The national Republican., 1861-02-25
LOG AL EW s.


left Willards' Hotel, and, accompanied only
by Senator Seward, walked to St. Johns Eps.
copal Church, on H street, where he attended
Divine service, taking q scat in Mr.. Stewards
pew, near the altar. The rector, Rev. DR..
Pyne, conducted the services of the morning,
preaching from Corinthians, chap. I, yer. 81:
And they'that use this world as not abusing
II, for the fashion Of this world passeth away
He made several illusions to the present state
Of the country, and to the change in the Ad.
ministration which was about to take place.
After the services were concluded, Mr.. Lin.
coin, accompanied by Mr.. Seward and several
Seward, and spent couple of hours After
which, he returned to the hotel, and dined.
The PRESIDENTIAL PARrY.-The following
persons accompany the President, and are
stopping at Willards': Mrs. Lincoln and two
children, Robert 4. Lincoln, Ward H. Lamson,
Lockwood Todd, DR.. W. 8. Wallace, John G.
Nicolay, John M. Hay, Hon. N. B. Judd, Hon.
David Davis, Col. E. E. Ellsworth, L. NJ. Bur.
CESS, G. G. Latham, B. Forbes, W. Fl. Forbes,
d. P. Wood, Col. E. V. Sumner, Capt. G. W.
Hazard, and Capt. J. G. Robinson.
DEsPERATE ATTEMPT TO AssAssINATE Mem.
BrR OF CoNoREss.-A most cowardly and devil.
ish assault was made, about half past eleven
o'clock on Thursday night, upon the Hon.
Charles h. Van Wyck, member of Congress
from West Point district New York, by three
ruHians, heavily armed. Mr.. Van Wyck had
just left the residence of Hon. Preston King,
on Capitol Hill, and was passing down by the
north wing of the Capitol to his lodgings at
the National Hotel, when stout man brushed
past him, and, turning suddenly, raised large
bowie knife, and struck him in the breast i'm.
mediately over the heart. The knife penetra.
ted the outside and inside coats, passed through
q folded copy of the Globe, and then nearly
through thick, leather covered memorandum
book, both Of which were in the breast pocket
Of his frock coat, leaving only the thickness of
one sheet of paper between the place where
the knife struck and the skin.
Mr.. Van Wyck knocked his assailant down
by severe blow under the jaw, when the sec.
ond ruffian aimed blow ut Mr.. Van Wyck
with bowie knife, which the latter caught
with his left hand, making a terrible cash
across the palm. AT the same time Mr.. Van
Wyck knocked the fellow down with hi right
and by this time, having got hold Of his re.
volver, he shot the one who had first attacked
him, who dropped, and was caught by one of
his friends. Mr.. Van Wyck was then dealt
very severe blow by some instrument in the
hands of the third rufian; and this blow, to.
gether with the effect Of the other blows he had
received and especially from the profuse bleed
ing Of his hand, weakened him very much |;
and, observing that the ruffians were making
haste to escape with their wounded coniede
rate, who appeared to him quite helpless, he
sank hmself almost exhausted, upon the side
walk, and did not fire again.
AS soon as he gained sufficient strength, he
made his way to his hotel, which he did not
reach until near one o'clock He said nothing
about the affair except to DR.. Lee, of New
York, member Of the House of Representa-
confidential trends, and to the police, in hope
that the villains might be discovered.
The whole affair, from the beginning to the
flight of the rufians, did not occupy more than
minute and half every movement was made
with such rapidty. Had it not been for the
paper and memorandum book, Mr.. Van Wyck
would have been instantly killed, the blow hav-
ing been aimed with great force and determine
ton.
Mr. Van Wyck cannot account for this at
tack upon him. unless it has grown out OF his
speech at the last session, which created con.
siderable discussion at the time, because of its
severity against the system of slavery. For
some time after its delivery, he received letters
threatening his life Outside of this, he has
no knowledge of having created the enmity of
never visited gambling or drinking saloons
and whilst he is resolute man when assailed,
in his daily walk he is very quiet and gentle
manly.
1t is very evident that robbery was not the
object Of the assaulting party, as nothing what
ever was taken from the person of Mr.. Van
Wyck.
The affair is still the principal topic of con-
versation around the hotels and in the streets,
and the feeling, especially in the Congressional
circles, is intense.
The police are on the alert, and the most oil
them are faithfully endeavoring to discover the
whereabouts Of the villainous ruflisns but we
fear their labors will be too much com promised
secessionists, and in league with the secession
organizations now ex sting in our city.
A meeting of the citizens Of Washington
county, held at Burnett's, Seventh street road
on Thursday afternoon, the 2lst inst, to form
q company of cavalry in connection with the
militia of the District Of Columbia, was organ
ICED by the election of E. ]. Middleton, Cap
tain; Alfred Ray, First Lieutenant Henry
Queen, Second Lieutenant; Theodore Mosher
Third Lieutenant; Dr. John g. Fairfax, Sur
geon; Jesse B. Haw, Ensign.
MILITARY APPOINTMENT. Mr.. James A
King has been appointed Quartermaster Ser
geant for the second regiment (Col. James Y
Davis's.)
The ZouAvE CoRPs.-The new Zouave corps
held meeting at Thorns Hall on Saturday
night and elected the following officers J. Ty
ler Powell, First Lieut.. - Emerson, Seconc
Lieut.; Walter Benner, Third Lieut.. and Chas
Barrott, Orderly Sergeant. Ten new members
were elected. The corps meet again tomorrow
evening, at which time the remaining officers vii
probably be elected. From the interest mani
tested, we doubt not that this will soon be on'