The Sun (New York) Newspaper, December 31, 1864, Page 1

IMBER 10,134. he Latest News y Telegraph to the N. ¥Y. San. JE MOBILE EXPEDITION, ut of the Rebel Forces, IMPORTANT FROM TENNESSEE. the Balance of Hood’s Army. JE WILMINGTON — EXPEDITION. Additional Particuiars. PERATIONS Of THE LAND FORCE Gen. Butler Back to Virginia, €WS FROM BEFORE RICHMOND. ec About to Astonish the Worid,. &., &e., GENERAL GRANGER. The Expedition Against Mobile, lew Orleana, Dee, 22, via Cairy Dee. 34,— * large expedition under Major-General Granger ded at Pascagoula on the 5th inst., and pushed i@y on towards Mobile, A brief skirmish oc. ‘redon the 16th inat., near Frankiin's Creek, ¢ rebels were quickly routed. Many people re wd at the sight of our forces, The Navy ren- ed valuable assistance to the troops on landiag 9 tin-clad gunboats have gone up the Pascagou river thirty miles, and everything progresses orably, Southern refugees report bat 6,000 Nitve im Mobile, aod that »# strong Union senti wt prevails there. The large retlection of a fire s observed near Mobile on the 19:h nag, sup ved be caused by the burnmyg of coteon, &e. GENERAL THOMAS, imored Rout and Capture ef Hood's Fragmentary Army. Nashville, Dee. %,—The atatexnent that Hood J crossed the rier is doultiess untrue, The ¥ latest news from the front is, that yesterday, ule Thomas was pressing Hood on the river ak, be was trying to lay his pomtooms, but could make any progress, as our gunboats were ling his working parties, Steadman reeched atur ou the 24th with « large forces, and was © threatening Hood There is a rumor this rning that Thomas had attacked, routed, and “wured most of Hood's army, but it needs con- wation, SROOND DIfPATON Washington, Dee, 36.—Gen, Thomas’ headquar- cs were ot Pulaski last night. Our advance was sse'y following Hood. Gens, Granger and sximan are on hie might flank, and the gunboats » shelling his pontoons, which he has as yet ep unable to cross upon, he Recent Successful Raid in Kast Tennes. see and West Virginia Naahmilie, Dec, 30.—Major4eneral Stoneman, rived in the city laat night fro: st Tennessee aud West Virgini f hisexpedition ; bis great raid in and furnishes the lowing resnit e destroyed, Thirteen railroad trains, with lo- motives, several trains and extra cars without vines, were captured and destroyed, the pote of supplies in Southwestern Virginia, de- ta, founderies, mille, factories, storchouses, wa- bn and ambulance traius and turnpike bridges, destaoyed, In vw) rounds of artillery a “k saddies, and a large arnour eat quontity of small arma, », ere addition, we captured 2,000 is, aod a junition, harn ® lorrety 1,000 ules, Among the captures wore also two bel editors and four secession printing presses. ere among the captures, The latter were rent to ison Brownlow, asa Christmas ,ift, A severe #6 to the rebels was the destruction of the salt rka ot Saltvillo and the Jead works at Leadville, ub were rendered valueless Our losses were ry smal), not exce 2,00, killed, wounded id rmlssing., Our captured rebel prisoners amount 24 officers aud S45 men, East Tennessee |g now se from any body of re aud Kentucky is not fested by Gen, Stoneman had px asion of the ret a line, and held it for bours; during which time he discovered all their ans and mover Army of tho Potomac. The World to be Astonished, Washington, Dee ame in afew days 04°, declares that the siate of Yairsin the rebel army indicates early perations in some direction, the nature of which emen are told that Gen. Lee is eject: which foderates, lugares nts. A rebel deserter, who offensive sunknown. T bout atterupting the inivation «{ ay ll astonish the world, Information irom other urces is to the effect that heavy cannonading has doon kept up lately al our lines in the imme- te front of Petersbuag and Richmond, Recent maneuvres in the rebe) lines indicate universal sommotion along them. Tt is thought thas Lee nas been reinfoLcements both towards Lynchburg to cppose Sheridan's advance and to Wilmington to prevent the landing of our exp:- dition against that city, eending WILMINGTON Additional Details of the Expedition. The explosion of the powder ship Louisiana on Saturday morning, near Fort Fisher, failed to damage the fort or carrisop to any appreciable degree, Fven the emoke-stacks of the wrecked alockade-runners lyipg alopg the beavh choge by All the ratiroad idges from New River to the Tennessee hoe, Were not dieturbed in the least. The spectacle of the explosion was witnessed with the greatest interest by the officers and crew of tho fleet, ats distance of some twelve milex few of them being willing to forego the sight for the nake ofenight’s sleep. At firet there wae a great mans of lurid Licht overupreading