The New York Herald Newspaper, December 28, 1863, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GURDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR OPFIOR X. W. ConN#w® OF FULTON AND NASSAU BTS. TERMS cash in advance, Money seat by mail will be at the risk of the sender, Nume but bank bills curront In Now York taken. . ° THE DAILY HERALD, Tunme conts per copy. THE WEEKLY HERALD, every Saturday, at Five conts per copy. Annual subscription price:— . $2 One Copy. . Three Copies. Five Copies ‘Ten Copies, Postage five cents per copy for three months. Any larger number, addrossed to names of subscribers, aaa $1 50 cach. An extra copy wil! be sent to every club of fen, Twonty copies, to one address, one year, $25, and ‘any larger number at same price. An extra copy will be © pent to clubs of twenty. These rates male the WHEKLY Hxnavp the cheapest publication in the cousory. ‘The Evrorean Epox, every Wednesday, at Five cents per copy, $4 per annum to any part of Great Britain, or $G to any part of the Continent, both to include postaxe. ‘The Caroma Eprion, oa the 34, 18th and 23d of each month, at Six cents per copy, or $3 per annum. ADVERTISEMENTS, toa limited number, will be ingorted im the Wesxty Haratp, and in the European and California Editions. VOLUNTARY CORRESPONDENCE, containing import- ant vews, solicited from any quarter of the world; if used, will be Mberally paid for, YONDENTS AKE PARTICULARLY RE.UESTED TO SKAL ALL Luts wg Orr Foretan Corns} TERS AND PACKAGES SF: NO NOTICE tuken of anonymous corresppndence. We do not return rejected communications. Volume XXVIII. ACADEMY OF MUS ONE. . Irving Place.—Tux Orena— NIBLO'S GARDEN, }roaoway.—Suanpy Maguitxe—IN AND Our ov Pracr—Harry Mas WALLACK'S THEATRE, Hroadway.—Lovr Cnase. WINTER GARDEN, — broadway.—Ticxer or Lyave | AN. OLYMPIC THEATRE, ag. —Camtiia’s TEesuan, - | NEW BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery— "ON OF Panis—Ip.or oF THe SUANNON—SkY Rock ys. PROWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Jack Suxvranp—Tue BenootmastER—WIZARD Seirr. BARNUM'S = MUSK''M, Giayt Gans, Grant Bor, Doura. Ticker or Leave May. BRYANTS' MINSTRELS, Mechanics’ Hall, $72. Broad. way.—Ermortax Sonos, Dancus, BuRLKSQUES, &o—TAKK- Tr anp Laave May, WOOD'S MINSTREL WALL, 5 Broniway. —Ermortaw Bones, Dancxs, &c.—Vox Man-nvcs Menaunitti GEO. CHRISTY'S MINSTRE EEsQuES, SONGS, DANCKS, Ac $85 Troadway.—Bun- KORY Bacxtoa. AMERICAN TAF ATRE, No. $44 Broadway.—Batrers, Pantomimes, Bunixsgues, Ne.—Liviies or Kittarxny. BROADWAY AMPHITE astic AND EQuxs7n1ax RR, 485 Troudwav.—Gya- PORMANCKS. Alt rnoon aud | claimed as Maryland. The Suppression of the Rebeliion—The Work Done tn the West—Richmond. The letter which we submit to our readers this morning from one of our industrious army correspondents, summing up the grand reaults achieved by our gallant soldiers and sailors in the West in the patriotic work of the suppres- sion of the rebellion, will be found exgeedingly interesting dnd suggestive. From these achieve- ments we can realize to kome extent the ivre- sistible, incalculable and enduring power of the glorious Mississippi river as an ally of the Union, and as involving the most foolish and the most disastrous of all the miscalculations of Jett. Davis and his fellow conspirators. The artillery captured from the enemy aloog the Mississippi might be so disposed that a pass- ing steamboat, from Catro to the Gulf of Mexico—some twelve hundred miles—would not for a single instant be out of range of two or three of the guns of this continuous battery. The rebel rams, turtles, floating steam batteries, gunboats, &c., captured or destroyed between Columbus and the Balize, all restored to their original fighting condition, would be sullicient in a smooth seg to sink the whole wooden navy of Great Britain in balf an hour. The rebel armies captured on or ex- pelled from the line of the Mississippi would, all together, present a more formidable array than the victorious allied army of Waterloo. The extent of country substantially reclaimed trom the rebellion by these military operations eclipses the conquests of the great Napoleon; and the damages thus inflicted upon tie enemy have simply decided the fate of Jeff. Davis and his dismantled confederacy. In this connection our unpretending Western soldier, Gen, Grant, has achieved a military distinction which will place him in history among the “greatest of military heroes of modern times. Hence the consternation among the plotting politicians of the day at the bare mention of the name of the people’s candidate for the next Grant as Presidency. Leaving these perplexed politicians for the present to deliberate upen the question what they are to do with him, let us briefly consider the great advantages to the Union cause gained by these glorious triumphs in the West. Two years ago fears were entertained of the safety of St. Louis; now Missouri is as effectually re- ‘Two years ago a rebel rmed usurpation claimed the right to the State government of Kentucky; now the re- maining soldiers of that usurpation are sub- sisting on half rations among -the shattered regiments of the rebel army of Georgia. Two yeurs ago an outspoken Unionist in Arkansas was at once disposed of by hanging; but to- dax, relieved of their rebel reign of terror, the people of Arkansas are breakiug out every- where in enthusiastie Union meetings. These popular manifestations convince us that Ar- kansas, of all the States dragged into this aui- cidal rebellion, has been most the victim ‘of Evening. . HOPE CHAPEL, 718 Broadwi Tus Streeoscorricax x Mingor or tae Universe. NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway. Cumositgs any Lecicees, trom y A, M. UMW P.M. HOOLEY'S OPERA HOUSE, Fores, Dances, Burixsquers, 4c. Brvoklyn.