The New York Herald Newspaper, December 24, 1864, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JANES GORDON BENNSTR EDtOR AND PROPRIKTUR ‘OVTICE TF. W, CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. AMUSEMENTS THIS BYBNING. or MU: devi Matt ah EESE SETS Wie teenies HTRLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—Farsr Oiacie—Cos- ‘tous of tax Counter, ‘WINTER GARDEN, asst Haus, Ph mae THEATRE, Brosdway.—Tax Stawers or NEW BOWERY THEATRE! Bowery.—) Blasrose-uscusmen oF AutWanr—ouees Brseee pews THEATER! Pe 4 Re Ez, , Bowery —Uanux Bor—Wattace— ADWAY THEAT! Feng ne bai ‘RE, Broadway.—Swarruzssrs SAGNUM'E MUSEUM, Broatway.—Paxonaua—Tamce Qrts—Taase Gixts—Two Dwaars— Paxnom Avromatons, Duaaatic Praroneincce— end Evouing. BRYANTS' MINSTRELS. Mechanics’ Hall. Brosd- —— Bones, Dakvas, Bonuniowes, ao ciss Minera, Ha sl alone Eon ALL. §i¢ Brosdwar—Ls Bat “CAMPBELLS MINSTRELS. 1 199 ARIED oxy Bacinwa MBLAN 0088 AND GANDER. GALLE DIABOLIQUB. 565 Broadway. —Rossnr Huries, jan ov Bravorian’ Ovbrnad— JAN AMBURGH & CO."8 MAMMOTH MENAGERLE, ee and jroadway.—Open from 10 A. M. to WALLACK'S THEATRE, Broadway.—Manzizp Lira. HIPPOTHEATRON, Fourteenth street. ~Equastaian, GYunastio snp Acaosatic EXtsRTaINMENTsS, ‘TURKISH HALL, 720 Broadway.—0 1 z Sey Ri Ls \way.—Oscaran’s Ontentat AMERICAN THEATRE, No. 444 Broadway.—Baccers, ANTOMIMES, BUKLESQUES, ANNETTE AND JEANNOT. VARIBTIES, $7 and 39 Bowory.—Bat.ers, Panroxiurs Bones, Bumiesquas, a0. day. December 21, 1864 THE SITUATION. ‘Bome totellgenoe has reached us from the army and aval expedition under General Batler and Admiral Por- ‘ter, which saited from Hainptoa Roads on the 13th inst. ‘Tee Richmond papers of Thursday, the 22d, contain a Geapeich (rom General Bragg, dated on the preceding day, t Fort Fiber, belo Wilmington, N. C, stating that he catire feet was in sight, but c uld not operate, the ‘weather being wefavorabie, He expresses confidence in 00 ability oF the revel forces to bola Wilmington. ‘The reire.t of what is lat of General Hood’s defeated, wasted, demoraiized sad disorganized revel army ts ‘Pelug continiod as rapidly as possible, and it was still ‘Delmg tenaciously foll.wed up at the date of our latest ac- counta, by General Thomas’ trcops, who, flusbed with Geatr pron, success, tough wearied by their unremitied Qghttag end marching for a woek, were constantly in- Gioting some new damage on the fos, The remnant of Hood's force was sald to be on Thursday morning last at Patask!, Teon., soventy-five miles south of Nashville, (with the wasional cavairy pressing them closely. About Ove-thied of his men were without arms, everything ‘which could impede their flight having been thrown away. Forrest joined his cavairy to the fleoing army at Columbia, The retreat to that place from Franklin is @ald to bave been of the most disorderly and hurried oharester, Hood telling his corps commanders to get ‘@Qaoir troops off the best way they could. He will probatty be able to get some of his forces again south Of the Tepoeeses river, into Alabama, as ft is said he has ponjoons at a point on (hss stream where the Unioo gun. Deats cannot reach thew. At least balf of the army, however, and nearly all of the artillery, with which he Oreseed that rivr in his norteward movement, he has Girendy fof bebind bim. He will probably lose many nore of bis mon yet before he again gets safely over it. We Gave no later pews this morning regarding Gene- val Sherman's operations before Savannah. The Charies- toa Courter of the 16:b inst. bad a rumor that the city would capitulate on the jollowing day, Saturday iast. Bat thie we know did not take jI:ce, as we published to the Hamatn of the day before yesterday Hiltea Head Advices date! on the 18th inst,,and Savannah was said to be then still io the possession of the rebels. The Zeaminer of Richmond says tbat official despatches were received in that city on the 20(b from Savannah. Occasional exchanges of shots beiween the picketa and She artiliery fring in the neighborbood of the Dutch Gap Canal are all that have disturbed the quiet of the arm'es om James rivor for some days, Very few casualties, ‘Rowever, result from these desultory exchanges of mis. ates. A number of Union general and other officers have Teosived leaves of absence for the holidays. Very cold ‘woatner bas prevailed around Richmond and Pete-ebury Tecentiy. Rietmond