The New York Herald Newspaper, December 20, 1854, Page 4

NEW YORK HERALD. JAWBY BONOOS 4NBARTP, peed TOk AND €prie DPPIOE H.W. OOKNER RanNeD ASO FILRON OPS, Deente £7 pet anwum. crerw Miterhig it 0g eet rere Kitten $4 per sw ot SS to amy port of the Com: TERMS, ~ 0h THE DAILY iL THE W BEXLY HER sopy, of 3 per -awum: t Sony port of Gre tt winent, bath fo in. lude postuee ‘ALL LETTERS by Mil for Subscriptions or with Atver ements (0 be post pii, or Lhe postrge will be deiucted from the money remiitert. Volume XiX. vee Nas 353 BROADWAY THEATRE, broadwag—Buccan's Orena —Lapy arp GENTLEMAN, SUWERY “HEATER. Gowers—Towy axv Counrry— Drenexant Piren—P NIBLO’S GARDEN, BURTON'S TUEATRE, ane Lowes Twasty— sot LLACE” RATAZ, Rrosdway—Two +0 Owe—& Guanpieeser inseas My Wire'y Dewrsr. TROPOLITAN THEATRE, Grosdway—Rionane li = Wasmpenine Boye AMERICAN #USEU“—afterncop—Vinornius, Bveninz —Apov rx UuILD— #KEOM ABHOKE, WOOD'S VARI ETIES— Mechanics’ Bail, 672 Breadway. BICKLEY’S OPERA HOUSE, 599 Brosdway—Boos- asv's Ermoviay Upena TRovure. WOOD'S MINSTRELS—Minstrel) Gall, 44 Broadway. ‘Hew York, Wednesday, December 20, 1854. bere 7. = Sew Yoas, Matis for the Pacific. ‘SB WEW YORK HERALD—CALIFORNIA EDITION. ‘The United States mati steamsatip North Star, Capt. ‘Warnack, will leave this port this afternoon at two ’eleck, for Aspinwall. ‘The mails for California and other parts of the Pacific, ‘wilt elose at one o'clock. ‘The New York Weexiy Heratp—California edition— containing the latest intelligence from all parts of the » ‘world, will be published at eleven o’clock this morning. ingle eopies, in wrappers, ready for mailing, aixpence. Agents will please send in their orders as early as pos- wible. The News. The Albany Atlas of yesterday publishes the official canvass of the votes given in the resent State election, and an‘msdverts upon the course ef the canvasvers with regard to scattering votes, eontenaing that if the obvious intention of voters had been carsied out Gov. Seymour would be re @ected by » plurality of 165 votes over Mr. Clark. ‘The Atlas concludes its remarks with the following significant observations : —‘‘ Governor Seymour ean neither, by his imaction, give validity to the eertificate which declares Mr. Clark elected, nor prevent any citizen from questioning it by legal yrocess. Private citizens have made partial exposi- tien of the case to eminent counsel, and have ob- tained positive and unreserved opinions of the imvalidity of Mr. Clark’s claim to the Executive hair. In what way that c'aim will be impeached, ‘en how the validity of his acta is to be questioned, and at what stage of his administration, are matters that belong, not to the newspaper press, but to Interested citizens, and the lawyers that they may enlist.” ‘We call the attention of our readers to the report 4m sncther column on the condition of the laboring asses of New York. We trust something will be speedily done for their relief, as the times appear to be growing worse daily, without any immediate geespect of a change for the better. Let our be- mevelent citizens open their purse-strings, and feve who have contributed bat a little heretofore be more generous now. Thousands are actually in @ state of starvation, and if nothing is done for them must die of destitution. The butchers of Baken and Washington markets have set an exam- ple which we trust will be generally followed. In the Senate yesterday Mr. Brodhead’s resola- tien for sending « steamer to the Arctic seas ia weareh of Dr. Kane was adopted. Gen. Cass de Tavered a speech on the resolutions presented at the last session by Mr. Underhill, declaratory of the Might of Americans to religious liberty in Earopean @vuntries, and also of their right to sepultare ac eerding to the rites of Protestant denominations of @ristians, He gave notice that he should seen call for the adoption of the resolu- téome. A message was received from the Presi- @ent, transmitting the correspondence between the Department of State and our Minister at Constan- timople, relative to the imprisonment of Rev. Jonas King, an American citizen residing at Athens, ia Gseece. A bill in favor of the ciaim of Major @eneral John E. Wool was reported and passed. ‘Mhe indian and West Point Academy Appropriation ‘Wills wore received from the House and referred. ‘The Invalid Pension bill was passed, but afterwards seconsidered and postponed until today. Mr. Beswn, of Mississippi, proposed a joint committee ef both houses to adjust private claims against the government, in place of the Board of Commission- zs alluded to yesterday. A petition from the ‘‘solid men of Boston,” asking ald for the Humane Society em behalf of shipwrecked seamen, was received. ‘Zhe proceedings in the House yesterday were more than usually frivolous. Three days of this week have been assigned for considering the affairs ef the District of Columbia, but if today and to- mesrow are spent as uselesaly as yesterdey the in- habitants of the District will not have to complain ef the multiplicity of laws on the statute book. The Osmmittes of Ways and Means are hurrying up the @ppropriation bille. Those for the naval service and for fertifications, &c., were yesterday reported nd referred. Mr. Bayly