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r .....DECEMBER », IssA. PIHPATCH BriLDINO IS on (Jo lt RTItRKT, NRAR TO MAIN, AND V OPPOSITE THK OLD DISPATCH L _________ Washington Items. bo loan oFFsaan oa bbbdbo.* Authority competent to conclude such hi, we announce that the published its to the effect that a loan of one hun lions was, upon the occasion of,his isit to New York, tendered to Mr. Se dcCuUoch by the National Banks, are abrication. The Treasury has not at any need of a loan, and should such necessary, it would not he accepted i hanks, but would be solicited, and, s without trouble, immediately ob •om the people.— Sntional Intelligencer, 1> INTERVIEW BETWEEN TUB PRESIDENT ABD MB. WII.SOB. issage of Mr. Wilson's resolution by a roughly testing the sense of the great of the House upon the President's ii policy, on Thursday last, furnishing occasion, he sought the White House, tny with his colleague, Mr. Price, on ing of the same day. The President his visitors very cordially, and upon ductory remark of Mr. Wilson an* I the object of their call, invited them reserved expression of opinions and >ns. Thereupon Mr. Wilson pro > say substantially as follows : President, you have, no doubt, been 1 of the resolution I offered to-day in the House, and of the vote upon it. In expla nation of it I Wish to say that neither myself nor the rest of the majority voting for it are disposed to make any distinction between Tennessee and the other States lately engaged in rebellion in our preliminary examination into their respective claims to representation in Congress. At the same time, the Joint Com mittee of- Fifteen may, and probably will, ex tend to the former State priority of considera tion by taking up and disposing of its case first, and this the majority will not oppose." Passing from this special to the general sub ject of reconstruction at large, Mr. Wilson continued : " I am aware that there are men in Congress, styling themselves •Conserva tives," that claim to be your friends par excel lence. Now, Ido not hesitate to avow that I am what is commonly called a 'Radical.' I contributed, in my humble way, all I could to the success of the. party that" placed you in power. Hence I claim the right to call my self the friend of your Administration. My • elf and those acting with me in Congress are all friendly to it, and desire its entire success. But we think, and with us our constituen cies, that by your plan of reconstruction that result is not likely to be attained. We hold, at the same time, that there is one way in which it could be reached. In our opinion, your efforts to reorganize the rebel States and restore them to the Union, after an uninter rupted trial of some seven months, have not proved successful to the extent required to In sure the future peace, safety and prosperity of the country. Congress, In pursuance of what it considers its solemn duty, now proposes, alter due Investigation of the whole subject, to devise, if possible, some better plan of re organization and restoration. The plan Con gross will probably adopt will be to submit such amendments to the Constitution as will, if accepted by the State Legislatures, furnish ample guarantees for the future. The ma jority of Congress expect and ask that, while engaged in investigating the whole subject of reconstruction, and devising some new plan, it may be left free to act as it may deem best, and that no attempt be made by the Executive to interfere with and influence its action by the distribution of patronage or in any other way. If thus left freo by you, there can be no possible difficulty between the executive and legislative branches of the Government. But if you are disposed to intefere with Congress, by patronage or otherwise, and force your peculiar ideas and plans upon Congress and the country, you will meet with serious opposition by those that are now the friends of your Administration, and desire sincerely to make it success ful. The plan Congress will probably adopt will not render it necessary for you to surren der any of your own views in relation to re construction, inasmuch as, under the Constitu tion of the United Suites, you cannot be asked to approve the resolutions of Congress submit ting certain amendments to the Constitution. You will not be responsible,for our action, but we will be responsible for it to our constitu ents, who will be called upon to determine upon the merits of our plan of reconstruction. Hence there will be no occasion for serious dif ferences between the Executive and Congress if each branch of the Government simply leaves tbx other to do what it considers its duty. Aad let me add this : the so-called Conservatives of Congress, the men that claim to be your exclusive friends, go with you to day because they think it is to their advantage to do so : but they will oppose you to-morrow if they shall find it is to their disadvantage to support you. You will find in the end that the men who differ from you to-day from sin cere convictions, and honest, patriotic motives, are much more reliable and trustworthy friends than these time-servers." The President, in reply, stated that he was anxious to avoid a division among the friends of his Administration in Congress; that he would regret to see any difficulties arise be tween them and the Executive. He then pro ceeded to review at length his policy of recon struction, reiterating the points in support of it made in his published speeches, and more lately in his message ; but said nothing that could be construed into an admission of its failure. On the contrary, he seemed to be ful ly persuaded of its present and future success: Nor did he say a word indicating an intention to abstain from interference with Congress in its legislation upon reconstruction. He did not say that he would interfere ; but neither did he commit himself to the opposite line of action. However pressed by Mr. Wilson in this direction, he would not give the assu rances desired of him. That he would have made a formal disclaimer of a purpose to med dle with Congress, if he did not entertain it, may be fairly presumed. And this was the impression left by the tone and tenor of his re marks upon the minds of his visitors. <— Corre spondence Chicago Tribune. I WIRZB BODY. The statements to the effect that the remains of Wirz had been exhumed from their place of burial-in the Arsenal Grounds, and had been forwarded to the friends of the deceased at Richmond, are wholly without foundation. The grave of Wirx is undisturbed. No re quest has been made for the remains of Wirx, nor is it understood that the relatives of the deceased desire the removal of the body ; and it is doubtful if the Government would con sent to their removal from the ** traitor's lot," now containing the remains of Mrs. Surratt. Payne, Herold, Atzerodt -and Wirz. The I family of Wirz are still in Kentucky .