The New York Herald Newspaper, August 1, 1853, Page 4

SS - NEW YORK HERALD.' —_eeeeeeeeeeeet , JAMES GORDON BENNETT ,, PROPRIETOR 4ND EDITOR, ' SPTLOB N, W. CORNER OF FYLLTON AND NASSAU 878 | Ie WEEKLY HER4 4) the per fhe Continent in, and US tnanunert of | ‘OUK FOREIGN ComnePow eee MS cosh in pts WS GLY HERALD Zeente per copy $7 per ant. K si ae a cents | per copy. oF 83 Per 9™ am; Duition to any y ho Great a VOLUNTARY CORRESPONDENCE, containing impor. | pent neve sotlctied te Tie sed boat nes sliced, from any quarter of the world i DENTS AKE PARTICULARLY BRQUESTED TO SEAL atl Lier- | Feks AND pases ee tant ve. | ALL L. mail for Sabscriptio: with Adver | bieements tye x postage Poll Be leductod {rom | NO'NOTICE of anonymous communtoctions We de wot | return thore rejected. ADVERTISEMENTS renewed every dar JOB PRINTING c2ccuted with neatnens, cheapness, and ch. Weiume XVM a BU AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. CASTLE GARDEN) Exisix P Aone. BOWERY THRAUKR, Bowery May Qowex—Naro Leon. BROADWAY TABATRE, Broadway—-PexLanD As IT Ie it’s Tus Custom or tun CouNrhy. BIBLO’S, Bros¢wey—PBorewan Guin NATIONAL THEATRE Chatham styoot- Uxoie Tom's AMFRICAN MUS £0¥—afternoow and Bvening—Dovnex Buopen Room - Ivoran Cec roRrmancts— MONEY ST, CHARLES "MEPATRE Bowery —Cuinn oF THe Racuexr—Poor sonrimn—Lapy ap Devin, MADISON AVANTR—Afternooe and Evening—PRaw conn CHRISTY’S AMPEICAN OPERA HOUSE, 472 Broadway —Brnioriey MeLOw es wy Cuniste’s Opena TROUPE WOOD'S MINSBREL! way— ErnioPias Wine: eMurical Hall, 444 Broad BUCKL¥Y’S°@PERA HOUSY, 539 Broadway—Bvox- Ley’s ETHIOPIAX OPERA TROUPE, GEORAMA, 6 Broadway—Faworama or The HoLw Larne SOPE CBATEL—Pawemams oF Niacasa, SCADEBT HALL, 663 Bwwdway—Ascent ov Mowr Brave. New York, Menday, August 1, 1353. Malls fer Barope. THE NEW YORE”WEEKLY HERALD. ‘The roya) mail steamship Europa, Capt. Shannon, will teave Boston on Wednesday, at 12 o'clock, for Liverpool. Subscriptions and advertisements for any edition of the Saw Youx Hera Will-be reesived at the following pisces @ Rarope — Lavexpoor—Johr Hunter, No. 2 Paradise street. Lonpon—Edward Sandford & Co., Cornhill. * Wm. ‘Thomas & Co., No. 19 Cathariae street. Paas+—Livivgston, Wells & Co., Rue de la Bourse, B A. Revoil; No. 17 Rue de ls Banque. Toe Buropean mails will close in this city at three @’elock to. morrow afternoon. The Week ty Hunan will be published at bslf-past nine Woleck to-morrow morning. Single copies, im wrappers, Gxpence. ‘Tne News. We publish to-day an extended report of the pro- ceedings of the National Scientific Convention upon the first day of meeting, 28th ult., at Cleveland, Ohio. A full synopsis of the excellent paper, “Upon the value of the barometer in the navigation of the American lakes,” which was read by Professor Red- field, of New York, is appended. Our reporter has also furnished a detailed account of the forenoon transactions of the second day. The valuable and very practical papers of Professor Bache, the re- marks of Mr. L. Blodgett, of Washington, upon the “ Southeast monsoon of Texas, the northers of Texas and the Gulf of Mexico,” &c., as well as the paper of Professor J. Brainerd, of Cleveland, upon the “ Ori gin of quartz pebbles in the sandstone cong Fate,” will be read with mach interest and proiit. ‘The names of the new members, and other matters connected with the meeting, are given in full. Australian gold-circulars and commercial intelli- gence of April 18, may be found under the financia head. The price of gold had fulien from 77s. to 7 few, however, would part with is at that pric trafic in the article was at a standstill. The mines eontinued to yield abundantly. The transportation of gold had been monopolised by government, and ma * complaint was made of want of energy in the bu ne-s. The markets exhibited a firm a: t. The demand for building materials and every kind of really useful merchandise continued good. From British Guiana datee to the Lith inst.“have | been received. The Chinese immigrants had proved | to be docile and laborious. The weather had been highly favorable to the crops. The demand for pro- | visions did not keep pace with the supply. Salt fish | was in limited quantity. | Elections will be held in the following States to- @ay :—Arkansas, Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Ken- tucky, Missouri, and Texas. There are five candi- @ates for the office of Governor of Alabama, and nine ad | | Wall street was alarmed. dha Frnery Question—Gone to the Virginia Springs to Negotiate. According to our telegraphic advices, pub- Yished yesterday, from Washington, Hon. W. L. Marcy, Secretary of State, and the British Min- ister, Mr. Crampton, left Washingtoa on Satur- day last, for the Berkeley Springs, accompa nied by Hon. Caleb Cushing, Attorney General ofthe United States. We are informed that Mr. Crampton went up at the request of Mr. Marcy, who desires to re-open and proceed with the fishery and reciprocity negotiations in a quiet manner, free from the frequent interrup- tions to which the Premier is necessarily sub- jected in Washington. This is a good and seasonable idea. It is the practical realization of that magnificent idea of our modern transcendental philanthropists, of waking labor attractive. Gone to the Springs to negotiate on codfish and mackerel! Charm- ing, charming