The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-12

defence of Fort Sumter was referred to the Mill
tary Committee. Mr.. Stevens, from the Commit
tee OF Ways and Means, reported q bill author
izing the issue of $3.50 100000 of Treasury
notes, not bearing interest of a denomina-
ton not less than five dollars. 1t was or
dered. to be printed. bill appropriating
$3.50, 900 for the postal service was passed; also
the bill to organize the boundaries of the
Circuit Courts. Mr.. Bingham, of Ohio, presented
preamble and resolution declaring that informa-
tion has been received by the government that
Hon. Benjamin Wood member of the House from
New York city, has been engaged in communicat-
ing. or attempting to communicate, important in
telgence to the rebels in arms against the govern
ment, and directing the Judiciary Committee to
investigate the subject and report upon the facts.
After some debate, during which Mr.. Wood favored
the adoption of the resolution, it was adopted.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.
The Africa, from Liverpool on the slst Of May,
and Queenstown on the LIST of June, reached Ha-
lifax early yesterday morning, on her voyage to
Boston. Her news is two days later than that re-
ceived by the North American.
The British funds were frmer, and tho r
market easier, on the 30th Of May. II
market report for the week was recei
Cor III AmcTichn Oh Cdp0 ndCe. rlour w neD
in Liverpool on the 3lst ultimo, at an adSAneA Of
sixpence barrel. Provisions were heaaH and
downward.
The French army in Rome was to be reduced to
single division. The conservative party in Eng
land were organizing all their strength, with the
view of oustng Lord Pamerston from his Office Of
Premier. Thousands of English dissenters from
the Established Church had emigrated from Lon
don to New Zealand, to found colony there.
The Italian revolutionists had abated their pro-
ceedings in Lombardy. The Turkish army had
entered Montenegro and defeated the Montenegro
troops in battle. The coasts of the Northern and
Baltic seas are to be defended by forts at the
mouths of the principal rivers, and the German
Confederation has decided to build eight iron
clad war vessels on the American plan.
M. Ardoin, the Haytien Ambassador at Paris,
has been commissioned by his government to de-
fine and settle the boundaries between the repub-
lie of Hayti and San Domingo.
The Memphis Navy Yard is safe. According to
the National Lnteuigencer of yesterday, q Com
mander Pennock (of Commander Davis feet)
telegraphs to the Navy Department that the
buildings and machinery were found uninjured
when our fources occupied the town.
Six steamboats, were advertised at st. Louis,
and one at Evansville, Ind, on the 9th inst, !" for
Memphis and New Orleans"
The whole number of rebel prisoners taken to
Camp Douglas, at Chicago, was $685. OF these
$40 have been discharged, and 4s7 have died,
leaving still in confinement 1862.
An Arkansas regiment is being raised for the
Union army, which is to be commanded by Col.
La Rue Harrison.
There are now at West Point TIA cadets, % of
whom comprise the first class &c the second class,
80 the third class and SO the fourth class. About
80 appointments have lately been made, but are
not included in the above figures.
The Hon. M. H. Foley, the new Postmaster &C.
neral Of Canada, has been reelected to Parla-
ment.
An army meeting of the American Sunday
School Union was held last evening in the Church
Of the Mediator Grew. Mr.. Tying, Jr.), corner of
Lexington avenue and Thrtieth street, for the
purpose Of taking into consideration the best
means of furnishing our soldiers with reading mat
ter. The attendance was very sparse. Rev. Mr..
Tying explained the object of the meeting, and
introduced Rev. Mr.. Burchard, Secretary of the
American Sunday School Union, who entered into
lengthy des cription of what had been done for
the soldiers, in religious sense, since the out
break of the rebellion. It had now been ascer.
tanned that large libraries were not required, but
small tracts, which. would not be troublesome in
carrying on the march, and the Union had some of
those in course Of preparation. They also pro-
posed to furnish the soldiers with "Silent Com.
forters," and he asked the pecuniary aid of those
present to carry out the work. They should also
take into account the instruction of freed men, or,
as they had been called, contrabands. Mr.. Colyer
had boxes full of books waiting for his return to
the South, to educate the negroes. It was their
purpose, as society, to send out missionaries to
the hospitals, and also to teach the contrabands
Rev. Dr. Hitchcock addressed the meeting, and
asked them to contribute largely. He said that
his attention was more directed to the education
Of the contrabands than anything else, and he was
glad to learn that this came within the range of
the programme. A collection was taken up at the
conclusion OF DR.. Hitchcocks remarks, and the
proceedings terminated.
special meeting Of the Board Of Education was
held last evening. After . long discussion the
subject Of awarding the contract for heating Ward
School No. 20, in the First ward, was finally set
tied. Messrs. Tuomey & Elder put in bid to per.
form the work for 81 $500 (which was accepted by
vote Of twenty-seven in the affirmative to four in
the negative. After transacting some routine bust
ness the Board adjourned.
In the Court Of General Sessions yesterday, Ro-
bert Shannon was triei and convicted of stealing
q valuable gold watch and chain from the dwelling
house Of George Barclay, No. 8 West Washington
place, in April last. The prisoner was respecta-
BILE looking man, and the larceny was perpetrated
while he was putting patent gas burners in the
house Of Mr.. Barclay. He was in company with
another man, and while in one Of the bedrooms
gold watch was stolen. The prisoner was recog-
nized two weeks after, by one of the servants,
who procured his arrest, in Chatham street. It
was said that Shannon was a member Of DR.. Cham.
bers' church in Philadelphia. The Recorder will
sentence him on Saturday. John e. Williams,
who was indicted for bigamy, was discharged on
his own recognzance, on motion Of the prosscut-