The New York Herald Newspaper, February 12, 1851, Page 3

Apnual nt of the i Momeet he Commissioners of - . me ‘Wo the fegishature of ine Bute of New York :— The Commissioners of Evnigration respe: tally present ir report for the year ending 3ist De- “Gember, 1600." . whole number of aliens, subject to bonds or utation, who arrived at the port of New ‘ork duting 1850, was 7,902 lees than during the Preceding year. his decrease arose entirely from the diminished emigration from Germany. The falling off of this ‘class of emigration amounts to about one-tifth, the mumbers of Germans arriving at this port being 339, against 56,700 of the year 1819. The emigration from Ireland has contiaued, a9 heretofore, to exeeed largely that from any other country, and to increase both numerically and in Bercrtion to the whole, having exceeded by 21,- - it g from other countries. of emigrativn to this port, and of the relief afforded to desutute sed aliens under the operation of this commission, present the following results :— “Total number of passengers landed in be 232,763 ‘a aliens 212,796 Of these were citizens 1 ‘Natives of Ireland 117,033 “ Ge 45,535 50,223 These passengers arrived in 1 912 vessels. Number in emigrant refuge and hospital 1,674 B84 on Ward’s Island, let Jan. 1850. ‘Number born there in 1850. Number admitted in 1850. Total number cared for.........++++e++ 10,156 ‘Total number of days spent in refuge and hospital..... . serees 646,409 Number sent to smal! pox hospital, Black- well’s Island......++ese+ sess seve 106 ember in ‘Marine hospital lst jan., ae A A Admitted in 1850 from the city. # * vessels. Total number treated. “Number of days mates.... 4,238 +» 103,066 ‘Number relieve ce his State and chargeable tothiscommission, 5,937 Forwarded to inland places at the expense of this commission, in whole or in part, from the city of New-York.... ...- -+++ ‘Number returned to Europe in whole or in part at the expense of this commission... Nussher peovieed with situations thro the office of this commission, (partly estimated,) females....... . Number provided with situations thyoues the office of this commission, (partly 2,248 3,000 estimated,) male: 5,000 Number supplied wi breakfast 12,946 “Number receive pote ies 14,368 verage per night. Of the above the males were. back pe females were. Number of lunaticsin city asylum support- ed by this commiesion, during the year, 161 “Number of licences issued to emigrant boarding houses. : “ 80 ‘Number of licenses issued to runners 83 bi = * bookers.... 33 The great amelioration of the mode of carrying paesengers since 1813, has continued eeerely to exercise its beneficial influence during the last year. Some few exceptions, chiefly in foreign vea- tels, have, by the disease and mortality produced from defective ventilation, crowded eee and bad food, strongly attested the importance of the gene- ral improvement and the necessity of rigidly en- forcing all laws for the prevention of such evils. From the general character of the shipping tran- Sporting them, and also to a large exteat from their own character and means, a great part of the year exhibited a better personal coadition of the passen- gers than the average; but during the latter months a considerable proportion of the emigration from tala has been of a necessitous and suflering class. ‘The whole number of persons who have, in vari- ous ways, been chargeable to the Commissioners for occasional temporary sid, up to long continued support and medical care, was over 50,000, or above 10,000 more than during 1849 This increase na- turally results trom the annual increase of the whole number entitled to claim assistance until the expiration of five years from the time of commuta- tion. In the last year, the necessitous portion of the emigration for above three ye da half, in all parts of the State, claimed as ace. The whole number of commuted person still living is probably pot much less than one-third more those of the preceding year. Thus it will be seen that the increase of persons actually demanding aid is in a less proportion, indicating how large a num- ber have found the means of independence or self support since their arrival on these shores. RECEIPTS, EXPENDITURES AND FINANCIAL CON- CERNS OF THE COMMISSION. y The funds of the commission are now maialy derived from the paymeni of $1 50 from each alien passenger, in commutation for the securities re- quired by the act of April 11, 1849. There are some small additions to these receipts, from col- | Jections from bonds giver by owners or consigaee: or received from them by compromise, or for penal- ties for violation or neglect of the requirement of jaw, and also from other contingencies of small amount. The following are the abstracts of statements of the receipts and expenditures of the commission under their several heads :— Receipts. r Balance of fund on deposit with the city chamberlain in Mechanics’ Bank, Jan. 1, 1850.. Amount of y during the from alien passengers ear Amount received for commutation of 2 special bonds ....... ¢ 0006 cece cove es - 81 35 Amount received from masters and own- ers of vessels for violations of law.... 756 50 Amount received for mortgage of real WUMINE oius Gaki Sia 360) 640s sa0kscesns MED OD) Amouat received for trustees of Seama Fund Retreat... ... o se00 1,459 29 Amount received for advances made to 322 66 i mate children .. 661 12 Amount received for ad emigrants for transportation into the interiot......... eee _ 615 27 Amount for sundrie! ). 1,847 17 $380,091 42 Expenses. For the purchase of real estate on Ward's Island ...... 1,826 75 For the erection of building: improvements and repaira .. 24,629 65 Por the reimbur York Aims House and other institutions...... - 13,483 46 For the support of emigrant re- fUe oes eee cece ee «173,800 04 For the evpport of offic 12,875 61 For the support of marine ho: 61,410 29 779 19 —- 369,561 39 Balance of fund in Mechanics’ Bank, Jan. 1, 1551... “ «ee. $10,533 03 PROPOSED REDUCTION OF EXPENDITURE (The report here suggests to the Legislature as a | meens of relieving the ermgrant fuad, the removal of the expenses of the boat and boatmen employed by the health officer at quarantine, for purposes not strictly connected with the emigrant institution. ‘The report then proceeds tu the two following items of expenditure: — By the act of the 10th April, 1850, the commuta- tion money of $150, authorized to be paid instead of bonds for each alien passenger arriving at this port, is directed to be paid to the health commis- sioner, Whose receipt thereof is made a discharge from the requirement of bonde from owners or con- | signees ‘The health commissioner is required to poy over, daily, the money 80 received to the city chamber- Jain, (a8 the treasurer of the fund,) with an account thereof. As @ compensation, in leu of fees and r centage, the Health Commissioner receives by jaw a salary of $3,500 per anaum, to be paid by the Commissioners of Emigration 'No other duty in regard to this matter ts expressly required of this officer by law ; though it may be a legal inference that he should take all the proper precautions and means needed to ensure the collection of the sum, for the receipt of which he is so liberally paid. During the twelvemonch a loss has occurred to the fund of $3,102 50, by reason of repeated