idea! The Berkeley Springs are situated in the county of Berkeley, about a Sabbath day’s journey, or some tweaty-five miles, more or less, west from ‘ar- per’s Ferry, among the mountains of Virginia. The Potomac river, here a shal- low, rattling mountain stream, flows around the north end of the county, while a number ot its tributaries, clear and sparkling, flow through it between ranges of hills and moun- tains, and fields of corn, venerable woods, and meadows green. The Springs are provided with a good hotel, and are annually the resort of a company of highly respectable people, in- cluding a delightful sprinkling of the beauties of the valley ; but the locality is comparatively free from those hordes of idlers, loafers, and chevaliers d’industrie, so plentiful in the dog days at Newport and Saratoga. Hence, it is a good place for the resumption of negotiations on the fishery question and Yankee, and colo- nial reciprocities. And here, again, we havea practical illus- tration of the sagacity, discretion, and good taste of Secretary Marcy. Here, at these Berkeley Springs, there will be something like excmption from the tortures of the office-seek- ers, combined with good water. pure country air, delightfal rides among the mountains and the valleys. the society of intelligent farmers and their beautiful daughters, fresh milk cream and butter such as are never seen in Washington, genuine mountain mutton, and no necessity for musquito curtains. Furthermore, these springs are within a few hours’ ride by railroad from Washington. so that no time may be lost in the event ofa sudden exigency, requiring the im- mediate return of our distinguished officials to headquarters—such an exigency, for instance, as the opening of a general war in Europe, or a collision on the Mexican boundary, of the unex- pected descent of another fillibustering expedi- tion upon the island of Cuba, or a fight among the fishermen. Had President Fillmore been equally handy of access at the time of the Lopez invasion, it might not have ended so disas- trously to the misguided youngsters sacrificed near the castle of Atares. Mark. then, the wisdom of our Premier in choosing Berkeley Springs for the fishery negotiatio:s—mark his wisdom, and admire. It was but a year ago, and what achain of important events has filled up that short inter- val! It was. we repeat, but a year ago, that Mr. | Webster took Mr. Crampton up to M 1d. Hard by the surges of the sounding sea, there to talk quietly over and arrange, if possible, the almost inexplicable complexi i f thirty odd years of diplomacy, pai mentary, congre al and | discussions of our, fishery diflew . Si from Marsh- ddenly a pronunciamento field, by Mr. Webster, cut short the joint o' ursion to that honored homeste: it both countries, in the hotte the Presidential contest, to the verge of w “the univ Y ee nation” was aroused, and for the the glories of Lundy’s lane and the battles of Mexico were overshadowed by the wrongs of our Northern fishermen, and thé resolve of Mr. Webster to right them, “ hook and line. and bob and sinker.’ But the negotiators were re- called to Washington, oil was thrown upon the troubled waters, and the war blew over ; and thus we saw _This insubstantial"pageant, faded, Leave not a rack behind. ime. for Governor of Texas. Mr. W. Farwell, of Madison county, was nomi- | nated on Saturday by 2 convention of independent | democrats, at Syracuse, a candidate for State Sena- | tor for the counties of Oswego and Madison. | At a special meeting of the Board of Education, on the 2th ult., the union of the Public School So. eiety and the d, in pursuance of the law passed Jane 4, 1853, was consummated, and the corporate existence of the Society ceased. By this fusion of the two institutions it is expected the cause of eda- cation will be strengthened, as the public will still | receive from the members of the Society the same | intelligent service which has distinguished them for many years past. Joseph McKeen was appointed City Superintendent of Common Schools at a salary | ‘of $2,000 per annum. Samuel W. Seaton, who for | thirty years has acted as agent of the Public School Society, will probably be engaged by the Board. | The laying of the corner stone of the Christ Pro. | testant Episcopal Church in Eighth street, near Fifth avenue, took place on Saturday afternoon. A full report of the ceremony will be found in another part of to-day’s paper. | The arrival of the Asia's newsat New Orleans had the effect of depressing the prices of cotton one quar- | ter of a cent. There were one hundred deaths from yellow fever ‘at New (Orleans on Friday last. The ship John C. Calhoun, before reported ashore st Musquash, has been got off, and will be towed to St. John. In our inside pages may be founda great variety of interesting matter, including a Letter from our Nova Scotia Correspondent; the Central Park and Ten Hour Law; Additional News frem the South |, Pacific; News from the Far West; the Turf; Letter Major Stevens relative to the Northern Railroad Route to the Pacific; List of Patents; Commercial Intelligence, &e. | Harp Sretsis ann Sorr Sreiis.