xxx Num. WILMINGTON PRESBYTERY. This body met at Glasgow, Del., on Tuesday evening, April sth, and remain ed in session until Thursday. Rey. John W. Mears was chosen Moderator. Re vivals were reported in four of the churches, three of them being of unusual power, and resulting in the material strengthening of the several churches. Probably one hundred and twenty mem bers have been added to their numbers. A spirit of enlarged liberality prevails; even the feeble churches showing a very great advance in contributions. A new Mission chapel has been built in Wil mington, at a cost of nearly $4OOO. In one of the churches a systematic attempt is making, on the part of disloyal sym pathizers, to obtain control of the pulpit and property. Votes have been manu factured by the "packing" of vacant pews to such an extent as to render the result doubtful. The stated supply, a member of the Philadelphia Fourth Presbytery, in good and regular stand ing, has been working with this faction, much to the surprise and regret of the loyal people. Is not this a case 'war ranting, if not demanding, Presbyterial investigation ? The following questions were over tnred to the next Assembly : 1. Who are voters in an election for trustees of a church ? 2. Who have power to call a meeting for the election of trustees of a church? 3. Who have power to close and hold possession of a church, the trustees or Session? Rev. J. Garland Hamner and Elder E. T. Taylor were chosen commissioners to the General Assembly. Milford, Del., was chosen as the next place of meeting, September 28th. RECOGNITION OF CHAPLAINS. Every one interested in the moral welfare of the army will rejoice at the intelligence, that Congress has at length legislated, so as to place chaplains on the same footing, as other commission ed officers. The late enactment fa videl that their names shall be placed near the surgeons, on the regimental rolls ; that they have quarters at hos pitals and posts ; that their widows and mothers shall be entitled to the same pension received by the relatives of captains . ; and for similar causes ; and also that there shall be a burial service at the funeral of a soldier, and shall be at least one religious service on the. Sabbath. By theso provisions, a chaplain is pro tected from the neglect or insolence of those armed with a little brief authority, and he is made to feel that hie profession is recognized as much as the medical by the Government. Senator Foster in the debate, which took place on the Bill, with much force and practical effect, exhibited the "lit tleness" that had been pracVed upon chaplains, simply because they were unrecognized by the Army Regulations. Under the new law, every faithful chaplain will thank God and \ take courage. AN INTERESTING DISCIUSSION. At the monthly meeting of the Young Men's Christian Association, on Monday evening the 28th ult., Rev. Mr. Moore, of the Presbyterian Church, Redwood Street, read •an excellent essay on Theo dore Parker, which was followed by an animated discussion of his character and influence as a reformer; which is to be continued in another form of treatment, at the next meeting. It will be an oc casion of marked interest we think. The question of a semi-monthly relig ious meeting, with direct reference to more spiritual results, is "agitated. The churches should second and sustain such /amiable efforts, and pastors of the city., .liould • more frequently drop into these (ratherings, and shed the light of en ouragement on the enterprise. Stir WE CALL ATTENTION to the adver isement of Orittenden's Commercial ollege in another column. This long stablished institution has never been in zo flourishing .a condition as under its 'resent management. It had, during the last year, probably a larger number of ztudents in attendance than any other :duOittional establishment in the State— early five hundred from different see ions of the country, including many rein .our best business houses, having eon entered on its register. For thor , ughness of instruction and complete ess of its course for business life, it has o superior. The expenses are light and eompara 'rely insignifteant, in view of the ad_ antages it offers to those having a siness course in view. Nre can speak om actual experience, having employed the office of this paper two of the ndents of Crittenden's Commercial °lege, who gave great satisfaction and fleeted the highest credit on theft' in rnetors. AMENDMENT TO THE OONSTITETION. Mt important Amendment to the Con stitution, the text of which will be found in our news columns, abolishing and ex chiding slavery in and from the United States and Territories forever, has been passed by the Senate. The measure must also pass the House by a two-thirds vote; and be submitted to the Legisla tures of the several States, the assent of three-fourths of whom is necessary to its incorporation into the Constitution.