints resulting from war’ inter- ference with them. The London Times aays that the message ‘is a bid for peace.” The emancipation plan the London Times oba- racterizes as ‘‘a dream.” The London Herald, organ of the aristocrats, finds fault with the message in every point. The London News, organ of Exeter Hall, says that the negroes can be liberated by war only, and that journal has ‘‘no faith’ in Mr. Lincoln’s plan for pacific emancipation. The London Globe defends the course of the English government with respect to the Alabama. It is said that Mr. Slidell had another interview with Napoleon, and that M. Drouyn de Lhuys and Count de Persigny are now in favor of the South. The steamer Thistle, from Madeira, lately over- hauled by the Tuscarora, was bound to Nassau. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. The steamship Etna, from Queenstown on the 18th inst., passed Cape Race last Saturday after- noon, on her voyage to New York. Her news is four days later than the advices of the Europa. The Liverpool cotton market raled dull on the 18th inst., and closed with a slight decline in prices—the fall taking place on an advance experi. enced on the 15th and 16th inst. Breadstuffs were firmer. Provisions were looking downward at the latest date. England offers, with the consent of the otheT great Powers, to cede the Ionian islands to Greece. Prince Ferdinand, of Portugal, had declined the candidature for the throne of Greece. It. will. be seen. by our despatches from the steamship Etna that. the telegraph line to Cape Race has been repaired, and is now in working order. The late storm was yery severe in the vicinity of this line. The firm of John N. Cocke & Co., in Porta- mouth, Virginia, having refused to pay their debts .to Northern citizens, on the ground that a law of the Confederate States has released and discharge! them from all obligations to Northern creditors, Gen. Viele has issued a proclamation, informing said firm that their excuse for refusal to pay is a treasonable sham, and that if they do not pay up asufficient amount of their property wil! be seized and sold to discharge the debt. Major General McClernand has received orders relieving him from duty in Illinois, and on Christ” mas morning he left Springfield for Memphis, to take his command, which, we believe, is the Thir- teenth Army Corps. Gen. McClernand was mar- ried at Jacksonville, Illinois, two days previous to his departure, to Miss Minerva Dunlap, a sister of his former wife. General Fremont’s coaches, which he purchased last year atan expense of about $900 each, were sold at auction at St. Louis, on the 19th instant, bringing #250 each. A large quantity of lint and bandages, done up in bundles and packages, and contributed by the people of Massachusetts for army hospital pur- poses, has been sold for paper rags in Dalton Massachusetts, by ‘‘ somebody." Jeff. Davis’ savage proclamation was issued on the 23d inst., and Major General Butler, whom it was intended to annihilate, was relieved from his command on the 15th—just eight days previous. Jeff. wasted his ink and paper. The Board of Aldermen met last evening. By the usual report from the Comptroller it appears that the balance in the hands of the Treasurer on Dec. 27 was $2,320,951. The Comptroller sent in a communication on the adjustment of his accounts for the current year, and asking for the following additional appropriations for the present year:— Balance of interest on volunteers’ family uid Interest om Union Defence fund redemption bonds... 26,867 00 Satarien.. . B00 00 Salaries city 7 —_— The communication from the Central Park Com- missioners, a8 already published, was called up, partly read and laid over. The resolution by Al- derman Froment, to appropriate the sum of $5,000 for the relief of the sick and wounded soldiers from Fredericksburg, was called up and referred to the Committee on National Affairs. The Board then adjourned to meet again to-day at four P. M. In the Board of Councilmen last evening, @ reso- lution was offered to make the New Yorker Demo- | krat a Corporation paper, and laid over. The Board concurred with the Board of Aldermen to increase the salaries of the officers of the Croton Aqueduct Beard, notwithstanding the veto of the | Mayor. The resolution was adopted by a vote of sixteen in the affirmative to six in the negative. The resolution adopted by the Board of Aldermen, expressing sympathy with the relatives of the late | Major William Horgan, of the Irish Brigade, who was killed at the battle of Fredericksburg, was concurred in. The Board concurred with the to defray the expenses incurred by the reception | of the Twelfth regiment New York State Militia on their return from Harper's Ferry, amounting to | $1,545. The resolution to appoint Thaddeus B | Wakeman gnd one hundred and one others com. missioners Of d2ede was taken up, and adopted by a vote of seventeen in the affirmative to three in the negative, notwithstanding the veto of the | Mayor. The Board then adjourned until this even- | ing at four o'clock. Cotton was very firm and in fair request yeaterday, Flour advanced 6c. a 100. per bbI., with sales of 12,000 bbls. ly held. as both were more freely inqaired for, A fair business was transacted in pork and other hog products, at steady figures, while the movements in beef, batter and “heese were limited. There was more inquiry for oils, molasses and Rio coffee, A good demand exietea fur hay, hops and whiskey, Sugars and rice, as well as tobacco, wool and naval stores, were dull, The freight ong ments were very limited ‘The stock market was very strong yesterday on tho railway shares, all of which were higher ad the day was 14 41% per cont. ¢ ed to 193, closing at 132% bid. Exchan 145% 0 146%. Money was worth 6 a6 por cout on oall, | The bank statement show: increase of $368,728 in deposits of $226,471 in spee ud a decrease 0 $208 946 ' in toans. advance On the 16th ef December, the very day on which General Banks, at New Orleans, assumed the command over the Department of the Gulf, he despatched Brigadier General Grover, with a detachment of troops and a supporting gun- boat or two, up the Mississippi to take posses- sion of Baton Rouge, the State capital of Loui- siana, which, since its abandonment last summer by General Butler, had been reoccupied by the rebels. The movement was a complete success. Baton Rouge is reoccupied by the old flag. Of itself this is a small affair; but as indicating the future movements of General Banks it becomes & matter of some considerable importance. Some thirty or forty miles up the river from Baton Rouge isthe new rebel stronghold of Port Hudson, and some fifty miles above this ‘place the Red river comes into the Mississippi from the west. A hundred miles above this confluence is Vicksburg. The rebels, there- fore, now hold possession of the one hun- dred and fifty miles of the Mississippi between Port Hudson and Vicksburg, and a glance at the map will show the great value to them of even this limited foothold upon the “Father of Waters” Across from Vicksburg it gives them the advantages of a railroad into she heagt of Western Louisiana, and within con- H Texas; but. it gives them also the command of the Red river, down which and dowsi the Mississippi to Port. Hindson,-or up the river to Vicksburg, immense supplies of flour, corn, horses, cattle, pork, mutton, wool, sugar, salt and other essential articles are transported from Western Louisiana and from ‘lvxas for the use of the rebel armies east of the Missis- sippi. But by the simple procéss of removing this rebel blockade, and reopening the river to our gunboats between Port Hudson and Vicks- burg, we not only cut off these important army supplies of Western Louisiana and Texas from the rebellion, but we entirely detach the rebels in those States, and of all the others on the west side of the river, from their con- federates on the eastern side. In other words, we cut off Arkansas, Louisiana and the subsistence supplying State of Texas from the main body of the rebellion, as a skilful general, with the opportunity, would cut off a wing of the opposing army in battle. We think, therefore, that we may safely as- sume that the first great enterprise of the Banks expedition will be the reopening of the Mississippi from below, in conjunction with the McClernand and Porter expedition and the army column of General Grant from above, and that the next move of General Banks wi) be a western inland expedition for the reoccu_ pation and reannexation of Texas to the Union, Without some such enterprise in view, the send- ing out with General Banks of General A. J. Hamilton as Military Governor of Texas, with 4 full civil and military staff, would be a ridicu. lous fatce. We dare say that General Hamil- ton—an exile, who ought to know—has satis. fied the administration that a large proportion of the people of Texas are still devoted to the Union, and that their assistance may surely be counted upon with any encouraging attempt on the part of the government for their deliver- ance, In advance of this enterprise, however, the command of the Red river is an important ob- ject to gain; and, as the rebel batteries at Port Hudson lie in the way, we presume they will first be attended to. We have no doubt that the land forces and gunboats at the service of General Banks are fully equal to this task, espe- cially as the critical situation of the rebel com" mander at Vicksburg will render it impossible on his part to send down reinforcements to his confederates at Port Hudson. Thus the’ Banks expedition changes at once the whole aspect of things in the Mississippi valley, and gives to the Union side a preponderance in military strength which will, we hope, in spite of the blundering at Washington, speedily enable Rosecrans, as well as Grant, Sherman, McCler- nand and Admiral Porter, to move success- fully upon the enemy's works from the north, in conjunction with the advance of General Banks from the south. With the capture of Port Hudson and Vicks- burg, Admiral Porter, with his gunboats, will keep the river open from Cairo to New Oricans, while General Banks is finishing up the rebellion ja Western Louisiana and Texas, and Rosecrans, Grant, Sherman and MeClernand are gleaning up the fragments of the rebel armies between Nashville and Mobile. With the headquarters of the Banks expedition established at New Or- leans, we may expect soon to hear the good Board of Aldermen in the adoption of a resolution | ‘Wheat was also rather higher, and corn was stiff. | tidings of some deeisive Union operations in the Southwest. A Prussian Repes Orricen on THE PEty- sua CampatGy.—The fetter from a Preissian officer in the rebel army fo the Cologne Gazette, whieh we translated from that journal and pub. lished in the Heratp a few days ago, seems to have attracted general and deserved attention, Our readers witl remember that the letter re- viewed the entire peninsular campaign, praised McClellan for his unrivalled generalship, de- monstrated that Richmond would have fallen had McDowell advanced, and proved that General McClellan and his brave army were sacrificed to the jealousy, imbecility and politi- cal intrigues of the mauagers of our War De, partment. Apparently indignant that a rebel officer should so far excel them in truthfulness and impartiality as to do justice to McClellan, the negro-worshipping journals have raised a great outcry about this letter, and some go 50 far as to deny its authenticity. One paper in particular attempts to argue that the letter was written here by some friend of General Mc- Clellan, and, in support of this argument, ad. duces the fact that the writer makes certain | trivial mistakes about the date of occurrences within the Union lines, the presence of General Halleck at Washington, &c. Now, these mis- takes could never have been made by a friend of McClellan here, and are just such errors as a rebel officer, hearing of occurrences at Wash. ington only through camp rumors, would be very likely to fall into whon writing about our affairs. and accurately translated the document from of the 26th, 26th and 27th of November, and that those who choose may obtain copies of the The average | Gazette and compare the original with our trans- jation. Weare certain that nothing will be found altered or interpolated; and, as an ear- | nest of what our critics have to expect if they | | follow the matter up, we add, in the original | was duil at | words, one of those passages which the nigger- | worshippers have found most difficult to di- gest:—“ Durch den Leichtsinn des General \ MeDowell, durch das niedertraechtige Beneh- As to the authenticity of the letter, | however, it is sufficient to say that we carefully | | copies ofthe Cologne Gazette ( Koelnische Zeitung) | Gruende des in Washington sitz- enden Hoechst Commandirendea Halleck war er 80 gut wie der Vernichtung Preis gegeben.” That will do for to-day. ‘The Messe, in England and France Suffering trom the American Rebel- lem. ‘ The people of have felt the effects of the struggle on in this country most deeply. Thousands upon thousands of the English operatives are at present subsisting upon the meagre pittanee Which the govern- ment and private sources affyrd them. In houses devold of furniture, bare aa cold, they await, half famished, that work shallbe pro- vided for them. Suffering, starved, almog dy- ing from want and hunger, those operatives utter no reproach against the government of the United States; they do not demand of their own government that it should interpose in our quarrel; and we verily believe we are stating the truth when we assert that this feeling, so common among the masses of the English people, exerta a direct influence upon the policy of the English government, and prevents any active interference on their part in our affairs. We know these things, and hence we feel a deep. sympe- thy for the people of England, which sympathy we are proving by deeds as well aswords. For the aristocracy and government of Great Britain we feel that contempt which their treacherous conduct towards us merits; for the people we are inspired with sympathy and pity. In Eng- land the absolute wants of the people will be met by the relief subscriptions of the wealthy classes, because those classes are aware that, as an act of self-preservation, they must aid the people. Large fortunes are common in Eng- land, and immense sums may readily be col” lected in an hour of peril to the continued power of those who possess those fortunes. In France the people cannot look to private sources fer any considerable aid. France ha’ no wealthy aristocracy to feed the starving people. The burthen falls upon the government, and, as we all know, at the present period the ex" chequer of France is very low. While providing relief for the English we have shown a disinclina- tion to act in # like charitable manner towards the French people; and yet butafew months ago we considered the French our friends. We were wont to recall with gratitude the fact that from France we received aid in our hour of need; and upon these occasions when we cele~ brated our Union and independence a toast for France was ever to be heard. Why, then, have we shown no inclination to aid the starving operatives of Lyons, St. Etienne, Rouen and other manufacturing cities in France? Because the ruler of France has seen fit to favor our re- volted States; because at his Court rebel com- missioners are received with favor, and because he intends, as his actions prove, to mediate in favor of the South, to lend her assistance in her rebellious efforts—in fact, to aid her in dissolv- jpg our glorious Union. We are not by any méans assured of the sym- pathy of the working classes in France. We know that for nearly two years the secession organs in that empire, strenuously aided by the semi-official and the official organs of the French government, have heaped abuse and vile misrepresentation upon the North, which abuse has been unanswered, and has thus certainly had an effect against us most injurious and unfair. We are aware that the people of France are taught to look upon us as the cause of their sufferings, and that they be- lieve these misrepresentations, and are no friends or well wishers of ours. Thus we feel but little sympathy for them. This is not real charity, if you will, but it is downright human nature. We know that the people of England sympathize with us and properly judge our quarrel, and hence we pity their destitute con_ dition and will send them food. It were a hard matter to collect any great amount in the North for the purpose ef aiding France, whom we in- stinctively feel to be our enemy—certainly ae long as she is ruled by Napoleon III., whose schemes for conquest on this continent are con- ceived in an ininfical spirit towards this nation: | and in defiance of our influence, power and ex- | pressed will. As we said above, upon the French govern- ment alone falls the burthen of providing for the wants of the starving operatives in that country. Private subscriptions to a limited | extent will doubtless come to the aid of Na- poleon’s almost exhausted resources; but the sums raised will be but as a drop in the ocean, and will not for s moment silence the clamors of the starving working people. Driven by these clreumstances to find reliet at any price for the sorely pressed masses, Napoleon will, we fear, recognize Davis and his usurped gov- ernmieat. By s0 doing be would procure cot- tofi wt once; and cotton or money Napdleon must have. He might try to raise a war loan but that plan would not succeed, unless the campaign were to be directed aguinst England: and at this time Napoleon is induced by a powerful reason from attacking England. We refer to his dread that we might form ap alli- ance with Great Britain, if only from the fact that she has refused to aot with him in the mediation proposal, and thus prevented his policy—so inimical to us—from succeeding. We hear that Napoleon is endeavoring to overthrow the Palmerston Cabinet, and that he is leagued with the tories, whom he hopes to see in power ere many weeks. The said tories are pledged to act in concert with France upon the American question the moment they suc- ceed in their designs. This intrigue may cause the French Emperor to defer the recognition of the Davis government for a short period, in case he can procure the means to feed his starving subjects; but it will be a short respite, as his plans for the conquest and occupation of Mexico require immediate action. Of course | Napoleon would immensely prefer to act in the recognition of the South jointly with England, and for that purpose he will await the success or non-success of the tories; but he will not | wait long; the wants of his people will not brook delay. He must procure labor for them and to give them employment he must have | cotton and open the ports of the South. Besides which he must know that, once in power, the | tories would likely be afraid to act in concert | | with him against our government, as the Eng- | | lish people would be averse to such a mea- | sure; and Napoleon is,well aware how easily | the tories make promises and how easily they break them. In the meanwhile his “reserves” | are en route for Martinique, while two more heavily plated and armed war vessels are sail. ing to the Gulf of Mexico—not as a menace against the North, say the Emperor's organs, but merely to be “about in case of need.” In | fleet in our waters and a large army near at we expect our administration will ‘likewise have Monitors and troops “about in case. of need.” —___. ‘ Ssonzrany WeLLEs anp ras ALsBAMs.—It appears, from a telegraphic despatch which we Pl in another column, that, at the instance of Senator Latham, of California, Secretary Welles has consented that the war steamer Con- necticut shall start from Hampton Roads on the Ist of January to convey the California treasure from Aspinwall to New York left be- hind by the Ariel from fear of capture on her return trip, and, we presume, at the same time to afford protection to the passenger and freight Steamships in the California trade, and to have ® bright lookout for the modera Paul Jones, who has vecome the terror of the seas. Thus it seems that the Rip Van Winkle of the Navy Department is only waked up at last from his lethargy to & sense of his duty by the re- monstrances of Setetor Latham. He never would have thought of % but for the“California Senator. The Conneotiout was on bend before. Why was she not sent long since to do this service? We publish a letter to-day from ithe veteran seaman, Captain Palmer, who shows || that he called the attention of Secretary Welles to the danger of the California steamers 80 long ago as October last. The Hxritp frequently jogged the memory of the Secretary on the same subject; but all tono purpose. We also con- stantly kept him posted about the whereabouts of the Alabama in vain. It was only on Thursday last we published ‘a telegraphic de- spatch from Washington to the effect that Secretary Welles had no knowlédge of the movements of the rebel steamer, when a day or two before we had published full accounts of her presence at Martinique. . Instead of sending the Vanderbilt away on a wild goose chase after Semmes to Europe, why was she not sent out in company with the Ariel to the Gulf? It was not till we had again and again adverted to the folly of having such fine fast steamers as the Rhode Island and the Connecticut turned into beef boats for the troops that the Secretary of the Navy saw the necessity of arming them as war ves- sels. Why were they not put on the Alaba- ma’s track long since? Well might Semmes, with a craft of such speed as he commands, laugh at any attempt of the San Jacinto to cap- ture him. In yesterday’s Hxratp we published anaccount of the Oreto running the blockade from Mobile; and she is only one of a fleet of freebooters let loose upon the ocean to make depredations upon our commerce. The conse- quence is that yesterday the underwriters here doubled the war risk on insurances of Ameri- can vessels, increasing it from two and a half to five per cent. Thus the carrying trade is taken away from our shipping, to be transferred to English bottoms, and our commerce cut up on the great highway of nations, to say nothing sof the insults to our flag all over the Atlantic and the Gulf. At every important point fast and powerful war steamers ought to be sta- tioned, so as to scour the ocean and capture the enemy’s privateers, or drive them, ‘like the Sumter and Nashville, into some port from which they cannot emerge. Tae War is Mextco—Finw anp Derermmvep Arrrupe or Its Goverxment.—In another column will be found a manifesto from the Mexican Congreas, which will be read with the deepest interest and gratification by all the well wishers of that unfortunate people. For the first time in the last thirty years it affords evidence of the most perfect union of sentiment and patriotic devotion amongst all ranks and classes of its citizens. Its tone is earnest, dig nified and decided, free from the turgidity and boastfulness that but too often distinguish Spanish-American documents of the same cha- racter, and calculated not only to stir to its profoundest depths whatever of patriotism is left in the national heart, but to make a most favorable impression abroad. Avoiding all discussion of the designs with which France first invaded the Mexican soil, and the exposure of which at once led to the with- drawal of England and Spain from the expedi_ tion, it takes up the point on which the French were subsequently compelled to rely—that the war was not undertaken against the Mexi. can nation, but against a single man—President Juarez. It protests against the inauguration of such -a principle in the dealings of one ‘government with another, asks by what right it is ‘required of the Mexican people to dismiss from office » President coustl- tuttonally elected, and expresses their frm de- termination to msintain him in his present posi- tion until the close of his term, and mever to accept nor permit foreign interference or dicta- tion in their affairs. This is language befitting a free and united people; for such, from all the indications that reach us, we may now assume the Mexicans to be. It fully bears out the view taken by that noble minded statesman and soldier, fhe Comte de Reuss, when he refused to be a party to the political fraud contemplated by lranoe, in con- currence, as it now appears, with Austria, to force the Archduke Maximilian upon them as king by means of a fictitious election controlled by French bayonets. And now when, under an equally dishonest pretext—that of the per- sonal enmity of Juarez to the Emperor—it is sought to carry out the other objects of France, the Mexican Congress boldly and unqualifiedly gives the lie to it, and declares that it will carry on the war to the last extremity sooner than yield up to foreign dictation the ruler of its choice. We can judge of the effect of these de- elarations in Europe by that produced by the explanations of General Prim in the Cortes and elsewhere. They will serve to render the Mexican war more unpopular than ever with the Freneh, and will raise a storm that it will be difficult to resist against the expenditures which the large reinforcements necessary to carry it through will involve. The timely pre- parations made by our own government to defeat the schemes that Louis Napoleon is said to have in contemplation, will still further open the eyes of the French people to the risks and dangers of | these ambitious projects of their Emperor. If their only object be, as is pretended by so: 1 to relieve the pressure of the distress w | threatens him with revolution at home, it would | be far choaper—using Mr. Cobden’s sugges- tion—to feed the starving operatives of France on turtle and champagse than to porsevere in euterprises the cost and consequences of which are beyond human ken. this manner Napoleon will have an immense | Tus Masx or Comvs on ram Facu or Mans. —@ tes te is a characteristic of Americans as of Frenel- men that they make war in # good humor, aad readily combine fun with fighting. The French theatre in the camp before Sebastopol has be- climbing greasy poles and chasing Next we have the programme of aminstrel troupe which performed on board the frigate Wabash on the anniversary of the battle of Port Royal. Finally, there is the programme of @ Thanksgiving fete and festival at Fork Pulas ki. The value of these entertainments, in giving relief to the monotony of life in camp and om board ship, cannot be overestimated. Properly supervised and conducted, they make the mem shell. Wust.—We re- ceived yesterday an official notification from January no mails would be sent over the Louls- Ville‘and Nashville Rejlread, as ‘the railzead Company had refused the terms offered: by the government. At the same time we received a despatch from Louisville, which, if Postniaster Blair had read it, would have relieved him of all trouble of his notification; for it informed us that Morgan’s guerillas had tora up and de atroyed the Louisville and Nashville: Railroad track, and that the injury cannot be repsired in Jess than thirty days. Now let Secretary Blair ake a walk over to the War Department te- morrow morning and ask Secretary Stanton if some way cannot be. devised to repress these guerillas and protect the Western railroads. By and by, when the government