The New York Herald Newspaper, January 1, 1854, Page 4

NEW YORK HERALD. | yn tthe Riancont %aMus GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR AND EDITOR, QPYIOS WW. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. Te RTT WD oopy Ald. ¥ ALO 2 sente p61 per ome WEEKLY HERALD every Saturday a C4 conte Ber copy, or $8 por annum; the Puropean Edition 4 ver an- mum 0 gy port of Great Briain, and $b te amy part af the 40 include postage 4LL LETTERS by mail jor Subscriptions, or with Advar- Beements, 10 be post paid, or the postage will be deducted frow Be money remitted VOLUNTARY CORRE: Wieratiy past for. na mores ARE PARTICULARLY RRQ UESTRD FO ORAL ALL LW PT AS AND Pacx sous suxz ve. ‘NO gf anonymous sommuniaations, We de NOTTCE taken feet return those rejecte AMUSZMENTS METROPOLITAN GAL: BOWERY THEATRE, B: Tus Woov- Born Sw Bvoning—Evanve—Two ¢ Afternoon - CHILDREN Ix “Bracry and THE Beast. B Hove. BROADWAY THEATER wag—Two Buzzarps— @aranacr ay rue Garces BURTON'S THEATRES, Paces-- Youre Actuess bors streot—Masxs AND BLack ann Ware. NATIONAL THEATRE, Chatham stroet— Mornin ue Tous Cawn. Atvegnvon~ Lirrce Katy. Evoalug— Wrorse Tox's, Camm. WALLACK'S THEATRE. Bros¢way--Orw Time ano Love anv Morey i Live BELOW STAIRS. in the oelook in th lock im the evening, meornine, ay 10 Rowiwsom Cave BROADWAY MENAGERIR—Stamese Twirs any Witp Weaste. BOWERY AMPRITIBATES, S87 Bowory. MBFORMAROCKS. ‘ GBRISTY’S AMERICAN OF ERA HOUSE, 472 Broad way. RBrwortan Mr.opiea vy Cunury's Minstaeis, WOOD'S MINSTRELS, Wood's Minstrel Hal), 444 Broad: way. —Srn0r1AN Minerhersy BUCKLEY'S OPBRA HOUSE, 80 Droadway.—Buom aav’s Briuoriax Orena Txours. BANVARD'S GEORAMA, 566 Broadway. or rus ory Lax. BYBNISH GALLERY, Wo Brosdway.—Day and Broulae SquasrRiaw Paronama RIGNOR BLITZ—Sruvvesant inerrrurs, 669 Brosdway ACADEMY FALL, (65 Broadway.—Pennan’s Gurr Ex meseriox er THx Saver Mine Minnon. OPE CHAPEL, 118 Brosdway.—Jonxs’ Paw rorcors. THR WORLD IN MINIATURE—Broadway, corner of White sireet. —— : New York, Sunday, January 1, 1854. The News. We publish to-day a very extended report of the elosing debates, scenes, yotes, and resolutions, which were spoken, enacted, and passed, at the last mee’ ‘ing of both branehes of the Common Counsil yester- day. The report of the Committee on Streets, ad- vising a nom concurrence with the Assistants upon ‘the Broadway Railway ordinance—which was adopt ed—is of great importance, as it negatives all the ef- forts ef the applicants for the present, gives the new reformers a good chance of learuing all the routine Of efficial debate, and leaves the subject open as a source ef healthy excitement to the people for the winter. The estimate of Mr. Flagg for the sums ne- seseary to carry on the municipal government daring mext year was ordered to be laid uyon the table, after some very caustic remarks. Many resolutions of minor imports were passed, azd ¢everal bills or- dered to be paid. Resofutions of thanks to the President, Clerk, and Assistant Clerks, were adopt- ed, and, after one general endorsement of the ‘aith- fulness and accuracy of the reporters of the press who attended the meetings of the Council, the mem- bers separated, to enjoy a welcoome—they aftirm— otium™and a bappy New Year. In the case of the Broadway Railroad, the injunc- tion issued from the Superior Court to the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of New York, was mo- @ified co as to affect the Manhattan Railway Com- pany on'y, and thus modified the injunction was continued yesterday by order of Judge Duer. A telegraphic despatch from Albany informs us that the Court of Appeals has aflirmed the decision of the ®Bupreme Court in this city with regard to the Broad- The utter inutility of the assembling of Congress till after the holidays was never more forcibly illus. trated than at present. Congress has been in ses- sion, off and on, for fonr weeks, yet not a single bill of actual importance bas been passed, and but few measurer worthy the representatives of a great na- tion have been proposed when the members happen- ed to be together. The greater portion of the time has been occupied, particularly in the House, in making Buncombe speeches, and presenting bills granting land by the wholesale for railroad and ether purposes. It is to be hoped, however, that when they again meet,on Tuesday, the members will go to work with a determination to make ample amends for the past, and thus gain the approba- tion of their constituents and the country at large. In the House, yesterday, the Com: mittee on Ways and Means reported bills for the support of the army and navy, and for the transportation of the mails in oeean steamers for the ensuing fiscal year. One of the most im- portant features of the day's proceedings was the in. troduction ofa bill by Mr. Bennett, renewing his pro- position made to the last Congress, to grant lands to all the States for the construction of railroads and the support of common schools. Of all the land dis tribution schemes this appears to be the most just, as it gives to the various States an equal share of the domain which they have jointly contributed to pur- chase or otherwise procure. .Col. Bissell offered a resolution tendering thanks and a sword to the brave Gen. Wool. As the veteran hero is about departing for California, it is probable that this tribute of admi- ration for his distinguished services will pass both honses at an early day. Quite a spirited debate was produced in the House by the presentation of the proceedings and memorial of a meeting held at Indianapolis, Indiana, with re- gard to the outrages of the rioters at Erie, Pa. The