The New York Herald Newspaper, February 23, 1860, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GURDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. OLricx N. WyCORNER OF NASSAU AND FULTON 878. MS, cash «n advance. Money sent by mail will be at the rilg thesender.” Posige stampe not recetved as. subvertption mon AILY HERALD too cents per copy, $1 per annum. file WHERL Y HERALD, every Enturder, at ots conte coy, oF $8 per anni the Buropean Hilition every Wedneubuy, aa ab cents per copy, Sh per annum (9 any part of Great Britain, to any part Yontinent 0 in ; Zakrenta Miittion'om the teh and Mh of each month it fe conte er copy, or $1 OO per annum. THE FAMILY HERALD on Wednesday, at four conte per copy, or $2 per annum, Volume XXV.. AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING, NIBLO’S GARDEN. Broadway.—Coogs's Borat Aurar- RueatKs. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Inisa Emtgaant—Atip- pis—Seeuc Corn, WINTER GARDEN, Broad: » Opposite Bond street.— Governor's Wire—Jenny pried WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway.—Romancn or 4 Poor Youna Max. LACRA KEENE’S THEATRE, 62 Broadway.—Jeamm Draws, BOWERY THEAT! Bowery.—Wotraang—Dicr, wos Vavmere Ono ie Tova ceiae THEATRE FRANCAIS, 585 Broadway.—La Roman p'ow Jrvas Homme Pavvas. ip BARNUM'S AMERICAN MUSEUM, Broadway.—After- mooa—Kvstasn Witsox, Evening—Ocroroon. esta BRYANT’S MINSTRELS. Mechanics’ Hall, 472 Broad- beamed Sones, Dances, 40—Sornes at Pua- on’ NIBLO'S BALOON, Rrosdway.—Geo. Curistr’s Mur- Brees in Sones, Dances, Buusesquas, 40.—Tux Mummy. NINTH STREET, one door east of Broadway.—Soomon’s ‘Taurus. New York, Thursday, February 23, 1860. The News. We have received no additional intelligence respecting the loss of the steamship Hungarian, which was wrecked on the west side of Sable Island on Monday last. We do not learn of any insurance of the ship in Wall street. The state- ment published in some of the city papers yester- day afternoon, that fifty lives had been saved from the wreck, was without amy foundation whatever. By the arrival of the Europa at Halifax yester. day we have European advices to the 12th inst., one week later than the accounts previously received. The political news is meagre, but somewhat in- teresting. The French troops in Italy had re- ceived orders to march at short notice, and it was supposed the occupation of Tuscany was contem- plated in the event of Piedmont continuing to op- pose the annexation of Savoy to France. The principal propositions of England for a settlement of the Italian question had been rejected by Austria. ‘The British financial budget had been presented to Parliament, and was regarded as satisfactory. In London money was in active demand. The latest quotations for consols are 94j for money and 943 2 94 for account. At Liverpool the sales of cotton during the week preceding the Europa’s departure reached 78,000 bales. Prices had been active, with an advancing tendency, but closed steadily without change in rates. The stock on hand was estimated at 617,000 bales. There was an increased demand for goods at Manchester. Breadstuffs were firm, and all qualities of corn had slightly advanced in price. Provisions were steady. By the brig Robert A. Fisher we have news from St. Domingo City to the 31st ultimo. Our corres- pondent states that the town was being completely Americanized in appearance, and a number of new agricultural implements, as well as a steam sugar mill, rice, corn and chocolate mills, had been received from the United States. Government had made a settlement of all American claims with General Cazneau. The paper money difficulty ‘was coming to anend, asthe notes were rapidly disappearing by the wear of the poor material on which they were engraved. The city was very healthy. The one hundred and twenty-eighth anniversary of the birth of Washington—he who has been pro. nounced “first in peace, first in war, and first in the hearts of his countrymen”—was celebrated yester- day, throughout the length and breadth of the re- public, with unusually fervid demonstrations. The grand point of attraction was the national capital, where the equestrian statue of the Father of His Country, a work resolved upon by the Continental (Congress, was inaugurated under the supervision oft’ committee of both houses of Congress. A gra- phic description of the inaugural ceremonies, toge- ther with the oration delivered by Mr. Bocock, and a description of the statue, are given in our columns this morning. There were a large number of military companies present to assist in the ceremonies and add ‘interest to the occasion, and the gallant Seventh regiment, of New York, received their due share of attention. In this city the day was celebrated with considerable spirit, motwithstanding the unfavorable weather. The demonstration, altogether, was not up to those of former years, but what there was of it was credit- able. The Eighth, Ninth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Sixty- ninth and Seventy-first regiments, 43 well as seve- ral lodges of the American Protestant Association, paraded during the morning and afternoon, and in the evening a number of balls, suppers, &c., came off. The Michigan Democratic State Convention met at Detroit yesterday, and appointed delegates to the Charleston