The New York Herald Newspaper, February 10, 1856, Page 6

Sedigii."Neuman avd Barottis Spanish Pro- ary ~ 5a By Velasques. 1 vol. German and English Dictionary. New | editions. 2. vol. | Spiga apd. Sarenne’s French Pronouncing Dic: | tionasy. 1 vol. | ‘The Atteoché in Madrid. 1 vol. ' Commdential Correspondence of Napoleon with his Brother, Joseph Bonaparte. Olmated's Sea Board Slave States. 1 vol. ‘Thé Hanter’s Feast. By Capt. Mayne Read. 1 vol Kate Weston. By Jennie De Witt. 1 vol. ‘The Year Book of the Nations, for 1856. By Elihu Barritt. 1 vol, ’g History of England. 4 vols. in one. Philadelphia (Butler's) edition. Tam Arraous IN MADRID; OR, SERTOHES OF THB Couar oF ua Ii. Translated from the German. Appleton & Co. It is long since we have made acquaintance with oh a rattling, off hand and agreeable com- panion as our German Attaché. He has a faculty of skimming lightly the surface of things—of giv- ing bis readers just as much as they want to know of the gossip and scandal of a court and capital not over remarkable for the correctness of their morala—of investing everything he touches with & freshness and piquancy which impart in- terest’ even to familiar subjects, and of leaving the impression all the while that they have been listening to a man of remarkable conversa- tional powers, so rapidly does he carry one along with him. This ia about the highest praise that can be awarded to a work of this class. Descriptions of the manners, customs and peculiarities of other na. tions, to be life-like, must be touched with a master hand. Like clever painting, they must present at & glance all the salient features of the sketch, whe- ther serious or grotesque. This talent our Attaché Posseases in am eminent degree, and his book has consequently the merit of being one of the most picturesque, racy and amusing books that bave as yet been published on Spain. We regret that we have only space for a tew brief extracts:— THE BANKER OF SALAMANCA. When I saw Don Jose Salamancs I wondered at my hardthood in calling him my banker. Some day I s ive you gn account of this extraordinary msn, one of Je taost striking charactes in this or in any other coun Sto ates tine tt sso sndel de dufer a tan of taal: ‘© man of pleasure, royal in hia expenditare—ac- a1 to bis ‘newies, unp’ incioled—sccording to all, |; sometimes living like a piince, at others hid. iS in s gerret and ercaping for his life~tull ot taleats, inexhaustible in resources—a kind of practical Monte Christo, only that hix resources Ke in his own abilities, rether than in any hidoen treasure. But at t it fs with nis personnel alone that I have todo, I founda tall, geotiemanlike msn of s cer'ain age—ex‘remely handsome, rather gravely dressed—with animple, frank expression of countenance, a quantity of brown hair. very negligently dressed ard falling = good deal over hia foreheac; good penetrating eyes and almost a boyish emile. How my I ish friend, to whom { have not yet imtrocuced You, Isughed aiterwards, when I gave him my first imprestions of 4alamanca! He receives me with great kindness, and wh-n we bad despstehed our business entered into conversation with me His msn- nere are extremely agreeable and ashe also knows my father, and even received some service from him during his residence in Pari-, we bave many rujec'a in com- mon. He made me mauy offera of service, apparently sincere, offered to intruduce me to the casino, to the tertulia of the Senora B———1, and invited me to dise with him on Sundsy next, besides cutting his house, in meral terms, mi disponicion. His study was beauti- Filly ated up, even luxurcously, but in excellent taste. Fine psintings on the walls and choice books on the abelves of his library. We amckei a seger and seps- rated, I will not ray mutually pleared, but will answer for the geod impression made upon myeelf. FREVOH MEANNESS AND SPANIEH LIBRBALITY. old paleoe belonging to the Dukes ef Oasunsy knoe w es 10 tu tho Paisee of Botan ness er ente, where the duchess of that mame, grancmcther of tne present duke, resided, and qiere, sa. Count A—— old me, she used to reunite all the of L ing,” added, airy eee than those tertulias; ‘ceilency in greet state, with = numerous suite. To the aurprise of large pails of champagne were Drought from the stabie and set before the horses. But here we sre at the Cuesta de Js Vega, aad on the ex- tremity of thie bill stands the om assy, almost in the eountry, 8s you will observe.”’ THE ALVA FAMILY. I stopped M———. to a-k him the name of @ pretty woman, towhom be took off his hat. She was lying back ims email open carriage with beautifal horses, tho emailest cf English jockeys, and servants in the French imperial livery. She was dressed in the most perfect ot Freneh toilettes and the whcle turnout was irreproach- able. Half a dosen young men eee eee es gertire at her car:iage. ‘Tuat,” said M——, ‘‘is the chest of Alva, sister of the Empress of France, the test cg in Madrid. The Palace of Siria belong- ng to the ducal fanily ot Alva, is one of the finest in the ity. It-was built nearly » century ag> by James Stew- art Fitsjames, third ot Berwick and Siris, ander the direction of R drigurs, # celevratec architect. Tho ifiernt, sad it has been lately refurntshed “ |, extraordinary splendor.” “Do you not visit the duchese?’’ “I leave my card at the palace oc- carionaly, but she receives no one. It is three years since I have been admi:ted. But it is almests royal residence. J particularly admire the chapel, beautifully vec with marcle aod the walls painted with frescos Galiano. There is alro an immenre terraced garden, filed with flowers, aod fountains and marble statues, disposed with a great deal of taste, and a fine gallery of tings, coliected in Italy by the father of the prevent Sake.” “Bat why does not the duchess receive? From pride’ ‘Notatall. Sh isas simple in her manners and as free from pride and sffectsiion as achild. I mast do the Spanirh aristocracy the jusvice to ay that, what- ever their pride of femily my be, i: is never offenvely shown, You will find that the grandee: here rec:ive very little, and I wi leave it to your own philosophy to disccver the reasous whea you become acquainted with Madrid scoieiy.”’ AN EVENING AT THE COUNTESS DE MONTIJO’S. Scaue days ago Count A , having received sa invi- terion to a diplomatic dinner at the Voun'e+s de Moa- ‘tijo's, at Cars ynenel. rec mmenced ms to ride out in the cool of vening, when b» would. he ssid, present me to the countess, I set off ab uteight o'clock, toge- ther with B—— and others of the Frenct legation, on ‘one of the most beautitul evening: imaginable, crossed | the fine solid bridge of Toledo, wica ita nine bold arches, and entered the pretty village of Caramanshel when it began to grow dusk. When we arrived we found some of the guests playing a: Diliiards, but the greater part, amongst whom was the coun'ess, were enjoying the cool Dreeres of the evening in the beautiful and extensive gardens and shrubberies, io the arrangement of which she takes the greatest pride and pleasure. We walked out thrcugh a labyrintn of t-ees and flow- ers until we met the party returciog in diferent groups, alzost all laden with large bouquets of roses. I was resented by the count to the motaer of the Empress Pugenis, and received with that kindness and cordiality for which ¢he is remarkable, even amongst Spanish women. In conversation she iv delighttu’, perfectly un- ‘uelle. 1 thing that in al- 2 eonsider herself as rather elevated by her porition above hee Not if any difference is to be re- Setween Yhe Gountes: de Montijo and other Indies of her rank, it is that she is even more simple {a her manners and more avxious to please than they are. Since I came here I have heard a thoaeand anecdotes of when Countess of Teda; of hor eccentricities, r , ber courage and her talents. Of her beauty loam made ving seen ber on the momorab'e day of tings ea the deep emotion of her feelings ha J I Tt is amid that she was alw: 3 I ays end Aa hae, been contented with no orale i her i i} ff gE i s 3B i rH Zé. generous and tanciful, what strange sen- re ond wonder. even of fear, must ‘throb hl abe a nation, en t encircled the head sii it) i 7 nl gi. zeea JER } t E i i ; | which take place weekly. A good many trom Madrid, amrngst others the Do i Bea A 3 t 7 if | Tks been carried from ber native shores by the Im,orial eagle. ‘The verse is easy aod flowing, and the muric 06 weil adapted to it that it is in its way o Mitle @awere, An Heradier was prevent and also geve-al of the performers, the countess complied wich the ge eral request, and some of tne choruses were sung with @ apirit taste that would have d me no discredit to professional slogers, There is one part of the ‘Loa’ porieusly pretty The young maitons approach the qe of tine aod ack what the f stm of their fe be Tn anewere, in mei dious verse, that upks wy to him; but whatever be tse fo ure uw NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1856. i LL descendant Gusmens will never Our Attaché was present atthe scene which led to the duel between Mr. Soulé and the Duke of Alva. His ascoant of it, however, differs in no ma- terial reapect from that poblished in the newspapers at the time. Tas Ysan Boor oF tHE Nations vor 1856. By Elibu Burritt. Appleton & Co. The plan of this little work is good, if it were properly carried out. It professes to give us, | amonget ether things, the vital statistics of the dif- ferent nations, but although it dates for this year, most of the returns are only brought down to 1960. Both ag regards the United States and Great Britain, the materials were at hand for late returns of their imports and exports, without reference to the cepsus of either country; but of these Mr. Burritt has not availed himself. To be really useful, an annual of this kind should be fresh in ita facte, as wellas comprehensive in its design; otherwise it wil! prove valueless for the purpoee of reference. Srrez’s anp Scnenne’s French AnD ENGLISH Dictionazy. A new edition, edited by G. P Quackenboss. Appleton & Co. Spier's French and English Dictionary has long been acknowledged to be one of the best and moat reliable lexicographic aids that we possess. Incor- porated with the results of Surenne’s labora, no dictionary that has as yet been pub- lished has obtained more general currency and popu- larity. By the aid of Surenne’s system of notation, the sound of each word is given as indicated by the acknowledged standards of orthoepy in both languages, an advantage that cannot be too highly appreciated. In the present edition four thousand new French words connected with science, art and general literature have been inserted, and the nu- merous typographical errors of former editions have been corrected. The work altogether reflects credit upon the research and conscientious accuracy of the American editor. A Pronovuncine DicTIONARY OF THE SPANISH anp EnouisH Lanauaces, By Martano VELAS- QUEZ DE LA CapsNa. Aypleton & Co. This work is based upon the well known Diction- ary of Don Matteo Seoane, but for the orthography and prosody of Seoane, now almost entirely disused the editor has substituted the new and improved or thography and prosody of the Dictionary of the Academy. He has also added to Sesane’s work more than eight thousand articles. For the English por- tion he has taken as his guides the dictionaries of Webster and Worcester, and in some instances Bart- lett’s treatise on Americanisms. With these aids he has succeeded in presenting us with the most com- plete Spanish and English Dictionary that has as yet been published. DierioNaRY OF THE GERMAN AND Enouisa Lan- evuages. By J.G. Adler, A. M. Appleton & Co. The value of this work has already been stamped by three large editions. The fourth, which is now before us, is recommended by ita careful revision and improved typographical appearance. Morse’s GeNBRAL ATLAS OF THE WORLD. ton & Co. Nos. 1 and 2 of this work are now before us. So far as its plan and general execution are concerned they are entitled to commendation, but we are rather disappointed with the appearance o@ the plates. They are not what we are accustomed to look for in atlases, in which typographical excellence and fine paper are usually considered