—Etmorun New York, Monday, December 28, 186: ADVERTISEMENTS FOR THE COUNTRY. Advertisements for the Wxxk.y HxxaLp must be hand. ed in before ten o'clock etory Wednesday evening. Its circulation among the enterprising mechanics, farmers, merchants, manufacturers and gentlemen throughout the country is increasing very rapidly. Advertisements in- ported in the Wxexty Hxranp will thus beseen by a large portion of the active and energetic people of the United blutes. THE SITUATION. Dates from Charleston harbor to the 24th. At that time no event of importance was transpiring.- No firing has been going on for some days past. The Ironsides and Monitors were lying safely at their anchorage. There is absolutely nothing new to report from the Army of the Potomac. Several of the vete- ran regiments are re-enlisting under the induce- ments of 8 most liberaf bounty. General Robert Tyler has been assigned to the command of the Irish Legion at Fairfax Court House, vacated by the death of General Corcoran. ‘The duty of superintending the exchange of pris- oners has been transferred from General Meredith to General Butler, and a new regime will be at once established. We give to-day a moat interesting account, from ore of our special correspondents af New Orleans, of the condition of affairs in the Mississippi val- ley, consequent upon the war, showing the damage which that fertile region suffered commercially and socially. It willbe read with great interest sa part of the memorable history of the war. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. The deed conveying the Midland Railroad, Mas- sachusetts, from its present proprictors to its new owners will require government stamps to the value of $1,000. The Indianapolis (Indiana) papers record . five highway robberies in the streets of that quiet city in two days. The Fairfield county (Connecticut) seduction case, in which the plaintiff was a deaf and dumb girl, was tried last week at Bridgeport, and result- ed in a verdict of $1,600 damages and costs against the dofendant. $ Inactivity everywhoro prevailed on Saturday, and but Hittle business was done in any department of trade. Prices wore nominally the same for most articles of bar ter. At the Produce Exchange things wero the same as on Thursday, The bosiness in all articles was moderate @t previous prices. Cotton was firmer. Groceries were quiet, Petroleum was dull, but firm Freights were dull, Detunchanges, Minerzex’s Svocessrvt Raiw.—Having con- quered the Quaker City, Maretzek found that ere he began the siege of Boston he had time enough to make s short raid upon New York. Like General Grant, Maretzek “moved at once upon the enemy’s works.” He lost no time, but stormed our Academy of Music boldly, and the result has proved that fortune favors the brave. The public capitulated at his first onset. At the matinee on Saturday Maretzek’s prisoners might have been counted by thou- sands. His camp was full of them. We may etate to his credit that, having demanded a light tribute from each person captured by his forces, he allowed them to depart on parole @bat they would let themselves be taken again, not only tonight, but on Wednesday evening, after which, having achieved an over- swhelming success and obtained an immense Dooty, Maretzek will marshal his forces and move with closed ranks upon the devoted “Hub ‘of the Universe,” which place we are gure will oapitulate at the first attack, and surrender at Giseretion the moment Max shall have fired his big guns Tone and Faust secession violence and ruffianism—excepting, perhaps, the State of Texas. From Missouri to the Rio Graude little comparatively remains to be done but to glean up the broken fragments of the rebel armies, while from the Georgia and Alabama northern border to the Gulf the kingdom of King Cotton and King Davis is fairly within the grasp of General Grant. Thus from Chattanooga to the Gulf and the Rio Grande the numbers and the disposition of the Union forces may be considered equal to the task of finishing the work betore them with the return of spring. But while Richmond re- mains untouched, and while the army of Lee holds our Army of the Potomac in check at the half-way river from Washington, the suppres- sion of the rebellion from the West towards the Fast will still be something like a siege—the work of regular approaches from point to point. Take Richmond, and the effect will be a general collapse. If the administration desires to end the war ata single blow it has only to call into the fortifications of Washington fifty thousand three months militia, and with twenty or thirty thousand men added to the army of General Meade move it over or around the army ef Lee upon the rebel capital. The time. has surely come when the fall of Richmond will be the end of the war; and, therefore, instead of re- ducing the rebellion any longer by piecemeal over half a dozen States, the main object of the government should now be to finish it at once, from Virginia to Texas, by the capture of Rich- mond. Cor Orr tax Reset Conmunications,~-The re- cent splendid operation of General Kelley in