announced his intention of moving to take up the interminable French Spelia- fiom bill on the 16th of next month. ‘We publish under the appropriate head an ab- wwract of the bill designed to promote greater @ficiency in the army, offered in the Senate on Monday by Gen. Shields. The Board of Aldermen held « special meet- img last evening, for the purpose of appoint img clerks to seme of the police courts, but mething was done. The Board of Council- men also met. A resolution was offered appro- paiating $10,000 for the relief of the poor of the qty, to be expended under the direction of the “Ameciation for Improving the Condition of the Peer.” With commendable promptitude, the Coan- fl pat the resolution through to its third reading ‘without amendment- It is to be hoped that the Gemptroller will interpose no objection to the pay- ment of the appropriation. A preamble and resola- fieme directing the issue of new preposals for paving ‘the Bowery and other streets, and requiring of con- fuacters bonds im fifty per cent on the contract puiée of the work, and also ten securities, under qxetain conditions, were adopted. Detailed reports of the proceedings are crowded out. ‘We have a telegraphic report from Halifax to the efiget that on the 16th ult. o lifeboat wa; picked up off the ecast of Newfoundland, and it is conjectured ‘teat 1% may prove to be ene of thos: of the steam sidp Arctic, of which nothing has been heard since the day of the fearful catastrophe. It is described as built of irom or zinc, complete, except one air fight compartment, and when picked up was fall at the Broadway sabject of “ Oar from a distance.” an anti-slavery garies, ands large abolition sadience attended. ‘Beown drow.» melancholy picture of the slave aye earned announced that the poople of Easland held j4@temed by Britieh gold. Slavery wee 09 vw powerful, but f the sbolitioniste were tree to their principles it would soon fall. A report is published @eewhere. A report of the lecture will be pab- Bihed to-morrow. We are still without Ister news from Earope, neither the steamer due at Halifax, mor those due at thie port and at Portland, having been telegraph- ed up to a late hoar last night. An action was brough’ yesterday in the Saperior Court, by Mr. Shelton, late President of the Stone Diesting Compa”y, agaiast Hiram Fuller, editor of the Evening Wirror, for an alleged libel charging Mr. 8. with Schuylerizing. The case will be oon- | tinned this morning. The Canadiae Partiament adjourned on Monday till the 23d of Febraary. Previous tv the breaking up Lord Elgin responded to the address ia felici- tous terme. He will sbor:ly return to Burope. Colonel Benton’s lec‘ure lust evening attracted tbe largest audience that hae ever beea brought together within the walls of any buildizg in this city. At the close he addressed some appropria‘e observations to the me ubers of the Mercantile Libra- ry Association, a report of which may be found elsewrere. ‘The flour market was unchanged yes‘erday, and the business rather moderate, including small lots for export. Wheat and rye were scarce and firm. Corn sold to a fair extent at 95c. a S¢c. A amall lot of new meas pork sold at $14 50, and a lot of old, deliverable on the 30th instant, at $12 75. The stock of cotton continued very light in this market, which restricted rales, the transactions embracing only 400 or 500 bales, without change in prices. ‘The Corporation Printing-Seandalous Report from the Comptroller. On Monday last Comptroller Flagg sent to the Board of Councilmen his report on the city advertieing, selecting as the future recipients of this class.of municipal patronage the follow- ing journals:—The Evening Post, the New York Demokrat, (German,) the Vew York Staats-Zeitung, (German,) the ew York Daily Times, and the New York Sun. The reasoning by which Mr. Flagg came to this conclusion, and the facts of the case, may be briefly stated. The Common Council, in requesting the city journals to tender for the Corporation advertis- ing, laid down the following rules to govern the bids and award:— Ist. Bidders to offer by the line for each time published. 2d. Bidders shall set forth under affidavit as near as possible their daily circulation in the city of New York, exclusive of their Sunday and extra issues. 3d. The award to be made to the newspapers offering to perform the work at the lowest rates per thousand papers circulated in the city. Three journals—and three only—tendered in conformity with these rules: namely, the Vew York Demokrat (German), the Evening Post, and the Heratp. Six othera—the Sun, Times, Tribune (which subsequently with- drew), Express, Staats-Zeitung and Commer- cial—filed bids, but not in conformity with the rules, for they said nothing of the “rates per 1,000 papers circulated in the city” and stated only the price per line at which they would in- sert in their usual edition the city advertise- ments, Of his own authority, the Comptroller decided to overlook this omission, and admit the informal bids on the same footing as those which were regular. The result is presented in the following table, in which the omission is supplied :— Exinsrr oF PROPOSALS POR ADVERTISING POR THE CoRPO- Ra130N Ov Tur Crrxy or New Yorx, a8 Recziven 47a Decuenxn, 1864:— Fy a i HR ON GR & Suns Ser A ¢ ze ig Ess g ge GP iS gee ; ie Sees tee 40,008 «2 8 | $12,024 32 $4,709 «21-5 1H ~=«(11;272 80 23,473 216 6 7,515 20 Notgyn 6 5 7/515 20 7,000 24. 