The New York Herald Newspaper, February 18, 1865, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1865. The Conaition of the Motropelis—Some | pose that “the old man” has gone to hunt up NEW YORK HERALD, | Bm xcs bat presented Mr, Seddon; the JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR, OFFICE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS, Seeeemaamaamemeeeeeael TERMS eash in advance, Money sent by mail will be ‘et the risk of the sender. None but bank bills current in Now York taken. THE DAILY HERALD, Four cents percopy. Annual subscription price $14. Volume EXX........cccecsee eects cesses ee NOs 48 AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. ACADEMY OF MUSIC, ITALIAN Oi Matinee ree la at Two BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway.—Tam Live In- pun—Paun Par. ee » WINTER GARDEN, Bi x y — a ‘ roadway. —Matinee at Two o’Clock- Irvi 0'Clock—Lvcta Dt NEW BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery. —! vee Basr—Jack Suerranp—Hinau orn yad ¢ ‘WALLACK'S THEATRE, Broadway.—Gaun or Lira, Pasa THEATRE, Broadway.—Tux Srazxts or New Dane Trot—Mipmiaut Inge at Two o’Clock. NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadwaf.—Love. BOWERY THEATRE, Bo: ‘Warou—Srecrax BaiDi.cwoom BARNUM'S MUSEUM. modmnp «tne. Mamuota Far foumn—Living Sxxixron—Dwai ANT BOY—AZUCENA— jassy Vers—Day and Kvening. BRYANTS'’ MINSTRELS, Mechanics’ Hall, 472 Broad. Te ewiran Songs, Dances, Buatusques, &c.—Liva WOOD'S MINSTREL HALL, 514 Broadway.—Staxers or New Youk—Tusz Piay bit.—Eruiorian Soxds, Dances, &0. SALLE DIAROLIQUE, 586 Broadway.—Rosert Hetven’s ‘MELANGE OF MopkRN Minacius. Matinee at Twoo'Clock. IRVING HALL, Irving place.—Tuxo. Tuomas’ Syupnonte Somes. VAN AMBURGH & CO.'S MAMMOTH MENAGERIE, ‘880and 541 Broudway.—Open from W) A. M. to 10 P. M. HIPPOTHEATRON, Fourteenth _ streot.—Equestrian, Gyumastic AND ACKOBATIC ENTSUTALINMENTS—MOTHER Goose AMERICAN THEATRE, No. 414 Rroadway.—Bau.ets, Pantomnexs, Buaiusques. ke.—Hauvust Hoxe, .'8 MINSTRELS, 199 and 201 URLESQUKS, cc. —BLack Buigapy HOOLEY & CAMPBE Bowery.—Sonas, Dances, NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— Open from 10 A. M, till 10 P. M VANNUCHI'S MUSEUM, 600 Broadway.—Movina Wax Fiaoans. New York, Saturday, February 18, 1865. ——= = eee THE SITUATION. AM doubt regarding the occupation of Branchville, South Carolina, by General Sherman, is dissipated by the despatch of one of our Fort Fisher correspondents. ‘The announcement of its capture, supposed onthe 8th inst, after three days of hard Oghting, was brought to Smithville, N. C., on the 12th inst,, by a courier who, ‘at great peril, rode across the country with a despatch from late War Secretary, as guilty of gross swindling, and the Richmond journals make statements which add to his guilt We have also some developments regarding General Hood's Tennessee campaign. The Selma (Ala) Mississippian says that two regiments of his army returned (0 Corinth with eighty-four men left out of thirteen hundred. A rebel naval force of twelve officers and one hundred men was lately cap- tured by the Unionists at Smithfield, Isle of Wight county, Virginia, The Richmond Zsaminer announces that the negroes have caught quite a military fever in that city, and that they are already forming organizations of volunteers for service in the rebel armies. The transports New York and Leary arrived at An- Rapolis, Md., yesterday from James «iver with over fifteen hundred national soldiors released from rebel captivity. CONGRESS. In the Senate yesterday the credentials of Joseph Se- gar, Senator eloct from the loyal portion of the State of Virginia, in place of Mr. Bowden, doceased, were pre- sented. Mr. Sumner moved to refer them to the Judi- clary Committee, and, after a long discussion, the motion was agreed to. Mr. Sumner offered a joint resolution, which was adopted, declaring that the United States can never in any way recognize any part of the debt of the rebel States. The remainder of the session, up to eleven o'clock at night, was devoted to debate on political ques- tions and the Naval Appropriation bill. The latter was finally passed, and the Senate adjourned. In the House of Representatives the Committee on Elections reported in favor of admitting the representa- tives from Louisiana and Arkansas to seats, but no action ‘was taken on the subject. The Senate Committee have decided in favor of admitting the Arkansas Senators, and will so report at an carly day. Bills for the relief of Paymaster Brigham, of the army, and to extend the time for the completion of certain railroads in Michigan, were passed. In Committee of the Whole the conside- ration of the bill amendatory of the Internal Revenue act was resumed. Mr. Boutwell’s amendment to levy a tax of one-half of one por cent on all sales of merchandise was debated, and adopted by a vote of fifty-eight to fifty-six. The proposition to tax the issues of State banks so high as to force them out of circulation was rejected; but an amendment, that every national banking association and State bank or State banking association pay a tax of ten per centum on the amount of any State notes paid out by them after the Ist of January, 1866, was agroed to by a majority of two. A new soction, in effect taxing all speculative transactions in gold twenty per cont, was offered by Mr. Stevens, and adopted by a vote of Aifty-one to forty-three. It is believed, however, that neither of the three last mentioned amendments will pass the House, Several other propositions were acted on, when the committee rode, the previous question was ordered | om concurring in the various amendments, and the House adjourned, THE LEGISLATURE. In the State Senate yesterday the