The New York Herald Newspaper, December 14, 1858, Page 2

2 Arebbishop Hughes on the School Question. Sermon at the Cathedral—The Catholic Church as a Teacher—The Public School War at an End—An American Catholic Col- lege at Rome, and Collection Therefor, é&c. A collection was taken up on Sunday in all the Catholic churebes of New York for the repairing, furnishing and other expenses incident to the fitting up.of an American Catholic College at Rome. The occasion was one of much imterest to the Catholic portion of the community, as this is the first institution of the kind which bas been established in the Eternal City. Every other country, {tis urged, but this has a Catholic college there, and the Pope, it seems, is determined that | the Oatholics of the United States shail no longer want such an institution. A sermon was preached on Sunday in the Cathedral by Archbishop Hughes, in which he ex plained at some length the character and objects of the college, and in which he also alluded to the question of the Bible in our public schools. After referring to the anpouncement which had been made in all the Catholic churches the Sunday before in regard to the collection, he read the following from the eighteenth and nineteenth verses of the last chapter of Saint Mathew, as his text: And Jesus coming spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me ‘n heaven and in earth Go, therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, audof the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Tue authority of the church as a teacher, said he, is de- rived from Christ asa teacher, and in organizing the church the commission which he gave was that bis Apostles should teach all nations. This commission applied more immedi ately to the promulgation of Christianity and the conver: sion of nations; but it contained within itself an authority aud an obligation, referring to a subordinate teaching, whether of Christian doctrine or of the sciences, and knowledge even of the secular order, by which the human mind would be enlightened, aud nations uplifted from the darkness of Paganism towards or into the light of perfect civilization, This second order of the church's teaching would have reference more particularly to matured aud somewhat cultivated minds. But there is still a third or- der involved in the commission of Christ, and necessarily to be deduced from it, It is that teaching the obligation of which is incumbent on Christian parents towards their offspring. Between this last teaching and the frst there is an essential connection, and it may be explained in this When the Aposties, in obedience to the command of their master, preached his doctrine either to the Jews or Gentiles, they addressed matured minds and hearers who judged by their own understanding of the truth of the doctrines proposed. As learners they would be aided | by the grace of God, calling them t salvation, and as ra- | tional men, of adult age way by their intrinsic appeal to their reason or by the external | evidence of miracles and the power of God with which, | especially in the first ages of the Church, they were accom panied, Thus we behold Christ as a teacher, training his Apostles; telling them that he spoke not of himself, but that whatever things he had heard of the Father those he made known to them. It was by the influence of his teachings and his fniracies that those Apostles and disciples attached themselves to him and became established in the faith of his doctrines; and now he sends of the whole number— (welve Apostles—to be teachers of the buman race. Go ye, therefore, aud teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. After the descent of the Holy Ghost, these Aposties went forth on their divine mission. They taught the doctrixes of Christ not according to scientific rue, but in the way in which the spirit of God directed them toteach. When those who were parents bad already heard the word of life, and, on the strength of the evidence with which it was presented, became disciples of the cross, we know that they imme diately became the teachers of their own children, and thus we read in several instances of persons believing to gether with all their household. The reason for this course is obvious, namely, that the doctrines of Christ which were true for the parents, who were capable of judg’ ing, were equally true for the children, whose minds were not competent to understand the evidence, bat in whom the law of nature and the law of God established the beautiful economy by which the authority of parents be: comes equal to all demonstration. Thus the Apostles tra versed many lands, propagating every where the doctrines of their Divine Master, and everywhere leaving as a result that same order of secondary teaching in families to which Ihave just referred. Hence t church of God of training up the children of Catholic rents first in the knowledge of their Creatar, as the most precious part of education that can be attained on earth The Church never recognized that dangerous principl which permits children to grow up uvimbued with any principle of doctrine until their minds shall be sufficiently | developed to form a judgment for themselves. This might oot be inconsistent in those cases in which parents profess a religion by no means certain in their own minds for, being themselves uncertain, they could plead that their children grown to maturity might, by one way or another, discover a more fixed and a more consoling belief | than their own. But alll this is the reverse of the idea of teaching, especially religion, in the Catholic Church. In that church everything from the beginning has been fixed determined, consistent one part with another, unchange. able and universal. Religion im the Catholic Church is not a speculation—it is a permanent, am universal truth. In itself and in the minds of those to whom has given ‘the light and the gift of faith, it ® a conviction, and not speculation. What, therefore, can be more consistent with | (We imetitution of the church as a teacher than this univer sa! order that has sprung up on the track of ber successful missionaries, The oilicial teachers of Christianity and the dispensers of tue mysteries of God—ikose who were cotmmissioned to carry on his own ministry—are necessa- rily the Apostles and their successors iu the apostiestip | and in the priesthood. But at the same time the laity of that church. of every age and condition, 4s a necessary ¢ universal practice in th conseq ygpee of their faith under the teaching of the Chris tian became themselves teachers in their subor. imate «ti ret towards their children press.ng opon th tiou and a kuow! h, both a Christian ed: rains to the Lapp: and diguity of man fof human life. Their | teaching War not oc i to w mere knowledge of the y fathers Of the church made order that they with the reasoning ot th fathers of the church ences of » their age they who trines of Christianity, who vindicated aga’ against Pagan philosophy every tenet of #0 that from their time ti the prosent their writings have furnished refutation of every speciee of novelty aud of | false ret bat may have arisen in the proud inteliect w nuen n the churel ‘or three b of erria Fea Of pers: sad Wadesi Ubrough the adres years, and it became taught, aud by ating the WgALION On Parents and on the ia'ty of texching those committed to their care, eapecully in the first eiements of Christian know! Wfuned geperaliy throughout the | Christian community & love of educauon and a zeal | to promote it. As time wonton we belioid them laying | the foun lations of univers ties and colioges in every cou f Europe monasteries became great centres Alion and of knowledge. their inmate devoted them night to the preservation uf the frag. | eck of the ation, were | mportant in ety during what stituted a great ovetacie | ch is best carried on felves day av ts of ancient are called to the holy work of the euure in times of peace and of civil who warred against each oth stant « of strife, and frequently of war, ed became rather a reproach. The and ferocid barous, contending agai , feverenced the Jespised the book. Yet during those same one for educat« in Italy, im Gern i Bngian, a © Was Hot ¢ strife. It in anid b ‘n which her pg element of ci¥ thi who ether do not take pains to know, of who hare a candor to ackn ge the truth, that the eb Uiaily ‘imical education. To refute