The national Republican., 1861-08-01

3 second lieutenant in the regular army.
~ Our correspondent who complains of
drunken soldiers in our streets, (really not nu.
merous, considering the size Of the army quar-.
tered here,) will nee that measures have been
taken to arrest the evil, by Congress, in pro-
hioiting the sale of liquors to soldiers, and by
General Mcclellan, in confning them more
strictly to their camps.
~ A correspondent (July 27) says, in re-
spect to the Minnesota first regiment, that not
single officer has slept away from his men
since the regiment went into service. He at
tributes to this cause much Of the good order
and cheerfulness prevailing in the ranks,
~ We have received communication
complaining, in bitter terms, Of the forced
march, with little food and no water, of four.
teen miles, of the attacking column, in the
battle Of July 2i. The men we're fairly worn
on. before the enemy was reached.
~ The rebels are regaled with wonderful
stories in relation to the spoils of the battle of
July 2l. Even JET. Davis is reported to have
said that provisions enough were captured to
feed an army Of fifty thousand men for a year.
~ A California gentleman assures us that
the charge Of the Star, of any special insub.
ordination in Col. Bakers regiment is alto
ssther unfounded. He assures US also, quite
unnecessarily, that If the regiment is fortunate
enough to be brought into action, it will vindi-
cate itself, by its gallantry and efficiency.
Nothing less could be expected, from the ma
terisl Of which it is composed and the estsb-
lished reputation of its commander.
TIE EARTH ENCOUNTERS A CoNET.-Mr. J.
R. Hind, the English astronomer, in letter to
the London Times Of July 5th, thinks that it
is not only possible, but probable, that on the
3Oth June the earth passed through the tail Of
the comet, at distance Of perhaps two.thirds
of its length from the nucleus. he adds, that
upon that date he observed, in the evening,
peculiar illumination of the sky, which he at
tributed then to an suroral glare, but, he sug.
gests, might possibly be owing to the nearness
of the comets tail. "If q similar illumina-
ton of the heavens" he concludes, has been
generally remarked on the earth's surface, it
will be a significant fact"
The PATENT OFEIcE.-A number of re-.
movsls were made from this Office yesterday,
including Messrs King, Peck, and Clark ex-
sminers, at $4,000 per year each, (Mr. Law.
renee of the same grade having previously re-
signed j Messrs. Herbert, Toll, and jerks,
second class examiners, at $500 each; and
Messrs. Shaef, Hslstesd, and Holmesd, third
class examiners, at 81 900 each. The diminu.
ton of the business, and consequently of the
revenue of this branch of the service, made
this reduction necessary; and we are informed
that the task has been performed with regretful
reluctance on the part of the Commissioner
and the Secretary, the list herein given EN-.
bracing number of estimable gentlemen and
accomplished officers.
The KILLED AND WouNDED.-Surgeon King,
in his official report to Capt. Fry, allowing a
vide margin for those unobserved, estimates
the loss of killed and wounded on the Federal
side, at the late battle of Bull Run, at from
800 to 1900.
The Richmond Wing says;
San estimate of the killed and wounded BY
the chief military surgeon at General Bsaure
CARDS headquarters, on the part of the Con
federate army, places the amount at 300 to 40(
killed and 100 to 1900 wounded"
Another part of the same paper (July 25
puts down the secession loss at 500 killed and
$500 wounded. When the truth of the matter
becomes known, (if it ever ISL these figures
will be at least doubled.
~ Prince Napoleon and the Princess
Clotilde received on Monday, from the Secretary
Of State, the congratulations of the President
on their arrival in the United States, together
with an invitation to extend their visit to " ash
ington, and while there to sojourn at the Ex
ecuti7e Mansion. The Assistant Secretary o
State vent to New York to deliver the invita-
zion.
This courtesy was suitably received an,
acknowledged b. ths Prince, and he will visi
Washington in & few days But as he is traTe
ling unostentauouslJ, and not in al oficia
character, he will decline al! public demon
srations While il Washington he ill prol
ably take up his residence at the French lega
lion.
y@- We understand that q conference "a
held at the State Department yesterday norr
Ing, batTeen the Secretary Of State and til
ministers from Great Britain, France, Russit
Prussia, and Holland, upon some subjects pr'
ssnted in letters from the Tycoon Of Japan
the President of the United States, and frol
the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Japan
the Secretary of State, containing proposition