ran through the vast array of vtitues-ei-..• and all was painfully still. In a few mo ments the entire division, headed by Gen. Franklin, took up the line of march. pas sing In view of the corpse, Every soldier had a chance to look upon the bleeding victim of his own impruden.te, and it is safe to presume that the sight will long be remembered and g'7l rto prevent future desertions. Itbaitun gitVertisfr. 'WEN DXMOCILATIC PRINCIPLES CKAAIS T 9 LEAD, VS grass o FOLLOW." WEI, M. BRESLIN, Editor and Proprietor LEBANON, PA. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1861 =I Sor Col. Mulligan, the hero of Lex • ington, has not, a very high opinion of Home Guards. Ho thinks them, like the 'Wide Awakes, "invincible in peace and invisible in war." Jim Wo publish full and interest ing accounts of the troubles with England in to-day's paper. The very latest from England is by the Arago which brings dates. to the 11th inst. The warlike sentiment and prepara tions in England were unabated. A considerable number of additional EngliSh troops aro to be sent to Can• ads. Wir Sinn we got our hands into it mat week by publishing a Republican speech, we - rather like the experi: moot. Republican documents are as entertaining as Colonel C. Riddle's letter, particularly as we hope to please everybody with the former, while with the latter we tread on so many toes. In another column we give the report of the Van Wyck Congressional Investigating Commit tee. This Commi6ee was appointed by Congress (Republican,) to look into the frauds reported to be prac tised upon the Government in the fur nishing of supplies, &c., for the war. The Committee is composed, of four Republicans and two Democrata r hence it connot: be supposed that the report was got up maliciously for political effect as was the "Covode Report."— The 'Committee is not yet through with its investigatiOns, but enough has already been elicited to astound mankind. tar The receipts of the State for the•year, ending November 81, .1881, were 86,743,525, and the expenditures $5,873,352. The receipts include loans to the amount of 83,081,150. • ser The Courier says we are cavil. ing about a national debt. By read ing the Van Wyck report in another column, it will find the justification not only for cavil, but for the most intense denunciation, particularly for that part of the debt most unblimh ingly.stolon . by the political friends of the 'Courier. The. Courier is one of the few who still thinks to keep down . honest investigation, and cover up the rascalitics of the pOwers that be, by shouts of treason and traitor, and threats. of hanging,. &c., As was the vogue- three months' ago, but thank God, that time of lawlessness and mob law is nearly over, and free dom and law are again in• the ascend. ant. lAA. Gen. Scott is already on his way home from Europe, by the Ara go. It is said that he is the bearer of an offer of Mediation between Eng land and France from the Empuror Napoleon. Ii On Saturday Lord Lyons re. quested to know when our Govern ment would be toady to receive the despatches of her Majesty, to which Mr. Seward replied that the subject would receive careful attention with out delay. Otr The latest from Washington is, that it is believed that the trouble with Angland atx)nt Masen and Sli dell will be amicably settled• Or• The latest adviees from Port Basal atate that our soldiers have ta., kere~ti of Beaufort. An ex pedttiUtt4 about being sent out from Port Royal, the destination of which haa not. been divulged. etr Governor of Ka:sea:EL—Hon. George A. Crawford , (Union Demo, era) has bop erected Governor of Kane* Ur. Crawford is a Pen nsyl. vaniao." lie. resided for many years at LenivH, oven, Clinton C'ounty, and was formerly a clerk•in the Post Of. free De cent et. WitabitigtOD. Mr lion. Jaunts;lt S. Black, for merly Attorney Gen. and last Scare tart' of Stattt k under Mr: Buchanan's n st riff*, has been app ,need BiTorter. for, the .I.7nited States ,Su. prevao Court, in 011 placp of BORN.; pin C. Howard; ertsg osigned on VC,A4koirvition =proelivi ties. • . Se' The public will remember that just about the time that the raScali , ties reported by the Van Wyck Com. initt;•.• wore in full blast, and seen and h ~,,wn by everybody not, wilfully blind, tie Courier-and its gang of mob kokit,tB throughout the country, Were intimidating all who refused to bow to Bard, by threats of "wiping out," "hal• tors," "made to drawliemp," Had law and order 'ruled then, and a free investigation of the aetS.of officials been allowed; millions _Upon millions would have teen saVed to the Govern. ment and people. 4 has-been .proven, and will continue to be overy day while this rebellion lasts,- that - Damp. crats are as loyal and patriotic as the' Republicans ever dared to beiand the reign of terror several Moutheago by the latter will be.