The New York Herald Newspaper, January 29, 1863, Page 4

’’ @amms GORDON BENNETT, DITOR AND PROPRIETOR, QvrION NX. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. TERMS cash in advance. Money sent by mail will be ‘at the risk of tho sender. None but Bank bills currout ia Now York takeo, ” HE DAILY HERALD, Taaxe cents per copy. THE WEEKLY HERALD, every Saturday, at Prvs cents ‘por copy. Aunual subscription price:. ‘One Copy... ++ - $2) ‘Three Copies. 5 Five Copies. . 8 Ton Copies. -b! Any larger number, addressed to names of subscribers, | $2.50 cach. An oxtra copy will be sent to every club of | Yeo. Twenty copies, to one address, one year, $35, and apy larger number at game price. An extra copy will be fent to clubs of twenty, These rates make the WHRKLY ‘Hmap the cheapes: publication in the country. ‘The Ecrorsan Foitiox, every Wednesday, at Five cents: ‘per copy; $4 per annum to any part of Great Britain, @r $6 to avy part of the Continent, both to include Postage. The Carrorma Eprom, on the Ist, 1th and 21st of each month, at Bix per copy, or @3 per annum. ADVERTISEMENTS, {0 4 limited number, will be inserted the Waxxry Hexicp, and in the European and Cali- fornia Editions. VOLUNTARY CORRESPONDENCE, containing imvort- mnt news, solicited from any quarter of the wor!d; if ‘weed, will be liberally paid for. ge Our Formic Cor- SESYOMDENTS ARR PARTICULARLY RUQUESTED TO SEAL ALL LET- ‘ERA AND PACKAGHS SENT U3. MNO NOTICE taken of anonymous correspondence. @ not return rejected communications. We AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadw: WALLAOKE'S THEATRE, Broadway!—Sxcxsrs Wont Mxowtya. WINTER GARDBN, Broadway.—Cammxzy Coaxen— Prencu Sry. LAURA KEENE'S THEATRE, Dariicut—Somesopy Evsr. Leau, Tue Forsaken Broadway.—Actress by NEW BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Couteen Bawx— Swaty-Sxvantu STREET Gnost—Tne BuiGanns or Anguzz BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery. anv tux Beanstatx—Mary Price. BARNUM'S AMERICAN MUSEUM, Broadway.—Mis | Gavuvia Warren—Commopora Nutr, &¢., at ali hours Omaeixs Il.—Afternoon and Evening, BRYANTS' MINSTRELS, Mechanica’ Hall, 472 Broad. ger ruorcan Boxas, BoeuKsauas, Daroba do. iinet WOOD'S MINSTREL HALL, 514 Broad: = Soncs, Dances, &0.—Down in OLD er Ci alee Smanious Famtty—Jace BUCKLEY'S MINSTRELS. Stuyvesant Institute, 660 ee —Eruiorian Soxcs, Dances, 40.—La SoNnam- CLINTON HALL, Astor Place.—Mussns, Fisrx’s EXramiaants Iv Evactuo-Pevonouect. et AX? BROADWAY MENAGERIK, Broad vl Agimacs, Buanpep Sact, (3 Seu ee AMERICAN MUSIC HALL, No. Broa —BaL- tars, Pantoutmas, Bux esques, £0. a seta PARISIAN CABINET OF WONDERS, 863 Bi - Open daily from 10 A, M, till 10 P.M. racers ! that the “active efforts’ of Napoleon’s diplomacy | of the several churches to aid in the great enter: e) in the 3 hay refused to assist him, pe care’ to inform the government in Wash- ington that he is ‘quite ready, if it should be de- sired, to facilitate, either alone or collectively, in any form that might be indicated, the work of peace.”” : The French Minister refers in the report to the operation of the “* increased cus- toms which e been imposed for financial purposes, to the injury of commer- cial interests’? in the United States, and adds “have contributed to arrest the advance of the Cabinet of Washington in a course so fatal to international transactions.”’ French merchandise on American soil must be protected “against the eventualities of destruction or seizure.’ The imperial ‘Yellow Book” informs the mem- bers that the Mexican question has “entered upon | an entirely military phase, the issue of which must | be awaited.” The new stee! steamer which has been built by Messra. Jones, Quiggan & Co., of Liverpool, sup- posed to be intended for the service of the rebel | government, performed a trial trip on the 10th instant, and it was expected that she would attain a speed of seventeen knots. She is tntended, her builders say, for the trade between Nassau and Liverpool. CONGRESS. In the Senate yesterday the Post Office Commit- tee reported back the bill establishing a postal money order system, with a recommendation that it do not pass. The bill to regulate the appoint- ment of midshipmen was reported back with amendments. A bill to amend the act regulating the Post Office Department was introduced. Mr. Clark, of New Hampshire, offered a preamble re- citing the turbulent acts of Senator Saulsbury, of Delaware, on Tuesday, and a resolution that he be expelled from the Senate. The resolution was laid over under the rules. A bill for the encouragement of enlistments was introduced and referred to the Military Committee. A resolution was adopted in- structing the Military Committee to inquire into the propriety of extending such relief as circum- stances may require, and inquire into the case of Mr. Thomas, known as ‘‘Zarvona, the French lady,”’ of Maryland, now a prisoner of war at Fort Lafayette, and who, as represented, has been con- fined in a dungeon of that fortress since Junc last, and isnow hopelessly insane by reason of his suf- ferings. The President wasjrequested to transmit to the Senate all orders issued by the Secretaries of War and Treasury in regard to a general prohi- bition to export arms and munitions