members from the latter State deem it unnecessary for the general government to move in the matter: for the reason that their State Legislatare will soon assemble and adopt such measures as may be neces- sary in the ease. In the meantime, we suppose, the local authorities will be upheld in their embargo upon travel and commerce and contempt ef the de- crees of the United States and State courts. We elsewhere give some extracts with regard to this matter, from which it will be seen that the rioters meet with very little sympathy at the hands of those who give extended accounts of their proceedings, and describe the scenes which occur in consequence of the stoppage of the trains aad the transportation of the passengers across the neck. where the road has been destroyed. There must be an end to these pro- eeeding—then why not meet it at once? We learn from Washington that the White House ‘will be open for receptions between twelve and two o'clock to-morrow. Thirteen of the old and two new witnesses have been examined for the prosecution in the Gardner trial, but there is uo probability that the ca-e will be closed for weeks and perhaps months to come. Our Albany correspondent writes that the capital is fast filling up with members, office seekers, and Jobbyites of the Legislature. Candidates are abur- dant, and there is likely to be a spirited contest for every office to be ballotted for in each nouse. ‘The national demecrats of Philadelphia held a Jarge and enthusiastic meeting in that city on the ‘30th ult., at which an able address—which we give im foll—was adopted, after having been read and with the most earnest sentiments of ap preval. Resolutions were also adopted which en- doreed the compromise measures, despised any affili. ation with free soilers, and denounced the course of the administration in its interference with the politi cal affairs of a State. The remarks of Col. Small will be found interesting and to the point. By the arrival of the steamer Carlew we have files from Bermuda tothe 2st ult. There was no eave of yellow fever reported during the previous werk, and a commission had been appointed to in- aquise inte the epuses whieh bad produced the dis eave, and report to the government. One hundred liberated convicts—by eerving their full term—had | been whipped to Ireland. The different military vacancies caused by death had been illed up. We bave two weeks later intelligence from New | Mexico, which will be found in the Hegap this morning. There was some excitement at Santa Fe in relation to various lawless acts committed by citi- zens of Mexico, and the people were calling loudly for the settlemext of the Messila Valley boundary. An affray had o dat Sants Fe, daring whicha much respected citizen of the place bad been shot by a desperate fellow. Without waiting toascertain whether the wound would prove fatal upon the un- to commit personal violence to Bishop Bedini, the Pope’s Nuncio. The prisoners have all been dis- eharged, and the conduct of the polise is denounced by certain parties as having been most unjustifiable and outrageous. This being the case, it would not be surprising to hear of another and more sanguin- ary breach of the peace before a great while. From the East we have aceounts of some fifteen or twenty vessels having been driven ashore and wrecked during the late storm. Indeed, one captain states that he came around Cape Cod in company with about seventy-five veesels, most of which he thinks went ashore. For details see the telegraphic despatches. The number of deaths in New York duriog the last week of 1863 was 482, showing a decrease of 32 on the mortality of the previous week. Of these 52 died of consumption, 42 of convulsions, 19 of croup, 20 of dropsy in the head, 32 ofamalipox, 19 of marasmus, There were 12 cases of premature birth, and 43 of stillborn. Of the whole number, 157 were childrea under one year old, and 289 under ten years; 302 were natives of the United States, 88 of Ireland, 11 of England, 58 of Germany, and 4 of France. ‘vhe steamship Ilinois is nearly due from Aspin- wall, with the mails of the wrecked steamer Winfleld Scott and the details of one woek’s later Californis intelligence. The Spiritualists in Congress. Stockjobbers, contractors, railroad companies, steamboat companies, mail carriers, patentees, et hoe genus omne, are by no means the only people now engaged in petitioning Congress. There are enough here. one would imagine, to engross the leisure time of every individual member, and to fill every nook and cranny of the lobbies; but more leisure and more room must be found, for the spiritualists have joined the throng, and insist on their right to pour their sorrows into the Congressional breast. They do not ask for money or grants of land; they have not begged a single dollar for a collegiate institu- tion at which the hopeful youth of America might be instructed in the beautiful science of table- moving; they have not asked a single acre for an enceinte to be devoted to dancing dining-tables and peripatetic foot-stools, Such sordid mate- rial considerations are beneath the notice of the high priests of the “ new religion.” In the me- morial, which will be found in another column, their simple prayer is for “a scientific conven- tion to which this subject (i.