The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-02-03
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
Tuesday Morning, February , 1857.

~ OF the San Juan, Vhica enters ina river about
half way between the Lake and San Juan del
Norte The Panama Star and Herald says:
As this route is very little If ever used the Costa
Ricsns experienced great difficulties In advancing
having to cut their way through the forest along
track where mules could not be used, and along
which all the provisions and mum ions of war had
to be borne on mems shoulders. Six days were
spent on the march, during which the rain fell AL
most necessarily At last the - er,barcadero" was
reached, and few canoes were hastily construct.
ed and RATS made of trunks of trees rudely lashed
together with vines and twigs.
Thus these enterprising men. most of whom had
never before beheld a boat on a nAvigable river,
boldly embarked on the 10th OF December, to foat
down an unknown stream, ts its confluence with
the river San Juan, aud thence to Greytown itself
IL was indeed perous undertaking. Had these
frail RATS upon which $50 men had ventured, met
one Of Walkers steamers coming up or going down
the river, tie slightest contact would have been
fatal to them
The seizure of the forts and the steamers, the
visit to Greytown, and the unsuccessful attempt
to obtain British interference for the protection of
the property of the Transit Company, are then
narrated essept ly as heretofore given. The ac-
count in the paper above quoted then proceeds
On ascending the river, when off the mouth OF
the river San Carlos, one Of the steamers was de-
spatched to ascertain ii Gen. Jose Joaquin Mora
{brother of the President Of Costa Rica) had ar
rived at the embarcadero with the main body cf
su ccess OF the expedition TO Grey town, 80 that
measures might Immediately be taken for carrying
promptly into effect the second part Of the plan of
operations.
On proceeding UP the San Carlos, Eve men,
placed on rafs as videttes, became frightened by
the n0ise and appearance of the approaching
steamer. (never having before seen or imagined
the like) plunged into the river, and were drown
ed in the attempt to reach the bank. The steamer
then landed two men to cut their way through the
forest to the embarcadero, in order that Gen. Mora
might receive timely notice that the steamer we 3
no longer an enemy, so that the probability of his
firing upon her might be removed. General Mora
was found st bis post, with 900 men followed by
a rear guard of 800, who have since also arrived
In addition to these, two transport corps of GOO
men are alternately employed in carrying Prov
sions, ammunition, &C., from the interior to the
embarcadero
Tie plan Of future operations is thus sketched !:
G. neral Mora, having ut W l4t0 men, exclusive of
the land transport corps, expected 800 more at the
embarcadero of San Carlos, who, doubtless, have
arrived long since. The river was to be occupied
by soc Of these, backed by artillery and breast.
works, and supported by the steamers, whilst
General Nora was to move up to La Virgin with
llO1 men and occupy the transit route.
Mean while, General 5anas, having retired from
Rivas upon Massaya. where the sliied Generals
have been misspending both time and opportunity
in oi'sensons Rivas was occupied by Walker
His forces estimated by his friends at 1200-by
bis enemies at 800 In either it is we'll known
that about 800 are on the sick list By last official
accounts Gen. Canas was nominated commander.
in-chief Of the allied forces. He was on his march
back to Rivas, with 1000 men, where he would
ssriye lust about the same time when Gen. Mora
wouid rea1h La Virgin, near Rivas, with 100 men
and the steeIerS
If Gen. Canas can on,y succeed in harmonzing
the discordant elements he has to deal with, and
restore unanimity among the Central American
Generals, the fate of Walker may be considered
sealed. If, however, petty jealousies and in
trigues allow the allies to divide their force, Wal-
ker has still . chance of making good his retreat
to San Juan del Sur. and escaping the country.
THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN THE UNI
TED STATEs-Captain John Smith gives thefol-
lowing interesting sketch of the earliest state o.
the infant Church in the original settlement OF
Virginia:
When ] hrst went to Virginia. well remember
wee did hang IN awning (Which is an old saiIe) to
three or foure trees to shadOwe us from the Sunne
our walls ere rales of wood. cur seats unhawed
trees, till we cut plankes, our Pulpit bar of wood
nailed to two neighboring trees; in foule weather
We shifted into old rotten tent, for we had few
better, and this came by way of adventure for new
This was our Church till we built homely thing
like barne, set up cratchets, covered with RATS,
sedge and earth; so was also the walls that could
aiaitler well defend wind nor raine. Yet wee had
daily CapEon Prayer morning and evening
every Sundy two sersn ons, and every three months
the Holly Communion. till our Minister died.
AMERICAN MISSIONARIES AND THE BoNgARD~
MENT OF CANToE-The bombardment of Canton
has already resulted in disaster to an American
missionary. A correspondent of the Lsndon
Times writes as follows:
To-day, CThursday0 little has been done; the
firing has been kept up leisurey from the Dutch
Folly" with an occasional shell from the Encoup.
ter. The men have been employed during the
day in pulling down more buildings in the rear OF
the Factories Is precautionary measure against
fire. regret to learn that during the fire yester
day afternoon, tine house of Rev. ]. B French
one Of eur American missionaries, was totally de-
stroyed, together with its contents. Ir. French
had removed almost nothing, having been assured
that his house was out of danger His books, m an
uscripts and much property belonging to the mis-
sion were therefore, all lost as well as his hospital
and stores which have been the means of relief to
many thousands of patients. A movement
which trust will be successful is to be set on foot
for his relief
WEATHERIN NEW KENT.-YoRKR RIVER RFRoZEN
GvER,-A correspondent of the Petersburg Ex-
press, writing from New Kent county, Va on the
26th inst, says.
Every public highway ia noy obstructed with
snow from three to ten feet In depth, and water
has CONCEALED in a close room, within few inches
of blazing oak and hickory fire.
Psmunkey river Is frozen entire ly across, with
ice twelve inches in thickness, and the York and
Mattapoii rivers in the same condition, SO far
as can be perceived with the aid of Z strong lens.
gentleman, named Penny. walked across York
river last Saturday, at q point where it is three
miles in width, and the water rs salt a. that
around old Neptune's footstool, If he ever had q
resting place for his pedal The steam
or Sea Bird Is said 10 be at Big!ers whavf, York
river, with her paddle wheels firmly locked in by
the ice
It is the impression of venerable tillers of the
soil hereabouts, that the wheat crop will suffer ma
terial damage from the freeze
EDITIsa PAPER OUT WEsT.-Tbe editor of .
paper published at Lake Superior, after having
been without q mail for three weeks, says:
"shouid the mail not arrive this week, we 81 al
make our regular issue next tuesday; for this
number was made up from an old magazine and =
religious almanac of las, year; and so long ~ this
material holds out we shall be independent of the
maig."
REcovERED.-The family of Mrs. Bear, near
ghurchville, ia Augusta county. Va, who we're
poisoned by having miataken sons poison lsups
posed to be aceate ct lead) for coda, have All re-
covered. The older persons. Mrs. Bear, and Mrs
KooutZ, who happened 10 be there on visit, were
made very sick, whilst the younger members OF
the family were not affected 50 dangerously.
SERIOUS FIRE In CUBA-On the Goth instant.
re broke out In one Of the largest boundaries OF
(yubs IT Cieufugos called "The National" and