The New York Herald Newspaper, February 18, 1859, Page 4

t NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BESSETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR, w. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. @FFICE N. Money sent mail will be a’ te TERMS, uth feaige ange WO recteed aa ‘exlerip ion baas/ - HERALD, tco conte 81 per annum. TUE PAURLY HERALD. every Bnturday, at viz cents p+ inj the. Buropetn Edition every Wede ‘or $3 per ‘every * ‘Si per annum to any part of @reat Brita at six conta per per, chide ‘Of the Continent, wath ° o Me ‘ang. port Eitri Belition om the Sch and 2th Very or 81 50 per axnun. POY FAMILY HERALD, every Wednesday, at four cents per copy, or Sper annumn, AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. WAY THEATRE, Broadway.—Ou Honzstr— wen An snp Fernucwion Tun VinsaGuns. TRLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—Omovs Perron «ancus— hase Houses, MULES, &c THKATRE, Bowery.—Nice or tixm Woops— ORG. fue Rimni—Taton OF Toxwourn, JRTON'S NEW THEATRE, Srosdway—Ovr Fi Absuicay GocaIx KING'S GAuDENEE WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway—Fux Versa; OR, FRANCE AND ALGERIA. LAURA KEENE’S THEATRE, No. 624 Brosdway.—Ovn Awgnican Cousis—Jensy Linn. ERICAN MUSEUM, Brondway.—Atter- aes cok” Nncuo Muxerunis¥—CURIOSITIES Ad. .OIYS MINSTREL BUILDING, 861 and 563 Broadwiy— suorias Sones, Dances, £0 —Mystio SPELL. ath ee BRYANTS’ MINSTRELS, MECHANICS’ HALL, 437 Broad- way—Neano SoxGs aNp BuniEsquss—WiDe Awake New York, Friday, February 18, 1859. ‘The News. The steamship Prince Albert, of the New York and Galway line, has arrived at St. Johns, N. F., with a week's later news from Europe. The Bri- tish Parliament opened on the 3d inst., and the Queen's speech, though silent on the war question, hhad caused a decline in the funds in both London and Paris. The latest quotations for consols are $4} for money, and 9 for account. The speech also threatens the use of force against Mexico, In Liverpool cotton had advanced a sixteenth to one- pighth of a penny, and closed steady. Breadstufts Were quiet but firm. The European mails brought py the America and Lebanon reached this city last everting. We give some interesting extracts from our files. The Italian question had a de- cidedly serious aspect. The Galway steamship Pa- cific arrived out on the 23d ult., after a stormy pas- Bage. Our correspondent at Puerto Cabello, writing on the Sst ult., says:—General Paez is recovering his health rapidly, and his popularity is so general that the people will elect him again President of this republic. The country is quiet and prosperous, and produce from the interior is coming to market more freely. But little business of importance was transacted in either house of Congress yesterday. The Senate discussed the Homestead bill, the Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation bill, and the Thirty Million Cuba bill.. The General Appropriation bill ‘was reported by the Finance Committee, and a re- solution calling for information relative to the Over- land Mail contracts was adopted. Inthe House the bill providing that periodical and newspaper deal- era shall receive their malt matter on the same terms as regular subscribers was passed. The Army Appropriation bill was then taken up, and a discussion ensued on various propositions. for re- trenchment in the army expenditures. The grand event of the season in the fashionable world of Washington, the ball in honor of Lord and * Lady Napier, came of at the capita! last night. The afftir is graphically described elsewhere in to-day's HERALD. The twentieth anniversary celebration of the Clay Club of this city in commemoration of the distinguished statesman and orator, Henry Clay, came off in the shape of a splendid ball, in the Apollo rooms, which were filled with a brilliant assemblage last night. Mr. Botts, of Virginia, was the principal guest, and was expected to speak at supper, but in consequence of the lateness of the hour our reporter could not wait. Letters of ex cuse were received by the secretary, Mr. Price, from the following:—Hon. Samuel J. Wilkin, Hon’ ‘W. Pennington, N. J.; D.C. Littlejohn, J. M. Fry, formerly secretary to Henry Clay, and several other distinguished personages. The forgeries upon the Colonial Bank of Bar. badoes appear to have been concocted in this city, by a German doing business at No. 34 Beaver treet, named Henry Law, who made his escape to ope some two weeks ago, taking with him about $70,000, the product of the enterprise. The forger sold the drafts to German bankers doing business in Exchange place, Hanover and Wall streets, with whom he had some former dealings of a bona fide character, and then left his lodgings at the St. Denis Hotel for Europe. Elsewhere will be found a full account of the manner in which the fraud was practised, together with a history of the ope- rvator’s life and doings in New York, London, Cal- cutta and other commercial cities. The Tammany General Committee held a special meeting last evening, Isaac V. Fowler in the chair. W.D. Kennedy, of the Ninth ward, offered a re- solution, which was unanimously adopted, that the chairman be empowered to appoint a committee, consisting of delegates from each ward, to call a mass meeting of the democracy to express its views on the admission of Cuba into the Union. Nelson J. Waterbury offered a resolution that a committee be appointed to draft and publish reso- lutions welcoming the State of Oregon into the Union. Adopted unanimously. The meeting then adjourned. §.T. Jones, the alleged Connecticut Bank default- er, was brought before Recorder Barnard yester- day, charged also with obtaining $1,600 under false pretences from Warren Leland. Counsel for the Colchester Bank produced a requisition from Go- vernor Morgan, and asked to have the prisoner com- mitted to prison. The Recorder committed the de- fendant on the charge of false pretences, but