1% 2,630 32 10,900 1910 2 bid ¥ Notgrn si ¥ 3,006 08 This statement shows clearly that the five journals entitled to the corporation advertising under the rule were the Staats-Zeitung, the Herarp, the Times, the Sun, and the Vew York Demokrat. These were the journals which offered to do the advertising at the lowest price per thousand copies circulated. The Staats-Zeitung, a paper published in the German language, and which no American ever sees, agreed to advertise at a trifle under two mills per line per thousand; the Heravop, which came next, agreed to do it for two mills per line per thousand ; and the others at rates varying from two mills and a sixth up to six mills. To a man of honesty and common sense there could be no question as to the right of these journals to obtain the award. Mr. Flagg isa man of common sense, and something more. Seeing that if the rule were faithfully carried out, his own private organ, the partner of his Albany Regency glories and sor- rows—the Evening Post—would be excluded, and that hated journal—the New Yorx Heratp —entitled to the advertising, he boldly resolved to set the Common Council at defiance, and sub- stitute the Post for the Heratp. The pretext on which he grounds this impudent violation of law is the article in the charter which states that “all contracts shall be given to the low- est bidder with adequate security.” The Post offering to advertise in its edition of 3,000 for three-quarters of a eent per line, while the Heratp with its edition of 40,000 in the city alone, demands eight cents a line, is according to Mr. Flagg the “lowest bidder,” and accord- ingly entitled to the award. Many and flagrant as have been the enormi- ties of Mr. Flagg’s official carcer, this last act surpasses them all. He knowsas well as every one else, that the object sought by the Common Council was publicity; and that a publicity of 3,000 which costs 3-4¢. is dearer than ‘a publici- ty of 40,000 which costs 8c.; or, in other words, tbat for the Common Council to pay 3-4c. for reaching the eye of 3,000 people would be more extravagant than to pay 8c. for reaching the eye of 40,000. We repeat, no one knows this better than Mr. Flagg. No one, better than he, was aware that in fact and in law, as between the Heratp and the Evening Post, the Heraup was the lowert bidder. Yet, coolly and in the most barefaced manner, he calls on the Common Council to break through the rule laid down in their own resolution, and to misinterpret in the grossest way the languoge of the charter, in order that Mr. Flagg’s pet journal may be en- riched, and a hostile paper deprived of the ad- vertising. The whole history of municipal cor- ruption in New York affords nothing more glar- ing or more impudent than this attempt of the “honest”? Comptroller, It will be for the Common Council to say whether this officer’s false reading of the char- ter shall, set at nongh! the clear, anequivocal role Jaid down by themselves im the third reno. ee ee Tation. Oar interest in the matter is too emall to justify much notice of the trick tn these 0o- lumns. We will only draw their attention to the consegence of adopting Mr. Flagg’s report. In thie event the manicipal advertisements will appear in five newspapers in this city, two of which are in the German language. On what pretence German newspapers were allowed to compete at all is a puzzle: the language of this State and this city is Eoglish, the laws are in Englisch, and Germans resident here all speak, or ought to speak, that tongue. Tt it be expedient to publish the Com- mon Council proceedings in two Ger- Man papers, why not also im one French? On what ground omit the Italian and Spanish papers? The intention of the Common Council surely was to limit the tenders to papers in the language of the country. Next, the journal whose circulation is now admitted on all hands to be the largest, and which reaches the great- est number of people interested in the corpora- tion movements, will not contain an advertise- ment or an allusion to the Common Council. Finally, one of the three English journals se- lected as a medium of publicity—the Evening Post—is in reality the least read of any of the leading daily papers. It circulates less than one- third as many copies as the Express; only one- half as many as the Journal of Commerce, and Courier and Enquirer; and barely one-sixth ag many as the Tribune; all which are excluded by the Comptroller’s report. Not a shadow of a reason for its selection can be urged but that it is the organ of the party which counts Aza- riah C. Flagg among its patriarchs. Whether the Common Council will lend itself to the gratification of Mr. Flagg’s prejadices and fa- voritisms, and by so doing, stultify itself, and consign its proceedings for the next twelve months to comparative obscurity, remains yet to be seen. Sovrn Carouina snp Free Cotorep SEAMEN —Bi. or AmenpMeNTs—We lay before our readers this morning the report and bill lately introduced into the South