bill providing for » public parade ground in New York was adopted. Bills to amend the charter of Brooklyn, fora pyblic market in New York, and to amend the act providing for the widening of Fourth avenue, Brooklyn, were reported. General Sherman to Admiral Porter. Wilmington papers Of the 9th inst. and refugecs who have reached Smith- ville confirm this statement; and Richmond journals of ‘Wednesday last say their War Departmont has the official @anouncement of the evacuation of Branchville, which ‘was consequent upon the occupation of Orangeburg, north ‘Of it, on tho railroad leading to Columbia, by a large force of Sherman's infantry; but they do not mention any fighting in the vicinity. They report, however, that Kil- patrick reached @ point within fifteen miles of Augusta, @s., on the 10th instant, and was attacked by Wheeler, and “driven five miles, with considerable loss,” On Tuesday last, they strto, there was again a Union column within a few mile: of Augusta, and, more important till, they say that on Wednesday Sherman's. ad- vance had reached the south bank of the Congaree, ‘within a few miles of Columbia, which is situated on the ‘worth bank of that river, to which side the rebels had fallen back. A battle was considered imminent. A ru- ‘mor was in circulation yesterday, purporting to have ‘boon brought from Richmond to Annapolis by reloased Union prisoners, to the effect that Sherman had been @heoked and Beauregard killed. The latter is possible, but the former very improbable. Additional daring exploits of the intrepid young Commander Cushing are described in our Fort Fisher correspondence. On the 8th inst., with about fifieen mon, he captured tho litte town of Shallotte, gar- risoned by one hundred rebels, held it for several hours, ‘during which he destroyed large stores of army sup- plies, provisions and about eighty bales of cotton, and escaped without los, On the night of the 10th inst. the made a reconnoissance of Cupe Fear river, ‘actually penetrating up to the wharves of Wi!- mington, where he remained sufficiently long to gain much valuable information. He discovered the febel pirate Chickamauga sunk im the channel of the river. Om the next night, with four boats’ crows, he ‘wont up to the rebel Fort Anderson, and managed to get Close enough under its walls to hear an officer, supposed to be General Bragg, haranguing his men on the last ditch and tho Jast stroke for Southern independence. Our James river despatches represent that, with thn exception of occasional exchanges between tho batteries @nd pickots before Petersburg, the stillness in the armies of the James the turbed, The number of rebel deserters coming into the Union lines has increased since the failure of the peace negotiations very considerably. Not only privates, but many of Loe’s officers, are leaving him. They say that the general fooling of his army is one of hopelessness; ‘that the majority of his men are convinced that their Southern confederacy is a chimera, and would gladly Jay down thoir arms if they had the opportunity. Our New Orleans despatches published in the Hrraty of the 20th ult. announced that General Mejia, the Em- peror Maximillan’s commander at Matamoros, had | and Potomac remains uniis- agreed to roturn to the rebel authorities in Toxas all the refugees who made their es cape from Jeff. Davis’ despotism in that State ‘ecrom the Rio Grande into Mexico, We have now the statement from Cairo that General Canby has informed Genoral Mojia that if he persists in carrying out this ar rangement he may expect retaliation by the taking and holding of Mexican officers, man for man, for each of he cacaped Texans returned to the rebel officers. Bands of rebel guerillas have for some days past been {Prowling through the country in the immediate vicinity Of Nashville and Clarksville, Tennessee, plundering the ‘dobabitants and carrying off some of them. On Thars- day afternoon about four hundred of these marauders ap- peared within six miles of Nashville, and captured sevora! wood choppers and government employes, East Ponnoaseo is said to be at present undisturbed by them. ‘The case of the St. Albans raiders is still undecided by ‘the Montreal court. After some argument between the ‘opposing counsel on Thursday, further proceedings wore ‘adjourned ovor till Monday next, We have received files of Nasean papers to the Lith Yost. The Guardian of the 8th informs us that several \blockade ranning steamers had returned to port, having [eon unable to get into Charleston, Betwoon the 6th and the 11th inst. the steamers Secret, Dream, Florence, Waroline, Chameleon, Virginia, Hansa and Owl returned to Nesenu after unsuccessful efforts to ran the blockade, Our files of Inte rebel nowspapere contain some Wwory interesting disclosures rogarding the corruption fto Jom, Davis’ Cabinet, and give an insight into the | the occurrence, Bills were introduced reli to the National Guard; for a railroad in Broadway; relating to deposits in sav- ings banks; for a railroad in Christopher and otheratreots in this city; also the Harlem and Broadway Railroad, were introduced, In the Assembly bills were introduced to incorporate the New York and Brooklyn Floating Petroleum Com- pany; to improve Baltic street, Brooklyn; provid- ing for two additional surrogates for the city of Now York; for the regulation of the Fire Department of this city; also for the cleaning of the streets of New York and Brooklyn. Bills for the incorporation of various savings banks in this-city and Brooklyn wore reported; also a Dill in relation to the Marine Court of the city of New York. Bills to incor- porate the Spuyten Duyvel and New York Railroad; for a railroad in Grand and other streets; for a railroad in Christopher and other streets, and for a railroad in South, West and other streets in New York; ‘and making the office of Register of this city a salaried office were noticed. Both Houses jof the Legislature have adjourned, ac- cording to resolution, until half-past seven o'clock on ‘Thursday evening, the 23d instant. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. ‘The Senatorial committee engaged in investigating our city affairs met at half-past ten o'clock yesterday fore- noon, Judge Edmonds and Mr. John McDonald, counsel for the Citizens’ Association of the Eighteenth ward, ap- peared before the committeo, and submitted a paper charging the Board of Supervisors with having involved the city in debt to the amount of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars without authority of law. Supervisor ‘Tweed was present, and stated that he would be prepared to meet these charges on Monday, to which time the fur. ther consideration of this matter was adjourned. The committee will meet to-day to investigate the affairs of the Comptroller's office, and will hold daily sessions until their labors are concluded. The Aldermanic Committeo on Ordinances met yester- day to hear parties on the subject of storing petroleum in the city. A number of parties interested in the trade spoke against the passage of an ordinance to prevent the storage of petroleum, on the ground that it has become an article of such utility and commerce. The trial of Bernard Friery for tho homicide of Harry Lazarus was brought toa close last night. The theory of the defence was that the prisoner was so grossly in- toxicated as to be unable to conceive a premeditated design to commit murder, and three witnesses testified that Friery had been very drunk for several days preceding After counsel for the prisoner and the people bad suinmed up Recorder Hoffman delivered his charge. The case was submitted to the jury shortly before eleven, and after an absence of fifteen minute they returned with a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree, The prisoner did not appear to be affected by the result. The suit of the Count Joannes against Mr. Horace Greeley, for alleged libel in the New York Tribune, was concluded in the Court of Common Pleas, before Judge Daly, yesterday. Among the witnesses examined was Professor Francis Lieber, whose testimony related to the Count’s right to his title of nobility. The jury, after deliberating about a quarter of an hour, rendered a ver- dict in favor of the defendant. ‘The Surrogate yesterday decided in favor of the claim of John Cryder for twenty-nine thousand dollars for ser- vices rendered to the late William S Wetmore in the management of his estate. Mr. Wetmore, who was con- nected with George Peabody, of London, in business, leaves an estate of some three millions of dollars, For some years before his death Mr. Cryder managed all his affairs, Colonel Baker returned from Washington yesterday, and immediately commenced operations again with the same vigor that characterized his proceedings on his first onslaught on the swindling bounty brokers and rascally bounty jumpers. Three or four brokers charged with defrauding recruits out of their bounty were summoned before the Colonel and in each case compelod to dis- gorge. Mr. L. E. Chittenden, late Rogister of the Trea- sury, has been appointed judge advocate to try the bounty Jumpers, A respite has been granted in the case of the Lake Erie rebel pirate Captain Beall, and he will not be hanged on Governor's Island to-day, as was at first de- cided. Aman named John Moyer was yesterday committed for examination on the charge of being an extensive douler in counterfoits on the government fifty cent notes. It is ard that when arrested ho had about him sixty of those bills and a counterfeit five dollar Treasury note. Mary Aon Todd, keeper of an alleged disreputable honse In Greene street, died yesterday under circum- stances which induced suspicions that she had been pol- soned; but the facts of the case cannot be fully ascer- tained until a chemical analysis of the stomach shall havo been mad, Owing to remarks made by deceased Just previous to her death, a man named Josoph Clapman was committed to await the result of the Coroner's inves- tigation, Four more of the cotton floct have arrived im our harbor from Savannah. They will all discharge at the government grounds at Quarantine, where large sheds are being built to receive the eotton. A fire broke out about twelve o'clock last night in the basement of No. 61 Liberty street, but was extinguished bofore any,very great damage was done, The body of a.mnn, supposed from papers in his @ausoe of its recont dissolution, A committee of the | pockets to be that of Georxe W. Beaver, of Pacific straat Brooklyn, wes found yesterday im the water at tho foot of Broad strést, ee. In the lower branch of the Legistature of Minnesota the proposition to strike out the word “white” from the constitution as @ qualification for voting was carried on the 7th inst. by @ vote of thirty-one yeas to eight nays. The majority of the Jadictary Committee of the Ken- tucky Senate have made a report recommending the re- jection of the constitutional amendmeat to abolish slavery. ‘Tho steamship City of London, Captain Petrie, of the Inman line, will sail to-day at noon for Quoenstown and Liverpool, taking the mails for the United Kingdom and the Continent, which will close at the Post Office at half- past ton A. M. Eloven buildings were burned at St. Anthony, Minn., on the morning of the 10th inst, by which property to the amount of twenty thousand dollars was destroyed. A collision occurred between two freight trains on