The New York Herald Newspaper, February 18, 1858, Page 1

THE NEW YORK HERALD. —_———. WHOLE NO. 7839. MORNING EDITION—THURSDAY, TEE BROOKLYN HOMICIDE. pier ocelot ag = a Nee wie ncigans ; Second Duy of the Coroner’s Invertigntion— ‘Testimeny of F, J. Nedine as to the Assault —Conctuston of the Inquest— Verdict of the Jury and Committal of the Prisoners. ‘The Coroner's inquest into the circumstances attending We death of George H. Simonson concluded their labors yesterday afternoon, and rendered a vordictjto the effect that Patrick Lally, George Megahey and Joseph J. Mellen, ‘er one or all of them, caused the death of the deceased gn (the night of the 13th of February. The investigation was some one elge; after Lal: all was quietand peaceable when I went to tea; retu from ta a few minutes before seven o'clock, and ‘went into my stable in Pierrepont street; went foto the front part of the stable; as I got just I heard a tremendous fall on the steps next door; that was the first that attracted my at- ‘tention ; it jarred so heavily that I went out; as I went out I saw two men leaving the last step of the 5 another man tumbling down head foremost; he was a litele more down the eleven steps, there are ten or eleven steps to the rtoop; his head was coming first, and he struck on his head and shoulder; as he £2 on the last step his legs seemed to slew around, and rolled down so that he lay on the flagging parallel ‘with the stoop; I went towards the body, and as he fell ‘off the last step there was another man came down behind ‘him and stepped right over him, and ran towards Fulton street; this man came down the steps just after the came down; deceased came down appearing te fectly liveless, met rreeng 6 a8 a man would if living; the two parties ran towards Fulton street; I was just on the plank where the carriages come Pity they the flagging, the third one ran close to me eet; when he came down the steps he made a kindo?a halt and turped around and looked at ‘the body; I ran right up the stairs and called to those in the barroom that there was some one badly hurt; I did Rot stop at all to see who it was; I then ran back ‘with others and picked deceased up at the foot of the stairs; we carried him up into the barroom, where ‘We laid bim down just beyond the foldiog doors; when ‘we got him into the gas light I recognized deceased; the doctors were immedutely vent for; saw Dr. Cochran — out the wound; the weapon appeared to have struck 2 the left eye and them gtanced into the corner of it, should judge the wound to have been a clean Cut, as if with a knife; there was a bruise over the left eye; he was renscless; after short time, he was taken up stairs; looked at tl pe next morning; when you get to the top of the steps, there are two folding doors open- ing inwards into a recess; there are other 6! doors some cight or nine feet, which are always shut, Doing sbut by eprings; the entrance to the barroom is between the outaite and the slatting doors; the outshle doors were SS. the rill of the front door is on the top step, the out- Goors are most always kept open; in the recess there 's of blood that might have dropped from bring- up the evening previous; there was other blood, a man bad been struck and the blood of the recess, 6; these spirts @id not look like drops, but as of @ splash of biood; we did vot tarry at all in carrying bim jn; the bar- room door was opened for us; four or five steps down there was a little blood; about three or four steps from jtom there was quite 2 dab of blood; that was on the sume side where bis head went Jown; on the flagging there was quite ® pool of blood; thivk there was more or leas bicod on every step, but not so much as there was op the three lower ones By aJuror—When I came to him going up, aad when | saw bim when we picked him up, he did not appear to Bave any mation € Was vo light over the door, there ig no light in the revess between the two doors; light comes through the baroom door sists into the recess, if a person ‘war in the recess he conid see who was in the barroom, and rice versa; there was a light in my stable in the offlce, and the window looks out into the street; there [s 8 atreot lamp opposite my stable, but it wae pot lit at the tims, if were dr ing bim as it & mao should be standing in one of the recesses behind the outsice doors, a man coming out in a hurry would not ‘be apt to notice him. To Mr. Underbill—Have seen Lally, Megahey and Mel Jen since, in ther place of coufinement, yesterday; the two in the First district station house, and the one in the ell of the City Hall are the three men | saw moving from the stoop: the last one that left the stoop is Meilen; he has ‘a light fire coat on, with bane buttons, To a Juror—James Phalen picked up the cap, I did not fee the cap picked up, nor see the cap fall; am oortain ‘that the one who ran away last—I am positive—had a hat on; dil not obeerve the two first as they were moving past; the one that ran away last bad a hat or cap on; de Ooased had « hat, but it had fallen off when he was picked men were close to me when I went out; saw no up; my one elee in the street at the time than those! have de. 4 ik i [ F ust A g H a Has z t i Hi $ 558 Hi i i = Hi i f : a i { z it i ‘To a Juror—Am positive that is the cap; it hag been in WY pomersion ever Rinco. ‘Tho testimony was here closed, and the jary retired a five o'clock to deliberate upon their verdict. At twelve minutes past six o'clock the jury returned th» following verdict: — That the said George I. Simonson, deceased, came ty bin death by a biow or blows (and the injuries consequent thereupon) inflicted at the hands of Patrick Lally, Joseph J. Melien and 6 Megabey ot one ot more of them, on tho afternoon of Saturday, 0 thirteenth day of Febru. ery instant—and the jury do farther eay, that the eaid ‘Blow or biows was or were yromodiiated, and that a Gan. ®erous weapon or inetrument waa used by tl ty or Partics who strock the blow or blows. - ©. Kirby, Joha 0. Smith, WeW. Wain Charies H Smith, Samuel Foster, V0. baw, A Good ein er. The then pr io. take tne yo ; @ the voluntary ox. amination of the previous comm! to await the action of the Grand J: ‘oir om was talsen from the oolls in the Hall to ‘whe ofthe Deputy Superintendent tice, where the was informed that he was about to bo committed by Pg ja fs EA that he waa pounded to him or not, as he chore, . ae FEBRUARY 18, 1858, PRICE TWO CENTS. we enere were you born? A. In Brockiyn. ¢ Whai is your occupation? A. Have former worked in Prentice’s hat factory, but have uo trade. 