The New York Herald Newspaper, December 30, 1857, Page 1

THE NEW YORK HERALD. WHOLE NO. 7790. THE NEW POST OFFICE. ‘The Amended Repert in Favor of Locating the Building in the Park Passed the Board of Aldermen—Actual Value of the Land— Opinion of the Corporation Counsel. &e., &e., be. BOARD OF ALDERMEN. ‘The Board met last evening—Jobn Clancey, Esq., Presi- @ent, in the chair, ~ COMPLIMENT TO THE MAYOR ELECT. Alderman Avsms offerod the following preamble and ‘resolutions :— ~ Whereas, Datiiel F. Tiemann, Esq., Mayor elect, will not enter uJ the discharge of his official duties until after ther first day of January, 1858; and whereas, many of our citizens are desirous of tendering to him their con- gratulatious on the advent of the new year, therefore, _ ‘Resolved, That the use of the Governor’s room be ten- dered to the Mayor elect on New Year’s day, for the pur- pose of receiving the salutations of his fellow citizens. ‘Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be transmit- ‘ted to Danie! F. Tiemann, Eeq., by the Clerk of the Com- ‘mon Council. YRANKLIN MARKET FEES. A communication was received from the Comptroller, in answer to a rosolution reopovting the authority uf the City Yunpeotor” in” collecting fees “in Franklin Market, and whether the same was not in violation of the charter. ‘The Comptroller states that the amount paid into the City ‘Treasury by George W. Isaacs from May 6, 1857, to De- comber Past tor butcher stands, was $296, and for market fees $212 24—total $513 24. No money has been received from any other person from that market. The communication was ordered to be printed. ‘THE HERALD’S INFLUENCE ON THE MATTER OF THE NEW YORK PORT OFFICE SITE. ‘The following was received, in printedjform, from the architect of the proposed Post Office, who fears the oppo- ‘sition of the editor of the New York Heratp:— ‘Fo Tux Honoran.e THE BoaRD oy ALDERMEN, Crry HALL: Guvtievex—Having the preparing of the plans for the pew Post Office in charge, under the direction of the Hon orable the United States General, and fearing ‘that your , 48 well as the publie, may de prejudiced i aagment in consequence of the erroneous su; ‘itions put forward by my esteemed friend, the editor of the Hr- ‘RALD, in bis morning edition of Monday, the 20th inst., as the site and building generally, permit me, there- fore, respectfully to submit the following facts:—That it is the Postmaster General's desire to make this building a model as regards arrangement, and a specimén of pure classic architecture—the design coinciding with what the Hamatp considers a city Post Office should be, and for which I give him credit. All the offices to which the public will have access are ‘ageigned on the ground floor alltround the building; the Post- master’s and Cashier’s establishments, with the sorting room, occupying the second floor altogether. These apart: ments are entered from the grand projectipg portico look- iag down Broadway. The public offices are approached through twenty-four doorways, 80 as to avoid any incon. ‘venient clash of es. Arcades are placed on three sides, 80 as to insure the public comfort in all seasons. In the centre of this building, on the ground floor, is a ho} dow covered square for the reception of the United States mails, which will drive right through the building, and will be ehut up while discharging and loading, thereb: no inconvenience tothe public highways, as Kf to in the Henarp. “ The ladies’ entrance wil) be on the private street (con- tinuation of Park place.) The highest part of this build- ing will be two stories, and a great portion of it but one ‘on every side, not to be equalled by any of the buildings on ev. , not to be equal yy an \e buildin, referred to by the Haran as models. J nik The unoccupied portions of the ground, as it will be to ‘on every side of this building, will be inclosed and Planted with fountains and statues on both andes in it, and when complete, must form one of the most respectable of our city establishmenta—the a the building being ornamented with thirty six ‘The Postmaster General’s object in considering this sub- Jjevt in detail at so early a period, was two-fold—Ist. To ascertain if the site would be sufficiently extensive for the ecoupation of such a building as he intended for New York; and 2d. That the working classes of the city may be forthwith employed. M; fessional opinion is, that Bo Bite could be better se! for sueh a building; and T defy any architect to produce so convenient and so archi- tectural a structure on the Chambers street end of the pa premises, I — aiie nnee es be occupled by ty law courts, as or! intended. J am, geutle imen, Youre, very Feapectfultys ® CHARLES F. ANDERSON, Architect. Orrices Nos. 8 axp 10 Watt sTReer. After a brief debate on the report in favor of locating the new Post Office in the lower, or south, end of the Park, below a line drawn from the southwesterly corner of Park place and Broadway and the southwesterly line of Beekman street where it intersects Nassau street, the report was adopted by a vote ol 15 to 6, as follows: Avxs—Wilson, Corwin, Harris, Hoffmire, Clancy (Presi- dent), Adams, Banta, Griffiths, Fullmer, Coulter, Valen- |, Drake—13. Navs—Healy, Tucker, McConnell, Moneghan, Blunt, 2 jens—6. ‘TRE IRON PAVEMENT IN CORTLANDT STRERT AND MAIDEN LANE. ‘This matter was again cailed up. Alderman TockeR op- the laying down of the pavement, and hoped tha it-did pass some good citizen would obtain an injunction from the courts to prevent its being laid down. ‘The report of the committee in favor of laying down the iron pavement was adopted by a vote of 15 tod THE TAX LEYY AMENDMENTS. Alderman CLancy moved the suspension of business, in order to call up the report of the Committee of Council- ‘men on the tax levy, which was presented by the Comp- troller to the Counciimen. CLaycy moved to amend the report, by adding $26,000 for building a county jail. Carried. Ciancy also moved to amend, by inserting $20,000 for delinquencies of salaries, to pay up salaries Urat have not been as yet paid Alderman the matter would lay over un- Ul the members bad an opportunity of investigating it. He was opposed to thie hasty legislation, particulary where millions were involved. Alderman Clancy it iH i Alderman Ciaxcy moved to amend the ordinance by rvisors. by in- pee ap acne removing obstructions, by Council. Carried. then moved that the tax levy lay Carried. ‘The report of the Committee on Finance, in favor of re- mitting asseasment on the Methodist Episcopal church in mth street, on account of the opening of the Cen- ‘The report of the committee in favor of concurring with ‘the Councilmen to donate $1,600 to the Children’s Aid So- in. report in favor of donating $500 for the Jows’ Moe. pital was, after opposition from Alderman Tucker, laid "Fhe report of the Committes on in favor of re- ere feces chureh in Har- Jean opening Fourth avenue, was L. further routine business the adjourned to Wednesday (this) evening, at