the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad about two o’clook on Wednesday morning last. Both locomo- tives, tenders and several of the cars upon each train were completely smashed. Flour, apples and produce of all kinds were acattered in every direction. Tho regular through passenger train from New York, due at Wash- ington at aix o'clock in the morning, was delayed six hours by the accident. ‘The Jameson sawmills, at Upper Stillwater, Me., were destroyed by fire on Thuraday night, involving # loss of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. ‘The resolution of the Kings county Supervieors agrec- ng to pay the increased bounties to volunteers has effected nothing towards the resumption of recruiting in Brooklyn, for the reason that thore is no money with which to pay the recruits, the capitalists of the city de- clining to take the bonds authorised for this purpose. A number of men who presented thomselves yesterday for onli before the provost marshals of the Second and Third Congressional districts had consequently to be refused. ‘Tho stock market was heavy yesterday. Governments were steady. Gold was inactive, the closing quotation boing 203%. Thore was rather more firmness and buoyancy in com- mercial circles yesterday than on Thursday; but there was little inclination to operate, and the markets were generally called dull, while prices were to a great extent nominal. Cotton was the turn firmer, Petroleum was quiet bat firm, except crude, which was nominal. On ’Change the flour market was more active, and an ad- vance of 10c. a 20c. was ostablishod. Wheat was quict, but firm. Corn and oats ruled dull, but firm, The pork market was quite active, but lower. Beef was steady, while lard was firmor, Freights wore quiet, while whiskoy was steady. Another Sherman Victory—Three Days’ Fighting—Branchville Onptared. Branchville was captured on the 8th instant by Sherman’s forces, after three days’ hard fight- ing. A courier from our army reached Smith- ville on the 12th, and communicated the news of the victory to Admiral Porter. The Rich- mond papers to the 15th make no mention of the battle, but report Branchville evacuated. The rebel War Department probably pur- posoly withheld the unwelccme intelligence of the disaster from the public. This success of General Sherman is of great importance, and the rebels know it well. If Sherman takes Branchville, says the Rich- mond Braminer, “he cuts our great railroad artery, and General Lee will have to gather his supplies from other quarters than the rich storehouse of Southwestorn Georgia ;” and on the same day on which this statement was printed in Richmond the Sentinel of that city— the Davis organ—announced that Branchville had fallen into our hands, and that Sherman was already seventeen miles north of it. Thus two more of the delusions imposed upon the Southern people are done with, They had been told only the day before that Sherman would find a “lion in bis path,” and would be met by Beauregard with the army that was lately in front of Nashville, under Hood, But the Sentinel declares that Beauregard and his army were absent, and that it was impossible to fight for the possession of the most import- ant point in South Carolina or even to attempt it. The Examiner hinted some days ago at other means of communication with Georgia besides that by the “great railroad artery,” and now it admits that there is no such other communication at all, and that Georgia and Richmond are hopelessly separated. Branch- ville is a central point between Columbia, Augusta and Charleston. Columbia has proba- bly been captured ere this, rendering more complote the destruction of the enemy’s lines | of communication. By the articles extracted from the North Carolina and South Carolina papers we see what will be the probable effect on the politi- cal situation of Sherman’s march through the latter State. We see that it will develop a more distinct and positive Union sentiment than even his mareh through Georgia did. The Raleigh Progress contrasts his army with the Southern armies, and says it is not “a loose mob, prowling on the country to oppress friend as well as foe,” but is, on the contrary, “an army of discipline, vigor, action.” It sees nothing to prevent the junction of Sherman and Terry at Raleigh and their permanent lodg- ment there. It thinks that the rebel Legisla- ture is in its last session, and that when Sher- man comes the legislators will ran away; but “the people will stay where they are,” and “make the best of it, as the people did in Savannah.” South Carolina goes even further. It is declared that the people of that State “want the best peace they can get, and want it now.” Even the Charleston Mercury believes that a majority of the people of South Carolina “would jump at peace, with reconstruction.” Evidently the rebel rhodomontade is pretty well run out, and the end is near. Tur Orrra Comigue.