'Q. What have you to say, if anything, as totve charge preferred against you? A. Tam not guilty. The Coroner then proceeded to the station house of the Firat precinct and examined Joseph J. Mellen, who an- swered, in reply to questions propounded, that he was between twenty-two and twenty-three years old; born in New York city; lives at 106 Reade street, York; am & plumber by occupation; am not guilty of tne charge. Lally being examined, stated that he was be- ‘ween twerty-cne and twenty two years of age; born in Ireland; lives in Nilary street, near Canton; am a piumb- er by occupation; alll bave got to say is that 1am an innocent man. The priconers were then piaced in charge of officers and taken to the jail, guarded by a platoon of the First pre- cinct. There were but few persons assembled arouad the station house at the time of the committal of the pri- soners, and they were conducted thence quietly and safely. The Coroner’s warrant holds them to awai: the action of the Grand Jury, which will sit onthe second Tuesday io March. TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. BROOKLYN, Feb. 17, 1858. T netice ia your iseues of yesterday aad today a notice, the former signed oy ‘“‘James Mart.n, Foreman of Eugine Company No. 8,” and the istcer iu which bis name is rather conspicuous. In justice ‘0 our company I wish to state that he is not a member of the company, nor have ‘We at apy time had a person of that name connected with it. By inserting the above you will much oblige t2e mem- bers of Niagara Engine Company No. &. L. B. VAN KLEEOK, Secretary. The Anti-Lecompton Mecting that Did Come om, The anti-Lecompton meeting which did not iake place atthe Acadethy of Music, was held last evening at the Chinese Assembly Rooms. Since the refusal of the lessee to let t@® first named building, it appears the committee have been in @ most deplorable state, and having failed to procure such a place as they desired, wore obliged, in their necessity, to hire the Chinese Rooms. Theee rooms, by the way, are well known as the museum in which was exhibited, many years ago, a large collection of curiosities from the ‘ Flowery Kingdom,” ani also as the place in which the Fourieritee and Free Lovers have been in the habit of celebrating their anniversaries and fest. vals. It was here, too, that those reua:kable animals, Dornetti's dogs and monkoys, performed every afternoon and evening to crowded and admiring audiences, In addition, therefore, to tbe dietinction the place has acquired through these celebrities, it will a new claim to notoriety as the only place of refuge in the whole city of New York which was open to the anti-lecomptonites after their des- perate attempt to procure admission to the Academy of Music, The Chinese Aseembly Rooms wil! accommodate a thousand persons, and there was about that number present. The proceedings commenced precisely at haif- past 7, by the nomination of Mr, Bancroft 23 President, snd a large number of Vice Presidents and Secretaries, some of whom appeared on the siage, and some of whom, ‘we believe, did not make their appearance at a!) in avy part of the beuse. The scene presented was a rather mixed up and confused affair. There was a part of what ap) to be @ castle tacked on to the iaterior of a cot- tage, a forest, consisting of three trees, and two or three pity xd and in the midst of the feliage bloomed the Abbé McMasters, of the Freeman's Journal, like a full blown sunfiower ; then there were some Corinthian and a dilapidated looking fire place, several pil- that belonged to no order in particular, some striped clothes hanging on a Jine, and about a dozen cbairs, seat- edon which some distinguished and some ex- tinguished friends of ‘bleeding Kansas."’ Prominent among these was Mr. George B. Butler, one of the secre- taries, who occupied a position in front ef the stage, in the full glare of the foot lighte; the other secretaries, being somewhat more modest, and retiring were content to oc- cupy back seats, e meeting was called to order by the Abbé McMas- ters, the individual who figured so conspicuously during the Jast Presidential campaign in abuse of Fremont: aad be it was who nominated Mr. Bancroft as President. Then after the nomination of the other officers, it was announced that letters had been received from Senator Douglas; Hon. T. L. Harrie, of Mhnois; Hon Mr. Adrain, of New Jersey; Hon Jobn B Haskin, and others. Tue next point in the pro- gramme was the speech of ex-Governor Stanton, which was delivered some days ago in Philadelphia, and which was of course woll received. The audience applauded in the proper places, laughed when the epeaker perpetrated ajoke, and were greve when he was ecrious. The admi- pietration, it it but justice to say, received no mercy at his hands, and generally speaking he bad itail his own way. Mr. Bancroft, Mr. Butler and the portion of the Vice-Presidents and Secretaries who made their ap. pearance, seemed to be dighly amused with the whole entertainment, and, what was still better, the audience went away perfectly satisfied. Although defeated, therefore, in their efforts to procure the of 1 t is sometl: to know that be cld repute. wag a piace of amuse: a0 Agse mbiy ment City Inte Higence. New PRimaky Scnoon iv nme Sixt Wann. —A new pri mary schoo! was formally opened on Mc t in Mott treet, between Bayard and Canal streets. This scheoi has long been required, and will be an accommodation to the people living in that neighborhood. Tae lot on which the building is erected is 50 fect front by 94 feet deep, and cost $11,000. The building—which is of brick, trimmed with brown stone—occupies nearly all the lot, and is an unpretending but substanWal and comfortable edifice, and is admirably constructed throughout, The principal room, which \# on the second floor, will accom modate 600 children comfortably, The class rooms, ten jp number, are on the third floor and seem neat and con- venient. The play groupde for the children are on the first floor and are enclosed—an excellent arrangement during cold weather, and which it would be well to imitate in all the schoothouree to be hereafter erected. They are #0 arranged as to communicate with an open yard, and during the warm summer months the little onee will have plenty of air and exercise. The eng OT ‘Woll heated and ventilated. The school opened on 180 and yesterday booka: "Nearly S00f ths coildree ae to the man of Hook and Ladder Company No. 4, who by JF. Budenkoif on Monday might, in the lager bier saloon No. 108 Canal street, as fully detailed in yester- day's Heat, died at his residence, No, 20 Eldridge street, last night at $ o'clock. An ante mortem examina tion hag already: Let oy Bs Coroner Connery, who will hold an inquest on the body of the deceased to-day. Baden evn bid to await the verdict of the Coro- ner’s jury. ‘Tue Couper Day.