The New York herald., 1865-01-05

There change In the aspect Of commercial affair
yesterday as compared with the preceding day; but
d worthy OF remark that there u looking around
than usual and moro indications or increased bus
mess ct carly day than have been Che case for some
tme Tho markets generally quiet. but almost in
vaiaby arm, not 70 say buoyant On Change the nouI
market was moro aotive and 100 higher Wheat sd
vanced 2o 4c, with moro doing Corn apd oats ruled
quiet a previous rates. Tho pork market opened rmcl
and active but closed dull and heavy Beef was without
decided change, the demand being moderate Lard
nrmer whiskey shade nrmor Freighn dull and
heavy. fr
The Closing scones OF tho RebeIlion-The
Curtain PartiaIly Lifted.
The military combinations Of General Grant
have been so far developed by actual events
that 1t needs no expert now in strategy to COM
prehend his grand design. II s the c0ncentra-
ton on every side Of such an array of forces
against the doomed oity of Richmond and the
army of Lee as will make sure and decisive
work, whether tho despairing enemy may elect
TO await the shock or endeavor 10 avoid 1t in q
stealthy evacuation. ar 8Ntf
If the military communications between Rich
mond and the interior Of Georgia were not cut
ofF-if there were any guarantees Of safety in
the interior of South Carolina-we dare say
that Davis would now retreat in that direc-
ton for the purpose of stubborn
campaign In the cotton States But
Sherman heads him OF In that direction, while
Thomas is master in the West, and Sheridan
has made the Shenandoah valley untenable to
rebel army. From the imperious necessities
Of his case It Is probable that General Leo will
be compelled to risk q struggle for the main
tenance Of his position at Richmond, which
Will bring the war TO an end with the capture
of Ne city. and the destruction or dispersion
and dissolution Of his army Davis and his
oonfederacy are now reduced to the army Of
Lee, and there oan be but one result when that
army Is brought to the test of an unavoidable
struggle with the superior legions and re-
sources Of Grant The issue will inevitably be
~ fatal to JED. Davis as was the battle Of Phar-
salia to Pompey, of Actium to Mark Antony,
or Of Leipsic or Waterloo 70 Napoleon.
Nor can reasoning men doubt any longer
that this final catastrophe TO the so-called
Confederate States" is near at hand.
Sherman, II called for, may move at
once by sea for Richmond; or he may strike for
Charleston; on, turning back upon Augusta, he
may deliberately clean up South and North
Carolina, en- route TO tho James river. There is
nothing in his way to prevent him. The i'm
provised and irregular army Of Hardee, fifteen
or twenty thousand strOng, can do nothing If 1t
could not holA the almost unapproachable city
Of Savannah against Sherman's ffty thousand
Il ANo khoro IN
be any possibility that Hood, with the shattered
remnants of his late formidable army, can now
or hereafter do anything better than to look out
for his own safety 70 the end Of the war. The
army which held Sherman so long at bay, from
point 10 point in Georgia, has ceased 10 exist;
and, between Sherman and Thomas, General
Grant, as against Lee, Is stronger to-day by one
hundred thousand veteran soldiers than he was
six months ago.
The rebel leaders at Richmond comprehend
all this, and have keen perception Of what Is
impending. They are beginning 10 talk again Of
tho desperate expedient Of carrying the war into
the North, Of The general arming and liberation
Of their slaves, and Of sweeping conscriptions
over States which have already been swept
clean Of able-bodied white mon and boys. BuI
| in the depths Of their despair, II Ii reported
they are at last beginning 10 talk Of providing
for tho total abolition Of slavery. and such
commercial reoiprocities % would make then
the meanest dependents Of England, in order y
secure from her the recognition Of their South
ern confcderaoy. In the FIRST, or second, OF
perhaps even In the third year Of the war, sucl
overtures TO England and France would probs
| bly, have resulted In Holy Alliance on thci
part, offensive and defensive, with Davis. Blu
now such equivalents ~ emancipation. ffe'
cotton and free trade will 60 begging, or,
accepted by England or France, or both, vii
come TOO late for the rescue Of Davis or his con
federsoy.
Let us suppose that these tempting bribe
for q recognition will 60 out 70 England by III
next steamer from Nassau. Several month
will necessarily elapse-even under the mos
favorable circumstances for Davis--before an
positive assurance Of European assistance 90
reach him. In the meantime he will be route
from his stronghold, his last army win b
broken up and Dispersed, and, headed off I
Wilmington, he will, N not prisoner, or lyin