Convention. Resolutions were adopted declaring Stephen A. Douglas the choice of Michigan and of the Northwest for the Presi" dency. The Pennsylvania Republican State Convention metat Harrisburg yesterday, and recommended Senator Simon Cameron as the choice for the Presidency. The argument in the case of Forrest against For- rest, for the confirmation of the referee’s report, was set down for this morning in the Superior Court yesterday, before Judge Moncrieff. Sheriff Kelly yesterday morning received a notifi. cation from Albany to the effect that Governor Morgan had further respited Quimbo’ Appo, the Chinaman, who was sentenced to be hanged in July fast for the murder of an Irish woman named Mrs. Fletcher. This is the third reprieve this un” fortunate criminal has succeeded in obtaining, and bis tenure of life is thus extended to the Ist day'of June next. The termof the last reprieve expired this day. There was no quorum of the Commissioners of Emigration present at their meeting yesterday, and consequently no business was transacted. A table ‘was presented showing the amount of money paid to various counties in this State by the Commis sioners from the year of their organization, in 1847, up to the present year, for the care and mainte- ance of destitute cmigrants. The amount paid for thia purpose was $834,786 45, which leaves a balance of $19,717 still due. The number of emi- grants arrived during the week was 610, making the total since the Ist of January last, 3,002. The ap- parent balance to the credit of the Commissioners ds now $17,613 68. On Tuesday evening, as already announced, the work of cleaning Broadway was commenced under ‘the superintendence of the Sanitary Inspector, and conducted in a creditable manner, considering the short notice and other serious disadvantages. One hundred and fifty laborers and about two hundred corta were, employed between Vesey and Four. teenth streets, and before six o'clock yesterday morning five thousand loads were removed. We woderstand that the cleaning will not be continued ost vow, the Comptroller baving merely assented NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, that so muck should be done for the accommoda- tion of the military during the parade yesterday. Tho market has been completely overstocked with beef cattle this week, and asa natural conse- quence the demand was very light, and asles were only effected at s reduction of half to three-quar- ters of scent per pound on all grades. The bulk of the cattle were of common quality, and the general selling prices 8c. a 8c. Cows were plenty and’ dull, but unchanged im price. Veal calves were steady at previous rates. Sheep and lambs were scarce and active, at an advance of 2s. a 43. per head. Swine were steady at6oc.a 6jc., as to quality. There were on sale 3,713 cattle, 159 cows, 430 veal calves, 6,393 sheep and lambs, and 2,434 swine. Owing to ite being a partial holiday yesterday, com- bined with the extreme inciemency of the weather, busi- ‘ness transactions were very light. The Corn Exchange, by previous arrangement, was closed, which cut off re- ports of breadstufls and provisions of moment. The banks, however, were compelled to keep open. The gathering of merchants at the upper Exchange was thin, and the business transacted was limited. There seemed to be a prevailing disposition among the merchants, and especially with those attending the Corn Exchange, to ia- duce the Legislature to declare the 22d of February a regular holiday. Ia cotton only 200 bales were sold, the market closing dull on the basis of 11%c. for middling uplands, Coffee was firmly held, with sales of 200 bags Rio at 12c., and 100 mats Java at 1540, Sugars were rather easier, while the sales ombraced about 850-bhds. and 1,000 boxes, at rates given in another place. Freight engagements were limited and rates unchanged. The Anniversary and Its Uses—Contrasts of Times and of Parties. The varied and many-sided celebrations of yesterday, the one hundred and twenty-eighth anniversary of the birth of Washington, are a significant sign of the tone and temper of the times. Whenever a great crisis arises, and the minds of men are agitated with some impending ca- lamity, the politicians and partisan advocates of public measures, and particularly of those which will not stand the test of reason, seek to divert the public attention from their designs by assuming a lively zeal for the honor of some great and revered name. The mass of the peo- ple, always honest and loyal in their impulses, are easily moved by the memory of some great hero who is the representative of that which their hearts most cling to. This is the case with the revered name of Washington, and the fact that the present anniversary of his birth has been seized upon as an appropriate occa- sion for more celebratioas than have been witnessed on the same day for years past, is a palpable evidence that the public agitators are compelled to seize upon some more powerful lever of public opinion than the truth that is in their theories. Thus we have the middle men in politics assuming an sffiliation with the name of Washington, by se- lecting the anniversary of his birth for great public meetings, andthe shoemakers of Lynn endeavoring to throw a halo of patriotism over their claims by naming it as the day for