MONDAY, DECEMBER SB, 1863. The Union Leagues. The National Union Leagues have already shewn the value of open, honest, unexclu sive organization, to the loyalty of the North. The management of an unselfish : and unsectional party is very simple, and altogether unlike the complicated and easily abused machinery of'a party held together •only by the principle of political rivalry, or the ambition of a few influential leaders. The ablest of mere politicians would fail in the attempt to control that great National! Union party which is now the pillar of the' Union. No man can say of it as one ol ■ the present leaders of the rebellion once said of the Democratic party; “ I hold it in my hand, and can use it against whom I ■choose." Its platform is so simple, and its purpose so clearly defined, that its power callunt bo abused, 01 its Influence diverted. It Is kept together by a common patriotism, and the noblest instincts and necessities of union. The man who would seek to sel T flshly use it, would be tossed aa® lie sea tosses a wreck. It is too great to be ruled by a clique ; too honest to forget its work; 'too wise to be deceived. It is the People. As there never was a party in the history of the ration that had a nobler mission, so none ' had ever so little need of leadership. It is controlled by the people themselves, acting spontaneously, and in Absolute independ ence of the interests of any set of men. But, no party can live a year without or ganization. The Union party organized it self, and the first evidence of its unanimity and order was the formation of the National Union Leagues, which were afterwards one of the greatest means of preserving its una nimity. The Leagues were the creation of the people. They embody the loyalty ot the whole North ; they express its wisdom and its earnestness; they shape the policy of Iks and wteld au Wf«- ence which from their popular and democrat tic character is necessarily good; they are the only machinery the National party possesses, Snd are, we repeat, nothing more or less than an open, honest, unexclusive organization'of loyal men. Hence, their great value in the fall campaigns, and the necessity of maintaining them until the end. Their usefulness did not cease with the Union triumph in the fall elections; their prosperity is as important now as then, and may become more import ant. Therefore, jwe must labor tq ijjcrease their numbers and add to their influence j ho personal antipathies, rivalries, or jealous ies, can interfere with their efficiency, with out injuring- the cause to which they are devoted. No organization, however noble, however earnest, is perfect.] “ Who keeps Ilia spirit wholly true, To th&t ideal whioh he bears 1” And that rivalries may disturb the harmony of some of the Leagues we must expect, But they must not tie permitted to disturb the work of the Leagues. The differences of' men must end with their personal inter course, and not interfere with their public duties. We have all sacrifices to make, in juries to forgive and to be forgiven, and it ever brotherhood and magnanimity were needed, it is now. It is honorable in the highest degree to the men who form the Union Leagues of the North that, although of aU parties and classes, they have resolutely maintained an un broken line in defence of the great prin ciples confided to their trust. This is as it should be with men who profess to be’un conditionally loyal, and who have earned the right to have their professions believed. To deepen this spirit, and to make the Union Leagues more powerful than ever, therefore more useful, is one chief part of the work that all loyal men must help to do before the next Presidential election. Martyrs on their Travels# A man with a grievance is unpleasant and annoying, but a woman who fancies herself wronged is a terrible infliction upon all who encounter her. There was a lively, though somewhat spasmodic novelist in England, some years ago, who wrote “ Guy Livingston,” a muscular fiction, and followed it up with “Sword and Gown,” in which, changing his note, he made his story a cross between a melo-drama and a homily. A few months ago, this gentleman, whose name is - Lawbence, a book called “Border and in France it is Bastile, but Mr. must know better, of course, ] le sets forth his grievances at th, and with no restrained "et, surely if this man had cause ', it was —with himself, and te authorities at 'Washington, him with great kindness and Tempted by the offer of a thou- ($5,000,) from his publisher, Lawbekce crossed the Atlantic -with the in- Jmast spaly shewed, *f sawiag ta a volunteer in the rebel army. After a brief stay in New York, he pushed forward to reach the South, and, boldly tells us, crossed in the ferry-boat, at Cam den, “to meet the lights of Phila delphia gleaming out on the broad dark Susquehanna.” He rushed on to "Washington, thence to Baltimore, where (he says) his avowed Secession tendencies made him troops of friends, and finally, after about a dozen unsuccessful attempts to reach the Border, where he might hope to cross over to the rebels, was challenged by our troops, shot in the knee, captured, taken to Washington, kept in safe custody there for a short time, cured of his wound, and finally liberated on giving his parole to quit this country and not return until after the close of the war. He had acted as a spy, and would have been hanged as a spy, if the thing had_occurred elsewhere, but he was let oft easily. To earn his thousand pounds and give vent to his venom, as a man who had made a great failure, he wrote a book, in which'ke abuses almost every one with whom he came in contact at Washington. Here is a man with a grievance ! blit the British pub lic would not listen to him, for the first edi tion of his book has not found purchasers. Bor some months a standing announce ment in the English, literary journals, from “Richabd Bentley, publisher in ordi nary to her Majesty,” has been as follows: “My Imprisonment at Washington,inclu ding My Journal kept at the Old Capitol Prison there. By Rose Gbeenhow. Post, Bvo., 10s. Cd., with a portrait of the author.” The book was published on the first of this month, and we doubt whether any copy of it has yet reached this country. But it is re viewed in the Athemum and The Header, so that we can get an Idea of what Mrs. Gp.een .ttow Says. The Alhencmm, which is act mealy mouthed, and. usually calls things by their proper names, commences its critique in these words, “ Mrs. Rose Greenhow was a sort of female spy.