The Sun. — London, England, 1862-12-25 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY.—Morning, 4h. 45m.—Afternoon, sh. Gm. To - moP_now.-Morsing, sh. 33m.—Afternoon, sh. 67m. . 4 .. .0, , • ---'-" , ;?.., ,e s t bk 1: : ••1".t. L. u . '• At - Oa "NOP; JIVESIVES of EMINENT STATESM EN, in FUN, eYery week. One Penny I Sow Ready, handsomely bound in Magenta cloth, gilt, price 4s. t3d.; post free, 55., the i• - .ZJECOND half-yearly VOLUME of FUN, with _, k numerous Engravings by talented artists, and humor () as Articles by the following distinguished writers:— W. Bailey, Esq. W. S. Gilbert, Esq. W. Barber, E sq. T. Hood, Esq. E. L. Blanch ird, Esq. T. S. Jerrold, Esq. G. W. Bridge:llan, Esq. W. J. Prowse, Esq. F. C. Burnand, Esq. Godfrey Turner, 14:sq. H. J. Byron, Esq. &c., &c., &c. Office, SO, Fleet-street, London. • .. For full particulars of amusements see first page. ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT-GARDEN, To-morrow Evening, the 2d and 3d Acts of THE BOHE 51tIAN GIRL. And HARLEQUIN BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Commence at 7. THEATRE-ROYAL, DRURY-LANE. To-morrow Evening, THE NEXT OF KIN. And LITTLE UODDY TWO SHOES. Commence at 7. THEATRE-ROYAL, HAYMARKET. To-morrow Evening, OUR AMERICAN COUSIN. After RASSELAS, PRINCE OF ABYSSINIA. And A DAY AFTER THE WEDDING. Commence at 7. NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI. To-morrow Evening, A TICKET OF LEAVE. Fol lowed by MARGERY DAW. And GEORGE DE BARN WELL Commence at 7. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. To-morrow Evening, TIME TRIES ALL. After which, RIQUET WITH THE TUFT. Commence at 7. ARGYLL ROOMS, Great Windmill-street, Hay market. Open every evening for Promenade and Dancing,. CANTERBURY HALL.—EVERY EVENING. — Grand Selections from the Popular Operas.—The Comic per formances of Unsworth, Eugene. Little Bob, Arthur Lloyd, Hollingsworth, E. Marshall, Miss G. Smithson, ece.—The Etoilo Family, &a Commence at 7. THE OXFORD, 6, OXFORD-STREET, EVERY EVENING.—WAZARE I'H, a new Christmas Song,with full band and chorus.—" La Circassienne " and "Nabuco,"— Drew Dean, the great Flautist—the Nearolltan Minstrels— Miss Caroline Parkes' Christmas Entertainment -Mr. Geo. Hodson—Mr. Maclagan's Entertainment. t'nsworth, th e original of " Or any other man" -Eugene, W. Randall, ,tc. Commence at 8. TURNH_AW S GRAND CONCERT HALL, Edge ware-road, W.—Open Every Evening.—Operatic Selections. —Vocal and Instrumental Solos.—Mackney, West, Mr. and Mrs. Brennan, Sam Colli ns , ,t o. Commence at 7. THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY ENING, DECEMBER 25, 1862. THE SUN. LONDON, THURSDAY, DEC. 25, 1862. It will be some consolation to those who are this day enjoying the blessings of a Happy Christmas —if they reflect (as millions of our fellow-country men well may) that much has indeed been dons, that more is actually doing, or is in active prepara tion, for the relief of the dread scourge of famine now desolating the whole countryside in the North-west of England, but more particularly in Lancashire. The knowledge that it is so will spare from any sense of remorse by contrast those who, thinking of the distress prevailing in that a/Rioted portion of the United Kingdom, might almost have felt ashamed otherwise of their own happier lot in the midst of this annual season of festivity. If— as may alas ! be very safely averred—never before has a populous region of the earth been so com pletely overwhelmed by distress as Lancashire is overwhelmed at this present writing, we may, thank Heaven, as confidently aver that—never has human sympathy for human suffering been more signally or more spontaneously manifested. Sixteen or seventeen years ago, when the potato blight had reduced the chief part of the inhabitants of Ireland to the lowest depth of destitution all classes of the community there were not involved so completely as the Lancashire people are at this moment in one common ruin. Sixteen or seventeen years ago when the country suddenly awoke, as recently, to a sense that it had to deal with an immense calamity —the Government had not then, as it has quite clearly in the present instance, the opportunity of standing aloof while the people themselves, of their own free will, dealt with the appalling desolation around them. So eagerly and magnanimously have the contributions for the distress in Lancashire been poured in now for months and months past from all directions, from the very rich and from the very poor, from the high and from the low, from the idle and from the industrious, that the Administra tion and the Legislature have had nothing what ever to do in the way of direct co-operation or en couragement. At the close of the last session of Parliament, who is there that does not recollect the prevailing sense abroad among politicians of all ranks and classes, that—probably--there would be found a necessity a little later on in 1862, for au extraordinary winter session of the Legis lature ? It was for some time considered, in truth, that a brief wirier session, sooner or later, would be found it thing inevitable. Yet 1862 is now within a very few short days (amongst the 'shortest, in the twelve months) within view of its close, and there has been no necessity whatever yet of anything at all of the kind. The benevolence of the community at large has proved as yet to be fully equal to this immense and dire emergency. Over the saddened homes of the factory operatives and others all through Lancashire and the conti guous counties, might be inscribed as truthfully as over our Great London Hospitals —over that class of institutions sublimely designed in France Hotels .Dieu—that noble and beautiful inscription which we well remember M. GIIIZOT some years back to have spoken of as one that always went straight to his heart whenever his eyes lit upon it while tra versing the streets of our metropolis—" Supported by Voluntary Contributions!" As truthfully, we repeat, might those touching and heartening 'words be inscribed over thousands of the homes of the afflicted operatives of Lancashire as they ate actually inscribed over so many of our own ele e raesynary institutions. And the words might be placed there over the lintels of those doors in the northwest of England, without derogating in any wdl from the honest sense of dignity always vital in the hearts and minds of that intelligent population. The relief now distributed there either in kind or le money, among the hundreds of thousands of factory Operatives still altogether out of work, is no mere vulgar charitable bounty. It Is, in point of fact, nothing 'whatever of the kind. These are not doles; these are not any ordinary alms ; this is not in the least aconunonplace pittance children of o f charity—dropped coin by coin •p lace those ema ciated palms of the men and women and those The relief now systematically • ) eto the inhabitants of the manufac t uring bythe nat ion when viewed in its true li g h t, to be districts ought , regarded as a Tribute horn the rest of th e nat i on to the Industry, the Thrift , t he Probit y , the Intelli gence, and the no bl e -h e arted resignation and high-minded end u run eo ma nifested by that distinguished section