aon- payments of commutation tor passengers who had arrived in several foreiga vessels, consigned to a house which has since become insolvent It therefore appears that the interveation of the Health Commissioner, oa a receiving officer at a jarge compensation, adds nothing to the certainty or efficiency of the collection. The other duties f the Health Commissioner relate to the general concerns of the public health, without any imme+ diate connection with the concerns of this com- tiission. It is therefore respectfully submitted, whether the rights and interests of the fund, collected for @ specific object, under strict constiutional rmhi- bition ag t its diversion to any other object, would not be consulted by releasing the Commis sicners of igration from the payment of this officer's calary, and authorizing, by law, the money paid for commutation to be received by some person apecialiy delegated by the ltoard, and onder their immediate inapeetion This duty could be safely assigned to some person cherged with other duties, with some ad- ditional compensation, 8o thi aving of m $3,000 might be made to this fund, now scarcely sufficient for its legitimate pu: 8. The Health Commissioner’s compensation for his other duties, not touching the concerns of this commission, should be paid from some other quarter. The greatly decreased proportion of patients at the Marine Hospital since the change of that establishment, from a general hospital for the re- ception of all who had paid hospital or commuta- tion money, to a quarantine establishment for infec- tious or contagious diseases, has led the Commis- sioners to the belief that some economical chauges malaps be made by law, without detriment to the pudhie service. . The number of the assistant physici is now fixed permanently at four throughout year, whilst the actual service for a considerable portion ot the year can be competently discharged by the chief, with two assistants. Such a modification of the law respecting the Marine Hospital might be made as to reduce the fixed number of assistants to two, with the au- thority to employ increased medical aid in case of emergency. It is also submitted, by a majority of the Com- missioners, whether a reduction may not be pro- ay made inthe salary of the physician of the ‘arine Hospital. EMIGRANT REFUGE AND HOSPITAL DEPARTMENT ON WARD'S ISLAND. After the new organization of the Quarantine Department at Staten Island, under the act of April 11, 1849, which restricted the reception of pa- tients into the Marine Hospital mainly to those afflicted with infectious or contagious diseases, the increase of medical and surgical patients at Ward’s Island, frequently amounting to one halt the num- ber of emigrants received there, required a corre- sponding increase in the medical service of the emigrant hospital on that island. This demand was at first met, as was stated in our last annual report, by the division of the duties of superinten- dent from the medical Sheree ane the appointment of a resident physician in chief, with such medical assistants as the number of patients from time to time mij render necessary. This system went into operation in June, 1849, and was continued above a year. But a majority of the commission- ers became gradually convinced that whatever might be the fidelity or ability with which it was administered, it could upply the efficient ser- vice required hy a ho: unsurpasse: aAumber, and in variety of cases, by any establishment in this country, containing not legs than six hundred patients, and generally from seven to nine hun- dred, reaeiring the aid of medical and surgical skill in every department of medical science. For asmall sanitary establishment, or in one specially devoted to any single class of maladies, such as insanity, or the diseases of the eye, the plan of a single head, it was admitted, had its advantages and efficiency. But they thought that the variety of diseases, and numerous patients under their charge demanded, ia order to receive the full be- nefit of the present advanced state of professional science, a variety of ability and experience, medi- cal, surgical, obstetrical, or relating to diseases of the eye or other organs, which have within the laet thirty years become separate branches of study, such skill as it is impossible to find combined in any one individual. The experience of several of the largest and best managed hospitals of New York, and other great cities, has shown that by appointing a cient number of practising physiclans aad surgeons to divide the Lr id hospital duties among them in rotation, without sacrificing or ey a their private practice, professional talent of a higher or- der in every branch, could be commanded for the service of the poor and destitute. The regular v.sits of such a body of practitioners, directing the practice in each case, or for the performance of surgical operations, aided by the constant attend- ance of younger but well educated physicians, constantly resident in the establishment, thus se- cure to the humblest class of patients, a degree of medical care and skill noways inferior to that bestowed on the most opulent patient. Such is the arrangement which has prevailed, with universal approbation, for more than fifty years in the New York hospital in this city, and which has been more recently introduced into the Bellevue hospital. A simular plan has for years been followed in the best institutions of this sort in Philade)phia and Boston, as well as in many of the largest and best geremned abit hospitals of Paris, London and Dublin. ‘When hospitals, thus managed, are situated in the midst of a great city, or its immediate vicinity, eo that the required attendance can be given b physicians without a serieus interference wit! their private practice, it is found, that the profes- sional standing given by connection with a great public institution, the experience there gained, and the facilities of public and private instruction afforded, render such places so desirable, that they are accepted and often eagerly sought for, without ws | direct pecuniary compensation. fter deliberate examination of the operation of this system in several institutions, the Commis- sioners determined to apply it to the Ward’s Island hospital. The order of visitation has been so arranged as to tp the attendance of atleast two Lo oy and one surgeon every day; the time spent by th em must of course vary according to the necessities of the case, but it has thus far been found that the length of time epent in these visits by the three on duty amounts to an average of about thirteen hours a day, or about four hours and a half each. Four house heey and two house surgeons, with a medical assistant to each, have also been appointed, who reside on the island and attend to the practice of the hospital, and the administration ines, under the direction of the visiting ns and surgeons. They receive no emolu- ment other than board and washing, being selected from the younger members of the profe: sion, being, however, graduates, and recommended to the Com- missioners by the medical board after examination. In addition to this arrangement for regular profes- sional eervices, the experience of other hospitals recommended the appointment of some consulting physicians and surgeons, gentlemen