—Yesterday was the coldest day we have had this season. The mercury stood at seven do- grees above zero yesterday morning, and did not get above fourteen degrees during the day. It was bitterly cold at mifpight last night, with « promise of a contina- ance of cold weather. it is strange that mild weather prevailed when it should have been cold, and now, when we would naturally look tor fomak of spring, bitter winter weather seta in. No fears of the ice crop now. Provinentian Rescue rrom Drowxixa.—A little after midnight on Saturday morning officers Badic and Hayden, of tho Twelfth ward police, heard cries for assistance pro- ceeding from the vicinity of Harlem bridge. They made all haste to the locality, and when they arrived on the steamboat pier at the end of the bridge a continued cry came up from the water of ‘Help! help! mine Cot help! “Where are you!’ asked one of the officers. “I wash in the river,’ wae the reply. “How came you there?’ inquired the other officer, “ I docen’t know,’ Was the anawer, ‘hut f ‘spect the bridge he broke down.” Preparations were ail the while being made to reseue the Unfortunate man, which waa finally accomplished; not, however, until bis cries for aesistance had ceased, and life bad becoine nearly extinct, | After le wae taken trom the 0 con’ to ward station house, and the proper + vos angen, desired effect trond. How he came in ‘& mystery to himself as it was to the officers, but 1 neverthel sisted that Inger bie ebare in & about, chy oF Tame Pe Masonic Lodge of the State of New York (old Conatitution) was held at Niblo’s Saloon, on Tuesday evening inst. It waa ‘& most successful affair. ‘The fine hall was brilliantly lighted up, and the large benner of the Grand Lodge de- corated the front of the orchestra, There waa a company of elegantly dressed Indice Fraeet eat ee Masons wore the regalia and insignia of office tle waa very fine, At 8 o'clock the ladies room, and shortly after the members of yee eal eae marched into the room in procession, to the music of « grand Py ey Se Order, ‘supper tal poeta ‘were warmly war. Grand Master, N.F. Waring. The rost fhe evaulng was spent ip Jorpeichoroay ¢xprviegs. have + The frequency of burglaries in this city has beeome the subject of general remark. Scarcely @ night passes but what some half dozen hoases are entered by thieves, and property to an incredible amount is carried off, to tho infinite disgust of citizens having a misplaced confidence in the Metropolitan police, The arrest of the burglars rarely occurs, while the recovery of the stolen property is something bordering on the miraculous. A great deal of the inefficiency of our police arises from the present ridiculous system in yogue, #. ¢., keeping crime a pro- found secret until the “perpetrators are secured,” as it is termed. If s burglary or robbery ia committed the vic- tim is enjoued to keep the matter a etrict secret, and but ope or two favored policemen are made acquainted with the facts, The favored policemen have already too much business on hand and cannot pay the case that attention which it properly demands. A Scent other policemen and thousands of citizens, who might de of valuable assistance to the loser of the pro- perty, are thus shutout from all knowledge the matter. If a thousand pereons were put on the alert for the criminal, how much more hkely would higarrost ow than if only one or two were upon his track. In seed Of consigning tho facts to the tomb of the Capulets at the Superintend office, citizens ought to make so that every policeman and mathe look out Jor the rogue and e jea prevaient at the police head- quarters, tbat the publication of a burglary, bg nt of roobery previous {to ag arrest being made a tendency to put the criminal on bin guard, is all stuffand nonsense. ‘ihe thief and ‘ha burglar are always on their guard, and are seldom moved by apything that may creep intothe newspapers. In fact, this system of secrecy is ted for the purpose of concealing the lnefficiency ‘rom tne public, and not for the better pro- and erty, as they would have us be- d statement of the burglaries g the pasttwo weeks, it will be seen out of ten where arrests were mado, performed the work for which the alice are tooamoply remunerated. This fact is but an- other of the mary instances afforded us daily of the utter worthlessners aud -kefliciency of our present police sys- tem. When here be a change for the better? STATEMENT OF BURGLARIES MADE PUBLIC FOR TWO WEEKS, BNDING PER. 14, 1858. Frr. 2—The premises No. 182 West Thirty:seventh street ware entered by a burglar named Thomas Weston, who was caught \p the act by one of the occupants of the house. that in f 3.—The premises No. 97 West Twenty seventh ere entered by a burglar named John Hawkins, t in the act by Mr. Abraham Carpenter, q Jobneon was No. 42 Fast Thirty eig' George W. Flock. Fer. 4 —James Walter and George Wileon, two profee- sionals, were arrested at the New York Hotel on charges of burglary. The dwelling hovse of F. ©. Stedman, No. 28034 West Nineteenth street, entered by burglars, who succeeded in carrying off about $60 worth of plate, with a a handsome opera glass and some money. Fern. 5.—The dwelling house of Willism A. Hillyer, in Thirtieth street, near Second avenue, was entered by burglars, and about $1,200 worth of property was stolen. No arreeie. Fen. 6.—The store No. 28 Front street was entered by burglars, and on attempt made to carry off several firkins of butter, No arrests. Frn. 7.—The leather store of Bullard & Co., No. 14 Ferry street, was entered by burglars, and $800 worth of ee stolen. Three arrests. ' Part of the property re- covered. Fen 8.—Hollaway’s Express Office, at Yorkville, robbed and get on fire by ees: One arrest. Fen. 9.—Two burglars caught at the United States Hotel and handed over to the police. The store of John W. Avery, No. 309 Water street, en- tered by burglars and $320 worth of property stolen. Two arrests by the police. Fen. 10.