The New York Herald Newspaper, November 18, 1863, Page 5

NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 166%. Wood's will from ‘Tux Sorrredsion ov rue Hegary ws FRance.— 4 NEW YORK HERALD. Opricg N. W- COBNEK OF FULTON AND NASSAU 873. Volume MXVITE once ccc c cee . AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING.) ACADEMY OF MUSIOQ, Irving Placo,—Irauian Orena.— love. NIBLO’S GARDEN, Broodway.—Casiux WALLACK'8 THEATRI , Broadway.-Rosspace. “WINTER GARDEN, Broaiway.—Katuiven Mavoum+ weun—Tunice Marcizo. OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway.—Dvxs's Morro~ Tugae’s No Sven Woup 43 Fart, NEW BOWERY THEATRE, New Yoru P1vor—Toxw Hix Our. \ BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Liitr Dawsox—Four Lovaas—Lorp Dannizr. BARNUM MUSEUM, Broadway.—Giaxt Gir. Grant , Bor, Liurutiax King, all hours, Maxtetre—Jo- sxriine—alternoon and BRYANT’S MINSTRELS, Mechanics’ Hall, 472 Broad way.—Bruiortay Songs, Dancas, Burtesquus, &¢.—Tax Ruswix Bau. WOOD'S MINSTREL HALL, 514 Broadway, —Ermiort Boros, Dantas, ke-—Dawow avo Primus cua GEO. CHRISTY'S M LS, 585 Broadway.—Bun- xEsquEs, SONGS, Dance: Miscuuvous Monxzr. AMERICAN TREATRE, No. 444 Broadway.—Baturrs, PANroMimes, BURLESQUES,’ &e.—MOUNTAIN OUTLAW. BROADWAY AMPHITHEATRE, 485 Broadway.—Gyu- Wastid anv EQuestiian PERFORMANCES. Bowery=Mazerra— IRVING HALL, Irving place.—Gustavus Geant’s An- wuat Concert, HOPE CHAPEL, 718 Broadway.—Tax Srenz0scorrican NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway. Curiosities axp Lycrunss, from 94. M. Nisty P ri 7 Soounrs OPERA HOUSE, Brooklyn.—Ersrorian Boras, Dances, Burcusquss, 40. New York, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 1863. ADVERTISEMENTS FOR THE COUNTRY, Advertisements for tho Wxaxty Hxgatp must be hand- edin before ten o'clock every Wednesday evening. Its Cireulation among the enterprising mechanics, farmers, merchants, manufacturers and gentlemen throughout the fountry is increasing very rapidly. Advertisements in- eerted in the Wamxiy Heratp will thus be seen by a large Portion of the active and energetic people of thé United States, THE SITUATION. ‘The United States steamer Ashland, from Hilton Head, brings a3 accounts from Charleston up to Sundsy. The bombardment of Fort Sumter con- Uinued unabated. Rebel telegrams to Richmond say that the fort cannot be injured any further. ‘The Battery Gregg kept up a fire on the Tebg} bat- teries on Sullivan’s Island all Saturday afternoon, the enemy slowly returning thé fire from Fort La- mar and Battery Simpkins. The news from Gen. Meade’s army is not very exciting. On Sunday morning the cavalry divi- sion of Gen. Kilpatrick, under command of Gen. Custer, made # reconnoisaance slong the Rapidan, at Raccoon Ford, to ascertain the truth or falsity of the reports that the rebels were falling back upon Gordonsville. As our cavalry approach- ed they were met with a few guns from the rebel intrenchments; but our light batteries soon silenced them. A small number of rebel sharpshooters were seen in the lower ‘and shortly afterwards a strong re! force was discovered, but the river be! awollen Ye onvalry did not cross. It was believed ton two of the divisions Bits loft the Rapidan and gone southward; but whether to Tennessee or Fredericksburg, or to demonstrate upon the left flank of the Army of the Potomac, was not known. Our last news from Chattanooga, to the 16th instant, reports that the rebel battery on Lookout Mountain is vigorously at work on our camps, but is doing no damage. Lirge reinforcements are said to be arriving to General Bragg, and the rail- road from Chickamauga Station for a distance of eight miles south is lined with the enemy’s camps. An important engagement was expected before the campaign closes. Major General Sher- man was at General Thomas’ headquarters on Monday, having made a junction, with his entire corps, with the right of General Grant's army at Chattanooga. Another rebel torpedo was discovered in James tiver on Saturday. It was sent down with a view of damaging the Roanoke but Capt. Gabsevoort observed it and had it towed ashore, when the devilish contents of a rough looking pine box wore brought to light, in the shape of a tin case, con- taining thirty-five pounds of powder and ma- chinery for igniting it by percussion. MI§CELLANEOUS NEWS. The Republican City Convention met last night and nominated Supervisor Orison Blunt for Mayor, it having been authoritatively stated that Major General Dix had declined to accept any nomina- tion for that office. The proceedings were quite spicy. At a meeting of the General Committee of the German Democratic Union party last evening the @ mination of Mr. Boole for Mayor was endorsed with great uoan'mity. The General Term of the Supreme Court is at present engaged in hearing arguments in the question involved in the Gridiron Railroad grants »f 1860, namely, whether the Legislature can al jow one railroad company*to ran upon and use the \rack of another without its assent. The Fourth, . h and Eighth avenue railroad companies ob , fected to the use of their tracks by the lines char- tered in 1860, and cbtained injunctions, which | Were subsequently dirsolved, and the plaings have appealed. The arguments on appeals wi resumed to-day. The reception given to Rov. Henry