- recorded :.. as the greatest outrage of this 7 eivilized - age. Those that joined in tha- .. -"mad - dog" cry against Democrats 00,4, were party, unconscious no doubt lb-many instances, to the rascalitios perpetra. ted under their shield,and protection. The Courier was ofieef tiuost, vie. lent and foreuipit in7:the',Cliase, and from the means at i4i4 . 1A4 Of. Obtain ing information, ci4eliktite'•letigt ex cusable. The year OVitttordi.:lB6l., will record mtttty air. act and deed that-sill bring the blush of shaMe to the cheeks of posterity. It is true many-noble and patriotic deeds will also be-recorded, but, how much bet- ter and prouder they would stand without the degrading alloy. . itfir It appears, from the testimony published by the Van Wyok Commit tee, that the sum of $2,000,000 . was placed .at the absolute disposal of Alexander Cummings, of : New York, last summer, by the Secretary of War of which he expended about. $300,. 000, and has notyet made settlement, and the, business was so' lOosely (not to use a harsher term) conducted, that the Committee say "it Would seem impossible that theao .aecOuntS should Over be intelligently - 7 settled:" it,seerns . that he just: bought, any thing in.distegard of price or quanti ty; and whether wanted or not. Among the army supplies purch4s. ed by Mr. Cummings, are the follow ing ; 280 dozen pieta of ale and, porter, $1 87. $325 00 35 quintals codfish, 300 boxes her ring. 200 boxes °hectic, 26 packages but. ter, and cartage 6 barrels of tongues 1,470 dozen &tram bare JOAO pairs of linen ptntd 23 barrels of piokela. 25 ask of Scotch ate, price not stated.• 10 eaelin of London porter, price nut statod. 700 Ilell'a carbines (rej'a nrin,) ,Sl5 olL0 1 1:35 cam, $35. 11,725 00 It is not unneeeF;sdry . .s.sy that these are not understood to be-"anny supplies," as . t term - ie, need, except, the 700 Hall's carbines, which is the same arm sold by the War Depart. ment in folloWing Jane 16i. $3 50 each. 1t must be borne. in Mind that GeV crnmenthas its proper officers to at. tend to purchases and had then in - New York its own agents to attend to this very businesS for - Mr. Cummings Was appoiated, but Mr. Cummings in his testirnony Says that “he has been acquainted with the Secretary of War fer many years; that their perkonal relation& are very intimate; and that Lthey have been politically acting together for many years.: z ; : TIIE IVRMY OF TILE POTOMAC Braldiant • Fight with the Rebels. . . • WAsuttioroN, Dec. 20.—This morn ing, at six o'clock, a,.portion of Gen. McCall's, division proceeded i, n the di rection of Dranesville on a. foraging expedition, and for the purpose of making a reconnoissance in that local-. ity. Draneavillo is about midway between headquarters and Leesburg. • On arriving in that vicinity they encountered the enemy, whb-had four ret4:ments of infantry, composed of South Carolinians,. Alabamians arid Kentuckians, with one battery of . six pieces, and a regiment of cavalry, under the command of Gen. Stewart. The only troops ou.. our part en gaged.in the affair, .at- Pranesville, wore Gen. Ord's briptie, the. First regi men t.of rifleS,,and-BaStOn's bat. tory of four guns. ..At, four o'clock; after the action, Gen. ilteCall sent two officers to count:the rebels who were killed and 'woundeT i 7 intrit - was ascertained that they left on tho field fifty-seven killed, and twenty-two wounded. Three of the iattor, died on 'being . removed, inaking4heir- .loss sixty killed and 19 worinde4makieg a total of seventy-nine :kW), and wounded, and they no doubt: Carried of many more. They also 'left nine horses 'killed. or, disabled. The enemy were completely routed, and fled precipitately atter a fight of an hour and a half, leaving two_ can 7 none a quaßtity of arnall,arms, blank ets, great coats, &e., more than on.r troops emild'bring away. t • . Our men also brought in some pris• oners besides the wounded. Our loss is, as near as ca 0,150 sneer= tainted at present, about ten killed and fifteen wennded. • ThezeYpedition returned to •their camp at Langley's at nine o'clock to night. Gen. MeCall,,in a dispatch receiv ed at headquarters to-night, says too. ranch credit cannot he gly - eli'yf Gen. Qrd for. bis gallantry anksk ttiroogh. out.the. lIEM g 'Hon rr f e (lm l er l r j ',lth a e rl in' a. *obtreaa," , State Senator, ace,, dieghtit'l Noss York, ctn . :sloo ay; or - 1 asz. CoUgressionut Inquiry into Government Contracts.: : SHLNGTON, Dec. .17.