Carolina Legislature, in reference to the management of free colored seamen, eooke, &c., arriving on board ship in any of the ports of said State. The existing law was passed in 1835, instigat- ed by the wicked interference of Northern abo- litionists with the social institutions of the South, and particularly of South Carolina, through the agency of free colored seamen, and ‘was a measure of necessity at the time. It was an act for the protection of the people of Charleston especially against abolition incen- diaries in the disguise of free colored cooks and seamen, some of waom, we believe, had been actually detected in the overt act of tampering with the slave population, with the view of ex- citing them to ran away or to insurrection. This law of ’35 was accordingly a stringent one, It provided that free colored hands com- ing into the ports of South Carolina on board ship from any quarter of the Union or the world, should be taken from such ship and detained in jail during the detention of the ship, and on her departure be delivered up, the ship, we believe, paying the expenses of their incarceration dur- ing the interval. This law is still in force, and applies to vessels driven in by stress of wea- ther, as well as to vessels regularly trading with the ports of the State. This law instantly upon its going into force excited great indignation in Massachusetts; and under the dictation of the anti-slavery socie- ties, Mr. Samuel Hoar was despatched to Charleston, as a special ambassador to test the constitutionality of the law in the United States Courts of said State. The mission of Mr. Hoar, however, was cut very short. He was speedily notified by a committee from a public meeting of Charleston that he could not be received in his official capacity, and that, all things con- sidered, it would be judicious for him to leave the city within twenty-four hours, which he did. The government of Great Britain next inter- posed; and put in a formal remonstrance be- fore our government against this free colored sailor’s law, as infringing the international rights of Her Britannic Majesty’s free colored sabjects. This was a knotty question. It was too knotty even for Daniel Webster. The law did disturb the free ingress and egress of cer- tain British subjects; but what could the State Department do with the local regulations of the sovereign and excitable State of South Carolina. And so Mr. Webster and the British Minister at Washington turned over the matter to Mr. George B. Mathew, then the British Consul at Charleston. Mr. Mathew, as a gentleman, and s man of general popu- larity in both his official and private relations in Charleston, was the very man for the business, At first, however, in his new character of special diplomat on this negro question, he was received with some coldness and distrust; but he held on, and gradually gained the promise of a heaxing in the Legisla- ture. Having thus faithfully accomplished all that he could do in this business, Mr. Mathew ‘was promoted to the Consulship of Philadel- phia. Now comes this bill before the South Caro- lina Assembly, which provides that in lieu of the impriconment of free colored seamen in the ports of said State during the detention of the ship to which they may belong, they shall re- main on ship board—if on board a ship driven in by accident or stress of weather, without special recognizance; but if on board a regu- lar trader, then a hundred dollars security shall be given for the safe detention of each free colored employé on board, during the stay of the vessel. The bill, we doubt not, will be passed. The present law, as a bit of active capital for the abolitionists, will thus be taken away. Mascachusetts, we hope, will thus be quieted, and Marcy relieved of a subject of diplomacy which was beyond the reach of even Daniel Webster. A Prison in THE Park.—The Thompeon plan for the extension of the City Hall has passed the Board of Aldermen, but we hope to sec it stopped in the other branch of the eity govern- ment. If the Councilmen consult the opinion of the public they will throw it overboard withont ceremony. If it was purposed to build ‘a prison in the park Mr. Thompson’s plan woud be excellent; but such is not the intention, and the shabby extension on Chambers street, with its long connecting passages, will be a disgrace to the city. Let us have room enough in the new City Hall, and let the edifice be ornamental as well as useful. Captain Rynpers, Get Reapy !—We beg and entreat Captain Rynders to pack his carpet bag at once and make an early start for old Virginia, in order that the State election may be properly looked after, No time should be lost. The Know Nothings are ia the field, and the administration is in danger. Start early, Captain} Axsaxpowmewr or Tas Monsos Docrans— Tue Trriz or THs Moaqurre King Concxpen.