The New York Herald Newspaper, December 30, 1855, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD, SUNOAY, DECEMBER 30, 1855. NE‘ YORK HERALD. yauEs GORDON BESNHETT, PROPR_ETOR AND EDITOR. SPFIOE . W. CORNER NASSAU AMD FULTON OTF, 18, ash in _atvance. D. y ALD, 3 conte por. ‘1 per av nwa. FAP Ay AED pone» 91 8Y, sale por + Oh aeenbdabcaenl ‘ntincnt, bth ‘VY CORRESPONDENCE, ow sining fort: ace, salad from any quarter of the world Af wasd wail be paid z= Fousiax Conky sronperts ONO NOTIOR taken of anonymous comme deations. We do not JOB PRINTING ccecuted with neater os, cheapness and dee ADVERTISEMENTS renewed ever y day. BROADWAY THRATRE, Brosdway—Kino Onamec— ¥.?., om vam Man AnD Yae Ticks. ‘MEBLO'S GARDEN. Brosdway—Four Lovens—Jovira— Maps. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery—Ouiver Twist—Eouus- wun. WGERTON'S THRATRE, Chambers sireet-New Yran’s ‘Bve—Orp Durca sovusNon—Tax Srecrer Bripwonoom. ‘WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway—Po-ca non ras— Pavuns. A KEENE’S VARIETIES, Broadway—Dnzsus oF pavnore Manes WRD Faces—Vaiiey or Frowgns, ‘WOOD'S MINSTRELS, 444 Broadway—-Ermiorun Pas PemEANors, BUCKLEY'S BURLESQUE OPERA HOUSER, 539 Broad- Woy--Bortmqve Oruna pity Neano itinerary. DONALDSON’S OPERA HOUSE, 663 Brosdway—Ermr0- gan Minstexisy, Dancino, 4c. BROOKLYN ATHEN £UM, Brooklyn—EraroruaN MusicaL amp Temrsicuonran ‘omzr. Hew Yorn, Sunday, Becember 30, 1855. ‘The News. The steamship Star of the West, which left San Juan on the 20th inst., arrived at this port yesterday afternoon, having over half a million of dollars on freight, including a first shipment from the mines of Nicaragua, with very interesting news from that wepublic. General Walker’s government was more popalar, the country quiet, and his troops so nume- rous that he had detached a battalion to Honduras to assist the President, if necessary, in any difficulties which may arise between his people and the execu- tive of Guatemala. Experienced American miners trom California were very sanguine of obtaining a rich yield of gold in Nicaragua. In the House of Representatives at Washington, yesterday, ballotting was resumed for Speaker, but no result was attained, Mr. Banks, during the entire voting, falling short six or eeven votes of an elec- tion. One of our correspondents states that if a Bpeaker is not elected by Wednesday, the President will recommend the adoption of the plurality rule. Some important papers relative to the confirmation of the last treaty with Mexico, obtained from the Mexican archives, are said to be in the possession of persons in Washington, by which it appears that a Mexican agent received some $16,000 for secret eervice, and that a similar amount was divided among other individuals, some of whom are now elamoros for the repudiation by the United States of the three million drafts. One of our Washington correspondents gives a very interesting account of the Penitentiary in the District of Columbia, Among other curious facts which he notes, is a remark of the Warden, that nine-tenths of the prisoners who are committed to the institution are found to have their arms marked with India ink. Hence our correspondent infers that, if the same observation hold good of convicts im other prisons, it might be well, Before employing strangers, to examine their arms. Our annual necrology is published this morning. ‘It embraces notices of the decease of many eminent soldiers and statesmen, both in Europe and the United States, and will be found very interesting as arecord. During the past twelvemonths, Nicholas, the Czar of Russia; Lord Raglan, Commander-in- Chief of the British army in the Crimea; Admital Bruat, commander of the Black Sea sqnadron of France; Count Molé, of France, with a great number of other eminent men, died in Europe, whilst the United States lost some of her most trasted mer- chants, legislators, and army and naval officers. From the official report of the City Inspector we Warn that there were 331 deaths in this city during the past week, namely: 63 men, 55 women, 132 boys and 81 girls—an increase of two only on the mor tality of the week previons. There were 4 deaths of apoplexy, 5 of bronchitis, 7 of congestion of the ungs, 40 of consumption, 15 of inflammation of the dungs, 6 of congestion of the braiu, 11 of inflamma- tion of the brain, 8 dropsy in the head, 4 of en- largement of the heart, 3 disease of the heart, 4 of dyrentery, 10 of inflammation of the bowels, 7 of smallpox, 40 of convulsions (infantile), 14 of cronp, ‘31 of scarlet fever, 11 of marasmus (infantile), and leach of teething, hooping cough and measles. There were also 6 premature births, 26 cases of stitl- born, and 8 deaths from violent canses. The follow- ing is the classification of direas Bones, joints, &e., 3; brain and nerves, 77; g' heart and blood vessels, akin, &c., and eruptive fevers, mature births, 52; stomach, boy and other diges- ‘tive organs, 46; uncertain seat and general fevers, 19; urinary organs, 3; old age, 3. The nativity table gives 231 natives of the United States, 62 of Ireland, 19 of Germany, 7 of England,4 of Scotland, and the balance of various European coantries. The foreign news received by the Pacific produced no marked effect yesterday upon the cotton market. The sales footed up about 1,000 bales, at quite