five o'clock. BOARD OF COUNCILMEN. ‘This Board met on Monday afternoon—the President in ‘the chair. VERO OF THE MAYOR OF AY ORDINANCE RECULATING THE SALE OF BREAD RY WRIGHT. ‘The minutes of the previous meeting being read and ap- proved, the following veto was received from his Honor ‘the Mayor, on the ordinance regulating the sale of bread be Maron's Orrice, Naw Yore, Deo. 28, 1867 : a . . b ‘To Tax Howonasie rae Boann oF Counctimen — a s—I return without approval the ordinaace ori- ir Board, which provides for the assize of this fully approving the philanthropie object of indorse the principles of tion in. | : F; i eet price a than simply such municipal reguiations as adopt and han been United States, T should not hesttate to give it my sanction, b Elen soynton tat Sete ond ace cee ior it ie one of our boasted privil that in this freed from ‘the interference of ee meat in the tone. secured by the constitution of the State and of the mn government in the tran x De enacted to govern Ml not vary the price ation of the price of he true remedy. is in com aker will not give u# a largergoat for a shil ling when flour is five dollars a barre! than he will when {tie ten dollars « barrel, another baker will be qnick to gee the advantage of increasing the size of bis loaf, and the consum- re will not be slow im giving the bread varies in quality as weight will not always produce the same quantiiy of health fu ent. So that after all, the purchaser must judge for himeelf, without the ald of stam; Wie thie p acts roposed, of government agenta to decide for him. Tt ‘wise maxim (hat ‘the beat government is that w yerna the least.” Too many laws, with complicated provi aimi 1 the total extinetion of all the evils and ep the true provinee of government. easyres sometimes adopted but increase the of the prevent! wrongs sought 10 be eradicated, by extablishing aaystem of tion ant to the theory of republican all Inspection laws were nbolished im this Senter It waa ooked upon as an important step in the right direction to: wards more liberal legislation. It was deemed a recognition of the principle that government should not send ite agente into men’s privni¢ avocations to reguiate or to interfere with the of trade. 1 the foundation of preserved as one of 01 yatain this doctrt jependence, i able rights FERNANDO WOOD, Mayor. Mr, Warner moved that the communication be printed fn document form, together with the ordinance, which motion was seconded by Mr. Byrdsall, Both these gentle men and Mosere. Ottarson and Haswell participated in the debate, arguing in favor of the motion, They ailirmed -@ Dew Post Office, he sent in the MORNING EDITION—WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1857. PRICE TWO CENTS. that the Mayor had wholly misunderstood the letter of the Coroners’ Office. oy Trial Trip of the New Steamship Moses "7mm PRESS cue LAW Ov FRANCE. telah aadbesteha themselves, s ce commodities. Meeers. Jones and MoCamu. we the resolu- tion, maintaining that the page free trade was contrary to the spirit of the ance. The motion te print the communication in document form was carried. COMMUNICATION FROM THE CORPORATION COUNSEL ON THE NEW POST OFFICE. In reply to a resolution passed by this Board, ‘the oplsine ef ne Corporation Onusee! aa to wbeine the Sons mop Council have the power, by law, to deed any portion of the Park to the general government, for the erection of opinion:— Law Derarrmmyr, Crry or New York, Orvice ov THE COUNSEL TO THE CORPORATION, No. 237 Broapway, Dec. 28, 1857. To THe Honorante, THE BoarD or CouNCILMEN:— . Tam in receipt of a ble and resolution of your Board, adopted the 2lst day of December, instant, which recite that— ‘Whereas, the special committee appointed by this Board, with like committee appointed by the Board of Ald to confer with the general government as to the sale of a p tion of the Park for a site for » Post Office, have reported in all that portion of the Park lying south of "ark place the Park to Park row, for the sum of two hundyed and fifty thousand dollars for the purpose of erecting thereon a Post Office; therefore, be it |, That this Board request of the Counsel to the Cor- A Resolv poration his opinion whether Common Council have the power, by law, to deed any — = the Park to the general In reply 1 bave, the honor to observe, the question is one of general as well as of pecuniary interest, and at- tracta te itealf the attention of all classes of our citizens. Ihave but little doubt of the power of the of New York city, under its charters, and within the deci- - “a eyes own State, and nen mane spose of any part of the iceapoeate ropett for the pul oo end common profit, unless restrained by some posi- ive law. Is there any law prohibiting the exercise of the or prescribing rules, for the manner in which it used? The first branch of this inquiry must be an- ewered negatively. There are, however, statutory enact- ments regulating the manner in which the public property shall be sold, and the proceeds of the sales thereof in- vested. ‘The 38th section of the act to amend the charter of the city of New York provides that:— All property sold under the authority of the Common Coun- cil shal) (1st) be sold at auction, (2d) after previous public no- wer, il be tice, (34) under the superintendence of the appropriate head department. section of the eame act provides that:— sales of public property and franchises, other than grants of lands under water, to which the owners of the upland shall have a pre-emptive right, (Ist) shall be made by, public auction, and (2d) to the highest’ bidder who shall give adequate security, and Oa), tat previous notice of all sales referred to in this section shall be given, (4th) under the direc- tion of the Comptroller, (Sth) in. the newspapers employed by the Corporation, and (6th) for thirty days, in eachof the dally newspapers so employed. This act was passed April 14, 1857. 1 confess if there were no later legislation a a subject, I should entertain grave doubts as to the power of the Common Councll to make the ed grant to the general govern- ment; but 1am relieved from all difficulty in arriving at the conclusiun that under the actof April 17, 1857, en- titled “An act authorizing the Mayor, Aldermen and Com- monalty of the city of New York to erect a new City Hall in said city,” &c., the corporate authorities have the power expressly conferred upon them to convey the pro- perty in question. This last law, in its third section, provides that before the Commissioners of the new City Hall decide on any plans ‘or spec fieations for the building, they shall offer to the proper United States officials ‘to conform any por- tion of the interior plans of said Dail ing ‘to the purpose of 8 Post Office and the accommodation of the courts of the United States; and if the authorities of the generel government agree thereto, then to convey to the United States ‘the portion of the ground covered’? by the building so made to conform. The same sec- tion also provides for the contingen of the United States authorities not accepting the ‘the Commission ers, and in directlan; ‘authorizes the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the city ‘‘to make conveyance by deed of grant, or lease, of any portion of the Park, to the govern- ment of the United States for the erection thereon, at the expense of said government ’’ of such Post Office or court rooms, upon ‘the city being “duly compensated for the same.’ With theee restrictions as to the use to which the Jand shall be applied, and the receiving a due equivalent, the Common Council may make the conveyance. Less than the fair marketable value of the land would not, in my judgment, meet the requirements of the statute, and Jess than its fair value not ‘duly ” compensate our citizens for its loss. J have the honor to be your obedient servant. RICHARD BUSTEED, Counsel to the Corporation. ‘The board was in session last evening, and transacted considerable routine business, and adjourned to this even- ing at five o'clock. —- INIQUITOUS GIFTS OF THE CITY PROPER- TY—THE PROPOSED POST OFFICE SITE IN THE PARK. TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. lam glad to find that your paper bas the manliness to raise ite voice against the attempt of certain parties among us to deprive the city of one of its chief ornaments (our City Hall Park), under the specious pretext of adding an “‘or- namental building” to the lower part of the city. The scheme I believe to be ‘mpolitic and unjast, for the follow- ‘ng reasons :—It is impolitic, firstly, because the lower part of Broadway is already too much crowded, and requires re- lief and not extra pressure; secondly, because we have too few ings for ‘air and exercise’ already, and can- ot curtailment in our crowded hfares , thirdly, because the beautiful — to the City Hall, way and the A Bowery. will be obstructed and obscured; ly, because it is expedient to extend the business of our city into our “up- per wards,” rather than to encourage the growth of neighboring cities by overcrowding the lower section of thecity. It is unjust—firstly, because the majority of those doing business with a Post Office are compelled to pay tribute of time and trouble to the lower end of the city; secondly , because every additional vehicle which is crowded into the narrow gorge of those great thorou; fares, Broadway and street, is an injury to trade, comfort, life, health and convenience: thirdly, because it ie wrong for a retiring Common Council to dispose of #0 pee hhh nl oa bie , Against the known wi of the people; fourthly the sale would be iegal, @ very inadequate consideration being C4 oH ae z 8 ; E ip zis iF f - 2 he af i at i : re i He Lath New York, Dec. 25, 186 United States Distriet Before Hon. Judge Betts. DECISION IN BANKRUPTCY AND ADMIRALTY. Dine: u8.—In the maler of the application of the General Assigner in Bar -—The general in bank ruptey applied to the Court by petition, schedules on file, and that in such cases the course for the assignee has been to make a special application to the Court for an order authorizing bim to dispose of the same at private sale; that applications have been made to him for the purchase of ‘‘all the remaining and righte of pro- perty of sundry bankrupts,’’ but that the Court had de- clined to give an order in compliance with such applica- tion, and for several reasons praying for an order that the assignee might sell on notice at the Exchange all remain. ing rly and rights of property of any bankrapt in such order as he might deem advisable. Held by the Court—That the legitimate method of disposing of assets held by the genera acaignee is by public sale, conducted publicly under the name of the bankrupt from whom they were derived, and after the lapse of fifteen years from the pany of the act; a proceeding by the assignee to make sale in a single lot of all interests and equities of two or three thousand bankrupts, whose estates have passed to him by decree of the Court, would afford cpportunities for gross impositions upon the assignee and wrong to credi tors. Application denied. PRACTICR-—TIME OF AI'PRAL-~—8TAY OF RXECUTION. George W. Barnard ve. Rdward Soportas, motion to stay execution upon pony ye stay, by having filed his a) | within ten days after the costs were taxed, although the judgment had been rendered more than ten days. The judgment ‘was entered on September 16. On September 30 notice of taxation for October 9 was served, and on Oc tober 2 the appeal wae filed. Held by the Court —That the right of appesl is perfect as soon as a final judgment is rendered in the cause, The decree ia final when no further judicial act remains to be done in the cause by the Court. That the decree was final, and the cause in a state to be appealed on the 16th of Septem. ber, and more than ten days having elapeed after that de. ree before the appeal was taken, the appeal does not piay execution, Motion denied, right; 1 do not remember what was said, when my father who was killed at No, 82 Cannon street on Sunday after noon, while engaged in a fight witha German and his wite, named Henry and Eva Semmet, was concluded yes- terday at the Eleventh ward station house, by Coroner Hills. The evidence adduced went to corroborate the ac- count which we have already published in relation to the occurrence, implicating the accused in the deadly assault made upon deceased. A large number of witnesses were examined, al} of whom agreed as to the nature and manner of the assault. The son of deceased, Andrew Kicherter, gave a detailed account of the whole matter, which was substantiated by all the other witnesses. His evidence reads as follows:— Andrew Richerter, residing at 82 Cannon street, being duly sworn, deposes and Deceased was my father, on Sunday last, between 1 and 2o0’clock, 1 went dewn stairs into the yard to get a pail of water, and as I was turning the handle of the hydrant a boy of the prisoner came running up the alley from the street, cry {Rs baving snow on his sleeye; the boy went up stairs as T was going up with my pail of water, and as] was just turning the second flight of staire i met the privoner and the boy | coming down; the prisoner then asked me what! had thrown snow on the boy tor; 1 said that I had not thrown | snow on him; the priconer then said he would go uw and tell my father; he did so in English; my father sai “<T speak German, so | cannot understan: the ‘then talked in German, snow on his boy; my father seid the pri Jish much; had thrown er did not talie told him to walk out before any bad luck would happen; the prisoner then said, “ I cannot talk to you in that way;”? my father then took bold of prisoner to put him out; my father had told the prisoner two or three times to go out, as my father thought the prisoner wanted to make trou. ble; there had been bad feelings between the deceased and prisoner all summer; as the deceased took hold of the prisoner to put him out, he took