The New York Herald Newspaper, January 22, 1853, Page 4

a NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR AND EDITOR, @UFIOE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. Woedmme KVUM...... 2.0.20... ce ccec eee eeee No. 21. WHITE'S THEATRE OF VARIETIES, 17 and 19 — ‘VWamet Heart Never Won Fark Lapy—Boors at THs SWAN | —Msecumr Maxina. AMERICAN MUSEUM—aAfterncon—Marp oF MuNsTaR— —o My Tuuas. Evening—Swiss Swans—Hor 0’ MB, CIRCUS, 37 Bowery—EQuestRiAN ENTERTAINMENTS, ELLER’S SALOON, 539 Broadway—NercRomANcr. @PORAMA, 586 Broadway—Banvakp’s PANORAMA OF THE Bow Lanp. RISLEY’S THAMES, at 406 Broadway- DOUBLE SHEET. New York, Saturday, January 22, 1853. Malls for Europe. THE NEW YORK WEEKLY HERALD. ‘The Collins steamship Pacific, Captain Nye, will leave this port at noon to-day, for Liverpool. Subscriptions and advertisements for any edition of the New York Hera, will be received at the following Places in Europe BR Sandford & Co., London. William Thomas & Co., 19 and 21 Catherine street. Livingston, Wells & Co., Paris. B. H. Revoil, 17 Rue de la Banque. The European mails will close, in this city, at a quarter before eleven o'clock this morning. The Weexty Heratp | ‘will be published at half past nine o'clock. Single copies, in wrappers, cf By the arrival of the Cunard steamer Europa, at Halifax, we have a comflete synopsis of one week's later advices from all parts of Europe. The political pews by this arrival is of little importance, though ‘the general intelligence will be found quite interest- img. We are informed of the loss of some fifty lives by the burning of the packet ship St. George, on the ‘24th ult. She left Liverpool for this port just one | month previous to the awful calamity, with one hun- | dred and twenty-seven emigrants and a crew of twenty-five men. When those on board the ill-fated vessel had given up all hope of succor, the ship Orlando hove in sight, and after great difficulty succeeded in rescuing seventy-six passengers and the crew, shortly after which the St. G. went down. The 0. proceeded | to Havre, where subscriptions were raised for the | benefit of the unfortunate. We are also advised of the loss of the ship Lady of the West, which sailed from Bristol for New Orleans on the 23d ult. The eaptain and crew were compelled to abandon her. They were picked up in the long boat, and taken into Falmouth. Accounts of damage experienced by the shipping, during the recent gale, continued to be re- eeived, but we do not find the names of any more _ American vessels reported as having met with disas- ter. Mr. Ingersoll, the successor of Mr. Lawrence, as Minister to England, has been feted at Liverpool and Manchester. The elections for members of Parlia- | ment, in place of those who have been selected for the ministry, were engrossing the attention of the English politicians. It is hinted that Lord John Russell is to give place to Lord Clarendon in the Foreign Office. Lola Montez’ husband, Mr. Heald, was not drowned, as report recently had it. Things were progressing quietly in France. The Emperor Napoleon was occupying his time in making his household appointments, and attending to the | credentials of the ambassadors from different coun- | tries. All the Northern powers have recognized his | new form of government. There appears to have been some pretty severe fighting between the Turks and the disaffected Montenegrines. During the late skirmishing, the former represent that six hundred of their number were slain, but how many men their adversaries lost had not been ascertained. The commercial reports from Liverpool are of vather an unfavorable character to American dealers. Cotton and breadstuffs were extremely dull, and a farther decline in prices was anticipated. ‘The steamship Cherokee arrived yesterday, with tate and very important intelligence from Cuba, Hon- | duras and the South Pa: On reference to the details, in another column, it will be seen that there are indications that there will soon be stirring times | in those regions. Great Britain is likely to have trouble with this government concerning her operations | in Honduras, and with Spain in regard to the slave | trade and the connection of the Cuban authorities therewith. From Chili we are informed that much nent exists in consequence of the imprison- ment of an American citizen without just provoca- tion. Matters are said to have arrived at such a erisis that a blockade of the port of Valparaiso by the United States jron had been threatened. Later accounts ooked for with anxiety. Ve. rily, these are st times No business of in the United Sta’ number of private one to compensate ¢} Carolina, whose prope tish army during the revolutionary w of the Committee on Foreign Relations relative to | the Tehuantepec grants by the Mexican government and the rights of American citizens connected there- with, was made the special order for next Tuesday week. Among the petitions presented were two from the free farm advocates of this State, praying for the abolishment of the ‘ster of selling lands, and the enactment of a | rcelling out the public domain to actual settlers. After some opposition on limportance was transacted ate yesterday. A large were passed among them eirs of Major Wigg, of South as destroyed by the Bri The report w the part of Mr. Fitzpatrick, the successor of the Vice Senate went into executive m with re President elect, the session, but came nent of M na distri card to the ry spirite came off in the He the motion ved from the the which ssident on the day pr: The r ; portant matter. re the public, cor ed