The New York Herald Newspaper, January 29, 1856, Page 3

_EE— Di —— ££ NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1856, GREECE. Professor Felton’s Lecture on Greece in Washington. Professor Felton, of Harvard University, deliver- done of his quaint and humorons, pathetic and ‘bathetic, historical and critical lectures on Greece, or more properly upon Athens, before the Sinith- sonian Institution on last Friday night,of which oar Washington ‘correspondent renders the following aceonnt:— Professor Felton was introduced to the large audience by Professor Henry, the Secretary of the Institution. His first act before making his bow was ‘to have the reading desk removed from the plat- form, thus preventing any obstruction to the vision of the audience. He is rather corpulent, and from his small deep sunk eye glistens a fand of humor that would render him attractive to any audience. His style is conversational, and his gestures confined toa bend of the knee and 2 shake of the head and body which is peculiar to himself alone, and thi renders his lectures still more odd. But with al thishe gives proof of decp study aad research in tho classics, and the earnest, heartfelt bursts of elo ‘quence that often appear during his discourses, render him the favorite of the ripe scholar as wel as the idol of a popular audience. He commenced by saying that Yankee professors like to himself visit Washington during this season of the year for three reasons. The first was that they could revisit their old friend and associate, Professor Henry; the second, to hear the words of wisdom a3 they dropped from the lips of their. political fathers assembled ‘neath the classic shades of the capitol; and the last, though not least, that they might escape the rigors of a hy- poborean winter. In this instance he was somewhat disappointed in the two latter reasons. Congress, it wag true, was assembled, but the combined wisdom, eloquence, sagacity and wit of that body were con- centrated in the useful, but to the spectators not amu! occupation of answering tothe call of the roll. (Laughter and applause.) Andio the last in- stance he was utterly disappointed. He conld not better express bis sentiments than by quoting the words of Milton’s Satan, somewhat altered, however, to suit the circumstances, for Satan was suppossd to utter them in a climate somewhat warmer than this: “Whichever way I fly is winter. I myself am win- ter.” (Applauie:) The motto of his evening’s discourse he announced as: “Let us go to Athens,” and with that launched in- toan Gepateilogs upen the character of that city. Some CLR Laces have ps estes Darrian as clearly defined as have ‘4, painters, sculptors, or be and Athena bas defined her characver fully and clearly, so that her name, with the names of Je- Tusalem and Rome, cannot be heard without sending a thrill through the heart of the patriot, the states- man, or the scholar. Jerusalem was the home of the Psalmist; it was the scene of the rise of chris- tianity, and the site of more peculiar assoviations which cannot be mentioned without filling the heart with awe. Rome became the mistress of the world; but she fell from her high position because her edu- cation would not sustain her. She needed an educa- tor, and had that educator been Athens she might stil have retained her title. But what emotions does not the mention of Athens inspire? Athens—the Greece of Greece, the Helos ot Helos, the litiie ciiy of less than 200,000 inhabitants at any time, bat whose painters roduced works which have lived in history to this Boy which produced statuary, specimens of which, even in their mutilated condition, are so highly valued as models that modern sculptors of all na- tions expatriate themselves, and set down amid political institutions odious to them, that they may study under the shades of the splendid ruins, and study how they may imitate the perfection there manifested; whose orators obtained for themselves undying laurels, and who, if we judge from the mutilated fragments of their ae te inded down to us, were thoroughly versed in all the wisdom and Sagacity of statesmanship and patriotism, and who never were surpasced by the orators of any nation, and never equalled, except by the Massachusetts statesman, who now rests in his ocean home near Marshfield; whose poets are only equalled by Shaks- peare; whose historians have been held up as an example to modern writers, among which was the “ History of the Peloponesian War,” by Thucidides, which the aged Earl of Chatham placed in the hand of his son, iam Pitt, as he was about entering Cambridge Daiveratiy, as “ the eternal manual o_ the statesman;” which produced the schools o Pilato and Aristotle, who have handed down their respective manners of speculation, upon which have been built all the theories and speculations that have arisen since their time! What emotions are not felt by the statesman, the pon the scholar, the man, as he hears the name of the city which gave rise to all these arts, or brought them toa fection to which ‘we have never attained, and which gave rise to an influence of refinement which has reached this age! The speaker now gave @ description of the city of Athens, which he illustrated by a ground plan pre- pared for the purpose, He commenced with the Acropolis, which he thought was originally built by some chieftain as a fortification, and that the city was formed by the retainers settling around their chief. Then came a description of the temple of ‘Theseus and the Higin marbles, and the recent dis- covery of the naval history of Athens having been engraved on these marble leaves. Here he took oc- casion to defend the action of Lord Elgin, who re- moved these marbies to England, against the attack of Lord Byron, as he thought that their removal alone had saved them from destruction, as the Acro- polis had since then been bombarded by the Vene- taans when it was in the hands of the Turks, which bombardment finally produced the explosion which overthrew many of the colamns that time and the barbarians had thus far spared. He thought that this act of Venice, in destroying that which even the Goths and Vandals had held sacred, should be looked upon with exceration by all Christendom. He gave a humorous account of an attempt he made to find the river Illyssus, and to experience the enthusiasm he had anticipated in standing upon the banks of that classic stream, where Socrates so often escaped from the tongue of Xantippe to the more congenial company of the Muses, Prof. F. found the river as dry °s himself, and so he walked for a quarter of a mile along its dry bed till he at last found a small pool of water, which held perhaps half a tumbler full, which he reverentially scooped up, drank, and feit beiter, as he had drauk from the same stream of which the poets fang. But he begeed the audience not to suppose that this was the usual condition of the classic Illyssus, for in winter its hed was filled by the rains, and as it gathered streagth it rushed along furiously, and often presented the enormons width of six feet trom bank to bank. (Laughter. Having seen the rivers of America—a sight whic was denied the ancients—he found it impossible to get up beh enthusiasm in regard to this classic Stream. (Laughter and eee ) The temple of Olympian Jove, which is the largest temple in Greece proper, aud the theatre, which could accommodate the whole free popula: lation of Athens at the same time, where the trage- dies of Eschylus and the other Greek cramatists were enac' at the expense of the government; and the Odeon of Regillia,a sort of mausoleum, and the Acropolis, with its full length statuary, its eculptures, its basso relievos, &c., by Phidias and his immediate scholars, were