~It is said at quite a rich and racy correspondence has ently taken place between the Hon. John heeler, member of Congress from this city 1d General J. Addison Thomas. one of Gov Seymour's aids, and General I"lerce’s advocate ito the London Commission, under the tate reaty. Copies of this correspondence are said be in the hands of the Exeeutive. Will th ashington Union get the letters, and give the yiblic the benefit of them? If not, will Gen fhomar send them to us? If not, we must call poo the Hon. Mr. Wheeler for the documents. e want light. Tus Ress Pavement.-Comptroller Flagg on’t pay Rows & Reid for their pavement in ark row. Why not? If not. will Russ & «id ge on with the work? We hopeso. The s ple want the pavement, | Now, But the clouds have again collected along the Northeastern horizon—a regular fog bank. Hostile squadrons are again ordered to the disputed fishing grounds; and British | and American steamers (ours equal to six miles an hour) will be on hand watching the fishermen, while “away down in Ould Virginia,” among the mountains, within a Sab- bath day’s journey of Harper’s Ferry. in a comfortable hotel at Berkeley Springs. Messrs. Crampton and Marcy, like two old rats over a cheese, will be arranging the metes and bounds | of the “tarnal Yankees,” and the reciprocities between them and the adjoining colonies of Queen Victoria. , let us hope that while the offi- cers of the hostile squadrons may wind up | their campaign this year among the fisher- men, in a grand ball at Halifax, the same as they had last year—let us hope. and have faith that Messrs. Marcy and Crampton, among the mountains of Virginia. (where even a salt | codfish is a curiosity,) may soon come to a : | ae + | definite, satisfactory. and comprehensive ad- justment of the fishery business, reciproc and all. Then. our Premier. we may expect, will bring Gen. Almonte to Coney Island, (where the clams are of the best quality. as well as the sea air and the surf) and there proceed to settle by treaty the Mesilla ques- tion, the Tehuantepec question. the Indian question, and all other unsettled difficulties pending between the United States and Mexico. Keep cool, heeud Couecire Trrues—You Tickie Me axp Mi. Tickin You—We have observed that it become quite the fas! colleges to interchange compliments with each other, by making their respective presi. dents LL. D.’s. This degree, we believe, means simply learned in the laws, and we had sup- pored that besides our statesmen and levisla- tors, who ought to know something of the municipal law, as well as the law of nations we had a class of men among us who devoted laborious lives and great talents exclusively to the study of the civil law. But it seems to have been found out at last that LL. D, means learned in the law of Moses and the prophets or learned in no law, provided one is at the ‘on of late years for our Celebration at Plymouth, Mass, of the Em- | from whence they ~ ser sometimes called berkation of the Pilgrims, August 1, 1620. « Brownists.” ¥Fror In an article in the Henan, on the 27th ult., we expressed our gratification at the growing taste and feeling for public celebrations of his- torical events connected with the rise and pro- gress of the United States. Whether these com- memorations are national or local, they cannot fail to attract public attention and revive pa- triotic and grateful recollections of those glori- ous men of other times, who. by their acts and examples, laid the foundation, or aided in the construction, of the fabric of this confederacy of republican institutions. This day will become memorable in the ‘n- nals of New England; for it is the first time, that the date ef the embarkation of the P*grims who first settled im New England has been pub- licly celebrated in this country, to mark the day when that band of heroes and mar- tyrs for religious liberty left the place of their exile in Holland, and embarked for the shores of.America. The anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims of Plymouth. on the 22d of December, has long been commemorated at Plymouth. and elsewhere in the United States ; but he equally interesting day of their embarkation from Delft, in Holland, August 1, 1620, it bas been determined by the Pilgrim Society of Plymouth, to place on the calendar, as one of the remarkable days in our annals. This is to be done by a public celebration this day, at Plymouth on which occasion will, doubtless, be assembled a large concourse of the sons of New England. and others who de- light in historic lore and great achievements, orto trace. from small beginnings. the origin of nations. Mr. Webster, in his great address at Ply- mouth, December 22, 1820, observes :— Great actions and striking occurrences, having ex- cited a temporary admiration, often pass away aud are forgotten, because they leave no_ last- ing results affecting the Dre nerty and mapol ness of communities. Such is frequently the fortune of the most brilliaut military achieve. ments. Of the ten thousand battles which have been fought, of all the fields fertilized with carnage, of the banners which have been bathed in blood, of the warriors who have hoped that they had risen from the field of conquest toa glory as bright and as durable as the stars, how few that con- tinue long to interest mankind! The victory of yes- terday is reversed by the defeat of to-day ; the star of military glory, risimg like a meteor, like a meteor has fallen; disgrace and disaster hang on the