The New York Herald Newspaper, February 18, 1853, Page 4

——— NEW YORK HERALD. | JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR AND EDITOR. OFFIC N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. . sekeanne Te OAILT HERALD, 2 bonis $7 7 annum. THE WEEKLY HBRAY.D, evety Saturday, ue 0% cents per copy, or $83 per annum ; the Eitition, $4 per sgamum {0 any part of Great Britain, and $5 to any part of | the to include the postage. * ‘ALL LETTERS by mail, for subscriptions, or with Adee | Bisements, to be post-paid, or the postage will be deducted from | VOLUNTARY CORRESPONDENCE, containing im- | Portant news, avlicite! from any quarter of the world; if sed ‘will be Lal lly paid for. Say OUR Forman Correspon- DENTS ARK PARTICULARLY REQUESTED TO SEAL ALL AND PACKAGES SENT US. ‘BO NOTICE of anonymous communications. We do fet return See JOB PRINTING executed with neatness, cheapness, and DVERTISEMENTS renewed every day. Velume XVIMM.................-ee merescees No. 45. | AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. | BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery—Ivannos—Kit Kaasoy. BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway—Sr. Ovrip—Diver- SammeeT—PorrinGg THE QUESTION. NIBLO’S—Curtp oF THE RBGIMENT. BURTON'S THEATRE, Chambers street—Sr. Corm— Parm ap (ONvon, HATIOMAL THEATRE, Chatham street—Laypamras anp SEaGuits—Gorones Tom—O’NRAL THE GREAT. WALLACK'S THEATRE, Brosdway—Tam [nas Hamas Review. AMERKAN MUSEUM—Afternoon—Vittace Gossirp— Iams Turon. Fvesing—Ou Poins at Hous. GHRISTY’S OPFRA HOUSE, Mmoves wr Cumery'’s Overs 472 Broadway—Ennoruy ‘TROUFE. ‘WOOD'S MINSTRELS, Wood's Musical Hell, 444 Broad- ‘wey—RErmoruan Muvsrretsy. GEROUS, 37 Bowery—EquestRiay ENTERTAINMENTS, @BORAMA, 586 Broadway—BaxvakD's PANORAMA OF mam Novy Lay. WELLER'S SOIREE’'S MYSTERIEUSES, 539 Broadway. BISLDY'S THAMES, at 406 Broadway- OPE CHAPEL, Broadway.—Graxp Coxcent. Sew York, Friday, February 15, 1853. Se The News. By the arrival of the new screw steamship Alps at tnis port, and the America at Halifax, we are en- abled this morning to present one week's later ad- vices from all parts of the European continent. The great feature of the news, and one that will attract general attention, is the very full and comprehensive account-of the marriage ceremonies of Napoleon III. and the Countess de Téba, which appears to have been compiled with unusual care. Of course, all France was in a delirium of excitement, and nothing fn the shape of business was doing. The bridal gift ef the Emperor, consisting of a quarter ofa million of francs, was distributed by the Empress among chari- table institutions. With the exception of the an- nouncement of the death of Lord Melbourne, there is little of interest from Great Britain. The politicians ‘were quiet, and the only movement of moment that ‘we notice, is the bet, at the Manchester Reform Ban- quet, of ten thousand pounds against a shilling a ‘week subscription for an infirmary, that the French ‘would never attempt to invade England. Mr. Cob- @en threw out the banter, and Mr. Brotherton took ‘him up. The rumors from the seat of war in Mon- fenegro are of a deplorable character. The Turks are reported to have adopted the horrible system, at one time practised by the British against the white imbabitants of the United States, of paying liberal rewards for the heads of their enemies. Cotton was Becoming somewhat scarce at Liverpool, and had gone up another eighth of a penny in price. Bread- stuffs, on the contrary, were extremely dull, and declining in price. Full particulars of the visit of General Pierce to this city, including the latest cabinet rumors, &c., ‘will be found in eur columns elsewhere. It will be seen that one of our Washington correspondents has, with the aid of some new materials, constructed s eabinet, which, he thinks, will pass muster. In two weeks from to-day we shall all probably know how near he is to the mark. General P. reached’ Phila- deiphia last evening, and will, it is supposed, leave ward, notwithstanding all the unnecessary hubbab and confusion on the subject, By the western mail last night, we learn that ¢x- Governor Lucas died suddenly in Iowa City on the 7th inst. Mr. Lucas was formerly Governor of Ohio, | and was afterwards appointed Governor of lowa while it was under territorial government. It is understood that the United States Supreme Court have decided in favor of Col. Chrystie, in the ' suit brought by that gentleman to recover a tract of land in Texas, valued at about half a million of dol- lars. In addition to the European intelligence, our in- side pages contain a full report of the proceedings in the Court of General Sessions against W. M. Doty, for alleged perjury in the Forrest Divorce Case; List of the persons who died on board the packet ship Antarctic, on the voyage from Liverpool to this port; Pronunciamento from Mr. Paine, the Spiritual Banker at Chicago; Legal, Theatrical and Commercial Intelligence; many columns of adver- tisements, giving much interesting and valuable in- formation relative to business of every description, &c. General Pierce in New York, Among the passengers who alighted from the New Haven cars on Wednesday evening, was aman of commanding figure and intelligent countename, slightly furrowed by the traces ot recent sorrow; he was accompanied by a secretary and a single servant. The by- standers, without crowding round him, or be- traying by their conduct any signs of recogni- tion, made way for him to pass to a carraige, ané in a few minutes he was in a private sit- ting room in the Astor House. His luggage wore an aspect of severe republican simplicity —a couple of old hair trunks which might have been the property of a veteran of 1812, and two portmanteaus, scarcely less venerable in appearance, were the modest equipage of the traveller. Their owner, reader, was General Pierce; who, in three weeks from this time, will wield more