indispensable features. NEW WORKS IN PREPARATION. Dr. Valentine, who has been well known through- out the United States for at least a quarter of a century, a3 a delineator of eccentric characters, and who commenced his public career at the old Park theatre in 1835, has turned author, and is about favoring the world with a couple of his literary pro- ductions. One, story of a local comic character entitled “ Richard Tremaine, or the Lottery Victim,” is already completed, and the second, called“ Alfred Reed, or the Reclaimed One,” isnearly ready for the press. It is a comico-religious temperance tale, em- bodying the vagaries of the leading temperance men in the city for the last fifteen years. From the pe- culiar vein of the author’s mind, these works will no doubt produce a considerable sensation. OBITUARY ADDRESSES ON THE OCCASION OF THE DEATH OF THE HON. JODGE MORRIS. The proceedings of the New York bar on the ooca- sion of the death of Judge Morris, of the Supreme Court, the funeral orations, &c., have been publish ed ina very neat book form, for private distribu- tion among the relatives, friends and professional brethren of the deceased Judge. The proceedings were reported by Measrs. Hayes & Co., stenogra- phers. The clearness and beauty of the typogra- phy, which embraces Mr. Morris’ celebrated letter to Governor Seward in 1841, and the life-like en- graving of the decased clutching the “‘Glentworth Papers,” render the work, as a record of the life of @ great public favorite, one that every member of the profession would desire, if possible, to possess. The engraving is admirably executed by Capewell & Kimmel, and the book has been altogether beau- tifully got up by Messrs. Sibel. It is not for ale, being merely intended for gratuitous distribution among’ the friends and relatives of the deceased. Apple- The Council, Assemb) tricts of this City. The city charter of 1853, miacalled the ‘‘ reform” charter, under which the Board of Councilmen wi # organized, provides that “the said city shall be divided (by the Common Council) into sixty districts, of contiguous territory, as near as may be of equal population, each of which shall choose one Council- man. * > * Within one year after the State and pational census shall have been com- pleted, the Common Council shall, in like manner, re-district said city.” The reader will observe thit nothing is here said about “ unnaturalized foreign. era and colored persons who do not pay taxes.” In forming Assembly districts such persons must, under the State constitution, be excluded from the compu- tation of the number of inhabitants. But accordiag to the law, as it now stands, the occupants (always numerous, yet constantly changing) of the emigrant boarding houses in the First and Fourth wards, and the colored people of the Fifth and Eighth wards, will be entitled to an equal representation in the Board of Councilmen with the Americans and tax- payers of the city. It will be the duty of the present Common Council to reconstruct the Council districts. No town or ward can be divided in forming an Assembly district, nor can an Assembly district ve divided in forming a Senatorial district. The prin- cipleis a wholesome one, and we have no doubt that it will be observed in forming the new Council dis tricts, as it was in forming the present, though there is nothing in the charter requiring it, But if #0 much is assumed to carry ont the evident intent of the law, why shall not the representative popula- tion of the several wards, according to the State con- stitution, be taken as the basis, in the award of Councilmen to them? We commend this question to the consideration both of our Legislature at Al- bany and of our Common Council. We shall proceed to indicate the number of dis- tricta to which each ward wili be entitled, if the districts are reformed on the basis observed in 7853. ‘The total population of the city is 629,810. There are 60 counciimen. The ratio to each district will, therefore, be 10,497. The following Qable will show the population of the several wards, the number of Councilmen to which they are entitled, with the fractions over: — Wards. 1... Additional Practions. for Frar 2.980 amelie dt . Eighteenth district—22... a 1.200 im = Fifty districts are provided for, with the full po- pulation required. The Second and Third wards have not each sufficient population to entitle them to Councilmen; but each will be awarded one. This dispotes of two of the other ten. The remaining eight will be awarded to those wards having the largest fractions over—which are the Ninth, Fwelfth, Thirteenth, Sixtcenth, Seventeenth, Nineteenth and Twenty-first, as indicated by the two right hand columns. The First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, Tenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth wards each lose a Council- mun. The Twelfth, Seventeenth, Nineteenth, Twen- tieth, Twenty-first and Twenty-second wards each gain a Councilman, and the Eighteenth ward gains two; but if they were divided among the several wards, according to their representative population, Twel(th and Seventeenth would neither gain a Councilm.n, while the Twentieth would gain two instead of one, and the Ninth would gam one instead of remaining stationary. ‘The peouliar character of the laws concerning the formation of Aseembly districts favor the down town wards. Although the unnaturalized aliens and persons of color not taxed are not included in their population, anda large proportion of the population of the lower wards is composed of these two classes, the requirement that the Assembly districts shall be formed of contiguous territory, and that wards shall not be divided, nullifies the advantage to the upper wards, which it was supposed they would gain from their large American population. This city will be entitled to eighteen members of Assembly. ‘ne districts, for the next ten years, except in cases mentioned, will be composed about as follows:— First eke on jority, were put into one Congressional district, al- though it is some hundred end fifty miles or more from one extremity of the district to