The New York Herald Newspaper, February 21, 1864, Page 4

: - 4 NEW YORK HERALD, JAMES GORDON BENNETTS, arenes AND PROPRIETOR. OFFIOR N. W. CORNER OF PULTON AND NASSAU STS. Me. 5: Veiume XXIX , AMUSEMENTS TO-MORROW EVENING. ACADEMY OF MUSIC, Irving Place.—Iratian Orrms— 1 Poatrani : NIBLO'S GABDEN, Broadway.—Tax Duxz’s Morro. WALLACK'S THEATRE, Breadway.—Masxs x Faces eS INTER GARDEN, Broadway.—Tioxer or Luave an. OLYMPIC THEATRE. Broadway. —Fouiies or 4 Nigat— Mua Tagarep li. Taovarons. NEW BOWERY THE. Man—MiLLxe or New J ry. —Tioxrt oF Leave ens OF THe HEATH, ROWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Hovse Tuat Jack Burr—Horiy-susu Hat—Mr. anp Mxs, Ware. BARNUM’S MUSEUM, Broadwag.—#our Oranrs, Two aura, Avntnos. Wat fs Ir, 40, @ all hours Mitian’s Crmm~Aat Sand 7% PM BRYANTS' MINSTRE! Mechanics’ Hall, 472 Broad- way-—Bruiortan Sawa, Dance, Beasnsguaa, be ile: ERrPA. WOOD'S MINSTREL HALL, 51 Broadway, —Remiorta x Gonos, Dancus ke ~Aumnioan OPana, Out Husn, AMERICAN THEATRE, Partourmxs, Burixsqors. 4 BROADWAY AMPHITHBATRE, 485 Broadway.—Gru- Zasre ano Kauestgias Peeronmancers, Afternoon and Evening. HIPPOTHEATRON, | Fourteonth atreet.—Peeroruinc Doos ann Moviuys, Afternoon and Kvening. ey Ome NIBLO'S BALOON, Broadway.—Gorrscnaux’s Concent. HOPE CHAPEL. 718 Broadway.—Tag Srzrnoscorricox Ow Mixnor or THe UnivERss. PERHAM'S, £85 Broadway. RON OF THR RXBELLION NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY. 618 Broadway.— Ovxtositixs anp Lxctunms, from 9 A. M. til 10 P.M, FRYOSCOPTICON AND Mir- OPERA HOUSE, Cc. HOOLEY! Boxes, Danc Brooklyn.—Eruiortax New York, Sunday, Febr 1864. mary 21, THE SITUATION. There is no movement in the Army of the Poto- Everything is apparently mac to record to-day. quiet and monotonous. We give in full to-day the rebel documents which fell into the hands of our officers during the recent successful expedition into Florida and which we referred to yesterday. They will show the desperate straits to which the South is reduced for the want of the necessaries of life more forci- bly perhaps than either the reports of deserters or the complaints of the Southern journals. The steamship Arago, which arrived here yes- terday, with dates frem Key West to the 15th, brings intelligence of the capture of three block- ade runners (all flying the British flag) by the United States schooner Beauregard in one day. ‘They were all loaded with merchandise, cotton and turpentine for Nassau. Two of them were sloops, and one is reported to be a eraft of smalicr dimensions, probably a jolly beat. However, they had on board in all thirty-three bales of. cotton and five barrels of turpentine. The latest news from the Southwest to-day is interesting. Despatches from Cairo yesterday way that General Sherman's forces are at Meridian. ‘When our army passed through Jackson the ene- my retreated across Pearl river so precipitately that his pontoons, two pieces of artillery and a number of prisoners fell into our hands. Great dissatisfaction is said to exist among the Tennes- see, Kentucky and Mississippi regiments, and large numbers of deserters are coming into our linea. General Thomas reached Meridian within ten days after leaving Vicksburg. We learn from Southeast Tennessee that re- fugeea are leaving that State and Georgia by thousands. Many of them are in a starving con- dition. Large numbers of deserters from the rebel army continue to arrive at Chattanooga daily. The news from New Orleans and Texas, though interesting, is not of great importance. Our cor- respondent furnishes all the proceedings in Gene- ral Dana's military district which are worth noting. EUROPEAN NEWS. The steamship Africa, from Queenstown on the ‘7th inst., reached Halifax yesterday on her voyage to Boston. Her news is three days later. There was no pesitive intelligence as to the progress of the war in the Danish duchies; but it was supposed that severe fighting was going on up to the 6th inst., as quite a number of wounded men were brought into Rendsburg. It was gener- ally believed that the Prussians would prevent the transmission of the news. The Prussians twice attempted to storm Missunde, but were repulsed, and, according to one account, one Prussian regi- ment was almost entirely cut off. Austria, it was said, bad forwarded explanations to’ England rela- tive to the intentions of the German Powers for the future rule of Schleswig and Holstein. All the great Powers will be informed of the course of Austria and Prussia, England’s policy was re- garded as very undefined, although a more confi- deat feeling prevailed in commercial ciredes in Voudon. Earl Russell stated that Great Britain had not given the slightest promise of assistance to Denmark. Lord Palmerston defended his foreign policy from a severe attack of Mr. Disraeli in the House of Commons. At a ball at the Tuileries Napoleon remarked to a group of French marshals generals, ‘It appears they have begun to ex- change shots in the North,’ adding that they might go on, as the policy of France was non- intervention. Earl Derby, in the House of Lords, inveighed against such “monstrous demands’ as Mr, Seward's if he asked indemnity for the ravages of the Alabama. Lord Palmerston said that if the Queen's speech had contained any reference to the American war it would only have repeated what was often said before. The Liverpool cotton market was firmer on the 6th inst. Holders demanded an advance froma slight decline, Breadstuffs were dull on the 6th inst. Provisions were steady, with an advance in some articles. Consols closed in London on the Gth inst. at 90% agi. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. We have full files of the Nassau (N. P.) @uar- dian to the 13th Jnst., bit do not find anything of particular importance in thy papers. We perceive that the Rev. Dr. Cummings,of New York, is at present in Nassau, where hewas announced to celebrate mass on the Suuday after hié arrival. The Gvardian says, io reference to gers: “Among the distinguished Vistors at present im our city is General Preston, Confearate States Army, who, we understand, is on his vay te join Genoral Magruder, in T General Preston from the pockets of the people? That is the cocompanied ty on oid-40-cntap.” ‘s | a larger scale, by the present cary bran question, Mr. Chase. Stop in and epenk. Another shocking wile murder was perperateg | % the Weods and their Daily News. Let u eeeemblaaipenininatdishlins, et .No. 339 Geventh avenue om Fridey The | tee be by its feutte. : Tax Grann Jeary xv run Geoonitors—The facts, as revealed upon the Oebdases Efe je of this metropolis tan ap todger | Grand Jaty, before the Court of General Ses- tion, go to chow that. Réwerd Hunter, « carma,, and bis wife Elizabeth, have led » Bar LR quarrelsome life | assurance of éafety. Indulge « fool in his folly, for come tiny pest, mutual jealoity belsg te pang, Xx Gaus¥, and on the night referred to, while elder members of the family were absont,> 92d the Younger enes were asleep, the husband, With aa axe or hatchet, smashed in his poor wife's ®*ull, causing almost instant death. Hunter 1 9 Englishman by birth, forty-seven years of agi’) in comfortable circumstances, and does not deny the commission of the murder. He was committed the Tombs, to await the action of the Grand Jury + The nude remains of an imtemperate woman, is to keep the Hon. Fernando and the Hon. Ben Wood before their constituents, in view of an- other election of one or both to Congress next fall. We are, however, encouraged by the breaking of the Mozart and Tammany machines in our last municipal election, with the bope that this Joint stock democratic baying and named Mos." Shines, were found wader 6 bila.t selling of places and plunder is drawing to an bedding in the rear basement of No. 62 —— end. We have surely had enough of it, when street yesterday afternoon, under such cir this great city, which has been and is the right stances as to lead the Coroner’s jury to believe | a tm of the government in this war, has among that she came to her death by violence infficted | its ’ Representatives in Congress such preachers: by Thomas McKeele, her reputed husband, Mc- ef peace with Jeff. Davis, and such teachers in Keele was arrested and committed to the Tombs beh; Vif of incendiary riots and insurrections in to answer. Yorth, the Hon. . od The February term of the Court of General! beak pnd oS Poe sg eaten tee Sessions was brought to a close yesterday. il large number of prisoners who had been remanded’ || War 4m Europe—its Imevitable Conse- were brought up and sentenced by Judge Russel. t quences, Among them was Charles H. Walters, convicted |; The b tow has been atruck. Germany, with of the wilful murder of Nancy Elizabeth Vincent, | ber thirt, y-two millions of population, hay in- on,the 29th of November last. He was sentenced’| yaded ant attacked. Denmark, with her two to be hung on the 16th of April next. The'court |’ mijjions 0." people and her little army of forty then adjourned sine die. ttiowsand. The latter, however, has not recoil- About four o'clock yesterday afternoon tte ed’ from th? attack, bot stands Wravely up to boiler in the iron foundry of Messrs. Corwin: & |! Vi a git} Reed, corner of Jay and. Water streets, Brooklyn, defend what: she sher unalterable: rights. exploded, tearing the building to pieces. . Tlie: , The Danes ave sosmall a nation tha: all com- gable end walls were wholly destroyed, and-one'| Parison betvreen them and their enemios ia side wall fell, in. The roof was! blown'up some |: Tidiculoug. ‘I‘hey have, as we stated'above, but feet and caine down with a crash. There were: | forty thousans® troops, and’ can expect but fifteen or twenty people in the building at the:] twenty thousamd: from Sweden. The Germans, time, four of whom were injured, but nob severely. hence, to take a military view of this conflict; One man, who was just entering the door, suffered’ ‘may look upon tieir prey as secure; the more: more seriously than those within the building. . s0-aa England, spite of her evident’ desires in The men were running off the last casting for the the matter, cannot act alone in favor of Den- day when the explosion took place. The cause mark, and that France, for purposes of ber of the accident is not yet known. "v jotntl 7: ith England in thi ‘The argument in the Lawrence estate-contro- | OW} wilt not act join y with Englen dl ad veray, which has been going on before Judge Car- | question. It is evident that’ Napoleon wishes dozo for several days, was closed yesterday, and-| to show to the worl@ the: want of power and the papers were submitted to the court. The | influence which mers the efforts of England, decision will probably be rendered to-morrow. and atthe same time cause alt Eirope to feel In the Julia Bennett habeas corpus case Judge | that France is the controlling Power. If Eng- Barnard decided yesterday to award the custody |’ Jand will consent to 2 congress, them France will speedily arrest this war, as, joining: with || of the child to the mother, on condition of the stepfather agreeing to support and take good care England, she could dictate to Germany. Aline tofens dering if minority. Prussia:would be influenced? by: France and In the case of the jury who were fined $250 each ¥ . by Judge Barbour some days ago for “agreeing to | England, because she is now malting war disagree,” the Judge has issued an order staying | ®2@inst the will of ber Legislature: Te will be the collection of the fines until he can consult} borne in mind that the King: dissolved with his associates in relation to the matter. the Chambers because tliey: refused to The Surrogate yesterday settled the accounts of | vote. the war appropriations; end that the estates of Thomas Cranning, Lewis H. Morris | at present Prussia is making war upon whaw! and John George Bentz, and confirmed the sale of email surptus of former sums: dévoted to that: lands belonging to the estate of Lorenzo Moses. purpose may atill exist. If, however, Germanyy The Surrogate refused the application for # col- unchecked by France; conquers:the: @ichies, it lector in the estate of Auguste L. Moutant. ons: 5 “ * must not: be: supposed that t&e-matter couls The Board of Education held a special meeting The Di Ideind later. 