Sherman Crosses Ogeechee River

DECEMBER 24, 1864.]

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(Previous Page) CLIFFE & Company will not be surprised that their proposition to feed those who are not hungry, and to help those who are humanely restrained from the effort to destroy this country, is seen to be exactly what it is, an attempt to encourage and perpetuate human slavery another attempt of the English Deerhound to save the sinking British pirate Alabama. Why should Lord WHARNCLIFFE take such extraordinary pains to teach Americans a deeper hostility to the British aristocracy?

A RAILROAD " ACCIDENT."

THE Evening Post says that a gentleman who arrived safely in this city, a few days ago, from the West, reported " an accident" upon the road over which he had journeyed. " What was the nature of it ?" asked a friend. "We got through on time, and without a break down," was the reply, " and that is the only occurrence on a railroad, in these days, which ought to be called an accident."

Of course as our paper is issued but once a week we can not hope to keep pace with the record of railroad disasters. Among the most recent may he mentioned that upon the New Jersey Central Railroad. Two freight trains ran into each other in a fog. Soon afterward the Western Express came along and smashed into the wreck, destroying the locomotive. " No person was seriously hurt." That is to say, no necks were broken outright, but how many nervous shocks entirely ruining the sufferers will date from that perfectly unnecessary and criminal event nobody can say.

" No person was seriously hurt" but no thanks to the Company. One of the two freight trains was out of time or they both were. That was the culpable fault of the engineer. Then no flag of warning was sent out toward the expected express train, or if so, it was disregarded, which was the criminal neglect of the engineer of that train. Such incidents, as the Post truly says, are not "accidents." They are no more accidents than the burning of a barn which has been carefully fired. There is simply no excuse whatever for either collision ; and a Company which does not make the strictest investigation of the circumstances, and publicly and conspicuously dismiss the offending agents, trifles with the public safety.

LITERARY.

WE find in the Paris letter of Mr. CHILDS'S Publishers' Circular, a valuable monthly manual of erature of whose great merits we have already spoken, the following characteristic anecdote of ALEXANDRE DUMAS:

M. ALEX. DUMAS has amused the town this week by a characteristic letter. The town of Cavaillon, in the department of Vauchuse, is famous throughout France for its musk melons. All the markets on the Rhone and Saone, and even Paris itself, draw their supply of the best cantelopes from this southern city. The inhabitants of the town have taken measures to establish a public library. They applied to eminent persons to aid them, these with donations in money, those with gifts of their works. They applied, among others, to M. ALEX. DUMAS, who returned this answer " Sir, The moment I received your letter I hastened to confer with my publisher, in order that he might send you the two or three hundred volumes of my works which have already appeared, and that he may send you the remainder as they are published, I am too happy to accede to the great honor you do me. But be kind enough to say to M. TOUVEL, your honorable Mayor, that I give these books on one condition : If the town and authorities of Cavaillon like my books, I like their melons very much, and I wish that, in exchange for my three or four hundred volumes, they grant me, by municipal ordinance, a pension for life of twelve melons annually, the cost of carriage to be, of course, at my charge. Receive, etc. ALEX. DUMAS." M. NADAR, the well known aeronaut, tells us this week the following story of the novelist, which will go far to exhibit the causes of his bankruptcy and straitened circumstances. I give the story in M. NADAR'S words : "We were dining at Monte Christo (M. ALAX. DUMAS' residence, near Paris). ALEX. DUMAS the eternal sponged upon had, as he always has, a great many guests. He said to his servant. `Well, PIERRE, here are a great many Champagne glasses, but I don't see any wine!' 'Monsieur DUMAS, there is none in the cellar.' Then go buy some at the restaurant of the Pavilion d'Henri IV.' The servant whispered in DUMAS' ears. We could catch the words 'No creditbill cash in future.' DUMAS exclaimed : ' They are fools at the Pavilion d'Henri IV. Take thirty francs and bring us back three bottles.' A few days afterward the same scene took place. Four bottles were sent for, and forty francs given. Another day two bottles were sent for, and twenty francs given. So it went on day after day until DUMAS received the visit of a 'traveler' for a wine firm; and these visits are never rare. DUMAS replied: 'Very well, I will take twelve baskets.' After the wine was delivered and stored in the cellar, under the superintendence of the dealer, he went up stairs and said: 'Monsieur DUMAS, you might have waited a while before buying any more Champagne, Your stock is still far from being exhausted.' ' What ?' ' Why, there are at least smile 150 or 200 bottles in the cellar.' "The rogue ! The scoundrel! The knave ! 'Twas my own wine he sold me! PIERRE ! PIERRE !! you are a rogue ! you are a thief ! Be off with ye!' PIERRE went off at once, but before he closed the door DUMAS called him back. ' Come here,' said DUMAS, ' I have kicked you out as a thief, but I keep you as a good servant you know, you rascal! that I can not get along without you. But when you do sell me my own wine, in the name of Heaven, give me credit!' " M. NADAR asserts this anecdote to be literally true.

