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BY S. W. MABON AVT> 00. fIiVANNAH, WEDNESDAY, PBB, 1, 1866. f>j| g TONE OF THE HEBEI* PRESS Tae tone of the Rt’bcl press is a good io Jex of the feeling of Iho people. It ■sbAioiVJ forth the various degrees of their •dispondensy or joy, with the fidelity of & mirror. In the early days of the war, gi&pers were confident, bold and defiant 'lThey looked only on the bright side of icesses in every thing. They labored ■laard and with a singleness of purpose &hat gained its end, to fire the southern J&earl, and maintain a combustion about That organ, until the enemy, whom they /jknn'odin the blackest colors, should '-find In the south an inhospitable grave, or geek safety in flight over the borders. Virginia to Texas, the same spirit animated the southern press. It was never despondent, save when it was personally opposed to Jeff. Davis, aad viken it sought the lowest depth of des pair, and opened its mouth and uttered struths ; only to be speedily silent and whipped into the traces again, by its snost powerful contemporaries. So it until the failing energies and falling fortunes of the so-called Coafed <-eraoy became so apparent that further ■concealment was out of the question, and It became a matter of primary importance to ascertain how those wasted energies could be recuperated, and the failing braced up and sustained. The discussion then became public. The causes of the lack ot results and the great fail ures were well ventilated, crimination and recrimination were resorted to; jfetird names were called ; and a general declaration for a free fight was agreed on by all papers. Since then matters liave grown worse and worse. Every one sees that the rebellion is tottering on its last legs, ready to give up the ■ghost, and go to the bad, and now the ; editors are like a pack of hungry wolves, bowling at the heels of Jeff. Davis; branding him an “idiot,” and “imbecile,” “incubus on the Confederacy” Source of all their wars,” and “a ty rant.” “Whom the Gods would destroy «*sb.e first make mad.” Madness rules ihe hour in Richmond, and all are catch ing at visionary straws to save them selves fir om the wreck they bog they can jsiafc avert. Confidence in all things, save “tfchat the the Union cause will triumph is peace is proposed in Congress, and talked about openly in the streets,— J&eanwhile the great Union Peace Apos igifcgj Grant, Sherman, Thomas, Porter and 3Ferry press on their arguments of shot «ud she.l, and the rebeliou reels under She gigantic blows. The Press is bold rand defiant against Davis, but mild and vosinciliatory towards the United States, lit now talks of a re-union under certain ritren instances,and an enforcement of the ■tjti.fi Monroe and jetrine. The people of the South are sick and tired of the war, and :2realiae that the idea of a Southern Con federacy is an hopeless one, and they Aesire peace. The papers reflecting the feelings of Ahe people are endeavoring to re-fire t&jeir hearts, but without avail. The jkrift is all one way. It daily increa brs4ii volume, and will soon become a aaighty stream, sweeping with an irre- BAtable force all impediments from its paik. Tnen the press nust either be en .gulfed, or float on the current. It must quick its part. Events are hur ivying on with a lightning speed, and the must spring on board, or for- ever staud iu the back ground, solitary and alone, a nonentity and a cypher. Old Winter lias “packed up his dud 3” and left us, taking with him near ly all his staff. Jack Frost, always first to arrive and last to leave, will stay a little perhaps \ but smiling Spring is coming, with her blossoms and robe3 of green, and Jack F. will soon be relieved if he don't resign. Old Winter has used us roughly this season. He has tweaked our noses, pinched our ears, benumbed oar bodies, and breathed his cold breath fill! in our laces. We are glad he has gone, and candidly tell him his room is better th tn his company. We are will ing he should pay us a little visit in a year or so, just for his healtli, but the shorter it is the better we shall be suited. Thus eodeth our weather item of to day. Our readers will appreciate the difficulty of constructing regular daily weather items, but we assure them we sliail continue the feature, regardless of expense, as long as scarcity of local news aud infrequency of mails last. THE GREAT CONFL.AGRATIOBT. To-day, with as little infringement upon our reading space as possible, we re-publißh, by request of many readers, the material portion of our account of the great conflagration, which appeared in 4ur paper of last Saturday. Although we printed a very large edition on that day, we had.exhausted it by an early hour in the evening. Since then the calls for