Western Virginia shows two things very clear- ly. First, that the enemy have plenty of sup- plies at certain bases, but that the difficulty of conveying them to the great centres of their armies renders the position of the latter often precarious and cripples their movements. And, next, it shows the immense value of our caval- ry force in increasing that difficulty by cutting off communications by railroads and canals. It appears that large quantities of supplies are stored at Lynchburg and at many smaller places in the surrounding counties of Western Virginia, such as Salem, Liberty, Staunton and others, and that these posts are carefully and nervously watched by the rebels, as the supply of Richmond and Longstreet’s army depends upon the communications being kept open. General Averill’s expedition—in which, as he deacribes it, his men “marched, climbed, slid and swam a distance of three hundred and fifty miles’’—succeeded in destroying some of these communications, and thus doing incal- culable damage to the enemy. During the win- ter season our cavalry might be employed in this duty without breaking up winter quarters, and so accomplish more mischief to the rebels than the loss of a pitched battle. Generar Grant ag ax Apinistrator.—The best regulations issued by any of our military governors or generals since the commence- ment of the war are those published by General Grant in his General Order No. 7. Whilst they effectually protect the soldier against the thieves and swindlers who usually swell up the train of an army, they as efficiently guard against any ill treatment by the soldier or camp follower of the inhabitants of the con- quered region which our army now holds. Be- sides his incomparably superior merits as a military commander, there is this distinctive feature in all General Grant's administrative acts: he has never dssued an order which bas not been dictated by the welfare of the ammy and the interest of the people.who have been brought ander his jurisdiction. From the com- mencement of his career down to the present time there has not been the first breath of an insinuation that his military regulations bave been framed with any view to his own advan- tage or to that of his friends. Where can an- other candidate for the Presidency be found with better antecedents’ £400 NEW YORK HERALD, MUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, iss. More Work for Inyestigating Commit- tcos—Marine (Transportation and Horses. In all ite branches the Quartermagter’s De- partment of our army needs a thorough over- hauling; but in none more ao, nor 60 muoh, as in the items of marine transportation and the purchase and gale of horses. In the hiring, by officials connected with the army, of marine transportation, some of the vastest and most thoroughly infamous frauds of the war have been committed. In some cases vessels have been chartered and kept in the service for years at daily rates amounting every month to mech more than their total value. Steamers ana salling vessela have thus beqn paid for ten, fifteen and stwenty times over, the officer who makes the charter having, in nearly all such cases, a “next friend” who is owner of one third or one-fourth of the speculation, Ib no’ single mstance that we have heard of bag the Quartermaster General taken any step to brand with official reprobation these proceedings. This whole aubject should be thoroughly sifted before a Congressional favestigatiog committee, when it will be found that robbe- ries of the;public treasury, of a magnitude un- exampled elsewhere, have been perpetrated in this branch of the service. But it is io the purchase and sale of horses and other draught animals for the use of the army that the most open profligacy has been exhibited. Government is now paying an avo- rage of $138 per head for horses; and of this amount, unless all concurrent reports be erro- neous, the seller has aot unfrequeatly to pay a very handsome discount to the “next friends” of the officers who are employed to examine and purchase such cattle. With friendly pur- chasing officers and inspectors, the businesa of supplying horses is an extremely lucrative ove, while with officers of a different turn of mind the present pricés paid for horses and males by the government are notoriously in- suflicient to do more than secure, with economy and good judgment, a serviceable and endur- dng quality of stock. But, while government thus pays through the nose for all the draft cattle it gequires, the mode in which it disposes of such of its horses #5 are temporarily or altogether disabled for the severe labors of military service demands attention. We have now betore us the returns of a single sale made on behalf of the govern- ment one day last month. The lot sold comprised eighty horses and nine mules brought up from North Carolitia, and placed in the market at an average cost for transportation and keép of $21 per head. Of these sixty-six were sold at an average of $8 8% per head, giving a total of $521 75, while the mere cost of bringing them to the auction block was $1,386. But one sold at $50, while the remaining thirteen were disposed of at rates sarying between $20 and 350, with a very decided inclination towards the lower sum. Four of the horses were sold at fifty cents each—much less than “a fifteenth of what their dead carcasses would fetch at the knacker’s. Four more were sold at a dollar each; three at two dollars