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.

CONGRESS

December 6:

THE Senate met at 12, Mr. Clark, of New Hampshire, President pro tem Mr. Foot, from the committee to wait on the President, reported that the Message would be sent at 1 o'clock, and the Senate adjourned till that hour. Upon the reassembling of the Senate the Message was received and read, and the usual number of copies ordered to be printed. Reports from the Secretaries of the Treasury and the Navy were also received. A resolution (Mr. Stunner, Mass.) was introduced and adopted, that the President furnish the Senate with any information in possession of the State Department concerning any proposition or overture recently made by British subjects in aid of the rebellion. The Senate then went into executive session. The appointment by the President of Hon.

Salmon P. Chase for Chief Justice was confirmed without reference. The nominations of Hon. James Speed for Attorney-General and of Ex-Governor Dennison for Postmaster-General were referred.

In the House, before the reading of the Message, bills (Mr. Stevens, Pa.) were introduced and referred, to prohibit the exportation of gold and silver coin, end to prevent gold and silver coin from being negotiated for more than their current value. A joint resolution (Mr. Stevens) in relation to the tax on gold was also referred. A resolution (Mr. Broomall, Pa.) was adopted, to instruct the Committee of Ways and Means to inquire into the expediency of exempting from tax on inheritance all the estates and interests of widows in the estates of their deceased husbands. A resolution (Mr. Spaulding, O.) was adopted. that the Committee on the Conduct of the War inquire into the causes of the disastrous issue of the Red River campaign under General Banks. Bills were introduced (Mr. Julian, Ind.) prescribing an oath of loyalty to all persons practicing law in the insurgent States, and providing for the forfeiture of the fee of rebel landholders. A resolution (Mr. Boutwell, Mass.) was adopted, that the Committee on Military Affairs consider the expediency of reporting a bill prohibiting the transit of goods, wares, or merchandise to any portion of the territory of the United States in possession of the persons engaged in rebellion and beyond the lines of the United States, and prohibiting the sale of any goods, wares, or merchandise to per-sons resident upon said territory; and also the expediency of authorizing the purchase of the products of the territory occupied by the rebels in arms, by any person not connected with the army or navy of the United States, nor otherwise in the service or employment of the United States, either upon credit or by payment in money or foreign exchange. The President's Message was then received and read, and, together with the accompanying documents, was referred to the Committee of the Whole. December 7.

In the Senate, a bill was introduced (Mr. Lane, Ind.) and referred, to authorize a special session of the United States District Court of Indiana. The standing committees had not yet been announced, and bills were left to lie on the table, among them one (Mr. Morrill, Me.) to extend the time for the completion of the Metropolitan Railroad of Washington two years. A resolution (Mr. Powell, Ky.) was also ordered to lie on the table, that the Secretary of War communicate a report of the proceedings of the court martial to investigate the conduct of General E. A. Payne while commanding at Paducah, Kentucky. The case of the two Senators from Louisiana came up. Governor Hahn's communication, accompanied by the proceedings of the General Assembly in the election, were laid on the table by the President pro tem.; and Mr. Wade, of Ohio, presented a remonstrance signed by many citizens of Louisiana. Mr. Morgan, of New York, presented the credentials of the two Senators, with the proposition that they be referred to the Judiciary Committee. The documents bearing on the subject were ordered to be printed. The President presented to the Senate copies of the laws of the Territory of Nebraska.