of the highest standing and experience, upon whom the Commis- sioners or the medical board might rely for advice J sie specially consulted. This was carried into eflect. The system as above described, went into, full operation on the Ist ba pe oma 1890, and so far as the experience of nearly five months can test it, the expectations fentertainedgby most of the Com- missioners have not been disappointed. ‘Lhe comparison of the returns of the last four months of 1850, with those of the same period in 1849, shows a decrease in the proportion of deaths of about one-sixth, there being no particular epi- demic prevailing at either period. Thia, however, may be the result of circumstances other than the change of system. A more satisfactory result has been presented to the Commissioners on the weekly visits of their committees and the occasion! visits of others of them, in the ma, improved appearance and service of the hospital warda, and particularly in t diminution of opthalmia, which afflicted the emigrant children, and the entire disappearance of its more ran form. In connection with the subject of hospital prac- tice, it is proper to add, that during the last autumn certain charges were made, in some city papera, in relation to post mortem examinations and dissec- tions. These were examined by a committee of this board, and afterw: by the grand jury. In the opinion of a majority of the committee, which was sustained by this board, these charges were either groundless or grosel) exaggerated, with the exception of one act of me of the younger medical stants. This was punished by the dismissal or suspension of the offenders. By an arrangement with the New York Hospital, pereons chargeable to this commission, taken ill in the night, or incapable from any sudden casualty of being removed from the city, are received at that institution, at the charge of the Commission- ere, for such ¢ as the nature of the case may demand ; all those who can be removed without d T, being sent to Ward's Island or the Marine Hospital without delay. By rrangement with the Governor's of the Alms House, the ineane emigrants chargeable to this fund are received and taken care of at the asy- Jum on Blackwell's Island. The carrying the Croton water acroes the broad and deep channe! which separates Ward's Island from Manhatten Island, has been completed, and the expense of the work, although large, has been amply compensated by the numerous advantages ot health and comfort which it affords. 101 MARINE HOSPITAL AT STATEN ISLAND. ‘This institution does{not for the past year, exhidit the same accumulation of patients as in former years. The unusual health of emigrants arriving durin the past year, in connection with the law ot 1848, which permit mission into this hospital of those persons who are only affected with contagious or infectious diseage, hi roduced this faverable re- eult portion of the summer the ve been closed, and the main edifices were alone required for the secom: modation of the sick. And the Commissioners be- = to indulge the hope that the latter would be enceforth sufficient tor their purposes. Since the expiration of last year, however, the number of pa- tients has increased from about 175 to more than 500, and all the hospitals are egain ia occupation. The Commissioner#respecttully refer the Levis: lature to their report of last year, under the head of Marine Moepital, in which ere poiated out nume+ rous defects in the Jaw regulating thia inetitution Once or twice during the past year these d.tecta nave produced difficulties in his hospital, at which the Commissione ould Hot but ferl much regret. The chief physician and bis assistants are a spoint- +d by the Governor and Senate for an unlimited erm, without any control being reserved by law over them, except during the eeaston of the Legislae ure, No matter what vegiect of duty may exist, or impropriety be committed, there 1@ 00 power re- eerved to suspend or dismiss after the adjourameat of the Legislature. phe is an gulealon sich, not su, me: cause of great evil. To the physician of the Marine Hospital is given the supermtendence and control of the sanitar; treatment of the patients; yet the assistant physi cians alone have the power of appointment dismissal of nurses and orderlies; a power which, in many casee, may materially interfere with, if utterly prevent, the intended control by the phy: cian in chief. _ ‘The third section of the laws of 1850 authorizes the commiesioners to take charge of the Property of infant emigrant orphans whose parents have died on the voyage or at the hospitals. Many adults die at this institution, leaving property of various value, from twenty-five cents upwards. The Jerge majo- rity, however, is of sums so small, that if obliged to pass through the haads of the public administra- tor they would be entirely consumed in paying rogate’s expenses and commussions of administra- tor. Considerable time also must elapse before he can settle his accounts and pay over balances, if apy, to next of kin. In the interim those who are entitled to the property and its avails have proceed- ed to other par's of the country, and the money be- longing to the poorest is thua fon from them and passes! into the city treasury. The Commissioners, therefore, suggest the propriety of conferring upon them the same power over the property of all emi- rants dying on the voyage or in this institution, as e over the property belongiug to in- issioners have caused preceediags to be taken for the recovery of the wharf and foend under water at Staten Island, long used by the Richmond tornpike company, and have every rea- son to expect a favorable result. The court of last resort has already decided the principle involved in the case. The wharf and ground are of great va- lue and importance to the Coinmissioners. INTELLIGENCE OFFICE AND LABOR EXCHANGE. The increasing number of persons demanding the aid and advice of the commission, and the widely extended knowledge of our arrangements for the disposal of laborers caused the present of- fice accommodation of the board to become so crowded with emigrants, laborers and employers, as to render additional accommodations necessary. Accerdingly, a large double building, No. 25 and 27 Canal street, was hired in December last for the purposes of an intelligence office and labor ex- change, at which place emigrants desiring work, and persons desiring laborers of any descriptioa, have ample opportunity of accomplishing their wishes, even with the limited means heretofore possessed, useful employment and means of self support have been procured for over 8,000 emigrants during the past year, through the agency of the commission, and with the additional facilities af- forded by the Canal street establishment, it is be- lieved that a still greater proportionate amount of service will be rendered to them, and to the agri- cultural, manufacturing and laboring interests of the country. It is highly desirable that the know- ledge of this branch of our operations should be as widely extended as possible; that el! emigrants who need labor, or laborers, may know where they can most certainly be provided, free of cost to either Lay have been established in this and ether States, through means of which farmers and others have been supplicd with laboring hands of both sexes, and it is intended to increase the number of such agencies as circumstances may from time to time require. 