heels of conquest and renown; victor and Panneaed presently pass away to oblivion, and the world goes on in its course, with the loss only of so mauy lives and so much treasure. But it is not always so. There are enterprises, military as well as civil, which sometimes check the current of events, give a new turn to human affairs, apd transmit their conse- yences through ages. We see their importance in their results, and call them great, because great things follow. ‘There have been buttles which have fixed the fate of nations. When the traveller pauses on the plain of Marathon, whatare the emotions which most strongly agitate his breast? What is that glo- riozs recollection which thrills through his frame, and suffures his eyes? Not, | imagine, that Grecian skill and Grecian valor were here most sigually displayed, but tuat Greece herrelf was saved. It is bec to this spot, and to the event wh immortal, he reters all the succeeding glories of the republic. it is because it that day had gone otherwise, Greece bad perished. It is becatise he perceives that her philosophers and oraters, her poets and painters, her sculptors and architect, her governments and free institutions, point backward to Marathon, aud that their future existence seems to have been suspended on the contingency wheter the Persian or the Gre- cian banuer should wave victorious in the beams of that day's setting sun. ‘If we conquer,” said the Athenian commander, on the approach of that de- cisive day, “ if we conquer we sha'!l make Athens the greatest ci of Greece.” A prophecy how well fwfied! “If God prosper us,” aoght bave been the more appropriate language of our fathers, when they lanced upon mouth if God prosper us, we i bere work which shall la for ages; plant here a new s fullest liberty and the p dl ilderness which is be n of the great couti om pole to pole, w ty; the temples of the trae God 5 of idulatrous sacrit viuciples of the eas Christia mg a thousand never yet, sinc: ion, reclaimed to of civilized man. We shail whiten this coust with the canvass of a prosperous commerce; we shall stud the Jong and winding shoe witha hundred cities. That which we sow in weakness I be raised in strength. From the simplicity of social union there shall arixe wise aud politic constitutions of government, full of the liberty which we ourselves bring and breath; from our zeal for Haat) institutions shall spring which shall seatter the light of kKnowledve throughout the land; and our descendants, through all geueratpas, shall look back to this spot, and to this hour, with una- bated affection and regard. Nothing can be more appropriate than this quotation from Mr. Webster's address, to re- mind us of the great importance to be attached to the event of the first settlement of New England, and of the embarkation from the old world, and the landing ow the shores of the new, of the noble spirits who accomplished the enterprise. The Pilgrims of New Englaud, it is well known, were of that class of Englishmen who are also denominated Puritans, by historians, to distinguish the name given to the dissenters from the Church of England in the reign of Elizabeth, and the first two Stuarts. But the origin of the Puritans may be traced to an earlier period. When Hooper, who was exiled in the latter part of the reign of Henry VIIL, was appointed Bishop of Gloucester, he, for a time. refused to be consecrated in the vestments which the law prescribed ; and his refusal in 1550, marks the era when the Puritans first existed as a separate party. They demanded a thorough reform ; the established church desired tocheck the propensity to change. In the reign of Edward VI, the Roman Catho- lic doctrines were expunged from the national creed, and the fundamental articles of the Protestant h were recognized and estab- lished by law. But much of the ancient cere- monial of worship was retained. The sentiments which were subsequently matured into the doc- trines of the Puritans had already taken por- session of the minds of some of the English Pro- testants; but their operation was as yet neither very powerful nor extensive. The reign of Mary involved both partivs of the English Pro- testanis in danger; but they whose principles wholly refused communion with the Charch of Rome were placed in the greatest peril. Hooper and Rogers, the tirst martyrs of Protestant Eng- land, were Puritans; but a Marge part of the English clergy returned to their submission to the See of Rome—others firmly adhered to the Reformation. During the heat of the persecu- tion under Queen Mary, many of the English Protestants forsook their country, and took re- fuge in the Protesiant States of Germany and Switzerland. On the death of Mary, they returned to England. Queen E beth, her successor was not favorable to the Puritans; but, a body, they had avoided a separation from the Church of Ey land. They had desired a refe ond not a But there gradually grew np among har as schism. head of a coll Well, we imagine the law- yers will care very litile if the D. D.’s do rob them of their LL. D's. The useful aefivity, and consequent honor of their lives, can well aflord to leave such baubles to indolent preten- sion. Grand Lama is » vastly higher title than De ctor of Laws. We propose it as anew de- ieree, 60 ag to avoid thie crime of robbory. them