each; four at five dollars, and so on through the list. Of the horses thus wold, we have evidence that many were to the full in as good condition as those which are daily purchased by the gov- ernment at prices averaging $138 each. Man: were far superior to the average run of horses the Quartermaster’s Department, only needi afew weeks of idleness and good feeding in the country to make them worth from one hundred and fifty to two hundred dollars per head. Whecan doubt but that those horses will soon be led back to the government sta- bles to he purchased—the “knowing ones” who were present as purchasers at the sale next ap- pearing as sellers, and receiving the full govern- ment price for cattle which but a few weeks ago they bought from the United States at ‘some price ranging between fifty cents and nine dollars. This matter is a very disgrace- ful one, but not worse than hundreds of others which are occurring daily in our midst. Some enterprising Congressman should star$ an in- vestigating committee on the subject, and give the whole matter of the purchase and sale of horses by the agents of Uncle Sam a thorough overhauling. Tae Reset, Navy Rerort.—The report of the Secretary of the rebel navy contains some very frank acknowledgments of its failure to accom- plish for itself any very brilliant achievements during the past year. Of course the rebel Sec- retary refers in glowing language to the sur- prise and capture of the Harriet Lane, but says that, owing to the vigilance of the Union naval force, he has not been able to accomplish any- thing with her. He boasts of the exploits of the Alabama and Florida—vessels which Mr. Welles promised us long ago should be cap- tured; but they still float. Mr. Mallory states that the Nashville was a commissioned privateer, fitted out with the view to harass our commerce, but was brought to an untimely end by the Montauk; and further states that, owing to General Grant’s operations at Vicksburg and Porter’s co-operation on the Mississippi river, the rebel navy on the Western wa- ters was used up, and that he was obliged to withdraw the remaining ones to places of secu- rity or destroy them. He also states that in the Johnson’s Island plot he sent twenty-seven commissioned officers and forty trusty petty officers to assist the rebel army officers in re- leasing the prisoners at that place. By orders of Jeff. Davis he despatched several agents to England and France to contrat for ¢ight iron- clad rams for the purpose of breaking the blockade. Five were to be built in England and three in France. Owing to the unfriendly construction of her neutrality laws the ones built in England were not allowed to depart, while those built in France vere subjected to so many official visitations that he has sent orders to bave the work on tiem stopped. Mr. Mallory complains tha: his piratical craft experience much trouble in obtaining coal, and of late the Engtish provincia! sathorities have not afforded them the facilities they ence so treely proffered. He bas intruoted his chief pirate, Captain Semmes, to purchase coal from neutral shipmasters, giving them documents which would clear theit skirts in case the Union authorities troubled them. To carry on this piratical mvy Mr. Mallory estimates that it will require $27,249,890, in addition to $14,024,016 remaining to the credit on the Treasury. Last year he expended $24,- 413,645. The personnel of the navy remains the same as last year. Three bundred and eighty-three commissioned naval officers have taken positions in the army. The petty officers number one hundred and ninety-one, while the roll of sailors gives a return of eight hundred and seventy-seven, not including those oa the privateers at sea. In conclusion he recom- mends the immediate construction of at least six turreted iron-clads for barbor operations, stating that experience has demonstrated that they are. absolutely necessary if they expect to break up our blockade. Tux Cost Commination—A CHALLENGE TO THE Monoro.ists.—It is now quite certain that no efforts of the coal monopolists can force the price of the article higher than it bas been. Even the stoppage of navigation cannot have any influence on it; for while the speculators have been accumulating heavy stocks con- aumers have been holding back, anticipating a fall ia prices, and have been only purchasing to supply their immediate wants. As was ex- pected by those posted in the matter, this de- cline has already set in, and tt depends ow? ont the consumers themselves tg acceler te it by reducing a5 much as porsthle the amount which they burn, and bs cgafinuingto buy from week To week only that which they absolutely re- quire. By using the good old fashioned wood stove in their apartments, er even the petro- leum stove where the rooms.are small, they can contribute very much to lessen the demand for coal, which will very soom have the effect of bringing the monopoliats to their senses, Tt is the sheerest impudence to pretend that there has ever been apy justifiable ground for the miners and shipping firms raising prices to their present exorbitant standard. One cause al- leged for {t is the increase which has taken place in the government consumption. Against this, however, we have to set down the fact that there has been an increase in the quantity mined of over two millions of tons. Making all due allowance for the difference required for government uses on the estimates of the