The New York Herald Newspaper, June 8, 1853, Page 6

THE SHAKER VILLAGE. Our Shaker Correspondence. Smaxur ViLLacs, New Lepanon, June 1, 1853. Bhakerism—Origin of the Society—Village of Leba- non-Government— Mode of Admitting Members— Neatness of the Shakers—Visit from the Sisters— I wish I could bottle up and send down to yous couple of dozen of this fresh, sweet, morning moun- tain air, as I might Congress or Empire spring water, that you might get an inhalation of the atmosphere swhich God created in its purity, and before it has ‘been poisoned by a mixture with dead hogs, garbage, and New York street mud and filth, Besides its nataral purity this Shaker uir ia sweetened with the scent of hawthorn blossoms from the garden hedges, and ef apple and peach blows from the orchards; and beside all the cleanliness and neatness around adds new virtues to it, and makes it refreshing and enlivening. But as I cannot do this 1 will endea* ‘wor to give yon some idea of the village and its inhabitants, among whom I am now en- geying a few days sojourn. The first organ- ization of Shakers in this country was at Watervliet in this State, a few miles from Troy. Mother Ann Lee and a few followers, driven by per- secution from England, came to America to seek the enjoyments of the religious rights denied them there, and ia the year 1776 founded their little settlement at Watervliet. Ann Lee, the founder of the sect of Shakers, was born in Manchester, England, in the year 1736. In 1704, some of the French prophets who sprung up and formed societies in Danphiny and Vivarais in France, and who were a strange peo- ple, profeasing to hold communion with angels and spirits, went over to England, and soon attracted Some two Or three hundred porcnns ta their doctrine, Amony these were James and Jane Wardley, who lived near Manchester. Their mode of worship was peouliar. They thought God would show them the ‘way, and would sit for hours without moving a limb, ‘when they would commence whirling and trembling, ‘with violent agitation of the body, and would run and leap with joy. 'rom these exercises they were termed ‘‘Shakers,” and they believed that a new dis- pensation was at hand. in 1758 Mother Ann be- came acquainted with these people, aud joined them. ‘They held to a ‘confession, openly, of erry sin they had ever committed, and to a full and final cross against all evil.’ In 1770 Mo:her Ann professed to Teceive a revelation after nine years of trouble and . This revelation revealed to her God’s will to dispense, through her, his power over sin, and she believed that Christ had taken possession of her, and was soon acknowledged, as the spiritual mother of the church. She came, as before stated, to America, and organized here the first community of Shakers. They now number eighteen societies, in seven dif- ferent States of the Union, and have about four theusand members. The village of New Lebanon, established in 1788, inhabited otrely by the Shakers, contains about forty houses and workshops. The population is ‘about five hundred, divided into eight different ‘‘fa- tmailies.” These families are distinct from each other toa very great extent, each one having their boun- daries of land, and each pursuing such a course of | ag seems best tothem. Though all their pro- perty is held as the common stock of the society, each one of these families exercise a control over its own temporal affairs, and keeps a separate account of its receipts and expenditures. The families are | but a short distance apart, each one occupying two or large houses. ‘The village being ‘about a mile in extent, here they pursue their labors and live their harmless, peaceful lives. The Society of Shakers is essentially a religious ‘organization, and nothing but a strict religious tie could ever have thus bound them together and made them prosper as they have done. Their reli- gious government is a very strict one. At tie bead | ot each society is what is called a “ministry,” | consisting of two males and two females. These are the spiritual head of the society, and give ‘the laws and regulations which govern its spiritual and temporal affairs. Each family | has at its head four elders—two males, and two te- | amales—who are appointed by the ministry, and who, | in connection with four deacons, control the affairs ef the family, being responsibie to the ministry. ‘These elders and deacons are generally selected from the more experienced members of the society, and ei over their families an almost supreme power; | heir word is law, and none dispute it. They do not, however, seem to be required to exercise any great de- gree of arbitrary authority, a: the religious bond of union between this people leads them to respect and obey their spiritual heads. The ministry and elders arein the constant receipt of revelations which govern their actions te a great extent. It would be impos- sible, without this strict ipowts Sane @ community organized as this is should long remain intact, and bop bet found that order and regularity exist in their 7 state where implicit obedience is rendered. Society of Shakers have never used any of their wer and wealth for the eye of making prose- ytes, and those who join them are expected to do so voluntarily. When Brabant desire to join them, they are invited to visit them for a while, when the prin- ciples of the society are explained to them, and its practice exhibited. If he concludes to unite with the society, he is required to be entirely free from debt, and no person who | thas abandoned his wife or her husband, unless they are separated by law or by mutual agreement, can become a member. Children not taken into the seciety must also be provided for before a parent can become united with the society. The applicant being convinced of the truth of the faith, makes an open confession of his sins to the elders, and is received upon a kind of probation. He is not, upon being us admitted, required to give up his property; but after becoming satisfied that be will continue to re- main with the society, is expected to sign a cove- nant, wherein he agrees to consecrate his time and labor tothe good of the society, and giving up all | future legal claim and his property to the society. Ap inventory of his property is however taken, and | in case he becomes dissatisfied and wishes to leave it is returned to him. It would be supposed that under an arrangement of this nature legal difficulties would up; but it issaid that during ag: of more an seventy years not one legal claim has been entered by =. one for the recovery of property brought into the society, all claims having been settled amicably between the parties. inors are not received as covenant members, but are taken under the care of the society, and when they arrive at age can, if they choose, sign the covenant. Children are taken by the society as apprentices, and taught either a trade or set at work upon the farm, and brought aD in the princi- bg of the society. In the village of New Lebanon males and females are about equally divided, and pbout one-half of either sex are minors. The pro- yy of the whole community is held in common, Ban individual member is allowed to possess any | ter claim to any portion of it than another, it | @ all in the hands of trustees tt by the istry. I have thought it proper thus to give you a short history of the origin and goverament of this ir e, that you might better comprehend some of their distinguishing peculiarities. The ‘‘people of the world,” as they denominate all outsiders, might well learn some valuable lessons from the Shakers. They are the most perfect pat- terns of neatness and order that the world probably ever produced. Their village is located upon the of a range of hills overlooking the beautiful valley of Lebanon, in which tall poplars and sugar maple trees are spread ever as fines landscape as the eye could wish to rest upon. Their houses are prin- ipally of wood, Uae! yellow, and look as clean and neat outside as though they had just beea taken out of | boxes. The interior arraugements are quite as neat. Paths strewed with tan or laid with flag stones lead to all the doors, and at every entrance is hung a corn