—We notice that o bill has been introduced in our Legislature to incor- porate the Lyric Theatre Association. This we presume to be the inauguration of the new Opera Comique for French operas and vaudevilles, We have no doubt that this new theatre wil at once become most fashionable and success ful. While our present Academy of Music will be reserved for the tragic operas of the Italian school, the Lyric Theatre will be devoted to the light, sparkling and amusing performances of the French sehool, 80 that the one need not interfere with the other, and both will endeavor to attract and interest the public. Too Lat#—The rebel leaders at Richmond with their scheme to arm their slave population. They have laid it over for the present, They have information from Sherman that {t comes too late Reforms Sadly Needed. New York city is certainly destined to be tho emporium of the world,as it is now the me tropolis of this country, Sooner or later, unless miraculous objections interpose, the State and the national Capitols will be removed to this em- porium. The Legislature has already appointed & committee to receive proposals from the various cities for the location of the capital of the State, and everybody admits that no other city can compete with New York, if our advan- tages be fairly presented and our authorities are as liberal in their proposals as our citizens wish them to be. Yet, in spite of all this, there are at least two reforms which must be tho- roughly and promptly made before this me- tropolis can do itself justice. Our streets are in a terrible condition. One day we wade knee deep in mud, and the next day we are calling for canoes instead of cars, and reflecting upon the best means of trans- forming our omnibuses into gondolas. If a cold snap comes the thoroughfares are filled with hills and mountains of ice, over which vehicles tumble and toss at a snail’s pace, like the baggage wagons of Napoleon crossing the Alps. Not even the crosswalks are cleared of ice, and in sloppy weather we have to pay toll to ragged little boys and girls if we wish to cross the streets dryshod. These nuisances can be easily reformed. If private citizens can clean their sidewalks, certainly the Corporation can clear the crosswalks, As for the carriage ways, they ought to be cleaned in all weathers, There is no more sense in leaving the ice and snow for rains to wash away than there is in leaving the mud for the winds and sun to dry up. There is no want of money; but there is a great lack of executive ability. Tho citizens pay their high taxes, and would pay them willingly if they saw the city kept neat and clean. Other cities are so kept, without half of our natural facilities and at less than our annual expenditures. Why should New York be so far behind the age? The second reform to which we direct atten- tion is the sewerage. The sewers below ground, like the streets above ground, are in a horrible mess. They are not graded properly, or they are in some way obstructed, and the result is that they breed disease and render certain districts almost uninhabitable. The Heratp office has long suffered from this sewer- age nuisance, and we have spent much time and money in vain attempts to abate it. The evil is where we cannot get at it, and where the proper authorities ought to get at it and correct it. This offence is rank; it smells to heaven; and the offence of our dirty streets is equally within the cognizance of every citizen. It is a shame and a disgrace that these matters aro not immediately reformed. We do not care at this time to attempt to fasten the responsibility upon any official or any department, nor do we believe in investigating committees as a remedy for the nuisances of which we complain. We simply state the broad, glaring, apparent facts that our streots are now very dirty, when they ought to be clean, and that our sewers now conduce to disease, when they ought to conduce to health. If these statements are not regarded, and these nuisances continue to disgrace the city, we shall see if somebody or some board cannot be held to account for such delinquen- cies. Like the farmer in the children’s story, we first employ good words; then, if they fail, we try tho virtue of sticks and stones. FoR THE Hovr.”—“Last summer,” says that ancient radical abolitionist, William Lloyd Garrison, in his Liberator of the 17th in- stant, “after the public exhibition in this city (Boston) of Mr. W. T. Carlton’s very meritorious painting, entitled ‘Watch Meet- ing, December 31, 1862; or, Waiting for the Hour’—the hour of emancipation under the President’s proclamation of January 1, 1863—it was thought eminently fitting that it should be purchased by subscription and presented to President Lincoln as a mark of personal respect and warm appreciation of his act, whereby more than three millions of fetters were broken, and a death-dealing blow was virtually given to the entire system of chattel slavery. The list of subscribers was headed by Governer Andrew, and composed of some of our most respected citizens—the sum raised amounting to five hundred dollars. The paint- ing was duly forwarded to Washington,” with an accompanying letter and this is the Presi- dent’s reply:— . Exxcetive Mansion, Wasmcton, Feb. 7, 1865, } My Dear Mr, Gannisox—I have your kinds letter of the 21st of January, and can only beg that you will par- don the nceming negloct occasioned by my constant en- gagements. When I received the spirited and admirable painting, “Waiting for the Hour,” 1 directed my secre- tary not to acknowledge its arrival at once, preferring to make my personal acknowledgment of the thoughtful Kindness of the donors; and waiting for somo leisure hour, Thave committed the discourtesy of not replying all. Thope you will believe that my thanks, though Inte, are most cordial, and I request that you will convey them to those associated with you in this flattering gone- Tous gift. Iam, very truly, your friend ant servant, Wm. Liorp Gararson, Esq. A. LINCOLN. A handsome acknowledgment, and embodying @ neat little joke withal. Old Abe was so well pleased with this picture of “Waiting for the Hour,” that in “waiting for some leisure hour” to do justice to the subject, he came very near forgetting it entirely. He describes his present as “a spirited and admirable painting,” which is, perhaps, all that the artist could desire; but, asa critic on the art, we are sorry that Old Abe did not enter into some specifications of the peculiar merits of the work—a few little masterly