o f our English popu lation. As such it is offc.red—With respect, with we affection. As such it tiny b y rcce, :wed—it is, do believe, being received—without one qualm of wounded feeling, rather (it might eve n be said 'without extravagance) with an honest sense of pride in the recognition of these resplendent evi dences of appreciation by the rest of the community. The oneness of feeling of a whole people was never more affectingly signalised. The patriotic ardour of our race has been as clearly manifested by these results of the Cotton Famine in Lancashire as the loving loyalty of Her MAJESTY'S subjects, their de votion to Her MAJESTY'S Crown and per son were made apparent to the whole world by the nation's sympathy throughout the year just now upon the eve of expiring—the nation's tender and profound sympathy over the early death of the be loved CONSORT of the SOVEREIGN. Gratefully conscious of the fervour of this patriotic and loyal unanimity of feeling throughout all ranks and classes of the community, we may all, in a recollection of these simple truths, find an additional sweet ness added to the home enjoyments of this present Christmas—even though those enjoyments (as is but inevitable under the circumstances) are sobered under the reflection that there is still a sore remembrance of a heavy grief in the heart of our gracious QUEEN, and many bitter privations still to be endured, and if possible assuaged, among a very notable division of her people. " Shall we have war ?"—was the interrogative salutation with which almost every Christmas party met last year. The news of the first outrage had arrived, the British demand, of which our rulers did not tell us the precise terms, had gone forth; we knew that the Federals had received the hero WILXES, the captor of an unarmed vessel, with shouts of exultation, and that Americans of all classes, the silent PRESIDENT excepted, loudly triumphed in the exploit; but we knew no more. " They will never be so mad as to get two great wars on their hands at once," said one ; " they are so intoxicated with getting the two arch traitors into their hands that they are prepared for any thing," said another; " but of what use can these two men be to them," said a third; "use—why they are half the brains of the Southern business," said a fourth; " our Government thinks there is danger, for it is sending troops to Canada," said a fifth ; " and that very fact, showing brother JONA THAN that we do not mean to be trifled with, will make Mr. SEWARD himself sober," said a sixth-0 and so the chit-chat ran in the circle which having just met, sat awaiting, as good temperedly as they could, the intimation that dinner was ready. More genial chat, and "chaffing," and compli ments, and adult questions, to bring out the chil dren's laughing answers, followed :—yet, again, later in the day, when the seniors fell together in knots—those to whom price lists, and consols and shares, and the course of exchange, and the rate of discount, are matters of unfailing interest—again with them, the question would " crop out." The few data would be balanced afresh ; but the longer they were balanced the more equal they appeared. It seemed like an even toss for conjecture, which should get the day—reason with British deter mination to back her, or un-reason with Yankee vanity and impulsiveness for bottle-holders. It was, indeed, a serious Christmas riddle. No man was entitled to say he had guessed it; yet every man might be implicated in the consequences of the an swer. No one could think of fear, for a moment; yet no one wished, so soon again, for doubled in come-tax, and all the anxieties of the Crimean war. And thus Christmas passed over us, and we passed through it ; sufficiently incredulous of war on such absurd grounds to miss nothing of its merriness —yet sufficiently uncertain of American sanity, not to be quite confident of peace. By the end of the next month all had blown over. The commissioners themselves, and, of course, a grandis et verbosa epistola from Mr. SEWARD had arrived. The worth less men had cost us £BOO,OOO, but they had developed in an unexpected manner, in every part of the Island, the spontaneous zeal of our brave tars for the honour of the flag of their QUEEN; a measure had also been furnished of the value of American threats. Mr. SEWARD, like the zebra► whom Mr. RAREY had tamed, after showing him self that international law was against him, went out of the business with a parting shriek and kick at us, and at law too—declaring that he would not, in a like case, surrender men unlawfully taken, if it were contrary to the interest of the United States. Lord RUSSELL, very properly, quietly accepted the men, and left to Mr. SEWARD, and the United States all the honour of supposing it possible that it could be for their interest to act unlawfully. This Christmas is disturbed by no such fears. Europe has become quieter. The Emperor of the FRENCH, indeed, still persists in retaining stolen goods, even after having confessed to their being stolen ; but the rumours of war are nowhere, unless perhaps it be of a eoup d'etut war by the King of PRUSSIA on his own people. England must now be, indeed, in high favour among the peoples of Europe. All monarchi cal and aristocratic as we are, the Greeks are look ing to us to insure to them our institutions. While Americans of the North boast that they are fighting to preserve for the Rations of the earth a model re public, the nations themselves seem to spurn the model, and to look to our example rather. Italy will not hear of American Federalism and Repub licanism. It asks an English and constitutional unity, and is labouring with all the moral aid we can furnish to secure that unity against the heart less military violence and political machinations of the despot of Paris. Greece, too, scouts the Ame rican model ; it sees life, hope, safety only in the English model. Europe will not quarrel with us. As to America herself, we must put up with the SEWARD remonstrances and the fury of Mr. CAS SIUS CLAY, and regard the olive branch of the Sub scription for Lancashire as the true indication of the sentiments of the better part of America. So far as England is concerned, she may happily cele brate her Christmas beneath the motto " PEACE ON EARTH—GOODWILL TOWARDS MEN." Whatever the English friends of the South, reck less of the hateful crime which it seeks independence to perpetrate, may say, the North sees its way to reasonable means of humbling the Divine-Right of-Slavery men. We do not lay so much stress on what is doing on the Rappahannock. Richmond may be reached from thence, or it may not —victory may alternate, as before, between the Federals and Confederates. What we look at is the sure, though gradual, working of negro emanicipation along the coast, up the Mississippi, and in the Border States, which must soon give way. Our readers may have noticed the remarks of Mr. STANTON, the American Secretary of War, which appeared in The Sun yes t \ . erday. They appear to us unusually reasonable , for an American S ecre t ar y, an d th e f ac t s h e r e fer s we know al rea d y t o b e f ac t s . H e seems f a i r l y, we think, t o . sentence m of ai h n is tam the