—Star. ■AVISOS BANKS FOB FBEEDMEB AT BICHMoBD ABD j OTHBB PLACES. Mr. J. W. Alvord, Inspector of Schools and Finances of the Freedmen's Bureau, has just returned from a tour through the Southern States, having established freedmen's savings banks at Richmond, Wilmington, Charleston, Beaufort, Savannah, Mobile, New Orleans, \ icksburg, Huntsville, Nashville, Memphis, and Louisville. He states that all classes in the States lately in rebellion are fast becoming reconciled to their new relations, but that it will be necessary for the Government to keep a strong power in these States for some time I longer, to secure justice to all. DECIBIOB OB CLAIMS. On an inquiry made by a provost marshal, it was recently decided by the Pay Department that provost marshals and other members of l<oards of enrollment are not entitled, when discharged, to the three months' pay proper ' under the act of March 3d, 188*>, nor jto travel- ! ing allowances to their homes. PATEBTB* The estimate of the number of patents issued lor the year 1865 shows the aggregate to be «,**>—an increase of 1,«00 over that of any pre vious year. NEW PATENTS. There will be issued from the Patent Office, 'or the week ending January Sd, IR6«, one huiv j nred and twenty-nine new patents. SALE OF DEAD LETTERS. The great sale of articles accumulated through the year in the Head Letter Office was 'oinmenced uu Saturday by Boteler, and has been continued with the liveliest kind of bid »ng ever since. Over half th* immense cata £_*•*•«* articles of Jewelry, largely of the dollar " sort,f>ut with sprinkling enough of }he genuine to induce n lively competition. J pwards of three hundred articles ia the col ah-. sf! P**ta»*esof pntent medicines, in the «££ of Dills, powders, unguents, oils, old tbut- 1 "* BOTr • cnoo V eJtopathic, homceopa wflLv mt JS* •■■l nsilnfly known to man or woman. There are over one hundred and fifty -ess (supposed to be) watches on the catalogue, s^s^sn

_£SS^s»**Bb:n*s; nsovrn to ctvUiaatioa. Amongst the odd arti cles thus passsd through Uncle Sam's malls, finding their way to tha Dead Letter Office, **?.**?• _£ •nownaksrsl tools, packages of type, ladles' wigs, bundles of slothing, duplicate parts of aewlng machines, packages of felt lints, iron cog wheels, (small,) lots of lamp wicks, dress elevators, false bosoms, (ladies',} shoulder-straps, pieces of a piano, lamp °"r nwp *» a-nareds of military hooks, Ac.. *c. The proceeds from the sales will be deposit ed, subject to the order of the owners, should nny of them ever turn up.— Star. PACIFIC BAH ROAD. __Major-General Curtis, Colonel Simpson, and I Hon. William M. White, left last night on their trip West, to perform their duty as com missioners of the Government for the inspec tion of the forty-mile section of the Pacific railroad recently completed beyond Omaha City. TBS ALBXABOBIA BIOT. General Auger, commanding the Depart ment of Washlagtoa, has directed an Investi gation to be made into the circumstances of the riot In Alexandria on Monday, and will bring all parties responsible for the affair to justice. A number of arrests have already been made. finesßii General Stoneman and family are at Wil lard's. THB 1.0.1.1 BRIDiiR OUT OF OBDBB. The drawer on the Virginia side of the Long Bridge is out of order this morning. The damage prevents the working*of the drawer, and was caused by floating ice in the river. The use of the Georgetown channel through ! the bridge will be delayed for a day or two. CBIEF JUSTICE CBASB OPPOSED TO TUB OATH. It is news that many of the secessionists j here claim that Chief Justice Chase is opposed ! to the test oath because he favors universal amnesty as an exchange for universal suffrage. Forney's Letter. COLORED NABOBS. Yesterday was St. John's day, and it was duly celebrated hy the Masonic fraternity. Phcenix Lodge, No. S, and Simonds Encamp ment, No. 12, of colored Masons, marched through the streets in fuU regalia, and pre- j ceded by a band. DARINO ROBBERY. The sleeping room of the city postmaster, | S. J. Bo wen, Esq., was entered by thieves on Tuesday night, between the hours of one and three o'clock, who took from his clothing, j which lay on the bed, five hundred dollars, [ and from the room, two gold watches, without ■ awakening;any one in the house. fOCTHEBB MAIL FACILITIES. The Post-office Department to-day awarded contracts for services on forty routes in Vir ginia and West Virginia. These routes, for which offers have been made since the regular biddings two months ago, will cover nearly the whole of these States, not then awarded, with immediate postal facilities. Mail service in North Carolina is in greatly increased de mand, and a number of officers are beiug made. To-day upwards of thirty routes were let. All these services will go into operation on New Year's day. Contracts for services in South Carolina, Georgia and other States are also being fully disposed of in the Appointment Office, with a corresponding re-opening of post-offices HI every Southern and Southwestern State. The number of such distribution may be set down at two hundred per week. Yesterday, Virginia, ! Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky and Tennessee I sharedlargely. • ! five cnvT ccnnnxcT. The new flvp cent currency will be issued next week. About $80,000 worth of defaced and mutilated currency is destroyed per day; by burning, and §08.080 worth printed. Ar rangements are nearly completed to make the | amount of the latter equal to the former. FRANK BLAIU TO BE IN THE CABINET. There is a rumor afloat that General Frank I Blair is to have the place of Secretary Stan ton in the event of tho withdrawal of tho latter from the Cabinet. WHY MR. DAVIS HAS NOT BEEN TRIED. The President is preparing, or has prepared, a reply to the resolution of Congress asking for information why Jefferson Davis has not been brought to trial. The ground taken will be found to embrace the legal difficulties here tofore announced as in the way of a civil trial, j and the probabilities are that Congress will i pass a law to meet this and all similar emer gencies. Hon. Henry J. Raymond, of New j York, for one, will