from the United States to the Mexican republic, and any orders relative to the exportation of articles con- traband of war for the use of the French army. A resolution providing for a standing committee on agriculture was discussed at considerable length, but no action taken on the subject. The Dill making appropriations for pensions for invalid sol- diers was passed. The Army Appropriation bill was also passed. The Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation bill was discussed, and after an ex- ecutive session the Senate adjourned. J In the House of Representatives the question of arming the negroes was brought up on a motion to refer the bills authorizing the employment HOOLEY'S OPERA HOUSE, B: -Braiortax Sones, Dances, Buniasques _ ca ae New York, Thursday, January 29, 1863 THE SITUATION. The cavalry of the rebel General Stuart have been making another raid. We learn from head- quarters of the Army of the Potomac that on Tuesday night our pickets at Chantilly were driven in by a detachment of Stuart's rebel cay- alry. Colonel Percy Wyndham, commanding the brigade, immediately started, with some two hundred men of the Fifth New York and First Virginia cavalry, in pursuit of the enemy. After oursuing them at a rapid rate some thirty-two niles, he came up with them at Middlebury. Major Hammond, of the Fifth New York cavalry, nad the advance, and fell upon their rear with great celerity. After a brilliant skirmish he suc- seeded in capturing twenty-six of them and scat- fering the others in all directions. We also zaptured forty head of fine cattle. Gencral Hooker is busy making up his staff. Everything is quiet at Falmouth. The most important news from the Southwest ‘s that General Joe Johnston, with an immense tebel force, is marching to the defence of Vicks- burg, and that the combined forces of General McOlernand and Commodore Porter have arrived st @ point within twenty miles of the city, ata place called Young's Point. It is stated that the cebels are determined to hold Vicksburg and Port Gudson at all hazards, Another battle may there- fore be anticipated in that direction before long. The Southern papers, from which we give several extracts to-day, contain some interesting comments upon affairs in the West. Accounts given by rebel deserters at Hilton Head, 3, C., represent that about thirty thousand troops are now massed in and around Charleston. Upon James Island are stationed from fifteen to twenty thousand men. Sullivan's Island bristles with batteries, garrisoned by two regiments of in- fantry and two artillery companies. Fort Sumter holds @ force of six hundred and fifty or seven bandred men, under Colonel Rhett, and the fort on the Middle Ground is also well manned. The force on Morris Island numbers about one thousand men, and the entire shore of Charleston harbor is lined with heavy guns. The two iron-clad batte- ries constructed for harbor defences are afloat, and it is generally thought that they will prove very effective, It will be seen by our Suffolk correspondence that a portion of the First New York Mounted Rifles mado a nice haul of contraband goods which the rebels had stored away at a place called Sandy Cross roads, in the direction of the Chowan river. The goods embraced cotton, provisions, salt and other merchandise. They are valued at $30,000, and wore ready to be shipped across the river be. yond the rebel lines. EUROPEAN NEWS. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of France has submitted to the Legislature his livre jaune (or “Yellow Book”) in the shape of an official report of the situation and policy of the empire abroad at the close of 1962. With reference to the United States he says that the Emperor's government had ‘‘not neglect- ec any one opportunity which authorized it to ex- plain ‘ts opinions to the federal government on tie dangers and difficulties of the situation.” The offer of an allied mediation was made to England and Russia after witnessing @ ‘disastrous struggle” for two years. Had the plan been arranged and an armistice effected, the conditions of reconcilia- tion ‘were, of course, to be left entirely to the free guvien Eaglaud and Russia vi the Delligeremta.”? of black soldiers to the Committee on Military Affairs. This was opposed by the radi- cals, who were afraid that such a reference would retard action on the subject and thereby defeat the proposition. The conservatives were decidedly in favor of getting rid of the bills, and thereupon commenced a series of parliamentary manouvres on both sides, which continued until two o'clock this morning, without any result as regards the legislation of the House. THE LEGISLATURE. In the Senate yesterday, favorable reports were made, among others, on the bills amendatory of the act enforcing the liability of bank stockholders and relative to trust funds in receivers’ hands. Several bills were introduced; among them one to appropriate the proceeds of State tax for the sup- port of public schools, and one amendatory of the act relative to hawkers and pedlers. The bill ap- propriating the remainder of the canal revenue was passed. The resolution to go into an election for United States Senator on next Tuesday was adopted. In Committee of the Whole the bill to regulate the sale of hay and straw in this city and Brooklyn was considered, after which progress on it was reported, and the Senate adjourned. In the Assembly the Speaker announced his appointments of postmasters and minor officers of that body. Bills were introduced to extend the streets between Fourteenth and Thirty-first streets in this city; to regulate the Staten Island ferries, and to facilitate the collection of laborers’ wages. The resolution to ballot for a United States Sena- tor on Tuesday next was called up, and, after a long discussion, was adopted, by yeas 62, nays 59. ‘The Assembly then adjourned. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. Captain Smith, of the bark Moneynick, which arrived last evening from Malaga, reports that on the 24th ult., when in latitude 29, longitude 35, he saw a large fire, apparently a vessel burning; but he did not run towards it, for fear of falling in with a privateer. The Army of the Potomac, since the retirement of Gen. Scott, has been commanded by Gen. Irvin McDowell, Gen. George B. McClellan, Gen. John Pope, Gen: McClellan (a second time), Gen. Am- brose E. Burnside and Gen. Joseph Hooker. The Court of Appeala of this State has affirmed the judgment of the Supreme Court on the ques- tion of the taxability of United States securities by State authority. It is decided that stocks issn- ed and in the hands of individuals previous to the passage of the Exemption act by Congress, Feb ruary 26, 1862, are assessable, and that thé holders and owners thereof are taxable thereon, notwith- standing the said act. The ten counties iu the Southern part of [linois in 1860 gave the republican Presidential electoral ticket an aggregate of 1,597 votes. According to tion balance in bank is $17,836 07. A meeting ef the New York Committee of the United States Christian Commission was held in Clinton Hall yesterday afternoon. The object of | the organization is to provide religious instruction for the army and navy, The meeting was uume- rously attended by eminent ministers of this city. After several addresses had been delivered, a series of resolutions were adopted, declaring it to be the duty of Christians to provide for the spiritu- al wants of the army, and calling on the members prise. The jury in the case of Joel B. Fergason, & member of the Bedford street Methodist Episcopal church, indicted in the Court of General Sessions ons charge of obtaining money under false pre- tences, brought in a verdict of guilty, with a strong recomm@ndation to the mercy of the Court. The prisoner was remanded for sentence until Saturday next. The stock market was considerably lower yesterday, the decline ranging from two te five per cent, aud being most marked in Erie old and the Western shares. Gold fell to 15234, rallied to 154, deelined to 153, and closed bout 152% bid. Exchange closed at 169 a 1693;. Money is worth 6 per cent on call, on good securities. Cotton advanced as high as 80¢. for middling yes- terday, with sales a@ resaies of 2,500 bales. There was considerable activity in flour, which was dearer, but loss in grain, prices of which tended downward. The main business in provisions was in hog products, which were firmer. Groceries were less active. Spices and whiskey were decidedly higher and in brisk demand. Tallow, wool and tobacco were solling freely. Light freight en- gagoments were reported. The Army of the Potomac—Have We & Great Genoral Among Us? Major General Burnside, recently relieved at his own request from the command of the Army of the Potomac, has arrived in this city. Major General Hooker, appointed to succeed General Burnside, is busily en- | gaged in selecting his staff and reorganizing the army according to certain plans of his own, preparatory to another grand movement upon Richmond. The list of the changes of com manders in this favorite army now resemble, the genealogical table of the first chapter of Matthew. General Scott, too aged to take the field, transferred the command to McDowell. McDowell, defeated at Bull run, was super” seded by McClellaf. McClellan, sacrificed by Stanton and the radicals, was succeed- ed by the triumvirate, Banks, McDowell and Fremont. The disaster to Banks’ corps inthe Shenandoah gave the command to Pope. Pope, forced to pay more attention than he anticipated to his lines of retreat, yielded to McClellan again. McClellan, dismissed be- cause of the pique against conservatives, made way to Burnside. Burnside, confessing his in. ability to lead so large an army, insisted on re. signing. This brings the record down to Hooker, and suggests the query, have we a great general among us? The idea that any American can command an army is as prevalent among certain classes as the influenza. Looking at tke con- duct of the war from a strictly military point of view, we find in this popular de- lusion the basis of the philosophy of ou, failures. When this war began thousands of citizen soldiers rushed to arms; but we had not competent officers enough to command this force. The consequence was that almost every officer was placed in a position several grades too high for him. The paltry politician or the ex-tailor, or the beardless son of some wealthy merchant, obtained a captaincy because he had drummed