The New York Herald Newspaper, January 12, 1859, Page 2

2 NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1859, GALLANTRIES OF ENGLISH JOURNALISTS. Assault on the Ma Editor of the Lon- on the Mion ines. MIDDLESEX COURT OF SESSIONS. A . 23.—Mr, Thomas William Capron sur- rendered to take his trial upon an indictment charging him with assaulting Mr. Mowbray Morris. The indictment Contained three counts, varying the form of the charge. Mr. Serjeant Ballantine and Mr. Giffard were counsel for the prosecution; Mr. Montagu Chambers, Q. C., and Mr. Metcalfe were for the defence. Mr. Ballantine, in cpaaing Se case, said the prosecution was instituted against the defendant for assaulting and in- fiicting upon the prosecutor grievous bodily harm; and it would be his duty to Tapbetere dy which the inv it was admitted by the defendant bimself; and he would proceed to say that the prosecutor was a gentieman of their profession, a bar- rister, but for many years avocations of a different nature removed him from their sphere of practice. Some years ago he became acquainted with the defendant, who was then a fellow student in the Temple. In 1852 their acquaintance was renewed, after the lapse of some time, and continued down to October in * the same year. There were circumstances. in the cage which’ would be painful and difficult to in- vestigate, but he should not shrink in the least from the fullest inquiry, if it was thought necessary to import them into the case, which substantially was this:—Did the de- fendant, or did he not, assault the prosecutor? It appear- ed that the latter (a widower) was engaged to be married on the 6th of November, and this having come tothe knowledge of the defendant, the lator thought fit to re- sort to a course of conduct for which no justification what- eyer could even be suggested. Upon the eyidence there was incontestible proof of an assault, but it would be idle to shut their eyes to the fact that circumstances which oc- curred five years ago related to the attack made upon Mr. Morris b pron. ‘Those circumstances bad nothing to do witb the issue here; and if Mr. Capron thought those matters afforded him any ground of complaint against Mr. Morris, or afforded him’ any justification for the lawless and brutal outrage which “he committed on Mr. Morris, why had he allowed five years to elapse without institut- ing’ proceedings in a competent court of justice, to avail bimseif of any remedy he might think the law entitled him to? It was hardly believable that it was to be brought up naw. It was impossible to con- ceive that Mr. Morris was not to bo protected by the law from what he would again designate as a lawless, base and cowardly outrage It would be an attempt to injure Mr. Morris by collateral means, it would be pur. Suing a dishonorable ‘course of proceeding, but if his learned friend thought fit to introduce such topics, he, on the part of Mr. Mowbray Morris, should insist upon a full and rigid investigation into the whole of the painful mat- ters in question, in which Mr. Morris had acted as an honorable and Sympathising man and a friend, and in no way that could in the least convey reproach upoa his moral character. Howover, he once more protested against their being made the ‘subject of discussion, in a case which was in itself but a question of assault; but if they were entered upon they must be thoronghty ssifted, however painful the inquiry would then become. James Ellis, examined by Mr. Giffard—I am a police B; onthe night of November 5 Iwas on duty ingham gate; at haif-past ten o'clock two cabs drove up to No, 13 James street; I saw a geatleman getout | of the first cab, and Mr. Capron got out instantly from the second cab; 1 saw the defendant make a rush oa to Mr. Morris, the gentleman who got out of the first cab; hestruck him over the head and shoulders with a light walking stick; Mr. Morris was taking a pic- ture out of thecab at the time; I ran upand got between them and laid hold of Mr. Capron to pre- vent any further assault; Mr. Morris said, @Take him away, he is mad, he is drunk;"? Mr. Morris then said he | would not give him into custody; then Mr. Capron got into | his cab, and the complainant came up and asked me to take Mr. Capron’s name and address: Mr. Capron then tried to strike Mr. Morris again; Mr. Morris then saii he would give Mr. Capron into custody, and I took him to the station house: at the station house he said, “I have given him a thrashing before, and I hope [have given him a black eye to go to church with in the morning; Mr. Ca- Pron was detained for an hour, and as Mr. Morris did not come he was let go; Mr. Morris came ten minutes after- wards. Cross-examined by Mr. M. Chambers—Mr. Morris came accompanied by a gentieman; I attended at the police office a week after, and I did not see Mr. Morris there; Mr. Humphreys, the solicitor, was there; I did not see Mr. Capron there; I was not examined; the summons was taken out in my presence, on my complaint that I had seen an assault comuitted; I was there afterwards, when Mr. Morris and Mr. Capron came; that was a week after; Mr. Morris was there, but was not ex- amined; 1 recollect Mr. Capron being bound over on bail; I was bound over to prosecute; Mr. Morris had the picture under his right arm, and as soon as he was struck the picture fell; before that Mr. Morris suit for a divorce which tthe hed ine. Gotnmented against her Linebent fhe ’s brother came ver; 1 sent for the landlord and that a person had intruded into a private room; Mrs. Capron mentioned the brothor’s name him; an action was brought “pee Capron for his wife’s expenses at the Queen’s Hotel, but it was off and the expenses ; Mrs. Capron returned to her husband on the 8th of November; I saw her at East- bourne; that was before sho returned to her husband; the next I saw of defendant was in Paris; in July, ae he assaulted me in Place Vendome, for which he was tric by the Tribunal of Correctional Police and fined 100f. ; Was not then present, through a mistake as to the time 2 could be absent from Paris to my duties in London, but I was present in the after the wult was committed; I employed an advo- cate; I did not How, seven © eee Lee the new: rs had roports of 5 I after- Wards dave hina at the Exhibition of the Royal Academy, in 1856; I was accompanied by a friend and his brother; the defendant said to his (witness’) ‘ser had the bonor of being introduced to you by Mr. Mow- bray Morris; he is, I believe, your friend; it is right you should know what'he is, and I éell you what he is—that he isa scoundrel and a coward; my name is Capron,” it ‘was to that effect; he repeated it aloud; I went out to 5 a policeman to give him into custody, but was advised by my friends notto do 80; ‘was then left to tako what proceedings he tt ‘ht fit to bring the matter before eome judicial tribunal, if he felt aggrieved. Serjeant Ballantine—And you have at last done so, as he would not? Witness—Cortainly; I have seen two pamphlets, but I did not take any proceedings against him respecting them; T do not know that Mrs. Capron is now in a lunatic asylum, but I beard so a few days since; I never saw her after she returned to ber husband in November, 1853; I was mar- Tied the day after the assault now in question. Re-examined—When I was assaulted by defendant in Paris, my wife, since dead, was with me; she lived with me down to the day of her death, and sho wasfully acquainted with my visits to Mrs. Capron, and knew the object; when that assault was committed I was walking by the side of Mrs. Morris—not arm in arm, we were a little apart— when defendant rushed past us from behind, and turning round upon me, struck me acrogs the head witb a stick, and the biood spurted over my wife’s dress. After the insult in the Royal Academy, I took legal advice—consult- ed Mr. Hawkins, the counsel—and upon his opinioa I acted. I was advised that I bad no legal remedy. The defendant's pamphlets were sent to my wife just before she died. Serjeant Ballantine—Now, before the jury, and by the solemn obligation of your oath, was there ever any crimi- nality between you and Mrs. Capron? Mr. Morris—Never. Serjeant Ballantine—Did you ever take her out, or see her, or drive about, up to July, 1853, during the time you dined with the defendant? Mr. Morris—Most certaialy not. I never was anywhere with her without her husband before that ume. On one occasion we had been to Chobham, and after we had dined Mr. Capron suggested to his wife to go to bed, as she was tired; but she did nos, and be muttered, “You d—=1—.” On the following day she made a verbal communication to me, and I then learned that there had been two separations for cruelty and misconduct on his part. (This was objected to, but allowed by the court.) She said she wished to be Separated {rom him again. She made a communication respecting her own mother and other relatives, and gave that as a reason for consulting me. I told her I was not the proper person to advise her; she ought to go to her mother. She reiterated her