position he takes in the last enemy Was ever report to the PRESIDENT : ~ S;, f ar f rom th s e South ern St a t es b e i ng i nv i nci b le, no eIIIP-eYed against be blindly rejected, st i ll means at command of the complish the suppression of the rebellion 1 of those peaceful relations whion v rere tizinerable, if the means at hand are t:evoluntary return to loyalty urov r 'Ter application of the en t cannot fail to ac complish a restoration pensated emancipati on. and If your proposition for cora tlestne4 to be eats blished for ever on this continent by the Union of the States," In the matter of the Commissariat only, he shows what an immense saving, both of expenditure and trouble, it will be to grow, by means of negro labour, the food of the soldier, and the forage for his horse, near to where they are wanted. The whole nearly of the district in which the Sea Island cotton was cultivated and the coast of Florida is in the hands of the Federals. Agricultural supplies for the army grown there by the black free labourer would save great expense for transport and labour in providing for the southern armies of the North. It is the same on the shores of the Mississippi. Happily he can say with truth, for its truth is cor roborated by Southern silence as well as by Northern reports, that not the slightest symptom of any tendency to a " servile wur" has appeared among the negroes; on the other hand, wherever the generals have encouraged them, they have shown a hearts loyalty to the North. They wanted nothing but the assurance of not being surrendered or abandoned to the vengeance of their old tyrants. They are unwilling, it is universally found, to quit the localities in which they have lived, although it was a life of slavery—a circumstance which Mr. STANTON uses to silence the Democratic clap-trap in the North, which has endeavoured to frighten the Irish voters especially at the idea of emancipation, by threatening them with negro competition in hod carrying. So far is this from being the case, that the emancipated negro, like all other men, prefers, if he can have his liberty there, to live in the land of his birth. When, therefore, the coasts and borders of Rebel dom feel the protecting power of Federal armies, fed by the labour of slaves, the grand military ad vantage enjoyed by the South will be transferred to the North. These negroes now labour under the lash, that their masters may be at liberty to fight to keep them in bondage! They will henceforth labour that Federal armies may live by their labour' pay them wages for it, and protect them in their free and loyal toil. Such is already the case to a great extent, and it will be so more extensively. The South will be encircled by a cordon of emanci pated negroes, as well as by one of Federal armies. Mr. STANTON, not unreasonably, looks forward even to a gradually increasing Northern trade with these new loyal labourers. He says : "As soon as the coast is thoroughly occupied, and the people otganiied, trade will revive. Cotton, rice, sugar, and other products will be exchanged by the producer for what he needs. Their wants will be supplied direst from the northern factories, and the cultivation of the great staples will enable them to pay for what they use. A perfectly free trade may thus again grow up between the North and the South, and with greater or less rapidity it will spread over the whole country as our forces succeed in meeting and dispersing the rebel armies. The greater part of the whole country which formerly produced the Sea Island cotton is now thoroughly restored to the Union. The labourers are there —the soil and climate. It needs only assurance of protec tion to revive the cultivation of the staple, as well as to pro duce vast quantities of corn and forage for our troops." On the whole, we hope the PRESIDENT will firmly avail himself of his two years of office in this spirit. We may be pretty sure that such born tyrants as slaveholders will never listen to the emancipation proposal which accompanied his September procla mation, and has just been fully developed to Con gress. They will starve and die rather than give up their power to make cattle of their fellow-men. Full scope will be afforded to Mr. LINCOLN to achieve the noblest revolution in modern history, and to signalise his presidency by the glorious fact, that he found four millions of his fellow-creatures forced by the most ruthless of despotisms into the condition of oxen and swine, and that he left them —MEN. Let this war but sound the knell of the infernal institution of Slavery, and the name of LINCOLN will yet live among those of the noblest benefactors of their bpecies. THE NEW GOVERNMENT OFFlCES.—Yesterday some 200 men were engaged in completing the extensive foundations for the future Foreign, Colonial, and other Go vernment offices, the superstructure stone of which will be laid at the beginning of the year. The magnitude of the work may be estimated from the fact that the above body of men have been employed daily during the last six months in digging and laying the foundations, under the contractors, Messrs. Kelk and Lucas, the area extending from the Park and the Privy Council Office, in Whitehall, on the one side, up King-street to Charles-street, the recruiting depot, up to the site formerly occupied by the State Paper and Stationery Office, extending over a surface of several thousand square feet. The foundations throughout are laid in 14 feet deep of solid concrete, being equal to that on which the Houses of Parliament are built, and in one place where the ground was treacherous the foundation had to be carried down to a depth of 30 feet, Preparations are being made by Mr. Scott, the architect, for constructing the building after the designs selected by Lord Palmerston and the Committee of the House of Commons in the Palladian style. COLLISION IN THE CHANNEL.—The steam-tug Resolute, belonging to the new Steam-tug Company, Liver pool, Capt. Harvey, from Liverpool, bound to Dover, put into the Sound at 3 o'clock on Tuesday morning, having been in collision about half-past 7 o'clock on Monday even ing, 31 miles S.W. of the Start Point, with a barque, name and flag unknown. The Resolute was steering E. by S., wind north moderate, weather very dark, and her regula tion lights burning, when she saw two lights on her port bow ; shortly after lost sight of one, and then saw a green light burning about E.N.E. Capt. Harvey ordered the helm to be put hard aport, and went into the wheelhouse to see it was done. As the strange vessel was nearing very rapidly, hailed her to port her helm, but some one on the stranger's deck forwar3 ordered the helm to be starboarded, and in a few minutes she ran into the Resolute, striking her on the port paddle-box with such force as to knock It completely away, jammed the wheel against the side, started the bridge deck, did considerable damage to the starboard wheel, and other parts of the vessel, and stopped the engines. The barque then cleared, and stood away to the eastward, where she was lest sight of. After a great deal of trouble the Resolute's engines were disconnected, the port wheel being disabled, and She bore away for this port, under the starboard engine only. She now lies at the Pontoon, Millbay, awaiting instructions to repair.