The New York Herald Newspaper, February 9, 1860, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES ORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. OFFICE N. W. CORNEK OF NASSAU AND FULTON STS. TERMS, ooh tn advance Honey send by matt wi? bo at the Fisk «0 pe towder. Postage stampe wot received aw sudscription THE DAMY MERAL D, to cone per copa. 7 par annum THE WEEKLY HERALD ‘ery Saturday, ix cents Copy or $8 per annum, he European Edition Weincatay, wk to any porta’ aves eee im, i; the ent, both (o include is Stee « ' saan PONE eeMILY HERALD om Wedaseday, af ae eopy oF $e per annum, fowr canta AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. Si8L0'R GARENN. Brosdway.—Cooms's Bora, Aurai- WuxaTnx—Afternoon and Bveniag. BOWERY THERATRR, Bowery .--Nick Wirries—Breax or Day Bovs—Fxeacn Srv. WINTER GARDEN, Broadway, opposite Bond street— Octvex Twor. WALLAOR’S THEATRE, Broadway.—Romanom oF 4 Poow Yours Mas. LAURA KEENE THEATRR, 64 Broadwey.—Jauns Dram. NSW SOWSRY THEATRE Bowory.—Tuess Fast Max —Hove ome Wau. BROADWAY BOUDOIR, 444 Broadway.——Inisn Daa P< fus Young ActReas—Irism assueaNcm AND Yankee PRSTY. THEATRE FRANCAIS, 065 Broadway.—Lus Fewues Tes- Biniws—Le Cuawomnsse, BARNUM'S AMEKICAN MUSEUM. Broadway.—After- Boon—Mam Witu tix Miging Pai—Vexwont Woou Dearer. Evening—Ocroroon. BRYANTS' MINSTRELS, Mechanica Hall, 472 Broadway. — Boscaseves, Sonas, Daxous, ke.—susiesque [rarian Ores NIBLO'S BALOON, Broadway.—Geo, Onmiser's Mun- frema uw Sones, Dances, Bomiesques, £0.—ScueMEKUOKN'S Bor. COOPRE INSTITUTE.-—~Pror. Youman’s Lecrvax ox tax Conxxorion Between Minn AND Matrer. New York, Thursday, February 9, 1860. The News. By the arrival of the City of Washington, at this port, and the North Briton, at Portland, we have European advices to the 26th ult., five days later than those previously received. The news isimport- ant, both politically and commercially. ‘The British Parliament met on the 24th ult. The Bpeech from the throne alludes to the Italian ques- tion, the new commercial policy of the Emperor of the French, the war with China, the San Juan dis. pute with the United States, the war between Spain and Morocco, and other subjects of moment, but it is particularly decided in favor of the non- intervention of foreign States in the affairs of the Italian peninsula. A terrific gale had swept the coast of England, causing immense damage to shipping. Brief par ticulars of disasters to American vessels are given in our telegraphic summary of the news. Capt. Harrison, commander of the Great Eastern: was drowned in the harbor of Southampton by the upsetting of a boat. Anew commercial treaty between France and England has been signed at Paris. But little is known respecting its provisions. At London on the 26th ult. consols were quoted at 944 a 949 formoney, and 94} a 94] for account— @ decline of j as compared with the rates current on the sailing of the Asia. The Liverpool cotton market was quiet, but Bteady, with sales of 24,000 bales during the three days preceding the 25th. Some circulars quote prices easier, while others note a partial decline of one-sixth of a penny. Provisions and breadstuffs had undergone no material change. We have accounts from Morocco dated at Moga- dor on the 2d ult. 60,000 men, the pick of the Moorish army, were encamped on the hills beyond Mogador, and ready for action. A courier had ar- rived, stating that the Moors had taken in all 600 prizoners, and that the Emperor had paid $4 per head for having brought them alive to the capital. The overland mail arrived at Malloy's station on Tuesday night, with advices from San Francisco to the 16th ult., and from the Sandwich Islands to the S3lstDecember. No change had occarred in the San Francisco markets, and no vessels had arrived from Atlantic ports subsequent to the departure of the previous mail. Among the passengers lost by the wreck of the steamer Northerner, off Cape Mendocino, on the 6th ult., were Mr. Bloomfield, a son of the Bishop of London, and Mr. French, son of Captain T. W. French, of the Forty-second regi- ment, British army. There was a movement on foot in Sacramento to elect a successor to United States Senator Gwin during the present session of the Legislature, but the Governor disapproved of the project. The news from the Sandwich Islands is unimportant. ‘The latest advices from Captain Page, command, ing the United States Exploring Expedition in the interior of South America, were dated on board of the Argentina, at Comerities, on the 30th of No™ vember. The general health of the crew and offi. cers was good. Captain Page states that the ex plorations had been greatly extended in the head waters of the Paraguay, ascending to Cuiaba, two thousand miles above tide water. The steamer Alpha, one of the vessels of the expedition, was at Argentina, to be putin condition for defence agains Indian arrows. By the arrival of the brig T. B. Wattson, Captain Munday, at this port yesterday, from Porto Cabello: Venezuela, we learn that the country was in a dreadful state. Capt. M. reports that on the day he sailed all the stores at Porto Cabello were ordered to be closed in expectation that Amora and Falcon ‘would make an attack upon the town. We have Bermuda papers dated on the 17th ult., but later news bad already been received. We have received some additional particulars relative to the capture of the bark Orion, of this port. In the early part of December last, the British war steamer Pluto fell in with a bark show- ing American colors, but suspecting her of being a slaver, sent a boat on board, and found her to be the Orion, of New York, Captain Morgan, from the coast of Africa, with 1,023 