out, in a dent ave to re-c mes ions ered to be 7 a het had leak indiscretion of Pres Deu ful effort was made to cries « yder that the document amine wssion, after which it was resolved the mesanie st » read for the edification of tt preset, Hi were bent for NX manifested w a ny o the extras ordinary poper wi I b the ca o wch great commotion ¢ suspense ‘al t xtreme. Well, the do wa vd found to be nothing more than a mer wnt of the at are in pro. ‘ pain he adju e claims of the owners 3 of the k Geor-. jana and t usan Le ple wert id and confiscated by | Besi Spanish wuthorities shortly after the unfortunate expedition of Lopes to | Arrival of the Cherekeo—Startling News frem | Important Oubs. After some merriment the House followed ‘the example of the Senate, by adjourning till By reference to the despa'ch from our Concord correspondent, it will be seen that politicians are stil! flocking to that place from all directions. The crisis with regard to the Cabinet is fast approaching, al- though it is not known upon whom Gen. Pierce has decided for his advisers, and nobody ventures to bet on asingle member. Gen. Pierce seems determined to keep his owif counsel. Like the late Gen. Jack- son, he is sometimes obstin te, and will doubtless have his own way, in spite of cliques and factions. Occupants of the anxious seats must keep cool, and wait till the 4th of March with patience. There will then be a general sweep among the whig office holders. Those who write letters from Washington, particularly, should not allow themselves to become unduly excited just yet. It will be time to threaten Gen. Pierce after the ides of March. The chances of New York having a place in the cabinet are not so good as they were a week ago. Our politicians are, just now, following up Gen. Pierce very jealously. Something less than twenty, within the past three days, have been to see the General. He remains tranquil, but he may yet turn a cold shoulder to the | Empire State altogether. | There is a rumor current at Fayetteville, N. C., on which is placed considerable reliance, that the Hon. James C. Dobbin has received a letter from General Pierce, offering him a seat in his cabinet. A Washington correspondent writes that the pros- pects are favorable for the passage of a bill granting permission to the Pacific Telegraphic Company to erect a line in accordance with the propositions of Messrs. Alden and Eddy, the details of whose plan | were published in last Monday's HeraLp. The pro- jectors pledge themselves to have the line in opera- tion to San Francisco, within eighteen months after the passage of the bill. This would enable the in- habitants of the Atlantic States to correspond with their friends in California with the same despatch | that they now do with those in Pittsburg, Cincinnati, | or St. Louis. The commencement of such an immense | | work seems to be a wonderful undertaking, and one that would appal almost any other than the American people, who have demonstrated the fact that they are able to encouuter and accomplish wonders. Progress is their motto. Quite an interesting scene took place in the As- sembly chamber at Albany, yesterday. A delega- tion of ladies, with a petition signed by twenty-eight thousand of their sex in favor of the Maine law, ap- peared at the bar, and one of their number addressed the members of the august body. Our Staterepresen- tatives having listened to the fair anti-liquor represen- tutives with becoming gallantry, soon after entered | into a very spirited debate upon the canal enlarge- ment question, which at present seems to be a subject of far greater importance than the proceedings of the Female Temperance Convention now in session at the State capital, notwithstanding that the doings in the latter body are possessed of unusual interest, and that many of the delegates are able to make | pretty good speeches—as good, perhaps, as most of the legislators themselves. By the report, it will be seen that the ladies complain that they have only procured twenty-eight thousand signatures to their petition, although there are upwards of seven han- dred thousand women in the State. This does not speak so well for the popularity of their cause as the first glance would indicate. In the United States Circuit Court, yesterday, counsel concluded summing up in the case of Captain Farnham, charged with manslaughter in conse- quence of the destruction of life caused by the burst- ing of the boiler of the steamboat Reindeer last sum- mer on the North River. After listening to an elaborate charge from Judge Betts, the jury retired, and were absent nearly seven hours, when they re- turned, and reported that they were unable to agree. Upon this announcement, by consent of counsel on both sides, the jurymen were discharged. A full teport of the proceedings, which are very important | | to all navigators, and steamboat captains in particu- | lar, is given elsewhere. ” ‘A man named Patrick Broderick, who had béén employed in the apothecary’s store which is attached tothe Emigrant Hospital, Ward's Island, mistook some liquid poison for brandy, and drank a quantity of it, last Thursday. He died, and an inquest was held upon his body yesterday, when a verdict was re- turned in accordance with the facts. Quite an obstinate debate was had last night in the Brooklyn Common Council, on the subject of the supply of water to that city, and a resolution was carried, remonstrating against the bill to enlarge the powers of the Williamsburg Company. We annex a brief summary of the inside pages of this edition :—Interesting Letter from Hon. Mr, Beale, of Virginia, with regard to the movements of North Carolina and Virginia in the cause of Ameri- can Independénce; Reply of the Cuban Junta to a Washington Correspondent, concerning the feasibil- | lity of establishing a republic on the island of Cuba; | Lectures, on “Oriental History,’ by Miss Bacon; on the “Six Days of Creation,” by Professor Tayler Lewis; on ‘‘the Conservative and the Progressive,” | by Rev. H. W. Beecher; on “Now and Then,” by Hon. Anson Burlingame ; on the “ Volcanic Charac- ter of Italy,” by Professor Silliman, and on “‘Homeo- pathy,” by Dr. McVicker; Financial and Commer- | cial Review; Court Proceedings; Extracts relative | to Canadian Reciprocity; the Rochester Flour Trade, &e. Visirers To Evrore.