re- fused to grant a separate commitment on the Go- vernor’s requisition until he had examined the mat- ter. After considerable wrangling, it was mutually agreed to resign Jones to the custody of the Sheriff until this morning, when he will be brought before the Recorder. * The Committee on Lands and Places of the Board of Aldermen met yesterday to hear parties in- terested in the proposed improvement of Tompkins wquare. Charles H. Cochrane presented a plan for remodelling the square, laying out new grass plots, &c. Manus Flannelly, Henry Moses and others addressed the committee, showing the necessity of preserving the fountain in the sqnare, on the round that it would cost a considerable sum to remove it, and that its existence adds to the attrac tiveness of the park as a place of recreation for the ‘working men and their families who reside in its Jocality. Colonel Pinckney, of the Sixth regiment WN. Y.8, M., urged upon the committee the propriety of having the fountain removed, in order that the park might be used asa ground for military exer- cises, it being impossible for any considerable body of men to perform military evolutions anywhere below Hamilton square at the present time. E,W. Glover said that the fountains as they exist in the parks are by no means ornamental or attractive, nd he was of opinion that the one in Tompkins square might be dispensed with for the conve- nience of the military, at no great degree of lows to ‘the public at large. The commitice adjourned, to hhold another meeting. ‘The trial of Michael Forrest, who was chargea wh the homicide of Christopher Gof by stabbing Bi with a knife, was conclude! yesterday in the «| of General Sessions. He was convicted of gnouetaughter in the third degree, and the Recorder @eaieuorg Lim to tive years aod toy mouths E NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1859. Confinement in the Sta‘e »risun e made a presen ment, conlemning t being made to secure the 9s-ne Tizing the construction of reilreads in cert tions of the city, on the ground that public prover: ty should not be converted to further private selfish ends. The document will be found in our report of the | roceedings, At the meeting of the Board of Aldermen yester- day, Mayor Tiemann sent in a yetoo! (ic res ny tion to pay T. 8, Nimms $250 for extra clerk to various committees of the Boxrd for last year. The petition of owners of property in the neighborhood of Manhattan square, to be laced under the charge of the Central Park Cou: missioners, was ordered to be laid on tle table and printed. Alderman Henry offered a resolution to the effect that the Street Commiss oner be directed to ¢. use an examination of the piers and bulk- heads on the line of West street, from ‘Duane to Canal street, and report to the Board the probable cost. The report of the Committee on Repairs and Supplies, in favor of paying Ira Buckman, Jr., $2,000 or plans for repairing the City Hull, was laid over, the Street Commissioner sent in a cominun ‘ransmitting a petition of property he in Duane street, asking that the widening of that street from Broadway to Chatham street may be ompleted before the Ist of May. It was referred to the Committee on Streets. The Board adjourn. *d to Monday next. Late advices from the South, indicating somo alight ailing off in receipts at some of the cotton ports, imparted more tone to the market yesterday, in which prices wore mnebanged. The eales embraced about 1,400 a 1,800 wales, We quote middling Uplands at 11¢ a U%ce Fine cottons continued scarce and unabated in prices. ’arGies holding orders for the North of Europe tint diffi culty in filling them, especially within the limits pre- scribed. Fravee and other parts of the Continent have taken a larger share of fi e cotton this year thia usual, Orders are here for fine cotton on Russian accouat, which ‘gents are measurably unable to fill at satisfactory rates. \n impression prevails with the trade that an undue pro- portion of middling and lower grades of the article, n comparizon to fine cottons, will probably continue, vithout important variation, to the end of the season. Flour, ip the main, was steady and in fair request, with- cut variation of moment in prices, Southern flour was in ood demand, ard «mene ‘he sales were lots ior export for tropical ports. ‘The mixed and medium extra brands osed with tore Oroness, Whea' was more freely dealt i, and prices were @m. Corn was firm, aud in fair ac- ity, at prices given in another column, Pork was heavy ces evsier, with sales of new mess at $19.0 $13 1234 and old at $17 50, and prime at $13 50, Sugars were steacy, with sales of about 1,100 hdds., 600 boxes and 1,800 bags Calcutta ot rates given in another column. Freights were steady, wile engagements were limited. The Great Question of the Day—President Making—Movements Among the New York Democracy. Among the profound European abstractionists of the ‘Middle Ages, the Nominalists and the Realists held a very prominent position—the former contending that nothing exists except the spirit or thinking principle, and the latter that nothing exists except those things which can be proved to exist by the evidence of one or more of our five natural senses. Upon this broadly defined issue these aforesaid learned schoolmen of the Dark Ages kept themselves and society in hot water for some five hundred years. In our day the question has been settled that things intellectual or spiritual, and things physical, do aN caist; but another question still romains subject todiscussion, to wit, whether the public acts or secret intrigues of our governing agents and politicians should be accepted as affording the true key to their present movements and fu- ture designs. We take the side of their secret intrigues; for thus we shall find all the great political troubles which have agitated the world, and all the great political achievements which have contributed to the moral