— The prospect of this result is most cheer ing to the friends of human rights, to those longing and waiting for signs of real progress as a result of the convul sions of the times, and to those who wish our national enactments to correspond with those of the Great Ruler of the Universe. The scenes which lately transpired in the House of Representatives, show that the friends of oppression and of the over throw of Republican Government, feel that their time is short. They see that in the passage of such an enactment their career as public men would be for ever at an end. So may it be. KEEPERS OF THE CONSTITUTION. Marvellous, but not deceiving in the eyes of all true men, is . the attitude taken by the faction, who, in the pre sent Congress, oppose and embarrass the Government. We are to believe, from the speeches of these traitors, whom cowardice and the hope of plun der alone keep from open and armed league with the rebellion, that they are the true supporters of the Constitution and the real friends of human liberty ! And that those who are directing their energies to the suppression of the rebel lion in the speediest and surest manner, are the only 'anarchists I Shall we not summon Jeff. Davis at once from Rich mond, to give us a true rendering of that instrument? Or shall we not re sign our very existence as a nation, so that we may meet *the quibbles of these precious specimens of loyalty, these piti ful remnants and dregs of a ruined party ? 1 , : !,1 1 13BATH RAILROAD PROFANATION, On the sth of this month the Commit tee on City Passenger Railroads agreed to report favorably on a bill allowing the City P assenger Cars to run on the Sabbath. We do not know what efforts are contemplated to meet and counter act this movement, but we greatly fear from the unenviable character our State Legislature has gained by previous railroad action the past winter, that little hope can be tieriShed of prevent- - ting the passage of a measure so plainly detrimental to the best interests, spiri tual and temporal, of the community. REV. D. G. MALLERY, formerly chap lain of the 51st. Regt. P. V., but having some months ago resigned, has just been re-elected to the same position, and is now on duty with the 51st, at Annap olis, Md. A supply of the AMERICAN PRESBYTE RIAN will be thankfully received by Mr. Mallery, for the regiment. Will some friend place the necessary funds in our hands for this object ? REV. R. PATTERSON, D. D., sailed on Monday, April 4th, from New York for San Francisco, by the steamer Champi on, and Rev. George J. Mingins on Wed- , nesday, April 13th. Both of these brethren are engaged in the service of: the Christian Commission, and expect to labor for it in California. They are warmly recommended for this object by a large number of clergymen. CIRCULAR, OF THE PASTORAL ASSOCIATION ON THE DEBTS OF FEEBLE CHURCHES. DEAR SIR :—The undersigned were appointed a Committee to make inquiry in relation to the debts on feeble Churches within the bounds of the. Third and Fourth Presbyteries, and to report to the Pastoral Association of Philadelphia the result. They found the following, viz. : Indebted. Will raise. Needed Logan Square Church, $3,000 $l,OOO $2,000 Darby, Second " 3,300 2,425 875 East Whiteland " 1,600 1,000 600 Southwestern " 5,035 " 780 4 305 Kenderton ~ 4,000 1,000 3,000 Lombard Street " 3,306 1,906 1,900 Marple 1,200 600 600 According to the foregoing statement, the whole amount of indebtedness on these Churches is $21,991. These Churches will raise of this amount $8,711, leaving $18,280 to be raised by the other Churches. When the Committee made their Re port, the followincr 6 Resolutions were unanimously adopted : Resolved, That the Committee ap pointed by the Association, address a :Circular to the Laymen of our churches, in the City, respectfully requesting them to take into consideration the importance of a united and vigorous effort for the relief of the above named churches. And that the same Circular be sent to our City Pastors, that they may notify their congregations of a meeting to be held in ie First Presbyterian Church, Washington Square, on Tuesday, the 19th of April, at a quarter before 8 o'clock, P. M., for "this purpose, and urge heir attendance. PHIL a&I . • ; ; "11 ' A ODIN • • OA. • Resolved, That a Committee be ap pointed by the contemplated meeting, consisting only of Laymen, to take charge of the