The New York Herald Newspaper, April 15, 1853, Page 4

WEW YORK HERALD. Ae JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR AND EDITOR. BHFICE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. BB ge REET cnr wpe tre nem coy, annum ny 4, eeuet to as fart Great Brituin and'$9 to any part of “VOLUNTARY CORRESPO: DENCE, containing impor Sat Ne Thnratly al or "ESCs Fo 3 if used, ‘omxiGn COMRESPON™ WENT ARE PARTICULARLY REQUESTED TO SEAL ALL LET- FHS AND PACKAGES GENT UF munications, We do not veturn rejected. TET Te s it, for Subsbriptions, or with Adver- ane seer te post peid. or ihe postage will be deducted from SOE PRINTING executed with neatncss, cheapness, and VER TISEMENTS renewed every day, Wolume XVIMIMT...............005 AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Gripenoy—Tue Revo- Burion—Hvssann's Szcrer. BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway~-Mxrauons—Bouo Daacoors, WIBLO’8—La Sonnauavra. BURTON'S THEATRE, Chambers street-Manny Mo- WaRon—WAGER—BLaow Eyed Susan. WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway—Inisn Harness— Diamonn. AMERICAN MUSEUM—Afternoon—Stats Sucret—Ro- man Brotuexe - Domestic Ecomomy. Ev Ouruax’s Dasau—Romay Brotuens—Sweetwrarr 1D Wives. ‘SP. CHARLES THEATRE, Bowe: Pitanro—Evs.egn Wason—Canrasren or Swaves. CHRISTY’S OPERA HOUSE, 472 Broadway—Ermorian @eovine by Cuxisty’s Orena Trove. WOOD'S MINSTRELS, Wood's Musical Hall, 444 Broad- wey—Ermioriax MixstReisy. OARCUS, 37 Bowery—Equesraian ENTERTAINMENTS. GEORAMA, 586 Broadway—Baxvarn’s Paxonama oF ous Hory Linn. Ze, CHAPEA—Dr, Vaventise’s Byesixes or Ec- ey. which was finally arrested by the Canal Board; with neglect to visit [sections three, four, and five, of the Canal; with non-appearance in behalf of the State in appraisal cases, and with participation in the fraudulent canal lettings of 1851. These charges are of @ far more grave character than was antici- pated. Let us see what the State constitution says upon the subject of impeachment. Section one of article six, reads as follows :— = £ ‘The Ai bly shall have the power of ii ment by areata aide machen ccd ae court for the trial of impeachments, shall be composed of the President of the Senate, the Senators, or a major rt of them, and the Ji of the Court of Appeals, or the major part of them. On the trial of an impeachment against the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor shall not actas a member of the court. No judicial officer sball exercise his office after he shall have been im until he shall have been acquitted. Before the trial of an im- peachment, the members of the court shall take an oath or affirmation truly and impartially to try the ment, according to the evidence, and no person shall be convieted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present. Judgment, in cases of impeachment, shall not extend further than to removal from office, or removal from office and disqualification to hold and en- ‘oy any office of honor, trust, or profit under this State; ut the party impeached shall be liable to indictment, and punished according to law. By the arrival of the screw propeller steamship Alps at Boston, and the steamer America at Halifax, we have received one week's later advices from Europe. The newsis replete with interest. The poli- tical aspect of affairs in England and France was scarcely altered since the sailing of the Europa. The Eastern question continued to absorb the atten- tion of politicians, and conjectures as to its speedy settlement, and hostile protraction on the part of Russia, were very conflicting. The latest rumor was that the King of Belgium would be appointed as arbitrator, and that a Congress of the Great Powers would confer at Brussels. The French fleet had sailed for the Archipelago. The London journals speak of divisions existing in Lord Aberdeen’s cabi- net. Arrests for political offences and police espionage were of daily occurrence in Italy and the Roman States. Our commercial intelligence is to the latest date, and is very interesting. Cotton was buoyant, and prices had advanced one fourth of a RELLER’S SOIREES MYSTERIEUSES, 539 Broadway. @WEN’S ALPINE RAMBLES, 539 Broadway. New York, Friday, April 15, 1853. Malls for Europe. THE NEW YORK WEEKLY HERALD. ‘The Collins steamship Atlantic, Captain West, will eave this port at noon on Saturday, for Liverpool. Subseriptions and advertisements for any edition of the New Yor Henacp will be received at the following places 4m Burope — Laverroot—John Hunter, No. 2 Paradise street. Rowpox—Edward Sandford & Co., Cornhill. * Wm. Thomas & Co., No. 19 Catherine street. Panis—Livingston, Wells & Co., Rue de la Bourse. “ B. HL Revoil, No. 17 Rue de la Banque. ‘The European mails will close in thiscity at a quarter ‘to eleven o’clock. ‘Tue Weexry Hzrarp will be published at half-past nine clock to-morrow morning. Single copies, in wrappers, mix-pence. ‘The News. ‘The excitement and confusion consequent upon the @eassembling of the State Levislature yesterday morning, in pursuance of Governor Seymour's pro- lamation convening an extra session, will be found @uly recorded in the regular report of the proceed- ings and our special despatch from Albany. Some of the members of the Assembly, in the heat of de- bate as to the propriety of transacting business, geem to have carried their opposition to the great- est possible length—so much so that one of them spplauded the remarks of a friend by clapping his dhands asthough he were in a place of public amuse- ment. Another gentleman, stili more impetuous, offered a resolution protesting, as a simple citizen, ‘that the body had not been constitutionally convened. ‘The Speaker decided the protest to be out of order; whereupon the mover became exceedingly agitated, threw off hisovercoat, banged his desk, and declared that nothing short of physical force should prevent his being heard. It being apparent that a dose of fresh air, immediately applied, would be beneficial to this warm-spirited