The New York Herald Newspaper, March 27, 1854, Page 4

ae NEW YORK | 1] . JAS Fs GORDON BENNETT. ‘ht PREETOR AND EDITOR. eee DFFICE 8 W. CORNZR OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. Volume; XTX. AMW@SEMENTS THIS EVENING. WOWRY THEATRE, Bowery—Kive Hevay VIII— | ram Neruine. | BROADWAY THEATRE, Brosdwey—Tue Graviaton —Domestics Eoosomv O'R'S THEATRE, Chambers street—Tue Scare- Bye ka aon oy Promise How vo Make Home Hap- vr P.P NAT! ONAL THEA’ Chathem street—Afternoon and Brevir g—Uncux Tom's Cami, Ws,LLACK 8 THEATRE, Brosdway—Goop Fanew— =) @ THE PLovon. AMERICAN MUSEUM—Afterncon, Niooro Famriur— Bs custov’s Torments—Bvening—Tue Orn Baewery. BROADWAY MENAGERIE—Liturrutian Kine—Man- worn Lavy avy Living TRacvep ANIMALS. @HRISTY'S AMERICAN OPERA HOUSE, 472 Broad- way Erniorian Mavopius ‘sv CHmusty’s Mivernais. WOOD'S MINSTRELS, Wood's Minstrel Hall, 444 Broad- way—Ermorian MinerRazsy. BUCKLEY'S OPERA HOUSE, 53 Broa¢way—Bucx- gan’s Erurorean Orena Trovurr. eT. Ce EXHIBITION ROOM, 495 Broadway— Damrpsih ELS IN THEIR NeGRO ENTERTAIMENTS. BANV.ABD’S GEORAMA, 596 Broadway—Paronama oF wee Houx Lano. .No. 84. RBHENISH GALLERY, 563 Broadway—Day and Night. BRYAN GALLERY OF CHRISTIAN ART—843 Broad- way. E eopaete, from a child's toy to a palace. Amid all this turmoil and confusion the auctioneers are reap. | ing an abundant harvest—they have so mach busi- ness on hand that they scarcely know how to dis- pose of it. Now is the time to buy a house and fur- nish it at moderate rates: owners are determined to seek new associations, and will sell, no matter what may be the sacrifice. Owing to the continued rush of advertisements and news from all points of the compass, we find it impossible to make room for reference to much matter of general interest and importance. We ; annex merely the headings of a portion of the con" tents of this edition of our paper:—Further Con- cerning Walker's Lower California Expedition, in- cluding letters from his men, the breaking up of his camp and probable fate of the party; Letter from California and extracts from San Francisco journals relative to the Wool Dinner; Additional | intelligence from the Sandwich Islands, with re- gard tothe annexation question, and the trade and commerce of the country; Interesting Communica- | tion imelation to the public credit of Venezula; Description of the New Building of the Mercantile Library Association; Political and Gossipping Letters from Paris, Washington, Boston and else- where; statistics of the loss of life and limb by rail- road and steamboat accidents since January, 1853; | Financial, Commercial, Local and Miscellanous news, &. a Duplicity of the Administration—The Mexl- can Treaty. Tf any length of impudence, if any depth ef folly in the columns of the Washington Union, WHOLE WORL: and 379 Broadway—Afternoon ead min, Monday, March 27,1654. The News. Whe Cunard steamship Africa, now greatly over- @ue with three days later intelligence from Europe, has doubtless been detained by the large quantities ef ice that were encountered by the steamers Chari- ty, Pacific, and other vessels, and also by the equi- noctial gales, which have of late raged with so much violence. While awaiting accurate information con- @ovning the rumor brought out by the last steamer, ‘that Kalefatthad fallen into the hands of the Rus- sians, it may be as well to remark that the place contains some two thousand houses, and was com- pletely. surrounded by fortifications.and defended by ‘wpwards of twenty thousand men. Should it turn eat to be true that all, as is reported, or even one- tenth of those within its walls, have been massacred y'the Russians, it will arouse the public feeling to & pitch of excitement hitherto unprecedented in the aandls of warfare. Dates fram the city of Mexico to the 16th inst. in- form us that Santa Anna left the capital four days previous, with the intention of taking the field in person against Gen. Alvarez, the leader of the Aca- pulco revolutionists. It is asserted by the Mexican journals that Alvarez was surrounded by the govern- ment troops, destitute of money and almost deserted by his friends—but this statement needs confirma- tion. If it were correct it is hardly probable that Santa Anna would deem it necessary to buckle on his armor for the purpose of quelling the disaffected party. The fact is, the fever of disaffection is at this moment raging with intense fury throughout the whole of Mexico, and unless His Supreme Highness speedily extirpates every open manifestation of dis- coord, the entire country will soon be in a blaze and he compelled to beat another hasty retreat to foreign ands. He cannot stem the current of popular opin- jen against him, especially with an empty pocket; and unless his treasuty is quickly reimbursed must give way to other leaders, numbers of whom in every State are conspiring for his overthrow and a return to republicanism. Under these circumstances it is to be hoped that the United States Senate will not fail to hald fast to the twenty millions of dol- lars which Santa Anna so much needs to propel his wheels of empire. Among other curious information reccived by telegraph from Washington, is the announcement ‘that Colonel Clemens has written another letter, far- ther defining the President’s position with regard to the Nebraska-Kansas bill. So far as relates to.the main features of the affair, the Colonel strictly adheres to his original statement, but nevertheless gives Gen, Pierce the benefit of a quibble‘as to the exact words he used in speaking of the matter. It appears that the