papers say that during the week nding on the 18th inst, there arrived in that city from the Union armies ove hundred and eighty deserters, who ‘would be forwarded to the border to start for their homes: 00 blockade runners. We have New Oricans advices to the 15tb inst. Three buedred aad forty exchanged Union prisovers had ar. ived there from Camp Groce, Texas, in the most wretched condition, A Matamoros paper says that the Dalontsts at Brass Santiago, Texas,now sumber two ‘Whousand, having been recently reinforced. Of these troops it says Bfteea hundred are colored. Frequent @kirmishes occur between the national soldiers and detachments of rebels in the vicinity of Brownsviile. Geserai Davidson and bis division of Union cay. airy, some accounts of whose raiding opera. tens im the lower parishes of Louisiana we ome time ago republished from rebel papers, have ‘arrived safely ot Pascagouls, Louisiana, from Baton Rouge, which place they left on the 27th ult. They moved through the soutbere portions of Louisiana, Mis- ‘sissipp!, acd Alabama and the western portion of Florida, meeting with little opposition, and destroyiog large quantities of rebel army supplies, ocooupying @ @umber of towns, tearing up railroad tracks, Wuraiog bridges, capturing number of prison- ore and «(two | ovaiwabie §=6maiis, and inflicting immense damage generally on the enemy, Their opera- tions caused great copstermation among the rebels in tbe Ooustry through whieh they passed. Their entire casu- alties wore two Killed, eight wounded aod forty captured, Toe rebel guerillas and bushwhackers continue their Aepredations on the plentations along the Misriasippi river, above Now Orleans, but they have nearly censed fring op unarmed transports General Canby is now so far recovered from the effect of his wound that it inter fores but little with daily attendance to his official duties. ‘The blockade runner Petrol was recently driven ashore ond sunk by our gunboats in New Inlet, North Carotina. Jler carge comsisted of arms and war ammunition for the rebelarmies. Admiral Porter states that the value of the rebel property jm blockade runuers destroyed within tbe last Ofteon days by the Vessels of the North Atlantic @jundrop is fve and @ half millions of doliars, We bave late Richmond and other Southern papers. ‘The Richmond Kraminer of the Zist inst. bas an indef nite ragort, which, according to ite own showing, reaches Mt Ubrough & very tortuous channel, that the rebel Breck fridge hed two engagements with the national forces Geter Weve idee wt Mioneman on last Sunday and Mon. ° ad .yaant NEW YORK HERALD, i SGUAGS,- GENIE <a: BAIA. A208 ajo menstaneeipinnansennteteens anemones reesei Se ns mr lh ht egg att tela day, near Glade Gpring, Southwestern Virgiois, and de- | THe Appresching Somntelt of. Davis— feated thom and compelled them to retreat precipttately & Bientey' a ee Mr. Henry 8. Foote, of Tennessee, in his wards jeunesses. The rebel salt works at Saltville gprsicworsk 16, ba oun sida ehe yeaa | Tetirement from the rebel Senate, seems on the surface to be only the firet of the large rats ™ 9f, eet. Hig ras pres nh that stand ready to leave a very leaky sbip. persons caught going sa , But his withdrawal from that body bas a ‘with ootton, for the purpose of selling it to the Yankees, deeper import. It is, in fact, an “extreme shall be punished with one hundred lashes each, Some unction.” Jt is substantially a declaration of tbe Richmond editors, writhing and emarting under | t14¢ no more legislation is nécessary for the the late succession of disasters to their armies, abuse rebel States, and that the supreme power of Jeff. Davis in severe language, obarging his meddling 2 | the go-called Confederate government must military matters asthe cause of all their misfortunes. | now pass into hands whose actions cannot be General Beauregard’s department has been extended 80 | questioned or influenced by deliberative or ‘as to include South Carolina and the Georgia seaboard. legislative bodies. It is the announcement of MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. the dictatorship that the rebel Congress is Our despatches by the steamship Thomas A. Scott, | about to bring down like an avalanche on the het are patie on ee eee shouldérs of Robert E. Lee. Foote’s oocups- . mporor rs Visit Vera Cruz and Matemoros. In anticipation of this