Ward Beecher by his church last evening was an ovation, as will be seen bya full report of the proceedings in another part of to-day'’s paper. Nothing particulary interesting occurred yer. te mong the various t 8 NOW engaged in @ combined strike, A number of meetings are called for by the tailors, Bottles’ Protective Union, burnishers and miliwrights, whose calls will be found in our advertising columas. The stage drivers held a meeting about one o'clock this morning, at the corner of First avenue and Hleventh street; but the proceedings were over at too late an hour for our regular morning edition. A severe rain storm has prevailed at San Fran. cisco for several days past, doing considerable damage to shipping. The ship Aquilla, from New York, with the iron-clad@Camanche on board as cargo, stove in her bottom on Monday night, and wnok in forty feet of water. + Surrogate Tucker yesterday delivered his deo sion admitting to probate the will of the late Henry Coleman, which had been contested before him, The trial of Charles Breusing’s will was farther proceeded with in the Surrogate'’s Court. The Pwhiio Administrator was allowed time to procure a copy of Orlaado J. Pennsylvania. F At the meeting of the Board of Supervisors yesterday the Committee on Riot Olaims reported in favor of paying a number of bills of partica who supplied refreshments to the troops duriog the riots in July, The matter waa laid over. No further business of interest came up, and the Board adjourned to Tuesday next at three P.M. ‘The stock market yesterday, although exbibitiag con- siderable weaknoss at first, became quite buoyant AaB tho day advanced, and closed in the ovening firm, with prices considerably up from the day previous. Gold was to do. mand and highor, the price inthe morning being 147%, aad before the day closed it had reached 149, leaving off quite firm at 148%, There was no change in goverameut securities, The entire market presented a better appear: ance last evening than it did on the evening provious. ‘Ihore was not much activity im trade circles yesterday; yet we have to report a fair business done, consid ering tho unfavorable state of the weather aud tho ad vance in gold and exchange, which had a tondonoy to un- settle the markets and thus operate asa hindrance to trade. Imported merchandise was quiet, and the sales were small, At the Produce Exchange a more active movement was Oconsioned by the advance in gold, and prices were all up. Petroleum was decidedly active during the afternoon; but prices wore much lower, and the market was called dull at the close, Cotton wes @eady and firm, tne foreign news not having any in- fluence on the market. Groceries wore very quiet; but prices were generally firm, in sympathy witn gold. Continued heavy receipts and unfavorable weather combined served to depress the market for beef cattle, and prices receded fully 34c. per pound on all except strictly prime stock, which was active at full prices—100, @ 11c. Good cattle sold at 9c. a 10c., and other kinds from 6c. to 8 4c. , according to quality. The bulk went at 7}<c.a 10c., and the average was about 83¢c. All were sold, ‘The government agents took some 300 head, chiofly at 10c.a llc. Milch cows were steady at $30.0 $60. Veals wore steady at bo. aT}<c. a Bc.—the latter for extra. ‘Sheep and lambs were heavy and easier under large re- celpts; prices rangea from $3 a$4a$5a head. Swine were in lighter supply, and, dorpite the rain, sold freely at higher prices; corn fed, 6 gc. a 63¢c., and still fed, 63¢0. & 6c. The total receipts wore 6,4°6 beoves, 142 cows, 769 voals, 18,118 shoep and lambs, and 36,608 swine. Our Commeroial Interests—New York Merchamts and the Secretary of the Navy. We desire to call the special attention of President Lincoln, the next Congress and the American public to the correspondence which we publish elsewhere, between several leading merchants: of this city and the Secretary of the Navy. The subject of this oorres- pondence has fora long time engaged the at- tention and wounded the pride of every pa- triotic citizen of this republic; and, since Sec- retary Welles promises no redress and proposes no remedy for the evils of which our merchants complain, we wish to appeal from him to higher and more efficient authorities. It is indeed most gallirg to the national pride that four or five fleet Anglo-rebel cruis- ers should be allowed to drive our commerce from the-seas and defy our navy of five or six hundred vessels-of-war. Practically we have now no American commerce. Neutral ships do all our carrying trade, and the majority of these neutral sips are owned by Englishmen, who thus reap the’only profits of the Anglo- rebel depredations upon our merchants. Trading vessels are advertised in our col- umas to sail on such and such days “ander neutral flags,” as if the flag of the Union, | whose shelter commerce once eagerly sought, were now to be avoided like a pestilence. Three years ogo twice as many American than European ve-sela cleared from New York. Now the proportion is reversed. The humber of foreign vessels clearing from this seaport is double the nomber of American vessels, and, of course, the number of arrivals is divided in the same ratio. No American can consider thene facts with o icy or indifference. Thewestimegta