steady prices. The news caused a firmer feeling to spring ap in flour, which closed quite firm at the fuil qno- tations of the previous day. Wheat was in fair demand; good red was scarce, and wanted for export. A sale of Upper Lake was made at $1 87}. Corn was heavy. Old was sold at 0c. a 92c., and new at 80c. a 903. for all descriptions. Rye was dull, and less saleable. Pork ogain declined, and elosed at $18 for mess, and $15 for prime. Beef was also dull. Rice was in better demand for ex port, with soles ranging from 4c. . and 5fc., the latter figure for strictly prime. Sugars and coffee were quiet but firm. In freights a moderate business was done, with a rather better feeling for Liverpool. To the Continent quotations were unchanged. We have noticed recently large purchases of Southern flour for shipment to the Mediterranean. This description was probably pre- ferred from the fact that it will bear a long voyage and a change of climate better than that of Northern growth and manufacture. Owing to the limited supply of Genesee wheat of prime quality—much of it having been grown or sprouted by the wet weather bout the period of harvesting—Sonthern brands of flour have, to a large extent, supplied its place 4m this and other Atlantic cities for domestic use. In place of Hiram Smith's, (whieh has disappeared from market this season), with some other extra Genesee brands, we have been sup plied with extra St. Louis, Petersburg, Richmond, Fredericksburg and Georgetown brands. Much of ‘the Michigan wheat was also injured by the rain, and hence mixed brands of that flour rules lower in this market than common State. The Canadian “white wheat, which matared later in the season Taore or leas escaped injury. It is said the Roches- ter millers have, to a considerable extent, supplied Ahemnelves with it, and sold the flour, made from it a8 Genesee, just as Oswego millers produce flour from Illinois and Upper Lake grown wheat, in large quantities, which is daily sold in this market as com- mon State. The host of bakers, confectionera and private families in this city, have been induced to mee Southern extra brands of flour, which waries in price, as to quality, from $9 75 = $10 and $11. The Richmond brands of Galego and Haxai extra are goneray sold port @ "song voyages better than any other. It may be ¥ cated that the-Seuthern flour contains more glaten than that made from wheat grown in higher latt tades, and ‘ence in ite conversion into dough re quires ‘uiere water; and we understand that it is the custom with many families in Virginia to beat the dough well with a wooden roller, on an oak table or block, before it is formed into biscuit and baked in a quick oven. The effect of this operation causes particles of the common atmosphere to become imvolved with the glutinous dough, which in baking undergoes expansion and expulsion, bear ing the bread light and well raised, without the presence of yeast, or other foreign mixtures. The dough may be improved by using milk in place of water—good lard or butter being also added, if de- sired, which generally improves the bread. The Speakership—Oemocratic Caucue—Com- ing to # Point—Try it Again—Give us the Speaker—Banks or no Banks. The democratic caucus of Friday night, at Washington, came within a hair’s breadth of settling the question of the Speakership. The motion of Gen. Quitman, of Mississippi, that if no Speaker shall have been elected by Wednesday next, the democratic members shall agree to the plurality rule, Jacked only two votes of being adopted ; and the final resolu- tion that no democratic member shall offer any proposition in the House touching the Speak- ership unless by and with the consent of an- other caucus, may yet result, before Wednes- Gay, in definitively settling the question. Col. Richardson’s voluntary withdrawal from the contest, though not ascepted, is also in the right spirit; and should it appear that the Know Nothing balance of power is prepared to concentrate a sufficient vote upon some other democrat to elect him, we have no doubt that Richardson will insist upon that man taking his place. In the meantime it is the duty of the twelfth section Americans, if there be a democrat ac- ceptable to them as against Banke, who would also be acceptable to the supporters of Rich- ardson—it is the duty, we say, of the balance of power party to make that fact known without further delay. Other- wice the democratic party will be fally authorized, under all the circumstances of the case, to adopt the plurality rule, or to retire in sufficient numbers from the House to let the opposition elements, who con- stitute the great plurality, settle the issue among themselves. The administration, it is understood, has been getting into hot water, ag usual, and is anxiously desirous of an or- ganization without further loss of time, from the necessity of Congressional action upon va rious delicate, interesting and paramount is euce in our foreign affairs, European, West In- dian and Central American, But the party representing the admicistration in the House are in a decided minority. Give them the Speaker and the committees of the body, aad they will be still tied up, trom the vast opposi- tion majority of all kinds against them. For all practical purpozes, therefore, the Speaker, to the democratic