touches, for instance, like those in his famous letter to that veteran of the drama, Mr. Hackett, on the merits of Shakspere. “Waiting for the Hour,” moreover, is a rich subject; one upon which the President might have extended his remarks profita- bly for the public benefit to half a column, in touching upon a few of his many anxious days and nights experienced in “wait- ing for the hour” of some great event or the news thereof. He might have said that a first rate pioture of waiting for the hour, if rendered faithfully, would be one representing old Grand- “father Welles fast asleep, or Jeff. Davis in Richmond sitting muffled up with his trunks around him, “waiting for the wagon.” We are certainly disappointed that in this aforesaid letter Old Abe did not suggest that “waiting for the hour” of the emancipation proelamation was like waiting for “the Pope’s bull against the comet.” “ Monsraor Toxson Comm Anam.’’—The rebel General Price, reported by the Richmond Jour- nals some time ago as dead and buried in Arkansas, it is now said, “atill lives,” and has left Arkansas on a mission to Mexico for Kirby Smith. Some say it ish colton mission, in which Price acts as the agent of Smith; others sup- Dr. Gwin, in view of a great Southern secesh emigration to Sonora, In either event we guess that Price has “gone to stay,” and that Kirby Smith and his posse before long will bring up the rear on the same line of travel. The Rebel Finances—The Collapse of the Confederacy. Already the simple want of money—the mere fact that there is no money in the coun- try—has had a very great influence in breaking down the rebellion. The failure to pay the few soldiers that the confederacy had left after Sherman’s successes in Alabama has done more to break up the Southern armies since then than we have done. It has doubtless caused a large share of those desertions that Lee now promises to forgive if the soldiers will only re- turn to duty. He promises to forgive, but be does not even yet promise to pay. One of the rebel papers laments the want of patriotism which it sees in the fact that people in the confederacy never call the rebel money by any other name than “trash.” Its worthless- neas is recognized in more practical and worse ways than that, and is 60 positive that the peo- ple would apparently as lieve be without it as to have it, It is not recognized as money, and the indisposition to take it has paralyzed all trade and industry in the South. But bad as all that has been, the Southern leaders now propose to make it worse. They propose at once to throw aside all the flimsy pretext of a national credit represented by pieces of paper, and to d clare a forced loan of every- thing in the Southern States. They indicate a disposition to give up their disguises, and to appear boldly in their real characters as the plunderers of a people by 9 gigantic applica- tion of the doctrine that property is robbery. They have no money, but they can make plenty. But suppose they make it? People to-day re- quire two hundred dollars in paper for the specie value of one dollar; to-morrow they will require three hundred; the next day four, and go on. And now the leaders say this is a farce. What is the use of all this bother of buying paper, and printing, and all that? Let us come out openly, and take what we want at once, since we have the power. Such is their proposition, as put forth in the Richmond Enquirer, to seize all “cotton, tobacco, meat, forage and negroes”—to kill the goose that laid the golden egg. And not satisfied with that, they propose that then all the rebel bonds should “be taken likewise.” Thore is infinitely little value in rebel bonds as they are, and these leaders propose to legislate even that little out of existence. Aside from all military success or failure, this proposition is the collapse of the rebellion. It is an acknowledgment of the repudiation of the rebel cause by the Southern people: a declaration that those people have no faith in the cause and no hope from it, and will notsup- port it nor give it the means of subsistence, except under the same” compulsion that would induce them to give to the highwayman. It is a declaration of war made by the rebel leaders against the Southern people and their property, and a claim that governments are not made for the people, but the people for the government. The condition that it indicates assures us that the end of the struggle is near, and the effect it will have upon cultivation must prove the last ounce to the dreadfully overladen rebel cause. Generat Lee’s APpreaL To THE DESERTERS.— The rebel General Lee has issued an order to his army, calling back the stray sheep to the fold, and promising pardon to all deserters who return to their. commands within sixty days. On three previous occasions Jeff. Davis issued @ manifesto of a similar character, but appar- ently without any effect; for,so far from the stragglers availing themselves of the proffered clemency, Davis was compelled to admit, in one of his remarkable speeches in Georgia, that two-thirds of the rebel army were absent without leave—that is to say, deserters. No sooner does General Lee obtain supreme com- mand than he insinuates the same fact. If that was true which Davis asserted then—and we cangot doubt its authority—it is far more so now, because we know that deserters are com- ing into our lines at all quarters in vast num- bers. They are arriving at General Grant’s lines by hundreds every day. Each steamer arriving from City Point brings numbers of them to Washington eager to take the oath of allegiance. In the Shenandoah valley they are flocking into Sheridan’s lines; while in Georgia and the two Carolinas the spread of “loyalty” is