— Western Morning News. SUICIDE OF A SOLICITOR IN THE ADELPHL—On Tuesday evening Mr. Bedford, the coroner, held an inquest at St. Martin's Vestry-room, on the body of Fleming Stuart Nicholson, a solicitor, aged 30 years, who committed self-destruction by shooting himself with a pistol, at his re sidence, 12, York-buildings, Adelphi, on Friday morning last. Charles Joseph Nicholson, brother of deceased, said he resided at 12, York-buildings, Adelphi. On Friday morning last, about a quarter before one, he was aroused by the housekeeper, who said his brother was not in his bed room as usual, but that his office door was locked, and she could get no answer. A police-constable was procured, and the door was forced open. Witness then saw his brother lying on the hearth-rug, and a pistol was lying near his right hand. There was a wound near the heart, and blood had flowed on to the hearth-rug. Deceased was quite dead. He was married, but his wife was not at home at the time. For some time past deceased had been the subject of curious religious feelings. He thought that God required a sacri fice, and said that God demanded his life, as he had not at tended to God in his youth as he ought to have done. He never said anything about committing self-destruction. He was constantly reading the Bible and praying. Witness had no doubt he discharged the pistol himself. After other evi dence, the Jury returned a verdict, " That deceased de stroyed his own life whilst of unsound mind." THE DUBLIN PAUPERS.—Another attempt way made on Monday morning to set fire to the South Dublin Union Workhouse, and at the Dublin Police-court the same day six of the inmates were charged with being concerned in the committal of tho offence. The prisoners, as in the former case, were under the delusion that they would be placed in penal servitude. They had frequently said that transpor tation or something like that was what they wanted, and had made some remarks relative to emigration the previous night. Tho prisoners was comtuttted for trial. AN HONEST FIRM.—In connexion with the eventful failure of the Borough Bank of Liverpool in 1857, the house of Messrs. Fernie Brothers and Co., was freely referred to as being largely indebted to that institution, and likely to participate in its fall. That result, however, did not arise ; for the firm, having confidence in their resources, and being determined to discharge their obligations in full, paid off as they fell due all their liabilities other than those to the bank, and, after the bank's stoppage, carried out the arrangements under which the advanceswere made. Messrs. Fernie have now discharged all the liabilities they were under to the bank at the time of its stoppage, together with 15 per tout, iatervot, tuanatizig iz aU t 9 4420,517. LATEsr NEWS. the rebel journals it is learned that Gen. Whiting has been placed in command of a rebel force in Wilmington, which point is believed to be one of those aimed at by the expeditions fitting out by the National Government. Union and free labour meet ings were being held in Newbern and Beaufort. The following are the latest telegrams published in the Boston papers on the 13th inst.:— Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, Dec. 12, 10 a.m. After occupying the river front of the city, last night, we lost about 100 men in killed and wounded, while driving the enemy through the city. They fired on our men as they advanced through the streets, while secreted in and behind houses. Not much mercy was shown to those who were caught. This morning a dense fog hid every thing from view, but now it is partially passing away. The troops commenced moving at an early hour, Gen. Sumner's grand division leading the way over in front of the city, to be followed by Major-Gen. Hooker's grand division. Gen. Franklin's grand division, which crosses nearly three miles below the city, is almost over. At a quarter past nine the first gun was fired, the engagement lasting about half an hour, the rebels making a very spirited re ply. Information received during the night and this morning from deserters and prisoners shows that the rebels have two strong lines of batteries in the rear of the city, the first one being one mile back, and the second a mile from the first. The whole army is in rapid motion, and well concen trated. The troops are in excellent spirits, and anxious to be led upon the works. Head-quarters, Army of Potomac, Dec. 12, Evening. At 10 o'clock this morning the fog began to clear away, but 11 the air was again thick, which con tinued until 2, when the fog entirely disappeared. At a quarter pass, z 4hq rahnlQ openpa with all their guns posted on the first ridge of hills. Their main fire was directed upon the city, which was filled with our troops. Those guns which were posted on the left of the ridge were opened on the larger body of troops, which crossed on the two lower bridges, and had formed in line of battle, and were moving obliquely down the river fronting the Massaponax. Although several of their shells exploded, none of our men were injured. _ General Bayard's cavalry, which crossed on the lower bridge, had five men killed while endeavour ing to ascertain the enemy's position. The troops which crossed below are sleeping on their arms to-night, the advance being within three quarters of a mile of Massaponax Creek, their left resting on the Rappahannock. The enemy occupy the opposite side of the creek in force. The guns posted on the bank this side of the river silenced the enemy's artillery after a duel of half an hour. This ended the firing for the day. The only damage done by the rebel shells thrown into the city, was to add so much to its destruction. Twenty-five of our men were killed last right in the streets, while driving the enemy out. Nearly every house in the city has been damaged more or less by the firing of the past two days. Several splendid residences have been completely riddled, as also all the churches. The fire appeared to be directed to the most prominent edifices. Several cases of wanton destruction of property by our troops occurred when they entered, property which could be of no use to the enemy. In many houses the furniture all remained, showing that their occupants left in haste. Some of our troops mistook the British flag for a Secesh flag, and tore it from the residence of the British consul. This morning the owner came over to recover it, and it was returned to him. The main body of the army is now over the river, the remainder being in position to cross at any time. There are no indications of the enemy evacuating. If he remain a battle must immediately ensue. News from Washington of the 12th instant states that the Navy Department has received a letter from Lieut.