advancement of mankind, reduced to some individual disappointment or rascality or enterprise, or to some quarrel or some happy agreement in which the voice of one or two men or women has settled the question. Take, for ex- ample, on the other side, the public proceedings of our President making politicians of the present Congress. From the discords and divisions among the democracy on the Mor- mon question, the Kansas question, the filibus- ter question, the Oregon Dill, the tariff question, and every other question, we should: be com- pelled to conclude that there is no democratic party—that it is all adrift, without a recognized head or a visible tail—and that any aspiring leader of a party thus broken up and dispersed, who dreams of being elected as a democratic candidate for the next Presidency, is a great fool. But when we come to look into the secret in- trigues and movements of our democratic Pre- sidential aspirants and President makers, we dis- cover that these apparent discords, divisions and dislocations of the rank and file of the party are superficial, and that Sir Isaac Newton's sublime theory of universal gravitation is not more completely established than Mr. Calhoun’s magnificent political discovery of the “cohesive power of the public plunder.” And so it hap- pens that, while “confusion worse confounded” prevails among the public proceedings of all parties in Congress, the democratic managers, the republican managers, and the managers of the rumf of i! + American party and the loose remnants of the old whig party, are all actively plotting and working for this'or that party Na- tional Convention, from which their party ticket for 1860 is to come. Jn this connection the late and current move- ments of Fernando Wood, for instance, rise into higher importance than any of the late demo- cratic Congressional caucuses or legislative experiments on the tariff question. According to our information from Washington, of some days ago, Mr. Wood, in reference to the Charleston Convention and the dele- gates to be elected thereto, has secured a powerful ally in Kentucky, and another in Tennessee, and the formidable alliance of Go- vernor Wise in Virginia, from which it is very likely he will be able to command those three important State delegations in the Convention. Next, we undersiand that Mr. Wood is not idle in regard to Pennsylvania nor indifferent in re- gard to Ilinois; but, above all, that he is re- solved to give the Tammany faction of New York a Roland at Charleston for the Oliver which they played him at Syracuse last Septem- ber. The only formidable competitor of Mr. Wood in this matter is ex-Governor Horatio Seymour. As for Mr. Dickinson, he belongs to an age that has gone by, and he is out of the way. The strength of Mr. Seymour lies in that powerful clique of the Central Railroad and canal jobbers, and in the prestige of Tammany Hall. But this prestige of Tammany was substantially de- molished in our last November and December elections, and the railroad and canal clique hold but a limited fleld of occupation, As between the two men—Wood and Seymour—the contrast isremarkable. Wood is keen, sagacious, active, resolute, persevering, vigilant, and capable of handling the most difficult party combinations. | Seymour is quiet, easy, amiable, philosophical, and altogether disposed to take things comfort- ably and trast to luck, Asa Presidential aspi- rant and manager, Wood can wind a dozen such easy and comfortable men as Seymour ruuni .ui- finger. ‘Phe spectal organ of Mr. Wood is the Duily News of this city, a very drowsy organ for such an active man; a very poor organ—a weak, wishy-washy concern. Of late, however, it has flickered up a little; but it must do still bettgr, or i! will inevitably flicker out. The spect! o- gan of Mr. Seymour is the Albany Argus or Atias, or both—a somewhat obscured, dusty and meta- physical organ; a great chopper of pa>ty logic and party consistency; an old fogy or san, aod an enormous consumer of pap—post office pap, lobby pap,,and all sorts of spoon victuals. Bo- tween these two organs, therefore, the palm of superiority must be given to the News; for it does exhibit some of the signs of a metropolitan potition; while its Albany competitor has de- generated into the limited sphere of a post office pensioner of an inland town. With the advantages thus indicated in favor of our ex-Mayor, the least that our ex- Governor Seymour has to dread from Mr. Wood is a rivaldemocratic delegation at Charleston, Doubtless similar rivalries are going on in the party camp at Washington and elsewhere, in re- ference to many other competing State managing politicians for the great game of the Convention, We know, too, that the different leaders and managers of the republican camp are equally busy in their plans and plots to compass this or that delegation to their Convention. And so of the Know Nothings, Americans and old line whigs of the third party. All these different movements, on all sides, indicate three parties, three national conventions, three Presidential tickets, and a scrub race for the succession. We repeat, too, that from these secret intrigues and movements among the democracy, the party or managers of the party, however di- vided and broken up in its public ac- tion on the public questions of the day, are still within reach of the “ cohesive power of the public plunder,” and that so long as scheming politicians can agree to disagree upon this or that public measure, they are pretty sure, when it comes to the pinch, to agree upon the main question of the spoils, But, on the other hand, so far have these plot- ting Congressional leaders for the sugar plums of the Charleston Convention disregarded their public obligations to the administration, and their duties to the country, that we very much fear, when the time shall arrive for the test, it will be found that, though the Convention managers and spoilsmen are all prepared for union and harmony, the ranks of the party have been too seriously broken to be repaired. We must watch the progress of events before the curtain, but more particularly the controlling movements behind the scenes. Asany Lequsnation For New York Crry.