here described by the help of poe enlarged. peaking of photographs caused-a slight digres- sion. The speaker ht the sun an excellent Jantana ainter, but a poor portrait painter; the eun the firat role of the art, which was to makea good looking face, and then infass as much likeness of tho sitter in it as possible. The sun was too literal; this was the reasou our daguorrean gal- leries were filled with pictures of horrid papas, ugly mommas and monstrons jufanis. He had once tried the expriment himeeif, an had caused him to set his fave steadfas'ly against in taking portrsita, hile of himself taken, with ing for whom it was intended. i ly So Te calcd, gnd the result wos that they ograph wns meant for a likeness of “Bill Sikes” after the murder of “Neacy.” (Soe “Oliver Twist.”) (Sereama of laughter followed this announ ent.) The times’ Pericles and ihe services he per- formed for Greece were ropidiy sketched. He was zed as mwnof commanding cloqnence great force of character, by the use of which he made Athens the home of art and the shrine at which the lovers of genius still worship. It was ae paras to have made Greece ao strong that she id repel any invasion, but the jealons refusal of ta to join in the confederation of the Grecian prevented this, and accordingly ho tarned his to mi ‘Athens sured from tba band of her dear to all nations by hor er: they were Place of Demosthenes, ancient prison Mare Bill; witere Bt. Paul elivered. the semiratt gi + e iraule coration® has come down tous in brief.’ The of the first place was established fnlly by _ histo: and tradition. That of the second ha bad himecit boen satisfied of from reading the “Dia- Tognes on the Immortality of the Soul” in this place ae the day was abont closing, and from reading the where Socrates aays—‘The hour is come,” as he is about drinking the cup of hemlock, when he is provinted for strance on part said “that the sun is it was still hghsupon the read this p: 5 surrounding , found that dark as it was the hil aad this fact, established t }y at fact tradition made that spot the where Mare’ Mill where the Court of the A: , jas sat, was to every Christian a pice of tclumeh, It was here where St. Paul was invited by the philo- sophers of Greece who had heard of his aoctrins, to tell them more at le: of: the Sraihy Be Sane) and it was here that ty stood the teal ali the scrutiny that science eud y could bring to bear upon it, and where even at this early day, the simple caused some of the first mea ain of athaoar coat espe sd wl mem! , to. espouse a: to the truth of the Hie Chonets ta tioxiof the discourse of St. Paul, while it answered all Frain onlay ona ma there pronounced. The or: translation aie St, Panl commence be cota with a deliberate insalt to the itelligence cf his hearers, while a proper rendering woula show that St. Panl was 9 gentleman as well as 4 christian scholar, which some teachers of these great truths are not. Thus closed one of the most brilliant lectures of the season in the Smithsonian Institution. The au- dience was one of the largest of the season, and among them were many members of Congress. The course of Professor Chace was interrupted to make room for this lecture,and which was announced very suddenly, Professor Felton being in the city on besi It will long be remembered by all who beard it, and the man as well as the subject will often be thought of in connection with the classics. ‘The Fine Arts in Athens, Mr. Thomas Francis Meagher lectured on the above subject before the “Touro Literary Insti- tute,” in the Tabernacle, Broadway, last evening, and was eminently successful. A little before 8 o'clock Mr. Meagher came forward and was received with much applause. He proceeded to deliver an eloquent disbourse, of which the following is a sy- nopsis. He said :--- The end of art in Greece was that of engraving on the hearts of the citizens an abiding fuith i. their duty to the gods, and a pervading sense vu: their obligations to the State. Her religious festi- vals clustered round her political institutions. Her Political institntions conduced to the developement of her truly popular arts. Babylon, and Persia, and Egypt were lands of bondage, in which the in- dividuality of manhood was swallowed Bp in inexora- ble castes. But Greece was the land—the only land—of human freedom and human dignity. This favored people first fashioned gods for themselves who pleased their fancies and flattered their pride. oe decked them with the trappings of scalp skill, they informed them with their own ideas, thonghts and ions. Then came the law of ia ticism, in which the Grecian le i the’ gods from the pride of place, and, in statues of their heroes, their poets and their sages, planted themselves on the marble pedestal tv receive, as they have received, the homage of the world. Next to her statuary, the grandest developement of hor mind is manifested in the architecture of Athens, When Athens had grasped the crown of intellectual sovereignty, and proudly set it on her brow; when her people, in the proud assertion of thelr political eovereignty, exercised it in fierce and almost lawless measure, architecture had become with her the ex- position of the grandest ideas and most generous a pirations. It consecrated the spot where a whole eople confessed their solemn relations to the Divin- i - The Pnyx, at the base of which the Athenian democracy listened to the discussions of their ora- tors, and uttered the decrees of their sovereign will, commanded the whole space between the towera of Pirwus and the foot of the Acropolis; whilst from the summit of the Acropolis, the temple of the guardian goddess looked down in _ protection on the noble exercise—eyen the noble madness— of popular power. This nice perception of art—skil- fully used by the orators in flattering the instincts of the multitude—bad something most beautiful and noble in its application. Architecture among the Athenians, as he had said, was especially connected with religion and with the State; was specially de- yoted to popular oat and to Palen The forms of their temples, like other forms of art, the Athenians had borrowed from the Egyptians; but the characteristics of Egyptian art—the solid masses and the colossal figures-—the Athenians had turned into light proportions and graceful ornaments. The monuments of each people bere the impress of their peculiar characters. e architectare of Egypt, grand, gloomy and unpro, ive, was a true type of the despotism by which, as the sands by the By. ramid, its political sterility was shadowed. But the aisha seer ‘wasan were caineyeant with poetry and music; appealing e genial sym. pathies, the pride, the patriotism of man—the im- mortal expression of the purest tastes, as well as the noblest sentiments of freedom. There is the Sphinx —immobility, superstition, inexorable tyranny! There is the Minerva—life, liberty, intelligence and the pursuit of hap piness. The ideas which asso- ciate themselves these vestiges of the past, re- solve themselves into eee in harmonious keeping with the rules we cont late. Far back in the ages, made lurid by the altar of Abraham,we hear the stroke of the axe, sounding on the summits of Lebanon. We vee the burdened car lumbering on the road from Joppa to Jerusalem, bearing along the cedar, the zrble, and the brass. We catch the gleam of the white sail as it wafts the gold of Ophir, the Tyrian dye, the Sidonian silk. All are tributes to the Tem- ple, whereof the Cherubims were of gold, and the wings of the Cherub were ten cubits from one ex- tremity to the other, and the Cherub was shadowed with the olive and the palm. Where was the sump- tuous structure now? The Assyrian had swept over it. The legions ot Rome had flung its lingering