President expressed his surprise that the bill should meet with opposition from “ the true men of the North”—doubtless, meaning the free soilers—in- stead of merely “ the men of the North.” This is the difference betwixt tweedle-dum and tweedle-dee. In the second letter of explanation, Colonel Clemens appears to have placed the President in a far more perplexing situation than in the first. A rumor is afloat in Washington that even Secre- tary Marcy is becoming heartsick of the vacillating and imbecile course pursued by the President, and has declared that in case there is any wavering or backing out from the demands upon Spain for in- d@emnity in the Black Warrior affair, he will most certainly resign, What next? Special attention is directed to the Albany des- patches for a variety of highly interesting intelli- gence connected with the political affairs of this State and city. The conduct of Mr. Dillon, our Cor- poration Counsel, in relinquishing a large share of the fees to which he would have been entitled by the act under which he was elected, will attract par- ticular notice. It appears that he has given up all claim to the fees that would accrue to him through the opening of the public parks, which would in all probability have amounted to at least one hundred thousand dollars. Such an extraordinary act on the part of a public officer, particularly in this city, is unparalleled. The de- scription of the scene, or rather series of scenes, in the Assembly chamber on Saturday is unusually rich, and affords a striking illustration of the wis- dom, honor, propriety and business habits of the gentlemen there congregated. Read it, amd enjoy the fun while it is fresh. This will most likely be a very busy week in both our national and State Legislatures. The Pacific pailroad and Homestead bills, and probably the Gadsden treaty, will, among other matters, be dis- cussed in the United States Senate, and in the House the Nebraska question will undergo debate in Com- mittee of the Whole whenever an opportunity oc- curs. The temperance bill, which has been the great theme of discord and excitement since the commencement of the session, having been passed by both Houses and sent to the Governor, it is now thought that our legislators at Albany will go to work and endeavor to dispose of the important bur! ness before them prior to the day proposed for ad- journment—the 12th of next month. Much excitement has of late prevailed among the abolitionists at Auburn, owing to a report that a negro, who was to be relcaeed from the State prison yesterday morning, was a slave and would be claim ed by his master on being set at liberty by th warden. Inflammatory handbills were issued, heat ed “ Kidnappers—kidnappers,” and calling the friends of the convict to the rescue, and a gene: ! arming of the philanthropists took place for t! purpose of setting the law at defiance, should an attempt be made to restore the negro to his master. ‘The strangest part of the story is that the man is represented as a dangerous character, and no steps have been taken to return him to slavery. 4 despatch from Albany states that notwithstandin 11 the previous uproar everything was quiet at Auburn yesterday. At no period within the history of our city do we oliect to have noticed such general, nay almo-t versal, preparations for changing quarters on the atof May. The desire to mov ut, seems to have spread like an epidemic amon all classes, The merchant and clerk, the employer and workman, the mistress and maid, are a . to recommence the household year in new pla abode, and with fresh materials. Our columns ar: laden from day to day with advertisements offerix for sale of to let houses, stores, shops, goods, furni- tre, horses, carriages, in ehort, every description 0 could take the readers of that journal by sur- prise, their feelings on perusing the article headed “Our Relations with Mexico” in its is- sue of Saturday, can well be imagined. That the-Gadsden treaty was likely to be rejected by the Senate, and that the administration was much annoyed at the prospect, every one knew well enough, and may have expected some rea- sonable effort on the part of the Cabinet to avert so crushing a blow: but that Mr. Pierce’s news- paper organ would be instructed to defend the treaty and eulogize Santa Anna on grounds that would not impose upon a child ten years old can hardly have been anticipated by the most far seeing politicians. It was known that Mr. Pierce could not have a very high opinion of the intelligence of a people whom he had so easily cheated into electing him; but it was not supposed that he would impute to the United States Senate gross ignorance of the history of their own times, and so stolid an intellect that they might be persuaded black was white by a mere newspaper paragraph. It is on this hu- miliating supposition that the article in the governfient organ is predicated. It tells us that Pierce “ardently desired to establish friendly relations with Mexico”—that Gadsden, appointed minister, proceeded to his post with “ unusual promptitude”’—that Santa Anna received him “with cordiality’”’—that Santa Anna “consented to let us have « rail- road route to the Pacific’— consented to ar- range the Mesilla Valley difficulty”—was wil- ling to release us from the obligations incurred under the 11th article of the treaty of Guada- lupe Hidalgo—“ did not refuse indemnity to our citizens for wrongs inflicted by Mexice”— and finally “displayed a cheerfulness to con- tribute to our growth and prosperity, and to the developement of the resources