The earnest addresses of President Davis and General Lee to the soldiers of the Confederacy, in the present period of importance in the summer campaign, are entitled to the serious consideration of not only the soldiers, but the people generally. That our cause is anything but desponding, every one who estimates the situation of the country must feel convinced. Yet to defend ourselves and repel the invasion with proper energy and effect, it is necessary that every soldier should be at his post. The feeling of fatigue and desire to spend a little while at home have no doubt induced some brave fellows to take advantage of some little scratch or ache to absent themselves, under the impression that they could be spared without detriment to the cause. it only needs enough men deluded by this argument to subject the army to a draft upon its force very disadvantageous, to say the least independent of good fellows who are thus misled, there are some who are arrant skulkers — those craven-hearted and indolent fellows who are stragglers from the field merely to avoid duty and danger, and who, once in hospitals, become naturally "hospital rats," whom it is almost impossible to dislodge from their holes.

Now, those soldiers who are absent from duty under mistaken ideas, and whose intentions are the best, should not pause one moment after they read the addresses of the President and the great commander of the army of the Potomac. They should at once vindicate themselves from suspicion of association with those others who skulk from duty for motives that are disgraceful. Not a moment should they remain where they are liable to the most mortifying imputations. There are vast numbers of such, we are satisfied; and the only satisfactory proof they can afford of their true character is by promptly responding to the appeals made to their loyalty and honor. The addresses made to them are indeed appeals of this kind. It is only to those who are deaf to all sense of honor that threats of military rigor are directed. These last cannot escape, and should not be permitted to escapes the consequences of their desertion. The people should give them neither countenance nor support. They should no lodge them nor feed them. A soldier who is able to fight has now no business at home, and this every man should know. When one of this kind presents himself he should be treated as one recreant to his duty and to his country. The people — the men and women of the country — should frown upon them, and make every place but the camp unendurable to them.

The country is not in imminent peril, but it is perseveringly pressed by a merciless and brutal foe, from whom nothing but complete spoliation of everything we have, and the most abject humiliation of us all, can be expected should he finally overrun the land. To meet such a foe, and avert such consequences of his triumph, every man should be at his post. They may not all the needed; but we should make assurance doubly sure by having all present. That renewed and desperate efforts are to be made to take this city there cannot be a doubt. We have but to continue faithful to our well earned fame for alacrity to meet the enemy and for the impetuosity and fearlessness with which we have fought him in the fields made glorious for the South, to drive him yet again from our soil, and for a while at least to be relieved from his hated presence.

The arrival of Governor Vance, of North Carolina, in this city has been announced in the papers. He comes, no doubt, to confer with the Confederate authorities on matters of general interest to the country. The Governors of the Confederate States are all true to the cause of the South. Governor Vance occupies a position of some peculiarity not free from embarrassment, but during his administration he has proved his devotion to the Confederacy in a very signal manner. There is in his State a party not large, it is true, but countenanced and encouraged by a treacherous press, characterized by ingenuity and energy, which has by side winds and cunning assaults on special measures of the Government endeavored to throw obstacles in the way of recruiting the army and of the ordinary administration of public affairs. The bad principles and bad motives of this press have possibly exerted some evil influences; but, we are sure, to a very limited extent. Governor Vance having received some indications of favor from this obnoxious quarter, it is reasonable to suppose that it was counted upon that he would make some concessions in return for it. If such was the expectation it was doomed to disappointment; for Governor Vance has proved to be one of the most true and firm of leading Southern men. He is worthy of North Carolina and the South. His State has sent her sons to every battle field, where they have won undying fame for their good old mother, and he has upheld the authority and the cause of the Confederacy with a firmness and consistency that challenges our admiration and commands the generous confidence of the nation.

Under the chief magistracy of Gov. Vance, the State of North Carolina has given renewed assurance of faithfulness to the common cause, and moreover has afforded proofs of wisdom in the administration of public affairs that will assist in maintaining the good name and credit of the community of States. The old State occupies a position on the map that gives her especial importance in the crisis, and it is, therefore, all the more gratifying that she maintains her ancient renown for bravery, honor, and true loyalty. She will never prove unfaithful to her confederates in the day of trial, and may be always relied on in every exigency which demands the exhibition of the virtues of manhood and constancy.

