The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-27
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
~~~>~~>~~~~~o>>~~~~~~>~o---
The Cabinet in Council on the
Mason-Sidel Affair.
Proposed Call on the President for the
Papers Relative to the Case.
War Speech Of Senator Hale, of
New Hampshire.
S>~~~~~~~soo~~~~~~~~~~>cU~
Capture Of Rebel Agents on the Coast
Of Texas.
Government Stables ard Horses De-
stroyed by Fire.
Large Force Of the Rebels Near
Dranesville,
&C., &C., &c.
Government Stables ard Horses De-
stroyed by Fire.

AsdIEo 3OCC0 Oh CNe xAeDcls MSaT
Dranesville,
&C., &C., &c.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26, 1861.
THE MAsoN-sLIpELL AFFAIR.
Tho Trent afair was the subject of long and very
grave Cabinet consultation to-day The utmost secresy
has been enoncd reference to tho proceedings which
are known only to those who were present.
We have to believe, however, that the affair is
regarded by far the serious and embarrassing of
all the questions with which the administration has been
called to deal The extent Of the demand Of Great
Britain yet only matter Of conjecture 1t has been
it. known that tho President was opposed to the
surrender Of the rebel prisoners under any
but he willing do whatever be shall be convinced
necessary for the public good.
An effort has unquestonaby been made by Secretary
Of State to obtain equivalent for the acquescence
Of this government to the demands Of England definite
pledge Of the nonntererence Of tho British in our do
mestc war. The hesitation about giving this pledge is
regarded Indicative Of the determination Of England
not 10 bind herself in this respect, but to
. second step in offensive action towards this
government. In recognizing the revotcd States be
gsrents she has already taken the first step towards
placing herself in hostile attitude. Even the recog
milton Of their independence would necessarily be
for war, but would be justiabe in treating
II sho has>dctermined take this course any com
plance whatever part with her present demand
would not arrest the execution of that determination
is believed here that the present position Of England
ia attributable to the dispatches which England
over the seeded States, and offering to make them
British colonial dependence
was stated tonight by one of the highest officers Of
the government who Of the few who perfectly
informed Of all the proceedings the case that in very
few days the whole would be public without
any reservation The negotiations will not however, be
closed until after the arrival OF General Scott with ad
vices from France He is expected in the morning.
In the meantime, the report prevalent in New York,
that Mason Sde had gone on the Europa takes the
IS no foundation for the rumor.
CONDITION OF GEN. McLELLANs HEALTH.
General McClean's health is much improved. He has
been attending closely business to-day and will be in
the saddle again on Monday next.
ATTACK ON GENERAL M'CALL's PIcKETs
Information received to-day from General McCals div
sion s to the effect that early this morning pckets
extending toward Dranesyle driven at the latter
al hol;o hax,a loru
reinforced Hence increased watchfuness the part
our troops has become necessary.
FALSE ALARM IN THE CAMPS.
heavy canncnadng heard to-day across the Po-
tomac. It thought by that another Dranesve
fight In progress. and unusual excitement pre-
vailed in the divisions Of the army nearest to the firing
All disappointed on learning that the firing pro-
ceeded from cannonadng practice by the batteries Of
General Porter's division.
STRONG FORCE OF REBELS NEAR EVANSVILLE.
scouting party Of cavalry sent out to-day in the
direction Of Dranesve. They report about thirteen
thousand rebel troops in that vicinity.
OPERATIONS OF THE BLoCKADING SQUADRON ON
THE TEXAN COAST.
Dispatches from Commander Rdgeley cruising Off the
coast Of Texas have also been received from which it
appears that early December he captured the English
schooner Victoria, Of seventytwo TONS from Point Isa
bel with clearance from the rebel authorities, having
run the blockade. The vessel sent to Key West.
Seven Of those board took the oath Of allegiance and
six we're detained as enemies of the United States
The schooner Eugenia Smith, the 9th, over.
hauled permitted to DEPART contraband articles
being found board. The persons Of two rebel agents.
however secured, namely Thomas 8. Rodgers, OF
Texas, and Mr.. Zachare, of New Orleans The papers
found clearly impcate them rebel agents, seeking to
make their way to Mexico, thence to other parts.
sEvENTY-FIvE HORSES DESTROYED BY FIRE.
At seven O'Clock this evening fire broke out in the
government stables the Observatory, and eleven
sheds in which several hundred horses quartered
were destroyed All the horses In two of the sheds
burned The fire spread with great rapidity and the
horses loose fast as possible and allowed to
escape wild stampede took place. and several spec
tors were run by the anrighted animals drove Of
them ran down Pennsylvania avenue raniicay and only
stopped when completely exhausted Several were killed
rendered useless by their mad efforts to escape Some
that had been partially burned were shot to put an end to
their tor.ures The number Of horses lost is about
hundred and seventy-fve.
The stables contained over six hundred horses or
train of one hundred and two horses belonging to a
Massachusetts, regiment, only eleven were said
saved IL is supposed the confagraton resulted from
earelessness So quickly the flames communicated
to various racks filed with hay that the horses in
the stalls nearly all at the same time sufocated
The scene was sickening and offensive The remander
Of the horses not Immediately tho fire were either
ioossd broke their fastenngs and wildly ran in differ
ent directions but pursued by squads of cavalry
with view to their capture. large quantity Of har.
ness and house occupied as dwelling by teamsters
we're also destroyed.
The nsfhcency OF the Washington Fire Depart
ment again illustrated single New York
ore company would have subdued the flames before three
d the sheds were burned.
This large loss affords additional argument for the
employment Of steam Gre engines which has long been
contemplated