member, the Sergeant-at-Arms, ‘with the sanction of a majority of those present, @emporarily removed him from the floor. All this hubbub appears to have grown out of the fact that several ofthe members of the Legislature were ab- sent,.and had not reccived notification of the extra gession, and also that the Governor's proclamation ‘was prepared before the expiration of the regular term. Buta majority of the members of each house ‘was present, being all that was necessary to transact ‘business, and, therefore, the question of constitu- tionality seems to be rather straining a point. We will here quote the different sections of the State eonstitution with regard to the matter:— Article 4, section 4, says the Governor “shall have the power to convene the Legislature (or the Senate only,) ‘on extraordinary occasions.” Article 8. section 10, says ‘a majerity of each h shall constitute a quorun do business ; eaeh hb ahali.determine the rules of its own proceedings.” Sec tion 6 of the ame article says, ‘ when convened in extra weasion by the Governor,” the members “‘ shall receive three dollars per day.’” After very exciting debates in both houses, it wae determined, in accordance with the provision con tained in the last mentioned section, to take up and proceed with business as though there had been only a recess, instead of an adjournment. The Assembly adopted a resolution to take a recess from to-day till the 18th of next month; but the Senate refused, by a decided majority, to sanction any such proceeding. The Senate resolved to adjourn on the 31st of May. | ‘The members.of the lower house are generally very anxious to get home, but the Governor and the | Senate arc determined to kcep them at work, and by so doing will very probably cause the necessary work to progress at a rapid rate. Gov. Seymour, in his message, whieh is elsewhere poblished, declares that the Legislatexe adjourned without providing for the preservation of the public faith. Many of the expenses of government are un- provided for, and the Comptroller's accounts show that the revenues of the General Fund are insuffi- cient to meet the ordinary demands upon the Trea. sury. No appropriations have been made for paying the interest of the canal debt,a failure +e meet which would be a source of mortification to ali good citizens. The Governor thinks that the failure of the annual tax bill for this city will not only embar- ress our municipal government, but probably pre- vent the payment of its contribution to the Common Behool revenue. He adverts to the fact that the people of the State relied upon the present Legisla- ture to make provision for the necessary improve- mente, as well as to prevent the entire suspension, of the public works; but regrets that protracted discus- sion upon the proper plan to be pursued has pre- vented the adoption of any. He rather favors the proposition advanced in the Assembly, to borrow annually, for six years, the sum of one mil lion and a half of dollars, for the reason that it dis. tinctly guards against the application of said money apon the contracts made under the canal law two years ago. Having given his views upon the measures referred to, the Governor concludes by re marking that a few days devoted to thei: perfection will not only prevent great injury to the public honor and interest, but will also save a renewal of the dis- cussion hereafter. Let us hope that his wishes may be realized, for the canal dispute has cost the people More moncy, end caused a greater waste of time in the Legislature, and probably more ill-feeling, than apy other issue that ever arove in th + We understand that the bly, in specifying their siring the impe: ©. Mather, charge bim with money toa | contractor under a void re: 1 of the Canal Board; with ecting to dismiss Si intendents Waterman and rett, when notified by 1i- | tor that their accounts were unsatisfact penny. Breadstuffs were dull and declining. A despatch from Washington announces that Dr. Kane has received his instructions relative to the new Arctic Expedition, and expects to sail from this port about the 1st proximo. From Mobile we learn that Viee President King is still afflicted with severe coughing. If able, he will to-morrow leave that place for his plantation. According toa despatch from Louisville, a duel is to be fought in that vicinity this morning, between Col. O'Hara, of Cuban notomety, and Lieut. Cum- mings, one of Gen. Twiggs’ aids. A boy only fourteen years of age has been con- yicted of manslaughter at Rochester, and will be sentenced to the Honse of Refuge. The ceremony of laying the corner stone of the new Roman Catholic Church of St. Stephen, in Twenty-cighth strect, between Lexington and Third avenues, which was advertised to take place yester- day, was postponed in consequence of the unfavor- able state of the weather. The thirty-seventh annual meeting of the New York Female Bible Society was held in the Bible House yesterday. The general reports and financial statement of the Treasurer were highly satisfactory. The Reverend Doctor Spring delivered an eloquent address. A notorious swindler, called Chauneey Larkin, was under examination before the Police Court yes- terday. A full account of the proceedings will be found elsewhere. We annex a brief list of the contents of today’s inside pages :—Interesting News trom Cuba ; Trans- lation of an article from Za Cronica concerning Mr. Soulé’s appoiutment as Minister to Spain ; De tails of an extraordinary Divorce Case in Canada; Police Intelligence, including the examination of Chauncey Larkin for Swindling; Communication relative to the Curious Case of Amalgamation ; Commercial, Theatrical, and Miscellaneous Affairs ; Advertisements, Xc. Another American Vessel Boarded by ao British Cruiser off Cuba. We have received intelligence of another out- rage on the American flag. As usnal, an Ame- rican vessel has been fired into. forced to heave to, and boarded by the crew of a British man-of- war. It is