2 All of which is Feepecttally submitted. G. VERPLANCK, Sam Suir, r ot the City of Brooklyn. aA. R. Lawrence, Rosert B. Minturn, C.S. Woopnutn, Mayor of the City of New York. Joun E. Devewin, Avotrn Ropgewatp. ‘The Salt Springs of New York. The Superintendent of the Onondaga Salt Springs furnished his regular annual report to the Legislature, afew days since. It is quite a long document, and the details which 1t comprises, would take more space than we can give. We, therefore, give a synopeis of its contents :— The whole quantity of salt manufactured and in- spected in the city of Syracuse, and the villages of Liverpool and Geddes, in the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1350, is as follows :— Salina. Coarse salt. Fine salt Ground, or dai 9,175,711 Coarse salt. Fine salt... Ground, or dairy salt. Total at Syracuse.......+.++ 1,184,928 Lwi Coarse salt. Fine salt..... Ground, or dairy salt + 26,718 « 232, Ground, or dairy Total at Geddes. Amount of bushels inspected in the year The whole amount of revenue received by the Superintendent,during the year, is as follows, viz:— Duties on 4,265,919 bushels of salt, at 1 cent per bushel $42,689 19 250,448 Received for rent 103 00 Recording lease 200 Penalties, old logs, &c 30 00 Total revenue from all sources. ..... $42,824 19 for penalties, Pepieo 00 There is due the State rents, and property sold . Likewise a judgment obtained Dec. 26, 1850, against the es- tate of John Jacob Mang, for property sold pureuant to act of 1829..... Of the money r deposited to the credit of the State Pet. riry in = rane of vy nt © + $23,245 43 yer ed in Onondaga County Bank, for uti « 4,413 62 Paid bounty on salt, (chap. 184, art. 3, sec. 2, Laws of 1843)... $42,689 19 Deposited for rents, penalties, propert: sold, &e. Total am’t of deposits from all sources, including bounty paid on salt, as above.¢42,824 19 The quantity of salt inspected daring the past year, a8 compared with the year previous, shows a diminution of 814,450 bushels. The principal cause may be attributed to the unusually large amount manufactured the previous year. The markets on the lakes being overstocked, required but little, until the first of August; and the importation of foreign salt for the year 1849 exceeded that of any former year by 307,978 bushels. During a period of twenty years, there has been manufactured at the Onondaga salt springs 59,635- 228 bushels of salt, on which the sum of $3,005,222 25, in duties, has been collected, and paid into the treasury of the State; a sum over all expenses incurred by the sinking of wells, erecting build- mgs, machinery, paying officers’ salaries, &c., of about $2,467,022 10. ‘The Superintendent contradicts. the rumor that the salt springs are his report, ng. Report of the Trustees of the AstoF Library. We have received a copy of the second annual report of the Trustees of the Astor Library in thi city, and extract from it the following items of in- telligence, which we have no doubt will be read with interest by the public :— The volumes belonging to the library now num- ber 28,364, bound in 027 distinct volumes or boeks, the cost of which, including binding, ex- ceeds thirty-five thousand dollars. As the pro- grees which has been made in the construction of the library edifice justifies the assurance that it will be completed by the first of April, 1852, the time limited by the contract, the trustees have made arrangements to send their superintendent, Mr. Cogeweil, to Europe a eecond time with a view to further and more extensive purchases. He will sail at an eatly day, in order that the object of his misvion may be accomplished daring the ensuin, summer, and time may be left for importing, biod- ing and arranging the books at the completion of the new building in the spring of 1852. The trua- tees hope to be able, ia the summer of that year, to open the library to the public, with at least fill thoveand volumes. In the meantime every faci« lity, which it is in thei¢ power to afford, with their present accommodatione, is extended to all who resort to the library in the pursuit of liverary or ecientific researches. The walls of the library edifice ate now com- pleted and in readiness to receive the roof. In con- sequence of the illness of the architec’, and @ change which the trustees thought it advisable to make in the material for coveriog the roof, a de- lay of a few weeks has taken place; but the other portions of the work have been as regularly ia pr grees as the season would allow with safety to f cuilding, considering its dimensions by 120 jn depth, and »bout 70 in height from t foundation to the reof—the progress of the work bas been ae rapid as was admiasible. There ts every teasonable ground of assurance that the library will be open to the public ia the saaaer of 1862, with #very facility for the books it cu.ntains. The whole a."ount of receipts from all sources during the last yoar was $274,519 41. Of this amount $8,273 42 were ¢xpended for books. The total amount of expexditures and investments during the same period was $272,858 1 & convenient use of Ventilation an pg Of Public Bulldings. TAE LECTURE OF DR. WATSON. On Saturday last, Dr. Watson, of the New York Hospital, delivered a discourse on the above aub. ject in the theatre of the hospital. A large namber of the medical profession and of medical students were present, as were also some of our most res- pectable citizens belonging to ether professions. He began by stating that the improvements in the hospital were commenced in May last, and have been in active progress ever since, and the new ar- rangements were so far complete as to allow the wards in every part of the building to be again open for the accommodation of the sick. It was, he said, thought advisable to invite the attention of the public towards them in their present state of renovation, and to solicit a careful inspection of them by the medical profession. Under this view, the executive commuttee of the Board of Gover- nors, who have been more immediate)y instrumen- tal in bringing about the present changes, and the physicians and surgeons of the institution, by whose advice and recommendation they were commenced, have solicited the favor of your at tendance on the present occasion, and have in- structed me to present to you a summary account of the improvements, and of the reasons and cir- cumstances which have led to them. The health and comfort of domestic life are intimately con- nected with the abundant and unfailing supply of pure and gemial air. To furnish this as far as pos- sible free from accompanying annoyances, is a pro- blem which of late has,excited much thought and ingenuity. The great fact developed the Hygeianic relations of the atmosphere within the past few years is, that the sources of indoor contamination are more abundant, more difficult of removal, and more deleterious in various ways than had been previous- y ag tebe or suspected. The words of ount Rumford, uatil recently a great authority, are in proof of this. As long, says he, ae fire is kept up in a room and there 1s a considerable cur- rent in the chimney, notwithstanding all the reduc- tion that can be made in the size of its throat, the