Vress, TIFUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1862. EXTRACT FROM THE LAST SPEECH OF STEPHEN A. DOUOLAS.- 44 The conspiracy to break up the Cition is a fact now known to all. Armies are being raised, and war levied to accomplish it. There can be but two sides to the controversy: Every man must he an the side of the United States or against it. There can be no neutrals in this war. There can he none but patriots and traitors." by lt SAL)']—The double-cylinder "Tamen" Paws en which this paper has been 'printed for the last nine months. It is its excellent condition, having beau made to ceder a year ago, and will be sold at a bargain. For term apply at this olbee, or address JOHN W. FORNEY, 41 Cu.-stunt street, Philadelphia. A PAPER FOR THE CAMP AND FIRESIDE FORNEY'S WAR PRESS. CONTENTS OF NO. 12, FOR SATURDAY, FERRI% ENGEATINGS.—The Present Appearance of the New Iron-plated Steamship—The New iron-plated Steamship as it is to be when Finished—Portraits of _Oen. B. F. Kelley, Maj. Gen. H. W. Halleek, Gen. F. W. Lander. (Amends Buell, Lane; Sherman, Hunter, and Burnable. WAR POETRY.—Hope for the Best—There are Loved Ones at Home—Song: Departed Heroes—long of our Flag—The Harr and Eagle—Freedom's stars. WAR TALE—A Ball and a Duel. FROM GEN. BUELL'S DEPARTMENT.—The 'Vic tory at Mill Springs: A Detailed Account of the Battle. FROM GEN. II ALLECK'S DEP ART MENT.—A. Spicy Correspondence—Novetnents of the Rebel Price— The MovenV Against Prise—The Mississippi Gnu 'leafing Batterrs. FROM OEN. Royal—Reported Abandonment of Fort Pulaski—The Emancipated Slaves at Port Royal—Allairs in Savannah, New• Orleattp, and Columbus. FROM OE N. HUNTER'S DIVISION.—The Battle Between the Loyal Indiana and the Rebels. OEN_ BURNSIDE'S EXTEDlTlON.—lntelligeuee from it up to Sunday Night: It Experiences the Storm off Hatteras—The Official Despatches of Gen. Burnside. FROM THE SOUT ll.—The Defeat in Kentucky Ad mitted—The War and Blockade Prices among the Rebels —Statement of a Refugee from Riolunond—A. Word about Floyd—Undoubted Unionism—A , lonfederate FM - a—A Rog a Sliirerer. EDITORIALS. — The Latedt War New---Titc Trent Affair—Mexico—The Speech of Mr. Bingham—Taxa tion—The Treasury-Note Bill—The New Iron-dal Frigate. THE LETTERS OF LL OCCASIONAE."—The Vic tory near Senierst.t—The Slavery Question—The *peech of ROD. Thaddeus Stevens--The Soldiers and the Capi talists—The Release of Slidell and Mason—Rnilroads and the Rebels. LATEST NEWS,—Roporte , l Capture of Jeff Thomp son:—Another Artillery Fight on the Upper Potomac: The Rebels Wonted—From 'Kentucky. SPECIAL DESPATCHES FROM THE CAPITAL.— An Important Ot der—The rellsllCoitt and the Perri— Flight of a Ronel—Expected Attack on the Pennsyivania Resmves—The Relief of Prisoners of, War—The Con firmation of Generals Ora and Schoeptl—General Sigel— Sickness in Camp: Relorm in the Hospitals—Pennsylva nia Regimental Afinirs. MISCELLANEOVS.—List of the Pennsylvania Regi ments—The Burping of the ROA Schooner Prince of Wales—Affairs at Votaress Monroe—From the tipper Potomac—From Eastern Kentucky—The Defences of Columbus. FINANCIAL AND COMMESCIAL.—The Money Mar Deview or the Philadelphia Markets. WAR WIT AND DIMOIL Single Copies for sale at the Counter of Tht Press. TBIOIS r—Une cola•, one year, $2; Three copies, one year, .S 5 ; Fi nun cast, SS, THE LATEST WAR NEWS One of the most important features of the late news from the South is the uneasiness manifested there in regard to the approaching expiration of the term of the twelvthmonth volunteers who are engaged in the Confederate service, and the indis position shown by a large portion of them to re enlist. Gen. Bragg, at Pensacola, appealed almost in vain to the Alabama troops formerly under his command to continue their wicked war against the Union. The Tennessee papers are pub lishing urgent appeals to their soldiers not to retire from the rebel army, and a rebel general in Virginia earnestly beseeches his soldiers to re-en list. There are doubtless many more attempts be ing made to induce the Southern troops to remain in the Secession army, of which we hear nothing. Enough is known to show that, at the most criti cal moment in the history of the rebellion, and when the Union armies will be in the highest state of efficiency. the enemy will probably be seriously embarrassed by large withdrawals from their ranks. It is stated that General Thomas