this, howe be enoag!, learning Which the church, with dustry i from age to age to establish and to point to those great @eats and centres of unceasing zeal and in 0 on courage we all that she’ founded awept fr face Of Karope at the present day, and wh main’ It is true that some of her most nob’ have passed into the hande of those who F knowledge her authority. and yet the probability is, that if they had not been found wiready in existence at the pe riod of what t# called the Reformation, they would never have had an existence. Let ue pase how to the subordi nate education, which may be called social and domoatic The teaching of the church, by « mm tary cousequence of her divine commission, has never ceased 10 encourage and — promote this and the reason is that when Selves established in the Catholic faith, whether they | wived it by gonversion, or whether ft bar been m tied to them from devoted ancestors. they receive | 01d (ton thie condition that they and their deseenda: tavet (ranemit t to all their posterity. Thue the « fluence of parental authority and affection come es to the gront official teaching of the pastors and | b. When the Almighty creates new \ife and | tal beings through the instrumentality of he'y | parents are them ‘ marriage, Uo garents receive the pledge of their | der a ascred Mligation, both towards God and | vir oftepring. ‘That child i# the child of God as | theirs, it in the ehfid of the holy Catholic church the moment that it i consecrated to Christ by the | Ment of hapten Nes parents, at the risk of salva. | : Acnot alenate t from its oternal hope and its right | port. they would judge of the evi. | dences on which those doctrines were presented, whether | | which they may think expediont. We NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1858. to be a Christian. When it grows up in the exer- cise of free will, it may be unhappy enough either to deny the faith or to hve in violation of its precepts; but at that period of life the responsibility of the parents will bave ceased; and hence it is that under the impulse of nature, under the precept, example snd encouragement of the church, the first school of Christian- ity is ‘that of the family. The enlightened and Christian mother is the teacher, and around her are the young listeners receiving their first impressions respecting God, the sacraments of the church—receiving lessons on all thse from lips which speak to them, in their young minds at least, with infallibility as well as affection. As these children’ row up they pass to another school. ‘This. pr tice also has prevailed from early times in the church: Their teacher, in consequence of their companions and the whole community in which they live being of the same religious faith, would be a reasonable substitute for the teaching of the parents, but the latter are always bound to see whether by themselves or by others that the minds and hearts of their children shall not be ‘estranged from the precious inheritance of faith, which they are bound to transmit. When all Christendom was Catholic | it would be easy and natural that children should be con sidered safely brought up under the influence of their re ligion, acting in school as well as in the church, and hence schools, such as we now term common schools, have been established every where under the intluence of ‘the eburety as ateacher, Before the melancholy period which has so distracted the once united Chritian family, these schools were already abundant in many countries, and likely to become more and more so; so that this common educa- tion is not as to its substance a modern institution; nay, so zealous was the church for the education of Catholics, that Sunday itself was taken advantage of for a more thorough ingraining of Christian knowledge in the minds of the children. In reference to all that bas just been Said, there is one observation which marks the difference between the iniluence and efforts of the Catholic chureh in regard te education aad similar efforts amomg those by whom her authority has been set aside: she did all without the aid of civil governments, she did all by the voluntary contributions of her own children and the zeal of her own learned and illustrious professors; she did all by the gentle influence of her own divine right, as a teacher, acting upon those who sympathized with her and fe her auxiliaries in the elementary departments of the great work. They, on the other hand, have for the most part done everything through the medium of civil legislation, thereby indi- cating that education was no longer a labor of iove, that its ‘sucess Fequired cocreion; and for this purpose the arm of the civil power was brought in for its support. Common education has become a favorite policy in nearly all (1e nations of Christendom. It is more advanced in some than in others. Prussia was, perhaps, the first to syste- matize it as a policy of the State, Other nations have fol- lowed, each with its own peculiar system; but there is one remark to be made, thal ia no country ia the world has | the attempt been made, in promoting common educa- tion, to divorce tt | from Christian education, except our own, Prussia, with all its stern Protestantism, recoguises the diflerence of religious denominations, and | makes provision that each shall be at liberty, under cer- tain regulations, to inculcate its own principles of faith | ard morals. Even Eugland recognises the distinction and | allows Catholics to have their schools apart, and to receive pro vata their portion of the common fund for tueir sup- In no country, except our own, has Christianity ‘been ignored in the system of common school education. On this subject, you are aware that much bas been said and much Written lately in this city, We are denounced #5 seck ing their overthrow: we are proclaimed as enemies of the Bible in the schools, and it is assumed that in all this we are actuated by a gratuitous love of opposition and hostility to what is som .ch esteemed by our fellow citizens. This is not the case. What I have already said might satisfy any one that we cannot, in conscience, ap- prove of any system of education in which religion is for- | mally excluded from the elements of knowledge. We have no objection to the present system, so far as other denominations are concerned, but for Ourselves, as mem: bers of the church to which commission to teucl Was given which the obligation to preserve the faith ai | mit it even by domestic training vo the rising ze ‘we can never give it our approval. It is truc that, in the Unpropitious circumstances of our people, there may be cases in which it inay be less culpable for parents to per mit their children to attend such schools than to leave them to be prematurely instructed in the vices aud in the bad tuition of the public streets; but in no case would it be lawful to attend those schools if we had schools of our own in sufficient numbers and suiticiently provided in which children might attain even a less complete educa- tion, Many years ago it was our duty to make known the position of Catholics on this subject. We did not heai- tate to predict the consequences of the system, not only as regards our own chiidreen, but as regards the children of the community at large. It was then deemed one of the beautiful features the system that no sectarian- ism should be taught in the schools. To this it was replied that in a country in which there is no established religion, every form of Christianity comes to be sectarian, and thus by excluding al! sectarianism, it follows as a consequence that all Christianity and all re- ligion are necessarily excluded. It was not difficult to foresee the consequences that might have been antici pated, and it gives me great pleasure to state that, after an experiogge of nearly twenty years since that period, many enligBtened and wise men begin to dread the re. Its that are to follow. It is seldom that we make alla- mn to What is said in pulpits not our own, but in the late agitation that has been carried on in reference to the schools, and the Bible in the schools, we have the testi mony of two distingnishea Protestant clergymen, using langtage in regard to them stronger and more terrific than any that ever escaped the lps of a Catholic. They are of different denominations, indeed, and they are friends of the public scioois, or have been heretofore. They are