minority, wonld amount to little or nothing. In fact, the office con scercely be desigable to them, either in a perty ora asin ine of view, because it would saddle them with responsibilities with- out any of the abilities to carry them ont. It would be paradoxical and inconvenient at every turn, to have a House placed in the charge of a minority, with an overwhelming opposition majority againstthem. We daresay that in this aspect of the case the democrats of the House are not very anxious to secure the .clection of Richardson, but would probably prefer, from a common sense ap- plication of minorities and majorities, the election of Banks or any other black re. publican or Know Nothing upon whom these discordant opposition elements might be able fuccessfully to unite. Consequently, after having proved their adhesion to Richardson sufficiently to vindicate their position upon principle, before the country, this democratic minority may satisfactorily give way ond Jeave the door open for the election of Banks, The case is different with the conservative Know Nothings. While it is the Presidential policy of the democrats to give the black re- publicans & fall length of rope in the House of Representatives, satisfied that they will car- ry the nigger question to such extremities as to result in a tremendous democratic popular reaction against them, itis no less the policy of the American conservatives to check this anti-slavery agitation in Congress; or how can they count upon standing neutral upon slavery in the Presidential election? This agitation may be checked by giving the democrats the Speaker, which would result in such an ap- pointment of the committees as to give busi- ness the precedence, at least over abolition pro- jects of sectional excitement; for we presume the democrats have prepared the regular appropria- tion bills of the session. The onus of this ques- tion, and the exact responsibility, therefore, rest with the balance of power represented by Mr. Fuller and the scattering votes of the Know No- thing conservatives. They cannot reasonably demand either of the larger parties to surrender to them. Neither 105 men nor 74 men can be required in any political body to capitulate to an indefinite party of 35 or 40, It is the duty of this latter branch of the general anti-admin- istration opposition to make their choice be- tween Richardson, or some other democrat, and Banks, and to indicate it authoritatively to the House, that Congress may be organized and proceed to the practical business to which the members have been commissioned, at cight dol- lars per day each, from the public treasury,- and a liberal margin of mileage. The case with the conservative Know No- things, then, is simply this: They cannot expect in any possible contingency, either of the other parties of the House to come over to them, That thing is out of the question. They have the alternative, however, of a choice and a de- cision between the two other larger parties, They may check very materially the schemes of sectional agitation of Giddings & Co , by determining the scale in favor of a democratic speaker, but the farce has continued long enough; and if this smaller opposition party are not yet prepared to speak their alternative the demozrats will b» justified in falling back upon the plurality rule, and giving to the gen- eral opposition majority—which will be held responsible for the acts of this Congress—the necessary power to organize the House. The democrats have proved their adhesivo- ness and unity upon principle, It were absurd to suppose that any possible event can arise in which they will surrender to an out-and-out opposition party. But having given abundant opportunities to this balance of power party wD pice, and finding that the eS BAN FE ST TR te owinr, to the fact that ® keeps in hot climates and | an@ Richardron, or any other democrat, the dcwocrats can now be fairly acquitted before the country of any concessions to the abolition league, sbould they refuse to stand any longer betweem them and these independents and seceders upon Faller and others. The Speaker must be a democrat or a black Yepublican. That point we held to be settled. We must take things as we find them, aed deal with them accordingly. Neither black repub- lican nor democrat can be elected by. a majo- rity, without a diversion one way or the other from Fuller, the Marehalls, or others of the third party. But as the public business is now the paramount irsue, and as the democratic minority will be holding their true position by surrendering this question of the Speaker to ‘be general opposition majority—Know No- things inclusive—to whom the office rightfully belongs, we repeat that the time has arrived when the democracy may safely notify the Ful- ler party that if they cannot accept a demo- crat, the door will be opened to the election of Banks. If, therefore, the Fuller party have no alter- native to propose on Monday, we go, in behalf of the interests of the American people and the public treasury, for the adoption of the plu- rality rule, Banks or no Banks, Finally, we ad- monish the Know Nothings that it they cannot go over to the democracy Banks will be the Speaker. We are tired of the farce—the coun- try is tired of it. Give us the Speaker, give us the President’s Meseage, and