The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-12-23
WASHINGTON.

TRANSFER OF LEAGUE ISLAND TO THE UNITED
STATES.
NEW YORK, Dec 22.-The Posts Washing
ton dispatch says that Mayor McMicbael Of
Philadelphia, accompanied by several mem.
bers of the City Council, arrived in Washing
ton last evening, and this morning delivered
over to the government authorities the neces-
sary papers for the conveyance of League Is
land to the United States.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Secretary Seward leaves tomorrow for Au-
burn. The French and English Ministers ac-
company him, having accepted an invitation
to become his guests during the holidays e.ves
to-morrow evening for Rhode Island a1 where
Narragansett, until after New Years.
THE ALABAMA NEGOTIATIONS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Pit is certain that
within the past few days there has been re-
newed activity in the Alabama negotiations,
and aside from very long dispatches which
have passed between the British Minister and
his government, Secretary Seward has been in
communication with Reverdy johnson. The
officials in the State Department are again con-
fdent that the protocol will be agreed upon.
GENERAL GRANT.
General Grant this morning declined several
fresh invitations to visit friends in different
parts OF the country, how ever much he would
like to. He said in conversation yesterday
that nothing but some public exigency would
take him away from here again before the 4th
of March.
CASES BEFORE THE COURT OF CLAIMS.
There are at least one hundred cases before
the Court of Claims, involving in the aggre-
gate several millions of dollars, on account of
cotton alleged to have been illegally seized or
destroyed by the United States officers. The
treasury department has employed counsel
especially to protect its interests. The court
hos adj al naffn hD1sl
CIRCULAR TO COLLECTORS.
The Secretary of the Treasury has issued
circular to collectors of customs, amending ar
ticle 104 of the revised warehouse regulations
of Oct. 80, 1868, so as to allow merchandise to
be exported to Mexico by way of Indianula,
Texas. A recent circular to collectors and
others with regard to fish caught by American
vessels and brought into the United States by
other vessels, requires such to be accompanied
by manifest and invoice duly signed and
sworn to by the master of the vessel on which
they were caught, and certified to by United
States Consul.
Commissioner Rollins has decided to estab-
fish and designate for the city of New York
four export bonded warehouses in addition to
the two already established, and has made the
selections for that purpose.
INVESTIGATION OF THE ACCIDENT TO THE
FREEDMENs HOSPITAL.
Maj. Gen. Howard has requested Gen. Ma
thaniel Mychler, Edward Clark, architect of
the capitol extension, j. w. Rumsey and Fran
els Wival, builders, and Charles Webster, ma
son, to serve on the board for investigation of
the cause of the fall of the main portion of the
freedmen's hospital yesterday.
CELEBRATION OF FoREFATHERs' DAY
The New England Society of the District of
Columbia, just formed, celebrated Forefathers'
Day this evening by characteristic dinner at
the Kirk wood House. A large number of per-
sons were present including many ladies. The
room was appropriately decorated. In the inter-
walls Of speaking there was vocal and instru-
mental music. Remarks responsive to toasts
were made by Hon. L. G. Fessendep, President
Of the Society. Senators Thayer and Pomeroy
and Ben Perley Poor were present.