--The Mobile Advertiser has the following relative to the coming defence of that city:

--Purcell, an interesting lad, about fourteen years of age, son of Mr. Charles W. Purcell. was drowned in the river while bathing. The body was recovered, but not before life was extinct.

--Mary Susan Hill, a free negress, appeared before the Mayor yesterday to answer the charge of feloniously killing James Hudson, a free negro, on the 28th of July.--The only evidence against the accused was that given by Ann Peppercorn, who swore that she heard the prisoner say, on Monday before the murder, that Jim Hudson liked her sister Harris better than he did her, and that he should not live till Sunday.

B. H. Allen, one of the Coroner's jurors, stated that an examination of the body of the deceased revested a large gash or crush near the right temple, a deep puncture in the mole of the head, and a violent bruise at the bridge of the nose, which caused the protrusion of the eyes. The deceased was lying on a mattress, on the floor near his bed, when he was found, and had an old bed-tick wrapted around his head. He was seen sitting at his window the afternoon before. On his person was found a pocket book, containing $56 which the Coroner took charge of; and the day after two or three more pocket-books, containing money, were found, which were also given to the Coroner.

The Mayor, after bearing all the witnesses before him, felt bound to continue the investigation till Tuesday, but admitted the prisoner to bail for her appearance in the sum of $500 That a murder has been committed there seems to be no sort of doubt, but by whom or when it is difficult to say. Deceased was known to have money, and money was found on his person and in his house, showing that robbery had not instigated the deed. Another fact is, that the door of his room was locked on the outside by his murderer, and the key carried off — a striking fact in this case.

--John Bolton and James M. Perry, charged with stealing a watch and chain, valued at $1,000, from George Sinton, have been sent to the Hustings Court for trial These men claim to have taken the watch from a dead Yankee at Gettysburg, but such a plea is not likely to save them from punishment.

--A slave named Macklin, the property of Dr. Jennings, was before the Mayor yesterday, charged with aiding and carrying free negroes to the enemy's lines, and trading with the enemy. Owing to the absence of witnesses the accused was locked up for a future hearing.

--At the Libby prison yesterday there were one hundred and sixty Yankees received, the last of these captured at Gettysburg.

At Castle Thunder sixty five negroes were received, who were captured by Stuart in Pennsylvania during the recent invasion of our army.

--Judge Halyburton held a short session of his Court yesterday and then adjourned. If the witnesses and lawyers are in place the trial of Elam, charged with forging treasury notes, will commence next week. Louis Napoleon, Elam's aid, our readers will remember, was hung for this offence some months since.

--A young female, genteelly dressed, called on a Main street merchant yesterday morning, and solicited and received money to buy refreshments for wounded soldiers in a private hospital. The gentleman afterwards learned that there were no wounded soldiers in the hospital of which the lady spoke, and that no lady had been authorized to beg for any of its patients.

--The Indian half-breeds, at Indiantown, on the Pamunkey river, and the free negroes on James river, in the lower part of Henrico and Charles City, are in the regular employ of the Yankees as spies, and ought to be taken charge of by the Confederate authorities with as little delay as possible. Not only do they act as guides to raiding parties and pilots to the gunboats, but they keep a careful watch on our land and naval forces, and report every movement in defence of the South. Why these creatures have been allowed to remain so long in positions from which they can do so much harm, is a matter of great surprise.

--We understand that Messrs. Warwick & Barksdale, of the Gallege Mills, Richmond, are supplying families with flour at from $31 to $35 per barrel, according to grade, and that they refuse to sell more than one barrel to any one man, thus keeping off the hands of speculators, who are holding the same article at $60 per barrel. By adopting this course, hundreds of families will be able to buy flour who could not do so at $60, and speculators will be prevented from getting the stock on hand into their possession, and, by refusing to sell, soon run up the price to $100 per barrel. Let families get their supplies at once before the stock is

--Every soldier in the field knows the importance to health of good bread, but many of them have to do without that necessary article because they cannot obtain hope, and know of no substitute. We learn from reliable authority that the dried leaf of corn (fodder) is an admirable substitute for hope. The infusion is prepared in the same way. Practice will soon determine the quantity of fodder necessary to be used. At the Hugue not Springs Hospital, where there are now four hundred and fifty patients, fodder is used instead of hope by the bakers, and those who have tasted the bread say it is equal in every respect to any they ever saw. Let every soldier note this fact.

