The New York herald., 1862-11-29
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
wAsMS0roN, Nov. %. l6a3
TIE ANNUAL DRPARrxxHr REroKrs.

TEE ANNUAL DEPARTMENT RBP0ETS.
There very little prospect that the reports Of tas
Secretaries viii BE- ready By she opening q Congress
Tho reports Of subordinate oaoers Of mucA is
portanse and volaminous that has been almost Inn
possible TO prepare them in tie for the reports Of ehs
chiefs Of departments TO be based upon them.
10 the Navy Department the Chief Of Ordnance has
made report which s probably tho most interesting
that has been given tho country IN regard TO so
clad vessels proectes and ordnance Il has been ssoss
sary abbreviated and goes lees Into detail than might -
DESIRED but will show the condition Of our now nava
armament, and will, by the facts presented disprovs
many of tho theories which have beea careasssiy
adopted by some Of scientific writsrs from tAe
necessity OF seciuding from the public eye many
facts DEVELOPED in experiments. Captain Dahlgrea
has hitherto been prevented from publishing great ~
suts that have been attained, which his report wM
only partially disclose: but will show that In expert
ments OF naval warfare and In iron cads and their arA
meut we have outsiripped all tho nations Of ths
EARTH
Tho Quartermaser Generals report win occupy much
space Il Ia repete with interesting ana important Dc.
tails.
is promised that all the reports Of heads Of depart
ments shall ready for presentation 70 Congress by
Tuesday morning. but is doubtful whether the printing
can be done by that time ss the government printing
establishment has been with the current bust
tho departments aud Of the reports OF SUB
ordinate officers voumnous that II will be many
days before proof sheet can be obtained.
The whole force OF employees of the government havs
busily engaged preparing the materials for thes
reports but their unusual importance and the muitpi
pcty OF details have tasked all the industry tas
could be exercised.
MIR. SEWARD ON FRENCH MEDIATION.
am Informed that Mr. Seward looks upon the pre-
posed mediation Of the french government a. the act Of
piu A =
alter Ia the least our friendly relations with France H
thinks the uniavorable Of the press that
subject are due to the imperfect translation Of ths
French TRANSLATION which, In his opinion, does net
do justice 70 The idea OF the Emperor.
This idea is simply to manage an interview 10 thS
beIIiecrcuts without prejudice OF what they may =
afterwards to prevent continuation Of the wa, o.
exercise the least Of hs co0ssndng
parties way another directly or Indirectly, this
Is In expressed or hnted a. In the document
Iu other terms aud TO familiar comparison, VII
ssy that Louis Nspcssons letter In tho invitation f
soversgn other sovcregns. 70 invite the North V
havs little conversation with the South, and the SoatA
10 have little conversation with the North before 70
sumIng hostities Such tho most general nierprsta
,lou heard given 10 among public odioers and h
diplomatic circles
rHH n'powELI COURT op INQUIRY
Tho Mcdowell Court assembled this forenoon ss hAtf.
past eIcyeu O'Clock. Tho Journal o the preceding DAY
was read and approved. Considerable msrrimsns.
though suppressed manifested 10 the Court sxtsnd
ing eysa 70 the veteran President General Cadwaiadss,
upon tho reading the letter presented yesterday foa
Colonel Goodwin accusing eensra Mcdowell OF drunsn
usss &c The Court thsn cleared and continued IN
secret sess,so one hour.
Upon The opening Colonel Pssuye, Recorder Of The
Court presented stter from the headquarters of me
army, summcning Generals Mcclellan, Pope, sisss.
Ricketts, arsun &c. as witnesses In this case. In rc-
ference 10 some other ocers called for - witnesses oy
Gen wcIove the from the headcuArtsvs
s,ssd ha, they were the aed and supposed 70 BE IN
,he OF duties from which thcy could not well be
spsred at this time.
lengthy informal conversation then cususd botwesu
e,cr.l Mcdowell and the Court a. 10 the meaning of the
,.,. general eosduct In The Courts decision of yes
,.,dax which resulted In the understanding thst the
anh iuauiry the plan proposed by him, relative 70
ookenpess would be included in these terms and every
o,nsr charge affecting HE character - general ofncer
Ths Court then called upon General Mcdowell for evt
deucs upon the nrst inquiry, Ccrrespcndence with
ths enemy comrnandsrs with persons In the rebel
limos Colonel schrver stated that no had been upon
General McDowsrs star about eipi months and laid
bofore the Court the covrespouuence had by General
ucroxei With General ,. R. Anderson and hh repltes
,h.-sto Tcs correspondence relates 70 the death Of
soh, y Scott. by, as General Anderson terms
:. vi. ,e,,er 70 General Mcdowell, tte hsuds
!, an ASSASSIN. and requests permission sf 0spersl
urous ALI that certain Dr Lyons, Mrs Scotys brcthsr
ns allowed 70 pass through his lines 10 her resdenc
ssr wsrrsuton sod bring Mrs. Scott INTO ms (GcnefAl
Anasrsoo,s) lines In his reply TO the arst letter
Apdersons Geacral Mcdowell refuss shs rcQucs
~ M fyoas 10 come and 90 out d bis lines excsps
Vrsdercssburs 10 rep'y 70 ths 0sssra' Aadssos wtss