has been rein forced by nine new regiments, and that he has now an effective force of twenty thousand men with which to pursue the flying rebels who were recently defeated at Mill Spring. The Secession General Crittenden remained but a short time at Monticello His army fled as fugitives before him, and at last accounts he was in pursuit of them, at tempting to collect as many of them together as possible. A desperate fight occurred, on Tuesday night, at mrs_ boo'a hou.ie at the head or Belmont, on 00, coquan bay, bet' ...e1..; men of the Thirty-seventh New lork Regiment, and a party of thirty rebel Texan Rangers. Nine of the latter were killed. By the arrival of the steamer City of New York, at New York, yesterday, we have files of - mere four days later than heretofore. Thc Lon don Tintts, of the 7th, thinks that in ease of a war with the United States, Canada would be attacked by sea instead of land, and maintains that the po licy of England would be to carry on a naval war fare on the great lakes, devastating the towns on their shores : c , In the event of a renewal of such hostilities as were terminated by the Treaty of Ghent, there would be a renewal, of course, of operations on these inland seas. for the command of the water' which separate, Upper Canada from the Federal Territories would be equivalent to a command of the field. It becomes a question, therefore. of great interest to ascertain how this superiority is likely to be determined, and we publish this morn ing a detailed statement of the various conditions by which the result will be governed. It will be seen that the matter divides itself into two periods. of which the first would be the most critical for England. lip to the month of April next the lakes may be regarded as inaccessible from the sea, and, therefore, whatever force is created there must be created on the spot. The Americans could build and launch their gunboats and their rafts, and so ould we. "Not much could be done, probably, on either side, as all the vessels must be extemporized from materials actually at hand. On both shores there are railways leading up to the water's edge, but the Americans have the advantage in population and resources at the critical points, and Sackett's Harbor, their arsenal on Lake Ontario, is an es tablishment for which we have no match. Still, timber is plentiful ; guns, munitions, and steam machinery could be transported byrailway ; and so widely has the country been civilized since the last war that some of the most important towns of the Federal States, such as Milwarckse and Clizca go, have risen on. rhr shores of these once remote towers, and are consequently exposed to the attacks of our squadrons. The risks, therefore, are divided, and the opportunities of inflicting mischief are divided also. It may, perhaps, be admitted that for the next three months the Americans, being more nu merous and powerful than the Canadians, might succeed in placing on these inland seas a larger flotilla than could be launched in the same time by the colonists, but it must be remembered that this flotilla must in any ease be rudely extemporized, and that earthworks, judiciously constructed and well armed, would suffice for the effectual protec tion of the menaced points against such feeble as sailants_ 6 i As soon, however, as the St. Lawrence is opened again there will be an end of our difficulty. We can then pour into the Lakes such a fleet of gun boats and other craft as will give us the complete and immediate command of these waters. Directly the navigation is clear we can send up vessel after vessel, without any restrictions except such as are imposed by the size of the canals. The Americans would have no such resource. They would have no accost to the Lalted from the sea, and it ii imPos- Bible that they could construct vessels of any con siderable power in the interval that would elapse before the ice broke up. With the opening of spring the lakes would be ours, and if the mastery of these waters is indeed the mastery of all, we may expect the -result with perfect satisfaction. On the whole, therefore, the conclusion seems clear that three months hence the field will be all our own, and that in the meantime the Americans, if judiciously encountered, would not be able to do us much harm." The London Times, of the 6th, contains a strong anti-war article, in which occur these passages: " We confess freely that, great as the provocation has been, and opportune as the moment appears . ..for exacting all the satisfaction we can possibly re quire, WC 41,4.”2: from the telea of war. We are not insensible to the advantage of the sudden opening to us of the Southern cotton market, and we are by no means intimidated by the only threat of all that have been launched against us which the United States is able to perform—the threat of confiscating the property which British sub jects have entrusted to their honor and to that of their people. We are slow to believe that es EL those who make such a menace are capable of executing it, and we are firmly convinced that this country would agree to no peace which did not make the most ample provision for com plete reparation to the victims of such a wrong. Such conditions have been made by Great Britain before now, at the conclusion of wars more pro longed and more formidable than any conflict with the United States la likely. to ta-oVB. ample reason for sincerely hoping that soar may not be forced upon ns. Beyond the opening to us of the cotton market, we hare no ,ouin to look for from a contest work America. We do not coret their lands, or their cities, or anything that as theirs. We have enoagiz and snore titan enough, of territory on the _Aura American continent. We cannot destroy American capital without injur ing our own. We cannot cripple their commerce without striking henyy hlowslat the commerce of these islands. To shut them up in their own ter ritory would only be to give strength and develop- went to those protectionist tendencies which cha racterize the democratic school of political ec.)- inomy." (The arrival of Mason and Slidell was daily ex pected in England, but there was no feeling [nal lead t 9 IW/die twat. A orteoputtout et tho Liverpool itirreury thinks that if any seceding residents should publicly receive them, it would be a violation of the Queen's declaration of neutrality, while another writes: Allow me space in your paper to call attention to a Mot which should be more generally known than I fear it is. All Englishmen must hold the celebrated and infamous fugitive slave hill' of the 'United States in utter abhorrence. We are hoping soon to see our righteous demands acceded to, and the commissioners returned to and landed in England, probably in our own town ; but we should not forget that one of them (Mason) is the originator of the vile enactment which has done so much to perpetuate the sin of slavery. Whilst we glory in the honor of our country's flag, let us show that we have no sympathy with the slave holder and trafficker in human blocal. IMENIIIIII=II ,‘ Liverpool, Jan. 6, 1662 " In regard to the preparation for war, and what has been done by the Admiralty since the Trent imbroglio, the Tilers says "Five weeks ao n o Admiral Milne had in North America a squadron of line-of-battle shipE con sisting of ten first-class. frigates and selenteen powerfully armed corvettes and sloops, all steam ers. and mounting in all eight hundred and fifty gulls • but in the short space of five weeks the Ad miralty have increased or made preparations fur increasing Admiral Milne's force by adding two line-of-battle ships, twenty-three of the lar gest, fastest, and heaviest armed screw frigates, and eight powerful corvettes, mounting among them one hundred rmns. Some of these vessels Lave already sailed', and are already on the station ; others are on their way out, and some only await their sailing orders to start at a mo ment's notice ; of the squadron of frigates, each vessel has been carefully chosen for its great sail ing speed, high steam power, and heavy armament, and never yet has such a fleet of picked cruisers been sent against any enemy. By the beginning of February Admiral Milne will have at his disposal sixty-five sail, namely, seven line-of-battle ships, thirty-three frigates, and twenty-five corvettes and sioops Vith such a force a total and most effective blocliin e of all mho- Federal ports could be es -11 tehlish ii in a single week. A single vessel at each pert closes Boston and Portland, and two off Cape May would be ample for the Delaware river and the trade of Philadelphia. Admiral Milne has al ready made very complete arrangements in the event of war. The Federal cruisers off the South ern moist would be instantly looked after.. With the Warrior