The New York Herald Newspaper, May 12, 1864, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. AMES GORDON BENNETS, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR OFFICE N. W, CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENIN BIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—Aw Hous 1 Srvitus— ImeLanp As ly Was. WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway.—Tnu Stxaxcte. WINTER GARDEN, Brondway.—H amet. OLYMPIC THRATRE, Broadway.—Soarsovr Bisx— ‘Tux Commer Connex, NEW BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Mazerra~Yan- ke JAcK—YOUNG AmEKICA BOWERY THEATRE. Bowery—' Bouw1—Forsst Kusrea—Mivit = House Taat Jack Houay. —Two Giants, Two allhoura, Bevrax. BARNUM'S MUSEUM. Broa Dwanrs, avowmos, Waat Is It, ac, @ox—at Sand Te P, Me opt coat bring homes Mechanics’ Hall, 672 Broad way.—Brniorian Soxos, Danci ~ bye Si ws, BuRLESQUES, 4c.—How WOOD'S MINSTREL HALL, 516 Broadway.—! Foncs, Dances, pm Ferry Layee mee BROADWAY THEATRE, 485 Brondway.—Siuxons. AMERICAN THEATRE, No. 44 Broadway. Paxtouuma, Bumuusques. &c.—-DeonaLantag BALON DIABOL[ QUE, 585 Broadway.—Rosart HRuer, NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANA = Cuntonmixs xD LECruums, fr0m 9 he Me WTI Me OPERA HOUSE, Brooklyn.—Eruiorun Buniasqugs, jal sabiaanaes HOOLEY'S Boxes, Dances, with SUPPLEMENT. New York, Thursday, May 1864. THE SITUATION. The War Department bulletins of yesterday report a continued success, At five o'clock on Tuesday afternoon Doth armies held their positions at Spotsylvania Court House without any material change. The enemy had * been to their —breast- works. The Sixth corps, under General Wright, had car- ried the firat line of the enemy’s rifle pits. There had doen beavy skirmishing during the day. Our wounded hhad reached Fredericksburg, and during the night some were brought up to Washington, Mr. Stanton, in a later despatch, states that no further Rows {rom the Potomac army has reached him. He states, however, concerning the movements of Gen- @ral Sherman, that @ despatch from that officer had reached him, which, though dated at Tunnel! Hil! at half- past seven o'clock on Tuesday evening, and sent by way of Knoxville and Cumberland Gap, was delayed over twenty-four hours by the storm which broke down the lines south of Nashville. This Geapatch states that General McPherson had not attacked the enemy at Resaca, having found their posl- tion strongly fortified, and had taken his position at Snake ‘Creek Gap, General Sherman was in front of Buzzard Roost Gap, awaiting the arrival of a part of his forces. ‘With respect to General But'er’s command, no official Aatelligence bad been recived, except that three hun- dred prisoners bad reached Fortress Monroe under a guard of nogroes, + ‘The news from the front received in Washington up to dawn yesterday reports that at five o'clock on the pre. ‘Vious afternoon the assault was commenced on the ene ‘Ty's works. The attempt to take one of the redoubts did not succeed, when General Grant brought his siege guns into play, and kept up a terrific fire until nightfall Learning that the enemy were attempting to cut off his Supply trains in the rear he sent a brigade back to pro- tect them. The valor and endurance of Grant’s men ‘wore almost unparalleled. The ranks of both sides fought within quarter musket range, We give to-day very full details from our corres- pondents and other sources of the proceedings of the last fow days in the battle fields. The headquarters of Gen- eral Grant are reported to be two miles in advance of ‘Spottsylvania Court House, It is said that the Genera! has captured a large amount of the enemy’s commissary etores. AGine map of the campaign in Georgia is published in ‘enotbor column, shewing the positiow of Gen. McPherson, and all the points likely to be brought into notice during ‘Ube present campaign. EUROPEAN NEWS. A By the arrival at this port yesterday of the steamship City of Manchester, and off Father Point of the North Amerioan, we have European news dated to the 20th ult —two days later. In the London money market rebel cotton loan bonds ‘Thad advanced, and United States securities had declined. ‘This was attributed to the receipt of the news of the capture of Fort Pillow and the meagre vote in the House of Representatives om the resolution for the expulsion of Mr. Long, of Onto. i Two.steam vessels of war, built for the use of the rebel government, bad been launched from the port of Nantes, France. Another steamer, said to befor rebel service, was finished at Berdeaux. It ts said that the French government does not object to the open arming of these ‘vessels, although Mr. Dayton bad remonstrated on the subject in Paris. ‘A rumor was ciroulated in Paris to tho effect that the convention between Maximilian and Napoleon, lately “published in the Herat, contains a secret clause provid- ing for the oecupation of the district of Sonora, in Lower California, and the port of Acapulco, by French troops, on the pretence of protecting the work & development of the mining interests of that region, It was thougut in ‘Wondon that this was merely a blind to cover the advance “oc , Napoloon’s schemes on the Pacific seaboard, in which he ca templates the establishment of French foothold extend, ‘9 from Tabiti to the Isthmus of Panama ana Se pak bt Undine, with Geribaldi and bis party on ‘Doard, put back to St. Mawos, Falmouth, from stress of weather, <7h@ General was well received. It ts said that . “Ustela and Prussis have agreed to an ar mistice with Denm ** pending the issue of the London conference. ‘Wo bave files from ), ‘PAD dated at Kanagawa on the 24 of March. The reports the contemplated action of ‘the government towards fore. ‘600rs were more favorable. ‘There was a slight improve ‘Mt ' the supply of raw silk. Cotton had advanced im ,Price, and holders re mained firm. - Consota rated in London on the 26t,° Ultimo at 1%; 1; for money. American stocks nomin'®!