broom, with which each brother and sister is expect- ed to remove the mud ad dirt from their feet before | entering. Every door has a mat laid in front of it, | and the floors of the room generally laid of pitch ine are polished and shining as marble. Around e walls of all the rooms are pegs, on which the hats and bonnets of the brethren and sisters are bung, and neat spittoons, filled with sawdust, and almost too pretty to spit in, are placed upon the floors. Even the neat flag-bottom chairs which they use, when not in servive, are hung up on the pegs around the walls. Their sleeping rooms and beds are kept with the most bese! 27 lous regard to neat- ness, Thetr linen being as white as the driven snow. ‘Their kitchens and washhouses are as cleaa and nice as parlors, and they seem fully to understand and practice upon the cone HN for wey Ading and everything in its place.” eir and orchards ily surrounded by neat fences, hedges, ‘or stone walls. There is alsoas much regularity a1 order aa there is neatness. At hal! past four o clock the bell rings for them to rive. They then pursue their nsual avocations till six, whena horn is sounded for breakfast, to which each family sits down in one feom at long tablos, the males aad females being at separate tables. They then go again to bors till noon, when the horn 's again sound- they come in to dinner; after which they about six o'clock in the afternoon. dition to their public meeting on Sunday ly hold family meetings during the week. ‘one of these last evening, when the same singing, ing and dancing, as that dgsoribed on Sunday, was followed out; bata incident occurred that I had not witnessed be- During the cessation of dancing for a few a icty years of nye, rach an Ta 4] ears of age, as straight as by oo ig as an started from her to the ranks, aud, pata commenced round like ‘Her head ae to jerk to and fro, ep hcecenntansnate filled her nether garments, and iofiat balloon, Lost gmp this ead eo motion,occasionally winding ina mazy the ranks of the brethren and sisters. Tis continued for about ten h which time she was whirling as rapidly asa spinning wheel, when en- tirely she leaned up against one of the sistera and soon was busily engaged again in the en- livening Shaker dance. Such performances as this, are very common amongst these poonls, and the re- cipients of these “ gifts” are looked upon as being favored above others by spiritual existences, who during these strange scenes are supposed to take ession of their bodies. At another time one of he females commenced ingin a tongue which seemed 8 compound of all known and unknown lan- guages, and having enlightened the audience with what doubtless, if understood, wonld have been a very eloquent discourse, she ceased. They have amongst them here s female who is Po gphpaal ad ne sessing the gift of prophecy, and she is consulted when any important matter is to be undertaken. Treceived to-day a visit from two of the sisters, one of them a very bright intelligent looking girl of about twenty'five, wio has been brought up among these people, and who, like a vestal virgin as she probabl, 1s, has devoted her life to what she considersa sacre cause. ‘They seemed very well informed upon mat ters going on in the world, and were particularly in- terested in the spiritual rappingsand tippings. They think that these things are tending to Shakerism, and expect ere long to receive large accessions from the ranks of the Spiritualists. So it is not at all un- likely that some future visiter here will see the Hon. Judge Edmonds, and Mr. Talmadge, with their coats off, and their hair brushed back, sweating, and puff- ing, and soaking, in the wild excitement of the Shaker dance. Yours, E. G. B, Saker VILLAGE, } New LeBanon, June 2, 1853. f Property of the Shakers—Their Annual Incone— The Seed and Herb Business—Orgamization of Labor—Their Ideas of Marriage—Love Among the Shakers—Decrease of Population, §c. The property of this society is all held in com- mon, the real estate being in the hands of trustees, being entailed to the use of the society to all future time. The real estate belonging to the New Leba- non Society is about eight thousand acres, situa- ted in this State, and over the line in Massachusetts. ‘The real estate and all other property must be worth nearly a million of dollars. The property is held by the trustees under a special act of the Legislature, which also provides that no society shall be allow- ed to make an annual profit of over $5,009. In 1851 “an attempt was made by parties jealous of the success of the Shakers to impose more stringent regulations, but the Legislature considering such ac- tion as behind the spirit of the age, not only refused to pass them, but increased the allowed income from five to twenty-five thousand dollars per annum. The SPakers neglect no opportunity to purchase land in this vicinity, and on that account have created some ill feeling among their immediate neighbors, I visited, this morning, some of the workshops of the sociegy. No people in the world are more thrifty and industrious, as a body, than are the Shakers. | The men are engaged in farming, gardening and horticulture, making tubs, broom-handles, &c.; while the sisters weave with hand-looms most of the cloth used for making outside garments, making palmleaf | hats, baskets, &c. Their shops are like their houses, | models of neatness and good order. No litter, no | dirt, chips, or shavings are allowed to rest upon the floors or benches; but as fast as they are made are removed. At the head of each branch of labor is an over- seer, appointed by the deacons ia each family. He | has the general superintendence of that department, | and sees that it is properly conducted. All property | being in common, the members of the society, of | course, buy nothing in the way of clothing; but it is | the duty of the head of the tailoring department in each family to see that none of the brethren lack for clothing, of the shoemaker that they have shoes, and so on; and thus everythiag goes on harmoniously, without any confusion—the deacons in each family having the general snpervision. They have here @ large tannery, several sawmills, aud a black- smith shop, where a great deal of work is done. The great staple products, however, are weeds and medicinal roots and herbs. Sey- eral large gardens, kept in the most beantifal order, are appropriated for raising these ; aud the Shakers’ roots and herbs and seeds have acquired a world-wide reputation. The seeds are put up io little papers, and then into boxes—about $20 worth | ina box. They bave recently received large orders from California. All labor, from the highest to the fowest. The elders in the family where I am sto ping have charge of the kitchen garden, and in pleasant weather are busy in hoeing, planting and weeding, and in rainy weather in in-door occupa- | tions. By the report made by the society in 1350, | the following statistics of property and products of | labor appear, and interesting, aa they show the results of this combined labor. They have not ma- terially changed since that time. Prorerty.—Horses, 55 ; cows, 170; oxen, 50; | other cattle, 191 ; sheep, 1,081. Value of live stock, 25,000. Propvucts.