actual power than any other man in the civilized world. Philosophi- cal minds will find not a little food for reflec- tion in the contrast between the humble ar- rival of the future President of the Onited States, in the ordinary passenger train, and the pompous entries of the sovereigns of* Europe into the large cities of their kingdoms; be- tween the hair trunks contemptuously hustled about by the railway porters, and the imposing array of baggage, carefully guarded by soldiers and policemen, which follows in a monarch’s train. The Queen of England congratulates herself on the comparative privacy of her move- ments when the express train in which she travels is not impeded by any more serious ob- stacles than half a dozen triumphal arches, and a deputation of railway directors at each sta- tion; and Napoleon enjoys a delightful exemp- tion from State ceremonial, when he can ride through the Bois de Vincennes with no other cortege than a few marshals, an aid-de-camp or two, and a select body of chasseurs. Our chief ruler elect arrives in the metropolis of the Union as unobtrusively as a mere Mr. Timpkins or Mr. Briggs might be expected to do, after a day’s recreation in the country ; and except among a certain class of place-hunters, there seems to be no inclination among our citizens to violate the privacy which is due to domestic sorrows, and which happily involves no breach of national etiquette. Those who are fond of pageants will mourn over the republican simplicity of Gen. Pierce’s mode of travelling ; but what we lose in show, we shall gain in substance. The time that others might have consumed in receiving deputations, and standing to be stared at by crowds of idlers, will be profitably spent by the President elect in maturing the web of his future policy, and studying the dangers and difficulties which al- ready beset his path. No easy task lies before him. Dissensions in the party, in almost every State—envious calumnies from one quarter, and for Baltimore this morning. Mrs. Pierce, it is under- stood, will remain in Boston till after the inaugura- tion. The United States Senate yesterday commenced operations by granting a pension of one hundred dollars a year to the venerable Sophia Kerby, widow of a revolutionary soldier, who wasthe progenitor of one hundred and forty-eight descendants. Bills were reported to establish territorial governments for Washington and Nebraska. Among the numerous yesolutions offered, wore two from the Committee on Foreign Relations, recommending that in the negotia- tion of future treaties, freedom of religious worship shall be secured, so far as practicable, to Americans im foreign countries. The further consideration of the Tehuantepec question was deferred till next Wednesday. Truman Smith made some very apro- pos remarks concerning the Pacific Railroad bill. He would prefer that this matter should be arranged by the incoming President, in whose wise judgment he had more faith than in that of Congress. He de- elared that both legislative branches of the govern- ment had rendered themselves incapable of getting through with any other than the appropriation bills at this session; and even those will be passed upon before they can be properly matured. Every right thinking democrat and whig who has watched the progresa of events, will coincide with Mr. Smith, Notwithstanding the apparent anxiety of the mem- bers of the House of Representatives to finish up the business of the session, by resolving to meet at @leven o'clock, it is seldom that a quorum can be found in the hall at that hour. Eleven is entirely too early for them, although real business men generally expect to be nearly half through their day's work by that time. The House took up the bill for the estab- lishment of reciprocal trade with the British pro- vinces, the debate on which, between Mesers, Sey- mour, Washburn, and others, together with the sy- nopsis of Mr. Andrews’ report on the fisheries, the pro- gressive enterprise of the Western States, &c., throw considerable light on the subject, and will be read with almost universal interest. Five or six unim- portant amendments were made to the Civil and Di- plomatic bill, andas many more were ruled out of order; after which the House adjourned. Much work of general interest to our citizens was transacted in the New York Legislature yesterday. Both houses resolved to adjourn from to-morrow till Wednesday, in honor of the birth-day of Washing- ton. During the debate on the Pacific Railroad bill in the Senate, quite a spirited controversy arose be- tween Mesars. Cooley, Bristol, and others, with re- gard to the flare-up last Tuesday, growing out of the refusal of a majority of the members to go into executive session. The expectants of office are getting quite hungry, and are evidently arousing their Senatorial friends to the impcrtance of con- firming the Governor's nominations, without any more dodging. The Assembly instructed the Com- mittee on Commerce to report forthwith a bill for the suppression of mock auctions. If the Leguslatare suce in this undertaking it will merit the thanks of a classes, and more particularly the rural inha- bitants.ol the State. arcely an hour in the day passes in this or any other city, that the simple and unsuspecting are not despoiled of their hard earnings in thes ious shops. The bill for the | regulation of the New York pilots was ordered to a | third reading. Our Albany correspondent write: sition of Mr. Vanderbilt, to provi for the completion of the canals, by submitting in amend. ment to the State constitation to the voters next fall, will be approved by ythe Senate. Although the method of raising the money i# not exactly what might be devised, the plan ix strictly constitutional and the only one that hagas yet been brought for- | that the propo- t funds menacing warnings from another—frowning dictates from the conservative wing, and indig- nant remonstrances from the