--A meeting of citizens will be held some afternoon this week to take action on " flour speculations." unless the Government first moves in the matter. The people are prepared to endure all necessary hardships for our cause, even to abandoning the use of flour altogether, but they are not willing to be fleeced of their last time by speculators, nor will they stand by and see women and children suffer for bread merely to gratify the sordid desire of speculators and extortioners.--They can give up bread and meat, when necessity requires it, without murmuring at the sacrifice made for the independence of their country, but they will no longer submit to the murderous fire which speculators have showered upon them since the beginning of the war.

--All the Justices of Henrico county are summoned to attend at their Court House to day to consider the propriety of petitioning the Secretary of War for a line of sentinels around Richmond, to guard the suburban farms and gardens against depredations. The question is one of meal and bread to the people of Richmond, and is worthy of careful consideration.

--Jim, slave to John Clash, was examined before the Mayor yesterday on the charge of stealing a carpet bag, containing $400 worth of wearing apparel, from Mrs. Ann M. Rawlings, on the 4th inst. After a hearing the prisoner was sent on for trial at the next term of the Hustings Court, and committed to jail.

--Several weeks since a petition was sent to the City Council, asking to have made some slight improvements in the Mayor's Court-room, for the comfort of all who attended there. The petition was referred to the Committee on the Hall, and the chairman gave the Engineer orders to have the improvements made, but up to this time the room is unchanged. Why this delay? Surely mechanics enough can be found to attend to a small matter, with out the loss of so much time.

four in number, have the privilege of drilling in the afternoon at Market Hall, on

--Large numbers of convalescent soldiers are leaving the hospitals every day, and moving forward to join their commands under Gen. Lee. If the skulkers and desertage could be coaked or driven to their camps the Army of Northern Virginia would be numerically stronger at this time than at any period during the war. Those who fall to avail themselves of the amnesty offered by the President should be captured and shot.

--Local companies, designed to guard against raids, are being rapidly organized, preparatory to services. The Yankees are gradually approaching the Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers, and will soon begin a series of raided that may prove very destructive to our railroads, unless the militia are the roughly organized and ready to receive them.

has at length arrived at melting heat. Fat men are but skins of grease, literally running away as they attempt locomotion, and lean ones are so dried and porched that their bones rattle as skeletons in the wind when they move about. We may expect a thunder storm at any moment, judging from the flying clouds and occasional guate of wind.

--The fire bells rang out an alarm on Thursday afternoon, and the firemen had a long, hot run with the machines, all caused by the burning of a chimney.

Twenty-five dollars Reward will be paid for the apprehension and delivery to who Messrs. Crompton & Lone of my man Glasco, ranaway from the Jackson Hospital several weeks ago. Said negro is about five feet nine or ten inches high, of dark gingerbread color, very likely, and smiles generally when spoken to He ranaway in the month of March last, but was apprehended in Chesterfield county. He may possibly have hired himself to some person in the army.

--For a negro man named Immela owned by Mrs. Sarah Fynes, of King and Queen county, who left his employers in this city some time during the month of June. He was seen about ten days age on

--From the subscriber's residences., on yesterday, a negro boy named Alemey he is about five feet five or six inches high about 25 years of age and has a white speck on his right eye ball and a burn on the back of his right hand, twenty five dollars will be paid for him it delivered to me in Richmond, or in any jail so that I can get him.

-- from the defensive works around Richmond the following free negroes, impressed from Richmond--

By the act of the Virginia Legislature, passed 12th February, 1861, to provide for the enrollment and employment of free negroes in the public service, these negroes being emanate to the rules and regulations of the article of war, are deserters, and a reward of thirty dollars each will be paid for their apprehension and delivery to Capt W G Turpin, at Engineers' office, corner

--Will be paid for the arrest of Ellem, a mulatto girl. who ran away a few weeks since. She is above medium height, very likely, regular features, waving hair. She was supposed to be I think that she is harbored in Richmond as she has a mother and other relatives living in the city. Deliver her to David McDaniel.