at Sandy Hook, nothing could enter New York. " No effectual resistance could be made to a com bined attack of our four iron frigates, in case the British Government wished to dectate their own terms of peace, by laying the fleet broadside on to the streets &faint" York aaci 11600 Z-ea. This could be done, without lire ii.iallaAt rich to the iron ehipg. On the Canadian lakes we, do not possess the same advantage as on the Atlantic, but we can send gun boats ready made, as quick as the Northerners can build them, and rather quicker. "Within a week after the breaking up of the ice in the rivers and canals, a whole fleet of gunboats, with the most powerful of the screw corvettes Sent out to Admiral Milne, will carry the protection of the English flag from Montreal to Detroit." The notorious outlaw, Jeff Thompson, of Mis souri, who has probably plundered more Union people than any other man in the rebel service, is still at large. The expedition that was recently sent ngainst him have failed to capture him, %\ find the following items in the columns of the Beaton Traveller : "We know of a ease of an industrous firm in Texas who had a store filled with goods, of the value of twenty thousand dollars, which was all taken from them. In another ease, the head of* family remained at the South, while the mother and daughter came North. Communication was interrupted, funds failed to reach the unfortunate females, poverty followed with rapid pace, the mother sickened and died, while the daughter is now an inmate of an insane asylum. "In another ease, however, the Southerners got the worst of the bargain. A shrewd Yankee, who had been long in business in a Southern city, fore seeing the coming storm, proposed to sell Oct to his partner his large investments in that - region at a handsome ditkiount, as his health would not per mit him to remain in that section. The sale was effected, and the Yankee departed to his Northern home with a heavy balance in nis pocket. But with the uncertainty of affairs there this property has depreciated rapidly until it is now not worth half - what was paid for it. The Southern pur chasers have since sent n notice to the Yankee merchant that it would not be healthy for him to show his head again in that region, and he will not, at least for some time to come." GREAT FORTITUDE and a wise moderation are twin virtues, and so closely allied that either, separated from the other, dies. A na tion in which these virtues predominate can neither be subjugated uor destroyed. Forti tude is the great cohesive principle. It en ables-men to rise superior to, and victorious over, adverse circumstances. It renders them platiter of 'every position into Which they may be led or forced. It is a spring to which men may turn and return, and refresh their souls with the vigor' of youth at will. Now, it requires fortitude to enable men to endure prosperity as - well as adversity. Dog ged obstinacy' and plikvase blindness will hold men up under trying circumstances ; but, with no higher and better qualities, victory would become but a prelude to debauch and demo ralization. We have had a great victory at Somerset, perhaps the most decisive of the war; yet the decisive battle remains to be fought. Already, we have a legion of prophets prophesying an enduring peace within a narrow limit of "months." But the fact is, we have only broken the little finger of tb=o dean.”. hellion. There is a great work yet to be done, and he lcl.e moors to keep the popular mind and muscle in training for that work does well. When the people become so self-reliant that disaster cannot prostrate, nor success make drunk, then the day of final triumph may be looked upon as very near. Up to this time, while we have, as a people, taken reverses mach to heart, we have ,accu initiated new strength at each reverse. This Met may rightly be put in evidence of great national fortitude. Had there been no Bull Bun, who may say that this immense Union army had now been afield? Weak men, and even cowards, may rush to a victorious stand ard, but none but true men rally to close the gaps made by disaster. Thousands may be in at the sack when the fight is done, but none of these thousands volunteer to enter the deadly breach. We lost a field and gained an army; and if the public have been somewhat restive under prolonged and yet unexplained inaction, the power that is to crush