Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-12-21
News.
From Washington.


WASHINGTON, Dec. l9.-At one O'Clock Lord
Lyons called on the Secretary of State, who
was at the Capitol. He called again st three
o'clock. The communication which he made
is as yet q secret. No Cabinet meeting has
been held on the subject
The general feeling Of the city ia less war.
like than at trss and the people talk coolly of
surrenderlDg the emmissaries, il 1t can be done
without o sacrifice of honor, rather than engage
OF this time in q foreign war. The report that
members of the Cabinet take similar view of
the question gains currency and fnds belief;
but while it 10 not true that auch conclusion
has been arrived at in Cabinet meeting on the
one hand, it is true on the other hand that the
discrimination not to surrender under any cir
oumstances or for any considerations, is alb.
solnte. But while the Government will do
nothing to provoke hostilities, it will guard
well the national honor. Should arbitration
be proposed it may be accepted. Should
sufficient consideration for the surrender of
Mason and Slidell be offered 1t may be made
A prominent member of the Government
stated in conversation this evening that Lord
Lyons would not demand his passports; that
Mason and Slidell would not be given up, and
that there was no probability OF war with
England.
Englisbmen- here are confident of O. war be-
tween the two countries. This opinion, how.
ever, is based upon no official communication,
and while IL excites some unpleasant feeling,
carries no weight. Several Englishmen now
serving IN our army, among them Col. Havelock
and Capt. Stewart, have, it is is declared, Gig
nided their intention to resign, should further
complications ensue. In other cases extraorji.
nary and painful evidences of eudden hostility
to our cause have been shown. The general
feeling, however, appears to bo a sincere re.
greet at what they regard ss the inevitable
issue. .-.---.--1-....
Mr.. Adamss dispatches have little to say
touching the Trent, having received no com
munioaticn on the subject from the British gov
ernment. In the case Of the Nashville, he had
made representations, but had received no
reply.
A letter dated London, Dec. 4th, received
here, speaks Of seeing newly painted cab on
Oxford street, with the British and rebel flags
crossed on the panel, and little secession flags
FLOR sale on the street. 1.-THE Adelphi Theatre,
controlled by Dion Bourcicault; where the Oc-
toroon was playing, the Stars and Stripes,
which had foated there, were wrapped around
the staff, and the Stars and Bars displayed.
The government has intelligence from Ma
nassas to-day that still more troops have arriv-
ed from the south. JEFF. Davis, anticipating an
attack, is adding every available man to Beau
regard and Johnson's army. ......
The report that Maryland regiment had
been captured on the upper Potomac, grew out
were the other day taken prisoners on the up
per Potomac.
[Herald's oorrespondence.)
An absurd rumor was circulated to-day that
the government had decided last night to sur
Ill t. a..
toundatian whatever.
Up to eleven o'clock tonight, Lord Lyons has
made no communication from his government
to the President or Secretary of State relative
to the seizure OF the traitors Mason and Sill
dell.
Mr.. Adams In his Communication to Mr.. Sew.
ard, gives clear and detailed idea of the feel
ings of the British people and the sentiment of
the British Statesmen, but does not indicate
that he knows the purport OF the instructions of
the English government to Lord Lyons. Moth
| ing contained in Mr.. Adams's dispatches indi.
Gates that that Government will make any ex-
orbitant demands relative to the seizure of the
traitors. This Is not only true, but I am per-
mitted to announce by high official authority
that private letters received to-day from distin.
guished British statesmen assert that the British
government will not demand the release of
Mason and Slidell, but will require such repar-
alton as the United States can honorably grant.
This is also confirmed by other private CORES.
pondence Of Americans in London, who have
facilities for learning the intentions of the Brit.
ish government. r& tf.i5 @@lH
s-a ITO the Associated Press.l He
| WASHINGTON, Dec. 2G-The Navy Depart.
ment has received dispatches from Port Royal,
including one from Commander Drayton, dated
Dec. 9th. He gives the particulars of the re
cent cruise in the PaWnee, with the Unadilla,
Isaac Smith and Vixen, and of the exploration
of the Ashetoo river. Among other things he
states that, on landing at Hutchinson Island, 1t
was ascertAined that two days before all the ne
gro cabins, overseers' houses and outbuildings,
| together with all picked cotton, had been burn
ed. The attempt had at the same time been
made to drive of the negroes, but many had
! escaped. Some Of their number, they said, had
been shot in the attempt.
4 The scene was one of complete deeolation---
the smoking ruins, the covering figures of the
InegI oes, who etill instinotively cling to their
birthplace, although there was no longer q
ehelter for their heads, Is q most melancholy
islght.
About one hundred and forty negroes, mos,
OF them inG very destitute condition, had col
lected at Otter leland. Com. Drayton had di.
rected that they should be supplied with food
until some disposition could be made Of them
sEss'- - Especial to the Post.I & t.'a
The dispatches Of the British Ministry. are
lreported TO be more sensible and moderate than
represented by the Engish press. Nothing
! peremptofy or Imperative will be addressed tc
our Government, and nothing, in short, which
tcunuot be settled by diplomacy. a
The general feeling here is favorable to peace
TO oonciliaron, and 70 the reference Of ali dis,
4 putsd questiona 70 an International commissIon
Ibut no one isin favor aot relinqulshng particl,
/ General Burnside arrival at Annanciis tht