—Meal and plaster, $537; leather, 2,500 ; garden seeds, $5,500 ; botanical roots and erbs, $16,500 ; brooms, $4,550 ; chairs, $250; palm hats, tubs, baskets, &o., $1,300. This, with the sale of fruit, &c., will make the annual income of the so- ciety about $40,000. It would seem that with the thorough organization of this society much more money would be made, but it must be remembered that the Shakers entirel, eszhew speculation of every kind, and that all their | profits come from actual manual labor, by which the wealth of the world is so much increased. They seem more like a community of bees than of men, and seem to delight in what others endeavor to get rid of—manual labor. They do not, however, work very hard—about nine or ten hours per day being about the average. The great distinguishing feature of this sect is its anti-marriage principles, and the desire to deaden the affections which naturally spring up between the sexes, and which are cousidere My the Shakers as fying evidence of a carnal, world!y uature. All the | ittle gallantries between the sexes are, of course, forbidden, and the women, instead of trying to show their charms, do their best to hide them under their straight gowns, and close muslin caps. It seems very strange to witness the relations of the sexes in this community—strange that now, in this bloomlng spring-time, the time when the Arcadian shepherd- esses were most sweetly wooed by the shepherd swains, the golden season of love, when birds are carolling their sweet songs to their mates—when all | naturejhas put on her wedding garment—herea com- munity should exist where youths and maidens meet | daily and hourl¥, and between whom no love-word passes, and whose breasts heave no fond sigha for each other. Why, Suze the sBovel and tongs to each other belongs. * * * * * * * And the rabita and hares ge tegether in pairs, Aud even the bears in sweot couples ag-ee, While the mute little fish, though they can’t speak, they wish Och hone widow Macree, —Strange, too, it is to see a collection like this of “ families,” in which the sweet voices of little chil- dren give no echoing welcome to the tired father as | he returns from bis daily toil, or beguile with their innocent prattie the mother’s hours of care. No fond wife sympathizes with the husband’s sorrows, no strong man in his strength folds to his bosom the delicate being whom he has promised at the holy altar to love and cherish through life till death. Here the children are orphaned, and the fond de- lights which gather around the hearthstone aud the family altar are unknown. And then, too, there does seem something noble, something to be praised,in this degenerate world, that menand women giving up all the world love best, home, family, wealth, and worldly prospects, should live here, free from the strife and turmoil of common life—live as the Easenes did, in accordance with their principles and faith, a pure and virgin life, dedicated to God. This would be a sterile soil one would think for the kindly, gentle affections to grow in; and yet even here the “carnal nature’? does at times asuert its power, and remove from tbe fold some of the lambs. he glance of a bright eye does sometimes have its effect upon the congealed heart and almost deadened worldly affections. Last spring two couple, male and female, got an opportunity to converse together, and projected a plan foran elopement. It got wind, however, and was frustrated; but the brethren find- ing that the hearts of these young people were turned to ‘‘ wordly things,” carried them away; and the same day they pledged their faith to each other at the altar. Only last week another case of this description oc- curred. You must know that in their houses the males and females have rooms opposite each other, and that they are, to a certain extent, mated, so that each one of the sisters takes care of the clothing of some one of the brethren. This, of course, ee them into a certain degree of contact ; beside this, they have rather cool conversational meetings—the brethren sitting in their rooms on one side of the hall, and the sisters in theirs on the other. One oung damsel, about nineteen years of age, and who been here since she was an infant, became enam- ored of her mate, and during one of their conversa tions, expreaced to him her desire to leave the society. going into the ceutre of the | Natur, Uke murder, “ who are appointed by the ministry—the property | - <5 * with ent (From the Philaéelphia North American, June 7. ae eee am a ook ihe very |, Tevertes creat bas bat ihre ore dae oie existence of ther society depends upon this hooesty | ch, and begs to be Thor booming demeanor Were they once to over this rule, their bond | as his moments on earth grow shorter. i of union would be broken, and would be | ~The inspectors of the prison now refase to admit obliged ty separate. With All this strictness and | one at alo it hm ns onl eee this epirituat ad- Pm “sisters” seam mild andgmi- | visers. The object afford him proper be Pest napinad Tunities to devote to refection every moment of the bria Sievend:really appemrechneies, by high religious | verod ef tine allowed for peeparation te dlac - ‘The. population CS pA pif aged nt. tie fee ee Be ie Se ckaeia’ petro te 9 en years diminis! some two hut . affecting ‘took pl it is said t be weekly decreasing. The old stock The guilty father Wein peered pod is running out, and but few adults are taken in. | nim bitterly—called him his dear, darling boy—told him Nearly one-half the present ulation are minors, | that he forgave him, and asked his forgiveness; while the and most of the ler children are those of foreign | boy wept upon his parent’s neck. He begged young Ar- parentage. Many are taken from the poor-houses, and from drunken and destitute parents. Unless the Shakers get up a revival, or receive, as they are expecting, large accessions from the ranks the poise Tapperites, there isa strong probability of their running out before long. Many of their chil- | dren leave when they arrive at years of dis- cretion, There is among these people hap aud character. The elders are generally shrewd and very superior men, and I have found among the com- mon members some intelleets of a very high order, and well cultivated minds. One of the elders in the family where I am stopping is a very superior man, who would do credit to any of the learned profes- sions; and one of the members here, a Scotchman, has just written one of the best practical chemical trea- tises that has ever been published’ in this cgay That many join the society from disappoiutments In life, and a desire to get rid of its troubles, I do not doubt; but I believe that most of them am actuated in it by high religious principle. Neatly all the civili nations of the earth have their tepresenta- tives here, and Levan Sena! are several negroes, who are on a perfect equality with their white brethren. ‘There is one here, a German, who was a p te with Prince Albert when a boy. They serena charita- ble and hospitable a people as exist in the world. They treat strangers and visiters with great kindness, and the poor wayfarer is never turned empty from their door. ‘o-day a poor lot of straggling Germans came along about er time, and their bags were filled with provisions by the good Shakers, and they were sent on their way rejoicing. In my next I shalt give some account of their sys- tem of education, with other matters of interest in this vicinity. E. G. B. Suaxer VILLAGE, New Lesanon, June 2, 1853. i The Shaker School—Revelations—Confession— Shaker Feed—Neighboring Jealousy—Reception of Visiters. It has been charged against this society that the children placed under their care were brought up in ignorance and without the benefits of a school edu- cation. I yesterday visited, in company with one of the brethren, the girl’s school in this village, and was fully convinced of the injustice of this charge. During the summer months a school is kept in con- stant operation for the girls, and in winter for the boys, the sexual ideasof the Shakers not allowing the mingling of the two evenin study. The works used I found to be of the same character as those in ordinary common schools, and the branches of study the same. The instruction seemed quite as extensive, and rather more thorough than I have witnessed in many of the common schools of the New England States. There were present in the school about thirty girls, cast of mind | between the ages of seven and fifteen years, and | their progress in study was truly astonishing. They are treated with mildness, and no corporeal punish- ment is inflicted. Some of them were engaged in drawing and painting maps, and exhibited a high degree of proficiency. Atleast two thirds of | these children J found to be of foreign parentage, principally English and Irish, and among them were many bright eyes and happy faces that rather por- tended a departure from the Shaker faith when | they grow older. In connection with the usual range of studies, however, the children are taught in some books peculiar to the society, in which obedience to their eders avd superiors are incul- cated. ishould