The New York Herald Newspaper, January 4, 1856, Page 3

Sees See NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, JANUARY 4,. 1856. 3 raglan maphlaeal cent. Allowing the rt ‘ate u the revenues 1856, this expeadituce for those objects would be $2,476,454 26-109, imstead ot $2,837,052 62-100, and after ceducting the sum of $45,000, estimated tor the relief of spartal cases, there ix still an imerease of exvenditurs over 1854 of $316 498 £1-100, resulting from the ope: in of tae actof June 22, 1864. The expenditures for transportation have very much in’ during the iavt year, ant the priaci- ‘cause of this increase is owing to the very great ex- sion of railroad service. ‘Ia the past year there have been 3,674 miles of now railroad added to the mail so vive in she varivus parts of the courtry, at arate of aaual cust aa it stood on tae 2th June last, . Some of these routes are very important and traverse sectiors of country in which cost of ald service ta! up ‘was very inconsiderable, tion wi b this oraoch of the subject it may ne weli 2 that while tha ia- crease otrevenue in 1864 ov-r that of tne yesr proceing was 18 86-100 per cent, the increase of the year ending ding June 80, June 30, 1865, over that of the year 1854, was but 7 8-6 per cent, caused no doab’ in some degree by the comwmercis] inactivity of the last These tl causes have contributed very muct ‘increase the deficiency of the ouxt yes an tatement of the expexdicures ment having such & vast number of accounts as the General Post Office, must necessarily embrace mspy which should have’ been settled wad pail ia p-e- Thous years; but taking one year vith agother, sae amouat » ot such items bus been so nearly equal, that particular re- ference has rarely beeo mad: t them. JIn the ast year, however, so ho? ments have been msde by atthocicy of special acts of Congre-s that a statoment of these (is | deemed proper, The account of transyortarion is cuarged with the following sums, to wit: For sdvitiooal pay grant- ed by the act of March 3, 1856, to W. M. F. McGraw, Ja- cob Hall, and George H. Gidoiags, contrastors on routes No, 8,011, No, 8,912, and No 12,900. resvectively. foroas j= te the 18th ay of August, 1864, ia 41, $49,320 00 1s the portion from Int July toi8:h August, 1855, which is chargea‘le on the year 1806. 6,433 OL Paid U. P. Muproe, for mall service between Sacramento and Shasta, California, ia 1851 and 1862, per act 3d Mareh, 1855, 8th sec- NE Casi aaa +» 6,541 66 Central Railroad per act }, for services performet in ho Veeererreree Pald the Michigan 34 March, 1853, 5,177 60 8,000 00 Faid out of Post Office revenue. +e. $55,808 22 Pursuant. to the act for the reitef of Damel Seaclo & €o., appeuved March 2, 1856, there was drawa from ta ‘Treasury and paid to hem for sevvices reudared under contract made in 1835, the sum of $1 695 68 100, which is 60 cherged to tpe tran-porta ion tn 1855. Tue expen- ditures fir mail éepredations aad special agents vere inereased in 1855, by the sum of 83,175, paid under the act of July 7, 1854, to J. M. Goggin, ‘lat? apectal agen’ ia California, for services aud expenses prior to Apeil 7, 1853. and’ by the further sim of $3,80@y being the diffe: ence between $1,€00 and $5,000 per annum, allowed the resent agaut in California, by the act of dLst May, 195, from Int of July, 1853, to June 30, 1855, ia all $9,975. It will be seen that the paymeats for balances dus on Our postal accounts with foreign countries were gieater it 1865 than in the previous year. The following statement wili explain:— - * The whole amount of balances pad to Great Britain / and Bremen in 1865 was $415,#20 LI. Ia this sum is included the followiog anount’ of balaaces which had accrued to Great Britain «ni Bremen, respectively, pricr to July 1, 1854, to wit:— Balances in favor of Great Britain, for the second, thirs and fourth quarters of 1853, and the firs; and fecond quarters of 1854:— d8s6. «+ +.$280,259 07 Balance ip favor ot Bremen to Juue 30, 1854, 18,465 40 paid in 1850,.....66.06 ‘Total... seeeeseseeesesececes +005 $243,924 47 Buch is the condition of the revenue of the Depsrt- ‘ment for the year 1865, which goes fucther to show that the rates fixed by the act of March 3, 1851, will not eaa- ble the Department to sustain itself trom its own reve- ues, This must be the case for some years, and large annua! appropriations must con'iaue to be drawa from the Treasury. Although tbis ia my opinion is deeply to De regreited, it bas been and shall cvntiaue to be, m: effort to confire ity expenditures ax nearly as practi- cable within its income. {n no department of tue gov- errment is greater care required in the expendisace of money; and if once the doctrine be astadlished tuat it is @ charge upon tne Tiensury, levs cure and vigilance will be exercised, moneys will be ueie-sly expended in sup- pl; ing imsginary wants, unc abuses of evecy deacriotion will be generated. When rega:diug the deticivacy in the Post office revenue, there are tw» matters which stand ponies out, and demand our consideration, and she rst is the franklng privilege. Wauea the subject of the reductin of pos was before the British Parliament, it was discovered that out of the number of sixty-two or sixty-four millions of let.ers which passed annually through the general post office of that country. seven willions, or about a ninth part of the whole, were fravked! and this under a f:unkiog p:iviiege which lmit- ed members of Parliament to ten letters or packets to be sent, and fifteen t» be received, each day. When the act of Parliament of 1840 was passed, reducing the rate of portage to the uniform rate of one penny, one of its pro- . eylsions abolished the frankiag privilexe, peitions to Pazliament and Partiamen‘ary documents only being al- lowed togo tree. Thehigh ra‘esof postage in taat coun- try previvus to the passage of toe act of 1840 caused the franking privilege to be very mach abused, and no vigi- lance could guard against its being mos: extensively used as @ vebicle for private correspondence. It is, I think, to be ceeply regretted that on the passage of the act of 1851, similar provirions were not incorporated ino that act. In a country so wide and extendei ai ours, it would be almost impossible to ascertain with any degree ef certainty how msny millions of letters 1849, Seer y iandiisntaee tess eens Paia Graham & Tinma’ per act, Decemer Si, 1864, for compensation for services in 1849. potscd through our or what number we'e franked. an account kept at the Washiagton Lity Post Offixe, during the month of January, 1854, {t was found there Mere franked by members of a3 during that month 71,727 letters and publie documenta, ‘which weigned 608 pounds, The weight ef letters and documents fravked at the departmenta, amount to 7,062 pounds. paring a tame month the weight of newspapers sent from office amounts to 111,002 pounds. ‘Ihe amount for this month can be safely taken as show- ing lees than a fair average estimate for the whole year; but the postage. if collected at the prepaid rates, on that amouat of mail matter would be $1,468, The let- 886. ters and decuments franked oy members of Congress when absent from the seat ot government, have not been estima- ted. but the number must be very considerable. Two hun- Coe and pe pri brah Roe and ov tes, enjoy P ja constreetion Seer acts ou thia subject, the tranxing Privilege of a member and enator elect commences from 4th of March previous to the first Monday of Decem- ber, when the Congress to which he has been elected shall areembie. The Senators and members whose terms have expired continue to exercise this privilege until the next C. ngress assembles; so that between March and December of the present year, four hundred and nine Serators and members aud delegates were using the fravking privilege in every part of the country. If the letters and documents thus fravkea were Mumited to the public service, the evil would not be as great as it cow is, but low as are the present rates of postage, the frank covers, private