ultra progressives —a flood of counsels, directions, complaints, in- junctions, and insiduous hints on one side, and undisguised orders on the other—have heaped obstacles in his way, to surmount which General Pierce will need all the firmness with which nature has endowed him. To concilate, he knows full well, will be to succumb. Presi- dents, like women, are lost if they seek a middle course. He will boldly front the storm; and recking not a jot whom he may offend, or whose enmity he may incur, will shape his course ac- cording to the dictates of his own judgment. Young America may clamor, Old America may growl, free soilers may threaten, disunionists may conspire—we are much mistaken if their tokens of disapproyal, however loudly expressed, will cause the President elect to deviate one inch from the path he has determined to adopt. His policy will be eminently national. It will acknowledge no sympathy with any of the fac- tions or cliques into which the democratic party is split. It will bow to no dictation from with- out, and seek no inspiration from self-constitu- ted oracles. It will be essentially a policy of progress. Thus, a prominent feature in that policy will be. as we have frequently stated, a re-assertion of the Monroe doctrme, in new and startling language. Foreigners are aghast at the boldness with which our constructive empire over the whole hemisphere was asserted in the Senate; the proposal to vote ten millions to General Pierce, to provide against contingencies, will throw enough light on the modern reading of the doctrine to prepare them for a radical change in our dealings with colonizing powers. Nor will the alteration in the tone of our diplo- matic correspondence confined to our protests against European colonization. Lan- guage befitting the ruler ofa republic destined, at no distant day, to take the lead among civil- ized nations, will replace, on all occasions, the timid conventionalities of our past diplomacy. The great powers must learn to fear us, and minor States to rely on our high sense of justice The change will soon be felt by our countrymen who are travelling abroad. Foreign despots wilt be taught that it is as muchas their crowns are worth to touch a hair of an Amorican’s head, or offer the most trifling insult tothe American flag. It will be & part of the same policy to pursue, and possibly to conclude. the negotiations for the peaceatfe acqnisition of Cuba. Nor will General Pierce's domesti ministration be less progressive. He will effi tually crush fillibustero movements, and will prove that this country has reached a full ma- turity of strength ahd judgment, and can, wi out curtailing the boundless personal lihe of its citizens, hold that control over them be which despots, with standing armies, find it | difficult to retain. He will uproot the abuses | of the Navy Department, and pr | States with a marine which will neither be the vide the United laughing stock of builders at home, nor the scorn of foreigners. Under his government we are confident that the American navy will com- prixe more than one vessel that can sail and carry guns. He will put ‘a definite stop to ! extravagance and peculation in the publi ¥ offices at Washington, and with the thousa” 4, thus rescued from the claws of dishonest oq. cials at the capital. will be enabled to Tay our representatives abroad a salary which goog not disgrace the country. Finally—for” qo must be brief. and omit much that migh’ ¢ he saia—he will direct the whole energies of" gis mind to the encouragement of those great the Pacific railroad—on whi perity will largely depen? Bent on these reforms | ang others of a kindred nature, General Pier’ J may well be called a man of progress. ¥ ¢g will be an eventful term of office. Itrest’4 with him to render it con- spicuous in Am erican history, as an era of un- exampled n? onal greatness. Every element of success “fies ready to his grasp. If he can but dive st himself thoroughly of the shackles of party,, and meet factious sectional clamors with contemptuous indifference. it is not impossible that his name may hereafter be coupled with chat of Washington, and those whom we revere to-day as the fathers of our country. « works—such as ch our future pros- Something Practical about Copyright. The vexed question of international copy- right seemed a week ago to be on the eve of settlement. The article on this subject in the Henratp took most readers by surprise, though it was known to a considerable number that a treaty between this country and Great Britain, similar to the copyright treaty be- tween Great Britain and France, had been carefully considered and finally arranged in all its details, last summer, by Mr. Webster and Mr. Crampton. Our announcement that this treaty was about to be submitted to the Senate for ratification, aroused all the slumbering hostility to the measure; and since then the mails have been deluged with letters against it, and the hotels in Washington have been crowded with publishers, and their agents, alarmed at _the prospect of compulsory honesty toward foreign authors. Although there is not really one objection to universal and perpetual copy- right which a man of sense and honor would think of urging, yet everybody knows that a recognition of such proprietorship in written intelligence is opposed, largely and industrious- ly; and we will, therefore, in a summary way, meet the main issues which interested partics have raised against the treaty. The opponents of the proposed arrangement choose to consider the subject as one of simple interest and expediency; and we are quite ready to meet them on that ground, which is alto- gether more comprehensive than they seem to suppose. Under any government, hostility to the most absolute copyright system is un- just and absurd;*but, under democratical in- stitutions like ours such hostility is ridiculous. The unlimited sovereignty of the individual over the creations