3 yesterday in reference to the death of Commis- | there end: es Maae Would AgmNee We Ime: sioner Willett, of the Twelfth ward. Resolutions | make such alliances as would allow them te: of condolence with the family of the deceased and: | engage in war once more; and’ England, whose? to attend the funeral were adopted. ) pride will have been bumble@ in this mattar, The share market was feverishand ungettied yesterday, | will find the means to puniah Germany. There: es pe Prlpa aeatcinlree can be no doubt that consequences of the mest in price so rat Jur past wi . » " Ma a an ala aett oo: two and abalt per cont | ‘portant chardbter taust. follow upon the capy- lower than on the previous @ay. Gold was inactive, | ture and occupation of the duchies by the Gey- with: barely sufficient transactions to mark qaotations. | manic Confederation. A general war in Ruvop ¢ Government secnrities were les firm, and coult:beyur- | would seem, then, almost inevitable. Jeqi- chased » fraction below the bighest prices of Fridey. | "ousies and ‘anger~ will have been atoud-d Money continges easy at six per cent. avbich “nanght -but wac cae. satisty,. end Signs of s Comspiracy to Poment «| those nationalities which mow . sigh for Northern Insurrection. . | reform wilt undertake the achiewement There are ominous mutterings from dark of their desires, an@ disorders and inewerec- holes and corners of danger to the peace of | tins will' become generat. Austria wit sre aa. this community. The odor is abroad in the opportunity of becoming the head of the coa- air of the smouldering combustibles of @ pro- | federation, and wilt intrigue for it; Risssia will jected Northern insurrection. see in the-troubles of ber neighbors an eacape- ‘The extraordinary aberrations into which the | gom. her own; France will see the. gaiw of turbulent leaders of the democratic peace fac- | thoge-Rhenish provinces she has ao long. cowet- tion have fallen, and to which they still ad- ed; and: thus, once @ war is well begu, no oue- here in the face of the popular judgments of the may say where it wilt end. last year’s State elections, are incompatible Alt these arguments will be a6 patent im with any other purposes than those of premedi- Europe as here, and hence we may expect to tated violence and political anarchy. Scheming | 9.9 gal offort made to ward of the dangess Politicians of the antecedents, associations and |' to arise from » serious conflict between: Deo- sympathies of the Hon. Fernando and the Hon. |’ mark and Germeny. These efforts failing, we Ben Wood cannot be disposed of as publie may expecta state of anarchy and confusion benefactors in publishing @ newspaper in sup- | to, ensue in Europe which sball terminate but port of their peculiar notions of peace at the: | with tho entire change of its present political expense of a continual drain from their pock- aspect and the downfall of the rotten monar- ets, Nor are they of that class of men wha) ft } chies which have so long retarded the progress order to gain even an ephemeral notoriety, will | of the people. There is now every probability throw their money away. They sow theirseed | that we shall be at peace at the very period with the expectation of reaping a harvest. The | wren all Europe will be convulsed with war, conclusion, then, is irresistibly forced upon us | a54 that we sball bave the opportunity of ap- that, as their political heresies can result only plying to our own purposes the decisions of our in defeat through peaceable means, they are | Furopean rivals upon matters of international parties to a fearful conspiracy whieh looks to interest success through scenes of revolutionary disor- Ar ates i se ders, bloodshed and confusion. Avotae Posrive Srarmewt Coxcunwa They profess a painful solicitade concerning Gan hor DTT AL Nisan cee Ue gee the dangers of the Stutes from foderal usnrpa- of the Cincinnati Gommercial, under date of tions; but, under the flimsy disguise of State February 15, says: We are enabled to state | sovereignty, they.are leading their credutous | UPOn the very Lighest authority that Gen. followers on the high road to secession and re- | Grant bas, within a few days, formally, Linea bellion. Assuming the mantle of Jefferson, emptorily, and in most decisive terms, rejected these peace men of the News preach to us the'| direct offers made to him lately by leading dogmas of the Hartford Convention, ‘and of | democratic politicians to seoure his nomina- Theodore Dwight, its secretary and defensive tion for the Presideacy by their National Con- historian. The State rights and federal aggres- | Vention.” my sions which were the burden and the song of | Accepting this very positive statement aa by that convention, in the midst of the war of-| authority, what does it amount to’ It simply 1812, and after the national capital bad been.) Amounts to this: that Gon. Grant has been ap. seized and despoiled by the enemy, are now, | Proached by some of the trading politicians of in the midst of this terrible war, echoed by | the peace or “ shent-per-shent" democracy, these peace democrats of the News, with all the | and flatly declines to have anything to do with modern improvements derived from South | them. He recoils from the suggestion of asso- Carolina. They