strik- ing for higher wages. The same sophistry im- pels the black republicans of Massachusetts to fire a hundred guns in its honor, and the men in Congress, who wouldarray the North against the South, to seize upon the occasion of the erection of his statue to exhibit an enthusiastic zeal for the memory of the man who, in the most solemn moment of his public career, bade us to beware of parties in the State founded on geographical discriminations. The use that has just been made of the day contrasts strongly with the spirit of those pa- triets who led the country through the trying times of the Revolution to the happy establish- ment of the confederacy. When the thirteen colonies met in the persons of their representa- tives in general Congress, and the question came up as to who should be entrusted with the command of all the forces, doubt sat upon every brow. Then it was that John Adams, speaking for Massachusetts, laid aside the claim of her sons, and proposed the name of a citi- zen of Virginia, who had displayed his genius twenty years before in covering the retreat of the remnant of the British forces after Brad- dock’s defeat. There was in this no humbug- ging appeal to general or local memories, and the result proved the honesty and loyalty of the patriot abnegation of self. A similar example has been presented at the present critical time, by the State Convention recently assembled in Virginia. The political conflict upon which we are about to enter equals in importance the appeal to arms made by the Revolutionary Congress; for it is to bring out the voice of the people to decide whether geographical parties, which will inevi- tably lead to revolution and civil war, shall be perpetuated or annihilated. In the face of this great issue, Virginia follows the example set by Massachusetts in the general Congress, and, setting aside the claims of her sons, declares that she has no preference for any man as lead- er, but will support victoriously within her own borders whoever the general voice at Charleston shall select. In this abnegation of self there is no claptrap appeal to popular fa- vor, no invoking ef honored names to cover un- holy designs, but that earnest and honest pa- triotism that willingly sacrifices all things upon the great altar of the general good. A Dest or GRatitvpE To BE Par.—When the commander or crew of an American vessel affords signal aid to a British ship in distress, and, at the hazard of life or great inconvenience, rescues the sufferers, the English government never forgets to acknowledge the service in a substantial manner, by preeents of gold medals, chronometers, or other tokens of recognition of the favor done. We ourselves have not been backward in this regard, and a case now pre- cents iteelf where our action might be appro- priately called forth. There is at present in this port the British ship Cambria, commanded by Captain Russell, just arrived from Green- wich. Captain Russell, it may be remembered, was the man who rescued Captain Luce, Mr. Allen, of the New York Novelty Works, and ten others, from the wreck of the steamship Arctic, five or six years ago, and landed them safely at Montreal. In performing this gallant and humane service Captain Russell lost several days time in his voyage, and at the same time imperilled his insurance, for to go unneces. sarily out of his course was a legal vitiation of his insurance. No acknowledgment whatever has been made to this gallant sailor for the ser- vice rendered to the shipwrecked captain and Passengers of the ill-fated Arctic, although the British government has handsomely recognized the services of an American seaman—Captain Nye—who but a short time previons to the loss of the Arctic rendered efficient aid to Captain Russell. We hope, therefore, that Captain Russell will not be permitted to leave New York, on this his first visit since the disaster oo. curred to the Arctic, without receiviog an ap propriate testimonial of the good will and Gratitude of our oitigens. The One Thing Nee@fal for the City. Nature has this metropolis with re- markable facilities for maintaining cleanliness and health, and art has, of late years, contri- buted her share towards the same purpose. A gradual declension from the back bone of the city—Broadway--to the east and the west affords excellent opportunity for complete sewerage. At each side we haveariver of abundant and rapid waters, while the introduc- tion of the Croton has furnished a third river, running directly through the streets—a suffi- cient supply between the three rivers to keep us well washed and perfeotly clean, if wo are inclined towards cleanliness at all. Then, again, a8 a most important auxiliary to health, we have the splendid Central Park, with its open plain admitting plenty of fresh air to the city, and affording means for exer- cise of all kinds—walking, riding, skating, oricket and base ball playing, and military drill. But with all these advantages, the one thing needful yet remains to be supplied, and that is some mode of keeping the streets clean. If we could accomplish this with the same cer- tainty that we can count upon the supply of Croton water, or a good airing place, good roads for driving, a good ramble for pedes- trians, and available exercise grounds which the Central Park insures us, this