re: garded as of high authority on any subject which they ; and here je the testimony of one when speaking of the ‘absence of religious education from the public schools. He sayes— Leay this tree of death at first parades fair seeming blossoms of « universal indiffereyee and Uberality, which, in fact, is a positive exclusion and France of the Worst kind ; for ‘what can be worse than, on the plea of the larg eat liberty, to have all positive religion forbidden and perse- cuted, and under pretenee of regard to parental and securian prejuétee, to have the children foreed to take their lessons un. der an exhausted receiver, rom which every celestial element, ery breath of heaven's (ruth, ts drawn off by the air pump of infidelity and polities, No wohder if the children should come forth from such a process with heart and intellect pumped as dry of religions reverence. feeling and belief, as the top of the rock where Rizpah watched her dead, or ‘aw the bleaching skeletons that hung before the imoamer. It may take more 08 such a system o to the apples of Sodom, and Ceath to change from the bions to fill society with ius trv ‘The other clergyman uses language equally strong saye— ‘¢ need never tbink to reform society by beginning at the branches and egleeting the roots, oF by merely ‘sting hand periodically, spasmodic fright or virtue, the effects that grow out of the roots. If yon pluck off the apples ot Sodom one Year, hey will grow the next. Society iss tree that you lie cantiot cuit down if you Would; but You may medicate the roots, bed a tree and the roow are in your school rooms. Now, if, bitter fruit you could restore to useful about the roots, ant applying potent chemical Kite, would fem ie flirt semploy. yourwelt ombere there and'when by power fin shal! be com: cast owt, aud boly habits aud inst tutions jast and righteous shall be formed, then conservative, apring t n inevitable part of a watch. sut there | never was, aever willbe, never can be, @ couscience trained by a little geography, a little arithmetic and a litte grammar And these are Ue echools to which it is said some Catho. lics advise parents w send their children. it is troe the reverend geatlemen i clerred to suggest a panacea for the evils which th ad deplore. and that i that | & small portion of the bible should be read at the opening of t Bat there are difflcuities to thie also. There are many disputes as to whichis the tr Bible for there are 4 variety of versions. Who shail | determine the true Bible as distinguished from th fav Bot, again: While we recognize the B’ whieh the church puts in our hands as a sufficiently correct ver. sion for our own an et it as the inspired written word of God, we nece: refuse any ver the Bible which the church hae n proved. W. reading of the Bible in the schools ace the happy re: fulte that seem to be anticipay it produes on munds of children the harmoay ogous sefim belief that will grow up into w pod gowial fh i wh bas been made? », We shou! ex that the two lear , instead of a hat in the simple dow trine of tue Bibie a reed. Again: They recommen the 14 atin the Bible. Now, it happens that ihe ards Prayer in the Protestant Bible bas a whole sentence more than it bas io the Catholic Bible, and the Catholic chim, returning home from hool, will have wequired the knowledge of two distinct forms’ of the Lord's Prayer. Foweer, we have | ceased tw war upon a@ system which the great majority of our citizens sem to approw at remaine for vs under all our disadvantages, is vive in ourselves the perpewual spirit of the Cathoue church as a teacher, and under ber sanction, with the freedom to inculcate religious as Well a® secular knowledge, to make the best provision for oar poor children that our poverty will permit, We must leave it to time and to a Growing #ense of justice among those who have the trot of these matters to suggest any remedy for our case must continue to labor and provide for Catholic education as we have ia bored, and with time and the blessing of Almighty ( we may be able to make still more ample provision the training of our ch n than we bave yet been al to accomplish. Nothing should turn our minds awa from the prosecution of th: ost importaut subject. The Object to Which Your attention was directed on last Sun day, 's in close harmony with all that Ihave as yet said. Tue church is still the fond mother of education for her children—the same now as when she founded the great universities of Rurope. The evidence of thie is found im the geal for relig wail the px tthat the sovereign Ponti, in hj untry the propriety their having a national colleg F own near the foun p of apostolic authority in the Eternal City of Rome it hot permit me Uo ¢ what the for education in connection with relivion is the retrospect when we look back to the acce in which the sapreme pastor of tie church sent forth hobje mineionaries to convert and teach phe people of Eng and and of ireland and the other co tries of How the fret Aposties of those countries and their sabor Ginate teachers carricd on and perpetuated the work of Christian education’ How those boy men, prompted by zea}, may be traced, passing from one country to another, fecking Out the darkest regions of ignorance and barba riem, in which to make known the light of the Gospel of Christ! And in til] more modern times these Pontiff. or their successors, wader the forebodings of motern pereveution in the different countries of Europe against the church and Catholic eddeation, were the first to antioipate the evils that were then im; ing You know that, 0 far as homan legislation and the force of the most powerful government in the world coukl acoom pish it, the chureh of Christ was e: in the Bri ie) islands. Education wae prohibited to Catholics in them all, and if they crossed the seas tw obtain it, that also was a crime against the law, punishable by imprisonment, and, in certain contingencies, by death. And it was under those circumstances that the spirit of teaching in the charch of God wa for the education of Rnglish, cpened colle Ecotch and Irish ecclesiastics. In Spain, in Germany, in the end of their creation, their divine Saviour, thei faiths | Tunce, Belgium, Lye Races ed te ies were ‘open, and even &; their¥own were provided by the generosity of those nations, or the libe- rality of the persecuted flock to whom they were after- ware to minister at the peril of their lives, But, above all, it was in Rome, by the invitation of Pontiff, that pro- _ vision was made for those unhappy countries. 1 need not speak the vast and ‘numerous colleges and universities that belong to Rome itself, but apart from these, almost every nation of Europe, where perse. cution had been felt, has its own especial college. Eng- | land, Scotland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland and Greece, not to speak of France, have cach ‘had its own national college within the city of Rome. There the advantages of a superior education in every department of ecclesiastical knowledge are superior to any that can be found in the world besides. The lectures of the Roman uni- versities are open ani gratis to all persons who choose to attend. ‘There the yotaries of know- ledge from all nations and of all sects mingle to- gether and listen to the profound dissertations of emi- nent professors on every subject connected with sacred literature. The present ‘Holy Father has taken a deep ia- terest in the Catholics of this country. He is aware that either their want of means or the necessities of the mis- sion do not permit ecclesiastics to prosecute their theologi- cal studies except to a moderate extent; and it is under this conviction, no doubt, that his zeal and his charity have pted him. out of his slender means, to set apart ‘a costly and spacious edifice, procured at his own expense, and to offer to the bishops of this country, as the nation- al college of the United States. The subject to habe owe liberal offerings this day will be appropriated, will be the fitting-up, repairing and furnishing ‘of this college for the use to which it is to be applied, It wil! require furni- ture: not, indeed, of a costly description, but securing the moderate comforts as well as the decency of appear- ance to which Americans are generally ‘accustomed. It will require a noble library, worthy of the country and of the institution; and as health in the climate of Rome is of