The New York herald., 1862-12-15

news yesterday. In every household, perhaps,
some deep and painful interest was centred
upon that battle field. Many one thought or
feared that the vacant chairs around the freside
last night might never again be filled by the be-
loved ones who left home and kindred to brave
the dangers of the fight for their country's sake
Many an anxious woman's heart beat family a.
the intelligence broke upon her, and hope strug-
gled with fear for the fate of some one dearer
than life, whose stout arm she knew would be
foremost where the oolors of bis regiment led
him
Everywhere throughout the city tho same
intense excitement prevailed-in the church,
on the streets, in the parlors of the wealthy,
and in the more humble dwellings Of the poor.
That "hQpe deferred" which maketh the heart
sick awaited the news of to-day to tell the
worst or best that had befallen the absent
soldier.
REBEL PIRATE SHIPS FITTING Our AT LIVER
pooL.-The peculiar neutrality Of England in
the present war against cur Southern rebellion
has been the subject Of much comment, aud
the facility her government has afforded to Bri-
tish capitalists and speculstors in fitting out
armed vessels to operate against the North. by
destroying our merchant marine on the seas
and conveying supplies to the enemy, has more
than once been severely rebuked. 1t was freely
stated that feet Of iron-clad vessels for the
rebel navy was being fitted out at Liverpool,
and people doubted the fact from the boldness
and want of good faith manifested By such IN
undertaking. But in the diplomatic correspon-
dence Of Mr.. Seward with Mr.. Adams he refers
to il as y truth, and remarks, as singular eyi-
dence Of the neutrality OF England, that the
United States government was then actually en-
gagged in fortifying the harbor Of New York to
resist a piratical expedition coming from Livor-
pool. Liverpool" says Mr.. Seward, "a chief
port Of great nation with whom we are at
peace, to whose Capitalists we are sending gold,
and whose suffsrings we are supplying with
bread. 1t seems too strange to believe; and
yet what menace OF this kind can we discredt
after the experience of our merchantmen de.
stroyed on the high seas by the Alabama
Poor GREELEY's New CONTRACT JoB.-We
have often expressed our fears that poor old
Greeley's gun contract would not prove as
profitable as he expected and we desired. These
fears have unfortunately been realized. The
fact is that none Of the Tribune philosophers
Schemes for raising the wind seem to amount to
much. His gift lottery enterprises for gold
pens, slate pencils and strawberry plants all
failed. He undertook the agency for Victor
Hugo's I.es Miserables,s feeling that this was
very appropriate title for Tribune publication;
but he was soon undersold by cheaper and
better edition of the novel; AT last, however,
Greeley has obtained contract which promises
more fairly. He has contracted to furnish the
rogues and ruf6ans in our New York State pri-
sons with beef from the Tribune Association
farm, In Westchsster, at paying price. With
this assistance the Tribune may be able 10 sur
vive a short time longer, in spite Of the taxes
and the high price Of paper. We doubt very
much whether poor Greeley can raise very good
beef; but if the contract had been for veal, we
should have backed the Tribune establishment
against the world. The contract expressly pro-
vides, doubtless, that Greeley shall not smuggle
any copies of the Tribune into the prisons along
with the beef Bad beef may be good enough
for rogues; but there is no use in making our
imprisoned rascals any worse than they are, by
supplying them with depraved, atheistic litera-
ture.