The New York Herald Newspaper, December 10, 1855, Page 4

| | 4 NEW YORK HEALD. ween JAMES GORDOS B ENNEXTT, PROPRIETOR AND gpir0R, SPvICE N. W. CORNER OF N/,G84U AND FULTON STS. SRMS, cx in antoanes, DAILY 1 7 m. vary Saterday, at 3% cents per an edition, Bh por annua, (0 iin, oF 86 Lo any pars of the Continent, Bath “Kv GORRESPONDENCE, oontataing import roiled from any qua ter of the works if waad will be d UDR Forster OorkwAroNDR YTS ane Larress axp Pacw- 4 Reauestep TO Seal sli 0s 3 Etaten of cxonymous oommuminations. We de nat lected RENTING executed with nauiness, cheapness and dee- RTISEMENTS renewed every day. Folume xx. ” AMUSEMBNTS ‘THIS RVENING. BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway—Bsaoty axp ta8 Buast- Wascaning Minernet, PIBLO'S GARDEN, Broodway—Tup Suonet Manntace— Karey—Aspnope, BOWHRY THEATRE, Bowery—-Gameren—DaY Arron THE Weonixc. BURTON'S \THEATRE, Chambers streot-—Hamurt -Tue Brxctus BarpEanoom, WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway—Lavy tn Dirricuvtizs Fist Niawr-Peerecrion. Wood's MINSTRELS, 444 Broadway—Erarorun Pua- PORK ANCES. BUOKLSY'S BURLESQUE OPBRA HOUSE, 639 Broad- wey—BuKiRsave Orera AND NeGRo Minsraxisy. ACADEMY HALL, 663 Groadway—Hru/oriin MosioAL AND Tupersiconnan bNTRKTAINMEDTS, MECHA RICS’ HAUL, 472 Broadwiy—AmmaioAn JovENtte Bau. Rincexs anp Vooatists. METROPOLITAN HALL, Williamsburg—Sacanp Lecrone anv SINGING BY Mas, Giues. Mew York, Monday, December 10, 1855. News for the Pacific, The stesmahip Star of the West, Captain Miner, will Wave this port this afternoon, at 8 o'clock, for Pamta Arezas. vax New YorK Herawy—Caiifornia sdition—contain- ing ali the latest news by mail and telegraph from all paris of the world, wil be pablished at eleven o’closk thw morning. Agents will please wend in their orders za varly as possible. ‘The New: The Vanderbilt steamship Ariel, which left Havre on the morning of 24th of November and touched at Cowes afterwards, arrived here yesterday at noon, with one day’s later news from Europe. Napoleon's speech at the closing of the Paris exhibition, had produced a great sensation on the Continent, and many politicians were of opinion that it fore- shadowed the assembling of a peace congress, in which the war difficulty with Russia would be dis- cussed with a view to settlement. However, operations in the Crimea were still carried on vigorously, and the Russian*fire from the south forts of Sebastopol was very lively. Victor Bmanuel, King of Sardinia, had arrived in Paris, and was received with extraordinary attention by the Empcror and people. Antwerp was to be strongly fortified by the Belgian govern- ment. Omer Pasha expected to soon fight another great battle in Asia. His army was within a few leagues of Kutais. The King of Prassia had ar- ranged a loan for railway purposes, amounting to seven million eight bundred thousand thalers. Anstria’s concordat with Rome had produced great excitement in Germany. Three hundred Irish from America had arrived in Liverpool, assigning Know Nothing hostility as a reason for their return. On Saturday, November 24, consols were 884 to 88} in London, at eleven o’clockin the forenoon. We direct the attention of packers and exporters toan important report of the French Academy of Sciences, given in another column, on the nutritive qualities of the salted meats exported from the United States and Buenos Ayres, in which a consi- @erable trade was some months since done in France. It was omitted a day or twosince. It appears from the report of tle chemist appointed by the Aca- demy to analyze them, that the meats of this country eontain a much larger proportion of nutritive ele- ments than those of France, but, owing to the man- ner in which they are salted, they lose their savory essences, and are consequently not relished by con- sumers. It is suggested that some other mode of euring should be adopted, and an opinion is ex- preesed in the report that if this could be effected under favorable conditions, American meats would some into very general and successful competition with those of European countries. Cannot some ex- periments be made to secure such a large foreign trade? The inducements offered are, we should think, sufficiently tempting to direct the attention of our scientific and commercial men to the subject. Our special despatches from Washington show that the question of who shall be Speaker remains auchanged. Mr. Banks’ friends were laboring assi- @uously, and confideutly asserting that they will elect him on the first or second ballot to-day. Mr. Fuller's friends evince equal determination to labor for him to the end. The Crampton difficulty is still uncettled, and it seems that nothing definite is likely to transpire immediately. The Union mon are sony Jy troubled, at finding that.the leading Senators are against them, and are for retaining the Sentinel as Senate printer. A terrific gale of wind from the northwest, accom- panied by hail and rain, passed over the city last evening. We have not heard of any damuge being done to the shipping in and about the harbor. Our dates from Kansas are to December 6, which state that four or five hundred men, accompanied by artillery and one thousand muskets, had passed through Independence, with the purpose of assisting inthe maintenance of order. The news will be found in another column. The brig Mary Means, Captain Hopkins, from Balt Key, Turks Island, arrived yesterday, with dates to Novemper 24. The salt crop was entirely ex- hausted, and the M. M. is consequently 1,500 bushels short of a cargo. The British brig Victoria had also sailed a few days prior for Baltimore, with but a moiety of a cargo. At Grand Turk no salt was procurable. Our telegraphic intelligence from Philadelphia in- forms us of the death of A. H. Simmons, Esq., one of the proprietors of the Public Ledger newspaper, of that city. Mr. Simmons was a native of Nor- wich, Conn., and was 49 years of age. He was extensively known in this and other cities of the