reasons for not seeking her advice. I told her that out of respect to my own charac- ter and her own I could not do anything in the mattor un- jess all other meaus bad been tried and failed. There was nothing in whatever passed of which either Mrs. Capron or myself need be ashamed, in the least possible degree. She consulted ie as a friend. I recommended her to Laurence, Crowdy and Bowlby, and a suit was commenced for di- voree. That was when Mrs. Capron refused to live with Mr. Capron. Mr. Nelson, a proctor, was consulted, and Mrs. Capron put in her own statement of Mr. Capron’s con- duct to and treatment of her. It was proposed to put this statement in, but defendant’s counsel objected. Serjeant Ballantine—I suggested in the first instance that this should not be gone into, as details of a painful and disgusting nature would have to come out, but after the line you have taken there is no alternative. Atter some discussion the court ruled that it was admis- sible, and it was handed to the clerk and read. The fol. lowing are some of the matters set forth; some were such as could not be permitted publicity:—From the day I was married my husband has always spoken to me harshly and unkindly; he made me fear him, and by that means destroyed the affection I had for him; at first he entirely separated me frem my family, nor did he allow me to visit my mother till I had been married several months; he continually called her a —— in speaking of her to me, and told me he had been improperly acquainted with her was striking at Mr. Capron and I interposed; having so- parated them, I heard expressions that he was mad, that be was drunk; Mr. Capron bad not got into the cab when Mr. Morris said he Would not give him into custody; Mr. Morris wished me to take Mr. Capron’s name and address, but instead of doing eo Mr. Capron tried to strike Mr. Morris, and I then took him into custody. Re-examined—Mr. Morris was taking the picture out of the cab when he was first struck by Mr. Capron; Mr. Mor- ris bad said nothing. the Court—I did not see any woman at all. ‘illiam Turner, 61 High street, Maryleboue—I am a cab driver; saw Mr.Capron on the night of the 5th of November: I took him up in the Bayswater road, and I went to Chester square; a gentleman was in the cab until T got to Chester square: a young lady spoke to Mr. Capron and be walked away with the lady; they returned in about ten minutes, and they got into my cab; another cab came part, and Mr. Capron told me to follow that cab; Isaw the cab stop, and | stopped close behind it; I saw the gentle man in the other oe out, and as be got out Isaw Mr. — strike him with the stick. iliam Gibbons, examined by Mr. H. Giffard—I am a cabman; on the Sth of May I drove Mr. sforris to James strect, Buckingham gate: afterwards I drove him to Eaton place South; while there a woman came up to me and made some inquiries; when Mr. Morris came out the wo- man Was gone; I then drove to James street, and saw an- other cab following; I then saw a woman get out of Mr. Capron’s cab, and go to the iron railing opposite; to the best of my belief she was the same person who spoke to me while I was waiting for Mr. Morris; Mr. Morris got out of the cab with something in his, hand, and then Mr. Ca. pron struck him with a stick; he was lifting out a picture. Cross-examined—The picture dropped from Mr. Morris's hand when he was etruck Mr. Mowbray Morris was then called into the box. The assault was taken as proved, and he was not examined in chief. Cross-examined by Mr. Chambers—I am the prosecutor; Tat first refused to give Mr. Capron mto custody, but he ‘was afterwards taken into custody by the policeman; I then vent to see the brother of the lady to whom I was to be marrieden the following day; Iam a barrister, and prac- tised at Jamaica; I knew Mr. Capron some years ago, as a studen, in the Temple; in 1$53—I don’t know for certain, but I believe about that time—our acquaintance was re. newed, aud he invited me to his house, and introduced me to Mrs. Capron; be went out hunting with me, The Assistant J ‘This is no: objected to; but Mr. Chambers, may I usk what relevancy this has to the case of assault’ After some discussion as to withdrawing the two first counts Of the indictment, the examivation proceeded. Witnese—I invited bi hont with me; I believe | did not say that was to cement our union; it was arranged that Mrs. Morris and Mrs. Capron should exchange visits; in the year following the renewal of our acquaintance we dined to perhaps half a dozen times, irrespective of his visits to me in the country; I sent them opera boxe: and also for the French and German plays, and o siopallg, perhaps down to June in that year, I sent Mrs. Capron bouquets of a mozning. erjeant Ballantine did not at all object to these mat- ters of five yeurs ago being fully gone into, but he thought it right to say that he should have to produce documents and allude to circumstances of a traly painful natare. After some some discussion, the learned Serjeant said he would not at all object; let it goon, and the result would show whose feelings he was most anxious to spare. Witness—T may have sent bouquets when Mr. Capron ‘was out, but if so T did not know whether Mr, Capron was from home or ppt; when I visited I did not know whether Mr. Capron wae out or not; I did not in June, 1853, stay alone with Mrs. Capron in the drawing room, wo, th or {our hours at a time, but in the summer of that ‘yeat I do not know the time—tI freque si Mrs. Capron, and saw her give every exactness of ev in general shown up stairs, and might have re hours at one time; I did not, to the best of m pron's house was in South street, Grosvenor qu July I met Mre. Capron in the park; sho did not ridedown to the boat house in my carriage, we went down to the boat house, and rowed on the serpentine; I went to the Star and Garter, Richmond, once with Mrs. Capron; I ¢ not say that I returned at ten o'clock at night; 1 to , Capron to the Beulah Spa Hotel, but do not recollect it was on the day I met her in the park ;I took her to Thames Ditton, and we dined at an inn on the side of the water; [ also took her to the Trafalgar at Greenwich; we might have retarn ed about ten at night, not so late as twelve; Mr. Capron was out of town on the Ist of August; I cannot say wheth I went out with Mrs. Capron that night; I don’t rec whether on the 2d of August I took Mrs. Capron to tt theatre, but I admit that I did take her the theatre; don’t know that Mr. Capron was out of town; I do not re collect dining with Mr. aud Mrs, Capron on any particular cocasion just prior to the naval review; I had not made arrangements to go to that review, more probabiy the re verse; [recollect Mr. Capron going out, as was under- ct stood, yachting, and as a matter of history J know it was | about tat time; I recollect his leaving town to go yaclit- | ing; I never took her out and remained out til twelve o'clock; I recollect nothing of the sort; I know that Mr. Capron came from yachting, and I think T did not it after he returned; I frequently saw Mrs. Capron; T was in habit of going out of town; Base, the maid, brought me a note to the Oxford and Cambridge Club from Mra. Capron; I took her to my lodgings in Pall mall, aud wrote an answer. ‘The Assistant Judge asked if this was evidence? Serjeant Ballantine—I have the most complete answer to it, and desire it may he moet fully gone into. Court—Do you pursue that course of examination, then Serjeant Ballantine—If Mr. Capron had any complain to make against Mr. Morris, why did be not take the pro per legal course? We want protection from violence. ‘The Assistant Judge understood the object of the in quiry was with reference to the aesault. Had it been Serjeant Ballantine—Mr. Morris has come hore to meet ‘these matters, and it is now obligatory to go on with it, I aid at the oulset I was fully prepared to mot these im. lations, however painful the duly, but thoes who have Pronght them forward must hear the answer. Thope the may go on. examination may " Witness—I am #0 desirous of ay accuracy that I will not of anything that I do not recollect well; I recol Bass—Mra. Capron’s maid—a lettes believe for her mistress; I don’t recollect when Mrs. ( pron went to Richmond; I don't know that it was on the same day that I went to Richmond; she came once to my lodgings, but did not stay; I saw Mrs. C. at Richmond and walked with her tw the railway tation; I did not return that night in a cab wi Mr. Bowlby; the next day Mrs. C. loft Richmond, and went to live atthe Queen's Hotel, Bayswater; I visi ed ber there once or twice, and made her a present of a WUIuIg Cape; do ROL revollegs a Work box as well; I Wook before our marriage; this was told one night when he had ‘been cruelly ill-usiog me, I was walking about the room in great distress, and refused to return to bed; he dragged me into bed by force, swearing by God * '* ® and that if I resisted he would ring for the footman tohold me; I did resiet, and be beat me, and to prevent my scream- ing beld the pillow