of the Ameri- can continent under our auspices.” Is not all this abominably disingenuous in a government organ ? it does not tell us that before Gadsdea reach- ed Santa Anna, the latter had reached his wits’ end in his search for money. Or that the church had been squeezed, the people taxed, light converted into a luxury, monopolies re- stored, confiscations commenced, oppressions devised in every shape, and that notwithstand- ing all these desperate measures, the Dictator of Mexico was still as poor asarat. Or that he saw, as clear as daylight, that he could get no money at home, still less from Spain; and that if he got none from us, his empire was not worth six months’ purchase. Or that, before he made these valuable discoveries, he had abused the United States and the barbarian Yankees in the true style of a veteran cockfighter : de- graded men who had not done their best to in- jure us during the war: and sedulously set him- self to fomenting the old Mexican hatred of our people and our country. All these things the Cabinet organ keeps in the dark. Perhaps they are new to the Union. Blockheads conceal the truth as well asknaves. But the country knows them well enough; and knowing them, will cer- tainly put down the idea of Santa Anna’s “‘cheer- fulness to contribute to our growth” as the best joke of theday. We suppose that other beggars, if we promise them a shilling, would “ display a cheerfulness to contribute” to our spiritual and moral welfare. Santa Anna’s “cheerful- ness” affected a sublunary sphere of action; the cheerfulness with which Wilkins Micawber en- deavored to contribute to his friends’ worldly advancement, as he pocketed their half dollars, was of the same order. But the Union, fairly launched in its course of blindfolding its readers, does not stop here. It will be recollected that when the Mexican war broke out, Santa Anna was still in the exile to which the revolution of 1845 had driven him. The desire entertained by President Polk and Secretary Marcy to terminate the war came to his ears; and he immediately set on foot an intrigue with them for his restora- tion to power. Polk and Marcy soon fell iato the trap. Santa Anna promised them peace, and in return they gave himea passport, by the aid of which he was enabled to sail in the Brit- ish steamer from Havana to Vera Cruz, and to land at the latter port notwithstanding the blockade by the United States vessels. Polk and his Cabinet were convinced that as soon as he reached the city of Mexico, peace would be declared, and themselves extricated from what appeared at that time to be an awkward dilemma. The fellow had hardly made his escape from the range of the American guns, be- fore we heard of him at the head of 20,000 Mexi- can troops; and a few days afterwards, he commanded the Mexican force at Buena Vista, where, had it not been for the bravery of our troops, General Taylor and his little army might have been crushed. We recapitulate these facts lest there should be among our readers any very oblivious individual who ha forgotten them. Will it be believed that the Union quotes, as an evidence of Santa Anna's friendly feelings toward this country, one o the very proclamations he issued while in exile for the purpose of deceiving Polk and Ma Will it be credited that the organ of the Ux States government actually copies the lyi: h, and calls it “orthodox American doe ” A paper of which Marcy at least ¢ ever thir i laring manner in principled Me the obseurity, nardly om in order that n a it should cheat,Pic cheaied Marcy and Polk cight yoar it be possible that the editors of the 'Tnion knew nothing of the history of the proclama- tion of August 16, 18462 Have they no friend who could save them from figaring so constant- ly as models of dishonesty, or monsters of igno- rance? If, as the Union declares, “the Aberdeen and Louis Napoleon Ministries seriously medi- tate an interference in the affairs of this hemi- sphere,” and “our relations with Spain are threatened,” in the name of common sense let | us not throw away the enly means we have for | securing our own protection. Let us not take | the money with which we ought to builda navy, | and give it to Santa Anna—whatever the man’s | character may be—to consolidate his empire in Mexicg Even the Union—bold as it is— ; dare not assert that he could be of any use to us in case we were, as the Union fear:, “in- volved with the European Powers;” it is far more likely that in such an event he would deal with us as he dealt in 1846, and use the weapons we had given him against ours-lves. What the Union’s notions may be of “the part of wisdom, | of enlightened statemanship,” we neither know | nor care; but with an implacable enemy on the South, and a defenceless seaboard exposed to | the attack of any foreign fleet, we think it is rank madness to prefer setting up Santa Anna in Mexico to preparing for our own d-fence, and guarding our own safety. Railroad and Steamboat Accidents. Since the lst January, 1853—that is to say— during a period of nearly fifteen months, nine hundred and fifty people have been killed and eight hundred and forty-nine wounded by acci- dents on American railways and steamers. The detailed account with dates will be found else- where : we recommend its careful perusal to the public. Less than a year ago, a similar cata- logue of catastrophes enabled us to estimate the average mortality from railway accidents at one death per day. The estimate was considered high : but if we add to the 259 deaths given in the table as caused by these disasters a fair pro- portion