Union, On Thursday last, the brig G. L. Abbott, ladea with sugar and molasses from New Orleans, for Savannah, was ran into by an unknown vessel, and 80 ruch injured as to compel her abandonment. The crew, with the exception of one man, were- taken off by the vessel which had caused the da- mage. The disabled vessel was afterwards fell in with by the steamer Carolina, and the survivor res. cued. The G. L. Abbott was afterwards finally abandoned, as she was in a sinking condition. The honse of Mr. Daniel Drew, two-and-a-half miles from Newburg, in this State, was totally des- troyed by fire on Saturday night last. ‘The cotton market was firmer Saturday, and re- covered fully an + of » cept; middling uplands closed at about 9}o. a Oc, with soles of 1,200 a 1500 bales. Flour was heavy, at the previous day's prices, with moderate sales, Wheat was inactive, while holders of prime lots were firmer, The chief transaction was made in Canadian white, at $2 20. Corn was rather easier, and ranged from £8« for Western mixed, from store and de- Fivered. Rye continued firm, with sales at $1 33 0 $1 55. Pork was doll and easier for mess. Coffee was firm, but sales were moderate, Sugara were in better request, especially for boxes in bond for ex- port, with sales of about 8,400 boxes in bond. “yidom to European ports was limited and rates firm. Two vessels were chartered for Havre, at fail rates. The bark Marmion, 350 tons, six years old, waz go’d for $12,000. NEW YORK HERALD,;MONDAY, DECEMBER 10,1965. : ‘The First Week of Congress and the Opening vy We heve duly informed oar reader:, from day to day, of the unsuccessful experimens: of the first week’s berculean Isbors of the Hous? of Representatives at Washiogton to elect a Speaker. The great point aimed at, and the great difflculty in the business, is a fusion vpon some man of the various anti-democratic party elements in enfficient nambers to give him a majority of all the votes cast. On last Monday and Taesday the Seward men, por excellence, permitted the thing to work without any very setive influence in behalf of Mr. Campbel}, of Obio; the result was, that from fifty-eeven votes on Monday be fell down to fifty-one on Tuesday, at the adjournment, Thea a deeperate effort appears to have been made by Mr. Giddings, Thurlow Weed, Gen. Webb and Greeley, to bring over the free soil Know Nothiogs supporting Mr, Banks, of Massachuretts, to the help of Campbell. The consequence was that on Wednerday’s ad- journment Campbell ran up to eighty votes, and Banks fell off from thirty to eight—a handful of Massachusetts Know Nothings. On Friday, however, it was soon discovered that Campbell bad gone to the end of his rope, and he judiciously declined, his speech on the occasion betraying some chagrin and no little disappointment. Campbell thus being out of the way, a grand rush was made by the black republican regulars on Saturday upon Banks, who was rapidly carried up to one hundred votee—lacking only twelve of an elec- tion. It was hoped, perhaps, that another trial would give him a few more; but sticking as it did at one hundred, the House adjourned in a most delightful condition for renewed caucusing and pipe laying. The last vote on Saturday—the thirty-third from the beginning on Monday—was as fol- lows -— —After which there was Nebraska meeting in the hall of the House, which ad- journed without attempting anything, as it was evident that the thirty Fuller men were not prepared to fuse upon any other candidate, and that the regular blacks were not quite prepared to fuse upon Fuller. Indeed, it appears that Weed, Wilson & Co. were fast getting to that point with Fuller when “ for- bearance ceases to be a virtue; and we are admonished that if Fuller’s obstinacy defeats Banks, we may look out for break- ors, Yet, in epite of the threatened wrath of Weed, Webb, Wilson & Co., the general im- pression in Waehington on Saturday night was that Banks would rapidly recede into the back- ground to-day, and that among the discordant fusionists, as the inevitable result, the con- fusion would be worse confounded than ever. All this time the loose whigs of the South, and the twelfth section Know Nothings, have been “bobbing around,” as if simply for the purpose of enforcing upon the Seward alliance the Jargest possible vote to secure a majority. Possibly, within the last thirty-six hours there may have been some persuasive log-rolling with these Sorthern impracticables; for if only a dozen of them shall have been, or can be, induced to play the absen- ee this morning, Mr. Banks can be elected with his vote of Saturday. The par- tiality of Wilson, Weed, Webb and Greeley for Banks is somewhat remarkable. It is true that his Know Nothing allegiance does not take precedence over his free soil principles; but his antecedents are democratic, and, to some extent, in the last Congress he was practi- cally with the party of the Nebraska bill. We suppose that it is because Banks is from Maseachusetts, and because the Know Noth- ings of that State have rendered themselves as odious as Lloyd Garrison himself to the South, (in the seditious proceedings of the notorious Hiss Legislature, including the nul- lification of the Fugitive Slave law,) that Mr. Banks has become the favorite of the Seward log-rolling committee. In this view we shall have no regrets for his defeat, if de- feated and set aside to-day, though it must be admitted that in his personal qualifications tor the Speakership, Mr. Banks is one of the very first men of the House, On the other hand, it appears that the demo eracy are not the unit that they should be, considering the important object of a tho- rough-going re-union of the party. The New York softs do not fuse upon Richardson: “Skinner votes for Banke, Williams throws away his vote, and Oliver and Wheeler keep complimenting each other.” Now, if these votes were cast for Richardson, they might bring in others, and soon reduce the contest to a positive result. Perhaps Mr. Cobb, of Georgia, who