over my face until I was nearly stifled; on another occasion he kicked me out of ved, and in falling 1 hurt my foot so much that I was obliged to see the doctor, Mr. Tapper; he was constantly in the habit of beating me in the most cruel manner in the carriage as wo returned from parties; my maid can prove that I constantly returned crying bitterly, with my hair and dress in great disorder; the servants have constantly been alarmed by my screams, but a feeling of shame has kept me silent as long as possi- bie, and when covered with bruises I have never per- mitted my maid to remark upon it; he has told me be would send for a regiment of soldiers, and they should do as they pleased with me if] resisted him; at one timo he beat me almost nighly in the most brutal manner; that was three or four months before my little boy was born; his whole conduct to me then was most brutal; a fortnight before he was born I went with him to take my little girl to the station to join her grandmama; he struck me with the whip he was driving with, and hurt me very much; on one occasion he beat me so severely about the head that I was obliged to have leeches applied, and my maid pat them on; I could not see any one tur a month, my face was in such a dreadful state; these things have happened sin he was up tothe time T lelft him—that is twive, since I weakly consented to ing things at me with ion he throw a glass of porter in my face, another time his slippers, and has oft Lurt me by doing so: he constantly calls me and my relations thieves and w—, aud tells me he will some day strip me and turn m2 tato the street; that Tam utterly unworthy to be bis wife, and tbat fam the most worth of niy se: uthe is sure he shall some day eut my thro’ ng he has threatened to murder me; ] solemnly declare I fear his doing « antly in the habit of epitting at m i his mapnere are most coarse, he sw me ad—d —. ore the man 8 tantly tof the room, saying I sneer at ‘him if Ido not speak in answer to his violence; he is iu the habit of sleeping after din Ror flitrcatingg me in the most cruel mavner he wit! ve asleep in five minut e of sneakiog off to bed without 4 >»: at other time: then accuses 1 n his knee, and ki 8 his violence, nse ght to do, and that Edo 4 pear bappy alone with bim; infact, that t straint ime to sit him a foolish, ia brute, and be a mun of such mind and inteliect ; that I am utterly unfit to be the wife are aid to aring of of him or a me in the y other genticman; these thing of my children and fr Lecapnot make the most sim ark with- gme afool, and if 1 am silent he eays fam ¥8 that Lam a diggrace to lim, and that he is shamed to ask avy of his friends w his bouse on my w count: he constant! me of speaking of hig con- duct to me to other nd fears to trist me with other people for th: he has repeatedly forbidden me to ask my brot! ters to lodge with me, say- ing my relatives live upou him, and they were a bad iol; he haa told me my children wi't despise me as soon as they will be old enough to know me: within the last two months he has endeavored to teach my little boy to call me a——, and when I asked why he did a0 he replied he wished to debase me in my own opinion, and could think rd insulting enough to apply to me; all this has been said in bed, before my little boy, whom I had taken ci Knowing bim to be hild would be a re- straint upon him; when he dines out without me J fear his return more than I can express—he generally makes mea ; dreadfal gcene; if he does not strike or kick mo, he calls me the most disc is possible to conceive, and that in so joud that Talways fear h overheard by the servants; the last act of vio corimitted upon me was on Thureday night; he e may bedroom in a very excite’ state; J was justin bed, my maid still in the room; he ordered her to leave; he began speaking to me ina most disgusting manner, call- ing me ——, and saying lie would turn me into the street undressed a8 I was; he has threatened this times ont of number, and on the most trivial occasions, and I might lie | in the Kennel all night, and get who T could to take me in; Lentreated him not to say so. (The concluding part annot be given.) She heard from Mr. Bowlby on the Saturd reason ‘88 continued—T communicated the whole matter to Mr. Bowlby onal friend, and proceedings were | commenced for ce; they were abandoned in No | vember; Inever saw Mrs. Capron after tbat, and from | that time until I was ted in Parle I had no rea. son to believe that U ndant had any cause of | complaint against me; of no proceedings having been brought none were; I had an interview with Mr. Hayden, as the agent of Mr. Capron, and after that a letter wae sent by Capron w Bowlby, thanking bim for what had beew done, in the shape of many acts of kindness by him and Mra. Bowlby to Mrs, without which her position would | have Deen irretrievable, (1 and read, | It was dated Nov. 8, he again | acknowledged Mrs. Capron as his w | dearer to me than life, or auything el and alludes’ to pecuniary matters, taking upon himself debts incurred on Mra. Capron’s account. ‘There was another letter of some length relating to his will, life policy, &.) Mr. Morris—The pamphlets were sent to cach of the a I belong to—three—and at that time the defen dant was living with his wife; I never in any way at. tempted to prevent the details of the proceedings in Paris being published in the newspapers; the trial took place in Paris in my absence; Iwas anxious to be present, but through having been told I could be away four days, I was in London at the time; before I saw the letters read I had the interview with Hayden, and he know all that had taken place; the servant maid came to me at the club and called me out into the hall; I told her that it was a very unwise thimg to do to bring me a letter from a lady, and I took her over the way to my lodgings and wrote an answer, Nelson, a proctor, proved that in July, 1853, he was consulted with respect toa suit for a divorce, promoted by Mrs. Capron; the marriage was in 1843; the suit was terminated on the 8th of November. Mr. Chambers then proceeded to address the jury. He said jt was a most extraordinary case, and he should have abandonled his duty if he had not accepted the challenge to bave these mattors fully investigated, and the result had been, that by the oath of Mr. Morris Mra. Capron had been relieved from all imputation of having broken hor marriage vow, but she had been impradent to a dogree Which could not too much be regromed, Notbing could er all, is ith Mr. Bowlby, | 1! vocation of what had taken place, had been | commit what bo could not but say was an assault, but | Burely not so serious a one as to require three counts of pera se Seine Ht a well, perhaps, how- air’ a8 an @x- | ever patnful, inquiry bad taken piace, lanation . Tne learned counsel then commented upon the evidenco at urged that the offence was one of a nature. ‘The found the defendant on the third count. Aeslatant the Suagherntee revaed, On 5 sentence, observed that igoner had been convicted upon the third count of the ent, on evidence which could not bo questioned or contravened; for there could have been no doubt in the mind of any man who had heard knew that such was the case circumstances of mitigation, a good deal had been laid be- fore the court showing the relation which had existed be- tween Mr. Mowbray Morris and the defendant in the year 1858, from which it was clear that the defendant had lived on ill terms with his wife, aud that in the course of that year complaints were made by her which became the founda. tion of an ecclesiastical suit. Those complaints were made on the 24th of July in writingto a Eger in order that he might commence the suit in her behalf; and it Lert ‘that Mr. Morris, who denied upon oath any criminal inter- course with the lady, had been the means of introducit her to the proctor who conducted that suit. On the 8th of November of the same year the suit was ended. What. ever the defendant knew with respect to his wife was at that time condoned, for he took her back and she ceased olive apart from’ him, It then appeared that'in July, 1854, as Mr. Morris was walking with his wife from tho rue Lepelietier to another of Paris, and the Piace Vendome, about past ten o'clock at night, the defendant rushed at him and struck him with such force with a stick that blood spurted over the dress of Mrs. Morrig. An investigation before the Police Correctionnelle followed, and in the temporary absence of Mr. Morris in London, the defendant was fined 100f. Nothing more oc- curred between prosecutor and defendant until the sum- mer of 1856, when the circumstances which been spoken of at the Exhibition took place. Since then defendant had published in print what he con- sidered to be his ground of complaint against Mr. Morris, together with a statement of what defendant had qone at Paris and said at the Exhibition. Nothing more happened until the evening before the marriage of Mr. Morris, when the assault of which the defendant had now been found guilty was