correspondance of every description, acd abstracte largely from the ‘Treasury. Tue epartoront not only ‘cnries all » this matter free of charge, but likewise pays to every master whose yearly commissions do not amount to e sum of $2 000, one cent for the delivery of each let- ter. Though the free matter passing through the mails is very large at the present time, ihe amvuat of it is yeerly increasing The weight and nuraber of publi: do- coments add yery mush to the cost of traasporta’ion, ané when not conveyed by railroad, retard the mail. ‘The directors of the various raileoad companies when re- quired to reduce their charges, point to tne mail matter conveyed by them, amounting ia some instances to tons, and insist that they do not receive as wuch tor it as for ordivary freight.” Although this as- sumption is, in my opiaion, unfounded, ic affords a pre- text to some of them fur demanding the present enor- mous rates. In addition to this, the quantity of free, Joired to the printed matter, vo which I shall presently ‘lluce, obliges the Department to contract for a higher rade ‘of service than the ordinary mails would require, nd two and four horse coach service have to be substi tuted for horseback, at greatly in:reased rates, and hus in effect rendered inoperative the 18th section of the act of March, 1845, which was intended to reduee the cost of transportaticn, by requiring tae Postmaster General to select auch modes as migut be neceyeary ‘0 provide for the due celerity, certainty and security of such transgor- taticn, without reference to any other consideration. ‘The record subject to which I shall ask your atteation, when considering the deficiency ia the Port office, relates to the rates on printed matter. In my lust annual re- port I deemed it my duty to recommecd that the act of the 20th August, 1862, be modified, by repeal- ing the clause therein which provides toat 4+when the postage on apy newspsper or periodizal is paid quarterly or ‘carly in advance, one-half only of the Fegular rates shali be charged.” ‘The effect of this will be to secure from this class of printed matter the full, regular ratos established by law. For instance, on a pingle newspaper or periodical not weighing over one , ounce anda half, when circulated in the State whore published, the postage will be half» cent; and when not over three ounces in weight, sent to any part of the under the opera- Jresent law, on all pudlfcations for which quarterly or yearly in advance, one-half United States, one cent each; whereas, p~ tion of the stage is pai hese rates only is realized, namely, one-quarter cent each in the one case, and one-half cent in the other. It will not affect any other class of matter, nor the provi- sion vy which newspapers to subscribere residing in the county where published, are allowed 10 pass free, Ac- know aging fully the importance attached to the general diffusion ef imielligeuce through the mediam of the jodical press, { car not avold the coavierion, fa view of fhe great and increasing balk. and of the expense attending the transmission and dissibution of the periodical and newspape ile, that the present deduction of Atty per cent for advance payment is wholly without justidcation. However enterprising and worthy. no particular c'ass in the various departments of industry can reasonably claim the enactiaent or continuance of laws giving thon ul privileges over others. All are desirous, it pout: f retaining our three cen’ postage rate for letters, or at lenst that it should not be increased; and the bur: then and expense of the I service should not de borne, or maialy sustained from the postage on letters. With a wiew to fuvor the workiog of the lew requiring pre-poyment on letters, and to guard agaiost loss of post- ago, 1 also recommend that the act.of 40th August, 1852, be further amended by making Ul de by postage stamps compulsory on books, pamphlets, cirenlars, ant #)l other hinds of transient matter at the prepatd rates for such matter ortablished by the last racntioned law. On much of this kind of mat'er font in the mails, no pon at all is collected. The grestest abuse in this respect pertains to lottery and patent medicine circulars and pamphiets, with which the mails in every part of the country are burthened, In ome instances, thirty to forty he of this mater have “Been received in one day for distributton at a single office, have endeavored as far a8 in ny power, to correct this evil, by requiring of Postmasters the rigid enforcement of the law, both in respect to the prohibition agafast their receiving such eatter free, and to the fact that each dis- tinct circular, when there was more than one upon a Geet, saould be charged with postage accordingly, -venue derived from sea ‘The expenditures of the tment for the year 1856, including payments for postages, will provavly amount to $10,199 024 to wit :—For tran portation, ia- clu ting foreign mails, route and local agen:s, ani mail ipenea 5 » boat, and way letters, wrapolug paper, office furniture, edvertiving, mail bags, ks, mail locks, keys and stampa, mail “epreda- tions and special! agents, postage stemps aad stamped envelopes, letter ea and mis- cellaueous puymenta,.. For payment of balances Bremen Post offices to June 3, 1855 Totel,..ccccree The means pvailal are estimated “ht... Ga eas <ongesses <0, Q1GjOTS To wit: Balance of the c of the reveaue sccount on the 30th June last, as stated by the Auditor.. . 627,764 From tuis balauce shoul oy and doubtful debts, the accumulation of a long series of years, and for suspended cre- dits, not less $hOM...... 00060. Ty BVABDIO.... cceseesseseserenes SBLT,TOM trom posiages and’ mi-cei- Me cat ocr ranececess HOTO@GS The anaual appropriation wade by tue 8th see- tion of the act of March 3 1861, in further psyment of mall rervices to the eoysrnment. 690,000 The ap oropristion made by the act of Marsh 3, 1856, to supply deficiencies in 1866.......... 1,194,187 Total means for 1866... totes ce os+e80,010,873 Iceving @ cefisiency to be provided by uct of Congress, of........46 1,188,151 Total... .ssssecerveeeerseserers esses + ee $10,199,028 ‘The service on the several Uuited States mail staasntblp lines auring tke past year las generaliy been perfocm: with regularity ani in ao acceptarie manager. tha steamers of the Coilins live have made theic trips wih great regularity, sxoepting the half trip lost by the wreck of the Arctic in Septemner, 1854. A new steamer to take the place of the Arctic is now in course of con- struction, and it is uaderstood will soon be pliced upon the line, On the Bremen and Havre lines tue full aun- ber ot trips has been pert »rmed. On the line from New York to Aspinwall, there has been no irregulari'y; bat between New Orleans aod Aspiowall there have been several failure, principall owiog, as the contractors allege, to the prevaleace of yellow fever at Havana and New Orltaps. Between San Francisco and Havana the mails have been conveyed wita great regularity ani des- pateh, and with one or two exceptions, the conaections ave oeen duly maintained a? San Francise» wita the route to Astoria. The trips on the Cnaries‘on ani Havana line have been performed ace srdiag to contract, Dut as yet on the New Orleans aad Veca Cruz route, semi: monthiy service only has been rendered. T have adopted the plan pursued in my last annual re- port, of presenting in the to m of an appeadix the priact- pal operations and results of the foreign mailservice during the year, as shows in the tabularata‘omonts prepared by the Auditor, which accompany this report, These resuits are stated in the appendix marked A, and compare, whole, very fav: ly; wiih the operations of the preci ing year; io soms of’ the more prominent of whish | in vite ycur attention. ae Pepa regate amount o tages, sea, inland an firdign, oe ener wats conveyel Gaeae the year by the United’ States lines of ocean steamers, exreeds ths pre vious year in the sum of $181,06717. This increase is chiefly confined tothe mails conveyed by the Culling steamers, and