strongly advocate such a measure. REPETITION OF AS OLD CONFISCATION STOBT. Information has been received of the confis cation, by the provost-marshal at Lexington, Va., of a considerable quantity of valuable hides belonging to the tannery of that place, and in part the property of the widow Of Stonewall Jackson. ADMIRAL BKMMES. The arrival here of the former Confederate Captain Semmes, of the Alabama, who was ar rested at Montgomery, Ala., on the 16th, is i hourly looked for. His trial by court-martial j for violating the laws of war in a number of instances, as ordered by Secretary Wells, | will probably take place her, if at all. ASSUMPTION OF WAB DEBT. It is reported that the Appropriation Com mittee intends to report to the House a bill pro viding for the assumption of the war debts of j the loyal States by the General Government. I BBVOLCTIONABT PENSIONERS. But two survivors of all those who partici pated in the war of the Revolution, so far as known by the Commissioner of Pensions, re, --• main, namely : William Hutchings, of Penob scot, Hancock county, Maine, aged one hun dred and one years, and Lemuel Cook, of Cla rendon, Orleans county, New York, aged nine ty-nine years. It is probable that one year more will close the list of the surviving heroes of j that-struggle which opened a new era upon the world. But Aye widows of our Revolutionary forefathers draw pensions from the Govern ment, at a yearly amount of $293.76. It is supposed that Congress will vote them an ad ditional pension. FRENCH MINISTER. The Cabinet meeting to-day was very brief and comparatively unimportant. The quid nuncs who started the story that the French delegation was to be withdrawn from Wash ington, and based it upon the recent visit of the Fiench Minister to New York, were con siderably nonplussed by the return of the Marquis de Montholon to this city a few days ago. As I had telegraphed, his visit to New | York related solely to private affairs of his own; the most friendly relations exist be tween him and the Government here, and there is no prospect that they will be dis turbed.—Correspondence Sew York Sews. AMEBDMEBTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. Thirteen propositions to amend the Consti tution are before the House Committee on the Judiciary. One of these, apportioning repre sentatives according to the number of actual voters, will be reported in the House next month. COSTESTBD BLECTIOB CASES. The various contested cases in Congress will be taken up soon after the re-assembling of that body. The case k of Mr. Harris, of Maryland, will also come up for decision, and it is thought he will be allowed to retain his seat. CABS FOB THE GRAVES OF THB SOLDIERS. Some months ago, General Meigs issued an order to his assistants to make special reports lof the locations and condition of soldiers' cemeteries known to them, with recommenda tions of the means necessary to provide for the preservation of the remains interred therein from desecration. Head-boards have been erected to their graves on the battle field of the Wilderness. Two cemeteries have been laid out, enclosed by a paling fence. The sites are well adapted for the resting place of those who fell in the vicinity, having been se lected where the scenes of carnage appeared to be the greatest. It was no unusual occur rence to observe the lines of our men close to the abattis of the enemy, and in one case seve ral skeletons of our soldiers were found in their trenches. Hundreds of graves on these i battle-fields are without any marks whatever ;to distinguish them, and so covered with ' foliage that the visitor will be unable to find the last resting place of those who have fallen until tha rains and snows of winter wash off the surface of the light covering of earth and expose their remains. Quartermaster-General Meigs has caused to be removed to tho cemetery at Arlington the remains of those who died on the camping grounds in the vicinity, nnd has taken mea sures to collect the remains of all others for deposit In permanent cemetrles, including those at Camp Douglas, Chicago. THB rSBSOMSS OS THB ©ISTSICT. The Freedmen's Aid Commission of this city have issued a circular stating that there is no very large number of f roadmen here who are dependent upon charity for support. The commission, in the same circular, call upon the affluent for aid. •nan or ws asbicpx-cbai. scbsac. BrJZSBBSX _____$& lent head of the Agricultural Bureau Wei

believe any change would meet tile hearty as sent of everyone who has had occasion to read the monthly and annual reports of that official. While Ids crop returns and estimates have considerable value, his speculations and re commendations are inconcel vably absurd. He has neither discretion nor judgment, nor does he knew the rudiments of the English lan guage. By all means let us have another and much better Agricultural Commissioner.— Sew York Herald. promotions raon the bob-commissiobbi> •taff or ths sbuclas abmt. No application to he examined will hereaf ter be considered from a candidate for promo tion to brevet second lieutenant who has not served at least two years in the regular army. RF-ri IPTB FBOM ISTBBSAL BBVBBCS. j The receipts at this Bureau of the Tressury I Department yesterday amounted to six hun dred and thirty thousand dollars. bfecihbbs or fecit abd wibss prom cali- FOSBfA. The Commissioner of Agriculture has re ceived from Barbery, California, a variety of specimens of fruit, such as raisins, oranges, lemons, etc., and also a number of bottles of hock wine, which are designed to exhibit to the Department the growth of that region. SEBTBBCB OF LIEUTENANT BBILLT. First Lieutenant Terrence- Reilly, Fourth United States Artillery, who was one of the officers court-martialed recently for occasion ing the disturbance at Rush Barracks, situated south of the War Department, on the night of the 18th ultimo, has been dismissed the ser vice. CHABOE OF THE DEFABTMBBT OF TENNESSEE HEAD QCABTEBB. By order of General Grant, the headquar ters of the Department of Tennessee are to be transferred from Knoxville to Memphis, Term. PREPARATION FOB THE PATMBBT OF THE ABMV. The Paymaster-General's Department is preparing to meet the payment of the army, which will be mustered for two months' pay on the 31st Dtmmber. It is estimated that i about two millions of dollars will he required i to pay off the troops in this Department. PBIZB liOBET BBADT FOB DISTRIBUTION. The prize money due the crews of the steam ers Santiago de Cuba and the Cayuga, the j former for the capture of the forty-five bales J of cotton, and the latter for the capture of the blockade-runner Tampico, is ready for distri- The New State of Colorado. Atchisob, Kansas, December 27.