committed. df anything had oc- curred between the prosecutor and Mrs. Capron after con- donation, or of which defendant had not been ‘aware at the time of condonation, in November, 1853, he might have renewed the ecclesiastical suit. But this he had not done, and he had invited Mr. Morris to take that course which he bad now adopted. Under these circumstances the Court was ealled upon to perform its duty. It was quite impossi8le—with every wish to take into account the idea which the defendant seemed to have had on his mind with respect to alleviating circumstances—to lose sight of the serious character of these proceedings, Be- fore pronouncing the sentence upon which the Cpurt had determined, he warned the defendant that if, after the full discussion which had now taken place and’ the ver- dict which had been pronounced, he should at any time repeat this offence, he would undoubtedly be looked upon by the Court in the same light as a felon was regarded, who, having been convicted of an of: tence once, made his appearance a second time before the court, and whose sentence on the first occasion of a few months’ imprisonment might, on the next, be of as many years’ penal servitude. Although, therefore, the sen- tence of the Court now would restrain the liberty of the defendant only for ashort period, yet if ever he should be brought before that court again for a similar outrage, or for any breach of the law amounting to an indictable misdemeanor against Mr. Morris, he would be looked upon a8 @ person requiring—not for his owa reformation mere- ly, but asa warning to all ill-disposed persons likely to Dreak the peacc—a punishment not at all to be measured by his present sentence, but totaliy of a different kind. Inthe hope, therefore, that the defendant would abstain trom any such conduct, and at once submit to the neces- sity of keeping the peace as long as he lived in this coun- try, the ‘Rourt would pass on him the lowest sentence which, in its estimate of what was due to the public. must be passed, viz., that the defendabt be imprisoned for twenty one days, ‘that he be fined £50, and enter into his own recognizance of £1,000, with two sureties of £250 euch, to keep the peace and be 'of good behavior for two years. ‘The defendant said he had attained his object, and of course should not think of anything of the kind’ again. He was then taken into custody. ‘The case lasted from ten to four o’clock. The Slave Trad THE WANDERER'S AFRICANS GOING WEST—THEIR FEARS OF A STEAMBOAT—HOW THEY WERE PUT ABOARD. A correspondent of the Marion Commonwealth, noticing the Africans that passed through Montgomery, Alabama, recently, says:— 1 was cart through ‘Brown’s Speculator House’’ (so-called) on Perry street. In a house in the back lot were hudaled together thirty-eight native (Congo) Africans. Don’t shudder and say “the moral sentiments of Christen- dom condemn the traffic.” But it is a fact; I have seen the Africans. And it is a fact—they were Africans. {found them jabbering, in guttural sounds, something— I could not comprehend what. They were nearly all ap- parently in good health; fat, sleck’ and greasy. In tne party were some five or six men, two or three women, four or five girls, and the rest boys, or what might be called “youngsters.”” They were each clad in common kersey pants and roundabout, over which they wore a heavy blanket, Women and all were thus dressed. None had shoes, for the reason that they could not walk in them; in fact, they could acarcey walk at all, haviog been confined and crowded so close on shipboard. Moat of them were vory pert and lively, laughing ant talking in their native tongue, and pointing at aud jaober- ing about everything that particularly attracted their at te me of them had very siuguiarly shaped cra they almost batfle description; one nearly «quare, one bad a convex face, and another a sort of double con: cave convex head; but mostof them had good heads, large flat noses, big mouths, front teeth rather small ears, and quite sinall hands of them were good ooking, but others some were what might be vulgarly called « jawed. J noticed one, a man, who had ‘bones and several sears on his face, and appeared very intelligent. He was “big chief,” no doubt, in bis coun- try. Simuch surprised at one thing; they repeated ery word said tothem. J as ‘Where and he propounded the same inter- course without knowing tue mean- hs un ried in a wagon from the railroad depot to Bre thence by wagon to the Bt. Nicholas. I'saw strong old farmers and sober- merchants gazi at the sable creatures, some of them baving, no doudt, a holy horror at such # sight. ‘The negroes were w ed in pantomime, and some of tuem gave unmistakable signs that they wanted “gome- ng both hands to their mouths and ade back thirty-eight Africans br * ned, in the ventar apd that they cost him, vered at Savannah, fifty dol- ars cach—only nineteen hundred dollars for thirty-eight Afi cans, sound and able-bodied negroes. They were in charge of a Mr. Brodvax, who was carrying them to New Orivans. i said above that the negroes were ‘all well.’ So they could be expected; but, as might be con- were mostly suffering mach from disorders jee nedent to a For some could not be induced to go «1 much frightened at the 3 they had a perfect horror of tra- atter having so recently endured voy The manner in which they were finaily induced to go on is worthy of notice The mate tried every means to getthem on board, but to noeficet. Finally be concerted a plan with a big black Alabama negro. He tried to get him to ¢o on board, but he resolntely refused, when the mate laid him down on the gangway plank and hit him or five substantial licks with bis ponderous leather stray, when the said Ala- bama negro got up, yelling awfully, and went straight on board, beckoning to the Africans to follow. And they did follow, to the amusement and amid the cheers of the crowd. TEACHING THE AFRICANS, A correspondent of the Tuskegee Republican, writing from Montgomery, Ala., gives the following amusing. inel- ing Ube Africans brought to this country by echooner Wanderer, while they we ting in that > a bont to convey them down the river:—They were ceedingly docile and governable, an’ readily did what- ever the were biden. "A friend of mine made an attempt to initiate a ten year old boy into the science of numbers; but three proved the pons asinorum to his jingvals—he couldn't prononnes it anything but free to save his wool. Another ope was curious about the personal history of one of the more intelligent looking once of the youn fry, and commenced what would no doubt have proved a very interesting conversation if the darkey had only un deretond what was asked bim,and had had enough of Englieh wherewith to answer;’ but, instead of that, he could only repeat the questions that were pat to him, and that he did very correctly. For instance — White man—Where you come from’ Afriea— Where you come from? White man—What you name? Africa—What you name? White man—Oh, you're a d—d foo! AfricaOh, you d——d fool! The loud gutlaw from the Present that followed this comtretemps, and which 80 2 id young Africa ag to ke even him show his ivory, cut short the conversation. DENT POLK'S SLAVES ON TRIAL—A NEGRO INe SURRECTION. A correspondent of the Memptiis Avalanche farnishes the following aecounts of a novel slave trial in Tallahatchic county, Ten! The cage of tho State against Giles and Emanuel, slaves belonging to Mrs. James K. Polk, of Nashville, was the inst case of importance upon the State docket, and elicited much discussion from the bar and teeling from the com- munity at large. The defendants were charged with “a conspiracy to make insurrection,” an offence under our jaw punishable with death. The evidence showed that the overseer, a timid man, and afraid of the negroes, was in the habit of calling upon his associates to aasi«t him in correcting them: {hat upon one of such occasions they re- sieted him and his friends, and apparently with concerted purpose. Our State declares the term insurrection to mean “an armed assembly of slaves or frecholders, or boih, haying intent to resist or subvert lawful authority.” Tho indiot- mnt having been drawn under this statute, Judge Fisher, the counsel for the defendants, contended with great force that it charged no legal offence, because the authority to be resisted or subverted must be governmental authority—that is, the power of the State iisoif; that the term lawful anthority does not n such authority as that of the master over bis slave; and, although the law sanctions and regulates this magisterial authority, it i but an authority derived from a domestic relation—not the creature of the law, but existing independently of i. ‘This view was not, however, sustaine! by Judge Cothran, and the case was submitted without a :ument to the jury, who found the defendants ‘guilty as «' arged.” The case being one of life and death will, dou eas, be a peale1; and, asthe question to be determin is one of novely and’ importance, the bar look fo ard with