slaves on board, bound to Cuba. When the vessel was brought into port, phe had on board eight hundred and seventy-one negroes, of which number sixty-eight were women, one hundred and twenty-seven girls, two hundred and seventy-three men, three hundred and ninety- six boys, and seven, sex unknown. Before the vessel arrived, one hundred and fifty-two had died, which would make the total number taken on board when she left the coast of Africa ten hun dred and twenty-three. “When the Pluto and the Orion arrived at St. Helena, the British commander wurrendered the slaver to the United States steamer Mystic, which will doubtless send her toa port in the United States for trial. The slaves, however, ‘were landed, and would remain under the care of the United States Consul until advised by the Commodore on the station what farther disposition to make of them. The Orion is of 449 tons bar then, with one deck, but beams for between decks end was built at Newcastle, Me., in 1846. The Mystic arrived at St. Helena from St. Paul de Loan do on the 14th of December, all well. The bark Emily, which was brought to this port from the coast of Africa, in charge of United States officers, sailed from Greenpoint for the African coast on Saturday night last. She was towed through Hellgate, and passed through Long Island Bound. The New York State Agricultural Society met at Albany yesterday, and organized for the coming year by choosing Hon. B. M. Huntington, of Rome, for President. The Treasurer's statement showsa Lalance of $5,686 on hand. The next annual fair will be held in Elnira. NEW YORK HERALD THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1860. The news from Washington this morning is interesting. The Senate yesterday resumeil the consideration of the Post Office Appropria- tion Lill, the question being on the amendment, proposed by the Finance Committee, abolishing the franking privilege. Considerable time was spent in discussing and voting upon trivial amend- ments to the proposition, and finally the franking privilege amendment was rejected, but no further action was taken as regards the passage of the bill The mail contractors sent in a memorial asking for the immediate passage of the bill, omitting the six per cent interest on their claims, looking to future legislation for a settlement. The Printing Com mittee recommended the printing of ten thousand copies of Majors Mordacai and Delafield’s report on the war in the Crimea, but the Senate rejected it by a vote of 25 to 31, and by a large majority refused to reconsider the vote. The republican memb ors of the House yesterday selested Mr. Defrees, editor of the Indianapolis Ailas, as their candidate for Printer. Our Wash- ington correspondent gives a pretty clear insight into the corrupt means by which this nomination was brought about. In the State Senate yesterday remonstrances were presented against removing the landing places of the Sound steamers, and against assess- ing damages for the destruction of the Quarantine buildings withont a trial first being had. The bill dovating $1,000,000 in aid of the Albany and Sus- quehannah Railroad was passed. An exciting and prolonged executive session was held on the New York appointments. Messrs. Barber, Edward Mar- ray, Hart L. Murray, Jos. Tinkhamand Jas. Coulter, appointed Harbor Masters, were confirmed. Mr. Van Valkenburg’s nomination, and also that of Mr. Lounsbury, as Port Warden, was Jaid on the table. In the Assembly Mayor Wood and several other gentlemen were tendered the priviloge of the floor. Mr. Varian made a minority report against the Pro Rata Freight bill. The bill to compel the attend- ance of witnesses before municipal committees was passed. Mr. Milliken’s motion to priut the testi- mony before the Pro Rata committee was debated, Among the bills introduced was one abolishing the Board of Health, and creating a sanitary district compored of New York, Kings and Richmond coun: ties. Several other bills relating to New York and Brooklyn were also introduced, as will be seen on reference to our despatches. 1 The Republican General Committee held a meet- ing last evening, and among other business trans- acted adopted a resolution condemning the Repub- lican State Committee for adopting the State Con- vention plan for selecting delegates to the Chicago Convention, instead of the system of choosing said delegates by districts. In the Court of Oyer and Terminer yesterday, Moses Stafferd, indicted for the murder of an uv. born quick child, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the second degree, and was remanded for sentence, The trial of Henry Loughrane, charged with killing Timothy Mulcahy, was concluded, and the jury rendered a verdict of manslaughter in the third de, gree. In the Conrt of General Sessions yesterday the Grand Jury were sworn in for the present term. Richard A. Eddy, a colored sailor, was convicted of stabbing James Boston with & knife, on the corner of Peck slip and Front street, on the 28th of June last. He was remanded for sentence. The usual weekly meeting of the Emigration Commissioners took place yesterday. The Secre- tary read the minutes of a private special meeting of the Board, at which the annual report to be forwarded to the Legislature was submitted and adopted. Nothing concerning the information con- tained in this report transpired, however. It was announced by Captain Crabtree that something will come up in the Legislature to-day of import- ance in reference to Quarantine, but no further in_ formation on this subject was developed. The let- ter of May or Wood on the subject of licensing run- ners, and explanatory of his non-attendance at