two years, it would afford no explanation of the necessity for such an advance. If wo investigate the facts we shall see how utterly unfounded are all such pretences. In February, 1862, the cost of mining, preparing and putting into the cars at the mines of a ton of coal was from sixty cents to one dollar, sixty cents being about as low and one dollar as bigh as any operator paid. Now, as- suming labor ofall kinds about the mines and materials used in mining to have advanced fully one hundred per cent, coal can now be mined, cleaned, put in the cars, transported to New York at the present rates of railroad trans- portation and sold for $6 75 to $7 per ton, best quality of Lehigh coal, and still leave a hand- some profit for the minor. And yot the Lehigh monopolists have had the audacity to ask $6 50 per ton for coal delivered at Mauch Chunk. Now it is as well to give the names of the com- panies and firms engaged in this combination, for until they are pilloried before the public they will be influenced by no sense of shame. They are the Lehigh Coal and. Navigation Company, Bucks Mountain Coal: Company, Ebervale Coal, Company, and the German Pennsylvanian Coal Company, We mightadd nioe or ten firma; but the above will do for the Lehigh region. . _Now, will it! be believed that, although ‘coal ranges so very highin New York, witbia a. couple of weeks the supply at Elizabethport has been so great that the shippers there have been complaining of being blocked up and.of having a soarcity of orders? The best evidence that we can give of the correctness of these statements is the fact that thare is at handa party well acquainted with the coal regions, who is ready to take a lease of elther of the mines owned or worked by the parties above named, and who will deposit a large money guarantee to deliver coal in New York for ten years to come at $6 75 per ton. ‘Let consumers consider well these facts and take their measures accordingly. It only requires a united effort to break down this atrocious monopoly, which does not hesi- tate to speculate on the necessities of the poor and to risk the lives of thousands in order to swell unfairly its already large profits. - Beyer Warp Bexcurr on Vovonterriva.— In his speech on Suturday at the Academy of Mudle Henry Ward Beecher objected to the sys- tem of volunteering, on the ground that it was @ mercenary operation, and went in strong for conscription. It is notto be wondered at, per- haps, that Mr. Beecher, who has just come fresh from Europe, where he has seen the conscript system in working order, should be in love with it; and, indeed, he seems to take to it quite geoially. Neither isit surprising that he should condemn volunteering as “mercenary;” for, ds he is never mercenary himself, of course he is competent to pronounce upon the subject. As he preaches for nothing, lectures for nothing, and travels to Europe to enlighten foreign na- tions upon the negro all for nothing, and finds himself to boot—for that little ten thousand dollar salary from Plymouth church is not worth talking about—there can be no doubt of the propriety or consi@ency of Mr. Beecher deseanting upon the mercenary motives of the volunteers. He is just the man to do it. But at the same time we do not see how the soldier canbe called mercenary for endeavoring to provide for his family before he offers his ser- vices, and perhaps his life, to his country, rather than to leave his wife and little ones to the cold charity and chance assistance of those who stay at home, like many of our preachers and others. Itis both noble and provident to se- cure a provision for those who may be left helpless, and the ‘volunteering system, by 80 doing, deprives the necessary evil of keeping up a large army to crush rebellion of much of its hardship and bitterness.. But Beecher says it is mercenary; and Beecher is no mercenary man. Tae Increase or Immigration.—The English press and public are greatly distressed ‘at the immensely increasing emigration from Ireland to this country. The weekly returns here show that Europe is throwing the most stalworth and possibly the most valuable portion of her population into our cities by thousands. For years immigration has not been so large as it is now. The demand for labor, consequent upon the war; the vacant places to be filled in the workshops, farms and factories throughout the land, from whieh thousands have gone forth to battle for the Union, and the advanced rate of wages which labor commands, are, no doubt, the inducements which have quickened emigra- tion, And it is oply beginning; for when the abolitionists have succeeded in exterminating the black rave, as they are rapidly doing, and when the war is over, there will be an illimita- bie field for European laborers in the South. In the course of @ year or two there will be room and abundant employment for some three or four millions of foreign laborers, and of course, according to the system of demand and supply, they will come here. We are, there- fore, but in the infancy of an immense immi- ———— LT gration of thews and sinews,. quick brains, brave bearts- and industrious habits; for it is only men possessing these qualities who have the enterprise to make a start in a new coun- try and take opportunity when it comes. NEWS FROM WASHINGTON. Wasuinarow, Dec. 27, 1863. THE POSITION OF GENERAL GRANT. A personal friead of Goneral Graut ia this city has just received «lerter frona that