not stated whether our countrymen were ill-used or not; but we dare say Capt. Otis was very properly hauled over the coals for having the audacity to sail under the “stars and stripes.” Still, in view of the apparently acknowledged right-of foreigners to board our vessels and insult our flag, we are bound to ad- mit that the Englishman displayed a very creditable moderation in respecting life and property. The-particulars are narrated in the following letter -— Havana, April 7, 1853. James Gorpon Bennett, Esq., New ‘York HeERaup :— Dear Srn—Please publish the following, 2s report- ed by Capt. James Mtis,.of ship Harriet, of Bath: On the morning of March 31st last, running from Double Headed Shot Keys, was fired at by Her Bri- tannic Majesty's steamer Devastation (as she was af- | terwards found to be): hoisted his colors, and hove the maintop sail ab: The steamer, after steering several different came up and told him (Capt. { Otis) “he should send bis boat on beard.” Capt. Otis | Teplied—“I do not care whether you door not."’ The steamer did send her boat, with two officers in her, and demanded his papers; went below and searched ‘the ship, and detained her over an hour, with a ten ‘knotbreeze. After some further parley, the boat left ahe ship, and Capt. Otis filled away upon his course. s for myself, my mind is made up that there is not an Englishman afloat that shallexamine the papers oe search the vessel which I have charge of, short of wing coercive measures. Respectfully, your obediont servant, A. Jewett, Bark Faith, of Portland. This is the second outrage of the kind we have had to record since the ist of January. Toward the close of last year. the American schooner Aid was boarded by a British sloop of war, on her passage from Matanzas to Carde- nas, her papers overhauled. and her veyage de- layed for a considerable period of time. Notice was glaken of the matter by the Herazp, but we necd not say that it was ignored by the ad- ministration. The Cabinet had, indeed, been warned, some time before. that the renewed exertions of Great Britain to check the slave trade in Cuba must Jcad to accidents of this na- ture. Easily as slavers could escape detection, if the hoist of a faise flag protected them from inquiry, it was incumbent on the govern- ment to devise means by which our national ensign should be secured from outrage without interfering with the laudable designs of Great Britain. The service on which the British West India squadron is employed requires the captains of vessels to be invested with the utmost stretch of power that is consistent with the safety and well-being of foreign merchantmen ; aud we are quite ready to admit that a certain latitude ought to be allowed them in discharging their difficult duties to the best of their discretion. We would willingly saevifice a point of dignity to see the objects of the squadron attained. But, on the other hand, this very indulgence renders it doubly necessary to keep a close watch on the British as well as on the Spa: h cruisers. A-semblance of apathy on our part would soon revive the obsolete theories of the right of search, and we should again be com- pelled to go to war to seti ology for an apparent insult inadvertently offered to our vessels by a British man-of-war; Lut we should, at all hazards, insist on that excess of expenditures on the West Troy Dock; with expenditures on the excavations from the Hudson | asl crpenditure io pauay sting thy Albany Bustn, | pology. The Captain of the Devastation. for 3 had reagonable g: cling the Harriet of being a slayer. Her i cow sLEpC appearance may have belied her true character. Other circumstances, of which we are ignorant, may have contributed to strengthen the erro- neous notion of the Englishman. In such a case we should exhibit a very ridiculous obsti- nacy and false pride if we were to show dis- satisfaction after a frank acknowledgment of the blunder. But to call for that acknowledg- ment we hold to be due to ourselves and to the world. To pass over the cases of the Aid and the Harriet in silence, would be neither more nor less than a tacit recognition of England’s right ofsearch. This admitted, we must expect to have our vessels overhauled by British cruisers on any and every pretext, in any and every quarter of the globe. The real source of these outrages does not lie on board British vessels, but in the island of Cuba. Our indignation ought to be directed against the latter, not against the former. If our merchants suffer trom delays occasioned by British cruisers—if our national pride is wound- ed by incessant outrages on our flag—Cuba should feel the greater part of our resentment: not England. Without implicating ourselves, morally, in the Cuban slave trade, we cannot insist on that inviolability for our flag to which it is entitled. Without appearing to shelter the Cuban slavers, we cannot protect ourselves as we ought. The only practical solution to the difficulty is to be found in the suppression of the traffic on the island. So long asit exists, American vessels will constantly be boarded by British cruisers ; representations will go out from Washington—apologies will return from St. James—and the net results of the whole business will be a very serious interfe- rence with our West Indian trade. We need not tell our readers that there is but one way of suppressing the slave trade in Cuba. The hope that a flect of cruisers, vigilant as Argus. will crush the traffic, is futile. They may hamper it, or even check it altogether, for a time; but, as we have seen in Brazil, the mo- ment the men of war are removed, the plague will burst forth anew. Spanish cunning and Spanish avarice will always suceeed in defeat- ing the most judiciously planned measures. Until the bond of union between Spain and her colony is severed, .we have no hope that the slave trade will be crushed. It will remain for the statesmen of England to consider how far expediency will warrant an annual expenditure of some four