wi areof ade. cidedly different sort. been grum- bling about them quite long enough. The time has now arrived for prompt and decisive action. If we were at war with some great naval Power we might look upon this destraction of our commerce as one of the necessary evils of war, and might console ourselves with the re- flection that we bad at least the chance of re- taliation. But the rebel confederacy is not a naval Power. The four or five ships with which England has supplied Jeff. Davis cannot be eaid to compose a navy. The rebels owe their success upon the seas not to their own efforts, but to the assistance of England and the supineness and imbecility of the Navy Department. Secretary Welles has obliged his friends with percentages and contracts, and has thus largely increased the num- ber of our ships-of-war; but that partof his duty which ought to be esteemed the most important he has utterly failed to perform. He is a Secretary of a land navy, not of an ocean navy. He or his agents can purchase ships, or charter ships, or have ships built; but when the ships are once upon the blue water he appears to lose all further interest in and con- trol of them. Six hundred vessels against five—that is the relative strength of the Union and the rebel navies. But if any one were to base an estimate of their comparative strength upon the records of the work which each has done at sea he would be compelled to state that the rebels have six hundred men-of-war, and we five slow and leaky tubs. This dis- graceful discrepancy must be Isid to the ac- count of Secretary Wellee. The war of 1812 conclusively demonstrated that we had then the fastest vessels in the world. How have ships built at private yards in England been permitted to surpass us? We have now the best sailors in the world, and our iron-clade are indubitably superior to say others afloat. There remain, therefore, only two points of naval excellence in which we could be surpassed, and those are range of guns and speed. Our heavy guns are unequal- led, as all the recent experiments have abun- dantly proven. We lack only speed. Singu- larly-enough, we, the fastest people on the face of the earth, do not possess a navy of the fastest ships. We have a few swift war vessels, like the Vanderbilt and Iroquois; but the great ma- jority of our men-ol-War are so slow that Noah's Ark would have the advantage of them ina stern chase, or could choose her own position ina fight. Some persons say that this is tho fault of the model, and others that itis the fault of the engines. We assert that it is the fault of Secretary Welles, It is his business to se- lect the proper models and to order the proper engines, and he does not do it. Why he does not is known only to the initiated. There are whispers of fine contract pickings, and rumors that certain parties lead the venerable Welles by the nose, and throw sawdust in his eyes whenever they like; but whether these whis pers and rumors be true or not we decline to decide, We do know, however, that, although the presont style of vessels is entirely ineM. cient, Secretary Welles goes on building hun- dreds imore like them, aud that this is a moat promising subject for Congressional inveatiga- tion. We ask Prosident Lincola to consider tho striking facts to which we have alluded, and those which are presented in the before us. We beliove that they furnish a suf- ficient cause for the ingtint dismissal of the Seoretary of the Navy. If tho President does not agree with us we ask Congress to iavesti- Gate theeo matters at the opening of the ses- sion, and giv» the public ani Mr. Lincola the'r opinion of the utter unfitness of Secretary Welles, in the form of a resolution of disappro- bation. He would not take the hint in the affair of two and a half per cent Morgan; but he may be compelled to move by another such resolu- tion. His apathy and incapacity have brought great disgrace upon the country, and he ought to be made to take a large share of it with him into his retirement. Napoleon's Views upon the Polish Ques- tion. We learn by tho City of London that Napo- leon opencd the French Legislature on the 5th with @ pec'fic speech, He spoke of the effect of the atrival of Maximilian in Mexico, aa if the acceptance of the throne had been decided upon by that prince; suggested a Congress for the settlement of the Polish question; re- gretted the unsatisfactory condition of the the financial affairs of France, and incident- ally alluded to the rebellion in this country. All know that these opening speeches do not always indicate what Napoleon intends to do. Our private advices, received from re- Hable sources, inform us that the Emperor is evi- dently preparing to make the Polish question of paramount importance, He has ordered Count Walewaski, his Minister, to write a history of Poland, with the intention, of course, of working upon the public mind in France, s0 that he may secure the sympathy of his sub- jects in the great war ho will undertake againat Russia in the spring. Therecan be no doubt that Napoleon has fully made up his mind to clear himself from the embarrassments which now impede his progress, and that he will withdraw his troops from. Rome, and thus end, ag far as he is coneerned, the Italian qi He has, we are told, pt