- Cotton was firm, with prices unaltered, in Liverpool a’ the 28th of ‘April, Broadstatts were quiet and steady, am’ Provisions quiet, CONGBES In the Senate yssterday Mr. Lane, of Kansas, ivtro Guced a resolution directing the Committee on the Coo duet of the War to inquire into the eaases of the recent military reverses on the Red river. On this considerable Giscussion took piace, and the resolution was 60 amonded as to empower the committees to investigate ‘the entire administration of General Banks in the Southwest, and in that form it was adopted. A resolution was introduced and passed to ite pecond reading, which appropriates $30,000 for the relie of the commander, officers and crew of the Mississipp river gunboat Essex, which destroyed the rebel ram Ar. Kansas, and which was commanded at that time by the late Commodore William D. Porter. Tne bill to equalize the ‘Grades of naval line Ofticors was passed, as wore also the ‘Dilis making an appropriation for the relief of the friendly Sioux, allowing Surgeon Sharp, of the United States Army, to receive ® testimonial from the English fovernment, providing for tue better organiza- tion of the Quartormaster's Department of the army, and grenting lands to lows for railroad purposes. The Judici Ory Committee asked to be relieved from further con. Gideration of the joint resolution to repeal the resolution which was adopted in March, 1861, to the effect that no fameosdment for the abolition of slavery shall be made to (be constitution. A preamble and resolution con- Gomaieg the President's action in the @nsos of Gene- als Biale and Gebonck were iotroduced by Mr. Davis, (M Keabeoky, bet were aot diaposed of. A joint revo: driven lighted the spectators with their exercises. was got up under the auspices of Professor Peet, and re- flected great credit both on teachers and scholars. statistics showed that the institution was in a flourishing condition, NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1864.—WITH SUPPLEMENT, lution providing relief for the machinery contractors of the double onder gunboats was adopted, The Conference Committeo’s report in reference to volunteer naval offi- care requiving their confirmation by the Senate, was agreed to. Without transacting further business the Seuate adjourned. In the House of Representatives the consideration of the Senate amendments to the Diplomatic and Consular Appropriation bill was resumed. That providing for the appointment by the President of twenty five consular pupils was agreed to, and that authoriziag the raising of the grade of our representative in Belgium to that of a full minister was non-concurred in, and @ conference com mittee on the subject asked for, A debate took place on the bill to give the eoldiors and sailors of the present war homesteads on the con- fiscated rebel estates; but on the expiration of the morning hour it was laid asido, and the joint resolution to drop from the army rolls all unemployed general offi- cers was taken up, and after some discussion, and the offering and rejection of a few amendments, was adopted by seventy-two yeas to forty-five nays. The Senate's amendments to the Postal Money Order System bill were concurred in, and the House then adjourned. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. The Health Commissioners held another meeting at noon yesterday io relation to the sanitary condition of the city. The question raised by the City Inspector, ag to the power of the Commussionors to abate nuisances was settled by a legal opinion of Mr. Develin, the Corpo- ration Counsel, who censiders the power of the Board ample to meet all emergencies. Judge Pierrepont was present at the meoting, and coincided fully with the viows embraced in the written opinion of the Corporation Coun- sel. A resolution was then adopted instructing the City Inspector to take immediate stops to abate all exist- ing nutsances. A similar resolution was adopted directing the Sanitary Department o/ the Metropolitan police to examino the premises compiained of, and to take proper Jogal action in relation thereto, A mn was also adopted requesting the Common Counoll @ pass an ordi. nance prohibiting the continuance of the bone boiling pulsances at the foot of Thirty-ninth street and vicinity. The City Inspector, armed with this authority, will pro- ceed immediately to carry out tho ivstructions of whe Comaussioners, and there is a fair prospect that the city will be protected against these abominable nuisances uring the present summer. ‘There was to have been a speciai meeting of the Board of Aldermon yesterday; but the want of @ quorum pre. ‘vented the transaction of any business, 101 rguelles, who lately arrived in this city from Havana, was yesterday morning at an early hour ar- rested in his hotel by two porsons who represented them- selves as United States deputy marsbals, No information was given the Colonel as to the cause of his arrest, ana it was with great difficulty and after persevertng inquiries that bis friends ascertained that ho had been lodged in Eldridge street jail. He was subsequently removed from there, and his present whereabouts is unknown to his friends. Further proceedings-will be taken this morn- ing to probe the mystery which surrounds the case, Colonel Arguolles’ lady is in great distress at the abduo- tion of ber husband. Messrs. Williamson and Brown, the old Tax Commis- sioners, held another meeting yesterday afternoon, and resolved to take the responsibility of fluishing the aasess- ment rolls, in case Mr. Allen fails to moet with them to- day, in response to an invitation which they directed their secretary to send to