The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-12-16

Mechanics are turning their attention
10 the welding of the plates of steam boiler
instead of riveting, SO as TO avoid seams.
sg- family were recently poisoned in
Missouri, and came near death, by eating
hogs head cheese made in copper kettles.
sB-Thc Portsmouth Chronicle raises its
prices Of advertising, on the first of January,
twenty-five per cent.
~ 1t is said that neither Gen. Banks nor
Gen. Grant will allow their names to be used
against the reelection of Mr.. Lincoln to the
Presidency.
EV-Says the Manchester Aaerican. 1t is
an uphill bushes to fight against your coun-
try in time Of war. No party has done it, and
lived.
sY- The article Financial Terms Explain
cd" written for the Press and published in its
columns, is going the rounds of the papers
without credit. We almost wonder it is not
credited to the Boston Journal
sy The Chronicle says the boilers for the
new iron-clad Agamenticus at the Portsmouth
Navy Yard, have arrived, and she will be
launched as soon as they are placed on board.
The ship New Hampshire will. probably be
launchedin weeks or two.
sH- The business men of Boston are push
ing forward the movement to establish line
of steamships between Liverpool and that city.
Two meetings have already been held, and it
is said three gentlemen stand ready to sub
scribe $4,000 each.
n4-Col. Higginson sent north by the Ara
90, the skin of one OF the bloodhounds killed
by Capt Bryant's party on the main, an ac-
count of which we have already published. 1t
is to be stuffed and mounted, and to form one
of the attractions of the approaching Fair of
the Sanitary Commission In Boston.
nB-The editor OF the Temperance Journal
is decidedly merry over confession made by
us in explanation of a blunder, that We mis-
took the day Of the week. If we were disposed
to be as "gay and festive" as our neighbor, we
might suggest that some of his recent editorials
indicate, not that he has mistaken the day OF
the week, but has mistaken his calling.
Sy-It is stated that W. X. Sebastian, the
present U. s. Senator from Arkansas, who
never Joined the rebels, but has steadfastly
sustained the Union cause, is on his way TO
Washington to claim his seat. His appearance
in Congress, says the Newburyport Herald,
will probably settle the readmission of that
State. If it is not State within the Union
he will not be sworn in.
aFThe New Orleans papers say that the
free state central committee in that city has
determined on holding state election on the
18th of January next, Gen Shepley, military
Governor having given his consent, providing
a sufficient number of loyal voters shall be
registered in the state. Thus Louisiana will
probably be the first Of the seeded states to
organize loyal government, unless Arkansas
hurries up her reconstruction movement
sV The Bangor Times says Lieutenant
Knowles, son of Col. Abner Knowles, of that
city, is considered out of danger, although he
will be confined to the hospital for some
weeks. The wound was made by an Enfield
rifle ball, which was extracted few days since
by Dr. Ledel. The ball was some what bat
tered in its journey through the Lieutenant's
body, and is an ugly looking customer.
~ The Springfield Republican says there
is well authenticated story in private circles,
that, few months ago, when the rebel rams
were about to leave Liverpool, and our affairs
with England were most fearful and threaten
ing, President Lincoln wrote personal pri-
vate letter to Queen Victoria ON the subject:
and from its reception by her dates the new
and more just policy Of the English Govern
ment toward US.
~ The quid aaacs alleged that the secret
of Hooker's failure with the Army Of the Po-
tonac was to be found in the depth, the fire.
quency and the strength OF his rotations, and
that the President felt the necessity of put
ting that army under more sober leadership.
Fears are now expressed that the President
went to the opposite extreme, and that the
Meade with which he supplied the army is not
sufficiently stimulating for energetic war pur-
poses.
u The Boston Courier unwit.iugly pays
says, referring to his message and proclama-
ton, that he Is liberal toward everything ex-
cept slavery. The Courier says this by way
of complaint The President is liberal toward
everything except the cause of all our trouble.
Slavery has proved itself the very devil in the
Union; by the folly of its friends the Presi-
dent has been enabled to get control OF it, and
like true man he will yield none Of the ad-
vantage thus acquired.
The rebels seem to have slightly backed
down in relation to colored soldiers. The
Richmond Enquirer says no absolute refusal
to exchange such soldiers or their officers has
occurred, and says, "as it is clearly not within
the province of one nation to undertake to
prescribe the soldiers which another shall use
in its armies, We hope that this law Ito turn
such soldiers and their officers over to the
State authorities to be punished under State
laws will be confined by additional legislation,
to such employment by the enemy Of slaves or
free negroes of the several States Of the Con-
federacy."
I- The New York Herald's correspondent
doubtful authority-says "North Carolina
has appointed commissioners, who are now
probably on their way to Washington. Our
government can treat with States, but not
with the so called Confederate government
If the North Carolina commissioners are we'll