kari. ai to the Spanish government that Queen Isabella should send ten thousand soldiers to the Eter- nal City, to replace the French garrison now occupying that town. To cause a friendly feel- ing towards France, the Empress Eugenie is making a tour through Spain, and ere long wo shall doubtless hear that the two countries are on the best terms, and that Spain has concluded to associate herself in the policy of France. ~ Once freed from the vexations of the Italian question, Napoleon will then, no doubt, make it very apparent that he has no further sympa- thy for Davisand his compeers, and that the cause of the South is one that be no longer wishes to meddle with, even indirectly. He well knows that ere he can successfully under- take his great campaign against Russia he must be on good terms with this government, and that this is impossible as long as he is intruding upon.our continent; so that we may reasonably‘ took forward to bis withdrawal from Mexico also. He will manage in some rhe is never at a loss for an expedient—to out of the Mexican expedition graceful! will do so as soon as he gets Maximilisn, rely on the throne, apd then, freed from all d care, will put himself upon ‘the neo ing to commence the gigantic enterprise b evidently determined upon—that is, war Russia. The people of the North, their minds to preserve the proved upportids the hd ernment in all its warlike measures; and, as a consequepce of this determination, we now see England and France taking alarm at our power, and repairifi, as fast as they can, the injuries done to our government by a too hasty evi- dence of their jealousy and ill will. Alone we have accomplished this, and ehall not need the assistance or alliance of any Power to enable us to conquer the South and command the respect and neutrality of Europe. The rebel- lion is near ite end. It has certainly lived longer than it would had not European aid and sympathy been extended to it; but that time has passed, and now the South will find that it mustsuccumb. To restore the Union and regain all and more than our former prosperity and power we shall need no aid. We are self- reliant, and work out our own good cause. From what we have said, it is plainly to be understood that we neither desire nor demand any alliance, and that all idea of our wishing to make common cause with Russia is alla mistake. Nowhere more than in this country will Napoleon meet with encouragement when he commences his campaign against the Rus- sians. We have always sympathized with the unbappy Poles and abborred the atrocities of the Russians in their attempt to subdue the former; and when we hear that Napoleon intends to make war upon Russia in order to gain the freedom of Poland he has our best wishes. We have seen enough of the Russians lately to more than satisfy us that these barbarians can- not be sympathetic with as. We made a violent effort to treat the Russians now visiting us with distinction; but owing to their barbarism the whole affair assumed the proportions of a stupendous joke. Barbarians they are, and bar- barians they will remain for some time to come, and we must say that we have had enough of them, and are quite prepared to grant our en- tire sympathy to Franco when she sha! com- mence the great struggle for P oland. Prices Maxmaraayn To Become Eurgion or Mextco—The Emperor Napoleon has an- nounced to the world that Maximilian will assume the’cares and anxieties of a seat upen the new throne to be erected in Mexico, and we suppose that his Maj sty of France wouldscarcely thus publicly assert the fact uolcs: it was preity well set- tled. We also observe that the Memorial Di plomatique, a semi official organ of the French government, as well as in the interests of Aus- teria, asserts that Francis Joseph not only con- sonts to fhe departure of his brother Maximil- ian, but that he actdally is choosing for him his future military housetboldthat is, his officers of the crown. This statement, if cory 29h, goay to prove that after all Maximilian will accept the offer of, France, and that thus Napoleon will bave a chance to withdraw from Mexico, and bend all his energies to ‘the great atraggle which is impending between France and Russia, apropos of the Polish question. In this Mexican affair there will doubtless be ‘an afterclap which will sadly bother Max and his abettors. We refer to the course which this goverament must sooner or later take aa regards the invasion of this continent by a foreign Power, and the oatablisihiment by force of a monarchy at anr aide That a0 publication of opinions or facts con- sdered “dangerous” to his power by the Emperor Napoleon can be permitted to cirou- late ia France is already well known, and we have accordingly aot looked upon it as a mat- ter worthy of observation that the packages of the Haan, ia commoa with the packages of all other forciga newspapers, were examined and submitted to a censorship bofore being permitted to go through the French Post Office. But recently another issue of this paper has bad the honor of entire euppreasion; aad, as thie ia some evidence that we have touched his Imperial Majeaty in a tender place, and cloarly fixes upon one fact that the Emperor considers “dangerous,” some consideration of it may be instructive. The paper suppressed