* She fell into the pow er of men whose councils she had pene trated and betrayed; and, after gaining her freedom, she has published this denuncia tion of those who discovered and curtailed her means of mischief. Such, in few words, is Mrs. Grbekhow’s case. We do not suppose that many readers will be able to indulge in the luxury of much sentimental pain on behalf of this Maryland lady.”., Per own boast is that she did act as spy, and would tell more than she does 1 1 except only when reserve was dictated by self-re spect, or by the duty of avoiding disclosures which might compromise the safety of cer tain Federal officers, whom I induced without scruple, vs will be more fully seen in the following pages, to furnish me with informa tion, even in my captivity, which informa tion I at once communicated with pride and -.pleasure to General Beauregard, then com manding the Confederate forces near Washington.” Yet, when she is caught .and checked in her villainy and treason, she sfrpVbP -Witlr indignation, and even complains that while she was playing the spy on the Washington Government for General Beau regard's advantage, the' agents of Mr. Listons were watching her movements and frustrating her plans. She says, “l .■was enabled,” though imprison, “ not only to ‘possess my own.soul’ and keep my own counsel, but also to establish and, maintain a continuous correspondence'with Virginia, and reveal certain contemplated military movements Ui«: eaemy in time to haye them thwarted by our generals." Upon this, the critic of the Athen&um elily sug gests that it may occur to some that anim. PHSOBment TVhi«h allowed a lady to hauler and insult her warders, and to betray their secret doings to an enemy in the field, could not have been very severe. The Header declines to deal harshly with the book, because its author, though clever and impetuous, was “also not overwise.” It characterizes it as “a very silly book; but, then, ladieß in towering passions very seldom speak, and still less write, sensibly; and even the most ardent friends of,.the North can hardly.be afraid of Mrs. Gbeen now doing , much damage to their cause. One ofMrs. Geeenhow’s grievances is that, once iipona time, when she was in Union custody as a spy, a negio was not punished for seating himself on the same bench with ; herself, “in utter disregard of social dis tinction.” Surely, if the negro was. an honest man he was morally superior to any white spy and traitoress. The critic con tinues thus: • “ Asoording to her own statement, while living at prvTKHea vr tbs Federal Government, Bhe was 'in constant with iiic Confederate leaders, 1 her position givlog her remarkable facilities for obtaining information. 1 Jußt before the battle of Bui! Bun she contrived to convey news to the enemy with regard to the intend* ed movements of the Federals, which, in her own opinion, decided the battle. In return she receiv ed this despatch from the Confederate Adju tant General: ‘ Our President and our General di rect me to thank you. We rely upon you for further information. The Confederacy owes you a debt.’ Again, ahe boasts that the Southern women at Wash ington * with their siren arts possessed themselves of the schemes of the Lincoln Cabinet, and warned Jeff. Davis of them.’ One despatoh : whioh she Bent off, owing to the intelligence thus acquired, •contained 3 duplicate drawings of some fortifica tions and weak points 7 in the defences of the capi tal, > besides information- of importance in case our army advanced on Washington. 7 In faot, if we are to believe Mrs. Greenhow, the success of the Con federates is due in no small measure to her commu nications from the seat of the Federal Government, m'ent, * But for you, 7 said President Davis to her on her arrival at BichmoDd, 5 there would have been no battle of Bull Bun. 7 We take Mrs. Greenhow at ?tie£awn estimate. She gave intelligence which eoet theiEederals a damaging defeat, years of war, and tbexost of thousands of lives. And yet she com plains beoauae the Federals imprisoned her! In any other country she would have met with a spy's punish ment.” In this criticism occur a few sentencSa of .such unusual candor, that we take lea®to give them here. The critic says: “Of all the miniffl'uua accusations wlilQli mart* iieim bought against the Federal Government, none has seemed to us so utterly unfounded and unjust as that of unusual barbarity in the. conduct of the war. The mere fact that, in a civil war of unexampled magni tude, not a single life has been taken-in cold blood by order of the Federal authorities is in itself a sufficient proof that the Americans are not naturally a bloodthirsty people/’ After this, Mrs. Gebenhow’s lamentations are dearly of no avail. The Rebellion and the Colored Race. The rebels profess great contempt for colored soldiers, but that secretly they fear their courage, and recognize the great strength given by these troops to our cause, is in many ways betrayed. How men esti mate a danger is to he measured by the pre parations they make to avert it, and it must fee remembered that the rebels have violated all the laws of way; all theihatincts of hu manity in the rules they have adopted for the treatment of colored prisoners. They have declared that a colored soldier in the Union service, if captured, is to he “ punish ed as a bandit and a robber.” This declara tion has not been a boast, it has been terri bly fulfilled in the murder of the men cap tured at Milliken’s Bend, and in the fate of those who were taken at Fort Wagner. Hear what the Richmond Enquirer of the 17th instant says: u The Yankee* are not going to aend their negro troops in tne field; they know as well as we do ttiat no reliance oan be placed upon them : but as ddpdt guards, prison guards, &c., they will relive their white troops. This is the use that will be made of them. Should they be sent to the field, and put in battle, none will be taken prisoners; our troops under stand what to do in such oases. If any negroes have been captured during the war, at.soldiers in the enemy's ranks , we have not heard of them.” Judge, then, from the desperation of the remedy the greatness of the danger, and learn thence the folly of those Northern men who ridicule