metropolis would be perfect. If we could only calculate upon traversing the streets without danger of being drowned in slush, or trampled to death by omnibusesand carta, there would be no city in the world more delightful to live in than New York. The filthy condition of the streets at the present time is almost unparalleled— outside of New York certainly there is no- ‘sing in the universe which can compare with it. To those who have to move round the city, or to those who see the spectacle which the draperies of their wives and daugh- ters and female friends generally present after walking a few blocks in Broadway, there is no difficulty in realizing what the condition of the streets is; but for the benefit of those abroad, who have not the delightful experience which these parties enjoy, we sent a reporter yester- day through the principal parts of the city, whose description will be found in another column. The lot of the soldier is proverbially hard; the perils of batue, the discomforts of the camp, the heavy march, the rough bed, with no canopy but the skies, and often weeping skies at that—these make up the sum of it; but we opine that few of the military gentlemen who participated in the celebration of Wash- ington’s birthday would feel disposed, after the experience of yesterday in our streets, to endorse very heartily the sentiment of the song—“ I'd be a soldier still.” Seriously, its absurd to say that there is no remedy for this abominable nuisance. It is only after a snow storm that the streets can pos- sibly present such a spectacle as they do now; and if the snow was removed after it ceased to fall, just as it is in the yards of our dwellings, or before the doors of many of our citizens for their own convenience, such a state of things could never exist. Butthe truth is, we have no government to carry out such a simple mea- sure, nor a police force willing to do their duty in this respect. Ten millions a year are expended nominally for the government of the city—an essential part of which is to keep it healthy and clean, and to maintain an efficient police to secure protection to life and proper- ty; and the people would not complain even at this vast expenditure if they got any value for it. But the health and comfort of our citizens receive no attention from the authorities; and as for protection to life and property, people have now come to the point of protecting themselves—indeed, they have to take care of the police in many cases, instead of the police taking care of them. We perceive by the returns made at the last meeting of the Ten Governors, that they have now under their charge in the different public institutions 8,327 persone. Out of this number there ave probably 2,500 able bodied men. Why cannot these men be put to work to clean the streets for their maintenance, if the City In- spector canot move in the matter, as isalleged, until the Legislature acts upon the tax levy? Something certainlyshould be done to render the streets passable. Important 1 Trve.—Thurlow Weed says, in the Albany Evening Journal, that, “with the advantage of a good many years’ experience, we are quite unable to form, at this time, any opinion as to whom we should nominate fer President. The policy and action of our Con- vention is not unlikely to be affected by that of our opponents. Other conditions and cir- cumstances may occur to render what may appear wise now wholly inexpedient when our Convention assembles. Hence we have preferred to leave our convention unembar- rassed, either by premature committals or dis- cussions, to act upon its convictions and judg- ment, with all the evidence before it, when a standard bearer is to be chosen.” This determination on the part of the Nestor of the lobby will create as much surprise as was manifested by a democratic delegate to Syracuse, who asked one of the Albany Regency who was on the slate for State Prison Inspector. “Doubtless,” was the reply, “the Convention will select a good man.” The astonished rural politician exclaimed, “What! you don’t mean to say that you're going to let the Covention have anything todo with it?” Perhaps if Thurlow could tell us who will be printer to the House, we might make a shrewd guess as to the “choice of our Con- vention” at Chicago. Just as if the Convention had anything to do with it, indeed! Tae Uston Meetine at tHe Cooper Ixsti- TUTE.—The numerous and enthusiastic Union meeting held at the Cooper Institute on Tues- day is amother evidence of the effort of the conservative element of the North to defeat the revolutionary party at the approaching contest—a foreshadowing of what it can do in the great Presidential struggle which is to come off in November next. General Scott, who may be regarded as the very embodiment of conser- vatism, was present, and the®applause with which he was received shows how the heart of the great metropolis of the country beats in response to the rallying cry of “The Union and the Constitution.” But what is to be done with this element, which fills the Academy of, Music and the Cooper Institute, in November? The only way to put down agitation, like the present one, is for all opposition forces to con- centrate against the oegitators—against those who endorse the Helper Hand Book and utter such speeches as that of Seward at