Litchfield enquirer., 1864-02-18

It is an interesting fact thas the sale of con fiscated estates now making at Beaufort, $. C. is carried on from the verandah of the Edmund Rhett House, where more than ten years ago the rebellion was brooded over by the very men whose estates now pass under the ham mer. It is singular, too, that the chairman o the Tax Commission, Dr. Wm. Henry Bris bane, is tho mau who, more than twenty years ago, was driven out of the state because he would liberate his slaves.
 The Sanitary Commission, in devising ways and means for the proper expenditure of the S22o, ,0oo already derived from ths Cincinnati Fair, and the S2o,o00 more in prospect, have decided to send two special agents to the trout. These agents arc to investigate closely into the wants of the troops, 30 that the good: may be sent to points where most needed
 A. 5. Barton, who was arrested for forging the endorsemeHt-of the cashier of the Water bury Bank to draft which had evidently beer stolen from the mail, has confessed that he stole the mail bag at the Hartford depot on the 18th of January. and has shown the officers where they could find the letters which he had scattered along under hedge. It is singular that so long time should have elapsed with out discovering that the mail bag was missing.
 4 large company assembled at the Uaited States Hotel, Boston, "Wednesday night, On invitation of Collector Goodrich, and was in troduced to Colonel Taylor. Of East Tennessee. Speeches were made by Mr. Taylor and others, including George Thompson. The latter thanked God he had lived to see the noble po- stion America had taken, and he hoped in 8 few days to have an opportunity to speak more fully on the state of feeling in Eng land in re- atlon to our great struggle. In conclusion Mr. Thompson made eloquent allusion to George Washington as ths founder of American inde- perdcnce and Abraham Lincoln as the founder of American liberty. His address was re. sponded to by nine hearty cheers.
 One of John Morgan's men, who was con- cerned in the great bank robbery at Carroll ton, Kentucky, some months since, has just been arrested in St. Louis, where he has been living on the fat of the land.
 The petroleum oil business in the western part of Pennsylvania is becoming unusually active. Eastern capitalists are investing quite largely in the lands and the number of wells which will be sunk the coming season will ex csed, it is said, aay two former years. A com. parry from Philadelphia, have purchased the mineral lands of Horse Creek, and intead to work them immediately. Some operators srs prepariog to bors f!tssn hundred feet or three times as deep AS ordinarily.
 Tke San Francisco papers state that the government has directed the military occupa- tiuu c! the large island ei Santa Catalina. which fTonts the bay of San Pedro. on the southern coast of Ca!ltorris. The island has of late become important from the fact that numerous rich mines have been discovered there. It possesses fine harbor, which will no doubt be made available as naval as well as military depot. It has been rumored for some time past that this island was to be made the rendezvous of rebel pirates, who wer. to make an attempt at capturing some of the treasure-laden Panama steamers and then strike blow at our whole commerce ou the Pacific ; and it is not impossible that this cir. constance may have led to the occupation of the island.
 Col. Dsming is working iudustriously and gaining an excellent reputation in the House. An unusual compliment was paid him the oth- CT day. In considering the enrellment bill, members are only allowed to speak five min utes and only two are allowed to speak on a side to auy amendment. Mir. Dcming had the floor, and was most atteatively listened to for five minutes, when he was prevented from stop ping by general cry of ''go on," so anxious We're the House to hear him.
 Samuel R. Davis of DanielsonvilIe, has been detailed for duty in the Adjutant Generals of lice at Washington.