— Messrs. j Chaffee and Evans, United States Senators from Colorado, have arrived here and report uniform confidence among the people of Colo rado in the prompt admission of that State into the Union, every important condition of the enabling act having been complied with. The Legislature has passed a joint resolution requesting the President, if he did not deem himself authorized to proclaim the State in the Union, to urge its early admission upon Congress. A resolution guaranteeing the rati fication of the anti-slavery amendment to the Constitution was also passed. __ The Riot at Alexandria—Oaci More.— We are assured by a clergyman who was present at Alexandria when the negro riot took place there on Christinas day last, that the account which the Washington Chronicle gave of that bloody affray, so far as charging the blame upon young men who were formerly In the Confederate array is concerned, is en tirely incorrect. Our informant furnishes us ! with the following, which he represents to be ! a true statement of tho affair: The negroes j commenced parading the streets on Sunday i night. They were armed with pistols, knives I and clubs, and marched to the beating of j drums. They kept up this demonstration i until Christmas morning. On Christmas day j they insulted a number of white persons in j various ways. They halted in front of several t houses, uttering threats at the inmates, shout• ' ing at and cursing the inhabitants generally, ! and brandishing their knives and pistols. j Finally these disgraceful scenes culminated in :an attack upon a white man who was passing along the street. A general fight soon after I ensued between the whites and blacks, which : resulted in the killing of several persons, and : among them a Mr. Mitchell, who belonged to the Second United States regiment of Dis trict of Columbia volunteers. Our informant states further that the white persons en ! gaged in the riot were entirely of the class j known as " loyal."— Baltimore Gazette. Good Hit at Sumner — The York fanfoi gets off a good thing in the shape of an ad dress from Charles Sumner to the Negro Brotherhood, from which we make the follow ing extracts: Brethren of Color, —A crisis has occurred to the affairs of the Negro Brotherhood. Com binations or perfidious white men have pros- I tituted the government to the most ignoble purposes against you. ********* Be not deceived by the* wiles of General j Grant, or any other agents of Mr. Johnson j who may appear among you. They tell you j that yonr freedom only means that you must j work. It is thus that they wish to degrade I yon. This truth now comes to us with great force, since Andrew Johnson has engaged in the whitewashing business. He has adopted the great and peculiar profession of the brethren of color, and there is no longer any hojie for us except to strike for our rights. English Matrimonial Law.— A case of some interest with relation to the marriage law was heard recently before Vice Chancel lor Sir R. Kindersley, in .London. A man and woman residing in England were married ac cording to English law. They never.lived together. The lady went to Scotland, and, in consequence of an arrangement between the parties, the husband went to Scotland too, resided there for forty days, and then they were divorced by the Scotch law. The lady married again and had children, and the ques tion now was whether the children, as legiti mate, could inherit certain property left to the legitimate children of the lady. The Vice Chancellor held that a foreign court could not dissolve an English marriage, that the divorce was null, the children illegitimate, and the pro perty must go toother parties. Attempt of a General to Commit Siicide. Brigadier-General Champion Vanghan, for merly of Kansas, attempted to commit suicide by swallowing poison on Saturday morning in St. Louis, but his life was saved by the prompt administration of an antidote. In the after noon he again attempted to destroy his life by inhaling chloroform in the Mercantile Library room, but was again saved by medical aid. General Vanghan is a son of John C. Vaughan, and served on the staff of General Curtis and General Blunt during the war. No reason is assigned for his strange conduct. Rights of Suffrage fob Women.—Mesdames E. Cady Stanton, Lucy Stone, and Susan B. Anthony, all of them ardent advocates of wo men's rights, have addressed a to Congress, asking an amendment of the Consti tution of the United States that shall prohibit hereafter the States respectively from disfran chising any of their citizens on the ground of sex. They claim that fifteen millions of white women have quite as much right to be invested with the suffrage as four millions of blacks. sytm Tne Cholera abd Rotteb Whbat.—Several physicians of our city have expressed them selves, in the most decided terms, in favor of the proposition to keep back the damaged wheat now lying at Chicago. They all concur in the opinion that there is no such prolific cause of cholera as fodl grain, and if cholera is not prevailing, it must produce other diseases scarcely less fatal. One physician who lived in Buffalo years ago, when the cholera pre vailed, stated that the disease was worse among the men employed about the grain elevators and thips.—Rochester Union. Post- off Ices—The Theological Seminary E let-office is reopened near Alexandria, and cv. William Sparrow appointed postmaster. At Old Point Comfort, John B. Maher is post master, vice Krehs, declined. Sent on fob Tbial.—Dennis Dearing, J. B. Kennedy and Parker, charged with stealing Government mules in Petersburg, had a pre liminary hearing before the Provost Court on Wednesday, and were recommitted to jail for trial by military commission. *mn Rev. Dr. Stiles, lately achaphtin in the Con federate army, preached at the South Chnrch, (Rev. Mr. Carroll,) at New Haven, last Sun day. He was once one of the most popular spreachers in New Haven, and his chnrch wsa alwaya crowded. Several years since Dr. Stiles was pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church in this city.— Cincinnati Gazette. They propose to have a new State cnpitol at Albany, costing three or four millions of dol lars. It will he of white marble, from Ver mont quarries. tfurley, the escaped rebel raider, Is in Scot land, writing his memoirs.

