The New York herald., 1862-02-10


where, hers, at least, intact and invncibis
| We are nevertheless, soroly depressed. but only
90 from the weather, which for the last two weeks
has been Succession Of cold storms, combining TO
their tents nterruptng travel and disturbing social
harmony generally There Is, however, some consola
ton in this and not unfrequently you hear the
groans Of complaint inerspersed with remarks to this
effect; "Wsn, I'll bear anything in the shape OF a
storm II will only swamp the Burnside expedition aud
send the Yankees to psrdion" And by the way, thia
hope bids fair 70 be realized Anaval ooer just from
the vicinity OF Norfolk informs me that for years he has
not known gale TO prevail with such steady yrulence
upon our coast as that which s whstng about our
ears, shreking through the camps and walng around
the corners of our winter hus. He further that
II is impossible for any but tho ships to live in
such sea As doubtless running outside much less the
small, hat bottomed badly jonted feet OF schooners,
tugs and canal boats loaded with heavy guns men and
munitions OF which compose the Burnside expedi-
ton Probably some OF these have been SO fortunate
a. TO secure harbor in Albemars Pamlico Sound,
but majority must have been driven out to seat sunk
or beached upon the sands OF coast such be the
case-and you will hear Of il before doruy Provi
hands to bloody gravss."
Though nothing Of definite character has been heard
from the armada its destination the belief obtains In
the highest military circles that its object on the
railroad system which concentrated At Weldon or Ra
leigh and connects Richmond with the Atlantic States.
Meanwhile the forces In the West to strike at the
Virginia and East Tennessee Railroad and other lines Of
travel BY thus destroying our channels Of cOmmunica
tlon ana supply, and surrounding US with Gordon Of
troops the enemy expect to overwhelm in that grand
decisive blow which has been 30 long threatened and de-
iayed.
Pooon It is eewiideringy stupendous, and think the
Yankees will find il Let take soundings aud
how, successful the plan will operate. Buell. is in
Kentucky with his mighty host waiting to advance upon
Nashville ZOlicoGsr and Crttenden have fallen back
East Tennessee The Virginia and Tennessee Railroad b
thus in jeopardy. sexing this, the rst part Of the
programme is complete. Buell. may then turn his
forces eastward through East Tennessee and
Western Virginia, and threaten Richmond from
the eouthwest Meanwhile Burnside has possibly located
himself at Weldon, seized tho railroad there cut
us OF from the South and threatens from that
self ON either of these armies Banks and Mcclellan
make their advance from the 'front.' and thus totally
lated aud imprisoned we are expected 10 fall easy
prey Sherman il then to strike in South Carolina, But
Ter seize Jackson, Mississippi and Haleck immortazo
himself by descent upon New Orleans via the Father Of
Waters
Such, confident, 10 the scheme Of tho dsmonstra-
tion which s in the language Of Mcclellan, to mako ga
short and desperate war" Thirty days moro win deter
mno the crisis. To bo successful tho Northern armies
have in that time world OF bloody work to perform
they fail the ia terminated nscessidte Il is the
Cling in the folds Of dissolution But will It fai1 The
Burnside expcdonthe key note OF the gigantic under
takinghas been dispersed TO the four winds Of heaven
Babel like confusion is upon IL.
Looking TO tho past may not predict that Buell. will
meet with the fate, Pcayune Butler do, Haleck
do, and that while Albert Sidney Johnston, Van Dorm
Heath, Price and jeff Thompson interpose living wall
Of hearts in the West Huger at Norfolk, Lowell at New
Orleans Lee at Port Royal Tatnal ., Savannah Magru
dor the Peninsula and Beauregard Smith and Jackson
along the Potomac will roll up their solid barriers Of fire
and sweep back the red tide Of invasion. Let pray
God that IL may be
or late have BEEN favored with the psrusal Of many
Northern papers, and in them all fail to
be struck by tho subdued detected and almos. hopeless
tone with which the condition OF Affairs In discussed
Even Greeley and his followers cavng In Forney pre-
diets parties and peace overures Bennett writes
OF nascal thunder clouds Raymond Of distressed and
oppressed people while the lesser editorial cohorts drop
into tho Cimmerian gloomness Of expression every
where put forth: oomplants fall about the ears
democratic State conventions are abusing Lin
coin as perndious abolitionist, Seward as mon
ster OF political niquy and Cameron as depraved cat
tie dealer the Investigating Committee Of Congress
unrollng scroll Of official corruption which makes the
North stand aghast; government vaults are empty;
Treasury notes six per cent below par the people
about to be taxed to the tune Of two hundred and fifty
three hundred millions per annum and all the elements
Of political revolution are sulenly threatening to bury
the authors and abettors Of the war beneath the whr
wind they have created and could not control
Political complications increasing every day. The
English and French press, to unit sympathizng
with the So,th. The ship blockade 10 than ever
declared inefficient. and the stone berrcades violation
Of the laws Of nations and humanity English of
gate the Pomona is at Fortress Monroe and its officers
rusticating the hotels Of Norfolk. umor says she
Is waiting 60 into the dry dock aud be repaired Our
friends abroad predict speedy recognition and have
evei sot the day and every hand We have cheering
manifestations Of the good will Of all outside mankind
The day star 10 evidently breaking.