of his brain is the strength and stay of social and political equality. There is not a right in the gift of God more perfect- There is no other property recognized in com- munities so actual, positive, exclusive, indefea- sible. Contrast the natural right of the heirs of John Milton to the profits of ‘Paradise Lost,’ with that of the descendants of one of Charles the Second’s cabal, to the rents of domains granted by the royal and profligate robber from the general plunder of the kingdom. The idea is preposterous. In one case a great estate is cre- ated, from nothing, by the exercise of divinely bestowed faculties, and the larger its productive- nees the better for mankind. In the other, estates, confiscated perhaps for the very virtues of their possessors, are arbitrarily transferred to men whose lives are steeped in infamy, and in their families are made inalienable. This illustrates the question. The enemies of literary copyright declare that Charles could bestow a better title than could be given by the Almighty. We do not believe it. Artificial distinctions are con™ tinually growing up in society, and in aristo- cracies they are made hereditary by letters pa- tent, which assert that, however great a man may be made by God, a king can make one greater, even of a fool. Inall governments such distinctions are made hereditary, to a de- gree, by the tenure of property. But still the Creator mocks at the petty ranks which men establich by setting the seal of His nobility and conferring His riches on whom He will. The true democrat seconds the divine election by acknowledging, in all ways, the rights so be- stowed. These rights—the only rights of pro- perty which are in their nature entirely beyond controversy—ere denied. or their recognition und defence declared “inexpedient,” on “ pure- ly public grounds.” Let us consider a few of these grounds. in separation. It is alleged that a recognition of interna- tional copyright will deprive the mass of the people in this country of the best foreign lite- vature. This proposition is so,false, that it is only by such @ recognition that we can obtain the really most desirable intellectual produc- tions of the present age. To those who have not examined this subject, the fact has been as- tonishing, that the proportion of good books has 0 greatly decreased since the gross amount of republications was so much enlarged, by im- provements in printing and the related arts. Standard works in theology, metaphysics, his- tory, biography, travels, and taste, thirty years ago, constituted two-rumrps of the entire book manufacture. Now they do not constitute more than ong-rovrTH—probably not one-fifth. It is found, in this period of active competition in all the departments of industry and speculation, that large numbers, in every business, are gov- erned and limited in their operations solely by provisions of the law—they know lit- tle, and care less, for obligations which cannot be enforced by the courts. Cer- tain usages of “the trade” had hitherto been found a sufficient protection for the few publishers who considered. in their respective fields, whether the market of the whole country would warrant this or that heavy republication, and acted accordingly. The best works were produced in appropriate styles, and sometimes thousands of dollars were readily expended in gift copies and in advertisements, to prepqre the public for their reception. The business was orderly and safe ; the publishers had then the benefits of copyright, hy usage ; and having no fears of unjust fnterference—knowing that if they created a demand for a work they would he allowed to meet that demand with their own manufactures—did not hesitate to give us what ever appeared abroad that was worthy of r¢pro- duction. This healthy state of atfairs was so changed that it came to be understood that no house could get ont @ good edition of any important work, and properly introduce it to | the notice of the public, without danger, that as soop as the demand for it was in avy de- gree active cllow would flood the mar- | ket with cheaply printed copies, (costing | him only the inaccurate type-setiing. dingy paper, hurried presswork and miserable bind- some ing.) With which he would reap all the profits of the first publisher’s liberal enterprise, and leave him with half an edition unsold. and a fourth of his entire investment lost. This state of things led to a general abandonment of standard literature, for such trash as finds the most immediate sale; and, for protection in such republications, whoever obtained a first copy, brought out his work in so economical and wretched a manner, that no one could produce it meanly enough to undersell him, and make any money by the operation. The book busi- ness was in hopeless disorder; and the whole country to which it had ministered. received for its previously healthful supplies, little else than [ poisons. The criminal courts soon became un- precedently busy—divorce committees in legis- latures were made standing instead of special, every year yielded abyndant harvests of profli- gate song and daughters, and patriotism de- cayed and gave place to a general contempt for the simplicity of republican institutions and manners, There were, undoubtedly, a great many im- portant works of all kinds reprinted between 1830 and 1850; but the old houses, and all houses with adequate capital and facilities, he- sitated at the suggestion of heavy undertak- ings. Thus, Alison’s History of Europe was several years delayed—at least the earlier vo- lumes were—by fears of dishonorable competi- tion. It was advertised in Boston, Philadel- phia, and New York, but no one dared to print it. At length the Harpers ventured to bring it out, in large and very closely printed volumes, in a style entirely unsuitable for such a per- formance, and sold it at a corresponding price. It was kept from us until it was what in these times is called an