cannot exactly be called an administra- tion democrat, would do better than Richard- son—perhaps he has been held in reserve for @ final demonstration. We ehall see. Greeley has promised us the Speaker to-day, without fail; but should he fail, which is very likely, we incline to the suspicion that he would be rendering some service to the House wajority, in retiring with General Webb and brother Weed down to Alexandria, or a few miles jnto the country, for a day or two. Like evil epirits, these three apostles of freedom for Kansas appear to be the harbingers of discord wherever they attempt to manage the players upon the stage. The Chevalier Wikoff would be worth adozen such men in the diplomacy required in the organization of Congress, Should there be no Speaker at the conclu sion of the labors of the House to-day, we sub- mit the propriety and expediency of throwing open the whole subject to a full discussion, as in committee of the whole upon the state of the Union, the oldest member appointing the Chair- man, and every speaker being limited to fifteen minutes on the floor. In this way, a flood of light would be thrown upon the respective merits of the different candidates, ard the complicated troubles which embarrass a majority fasion among the anti-edministration factions of the Hone. We have no doubt that, at the end of a three days’ debate of this kind, a Speaker would be elected by a round majority, upon the third or fourth trial. Best of all, the country in the meantime would be thoroughly illu- minated upon the subject. In the event, then, of no Speaker at the close of this day's proceedings, we submit to Mr. Humphrey Marshall, of Kentucky, the propriety and expediency of a motion that the Honse go into committee of the whole on the state of the Union between the Northern Know Nothings and black republicans, to discuss the subjeot of the Speakership in fifteen minute speeches, for three consecutive days; and that at three o'clock, P. M., of the third day, the do- bate shall be suspended, and the House shall eo gain proceed, viva voce, to vote for a Speaker. ‘We trust, however, that there will be o Speaker to-day, in view of the fact that an enterprising youvg gentleman has'called upoo us to cell us the quadruplicate copy in manu- script of the President’s Message exclusively, and that we cannot promise to resist the temptation much longer. The Presidential Question—Another Ourlour Chapter or Extracts f.om the Party Pres. In detault of the President’s Message and the accompanying documents, we lay this moraing before our readers of all parties, another of those curious, suggestive and interesting chapters of extracts from the party journals of the day, upon the subject of the next Presi- dency. Covering, as this chapter does, the latest sspecte, prospects and movements of de- mocrats, Know Nothings and black republi- cans, it cannot fail to be usefal and seasona- ble, even at Washington, considering the erl- tis that is upon us, and the terrible ordeal, upon the everlasting slavery question, through which the country is about to pass, First, with regard to the democracy: they have as usual, a superabundance of outstand- ing candidates, among whom General Pierce only figures as a possible alternative. The bulk of the democratic testimony is against him. Yet, notwithstanding the failures which have been inflicted upon the country by their national conventions, the party in all sections are turning their eyes to the Cincinnati na- tional gathering with as much apparent confi- dence as a caravan of devout and deluded Mussulmen take up the pilgrimage across the desert tothe tomb of the Prophet. In this in- stance, however, we are assured that no un- known and obscured make-shift will be adopt- ed by the experienced and suffering democra- cy, as the expedient for harmonizing the old fogies. With this assurance we must await the issue of the Cincinnati sanhedrim and the movements of the party chain-gang at Wash- ington this winter. The Know Nothing or American party are early in the arena, Their Presidential nomi- nating national convention is appointed for the 22d of February; but in the meantime President Bartlett has issued another procla- wation, calling a special National Council at Philadelphia on the 18th of the same month, most probably for the purpose of postponing to May or June next the grand national nomi. nating Council. A postponement of this sort would certainly be judicious, for we cannot perceive how a satisfactory fusion upon any man can be made by the 22d February, of the friends respectively of Live Oak George Law, Millard Fillmore, John J. Crittenden, John M. Clayton, John Bell, John Minor Botts, Joho Macpherson Berrien, Sam Houston, Kenneth Rayner, Commodere Stockton, Stanhope Flour- noy, Gov. Gardner, Gov. Johnston, and other American candidates. The extract which we give from # Maryland paper, suggesting the policy of running seve- ral American candidates, North and South, is not a bad idea. It is the electors of the seve- ral States elected that elect the President, so that if the Americans can carry Kentucky with Crittenden, New York with George Law, Massachusetts with Gardner, Tennessee with Bell, Georgia with Berrien, and so on, they will, should they eecure a majority of the electoral tickets, still be able in the meet- ng of the electors thus chosen, to unite upon some one of their various candidates, and carry him in. How else the Know Nothingg, North and South, can work together, judging from their divisions in Congress upon the Speakership, we cannot divine. We leave the matter, for the present, in their hands; but we shall certainly watch their movements with some interest, for it is make or break among them now. The Seward Holy Alliance looms up with some importance in the speculations of our democratic cotemporaries ; but with the organi- zation of Congress, and the settlement of the iseue between Whitfield and Reeder, we shal be better qualified to estimate the real strength