was our issue of Oc- tober 12, in which we gave map of Mexico, and indicated very clearly, by heavy, dark lines, how very small a portion of that country was in the hands of the French forces. Napoleon considers that it would be “dangerous” for the French people to know the facta in relation to the lateat “Conquest of Mexico’”’—dangerous that they should know what a mere foothold France has after all, and how much remains to conquer. Asto what is dengerous in this re- apect he ought to be a judge. Yet, despite the suppression, the number of the Heratp in question circulates in France, anda sufficient number of copies are in the hands of proper persons to spread the facts in the way in which they will do the most to digpel the illusions of the French people upon the Mexican conquest. This serves to show how absurd “suppression” is. Marsoat Forey’s Viert to New Yors.—. When Marabal Forey put in here it was stated that the only object of his visit was to obtain asupply of coal. He was to remain incognito, and his stay was not to be protracted an hour beyond the time consumed by the ob- less, made several official calls in fulleuniform, thong others on General Dix. ‘He held ‘constant communication with Washington dur- ing his stay, whether with the French Legation or the State. Department, or with both, has not transpired. In another column will be found & paragraph from the Paris Pays, published juat at the time the Marshal was with us, which assigns a very different motive for his It states that he was to come here on a special mission, clearly showing that his visit had been pre- arranged, and that its object was purely and The facts, we sup- pose, will come out by and by; but,in the mean- time one thing is certain: that the conqueror of Mexico has gone away with a more compr ehen- ject announced. The Marshal, neverthe! visit from that first ascribed to it. simply a diplomatic one. alve idea of the United States. Retarive Cosr or Wurre ann Neano Sor- pumrs.—We see by an advertisement that the vites proposals for sewed bootees tor the colored nines to fifteens. ‘As these will average about twice as much leather to the pair as is required that of a white one. amount is mere conjecture and utterly unreliable. It may be stated, however, that the statement, that the total amount to be arked for the flacal year ending July 1, 1865 will reach twelve buadred million dollars is great ox- Aggeration. There is no reason to believe that it will reach anything like this, and probably will not at the utmost ex@ed three quarters of that amount, The state. mont that @ large additional amount of green- backs is about to be issued is also an error, as Mr. Chase has practically exhausted his Power to issne ourrency, aud canaot issue more until authorized to do 20 by Congress. Besides, the condition Of the Treasury is suchas to obviate any vecessity of a further increase of the national currency, even if it wore practicable. PRESENTATION OF ITALIAN OFFICERS TO THS PRESI- DsNT. Chevalier Isola, commandant, and Signor Martinez, lieutenant, of the Italian ships-of-war now lying in tho harbor of New York, were yesterday presented to the Secretary of State by the Commander Bertinatti, the Italian Minister, and by him presented to the President of the United States, and afterwards to the Secretary of the Navy, attended by the Secretary of State an4 the Italian Legation. They visited the Navy Yard, where they re- ceived the proper national honors. Te-day those distia- Guisbod visitors dine at the Italian Lagation, It is under- stood that they will attend the Secretary of State as oa. tional guests at Gettysburg. EXOUANOR OF CAPTURED SURGEONS. About one hundred and thirty rebel eurgeons,are to be ont from Fort McHenry to City Potot by a flag of truce to be exchanged. ll Union surgeons ia the bands of the rebels are aiso to be released and returned immediately, GENERAL KING'S MOVEMENTS. General King loft Washington to-night, and will start in Saturday's steamer for Rome. To-day the Fourth Dela- ‘ware regiment, togetbor with a lirge number of men from other regiments of his old command, formed ia front of bis hotel,and paid Lim a handsome iribute of esteem in their farewell. Arrangements are being mado for giviog hima grand dinner in New York previous to his de- partare, THe AKMy. It is (umored bere that the (ommand of aoorps in the Army of (he Potomae bas becn tendered to Major General Angar Gencrs) Kilpnirick leaves for the fren to-morrow, During his brief enjourn bere ho hac heen overwhelmed with attentions, end was to-day presentod by bis friends with a mggnificent eaddle hore: # To-day a nvmber of regiments-of tae Iavalid Corps were reviewed by the resident, Tue appearancs of the troops cliclted general a miratton. Hteutenant Colonel Lathrop, Inspector Genera! of the Pepartment of Washington, has been relieved Crom that post and arsigned to duty in another deld Edwin Heory, of Flushing, L. 1., bas been appointed by the President Commissary of Subsistence, with the raok of captain, to dateifom th: Ldth inat Colonel isaac F, hep rd, of tie Tint Miss-uri Votan teers, recently Commanding the ©» red troops in N rth eastern Lovisiaua, bas receiv. d tho appointment of brig dior general of vc! nteers, His appointment was strong ly recommended by Brigadier