-Commander English, dated off the coast of Florida, stating that the boats belonging to his vessel had captured in Marian River the English sehooners Agnes and Ellen, and sent them to Key West for adjudication. In the M'Dowall case nothing of importance had further been elicited. In the case of General Por ter, General M'Dowell was examined, testifying as to orders of the 29th, directing Porter to advance, which order was similar in effect to one he, as senior officer, had already given to General Porter. The steamer Kensington has captured the British schooner Maria from Belize, and schooner Cams from Havana, while trying to run the blockade at Sabine Pass. Further diplomatic correspondence has been pub lished. In May last the French Ccnsul at New Orleans wrote to M. Mercier, the French Minister at - Washington, that General Butler used "towards the most respectable people against whom he thought he had cause of complaint, the most extra ordinary language. His, first words were almost always, will hang you,' or I will send you to Fort Jackson. AMERICA. BATTLE AT FREDERICKSBURG. NEW YORK, DEC. 15, MORNING. Early on the morning of the 13th inst., in the midst of a dense fog, Gen. Reynolds, commanding the left of the Federal army at Fredericksburg, advanced and engaged the Confederate infantry. The Confederates immediately opened fire from batteries of heavy artillery. Two hours later the fog disappeared, and two divisions of infantry charged the Confederate posi tion is the rear of the city. The Federals expe rienced a check. Having been reinforced they again charged the enemy, but were again repulsed. From that time heavy firing continued on both sides till dark. The Federal General Franklin, who commenced on the left, succeeded in driving the Confederates about a mile. The latter then attacked him, but were repulsed with loss of 400 prisoners. On the night of the 13th the Federals slept on the ground where the battle had been fought. The Federal Generals Jackson and Bayard were killed. Five Federal generals were wounded. The Con federates continued to throw shells into Frede ricksburg until 8 p.m- General Longstreet com manded the Confederates' left wing, and held the main wnrk. Genpr.l. Hullo and Edmonds were in front of Gen. Franklin, with Edmonds - rigbi, wing resting on the Rappahannock. No battle occurred on the 14th. The Confede rates were occupied in extending their works and strengthening their position. The Federal dead in front of the Confederate works remained where they fell. It is supposed that 40,000 Federals were en gaged in the battle of the 13th. The whole of Gen. Lee's army is believed to be at Fredericksburg. The Confederates are supposed to have six lines of works behind the city. It is expected that Gen. Burnside will renew the engagement to-day. A large number of Federal officers were killed, and the loss of life on both sides is believed to be very heavy. LIVERPOOL, WEDNESDAY. The Canadian screw steamer Hibernian, from Portland on the 13th, arrived here this evening. She brings New York journals of the 13th inst. The following general summary of news is taken from the New York 7imet of that day : The news from the army of the Potomac is sud denly invested with the most startling interest. Yesterday morning the movements for crossing the Rappahannock commenced, and last night the city of Fredericksburg was in possession of our forces, with comparatively trifling loss. During Wednes nesday night pontoon bridges were got in readiness for throwing across the river, and at 6 o'clock yes terday morning the construction of three of them commenced in front of the city. When they were about half completed, the enemy opened a murderous fire of musketry upon the engineers, and forced them to desist from their work. 143 pieces of our artil lery then opened upon the city, and the fire was responded to by the rebels, but without much dam age. The city was set on fire in several places by our shells. The attempt was then made to finish the bridges, when the enemy's sharpshooters again opened and compelled a retreat. Finally, volunteers to cross the river in small boats were called for,and sprang out of the ranks by thousands. Only 100, however, were chosen, who crossed the river in the most dashing style, drove out the sharpshooters at the point of the bayonet, and captured a large num ber of them, who were brought over the river and secured_ The bridges were then completed, and the city was immediately occupied by our forces, the rebels being driven back to their defensive works. Meantime Gen. Franklin was also engaged in the construction of bridges aboat three miles below the city, in which work he met with little opposition. He did not cross, however, until he heard that the city was in our possession. The gunboats were also engaged in shelling the enemy about 15 miles below, where they had collected in considerable force. Last night everything was reported quiet, with the prospect of a great battle to be fought to-day. A correspondent of the Bo s t o n J o u rna l states that Franklin's division Was under orders to make a rapid movement on the sth inst., and to fall upon one of the flanks of the rebel army stretched along the Rappahannock. A storm of rain and snow came on, making the roads so nearly impassable that instead of marching 16 miles, as was intended, the division made but nina miles the first day, and the movement had to be abandoned. A despatch from Nashville, dated the 10th inst., leads us to expect a battle in that vicinity before long. The rebels under Joe Johnson, Bragg, Cheat ham, Forrest, and Morgan, have advanced, and drove in the national pickets on the morning of the 10th at all points. A collision was expected near Hartsville, the scene of the recent disgrace, and reinforcements were being hurried towards that point. The guerilla Forrest was said to hold Clarksville with a con siderable force. A further despatch from Gen. Curtis to Gen. Hal leek, regarding the recent battle at F.yetteville , proves it to have been one of the first magnitude, and that its results were even more disastrous to the enemy than at first reported. (heir forces are now ascertainei to have been 28,000 strong. Our loss in killed and wounded is estimated at 1,000, and that of the rebels at over 2,000. They left many of their dead and most of their wounded on the field, and moved off in the night with muffled wheels. They are believed to have crossed the Arkansas river. A. despatch from Cairo states that General Hovey, who recently occupied Grenada, Miss., arrived with his staff at Friar's Point, on the Mississippi, on Sun day morning. It was not known whether his entire command returned with him. A gunboat recon naissance had been made up by the Yazoo river, but the results are not made public. The loyal Tennessee regiments, which have been camped around Louisville for some time, received marching orders on Monday, and at once took their departure, direction not stated. The Washington correspondent of the Philadel phia Ledger writes, under date of Dec. 1.1.