Eacnpe ef n White Bop froas ths lejsssn j I TltstretCnpllsttT. | The St. Louis De-incror says: "Lieutenant Thomas E. Bailee, of the Thirteenth Missouri Cavalry, communicate* tM following deeply interesting abatement froji Mound Station, Colorado T&rmrry: ••On tie •_.._ of November, 11)65, a small hoy, supposed to he about twelve years of age. of rather dark complexion, black hair ana black eyes, came Into a ranche (near Mound Station, of the overland stage line running from Atchison, Kansas, to Denver City, Colo rado,) about one hundred and seventy miles east of Denver. He could speak very little plain English, but by signs could easily he un derstood. I, (being in command of the military at Mound Station,) on hearing of his arrival, immediately brought him to my station. He is now here, aud is learning to talk very fast. He informs me that the Sioux Indians have had him captive for many years, but he don' t know many. He don' t know anything about his pa rents, but supposes that they were killed hy the Indians at the time of his capture. He neither knows his name or where he was cap tured. He left the Indiana on the 24th instant, eighty miles south of this place, on the Republican river, three thousand in num ber. He luckily made his escape on a pony ; but running his pony to death the Erst night, he was then compelled to take it afoot for three days, arriving at the ranche on the eve ning of the 27th. AH that he had to eat after leaving the Indians until he arrived at the ranche was one crow that hie found dead, and a piece of adead.ox. He says the Sioux In dians have two white women and several ne groes captives now. He is a good-looking and intelligent youth. •• I take this method of informing the pub lic of the unknown's whereabouts. We are now under marching orders, and will march to St. Louis, Mo., to be mustered out soon. I think we will be at St. Louis between the Ist and 15th of January, 1866. I will bring the boy with me, and if any of his relatives (should he have any) see this and come and identify him, they can have him; if not, I ex pect to take him home with me (to Mercer county, Missouri,) and educate him. AH edi tors who see this will please let it find room in their columns. "Thomas E. Sallee, *• Lieutenant Company C, Thirteenth ** Missouri Cavalry Volunteers." Letter from General Shelby—Mexico n Fine Country—General Price and other Confede rates. The following extracts from a letter from I General Joe Shelby will the reader an | idea of the climate, soil and productions of Mexico. The letter was written to a private friend, without any expectation of its being published ; bn t it is none the less interesting j for that fact: ttoßDovA, Mexico, November 12, IS6s.—This lis the best country 1 ever saw. The finest cli- I mate 1 was ever in. lam satisfied the climate here would restore your health ; beside, I know the land would suit you. Everything under i the sun grows here h> perfection. I have seen cotton, sugar, coffee and tobacco, corn, rice, and every kind of vegetables you have in Mis souri, growing to perfection; fruit of every variety that can be found on "earth is to be found here ; oranges, lemons, pine-apples, in fact so many varieties that this sheet of paper would not contain half their names.— The land lies as prettily as any in La fayette or Saline. The Government is very liberal; 4t offers to foreign colonists six hundred and forty acres, near here to each man of family, at one dollar per acre, on five years time. The lands, too, are not more than five tq ten miles from the raU road, which will be completed in twelve months to this place. lam fully satisfied that any good farmer can make a fortune here in six or ten years. v If our people emigrate at all, this is the place for them, and not" Brazil. Any place but Brazil. They make two crops of corn a year here. The seasons are regular and fine, abundhnce of rain, and, unlike the most of Mexico, there is no irrigation here. Corn grows beautifully ; plenty of tim ber and fine water. It is never colder here than in September in Missouri, and it is never warmer than your May weather. We have ice here, and never out of eight of snow. You will ask, how is this f I will answer, that the mountains ten miles oft afford ice, and their tops are always covered with snow. If our people had this country it would be a para dise. A farmer ten miles from here, a Ger man, told me he sold his coffee crop last year, the proceeds of sixty acres, for sixteen thou sand dollars. He only worked ten hands, ex cept while gathering, and then abont double that number. Labor here is from twenty-five to fifty cents per day; they board themselves, and only get pay for the days they work. I have secured a section of land for you, and will hold to it until I hear from you. Many of our old acquaintances are here; among them, George Young: he is perfectly delighted ; is going to farming immediately. I see Frank Gordon has returned. Where are you living now? My mother writes that Maury Boswell lias returned. Tom Is with me, and doing well. Colonel Frank Mitchell is up about San Luis Potosi; has rented a large hacienda, and is planting cotton largely. But that is no such country as this. Slay back and General Price are here ; In all, about one hun dred Confederates, who intend settling. Dr. Terry is here, Dick Collins, Charley Jones, Bill Fell. A great many, who have become discouraged, out of