The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-06 00:00:00

A SPY AMONG THE FEDERALS.

A few months since a fashionably dressed per-
sonage arrived in Cincinnati per railroad, and
secured a suite of rooms at the Burnet House, and
registered his name as " Louis A. Belville, Russia."
His suavity of mancer, elegance and neatness of
dress, general appearance, and indeed everything
betokened that the newly arrived guest was one
possessing metropolitan intelligence, if not those
attributes cf popularity now a days, effluence and
wealth. His manner was reserved bat firm, his
conversation bland yet winning, and only a few
days elapsed before he extorted from the resident
guests of the house, both civic and military, a soli-
citude to make his acquaintance, which was some-
what difficult to accomplish apparently. Once
made, however, the wily Russian, by his social
ability and lavishness with money, so completely
enamoured his new acquaintances, that they, to use
a vulgar expression, " tied to him," urged and gained
his introduction to their female friends, and in short
inaugurated him as the prince of society in Cinci-
uatti. Parties were given that this foreign repre-
sentative might loom out more specially as the
bright particular star. He was feted to his
heart's content, no pains being spared to give him
ovations that would honour a higher personage
is the grade of European society than that
which he was alleged to be. Yankee curiosity was
raised to its highest pitch as to the probable mis-
sion of this gentleman on the American continent,
and the solicitude in finding out culminated in the
question direct being put to the nobleman. With
his usual keenness and nonchalance he responded
promptly that recently in Russia he had been in-
veigled into a quarrel with his Government of a
political character, but of such a serious nature to
the Emperor that banishment from the country was
the consequence. His intentions were at once
decided to come to America, and become one of her
citizens, and, after a residence here of three years,
return to Russia and enjoy a'l the privileges of that
kingdom without fear of molestation. His offhand
method of briefly alluding to his complicated foreign
difficulty succeeded in satisfying his American
friends, and gained for him a sympathy that was
really wonderful. Thus matters continued for seve-
ral days. Staff officers of the various Generals resi-
dent and transient were not content in their strolls
through the city and evening promenades with lady
friends unless Mr. Belville was one of their number.
At the various military headquarters in the city he
was a welcome and constant visitor, and being
deeply interested in our domestic difficulties, and
sympathising strongly with our Government in the
complete success of the Union arms, many of the
contemplated movements were confided to his keep-
ing. His suggestions were frankly given and thank-
fully received. Indeed, no American citizen and to
the manner burn could have learned one-tenth of
the information imparted to this stranger Russian.
By the side of Generals he visited the fortifications,
camps, &c., discovered our real strength in the
field and at posts, and the destination of our armies,
&c. His knowledge of the American States was
astonishingly limited, and to particularise was a
" military necessity" on the Part of those with whom
he conversed. He passed in and out of military
prisons at all times, and had a Carle blanche to visit
any portion of this department. A seeming indiffe-
rence to accept the many compliments that were
tendered to him, and the declination of several
offers, gained him a confidence with our military
chieftains and their aids amazingly marvellous. At
their request he went to a fashionable boarding-
house on Fourth-street, adjoining headquarters, and
where none but military officers are entertained.
Occasionally he would leave the city for a few days
to visit Chicago, St. Louis, and other Western and
North-Western cities, and to become more familiar
with the American country. Although his absence
was brief ho was missed by his scores of friends,
who welcomed his return with unmistakeable
affection.

One of these absentirgs was unusually long, and
considerable misgiving was entertained as to his
failure in returning lest an accident caused the
delay. A few days since his absence was accounted
for, the latest bubble of Queen City confidence was
exploded, and the Russian nobleman turned out to
be nothing more or less than a rebel spy,
who©e discovery was thus made. His last
trip from Cincinnati was to Lexington, not
tar from which, in a skirmish, he was taken
Prifiquev with other ratio in arum Ke W4a