was caused by the temporary with. drawal, ‘in November, 1864, of the British mail kets of the Cunard ine, running between New York and Liverpool, {a consequence of which tae amount of mails conveyed between those parts by the steamers of th Cuilias line was largely iasreased. As it is understood to be the purpose of the British gov- ernment to place their s‘eamers again upou this line {a the month ot January next, when they would resume their regular trizs from New York on every alternate Wednesday, the temporary iacrezse of revenue from the Coiling line, caused oy theic withdrawal, will of course cease. The increase of postege, as compared wita tue previous year, on mails coaveyed by ths Coliias line was $196,776 67; by the New York end Havre line, $1,550 46; and by the NewjOrleans and Vera Uruz line, $71 83; whilo the decrease by the New Yorg and Bremen liny was $7,383 94; by the New York and California lines, $7,529 06; and by the Charleston and Huvana iae, $3,325 81. It is afact worthy of notice that the correspoadence exchapged with Great Britain during the year, ua ier our postal arrangement with that country, was consilerably Jers in amount than in the year preceding, the decrease ot the amount of the postages being $50,050 86. The gross amouct of postages on letters conveyed be- tween the United States and Psussia, in closed nails, ua- der our postal treaty with that country, was $299,578 46 —being an increase of $31,915 28 over the sum realized during the previous year on that class of eorrespon- lence. During the last fiscal year a net revenue of $6,851 48 has been derived by tuis Departmen: om the correspou- cence exchanged with Bremen, after deducting com nis- fions paid to postmasters, and also the United States in- land postages on those mails, which shows aa improve- ment in that branch of the foreign mail service over tue operations of the previous year, whea the accounts ex- hibited a net deficit to the United States Post office of $1,501 84. It should be observed, however, that the sums paid by the government for ocean trans- under the existing contract with the steamsbi lines, are not embraced ia the revenue calculations preparei by the Auditor for this Department, the results of whish are stated in the sppendix. If the actual cost of transportation was also included in there calculations, the result would show a heavy loss to the postal revenues of the United States fiom foreign mail service. Tpe extent of the cost is reudily ascertained by comparing the receipts from ges with the contract pay of different steamship The annual com ition of the Collins line is $858,000. The smount paid to that line for mail transportation during the year—the omission of a half trip having been cau: @ loss of the Arctic—was $841,500; while the total United States postsge, both @a and inland, on the letter and newspaper mails trans) by the line daring the year, was $454,681 11. Deducting the inland Portage on letter mails. which cannot be claimed as be- louging to the sea service, and the revenue from ocean postages =, was $371,326 62—showing an excess of expense by this line of $470,173 38, ‘he contract pay of the Bremen line;is $200,000 per an- num, while the total United States postage on mails con- veyed during the year was $117,321 70. Deduct the in- land postage on mails agit harp this line, and the re- tage Hy waa $7 037 92, The contrast pe, of the Havre line is $1: pope per an- num. The total postages on mails conveyed during the year was $89,011 12, and the sea Postage, afver ceducting ‘the United States inland, was $72.789 91. The total portages, inland included, on matls conveyed year luring the the New York and California steam- ship lines was $316,477 14, and the cost of transporta- tion, including the Isthmus service, was $771,635 66. The total postages on mails conveyed by the Charleston and Havana lino during the @ year was $0,830 72, and the cost of transportation $58,33 ‘The total postage on mails conveyed by the New Or- Jeans and Vera Cruz line, was $5,647 83, and the amount paid for transportation, $34,003 12. Other valuable statistical information, showing the practical operation of the foreign mail service, is con- tained in the appendix, careful exuminatioa of which is recommended. Im my iast annual report I referred to the large amounts annually drawn from the Treasury by the Col- lins line of steamers, ani recommended that the six month's notice, required by the act of July 21, 1852, should be given. It is not necessary that | suould again refer to the important fact that the Collias line of ateumn- ers is receiving from the goverament eight hundred and ‘y-eght thourand dollara for twen‘y-six trips, while the British government paid the Cunard line eight hua- dyed and sixty-six thousand seven hundred doliars for fitty-two trips; vor to the injurious effects which the esteblishment of this monopely must have upon the commercial interests of tbe couutry. Their originel contract, entered into by them, afier full consideration, bound them to build five steamships, to maintain and subsist four passed midabipmen and a ma‘l agent, and for the mail rervice they were to receive the sac of $19,250 a trip. Congress has relieved them trom that part of their agreement which obliged them to matutain the four midshipmen. Tue Post Oilice Department has not taken advantage of that part of the contrict which empowers it to send out o mail agent, aod which obliges the company to acsommodate and sub-ist him; and the compuny instead of builcixg five steamships, a4 stipulated in their contract, have buiit but four. With the knowledge that the company had built but four steamships; that they had been relieved from two onerous conditions of their contract, one by con- gress, and the other by the action of the Post office De- partment, in a spirit of manificence and liberality—on the 2Ist of Susy, 1862, the amoant of compensation was ia- creased to '$23,010 a trip. Temporacy embarrassment caused by the company’s entering into a new enterprive, may bave been the causeof this action on the part of Cengresa; but these reasons can no longer exis'. Apart from the prices fixed in their own con*ract, the sum paid by the British government is in my opinion a full equiv.- lent for their service, and it ia for this zonsoa that I again refer tolt, put whatever unexpected outlays there were on the part cf he company, Congress haa certainly dealt with them ina truly liberal and generous epirit. Since the passage of the act of July 21, 1852, ecmpatin, from the first of January, 1862, the time when the addi- tional allowance commenced, to the lat of De:., 1855, the company will bare received one million four hundred aad two thoneand five bundred dollars more than they would heve been entitled to for the rame amount of survice under the original contract; end 1? this period be length ened, end the notice not given until March, {t will make the sum which they will have received amouut to $1,650,000 Whatover, therefore, were the views of Con- gress in granting this incteased compensation, I canaot but regard the continuance of it asa mere gratulty, de- stroying all competition on a most important ronie, and, Uke all such appropriations, attended by most peraicioas iofivences. Some further correspondence bas taken place on the subject of the pending postal conventions with Frauco ond Belgium, but without any satisfactory result. Oae of the obstacles to an arrangement with France consist. ing in the Legon fad of the Frencn government to adopt the half, instead of quarier ouace scale for let- tera passing between the two sountries. In the month of May Jast I embraced a favorable opoortuaity to propo that [ would yield my objections to the quarter ounce scale. To tbis proposition, made through the French Minister, then about to visit France, Ihave received no reply. It is carnestly hoped some arrangemeat, macunliy tatinfactory, may soon be ooncipded, ae there is great com- plaint in both countries of irregular and exorbitant post- age