vital consideration for our American youth who may happen to go there to prosecute their studies, there should be attached to the college a villa, or country house, to which they can retire for the renovation of their strength, at certain Seasons of the year. It is not intended that this college should receive all candidates from America indis- criminately. The idea is, that each bishop may send two or three of those whose merits and talents, and other necessary qualities, will have entitled them to that distinction. It may be that some of you now present will live to see those who are now attending the schools of the Christian Brothers, return from this city of learning and piety young ecclesiastics, rich in scicnee and in those ecclesiastical virtues which will at_once give dignity and adornment to the church of God, Be his as it may, in the proposal of the Holy Father you bebold still how the chureh is the teacher in all its departments, and how that zeal for the diffusion of Christian knowledge which charac- terized the first Christians has never been extinguished. On our part let it be seen that we are not insensible to its influence. Coneidering that a collecticn is to be takea up in every church inthe country for this purpose, it is evident that the contribution need not be oppressive on any one, while the aggregate will be sufficient to tit out the American College in a style rendering it every way suita ble for its purpose, abd worthy of the country whose name it shall bear. An American youth will not be an alien under its roof—its management, its rector, and professors will be Americans. It will be as if they carried so much of their own country with them their training, their education, the discipline of the bouse, and all things in connection with it will be espect. ally adapted for the peculiar institutions and wants of their own country. There is only one other remark which I shall make. Since the matter has been thought of, it seems almost strange that we should not have had such an institution before this me. The Catholics of England have their English college; the Catholics of Scot- land have their Scotch college; the Catholics of Ireland have their two Irish colleges; and why, I might ask, should not the Catholics of America have their American college? This, with the blessing of Almighty God, they are now to possess; and, in connection with it, there is one remark which I think will interest all Americans who are likely to visit Rome. I have often observed how loncly and ‘Solitary, compared with travellers from other countries, Americans appear in the Eternal City. There was no locei habitation of their country- men within its walls. However kind the professors of might be, still there was wanting that sympathy which a difference in nationalics is soaptto diminish. ‘In fine, dearly beloved brethren, 1 have exposed to you the spirit of the church as a teach: er, and the contributions which you offer to-day will be, 1 trust, in generous correspondence with the noble pur- pose which we have in view. These contributions are in reality for the benefit of religion among yourselves. The fruits of them you may not live to witness, but your des- cendants will, and generations will biess’ the memory of that Supreme Pontif! who conceived the happy thought, and of those liberal Catbolics of our day, who, in such immense numbers, shall have contribated towards carrying out the undertaking. The Richmond bark Parthian—Full List of Her Cargo, Insurance, &c. OUR RICHMOND CORRESPONDENCE. Ricimonp, Va., Dec. 11, 1858. Considerable anxiety still exists here regarding the fate of the bark Parthian, and apprehensions are beginning to be felt, from the dtsabled condition in which she war re- ported, as to her ability to reach a safe harbor. The great bulk of the passengers, indeed all, with the exception of twenty or thirty, are from this city and its environs; but from their obscure positions, being nearly all poor Irigh laborers, who bad gone to work on the Don Pedro Railroad, there is great diflieuity in obtaining any information as to their identity or antecedents. I mentioned the Parthian’s burthen to be 480 tons. This § set down as carpenter's measurement; but by reference ‘0 the Custom House records I find her set down at 389 77-100 tons. append a full list of her cargo:— 150 pairs of hubs for wheels: 20 packages car grease; 4,094 spokes for wheels, 16 packages of fuse; 150 pairs of cartshafts; 400 oak pieces, 3 inches by 2, 7 feet do, 2 inches by 4, 7 feet long; 134 carts;'3 bales of lamp wick; 1 coil of packing; 2 thirty horse power engines with hoisting gear complete; 2 steam drills; 1 lathe; 1 small iron plane; 1 fan, pipes and cocks; 24 car wheels, ‘axles and boxes: a line of sbafting and pullies; 1 saw mill and saw; 240 feet of gutta-percha belting; 2 car springs; 236 mule collars: 15 cart saddles and breechings; 7 packeges of hammers; 60,369 pounds of corn: 3 vices; 18,000 feet of pine plank; 18,000 feet of oak lumber; 1 small circular saw: 1 straight saw mill saw; a lot of crow- bars; a lot of iron rod guys for derricks; 3 coils of rope; 2 iron crabs or windlasses: 3 old anvils; 2 berr mill stones: and gear; 2 ploughs and 1 mould board; 40 sets cart bar- pees and springs: 33 cars, extra wheels, &e.; 1 engine, with locomotive boiler; fixtures for derricks; 150 pairs of axles; 12 pairs of bellows; 12 anvils, 1 morticing machine; 1 cirenlar saw; 1 boring machine, and 2 pairs of bellows. The veese! is insured in the Richmond Fire Association and Lynchburg Fire and Hose Company, for $20,000 and $5,000 freight money. The cargo is insured in the Mer- chants’ Insurance Company of this city, and the Peters- burg Insurance Office, for $19,500; and $16,000 in the Fire and Marine, whereof $6,500 is re-insured in the Unity a, Cggaredy cope ly advise you of any information regarding the veaeel which tay reach here. But it is probable the firet accounts will come throagh New York, the bope being that she may be fallen in with by some steamer on the Southern jine. Theatrical and other Amusements. Tur Cinevs Thorre at the Broadway will this evening exbibit a large pumber of their astoniehing feats, besides playing im the pantom'me « ko. Nowe s—The Ravels have just revived their beautiful fairy pantomime of “Bianco,” which will be preceded to- ouglt by light rope exercises and a pretty ballet. Boweny —The dramatic verson of “Richard Hofman” dergo its tation here this evening. The scenery and costumes are new, aad the cast unusually good Buxron's—« Rroadway ard and her parents wil brated characters. Waisack’s Timmaree will of course be thronged with the admirers of the legitimate drama and good acting. They desire nothing better than the “Merchant of Venice,” with Mr. Wallack as Shylock Lavra Keene's. —"Our American Cousin” continues ex tremely popular with the large and fashionable audiences who nightly bestow the most hearty applause upon those who celineate the different parts Awmnicay Museva.—Thie afternoon and to night the Zavistowski juveniles are to perform in a spectacular pastom:me and a comic ballet, and the Wren children im a Jaughabie burletta. Mixerxatey —In addition to numerous boriesques, melo- dice, Ke., the patrons of the colored opera are tendered Southern Life Minstrated’ at Wood's, a regalar “thi opian Pot Pourri”’ at Bryants’, and the pantomime of the “Magic Guitar” at 444 Broadway Avrnrr Naponnow ie to Dodworth’s to-night. All w assertion that he is one ever performed in the eit pele Tom's Cabin is tw be exhibited in Corselia How. At Lome im their respectively last magical soiree at beard him, unite in nest pianiste that has Before Kiward (¢ West Tie wills of the following deceased persons were offered for probate — Fiza Ann Geer, citation returnable January 24, 1850. Mary A. Stetson, citation returnable December 17, 1868, Carl G. Gesebent, citation retura Helen De bmily dy, Citation returnable Deocet 24, 1868. Mary ©. Tingle, citation returnable Decembet 20, 1868. Edward Harrison May, citation returnable Jan, 81, 1859. feminick Wyscheck, citation returnable Jan, 81, 1859. The will of Timothy Aiden was also offered for probate; citation returnable January 31, 1850. The testator was the patentee of a machine for seitng and distrabting type. Letters patent were issued to him during the past year by the governments of the United States, Great Britain and France, It_is expected that