splendors to the devouring torch. Nay, on its frag- ments, on its holy dust, was seen at this day the foot of the infidel, who, backed by Christian dogs, still uttered there the language of a foul fanaticism. Yet to the very stones of that Temple still clung the remembrance of nations; still clung the imperisha- ble idea of the Eternal Truth; still clang the su- preme idea, once symbolized in the harmonies and aplendors of an architecture devised by the Supreme Intelligence itself. At every period of history they could discern the meaning and application of the fine arts. Passing under the arches of Titus; mas- ing in the deep a of the Colosseum; or treading the dust where lie the Capitoline stairs; they read in a glance the history of the Seven Hills—the virtues, the struggles, the riots, the splendors, the ignominies, the triumphs, the vices, the sublimities of the Ro- manrace. Aud so with Athens. To the eye of the idle, dawdling, fashionable tourist, the Parthenon and the Propylea are merely, as he pencils in his note book, the ruins of «remarkable pile of buildings— a very remarkable pile of buildings. But to. the schola:—to the republican scholar, above all—they tower as the trophied and triumphal results of Mara- thon and Salamis. He knows—the republican scho- lar _knows—that, long before the Parthenon had epread its perfect beauties to the rich sunshine of Attica—before Prop lea had opened their storied avenues tothe genial breezes of the Aigean Seu— Athens hed had her Miltiades and her Cimon—and that the patriotism which had nerved the heroism of the former, and had fired the eloquence of the latter, had also kindled the genius of the architect and artist to commemorate their deeds and eter- nalize their fame. Behold tho difference between Spaita and Athens! Sparta had spurned all the arts, except the iron art of war. Had not the hand of God reared the architecture of the mountains at Thermopylwa in vain would the tra- veller seek for the place where heroism had, with with its ied sword, marked the spot for as noble a monument as ever rose to heaven in aitestation of human worth. Unlike Athens, out of her ruins, she prepared no eternal tomb for herself. Sparta, groomy, silent and inexorable, dies without a monu- ment. Athens—like the divine Niobe, surrounded by her daughters, prostrate under the invisible shafts of the angry God—was still radiant, in the very wreck of her incomparable arta ! Retornixa Ewiqgnanrs.—A notice from the De yertment of State at Wasbiogton says:—Information has been received at this department tha: for nome time past 8 ccnek erable number of emigrants, for the most part of Geiwan origiv, have beea returning frm the United Sata to Europe, by the way of Havre. It therefore be- comes Neceseaty, oD account of some of then srriving without any resources, for the c nsuj+ of their respec. live nations, or public charity, to provide them with means to :eturn to their country, and scmetimes also become chargeable to the par haw oernstoned an offcia’ intimation to this department that, ifthe number of returning indigent emigrants by way of France were to increase, the i’'rench governmeat would be ocmpelled bog tga measures to prevent the landing of those who, for want of sufficient nal re- sources, mht become cha-geable to the public. This in- fc rmation is therefore puiished, to tne end that of American vorrels, bows: for Barre, may ‘be warned of the difficulties to which thay are Hkely fo expose them- selver if they take on board foreign emigrants who have not sufliciemt means to defray the expenses of their trans- portaticn over France. Tor lice MM bree i) “ney Recatty of the ine - V aL a wr pens et Pog M4 trom the egricaltural aepartment oh ths Peet wepert die rice crop of the United ‘imated at 000 ibs., worth $10,' ‘herent comet tiesttemoe aie ts North Caroline, South, Gor is and Loni DA— | Oxcee 5 would give $io00.000 ibe, Bat th Beptember, 1854; while the crop of rice was belng harvested in South Caro: eighty per cont of the , At least one-fourth of it lina and Georgia, which uce. entire rice bits the count: war destroyed by the equi lal storm. Taking the preceding data as correct, the rice Sabie: ear did not exceed 150,000 casks, which would give 00,000,000 Tps., and a value of $3,000,000. Now, counts; pf “MUNICIPAL APE AIR Ss | 2eetii orwitbotomptattg expo thirst: BOARD OF ALDERMEN. ‘THE PTS MARGHAL'S BEMI-ANNUAL BEPONT. The semi-annual report of Alfred E, Baker, Fire Mar- atal of the city of New York, was received, and 500 copies ordered to be printed. The following is an abstract of | the report: — ‘To 1s Maror, Common Cousom, axp Potion Joerions ov ‘Tar Crr¥ anD County or Nxw Youi:— In leyirg before you my third semi-annual report, for 186 T aerepepoets Slat ot Mey he let Lecember, agein have to press upon ycu t! importance of patting s law for tue sator constragtion Pr uae That subject, as you may recolisct, formed the recommendation of last report, at ence only confirms the 1 ae Increase of Population, and the vast feprovemen which, of ‘ate years, have taken place in upper por- tion ot the city, have converter Thlcty-seound street into the centre,’ instead of the boundary, of city life. The consequence of Sols colar in ing Oar fire lawa to ‘he incereeing exigencies of our social progress, is that, immedately beyona the old limitary we se0 whom; y party walla, of the beams in the different houses toucl ing # certain meaus of communica- fire. The mason work is, generally jimaiest most unsadstantial this cause is to be Attributed many of the secicents which cccur to firemen. Wore the latter re- stricted to-attendance on fires withia the legal limits, there casualties would not be so likely to occur; bat, a8 this ia not the case, the fire laws should be exven‘ed to cover the erection of brick buildings of or. des sripiion broughout the island. There is no necessfty, however, for their being mace to apply to frame buildings, where » there is no dangec of their commutcicating fire to adjrcevt premi-en. DEFECTS OF CONBIRUCTION, T also feel it my cuty to call your attention again to the present fauity system of constructing chimney flues, From the numerous fires occurring from thst cause, experience has convinced me that a fiue to carry off the deat of a furnace or b1 chen range, bail; in a twelve- inch wall without wuy breast work, and haviag only one ick ou ¢ither sice, is unsafe, and that sooner or later the heuse must be fired by it. The base board p. acrors it, socm becomes cverheated and charred, ani combustion is the result. Independent of this, there are Ober causes which render houses ofa certain claaa a ready prey to the flames. In very many of our midern dwebings, whica aro buit afer waat is culled the Hoglish styie—three houses being erected on a fifty foot front lot—u I the modern improvements are crowded in without referenoe to the atrength of the bui‘ding. The great ma- jori y of these houses are built byspeculacors, tor sale, like the saowy-looking bogus watches of the Peter Fanks. An attractive finish is given to them, but there is no substance beneath, and, once they cate fire, it will be extuemely dificult to save them. By way of illustratiog trese remarks, I pill mention some cases that have lately fallen ‘uncer my observation, In West Thirty- seocnd street, between the Eighva and Ninth avenues, 8 ands a block of some fi'teen houses, built im the style | have juet cesc:tbed, with hot air turnace, extensive kitchen range, &c. One Sunday afternoon, Mc. Sunidt, who occupied the dwelling No. 286, and who, i:seore was i's first tensat, disecyered an unusual swell ia the Louse, but attributing it to the cook's putting so.co light kinoling wood in th» range, the family retired to bed