Mobile items.
--A letter from Mobile, dated the 6th, gives some items of news from that city:Major-General Frank Gardner has been ordered to the Trans-Mississippi Department, with headquarters at Liberty, and has left for his new command.
The same story of "all quiet in Mobile bay"--one monitor and three other Yankee vessels there remaining, as if in expectation of "something to turn up."
A wagon load of oysters made their appearance on Royal street the other day, having been hanted thirty miles.--Their appearance was highly welcomed by many bon vivants, who were selfish enough to enjoy a "dozen in the shell" at five dollars.
Yesterday the train brought down five hundred and fifty negroes, captured by Forrest at Athens, I believe. They were a fine body — clothed in Yankee uniform, blue jackets and blue caps — and a number of them diligently inquired about acquaintances here and owners, for it seems some of them were owned in Mobile before they became Yankee soldiers. I have not ascertained what disposition will be made of them.
We have been favored with a taste of December weather — would gladly welcome it as depriving us of the music of mosquitoes, which is not welcome, if it were not for the lack of the wherewith to make those cheerful fires, the glory of "days departed."
The Mayor of the city has got a supply of wood for poor families — an appropriation of $15,000 having been made for that purpose — which is disposed of by single load (half- cord) at twenty dollars a load — the draymen, proving a very ungenerous class, charging five dollars a load for hauling it.
The Theatre stands, as usual, on the corner of Royal and Conti streets, with closed doors--"closed until further notice."