—The Collins steamship Pacific leaves to-day for Liverpool. She carries fifty passengers. Among the number we notice the name of the Hon. Caleb Lyon, of Lyonsdale, member of Congress elect from New York. We learn that Mr. Lyon intends to make the tour of Europe, and may possibly extend his trip to Egypt and the Holy Land. Time, only, will prevent him from accomplishing the entire tour, for Congress meets in December next. Mr. Lyon is an ex-member of the Assembly and Senate of this State, previous to which he onsul to Shanghai, and ex-secretary California Constitutional Convention. es being an M. C., he is also an LL.D, and member al literary societies. These and qualifications, to say nothing of the te character of Mr. L., are a sufficient pass- port for him wherever he may go. As a bril- liant poet and successful orator he is well known to all our readers. He has written and spoken his way into public fame and favor, and ay now expect he will add another title to by his observations and letters from Since the days of John Randolph of have not met @ more eccentric an of the of seve his li Europe Roanoke we araeter this, what more can he ask? Some’ ps, a seat in the cabinet of some fur it, or a mission to one of the courts of Europe. Who knows? Trape wrth Canapa.—As the RecrPROcAL nadian reciprocity will in all proba t before the attention of Con some shape or other, this session, the icle from a Canadian paper » bro the Hamilton Tt will he the Canadian editor confesses,with com- that the reciprocity offered rocity only in name; and that it is sto attempt to humbug Americans with they understand it as well as we do.’ t, too, that the Canadians already enjoy very considerable advantages under the opera of the drawback act, which may be lost to lournal—will be read with interest. them if they attempt to carry out the retaliato ry policy threatened by Mr. Hincks, shows some ense, the more remarkable as it is not often we find evidences of it in the papers of oar | has proved himself a reliable man; nor can we (Cube and Central America, ‘The news by the Cherokee, which we publish this morning, from Cuba and Central America, is of the most ominous and character —ominous in regard to the “ manifest destiny” of Cuba, and startling in reference to the al- leged outrageous colonial usurpation of the British in Central America. From Cuba we are advised that, as was to have been expected, the interference of her Britannic Majesty’s cruizers, in the suppression of the African slave trade of the island, has ex- cited a very bitter feeling against the British officials and subjects, on the part of the island authorities. To such an extent, it appears, has this prejudice been carried, that a wealthy English planter, named Boylen, residing at St. Jago de Cuba, has been unceremoniously ex- pelled from the place by the civil Lieutenant of Captain Canedo, there residing, and without even condescending to give to Boylen the slight- est information of the offence, or the sus- picion upon which it was deemed expedient so summarily to drive him out, Probably he may have been regarded as an im- pediment to the slave traffic, and likely to communicate unauthorized intelligence to the British vessels of war along the coast, of the movements of the slave dealers. Perhaps he may have been marked. by some of the nume- rous spies of Canedo. as a sympathizer with the Jillibusteros; but whatever his offences, or the suspicions against him, may have been, they do not appear. Hg has been forcibly, and without warrant of law, expelled from his residence, and at the last accounts was at Havana. Now. if this little experiment of despotic au- thority does not bring about a crisis in the his- tory of Cuba, it will be from the prompt repara” tion to Boylen. by the Captain-General, of all the damages and losses he may have incurred, or may incur, from his ejectment from his plan- tation. The British government, to its honor be it spoken, does not permit an outrage on a British subject. however humble he may be, or however formidable or inaccessible the of- fending party by whom the offence is commit- ted, without exacting the required atonement. In anticipation of the hanging within our limits of that boasting, idle braggart, M’Leod, we were given to understand. notwithstanding the disasters which -would have followed | to England, that the whole strength of the em- pire. if necessary. might very possibly be con- centrated upon us, to right the wrong of his | execution. This sound national policy makes | the declaration, “I am a Briton,” infinitely more of a safeguard, the world over, to the in- | dividual. than “I am a Roman” was in the | golden age of Augustus. We anticipate. then. | if Boylen has suffered from the despotic | exercise of illegal authority by Canedo’s agents, that he and they will make instant