—" The Banks and Fortress Monroe expedition were not for the James River, that is certain, but for a more southern field of operations. The expeditions carried immense quantities of coal, and provisions for 60 days, which would imply that a Gulf port was the destination of the squadron. It is possible that Texas is the point in view, in furtherance of the project alluded to yesterday, of dividing it up into four Sates. A portion of the expedition was passed off Hatteras on Sunday last." The pirate Alabama has again been heard from. She recently captured the ship Levi Starbuck, from New Bedford, bound to the Pacific, in lat. 35.30, long. 66, and burnt her ; also the ship T. B. Wales, of Boston, from Calcutta for Boston, with 'a full cargo of saltpetre and gunny cloth, which she also burnt. This capture was made in lat. 28,30, long. 58. The pirate then proceeded to Martinique, where she arrived on the 17th ult. Hero she was blockaded by the United States steamer San Jacinto, but managed to escape during the night. The crews o flh i e n thedestroyed schooner v esselsAlicae. arrived at this port yester day We have advices from Newborn, N.C., to the Bth instant, - which are interesting. The message of the reb e l G overnor V ance had been received. It contains no indications of Unionism, but, on the contrary-, appeals for a stern and determined devotion to the rebel cause. He, however, reflects severely upon the rebel conscript law, and is rather disposed to grumble generally at the condition of affairs in the State and in the Confederacy, From PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS. In the Senate, on the 11th, a resolution was adopted, instructing the Committee on Finance to inquire into the expediency of allow;ng Surat cotton to be imported into the United States upon the pay ment of the same duties as for cotton imported from beyond the Cape of Good Hope. The bill relating to the confirmation by the Senate of volunteer ap pointments in the navy was indefinitely postponed. The President seat in a message recommending a vote of thanks to Lieut. George IN, Morris and Lieut. John L. Worden, the commanders respec tively of the sloop-of-war Cumberland and iron bat tery Monitor, for gallant conduct in the action with the rebel steamer Merrimac. The subject was re. ferred to the Naval Committee. A communication was also received from the President in answer to the resolution of the Senate calling for information and evidence relative to the Indian barbarities in the State of Minnesota. Ordered to be printed. The resolution relative to the arbitrary arrests of certain citizens of Delawsre was then taken up and discussed till the adjournment. In the House of Representatives a bill to adjust the appropriation for the civil service of the Navy Department was passed. The bill makes no new appropriations. A resolution, providing armed vessels to convoy ships laden with provisions for the starving operatives of England was introduced, but objection was made to its consideration. The bill ap propriating 9,500 dols. indemnity for damages re ceived by the French ship Jules et Marie, by colli sion with the United States steamer San Jacinto, was passed. A message from the President, recom mending that John L. Norden receive the thanks of Congress, by resolution, for his gallant con duct on the Monitor in combat with the Mer rimac, and thanks being necessary under the law to advance him one grade in the list of officers of the navy, was referred to the naval com mittee. Mr. Roscoe Conkling asked leave to report a bill to establish a uniform system of bankruptcy, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, and desired that a day should be assigned for its consideration. The speaker said that the select com mittee on that subject had expired with the former session of Congress, and would have to be revived. A resolution calling for a statement of the number of men in the army, both regulars and volunteers ; what regiments have received pay since the Ist inst.; what regiments remain unpaid, and how long they have been without pay ; also, whether the money appropriated for the pay, clothing, and sub sistence of the troops has been spent for any other purpose, was adopted. Resolutions were offered declaring the Presiden Ca emancipation proclamation not warranted by the Constitution ; that the policy of emancipation, as predicted in the proclamation, is not calculated to hasten the restoration of peace, is not well chosen as a war measure, and is an as sumption of power dangerous to the rights of citi zens and the perpetuity of a free Government. On the motion of Mr. Lovejoy, the resolutions were laid on the table by a vote of 94 against 45. The house then went into committee of the whole, and dis enesed the President's plan of negro emancipation. Both houses adjourned till Monday. As the Hiberuitku U not leave Porthold till the - - evening of the 13th, we get the following from the latest editions of the Portland journals : Head quarters, Army of the Potomac, Dec. 13. In the Field, 11 a.m. The great battle so long anticipated between the two contending armies is now progressing. The morning opened with a dense fog, which has not entirely disappeared. General Reynolds' corps, on the left, advanced at an early hour, and at 9.15 a.m. engaged the enemy's infantry. Seven minutes after wards the rebels opened a heavy fire of artillery, which has continued so far without intermission. Their artillery fire must be at random, as the fog obstructs all view of almost everything. It is hoped that the fog will soon lift. At this writing no re sults are known. Not much infantry has yet become engaged. A portion of the enemy's cavalry crossed a ford above here, and yesterday were found on our right and rear. Sufficient force has been sent uut to meet them. Gen. M'Clellan left Washington this morning for Philadelphia. Special Washington despatches of the 12th state that Gen. Slocum's command participates in the general movement. He has left Harper's Ferry, and at last advices was between Manassas and Strasburg. This morning Hampton's rebel cavalry captured Dumfries, a town situate about half-way from here to Fredericksburg. They cut the telegraph wires, carried off the operators, and paroled a number of officers who happened to be in the place, for what purpose is not known. Later in the day Gen. Still water, in command of Gen. Sigel's advance, attacked the rebels and a fight ensued, the precise extent and results of which are yet unknown. In consequence of this occurrence there was no telegraphic commu nication with Burnside during the day ; the wires have since been restored, and news is received that the main part of Gen. Burnside's force are over the river. It is the opinion of many generals at Frede ricksburg that the main body of the enercy have retired, and that no determined staua will be made near the city. The Navy Department has received despatches from Capt. Roockendorff, of the San Jacinto, dated St. Thomas. They contain a full account of the un successful attempt to capture the Alabama, at Mar tinique, from which it would appear that little, if any blame, should be attached to the commander of the San Jacinto. There is occasion to believe that France will demand an apology from our Go vernment on account of the signals made iu the harbour. The Committee of Ways and Means, at their meeting today, agreed upon three appropriation bills for the next fiscal year, which will be reported to the house on Monday ; the Army Bill,which appropriates 741,000,000 die; the West Point Bill, which is essentially as usual; and the Fortification Bill, which makes unusually large appropriations, especially for New York harbour, various points on the coast of Maine, and the Tor tugas and other Florida