Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-12-20
AFTERNOON DISPATCHES.
From ashin.tOn.

W hcHiNnioN, JeC 10.
Richmond and Norfolk papers o; Yesterday are
received. The Centerville, Fairfax county, cor
respondent Of the Richmond D.sDQtel writes Dec.
ember 18th: The Notifications around Center
vile are how com Ileted, and present quito u tor
m.dabie appearance. For field fort iii cations thev
are built very s:rong, some of tho work being
FASHIONED forts, constructed in q manner that
sho ows skiiiul engineering on the part Of some-
body, Gen. Hcauregard, | presume. Some care
seems TO have been taken with embra sures which
are buiit 70 combine convenience for handling the
guns with tho test Methcd Tor protecting the
men They are very strongly built With hurdles
and sand bags, and will sta I'D heavy cannonadinp
before giving way. The armaments Of these forts
arrived from place where they make most excel
lent guns. They have been put in position, an!
an that Is now asked IL, for Gen. Mcclellan 70
bring on his Yankees.
Different artillery corps are drilling in these
batteries nearly every day, and some have become
marksmen. All lhave attained perfectly, the range
OF any point where hostile battery could be
planted.
A series of resolutions have been adopted BY tho
Legislature OF Tennes ae, relative to the opening
oi The Southern ports, and rccomrncn ling that no
crops OF cotton be seeded the coming wear
Inc correspondent of the Lraniae~ says that in
tclilgeLce, apparently bettcr founded than that
which generally finds its way from Washington.
has been received, Of an intention on the part of
the military authorities Of the United States. to
make an advance or the liaes Of tie Potoma ac ar
risk another general engagement within the next
ten days.
Especial TO the Tribune.
Capt Seymour and Mr.. Adams message arri we'd
about midnight. The President will senl a mess
age to the Senate, on the subject of our ,lation.
with Great Br!tian, which will be consiccreI in
Executive Session to morrow.
kulnor is afoat that Government has decided To
return Mason and Sliell, but We are satisfied that
tnis is untrue.
The Africa will carry to England disratch from
Lord Lyons, containing lt:le morr tn cn th q inteIE
gencc that he has received and delivered 70 the
American GsvcrLment his instructions from Tho
Foreign Office.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs has
the question OF establishing diplomatic relations
with IBERIA and liayti under advisement and will
report iavorhly at an carly day.
Iierali's Dispatch
From the nun erous de> patches that have
been received here to-day there is fear expressed
among the people in different parts of the country
that the Government may be induced by some d
pioinacy to give the traitors up. have the high
est authority for saying that the possibility Of
their surrender under any necessity does not now
exist. The President Is firm and mmoyable on
this point.
A Cabinet meeting was held to iay, at which
the English question was discussed, Of course in.
formally. There was but one scn:iment-tha, no
quarrel with England must be permitted to inter
iere at TINS moment to stay the reduction Of the
rebels. have tn" best authority for saying that
the demands Of England will be met in a spirit Of
conciliation, which will refute the report that Mr.
Seward or a.y other member Of the Cabinet has
been eager TO provoke a foreign war.
resolution iered in tho Washington CITY
Council iavoring the abolition Of slavery in the
District o. Columbia, was lai1 on the table by q
vote Of nine 10 four.
WAsHINGToN, Dec. 10.
Capt. Geo Cock has arrived here from Eoston
with dispatches from the American Minister at
London to Secretary Seward. The contents Of the
dispatches brought hither by the Queens nessen-
ger 20 Lord Lyons. had not been communicated to
our Government up to O'Clock this +. VI.