—The store of Nicholas Cornell, No. 46 Beaver street, entered by burglars and robbed of $300 worth of goods. One of the burglars arrested by citizens and handed over totbe police. Property recevered. The store of James Maloney, No. 67 Park street, entered by burglare. Two arrests. Part of the goods recovered. ght entering the dwelling house h street, by a citizen named Fen. 13. @ tailoring establishment of D. W. Weeks, pe oa street, entered by burglars and $100 wi clothing stolen therefrom. No arrests. The above comprise abont one fourth of the burglaries committed during the past two weeks. CAPTURE OF HOTEL THIEVES—A FUGITIVE FROM BOSTON. As the chambermaid of the Orleans House in Cortlandt street, was performing her usual duties in the upper part of the hotel on Tuesday night she unexpectedly sur- prised @ party of thieves, who bad just commenced ope- rations in the barkeeper’s room. Upon knocking at the door of the reom in question she was surprised to find that there were some persons in it who had no legitimate business there. The barkeeper was down etairs attend. ing to his duties in the barroom, se she at once concluded that the strangers then in his room were thieves. Acking upon this presumption she went down stairs and informed the proprietor of the facta in the case. Police man Lent, of whe Third precinct police, was called in, when three fellows, named John Stevens, John Johnson and John Williams, were discovered secrete in the room. They had breken open the barkeeper’s trunk and rifled \tof all ite valuable contents. The accused were locked up in the Tombs, when it was subsequently ascertained that one of the prisoners, Stevens, was a fugitive from Boston, where he had committed burglary and escaped from jail. The entire party were committed for examina- tion. A New Mone or Raiixe tar Wiep.—A young fellow pamed Jobn Donnelly went into the clothing st sre of Ter bell, Jennings & Co., 44 Park place, yesterday morning, and asked for the bookkeeper. The latter happened to be absent at the time, when Donnelly sat down and coolly wrote him a note. He then proceeded to pass ont through the Barclay street entrance of tho store, and on his way picked up a bundle of silk handkerchiefs and walked cif with the rame, Luckily policeman Bennett, of the detec ied the fellow coming out of the #tore with hand. Knowing him to be a thief he and brought him back tothe — Doni puty Superintendent's office, and hocked up for exami. pation. Crarer ov Thcamy.=John Henry, alias John Jackson, ito curtody yeeterday and brought before Jas- it the Second District Police Court, on charge performed by the 4 "s church, on the 10th of im, 1851. Ellen Toole, tho Rev. Mr. Mo. of the Twenty- street Roman Catholic church, made the “twain one WHY LICENTIOUS SRA CAPTAINS ARE NOT PUNISHED— CONVERSATION OF THE COMMISSIONERS ON THE SUBIECT. ‘The Commissioners of Emigration met yesterday —Gulian ©. Verplanck, President, in the cbair. After the reading of the minutes Mr. Vrnrarcx laid on the table communications from Senator Seward and Con- gressman Keily, of this city, acknowledging the receipt of the petition relative to the abuse of emigrant girls by sea captains, and asking the advice of the Roard as to the Provisions of @ bill that would meet the case. In laying said be notiond had animadverted on them with having Mr. Ccrrm did not understand why the captains and officers who ruined young girls could not be punished in the United States courts. ae eee it wae almort impossible to bring ® sult, and Mr. Mageon, the late District a know ledged that under the ‘isions of the Wy Seto pre we ‘anything with the ing cap- Mr. Crate —Yea: bophe pe A it is possible for a sea. man to sue for assault and battery, a girl who has thus bern disgraced can get some redrees. Captain Crantaen —Mr. McKeon says not. Here the conversation dropped, and the Bonrd ad. Journed, EMIGRATION, FINANCE, ETC. Emicrants arrived to Feb. 10, 1858. Seat Do. do. since to Feb. 1 . m3 Total... To camo date in 1867, Decrease... ‘Inmates at Ward's Island. . Do. Marine Honpitai Fires in New York. SXTENSIVE YLKE IN MAIDEN LANS—LOSS ABOUT $200,000. Test night, shortly after even o'clock, # fire broke out in tho six story building, No 56 Maiden jane, extending throvgh to No. 25 Liberty street. As soon as the alarm was given flames were seen on the second story of the building, extending with extraordinary rapidity to the up- Per stories, and in the space of fifteen minutes the whole of the upper floors were enveloped in flames. The lar; skylight about the centre of the building aided mush in the kpreeting of the fire to the roof. One half of the roof in a short time fell, which carried with it @ portion of the east wall. This assisted very much in subduing the fire, ‘and the copious application of water by the firemen, kept the flames within building where it originated. The firet floor and basement was occuped by Windle & Co. importers of hardware and house furnishing articles, and the winoie of che upper stories by Charles Abrenfeldt, im- porter of porcelain snd German fancy Is. The total loss must amount to upwards of $200,000. The building, we understand, was owned by Windle & 60. , and is fully cov- ered by insurance. At 11 o'clock the fire had extended throngh the parti- tion wal), and fired the three story and attic building No. 58 Maiden Jane, and spread rapidly to the three story building No 23 Liberty street. ic whole of both build Inge, with the greater portion of their contonta, wil! bo @ total loss. The building No. £8 was owned by Windle & Co., and occupied by that firm on the upper stories. The firet floor waa occupied by a dealer ip qloths, a large portion of whore stock was removed by the insurance patrol to an adjoining store, It is said that Windle & Co. bad a stock of upwards of $100,000, whieh was fully covered by insurance in city companies, Mr. Ahrenfeldt had also a stock of about $100,000, which is likewise covered by ingurance. Mr. Edward ‘Hen, of 23 Liberty street, importor of fancy German goods, will lose the moet part of his stock; loss estimated at about $10,000—covered by insurance, FIRE IN WEST NINETEENTH STRERT. About seven o'clock on Wednesday morning a fire oc- curred in the bakery No, 123 West Nineteenth street, kept by P. Kelch. It originated from some shavings igniting from the furnace, Mrs. Keich, in endeavoring to extin- guish the flames, burned her face and hands. The fire- men were quickly at the premises, and extinguished the