The New York Herald Newspaper, March 31, 1865, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. OFFICE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU BTS. AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway.—Dor; om, Tux Cawker on THe Heanra. WINTER GARDEN, Broadway.—Corronat Cartovcus. NEW BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Gartic Cuimrs— BSorpine’s Wire. WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway.—Ungquat Maton OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway.—Tus Staxats or New ‘ORK. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Worguen or Pariu— Rup Growx—Miscurgr Maxina. NIBLO'S GARDEN Broadway.—East Lrxne. BARNUM’S MUSEUM, Broadway.—Two Mauworn Far Womex—Living Sxatuton—Dwaur—Giant Bor—Lycomax. Open Day and Evening. NIBLO'S SALOON, Broad) Gorrscuace, Miss Lucy Snaon. BRYANTS’ MINSTRELS, Mechanics’ Hall, 472 Broad- way. aloe BoNas, icks, BURKLESQUES, &0.—CURE anv Nexve, WOOD'S MINSTREL HALL, 514 Broadway.—Ermrorian Sonas, Danons, £0.—PsTROLEUMANIA, O8 ULL ON THE BRALt, —Mvzio's ConcenTs— HOOLEY’S MINSTRELS, 199 and 201 Bowery.—Sowas, Danes, Buxcesques, &c.—Wauo's Foor am pat 4 Burxin’. SALLE DIABOLIQUE, 585 oadwar. —Roserr Herusn’s Intusions anv Comte SoLos— HIPPOTHEATRON, — Fou th _street.—EQuestRian, ieee aND Acropatic ENTERTAINMENTS—Tuk Feast OF NENG, AMERICAN THEATRE, No. 444 Broadway.—Bauuers, Paxtowmmus, BURLESQUES, &¢.—Kin-Ka. YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— m1) A. M. till 10 P. THE SI TL Fz LTIO . We have it very positively announced from Washing- ton that Secretary Seward was sent for by President Lin- We have also a reiteration of the report contained in yesterday coln to come to City Point for consultation, morning’s Henan, that arrangements are now in pro- grees for a conference between Geueral’s Grant and Lee in reference to terms upon which a cessation of hosti- lities can be based. Nothing later regarding the new movement of the national armies before the rebel capital has been received, excepting the fact that it commenced on Wed- nesday last. All the sick and the wounded from the fighting of last Saturday and Monday were removed from the fleld hospitals of the Army of the Potomac on Tues- day, indicating preparations for active operations. Tho exchange of prisoners on James river is still continued, Colonel Mulford, Union Exchange Commissioner, having recent'y exchanged as many as fourteen hundred in one day. Regarding General Sherman's recent quiet but hasty trip from Goldsboro to City Point and visit to General Grant, somo interesting particulars are furnished by our Newbern and Fortress Monroe correspondents, General Sherman, on the way, remarked toa friend that atalk of five minutes with General Grant would bo sufficient for the mutual arrangement of their plans; but he spent nearly two days with the President, the Licutenant General and the other distinguished official personages on James river. While General Sherman was in Newbern the rumor mon- gors circulated a story that proposals for a ceasation of hostilities had been submitted to him by General John- ston, and that his visit to City Point was for the purposs of laying these before General Grant and General Lee. General Sherman returnod to North Carolina in the same quiet way in which he came on from there, avoiding pub- Uc demonstrations of respect for him which thousands were dosirous of making. Collector Draper, of this city, has submitted to the Troasury Department the report of his labors in connec- tion with the supervision of the cotton captured at Sa- vannah by General Sherman, in ail thirty-eight thousand five husdred bales. Tho greater part of it, Mr. Draper says, belonged to the rebel government; but after its capture many of the Savannah people, having access to the warehouses in which it was stored. erased the rebel government brands and substituted those of other individuals, upon which a large number of private, ‘and, of course, fictitious claims have been based. Mr. Draper denies that any bona fide private mark has been @rased from a single bale. All owners who can produce just claims for any portion of the cotton will receive proj or consideration. Tho proposition to arrange for @ State convention to decide whether Georgia shall remain within the rebel confederacy or return to the Union has been defeated in the Legislature of that State. THE LEGISLATURE. In the Senate yesterday th» Chairman of the Commit- ‘tee on the Removal of the Capitol reported that if it were to be removed New York city presented the most eligible Site for its erection; but, it being apparent that the peo- ple do not favor its removal, the committee recommended the introduction of a bill for the erection of a new Capitol in Albany. The report was accepted after being amended fo as to require the city to furnish the grounds and buildings for an Executive residence. Bills were ro- ported to amend the charter of the Bloomingdale Savings Bank; to incorporate the North American and Italian Btoamship Company; to incorporate the New York Pier and Warchousin: Company; reiative to rates of wharfaco along the Hudson river, and relative to the offen of Re- cotver of Taxe: of New York. Bills were introduced to incorporate the National Association of Base Ball Players, and to amend the charter of the French Benevolent So- ciety of New York. In the Assembly the New York Paid Fire Department Dill was taken up, when, the previous question being moved, the Clerk, after repeated