about 11 o’clock, without any further apprehension. Between 8 and 4 in the morning, one of he onildren awoke, almost suffoca'ed with smoke, asd gave the wlarm. Qn starting from his bed, Mr. Sadi found the horse filled with thick mcke, ana on seach being made to discover the cause, iv was ascertained fat the parti- tion rear the furnace was on fire. Toe plaster was tora down, and with some little asaistanse Mr. émidt suo- ceeded in extinguishing the flames, I aade an examina- tion of the premises immediately afte, aad found that the end of a beam had been inzerted cl¢e to the furnace smobe flue. About twolve inches of it lad charred away, vunvilit reached the lath aud plasterpartition, where, coming in communication with a ourent of alt, rapid combusticn took place. Another case ff a nearly similar cheracter ocourred in Nicth street. /A block ‘of three houses, Nos, 40, 42 and 44, had been commenced there by a builder named McDermott, but becomtog embar. raseed before he roofed them, they wire pureuased and completed by another builder, mand ris Boi prettily finished. and attractive t> eye, they sol Feadlly at $13,000 cache Mr. Hutton \arshased No. 44, end a cay or two before the workmengtt it, Mr. Smart kindled & fire in the furnace and kitchen range, in order to test them. On the followicg morning,pbout 2 o'clock, the house was discovered to be on firethe sur base on the first floor, in front of the furnace \ue, bing in a blaze. The alarm having been given in\time, the fire was promptiy exti ed. On inve stigatg the facts, I ascertained that the end of a beam hed ben foserted iy the furnace flue, and was the mmediat;csuse of the ire. Now, as in houses of this style of finish,s proper in- spection cannct take place without tung down the Dureg ‘ied of six months embraced 1 port, it wien that fourteen arrests Saye boon nate on charges of arton and susploion of arson. ht the Peller Si Stet gushes ole) Hire, Siechereed by @ Justices Sage four we @ Féquired to fied bail OW Tet ae ae eet w nye thoug! ir oneape, thereby wr letting their to the amount of $5,000, a ge cog nr Grend Jury, bat notwi on evidence made out a a case Of gui com was disorissed. Tue arson took place in 9 dancehouse in Water street, and the wit i, 88 well as the accused, were persons of equi- ‘Woeal poy ‘The oomseapcn ting, report of thows tle an of twelve number of ar- fair oeiteriod of comparison as re- rests, however, is no gerd8 thia offence. ‘The tacies annexed to this report exhitit fifty-two firee, traced to acts of ineendiarism, of which twenty-three were shown to have been designedly eet on fe, whilst during the correspcnding six months of 1864 ninety-four ‘were iracedto i: of which thirty-four were Thus it will be unquestionably wiltu'. seen that there and conside-able of incen- has been « stead decrease diary fires since the Fire Marshal’s invest oe pe ‘ne te- been Institute:—a period of eighteen’ mon: , in the sawe interval, » marked dimiau- bles also show, tion of that cuspici-us class of Grea which used to be of al Occurrence m the mercantile qua-ter of most nightly 0; pon the of fir pon te ea lly the table shows a deorease of +: Neen anh pesooes a ith the corres) - ing elx monhs of last year. it also exhibits s vast '. ence in tho xmount of actual loss. ix months’ less was $607,842; insuance $1,240,024. lossen of tho last cix months, it will be'sern, smout only to $270,805, ard insurance to $965,800. making @ diference ia favor of the last report of $237,081 —a re- duction of marly one-half. In ban 9 tabular etatement of results I have thought it advisabl) to mtroduce an addi columa, ex- hibiurg th) amounts paid by insurance compantes in settlement it loaves. Under head, for the last six months there eppears to have been paid $160,860. or a litle over tro-thirds of che alleged losses. This {s attri- ‘butable ina measure, toa part of the losses mot being fally coverdl by insurance, and partly to insured parties claiming a larger ameunt of lots than was allowed by he upderwitera. J espnotconclude this report without beat testi- mony to tl» zeal and promptness with which 1 have been aidedin my investigations by the Police Justices, ard, uncer Mayor Wooa’a instructions, by the Po.icd Departmen generally. They have done eve: ia their powe’ to forward my views, and to afford me faci- Utiew for he prosccurion of my inquiries, To the Fire Department my acknowledgments are also due, for the ready end jorcial co-operation which I have always re- ceive fron it. Your obedient servant ALFREO FE. BAKER, Fire Marshal. RECAPITULATION, No. of Al’gd Am'nt Am'nt Case. ires. fe Ins'd. Pail. Farvace fie. 1 $10 pone a Chimney fe 3 188 3.500 108 Accidental 46 61,818 217,725 29,561 Supposed 14 16,495 57,125 8,832 Cerelesenes 9 1 26,700 «= 1,765 Gas bghtir window + 3701 82/000 1964 Ca eloss exc ica of ‘ 570 9,900 270 60 none - 122200 4,950 matehe, 8 8,200 1,117 Caziphere Temp: eg 3,200" 48 Tinker’sfurnec 1 650, 45 Cou) aste 1 1,600 230 Maliciows m: z mone =_ Friction ot machinery 1 nore _ Explosion of boiler ...... 2 9,200 1,540 Fireworks a) 198,509 58,808 Spontaneous ¢.mbustion, 4 46,600 4,240 Set onfire 8 7,600 266 -i 22.700 3,295 3 10,500 1,010 \pted 3 5 77 Burglary and arso 3 17,260 11,438 Supposed incenciary 34000 15,841 Supposed set on fire 62,60 5,965 TOMS ee on ceee 164 $270,305 965,800 160,50 THE DISPUTED ALDERMANSAIP OF TWENIY-EECOND WARD, ‘The petition of everal persons, residents of the Twenty- second ward, asking for a new election in that ward for Alderman, owing to the chonting practised at the last election, was received and laid on the table. FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF REPAIRS AND SUPPLIES. A commurication was received from the Commissioner of Repairs and Supplies in answer to a resolution of the Board as to whether Mr. Irving has beon sworn into cffice, in which the Commissioner answers:—“ James Irving, after having been appointed by me was sworn to perform the duties of repairs to public bulidings by the Mayor of the City, and he is now performing such daties, Cn the question of law involved im the last branch of the resoluticn, not being versed in legal matters, I do not offer my own opinion. I am advised, however, that un- cer the existing fac.s in regard to that office the appoint- ment so made was proper and legal. department are The dlferent heads of bureau a ta my assistants and quasi "ie: it has been deci. Ged, as Tam informed, in Haglan, and a'soin (he Clreutt Court of the United States, by Jadge Story, that when the term of office of the principal ceases, all the deputies and assistants tall with him, plaster to ascertain the Positicn of the trams, thereby dirfiguring the premises, it is evident tlst the examioa- tion be made while the building sin precess of e:ection. Under the present system, builders, being subjected to no sort of efficient , athe law now ex- is's, will hurry up the shel! ofa housend dirguise all its faults of construction by fancy wor, in order to de- ceive the eye of the un rary purchaser.fo guard against ‘these Cishonest and dangerous practies a special ea- actment is required. Every bi omwner should be compelled to rend in to Board ¢ Fire Wardens a specification framed in acco.dance wth the act of the work about to be un¢ertaken, ani anjdeparture there- fcm should be visited with’e demotion of the faulty work, anda heavy fine imposed, and should the sion call for it, the imprison Nothing buta stringent law of this evils uf the present reckless system of building. House speculators ave become utter! ‘ardless of conse- quences, and to purchase a dwelliogfrom them is like locating one’s ina powder mill. The building ma; es:ape, harmless, for a time; but in thend destraction sure, to overtake it, and