fire. Damage to stock and fixtures about $25; no insu- rance. The building is owned by James Lewis; it is damaged about $10, and insured for $1,000 in the United ‘States Insurance Company. FIRE IN SIXTH AVENUE. Between two and three o’clock on Wednesday afternoon a fire was discovered on the second floor of the tenement building No. 604 Sixth avenue. The flremen promptly ex- tinguished the fire. Jf appears that a plumber, in the em- fwd of James Ingram & Son, of No 334 Fourth avenue, had been engaged during the morning in thawing out the Croton water pipe, and that at the place where he was at work the fre commenced. The floor joist and under side of the flooring were much burned. The damage to the building will be about $10; insured. There was some slight damage done to the stock of G. W. Devoe, who keeps a meat market on the first floor. The building is owned by Mrs. Winers, who resides on Staten Island. Meeting of the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce held a epocial meeting last night at Chnton Hall—Peletiah Peret, Esq., in the chair. The chairman stated that this was a special meeting, ad journed from the last regular meeting. The first subject claiming their attention was the report of Mr. Davis rela tive to a permanent location; but there was another and more important subject, which he suggested should be first taken up, That was the question of bank restriction, recommended by the Greenwich Bank Superintendent. This question had been reported on by the committee of the last meeting, and had boen printed and circulated among the members. Tho meeting having agreed to take up the bank questien first, the report and memorial to the Legislature were read. The report appeared in the Hexarp of last Saturday. ‘The memorial asks that a law be passed embodying the views of the report. . Davis moved the adoption of the report, and he d the vote would be unanimous. 188 Barstow® opposed the motion, though he thought he should be outvoted. He was +pposed to restrictive Jaws, and was doubtful whether the Louisiana law did much good, after all. Sir Robert Peel’s law failed when. ever it was soe. He was in favor of doing everything possible to stop all crimes in money deal- ings, but to avoid all compulsory action otherwise. Ie was a pity if merchants, after the lesson oe had = earned, could not restrain themselves without asking gentlemen at Albany to tie their han is. He would move an amendment, that if banks ran two or three weeks without paying specie, they should not be allowed to discount @ collar until they came into line again. He would move as an amendment, that a tine be imposed in place of the penalty of winding up the bank, which was too severe. Mr. Drwxive Durk said that the gentleman mistook the intention of the meworinl. Mr. Marranw Morty was opposed to the report. Mr. Swrru was opposed t> the principle of the whole thing, and did not shrink from raising his voice against it because it was recommended by mea whoee names stood high in the commercial world. He bad een enough of their handiwork for the past twelve months. He did not see why we abould follow Louisiana, a mere little town compared with New York city. He hoped the Chamber would pause on this seriovs matter. All the trouble of last summer was caused by the heads of four inet in this city, and he thought he if this proposition. He was surpri: as thie introduced into the Chamber. Mr. Hower said that he had no doubt the gentle who drew up the report had in view the banking in of the State, but he thought their plan was not calculated to do all they intended. He would offer az an amendment that a law be asked for prohibiting bank: n allowing interest on deposits in any form. (Applaase,) Mr. Rovai. Petrs said that the committee by their re- port probibited banks from paying interest on deposits. Mr Jas. Ler wanted to know if it would not have the effect of keeping capital away from New York. He thought the principle was wrong; if public benks could not allow interest on deposite, private bankers would. Mr. Caas. H. Marenat thought we wan! no legtela- tion atallon the matter. The bank system of this city ‘Was On as good @ basis as it could be, and he hoped that the report and memorial would be rejecte4, not by a small vote, but by such a one as would koep it out of the Cham. ber in future. Mr. Browen’s amendment was then put and fort. The oy ~tgpeanas to adopt the report and memorial was put The ayes and nocs were called for; bot, afer some dis- lost. proposition was isid over. . Lee moved for a “5° gaol aad dl ¢ Chamber of Commerce that it wae that any memorial asking for interference Jith the banking Ins of the State should emanato from body at present; but the perm: ¢ room in the Merchant's Exchange, formerly de. signed to aecommodate it. It was situated over the read ie room, and was ample in ita dimensions, berides pn, WL proof. It was the most suitable location, also being most do cong: “sd be secured, and a maps, books, &e , be ertablished by donation, which ‘be open to members and citizens, o0 paying certain fee. Mr. Brower moved that the committee be empowered to open negotiations with the trustees of the Exchange. Messrs. Marenatt, Srrarrow, and others, objected to the adoption of the report at all, aa the work was only half done by the committee. They had made no provision for raising funds to pay for the room, and that was the most important part of their duty. Subsequently, on motion of pena report was referred back w (he com- mittee. Mr. Mawenatt moved What another special meeting be held on Friday, at one o'clock, in the Morchanta’ Rank, for the purpose of considering the different eubjocts which were not permitted to be introduced that evening. This ‘Motion was agreed to, and the meeting adjourned Personal cea = rag ‘The Leavenworth Times says that Gen. Harney intends going to Burope, and has a furlough for two years. From Charleston, inthe sicsuneh 1 T Cott, O ‘rom i hip Atlanta—0 T Cott, 0 Hark, iram Luther, J Willea, J Cooper, @ A Parsons 1G Hopkina, J Atking 8 P Parson, Gonsalves, @ Boyle, H Kil trode, A Rortia, H Semken, J Monsenc, Mr Pove, Mr Meneil, ining, J Knox, Mra Cotireil, Mr Noble, W Kraupt, T Ellis, ing. For ti 1, in steamahip Aranin--Mr and Mew Sichsel we , in Arabin—Mr_ an cl Ward, Manchester: Me unter Ni, Messrs Lammont Da- A ce, Montreal; Ferd ieee AY Ly ~ re, rer leepatches, . ye Dat Lieut Gol WF Katte itd i ara O'R Robert: son, Canada; a H Le Mesurier, 5 in; Alex, Mun