of the 624 cases of severe injury as an allowance for those who aever recovered from their wounds, it will be found that one life per day is really not more than the usual consump- tion cf our railroads—to say nothing of arms, legs and rjbs broken, and similar casualties, The list of deaths from steamboat accidents is unu- sually large. It has always, we believe, exceed- ed that of deaths on railways; but, when we call to mind the beneficial results that were an- ticipated fronf the working of the new law, we ate shocked we confess to find that 691 persons have been killed by steamboat accidents during the last fifteen months and that the mortality from this cause now falls but little short of two lives per day. It says but little for the law to find that since Ist January 1853, forty-eight fatal accidents have occurred to our steamers. Of these, one, the burning of the Independence near Margaretta Island in the Pacific, hurried 120 souls into eternity. The sinking of the John L. Avery, a few, days ago, in the Mississippi, ranks next in magnitude; and the burning of the Caroline in the same river, and of the America in the Alabama river, in January last, which destroyed respectively fifty-one and fifty per- sons, complete a dreadful total of 281 deaths from accidents. Of the whole, about thirty oc- curred in the South and Southwest and ten on the Mississippi. As usual, the deaths far exceed the casualties; the lucky few who escape when a steamer is burnt, or sunk, or shattered by the explosion of a boiler, generally escape un- harmed. Railway accidents, which are more numerous, are fortunately less fatal than steamboat dis- asters. The average of deaths caused by 189 railway accidents during the past fifteen months is scarcely 1-4 per accident: and this average is unusually large in consequence of the whole- sale slaughter of forty-six persons on the New Haven road at Norwalk in May last—the most awful catastrophe in the annals of railway tra- velling. Next to that frightful butchery, the collision on the Michigan Southern on 25th April last by which twenty-four persons lost their lives, that on the Providence and Worcester road on 12th August by which fourteen per- sons were killed, and the accident on the Belvi- dere Delaware road on the 2d of the same month which caused the death of eleven, de- serve to be individualized in the chronicles of railway slaughter. Travellers will thank us for distinguishing the roads which have distin- guished themselves by their sanguinary track. The Baltimore and Ohio road stands figst on the list, with a catalogue of eleven accidents in twelve months, causing fourteen deaths and forty-six casualties. Next comes our own New York Central, on which ten accidents have oc- curred during the same period, killing seven, and wounding twenty-eight persons. The Hudson River Railroad occupies the third place, with seven accidents, causing six deaths and twelve casualties. On the Erie road, four accidents have occurred, by which nine persons have been killed and twenty wound- ed. But by far the most fatal road has been the New York and New Haven «line, on which three accidents (including the Norwalk disas-% ter) have occurred since last March, killing forty-seven and wounding twenty-seven per- sons, Comparing these figures with the statistics of railway and steamboat accidents in foreign countries, we find that until recently, the for- mer were as disastrous in England as they are here. During the last six months of 1852, 133 persons were killed and 387 wounded. Public attention being aroused by the report of the Commissioners, laws were passed obliging rail- way trains to run according to time, and heavy damages were awarded by juries for injuries received on railways. These measures have been followed, we understand, by a considera- ble falling off in railroad mortality; and now fatal railroad accidents are rare in England. Accidents on the coasting steamers, especially on those plying between Liverpool and Dublin, have occurred periodically during the last few years, and caused great loss of life; those of the Queen Victoria on 15th February last, and of the Times on 2d June show that no improve- ment is yet perceptible in this branch. Nor can there be any doubt that a large share of the responsibility for this and other similar ca- tastrophes is rightly chargeable on the owners and captains, Another year or two will show whether the searching examinations and severe scrutiny which invariably follow those disas- ers will reall, ‘nish their frequency or pre- vent their occurrence, : So 8 we have been able to learn, there has Leen but one fatal accident on the French during the it was a colli ‘ailwe past year. m en two trains, and took place on thik I and Bordeaux line on the 24 of August i Five persous were killed, As soon as the news reached the Prefect, vigorous measures were taken for the discovery of the causes of sh¢ accident aad the puntchimous of ihe moglls! gent, if uny there were. The imperial authori- ties urged forward the matter with the utmost | energy; it was determined to make an exam- ple. The legal trial to which the case gave rise has not yetterminated; but its moral effect has already been felt. We have seen wiat measur<shave Leen taken — in England for the prevention of railway acci- dents, Let us see what causes secure to rail- way travellers in France the immunity they | enjoy. nthe French legislation respecting railways is based throughout on the principle that they can carry paseengers safely, and that therefore, when tley <o not, the failure is