eminent officer, the foutests of which are strangely at variance with tho publismed ox- tract of another latior, allezod to hayd emanated from tho Same distinguisned source wid SZarossed to a gentleman resnadlai Indeed shor 45 guch a marked difference contained ~ 4t8 OXpressed in one letter and those tae other as to excite considerablo doubt +ning the genuineness of the Now York lottar. The fact is tht tho potitictans arc taken, 60 complotely ‘by surprise by the boldness and popularity of the Aeray’s course in regard to tho next Presidency that thoy are at thoir wit's ond for moans to counteract a Movement which threatens to defeat all their achemos for the succession, The extraordinary hold that Geuoral Grant bas taken of the popular heart has alarmed all the old tucticians, who for the last few days have beon Perfectly frantic with rage, oursing tho Huera.p without stint,-and pooh-poohing each other like 80 many eacaped § lunatics. Secretary Seward {a the only disappointed candidate who takes the matter quite philosophically, although {t has been re marked by those near bim that he consumes more Ha- vanas than ysual, which i@ a eure indication of some olight derangement in his nervous system. President Lincoln stated last evening, in the course of cohversation with a woll known wire-pullor for bis re-clection, that unless General Grant can be persuaded to damage him- self by some act of imprudence thore is no power on earth which cao hinder him from taking possession of the White House la 1865. As a atriking Illustration of the Peculiarly morbid condition of mind which our amiablo Chief Magistrate has been thrown into by this sudden turn iy the indications of the political zodiac, I may mon- tion tho fact that, immediately after the conversation above alluded to, a distinguishod officer, direct from the front presented: himself on some business of moment, but found it go utterly. Impossible to engage his attention that he had to forego the object of his visit. In the letter referred toat the beginning of this des- patch, General Grant expresses the most unbounded con- fidence in the wisdomof the American people, and un- questioning deference to their wishes, so that all the as. sertions about his dectiving to be a candidate, which have been s0.adroitly circulated, are uttorly destitute of cithar trath or plausibility. M THE OWESAPEAKE AFFAIR AND OUR REGATIONS WITH GREAT BRITAIN, Unusual interest is manifested in official cirgies in refor. ence to the aettioment of the Cbesapeako ant. It is re- garded as infinitely more serious and more provocttive of a foreign war than any question that bas been presented for adjudication by the State Department. BFYEOTS OF THE RECENT ARREST OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYS, Tho recent arrests of purchasing and disbursing officers upon charges of fraudulent dealing towards the govern. ment havo created considerable consternation among oon- tractors, a of whom fear that they may bo insplicated in the frauds developed. The discovery of the ‘peculations in the Redemption Bureau of the Treasury Department appears to bo only the beginning of a series of develop- mentaabout to be mado, of serious and more extensive dishovesty upon the part of public servants, which are ‘now uadergoing Mmvestigation. Some of thom have long. ‘deen suspected, and even charges have boen proferred @gainst them, and dismissed as simply ridiculous; but a ‘Soarchlag investigation is wow on foot, and astounding dishonesty, it is eaid, will bo exhibited. THE DRATH OF GENERAL COMON FORT. ‘sf Mt -wonld'bo difficult to convey an adequate idea of ‘the gloom which tas pervaded the Mexican legation since the confirmation of the report ot General Comonfort's doath, Tho calamity is folt as the greatost that could have befalion to the national cause; for although there are other military leaders in tho fleld far more segacious and capable, yot there were #0 many nobdie attril which clusterod aroung General Comonfort’s character to rendor him emphatically the most popular man m the Conntry—tho one most likely to organize a successful re- sistance to tho invading armics of Napolodn. ~ The purity Of bis life, his high integrity and scorm of meanness in man or thing gainedg@im @ warmth of porsonal rogard which overroad all othor considerations, and placed him in the front rank among those fow high-minded Patriots who are now struggling to effect the salvation of that long misgoverned country. General Comonfort ‘will be woll and kindly remembered by a largo number of your prominent ditizens, who delighted to honor him during bis residence in New York city, whoro his ameni- ty Of manners and unaffected urbanity endeared him to all who camo in contact with him. Two of his daughters are still oisbing their education at the Convent of the Sacrod Heart. THS PRINTING OF THE OFPIO(AL DOCUMENTS. The govornment printing establishment is working Qight and day upon tho documents accompanying the Prosidont’s Mossage; but the oxtraordinary volume of many of these documonts rendors detay in their publica- tion unavoidable. THR HOLIDAY LULL OF WASAINGTON LIFE. ‘Washington is extremoly dull just at present From Senators and Representatives ia Congross to the over. worked clerks in the departments, every one appears to be enjoying the resting time afforded by the holidays. The First Sunday on the Ice. THR SPORT BILL RXCITING—TWRNTY-FIVK THOU- SAND ON THR ICK—-THE BURPACK