judge that the advantage tor intel- lectual culture, however, among the older members | of the community were not very great, all books | and newspapers being subjected to a surveillance | of the elders before they pass into the hands of the | common members. | The elders, ministry, and members, profess to be | in constant direct communication with the spiritual spheres, and to be in the cmtinual receipt of reve- lations from on high, whick govern to a great ex- tent their fictions. Even thér songs and hymns, | words, music and all they profess to receive by direct revelation. They say taat the age of reve- lation and of miracle have not passed away, and claim that they enjoy all the gifts of miracles and tongues that were to be the signs that should “ fol- low them that believe.” Among their religious in- stitutions is that of the confessiona!, each member at short periods being required to confess his most secret sins to God, as they term it, “in the presence of his witnesses.” Shakers, if they do give up some of the good things of this life, go in for some of the others. Their tables are stored with the products of their fine kitchen garden, and the best of bread and meat, cooked with the greatest neatness and care. I, as | an outsider, take my meals alone, but they are fine. Pure fresh milk, on which the cream stands thicken- ing, (none of your pure Coane county at four cents quart) ; butter, tasting of the fresh grass and cow- slips ; asparagus, dressed with rich cream and bat- | | ter; and pies most excellently made As I have looked upon some of these luxuries of Shaker fare, I Au said, “‘ Almost thoa persuadest me to be a faker, The Shakers literally obey the command “ Let your communications be yea, yea, and nay, nay,” these being the terms they use in common conversa- tion—and all their simple unsophistitated manners, cannot fail to win the respect and lave of any one, how much soever, he may differ with them in reli- | gious opinion. As a general thing they are liked and respected by their neighbors, and what little ill- feeling and jealously does exist around them, I have found to spring from a feeling of rivalry in business matters or from religious bigotry. Some of the churches around here object to ther purchasing more land, because they place upon it a class of set- tlers who will not sapport their systems of religion, and therefore they have asked the Legislature to curtail their right of adding to theirdomain. This ridiculous rie was however, promptly. frustrated by the action of the Legislature. The Shakers do not vote or in any way participate in political mat- ters. The Shakers reeeive visiters with great cordiality, and treat them with much kindness. The lower part of a house in one of the families is appropriated to them, and one of the brethren is detailed to attend them. . During their visit they have frequent oppor- tunities for conversation with the elders, and the brethren and sisters, and have a good opportunity for becoming acquainted with the Shaker faith. They are very communicative in this matter, and always ready to give a reason “for the faith which isin them.” They have received here many very distinguished visiters from all parts of the world, all of whom have been much pleased with the appear- ance of this thrifty community. They do not, how- ever, like to receive visitors who come merely from motives of brie ° This is a delightful region of country. The Val- ley of Lebanon is one of the most beautiful sections in this whole State. Itis filled with thriving little villages, the inhabitants of which are principally en- ed in agricultural pursuits. A railroad route has n surveyed through this yalley, intending to ex- tend as faras Bennington, Vermont. A great por: tion of it is under contract, and it will be completed as faras Lebanon Springs, by July, of 1854. This will be avery valuable addition to the comforts of this part of the State. Thus have I endeavored to give you, inthisseries of letters, a true picture of this singular People, an idea of their history, faith, government and labors. Any prejudices 1 entertained against them have been en- tirely dissipated by my visit amongst them. That they are +trictly honest and upright in all their deal ings, those who have dealt with them will testify; that they are actuated by a high religious principle, in giving up what the world holds most dear, I think thelr mode of life and actions exhibit; and that the: are mistaken in many Shings. I firmly believe. shall long remember their kindness and atteution, and when struggling with the carea of this overy- day world, I shall look back to the week spent here as a green spot in the desert of my life. May they be biessed in their “‘ontgoings and their incomings, in their basket and their store;” and would that tl kindly sympathies and earnest desire for right that they exhibit, could be more deeply implanted and more universally spread over our race. And now for the “world, yo ace ‘ointoa partial forget- fulness among its buffetings of modern Les The following advertisement. from Fravkliz's newapa- per, chows the locale of the post office, und speed with which the mail was carried, a little more then a century thur not to leave bim, but to stay till the execution was over, and see his remains i |. He alse cut off a lock ot his hair, which he entrusted to Arthur to take to his orphaned daughters. Young Arthur piteously and touchingly appealed to hia father to exculpste him. and, siiboogs. the oulprit did not yield t » the boy’s entreaties, still he refrained from criminating his son. The elder Spring was greatly sub- dued after the meeting was over Hopes are at last enterained that the murderer may yet make a clean breast of his crimes, and relieve the re- putation of his son from all taiat of suspicion. Aero the Philadelphia Sun, June 7} ‘The authorities, considering that a last inierview be- tweon the father and son might be conducive to a confes- sion of the truth, telegraphed on to Washington to re- quest the attendance of the son. With almost the apeed of the message he flew to the cell of his condemned pa- rent, accompanied by Rev. John Street. Mr. Kensil and the chsplain. He entered the cell of the doomed man with @ countenance full of the deepest grief. He looked on his father for a moment. then with a convulsive cry be threw himself upon his bosom, and with bursting emo- tion exclaimed, “My father ! my dear father !’’ The father, equally moved, cried, “My son ! ‘my son! my darling! 'O, my darling boy !’? and almost devoured him with kisses. ra flowed oo- piously; the fountain of affection seemed broken up, and nature triumphed. As voon as the son could command the power of speech he said, 60 beseechingly. “Oh, wy father, Beiter, have pity on me; oh, have pity, and tell the truth. Do,'oh, do, say I am innocent. Oh, you eeu Tam. My dear, dear father, you know I a The father, thus appealed to, groaned aloud, and strained him to his bosom with the most intense atlec- tion, answering, “ty son, my darling, I will tell the trath.’” Fagerly seizing on the expression, the son followed up his weeping request— “Oh, my father, have pity on me; oh, do sey Tam in- ou know I had nothing to do with the murder of the women.’ Still that man of iron nerve, although convulsed with sreny, answered cautiously, and in general terms. i Af dear, dear boy—I do whatever I cam for you; I will die fer you.” Another gush OF grief relieved the swelling bosom of the Yeening youth, and again, in the most affecting manner, “0, my father, my dear father, you know I love you. 0 that T could die im your sta "For what is life to me now? My course of misery {s already begun. The gloomy future grows darker every day. You are soon to die, a few brief painful hours will close your earthly sufferings: but mine, O my father, my sufferings, where are they t> terminate? am already pointed at and avoided. Where shall I hide my head if you die with- out peer me from the dreadful crime? Worse than Cain, I shall be regarded as the murderer of my father! 0, How. bee I bear se die es b ‘ly ( en, in an agony of grief, he gently upbraided him, “0, my father, my fatber, you have no pity—you have no pity, You see me bowed down with grief, and you will make it deeper and darker, by withboldiag the truth. 