sian; it po Obi, Mi JF Hunt i Nath favage im Por wr and Mrw Oniaweil ae ‘om Healteand Yaree in the dein ai a a 5 Le San inne re and len ‘NEPrAgO. City Politics. THE REPUBLICAN GENBRAL COMMITTES AND THE POLICE COMMISSIONERS. An adjourned meeting of the Repnblican General Com- mittee was hold last night at Stuyvesant Institute, to dis- cuss the resolutions introduced at the previous meeting, calling on the Legislature to #0 amend the law organizing the Board of Police Commissioners that they would be elected by the people, in the same manner as tho Ten Governors are chosen. This proposition was debated for nearly four hours last » and was finally laid over. The Police Commis- sioners were berated. It was charged that the republican party had to bear all the odium of passing the law, and pow the Commissioners male appointments in defiance of the bebesta of the party of this city. The in the State was stricken down because they bad wrought this Board into existence, yet the Commissioners jpted whom they pleased on the potice, democrats or anything else, 80 long as it subserved their own private end R. ‘The Chairman (Mr. Kennedy) defended the Commis. sioners. He thought a half loaf was better than no bread, and he, therefoze, was determined to stand by the Police Beard as at present constituted. ‘The debate was continued by both parties, and it was easily to be seen that the Commissioners are with suspicion, if not positive dislike, by the bulk of the republican leaders. ‘Washington and Hamitton, (from the Boston Courier, Jan. 30. ‘TO THB DITOR OF THR RORTON COURINR. The recently published yolume, entitled ‘A History of the Republic of the United States as traced in the Writings of Alexander Hamilton and his p,’’ has given Tike to fome commenta on the claim preferred by its au- thor, John C. Hamilton, to the composition by Colonel Hamilton of many of Washington’s letters. These com- ments seem to have mistaken the ground taken by the author, who has confined bimeeif to a quotation of Wash. ington’s letter to Congress, stating that his letters were “drawn by his aids and vecretary,’’ Washingten this publicly avowing the fact, claimed in this work, of Hamil- fof imstrumentality and that of the other members of aft. The subject admits of a wide and large discussion. For the present, we confine ourselves to the publication of ibe view taken by a gentleman fully conversant with the matter. This gentleman is the son of an officer of the Massachusetts line, and has in his posses- sion numerous letters of Washington. His posi- tion as @ lawyer is among the most eminent in this country; his character commands universal respect; ag a scholar and a man of taste, we know not his superior: and he is distinguished for that calm wiedom which rarely. errs, We may add that he was, during their lives, the intimate friend vil Bushrod Washington, of Chief Jus- tice Marshall and of Daniel Webster, and it does no in- justice to the estimate of either of those eminent personages to say, that he is equally with either of them an ornament to our couniry, This gentleman observes:— Doubtless the tener of the letters was prescibed or di- rected by Washington. If there is anything in the man- ner of describing them, as being written “under the sig- nature of Washington,” or ‘in bis bebalf,”” or ‘for him,” tbat implies the contrary of this, the description must 80 far be admitted to be erroneous; but it implies no- thing to the contrary, as the primal authority, con- trol and lead of Washington, in regard to the fundamental purport or bearing of every letter signed by Washington. is the very thread or connection of the history. But what cannot be admitted is that the manner in which the lead- ing thought or purpoge is expressed in these letters is that of Washington, nor consequently the incidental qualifica- tions which make that thought what it ia and toy ay por the col/ateral matters by which the purpose @ plained, justified or enforced. These were not Washing- ton’s and were Hamilton’s. No man who is familiar with General Washington’s style can possibly entertain the opinion that these letters were his composition, nor can any man who is familiar with the style of Hamilton entertain doubt that they were throughout the composition of Hamilton, They contain the leading thought of purpose of Washington, expressed and enforced by Hamilton in bis own words and manner, with all the incidents, whether of emphasis, or qualification, or corroboration, that in the judgment of Hamilton would best exhibit or present the leading and céntrolling intemuon of Washing- ton. All this results both the internal evidence and from the position of Hamilton in General Washing- ton’s military family, which was not that of scribe or ist, but bis “principal and most confidential aid,”’ and satisfied the desideratum which Washington himself described as absolutely necessary to him, by being a per son “that can think for me as well as execute orders.” To what extent this was dove by Hamilton, beyond the mere leading thought or purpose, or even the occs suggestion of that thongbt, cannot be defined with any more certainty in his caee'than in that of a Secretary of War to the Chief Executive of a nation; but in connecting the public biography of such au officer with the progress of the revolution, there seems to be even less danger of injustice to the Commander-in-Chief, in making a special | attribution to “the pripcipe) aud most copAdential aid’ of | the letters which remain of bis inditing, than in the cases in which the letters, orders or proclamations of « President are aitributed in point of authorship to the Se- cretary of State by whom they are countersigned. The language used in this respect by the ron of Gen. Hamil ton, war intended no doubt to aesert General Hamilton's authorship, not to exclude the direction, sugges- | tion, supervision or control of Washington; aod unless he bad adopted in the case of every letter some formal periphrasi« whith would bave de‘ormed the page, itis not easy to perceive what ether method could have een used, that would not have obliterated the agency of Hamilton, and drawr the reater’s attertiou exclusively to the signer of the letters. ft ls very the author bas su himself to a eviticlam, which b; some other languas have avoided, witheut im pairing the importance of General Hamilton's agency; but for the most part, sch criticism will not proceed from there who were the uniform friomis and