hold of deceased; when they both got out into the entry they were kicking each other; asfaras I could see the prisoner made the first | strike, striking the deceased on the chin; the deceased had the prisoner beside the railing and could have pitched him down stairsif he bada mind to; the prisoner then begged to be let go, and deceased let him go; the prisoner got around at the deceased again; the prisoner's wife now came up, having aclub under herapron, looking like an axe handle, and with it struck deceased twice under the tem. ple, and then hid it under ber apron and stood looking a w seconds; she then drew the club out again and struck deceased in the back part of the head; ehe made a fourth blow, but it missed; she then bid the club under hef apron; at this time the deceased had hold of the prisoner with both hands, holding the prisoner off; the deceased did not strike after this; Casper Myer then came up, hearing the disturbance, ani approached the prisoner and the deceased; deceased then went into his room; the prisoner said to Myer that if he pulled him off when he was fighting again he would give him a pun ishing; the deceased eat down and said he was getting dizzy: the prisoner was very angry, and said to my father that if he could get another chance at him ne would have to fall down before him; the prisoner sai that if he ot deceased in hie hands again he would not get out be- fore he would die; this was said in German; the prisoner then went down staire hall g, but] could not hear what he said; the deceased bathed his head; he goon laid aown, and fell as he was getting in the bed; the deceased direct- ed me to bathe his head; he said that the water was not hot enough; he did not speak again; I do not think it was more than ten minutes after he got into the room before he was dying. The testimony of the witness who followed young Rich erter was nothing more than a repetition of the above, so we refrain from publishing it. However, we give space to the testimony of the physicians, as follows:— THE MEDICAL TESTIMONY * Doctors Finnell, Ferguson and Beech, being duly sworn, deposed and said:—We have made a post mortem exami- nation of the body of George Richerter, now lying dead at 82 Cannon street; we found a small contusion over the ex ternal angle of the iefteye; there was no wound or appear- ance of injury toany part of the scalp; on close inspection of the skull no fracture could be discovered; on removing the “caivenium’” the external surface of the brain presented @ patural appearance; on raising the ‘‘cerebellum’’ we found a large clot of blood in the interior of its left lobe: the brain tissue at this point was torn through, and asmall clot of blood passed under the middle lobe of the brain; from the history of the case and the post mortem exami- pation, we are of epinion that deceased came to his death ‘by compression of the brain from external blows, the re- sult of injuries to the head; we would further state to the Jjary that persons die occasionally from extravasation of blood into the cerebellum, such as we met with in de- ceased, who bad never received any injury to the head; the age and constitution of deceased, aggravated by pas- sion or 1, are conducive to of ay J (ie esse wen then given to the jury, who, after due do- liberation, rendered the following VERDICT. We find that Jacob Richerter*came to bis death by com. pression of the brain from extravasated blood, the resnit of violence receive at the hands of Eva and Henry Sem met, on the 27th December, 1857, at No. 82 Cannon street. Upon the rendition of the verdict Coroner Hills pro- ceeded to examine the accused. Semmet in his examina. tion stated that he was 20 years old, was a native of Ger- many and lived at No, 82 Cannon street. In relation to the charge preferred inst him, be said:—T did not strike the deceased until he struck me twice in the face.’ Eva Semmet in ber examination said:— The deceased struck me drst, and then I struck him on the back with a ‘small stick of wood.’ Coroner Hills concluded to allow the male prisoner to go at large upon bail, but committed his wife to prison to await the action of the Grand Jury. Board of Ten Governors. THE POOR'S COAL AND THE GOVERNORS’ HOMEOPATHY IN THE INSTITUTIONS. w ING OF THE SICKLES CUT OFF AND THE NEW UMETRE—-DIMENSIONS OF THE SHIP AND DESCRIPTION OF THE TRIP—HOW THE VB8SEL BEHAVED—TRIBUTE TO NEPTUNE—A COLLATION AND RETURN. ‘The new steamship Moses Taylor, which hag just been finished for M. 0. Roberts & Co.’s United States Mail Cali- fortim line, wont on her first trial trip on Monday, and aequitted herself to the entire satisfaction of her owners and thore engaged in her construction. DESCRIPTION OF THE SHIP. ‘Yhe Moses Taylor was built by W. H. Webb—com- menced a year ago, and launched in August last—since which time her engines and upper works have been com pleted. last Thuraday she went on the balance dock foot of Pik? street, and was entirely coppered in one day She is 250 fect long, 36 feet beam and 25 feet depth of hold, and is Between 1,600 and 1,700 tons carpenters’ measure- ment. She had but about 10 feet draught yesterday, with 260 tons ef coal on board, and was built with specitic refer- ence to light draught and speed. She has accommodations for about seven hundred passengers. The upper and main saloons are situated aft The upper saloon consists ‘worely of twenty-six state rooms, with two berths each, ad a passage way of about four feet wile between. Euch ofthese rooms contains two berths, and is well fitted up. Tho doors and panellings will be painted white, with plain gilt mouldings. ‘The farniture will be of rosewood. ‘The main saloon js immediately beneath, and about eighty feet long. It contains fifty-two state rooms, with eo berths each. The doors and ellings are beautifully set with satin wood ground, with black walnut and other mouldings, The furniture is of rosewood, with red velvet cushions, The upper and main saloons are calculated to acgommodate one hundred and thirty-four passengers. ‘The second cabin is still below this, and fitted up with plain berths for ninety passengers. There are forward accommodations for four hundred steerage passengers. All the cabins are heated by steam registers. She car. ries six of Raymond’s lifeboats, and will be bountifully supplied with life preservers, both of tin and cork, but mainly of cork She is supplied with three water tight bulkheads, baving four compartments. She carries a jib, topsail and staysail forward, with staysail, mainsail, fore and main spencer aft. Ske cost about $250,000, and will be placed on the line, filling the place of the lamented Central America, on the 5th of January. THE VELOCIMETRE. One of the curiosities on the Moses Taylor (all of our new steamships have wonderful improvements) is a velo- cimetre, an instrument for registering the headway and leeway of the vessel, and the number of miles travelled in agiven time. Though there is as yet no other machine for recording