this rebellion has been silently accumulating while we waited and grumbled. And, in view of all the facts, the American public has proved itself a very reasonable pub lic. Contrast the behavior of the Ancerican people during these long six months of wasting suspense with the fiery ebullitions of the Bri tish and Canadian publics upon a remote con tingency- of war, and our superior training as a nation is at once manifest. If we have grum bled, wOmve, notwithstanding, displayed an unwhimpering patience of the inexplicably slow march of events, and the heavy de mands upon the common treasury. We have displayed a generous measure - of confidence in our civil and military leaders, and there has been little, if any, ill 7 natured criticism of pub lic men by the loyal press. WE HOPE Mr. Senator IRISH is satisfied, le has written his preamble and resolution and they are if appropriately referred." The Senator grapples with great questions boldly. The general idea that Representatives and :senators go to Harrisburg to legislate for the State and State interests will not be per mitted to interfere with the Senator's ideas of public policy. The discovery which we have been looking for so anxiously in reference to Gen. FREMONT comes at last from Mr. Senator Inisit. cc A thorough and prolonged examina tion of Gen. FRE3IONTIS administration, while in command," says his resolution, as has failed to sustain the reports and charges by which he was assailed, or to disclose any facts calcu lated to shake the confidence of the country hi his prudence, courage, and patriotism, in the opinion of the Senator, a the exigencies of the public service require that Major Gene ral CuAntEs Joie FRE3IONT allollld be imme diately restored to a command in the army." General FRE3IONT may be, and no doubt is, a great general. We are glad the Senator has satisfied hiS mind upon that point. But we are sorry that he does not imitate the great general whose cause he espouses. The silence of General FnE3toxr is a splendid tribute to his patriotism; lie sees that at this time the country demands union and harmony, and an utter avoidance of all partisanship and political animosity. If he haS been wronged by the Administration, he knows that the time will come when his injuries will he redressed. I,IIIOWS that the great element of our Go vernmenVo existence is the confidence felt in those controlling the Government. He knows that when there is an assault upon the Presi dent its only result will he to weaken the Exe cutive bands and demoralize public sentiment ; and - it would be well if Senator Lisa and his friends would follow their chief's example. THE RESOLUTION of Mr. CEsSNA in the State Assembly should be passed without a division. It provides that Pennsylvania in her State ca pacity bll4ll AMMO- the pay most Of hOr giibfa of the national debt. We should do nothing to interfere with the operations of the General Government; and, whether in an individual capacity as citizens, or a legislative capacity as representatives, our only purpose should be the most effectual way of harmonizing public sentiment, strengthening the public faith, and giving stability and power to the Adminietra tiell. Foreign Trade with the South Besides expecting cotton and tobacco from the rebellious South, if the blockade was broken or the war ended, England and France foolishly anticipate a great demand for their respective manufactures, and chuckle over the idea of Free Trade with the South as con trasted with the protective Tara, which pru dence and justice have united in obtaining for the North. In other words, it is anticipated that, were the independence and nationality of the South once recognized, French silks, French wines and spirits, French ribbons, French velvets, French perfumes, French bonnets, French crinolines, French gloves, ;did Pkeheli Bliodg and boots, would be lakgely imported into the Sbuth, and largely consumed there. So, on the other side of the British Channel, there is an overpowering idea that British niuslins, - British cali coes, British hose, British broadcloth, Bpi fish hardware, British cutlery, and a variety of other British manufactures, are to be swapped for Southern produce. Let us See. Who, in the South, are to wear and con some these English and French products The number of 'Southern denizens who wear silks and satins, velvets and broadcloth, bon nets and