the lives ef th inmates jeopar- dized. TENEMENT HOUSES. Within the last few yeare, a clase ofdwellings knowa as tenement houses, and re-embling, hat, in their ccnstruction, the Paris and Edinburg fits, bave become quite numerous in our city. Built, howyer, in a far less substantial manner, and itable to ueioee accidents from the number of families that are crowded pto them, there is reason to app ehend extensive destuction of life, in the event of fire breaking out in the Iwer part of any ore of them. Some of these dwellings, fiv and six stories high, are ocrupted by trom twenty to thiiy families. On the occurre:.ce cf such a contingency asthat to which I refer, you can picture to yourselves the cofusion, the ter- rer, deepatr aud an r which would reaul from the diffi- culty of ing a sons Occupyingthe top apart- ments, ‘fo illustrate this T'would only rel to four Fe. collection the eatastrophe whtch occurid a few years since in Greenwich avenue. Owing to te thoughtless and careless plan on which ihe public scoolhouse was erected, there being only one staircase amthe doors be- ing made to open inwards, near a hundredoor caildren lost their lives on that’ occas'on. Sincehen, preesu- tions have been taken In the ereetion of ghool houses, to prevent the recurrenes of similar cailuities. If a necessity exists for them in such cases, ately they are as urgently calied for in tenement house, The lattor baye generally ryceking, ut oue narrow staicase, and on this, pe haps, ike sa%ety offs huadred lives 4 each build- ing is Cepencent. I wil men ion 9 case A which the dgngerous ebarnoter of 6 tenements fas made evi- sdent. On the might of Vctober 10a fire bake out fn the Cherry stret. The build- pied asa harware store on rtments by ugards of twen- jee, On the frst slarm the perm in charge of the premirés ran from floor to floor, ing at the doors of the inmates ond arousing ay danger. Some hed set to rest, while othersere, fortunate- ly, only. preps fo: bed. By the geatest exertions tho wkole of the house ere saved, after nerrowly escaping 5 bey! woman, in the extremi'y of ber terror, rushed with }r infant out on the rocf in remained there freezing wh cold until the fe ¥as extinguished. Had it destryed the baildicg she » ust have inevitably perished. asbe house stants two etorier higher than those immeciajly adjeining. J ‘These facts suggest the fnecessity omeasures belag enforced upon the proprietors of tenaents houses to rovide for the safe egress of their inmads in care of fire. ‘he r ost simple and effective means of spomplis! this would, in my opinion, be to erect on an iron stairway, with landings and does The whole of Staircase stould be mie of o; work, to as fo prevent agin agen and auffocat: escap! ry it. ‘ongly press poh you the importance of immodite action in this matter. Istand in daily apy nsiothat the ne- giect of some atch precaution will lead to sme extensive and fearful calamity. STORAGE OF FIREWORKL. han bean proved by experionod to be dangeus. a8 vA ey 8. ‘pectioule wil “1 pt mit be esalionted Siorioa from at each story. in iron limits, Color. sion from tock place at No. 10 Maiden Jan on the 16th causing the death of Mr. Je: who os- cvpied an office over the store, ani who #4 in no way concerned in the sale of these dangerous arties. In con- sequence of that accident, I ited tthe Common Couneil the expediency of passing an ordisce probibit- ing the storage of all fireworks, except Chiese crackers Aderman Lord, of the thteenth ward, {0 up an or- ‘on t, sengusedion 32 the tng Peni yon aeeeE, ment ion be and is nowin force. Care should be takedbat its provi- sions are rigidly enforced. INCENDIARIGM, Although, judging from the tabular stament which I mao acts of incendiarism would appir to be on the ¢, the period through which we hie passed since wy last has been by so® occurrences equalling 9 atrocity and disastrous cofequences any arr facts within my ex; |. Of those, most remarkable was the fire which took at No. 68 Chatham street, onBunday night, the bth of August last, and which led tose deaths the inmates. The swarn test! 4 thet investi — showed that the lessee of remises, Mr. jacobs, had, a as to the it, abtempted to bribe one of the w! to fire . Another witness co; thet he heard Se Mr. Jacobs’ cutter, observe, just prior to B decease, that ‘he had been the cause of all their and it he en) deserved it the most,” statemon' it ia evident that the fire could not have jen the result of acci¢ent. There is no deudt that tompt and seorehing investigation which is now nstituted imme- diately on Oper of fires, will {timo very mush recno@, it it does not entirely prevej, acta of inoon- Ginriem. When certain punishinent faows cloee upon A communication waa received from the same, stating that certain important facts having come to his kno#- ledge ence the nomination of Mr. Alex. Ward, as Super- intendent of Roads, which, in his jaigment, rendecs his appointment improper, he, (tbe Commissioner,) with- draws the nomination, and a; ite Mr. Wiiltam God- heart a Superintendent of Roads. Laid on the table. ‘THE AYPOINTMENT OF ING UP AGAIN, Alderman VatgoTing offered the follo Whereas, it is currently reported that his Honor t! fayor has sworn into office Mr. James Irving, as Superintendent of Repairs of Public Puildings, and whose nomimation bas born twice rejrcted by this Board; and, whereas, in the exercise ot his duly and power the City Inspector has removed from office the persins who, heretofore held of- office as Health Wardens, and presented the names of gentlemen in every respect worthy of the position, and who bave been culy confirmed by this Board, and to whom the Muyor has refwred to administer the oath of office, thereby perpetrating an act of discourtesy to this Board, in the exercise of its lawful and legitimate nutho- uty: there‘ore, be it solved, That his Honor the Mayor be, and he is hereby, respectfully requested to infoim this Board if ho has so a¢ mizistored ihe oath of office to Mr. Irving; and if so, by what law or authority it has been done. Laid on the table. NOMINATIONS OF HEALTH WARDENS, In addition to the names already submit'ed as Health Wardens, the City Inspector nominated Wm. W. Unier- wood, M.D., for Foarth ward, and Chas, L Frost for Nineveenth ward, all of which were confirmed. FROM THR COMPTROLLER, In answer to resclu'ions of the Board, the Comptroller reports & Itet cf the several payments on account of mesi- cine, medieal atcencance, medical instruments, &e.. at the several police stations, ‘The amounts paid in each ease are given, the total being $4,104 16. The Comptroller says :—'Tam not aware of any pay- ment for services to a ‘rurgeon general,’ assis‘ant sur- geons, or members of the medical staff of the police; nor Go T reecliset that any c'aims of such a character have been presented for payment.” Laid on the table and or- dered to be printed. OTHER CITY APPOINTMENTS. Acommuntcation from Joseph K. Taylor, appointing Walter Oakley, in place of Juli is Johnson, a deputy col- lector of assestments, was confirmed. A communication wos received from Elijah F. Pardy, Superintexdent of Repairs of Public Buildings, ;nominatiag Chas. Stephena for clerk of the bureau of repairs to pub- Me butisings, im place of John J. Tindale, restgned. Laid on the tabl THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. ‘The report af the Finance C: mmit! consurring to derate $1,000 to the Widows’ and Orph Fand of the New York Fire Department, being presented, Aldermon Barxtk, who descended from the chair, moved as an amendment that $2,000 be appropriated, whi:h was cured unanimously. CELEBRATION OF WABHINGTON’S HIRTHDAY—LACK OF PATRIOT- 18M IN THE BOARD. On the appropriation of $1,000, made by the Couneil- men for