the rate of speed and distance accomplished by a sailing vessel without taking astronomical observa- tions, the mechanism is very simple and easily explained. A flat plate, called a drag, is suspended below the keel, in the centre of the veesel, 80 a8 10 be in the stillest water. ‘The passage of the vessel through the water causes greater or less pressure on this plate or drag, which is connect- ed by a rod with a circular indicator. The vessel is rum at @ given rate of 8 , to as certain the practical marks required, and by this means @ perfect index is made without relying on theoretical de- monstrations. The hand of the indicator will always point to the rate of speed, in knots per hour, which the vessel is then making. The leeway index is more used for sail. ing vessels, and will show, by means of similar appara. tus, driven, however, by a horizontal wheel instead ef* a drag, exactly how ‘much the vessel fails off from a direct course. A system of clockwork records the dis- tance travelled to the amount of four hundred miles. The face of the indicator ig supplied with a chronome- ter, and has to be set every day as the record is taken, being only calculated to record the distance and rate of epeed for any time less than twenty-four hours. Mr. L. D. Towsley is the owner of the patent. THE ENGINES AND CUT OFF. Generally the most interesting part of a steamship is the steam engines, and in this respect the Moses Taylor bears out the idea. She bas two beam engines, built at the Allaire works, of fifty inch eylinder ‘and ten conn feet stroke. The engines can ected at pleasure to a single shaft, and can work se- parately. She hae two return flue boilers, thirty-two feet long, twelve feet wide and ten feet high, and three furnaces to cach, The engines were taken out of the old Fl Dorado, and are comparatively new. All the work: parte are new. The engines were entirely remodel aud reorganized by Messrs. Dickinson & Sickles, the nded “cut off’ gentiemen. Instead of the old crowbar method of starting the engines they are both started at ‘ones by means of a simple arrangement connecting with the valves. By waning © heel either one way or the otber the engines ar jultaneously set going or stopped, ‘so that the merest dunce in an engine -room could bave no excise for making a mistake. There is also an apparatus conreeting with the bell rope in the house, by means of vhich, in the act of pulling the bell, the pilot can stop the engine, thus providing for the possibility of the engineers getting asleep. All that now remains is to invent some apparatus to provide against the pilst getting asleep and the thing will be complete ‘The patent Sickles “cut off has been before the publi so long that it might seem superfluous to say what i consiats of; pope tg the =a , & brief sketch may not . Any one who ever saw an ordinary steam engine bas doubtless noticed in the engine room a number of upright rods, which are perio- dally raised by long horizontal arms. These are connected with the valves, which the admission of steam into the cylinder and the pressure the piston. Withoutany “cutoff the steam would, as the engineers say, ‘follow up fall stroke,” or keep entering the cylinder unttl the piston stops to return. ‘object of the adjustable ‘cut off” is to stop the entrance of steam & any given point of the stroke, in order to save any stam which it is not necessary to use. There are a num- ber of very i “ut offs’ in the field, all strenuous- The regular meeting of the Board was held yesterday, C. Goprrey Guytaer, President, in the chair. DISTRIBCTING COAL AMONG TRE GOVERNORS. The following communication was received by the Board, and excited a lively debate:— To THE Boann Goverxona®—We have shipped you at dif- ferent times thie season, upon ordere received from Mr. Duke, five cargoes of coal, which have been distributed, I understand, among Governors and employes of the de- partment, and a host of friends and acquaintances. The payments that we have received from Mr. Dukegfor these cargoes have been in small sums at long intervals, and a balance is still due of several hundred dollars. We had ‘no thought of eo general a distribution of this coal, nor of having to wait three or four months for our pay, or wo ‘Would not have been willing to send it. When we sup- plied the department before, two cargoes were distributed among Governors and em; © only, and payment for them wae made promptly by Mr. Spel from whom we received cou: treatment. We be we find the same state of things this season. ,weare ii ‘Mr. Duke that the does not consider le for the balance due. At a recent interview I learned that some members of your body were of the character of this coal business; and at the of member of the Board I have concluded to lay matter before same time atat- Rarer sume 5 - may be paid by the lst of W. AN for Kort & Co. Mr. Townseyy said this was a very serious charge, and i be inquired into. As one of the Committee of Sup- |, be had never given any such orders, nor had he ‘had any of this coal. Governors None of received this coal. TS that he was the Governor who Kerr & to lay this matter before the was finally referred to the Committee on instructions to report the names of Gover- , Who received this coal. A motion was made to increase the salary of Geo. Kel- lock, the Superintendent of Out-door-Poor, to $2,000 per ear, which was carried unanimously; and Mr. Kellock was highly complimented for the manner in which he dis- charged his duties BLACTING A NEW GOVERNOR. The Cramman announced pm BABS nn | Danie’ Board, in consequence of the resignation of Without electing a successor the Board laid the matter over until the next meeting. HOMROPATHY AT RELLEVCR HOSPITAL Mr. Surt, from the committee appointed to rey en the jety of aa homeopathy mto Bellevue , stated that be & report prepared, which wha signed by a majority of the committee, against such neti Mr. Bey. F. Precewey, from the minority of the com. mittee, stated that he was not ready to report as yet. After a long debate it was decided not to print the ma jority report until the minority report was also ready. The Board adjourned. id giExf zi? net < Ly He CRNBUS OF THR INSTITUTIONS. Rellevue Hospital..... 867 Randall's Island 1,073 Lunatic Asylum, 627 Do. hospital Almsbouse 1,562 City Prison. 715 Second Distri Third do. do.. ni PTrore 1 Colored Home m2 Do. do. 