The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-26

The newspapers, for three or four days,
have been giving accounts of reported inter-
views betweentL Lord Lyons and Mr. Seward
of propositions made-of what Mr. Lin
coin says, &C., &c. They are stated as if the
writer's were cognizant of the correctness o!
what they tell, whereas they know no more
about the matter than any intelligent man
knows who reads their assertions Today
there were no newspapers to furnish the
usual quantum of fimsy fabrication, and the
public were, nevertheless, just as wise and
well informed, as if they had taken their
usual dose of the N. Y. Herald, Times and
Tribune, or wasted an hour over Washing
ton correspondence"
The Louisville Journal (strong Union pa
peri continues, in the most decided and en-
erge,c manner. to object to and condemn
ted States, il favor of abolition, by Sumner.
the recent resolutions of the Kentucky Leg
islature in relation to Secretary Cameron.
and the slavery subject, meet with the appro-
val Of the people of that State almost uni
versally.
Bishop Stevens, of the Episcopal church
in Pennsylvania, sis to be consecrated on
the I'd of January"
The Burnside expedition " is expected
now to leave Annapolis every day.
The New York Herald advises that the u.
S. government, in imitation of the course of
the British g 'vernment, instruct all Ameri-
can vessels, national or merchant to inform
every T. s. ship met on the high seas that
war with England is probable, and that they
sbonId prepare for it.
The New York Herald speaking of the ne
gro question says-What is the condition Of
the Northern negroes at best? We are told
they are free. But what sort of freedom ia
it? Have the any political privileges, or any
social standing? Can they be elected to anI
office? Can any white man or woman inter-
mary with them without being disgraced
and an outcast from society? Are they not
parahs at the North more than at the South"
Lieut.. Wright, 10th Massachusetts, has
been dismissed the service by court martial,
for conduct unbecoming an officer and gem
tleman, in using disrespectful language to
his superiors.
The U. 5 Court of Claims has adjourned
until January 9th, when decisions will be
given upon several important cases, invOly-
ing large amounts.
Adjutant General Thomas last week sanc-
toned the payment of all the officers appoin-
ted by General Fremont, named in the list
forwarded by General Halleck new names
have been forwarded since. and instructions
have gone West to pay all officers actually
in service under Fremont, in full.
The New York Herald says :-"Admiral
Napier, at public dinner in London, boas-
ted that in three weeks he would be in Hea-
ven or He'll or Cronstadt. Upon entering
the waters of the Baltic he issued an order
to the seamen to sharpen their cutlasses.-
But, on attempting to force his way through
the batteries defending the Russian strong
hold, this fre-eater was so overwhelmingly
repulsed at the first attempt that he did not
venture again."
The most nutritious article of food produ-
ced in this country is Indian corn; and when
properly prepared it is one of the most pals-
| table. An organization in New York re-
Gently offered premiums for the best recipes,
for making corn bread, and the result of the
competition for them will be seen in the fol-
lowing 1.-The recipe for making corn bread
like that which took the first premium, ia as
follows: 10 two quarts of meal. add one
point Of bread sponge; water sufficiently to
wet the whole; add one half pint of flour,
and tablespoonful of salt; let it rise: then
knead we'll for the second time, and place
the dough in the oven, and allow it to bake
an hour and half"
The U. S. gunboat Rover, stationed at the
mouth Of the York river, reports an exten.
sive conAagration in Yorktown about a week
since.