The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-14 00:00:00

America.--News from the North.

The following private letter from Baltimore has
been kindly placed at our disposal:—
" Baltimore, Dec. 26, 1862.

"Dear Sir,—Having a few leisure moments I pro-
pose to drop you a few items as I pick them up. I
am careful of whom I take information, so that I
may be sure it is as reliable as can be obtained in
these excited times, when falsehood and deception
are the main weapons of this Government and its
demoralised press.

" I saw yesterday an intimate friend of Chase, the
Secretary of the Treasury, a gentleman of great
financial talent, with whom the Secretary often
consults. He assured me that the debt is now
2,200,000,000 dollars, and that they have as yet
fixed on no plan to raise money to carry
on the war, simply because there is no plan
feasible or likely to be successful. Chase admits
to his confidential friends he cannot see his way
clear. One-half this enormous amount is still due
and unpaid, being in the shape of certificates of in-
debtedness and sums due the army. Many have
not been paid for twelve months. Enormous amounts
are due and unpaid for the navy and other matters.
The same informant assures me, that the losses cf
Burnside at the battle of Fredericksburg, including
desertions, will not fall short of 60,000 men. Of the
North Carolina affair, under General Foster, I have
the information from the captain of a transport, who
left Newbern on the 22d. He informs me that the
army of General Foster was driven back with great
loss, and that Foster himself immediately took
Passage in a steamer for Fortress Monroe (where he
has since arrived). An expedition of six gun boats
ascended the Neuse two days before Foster started,
but had all returned to Newbern partially disabled,
having been attacked by batteries and Confederate
sharpshooters all along the banks of the river. He
describes their speed in descending the giver as very
great. The captain said they were in great danger,
and were fortunate to get back. This expedition
consisted of about 16,000 men. The troops are in
a state of demoralisation ; a revolt had occurred
at Roanoke Island, and a force sent to quell it.
Cause, no pay for twelve months, and little to
eat. The captain also reports on his leaving
that all the supplies at Newbern were being
loaded into transports, and his opinion was that
the Federals were about evacuating the State.
With the defeat of Foster they cannot hold New-
bern, and the sudden exit of Foster to Fortress Mon-
roe may be for this object. It now looks as if the
ovement is on hand, but from
d from the leaders the time
~A
tile action of the
They await
redemption of the old North state was near at hand,
revolutionary m
haswhat
notl cyaent ue
en
md understand sten
Democratic governors,
proximo. We shall then see t
who clomLeineinotlno peaonweerarlrsyt
out his abolition programme without a revolution
in the North. Money is plenty (greenbacks) and
the masses think times very prosperous, and many
are willing to let the war go on because it makes
and
are t
fee
ede r
them
the
em
business lively and money plenty.
Nwbi
ng n
Fwedeell.rals have 3,000 nearoesl
whenever there is a scarcity
of food the negro
must have his full quota and tMheysoi
lnfdioerrmmast
St aa ysk
e,
the short ration. So much for the war for the
Union, the constitution, and the enforcement of the
laws,

NINE MONITORS FINISIIED.—Three of our iron-
clad men of war were launched on Saturday, one at
Boston, the Nantucket, and the Catskill and Keokuk at
New York. The Lehigh, one of the small Ericsson batte-
ries, is also reported ready to launch at Chester, Pa. This
will complete Mr. Ericsson's contract with the Government
for nine vessels like the Monitor. There are now in the
neighbourhood of New York five impregnable ships afloat,
all preparing rapidly for sea, and some 12 or 15 are on the
stocks.—NeW York Paper.