the heavens, in the «i- rection of the fort The light seemed to radiate from the centre like » fan, the handle extending dovwn in the bortzon, and the periphery enfolding half the beavens in a clare of fire This continued for about s minute when the light vamabed into pitchy corkvees And all was atill for a few mo- ments. In thirty seconde from the dmappearance of the light. two loud reports rapiily follosed each ether, about as loud as the report of @ thirty-two pounder A concussion of the air, jus enough to flap the lazy, Isgging sails ot colors of « accompanied the report. The whole fleet {ndulyed in the most curious ulations respect ing the real object of the explosion, few persone ng inthe emcret, but all seemed to understand that something important was expected from the direction of Fors Fisher. Half an hour after the explosion # dene cloud uf powder emoke came floating towarls the fleet, and for more then sp hour afterwards the air was filled with the odor of gunpowder, Major Thomas L, Casey, of the Corps of Engineers waa specially detailed by the War T riment to witness the explosion, and make report of its effects, and phenomena connected with i. Baturday morning opened bright and fair, and was most propitious for the operstions of the day. Not a cloud was to be seen in the sky. By day- light the veasel« Levan to got underweigh. At one ofclock the New Tronsides opened the ball, and in a short time all the other veasels wok part in the engagement, pouring # ter- nble and betas nian F fire of shot and shell into Fort Fisher. In about an hour the wooden bar- racks in the fort burst into flames, and soon after the rebel flag was abot away. At 4 o'clock every vorsc! was engaged, and a hundred and mxty pro- Jjoctiloa a minute were thrown in, producing as bor- rible and indescribable whiz, that seemed to fill the air with a cry like the prolonged shriek of a dying world. Towards night the vessels began to draw off, and anchored out of range of the rebel guns. Still some of the vCosels continued to shell the fort during the night, in order to harrass the garrison, Christwias morning was foggy, and_the shore could not be seen from the ships. The vessels were, however, ordered to take position, and at ten o'clock the firing commenced, and the entire fleet goon became engaged. Tho transporta, with the military forces, now began to arrive, and the preparations for landing the troops commenced, A small boat was launched from the Malvern, under command of Lieut. Wm. B, Cushing and thirteoa seamen, Thiscraf headed for the shore under the rebel batteries, twelve men pulling the oars, and one man sanding in the bow and coolly teking soundings, The re! seomed paralyced with this act of audacity, which attracted the admiration of the entire fleet, but they soon directed their fire to the boat, and the shot ‘an to fall fast and close around, But the sped forward, sud soundings were taken under the very murzies of the guue ofthe Fort. At Isat when the little craft was within @ tdecuit toss of the beach, Lieut, Cushing slnalied the men to cease rowing, and standing up inthe stern of the boat, took aceliberate survey of the surroundings and yf the interior of the Fort, afer which the boat re- urned to the flag ship, having teken accurate soundings of the proper lunding place ior (Le troops “he landing commenced at two o'clock, and took dlace amid the enthusiasm of bosch the Jand and mal forces, The soldiers competed with each ober in trying to leap first sabore, and the sdiors who were not aseisting in the work komt up a cheering on board the abips, while the cannonade still went on, the whole presntg a scene that will long be remembered oy hose who witnessed 1t. The troops, as fast an the) formed in regiments on sbore, moved out of sigh of the fleet, bebind some piue openings. The Ubmes anxiety and interest was wanifested by ever; one on board to witness the commencement of Uheassault which was expected to take place,and the disapporntinent and bitterness of seein, the toops commence to embark again, in place of landig: =the remainder, who were atill on beardship, can hardly be described Thetroops were commanded by General Wait- ze), Wth Generals Ames and Paine aa division comm nders, the whole under the direction of Ma- rd Goeral Butler as commander-in-chief of the and feces of the expedition. The brigades under Generss Curtis and Bell formed on shore and ad- va isbout a mile,when a masked battery opened upon thin. Beyond the battery a battalion of North Carol.nitroops Was discovered. The two brigades opened o the right aud left of the *Jobnnies,"* and quiely captured the whole lot, to the number of two hindred. Gen, Weitzel was now rowed along