plead the State right of peace- | Ciating bis political fortunes with such precious able secession against the constitution itself, | ftiends of our soldiers and the war as Val- and are thus holding up the peaceful example landigham, the two Seymours, the two Brookses, of Jeff. Davis and his confederates as worthy of the two Woods, and such like pence leaders of imitation by the New York peace democracy. the Northern democracy. But let Gen. Grant They flippantly ask us, what were North Caro- | be fairly brought forward by the people, inde- Jina and Rhode Island before they ratified the | pendently of the democratic party, and the re- federal constitution if they were not Indepen- | publican party, as the people's independent war dent States? They might as well argue the | candidate, and he will not decline. We guess sovereignty to-day of each of the States of the | that in refusing to deliver himself into the Saxon Heptarchy. hands of the trading politicians of the day These brawlers of constitutional rights, when | Gen. Grant is deliberately holding himself in brought to the test of that supreme law, shrink | that independent position which will be most from it and take shelter under @ pre-existing | Seceptable to the great body of the people of state of things. The constitution does not | Sl! parties. agree with them. It authorizes arms against rebels; and these peace men can find nothing to approve in this war of the loyal States to maintain the Union, and nothing to condemn in the war of Jeff. Davis to destroy it. They would have us believe that they are advocating the policy by which a great party is about to enter into the contest for the Presidential suc: cession in the usual peaceable way, wheu'the utter impossibility of the remotest chance of Tae Waiskey Tax.—It appears that the whiskey speculators bave not yet carried their point of exempting from the new tax all whiskey {a store. The whiskey lobby, how- ver, have determined to bring all their strength to bear upon the Committee of Gon- ference to secure the exémptlon, and the result at best is doubtful. If the Secretary of the Treasury would prefer that the government should bave the benefit of this new tax upon to the extent of eight or ten million of dollara, let him say'4o-to the Gonfererice Committee. The tax will sprely be pocketed by the spect. Aators if denied to the Treasury. Shalt they or the have those eight or ten «tit suggests that they are governed by darker de- signs. The reign of terror in this city of last templated repetition of these fearful scenes, on trifle with these public disorganizers with euy | sions, have very properly recommended that the numerous gropshops of this city driving bs Wry WACtAs wd poige Ste morning with @ | Chole femge without Licenere should be our vigilant Mayor will help them to make » beginning. Toe Gotp Question—Awn Apvexss Rerort,— Mr. Stevens, of the House Committee of Ways and Means, has seported trom that committee against granting authority to Secretary Chase to sell the surpies gel@ on hand'in the Trea- sury. This, as it appears to us, is a strange position for the leading fimancia} cothmittee of Congress. ‘We had supposed that that commit- tee would’ favor ay’ reasonable’ propositica calculated to bring gold down and te put up “greenbacks;” and this is what a sem of ten or twelve millions of gold thrown into Wall street: would certainly do. We are gratified, how- ever, with the assurawee that next week the House will overrule Mr: Stevens andthe com- mittee; and’ authorize the Secretary of the Trea- sury to try his strength egainst the gold gam- blers: Honsst Op Ags my THs Missourt Leon.a- rure,—The* Missouri Legislature is sepubli- can—a radical republican assemblage—a little / too radicat, im fact, for Eibnest Old Abe. In the Missouri House: of Representatives, the. other day, two very important. politicat reselu- tions were tried—the one- nominating Old Abe for another term, and the other endorsing his administration. Bat the-experiment’ was a failure; for the first resolution was laid* on the , table by a-voterof 45-to 37, awd the seeond by ta vote-of 46 to 33) Thus*it is demonstrated that, ia: attempting to carry water on both shoulders in Missouri, Honest Old Abe has made a:botch of it, and in New York the case is not much better. Lincoln stock is evidently on the-decline, and. Mr. Simeon Draper's 22d of Pebraary Lincoln meetings, we suspect, will not domuch-towards lifting it up again. NEWS FROM ‘WASHINGTON. 4 Wasuiscton, Fob 20, 1864. MR. LAMOOLN'S LAST—POE PRESIDENT ON THE PRES DENCY. “My opinion as to who.will be next Prosideat,’’ saéd Mr. Lincoln, not many: days ago, “is very. much the- opinion tbat Pat had about the handsome funeral. You 800 Frat was standing-opposite the-Stato House in Spring- field, with-a short, binck. pipe in nts mouth and his haads deoply buried in bis empty: breeehes pockots:”* “Pat, who's Cuneral.is tbat passing?’ inquired Old Jake. Millar, wire aeomed itmprossed witha belief that aa Irish, Mawmust kaow everything. “*Plaize yer bonur,” replied Pat, removing bis pipe for @raement, ‘it isn’t menelf cam say for sartia; but to ashe best-o’ my-belicf, the fuaeral belongs to the gintioman or he ooffia!”