reparation on demand. or that there will be no such tom- | foolery with them as that of our amiable ad- | ministration in the Crescent City difficulty. | The man must be righted, or the next thing | we may hear will be of a bombardment or two, and the blockade of the island. It appears. also, that General Canedo is con- | siderably disturbed concerning the recent change in the Spanish ministry. And he well may be. The receht outrages upon our commerce, per- petrated under his authority, or with his con- nivance. have been laid before the government at Madrid, and ina tone of voice showing, at least, that he is a dangerous captain for the pre- servation of the existing sovereignty of Cuba. The more recent events bearing upon the African slave trade, British interference, and the out- rage upon a British subject, will be very apt. also. to have their due weight with the new Cabinet of Isabella. In this view a crisis has already arrived in the affairs of Cuba, which, for better or worse, (though it can hardly be worse.) promises to bring the fate of the island toa speedy determination. The summary exe- cution of fifty Americans at Havana, may be a/ safe experiment; but we apprehend that any tampering with the personal rights of John Bull will prove to be extremely hazardous, Thus much for Cuba. The intelligence from our regular correspon- dent at San Juan del Norte, is decidedly inter- esting, and, indeed, somewhat astounding. It challenges our credulity, yet our correspondent imagine any motive in this instance for a mis- representation of the facts. We are induced, therefore, to give full credit to his letter. The daring usurpation of a colonial establishment in Honduras, is but a piece of the same cloth as the creation of the colony of the Bay Islands. But this promotion of the superintendent of the cutters of logwood to the dignity of the Colonial Governor of Hon- duras. will be a mighty nice piece of work for the United States Senate. The protectorate of the Mosquito King is but a trifling. laughable bagatelle, compared with a downright British colony, stretching nearly across the continent. over the breast of Central America. This sort of thing explains, at all events. the British con- struction of the Clayton and Bulwer treaty, with- out blinking. It is a cool operation; and if the grounds of territorial jurisdiction, as laid down in the Senate by Messrs. Pearce and Seward, be | correct. it will be a difficult thing to get over. | or get under. or get round in any way. But if | the views of General Cass and Mr. Soulé are | sound and “vindicate the truth of history.” | then there will be work to do. The Clayton | and Bulwer treaty.is then a dead letter——the | British colony of Honduras is a British usurpa- tion, and either John Bull or Brother Jonathan must back out. In a word. crediting our news from San Juan as most probably authentic to its fall extent. our grave and reverend fathers of the United | States Senate will soon be called upon togive | some explicit and practical interpretations of | the Monroe doctrine. A Lrrtie Rerorm Wantep ix tik Custom Hovse.—It is a matter of very general com- plaint, that valuable parcels, sent to this coun- try by Americans travelling in Europe, as souvenirs of their voyage, get such over- | hauling and tossing about among the officials in our Custom Honee, either through curiosity or carelessness, as to depreciate and injure them materially, and sometimes to create con- fusion and mistakes as to their delivery. In France and England there is more care and | politeness exhibited, and they generally pass the Custom Houses there without the slightest injury. We suppose there will soon be a gen- eral overhanling among the officials themselves in that department of public affairs ; but, in the meantime, we beg to suggest to the present incumbents, the exercise of a little more care in overhauling what belongs to others, and we ask them to bequeath the reconfmenda- tion to their suecersors, same | covery of it, though Ross undoubtedly disco- | vered it afterwards without knowing that Wilkes Exploring Bxpeditiens from the United States. ‘The letter of our Washington correspondent, im Wednesday s paper, makes reference to three exploring now about to set sail from the United States, namely—the Arctic ex- pedition, under the command of Dr. Kane; the Paraguay and La Plata, commanded by Lieute- nant Page, and the China and North Pacific seas, under the auspices of Commander Ringgold. Besides these, there is the expedition of Com- mander Lynch to Africa, and the Japan expe- dition, of which the flag ship has already sailed. There is nothing for which the United States is more distinguished—nothing that shows in more vivid coloring the active spirit and enterprise of her sons—than these exploring expeditions, partly scientific and partly commercial, bearing around the globe the star-spangled banner which for three-score years and ten has triumphantly “braved the battle and the breeze,” and is des- tined to shed the light of the first true republi- caniem the world ever saw, over every sea, and land and kindred and tongue and people and nation, to “the farthest verge of the green earth, and rivers unknown to song.” Let us give a resumé of the principal foreign exploring expe- ditions, of an official character, that have marked our brief but brilliant history, from the expedi- tion of Wilkes to the present time, when there are five of them in operation together. 1.