owing to some negligence of te superintendents or managers, for which it is right that they should be made ac- countable. Accordingly, the law of 15th July, 1845,the ordinance of 15th Nov., 1846, and the ré- glement which carried out the provisions of both, | publishe) 31st December, 1846, contajns a whole title on the sul of the safety of passengers on railways. It is a most careful and elaborate piece of legislation. Almostevery possible con- tingency is foreseen, and a severe penalty at- tached when blame can possibly be brought home to the company or its agents. Rightly judging that the principal cause of railway accidents was larity and want of punctuality, a heavy fine is impceed upon compan’es, for every minute that their trains are behind time, either in starting from or arriving at a station. Negligence is presumed in every case; it remains with the railway ecmpany to show that accidents occur- ring on their line have been directly caused by the hand of God, and could not possibly have been fore:een. These laws have always been stricily construed and unflinchingly executed, To their character is due the fact that while in this country one railway passenger is killed every day on an average, and in England, until very recently, upwards of two hundred and fifty Ceaths occurred every year from the same cause France has cnly witnessed one serious. railway accident in the cour:e of twelve months, and but five lives have been lost. These facts are wholesome matter for reflec- tion. It would be as easy for us to cut down our awful mortality table to an annual list of five deaths as it is for France. All that we should require would be a law framed on the basis of the ordinance of 1846. By passing such a law, Congress would prove that our fed- eral legislation has not altogether become a farce. GeneraL Prerce’s Opmnrons oN THE NE- BRASKA Bri1..—The publication of a letter from ex-Senator Clemens, which first appeared in a Huntsville paper, giving an account of the exact opinions of General Pierce on the Nebraska question, appears to have created a great ex- citement in all classes at Washington—from the White Houge to the purlieus of Congress. No one, however, need be surprised at any opinion said by good authority to have ema- nated from General Pierce. We have already shown by the recent developements that during the discussion of the merits of the Wil- mot proviso, from 1846 to 1850, General Pierce expressed all sorts of opinions—writing Scar- let letters to one set of politicians, and another kind of letters to another set. If the truth was known, we have no doubt that his opinions would be found to be as various as they have been heretofore on all important questions. We have already shown that Geperal Pierce has declared to the Southern men that the Ne- braska bill was favorable to their interests, while to the Northern men and the softs genc- rally he has declared that the bili was a pro- posal in favor of freedom. This system of trickery—of holding opposite opinions for op- posite sections—of exhibiting double and treble and quadruple faces—is part of the tactics which have long marked the course of the leading men of New Hampshire for many years. There is nothing novel in this discovery of the imbecility and trickery of General Pierce; only it has served to make his character better understood. The consequence is, that his ad- ministration and the party which supports it, are rapidly caving in under every election and every new vote taken in Congress. General Pierce’s connection with the Nebraska bill, or eny other correct and constitutional measure, will certainly bring about its utter ruin and destruction. In fact, the people of all parties and in all sections of the country regard the administration with feelings of superlative dis- gust, and the recent developements will help to swell this sentiment. We are involved in the commencement of another great political revolution, and things are rapidly tending to that point of intense feeling when the people will do justice to Gen. Scott, at the proper time and at the proper place. The very intense disappointment at the failure of General Pierce will only tend to swell the revulsion of popular feeling which will carry Gen. Scott into the Presidential chair in the contest of 1856, in opposition to all conventions, and without any convention. His name, as a matter of pure justice, i& begin- ning to be stronger than conventions or com- pacts. GeveraL Woon in CaLirornta—The arrival of General Wool in California has created a great political effervescence in that stirring State. We have already given accounts of ban- quets in his honor, and reports of speeches made thereat, in all of which ex-Senator Foote took & prominent part. We give to-day ex- tracts from the principal journals of San Fran- cisco—one is the administration organ, and the other inclines to the hard shell democrats. From these indications it would seem that the democracy of Culifornia are in great trouble, and that the party there is making a rapid pro- gress toward decomposition, as it is in New York, New Hampshire, and in Washington. Ge- neral Wool takes the matter very quietly; he goes about the State doing his duty, putting down filibusters, and setting things to rights which were before all wrong. The crockery of most of the democratic can- didates for the Presidency in 1856, has been pretiy well smashed by the Nebraska excite- ment. From the effects of this almost univer- sal wreck, General Wool seems to have escaped, and consequently he stands in a fair position to be the democratic candidate for President in the contest of 1856, Tum Resstan Care p’Arrams.