money subscribed, and that no distribution of money to the cburches interested be made until the whole sum required is obtained. But, that when any of these churches shall furnish satisfactory evidence to said Committee that they have raised the amount pledged, and that this, with the sum asked, will cancel every claim on their building and lot, the Committee ,shall pay said sums to such churches. The present time seems peculiarly propitious for such a united and vigor ous effort. The unwonted liberality of some of our wealthy members, and the deep necessities of some of our feeble churches, give promise of success in this effort, and urge its importance. Most of our churches are now free from pecuniary pressure. May we not hope that ere long every church of our denom ination, in this City, will be relieved from tke burdens that have long inter fered with their prosperity and growth, and embarrassed their Pastors. This can be done. It will be done, if our people have a mind to work for it, ac cording to the ability God has given them. Perhaps this is the only time when such an effort can be successfully made. It will be a joyful day when it is reported that all our struggling churches are released from these bur dens. We look forward to the near ap proach of that day with hope. Your presence is most earnestly and respectfully requested at the meeting, to take into consideration this matter. This meeting will be held in _First Pres byterian Church, Washington Square, on Tuesday, the 19th of April, at a quarter before 8 P. M. ROBERT ADAIR, JOHN PATTON, Committee of Association. N. B.—At a meeting of the Pastoral Association, of this City, held Decem ber 21, 1863, it was Resolved, unanimously, -" That this Pastoral Association will not be respon sible, morally or pecuniarily, to aid in paying the debt of any church, unless they have been consulted relative to the incurring of the liability." finvo of iitf tirk. SENATE, April s.—The Judiciary Commit tee reported. with amendments, the bill for the collection of taxes in insurrectionary States. The resolution calling on the Sec retary of War for information in regard to church property seized was tabled. The joint resolution to amend the Constitution so as to prohibit slavery was then taken up. Mr. Davis' amendment, that no negro, or person whose mother or grandmother is- or was a negrii, shall be a citizen of the United States was rejected, .49.4 SeMetichAilat that to slave slialT be emancipated unless the owntve, is first• paid the , vain.* of said lime; was also voted •down. r; House.—ln the House of Representatives the Committee on Post Roads and Canals reported a bill authorizing the construction of two bridges over the Ohio river, which, after some discussion, was re-committed. The Committee on Ways and Means were instructed to inquire into the expediency of increasing the duty on foreign wool. A re solution directing the Committee on Mili tary Affairs to report the bill increasing the pay of soldiers was referred to that com mittee. Mr. Rice asked leave of absence for ten days for the Committee on Naval Affairs, in order to visit the West to exam ine sites for a navy-yard on the Mississippi, but objection was made by several gentle men, and the request was laid on the table. The National Banking bill was taken up in Committee of the Whole, and was reported with the amendments. SENATE, April 6.—The bill providing for an an Amendment to the Constitution, passed to a third reading. HOUSE.—the National Bank bill was on motion of Mr. Stevens, laid on the table, 89 to 44. SENATE, April 7.—On motion , of Mr. Doo little, the bill to aid Indian refugees to return to their homes was taken up. The bill appropriates about $200,000 for the benefit of the Indians who fled into the frontier States a year ago,frotn Indian Terri tory, on account of the rebellious position taken by some of the tribes.. The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the joint resolution amending the Constitution. Speeches were made by Mr. Hendricks and Mr. Henderson. After Executive session, adjourned. HOUSE.—The Secretary of War was direct ed to inform the House how many com missioned officers, with their names and rank, have been dismissed from the military service by authority ofthe President, with out trial by Court-Martial, since the begin ning of the present war, and how many such dismissals have been revoked. The House resumed the consideration of the Raritan and Delaware Bay Railroad bill. Mr. Wood bridge argued in favor of the constitution ality and expediency of declaring the roads and boats of that company to be military and post routes. The subject went over. The House then proceeded to the considera tion of business relating to the District of Columbia. Several local bills were passed, and one appropriating $250,000 for the erec tion of a Penitentary, Jail, and House of Correction, in the District of Columbia, was discussed. Pending a motion to lay the bill on the table, the House adjourned. SENArs, April B.