interruptions and amidst the wildest confusion, concluded the reading of the bill for the third time, The yeas and nays were then callod for, and the result was the passage of the bill, bya vote of yeas 80, nays 39, The bill now only requires the signature of the Govornor to become a law. A motion was mado to recommit the bill providing for two additional surrogates in the city of New York, which was agreed to. Resolutions were adopted requesting the Metropolitan Police Commissioners to report the number of licensed fand unlicensed retail liquor dealers in their district, and also requesting the Excise Commissioners to report the number of suits brought, suits settled, and the amount of fees and costs received. The bill appropriating ten thousand dollars to procure plans and specifications for a new Capitol in Albany was ordered to a third reading. The Soldiers’ Voting bill was passed to » third reading, and made the special order for to-day, immediately after the reading of the journal, Bills were passed in relation to the Marine Court in the city of New York ; to incorporate the National ‘Turkish Bath company; the Militia bill, amended by fixing the appropriation for militin purposes for the present year at five hundred thousand dollars; amend- ing the act confirming certain Jand grants to the city of New York; for laying out Prince street, Brooklyn; and to incorporate the Fathor Mathew Temporance Society No. 1, of New York. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. ‘The draft was continued yesterday for the Tenth and Twonty-eecond wards; but there was no drawing for any Other portion of the city. The drawing for the Twenty- second ward was completed, but not that for the Tenth, ® number of interruptions to it occurring to give oppor- tunity for the enlistment of volunteers and substitutes, Sixteen of the former and five of the latter being mus- terod in to the credit of that ward during the day. None of the Stato fund has yet been secured by the Supervi- ors; but Chairman Blunt, with money received from Additional subscriptions to the county seven percent Joan, was enabled to pay bounties yesterday to forty-six dno at his headquarters, and @ considerable number of others at the provost marshals’ offices. In the Fighth district twelve substitutes were mustered in. As on pre- vious days, there were plenty of volunteers offering their services yesterday; but the same difficulty existed of want of funds to secure them. The Board of Councilmen met yesterday and trans- acted a large amount of routine business, The Mayor transmitted a communication received from the Harlem Gas Company to the effect that if contract is not made ata fixed price the company will charge a reasonable compensation for finishing the contract. The paper was referred to the Committee on Lamps and Gas, The Board will moet again this afternoon. So many persons were procuring passes recently to go to Savannah, Charleston, Beaufort and other Southern ports that the Secretary of War issued an order that no one be allowed to go to these points without passes from the War Department. Still the prohibited passengers managed to go. William H. Bull, aclerk in the Quarter- master’s office, has been arrested, charged with selling forged transportation tickets, pretended to be signed by the order of the Secretary of War, and sent to Washing- ton. Colonel Baker is now at work upon a new trail that will create a sensation. President Lincoln was some time ago addressed by a commiitee of the Sanitary Commission Employment Bureau, the office of which is at No, 85 Chambers street, in this city, requesting that he would instruct the various heads of governmental departments to bestow upon disa- bled soldiers such offices as they might be found quali- fied to fill, in preference to all other applicants, To this the President has responded that the patriotic purpose of the commission in this matter meets his hearty approval and concurrence, and that he will call the attention of the departmental chiefs to the suggestions contained in the address. Admiral Paulding, commandant of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, has already set a good example in this respect, he having announced his intention of be- stowing on veteran and disabled soldiers and sailors all positions in his gift for which they may prove competent. An Inquest was held yesterday at the New York Hos- pital over the body of James Healy, an army recruit, who died from the effects of a gunshot wound received while he was attempting to desert, a few days ago, at the foot of Canal street, North river. Secretary Seward, who left Washington for the James river on Wednesday, was accompanied by Sofior Tassara, the Spanish Minister, and Mr. Burley, the acting English Minister. The steamship President Fillmore, from this port, collided at sea a few days ago, in north latitude 38, west longitude 73 45, with the British brig Gold Hunter, and the latter sank in a few moments, Her captain and crew were saved, A fire, the cause of which is not stated, broke out in the medical storehouse at Ca mp Hamilton, near Fortress Monroo, on last Wednesday, destroying a large quantity of valuable medical stores, The Canal Commissioners have semi-officially an- nounced that the Eric and Champlain canals will be opened for business on the Ist of May. The time for the opening of the other canals has not been fixed upon, Three more of the Hazard powder mills, at Canton, Connecticut, were blown up yesterday, six tons of