the Board, which has already been published, was read and filed. The emigrants landed here during the week numbered 160. The usual report of the ‘Treasurer was not submitted. The Board have a peculiar method of transacting all their business of the slightest moment in an almost inaudible voice, and they seem desirous of withholding as much as possible of their proceedings from the newspapers. The receipts of beef cattle at the Washington yard during the past week were largely in excess of the week previous, and prices declined one-half to one cent per pound, ranging from 6c. to 10c., in- cluding all kinds. Cows were steady and un- changed. Veals were in fair demand at previous prices. Sheep and lambs were plenty, dull, and 50 cents per head lower. Swine were active, and 4c. per pound higher. The receipts, including those at Bergen Hill, amount to 4,690 beef cattle, 93 cows, 402 veals, 9,292 sheep andlambs, and 3,000 swine. The sales of cotton yesterday embraced about 2,500 bales, included in which wero 1,500 bales in transitu. Lots in store were dull at 113¢c. for middling uplands. The flour market was active, and prices of common and me- dium grades were, in many cases, 5c. per barrel higher. Southern flour was also firmer, with a fair amount of sales, including come purchases for export to the West In- dies. Wheat was in fair milling demand, with sales of Milwaukee club at $1 18, and white Canada at $1 40, in store. Corn was in fair request, with moderate sales, at unchanged prices. Pork was firm and active, and in speculative demand, with sales of some 7,500 a 8,000 bar- rels, including some 4,500 sold for future delivery, sellers’ and buyers’ option, deliverable in March and during sum- mer, at rates given in another coluznn. Sugars were firm but quiet. About 160 bhds. Cuba sold, in lots, and 200 boxes, at rates given in another place. Coffhe was quiet, but firmly held. Freights were steady, with afair amount of engagements to Liverpool and London. SvGorstions FOR THE PREVENTION or Acot- vents.-- Whenever an accident of an ab- sorbing cbhsracter occurs, whether it be the breaking of the Atlantic cable, the burning of a tenement honse, or the fall of the Pemberton Mills, we are favored with such an amazing quantity of correspon- dence suggesting all kinds of measures for pre- vention and remedy, that the wonder is how any accidents happen at all—there seem to be so many inventions and appliances for avoiding them. Since the fatal conflagration in Elm street we have received some fifty or more letters on various modes of escaping from burning build- ings, many of which we have published, and many more remain unused. One writer thinks that no house should be built higher than four stories, or, if they are, that every floor should have an iron gallery in front, each one con- necting with the other by means of a hatchway and step ladder. Another suggests that the floor timbers of every house should have a cast- iron shoe at the end where it runs into the brick work, to prevent accidents by fire from imperfect flues. Another, again, inclines to the fire escape principle employed in London, sug- gesting that the escapes should be chained to every hydrant throughout the city, and the keys deposited at the station houses, engine houses, the house opposite every hydrant, and with the policemen on duty at night; while another pro- poses to insert iron bars in the front wall of every tenement house, at close intervals, which might serve as step ladders in case of fire. Upon the whole, we have received so many suggestions aa to modes of escape, that there seems little room to expect any further disaster like that in Elm strect, for which no remedy may be adopted. If such should occur, it will not be for want of fertility in devising the means of preventing ii. The Reece: Attack on the President— What Will the House Do? We reprint in another column the disgrace- ful and demoralizing speech made by the Clerk of the House of Representatives at the drunken orgie which followed his election on Friday last. It will be remembered that, in a previous ar- ticle upon this subject, we pointed out to the House as its duty in the premises the necessity of raising a committee of investigation to take proofs in verification of the report of the speech as made in the Heraxy, preliminary to the ex- pulsion of the ofticer who had been guilty of such an outrageous assault upon the represen- tative of a co-ordinate bragch of the govern- ment—the chief executive officer of the nation. With a degree of effrontery quite unparalleled in the history of libellers, the Clerk of the House prints our report almost verbatim et lite- ratim in his own paper, and prefaces it with his own endorsement as to its correctness, We find the same vulgar attacks upon the Presi- dent, the same blackguard comments from the foul mouths of the orator’s drunken admirers. The President, according to the Clerk of the House, is a despot, a traitor to his pledges, a disgrace to the position he holds, a despicable coward, and much more to the same purpose. All this, in the frst place spoken to a ruffianly mob, made up of the offscourings of Washing- ton, and now, after due deliberation, repeated under the authority of the mean and miserable hand, heart, tongue and brain which conceived it. We think—and we believe every one who has at heart the dignity of the country, the sacred memory of the patriots and sages who spent their blood and treasure freely as water to guarantee free institutions to their descend- ants for all time, will also think—that the conduct of the person who has been elected Clerk tops the infinite of insult. He has been guilty