a class of men who carried opposition to the Church of England to the extreme. and re- | fused to hold communion with a chureh of which they condemned the ceremonies the goveru- ment, and the discipline. This party was called | “The Independents,” aud was plebeian in its origin—ite adherents were “neither gentry nor | beggars.” Their leading advoeate waa Brown, «this time there was a di- vision among the ¢ “fesenters from the Church of England. The? +yritens desired to amend; the Brownists to destroy and rebuild. The feud became pitt’ sr in England, and eventually led to great P° Jitical results there, but never ex- tended @° ,ross the Atlantic. An act of noncon- formity | passed in the reign of Elizabeth, caused many of the Independents to exile themselves to "sfoltand, and a society founded by them ex- ‘ated there for a century. Towards the close of the reign of Elizabeth a reformed church of Puritans was formed in the north of England, composed of “poor people.” or those in moderate circumstances, in towns and villages of Nottinghamshire,” Lincolnshire, and the borders of Yorkshire. This church, having for its pastor John Robin. son, a man of estimable character, were beset night and day by the agents of royal and ec- clesiastical tyranny. After suffering much persecution, this small flock of Puritans re- solved to seek safety in exile. Holland at- tracted the attention of the emigrants as the land of liberty and the Protestant faith. The departure from England was not effected with- out suffering and hazard. Their first attempt, in 1607, in the reign of King James L., was pre- vented, and some of the Puritans were impri- soned. The next spring, 1608, the design was renewed. An unfrequented heath in Lincoln- shire, near the Humber. was the place of secret meeting. Some of their wives and children were seized when on the point of embarking; but they were finally suffered to depart, and arrived safely at Amsterdam. Such was the flight of the Pilgrims, under their leaders, Ro- binson and Brewster, from the land of their fathers. From Amsterdam, the Pilgrms removed to Leyden, where they took up their residence, and applied themselves to industrial callings for a livelihood. They had been bred to the pursuits of agriculture, and in Holland they were com- pelled to learn mechanical trades. Brewster became a printer; Bradford learned the art of dying silk; others various trades. But they were discontented and unhappy in Holland. Conscious of ability to act a higher part in the world. they were moved by ‘a hope and inward zeal of advancing the gospel in the remote parts of the New World.” Their Dutch neigh- bors proposed to them to emigrate to their new settlements in America, and made them large offers; but the Pilgrims were attached to their nationality as Englishmen, and to the language of their native soil. A deep love of country led them to seek to recover the protection of England. by forming acolony under that government. In 1627, John Carver and Robert Cushman repaired to Eng!and to obtain a patent from the London Coimpany owning the right to lands in Ame Having. after nearly two years negotiation, | procured from the Plymouth Company, « grant of a tract of land, several of the congregation at Leyden sold their estates, and expended the purchase money. with money received from other adventurers, in the equipment of two ves- sels, in which only a minority of the congrega- tion could embark. Mr. Robinson and a majo- rity of his charge therefore remained behiud at Leyden. until a favorable opportunity should offer to join their friends in America. After twelve years exile from their native land, the detachment of the Leyden congrega- tion of Pilgrims made ready for their departure. Two ships which they had provided—the well of sixty tons, and the May Flower of one hundred tons—awaited them at the little port of Delft Haven, near Leyden, from whence they were to embark for England, and thence pro- ceed on their voyage to America. This scene of embarkation, which took place on the Ist of August, 1620, is the anniversary which is this day to be commemorated at Plymouth. One of the finest of the historical paintings | which ornament the rotunda of the capitol at | Washington is that which represents this em- barkation of the Pilgrims trom Delft Haven. It is a picture of great artistic merit. by Robert N. Weir, and is of the largest size of the histori- cal paintings executed by order of Congress. The moment chosen by the artist for the action of the picture is that in which the venerable pastor, Robinson. with tears and benedicticas, and prayers to Heaven, dismisses the beloved members of his little flock to the perils and the hopes of their great enterprise. The characters of the persons introduced are indivated with discrimination and power, and the accesso- ries of the work marked with much taste and skill, The Pilgrims sailed from Delft Haven for Southampton, in England, and in a fortnight alter, they left that port for America. But on account of the want of repairs they returned in a few days to Dartmouth, irom whence they again put to sea; but put back to Plymouth, where they left the Speedwell ag unseaworthy and as many as could be accommodated, 1o the number of one hundred souls, embarked in the Mayflower. In that small vessel, of