— Both houses of the State Legislature have had their hands full during the present session with the local affairs of this city. Many people are unaware of the extent to which we are dependent upon the wiseacres of the Legislature and smart agents of the lobby in the management of our Municipal eancerns, from the regulation of our governmental departments down to our city rail- roads. Let us take a glance at some of the measures which have occupied the attention of the Legislature for some time past. First we have— A bill to amend the charter of the city of New York, and authorizing Henry R. Selden, Charles O’Conor and Hamilton Fish, or in their places, respectively, Wm. C. Bryant, Robert J. Dillon and Wm. F. Havemeyer, to prepare a new charter. Bills to amend the law relating to New York city banks, requiring the capital to be paid in full before commencing business, and forbid ding loans on their own stock. To amend the Central Park act by putting the Park and entire property under the control of eleven commissioners, as an incorporated com- pany, with power to hold real estate. A bill to legalize the resolutions of the New York Common Council of May 16, 1853, giving permission to widen a pier. Another for a railroad through Fourteenth street, Hudson, Troy, Fourth, Bicecker, Crosby and other streets in New York. A bill regulating the salaries of the County Clerk, Surrogate, &e., of New York; also, to authorize the appointment of additional Notaries Public in New York. A bill to regulate the bringing of suits in the Marine Court. 4 To repeal the act reorganizing the Port War- dens’ office. Another railroad. bill to authorize Oscar Mar- shall, George Cornell, Charles Smith and associ- ates to lay a railroad in New York from the Thirty-fourth street ferry, through Thirty-fourth street, First avenue, Tenth street, Stuyvesant street, Third avenue, Bowery and Canal street, to the east side of Broadway, returning by the same route. A bill to appropriate the unclaimed deposits of savings banks to canal purposes, and another appropriating the proceeds of West Washington Market to the same use. A bill to authorize the Board of Supervisors in New York to sell the site adjoining the City Hall to the United States for a Post Office,.and - increasing the City Hall fund to one million of dollars. A bill to amend the laws in relation to taxes and assessments in this city. A bill to provide against unsafe buildings in New York. This is a voluminous bill, carefully prepared. It requires more care in the erection of party walls, exterior walls, &c. A Dill to amend the assessment for opening and widening the streets of New York. It provides that it shall not be lawful for the Commissioners to alter any award for damages, or any estimates for the benefit of contractors, without previous public notice. The bill is designed to meet the alleged frauds in opening William street and widening Beekman street. A bill to change the plans of the streets and avenues of New York north of 125th street and west of Eighth avenue, And still later, a bill abolishing the office of Corporation Attorney, and providing in his place & Solicitor of the City Treasury, to be appointed by the Comptroller and confirmed by the Mayor. The specific duties of this officer are to defend all actions at law or suits in equity prosecuted against the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the city of New York: provided always, that no such action or suit shall be defended by him at any stage thereof, save upon the written con- sent and retainer of the Comptroller. This bill also provides that the salary of the Corporation Counsel shall be fixed at $6,500, and all fees and compensations cutoff, Should this bill become a law it will reduce to @ proper standard the emoluments of one of the richest offices in the gity. Tho appointment of the Solicitor of T easurer, it will be seen, is placed in the hands of the Comptroller, which is a mistake. That, and all other important offices in the Finance Department—except, perhaps, that of the Comptroller himself—should be filled by the Mayor, and the incumbents should be responsi- ble to him alone for the proper discharge of their duties. This is the only method by which a check can be established in the management of our financial affairs. Another bill was intro- duced yesterday to place the appointment of the Corporation Counsel in the hands of the Mayor, instead of making it an elective office as it is now, This array Of legislative businoss relative to the government of this city will show what rich placers exist in the metropolis for the specula’ tive industry of the lobby. It must be remem- bered, that although these various bills regu- lating our local government may be introduced ~by members from the city, yet they must be passed upon by members from the rural districts, who know nothing and care less about the in- terests of the city of New York. But some measures are being taken to arrest the course of this kind of legislation, and it is time there should be. A committee of the Boards of the Common Council had a meeting on Wednesday evening for the purpose of consulting on the matter. Two prominent gentlemen of this city attended, but further proceedings have been de- ferred to Monday next, at which time we hope that the property owners, and otbers interested in the government of the city, will be present, and define some plan to rescue New York from the mischievous influences of our Albany legis- lators. Is Tuere axy Opposition To THE AcQursi- Trion oF Cvpat—We have been watching atten- tively the course of discussion in Congress, and before the country at large, on the Slidell propo- sition looking to the acquisition of Cuba; and although the men opposed to the administration have talked a great deal against Mr. Slidell’s bill, not one of them is opposed to the acquisition of the island. Seward holds as a political ax- iom that it gravitates to the Union, Foot, Hale, Crittenden and Thompson in Congress, and Botts before the people of Virginia, all acknowledge that the acquisition must come, only that the present time is not opportune, and that they are opposed to its being acquired by Mr. Buchanan. These objections are nothing more than the ca- vils of the spirit of faction. The fact is—and the opposition leaders know it well—there is no op- position among the people to the acquisition of Cuba, except with a few abolition fanatics, who oppose everything but their own ramrod doc- trines of disunion and destruction. Dr. Cugkver’s Caurcu Trovsixes SeTTLEp.