the patent will prove to be valuable. The deceased also held patents for other inven- tions, and among thet one for street sweeping. The wills of Bri Bradley, Sarah A. Cline and Richard Baker were severally admitted to probate The will of William Floyd, Jr., deceased, came on before he Sorrogate, and the contestant, who is the father of the Jeceased, flied an answer, setting forth that the deceased was not a resident or inbabitant of this county, and deny- ing the jurisdiction of the Surrogate to take proof of will, The issue now to be tried is the fact of residence or non residence, whieh if 4 preliminary question to be dis- posed of before entering upon the merits of the case. Av ourned until this morning at 10 o'elock, ‘The Staff of the New Governor. New Youn, Deo, 10, 1868. made the following appointments to compose my ctor General. George F. Nesbitt, L. R. Herrick, Surgeon General Robert L. Johnson, Paymaster General, E.G. Aid-de- Camp. ‘ Obaries W. Darling, Aid-de Camp. H.R. Rathbone, Aid de Camp. William L, Skidmore, Miitary Secretary. E. D. MORGAN. THE NICARAGUA FILIBUSTERS. RC SEES Excitement in uling the Schoon Si to Sink Her— Statement of the Captain, [From the Mobile Register, Dec. 7.] SPIES UPON US. On Saturday last same of our citizens ascertained that a ‘secret agent of the government, sent hither for the pur- pose of embarrass the emigration to Nicaragua, had een for some days in our midst. seon as this was definitely known, preparations were made to Sree the gentleman from the town; but on inquiry at his it was discovered that he left for Washington about twelve o'clock in the day. Judge Campbell took his. departure on the same day, about an hour previously, and by a dif- ferent route. The secret agent—the spy—who was sent to Alabama in order to defeat an enterprise for the extension of slavery, is called Gen. Wilson; and his resideuce is that hot-bed of abolitionism—the State of Ohio. ‘Truly they are determined to fool us to the top of our bent. It is not sufficient that the Collector of Mobile has instr: ions to fuse a clearance to all vessels and persis suspecicd of being engaged in an effort to carry siavery into Central America; that an intolerant and persecuting Jt nage: calls a special term of the court, wit! « view of exhausting his intellect and his in- fluence in te attempt to defeat the enterprise; that a lead- ing member of the should be employed to examine and cross-examine witnesses within the sacred precincts of he Grand Jury room, in order to elicit, if possible, some evidence to taint the character of the emigration to-Nica- ragua. In addition to all this,a spy from Ohio is sent among us, and he is seen sueaking about the wharves and warehouses of the city to flad out something contraband of abolition interest and abolition policy. The Collector of this port is a geutleman of honor and integrity, and will discharge his oficial duty, even though it conflicts with his feel and bis opiuions. Mr. Robert H. Smith, the Assistavt Counsel of the United States, will fulfil his ‘obligations to his clieut, uo matter how odious they may be, as becomes a conscientious attorne; Mr. Requier, the United States District Attorney, with a good will, probably, has not the natural ‘sagacity for a Vigorous and skilful police agent. Judge Camp. bell, presiding in the United States Ciccuit Court, doos not find the Collector, and the Assistaut Counsel, and the District Attorney, suitable and efficient agents to carry out his designs against the Nicaraguans, Therefore, he’ pre- vails on the Executive Department to send out a sp} Ohio, in order to hunt down Southern men engage: Southern policy ; and oue evidence of his complicity Wilson is that they leave at the same time for Washing ton, but by different roads, to escape suspicion of co-opera- tion. ‘This last act of the federa’ government is “the most un- kindest cut of all.” Ina long list of insults and injuries inilicted ou the Southern people by the federal authorities, the sending of a spy into our very midst, to watch our houses and our streets, shines supreme. “We shall next bave our servants paid to report the words which drop from us about the dinner table, It was not enough that rom to defeat slavery in Nicaragua, Commander Davis took the schooner Granada from the gallant Cap tain Fayssoux, and turned her over to a Ja maica negro ‘with 2 Costa Rican commission in his pocket; that Commodore Paulding should drag th uralized Niearaguans from their homes aud himself, and, by implication, dishonor his go vernmant, by reading and retaining in his possession « letter addressed to alker by a gentleman of this city. Justice of the Supreme Court, adopting the words of the infamous General Mora, Presivent of Costa Rica—k the murderer of wounded prisoners—should denounce the effort to. plant slavery in Nicaragua as “opposed to the religion and civil- ization of the age.’ Yet more was needed to dll the measure of federal insult and injury to the people of the Southern States. An Obio spy must be sent among us. We take the liberty of saying to the Southern members of Congress, that if they go not make the land ring with their denuncistions of such acts on the part of the fede- ral government, they will be sadly derelict in their duties to their constituents. If they do notact, we beg to in- form them the people will. Our patience is not eternal. We cannot and will not have our homes watched by the secret agents of a hostile federal Power. We have yet some spirit left, and are scarcely fit to become the slaves of a centralized free soil authority. {From the Mobile Register, Dec. 8.) WHO ARK LAWLESS? The acts of those in authority are presume to be in ac- cordance With iaw, nor would we, on slight grounds or from hasty conduct, be disposed to the oflicers of government with a determmation wilfully to violate the constitution of the country and the statutes made in ac. cordance with it. But when a long course, steadily pur- sued, makes it apparent that for carrying Out a certain policy, either foreign or domestic, or perhaps both, all law 1s o be disregarded and ali justice set at defiance, we can- not hesitate to denonnce, as it deserves, such action on the part of the federal authorities. We are constrained to say that, in our humble opinion, the whole conduct of the goverament towards the Nicaraguan exiles in this coun- try bas been not only ungenerous, but also lawless and unjust in the extreme. ‘To sustain what we say, it is not necessary that we should go further back into the history of past events than the jasteighteen mouths. The Nicaraguans who were brought to this country by the :nfluence of Commander Davis were entitled, at least, to the treatment which all nations have accorded to the brave when exiled anc in misfortune. It cannot be denied that the soldiers who landed on our shores from Central America had, in all the emergencies of war, conducted themselves with the courage and good faith characteristic of the race trom which sprung; hence they bad claims to the common rights of tality from the people and the government of the United states. But above and beyond the ordinary claims of soldiers in misfortune, it must be remembered they had been strag- sling toextend our habits and our institutions to the tropi ¢al portions of the continent. Under such circumstances it inight be imagived that the government would hasten to tend to the Nicaraguan exiles the protection of those laws supposed to be the special bulwark of the poor and unfortunate. Was such the case? Or did the federal au- thorities, with a policy as unjust as it was ungencrous, seek to defeat these men tp every effort they made to reach again the soil of their adoped country ¢ Since the Nicaragvans have landed io the United State s—and we biush for the national reputation while we record the facts—there have been prociamations, emanat- ing from high sources, declaring them to be lawless and abandoned men, engaged in sonperene and reprehensible enterprises. We regret to say that some of these procla- mations, with the seal of State and ieatmen “ pended, have contained statements notor! ly incorrect, and the whole country bag been shocked and mortified at the spirit and tone manifested in some of these public documnts. The pride as well as the conscience of the bation bas been mortified by the acts of its constituted authorities, and nothing but the desire to let these