and position of the anti-slavery league as an independent Presidential party. The doings at Washington of the past week, and our chap- ter of Presidential politics for the present, post us up with the condition, prospects, and move- ments of parties and candidates as they stand. From this day henceforward the next Presi- dency will be the living and paramount ques tion. We shall endeavor to keep pace with the shifting scenes of the important drama, with the progress of public opinion, with the safe- guards of the constitution, and to the “ music of the Union.” The Prospect of Peace. We publish elsewhere an article from the London Zimes on the power of Russia, which deserves a careful perusal. It demolishes most effectually the popular British notion that the power of Rassia is exhausted, and demonstrates that however crippled the trade of the empire may be, and however iso- lated from the other nations of the world, its powers for defence and injury are not neces- sarily impaired, much less destroyed. It shows that for purposes of internal trade a paper cur- rency may prove a tolerably fair substitute for gold, and argues with manifest reason that the destruction of 200,000 men, which is the num- ber of soldiers estimated to have perished in the Crimea, cannot ave exhausted the mili- tary resources of an empire counting sixty millions of inhabitants. It goes to show, in fine, that however signal the achievements of the allied forces have been, they have as yeb done very little if anything towards destroy- ing either the army, or the material resources of the Russian empire. These statements bear with obvious perti- neney on the question of peace. It has been shown already in this place that so far as the Allies are concerned they are not likely to agree to @ pence, for the sim- ple reason that the private objects for which they undertook the war are as yet unaccomplished. England's Asiatic dominions are no more secure from Russian aggression now than they were two years ago. Napoleon has reaped no glory as yet, and France’s frontiers are precisely what they used to be. Therefore-—it has been ar- gued more than once—the Allies will decline to entertain proposals for pence, and will pro- eecute the war year after year, until on the one side Ruesia is driven back on the south- east, and an embankment of Circassian and other hostile tribes built up against her as a bulwark to the British possessions in India: and on the other, till Napoleon is able to say to the French: See howl have realized the ox. teprion of texsitory whigh my uncle was unable to hold, aad see, moreover, how high the glory of the French name stands. Yet, in admitting this to be the probable view of the allied governments, persons have not been wasting to assert that their objec- tiuns to peace could be overcome by large con- cessions on the part of Russia. It Jas been said that if the Czar were to offer as 4 gdaran- tee to England a renunciation of his present power around and beyond the Caspian, and to concede to France the military occupation of certain points in the Crimea or on the Black Sea, neither Power would be able to jastify a continuation of hostilities, and peace would be made. That some such offer might be made by Russia has been inferred from her supposed exhaustion, from ber enormous losses in the Crimea, from the moral effect of the defeat at Sebastopol. It ia this supposition which the reflections suggested by the article in the Times are caleu- lated to demolish, by knocking away the basis of conjecture on which it is founded. Russia is not exhausted; her army has not been des- troyed; her material resources are not im- paired; her morale is not sapped. Therefore she is not likely to make such concessions as would alone, in the view we have taken, ia- duce the Allies to suspend operations, and con- clude a peace, Itisnow abundantly demonstrated by the war that under ordinary circumstances, and with equal forces, the Allies will beat the Russians in the field. It appears also that though the preponderance of military skill is obviously on the side of the Russians, the cbances are that the Allies ean concentrate more military and mechanical power on any given point than their enemy can; and there- fore that, all other things being equal, the capture by the Alliesof any given point of de- fence appears to be a matter of time and ex- pense only. It is also rational to suppose that the war will go on as it has began—that is to say, will be a war of defence on the part of the Russians, a war of offence on the part of the Allies; and therefore that the injury in- flicted by blockades, sieges, and bombardments will be wholly confined to Russia. Thus far, all is favorable for the Allies. Bat success in war does not depend altogether on the issue of particular military operations, or battles won, or forts captured. It depends on the strength that is left to the defeated com- batant. It was his victories which ruined Pyrrbus in Italy, and his victories which destroyed Napoleon in 1812; simply because the Romans in the one case, the Russians in the other, were left after their defeats still stronger than their enemy. The question in this war is simply whether—viewing matters in the best light for the Allies—after they shall have taken North Sebastopol, Perekop, and even Helsingfors and Cronstadt, they will be stronger than the Russians? Whether, after four or five years of successful warfare, they will be better able to bring an army into the field than the Czar? Whether, after they have shut the Russians up for years within their own borders, and benumbed all their ex- tremities, Hngland and France will be better able to spend two hundred and fifty millions of dollars 9 year in the luxury of fighting than Rusela? For, if all these questions cannot be un- hesitatingly answered in the affirmative, it is waste of time to speculate on the censequences of local triumphs, and perfectly idle to indulge hopes of peace. CHE LATEST SEWS. SY ELECTRIC AND