0, tell the truth. and die happy! New while I clasp you t> my arms, let me lee.) pba to God and ask forgiveness, and die im peace! O, how can you die without telling the truth?’ To all these touching appeals, the deeply agitated father returned indiect or evasive answers, as if, in the storm of grief, he took counsel in his gloomy soul. se to answer as not to grieve his son, nor commit hit mit himrelf! Their excited feelings becoming som what calm, they could speak with more composure. The father gently upbraided the son, as being the in- strumenial cause of his conviction! This brought on & passion of grief. And he convulsively sobbed out : “O, my father, what could I do? When compe'led to t tify, Thad to speak the truch. 0, forgive me. forgive me, joar father; my heart was with you, while my lips spoke the painful truth. 0, core me’ “I do forgive you, my darling, but not Burns nor Ra- “0 yes, my dear father, all. O, forgive all, and make your peace with heaven.’” The gentlemen present knelt in solemn prayer for the weeping parent and sgonized child. Afterwards they proposed ‘o leave them alone for a little while, thus ad- dressing the father:— “‘Arthur, the world has condemned you as no longer fit tolive. It hss been reported that you eaid, that if you could get hold of your son you would kill him. We shall now give you an opportunity to show the world that you are not the heartless man you are reported to be.”” wi b a face suffused with tears, he claspedtaim to his bosom, exclaiming— ‘My darling, my darling, I would not injure a hair of your head.” They rewained alene an hour, during which the most tender manifestations of affection were interchanged; the ron never relaxing bis arm from bis father’s neck. ‘The gentlemen re-entered the cell and found them calm; the ton apparently having exhaueed all nis means to bring about the much desired confession; the father soothingly Bente J to do everything that lay in his power to grat! fy his unhappy boy; but maintaining the most unwavt ing firmness in reference to the grand point at issue, t! nuocence of the boy. At closing the interview, the father requested him to cut off a lock of hair to take to his poor orphan daugh- ters. The poor youth performed the operation with trembling agony, while the scalding tears fell upon the — of the father of—the unhappiest children in the -TELEGRAPHIC. EXONERATION OF THE SON BY THE FATHER. Par.apetraia, June 7, 1853. Arthur Spring, the murderer, has to day signed a paper exonerating his son from guilt in the murder of Mrs, Shaw, and Lynch, so far as he knows. and he does not be- lieve that he had any knowledge of the murder. Young Spring, after his intercourse with his father, re- turned to Washington last night. ‘The Weather and the Cro; The Louisville (Ky.) Democrat says:—We understand that the tobacco plants in many of the counties in the southern part of this State have been greatly injured by files. In Todd county the grasahoppers and catworms are eating them up as fast as they are set out, and in many neighborhoods it is to drv that thore who have: plants have not been able to set them out, and they will soon be overgrown. The Henderson Courier says that there will not be enough plants in that ey to plant more than one-half the amount at first intend ‘The Edgefield (S. 0.) Advertiser, of the Ist inst., says:— No rein yet. Note drop—not a drop. At least. not one worth mentioning. Gardens are well nigh exhausted Oats presenta “gone case.” Those cotton fields wherein aetand is not yet obtained, are hopslessly in ext-emis. Corn is doing somewhat better than cotton, but if the rain fails to come soon. the corn, too, must fail. Weare generaliy harvesting fair crops of wheat. (Thank hea- ven for that.) And now, ob, for o delightful shower. Who does not say Amen ?e ‘The Chester (S. C.) Palmetto Standard, of the 24 inst., reports:—The appearances of the past few days have indi- cated the prevalence of more seasonable weather in many sections. ‘The dronght has ery materially checked the progress of vexctation, but with favorable seasons we may still anticipate erage crop of corn asad perhaos equally as good a yield of cotton. The account: received from all the cotton growing States represent the pros- AGRICUL TURAL. Meeting of the Farmer’s Club—One of the B)itish Commissioners to the Worlds Fair. The fortnightly meeting of the above Club was held yesterday, at their rooms in Broadway—Dr. Shelton, of Long Island, in the obair, On the table was displayed a hybrid plant—s combination of the pumpkin and the melon—which had been preserved since last year. It appeared, however, worthless for any profitable use, and could only be regarded as a curiosity, Ameng the visiters present were Professor Wileon, of Cirencester, Gloucester, Fngland, ono of the British Commissioners to the Crystal Palace Exhibition, and Professor Enderlin, formerly associate with the celebrated Liebig. The at tondance, however, was not large, doubtless attributable tothe circumstasce of the political excitement of the day, which detained many members and others from being present, ‘The following communication to the Revue Horticole was read by Judge Meigs, the Secretary of the Club, who had translated it from the Fronch, for the convenieuce of the members:— IMPORTANCE OF GUANO IN HORTICULTURE. When I came to Paris, upwards of ten years ago, IT had used guano ten years already, but with the greatest secrecy, for was a market-gardener, and this secret was of the greatest importance to me. I consider this addition of guano to the liquid manure as making it superior to’every thing for the garden, I kept the secret, for Paris abounds in rivals, By means of it I obtained, in few months, plants which my rivals could not grow in several years, Now, my position is changed—tne English have got the secret, and their ability is too well known for us to doubt their success. Tam to deeply attached to the gardening of Paris not to use every means in my power to cause it to keep the eb ravk which it holds in the horticulture of Europe. en I commenced with guano I tried two ways—One was to mix it with the cose various proportions. and the other to dissolve it in water. In apite of all my pro- caution, the first plan never #u led. I first mixed one per cent of guano, then a quarter of one per cent. I had to abandon the plan for a solutionin water. I made numerous experiments, and kept exact accounts of them in writing. You must understand that still I had to grope my way for sometime, The best results werefrom mixing one decilitre (about the ninth part of a quart— not far from one gill) of gvano to twenty-five gallons of water. The effect of this mixture was marvellous. But this preparation is the smallest part of tue peers im- portent matter is, at whut timo to apply it. It has more power} some hours after it is le, than when firat mixed. In the evening, begin by putting intoa tub, or other proper stir it es oe with a broom or other next day it vessel, the above proportions of guano and water; @ thing. On ihe werful aid must not ikled with it twice a 'e le when Gees to dry than wet soil. The soil must have time to dry before it is again wet with the mixture. Beside the wateriog twice a week, (I do not mean to say that you must not use other solutions, of night soil, of barn scrapings, pigeon dung, &c. Further, never usea seep of mere water, if you wish to have fine plants. I must not forget to say that the effect of the guavo solution on plants in the shade, is not only not good, but decidedly bad. The light of the sun is an indispensable auxiliary. The use of the - mixture should be discontinued sbout the beginning of September. The effect of it on the plants from Australia is remarkable. Goano should be kept in heaps, and if pomibly hermetrically sealed, for it loses all its virtues b: evaporation. The influence of the mixture in the growt of carrots, turnips, cabbages. &c , is most extraordinary. I have not seen any of my plants attacked by insects which ravage the plants of ether gardens. An interesting paper, translated from the same