— We call the special attention of Tammany Hall to the article which we give in this paper frem the Washington Union in behalf of the Col. Kinney project for the foundation of an Anglo- Saxon American republic in the heart of Cen- tral America. The tract of land which Col. Kinney proposes to settle from the practical go-ahead bone and sinew of these United States is owned by a company got upin Wall street, and is derived from the Mosquito kingdom, comprehending the larger portion of his yellow Majesty’s do- minions. The tract is a good sized piece of soil, being just about the size of the State of New York, productive as Egypt, bat rather sickly for white ,people for twelve months in the year. This, however, is not the question. The real question is the title of the Mosquito King. Our government has heretofore de- nounced the Mosquito King as a man of straw, and his title as a fiction. We have regarded the State of Nicaragua as the real sovereign of the territory in question; and yet here we have the Cabinet organ flatly abandoning the Monroe doctrine, and virtually recognizing the Mosquito protectorate in its puff of Colonel Kinney’s soheme of anew republic. Has it come to this? Is this article of the Union intended to prepare the country for the absolute abandonment of the Monroe doctrine, and the recognition of the Mosquito protectorate? Is this the way in which our ne- gotiations with England upon Central Ameri- can affaizs are to be settled? It looks very much like it. How very curious! About the time of the inaugural there was s prospect that the people of the United States would be called upon, in a year Gr two, to expel the Mosquito King and his British protectors at the point of the bayonet, in defence of the Monroe doc- trine. Now it is proposed to establish an Ameri- cancolony upon a tract derived from this very Morquito King by an American company, and it is also proposed to make the title good against all the world. The official organ of the administration gives its influence warmly in behalt of the project; and thus the inaugaral and the Monroe doctrine are thrown over- board. But the Union says this is to be a peaceable scheme of colonization. Not so. Every colo- nist must be a fighting man. The new colony, in other words, will be an army of occupation. To be sure, 9 few hundred Americans may hold their ground, and make their title good. But volunteers should make up their minds for the amusement of hard fighting, instead of a peace- able working of the imaginary gold mines of this Mosquito purchase. Mivew awono THE Newsrarers.—We un- derstand that on the first of January next the Journal of Commerce will reduce its size one- third. THE LATEST NEWS. BY MAGNETIC AND PRINTING TELEGRAPHS, . From Washington. MESSRS. SELDEN, WITHERS & 00'S DEED OF TRUST. ‘Waammaron, Dee. 19, 1854. Messrs. Selden, Withers & Co.’s deedof trust, with their statement of assets, has astonished almost every- body here, and the people and brokers are buying Ex- change Bank notes at sixty cents on the dollar, beings decline of thirty cents since yesterday. More than two- thirds of a million of assets are believed to be worthless. GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES—PROCEEDINGS IN THE SUPREME COURT. Wasutnaton, Dec. 19, 1824. The drafts registered in the Treasury Department, Re- gister’s office, for the week ending the 16th inst., amount to the following sums:—Navy, $182,063 78; Customs, $68,108 28; Redemption of the Public Debt, $526,630 43; quarterly salaries, $67,000 22; Treasury, $164,378 17; Interior on land, $80,007 61; Interior, $10,762 18; War, $249,383 39—making a total of $1,381,400 96. The proceedings in the Supreme Court were as fol- lows: — No, 5—Gray P. Webb et al. va. Polly Weathershead. Error to Circuit Court Middle District of Tennessee. Jus- tice Grier delivered the opinion of the Court, affirming the judgment of the Circuit Court, with costs. No. 3.—Arthurs, Nicholson & Co. vs. Jesse Hart. Error to Circuit Court Eastern district of Louisiana. Justice Nelson delivered the opinion of the Court, reversing the judgment with costs, and remanding the cause for fur- ther proceedings in conformity with the law, justice, and opinion of the Supreme Court. No. 2.—Pierre Barribean et. al. vs. Joshua B. Brant. Appeal from the Circuit Court of Missouri. Chief Jus- tice Taney delivered the opinion of the Court, dismissing the appeal with costs. No. 19.—Alex. M. Lawrence, claimant'of ship Hornet, appellant, vs. Charles Minturn. Argument was concla- ded by Mr. Cutting for the appellant. Know Nothing Convention. Kxnastox, N. Y., Dec. 19, 1854. A convention of Know Nothings is in session here to- day, with a view of organizing the order i this county. The attendance is not very large. PARLIAMENT ADJOURNED—ADDRESS OF LORD ELGIN. Quxsno, Dec. 18, 1854, The Provincial Parliament stands adjourned to the 234 of February. At 8 o'clock this afternoon, Lord Elgin replied to the address of the two houses, thanking them for the ex- pression of their spprobation and regard. He pointed out the great purposes to which self-government might be applied, and hoped their magnificent country would furnish evidence that {ts people were guided by a liberal and enlightened policy. Arrest for Forgeries Committed in Quebec. PHILapELPHia, Dee. 19, 1854. Augustus Bastay was arrested here to-day, charged with having committed extensive forgeries in Quebec. He was held to wait a requisition under the extradition act. Six hundred dollars in gold and a large quantity of baggage was found with the prisoner at one of the