From Norfolk.
departure of thirty-six Federal vessels from Hampton Roads — raising the hulks of the Brig. Dolphin and ship Pennsylvania--presentation of a sword, &c.[special correspondence of the Dispatch.]
Norfolk, Oct. 29, 1861.
I have received information from a source which I consider entirely reliable, that thirty-six steamers and one transport left Hampton Roads and went to sea this morning at about 9 o'clock. It is believed that this fleet has gone South; and the wind being fair and the weather fine, an attack will probably be made very shortly upon some place along the Southern coast.
Several Southern ports are mentioned as probable points of attack among which are New Orleans, Charleston, Willmington, Pensacola, Galveston, &c. A few days will, in all probability, decide the question; and but little doubt is entertained with regard to the result of the Yankee expedition, although there may be some hot work.
A vast amount of treasure has been expended in fitting out this grand armada; and the self-confident Federalists write and talk as if they can demolish every town and blockade every port on the coast from Chincoteague Inlet to the mouth of the Rio Grande.
How woefully mistaken they will be, a very short time, possibly a few hours may show.
The hulk of the brig Dolphin, the upper portion of which was burned by the Federal incendiaries in April, has been raised.
The hulk of the big ship Pennsylvania will also be raised shortly.
Most of the guns of the latter are in a serviceable condition.
The metal of these old hulks will fully repay the cost and trouble of raising them from the bed of the river.
A splendid sword, of Richmond manufacture, was presented, yesterday, to Lieutenant J. Jett, of the Norfolk county Riflemen.
The presentation took place at the navy-yard.
The addresses on the occasion were patriotic and appropriate.
Two ladies of this city are engaged in the commendable work of soliciting funds in behalf of those persons who were formerly residents of the town of Hampton, and who, having been driven from their homes by the Yankee intruders upon Virginia soil, leaving their property at the mercy of the Hessians, are, many of them, in destitute circumstances.
On Thursday evening a series of tableau vivants, representing a succession of beautiful scenes, will be given at the Opera House the proceeds to be appropriated in behalf of the First regiment of the Maryland Volunteers, now quartered at Manassas.
This enterprise will no doubt be encouraged by our citizens and patronized with their accustomed liberality.
Much complaint is heard here relative to the course recently pursued in allowing alien enemies to go North under flags of truce, as some of those who have gone have given much information about matters here calculated to benefit the enemy and result to our injury.
Among those who have applied for permission to leave when the next opportunity occurs, are some who are well acquainted with the public works here, and it is deemed to be very bad policy to allow them to go. It is probable that the Lincoln authorities at Washington are well informed already about many matters that should have been known only at the South; but to afford them further means of getting the particulars of all our works and movements, for their special benefit, is to inflict decided injury to the Southern cause, and the unwise course should be discontinued from henceforth. 