or five millions in fruitless at- tempts to accomplish a purpose which can only he effectually attained by the absorption of the island into the American Union. The Strikes and Progress of the Labor Move ment. It is impossible to contemplate the recent labor movement without feelings of satisfuction- Whether we regard its cause or its tendency the incidents which marked its progress, or the results which it has already attained, we cannot but be struck with the moderation which it. has disclosed on the one hand, and the justice it has revealed-on the other. In this respect it is without a parallel in recent history. We, at all events. are not acquainted with any similar movement which owed its origin to no national misfortune, and which wrought out its purpose without endargering the public peace. or even inflicting serious injury on any important class of the community. Strikes have been commonly viewed as ca- lamities. Riots and social disorders have so invariably accompanied their progress. that they have come to be considered as insepa- rable. Hence the instinctive terror which the name inspires. In the minds of many who may read these lines the term “strike” has ever evoked gloomy associations of financial depres- sion, unstable credit. national adversity, and universal suffering. They have read of the ex- cesses into which want of work and want of money have hurried the laboring classes. They have heard of times when bread was dear—not from an unusual demand. but from an insuffi- cient supply—and when brute foree was fatally but vainly exerted to counteract evils over which man had no control. Thus they involun- tarily couple the idea of a strike with scenes of ernelty and terror in the rich man’s mansion, and ghastly pictures of beggary and violence in the poor man’s garret. The labor movement ef 1853 will leave no such desolating traces behind it. It arose. as we all know, from an unusual and possibly an inflated season of commercial prosperity. No portentous calamity heralded its approach. It was ushered into existence by arise in the value of provisions. land and houses—an event which. whatever fluctuations we may expect hereafter. is not in itself a misfortune. In point of prin- ciple, it was unquestionably just that the pro- portionate value of labor. capital and real es- tate, which had been disturbed by that cause. should be adjusted. In point of practice, no reasonable man could anticipate any evil con- sequences from aliowing the operatives to par- ticipate, on the same terms as the other classes of the community, in the increase of national wealth. Nor has the cause of the “ strikers” been sul- lied by acts which could lead us to question its justice. We have heard of no cases of violence. no instances of oppression. no attempts to bully. One or two minor examples of somewhat dicta- torial language on the part of the Unions have, as was natural, aroused a corresponding obsti- nacy on the part of the employers; but we do not anticipate any very momentous results from the skirmish. In the bulk of the cases which have fallen under our notice, the demands of the workmen have been reasonable. they have been urged temperately, end’ the employers have cheerfully granted the concessions re- quired. It has seldom been our privilege to chronicle eo happy an adjustment of so formida- ble a difficulty. Before leaving the subject, it may be well to remind some of our readers that the utility aad justice of joint action on the part of mechanics and operatives are now universally recog- nized. The old laws which prohibited com- Dbinations of workmen for the purpose of rats- ing wages have long since been repealed. and consigned to contemptuous oblivion. No en- lightened man, at the present day, will pretend to argue that operatives in any particular craft have not a right to meet and act in concert for their common welfare. Combinations of em- ployers have always existed. Their meetings have not been public, and their j action has only been felt in its effects; in ma 1y cases indeed, their understanding has been tacit all practical purposes, maa every branch of industry have cised the right of combining to keep doy wages, To deny similar privilege to the men would be in direct violation of the principles of liberty. Est hed on a firm basis of right and equi- pond Ga Lie combinations them- but cturer rst r istence is not inexpedient, or incompatible with ‘the convenience of the community. sion is of the most delicate nature. They hold in trust the rights of each individual member, and must exert their collective influence to as- sert and maintain them. But they must not Their mis- | aged. When the conveyance of the in the same manner as the ward are man- of the society is made over to the city, (the bill fixes the time for the first of September next,) the Public School Society ceases to exist. In parting with this truly benevolent association, as an old and faithful public servant, it will be inter- forget, that in dealing with employers they a5- | esting to the friends of education, and others not sume a frightful responsibility if they abandon | familiar with its history, to have a brief notice of the persuasive for the dictatorial tone. How- the rise and progress of the institution, which may ever just, fair and reasonable their demands may | be said to have been the pioneer of the common be, the chances of their being granted are wo- | school system of the State of New York. fully diminished if they are presented as a com- mand instead of a suggestion. No man of spirit will submit to dictation; and where it is at- tempted, the only issue from the difficulty is one which involves a vast sacrifice of dignity and interest on the part of him who assumes to dic- tate. If the Unions carefully avoid this stum- The Public School Society was founded in the year 1805, for the purpose of bringing the means of instruction within the reach of the children of indi- gence. De Witt Clinton was one of the principal