thebeach, and, after an examination of the works, dalared that they could not be carried by assault. ten, Curtis, however, was of no different opinion, &d begged permission to make the at- tempt. Lewe was granted, and the brave General, followed & equaily brave and enger soldiers, rushed formard to the fort end clambered over the parapet. Asoldier of the 142d New York Volun- teers tore dn the rebel flag and carried it off, Aaother 8! oan orderly, coolly seized bis diapater- e® Couta’hiy, a6 It subsequently proved, much valuable wuferation, and even took possession of bis horse. hit by this time the rebels began to concentrate teir fire against our brave boys, Our Iting coimn Was too weak and thin to rush | forward andecize the victory that was within | grasp, and ov soldiers were iorced to retire, It was HOW galing dark, and the brigade on | falluy back found the other troops al- E y emburkiy, The tleet began to slacken the canvovade and the rebels at the same Mise increasedthoir fire, emerging from ther bombproots sudiarassing our men far more in the retreat than dung the attack Our troops viyor- ously replied, Le gunboats, puided in the lark- ness by the flashs of rebel wusk in the woods, shelled them ' keep them k The wind had changed t the eastward, and a heavy eurf lewwu to dse ibe rain aleo descended in torrents nd t was jinpowsble to row boats through the sur; a tew were swamped, but | turtuuately none ‘ere lost, A clock ou Mov- day morning, it fas found go ssary to desist from the embarkaur, leaving pearly @ thousaud men stiil ashore, hey are under the cover of the gunboats, and were be removed as soon as the eswoil subsiced, Ye entire rebel force in Fort Fieber 's eatimated, one thousand men in the for- tifleations, @nd loulthvusend men eneaiwped in the viciuliy (BYfelegraph ) The Vleet Ne to be Withdrawn Washington, Dec. . —Vhere is wo probability of the naval force underAdmiral Porter, discontinu. jug their bombardme of the defences of Wilming- ton, unless 60 directemy the goverument Tt is understood th, only the army transports have withdrawn from ort Fisher. The naval ves- rels will not discontinu the attack unless ordered by the government to deo, Butler returned to bineadquarters on the James River on Wednesday. e lett the land forces af the Wilmington expedito under the command of Gen. Weitzel, f Souther News. Interesting Extract from late Rebel Papen, The late Richmond pape contain further evi. dence of the exhaustion of the Con‘ederacy, There is also an increasingiscontent which finds ventin the Rebel Congretand the newspapers, The feeling against Jef. svie runs high and strong, end the Examiner isut with » proposition that Le shall be superseded | Gepera) Lov as Dice NEW YORK, SATURDAY, tator or Commander-in-Chiof, This project is eu- forced in the following terms: Upon every ground we hall rejoica, and the whole Confederacy with ua if General Lee should be changed with high duty. The enemy is how certainly pressing us hari, and at many pointa, Destruction and ravage are the settled war policy of the Yankees; and each march or move- ment is held to be a grand success if it loaves | e- bind a “broad track of desolation." The burn ng of houses which might afford shelter to “rebela'’ the destruction of food. which might feed rebels," aud thie feed rebellion; the sta: vati f children, who might else grow up into “rebel thie is the utterly flendish sy etom of warfare which haa been deliterately adopted, directed in general orters, eomplacently narrated in bulleting, aud which js Dow fn actual course of application to our county wherever our fell invaders plant the:r foot, Sher- man, after turning a wide region of Geor ia intos naked and howling desert, promises bis country- men to leave ns broad a track of desolation through South Carolina We ala on our side, must trace every nerve and sinew, and cx force to burl back aud destroy th and as one vigorous step in that d be satiafactory to see the government of the army entrusted altogether to General Lee, Jef Davis has issued » proclamation endorsing the Canadian raiders, and taking the responsibility. The proclamation sets forth that Bennet G, Burley, pow under arrest in Canad for the piracy on Lake Michigan, la Ac Maater of the Navy of the Con- federate States ; that he was autt orized to capture the United States steamer Michigan and release the rebe jsouers on Johnson's nd, and that the Contedorete States sawumes the responsiblity of suswering for bis acts. It is stated by the rebe!s thas the famous Dutch Gap Canal js almost finished, and that the prepara- tions for letting the water in are 60 far complotet that it only remains to knock ows the upper and lower dykes. All the Richmond papers