the enlistment of colored troops as the fanaticism of the Administra tion. We say that the South trembles be fore the steady advance of the abolition idea" oi Northern Christianity and ciyilizationj and fears a colored man vrith a bayonet In his hand and the banner of the United States above his head. Could they arm man against man the alarm of the rebels would be less; but they dare not arm their slaves. Oh 1 they are very shrewd, these architects of a slave empire; far shrewder than the Conservatives of the North, who find no thing sublime in the arming of the colored race; nothing noble in the sudden appear ance of the slave as the Nemesis>f a slave holding rebellion. Let the doubting Northern man leant wisdom from the terror of his enemy, and no longer oppose a movement which .adds to the power of the Union, and which none of us, now that it has begun, are strong enough to stop. The black race in America, so long trampled down in the rice swamp and the cotton-field, sold in the shambles, and branded in the prison, is be ginning slowly to arise. It rebels not only against staieiy ia the South! hut the instinct of slavery in the North. The revolution k slow, but ! It is sure ; it cannot be stopped. All,we can do is to direct it, and that is not difficult, for thus far all the new facts we haye discovered of this race are to its honor, It is patient; it is not grasping of equality; it does not presume upon its position; it has never said to the white race, “give me a reward and I will fight;"- it has asked only for a gun. It has self-respect then, and self-confidence, for it is willing to abide by the result. The new relation into which it has suddenly been brought with the loyalty of the country, is in all respects honorable and advantageous to both the white man and the black, and it is the glory of the Government that it re cognizes fully the claims of all loyal men, and guarantees to the one the same protec tion it guarantees to the other. Where is the Quixotic experiment ? Where do we read the word 11 amalgamation ?” In no Government journal, in no anti-slavery de claration of rights, in no organ of the colored race. All the black man has asked he is worthy to receive, and more than he has asked he is earning to-day. But the spectre of anarchy and confusion which affrights the pro-slavery press ot the North has no existence save in a diseased imagination. Are we, then, to commit the fatal mistake of ridiculing a policy which our enemy fears, and sacrificing a principle of right to a prejudice of education ? We think not. And we believe that no colored man, whose heart is really right, will be frightened by the threat of the rebels, or the possibility of its execution, but will only gain increased zeal for the Union from the barbarism of its enemies, and learn to prize freedom more from the effort to frighten him from securing it. General Grant, according to Mr. Wilson, has Written that there could be no peaoe between the Worth and the South ao long aa slavery exist*. “Why not, pray ! They managed to get along very comfortably for a great many yeara; whence this new light 1 Ha* the South taken new ground, or the North! — World. The ignorance, not only of American history, but of the facts of the last three years, which this paragraph displays is re markable. The Worth and the South did not get along comfortably for a*great many years, though the best management in the country was exhausted to procure comfort. Webster, Clay, Crittenden, did their best to reconcile the irreconcilable. Slavery was the sole element of discord, and out ot it sprang wrangling that ended in compro mises, compromises that resulted in wider breaches, and a perpetual jealousy and heart burning that the common patriotism of all sections could not extinguish. The strife went out of Congress into the territories, made Missouri miserable, and desolated Kansas. It came into northern cities in the shape of mobs, and in the South' in the lynching of Abolitionists, and the secret plottings of CALTroumsif. Finally, slavery resulted in rebellion and bloody war. Is this the very comfortable way of getting along, of which th a World is eloquent ? .But were all its eloquence expended on a fact instead of a chimera, the truth remains that • the South lies taken new ground, in at tempting the dissolutipn of the Union for. the sake of slavery. We may-forget the pastj but wC cannot be blind to the present. General Grant was altogether in the right, and every mind, not hopelessly prejudiced must adniit that had it not been for slavery, we should never have had a war, and that were it not for slavery we might have peace to-morrow, Cool tor Soldiers' Famine*. It will be seen Jby an advertisement eiae whsre that a movemaht in on fool! by which the families ot Philadelphia SOWiCIS may l?? supplied with coal. This is a good and kind thought, end does honor to the heart that conceived it? - The soldiers in the field are objects of a million solicitudes. As much has been done for them as hearts and hands can do. The families of many of them suf fer severely at home. To the pangs of sepa ration and suspense are_ added, in many cases, those of poverty. -We owe the same duties to the soldier's family that we do to the soldier, and we should perform those duties, not regarding them in the cold light of obligation, but enveloping them with the garment of love. Accordingly, it is to the ladies of this city that the appeal in behalf of soldiers’ families is, in the first place, made. _ All ladies interested in the move ment—and what lady is not ? —are requested to meet at noon to day, at the room of the “Ladies’ Special Relief Committee,” 1338 Chestnut street. The object is to organize a. society, which dha.ll supply coal to th# Widows, wives, and families of soldiers from our city. This purpose being clearly stated, it would seem needless to expatiate upon it. The season is upon us when mirth and luxury run riot, and when even the poor grow rich in the happinesses they receive and bestow. The soldier is not forgotten. From cur tained rooms and quiet firesides we look forth upon scathed and desolate battle-fields, where blood is the only dew, and upon mangled heroes, in whom honor is the only thing of beauty which survives. Shall the families of these heroes be forgotten and neglected? No. Let us commence at home, and let us not add to