Genoral J. Kirby Smith and Major Generals Grant, Sivol*, Sherman and others, for military ability and distinguished gorvices ia the Southwest, His rank predates his comm tasion THe Nave. tain George F. Rmmona has beon detached {rom du'y leet Coptain of the South Atismiic Blockading Squad d ordered Norit Tidutenant Commander Etward Barrott has been onda: od to command the Maseasoit SMALLPOX AT POINT LOOKOIT. Tho Constivutional Onion says it has learnod, fom ao authentic source, that the smallpox prevails t a coo extoot at Point Lookout, Maryland, the depot risoners; acd as many aa cighteeo had died ia & single day IMPORTANT DRCISION UNDER THR CONFISCATION ACT. fa (ho United Statos District Court, for the Rastorn dis trict of Virginia, sitting at Alexandria, Jadgo Underwood this morning delivered an Opinion in the case of the United States vs. Hugh Latham, ander the Condscation aot, ia which he confiscates the real catale f Ube defend ant, ta foe simple, Thas decist © given aa selirciy differ. @at constriction of the law as rendered by other courts. Deputy Quartermaster General in Boston in- regiments, which are-to be of the extra sizes of for the fives to elevens, it follows that the cost of shoeing a negro regiment will be just double THE REBEL PRIVATEERS. retary Welles an Kelative to the D bamea and Goorgia. TAY OF THE NAVY, How. Gmson Waisas, Secretary of tho Navy, Washiog- ton, D. O.:-— Om the mercantile marine of the country have uot oaly destroyed a Lirge amouat of the active capital of tne merobanta, but sertously threaten tho very existence of (hat valuable part of our commerce. Apart from the loss of 80 much todividual wealth and tho destruction of 6 valuable source of material powor and enterprise, it is humiliating to our pride as citizeas Of the Great naval Power ob the oarth that s couple of todifferentiy equipped rebel cruisers should for go long a Itiea paloful source of mortification (o every American at bome and abroad that the great highways of our oom- merce have hitherto been left ao unprotected by the almost total absence of national armed vessels as to ia- duce rebel insoleace to attack our flag almost at the en- period threaten our commerce with annihilation. trance of our harbors, and to actually blockade our mor- chantmen at the Cape of Good Hope recentiy—an account letter recently received from @ captain of one of tho blockaded ships having a valuable cargo. We are ooa- ruisers on the boundiess waters of the ecoan, aided and abetted as they (oo often bave been at ports where ia- ternational comity, if not interaational law, has been got at deflance, and we have witnessod with satistaction the patriotic zeal and onergy of your Department aod the lorious auccesses of our nAVY in subduing the rebellioa ich threatens our national Union. Stitt we think that the loyal merchants and shipowners of the country, whose zoal and patriotic co-operation have generously furaished the funds to sustain the governmont, aro titled to have a more energetic protection of their been hitherto ext:nde! to them. Your vory duties have, no dou! tovestigatiog the serious inroads: state of our carrying trade has and, without troubil in in the almost total loss of foreign commerce, it the enctosed table, prepared aaa peblieies by ono of best informed commercial journals of this city alone, by during the quarter endit expo over $62,000 $80, quarter of this Bipasha later, our ships tre and gale to foreign }» which at this time of PAE aE éofam« cial activity does not so much indicate a want of enter- ition as a want of conddence In ion of our flag ov the ocean. The na- tional pride of many of our patriotic shipowners bas subjected them to heavy sacrifices in alerence of insur- ee capture, of two per cent to ton per cent, prise io this fleld of occu tho national underwriters of the country have been com polled to rele pe concessions in favor of America) it materially affecting the result, and ahtppin, wil many ~ PAs encountering heavy losses by capture, ia bad every reagon to beliove our Protected by national ee ahat cet a ing, indueace Y producing a great degree of temerity Of thé rebel ple bl and corresponding mis- givings on the part of underwriters and others in interest rotection would be oom od want of etek ighways of commerce bas BAS afisy ar th bad a damagi #8 to whether government ladon with vi le ‘med val our commerce in. Yet, it is tr that you will give the subject the end hive 3 which have so creditabs, WM. Wil , Jr., Merchant Shipowner GEO, OPDYKE, ae of New York city. AUGUST BELMONT & CO., Bankers. JAS. G. KING'S SONS, Bankers. ARCHIBALD GRACT t. HOWLAND & GHAM, Mercht Sbipowvers. WILLIAMS & GUION, Morchant Shi JOHN H. Presdent N. Y. ISAAC SHERMAN, Merchant Shipowner W. A. SALE & CO., Merchant Shipowners. THOMAS DUNHAM, Merchant Shipowner. SPOFFORD, TILESTON & CO., Meroht, Shipowaers. BABCOCK BROS. & CO, Bankers. 