journal, was then read, on the transformation of two kinds of wgilops into wheat. This was an account of experiments made in cultivating two grasses, the @gtlops Ovata, \d the agilops triarista—the source of, perhaps, all our cles of wheat, or the greatest part of them. After several years successive cultivation, the straw was straight, full, over two feet high, each ear containing two to three dozen grains, very farinacious. - After twelve ears cultivation Mr. Fabre, the cultivator, succeeded in obtaining from the above wild grasses perfect wheat, not one plant having ever since resumed its original cha- racter. ‘After reading the above and several other papers on subjects connected with agriculture, which, however in- teresting to those assembled, would be deemed quite oth- erwise by the general reader, and which, therefore, we have omitied. the club proceeded to discuss the subject of the day, which had been continued from the last mvet- ing, viz— ready for use. This Plants should be 5; ffect is more rema: FERTILIZING SANDY LANDS. Mr. Murs exhibited s specimen of oats grown in barren sand, sserely with the addition of water, which appeared very luxuriant, and remarked that the present suoject was one of great importance For example: Long sland would be much benefited by the discussion. Jucge Van Wrcx said there were various ways of im- proving sondy svils on Long Island—great use was made of fish, which were spread om the ground, Others have used old farm yard manure. No doubs the most effectual way; if the ‘randy soll is vor barren—particularly the silicious sandy soil—was by adding clay and hardening it; that is, solidifying it so that the rains would not descend into the earth, and thus lose the precious part of the manure, by carrying it under the rurface soil. Marl has also been employed, and this latter, no doubt, is very ex- cellent for holding particles of sand together, This has been found to be the case in the soil of New Jersey, on the seashore, which is pure sand; and the marl has beon discovered within the last twelve years to improve it won- derfully, giving good crops of grass, and thus epabling the farmer to keep more stock, and by this meaus make more farm yard manure. These lands are worth three times “and five times moro than they were worth formerly. Indeed, their value has been increased eight or ten fold, ‘This eld fashioned manure, as it is mow culled, namely, barn yard manure, is very good, Porhaps some of the artificial ht he serviceable after f ures raigl the farm yard manure had been employed. But to put them in at first, he skould suppose to be a desperate at- tempt. The sand must first be made of a firm consia- tency, with marl or chalk; but we have very little chalk in our country compared with Europe, and therefore we aust depend upon marl. BoLon Koptnson pointed to the specimen on the table as 8 preof of the benefits of artificial manure on sandy soils, and said that there were large tracts of barren land on Long Irland and New Jersey, for the fertilizing of which he wished information, and would inquire if any one could furnish it. . Dr. SHELTON said that the marl from New’ Jersey, in his part, had teen tried without effect; others had employed it with benefit. Professor Mares said that sands differed even on Long Inland. and if we confined ourselves to mere sand, which is quite barren, we must add sufficient organic matter to it. If the sandcontains carbon or alumina, it will retsia utrescent matter much better. ‘The plan pursued on ng Island, of adding fish,foas not succeeded in all cases; where they could get soms sort of muck wo add with the above, the use of fish had been found of benefit. In Monmouth county they have used green sand marl, having fro one to fifteen per cent of potash, and drawa from different parts of New Jersey. This substance con- tains, likewise, by late experiments, phosphorus or phos- phoric acid. They have found in Monmouth county that there is not muca benefit from the marl without the addi- tion of muck. On soils nearly bare they do not use lime. Barnyard maaure, lie all other soluble manures, ia wasted upon sandy soiis that have not sufficient alumina to retain it. About the town ef Freehold, in New Jersey, lands that ten years ago were not worth ten dollars, are now worth fifty dollars per acre, by the use of muck from swamps. necessity, however. of not stopping at barnyard manure, but of continuing with more cestly manures, bas been found expedient in that district. The farmers of Monniouth county were the pioneers in the use of guano and other artificial manures in the vicinity of New York. Judge Van Wrox imagined that the fish on long Island was the most economical manure that the farmers. there could use. It was not very durable, perhaps only for ene yeer; but for that period it was very eifectual. Ho did not think that any manure was equal to barnyard ma nure, and soit had always been thought by their bext ects as anything but flattering. A few sectiows in this Etate and is several others, have been favored with eeason- je weather, and the crops are well advanced; but by far the greater part las suffered much from the effects of cold and drought. The fear is beginning to be enter- tained that even with the most favorable seasons in fu- ate crop must fall considerably below the ate. Fears are also entertained that the 11 of snow in the mountains, last winter, very heavy will eaure an unprooedented rise in the Mississippi civer, and, of course, almort totally destroy the crops in the ad- jacent region, The Athens, Ga., Herald, of the 2d inst., says :— After a drought of some four to six weeks, more or less, we were in this region favored with a refreshing shower on Monday evening. Although very light, it will no doubt be found to be of great becefit to the crops—particularly corn and ontton. We have heard the opinion expressed that oats are *‘ beyond redemption, ” but we think the rain will benedt that crop also. Cotton bas suffered much, beth on account of the drought and oold—the mornings having been unusually cool for come time past. Indeed, to cold wan it last week, that we heard it rumored that frost hed been seen one morning in some portions of the couaty. New wheat has beeo brought into market at Augusta, Gp., and sold at $1 25 per bushel. 1 Middletown (M4) Gazelte says: “The bark crop th’s season appears to be one of unusual growth, jndging from the immense quantity daily hauled to and through our towm. Within the last three weeks there were at least ten wagon loads each day, passed through, averaging each three cords, making in all about 540 cords, which, at $7 per cord. will bring the pretty sum of $3,780. This is bat a small item, however, in coraparison to the qanatity hauled on other routes. Wonder what the patent process mon think of thin ?’” ‘The weather is very dry and rain mush needed. A good shower Jast now would do mush 10 tnpemre tie deely roads, and greatly benefit the crops. Thenights and mora ings for severe! days past have been unusually cool.— Kaonville Statesman, June 1. The oat crop of our district (says the Yorkville Més- cellany, 24 instant) has suffered very much from the cool avd dry weather. Tuuino1s Pkacn Crop.—The editor of the Alton Telegraph +ays :—Wo base been engaged, for some days past, in trying to zeeive our trees by picking off the snper-abondant fruit, removing overcharged limbs, Xc.,, and have found it an almost interminable task. In many ago—Oetober 27, 1737:— ‘Notice ia hereby given that the t office of Philadelphia ts now kept at Frankita’s in iarket street, and that Henry Pratt {s appointed riding ponimarter for ail stages between Philadelphia and New port in Virginia, who seta out about the beginning of each month, and returns in twenty-four days—by whom gentlemen, merchants, and others, may have their letters carefully conveyed, and business fait he having given good seourity for the same to the honor ble wood, Postmaster General of sll his Majesty's dominions in Amerien, ‘The Ogdensburg Sentinel gives the amount of leading ar- toles of rodeos recetvea by the river St. Lawrence He as readily expressed~his to help her, and having left himself, soon found means rie ie her release, and is about leading her to altar. will out,” and is requires evoa rince the of navigation:— fe A pop . th 3 caser email shoots, less than one foch in iength, are burdened with four or five peaches, anda'though coant- less thourar.de have fallen or been removed from almost every tree they are atill much too full for perfect eafety. Osher frult is also very abundant im this neighborhood. Toe Last Run or SHav.