pow- der being exploded. It was only a little over a week ago (on the 20th inst.) that a previous explosion in the works of this company, blowing up one mill, occurred. No lives were lost on either occasion. ASan Francisco despatch states that the Senate of Nicaragua has passed a bill giving two hundred and forty acres of land to each white immigrant settling in that country. ‘The stock market was dull and heavy yesterday. Gov- ernments were steady. Gold opened at 150%, and closed at 151 down town. Tho closing price at the evening board was 151%. ‘The depression in gold and the inclemency of the weather combined to render commercial matters exceed- ingly dull and heavy yesterday, and domestic produce generally experienced some decline. Foreign goods wero very quict, and transactions were few and far between, Cotton was dull and heavy. Petroleum was dull, but nominally unchanged. On ’Change the flour market was dull and 10c. a 20c. lower. Wheat was nominally 2c. a 3c. lower. Forcorn there was no inquiry, and prices also declined 2c. a 3c., while oats were 3c. ade. lower. The pork market opened firmer, but closed dull and heavy. Beet was moderately active at our last rates, The lard market opened firmer, but closed heavy. Freights were dull and rates were lower. Whiskey was inactive, The War and the Peace Question. The universal impression that we are fast approaching the closing scenes of the war, has been strengthened into a general conviction by our late important successes in North Carolina and in front of Petersburg. The general move- ments of the Union forces on both sides of the James, reported yesterday as having already commenced, has led to the opinion that within a few days we may expect to hear of the cap- ture or evacuation of Richmond; and the rumor that General Lee had asked for another peace conference was well calculated to find believers, gonsidering the detention of President Lincoln at the front. This report, however, lacks confirmation; nor do we think it probable from present appear- ances, that General Lee will make any overtures for a peace conference short of an effort to bring General Joe Johnston to his relief, or,in some way, to form a junction with Johnston. Lee has still an army of at least fifty thousand men, and Johnston forty thou- sand; and notwithstanding their daily losses from desertions, we suspect that from the gathering in of straggling detachments and squads from the Carolinas and Georgia, their accessions are at least equal to their losses. While there is yet a chance for the concentra- tion of those ninety thousand men, and for a crushing blow at an exposed wing of Grant or Sherman’s army, either at Richmond or beyond Richmond, General Lee may be expected to trust to the fortunes of war. It is quite pos- sible that within a few days, from a visit of Sheri- dan’s cavalry to the Danville Railroad, he may be compelled to evacuate Richmond; but even in this extremity he may avoid a collision with Grant under cover of the night, for Lee is an old soldier at this game. But we shall see. Meantime, Sherman’s army of baretooted and ragged travellers, after their long march from Savannah, have hauled up at Goldsboro for shoes and clothing. They may thus be de- tained at Goldsboro for a week or two. Meanwhile, if some serious accident to the Danville Railroad should require the im- mediate attention of Lee, he must go with his whole force and be well out of harm’s way during the night, or he may fail to join Johnston. This may be the anticipated movement which has prolonged the visit of the President to City Point. That Lee is pre- paring for the alternative of an evacuation is no longer doubtful; that he has already moved off a portion of his surplus siege artillery and heavy materials of war, and is still actively engaged in the work, is the testimony of nume- rous witnesses from within his lines, He needs the support of Johnston; but as the resources and facilities for subsistance at Richmond are not equal to the addition of Jobnston’s army to Lee’s consumers, we still adhere to our opinion that the chances are in favor of the evacuation of the rebel capital and perhaps a battle. Then will speedily follow the end of the war and the beginning of peace. Justicn To General, Mrape.—Through a mistake in its transmission by telegraph the admirable general order to the Army of the Potomac in honor of ite recent victory was attributed, in our publication yesterday, to Lieutenant General Grant. It emanated from Major General Meade, the commander of the Army of the Potomac, whose claims are never forgotten by the General-in-Chief, though some- times overlooked bv the allachés of the press. Yachts and Yachting in Yankeedom. We publish to-day some interesting partica- lars relative to the condition and prospects of yachts and yachting in this country. It will be seen that a revival in this delightful sea amuse- ment is now prevailing, and that a programme of unrivalled excellence, including a grand ocean sweepstakes for large schooner-yachts, has been proposed by the New York Yacht Club for the coming season. It is also pro- posed by the same club to erect in this city a spacious and elegant club house, with superb- ly furnished apartments, after the manner of the Army and Navy Club of London, Such an institution will prove of much practical utility, as well as of social benefit to gentlemen, both American and foreign, and to the army and navy officers generally. As the present club house in the Elysian