* ‘a very much.the same,'’ contanued Mir. Lia- cain, “about the next Presidoucy. I camit aay for cer- tain.whe will be the-neepie's choice; but to. tho dest 6 my. belief. it will be-theenrossutul candidate” “s MRS. LINCOLN'R RECEETION. Mre. xecoin's reception-to-day was,vousuatty Briltinat- , The-ropresentation.of tbe aemy by distinguished generals: exceeded that of apy provious ¢imo- a4 6he Krecisive- mansion. . r ENVEATIGATION OF. ALLEGED FRADOS: TN BATES CON~ TRACTS. ‘The Senate Selcct Committos on Naval Contragio, have beomengaged (or several days im investigating alleged frauds in contracts-at Boston, Mass. The developments are-aaid to be interestiag, aad implicate the: Navy Agent ‘At baat port ag baving been in collusion with certaincoa- ‘teactora, wap, by means of the-factlitics afford’ them, have been eoabled.te realize large profs from their con. ‘acts, while other coatractors not similarly , favored have experienced consitevable teas to Gilling theie comtracts. The investigation bas taken a siogular tum, and parties who wore loudest the rivg-andto have obtained a lion's share of the spoils. ‘The recsent system of giving out naval contracts, cstab, Hiahed-bg. law, is vory bad, and the committee will pro- babiy recommond an catire chango in the law regulating Gueb contracts, 90 that the government and the hone-t Comractors may no longer be subject to the swingles ‘shich, undor the present system, are unavoidable by awy restrictions or safeguards which it is in the power of Use department to throw around it. PROPEETY RESTORED TO REPENTANT RBDELA. Acircular letter to District attoracys has been issued from tho Attorney General's office, setting forth that Many persons against whom criminal indictments or against whose property proceedings under whe confisca- sion laws are pending in the courts of the United States, Growing out of their participation in the existing rebei- lion bave, in good faith, taken the oath prescr ibed by the Presidoot’s proclamation of December last, and have therefore entitied themselves to the fuli pardon and re storation of all rights of property, except as to slaves and where rights of third parties have intervened, which that proclamation offers and socures. The President has accordingly directed instructions to be issued to the Dis. trict Attorney to discontinue such proceodings when it is satisfactorily shown the oath of allogiance hag been taken in good faith. [t 1s Mot mecessary that a deod of pardon, signed by tho President, shail be produced, as the Pre sient would find it impossible to sign so many papers, THE 1RON-CLAD FLERT IN CHARLESTON HARBOR, Tt is understood that the causes which have delayed the operations of the iron-clad fleet at Charleston, are to be made the subjec: of investigation by Congress at an early date. THR CASE OF GENRRAL HAMMOND, In consequence of the sudden illness of General Harney, the. Hammond court martial has suspended its labors, The prosecution it was expected would conclude in about four days. CKLEBRATION OF WASHINGTON’S BIaTHDAY. Arrangements bave been made fore general obsery- nce of the 22d in Washington. Both houses of Congress and the Supreme Court have adjouroed till Tuesday, and all the departments are to be closed throughout the day. THE POTOMAC CLOSED BY ICR. ‘The Potomac is closed by ice, and navigation has been entirely sugpouded except in a narrow channel between this city and Alexandria, kept open by the government | foe boats. The ice is five inches in thickness, CAarTURR OF BLOCKADE RUNNERS AND A REBEL MATL, Eleven blockade runners, captured on the Lower Poto mac, wit! ge Amouat of valuable goods and an im. portant rebel mail, were consigned to the Old Capitol to-day. ARRIVAL OF A DELEGATION FROM MASSACHUSETTS. Ex-Governor Washburne, General Tyler, Mayor Lincoln 4nd other prominent politicians of Massachusetts, arrived here inst night, for the purpose of engineering through Congress an appropriation bill for the beaedt of Massachu. etts harbors, New Muste. Two now songs by Signor Muzio have recentiy been Published by Messrs. Beer & Schirmer. The “Stornelio Toscano,’ or “Tascan Evening Song,” is strongly cha. Facteristic of the masic of Tuscany, and is striking and Pleasing. ‘‘Le Vedova," or “The Widow,” is eraceful, expressive agd full of melody, and is one of Signor Ma- tio's best compositions, A third song—“fa Nanna,” or “Cradle Song’’—18 to be added to the series, which bears tho general title of ‘Lo Stelle d'Italia,’ A patriotic song, entitled “One Fiag or no Flag,” is pmong the lest publications of William Hall & Son. The ‘words aad monic are by Mrs. Clara M. BrinkerhoT. The ‘composition is bold and martial in character, has @ veey fino chorus, arranged for five voices, and (9 caloulated to arouse the patriotic enthusiasm of an audience. Obitaary. 7aMES C. WILUBTT, BK-OHEUIF?. Mr. James C. Willett, formerly Sheriff of thecity aud ot Now York, died ot bis residence st Tubby on Friday Yant, in thie Anty-fource year of his ago, | Mr. Witlett, a téw yeard age, was 80 of the men promi. woot, to respect the law and pay their taxes. Alt the other taxpwyers of the island are of te same opiaion, sad a0 we cal! upon {Se officers responsible for the execution of the Eicise lew to go to work and do their duty, and we hope’ in dewunoiation of the department prove to be im NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1964 >, the | destructive conflagration. “We wave no doubt that one of the immediate objects of the News THE RE D'ITALIA. | ‘Three-Qearter the Italien Patiors Prostbitten—In: dents of the Trip, d&c., de. On Boann Re p’iratsa, Fob: Yr, 1864. Ami@ the anew and-etorm: of the day we ombarked on lerbor to Hampton Roads and rotura. The weathor is ictoasely cold, the thermomoter standing at zero on deck: Owing to a'variety of Causes, we were'unablo-to get out afternoop we came to anchor the Upper Qua- rantine; torawait another day. Wi On board a com- mission sent by the Navy Department, consisting of Commodore: Goden, and Chief Kagiseer J, B; Kimball, formerly of the flagehip Hartford, sed'one on the part of , the Ttalian navy, consisting of Oaptata Isola, Captain Del Santo, Captain Imbert, Chief Eugtueér Fucco, and Mr; Rachia, the efficient’ Exeoutive-OfMicor of the Re d'Italia. Captain Comstock, Mr. Everett and pilot Callanan are here in their various capacities. Me: Webb, the builder of the-ship, is also of the party: After anchoring, every. one sought the:sbelter of thecabins