PRINTING TELEGRAPHS. Death of A. H. Simmons, of the Philadel- phia Ledger. Puwaperruta, Dec. 9, 1855. The death of Azariah H. Simmons, one of tne proprie- tors of the Public Ledger occurred this morning. He was distinguished for his genial social qualities, strict business integrity and enterprise. In connection with his surviving partmers he, twenty years since commenced the publication of the first successful penny paper in this city. The deceased was possessed of a strong con- stitution and powerful frame, but his death was never- theless sudden, occurring after a confinement of only three days. The deceased was 49 years of age, was a na- tive of Norwich, Conn., and was extensively and favora- bly known in this and other cities of the Union. He was a printer by trade, and worked on the New York Evven- ing Star, under Major Moah. Trade of Boston. Boeton, De. 8, 1855, ‘The following ix a statement of the value of the foreign goods imported here for the week ending Nov. 16,000 137,104 sree eee S465, 367 Collision at Sea. Cuantmstos, 8. C., Dec. 8, 1855. The brig G. L. Abbott, with « cargo of segars and mo- Jasees, from New Orleans for Savannah, was run into on Thursday, by an unknown ship, and damaged so badly that she hadto be abandoned. ‘The ship took off all but one man, and last evening the steamer Carolina, {rom Jacksonvile for Charleston, fell in with the G, 1. A., forty tiles south of Savannah, and towed her to Martin’s In- dustry Light, where she took off the man left on board by the ship, and abandoned her, as she was ina sinking condition. Fire near Newburg. Newnvrc, N. ¥., Dec. 9, 1865. The house belonging to Mr. Daniel Drew, two and » half miles northwest of Newburg, was consumed by fire last night. ‘Weuther in Boston. Bostox, Dee. 8, 1855. A drenching rain, accompanied by a heavy gale, has prevailed here all day. ees Marine Affairs. Vigorous opposition and low rates is again the order of the day of the rival lines to California, it is understood that the agreement recently made between the companies has ceased to exist, and that the Panaina Company aro now determined to carry the passengers, and submit to no compromise. We ndvise all Cali‘ormians to avail themselves of the opportunity pow offered for procuring ‘a pesenge for comparatively nothing. ‘The new decree recently enacted by the French govern- ment, allowing foreign built vessels to have a French re- gister, took effect for the first time at Havre, on the 21st ult., when the American ship Equator, of 900 tons bur- then, which errived at that port on the 28th October, from Cal'ao, was sold to Messrs. F. de Coninck & Co. She will hereafter hatl from Havre, under the name of the General Canrobert. Lacyen or Tim Vanpererur——The mammoth steamer Vanderbilt will be launched this morning, at ning o’elock, from J. Simowaon’s yard, at Green Polat. We advive al who can spare the little time required to see it. Jersey and Hudson City News, ‘Warnn Rents. Notice is given by the Jersey City Water Commissioners, that all water rents due and unpaid on the 20th of December, inat., will be returned to the Mayor and Common Counell of Jersey City, to be collected in the same manner as arrears of taxes are collec Gas Lion Comrant.—Notice bas been given of an appli- cation to the next Legislature, for an act to incorporate * yy, with a capital of $150,000, in the olty of Bedecn, wh Permission to lay ite pipe, throughout the city and townehip. | Atthe Baoapway Taarax Mrs. Julia Dean Hayne fin- ished her of three weeks, cn Saturday aight Jant, and produced a play written by herself, It is called ‘Mary of Meutua,”’ and has been previously actedin New Orleans avd Cixcinnati, The story runs thus:— Mary (Mrs. Hayne), dangiter of the Duke of Mantua, while ‘sesiding in a convent, ia beloved by Leon (Mr. Fisker), a northern prince in “mofti,”’ and t returned Ferdinano, (Mr. bytinge), the prime minister of the duke, brlags intehigesoo to Mary that her ta her is at the point of cesth, aud she hastens to him to receive his fing! blessing aod instrustions, She then assumes the dueai coronet, bat Biinea, (Mas. Ponisi), who is an ills. itimate daughter of the jate duke, conspires against Haury, ond ndraitly movages to give Leon, whom #19 «!s0 loves? the appearance of being the lea/ler of the conspics- ey, and be fs aceordingly arrested with the traitore throvgh the vigilanes of Kercinand, Biapoa, learning thst he iscondemred to death, intercedes for him; and alshonga the duchers re feves bis false to her, yet her loye ovar- comes her jealousy, and she areanges fur his eseapa. Her denevilent ictentions wre frustrated by Ferdinand, who arresis Loonjand fenton 2 ahomnang summoned the conacil, they aye on the point of eeating his ¢oon, when Mary (n terlerer im his bebaif and stays proceecings. After sone argoment, in whieh Ferdinand frequently invokes the memory of the Guke as favorable to his ideas, the coaneil, which had beem dismissed, is recalled, and free pardoa 101% to all the coneptrators except Leon, whose fata is Juncing between the love of the duchess sad the indi nation ot the privy counsellor. Simultanovos with the pardon, on ambasiador from a foreign power is announeed, who cesires, in behalf of his prinee, the hand of the duch- ess; and on being Gunally refused, is about to depart, with threats of war, when !4ou steps forward from behind a pillar, requesting the ambassador to remain, and an- nounces himself a¢ the prince for whom the duchess was demanded. The ambassador reo guises him, Mary accepts him, Ferdinenc and the court are satisfied, and the cur- tees falls with the ccurse of true love reanfag smooth at ast. Mrs. Hayne’s pley is not such a dramatic production as we affect, but ft is very excellent of its kind. The in- terest centres euiirely in the characters of Mary and Bianca, Mary, alt Jove, all gentleness, ail affection, all fifa duty, and Bianca precisely the opposite. It is a fancy ot play writers to make illegitimate children grent rogues. Shakspere introdnoes