—Mr Sherman introduced a bill to provide for a icational currency, se cured by the pledge of United States stocks, and to provide for the circulation and re demption thereof. The bill is that proposed by - Mr. Hooper in the House, without ma terial change. Referred. Mr. Harlan intro duced a for the relief of certain friendly Indians of the Sioux nation in Minnesota. Referred to the Committee of Indian Affairs. It appropriates $lO,OOO to make provision for the welfare of such Indians as periled life in saving from the masaere many whites in 1862. By ,unanimous consent, Mr. Hale called up the bill to repeal the first session of the joint resolution of Feb, 24, 1864, re lating to the transfer of persons from the military to the naval service, which was passed. The Senate then proceeded to the consideration of the, joint resolution amend ing the Constitution. Mr. Sumner addressed the Senate at length. Some other speeches were made, and the final question was then taken. The proposed Constitutional amend ments, which was finally adopted by thirty- eight to six. nays, is as follows: "ART. Xlll., $6,711 $13,280 CONGRESS. Sec. I.—Neither Slavery nor involuntary ser vitude, except as a punishment for crime, of which the party shall have been duly con victed, shall exist within the United States or any place !subject to their jurisdiction. Sec. 2.—Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation." This must be passed by the House, signed,by the President, and ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths of the States, when will it become a part of the Constitution. Ad journed. HOUSE.—TI y bill providing for a peniten tiary in the District was recommitted. The Senate billixtending the time in which States may a ail themselves of grants of land for agricultural and mechanical colleges, was passed Nitta a clause admitting West Virginia to s provision. The President's t annual mes age was taken up, and Mr. Long of Obi,, made a vehement speech on the rebel side. In this speech, as reported, Mr. Long said : " there were only two ques tions—first, the recognition of the Confede racy, and, second, the continuation of the war for the subjugation of the South. Of the two he preferred the former." April 0.--The Senate was not in session. 1 HOUSE.—TIie speaker, Mr. Colfax, called Mr. Rollins,i6f N. H., to the chair, and as a question of/privilege, proposed a preamble and resolutions, calling for the expulsion of 1 3 Mr. Long Ur treasonable language. During the course f debate which arose, all the long supra ssed venom of the snaky faction found vent Mr. Harris, of Md., having de clared full agreement with Long, it was moved th 4 he be expelled and a majority (but not *O-thirds) voted for it; he was severely ctjusured by a resolution, only eigh- ' teen votiri in the negative. Mr. Long's ' case was plstponed on plea that his language had been )iisrepresented. I SENATE, April 11.—A memorial for a suit- I able pier t Lewes, Del., was presented. A i Report o the battle of Olusted, Fla., was made. T e House Naval Bill was consider ed, and t e appropriation for building float ing dry- ocks at Philadelphia and New ri York, foe t 'monitors, was struck out. Housx.-- esolved, When it adjourns, to adjourn u i t Thursday to attend the fune. 1 ( rat of M John C. Rives, late editor of the Glob . A preamble and resolution to the effec that the South should not be sub jugated, as laid on the table. The case of . Mr. Lon was then resumed. The following is the re ution offered by Mr. Colfax: Resolv ;"- That Alexander Long, a Repro sentatiV , from the Second District of Ohio, I having on the Bth of April, 1864, declared himself i favor of recognizing the inde pendenc and nationality of the so-called Confede cy, now in arms against the Union, and the by given aid, countenance and en courage ent to persons engaged in armed hostilit to the United States, is hereby ex pelled. 1 i Durin the debate, the prominent organs of the ,mocracy declared that .party to be for pea . Stirring speeches were made by Gen. henck and Henry W. Davis. Mr. Orth s d of Mr. Harris, censured by vote of the H use, that "if old General Jackson i had b in power, instead of censure only, the tr tor would be now in Old Capitol Prison. Adjourned at 11.30 P. M., with out ac on. THE WAR. Ken'neky.