-7N - en' Wyck's , - , Select Committee to inquire intnPoVern merit Contradti, made a report to the Home of Representatives to-day of their progress. It was presented by Mr. Wash burne, of -Illinois. The resolutions sub mitted by theehairtnan will-be found - in the Congressional, proceedings. The Committee report- that they held their sittings in Washington, Nev. , York - , Boston, New Redford, St. Louis, Cairo, Chicago. and, Harrisburg, . and the mem bers have traveled from six to seven thou sand miles in the Perierniance of their du ties. They` have examined 265 witnesses, and the testimony embraced in the pres ent report will cover elelien hundred pages. The labors of the Committee are far from being . closed. A large nureber of .transactions at. Washington and elSewhere seem to desetve . their attention, and - pith the approbation of_ the •Hotise, the 'Com . inittee proposes to vigorously prosecute their investigation, so lie it may ap pear that they are dem by the pub lic Interests. THE STEAMER CATALINE CASE. Among the first aubjeets investigated was the charter of the steamer Cataline. She was chartered by Col. D. - D. Tomp kins, Assistant Quartermaster-General, of Neiv York, under - an order from. General No detibt dini'beintertained that Col. Tompkins acted in ,entire good faith, so far as he was connected with the trans action. M. M. Freeman & Co. held as security for the money they had adVanced the insurance of $20,000 on the vessel, the notes of several other parties and the con tract with the GOvernment. The contract with the Government is not remarkable for disinterestedness in 'pronioting the National welfare ; yet the Government will certainly be satisfied with ordinary fairness find - Integrity in contracts made on . its behalf, even if a wil lingness to seize upon the public misfor tunes_ for personal aggrandizement is man; Kest in the transaction. While theßepub lic has a right to expeet it, it cannot com pel the unselfislidevotion of its Citizens. The provision that the GOverninent shall pay $50,000 for a vessel just purehaier for $14,000, in the event cf her loss,:by a peril' not covered the insurance, is' to tally indefensible. But the main provision of the contract, while undonbtedly exorbi tant, is lesS4a be condemned. The Gov ernment was to pay $10;000'. per month for the vessel, and that, too, for - a period of not less than three months. Col. 'romp kins seems to have paid no- attention tor the time for which the vessel was "char tered. The order of Gen: - Wool is' silent , - on the subject. The presence -of Capt.' Comstock at the time the : preposition. was drawn up would justify the inference that the time, whiCh was'a - very material fea ture in the contract, was adjusted between himself and Develin and Freeman, the oth— er parties then present. - 214 37 1,541-S2 127 G 0 4,145 68 7 220 00 There is some conflict in- the evidence as to what would be a" fair price for the charter of the vessel, and especially as to the cost of running her. The latter in quiry is manifestly the most important in its practical results. The 'committee .es pecially call attention to the arrangement between the Secretary of the Navy and Mr. Morgan, for . purchasing vessels for the Government, saying that it is of- such a character, whether-it be in the stipulated amount received or in the mode of pay ment, alike indefensible and reprehenSible. The arrangement is a system of com mission, usually,* per cent. of. the pur chase money paid for each vessel,and one under which Morgan - received as compen sation during the period of seven weeks previous .to 'the 6th day of Septeinber (when this testimony; was taken) the enor mous sum of 851,584=as admitted. by himself before the- committee. .If hp has received the same rate of comvsation since as*eforethat date, there. mast be added to this sum paid him before that date, the further commission of $43,424, for servicesrenderedsince,mak(ng,imall, the sum of $95,000 paid to a single indi vidual, for his services, as. agent of . the Government since the 15th of July—a period of four months and a. half. The committee next deVoted themselves to the subject of the purchase of arms.— The extraordinary demand for their); re suiting from .the conspiracy to overthrow the Union, has resulted in extraordinary expenditures, and, exciting the of large plumbers of persons .both in Europe and America, has opened .up' a system of unprecedented speculation. The GoVern ment has been the victim of more: than one' conspiracy, and remarkable' combina tions haVe been formed to rob the ••Treas pry.. The profit from the sale of arms to the Government have beemenormous, and re alized, too, in many instances by our own citizens, through a system of brokerage as unprincipled and dishonest, and as un friendly to the success and welfare of the nation as, the *tangs of actual treason. The sys(em adopted at an early moment for the purchase of arms naturally en couraged this, result. The Government and the several States, entering the mar ket in active and direct competition, stim ulated. it is true, to some slight extent and but temporarily, the importation-and m` ii ufacture of arms, but scarcely compens; - ted for a general • profligacy in the expend iture of the public treasure> and the cor ruption of the publie , morals. Since the adjournment of the , F.3ara Session of Congress, the War •Depart ment is understood to haVe authorized the several States, and to haveJecognized the right .in the Generals commanding the seve' eral divisions in the army, to