acts Pass a8 rapidly As possible into oblivion has prevented the voice of the people from giving utterance to the repressed emotions of the national heart, and the govern- ment, by Bumerous and unusual judicial bas attemy to Ux some act of ih ty on the ers within its limits, they have so far sigoaily failed in their efforts. A short time before Gen. Walker landed in New Or- leans, in May of last year, the President of the United States adm) to the office of President of Nica- ragua. Notw' this fact, which cannot be{ de- nied, the government has since that time exhausted the powers of its courts, and taxed the strength of its navy. in order to keep the Nicaraguans from returning to Central Amerrica, The last effort of the goverument was made J and the Hon. Justice of bas, by his tligit to Washingtou, acknow cof the attempt he made to force the Grand Jury to some action in the ma In fact, ihe proceeding before the United States Grand Jury last week, and the subsequent conduct of the Hon Joba A. Campbell, prove conclusively how groundless are the charges brought against the Nicaragnans and their friends. Among the witnesses examined before the Grand Jury were those most thoroughly an! entirely cognizant of 1 with the Nicaraguan movement Gencral Walker was examined and cross examined before them by the United States District Attorney and the As sistant Counsel for the government, and be was interro- 0 the events of his whole life, So with Colouel sided for eight years in Central stirely familar not Only with events America, and is there, but aivo with the fact# which have transpired in the United States, Yet after a searching and rigorous ex amination of these witnesses, entirely ez part: in ite char tor, the jury failed to flac a bill: aod the Judge, in order to bulld a bridge of escape for limself and the govern ment, virtually discharges the jury by adjourning it to next regular term of the court The flight of his Honor is not only ignomiuious to him if, but it is discreditable to the government, and dete ity of the Nicaraguan me ment. H epithet of ‘lawless’ so lavishly used of late by the federal authorities, recoils from the Nicaraguans on!y to fall with redoubled force and violence on thore who are aiming to thwart their objects Since the Grand Jory, after a full examinavon of the Moet important witnesses, fails to find a bill, and the pro. eecuting Judge flieg, in consequence of the failure, to Wash ington, Were is not the least reason why the government should place the least obstacle in the way of the Nicara. wan emigration. Hence there exists an t necessity the people to take the matter in band, Mhd force their agents to desist from the interference having for it» object the extension of the power and inflaence of the Southern States, It seeme to ns the important crisis has arrived to the people of these States, when they are called on to decide whether they are to be “freemen or slaves. It we sab. mit quietly to the wrongs lately done to our trade and commerce: if we crouch complacent power, and kiss the hand raised to smite us, we shail think Our people deserve the injuries which have been and still are being heaped upon them. They only ought to be free who dare resent all aggressions on their rights come whence they may. And if we yield to wrong and injury because it is done by this or that person, we court the insults and the blows of all who choose to strike us, Why are all these unlawful proceedings taken in refe. rence to the Niearagnan emigranta? Because, in the Ian guage of the mongrel Mora, they are attempting ‘to plant mm Central America the siavery of man by man, which is opposed to the religion and civilization of the age.’ And Justice Campbell, of the Sapreme Court, re-echoes the sen. timent and declares that the enterprise is opposed to the “religion and civilization of the age.” Are we to see the government of the United States exert all its power, and disregard all legal and constitutional re- gion and ejvilization of the age?’ to insult and injore us, there is but little hope the future. If for past grievances armed resistance is deemed justifiable and necessary, we know not spirit of the South can be raiged to the piteh of revolw ‘This much, however, we may say, that oppression to be a crime, and tyranny assumes almost the ait when those a . [From the same paper.) STARTLING PROCERDINGS—THE COMMERCIAL RIGHTS OF ALABAMA TRAMPLED UPON BY FROERAL PORCH. Below will be found a plain report of the insolent and inparalieled lings of the agente of the fereral ernment to interfore with the lawful movements of a vessel belonging to the commerce of Alabama in the Bay of Mobile, frie people of Mobile and of Alabama, and of the whole South, can submit to this insulting invasion of their rights and liberties, then let them meekly wear the yoke which Northern aggression and federal force have together prepared for them. We have hoard it suggested that a meeting of the people be can.*d here to consider and take aotion on this unparalleled out."ge apon Southern ‘free trade and sailors’ rights.’’ We ay'prove the suggos- tion. It is time for the people to act jo eaguest. STATEMENT OF THE CAPTAIN OF THE S0HOONER SUSAN. While beating down Mobile bay on Monday, Dec. 6, at 124; P. M., the schooner Susan, H. Maury, master, to the northward of the fleet, was brought to and “by the United States revenue cutter Robert McLelland, J. J. ‘The boarding officer was 5S. Morrison, r. . Caldwell, second lieutenant of said cutter, who demanded to see the schooner’s papers, upon which Mr. Maury re- ied that he had not cleared, but was bound into the leet to get ready for sea, the schooner then having her signal flying for a water boat, Lieutenant Caldwell then re to the cutter. Soon afterwards he (Lieut. C.) re- visited the schooner, and claimed her as a prize in the name of the United States, aud orderea the schooner to re- turn to Mobile. He ordered the schooner to be filled away and the helm to be put up, whereupon Mr. Maury, masier, Cenied bis right to do 80, and immediately brought the rto anchor; but Mr, Maury stated to Lieut. Caldwell that he had no objections to an officer of the out- ter remaining on board as a until the schooner was ready for sea, Lieut. Caldwell then fired a pistolasa signal, and the cutter immediately sent another boat, in com of Lieut. Geo. F. White, who came » and stated as the orders of Capt. Morrison to Lieut Caldwell to take the schooner to River Bar and anchor ,and if he want- ed an armed crew he (Capt. Morrisou) would send it to | him. Lieut. Caldwell replied that he would go back to the cutter and sce the captain. Lieut, White, with six men, remained on board of the schooner, Soou after- wards Lieut. Caldwell, accompanied by Capt. Morrison, returned to the sel ir with arms (pistols satextneese) in their boat. Capt. Morrison, upon stepping on board, inquired, ‘Who commands this vessel?’ To which Mr. Maury replied, “I am the commander.”” Morrison claimed the schooner as a prize to the United States. Mr. Maury asked under what authority he male the capture, Capt. Morrison replied that he did s0 as a government officer, and by virtue of orders from the Custom House at Mobile, not to let schooner pass below Dog River Bar. Mr. Maury replied that such a course would be illegal, and that he would most assuredly resist any such attempt, Mr. Maury also guve orders forbidding any armed men coming on board, and stated to Capt. Morrison that he in- tended taking his vessel into the fleet. Capt. Morrison then said that by virtue of the Custom House orders he would sink the schooner Susan if she undertook to get un- der way from where she then lay. After some further conversation between Capt. Morrison and Mr. Maury, in which the former expressed his determiuation to take the schooner to Dog River bar as @ prize to the United States; and the latter expressed himself also determined not to be taken asa prize, inasmuch as he lad violated no law, Capt. Morrison and Lieut, Calawell returned to the eutter, leaving oa board Lieut. White as a guest ot Mr. Maury. The schooner theo got under way and proceeded on hor course to the fleet in Mobile bay, The cutter also got un- er way, and stood to the westward with ber starboard lacks on boarg, the wind being to the southward, HARRY MAURY, Master Schooner Susan. THE ESCAPE OF THE SUSAN. (From the Washington Uniou, Dec. 11.) st be palpable to