In the House, the vote referring Mr. Stevens's bill to prevent gold and silver coin from being negotiated at more than their current value was reconsidered, and laid on the table by a vote of 73 to 52. A bill was introduced (Mr, Cole, Cal.) to establish an ocean steamship mail between the United States and China. A resolution (Mr. Sloan, Wis.) was adopted and referred to instruct the Committee on Judiciary to inquire into the expediency of so amending Section 2, Article 1, of the Constitution, that Representatives in Congress shall be apportioned among the States according to their respective number of qualified electors. Two resolutions, offered by Mr. English of Connecticut and Mr. Cox of Ohio, calling for communications relating to the exchange of prisoners, and for an explanation of delays relating to this exchange, He over A bill was introduced (Mr. Arnold, Ill.) and referred to amend the act for the naturalization of soldiers so as to include sailors. A bill was introduced and referred (Mr Julian, Ind.) providing for the sale of mineral lands. A resolution (Mr. Holman, Ind.) was adopted to instruct the Committee on Military Affairs to inquire what legislation is necessary to do justice to the soldiers who enlisted for unexpired terms, but have been held for three years. A bill was introduced and referred (Mr. Spaulding, O.) to establish a navy-yard at Cleveland, Ohio. A resolution was offered (Mr. Randall, Pa.) and lies over, providing for a Select Committee to examine into alleged frauds at the Philadelphia Navy yard. A resolution (Mr. Broomall, Pa.) was adopted instructing the Committee on Military Affairs to inquire into the expediency of dispensing with bounties to soldiers enlisting, and raising their pay in compensation. A resolution (Mr. Odell, N. Y.) was adopted instructing the Committee on Ways and Means to inquire into the expediency of fixing an ad valorem tax on aim sales of merchandise.

December 8.

In the Senate, Mr. Davis, of Kentucky, gave notice that he would on the next day introduce it joint resolution for the restoration of the Union and peace, and for the vindication of the Constitution and the guarantee of the rights of the several States. The Senate proceeded to the election of Standing Committees, with the following result:

Foreing Relations—Mr. Sumner, Chairman; Messrs. Foster, Doolittle, Harris, Davis, Johnson, M'Dougal, Finance--Mr. Sherman, Chairman ; Messrs. Howe, Cowan, Clark, Van Winkle, Conness, and Henderson. Commerce—Mr. Chandler, Chairman; Morrill, Ten Eyck, Morgan, Sprague, Saulsbury, and Lane of Kansas. Agriculture—Mr. Lane, of Kansas, Chairman ; Harlan, Wilson, Powell, and Farwell.

Military Affairs and the Militia—Mr. Wilson, Chairman; Messrs. Lane, of Indiana, Howard, Nesmith, Morgan, Sprague, and Brown.

Pension,—Mr. Foster, Chairman. Messrs. Lane, of Indiana, Van Winkle, Saulsbury, Buckalew, Foot, and Brown.

Revolutionary Claims--Mr. Wilkinson, Chairman ; Messrs. Chandler, Wilson, Nesmith, and Wright. Claims— Mr, Clark, Chairman ; Messrs. Pomeroy, Howe, Anthony, Morrill, Hicks, and Davis.

District of Columbia—Mr. Hale, Chairman ; Messrs. Dixon, Morrill, Wade, Walley, Henderson, and Richardson.

Patents and the Patent Office--Mr. Cowan, Chairman, Messrs. Ten Eyck, Lane of Indiana, Ramsey, and Saulsbury.

Public Buildings and Grounds—Mr. Foot, Chairman; Messrs. Trumbull, Grimes, Farwell, and Hendricks.

Territories--Mr. Wade, Chairman ; Messrs. Wilkinson, Morgan, Sprague, Hale, Lane of Kansas, Carlile, Davis, and Richardson.