projectors of this scheme of philanthropy. The act of incorporation was obtained in April, 1805; and on the 6th of May following the first board of trus- tees under the new charter was elected, under the name of “Free School for the Education bling block they cannot but succeed in ob- | of children who do not belong to, and are not pro- taining faig wages for their members. When we use the words “fair wages” we un- derstand them as meaning at least rather more than twice what it costs to support an able-bodied man. Political economists allow a family of four children to each operative, and estimate the cost of their support as equal to that of the father. If, therefore, the wife’s labor suffices for her maintenance, the earnings of the husband must be sufficient to support himself and four children, and to leave a trifle for “a rainy day,” or labor cannot continue to exist ona healthy footing. This, be it understood, applies to the lowest trades—those which re- quire the least mechanical skill. Where the mechanic has spent many years of his life in acquiring a knowledge of an intricate trade, it is right that his emoluments should be larger. The mere labor of a man ought to be equal. ina well-regulated community, to the fair support of himself and four children; skilled labor should fetch a considerably higher price, and place within the reach of its possessor more of the bodily and intellectual comforts of life. We cannot too strongly press upon the notice of the rich the paramount necessity of preserv- ing this proportion between labor and wages. Merchants and professional men are certainly indispensable to the commonwealth; hut me- chanics and laborers are not less ‘s0. The bone and sinew of this country are not the gentle- men, but the operatives. Let us beware how. through error or prejudice, we drive them from our midst, and find their places occupied by emigrant paupers. InrerestinG Letrer—Tue Reriy Wayt- Ep.—The Tribune of yesterday contains the following letter, which of course was furnished by Mr. Barnum. Will Mr. Barnum favor the public with his reply to Mr. Camp? New York, Saturday, April 2, 1853. P. T. Barnum, Esq.:—A year ago the enclosed Address was delivered by me at Tripler Hall, and then I was in good health and weighed 200 pounds. The following political campaign and its ‘‘ appurten- ances thereto belonging” left me last fall with an almost destroyed constitution, and I am now so re- duced that unless I can leave home for some Squth- ern clime, I shall probably soon die of the disease —bronchial dys; ja. I have probably lived to do some evil, but am de- sirous of living to do some Rood and if God will onl: restore me to health, the balance of my days shall be spent in that object, and specially so as to pro- mote the cause of temperance. I may differ with you, and with many of those with wlicm you act, as to the practical mode of ad- vancing that cause, but my plan will produce more beneficial results in one year than all that has been done in this city in five, and I will apply it political- ly as well as morally. Yours tly, wocH E. Camp. We are not in possession of the original letter which Mr. Camp wrote, but the above is not, we believe, an exact copy, or at least a portion is suppreseed. Mr. Camp, alter stating his dis- tressed situation, asked Mr. Barnum for some relief. Mr. Barnum wrote him a model letter, in which hestated that as he (Camp) had always spent his money with rum sellers, he ought to apply to them and not to him (Barnum) for aid. “Mr. Camp also addressed a letter to the Har- pers. In that letter he alluded to a faet which they had forgotten, viz.:--that he was a roller boy in their establishment at one period of his life. Mr. Harper kindly sent him the money he required. Will the Tribune furnish the public with all the letters’—Camp’s letter to the Harpers, and the reply of the Harpers—and Barnum’s model reply to poor Camp's applica- tion? Give us all the facts. Tre Stoo Grant Rativiep py Mexico.—We learn by telegraph from New Orleans, that the contract entered into by the government of cx, President Cevallos with the Sloo Company, respecting the read across the Isthmus of Te- huantepec, was confirmed and ratified on the 8th instant, by the present goverament of Gen. Lombardini. It is now in the possession of Major Iturbide. en route for Washington. This is a matter of some importance for the grantees, as it was by no means improbable that Gen. Lombardini would disclaim the act of his pre- dcecesor, particularly as the company had already paid into the hands of the goverument —according to the Universal—two hundred thousand dollars of the sum agreed to in the contract. Now Santa Anna takes the matter in hand. The Dissolutton of the Public School Society. The statement published yesterday, that the new school bill had passed both branches of the Legisla- ture and becomea law, was probably incorrect. We presume, however, that it will be passed at the extra session, as the bill was assented to by the Trustees of the Publie School Society and the Board of Educa- tion. It‘*is understood that the latter have driven the Seciety to a course which effects their dis- solution, after their long, faithful, and disinterested management of tie public schools under their charge. The ward schools, having taken the lead, under the Jaw which has been several years in ex istence, it is well, perhaps, that the common schools of the city should be all merged in one system, as is proposed in the bill now before the Legislature. The Public School Society has under its charge at present eighteen large schools for white children, two schools for colored children, one normal school for girls, fifty-five primary schools for whites, and three of the same for colored children. The ward schools are thirty-two in number, besides primary schools, and are under the superintendence of the ‘Trustees of Common Schools in the several wards in which the schools are located. The following are the locations of the eighteen public schools under the charge of the Public School Society:— No, 1—William street, near Duare, 2-116 Henry street. 