have reports respecting the death of Mosby, the famous guerrilla, which would seem to leave but little doubt that he is at least dangerously wounded if not killed. The ory was that he had been surrounded while din ing ate friends house in Cul r, and ordered to surrender, He drew his pistol and fired, when he was shot dead. The Dreratou has a telegram from Frederickeburg dated the 25th of Devember, con tradicting the report of bis death, and stating that be had been shot, but it was supposed that he was not mortally wounded. He was in the house of his friends, but the Deararou states that other news shows that his condition hud not been cefiv~ itely ascert@ined, A resoultion in the rebel House of Representa- tives against the general suspension of the Hhebeas Corpus was lost by # close vote of 31 against 41, The capture of Savannah in discussed by all the journals, but they make very liht of it, and pre- tend that itis of no accountwhatever, The Ex- AMINE goes fo far a to argue that its lons ls a pon. itive gain, and states that there is not suother town in the Contederacy that could be surrendered with go litsle injury as that particular town Tt states, for instance: **The lows of Savannah ia no loss to us when the garrison is aaved."" The Waa gravely announces that ite evacuation was resolved upon long mace The Sen rinen followa suit, but wiynificantly adds: “I! Sherman, now relieved of anxiety concerning the state of alfairs in Tonnes. wee, sball co-operate ia ay enterprise against Charleswon, further contraction of our lines muy become peceasary."* Galveston, Texas, pepers contain the follow- ing: Yoaterday (12th) 943 exchanged Federal prison- ers were sentout io tie bLlockaders, and 12 termales and their children, among them Mra, Jack Liar,|- ton and Mrs. Judge Duval, The prisonsra deliver- od yesterday were exchanged for ail our prifoners captured in FortGuines, The exchauge will not be concluded until the Federals are willing to in- clude Admiral Buchanan. A dissstrour fire oc. curred at Galveston on the 15th. News Items. (By Telegraph to the New York Sum.) Newnens of rebel deserters are brought to Wash- Neton every dav. Yesterday about 19 of them took the oath of allemiance Bixrr thousand dollars in silver bara have just been received at Ban Francisco from Idaho, the first shipment of ailver from the new allver mines in Southwestern Idaho, which promise to rival those in Nevada, Awono those who have mysteriously disappear- ed of Inte, and about whom much aolicitude ia ex- pressed by the Navy Department, are Acting Mas- ters mate W. H. Kitchings, and Acting Third As- sistant Euvtneer HK. Stoever A snow storm commenced at Buffalo, N. Y., on Thursday night, and was stil! in ‘u!l blast yester- A high wind wus blow:ng, causing the snow to drist cousiderably, which will probably impede ra!lroad travel. Tne subscriptions to the 7-39 loan for the last three days, av reported to the Treacury Depart- ment, amount w& 44,700,000, and to the 10-40 loan, for the same period, #1,600,00, Of the latter loan stout eighty millions remain unmuil scribed for, Ur to the first of July lost, the State of M.ssour! furnished 10,000 more men than her The total number of inen furnished to the United States | to November Mia» addition to which, the State |b day morning quota Beth, by mri, wae 51,0), im os had 60,000 rnilitte organized, and in the fleld, when required, Tue California pres# ia inclined to condemn the attempts making by ih nent, to enforce the | laws for the p ction of timber on the pubile lands. “Most ofthese lands are minewal, and the tiinber is necessary to carry op toining As it is reserved from sale, there only one way to obtain it—ste Gover perations. A DISPATCH from Washington gives the substance of the correspondence between our Government and that of Brazil relative to the seizure of the rebel pirate Florida in a port of the latter country Mr, Seward says ina “All the crew" (of the Plorida) ‘are enemies of the United States, and, as they sof the human race, yet the offeuders’ were neverthe! ose unlawfully brought into the custody of thin G ernment, and therefore they could not lawfully be ommunication : ugh contend, er subjected here to the punishment which they have | deserved. They will therefore be set at liberty, to seek a refuge wherever t find it, witt hazard of recapture when beyood the jurisdiction Nothing the of this Government," is #nid respondence relative t& lorida, in the cor the final sinking of the Tue London Srectaton concludes a late article on General Sberroan's march, writen on receipt of American news now four weeks old, with the em- phatic (now propnetie) declaration: : ** There is nos & goneral now alive in Europe svho, if