let us know whether we are drifting in the channels of peace or heading into the perils of a general war, American Dipiomacy tm Europe. Of all the inatitutions of modern society, we venture to say that our diplomacy in Europe is at once the most complete caricature and the most mortifying exhibition of imbecility, arrogance and ignorance combined. It is cer- tainly sufficiently original, and what is more in this age of civilization, it promises never even to have a rival. . It is not, therefore, a counterfeit, but a real genuine diplomatic corps—persons holding offices under the con- joint concern of Pierce, Marcy and Forney, actually entrusted with the collection of their pay, with the care of their reputation —a mea- gre duty—and, heaven save the mark, the ho- nor of the American name. There is, perhaps, no nation on the globe so little interested in maintaining an elaborate diplomatic system as the United States; but while this is so, there is no nation so deeply interested as the American people in main- taining, as their agents abroad, men of the highest character for intelligence and moral weight. Our political ideas are wholly dif- ferent from those of every other nation. We are the object, to some extent, of distrust and aversion, and to a great extent of misrepre- sentation and abuse. We are charged with ra- pacity and a most sloven disregard of the Tights of weaker States. It is not material to inquire into the motives of those who thus speak of us; it ie enough to reflect that our political system itself is a ceaseless assault upon those of the chief nations of the world. In such a condition of things, by the usages of civilized States we are required to receive ambassadors, ministers and consuls of friendly nations, and to despatch our own to their ree pective courts. These international agencies are regarded as convenient means of keeping the peace; and their incumbents are always re- ceived as fit representatives of the peculiar deas, habits and acquirements of the people by whom they are despatched. Such unques- tionably is the theory of the office and the con- clusions incident to its establishment. We now come down to our diplomatic corps in England and on the continent of Europe. Excluding Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Mason, who faithfully attend to the business entrusted to them, and honorably represent the American character and name abroad, there is not asign of diplomatic representation of our country in Europe. The United States legations of Ber- lin, Vienna, and Turin might as well be vacat- ed. Belmont is often in Paris, attending to the operations of the Bourse; Lewis Cass, Jr., Charge at Rome, spends most of the time in the midst of the guieties of the French capi- tal; Mr. Augustus Cwsar Dodge, Envoy to Spain, whatever may be said of the integri- ty of his purposes, is sadly out of place at Madrid. Mr. Dodge may be a very good man, and we doubt not his honest intentions and purpores to serve his countrymen to the best possible advantage, but conceding all this, it must after all be admitted that he was sent to Spain to fill an office far more than to dis- ebarge the duties of a delicate and important mission. For instance, our relations with Spain, in- volving possible complications with some of the lending States of Europe, are among the most responsible and important of all our un- settled affairs abroad. Whether we consider the magnitude of the interests involved, the peculiar character of the Spanish people, and their greater or less identification with both France England, it becomes obvious at once that to Madrid we should bave despatch- ed an envoy of the highest qualifications and experience for the service. General Pierce thought otherwise ; and to meet the case sent Mr. Dodge—Mr. Dodge of Iowa—Mr. Dodge, o very honest Senator, with no possible qualifica- tions, experience, or diplomatic knowledge was selected. Mr. Belmont, Mr. Dodge, Mr. O'Sulli- van, Mr. Daniel, Mr. Vroom, Mr. Spence, Mr. Bedinger, Mr. Owen—-enough to produce politi- cal paralysis—there are the representatives of the United States at the different European courts. There is such a thing as ignorance con: cealing itself; but that characteristic constitutes no part of the life of our diplomats in Europe. They are as well known for stupidity, self- ishness and presumption as for their igno- rance. They were sent abroad to satisfy their political claims at home—to represent @ party, and not a country. They consti- tute a fair body of men, estimating them by the motives under which they were ap- pointed, and the actual services it was ex- pected they would perform. Their corres- pondence with the Department of State, if pub- lished, would, we doubt not, furnish the most fanny exhibition of one of our weak pointe. Our ministers and consuls, in nine cases out of ten, are not only ignorant of the services re- quired of them, but also of the commonest civilities of life. They go abroad, gaining access by virtue of their rank to society, only to discover their own total unfitness to dis charge the simplest duties devolving upon them, and to disgrace their country by their ill-concealed ignorance of all conventional ceen this state of things—so far as Eurepe ia concerned, not overdrawn—when he prescribed citizen’sapparel. His