of a double offence. In the first place he has deliberately disgraced and brought into public derision the body which has just chosen him to the second office in its gift. The House of Representatives, the popular branch of a Congress chosen to represent thirty mil- lions of civilized people, owes, whatever may be its political complexion, a certain degree of respect and consideration to the executive head of the government. It is not Mr. Bu- chanan who is to be thus considered and res- pected—it is the President of the United States. When the government becomes so contempti- ble that it cannot command even external cour- tesy among its members, the position of the nation is indeed dangerous. Therefore, when we see a person who holds so important an office as that of Clerk of the House using his triumph now, by partisan chicanery, as the text whereon to hang a tirade of vulgar, low, scandalous vituperation against the venerable statesman who has spent his life in the service of his country, and has administered most faithfully the executive duties which the nation called him to perform, we say that it isthe Congress and the country, rather than Mr. Buchanan, that have been disgraced by the vile outpourings of the petty spite of a disap- pointed spoilsman, and that it is the duty of the House to mark in some active and search- ing way its condemnation of the misconduct of its Clerk, As for his second offence—his ingra- tiude to bis patron—the proper punishment for that is the scorn and contempt of all good and true men. If this attack upon the President is permitted to go unrebuked it will be a national shame. Think fora moment of the manner in which European diplomats and publicists will gloat over so delightful a specimen of the manners and the morals of the model republic. Fancy the London 7imes asking its readers what they would think of a similar exhibition on the part f the Clerk of the House of Commons, or the Paris Constitutionnel transferring the scene to the banks of the Seine and the actors to the Chamber of the Corps Legislatif and salles of the Tuileries. Such occurrences would be quite as impossible there as they would have been here in the earlier days of the republic, when, notwithstanding the fact that partisan warfare was more bitterly because more ably conducted than at the present day: the utmost decorum was maintained between the representatives of the several branches of the federal government. The country in those days sent statesmen and gentlemen to Congress. What order of persons have taken their places may be inferred from the recent occurrences at Washington. The character of the House has been so far deteriorated by the venality and corruption of its members, and the majority are so bound with the shackles of the lobby, and so obedient to the crack of the party whip, that there is but little hope that they will ever make any united effort to purge the House of the unclean beast who has been foisted by intrigues and an unscrupulous use of vile party machinery into the Clerk’s chair. Time was when the position of a member of Congress was so far elevated that every man in the House would have risen to vindicate the fame of the republic and the sacred memories that cluster around the Capi- tol from the presence of the great national. libeller. Now, there is, we fear, not one true patriot, not one bold, energetic statesman, not one member of the House who has suffi- cient pluck io do his duty and move for the removal of the Clerk. The whole duty of a member of Congress now-a-days, accord- ing to the indication of recent events at Wash- ington, may be summed up in inciting Pick- wickian duelling, talking very big abont peo- ple who are at a safe distance, carrying pistols into the House and dropping them upon the floor thereof, making ineffectual motions to expel the reporters (who suffer the tortures of the condemned in whipping the wretched trash uttered on the floor into passable English) and libelling women. Such a House deserves such a Clerk, and will, no doubt, endorse his con- duct by its silence. Let us see. Prorosrp AMFRICAN INTERVENTION IN THE Cuixest War—The Boston Board of Trade have applied to the New York Chamber of Commerce and to the Philadelphia Board of Trade io join them in a memorial to the federal government to induce it to offer its services as a mediator between China on one side and England and France on the other, so as to prevent a recurrence of hos- tilities between those Powers, and a useless spilling of human blood. The New York Cham- ber of Commerce have taken no action as yet, and we have not heard of Philadelphia Board making any movement in the matter. What these bodies will do we are not pre- pared to say; but as it is for the intoresis of American commerce tbat there should be peace in China, we should not be surprised if the merchants of New York and Philadelphia would accede to the proposition of “the solid men” of Boston; and as, in a diplomatic sense, it would promote the interests of this country with the Chinese government to interpose in a war for which they cannot have much relish, there can be no doubt that Mr. Buchanan’s administra- tion would offer its mediation, if it thought such a movement would be acceptable to England and France. But in view of the extreme probability of the contrary, it is not likely that our government would assume such a delicate position, unless requested to do so by one or other of the belligerent parties. But should the government at Washington volunteer its good offices, England, we are con- fident, would not accept the offer, for she has heen too badly whipped on the Peibo to be- come reconciled