purchase arms, to be paid for-by the General Gov 'ernment, creating an unwise and • ruinous competition egainstitself, without increas ing the number of arms in the market. The Committee, after examining into the effect. of this system of competition last September, called the attention of the War Dep,artment to the subject, and sug gested, as the only effective remedy, that the purchase of arms should be confined to n,single bureau, And the seiteral States notified. that ,the General Governtnent would not-pay for arms purchased in cora, petition with itself. The committee are informed , that this.Aliey has, been Ado*. ed,--a most Aorable.zrepit, although its earlier adviitm, would have saved mil lions-of tbearemry, s luid -4 the same flute, by placing •tbe arpipliurnhased nn4 der the pun trol,of the Poverreent, would have separektbefr uge itppintisster,e4l4 public safety..wactin NM= E:== REPORT OF THE TrAN I : O7CE COWTTEE. THE. PURCHASE OF ARIUS Major liagner, an ordnance officer, who was engaged in the„ purchased and inspection of arms, testified as follows "The agents ofFremont, of the ,Gover nors of States, eMities, of Union Defence Committees, of Colonels of Regiments and of GeneralSof our army, are all here, in New York. I may be in treaty for arms, and the first thing I hear the arms are Sold to some agent. Some of the men who hold the. arms,. I sometimes think, are. disposed net Id •have a bmi.a. de They like to keep the arms in the mar ket, in order to advance the price. I think they have been‘gambling in arms just as they do in stocks, etc." • !l'he'Committee remark that in numer ous cases Which have come under their observation, the price paid. for arms was inexcusably 'eXhorbitant.. In some . in, stance the arms were , wotthless and in others .exorbitance in price was coupled with otherevidence.of .a purpose to de fraud the Government• The abuses in the purchase of Austrian and other.fire-arms .are .noticed and the testimony appended. - ARMY SUPP L IES Next the Co' s ,mittee =xamined into.the army suppli :5- • • • , among other things, t I ' orrupt motives, or from prudence, the Act of t ting contracts to be in. . . ing for pro posals in, ediate delivery is required by the public exigency, has been almost a dead letter, even in that large class of cases ,wheo it might, have been properly applied. Immense supplies, both in the Navy as.well as in the War Department—the necessity for which in the ordinary course of things, ,was easily foreseen--have been purchased privately under contracts expressed or implied, without any competition . being Invited. In one iinportant diiision of the army (the. Western) the law has been almost to tally disregarded, and even the responsi bility of Public officers has, in many cases been unnecessariiy.removed by the. em ployment of irresponsible agents, in pur chases of large quantities of supplies, even where responsible; and experienced and upright public officer's were in a position to perform the required dut A vast a mount of supplies has bee de on what is called a requisition' Western Department, especially, ns tfave supOed the place of con THE PURCHASE OF 6ATFLZ AND HORSES The Committee say that in the pur chaie of cattle there is much 'evidence of grosamisthanagement, and in the purchase of horsk§ and Wagons - in New York, they find great - irregularities. OFFICIAL PRA C The ConiMittee call attention to a case of the official ,ProStitutionrof official riosi tiOn to the ,baSe purtose of illegal gains, as, set forth in the, evidenee of Samuel A. HoPkins ; and in this connection the CORl mitte'say that a man - by the name of Wood, enjoyingthe confidence of the Pres ident, was appointed tommissioner of Public Buildings, a place not only recibir ing great business capacity, but unflinch ing integrity rand that Wood, from his own declarations, made himself an instru ment for plundering the' Government— The Chrhinitte e, indischarge of their du ty, Made a representation of the facts to the Executive, but,- before any action" was taken, the Government was relieved 'from the presence °fan unworthy official 'by his resignation. THE - FORTIFICATIONS AT sr. Louis The Committee next approach the Pub ject of the fbrtifications at St:4ouis. The circumstances surrounding this work be ing of the most extraordiniuy character, and marked by extravagance, reckless ness, iasurbordination and fraud, they ex press the hope that some means May be found to make the PartieS to' the atro cious contract disgorge the sum out of which-AN Government.-has-been' defraud ed, and that the laborers who have done the.work.on: the faith of the Government, will not long - erbe v delayed in- receiving their just &es. TBETUROEMSE OF HORSES AND MULES The COmmittee found that the most as tounding,and unblushing frauds had been perpetrated in the purchase-of horses -and mules, and matters were so'arranged that it was;impossible for the original 'owners to.sell either horses or mules directly gb to the - Government,.