ignal seen (appended to a balloon) just over the western
horizon. It was stationary for ten minutes, a blood-red light, seen
through a hazy atmosphere. I thought it was Mars, but my eldest
daughter, a better astronomer than I, said it was neither the time nor
place for it to be visible. The air was still, and the dismal barking of
the ban-dogs conjured up the most direful portents. All my neighbors
supposed it to be a signal from Sheridan to Grant, and that the city
would certainly be attacked before morning. It was only a camp signal of
one of our own detachments awaiting the approach of Sheridan.

Sheridan's passage of the James River has not been confirmed, and so the
belief revives that he will assault the city fortifications on the
northwest side, while Grant attacks elsewhere.

Yesterday the President vetoed several bills, and sent back others
unsigned, suggesting alterations. Among them is the Conscript and
Exemption bills, which he has detained _ten days_, as Senators say, on a
point of constructive etiquette, insisting that the President and
Secretary ought to make certain details and exemptions instead of
Congress, etc. It is precious time lost, but perhaps in view of the
great calamities immediately threatening the country, Congress may
yield. But ten days might be enough time lost to lose the cause.

The communication referred to by the President, in detaining Congress,
has not yet been sent in, unless it be one of his qualified vetoes, and
conjecture is still busy, some persons going so far as to hint that it
relates to a _capitulation_, yielding up Richmond on certain terms. I
have not heard of any demands of Grant of that nature.

A dispatch from Gen. R. E. Lee, received this morning, says Fitz Lee's
cavalry was at Powhatan C. H. last night (so it was not Fitz's signal),
and had been ordered to cross to the north side of the James, which may
not be practicable above Richmond. We shall probably see them pass
through the city to-day. He says the roads are bad, etc. Sheridan, then,
has not crossed the river.

Gen. Lee sends to the department this morning a copy of a fierce letter
from Lord John Russell, British Secretary of State, to our commissioners
abroad, demanding a discontinuance of expeditions fitted out in Canada,
and the building and equipping of cruisers in British ports. It says
such practices must cease, for they are not only in violation of British
law, but calculated to foment war between G