to China till that disgrace is wiped ont by a lesson in the art of war which the Chinese will not soon forget. The pride of our transatlantic cousins demands vengeance and satisfaction, and their interests require it, too; for until the Chinese have received a se- vere drubbing from John Bull, they will laugh at all his overtures for the establishment of satisfactory commercial relations between the two countries. As it is, the children of “the Central Flowery Land” think they are the su- periors of the outside British barbarians, and it will take at least one or two bloody battles to set them right on the subject. Then, perbaps, American mediation might do good. In the meantime, we would suggest that, as charity begins at home, the Boston merchants would turn their attention to the prevention of the shedding of human blood on American eoil. The blood of Americans ought to be more precious in their sight than that of John Chinaman, and the stability of our government ought to claim a little more of their regard than the relations between two European go- vernments and the far distant Chinese. The English have been long, and without avail, making a tremendous fuss about our negroes, which is a matter entirely of our own concern, while the same amount of zeal might accom- plich a vast amount of good if applied to the amelioration of the condition of the white race to be following their example in getti excitement about the shedding of blood at the other side of the globe. first try their hand in preventing Virginia, and in putting.down the treason and fanaticism around them, allowed to go unchecked much lo! result in the dissolution of the U: civil war in which American blood will torrents. Tne Hanren’s Ferry Tatars—Convicrios or Srevens axp Arcument oF His Covnser.—In another page we publish an eloquent speech of Mr. Sennott in defence of Stevens, tried at Charlestown for being concerned in the Har- per’s Ferry treason. Though it is plausible, and even contains much of what is true, it could not save the unfortunate prisoner. In- deed, a portion of it was calculated to do him irreparable damage, by exciting the political prejudices of the jury. When Mr. Sennott says that the era of frater- nal good feeling has passed away, and that brother is quarrelling with brother in these “dis-United” States, and that the chief cause of it all is the professional politi- cian, “the feeblest production of the decay of American statesmanship—a thing that has neither heart ner brain, but only a tongue and a belly,” we think he so far speaks the truth. But he does not go to the root of the matter. He assumes that if Garrison had been let alone, and not made a sort of martyr of by being half hanged, the abolition sentiment never would have gained ground in the North. That may be true. But wego a step further back, and say if Garrison had not commenced a crusade against the South he would not have been molested; and though we are opposed to all violence, we think that the sentiment which prompted a Boston mob to lynch Garrison was more creditable to the city than that which afterwards effected the rescue of a fugitive slave out of the hands of the offi- cers of the law and murdered a Marshal of the United States while acting in the discharge of his duty. The feeling which animated the peo- ple to put a rope around the neck of Garrison was more patriotic than that which inspired them of late to canonize the traitor John Brown. Had there been no Garrison, there would have been no John Brownand no Aaron Stevens to pay the penalty of the crime to which his teachings incited them. And Garri- son and Giddings deserve hanging more than either of these unhappy men. Mr. Sennott does not class Garrison and Phillips and Howe among the professional poli- ticians, but among his most esteemed friends— most orthodox on slavery; and he claims for them the right to say just what. they please against slaveholders, and the right of all to go and hear them. He says that the professional politicians, who are as “numerous and as useless as the thistle and the burr,” take advantage of the anti-slavery agitation, and fan the flame for their own base purposes. But if the incendia- ry fire had not been kindled by Garrison, Phil- lips, Giddings, and such men, the politicians could not fan it. And is not the fanning of the flame the very thing that his friends Garrison and company most desire? Little they care by what means the conflagration gains headway, if it burns fiercely. It matters not that the politician who throws pitch and turpentine into the fire is “a bankrupt shoemaker, who prefers to swindle and go half starved rather than work and pay his honest debts.” He is just the man for them. Mr. Sennott admits that the North has no right to meddle with the institu- tion of slavery in the South, but he says the people of the North have a right to the free en- joyment of another institution of their own—the right of free speech, the right to abuse and de- nounce slavery and slaveholders to their hearts’ content—a right, indeed, which Mr. Sennott is not backward to exercise even in Virginia, where he anathematises “slavery and its abomi- nations,” and calls it “the detestable thing.” Now, we deny thatthe people of the North have this right. It is licentionsness, and not liberty. For it is a condition of true freedom that we must not abuse it to the detriment of our fellow citizens. The men of Boston, it is admitted, have nothing to do with Southern slavery. Why, then, do they assail an institution for which they are not responsible, if they desire to mainiain good neighborhood? What would people think of the sincerity of the man who, conceding that he has no right to meddle in the domeatic affairs of his neighbor, and de- sires to keep on the best terms with him, yet goes into the street, harangues a crowd and denounces him as a monster, as cruel to his family, and as committing all sorts of abo- minations in his own house? Clearly he would be pronounced a hypocrite, for he does interfere most effectually in his neigh- bor’s family affairs by stirring up hatred, and perhaps violence, against him. Garrison and his fellow agitators have kept denouncing the South till at last they have not only produced an invasion in Virginia, but raised a great party against the existence of slavery in the Southern States, and therein lies the danger. The rank and file are sincere, though the poli- ticians are not. Mr. Sennott says the North is conservative, but is so busy making money that it has no time to put down the rascally politicians, loafers and rogues, some of whom goto Congress, “not to consult, but to vitu- perate.” The North, therefore, is responsible and highly culpable. But, says Mr. Sennott, it will soon turn a new leaf. We hope it will, for assuredly it is time to look after our owa dwellings when our neighbor's house is on fire from the torch of the incendiary, Ovr Ssrrine News ayp Its Iuporrance.— There fs no journal in the world which gives fuller and more accurate shipping news than the New Yorx Heravp, or expends a larger amount of money in procuring reliable intelli- gence of that character from all quarters of the globe. Time was when Lloyd's List was the sole oracle and authority upon sbipping affairs, and it was referred to in all cases with confidence. When a ship wasmiccing for any length of time, every one looked at Licyd’s; but if she was not reported there, they concluded that she was lost to a dead certainty. Owners and insurance companies relied upon it implicitly. Now Lloyd’s List is in a measure supplanted in Eng- land by the London Shipping Gazette, a monster paper, nearly as large as the London Zimes, which is entirely devoted to ship news, and is published every day, at the price of $35 a year. But the New Yorx Heratp has taken the lead of them both. It publishes daily in its two or three columns of small type as much shipping intelligence as the mammoth London Gazette has spread over its face in large type, and this only as one department out of many. The Herp is consulted and relied upon with the fullest confidence by ship owners and insurance companies, and there is not now, perhaps, in the whole world a board of underwriters or an insurance office that does not keep the Herarp on file. To the ordinary reader it may appear that our shipping news department is only two or three columns of space thrown away; but let them remember that it represents’ interests, in the value of vessels and cargoes, of from fifty to a hundred millions every day, and every day fresh interests are satisfied. Itis a medium of consolation and security to thousands of people--to ineurance companies, to sharehold- ers in vessels, to exporters and importers, to wives, fathers, mothers and relatives of crews and passengers. The few words which do not fill half a line, announcing the arrival ata certain port of a certain ship, are a record of deepest interest to numerous parties wh fortunes may be involved in her safety, the friends and relatives of from fifty to five hundred people. In like manner the simple words “spoken” in such a latitude and longi- tude, with reference to a vessel about whose safety the darkest doubts had gathered, are messengers of hope to thousands of aching hgarts, The numerous personal applications made by ladies and others at our office for in- formation about missing ships, and the letters we receive from all quarters on the same sub- ject, are curious, and often full of romance; mothers eagerly soliciting intelligence of some bright-haired boy seeking his rugged fortune before the mast; wives, whose hearths are swept to welcome the expected sailor, tearfully inquiring for news of the ship too long due; and others anxiously earnest for the fate of those who have sought for pleasure or for health beyond the sea. To all these—and their name fs legion—the un- interesting looking crowded columns of our ship news department are the most important part of the paper. Thus vast commercial interests, and the dearer interests of affection, are alike subserved by the full, reliable and accurate in- formation which our shipping intelligence con- veys every morning from all parts of the world. AcapEmy oF Musio—3hiss Parn iv Tue “‘ BARBER oF Sr- viie.”"—The “ Barber of Seville,” an opera which is not distinguished for its attractive qualities in these latter days, when tho public runs rather to Verdi than Rossini, drew a very large audience last night, the house being more numerous and distingué than on the first night. The cast of the “Barber” included Miss Pattias Rosina, Brig- noli as Almaviva, Ferri as Figaro, Susini as Bartolo, and Amodio as Basilio. Itts not our purpose to enter into a detailed criticiem of the performance, which was an ex- ceedingly good one. Next to Miss Palti’s Rosina, which was sung exquisitely, and acted with the moat charming coquetry, and Brignoli’s Almayiva, in which rélehe displays & wonderful amount of esprit for him, Sosint’s Bartolo attracted the marked attention and ap plause of the houge. The artists throughout were perfect- ly en rapport with the audience, who relished the “ Bar- ber’? a8 if it wasentirely freeh tothem. Such is the power of this charming work when expressed by artists who are ‘equal to the performance of its several réles. The whole mire was received