immense ; it has, in fact, become contagious since the transit of Sherman through those States, General Lee evidently feels the effect of de- sertion most materially in his own thinned ranks. He does notappear to know how his own army stands; for he complains that its efficiency and discipline is greatly impaired “by men leaving their proper commands to join others in which they find service more agree- able,” thus showing the utter demoralization which exists in his army. Perhaps it may be found that the more agreeable service is that of the United States. It is evident from this order ot General Lee’s, and the previous manifestoes of Jeff. Davis, that the rebel armies are melting away, and with them all chances of the “con- federacy.” Even if the hopeless financial con- dition of the South, the absence of money, of war matériel, the effectual shutting out of blockade runners, with supplies frem abroad which cannot be procured at home, do not speedily cause a collapse in Rebeldom, General Lee may soon find bimself without an army to enter upon “the campaign about to open,” of which he speaks in his late order. Disfranchisem of Deserters. wausta, Me., Fob. 17, 1865. ‘The Maine House of Ropresoatatives have passed a resolution providing for an amendment of the constitu- tion of this state disfrauchising deserters and absenters Albans Raiders. MowrreaL, Feb. 16, 1865. The counsel for the proseeution stated to-day that more witnesses were oxpected ; but that he would not dolay the case, a8 ho considered that the crime of robbery was fully proved aginst Thurr and Tranios, and quoted authorities to show that all the prisoners wore equally guilty. He contended that the prosecution was entitled to a warrant for the extradition of the prisoners. He intended to ‘await the argument of the defence on Monday, and it ‘would be the privitege of the prosecutor for the Crown to reply to the defence. ‘The counsel for the defence denied that the prosecutor for the Crown bad any right to sum up the onse, as the Foal proseautor was the United States. ‘The Judgo considered that the Crown had the right to reply, and that whatever the counsel for the defence had to my, the Court would hear him, ‘The Judge wished for some dolay go as to havea litte timo for reflection. ‘The cause was then adjourned youll Monday The Case of the RICHMOND. Exehange of Prisoners of he, Mr. 8. Cadwallader’s Despateh. Cerr Pourr, Feb. 16, 1868. Brigadier General Collis, for some time past president of the court martial convened at this place, has been sppointed post commandant, but has not fairly entered om the discharge of his duties yet. No reason has trans- plred for the change, nor has his successor been named for president of the court that I am aware of. PRISONERS EXOWANGED, The George Leary passed down the James river yes- terday, loaded with exchanged Union soldiers bound for Annapolis. The New York will probably to-day. Lieutenant Colonel Mulford will remain a Aiken's Landing to_ brit his office work and confer further Sin Mr. "Guid concersing the dotaits ea iat ime are'in fair pHa} 4 Lo vi is bear no marks of the rigorous and inhuman loads of formerly released such as characterized sufferers. . f pura oF at ROGOLES, FAYEARTSR, friends of Major Ru; a’ paymaster sine of New York will menrn io lnatn that he February 9—I think at Danville. agreed upon and arranged for, Had weeks longer ho would have been restored to home and freedom. Mr. William H. Merriam’s Despatch. Hzapquarters, DePaRTMEnt or Virgina, ‘Anay ov Tan Jauns, Feb, 16—A. M. } FEELING AND SENTIMENTS OF LER’S ARMY. For several days since the results of the late abortive peaco negotiations have cote to be known in Lee's army, and the effect upon the rebel soldiery ascertained, I have been an attentive listener at the office of Colonel Manning, Provost Marshal General of tho Army of the James, to the views, wishes and opinions of the very large number of deserters coming daily within our linea, elicited and reduced to writing as they pass on dowm to Bermuda Hundred, and thence to their new homes in the North. The class of soldiers now deserting the rebel cause in scores every day is far better, physically and intellectually, than any I have ever before peen. They all tell the same doleful story of discourage- ment and disgust at being compelled to look forward te another and utterly bopeless campaign, wherein their lives will be sacrified without stint, there being not the slightest hope of achieving Southern independence or anything else save death. The assurance is given by these men, without exception, that the armies of the oon- federacy are animated by this fecling, and that the mem will not fight any longer. One of these deserters said etre by did not believe there were twelve bayo- nets in his regiment, all having been purposely throws away in battle to avoid boing sent into charges. THR DESKRTION southwards and homewards of both officersand mea te represented as truly alarming. In one instance receatly nine rebel officers left for their Southern homes, sevea of whom it was fa by a rebel lieutenant, who deserted yesterday to our lines, would nover return to duty. ‘The much vaunted meetings of the regiments, whose Proceedings are so icon gii paraded in the rebel bewspapers, are in no respect truthful expreasions of the feelings of the soldiory, if the statements of the constant influx of deserters may be relied upon. For Lig enep be) the Fifteenth Virginia command, numbering leas ti two hundred and fifty men, five men really voted resole- tions looking to a continuance of the war. The rest were known by their brothers in the ranks to be not only for , but for an immediate laying down of their arma, In the Seventeenth