3. P, MORGAN & CO., Bankers. F. D. MORGAN, United States Seaator. New York, Oct. 28, 1863. SECRETARY WSLLES’ REPLY. Navy Derartuser, Wasmrnctom, Nov 1a, 1363. f Geotiemnn—Tho Department duly received your com- Munication of the 28ih ultimo, 10 reference to the depre- dations committed upon American commerce by the Ala bama and other rebel cruisere, The pursuit aod capture is a matter tbat the Department has coa- , and swilt steamers bave boon constantly Of those vi etaatly in in search of them, ard at times very close on to them. ‘They are under orders (o follow them wherever they may 0. The only vessel that bad the impudence to altack our fiag at tho entrance of our barbors—the Tacoay—was promptly pursued and her carcer was soon terminated. ‘Tne Department had about thirty vessels after ber. I thank you for your expression that energy and ability bavo creditably marked the administration of the Depart- ment in ail other channels of ofMcial duties. A rigid bloekade of the coast has been demanded, and its accom- = bas wired all the available force that tho a could bring to bear. To do this it could not | despatch a larger force than it has in search of Piratical rovers. It will continue to give this subject its tasurrection Attention, and hopes, as the avenues to the ary region are becom! wey ener on boay! Pps oe to be able to have a larger force to puraue the pirates aad secure the safety of our commerce abroad. Very respectfully, GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of tho Navy. To Riomano Larumns, Esq., and others. “i THE MONTREAL KIDNAPPING CASE. Arrest of Our Consal-Gen }» Joshua R. Giddiags. be Burrato, Nov. 11, 1863. We learn from a gentiomen just from Toronto that the Bon. Joshua R. Giddings has been arrested in Montreat and beld to bail in $30,000, charged with kidaapping IMPORTANT FROM M:X'CO. The Loyal Mexicans in Motten—Captare of Tasco from the Fren San Francisco, Arrived stoamor Constitution, from Panama, with dates from Mexico, but they are no lator than those already received Tasco, aloety miles west (rom Moxico, garrisoned by Froach and Mexican troops, was oxptured by guoritiag October 37, aad three hundred prisoners were taken Thuis is claimed to be the commencement of a seria of movomongs (or haraasiog the French outposts. SUT and Marine rae Sur AG HE (RON-GL.AD OAMAN- eye Vrs Bay Pacvewoo, Nov. U7, 1963 Thore haa been a severe rain Saturdiy, with a southeast gale, The slipping suffers Tho ship Aquilla, having the Monitor Camanche for car @0, broke from her moorings Last night, stove in ber bottom and sank with her bow in forty feet and her stern in twenty foot of water, Every effurt is making to save ot cargo wader the discourag ny citcumstancen The British edip Oscar sustained serious damage, and ia Cull of wate: storm in this oily since Desteuctive Fire at Wilmington, N.C. TRURGRAM TO THB RICHMOND BNQULEKE C., Nov. 15, 1908. A largo warehouse tom House wiry da atroyed by Gre inst aight, The loss, which is beavy, consisted of cotton, clothing, aud part of the cargo of (ho sloamabip Adyano®, Valungiag bo io State of North Carolina. Interesting Corre: p ndesce Between Bec- LETTSR OF NEW YORK MBROGANTS TO THE SEORE- Sm—The continued deprodations ef the rebel crutsors of which you bave hore cuctosal, being & copy ofa sclous that it is no casy matter to capture a couple of vented you [rom ich the unprotected Produced ou cur tonnage; you with the great logs which our ia only necessary to call your attonti n 4 d of this city, showing the loss of the carrying trade ou the imports and exports hick you will perceive that while June 30, 1860, we imported and in American vesseis and but gn vessels, we have in the correspond- ' _ only $23,000,000 by our own ships, while we have $86,000,000 by foreign vessels. The it painful decadence of ‘ners. lutuat ios. Oo. § MEADE'S ARMY. Reconnoissance and Cavalry Skirmish. eae A Portion of Hil’s Rebel Forces Gone Southward, &., &e., Se. Me. BF, G. Oh 's Despatoh. HikapQvakrans, Arwy ov run Nov. 16, RETURN OF GENERAL MuADS, Gonoral Meade, accompanied by Gonorals logalls anf Williams and Colonel Clark, returned from Washington Per special train to-night. Of course { oan omy guess the nature of tho business Gonoral Meade weat to Washington to transact, but from the vent matters are taking hore I am inclined to the opinion that those whe 60 to Gettysburg on ‘ibursday ooxt, with aa oxpectation of seeing him, will be greatly disappointed. " THM RAILROAD IN OPERATION AGAIN. ‘To-day the first locomotive passed over the bridge and road to Culpepper since the rebel tear up. Bho mackie used for the trip was the W. W. Wright, bandied by Kagt neer John Thompson, and directed by Couduoter Otiver Porine. The road is now fairly open to the Rapidan. Tee Much praise cannot bo awarded to General MoCalium end Colonel Devereaux and their able construction corps, ane and all, for the éuergy and skill they have displaped ts reconstructing this great military highway. They Gave Prepared the ties aud iaid the main track and switches for thirty miles of road, built over six hundred fect of bridging, a part of it from fifty to sixty foot in height, taid over twenty culverts, erected ten water tanks, end all within the space of throes weeks. The Press Despatches. ‘Wasnt varon, Nov. £¥, +1068, On Sunday morning the cavalry division of Gener@ Ka- pattick, under the temperary command of General Ous- (or, made a reconnoissance along the Rapidan at Raccoon: Ford, to ascertain the truth or falsity of the reports thal (the robels were falling back upon Gordonsville. As our cavalry approached they were mot with a few guns from the rebel intrenchments; but our light batteries 8000 silenced