prin- cipal hotels. Explosion of a Locomotive. ‘Wurrs River Juxcnon, (Vt.) Dec. 19, 1864. The locomotive Claremont, attached to the passenger train, exploded to-day near West Lebanon, N. H. The engine was blown to atoms, aad J,G. Moore, the engi- neer, and David Warner, a fireman, were badly injured. The explosion shook buildings to a distance of half a mile. Peter Mahon, who was indicted for murdering his wife in September last, was to-day convicted of man- slaughter in the first degree. His sentence will be pro- we FAILURE OCONTRADICTED—PROBABLE DISCOVERY OF ONB OF THE ARCTIO’S LIFE BOATS—THE WRECK OF THE SHIP ARCADIA—LAUNOH, BTO. Boston, Dec. 19, 1854. The Advertiser, this morning, contradicts the failure of A. 8. Peabody, reported yesterday. From Halifax papers of the 12th we learn that two men from Southern Harbor report having picked up a boat on the 1éth ult., whilst on their way to Little Pla- centia, Newfoundland, and succeeded in getting her safe to Ram’s island. By their description, she must be ® life boat, built of irom orzine, complete in every par- ticular, except one air-tight compartment. She was full of water, with an ash oar lashed in the middle by a painter, acting asa drag. She may prove one of the up- fortunate steamer Arctic’s boats. ‘The crew and passengers of the American ship Arca- din, (previously reported wrecked at Sable Island,) upwards of one hundred and seventy in number, were resened from drowning by one of Francis’ life-boats, recently presented to the Hamane establishment by ‘Mise Dix, The boat, with the life-saving spparater, manned by the Island crew, had to be rowed ‘males to the seene of the disaster. Two trips were cient to take the people off the wreck. The new ship King Lear, of two thousand tons, owned: Dy Mesars. Beccomd & Taylor, of this city, in being launched thie morning, before she could be stopped, went over and through the Navy Yard wall, where she now lies with two steamboats trying to get her off. From DESTRUCTION OF THE NEW HOUSE OF REFUGE— ESCAPE OF ONE BOY. PurLapetruta, Dec. 19, 1864. At 10 o’clock this morning fire broke out in one of the workshops of the new House of Refuge beyond Fairmount. The building was two hundred and fifty feet long. The roof of it was entirely destroyed, and a portion of the walls have fallen in. It is probably an entire Joss. It contained a large quantity of material Delonging to different persons, such as cane seat chairs, alates, whalebones for umbrellas, &. The total loss is estimated at thirty thousand dollars, which is mostly imoured. Itis supposed that one of the boys in the building must have set fire to the canes in the workshop, as the building could have taken fire in no other way, as it was heated by steam generated three hundred feet from it. All the boys were secured except one, who managed to effect his escape. From Albany. OOLD WEATHER—TBAVEL ACROSS THE RIVER— DEATH OF A JUDGE, ETO. Aunany, Deo. 19, 1864. ‘The thermometer here at five o’clock this morning, stood at five degrees below zero. This evening it stands attwelve above. The employes of the Hudson River Railroad have ‘deen engaged to-day in staking out a track on the ice, and throwing water over it to strengthen it, to enable teams to cross the river. It is supposed they will be able to do so to-morrow. Judge Grant one of the oldest residents of Oswego, died there on Sunday last, aged eighty-four qeon. The Syracuse Daily Journal says that Col. Vanden- burgh, of that city, is to be Judge Advocate General. Land Warrant Convicted. Ni case Dec. 18, 1854. W. H. Wilder, a ity, a aw lawyer of this city, and a prominent « rmpathiser with the Cuban filibusters, has been con- vited of forging land warrants. State of the Weather. Carats, Dec. 19—8 A.M, Wind northwest. Weather clear and pleasant. The thermometer at zero. er, Dec. 19—8 A. M. Eastport, ‘The weather is beautifal. Wind north. The thermo- meter about zero. Bancor, Deo, 19—8 A. M. = weather here is very pleasant, although extreme- cold. Boston, Dec. 19, 1854. ‘The thermometer in this city, at 8 o'clock this morn- img, stood at eight degrees above zero. The weather is very clear, a DOREY eA Ee The Ohio River and the Weather. Cincinxatt, Dec. 19, 1854. In the Ohio river there is but three and a half feet of water. The weather is extremely cold. Markets. PHILADELPHIA STOCK BOARD. ParLapgtrata, Dec. 18, 1864. There is no change ‘to report in the se market, In stocks there is a tht improvement. fe quote Read- ing at 3334; Morris Canal, 113¢; Island Railroad, 12; Pennsylvania 5’, 80; Pennsylvania Railroad, 40%. New Onueaxs, Dec. 18, 1864. Our cotton market was somewhat easier to-day, but ag are not quotably lower. The business amounted 8,500 bales, at pity Nagel rates. Cotton freights to Pn ahr ea » and have an advancing ten- mcy. Cuanteston, Dec. 18, 1854, The salen of cotton to-day reached 2,500 bales, at prices from ic. a ic. judtations we a etill fardhed decline, ws? e Crxctwxati, Dec. 19, 1854, have advanced to $450.0 $4 75. The receipts at this time last year. to one and a quarter per Nible’s Garden=E: Opera. ‘Whilst competition is killed in almost every branch of trade and industry by a stagnation arising amongst ether causes from extravagant