¢., jumping tables and Rochester knocks) may be referred! It is true that something is said respecting “an ap- propriation” for the convention, and that the amount of the appropriation is alarmingly suggested by the request that it be such ‘as ‘shall enable the commissioners to prosecute their inquiries to a successful termination.” Base minds will infer from this clause of the petition that the leading profes- sors of the art of rapping want to be housed in snug berths as commissioners, and that by fix- ing the period for the close of their labors at a successful explanation of the phenomena, they have no desire to part with the salary for some years to come. But those who utter such shocking calumnies as this, deserve general re- probation. Do not the spirit rappers, like the Mormons, preach universal brotherhood, and disinterested indifference to pecuniary consi- derations? Has any one ever suspectee Par- tridge & Brittan of caleulating dollars and cents in the publication of the Telegraph or the Shekinah? By no means. All that is wanted is a scien tific investigation of the phenomena. Outside barbarians, like ourselves, are under the im- pression that the subject has already received some investigation at the hands of such men as the late Arago in Paris, Reichenbach in Ger- many, and Faraday in London: but this goes for nothing in the eyes of our New York philoso. phers. They want a fresh inquiry—an inquiry into the “sliding, raising, arresting, holding, suspending, and otherwise disturbing, of nu- merous ponderable bodies”—such as din- ing tables and hats. An inquiry into phospho- rescent lights in dark rooms. An inquiry into “mysterious rappinge,” sometimes like sounds of a hammer, at others like the roaring of the waves —at others “harsh, creaking sounds’’—at others “sounds resembling the human voice, the fife, drum. trumpet, guitar and piano.” An en- quiry into the “checking of the animal fluids,” and the “reduction of certain portions of the body to a deathlike stillness and rigidity.” Travailing under the emotions produced by these various inscrutable phenomena—with their chairs and tables dancing sround them, their dark rooms illuminated by lights for which no mortal grocer or gas agent claimed fee or reward, their solitude rudely disturbed by unearthly sounds, in whioh the familiar tones of the fife and drum were only occasionally perceptible—our believers in spiritualism have thrown aside the staff of faith and the lantern of science, and have appealed to Congress for support in their affliction. Who so unfeeling as to"mock their cry? Shall we allow the slum- bers of our fellow-citizens to be disturbed, with- out lendfng them our sympathy and aid? Shall we suffer “animal fluids” to be “checked” with- out a word ef protest? Can we hear that in a large and respectable class of this community “certain portions of the body” are periodically “reduced” to ‘deathlike coldness” or “rigidi- ty,” without exclaiming to the demon: Hold thine hand ! Ifa hasty glance at the facts had at first de- luded us into a belief that we could, the conclud- ing paragraphs of the memorial would soon dis- abuse our minds. We are therein assured,with all the solemnity due to the subject, that the jump- ing tables and the “roaring sounds,” and the automaton “ fifes and drums,” and the stagnant “animal fluids,” and the “ rigidity of certain portions of the body,” are “likely to produce important and lasting results, permanently affecting the physical condition, mental deve- lopement and moral character of a large number of the American people”—that they “ may be destined to modify the conditions of our being, the faith and philosophy of the age. and the government of the world.” Let no man speak irreverently of a fife or a dining table after this! The memorialists speak for themselves, of course, and not for the publie, Thus, when fortunate individual, the inhabitants collected to- | gether and tried the eulprit by the Lynch code, and, after being found guilty, he was immediately hung. A great revulsion seems to have taken place in the feeling at Cincinnati with regard to the Germans who were arrested on suspicion that they intended they predict a “ modification in the conditions of our being,” they merely allude to the being of believers ; and no one will be inclined to deny that spiritualism bas already effected a very remarkable modification in their mental existence—so thorough, in many instances, that bigotted physicians have pronounced it insanity: “The faith and philosophy of the age” have survived Mesmerism, Robespierreism, Transcen- dentalism, Socialism, Millerism, Shakerism, and a myriad of other isms, each of which was ushered into existence as the necessary precur- sor of their final extinction or modification. With respect to the government of the world, with all due respect to the spiritualists, it is going on as well as can be expected. In one corner of it Christianity and free trade are being taught to the Asiatics in easy lessons of one battle per week. In another, reactionary despots:are precipitating the crisis which must overwhelm them. In a third, reactionary governments are conspiring their own ruin, and wilfully raising up a powerful opposition to their course. Now, if our friends the spi- ritualists can change the government of the world, suppose they begin in one of these odd corners and give us a sample of their powers. Can they induce the Czar to recross the Pruth? Can they procure for us the navigation of the Yang-tse-Keang? Can they persuade Presi- dent Pierce that Marcy is ruining him, and land him once more on a sound national platform? If they can do these things, we shall endorse their memorial and see that Congress does it justice. f In the meantime we fear that the railroad companies and contractors have got the start of them. Congress is a terribly conservative body, and is apt to look at things as they are, and not as they ought to be. Thus, it will view the spiritualists as two