charges, arising, in most instances, no doubt, from the ina ity of the writer, under existing arrangemen's, cither w pay the entire postace through, or leave it all unpaid, as might be done were the proposei treaty ¢xo- cuted. At present, it matters not whether the letter ia to go via kng!and, or direct betwoen New York and Havre, a part of the postage has to be coliested in this country and a part in France. In view of the ectabjishment of a Bolgiaa line of ateam- ships betweon New York ani Antwerp, T have ivtimated my readiness to conclude the pending conven‘ion with Belgium, by fixing the rate of p stage for letter betweon any part of the United States and any part of Belgium, at fifteen cents, which rate shall combive five cents United Slates to two Belgian inland, and eight conts sea postage, Not having received from the Mexican government ths expected project of a postal convention, J have recently tesen measures o lay before that governme.t such gr >- potsls on this rudject, in the form of a treaty, as [ trast Bey prove acceptable, As in al! 1atercatieual as wallas im dome-tic po-tal arrangements, simplici y of dezsil ts of the highest importance, I have proposed 4 the basi« of the convention, that tree be but one rate of poxtegs fr Jette 's between tre wo countriss, end that this race bo fixed at fifteen cents, c»mbining five ceats Uatted 3.ates to three cents Mexican inland, a1 seven com's aes p>st- eye—the latter to accrue wo the country performing the sea or Guif service. Tn the annus! report of *he Postmaster General of Great Britein, referring to the remarks in my last annusl re. port on the subject, he takea ocrasion to presen: thy views: argumen:s of his goverament on the prinei points of ditference between tne two countries fa regs: to postal arrangements. Except ia one or two pacti lars, it is not perce'ved thst auy reoly from this Depart- ment is demand-d, either to hus ooservatioas ia bis re- port, or in bis letter of the Sth of April ‘ast on ine sama subject, to our Mini t-r a large part of whisk cunsists of an extract from the report. With reference to action of the British goveroment in withholding 1s Bent to the admission of the Ame:ican-| from the first regarded a8 faic and reano: views bave already heen fully sta'ed ia m, 19, 1858, tu the Secretary of State, and priated ia Execn tive d:cument No. 73 of the Seaute, last seseion, whic letter bas also bern communisated to the dritish govera ment. 1 refer to ‘his part of the sabject now, only fo the purpose of correcting a very er oneous impression, which could not fail te be conveyed by tue aanaer ia which the Postmae7er Genora’ ut Great Britain hay states the case in his report. He ndmits that the United states receive but twelve and a half cents an ouace transi: post- os on British and Canada closed mi and that Grea; itain receives twenty-four cente an ounce. nearly doubls the sum, for the transit conveyance of tue Unite States and Frevch correspondence passing through Fug land; but by a partial arrangement entered iuto betweon the governments of Eoglsnd and trance, tais corcesp »n- dence, when transmitted to the Cunard sreamera, gous ia closed mails at a reduced sea (not traasit) postage of tea cents the single one quarter ouuco letter; hence he al- legea that it fs inconsistent on our pact to complain that dis pe thus enables Freach subjects to receive their American letters by British packets ata sos rate of ten cents, while we demand six cen cents frem our own citizens for the like service by United States packets, and at the same time to complain that the Briisa charges are toohigh. He adds, that the United States has the matter in its own hands, and may make the ra es on both United States and British lines unitoem, by reducirg the sea rate on its own lines; and that a uniform rave would not be secured by a reduction of tue Brith traasit charge to 6d. (or 1234 cents) as demanded by the Unitad States, without such reduction of sea postage. {he in- genuity of this mode of staring the caso is feankly ad- mitted, but not its fairness. It is a suflictent answer to vay, that the only controversy has been with re‘erence to 8 reduction of the British transit postage—toa: the postage has not been a point in dispute—und that were our reasonable demands for @ reductioa of tne tren- alt postege acceded to, the reduction of the sea postage by the U1 States lines woald follow of course, since the Unied States and Frex ch mails would then be treated as closed mails, and allletters betweun the two countries, paisiag sh-vugh Fxgand, would be transmittes at a ualform rate uf postage. Tine, the United States has it ia its power, ia two ways, t» make the rate uniform oy both Unived States and British liner, First, by redu stog the sea post on one-quarter ounce Jetters by its own lines aud second- ly, by raising the in'ana rate from five to eleven ceats on ail American-French letters conveyed oy British pickots. ‘The former I have not ceemed it advisable co 10 uatil the British transit anarge is reduced. The British govern- ment bave done it in their own case, no doubt, for an equivalent, and io order tuat their presea’ high ‘transit rate may not be reduced. The other alternative, if the feces state of things is to coptinue, it will in my udgment be very proper to adopt, espectatly as the United States incre ould still be Jess than that of France on these letters, aud itis important thatan ead be put to these unjust attempts to favur the Cumard to the prejudice of the American steamship tines. In regard to the question of postage on pamph- lets and magezines between the twoc uutries, th case stands thus:—Under the treaty the rate on either side for works of this kind, not weighing over two ounces, is two cents, When atove two, and not over six‘eea ounces, the charge on either side is’ increased to four ceats an ounce, each coun.ry collecting and retuicing its own postage; but no pamphlets weighing over eight, nor eriodicsl over sixteen ounces, can be sent except at letter postage. Books are likevise surjest to lecter postage. In respect to newspapers, pamphlets and magazines , the postage in each country is the same, re- gardlces of the packet, whether Amecicun or British per- forming the sea service. For pawphlets and periodicals abcve the weight of two ounces, I prop sed that the rate on tither side be reduced to one crn’ an ounce; and sug- gested that there need te no limit in respect to weigut ‘This proposition the British office destined, and in liew thercof, proposed tke plan'of a book post, to embrace books as well as pamphlets and magazines, at the ful- lowing combined rates For every packet conti review, or pamphiet ing « printed book, magazine, when not exceeding half a pound in weight, twelve cents. Waen exceeding half a pound and not exceeding one pound, twenty-four cents. en exceeding one pound and not exceeding two unds, fet ee cents, and so on, increasing twenty- four cents for every additional pound or traction of a ound. They further proposed compul-ory pre.payment full, and that of the total amount of stage patd noon each packet, one thira should be pe? dosh od represent the inland British rate, one-third the sea rate, and the re- maining third the Um States ialand rate -the sea rate to belong to the country oifecting the marine conveyance. For various rea T could not assent to this plan: Firat, I do not consider the proposal an equitable divi. tion of the inland postage; second, for the gveater part of the books likely to be transmitted in the mails,fit is fair to presume, would be sent from Great Brit to this country in British paskets, and the rates proposed for them are in come instances much lower than the custom duties thereon; third, the combired rate for pamphlets bel ape ofthe weight ef two ounces and under, we ‘be raised from the present rate of four cents to twelve cents, Other less important objections might be mentioned, but the correspondence on thix subject hav- ing, on a call from the Senate at the last session, been furnished and