, 1865-01-25
q1tfdan Wrfbunf.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY q. 1865.


tAC ellAAl.pu6, p1t ~ Latest
counts all was going well. Gen. Tcrry's Off.
clal report confirms the destruction By the
rchcls Of Fort Caswcll, and the capture by
our forces Of more important works there
ab'us, making sum total os 163 cannon to
be charg q 70 the c cdit Of our gallant army
ard navy. Thr rcbol 1urce a. Charleston is
reported to have concentrated near Branch
vile TO resist sicrman's advance, while the
inhabitants OF the doomed city were evacuat-
ing II. II is also confirmed that one of Eher-
mans corps-probably Hownrd's-has rein
forced Terry on his march ngafnst Whining
ton. II is believed at Washington that the
latter place was captured on Monday by a
combined attack Of our army and navy. The
Shenandoah Valley sc loug the scene of con.
E:ct and Of victory. again appears in the Mill
ta'y dispatches, Ea:ly's pickets having iallen
tack, indicating Il rebel retreat towards
4.yhchburg.
livery lover Of science will deeply regret
the tdinss IF the burning Of the Smithsonian
Institute Although the building was not
entirely destroyed, 1t is evident that its most
valuable collections, embracing its records,
back reports, Il portion Of its library, me.
c:o-ological reports, correspondence, paint
1ngs, instruments and natural history collec-
'ions arc ruined. The loss in figures is trivial
compared with the incalculab.c loss to Amer
ifan science.
The Provost Marshal General scts the quota
OF Illinois, under the last call, at s., SAL. The
figures a:c evidently exaggerated, and an
agent bus been dispatched by Gov. oglcsby,
> to Washington, to rectiiy mistakes.
The repeal Of the paper duty in the House,
i: having it's legitimate effect In reducing the
price Of paper.
4 sensible motion has BEEN introduced In
Congress, to determine whether 1t Is expe-
dicnt to lcgislate for the safety of the public
travelling on railroads. In consideration Of
the iiiehtfu} list Of casualties last year, and
tht experience of Post Office agent as tndi-
Gated by our Washington dispatches, VIC trust
thc1oF'iu be no doubt about the propriety Of
legislation upon the part Of Cougrcssmen.
The people, nj lcest, have no doubts.
The debates in Congre5s yesterday were Of
an unusually interesting character. That
1InE rttaliauon very nearly touchce the henri
ofcscry peraou in the North and will be rcad
with interest. TIC debate set on foot by
Brooks in his slanderous charges against But
Ter woke up nest Of hornets, aud If he is
severely stEng it is his own f,u!t. He will
evidently remember Gov. Boutwell, for come
time to come.
The Infamous Black Laws. which have so
soa= disgraccd our statute books and stained
Il civilization Of Illinois, n-c in a fair yay
to b. cApungcd. The resolution to repeal
them passed tho Senate yesterday, end there
Is III doubt that similar fate await them III
the House. the Democratic Assemb1ymen,
true 10 their instincts aud a1tsc:dents, voted
10 retain them.
\ 1cI'ntatson is in Washington urging the
construction O. o canal f;om Green Bay to
Lake Michigan.
Tic mir is .n,l Of pence rumors, and among
tht latcst is one to the effect that JEFF. Davis
sent letter By Blair to the President
Offering to send commissioners to negotiate
tsms whenever the United States should
offer 10 rerciyc them. The President replies
through the same source, with his ulti1natum,
At 10 whom it may concern"
The Governor General OF Canada has done
prudent act by including in his estimates
ior the coming YER the $50, ,03o stolen from
the st. Alban's banks By rebel raiders and
;ll"ca''y surrendered to them by the Chief
"i fo'tre Of Montreal.
Guld closed in New York last night at !
e.o5kS
TEE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
A dispatch from Washington announces :!
'f.a' the Smithsonian Institution is in flames. |
III" I,>s Of this rob!c structure with It's pre- |
ciou: a.,:.mr'atione will be felt IN every
1uai:l- @: tue globe where science has a
:ri"nt. To say nothing Of It's ipv=luable
hilary md records, the Smithsonian 1nst,tu-
t;cn c''n'aincd the most complete collection
Or the :G,nu of -A1rerica that fas ever been
brought together. Tie Phllade!p phia Museum
may contain moe magnificent array Of t
birds; possibly other institutions may excel
in particular branches Of scientific ;nyestiga-
zion tut the Smithsonian was by 1ar the |
most comprehensive seat Of the natural SCI |
cncrs IN this continent, while in some de- |
:ar:m his THAT relatiug to tte American In !
dicns lor cxumr1e)- It embodied NIL that was
known in the world. It's meteorological |
rcetlus were of immense value. The |
~'smitil oman contributions to knowledge"
lave blcome, through the enlightened |
Patronage o: Congress, house. |
hold word TO the American people. That all I
this sflonld have pcrished in Few hours is a |
calamity that can hardly be estimated.
The Smithsonian building was massive |
and costly edifice Of brown stone, situated in !
the rt'n1er Of park Of some twenty acrcs, |
aiout half mile from the Capitol. The fire I
is supposed to have originated from dcfrc- |
tive ftc. /
Ets~p%&F~ r.s.u<E a-rm-