money and away from their loved ones, have returned. Many come back. Tobacco can be made very profitable here. It grows as well here, General Price says, as he' ever saw it in Missouri or Virginia. Under the decree of the Emperor yon can make contracts in the United States with your negroes for ten years, and it will be bind ing here; the negro w : ill have to stick ;so any person coining here can bring their servants if they can get them to come. I remain yours, affectionately, Jo. O. Shelby. Gerritt Smith has finally commenced his li bel suit against the Chicago Tribune, laying his damages at fifty thousand dollars. The suit is entered in the United States Circuit Court, be fore Judge Drummond. Mr. Smith was will ing to forego the judicial proceedings if the Tribune would publish a retraction dictated by himself. This the Tribune refused to do, pre ferring to fight it out in the courts. It is computed that the commerce of the lakes amounts to*, at present, at least twelve hun dred millions of dollars annually, and that two thousand vessels are employed in it. It sends to the seaboard one hundred millions of bushels of grain, two millions of hogs and half a million of cattle annually. At the request of Quartermaster-General Meigs, the Paymaster-General has stopped the pay of nearly one hundred officers of the Quartermaster's Department until they shall have rendered to the Quartermaster-General the returns and accounts required of them by the law and regulations of the Department. The commerce of the world is estimated to require three million six hundred thousand able-bodied men to be constantly traversing the ocean, of whom seven thousand five hun dred die every year. The amount of property moved on the water is from fifteen hundred to two thousand millions of dollars, and the amount annually lost by the casualties of the sea average twenty-five millions of dollars. Peter Klasser, of Waukesha. Wisconsin, I killed himself by drinking whisky that had stood in a copper kettle several days, at Plum i creek, last week. He died in half an hour, | and a man who drank with him died in an : hour, and his wife, who drank but little, came near dying. \ General Swayne, Commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau in Alabama, has issued an order to the officers of the Freedmen's Bureau, which, in effect, nullifies the laws passed by the Legislature in regard to freedmen. A gentleman from Texas says that it is not known wlfat has become of Senator WigfaU. It is considered certain that he has not crossed the State into Mexico, and if in the United States his locality is a secret. Many believe that he is dead. The Reading Railroad Company, of Penn sylvania, it is stated, contemplate placing four tracks on their road—two for passengers and two for freight. They have now three track* over a good portion of the road. It is said that General Gideon J. Pillow, of Maury county, Tennessee, is building a Urge school-house and providing teachers for Ms former slaves. He owned some two or three hundred. Major-General Buford, of the late Confede rate army, was in Cincinnati on Thursday, last, on bis way to Woodford county, sty. We were pleased to see in our city yesterday General A. P. Stewart, of the late Confede rate army, on his -my to New Orleans.—Host burg Herald, I**. The colored people ef the District of t\>lum- Mawlll hold a convention on January a, to ask for euffrage. Masobicßall is Nobfols.-Atlantic Lodge had a grand baU on the 17th.

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS. _M-_M-_Ss_____aS-__*-» AfitOClAtlP raifit PIbTATCHM. • LorrsviLi.B, Dseember ».—A tornado laet night, In the vicinity of Pulaski, cnnssd much damage. The bridge over the Chattahooehie, seven miles south of Atlanta, was carried There was considerable disturbance at ClarksTiUe On Chriamnstday between tne whites and blacks. — the CMsnsnnw sftssse#snwsbC —II ■■ ssssssnsi - theOntlsS of his Oases. Ralkioh, December 28.—Jonathan Worth, the Governor elect, took charge of the Execu tive office to-day, relieving the Provisional Governor, W. W. Hold en. Governor Worth has telegraphed to Secretary Seward that he has assumed the duties of his office. j The Mayer and CersornUat Cisum.l Take tha Oath of Offlce-A Prise Flea* Nipped in the i v Bad. New Yobs, December 28.—The Mayor elect, I Mr. Hoffman, and the Corporation Counsel, Mr. Gorman, took -the oath of office yester day. A contemplated prize fight at Fashion Race Course, this morning, was prevented by the police, who arrested one of the parties. Personal. Fortress Mob bob, December 28.—Mrs. Cle ment C. Clay arrived from Washington today for the purpose of visiting her hnsband. Captain Senunes. Washington, December 28.- r CaptainSemmes is expected to arrive here to-night from New York. He will be confined at the navy-yard. New York Market*. New Yosk, December 28.—Flour has ad-1 vanced 5c.; Southern, g9.10@t15.25. Wheat firm. Corn declined lc. Beef quiet. Pork steady. Lard firm. Whisky dull. Cotton advanced lc. Naval stores duU. Gold, 145*. isnss Baltimore Markets. Baltimore, December 28.—Flour dull.— Wheat scarce and firm. Corn quiet. Oats dull at 50c. Seeds and provisions inactive. Whisky heavy at. *2.25@52.29. Sugars dull and heavy. ■ AMUSEMENTS. JJEW RICHMOND THEATRE. GRAND VOCAL and INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT. GRAND COMBINATION OP ALL THE MUBICAL TALENT OF THE CITY. I MADAME RCHL, in conjunction with ! Mr. ROSENBERGER'S ORCHESTRA, and a number of professional and amateur talent, will give a GRAND SELECT CONCERT i AT THE RICHMOND THEATRE ob , FRIDAY EVENING, December Z»th. PROGRAMME. PART PIBST. 