printed, (Executive Documents, No. 67), further remarks here in regard to it are deemed unneces- sary. In the report, to be duly presented to Congress, will appear a detailed statement of fallures and o:her irtegu- larities which have occurred in the transportation of the mails biked ie year, and the fines and deductions which have been imposed upon contractors. These fines ané deductions will be found to amount to $124,530 68. During the precedirg year they amounted to $110,486 59. ‘These fines show that contractors have been held to a ri- gorous performance of their contracts ; but there are many irregularities in the mails, for which neither the contractors nor any other agen‘s of the Department are blameable. For irregularities of this nature, as we!l for real delinquencies, the Department in constantly mad: the subject of reproach. Where there is good ground of complaint, this is expested, but it is apparent toat there is ateo ready Giepostticn ‘on every vccasion of actual or presumed slight derangement in the machinery of the mails, to reflect upon the Department; thereby, ina great- er or less extent, impairing its efficieacy. The postal estab- lisbment fs one in which every citizen is most deeply in- terested, end all shouid aid in rendering it as perfect as possible. Instead of denunciations in the eveat of mis- take, carelessness or neglect, as a general rue, certaialy the wiser course would be to advise the Department of and leave it to apply the remedy. the wrong, committed 1 have the honor to be, very respectrully, your obedient servant, JAS, CAMPBe Lu. To the PREgDENT. The Land Office Report. ‘Tho following aggregates show the general operations in regurd to surveys, for the year ending September 30, 4855, and to sales and other disposals of lands for the fs- cal year ending June 80, 1865, and for the quarter ending ¥eptember 30, 1855 :-— Bcrveys. Plats returned from September |, 1864, to Sertember 30, 1858, including these on the I’acitic slope—viz : Califor. ja, Oregon and Washington Territories —16,316, 283.18 ales and Other Disposals of Public Lands. No. of Acres Sold for Cash No. of Acres at and above ~ Amount Sold at the Minimum — Received —-Graduatet Price, $1.25. therefor. Prices, During the year ending June 0, 38.5... 04.5 7,000,050,34 $9,126,400.17 8,720,474.54 ‘wird r, 1865 187,875.41 1,827 £63.26 1.540,401.94 Total .,.... 8,896,025.75 $10,064,019 42 10,200,980.48 Amount Re- No. of Acres No. of Acres ceived for Located with Reported un- Land at Military der Swamp Gr'd Prices, Warrants, “Land Act. During the ‘year ending June 90, 1866...... 82,258,018 58 1,245.680,00 7,470,740,62 During ‘third quar's, 1865 498,250 06 851,140.00 1,153,192.90 Total ..,,..$2,867,148 64 2,196,72000 9,023,0,9.01 No. of Acres Thal Amount ‘Mal No. of Granted for — Received. Acres Soldfor Internal Im. for Land ~ Cash, and argrements, atall”—aherwive Dis ilroads, de. river. posed of. During _the g ws yee: ending nue a 1855......, 11,678.00 $11,486,584 75 24,667,40°.60 Durmg’ third qusi's, 1856 None. 2,525,783 31 6,332,660.74 Total...... 11,658.00 $13,811,168 06 29,800,070.24 Estimates for the Year Ending June 80, 1856 :— For general Land office—salarics, parchment. $316,763 00 606,458 60 Telegraphic Feats, TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. New York, Jan. 3, 1856. T notice in your editorial this morning a mention of an extraordinary feat in telegraphing—viz.: that the Union (Morse’s) line was occupied in sending two-thirds of the Prevident’s message about eigh and one-quarter hours, while the House line was but one and a half hours in vending one-third—being half the araount sent by the Union line, Also, that the Union line oceupied two wires ® partof the time, Now, 1 have no interest with the Union line, nor any other, but when I see a statement which I think will mislead the public mind—espe- cially when appearing in tho esitorisl—and think my- self experienced enough to argue the statement to be ex- tremely unreasonable, Lkuow not what facilities the Union Mine may baye hac at the time, but surely they coud bave sent the whole message in less than eix Hours they been working well. If you refur wo the New York papers published « year since, you wil see that the Prerivent’s mer ) Contain! 15,000 words, was seat over the Now York aud Buffalo line ia five and « half hears. which I think is fuily equal to the speed even reached by the House +ystem, it it does not exceed i. Tvere bas been much saii about the re ative speed of the two ines, nut | selivve it has never been fatrly tested. T have often stood by the Howe instrament when they were receiving, and written the words with my flnger upon the table in the Morse alphaber, and found it nos onty easy to keep up. but! had to wait a momen: for pov § sueceeding word to appear on their paper. Further- more I will state, if uct taxing your copeanni too much, tratIcans'and by a House machine, and writs the Morse alphabet as rapidly as ic is possiole for them to send or receive, und my writing shall be perfectly in’elli- gible at the ot d of the wire. I ao not say ‘1’? be- cause Iclsim say superiority over other experienced ope- tors, but to make it appear that I am siacere in wat I ate, and «ball always be in readiness for a test. Tuere rep any objec ionable qualities in the House system, which I do not feel [ nave » right to mention, for tae rea- son that I have occupied more space than first in- tended, A MORSE RATOR, Fires in New York. Finn i Tump SteeeT—On Sunday night, shortly before 11 o'clock, a fire was cixcovered ioe grocery and liquor store, kept by Oren Donahue, at No. 307 Third otreet; the slarm was given, bringing the firemeu quickly to the premises, and in a very ehort time they extin- guiched the flames Mr. Monahue aad wife oosupied the back room for a dwelling; they were both away at the ‘tume ot the fire. The damage done to the stock oy fire and water will amount probabiy to about $200, Mr. Dorahue bas aninsurance of $500 upon his stock fix tures turvitue, &c , in the Mechanics’ and Tcaders’ In- svssnce Company. The damage tw the building will omouns to about $100; the loss, no doubt, is covered by insurance. he bvildiog belongs t> widow Kelly, resid- ing in Twenty eighth street. ‘Tne famiiy living on the second floor cirect'y over tho store came near being sut- focated. The fire burnt through the floor in three places. Tae Fice Marsha has the case under investigation. Fine 1x Cxpar Srreet.—Bo:woen 6 and 7 o'clock Inst evening a fire was discovered in the basemont of the five story store, No. 57 Cedar stevet, occupied on the first floor by J. Uimann & Scns, deslera in embroideries and foncy goods. The basement and second, third, fourth and’ fitth floors are occupied by Gutmann & Brothers, dea'ers and imporiers of German and Freach faacy gocas, ogether with Huckes & Gutmann, dealers in ats, The fire appears to havo originated in some empty packing cases inthe basement, but how itgot there may te probably shown oa the investigation before the Fire Marshal, The estimated loxs of Uirann & Son amounts to about $5,000. Tneir stock iv estimated at near $20,000, on which they have an iasurance of $18,000 in the fol lowiog o'mpanies:—Lafarge, Astor, Excelstor, ltuterpri Mechsnios’, Halton, Brooklyn, Phoearx and Rutgers y diviced. Gurinan & Brothers have an insurance upon their stock to the amount of $26.000 divided in the Clinton Insurance Company, Royal, Liverpool and London, Wasbington, Gatunbia, ‘Williamsburg Cit Royal, St. Mark’s, Astor, Empie City and Equi » Theie loss ‘wil! amount to about $1,500. Hickes & Gutman’s loss will be ‘but very trifling. They insured for upwards cf $20,000 in various cor pani ‘The damage to the building will probably amouat to about $400. Fully insured. Fire 1 THE CrarEspox Horer, Union Pracr.