us to several very bad bas- tazds, Mrs. Hayne has taken this view of the subject, and nicely contrasted the characters of the women. At the came time sbe has been careful to give Mary a touch of jealousy ond Bianca some generosity, in order that one shali not be all angel and tho other all demon. ‘There is consicerable skill displayed in the constraction and the situations in the third and fourth acts are well contrived, The langusge is smoothly written and frequently eloquent. The loye scene m the first act, between Leom and Mary, is very nicely done. The leading male part, Leon, is not very brilliant. The duke is good, but be dies too s00n to be remembered. We are mach obliged to Mrs. Hayne for giving usa duke who ia not like all the other dukes dn the stago. Mrs, Hayne’s duke is really a very sensible and amiable person, only that he talks too much. The play gives evidence ot timidity and inexperience in the use of that mighty instrument, the peu; and vome of ths long dialogues would be benefitted by an attack ot that equally importent article, the scissors, It # a good play, and has been successful, and it is to be hopod that Mrs. Hayne wilt write another, and that she will not lay the scene in Mantas. Mr. Knowles has used up Mantua, which is a very nice place, no doubt, but there is no ab- solute necessity that the scenes of all five act playsshould transpire there, At the Brosdway, this evening, an entire novelty is announced, tho first appearance of Mr. Mareb’s troupe of juvenile comedians, which, with the ballet, will number over forty chilcren—quite a rush of Young America. ‘They play in “Beauty and the Beast”’ and “The Wander- ing Minstrel.” The low comedian and the leading lady (aged reven) are said to be capital. The pieces will bo done entirely by the children, and we expect that it will be very nice. It is something new, at all events, anda nevelty is refreshing, now-a-days. At Wattack’s Tuxarre, the bill for to-night insludes “A Lady in Difficulties,” ‘The First Night,” and ‘Per- fection.” Mr. H. Placide plays, in the second piece, part in which he is inimilable. Jt is that of an excited old Frenchman making arrangements for his daughter's début. A new farce, “‘A Californian Widow,” is an- nounced for Wednesday. At the AcapEmy or Music, the prices have been reduced one third, but the houses do not yet come up to the pay- ing point. ‘The ‘Trovatore” will be done to-night, with that capital artist, Didiée, as Avecoma. At Burron’s Tuxarre, the novelty of the week has been he comedy of ‘False Pretences,”” which by good acting and numerous fair hits of men aud things in tais metro- polis, bas kept the stage, and will be ployed this week. Theattraction for to-night—Mr. Cleorge Jordan’s beneit— is “Hamlet.”' Mr. Jordan plays Hamlet, for the Grst time. At Nimio’s Garvxn, the Ravels and Mile. Robert appear. A new comic pan‘omine is announced for to-night. At the Bowrry Taxatay, Mr. Fairclough, » young Ame- rican actor, has made his first bow to a metropolitan audience. He played Sir Giles Overreach, Gloucester, in “Richard the Third,” and Shylock. He has a good voice, good stage presence, and reads well. His acting is uneven and wants polish, but he haa no unplessant mannerisms, and that he has a great deal of talent could not be denied by the most captions, His tent sceng, in “Richard the Third,”’ brought the late Mr. Booth very strongly to our memory. Mr. E, Eddy and Mrs, Hamblin, commence an engage- ment at the Bowery to-night, aud appear tn “The Gamea- ter.”” At Woon’s Mixerrets, 9 good programme is ennsunced for to-night. ‘The Becxury’s do the new burlesque and plenty of gr0d The Mivemris formerly attached to Christy's Company, have taken Academy Hall, 668 Broadway, for twe've nights, commencing to-night. The merit of this compa- ny is well known to the public. At Mrcuanice’ Hatt, 472 Broadway, Alexander’s troupe of juvenile bell ringers make their début ia New York. Broox1yx.—iiss Anna Spinola, the “American prima donna,” will make her débuf at the Athenenm in a con- cert. Mire Spinola has Jaid out some work in her pro- gramme, and she bas our bert wishes for her success. Mrs. Cibbs gives one of her sacred lestures at the Metro. politan Hall, Williamsburg, to-night, and will sing some of the best oratorio pieces. The Young Men’s Dramatic Association hal another performance atthe Brooklyn Museum on Wednesday eveu- ivg last. The play was that favorite of all amateucs, the “Lady of Lyons.” Mrs, Allen sustained the part of Pauline. The Eudora Mystery. OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE: Crrx Isuaxp, L. I. Souxp, Dec, 9, 1855. The Bodies not yet Recovered, No further discoveries have been made ia regard tothe wherea outs of the bodies of Capt. Palmer and the mate, Gilbert Pratt, of the schooner Eudora Imogene. The dregging commenced yesterday, but so far the work has bes sucerssful. In consequence of the storm to-day, had to be suspended. Strong hopes are yet en- tained for the recovery of the bodies, and a praiseworthy deter ination is evinced on the part of the inhabitants hore to wid the relatives of the deceased in the The Eudcra now lies at anchor opposite the residence - of Captain McClenon, and will in all probability depart for her destination (New Haven) as soon as the weather becomes favorable. There is nothing new or interesting from White Plains (the place of the negro’s confinement). He still continues moody, and is much altered in spirit, having lost all that bravado that he evinced on his first being incarserntes, WRECKER, Mr. Botts’ Speech, TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. Aston Hovsr, Dec. 9, 1859. Tt gratifies me to acknowledge the general accuracy of the report of my speech made at Nidlo’s, on the night of the 7th; but, as is unavoidable on such occasions, some inaccuracies have crept in, the most important of which J feel under obligations to correct, inasmuch as it reflects fnfuriously and unjustly upon the democratic party ia Virginia, and