the other, and the settled portions are at two extremes on the Erie Canal and the St. Lawrence rivet, while the central portion isan almost unexplored wilderness. Delaware and Otaego, also two. democratic counties, form another district; Steuben, then a democratic county of moderate strength, was swamped in Livingston. The emall democratic counties of Seneca and Yates were associated with Ontario, then a whig stronghold. In this city the policy pur. sued may be illustrated more clearly. Those homes of the democracy and “ the brogue,” the Fourth, Sixth, Fourteenth and Tenth wards, were erected into one district. The then moderately demo” cratic First and Fifth. wards were over shadowed by the Second, Third and Eighth The Eleventh and Seventeenth were attached to the Fifteenth. The Seventh and Tenth wards were democratic, and they were associated with the city of Williamsburg, also democratio. The Ninth, Sixteenth and Twenty-first wards formed another district. Thus was the democratic strength so oon- centrated into two districts, that of the six Con” greesmen to which this city and Brooklyn are en” titled they could not calculate with certainty on carrying but those two, although on a general ticket they could probably carry the whole. But the best laid plans often fail, as did those of the whig Legislature. At the first election under their apportionment, the democrats, owing to the disaffection towards Gen. Scott, carried twenty, and the whigs fourteen of the Congressional districts: The small democratic counties overshadowed the large whig counties, and in this city and Brooklyn every democratic candidate was elected. The existing state of confusion among parties will serve to discourage any at empt at “‘ Gerryman: dering ’’ in the Legislature, the Common Council or the Board of Supervisors. No man can foresee what a day will bring forth—moat of all, politically. If there were any such disposition in the Legisla” ture, it cannot develope itself successfully, in conse | quence of the fact that neither party has a majority in either branch. The districts to be formed of thia | city, whether Council, Assembly or Senatorial, can- 052 | not be 60 “ Gerrymandered” as to afford any guaran” Fifth district—8. Sixth district—9. Seventh district—10 Eighth district—11. Ninth district—12. Twelfth district—15.. Thirteenth district—16. Fourteenth district—17. Fifteenth district—18. Sixteenth district—20 Seventeenth district—2 It will be seen that unless some new, le is adopt- ed for the formation of Assembly distiftts, some of them will have more than double the population of others. The rule militates with great severity against the Ninth, Eleventh, Seventeenth and Twen- tieth wards. Ifa ward is formed from the Eleventh and Seventeenth, the Fifth and Fourteen:h will be united in one district. In forming the Senatorial districts, it will be re- membered, Assembly districts cannot be divided. This city, owing to operations of the constitution re- specting the basis of representation, will have but four Senators. The respective districts will be com- posed somewhat as followa:— FIRST SENATORIAL DISTRICT. ee district representative popu- lation. Second Third Fourth Seventh Eleventh 102,197 ND D. t. +++ 20,825 THIRD DISTRICT. Eighth sao district. 0. Tenth 17,277 Fourteenth do, + 32,420 Fifteenth do. ‘ MOM Sere s ilar ites sc ess eceuniase 104,724 FOURTH DISTRICT. Ninth Aseembly district. . vee 20,358 Sixteenth do... + 32,095 Seventeenth do. + 19,659 Eighteenth do... vee 14,397 MPO UAL CT Sipe etbigavo's ike: cacat cocese cen 86,509 The Assembly and Senatorial districts are formed by the Board of Supervisors. We have thus given some indication as to how the different districte—Council, Assembly and Sena- torial districte—must be formed under existing cir- cumstances. They are not without interest to all clasees of readers. In former times, when party lines were distinctly drawn—before the independent press had given birth to independent thought, and consequent free- dom from paity trammels among the mass of voters— when, year after year, certain counties were con- sidered ‘‘reliable” for certain majorities for either the whig or democratic party—it was considered o° no Kittle moment to & party to have the power of re constructing districts for the election of members of legislative bodies. In the rural districts, Senatorial and Congressional districts are often composed of two or more counties, and to arrange these to the advantage of the party in power at the time wasa work of no little difficulty, and called into action a | good deal of partisan effrontery. The minority were obliged to content themselves with hurling at the majority the now almost obsolete epithet of “Gerrymandering,” as characterizing the unfairness which had been shown in the formation of the dis- tuicts. The origin of the word we have quoted was at one time familiar; but lest it should be forgotten, we will again recite it. When Elbridge Gerry was Governor of Massachusetts, a majority of the Legis lature was of the same party faith. The State was re-distrizted into Congressional distriets, and, in the attempt to compose them to the advantage of Mr. Gerry's party, the spirit of the law requiring them to be compact in territory was safd to have been outraged. A map of these districts was made, and two of the opposi- tion were one day looking over it. “ See,” said onc, pointing to a particular district, “does not that look like a salamander?” “ Say rather a Gerry, mander,” replied the other; and the word has ob. tained universality ever since. The present Congressional districts of this State were formed in 1451. At the regular session o° | P the Legislature the census had not been so far com pleted as to afford the information necessary. But | twelve democratic Senators resigned under circum | stances which gave rise to the necessity of an extra | teasion. Before the extra session adjourned, the population of the State had been determined, and thus upon a whig Legislatare fell the advantage of | forming the Congressional districts for ten years. ‘The next Legislature was democratic; 80 