—The rebels are showing an exceedpitgly bold front in the western part of Kentucky. Paducah, on the Ohio at the mouth f the Tennessee river, once a town of 10,0 inhabitants, and intensely disloyal when rst occupied by Gen. Grant, in Sept. 35 ( 1861, as the object of a desperate attack by th rebels under Gen. Forrest, late last aroht. . It was guarded by a fort, held by Col. cks with a force of 685 men, 250 of whom were colored. The approach of the t r exam yariously-estimated at 250 Q to '1.0,000 stroti ivas known inAiity.e to !permit the f trans tation of the ir*ltants to the other side f the river. The - gunboats Paw Paw and eosta_ were moored in a good position, awaited .. and he rebel advance was aw by the Unio, forces. They appeared at one o'clock Marc , 26th. A correspondent of the Tribune says f "There was no delay in the advance. He ushedhis line forward rapidly and _ - - steactly, and while at the same time a de tachflibt from the right flank, several hun dred's o } ng, dashed into the now deserted city, an down Market street, and the other street I ck of it, until, coming within range of the rt, they opened a galling fire from the hoses upon the garrison. On they camei. ' ith loud cheers that sounded dis tinctljr hrough the now increasing roar of battleand which were defiantly answered i l v by au/men, who now, reeking with perspi ratio plied their rammers with accelerated rapidi and hurled destruction through the acivan ing lines. As soon as they came withi good rifle range a terribly destructive fire w opened upon them, and men top pled, heeled, and fell to the ground by scores. Although the overwhelming force continued to close upon the fort it was now evidtat that there was much disorder among therroxnd presently a portion of the line gave hi-ay, When the whole force broke in conluiion and retreated precipitately, leav ing theground strewn with not less than 200 killed(ind wounded. The discomfited reb els we e then reformed upon their original line. t As t se smoke began to clear up it was 'discov red that the city was on fire in several places The railroad depot was already eompl .tely wraepped in flames, having been fired lly the rebels. The shelling of the gunbo is had dislodged the sharpshooters from the buildings nearest the fort, and their tire was just being directed toward other portions of the town, when a flag of truce%as observed coming from the enemy's lines. , '- The fag covered a demand for the uncoil-. ditionalsurrender of the fort, with a threat that no;,-quarter would be granted in the eventa forbible capture. Col. Hicks promptly replied thatle was sent there to defend; the post, and intended to obey, as any hotiorable officer should. An hour was consumed during this parley, immediate/7 after which the enemy advanced and made a second charge, which only resulted in strewing, a couple of hundred more of dead and wounded rebels on the earth, and a dis astrouskrePulse. This by no means satisfied the desperate Rebel 'band. The Rebels swarmed thicker and thicker in the-build ings, ark(' an unintermitting storm of lead -was poured from roofs and windows, not withstanding the houses were being perfora-• ted by shot and shell from all our guns. Every gun in the fort was now turned' upon thertown, while' the gunboats . took an active part inrsweeping the streets and shell ing the houses. The enemy finding that our force was not strong enough to risk leaving the works did not re-form his whole line again, but sent his mernby detachments several_ hundred strong into the city, some to burn and pillage and otham to reenforce those who were yet firing upon the garrison. Now was the hardest trial our brave fellows had to bear. In spite of the shells that were sent crashing through the buildings, the sharpshooters, who by this time must have numbered nearly 1,000, held their po sitions or else falling back for,a few minutes again came forward and delivered their fire. At length, at nightfall, when the garrison Was nearly exhausted, and the ammunition so nearly-gone that further resistance would have necessarily been chiefly with the bayo net, the rebels drew offi keeping up a lighter fire, however, until midnight. The next day the rebels were still in the immediate vicinity and threatening another attack. Col. Hicks burned a number of buildings in his immediate front and having received aid from Cairo, prepared to resist them. But the rebels after some further vain at tempts at conference withdrew, having suf fered, according to the correspondent, a loss of 1000 killed and wounded. Union loss 14 killed and 42 wounded. The movements of Forrest, since this bold but disastrous at tack, are not clear. Much praise should be awarded to the brave Colonel Hicks and his garrison, the colored soldiers of which bore themselves with their usual bravery. Captain Patrick, with but fifteen men, last, week surprised sixty rebels, near Quicksand Creek, Ky., killing ten and wounding eleven of the enemy, and capturing all their arms and equipments. Virginia.