The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-17
THE SITUATION.

The President has issued a most important pro.
clamation nterdcting all commercial intercourse
by sea or land henceforth with the States in re-
oe'ion against the government with the exception
OF Eastern Virginia, and such portions of the other
recusant States as may be loyal to the govern.
ment- The carriage of goods chattels, wares,
merchandise or persons is strictly forbidden, and
the officials of the government are ordered to
forfeit all vessels and other conveyances that
may be employed in transporting such pro.
scribed articles from any of the States in arms
against the government, without permission
from the President, through the Secretary of
the Treasury.
Gen. Mcclellan, while dealing summarily with
the insubordinatc soldiers of the Seventeenth
New York and Second Maine regiments, is taking
active measures to preserve the army from de
moralization. He has issued an order restricting
the visits of all civilians or others to the seve-
raj camps or to any part of the Virginia
side OF the Potomac, except those provided
with passes from the General in command,
the Secretary of War or the Provost Marshal. All
outstanding passes are revoked. This measure
has doubtless been adopted in consequence of the
fact. which has been ascertained beyond doubt,
that Washington is teeming with traitors and spies
The investigation Of the Potter Committee will re-
veal an extraordinary condition of thin in the pub
lie departments. It is stated on good authority
that there are no less than hundred and forty
three known secessionists in the service of the
government at Washington, and seventy five
Others strongly suspected of entertaining treason
able sentiments Some of them were employed in
the Arsenal the manufacture of shells to be
used against the rebels, which may account for
the fact that many of these projectiles used at
Bull run did not explode.
The Potomac squadron continues from time to
time to provoke attacks from the concealed bat
teries in and around Acqua creek The steamer
Resolute WAS sent to Matthias Point for the pur-
pose Of accommodating, on Thursday afternoon.
Seeing a boat filed with barrels, little below
the Point, tho Resolute sent boat with
crew OF six men to take possession of it, but
from the woods adjacent, and three of the crew
were killed and one wounded With great Difficult
ty the unframed men brought back the boat to the
Resoute. The steamer opened fire of canister
and shell into the houses, which probably did some
damage. The Reliance came up at the same time
and joined in the fire. The rebels were to fly
from their ambuscade in small parties.
very important arrest of an agent of the rebels
was made in this city yesterday. A passenger
from Liverpool by the Persia, named Serrell who,
it appears, boosted while on the voyage that he
was the bearer of large sum of money for the use
Of the rebel government, was arrested by the
United States Custom House officers, on informa-
ton received from the other passengers, and upon
searching his baggage the sum of 5000 900 in Bank
of England notes was found therein. He was taken
to the District Attorneys Office, and admitted to
bail in the sum of $4O,O 900 to appear for examna-
tion on Monday next
The Grand Jury of the United States Circuit
Court in this city brought in an important paper
and presented it to Judge Shpman yesterday, con.
OemnaJOTy Vi tuc unreasonable course OF tne 10i
lowing papers:-Jour,sal of Commerce, the Dali.
and Weekly Neacs, the Day Book, the Freeman.
Journal and the Daily Eagle of Brooklyn, which
express themselves opposed to what they
call "the present unholy war" and for the
utterance of language which, if expressed
in the streets, would be considere,
q crime against the government. The Grand Jur
are aware that the conduct of these disoyal paper
is abhorred by all loyal men, and hope that it
subject to indictment and the punishment of tn
Court.
Rumors were prevalent in st. Louis yesterda
that General Ben. McCuoch was positively lille
ut the battle of Davis, creek. General Siegel
paid to be at point within ffteef miles of Lcba
R0n, and was expected to reach Rolla last night