by the authority of the church and only omitted to pray for Jeff. Davis and his Government (as he avowed to his congregation one week before) because they (the church) were so peculiarly circumstanced. His congregation is made up almost wholly of rebel citizens of Alexandria, well know for their habitual mockery of the Stars and Stripes and their insolent bearing toward Union citizens and U. S. soldiers.

Learning the truth of these statements beyond a question I attended Saint Paul's Church o Sunday morning and when Steward omitted to read the prayer for the President of the United States as required by the church service I arose and respectfully requested him to do so. He paying no attention to my request I again requested him to read the prayer with the same result. Immediately Captain Farnsworth, of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, who was present and to me an entire stranger, arose and demanded that he should read the prayer. Still refusing Captain Farnsworth ordered his sergeant to arrest and take him to the quarters of Colonel Farnsworth, of the same regiment, which order was immediately executed. Fearing a collision between the congregation ad the military present I immediately directed Captain Farnsworth to hold him only as a state prisoner subject to your order.

After arriving at the headquarters of Colonel Farnsworth, Stewart sent for Brigadier-General Montgomery, military governor of the city, who soon called in. At the request of General Montgomery Stewart was delivered to his custody and was not long after by him discharged from arrest I am informed unconditionally.

This arrest I believe was approved and applauded by the Union citizens of Alexandria and by the military officers here with scarcely an exception.

In this connection I deem it proper for me to attempt to give you some correct idea of the condition of things in this city and to call the attention of the Government to the abuses (as they seem to me) which are practiced almost constantly. There are a large number of secession sympathizers resident here who openly and defiantly boast of being secessionists and avow their disposition to aid the rebels all in their power and to do us all the harm they can. Many of them, especially the females, are in the practice of insulting the soldiers of the United States, denouncing our flag and the authority which upholds it. Yet these people are freely granted passes to go to and fro to Washington and wherever else they desire by the military authorities.

The divisions of Generals Heintzelman, Sumner and Franklin are within from to four miles of Alexandria, and many of the men of those divisions are obliged to visit here constantly to procure their letters, supplies, express matter, &c. Two regiments of troops are quartered in Alexandria, yet in all parts of the city may be found the vilest of whisky dens and rum holes and other vile places of corrupt debauch to demoralize the soldiers, carrying on their trades not only without opposition but with (many of them) absolute protection. In consequence the streets leading from the city toward the camps of those divisions are almost constantly filled with staggering, drunken soldiers, poisoned and rendered unfit to serve their country in this trying hour; their money filched from them, the Army disgraced and weakened, and all under the eye and protection of military officers of the General.

Under this state of things I have no doubt that Alexandria is made as rendevous by rebels and a depot whence information and correspondence is obtained and constantly kept up. Rebels who are in active