below, an@the deck was alone peopled by tose: whose duty it was to look out for the safoty of the vessel. The cold‘ was intense, and the: wind biew a fresh: gale, go strong that at-an early hour in tne evening the cable was voored out te about Sixty fathoms. in the cabin wo ‘folt no storm, and the Party enjoyed themscives until a late-hour, witen they retired The: night was olear and’ beautiful. and nought occurred to disturb: amy one during the-quict bours of slumbering. ‘Taurspar, Feb. 10; 1864. ‘Tho, morning broké tu upon ys cold and clear, the ther. momoeter being «trife above-zero: The bay was full of floating icoand the shores wore mautied over with @dight Govering of abow. Tho: anchored ships near: us were iced around), and the clear gun abining upon ther frosted sides gave: ther-a quaint. aad pretty appearancer Our own trouside was whitened, and: ehe looked-as if some Arctic painter had been at work waile:'we sept. The crow, who slept mone too warm: during the night, were roused early by the brazoe notes of the bugle, and aummoned to their daily toil. A general clapping of bands and stamping of feet attoated that they felt the | nipping: morning frost This cold weather is hard on | these poor sailors, a majority of whom have nover seen | ico or snow, Soven of the mem Lave beon frostbitten this morning. At about ton o'clock. preparations were: mado to got | under way avd steam upto the city, to paas away the time uatil tho bar could be crossed, When off the city a ‘tug was procured, and a party sent on shore, with orders toretura atone o'clock. Gur timo was now spent in run- ning the ship up aud dowa the bay. At about One o'clock it waa decided: to run the ahip up to ber maximum spoed. ‘The ground to bo gone over Wao from Fort Hamiltoa to Cagtle Willian, on Governor's Istand, @ fraction over six miles, At 1:53 P.M. Fort Haméton. was aboam, and at. 2:24 Castle William was abeam, the distance: havieg been accompiishod in thirty-owe minutes, the average pressure of steam _ being cighteen pounds, vacuum twenty-four and a half inchom and the average pumber of revolutions being (forty:five and three tenths per minuto This result was Coasidered eminontly satisfactory, the ship going her full ‘ twolvo-knots per hour. After taking on board’ our stores from the tng wo :@tarted anead, passing Castle Willian at 3:10% and Fort ;Hamiiton at 3:43. Owing to aflood tide, which ran at the rate of ono-and a hail kaota, tho. distance must be~ Considered seven anda bed miles. Tho average pres auro-of steam was twenty-three pouads: vacuum twenty- four and one-nalf inches, nga _ectew wore forty seven. both» instanoes she was iv.use. Those-two tein showed the-Re d'Italia to be a complete success as far as conecrns speed, and the Italian officers willingly acknowledged the tact. + eatisiied if fizst clags firemen had acon at the furnacesbet~ (ter storm conld have-deee carriod and the ship driven.up to. thirteen knots with ease, aad at times she actually Attained that anecds These aro plain facte, and are stated “pet bol beached Theo ice saga nant atx Potinayeal tbicic around har at the-water’scdeo,.1 aust have impeded hor progress someehat. Yatod was.ahout westsouth- ‘we wore bound oub to gos, and ly pascing inward bound) vessels, tas showed..thet., the intense cok had officers t gO thera but to-roturn to New York te- whose icy. 5: weached fan }tho ideation. of going ta. Fortreaa Monroe, but yes binieen being heid oa.tho. subject the laiian lec. Isola, President of tha-comunission, toastod: Mi ‘he most complimentary language. ‘dir. Webb replied ina very few words, thaaking thocaptain aad'the gentlemen, and stated that be must leave his ship, to speak for hima. Toasts wore durok to Mr. Everett, of the Novelty: | Irom Works, Victor Kmanuel. Presidént Lincoln, Count Cavour, the avy. the-press and the ladies, &c. In tact, & vory pleasant. two hours were spent in enjoyment at ! the dlaner table. " ‘ter dinner, m company with Caiof Engineer Kimball, Of the United States mavy, I visited the engine depart. ment of the ship, now ia charge of Messrs. Robert and Heary Robertzon, so long ongi type, with Amoricas improvements, being with two exlindera of eighty-four inches with forty-five igeves stroke ‘of piston, Thoy have the Ordinary slide valve, with the iedependent slide A 08 arranged om the engines o tho Hartford, Wabash, Brooklyn end screw frigate General Admiral, built by Mr. Woes for the Russian mavy, and some other large ships of our own uavy. These’ ongines age capable of making sixty revolutions of the acrew, of course tho ship Deivg properly manned with fremen whocan keep the steam up. The consumption of coal to drive the ship up to full speed will be about geventy tons per day; but she cin make good time on forty tons. She has capacity for carrying 760 tons ot coal in her bunkers alone. The engines aro fitted with Seargeant's marine governor. She will carry ten engineers aad sixty-six, @remen and coal . After going around tho engines wo paid a visit to the shaft alley, througn which pass about one bun. dred feet of line shafting, counecting tho engine with the Screw. It is held in its place by five large bearings, and ‘se smoothiy does it turn that were one diindfolded he Coukl not tell that ft was in motion. We next paid a visit to the fireroom. On each side are placed three horizontal tubalar boilers, cach having six furonoes, and at the forward ond of the room is a largo auxiliary boiler, with two furnaces, The six boilers wore in full operation, manned by about twenty-five meu, only three¥of whom, by the way, were used to Anthracite coal, and it scomed rather hard work for tho poor fellows. This room is about eighty-five {eet in length. by nine feet six inches wide. Overhead is a rail- way by which buckets of coal and ashes are trinsported throughout the eatire length. It