Fields is occupied only in the summer season, the new establishment can be made a rendezvous of a most agreeable and recherché character in the winter forall who may be prominently interested in the sports and dangers of the ocean, as well as in the excite- ments and hazards of the field. In addition to these spirited movements in yachting circles, we see that many new vessels of a larger class than usual, are being constructed. This is ren- dered necessary because our yachtmen, with the true American spirit of enterprise, are ex- panding the area of yachting operations and penetrating seas hitherto but little known to American yachts, Vessels of from one hundred to one hundred and fifty tons now comprise a part of the New York Yacht squadron ; either of which is qualified to cross the Atlantic in the wake of the America, Gipsy, Silvie and others, and impart to trans-Atlantic yachtmen many new ideas concerning the science of yachting. In Great Britain yachting, with the Queen for “ patroness and exemplar,” has become system- atized, and it is not unusual to find splendid and well-appointed English yachts, sometimes of several hundred tons burden, cruising in all the temperate seas of Europe. As it has been before remarked, these are expensive append- ages of the wealthy. Those who can afford them, however, and have leisure for the enjoy- ment of travel by sea, possess a command over sight-seeing and rational indulgence which is truly enviable. In America, however, yachting is within comparatively easy reach, and may be carried to the same extent as abroad with far less pecuniary outlay. But the pecuniary point is rarely considered by Americans. If an American is not able to command a yacht of one hundred tons, he will take one of fifty; if not one of fifty tons, he will take one of twenty; if not one of twenty, then, so partial are our people to aquatic sports, he will take one of ten or even of five tons, and enjoy those plea- sures only to be found upon the bounding bil- low, or in inhaling the bracing air of old Ocean. The true yachtman does not often care so much for a eostly vessel as he does for a trim, staunch and swift one; and ont of the some five hundred members of the New York Yacht Club, with their aggregate representative capi- tal of perhaps a hundred millions of dollars, it may be remarked that it is not so much expense that is regarded in the construction of their vessels as it is speed, seaworthiness and comfort, This revival in the spirit of yachting in this country occurs at a very opportune period. Onur national marine is becoming developed and expanded in a most extraordinary degree, and our navy must be supplied with practical men. In former years there was scarcely a steam vessel in the American navy. Now there are but few not propelled by steam. Most of the large sailing ships have been converted either into school ships or receiving ships, or are used as transports to carry coal for the use of the steam vessels. In the progress of time— and that, too, before we may be aware of it, when we consider the wonderful progress the nation has made within only a few years, and that New York has become so great and affluent a metropolis—sailing vessels will dis- appear from American yacht squadrons, and their places supplied by steam yachts that will compete in elegance and serviceability with the best royal steam yachts in Great Britain. An American yacht squadron may yet visit the waters of that country, and the relative merits of the vessels practically tested in a friendly contests. To meet the expansion in the number and character of our national marine, it is necessary that every encouragement should be given to the production of native nautical talent. During the last war with Great Britain the fisheries of the East were found to have been of great service as nurseries for seamen. Bounties were subsequently and are now allowed the fishermen; in order that that valuable source of naval force may be main- tained. Naval schools for the instruction of youthful aspirants for American naval honors are in successful operation, and the number can be augmented with benefit to the country. But there are no schools afloat that can be of more service in this respect than thoroughly organized yachting clubs. In Great Britain they are esteemed of the highest importance as nurseries for the development of a knowledge of nautical business. The Deerhound, which so much facilitated the escape of the rebel Captain Semmes and other rebel officers, in the fight between the Kearsarge and Alabama, was a private yacht belonging to an English- man. It is not to demonstrate their fight- ing qualities that we make this allusion toan English yacht, but to show that these vessels are schools in which a knowledge of actual naval warfare can be attained. In our yacht squadrons all the evolutions are conducted upon the mode adopted officially by the naval authorities, The positions in squadron, orders to advance, retreat, dis- perse, close, prepare for action, enter action, re- tire, &., are all given by official signals, by the commodore commanding, from the flag-yacht of the squadron. The officers and men con- sequently become familiar in the most practical way with naval manouvres, and are ready almost at any time to do good service upon & man-of-war, in or out of action. The public and the government should encourage the establishment of these clubs wherever practicable. The citizens of Phila- delphia, Baltimore, Boston, Providence, Port- land