bape $08, Von conn petion, gt aieuecaree of event, the people of the latter place have a project for a | factious plotters is gone; in a few days there railroad ready to be laid before bis Majesty. This road, | will be no rebel Senate and no rebel House, and some dosired improvements in theanchorage ground, | and the late “members” will be members no a . m Smens monte. SN, increase the trade and im- | nore: they will be common men, not clothed , ith any of the immunities of high office, and ‘The cold weather continued yesterday; but the subs. | ¥! y dence of the wind rendered outdoor movements less | Some greasy butternut may march them into uncomfortable than on Thursday aed Thursday night. | the trenches, where they will be required to pee reared in the pearance was tr ‘0 seven | face the fire they Rave so long been eager to eatontiths oak fs aes anual yesterday morning | eat Under these oiroumstances Foote would io this city, There was a considerable moderation in the temperature, bowover, later in the day. At various | ather be in Mississippi, where corn meal is places northward and eastward the cold bas been ex- | more plentiful, and butternut ‘sergeants less treme. In the western part of this State there was | so. He'is a freeman and the representative of heavy snow storm yesterday, and the railroad trains freemen, and cannot “legislate in chains,” and ci elypeanteaae fee skktere have beou ithe | Will mot be responsible for the horrible acts glory for the past two days,’ The lakes and ponds a and | that may be passed in “secret session,” and Bround the city were crowded yesterday. In the Park | away goes Foote. ar was . nomena gy Sap thi How many days is Foote abead of Davis? and night, from thirty to forty thor % timefen the ice, which was in excellent condition, much hele Hoote imprecates oe pee? better even than on the previous day, The throng ot | WTetoh who stands in the chief place, and cries those participating in the sport, including ladies and gen- | Out that all the trouble of the Southern people Vemen, old folks and children, continued very large up | is Davis. So do all the Southern journals, ex- aber <a pe hed tetiehemnteet ea cept these that Davis entirely controls, and aod the borders of the lake were crowded w: 10 U8 ané otspectators. After dark the grounds were fuely ilin. | ‘ut the whole pandemonium yells at the bogus taindiad lig cAlolom tight, President a chorus of shouts quite as terrible as Assingular aud very interesting suit has occupied the | that which, on a memorable occasion, “tore Brookiyo City Court for the past two days. It is brought | Hell’s conclave.” And all this is because bd a lady amma eroine D, Doders to recover | Davis bas carried out their own principles. He jamages from her sister, Mrs. Olcott, and her nephew, George Ulcott, for having, as she alleges, forced her into | 29S; in his acts, put in practice the real South- lunatic asylum, and kept her there for some time, when | FD ideas, and bas reprosented Southern men she was perfectly ane. The parties to the suitareall | not wisely, but too well. He believed, with ee, of Brooklyn, wealthy and most respectably | the Southern democrats who left the Charleston connected. 5, ‘ A A Dumber of additional witnesses were oxamined yos- pple in ii by Pipanamcai Senators torday in the Opdyke-Weed libel suit, in tbe Supreme | 824 Representatives who left Congress when Mr. Court, and the testimony was very interesting. Atthe | Lincoln was elected, that the minority ought close of the day's proceedings the case was adjournod till | to rule; and he has pursued this idea until he ee Seer Rene ae has got it down to a very nice point. He has olden! . young man who 7 ‘be‘ore Commissioner White as a refugee from Prussia, on got his minority almost to the last extremity to acharge of forgery, is now inthe county jail waiting ea mipority can ‘es pspacadesr Soman the necessery papers from Wasbington for his extradi- le carried tie power of the minority almost tion. Both the kingdoms of Saxony and Prussia were | as far as it will go; but, unfortunately, the one futerested in the couviction, and they were represented | man in whom he bas endeavored to concentrate by their consuls, through Mr, Lapaugh. In the Lawrence will case, before Surrogate Tucker, | *!! the power of the people, is Jeff. Davis, a the contestauts have completed the ex