Sherman micceeds, will not recognize the addition of one More neme to the short list of firet close leaders of armies," DECEMBER 31, 1864. Genoral ‘Intelligence. (By Mati to the New York Sun.) Tur inhuman King of Dahomey, ao famous for Moody human sacrifices, haa lately been defeated in one of bis rakie upon a rival African city. He was utterly routed with » loss of four thousand men, Dovaras Jemnotn once sald to an antent young wentleman, who wae desirous of secing his name in print, “He advised by me, young man, don't tako down the shutters beiore there is something in the window" Tar Socretary of the Treamry has officially an- notunced that the subsertptions to the ten-forty loan Will be stopped on Jan, Tih. It is understood thas only $97,000,000 retain to be taken out of @200,- 000,000 offered, Ax extraordinary number of application for passes to go to Savaunah were refused atthe War Depart- ment, Atnong them was that of Judge Wayne of the Supreme Court. His and bis wife's property are in Bevanuah and ite omghborhood, A reesn rebellion recently broke out in Cartha- gene against the government of the State of Belt- vor, but waa ended after « batile formbt on the Oth of December, The Preadent of the Beate reigned Dec. 11th, Tae Washington Natioxan Usrantrorscen has changed owners and tue veteran editor, Colonel Seaton, retires, The purc!asers are J. F. Coyle A G mb aml Willian KR. Grow, No chango will occur ingbe conservative Democratic policy of the Paper A delegation from Kentucky recent!y had an in terview with the President, relative to the arrest and banishment of Lieut, Governor Jacoba It seetns Governor Jacobs waa arrested on the 19th of November, since which time nothing bes been heard from bim, Apviees from Bavannah to the 26th inst, state that efforts were being made to intercept the re trons of the rebel ariny under Hardee before it could reaoh Broad River, Gannouading waa, hoard re torr geod bus the result of 1thad not been earned, Coartarm Da Forumer, of the llth Conn, rowi- Ment, writes to his frieuda for a tent-fly for o chapel roof. His present house of prayer he de- scribes as “the Docember sky, foored with Bouth- erp soil, The roof leaks; the floor caiches the droppings, and the wails are found only where the earth and sky meet” A THAGIOAL event haw lately taken place at Pesth. The wife of a swimming-master in that town having lately lost seven of her children, leaving her only ber youngest, afew months old, sud thatone showing symptoms of the disease which had carried off the otners, lost ber reason, The poor woman in her frenzy broke every article of furniture, and when tho neighbors, alarmed at the noise, broke open the door, they found ber with the child dead in her arma, On her husband re- turning borne, and finding what had taken place, be also became @lumatic. ‘Tue wormen bap been sent to an asylum, TAveR ore several @eamers now plying between the city of Savannah and Port Royal, Adinirai Dablgron, with @ portion of his feet, sailed up the river lately, In addition to the thirty-two thous- and balos of cotton eapsnred, about two millions of doilars' worth of rice bas beep discovered. The rovowt Marshal's guard still protects the city, General Geary's division being the first of the Union army to enter the city, tat officer has been eppented tollitary governor. Wheeler's cavairy, o! Hardee's army, plundered @ number of stores, and comrottied 1 verous oOtrages while stationed in the city, and between the marching out of she enomy aud the marching la of General Sherman's oops toobs of the lower classes in the town broke into a nuraber of shops and warchonses, and cou. tinued the work Which the rebel soldiery had eom- menced. A number of General Sherman's troops are now engaged in pepairing the railroad from Ba- Yonnah w Coarlestou, which was previously de- #troyed, Appalling Catastrophe at Sea Sinking of the steamship North American. (ne Mune dred nad Ninety-seven Lives Lost. The United States eteamer Arago, whieh arrivod at thie port yesterday morning from Milton Head, reports the sinking of the atearner North American on the 22d Lost., while en roude from New Orleans northward, The report of the aurvivors of the ca- tasirophe in to this effect: The vessel left New Or- leans onthe 10th inat., with two hundred and three tick soldiers, twelve cabin passengers, and a crew of forty-four meu, At noon on the 20th, the wind hegan to blow heavily, gradually increasing in fory until it became The bad weather continued until the 224, when the engineer report- ed the venael leaking badly. The water steadily gained in the veanel, despite the efforts of crow and passengers to étaunch the leak and pump it out, and it finally became evident