'm Workhouse 394 Colored 180 Do. do. fm Almshouse 46 Children at nu 204 ageee City Cemetery a Remaining Dec. 26 Number remaining Dec, 27,1866...... Increase in 1867. Titidois, says the Chicago Democrat, intends to be « candi date for the United States Sepatorship in opposition to Mr Dovgias, ported by their various inventors and possessors. Itis not the design of this article to discriminate between any of these, but simply to show what was done with the one exbibited on this occasion. The desideratum in a “cut off” im that it should be adjustable readily, and operate so ‘as to shut off the ateam suddenly, This is acoom, jn these engines, on the,Sickles plan, in a very simple and apparently efficacious manner. The Ty however, is 00 complicated for a clear description to gener reader, and it may suffice to say that the ‘cut off” worked admirably. Another peculiarity about these engines is Mr. Sickles adjustable chain valve eccentric connections. bone are easily worked, and present even to the unprac tised eye a beautiful specimen of ity. The eccentrics are so fitted that the valve can Ye worked either high or low, or not all, by the simple arrangement of the wheel as described above, which regulates the backing motion by a few turns, The advan- tage claimed for the les “out off” fay by eh off of the steam there is no “ wire drawing” in a neta Hei rib etal sivilatliaectoiile climbed the rigging. The sailors claimed the customary tribute, and, ascending the ladders, commenced lashing the adventurous gentlemen to the rigging. The cul po amen a tbh with which to all A COLLATION. ‘The appetites of all becoming somewhat &l it was with no little pleasure that the ry that a collation had been spread in the main cabin by the worthy steward, Mr. Phynus, formerly of the Tilinov No time ‘was lost in making way to of the same, whieh included the ordinary range of cold coliatlon, wel wauered with good wor. © health . berts, . Sickel MoGowan and Messrs and was P.M. Wetmore, Mr. Dickinson and for modest gentlemen. The ship returned to the city at in carly hour, and landed her delighted at the foot of Warren street. The following will be officers of the Moses Taylor — Cay McGowan, formerly of the Empire City. First Officer—Charles R. Howard. Officer—Mr. Moan. James Dewsbary, of England. TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. Brooxtys, 368 Fulton street, Deo. 28, 1867. About ten or eleven years sinee an Englishman, named James Dewsbury, lived in this city, and was in the habit of frequenting the Franklin House, near the Fulton LA and algo the tavern establishments (or Shades’) ot Mr. Stoke, on Brookiyn Height#, and of Mr. Dent, in Main street. It is quite probable that inquiries made at either or all of thore places may lead to the information sought for through the columns of the Henan. JOHN LOMAS. Censorshtp—Suspension of La Preese—De- cree of the Minister of the Interior. ‘The publication of the following article in La Presse bas led to the suspension of that journal by the French government, for two months:— {From La Presse, Dec. 3.) In the elections which took place in the month of June last, the democratie party made sure of the trinmph of seven of its candidates; two of them, Mesers. Carnot and Goudchaux, refused to take the oath prescribed by the constitution. Did these two hes the most sensible, the most reasonable course? id they do their duty to the cause which the seven men elected by the had undertaken to serve? There is evidently on one side or the other a mistake and a false calculation. On which side is the error? Who made the false calculation? We know that this is a delicate question, and we should not have put it if we were mixed up with hes coterie whatever. But in this journal, we than! Heaven, we are accustomed to think and speak freely, according to the impressions of the moment and without consulting anybody, either as to what it may be convenient to say or as to tle choice of the period when it is cotivepient to say it. Coteries require to pe served with one’s eyes closed; all their caprices must be accepted pat examination, and devotion must be shown to by the sacrifice of reason. ey peevish and vain women, who only feel flattered by the fol- lies which are committed in their bebalf,and who regard a true and sincere attachment as an injury done to the power of their charms. ‘ We do not belong to this class of worshippers; we do not believe anger and obstinacy to be the cay homage worthy of the democratic cause. Our friends know that our zeal is not lukewarm, but they know also that it is neither thoughtless nor extravagant. ‘We are aware that it is convenient to hide one’s self under the shadow of coteries, and in this way agreat many people dispense with having an opinion of their own; but we likewise know that those who flat- ter a party by betraying their convictions, are hypo- crites who will ruin the best cause. [n politics as in religion, we are in favor of independent reason against a blind faith. Let us now examine the question raised by the conduct of Messrs. Carnot and Goudchaux. Mr. Carnot, owing to the name he bears, has an eminent position and considerable influence Lay the democratic party. Mr. Goudchaux, allied by long services to the democracy, enjoys the esteem of all parties. He sses special and valuable ac- uirements, and isof a most honorable and straight forward character. He isa gallant man, in the full sense of the term. . When such men, in such a position, and above all, under such circumstances, are mistaken as to what is to be done, it is a great misfortune. Their example, instead of being useful to their party, can not but injure and lead it astray. Let us, therefore, see whether the action of Messrs. Carnot and Goud- chaux is conformable or contrary to the wishes, dis- positions and interests of the democratic party. There has existed for several m tl lie mind a vague terror, which strikes every atten- tive observer, and which a few days since we pointed to as an evidence of the unmis- takeable revival of public spirit. The hour of mag resolution is —_ pres at oye The roblems that pre-ocew e poli world are sim- viying themselve: e positions of the leaders are traced out and political parties are pressing closer to each other and counting up their strength. The war of principles is more active than ever; it agi- tates Piedmont and Belgium, and the part that we involuntarily take in the triumph of our friends in Turin and Brussels is a proof that the Piedmontese and Belgians are not alone interested in it. It seems as if we had all heard from one end of Europe to the other a voice erying out to us, “Rise and be doing!” Are we to remain deaf to this mysterious voice? Are we, living always in our recollections and in our regrets, to sink deeper and deeper i@to our des- mdency, like those fakirs of India who stupify Themselves into a comical state of immobility by con- tinually turning the tail of a cow in their hands? The question has been is six months ago,and the im- mense majority of the democratic B nap 4 has settled \agninat ‘the partizans ef the policy of despair and jesertion. Is the revolut to imitate the legitimist ty, which, apd ft action, has ended in nullification and that sin, state of isolation which renders it as it were foreign on ita own soil? The ley cep poy is a corpse which was galva- nized by the allies 4 the year 1815, and whic! an artificial life up to the year 1830. At that period it laid itself down again in its tomb, from whence, Heaven be praised, it is no more to rise. Have we also laid ourselves in the tomb