that, how ever patriotic the motives which actuated the twelve democratic Senators, the result in this particular apparently added to the misfortanes of their party, which followed the course they pursned, The whig Legislature #0 formed the Congres sional districts that, with the old party lines stifiy drawn, and with only moderate good for, | tune, they might count with a good degree of certainty upon twenty of the thirty. | four members of Congress from this State. Strong | democratic counties were put together, and counties which gave small democratic majorities were | paralyzed in the embrace of some gigantic whig | neighbor. For instance, Herkimer and St. Law- rence, each in the haleyon days of democracy good for from twelve to fifteen hundred democratiy ma tee whatever that they will promote any end which | may be in contemplation by those making the divi- sion, The character of the population of any dis- trict, and, consequently, under the present land- marks, the strength of the respective parties, may | change so suddenly, and from such incomprehensible motives, that there can be little satisfaction in labor ing to establish districta with certain boundaries. We caution, then, all who have “‘ Gerrymandering” inclinations to beware, lest they are “ hoist by their own petard.” Notes om the Progress of Science. It is reported that a plan has been matured and laid before the Smithsonian Institute for the diffu sion of copies of the masterpieces of sculpture. The project has been well received, and there will probably be favorable action upon it early this winter. The art—now and for so long @ time past almost dormant—of using various colored bricks and stones in building is now exciting some attention in acien. tific circles. It is suggested that a great variety of fine effects of eolor might be produced with the several shades of red and yellow brick at the com- mand of the builder. There are few buildings so beautiful in color as the church of Murano, and its beauty is owing almost entirely to the mas- terly arrangement of the colored bricks of which it is constructed; aud there is no doubt that an ar- tist of taste, by the judicious use of such materials at the present day, might greatly beautify the build- ings of his creation. The group of sculpture carved by Gibson, the English artist, for the Parliament House, represent* ing the Queen enthroned between Jastice and Cle- mency, is completed. The London Athenaum says, of the Queen’s statae, that as a likeness it is a fail ure; the figure is too plump, the posé too theatrical and the face too heavy. But apart from the mere want of resemblance to the original, it has a certain grandeur of outline, and a massiveness of concep- tion, which bespeak the hand of the accomplished artist. Mr. Crawford, the American sculptor, is now busily engaged in completing his models, twelve in number, for the pediment of the capitol at Wash- ington. These figures are designed to represent the piogress of civilization. oe According to the English journals, the Minie Weapon must soon be superseded. Lancaster’s otpeeely bored carbines having been subjected to y 8 proofs in the arsenals at Woolwich, her Majesty’s corps of sappers ard miners are now being armed with them. These muskets have seve- ral qualities which have caused them to be pro- nounced TR? in construction and power to the Minie rifle, and have a range of upwards of 1,000 yards. Mr. Stephen Brown, a practical printer in Syra- cuse, has effected some very noticeable improve- ments in card presses, the chief advantage con- sisting in the ability to print different colors at one and the same time, while runming at the rate of about twelve hundred pet hour. It takes up about the same space as the Ruggles press, and is nearly as simple in its construction. The bed and plates are in the same position as the Adams press. The war has by no means impeded the progress of scientific pursuits in Russia. Daring the last year a numerous party started for the exploration of Eastern Siberia; another party was sent to the steppes of the Kirghis; a third was deputed to fix the exact geographical itions of a number of points in or near the Ural mountains, to form a base for the construction of an exact topographical map of the vast districts of mines in that part of Russia; a fourth expedition, with forty chronometers, was to join, first, Moscow with Saratow, aad this latter town with Astrachan; and Ua the great trigo- nometrical operations in the southern part of Russia and in the trans-Caucasian provinces are carried on without the least interruption. There are, also, at | Va 6,000 miles of telegraph wires erected in ussia, all of which are continually used for the transmission of telegraphic despatches. Mr. L. L. Chapman, of Philadelphia, has deve- loped,a new theory in respect to the weather. This is, that light, polarized at certain angles, Mec bape rate much more electricity than when polarized at certain other angles. Proof—Light, polarized in some angles, will, when converged, perfectly mag- netize wire in lees than an hour, while Tays polar- ized at other angles will have no such effect. Tiere. fore, currents of rays polarized by reflection from the different bodies of the solar system, in greater and lees degrees, according to the “more or less higbly electrical angles,” must necessarily produce fluctuations in the electrical condition of the atmos- phere. To these fiuctuations Mr. Chapman as- criles storms, earthquakes, and all meteoric changes, as well as cholera, vegetable blight, &. An Englishman has obtained a patent for the fol- lowing method of making pipes:—He takes thin siiips of wood and bends them gonally, and fills up the interstices with asphalt or cement—a process which is said to accomplish the purpote very successfully. A bew material for Loe fee purposes is now claiming the attention of builders. It is artificial sandstone, and is composed entirely of sand and ime. The ingredients are mixed in the required ortions, and then, by a powerful machine, tubjected to preegure, which immediately in- duces a chemical change, rendering the