—Army Changes.—Major-General P. H. Sheridan is assigned to the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac. The 11th and 12th Corps are to be consolidated and called the Ist Army Corps, and Major- General Joseph Hooker is assigned to the command. Major-General G. Granger is re lieved from the command of the 4th Army Corps, and Major-General 0. 0. Howard is assigned to it in his stead. Major-General Schofield is assigned to the command of the 3d Army Corps. Major-General Slocum is ordered to report to Major-General Sher man, commanding the Division of the Mis sissippi, and Major-General Stoneman to Major General Schofield, commanding the. Department of the Ohio, for assignment. Major-General Granger is ordered to report to the Adjutant-General of the Army. About forty rebels recently made an at tempt to blow up the Light-house at Cape Lookout.. Having placed the keeper and his wife under a guard, they proceeded to carry their plan into execution, but ran away at the approach of a United States transport, which they thought to be a Union gun-boat. Arkansas.--Dates from Fort Smith to April 6th, say that Gen. Steele's army has driven the Rebels from Arkadelphia, and is now advancing on Price in the direction of Camden and Washington. Several hun dred Rebels, under Cabell and other com manders, have come in behind our advancing forces, on raiding expeditions. Clarksville, 65 miles from here, was attacked day before yesterday. The enemy was repulsed, with a loss of three killed, 10 prisoners, 20 hor ses, and all their camp equipage. A large amount of cotton is reported cap tured on the Red river, amounting to about three thousand bales. Col. Clayton, com manding ,at Pine Bluff, advanced with a small force to Mount Elba, on Salem river, where, by stratagem, he captured 326 pris oners, and afterward fought a battle, defeat ing 1200 of the enemy, with a loss of 100 in killed and wounded. He captured small arms, stores, &c. in great quantity. Loss 15, all told. Gen. Steele was at Arkadelphia on the 28th of March, on his way South. Louisiana.—The main body of General Franklin's force reached Alexandria, Loui siana, on the 28th ult., without opposition. The country is almost entirely deserted by the whites and the male negroes. Some I seventeen cannon have been captured since the expedition reached Red river. Dates from New Orleans to March the 29th, state that the election for delegates to the Louisiana State Convention resulted in favor of the Free State party by a large ma jority. The steamer J. H. Russell, with 700 bales of cotton, and a quantity of cattle and hogs, was consumed by fire at night at Pla quemine. The Rebel ram Tennessee was struck by a squall April 1, while lying near Grant's Pass, near Mobile, causing it to keel over and sink. But two feet of here-smoke stack now remains visible. Her armament will prove a heavy loss to the Rebels. It consisted of six 100-pounder rifled Parrotts, and nearly as many small pieces. [This account needs confirmation.] The officers of steamers from Red river report a considerable fight on Cane river, 35 miles above Alexandria, on the 28th ult., between Gen. Smith's forces, consisting of 8,000 infantry under Gen. Mower, and Dud ley's brigade of Lee's Cavalry Corps, and Dick Taylor's army, estimated to be 12,000 strong, posted in an advantageous position. The fight lasted about three hours.:Our loss is reported to be eighteen killed and about sixty wounded ; that of the rebels was much greater, some , placing it at two hundred in killed and wounded. We captured five hundred prisoners, and others are still being brought in. Our troops did not halt on the battle-ground, but pushed on in pursuit of the retreating foe. - Tennessee.—The inquirer's Nashville cor respondent, April 11th, says : It is certain at last that East Tennessee has been aban doned by the rebel troops, and that they have destroyed all the bridges in their hasty evacuation. Seven of Longstreets'sGenerals have been court-martialed in regard to the failure of the campaign in East Tennessee. On last Thursday evening there was con siderable excitement in Memphis, owing to an attack made by the rebels upon our outer pickets. The Memphis militia were imme diately 'sent to the front. The "attack was thought, however, to be a feint made by Forrest to enable him to get safely South with his trains containing the plunder taken at Paducah. Sduth Carolina.