— It will be observed by our report in another co- lumn that the ex parte council called by the mem- bers recently dismissed from Dr. Cheever’s church without regular letters, for which they had applied, has come to the conclusion that the church is in the wrong, and the complaining members in the right. It would seem from this that Dr. Cheever, in his extreme anxiety for the maintenance of the rights of the negro, has ignored the rights of the white members of his own church; at least 60 says the ex parte council of the learned di- vine’s uwirdenomination. It strikes us that the more natural way would be to give the white man bis due first, and then look out for Sambo. However, we may not be posted on modern phi- lanthrepy. A Muan Tridg or RetReNcumest—An out- rage has been committed upon General Scott in the action of the United States Senate suspend- ifig his brevet pay. Is this his reward for those fifty years of public service, which would have secured him a principality from even the poorest State of Europe? Let the House right the wrong thus attempted, and give the brave old chief of half a century of glory his paltry pittance. We give the Senate bill in another column. SrunriricaTion or THE Back Repvsricans.— The bulk of the black republicans of the House who voted against the admission of Oregon as a free State are the same men who voted with the “condition precedent” for the admission of Kansas asa slave State. “Muman freedom” is a great article; but circumstances alter cases. Tnat Reoistry Law.—Before our last No- vember election the republicans promised us a registry law. They now have the Legislature. They have had the bill before them; bat why have they not passed it? Does it cut both ways? City Politics. THE TRANSFER OF THE DEMOCRATIC ORGAN. It is stated in political circles in this city, by those who ought to know, and who are well posted in such matters, that Mr. Libby is a partner with ex-Mayor Wood in the Daily News concern, and that the arrangement is that the hand organ is to be played for both, whatever tune they may think proper to dance in turn. The programme is said to be, that Wood goes for Governor of this State in 1860, and expects to be carried through by the enthusi- ‘asm of the Presidential election, while Libby, so often dis- appointed in his ambitious aspirations, hopes at last to gain the top of the ladder as next Mayor. Dr. Cheever’s Church Troubles. THE EX PARTE COUNCIL DECIDES THAT THE APPEL- LANTS WERE IRREGULARLY DISMISSED—THR CHURCH OF THE PURITANS RECOMMENDED TO KE- CKIVE THEM IN “GOOD AND REGULAR” STAND- ING—THE COUNCHL WILL GIVE LETTERS OF RE- COMMENDATION IF THE CHURCH DOES NOT. The ex parte Council of the Congregational church, mi- nisters and delegates, which has beon in session for three days in this city, having under consideration the com- plaint of sundry members of Dr. Cheever’s church that they had been irregularly dismissed, came to a conclusion yesterday afternoon, and, as was stated as probable in yesterday's Henawp, decided against the action of tho church. ‘The doors of the Council were thrown open at one o'clock, when the scribe proceeded to read the decision of the Council. After setting forth the reasons for calling the Council, the proceedings of the public meetings, and that those who called it had good grounds, the document set forth in substance as follows:—That the church having declined a mutual council it only ro- mained for this Council to pronounce judgment ; that the mutual council ought to have been consented to} ‘but it was the right of the minority to ask it, and the duty of the majority to grant it; that the church granted the Foguiar letters of dismissal to the female membera asking them, but refused to grant them to the male members: that the lettors given to the male members wero intended to convey censure; that if the church conld not give full letters the malo members it was their duty to bring the brethren to trial, and if no special charges were brought them they were entitled to a regular dismissal; ry the adoption of the resolution dismissing th brethren from watch and care, after they had declined to accept irregular re, Was a qt dinne 10 principles of what war ri,ht.”” That tho brethren eullin tie coun: cil ought to be received as members in and regu- Jar” standing in the Church of the Puritans until thoy should be received by other churches, and that tho cen- sure implied was without warrant and without religion, ‘and the Council do recommend them aocordingly to any church of Christ who may be willing to receive them. The Scribe and Moderator of the Council are instructed to issue letters of recommendation to such of the complain. ing brethren a8 may now or hereafter apply for them. Council acknowledges the courtesy of the church in tendering the use of its records and the information of their committee, aud advises the applicants to offer such concessions to the church ag would allay the feelings of the brethren, notwithstanding that they had a womedy tn the matter, At the conclusion of the