much in- terest to the decision of the Appellat our, na eaneaseememnrspepncciocrtp National Agricultural Convention, ‘There was issued from Washington in November last » call for a National Agricultural Convention, and sent to practical agriculturists throughout the country, for the purpose of asscmbling euch a convention, at Washington at the commencement of this year. ‘The following is a copy of the circular:— Unrrep States Lira wisi, a more expedit office, with the approval of the honorable Secretary of the Interior, has resolved upon inviting from different sections of the Union one or more intelligent agriculturists, skilled in various branches of rural industry, to convene at an appropriate room in the Patent Office building, on Monday, the 3d of January next, at ten o’clock A. M., with the view of imparting a knowledge of such facts in practical husbandry as may have come under their experience and observation, and to Suggest means by which our crops may be increased, improved in quality, or made more profitable to the oducer. ba accordance with the above resolutions you are hereby respectfully invited to attend as a delegate from your section, which, if you accept, please to signify by an early mail. ‘This office will allow you, if desired, for your tra- yelling expenses from your place to Washington and back, five cents a mile each way, by the shortest mail route, as designated by the Post Office Department, and the additional sum of twenty-five dollars for your ex- nBeB. As great benefits would doubtless arise from such a convocation as is herein proposed, not only to the body tself, but to the public at large, it is to be hoped that no one who receives this invitation will decline to accept. A series of interrogatories and blanks will be ‘furnished you in due time, which will enable you, in a measure, to re- cord such facts as may be known to you, and that wili on the case. Listener a J. HOLT, Commissioner. Accordingly an assembly, denominating itself a Nationa! Agricultural Convention, met at Washington on the 3d of January, and proceeded to business. We have already published reports of their proceedings during the firs days of their session, and herewith give similar reports of their proceedings on the 6th and 7th inst. :— Wasmatos Crry, D. C., Jan. 6, 1859. The Advisory Board of Agriculture of the Patent Office met this morning at 10 o’clock, pursuant to adjournment. ‘The following additional delegates appeared and took their seats:—Maryland, Walter W. W. Bowie and Thomas G. Clemson; Ohio, Edmund Byington; Minnesota, D. A. Wright; Iowa, Legrand Byington; Nebraska, Wm. Young Brown; Arizona, J. I. McCarty. The Business Committee reported to the Board several essays to be read—one on Sheep Raising in Texas, by W. T. Mechling, of Texas; one on the Comparative Produc- tiveness of different kinds of the Peruvian potato, by Joel Blew, of Maryland, and one by F. G. Cary, of Ohio, en- titled Things Necessary to the Successful Process of Agri- culture. D. J. Browne, of the Patent Office, invited the Board to visit the building now being erected under the supervision of the Agricultural Bureau for leecher | in the culture of tea, which invitation was accepted, an the Board immediately took a recess for that purpose. ‘Tho building is upon a government lot. which is bounded by the canal, Missouri avenue, Four-and-a half aud Sixth streets. It ts 100 foct in length by 25 in width. The side and end walls of the building are composed of glass frames, 80 as to offer no obstruction to the admission of light. ‘The roof is but partully glazed, the centre por- tion, for one half the distance from the ridgepole cach way to the eaves, being compose! of metal covered with paint, so as to alford a protection irom the mid-day heat, while giving the plants the full benefit of the morn- ipg and evening rays of the sun. Mr. Browne stated that the department expected to recoive before the close of winter, from their agent now wm China, seeds suf- ficient to produce 60,000 plants of the green and black va- rities. In reply to a question, Mr. Browne stated that the department was not aware that any method could possi- bly be devised to obviate the necessity of picking the leaves of the tea plant by hand, which, however, could be done very cheaply, say 644 cents per pound, and then pickers could make from 75 cents to a dollar ‘per day. was hoped, however, that tho inventive gonius of this country would devise machinery to perform all that is now required to be done by hand after the leaves have been picked, rolling them, &c. In reference to other matters, Mr. Browne stated that the department some 123 varieties of wheat upon which they were experimenting, to determine which were the winter and which the spring varieties. They bad also collected native grape seeds from gd me) of the country— from Oregon, California, ‘Texas, &.—having obtained some half a million of seeds, which they intended to plant. They were also in the receipt of cuttings and seeds of the best variotics of the grape now cultivated in Europe, and also of the Zante currant. They were experimenting upon the different varieties of the wild plum of the United States and other countries. Some gentleman praising the El Paso grape very highly, a delegate from California made the mouths of the entire Board water by speaking of pears weighing four pounds each, and bunches of grapes weighing twenty pounds each, and twenty-tive inches in length, not oue grape on tbe bunch smaller than an ordinary sized damson plum. That pear and those grapes had it all their own way. After an exceedingly interesting and agreeable visit, the Board returned to the session room and resumed busi- ness. Considerable discussion arose concerning the order of busines: 1 without taking any detinite action. The Board adjourned till the ensuing morning at ten o'clock. Washincton Ciry, Jan. 7, 1859. The Advisory Board of Agriculture of the Patent Office met aguin this morning at 10 o’ciock. The following additional members appeared and took their seats:—Wieconsin, D, A. Curtis; Minnesota, A. certon; Dacotah, A. G. Fuiler; Arizoua, Sylveste ‘The various committees reported progress, Additional questions were laid before the committee this morning, making in all, up to this time, over one thousand. The President taid before the Board the following com- munications, whieh were read:— Unirep States Patent Orvice, Wasiixetow, Jan. 7, 1850. Sin—Herewith I transmit a communication. from the Chair- man of the Committee on Agricaltat House of Repre- of United Btal re pinion of the wer which g ! wwefulness and division of this oiliee, In order ed to comply with this request, I rooms ard means appertatt on are open to your inspection, J. HOLT, Commissoner. .P, Woem ealdent bt the Advis sentative Board Hon. Board, ARSILA ¥ win communication from the Committee on Ayricuiture of the House of Representatives:— Cowmrrten Room oF Acricuntunr, Jan. 6, 1859, Hon. Josxeu Hout, Commiasioner of Patents—At a meetin, of the Agricnitural Coramitvee held this. morning, the enclosed resolution was adopted, which I have the honor of submiting, WILLLAM G. WHITELbY, Chatrman, t the Commissioner of Pate: nested to is Committee a report of the proceedings of advisory board of agrioniture thet may have nized! at bis request, and With thegaaction of the See the Interior; and that he be also requested to elicit h board and cominnnicate in like manner a statement the character and abilities for usefalness of the past and fons of the Agriciitural Division of the Patent with an expression of the views of sx Board to sniea inprovementa as they may deem ealenlated to en bance its eflicieucy in promoting the agricnitura! interests of the country The reading of these commmunications attracted great gatistuction Was expressed by many uch information should have necussion arose as to the best e. Ultimate- erred to the Committee of the special order for to-morrow at one o'clock, with the genera! understanding among members that after a full disensston in the whole Board, a commit- tee should be appointed, consisting of—say one from each geographical division—to prepare a reply containing the desired information Z. T. MANN, of Minnesota, submitted the following preamble and resolutious:— ‘Whereas, it having been declared by the honorable Secretary of the interior, in his brief address to this body, that the Dé partment, throngh the convocation of this isoard, hopes to obtain that which the country s mach needs, ¥ practical in. formation all kindred sciences; and, the honorabia Coin of it patience and ent co-laborera with the Agricultural Divi- upon an untried experiment for maturing a op Utes, together in regard mode of rep ly the pay hole, and made diligence as pr sion, iu ve method or by which reliable, detailed and practical intor- mation may be collected trom every asetion of the Union upon all patie 48 properly within the province of said division; there- tore, be it Resolved, That this Board approve and recommend the method adopted by the