, 1861-12-27

The investigation into the cause Of the
collision Of the steamers Belle Creole and
Frcestone, was concluded BY the Board Of
Local Inspectors at Cincinnati on the 25th,
and they find that the act was one Of repre-
hensib1e ca1elessness Oh the part OF Pilot
Rice, of the Freestonc, aud they have su=~
pended his license as punishment.
in the War Department for land service,
the French plan is now partially adopted, and
all guns are received on trial, but subject to
the several sorts Of tests, at the rate Of one il
ten If the quality is good they arc purchased, /
no matter who is the maker. The Govern |
ment is sparing no pains 10 protect its inter |
ests in this respect. There are but few really |
capable makers Of guns in the country, and |
these are doing all they can.
Capt. Orion, Of the Attica {M- company |
Of sharpshooters attached to Col Birge's st. |
Louis Regiment, died at his home in the for |
mer place, q few days ago.
The recent fire at Charleston, full details
OF which appear in the Courier Of the 18th ill.,
slant, is even more calamitous and destructive
than it Tas at first supposed to be. The agg-
grcgate loss Of property in buildings, goods,
&c, is almost Incredible. The Courier rough
" estimates it at not less than ten millions
Of dollars, on which the insurance was COM
FaratiSeIy limited. Most Of the policies were
in Charleston, Augusta, Savannah, and other
Southern companies, many Of which will be
unable to pay one fourth the amount incurred.
There is also considerable insurance in North
ern companies. which, under existing Difficult
tics, is not expected to be paid.
The climate IS our terrible enemy at Port
Royal OF Gen. sherman's Il, 900 men, in one
month :, eco had been on the sick List.
AT New York Oh the33d, the Government
Vas paying for ships bought for military pur-
poses. Most Of the ships were to have been
paid for in Treasury notes, and sellers COM
plain ut being manouyered ont Of forty days
interest.
On Saturday, the 18th inst, the Hustings
Court ut Richmond entered an order that all
free negroes be sold who do not pay their
taxes by the January term Of the court.
Captain D. D. Porter's e1peditionary
feet of mortar-boats is expected to be ready
for actiTe service in short time. AL the off
GERS detailed for it were ordered to report On
the 24th, at New York Four Of the boats Al
eiTed On Tuesday at the Brooklyn Navy Yard,
to receive their armament. Their names arc:
| the b.rkentine Borcs Bcilds and the schooners
/ John Grif1iths, Racer aud s. F. Williams. The
| Echooners S. G. Jones, G. a. Ward, 8. Brewer,
| Henry James, Soprona, Norfolk Packet and
t Arletta are expected at the Yard. Each boat
t Will carry thirteen-inch mortar.
| Mr.. Grimes announces that he will soon
introduce bill into the Q. s. Senate, to place
certain wards of the Washington hospitals in
charge Of homeopathic physicians.
| The Senate have not yet passed the House
bill appEopriatiug the ways aud means for
building iron clad steam vessels. It Is sup
posed that it will require four months to com
! plete them. They will each carry two guns
/ Of very heavy caHbre, and Congress will no
doubt pass upon them at an carly day. OF
this class the Lakes need a1arge fleet at once.
Among the papers accompanying the
Presidents late message on the Tripartite cx,
pedition to Mexico, was the project Of a treaty
with Mexico, sent home by minister Corwin,
t which provides for the payment Of $11 900, ,00]
by our Government to Mexico, to be applied
to the satisfaction Of English and French cred,
itors, and for grant to the United Ststes o1
extensive commercial privileges, as well as
the adjustment Of Ill our outstanding debts,
and right Of transit across Mexican territory
for our troops end munitions Of war:
The Detroit Free Press Of the 2ass5th notices
that the merchant vessels belonging to parties
on this side OF tue river, that have been layine
in Canadian ports, are being removed to this
side, as in case they should get frozen in, anG
war should break out with England, the3
would probably be contiscatcd.
The Toronto Globe Of the ED says twelve
24-poundcr guns arrived at the Fort yesterda,
morning from Quebec aia the Grand TruuE
Railway. Six of 1argc calibrc arrived in til,
up from Kingston, and it is stated That scvcra
Of them will be forwarded to Hamilton, Lon
: don, st. GATHERINGS, and other places.
"A decision Of interest to volunteers ant
recruiting officers has just been decided il
Cincinnati, when Judge Paddock, OF ha5ea
corpus, decided to discharge from custody
volunteer who had signed an enlistment ro1
but had not been sworn in, and refused tn
oath. He could not be held, and bis dctentio,
mas illegal.
The New England Society in the city Of Nes
York celebrated its Fifay-sixth anniversary Las
!, Monday evening by dinner OF the Asto
r House. Speeches were made by VIM. Ii
Evarts, the Rev, Drs. Adams and Storr5, Go1
! Curtin, Of Penn, Chas. Anderson and other;
with poem by John G. Sake. The folloHin
' letter from Secretary Seward WAS read:
DEPAEExEST OF STATE.
! Washington, Dec II, 1861.
| Toe, 4. stetson, ESQ, As:or House:
= DEAK SR-Pray present my apology to the Son
p the Annual New England Dinner My duties hel
allow me little enjoyment OF ho1iday5: If it Wer
+. an Old England dinner. instead Of New Englau
r. feast would certainly strain point to attend
, | would like good an opportunity to atteml
u to show our co1sins across the seas thi
e there is material benefit moral influence tn:
j. prosperity and greatness Of Great Britain, a.
il that every disaster that beas the United Staff
is also pregnant with suffering and sorrow, eoon'
or later. to be borne BY Great Britain.
20 Express my wa.nest acknowledgements to tt
IL Committee, and believe me, ever taithtQliy y yo'
N friend. ". II. SEWARD.
;" If re are to credit tho Toronto G,o5c, tt
IN suspension Of work OH the Parliament bull
st ings at Ottowa, vas owing to something el
- - than cold weather. Kunlors Of vast sums
f. money sunk, Heaven knows whereof CO
~ ~ 1upt jobs and an exhausted Treasury-are Ri
ia 1t has been eYen limited that the cry OF "W'
~, with tile Yankees has been raised by the Go
= ern1nent organs to cover up the corruptio
aF aE of Government contractors and Goyernmc
be Ministers. But this is slandcring and bac
u 91e biting world.
- COL Sam Colt denies that his agents
N, N England are actively engaged in aiding t
ny manufacture of revo1vers for the southe
'ss Rebels.
es, Col. Rob't Ingcrson's cavalry regimen
1lss. cncamped at Peoria, Ill, was mustered ir
gal the service Of the United States On Friday
1;s LOGO strong.
,ch Rev. Henry Smith, D. D., has resign
Us the Professorship Of Sacred Rhetoric a
mt Church History, in Lane Seminary, Cine
bby natl, to accept Q pastoratc in Buffalo.
81. tue Hon. William Marvin, q, S. Judge Of
my Southern District OF Florida, has just arri1
,lr ,pIr at New York from Key West, on q visit to
native State. The Judges name has been 1t
:, familiar to the commercial community #,