object may have been to make them no more ridiculous than possible— not to dress the ape too guadily or attempt to cover the ase’s ears. It is undoubtedly a great conquest which Gen. Pierce has made in Europe. His diplo- matic representativee—they are pre-eminently the reprecentatives of his administration—have fixed his reputation there as it is here. There was certainly weakness in our popular syetem #0 far as our agents abroad were concerned. It has ever been £0, and especially during the strictly party reigns of the last thirty years. But Gen. Pierce has improved in this respect on the follies of all his predecessors, He has actually dignified them all, elevated them all, in the humble place he himself occupies, Do the American people know that to be an official personage now in Europe under the Pierce and Marcy tactics is equivalent to losing the com- monest respect in all well informed society? Precisely when we needed our ablest and truest men—men of industry, patriotism, and of enlarged and comprehensive ideas—our le- gations are filled with a mass of stupidity and folly utterly disgraceful to the American name. When Europe was re-organizing its dynasties, settling its political balances and combining to. become masters of the world, we are made to speak through a totally imcom- petent diplomatic corps. Without political or social influence, with no knowledge of the countries and men to which they are accredited, and little of their own, they can neither appre- ciate the duties devolving upon them as repre- sentatives of our ideas, or discharge the plainer and less difficult conventional obligations of rociety. In truth, they are the mere party men of our country—mere trading politicians; and the great misfortune is that the dignity and the paramount political interests of the republic are sacrificed in their persons. Just at this moment, more perhaps than at any former period of our history, we require at the principal European courts men of the great- such places as Chicago, St. Paul and St. An- thony, and who are now making the most of our eplendid acquisitions on the Pacific. These sensible people go to work and develope the resources of the country, leaving the lazy po- liticians to quarrel about abstractions as hear- tily as they will. A Year's Necrology. We publish elsewhere a record of the princi- Fal eminent men who have died during the past twelve months, It is not unusually full, perbaps not as fall as usual. Considering the thousands who have been exposed to the casu- alties of war, indeed, it must be admitted that the number of eminent men whom the world has lost during the past year is agreeably small. The greatest loss of the year is undoubted- ly the Emperor Nicholas, Living, he was without question one of the ablest sovereigns and statesmen of the world; and thongh in later years his early vigilance and honesty of purpose suffered a decline—though enticing echemes of foreign conquest diverted his mind from his really great works, the codification of the Russian laws and the reform of the Russian civil service, he has still left a name which will compare favorably with that of any Czar since Peter Alexiovitch, not to say any monarch of modern times. It was in some respect his mis- fortune to have engaged in his last years in a war with two Powers, which, by their superior intellectual activity may be said to make pub- lic opinion in the Old World, and whose calum- nies have for a time darkened his fame. When they shall have passed away, Nicholas the Great will receive the honor due to his talents, his excellent moral character, and his many virtues, Another great statesman who died during the year 1855, was Count Molé, a man of varied accomplishments and versatile talent; graceful, pleasing, gentlemanly; as full of honor and chivalry as the noblest of the old noblesse, and reviving in his person the highest and worthiest of the ancestral virtues of the house of Molé, England’s greatest loss—among her statesmen—is Joseph Hume, who aspired, not quite unsuccessfully, to the title of the British Cato. Endowed with but moderate talents, Mr. Hume atoned for his want of bril- liancy by industry, perseverance, and unshak- able fidelity to the cause of the people: he has left his name a byword in Parliament for in- corruptible integrity, lynx-eyed watchfulnese, and indomitable courage. Sir William Moles- worth is dead, too; a man of industry and red tape; fond of talking in Parliament about the Colonice, and such matters which nobody un- derstood; hence credited with vast eradition and great sagacity in’ colonial affairs: let him rest. Among the statesmen, perhaps, a small place should be found for the unfortunate Don Car- los of Spain. Not that he ever showed states- manship; ap the contrary, his brother Fer- dinand was not a greater dunderhead in Politics than he. But Carlos enjoyed the wretched privilege of being the means of imbruing Spain in blood for seven consecutive years, and fills no small place in the world’s history. Unlike most pretenders--who, like the aspirants to the Presidency in this coun- try, usually keep on hoping until their very bodies are Inid in the coffin—Carlos resign- ed his ciaims on the throne of Spain ten years ago, to h‘s son. He died, it is to be hoped, peacefully, undisturbed by visions