Agricuitural Division of the Patent Offleagin resolving the whole subject of agricnit {th all its corelative branches, into a system of direct questions and answers: and that We, aga part of our duties, advise the per: fection of ‘lat vystem to its utmost extent. Resolved, That a committee be appointed to draw np a brief be agriculiarists of the country, sin the views of the Departm rior, the Patent Office, the Agricnitural Division, and of this Hoard, tonching this’ new movement which has just been inaugurated by the convening of this Roard and asking their ation In answering the questions, and otherwise alding porting the interests of ayrioultare. Referred to the Committee of the Whole, One of the delegates offered # resolution declaring the sessions of the Board public, and authorizing the President to admit reporters This was done evidently in consequence of the attacks of one of the city pres* here upon the character of the Board, referring in no complimentary terms to members individually, styling it an exclusive body, sitting with closed doors, and many other things equally without foun dation Mr. Hontoway, of Indiana, (Chairman of the Committee of Agriculture of the last Congress,) offered the resolution. Ho said that a false impression had gone abroad in regard to the objects and duties of this Board. It was merely an advisory committee, and it would be as proper to ask that the public should be admitted to the sessions of the ‘various committces of the two houses of Congress ag to aek that everybody be admitted here. Mr. Brownk, of the Patent Office, snid that the calling of this Board was decided upon by the deparment as one of the mog’ likely means ofenabling it to carry ont the design of Congress in appropriating, in Juno of $60,000 for obtaining and disseminating information upon agriculture, &. The original intention was to have had one delegate from each State. Bat requoste ha have more than that number admitted, which requests had been granted whenever deemed advisable, and when made for men of obaracter and ability in agricultaral knowledge and pursuits, It was not intended that all the pro ceedings and debates should be made public. But the minutes of cach day’s session were open at any time to the preas, from which to pbtain all the information that could be desired. It was not the wish of the department to make the proceedings more public than they now were, ‘The resolution was Iaid upon the table. Ti Board en progecded to yigit the yarigue rooms connected with the agricultural division of the Patent flee, in some of which the seeds, cuttings, &c., wore recei Suspected and prepaired for distribution; in others, which the domestic and foreign correspondence of the division was carried on, rs revi-edand corrected At under the direction of Mr. Browne, Full explanations all the routine and yement of the office were given ae Me. Browne, to the entire satisfaction of all who heard The Board then returned to its session room and re- sumed business. * Esgays by delegates were received and read: one on sheep growing in Texas, by W. T. Mechling, of Texas, and One on Indian corn, the best varieties, &c., by. Mr. Pen- nington, of Mlinois, Board then adjourned till to-morrow morning at 10 Wasnincron, D. C., Jan. 9, 1859. The Advisory Board of Agriculture of the Patent Office met again yesterday morning at ten o’clock, that being its sixth day’s session, The following additional delegates appeared and took their seats:—Prof. Joseph Henry, District of Columbia; J. M., Williamson, Tennessee; J. M. Clarke, Nebraska. The committee to whom had been referred the interro- gatories prepared by the Office, reported progress. Dur- ing the day the committee were furnished with additional questions, extending the list to upwards of fifteen hundred. Mr. Crane, of Indiana, submitted the following resolu- tions, which were submitted to the Committee of tho Whole:— Resolved, That we recommend to Congress the creation of .magricultural bureau in the Dey tment of the Interior. Resolved, That we recommend the establishment of an agri. ultural farm, to be under the superintendence of the head of | bureau, e of the bill now for the esta- ‘Resolved, That we recommend the p tefore.Covgress, making grants of public Mishinent o agrie colleges. Resolved, That in the opinion of this board there should not Je more than five of these colleges provided for, viz.:—one In the Northeast, one in the west, one in the South, one in the Southwest, and one on the Pacific coast. a The board then proceeded to consider the special order, which was the consideration in Committee of the Whole of the following resolution of the Committee of Agriculture of the House of Representatives:— Resolved, That the Commissioner of Patents be requested to communicate to this committee a of the proceedings of any convocation or adviacry board of agriculture that may have been organized at his requ and wi'h the sanction of the Secretary of the Interior; and he be also requested to elicit from such board, and communicate in like manner, a statement of the character and capabilities for usefulness of the past and present operations of the Agricultural Division of the Patent Office, ther with an expression of the views ofsald board in regard to such improvements as they may deem calcutated to enhance its ney in prom the agricultural! interests of the country. Cnartzs B. Catvent, of Indiana, spoke at some length in favor of Congressional aid in behalf of agriculture, for- tifying his position by extracts from Washington’s Mes- kage to Congress of Decomber 7, 1796, in which he speaks of the establishment of boards of agriculture by contribu- tions from the public purse, as very cheap instruments of se national benefit. Mr. C, said that had the re- commendations of Washington been then carried out, this country would bave been in a far more prosperous condi- tion than it is now. Mr. Hortoway, of Indiana, referred to a letter from ‘Washington to Lafayette, in which he expressed his deep regret that Congress had failed to carry out his recom- mendations in this respect, and the hope that they would not permit another session to pass by without placing the great interest of agriculture upon its proper footing. ‘The discussion was {urther continued by Messrs. Noah, of Minnesota; £wing, of Pennsylvania; Jackson, of Massa- chusetts; Kennicut, of Illinois; Cary, of Ohio, and others, It was finally agreed that the resolution of the Commit tee of Agriculture of the House of Representatives, to- gether with all resolutions and papers before the Board in relation to the same subject, be referred to a select com- mittee of eight—one from each of the five geographical dis. tricts, and three at large—to be appointed by the chair. The following wore announced as the committee:— Members at large—J. J. Noah, of Minnesota; H. K. Burg- wyn, of North olina; D. P. Holloway,of Indiana. First district—John H. Ewing, of Pennsylvania; Second dis- trict—Charles B. Calvert, of Indiana; Third district—W. T. Meckling, of Texas; Fourth district—F. G. Cary, of Ohio; Fifth district—A. W. McKee, of California. It Js expected that the committee will report on Tuesday morbing. ‘The President of tho Roard laid before that body the following communication , received by bim:— Unrtgp States Patent Orrice, Jan. 8, 1859. Fin—Tam netructed by the honorable Secretary of the tn. terior to invorm you that t will be agreeable to the President of the United States to receive the members of the Advisory Board of Agricul now assembled in this office ut hulf-past three o’clock this afternoon. J, HOLT, Commissioner. On motion, it was resolved that the Board would assem- bie at Willard’s Hotel at 3:16 P. M., and from thence pro- ceed to the executive mansion. ‘The announcement that the President of the United States would receive them as a body, thereby r izing them, and, a8 it were, endorsing the propriety of calling them together, was received with evident satisfaction by all present. Enclosed yoa will find the addresses upon the Sopa which fully justify the expectations of the mem- ers. Professor Henny, of the Smithsonian Institution, was then introduced to the Board, and proceeded, in an ex- ceedingly able address, to explain the plan and object of the series of meteorological observations now being taken allover the American continent by more than 300 ob- servers, under the direction of the Smithsonian Institu- tion, in connection with the Patent Oilice. These obser- vations had now been carried on for several years, one resuit of them being the map published in the agrieul- ural report of 1866. The Professor proceeded at some ‘ength to explain this map, stating, however, that it was but an approximation tothe truth, not a perfect map. Tho Profegeor stated that the direction of all storms which extended over any considerable portion fof the country was from weat to east, 8 that by proper telegraphic ar. rangement those in the Atlantic States could always fore- ‘ell, from ten to twenty-four hours, the approach of a