2—Iludson, corner Grove street. Rivington street, Mott street. i iene street, near Chi iJ—Wooster, near Lieecker stroet. eventcenth street, near Eighth avenve, The buildings oce will be transferred to the city if the proposed bill should become a law. schuvls, of course, will be continued in the same buildings, and placed | y c selves to show by thelr conduct that thelr ex- | wuder the Board of Education agd Truytecs, vided for by, any religious society.” This board con- sisted of De Witt Clinton, President; John Murray, Jr., Vice President; Leonard Bleecker, Treasurer; Benjamin D. Perkins, Secretary; Gilbert Aspinwall, Thomas Eddy, Thomas Franklin, Matthew Franklin, Adrian Hagerman, William Johnson, Samuel Miller, Benjamin G. Minturn and Henry Ten Broeck. After theflapse of nearly a year, the first school was opened, on the plan originated in England by Joseph Lan- caster. This school was opened in May, and proved successful. So favorable was its report to the Legis- lature, in 1807, that on application to that body for aid a donation of $4,000 was given for erecting a schoolhouse, besides an annual appropriation of $1,000 for the support of the school. The Common Council granted additional aid, in a suitable building and $500 for repairs. Encouraged by this success, the trustees re- solved to renew their efforts to extend the bene- fits of the Society. On application to the Legis- lature the name was changed to the “Free School of the City of New York; and the So- ciety was authorized to educate all children who were proper objects of gratuitous instruction. Fur- ther aid was received from the city corporation, which enabled the Society to prepare a room capa- ble of holding 500 pupils, besides apartments for the use of the Board and the teacher’s family. There ‘was a very general interest felt by the citizens on this occasion. Atthe opening of the new school- house, an address was delivered by De Witt Clinton, and the school was soon afterwards organized. In 1810, the fee of life membership being raised by the Legisiature to fifty dollars, this, together with a grant made to the Society, and the increase of individual contributions from $7,000 to $13,000, in- duced the society to erect anotherbuilding, in Henry street, which was completed in October, and in this building school No. 2 was opened in November. It is not necessary to trace minutely the progress of the Society for several successive years. Suffice it to say, that from 1815 to 1824 fur more schools were organized, under the most favorable auspices, the number of pupils having inereased from 40 to upwards of 4,000, and all things chad thus far exceeded the most sanguine expecta- tions of those who were laboring, with a laudable zeal, for the diffusion of education among the indi- gent classes. Probably no institution which bas ever existed in this city has shown more disinterestedness than the Public School Society—a large proportion of the trustees being always from the ranks of wealthy and enterprising citizens, who did not re- quire the use of the schools for their own children, and members of the Society of Friends, or Quakers, who have always sustained schools of their own for the education of the youth of their society, but free- ly gave their cervices to the public on this occasion. In 1826 the charter of the Free School Socicty was altered so as to empower them, under the name of the “ Public School Society,” to receive children, whether objects of charity or not, at low rates, from twenty-five cents to two dollars per quarter. The Board was increased by fifty additional mem- bers, and the price of membership was reduced to ten dollars, Three more schools were organized, and primary or infant schools were established. Perceiving the abuses of the pay system, the Pub- lic School Soeiety at this time conceived the idea of @ general school tax, in addition to the school fund, as a means of establishing a system of public schools on £0 liberal a footing as to mect the approval and patronage of the citizens generally. Accordingly, a petition was circulated asking for a tax to the amount of halfa mill on a dollar of assessed city property. This plan was formally adopted by the Common Council, which memorialized for a tax of one-eighteenth of one per cent. This memorial was accepted by the Legislature, and an act passed in conformity thereto. The aid derived from this source enabled the Society to enlarge its operations. In 1831-32 the last amount of remuneration from pay scholars was paid, being $839. At that time the schools were opened as public schools, and all classes of citizens invited to attend them. The sys- tem was also revised, and alterations proposed which show the matured views of the Public School Society | upon the subject of popular education. In consequence of a portion of the School Fund having been granted by the Legislature to such in- corporated religious societies as supported charity schools, the Free School Society, in 1824, m2morial- ized the Legislature on the subject, and an aet was passed giving the control of the distribution of the school money for the city of New York to the Com- mon Council. An ordinance was passed by the Council directing that the distribution be made to the Free School Society, the Mechanics’ Society, the Orphan Asylum, and the African schools. The Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum in Prince street was afterwards admitted to a participation in the School Fund, notwithstanding the Public School Society remonstrated against it, and the Methodist Episcopal Church was refused an application for a similar participation towards the support of their eckools. | The controversy which took place between Bishop ; Hughes and the Catholic clergy and the Pub- lic School Society, commencing about 1437, it is well known led to the act establishing ward