expecta a shoe tlemen of ‘that party wi pa ion connected with ovr late Jiaateriel election. In accounting for the defeat ofthe Amstalean party, near the clove of my apensh, lam made to eay:—More than that: the democratic party bad paid agents in every district, while the Amori- con party had none.” What Tdid say was, that the democratic party appointed a large naiber of clectora throughout the State, to aid Mr, Wise in the canvass, while the American party had none, M over there was @ paid agent to take part in the a diseussions of Vir- ginia, I bave no knowlege of it. | respectfully request that you will publish this eard, n justice to myself, a8 well ks others concerned, ant od ige your obedient servant, JNO. M. borts, Williamsburg City Intelitgence. Yin, —Between 8 and 9 o'clock on Saturday night, a fire was direcvered in the second story of an unoceupled Owellinghonse, at the corner of Ninth and Sonth Fourth streets, owned by Mr. B. Campbell, of Cherry Va'ley, It was cxiloguished by officer Be'l betore any motertal dam. age was doe. The fire had been kindled im a closet on the second iloor. Tax Hosacrpe 1x Savannan.—The Coroner’ quert held yesterday over the body of William Ho! ‘iued on Monday night, rerulted in a verdict char Flat agen with, witul murder.—Savannah R ResteNavions IN THE ARMY.—First Lieutenant Haniel M, Beltahoover, first regiment of artillery, and Yecond Lieutenant Raymond Fairfax, sec: imear of artillery, have resigned their commissions io tl United States Army. MASOWIC HALL TO DE TORN DOWN—dRerOm OF THE BUILDING, Mr. John Steward has recently purchased Masonic Hall, in Broadwey, with the iatention of tearing it down, and ereoting on its site, next epring, several fe stores, with matb’e fronts, after the model afforded by Stewart's mar- dle palace, between Duane and Keade streets, Me, Steward: hav also bonght (wo lots on the lower side of the Clty Heepitel, in Broadway, and theso vill be improved in a. tinflar mar ner, Me Jcha Gemmel, owner of the lot on. tho south onrner of Broa way and Poarl street, now osen- pied by a wooden ¢hunty, folents to erect a new bufldiog next epring ; and all these improvements will do mush to beautify that part of Broadway. Measre. Bowen & Me- Namee, some two years since, bought the property on Broadway between Pearl street and the Broadway theatre, with theiotention of builling an icomense silk palace, pro~ vided they could also secure the theatre, and the [fotel ¢e Paris, on the corner of Anthony street. Jamos R. Whit- Ing, the owner of the latter property, was willing to sell at a reasonable rate, but the price asked for the Brosd- way theatre, and the lot on which it stood ~$360,000— ‘was decmed exorbitant, and the ides of building a palace ag wide as the blovk was abendoned. Mr. James Ray- mond, the owner of the theatre, has since died, as has also bis scn, and the property now ia owned by several persons, who may perhaps Usten to more reasonadle terms, and sell out, Mesers. Bowon & McNamee wee willing to give $300,000 for the si'e.” It is not lkely that they will commence: sny improvements until such time as they can seoure the. ground on which the theatre stan is, As Masovic Hall bas seen many changes, perhaps a sketch of its history msy be of interest to our readers. The corner stone was laid in the year 2826, on Bt. John’s Day, the 24th of Jane, with imposing ceremonies, and the builling was finished early in tho year 1827, Its, cost was $60,000, and at that time it was deemed one of the fuest buildings in the city, being of the Gothic archi- tecture, a style then not much in vogue, The building is 170 feet in height, 50 in width, and 90 in depth. On the second floor was what was known as the music: gallery, a room 75 feet Jong, 47 wide, and 25 in height. This room was designed to be the grand meeting place of the Masons, and it waa afterwards deemed the best ball room inthe city. It was handsomely ormamented and adorned with light arches and delicate tracery, and was the exact counterpart of the chapel of Henry VIT., ia West- sinster Abbey. Hugh Kernagle was the architest of the hall, When this edifice-was erected the Masons were a large | and powerful organization, but the mysterious dissppear- ance of Morgan, which occurred in 1826, and the flerce political anti-Masonic excitement that ensued in 1827-8, foon redneed their numbers and influence, and the trus- tees of the hall became embarrassed, and it gradually passed into other hands. It was originally proposed to: ercet a building with seventy-five fest fromt, running from the corner of Pearl street down, and all who felt « disposition to buy the stock were allowed to do so, but? the owner of the corner lot asking too much money, the original plan was curtailed, and the gceater part of the stock finally passed into the hands of outsiders, who, having no speciat interest in Masonis matters, soon con- verted the building to other uses. About the year 1831 or ’82 it beeame the whig, or rather anti-Jackeon, headquarters, and continued such: until the years 1826.and ’37, when the whigs took Nationa} Hall, in Canal street, for that purpose. Masonic Hall was the scene of many fleree anti-Jeckson and anti-Texas gatherings and speeches. Sinée that time Masonic Hall has seen many changes, It has been used as a ball room, e billiard and bowling seloon, and latterly a hall for model artistes, free love associations, and other delectable exhibitions. it hae ceased to be an ornament to Broadway, and the substita- tion of fine stores in ita place willdo much to beautify and adorn that noble avenue. City Politics. KNOW NOTHINGS, REPUBLICANS, WHIGS, HARD, SOFT’ AND HALF SHELLS—ELECTION OF GENERAL COM-~ MITTEES. - i During the present month the different political par- ties will hold their primary elections ia this city to eboose their general committeos for the year 1868, Addt- tions] interest will be given to these elections from the: fact that, during the comiog year, a Presidential election. will be held, and