one hundred and eighty tons, they sailed from Plymouth ou the 17th of September, sud after 4 boisterous passage of sixty-three days they arrived on the coast of Mastachusetts, and were safely moored in the harbor of Cape Cod on the 20th of November, and finally landed on the Rock of Plymouth, December 22, 1620. While at anchor, the manner in which their government should be constituted had been con- sidered. and after solemn prayer and thanksgiv- ing. the following instrament or compact was drawn up and subscribed on board the ship, on the 22d of November. It was signed by forty-one of their number, and they with their families amounted to one bundred persons. Thus did these intelligent colonists find means to erect themselves into arcpublic, even though they had commenced their enterprise under the sanc- tion of a royal charter; a case that is rare in history, and can be effected only by that per- severance which the true spirit of liberty in- spires:— i THE PLYMOUTH COMPACT. In the name of God, amen! We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal sntjeets of our dread sovereign, King Jaines, having undertaken, for the glory ot God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of ovr king and country, a voy: te plant the first colony in the northern parts of ginia, do, by these pre-ents, solemaly and matually, in the prescuce of God and of one another, covemant ard combive currelves together into a civil body poltic, for our better ordering and preservation, and lurthesance of the ends aferesaid, and by virtue bere- of to enact, constitute and framed, poo Be Juws, ordinances, acts, constitution and offic time to time, a» shal! be thought most convenient for | the general good of the colony. Unto which we | promise all due #ubmission and obedience. Signed by Jobn Carver, William Brewster, Edward Winslow, and others—forty-one in al. It is worthy of notice that among the siguers are the ancestors of some of the most respected merchants and other citizens of New York, namely : Winslow, Howlnat, Preweter, Drad ford, and others. Consular System of the United States. The legislation of Congress regarding the consular system of this country, has been quite meagre, being confined to two or three acts. the first of which was passed on the 14th of April, 1792, the second on the 28th of February, 1803, and third, regarding the duties of consuls, July 20, 1840. As imperfect as these laws are admitted to be, all subsequent attempts to re- model them, and to put our antiquated consular system on a footing commensurate with the pro- gress of the country, and to render it consistent with the spirit of the age. have proved utter failures, Merchants, and citizens generally, of all parties, have repeatedly condemned the sys- tem, complained of its injustice, imperfection and injurious character, yet without avail. One is at a loss to understand why a system so uni- versally condemned is so strongly cherished by the Congress of the United States. Some have expressed their fears that selfish motives have swayed politicians, who wished to have things remain as they were, for the purpose of rewarding political favorites with the sinecure consulates of nine or ten thousand dollars per annum, while the starving, or non-paying, con- sulates would answer for subordinate time- eervers, whom it would be trorhlesome to pro- vide for at home, where their incompetency would become immediately exposed to the peo- ple. ‘The act of 1792 was very briefand general in its character. It was entitled “ An act concerning consuls and vice-consuls, aud for the direction of the consuls and vice-consuls of the United States in certain cases,” The first section of this act au- thorized consuls to receive protests, or declara- tione, which captains or masters, crews, or pas- sengers, and merchants who are citizens of the United States, may, respectively. choose to make; and, also, such as any foreigner may choose to make before them relative to the personal interest of any citizen of the United States; and all of said acts, duly authenticated by the consuls and vice-consuls, to receive faith in law. equally as their originals would in all courts of the United States. It also provided that it shall be the duty. of consuls to take possession of the personal estate left by any citizen of the United States, other than seamen, who shall, within their consulates, having there no legal representative, partner in trade or trustee by him appointed—the ef- fects to be appraised by two citizens of the Uni- ted States, or for want of them, any others they may choose. All debts due the estate to be collected, and all owing to others to be liqui- dated—the residue to be sold by auction, after reasonable public notice. and the balance trans” mitted to the treasury of the United States, to be holden in trust for the legal claimants. If at any time before closing the affairs of the deceased, a legal representative thould appear, the consul is to hand over all to the said representative, and his agency is to cease, he having received his fees for his ser- vices as far ashe had proceeded. Consuls are re- quired to notify the Department of State of all American citizens dying intestate, and without legal representatives, abroad, in order that the fact may be published in the State to whieh