the pangs of mere bodily suffering the poignancy engendered in the freezing atmosphere of an indifferent heart. The first meeting was held last Saturday, but all the wards were not represented. It may be as well to state that the society heeds merely the co-operation of ladies as visitors, ana not money. QBKEIiAL MoOIEILAV’S nomination for the Presidency, at last settled, the next curiosity in order will be his letter of accept ance. After a fashion, the public are in terested to know what he will say. His letter of recommendation materially aided to defeat Mr. Woodward. It only requires a letter of acceptance to seal his own failure. The corporal’s guard of obscure gentlemen, who, we regret to hold, the General in proptetPlSnip, have evidently made a com pact to “ kill him off” with all despatch, and his signature alone is wanting. For General McClellan these were the worst nomina tors he could have had, as for his party, General McClellan was alike the worst and the best candidate. Fate, however, will not be dodged, and it seems General Mc- Clellan’s destiny to have written the Woo3yv\'.Aßi> letter, and to write an answer to Mas Laugihschwabtz, who boasts that he ha& command of two hundred thousand yotes, which he is willing to resign in favor of General McClellan, who will lead them “on to Washington.” If the voluminous report of his campaigns is not a millstone, the letter of acceptance may prove the feather which breaks the camel’ s hack. There is a chance, perhaps, that General McClellan may refuse. In this event nothing will be lost or gained. Though he has done some service which the country would not ignore, he is so much better at undoing than doing, that we may safely trust him with the for tunes of his party. He will not now dis appoint the country, we trust." General McClellan would have taken Richmond, if he could; he will be elected, if it is pos sible. . Mr. Bichard Cobden has placed the best portion of the English and American public under obligations to him for the spirited manner in which he has defended his noble coadjutor, Mr. John Bright, from the un scrupulous misrepresentations of the London Times. It is refreshing that so eminent a man so triumphantly assails this newspaper monsteiy and uApoaca the "mysteries ol its editorship. His letter is indignant and scathing, and must have more effect than the Thunderer’ s own thunder. What gives interest to the quarrel is the fact that Bright and Cobden are fellow-champions of Popu lar Education and Suffrage,' and earnest friends of our own cause, while the Times is the’organ of aristocracy and slavery. LETTER EROM “OCCASIONAL.” Washington, T)oc. 21, 1303. . Adjutant General Thomas reached this city a few days ago, and is spending a short time with his family in Philadelphia be fore starting on another expedition for the Southwest. His reports of his opera tions along the Mississippi, in organizing the colored men, and in providing homes and subsistence for the women and children and old people of this enfranchised race, were Greeted by Secretary Stanton with, a satisfaction, that amounted to enthusiasm. It must not be forgotten that Gen. Thomas, at the beginning of the war, suffered from unjust piejudicej because of certain supposed relations to the South, and that he was frequently suspected and assailed in consequence of this prejudice. I shall ne ver forget the day, when the report reached the Senate that the Adjutant General had been arrested because of some alleged dis loyal expressions of certain members of his family. In that trying period, he had a ster ling friend in Abraham Lincoln, and a steady friend in Secretary Cameron. When Edwin M. Stanton succeeded Secretary Cameron, and when the grand purpose of organ izing the colored race for the defence of the Republic became clear to his mind, he sent out Adjutant Gen. Thomas to begin and complete this great work in all the seceded sections of the Mississippi valley. This itself was a triumphant vindication of the loyalty of the veteran soldier who had suf fered because of his supposed Southern re lations. And what was the bulk of Adju tant General Thomas’ report to Secretary Stanton ? Let me tell you. He went out with unlimited power from the Secretary, who Teposed full confidence in his loyalty and statesmanship, and, without this unex ampled discretion, the consequences would not have been as and as whole some as they ace. For if General Thomas had been restricted by rules, he could have taken no practical responsibility. In the first place, he found a large number of co lored people along a district of seventy-five miles on the Mississippi river, from Lake Providence to Young’s Point. The idea he acted upon was to take thing-s as they were, and hence he proposed to lease the abandoned cotton plantations to northern ers and Southerners who were known to be loyal. To every one of these tenants he furnished colored laborers to the extent of the plantation. Under the old system, it frequently happened that one full hand was made to do the work of from twelve to fifteen acres. Gen. Thomais’ condition pre cedent was that one fullhand should be used for not more than eight acres. But he in sisted that no families were to be separated-,, and that out of the general profits of the tenant the women, children, and old men,. An accident occurred last mght at Bristow Sts . ~ ■. mi. tion. A train of twelve ears rrom Brandy Station should be supported. The woilung m for Alexandria, owing to the switch being turned were to receive seven dollars a month, tho wrone way, run on to the siding, and having and were to be supported by the tenantleached the extreme end »1 it the locomotive and . five dollars to the women per month,: four of the-cars were thrawn down an embankment, . , V y, liij a distance af’probably eight feet. Twomenomthe who Were to be likewise fed -Aid top ofoneof the oars and anotherinßide were killed,, and a less proportion to the children all d jjx or seven persons-Injured, over fourteen years of age. It was stipu- Russia, fated, Sternly, that no children under In accordance with instructions from the Emperor, fourteen were 10 be worked on the planta- the Russian mfnißter, Mr. Edward dk Stokokd, tioilS. General Thomas has leased sixty liad » n aadience with thePreßtdent this morning, tfiuxio. .. _ , J for the puraoie of expressing the thanks of the Im plantations