Rochester. Printing Corruption Fund. The consideration of the disposal of House Printing Corruption Fund was postponed on Tuesday last to this day. republicans are at a dead lock, and they poned the question in order to gain time, for they feared that a third candidate might snatch the prize from both their factions. In the last Congress the republicans who were placed on the Committee of Investigation into the print- ing quarrels at first agreed with the chairman ot the committee, but after seeing the leaders of their party in caucus, they backed out, and eaid it would never do to make this expo- sure. The reason was that they expected in the next Congress to have the control of the plunder themselves, Thus do the representatives of the people, democrats and republicans, conspire to rob the people alternately. The event now explains the action of the republican members of that committee. The Joseph Surfaces and Dr. Cant- wells of the party are eloquent in their bun- combe speeches against corruption, and from their sentiments they appear to be very para gons of purity; but when it comes to practice where do we find them? Wallowing in the mire, like other political swine. They post- pone and flounder, and flounder and postpone, and get deeper into the gutter every day. If their objects were good and their motives pure, what need would there be of delay or hesitation? Why not give the printing to any tradesman who will do it cheapest and best? Among the modes by which the country is fleeced by Congress and the corruption fund swollen, is the system of printing double. By aclause inthe Printing bill, passed in 1852, it was enacted “that whenever any document shall be ordered to be printed by both houses of Congress, the entire printing of such docu- ment shall be done by the printer of that houge which first ordered the same.” In 1854 this clauee was repealed, and it was enacted that, “when there are different printers for the respective houses each shall do the printing which may hereafter be ordered by the house electing him.” The object of this is clearly, on the face of it, to swell the perquisites of the printer at the expense of the people. The Superintendent of Public Printing, in his report, December, 1858, de- clared that the repeal of this clause had cost the government more than $100,000 in four years, a large portion of the composition, or type setting, being executed but once, though paid for twice, or, as it has occurred in some cases, and will again occur, paid for four times, being twice for each house. “The law, as it now stands,” says the Superintendent, “has had the effect of causing an arrangement to be made by the printers to the two houses, by which the whole work for both is executed by a third person, who can afford to pay to each of them a larger sum of money for the printing than either could make by the estab- lishment and maintenance of separate offices.” - Another way of swindling the public is by appointing committees to report on certain matters of little or no importance, and which might be disposed of in a sheet of letter paper, but about which they print and publish a whole volume of evidence of no value or interest. The ordering of extra copies of documents is a favorite mode of swelling up the printer's profits and the people’s loss. The regular number printed for each house of each docu- ment is 1,460 for the Senate, and 1,520 for the House. Any larger number for either body is extra. In the Thirty-third Congress the Senate ordered 432,000 copies of extra volumes, and the House 687,500, mak- ing in all, 1,119,700 extra volumes for Con- gress; and these are sent free, burthening the mails over the country, never to be read, but to be sold for waste paper. For the Thirty- fourth Congress the printing of the Globe cost $257,904. A responsible party offered to do it $76,000 less. Wendell offered to do the print- ing thirty per cent less than it cost, and Bow- man the other day admitted that he netted thirty-three per cent by selling out the job from the Senate—thirty-three per cent therefore thrown away! The folding rooms are another source of ex- pense. In the Thirty-fourth Congress there were 837,667 volumes of public documents folded and sent to members, and 5,594,930 (nearly -five million six hundred thousand) speeches folded and sent out from the folding room of the House of Representatives, and about the same number of each were folded in the Senate folding room. For stationery, twine and other articles used in these two rooms, an annual sum of about $200,000 is paid by the Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate. We may mention among the prolific sources of plunder the engraving. For instance, the cost of four colored plates and some wood cuts in an agricultural report in 1856 was $185,200. Such are specimens of the profligacy with which the money of the people is squandered by their repreeentatives in Congress, and even by the grave and reverend seignoirs of the Senate. The Senate plunder is disposed of, and now two factions of the republicans of the House— the Bates faction and the Seward—are growl- ing over their share of the spoils, like two hungry dogs over a rib of beef stolen from a butcher’s stall,and they only suspend hostili- ties from the fear of a third dog running away with the booty. To-day the battle will be re- newed, and our readers may look out for a desperate fight. © igte Swart THE Franginc PrIviceGE BE Ajzo- LISHED ?