—A party of refugees picked up in a small skiff off Charles harbor say that the rebel rams, which can be plainly discerned on the stocks, on a fair day, from Gregg and our batteries near Cummings' Point, are suffering considerably from our fire, which is directed against them when ever the weather is favorable for practice. Our shells have driven the rebel workmen away so frequently that they cannot be in duced to - work regularly upon them. Sev eral of the ship carpenters have been wound ed and the balance are almost panic stricken. The rams themselves have been repeatedly hulled and badly shattered. In fact, at one time it was found impossible to repair dam ages as 'fast as injuries were sustained by them. The range has been obtained, and our shells strike and explode, every time, in the immediate neighborhood of the ship yards or •in the yards themselves. The fire has had the effect of postponing the launch ing of the•rams, and may effectually prevent it altogether. It will be maintained here after. Recently, our batteries have thrown a few shell daily ;into the city—just enough to let the rebels know that we are alive on Morris island, and propose to hold that point. The thirty-pounder Parrott, which has been firing for some time past, finally gave out the other day, at about4he four thousand six hundred and some odd round. As it was fired at a high elevation, which is considered the most trying on any gun, the fact that it endured so long proves the value of the invention. The Wiard gun 43 to be tested in the same severe way, and 'from the experiments some very valuable results will be obtained of in terest to ordnance •eilicers and to the world. Naval.—Early on the morning of the 9th, a torpedo waa brought alongside of the fri gate Minnesota, lying -off Newport News, by the rebels and exploded. The frigate was considerably shaken and damaged, but not, as was designed, blown up with all on board. The annual Navy Register for 1864, which is just published at Washington, contains some very interesting information concern ing the present condition and strength of our navy. It appears - that we have now 622 vessels of all classes inthe navy, 432 of which are war steamers, and 74 iron-clads and rams. The number of guns of the iron-clad fleet is put down at 325, and the tonnage of the same at 86,474. In March, 1861, there were but 42 naval vessels in commission, and now we have nearly double this number of iron clads alone. This exhibit shows that the increase of our Navy has been the most re markable of any nation on record, and when we consider that it has been created in time of war, the interest is enhanced. Of the iron-clad fleet 27 vessels are afloat and 47 building, nearly all of which will be speedily launched. From the official . reports up to February Ist, 1863, we find that England had 5 iron-plated vessels afloat and 6 build ing, and France had 4 afloat. The present naval force is divided into nine squadrons, as follpyrs —The North At lantic, the South Atlafltic, the East Gulf, the West Gulf, the Mississippi, the Special West India, the Pacific, the East India and Medi terranean, and the Potomac Flotilla. Seven vessels of the Navy are detached and as signed to special service. GENERAL NEWS. A decision in the District Court in this city was rendered on Saturday, which sus tains the validity of the legal tender of " greenbacks." This is a very interesting question, and it has, from time to time, been before the Courts, not only this State but in New York and other States. Various de cisions have been rendered. Sometimes we find the law making the Treasury notes legal tenders, as expressed on their face, sustained, and then again a contrary view is enter tained, and, perhaps, in no case has the ac tion of the courts, that is, the opinion of all the Judges, been entirely harmonious in the cases brought before them. Those who op pose the legal tender quality of the Treasury notes appear to base their opposition on the ground that the law making them a legal tender is unconstitutional, as impairing the obligation of contracts previously made. This is a question of deep national concern, as we now have almost exclusively the Gov ernment paper issues as the circulating currency of the country. It would appear in this view, that to sustain this currency is to sustain the Government. All the loyal people of the North are mutually interested in the success of the Government, and its present financial system is a