The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-12-19
Regular correspondence of the Press.
Letter from Boston.

Letter from Boston.
Ne,cs from Eredericksburg-Ban Erpedi-
tion--the SOC, Burnhdm-B arnum-HorSe
cdrs-Beecher's "Frdternity' lecture
american academy of Arts and Sciences
Pdper-p ickers-Chifoniers
BosToN, Dec. 18th, 1862.
To the Editors ofthe Press:
Yesterday at noon the whole city was de-
pressed by rumors that, after severe engage
ment, our troops had been forced to retreat
from the city of Fredericksburg, and reform
their shattered columns in Falmouth. Exag-
geration after exaggeration made this move
ment most fatal step. But to-day we learn
that there was no indecent haste in the matter
that we were not driven by the enemy to do
this The whole man9uvre was one calcu-
lated to deceive the rebels and better our own
position. The thirty days which have elapsed
since the enemy knew of our change of base
have been amply sufficient to allow of their
making most formidable Notifications. The
general impression seems now to be that we
shall move on their flank in a few days. Every
body is puzzled by Banks. Where has he
gone? Never has the mission of secret expe-
dtion been SO long concealed, since the war
began. The shrewd guessers all say he will
be heard from as soon as he reaches the Caro-
lnas. All. but which of the hayward Caro-
lines? Is it Weldon against which he is soon
to march, or is ii Charleston? or is it -?
Present indications point to the latter destina-
ton.
And so it seems that our good old foster
mother has Obliged us by sending out another
token of her good will. Having bestowed up
on us, for long time, numberless blessings
she now gives us two that are remembered,
$780, and 1906" Bya private letter from an
American in Europe, learn that the English
merchants concede that four out of five of
their vessels bound Tor Southern ports, are
captured in running the blockade, and some
place the risk as high as five in six. And yet
this hazard is not enough to prevent "a nation
of shopkeepers" from violating the great prin-
ciples of neutrality. English neutrality is moth
ing but the most sinister kind Of lett-handed
friendship.
Your Burnham is up here, and l am quite
unable to see that the sun is not. willing to
work for him in Boston as in the unpaved city.
1t is my opiuion that, as you pass his rooms on
Washington street, you would see many fa-
miliar faces in his Photographic case at the
door; many faces that you have noticed on
Middle street in Portland. 1t will hardly be
du fat to give the Names
Barnum's Vaudeville has opened. 1t is a
Museum junior and nothing more. The theat-
rieal cast is quite unobectionabe in its way,
although decidedly second rate. But these
attempts to mix up Natural History and the
| Hstrionic art are worthy of the great auto
| biographer. Faint heart never won fair lady"
and 1.-THE great Behemoth of the Scriptures
are on exhibition now; also farce and "the
living, roaring Black Sea Lion" All for eight
red stamps and u copper. Some people will
take their children to a theatre, where there
| is enough natural science thrown in to take
the curse off. when they wouldn't 90 to an out
and outer. This is especially the case in this
| city where we have two of these Orthodox
! theatres"
/ i, Al. al.
| railroads are being connected together. When
these inosculatons are finished person will
be able to ride from Cambridge to Brookline,
| or from RoXbury to Newton Corner. The
| great Railroad Exchange will be at Scolay's
| building on the summit of Cornhill, and com
mutation tickets will be issued, which will
take one to any part of the city. This is as it
should be; it makes one city ola dozen towns.
! Cambridge. Charlestown, Chelsea, East Bos-
on, South Boston, Roxbury, Dorchester, and
so on, are all linked by rail and ferry, into one
| metropolis.
Beecher the irrepressible, has again scintl-
| lated in fremont Temple. The lecture was
really an admirable production. He bravely,
honestly, and carefully treated the whole
subject of the Education OF the Citizen.''-
When he really works on lecture before
hand, Beecher is worth hearing. AT any time
! his oratory is of the fire-cracker style.
The American Academy of Arts and Sci
ences had their regular meeting on Tuesday
last, Dec. 9th. This society embraces all the
aristocracy Of science, and its labors for true
science cannot be oyer-estimated. At the last
meeting paper was read by the State Geolo-
| gst Of Maine, upon the footmarks in the Con-
nectieut Valley. 1t was communication
from the founder of technology, revising some
! of his former conclusions. Stafford, of Cam
| bridge, the great mathematician, followed with
an article alleging that all astronomical instru-
ments for obtaining the right ascension and
declination, were liable to certain errors. Mr..
| Gould, ALBANY Observatory Could protested
against his conclusions, asserting, with great
European astronomer, that with a cart-wheel
| and a telescope accurate observations could be
made. Thus acute critics revise every COM
mnncation, subectng it to an erperimentum
crucis From the labors of this admirable as
ISOLATION, and humber co-worker, the Boston
Society of Natural History, much real ad-
cement is made in the natural sciences.
hoped should have time to tell you of the
paper-pickers in our city, and of the Chiffon
iers, but shall try to speak of these celebrities
in my next. The Christmas trees form forests
now in Boston. | wonder that this tree is
omitted in all works on trees. Even Emer-
son, in his Forest trees of Massachusetts, y
forgot to mention it; therefore think must
select good one for specimen, and des-
cribe it next time. Being as ever,
MoxIE.