every one that the escape of the raguan “emigrants” or Hlibusters from Mobile, may precipitate at avy moment a crisis m the foreign relations of this country, "From manifestations that have been giv- en out, it can hardly be doubted that the British and foreign forces in Centra! America are on the eager lookout for excursions of this sort in that direction, and that the “emigrants” may either be intercepted by capture before landing, or be pursued on land, combatted and arrested after donaharking, The news of such an event would at ‘once rovse the volunteer feeling in this country to the highest degree of excitement, our whole southern and eastern coasts would be ina blaze, immense reinforce. ments would rush from our shores to rescue our vege men and sustain our interests in Central America, colli- sion would ensue between these bands and the European forces found in that region, aud te most angry and threatening state of things’ probably result between our government and those of Great Britain, France aad Spain. Nor could our government itself look calmly upon an ise of force by European powers for the regulation of portions of our continent, arnest of its own purpose to repress {t- cit excursious from its own shores against the peace of the Central American States, and even overstepped the limits of constitutional and international law in arresting, at one time, on the shore and within the limits of the local jurisdiction there, an illegal expedition of this sort; but it is hardly probable that it would look with compla: cency upon an interference on the part of any European power in the local affairs of Central America, for the pur- pose of protecting its feeble governments from assaults of our people, which we have given every proof that we wil! prevent by all the lega! and constitutional means at our command. There would arise not merely the ethica! question whether the particular act of the toreign govern- ment were justified in morals, but the great political ques- tion whether European govern» should be allowed to interfere for the regulation of affairs upon the American continent. Itis in this view that the otherwise trifling event of ‘the sailmg of a tew “ emigrants’ from our shores on a professedly ‘“ peaceful” enterprise, really a momentous importance. It is not to be denied that the eflorté which bave been going on for some time to recruit and embark such an expedition has given our govern- ment a great deal of annoyance: and it is for this reason that it has employed means it was clothed with by the law to baille and delat the expedition. We do not suppose any one fears that, if unmolested by third parties, the “emigrants ’ would do any very great harm to any- body else than themselves tn carrying out their project; ‘but it was in view of the serious politica! erisis which they might bring on between our government and Powers, if they should be intercepted by Enropean war vessels on their way, or arrested by European forces on the territory of Nicaragua, that these efforts were made by our government. It must be confessed that the endeators of the govern- ment to avoid seb a crisis os may pow be brought on have not been as fully sustamed by public sentiment in vhe oto as it had good reason to expect that they would, and profoundly interested in the preservation of the peace of the world—especially of the peace between this coun: try and England and France—it 1s the region composed of the cotton growing States. It i# quite natural that Loui tiana, largely interested in a sugar monopoly, should look with indifference upou war aud the suspension of a com merce which brings vast quantities of foreign sugar into competition with her own; but it is almost inexplicable that the cotton States of the Gulf, so far from endeavoring to repress the Hiubuster movement, should have so openiv and act yyy ed it. It was the duty of the administration, under the im- perative requirements of the laws standing upon our statute books—whieh the cotton States bave made no effort to repeai—to use ali lawful moans in its ssower to repress this movement; and, however, in the cotton States, the whieb it affect most sud , intensely and injuriously, a jon of the expedition got off, not large enough, ia ced, to effect any design it may bave in Central America; bot large enough to bring about the very political crisis which our government has been deprecating so continu- ally and 80 anxiously It ie to Le hoped, however, that our own naval voesels yet sueceed in intercepting the fugitive Susan, ber back to our ports, aud preserving this fili cueston still longer as 9 purely domestic one in our Upon the vigilance of our officers in the waters of ip a great measure, the peace of the that our little flect in those waters te coough signaily to illustrate on this oc «op the importance of an efficient and patriotic nay the preservation of peace between nations. Our Panama Corrrespondence, Panama, Dec. 3, 1858. indeyendence Day in Panama—Death of Mr. Laselle, th? Telegraph Operator—Funeral of a Britith Officer— Setllement of the Martin Claim—Misrepresentations of a Newspaper Correspondent—T he Question of the Tonnage Dreee—Upinions of the British Crown Lawyers on tt— News from the South Const—Movements of Sir William Gore Ouseley, de., de We bave dates from Bogota to the 10th ultimo, but the pews from that quarter is unimportant The anniversary of Independance wos celebrated hore on the 28th November. The programme of the day wae strictly Spanish in its character—bigh mass, with a Te Dewm in the morning, after which the Declaration of Independence was read in the Town Hall, where some speeches, appropriate to the occasion, were delivered, bull fights and maaquerades followed, which terminated the arrangements for the day. Two melancholy deaths among foreigners’ have oecur- red within the Inst week. On'the 30th November, died Mr. Laselle, the operator of the railroad telegraph. He haa been generally regretted, and he leaves many friends here, with whom, through his amiable manners, be had become a great favorite. On the Ist instant died, from fever, Mr. Millman, one of the officers of the British a! of war Alert, now in port. The British Consul requested and obtained permission © land a body of marines and bine jackets to accompany the funeral and fire the custom ary volleys over the grave. The officers of the Vixen and Alert accompanied the funeral in uniform, and the proces, jon, having been attended besides by the local-antfori. tes and a large number of foreign and native residents,” formed a larger concourse of people than | have ever witnessed in this town, Mr. John Martin's claim against the authorities of the sland of Taboga, for the seiaure and sale of a boat belong. ng to him, on the plea of his refusing to pay certain ‘axes that were claimed from him,and which he consider od iNegal, bas, Tam glad to say, been satisfactorily set- Hed. Martin has obtained the restitation of his and a sim of four hundred dollars bas been pyid to Dusides, by way of indemnity, The Panama correspondent of one of the New York to your very resting question therefore | shall not comment Thereupon Capt. | If there is any region of the Union more directly | reet! have to assess a tax on vegsels entering the porte of Asi or Panama. I do not propose to examine this Foy ‘at present in all ite bearings: but I shall remark the chief argument brougbt forward by the writer Of the letter to show that this government bas no suck right, will not bear examination. Jn 1835 a law was passod by the Congress at Bogota, en- acting that for a period of twenty years there should be no tonnage dues claimed at the ports situated in the Can- tons of Panama (on the Pacific), and Portobello fon the Atlantic), and that this law should take effect when there should exist a communication by railway across the Isth mus. Hence the writer infers that since that law wae framed to induce capitalists to invest their money in ea- tablishing a railway communication from ocean to ocean, it may be looked apon as part of a contract ex isting “between the government of New Granada and the Panama Railroad Company, who have therefore a right to insist upon the observance of the law. I will not waste time in discussing this mat- ter under its different points of view. The subject is one upon which much might be said pro and con, but! shalt content myself with quoting the