reading of tho dooumont, Mr. 0. &, Wood and Mr. KN, Havens, two of the appoliants, returned their thanks to the Council for the decision, and expressed their perfect satisfaction with the decision “ iter prayer by Dr, Bacon, the Council adjourned sine THE LATEST NEWS. AFFAIRS AT THE HATIONAL CAPITAL HE GRAND BALL TO LORD NAPIER. Uoen'ficent Coup-d’cll Offered by the Ball Reom—Omelal and Diplomatic Personages Invited--All the Beauty, Fashion and Wealth of the Leading Cities Pre- cent—The Tollettes, the Diamonds, the Flirtations and the Rivalries of the Evening—The Projected New York Ball to Lord and Lady Mapler—The New Brith Minister, &., &e., ke. Wrarp’s Hore, Wasminaton, Feb. 17, 1859. ‘Tho rush, crush, smash and dash of the week havo at Jength culminated. The millinere of New York, Philadel- phia, Baltimore and Washington can rest on thoir needles for a while. By to-morrow’s sun the higbly respectable old gentlemen who for a week past have been exercised as an‘executive committee” can seek their pillows and rest after their herculean labors. The ‘grand compli- mentary ball in honor of Lord and Lady Napier,” as the cards of invitation grandiloquently express it, is “in full tide of succeesful experiment!” thanks be to Allah! ‘“Bis- taillab!—it 18 spoken |’? You will excuse your correspondent, if under the com- ined excitement of the innumerable gas lights, the extra- ordinary combinations which goto make up a lady’s tot- lette, aud complete that ravishing bewilderment which leave you in doubt as to how much due to the milliner, and how littie to na- ture, the bright glances shot at the rather awkward look. ing military uniforms and the sparkling champagne—you will, I repeat, excuse your corresfiondent if he deals some- what in byperbole, and is not the staid philosopher which he will doubters be tomorrow, when seeking golace in Congrees water, and wondering if he engaged himself irrevocably to more than six romantic young ladies tho night previous. But it is only just to the occasion, the preparations which were made to give it éclat, and the peculiar character of the compliment, that a full account gbould be given of the affuir. Greatly to the regret of all here who had formed the acquaintance of Lord and Lady Napier, it was suddenly announced a few weeks since that his lordship was aboutto be trausferred to another post. Various explanations have been attempted to account for the chango—a change en- tirely unexpected, as Lord Napier has only been in this country about one half of the period usually assigned to British Ministers. - ‘The true solution, however, itiay be set down as simply this: Lord Napier is a protégé and devoted adhorent of Lord Palmerston, and the consequence is that Lord Derby felt himself under an embarrassing restraint whilst he re- tained the present Minister as the medium of communica- tion with our government. However faithfully Lord Napier might comply with the instructions of the Derby Cabinet, there might still exist in the mind of the astute Prime Minister of England an uneasy suspicion that a pri- vate correspondence was possibly going on, carrying in- formation to Lord Palmerston of the course of events in ‘Washington, that would be, perhaps, dangerous to the interests of the Derby government. I don’t mean to insinuate, for a moment, that such an irregu- larity was really to be feared; for Lord Napier is a conscientious man, and would not allow private friend- ship and old ties of partizanship to influence his conduct, or affect the faithful discharge of his duty to the existing Cabinet of England. Yet it is natural that Lord Derby should fee! himself in a somewhat false position, and that he should decide, at last, upon a change in his diplomatic Tepresentative here. I believe this to be # correct expla. nation of the return of Lord Napier, and the substitation of ‘a diplomat whose relations with the Derby government are mort intimate and confidential. It has been said, also—and 1 think with some foundation—that Lord Derby took excep- tion to the frank, manly, but sensible speech of Lord Napier at the dinner of the St. George’s Society in New ‘York im tho apring of 1856, shortly after his arrival in this country. You may remember that Lord Napier on that occasion surprised and gratified the country by repudiating the hitherto distrustful and vexatious policy of the English Foreign Office towards the United States. He declared the interests of the two countries were so completely identified that their policy should never be at variance. ‘These sen‘ timents may be entertained by Lord Derby, as they have certainly been expressed by his son, now in the government; but it may not have been thought discreet in Lord Napier to give them such general and, uivocal expression Tn any case, the withdrawal of Napier and his charm ing wife is deeply regretted at Washington, where they have groatly endeared themselves by their hospitality, and rare, unaffected urbanity. Lady Napier, I believe, was born in Paris, under tho English flag, and educated in that city. Lord Napier, like most of the diplomatic school to which he belongs, is a thorough man of the world, haying nothing of the pro. vincial either in his habits or manner. They are, there- fore, by education and association, peculiarly adapted to make friends; and, as the wife of a distinguished Senator remarked, if they have received but a tithe of the plea- sure from their sojourn here which they have imparted, they will go tothe scene of their now Isbors with the most pleasurable recollections of Washington society. ‘Washington being nothing but a great winter watering place, and its society composed of all that is clegant throughout the country (and, by tlie way, a good deal that is just the reverse), of course ‘Washington society’’ is a very genoral term, over which the inhabitants of this village have very little control. so Lone earn WET aguOr TO LORD ArT, larien, Washlagion'— “The Tinderaguod are vory gure that they express a sentiment shared by the ameriean pul Toolely, J wa ihe cordial esteem your mission, ; Influenced by a kindred havo been requested avery uber of tek ff oy slanens pense leets that your lordship, with ler, would honor them b: our cumpany a= clo ball La is ig, at ach timo Jou may dnd convenient, . JAMES M. MASON, TH. 8. JESUP, U.8. A. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, = W. W. CORCORAN, J. J. GRITTENDEN, " W. SRATO) TAS, M. WAYNE, JAMES G. BARRET, GKO, W. HOPKINS, B. OGLE TAYLO) A, BURLINGAME, JOB C. McKIBB SAML. F. VINTO! JOSEPH SMITH, 0. 8. N, Wasninaton, Jan. 31, 1869. LORD NAPTER'S ACCEPTANCE. Hes Busraxnic Masrary’s Legation, WASHINGTON, Fab. 3, 1809, Guntizwex—I have the houor to aoknowledge the recelpt your letter of the Sist of January, em! ‘an expression of regard for Lady Napiér and myself, of which we are deeply sensible, and to which we shall ever recur with gratitude and PFyou have the to ieform me that it in the wish of a number fellow citizens to receive us at a public j,and you desire to know on what day it would be conve- nient to un to avail ourselves of this int In conformity with your permission, 1 beg to sclect Thuraday, the I7th inst, that day be agreeable to you in other respects, re com if You will oblige 1. Her and myseif ke ed " 3 4 vay! concert with you our warm thanks the high mark of esteem which they have e4 for us which I may not myself that I deserve, but which we rhould contemplate with unalloyed satisfaction if it were not with our ure: America. Thave the bonor to be, gentlemen, your obelliet. humble Jon. J, M. Mason, Senator U. 8. 4 The Hon. W. H. sewatn, Senator Us ‘The Hon. J. J. Onrrrenpun, Benator U's, ‘and other gentlemen, members of the commfies. The committee at once proceeded to make the necessary arrangements, and, giving the Messrs. Willard a carte blanche, issued a limited number of tickets, at $10 for each gentleman. On Tuesday evening the whole of these were gold; and such entreating, bogging and lobbying as have been going on since to get the number enlarged, would break the heart of any one with a susceptible organiza- tion, like manager Ulmann, for instance, whon there is a grand Piccolomini night aod more applicants tor seats thaa the opera house will hold, ‘The invitation was handsomely engraved on a bighly glazed card some six by eight inches large, with a vig- nette consisting of the Engiiah and American shields in a cluster of roses, thistles and shamrocks—a branch of an oak tree in the centre, aud the tobacco plant surrounding the whole, The following is the form: : sorenene coserenere i, —— The of company is ested ata ball in we Steet Ma SIDA Sa evening of February 17, 1809. 3 Hon. James M. Mason, Va., Hon. J. M.Way 8p. W. BL Ber N.Y, 2 dammed R A. Kennedy, T. 8. Hon. Reverdy Johuson, W. Corcoran, Hon. fame! F.vinton, ™. Merrick, Foneph (0, 6 HOLE UT EL ATCO CECE UN CCUG ERC E EEE \onneneenneesecenteLeeree ee tt OPOet SOOO OOEe: aeu5 * paneer : And this circular of directious: Sim—You will receive berew Ulcket of admission for yourself complimentary ball in howor of 3 ‘Uhe Uck ets 10 be presented on entering the Pall room. otber members to med ate r, who femed.aie fa who may ists to attend, you will reas B. OOLE TaYi W.L. HOD; 30s. . G. pe 13. . G. . 470 8 recuse Commitee, Complimentary invitations were issued oaly to— ey J.C. Breckinridge, Vico President of tho United a Lae o 0 Ore, Speaker of the House of Representa- ives, Hon. Lewis Cass, Secretary of State, Hon. Howell Cobb, Secretary of the Treasury, Hoo. Jobn B. Floyd, Secretary of War. Hon, Isaac Toucey, Secretary of the Navy, Hon. Aaron V. Brown, Postmaster General. Hon, Jacob Thompson, Secretary of the Laterior. a Biack, aera General. o Sartiges ‘Extraordinary and Minis tor Plenipotentiary of France.” bis Le Vicomve Juies Troiihard, Seoretary of Legation. ‘eee de Osten Sacken, Chargo d’ Affaires ad interim Mr. Theodore Marius Roest nor fabriel Garcia - nary and Minister Pleaipotenuary of oseed ey Senor Don Carlos Villalba, Secretary of Legation. Baron Von Grabon, Charge d’ Affaires ad interim of Pras- sia. Rudolph Schleiden, Minister Resident of Bremen. The Chevalier Hulsemaun, Mintster Resident of Austria, M. de Raaslooff, Charge d’ Affaires of Denmark. Baron Wellerstedt, Minister Resident of Sweden. The Chevalier Bertin: tti, Ch The Commander A. Ferrer, rim, of the two Siciiies. large d’ Affaires of Sardinia, ge d’Affaires, ad imte- Senor Don Gregorio Barandiaran, Charge d’ Affaires, inderim, of Mexico. J * ae The Chevalier A. P. d Charge d’at- aires, ad snlerim, of Hoch pal ane aia ksi Setior General bon Pedro Alcantara Herran, Envoy Rx- traordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of New Granada, Sonor Don Juan V, de Osma, Minister Resident of Pere. Lord Napier received twenty complimentary tickets for the use of his Legation, ‘The ball is held in the dining hall of Willard’s Hotel. It is an immense room—three hundred feet tong, by about thirty feet wide, towards the ond reaching a width of any fect. The room is elegantly frescoed, and, with a profu- 6 on of georgeous chandeliers, and tasteful arrangement of evergreens and flowers, the rich dresses of the ladies and | sprinkling of army uniforms, the coup d’wil was re- markably striking. One-third of the rooui is petitioned off, and here Gautier has exercised his genius. Two long tables are laid out, and the supper, announced at eleven o’clock, seems magically to continue as plentifulas at first, notwithstanding the vigorous attacks to which it has beea subjected. Dancing must be an exhausting labor, or else the dear fair ones who throng the supper tables could never manage to make disappear such quantities of chicken salad, ice creams, oysters, and Charlotte russe, boned turkey and champagne, ham and macaroons. But Gautier’s genius is equal to the emergency. Ho knows by experience that the appetites of our Washington belles are ‘ovly equalled by their charms, and he heroically main- tains his ground, ‘The ball was opened at ten o'clock. The room was handsomely decorated with flags of all nations. At the end of the room full length portraits of Victoria and Gea- eral Washington wree suspended. There was raised dais at the end of the room, where Lord and Lady Napier re- ceived their friends. Tho ball was opened by Lord Napier and Madame Van Limbargh, and Mr. Seward and Mrs. Conrad as their vis- d-vis, Gen. Cass and Lady Napier entered the room together. Very few were present. The band was very poor. ‘he supper room was opened at eleven. Col. Orr ao- companied Lady Napier into supper, followed by Senators Mason, Gwin and Seward, accompanied by ladies. Lord ‘The féée is in full blast—twelve hundred people present. It should be stated that the committee of gentlemen at ‘New York who undertook to carry out the suggestions of the Hgratp by getting up a splendid féte in honor of Lord Napier’s ‘approaching departure decided within atew days to abandon it, at the request of the committee of the Na- pier ball at Washington, who feared thst the preparations fora der demonstration at New York would be se- ly detrimental to their well meant enterprise at ‘Washington. Lord Napier was neceesarily consulted on the matter, and whilst he declared himself as pajama hgrantce spay mark of regard on the part of \e great metropolis of the Union, stili he deemed it im man} expedient, and therefure forbore to en- it. Under these circumstances the New York com- mittee reluctantly abandoned the project, and their deol- addressed him:— ‘Her Brrraxnic Maszsty’s Leaation, ‘Wasminaton, Feb. 14, 1859. 3 Dean dint will excuse me ff Thave not acknow- pedis ‘ol your letter of the 10th inst wooner. 1am under a strong impression that the me fernbe of pubite attention a. New ntiemen who were ork ri fj wo depart sulted: foterests, oF tom jure, have consulted my fa as dhey hove cortsinly ccs formed tbotnsctren to me ine ern persevering in thetr Kind attention, git however, not the ess sensibie of the honor which they T beg to return you Mr. C.’s letter, which I observe to_be the origtt Beheve me, yours, very fuithtully, NAPIER. ‘The new Minister, Lord Lyons, was to leave England for Lis new post on the 16th of this month, in tho war steamer Curacoa, fitted out for this special service, and it 18 con- tended that Lora Napier and suite will roturn in the same Yorsel. The stirring echoes of the graud Napicr ball at Washington will not have fairly died away before the ar- rival of his young successor will be announced by the booming of the salutes in the harbor of New York. Our Special Washington Despatch. THE TAPIFY QUESTION—PROSPECT OF A SOLUTION OF THE DIFFICULTIES ON THE SUBJECT—AN OPEN- INF FOR OFFICE SEEKERS—RETRENCHMENT IN THE ARMY, ETC., ETC. Wasmmaron, Fob, 17, 1859. It is now believed that a solution of the tariff diflculty will be bad im the course of a fow days. Jefferson Davis and the party which acts with him im both ends of the Capitol express a desire to act in a liberal and statesmaniike manner, and, sinking mere personal preferences, unite with the friends of the administration in devising an amendment of the tariff which shall meet the requirements of the govern- ment, instead of pursuing the demagogue cry of retrench- ment, which means nothing. The compromise which wilt be effected will probably be a revival of the act of 1846, with the free list of 1857; and it is calculated that this will raise a revenue of over seventy millions, The feel- ing is growing stronger every day in favor of this propo- sition; and whilst Iam not sanguine, yet it is the opinion of well informed men that it will be carried. A majority of the Committee on Ways and Means may agree to-mor- row upon a bill embracing tho leading features of Messrs. Morrill’s and Phillips’ bills. Mr. Hendricks, the present Commissioner of the Land Office, is to be appointed United States Judge in Oregon. Murray McConnell, Fifth Auditor. has sent in his resig- nation, to take effect on the Ist proximo. Three bureaus will thus be vacated—the Fourth and Fifth Auditors and Commissioner of the Land Office. Mr. Searing will ask for a Committee of Investigation on charges alleged against him in a New York papor. The Board of Army Officers, convened by order of the Secretary of War, to inquire wherein retrenchment can bo made, met to-day. Seven members were present— Ripley, Eaton, Chapman, Marcy, Nichols, Bee and Dick- inson, They intend togo into a rigid examination, and will cut down the service in every possible manner. Letters just received at the War Department, from the Pacific and from the Plains, represent the army as ina healthy condition, and Indian hostilities as at an end, ‘The report that General Johnston, who commands tha forces in Utah, is to be relieved, is untrue. He has not asked for leave of absence. ‘The Naval Investigating Committee closed their examl- nation of witnesses to-day. They will not report before Saturday, and probably not until Monday. There will.be two reports. Mr. Miles, of South Carolina, to-day presented hia re- port in favor of the removal of the desks from the. House, ‘and will call it up for action on Monday, The regort will probably be adopted, as there is large majority in tig favor, ‘Tho statement telegraphed to New York, asserting that Mies Gwin is to be married to a person named Baylor, ia without foundation, THE GENERAL NEWSPAPER DRAPATOR, Wasmtworon, Fob, 17,1859 by night Is the Napier ball, and there is a deluge of rain, . The Souato's Committee on Finanoe haye agreed to re- port an amendment to the Executive, Judicial and Logie lative Appropriation bill, making it the duty of the Trem marae, of the Mint, or any of its branchos, when refined gold. is of making coin from reflved bullion hhto be three elghtby of one per contam, By calewiocous ort wand wt the Troagury Departmeut,