living and a passion for expensive amusements, the rivalry of theatrical enter- prises is carried to a pitch of ardent opposition such as has never been witnessed before. No sooner is one species of dramatic speculation announced than another of a similar character starts up to contest with it the palm of public favor. Atthe present moment we have three opera houses in full blast, and though any one of them singly might ensure an amount of patronage which would render such an enterprise profitable, it is certain that, divided amongst so many, the results can§ not prove satisfactory to all. Neither London nor Pari § with considerably larger populations than ours, have been able at any time to sustain three such houses; and with all our growing taste for the art we have not as yet arrived at such a point of musical fanaticism as to accomplish what they have not been able to effect. Considering, however, how much the patronage of the public is divided, and in what a degree almost every other interest is suffering, it is surprising that the thea- ‘tres have as yet shared so little in the general deprecia- tion. The fact is, the public will pay for amusement, however much their incomes may be straightened at home. And it is mo wonder that the fact should be so, when we see s0 many attractions held out to tempt them. The performances at Niblo’s last night offered such a combination of inducements as is not often presented to theatre-goers. The sppearance of such an artiste as Mile. Nau in three of the best acts of three of the most popular operas—‘‘Lucy of Lammermoor,” the ‘‘Syren,’” and the ‘‘Sonnambula”’—wasa treat such as is seldom to be had by the lovers of music. She was in admirable voice, and displayed even greater spirit and power than on the former occasions on which we noticed her in those characters, which are justly considered the best in her repertoire. She was well supported by Mr. St. Al byn and Mr. Whiting, and the performances went off to the entire satisfaction of the audience. We cannot con- elude this brief notice without expressing our admiration of the effective manner in which those operas have been put upon the stage. Ths mise en scene of all of them is splendid, and the orchestra and choruses are admirably disciplined. There are few of the European theatres which surpass this house in the completeness of its stage arrangements. Arrest for Selling United States Mall Bags. ‘The extent of the orders sent to the Post Office Depart- ment from the large post offices, for canvas mail bags, used chiefly for the transmission of newspapers and ether printed matter, it appears, satisfied the Postmas- ter-General sometime since that there must be a heavy leakage somewhere, and that by some means or other those bags, the property of the government, were di- ‘verted im considerable quantities from their proper and legitimate use, and thus withdrawn from the pub- ic service. For the special protection of this and some other kinds of government property, Congress recently passed a law, the fourth section of which is as follows:— Sxcrion 4. And be it further enacted, that if any per- son shall steal, purloin, or embezzle any mail bags in use by, or belonging to, the Post Ofice Department of the United States, or any other property in use by, or belonging to, the sai Office partment, or shall for any lucre, gain, or convenience aoy such property to his own, or any other than its proper use, or for luere or gain carry away any such hindrance and detriment of the public be fi Ttappears that the special agent of the Post Office Department at this point has been watching the move- ments of certain persons in this city, supposed to have ‘these mail bags in their possession improperly, and yesterday caused the arrest, by the United States Mar- shal, of — , Who is charged with having had and conveyed away, in fact sold, a quantity of the said bags on the 2d inst., knowing them to be the property of the United States, each bag being plainly marked with Min sald that he ot. th ected ie got them from ms con with some of the newspaper establisiiments, which ob- tain quantities of these canvass 3 to be filled and sent off by mail. However that mag by we understand that the post office authorities are rmined to prose- cute all who violate the above law of Congress, by having in their possession, or disposing of in any way, thia de- seriptiou of government property. We are informed that other known to have mail bags tn th sin this city are hands, and that fur- ther arrests are contemplated, unloss they are forthwith sent to the Post Office. RAILROAD OrenrnG.