Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1865-09-18
NEWS BY TO-DAY's MAIL.

NEWS BY T0-DAY's MAIL.
The most destructive fire that ever occurred
in Maine swept through Augusta, yesterday.
Every LAWYERS Office in the city, all the banks,
two hotels. the express and telegraph offices,
all the dry goods, book, and clothing stores In
in the CITY the u. S. quartermaster' COM
missary and pension Offices, the new depot
vet unfished, Age newspaper office, and many
other buildings; in all more than forty, and
mostly occupied as places Of business. More
than one hundred individuals and firms were
burned out. Many saved portion or the whole
of their stock, whilst others lost everything.
The banks succeeded in saving all their papers
and treasure. The fire was undoubtedly the
work of an incendiary The losses cannot be
estimated, but they cannot tall short OF halt
million of dollars.
The Republican Convention Of Massachu-
setts, convened on Wednesday and and adjourn
ed on Thursday of last week, nominated
Brigadier General Henry S. Briggs, Of Pitts
field, for Auditor General of that State.
General Briggs has been stationed In Alexan-
dria for nearly two years past.
A despatch from New York says: Recent
developments show conclusively that stolen
Government bonds have been disposed OF to
innocent parties by altering the numbers OF the
same Some of the bonds recently purchased
have turned out to be of this character. The
alteration is very sklltully executed, and likely
to escape notice, unless closely scrutlnized
A despatch from Montgomery, Alabama,
says, test vote was taken this morning at the
Convention, deciding by fifty y-eig hit to thirty
four, against the reputation OF the Conteder'
ate State debt
Portions of Georgia have suffered from
drought
Judge King of the Ray (Mo Circuit Court,
has declared the provision of the new Constl-
futon requiring lawyers to take the test oath, un-
constitutional; that it is ex post tacto, retrospect
tive, &C. Lawyers, take no oath In this court.
The same question is now being argued before
Judge Primm, OF the st. Louis Criminal Court,
and will be decided in few days. Samuel i.
Glover, one Of the first lawyers Of st. Louis,
has notified the Circuit Attorney that he has
not taken the oath, and that he still continues
TO practice
The maniac Roman Catholic clergyman Of
Newburyport, Mass, who cut his throat twice
on Wednesday morning last, near NorWalk,
Conn, on board the Boston mail train for N.
L, at the same time fighting desperately with
persons who sought to secure him, died yes
terday
ltls true that information was received not
long ago that President Juarez had fed to El
paso from chihuahua, but from the tenor OF
tha same advces it does not follow that the
fortunes of the Liberals are irretrlevably de-
stroyed. However that may be, it is certain
that is no change in the policy heretofore
declared by our Government in relation to
Mexican affairs %
Herschel Y. johnson, of Georgia, on his
return from visit to Alexander Il. Stephens,
at FortW arIen, reports him in ordinary health,
having the freedom Of the fort and the prlvll
eege Of receiving such friends as he desires.
HIS brother Linton Stephens, remains at Fort
Warren, and is permitted to sleep IN his broth
ers apartments and join him in his walks Tor
exercise Mr. Stephens will probably not be
pardoned until aftaT settlement Of the polltl-
Cal status of the Southern States
COL Emanuel D. Powden, of St. Mary S
county, Md, manufactures fine Peach Brandy,
Which Is highly commended.
A letter from Charleston says that the ne
groeS On the islands near that city are suffering
very much from sickness, and that many OF
suem desire to return to their former masters.
number Of officers of the late Confeder-
-s ase army, Gems. Magruder, Sterling Price,
Stephens, % &c, &c., have arrived in the City
!, The Washington correspondent of the Phil
lphla Ledger writes: ''Ihe time is not dis
"a eaat when there will be an entire reconstruction
OF the Cabinet aa
on mere is just now very large pressure for
uSace 10 the various executive departments
- - goouy proportion are men discharged from
'oe MILITARY service who are seeking positions.