old book, and atlast given us in such a shape that no one was willing to preserve it in his library. The author, even, at the last, did not receive a cent from his largest audience; and he knows little of human nature who discredits the influence of this fact in the growth of that hostility he has since evinced against the United States and her institutions— a hostility he this year vindicates with his best abilities, unanswered, to fifty thousand Ameri- can readers. Here is the great point of “interest” and “‘ex- pediency” involved in the international copy- right question. Lie about it, quibble about it, deceive yourselves about it as you will, the makers of books are the educators of mankind —the builders up and pullers down of kings— the subtlest and most sovereign influence and authority everywhere, but most of all in a re- public ; and to please a few American “pub- lishers. staggering under the wealth they have exacted from English” authors, the best class of these busy and powerful men are to be shut out from the country, and the inferior classes so treated as to be made public cnemics, and teachers of contempt of our law, cus- tom, society, and tradition. And while the most worthless descriptions of foreigners are thus employed, in shaping our private morals and national character, the native author is deprived of his vocation; or if he persist in writing, instead of scattering through his pages the warming and illuminating fire of a truly national spirit. is compelled to write in the tone of alien rivals, and to seek the approval of foreign criticism, as a condition of even the most moderate home popularity. Generally, men of genius and fit cultivation, unless so rich that they can easily labor without pecu- niary compensation, discard literature altogeth- er for more profitable occupation, so that the absence of international copyright keeps from our presses our own best intelligence as well as that of foreign countries. Mr. Washington Irving undertook to dispose of a production of merit, written by an American who had not yet established a commanding name in the literary market, but found ‘it impossible to get an offer from any of the principal publishers. “They even declined to pub- lish it at the author’s cost,” he says, “ al- leging that it was not worth their while to trouble themselves about native works. of doubtful success, while they could pick and choose among the successful works daily poured out by th itish press, for the copyright of which they had nothing to pay.” And not only is the American thus in a degree excluded from the audience of his countrymen. but the publishers, who have control over many of the newspapers. and other periodicals. exert them- selves, in the way of their business, to build up the reputation of the foreigner whom they rob, and to destroy that of the ‘home author who aspires to a competition with him. How false is the impudent assertion of one of the attorneys of a great publishing house op- poged to the copyright treaty, that “ American writers, as a class, meet with as fair and as just rewards for their labors, as any other portion of the producing classes,” it is hardly necessary to suggest. The Lawrences and Appletons have made immenge fortunes in Boston by manufac- tures and trade. Their next door neighbors, Mr. Prescott and Mr. Ticknor, in the meanwhile, have not made a cent. But will anybody, ac- quainted with their works, deny that they must have labored as industriously as the Lawrences and Appletons, or that they brought to their tasks as transcendant abilities? They were rich men from the beginning, and so could afford to work for the happiness and glory of the peo- ple. Otherwise they would have been compel- led to devote their energies to something else than the production of literature. There are numerous points connected with this subject which deserve a careful considera” tion, but not one of which the just influence is adverse to an international copyright. We shall, however, touch upon only one other. A Christian believes in the harmony of all interests with justice. This is not a discovery of Mr. Carey, nor of M. Comte. It was an- nounced before those philosophers came upon the stage, in the significant declaration that “all things work together for those who love God.” But the doctrine is ignored in the dis- cussion of this matter ef copyright; and the appeal of the enemics of the treaty now before the Senate is exclusively to ay immediate and short-sighted selfishness. “If the treaty be rati- fied,” they say, “Tn any event, the price of books of all kinds will be prestly increased, the general taste for reading will p discouraged; books will become less and less ac- cessible to the great mass of our people, and one great source ef that universal difusion of knowledge so essential to our prosperity, and for which we have become so justly renowned, will be cut off.” This is all false—assertions, premises and conclusions. The manufacture of books will undoubtedly be improved, but the selative prices will be reduced. It is to be remein- hered that the treaty is not, and cannot be, re- trospective. All the existing literature of the world is to remain as free for publiea- tion as it ie to-day. Libraries must still be composed, for the most part, of old books ; and new books, of unfixed reputations, mast Le as cheap, or nearly as cheap, as the ac knowledged standards of intelligence, or they will not eell. Publishers who are tosupply the entire demand for any one work, can, and will, of course, supply it at a lower rate than they would half this demand. People are pur- porely deceived by frequent allusions to the high prices of particular works or particular editions in England, France, and Germany, where books generally are decidedly cheaper than they are or ever have been in the United States. Even with the existing duties on books printed abroad, those of Bohn, Knight, Vizetelly. Ingram, Cooke & Co., and other pub- lishers in London, are sold in New York for twenty per cent less than American publishers would ask for them. This fact entirely demo- lishes all that can be said of “ making books less accessible to the people” by an international copyright arrangement. Mr. Everett has kept this treaty. we fear, too long from the Senate. We hope it will be sub- mitted for the approval of that body imme- diately. and that its consideration will have the precedency to which it is entitled for its im- portance, If it is defective in detail, it can be revised after we have had some experience of its practical operation, “In any event,” it will secure to us— Better foreign literature; Better American literature; In foreign and American literature a more American and republican spirit; The friendly sympathies of foreign scholare and thinkers; Independence and vigorous life in our own writers; and A better and comparatively cheaper manu- facture of books. We have done with the subject for the pre- sent, probably. but will add one suggestion, to be considered by the law-making power. In- dependent of, and aside from the recognition of copyrights, it should be established that any alteration whatever of an author’s book, except by acknowledged additions, in notes, &., is felony, punishable with the utmost severity ; and all persons buying books so altered. should be enabled to prosecute the seller for obtaining money under false pretences. The abuse is rank, and, copyright or no copyright, it must be aba- ted. But we have now time and space only for this allusion to it. A word as to what we have said to-day, and hitherto, of opposition to international copy- right by publishers. A large proportion of the most eminent houses, comprising, of course, the most intelligent and honorable gentlemen in “the trade,” we have authority for saying, are decidedly in favor of an international copyright treaty. Insvrricient Provisioning OF AUSTRALIAN Suirs.—There have been very general com- plaints among the passengers of vessels which have left this port, for some time past, bound for Australia ; and it appears that a large propor- tion of those vessels have not carried water or provisions enough for the entire voyage. We called attention to the subject not very long ago, and we have since received letters from passengers, complaining in the bitterest terms of the meanness and want of faith exhibited by the agents or owners of emigrant ships, in not properly or sufficiently provisioning them before they put out to sea. Among the several communications which have reached us on this subject, we have one which informs us of the resolute action taken by the emigrants on board, in seeking the in- terposition of the authorities at the first point where they touched, having a survey made of the ship’s provisions, and forcing the com- mander to put in an adequate supply, which cost him no less a sum than five thousand dol- lars, to defray which expense it was necessary to place a lien on his vessel. This was just as it should be ; and we hope the determination to obtain their rights, thus evinced by the passep- gers of the ship alluded to, will have a good effect in teaching the owners that they will not be permitted to trifle with the health and safety of travellers to minister to their own cupidity and avarice. The provisions which cost five thousand dollars at intermediate ports would not -have amounted to half that sum in New York; and if they had been furnished in the first instance, the delay, expense, and inconve- nience of putting in for a supply would not have occurred. This will, no doubt, have a better effect than the most stringent legislation on the subject, inasmuch,as it is a most irresisti- ble argument to the purse. Now, then, gentlemen, if you will not properly provision your vessels for the sake of preserving faith to your passengers, you will at least do so for the sake of avoiding increased expenditure Personal Intelligence. Mr. Robert Bunch, Vice Consul to Anthony Barclay, Ksq., H, B. M. Consul at New York, has been appointed Dy Mr. Crampton, H. B. M. Minister at Washiugton, as Tocum tenens of the consulate at i’hiladelphia, vacated by the death of Mr. Wm. Peters. City Intelligence. ‘Tar Lata Execvvion At tH Tomus.—In our report of the incidents which oceurred and the religious services which were celebrated at the city prison, previous to the cxecu- tion of the convict Clark, there occurs a mistake, which we beg to correct. The report states that the unfortu- nate man partook of a hearty breakfast at eight o'clock in the morning, and received the holy communion be- tween the hours of nine and ten. This was.an error, as in {hg oman Catholic church communicants are always fasting. The mistake occurred in arranging the matter for the printers. Frnt.—Wednerday evening a fire broke out in the third ® of the house No. 65 Franklin street, which waa cau- pry & the bursting of a camphene lamp. The flames were soon Cay berg ut not until property to the amount of lestroyed, $100 was Acctorst.—About half past ten A. M. Wadnesday, a wo- toan named Catharine Liun, was knocked down in the Howery bya stage, and was seriously injured. She was conveyed to the sthtion house, and Dr. Budd sent for, who dressed her wounds, after which she was conveyed to the office of the Commissioners of Emigration by the police. Founp Drap.—The body of an infant was found dead in alot in Seventy-first street, near Sixth avenue. It was brought to the station house, and the Coroner notified of the fact. Rescvep From Drowsinc.—On Wednesday, an unknown man fell overboard at pier No. 2 North river, and was res- cued from drowning by the exertion’ of Officer Allasan, Batt or ‘Our Sociat Revnton.’’