STARVATION IN THE CITY.

Colonist, Volume VIII, Issue 799, 23 June 1865, Page 3

STARVATION IN THE CITY.

New York, March 21.—1t was reported in Washington yesterday that Jeff. Davis had abandoned the position of President of the rebel Confederacy, and handed over the reins of his sinking Government to Lee, with the understanding that the latter, as supreme dictator, would make one last desperate effort with such resources as are left within his control. All kinds of provisions are now bringing fabulous prices in Richmond. Every male in the city, capable of carrying a musket, has been pressed into the army

New York, March 21st.— The Times special says : Deserters bring the report that the evacuation of Richmond is spoken of openly as an inevitable necessity. Since the destruction of the James River canal, the wealthy were removing themselves and their effects to such parts of the State as they thought would remain unmolested. With the canal gone, it was impossible to feed the citizens and the army. Large numbers of negroes were impressed to repair the damages, while at the same time the organisation of the colored soldiers had commenced. The Tribune's special says a Richmond grocer arrived to-day, and took the oath of allegiance. He left Richmond on the I7fch. The rebel authorities, in anticipation of an immediate attack by Grant, were placing iv the entrenchments every man" aud boy capable of handling a musket. The Government records had been packed up preparatory to removal. Enormous prices were demanded by those who had produce to sell. There ;w&s great suffering among the poo^er!,9]a|is^, > 9i'any of whom were actually &favvmg. tiv Q%e price of everything had more thatti doubled since Sheridan's wholesale destruction of the canal and railroad. Flour was selling at 150 dollars per barrel; meat, 10 dollars per pound; whisky, 400 dollars a gallon, and other things in proportion. Board at an hotel, 100 dollars a day. Common board, for laborers, 10 dollars a day.

The Herald's Wilmington correspondent says:—On the 14th Sherman left Eayetteville, marching towards Goldsboro. Before leaving, the extensive arsenal was completely destroyed. It was the largest in the south. Every cotton-mill and several residences were also destroyed. Six small steamers were also burned. The negroes who have followed Sherman will be sent to South Carolina, consigned to the care of General Saxton. Our released prisoners are sent north as fast as possible. Their condition is horrible. Thirty or forty die daily. Pessengers who arrived to-day from City Point say that news from Sherman reached there on Sunday, through two scouts who left last week. He had occupied Goldsboro without opposition, having connected with Schofield. The correspondence between Davis, Lee, and Grant, concerning a military convention to settle our difficulties, is published, and contains no new fact except the one that Davis closed his letter, giving authority to act, with these words : —" Enter into such an arrangement as will cause at least a temporary suspension of hostilities."

Washington, March 24th.—A gentleman from Richmond reports the rebels admit that the damage done by Sherman amounts to fifty millions of dollars (£11,000,000 sterling). Deep gloom prevails iv Richmond. Everybody seems to feel that the day of reckoning has come. The Richmond Examiner, of 2lßt March, says the conscription of the negroes goes on with difficulty. Guards are stationed in every camp, yet the negroes escape. There is a great panic among the blacks. There is much reluctance among the whites upon the question of arming the slaves. There is in that city between five thousand and six thousand women aud children belonging to men who have fled from the rebel conscription to the North. As provisions are scarce commodities in Richmond, ifc is proposed to send them North.