fifty-niuth article of the Panama Railroad contract: — The controversies which ma: ing subject, viz: the right whic! this government mey tonnage arise between the executive Railroad: Pepe test pre ciret rroee the sense or interpretation ¢ the uses whick it em} md decided ane | the Iaws of the republic of New Granada, In shall the company allege privileges, imauni- ties or exemptions not Fecognized or ‘expressly conceded in this contract, nor shall the intervention be adm of 4 other authority or fanetionary than those legally estab! ‘with juried! in the said republic, Thus ze see upon what shallow grounds the argument put forth rests, since the Railroad Company can claim no privilege which is not expressly conceded to them by: their contract with this government; besidest even their right to establish such a claim were admitted, the | matter would be decided wy tho high tribunals of | this country; nor could the United States governme! tervene ou behalf of the dompany. | Adespatch of Mr. Perry, the British Consul at Panama, ig partly quoted in the lettqg. I have referred to, to show that he also had taken exce| tothe tonnage tax when in 1855 it was first established, But the writer seems not te ‘be aware that when Mr. Perry referrgd the matter to his government to consult the bearing on the case of the law: of 1835, which was considered by competent individuals H to have been then already abrogated, be was informed im reply, that the crown lawyers baving been consulted om the ‘point, it was their opinion that the Congress of New Granada could alone decide or declare whether or not the law of 1835 was still in force in this republic. I need not remark that between the opinion which the latter writer endorses and that to which the crown lawyers of England have subscribed, people in general will incline to the lat- ter, notwithstanding the didactic sty’e which the former assumes when he quotes the author of the Commentaries. There is little pews of interest from the South coast. The difficulties between Peru and Feuador are not yet settled. Guayaquil is under strict blockade; but the British mall steamers are allowed to fey the river and to land and receive passengers and mai The Valorous has been for more than a week at San Juan del Norte, with Sir William Ouseley and suit on board, Sir William was, by the last news, suffering from fever; he is expected to arrive at Aspinwall within a day or two, by the British mail steamer, and will proceed to Nicara- ‘a from this port. The Alert leaves to-morrow for the lexican coast. The Vixen will probably receive orders to repair to Guayaquil; it is, therefore, very likely that Sir Wiliam Ouseley will avail himself of the railroad steamer Columbus to reach his destination. Municipal Affairs. BOAKD OF ALDERMEN. The Board met last evening, the President in the chair. A communication was received from a Special Com- ‘mittee of the Board of Supervisors on the subject of the proposed new City Hall, eking, the co-operation of the Aldermen as s00n as — ferred to the Committee on Repairs and Supplies. ‘The following communication was received from the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department: — New York, Dec, 13, 1853. To tHe HonoraBie Common Couner:— honorable that 18, 1858, Ay hn Patt-a to the city ‘8 ‘It ia my dui report to your for old sold from May has been received by me at this office, surer, and a copy of total Ordered to be printed. A communication was received from the Street Commia- sioner, disapproving of the purchase of electric clocks, which bave been for a long tiine on trial in the public of fices. ‘The matter was referred to a committee. city surveyor. Laid over. Another communication was received from the same in regard to the law respecting the opening of bids for pub- lic works, which requires they be opened in presence of the Comptroller and Street Cor and makes no provision in the event of either of said sick or absent. The Comptroller is now confined to his house by illness, and a large number of contracts have, in consequence, been postponed, and bave to be re-adver- tied. Street Commissioner recommends a change im the law. Referred, The report of the committee to make additions to Tomp- kine market for military accommodation was called up and discussed. Adoj |, by a vote of 14 to 1. ‘Adjourned to Wednesday at five o'clock. | BOARD OF COUNCILMEN. The Board met last evyening—Charles H. Haswell pre- siding. On motion the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting was dispensed with, and a few unimportant peti- | tious and resolutions were presented and referred. PROPOSITION TO ORNAMENT RESERVOIR SQUARE, A petition received from M.S. Whitney and others, to lay out and ornament Reservoir square at their own expense, for the use of the public, under the direction of tbe Street Commissioner, was referred to the Committee | on Lands and Places, A. SKW COMMITTEE ON JOINT ACCOUNTS APPOINTED. Mr. Brapy offered @ resolution directing the Joint Com- | mittee on Accounts to report on the manuer of conducting the business of the Assessors’ office. ‘Mr. Gamer moved to amend by abolishing the commit tee, which gave rise to a long and desultory debate. Mr. Brapy asserted that the Joint Committee on Ac- counts was a perfect swindle. He was in favor of its pointment, but had become with the manner which they had transacted their business. They had 3 resented an intelligent report during the year, and the Reading spirits hed Succeeded in getting $10, out of the pubhe treasury for ing. Mr. Crows defended the committee from charges Mr. Conyett replied, affirming that that was the first time he knew that his brother was Isaxc Edwards’ surety. The reason why he (Mr. Cornell) refused to act with the committee and Fin (heir reports, Was that he feit satitied, from the action of some of the members of the committee, that they were not actuated by pare motives. He felt con” vinced that some of them were determined to fasten cor- ruption upon certain gentlomen, whether they were guilty or _not of the charges they wisted to profer agaist them. The motion was Snaily put, ond a new committee or- dered to be appointed The PRespENT announced the commii‘ce, which coasists of Messrs. Genet, McCarty and Ross. A resolation was adopted directing the City Inspector to have the mod and flith removed from the streets and piers around and adjacent to Washington market. A nomber of reports of committees of this Board, and papers from the Board of Aldermen, were laid over, ac cording to the rule, for fatare action. SROOND AVENUE TO KR MACADAMIZND, The report of the Committee on Roads, of the Aldor. men, in favor of confirming award of contract to John Kinsiey , for macadamizing Second avenue, from Sixty flert ‘street (0 123d street, and authorizing the Street Commis- ‘wioner to ey three Ts the work, Was con- curred in. @ amountof Mr. Kinsley's bid is $34,846 42. ‘The Chief Engineer of the Fire Department reported that he $477 received for oll materials, sold from 18, 1858, to October 4, 1858, making the total amount of mo- neys received by him @ince he was Appointed Chief En my $1,919, whieh he paid into the City Treasury. He discontinved selling old materials, by direction of the Street Commissioner. A number of property owners, in a communication, re qnested the Common Counc’! to oanse an examination to ve made into the erection of the great reeervoir now being constructed in the Central Park, as the consequences attending amy accident by leakage or would be terrible to life aud property. The matter was referred to the special committee already appointed A TAX ON THW CITY RAILROADS, The report of the Committee on Railroads in favor of concurring with the Aldermen to fix the license fee on city railroad cars at $60 for large cars, and $26 for one horse cars, per annum, was adopted, Bigamy AND Mcnper tx Sr. Lovis.—A certain Vander Roecke, a German ph a few weeks since, and shortly after married a Misa Mary Anne Linhot The new wife soon discovered by letters sent to her husband that he had another wife in pre Me he was ing under an assumed i@ real name rns, Raward Roech. Henry Linhoff, the brother of the lady, called on Roech, — pg ye bim 4 iigeesen tore a, 4 re i shot my 0 heart! Vinheta await AL. Ee NYORMATION va MARGARES a a ir =r. Je eR pe a a a jenderson left the island and z 4 from were where thes Michae! of M. Hughes, Pearl greet, New York. il