gaiters, crinoline. andl - dd gloves, rib bons and gauzes, muslins and calicoes, lace and shawls, are comparatively few. An Irish servant-girl, in Philadelphia, New York, or Boston, lmys more silk dresses, in each year, we venture to say, than any Southern lady does, on the average. As regards kid gloves and bonnets, Biddy most undoubtedly is a better customer to France and England than the Southern dania..., Where has the bulk of foreign imports been received and paid for, in all the past years? Not in Savannah or Charleston, not in Mobile or Norfolk, not in New Orleans or Richmond, Natchez or Montgomery-1M iu rhilacleiPliia and New - York,- Boston - and Baltimore. The quantity thence supplied to the South is not extensive. In the cities of Philadelphia and New York more foreign luxuries are con sumed, we venture to say, than are consumed in the whole - South. Judge, then, on what a shallow foundation the foreign - hope of trade with the South has been raised. The Mint The Congressional Itepresentath-es of Penn sylvania have something to do, just now, for the good city of Philadelphia. They are bound, in justice and by all considerations of local interest, not to allow that great national establishment, the Mint in Philadelphia, to be swamped by any pretext which would erect another establishment of the same character irs the adjacent city of New York. The reccnt Annual Report of Mr. Poubeic, Director of the Mint, shows how great is the capacity of that establishment for converting all the bullion that possibly can be brought to it, into gold and silver coin of various denominations. There is not the slightest necessity for the erection, at vast expense, of a Mint in New York. Mr. SNOWDEN, Director of the Mint under President BUCHANAN, made a report to the then Secretary - of the Treasury, nearly two years ago, as to the expediency of establishing a Branch Mint in New York, the expense of putting it in operation, and the annual ex pense of carrying on its business when esta.. blished. He agrees with Mr. PoLLocic on the Mint here being able to make all the coin re quired, and further gave an estimate of ex penses, which; at the present moment, when the nation has no money, to expend need lessly, is worthy of the gravest consideration. Purchasing a site for the necessary' buildings, constructing them, and providing machinery, implements, &c., would cost 51,150,000, by Mr. SIiOWDEN'S estimate. The annual ex pense (including sal:tries, wages, incidental expenses, and interest on the cost of con struction) would be 5134,000. This vast out lay, this heavy annual charge to be incurred— for what ? Simply for the honor and glory of New York t It is rather surprising that, with their usual moderation, the grasping New Yorkers do not manoeuvre to have Washing ton placed on the retired list, as the seat of Government, and the Capitol, White House, and Departmental offices bodily removed to the Island of Manhattan. They have as much right to that, as to a Mint of their own—and no more. Public Amusements. The second of Wolfsohn and Thomas' classical soirees will take place to-night at the Foyer of the Academy of Music. Like their first entertainment, this will, doubtless, be a magnificent affair, as the selections have been artistically made, and the Pc' , form er oruer. Edwin Adams will soon inaugurate a series of dramatic readings in this city, where he has many warm friends and admirers. He has no physical equal among the young, actors of this continent, and is likewise amiable and anxious.'- Mr. Forrest and . his dram.ntic company will open at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on Monde week. He will be supp9rted by John McCullough, who has commended himself to the tragedian by unusual promise, industry ; and docility. It was only four years ago that Mr. McCullough assayed acting; his progress has been rapid, and commen surate with his ambition. We are looking toward the Arch-street Theatre, for the revival of some of those sterling dramas formerly produced under John Drew's manage ment. The grand bill of the " Serious Family" and the ( 4 Comedy of Errors " can now be inau gurated in better style than ever ; but in the mean time, we understand, a new scenic piece will be cast and mounted. The company at this theatre is the best that we hare had in Philadelphia for years, and Its resource: for comedy are unllmlied. Of the