The Pacific Railroad—Mr. Howard, Chairman Messrs Collamer, Johnson, Harlan, Trumbull, Sherman, Morgan, Conness, and Brown.

Manufactures—Mr. Sprague, Chairman; Messrs. Morgan, Riddle, Wilkinson, and Hendricks,

Judiciary—Mr. Trumbull, Chairman, Messrs. Foster Ten Eyck, Harris, Foot, Powell, and Johnson.

Post-offices and Postt-roads—Mr. Collamer, Chairman Messrs. Dixon, Ramsey, Conness, Buckalew, and Pomeroy.

Public Lands—Mr. Harlan, Chairman Messrs. Pomeroy. Foot, Harding, Carlile, Hendricks, and Wright.

Private Land Claims--Mr. Harris, Chairman; Messrs. Sumner. Howard, Riddle, and Harding.

Indian Affairs—Mr. Doolittle, Chairman; Messrs. Wilkinson, Lane of Kansas, Harlan, Nesmith, Brown, and Buckalew.

The following are the Joint Standing Committees : Joint Committee on Printing--Mr. Anthony, Chair-man ; Messrs. Morgan and Powell.

Joint Committee on Enrolled Bills—Mr. Howe, Chairman; Messrs. Cowan and Hicks.

Joint Committee on Part of the Library—Mr. Collamer. Chairman: Messrs. Johnson and Howard.

Select Committee on Slavery and the Treatment of Freedmen— Mr. Sumner, Chairman; Messrs. Howard, Carlile, Pomeroy, Buckalew, Brown, and Conness.

The credentials of the Louisiana Senators were then referred. A memorial (Mr. Ramsay, Min.) in relation to foreign immigration was referred. A petition (Mr. Morgan, N. Y,) was presented and referred, signed by William C. Bryant, Henry W. Longfellow, John A, Dix, U. S. Grant, Peter Cooper, Henry J. Raymond, Horace Greeley, and many others, asking an appropriation for a fund for the support of a National Home for totally disabled soldiers and seamen of the Army and Navy of the United

States. Mr. Sherman's bill for the construction of revenue cutters on the lakes was referred, also all other bills and memorials previously offered. The case of General Payne was being discussed when the Senate went into executive session. the General being accused by Mr. Powell as guilty of heinous barbarities on citizens of Kentucky, and defended by Mr. Trumbull. A large number of nominations were communicated in the executive session. A message from the President was read recommending a vote of thanks to Captain Winslow and Lieutenant Cushing; also a message in answer to Mr. Sumner's resolution relative to aid furnished by British subjects to the rebellion. The substance was that Lord Wharncliffe had informed Mr. Adams that the Liverpool Bazar had produced about £17,000, and asked permission for an accredited agent to visit cur military prisons to distribute aid among the rebel prisoners. Mr. Seward's reply, refusing the application, was also communicated. The Senate adjourned till the 12th.

In the House, Mr. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported back the joint resolution explanatory of so much of the Internal Revenue Act as refers to the duty on clears. It appears that by the false construction of the Revenge Act by the Commissioner the Government only receives $3 here it should receive $8 a thousand. Mr. Brooke, of New York, suggested that the tax on cigars be collected by having affixed to each cigar a one cent stamp. The President's message recommending a vote of thanks to Captain Winslow and Lieutenant Cushing was referred. A bill (Mr. Shenck, O.) was introduced and referred to drop front the Navy Rolls all unemployed officers. A resolution (Mr Shenck) was adopted to instruct the Committee on Judiciary to inquire into the expediency of denationalizing persons going abroad to escape the draft, and requiring naturalization in order to a restoration to citizenship. The House adjourned till the 12th.