the report have been bo numerous and so many requests have been made for us to re publish it, that we have decided to re-produce it Cl»ak Sidb Walks. —We hare found aside-jralk in front of our counting room. The discovery was made by one of our employes while sweeping. We presume side walks exist on nearly all the streets of the city, and can be easily found by the abuttors, if they will aid the officer in charge of streets by ef forts to keep their own premises clean. A little harmless sweeping will gratify many ladies. Slight trouble on the part of real estate owners will give the town a much more tidy appearance, without ex pense to the city or the military authori ties. Important Notice from tub Provost Marshal- —Lt. Col. York, the Provost Marshal, advertises in another column, for identification, a list of book3 and other articles, which have been taken from persons who were not the owners. The rightful proprietors can recover the property by calling at his office and iden tify ing it- If not identified before Satur day next, it will be necessary to sell the articles to the highest bidder. This Soldier's Casket.— Wo have re ceived the first Number qf anew month ly Magazine by this title, published by C. W. Alexander, 128 South Third street, Philadelphia. It is designed as a record of noble exploits by soldiers, and has also a well conducted literary department, and numerous illustrations. The sub scription price is $2 per year. Two Festive Females, in the dis guise of soldiers, were yesterday arrest ed by the Provost Marshal’s officers, and locked up. After some hours of incar ceration, they were made to don their proper apparel, and paroled, after some sound advice had been given them. Another Step towards Resuscitation. —Mr. Win. Alsop has commenced laying the foundation for anew saw mill on the site of the one which was burned by the rebels. He expects to have it completed in the course of two months.— Fbridu (Jnioi, • IULTM K3BS2X. SHBW3. Biehisend Dates to Jan. 25. THE EGSEL PRESS ON THE BLAIR MISSION, HIE ESG9YN FEitSION OF THE JA3IES BUIES BA®. iFTow the Richmond Jan. 26.] We learn that Mr. Blair, contrary to general expectation, did not go down on the flag truce boat yesterday but yet tar ries in Richmond. In consequence of which there was various rumors yester day, as his delay here was very natural ly thought to imply that his propositions, whatever they may be, had neither been rebuffed nor answered with decision.— All that is known is the fact that Biair brought a letter from Lincoln addressed to Jefferson Davis. Its contents are not even surmised. Bat the only object of sending Blair here is to detract public attention from the public defence and keep up the nonsense of demagogues about peace while the Yankee armies are hi motion. * (From the Richmond WhLj, Jan. 25.) There is no prospect of an armistice at present, but Mr. Blair is stii. in Rich mond, and while we are not yet permit ted to know officially anything relative to his mission, we are satisfied, fiorn all tiiat we can hea:, that he is zealously endeavoring to bring about a termina tion of the war. A great reputation will be the reward of his efforts, if he suc ceeds, and he is ambitious enough to strive to secure the renown which will attach to his name if he proves a suc cessful commissioner of peace. A flag of truce boat went down the river to-day. General Singleton, of Il linois, and nieoe, were among the pas sengers. (From the Richmond Sentinel, Jan 25.) Mr. Blair is still ia the city. We saw him on the street late yesterday after noon. It is believed that Mr. Blair has been authorized to offer any terms of settlement that could be accepted by the Confederate people. What consul tations have taken place between him and President Davis, it is presumed, are oaly known to themselves. The rumor circulated yesterday ot an armistice lor three months has its answer in the thun der of cannon below the city. These ramor3 of peace and of suspension of hostilities can have no other effect than to raise false hopes in the minds of the the people. The shortest way for peace is vigorously for war. The enemy will never make terms with us until they are c-om inCv.d we will fight till we achieve our independence. (Fj am the Richmond Dispatch, Jan. 25.) F. P. Biair was stilj in the city last evening. He arrived here on Saturday evening, dined with the President on Sunday, and has had several interviews with him since. What transpired dur ing these interviews is positively not known. The President not having even made any communication to bis Cabinet on the subject, we must await the re turn of Mr. Biair to the North. (From the Richmond Sentinel Jan. 25.) The more we talk about i>eace the mere arrogant the enemy becomes. The