The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-23
GENERAL NEWS.

ons had two interviews with Secretary Sew
ard on Tuesday. No formal communications
had passed between them relative to the Ma
son and Slidell affair." nor has any demand
been made in the matter. Captain Seymour
the Queens messenger. did not return to
England by the Africa. Further instructions
for Lord Lyons are expected by the Ameri-
ca, and much anxiety is felt with regard to
them. 1t is not unlikely that Lord Lyons
will withhold his demands until the mails of
the America arrive. If a peremptory de.
mand for the release of the Confederate COM
missioners be made, involving the issue Of
war, it is probable that the Cabinet will yield
for the time, in view of the present exigen-
cies of the country"
The message of the President relative to
the affairs of Mexico, which was sent to the
Senate on Thursday, asked the advice of that
body as to his course with regard to the in.
vitation to the U. S. Government to join the
tripartite alliance of European powers against
Mexico.
Smith O'Brien has published letter on
the subject of a war between the United
States and England, and the duty of Irish
men in all parts of North America. lie
svows his opinion that England wishes to
extinguish great commercial rival, and as
serts his opinion that she has no more SYM
patty with the United States than she has
for the Chinese government, the humiliation
of both being equally part of her policy.
With view to her Disappointment, Mr.. o..
Brien recommends that every effort should
be made by the U. S. Government to put an
end to the war at the South. and then that
America, again united, should take her foe
in hand.
The steamship America with European
news to the 9Th inst, passed Cape Race on
Wednesday night, but the Press boat was
unable to speak her. She has arrived at
New York.
Gen. Butler repudiates Phelps's proclama.
tion-so do large portion of his own troops.
His recall is considered certain.
1t is said that the insurance upon the
buildings and other property recently de-
stroyed at Charleston, is very limited-and
that but a small portion, even if that, can be
paid, at present.
The Federal prisoners of war in Rich
mond are beginning to feel the want of pro-
per clothing. Congressman Ely has offered,
says the Dispatch, to expend s., 900 of his
private means, which are quite ample, in
order to purchase them the necessary cloth
ing, but his fellow prisoners declined to per-
NIT him to do it,
The letter of Gen. Scott is published in
all the leading journals Of London, and has,
it is said, produced favorable effect. The
Times, however, criticises it, and with the
exception of the Daily News and Morning
Star, its contemporaries followed it up in
much the same, if not more violent spirit.
The New York Times urges the U. S.
Government to forbid the expectation OF
ship timber, and states that the purchases
of ship timber in the United States for the
British Admiralty have been SO heavy as
nearly to clear the market; and vast quaint
ties are actually stored awaiting transporta-
ton.
The Boston Journal publishes private
letter from England which says ''tbe Nash
vile will be fitted out, and if they won't al
low guns to 60 on board, of course, 'mer-
chandise' will, and when opened out to sea,
guns will show how merchandise can take
Liverpool and Havre packets and freight"
1t is reported that the greater proportion
of the "stone squadron" will not answer
the purpose for which it was intended, in
consequence of the vessels drawing too much
water. Several of them have been sunk ex-
perimentally.
Mr.. Robert Browning, husband of the late
Mrs. Elizabeth Barrett Browning has made
his residence permanently in London, where
he is preparing for publication large num-
Der of poems, left in manuscript by his wife
at her death.
DR.. Johnston has recently obtained the
authorization of the government to practice
medicine in France, and has established him