them. Asmall number cf rebel sharpshooters wore coon ie the lower rifle pits, and shortly afterwards a strong rebel infantry force was discovered, ‘The river was too much swollen by the heavy storm ef Saturday night to justify any attompt on our part to creme it, and go our cavalry returoed. It was confidontly bolioved that railroad trains woul run into Culpepper last night, aa the bridge over the Rappahannook was pearly completed, and the road ts wa- iojured thence to Culpepper. ‘The report on Thursday that a rebel force had crosse@ the Rapidan and attacked Kilpatrick's forces ia untrue. Several English officers are gueste at General Monde’ hoadquarlers, Information through a usually reliable ghanael Washington is to the eilect that two of the divisions General Hill’s corps have loft the Rapidan end geas southward, but whether to Tonneasee or Frederickeberg, or to demonstrate uron the left flank of the Army of the Potomac, does not yet appear. It ig reported that at loast ono autler of the rebel army remained behind at Culpepper, with a considerable stoclt of tobacco for sale to our troops. If this Is corres ¢he tobacco will be confiscated and gratuitously eupplied our soldiers. The President's Hymn. TO THE &DITOR OF THE HERALD. Naw Yorn, Nov. 17,1008, Enclosed you will Ond a bymn written byour Beloved: ‘and revered fellow citizen, Dr. Mublenberg, foander of @8. Lake's Hospital, and writer of the immortal byma, * would not live alwsy."’ Will you not give it a place! your columps, and use your editorial influence to ipdues our people throughout the loyal States losing it te the churches on the approaching Thankeg!ving as the “* Prog dont’s Hymn?” It bss a right to that designation. Ibi, as a comparison of the two will prove, a motrical yeraio® of the President’s proclamation, which this year, fer the rst time, made our ‘+ Harvest Home’’ 4 national featly val—a significant and blessed augury of that ‘mere porfeot Union’ in which, with God's blessigg, the war hall eave us as a people, Solicitous to have the highest us 3 i Union, liberty and peace will sooner descend om that can thus unite in ite Dri dod bomanea specttully, yours, HENRY W. THR MDENT’S HYMN. oie ans ra Lt ) with joyful y Give thanks, al! yo people, givo thanks to the Ly Allelujas of freedom, with Syrat accord. bic For the sunshine and ratnfail, enriching again Our acres in myriads with treasures UF cane For te earth still unloading pot or woalth, For skies beaming vigor, the wi breathing. z Give thanks, ko. For the nation’s wide table, o’erflowtogty Where the many have feasted, and ali bave With no bondage, their God given — to enthral, Bat Liberty guarded by Justice for all, Give thanks, &c. In the realms of the anvil. loom ad oe awe piney reper emg me bow: His tho flocks and tho herds; sing ye Lillaiées and vale; On His ocoan domains chant Hie name with the gales. Give thanks, &o. Of commerce and trafic. yo princes, behold Your riches from Him Whose the ailvor and Happter children of labor, true lords Bievs the great Master W. Nor shall yo through our borders, ye stricken of Rent, Only jead ju the joy recat ine ‘At that howor ard syiapathy*s pits can bestow Al can '* srmmcive a, be: In the domes of Messiah. ye worshipping thronge, Soloman litanies mingle with jubilant songs, ‘The Ruler of Nations to spare, t of His care, anks &o. mee ae Our guilt and transgreasions remember 09 mere; Peace, Lord! righteous peace, of Th; wo 4 ‘And the banner of Union, restored bites tad Be tue banner of freedom o'er ali in the land, And the Hanver of Calon, &c. Give thangs, kc. Arrival of Prisoners from Richmond. Forrasa Mownon, Nov. 17, 1663. The flag of trace boat New York arrived this evening, with three buodred and Mfty-five Union soldiers from Richmond. Fravct Tumaree.—The capital comedy, “Le Mart ale Campagos,"’ © well known to our public under its Eag- lish title of “The Serious Family,” was produced tast Hight at (hig house. It is now some five yoars since was played bere by a | reoch company, and it for the audience ali the charm of fresnocss. It was ox colleatly cast, the privelpal characters being sustained by MM. Donation, Gravier, Faye, Roche, aod Mesdames Le- vassour, Borgeou, Hamburg Pellotior, The differeace between the French and English versions of the piece is, tuat while the ono rarely paasos the limite of olognet comedy, tbe other fs made to dogenerate into broad farce. The situations are pearly the same, but there sa face about the dialogue which the English version fails to render,aod which, even if it did, would tose bail ite vale in the mouths of the ordlwary actors of whom our stock COMPANIES A°O COMponed With anch a cast wo veed mot nay that the pisve went of briltantly, Although, owing to the iaciemoacy of the weather, the house was a thin oue, the artiste played with more than their uson! eniraim, those excellent come diaos, MM. Donation and Gravier, putting forward their Dest efforts. One of the moriis of this comedy i# that onoh character has an individuality not subordioatd |» one or two leading parts, and therefore alording oppor tuolty for .th» dovelopmont of the resources of the com pany. There was not an indiferentiy played charaecver im the whole piece, from whigh it may be (aferred that i ave vom ixed satisfaction to all present, ;