Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-09-03
THE NEWS HERE.

MAIon xxRkL FRENoNr's RECENT PRocLA-
NArIos isscf course, the subject matter Of much
conversation among public men, military and
civil, In this city. Their criticisms, though
almost universally adverse to the positions he
appears to have taken, are by no means unkind
towards him personally, as II IL evident that,
though tried and competent soldier he is no
lawyer, and therefore may not be expected to be
always successful In so drawing up such pa pers,
as to state such things with legal precision 1t IL
well understood here that his purpose was simply
to notify the people Of Missouri of his intention to
carry out the letter and spirit of the confscation
act. So far AZ the Government here 10 concerned,
al In Washington realize that such is their pur-
pose; and therefore no one among M dreams that
they In any manner sympathize with the views Of
those at the East who would have that act inter-
preted to mean license from Congress to attempt
TO pervert the war from It's Legitimate end-the re-
establishment Of the Union under the Constitution
ana laws--so a. to make it, instead, a war for the
eoolishmsnt Of slavery throughout the United
states, or In some one or more States Of the
Union
CONDITION OF THINGS ~ VIRGINIA. gentle
man just from Eastern Virginia gives us the fol.
lowing Interesting particulars Of the condition of
q portion Of Virginia through which he has
passed within a few days. The Inhabitants of
the country villages are in very Stationed cond-
uon-necessary supplies are hardly obtainable
and In the larger towns II is little better brief
stay In Frsdericksburg enabled him TO ascertain
that coffee Is selling at SO cents per pound; sugar
81 cents; -four sl2 per barrel, though wheat is
only 10 TO 50 cents per bushel. Sewing needles
cannot De bought and spool cotton is 10 cents per
spool; boots SIS to $40 per pair at Fredericks
cd az ,f.ak r..
saoers had been established there which had
furnished large number Of those weapons to the
rebel army; but ether arms were very scarce
fredsricksburg has not been fortified, but there Is
squad OF about fifty men from Maryland at Camp
Mercer, near the town. A division of the rebel
army, under Gen. Holmes-about fifteen thousand
men-s posted in the country from Fredericks-
burg to Manassas junction.
communication with Maryland has not been
cut on and by some means the New York Her
ara and Tribune and Baltimore SHn can be had al
rfedeneksburg. The local columns Of these pa
pefs are eagerly scanned by the Confederates, to
ascertain what troops were moving to Washing
ION and the seat Of war and by means of the in
FORMATION thus gathered they are enabled to keep
thoroughly posted to the strength Of our forces
IL b said and believed there that about COO reb-
els are posted near Aqua Creek and are construc-
ung formidable battery several miles this side
of It, He came TO this city by way of Matthias's
Point and Port Tobacco, Md, and regards his es-
cape a. almost miraculous. gang of about $50
militia, who have been on duty about three weeks
al the Point, are a drunken set of fellows who
employ their time In the way peculiar to roughs
They hide In the bushes when the noise Of boats
approaching warns them. About midnight they
agreed to take him and his associates to the Mary
daIc shore for the sum Of ten dollars each This
gang, or relief gang, Is continually lurking
about the shore at the Point. All through the
country they confidently expect Beauregard TO
drive the Federal forces away from Washington
The PKovosT GuARD-The late municipal 30
lice Of this city having ceased to exist as such be-
fore their successors installed In Office for the
due protection Of person and property here In the
meanwhile, Provost Marshal General Porter YES.
terday directed that the commanders of battalions
(of the Provost Marshals Guard) hold their
several commands in readiness to turn out at any
alarm Of fre which may occur, each in his own
district He has also directed them to inform
themselves of the position Of the FIRE engines,
leach in his disrict) and to use them to the best
advantage in extiDguishing any fire that may &C.
cur.
PROMOTED AND APPoINTED.-Mr. J. III. Halves
of the General Land Oface has been promoted to
be the principal draftsman In that department