—The Zribune is right when it informs the black republican members of the House that the country will demand some more com- petent reason than has yet been assigned for the continuance of the odious franking privi- lege, through which members load down the mails with documents which very few people read, but for the conveyance of which every one who can read or write has to pay in one way or another. The country will hold the re- publicans, who have the control of the House, responsible if this outrageous tax be not speedily abolished. The Senate bill has gone to a select committee of the House, a preceed- ing which is supposed to secure its death in a quiet and agreeable way. The republicans de- sire to hold on to the franking privilege, in order that they may deluge the Northern and Central States with their treasonable documents, such asthe Helper book and Seward’s Rochester speech, and by so doing they will cut their own throats with a two-edged sword; for, on the one side, the conservative masses in the Central States demand the abolition of the franking privilege, and on the other ves a deep pit, and they will surely fall into it next Novem- ber. Their short-sighted stupidity upon this question of postal reform only accelerates their inevitable ruin. Tux Car Ovt or THe Bao.—It has been for some time asserted that Horace F. Clark, “de- mocrat,” was under a pledge to the republicans of his district, previous to his election, to vote for a republican Speaker of the House, if his vote should be required to elect him. This was denied, notin such a way, however, as to leave the matter free from doubt. But a letter is now published by the very gentleman who made the arrangement with him, letting the cat out of the bag, and telling us more besides that we did not know before. The year, the month, the day of the month, the day of the week, the division ofthe day, together with the place of meeting, are given, when and where the agreemeat was made by Horace F. Clark to betray the democrats, whose support he solicited and expected to elect him. It was at the Everett House, during the afternoon of Wednesday, the 27th of Oc- tober, 1858, that the interview was held be- tween Mr. Clark and Charles G. Murch, while the Republican Nominating Convention wese determining upon the resolutions endorsing him, which Mr. Murch was to present to the Convention the same evening. According to the minute and circumstantial statement of Murch, not only did Clark engage to him to vote for a republican Speaker— clinching his promise with a tremen- dous stroke of his fist on the tablé—but intimated that he would be the out and out republican candidate next time himsclf, and directed the name of Mr. Fairman to be erased from a resolution foreshadowing the future support of the party to that gentleman, lest on the strength of this indication he should claim the nomination for Congress at a future time. The resolution was accordingly struck out and all was settled. Murch, however, was not to use the pledge of Clark “ifhe could get along without it,” and it was not mentioned, even in the Convention, lest the democrats should hear it, and that “it might prejudice them against him;” but “the resolutions endorsing him were adopted on the strength of Murch’s assurance to the Convention that Mr. Clark was all right.” This is a highly interesting developement of political scheming, showing how the people of both parties—the republicans as well as the democrats—are cheated by the local wirepull- ers and leaders. It serves to show that they ought to attend at the primary elections, and take good care that they are not bamboozled by politicians who make underhand bargains with candidates to suit themselves. Tue Crry Post.—There has been of late years much natural growling about the inade- quate postal facilities afforded to the people of the metropolis. The very thorough, safe and cheap systems of London and Paris are com- pared with that which exists here, and mani- festly to the discredit of the latter. We do not despair, however, of having something nearly as good as the Continental cities in time. The establishment of sub-post offices in various parts of the metropolitan distiict works well, and the city delivery is more frequent and prompt than before. The abolition of the two cent tax is demanded. There should be, pro- perly, no charge for the delivery of a prepaid letter within the Post Office district; but if there is to be any, a penny is quite sufficient. That is the postage on a drop letter, and why carriers should be permitted to charge more than the government itself demands for the same work, passes our comprehension. If the extra penny isto remunerate the carrier, the system is wrong; the government should pay its own servants. Another innovation may be seen in the letter boxes affixed to the lamp posta on the street corners. Although patent- ed, and supposed to be great things, they are not over and above ornamental, and, as it is claimed, not quite so safe as they ought to be. They are quite different from the Paris boxes, which are so constructed as to defy the most ex- pert thief. We do not assume that our lamp-post boxes are vulnerable; we simply state that such is the feeling on the part of the public, and it is the duty of the contractor to prove, if he can, that his boxes are all that he repre- sented them to be before they were put up. In the meantime, we are pleased to know that the Postmaster intends to make arrangements by which the lamp-post boxes will be emptied at midnight, so that letters placed in them up to that time can be forwarded by the early morning mails. If Mr. Fowler will continue his efforts to improve the postal facilities of the metropolis, he will find that such a course will pay far better in the end than Tammany Hall or any other politics. A PRovipentiaL Vistration.