Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-25
LATEST FROM THE NORTH.

| LATEST FROM THE NORTH. q.
LINCOLN BACKING D0wE-MAS0N AND sLIDELL
TO BE SURRENDERED.
(vrom the Norfolk Day Book Of yenerdayJ
From the New York Herald Of the 2lst we clip the
following:
THE SITUATION.
Lord Lyons had two servisws with Secretary Seward
yesterday and their conferences were said 70 be Of
cordial and friendly character. No formal written CON-
munication had passed between them relative 10 the Ma
and Sidell Affair." nor bss any demand been made Of
our government 10 the matter. Captain Seymour, tie
Queens messenger, did noHreturn TO England by tie
Africa yesterday. Further instructions for Lord L,.
ons are expected by the America anc much aoIsly
Is felt with regard 10 them. IL IL not unlikely
that Lord Lyons will withhold bis demands until the
mails OF the America arrive II peremptory de-
msnd for the release Of the reoel commissioners be
made involving ths issue Of war il Ia probable tina. tie
Cabinet viii yield for the Tine in view OF the present
exigencies OF the country in is struggle With Desperate
rebellion and the condition also Of EIgland's msic
tanning an honest neutrality, and other cors.dtra.
TONS When our difficulty at home Is se:tlsd our
counts with England will naturally up for se,iio
ment OF our own time and the future may decide the
Issues arising out OF this Affair." and many Others
cord against our quasi friend on the other side Of the
water.
The report that the British euuboa Rinaldo started
from Halifax in thirty minutes after the arrival Of the
Africa with dispatches tie English Admiral at H..
vlns was Misrepresentation. IL happened that the r.
Iaido bad up the time the Afrcs arrived aud
about to start for this port where ste arrived yea
terdsy, relieve the gunboat Racer which Is to retlra
Halifax according the ordinary rule Of exchs ugrg
vessels ut the different ports.
brisk and Gu ,cessfgl cooAct took place at noon
yesterday the lines in front Of Washington. General
acCslrs brigade went out In the morning foTagiDg
expedition towards Drsinsville. His advance force
commanded by General Ord consisted Of four regiments
of infantry regiment Of Pennsylvania rifles aud Eis
toms battery. Near Drainsyc q fro was opened on
the rebes under Colonel Forney, numbering four reg
ments Of infantry and Of cavalry who were conceal
ed In the bushes. The fire returned from our rid
and the battery, and ae- hours fighting the rebels
retrea.ed towards FairsX Court House, leaving 100
killed aRd wounded behind them, together with two
cis 'ons Of ammunition and qsanty Of clothing aud
stores. General Mccall bad ordered up General v
nolis to point the Leesburg turnpike to support.
General Ord, in anticipation Of attack; but before
Generals Reynold and Mccall reached the field of action
the rebels had been defeated by the irresistible FIRE Of
Eis.on's batteries and the rifles Of Col. Kanes reg
regiment. Oar loss abOu! ten killed aud fifteen
wounded. The troop Of Gen. Mccall returned to camp
last night.
The message Of the President relative to the a,rs OF
Mexico, which sent TO the Senate Thnrsdsy ask
ed the advice Of that body to his with regard
to the invitation 10 government to Join the trpaie
alliance Of European Powers against Mexico He stats
that at the present time he is unwilling take the re-
sponsibty Of deciding whether to ,cept the invitation
or to loan Mexico the money TO pay eft the demard "a
made upon her by her foreign creditors. The Senate
however, took action upon the message and probably
will not until the first week in January after the adjourn
ment.
Extract from the Herslis Editorial
IMPORTANT FROM wAsHISGroS-MAsoS AND sLIDELL 70
Be DELIVERED DEMANDED.
According TO latest adyices from Washington, all
apprehensions Of rupture with E1glar upon the late
aiir of the Trent may be dismissed. Our Cabinet We
are informed, looking 10 the absorbing and paramount
issue-the suppression Of this Southern rebslion-pl
yield the personal demands of England as the cord.
lions Of her neutrality, II these demands Involve
the restoration OF Mason and Sde TO the o..con Of
the British Aag aud dsavowal Of and apology for
their seizure by Capt Wilkes.
In adopting this alternative OF submission % those
perempory demands the Administration runs the hazard
of Disappointing the popular sentiment Of our loyal
States But little ref .con will safety srery intei.
gent mind Of the wisdom Of deferrng fnal settlement
with Elgaud until we shall have made an end Of this
Southern rebellion Thore have been cor lectures
that arbitration may be resorted to but it is better
gracefully to yield 10 the exigencIs OF the crss and
promptly relieve England Of Der venent preeIt for
quarrel without the Intervention OF any third parry
Let government then, meet tbs rsqusilious Of Lord
Lyons 10 the restitution Of Mason aud Sidel 10 British
protection, and in acknowledgement tfa' while Cap
tain Wilkes woulI have been right in selling the Trent
seamer and In bringing her before prize court for adj
judcation be was wroog 10 limiting his proceeding 10
the ezuIe OF his prisoners and that regret tint
bis controlling considerations OF international esy
and enency should have resulted 10 the very offence
which ii was bis particular object to avoid.
(Ttiegrophsd from Norfolk to The P,tas5rg Rypyess)
Mr.. Adams, the United States Minister to England,
does not indicate in bis communications that he knows
The purport of the instructions of The English Govern
ment to their Minister. Nothing contained in the Ad-
ans dispatches indicates that Eoglsnd will make
horbitant demand upon the United Sates Private let
received from British statesmen that Great
Britain will not demand the release Of Mason and Sdei
hut II require apology for the insult TO her flag.
Congress has ordered twenty iron clad gun beats
Gen. Jackson, of the Confederate army stelled Will
lamport, from the Virginia sidc Of the Potomac, on
Tuesday last.
The Hon. George W. Jones, ex-senator from lows,
has been sent to Fort lafayette.
EVANSVILLE FIGHT.
An official report from Gen. Mccall dated D.anesyie,
Decenb 20:h, says that Gen. 0rds brigade, with the
First Regiment Of Pennsj lsana Rifles and Bosons bat
terry artillery had brisk fght with the enemy on FIi.
day, consisting Of four regiments AID battery Of sr
lery.
The enemy were defeated and fed.
We have found forty killed and ten wounded Of the
enemy.
Our loss was two killed and eight wounded.
FROM MISSOURI
1.-THE Herald publishes q despatch from Gen. Hsleck,
oateu missou Dec 49, annouhcing tne capture Of 100
rebels, together with tens, horses baggage etc. at
camp near Shawnee Mound.
From Sedala, Missouri, under date of Dec. 90 des-
patch says 200 wagons lo00 horses and nearly 600
troops have been captured BY Gen. Pope.
FROM PORT ROYAL.
General Stephens brigade, consisting of 1000 mem
now occupy Beaufort, Lacy Island, St. Helena, and
Bay Point The number Of Yankee troops a. Port Royal
and viciuity now number 30 600.
Five huadred thousand pounds Of cotton had been re-
ceived when the Atlantic sailed.
Two hundred and Fifty released Hatteas prisoners ar
rived tonight from Fortress Monroe.
Large supplies left the For. to-day for the Southern
nett d.
ARRIVAL OF THE NOarH CAROLINA PRIsoSEss-The
seien vent to the Point yesterday under hg Of truce
and on her return brought up two hundred and eighty
four Of the Hatteras prisoners.
The sedsn reached her wharf about o'clock and