--but all such sales were made by certain middle-men and to betweens, who, it appears; alone could get any horses -or mules taken by the Quartermaster's Department. , The abuses in the Western Military De partment are prominently eliminated, in cluding those relating to,the shipment of ice, the diversiorrof moneys from the Pay master's Department for which they were appropriated, the rotten • and condemned blankets, the roofing of the .Beriton bar racks, transportations, etc, etc. , In the above, notice, the language of the Committee has' been.quoted throughout. The report : is -signed by Messrs. Van Wyck, (N. Y.,) Washburne, ), Folman, Fenton, (N. Y.), ,Dawes, (Mass.), and gteele, r: The taher mein6er, Mr Jackson, is absent in Kentucky. t`rcliti For additional Poreign news eea firsepage... TEEEEVAI6. tATER.77, CAPE RACE, bge. 15.—The steamer City of Washington passed here thisporn ing, with English dates to thesth inst.— The Sp.n Jacinto affair monokizes the at - item of the pfesi,Wh'cidemitille' it in the atronkestleiins, and adtive Preri aration are being made. The latest hy 7 telegrapli to Queenstown Says the:excitement ity'inibated: . The' Paris, Temps repeats the staterndtit that fouls Netioleon-tiaa tenliered'hiaYeiiibes as a mediator. . • The Paris Patilt has an'editorral shadowing the dispcfsftitin Pfalipe fa reeogriite the 'Southern Confedera4. if England sets the example. ' ' s When the"EuroPi th'ere was a, more hopeful look and conibls%anit'bottsfni slightly impror ; but iffer - digesting - the tone of the American press a reaction set in, and 'fears were entertained that the Washington Government would , justify the seizure of Mason and Slidell. The English journals are very bitter and hos: tile; continuing-to great--the affairluktiOn tolerahle insult. The instructions- LoOrd Lyons; on which 'the- Cabinet:lms unanimous ane explicit and lietertained: At the banquet at Rochdale, Mr. Bright` made an elaborate speech m Arnerican-af fairs,,but,sleclined tO give an:decided Otte' ion on the Trent affaiti. %Me beliemedaid if illegal, thp /Inited4States - latal‘f*- ting reparaticak: - .411e-etrs, gXy-etaar464- ed any -warlike feeling% tardl-4,scibittee . idea that - the Arrieripart 'elihinertgat solved to pick a quarrel with England, and made a brilliant peroration in favor of the North. . , :-. klkterfroin.o4,n Scott, in favor of the , , maintainance offriemlly relations betWe:o England and Ainetina, attracts much at tention. •- 4 • ' ' ' ' The Shipping Gazette believes there is a possibility, but . a, remote one, that the Federal Government may disavow the acts_ of Capt. Willtes, and even go to the length of releasing the Southern Commis sioners; but if the demand is not complied with, a. deciariiiion of war °tithe part of England is certain„ If the - Federal Gov ernment' is resolVed - at all, :hazards to force a quarrel on England they have cer tainly, a ; goad ,opperturtity, but they must be actuate& by -.soniethina' little short of madness to avail themselves of it. The London Post says that an acknowl edgement of error and a surrender of the prisoners will be received with great joy —but if the Federal Government fails to coMply:no man in England will blind his eyes to thr.' alternative that England must do her duty._ Me London Times eontinueste,assert that it has been Mr. Seward's policy to force a cpiarrel with England, and. calls for energetic Military preparations in Canada. `serious decline is daily taken place in Palladian securities, amnunt. hitt to 12 per cent. The London Times predicts three things to immediately follow an out: break with the United States, name. iy —the destractimi Of _the Southern_ blOckadc, the blockade of the Nerth, ern' ports,-and the recognition of the Southern Confederacy by England and Frande. The Daily Neivs rejoices that the Aiilerican . Congress niecte before the English demands can get out, and hOpee that it will act with honor and dignity, and that the Bolded oppor tunity will not be lost. TWO DAYS LATER-ARRIVAL Or THE JURA have t,i•o days' later foreign 'news by the arrivall of the Jura at Portland. The excitement in Lon don relative to the Trent affair con 'Andes unabated, and the stock m et wasmore heavy and unsettled ti ever. The iron clad frigate War was coaling for service on the Ni A mei-lean coast. _There, was qui: rise in sugar and saltpeter. No ters were being talon for Amer vessels. The Cone Of =serve on the part of the Freneh press ;increases, and seVeral. - leading, .Paris papers biaMe the English government for having yielded to the pressure of public opinion, as represented merely t hy Manchester and Liverpool, anti have anted too hastily in the Trent affair. The U. S. Consul at Farie-publishes an important letter of General Seott on the Trent affair. The strength of the American Davy is being canvassed in England, and while affecting to dispise it, they re. collect Pinner