necessary part of the means to accomplish that object- Treasury notes have been made a legal ten. der by law to meet the present situation of our national affairs among our own people, and the refusal to receive them as such is only to that extent a disposition to disavow the authority of Congress to make laws for the support of the Government. Secretary Stanton has transmitted to tla Senate a report from A. A. General Town send relating to the nine months' men, militia and volunteers, called out in 1862, which says that the number raised and re ceived into service, under the act of Juty 17, 1862, was 18,884 nine months' volunteers, 61,205 nine months' militia. $25,000 in bounty has been paid to all volunteers ac cepted under said act. A terrible storm raged in Baltimore during Saturday. The tide rose from three to five feet higher than usual. The "Seaman's Bethel" was sunken during the storm. President Lincoln has commuted to im prisonment in Fort Delaware during- the war, three rebel spies who had been 9pn deurned to be hung. A spurious ten dollar note was circulated on Saturday. It was neatly executed and well calculated to decieve. It was on the Citizene Bank of Massaehusetts. The iron-clad frigate Ironsides has fired since she has been in service four thousand three hundred and sixty-one rounds ; has been hit two hundred and forty-one times; has had only one man killed ; has not been seriously injured, and is probably the best iron-clad vessel in the world. An expedition recently sent up the Chick ahominy river by Gen. Butler, was successful in penetrating to within fifteen miles of the rebel capital. John C. Rives, proprietor of the Washing ton Globe, died in that city on Sabbath morning, at the age of sixty-nine. Re was for a while clerk in the Fourth Auditor's office of the Treasury Department, and sub sequently a clerk in Duff Green's Telegraph establishment ; but early in General Jack son's administration he founded, with Mr. Blair, the Globe. Soon after the sale of that paper to Mr. Ritchie in 1845, he re-estab lished the Globe as a journal of Congressional proceedings, and it is now considered the official record of debates. Five of the Brigadier-Generals Smith were at the siege of Vicksburg :—John E., Third Division, Fifteenth Corps; Andrew J., of the Thirteenth Corps, now up the Red River ; William Sooy, Fourth Division, Fif teenth Corps; Thomas Xilby, now at Nat chez, and Morgan L., Second Division, Fif teenth Corps. A private letter states that the people of California are suffering at present from drought. Eight thousand sheep and eight thousand beeves have died, and the farmers are killing the cattle for their hides and fat. This drought will prove most disastrous to the farming and hydraulic mining interests of that State. A patriotic lady in New York bought the one dollar "greenback" which had been pierced by bullets and afterwards taken from the dead body' of a Union soldier. The mother of the soldier sent it to the Fair, and the purchaser paid the handsome sum of one hundred dollars for it. A large bridge over the Northern Central Railroad, near York, Pa.,• Ras _ swept away by the flood of Saturday. The freshet has been very severe '•in many places; , but the damage is not so severe as at . first appre hended. Admiral Farragut reports the capture of the schooner Marion, bound to Havana. with an assorted cargo. Gold closed on Monday at 172. It is thought that the bill to remove the seat of Government from Harrisburg to Philadelphia which has passed the State - Senate by a Philadelphia, majority, will also pass the House, when the subject comes up on: Thursday. Maryland has just voted, April 6th, for a , Convention, to consider the question of of emancipation. A majority of the dele gates' elected are said to favor immediate and unconditional emancipation. ' The subscription to the 10-40 loan amounts, April Bth, to ten millions. New York subscriptions on April 9th were $l,- 044,000. The Rhode Island Gubernatorial election, held April 6th, resulted in the re-election of James G. Smith, Union national candidate, over the combined Democrat and Indepen dent Union votes. The Connecticut Guber natorial and Ohio local elections, held last week, resulted in decided Union victories , and gains. A terrible boiler explosion occurred in the foundry and machine shop of Merrick & Sons, on Washington street, in this city, on Wednesday, April Bth. Seven persons were killed or died soon after. The engineer was killed outright: The boiler was new. The Hartford City Election, April 11, re suited in a decisive Union victory. 117
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers