* Here, Tom,’ said Ranahan, filling a glaes, ‘@riak thie You Were not long comin from ‘ The Works.’ and it’s a é ': — es, ¢ smart step, *@®Fure you nash be wet through. The Pweat ie powring off your face ag fast as the reio from your hat. You must have ran the whele way. "Tis no lie to call you a fast feiend, thia night at all events, Here, A say, drink this, it avill keep you from tak- ' ing a chili.’

* What's the toast, Mr. Ranahan ? said he, taking the glase,

*L leave it to yourself, Tom; you'll | make no mistake L’ll warrant. * Bad luck | to the Peolers,’ 1 suppose.’

‘No; by-and-by for that. But ‘here's a successful result to them that has been | watohing for you, Joha Ranahan, for the| last seven months;* and he tossed it off with- out a curl on his lip.

* Ay, Tom,’ said the third, ‘ throo good men that no weather ever kept from the

PP a ICD

* Well, what now, sir?’ said old Trelford, in half a whisper to me. ‘I'm afraid this ia & pazaler, after all our hardship.’

* LT shall not stop here,’ Trephed ; ‘and I am certain there is nota man of the party who will not follow me.’

* Not one,’ * not one, may.

Determined to lead the way, I then placed one of my feet firmly upon the first stone. Norris tucked his earbine under his arm, and

ran from mun to

Our troopssleep to-night where they fought | to-day. The dead an wounded are being carried from the field. | 'Thefiring of infantry ceased about 6 o'clock | this evenimg, bub the rebels continued throw- ing shell into the city until 8 o'clock,

Tho position of the rebels was as follows:

- Gen. Longstreet on tho loft and holding the main works. (ienerals A. P. Mill and Stonewall Jackson were in front of General Franklin, with the right resting on the Rap-

gave me his hand, and I advanced a step, he

| taking the place I had juet left ; Clemmel l then took hie hand, giving hig other to Dan-

bar, and Trelford came next in like manner, and so On, until the men formed a sort of a chain, each advancing a step as | moved for- ward, with the help of a goud stout stick which I carried. In this way we continued, all getting oyer safely, but complotely drench- od above our waists.

We were not now more than a hundred yards from the village, and one of the first things I perceived on entering it was the

Jiack fort when Mr. Ranaban wanted a might's rest if Shradoonock,’

* All right, lads,’ said Ranahan, filling nnother glass; ‘here is both your healths. und success to Tom’ stoast. Indeed | don'e see what fear he need now baye, for t may say l am clear off. Seveu or cight houts more, and I'll be aboard, and bid you all good-by.’

‘God grant,’ said Tom. ‘I hope the rain and storm won't spoil ua, but I fear no one ean stir out in such a night; it’s begipning to blow, aod | doubt it will be impossible te cross the lough.’

* Help yourself, man, and talk less,’ said Ranashaun— help yourself and give ys a toast.’

‘All io good time, sir,’ replied Moran, filling glass, and holding it to his lips. « Here, then,is to hell with she peelors, lock, stock, andbarrel, the fe ather-bed spoddoughs, show me the man of them would fgce Shra-

newly plastered window, in the third house jf came to. 1 took up my position at the | door, sending men to the rear, and remaining | quiet until I considered all the houaes in the | village Were ‘set,’ to prevent collusion or ercape. Old Constable Jrelford, Constables Norris and Dunbar were with me, and | knocked loudly at the dogr,—no answer, again, again—still no answer ; | they shook it rather fiercely —another shuke. °

‘Who's there? What do you want?’ said a voice.

* Open the dooy,’ I replied.

* What do you want ?°

* Open the door, | +A

* The sorra foot, till | know who you are, and what you want this hour of theenight.’

* If you don’t, | will,’ apd I shook it more violently.

‘ Stop a bit, have patience, will you, and don’t smash the door.’ ‘

I remained guiet with my ear to the door. I heard some bustling inside, in which I thought the sound of dry straw waa vory manifest. After waiting a few seconds longer, | shook the door again.

doonock in that rain. PLlugh,’ he ad&ed, putting out hig tongue aud makipg an extraordinary poise——‘thet for them,’| and swallowed the coutents of the glass.

* Here, lads, we have another round,’ said : Ranahan, holding the bottle between him) and the light; we may as well make a finish | of it and go down to Mytes’s.’ He filled | whe glass und banded it to Tom, who tossed!

—_—aoe Se

v

; it off without a word.

> * Have you po toast but the one?’ said " Mofan, belping bimself, and looking as Tom | until the liquor ran over—* Here's success | ; and gratitude to the rain this night above |

all nights in the year, that saved us the ne- cessity of @ watch, and the drenching of a; wet seat upon the black fort. Except for) Mr. Ranakan’s own sake, I'd say may tho} rain continue just until he is safe across the | Jake. and far on the road to Killybegs.

* You haye left me a bumper for the last,’ | gaid Ranahan, and L'il drain it every drop | We are all safe, thanks to true good faith | amongst ourselves ; if we had anything like | treachery to fear—eh, Tom’ (slapping him | upon the back, for he was next him) ‘ the Saxon gold could not unlock the lips or cor | rupt the hearts of such men as yoursell snd | Mick here. Ii is beginning to blow, and, that ig the worst thing I see about it, for) the wind is right against us to the creok be-| youd, two miles at least ; therp are but three} of ua, aad that lug of a boat is very heavy, and the oars are short—I wish Calreavy | was here, sa] we'd seo to make off a se cond pair to help her through it; but “I

fold him to etay beyond and have a look out

Shat nove of Moran's fricads, the peelers,

were on the watch —we can’: be too particu-|

dar or cautious; however, 1 don’t think we|

have anything to fear. We will go down| now to the yilage, we have three or four, hours to rest, and we'll want it. Thanks to the rain, we may all sleep sound. and Myles will call us up at four o'clock ; 1 hope the ind will not rise any higher."

* Ilere’s success to our plans, Tom,’ eaid Hanahan rising: ‘it is not your faalt it| trey fail; bat before we leave this,’ aod he held the glase to his lips, ‘may this be my poison, or choke we, if ever ] let the peelers sake me inside a gaol gate alive, so long as I have the use of my two bands; and if by any accident or treachegy they should come | upoo me suddenly ur unawares, and pin me, 1 swear that the hemp never grew that shall take the place of this black silk handker- chief—never, boya—there does not exist in the police furee this moment the individual man, that being arms-Jength from 1 could mot distance iu clear daylight; and if it

“came to grips, there's not one amongst them that I could not double up like thig old hat. Let the Government parade the whole force 40-morrow Morning, and pick out a man to Meet me, 1'll try hom at any thing or every- thing they hke; Ll walk him, L'il run him, I'll jamp him, L'il wrestle him, 11) fox him, Lil swim him, L'll lift a weight or throw a stone or sledge with him—sny or all of these L'll try their best man out of #000 at, and [ll stake my peck against their pardon, that I'll beat him in every- thing—buab, they are not the men to take Jobo Ranahan ; or, being taken, Jobn Ks- nahan is not the map that could pos foil ahem in the end. I gay [Nl try that with them to-worrow if they are Gt, aad give my- self up—that's the chats.’

‘To be sure you would, Mr. Ranghan,’ said Moran, ‘and I'd back you in cyery thing.’

* They have a man namea O'Shaughnesy somewhere in the county Roscommon, and i'm told nothing caa beat him,’ chimed in Tom.

‘ * | heard of him,” said Ranahan—‘ Prank

'Shaughnesy, the Clipper, they call him. 1 never wet him, but | believe be is a good wan perbaps their best.’

* [saw him one day in the fair of Elphin,’ said Moran ;’ there is no doubt but he's a} prime'man. 1 saw him in the barrack-yard, and he took two of the tallest men there, and rested the stable fork upon their shouldere—he's not to say a very tall man himself, and could only just touch it with his chin. Well, ho drew back from them, no farther than as it might be the breadth of this cave, and pursuing to the toe ever he Jaid to it. There was a hundred people up- on the barrack wall saw it as well as myself,’

* No matter, boys,’ exclaimed Ranahan * there never was a man of the name fit to meet mo at anything; and I hope I may never die until | find myself alongside of)

: Frank O'Shaughnesy, the Clipper, and jf 1 \ don't clip him, Ln not standing here.’

* You'll hardly ever meet him, if ho doesn’t follow you to Anverica,’ said_ Moran, ‘ for 1 reckou you all as one as the this minute-"

* Come, lads, let us be going down,’ said Ranahan, aud the last drop in the bottle was drained. They then left the cave, and having turned the dangerous corner—how, I know not, for Ranahan was a little ‘ over-

'

taken in liquor'—they extinguished the! 4,

‘Come, come,’ said Ll, * this will not do, I'm not going to be kept here all night, and if you don’t gpen the door this jastant, L'll have it in the middle of the floor.’

* Rangnakers to it for a door, where is it? said a voice just inside, and at the same time I heard a hand pretending to fumble for the basp. ‘I must go and look fur a bit of a rish-light, and I'm afeered there isn’t a bit in the house,’ said he, and he left the door again.

* I'll stand this no longer, Trelford,’ said I, and potting my shoulder to the door, | sent it with my whole furce into the middle of the house.

‘Come, light a candle,’ svid I, ‘ be quick.’

‘The sorra inch iy candle in the house,’ he replie d.

Constable Trelford, a knowing old Scotch- man, came to his relief on that point. I soon heard him puffing away like a bellows at a coal in the tongs. When the candle waslit, the house presented rather a disappointing appearance. A very tall man, with a sharp face, and grey huir, stood 10 his shirt in the middle of the floor. Three or four children, of from six to ten years old, lay peeping from under an old quilt, tothe lett of the fire- piace, To the right, upon an old bed tick stuffed with straw, lay a yery vid woman, who appeared to be ill, as her moans were incessunt. There also appeared to be but one small room besides the kitchen in which we stood, and we searched both minutely, to no purpose.

* What is your name ?’ said I to the man.

‘ Myles Terrnan, your honour.’

‘Is there no other room in your house, for it looks much longer outside than it dues within?’

‘The not a one then, your honour.’

‘What is that oats doing there in the corner, at the old woman's head?’ 1 con- tinued.

* We mean to thrash it to-morrow orafter, your honour, and we're keeping it near the fire to harden the grain.’

* In that caso,’ said 1, ‘ it can do itno harm to pull it down to-night.’

We then took down the oats, and although Ranahan was nof, as I oonfess | expected, standing up in the corner, all hope was not extinguished, for there was a dvor leading into another room. J lost no time in asking further questions, but burst in, followed by Trelford and Dunbar. One bed was in the far corner, which was occupied by two por- sons, one of whom I knew; and at the re- cognition of his features, | coniess the blood mounted into my fuce, burning my forehead and temples like fire. It was Cleary — his Christian name was Tom—the Tom to whom we listened so lately in the cave. There was another bed in the room, with a boarded wagyon-roof, and in this lay an apparently very old woman, with g pale face. She had on a dirty night cap. with a broad border, from hehind whigh long grey hair lay strag- gling acroge her face.

* What is your name?’ said I pyshing aside the hair, and at the same time rub- bing the back of my hand across her chin.

Macy Connelly,’ elie replied, as if half asleep; bat Ls00n wakened her, and made her sit up is the bed.

* You forgot to shaye yesterday, Mary,’ said f.

* No, nor to day cither,’ was the reply.

* Are you in the habit, Mary,’ ! continued, ‘of wonring this black cogt and trowsors?’ pulling them from undor the bed-olothes ; * and these Wollington boots to matsh? For if you are, you may as well put them on now. Come, Ranahan, the game is over— get up aud dross yourself.’

I know not if actual disappointmont and regret did not take place of every other feel- ling at the moment. As to exultution or triumph, there was actually none. J knew he must be hanged, and I detested the po- sition in which an imperative duty placed me respecting him; bound up, too, in con- nexion with a mereenary ruffian, in whose villainy there was nothing bold, generous, or brave, and in whose hands I was the mere tool to chisel cut his iniquity. He had treacherously sold his firiend’s blood for one hundred pounds, and I had been the purchaser.—T’v be concluded next week.

Tho Civil War in tho States.

THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.

I[gap Quarrgns Arwy ov THR Porowac, December 13, 11 P. M.

Tho fog began to disappear early in the morning, affording an unpbstracted view of our own ond the rébel positions. evident that the first ridge of hille in the rear of the city, which the onewy had their gune posted behind, could not be carried except by w charge of infantry. Genorai Summer as- signed thatduty to General Prencho’s division, which was supported by General Lloward.

The troo minutes before 12 o’clock, at a brisk run, the enemy’s guns opening on them a@ very brisk fire, when within mueket range, at the base of the ridge, our ixuopa were mes with by a terrible iire fromthe rebel infantry, who were posted behind a stone wall, and eome houses on the right of the line.—'This check- ed the advance of our men and they fell back to 2 sma!l ravine, but not cut of musket range. At this time another body of troops moved to their asvistance in splendid style, notwithetanding large gape were made in their ranke by the rebel artillery ; when our troope arrived at the first line of the rebel fenees they ‘* double quicked,” and with fixed bayonets endeavoured to dislodge the rebels from their hidi socs. The con-

which our wen were forced to face was too much for them, and the centre gaye way in disorder, bys afterward thoy weze rallied and broughs back. From that time the fire was oe earriod on, and never ceased until ark.

succeoded, after @hard day’s fight, in driving the rebels ahout a wile. re time the rebels gee ad gp = him, but were handsomely ro with terrible slaughter and with 9 jase of between 400 and 500 prigoners, wees to Gon. A. P. Llill’s command. Gen. Franklin's moyement was directed down the river, and his troops are

encamped to-night not far from the Massap- ongs crook.

It being |

advanced to their work at 10.

contrated fire of rebel arti lery and infantry |

pahannock, and JJill’s furce acting 68 & re- serve,

Wasuinaron, Dee, 14.—J]t_is thought here thas about 40,000 of our troops were engaged | lin yesterday's battle. ;

‘rom information zeceiyed early this morn-

ing preparations were making all night tora coutlict to-day. Gen. Burnside remaining on the field, giving orders and looking tu the po- sition and condition of our forces.

Additional Surgeons and everything which the neceasities of the wounded require have been despatched from Washington to the bat- tle ground.

New York, Dee. 14 —Tho /erald's dis- pateh, dated at Headquarters last night, says Gen, Franklin's lino was moved forward at sunrise, with his right resting upon Fredoricks- burg, his contre advanced a mile from the river, and his left resting on tho river, three miles below. Skirmishing commenced on the left about daylight. Soon after a rebel bat- tery opened our lines, and the Gth New York militia was ordered to chargo, but after a fierce struggle was compelled to retire. The remainder of the brigade under Gen. Tyler then charged the enemy's guns, when the fight became general on our extreme loft.

Gen. Meado’s and Gibboo's divisions en- countered the right of Gon. A. P. Hill's com- mand. The cannonading waw territic, al- though our troops suffered bus little from the enemy's artillory. Gradually the fight ex- tended around to the right. Gen. llowe’s division then went inggnd then Gen, Brook's.

At 10 o'clock Samner’s ‘troops engaged the enemy back of the city, since which the bat- tle has raged furiously along the whole line. ‘The enemy, occupying woods and hills, had a much more advantageous position, hut were driven back on their right a mile ond a half early in the day.

At noon Gen. Gibbons was relieved by Gens. Doubleday and Meade, and afterwards by Stoneman.

Nowton’s division moyed round to the sup- port of the left, when the firing coased for a short time, and broke out with greater fierce- ness in the gentre, where our troops were ex- posed to a plunging fire from the enemy's guns and earthworks on the hill

Along the whole line the battle has been fierce all day, with great loss on both sides. fo-night each army holds its first position, | except a slight adyance gn our left.

Cannonading is still going on and musket- ry breaks out at intervals quite fiercely.

About dark our forees carried the right

evacuated the

Ne BY THELEGRAPTE. | Dec. 17th.—The Pederal army | ir posjtion at Vrederick: burg on Monday night last, retreating aeross the Rapy ¥ The movement was conducted lory first crossed over, and “ly | last of the infantry brought up the rear, shortly alter daylight on‘ ‘uesday morning. The ue bridges were then taken up, and the heavy wine and rain contributed to the success of perenne until too late to take advantage of and profit ” it The New York Herald gives the loss of rank lin’s grand division an Saturday last at 6,000 men The Federal General Bayard has died of his wounds. —Plymonth, North Carolina, has been destroyed by the Federal forces —lIt ” rumored, but not eredited, that General Bauks expedition has landed in North Carolina.—The Washington correspondent of the N. Y. Advertiser under date of 15th inst., says :—Should mishaps occur at Frederioksburg, the Cabinet at Washington may be reconstructed, and General MeClellan recalled to his furmer position as Commander of the Pede- ral army of the Potomac —Congress has adopted resolutions endorsing President Lincolu’s Eman- cipalion proclamation us a War measure, 78 to 51.

Sr. Joun,

hannock River. safely; the artil

Sr. Joun, Dee. 17, Evening.—Burnside’s retro- grade movement caused profound sensation in New York. The Herald, World, and Sun charge the failure on the War Department, under the disorganising influences of the abolition factions in Congress.—They call for a reconstruction of the Cabinet and expuls) rof imbeciles and lywyers trom the management. o the ariny,—The World says all the corps commanders were opposed to the advance, but Burnside said the order was peremptery from Washington. ‘The Tribune, while regretting the disasters, sees cause of satis- faction that the army, after a year of inaction, save when forced to give battle, has taken the offensive, and that Burnside, in a safe position, may take measures for next movement. New York Commercial gives report that McClellan has been called to Washington.—Six large steamers seon off St. Augustine, Florida, supposed Banks’ expedition bound turther South. Two steamers of the expedition put into Port Royal for coal, and sailed again.—Hovey’s expedition returned to Helena.—Sherman’s army returned to Memphis. —Grant still at Oxford.—Aboyt forty thousand Confederates between Murfreesboro and Nashville. —Large negro force fortifying Tullahonia.—Three hundred of Woodward's cavalry came into Federal cap, refusing to fight longer for Southern Con- federacy.-—Alabama reported returned to Mar- tinique, and loading coal from an English vessel.

Sr. Joun, Dee. 18th.—On Tuesday night the Contederates increased their intrenchments on the Terraces in rear of Fredericksburg, and threw up HuMeroUs rifle pits Hear the river.—The Fede- ral army is said to be in excellent condition, just as enthusiastic as previous to the late engagement. —No important movement took place yesterday. —The Federals escaped across the river without losing a man or a gun in the operation —The cor- respondent of the New York Times gives the tol- lowing deseription of the strength of the position which the Federals attempted to storm and tailed : “They had to evoss a bare plateau for a third of aimile, exposed to the fire of sharp-shooters sta- tioned behind a heavy stone wall, running along the base of the ridge —to a double row of rifle

of Veritas determine. act in this important matter according to| posed to go tho “whole figure

A a

‘his own ideas and liberty of choice,’’ since |

} , 2 rte . ‘hristiz rs | . | mi-| ho was conyerted to the Ubristian f uth B6 © | mention of the Liberal candidates for the several

time when he was opposing and persecuting| it with a fury almost allied to insanity, con-| verted, too, by special interposition from on Hligh. Je was an apostle, ho himeolf says, ‘not of nan, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ and Giod the Father ;’’ and he shortly boecame not the lender of a sect, but the great and successful founder of the Gentile Church, So that the example of St. Paul cannot ayail my friond * Veritas.”

With regard to his criticism upon the word **airesis,’’ | would briefly observe, that although he has given it the usual signi@ea- tion found in some of the smaller Lexicons, yet that the primary meaning, *texpugnatio,”” is much more forcible, and in fact altogether different from that which he has found it convenient to select, it would have been but an act of modesty, not to say justice, had Veritas acknowledged his obligations to Dr. Adam Clarke, from whose Commentary he has so freely drawn, and for the most part in the Doctar’s own words. ; :

It is not my intention to take part in this discussion. My sole object in seeking a place in your columns has been to express my re- spebatlon of an unheard picce of presumption or. the part of Veritas, the bringing forward St. Paul as an abettor of heresy and schism.

lam yours, &c. VINDEX. Dec. 20th, 1862.

The €

Charlottetown, December 29th, 1862.

°.

xaminer,

ELECTIONEERING MOVEMENTS— GOVERNMENT AND THEIR SUPPORT- ERS AT A DISCOUNT EVERY WHERE.

“T know that some would fain postpone this era, Reluctant as all placemen to resign * Their post; but theirs is merely 4 chimera, For they have pass'd life's equinoctial line ; But then they have their claret and madeira To irrigate the dryness af decline ; And county meetings and the Parliament, And debt, and what not, for their solace sent.”

Brnon's Don Juan, Canto xin.

PoOutTicaL feeling becomes more intense and nore generally manifested as the time approaches We had re- ceived, previously to the publication of our last No., the reports of several meetings in Prince County, which have now lost their interest from lapse of time, but from which we have the best assurance that the Liberal cause will triumph in

for the nomination of candidates.

pits on the rise of the crest —to heavy bodies ot infantry concealed behind — to plunging fire of batteries of a lower range — te double enfilading

crest of the hill oceupied by the rebels, who wore driven from their position with greas) sluughter. | This evening the rebels have been shelling | | Fredericksburg, endeavoring to drive our | troops out of the place, but without successe| Gon. Burnside is in the city, personally di- | recting operations.

——_--

THE RECENT FEDERAL DEFEAT. |

battle on the Banks of the Rappahannock. the Federal forees under General Buruside was attended with disastrous results to the army ot the Potomac, and that advantage was tuken of a | turious storm to retrace their steps across the Rappahannock, no particulars have been permit- ted to transpire. How many of the Federal troops recently occupying Fredericksbarg, a very considerable proportion of which must have taken part in the general engagemeut, have survived the shock of battle, can ouly be left to conjecture. Under all the circumstances, it is safe to assume that the defeat of the Federals must have been of the moat decisive character, thus to have cow-

cover of darkness and the conflict of the elements. The effects of this terrible disaster ‘at Washing- ten, and in the cities of the loyal States, can be easily imagined. which has so long beew heard, subdued though it may have been, and partially drowned by that vain-glorious boasting peculiar te our neighbors, ean searcely fail to be followed by an uncentroll-

pelled the precipitate fight of the remnant under |

TVhe murmur of dissatisfaction

fire from cannon on the left. Sebastopol was not half so strong.” — ‘The same correspondent also says that the Confederate leaders acted with their usual willness, letting the Federals into Freder- icksburg so easily in order to throw them off their guard, laid to catch an opponent.—Burnside’s despatch to Llalleck says that he was fully convinced that the position in frout could not be carried, and as it was a military necessity to attack or retire, and asa repulse would b4ve been disastrous,he thought

The press and the public are still leit in a glori-,it advisable to withdraw his army. —The New ous state of uncertainty, as regards the receut| York World says that the repulse was chiefly | . : 1. 1 Be-| caused by the failure of the arrival of the pontoon | tion, he will be most signally defeated. The con- yond the fact, that the long delayed advance of | bridges which enabled the Confederates to occupy | sciousness that such will be the result of Mr.

Fredericksburg heights, and lays the whole biatne | jon General Halleck.—The Alabama was at Do-

minica on the 28th ult.

Sr. Joun, Dee. 19.— Newspaper correspon- dents to Northern journals state that the recent battle near Fredericksburg was a butchery. ‘The total loss of the right grand division of the Federal army, under Gen. Franklin, is estimated to have been more than 70U0 men. The centre division of thé same forte lost 3000 men. And the lett division suffered to an equal extent, 3000 being the number of its casualties. The total loss in this disastrous affair is put down at 13,000 men; but the official report, when it comes to hand, will probably exceed that wumber. — Geueral Freneh’s division, which went into action with

7000 men, two days after the engagement, only |

1200 men had been reported to him, more than halt his foree haying been placed hors de combat before firing a shot. — The report that General Banks is not = to co-operate against Richmoud

able outbarst of public indignation. The utter

and more apparent, whenever they ventare to take the field and assume the offensive.

whieh but hasten them to destruction. The sub- joined remarks from the St. John * Freeman’ are

tuations’ Hear bun:—

been stated, Burnside began the advance, but be advanced only & short distance, when, coming to the town of Fredericksburg, his army came to a dead stand again and, instead of marching in, gave time which the Confederates turned to good account in throwing up earthworks and mounting cannon. There day after day the army of the Potomac remained, most unaccountably inactive, looking at the Confederates working with all energy ut an immense line of defense. So harm- less were the Federals during this time that it is said the Contederate battalions were often drilled within range of the Federal batteries without dreag of molestation. When the line of defence was pomplete, and the cnet were all thrown up, and the cannon mounted, and the rifle pita dug, then the Federal army was ence more pat in motion, Fredericksburg was casily des- troyed, and the passage of the river, by means of pontoon bridges, under cover of guns of the heavi- est calibre and longest ranges, the Confederates could not prevent, especially as the irresistible gun boats were brought into play, and transported Franklin's corps across the river, a few miles below the actyal battleground. But when the Federals attacked the Coufederate lines the tolly of their waiting was demonstrated by the desper- gte reception they encountered. It would almost seem that when they did move they were torced to potion by the operations of the Confederates on thejr flank and front, and that they gave battle because to delay longer was to court inevitable destruction.

That they have been repulsed with immense slaughter appears eertain from the account given in the telegrama, which, as usual, try to mystify and te represent disasters as almost vietorjes. As usual they assert that the Confederates were su- perior in numbers, and that the Confederates too suffered reverses and repulses; but that the Fe- derals failed in this attack is certain: that they were, badly beaten is provable. It is absurd to pretend that only 40,000 were engaged in this battle, on which so much depended. If the Fede- rals had not the larger number on the field, it proved the utter incompetency of the Federal Government. If the Federals made the attack, and chose the time and place of battle, and had not a superior foree where they were wanted, that proves the incapacity of the Genoral in command. But if the Federal force ow the battle ground was j really so small, it may prove that Burnside, instead of being the assailant, was forced by Lee to ac- cept battle when and where he did not want to fight. Se palpable is the want of skill and pru- dence and torethought in this affair, that it would | on bo surprising if the people of the Northern

States, goaded to madness by such a series of un-

ivcompetence of Federal Generals is made more | it now known to have been a greater success tian it ' How is | was at first reported. The Contederate loss on it possible they can expeet men to obey orders |

causes intensé dissatisfaction in the Northern States, aud throughout the Federal army. — The Federal victory at Prairie Grove, Arkausas, is

j that eceasion was about $ed0 men, 1500) being leit dead on the field of battle. — General Evans (Confederate) has telegraphed to Richwond city,

to the point. “The writer, altoough leanmy to the | ty the efivet that he had driven the Federal Gen. | Northern side, has a just conception of the “ si- | Poster, who had been attacking Kingston, Nofth | : _ | Carolina, back to the Federal gunboats.—Gen. | : “ah

The Federal Generalship and inode of conducting | Butler, for benefit of poor, levied twenty-eight | daughters as poor outeasts of Virtue, on a level the war are exceedingly difficult to be anderstood. \ thousand dollars on cotton brokers. of New Or-| with the most degraded of their sex. It is a pivce After a long delay, the cause of which never bas |

leans, who advised planters to withhold sending cotton to city. —Army appropristion bill of seven hundred and thirty-one millions passed House ; only three nays. — Bermuda advices report the British steamers Phebe, Hornet, Pickney, Justice and Merrimac in port, loading arms, &e., for Confederates. British steamer Carombia sailed from St. George, ostensibly tor Trinidad, but pro- bably to run blockade. — About two thousand wounded@arrived at Washington yesterday.

Sr. Joun, Deo. 20.—All is quiet at Frederieks- bury.—The official report of the Federal losses gives less than fourteen hundred (1400!!!) killed, eight thousand wounded, and about eight hundred prisoners on each side.— The Confederates are stated to have etripped the Federal dead.—The Richmond Dispatch puts the Confederate loss at 2500), including Generals Gregg, Cobb, and many field officers. — The Third North Carolina Regi- ment was nearly annihilated. — General Foster captured Kingston, N. C., and took five hundred prisoners and eleven pieces of artillery —A Nash- ville despatch says that General Dodge was fight- ing Forest all day Thursday near Corinth —Mor- gan 18 reported moying to cut off the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. Van Doran had also arrived at Stevenson, Alabama, with 50,000 to reinforce Bragg. The whole force it Teunessee is estimated at 70,000.—The Confederate outposts are 11 miles from Nashville.

Baycor, Dee. 22.—Cabinet crisis creates ab- serbing excitement at Washington. — Seward has resigned, also Seeretary Chase, and it is reported that Blair has.—Rumor says all have resigned.— Supposed President has not yet accepted Seward and Chase's resignations. —Senator Fessenden and Daniel 8. Dickiuson are most prominently named as Seward’s suecessor. Sumner also named.— President keeps his own counsel.—Times despatch asserts that President gave Burnside discretionary orders about crossing Rappahannock to attack, which Halleck suppressed. — Seven thousand wounded have thus far reached Washington.— Herald says Banks will superecde Butler at New Orleans, commanding 70,000 to operate on Mo- bile, for opening Mississippi, and counteracting French schemes at Seuth. — Official despatches contirm Gen. Foster's success at Kingston,

Prince County to an extent far beyond our expec-

| tations.