defeats, and urge that though we may do little. what we do will be done well.. -The.Fr . encli Min ister at 'AV'n is said to have reported that the government at Washington refuses to deliver up despatches ad dressed to the French c'onsuls. at Nciv Orleans And Charleston. Mr. dispatch . es were entrusted 'to his a ilc as he was leaving-the Trent. The Paris Patric says that in Nov. the San Jacinto searched a French, a Danish and a Portuguese vessel. GOOD NEWS FROM - MISSOURI 1300 Prisoners and • a large, amount of stores taken ST. Low, Dec. 20. z- Further ' in is received` from' the West this morn ing, to the effect that, ,in addition to the expedition of Gen. Pope against the ene my at diThear Clinton, the county seal of Henry.eountY, another part of his forces, Under Col. Davis and IVlajorMarshall, sur prised another - Camp of rebels on the af ternoon otthe•lBth; near Nntfort, a little north W ofarrensburg. A.brush skirmish ensued when the reb els, - finding , thernselves surrounded, sur rendered. ' Co!.- Davis' took-ISoQprisoners, includ ing three Colonels, seventeen Captains. LOCO stand ofarins, sixty-five Wagon's, one thousand horses, a large qUantitY oftents, baggage and supplies. Our las was' two killed. and eightwounded. The rebel loss is not yet . known. Information from GlascoW states -that our. troop& have captured about two tons of .powder, buried on Clain Jackson's farm. . Major Hibbard' , captured sixty rebels a day or two: since, in Johnson county. . GOOnews is expected fro - m , Uansas, the trnops , having been moving • bri*ly in the ;last day or two. . FULL PARTICULARS or , ' -' IIIE CHARLESTON FIRE FORTRESS __OVROE, ec. i 6 The Norfolk and Richmond papers give full particulars-of the extensive conflagration in Charleston, S. C.-- The fire brolie•out about 9'o'clocilt on the,evening of-the-11th, & Old's sash . ..and blirid factory, at .the foot of "faze! street, crossing Hake{ strectit extended to the machine shop of Cameron &, Co. Before midnight the fire had assumed an appalling magnitude; and lieetitig:stre'et; 'Mtn Marloit. toy Queen, was one mass. bi 2tui,rts- as ,tenetnent ;after tenement was efittelopecl'initthi3ea. The panie WAS awfur,anti ,thqusands of faniilieti evacuated-.their houses iatict-fil fed! the streets. ',The buildings in the lower' part of the! city, *here this fire broke Out, werepri n ci pally of wdod, and ex tie tne- Irinfliimmable;which accounts-for the mmarkably rapid progress of. the fire. At'in id nigh t the Circular. Church, and the Anstitute Hall were burning, and the proximity of .the flames-tot A l b Ch'arlestoullotel anti tkielifillisEfdpistr caused them to be evacuated by ulysir inmates,, unkthaftre-tiind. ed- more to tiuy southward; ipirasdt the corner tlntl di stall to-the rfurr of the , ObaliefitorkPlitriel, aid =to tthe iond-of 'Hun sCre4,=-4. , CroasingMa*eti street,,thellie slTread Aewn.-EaSt Bay to timberland street, ,atid aeross totimittiiisilouse;iveluvr: itig in \ its ,4eiCtiuotion ,the - Circulfir CilgrellitiAdtitute ROPanti,tbocebar lepitip Atli; .Alt.afii, 3ii44.4xeot-*D4I , . ° , olaftf - xt. - 42Y - tca iittintatcektris o - -is,ezienfilesostojrit tietoiet ftwaigkeir. - , = .`altitalWtfrt-N44oeoPMiltttinidiSittiSi movement of troops, who had arrived on the scene ahOiit this time, ordered several buildings in the route of the conflagration to be blown up, and af ter some dcla the oitter was cxecu• ted, ha not i3efore:the Theatre, Lloyd's coach factory, opposite the Express office, the old Executive building and all houses from this point to Queen street, had caught fire and been de stroyed: = At about.-four o'clock the wind changed the direction of the flames towards—Broad street. Soon after St. Andrew's Hall took fire, and atibsequently-the7,.Cathedral, the spire of WhiCh fell.shortly after five. The fire made a-clean,sWeep through the city, making- its trackfrom East Bay to King street. • The Charleston - Courier of the I.3th gives a list of between 200 and 300 Sufferers, and says that the loss is es tirmited at from five* seven of dollars. Air. Fussell, 'at whose fac tory the fire originated, thinks it must have been occasioned by an incendia• ry, or by negligence of negroes em ployed,there. - A. dispatch from Charleston, dated the- 13th sayS , "the gills House, al though threatened,! ariff several times on fire, eventually escaped, arid is on ly slightly damaged." • A message was sent to the Confed• crate CongreSs on Friday, by Presi aent Davis, in relation, to the :confla gration at.Charleatoo, recommending an appropriation in aid of the suffer ers. A resolution was accordingly unanimously adopted, appropriating $250,600-as an advaneo on account of claims - of Smith Carolina upon the Confederate StateS. The Charleston Mercury sayer that five hundred and Seventy-Six build ings were burnt. - Five churches were destroyed by the Charleston fire---the Cathedral,. St. Peter's, Episcopal, Cumberland. Street J.lietiodist, Circular' Church. XXXVHth Cpsagetts 'act of , '• Dc ,enate ; mo r, ion :for ion of .I.right. vanted it referred to the the Judiciary. A de bate ensued. Mr. Lane, , of Indiana, offered a resolution, Which waaagreed toi:requeSting the Judiniapy::Cottini t. tee to 'provide by Ora and abettors of treason may be prevent ed from .brihging suits_ for the Collec tion of debts in the U. S. coots.