—We un- derstand that Mr. Edward de Stoeckle, the Russian Charge d’.Affairs to the United States, is at present in this city, staying at the St- Nicholas Hotel, with several othor distinguished Russian officers. Mr. de Stoeckle was for many years attached to the Russian logation ia Uy couniry, Under the late Minister, Mr. Bodisco, as first secretary. He has presented his creden- tials, which he received by one of the last steam. ers, tothe Secretary of State, and has been re- ecived a8 Charge d’Affairs of his Imperial Majesty, IRREGULARITIES IN THE Post Orrice Depart- MENT.—The death of the late Major Hobbi¢, the only officer, perhaps, who thoroughly under- stood the postal system, makes us fear that the | irregularities of tiis establishment, from which | the public has already suffered so much, will , now be inereased rather than diminished. i + Like most other departments under the con- | trol of any member of the present Cabinet, that of the Post Office continues to call for severe ' animadversion. We hear complaints daily of , ‘letters mailed which have never reached their | destination—of letters which have never been | } Teceived, or which have been kept from parties | for days, weeks, and even months, by some gross negligence. It is scarcely necessary to observe that, for the satisfactory working of so impor- tant an establishment as the Post Office, it is indispensable that it should be conducted with the greatest despatch, regularity, and precision, | and that in all its branches one uniform, unva- | rying system should be pursued. In other | civilized countries such a desideratum has been | considered of paramount necessity—the plan has been proved feasible—perfection has been attained—and letters are conveyed with the greatest possible despatch and security. In most other countries some one is responsible—a heavy fine, for instance, is inflicted on the employé to whom neglect in the delivery of a let- ter is traced. In England we believe this fine is $100. Wilful neglect is there considered a misdemeanor, and punishable by fine and im- piisonment. The interests of the public, in countries which cannot boast of such commer- cial prosperity as ours, are jealously guarded in this important particular; nor are people obliged passively to submit to the carelessness of those who are well paid for their services. The management of our Post Office falls very iar short ofall this. We have spoken of its defects until we are heartily sick of the theme. It is well known that a traveller from New York to any other city on this continent, starting*with the mail, invariably outstrips it. Why should this be the case? Are not the facilities for the conveyance of one equal to the facilities for the conveyance of the other? Can any sound reason be offered why a mail bag should not be able to travel as fast as aman.in the same railroad car or steamboat? The department seems alto- gether to lack organization and method. We are told that letters for different places are } huddled together in the same bag—that while en route they have to be detained, so many times, according to the distance, in order that they may be sorted, divid- ed, and sub-divided, causing great loss of time and unnecessary increase of labor and trouble. Nor is this all: Even after letters have arrived at their destination, innumerable delays occur in their delivery. “This is notori- ous, as every correspondent has learnt ere now, to his cost. So in mailing letters. People are dragged from several miles up town to the general Post Office, not caring to place any re- liance on the minor establishments scattered so meagerly over the city ; for, if there are a everywhere within the past twelve months hag been in keeping with the spirit manifested ip the section we have alluded to, New hotels ~ have decorated the metropolis, equalling ' splendor and brilliancy the regal halls Europe. Georgeous saloons have been open ' where the humblest artizan may take his meal, surrounded by as much magnificence as ever en- closed feasts and banquetings of monarchs. Libraries, immense and numerous, have sprung: up in our midst, where the intellectually in- clined may commune with the wisdom of ages, and the mind keep pace with luxury and mate- rial prosperity. oe What is the lesson of this wonderful and rapid. growth, unprecedented by any other city in the: world? Does it not, more than any other cir- cumstance, demonstrate the salutary workings of our republican institutions, which, calling forth the zeal and energy of our people, are. gradually working out the problem of “man’s: capacity for self-government,” and carrying us: .on to the position of the first nation on the globe in power, wealth, refinement, and happi- * ness? That spirit of prosperity which knocks. at our doors and lays before them the riches of the earth diffuses itself through every artery of ' our land, and the merchants of New York, Boston, New Orleans, and San Francisco, by steam and the telegraph, are linked together in. brotherly communion, and the advance of any one city or section of the republic, directly or indirectly, operates to the benefit of all. Ad- mitting this, and considering the advance made in our city during the last year, who can pre- dict the future of our country. Dramatic and Musical Matters. All the theatres have done a fair business, for the: season, during the past week. The only great exception. . is the National, where the ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin” mania,. © after