up men enough for a company, when he should have joined his own company as a high private. The militia captain, who had never smelt gunpowder fla vored with lead except on a target excursion. where the best shooting was done with an au- ger, aspired to be a colonel at least. The colo. nel of a militia regiment considered himself entitled to a brigadier generalship ex officio, and no politician of any tact and brass would consent to accept a lower rank. The major generals were appointed from among the higher classes of politicians, with a few of the best offi- cers of our little regular army and a few of the graduates of West Point who had retired to civil life added to the list. General Scott was, of course, the Commander-in-Chief. Now, from Scott himself, who had previously had control of not more than thirty thousand men, down to the rawest brigadier general who has assisted | to make his title a byword and a laughing stock for this generation, scarcely one of these officers was at all competent for his position. Men who should ‘have been privates were offi- cers. Men who would have miade excellent captains were bad colonels. Good colonelg were spoiled to make miserable brigadiers. Major generals who could have commanded a corps could not command an immense army- With raw levies and incompetent officers, the natural result was defeat. Bull ran demoral. jzed the army, and it rushed back to Washing- ton a disorganized mass of brave but inexperi- enced troops. In the midst of the panic and confusion which | followed General McClellan was called t® Washington. General McClellan had graduated ‘NEW YORK HERALD, ‘THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1863, W%iou2. ~~ rege tna | 604, making 1,868 sinoe January 1. The commbta- | act he acknowlodges as his own, ho secured the safety of the rebel ‘ ‘The administration, having caught the “/@2Y~ chief command to Pope, who, excited by thet outeries of the radicals’ clamor at McClellan’s | slowness, tried to succeed in haste, and is now repenting at leisure. Again restored to his faithful comrades, McClolian proved at Antie- ; tam that we have a great general among us, and that he had qualified himself to handie an army of one hundred thousand men. But a soldie™ is a shining mark for political intrigues, and | McClellan was again removed on the very eve of | further victory. Burnside repeated Pope’s fault, | though in a different manner, and with much greater Chances of success. It is in vain that | prejudiced politicians and jealous rivals strive | to make it appear that Fitz John Porter is re- | sponsible for Pope’s defeat, and Sumner and Franklin for the “accident” at Fredericksburg. | The real fault rests with the administration | who yielded to the demands of partisans and | fanatics, and dismissed from the field the only general who had the genius and the experience necessary to command so large a force as the | Army of the Potomac. Great generals do not grow on every bush. They are the result of military talent and long practice combined, Before this rebellion the country had been in- volved in no great wars—for Mes paign now seems like a mere reconnoiss forco—and needed no great generals. When | the necessity came, the generals came also. In this respect our experienco resembles that of the old French republic, which tried ineompe tent after incompetent general before it found its Napoleon. When the Freach Napoleon was discovered he was appreciated, however; but the American Napoleon, though instinctively recoguized by the people, has been over- slaughed by the imbecile administration, Therefore, while we acknowledge the merit of Burnside, Hooker and the rest in the positions for which they have qualified themselves, we | must confess that our confidence cannot go with | our hopes for the brilliant future of the armies | in the fleld until McClellan returns to the chief command. A Carp or THANKS For THE Prater Seses.— The San Francisco papers have had a little sen. sation of fun over acard of thanks, published in the Hvening Bulletin, for the benefit of the il_ lustrious rebel pirate, Captain Semmes. ‘Twen_ ty-five of the passengers of the Ariel, inclading the Rev. Charles B. Wyatt, rector of Trinity church, San Francisco, testify in this aforesaid card, in regard to Captain Semmes, that “after taking possession of our ship he placed Mr, Lowe, one of his lieutenants, with some thirty seamen, in charge, whose deportment elicited universal commendation. The management of the ship, under his supervision (two and a half days), was everything that could be desired.’ So much for the rebel captain and his rebel lieutenant and crew. But the signers of this card have something else to say. They say that “we cannot let this occasion pass with- out expressing our disapprobation of the cruel and inhuman conduct forced upon passengers body can bea great general” fever, gave ne | of that bird which befouls its own nv poe emcees . » Bull Run Russell on American ‘ Affairs. In a recent umber of Punch there is a car. toon representing a meeting betweeu the shades of Washington and George tho Third in the land of spirits, The ghost of King George remarks, “Well, Mr. Washington, what do you think of your fine republic now? Eh? What | dye think? What d’ye think? En?” To which the ghost of Washington replies, “Humph!” In this intended sarcasm upon this country Punch admirably depicts the spirit with which all | English tourists write about America. Instead | of taking an honest pride in our progress and in the Anglo-Saxon blood to which we owe our vitality, these prejudiced Britishers neglect no opportunity to ridicule and depreelute us, for- getful that when they injure us they also injure | their own country. At the end of every insult ing paragraph and malignant snecr comes,the | inquiry, “What do you think of your ne repub_ tcnow? Eh? What do you think?—as if Eng. lishmen never could forgive the Americans for having resented outrage, tyranny and injustice | by rebelling against the British crown and be- coming independent of the British government English travellers in America sho) constant- ly remember the old proverb about the silliness Among | all the nations of the earth the English govern- | rmaont had no other friend as sincere and hearty } as the United States up to the time that officiay | acts endorsed the absurd jealousies of Eng- lish ‘tourists and convinced us that a pre- judice against this country was a recog- nized English characteristic. Dickens, with his caricatures; Miss Martineau, with her philosophical absurdities; Fanny Kemble, with her insulting ridicule; Marryatt, with his grave versions of the stories palmed upon him by our practical jokers; Mrs. Trol- lope, with her ill-bred criticisms upon our hogpi- talities, and Grantley Berkley, with his palpa- ble Manchausenisms, have each done all they could, in their way, to disgust Americans with the presence of a British tourist. ‘To enter our private houses, enjoy our dinners» receive our attentions, and then repay our kindnesses by publishing full particu” lers of the deficiencies in toilet, manners, customs and refinement of their hosts, with especially impudent remarks upon the ladies of our families, is not at all inconsistent with the character of a gentleman or a lady in England. If we object to such gross rudeness and imperti- nence, these writers retaliate by dissertations upon our national vanity. But if an American or a Frenchman happens to follow the example of these English gentlemen and ladies, and com- ments upon the social habits aud observances of the English, with what splendid fury do the British critics resent such violations of the usages of society. Are the English tourists, then, exceptions to the general rule? Are they such insolent and unmanly savages that we must expect them to fling dirt at us if we do thema favor? Ifso, then all Americans should make jtalawas unalterable as those of the Medes and Persians to admit no travelling Englishman into society without first exacting a solemn by the mercenary owners of the line on the Atlantic side.” To make this card complete, however, a writer to the Bulletin suggests that the signers append to their puff of the rebel Byron’s de- scription of another gentlemanly pirate, to wit:— Porbaps you think, in stumbling on our ship, He few into a passion, * * * © You're wrong. He was the milaest mannered nan That ever scuttled ship or cut « throat, With all true breeding of a gentleman. But the best card upon the subject is that of a grateful San Franciscan, who bad four new shirts on board the Ariel, which came safely through. He says: The shirts were delivered tome in San Franc’sco on the evening after the arrival of the Constitution, in good condition. ‘They bave the appearance of good fure and kind treatment on both sides of the Isthmus. How they escapes! the searching eyes of Captain Semmes and Lieu- tenant Low, of the Alabama, aud some thirty eno other Mugeinses they had with them, is a mystery to me. ‘The gentleman who bad them in charge assures me that, during the sixty hours of the detention of the Ariel be had them snugly stowel unter his cioak, and therefore resumes they were not discovered. But this, though | ave the most entire confidence in his judgment and ve- racity, Tean bard They must have secn them; and | am bound to b hat the fact that they were not stolen and taken away, with the *-greenhacks" and sails aud valves of the Ariel, is to de attributed wholly to the goutlemanly nearing a conduct of tbe anima Officers und crew of the pirate steamer Alabama, All praise 1s due to those distinguished pira' I shail ever T these ndistin- e rags of the pay » the savor om will rise to my miud with every shirt I pat on or take off. Now, there is « card which Captain Semmes and Lieutenant Low and their “thirty-one other Mugginses” will appreciate. As for the Rev. Mr. Wyait and his twenty-four other signers of the first card. the only wonder is that they did not insist upon casting their fortunes with their gentlemanly pirates, instead of submitting any longer to what they call “the crue! man conduct of the mercenary line on the Atlantic side.” We shall probably hear next that the Rey. Mr. Wyatt has published aform of prayer for the continued success of his admirable pirate in his imiggion of plunder. ing and burning on the high seas.” New York as tak Cexren ov Leort.arion.