blocks in a short time as hard as sandstone trom the quarry, and like it in appearance. These blocks, which are about three times the size of common bricks, have Leen subjected to chemical and atmospheric tests that crumbled brick into powder at once, without injury. Experiments with it, in respect to its power of resisting cold and heat, have been per- formed by Professors Heory and Silliman, and from the opinion given by them the new material would appear to cc merits likely to render it of sub- "the Nev Haven Register states that a pate has ie New Haven isi a patent just been taken out by a gentleman of that city for the prevention of the counterfeiting of bank bills in every manrer, do ig photogray tag alta or otherwise; and so highly approved is his invention, that fcur of the New Haven banks will at once pro- ceed to issue bills after the new method. The in- vention is the result of chemical] experiments. Tho r to be used for the new bills is of light straw color; red is alao employed. These colors are ren- deved necessary by chemical process to which the paper is required to be subjected in its manu- facture, Artificial rearing of salmon is likely to elicit some interesting facts in ae hese ical science, and it is now becoming largely extended as a business in va- rious parts of Earope. The re-filling of the breed- ing boxes at Storinoutfield is now nearly completed Some ot them have been filled with ova’ taken trom [ i He Hu fF zeae EF & E H y ! i and it pod Ctra a morn which is almost unrivalled in any other variety of y, lags. ‘The process is a mae. and beautiful othe horizontal single cy! engine {a gaining ground in Europe on the double c engine. At one time, the it zontal engines was the ex ive unequal wear o! aon upon the lower side of the cylinder; but owing the accuracy with which pistons are now made, the wear and tear u) cylinders Ja preaey, 39. duced. In France, consumption 0 | per horse power, in the most common steam cogines, is very low--only about three pounds, and the makers of them guarantee tbat they will not exceed that amount. The steam is used at about 50 lbs. pressure on the square inch, and is cut offatone-fifth of the stroke; and so far as economy of fuel goes, they stagal toan engine with two cylinders, the one for high pressure, and the other for expansion— the well known Wolfe principle. Gun cotton is now extensively used in blasting rocks. The objections to its more general use are the inequality of its action com with wader; the effect on the gun is greater; its projectile force varies with the compression of it in the gun ; it at- tracts more moisture, alters slowly from loss of acid, and explodes under some circumstances at 154 de- Fahrenheit. At the Boston locomotive establishment, a twenty- two ton passenge: locomotive is building, as an ex- periment. In the g-neration ofsteam in the engine, coils of pipes are pee one upon the top of the other, which contains the water, and upon which pipes the fire is directly brought. It is intended to urn Coal, and it is thought steam can be made in ten or twelve minutes from the time of kindling the fire. Another novelty is, that the engineer is p! ahead of the smoke pipe. The fireman is to be placed behind the boiler. A patent car brake, involving some new improve- ments designed to meet a long felt desideratum, has been invented by Mr. Paul Muody. It consists of an additional steam chest on the locomotive, inside of which is a piston similar to that used in all steam cyiinders, and connected with this piston is the ma- chinery for “‘brakeing” the train. Themachinery is merely a moveable arm or lever, which con- nects with another lever, and that with another, continuously, running the whole length of the train. These levers are connected with the brakes, and perform the cpersion of checking and stop- ping the cars simply by the hand of the engineer applied to a spring or valve. e London Mining Journal says that Messrs. Adams & Gee, printers, of London, have found that metallic plates, of the thickness of ordinary sheet tin, may be printed upon with the usual printing types, if the plates be first coated with a composi- tion, the secret of the inventor. If sheets thus printed upon be afterwards subje:ted to a cer- tain Japanning process, an even lustrous surface produced, which cannot be acted upon except by 8 sharp steel instrament. It may ke applies in any instance where printed matter is either to be exhibited, or even handled, for any length of time, and may be advantageously substituted for the hitherto mounted lessons. How- ever soiled a cory. of the metal print may become by ex to dust of every kind, it can be clean- ed and,washed, even without being taken off, M. Barrére, of Paris, has exhibited a graving ma- chine, by which medals, cameos or any other re- Heved surfaces may be reproduced. A medal, for instance, is placed flat on a metal disk, to which it is firmly attached, and a metal pencil the size of an ordinary crayon, and very at the end, so as to trace a line no larger than the finest hair, is brought down upon its centre. The sheet of ivory or metal which is to serve as the basis of the copy is pl on another oer which is brought down a sim- ilar pencil furnished with the sharpest possible diamond point. The medal and the copy-plate being now periectly adjusted, the two pencils, whic! are connected by a rod, are set in move- ment by the machinery of this ned ingenious invention, and which may be worked by hand or steam at pleasure. The reproductions are perfect feat oe of the original, and of great delicacy and auty. 5 Later from Fort Pierre. The St. Louis Democrat says:—We have received by tel- egreph from our correspondent at Weston the following news from Fort Pierre :— Wesroy, Jan, 31, 1856. Merera. Dunlap and Wocéford, pilot and mate of the steamer Grey Cl vd arrived from Fort Pierre night before laat en route to St. Louts. The Grey Cloud got within 230 wiles ot the Fort on the 24 of November. it On an ex: of the boat and es On the 2st the fr ver , and it commenced sn very fast. The next day the boat was visited by seventy-five Indias warriors, who Cemanded ammunition and provisions. We heard of the troops fifty miles off. The rmometer at this time bed fallen to 36 de, below zero. On the 3lst Decem- ber the crew was en by order of General Harney, ard he tock porsession of the boat andcargo. The c ‘was eo great that several of the men were badly frozen. On the 7th of January General Harney arrivej, twenty- two days out from the fort. He traveled all the way the ice, with only thirty men. Duriog his journey he saw a large tumber cf Indians, and told them that ‘thi: 8 the time fur them to fight while the cold weather lasted; be had but few men, and they might kill him now, but ke would give them h—lin the g a? Dunlap acd others left the (re; ‘Goud on the 12th of Jonuary, an¢ came on the ice as far as Council Blufls. Maznisp Women’s Riguts 1x Kanrocky.