change of ais will be quite sufficient for keeping the room sweet and wholesome ; and even in rooms in which there is no draught from the free space directly into the chimney, as in those heated by German stoves, and where the windows and doors are double and closed in the most exact manner possible by strips of pasted paper or of list or far along the crevices, yet when those rooms are tole- rably large, and not very much crowded nor filled with burning lampe and candles, the air in them is seldom so much injured as to become unwhole- some. In reference to such disregard of thorough air, 1t is well remarked by a respectable authority, Mr. Barnen, that we instinctively shun approach to the dirty—the squalid—the diseased. e shun the garment that may have been worn by another ; we open sewers for matters offensive to the sight and smell; we carefully remove impurities from what we eat and drink ; we filter turbid water, and fastidiously avoid drinking from a cup that may have been passed to the lips of a friend; yet, on the other hand, we resort to places of assembly, and draw into our mouths air leaded with eflluvia from the lungs, and from steam, and the clothing of every individual in the promiscuous crowd; exhala- tions offensive to a certain extent even from healtby individuals, but when has fron a living mass of skin and lung in all stages of evaporation, disease and putridity, and prevented by wails and ceiling from escaping, is in the highest degree deleterious and loathsome. Estimating the pulmonary and cutaneous exhala- tions at 40 oz. daily, for every healthy individual, end the monthly accumulations of a family of ten rsons, in one of our close ill-ventilated city ouses, where the inmates are confined not more than half the time, at about 500 lbs., noTincon- siderable portion of which consists of animal mat- ter which cannot long remain suspended in the , and which must, in consequence, be precipitated and allowed to decompose in the apartment, and we have suflicient materials to account for the frequent generation of typhus fever Apply the same reasoning to the wards of our hospitals, the inmates of which are confined to their apartments, both ne and day, with their exhalations, at the time of evolution already approaching a state of putrefaction, and the quantity of animal matter contained in these out of all proportion greater than that of the healthy, and we have some data from which to estimate the agencies continuall work for the propagation of typhus, dysentry, ¢ grene, and other diseases; not to speak of other nameless but not unknown peculiarities of diseased action which render the treatment of hospital pa- tients so difficult, tneir vital force so languid, ana their chances of recovery from disease, which, under more favorable circumstances, would be looked for as a matter of course, so deceptive and precarious. Like breeds like, is a law in pathology as well as in animated nature—a law recognizable in all the negative processes , and, at least, sometimes out of it. For all the changes occurring in what is usnally culled effete matter, are not in atrict subservience to the sunple laws of inorganic chemistry. Doctor Watson then ex- plained the law of propagation, that 18, the laws by which disease is pro; ted; and went on to say, that the class of di to which that law is universally admitted to apply, 1s comparativel; small. Inthe simple process of what calle healthy inflammation, we can see the tendency to propagation from surface to surface. We see it in the contaminating touch of the lip in the diffusion of furunculi; in the progress of tubercle in the corroding ulcer, and in the multiplication of carbuncles ; as well as in the ex- tension of typhus, etc. After some further remarks on the subject of propagation, he said it was found that filthy clothing and foul rooms propagate disease in every way identical with such as origi- nate from internal causes. The study, says he, of this primary law of organic developement is never to be overlooked, by the inquirer into the hidden causes of disease. Applying it to the exhalations of the living body, he 1s, at least, in part prepared to resolve some of thove questions which formerly confounded, and whichf still continue to bafile, the judgment and sagacity of the most acute and as- siduous observers. Thus far directed by it, it has furnished most of the suggestion which, of late years, have led to so much improvement in the comforts and amenities of social life, and, amoag to the creation of what has now become a new science—thermal ventilation. After remarking that the art of purifying in-door air has been greatly improved within the past few years, he fgave a brief history of ventilation in all ages, and particularly as it was known to the Romans. He showed that almost every app!iance, now ia use for heating and airing dwellings, were employed for the same purpose, and with very little moditica- tion, for centuries, and some of them since the earliest times. From these facts, he said, it is clear, not only that the instruments and appliances now in use for thermal ventilation are not of recent date, but that they bad, long ago, been occasionally employed for that purpose. He thea gave a brief history of the New York Hospital. The main building was, be said, commenced eighty years ego, by Mr. John Jones, a surgeon of great reputa- tion in this city about the middie of the jast century, and the author of the first medical work ever pu lished in the country. The hos; was construct- ed after plans prepared under bis supervision, and has been sixty ye in constant use as an hos pital. Taning its original plan in connection with the elevated site of the buildings, en the brow of a hill overlooking a level space o: hundred yards lying between it and the banks of the Hudson river, and with its rural, or, at least, subur- ban, exposure, it will be perceived that at the risk ‘iating the air by the escape of gasses from res; and by eB the furnaces f. ond the wails of the building, it guards more effectu- ally against the admission of dust and dirt than any other appnerhs. The committee having satis- fied themselves of the advantages of this system, they submitted plans and drawings of it to the Board of Governors, and it was finally adopted. The following is a short description of the mode in which the hospital 1s at present ventilated. Two perpeudicular shafts, each about 15 feet high and 4} feet wide, internally, are in the open green at the north—the other, in the corresponding green at the south of the building, each at the distance of 30 feet from it, bave been erected and made to communicate beneath, with the uader ground air- ducts of the same eapacity each, passing in a direct line onward from the upright shaft towards the centre of the basement ha: 1, and beneath it to within a few feet of the points at which the re- spective wings meet the central portion of the building—each of those underground air-duets, in its passage underneath the hall, gives off four laterially ascending branches, which open into a corresponding number of air chambera in the base- ment winge, the united capacity of the ascending branches being still equal to that of the main air- duct, and both of them opening into its respective air chamber through the floor. In supplying pure air