the celebration of Wasbington’s Birthday, com- ing DP Alderman Briocs moved az an amendment, that $2,000 be appropriated. The usual quantity of patriotic speeches and a large number of economical suggestions were mace. Some of the members didn’t want drink; others wanted a little ie 8 ond water. Some thought #egars and sandwiches would be necessary to perpetuate the memory of the great and immortal Washington, who, scoording 10 our appreciation of that ‘Liberator’! of his nari’ needs no laudatory speeches from the Alder- wen «f 1868. An amenément was offered that no part ot the sum be spent in intcxicating liquors. Carried, by a vote of 14 to It was moved as an amendment, that the money be de- voted to the relief of the widows and orphans of the ve- terons ot 1812, and not apent in eatables and drinkab'es. Alderman DRAKE an amendment to the amend- ment, that one-half the sum ($1,000) should go to the fond of the New York Volunteers, Alderman Drake’s amen/ ment to the amendment was carried by a vote of 12 to 9. The amendment to sppropriate $1,000 to the Veterans of 2812 was then put and carried. / Aerman Herrick thought that these votes would nul- 7] ’s bicthday, and be a perfect rad en of the 208 ral out 0} of tary. Algerman FULMER oppored the endionte, and aesig- mated the move asa ‘‘ patent dodge.’ He was in favor of celebrating the birthday of Washington as it ought to be, and if necessary to give donations to the Veterans or Volunteers. he would do s0. While the patriotic movoment was still ing, the Board adjourned, bys vote of 11 to 9. Xxjourned to Thursday evening, at 5 o'clock. » Supreme Court—Special Term. Before Hon. Judge Roosevelt. THE CENTRAL PARK CASE. JAN, 28,—Mr, Dillon, ex-Corporation Counsel, intimated ‘to the Court thatthe Chief Justice of the Court of Ap- peals, Judge Dento, had assigned Judge Harris to hear the matter of the Contral Park. He, Judge H., had written to ray thet he could not be in town today, bat he wished the case set down for Judge Roosevelt suid that he had writ to Judge Harris last week, but he received no reply from him; he might hear him in the course of sad no doubt an orcer would be made in the course of the day se the cate down for to-morrow, The in a 8 necd not wait, Appointments the Presiden ‘BY ASD WITH THE roe 8 CONSENT OF THE SEYATE. at New sie Charles K. Loomis, Collector of the Customs at Sackett's Barbor, New York, vice Thomas 8. Hall, removed. ry Later from Bevens. | ‘The United States mail steamer North Star, Capt. Wa- | ‘mack, trom New Orienns via Hasan, arrived yesterday » bringing Havens papers te the 21d imst., belog | eight days later than be'ore received. She ealled fcom i New Orleans on the 20th inst., at 85 o'clock A, M., and errived at Havana at 12 M., 224 inst.—61 hours from the leveo at New Orieans—the quickest time ever made be- | tween the two ports. Sho sailed from Havana on the 23d iust., at 8 o'clock A. M., and has experienced stroog head winds during the entire pastage from thence. ‘ ‘The United States frigate Potomac, Commodore Pauld: ing, arrived at Havana on the 20th ivat., tcomGroy- town. The United States steauer Fulton also arrived at Havana on the 22d inst, j OUK HAVANA CORRRSPONDENCE, | Havas, Jan. 22, 1866, | Monufacure of War Material—Military Drill—Railway Accidents, Rabbertes and Assaults— Burial of a Haughty Man—A sew Joint Stock Hotel—Fate of the American Sailors in Prison— War Ships in Port—General Concha be Recalled and Promoted. Theard, « fow days ego, that orders*had been given by General Concha that a large number of grenades should | be immeiiate'y manufactured. The snldiers, too, poor | devils, are Cally dragged out to the Campo Marte to be | drilled. 1s all this dcne upon the principle of ‘+in time | ot pesce prepare for war,” or is it that an invasion ftom | Nicaragua 1s consijered probable? Senor Parejo, agent of Queen Cristina, died near Clenfu- egor, after a few days illness, since! laat wrote you. He | ‘was ecgeged at the locality where he died, in opening a | mew and very large sugar piaatation, His corpse was breught by railway to this cily last Sunday. It arrived | sbout 8 o'clock, P. M., but the coffin which contained it was too ‘arge to be placed in the hearse. Indeed, the only vehicle in this city that would do #0, was s spring | furniture car, one of which, drawn by @ single ox, was | obtained, and thas with a numerous funeral cortege {cl- lowing, were the remains of one of the proudest men who ever lived, conveyed to the Campo Santo, where it was duly pieced in a niche. A joint stock company, I understand, is about to erect | ® magnificent hotel in this city, Sush an establishment | is much required, and some of our largest cepitalists are | understcod to have taken shares in the company, ‘There waa a slight shook of an earthquake at St. Jarode | de Cuba on tha 4th inst, An accident happened toa train on the Matanzas Railway, about fiye miles the other slds of Guiness, on the 16th inst., which, but for the skill of the sngmeer— en American, named MoCoy—migh! havo caused a great logs of life, A large drove of oxen wore driven from a grazing farm on to a narrow part of the road, when it was impoenivle they could move, « high stone wall sing built on either sive ifthe track. McCoy, perociving the position the cattle were in, brought the locomotive to a | stand atil! before it ienched them, when, fluding the cara wire rw upon cach other, he blew a load shriek wlth the steam whistie, aud then set the engine runcing st full rpood. True, he c ushed to atoms some eight or ten oxen, ‘but not a single human life was sacrificed—indted, but @ few sligat iajaries were sustained; whereas, had McCoy not exhioited such sure presecce of ming, the loss of human life would have been immense. On Saturday last, too, there was a reilrond uccivent nearly opposite the Cuartel Dragones (dragon bezrecks), in this ci'y, outside the wells. The | k epread, avd caused the Lic: motive to overturn and into a neighborirg diteh. Hughes, the enginesr, a ve of Balilmoxe, was seriously injured, but happily no lives were icet. On Saturday last a small keg of gaa- powder exploded on the deck of the Spanish brig of wa: Scipio, in this harbor, seriously tpjuring four sailors and wounding an officer and a marias. The officer, Senor Paster, a midshipman. behaved very nobly; al‘aough himeel{ severely wounded, upon cheerving one of the sailors who had been maimed acd biown overboard, t ing in the water, be in, and bore the d sailor ea‘ely to the st the brig, where they were beth taken on boert. @ ‘The Fernando el Catolica will prove a total loss, They hare bad five or six steamers puliiogat her, until che has Ls eunippnend pulled to pieces, Not even her engine will be saved. The two Americaa seamen, Winn ‘and Chauncey, have been removed to the Isle of Pines, where, it is antisipat- ed, they will before long bave the run of the whole island, “This is even better than soiting them to work ia the arrenal, to wa'k back to prison each night. A uring 1ebbery, or rather burglary, took place in the Calle de 10s Officios, one night last week. ‘The promises f Ramon Fernandes Criado were feloniously ontered. aad Property to tho value or $12,000 carzied off, Within an evenirg or two cf the above occurrence, a gentleman was mopped, at the early hoar of 8PM. ar “the comer at Galls Amaladed and Sun Rafeel, and roiled of hls money, watch, &. The following ircident, which took place recently, does not speak higtly for the state ot discipline in the spamah army. Twoecldiers on guard at cher the Punta or Taeon jail (they are near each other) quarrelied as to whose turn it kas to mount sentry, and ome strack the other with a stick, on the breast, near the region of the heart, so severely {bat