—The following bill has become s Jaw in Ker tucky:—“The Cir- guit, Courts of this, commonest, ind other courts waving equity jurisdiction equal to preseat equi*: jurisdiction ot elroult courte: may, upon the petition of ‘4 married woman, to which her husband shall be a party, render a judgment authorizing her in her own name to transact bus'nesg, and to receive and collect her own eainings of her mioor children, for her support, aid the eupport acd education of her children, free from the con- trol or inter‘erence of her husband, or ot any person clatm'ng to act by bis authorivy, and from his deb's and liabilities. But before the jndament is rencered, the court rhail be eatisfied judicially that the husband, froin cronkenness, profiigacy, or other cause, neglecta, retus2s, or is upadle to provide for ‘he support of his wits, and for the support and education of ber minor children. The petition contempla‘ed by this act must be filed in the county of the husband’s residence, if he be a resi- cent, or in the county in which the wife ir commcrant, it be be a non-resident of this commonwealth, and shall be governed by the rules epplicable to actions for ail- mony. MurvER in BurFaLo.—An affray occurred on Sa- turcay vight, resulting in the death of a man nemed James Ryan, and another man of the same name re- ceiving @ severe stab in the arm. The person who com- mitted the deed js named Jobn Donnovan. Tne affair occurred on Mecharic street. Donnovan. the murderer, ce upied the first rtory of a house on Mechanf: street, the second story was occupied by a man named Dennis Maher, On Saturaay evening, Donnovan and his wife, sud # young man named James Ryan (not the one ktli- ¢¢,) who bearded with Donnovan, were sitting in Ponno- von’s premiees, when Mahar came down to make a visit. Words ensued abcut cutting wood over Donnovan’s head. ArevfMle Soatly occurred, in which the yonng man Ryan rec: ived a cut in the right arm. Donnovan went out into the street, and there another affray occurred, resulting in the Ceavh of James Ryan, senior, who was stabbed in three places, one piercing the heart, another in the neck, and one in the gioiv. He lived ten or fifteen minutes.— Buffalo Advertiser, Heb. 4, FINANCIAL AND COMM MONEX MARKET. Saturpay, Feb. 9—6 P.M. There was a very buoyant stock market this morn- ing. At the first board Missouri 6’s advanced $ per cent ; Illinois Central bonds, 1}; New York Cen- tral 6’s, 4; Nicaragua Transit, 4; Cumberland Coal, §; New York Central Railroad, }; Erie, 3; Michigan Central, “2; Reading, 14; Hudson Rail- road, } ; Michigan Southern, 2}; Cleveland, Colum- bus and - Cincinnati, 4 ; Illinois Central, }; Galena and Chicago, $ ; Cleveland and Toledo, 1 ; Chicago and Rock Island, 13. We have not had such a spirited market for many months, and according to the opinion of some of our largest operators the rise has but just commenced. The transactions in all the leading stocks to-day were immense. Nearly nine thousand shares of Erie were sold at the first board, opening at 643 and closing at 56 percent. Thero were four lots sold of over 1,000 shares each, and sales were made as high as 55], buyer 60 days. Michigan Southern opened and closed strong. It Tun up to 984 per cent cash. All the Western rail- road stocks were in demand at the improvement, and holders are confidently looking for par for those which have #0 long been so unwarrantably depressed, At the second board the same spirit prevailed, and prices were well sustained. Nicaragua Transit ad- vanced j per cent; Erie Railroad 3; Galena and Chicago j. Reading j. Michigan Southern closed at 96 a 964 per cent. ‘ ‘The stcamebip Persia, at this port from Liverpool, brings seven days later intelligence. The news is highly important, and politically of the most favora- ble character. The probabilities of peace are daily Lecoming stronger. The preliminaries are progreas ing fapidly, The effect of the fact that negotia- tiens are about being resumed was visible throngh, out all departments of trade, and upon prices for alf public securities. The first effect has been well sue tained. The period which had elapsed between the departure of the steamers had strengthened and confirmed the first impressions, and the public mind was gradually settling down upon a peace basis. A few weeks will suffice to bring public opinion up to the proper point. The last quotation for consols was 904 per cent; on the 24th of January 91 per cent was touched. The last bank return makes a good show. The following variations from the pre- vious week were reported :— Public dé posits, increase. Other de In produce markets there had been no change of importance. The cotton market was inactive, with aslight advance in prices. Breadstuffs have par- tially recovered. In relation to these staples the circular of Wright, Junior, & Co., of Jan. 25, says:— ‘The preliminazica for the ratifiestion of peace are aup- po to be favorably progressing, although no additions! ature has become ap; it to enable the beat jin ormed to caloulate with precision as to the course waich affairs may ultimately take, and confidence is founded alone on what every one appears to say mast prove to be true; some days’ pa'ience must consequently.and necessarily be exercised te avoid falling into error. Professed opinions inci: es to # epeedy termina‘ion of the war ; {in the mean- time there * ro .eexution in the preparations for con- tinuir g the struggle, shou'd events take a tura beige to general expectaticn. That suche result is ul! for ia evident from the course of our produce markets, which are we!l supported, though much of the excitement of last week has subsided, apo the commercial communi- tyre now lookirg forward to the influence different - order of things is caloulated to effect. In to cot- ton, there is no doubt consumption will be large; probe- Pir greoiee than at apy previous period; but to insure this no material advance in price must occur, and this likely to be checked from the knowledge of this season’: orop being #o extensive. The value of money cannot be expected to decline; greater accommodation may be ef- forded, but the, increased circulation of which av expansion of trade will necesrarily occasion, is of ttseif a sufficient reason against Seie'paring snc greater ease in ciscount rates. Speculation will doubtless be indulged in, but not to the same extent as many suppose, the in- dvcements not being of that promising character which have usuelly biassed the action of cspi alist, As the war has not interfered much with our foreign trade, but, on the contrary, stimulated it to some quarters—which will now be curiailed—we cin only look for an increase tn the home demand to give impetus to prices. Greater activi- ty will probably characterize this department, although 60 long as taxation and provisions continge on the pre- sent high scale, no material improvement is likely to show ittelf, Americs may be a larger customer than usual, trem the fact of the heavy crops of ull kiads ea- riching her people; but it is questionable if she will not draw tiom this country some amount ot specie, which, with all the i: comings frem Austraila and elsewhere, may © be required to meet the war expenditure so far, and for- eign loans that will doubtless be offering afier paace is ea- tablished. . We refer to additional remarks below for re- ports on trade prospects, and the positioa of our grain matketa, which have an important bearing on the sub- ject. In relation to American securities the London circular of E. F. Satterthwaite says:— The market for American securi‘ies in London has been firm. The maii service being temporarily deranged, we are not in ion of such Iate dates as usual from New York; later advices, suspense until thelr receipt. Attention bas also baen greatly attracied to howe securities since the negotia- tions for peace. We note, however, = very strong de- mand for all the securities ot the Lilicois Centrat Raiiroad, at considerably advanced rates. fhere are stil « few Erie bonds on the market, .e-pecially the Sinking Fund bonds, but sellers have demanded higher rates, We look for very yee frem America, in response to the late important advance in consols. The Daily News city article, dated Friday even- ing, January 25, says:— The funds to-dey bave experienced an unfavorable re- action ot ¢ percent. After o marked arise as that lately witnessed & relapse is not surprising. The ciel depressing itfluence, however, appears to rest with the continued seles on government account. The Bank of England, ble Porte large advances to governmea, tells stock for the latter, and thus draws back the notes tesued in payment of the divicends. Owing to thedemand for money against these sales, and to mee: to-day’s final instalment on the Turkish the rar f market in the Stock Exchange was rather stringent, and lenders sould earliy obtain eix per cent upon government securitics. Out of dcors, however, there was no tightness. It is pre- sumed that little, ifany, of the gold per the Champton of the Heas will be retained bere. The coin and bullion and the reserve of notes in the returns of the Bank of Eng- lend anow, in each case, a small increase. The addition to the treasury deposits is explained by the increase in the ——— securities held by tne bank. The direo- ters have evidently made fresh advances to the Chansel- lor of the Exchequer. The further decrease of more than balt million in the private seourities is a satisfactory feature, indicating a diminution im the pressure for mo- ney in commercial circles. In Manchester an improved feeling pervaded ali classes, without, however, any great accession of business. Nor is it apparent where any increase of demand can spring from, 80 little interruption to trade has the war engendered. The absence of stocks, however, inspires confidence, and there was more desire to renew contracts at old prices, which spinners and manufacturers were unwilling to con- cede. The transactions are consequently somewhat restricted, excepting, probably, particular desorip- tions of both goods and yarns, for which advanced rates have been paid. The following ia to-day's business at the office of the Assistant Treasure: Stock Exchan $100C0 Miasour! 6” 7 2000 H R 84 M Bas. 1600 MS Ist Mge.. 400€0 Ili Cen RR Bas 2000 do. do 1000 Reading iti | 700 do. 13 Ohio L&T 100 Canton Co, 100 do. 260 Nic Tran 160 do 100 do ty 400 Bruns City 1 Co. 100 Cum Coal Co 2 0, Cin RR, ntral RR... 9036 10 Cleve & Pitta RR: 6234 26 Gal. & Chi. RR.. 100) BECOND BOA! $11 000 TH Cen RR Be. 863¢ 3000 1) Fa Be w priv. Big I ‘060 Erie Pda of "71 86: 1000 ah Cen 6 10. , 5b%6 21s3 665% 200 MINING BOARD. 60 ehs Alleghany...c 73 200 sha Gar Gold 006 6256 1 100 do. vee 5S 100 New Creek br 100 Penn & Labi 1% 100 = do 330 60 1% 600 F. and Kp't Joint. 45 10 3 1000 Aberdeen ...,..¢ 4 ++ 1% 60 Gibba’ Auger Co,, 8% ees CIrY COMMERCIAL REPORT, Sarurpar, Feb, 9—2 P. M. Flour —The market was a trifle better, witha moderate business; salen 5,000 w 6,00 bbis., including common State at $7 60 a $7 5614; and extra at 97 62.8 $7 75. Wheat was quiet and prices nominal. White Uansda Wee offered at $2, without buyers, Corn was unsettled and prises lower. A sale of Southern mixed was mada at 80C.; Southern yellow and white were at about 830, Pork was dull et $16 erked, and $15 87 bid. Lard was dull at we ®10%¢. Cotwon.—The market was firm, with moderate rales, Whirkey was dulland nominal,