—This social ball comes off this evening, at Niblo’s, and, from the excellent ar- rangements made, it bids fair to be one of the most” Clegaut svirées of the season: Coroner's Inquest. ‘Tae Pravn ix vue Crvy Hosrrrar—Cast ov ANve Worn. — Coroner Hiltom proceeded to the City Hospital, at ten o'clock yesterday morning, in order to investigate the circurosidnces connected with the death of the rbove name woman. Our readers wil recollect that she ether fell accidentally or threw herself from the window of a louse in Fleventh street, a short time since. It is now said that she committed suicide by throwing herself to the ground after a heartless seduction, and having her rind depressed by certain revelations made to her by a fortane teller whom she consulted. The case was post poved until nine o'clock this morning, owing to the ab- sence of witnesses. The Coroner lms issued subpanas to secure their attendance. Police Migence. Rabery in the Public Street.—Otheer Natty of the Fourth ward, yesterday arrested a man named Thomas Maher, ona charge of violently rssaulting James Heather, ree | siding at No, 69 Mott atreet, and stealing from hix persoa | anilver watch and gold ceal key, valned in all at $80, reems that on Sanday night th 4 met Heather in | Chathem street, n 4 , an ked him for some meney, Mr, Heather 10 comply with his request when Mavor struck him a violent blow with his fist, and }nocked him Cown. Heather called out “wateh,”” but hefore any aaeistance came, Maher struck him another \iolent blow, and before he could recover himself, Maher stole from his pocket the propety above named, and ran off. A deseription of the accused was given to the po- liceman, and yenterda y Maher was arrested, and con veyed before the complatvant, whoddendified him as the jerroh who committed the robbery. Justice Bogart focked the accused up for trial. MOVEMENTS OF PRESIDENT PIERCE, The Stay in the , and the Dopartare Sor to Capital More About the New Cabinet. INCIDENTS IN TOWS, &e., &e., ke The Deporture of Gen. Picr.¢ frame on tera es (at peared 3 im President elect of the Unites States, left lip camameon te this town for Washington, to enter, on the 4th of March, upon the duties of the exalted station to which be haa been called by the unsolicited expression of the nation’s wish. His departure is an event which prompts us to say something more than merely to announee the fact. For nearly twenty-five years Gen. Pierce has been © public man, in the highest and truest sense of the tera, and for a large portion of that time ‘whether in office or occupying the place of a private eltizen, he has been the most influential man in our State. Posseasing all those generous and noble attributes which ne to win the high regard and lasting confidenes of am intelli. gent people, he early secured, and has always retained, a yore rity based upon so solid a foundation that not has ever been able to inipair it, No eltizon of New mpshire ever possessed so great ypularit Cealinumtth far mare worthy anh enealgana ae Eminently just in all his conduct, generous toa fault, the soul oflonor, liberal in all his views, possessing ag kind and noble a heart as ever warmed a true man’s bosom or prompted to chivalrous deeds, and in all his constant and extensive intercourse with the people ever exhibiting those traits of character, it is not strange that he has won and retained the warmest attachment. and highest respect of all classes, and caused himself to be regarded as a personal friend by all who are worthy of a. good man’s friendship. And being thus regarded, nd in view of the arduous duties and immense responsi bilities to which he has been called by the country, it is but natural that his departure, from among them should fitnessed by our people with a degree of regret which heir due appreciation ‘of the high honor conferred upon upon them cannot entirely dispel. He goes from us bearing with him the most heartfelt and deep-sea respect of the whole community—a respect based upon a knowledge of his eminent abilities and exalted character, and confirmed and heightened by his public services, and the high honor which he has brought upon the State. And while they will ever be anxious for the success of hia administration, and have the most undoubting confidence in bis ability to discharge the high trast committed to- him, with signal honor to himself and to the country, illever remain especially rolicitous fr his perponal wel fare and happiness. That he may be bl with health and abundant success in all his patriotic and honorable. endeavors, is the earnest wish ot every true New Hamp- shire heart. SIDNEY WEBSTER, ESQ. With General Pierce, as his private secretary, goes, our, highly esteemd friend, Sidney Webster, Req. In this selection Gen. Pierce has been exceedingly for. tunate. The relation of President and private seci is delicate and responsible. It is strictly confidential, and can only be properly filled by a gentleman of ed- ucation, discretion, honor, and personal accomplish- ments—one who can duly appreciate the importance and {s equal to the duties of his position, as in a measure the personal representative of the President, the re of his most secret counsels and of his ‘unlimi 4 dence, and the almost constant pagticipant of his society. To say that Mr. Webster is such@ man is to say only what all who know him intimately readily concede. As there is ever a great curiosity on the part of the public to iow something rene those who occupy ns near person of their Chief Magistrate, we tify that feeling so far as it relates to lr. Webster. Mr. W. was born in Gilmanton, in this State, in 1827. Hiv father was Caleb Webster, Eaq., now deceased, a respectable, en- terprising, fal business man, His mother is and su the sister of Gen. Peaslee, member of from this district. After receiving the advantages of a thorough and careful home education, he entered Dartmouth Col- lege, in 1844, well fitted. He remained there one and then removed to Yale Col where he graduated in 1848 wit! He left college with a reputation for thoror ship, gentlemanly A and upright 2 few obtain. Soon after entered the law school