that the ship must «co down, In this dilemma, a na\! wae discoveral! which prove! to bethe bark Mary E. Lit bound from Cubs to Portland, Vhe captain of the Libby was informed of the sink- ing condition of the North America, and promised to remain with ner and take off all on board if ne- cessary. At balf-pagt two the engineer reported four feet of wate 1 the hold, and it was then de- termined to transter the passengers and crew to the other vessel. Accordiugly at half-past three the first bowt started from the sinkluy veasel in charye ot the ch'ef-engineer, with all the Indy passengers, Tho trip was sateiy male, aud tive other boat loadsa of passengers were reseued in the same manner, The sevent »wever, ts supposed to heave been loat, as reached the Libby, and Garkuess having inthe meautime closed in, they were not seen after leaving the mde of the il-faved North American, The tea was now ove 2 ro hick that boats could not get back from the bark to the e@teamer, and as only one boat was leftto the singing-vessel, tie awful wis. ation of th board became only too apparent At se the ses boat was lowers |, end Captain Marsham seciny that there was vu > hope for the rescue of he rema ving passengers, gor into tho boat, with two « re apd eivhs wen, leaving tudred and nis -seven wack and dival led soldiers to go dowl with the vessul, They ar- rived in aefety, and were takeo on board the Libby. The latter vessel continued to remain near the sink ing ship in order .o save, if possible, y ol the poor fe'lowa who were wready iu the jawaof death, At one o'clock the lgbtw of the North Awerican, which edigtinetly visible from the Libby, suddenly eared, and it was then only two Spparent that the vessel with her precious freight of jue had gone to the Lotion, Waen morning cume no sigu | of the North American was visible, aud the bark | started on her course with the sixty-two out of two hundred aud fifty-niue that bad been saved. The Libby tell in w.th the Arago off L.ttle Egg Harbor, aud Captain Mursham, aud forty-seven of his offi- cers wid crew were trauatferred w the latter vessel, © ou ‘clock lock Crime in New York The Kecord for the Year. During the year 1564 the number of crimes com- mitted in this city bas been larger than for many years past. In the Court of General Sessions four hundred and twenty-two criminal cases were dis- posed of. The convictions numbered two hundred sud seventy-six, and there were several murder sod manslaughter cases, Lu the Special Seasious three thousund nine hundred and forty-seven cases, and two thouaapd three hundred and four con- victic In the Court of Oyer and Terminer five porsuns were tricd and convicted of manslaughter, and cue was convicted of aasault and battery, with intent to kil, The number of persons commited to the Tombe during the year on ech: of mur- der was sixty-two. The largest number was in March, when eleven were commimed, A)l of these cases ¢ bern reported in the public journals, and it is unnecessary to recapitulate the fects. | Many of the triale “row out oi the rote SUN. {PRICE ONE CENT—IN GOLD ATWO CENTS IN CURRENCY. LOCAL NEWS. NEW Yonk AND THE VICINITY « New Year's Day—Tur Ovrcorsa oF 1S64—" Warton Niont —Usneame un toe Yeaw 1566—New Year's Cacta—Paoutonante Disarpas THOM, B10. —To-night, the aythe of inexorable Time strikes the yoar 1964 from existence, to make roo for young and blooming 1865. What an eventful experionon does the old year carry with it! and whats prominent niche it will ox upy in the his tory of the workd! From the period of ite births what joys and sorrows, what hopes sod fears bas tt beheld! The great world, with ie thousand million inhattanta, has passed through another cycle, each of the couutleas throng experieneing the Joy@ and sorrows of life, bearing up under the illsy or sinking beneath the burdens imposed. Although the time scems abort since the youthful 1564 step Ped upon the stage of time, how varied hae been its experience | Evorywhere it waa greeted with good resolutions, with promises of a moro exemplary Mife, with pledges that were to be carried out in prac- tico while the yoar lasted. Yot where are they to day? Like the seed sown by the hushand- man, in the parable, they sprung up and Gear- ished fora brief season; but the worldly tares choked them, and they paesed into oblivion, Othe ery perchance, are as the seed which brought forth ® buriredt fold, and to-day will be remembered by the suthors of such resolves aa the closing of a well spent year. But 1864 has looked upon scenes far different from these. It has seen the soldier go’ forth from bis peaceful home te fi cht the battles of bia country; she toarful leave-taking; the bright hopes of re-union; the last