From Washington.
[Special correspondence of the Dispatch.]
Washington, Jan. 18, 1861.
Poor creation how much good it does 'em, after being cooped up a day or-two, to come set and show themselves in their newest rigging and have some out-door gabble.
Pennsylvania Avenue was full of them yesterday afternoon.
They were especially numerous in the story of a chap who has just opened a washed-jewelry swindle a few doors below Kirkwood's. He sells anything he's got for a dollar — splendid mosaic ear-rings, a set of the heaviest pure silver spoons, and the like of that.
To-day, all is dark and dreary again.
The poor creatures are forced back to their needles and their novels.
Mr. Ro. E. Scott's long-delayed letter will appear in the Alexandria Gazette of Monday next.
If every Virginian were as true to the honor of his State as the gentleman just named, and if all of us will back Gov. Letcher in his plucky response to the coercive resolutions of the Black Republican Legislature of New York.
I warrant the Old Dominion with emerge gloriously from the cloud of her present obscure and doubtful position.
Owing to the horrid weather, and the certainty that Congress can do nothing new, I have not been to the Capitol for some days, and can I tell how Mr. Pryor's peace proposition are getting along.
From the tone of yesterday's Tribune, I should say there was no hope of any compromise whatever.
As week after week rolls by, it becomes more and more evident that a new order of things is being arranged by the hand of Providence, despite the best efforts alike of good and bad men to prevent it by keeping matters as they are. A well- known gentleman said yesterday that our fathers made this Government for sensible people, and the only reason it did not answer now is because we have all turned fools.--‘"Not to put too fine a point upon it,"’ I accept this solution of the existing political problem as the neatest, if not the most scientific and exact yet made.
Of one thing we may be well assured — a thorough going change there must be.
As the great States of the North have virtually declared war against us, would it not be a sort of compensation, (unlooked for, but not the less welcome,) if the North western States which Virginia gave to the Republic should step forth and say, ‘"Hands off. There shall be no fighting.
If we must part, we part in peace.
Nothing is to be gained, much to be lost by fighting."’ Illinois, in her Democratic. Convention, has said so. Let Ohio and Indians profit by the example.
A Virginia matron, 80 years old, has written to her son-in-law in this city to buy her a pistol.
She closes by saying ‘" I am for peace; but if the war must come, I think I can kill two or three of the Abolitionists if they invade Virginia"’ One of the Texas delegates tells me that every woman and child there will fight; for when in his speeches, he sought to impress upon the ladies the fact that secession might prove no holiday affair, but bring he knew not what dangers to every fireside, they invariably cheered him on by applauding and waving their handkerchiefs — thus manifesting their willingness to confront any danger which might grow out of a separation from the wretches who had poisoned their wells, burnt their houses, and incited their slaves to insurrection.
I tell you, these people you call women are the bravest of the brave.
All history proves it.
An inspection of the Zouaves at the Theatre last night inclines me to believe that they are a detachments of the regular corps of the French Theatre in New York.
They don't handle their muskets like fellows who have been in the Crimea — that is, if I am any judge.
Uncle Sam's ‘"soldiers,"’ just from Leaven worth, are engaging freely in the delights of Washington life.
They don't "skewer" you much to look at them.
Zed. 