on this humane, compensating, perini.Qonernment for the kind reception of the ves and free-lftbor system. Among these lessees! Bo i, 0 f ths Russian navy and theirofllcers Mil crews sixteen were intelligent colored' freed caen, in the mined states, and also for the assiotanceex : who, in some cases, took them own fansilies ' *° B Eu * 3i »“ oowette > th - and maHaged their plantations > .and, in Others, The corainunicatiesa. was cordially received Aiid hired their fellow-freedmen. Ffotwithst&nd- couitrously acknowledged by the President, ing the lateness, of the seasco when jSpneral ciStnlnr Congerning Ke-EnWslmesiAsi.. Thomas was- sent out by dseretary Stanton a oircular has keen issued by the MjutarU Gene-" »«>*»»* »» p~ ' spite of the raids of the rebel guerillas Worn i Suited States who. may desire to reduliokfor three i the interior, all the white- and black lessees j jrarßOr durinsthe war, beforethsexpltaidoaoftho have paid their way aralr have /made hand- • *s* mouths term, will be re-enlisted for thsinoreased .aave pasu. J ■ form v.:.cie! >he following regulations t some profits. They were furmshus, by the • j wtm thice-fourths of a reglaeut or other ‘ Goveinroent with farming utegsilß, "which,. ; orgsßilß>ioß rc;enlißtii tbs* ofUcern thereof will be i nutter Iho dirfettem ■->£ Geneva) Thouius, fchey ' petmiiud to retain the xavk heUi by Ghemuadtir the r.»irl for out oT the proceeds of their sales, j tix pftiu toe uui,u t f • . • . ■ i «.v should lew -Han re.euli&tsaid They wits. KCiufred ttvpay tfoe.Govfcrtmenl optimized into on® or nu>ce companies ! xwo dollars for evory bale of four Hundred .j-^ f the- autbouzeo strength,-»s in tho act of dosing the shore, and i hit. peicouwss robbed of u conaldeiablft amount of ! 1 of the de?;l is supposed to belong I to rrtivs vi'sssl Ift post, . KUBOPE. Latest Notts bj tho Steamship Arias IMPORTANT DESPATCHES TO PRINCE MKTTJCMICiI. Vienna, Dec. B.—The following Sranslatioo ©f the despatch of the Austrian Minister for Foreign Af fairs’to Prince Richard Metteroich, aocompanyies the reply of the Emperor of Austria to the Emperor Nayoleon’s invitation to the OoogreB*: Aecorop&nying this despatch you will find a copy of the letter of the Emperor, our august master, to the Emperor Napoleon. There remaina little for me to add to tbe words of hie Majesty to put you com pletely in pos*e*Bion of the viewu of the N Imperial Government upon the propoaition for an European Oongrew. While entirely in accord with the French Govern ment la the wleh for consolidating European peaoe, we think that an agreement as to the proeiae meth* oda to be employed for this purpOße is an indispen sable preliminary to all delibera ion of a general character. “Upon this subject we should have some explanations Iroffl the French Government.” “The principal point to establish woultl be the bmis upon which to place the meeting of a Congress. It appears to us difficult that a simple negation ehould suffice to foim the programme of such important delibera tions. "Woshould further desire to- know how the declaration of the Emperor Napoleon, relative to the treaties of 1815, is to be interpreted. We heab tate to believe that the Frenoh Government itself will attach the moat extended and most rigorous mw to hub fleolaratiom ; «is Time winf mo ireitiei or iQiff niirg neen moai. fied in several points, other iuterufttiouftl Btipuia* tione have at times taken their place, as for instance in wbat relates to Belgium. That which they con tained personally wounding to the Emperor Napo leon iB definitively removed, with the general acqui* escence of Europe. But except in the cases where these ancient documents have been formally abro gated, we consider them as still subsisting, and it iB certain that they now form the basis of public right in Europe. We do not wish to dispute that the pro gress of time may not have more or less impaired certain portions of their integrity, and that they may not in consequence stand in need of being reaf fizmed or improved. If the Frenoh Government will point out to ub the parts of this sentence it considers too defective or too incomplete, if at the same time it will notify to us the chaDgea it considers might be usefully made, we shall receive these overtures with the sincere desire of facilitating an understanding. We shall then, knowing the subject, be able to pronounce upon tbe opportuneness and advantage of meeting in Congress to accomplish this taßk. With the Fiench Government we recognise and deplore the state of uneasiness existing in various parts of Eu rope. But thiß uneasiness .is only partial, and the remedy would be worse than the disease, if, to ap pease certain troubles, it were requisite to throw all Europe into a state of perturbation by subjecting it to a radical transformation. Such assuredly could not be the desire of the French Government, whioh has given üb, in recent times, proofs of perfect moderation. Let us not forget, besides, that the question at present is rather to preserve than to give peace to Europe* The treaty of Westphalia put an end to tbiity jeanol htiil Th& lancnlnify asatsiii wkiak piEGaita tne trgfttiei or i§io n&a laitaa ro; bo mi a psH93i The vast tmußformatlona at these stnro' epochs were the inevitable consequence of a long continuation of violent agitations, with which the present time, thanks to Providence, has no resem blance. In the arrangements which the present state of Europe might bring about, effects ought ne cessarily to be proportionate to causes. Be good enough, Prince, to govern the expression of your opinion by these considerations, and to state it, with friendly candor to M. Drouyn de L’Huys. As the interpreter of the sentiments expressed by the Emperor, our august master, you will acquaint the French Government with the sincere desire by whioh we are animated to unite our efforts to its en deavors for pacification. But it is essential that the French Government should define its intentions with more precision in order that this Union may be frankly oarried out and bear fruit. To bring our loyal assistance to a Congress, we ought to know what will be the exact programme of Us deliberations, and to be assured that this programme will fulfil all the conditions requisite to prepare the elaboration of a work of peace and conciliation. Receive, &c„ REOHBERG. Breslau, Dec, 12.