without a hope of resurrection? Messrs. Carnot and Goudchaux were not of this opinion six months Seo. when, provoking the electo- ral movement and taking a resolute part in it, they formed committees, wrote circulars, sent them to the departments and deposited them at the office of the Attorney General. Why, therefore, abstain at present, whilst then they agitated themselves sat others so energetically? What signified then that electioneering campaign? purpose those repeated appeals, those memoirs of advocates, those newspaper articles, and a recourse to the courts of appeal? Are we then af- ter al] to witness only a comedy, 4 legal pastime in that struggle so spontancously enj in, 80 pa- tiently supported, and which ended in a success? In Yas Mr. Henon refused to take the oath. Now, yielding to the wishes of his electors, he en ters the le; ‘ive body. Wherefore do not Mesars. Carnot and Goudchaux show the same deference to the not less formal will of the electors of Paris? Experience condemned the policy of those who in the month of June indifference and ab- stention. But after all their policy, however it ma; have been condemned, is easily to be anderst . it is the obstinate error of a rigorism pushed to ex cess. This rij bears the resp tabe character of the sentiment which inspires ft, deserves the Patapon ty th conde it what can inspi act of those whe shar having six months preached action, when the issue of the stra and the opinion of the democratic party were doubtful, con- demn and abandon it now that suecess git justified it? You toa 5 Exsdepules newspal writer, ffae rarer . ‘ r , oftizens rani sot : rae other, and this encou: , com: triumph . atte’ ny ot Aaa RS , you now attem| . We Mave cummed up our strength; we know that we are a great party devoted to revolution, equally decided to defend if, as well against those who want to destroy it in spirit as those who want to profane it. We have amongst us men strong in talent, ex- perience, courage and public consideration, and you a us to remain idle and to renounce all vantages, The voters, when you called them to the polls, were under the impression that you wanted to lead them as generals marching at the head of confi dent and obedient troops, and they answered Pe call. What must they think nov, when hey perceive that by j have been the toys of a cote- rie’s contrivance or of personal vanity? They had chosen they were expecting you to proceed to the ; and you forsake them. They will forsake you in their tarn; of this you may be certain. You would have been in the minority of the legislative ow you will now be in the minority of your own Powe know that we will he asked what useful or important acts Messrs. Carnot and Goudchaux would have performed in the Legislative body’ That ix another question, which we intend to examine at some future time. bate. be purpose is merely to against conduct which will infuse doubt and qd dency into public opinion. it does public opinion exist at present? Un doubtedly it does, whatever may be said by those who have their own reason for seeking to drown its voice. rr 0 poeet it has confined its career and ita noise to subterranean channels; but like a never: a spring, it has not ceased to run. We know that it requires exertion and perseverance to bring it back into its usual broad and deep bed, and to enable it to roll there entirely the full volume of its waters. It is because the condact of Messrs. Carnot and Goudchaux tends to check its retarn in this di rection and ta peeelyee its action, that we think that conduct impolitic, and pronounce upen it a rigo- rous censure, A. Pevrar, ‘The minis-terial decree was as follows:— The Minister Secretary of State to the Department of the Interior— Considering article 32 of the organic decree of the 17th of February, 1852, in relation to the Press. Considering the several warnil given to the journal La see, under date of} March 1, 1853; jarch 24, 1854; and March 26, 1857. Considering the article published by La Presse in ite iene of December 3, commencing with the words: “In the elections which lmve just taken place,” bear. ing the signature of A. Peyrat, and in which the writer, following up what he pretends to be the wishes, the dispositions and the interests of what is called the democratic . the revolutionary party assumes : “That for several months there have existed in the public mind a vague uneasiness and terror,” and adds: “The hour of decisive resolution is now evi dently at hand. The problems that pre-occupy the To what | as if we had all heard, from one end of Europe to the other, a voice crying out to us: ‘ Rise and be doing !’ Are we, living always in our recollections and in our ragrete, to Bi lower and lower in our despondency? * * * * Therevola must not imitate the itimist nee Wy Abetaining ‘rom’ actloo, Ras ended tn allifeadien, * * * * We have calenlated our » know that we area great party, dev to the revolution, &c. Considering that, however unwise such sentiments may srper in the midst of the profound peace which the country is now enjoying, it is not it that a few troublesome minds ald be permit to preach up agitation and appeal to revolutionary ‘ions with impunity. Considering that for the general good, and more especially for the interest of those hard working om wach hate oo in ros. been more actively and employed than by the Emperor, the government possesses the right and feels it ite duty to hold strictly in check the follies of those relended democrats whose influence, if they ever ad any, might be fatal to the welfare and the pro- gress of those classes which, fortunately, they are now forever powerless to agitate. Be it decreed:— Art. 1. The journal La Presse is suspended for two months from the 4th of December inst. Art. 2. Prefect of Police shall take charge of the execution of the present decree. BILLAaULT. Panis, Dee. 4, 1857. It is not generally known, says the Journal du Havre of December 8, how many individuals are de- pendent for a living upoa a daily paper. The Presse gives a summary of the persons employed in its es- tablishment, as follows:~-Editors, managers, Fe jerks, printers, paper br Reg kr eng 0 pondents, ani other persons att ed, casn- ally or permanently to its publication, about 774. It is ‘said that M. Milland addressed @ the Minister of the Interior, for the purpose ef ob- taining authority to publish the Presse a8 an ex- clusively literary pense during the two months’ suspension to which that journal is condemned. It is also said, on the other hand, that the printers of the paper, under the advice of the business manager, M. Roux, have petitioned the Emperor direct for a pooling of the interdict against the issue of La Tease. PROSCRIPTION OF THE PRESS IN FRANCE—DBPRC- TION OF EMILE DE GIRARDIN TO THE IMPEBIALISTS. (Correspondence of the Courrier des Etats Unis. Paris, Dec. 10, 11 ‘You are aware that the Presse bas been s two months in consequence of an article in which M. at had severely censured MM. Carnot and Goudchaux, for having committed an tnconsequence and a derilection , im refusing to fulfila mandate which they had solicited and Lg apg which they betrayed at the moment ‘when the hour had evidently approached for decisive resolutions and when parties divided for an array of their strength.’’ This suspension of the /’resse has been one of the most marked events of our current politics, and I happen to be better able to give you the facts of the mat- ter than you can obtain them from any other source. If the article of M. Peyrat bad in one respect an ag- gressive bearing upon the imperial government, it had also, in another view, @ coi lence with the aims of the government in its opposition to the practice of absenteeism, and in ite tenaency to divide the democracy into two radically opposing factions. It is algo stated that in the ministerial council, where the proposition of the suspension was taken by M. Billant, it was opposed by M. Fould, who insisted that the article of M. Peyrat was more reaily useful than mischievous. Such, however, was not the opinion of the Minister of the Interior, who replied, “Do you desire the presence of the republican opposition in the legislative corps, rather than its continuance in the streets? Truly, I am’of opinion that they would be far more formidable with a legislative vote than with revo- lutionary muskets in their hands. The restoration and the dynasty of July were overthrown by the tribunals before they were attacked by the mob.’ The majority of the council ganetioned the suspension of the Presse An order was in the meantime signified to the different journale, directing them te abstain from any reply to the article of M. Peyrat. That order caused much embarassment to te legitimist organs, whicb the J’resse bad treated with severity, and to which they Bad prepared lengthy answers. The ministerial journal even , the /’atrie, had confronted the manifesto of M. Pe; at ‘ point of view as favorable as that taken by M. Fould. ‘The necessity of (illing the space in their columns vacated Uy tan engprention-qahin mantter, canned quite & delay ip their publication. ‘The article of M. Peyrat, who by his frank, energetic and imprudent tone recalled the memory of Armand Carrel, has disposed of the rumors by which it was sought to explain the retroat of M. Nefftzer as a modidcation the tove of the Presse, in a dynastic sense. A journal stated that the manifesto of M. Peyrat was to Rave been followed by an article from M. Charles des lined to prolong the tepic, to be entitled “ L'Opp Dynastique,”” Wut that rumor was without foundation, ad has been energetically denied by M. Peyrat, ag well as by M. C. Edmond, who, though attached to the Prince - leon, continues to assert his democratic opinions complete independence. An endeavor has also been made to represent M. Pey- rat as having been in thie afair the instrument of an in- trigue contrived by MM. Emile de Girardin and Roux against M. Millaud, bet the suspension incurred by the Presse is much more serviceable to the cause of Mi jaud than that of his adversary in the proceedings, judg ment on which has been remitted to a fortnights suspen sion by the Tribunal of Commerce. Thus, as to M. de Girardin, it will beceme apparent that he entertained no hope, or perhaps, desire, to enter ‘again into the proprietorship of the Presse. His entrance into another journal (the Courier de Paris), and the new face under which he r , has caused almost a Much noise as the suppression of the J’resse \twwelf, to which itis the epilogue, On the day after the Presse had od to issue there Don ape in the Gou- rier de aris an article entitled the Press Oon- titutinelle, and signed Cheron de Villiers, which Psiae tame of MM. Ln nye a and Ol ver egislative corps was the point of departure constitutional opposition, substituted = eo — parture for a pew system credit Ubat thi in, who bas taken for the formation of a for the revolutionary Stitution as the point democratio politics. The rumor article emanated from M. E. de Gi peared imponsibie and sion under imperial institutions. Finally, all doubt be- came impossible at the end of the which aimed to show that the “empire and liber. wy” could as ye Be reconciled ,’' and that the one t his in open execution was only because his Wife and friewds did fot think they ben gS ‘allow the pub ‘ication of the profession of faith wi be upon this point to the Prese, and which was dated from Bruasela, * here he then happened to be. din i#, like the administration at Washington, recognise in politics all the extab!ished recognition of the empire is not, therefore, an “ incom- sequence’ to the eyes of his friends, if itis such to the eyes of the public. But motives: than those which be bas given bimself have been thought necessary to explain his abdication of —— in con. nection with the peculiar circumstances of this time, when the journal which be bad sold bas been temporarily suppreswed by the imperial censure, arrayed the opposition (nan onslaught upen him, from which be ts not defended by Se government organs, who are distrustful of their new ry. The Conetitutionnel declares to him this that vt desires simply the empire, such as the de- ought to consist fines it, and that “the liberty of a jn the sum of the franchises w out self extivetion.”’ This is the definition of Another writer in the Conetitutionnel, who paper, but is to return it is said, M. M. A. de sustained and cosfessed already that the erty are two things forever incompatible. ie opinion diametrically ed to Girardin, and it is unfortunately to be it will not appear more logical than hi whom he has undertaken to serve in might before long heartily thank him for hie is true that the Minister of the Interior and the of bit colleagues have lew fear of an armed rative opposition. The empire is a soldier er with the sword than the pen. The Gaseite du Languedoc bas just been Tt was a very bold logitimist journal, condemned gists aff if ff i i FF j [ the South, which bad been of Novem. ber last by the Imperial Court # Toulouse, for the isave of fals we The Coart had vot promounced the suspen- ppression, but left it to the Minister of the In- ted with more rigor thi Millaud baa solicited authority x the Prease in an exclusively literary form until ah a to 400 and * for the purpose af tural ‘ocewpation wards of persons which it employed heretofore. has not been able to obtain its demand, but it is that a general amnesty will be ‘cceorded oa tho ercesien of the ist of January, aod that thie measure of whieh is earnestly solicited by the Prince permit the /’reaer to reappear at the end of ye uspension instead of two BartMgrake tN SAVANNAT—A shock of an earthquake was felt in thie o’clock A. M. on Saturday taat, It was mous, north side of the bay—in fact the ken as to cause all the to There was but one shock, and it was In our reading room it was notso great, but severe to attract the attention of those who were in it.— Savannah Ry ddicam, Deo 2