ladies, Mesdames Drew, Price, and Henri are always acceptable. The latter has personal attractions that heighten the charm of her acting, and she sings with spirit. Mrs. Baker has a factious taste to please, as the successor of the re fined and gifted Charlotte Thompson ; but she is correct, easy : and animated, and is fast outliving comparison. John Gilbert leads the world in character parts He is the perfection of a fond, ridiculous, generous old man, and is now a better actor than he was ten years ago. Shewell and Mortimer ate popular young men; the latter is the mould of form. His gesticulation is strained, however, and he is by no means equal in the excellence of his impersonations. A young man named Craig is noticeable in the com pany. Ile has much dignity, self-possession, and grace We hope to see him promoted. John and Frank Drew are so well known tha t we reserve a no tice of them. The Continental Theatre is still doing the leading business, having struck the popular chord with brave, patient, Christian " Uncle Tom." Legree, as personated here by Mr. T. Weir, is a most sterling embodiment of the arch rebel. McKeon, himself, makes a humorous perform ance of a Yankee Deacon, and St. Clair is fairly re resented by Mr. Munro, an effieient young man. Topsy, consigned to Mrs. Chapman, is misconceived and disgustingly rendered, with odds and ends of songs and showers of slang expletives. Sam, one of Legrce's negroes, is facetiou.sly played by some body ; and Eva—Miss Chapman's Erie—is an epi tome of tenderness, truth, and innocence. Such play.- are legitiinate; they stir legitiinate feelings and awaken legitimate thoughts. They ennoble the actor's vocation, and make the auditors better men and women. Mr. Williams is drawing full houses at the Wal nut. With his versatile and accomplished lady he defies rivalry, and has never passed a like successful season in Philadelphia. New Publications Of a monthly Journal of education, entitled " The .Family and School-Room," edited by Mr. F. D. Long, a schoolmaster in this city, the numbers of January and February (all yet published) have reached us. It contains a variety of short, sensible articles, and will probably have success and halt: , ence. We take leave to suggest more careful writing, in the critical department. It is too fa miller, if not yulgar, to describe a publication as "a spicy monthly journal," and it is equally objec tionable, when acknowledging a list of subscribers from the Academy of another gentleman who is called "Professor," to say that "he first SO scribed himself, thus proving himself a clever fel low, as well as having the reputation of being a good teacher." This seems to moan that a man's ability (cleverneE•s) is emoted by subscribing to Mr. Long's Magazine, and that lie also merely gets the reputation of being a good teacher. The facetia , (pp. 24 and 24) are out of place. Voting folks want cc-tactilityg better than Joe Millerisms. AUCTION NOTICE—EXTENSIVE SALE OF BOOTS AND SHOES.—We would call the attention of buyers to the large sale of 1,500 cases of boots : shoes, bro gans, &c., to be offered at auction, this morning, comprising a very desirable assortment of city and Eastern manufacture, to be sold by catalogue, foe net cash, at ten o'clock precisely, by Philip Ford Sr, Co., auctioneers, at their store, No. 525 Market and 522 Commerce streets. . STOCKS ANDD. REAL ESTATE, TUESDAY NEXT. Pamphlet catalogues on Saturday. Sale on Wednesday, 6,000 shares Pennsylvania Mining Co. Er- See Thomas 4- Sons' advertisements, both sates. Peterms' De lector Bonds ve the following doacription of a new altered two-dollar note on the ectoraro Bank, Oxford, Pa.: Twos altered ; vignette men cutting grain; two Cupids and figure 2 on right end, man ploughing on left end. This hag also been snored to tho Salton Bank, Pa. THE PRESS. - PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, ISM LATEST NEWS BY TELEGRAPH. Special Despatches to " The Prowl, FROM WASHINGTON. THE PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS. THE SKIRMISH IN GEN, HEINTZELMAN'S DIVISION NOT SO DESPERATE AS FIRST REPORTED. IMPORTANT ORDER FROM THE WAR DE PARTMENT ON THE SUPPLY OF ARMS AND CLOTHING. &c., &c , &re., arc. WASHINGTON, January 29 Washington News and Gossip. Tho sun shines out brightly to-day, and we have delightful spring weather overhead, but the mud is almost intolerable. There is no