—Advices received from War saw Btafe that Chadanoueki has been hung in that capital. He was accused of complicity in the attack upon Hermani. The Russian police have closed the warehouses of M. Szlenker, the provost of the Warsaw mer chants. Paris, Pec, 12, 5.35 P, SI, —The Bourse has been steady. , iff fTf, f 9y,j ?r !Mend alley, He> died about eight o'clock yesterday morning, and. lie coroner held au inxncst on the body. MustCAl;.— Mozart' b Grand Mass No. IS, was performed at the St. James Catholic Church, West Philadelphia; on Christmas morning, by an efficient choir and a professional orchestra under thrdkgQtionWDr.'Wm. P.OunnlogtOii, , Public Entertainment*, New Chestnut StbUSt Thkat&b,—We are ffiftirfflilHy IA/rUG UUV iM Tlitf Kfffi HQFffSntftUf TfO conceived or Mtoi Hoimer’B AOtlng. Wo implied tbit Julkt lB D ot the character in which she appears to moat advantage, &&d£th*t Miss Hoßmer’a powerful voioe, boldly marked features and robust form seemed better calculated to portray finer passions than eolt emotions. Her “Rucretla Borgia” is suffi cient evidence of this. “ Rucretia Borgia 7l is a play not worth elaborately oritloißing. It would ba waste of time to attempt it. Lucretia Jforgia, in the play which bears her name, is only a set of para graphs with initials upon them. In the hands of a mighty dramatist, the fearfully tragic interest with wbioh the character is enveloped would be elimi nated with an intensity comparable only to the awful fascination which clothes Lady Macbeth. The only Lucretia Boryia we have outside the opera is nobody at all. She might tax the powers of a third rate actress, because the thro rate actress might not possess much voice, might be wholly without the capability for ranting, might be deficient in the ne cessary circumambulatory gifts, and might enter tain an insuperable objection to keeping her teeth on edge. These slight difficulties being overcome, the third-rate actreßS 'might safely deb Cit in Lucretia Borgia, True, that would be her culminating point. She would have reached her zenith then, and might be relied upon for “doing” wicked angels to the very life, Mia* kotmer mnefe better iPTffTfffSf than »a the gentle /wffcf* She acted with great energy nom first to last. Her reading of the letter addressed to Gennnro was touching and teqpher, al though it lei in such passages as this, Miss Hoa mer excels. In passionate invective, in rage, which sweeps everything before It, and dashes the offender like a reptile from its path, in angry scorn and fierce contempt, in the flashing replies of outraged pride, and in the scathing rejoinders of self-willed inso lence, Miss Hosmer’s power principally, in our own opinion, rests. Although in JuZiel, and In one or two passages of she was affection in her tender ness, yet it was generally acknowledged that her happiest efforts were due to an energetic representa tion of what was tempestuous and malevolent. She went a great way towards rendering Lucretia Borgia at she stands in the play of that rame, as well aB it can ba rendered. "With the character wrought ; out for her by a dramatist of genius she might accomplish more, She may move the puppet in the play, her own talents working the wires, but she can never make a living being out of it. There is a dark interest involved in the history of the Borgias. A tragedy fashioned from it by the ounning hand of genius would be a great card in the hands of a great artiste. Mias Hosmer made a good selection for Saturday evening. “Rucretia Borgia” was suoceeded by the comedietta, “ Faint Heart If ever Won Fair T.srVp » JTragfidjj. tnd comedy ire vm uwallAEfe iMßgg |5 Mil S 3 ASS 12.(1 ike same evening. Th£y Mfe lil£A and champagne, or veni son and claret, though which is the lobsters and venison, and which the champagne'and olaret is sometimes difficult to tell—the one often being light instead of heavy, and tjie other heavy instead of light, Miss Hosmer was sufficiently rattling and vivacious as the Duchess de Terre Nueva. The young duchess’ coquetry, petulance, and wilfulness was amusingly and gracefully expressed.. Planches comedy presented Mies Hoßmer in aTuore pleasing light than any other play in which she has yet ap peared. On the occasion of the debut, we oautioned Miss Hosmer about some of her besetting sins as an actress. We are almost led to believe that we dealt a little .too gently with her. Fairly as Bhe performed in “Rucretia Borgia,” she yet repeated over and over again the mistakes she was guilty of in Juliet. Her emphasis was ill placed and entirely too frequent. She pounces upon certain words like a hawk swooping down on its prey, and sometimes tears a passion to tatters be tween her teeth. The language of the play wright flows from between her lips, a stream with plenty of rapids in it, and a Niagara now and then. Shemust tame her utterance down, absolutely refuse it the piiyllcgc of ike lyawlng line, ftaJ stbi@166 PhtiadelpUa Marketi. Decbhbex 2fi—Erenini. Holders of Hour are firm in their view*, hut the de mand iB limited; sale?comprise about lOOhble old stock, at $6.60; I,ooo'bbl*. Western family on private terms, and 600 bhls fair to good extra family at ®3.25®7.6Q.# bbl. The retailers and bakers are buying at from s6® 660 for superfine, $6 75@7. 26 for extra. $7 37>£®S for ex tra family, and $8.60 up to- $lO # bbl for fancy brands, according to .quality. Bye Hour is quiet, with small sales at $6.50"# bbl. In Corn Meal there is very little doinff; Pennais offered atss.so#bbl. \ GRAIN —There is not much demand for Wheat, and the market is dull at former rates; about 1500 biia sold at51,60@1.64 for reds, and white at irons sl.7o(®L.&> # bus—the latter for p-ime Kentucky. Bye msemng m a small way at $1 57®1.40 # bn. Com is inactive.; sales reach about 3,700 bus; new yellow at $1.13. old is held at $1 22@1.25 #bu Oats are without change; about 2.C00 bushavebten disposed of atS6c. weight, for Penn *yßAßK\ —IstEFo. 1 Quercitron is held at s37# ton, but we heavof no sales. . . ... , COTTON —The market is rather firmer, but the sales are in email lots only to supply the. immediate wants of the manufacturers. Small sales of middlings are reported at Sic# lb, cash. . ... ... D GROCERIES.