—About 734 o’ckck Mor day nig it a fire was discovered in the sub- cellar of No. 68 Union place, Clarendon Hotel. The fire apparently originated among some straw and empty wine boxes, le't there by the previous oscupauts. Mr. G. Kerner, of the Union Club, aud Mer. 1. Birch have lately purchased the hotel, aad only took p»sse-sion bout two weers siace. The firemen were promptly oa tie ground, but from the position ot the fire ii was some time before they covld got at it aud extingui h ‘he flames. The loss to the building will ve about $300, fully covered by insurance G. R. Stonehouse, hair dresser, in the basement of No. 58 has sust<ined a loss by water and breakage to his fix: tures to the amount of absut $1 No insurance. About three weeks ea was discovered in the attic among rome straw mattresses, It was put out wita a few pails of water before any damage was done. Bursninc oy A Camroenx 1.amp.—Between six and 7 o'clock on Monday evening the alarm of fire in the Sixth district was caused by the bursting of a camphene lamp, in the premises of James Thompson, 269 Grand street. Trifiing damage. Firs in CaaTnam Srreet.—About half past eleven o'clock on Tuesday night, the alarm of fire in the Se. yenth district was caused by the discovery of fire in the clothing store No. 97 Chatham street, owned by Simon Fox. The firemen were early at the premises and succeeded in preventing the flames from extend- 1g beyond the store. Upon examination of the store aud the appesrance of the ourning, it waa eviden: the fire originated in the rear purt, by the entry partition. The clerk, who uanally slopt in'the store, was abseat at the time. The damage to the stock and fixtures by dre and water will amount probably to$700 or $800, Sr. Fox has an inswyance upon bis stock and fixtures t> the amount of $2,000, in the Rutgers Insurance Company. ‘The upper part of the ‘ras unoccupied, which accounts in « great measure for the fire getting so much hendway before discovered. The store No. 96 is occupied by Henry P. Degraaf, fur- niture dealer. No damage, but as the store was only di- vided by a board partition and filled with smoke, the chief evgineer ordered the door broken open to ascertain if all waa righs, Fore 1s Tanta AvENvR.—Shortly before twelve o'clock, on Tuesday night, @ fire was discovered in a wood shed attached to a frame dwelling, No. 426 Tenth avenue. ‘The shed was unoccupied. The fire is supposed to be the work of an incendiary. On the 16th August last, a fire was discovered in the same she, but it was extinguished before any damage was done. Loss by this fire about $60. ‘The building is owned by William @. Trow, and is insured for $600 in the Grocors’ Insurance Company. Fire in Marion Srrest.—About five o’clock on fues- day afternoon, a fire occurred in a room on the secon} floor in the tenement house No. 3 Marion street, It seems there bad been some trouble amongst the inmates through oeping up the New Year's day, and by some means « lighted candle was knocked into an old sofa bot when it took fire and communicated toa straw bed and other articles in the room, but was soon ex- tinguished by the firemen. Damage about $10. reer FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL. SOnNEY MARKET. Tavrspay, Jan. 3--6 P. M. ‘The stock market opened heavy this morning. There ‘was more desire to sell to-day than we nowised yesterday, even at the decline inprices. At the first board Miss url 6's fell off 4 per cont; Illinois Central Bonds, };; New York Central 6’s, 14; Cumberland Coal, 1{; Erie, 44; Har- lem, 114; Reading, 34; Michigen Southera, 14; Cleveland and To:edo, 44; Chicago and Rock Island, *{; Galeaa and Chicago, 1s. New Yoik Central Ruilroad was sold to-day to-ome extent. Quite a number of irregular lots are rold daily, and the bears are putting out long contracts at prices considerably below those ruling for cash, Haslem is gradually but steadily setting down, It sold to-day at 15 per cent—a price lower than has beon known for many years. Within the past eight years this stock has sold at 84 per cent, and was at that time constiered cheaper at that price than it is now at 165 per cent. This isan illustration cf the rapid depreciation this «pecies of pro- petty is subject to under poor management. This depreciation bas been goirg on in all parts of New England with almost the same rapidity, and it is dis- tinctly visible im all the railroads of this State. The Western roads have thus far pretty effectually disguised it, but they are not by any means free from it, although the lines of that section are comparatively new. We see it in the market value of tho stocks of Western railroad companies at this moment, more than in the works them: selves. It is impossible, under the present system of railroad management, to avoid this ruinous process, and we know not of more than half dozen railroads in the country that preperly provide for the destructible cha- racter of their property. Most companies scem to ma- nage their finances as though their roads, and everytaing ernnested with them, were totally indestructible, and vould never show the offects of wear and tear, or of time. Thry dec'are dividends at least full up to their total net evrnings, and most frequently beyond that point, until at last it is found that tho road is a complete wreck, in- capable of being operated without immedinte extra srdi- nery expenditures, and then there is an end to dividends. Some of the recently completed railzoads in Lilinois and Wisconsin have fortunately been constracted and msnaged by men who have derived a great deal of knowledge from the experience of others earlier ongaged in railroad business, and it has been of vast service to them in their own operations. It has enabled them to avoid all those extravagant mistakes, and guard against all those things which pioneers in rallroad construction experienced, and to place iheir works among the best in the country, upon the original outlay. Nearly all the railroads cf this State and New Eogland havo cost more than double what similar lines along the same routes could be constructed for at the present day. The changes in grades and curves, the alterations in weight of rails 1d size of cars, the increase from time to time ia mo- tive power, have all required expenditures which Western railroads have not been subjected to. They have, at one step, taken rank among the best constructed, best located, best equipped and bert managed works in the country, and when the proper sys- tem of finance is pursued, all have been productive and will continue so through all time. We can, therefore, with confidence direct the attention cf capitaiists to the atocks, bonis, &e., of some of our Western railroad com panies, Some of them offer the greatest induce vents for investments fn amy class of their securitiey, They have been covsteucted during periods when these sections |. years, was caused by the suspension of the triza of the were unpopulated and uncultivated, when the right of way was comparatively cheap, when the superstructure wae essily constructed, and when the business was en- tirely in the prospective, These rosds have paid from the start, and nome of them to an extraordinary ex‘ent, and we ere therefore contdent that as the country in- creeses in productiveness, as the soil is brought under cultivation, a6 an industriow population spreads over these vast and fertile prairie:, these works of internal improvement must prove proportionate'y profitable. ‘They must grow up with the section in which they are located, and if their cost is kept down by proper appro- priations to their renewal funds, theiz dividends must be permanently large. Atter the adjournment of the board, the following sales of bonds and stocks were made at auction ty A. H. Nico. lay:— $2,000 Mlin >is Central Railroad 7 6,000 Laakawavna & Western Ri 8,000 Chicago & Rock Island RR. &. 