mination of all | Very small man, a vain and empty politician, their witnesses, Rebutting evidence for the proponents | who cannot turn the streams of human destiny wilt be taken to-dey. There is a prospect of a still far- | at his own will, who cannot fight Grant, Sher- ther Uolay tn the concluding of the case, as the pre- | man, Sheridan and Thomas on land or Fartagut and Porter on the sea. Therefore the edifice that the rebels have endeavored to build up totters to its base. Grant has battered it ter- ribly through the past summer; Thomas has just now, like a multiplied Samson, taken out twenty thousand of its supports; Sherman has sacked two or three of the towns, and now But- ler, Porter, Sherman, Thomas, Canby, Stone- man and Grant are all engaged on a mine that ponents bave moved that a commission be appointed to go-to Connecticut to take testimony. will blow the whole establishment to the moon if not interfered with. Recorder Hoffman sestenced a number of prisouers yesterday im the Court of General Sessions. Robert Johnson, convicted of robbery in the first degree, was sentenced to imprisonment ia the State Prison ror ten Years and six months, His Honor remerked that John- fon kept a place known to the police as the ‘Devil's Elbow.” ‘Zacharias Halle, convicted of picking the pocket of Bridget Curran, was seat to she Penitentiary for two years. Jeremiah Totten, another pickpocket, ‘was sent to the State Prison for two years aod six months, Thomas Rogers, guilty of grand leresay, was went to the State Prisom ior two years. Joseph Smith, convicted of a similar offecce, was sent to the State Prison for two years. William Moad guilty of av attempt at grand larceny, was seat to the State Prison for two Years aod six montha Bridget Carmody, gallty of lar. ceny, was sent to the Penitentiary for one year. George F. Lewis, alia Williams, who was convicted of at. tempting to get possession of letters addressed to the Importers’ and Traders’ Bask at the Post Office, farnished evidence of his previous good charac ter, and the Court seat him to the Penitentiary for six months. Patrick Sexton, convicted of petty larceny, was sent to the Penitentiary for six months. Ann Phalon, who pleaded guilty to receiving stolen goods, was sent to the Penitentiary for six months. James B. Moyer, charged with stealing fifty-eight dollars worth of clothiog from Joshua Barnum, pleaded guilty to petty larceny. Jobm Kiibach and Heory Sweetzer were con victed of grand larceny, baving stolen one hundred aud thirty dollars from William Krait, @ returned soldier, m an alley in Clin’ treat. These prisoners were remanded for sentence. Died: Holtman was tried and acquitted of a charge of passing ree doliar counterfeit bill on the Bull's Head Bank at @ loger bier saloon in Forty-A(th street. Ann Keyser was tried and couvicted of stealing aailver watch aod fourteen dollars from an Italian named Lacea Letterio in a disreputable house on the Five loints. Sbe was sent to the Penitentiary for six mooths and fined fifty dollars. The Grand Jury brought in a large batch of indictments, and baving finished their busivess, were discharged for the term. ‘The eteampipe of the propeller Aspiowall exploded yes- terday morning at the foot of Eighteenth street, Kast river, severely scalding the engineer and fireman about their hands, arms and the lower portions of their bodies. A tallor named Thomas Kerrigan was yesterday locked up on the complaint of Mr. Heury Lang, of Brookiya, who alleges that a watch was picked (rom bis pocket ina Nassau street crowd by Kerrigan or one of his confede- discuasion of that desperate remedy in the secret sessions of the rebel Congress is what has given the last alarm to Foote, and hurries him away to Mississippi. That projected re medy is the deposition of Davis—the relin- quishment of even the last forms and pretences of free government, and the substitution of a dictatorsbip under Lee. By this it is apparent that the Southern Congress does not disap- prove of the principles of Davis, but only of bis practices. They agree with him that a Soutbera government can only be carried on by the despotic one man power; but they differ as to the choice of the man. They believe still that the minority must and ought to rule, and they are willing that the minority should even be one man; but they suppose that he ought to be the ablest one