him for that purpose. Weare informed that Mr. Allen will not attend; and as the.law requires the three Commissioners to bo present in order to legalize any official action that may be taken, it is difficult to see how the defect will be remedied. The car drivers of the Fourth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth avenue railroads and the Cross Town Railroad sent in a petition to their employers yesterday, asking that the period for which they are at present required to work be reduced from sixteen and seventeen hours to eleven hours each day, with an allowance of thirty min- utes for their meals, This ection bas been taken in ac- cordance with a resolution of the Car Drivers’ Associa. tion, which, it will be remembered, was organized during the late general strike. agreed to grant the request, and one bas rejected it. The other companies have made no reply to the petition as yet. ject at ten o'clock next Thursday evening, at their hall in West Forty-fourth street. between Eighth and Nioth avenues One of the companies has ‘The car drivers are to bold a meeting on the sub- Tne annual exhibition of the pupils of the New York Deaf and Dumb Asylum, which took place at the Cooper Institute yesterday, was well attended and proved bighly futeresting. The pupils, to the number of seventy five, perhaps, consisting equally of ladies and gentlemen, showed wonderful proficiency in their studies, and de The affair The A meeting of the American Tract Society of Boston was heid yesterday afternoon in Irving Hall, preliminary tothe fiftieth anniversary of the society, to be held in Boston on the 23d of May. A very large number were in attendance, and a strong interest was manifested. Ao opening address was made by the President, William A. Booth, Fs3., congratulating the socioty upon {ts pros- perous condition during the past year, which was far to advance of avy preceding year. statement of its affairs was made by the Secretary, Rev, J. W. Alvord, after which short, eloquent addresses were delivered by Rev. R. R. Booth, of New York; Rev. T,L Cuyler,of Brooklyn, and Rev. Byron Sunderland, of Washington, late chaplain tothe Senate, They wore all exceedingly well received by tl doubt the tract cause will receive an impetus from the exercises of yesterday which will enabie it io the year to come to far exceed its efforts and success in the year just ended A very interesting dienoe, and no The American Tract Society heid their thirty-nioth apniversary yesterday morning at Irving Hall, Right Rev Charles P. McTlvaine in the chair. The proceedings were opened with prayer, after which the annual report was read and committees appointed. After a brief address by Bishop Mclivaine the meeting adjourned. ‘The thirtieth anniversary of the American Female Guardian Society was celebrated yest jay afternoon, in the Home Uhapel, in Twenty-nioth street. There was quite a large attendance of Indies, friends of the cbildron and strangers, to witness the exercises, which consist od of singing and recitations. At @ business meeting of the society, held yesterday morning, the following of- cers were chosen for the ensuing year:—President, Mrs. ©. W. Hawkins; Secretaries, Mrs. 8. J. Goodenough and Mrs. Dr. L. Ranney; Treasurer, Mrs. 8. A. Stone. The annual report of the society was also read, showing that the receipts for the yeur ending December, 1363, were $23,441 67; disbursements, $21,485 40, balance, $1,956 27. ‘The thirty-eighth anniversary of the American Home Missionary Society was bold last evening in Irving Hall br. Woolsey, Pyesident of College, presided. Tne report of the Secretary showed the affairs of the society to be in @ prosperous condition, as will be seen by the fol- lowing statistics: —The receipts dcring the year were $196,537, expenditures $149,325—leaving $8,914 still due to missionaries for labor performed. The re- ceipts exceed those of the previous year by $30,653, ‘and those of any other year since the organization of the society by $1,089. Addresses were delivered by Dr. Hooker and others. A Convention of the Spiritualists of the United States commenced a session of three daye at Clinton Hall yester- day morning. Mr. Partridge, of New York, was elected President, and an order of business agreed upon. There are te be three sessions daily, with addresses at the open- ing of each. The speeches yesterday were made by Mes- Games Spence, Townsend and Clark,and Messrs. Par. tridge, Hatlock, Whiting, Clark and others. There were some symptoms of a row at the commencement of tho proceedings, the New York spiritualists being jealous that All the speakers and most of the officers had been selected from the modern Athens, to the exclusion of the Gotham. {tes. The matter was, however, settled by ail men and women, from all over the world, being allowed to speak at all times, The convention will moet again this morning. ‘The American Anti-Slavery Society mot at the Cooper Institute last evening, there being a very large attend. ance, Mr. Garrison presiding. Addresses were delivered by Mr. Thompson and Mr. Phillips upon the topics of the day, the slavery question coming in for a fall share of consideration. Some difference of opinion exists between Mr. Garrison and Mr. Phillips, Mr. Phillips being of opia- jon that the President and Congress are not fast enough for the age, while the former thinks that the work of emancipating the slaves is going bravely on. Marshal Murray yesterday received from Washington the President's pardon for Alfred Rider, who has been imprisoned four years oa a conviction of mutiay, throe yours of his sentence being unexpired. The Exeoutive Clemency was extended to Rider ts consequence of bie ‘exemplary conduct while tm prison. In the cage of James Wilson and others, receivers of Whe Merchants’ Bank of