storm of any importa ‘The storm of Friday night here had passed over Cincinnati fifteen hours before. Another result of these observations would be to deter- mine with great accuracy what class of products were adapted to any particular section of country; for instance, hould it be proved that in the course of every five or ten years a period of drought of such intensity a8 to entirely cut off certain crops was certain to occur in this or that section, it would prove beyond question that crops Were not so certainly remunerative as others were not affected to such an extent by drought. These experiments would also lead to the establishment of companies to insure crops against failure, ia the same Way u& companies now insure against fire, disease, &c. In pration of the great benefits to agriculture to be de- red from these experiments the Patent Office had, for two years past, borne half of the expense of taking these observations, principally for the purchase of iwstruments and for the reduction of the observations m: of Tennessee, thon addressed the Board necessity of establishing points of observation ail alopg te shores of the Mississippi river and throagh- out the water shed of the Micsissippi valley, in order to determine the average annua! amount of rain and the ef- fect of a given amount upon the volume of water within the banks of the Mississippi. When this was once deter- mined, as the full effect of the rains was not produced for or two months after their fall, the planters, by the emount of rain that had fallen, could caleu- late with certainty wpon the height of the water in the Missiesippi_ they would be called upon to guard against. Several millions of dollars would have been saved last ar bad this plan been bergtofore carried out. The Board adjourned nnti? Monday at 10 o’elock A. M. The following arc tho addresees upon the occasion of the visit of the Board to the executive mansion. ‘The first is by the Hon. Joseph Holt, Commissioner of ceded the members of the Board in the ident—I have the honor of introducing to you ticmen now present—a body of practical agricultu. mnblod in this city from almost every part of the country, upon the special invitation of the department, for the purpose of furnishing to us accurate and reliable information in regard to the agricultural interests of the ‘The Commissioner then introduced Hon. M. P. Winper, who addressed the President as follows:—Mr, President— We appear before you, as has been stated by the Hon. Commi sionor, as a body of agriculturists, who are assem: Jas on Advisory Board, at his invitation, and under ‘anction of the Secretary of the Interior. We have been for several days engaged in the performance of our daties, and hope that they will not only be serviceable to the department, but beneficial to our own dis- iriets and to the whole country at large. Agri- culture is the great bosiness of our people; it is the great eource of national and individual wealth. And when we consider the vast extent of our territory, em- bracing almost every variety of soil and climate, and ca- pable of producing ‘almost every agricultral product of the world; and when we reflect upon our rapidiy in- creasing population, already spreading themscives down our mountain slopes and over our broad valleys—a popu- lation which ere the close of the present century will, in all human probability, reach two hundred millions of it then becomes a matter of vast moment that the it tof agriculture should receive the fostering care ind patronage of the government, and that this branch ot industry should be advanced to its highest state of cul- tivation, " Thie, Mr. President, is the mission of the farmer. And believing that you would sympathise with vs in these views, we could not return to our several homes withont paying you our personal reepects, and ex- pressing to you ovr most sincere desire for your health, welfare, and future usefulness. Long may you continue (0 enjoy the confidence of a gratefil peoplo, and the con- rolation resulting from a well spent iife. And may your last days be your best days. ‘To which ihe President responded as follows:—Mr. Pre- sident_ and Gentlomen—l need not say that Tam excced- ingly happy to seo you, and that I feel very much honored by this visit. Ihave ever been fond of agriculture itself, though I have never had much time to devote to it practi- cally; but Lheartily rejoice that the Secretary of tho In- terior and the Commissioner of Patents have assembled you here upon this important mission. The other inter- ests of the country are pressing forward. The farmor stays at home, follows his plough and minds his own busi- nees, and we hear very little of him in public. Notwith- standing the energy, the activity and the enterprise of our national charactor, it is in agriculture very often ineffoo- tually exerted without the meceesary skill and science to produce the effect which is $0 much desired; for science combined with practical ex , when lied to the pursuit of Houlture, must shed blessings upon the country. “fam vel indeed to seo here so many bsg }, Whe understand that science fully; and I have no doubt that the great traths which will be elicited by the questions which are to be propounded to ire tes in all parts of the coun- try, when they shail have been collected and brought here, arranged and circulated ail over the nation, will bave the best effect imaginable upon the whole country, I thank you cordially for your kind expressions and wishes for my health and happiness. I cannot, in the course of nature, expect to live long; but as long as I do live T shall feel the deepest interest in the success of agri culture, becauge it is, after all, the great mterest upon which the foundation of nations and States must rest; for without a hardy, noble and robust people, capable of hold- ing the handles of the plough, we shall degenerate into a feebie race, unworthy the attention of the world, and in- capable of perpetuating the bonor and glory of our qountry. Post Office rmAxrest of an Old Of . ‘From the Troy Whig Jan. 10. Late on mine night, John Mahar, of cance, reine ones oe ht to this city im suelr at Post agent brook and Deputy Us ‘Stat 8 Marshal Townsend, charged with having robbed ‘the mails at the Mechanicsville Office. For three or four years past the mail route between thia and Fort Edward, via Mechanicsville, Stillwater and been exceedingly unfortunate in re- of and other v luabie efforts have buem of the Post Office Ne- Gy CApomcmcrergain prs g whom these depre- were committed, nothing of a conclusive or satie- ‘doen ascertained until now. 2 EF il i ter’s daughter, a young lady of inteiligence and genteel appearance, having tho chief management of that office, was too {ashiouable and expensive for the small carnings afforded by her humble position. Careful investigation in the right quarter, however, and frequent e: ‘perimenta, entirely dissipated that theory, and the agent’s caloula- tions were once more alll afloat. About the first ef last September the losses sud ceased, and did not break out again till about the of last month, and soon after Mr. H. roturned to the route, and once more commenced his secret investiga- tions. He finally discovered that cértain New York packages made up at wis alta and Stillwater were certainly stopped at Mechanicsville, the letters rifled of whatever they contained of value, carefully rescaled, and ou the following day mailed for New ‘York. Bosides the young lady in fae a and the Postmaster, one other person about office could have access to the mails occasionally, and he was a journeyman shoomaker Ja tho employ of the Postmaster, by the name of Jobe It was now ascertained that Mahar had been absent most of the time since the 1st of Septomber, and that he came back about the time the depredations recommenced; that the bee spree of himself and wife wore quite im advance their legitimate earnings, and that he had some time since made i considerable’ payment on some real estate previot irchased in Mechanicsville. He bad resided in this ity, and had been employed by the Postmaster for several years—a period covering al the trouble; and these discoveries and facts point wo him unerringly as the author of the many robberies, Mr. Holbrook laid his plans accordingly. On Thursday: evening last several New York after passing Stillwater safoly, stopped at Mechanicsville, hold over, and returned to the mail of Friday. The arrest was not effected, however, for certain legal reasons, until Satur evening. Acareful search of Mahar’s residence furnisl ample proof that he was the right man. One of the most gratifying results of this arrest is the vindication which it carries with it of the reputations of those who from their positions have been under more or less suspicion from time to time. Something of the extent of this villain’s operations may be inferred when it is Stated thag the special agent has in his possession dozong of envelopes of letters addressed to parties iu New York and elsewhere, which have been violated and sent to their destinations within a few weeks past. Hundreds of citizens will be rejoiced to learn that the great annoyance and loes to which they have been so long Subjected upon this routo—thanks to the persevering energy of the Post Office Department—have at length been traced to their true source, and that the guilty party is in a fair way to expiate his crimes “according to law.” Mahar will be taken before United States Commissioner Hilton, of Albany, for examination. The prisoner has @ wife and two children, for whom much sympathy ia manifested. Music and the Drama. ‘THEATRICAL DEPARTURES AND AkkIVAIS.