— There is very little doing in either Su gar or Coffee, but holders are firm in their views SEEDS — Timothy is telling at from $3 7g@3, and Flaxseed at from 83.15@3.17 ® bushel. There is more dsmard for C.loTer, with sales of 300 bushels at from *7 7S@S #• 64 ibs—mostly at the latter rate for prime. PROVISIONS. - The stock is l’ght, and all descrip tions are advancing; abont 400 barrels old Mess Pork sold at MS’S barrel, generally held higher ;-500 Dressed : Hess sold at *3 the 1M ibs. Bntter is .in damind; 2W packages fold at 2o@2Sc, and some choice Beil at 31c® ib. Lard is firm: barrel, and tierces are selling at 12K<3 13% anc kegs at 3:3>a@l4c ®ib .. "WHISKY is lets active; barrels are qneted" at 80@370, and drudge 90@92c ® gallon. • ■„ , • The following are the receipts of Flour and Grain al . - ~.2.i00 b-„i,. Wheat .....-. S;830 bns Corn .*-• •■••• 5,600 bns Oats. -8.30 J bu. CITY ITEMS. Immense Bu6lNb6& in Sewing Machines.—lt j»a matter of congratulation, in which we fire in clined to take to ouroelves fit least a part of the credit, that over five hundred wives in this city have been made superlatively happy this . Christmas, by their husbands presenting to them the celebrated Grover Stßaker Sewing Machine, sold at.TSO'Ghcat nut street. For several days past, the two fast teams of-this popular establishment have been kept on the “go” constantly in delivering there instru ments, in this city alone, to say .nothing of the 8f ores of orders received for them daily from other parts. The elegant embroidered* work' made by the Grover &.Bsker. machine, shas won for it-Aoet of ad mirera, whilst its reputation for work oPsvaery other description is so well established that it would be surpeiflucue to- add words about it. For a ISTew Year’s gift, nothing could be morAappioprUte or as acceptable as a Grover & Baker Sewing-Machine. SuLESDiW' Holiday Stock,—Our readers, who are not yet supplied with New Tea® presents for their friends, will find an elegant stock to select from at the. store of .Mr.: John M. Finn, corner of Arch and Seventh streets. Among other choice or iicles, we may mention his capital assortment of Morcooo goods, satchels, pookot books, &o.; alB>, elegant slippers, fine quality colognes, brushes, and other toilet artieles, and a groat variety of other goods of taste and utility that are worthy the alien tion of purchasers. Fine Assortment oy ObutliEMkn’s WuavrEiis.. —Mr. John C. Arriaon,Nos. I and 3 North Sixth street, notwithstanding his enormous sales ofwese elegant goods for presents during the has still a splendid stook on hand, nande from a van. ety of the choioest materials, and at moderate pnoes. AS ft New Year’s gilt aolhlng ooubUre T.O.re «>>iro> t’Uato. TVh Florence TRv r trMgtiAifT.—’ThS-Sewihg chine establishment of the celebrated "Fforeiwe” compnnyi OTi rooononiDxwttrefliiiuii uaw iiopoi ration la the east window the latent and moet tiigm nlous Invention, in the wayfif an aaftraatofl lady, that has yet been produced. This yocng lady, on Saturday last, was the oynosuhe of all eyes. She not only seems to be intent upon her wt*?k, giving the pedal motion, and keeping the machtoe’ up t* time and music, but she actually passes the it&teriaX to be sewed through her hands, alternating frogs' left to right, orfrom right to left, at pleasure, the Florence being the only machine upon which this feat.c t in be performed. As a meohanioal invention, the auto ton here referred to is really a eurioiity, and shoi.'W be seen by everybody. Persons desirous of procuring the best Sewing Machine in the world, oan, at the same time, step inside and make their selections. osr the Rain.—The influence of falling rain operates rather disastrously upon some things, especially the skating on the ponds and rivers; but as a matter of public information, we may state that it doe* not effect the excellent coal sold by Effro W. W. Alter, 935 North Ninth street, above Poplar,, from the faot that all his coal is snugly stored away under dry sheds, This is of great advantage t# buyers. ~ Mr. Gtboixos Grant invites the attention of gen* tlemen to hi# superior stock of Furnishing Good*; including the finest assortment of silk SQArfil In ? r flrffSißf' gloves, hosiery, and fitrOT description ; also the “ Model Shirt,” invented by* Mr, J. F. Taggart, whloh has not its equal In the world for fit, comfort, or durability. Great Reduction in Prices. Great Reduction in Prices. Radies’ and Misses’ Fine Cloaks. Radies 7 and Misses* Fine Cloaks, Also, Rich Furs of all kinds, Rich Furs of all kinds. In anticipation of the close of the seaaon c we are now prepared to make a large concession Crons former prices on all our stock. J. W. Proctor & Cto. ( The Paris Cloak and For Emporium* 920 Chestnut street. Great Reduction in Bonnets and Hatb.— Messrs, Wood A Caryi No. 725 Chestnut street, have f just made a great reduction in the prices of their ele gant stock of Bonnets, Trimmed Hats, Bonnets, fee:, their present prices being, in some cases, much bo low the cost of manufacture. Fine Champagnes.— “ Green Seal” Moselle. “Piper” Heidsieck. ” Bruch.-FoucNer ;' 7 ftJso, Fine Braniliet trad irinoß rur Medioiiui Puiwugt. Foraaie by Davis a Eiohakds, Arch and Tenth street.. Will the Ladtakd Gentleman who oallb» on Mr. K. Reilly in regard to teaohlng after the Ho* lidays, please send their address to the Assembly Buildings! - ICO Penns Mining. b3O . 7:.( 2CO do bSO, 7% 200 do 7K 100 do bio 7}f 100 do bM flat, lil SlO d 0... 7H AT OUTSIDE BOOM. 400 Penna Mining. •.. .b 5 7 H 100 do 530 7 X 100 do .....b3O 7Ji 10) do 2 days Swiss Bell Eingbbs at Concert Hall.— Thf* celebrated troupe of performers have been drawing large audiences at Concert Hall during the last week, and judging from that applause they received o* each evening, they have already become great favorites with our amusement-loving people. Hi addition to their regular entertainments this week they have engaged Mr. Budolph Hall, the celebrated Solo Echo Bugle Performer, of whom the .press J speaks in .the highest terms. We advise all who want to spend a pleasant evening to go to Concert Hall during the week, and hear the Bell Binger# and their Solo Artists. ' Geo. Steok k. Co.’s Pianos For Holiday Presents. The Bich and the Pooe.— The rich have the most meat j the poor have the best appetite. The rich lie the softeat, the poor Bleep the T&3 poor nafo M»itns tie non have dsuounni Tfia rich hang themselves rear of covert?, the poor (such as have always been poor) laugh and sing, and love their wives too well to put their necks into the noose. One characteristic of both, how ever, is that they patronize the well-known mer chant tailor, Granville Stokes, So. 609 Chestnut street, where the finest and cheapest fabricsln the country are constantly on hand. Willcox k Gibbs 1 Sbwing BLAomsss, For Holiday Presents. Faibbanks k Ewing, 715 Chestnut street. The New Yeah.