11. Grand Coronation March from the Operaofthe Prophet Mbtebuebb I L _____ ORCHESTRA. | 2. Solo Soprano—Why Dost Thon Lin ger Yet, as sung by M'lle Parens Godfrey _ , ■ _lad. RDHL. i 8. Solo Baritone—The Dying Soldier Mr.J.G. 14. Solo Violin KBSBBirH c»„J c . • , Mr - KESSNICH. §. Ballad—Scheiden and Leiden Tbchb Mao. RUHL. Ruri from the new Opera of Fanst. .Oor.voT ORCHESTRA. PAST SECOBD. ure-Zampa , Hebold ORCHESTRA. oprann—aria and Scene from uer Freischutz C. M. Vos Wbbbb _ __ _ Mad. RUHL. *. Solo Baritone—The Old Sexton Rishel I _ Mr. J. G. ,4. Quartette, (by special request,) Come where my Love Lies Dreaming. I * Mad. RUHL and AMATEURS. >5. Quintette—Sounds from Home Gcxoi. L - ~- ORCHESTRA. 8. Grand Miserere—Chorus and Scene Verdi Mad. RUHL and FULL CHORUS. | Doors open at 7.30 P. M. [ Performance to commence at 8 j Price of admission to any part of the hou«e ONE DOLE AR. Tickets for sale at the principal Hotels, Musi. I and Book stores. Reserved seats may be obtained at the Box Office , \on FRIDAY, from 0 to 3 o'clock, P. M., without i extra charge. _ de^tf—3t_ TTAPPY NEW YEAR. A GRAND SELECT BALL will be given at the Fenian Halh (late Washington Hall.) on MON DAY EVENING, January lsf. ■ill will be strictly select. MABAOEBS. INEGAN. R. RYAN, r. PUTNAM, H. SCHWARTZE, FLOOR MABAUEB*. BRANAN, M. CONORS. TZE, MAT. ADAMS. MITSIC by SMITH'S FULL BAND. Tickets, |l. de23—td THE NATIONAL EXPRESS AND TRANSPORTATION COMPANY.-One-third of the capital stock of this Company having been subscribed, and ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS of the same having been paid up. the undersigned call for a general meeting of the Stockholders of said Company, for the purpose of effecting an organization under the amended charter, to-beheld at Richmond, Va., on TUES DAY, the ltth of January, tset. A fall attendance is desired. r J. E. JOHNSTON, CHARLES W. PDRCBLL. L. W. ULAZEBROOK, W. G. HARMAN, HUGH W. SHEFFEY. Eichmoßd, December 18, ISM. FORM OF PROXY. Know all men by these presents. That the sub scriber, being stockholder In the NATIONAL EX PRESS COMPANY, do hereby constitute snd ap point 1 ~ true and lawful attorney and proxy, to represent each of as In ail general meetings ofjhe stockholders of said Company held within six months from and after date thereof, when we are not personally present or represented by some other proxy, with fall power and authority, at •ach general meetings, to give such vote or votes, and to do such other act or acts, as each of us could give or do ss a member of said meetings if we were personally present; and we do hereby ratify and contra whatever vote or votes, act or acts, our aald attorney may lawfully give or do for us In pursu ance ofthe authority hereby conferred upon him. Witness hand and seal this day of , •one thousand eight hundred and ——. Tssts: _- [seal.] asls-tdm . ________ fI ARBER A OO.'S RICHMOND CITY XJ OMNIBUB AND BTAOR LINE. ______ __ fiswwssa* wmmMht *jffft BUSES, for the purpose of transporting p-Meager* and their baggage to and from tbsdlffePshi/ailroad depot* and steamboat landing*, to and from sll parts of the city, and respectfdlly solicit their p» 'tftaMSs lass than by any c4her eonveyanee. W* Eav* placed BOXES lv the Ballard, Ex. change, apobwood. Ffwlmtaa and 8t Charles Hotels, where persons desiring to leave by any of » o'eloehTPT^v.? 4 wlu *• «*Med lor aast mora. .■*•_* "»*. lr T_!* 4 ?l ,M T_f ••.•nykeaal or hoard. *5« ,k *_ l _ , _ n ,b# • itJr A__ ,or . *■? ■"•*■" «* •«-» tS-wlahtofojM. Orders *an also ho left at our SLe. sorasrof fisssnlesnah and Us7sk_l«s\*s q!_^iams___rf

TBXE_B_J»__CWB B- iOfIMfSOH » IHDErEjrDBTT JttfNCY. n.-.-.in ~ ____ iy f| J|y » tf *" W^_____l^_____ fc * w «»»eßS__BßnsW *__«__"_ ! DetertJves-The *—'•'- •■lHsjii sj__ Geneml PnOsrten*s sUsnst sw lVees_nesreA*v flslrsla Looked Caen Thehffflsnii rereassn ' tk««s«t--TWAiTesfßrs_lfe*rWs_Tl_»r WssnißOTos, December 28.—General Bntlsr will reply to General Grants battle critlckun before New Tear's, and win afterwards return to Washington for site winter. Tne rumor that General Prank Blair win soon succeed Mr. Stanton Is untrue. Mr. Stanton will not leave tint War Paper Uasat tor the present. General Grant purchased and paid for his dwelling-house In Washington last month, tor which he gave thirty thousand dellara. The statement that It was given him is untrue. Secretary McCulloch is not disposed to accept the offer of the banks of n temporary loan of one hundred miUlonof dollars, aad wiM probn hly adopt the usual mode of getting funde. Mr. Hooper, of the Ways and Means Committee, is in confidence with the Secretary in regard tar the matter. Governor Sharkey, of Mississippi, has just arrived here. He reports favorably respecting the condition of affairs throughput the South. Unless the test oath is repealed, not more than four of the Southern representatives can be admitted to Congress. Two English detectives have arrived here for the purpose of procuring information of Fenian movements. The adjournment of the Legislature of Lou isiana is said to hare been hastened by the un certainty which prevailed upon the whole subject of restoration. Newly-elected Sena tors, it is understood, would not