and many other ports, should be alive to the importance of joining in & movement calculated to be productive of such great good to our navy, and also of imparting so great an amount of plea- sure to those who engage in it simply from mo- tives of amusement, As the Queen of Great Britain and all the titled ladies of her court lend their smiles and aid to the royal yacht | NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 1865. clubs of that country, so might the untitled, but equally respected, ladies of republican America regard with encouraging smiles the efforts of American yachtmen to build yachts that will, in the future as heretofore, stamp Ameri- can naval architecture as peerless before the world. The Emperor Napoleon and His Blan- ders, Immediately after the coup d’état, when the Emperor had secured absolute power and was safe in his seat, his seat was the least secure one that any man in his senses ever sat in. His throne trembled with every movement of the nation—with every pulse of its life—and the most trivial circumstance might originate a commotion that would sweep it away. It was necessary that the attention of France should be diverted from the fact that there was once more a French throne; that men should have other food for thought, and another topic for the daily salutation. It was necessary also that this topic should be one of great interest, and the Emperor, simply as a necessity of his own position, plunged France headforemost into the Russian war. Here was a sphere for the national thought and employment for the national power, and, better still, a double gratification to pride and state; for in this war one member of the Holy Aljiance was arrayed against another member, and both were humbled almost to the feet of France. The success in that way was grand, though future vengeance was stored away in Russia, and though, thfough the thin veil of the entente cordiale, the hatred and hostility of England gloomed fiercer than ever. And the Emperor did all that at the expense of France simply for the sake of his own safety. And still he had to go on. It was not safe to be quiet yet. He was a wandering Jew, for whom there was no rest, Once more the blaze of glory was invoked to dazzle the eyes of the French people to their real position. And there was also another temptation. His entente cordiale still kept separate the members of tho Holy Alliance. He had humbled Russia and England. Austria came next, and he went into the Italian war. He staid in long enough to accomplish his purpose. But he accom- plished more than that. He showed the real weakness of Austria’s position, and demon- strated that alliance between that Power and England was impossible, because the British people, though they did not like France, were heart and soul against the Austrian cause. It was another purely Napoleonic triumph at the expense of France. It was a triumph over the Holy Alliance; but it embittered Austria ter- ribly, and it started revolution in Italy. The Emperor did not want that. He wanted to humble Austria, not to help Italy; and while in one month French troops were on the Mincio, ostensibly to lift Italy up, in the next month they were at Rome, very evidently to keep Italy down. Each of these wars, though on the surface a success, was in truth a blunder and a failure. Both were blunders, because they unnecessa- rily reawakened, stimulated and kept alive in the three great Powers of Europe the dynastic hatred and bitterness against the Na- poleonic family; and both were failures, because while they wasted France, they did not have the desired effect upon her, and did not give Napoleon any equivalent in France for the hostile spirit he had excited cleewhere. He had to give the nation excitement, employment, glory; but he had to get these on hard terms— like one who mortgages his future for the im- perative necessities of to-day. He had hoped thatin the face of common enemies France would forget thathe was not her friend—but she did not, She was feverish still, and then the Emperor, urged on by his necessities, slip- ped into the still greater blunder, and gave another mortgage in the Mexican expedition. From this expedition the other European Powers withdrew when they saw its true nature; but Napoleon could not withdraw. He had France behind and only Mexico in front, and he went on, because he dared not stop. And this Mexi- can expedition arrayed one more great Power in the world—the United States—against the Na- poleonic dynasty;,and this blunder, insignificant as it may appear, will be the Emperor’s Mos cow if he do not get out of it very soon. Napoleon has thus blundered in his relations with England and Russia and Austria, as well asin relation to the revolutionary spirit of Europe; he has blundered more greatly still in his ruinous entanglement with Mexico. But France, to soothe and pacify which he fell into all these blunders, was not satisfied, and now he has made before France his greatest blunder of all. This is the publica- tion of his life of Cesar—his announcement, his programme. France was kept quiet by a rigid censorship of the press. But now the Emperor has inadvertently furnished a way by which the people and the press can speak so freely that he might better have abolished the censorship and had the credit for it. He is Cesar, and straightway all France, while it treats the Emperor’s name with the respect exacted by the police, unbottles its wrath against Cesar—that atrocious Roman, that foe