Treaton, vs, Joka Rowe, of (ale clty, where the plafottt™ sued to recover $19,000—the amount of certain noves which came tuto the defendant's Possession just before the bank failed—the jury yester- ay rendered @ verdict against the defendant, and assessed the damages at $19,925. The second suit on other notes resulted to a verdict for tho defendant, be having shown that the notes were given for accommods- tion's sake, to enable the bank to show ¢o an investixating committee of the New Jeraey Legislature that the amount of notes held by the bank equatied the circulation Jobo Martin, @ carman, recovered a ‘verdict of $250 Against tho city yesterday, iv the Court of Common Piens, before Judge Daly, for loss of a horse, occasioned by fall ing invo & hole im Coenties lip, which had been left open through the carolessnoss of the authorities. ‘The oase of Mary A, Williams vs, John A. Starin, pro- prictor of the Palace Garden H tel, Sixth avenue, before Judge Brady yesterday, attracted considerable attention. Plaintiff sued to recover damages for assault and battery, alleged to have been committed by the defendant during @ disputo relative to tho payment of a board bill, The Plaiowff claimed that her arm was dislocated through tho rudeness of the defendant, and thought that $5,000 would hardly compensate her for the injury. The jury rendered ‘& verdict ta favor of the plaintiff, assessing the damages at $100. ¥inancial circles were in a high state of excitement yee- terday. The Gold Exchange was crowded all day, and the premium advanced to 7644, but finally closed at 73. Stocks were up fa the morning two to eight per cont; but they fell off slightly in the afternoon, Goverument secu- rities were firm and higher, and the money market main- tained the ease which bas marked it for somo wooks past. ‘The radical changes im gold yosterday bad the effect to curtail commercial transactions very materially, though thore was previously but little disposition to Operate, Nearly all kinds of goods, foreign and domostic, were hold higher, however, and the sales gonorally showed some advance in prices. Petroleum was excited and 20. to 8c. bigher. Cotton was dull, but hold higher. The same may bo said of nearly all articles, On ‘Change flour was 10c. dearer, wheat entirely nominal, corn Ic. & 26. botter, oats dull and drooping, pork advanced 25c. lard ‘yo. @ 4c. and whiskey unchanged, Freights were firm, with little or nothing doing by sailing vessels. The Liverpool and Glasgow steamers took some wheat not in condition for the longer passage by sail at 6d., the nomi- pal asking rate by the iatter. The Virginia } Campaign—The Work Steadily Progressing. Our latest official intelligence from “the front” in Virginia is that the retreating army of Lee, having made a stand at Spottsylvania Court House, was stubbornly, though vainly, struggling at that point to push back the closely pursuing columns of General Grant. The enemy is fighting, we have no doubt, to gain the necessary time for the re- moval of his wounded and the clearing of the roads to Richmond. This object accomplished, we apprehend that the greatest difficulty to General Grant will be to come up again with his adversary this side the Chicka- hominy. While desperately struggling to shake off the victorious army’ behind him, under its indomitable leader, Gen. Lee is imperatively called to Richmond to avert, if possible, the imminent danger which threatens him there. What, then, should he, under cover of the night, give General Grant the slip, and reach the Peninsula with his shattered army several days before him? Will not the infuriated rebel pounce upon General Butler, cut him to pieces, and then, reinforced with the columns of Beauregard and Ransom, recoil upon General Grant? We have had some intimations that this is Lee’s programme; but the idea is ex- ceedingly absurd. It is by no means improba- ble, on the other hand, that Lee may find him- self shut out of Richmond on reaching its ex- terior line of fortifications, or that the city has become untenable, in being completely de- tached from the south side of the river. If General Lee has not suffered a Waterloo defeat in his first encounter with General Grant, his retreat looks to us very much like that of Napoleon from Leipsic, develop- ing the same desperate resistance from point to point, but with the fortunes of the struggle as overwhelmingly against him. Should he persevere a few days longer at this perilous game, he may, like Napoleon, discover that the lieutenant in charge of his capital has turned it over to the enemy. We entertain the pre- sentiment that the battle at Spottaylvania Court House will be the fatal blow to Lee; that it will open the gates of Richmond to Butler, if, between Butler and Admiral Lee, they are not already opened; and under this impression we hopefully await the morning and the evening bulletins, which may be punctually expected to-day, as usual, from the Secretary of War. Our War Corresronpents—Tae ENTERPRISE or American Jovrnars.—This war bas devel- oped in American journalism a spirit of enter- prise hitherto unrivalled. The Heratp has over thirty correspondeats scattered about wherever the Union forces may be found; and that it is no sinecure to be a war correspondent of this journal may be inferred from the fact that two or three have been killed while in the discharge of their arduous duties; that at one time we had five in the rebel prisons, and that at this moment we are not aware of the fate of several of our correspondents who were with General Graat’s army. Two of these gentle- men—Mr. J.C. Fitzpatrick and Mr. S. CadwaHa- der—were captured by guerillas while striving to reach Washington with full reports of the late battles, also complete lists of the killed and wounded. Thpir papers were taken from them; but they succeeded in making their, es- cape,-and, having reached Wasbington, wrote us detailed accounts of the battles they had witnessed from momory. The same spirit is evinced by our naval correapondents, who go under fire in their zeal te procure quick and reliable information for the public. Tbe London and Paris journals make immense displays of war correspondence when they have despatched a single person to the seat of war to represent them. Contrasted with our system of doing these things the enterprise of European journalism is trifling in the extreme. A Daraprvt Ovrrace.