his comrade dropped down, and in a few minutes ceased to breathe. The United Staier ship Potomac, Captain Powell, bear. ing the brosd peucant of Commodore Paukting, arrived bere on Sunday last, frm San Juan de Nicarsgua. The customary salutes did not take place until next day. The gallant Commodore and Captain Powell, with several of the officers of the ship, having called upon General Concha, were invited toa soiree In the evoning, at the palsce, where s gay party was assembled. The Froneh brig cf war Le Perouse came into this port the rame day as the Potomac. ur clty is thronged with visiters from the United States, and our hotels and boarding houses are conse- quextly doing a thriving businese, T have this moment received porilive information that Gen. Concha wilt soon return to Spain. Ho is appointed, or to be calle’, the Count of Havana, and will be suc- ceeded by Gen, Zabala. You may rely on tbis. The Bri- dier General Minzano is promoted to a Lieutenant eneral, Janvany 23, 1866. A highway robbery took place on the 7th iust., on one of the most public roads of the island, betwean San An- tonio ce los Banse and Alquizar, A’ party of “young Dicods,”” accompanied by their negroes, who cared thelr gameoocks, which they were goicg to fight, were stopped in the read by a gang of high waymen, theic birds taken trom thelr negroes, and themselves relieved of botween $10 0C0 and $12,000 in golden ounces. The highwaymen have since, I belicve, been arres‘ed. On the evening of | the 2ist inst., four negroes entered the residence of a Indy in the Calle de Industria, hoping to find a large sum of money ehe wes kuown to hare that day received; but they weie disappointed, for the lady had prudently placed ber money ing triend’s tron chest. Shs was, however, sked. and every- hink Havana 9 man to recide int Adios. B, arrie: Gelightfal city for » lou OUR KEY WEST CORRESPONEENCE. Key West, Jan. 21, 1856. Mission of a Revenue Cuttr—A Suspicious Craft—More Inoian Murders—The Light Louses on the Coast. The Uni ed States revenue cutter Sea Drift, Lieutenant W. B. Randolph, was despatched by Collector Baldwin,on | the 10th instant, to the west coast of Florida, to watch the movements and ascertain the business ofa suspicious locking bark reported at anchor in Charlotte harbor. It ts said by certata parties that this unknown yessel had landed & cargo of sisves in Cubs, and was obilged to flee across the Gult to avoid seizure; othars affirm that sheis | engaged in ccliectirg guano—lage quantities ot which bave been discovered within the past year upon the islands about Tampa Bay,Manatou and Charlotte harbor. We have disastrous news trom the neighborhood of Fort Dallas, (Mlami river.) ‘The Indians have been hov- erirg about the settlements for some weeks, and on the 7th, a large party “attacked some settlers living on the border of the Indian hunting grounds, twelve mi ea west of the fort, and killed Peter Johnson and Edward Ferrall. The others escaped, but returned the next day, accompanied bya detachment of United States troops, in commend of Captain Hili, They were unable to follow the trail of the Indians farther than the Everglades, where they bad embarked in their canoes and escaped into the interior. The bodies of the mur- ceed men were found scalped. Their hats were ran- sucked, and every thing of value carried away. All the settlers around the Miami have came into the fort, and dewarded the protection of the tr The women and chtidren have been brought to this clty. In consequence of the threatening + of affairs the erection of the lighthouse at Jupiter Inlet has been abandoned for the season. Ieutenant Meade, United States Topeg:aphical Corps, is now in the city, and has iven orders to sell the matetials belonging to the house. e mechanics will complete the repairs of the Cape Florida light, and then return North. The materials for the Iron Screw Pile Light House on Collis s’ Patches have arrived, and the balding will be th the utmost oxpedition. This it house carrie fee largont iron structureof the kind in world. ‘The focel plane will be 150 feet above the water. The minat apparatus is @ fresnel of the first order, The otracture * be erected under the immedia‘e su- rvision of Lieut. Meade. Mr. Reverdy Alexander, of ‘the Light House Board, has been ordered to Wi on in consequence of the abandonment of the Jupiter Light, of which he was the su tendent engioosr. peacon for Rebecca Shoal will not be errected before August or September next. Ropy Fouxp on Sort Baraca, Lirtrie Eao Hanvor,—A letter from Joreph Ridgway, F+y, ac ing as the booy of 8 ran sup, to be a sea captain, whic! vas totsndon Short , Little Fgg Harbor, on the 8th ot January. The body was that of a man about five fect eight inches high, apy ly aout sixty years of age, of very light lex! Jarge whiskers, quite bald on top ot tn head pact of front teeth gone. “He hed on two Fatt understand one another, working more 4 two ther, Geren haa comme out ka favor of reigises Our Moatroal Correspondence. Mowraxan, Jan. 14, 1866, Sensation Among the Canadians in Relation to the Prospects of War with Great Britain—Jealousy of Strangers, eepecialiy those whe in any way Contribute to the Press. Your peper is looked for with deep interest in this place, and indeed in all the provinces of Upper or Lower Canada, for whatever it may contsin in rela- tion to the rumored rupture between the United States and Great Britain. It is often remarked that & war pow must be destructive to the prosperity of both continents. It would be a war of devastation; and every Englishman, every Canadian declares, nothing would be so toreign to their wishes as a war between the United States and England or France, or both. Butthere are those who appear so self: as not to perceive the truth that there is no mani featation whatever on the part of the United States ofa desire for war. The: therefore throw the entire reeponaiblity qpoa yes | Now, Mr. Editor, as an Aj although aqjoura- , ing in the Queen's dominions, I venture to assert there is not one among all the American nation, whe has any standing in society, politically or commer- Pils Rhodes ic least dosite for war. If the American people are pro other nations, she wil, pe wy Hy But if, on the contrary, injustice is done & vernment and the people, the United States ment is not eo im) it as to make war 4 nation a question of doubtas to the results, If, ‘we were ‘ and slender,” we beat Ei cause, as Yankee Doodle says, “ God fender,” we most certainly can do it are of full . Tt is truly | bo} of John Bull, here in the princes, subject. Bay » “when Sete ee is fally tetiled, and Napoleon retires ,400 or 600,000 soldiers on his hands, they will compel him to’ go to war with some nation, And where will he go but to America?” And then it is ti s: z ihe g¢ fee eae a added, “Of course Faas weit regret the ne- cessity, but she must submit to it, terms of | the alliance, to ight seniehhon ons children.” Dreadful! is it not? these people who never saw snaking. bigger than the St. Lawrence and the e of Mont Royal, think Nay with an army of 50,000 or 60,000 Frenchmen helt that number of Englishmen, would walk st: over the big pond, and make a ten strike of all United States at one blow. They are not ge phers evidently, and have yet to learn something about the extent of Uncle Sam’s farm, and his na- merous family of big boys and girls too, if needed, who can fight some, if close cornered. But, it is no less amusing to be told by a sensible, observing man, that in consequence of the bare alla- sion, by your paper, to the possibility of a scrim- mage, there is really already a self-coustituted wateh: placed over every stranger from the States—and more especially those who send a letter