—The city of New York, whatever reputation our provincial cotemporaries may give it, is not quite as bad as Sodom and Gomorrah of old, and has not yet been wholly abandoned by Previdence. The rain which fell yesterday, and helped to clean our streets, proves at least that the Al- mighty, as well as the Corporation, has not abandoned us in our affliction and doomed us to destruction. Let us take consolation from this reflection. The rain which visited us yes- terday was a Providential act of mercy in our present deplorable condition, and, with the aid of human agency in clearing the gutters, might have been the means of purification to. this defiled metropolis; but we are sorry to.say that man is still perverse and ungrateful—and the gutters remain choked up as before. AcapEmy oF Music —The ‘‘Sonnambule’’ was given last night, with Miss Adelina Patti, Signori Brignoli and Amo- dio, the same distribntion which has. delighted several large audieneos since Miss Patti's début. The opera was admirably suag and the prima donna. created, as usual, a great furore by her exquisite exocution of the fnale. Between the first and second acts Signor Muzio's over- ture, composed for the Brooklya Philharmonic Society, was playod, and was received with marked favor. After the second act the curtain rose for the performanc? of the Garibaldi Rataplan, oomposed by Sigaor Muzio, in honor of the hero of Italian independence. The very spirited composition was surg by all the pvincipal artists of the Academy, inclwing Mmoes. Gazzaniga and Colsoa, Signori Brigneli, Susin}, Amodio and Juaca,and the full charas. ‘The Rataplan was received in the moat enthusiastic man. ser by the audience, and, in response to the universal de mand, was repeated. After the encore (he composer was called out, and appeared upon the stage with the lending artists. The Ttalisn tri color was supported by Signor Sa sini, who eerved under General Gariballt. On Briday 4 Seppho” will be given, with Mme. Gamtaniga, Brignol nd Ferri, On Saturday there will be 9 grayd matinee, 2 “ ne artists wi ARRIVAL OF THE EUROPA AT HALIFAX, One Week’s Later News from Europe. ipa THE ITALIAN QUESTION. Movement of the French T, in Italy. pal THE BRITISH FINANCIAL BUDGET, Improvement in the American Pro. duce Markets, ae, Haurax, N. 8., Feb. 22, 1860. ‘The steamship Europa, Captain Leitch, from Liverpoot at about 10 A. M. of the 11th, via Queenstown on the fol- ‘owing day, arrived at Halifax at 3% P.M. of the 284. She will sail shortly for Boston, at which port she will be due at about midnight of Thursday. In political matters nothing of striking interest had transpired. Mr. Gladstone had introduced his budget. ‘The finan- cial results of last year are set forth as emmently satisfac. tory. The estimated expenditures for next year are put down at over seventy million pounds sterling, and the receipts at sixty and three-quarter millions. The defi- clency is to be made up by an income tax of ten pence oa incomes of one hundred and fifty pounds, and of seven, pence on incomes below that sum. It is confirmed that the French troops in Italy have re- ceived orders to march at a day’s notice, and it is sup- posed the occupation of Tuscany is contemplated if Pied- mont continues to oppose the annexation of Savoy. Austria rejects the principal propositions of England for a settlement of the Italian question. The official objection bad not been received. It is supposed England will now resume her mediation between Spain and Morocco. ‘The provisions of the French treaty had been explained» butthey have been generally anticipated. The duties have been materially reduced on wine, brandy, timber, currants, raisins, &c, The duties on paper, butter, tal- low, and other articles, are abolished. The duties on tea and sugar are to remain unchanged for another year. The treaty was generally favorably received. The screw steamship Jura, for New York, was to leave Liverpool shortly after the Europa. The —~— arrived at midnight of the 9th, but was de- tained at the bar several hours for want of water. (The despatch omits the name of the veesel, but it is probably the Anglo Saxon } GREAT BRITAIN, In the House of Commons, on the 8th of February, Sir J. Trelawney s bill abolishing the church rates was de- bated. Sir G. C. Lewis, and other government sup- porters, favored the measure; Mr. Disraeli and others opposed it, but the second reading was carried by a vote of 262 to 234. The majority was smaller than was an- ticipated. On the 9th, in the Commons, Lord John Russell stated that no convention had been entered into between Eng- Iand and France relative to combined operations