SOFT, BUT THA ROBY OF ICK STILL FIRM—VISIT OF DISTINGUISHRD SKATERS, BTC. Notwithstanding thorain avd qwarm atmosphere the ice on tho Park remained firm during the whole day. Skating was allowod up to aix o'clock in the evening, and about twonty-five thousand persons enjoyed themselvos 6n tho ico until that hour, when the pond was cleared, according to the uaual custom on Sunday evenings. Tho men wore thon set to work preparing tho ice for today’s akating. . The skating surface was somowhat softened yesterday by the rain that fol] during the mornidg, and the sharp edges of the akates cut into it rather deeply, the loosened particles molting almost as soon as rémoved. But be- heath this crust the ice was firm and strong, with very little sign of giving way for a fow daya unless the woath- er should get warmer. If safe skating will bo allowed to-day, and the pond will be illuminated to-night. Mr. Weaver, tho Presidont of the Woaver Skating Club, of Philadelphia, and several other members of that body, are on a visit to the city, and wero proseat yesterday on the Park. They exhibited during tho afternoon many specimens of their atyle of fancy skating, and if the ‘weather should prove favorable thoy will again visit the Park this afternoon. , ‘Tan TrmaTee Francais.—The French theatre hes bo- come @ fixed institution in New York, aud may now be looked upon as one of our most fashionable places of amusement. The manager has shown groat tact in alter- nately giving comedies, vaudevtlles aod opercttas. He haa secured the services of talented artiste, and all that he needs now to render his enterprise a most successful one tsa larger and more commodious theatre. We do not doubt that, were such at his disposal, the Theatre Franu- cais would become par excellence the rendezvous of the elite of our society. We are glad to see that M. Juignet intends giving some of Offenbach’s lightor pieces, they are irresistibiy droll and will draw large audiences. These, with comedies, vaudevilles and farces, plaved by such artiste as Mme. Levasseur, Mile, Hamburg, Mos- dames Donation, Bergen and Polletior, Messrs. Gravior, Chol, Donatien, Roche and Faye, will reader the season pt played by the French artists unusually bril- Snor wana on Pickar Dory. —Oa the night of the 12th inst., while privates Michael Egan, of Company B, aod ——. Norris, of Company F, Thirteenth New York cavairy, were out 08 picket daty at Germantown, Ve. yg fe both shot by guerilias from the bushes. the former died the next day, and the letter w said to be recoveriug from bis wound. ‘The United States Consulate at Montreal. e Buauinaton, Vt., Dec. 27, 1663. A roport of the removal of J. W. Howes, Esq., from the office of Vico Consul gt Montreal, which impugned Mr. Howes’ loyalty, to be utterly groundiess, Mr, manted vei aa SSvectocn stahemnon of Osan 0a 5 General Giddings, boib ig Capacity and lvyaity. Abel Gilbert and Judge McCurdy, of Salt Lake City; Lieutenant J. H Counseimen, Un! States Army, Po J Price, of Cleveland, Sherman Paris, of New York, and Jobo D. Porry, of St. Louls, have arttved at tho; Metro. iitan Hovl POSTSCRIPT, a MonDaY, DE 23-4 A. M. TWO DAYS LATER FROM EUROPE. ARRIVAly OF THE OLYMPUS, Meeting on the American Qu es- tion in Leicester---Mr. Cob- den and the Editor of the Times at Issue. THE EUROPEAN CONGRESS OBSTRUCTED BY ENGLAND AND AUSTRIA, &eo,, &e., , & Tho extra Cunard atoamer Olympus, which Jeft Liver. Pool at 1 P. M. on the 15th and Queenstown on the 16th instant, arrived at this port this morning at 3 o'clock; bringing 406 passengers and a general cargo. Dec, 22d at 10 30 A. M., Ing 46 26, long 42 02, passed steamship Kedar hence for Liverpool, Ata public meeting recently held at Leicester, a reeo- lutioti jn favor of the separation of the North and South was adopted by a very large majority, The meoting viewed tho aubject exclusively from tho slavery point and based the revolutions on the opinion thit the extinction of slavery would be best promoted by secession. The controversy between Mr. Cobden and the Times had morged into a personal matter between Mr. Ovbden and Mr. Delano, tho editor-in-chief of the Times, Garibaldi has issued a manifesto to the powors in favor of nationalities. The Venegian Committee calla upon the people to prepare for action. A crisis in the Austrian Ministry was expected, A.special correspondent of The London Times writing Riohmond doints out that the Federrls are now im- vesting the ports of Secessia with a cordon of vessels eo numerous sg for the first time in 30 months to make ac- cess to the Confedrate coast reylly difficult and dangerous Tho Times correspondent at the headquarters of the Confederates in Tennessee, says that a crisis in the war 18 approaching which will test moro than ever the stubborness and tenacity of tne, South, Hoe pays a high tribute to the magnificence of ‘Northern faith and self-re" lance as contrasted with the lukewurmuess of the Southern masses. . The Alabama Aguin at Work, A telegram from Aloxandria reports that the American ahip Winged Racer, which left Manilla on the 7th of October for Now York, and the Amanda, bound to Fal- mouth, had been burned off Java Heads by the Alabama on tho 16th of November. The Proposed Oongress. Tho Monilevr publishes the replies of the Germanie Con! ederation, Denmark and Greece, to the invitationto the proposed Congress. They are all acceptances couched in flattering terms to the Emperor Napoleon. Tho Ost