—The shad season of Vhiladolphia enced yesterday, the Sth inst. acoording to the limitation of our statutes, the fs being deemed im proper and onwholesome fond later in the summer, Shad have been plenty and cheap here, though not to so great au exient as was wrpocind at the comme: cement of the neason. With thie soanon onda the fish market edi- fice in High street, east of Water. It 1s tobe demolished at an early day.—Philadelphia North American, June 6th. A--eciation (or the Advaasemens of Ss... 06 Cleveland, om the 28th of July, 1858, farmers fer fifty, a hundred, or a thoasand years. It had been acknowledged tbat no manuze was equal to barayard manure, wixed with muck from the swamp, Dr. Underhill paid tbat he had used no other manure on his soil. He laced on it about 26,000 cart loads, which had brought Fis tand to fertility, ‘so that he could now produce any crops op it. He had perhaps the finest vineyard in the ¢astern part of the State, grain, fruits, &c., although be- fore usivg the above manure the soil produced nothiag. He had used the concentrated manures slightly—in Ho- me opathic doves, as it might be called—as stimulants. Another gentleman on Long Island had followed the same plan, and had found it equally boncticial. He had like- wise kept stock upon his land. oron ROBINSON was a great believer in barn-yard ma- nuye; but be wished to know how it would be in cases whe; 6 the individual had none, only possessing, for exam- ple, a farm of barren sand, possessing no rexourdes, and too far from this city to obtain those fertilizing ingredients thet are here thrown away. Further seuth than New Jersey thore are places more barren evon than those oa Long Island, which bad been brought iuto profitable oul- tivation. He would allude to the land of the Hon. Wil- loughby Newton, in Virginia, who changed his readionce for the sake of health, from the hottoms about the Poto- mac toa barren district cal ed forest land almost as naked ‘ax the floor underneath them, known as the pine woods of Virginia, and which place was too distant from his farm to obtain the manure, even if he could spare it. He had, notwithstanding, raised splendid crops, leaving a large margin of profit, and increasing considerably the value of vhe lands. If it cam be done there, it can be dove in other places, without farm yard manure, the ammonia from which is evaporated in the atmosphere—thua fertilizi jour neighbor's land, instead of your o He denied th: br. Underbili’s land on Croton Point, was barren i, it contained enough of loam to retuin the fertilizing in- gredignts. He would not discourage the ure of muck manure; it was thrown away in this city. The Ameri- cans were tbe most wasteful people in the world, they wasted their land even on Long Island, which would. give a living to thousands who were picking up rags and gro- velling in the gutters. But for this purpose, it was no- know how to fertilize these barren lands, not because they had none; they must frat bring the land tnto cultivation before they could have the farm yard manure. But tbere wi war carried on there gainst artificial mauures, because they were chliged to buy it from Pern. He would be glad to ree it at s cheaper rate, and he had done his utmost to bring It about. He bad been sccused of speaking in favor of guano from selfieh motives; ho denied being interested in its sale, having never made a cent by it; but he believed firmly in its valuable properties, as instanced in the case of Mr. Wil- ough! jewton, who had used it in a district where it would have been Lead wor id to have obtained any otherma- onre. With two hundred pounds of guano, andia some cases with only ninety pounds per acre. he obtained clover where it war impossible to grow that or anything else, and obtained good crops where wheat, aud hardly rye, would not . Io pw cases, something elve munt be used bosides barn ard manure or fish, whore peither could be procured. What a noble prospect it would be, if we could se the thousands of acres now barren on Long Island and in New Joreey. brought into cultivation and covered with buman habitations, instead of being aa bare as Homp- stead plains! It chould be the objeot of every member of this club, and of every one present, to do all im his power to bring shout thet hanpy ctate of things, namely of ‘Laing barren landa. feat the rate of half a bushel of guano to large cart load Fete six loads of te bream — toan acre. By the same treatment, or rather by a sped. cation, he cbtained twenty-five bushels of cote eee. Tulse Van Wyck said that Dr. Hb pecras farm was originally a fine sand in some par and in others loamy. differing in its quality aad e “ sistency. Dr. Underhill bad charged the texture of his land om Croton Point, Injthe same maoner Mr, Blakesley’s farm in Connecticut, as stated by him at the last meeting, differed in different parts, but was improved by the use barn yard manure. A mixture of muck and guano, asjast stated, was no doubt very good; so were bone and phosphate of lime and water, properly used, beae- ficial. It was not to be inferred frem thst, that bara yard manure was not beneficial. Mr. A. considered a ‘tion as very beneficial for sandy lands; he had sees beneficial employment by Mr. Joseph Paxton, in Kagland, who told him that he had used it for sandy lands which were let at 28. 6d per acre, and which Innds he had made to net him £4 per acre, over and above all his expenses, by the adoption of that sys a parked that irrigation was HoRAck GREKLEY. rex: where. however, the ms- much used in Lombardy, Italy, chinery was very clumsy. He intended to iutrodues i his place. The henefit of irrigation might be seen fields through which a stream of water ran, ia the pec liar richness of the grass, The Phalanx of Monmou county, N,J., had great facilities for this purpose om their land, In Lombardy a small of water was made toirrigate a large tract of country; the climate very much ours; they had great facilities for irrigation, umerous streams that ran through it, always at the same level. Their artificiel irrigation d. ok some six or seven centuries, but their machinery was very rude. Ou the Nile they used a wheel driven by am ox, He would like to see Bessemer’s pump applied to this purpose. It would be found ultimately that care tion was the best fertilizer when applied economic: and the low country of New Jersey will, no dou eventvally be irrigated at a very slight oxpense. Mr. Arrwoop thought that hydraulic ram would be used, which was much cheaper than any kiad of pump. Soton Ronson said that there were many places waere the prareals ram could not be employed. It would be useful in those cases to use the windmill Judge Van Wrox suggested that the next subject for discussion should be some of the insects . wore now cemrsitne. auch ravages in various parts" Mimmpe and is conntry. Soron Ropnrson said that if they were to aemots, they ought to instance a few, as the number was s0 jat that outsiders might tat that they would have to iacuss among them not only bugs, but hamba 3. After a few more words it was settled that the subject for the next fortnightly meeting should be “ Irrigation.’ Coroners’ Inquests. Drata or Carrawn Carty, Cavskp By A FALL.