in China; but an ordinance on the subject had been issued, which settled the basis of proceedings and the question of a per- manent occupation by either Power of any portion of Chinese territory. Sir Fitaroy Kelly obtained leave to bring in a Dill for the prevention of bribery. Its provisions are very strin- gent. Mr. Dunscombe moved that at the parliamentary elee- tions in Gloucester and Wakefleld, which have rendered themselves notorious for bribery, the votes be taken by ballot. Lord Palmeraton spoke against the ballot on general prixciples, and the motion was rejected by 81 majority. On the 10th, in the House of Commons, Lord John Rus- gell Inid on the table the treaty of commerce with France. Mr. Gladstone roee amidst great cheering, and proceed- ed to make his financial statement. He stated that the annual income had been satisfactory, having produced £70,578,000, while the expenditure was £68,958,000. The «stimated expenditures for the ensuing year were £70,- 100,000, and the estimated income from existing resources would only be 60,700,000, an apparent deficit of £0,400,- 000. To meet this he proposed an income tax for the year of 10 pence in the pound on incomes above £160, and seven pence on incomes below that sum, which would give. asurplus of nearly half a million. The tea and sugar duties he proposed to renew for another year. He en- tered into the provisions of the French treaty, and intt- mated that the duties would be reduced on wine from 66. 9d. to 8s. per gallon; on brandy, from 16¢. to 86. 2d. per gallon; on timber, from 7s. 6d. to 1s.; on currants, from 16s. 9d. to 7s.; on raisins and figs, from 10s. to 6s.: on hops, from 458. to 14s.; on chicory, from 16s. to 68.; on agreement stamps from 28. 6d. to 8d. The duties are to be entirely abolished on paper, butter, tallow, cheese, oranges, nutmegs and liquorice. Brokers’ notes are to bear a stamp of one Penny, and dock warrants three pence. There is to bes duty of one penny per package on all goods exported and imported pressed. The stamp on newspapers is entirely abolished. France agrees to reduce the duties on coal and coke in 1860, and on flax, hemp and other items from. the Ist of June, 1861. On the Ist of October, 1861, France will reduce the duties on all articles of British production to an ad valorem duty of thirty per cent, and after three years to twenty-five per cent. England engages to reduce’ all duties on French manufactured goods. The treaty is to be in force ten years. He defended the action of the — government in negotiating this treaty. The army esti- mates are £15,800,000, including £5,000,000 for the Chins war. The budget was received with cheers, and its com- sideration fixed for the 20th. FRANCE. ‘The Paris correspondent of the London Zimes says a circular will soon be issued by the new French Foreign Minister to the diplomatic agents abroad, which may be considered in some sort the programme of the imperial government. In its foreign policy it is to be eminently pacific and friendly to all. It was reported at the French War Office that the order for the French army in Italy to be ready to march ata day’s notice, had been countermanded. Le Nord publishes the text of M. Thouvenel’s reply to England’s propositions as to Italian affairs, ‘The only objection raised is to the fourth proposition, which declares that if the Central Italian States again vote in favor of annexation of territory as te the necessity of occup; ‘ng Tuscany incase Piedmont oom- tinues opposed to the annexation of Sayoy and Nice te France. Count Arege had left Turin for Paris, charged with aa official mission. ‘The Ministerial troubles still pervaded Naples, as the King had not given up the idea of ordering his army to pass the frontiers. A revolutionary movement broke out at Accra, near Naples. Troops were sent, and @ state of siege prow claimed. ‘The resiguation of Filangierri, the Neapolitan Premiza, is definitive. A slight disturbance, caused by the address of the Popa, bad occurred among the stadents at Rome. A foreign loan of fifty million franes was spoken 0% SPAIN. Marshal O'Donneil is created Duke of Tetunn, and raised, to the rank of a grandec of Spain. He had aiso 2een pre- sented by the Queen with the ground on which the victory: ‘was won. Fifty cannon were captured at Tetaan. In the battle of the 4th tho Spanish loss was ten offlaers _ and seven hundred and cleven men killed and wounded, O'Donnel! judged it useless to purgue tha Moors ingo the interior. The Madrid poca cxpramecs the ogiaion thak om the capture of Tetuan England would aged offer her media tion for bringing about a peace, and % would Rrobably he accepted. Kee, ke —w AUSTRIA. It is confirmed that Austria refuses to accede to the principal proposition of Eoglamd for the settlement of the Italian question, bus the forseal communications on tha subject had not been receaved by Ragland and France. Advices from Verona report great military preparations there. Count Deganfeld, commander of the Seoond 4ns- trian comps d’armee, declares, in an order of the day, is- sued at Verona, that from the 18th of February the whola of the Venetian province of Mantua and districts of Trang ‘will be governed by martial law "The Paris correspondent of the London Herald asserts tant orders bars beoa seat to Marshal Vaillant ogcuay.