classes—the one com- posed of enthusiastic imaginative men, who, when they run foul of an unexplained physical phenomenon, straightway call in the aid of a deity, a devil, or a ghost ; the other made up of half educated simpletons, silly young men, and stupid people, who are always ready to swallow the last popular absurdity, and atone for their want of reasoning by the intensity of their faith. Both these classes have existed since the begin- ning of society. Sometimes numerous, sometimes few in number, they have served their purpose in the economy of the world : they have amused their fellows, and illustrated the fallibility of man. The slave who ran by the side of the Roman general at triumphal processions, whis- pering in his ear “Remember that thou art but # man!” filled a useful office ; Congress will be apt to regard the spiritual memorialists as his direct successor. The Common Council Proceedings—The Broadway Rallroad Scheme Annuiled. Our city corporation reached last night the term of its official existence. The last nours of that existence possessed an exciting interest for our citizens. It was known that the Broad- way Railroad scheme, in some one of its Protean phases, was to be attempted to be carried through, despite of all opposition, and in utter disregard alike of popular sentiment and of personal disgrace. It seemed to be an under- stood thing that the City Fathers had pledged themselves to consummate that iniquitous scheme ; and it was even a patent and undis- guized fact that the company to whom the priv- ilege of constructing a raiiroad in Broadway was to be thus given, had in readiness a force of several thousand laborers, who were, immedi- ately on the grant being made, to have com- menced operations on the pavement with erow and‘ pickaxe. It was not to be wondered at then that intense interest was manifested throughout the whole of yesterday as to the final action of the Common Council in the mat- ter. The public anxiety is now relieved. Broad- way is secure for the present, at all events, against any railroad desecration ; and the Al- dermen and Assistant Aldermen who attained for themselves an unenviable notoriety are at liberty to retire to private life. The ordinance conferring the privilege of building a railroad in Broadway on the asso- ciation of capitalists designated the “ Manhat- tan Railroad Company,” having been, very properly, vetoed by the Mayor, it was appre- hended that it would be re-acted on by both boards, and would become a law by virtue of a two-thirds vote. The Common Council was un- derstood to have resolved on that course. It was said they were under a pow- erful obligation to do so. But the op- ponents of the measure were prepared for even that final exercise of authority, and had procured a rule of injunction out of the Superior Court to restrain them. The Board of Assistant Aldermen, however, on Friday eve- ning gave birth toa new project, by which it was thought they would evade all the objec- tions of the Mayor. That is, they passed an ordinance authorizing the construction of a railroad in Broadway under certain “terms— the privilege thereof for ten years to be set up and sold by auction on the 20th of February. This ordinance came up for consideration yes-_ terday before the Board of Aldermen. They referred it, in their morning session, to the Committee on Streets, and adjourned till five o'clock, P. M. to give that com- mittee time to report. This report, pre- sented at the evening session, was unfavora- ble to the ordinance, on the ground that the cor- poration had no right todispose of a fran- chise, and recommended non-concurrence. The question being put, the report of the committee was unanimously adopted, and the new ordi- nance_was therefore non-concurred in. The matter of the Broadway Railroad now stands thus :—The bill, as originally conceived and passed by both boards, was vetoed by the Mayor. It was taken up again, with the May- or’s objections, and re-adopted by a two-thirds vote. This made it law; but the courts issued an injunction, wisidh was afterwards decided to be permanent, and so, while that decision is un- removed, the bill is a nullity. Then, to avoid the action of this injunction, the same grantees took the title of the “Manhattan Railroad Com pany,”’ and procured a similar privilege to that which they were enjoined from using. This privilege having been vetoed by the Mayor, and not again acted on, became, of course, void, and, the last dodge of the Assistant Alder-' men not having been assented to by the other board, is utterly null. And now the new cor- poration comes into power with this important question among the matters for its action. It isa somewhat singular coincidence, that while the out-going corporation was engaged in its last hours in this Broadway Railroad matter, the State Court of Appeals, at Albany, was rendering a decision against them for an act growing out of the same matter in one of its incipient courses, It will be recollected that on the 12th of March last several members of both boards were brought up before Judge Duer, of the Superior Court, and, baying been convicted of contempt, were variously sen- tenced. Alderman Sturtevant was ordered to be imprisoned in the City Prison for the space of fifteen days, and to pay a fine of $250 and $102 costs. Others escaped the sentence of imprisonment, but were muleted in like fine and costs. The matter was brought before the Court of Appeals, and yesterday decision was rendered affirming the decision of the Superior Court. Thus runs the record. The great ma- jority of the Aldermen and Assistants who composed the late boards have been deprived of office by the nearly unanimous vote of their fellow-citizens—their grand scheme had been signally frustrated, and now imprisonment and fines are imposed upon them for their proceed- ings. The new Common Council—the Reform- .ers—enter upon their duties tomorrow: What will be the result of their labors ? Dixyer To GeneraL Woou.