—A correspondent writes us an indignant letter complaining that some of the newsboys charge ton cents for the Heraty. This, be says, is an “outrage;” but, he adds, “I don’t begrudge ten cents for the Henatp at any time, rather than go without it. I would as soon think of going without my breakfast or dinner.” Well, we sell the Henato for three cents, and that is the regular price; but if the newsboys take advantage of the affection which the public and our correspon- Gent feel for it, and attach a higher value to the paper, we really do notece what we oan do Our Losszs amy THe Enemy's Lossus.—-Eati- mates of killed ans’ wounded are too often merely loose and disagypesble generalizations. In all the excitement of a battle field, with hospitals at widely separated points, it is hardly possible for correspondents to know positively the loss of an army within a day or two after an action, and so they form an esti- mate for the army generalized from what they know of the loss in a single brigade or divi- sion, and they estimate in round numbers—ian thousands and sometimes in groups of thou- sands. If the loss in a single brigade falls a little short or runs a little over nine hundred, they make it a thousand; if a total loss ina series of fights may run a little over twelve thousand, the correspondent believes that there are two or three hospitals he has not heard from, and he makes it fifteen thousand to be safe. For these reasons early reports of very heavy losses are not to be relied upon, and es- pecially is it unwise to draw despondent con- clusions from them. Official reports of killed and wounded always show the number lost in battle to be smaller than it had been reported, or than the public believed it tobe. This is the experience of all our battles. It would therefore be a bad and unjustifiable thing for the public to reason from one or two ill advised despatches that General Grant is likely to fail in his present campaign through the magnitude of his losses. Aside from the fact that we cannot know how great his losses are, such reasoning is absurd, since the reduc- tion of force by losses in battle is at least equal on both sides, and the relative strength of the armies isthosame. If we are able to fight the enemy when both armies number one hundred thousand, we are equally able to fight him when both armies are down to seven- ty thousand each. Our losses have been heavy in general officers; but so have those of the enemy. We have lost General Sedgwick—a man of great personal influence, a moral power in our army—and the enemy have lost for the present General Longstreet—a man second only to General Lee in the estimation of the Southern soldiers. Wadsworth and Hays are killed also on our side, and Generals Jen- kins, Pickett, Jones and Stafford were killed on the other side. Jenkins and Pickett were justly numbered among the best fighting generals of the Southern army. Jenkins, a South Carolina maa, had in particular the high confidence of all who knew him, and especially of his men. Altogether, the enemy has lost in killed and wounded, as far as known, six generals, and we have lost seven; and we be- lieve that the disparity in other losses will not be greater than this; and, mereover, we believe that the relative numbers of the two armies were such at the commencement that we can better stand a loss of fifteen or twenty thousand men than the enemy can. There need be no apprehension that General Grant will relin- quish his object through any want of force. Such a course would be utterly foreign to his nature. He could neither do it himself nor comprehend it in another. He will fight with his last regiment. Tae Tetxorara iv Murrary anv Domestic Arrarrs.—The telegraph has been a very im- portant agency in this war. By it Lieutenant General Grant is able to control half a dozen different armies, hundreds of miles apart, and Sherman, Thomas, Butler, Smith, McPherson, Schofield and our other generals all work to- gether systematically for definite objects, with as much ease as though General Grant was present at the headquarters of all these corps at the same time. But the telegraph is now becoming more and more useful in domestic affairs. The city de- partment of the American Company enables business men to communicate with each other and with their families in less time than it takes to stop an omnibus. A man down town can telegraph to his wife that he will bring half a dozen friends home to dinner, and she can send a reply and the bill of fare in five minutes time. It is evident, therefore, that the city telegraph will soon become excessively popular, and supersede the penny post. The business perplexities and matrimonial quarrels it will prevent render it a great blessing. There ought to be an office on every street. The Americans are a telegraphic people. They rushed a long way ahead of the railroad some time ago, and now nothing but lightning speed can satisfy them. New telegraph com- panies are constantly organizing all over the land. The idea of city telegraphs will soon be generally adopted and developed. Already we are constructing an overland telegraph to Russia. The Atlantic telegraph is now a mere matter of time, and will be finished, we hope, in less than two years. By May, 1866, we ex- pect to print a telegraphic Herat, giving the news from every part of the#world up to the hour of going to press. Wuat 1s Evrore to Us?