was about ten o'clock when we were thore, and tho scone was not by apy Means inviting. The firemen were disputing in loua tones some matter of great interest to them, and the fur. Dace doors were open, aliowing an intense beat to pene- trate our overcoats and warm us up to & temperature be. yond at least my endorance. So we soon quit these warm regions, preferring a temperature somewhere io the neighborhood of sixty-four degrees in the cabin At 9:45 I. M. we wore twelve miles to the eastward of Parnegat light; the wind was northwest and moderate, and just above the horizon could be seen the bright light lighthouse It was a lovely night, aud we were laog at the rate of ten knots, with forty turns of e w—which, by the way. is two bladed, ninerpen feet in diameter, und a mean pitch of thirty feet, Neching of interest occurred during the night. Frupay, Feb. 19, 1864. This morning, at three o'clock, we were some ten miles to the eastward of the ligutboatof Capo May. Here we turned around and started for New York, While ron-. ning along the Jersey coast, allow me to say that the Re d’italia is a porfect success, and without doubt is the finest ond fastest irom clad vessel in the world, First, her Imes are faultiess; second, her speed exceeds her contract rate. She has on this trip gone at the rato of twelve and three quarters kuots, not mites; if calcu lated in miles it would bo fourteen and six tenths statu miles. This Is great bpeed for a Le! of over six thou. sand tons, drawing twenty foar fect six inches Of water, her maximum draft, Her steering qualities are uatied. She can be and bas been turned around a half dozen times with oelerity and Certainty in the North river, fill- od witb Shipping. In fact, she minds her helm with’ the most perfect ease. The pilot, Mr. Callahan, bas just told me be would be willing to turn her in the Bost river. Last Ld her sea qualities wore pretty thoroughly test- is acknoyledged to be a splendid sea not deep, and dors wee mee) at all; bb has overcome danger- ous fault whieh renders the European fron-clade so il! be- haved atsea. The pitobit of the Ew in fron clads has been their groatest fault, and through it quile a number of them have narrowly escaped foundering at fea. Space will not porsait ‘me at this time to go foto as full dotatis a8 | gould wish respecting the merits of the Ro a'Tialla; but 1 can say truthfully that It is to be re- Gretted that some of the thirty milliovs which have been ba! for Monitor batteries had not beon a iated for building of some ships like the Re d'Italia for the Amorican navy. Im this class of vessels we have room for a large, ‘erful and offective battery, excellent ventilation, of light in all parts of the ship, and facilities from forward to aft with ease. Then, added we have 8} unequalied b; iron-clad on the wi of the 5 The Re @'Tlatia into hundred snd sien. five feot long, fifty-three feet beam, and twenty-one (c Giz inches build, and over six tons ai and yot sho can be driven up to thirteen knots per hour, At te teuly-wonderful. noha ed anchored. ‘The party ° Ye ‘evening, ’ lighted with the trip, came on sbore ina tug, and will vor remember the stip of this great and noble abip, POUR EIS « The epecial Slootion to Gil the Yeoneey tn the State Renate caused by the resignation of Majer Harry White, rene ets ater tea. tes rng in array aon oe iyi the Ly ta Chected toy about 1,200 manjeri- Mor Prial Trip—She Steams Pwelve and | Keets with Ease— What American Shtpbultders Onw De—Thve Cold: Weather at Sca—Some of Weurd of this uoble ship for @ trial wip from New York |' over tho bar to-dby, and at about four o’vlock this |° the average turns of the- ‘cucting off ad five-sixteenths. Oaly fous -boilers woro- | ee NEWS" FROM NEW ORLEANS AND TEXAS: }Arrival of the Arago and: George Washington; | Operations im General Dana’ Military. District, Ren b Ben ‘The United ‘States transport. steamer: Arago, Captam Gadsden, arrived hore yesterday, with New Urieans dates tothe 11th instant, aud Key West to the 15th. Among ber passengers aro the Vourteenth Malee infantry and the First Maine battery, which troops, having re-onlisted, ave paying @ brief visit to-¢heir frienés while on-fur- lough. ‘The steamship Goorgo Waabington, Captain Gager, alse arrived at this port yesterday, with New-Orieans dates te the-15ub instant. Mr. Herry Thompson's Despatch. Naw Onteans, Feb. 12,1864: Tee VE Burs CaPTORED twe or three days ago in @ beat on Lalte Ponchartrain, by the steamer Battle, were-pesterday brougfit up before Judge Atocha. They gave chek® names as Dr: Northeras Paet J. Christian,.W. P, Honsy, W. Dowsing and J. B. Lewis,. They were each finad one hundred dotlars; aad sentenced to prison for six menths, A negro boy who.was « wih them .at the time was Nbperated. It will be re- membordd that these men were trying to reach the port (Of Mandoville wit .a . boat load of: geods when thoy were capsured. hy A’ French citizen. was recently arrested: beyond our linea with fourteen thousand dollars in rebel money and two-letters for Mobile in ‘bis possessiow. He was dis charged, but tho-money was confiscated. Boe Mr. James F. Latham’s Despatch. Haanquarters UNirep Status FoRons, Pass Cavanio, Texas, Feb. 10, 1864. } Affairs at this point are unueually dull, aad were it not foram occasional predatory incursion on the part of the - enemy the monotony would be intolerable, Tho report» gbrought in by our scouts in relation to the force of the robols at Lavaceahas turned out to be: false, and their whole force does not amount to more them two companies . of cavalry, who are posted at that point ag.a kind of out- post to watch our. movements. This intelligence was.ob-. taimed through an expedition, consisting of cne brigade . and three pieces of artillery, under General Fitz Henry Warren. It penotrated .the -enemy’s country almost as,. far as Lavacca without encountering ang signs of the ene-. my. This information is reliable: the other report origi- nated from ap. over-excited imagination This oxpodl,, — tron was not, bowever, without its important r-suite, for, , besides obtaining.th: above valuable jaformation, we Obe- , tained a large quantity of lumber, which is almost warth, its weight imgold to us. 4 ‘THM, ORNEU:! ( FKINDIANOLA AYDiOLD TOWN ‘has recently been taken, and by it we find that.thero.tae-. ‘an avgregate of over six hundred. The inhabitents baves, } allcome forward aud: taken the octh of allegiance..