from the province to the Hgraxp, lest it be some fulmination of terror to the people of the island of Montreal. I was yesterday informed that, in relation to a certain matter of interest to myself, «&c., there was diffi in the way of its accomplishment, from no other com- sideration than that Iwas an American. This is Canadian Know Ni oan Ae suppose. But, God bless the Canadian people, I am neither a spy nora coward—neither a traitor nora conspirator, but s plain, simple son of Brother Jonathan. ‘The non-organization of the House, by the election of a Speaker, is the subject of more speculation as the days are multiplied over its present state. Si ink, il Richardson is elected, a more de will be made by Mr. Pierce to ee, about a fight, that he may retrieve his reputation for bravery, leuve the capital city a hero. Others think, if Banks is elected or chosen Speaker, the President will have no ores to introduce, successfully, any propositions which shall be eruptive. And many surely think the great question of peace or war may depend upon the choice of a Speaker in the House of Represeutatives of the United States. Lut, whatever they think, I know what aes and every other sensible citizen of the United States thinks, and tat is, that they oughs to be driven out of the city by their constituenta, and fed on bran bread and water until they cau learn better than thus to plunder the treasury to gratify their childish whims. Am T not right? Although the river has not yet been crossed at this place by a team, yet it has deen full of solid ice for aweek or more, itis feared it may move again, and therefore the delay in making a road. Tenclose you a beautiful s‘ory of “practical chari- ty in Montreal,” which 1am sure would beautifully apply to yourcity. If you think so, it is at your I. Av Raver. Our Niagara Correspondence. Niacapa, Jan. 20, 1856, International Railroad Festival—The Pursuit of Pleaswe under Difficulties—Acridents on the Roal—Brilliant Ap- pearance of the Ball Room—National Decorations, &c. The International Railroad festival and ball came of on Wednesday evenirg last, the 16th inst., at the sont- eagle House, und was, notwithstanding the unusual dept: of snow, (about \h:ee feet,) and the obstructions of the railroad trains by the drifts—the one from Buffalo, with over ore hundred ladies and gentlemen for the ball, being out all night in the snow banka near Tonawanda—atiend- ed by nearly four hundred guests, (one half of whom were Iadies,) from Canada and the States. The rising fame of this new andelegant hotel, the unrivalled splem- dor cf the late opening ‘military and civic ball,” gives by tho Niagara Suspension Bridge House Company, who have erected the building and furnished it in a style unequalled in Western New York. The romantic ani at- tractive locatiom, overlooking the Falls of Tieeare od, the great ralway suspension biidge, at the judttion of the greatest railroad thoroughtare in the count all contributed to give the projected festival and an unusual interest and stimu'ated expestation. ‘The railroad superintendents ani condactors from mary of the important railroads in the Union and Canada were present, and numerous letters from others, whe could not attend, were received, and rend to the guests by the committee. The guests arrived by nine in the evening, at whtch hour the ball began, and the dancirg was kept up, without intermission, to the musie cf Barion’s celevrated band, of Rochester, until five ig the morning, in the speci sus ball room of ths Monteagle, which fas a floor of five thousand square feet, and therelore, accommodate several hundred dancers at @ time, and not he crowded. This large room was decorated with evergreens and with the Awerican, English and French figs draped around the weliv, under which were wreaths bearing the pames ot the princips! railroads in the United Sta‘es and the Canadss, axd that of the Amerfoan Express Company. At the enst end of the room there was » large transpsren- cy of a locomotive Segine, with a view of Niagara Falls and the Mald of the Mist steamer, with tho hends clasped over the border, and the words ‘International Railroad Festival ana Bal},”’ in large evergreen letters, around the pointing. Over “the wite entrance doors, at the west evd of the ‘ba'l room, were elegant shielde bearing the names of Washington, Wellingten and Napoleon, wich the three fivgs of the vation they each represent as heroes and war- iors, over them. The music stand, for fifteen performers, was clerantty Ceoorated with evergreens and flowers, and surmoun' with ® large eagle bearing the Amerisan shield, with the words Mon 'eegle’ over the whole; while opposite the music stand were hung on the walls of the room the ‘iraite cf the conductors and agents of the New York tral std Great Western Railroads, which com- nect at this polat, handsomely decorated. ees besen other preston bo page the w aving beem array with great’ care and cost, and all brilliantly lighted up with with one hundred gas burners, which addei much to the briliapey of the room and the charms of the beautifally dreaeed lacier, and gave the whole a dazaling and gor- geour appearance. When we add that the rupper was unequalled in point of elegance, variety and abundance by any ever given im this Pet and that it was served from eleven io four o'clock, enongh for handreds left unt we can say that the ‘festival aud ball’’ was a successfal and brilliant offair, aut reflected great credit upon the Com- mitte of Arrangements and upon the proprietors and su- petintendents of the Monteagle House. A NEW YORKER. News from the Rio Grande. The Brownsville Flag, cf he 15th ult., has the follow- ing announcement :-— riod, at Ringgold Barracks, Des. 9, by the Rev. H. Chamberlain, of Brownsville, Dr. Andrew ae 5 . Si of A, ie Spread ley, daughter of Capt. The Flag, of the 20th ult., says:— Augustine Y. Barra, Mexican, waa hung last week ta the gone d of the Salt Lake, for stealing and killing three cattle belonging to s Mexisan. Last Buncsy we were vi-ited with a northor, whie® lasted until Thursday morning. There has not deen ex- rienced puch cold weather since 1860, Tho thermoms- r fell to 80 deg., and ice formed an inch and « heif thick. All the orange, lemon, fig and other [ruit tenes have been nipped, and our market fa periocily destitute of garden tables. fie ftellowing isfrom a correspondomt of the New Or leans Picayune Bacwneritis, Jan, 6, 1866. Business is til] dull here in the retafl lice, but the large dealers are doing a big business, bie in getting their goods through. has San ie etiniee maa the most shirts, two cotton shirts, cne and white pair of knit drawers, two pair of pants, ‘one of biack pilot and has published an article upon the my sloth, one of fine ribbed 1 ; two coats, one brewn | Jamaulipico, of Tampon. ‘The cof this o) summer cloth, ome India rabber, lived with black and fee Sneek Oe central or church pasty, and seem white cotton; a heavy scarf around his neck; one of | to think revolution is not ended Yet, ae new navy boots, gum elastic leggings over the The | last there was a grand ball ‘os the wi ‘a ferment, as ‘ i passage is clear of ise. ‘There was fouad on Short The Beach at the seme time, one shirt, marked A. J.; do., "We have had the coldest weather that hes been Beiido LF ats. Bone tansierebiee “Crione | rieweed bere in are, There baa been a contine tr drawers, A. T. B.: do. V. F.j and some other , | ons norther alnce Ree pls ) With iater. not mark ‘ail of which maj Bosch, Title tegen . | mntastons of a day and & ‘each time. Sree see G. Burton, tkeeper, Short Boach, Little Egg Harbor, we had lee sn inch in thickness. Much garubbery New Jemney.—PAgdaphia Ledger, Jan. 28, been destroyed by the (ntense qgld.