The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-03

the telegraphlc accounts from Washington.
published in the Northern papers, assert
that the official dispatches from England
and France are all favorable for the preser-
walton of peace with the United States-and
that the most amicable relations have been
restored between Mr.. Seward and Lord
Lyons.
Mr.. Stewards diplomatic dinner last week
was attended by most Of the foreign minis
ters, and several U. S. army officers. There
is to be no reception at the Presidents
House in Washington Tomorrow night-but
Mrs. Lincoln is to have private party on
Wednesday night"
1t is said that a number of Southern Sc
cessionists are in Canada, whose business it
is to collect money from sympathising
friends, to forward and receive dispatches
from Europe, and place them in such secret
channels that they may reach their ultimate
destination.
Therswere eighty two vessels lost during
the month of January. OF this number
thirty were abandoned at sea. eighteen of
those abandoned being grain-laden, having
cleared with some four hundred and twerty
thousand bushels of wheat and corn. The
total value of the property lost and missing
was one million six hundred and forty-two
thousand dollars.
The body of one of the victims of the
Balls Bluff affair belonging to the late Gen
eral Bakers brigade, was last week discov.
cred on the Virginia shore Of the Potomac,
nearly opposite Fort Washington.
At the late affair at Colchester, rife,
said to have belonged to the late Mr.. Marion
of Lexin gton, was captured. Thereupon is
grave y reported in the Washington letters
to the Northern Papers, that Mr.. Marion
was lin the habit of shooting apples from
off the heads Of his negroes with this rife,
and of hitting the ace spot on the cenure of
card held out in the hand of one his ne
gro servants.
The Illineis Cavalry attended divine SER
vice, yesterday at the Methodist Episcopal
Church, in this place. The services were
Conducted by Chaplin Matlack, of that re-
giment. About eight hundred officers and
soldiers were present.
A bill has become law, which author
ICES the President of the United States,
whenever in his Judgment the public safety
requires it, to take possession of all the tele-
graph lines, and any or all the railroads in
the United States, is very stringent in its
provisions. The second section makes any
attempt to interfere with the unrestrained
use Of the property by the Government
punishable by death, or such other penalty
as court-martial may impose.
On Saturday afternoon marriage in
theatrical Nife was celebrated at Christ
Church, in Baltimore, the contracting par
ties being G. B. Bishop, the comedian Of the
Holiday Street company, and Miss Jose.
/ phine Parker of the same company.
In consequence Of the increased Eastern
travel for Washington in the afternoon, the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, in
order to expedite the heavy mails and in
creased passenger business in the commerce
line, to run an additional train on the Wash.
ington road, making the sixth train daily
between Baltimore and Washington in both
directions.
The remains of Zollicoffer and Peyton
reached Mumfordsville yesterday in charge
of Zollicoffer's Brigade Surgeon, temporarily
released on parole for the purpose.
Twenty,seven carpenters were discharged
from the Washington Navy Yard a few days
since because of the scarcity of work.
The Secretary Of War directs that officers
and soldiers of the United States who are OF
may be prisoners Of war, shall during their
imprisonment, be considered entitled to and
receive the same pay as if they were doing
active duty.