of freedom, that trampler on the rights of others, that believer in fraud and force. And Bratus—what a glorious example of a great and good man! Whata friend of his country; @ murderer, to be sure—but then, he murdered Cesar. Already a French paper, quoting the Emperor's preface, has printed with it a tirade against Cesar out of Voltaire. The prefect would have suppressed it; but is there any French ruler strong enough to suppress Vol- taire? And thus the Emperor will be beaten over Cesar’s shoulders, and, by this simple means, France will learn a great fact—that is, exactly how strong the hatred of the empire is through- out the country. She must know that to move. And the Emperor has furnished the device that sets free all the voices that will tell the nation how strong it is. Retizv ror Souprers’ Wives axp CaTLpREN.— The want of money is the root of all evil. It is subjecting this city to a draft, and many of the wives and children of our soldiers to the pangs of hunger. There are many of our sol- diers in rebel prisons, and many more in such positions at the front that the government agents cannot reach them to pay them their wages, The consequence is that their wives and children have to depend upon local relief associations for the means to pay rent and support life. But these local associations depend upon Comptroller Brennan for funds, and, in spite of all the Comptroller's efforta, our rich men will not come forward to take the | county bonds. Therefore the relief associa- tions get yo money, and soldiers’ wives come every day complain thai they are Heres out of their homes ; that they psc See to eat; that their children are starving. Must this state of affairs con- tinue? Will not our banks, insurance compa- nies and capitalists invest some of thelr ‘trea- sures in county bonds, and so obtain, not only good interest here, but share of the treasures of Heaven? Suerman Our or THE Reset Lion’s Pata.— Sherman has made some extraordinary move- ments during his late career, but the most curious incident in them all was his sudden appearance at City Point the other day, to visit Grant and Meade and President Lincoln. The rebel journals have been telling us that he was hemmed in ; that there was “a lion in his path ;” that he would soon be devoured, and so forth. Yet this irrepressible bero is next heard from, by his own lips, in Grant’s head- quarters, telling, like Othello, of the dangers he has passed, shaking hands with Mr. Lin- coln, making jokes with naval officers, be- cause they did not allow him to add Wilming- ton to his other triumphs, and evidently not caring a rush for the lion, The Richmond journals must feel cheap at seeing the man whom they boasted they had got in a trap, down in Carolina, entering the tent of the Lieutenant General on the James river, es- corted only by a single staff officer and two orderlies. Toe Price Imrertat.—Rumors have been set afloat that the Prince Imperial of France will probably be sent off for an airing in the United States during the coming summer. There may be some truth in these reports, and it may be that the Emperor Napoleon has taken the hint from the hospitalities enjoyed by himself and other members of the Bonaparte family in these States; or from the flattering reception given the Prince of Wales, from New York to our Western prairies; and the Empe- ror of France may also entertain the idea that the Prince Imperial would be received here as an olive branch in reference to the Emperor of Mexico. At any rate, should the litile Prince, represented as a bright, amiable and promising lad, be sent over to this country, he will be well taken care of; and should the em- pires, thrones and principalities of Europe be thrown into confusion in his absence by a revolutionary convulsion, he will be as safe in his American exile as was Louis Napoleon or Louis Philippe. Tae Last or THe Caarteston Mencury.— A refugee from the interior of South Carolina has given to the Charleston Courier—trans- formed into a loyal paper—the last scene in the death of that pioneer organ of the rebel- lion, the Charleston Mercury. He says that the train of cars in which were the presses, types, and other materials, and the books and private papers of the office and of its proprietor, Mr. Rhett, was overhauled and burned by Sher- man’s troops at a railroad junction between Columbia and Cheraw. Caught as a fugitive from justice and burned in the woods. Such has been the fate of the Charleston Mercury establishment, after thirty years of satiation for a Southern confederacy. Large Captures of Indians. Sr. Lous, March 29, 1865. A despatch received at headquarters from Geueral Mitchell, dated Fort Kearney, March 28, says his com- mand captured one hundred and fifty lodges of Sioux Indians and ninety Arropahoes, about one hundred and fifty miles north of Fort Laramio. No further particu- lars are given. Fine Arts. “1! Almee”’ of Gerome, a work of which we had some previous knowledge through the medium of photographs, is now on exhibition at Goupil’s Gallery, It is one of the most brilliant and carefully elaborated of this artist's pictures, Indeed, to such a point is finish carried in it that it presents a surface almost like that of a miniature. In truthfulness, purity of tone, fine grouping and strong characterization it is not to be surpassed by anything that has emanated from the modern French school. Another work, by the same artist, “The Prayer in the Desert,” is in his more familiar style, and offers