— ..N:lr. Ten Eyck offered :a resolution, whiCh was laid over, declaring the object of. - the. war to be the preserva tion of the Union and-te enforce the Constitution; that extreme, radical, and disruptive measures, involving loyal and disloyal, shottld net be re sorted to, and that in suppessing trea. son - the government cannel, firtiVe a traitor to the organic law.. The res olatiOn to expel -Senator Ilright Was referred to the Judiciary - Committee. Mr. Trumbull called up his resolution asking the Secretary :Of State if per sonS had been arrested for treason in the loyal :States ; whiCh Was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary; by ayes ,25, noes 17. The Senate then went into executive session - , and after Wards adjourned. In the 11clse, -Mr. 'Vallatidigham offered a resolution fen - tubing the ar rest of Mason and. Slidell,_which was immediately referredteitile Corn mit4Tee onlbe JiudiCiary by a7vinte of 109 to 16. Among the bills introdue. ed,,and „referref was one 0 0 ,04 . ip,g hints to'the~~.el,tSt tics fox" lound (llrardrAl;geSl' passed a bill to-strike from the pen skim rolls tlie :names of all. -persunss who have.:takeh , up arms again i s the Govern rhent;,,orritir any wanner aiOd the rebellionh. :Mr. - Ganger introduced a bill for.the reliefrof the Union psis oners ak - .RichinOndiwhich was refer red to the Military Committee. The bill toraisea force. of twelve - Months volunteers in Kentucky was taken up debated and passed. A joint resolu tion was 'O4W te'tidjeurn on Thurs. day f J ; next to the 6th oanuary. TU.I4SDAY, Dee. 17.—fn the Senate, Mr. WilSon reported a bill to increase the number of cadets at West Point. 11.1 r. offered a, resolution, which was adapted, calling for infortnation by What'hiitheritythe national capital has beep - converted into a bakery.----: Mr. .Ltitlharn offered a resolution which was agreed to,,inquiring as to the authority - for, imposing passport system nob the 'California pagsengers; Mr. 'Sherman- offered resolution, which was agreed - to, call. ingfev the eorrespendence between Gens, announced-as: and Pattersoh. The Chair linnotineed:aa; the senate part Of the jolt:1J, coninAttee to investigate the general` conduct of the. War, Messrs. Wade, Chandler and Johnson, The Senate then went into anExecu ti7o ,session; and - `"- subsequently=, jOurned. : : -- . In the House, the Judiciary Corn roittee'reported back the joint, reeolu tion requiring the Provost Court at Alexandria to keep possession of the property of - traitors , aud-zebels, to a wait the action of Congfess, .and it was passed. Mr. Riot% canancipa tioxi resolutions were Aitken up, dis etfSsetf, and-referred to •thu Judiciary Committee. The special committee to investigate the governtaiiit con tracts made it report. The consider atit•trie the report aes` *poitpopeci. Mr. .grill illAro4 l 4e4.lll;ilil, Which ; tp puspqii4 Asp,,,uppoint mefiVoi assmors and' cellebtors of the inactrWtax anal .he let of April The iimmittri of WaYa and 'di plomatic appropriation bills: The Unitary Committee reported a bit!, allotment of pay certificates. among :the yelonikys. OcitAmititie ForearAfftutrs reported a- bill appro. priiting $.lOOO as compensation' to t4e ownerifof.thellerfUla Pcithahi re, fu &illalifetieft of her aetenfide by the netetAtherliaisittelin setts in Wit,' for a supposed breach of the WiT 44.4 . 1- 44 61 J1 0 41d.afterAciebtxte 44 " 8 4. 5 ° 4 AT eee V, : 418e 4 1411 ;*-40% .. _ pr a wbeeiwiefivtio.spailly l *- ihdpgoeltree7rii - i . mid atio. was postponed authorizing the con struction of twenty iron-clad steam gunboats by contract or otherwise, to cost from $500,000 to 8580,000. WEDNESDAY, Dec. IS.—ln the Sen. ate, Mr. Saulsbury offered a resolu tion, which was laid over, calling for a copy of Gen. Phelps' proclamation and the authority upon which it was based. Mr. Doolittle introduced a bill to provide for-the collection of direct taxes in insurrectionary districts, by taking land to pay the tax, specifying by proclamation what districts are in insurreetioti, so that the owners of the lands seized may have the oppor tunity of redeMption. Mr. Sumner offered a resolution; which was refer ', red to the Committee on the judicia ry, to expel Senator Polk for treason. A (1,, ill mu (In ication was received from the War Department transmitting the orders of Gen. Halle*. Mr. Summer's resolution that the army shall not be used to surrender :fugi tive slaves was taken up, discussed, and agreed to; as also was 4r. Lath ain's resolution asking the Secretary of State why passports were required of passengers from New York to San' Francisco. - After an executive session. the Senate adjourned. In the House, the Committee of Ways and Means reported ,aol,lllivil Appropriation bill, and alseApproilllllll ating an additional million OfWLairA,, for gunboats on the western Thll,....._latter was passed. The Hotiie thWvent into committee on the Pension Appropriation bill. I amended so that no pension sh :it, to any person engageein the present rebellion, or who has given aid and comfort to the enemy, agd then the bill passed. The Houle passed a bill directing the' War De partment-to pay the volunteers actu `ally employedlo the western depart ment the pay and bounty as in regu la,r?