The New York Herald Newspaper, December 31, 1862, Page 4

a NEW YORK HERALD. OFFICE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. ‘TERMS cash in advance. Money sent by mail will be at the risk of the sender. Now York taken. THE DAILY HERALD, Turxs cents per copy. THE WEEKLY HERALD, every Saturday, at Five cents per copy. Annual subscription price: — Nove but Bank bills current in Any larger number, addressed to names of subscribers, ‘$2 GO each. An extra copy will be sent to overy club of ten, Twenty copies, to one address, one year, $25, and ‘any larger number at same price. a extra copy will be sent to clubs of twenty, These rates make the WERKLY ‘Himnath the cheapest publication in the country. The Rcrorgas Epimon, every Wednesday, at Five cents per copy; @& per annum to any part of Great Britain, or $6 to any part of the Continent, both to include Postage. . * The Cauronna Epmow, on the Ist, 1th and 2ist of @ach month, at Sux cents per copy, or $3 per annum. AbveaTiskMEnTsy-tO @ limited number, will be inserted qm the Weextr Herarp, and in the European and Cali- fornia Editions, Volume XXVIl..ccsescccsess ere He, 363 AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. NIBLO’S GARDEN, Broadway.—Favst xp Man mWALLAOR'S THEATRE, Broadway.—C: ARRLAGK. WINTER GARDEN, Broadway.—Laxss or Kritauier— AGIC JOKE—FORTUAR’S FROLIC. LAURA KEENE’ THEATRE, Broadway.—Bionprres. NEW BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Rvcaxex0— Kocxa—Iiivsrmious Sreascke.” BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Lirriz Rev Rivixa BH cop—Rossexs OF THE ’YRENKES—SCHOOLMASTER. BARNUM’S AMERICAN MUSEUM, Broadway.—Darzs. Racu’s PeRrouMING BeaRs—GtanT Gi at all hours, Coutzes Bawn—Day and evening, ont AO" 86 Alt BRYANTS’ MINSTRELS’ Mechanics’ Hall, 472 Broad. way.—Brmiorian SonGs. BURLESQUEs, Daxcus, £0.—F acer and Mangurnire. ‘ WOOD'S MINSTREL BALL, Bencs, Dances, 20.—Dinonan. 514 Broadway.—Ermiorian BUCKLEY'S MINSTRELS, Palace of Music. Fourteenth street.—Eruroriax Soxcs, Danoxs, &c.—Lucuatia Bowata, BROADWAY MENA‘ i. e Pg GERIE, Broadway.—@ving Witp AMERICAN MUSIC HALL, No. 444 Broadway.—Ba- uuts, Pantomimas, BURLESQUES, 4c, Peter PARISIAN CABINET OF WONDERS. 663 Bi — Open daily from 10 A. M. till 10 P.M aw HOOLEY'S OPERA HOU! Brooklyn.-Eraort Sones, Dances, Buruesaces = i jew York, Wednesday, December 31, 1868 THE SITUATION, Intelligence from Alexandria states that Stuart’s rebel cavalry force, with artillery, were encamped twelve miles from that city, not far from Burke's Station, on the line of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad on Monday. No movements had taken place in the army. By the arrival of the Star of the South from Hilton Head yesterday, we learn that another ves- sel of General Banks’ expedition, the Merrimac, with fifteen hundred men on board, put into Port Royal disabled on the 22d inst. After being re- fitted she left in a few days for her destination. General Curtis forwards an official despatch from St. Louis annoancing the victory of our troops, under Generals Herron and Blunt; at Van Buren, Arkansas, the main facts of which we gave yesterday. Our correspondence from that region to-day will be found full of interest. The only news from Kentucky is that on the morning of the 29th Colonel Harlan attacked the rebel Morgan at Rolling Fork, and after a fight of an hour and a half the rebels retreated with severe Joss. Another fight was reported at New Haven yes- terday morning, in which the rebels werejalso re- pulsed. General Rosecans advanced towards Murfrees- boro, day before yesterday, and captured some cannon on his way. The indications yesterday were that an engagement was going on in that vicinity. No new enterprise is reported of the rebel pirate Alabama since her capture of the steamship Ariel, but she is evidently on the track of the California steamers, for she was seen on the 15th instant, by the schooner Julie; on the regular route of these vessels. The Ocean Queen and America left here on the 11th instant, and the Champion on the 224. The Alabama was no doubt lying in wait for them, and may have cap- tured some of them ere this, as their commanders were ignorant of the fate which befel the Ariel, ‘and most probably proceeded unsuspectingly into the toils of the pirate. In another column we publish @ collection of late Southern news from the Richmond Dispatch of the 24th instant. The leading article is a face- tious one on the recent Union reverse, in which the skill of General Lee is extolled. Another edi- torial article in the same sheet is upon national retribution. The writer, evidently foregoing all hope of English intervention in the present war, predicts that one day “‘ England will add another mame to the list of fallen empires. The North meed not expect the universal law of retribution, which has visited every nation that disregarded the rights and destroyed the peace of gthers,’”’ to except herself. One hundred and eighty Union prisoners, cap- tured at Domfrics, Virginia. by the rebel troops ‘ander General Worle Hampton, arrived at Rich- mond on the 23d instant. They were incarcerated én the Libby prison. A special despatch tothe Chattanooga Rebel, dated Tuscumbia, December 23, says “ that at the recent fight near Lexington, Tennessee, the rebels captured four hundred prisoners, four hun- dred carbines, two hundred horses, several hun" dred saddles, and a considerable amount of com. missary stores.” In Richmond gold was aeliing at $1 90 to $2 25 premium; silver at $1 60 to $2. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. A few days prior to the sailing of the brig Tal- Juiah from Rio de Javeiro, the English and Ameri- can Ministers bad a private dispute at a card par- ty. It is said that some hard words passed be- tween them, and the English Minister hinted that he would challenge his American associate. The American Miniater (mmodinte\y turned the tables | by sending # challenge hiruse!f, The Englishman, fs soon as he received the chelle went on Doard of the British stovethly fav protection, aud remained on board up to the time of sailing of the Tallulah. The American Minister (Mr. Webb) ia not to be sneezed at means. ‘The doubtful of the weather all day yesterday terminated towards evening in 8 slight rain storm, which changed to a fall of snow about | ten o'clock in the evening. The white particles | came down go soft and transient that they left no solid traces behind, disappearing almost as soon aa they touched the earth. The weather’ was very unsettled up to an early hour thia morning. ‘The Union Democratic Association held a meet- ing last evening, at their rooms in Broadway, which wa8 addressed by Messrs. Cozans and Brooks. The emancipation proclamation of the } | President was strongly denounced, and the senti- ments of the speakers were received with hearty approval by the large audience. A series of re- solutions, requesting the Governor of New Jersey to take steps for the holding of a national con- vention at Louisville, Ky.,in February, for the Purpose of arresting the war, were adopted. A report of ‘the proceedings will be found in another column, The last meeting of the Board of Education for the year was held last evening, for the purpose of balancing up the accounts and placing everything in readiness for the new board at the commence- ment of the new year. The report of Mr. Boose, the Clerk and Treasurer of the Board, presents quite a contrast to the financial operations of many branches of our city government. It appears that his accounts are not only correct, but also present a large reduction of expenditures in the supply department. Six years ago, when he assumed the management of the finances, upwards of one hun- dred thousand dollars were annually expended in furnishing supplies to the several schools of the city, whilst now, with an increase of thirty thou- sand who receive instruction in the public schools, the expenses of that department are less than eighty thousand, making a reduction of about twenty-five thousand dollars per year—e result which, we believe, no other department of the city government presents. The Board of Supervisors met at three o’clock yesterday, Supervisor Tweed in the chair. A com- munication was read from A. Oakey Hall, Esq., District Attorney, informing the Board that a va~ cancy substantially existed in the place of inter- preter in the Court of Genera! Sessions, in conse- quence of the compulsory absence of Mr. Kazin- sky, under allegations which Mr. Hall says, even if false, will very materially hamper confidence in a court interpreter. While Mr. Kazinsky had given great satisfaction in the office, yet the District At- torney would ask the Board to appoint a manin his place, for the reason above assigned. The Chairman remarked that he did not think the black republicans should send a man to Fort Lafayette, and then declare his place vacant. The communi- cation was referred to the Committee on Criminal Courts and Police. A communication was read from the Mayor, submitting the names of thirty individtals whom he recommended to be appoint- ed as marshals, in accordance with the act of the Legislature in relation to the courts in the city and county of New York. After some discussion, the names were unanimously rejected by the Board, and after the transaction of some routine business an adjournment was had to Tuesday next. The Board of Aldermen met yesterday at four o'clock, the President, John T. Henry, Eeq., inthe chair. There being no papers before the Board, they took a brief recess. On reassembling, Al- derman Boole called for the papers from the Coun- cilmen. On the Mayor's veto to the list of com- missioners of deeds being read, Alderman Boole moyed that the appointments be affirmed, notwith” standing the veto of the Mayor. The Boaréthen adhered to their former action, by a vote of four- teen to one. Adjourned to one o'clock this day (Wednesday). n An adjourned meeting of the Board of Council- men was held last evening. The business trans- acted was small in amount and mostly of a rov. tine nature. The nomination of Mr. C. W. Ridley as Assistant Engineer of the Fire Department, for the Harlem district, was confirmed. Resolutions of condolence with the family of the late Adjutant Charles Laty, of the Fifty-second regiment New York Volunteers, who was killed at the battle of Fredericksburg, were adopted, and the Board ad- journed until this evening at four o'clock. The Senatorial committee appointed to investi- gate into all matters relating