But St. Paul did not | to the back bone, and is now, more than ever, dis-

”

for Liberal principles, It ie unnecessary to make particular dstricts—we, in all confidence, assure our readers that the first, second and third districts will return none but Liberals,—the fourth district has returned one Liberal before, and we trust it will not only do the same again, but that it will do better by returning two Liberals at the next election. In Georgetown, the Liberals are determined to assert thoir power and influence. ‘The Colonial Secretary has lately declared, in a letter to the Pretestants of this Island, that the Liberals have a clear ma- jority of resident votes for Georgetown—and that at the last election, the place was kept out of the hands of the Liberals by means, only, of the few straggling votes from Charlottetown, who, if the Liberals get into pewer, will never have the right to vote there again. But notwithstanding the straggling votes from Charlottetown, a Liberal, in the person of Mr. McDonald, was returned by a clear majority at the last election. He was, how- ever, robbed of his rights, and excluded from his fairly-won seat by means of the most corrupt and unscrupulous majority that ever disgraced our Legislative halls. We are glad to hear that Mr. McDonald is again in the field,—his return by a handsome majority 1s as morally @ertain as any human event can be; and he may depend upon it, that there will be no petty tyrants in the next House to deprive him of his seat in the face of law, justice and the clearest evidence in his favour.

Queen’s County next demands our attention, and one would suppore that in this hot-bed-of ‘Toryism the Liberals would not have the ghost of achance. But every district will be sharply con- tested. For the First District, the Liberal Can- didates will be, James Howatt, Esq., of Crapaud —a most zealous and indefatigable Liberal—and a Mr. Campbell, of New London. Of the last named gentleman we know nothmg, but we have heard him spoken of in the highest terms by those acquainted with him. Their opponents on the Tory side will be Wm. Haslam and Donald Moutgomery, Esquires.

In the Second District, the Hon. J. Longworth and the Hon. A. Laird are the candidates on the Conservative side; and Benjamin Davies, E has been nominated by the Liberals, and has con- sented to stand. We have not heard whether any other gentleman has been or will be selected to come out with him on the Liberal interest ; ‘but of Mr. Davies's return no doubt is entertained. At the Meeting at Wheatley River, where the three candidates we have mentioned were nominated, Mr. Laird was asked if he would support the Go- vernmentan the event ef his being returned tothe

Iu the first district, Messrs. Couroy and Doyle are spoken of as certain of re-election. In the second district, Joha Clark, Esq., of Cascum-

| . . .

| pee, will be nominated on the Liberal interest, i . 'and those who know the district well speak con-

|

It was the veriest trap, he adds, ever) fidently of his return. The Hon. James Warbur- |

}ton and George Sinclair, Esq., are the Liberal | candidates for the third district. The Hon. James | Yeo is said to be the candidate on the Tory side | for the same district; but we have reason to be-

| lieve that if he has the hardihood to run the elee- {

Yeo’s offering for the third district gives great They cannot understand how a man like Mr. Yeo—who

consternation to the Government party.

holds so many mortgages in Prince County, and | who has got so many poor people into his debt in | various Ways—should fail to get returned for any Mr. Yeo’s services or abilities as a politician are never thought of, be- cause — for the best of all reasons — these things were never known to belong to him,—his Ledger is the only thing that has hitherto secured him a

district in the County.

seat in the Hlouse ; and people wonder that the Ledger should fail in this hour of trial. But 80 it s—the day has gone by wheneither the Ledger or the Rent Roll shall enable any man to trot inte the Legislature over the necks of u free people. Ap overwhelming majority of the electors in the third district are Catholics,—we cannot see how

it is possible for them to stoop to the degradation of voting for a Government—as they would do by | polling their votes for M r. Yoo—who keep a hired, salaried blackguard to denounce them as idolators, slaves, followers of Antichrist—to libel their priests }as abandoned profligates, and their wives and