The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-04
GENERAL NEWS.

reply tO tue feUafkS ulauo III tHo duuudl
report of 4that officer concerning the Sumter.
The number Of applicants for "a few vacan-
cies Of minor Importance in Washington is
almost without parallel. Senators and
members of the House are literally overrun
with Office seekers, besieging them at the
doors of the capitol, their private quarters,
and on the streets. a =.
The Washington correspondence of the
New York Times says:-"Private letters
received in Washington from persons abroad
confirm the impression you have in New
aYork, that the Governments of England,
France and Spain mediate an early recog-
milton of the independence Of the Confede-
rate States"
The correspondent Of the Chicago Times
writing from Crow Point, Kentucky, gives a
terrible account Of the excuses committed
by the Federal troops under Gen. Smith,
during their late reconnaissance in force
from Paducah.
Herbert S. Barlow, Of the Massachusetts
First regiment, was killed last week, at
Budd's Ferry, by the accidental discharge
of a. gun in the hands of q corporal, who was
examining his musket, not knowing it was
loaded. The ball struck Barlow in the
breast, killing him instantly.
A new political party is in course of for
nation in New Hampshire. Ii is to be COM
posed of the conservative elements Of both
the old democratic and republican organiza.
tiOns.
The levy Of fifteen thousand dollars upon
the Contederates of Marion county, Missou-
ri, made by Gen. Halleck, to repair the rail
road bridges which were destroyed, is now
being collected.
Messrs. Covode ana Odell, members Of
the Committee on the Conduct of the War,
have returaed from Philadelphia to Wash
ington. where they have been to investigate
the Quartermaster's Department. They find
that the various parties in that city claim
from the government for army supplies Of
different kinds, over sixteen millions of dol
lars. Specimens Of some of the goods, for
the payment Of which portion of this sum
is demanded, afford positive evidence that
the government has been defrauded.
Several ladies have lately been appointed
Clerks ia the Dead Letter department of the
u S. Post Office.
Lord Lyons, the British Minister to the
United States, has been invested with the
Order of Bath, in testimony of appreciation
of his course in the Trent affair.
The Legislature Of California has unani-
mously assumed the payment of her portion
of the war taxes, to be paid in gold on the
requistion Of the Federal Government.
A vessel was expected to sail from Boston
yesterday for Fortress Monroe, conveying
three hundred and eghty.sx rank and file,
and eleven officers, Confederate prisoners.
The sword voted to Col. Miles, U. S. A.,
by the Legislature of Maryland, is to be
presented to that officer on Thursday.
1t is now thought that Mr. Bright, OF In.
diana, will be expel ed from his seat in the
U. S. Senate.
Another murder trial has commenced in
Washington.
The U. S. Congress has decided to distri.
butte cotton seed for cultivation in the border
States.
In the U. S. Senate, yesterday, number
of petitions on a variety of subjects were
presented, and several resolutions introdu-
ced. The House resolution making an ap.
preparation TO procure cotton seed for gene
raj distribution was passed. At an early
hour the Senate went into + ecutive session.
The House was principally engaged on the
bill to authorize the issue of United States
notes, and for the redemption of the same,
but NO vote was taken.
A private in the First New Jersey Caval.
ry, was arrested in Washington, on Sunday
for insulting lady in the street. When a
patrolman attempted to arrest him he made
stubborn resistance, and finally drew a
revolver. Subsequently, when before Jus.
tice Thompson for examination, the case
was taken out Of his hands by the proves,
guard, and the soldier locked up in one OF