prospect of the army of the Potomac making a forward movement, unless cold, freezing weather sets in, or the rebel forces at Centreville advance upon us. A most stringent order has been issued, prohibit ing the transportation of "spirituous, vinous, or malt liquors," even for officers of the highest grade, across the Potomac atter the Ist of Pebruary. Another order has been enforced prohibiting offi cers and soldiers of the volunteer service from riding in omnibuses through the city. This is owing to the prevalence of the small-pox. It is stated that a New York party has sold to the Government a steamship for 8110,000, which could have been bought in New York city three months ago for $45,000. The different Congressional committees are gradually unfolding some very singular and start ling Government contracts. The information is, from appearances, derived from parties who have been disappointed. The war expensesure said now to average over three millions of dollars daily. A number of vessels ran the Potomac blockade est night in safety. There was a heavy fog on the The Cost of Music, for the Army. The Paymaster General of the Army, in a letter to Representative 111cPmensou, answering an in quiry, estimates the annual cost of bands of volun teer regiments at over 55,000,000, exclusive of the cost of clothing, subsisting, and transporting the men composing them. The estimate is founded on the seven hundred regiments now in the service, besides the liability to pay each of these musicians, in all 17,500 men, (as large a force as the whole army of the United States before the commence ment of the war), the $lOO bounty, if kept in ser vice two years, or till tho Cifdiatiekh of hostilities. Mr. hloPunnsosi last week introduced a bill to dis charge them from the service on the Ist of March next. The following named gentlemen voted, in the Rouse of Representatives ; against the adoption of the Senate bill authorizing the President, when he may deem it necessary for the public interests, to take possession of the railroads and telegraphs: Messrs. Allen, Ancona, Blotter, Biddle, Conway, Crisfield, Diven, Dunlap, Harding, Holman, John son, Knapp, Law, Leary, May, Menzies, Morris, Noble, Norton, Pendleton, Robinson, Shiel, Val landigham, Wadsworth, Ward, White of Ohio, Wickliffe, and Wilsen. Gen. Lane's Staff. The President handed this evening to COL VAUGHAN commissions for himself and the follow ing gentlemen, who are to constitute the staff of Gen. JAMES H. LANE: COL Wit. H. MERRITT, Lieut. Col. J. IClLrATurcs:, Major VEnrLA.Ncw. VAR Aerwnne, Major JOHN RITCHIE, Major T. J. WEED, Capt. Wit A. PHILLIPS, Capt. Wit. O'DoN NELL, Capt. J. R. Meatuses:, Capt. A. P. PENNELL, Capt. WlLLtest LYLE, and Capt. VOLNEY HICKON. COL VAUGHAN also had a social interview with Secretary STANTON. The above staff officers are to report forthwith to Major General HUNTER, to be by him detailed to Gen. LANE. They leave for the West to-morrow, to enter active service. Attempted Desertions. A man by the name of THORNE, the proprietor of the White Horse tavern, about nine miles from the city, was arrested near Good Hope last night. He had in his wagon three soldiers dressed in ci tizens' clothes. lie was endeavoring to facilitate their escape, and was committed to prison an the charge. The Fight near Washington. A second despatch has been received from Gen. Iltanrzetstasr, who says that further inquiry has satisfied him that the number of rebels killed by a portion of the New York Thirty-seventh Regiment, last night, was only nine, and not twenty-nine, as originally telegraphed by him. The Remains of Colonel Peard. The body of Lieut. Colonel PEARD, of the Ninth Massachusetts, 'who died yesterday, at Munson's Hill, of paralysis, was this afternoon placed in the cars under a military escort for transmission to Mil ford. MaSSEtchusettS. The iiiirestigations and the Philadelphia Arsenal. Messrs COYODE and ODELL, of the Committee on the " Conduct of the War," we learn, have ex , tended their investigations to the Philadelphia Ar sena], and, after a most thorough and laborious ex amination of the affairs of that institution, express themselves entirely satisfied with the condition and management of that department of the publio ser vice. These gentlemen have manifested some surprise that General Mews should have stated to the committee that the indebtedness of the Quartermast