to the furnishing the means of transportation for General Banks’ expe- dition continued their labors at the St. Nicholas Hotel yesterday. Commodore Vanderbilt and se- veral other gentlemen have already been before the committee; but, as the proceedings are con- ducted with closed doors, the nature of the testi- mony cannot be made public, and our readers will probably have to wait for further information on the subject until the committee lay their repert before the Senate at Washington. The United States Marshal received from Presi- dent Lincoln yesterday an order for the commu- tation of the sentence of death passed on Ferdi- nand Demanchi, convicted of the murder of Frank Vincent on board the ship Blondel, and sentenced to be hanged in February next. The petition for @ commutation of the sentence was signed by the jury, Judge Shipman (who tried the case) and the District Attorney. The President orders the culprit to fifteen years* hard labor in the State Prison. The market for beef cattle has ruled dull and heavy, owing to the unfavorable weather and the enormous supplies of poultry and game. The range of prices isthe samefthough there is an average decline of half a cent, owing to the large preponderance of inferior cattle. Prices varied from 5c. a 8%c. a 9Y%c., and 10e. a lle. for ex. tras. Some of the poorest were left over. Milch cows were quiet and unchanged. Veals were steady at dc. a 6c. a6%4c. Sheep and lambs were scarce and active atan advance of 250. a 50c. per head. Swine were in enormous supply and half a cent lower. Corn fed sold at 4c. a 45{c., and still fed at 3%4c. a 4c. The total receipts of swine for the year are enormous—more than doubling those of last year. This is a striking commentary on the packing business of this city. | The week's receipts are:—4,809 beef cattle, 120 cows, 392 veals, 4,957 sheep and lambs, and 61,165 swine. The year's receipts are:—236,375 beef cattle, 5,217 cows, 30,272 veals, 476,362 sheep and lambs, and 1,111,057 swine, The City Inspector's report states that there were 368 deaths in the city during the past week— a decrease of 38 as compared with the mortality of the week previous, and 9 more than occurred | during the corresponding week last year. The re- capitulation table gives 4 deaths of alcoholism, 4 of diseases of the bones, joints, &c.; 62 of the brain and nerves, 6 of the generative organs, 22 of the heart and blood vessels, 152 of the lungs, throat, &c.; 4 of old age, 18 of diseases of the skin and eruptive } fevers, 4 premature births, 34 of diseases of the stomach, bowels and other digestive organs; 29 of | uncertain seat and general fevers, 5 of diseases ! of the urinary organs, and 20 from violent causes. There were 224 natives of the United States, 10 of England, 88 of Ireland, 26 of Germany, and the ice of various foreign countries. stock market was again active and excited yeater. day, and the leading speculative shares were all }; a 13 yer cent higher Governments were unchanged. Money was worth 6 & 6 per cent on call, Exchange was dull a’ 146 8. Geld fluctuated between 1324 and 183, closing at 135. Cotton was leas active yestervay, but quoted quite firm. A fair business was transacted in breadstuffe, ay firmer prices for four, wheat, oats and barley, and rather Jower rates for corn, Sugars were in more d and slightly higher, Pork advanced 12%¢. per barrel, with | egeed inactry. Lard, bacon, New Orleans molasses and haet India rice were freely purchased, ‘Limited sales oy hemp, tom, metals, oils, lobacen, wool, fruit, fist ‘There wor evnsiderable activity eit warket was very dull, ere reported Be War and the Admintstration—What , fre They About in Washington? What of the war? A comparative calm again prevails; but it is only one of those intermit- tent pauses im the storm which precede another violent commotion athong the elements. East and West the opposing forces involved in this tremendous struggle are at too many points drawn up face to face to suppose that they can continue more than a few days longer idly watching each other. True, the policy of the rebels is delay, or a “masterly isactivity,” in the hope of European intervention, on of great advantagés to them from discords and divisions in the loyal North. But, while delay is thus manifestly the policy of the rebellion, this same delay warns us, if we longer persist in it, of the inevitable destruction of the Union, with all the disastrous consequences of universal anarchy. With its active armed land forces in the field, amounting to eight hundred thousand men, and with a navy—salt and fresh water—which we estimate as equal to a land force of half a mil- lion of men, the government has the forces in hand competent to put down this rebellion within sixty days. We think, too, that the administration is at length impressed with the idea, to some extent, that, great as are the military forces, resources, appliances and facilities of all kinds possessed by the loyal States, and strong as is their dévo- tion to the Union, we must use all-these ad- vantages now in the achievement of some great results, or our cause is lost. If President Lincoln could only fully realize the important fact that all our great military failures from the begin ning may be traced to the blundering and intriguing managers of the war at Washington, we might reasonably expect, from a complete reorganization of things at headquarters, a speedy suppression of the last ragged regiments of this rebellion. To secure a reconstruction of the Cabinet, and anew and practical war programme, as the gre@€ essentials to military success, this journal has earnestly labored, and especially since the late effort of the abolition disorgan- izers to supplant the present able and satisfac- tory Secretary of State as the responsible party for the latest disaster to our army in Virginia. We hold that to the abolition faction and its malign influences in the councils of the Cabinet and in the management of the war may justly be charged this disaster, and all the others suffered by our armies in Virginia, back to and including our first and most shameful defeat at Bull rum. That battle at three o’clock in the afternoon was a Union victory, which was changed tea defeat by the arrival at the critical moment of five thousand fresh troops to the rebels. There were no reinforcements for General McDowell, although there were forty thousand Union soldiers in the background, scattered along from Washington up the She- nandoah valley. In the same blundering way, the next suc- ceeding summer, fifty or sixty thousand men were sent off on a wild goose chase up the She- nandoah valley, when, if one-half of them had been seasonably thrown forward into the army of General McClellan, he would have celebrated the last Fourth of July in the rebel capital. In the same blundering way Gen. McClellan and his army were recalled from a strong position and a sure base of operation within twenty-five miles of Richmond, while General Pope was sent forward inland, with some forty thousand troops, to hold at bay the rebel army advancing upon Washington of at least one hundred and fifty thousand men. By the same blundering management at Washington twelve thousand men, sixty pieces of artillery and a corresponding amount of ammunition and other warlike stores were turned over to the enemy at Harper’s Ferry while General McClellan was advancing upon the main rebel army at Antictam. And so on to Fredericksburg, where, from the crimi- nal delay at Washington in sending forward his pontoon trains to General Burnside, the rebels were given sufficient time to prepare their terrible lines of defensive works, which, with the loss of ten thousand men, our gallant army essayed in vain to carry. In other quarters our land and naval forces have gained important victories, and the greater the distance from Washington the greater have been their successes. The conclusion is inevi- table, from these facts alone, that our repeated defeats and failures within the immediate circle of the controlling influences at Washington are due to those’mischievous influences, and to the stupidity of the grand schemes and combina- tions of the War Office, and to the general negligence, confusion, looseness and want of system there prevailing. These things we would impress upon the mind of President Lincoln. We would also admonish him that the country is dissatisfied with the existing discordant Cabi- net and incompetent management of the War and Navy departments at Washington, and that nothing short of an active amd successful winter campaign will meet the just demands and expectations of the country. The people of the loyal States are becoming impatient under a military requisition of three millions of dollars a day, They are inquiring, while “all is quiet on the Rappahannock,” What are they about at Washington? We under- stand that the inevitable nigger, who has been the absorbing question and our greatest em- barrassxuent there from the beginning of the war, still continues to rule the roast, and that General Burnside is most probably standing still to await the experiment of the expected emancipation proclamation of New Year's Day. As the last card of the abolition Jacobins, the: will exact it; but as, by their past measures é nigger legislation, emancipation and confisca- tion, they have already united the rebellious South, and divided the public sentiment of the loyal States, they cannot do much more mis- chief; except in another chapter of military blunders and disasters. But let President Lixcoln be sure to follow,up speedily his negro emancipation manifesto with some decisive victories over the white armies of the rebellion, or the consequences may be utterly ruinous. We have cordially and fafifully stood by our present honest and patriotic President from the beginning. We have done all that we could do to support the diplomatic, military and financial policy of his administration. We bave earnestly labored to encourage our army and navy in every enterprise, and to secure their success. We have, in every possible way, sought to keep alive the enthusiasm and confi- dence of the loyal people of the Union in the speedy triumph ef their great cause over all its enemies; but the ‘ime has arrived when nothing short of an active and decisive enm- paign will satisfy the country. Emaneipation | or no emancipation, We must repeat to Pre- sident Ujucol: we solemn warniag that this ; overwhelming. winter's military operations will in all probabl- lity crown bis administration asa most glori- ous success or sink it ag a most inglorious and disastrous faflice. His means for success aré Let him take the road indica- ted by loyal public opinion, and he cannot possibly fail. Louls Napeleom and the New York Herald. A Paris correspondent asserta that late num- bers of the Heratp have been ped by the authorities in France qn account of ‘its articles upon Mexican affairs. We are inckged to doubt this statement, coming from such a Sdayc0, and attribute no importance to .the fact. bei ever so true, as we know that the Emperor re- ceives his Hxratps regularly and cons them over with great assiduity. Napoleon is too wise a man not to understand that, to be well informed as regards affairs on this continent, a person should read the Heratp. No other journal in the world has so numerous a staff of correspondents, such extended means of acquiring reliable inforniation or such varied telegraphic communication. With every expedition, every army corps, and in ever State, county, township, the Herarp has correspondents, all reliable and intelligent; and then the HeraLp—so say our contemporaries—causes wars OF stops them. In fact, according to the wiseacres just referred to, thé Heraup is the centre around which revolve the crowding events of the epoch: it is the real hub of the universe. The Heratp is blamed, praised, its circula- tion cut down by rumor to nought or increased to a fabulous figure; it is white, black, brown or gray at one and the same time. It is the support of the administration, some say, while others boldly assert that we are rebels. In fact, we. puzzle the people, ‘And why? Because. unlike all other journals in this country, we are free, untrammelled by party or policy, represent the people and the constitution, and have a larger circulation in consequence than all the other New York journals put together. We support an individual in office while we observe him doing his duty and endeavoring to serve his country with a singleness of purpose. When he falls short of these our requirements in a public officer, we censure and blame where be- fore we praised; and this fact astonishes and annoys our contemporaries, bound as they are, one and all, to party or person. It is our free- dom they envy. All these things Louis Napoleon knows full well, and he appreciates that the Heratp represent® the views of the Ame- rican public, and that, so doing, we are an authority not to be overlook- ed. At all councils of ministers held at the Tuileries the Hzraxp figures regularly, and has more influence therein than many of the individual members. Our advice not being always palatable, we having a way of saying what we think, quite irrespective of crowns or thrones, we are oftentimes abused at these councils; but our advice has its effect neverthe- less, and each sueceeding week Napoleon de- mands his bundle of Heratns with the same eagerness. We are old acquaintances, and have been quite friendly to the Emperor, when feel- ing he merited that friendship; but when he un- dertakes a course we deem erroneous or unjust we blame him with severity. Napoleon has had a practical illustration of the logical manner with which we arrive at conclusions. In 1848, just before the outbreak of the Revolution which drove Louis Philippe from the throne of France, Prince Louis Napoleon, then in Eng- land, asked us what we thought of affairs in France. We answered that, as there were twenty-two journals published in Paris, all of which, save three, were in opposition to the King, he would be overthrown. But few months had passed ere our assertion was veri- fied, and Napoleon as President wis ruling in France. » Of what use would it be for the Paris au- thorities to stop the Herarp? That proceeding would not invalidate the effect to be produced by our articles. Are we not irrepressible? Napoleon has the French press im his hand, and he always receives the Heratp; so we may safely assert that the Editor-in-Chief of the French journals diligently reads our articles, and that he profits thereby. The effect to be produced is thus as certainly attained as though France were flooded with Heratns. The peo- ple do not understand us; but Napoleon does; and, as itis Napoleon alone who acts, our ob- ject is attained when our articles have been, as they always are, read by him. Save the incon- venience to our numerous subsoribérs im France, the stopping of the journal in that country is a matter of no consequence to us, We are aware that to our readers there the matter is of paramount importance; but as re- gards the attainment of our purpose it is as: sured beforehand. Napoleon receives the Hr- RALD, reads therein that we consider Mexico likely to be his Moscow; and, as he knows we are always correct, he ponders upon the matter, and if let alone by fatality will follow our ad- vice. If fate is to prove too strong for him, and he be driven to certain ruin, he will remember that we predicted his disgrace. “Stop the Heratp!” The very idea makes us laugh. The Hypatn can’t be stopped. The ex- pression makes us reflect upon what would the world at large come to were the Heratp to appear no more. As an instance of the direful results to humanity, we refer one and all tothe coming 2d of January, 1863. We duly observe New Year; so there will be no Heratp on the morning of the 2d. How dull and fidgety will the people be on that oc- casion. Not any Heraxp, replete with infor. mation from all parts of the world, to devour jointly with steaks, rolls and coffee! Why what a melancholy day it will be, and with what a keen relish the Heraxp will be seized upon the next morning. The publio will feel as though that 2d day of January ought to be erased, ought not to count. Speak of stopping the Heratp on that 2d of January if you wish to be silenced as a “sorry jester.” We are in- clined to doubt whether the joke were a safe one. If these are the results of the non-ap? pearance of the Heratn for one day, the imagi- nation recoils with fear from a contemplation of the horrors of a final “stopping of the Her- ap.” Louis Napoleon might as well attempt, like Canute, to stay the tide, or, like Joshua, to stop the sun. He must and will read the Henarn, just as the ill seek the aid of the phys- cian. Fravps Uroy tae Governwent.—We pub- lished, a few days ago, an account of various frauds upon the government committed in this city, involving over a million of dollars and im- plicating nearly a thousand persons. These, it must be remembered, are but the frauds dis, covered in asingle city. The ageregate amount Ab MOCO YACSAVGAe GLARE HOY wad this war is ably ene hundred millions bf dol- lars, and perbaps even deuble that immense sam. Tn almost every way the administration allows itself to be robbed, cheated, swindled and de- frauded. The peeple pay taxes to ebrich and robbers. So we go on, day after day, and there is no chance that we shall turn over a new leaf with the New Year. Grew’s Grand Season and Lincoln's Grand War. This morning Manager Grau issues his pro- clamation announcing his grand season of Opera for the New Year. To-morrow morning Presi- dent Lincoln has promised to issue his proclama- ‘ion of emancipation, which will fairly inaugu- Tatvan interminable war. Grau has the ad- vantése of Lincoln in several respects. Grau is first in she field, his proclamation is the more Popular, a0% his season will lead to the more beneficial and sappy results. both to the public and to himself. in, on the contrary, is a day after the fair; xis proclamation will be regarded as the death warrant of the Union, an its consequences will be not less disastrous to himseif and his.administratien than to the people, whose ruin this document seems fated to insure: If we are all to go to destruction together, however, let us. patronize Grau to the bitter end, and, with the assistance of his opera troupe, make our last moments as melodious as those of the dying swan. Manager Grau, unlike President Lincoln, begins his grand season with the prestige of suc. cess. Since his last campaign here he has captured Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washing- ton in brilliant succession, and uno Fredericks- burg “accident” has driven him prematurely into winter quarters. Unlike Lincoln, too, he has obtained new recruits without the necessity of a draft—except upon his bankers—and | brings back to us all our old favorites, rein- forced by Miss Clara Louise Kellogg, who bas been engaged for the next season at Her Majes- ty’s theatre, London. Unlike Lincoln, again, Grau retains the invaluable services of his McClellan, Madame Guerrabella, who, although surpassed by Kellogg, Lorini, Cordier and the rest in one or two particulars, as McClellan is surpassed by Pope in recklessness and by Fre- mont in blunders, is yet, taken all in all, far su- perior to any of the other primedonne as a popu- lar favorite. Unlike Lincola, in another respect, Grau has novelties in store for us; as, for in- stance, the revival of “Vespres Sicillienne” and the production, in advance of the Paris Opera House, of Verdi’s new work, “Giovanna d’Arco” (Joan of Arc), while President Lincoln can only furnish us with a final edition of the stale nig- ger. If both Grau and the President fulfil their promise) we can predict other points of dissi- militude; for, whereas Grau’s season will be suc” cessful, Lincoln’s manifesto will totally fail; and whereas Grau will be received with favor, year after year,. for a short eternity in the future, Lincoln will be at the end of his tether, and, having nothing more to proclaim gbout the nigger, will be thrown aside as useless, and his place supplied by a man, elected by conserva- tive votes and capable of appreciating the idea that he is the President of the whole country, and not of the Tribune office; that war cannot be waged with foolscap, and that he has some constituents who are not nigger-worshippers. Should the emancipation proclamation make its appearance to-morrow morning, New Year’s Day will begin a very gloomy year, and Grau’s music comes just in time to relieve the general sadness. The nigger-worshippers assert that the proclamation will end the war; but men of sense know that the war will then really begin. Our eighteen months of “moving ‘accidents’ by flood and field” have been merely preparatory to the real fighting soon to’ensue. To-morrow, the nigger-worshipping organs tell us, those black-faced nuisances, the free negroes of the North, and those black-hearted traitors, the Northern abolitionists, are to hold a jubilee to- gether. All white men should observe the day by fasting and prayer ever a lost country. The emancipation proclamation, while it will not at all affect the slaves of the South, will unite the Southern white men in a furious hatred of the North and an unconquerable determination never to submit to abelition rule. At the same time it will divide and paralyze the North; for the people of the Central States have shown by large majorities at the recent elections that they will not have the nigger to reign over them. In order to fight for emancipation we shall have to tear up the constitution; and then where will be the Union to which we can foree back the seceded States? To free all the slaves it will be necessary to whip all the white men of the South, and, although we shall undoubtedly at- tempt it, the affair will be, as President Lincoln tersely expresses it, “a big job.” All t@ese and many other considerations weigh heavily upon the people, and even Grau’s musicians and voerl- ists may not be able to charm dull care away from our hearts, as David didrom Saul. The masses are too well satisfied with the constitu- tion as itis and the Union as it was to enter upon a costly, gigantic, bloody, endless series of experiments in regard to negro equality, amalgamation, and that “new nation,” abou which poor Greeley chatters so incessantly and insanely. In spite of their respect for At- torney General Bates’ position, they will not accept his dictum that every nigger born here is a citizen of the country, and is therefore en- dowed with all the rights, privileges and immu- nities of an American citizen, including eligi- bility to office, and to the office of President Linovln himself. If any one attempts to force such experiments and such doctrines upon our people, either at the point of the bayonet or with the threat of a bastile, we very much fear that they will most emphatically resist- In that case Grau’s operas might lose their mol- lifying influences and be traasformed in- to incentives to revolution, American women might rival Joan of Arc, and the abolitionists, like the French, might meet with their “Sici- lian Vespers.” Wit tae Mexicans Front tHe Frexcu?—It is doubted by many that the Mexicans will make any efficient resistance against their in- vaders. We see no reason to ae either their ability or disposition to do®o. Judging from the steps whieh they have already taken, there is a unity of feeling and a determination among them on this point which ought to in- sure success. We must net judge of the Mexi- can troops by what they did in the war with us, although in some instances they exhibited a desperation of courage and an endurance that were highly creditable to them. It must be recollected that most of the regiments which they brought into the field in that cam- paign were raw levies, and that their leaders knew but little of the science of war. Since then, in tueir constantly recurriag revolutions, they omeareennenetag” have had opportunitics of forming plenty of well trained evidiers and able officers, some of them, we'are asvared, as good engineers and artillerists as are to be found anywhere. With the national honer and «lignity to sustain against an imgolent foreign (oe, what may not be hoped for from them? We await with inte- rest the reault of the first fair encounter tween them and the French. I¢ would i be curious if these much despises! troops were destined to take the starch out of Louis Napo- leon’s African veterans. Tux Corron Faso Aproap.+-Fry vm the Laat returns published by the distributing * commit- tees, it appears that the number of di istressed operatives and laborers receiving publi'c aidin | . England is 457,374, of whom 268,967 ,are de. *; pendent upon parochial relief. We have not ag yet seen any report of the aggregate number of mechanics out of employment and depem tent upon public charity or government aid im France; but the statement that in the depmrt- ment of the Seine alone it is upwards of one hundred thousand would justify the inference that not less than a quarter of a million of per- sons belonging to the manufacturing depart- ments of industry are thus situated. In Eng- 2 , land up to the present time the aristocratic | classes seem to have met this calariitous state of things with liberality and promptness. In fac. they could ggt help doing so, with the alternative of revolution ora ruinous war § with this country’ staring them in the face, In France, where the government undertakes to do everything, ana where, in crises of this kind, i* usually fiuds itselt unable’ to deal with the im- miense mass of pauperam that accumulates on its hands, matters are Hxaly soon to assume @ ticklish aspect. There faniine is synonymous with revolution, and inability te feed the hun- gry workmen with mal-administration. Henoe the anxiety of Louis Napoleon to ovcupy the attention of his people with projects of media- tion and other foreign schomes, which are only intended to delude them with visionary hopes of relief or of conquests equally unsubstantial. By such shifts both countrie s may tide over for @ time the perils that threaten them; but, unless the warin America is by some means or an other speedily brought to a close, popular out- breaks will soon give birth to another revolu- tionary storm, which will again sweep over all Europe, including England, in all probability, within reach of its levelling influences. NEWS FROM WASHINGTON. Wasuincton, Dec. 80, 1868. THE FINANCIAL PLANS OF THE SECRETARY OF TRE TREASURY. It is understood that Mr. Chasv’s financial bill, with the amendmests made by the Committee of Ways and Means, wil! bo submitted to the House immediately after the reussembling of Congress. It is net anticipated tat it will elicit much discussion. But little doubt is entortained that it will be passed without delay, as it isthe. chief measure of the present session of Congress. The committee will recom. mend an issue of three hundred millions of legal tender notes, instead of the two ‘hundred millions, which it ts said Mr. Chase agreed to, They will also provide for the conversion of certificates of indebtedness into twenty years six per cent bonds, ‘The representatives of the important interest now here state that they are wel! assured that Custom House dues will be made payabie in legal tender notes after the mid. dio of January. ‘There are no other changes of importance from the bil! submitted at last session of Congress. PAYMENT OF ARMY ABREARAGRS. A number of paymasters have been set to work to pay off the arrearages due the army, and it ts expected that by the 15th of next month our soldiers will have been paid in full up to the end of the present year, -s THE FOREIGN INTERVENTION QUESTION. The apprehonsions expressed abéut a declaration of foreign intervention, simultaneously witn the announce- ment of the President’s emancipation proclamaten on the Ist of January, have in @ great measure subsided since “a the Secretary of State says that our government hes “/ never since the war commenced stood so well with the foreign Powers, and that intervention at present is not among the possibilities. Mr. Seward way have been mistaken tn some of his calculations in reference to the extent of the rebellion when it first broke out, but it is not probable that he has misread the tone of European governments in reference to the United States, REVENUE STAMPS READY FOR DISTRIBUTION. ‘The Commissioner of Interna Revenue is now prepared %o supply all the variety of stamps required by the excise law in quantities sufficient for the use of the people of the District of Columbia and of the States east of the Rocky Mountains. All persons within the district and States above specified, guilty of wilfully neglecting to use said stamps hereafter, will be subject to the penalty provided in the law, DECISION OF THE TAX COMMISSIONER. foo pracwar yl Internal Revenue ims decided thas whi lumber ts cut, planed, matched, tongued and grooved and bevciled, and thus or otherwise prepared for dimension boxes or other packages, whether it be used on the premises where prepared or sold in the market, it shall be considered a manufacture and used ag suoh. LOYAL CIVILIANS PRISONERS OF WAR, Another,eflort. is about to be made here to induce the government to interfere in bebalf of Union citizens of the South imprisoned on the charge of disloyalty to the Southern Confederacy. It is known that ofe hundred and fifty or two hundred prominent citizens of Virginia; Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennesses, havebeon thas: immured for « period of from twelve to eighteen months» and it is claimed by their fricuds that it is the duty of the government to procure their release by establishing a system of exchanges for civil .as well as military | prisoners. 4) q ¥ a U ‘ THE HOMESTEAD ACT. The Land Offico is now engaged in corresponding with pergons who desire practical information about the opera- tion of the Homestead act. It is thought that largo num bers of persons in the west will avail thomselves of its provisions. Those who have settled upon tho public domain with a view to take advantage of the preemption law havea right to their sections under the Homestead act. In practice a man may get a farm of three hundred and twenty acres by buying a land warrant for one hun dred and sixty acres, and adding to that @ section unde. NAVAL ORDERS. Lieutenant Commander Paul Sherley has been detached f from the St. Marys, and ordered to the command of the sloop-of-war Cyane, now in the Pacific. ; Mi Lieutenant R. H, Lambran has been ordered to the — steam sloop-of-war Lancaster. F Lieutenant Commander ©, C, Carpenter has been ordered to tho steamer Catskill. “ Assistant Surgeon 8. W. Abbott has been detached n the Chelsea Hospital and ordered to the iron-clad steamer % Catskill. fi Assistant Surgeon J. A. Means bas been ordered to the iron-clad steamer Lehigh. MOVEMENTS OF GENERAL KIMBALL. General Kimball, of Indiann, who was wounded inthe =~ thigh at Fredericksburg, left for nome to-day. Tux Ory ano Naw Year—Triwity Curmns,—The fellow> {hg programme will be performed on Trinity church belle by Mr, James E, Ayliffe,on the departure of the old year and beginuing of the new. The chimes wil! commence as a quarter to twelve o'clock, December 31, 1862.— 4 ley, arranged expressly for Trinity chureb ha by George F. Bristow 6—" Evenit iia”? 1" Laat je of Summer.’ 8—"" Col ia, the Gem of ihe Ocean.” . oY ‘Doodle."” A 10—'‘ Home, Sweet Home. ye