December 12;

In the Senate, William Cornell Jewett's memorial, praying for the favor of Congress to an international tribunal to decide upon the points at issue in the present war, was tabled The House joint resolution was passed, authorizing the Secretary of the Navy to expend money out of the contingent fund of the Army Department to enlarge the Navy Department building. Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts, presented the petition of Major-General Weitzel and four hundred and seventy other officers of the Eighteenth Army Corps, praying Congress to increase the pay proper of army officers $20 per month, fix the commutation price of the ration at fifty cents instead of thirty cents, as at present, and allow $16 per month. Mr. Wilson favored the petition on account of the rise of the prices of provisions, and it was referred. He also presented the petition of Colonel Higginson, praying for an amendment to the act of last session, limiting the increase of pay to those colored soldiers who were free on and after April 19, 1861. The petition was referred. A resolution (Mr. Doolittle, Wis.) was referred, that the Committee on Finance be instructed to inquire into the propriety of the immediate passage of an act to increase the revenue: First, by an additional tax of one per cent. upon all sales of real estate and personal property, including also all bargains for the sale of merchandise, produce, gold and silver coin, and stocks of every description; second, by an additional tax of twenty-five per cent. an the gross receipts to be added to the present rates of all railroad fares, including street railroads, steamboats, and ferries, to be collected by the companies or persons running the same, for the use of the Government, and that said committee be further instructed to inquire into the propriety of the passage of a law to prevent the further expansion of the currency by the organization of any new Banking Associations, except where they may take the place of some existing State Banks ; and that said committee be further instructed to inquire into the propriety of redeeming all outstanding interest-bearing legal-tender notes by issuing in their stead other notes in denominations not lets than fifty dollars, each bearing a uniform interest from the first day of January in each year, 3 65-100 per cent. per annum, with coupons attached, to be paid out and made legal tenders for their face, with interest added. A series of resolutions was introduced (Mr. Davis, Ky) for the restoration of peace and union. The resolutions propose a Convention of States to whom should be referred several amendments to the Constitution. The first paragraph proposes to form the States of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont into one State, the States of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut into one State ; the States of Maryland and Delaware, and the eastern shore of Virginia, into one State. The second provides that the officers, President and Vice-President, be chosen alternately from the free and slave States, but both never at the same time, either from the free or slave States, for the term of four years ; and that any person who may have filled the office of President shall be forever ineligible to it. The third provides that all the States, in the month of January next before the expiration of the Presidential term, shall present candidates for the Presidency and Vice-Presidency the free States for the one office and slave States for the other, as they may be respectively entitled to the one and the other office, and shall certify severally to the two Houses of Congress, and to the Supreme Court, the names of the persons so chosen, and for which office they have been chosen; and on the first Monday in February following the Supreme Court, in the presence of the two Houses of Congress, shall select from the persons whose names have been certified for the Presidency a President, and then a Vice-President from the names which have been certified for that office The Justices of the Supreme Court to be ineligible to any other office. Resolutions were introduced (Mr. Farwell, Me.) and adopted, that the Committee on Commerce be in structed to inquire into the propriety of consolidating the three great districts, and for providing that licensed vessels may trade to ports on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, without clearances and entry at the Custom-house. Also, that the Committee on Commerce be instructed to inquire into the propriety of providing by law, that vessels engaged in foreign trade shall employ or take on board American boys, at least one for every five hundred tops measurement. A bill was introduced (Mr, Farwell) and referred, to regulate the admeasurement of the tonnage of ships, and to prescribe the charges to the same. Mr. Powell's resolution calling for the record of the Commission in the case of General Payne was referred. In executive session Speed's appointment for Attorney-General was confirmed

In the House, Governor Fenton's resignation was handed in, to take effect December 20. The Speaker announced the appointment of Messrs. Pruyn and Littlejohn to fill the vacancies in the Committee of Ways and Means occasioned by the resignations of Messrs. Fenton and Stebbins The House then considered the bill reported last session front the Committee on Naval Affairs, directing the Secretary of the Navy to appoint a competent engineer to designate and survey the necessary amount of land near New London, Connecticut, for a navy-yard and depot for the construction, docking, and repair of iron-clad and other naval vessels. There was a discussion as to the propriety of substituting League Island, at Philadelphia, for New London, but was not terminated. The bill perfected during the last session to establish a uniform system of bankruptcy, to take effect June 1, 1865, was passed, 76 to 56.