Especial correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch]
NORFOLK, Jan. 81, 1852.
Things Washington, Baltimore. Philadelphia and Ns
York-Cndition OF the Cities and Of the PeopIe-Histoi
cal Reminiscences-.Servees Of Norfolk Ciisens.
i have very late and reliable intelligence from the
Northern cities and from Washington and Baltimore.
The New York or 1852 far different from the swarmng
hive like, noisy, driving dashng thriving Empire City
OF 1880. You may perambulate about town without
any danger OF being knocked down and in the
hurry of affairs Business is dull the people complain
bitterly Of the continuance Of the Real estate has
fallen in some part, Of the city below zero hundreds OF
closed fires frequently the people
dissatisfied and restless and the low rumblnss Of storm
that will shake the mammoth city to s deep foundations
already heard.
Philadelphia 10 q slow looking place compared to ito
businesske and cheerful appearance n days OF pros
psrty. Baltimore looks moro like going ahead; but,
Judging from the suppressed murmurs that heard.
there may be eruption OF the volcanic nres THAI
struggling for vent. Washington Is a muddy place.
An armed sodery s the great feature while the besut
full public structures OF stone form striking contrast to
the modest looking private buildings. There, the
tractors Office seekers and all the crowd OF scrsmbles
after money as busy ever but Washington too
presents the sad effects Of the waged BY misguided
fanatics and unscrupuous dsnagogues.
II the historic chapters relative to the present
peudous revolution, which be read by coming gen
eratons shall present truthful record OF the events
that marked the of the struggle for lib
erty in Virginia. exploits in this section Of our
noble old State viii be recorded possessing vast i'm
portance There are soms names too still unwrittsn
upon the scroll Of fame, that will descend with those Of
the heroes Of those days far down the track of time
There . time here whom mon hesitated, waited,
reasoned while the plot was thckening for our subuga
lion and ensavsmsnt. That brief period unmproved,
end the tramp OF hostile forces would have been heard
In streets; peaceful homes and affairs would
be invaded and the seaport Of Virginia. unless its build.
ngs had again fed the flames TO- would have
In the hands and at the mercy Of the vanda hordes Of the
North.
One Of the enemys powerful ships 30 close at
hand that the bonswains whistle could bs distinctly
heard on shore. Her great guns pointed towards our
peaceful dwellings, but her officers knew not OF the de-
terned spirit or resistance that fred the hearts Of
ready and eager TO step forth to the hazardous
task Of duty Just when the deep toned mutcrngs from
tho black storncloud Of revolt were arst heard Ia The
distance.
In the report from the ocs OF Detail Equipment to
the Convention by Captain Barron there aasons
important taken here relative 10 the
6e and the report may have been necessarily brief.
A few additional particulars will not be inappropriate
here.
IL was decided by two bold and daring spirits 10
the vast quantity of powder stored In the 60.
vernmept magazine upon the shore, mile below the
city And well devised the plan, so cautiously
was II executed, go eagerly and rapidly and yet
quietly the work DONE that thousands OF the citi-
zens knew nothing Of the important matter until the
labor accomp plishsd. Shall we parcuarzs with
gard those who bravely and carefully toied in
behalf OF their ccuntSys honor that night whom the
explosion Of single package would have been death
ruin and revealed tho plot BY wide spread destucton7
Al the beginning Of active hostes here many Of the
volunteer officers and Of the revenue well as tho
at liant Int md