he belonged. The third section directs that where ships or vessels shall be stranded or wrecked on the coasts of their consulates, they shall take all proper measures, under the laws of the country where they reside, for saving the vessels. their cargoes and appurtenances, or for storing and securing the effects and merchandise sayed, and to take an inventory of the same, and after de- ducting the expenses from the value of ihe goods. &c.. deliver them over to the owner or owners. Ke is not to take possession of the goods when the captain, owner, or consignee thereof is present or capable of taking possession of the same. The fourth section prescribes the fees to be allowed for various consular services. These we shall notice when we reach another part of our subject. Section fifth provides a salary of $2,000 per annum to be paid to consuls appointed by the President to reside in each of the Barbary States, which are the only fixed salaries paid at this day. Section sixth provides that both consuls and vice consuls shall give bonds, with such sureties as shall be approved by the Secretary of State, which is regarded as merely pro forma, as many consuls are sent abroad who could give no bond atall worth having. The bonds, when taken. are to be for not less than two thousand dollars nor more than ten thousand, “conditioned for the true and faithful discharge of the duties of his office. according to law, and also for truly accounting for all moneys, goods and effects which may come into his possession by virtue ot this act; and the said bond shall be lodged in ihe office of the Secretary of the Treasury.” The amount of the bond (two thousand dollers) exacted from a vice consul, whose fees may not exceed one hundred dollars per year, if duly executed and in good faith, would seem to be exorbitant. The only contingency which might render it necessary, would be the possi- bility of goods of deceased Americans, or of wrecked vessels, falling into his hands, the safety of which in bis possession might be thereby better secured. A second act was passed by Congress on February 28th, 1803, which was entitled “An act supplementary to the ‘Act concerning Con- suls and Vice Consuls,’ and for the further pro- tection of American seamen.” The first section provides that before a clear- ance be granted to any vessel bound on a foreign voyage, the master thereof shall deliver to the collector of the customs a list contain- ing the names, places of birth and residence, anda description of the persons who compose his ship's company; to which list the oath or affirmation of the captain shall be annexed, that the said list contains the names of his cre together with the places of their birth and rosi- dence, as far as he can ascertain them; aud the eaid collector shall deliver him a certified copy thereof. for which the collector shall be entitled toreceive the sum of twenty-five cents; and the vaid master shall, moreover, enter into bond, with sufficient security, in the sum of four hundred dollars, that he shall exhibit the afore- said certified copy of the list to the first board- ing officer at the first port in the United States at which he shall arrive, on his return thereto; end, also, then and there produce the per- sons waned therein to the said boarding officer. whose duty it shall be to examine the men with such list, aue to report the same to the collec- tor ; and it shall be the duty of the collector at said port ef arrival (when the game is different from the port from which the vessel originally railed.) to transmit a copy of the list so re- ported to him, to the collector of the port from which the veesel originally sailed. Provided; That tLe said boad sell not be forfeited on secount of the said master not producing to the first boarding officer, as aforesaid, any of the persons contained in the said list who may be discharged in a foreign country with the consent of the: consul, vice consul, commercial agent, or vice commercial agent, there residing, signified. in writing, under his hand and official seal, to be produced to the collector, with the other persons comprising the crew, as aforesaid; nor on account of any euch person dying or ab-. éconding, of being forcibly impressed into other service, of which satisfactory proofshall be there algo exhibited to the collector. Section second makes it the duty of every master or commander of a ship or vessel belong- ing to citizens of the United States, who shall sail from any port of the United States after the first day of May, (1803), on his arrival ata. foreign port, to deposit his register, sea letter, and Mediterranean passport with the consul,. vice consul, or commercial agent, (if any there be,at such port;) and in case of refusal or neglect of the said master or commander to deposit the said papers aforesaid, he shall for- feit and pay five hundred dollars, to be recever- ed by the said consul. vice consul, or commer- cial agent, in his own name. for the benefit of the United States, in any court of competent jurisdiction; and it is also made the duty of such consular agents on their receiving from. the master or commander a clearance from the proper officer of the port where his ship or ves- sel may be to deliver to the said master all of his said papers, provided such master shall have