—The expedition of Captain Wilkes to the South Sea, the results of which are alike ere- ditable to the country and the discoverer. This was in 1835-6-7. His narrative, extend- ing to six quarto volumes. beautifully illus- trated, has been published by Congress. and copies sent to every government in Europe, and to some of them duplicates at their own re- quest. These. together with the scientific por- tion of the work. will cost the government nearly a million of dollars; but the expendi- ture on this publication is nothing when com- pared with the fruits of the glorious enterprise. It is a contribution of science and discovery, from the United States to the rest of the world, of vast importance in a maritime. commercial, and geographical point of view. It had been long a disputed question whether the British | navigator. Sir James Ross, or Captain Wilkes. | were entitled to the palm for the discovery of | the Antarctic continent ; but it has recently been admitted, by the Geographical Society of London, that the honor belongs to the Ame- rican eailor, who coasted that- continent for fifteen hundred miles, and made the first dis- had been ahead of him. 2.—The Dead Sea expedition, conducted by Commander Lynch, who explored the sources of the Jordan, descended its rapids for two thousand feet, measured its volume. made a survey of its topography, tracing its course to its mouth. where it discharges itself into the Dead Sea. He not only ascertained the pecu- liarities of this sacred river, but the still greater and more wonderful peculiarities of the Dead Sea, of which he made various soundings, determining its bottom to consist of solid salt, and discovering depressions produced by volcanic action, which confirm the narrative of the Bible in reference to the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the other “Cities of the Plain.” Here is a beautiful contribution to science and to scriptural geography, by Ameri- can engineers. 3.—The astronomical expedition of Lieut. Gillis to South Peru, where he has established an observatory, considered of great importance to the ecience of the starry heavens. 4.—The Grinnell expedition to the Arctic Seas in search of Sir John Franklin, under Lieut. De Haven embracing both a benevolent and a scien- tific object. By this expedition important addi- tions have been made to geographical science, in relation to land and sea, and it is hoped that when followed up by the expedition now in prepara- tion, the truth of the theory of an open Arctic sea at the pole will be demonstrated. 5.—The second Grinnell expedition to the Arctic Seas, in search of Sir John Franklin, under the command of Dr. Kane, who was surgeon to the first. This, like the first, is of a twofdld character, embracing benevo- lence and science; and if it fails in the one, there is every expectation that. under its brave and able commander, it will be eminently successful in the other. It may turn out like the case of the father, who, when dying, bequeathed a field to his sons. telling them it contained a crock of gold. They turned up the field very carefully, but found none of the shining metal. The result, however, was that by this cultivation of the ground, they reaped golden harvests, which amply remune- rated them for their toil. Dr. Kane may never succeed in finding Sir John Franklin. but. by the perseverance sustained by that hope, he may make other discoveries amidst the regions of eternal ice of far greater importance to his country and to mankind than the recovery of the lost expeditionist. 6.—The Japan expedition, which partakes of a commercial and geographical character. and at the same time having a spice of the political and the Christian in its composition. While it | makes scientific discoveries of great maritime importance to our navigation of these seas, it will make our flag respected. and our power known to the barbarians, who, if they do not receive the gospel in any other way. must be converted by the roar of Paixhan guns. 7.—The expedition of Commander Ringgold to all the China and North Pacific seas. It is to sail during the present month. Its object is to explore the belt of islands in those waters. with a view to the purposes of navigation and tle advancement of the commerce of the world. but more particularly the commercial and political interests of the United States. Out of this, in connection with the Japan expedition. are like- ly to grow the most important and beneficent re- sults to humanity, Christianity. and civilization. 8.—The expedition to Africa of Commander | Lynch so favorably known to the public as the | Dead Sea expeditionist. He recently sailed | the Arctic, en route to his destination. The | olject of this expedition is to select a more | healthy location for colonization purposes than | | | Liberia, embracing. also. commercial objects. and the tracing of the sowrces of the Niger. Thus again do we blend together in happy harmony. science, commerce. and benevole 9.—Bhe exploration of the mighty Amazon command of Lieutenant Hernden, of which Lieutenant Maury. of the Washington Observatory, has given such interesting infor mation in our columns. during the last two | months. This expedition has unfolded the gi- | gantic resources of the Atlantic slopes of the South American tontinent, from the Andes, and has stitaulated the daring and adventurous mer- centile spirit of the conntry. under provincia} ne hhors H The ice at Albany is now sufficiently firma for the | passage of Joaded teame. } 10—The expedition still further South of | Lievtenant Pege, to the Paraguay and La Plata | | Cagger. had ar! which is to eail this week in the steamer Water Witch, is regarded of great practical moment, Its object is to explore these rivers, with a view to ascertain the commercial resources of the countries watered by them, in order to effect such treaties as may open new fields for com+ mercial enterprise, and the continually expand- ing spirit of our people. This is following up the explorations of the Amazon, and no doubt the result will be to attract the most extensive speculation to those vast and fruitful regions of the South American continent. Heré, then. within the short period of eighteen years. we have ten important foreign official expeditions bearing upon the commercial rela- tions and the tremendous destiny of this great republic. There is no parallel to this in the history of mankind. Among these we do not enumerate the internal official expeditions. ex- ploring the resources of our own territory, from the time of Jefferson down to the pre- sent day, beginning with Lewis dnd Clarke. who were the first to explore Oregon and its rivers, followed by Colonel Pike, Nicolet, Fre- mont, Abertt, and Captain Stansbury. Of these, Fremont’s labors are by far the most important, for he not only discovered the South Pass and the Salt Lake—being the first white man that ever set foot there—but locate and laid down on the map, the whole of the North American con- tinent, from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific ocean, and from Oregon to Mexico. Besides these. discoveries, there have been numerous semi-official and private expeditions, which have contributed more or less to science, to the ex- ploration of terra incognita, to the develope- ment of the resources of the country, and to the extension of its trade and commerce from pole to pole. And who has not heard of the expedition of Palmer—the father of clipper ships—who in his little sloop embarked from Stonington, and found himself one morning, as a fog cleared away, in the presence of two Peruvian ships-of- war upon an exploring cruise in the South Sea, while at the same time some islands loomed up in the distance, which he had then seen for the first time? With the tact of the “universal Yankee nation,” he immediately tendered his ser- vices to these ships as a pilot. The commander took him on board, and seeing he was a noble tar, liked him, admitted his claims to the dis- covery of the group of islands in the Southern Pacific, and in honor of his name, called them “Palmer’s Land.” How illustrative is this story of American genius ! All these movements, both external and in- ternal, are indicative of the intense mental ac- tivity of the American people—their progressive, go-ahead character—and their “ manifest desti- ny” to overspread the earth with their free in- stitutions, their advanced civilization, and their unconquerable spirit, A Question or State Prme—Nortu Caro- Lina vs, Vircinia—Dr. Hawkes vs. GEN, BraLe.—We publish elsewhere in the columns of the Heraxp, this morning, an interesting let- ter from the Hon. J. M. H. Beale, reprtsentative from the fourteenth district of Virginia, inCon- gress, on the subject of American independence, { The infmediate provocation to this letter was the lecture of Dr. Hawkes, before the New York Historical Society, on the 17th of December last, based upon the assumption that the county of Mecklenburg, N. C., is entitled to the honor of the first decisive movement in the cause of American independence. Gen. Beale takes up the gauntlet thus thrown down, and produces conclusive evidence of a somewhat similar movement, a year before, in Dunmore county, Virginia, now Shenandoah. the heart of the present democratic “Tenth Legion” of that State. We apprehend, however, that Gen. Beale has mistaken the specific character of the claim put in by Dr. Hawkes in behalf of North Carolina. It was not, as Gen. B. supposes, a claim “ of the first movement towards a declaration of Ameri- can independence ;” but, in his own words, as reported and published in the Heranp, Dr. Hawkes claims that— First—it was on the shores of North Carolina that the first English colony was planted in America ; secondly—the first blood shed in battle with the troops of the English government, in support of the princi- les of the American revolution, was the blood of orth Carolinians, and the first battle was on the soil of that State; and, thirdly, the first declaration of in- dependence ever promulgated in any of those colonies came from North Carolina, more than a year before the National Declaration of July 4, 1776. This is the issue—the first ~ absolute declara- tion” of independence. as claimed by Dr. Hawkes in behalf of North Carolina. and as referred to by the Hon. W. A. Graham. in his very interesting lecture before the same society. on Thursday night last. True, the Virginia movement was a year in advance of that in Meck- lenburg. and the former may have suggested the latter; but still the first was a contingent and not an absolute declaration of indepen- dence. like the last. Admitting the premises of General Beale, his case is made out; but having mistaken the real issue. the claim of North Carolina remaims intact. which is this: that the citizens of Mecklenburg county. in that State, promulgated the first absolute declara- tion of American independence. We cheerfully give place, however. to the letter of Gen. Beale, on account of its interest- ing historical information. which will doubtless be as acceptable to Dr. Hawkes, and the New York Historical Society, as to the patriotic people of the old “ Tenth Legion” of Virginia, and of the country at large. Tammany Hatt anp Concorp—Tue Sorr Suects anp Hany Sue.ts.