fewer points of interest, The figure of the praying Arab in the fore- ground is forcibly and impressively treated ; and in saying this we havo said all that can be said of the picture. Benson’s remarkable work, “The Last Reality,” is on ex- hibition in the same gallery. It has undergone some retouches by the artist, which have improved it greatly. Glew’s picture of “Donnybrook Fair,’’ which is on ex- hibition at No, 43 Beaver strect, seems tous to have been painted solely with a view to engraving. It is more of an outlined than a complete work so far as color is concerned, but it is very clever, All the old features of the fair are faithfully reproduced, and the belligerent episodes for which it was famous are given with charac- teristic humor and spirit. The picture will engrave capitally. Literary Notices, ‘Tho first number of a new religious monthly has just made its appearance under the title of the Catholic World. It is a handsome looking poriodical of about one hundred and fifty pages, conducted on the plan of Litiel’s Living Age, and giving a selection of articles from the best Catholic publications of Europe and Ame- rica. Tho only papers from the pen of the editor are the ‘book notices. No. 2 of the National Quarterly Review contains several capitally written articles. Among otbers, that on Edward Everett and his works will, perhaps, be read with keenest interest. The paper on “Our Gas Monopo- lies’ is a scorcher for the directors of our New York and Brooklyn companies. Ninto’s SaLoos—Gorrecnatx.—This house was im- mensely crowded again last night at the third farewell concert of Gottschalk and Miss Simons. The programmo was fresh and attractive, combining among its noveltics the Marche Funibre of Chopin, which Mr. Gottschalk played exquisitely; the quartet from Rigoletto, one of Gottschalk’s finest transcriptions, and a new Cuban dance, ‘Di gus si,’’ by the same author, for four hands, in which Harry Sanderson displayed his usual brilliancy and power. Miss Simons obtained still greater favor by her excellent singing of the duo from Jt Barthere with Signor Ippolito, to whom we must accord well deserved merit for his rendering not only of this piece, but of the I Balen, from Trovatore, and the aria from Traviata. Misa Simons sang the new taran/ella of Muzio and the trio from L’ Etoile du Nord, a very difficult piece, with obligato flute accompaniments by Mr. Eben and Mr. Rietz, ina manner which demanded a most vociferous encore, The Pastorellee Cavaliere, which has become a favorite, was equally good. But the sensation of the evening was Gottschalk’s march in Faust, for six pianos, at which Messrs. Gottschalk, Muzio, Sanderson, Fradel, Trastour and Lasserve presided. With such aforee struments and artists we need hardly say that the effect wasatunning. It was admirably performed, however, and asa matter of novelty alone it was decidedly inter- eating. The last concert of the series will be given this evening, when the grand march from Tannhawser will be played by the same artists on six pianos. On Saturday thore will be a grand testimonial matinée of 4 particularly interesting character at the Academy of Music, at which Mr, Gottachalk will play for the last time in New York for « long time to come, and after which the sweet voice of Miss Lucy Simons, with whom are are just becoming so familiar as to make parting with her a painful neces. sity, will not be heard again until she has warbled half round the world. Town Exections i Wrstenester County.—The demo- cracy have elected cighteen or nineteen out of twenty- four supervisors in Wostchester County. The election took place on Tuesday last, Mr. Wm. Cauldwell was re- elected supervisor of Morriaania for the ninth time, re ceiving 744 out of 909 votes cust. night that the Secretar} Monroe and City Point. He embarked yesterday, accom- panied by his daughter and several ladies and gentlemen, among whom were the Spanish Minister and British Chargs @’Affaires and several allachés of their legations. The party were rowed in small boats from the landing near Anacosta bridge to a government steamer anchored im the stream, and proceeded imme- diately upon the trip. ANT. THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. Arrangements in Progress for a Military Convention. Secretary Seward Sent for by the President. Dissatisfaction of the Anti- Peace Radicals. The Advance of the Army Begun on Wednesday. The Speedy Capitulation of Lee Predicted, ke. Kee Re Our Special Washington Despatehes. ‘Wasumnaton, March 30, 1866. ily in this correspondence last of State had gone to Fortress It was mentioned casi The President and his family aro still at City Point, where they will be joined to-day by the Secretary of State and his party, This sudden departure of Mr. Seward has occasioned much speculation, the question being whether he had been sent for by the President to aid him in determining about terms of settlement, or whether he has gone of his own accord to be in readiness for consultation if needed. (The wounded of the battle in front of Petersburg om Saturday last have begun to arrive here, The hospital steamer Connecticut arrived to-day with four hundred, including fifty-eight wounded rebels. Three hundred more are expected to-morrow on the State of Maine. ‘Tho number of rebel prisoners taken in Saturday's fight, including those wounded, is estimated now at over three thousand nine hundred. ‘Wasuinaton, March 30—Midnight. It is now understood from the very highest and most reliable