of his slaughtered countrymen calling for ven- geance, Many great soldiers and sailors have died during the year, or have been killed in battle. Lord Raglan, an excellent man, full of amia- ble qualities, and lacking nothing to become a hero but energy, talent and military skill: Admiral Nachimoff, ingloriously known to fame as the conqueror of Sinope, Admiral Boxer; Admiral Brust; and scores of fine officers, French, English, Russian, whom it were fm- possible to enumerate here. p None of the great names in lettgrs—the men whom every onefloves no matter what their country-—bave been lost to ice last New Year. Three well known m have died: the tender and amiable Charlotte Bronte, to whom the world owes a biography and a monu- ment: Lady E. Stewart Wortley; and the clever but Frenchy Sophie Gay. Science counts among its chief losses our countryman, Dr, Beck, whose works on medical jurisprudence are the highest authority on the subject in all civilized countries. Naturalists deplore the death of the learned Ch. de Meyer; aod the world of science generally misses Professor Gaps, Personal piques and professional jea- ings, and musicians have paid a tribute of sor- row to the memory of Sir Henry Bishop. The bar, abroad, has lost Dr. Phillimore, whose professional career had gained for him world-wide celebrity. At home, we have to regret among others Mr. Daniel Whiting, a cotemporary of Burr and Hamilton; the emi- nent John ©. Spencer, Judge Wilde, Judge Cranch, Judge Edwarde—all men whose loss will be felt. Our mercantile communities have not suffer- od as severely as usual this year. Yet Abbott and Amos Lawrence are gone, and we have seen many honored names—Walter R. Jones, James McBride, Samuel Thompson, James O. Ward, W. H. Brown—at the head of the obituary page. Five editors we find in the list—Mr. Kettell and Mr. Rogers of Boston, Mr. Sim- mons of Philadelphia, Mr. Severance of Au- gusta Me., Mr. Merle, of Paris, France. Con- sidering the number, itis gratifying to see how slight the mortality is among the profession. The Progriss of Western Cities. The old seying that “Rome was not bnilt in a day,” must now be used only to show what precious slow old fogies the Romans were; for the history of this country will show that it is quite easy to bnild cities in @ very much ehorter space of time than was required by the vagabonds who collect- ed on the Palatine Hill. Everybody is fa- miliar with the facts connected with the extra- ordinary progress of Chicago, which is the Empire City of the West, or fast besoming so. Onr friends in California think nothing of veri- fying the Phonixian fable, and building up a town a day or two after it has been destroyed by fire; and we have before us a curious pamphlet—‘A Historical Sketch of St, Antho- ny and Minneapolis” —which gives statistics of the most remarkable progress on our North- western frontier. We extract a few facts:— Saint Anthony and Minneapolis are in the Territory of Minnesota, near the head waters of the Mississippi. The town was laid out in 1849, Previous to that time Mr. F. Steele had purchased the whole of the land where the town now stands for four hundred and fifty dollars: He sold, in 1847, nine-tenths of his interest to Caleb Cushing, Robert Rantoul, Jr., and others, , of Massachusette. Mr. Cushing went to the big wars in Mexico, and Mr. Rantoul was unable to complete the purchase. The land then reverted to the original owner, who had entered largely into the lumbering business, for which the place is said to possess remarka- ble facilities. The town of Saint Anthony now has three thousand inhabitants and Minne- apolis one thousand. There were some queer fellows among the pioneers, and we extract the following description of one of them:— In 1849 Mr. Steele sold one undivided half of his inte- rest in the property of St. Anthony to Arnuld W. Taylor, of Bosten, for $20,000. A history of St. Anthony would be incomplete without some description of this remarke- ble individual; and yet, few characters cau be found 80 difficult faithfully to portray. His like is not to be found in all the portraits drawn by the pen of a Smollett or Scott, Dickens or Dumas. Indeed, in all the charac- ters ever drawn by pen, from the time whea goosie leat ber aid, aye, back to ancient reeds, down to the present use of stee) gud gold, we find no kiih nor kin to the subject of our sketch, He stands by himself, solitary and alone, in all this surging world of humanity, and ss said of Grimes, ‘‘we ne’or shall #9¢ his like agata.”” Childish simplicity, yet withal shrewdness, diffident to & fault, now communicative, now silént as tye gid delighting in the ring of metal, clutching close and tight to the “evil root,” and then again when fancy pleased, foll Javi h—and more than all, » bachelor, of full forty, such an areemblage of Snogernitien and contradic- tions were never before united in s single character. Running over wi h eceentricity, and easily led to yield confidence, where wisdom wooli flatly refuse, he became (sometimes at least,) the dupe of the ing knave, regretting tvo late the indiscretion. segar depots of every pile of lumber Saroage the town, snugl, towing away a few choice Havanas, it seldom happen that he did pot agg er the passers by, in ravealing the secreted treasure, inviting to partake. We wall