to the centre of the house, three appertures are provided pear the basement windows, one oa either side of the front entrance, and one at the corres- ponding point in the rear; the air ig introduce d through them in such a way as to become some- what tempered before reaching the three air cham- bers in the basement under the centre part of the house into which they open near the floor. From the 11 air chambers, 4 for each wing, and 3 for the centre, the air is conducted upwards by ascending flues, all terminating near the floor of the re: tive apartments to which they lead, and retainin, the united capacity equal to that of the external openings. fase soe The Clipper Ships of New York, &, TO THE EDITOK OF THE HERALD. The readers of the Her a/d, parucularly that class of our citizens whose ‘home is on the deep,”? mus have been very much gratilied of late in the peru sal of the articles that have appeared in commen- dation and eulogy of the sharp and beautiful ves- sela that have so recently arrived at and de; from the port of New York. No less have their feel ngs been warmly enlisted in favor of such of the “trace horse” fleet as have been, and are to be, committed to their appropriate element from the shipyards of the commercial metropolis and other ports of the United States. No one has ever doubt- ed or denied that Brother Jonathan is a fast speci- men of the genus homo, a remarkably persevering and indomitable ‘go ahead” sort of a person, and a very successful one too, im the accomplishment of anything he takes into hishead. It matters litte what he undertakes te do, what its cost, magnitude, or the difficulties to be encountered and overcome; these are no bar to his progrees, no check to the impetus of his resistless energy, which knows not the word impossible, if he only takes the notion. True perfection may not be reached at the first trial, perhaps not for several or many succeedirg ones, but it is attained at last; when, With a sawci- ness peculiar to the confidence of his own ability, he invites opposition, and defies the world. Jt bas been a matier of notoriety, that for several centuries Great Britain has claimed that she was “mistress of the seas.” Without stopping to in- quire into the merits of her pretensions, or feeling [Eo slightest wish to disturb her convictions upon this ve important assumption, it may neverthe- | henceforth, Britannia must follow in the wake of Jonathan’s clipper fleet. Those who read the newspapers with attention, cannot have failed to observe, that the recent ar- rival of the American clipper ship Oriental in the Thames, after a passage of 93 days from Hong | Kong, China, has created no little sensation among | the merchants and shipbuilders of Queen Vietoria’s | dominions. And it is not at all to be wendered at, | thet they should be in no smal! degree startled by the appearance of so beautiful and swift a sailing specimen of manne architecture. We know that she was visited by great numbers of the people, and very keenly examined by such of them as pro- fessed to comprehend the symmetry of her propor- tions, and thus to understand how desirable it would be to dispute her superiority in any way. Conzequent!y, in the usi uff style of mother Bull, an English shipbuilder has boldly declared, that if a carte blanche be but given him, he will construct a ship that shall ** flog” the Orental, in all weathers, and on every pount of sailing. e don’t admire the choice of the word * flog,” be- cause it not only sounds harsh in Jonathan's ears, but acts a very decided provocative upon his sen- sibilities, jin determining him to say, in reply—* 1 LLL Russe,.' and the Game the Eclipse and the Sea Serp."™ the Stag Hi and the Gazelle, or any other ty,”° OF more of them, enter the lists fora fair trial of spe.©4, before entering into the race conteroplaiost by the clipper pH of Ei and America. Navy. Feb. 7, 1851. The Wreek of the Oivarles Wharton. a4 Lin THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. th In looking ove: of the instant, there i ¢ above ion, with statements which, although true in the main, are decidedly false with Tenet to the U. 8. revenue cutter Jackson. It states that ‘the of ficers of the U. S. revenue cutter Jackson, at that time at anchor in shore, witnessed the scene, but would not venture to their rescue.” As I hap- pened to be on board the Charles Wharton, in the capacity of acting quarter-master sergeant, at the time, Iam happy to have it in my power to refute the pagenencue ones brought agatast the officers of the Jackson. When we went ashore oa Muller Key the weather was d, although there was a stiff breese blowing, and something ot a swell, o' to the shoal water in which our ship | ‘ap‘ain Rodgers, who, by the way, is a very »! tul officer, went to work immediately to relieve the ship ; one of the anchors was carried out astern some two hundred fathoms, and after throwing abouta hundred barrels of sourcrout and other Stores overboard to lighten her, he tried to heave her off; but she was hard and fast, every swell set- ting her further on the reef. It was then (about 81x o'clock in the afterneon,) that a signal was set and minute guns fired for relief. No relief came, however, that night; but at daylight the mext mora- one of the boats from the Jackson was seen pulling directly through the breakers fer us, to the Imminent peril of those in the boat. As soon as the officer boarded us and ascertained our situa- tion, he cheerfully offered Captain Rodgers, in be- halt of all on board the Jackson, whatever aid it wasin their power to give us. More than one- our men were sent on board the cutter, and the next day we were safely landed upon Eggmonat Key, from whence we were taken by steamboat to Tampa Bay. While we remained on board the Jackson we shared alike with her crew the rations issued to them, the officers doing all in their power to render us comfortable. ‘he claim made by Captain Smith, of the Coasting Trader, is very just, as his vessel was detained several days, and no doubt lost a great portion of her cargo. "But, sir, have we not, aleo, who were soldiers employed in the service of the United States, an equal claim on the prem for losses sustained by wreck of the Charles Wharton, whereby we were deprived of all we had save what we stoed in? At Cape Sable, where we built a large fortification under the immediate supervision of Surgeon Ge- neral Thomas Lawson, he promised us repeated! that we should be remunerated for our loeves, an that he would use his influence to attain that end. Letters have been written to members of Congress to aid us in this measure, but to noefiect. As your paper says, like other and similar cases, it still remains undone. W.D.W The Enterprise of the Atiantic Cities, (From the New Orleans Bulletin, Jan 25 ‘We notice in several of the Atlantic cities, demon- strations of an enterprising spirit, which augur not merely a growing energy and disposition for acce- lerating urogrese and improvement, but a gratifying condition cf increased and increasing prosperity. The Philadelphians, a few days since, had a grand jubilee on the occasion of the arrival of the pro- peller steamer City of Glasgow, which is the first less be hinted, with as much delicacy astruth, that | of a regular line of steampackets that are to ply the master is greater