—There was a sort of revolution in the *coal-hole’ of Tammany Hall last Friday night; and the soft shells, or that branch of the unterrifieg and hungry democracy disposed to take the repenting free soilers into good communion, came off completely victor Whether the defeated hard shells will knock under, or forswear hereafter the councils of the “coal-hole.” and set up a new church of their own, remains yet to be determined. In the meantime, according to our telegraphic ad- vices trom Concord. published yesterday, a strong detachment of hard shells. in fi j Dickinson’s appointment to the cabinet, were on the way to Concord, but had been “switched off” somewhere near Boston; while a deputa- tion of leading soft shells consisting of such men as Church, Wright. Chatfield, Welch, and Peter ved safely at the end of their pilgrimage. their object being to de pointment of Dickinson. quarrel as it stands,” and if it is not settled in some satisfactory compromise we ma, ous. “This is a very pretty | pate a fuss in the family. General Pierce at home, and we trust that both batehes of pil- | grims. ere this. have been heard, and sent pac ing back again, in Tammany Hall. what ean they gain of Con- cord in New Hampshire %} If there is nothing but discord | The Minnesota Pioneer states that there are in thay vicinity vast Hodies of beantifnl white sand, from which a superior article of glase may be manufactured Tue Verznan Corrs oF 1812—Tair To ALBANY. —The Veteran Corps of the war of 1812, '13 and ’4, being ‘ about to visit Albany, to present themselves before the Legislature, in behalf of their suffering brother-soldiers, and widows of those deceased, wha served the United States for the defence of this city and State,” have issued a circular for subscriptions to aid them through the expenses of the proposed. expedition. They have appointed a committee to wait upon their fellow citizens for this object, con- sisting of Peter J. Vandenhoff, Captain H. Raymond, Henry Riell, Henry Williams, and others; and we freely recommend their undertaking, as well deserv- ing the liberality of our citizens and the gratitude of the Commonwealth. Let the young men of our vari- ous military organizations see to it, especially that. these old veterans of our last struggle with England do not call for “ material and financial aid” in vain. Mapame Sontag a8 LUCKEZIA Borata.—For the first: time on the continent, Madame Sontag appeared last. evening in a tragic opera. During the preceding part of her seriesghe had played only the light réles of Marie and Ro-ina, and had, as it were, reserved the exhibition of her tragic powers to crown her triumph. But last: evening she had an opportunity of displaying them with. effect in the personation of the famous character of Lu- crezia Borgia. Her success was complete, astonishing. The great actress, still more than the great vocalist, en- chained the feelings of her auditory in depieting the ma- , ternal love and agony of the hated Borgia. Seldom has such acting been equalled—never, we would venture to- say, surpassed—by any artist in the performance of this piece. True to nature, and to the character of the wo- man, she did not, for the sake of effect, exhibit the slight- est deviation ina single motion, look or tone from the strict and critical line of acting. Throughont it was a grand, true, intensified delineation. And no wonder that: the audience were carried away with enthusiasm, and paid that homage to the tragedicnne which hitherto they had rendered to the cantatrice. Badia i, as Duke Alfonso, and Pozzolini, as Gennaro, were equally effective in their parts. The auxiliary characters were all well sustained, and the mise en scene was faultless. ‘The house, as on each previous evening of” the opera, was filled in every part with a fashionable au- dience, who testified their admiration by well-timed sp- plause. Between the acts, and after the curtain fell, Sontag, Badiali and Pozrolini came before the lights, in. response to the general call, and received the most flat- tering testimonies of appreciation, Lucrezia Borgia is to be repeated on Monday evening. Tammany Hall—Mecting of the Soft Shells. That portion of the Democratic Republican Genera} Committee recognized by the Sachems of Tammany Socie- ty met last evening, and organized by selecting Danie} E. Delavan, Chairman pro tem and Messrs. Purser and Glover Secretaries pro tem. A resolution was submitted. by Mr. L. B. Shepard, expressive of the propriety of uni- ting the friends of the Baltimore platform and the sup~ porters of the State and national administrations, and recommending for that purpose that ne action be taken on contested seats until Thursday, the 27th. We also . learn that a discussion occurred on the meaning to be attached to the action of the Sachems, and it was decided, with great unanimity, that it merely determined which of the two parties should be permitted temporarily to oc- cupy Tammany Hall, and that at the next meeting alt having a certificate signed by a majority of the inspec- tors of election would of right be entitled to participate: in its proc and haye an equal voice in all ques. tions but the validity of their respective claims to a seat. This construction of the resolution of the Sachems re- moves much difficulty in the way of harmony, and it is not improbable may terminate in one organization. Seve-- ral of the contestants, however, appeared rather dissatis fied with the result, expecting to walk over the field with out cate, from the failure of the certified members to claim their seats. Mr. Walsh’s Mission to Ni 10 THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD. Wasunoton, Jan. 21, 1853. Sir—Upon several occasions you have brought accusa- tions against me of having, by my offensive conduct, as Commissioner to Nicaragua, been, in part, the cause of the rejection, by the government of that country, of” what is called ‘the Webster-Crampton project.” In ro ply, allow me to state a few facts— Ist.