leave until something definite with reference to their ad mission was known. In this connexion the return of Hon. Jacob Barker la looked for anxiously, as he would be In n position to give them considerable light on what waa then a dark subject. General Fu Her ton's report on. the freed* men's affairs is looked upon hy. impartial men as a tolerably truthful affair, though they do not agree with him as tosthe length of time five years—that he regards necessary for the further continuance of the bureau. Five years of bureau, as an arm of military au thority, is equivalent to saying there ia to be military rule, more or less, in the Southern States during that long period. The conclu sion is not endorsed by those who ure at the head of army affairs. The razeing of military forces now in the South will include a large number of black troops, for the reason that their presence there i • «garded as hurtful to the Interests of good o »r. {Garrisons, therefore, wiU be com posed chiefly of whites, limited to the small est possible number. The reduction of our fighting forces is highly significant just at the present time, When the quid nnncs will have it that a row with France upon Mexican affairs is inevitable. Indeed, nothing could more plainly show that no diflculty whatever is apprehended. The arrest of Warring, of the North Caro lina Times, may be set down as a warning that the Government will allow no disloyal utterances. This is the real significance of the arrest. Import an t Trial. Baltimobe, December 28.—Judge Giles, in the United States District Court here, de cided this morning the important habeas corpus case of Ralph Abercrombie, held by General WoUey, charged with being a spy and desert ing to the enemy ; also with giving testimony before a Confederate * court-martial in Rich mond, on which testimony Captain Deaton, of the United States army, was wrongfully con victed and executed. Judge Giles decided in favor of the military authority, remanding to its custody Abercrombie for military trial, as he belonged to the United States military ser vice. Abercrombie will now soon he tried by court-martial. He was a lieutenant in the old United States army. • The court-martial of which General Fessen den is president, and Colonel Bingham, judge advocate, has adjourned sine Me, having dis posed of the important forgery trial of Pri vate Thomas Murphy. A new court-martial will probably be formed soon to try Abercrom bie. Naval Intelligence. Commodore Winslow, formerly commander of the Kearsarge, has been ordered to the com mand of the Gulf Squadron, in the place of Rear Admiral Thatcher, who has been de tached. This squadron now consists of twen ty vessels, carrying one hundred and thirty _ eight guns. ■ The gunboat Florida, now at the Brooklyn* navy-yard, will soon be ready for sen. She is _ intended for the new West India Squadron, _ I and Commander Henry Rolando, formerly of I the Keystone State, has been ordered to com-1 raand her. ■ The vessels composing our Mediterranean I Squadron were at Lisbon, Portugal, at latest*! advices. They were expected to leave. shortly ■ for Spexzia. The storeehip National Guard ■ was to call at Gibraltar on her way to BpessU ■ and take on board the armament of the rebel ■ Erivateer Sumter, which waa left there when ■ er name waa changed to Gibraltar. ■ The supply steamer Massachusetts Will mare ■ the Brooklyn nary-yard on Saturday, 90th in* ■ slant. She will carry mails, passengers aad| stores to the Gulf aad Atlantic Squadrons. ■ Parties wishing to send letters or packages \o_\ their friends In those squadrons can leave them*fl at the Lyceum in the navy-yard any time be* ■ fore Saturday morning. ■ ens fl later frc_siUeJ__M_re. • ■ Nsw Yobb, December 27 The steaaserfl North America, from Rio Janeiro on the Ml Instant, via Bahia, Parnambnco and Bt._\ Thomas, has arrived. The Emperor returned! from the Rio Grande Del Snd, causing great! rejoicing. ■ Coffee ia lower. Flour advancing. ThePu-H raguayans have withdrawn entirely sesnsnfl Upper Parana ont of Corrientes. ■ The Brasilian fleet is at the mootjjh a** Ih__ Paraguay river. _v The sifted army crossed the river Ci»b_bsUiJ on Its march to Parana, near Gosea. It wilsfl be sent in Teasels up that riTcr to n paint **-■ lected for further operations. ■ ■ i ■ -• -anii . Greater Part of the Town Oeespsfsd. "■ Shappbb, Pbbbstlvabia. December Si.—AM a quarter-past one o'clock this sftstneon, s___ Are broke out la the Ocean Hone*. TstlwiJ spread, and inn short time tne entire w—_\ side of the town, from Downey « Ok's •_■ office to the post os.ee, was -Wlioyed. ■ The Parson* Hotel was also i-iili ■■_■■__! also all the shone and staples sdisasshstrPewS nay's office and all the bnihtiafs bahrf Diali MM •treat were saved. The windTwne ttrera-laM for cae safety of the oil ptetlSrssa, and no edß was burned. _U _ During the excitement, n Mr. Park wasahofl dead while quarrelhng with Inn murdarsrß who has escaped. ■ Ton stores aad four nets** were eeaaasneua and the helkt>f the bolldiags sm the sewn was] destroyed. ■ ■■ '> —WW—* ' ' . ■■ PAssßsssvae, W. V., Dm •■■"**.-____■ Ohio river at this point, two bnnejted •*___ below Plttsbers. hitweafcy feet emnn\.andj rising ragfcUy. Cenanetenl bantssesi sn^tnsrej __s7lfc i Vn_sns_l r___C m-mmm-kt nWJ__HML '"*' ___________________ _____-. fl____Ml ml _3H T-_ndsn % a _ ■ ' fl__r_______i V__F ______ _________' _o_e_____H___i_ ' ________