with the goes Savor, and iss Patti won cepecial honors in. ; where sbe introduced two Epgiish songs, much to the gratification of the audience. Such interpo- lations. mey offend the purists, but they always Celight the popular car. As half the fun of the ‘Barber’? is lest to those who do not understand Italian, it may be only fair that a little Eoglieh should be introduced as an offect, and, if we are not mistaken, Mies Patti ig sound in her 4 eign hav! ne the wer of beara and a tog. The voz poprli gocs, of course, w Popul favorite. For the finale of the ‘Barber’? Muzio has written a charming waltz, which displays, in the most ample way, tbe vocal wealth ‘and executive brilliancy of our young prima donna. ig the piece exquisitely, and made an appropriate ‘finish to an excellent per. formance. On Friday, “Der Freischutz” is to be given, with a fine cast and a grand mise en scéne. The per- formance is wortby of special attention, as the first of the opera (Italian version) at the Academy. Literary Tatent 1x Distresa.—An entertainment is to be given at the Spingler Institute on Friday next, in aid of a young Southern authoress, who has been disabled by filmess from literary labor. The programme com- prices duets and songs, by the Misses Gellic, and dra- matic readings by Mrs. E. F. Ellett. The tickets are only fifty cents each, and we trust that the praiseworthy character of the effort will insure for it a libera! support. Prorseor Youmans’ Lectcres.—This course of lectures, which has attracted eo much attention amongst scientific people, will be brought to « close this evening. In his discourse of to-night Professor Youmans will treat of the intimate relations which oxist between the realms of mind and matter. Those who have a taste for investigations of this character will do well to go to the Cooper Institute and hear this interesting lecture. ‘Tar Exe Sraxer Catasrrorne—Bextrit aT THE FRevcR ‘TreatRs.—We seo that M. Maunstein, the director of the French theatre, bas announced a performance by his com- pany for Thursday, the 16th of February, for the benefit of the families of the victims of the Elm street tragedy. Tt is to be hoped that the patrons of the French drama will second the liberality of the manager in this offort to id the fund for the iglict of the augerers, Fierce arms, with but iittle prospect of triumph on either siae before the gray dawn. anti-elave! forth in gl of tho they continue in the course at present marked out, their proceedings will be of geome ii ‘Their sossion this morning has been an int next fair, and Hop. B. N. Huntington, of county, elected as President for the coming year. solid and sul tical business talent, i political conventions, whose members like to talk of working. ‘The Bouse NEWS FROM THE STATE CAPITAL, The Alban ting Mayor x nilbate pail eee By Society im Session—State Agricultu: Soctety—Mayor Wood and Joshua Giddings in the Legislative Rats Again—Tolling Ratlroad Tonnag. —Bills Noticed, de. OUR SPECIAL ALBANY DESPaTOH, Atuany, Feb. 8, 1860, ‘The National Democratic Convention at Syracuse set the managers of the democratic Regency fluttering: Cagger, Cassidy & Co. have become all at once at the strength that Mayor Wood is drawing around bi ‘They eee that many persons who have not heretofore! none themselyes to either side are now falling ‘n with Wood, and that he is taking with him tha true democracy, leaving only the trading and speculating band who are running the Tammany machine and the Albany Regeney as a matter of speculation and nothing else. This Albany mutual admiration and confidence band are to-day under great tribulation, ‘The formadablo show made by the Wood party has convinced them there is great danger that they will not} be allowed an inside view of the Charleston Convention. Dean Richmond has been telographed fore ‘who came on in hot baste. "The Regency haa been ander great travail this fcc. noon. Attempts haye been made to Mayor ‘Wood, om the part of Cagger, with a view of & compro. mise. The only reply that Mr. Wood bas given wes, thas he could not compromise principle. Thue have they by come convinced that they have only the office-holder:, with them, with no one to back them up, and are now) feeking protection under the winge of Mr. Wood to pro- rent being let out on the cold. ‘The Senate has had a decidedly rich time in exwative | seesion over the appointments for Harbor Masteys. After fillibustering for some time, they succceded ip vonfirming R. Murray and Mr. Barber, and then cape a long pull and a strong pull upon Van Valkenburg, upon which tbere ‘was no small amount of speech¥ying. They finally reach- ed @ vote which stood a tie, tke Lieut. Governor giving the casting vote turned the soalc against this appointment of ‘Weed’s. A motion was made to reconsider, which, after fome discussion, lies over until the next secret session. Benes Bag coy meet voted against Van Valken. Prater, Bilthoue and PP. Mpg ome, fare, ie next ‘vgele was upon Mr. Murray, of Brooklyn. Bpon tet se Spinola ured hie usual mode of defeating Senators, at seven o'clock, becoming tired and hungry, and there still being no progpect of tiowsnnoet, a supply of some four gallons of oysters were sent in to them to stay their appetites. Still thi batile raged. and more fierce was the clash of ‘The str continued until half past ten o’clock, when the Senate were thrown open for the first time in over ten hours. The regult of to-day’s labor is the confirmation of al] the appointments sent in for Har- bor Masters and Port Wardens but Messrs. Van Valken. bury and Lounsbury. Party diet will put them through next week. [his seems to be a day of conventions: the city bany bas at least her share of them. Last week the ‘band and the Women’s Rights advocates held fg ran We have now the doctors State ing forth in the to be larger than at any Tapert considering the health of the cit the State, and en- deavoring to find some new name to give to the aches and of the human . Their thus far ave been marked with more ‘one, and seems to be considerable attention from the Albanians. State Agriclutural Balance on band..........