December 13:

In the Senate, a petition of Messrs. Lake Brothers, bankers of Boston and New York, praying Congress to make good last certificates of indebtedness to the amount of $10,000, was referred. Mr. Sumner, front the Committee on Foreign Affairs, reported a bill authorizing the President of the United States to transfer a gun-boat to the republic of Liberia. Mr. Sherman (Ohio), from the Committee on Finance, reported a bill, which was passed, authorizing the construction of six revenue cutters for service on the lakes, and appropriating one million of dollars, or so much as is necessary, for that purpose A joint resolution (Mr. Wilson. Mass.) was referred, to encourage enlistments in the army by making free the wives and children of colored soldiers now held as slaves in the South. The House bill establishing a uniform system of bankruptcy was referred and ordered to be printed. Mr. Anthony's credentials as Senator from Rhode Island for six years were presented.

In the House, a resolution (Mr. Eliot, Mass.) was referred, declaring that the State of Louisiana may resume its political relations with the Government of the United States. A bill (Mr. Cole. Cal.) was referred, granting lands to certain railroad companies in California. Also a bill, (Mr. Cole) was introduced and moved to be referred to a

select committee of seven, to establish a mining department, with a commissioner and the necessary clerks and mineralogists for the propose of collecting and diffusing useful information throughout the United States. It lies over. A resolution (Mr. Chanler, N. Y.) was adopted, instructing the Committee of Ways and Means to inquire into the expediency of reducing the tax on mineral coals. The House resumed consideration of the bill to establish an iron-clad navy-yard at New London. The hill was then laid on the table by a vote of 80 to 53. The House then took up the joint resolution reported during the last session by Mr. Elijah Ward, of New York, from the Committee on Commerce, authorizing notice to be given by the President to terminate the Reciprocity Treaty with Great Britain, and to appoint commissioners to negotiate a new treaty, based on the true principles of reciprocity as affecting the trade between the United States and the British North American provinces. The question pending from last session was on the passage of the resolution. This was now reconsidered. A substitute was offered (Mr. Morrill, Vt.), setting forth that the terms of the treaty are not reciprocal and satisfactory, providing for the adjustment of any matters of difference between the two Governments, and requesting the President to give the Government of Great Britain and Ireland the notice required by the fifth article of the treaty of June 5, 1854, for the termination of the same. This substitute was agreed to, and the original resolution, thus amended, was passed, 85 to 51.

GENERAL SHERMAN'S CAMPAIGN,

AT recent advices General Sherman's army had crossed the Ogeechee River, and, passing Millen, had advanced toward Savannah. He had thus far found plenty of provisions for his army, and had advanced with great deliberation. General Foster, Dec. 6, captured the Pocotaligo Bridge, on the railroad from Charleston to Savannah, thus isolating the latter city from the North. This will be an important assistance to Sherman, if the latter intends to attack Savannah. In his march on that city his army would he protected on its left flank by the Savannah, and on its right by the Ogeechee rivers. What force he would have to meet in front is not certain. According to the latest Richmond news Sherman was only five miles from Savannah.

GENERAL HOOD'S CAMPAIGN.

General Hood's army, after the battle of Franklin, pushed northward and partially invested Nashville. General Rousseau still holds Murfreesborough. On the 9th the rebels under General Lyon captured the Government transport John E. Tuft at Cumberland City, twenty miles south of Fort Donelson. The boat was used in transporting troops across the river, it is supposed, for the invasion of Kentucky.

General Burbridge and command were at Bean's Station on the 6th. This movement forced Breckinridge to withdraw from Bull's Gap.

GENERAL GRANT'S CAMPAIGN.

On the 7th a portion of the army of the Potomac under General Warren broke camp, moving southward toward Weldon. The force consisted of all of the divisions of the Fifth Corps, Mott's of the Second, and Gregg's Cavalry. They marched by two roads, parallel with the rail-road to Stony Creek Station, where, one week previously, Gregg had been reconnoitring. It was from this point that Lee has been constructing a branch road to connect Weldon with the Southside Railroad. Warren reached Stony Creek on the 8th. After crossing the northern branch of Nottaway River he destroyed the bridge after him. To divert the enemy's attention, on the 8th, a cavalry expedition pushed up close to the enemy's works at Hatcher's Run. General Warren's force moved south as far as Hicksford, and succeeded in destroying twenty miles of the Weldon Road. The casualties were less than 100.