than the mistrees, and that, | between Liverpool and Philadelphia. Anecquatic excursion in a fleet of steamboats, gaudily dreased up with flaunting streamers, freighted with the talent and beauty of the city, to welcome the ship some distance below the city, was the preliminary part of the programme. Thencame an interchan; of courtesies, the firing of salutes, the reciprocity of greetings and gratulations, all gracefully termi nating in a bounteous and refreshing entertau ment on board of one of the escorting steamboats. In reading the detailed account ef this spirited and graceful ovation, our attention was arrested by ome or two facts ineidentally alluded to by the speakers, and which, in all probability, were not thought de serving of any consideration on the part of the auditors. In mentioning the embarkation of the guests in one of the steamers, an allusion was made to the difficulty she encounted in making her way through the ice in the Delaware river; and Capt. Matthews, of the City of Glasgow, in acknowledging a complimentary toa: he had been obliged to go four hundre: of his course, owing to the weather incident to the northern coast at this season of the year. We, who live in this genial lautude, may he better able to appreciate the energy and enterprise of the authors of this undertaking, in the face of such un- should hke to see you try it.” The opportunity may be aflorded this confident shipbuilder of test- ing his skill in the ecience of naval architecture much sooner than he contemplated ; nor will our architects shrink from the contest, though all Eu- roe were to throw down the gauntlet of defiance. e have always looked upon a fine ship with feelings of the strongest adnuration, and well re- member the delight experienced in our younger days, in repeatedly examining with more than or- dinary interest, every clipper ship that came into the harbor of Charlestoa, 8. C. The first in our memory was the Charles und Henry, a small Am- sterdam trader, not more than 300 tous, but very sharp and symmetrical, and a very fast sailer. ‘There then sppeared three of the prettiest British clippers that we have ever beheld, the Vorsair, Marmion, and Lalla Rookh, each abovt 100 tons, and all of them uncommonly handsome vessels. Losing sight of these, we cannot recollect seeing another real clipper ship, until some few years ago, the Ann McKim, of Baltuumore, was pointed out to us. There then appeared the Montauk, Houqua, a Witch, and iiainbow, and, about three years ago, the Memon, and, Samuel Kussell. Arriving in the harbor of San Francisco, in Sept., 1819, we there saw the Architect, Grey Eagle, | and Greyhound, all of Baltimore, each between 500 and 600 tons burthen, and each having the peculiar are arance of the sharp veasels built in that city. hese three ships may be regarded as the pioneers of the California and East Todie fleet, now num- bering neer 30 ships, sll of the sharpest build, and particularly constructed for very swift progress through the wat Within the year, and very recently, there have been launched from the ship yards of New- York, Bosion, bPorternouth, We, some of the largeet and most maguiticent clipper ships that have ever floated on salt water. These are, the Alert, Eclipse, Eternal, Celestial, Gazelle, White Squall, Black Squall, Stag Hound, Mandana, Witchcraft, Sea Serpent, Sea Nymph, Surprise, Game Cock, Ino, and Reindeer; and, to be launched, the Fly- ing Cloud, Joseph Bell, Racer, and several more not yet nemed. Differing in size from 800 to 1,800 tons burthen, these are, without exception, a most extraordinary collection of vessels. [u tnetr con- ers is 20 to mould them, a to secure the great es- | sential of fast sailing. How this quality is best | secured, becomes, however, an opea question, | when we find their models so essential! different. | Varying in length, breadth, depth, and other pro- portion, no two of them present any striking re- semblance, except it be in sharpness fore and @ and in this respect they all agree, though in the water line, from the fore channe|s to the stera, is straight, in others convex, but in most of them concave. Why any seagoing veseel should be constructed with this hollow bow, at all, is a ques tion not easily answered; at all events, we have no partiality for it, and do not believe it to be the best form forepeed. Straight, or slightly convex lines | are, in our judgmeht, much to be preferred; for a longer floor is thus more certainly secured, and the | water divided with a less momentum of resistance. Of the entire number of theee clippers, which of them shall experience prove to be the at sailer, “on a bowline,” or freet Here we have ee tion of the deepest interest to their owners, build- ers, and commanders. It is not atall likely that every one of there will e up to the expectations formed, either of her stability or swiftaess; for, in- date of its erection it must have been well provided with all the requisites for aececpening a thorough system of what is now technically called spoutane ous or natural ventilation. fits situation, | had said, wa suburban; the ground near the centre o h the building now stands, for some time after the commencement of the present century, wi t a considerable distance beyond the northern limits of the city ; che ground to the south of it, as far as Murray stree 3 lying in open fields. A gentle- man now officiating among our governors, looking from the rear of his owa house in Murray street, remembers to have witnessed the attack of the populace upon the south wing of the building during the memorable riot known in the history of the city as the “doctor's mob.” In the year 172, Dr. Tillary, after officiating about a month as one of the attending physicians, sent in his resignation, alleging as an excuse, that the institution was too far out of town. The lecturer then went on to de- scribe the various modern improvements intro- duced into hospitals, public buildiags, and on ship board, both in this country and in Europe, and the various periods at which they were introduced. He then said that a committee was appointed who were erdered to visit Boston and Philadelphia, and other cities, to enquire into the practical applica- tion of such sanitary arrangements as had recently been introduced into the public institutions of those cities. The committee made two reports, and they recommended the new system ot heating by steam, as practiaed in all the public establishments they had visited It is, any they in their report, capable of being managed with perfect safety ; it is more efficient large buildings than the eimple hot ter; it obviates the necessity of numero: ces in different parts of the basement; it ean be brovght into fall operation with much greater speed than the hot water apparatus; it can be twrned ty a great variety of ages, as in aid of ventilation, in the beating of water for bitha, for cooking, and for the uses of laundry {een be worked woh mach leas Vand exp aitet the first outlay for fixtures, aad with dependent of the ferm of the hull, a great deal de- nds vpon masting, stowage, trim, and the skilful andling of the vesse!. | Theory has done much for shi; building, but it | will do a vast deal more, if founded on the basis of experiment and observation. But how shall the test be applied in demonstrating the