complied with the provisjons contained in said act, and those of the act to which this is a sup- plement. Section third provides that when seamen are discharged in a foreign port, the master of the ship is to produce his list to the consul or com- mercial agent, duly certified, and to pay over tothe said consul three months advance pay: for each discharged seaman on the list, two- thirds of which is to be paid each discharged. seaman as soon as he goes on another Ameri- can vessel bound for the United States; the other third to be retained asa fund for the pay- ment of the passages of seamen or mariners, citizens of the United States, who may desire to return home, and for the aid of American destitute’ seamen in said foreign port—the sums thus retained to be accounted for every six months to the Treasury of the United States, by the consul receiving the same. Section fourth provides that consular agents shall provide for the return of destitute seamen tothe United States. and their maintenance, under the direction of the President by the Se- erctary of State. All masters and commanders of vessels belonging to the United States are enjoined. under a penalty of $100 fine in case of refusal, to take seamen or mariners on board their ships for re-conveyance to the United States at the request of the oon— sul. and on such terms as may be agreed upon, not excecding ten dollars for each person—the said mariner or seaman being bound to do duty on such vessel as far as he is able. No mas- ter is compelled to receive more than two such sailors to each one hundred tons of hia vessel, The fifth section authorizes the Secretary of State to reimburse consular and commercial agents any reasonable sums which they may have advanced for the relief of seamen, though the same should not exceed the rate of twelv¢ cents a man per diem. Section sixth authorizes consular agents, &. o receive fifty cents for every certificate of dis charge of each seaman or mariner, and allowi two and a half per cent commission on paying and receiving the amount of wages of seamer in foreign ports. Section seventh provides that if any consula: agent, &e., shall knowingly certify that proper ty belonging to foreignerse is property belong ing to citizens of the United States, he shall on conviction in any court having proper juris diction, pay a fine not exceeding $10,000, ani be imprisoned for a period not exceeding thre years. . Section eighth provides that ifthe consul grant a passport to an alien, or other paper certify ing that such alien—knowing him or her to b such—is a citizen of the United States, he sha’ on conviction pay a fine not exceeding one thor sand dollars, To this act of 1803 there is annexed a blanl form for a cousular passport, with the necessar} description of the person to be inserted in th margin of the passport granted. This supplementary act should have prope: ly been designated an act for the better pri tection and relief of American seamen employ ed in the American merchant service—the dt ties prescribed to both commanders and cor suls being incident to that object. It wa pateed during Mr. Jefferson’s administra tion, in the year we acquired Louisiana, an during our war with the Barbary States, T augment the force and to maintain the efficienc; of the navy. it was found necessary to protec American seamen and mariners sailing unde our flag, at every hazard, on every sea, and i every port. We wanted sailors for our infu uavy. Which had commenced a glorious eruizi against the Barbary powers. The English jealous of our rising navy, and them selves involved in a tremendous struggle against France and her allies, also neede¢ all the sailors that could be found ané induced to enter her service. She therefore put forth the monstrous doctrine that “once a sub- ject, always a subject,” and claimed a right io search our vessels and to impress all sailore which were marked as Englishmen, as lawful subjects of the English crown. These preten- sions were resisted from the start; and this sup- plementary act was passed with the avowed ob- ject of protecting American seamen, both on sea and land. The claims of the British, however. were per- sisted in until the war of 1812—their folly having been consummated by firing into an. American vessel of war, commanded by Capt. Barron, because she refused to come to and submit to an examination for English sea- men, Too Goon ror Bevinr.—That right ancient gentleman, Joseph Gales, of the WVotional Ine telligencer, after reading on editorial article of the Wushington Union, arguing and proving the constitutionality of the late speeches of Meeers. Guthrie and Davis, of the cabinet, in favor of the Pacific Railroad as a goverament project, thinks it almost too good for bel'ef; ‘© and,” says our veteran old-fashioned cotem- porary :— “ When we had read the article through we could hardly persuade ourseives thet we had not been po- rusing one of Mr. Clay’s noble speeches in defence of the constitutional power of interal improvement,so similar are the arguments of the two. If we have rend the article aright, it is anspicious of wixer coun- cele and an important change of policy in the domi- wait paity. Reasem and the public weal, we trust, fre wnout to aswert their long-lost supremacy lo the ccmvotaic weed, The idea is alavit top checring