The Federal Commander Clary, iv an official despatch from Halifax to the Secretary of (he Navy, announces that the Chesapeake has beeu transferred to the British authorities. The following telegraphic despatches have been published : — "Halifax, Dec. 19,1863. "Tremendous excitement prevails here this afternoon in regard to the steamer Chesapeake. She was delivered over to the British authori ties to-day; but upon the landing of the pri v soneis on shove they were rescued by the citi zens. The Union vessels Niagara, D«»cotab, Ella and Annie, Acacia, and Cornubia, are off the harbor. 11 10 p.m. "At one o'clock this afternoon, the steamer Chesapeake and the prisoners on board of her were delivered over to the Government. Upon the arrival of the boat containing the prisoners at the Queen's wharf the excitement became intense. The prisoners were immediately seized by a boat's crew in the ship, and hurried off by the crowd in uttendancp. Upon the Government officers moving to arrest the pri soners under a warrant, they were seized tmd held by peimanent citizens and rendered powerless to perform their duty. The crowd finally succeeded in getting the pirates off iv a small boat, which forthwith moved down the I bay. Tbe affair caused the gieatest excitement throughout the city. What course the autho rities will pursue in the matter it is imnosible to say. The pirates are now all at liberty, scattered throughout the province. The Union gunboats are preparing to leave. Some will take their departure to-night, and probably all of them will leave before Monday." The first engineer of the Chesapeake affords the following particulars of tbe capture: —

" After we left St. John, the fiisi port we en tered was Shclhuine, where we arrived onThurs day night. Here we took in ten tons ot coal and soire wood. The next morning we left lor Lahave River. Seeing a steamer off the mouth of the river, we concealed the vessel as best we could, and ascended the river on Friday night. We laid to atthis point until Tuesday night, discharging part of the cargo, for which we received 1000 dols. We sold the sugar for 3c a pound, the flour for 3 dols a barrel, and other articles proportionately. 