forts. Major-General Sedgwick has been assigned to the command of the 9th Army Corps, late General Burnside's, and will join the army on Monday or Tuesday. The .New York Times' correspondent says :—AI. though we are not yet fully informed of the present position of the enemy, there seems to be good ground to claim that General Burnside has suc ceeded in out-generalling and outwitting them. His decoys made them believe that we were about to cross our main force at Port Conway, and seems to have succeeded admirably. I suppose there is no harm now in my mentioning that among the ruses employed was sending down, the day before yesterday, to Port Conway 300 men and bringing them back by a different road, for the sole purpose of making the rebels believe that we were about to cross the river at that point ; to the same end workmen were busily employed in laying cause ways for the supposed pontoon bridge there, while the gunboats were held at the same place. Com pletely deceived by these feints the main rebel force, including Jackson's command, seems to have been two or three days ago transferred 20 or 25 miles down the river. NASHVILLE, Dec. 12.—A1l is quiet along the railroad in the vicinity of this place. CAIRO, Dec. 12.—Nothing definite is known as to where the rebels in Mississippi have fallen back to. One report is that they have taken shelter behind Big Black at Canton. The rainy season has commenced, and it is with great difficulty that the cannon and waggons can be transported. Persons who have been carrying ou trade in viola tion of Government regulations have been arrested. NEW YORK, Dec. 13, p.m.—Cotton is quiet to day, at 661 e. to 67c. for middling Uplands. Flour declining; extra State, 6 dole. 10c. to 6 dole. 25c. Wheat lc. lower ; Chicago spring, 1 dol. 21e_ to 1 dol. 28c. ; Red Western, 1 dol. 39c. to 1 dol. 43c. Corn steady ; mixed Western, 76c. to 761 c. Beef and pork quiet and unchanged. ARRIVAL OF THE SAXONIA. The Hamburg and American Company's steamer Saxonia, from New York on the 13th inst., arrived at Southampton yesterday with 113 passengers and 260,000 dols. for England, 76,831 dols. for France, and 51,808 dols. for Hamburg. The Confederate General Morgan was reported to be organising another expedition into Kentucky. A bill was to be introduced into Congress sub mitting a proposition to the effect that if Missouri would adopt a system for the immediate abolition of slavery in January, 1864, the Federal Govern- ment would compensate the loyal citizens to the extent of twenty million of dollars in thirty-year bonds. The following appreciation of the situation at Fredericksburg is from the New ork herald of Dec. 13:— " The main body of General Burnside's army crossed the Rappahannock yesterday, and now occupies the south side of the river. The enemy still maintain their position on the hills, and exhibited no signs of evacuating it up to last night. Nothing but a terrific battle can dislodge them if they are ready for that issue. During the passage of our troops yesterday at the different points, General Sherman's corps leading the way in front of the city of Fredericks. burg, the enemy poured a constant fire upon our troops in the city and on the forces who were crossing on the two lower bridges, although they did very little damage. General Bayard's cavalry, which crossed on the lower bridge, had five men killed while endeavouring to ascertain the enemy's position. " Our losses in all were very slight, considering the im portance of the movement and the danger to which our troops were necessarily exposed. We give a list of the casualties as far as can be ascertained. A stirring descrip tion of the bombardment and assault is given in our special army correspondence, accompanied by a fine map of Fre dericksburg and its vicinity. After occupying the river front of the city on Thursday night we lost about 100 men in killed and wounded while driving the rebels through the city. They fired on our men as they advanced through the streets while secreted in and behind houses. Yester day morning a dense fog hid everything from view, but cleared away in the afternoon. Meantime the enemy was rapidly passing over the river, and before nightfall nearly the whole forc3 occupied the south bank. At latest ac counts the remaining portion was ready to follow at once." The same paper says "The destination of the Banks expedition is clearly de fined by an officer on board one of the transports as follows It will not go as far as some think, and yet further than others suspect.' " General Rosencranz has ordered that no more flags of truce shall leave Nashville for the conveyance of parties desiring to go South. The privilege has been abused by women." COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. NEW YORK, DEC. 13. The stock market was very dull yesterday, and prices were a fraction lower. The feature of the market was a general indisposition to do business. Gold fell to 1311 ; exchange to 145. Money was in demand at 6to 7 Per Tine. t. Cotton was steady yesterday, and the tend encY o f flour was downward. There was much less a ctivity in our, p wheat, and corn, prices of which declined slightly. A POLICEMAN GAROTTED BY A BURGLAR. — About half-past 4 o'clock yesterday m orning Police-con stable Nute, 56 R, was on duty near Blackheath-Talk, when his attention was attracted by a noise, and he then saw a man apparently leaving one of the houses. Being provided with a key,a::: iconstableron fnci fencing loeked arrested a gate furtherand e n tered the park, when the man named ran for some pu d l i i s c t e a pm n r c eo e n i, but was pursued, gress, a desperate encounter took place, The e s t rug gled for a long time to secure his assailant, rendered insonible in cont,f qu„eo of being t h ro at, and was thus enabl e to take his truncheon seized d tr onl y t h l i e s coat po cket, and the fello% from this Means escaped, and it was sutsequently discovered that the houses of Messrs. Bail) , and Scrutton had been entered by forcing windtra a with a crowbar, a n d a quantity of jewellery and other vale- Ole articles stolen, FRANCE. THE BOURSE, Dec. 24.—The market has been heavy, and with little business doing, speculators appearing averse to entering on any material opera tions at the approach of the end of the month. Threes, for the Account, have slightly receded, and are now at 69f. 70c. Railway Share Market also heavy and inactive. The market continued heavy to the close, and left off as follows : 11 per Cents. 97 75 Bank Shares ...... "-- Do end month Credit 1 oneier .... 1375 3 per Cents 25 Do. end month 69 65 Italian Loan 72 New 3 per Cents .. Russian .. Do. end month.... Austrian - Credit Mobilier....llo7 50 Spanish Threes 54 -- Do, end month.... Home Debt .. soi RA IL 'AYB. Cash. Account. Orleans 1067 50 .. 1066 25 Northern .... New. ditto --• 1156 25 Lyons and Mediterranean 1155 .. Geneva.... — • . --- -. 808 75 808 75 Southern Western 532 50 .. 530 -- Eastern .... Sardinian Austrian Lombard North of Spain S aragossa 660 -- .. 