schools, which was introduced into the Legislature by Mr. W. B. Maclay, and passed in April, 1842. The late William L. Stone, who was appointed De- puty Superintendent of the common schools of this city under that act, in bis report estimates the num- ber of pupils in all the schools of the city, in 1842, at 56,217—of whom 29,217 received instruction in the public schools under charge of the Public School Society; 16,000 in private schools; 4,000 in boarding schools, &c.; 3,500 in charity and church schools; and 3,500 in the Roman Catholic sehools. The fol- lowing year he reports that the first district, or ward school, under the act of 1842, went into operation in January, 1843; and sixteen of these district schools were organized in the course of the year, and the whole nuraber of pupils who had entered was 9,763, while the number on register in the same, in Novem- ber, 1843, was 6,204; and in the schools of the Pub- lic School Society, at the same time, 21,285--being 981 less than there was on register in November, 1842. The increage of pupils, during the year, in all the schools of the city, Mr. Stone estimated at 2,717. He remarks, with regard to the operation of the sys- It isnot tobe denied that new schools wore d and Cvyen yct, perhaps, there are not enough, Far Letter would it have been, in my view, hid the vclety been increa pon their own wise: system, to institute new A vast, and for the uve been | echools as they | mort part unnec saved to the « aving. it were, tWo par ig their support from the public revenue, and acting, if not in opposition to cach other, at least not in unity, is of doubtfal utility.” He concludes his report by re- commending that all the common schools of the city, public and district, be placed under the management abd gare of the Publig Schovl Society, Icaviag th, le Cotton was quite active, with sales of 7,000 bales, the: market closing firm, Coffee sold freely, and closed with: an upward tendency in prices. Theto was a better feel- ing’in rice, and sales included some parcels for export. Sugars were also active. Pork closed at higher rates, with: a fair amount of sales. It was stated that the invoices of gold on board of the steamship Union proved short, by some $15,000 or $20,000, It eoems that two or three boxes when opened were found to contain nogold at all. One was found to be three. pounds lighter than the weight marked on the box ; om opening which it was discovered to be filled with shot, in place of gold, The other two were filled with shot and fron weights, and were nearly as heavy as the origi- nal weight marked on them. It was supposed that the goid had been abstracted from. the boxes during their transit, and its place supped: with the materials named. No clue had been obtained: an to the time of the theft, or the perpetrator of the larceny. No news had come to band regarding the missing steam- ship Independence, and the prevailing impression seemed to be that she was lost. She was not at any time con” sidered an A 1 vessel, and it was said that she was leaky on some occasions previous to sailing from the west coast. for San Francisco. It was believed that there was no in- surance upon her in Wall street, and that she was proba- bly, unineured anywhere. A party well posted in California affairs stated his be- lief that much trouble was likely to prevail in that Btate in the cettlement of land claims. It appeared that the quantity of land claimed under Spantsh titles, reached the enormous amount of 2,603 3-5ths Spanish leagues, equal to 11,290,624 acres. This vast body of land was claimed by only 812 individuals, 540 of whom were for large, and 272 for small tracts. If divided equally be- tween the 812 claimants, it would give 15,150 acres to each, There bad been many difficulties in adjusting Spanish land titles in Florida, but those likely to arise in Oalifor- nia would far exceed them. Many fraadulent Spanish claims, forged deeds, &c., were trumped p in the former instance, and were actually confirmed by the eommis- sioners, ‘As California lands were vastly more important than thoce of Florida, and the country not less corrupt than it was then, the grandest attempts at pushing through un+ just claims would be made, and the land commissioners ‘ought to possess stronger nerves of honesty than belonged to Aristides, to succeed in resisting the assaults which would be made by speculators upon their sense of justice. The extra session of the Trgislature, under the eircum- stances, was deemed indispensable for the completion of important business which had been partially acted upon, ‘A merchant, speaking of the crowding of eity railroad cars, said that the people were as much to blame as the companies ; that neither the conductors nor drivers could revent their jumping on, even when under way. Side Tors to the platforms, to'be closed when the ears are full, would prevent overcrowding. ‘THR ABORIGINES OF Nextu Amunica.—We have received & number of a new edition of Mr. J. 0. Lewia’s ‘ Aboriginal Portfolio,” published in this eity. The author, Mr. Lewis, was several years ago employed by the Indian Depart- ment expressly for the purpose of taking the portraits of the most eminent and distinguished chiofe of the red men of this continent, copies of whieh were deposited in the War Office at Washington. The present work contains cclored lithcgraphs of these chiefs, beautifully executed, with short biographical sketches of them. It is got up with great taste, and will, we are sure, command a very extensive sale, = ASSASSINATION OF Mk. STEVENSON ON THE IsTHMUS.