—Coroner O’Donnell yesterday held an re at the Merchants’ Hotel, in Cortlandt street, on the body of Charles aus Captain of the steamer Parker Vein, who came to hi death by the fracture of his skull, caused by the acci- dental falling from the roof cf the cabin to deck of said vessel. It appears by the evidenee of Heary H, Tayler, agent for the Parker Vein Steamship Line, run: ning between New York and Baltimore, that the deceased left this city on Saturday last, and having met with the accident, the vessel was put back and retursed to this city on Surday morning. The deceased, while in an in- sensible state, was removed from the vowel to the Mar- chants’ Hotel. at the request of Dr. Carnochaa, for the better convenience of performing an operation of tre- poining. Dr. J..M. Carnochan sworn, said :—I was called by Captain Hall, about seven o'clock on Sunday morning last, to visit “Cuptain Carty, of the steamec Parker ¥ ein, ot of Cortland? street, North river; I found c lying ona mattrass on deck, ina state of insensibility, the head much bruised and injured. and blood oo7'g from the nostrils; I advised that be should be removed toa hotel, and he was accordingly removed to the Merchants’ Hotel; upon a careful examination of his head J found an exteusive fracture of the os frontis, » part of the skull having been thrown’in upon the brain; an ojcration being necessary, I left for my ia:trameats and returned in about an hour, and, being assisted by Doctors Crane and Sidel, I performed the operation of trephining, avd elevated’ the depressed bone from the brain; I now found that the anterior part of the skull was literally split to pieces: one crack extended along the temple of the right side and passed into the paritsl bone; two others extended downward towards the eyebrows, and passed through the orbital plate of the os frontis, and through the ostomoid bone; the brain itself was oxtan- sively injured, and death was caused by fracture of the skull, accompanied by injury of the brain. is The evidence of Dr. M. W. Dickeson went to show that, from the nature of the injury, it had been produced by the falling upon a bard plain surface, and it would almost be imposeible to produce such an extended fracture, pass- ing eh fe the frontal, parietal, and temporal bones, and inwardly extending to the ostomoid, or centre of the cranium, by a blow directed by musculat power. Oa the facts produced before the Coroner, the jury rendered a verdict of ‘Injuries received from an accidental fall, from the roof of the cabin to the deck of stesmer Parker Vein.’’ The deceased was about fifty years of age, anda native of Philadelpbia, KILLED FROM 4 Blow wiTt A Hammen.—Coroner Hilton esterday beld an inquest at No. 696 Water street, on the dy of James O'Brien, aged 33 years, a native of Ire- land, who came to his death bya blow from s hammer, inflicted by Khody Gilbert, in self-defence. Richard Creoghe, of No. 325 Front street, sworn, sai: that on Monday, about 6 o'clock in the afternooa, James O’Brien, the deceased, came into my hou-e; we had two glasses of beer together; a man named Rhody Gilvert was there when the deceased eame in; I have kaown si - bert about six weeks; be is» ’longshoreman; he did nut drink with us, upto this tim and Gilbert played a game ot cards fora quart of beer, which O'Brien won; they played for another quart, O’Brien won that also; both quarts of beer were brought inand drank by us three; we were the only persons fre-ent; O'Brien accused Gilbert of not having the last quart in, and said he would have it Gilbert told him that he had it before, but deceased denied it; O’Brien then got up from his seat and said by “‘gor’’ he would have it, aad took bold of Gilbert; he did not strike him at this time; I got between them and separated them; Gilbert thea went out of the houre and called the landlord; tho land- | lord lives in the same house, but he did not come in; Gilbert theo came in again; I'then advised O'Briea to go home; immediately after this, he attacked Gilbert; I xepa, rated them aguin; Gilbert did not attempt to strike the | deceased, up to this time; Gilbert seemed pretty sober; O’Brien was quite drunk; Gilbert was standing by the cupboard, from which he tvok the hammer now here ex- hibited; this was previous to the last attack O'Brien made on him, and when O’Brien approached Gilbert, he struek bim on the forehead with it; it was a bard blow at the time the deceased was struck, he was in the act of attacking Gilbert for the third time, and kicked at him; the Jandrord and police came in and arrested O'Brien: Dlocd was fiowing from bh not full when he was truck; 0B Seventh ward station house, and Gilbert went away; I saw) O’Buien the pext moroing in the station house; be seemed, perfectly sensible; at the time Gilbert struck, the de- ceased Bad hold of him. and could not, in my opinion, getaway from him; the deceased was the aggressor in each instance; Gilbert did not seom disposed to quarce with him; Gilbert was a small man; tne deceased was much larger and more powerful; I am brother-in-law ta the decear¢d, and was on first rate terms with him Dr. John Witherell, being sworn, depoved—I have mate 8 post mortem examination of the decea-e3; I found a cut about one inch in leogth on the forehesd,’ which extend. ed to the skull; I found a fracture of the akull about the ciroumference of a two-chilling piace; this fracture war the cause of his death; a blow from the hammer nee shown me would produce such # fracture, if he nad brer attended by proger surgical attendance at the time, think his life mizht baye been saved ‘The jury rendered the following verdict:--‘That de coased care to his dea‘h by a blow from the hammor it the bands of a man called Khody Gilbert, ia his own de feuck. Cavnion To Parents—A Cap Drowyep iN A CiaTeey —Yerterday, Coroner Gamble held an inquest on the bet) ofa ebild three years and eight months old, namod Wi liom H. Wiley. who came to his death by accidentall) falling ipto a cistern. and was drowned. The parents « the child resided in Thirty third street, near Second a nue, and through the dilapidated state of the wood- vu ‘ound the cistern, the child slipped into the water a lost-its life. The jury rendered the following verted “That the deceased came to its death by being acolden ly drowned ip acietern, The jury would call the atter tien of the City Inspector to the dangerous contitiv which the cistern ix in.” Accipentat DrowsING—Caction To Boys Gomxa BATary| Joroner Gamble yesterday held an inquest on the hod of a boy nine years of age, uamed John C. Rogge, lying { the house of his parents, No. 73 Ninth avenue, who cau to bis death by drowning, while bathing on Monday - ternoon, in the North river. foot of Thirteenth street. | serma that after leaving rchool the poor boy, acconp nied with several of his schoolmates, went to the river bathe, and the deceased was drowned. The clothes of deceased were taken to the parents, which was th intimation they received of their hurried to the river, and, by the covered the body and conveyed tuned a verdict of accidental drowning. Naval Intelligence. The U.S. #! po tf ir Vandalia, of the Japan er; tion, arrived at Rio Janeiro, on the 17th April, from P| ladelphia, avd would p-ooeed on the 23d. An Alexandria letter of May 5, says: ‘The U.S. slo: of-war St. Louls bas been lying here singe tha 20th hel She will leave here on Monday for Jaffa and Bolrut, then to Athens, to join tha ship. lion bo) Seon Jacinto i Louis.” It alvo atates rel jacinto sto>+ at Malta, Spezzia, and Go: on way to the United States’ oe The U. 3. steamer Joon Hancock was taken into ba Siiatee and vehivaireuere peed hy who will speedily comy regairs to be made.~, Solk Herald, June 6. The following engipeers have. been ordered ta the eteamer ton, Lax my | te take Minister Borlen Central America :-—First Asaistant and Senior Fagin R. A Long. Seound Assistomt—Jamos H. Warner. 1 Ponte 4, Campbe'd, R. B. Quinn, and G. R. W, end. The following is a list. ef officers of the U. 8. Coast steamer ‘detuel, wad cchooner Gra’ tenmer l—Lseut, Commanding, John J. a! Lieutenant, Van R. Morgan; Pansed isting Su D. RB. 8, Acting M: Richard L. Law, Ps Mid-hipgaen, Jno, Walker, ‘Wm. HK. Mercer, Day Phenix, Seoond Assistant Engineer, James M Adi fe Assistant taee EA Gentes Nene "ag htaman, Albis Schopf; ‘ep | g feehr. Lieutenant, Matthew . Perry, Asting Master, Wm. M. Low. Midshipman Charles C. Hunter, some timo si wirsed for be: ina duel, has been reins ts sal Portemouth Transcript ert in the navy, 5 The U. rf sieve of war Vandalia was at Rio's: April 21st, to sail for Japan in two dave, 2 Commenter Kogle has been ordered to tha comme | the Princeton, which may take out Mr Howls te Gites fier this the decea.ed |