— We see that a motion has been introduced in at West Point, takep his degree in Mexico, studied the art of war fate the Cri. mea, and was so much of 4 soldier, heart and soul, that he gould not attend to his business ag a civilian while the Italian war was in progress, but spent his time in planning and mapping out that campaign. With a small force he had gained us great victories in Western Virginia’ the recent report of the Adjutant General of the State the same ten counties have sent 7,995 volun- teers to the war. The population of the following named cities decreased during the decade between the years 1850 and 1860:— Charleston, 8. Carolina. Ann Arbor, Michigan. Nantucket, Mass. Zanesville, Ohio. Augusta, Maine. jardiner, Maine. Ithaca, New York. rtamouth, NewHamp- Lynchburg, Virginia. x Among a lot of contraband goods bound South, seized at Baltimore on the 26th inst., were seven trunks filled with fine tooth combs. Whenever Gov. Andrew, of Massachusetts, wishes to have @ pull on some of the political wires in Washington, his negro-worshipp’ ng or- fans announce that he visits the national capital to attend to matters appertaining to the welfare of Massachusetts soldiers. A man was recently ejected from a railroad car in Canada because he had nothing but silver coin with which to pay his fare. The Boston papers publish a despatch from Washington stating that Gov. Andrew has antho- rity to raise companies of heavy artillery, and to include therein persons of African descent, At the meeting of the Emigration Commiasion- ers yesterday, Mr. Carrigan reported that he‘had held a consultation with the President of the Unit- ed States Trust Company, and that the company are willing to reduce the mortgage on the Staten Island and Quarantine property from $200,000 to $150,000, if the property is worth $300,000 and the Legislature agrees to the change. The number of emarauts reported landed here last week wag By unanimous censent he was hailed as the American Napoleon. His military knowledge taught him that am army cannot be made in a day. For month after month he was engaged in reducing the mass of soldiery from chaos to system. His parades, reviews and inapectians were constant and his labors indefatigable: While ho was training his army of one hundred and fifty thousand men he was also training himself to command this army. At the same time he matured a comprehensive plan, by which, advancing in three grand divisions, we | should sweep the rebels down to the Guif of | Mexico. At last McClellan's preparations were nearly completed. He had formed an army of | the finest soldiers the world ever saw. fitted himself to control and manage his immense force. The Army of the Potomac started for the peninsula and encamped betore Yorktown: Simultaneously @ new enemy developed himself | at Washington, and gave both McClellan and | the army more annoyance than the rebels. The disgraceful story of the peninsular campaign | is well known. Reinforcements. held back, | McDowell compelled to remain useless on the | Rappahannock, and the rebels allowed to con” ‘ centrate all their forces at Richmond, our gal- | lant army was left to be butchered, and when McClellan's genius had saved it from utter de struction, and transferred it to Harrison’s4.and_ ing, the newly appointed General-in-Chief re. | Royal still fall short of Grecley’s free negro , ‘ ; yagking’ Y A | who was showing it to a called i to Waskington, god (hug, by the ouly | millennium. It is ouly another Kouriattta fase | som mya mosg pasticularky attracted by a gex-. aovrermment, of He had | the Assembly by Mr. Leveridge to remove the State ehpita) g “its geographical centre.” This no doubt means its social and business centre, which is New York. Quy gity gffers, in regard to the Union at large, the aS ee a seat of legislation that fi presents for State pur poses. It is the converging point of all the great lines of communication throughout the country, and owing to this fact, as well as to its commercial and social pr the natural seat of the federal legislature. One great commercial capital. In regard to both ment has no longer any force. It possible that New disgraced by worse than have for some course of legislation bany. On the contrary, the presence of ay great metropolitan community like this could | | not fail to exercise a most wholesome corrective | infnence on both, and it would certainly im- | part increased interest and dignity to their | proceedings. | Necro Divorces av Port Rovat.—We learn | | that General Saxton, our military commander at Port Royal, 8. C., has given authority to the | Rev. Mr. French to grant divorces to the negro | contrabands under his spiritual charge in that department. From this it would appear that, with all the blessings of emancipation, and the | Gospel, and spelling books, and plenty to eat and little todo, the government negroes at Port scenes in either regard years past marked the eminence, it is | of the chief motives assigned for the selection of | Washington was that it would be free from the | corrupting and intimidating influences of a | Hl | however, considered a very steady and reapect- | federal’as well as State legislation this argu- | is im. | York could ever be! in Washington and Al- , and that be was busied with maps stretched out | faial injuries have been inflicted on the federals | pledge that he will write no “Diary” and pub- lish no book about this country. These remarks are wost apropos of the case of Bull Run Russell; for he is by long odds the worst of his class. His connection with the London Times gave him facilities which no other foreigner could have obtained, and he has used those facilities to do the country all the injury and to give his entertainers all the abuse in his power. Asa striking instance of this we recall his observations in regard to the widow of Senator Douglas. After informing us that the Senator “died of bad whiskey,” he reports that “the enormously wealthy community of which Douglas was the idol was permitting his widow to live ina state not far removed from penu- ry.’ This statement Russell makes the text of aleeture upon the base ingratitude of the American people, which reads well in connec_ tion with our recent account of the munifi_ cent gift just presented to General McClellan. Of Mrs. Lincoln Russell tells the following story:—“I was a little tickled by an account a little French gentleman gave me of a dis- tinguished lady, who sent for him to give French lessons, in order that she might become equal to her high position in mastering the dif ficulties of the courtly tongue. The master went to the house and stated his terms to a lady whom he saw there: but as she marchanded a good deal over small matters of cents, he never supposed he wae dealing with the great lady, and therefore made a small reduction in | his terms, which encouraged the enemy to re. | new the assault, till he stood firmly on three shillings a lesson, at which point the lady left him, with the intimation that she would consider | the matter and let him know!’ How Queen i oR ae Regt ie foot oro Victoria will thank Russe for this Tateftigeiice, And how much did she pay, pray, for ber French lessops? Here &companioi picture wath t Lincol he @vent of the day as The afifeaPauce of the President in the ave. nue in a suit of black and a parcel in his hand, walking, umbreilaless, in the rain. Mrs. Lin. coln has returned, aud the worthy Executive | will no longer be obliged to go ‘browsing | round,’ as he says, among his friends at dinner time.” These items do Russell credit. Of General McClellan, who received Russell very kindly, we are told that “the General con- sumes tobacco largely, and not oaly sinokes segars, but indulges in the more naked beauties fa quid.” General McClellan, says Raseell, | “sees no doubt of ultimate success, in a mititery point ef view, provided the politicians keep quiet and—charming men as they are—cease to | meddle wit things they don’t understand.” One of the" best of thé stories abou, { McClellan is the following:—“MeClellan is, | able professional soldier, Avfriend of his told | me, to-day, that one of the most serious com- plaints the Illinois Central Railroad Company | hed against McClellan was that, during the Italian war, he seemed to forget their business; on the floor, whereupen he, superincumbent, | peuned out the points of battle and strategy } when he ought to have been attending to pas | senger trains and traffic. That which was flat | blasphemy in a railway office may be amazingly approved in thefield.”” There are several capital | anecdotes in the “Diary” which show how easily Russell was houmbugged. “More serious and | by themselves than by the enemy,” says Rus- | sell, “In the course of my ride I heard occa- sional dropping shots incamp. To my looks of | inquiry an engineer officer said quietly, ‘They | are volunteers shooting themselves.’ One little door, like that of an icehouse, half buried in the ground, was opened by one of the soldiers, nd, when my atten- &. Sn geant, who ran forward with great dudgeon, e- claiming, ‘Dempsey, ig that you going imto the nragazine wid yez pipe lighted?’ Irode away with alacrity.” It really begins to be probable that the original Arrowsmith of the London Times was Bull Run Russell himself. Influence of the Press in France. Although the press is tightly muzzled in France, its influence is very great, if only from the fact that each journal has its importance as an organ of some political or religious party’ or represents some great financial interest: The government has its official, semi-official and officious organs. Each great personage in France has his organ, which is accepted by the public as such, and which denotes by its arti- cles the mind of the great personage upon al, important questions. The religious organs havg their course marked out by the influence of some of the luminaries of the Church, while the financial journals are influenced by this o° that great speculator. Then there are the re- publican journals, a class which represent a powerful faction. There are also the organs of banished royal families, and lastly, and'ndt the least important, there are journals which do not avow a political bias, but which, as th® recognized organs of the aristocracy of France— the younger members more especially, those belonging to the fashionable clubs—exercise ® great influence in the higher classes of French society. Thiers, Guizot, Lamartine, and in fact almost all prominent political personages who have ob- tained influence in France, were connected with the press. At the