at Harvard Col a where he remained two ears. There he was dit ‘ished for close application, and for the rapid progress which he made in the 9 ition of a thorough legal education, no less than for his bril- liant talents and high personal character ; and he left the law school with the high oncomiums of his teachers, = late ei soon Lipo hem| ale pte! Parsons, the former of whom always for 701 friend a high position in the profession of his choles. “auch & diction from such a source is of no ordinary import. Im- mediately on leaving Cambridge, Mr. Webster entered the office of William Dehon, Esq., of for personal accom] where he alike distinguished gal Gea speaking this com; manner of Mr. Webster, we are not sags strong feeling of private friendship, but simply express the opinions which an ee many years, and knowledge of the man, have begotten. young men of our acquaintance, we know of no one whom. ‘we consider co well qualified for the position for which he has been selected. As man of unblemished private character, of correct habite, of de of generous and honerable impulses and, of a and highly cultivated mind, no man of his age acquaintance is his superior. And we can most fi concur with the remarks of the Boston Post, that ‘no man in New Ham) had more brilliant +prospects before him than Mr. Webster when he yielded the solicitations of the President elect to accompany him to Washington, and no young lawyer in that State has given stronger af capacity to convert those advantages to the highest personal honor and advance- ment. @ sacrifice, on the part of Mr. Webster, of pro- fessional prospects, in leaving his office at Concord, munt be great, and we are confident that nothing but his attachment to Gen. Pierce could eke mer to make su to sacrifice. However, he has higher impulses of his nature, and we hope result will prove ‘thet con- duct dictated by such elevated motives find a suitable reward in the just appreciation of the intelligent commu- nity with which his ew situation will bring him in conn. tact, and enable him to return to his New home with increased power to realire ete anticipations his auspicious outset in life so fully j ied.” THE CABINET. ey BE ee i aah et ly for the purpose of aa; just as as the thousand and one rumors in ‘elation to the cabinet, which, for the last three months, have figured in telegraphic despatches, letters from W: and newspaper paragraphs. Gen. Pierce, we venture to as- net, not ; communicated with Major Lally, directly or indirectly, in relation to his cabinet. We do not pretend to know who are to occupy seats im the cabinet, and we have no doubt that we are just as fortunate in this re- spect as any other [alee in Concord. Gen. P. left or > town on Me ‘ashi 5 we have: reasons Sor eli ys Uh ie Cavin céfecig and or y formed. We are quite content to wait for more light on the subject, until the eabinet shall be officially announced, and we are inclined to think that others may as weld join us in this comfortable state of odntentment. General Pierce in New York—His Departure for Washington. Yesterday morning our citizens were all taken by sur- prise by the announcement, in our columns, of the ar- rival of General Pierce. So privately did the President elect travel from Boston to this city, that even the politi- cians, who are ever on the gui vive, and have the keenest scent for the prey, were not aware of it, and he was al- lowed to proceed to his hotel and get to bed without mo- lestation. He was “up with the lark,” and sallied out to enjoy a quiet walk on the Battery, the morning being fimo and the air bracing. The politicians, the moment, they saw the Huratp, were in a terrible flutter, and made a rush to the Astor House; but General Pierce was “invisible.” On his return, incog- nito, he ordered breakfast, and the only person who par- took of it with him was Major Kimball, of this of- fice, who fought by his sido im the Mexican war. The politicians, meantime, crowded the halls and corridors of the hotel, and the cry was ‘still they oqgme.”’ The whole army of waiters at the Astor House did not suffice te carry up the cards and notes from the expectants of office, all of whom did such signal service for General “Pierce and the democratic party in the late Presidentia? ekection. Instead of holding parley with this crowd, the General privately made his exit, with his faithful attend- ant, Sergeant O'Neil, for the purpose of visiting the widow of the late General Worth, who is at present stay- ing on Governor’s Island. He belonged to General Worth’s division, and knew him well, and this visit does honor te the beart of the soldier and the man, Fortunately, General Pierce's person was not known, and he arrived qnietly at the Battery, where he took a boat for the island; butit was so small that it was very nearly being upfet by the swell of the soa, and the President elect of the United States had a narrow escape of being diowned. There waa another difficalty to be enooun- teved—the sentry would not allow the General to land on the island, as he was not provided with an order, and prevented his bayonet in a menacing manner, until he- knew who his visiter was, when he was astonished be- yond measure, never dreaming that the President would ‘come in that plain, unostentatious manner. ‘After paying his respects to Mrs. Worth, by a Jength- ened visit, during which were called up the scones of other days, he returned in the little boat, by which time rome few office seekers had found out where the General had gone, and collected at Whitehall, The boatmen and others, observing their mysterious manner, saw that there was © something in the wind,’ and they swelled the crowd till it became s@ formilsble that Sergeant O'Neil espied it from the fitile craft: whereupon It wae immediately determined to out-manwuvre the harpiee, and, by a rapid movement, the boat was pulled to the north side of the Batt . ’ , The crowd, in the moantime, 4