raging for nine months, and changing the charac- er of the house and audience almost altogether, shows. signs of fading out. Mr. Forrest has appeared at the- Broadway, as Othello, Claude Melnotte, Richelieu, and Jack Cade, to crowded houses. Mr. Burton has revived: “The Beaux’ Stratagem,”’ and his rendering of Garrick’s favorite part, “Scrub,” is untversally commended. Mr. Fisher and Miss Raymond have had remunerative bene-- fits, At Mr. Fisher's benefit, his daughter, a pretty little- girl of twelve, played ‘Albert’? in William Tell, andi made quite a successful debut. No novelty has been pro- duced at Wallack’s theatre, but a new piece, called 7 “Prison and Palace,” is underlined to be produced on Wednesday. Mr. Brougham, of this theatre, has not; appeared for several nights, in consequence of illness. At the Bowery thoatre, Mrs. Hamblin has continued her- engagement, supported by Mr. Eddy. Mr. J.R. Scott, who has lately been attached to this theatre, retired: from it on Wednesday, and he is to appear at one of the: Philadelphia theatres this evening. Mr. Burton intends soon to treat his patrons to ano— ther Shakspearean revival—‘‘The Tempest”’—which has: been in preparation during the last two months. Mr Burton will play Caliban and Mr. Fisher Prospero. A. young lady will make her début as Ariel. The announcements at the theatres this evening are. various, and the votaries of Melpomoneand Thalia wil? have no lack of material from which to make their se~ lection. At the Broadway, Mr. Forrest plays Spartacus in “The. / Gladiator,” Dr. Bird’s celebrated tragedy, As Mr. For-- rest’s performance of this part is universally admired, those who desire to see him this evening must secure- seats early. chances against a letter reaching its destina- tion when deposited in the former, what result. can be expected when they are trusted to the self-appointed postmasters in charge of the lat- ter? It is truly as great an object now to de- fraud the revenue and despatch our correspond- ence by private channels for the sake of gaining time, as it was in days gone by, when oppres- sive rates were imposed upon us. Time is money in these days of railroads and tele- graphs, and often far more valuable. The pub- lic has submitted long enough to these inconve- niences, arising eolely from the neglect, the in- efficiency, or the mismanagement of those who are employed to do its work. Its forbearance has been remarkable. Complaint after com- plaint has been made; but they have either been neglected or evaded by some shallow excuse. The press has been appealed to, and has taken up the cause, but in vain. The fact is, that it is not in a case here or a case there, but in the whole establishment, and in ai ite branches, that reform is needed. A move Yaoroughly or- ganized system must be carried out before we can expect any material improvement. Then, but not till thep, may we hope to see order, precision, and responsibility introduced into a department which has hitherto been so deficient in those essential requisites to its good govern- ment. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE Crry.—What changes faster and more for the better than the appear- ance of our city from year to year? If, half a century ago, any author ceald have pierced the future with a prophetic eye, and written the true history of the rise and growth of this me- tropolis, such writings would undoubtedly have been set down as the results of a disordered brain or the exaggerations of fancy. Is it un- reasonable that those who are not from person- al observation acquainted with the early condi- tion of New York, should think their credulity severely taxed when expected to believe that the City Hall and St. Paul’s Church were at one time out of town? We should think not when we consider how far the city now stretches it- self beyond them. Less than two years ago that section of the city west of Broadway and between Chambers and Dey streets was mainly occupied by pri- vate dwellings and boarding houses, and ten- ants there little dreamed that the demands of commerce and the progress of trade would so soon drive them to seek new homes. Yet so it is; and, as if by the intervention of some superhuman power, the old tenements have fallen, and blocks of stone and gra- nite have arisen in their stead, filled with the richest productions of every State and clime. Dey street a year ago was a narrow, dark and dismal alleyway, in contrast with what it is at present—a wide and noble tho- roughfare, displaying its millions of capital. Fulton and Barclay streets have followed suit, and in the latter there are now being erected business palaces unsurpassed by any others in the city. Park place is not left a single ves- tige of its former self, and, like its neighbors, has become noisy with the clangor of trade. Murray and Warren streets were, six months ago, as quiet and unpretending as home could be, (for they were then the homes of hundreds ) but now immense stone buildings line either side, and the bale and the package, the cargo and the capitalist, have taken possession there. Chambers street has also gone into business ; and this for the present appears to be the dividing line between the wholesale and retail sections of the city. What wonderful stride for business to take inasingle year! And yet this will, in all pro- bability, be outdone in the year to come. The additional impetus that will be given to trade by the European struggles bid fair to send the | heavy wholesale firms next year as high as Canal street, and line that thoroughfare