—The dinner given last evening to Gen. Wool, by the citizens of Troy, preparatory to his departure for Califor- nia, under orders from the War Department, may be regarded as an event of some political significance. It is pretty generally known now that General Wool’s exile is not by any means dictated by aregard for the efficiency of our military force on the Pacific. A much more direct motive has been the cause ; and if it had not been found possible to remove Gen. Hitch- cock, we have no doubt that Marcy would have found means to despatch Gen, Wool to the Rio Grande, or even to join Commodore Perry's Japan expedition, Any change of quarters which would have removed so dangerousa rival from the scene of action during the coming Presidential canvass, would have answered the purpose of the aspirants to the succession. The manceuvre being generally understood in this light, the Troy dinner may be regarded as a political manifestation, having a direct bear- ing on Gen, Wool’s chances for the next Presi- dency. It is the first overt act in the catwass, and the details, which we shall shortly publish, will command general attention. Simultaneously with this significant compli- ment to Gen. Wool, a resolution was introduced into the Tennessee Legislature nominating Hon. John Bell, and two Southern newspapers came out for J. J. Crittenden. ‘How many more Richmonds in the field! » More Apovr tHE Fry Verpicr.—The ver- dict inthe Fry case being an extraordinary precedent touching the law of libel, we are not surprised that it has attracted the general at- tention of the newspaper press throughout the country. This example of a general summing up, ina single judgment, against a newspaper editor, of all the accounts of all enemies, open and disguised, for an indefinite period of. time, would extinguish a large proportion of our cotemporaries, if applied to them, as completely as @ consuming fire without insurance. Iu their notices of this Fry verdict, some of our country exchanges are disposed to be just and impartial, while occasionally we find one as narrow-sighted, malicious and regardless of the honest truth as the reckless Tribune or the twaddling Times. Of this olass is the Buffalo Express, and also Forney’s old stool-pigeon Paper, the Pennsy/vanian, which says that “one of Bennett's witnesses in the recent libel trial, testified that he had staid at home and wrote the Parisian correspondence of the New Yorx Hr- RaLp.” The idea here intended to be conveyed, is that the home of said witness is here in New York, and that here he writes, and has been writing, his Parisian correspondence, But the simple facts are that the home of this witness is in Paris—that in Paris he made out his affidavit touching this Fry case, and that it was read in our court, the witness re- maining in Paris all the time, attending to his duties as Parisian correspondent of this jour nal. But he had lived here, he had attended the Fry operas; and hence, though since residing in Paris, he was enabled to give in his evidence of what he knew and what he saw concerning the failure of these Fry operas. The paltry meanness of these editors, in their sneak- ing misrepresentations, needs no further com- ment. Bach pretends hat his insinuation is from an “exchange,” but he adopts it, enlarges upon it, and thus fixes upon himself the judg- ment that the receiver is as bad as the thief. On the other hand, the editor of the Genesee Whig speaks the language of impartial, unpre- judiced deliberation upen the evidence and the charge ot Judge Oakley. This editor says: “We have read carefully and attentively the evidence in the (Fry) case, the summing up of the counsel, and the charge of the Judge, and we must say, we are astonished at the action of the jury.” So were we—so, perhaps, was Fry himself astonished—so, no doubt, were our loving cotemporaries of the Tribune and Times, for they gloated and chattered over the verdict as if it were a Godsend wholly unexpected. They rolled the sweet morsel under their tongues—they vented their saliva at us—the verdict was to them as exhilirating as opium— they jumped and danced with delight—their joy was inexpressible, for the vocabulary of the fish market was too poor for their ecstacy— they were astonished with delight; but for all that, they may depend upon our sympathy when they, too, shall he called up for a general settle- ment before “an intelligent jury” like that in the Fry case. Again—on the Fry side of the question, the St. Louis Intelligencer, without advancing any judgment of its own, quotes from other papers their views of the verdict, and among them gives an extract from the Evening Post, in which the editor of the Heratp is styled “ the Caliban of the press, who, for years, has outraged decency and morality, almost with impuni- ty.” .Thus glibly do these Pharisees of the Post speak of “decency and morality;” yet mone are more notorious than they in foul- mouthed personal abuse. For example, these Puritanical saints of the Post, these abolition philosophers, these sentimentalists in sickly dog- gerels, these innocent specimens of gentility at midnight carousal, have for years past been hunting down George Law with the hue and cry of “stop thief;”’ from one year’s end to ano- ther; they have charged him with corrupting