—But a few weeks since we were vastly agitated by the details of the war between the Danes and Germans; the probabilities of a general European conflict; the attitude of Napoleon; the Czar’s ineffectual attempts at the pacification of Poland; Maxi- milian’s acceptance of the Mexican crown, and the excitement caused in England by the visit of Garibaldi. What are all these matters to us now? We are fighting the greatest battles that the world ever witnessed, are crushing the most gigantio rebellion that ever reared its venomous head. Wonder-stricken at these momentous events, we lose all immediate eon- cern inthe affairs of others. What to us are Europe and her interests, in times like these? Watt Street iy Anorier Onazy Frr.—Wall street had another of those crazy fits yesterday which cunning sharpers contrive for the pur- pose of catching noodles. Gold was run up some seven per cent beyond the highest figure of Tuesday, and the silly buyers at this in- crease, with their eyes wide open to the official reports from the seat of war, were “taken in and done for,” because their heads were filled with the mysterious winks and rumors of the gamblers’ decoy ducks, Our Prisoners at Ricumonn.—Considering the scarcity of provisions in the beleaguered city of Richmond, the prospect for our poor fellows held as prisoners there is gloomy. But there is some comfort in this fact: that by ex- changes and by removals to North Carolina and Georgia the number of these Union prison- ers in Richmond, which » fow months ago was from twelve to fifteen thousand, has been ro- duced to about fifteen hundred, exclusive of the additions from the late battles. That these unfor- tunate men will be the first in the rebel capital to starve, in the event of « protracted struggle for ite possession, from all that we know of the bout It, or how we can kegn the price down. | horrors of Libby, prisog. cannot be doubted. General Grant and General Butler, we pre- sume, 60 understand it, and wil) push vigorous- ly on with their work until the inmates of the Libby are changed from blue jackets to gray. Poor Consoration-—The message of Jeff. Davis to the two houses of the rebel Congress, in which he tries to cheer them with their “important and valuable successes” lately gained in Fiori- da, Louisiana and West Tennessee (Fort Pil- low), while Butler is thundering on one side of Richmond and Grant is driving Lee before him on the other. NEWS FROM RICHMOND. Advices from the Rebel Capi- tal to Sunday. THE PLANS OF GENERAL LEE, Ben Ren ae A gentleman reached this city yesterday afternoon who left Richmond Sunday, the 8th inst. Ho has long resided and is well known there, and has remained all through the war, boiag exempt from conscription for physical causes. As he bas interests there, and intends returning when he can eafely do 50,he does not wish his oame made public; and he {s also somewhat reticent as to matters there, concerning which he must be well in- formed, We however gather the following facts from conversation with him:— The general impreasion among the oltizons was that there was no danger of the capture of Richmond. In thia feoling our informant did not participate; but, thinking it very probable the city would be besieged and shelled, if not captured, he determined to leave. Being well known, he bad n>d_ culty in obtaining a pass to go with a mule andocir?_ to the residence of a near rolutive, in New Kent county, some twelvo or fifteen miles east of Richmond, to bring in a load of bacon, He attended church us usual, at Saint Paui’s, on Sunday morning, and heard a sermon from the pastor, the Rev. Dr. Minnegarode, from the text (taken from the first morning lesson for that day), Joel, second chapter and twentieth verse: —‘‘I will remove far off from you the Northern army.’ He says President Davis was present, but not Mrs. Davis. The President was clad in deep Touring and looked more sad and depressed than usual, owing, as he supposes, to the recent death of a favorite child, He left his boarding house about two P. M., and as ho passed out of the city, passed a large number of federal prisoners who had just arrived, captured in the battles of Thursday previous. It was stated to him there were two thousand of them, and that they were largely from Massachusetts. He reached his destination about sunset, and aided in loading up his bacon. He then gave the cart and pass to a negro servant of tne family, who returned with it to Richmond—he eaying he should stay a few days there. He purchased a mule, and remaining with his friends till dark, made for the James river, being piloted part of the way by a slave who knew all the roads, and having had minute directions given him as to the pickets and campeof the rebels. He reached the river at three o'clock. on Monday morning, without molestation, and gave his mule toa negro to row him out into the stream in a punt. He was picked up bya returning transport and landed at Fortress Monroe, whence be made his way here. He says Butler's movements were not half 80 much dreaded as Grant's. That the genoral bolicf was Lee ‘would leave a part of his forces in his intrenchments behind the South Anna, wbo could easily hold Grams at bay, while with the rest be would fall on Butler and an- nihilate bim with the assistance af Beauregard and Hoke, and thus, with the three commands combined, return to assail Grant once more, Arrival of a Valuable Prize. The prize steamship Minnie, Acting Ensign Francis Wallace commanding, arrived at this port last night from off Wilmington, having been captured on the 9tb inst., in