admirers of | Washington, but from the eulogists of those who were the cotemporary friends o neither Washington nor Hamil top, and who who were willing to allow the praise of the one only when it obscured the praise of the other. Those | are not the true friends of Washington, who will not dis- Criminate between those great qualities in which he was | unsurpassed, and perhaps unequalled, by any man of any age, and those qualities which his modesty disclaim ed, and the affectation of which would have impaired the unity as well as the grandeur of his character, [From the Richmond Whig, Feb. 12.) ‘The Now York Express bas done for the claim eet up by General Hamilton's son for his father of having written Washington's Farewell Address. That paper says that Chyf Justice Jay, several years before his death, which occurred in 1829, published a letter, in which he’ stated that Washington, after having written the Farewoll Ad. dreae, enclosed it to Hamilton for perusal and correction with & request that it might be shown to him (Jay); that Hamilton, after having read it, rent it to him uncorre ted; that they afterwards met and read it over together, when they came to the conclusion that it was all right, and ought not to be altered; that it was sent back to Wash! ton without the alteration of a word, and that it was pub- lished exactly as it was when read by Hamilton and and as it pow is. So this ridiculous pretension is end forever. ‘but that in dressing his father up ever designed him to wear, he should have of inclining the world to doubt even if latter part of Washington's ininistration he was Ditterly assailed by the minions party, and one of the charges that he was a nose of wax in the bands of itton. No man who knew anything of Washington at that day be- lieved one word of the slander. No man who has ever read Mr Jefferson's memoirs can believe it now. No man was ever leas under intluence—no man ever pos conwed a more unconqnerable (oe gl Ke, a forted a more unalterable rerolution bimeelf to be in the right. That man never breathed that would have dared to approach Washington with the view of converting hi att i mubjec: they did escape his kept them under completest all tion to "hie reason 4 ca coptrol, however, as WAS the cage Rometimes, very rarely, they made all tremble who beheld ths explovion. Mr. Jefferson describes it as terrific beyond description It may be eet down as absolutely certain that neither Al exander Hamilton por anf body alae would ever presumo ‘very far upon the good nature of aman so sagacious, so dignified and eo little dispowed to countenance impertinent intermeddting. Tho party writers of the day, however, for their own . ‘esented Washington ac ontire- ly in leading strings to Hamiiton. It wae their cue to place him before the world as an ignoramar, and hence they maintained that he could not even write a letter, but that Rami'ton wrote all his letters for him. It is # that the son of Hamilten—that man whom above all others he loved and trusted—should think it due to the fame of bis father to revtve there calaumnics of Washington's bitterest enemies. We feel assured that were ilton alive, and were such an attemptto be made, it would excite his liveliest indignation. Tt is our opinion not only that wrote avery line of the ell Address, bat that no other man who ever lived could bave written It. It is Washington all over It ie a cast Of his mind in an imperishable material. It is pd oo sng of moral man drawn by hie own hand. Full of , Tull of knowledge of man, fuil of knowlodge of his countrymen, full of knowledge of himself, it la one of there unique luctions which not only have no existing model, but which can never be successfully imitated. Ht bas been admired by men of ali nations and of all partion as the very essence ef political wisdom and uneoltieh patriotiem. Tt is very certain that no journeyman did that job. It betrays the hand of the master in the very turn of the sentences. Ti was delivere’ as if from inapi- fation, and it has turned out to be prophecy. Thero is internal evidence enongh to conviee the most —— But if there was not the testimony of Mr. Jay is sw this, we learn from the Lynchburg Pir. girian, that a relative of Washington is in of THE EUROPEAN MAILS. ADDITIONAL FROM EUROPE AND ASIA, The Americans in Paris and the Attempt- ed Assassination of Napoleon. THE WAR IN CHINA, ENGLISH FEARS OF THE MORMONS. HAYTI AND SAN DOMINGO. OUR LONDON AND PARIS CORRESPONDENCE, &c., &e., &. Some of the Paris journals of the 20th ult., pubdiien the following paragraph -— A public meoting of the citizens of the United States of America, at present residing in Paris, will be held im the salle of the grand hotel of the Louvre, om Friday, the 29th (this day), at balf-past one o’clock in the afternoon, for the purpose of offering their congratulations to the Emperor and Empresa, and to testify that the c’tizena of the republic founded by Washington have no sympathy whatever with anarchy and those atrocious proceedings which are by eommon accord censured by thetwo workia. The London Herald is not remarkably aceurate in \t4 Gnancial inelligence, if we judge by the follow ng from hat paper of the 27th ult — Of course the American journals are only too giad of the opportunity which recent exposures afford to return the compliment English writers have been so free % ox- press with reepect to the laxity dietinguiehing speculation cn the other side of the Atlantic. They conseqnently take little pains to-conceal the pleagare they experience in re- publithing the several cases of bank mivappropriation and mismanagement which have been exhibited during the progress of the late crisis; and while commenting with due severity on their own short comings in connec- tion with financial integrity, they pevertheless consider that that the inbabitants of the old country deserve @ fair sbare of opprobrium. In some statistical statements which and liabilit , it calculated that the eventual logs will be about £29.000,000; the difference between £60,000,000, fer which these houses bave suspended, ans £31,000,000, the amount of assets anticipated to be realised. ‘Of the number of 204,- 061 firms which have stopped, B17 are described at “swindling failures.” with an indobtedness of £1,044,500; and the number of failures that will pay nothing, except confidential, 612, with an indebtedness of upwards of £4,000,000.' The cause of the panic, both in America and abroad, is curtly described as “speculation based upon am undue ‘expansion of the credit syatem, extravagance in living and excessive manufactures.” Our London Correspondence. Lospow, Jan, 29. 