Congress, with corrupting the Legislature, with all sorts of schemes and devices of disreputable stockjobbing and disgracetul acts of corruption. And all for what? Because George Law, ass man of business, was too sagacious to make the Post, » paper with a small private circulation, the medium of his public business advertise- ments. So says the Express; and we think that for once the Express has hit the mark. Why, in this scandalous wartare of the Post against George Law, a private citizen of high standing, it has laid itself open, according to the judg- ment in the Fry case, to a string of libels which ought to yield to the injured plaintiff a sum total of at least one hundred thousand dollars damages. Such are our cotemporasies who join in theis | exultations over the Fry verdict. The infidels of the Tribune, the twaddlers of the Times, and the abolition poets of the Post, upon this | very judgment, for their various libels upon in- dividuals and associations, could each be thrown into a condition calling for the relief of the | bankrupt law. Perhaps we may have a change in their music by-and-by. In any event, when | they shall come to be judged according to the general ‘settling up in the Fry case, they may count upon our sympathy and gommiseration. Tue Lecrvre System iy New Yorx.—We re- cently adverted to the lecture system in New York, and exposed its hollow humbug. Every day’s experience confirms our views. On Thursday evening Bourcicault, whose lectures are really interesting, had miserably smal! audience. Gavazzi hada thinner attendance; but the thinnest of all was at the lecture of Erastus Brooks, who was honered with the presence of fifty individuals. It is not to be wondered at that so few attended a lecture of Brooks, no matter what the subject niight be, Much could not be expected from him. The lee- ture he delivered was @ complete vindication of the good judgment and sound common sense of the people in keeping away. Never was such silly nonsense exhibited before a public audi- ‘ence in New York. The report presents a com- pound of blundering statements, purporting to be facts, but in reality the very reverse of the sober realities of historical record. Gavazzi lectured against the Catholic religion, and, not- withstanding the recent “no-Popery” excite- ment, he, too, was doomed to have a very poor attendance, though it was his farewell lecture, previous to a crusade in Europe. Nobody will feel astonished at Brooks lecturing to empty benches; but that Bourcjcault, whose “winter evenings” are so entertaining, and that Gavazzi, under the strong stimulus of religious fanati- cism, should be deserted, is a singular fact that challenges the attention of every reader. What is the cause? Why is it that the lecture system has so declined of late? We recollect the time— and it is not very long ago—when lectures were ell the rage, and anything in the shape of a lecture was sure to draw a crowd, at twenty- five cents, or even fifty cents a head. Now this is all changed, and the best and most amus- ing lecturers cannot attract audiences that will pay. What, we again ask, is the cause of the failure of the lecture system? The plain, unvarnished truth is, ! bu- sinesa has been overdone, lik branches of trade.. The succe lecturers kindled into life wh« genus, and all sorts of men! ured upon all sorts of subjects. The people were literally deluged with a flood of everlasting trash. Vague platitudes, sickly sentimentality, and Pompous pretension, were substituted for well ascertained facts, the deductions of reason, and the artistic investigation of the beautiful and the true. Useful books. in which the reader might find the various subjects treated satisfac- torily, were mangled and mutilated, and their contents dished up, sometimes in the very words of the authors, and sometimes in bombastic language, such a8 no decent writer ever used. The files of the daily newspapers were put under contribution, and the stale hash served up with perfect nonchalance. Such was the extent that this literary charletanism cal- culated upon the ignorance, gullibility, and bad memory of the audience. The flippancy ot some of these pretenders in running over ground on which the most profound men of this or any other age have trodden with caution and doubt, would be extremely amusing, were it not for the pernicious consequences of the perilous stulf with which they dosed the rising generation. According to their own aécount of themselves, they not only know all things, but know them better than anybody else. To cap the climax. “strong-minded” women gave lectures when: they ought to be at home mending their hus- bands’ stockings or nursing their babies. The rights and wrongs of the sex were handled with ® flerceness and a coarseness that suggested nature had made a mistake in their gender. This could not last forever. The cheat by degrees became understood. The people found out that attendance upon such lectures was not only a waste of time and money, but calculated to corrupt their taste and deceive them by false- hood. The public appetite became surfeited and disgusted, discredit was brought on the lecture system, and that feeling is every hour gaining ground, so that even men of talent, scholarship and research can no longer com- mand an audience. Occasionally, lecturers of genius and distinction bring together a crowd to hear them. But they are the exceptions to the general rule; and the inevitable fixed fact is, thatthe public mind is sick of the diabolical trash that has been so long palmed off upon it in the shape of lectures. Hence, even what is rational, instructive, and interesting, has no attraction when presented in that form. The very name of lecture has begun to stink in the nostrils of the American people. This system of humbug had become inflated like a shining bubble, but it has now burst and vanished into thin air. Tue Union on Coatitions.