-eolistnients: .Mr. Steele - Offered a reseliition, which was passe.d OnStrUct in g the Van WyeleinVestigatingCOm mittee to inquire into the policy of aboliShing stittlerships. Mr. Colfax called attention to a communication froth flieiPoStbffioDepartmeot stat ing .that - member* of Congress fre quentlygive franked envelopes in large numbers to cover the : private correspondence of others. Adjourned. TnuasnAv,"Dee. 19.-=-In the Senate, 111r.Wiley, of Virginia, offered a res olution that the existing war was forced upon the cpuntry by the States inlrebellion without pro Vocation, and was designed t.O.,,deatroy the Union and the Con;atittitinii.' On this topic Hr. Wiley made a speech. 'The House resolution to adjourn over the h01i .46.ya- Was taken tip, but pending „its discUSi3iOn the quorum vanished, and the Senate* followed it. In the House, a T 6161110011 was adopted requesting the Secretary of War to furnish the cost of transpor tation of arms, ordnance and muni tions of war to the west. A bill to amend the act of July last by extend ing tho $lOO bounty to the three months' volunteers was, after debate, tabled. The bill to _provide for the construction of twenty iron-clad steam gunboats was passed. The Consular and Diplomatic appropriation bill was considered and passed. Resolutions were adopted instructing the Corgi,E,, mittee on Elections to report whether, any member of the Rouse is also re: ceiviag compensatiOn for 'any other Offiee;::directing : inquiry into - the building of the Capitol and. Treasury e xtensio pc,: whether the contracts had !leen -faith fully performed atil,Whatik er the WOrlc cannot be Otori,ey:O.t less. 9x.pen§e to the Governmen t, and structiog . theespleot .Coo4Oli r t.tee on. ContrAttg 'to' inquire whether the., transportalion - of4roops: . by ,railroad contract -- or otherwise._ IF?„),.. T.te queen's ale - manger, with. despatches to Lord .Lyons, arrived at Washington on Thursday morning,. Ltrid very soon after came Captain Cook, of Boston, bearing despatches. from the American Mintater,Mr...Adl, ams, to .our Government. The de-, spa tch ob 'ivero'lllaeed in:Vie - bands- of Mr. Seward. While stating in detail, the feelings of the British Govern ment and people, Mr. Adams express vs no knowledge of the nature of the instructions sent to Loed: Lyons.— E r rivate letters, however, received at Wasbiogton froin several proniiiiat statesmen, in ,ngrand, state. 01.111Wo .exorbitant demand will. be mude on our gc.lverninent for the surrender of Mason and Slidell, butthatnnly such apology and satisfaction will: be de manded as the United G,overr merit can honorably grant. Other let ters konitrathoritative parties in Eng land confirm these ,views. Lord Ly- OHS had made no communication what ever to the Secretary of State up to eleven o'clock Thursday night. The 'New- York Tribune's Washing ton despatch, says: "The general feel ing of the city is less warlike than at first, andpeopla talk coolly of sir. renderincr the Rebel emissaries, if it can be done without a sacrifice of honor,' rather than engage at Ws , time in - a, foreign war. The report that members of the Cabinet ,tyke a siMiliti - view of the question gains - currency and finds belief. Itut,While it is not true that suchtinejuslonbas been arrived at in Cabinet •Lmeeting,. on *the one hand, it, iailntree, on the. other band, that the .detertnination, not to surrender under ally, circutn,„ .. . . s ti t l a it n i c e e lo s ,i 7 wc f l o ji r , t gu an al y ., . 1 .eo waders tion is. absohlteth4t, while the 'thisternr men t4Olll-ao..notbi•ni-to,provoke:hos.- well the "Nation al honor. • - - . 4 , prominent nielsiber of the Gov prntnent:'itated in conversation this evening that Lord Lyons would not demand his passpOrts, that Mason OA .'llidell would not be given up, and _'that 1 WU was .no probability of a war . wick England" Satisfactory, if true. 11%-dlorn Kneass, Esq., a=lltell t known .member of the Philadelphia tar, and a:prominent member of the 040,r. of Odd-Fellows, died in delpflia,On Thursday last. jm,..The Legislature pf gletttupky `V'l'" (l 43r! f e ?Vud , t,,*, Garrett auviet.to odeiklatai;tep,S;itatiA unexpired.QE o f Jo, Sieckinride:
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers