The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-17
GENERAL NEWS.

Senate a reply to Mr.. PowelPs resolution
asking for information as to oil contracts
made by the department since the fourth of
March last, in which lie declares that he
himself had not made single contract for.
any purpose whatever, having always inter-
preted the laws of Congress as contemplating
that the heads Of bureaus, who are expert
enced and able officers of the regular army, |
shall make all contracts for supplies. i
1t is said that during the late floods in
California, more than thousand Cinnamon
we're drowned. sd
On the 18th, the U. s. steamer Yankee
threw some shells into the fish houses at
Freestone Point, on the Potomac.-and a
boats crew landed on the beach near there
to bring off boat, but did not succeed, and
had to burn the boat -
An officer of the Goth Pennsylvania vol
unteers says the Confederate Potomac bate
ries fred at the batteries on the Maryland
side on Sunday. Two shells fell right IN
front, throwing the dirt into the battery, and
several went clear over. The same officer
saws further, that shell from the Confede-
rate batteries, aimed at the Pensacola, threw
the dirt right over the soldiers that manned
| Mayor Brown, in Baltimore, has refused
to accept any extension of his parole condl'
tional upon his absence from his home, and
/ has gone back to Warren.
The contested election case from Pennsyl-
vania was the subject of a long discussion
in the U. S. House of Representatives yes
terday.
Secretary Welles is rather crusty in his
! reply to the resolution Of the s. House ct
Representatives, making inquiries into the
puIchase.of vessels for the navy, by g D.
Morgan, of New York. He says ,hat bis
attention was engaged in other and higher
considerations han the things for which he
is arraigned and judged" by those who are
seeking to censure him.
Accidents from the explosion Of kerosene
oil, are reported III the newspapers.
Henry Horn, formerly prominent politi
clan in Pennsylvanla, and q great fayoritt
of Gen. Jackson's, died on the 18th ult HI
is the man of whom Gen. j. said Horn
cannot lie."
All of the crew of the u S. frigate John
Adams, at New York, took the oath of allie
giance to the U. S. government, but five
these expressed an unwillingness to serv
against their own States"
81 :. Descents" are made by the police nov
constantly in New York upon the gamblin
+. houses houses of i'll fame, "free and easys,
/, &c which abound in that city.
1t is now evident that the public mind j
: Europe was prepared for the solution of th
}. Trent difficulty, by the surrender of Maso
> and Slidell. ......,..
Efforts are being made by the friends @
Gordon, recently convicted and sentenced
It hung for being engaged in the slave trade
i. to induce the President to commute his sci
It tence to imprisonment for life. The jur
d who convicted him have signed petition ft
e. communication. .e#.,. ~ ,gss.
Of On the 18th inst, in Somerset count.
'e Pa, there was snow storm, accompanie
es with lightning and thunder. The san
s. phenomenon was witnessed the same day
a Cambria county, Pa.
OF There has been organized in Austria,
q regular department of the Post Office D
partment, for opening and reading ''suspt
ted letters" 1t causes remonstrances al
- complaint even in that country.
,r- There is strong probability, according
ne the Philadelphia Press, thai the nominate
er OF Mr.. Sickles as Brigadier-General will n
IN be confirmed by the Senate.
n U. S. ship Macedonian, recently arriv
er at Boston brings some particulars OF t
Sumter's escape from the Iroquols, as lea'
It. ed from the officers of that steamer. Ca
in Palmer, to whom no little blame was attat
ed, was misled in the pursuit.