The New York herald., 1862-01-16

THE STU ATION.
General Mcclellan was closeted yesterday with
the Committee on the Conduct of the War, at the
Capitol, from ten O'Clock in the morning till four
in the afternoon, during which time he communi-
Gated much valuable information to the committee.
He was subsequently summoned to an interview
with the President but the object of this visit has
not been made known.
Mr. Stanton's nomination as Secretary of War
was unanimously confirmed by the Senate yester-
and responsible duties of his Office.
Five hundred men commenced operations yes
'ere"y on the new single track railroad from Wash
ington % Alexandra, over the Long Bridge. This
vi oi &oops and stores. 1t is expected to be
finished in three weeks.
heavy snow storm prevails at Fortress Mon
roe The last portion of the Burnside expedition
Dad not started yesterday in consequence. From
one to two thousand men still remain, awaiting
fairer weather.
We have news from Cairo relative to the grand
expedition southwark down the Mississippi river.
General McClernand's force was on the march yes
terday to Mayfeld, KY, and would reach there
last night. The rebels who were encamped close
to that place, at Camp Beauregard, should there
fore, either give fight or retire. General Grant
and staff went down yesterday morning on the
steamer Chancellor, and landed at Fort jefferson.
He viewed the troops there, who exhibited the
utmost enthusiasm on being informed that they
would be marched thirty miles this morning n the
direction of the enemy.
We are in receipt of seven days later news from
England by the arrival of the Arabia of Cape Race
which point she passed late at night on the l4th in
slant. The news carried to England by the Hansa,
City of Glasgow, &C., had created quite feeling
of calm in the minds of the peace loving citizens
and had made consos advance to the rates they
held before the Trent troubles commenced. The
English journals, with one exception, were of
opinion that the British government had
received advices of the pacific intent
of our administration in the case of
Mason and Slidell. Notwithstanding this fact, the
Arabia brought out two batteries of artillery for
Halifax. The coupons for interest due upon the
Virginia bonds had been returned unpaid, and
an opinion prevailed among the stock brokers and
Others that the same would be the result with
those appertaining to all the other Southern
States This remark has greatly the appearance
of declaration of insolvency.
The news from the continental governments was
entirely unimportant vita respect to the trou-
bes in this country except in the case of Prussia,
where, it is said they ase at any time, ready for
war, their troops being thoroughly organized and
well armed.
CONGRESS.
In the Senate yesterday the bill to increase the
clerical force Of the War Department and its bu.
reaus was reported back by the Military Commit.
tee, amendedkso as to allow four additional clerks
to the Navy department, and then passed. A bill
for the preservation of the Atlantic fisheries was
reported from the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Petitions asking that duty be placed upon seeds,
and that an issue Of paper money be not author.
lied, were presented and referred. The joint re.
solution to promote the efficiency Of the troops
serving in Kansas was taken up and dis
cussed by Mr.. Salisbury, of Delaware, who
opposed the resolution, and Messrs Lane, Of
Kansas, and Harlan, Of Iowa, who favored its
adoption. Mr.. Trumbull, ofthe Judiciary Com.
mttee, to which had beenneferred all the plans
for confscating the property of rebels, reported
BILL as substitute for the whole confiscating the
property and declaring free the slaves Of rebels.
The Kansas contested seat case was then called
up and debated but no action taken on the sub
iect. The Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation
bill was reported by the Finance Committee.
communication was received from the Navy De.