takes better care ef the property of the railroad companies, the companies may be more willing to carry the government mails. Amusements. Mr. Whitney, who has just returned froma profes- sional tour through Engiand, will give am entertainmem, this evening, at Irving Hall, in aid of the Pennsylvania Association for the frelief of sick and wounded soldiers. ‘The entertainment consists of personations of distinguish, ed orators, such as Clay, Webster, Calhoun, O’Connell and BShiel, with readings from their best orations. The London ‘Times praises Mr. Whitney very highly, and Chas. Dickea® says that he ‘‘is @ Proteus for shapes, a Roscius for g tongue.” If Mr. Whitney’s performances equal te these eulogies he will be well worth seeing. If mot, the charitable object to which the proceeds of the afiair are to be devoted will at least justify a large atvendaace. A quartette of musicians and vocaliste—two ladies and two gentlemen—called the ‘‘Forrest Vocalists,” will give @ concert at Dodworth’s Hall, 806 Broadway, this evea- ing. These vocalists have the misfortune'to be blind; but nature has recompensed them for the loss of sight by givitig them most pleasing voices and fine musicat talente. ‘They have been very successful in Brooklyn, amd will be 0, we trust, in this city. The announcement that Mr, Barnoy’Williams would ap- pear at the Winter Garden last evening as Sir Patrick O’Pienipo, in “The Irish Ambassador,’ created just the sensation we predicted. The house was crowdel in évery part, and numbers were turned from the doors. audience was unusually brilliant, and included distinguished military and foroign journing in this city. Unfortunately, % ‘appearance of Mr. Williams in the character of tleman was ubaveidably postpoued. o-vten was entrusted the part of Lady Emily, was fault of Mee’ Willams, tho: cudtsose was: greatly daap- It ir. wi peinted. “Born to Good Luck” was substituted, ?) Berprodecea to-night, with Mrs. Gkorret a be to-night, re. ; : ‘otios now faly of the ia aed nt THE NAVY. The Last of Our African Squadron. . Sanatooa—sixteon fashioned sailing corvette, which has been showing the American flag at the isolated barbers on the African station, has returned. Wehave ™ | now no fleet in that part of the world, and slave dealers Ton was kept on the station: — Vessels... and men 300 300 - + 300 2 200 6 300 2 100 & 100 & 50 i at 1,650 co j ‘The treaty with Great Britain only rendered it neces, ] sary to keep about fifty guns on the const. Recentiy Bi tiah cruisers have boon somowhat extonsively withdrawa. | Tuo biockade of our home ports renders an African squad fon practically of little account. ‘Tho Saratoga sailed (rom the Delaware Breakwater om) the 18th of: November, 1861, under (then) Alfred Taylor, for the West Coant of Afrion. after 3 x =< lit in the North Atlantic Ocease aad among the for privateers. In ebeying these orders tho Saratoga touched at Lisbon on the way home. While there she re. eoived orders to proceed at once to the United States. She left Lisbon on the 17th of November, 1862, and reaches Jeo. Surgeon—William D. aurrison Secretary to Commodore—W iltiam Rar Macaulay. ‘Paymaster's Clerk—Beajamiu R. Shekel. Martasa—two gune—new steam propeller—having bem purchased by the Navy Department, was yesterday turae® over to the authorities of the Brooklyn Navy Yardty ber owner. She is a small craft, about two hundred timp burden, and is intended for conversion into a gunboat. Hiir price is $23,50u. She will be immediately taken in ham@s and prepared for battery commensurate with hee etal and strength, It will, of course, take some time to Mii her ft for detive duty, is French Fra 1 Benevolent Seciet yy ‘This strictly benevolent and fratorau! association belie its twelfth annual celeb: ation last evening in the coma djous rooms No. 666 Broadway. One of the primary rule® Of this society is to set politics entirely aside and te celebrate its annual Jy @ social manner. tt fine supper, ‘a large or ‘of quosts assisted. Wine and wit flowed copiously, and all went as merry a8 a marriage bell. The following toasts were proposed and drank with enthusiasm :—~ France. the Fraternal Union and its Founders, Press. Ladies. Pre-ident of the Fraternal Union. loaats wore soverally reaponded to by the gentio ed in the programme, mathe following gettiemen are the principal officers of the / society ¥ the Leder t% tn Surin, President; M ‘The oh) adjournes to the ballecom pepe 7 company About ten o'clock, whero dancing was kept up with: . Ab midnight a or kind of jot was offered to the yhomn drow @ few protty prises. Dancing