—I was not aceredited in any way to the govern- ment of Nicaragua, my mission having been exclusively tothat of Costa Rica. There it was perfectly successful, not at all because that republic, as has been affirmed, is. a protége of Great Britain, which it is not in the least, but because it is under the control of patriotic, peaceful, and enlightened councils, that commend it, far more than any other Central American State, to the friendly interests of our government and people. 24.—I went to Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, only to get the despatches of our resident Charge d’Affairs, and bear them to Washington. He alone had been commissioned to treat with the Nicaraguan government concerning the pro- posed arrangement; and nothing can be more untrue than your statement in yesterday's HERALD, that the pro- positions were “most offensively presented,” as well as most offensively urged. ‘Sd.—I did not reach Managua until several days after the propositions had been rejected; the real causes of which rejection will, I venture to say, be, sooner or later, fully understood. 4th.—I had but one interview with the Nicaraguan au- thorities—a simple visit of courtesy, under the auspices of the Churge d’Affairs—in which the conversation was of course entirely private, ay 1 hud uo official relations with them whatever. Sth.—In that interview (hing was said or done by me that could give umbi to any reasonable man. Persons who could take at aught that then and there passed, must be afflicted with a thinness of skin that utterly unfits them for exposure to the lightest breath of discussion, or must have resolved on being offended with a view to ulterior purposes. ‘As the whole correspondence on the subject of Central America has been called for by the Senate, you will soon have an opportunity of ascertaining the 3 in re- gard to it, into which you have been doubtless led by that “most replenished of liars,’ Rumor. But would it not. have been well, sir, permit me to ask, to have waited until you were in full possession of the facts of the case, before hazarding statements which may work injustice aud wrong? It is surely not fair to give them circulation on no other ground than that of ‘it is said.” Such a ground is not 80 good, or so logical, even, as the famous the’ Gravedigger for the it to the French definition, geographical one assigned madness of Hamlet. Accor¢ “they say ' means, they lie "—on dit veut dire on ment— and no one will det its correctness. Nevertheless, continues to immoiate its daily hecatombs of to the infinite satisfaction of every one—a. ich, it is to be foured, can only be explained 's is of a very prevalent disinelination to the love ot one’s neighbor. Most men, unfortunately, look into the characters of o\lers as a dentist looks into the mouth of a patient—to «i-cover rottenness—though not, like the dentist, for the purpose of remedying the but rather for that of exposing it, in the most of. fensive manner, to the publir gaze; and even if no cor " are who will still pro- conviction, perhaps, of the infected spy.” is, it should especially be vent instanee, it has its quarter. Every oppor- it of beclouding itself, eat poet in lines which, threadbare a are. cannot be too often recalled, as a warning a@vinst rash judgment. By the journalist, more particu larly, as as to me, shonld they be borne in mind in these da ciric communication, when the printed word is ca t once by the viewless couriers of the air to the very limits, almost, of space. The correction may have the same chance of travel as the error ; but we all know that somehow the former rarely overtakes the lat. nd never succeeds in crushing ¥¢ altogether. The i may, indeed, be healed, but the scar is sure to re and, in many eyes, to wear all the semblance of » brand. I heg pardon for wording you so remorselessly; but f <itiveness in reference to this charge mtop of the epithets that have been of my efforts, in Hayti, ‘ous massacre. Having nperate will and keep the nishment, suddenly held gular bully. Those who ly aware, at the alleged but as they are comparatively” few, | ance of your columns in putting mysel, st of minkind ible and be red to “bear nt servant, M. WALSH. Dearn or AN Actor. —Mr, Ndwat all, informs a bas ‘been years ax ana the most acco suddenly at his 1 night previous t and t ‘ 4 country, ’ idence in South Brooklyn, on Monday was playing on the stage on the night curtain of life ‘ailing upon him forever ared to be full of yivacity, and free from alt ify the wishes of hix family, who arc ppored to theatrical pursuits, ssumed in not his own. He with him, for his his profe was mueh bele W. U. Van V t Bethlehem in the fifty-eig e Vieck was for several year chureh in this city, having succeeded the Rev. Mr timer. He wns « very modest, unassuming man, greatly beloved hy his congregation, and esteemed by all who hat pleasure of his nequaintance. of the Moravian Church onthe night of the 18th Bishop Van his age. stor of the Moravian Law Intelligence Srprese Covet or me Unrren States, Jan. 20.--No, 54 Matthew Cunni 5 Mary W. W Asliley ont Of this enuse was / ntiff in error, ant on for the deteude by ant in erre