recollect hia calling back to the St. Charles a young fcieni who had passed on several blocks towards the lower town, and whispering in his ear, ‘‘Takea r, sir? take a segar, tir? very nice! very nice!’’ wens into the parlor and érew ® couple from under the sofa. Ho seemed to entertain no little fear of the fair sex, iaveriably cros: to the opposite side of the street to avoid them, This we may set down as a most atriking peculiarity. His constant companion fa sunshine or storm, cold or hyt, an old cotton umoprella and overcoat, 4 la Greeley, ex- cepting the color, this being faded green, instead of dirty white The New Yous Hate wea hi Evangelist and of authority upon all matters, political or rel or joniueaL wi pend woven to eBry notations from the east, or the proepect ot crossing the plains, and sale of cattle in San Francisco. Whenever iy gooe for- tune the paper arrived, one might see his poppiag in at stores and office doors and hear his ‘Have you seen the Hrraup? Have you seen the Herat? Cattle sellin, high in San Francisco—selling high, selling high! investment, to send a drove, good investment, don’t you think so? don’t you think so?’ The mere local excite- ments disturbed his mind but very little. “Chay ie Rory good, very good,”” and ‘build a bridge, bulls » ridge,”? ‘was the constant injuncticn upon all interested in bridging the Mississippi. New York enterprise has had something to do with St. Anthony, for we find that in April, 1852, Messrs, Thomas E. Davis John F. A. Sand- ford and Frederic O. Gebhard, of this city, purchased one-half of Mr. Steele’s interest. During this year they purchased one-eighth more, which they sold to Richard Chute and John 8. Prince. Mr.’ Chute is the resident partner for the concern, which will pay large profits on the investment. The lumber trade is the especiality of St. Anthony. There isa great dam leading from the shore to Hennepin Island, on which there are ten mills, which cut seventeen millions of feet per annum, soon to be increased to thirty- four millions. About one hundred and fifty thousand dollars are invested in this business, and the total value of the lumber trade in St. Anthony is set down at a trifle over halfa million of dollars. When the Iowa railways are finished St, Anthony may rival any West- ern city. It has numerous stores of all kinds; it indulges in two newspapers, seven lawyers, six doctors of medicine and a dentist, There are five churches, a college is in progress of erec- tion, two free district schools are open during eight months in the year, and there are twoaclect echools where the higher branches are taught. In 1860 a fibrary association was incorporat- ed, thus carrying out the excellent example of the early settlers of New England, who paid early and earnest attention to educational acilities, Minneapolis is opposite St. Anthony, on the west bank of the river. The name is derived from Minneha (Sioux) and polis (Gr.) and signifies the city of water. Colonel J. H. Stevens was the pioneer, and his dangh- ter, now five years of age, is the oldest white child born in the settlement. The village is connected with St, Anthony by s wire suspen- sion bridge, which cost seventy-five thousand dollars, and the tolls upon which average in amount fifty dollars per diem. Minneapolis has five churches, one doctor, (with nothing to do,) two Jawyers, and a district school. We have also received another progressive pamphlet, “ Rees’ Description of Keokuk, the Gate City, Lee county, Iowa.” Keokuk is in the southeast corner of Iowa, situated on the Mississippi, in the little gore of territory be- tween Illinois and Missouri. It is about twelve handred miles from New York. They call it the Gate City because all the trade that comes up the river must pass this way. Rees thinks that the K2okuk people have much better pros neote ahead than we on (bie blessed Manhatten Island. Rees may be right. Keokuk is about ten years old, and is a smart child, as the fol- lowing statistics will show:— Year. Population. Val, Property $711,800 1,085,180 ics 1855... 000 2350) Keokuk indulges in two daily newspapers— the Gate City and the Morning Glory—which Rees: saysare “healthy.” It has also three acade- mies, several public schools, a medical college, araw mill,a main street one hundred feet wide, with about one hundred fine stores, a mayor and six aldermen, four justices of the peace, a jail or calaboose which “is only an old log cabin, and it is so little used that it will hardly need any enlargement for some time,’” seven churches, three “first class hotels,” a steamboat line to St. Louis, a railroad connect- ing with the great lines cast almost finished, two daguerrean artists, five or six allopathic doctors of medicine, two homeopathists, three dentists, and, as Rees says, “ too many lawyers anyhow.” We have no doubt that Keokuk is a nice place. We have placed these little historiesonrecord =~ as curious and interesting facts in the progress of the West, and in order that it may be known that while politicians are quarrelling about all sorts of petty trifles, the people are busily extending the area of freedom and building up greatcities upon the prairies and in the immense western forests, where great rivers have rolled for ages, and heard no sound “save theirown ~ dashings.” The best evidence