On the 7th General B. C. Ludlow captured the rebel position opposite Dutch Gap. This will secure the workmen on the canal from the rebel fire, which has hitherto been very annoying.

NEWS ITEMS.

The St. Albans raiders have been released by the Canadian authorities.

Young Higginson, of Company K, Nineteenth Illinois Volunteers, who lately came as a commissioner from our prisoners at Camp Sumter, Andersonville, Georgia, has been promoted to the rank of Major by Governor Yates of Illinois. He is a nephew of Colonel T. W. Higginson's, and has some thirteen cousins all fighting under the old flag. The boy is twenty years old, but has served since the war begun.

The ordnance stores over the country are located at Washington, Baltimore, New York, Boston, Philidelphia, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Pensacola, Key West, Port Royal, New Orleans, Mound City, Illinois (for our river navy), and Mare Island, California, for the Pacific squadron. It is urged upon Congress to pass some measures for the encouragement of the manufacture of nitre, in order that we may be independent of foreign nations in this respect. It appears that there is but one laboratory making it for the Government now, while four companies are employed making gunpowder, of which we had manufactured 1,325,009 pounds last year, although there were nearly 3000 tons of powder ordered in 1861.

The Navy Department has advices from Admiral Porter of the capture and arrival at Hampton Roads of the Confederate steamer Armstrong, of six hundred and thirty tons measurement, a beautiful vessel, very fast, and new, captured by the Cuyler and Gettysberg on the 4th of December with a cargo of 450 bales of cotton. The lager part was thrown overboard in the chase.

Brigadier-General Robert B. Potter of this city, commanding the Second Division of the Ninth Army Corp, has been promoted to be Major-General by Brevet, "for distinguished and gallant conduct in the several actions since crossing the Rapidan,' to take rank from August 1, 1864.

Brigadier-General Nelson A. Miles, commanding First Division, Second Corps, has been promoted Brevet Major-General for gallant conduct at Reams's Station. He entered the service as Second Lieutenant of the Twenty-second Massachusetts, and was subsequently Colonel of the Sixty-first New York.

Major-General Granville M. Dodge has succeeded General Rosecrans in the command of the Department of Missouri.

FOREIGN NEWS.
EUROPE.

THE news of President Lincoln's re-election had reached Europe November 21, and was extensively commented an by English and French journals. No surprise was manifested at the result. The journals favoring secession simply mentioned the fact. The London Times regards it as an indication that the American republic Is fast drifting toward despotism; but thinks Mr. Lincoln not objectionable to foreign countries.

THE ITALIAN QUESTION.

The Franco-Italian Convention, by which it was determined that Rome should be evacuated by the French and the Italian capital be transferred from Turin to Florence met September 15. The Constitutionelle shortly afterward published an article from M. P. Limayrac, stating that the measures adopted by that Convention would be executed in good faith. With these measures the extreme revolutionary party was dissatisfied Garibaldi expressed his opinion in the following manifests.

"CAPRERA, October 10--That the guilty should desire to find accomplices is quite natural ; that they should attempt to plunge use into the corrupt mass of men who have polluted Italy by the Convention of September 15, I did not expect. With Bonaparte the only Convention is this: to purify our country of his presence, not in two years, but in two hours.   G. GARIBALDI."

The Diritto and some other journals publishing this manifesto were seized. Several districts of Lombardy were invaded by armed bands dressed in the C,aribaldian costume, and displaying the Italian flag.

The Chamber of Deputies was reopened at Turin October 24, Signor Cassimir President. The proceedings of this body are considered to have been favorable to the Convention.

On November 19 the bill for the transfer of the capital to Florence was passed by a vote of 317 to 70.

HARPER'S WEEKLY.