88 5000 Cayuga & Suaquebanna Bi do 80 40 shares Island City Bank 803, a“ Atlantic Bank 8055 10 co Nicholas Ba 92 30 Lenox Insurance Compa + EBM | St. Nicholas Insurance Compa: - Simeon Draper’s regular semi-weekly sale of bonds and | stocks will take place to-morrow, Friday, at half past 12 | o'clock, at the Merchants’ Exchange. At the second board everything was down but Nicara- gua Transit. Ofthat stock there were moderate sales at an advance of 34 per cent on morning’s prices. Erie fell off 44 per cent; Mlinois Central Bonds, 34; Michigan Southern, +/; Hudson River Railroad, 3g. The market closed very heavy. After the board this afternoon, the market was dull. Canton Company closed at 2234 per cont; Nicaragua, 1934; Cumberland, 23; New York Central Railroad, 91; Erie, 6035; Reading, 92; Michigan Central, 91—dividend off; Michigan Southern, 9134; Galena aad Chicago, 123; Cleveland and Toledo, 724; Chicago and Rock Island, 863;; Illinois Central bonds, 81%; Hudson Railroad, These prices were offered. The Invicg Savings Institution, of 96 Warren streot, has declared a semi-annual dividend at the ra‘e of aix per cen; on al! sums entitled thereto for the last three and six months, payable on and after the 21st inst, All interest not called for will draw interest as priacipal. All deposits made on or before the 12th inst, will draw inte- rest from the Ist. Open daily from 10 tol and 4 to 7 P.M. The Mariner's Savings’ Institution, Third avenue, cor- ner cf Ninth street, has declered a dividend of six per cent on sums of $600 and under, payable on and after the 21st inst. Deposits made on or be‘ore the 14th iast. will be allowed iniereat from the Ist of January. The annexed statement exhibits the amount of duties collected at the Custom Meuse on importations into this f port during each month in each of the past two years:— REVENTE rKOM Trou Axovst ov Dum, 54. January... February. March , 2,405,482 21316405 3)787,342 2'171,708 2,98 1,942 s+. 888,096,888 $34,887,U07 Decrease in 186: . sees $3,709,581 The faliing off was in the early part of the year. Since Jast August there has been an increase each month in 1856, but the decrease in August and in previous mon:hs was too great to be overcome. The last weekly statement of the Boston Banks com- Pares with that of the week previous, as fellows:— Banks or Boston, Dec, 24. Dee. 31. Capital stosk,....$81,960,000 31,660,000 _ Unchanged. Louns and disc’ts 50,:05'893 51,234,102 Inc, 1,028,299 Specie in Bank., 3,735,368 8,619,153 Dec. ‘216,210 Due t’m other bis 7,618,916 7,309,192" 210,724 Due toother benks 6,305 681 5,603,512 Inc. 107'931 Deporits ......... 14,288,755 14,167,256 Dec. 121,499 Cireulation....... 7,512,660 7,670,446 Inc. 157,796 ‘The total exportation of specie from the port of Boston during the year ending Dec. 31, 1855, was valued bs oe eras $14,859,470 35 Sami tine ia 166d. ata 437 33 went 858 Bur «6 4852. 8,495'006 22 ‘The increase in 1855 over either of the previous thre Cunard steamers. The annexed s‘atement exhibits the fimances of the Little Miami Railroad Co. on the 30th of November, 1855:— Lirrie Miasm Rairoap, Received from passeny . $601,531 70 Received from freight 514,852 48 Received trom exira beggage 795 92 $1,017,180 10 506,546 81 Net earnings. $50, 633 29 Dividend 2) to L. M.'R.'R...7.1$840,433 "20 ‘35 to Col, and Xenia,...170.211 09— 510,633,290 ‘Account of Little Miami l’ailroad Company with stock. holders stands thus:— Credit—Sum surplus profits Dec. 1, 1854.. Nett earnings for the year as above....... Dividends June axa December from stoek in Col. and Xenit...... 0... e000 F Fuel account error in 1854 corrected $258,196 02 840,422 20 200 00 3,354 67 $632,172 89 Debits—Interest, taxes, rents and ONheT items... s400veenee va++875,189 48 June cividend 6 per ct, in bonds. 148'953 63 Dec, dividend 5 per et. in bonds. 149,066 46 373,200 57 Surplus Dee. Ist 1865,........ ee. sees $268,008 82 ‘The Assistant Treasurer reports to-day as follows :— Paid on ‘Saat account $192,714 09 lo Received 99/079 28 Balance do 2,136,165 37 Pa‘d for Arsny office... 171.371 72 Paid on disbursing cheeks 55,083. 31 Amour t paid for interest. ee 140/411 67 ‘The warrants entered at the Treasury Department, Washington, on the 78th inst., were as follows :— For the redemption of stocks sess $08,040 83 For the Treasury Departm 307 80 For the Interioz Department , 50,976 23. For the Cusioms, 179,010 24 War warrants 1 7,588 65 War repay wa: 6,588 65 On account of the Navy. + 87,082 60 The warrants entered at the Treasury Department, Washirgton, on the 29th and 31st of December, were as Yollows:— For the redemption of stocks, $145,242 s1 For the Treasury Departmen’ 2.860 64 For the Interior Depar‘ment....... 4,264 00 War warrants received and entered 223464 16 War sepay warrants received and enter 4737 65 On account of tae Navy. 499.409 38 From mircellaneous soui 15,188 81 Frem Customs 1443578 58 The werrants entered at the Treasury Department, Washington, on the Ist inst., were as follows:— For the Treasury Department $87,882 81 Yor the Interior Department 3,975 79 Ecr the Customs 10,168 31 War warrants r see 76,909 96 War re-pay warrants received and ent 1,099 60 On account of the Navy...... eves 79,027 57 Re-payment on account of the Navy 591 40 From miscellaneous sources. . 1,222 71 The amount of government funds on deposit in the se- veral depositories on the 224 of December, 180%, to the cre¢it of the United States Treasurer, suoject to draft, was $22,758,790 86. The transfers ordered wore as follows: — To Treasurer of the U. S, States, Washing‘on $223,000 00 Assistant Treasurer, New York. 484 668 35 Assis‘ant Treasurer at New Orleans, 230,000 Astistact Treasurer at St. Louis.. 600,000 00 Assistant Treasurer at San Francise: 675,000 00 Liepository at Norfolk. 37,000 00 Mint, Philadelphia, icon 1,000,000 00 Total... + $8,149,508 25 Fro 963,501 47 A 725,000 00 10 000 00 Ass 414,508 35 Depository at Dubuque 27,000 00, Depository at Chieago 26.000 00 Depository at Detroit, 15,000 00 Mint of the United Stat 25,000 60 TOA. ceeese scenes ce eeteae tees ees ees + 82,108,089 82 The Excelsior Fire Insurance Company have declared a semianntal dividend of ten percent, The Mechaulcs’ and Traders’ Fire Insurance Company, « semi-ancual dividend of five per cent. The Columbia Fire Insurance Company, a seroi-annual dividend of five per cent. The Clinton Fire Insurance Company, ten per cent. The Bank of the Capitel, Albany, a semi-annual dividend of four per cent, The American Insurance Company of Bos- ton, eight per cent The interest on the New York City stocks, due on the Ist of Februacy, will be paid on that day by Robert Kelly, Esq., City Chamberlain, at the Mechanics’ Henk. The transfer books will close on the 9th inst., but transfers will be permitted after that time, to take effect on the Ist of February. The Hanover Fire insurance Company have declared a cent, The Harmony Fire Insurance Company, ten per cent. The Chittenango Bank has declared « semi-en- nua! dividend of six per cant. The Hartord and New Haven Railroad, « semi-annual dividend of five per cent, The trustees of the Mechanics’ and Farmers’ Bank of Albagy, i The Chesapeake Bank five, and the Union, Farmers’ and Planters’ and Merchaats’ Banks, four and « half per cent— all of Baltimore. . Albert H. Nicolay’s regulsr semi-weekly auction sale of ‘tocks and bonds wiil take place to-morrow, (Thuraday,) wt 1234 o'clock, st the Merchar ts’ Exchange. ‘The receipts of the Milwaukie and Mississippi Railreed Company in December, 1865, amounted to $16,000, amg for the whole year, $688,000. Tne increase in the month is $17,000, and on the year $223 000. The result for the year has much excesded the directors’ estimate, whiok was only $571,000, being an excess of $117,000. The regular St. Louis correspondent of the Bostom Journal writes from chat city, under date of Bec. 17, 1866, 88 follows :— The long anticipated sale of the Ohio and Mississippi road took place lust week, Wednesday, the 12th It was sold under a deed of trust, given ‘by the oo ny, to secure I’age & Bacon tue ‘payment of a note for twelve hundred tuousand dl ars ir? H. D. Bacon was the purchaser, for the small sum of $10,000, The road ts worth ‘st a moderate entimare, five millions. It was encumbered by first and second mortgage bonds, and by the debt to Yage & Bacon, in all a aut sroaching thirty-five hun- dred thousand—a sum ps ggesting caution to any