—The Union is shocked at the idea of a coalition between Mr, Everett and Mr. Charles Sumner. It asks, “where is candor, where is decenoy, or, in the absence of both, where is shame?’—the ab- scence of these last virtues being abundantly established by the fact that Messrs. Everett and Sumner both voted for Beverly Tucker as prin- ter to the Senate. It sorrows over Mr. Everett. and blushes for so “unnatural a coalition” as that evinced by these two gentlemen votiag on the same side on the choice of a printer. Itis dreadful to think of what the Union will have to go through in the course of the winter. Sap- pose, for instance, Messrs. Everett and Sumner should agree in supporting a motion to adjourn: the Union would again be thrown into convul- sions, and forced to exclaim, in the agony of its emotion, “where is decency, where is shame?” If the two Massachusetts Senators should hap- pen to enter the house together, there would again be wailing and gnashing of teeth in the Union office, and the world would be called upon to blush for so “unnatural” an association. We cannot, in fact, explain how it happens that the Union has so long silently endured the fact of Mr. Sumner occupying a seat in the same cham- ber with Mr. Everett. Surely, if a similarity of opinion in the choice of a printer proves an “annatural coalition,” the occupation of seats in the same room is prima facia evidence of something of the same kind. How has the Union overlooked it? The Union may well be sore on the subject of coalitions. We have seen many in the history of this country ; but none,we venture to say,so utter- ly and irredeemably disgraceful as the coalition of free soilers and secessionists, to whom the gov- ernment of this country is now entrusted. The whole of modern history would be searohed fy er y good urms of the x vain for a coalition so completely ruinous to its authors, and so pregnant with shame, as that re, cently consummated between William L. Maroy | on behalf of the United States government on the one side, and the Van Buren free soil dynasty of New York on the other. Even the Union’s rheto- ric would fail to depict, in adequate colors, the “unnaturalness” of a coalition between the gov- | ernment of a country and the leading traitors in its population. ‘" ’ A Happy New Year! The old year of 1853 has seen its last setting san. We 40 net #8y #9 in « Ggarstive, butine literal sense; for, not- withstanding the overcast state of the weather for several Gays past, Sol, a8 an evidence perhaps of his good nature, and of the benignity which is the characteristic of the fearon, assisted yenterdey at the demise of the dying, Jear. 1858 bas been gathered to his fathers, and become ? ® thing of the past; and the era of his successor is to-day inaugurated, Right merrily—so far as this olty was oon cerned at all events—did the last daysjof the old year paso by; theearth had put on ber robe of whiteness to cele. ' brate his departure, and the air was resoeant with laugh- ter and the merry jingle of the sleigh bells. And so the inevitable moment of dissolution was ushered in, and Old Time gayly garcered his latest acquisition. To-day we enter upon now year. May it be to ald mankind « propitious and prosperous ome. We would not speak ill of the dead, bat we may entertain the hopa that the year on which we have entered will ba leas pro- lifio of disaster, pestilence, and death, to our country, than has been its predecessor. The wounds which have ‘been inflicted on the community in the eourse of the past twelve months be it the destiny of the next twelve to heal and to atone for. If our vows be accompllhed, then we will, indeed, have been fally justified in greeting *, 1854 with all the “compliments of the season.” Though this Sabbath morning is the introduction of the new year, yet—for that it is the Sabbath Day—do our citi. 9 zens abstain from observing the social customs whidh at- tach to the season, In the religious sentiment of our people, the Lora’s Day is more hely and worthy of oele- bration than even that of the New Year. Bat to-morrow—« Monday—will be set apart for those observances peculiar tothe cay and country. It is the epoch specially de- voted to hospitality, goed fellowship, and acts of mutual kindness and respect. The wealthy merchant avails him. self of its coming to extend to his numerous employes that cordial and open hearted greetisg which he might deenz it imprudent to practice every dey, And not only does he, ‘as a general thing, acknowledge aud encourage industry and attention to business by awarding liberal douccurs im bank checks to his clerks and porters, but he expects ta ind that each one of them has visited his family in,the course of the day, and drank his health and happiness in ® bumper of wine, poured fout by the hand of one of the fair members of his household. No one in this city, wha is fortunate enough to have a domicile wherein he hag erected his household gods, would care to be considered. mear and shabby enough not to keep open house ona New Year's,Day. It is a éay peculiarly devoted to hospitality ; and lovers and practisers of that virtye are not confinedto, or exclusive of, any olass, sect, or nationality, but would seem to comprise the whole community, native and foreign, led on by our worthy municipal Chief Magistrate, who has issued the following public invitation:— * avons