— Mr. G. Pitt Stevensen was asxasinated at San Pablo. Station, Panama Railroad, on Thursday, March 30, 1853, The circumstances of this lamentable act are asfollows:— An Irisb laborer, named John McHugo, beerme so re- = it Bre Fcc peg confine him. Mr. ‘ung. the Superintendent «f the stati sccarding! ordered him 10° be tied by rome mative laborers. Mi Stevenson was present. ard assisted in seo him. MecHugo was then paced in the stoeks, where he re- mained until the following morning when breaking the lock of the stocks he set himself at liberty, and preparing himself with a small chisel, repaired to the station Toure, about 12 o'clock, M. Mr. Stevenson had been out upon the work during the morning, but feeling somewhat indisposed, had returned: to the house, aud was lying upon a bed near a window, gn the eecond floor. McHugo ascended the: stairs, which are outside the house, and on coming opposite the apen window where Mr. Stevenson was lying, § through and inflicted » slight wound upon the side his face, then struck him with the chiéel in the lett side, perfora- ting the left and lower portion of the stomach. Hie ived just nine hours after MeHugo wus arrested immediate- ly, and sent to Aspinwall, where he was tried for the murder, found guilty and sentenced to be rhot on the Ast of April. He said that he did not intend killing Mr. Ei eaten von wane to the aes with the intention of asrassinating Mr Young Mr. Stevenson: was an assis. tant engincer on the Panama Railroad. aa City Intelligences , WEATHER —At an ear! our terday mornit the rain began to descend in light péeves Until about eleven o'clock. when it became fine to all appearances, About two o’clock the clouds again darkened the aky, and at half-past three, to the surprise of everybody, we were visited by @ thunderstorm, during which ‘vivid flashes of lightning followed each other in rapid suc- cersion. The peals of thunder were loud, and wore fol- Jowed by sbowers of very heaty rain, which served to wash the streets to a considerable extent. About six o'clock the wind changed to the westward, which at ono time indicated fine weather, but, just Whe an April da: the rain sgain began 1o descend ubout nine o'clock P.M? Dut did not continue Tong, as it cleared off about tem ‘clock. ProvoseD SALE OF THE BEEXMAX Srreer Brick Cuurct.— The Commissioners of the Sinking Faud having recom: mended the sale of the propert: this city known as the Brick Church, of which Dr Spring is pastor, the corpora- tion have agreed to the sale on condition that the city shall receive only one quarter of the proceeds, and the church corporation should b» allowed the balance. Re- corder Jillou, however, would cot listen to this, bat de- mended that the city should rverive one half of the pro- ceeds, ns the corporation have had a leace ef the pro} since 17C6, at a mere nominal rent, and uow, if they vist to vacate the premises. it {s only right that the ground +hould, by oasing one half of ita real value, become the property of the city. The church now desire to move up town, and wish to dispore of the property to the hest advantage. This tract of land was originally leased to the church corporation, in 1766, at an annual rent of £40, but subseqnently was seduced to $21 37% The oni tha at F eaey an annual rent of $52 50 only, which is not sufficient to pay th , qaineorinceae pay the interest on the real DRFADFUL ASSAULT Ry sox Unknown Prrsons,—On. Wednesday evening, aman named Frederick Hynes, re- siding at §4 Noosevelt street, was found by the police in an insensible condition on beard the ship Oriental, lying atanchor in the North river He was itnmediately con- veyed to his residence when, upon examination, he was found to be dangerously wourfed about the head and in different parts of hix body He now les in a critical tate, and it is feared that he cannot recover the injnries re- ceived, The rerpetrators of this cowardly act are yet at large, but will, we hope, be soon srrested. Fink —Abut one o’eleck, on Wednesday afternoon, a fire broke out in the exten-ive mest sin ing extablish- ment of Filton & Co. 600 Warhing'on. street, and had it not been for the extrac: dinaiy exertions of ‘the fire de- partment, the whole building would no donbt have fallen. a prey to the devouring element, ax the stock and fixtures are of « very combustib'e nature. The flames were, how- ever, extinguished Lefore any materis] damage was eifect- cdi sed were confined {0 the room where the fire origi- nated. ARRIVAL OF THR Exvectsn Witare ¥Rox SovrMAMPrON, L. I—The atearrtug Achilles arrived here last evening with the whale, which was cantured oif Montauk Point, L. 1. in tow. It was intended to exhibit the abimai, but, on nccount of its advanced state of dec smpusi. tion, and the effluvia arisin from, it was ordered away from the dock at the fuct of Highth atreet, where it was the intention of the owners to exhibit it at 60 cents a head. Accordingly it was towed dorm the bay to Corey Island there fo be fried out ‘Thus, after all the talk ‘and advertising, the people did not see the “ele Phant,” so that it was very “ikea whale,” but not quite so large. Winct 18 Correcr?—The clerk of Catherine Market says that the receipts for fees and rent of stalls and stands in that market atounted to $6,493 75 last year, and not $2,460 ag stated in our recent account. Our statement was obtained from the Comptroller's report, and if wrong the error must be corrected by that otticer, Which is wrong, the Comptroller or the clerk? Sarely the former knows how much he received, and the latter the amonnt he paid, Pat 8ING ON SaTERDAY goods in this city is « tinnday One of the leading dry have determined upon noon at three o'clock, arm closing store after the Ist of iM: Krvovat,—The congregation of the Reformed Dutch Church, Franklin street, of which Rev. Dr. Hardenborg is pastor, held their laet service in that church on Sunday, April & ‘They will worship God in the Metropoliten A y, in Sixth avenue, il their new church in Twenty-third street is completed. TELEGRAPH UNDER THE MisstssteP1.—The Baton Fouge (1a.) Comet, of the 26th ult., says that the New Orleans, Red River and Toxas Telegraph Company ape making’ arrangements to put down a submarine wire across the Mississippi river at that point, and coutiaue thelr rite, down to Plaquemine, thns connecting the copital with the great southwestern at {oro por tony of Louisiana and Texas, mn 3