January 12.—Day before yesterday the brigantine J. P. Ellicott, was captured by the rebel privateer Retribution, her officers and crew taken on board the privateer, and a prize crew put in charge of the brigantine. The wife of the mate was left on board the Ellicott, and to-day having succeeded in getting the rebel crew intoxicated, she put them in irons, took possession of the vessel, and piloted it into St. Thomas, where she delivered the rebels and the ship to the United States Consul.—New York Commercial Advertiser.
—Louts Napoleon this day opened the session of the Senate and Corps Législatif of France, with a speech, in which he referred to affairs in America, as follows: “The condition of the Empire would be flourishing if the war in America had not dried up one of the most fruitful sources of our industry. The forced stagnation of labor has caused in many districts an amount of destitution which deserves all our sympathy, and a grant will be asked from you (the legislature) for the support of those who, with resignation, submit to the effects of a misfortune which it is not in our power to stop.
“Nevertheless, I have made the attempt to send beyond the Atlantic advices inspired by a sincere sympathy; but the great maritime Powers not having thought it advisable as yet to act in concert with me. I have been obliged to postpone to a more suitable opportunity the offer of mediation, the object of which was to stop the effusion of blood, and to prevent the exhaustion of a country the future of which cannot be looked upon with indifference.”
—Holly Springs, Miss., was visited by a party of rebel guerrillas, who retired after committing various depredations on the property of the loyalists.—General Banks, at New-Orleans, issued a general order, confirming General Butler’s order of December ninth, 1862, assessing cotton factors and others who had subscribed to the secession fund, for the support of the poor.