each of theee clipper ehips named in this acticle ? We presume that each of their captains fail not to try their craft “* by the wind, or free,” ia all kinds of weather; nay, that oa press them with as much Canvaes us they w bear, to force them threugh the water with a maximum velocity. Nor will the trial be without its value; but it fails in determining the relative qualities of each ship, by 4 comparison of her swiftness and stability with other ships, at the same time and under the same circumstances. And such is the trial we should like to see made, in proof of the superiority of one form over another for swift sailing, and by which it can be determined that one form or model com- bines the greater number of essential qualit It 1s by experimental cruises only that the respective merits of these clippers can be satisfactorily ascer- tained. It is by such cruives that the valuable ex- perience of the captain and his officers is made of areat interest to the constructor, in noting the good and bad qualities of their ship, as these may de- pend on trim, ballast, siila, the disposition of masts ond yerde, &c., for they may and do affect her sail- It may be fairly assumed that the builder of each one of the clipper fleet made swiftness the first essential in bis design or model. Yet some of these ships will very much outsail others, were they tried together as we suggest. Let them be tried, then, by sending two or more to sea on an exper mental cruise ota week. We shall in this wa: soon find out the best mould for passir through the water ewiftly, as faras this depends upon the form at all, and not es it too often does upon the tremendous pressure of a too great quantity of can- vase. All things bring equal, there are thousands who would like to eve such ships a# the Samuel struction, we doubt not, the design of their ouild- | | steamship, the Alsbama, whi | constitutes a weekly line of communication with favorable natural obstacles Philadelphia is deter- mined to have a direct line of steam communica- tion with England. She is sure of success, for the mercantile portion of the community are united in the couse, and we have observed, that when in- telligent and weelthy merchants take hold of a work in right good earnest, it is sure to succeed. An earnest wae given of the spirit which ani- mated the assembly, When it was proposed at the al board that a subscription paper should be passed around to the guests; the proposition was promptly met, and the liberal sum of $41,000 was at once subscribed, sufficient to lay the keel of the lof the line. Such feasts and fetes heable evidence of a generous, genial spirit of patr.otism, as well as of true sagacity and practical wisdom. About the same time that the people of the city of brotherly love were feasting themselves in com- memoration of the inception of their spirited under- taking of establishing a direct line of steamers be- tween their port and Liverpool, we notice the go- ehead citizens of Savannah were celebrating, the hke appropriate manner, the advent of cond of their splendid line of steamers, connecting them in sixty hours’ time with New York. The Savannah papers give a most appetizing account of the feast of fat things set berore a large assemblage of ladies and gentlemea, iy the line in that city, Mesers. spirited agents of the Padelford, Fay & Co , on the arrival of their new with the Florida, New York. These two steamers are about twelve or thirteen hundred tons burden, and can carg two hundred cabin passengers each. Tn all the re- quisites of strength and architectural proportions and fitness well as those of comport aod ele- gance, the petb ships ere far superior to their predecessors, the Cherokee and Tennessee From | New Orleans to Macon, and thence to Savanaa’, is a favorite route of travel north with our citizens, inermuch as the chenge from railways to steam- ships furnish a pleasing variety, and a relief from the fatigues of a long land route The citizens of Savannah may be well proud of their noble sieamehips, and their example of eater> rise and public spirit is deserving Of ail praise imitation. With a population of less than twenty thousend, they have accomplished more to advance the proeperity of their city then many cities we wot of with ten times their population and commerce. Unnided by State patronage, or with capital out of the State, pon built one of the longest and best appointed railroads in the United States, being, with the exception ef the Erie road, the longest road in the country under the goverament of one end for yeare they have had a line of alf of which are owned in their owm that are not excelled by steamers of their ein the world. harleston furnishes another striking evidence of this spirit of enterprise and progress, which is so generally animating ell the Atlantic cies. Ea- grossed as are the people ot South Carolia, and as they have been, since 1882, in their own peculiar politics, they have not neglected the inte rest of their seaport. ‘e will, en passant, instance as proof of this devotion to the interest of their metropolis, these two facts:—The interior of Caroliaa is counected arleston by 271 miles of railroad, and m 18 connected, outwardly, bv lines of ips, with New York, Philadelphia (or was short time since), Wilmington and Savannah, and will be in a few months, as we have already taken occasion to notice, with Liverpool Charleston is the Mecca of every Carolinian; if e does not, as a part of his religion, turn his face towards it in his devotion, it is the first and absore- ing olyect of bis love and pride. This 1s @ wo! trait ina Carobnian; we may abhor his polities, ut we must honor and respect lis love for hie State. It is a principle (for with every citizen of South Carolina, the attachment to his State ia net an evanescent pase but a prine ) deserving all praise and imitation, It is, moreover, a prin- ciple that often checks us when we feel dis posed to Comment with harshness upon the extra- vegunt, ideal, ond fallacious views, which have ob- secured the judgment of their public men, and ted them to the commission of many follies, upon the question of their federal relations. Carolina ia feetions and revolutionizing, and yet we fally be« leve thet she will never be down to the extremit of ceparating from her sister States, for she well knows, mongre all the declarations of her politi- cians, that secession will involve her in irretriev- ableruin. But, however this may be, should she pureve the foolish part, and eut loose from the Union, she will adopt thie extreme measure from the convictions that the honor and interest of the State demand the eacrifice. Sueh State pride and devotion “cover a multituae of sins.” It ie a work of supererogation for us to deduce a moral from these evidences of enterprise and pro- arrss Which are daily furaished by the Atlantic cities. We are forced to the humiliating confee sion that we ere derelict, and fall far short of owr duty; that we have kep je, not the one, bat the ts a munificent Providence has bestow- many tel ed upon If we mean to redeem our town, we muet @upand enter, too, in this race of pro~ gress, in which all are taking a p st take good care that we commence at oner; that we do not repose as laggards im the lop of ease and self eecurily, uatil we are shorn of our strength.