Virginia regiment an official order was. actually issued directing one of the companiea to pasa war resolutions. These facts show for themselves the true state of fecling in the rebel ranks, The conclusion {a irresistible that the rebellion literally approaches its close, and a few months more, at longest, will witness ite termination forever. - ‘THE ONSTRUCTIONS IX THE JAMES RIVER. It has been discovered that, previous to the late at- tempt of the rebel rams to come down the James, the obstructions had been several times sounded by rebel ilots, and twice since the great scare. It would appear Rom this that a necessity exists for the more thorough picketing of the James river in that vicinity. Three night attempts have been made by the rebels to seoure the pilot boat lost by them near the obstructions some time since. ‘THE REBEL RAM VIRGINIA. ‘This monstrous rebel craft suffered most severely im the recent attempted descent of the Ji xt to the Drewry, which was totally blown op. The ia wee inj severely by one of our Monitors, letely smashing in one of her batteries, itchell is in command of the rebel fleet, he will soon be su’ DBs ices who created a rebel admiral. I:should have stated that the Virginia is said to be the most formidable oft that the rebels now have afloat. She is plated eight inches for- ward and six aft. BXCHANGS OF PREONERS. Senneny Colonel Mulford, United States agent for the exchange of prisoners, effected an ©: ‘of upwards of eleven hundred, to-day will excl eight hua- dred more. Thia indefatigable officer pow make short work of all this business. SURGEON SUCKLEY CHIEF MRDIOAL DIRSOTOR, ‘Surgeon George Suckley has been announced as Medi- cal Director of the Department of Virginia, in place of Surgeon Charles McCormick, relieved by orders from the War Department. . The Press Despatch. Wasurxctos, Feb. 17, 1866. Information from the Army of the Potomac states that the despatch of the 10th inst., announcing the execution of James L. Hicks, was a mistake, as his sentence was suspended by the President until further orders. All is quiet in the Army of the Potomac. Occasional artillery duels, howover, take place betweem the batteries near the Appomattox. Deserters from the rebel army have been quite nume- rous for some time past, no less han twenty-five within our lines on Wednesday morning. ey their usual dirty, ragged and bungry aj Their first question pies. always lee liviuere ean’ we get A severe atorm commenced on Tuesday night, which threatened to continue some time. Generals Humphreys and Wilcox have left on shart leaves of absence to come North. Travias Orzra.—The Academy was filled last night with an audience as large in numbers and ag fashionable im appearance as we have seen there thin season. The attraction was the first production in some years of Ernani. The opera was admirably performed, and was received with very marked evidence of approbation, Zucchi, who was most cordially received after her recent indisposition, sang and acted the réle of Elvira with that fidelity and dramatic force which render her interpreta- tions of such parts delightful. The Ernani of Maccaferri received a very cordial acknowledgment of approval. ‘The cast included Susini and Bollini, the latter rendering Carlo Quinto tothe evident satisfaction of the audience. The grand finale in the third act was enthusiastically encored, and all the artists were called before the curtain at the close of each act. From the manner in which this opera was produced and recoived last night it may become necessary for Mr. Maretzek to repeat ft doring the omnieg week; if it does now materially interfere with his me, which includes Don Sebastian on Monday, for the last time— roduced on this occasion, we believe, by special request. in Tuesday Martha is announced. ‘erdi’s grand iene of La Forza del Destino was to be given de Bn | next week; Dut as the recent tndisposition of Bucehi, and the frequent occupation of the Academy for balls of late have somewhat retagded the rehearsals, we possibly be nen before Friday. The juetion of this opera, which is really the best of all Verdi's works, requires considerable labor and time; and as Mr. Maretzek is resolved to put tt agen stage im an unexceptionable manne, it is probable that Friday” will be the earliest poy we may = Ne crane the matings to-day with Mrs. Jenny Van Zandt and Maseimiliant, the indispo- sition of Miss Kellogg preventing her from appearing ta Fra Diavolo, ws announced. hardly think it can Wieran Garves—A Baxiet Matiser.—Today there | will be a mavinge performance of Hamlet at this theatre, given principally for the accommodation of suburbaa residents who cantot attend the play at night, The per- formance will be the same in all respects as the regular evening perforramnee, including the whole strength of the admirable cast, There will be also, no doubt, the same brilliant assemblage of city Indies that has made the opera matiné #80 pleasant a feature in metropolitan life. ‘The doors will opon at one P. M. and the perform- ance will begin at haif-past one. Ap it is impossible thas any man could play a part like Hamlet twice in the same day, there will, of course, be no performance at night opone Thomas’ ‘wenomie Sorner.—The third sym patie per of rrirdin Thomes takes place this even- ing at Irving Hall. The announcement, we presume, te sufficient to secure a large audience, the excollence of thee entertainments being alrondy fully known and ap- prociated. Miss Adelaide Phillipps and Mr. 8. B. Mille fare the sololats. The selections are from the best works of eminent German composers, including Beethoven, Gluck, Spohr and Raff Tho house will undoubtedly, aa heretofore. be crowded thia avening,