sources of information, that Secretary Seward was sent for by Mr. Lincoln to come to City Point for consultation, and that arrangements are actually in pro- gress for a military convention between Generals Grant and Lee, suyfported on the ono side by Mr. Lincoln and Secretary Seward, and on the other by Jeff. Davis and R.M.T. Hunter. The Butler anti peace radicals here are loud in their expressions of dissatisfaction at the President for consenting to any furthor negotiation on tho subject. ‘The grand movoment of the army under General Grant was begun on Wednesday morning. That this movement will result’ in compelling General Lee to an early capitulation of his army is regarded in military circles as inevitable, Mr. Chas. H. Hannam’s Despatch. Heapguarters, Sixt Anxy Conrs, Nagar Pererssunc, March 28, 1866. REMOVAL OF THR SICK. ‘To.day our hospitals have been emptied of their sick and wounded, who wore sent down to City Point, and will bo cared for at the permanent hospitals there, NO NEW MOVEMENTS OF THE ENEMY, There are no movements to roport at present, and n@ disturbance along the line. The men on picket and’ the army generally havo rested undisturbed. The rebel army still confronts us, and has made no further attempt to re- take the ground the Sixth corps captured last Saturday. Some artillery firing took place on the Ninth corps’ front, but it soon ceased and nothing of any moment re- sulted from it. Mr. William H. Merriam’s Despatch. Mason Generat W xitzpi.’s HEADQUARTERS, Iv Front or Ricuwoxp, March 29—A. M. } TORPEDO EXPERIMENTS IN THE JAMES, Throughout yesterday a portion of our fiect in the James river wore engaged in experimenting with torpe- does, with a view of gathering up in time the large number laid down by the rebels, said to be one hundred and ninety-six, between Varina landing and Richmond. RXCUANGE OF PRISONERS. Tho exchange of prisoners under the enlarged powers of General Mulford, the United States agent for ex- change, goes on most thoroughly and well. The General’s steamer New York will arrive at Varine to-day from Annapolis, and an exchange will, doubtless, take place to-morrow at Bouleware’s landing, in the Upper James. The largest number of Union prisonore received at any one time within the past few days by General Mulford has been fourteen hundred. RETCRNED FROM LEAVE, Colonel Ed. W. Smith, Assistant Adjutant Genoral in the Army of the United States, has just returned to duty from a thirty days’ leave of absence, passed chiefly in New York. VINK WRATHER, The weather still continues glorious. The Press Despatch. ‘Wasursetox, March 30, 1868. The ramor which is retailed by the gossips of the town of the meeting of President Lincoln and Generals Grant, Sherman, Meade, Ord and Sheridan on board the River Queen, is undoubtedly correct; but we can assure our readers that the result of the conference is not known. ‘The statement that General Lee had asked for a con- ference with General Grant is entirely without founda- tion. ‘The steam revenue cutter Northerner left the Navy Yard yesterday afternoon, having on board Secretary Seward and daughter, Sefior Don Gabiclel Garcia Tassaro, the Spanish Minister; Joseph Hume Burnley, tae Eng- lish Minister ad inierim, and lady, and several other in- vited lady guests, bound down to Fortress Monroe on @ pleasure trip. The party will be absent from Washington three or four days, and during that timo may pay a visit to General Grant at City Point. In view of the carly addition of General Sherman's army to those of General Meade and General Ord under the administration of Provost Marshal General Patrick, it has been found necessary to relieve General Patrick of the details of the Marshal’s office connected with the Army of the Potomac by transferring them to Brevet Brigadier Genoral Marcy, some time ago appointed Pro- vost Marshal of Meade’s army. General Patrick has had charge of these duties since September, 1862, and to him is due, more than to any other gentleman, the admi- / rable discipline and esprit du oorps of the army during the campaign through the Wilderness and the long sea- son of comparative inactivity at Petersburg. All the business of trade permits, transportation for goods, &c., connected with the armies operating against Richmond, is made subject to bis approval at General Grant's head- quarters, and with the addition of the armies now in North Carolina, the Provost Marshal's department be- comes second to none of the organizations created by the necessities of the war. General Halleck has decided that one hundred and forty-six rebel prisoners, a portion of those captured on Saturday at Fort Steedman, who claimed that they sur- rendered on condition that they be allowed to take the oath of allegiance to this government, shall be held for the present; but that they shall not be exchanged against their will. In obedience to this decision the prisoners were returned to Point Lookout to-day, ‘A deserter from the rebel army who arrived here yos. terday, and who is an Alabama planter, roports that tho robel authorities have already placed a number of negro troops in the intrenchmonts surrounding Richmond, but that they are afraid to trust them in large bodies, and as A precautionary measure the negroes are simply formed into battalions. Personal Intelligence. Senators Lane, of Kansas, and Connoss, of Californte, are at the Metropolitan Hotel. Mr. and Mrs. Charies Kean arrived on tha steamer Eats, _ Havana, and are stopping at tha Metropoll- tan Hotes