—The Millstone and New Brunswick (New Jersey) Railroad will be opened to-day. This road connects the towns of New Brunswick and Millstone, and is about nine miles in length. ‘The excqraion train will leave New Brunswick at 9.30 A. M., and aa the di- rectors will give lunch at Jonesville, at noon, there will probably be a large attendance of the friends of rail- rosds in Now Jersey. way THE HARD TIMES, ‘What ts Deinmg fer the Relief of the Poor ‘Theusands te a East Side of the City tn the Worst Condition, dic. It is hardly possible to realise the actual amount o destitution im our city produced by the present depress- ed state of all kinds of business. In yesterday’s Huatp we published a table showing the number of tradesmen, laborers and women out of employment ; but large as it appears it is far below the aggregate of those whe are now im need of even the necessaries of life. Someof these may be enabled to struggle along for a few weeks: longer, with the senstance of their more fortunate do in the mesatime—how are they to subsist if sore means are not immediately devised for their relief? We estimated the number in want ef work at twenty thoa- sand, and if to this we add all who are dependent upon them, allowing to each a family of four persons, the number will be augmented to ene hundred thoussad. Of these the majority, or one half, are to be found im the Heventh, Seventeenth, Fourth and Sixth wards. In view of the great amount of destitution existing im all these localities, we have been informed that it is the: intention of several benevolent individuals to establieh. relief associations similar to that opened on Monday last in the Seventeenth ward, From the description we gave- of the Seventeenth ward soup kitchen, it is evideut that establishments of the kind can be condueted at s eom- paratively trifing expense. Every persen living in the ward whose means will permit are expected to eontri- bute either in money or provisions, and apartments or stores, wherever they cam be obtained in the mostcon- venient situations, are to be rented as storereoms and: distributing offices. In those streets running payallel with. the East river we should think they would be most need ed,for even in the best of times their inhabitants appear to be in a destitute condition. ‘We omitted from the list of trades published yesterday the founders, who have suffered perhaps as severely a any. On the west side of the city nearly all the foun- dries have discharged one-half of their hands, so that there is at present between four and five hundred out of employment, while the rest are not working fall time. As general thing, however, we may state that the mechanics on the west or north aide are in s better condition than those inhabiting the side east of the Bowery. Some idea may be formed of the state to which the majonty of them shave been re- Guced, from the fact that they are ready to accept any kind of work. Yesterday morning we had an instanee of this at our office. Being in want of a porter, we adver- tined for one, and at a very early hour there were ne Jess than one hundred applicants for the situation. A large number ofthese were tradesmen, and men of re- apectable appearance, some of whom said they were willing to do anything at which they could even make a subsistence. The only exception we find to this 1s that presented by the caulkers, who refuse to work for less than three dollars, their employers having decided to g've them no more than two dollars anda half, in con- sequenee of the depression in business. We are glad to find, too, that the number of plumbers out of work is not. #0 great as we supposed, as it does not exceed two hun- dred. We have said that the depression hes affected is to be found in the great falling off which has taken place in the consumption of all kinds of confectionery. In fact, we have been The dirt cartmen, who number about one thousand, and who are, tos great extent, dependent upon building operations for a subsistence, are also among the suffer- ers, nearly two-thirds of them being out of employment. of these poor fellows have been compelled to of subsistence, iN i ceeaaate? relief, after these a enumerating sorrowful details, to be apje to state that in the upper part of the city rents Hive fallen at least per cent, with the prospect of « still further 5 houses are vacant on of the inability of their former reduced af H ze a | ft for a little The following soe: cation shows that the me- commun! chanics are determined to do something for them- selves. A mass meeting in the Park organ- ized, and conducted in an order! TO THE PARK. to give work to that are so much in of ft, and to take our deplorable stateinto consideration, and to adopt such messures as may lessen the hard- ships of the present a ROSE, Chairman. Novaurr Iron Wi Naw Your, December 10,1854, ¢ number of our men has not been recently but weare as 1y men now as we have at any” the six months, and are them the full number of hours per dey. ve yours, y &0O: ‘Measures are being taken for the relief of the poor of the city, there being many in need of aid. The ladies. i fe $ i: i i eeeeee i a4 fi EE, i ia i g i ie iH i i i al i ! E3 i ub 25 : i g i iy i ; i Dene rad eee eee stagnation of all the industrial trades. all the ir premger tge iger seperate hm th Raped deg more ‘usual num- but thus far the weather has been mild, and much of the destitution and suffering has been avoided, which would have taken . The % could not command the same pay as in more fen ren ot “ee | to its advocates. te of things will come about, and then the demand for high wi will be more Feasonable. The nocessitics of lifo are high, and monay must be had to obtain them, which is impossible with out work. Let gee 9 be the rale, and, when the winter has passed, joy will come with the spring.