+-.s+seeeees «+++ $5,686 OF Elmira was fixed upon as the place for holding the Rome, Oneida ‘The society is quite numerously represented here by « Setantial 1ook! iat of sient wiao @uhiNh pono of gas, as is the case with all instead A large number of petitions upon various subjests were nted, a-tajority being upon the question of pro rata. it ‘8 sometimes amusing to see the arrangements into to present these petitions, in order to combine certain intereste, which is probably never thought of only by ‘hose who are in the secret; yet, nevertheless, it has its influence. Let one of the members along the line of the Propored Albany and juebanpa Railroad offer a pro rata petition, or one for tolling railroads, he is sure to it with one for riends of those two projects to help their different chemes. ‘The privilege of the floor of the House was this morn- ing upenimousiy granted, upon motion of Mr. Buras, to Mayor Wood during bis stay in Albany. Soon after the paeeage of the resolution Mr. Wood made his appearance within the bar of the House, and was immediately sur- rounded by friends. Im fact, during bis stay about the legislative ball, be was as much a lion as if he had been a foreign ambaeeador. A resolution was aleo adopted allowing Hon. Joshua R. Giddings, who is now in Albany, the pris of the floor. At the time of the passage of this resolution he was in the lobby* bobbing around amongst the third house operators, many of whom are anxious to obtain some light in regard to the John Brown raid; but I imagine that they found themselves about as wise when they left as they were be- fore they saw him. This famous representative of the doc- trines apd dogmas of the Western Reserve is looking re- markably well, and to all appearance could stand many more campaigns in the cause which he has s0 long adyo- cated on the floor of Congress. ‘There are also a number of ex-Governors and Senators, as well as other notables, in the city, who, with the evormous lobby, make ‘Albany exceedingly lively, and bring a godsend to the hotels. Mr. Varian made his minority report from the Select Committee on Pro Rata freight, taking the ground that the paecage of a Jaw of that kind would bo injurious to the capital invested in the railroads, against the best interests of the State—injoriovs to the commerce of the Common- ‘wealth, and especialy deleterious tothe city of New York— in fact, taking about the eame ground that has been ad- vanced by Mesers. Thompson and Hawley before the committee. His report is not as lengthy as that of the majority, but presenta the arguments against tho passage of the bill in a clear style. The report is not figned by Mr. Conckling, although he dissgrees with the majority report. Mr. Varian also offered the following resolution :-— Retolved, That the testimon ytaken before the F elect Commit- she on the Pro Rata Freiebt bill be printed forthwith, in connec- tion with tbe report of the minority of said committee, and placed upon the files of members. Mr. Flagier, Chairman of the Select Committee, opposed the printing of the testimony. stating that-there was no testimopy that came officially before them; certainly a singular statement, after the committee have spent two weeks’ time listening to the arguments offered on both sides of the question. There seems to be a fear on the part of the friends of pro rata tbat the testimony and arguments will come to light, ®0 ay all the members, and even their constituents, will nee Mr. Milliken favored the a pains, of the testimony, but the eubject was laid upon the table until to morrow. Pro Rata being put down as the general order for to-morrow, ‘we may be able to furnish further evidence of thefate of this dill before the Legislature. The friends of the mea- ture take every opportunity to press it before the House, ag if fearful that the railroad powers will prevent a vote being taken. We may look for an exciting time upon this question when it fairly comes before the Assembly. There need be no barte as regards the Senate, for I consider its pareage there certain. A number of the members who &re put down by the railroad parties as againet it I am whee will dodge the question, thus making the majori- ty for wee. * Bat ‘very little was done in the Senate this teenage be- fore they went into executive session. A number of re- Monetrances were presented against changing the landing of the Long Island steamboata from the lower part of the city to some point above the foot of Grand street, stating that such change would be hazardous to the beat interests consid 5 ‘The some feeling 1 find exists to a grett extent in tho aniasitn Sbet wie ttaaes gt it blind, all because it has been recommended by the Ex- ‘ive . ‘The Sresien 50. Gia, Soon He eroeiabsents of Governor, was s length: stormy one, lasting ia boon, ibe Trends a the diferent appoinies were hanging about, anxious to know the fate friends, In they bave been on the vive for the last two days, matters up to “labors of the execu- tive session to-day—a task which it seems found somewhat difficult, notwithstanding the of Governor ae Sp hace mar cerns reo gale of tho New York and Erle Ralroed:-— Reotion 1. La tbe ovens of # foreclosure and gale of ihe New