Deutsche Post, of Vienna, says the Austrian gove eromont had forwarded a note to Paris definitively de clining the invitation to the Congress, The Kurope of Frankfort saya:— ‘Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys bas addressed a circular to the French Diplomatic Agents abroad relative to the Congress. ‘he circular does not trace out the programes to be adopted, as bas been asked {ey somo governments, for such programme cannot be the work of one government, or even of two or three, The refusal of England has frustrated the combisstioa of @ Kuropoan Congress, but France is ready to come toa understanding with the governments who shail think ft ugoful to dehate principally among themselves those questions, which, it left to chance circumstances , “might conduct to the most fatal complications. The govern- ment of the Emperor wonld) consider it failed Ju its duty _ if it abstained from profiting by the dispositions go cor. dially manifested. The programme of the questions which Congress thus brought together should discuss, is sttil considerable enough to encourage the Cabinets in the path marked out.’” Tho Hurope adds that several governments have ae- corded @ favorable reception to the proposition of France: Tho funds on the 14th wore firmer, but the improve. mont was not fully sustained. Congols closed at 907400136 The money market was without essential change. There was rathor more demand fur discount on the 14th, but ae undue pressure. Musical. ITALIAN OPERA. The matinee at the Academy of Music last Saturday was ® grpat success. The house was overcrowded by adios in rich (oilettes de ville. The performance was ia every respect most brilliant. We doubt whether the opera of Don Giovanni was ever more completely ren- derod in this city than on this sion, Mme. Medort, ag Donna Anna, was much applauged. Mias Kéllogg’s Zerlina was one of her mort successful efforts. Her per- formance of this role bas won well merited praise from the most critical. LastSaturday she (ully vindicated her claim to all that has been previously said of her admira- blo singing as well aa acting. Signora Bollini and Biachi, as Don Giovannl and Lepo- rollo, sang and acted most effectively, and were much epplauded. We should have stated above that Miss Stockton, as Donna Elvira, was very satisfactory. ° ‘To-night M. Maretzek’s artists will appear in Potrolla’s Tone, and on Wednesday we snali have Gounod’s Faust, an opera in which these artista are immensely successful. THE POPULAR MATINER. Mr. Theodore Thomas’ popular matinee at thing Aen was a great success last Saturday. The programme was most attractive. Mme, Borchard, Mr. 8. C. Campbell and Mr. Castle sang; Mr. 8. B, Mills waa the pianist; Mr. Toul- min, harpist; Mr. Mollonhauer the violinist, and Signor Abella was the accompanyist, while the orchestra played with admirable ensemble, under the direction of Mr. The mas, xymphouies, overtures and the Christmas Polka, and. Faust Quadrilies, composed and arranged by Mr. Charles Fradel. We may take the opportunity here of praising the Christmas Polka. It is a lively, ploasant piece of music, reflecting credit upon the taste and skill of the composer, and will sarely become very popular, The quadrilles are vory cloverly arranged. These pieces wore much appiauded. The artists were, one and all, very succoss‘ul, and the ‘concert was certainly one of the most brilliant of the season, ENGLISH OPERA, We take pleasure in announcing that on the 4th of Jan- wary Mr. Harrison will inaugurate at bis new theatre, im Brooklyn (The Park), a series of performances of English opera. The troupe is beyond doubt the best that has ever appeared in this count?y since the time of the Pyne and Harrison troupe; in fact, as a whole, with the ex- coption of one voico—that of Miss Pyne—the preseas troupe is superior. Mme. Borchard, the soprano of Mr. Harrison's troupe, fs a most accomplished musician; she speaks the Eng- lish language perfectly, She received her musical education in Paris. She sang at the Opera Comique and Italian Opera, Castle, the tenor, is well knows to the ‘public. Campbell, the baritone, has become @ great favorite. Mile. Vivier and others will jond the ald of their talent to this enterprize, which we hope wilt meet with the moat liberal patronage. The good people of Brookiyn will pever have & finer opportunity of prowe ing whether they have any taste (or tmasic, Mr. Harri. fon wilt produce the Bohemian Girl, Maritana, and the Caid, an opera never played in this country. THE GRHMAN OFEAA. ‘This enterprise seoms to be unusually unfortunate, ‘The performance announced for lagt Saturday evening 41d not take place, There was's great crowd collected ‘at the Academy of Mustc, who dispersed with expres. sions the reverse of complimentary to those in charge of © giveea grand codtert et the Academy of Music. The programme is varied and attractive. A Sumber of pope- tar artists will assist on this oocasion. On Thursday evening, December 31, Miss Lacy Simons’ grand concert will take place at Niblo’s Saloon. Bignors Stefani and Moreill will sing on this occasion. / ‘(A grand literary and musical entertainment will take piace at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on Tuesday evening. Mr. De Cordova will recite the new poem, the Soldier. Miss Blanche Carpenter, who made #0 bril- Hant a debut afew evenings since, will be the pianist, and the Seventh regiment bavd wii! play. ennnninnnn ¢ s a,