latitude 34, longitude 75, by the United Statos steam gun. boat Connecticut, while attempting to run the blockade. ‘She left Wilmington the night previous, and has a cargo of six bundred bales of cotton, thirty tons of tobacco and twelve barrels of turpentine, destined for Bermuda: was built in Glasgow in November, 1863, for a blockade runner. She registers four hundred and fifty tons and was owned by the Albion Trading Company, of Lond: ‘The following is a list of the prize officers in charge: Acting Ensign Commanding—Francis Wallace. Aoting Master's Mate—E. P. Blague. ‘Acting Third Assistant Engineere—Wm. McGrath (in oharge), Chas. H. Lawrence. No Signs of the Afri Hauirax, May 11—2:30 P. M. Thero are no signs of the Africa. Weather thick, The Navy. ‘The United States steamer Admiral, Acting Volunteer Lieutenant William B, Eaton, commanding, will sail from the New York Navy Yard to-day, with the mails, and a large quantity of supplies for the West Guif Blockading squadron, under the command of Rear Admiral Farragut. She carries out also officers ordered to report to Admiral Farragut. Military Affairs. Proworion.—Captain Lovell Purdy, Jr., Fifth Excelsior, Major, from April 20, 1864, vice Alles, dismissed, Major Pardy is with bis regiment, ia Hancock’s corps. (Caawarr or Commmnon.—A special meeting of the Cham. ber of Commerce will be held this day at one o'clock, to consider what action it may be proper to take relative to the recent circular of the Secretary of the Treasury in re- gard to the time when the joint resolution of Congress, imposing duties of fifty per cent additional on imported goods, shall take effect. Crimea’ Association oF tae Niweresnta Warp.—A meeting was held by this association last evening, The President, Mr. Wm. H. Webb, toox the chair, and 8. D, Moulton presented a series of statements regarding al- leged corruption among city officials, and the meeting adjourned at the call of the President. A Break in the Ca An extensive break has occurred on the long level of the canal, near Whiteboro, washing away the heavy om- bankment and a portion of the Central Railroad track. ‘The passengers are transferred at tho breach im the road, and the trains are detained only a few minutes. Canal Commissioner Skinner says it will take six days to repair the break in the canal at Whitesboro, Congressional Election Cmcaco, May 11, 1864, E. C. Ingersoll, republican, was elected to Congress from the Fifth Congressional district (Lovejoy’s) yester- day, by about 5,000 majority. Court © r—This Day. Scrrame Covrt—Ciacurt.—Part 1—Court opens at eloven A. M.—Nos, 1653, 1649, 1195, 1765, 1777, 1779, 1781, 1561, 1169, 1783, 1705, 1801, 1803, 145%, 1s41, 121", rt 1481, 1683, 913, 1591. Part 2—73 Iuane street. opens at ten A M. Nog 84, 1 604, 541, 1576, 824, 4 334, 1354, 392, 473, 366, 1002, 1626, 476, 1656, of 1422, 04, 95, 78 Scrmnion Court—Triat Tanw.—Part 1—Nos, 8937, 4221, 4225, 4227, 4231, 4233, 4235, 4237, 4230, 4241; 4243, 4245, 4247, 4249. 4251. Part 2—Nos. be ie FF 3456, 2940, 3440, 9616, 2208, 1730, 3694, 3096, 3702, 3704, 3706, 3708, 3710. Common Pizas Count—TraL Tarw.—Part 1—Nos. 100, 668, 442, 432, 675, 452, 380, 40, 558, 100, 574, 222, 640, 270, 178. Part 2—Now. 451, 463, 524, 401, 446, 310, 287,’ 194, 664, 04, 450, 483, 414, 480, 201 Departares. RIVALS. Arrivals ity of Manchester—Thomas Wallace, Henry radu keris Richoiss Cusack. # ,D, Jenison, } Fetze, 0 Oly ru ; dou, Ly Fourdcogan,) Maren, @ i Wharton, M Rutherford , er. B arnel, Frabk Thomas, J ag DEPARTURES. Olympus—Jobo Burns G Harri. lenry Friend and child—others 012,483 ©. in the steerage. 8) Havana—Steamahip Eagle—8 dol Coste; J Hermo-a B rdapivia, D Ur M Junquere, A wie gi Bhai 0 shes "ant td Brows aon egy Benvert, Be eae eta Me Horgentes, J Sia Oro Mi Santas gud peer J9,Deonaart, Mise Dygert, ire Comstock, Mre At ip Matansas- Ouil we peat hers RP ie janck, 1 Ohver, J 3 MEWS FROM WASHINGTON. A Resolution Dropping Unemployed Generals Adopted by the House. Inquiry Inte General Bauks’ Admia- istration in the Southwest, Homesteads for Soldiers and Saiiors on Con- fiscated Rebel Estates, &e., Wasuimaron, May 11, 1666 THE PROCEBDINGS OF CONGRESS. There was 00 animation in either branob of Congress to-day, The members evidently participate in the gea- eral anxiety in reference to the tremendous military operations in progress, and until the definite resclt attained cannot devote themselves with much interest te their legislative duties, INQUIRY INTO THE RECENT DISASTERS ON RED RIVER. ‘The Senate passed a joint resolution instructing the Committee on the Conduct of the War to investigate the Tecomt movements and disasters in the Red river country. ‘It was charged that the whole movement was @ mere cotten speculation. DISMISSAL OF THE UNSMPLOYED GENERALS —HOME- STEADS FOR SOLDIERS AND SAILORS. In the House the jolat resolution to dismiss the unem- ployed generals was adopted very quietly, the opposition to it seeming indisposed to contest the matter further, as was also the case with reference to the bill providing homesteads for the soldiers and sailors engaged in the Present war, out of the confiscated and abandoned pro. perty in insurrectionary districts. It was expected that there would have been some Alibustering on these mea- sures; but they scarcely attracted any notice from the opposition, THE PREVAILING INTEREST IN THE ARMY OPERA- TIONS. . Thero is a good deal of excitement here in reference te the provress and results of military operations. The large nambers of wounded officers and soldiers that have been brought up add to the prevailing feeling, and those who are at the hotels are surrounded by eager crowds, anxious to hear from those who have participated in this series of battles—the greatest in modern times—the history an @ fneidents of