1868. ‘The Festivities of the Royal Marriage—Parliament to Re- assemble in a Week—The Business Before It—The Policy Towards India-—An Interesting Session Expected—Tha New York Herald and the Policy of the United Stadia Government in Regard (0 Central America—The Attempt. ed Assassination of Lowis Napoleon, and the Demand Sor the Bupulsion of Political Refugees—Russian Jour- nals Published in London, dc , &2., de. The royal marriage, with its junketing, ie over, and all ite guests departed; but the bride and her cara spousa do not leave England till three days hence, and, to beguilo the time, two other festivities in their honor are yet to take place. To-night her Majesty and the newly married couple are going in state to the Opera House, that '#, with more show and ceremony than on the three previous oc- casions. As this is the last appearance of the royai family in public, there is a tremendous rush for places, and tho fortunate Lumley will pocket a receipt in one night that would constitute a fortune for any reasonable man. To- morrow a reception takes place at the palace for the no- bility to pay their homage to the happy pair, when the curtain will finally descend on the gay scenes that, for tbe past two weeks, have kept the sight seers actively on ioe move. Next week we shall have & new excitement, of « grave kind, in the re assembling of Parliament, and a org and arduous session is eure to follow. The two crand measures to be brought forward by Lord Palmerston are the reorganization of the present government of India aud 4 pew Reform bill for England. There very important Acts of legislation will give rise to interminadle debaer, and will enable the world outside of St. Stepben this country and eisewhere, toform an exact est) nate of the intellect and learning of the British Parliament 9° your 1858. Thore are several statesmen sere t> * guish themselves, as they have made India the r special? atndy for years, and noone in practical ability w! )Lrey #n more enduring repytauen than John Bright, of Corn Jaw memory. Bright is a Quaker im religion and facturer by trade, but in the politics! arena he has iow equals for information acd eloquence. He won creat dig- tinetion along with Cobder im their crovade against the Corn laws, but since then both of them have lost ground by their Quixotic views against war, which led them to oppose the national the campayn against Ruessia, and next, in present waron China. [, was the joint resistance of Cobden and Bright to Lord Palmerston’s jam in China that led to the dissolution of the ite House of Commons: and in the elections that followed, the Prime Minister waa amply avenged, for beth of hin inveterate antagonista were repu tiated, Cobden is still in coventry, but Bright baa got back to Parliament again; and, fortunately for himeelf, in time w «bare ine the discussion of the Indian question ” passant, that if Cobden and Bright had only knowa how to play their cards, they might have been wo day the two strargest men in England, and ove of them the inevitavie Prime Minister. It is clear that something elee than ability and oratory are necessary to arrive at power, both bere and elsewhere; ard the first thing in every case @ net to imitate Canute, and bid the waves of public opinion to » Im the case of Cobden and his compeer they on, and drowned them both. ‘To return to the question: The Bast India Company are in adire state of fright and indignation at the fate that Abreatens the. This powerful joimt stock concern has, over ; thing they bave mate of it The enormous wealth they have extracted from this ey pel land, could, if piled in ingots, be counted by the mile. Te preserve their ch & glorious golden calf as this, they have consented, from time to time, to let the divide a portion of the spoils, and to share with them Se ee yee Bat Md rebdellon baa ven government the pretext t ve hed and t) toeved new be votes wpee tas goten'naa chattela of the tuckleas Fast India Company. incloding some two hundred millions of j and all they want is the sanction of Parlladmeot to lecnlze ‘, Thie they will obtain, of courre, snd very properly—for late evente prove that the company would bave low) their Prize if the nation had not furnished the men and the meana to retain it. The idea of a commercial company exercising sovereign swny over the whole south of Asia in preposterous; and Buch the company will ou May suppore they are rich en ugh to buy defendera— Tat not venture to #ay votes; but public opinion, repre sented by the Timer and Lord Palmerston, will be too ‘toch for them, and their last hour is not far off. Teball «ay nothing day of the Reform bill, as better ities will offer for touching on that hereafter. articles in the Benatn suj the policy of the government Attract at tention here; and by today’s steamer, that lord Napier approves ly of the President's course in Nicaragua, * pursing Central America, to oblige the minitry here become of Sir Gore Ouseley, and what is he doing at Warbington? ‘Since the attempted assansipation of the French 5 officials of the !mperial Cabinet for allowing politicnl refugees of all countries to collect and reside in England. Tt ie said [ouis Napoleon is disposed to make strong remonstrances on thir subject; Dut it is @onbtfel, if be die, whether it would produce the least effect By English lawe no foreigner ix any mora Viable to banikhmert of imorisonment, unions gutity of some proved iegality, than an Roglishman, aod hence, if the government wore inclined to aczede to the wishes of a foreign potentate in expelti ea, Oe Paria ment and public opinion of Pugiand would rue up in de termined opposition to it. No man k detier than Toute Napoleon bimeeif the difficulties in Engiand en viron this question of refugees, and therefore he will be moderate (n his proceedings reapecting it. The French mind, however, is excited deeply on this point, suspecting that the Fritieh government harbors all kinds of deape- rate revolutioniste, with a view to launch them like a pest against the vations of the Continent. This extreme fancy is generally eredited amongst the higher clasees of Fore A tery extraordinary fact hae just leaked oot bere, which sounds like a . — Who ever heard before ‘s Russian free press? Butsuch an anomaly really It two joarnais—the