with marble halls equal to any that now stand. Tho improvement and growth of the cit - At Burton’s theatre, Mr. Thomas B. Johnston, a very. popular actor, has benefit. The bill isfulland varied. > It includes four pieces, one of which is the “Breach of” Promise,” in which Mr. Burton plays his great part, Ebenezer Sudden; ‘‘The Scape Goat,” ‘How to Make- Home Happy,” and “P. P.,” are also to be played. We- have no doubt that the beneficiary will have as full a - house as he deserves, and sucha result would crowd a. larger theatre than Burton’s. At the Bowery theatre, this evening, Mrs. Hamblin plays Queen Katharine in ‘(Henry VIII.,’”? with Mr. Eddy as Woolsey, and Mr. R. Johnston as the king. Mist. | Alice Gray, ® young actress, who has recently joined the company at this theatre, plays Nan, in ‘That Goots for Nothing.” At Wallack’s to.night, ‘Speed the Plough,” and “A. Good Fellow.” Mr. Lester plays Mr. Brougham’s part in the farce. At the National theatre ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin”? is given this afternoon and evening. A new piece from the pen of C. W. Taylor, Esq., f# in rehersal. It is entitled “‘ The Lamplighter.”” . At Barnum’s, the local drama ‘‘ The Old Brewery.” At Christy’s Minstrels, 472 Broadway; at Wood’s, 444- Broadway; at Buckley’s, 539 Broadway, and at the Camp- _ bell’s Minstrels, 495 Broadway, concerts are announced ~ for to-night. They are all well regulated companics. Signor Blitz 1s performing at Odeon Hall, Williams-. burg. Me J. Proctor and wife, well known at the East, ar- rived on Saturday, from California, where they have- been acting during the last three years. The Bateman children arrived at Aspinwall on the 20th. inst., en route for New Orleans. T. R. Anderson has been playing at{Mobile. The leading female characters in his pieces were played by Miss Anna Cruise. She had a benefit on the 22d. Mr. James Browne » ‘was playing at Mobile. Josh. Silsbee commenced an engagement at the St. Charles theatre, New Orleans, on the 15th inst. Miss Julia Dean commenced an engagement at the National theatre, Cincinnati, on Monday evening last. She has not played there before in two years. The Ravels have been playing at the Walnnt street. theatre, Philadelphia, for seventy consecutive nights, Miss Davenport has commenced an engagement at the” Chesnut street theatre, in the same eity. Miss Robert- son, it is said, is engaged to appear at the same house, Mr. A. H. Davenport and Miss Weston are going to Washington and Baltimore, to play star engagements. ‘M’le Yrca Mathias is not going to Californie. She! is now at the Walnut street theatre, Philadelphia, and is shortly to be united in wedlock to Francois Ravel. ‘The St. Charles theatre, Baltimore, is closed. Sir W. Don had a benefit at the Howard Atheneum, Bos- ton, on Saturday afternoon. Miss Robertson had a compli- mentary benefit at the Museum on Friday evening. Some dissatisfaction was caused by the appearance of the names of several persons in the advertisement; the owners of the names so used not having given permission. ‘There was, however, a very full house, and the Transcript of Friday says:—“The tickets offered by auction for the benefit of Miss Robertson at the Boston Museum this evening, brought a premium of from 1234 cents to three dollars «ach above the regular price of one dollar a ticket.” A “biography” of Miss Robertson in one of the Boston papers, states that she is ‘‘grand-niece of the Duke of Buccleugh by the female line,” that she once declined a proposal of marriage from an Earl, and that she is now married. She made her début at the Princess’s, London, ~ wo years since, as Nerissa in “Shylock,’’ and “after. wards was presented to the Queen.’’ Her engagement of ten weeks at Boston closed on Friday. ‘The late California papers, (to March Ist,) do not give us much news. Madame Thillon had recovered her 5 health, and re-appeared at the Metropolitan on the 20th Feb,, in “The Enchantress.” Messrs. Baker and Thornan ’ re-opened the American on the 19th, with Mr. and Mra. | Proctor, Messrs. Baker, Thornan, Coad, Venna Vinson, — McCloskey and Folland, Miss Moulton, Miss C. Rivers, | Miss Cleaveland and Miss Fowlor. Madame Bishop was . giving costume concerts at this theatre three nights per ~ week. On one night, when Bochsa’s harp solo had been - encored, some person in the audience called out to him, asking him to play “The Arkansas Traveller.” The + harpist refused to play anything, saying the audience had | insulted him, On the 2ist Mrs. Sinclair gave a benefit to > the Firemen’s Fund, and the Herald says it drew to- gether the largest assemblage ever seen within the walls % of a theatre in San Francisco. The house was thronged _ in every part, and numbers were obliged to staad during: the whole of the entertainment. The performances opened with the comedy of “Wine Works Wondera,’? with Mr. Murdoch as Mirabel, Mra. Sinclair as Oriana, Mrs. Woodward as Bizarre, and Miss Williamson, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Parker, Mr. Rand and Mr. Thayer in the other principal parts, After this the pas de quatre, from ‘Les Fées,”’ was danced by Miles. Carolina, Ade- laide, Theresine end Clementine Rousset. Thon followed the singing leeson, from the second act of the “Daaghter of the Regiment Madame Thillon as Marie, Mist Gould as the Marchioness, end Mr. Leash as Si pice. Mr. [Hudson afterwards sang the “ Widow = | chree’’ in fine style, and, in compliance with an uproart- ous encore, gave the “ Low-backed Car.” Tho third act. 9% London aveurance’ Lollowed, wish Liew Sumas ade