661 25 Ditto to Barcelona HER MAJES7YS 7HEAT.RE. THE MESSIAH. A magnificent performance of Handel's " Mes siah" took place at her Majesty's Theatre last night, and one which will long be remembered by those who had the good fortune to be present. The solos were sung by Madlle. Titiens, Mr. Sims Reeves, Miss Palmer, and Mr. Santley, wholhave nQ superiors in their respective capacities. The c horus —thanks to Mr. Benedict's skill and firmness—was on the whole very satisfactory. The instrument al band, too, was of adequate strength, and contained many of our most eminent performers. Titiens was in splendid voice, and sang with all her ac customed power and grendeur. Sims Reeves also put forth all his strength ; and Miss Palmer and Mr. Santley acquitted themselves admirably. AD.ELPHI 211 EA IRE. Last evening two French clowns who appear in the Pantomime to-morrow evening here, made their first appearance and were received with very great applause. Their performance consists principally of contortions, and the peculiar manner in which they managed to tie themselves up into all kinds of shapes exeited the greatest wonder and surprise. We shall merely on the present occasion remark that they are two of the most wonderful sprites or clowns, or whatever they please to call themselves, that have ever appeared in London. TU.RNITAM'S NEW MUSIC HALL. A magnificent new music hall has just bees added to those already in existence, by M r. Tura' ham, of the Edgware-road. The hall is hexer' nal in form, with a beautiful proscenium and twa° tiers of boxes, and is calculated at least to 1101 3,000 persons with comfort. The acoustic Po" perties of the building are excellent, and flotilla could be better than the taste which has bee° bestowed upon the decorations. The inauguratO concert, which took place on Tuesday last, w e° supported by a vast array of talent, some of th et vocalists being well-known London favourites: while many were to us new candidates for m usics' honours. Amongst the comic division we had t h f clever and unrivalled Mackney, Sam Collins, Wee:: H. Wall, Taylor, and Mr. and Mrs. Brendan. lt ` - ot almost needless to say the concert gave the En ° s unbounded satisfaction to an audience who w ere o°, slow in demonstrating how heartily they relished the entertainment that had been provided for ther p _; Mr. Turnham has every reason to be deligh t 7 with the success of his opening concert, as it sholv e . o and that in the strongest manner, that a viral lt . I d that part of the metropolis had been suPP lle : s From the spirit the enterprising proprietor ha, already displayed, the public have a strong gtl4 rantee for the future, and all the su ccess that nu:, follow the opening of the new ha ll will be rIOIIV deserved by Mr. Turnha.m. WOODIN'S "CABINE7 OF CURIOSITIES: (From the Brighton Guardian.) Amongst the many " entertainers" who now ee el; ' patronage from the public, Mr. W. S. Ti r o di . ll : stands out as the most successfu l and the most 01 versally favoured ; the inevitable cor ollar y bei i that he is most talented. There is no question tilt', 8 0G this is the fact. There are many good molt women too, in the same field, but none seem t 0 pl" o sess the peculiar abilities required f or the viorl‘ so high a degree as Mr. Woodin ; n one have °le an extensive repertoire of presentat ions, and 1:1°0.0 are so quick and apt and correct in the introdectleo of novelties. So, it was with the full conscionsnie of coming pleasure that on Monday even ill e g r o , visited the Pavilion, where Mr. Woodin is Perl°^io, ing for a short season. The title of the ent er h t t fl o, ment was the same as when he last visited Brig" 01 but we knew him too well to think that We °n have now only an exact counterpart of his P er o° mantes then. Nor were we disappointed ;iftea " Cabinet" is still there ; but the contents sr e and altered and changed where necessary. are still present the brightest of the old ge rms used to linger over with such delight, and th e e o f troductions to the collection, for the Puril B ti to filling up the removals , have not only o°lloo recommend them but are on a par in W e p oet with their companions. New acquaintance° ft lot its almost at the start. Professor Klack, Wit b Ile et of initials, and Mr. Hipsy Digi t are both O ce • t r portraitures, the Professor especially, whos e , s ea' lously abstruse oration is del ivered in real ult ra- an d demical style. Then we start on our Season's triPo' have the principal members of the inimita ble is ole riage scene. There is also the public dinner f e T en def introducing our never-to-be-forgotten °lose Bobbles, the secreta r y , and Winelees, the b°oooe Epsom is also visited, and all the old race 4 t t he f ea t u res are conjured up once more. A03°145 LOftl' • subsequent introductions are Sir Charles d io' g igantic knight, and Miss Lindsay Wolseif ayes° nutive spinster, in love with Sir Ch a rles: 00 0 characters are very amusing. Summe r 511d bie d Aft' are then gone through. Practice h as erg' 00 or Woodin to attain surprising rapidity caoe° his changes. Three or four sec onds in B° f th ° A cluck only elaps.3 ere the change is made! .° 1- one obi ° head, a moment's pause, and presto ! er ci e s ,, but is there on the platform in the nos-01103°,':)&fleet' different clothes. The hornpipe, t°°, T, lauded , to perfection, and was loudly aPP — 01 013 ' 1 Frances Foresight still stand s out f- 03 a tb° make-up, and has changed h er song to P_ s tofp re, current topics of the day, w hich are, se 131 ilerc hit off very smartly. Then there is t he f a din ing-room scene, the world of co t ' laughter. The extracts from . 9 1 undreury. In traeo -ri t tainment comprise Lord D A 0 0 "Woodin has always stoo d fot lions like this Mr. which continues to evoke eminent; si A/1 nonce, j 00 need hardly say, therefore, that ,Ithee illustrious lord " lives, move" 0 0 in everything but propria Pe ll e 1 8 being" Woodin's audience, that every s tal l n t; t hb h ea e fso n hr e o i embodied, every stutter reproduced; that, in word, the personation is of the completest P °l36 bo' kind, and that the make-up is a perfect living P o 0 tograph. There is also Dickey DockeyDon:stico' nigger of the latest stamp, whose curious g - ob ort lations are admirably characteristics To cti !,, e of ° a notice which should be very much longel:c.,,ilo only advise every one to go and see Mr. lvi_c` io ti o• his old admiteis will find plenty of admio' w why, and the very few who do rof yet kn o . Der will find his talent but more polished, end ilia sonations more naturally and strongly roarl° ever the were ~...-. ----- A MER ICAN SYMPATHY WITH LANCASOIIYtthe t a S om e conversation took place upon this subjec 1 -eo 16 er mee ting of the MerAcy Docks a nd Harbour Board day, dating which it was recommended that the '4O-f%ll° which are freight d with provisions for the rel ief i ad distressed oceratives should be exempted from ac ie f a do a to" dues. A very general feeling was expressed i ll Ol e of ouch exemption, though the ultimate decision I)Q U i I uPoli On kliblect WAS refielled WWI nest ITC°I4I Ban 3 p e 3 pe liev Indi Di Eze: 13 ra2 Di Bile] Di Gre e Mexi Di Moo] u Port Di Rua; Di Span Sp Turlian Di Con s Di' Tt hEld TI meet table l 'egar some ill a eon si, joUrn Mr a lld t It; B Pect or S a preps Viet° qUetii oec as i aPpro It ; blitcy ( teusi c U 11( daily and tl of the to th head in s t . oe4r. ro wE