of the peace and prosperity of the Union is found in the enter- prise and success of such men as have built up est probity, industry, patriotism, sagacity and firmness, Events of the profoundest interest are almost daily occurring there, and now, when premonitory symptoms of peace are con- stantly appearing, and the prospect becomes more and more probable that some great plan of pacification may be hit upon affecting Amo- rica as well as Europe, Mr. Buchanan in Lon- don, and Mr. Maton in Paris, are our only sen- \ tinels. If left to themselves they might get along very well; but the misfortune is that they have to do the thinking and correct the blunders of our whole blundering diplomatic body on the Continent. There are certainly ways enough by which this administration could have shown its folly without inflicting such a national disgrace upon us. Almost every day brings home a sputtering, bungling Consul or an offended, Minister. This shows, at least, that Mr. Pierce’s representatives abroad know enough to get back to the States, THE LATEST NEWS. BY BLECTRIC AND PRINTING TELEGRAPHS, From Havana and Key West. ABRIVAL OF THE ISABEL AT CHARLESTON. Cuantmsron, Dec. 28, 1855. ~ ‘The steamship Irabel, from Havana on the morning of the 26th instant, and from Key West on the evening of the same day, arrived here to-day. There is n> news of importance from Havana. The chip Athburten, from New Orleans for Liverpool, went ashore on the American shoals, on the 224 instant, but was got off without damage. ‘The Maine Law Approved by the Queen of Mingland. A Axsany, Dec, 20, 1855. A copy of an order in council, dated at the Court of Windsor Castle, November 21, 185, was this morning re- ceived at the office of the Prohibitionist, in this clly. In it her Majesty gives her offisial sanction to the Probibi- tory Liquor law of the province of New Brunswick, and directs the Governor, or Commander-in-Chief, and all other persons whom it may concern, to be governed thereby accordingly. Tho law takes effect on the first of January next. . Melancholy Accident. bE. Boston, Dec. 20, 1855. At Falmouth, Maine, on Thursday evening, 8 Mc. Cof- fin and two young ladies named Haskell, while ‘“coasting,”” were precipitated over the bank of » river, a distance of for'y feet, and Coffin and one of the ladies were drowned, and the other was so badly injured that it is feaced stro cannot survive. AAR AR, IB Death of Nicholas Devereux. Umea, Dee. 29, 1855. Nicholas Devereux, a prominent citizen, and one of the managers of the State Lunatic Asylum, died at six o'clock this morning, aged tixty-seven years. parred radia Seether ee The Pittsburg and Steubenville Railroad. Pitrssura, Dec. 29, 1855. Our City Council has provided for the payment of th interest on the city bonds issued to the Steubenville Réil-+ road, due cn the Ist proximo, at the office of Messrs, Duncan, Sherman & Co., in New York. ‘The river here me 6 feet 11 inches, and fs falling. The Weather. OGDENSBURG, Dec. 29, 1855. It is very cold here. The thermometer, th's morning at wonrise, stood at 20 degrees below zero. The river is frozen across a short distance above this p'ace, é —————_____ The Southern Mall. Barrons, Des. 20, 1855. We have no rail this mozning from peimts couth of Charleston. ntstnicninitantadicaietiite Movements of Southern Steamers. Savannan, Dec, 20, 1856. The steamship Augusta did not leave here for New York until 10 o’eloek on Thursday morning. ‘The steamship Knoxville arrived to-day, after a pas sege of sixty hours from New York. Markets. PHILADELPHIA STOCK BOARD. LADELPTLA, Dec. 20, 1855, Stocks heavy. Pennsylvania Fives, 945;; Reading Railroad, 4555: Long Island, 13%; Morris Canal, 12%; Pennaylvenia Railroad, 43%. Anti-Ratiroad Mecting in Harlem. A large and quite enthusiastic meeting was held at the corner of 128th street and Third avenue, Harlem, on? ui- day evening, which was called for the purpose of giving expression against the present management of the Fourth, Third and Second Avenue Railroads, and for the| purpose of considering some project whereby the inhadi tants of Harlem and the atjacent villages in Westch@t county could be conveyed to the city ina more chi and more accommodating manner. ‘The meeting waa organized by the election of » Presi.| cent and Sceretary, after which Mr. Mott, who repre. rented the village of Motthaven, stated that It was pro. sored to establish a line of steamboats, under a charter] from the Legislature, with ferry privileges, to start the Mottbaven shore every hour during the day, and Fee cid could be readfly obtai ‘ol'ars ® year, and freigh' = three en dollars: cambelis eats ewan Faved that another gentleman dock at the foot of 120th street also advance ite from Morrisan informed B it tale Nee sould be. plcsea ne penpeet ate the people of his vilage would extablich e New, to meet the boats with three hi least; and be also stated that not (fe than sand people on the line of the Harlem Railrc stneas in New York, were ready to pledge thacet never to pay that company a cent, if they oo, be conveyed to the y any otber route, Another delegate sald thet the Harlem italtront Co weny originaDy held cut inducemen's to meshes cel workingmen to purchase propert, the line road, promising that they Soctt farnish commu Le tat, tickets fer thinly and ti Pg esggpene