pur- Bacon, largely taterested a debt «f bis own. It is understood that third on 1 now be issued by Me. Bacon, te am extent 6 mewha .exc-eding the amount of his pecuniary in- terest ip the road. Tnessle of these at some di count from their face can undoubtedly be effected. When that te done, you will see the house of Page & Bacon s009 re- instatél in its old position. And in the prospect of this, there is much re icing among ovr merchants and citizensin every department of life. When it an- nounced that Mr. Bacon bad purchasei, and was now the sole owner of the road, sutject to mortgage bonds, « general fatisfaction was felt, and hapoy antizipations expressed <n all hands that the house would soon emerge from i’s troubles. Never, during the history of this house, was confidence in Mr. Bac m stronger than now. ‘The relentiess persecution be has suffered, at tie hands of a very small numer, may have dumaged his purse, It bas nct avall clouded ais reputation. a Mr. Bacou has been annoyed by suits, by tnjuny ions, by replevins, by chancery petitions, In all the-e suits he has triumkeé, "ho chance y suit cmmmance’ ot BeNe- ville, and removed to Cartioville, in which th» mi erable petitioners saked that a revolver be appoint | t take Porression of ard manage the rosd, waa at th ic wa re- quest, upon their getting 8 me inkling of what the -esult was socn to be~postpeaed ti] March. This vas com- sidered on sil hacds an abandonment of the suit. ‘The injunct’cn, granted uvon an affidavit 60 full of im- credible i egations thas our Mayor refased to take oath to it ip behal of the city, was dissol-ed npon trial, aod the parties who signed tbe security bond have been mulc:ed In camsges to the extent of eighty thoasand doliers. This is paying pretty cear for the plessure 0° distce sing an honéat man, who has doae more for the prosperity of St. Louis and its teue homer than any maa wa) sver hhved in 21. To those abroad who know nothing of our domostis affairs, the persecution ot Mr. Bacon may be an favxol- caple affair, except upon the ground cf his having fatl- @3 in bis integrity, But hee it iscil plain. The f-uada- tion of the hostilty ta Mr. B. 15 wll uncerstxd Itis ersonal resentment—cherish-d for causes perfectly well nown here, but not necessary to be menti med; and the boatility telt was notshared by ten {adividuals in the oty. But thore few happened to have the means cf creasing public sentiment and coercing boitile action, whioa fr a time threatened to tricmph. Bu’ njustise vever does triumph long, and now that Mr. Bacon triumphs, ‘here is a gereral, tranquil, bur determined reprobation of the rancorvus hstred with which he was pursued through the summer. Ivis one, not among the least of the evitences of the integyity of the house of Page & Bacon, that recenuly, im order to save from loss those whoin March last tosk stock in the Ohio and Mississippl Railroad, in payment of the incebteduess of P. & B., the house offered ty re- deem that stock, now vaiueless, with valuable real es- tate, at auction prices. No legal or moral ob.igadon ex- isted for so gevercus an act, And it woul i be: fiflouls to pame the firm in the iand, whies, under such ci cum- stances, would have appropriated ‘over $900,000 to save creditors from loss. (he way of the worl! generally da, to consider a settlement once made with creditors nal— witn no particular solicitude about the future losses which may accrue to those whose clsims were cancelled by an equitable settlement. It would have been quite easy for P. & B., to have kept that $200,000 Their pay- ment of it, with nolaw to enforce it, or moral obliga‘fon, in a fresh evidence of their dixporition toward generous dealing, which has ever been their lesding trait. Stock Exchange. Tauaspay, Jan. 3, 1858. #26000 Virg'a G's.b60 9454 250 sha Eric RR 8 1000 do 98% 350 do. 000 Harlem Istin bds 2000 Erie bds ot ’75.. 1000 Hud Riv 2d m bds 5500 lil Cen RR bas... . b10 8) 16000 do’, <a 10001 F bas wb priv 100 08 10sbsD&H Canal Co 1183¢ B19 20 Commonw'th br. 90 100 do. b30 31 100MiS&NIRR dm OL 200 di be CITY COMMERCIAL REPORT. Tuvurspay, Jan, 3—5 P. Asms.—The market was unshavged, and gales unimportant, Burasttrrs.—Flcur—Owing to the non-arrival of later foreign news, and tue inclemency of tue weather, trans- actions were restrictec, without change of moment im prices. tho sales embraced about 6,000 a 7,000 bols., im- clucing cemmon to good State. at $8314 a §8.37%; West ern mixed, fancy and extra brands, at $8 25 a $8 7; extre, Ohio, 89 6214, aid extra Genesee, $075 a $11. Canadian was quiet, with small eal $8 50 $10 124; tor commoa te extra, Southern was in limited req acest, wih sales of 60@ a 600 bbls., including mixed to choice brands, at $8 62% @ $925; with iancy und extra, at $9314; 9 $1050. Aye flour was ai $6 75 a $7, for fine and supertine, Corn meat was quiet, at $4 for New Jersey, and Brandywine at $4973. Wheat—The market was without cosage im prices, with mocerate sales, About 2,500 bushols red Tennessee (common, sold at $195. Pilme rei Soutnenn and Western were scarce, and would commani full prices, White was unchanged and nominal. Rye —The sales embraced avout 6,000 bushels from store and delivered, at $1 20a $1 30, with some small lots re- ported at $151. Corn wasin good demend for export, and prices were rather firmer; 20,000 bushels Westecm mixed sold for shipzent, at 92c. a 4c, from store and delivered, nd sales cf 10,000 a 16,000 bushels new were reported at Bic. @ 90c. for good Southern yellow and white. Oats continued dull, with sales of Sta Me. a dic. and Wes.ern at F0e. a S2c. Corrx. —The market was quiet and prices were steady; 50 bugs Maraceibo sold at llc. a llsge., and 76 mat Java at 14%4c., and 25 bags St. Domingo, at 10}. Kio ranged from lle. a 114c., with extreme quotations pee re at ‘these figuras. No saies of consequence ranspire Corton.—Sales of 600 a 700 bales were made, the mar- ket closing steady. Freionts-—Engugementa to Liverpool were light, bat rates were siessy at 84d. @ Od. for grain, 38. jour, ‘4G, 09-824, asked for cotton; 600 «800 tierces beef were engaged at Ss. 24., and bacon was at 30s.; a Britisle — ged 10,000 buchels corn at 8d. and 200 tierces beef, at ds. 9d." epgoged at 1; a. of cotton were engaged atle. cer 1b. To Havre, rates were onchenged, io they ranged from 300, a 85 cents. Hay was vncherged. Navat Srone —Hales of 160 bbls. ge in orcer, were made at 41 3¢¢.; and 500 bbie, common at $U €0 per 510 lbs., defivered. On-—Linseed was duil, at 90c. a 92c., in emall from store. Crude whale and sperm were A red was at 673,¢ ; and lard at $1 a $1 02, To Antw 000 bushels Me were a To Bremen delee TRovieiors —There was rather a better maal- festec in pork at the pening, with sales of about 602 bbls, mess, at $17; while at the ciose 100 bbls do. sold at $16 75; prime was qelet, at $14 50. continued heavy, with rales of about 200 bbis., at $0 9 $10 for comm try prime, and $10 50 a $12 for country mers; Vermont mest was at $13 50. $14, ond repacked st $14.0 $14 68; pritoe mers wae dull, at’ 180. a 23c. Cut meats were, better demanc, with sales of 900 boxes; long: in. were sold, celtverable in all Jansary inst.. hip, ar 0 4-28 bhds. bamg were sold, at arefeed bega ‘were pam Tra-salee 200 ites prime Western were made, Learimr —The warket vas Hiva —The sales were light the c bo advert of the heliday>. “dock to Bee , sgainat 1,678,000 in i854 The receipts within the = few days emounted to about 25,000, sessce Ayres Worm, irersed begs were at 734 ‘ ca quiet, while prices were firm. The reseipts were ligh' imports for the year 1 hell at 2€c., and Ormoco at 24c., 6 mo Rik — ales of 450 casks were reported at 60, 0646. Svoar.— The market was quiet and steady, The trams- semi-annual dividend of six per cent, payable on the 10th inst, The Henover Bank, three and one-half per coat, The Third Ajcnue Railroad Company, two per sections were corfined to small lots of New Orleans, a€ Bize., andor bexes at 8c, Walswwy.—che market was dull, Seles of 100 9 20§ byls, prisem were maze, et Odo,