as the principal eanvassing, money col- lecting, and wirepulling is done by the genral commit- ‘teen, there will be a considerable strife as to who will compose them. ‘The organization of the parties in this city is of no lil- tle interest to politiclaos in other parts of the Union, from the influence New York city wields in the political world, More wires are pulled aud schemes projected in this city than in any other in the United States, Washington not excepted. Oar city polities is the base line of opera- tion throughout tho State, for here the money—the sinews of war—is ccilected, and the arrangements laid that sre consummated at Albany, at Utica, or at Syra- couse. ‘To be sure we do not send very brilliant men to Wishing- ton or Albany as representativer; but it is nevertheless true that New York city politicians and the influences they bring to bear are most effectual in any convention, State. or national, that is held inthe Union. The proper or- ganization, therefore, of the general committees during’ the. ensuing year in this city is most important, and the pri- mary elections to choose them will be attended with very great interest, and the more so as new combinations are about being formed, and old party lines obliterated. De- mocrats, whigs, republicans, and all save the Know Notbings, just a! presont are strangely mixed up, and it will be curious to note the new combinations that wil take place, ‘The hard shells are placed in a rather singular predica- ment. Immediately preceding the lest eloction they denounced and abolished primary elections to choose the members of the city, county, ju and seusto- rinls conventions, and instead appointed all these bodies themselves. In Justification of their course, they the system wus corrupt, and the sofis had made arran, ments to carry all their conventions; and to preserve hard organization intact, it was to net as they did. Now the question comes up, will the hard shell comndttce of this year hold’ over, ittee 19867 or will they sprint next year’s cor theme! or fivally, will they submtit to the ordeal of a primary election, and peril their present organization by so doingt ‘The matter ie now under di«wussion among the hard shel lenders, and the general impression fs, that however ob- ager & resort to primary clestions may be deemed, it is absolutely necessary in order to save sppsarances. ‘The nofts are now srirey caucussing in order to rope in the bards to Tammany Hail. Some timesinge a Uniom club was started in the “Cole Hole,”’ with John Cochrane: as its president, but the affair was a failure, as it succeed- ed in catching only a few fishy hards; the rest of the body being old Custom House officers, and soft an butter. At the last meeting of the ‘Central Union,” Me. Coch- rane resigned the presidency, and an address was —— calling cn the hards to forget past differences and fase. ‘There is also another sch«ine on foot to make the harda affiliste with them, and it ts to be seen what success they will have,. It ls proposed to abolish the soft Young Men’s Committce entirely, and increase the number of the Old Men’s Committee from 66 to 110—that Is, five in stead of three from cach ward; and the offer has been made to the hard shells to give them a we of the committee in those wards where they outnumper the softs, and ® minority where the reverse ia the case. They are also willing to pledge themselves to stand on 0 con- wervative [ayer healer the hards will not ask them to condemp the administration. ‘The abolition of the young men's committee will meet with very general approval, as for nome years past that body bas bad no power, and therefore has been of no ror of use to the pe Whether the bards, or any ecpriderable portion of them, will consent to coalesce with the softs, remamne to be reen. The half sheils are determined to go on and hol their primary elections, and sce if they cannot unite ths demo- cratic party in their own way. It ts well understood that the halt shells are controlled. a Pe friends of be ged agro for the Presidency. he Tammany , while openly to be im favor of Plesss cr Maeey for the suseetaion, are fait $0 be secretly wo: king for Horatio Seymour. The hards have- no second choice after Daniel 8. Dickinson, The Lal shells have even pow under consideration the roprety of sending a fail State delegation to Cincinnati, mn hope that sbould neither the hards or softs be wi- mitted, their claims—as Syne ntey f the Union sentis ment—would be favorably conside:ed. ‘Tbe Half Shell General Committee, composed of three delegates from each ward, wili be elected during the third week in December, and to effect # fasion of the party ba are br tellnsnees Some fig FJ all the wards. One # Tecen' im an th ward, presidency of t B. Hart. ds ncdhiog ‘The whigs will hold their primary election, but as they roprerent no national party, there will be Very litte in. wii terest felt in them. Still, the organization be key up, to enabie ceriain politicians to sell out, whould they be deemed valuable enough to be bow te ‘The republicans are not @ little Kasied what to do. ‘their organisation 1s very Smiperieet in tip nd there- are two central bodies, éach claiming to be the General Committee. No doubt they will fuse and have a united General Committee for the coming year. Their head quarters is at 612 Brom@wny. ‘the “straight out” whigs are keeping dark, and it te very doubtful whether they wili hold any primary elec- tion. ‘The Know Nothings have no General Committce, and are ruled [hae from the several ward chaplers. They therefore will hold no primery elections, 1 is notable that the omy party who have made E position to refrm the primary election tem a the balf holly. A committee from Committee have now the subject ander consideration, and will report at the next meeting. Itmay be that the bard shells will find it incumbent on them to p-opoe romereforms. It will thus be seen thet though a) eyes are directed towards Wi still our city politicia ie are up and doing.