February 17.—In the British House of Commons Mr. Bentick rose to ask the noble Lord at the head of the government whether the government were in possession of any official information on the subject of the reported defeat by the rebels of the blockading squadron off Charleston; and if so, whether that information was of a character to raise the question of the legality of the future blockade of that port . Lord Palmerston replied that Her Majesty’s government had had no information with regard to the transaction other than that which had been conveyed by the telegrams. They simply state that the blockade was raised on the morning of one day, and reimposed on the succeeding day. With regard to the application of the general law of nations to a transaction of that kind, his lordship would give no opinion, because, he said, the application of that law depended so much upon the circumstances of the case, that until it was well known what had really happened, it would be improper in Her Majesty’s government to commit themselves to any opinion as to the effect which this occurrence might have.
—At a point five miles west of Romney, Va., a forage train under an escort composed of companies from the One Hundred and Sixteenth and One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio infantry, was captured by a party of rebels who escaped with the train, after paroling the Nationals, who were allowed to return to Romney.—Pittsburgh Chronicle.
February 17.—By order of General Grant all restrictions imposed on the circulation of the Chicago Times, were rescinded.—The steamer Hercules was burned by guerrillas this day at a point a few miles above Memphis, Tenn.—A heavy snow-storm prevailed on the Rappahannock and its vicinity.