the fray. The confidoncé of the People in the final success of our armies is unimpaired, and some bets have been made in reference to the ti at which Richmond shall be in our possession. Nothing ia thought of or talked about anywhere or by anybody except war. Much valuable military talent, judging from the wisdom with which military mattera are dis- cussed, and the movements of the different generals are canvassed, is still lying unemployed in this city. MEETING OF ARMY OFFIOBRS IN REFERENCE TO THE DEATH OF GENERAL SEDGWICK. ‘The officers in Washington, particularly those of the Sixth corps, held a meeting this afternoon to take action 1m reference to the death of Major General Joha Sedgwick. Brigadier Gen. Barnes was appointed Chate man and Capt. J. W. Fisher, Secretary. It was resolved that all the officers in the city should be requested to ap- pear in full dress and escort the body tothe depot, Im accordance with this resolution, Generals Barnes and Cal@. well, Colonels Titus, Farnbam, Price and a large number of other officers accompanied the remains. Tho body lefts on the evening train, in charge of Major Whittier, Captalm Beaumont and Captain Halsted, and will arrive im New York at eight o'clock tomorrow morning. ‘The following preamble and resolutions were adopted:— ‘Whereas, the country at large, and the army of the Potomac especially, have been called upon to mourn the death of the late Major Geveral Sedgwick, who fell white in the prominent discharge of his duty, at the head of hie corps, at Spotsylvania Court House, ip Virginia,on the 8th inst., this meetiog desires to express ita regard for his memory; therefore Resolved, That, while we deplore the fatality which af ‘80 great a crisis of our country’s fate has deprived her of the services of one of her nobiest sous, we rejoice that and while leading om A ing to bis sountry> men the record of an immortal exatnple. jived, That this resolution be published In the dally Papers of this city, and that a copy be sent'to the rela tives of the deceased. QUNERAL A. J. SMITH APPOINTED MAJOR GENERAL. General Andrew Jackson Smith was nominated to the Senate yesterday for Major General. POST OFFICE AGENT FOR THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. Wm. 1. Kelly, of Louisville, Ky., bas been appointed epecial agent of the Post Office Department in the Valley of the Mississippi. OHARACTERISTIO ANEODOTE OF GENERAL GRANT—A STORY NOT BY THR PRESIDENT. After the battle of Pittsburg Landing and Gen. Grant's complete victory at that point, General Buel, a thorough soldier, began criticising ina friendly way the impolioy of his baving fought a battle with the Tennessee river be- hind his meff. ‘Where, if beaten, coulda you have re- treated, General?’ asked Buel. ‘‘I dida’t mean to be Deaten,”’ was Grant's sententious reply. ‘But suppose you had been defeated, despite all your exertions?” “Well, there were the transports to carry the remains of the command across the river.’’ ‘But, General,’ urged Buel, ‘Your whole transports could not contain over tem thousand men; end it would be impossible for them te make more than one trip in the face of the enomy.”’ “Well, if T bad been beaten,’’ said General Grant, pausing to light nother segar as he spoke, “transportation for ten thou. sand men would have been abundant for all that would be loft of us.” This anecdote is eminently characteristic, the data for the proper appreciation of it being, thes Grant bad about fifty thousand men over the river. THE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERALSHIP. Hon. Titian J, Coffey having resigned the offlce of As sistant Attorney General of the United States, the Attor- ney General bas appointed J. Hadley Ashton, Eaq., of Philadelphia, to that office,and he has entered on ite duties, Mr. Coffee will hereafter assist the Attorney General jn the preparation and argument of cases in the Supreme Court of the United States in which the govera- ment is a party, those cases now numbering more than one-third of the calendar of that court, THR TRN-FORTY LOAN. ‘The subsctiptions to the ten-forty loan received at the Treasury were on Saturday, $879,000; on Monday, $1,112,000, on Tuesday, $600,000, and on Wednesday, $750,000. THERTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS. FIRST BESBION. &e., &e. Senate. Wasmwatos, May 11, 1864 RLAOTION OF CHAPLAIN, Tne Senate proceeded to tho olection of a chaplain. ‘Thirty-nine votes wore cast, of which tho Rov. Mr. Bowman received twenty-four, and the Rev. Mr. Gray, of the East street Baptist church, received Giteon, The Roy. Mr. Bowman was declared elected. INQUIRY INTO ON. BANKS’ ADMINISTRATION. Mr. Lana, (rep.) of Kansas, introduced a resolution re- dition hglnrinalpweborpemerpbolhceminlay ha any eon times asked that infantry be given fee a ina cover his artiiery, which was only pro- tected by ca sald that the disastrous resalt tole mlemanegorsent wate Rronanveom, (ag Bed Ti, said much trouble had ready arisen of the civil authori- iready ine miliary, and be did: ot believe it wise to prose this resolution Oo ansen tr ) of Mass., thought that the standing ir, Wiaon, a jane, of General Banks aaa man abd an eo officer entitied him to fair treatment at loast; Senators should indulge to of bim, There was no groat dissster op the for it. Trt a espn tisas eat’ ho Ald not wish to be under. stood denouncing General Banks. He that the expedition wes fanny by ‘a Western ofloer, ana 238 ) of Wis., said that this movemens made without the sanction of the the Lieutenant General, and be Rad under. stood that it was also with the sanction of Gen. Curtis. Mr. Kansas, said that it was the mont if. advised and Movement of the war, and reiterated that it wae lacnanceres by a Western offcer whom ke would not name, pince Generel Curua hed neem a —