[special correspondence of the Dispatch.]
Norfolk, Oct. 28, 1861.
After a heavy rain of yesterday, the wind changed to north ward, and the weather today is clear, cold, and windy.
The change in the temperature last evening was very sudden — a quick transition from summer to winter.
The weather has been very heavy for several days along the coast, and the tide has been quite high.
The fleet in Hampton Roads is still increasing, and the number of vessels is now estimated at one hundred.
The horses that were mentioned as being on board the Great Republic and a large steamer, have been landed.
It appears that they lost some of them over-board, and the bodies of three have floated ashore on the beach near Cape Henry, with gearing attached to them.
A cap of a Federal soldier floated ashore a few days ago near Willoughby's Point, about eight miles below the city.
In this cap, which was probably lost overboard accidentally, were two Boston papers — the Traveller, of the 19th, and the Herold, of the 21st.
In these there are statements about affairs at the Navy Yard, an attack on Norfolk. &c.
A few days ago a box containing about a hundred pounds of flour, floated ashore near Sewell's Point.
It was found by a colored man, who had some bread made of the flour.
After he and other servants in the family had eaten the bread, their master suggested that they take an emetic, as the flour was probably poisoned.
No deaths by poison have yet been reported, and it is probable that the box of flour was accidentally dropped overboard; although, judging from many acts of the Hessian troops, it would not be a matter of great surprise to learn that they had attempted to poison the Southerners by putting arsenic or some other unwholesome ingredient in any article of food which they might contrive to go ashore, with the hope that our troops would be green enough to eat it.
Signor George's grand concert, which gave so much satisfaction, and which passed off with great eclat on Thursday night, will be repeated to-night, the proceeds to be appropriated in behalf of an expedition, the nature of which has not been made public.
The object of this secret expedition is of course to damage our Northern enemies in some way, and is being gotten up by some of the members of company F, of this city, and sanctioned by prominent officers.
Nothing further has been done in the case reported about a week ago, relative to an affray in which Hughes, the toll-keeper at the drawbridge over Elizabeth river, was badly injured.
The investigation of the affair in the Mayor's Court was postponed,
The quarterly term of the Corporation Court commences here to-day.
Several cases of some interest will, I learn, be up for examination.
I am informed that Major Lamb, who has been announced for Congress from this Congressional district, withdraws his name from the list of candidates, and will vigorously prosecute the duties of the office which he now holds in the Confederate army, and one which, for the present at least, he can debate his commanding talents and industrious efforts, greatly to the benefit of a considerable portion of our army.
No man in the service will labor more zealously for Southern independence.
I regret to find that the mall peace for Richmond does not connect at Petersburg, and that letters and papers do not reach the Richmond post office until a late hour of the day after they are mailed here.
It is hoped this difficulty will be attended to at once, and that no such detention will occur hereafter. 