embrace. And on the battle-feld it has looked down on that form so dear to loved ones at boma sleeping ‘that sleep that knows no waking.” Theold year bas looked, too, upon the cheerful side of life, and it has seen. the bright rays of happiness ilhimine the dark. cloud. While desolating War baa stalked abroad like ® deinon of destruction, the year has also Yieldext its full meamre of joy and good followship. Peaceful avocations have been uninterrupted im our own country, prosperity has attended our peo- ple, and now, aa the old year takes its leave, pass ing from the Present to the Past, we may wel come the new year with as much of rejoice ing a8 we bestowed upon ite predecessors Tn the ancient mon the exit of the old your and the advent of the new was an interesting occasion in all the countries of Christendom, Modern inno- vations have for the most part done away with many customs of “yo olden time,’ but there are some still observed in this country, The ceremony of ‘‘watebing the old year out and the new year in'® is sUll generally observed by Methodist denominae tions, Qn New Year'n Kve the members of thie Church assemble in their usual places of worship. at about ten o'clock, and commence s course of re~ Iiglous services, consisting of singing, prayer and exhortation, bis is continued until midnight, and when the clock stmkes twelve, the whole con- «regation commence singing a hymn, the first verag of which is as follows: * Come let ua anew Our journey pursue, Roll round with the year, And never stand still "till the Master appear.”* When this is concluded, prayer and the Benedice tion follow, after which the members bestow gaod wishes upon each other for their temporal and re- ligious happiness during the year, and return to their homer. Tho colored Christians also make “Watch Night" an important occasion, pertorming their religions ceremonies with more than ordinary euthusiaam, According to the usnal custom, the chimes of Trinity Church will ring # number of appropiate airs af midnight. The secular observance of New Year's eve ia more general than the rcliioun, and there is a dis- position among all case to celebrate the exit of the old year with fun, frolic and hilarity, The Social Cinbe nsually “make a night of it"? by feasting Upon the choloest viands of the season, im- bibing the oldest wines, and indulging in those conivialities which “make the hours quickly pasa’® away. In the family circle, the evening is ususlly spent joyfully, The little ones bave their parlor games; “childreu of a larger growth" —even paps and mamrma—are for once inthe year induced to throw off their dignity for a game of blind-man's- buff—and merry-making reigns in the house. In many farnilios a second edition of Banta Claus ap- pesrs, with New Year's presents for the grown folka, and the little ones areusually supplied with another {natalliment of holiday gifts, which are considered a pre-payment for being “ good" throughout the coming year. But arid all the farnily rejoicing, » shade of aaduess is apt to intrude itself, Children who are old enough to reflect, remember tht, as the old year goes out ite touch silvers more hairy in father's head, and places another wrinkle on mother's brow--the inevitable alens used by the band of Time to teach harmanity that another mile- post on the road to etarnity has beeu reached, With the “lovyers'’*—those sentimental grown up children, who for @ tine are afflicted with sott heart and heads to-match—the dawulag of a new year is always au occamon of great importance Bashful svains, who havo not puckered up the courage to say “Wilt thou dearest"? toatay will make « last desperate atten pt to vet within the mu trimonial noowe, And this ix not sll, to-day ts the last of Leap-Year-—the blessed quadrennial period, which gives to the weaker, but more plucky sex— in suck matters—4the gollen opportunity of maying, “Shan't we, dear Augustus ?'' leaving to the latter only the burden of reversing the expression, or the happiness of reversing the proposal The last day of the current year is therefore lig, with the fate of a future census. Lovers who have been brave enough to setile their future destiny will enploy Now Year's im bullding sera! castles of expecte! hap) tnens, The pledges of constancy, eternal fi delity, undying love, and all that kind of stuf that is so disgusting dignified bachelirs, or old maarriod people, will be piled up high ough to be toppled over with the first blast of » matrimonial breeze. Augustos will swear, by his hore of encmping the next draft, by the curl of bis auburn moustache, by hit heir which parteth in the middle, that his love for Glorians ahal!l be endicas as the tail of the Continued on the last page,