men who are continually whining about peace but prolong the war, as they well know there can be no peace but in two ways—subjugation or independence. [From the Richmond Examiner, Jan. 25.] The absurd reports in the early part of yesterday morning of armistices and truces obtained a singular commentary, as the day wore on, by sounds of firing down the river, which were plainly au dible in this city. These sounds, it was ascertained, proceeded from an affair of our iron-clads,- at or near the end of Farrar s (Dutch Gap) Island, on the line of obstructions which the enemy have placed there, and also from a heavy fire of our mortar batteries on Fort Harri son, which opened at one o'clock p. m. and continued for several hours. The expedition of our iron-clads down the river had been designed to break the etu my’s pontoon bridges, and thus de ft roy his communications, and to take advantage of the ascertained fact that ho had withdrawn most of his naval force from the river (probably to Wil mington,) leaving *but one iron-clad and some wooden vessels in the channel above Varina. There was also reason to suppose that the recent freshet had washed out a por tion of his line of obstructions, and tbu» opened the way to the attack on his pon toons. We may say here that the expe dition is understood to have and to have been planned Lee, iu view of the circumstances re ' ferred to. In attempting to pass the ob structions and to run the fire of the eno my’s shore batteries, the Drewry.a sma# wooden gunboat, once a lug in the com merce of the James, which mounted ono gun, got aground, and was blown up b§ r her crew, who got off without any casu alty. There was a report in the streei that her magazine had been exploded by the enemy's fire, but this is not so.— When she got aground there was but lit tle attempt to get her off, as she was considered as of but little importance except to pilot the channel. The Fredericksburg, we are informed, passed tbe obstructions successfully. The Richmond aud Virginia got aground, it txfing low tide, in the shoal water be tween Dutch Gap canal and Howlett battery; but as the tide rose they got off and followed their consort down the river. It is reported that the Virginia got a shot which killed two men and wounded several others. This we be lieve to be the sum of the casualties am far. The Navy Department last night had no official despatches whatever as to the affair, alleging as a reason that the vessels had got beyond the reach oC communication —which means, we sup pose, that they are off Varina. A report was brought from the army lines laat night that the Fredericksburg had got m far as Aikin's house, acd that but ©no iron-clad of the enemy was visible in the stream. We may expect further uewi to-day of an expedition that had so fir been a success. An auctiou sale of confiscated goods is advertised to occur at the Provost Mar shal’s this afternoon. (From Harper’s Magazine.} PEACE. Oh that the beUa in all these silent spires Won Id clash rheir danger on the sleeping air. , Ring their wild musk out with throbbing Choir% King peace in every where { Oh that this wave of sorrow surging o’er The red, red land would wash away its Stale— Drown out the angry fire from shore to shoist Aud give it peace again t On last year’s blossoming graves, with veumoer calm, • • , Loud in his happv tangle hums the bee; Nature forgets her hdit, and finds her badnt— Alas 1 and why not we ? Spirit of God 1 that moved upcm the face 0f the waters, aud bade ancient chaos 06MCW Shine, shine again o’er this tumultuous space, T ou that art Prince of Peace t There is a brisk trade in young India* girls in Oregon at S4O to SBO a head. There is a place in Connecticut where the Sabbath is devoted to killing snakes. Georgia council, no. 2. A meeting of this Council will be held tit their Halt THIS AFIEHNOO>, at 4 u’clodk. Trausieut companions in good standing ate specUully invited to attend. By-order, D. IL GALLOWAY, Feb. 1 ts Secretary. BEDSTEADS WANTED. • _ Apply at the Herald Couut ng Room, It! Bay street, Feb. 1 ts A LARGE stock of NAW and other brands of Tobacco, for sale at 15a Congress at. lob l 2t _ Auction sale of confisoatb* goods. , A small! lot of the following articles, seised fly the Provost Marshal, will be sold at publie auction at the Provost Marshal*# offloe, at 4 1-4 p. m. THIS DAY. L.a DIBS AND GENTS* SHOBi - FINE CUT TOBACCO, CANDIES, ADAMANTINE CANDIES, CIGARS, GINGER CAKES, ' KITS MACKEREL, COOKING SODA ami feb 1-1 BOTTLED WHISKEY. WANTED TO RENP. A Irene <*r part of a house— p arnißbedl or uu.nrnDhed—suitable for a small family. Ad dress Box lift, Savannah P. O m st* iug term* local on, &c. Fob 1 CrOOk STOVE WAN JtKIX -WITH PIP* ) mid Cooking Utensils. Apply St this aiOA Feb. I 14