—Mr. W. E. Bur- ton and Mrs. Hughes Went yesterday to Mobile, where they commence an engagement at Duifield’s theatre this bern Mr. Charles Walcot went on the Woodford te uisville lastevening. He bas engagements in several of the Western cities. Mr. Jamos Anderson returned from Mobile yesterday, and wili embark for San Francisco on the Philadelphia, which leaves this city for Havana and New York to-morrow morning.—New Orleans Picayune, New Apxtrm Taratre, Lonpon.—The Daily News, of Dec. 2, publishes the following description of the Adelphi theatre, which in its interior much resembles our now American places of amusement. In a very fow evenit the Adelphi theatre, an entirely new building on the familiar site, will be opened to the public. ‘The re-build- ing of any of our popular theatres, always an interesting epoch of our metropolitan world, becomes additionally in- teresting in the pregent instance, as the alterations w! have been made in the Adelphi have transformed the most comfortless, tasteless and incouvenient theatre in Londom into one of the most admirably and one of the Prettiest. A larger house was impcratively demanded, yet no alteration coulé,be made in thé position of three of the flanking walls without trespassing upom interests it would not be advisable to disturb; there- fore the whole extension of the building had to be made by carrying the wall on the right as far as Bull Inn conrt. To accord with the some eat or thirty feet of width thus gained, the structure would naturally require addi- tional loftiness; but it was found impossible to raise the roof without incurring nnmerous actions from the inhabi- tants surrounding, for obstruction of light and air. Mr. Wyatt, therefore, a8 he could not make the roof A regolved to attain his object by making the floor lower: ‘rhis was fortunately easily accomplished, for the floor of he old building, it will be remembered, stood some ten eet above the level of the Strand. Though these are the nly extensions it was found possible to make on the round plan of the old edifice, the whole structure has been rebuilt from the foundation upwards, and the inte- vior so transformed and altered as to assume a perfectly different aspect. The stage is spacious, indeed nearly double its former area, and the proscenium of course both ofty and wide in proportion, The depth of the wudience portion of the house, from the front of the boxes to the proscenium, is precisely the same as in the old building; but the segment of the circle described by the front of the boxes is so much widened that from almost every purt of the house a complete view of the whole stage can be obtained. But one of the principal and important alterations which have been made in the plan of the old building is a greatly in- creased height between the tiers of boxes, by which that sense of suffocation and oppression, so commonly felt in theatres, will be in a great moasure obviated both by the apparent freedom and actual ventilation which the iucreas- ed space will give. There will be at least 11 feet clear be- tween the pit and the dress circle, and an equal height be- tween the two tiers above the dress circle, und between the gallery and the roof. This great loftiness, combined with the broadness and width of the boxes, gives an as- pect of freedom and elegance to the whole interior, far surpassing any existing theatre in Londou. The ‘pit, which of course is enlarged in proportion to the rest of the house, is portioned into three divisions, The first comprises the orchestra stalls; the secoad tho pit stalls, and the third the ordinary ‘pit seats. The orchestra stails, of which there are four rows placed three feet apart, will accommodate seventy-four persons, but would hold ‘a. great many more were not each’ seat con- structed like a spacious armchair, two feet wide, and one foot four inches deep. The remainder of the pit rows are placed two feet one inch apart, and the individual seats are one foot eight inches wide, the accommodation being con- siderably greater than that of any other theatre in Lon- don. The whole area, inclusive of the stalis, wili accom- modate 640 persons. The dress circle in construction differs very much from, but at the same time is a great improvement upon, what we are accustomed to see in - lish theatres. What is usually the dress circle is occu- pied by semi-private boxts, to hold four, while in front of them at a slightly lower level, extending over the , is a wide open balcony, fitted up in every respect like the orchestra stalls, It is fronted with an open work balu- strade, which, together with the lightness of the other de- corations, prevents it from in any way appearing to en- cumber the body of the house. This of course will be the real droes circle, for the occupants can have an uninter- rupted view of every part of the house, as well as the stage, and consequently are equally well situated for being observed. ‘The idea is evidently entirely taken trom the Opera Comique, in Paris. The upper circle of boxes is ar- ranged much after the style of tho stalls below, there be- ing three rows of seats and room for 136 persons, The useless parfition between the old boxes, which were cer- tainly effectual in nothing but taking up space and obstruct- ing the view, are on this tier entirely done away with. In the front of the gallery tior, immediately over the w per bagi bea ye! two BA ab of 18. Tho whole ase, with private boxes, wi ‘at abeut 1 rRONB 5 though, on what is called ‘a crowded night, werent 2,006 perzons could obtain a fair view of the performances, One of the great advantages of having a gallery of such shallow, depth is, that it allows a nearly flat roof. The ceiling is composed of a very shallow domo, though the Italian style of its ornamentation makes it look in reality deep. It is decorated by four allegorical figures of the seasons, and the portraits of nearly all the celebrated dramatic authors who have written for the Adelphi. Tho remainder of the decoration of the thea- tre will be entirely of white and gold, arranged in what is called the French Renaissance style, which well with the general lightness of the structure. There is one contrivance which is borrowed from the French theatres which, theugh apparently trifling, is not without its im- portance, giving a protection to those in the pit and stalls rrom the risk to which, in all English theatres, they aro exposed from carelessly handled opera glasses. The whole of the audience portion of the atructure will be illuminated, like many of the principal club rooms, by a sunlight, manufactured by Spode. This, placed in the entral opening of the Rony sheds a brilliant light, modified and diffused over the house by shining through a eries of out glags prismatic feathers,which are interspersed by gracefully arranged festoons of cut glass drops and spangles, really giving it the appearance of a chande- lier. lesers. J. tes m are the manufac turers. .The spaees next the proscenium at each aide of the house, for fourteen feet, are occupied by the private boxes, cach of which is provided with a small ante-room. Her Majesty’s box is on tho level of the grand tier on the left hand side of the house, and is certainly larger and more tastefully decorated than those ee for hor use in any other theatre in London. It has irteen fect audience frontage, and is eleven feet high. The balustrade in front is entirely of cut glass—a novel and tasteful kind of decoration. ‘Tho Queen’s box is of course reached by a private entrance and staircase dis- tinct from the rest of the building. AN the passages and staircases, as in all theatres recently constructed, are fire ‘oof, and there are ample means of egress provided for he audience in case of any sudden pressure occurring, by ditional doors opening outwards, which are Incod, at the side of the house. ugh the theatre is poskively announced to be opened upon Boxing night, much yet remains to be done to the interior, but the rapidity with which the decoration progresses, loaves vory little doubt that Mr. Webster's engagement with the public will be performed. Rescurp FROM DRowNInG.—An Irishman named Heotor Mcintosh, residing in Brooklyn, while intoxicated, at balf- pit one o'clock yesterday morning, fell overboard at the foot of Market street, Kast rivir, and was rescued by the crew of the Harbor police boat No. 8, and taken to the Seventh ward station Louge, :