Orr ., Mayor Westervelt will be He to p=] Ma tesae ona fellow citizens on Monday, the of Gay ef January next, from 9 011 o'clock A.M, at the Mayor's office, City Hall, GEORGE G,. GLASIER, Marshal, The observances of New Year’s Dayin this country are as curious as they are commendable. From an early hour in the morning the streets—partioularly if they are covered with a mantle of snow, &s we are Hkely to see | them to-morrew—exhibit a sceneof the liveliest anima- tion. Gentlemen, enveloped in fars, buffalo robes, and shawls, are seen guiding in every direction their hand- somely accoutred sleighs, hired for the day at a cest of fron: twenty to thirty’dollars, They have need to start early, for they have a card with a long list of the visits they Purpose making, and they know how offended the ladies of their acquaintance would be should they neglect to pay their devirs and taste of the recherche refreshments they have proviced. It is weli, too, that the air is cold ‘and bracing, as it is needed to neutralise the effect of the. innumerable glaases of champagee, sherry, and Madiera ex which they think it ® necessary part of the performance toempty. The morning passes away, and there are per- bape but half adosen of the proscribed score or two of | ¢ Visits paid. It is necessary to use more expedition, or the lorg list will not be got through in time, The horses, which in all conscience were ariven fast @pough when they first set ont, are now invited to renewed efforts. And why should they not, secing that they are only As the dey wanes the visits ocoupy Jess and less time—the compliments of the season are frankly but quickly exchanged—there is no time to take s slice of ham or turkey, but the visiter compounds with his hostess by a small glass of Madeirs. Lucky dog he must be, and au adamantine head he mast have, ifhe ga through his day’s duties with oredit to himself, satisface tion to his Jady acquaintances, and yet be, withal, nose the worge of his bastions. Our sleighing friends are, of course, the fast young men of the age, who fear it would be considered an everlasting disgrace to ‘them should they do the thing in the pedestrian style. Bat masy or most - of the quiet and sensible portion of the popaiation, wha ‘ y entertain no such appreliension, prefer that simple mode of going from house to house, with words of joyous greet. ing on their lips, And that numerous class” of oar citisens who can ill afford the expense of a oe buggy aleoffoot it; and so the streets and pail from early morn to starry eve crowded with the joviag celebrants of the New Year. But the forms of the gem- _ tler sex are rarely seen out of doors on sueh s day. They would run the risk ef being set down as inhospitable sheuld they venture to sppear in public, It is theirs to stay at home—array themselves in theig ‘ best—extend s polite reception to their visitants— and do the honors of the table, while the gentlemen of ‘ the house are themselves paying their respects to the la- J dies of their acquaintances, Thesubsequent day, how- ever, is consecrated to the female portion of who are at liberty to repeat « like round of visits ameng ‘themselves, and compare the number of cards whicheach had the good fortune to receive on New Year’s cay. It must be confessed, as the ahady side to the picture we have delineated, that the sidewalks generally exhibit on the evening of NewYear’san unusual number of gentlemen wha romehow or ether casnot manage to preserve their equi- librium. It is not but they try hard enough; but some- how or other they cannot avoid staggering and stambling than is wont, or perhaps this eccentricity may be owing to the few glasses of wine they have drank. One thing ia certain—that on this evening there are more persons te be seen in Broadway and Bowery evincing symptoms of hav- q al it must be that the ground is mere slippery and unsteady ‘ ing been recently sacrificing to the jolly god, than at any other portion of the year. Nay, we thick we might ven- ture to say that the disproportion of Bacchanslians im the street on this day, as compared with other days, ie * as fifty toone. Social reformers, on a small seale, have 9 been for years past exerting themselves to have this pecu- Mar feature of the New Year's amusements left out. They urge ladies to take away the tempting bow? ' from the lips of their visiters, and furnish unto them instead, coffee and oyster soup. Verily, we think if they followed this temperate counsel, their card basket would each year bear melancholy witnes to * the diminution of their visiters. Wine maketh glad the heart of man; and in its absence, the first day of the year, which has long been consecrated to festivity, would oyster soup euperrede cold turkey and Madeire, the ce- lebration of New Year will have lest its most pleasant pe- cullarities, To prove, however, that the attack upon our epjoyments commenced some years ago, is being fol- lowed up firmly this year, we republish the following cal} made on the clergy by one of our temperance societies ‘== TO THE CLERGY OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK. New York, Deo, 18, We, the members of the Ninth Ward T. 8. rinced the a ‘evil ia dome Cverom The Custom House will be open om , 9 to 10 o’elock, A.M, for the pn a . ’ entry HEMAN JOHN ROWEYN BRODIEAD, Noval Oftoee. J. 1, BENEDICT, Dep. Surveyor. een aaa 19, 1863. As New Year’s Day, next ensuing, on yous eomipsins of th cliy ante ond following said day. New Year’s Day is one of our few national and it is pleasant to see it observed with due 14 Sanyal spearresge parreg ta heey ath pees in an uncommonly stupid manner. Whenecofeeand gf’