—ln a very few days 1863 will be at an end, and a new year will have commenced. Thousands of people will make good resolves for the year, and hundreda will break their good resolutions at the first offer of temptation. We have but one bit of advice to give our readers, and that is to live wisely and well, making it an inflexible rule to pro . cure their wearing apparel at the Brown Stone Cloth ing Hall of Bockhill & Wilson, Nos. 643 and 605 Chestnut street, above Sixth. Willcox k Gibbs’ Sewino Maohutbs, For Holiday Presents. Fairbanks k Ewnro, 715 Chestnut street, Cabinet Oboans fob Holiday Gifts. J, E. Gould, Seventh and Chestnut. Oi/r> Winter. Old Winter is a friend of mine, His step is light, his eye-balls shine His cheek la ruddy ss the morn, He carols like the lark in com. His tread is brisk upon the snows— . His pulses gallop as he goes; He hath a smile upon his lips, With songs of welcome, jests and quips. The friend of every living thing, -Old Winter—sire of youthful spring; The glooms upon his brow that dwell, Are glorious when we know them well, Winter can be fully appreciated by dressing up in a suit of the Winter Clothing made by Charles Stokes & Co., under the Continental, Cabinet Oboans fob Holiday Gilts. J. E. Gould, Seventh and ChectnuJ, Willcox k Gibbs’ Sewins Machines, For Holiday Presents. Faibbanks k Ewing, 715 Chestnut streets dOMB, EDIIIfIHBJ Ibwemeb tliiis, E?K_i*ass Joints, and all of the feet, cured without pain or inconvenience to the patient, by Hr. 2aoela.- bie, Surgeon Chiropodist, S2l Chestnut street. Re fers to physicians and Burgeons of the city. de24-6i Cabinet Oboans fob Holiday Gifts, J. E. Gould, Seventh and Chestnut. Willcox k Gibes’ Sewing Machines, For Holiday Presents. Faibbanks k Ewing, 715 Chestnuf street, Geo. Steok k Co.’s Pianos Holiday Fbbsents at Farson fc Co.’s, Dock street, below Walnut, Cutlery, Tea Trays, Japan ned and Plated Ware, Hobby-Horses and Sleds, Su. delS-wimtf Geo. Steck & Co.’s Pianos ARRIVALS AT THE HOTELS, CP TO TWEI,YE O’CLOCK LAST-NIGHT. Continental—Wtntn a J E Tefft, Springfield, Mo SI) Ames, uSfl Geo A Sawyer. Boston R B Thompson, Washington ThosW Hydler L Bllmaker Maj B LEogers,Morris I,SG M Bcdine & wfi New York It M "Warren, Boston Capt Haxton 4t lady J ADouean.&la, S York WGBart&wf, N York E S Brooke, Washington S B McClean & wf. Fenna J Williams & lady, N Y . T E Simmons, Baltimore Jason Torrey- Honesdale ■ H A Baßois. New York, John J Dußoie, New York J 31 McLean, New York W J Graham, New York 0 Cowan, Shelbyville>Tenn CII King, New York Isaac Northrop. Wa»b, D v Chas Baker, Penna RShesrard, Jr, Ohio Miss BY Shenard. Ohio Chss Forbes. Hartford Wm Harmer Capt T E Carlin ! A Mayer, Cincinnati Isaac Hendricks, New York W M Lath rop, Boston BB Harper ■ L Lent & wf, Louisiana James Ferry, Wash, I) C 1 CufIiD.USA Moniß & da>.Baltimore J> Paxton ' , _ J H Jones, B C W \Y Wood E S Fowler, Illinois, HDFaimer, New York J i'aldwell, Boston W B Fowler, Boston . C W Johnston & wf. Loms’Je Miss MF Johnston.louis’fle Frank P Johnston. Louis le E J Richards. Mass . R L F Everett, New York J A Hutchison & ia, Pittebg Girard-Chesimit street, belowfiTinth. t ftnant Curli* G W Houston. Baltimore W V Robeson MT'Ruth S la. Delaware. gg r - LeeSPOrt HwllWeJUon Colls*, H lfardiDg. Salem co. N J J W Pritchett, Jefferson 001. HWMatchell,West Chester { WHaas, Übi 1 8 Jones, Baltimore I D Mercer. u SAv WEnoop, Troy, O RMSheppard, XJS A J Mondew, Altoona Fulr t • 'tirk Sfl DC Dr McSfurtne.U s h - Isaac Leech, Phila 9^2,^ ili T? A ’ WL Creiffb. Penna- J NMmer, 0 8 N J 8 Lewistown Ggs HS N J Henderson, New York O SBaskin, Jas R Tavlor, >Y Chester Thos WUliamson, B v»-N Win-W Reed Harrisburg Okas Miller, B: l ' ldff WFTTWrnIn USA Capt Thos Wilson. Detroit: W B Muencb! Harrieburg T D Baird, Baltiruore. DUBaiiin. New York J GGales_Pa A « M?sJfiwkte^Cleveland jHfiganm^in^n cap 'MS" Wilson Pa K Howard. New York 111 T.-F Neico. MeVevtoran, % r w H Sherwood, Baltimore HIAB?«.Pa 4 0 | S R°^ 1 45 S Tun tja«i » o Decs, rw^ftiiufuw** n Vkos>. New Orleaxs R Armetuxeybock Hav^t Srevaliaßt.’-EmirtU, Ovtr, Hancock PiiUißSbli W isik. York, Pa M B Thompson, Milrov Pa Johir PastonouA, New York AKWright, Clearfield . Jas A Leech. .Mercer js > M. Shield*. Mercer jjls Gordoa, Mercer A J PritchaidTß^*|?P^s®. J M Forster, ..Taa B Car, . TlioS CRotue, BawTork John Reading T MJOnes, Baltimore Black Bear-fhlrdSi Mrs WmSteckel.Aneniown J'M Jackson. Washington Rwv BE Probe!, Allentown I SGo.dsnoitb.Montjiomeryco. S Tmsfbower. Doylesiowal For Holiday Presents. For Holiday Present*. tnd Chestnut street*. \Y Whitney* Washington T S Allison* Trenton, IT J W M Wiley, Lancaster Mrs Yardley, Penna Dr J B Potts, Pittsburg Jas Mac Thomas, USA D Caldwell, Hollidayaburg E F Pitcher, Carlisle Miss L M Pitcher, Carlisle Col Olcott, New York, w T Poole, Washington. Mr Yourg, Kerf York MHHeJlzer, New Jersey Dr Eli K Cole. USA H G A llarman, Harrisburg J Bff Dick. Penna fm. H Edes, D C David- Edes. D C Mrs DWiimot, Penna Mr & Mrs McCrum Jas McGee, Brooklyn - Robert Dunlap & wf, N Y W a Wheeler & lady. K Y Wheelet, New York C T Carroll & lady, Balt Geo L Trask, New York H S Stiles W A Allen, Delaware Chas Bradley. Wash, D C John Campbell, New Yorfc C M Gormfy, Wash, D C G A Gonnly, Piitsbure E C Gormly, New Haven P L Goddard, USA , Eueene Myer, New York J W-Shepparn, New-York iG W'Deetzler, Kansas C W Babcock, Kansas Lt J E Audenned. USA J Ti Early, Jr, Baltimore A hi Burke, Wheeling R M Delaplaln, Whoring T'W Gi;more A wf. Cm, O RP Field, Kentacky G Loomis. PAikerabnre, Ya WR Hallman & la, Indiana Geo B Eckert. Trenton J Northrop. Connecticut John Ii You* g, U S Ax E Pickering D Wharton street, below Arebu E Ttfoddali Bauooclr, K T A McConnell, Wash. D C j tfStamsey.Portsmouth, $. JahATurnor, Wisconsin k‘ha* McKinj.ly, K Jersey [AFGilmoTe • . . . •T W Watson W Srewart, LawistoW-O. J li Baldwin, AUsgbaasj* J T) Beppard. New Yoric W a Simpson, I*ocV Havaa Jaclson McAbea, Pfcila J Birmingham & la^rittsbi it. * abovstHi^^m lliwia BatMlfMa.-cUciM tas&asMifiHr' >:l sJtosfc-ajs&x