present moment Prince Na- poleon has as his organ, the exponent of hi® policy, or rather that policy which he would advocate for the empire, a journal which has become famous from its connection with the Prince. We mean the Qpinion Nationale, The editor of this journal, Mr. Guerolt, is well known in Europe as a liberal. The Em- press Eugenie has her organ, La France, con. ducted by the Vicomte de la Guerroniere. cial and semi-official organs, had not wha¢ might be considered as especially his pri- vate Journal. He has just supplied this defi ciency, and established, as a rival to La France, anew paper styled La Nation, which is edited by M. Granier de Cassagnac, a noted Bona partist, who has been connected for years with the French press, and has also become noto- rious as the extreme advocate of the Emperor's policy in the Chamber of Deputies, of which he, De Cassagnac is a member. These different journals, save, of course, those protected by their Majesties, are all subject to or less trammelled; but still they one and all prosper and are read. To be au courant the public must see all the journals. To read but one is evidently to hear but one side of any necessity of founding his own organ to combat that of the Empress is a significant concession to the power of the pressin France. His Ma jesty has now assumed the editorship ofa new journal, and, as he is no novice at the businosay we do not doubt that La Nation will make ite way into public favor as rapidly as did La France, the exponent of the Empress’ policy- In his new journal the Emperor will foreshadow his future plans, and, as ostensibly it is neither official nor semi-official, it will be more out spoken than those papers which are. The duty of La Nation will be to prepare the public mind for coming events. It will be used, in fact, as a feeier. As its propositions are re- ceived by the public, so will the Emperor know how to shape his course. We consider the mis- sion of the new journal a most important one, and shall pay particular attention to its columns, It may not be amiss to state here that La Nation advocates immediate intervention in our affairs— a joint intervention if other Powers will act with France: if they will not, then intervention by France alone. eo rites we Taz Nava Fiowr mms Tae Gvir—Yarp Arm to Yarp Arm.—During the wars of the Revolution and of 1812 the American navy greatly distinguished itself in many bril liant engagements. Some of the most decided Victories then gave fame and distinction to the banner of the republic, among the most notable of which might be mentioned Perry’s battle on Lake Erie, the engagement of the Peacock and the Dart, of the Chesapeake and Shannon, and Paul Jones’ memorable conflict with the British Admiral Pearson, when the Bon Homme Richard engaged the British frigate Serapis yard arm to yard arm, There were many of these sea fights at close quarters in those days; but the vessels that took part in them were all sailing chips, as steam had not yet been available as an agent of war. In the fight with the Serapis Paul Jones’ ship engaged her for two houfs in a regular yard arm to yard arm struggle. Since stegw war vessels have po be. gun to displace sailing ships there has never been a running yard arm to yard arm engage. ment until the recent unequal contest be- tween the Matteras and the Alabama. This i® the first record of a battle at close quarters be. tween two steam vessels. The action was @ brief one, and the enemy triumphed by his su- perfor size, strength and weight of armament. But the gallant little Hatteras died game, and showed her pluck to the last. For twenty minutes she sustained and returned the raking fire of her huge antagonist, and at last went down, under the gallant Blake, with her gu. still speaking and the old fiag flying from the peak. Had the two vessels been more equally niatebed the result of ghie first steam yard arm fight would doubtless have been very different. Iuponraxe® QP THe Frexcu Fareprion ro" Mexico—The new# which we have Pdblished within the last few dayé from Puebla and Aca. pulco, in Mexico, taken in connection with the intelligence from France of increased activity in the military arsenals, with the view of in creasing the corps expeditionaire, gives to this crugade against Mexico far more importance than it has as yet assumed. It is becoming one of great magnitude to France, and perhaps one of great future danger to her. It is of para- mount interest to us, because it is collecting to the south of usa large and formidable foreign force, which may amount in @ short time to seventy-five or a bundred thousand men. This, with the large force that England may, upon necessity, raise in Canada, would have the ef fect of placing this country between two fo" reign armies, a circamstance that could not bug be dangerous to us in our divided state. An article, which we republish to-day from the Richmond Dispatch, will show, what we stated before, that French intriguers have also been actively at work in Texas to obtain the vilegianee of that State to the Frayce. The Southern tobaia transfer of the The Emperor Napoleon, though having offi. : ministerial warnings, and, of course, are more; question. That Napoleon should have felt the + a a | ‘