“‘ot) } their ownafree. will, and with a ful) determinat'sa,. pledg,. and purpose to obserse and fulfil it, without ony, reservation or evasion whatsoever.” This cpeaks wath for.the ettizens ef Indianola andaOla Town, andif: work Of restoring. Texas to the Union gages: om tm other parts of the-State over whiok the Stars.and cae 43 beavoly.as: it does hers,.it will be s00n..aecome! accompanied hympertion of bis oral, kerivod are. a.fenrt ion arri vol Gays: since. ds ur of tospegtion, and troops at PasCarallo. Tho treview passed off with: Fosnedity the pecsonal nppencance of thon Sepa. in the Te, -peraon: 7 «highest torcas." He ‘complimenced alter ——— x Le mony @ivision, and Benton, Piret ia i seen cia ences taspees tadlopets tone paiesoeents ; ARRIVAL @% DESERTERDS Peaches: Sick, of the and . morrow, being eatirely satisied with the sbip. Fairly }; affairs in Texan as Delage depioreale cobdition clear of for, dinner waa anzounced, and) wo-sat down fl state shat Magrudor has ebout thirty regiments of Po to a sple repast, wreparod by Potro Rossiui, late ot [ry and a number of hadteries, aud; can muster nearly the Maisea Dor édtor. paptaking of the.solids, to the \ dhicep thousand effective-men Creek. dy their nen Surprise of nearly all. toasts wore proposed, and Captait |’ presentations, is quite formidable. The rol ee fog. ir. Webb iw |; tiffcations of the most approved structure, A number ab | heaxy guns and five thousand men, are stationed ‘They way that the five thousand ean be increased to savem OF eight thousand in twenty-four hours, and in the course: of ten days or two woeks Mrcruder can concentra ab teaat twoaty thousaad offective men Tae rebels have established two pieket poste—the fret about sees ov eight miles from Canoy, and the second fifteen milss—es ‘bat tm case of an advance of our forces they will heve ‘ample time for pseparation. yy expesure cousi- derably, an@ a brief sojourn at home will mo doubt re. store bim te his former good health. The re-ealistment ef veterans here gone bravely on. ‘The Eighth judiana, familiarly known ‘4 Eighth,”* bas gone im in a body: ousof five hundred mea. which compose the regiment over four hundred: bave se enlisted, Their papers are all p1 Only waiting for transportation to GENERAL KELLEY’S DEPARTMENT. Acquittal of C. Edward Lester=Deserters Coming In, &ec. MR. T. C. WILSON’S DESPATCH. : Durant or Westkaw Vinamia, Feb. 20, 1866, A large number of deserters have of late beom coming into Gen. Crook’s camp. Charles Edward Lester, a citizen of Washington, D. Oy and aclerk ia tho Paymaster General’s office, has been, tried by court martial, on suspicion of being a spy, a8 Harper's Ferry, and bas been acquitted acd released frees confinement, The nding is, that while the court acquita him it is of opinion bis conduct was such as to excite suspicion and justify his arrest, A number of prisoners were ‘sent from Cumberland te Wheeling to night, Lieut. Snodgrass has been caught and identified apone Of the porsons ongagod in the Into robbery of passengers on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. It is proposed te try Snodgrass in the United States District Court fos highway robbery and being concerned in an atiompt te rob the mail, ‘Weather pleasant and moderate. Captare of Col. Ferguson and Sixty Rebels—Re ported Release of One Thos- sand Six Hundred Union Prisoners, &e. Crwonnrati, Feb, 20, 1864, A special despstoh from Louisa, Ky., says:—On the 14th Col. Gallup surprised Col, Ferguson's command im Wayne county, Va., capturing sixty prisoners, including Ferguson, his surgeon and ten lieutenants, eighty stand ofarms,alarge number of stolen horses, and all the rebei supplies Of forage, ammunition and subsistence, It was Colone) Ferguson’s command that captured Geom. Sormmon recently, The despatoh adds that sixteen hundred Union prisom- ers were released. Milary Afeirs, THE THIRTEENTH NEW YORK CAVALRY. Major Greeno will leave in a few days to join the abevy regiment. A few more recruits are wanted to fill up the last company. The headquarters of the Thirteenth are al the Mercer House, corner of Broome and Mercer streets together with a branch office at Col. Rowland’s, in thé Park Barracks. There can be no better yond fou volunteers to go into the fleld than to join the Thirteenth. Tne largest bountien are paid, and the men are well RECRUITING FOR THE NINTH ARMY CORPS. Tt will be seen by an advertisement in another columm that the committee of citizens, of whicy James M. Brown is chairman, is now ready to re esive recruits for this gallant corps, at No, 608 Broadwi The committee offer larger hand money fer tovtaitd (han 'e pana by any other association, Y this, with the name of General ide to and the brilliant record of the Ninth commend ought to insure the prompt filling up of its ranks. The Skating Excitement. The Park presented a lively scene yesterday. The weather was ploasaat and the ice strong, althoagh the Surface was a little ‘by the action of the south wind. Between Afty and sixty thousand persons were Presont on aad around the ponds during the day ana evening, The moonlight was mot quite as clear as on Friday $vening; but sufficient light was given to enable oasis wiht ee soir prove a5 % the stating ooasen, Sad suoeld