they have, and so they throw or kick over Davis as a proven inca- pable, and take up Lee who has hitherto been successful in that limited sphere, the command of asingle army. Davis will be deposed or will abdicate quietly, and the people may not even be permitted to know the fact. He will leave Richmond, but the rebel papera will speak of his departure when he goes now, asthey did when he went to visit Bragg’s army and Hood’s army. Is such a change as this seriously intended to improve the capacity of the Southern States for resistance? If so it will fail. Generals, unless animated by the spirit of personal ambition and thirst for glory, as Alexander, Cmsar and Napoleon were, are peace men. General Lee is most un- questionably s peace man. He appreciates fully that let the peliticians and alarmists say what they will about Northern tyranny, no- thing can cause so much misery to the South rome Riley and bis wife Catharine were yesterday ar- rested apd committed on the charge of picking a small sum of movey from the pocket of a lady in Washington Market. The mail train going eastward on the Pittsburg aod Cleveland Ratiroad broke through the bridge at Hudson, Obio, yesterday morning, and six persons were killed and others injured. As Christmas occurs this year on Sunday, it will be - vii dhergpt exe ebayer tbo is do as this war does. Therefore he will end nearly all the places of business in the city will be | the war. The dictatorship is a sbort closed on that day. road to peace. More than that, it is intended Between ten and eleven o'clock last vight an extensive | as such. By this means the so-called Confede- Se meeescbeiy | sis cooiioad Sy conahelar rate government gets out ef a false position. chants, abd spread to tbe adjoining building No. 67. No, | It is committed never to make peace; but it 56; with tte contents, was destroyed, and the three upper | brings into existence a power that will make stories of No, 57 were burned out The total loss is eati- | peace, and the military dictator will restore mated at about one hundred and fifty thousand doliers, | his countrymen to their homes, give such as are left of them the happiness of peace, and the greater portion of which is seid to be insured. 4 lor esterday. ae aCe anes ined. whit the decline. Gold was | will by-and-by be reviled as the “betrayer” of his country’s liberties. Governments sympathized with the decline. Gold was Gull, but closed firm at 22244. Business circles were scarcely ever s0 quiet as they wore yesterday. The approaching holidays and the pending military aod naval operations combine to reoder the markets dull, and business is eonfined to the narrowest lim te, All (eel that the incoming of the now year will bring with it events of great magnitude, whic. will have ‘a direct bearing on the great rebellion, and tne general expectation ts that it will receive such biows as will in- sure its speedy overthrow, Hence the deadlock io trade circles. On ‘Change flour was less active and 5c. a 100. lower, while wheat was 6c. lower. Corn was dull, while oats wore quiet. Pork was also less active and lower, continued steady, Lard easier and loss ac bts were quist. Whiskey was heavy aud Mr. Pexpteton’s Rerort—The ides embraced in Mr. Pendleton’s report, constituting the heads of the Executive Department of the goverament, fn a certain sense, s portion of the legislative body, with the right to debate questions refer- ring to their several functions, does not appear to be in consonance with the spirit of our peo- ple. It is proposed that the Ministers of the Cabinet shall have the privilege to sit in Con- gress at any time, and that it shall become their duty to appear there two days in each week at the opening of business, to answer any ques- tions which may be put to them, and to join in the debate, The British Cabinet, it is true, hold places in Parliament by election in the House of Commons, and by their right as peers in the Upper House. It is a custom long fami- liar, and works very well; but in this country it would be found to work very badly. In the first place, it would obstruct the business of Congress by occupying time with idle questions; aad in the next it would take the members of the Cabinet from their legitimate places at the head of their several departments, where they could be much better employed in the public service, Ii is urged that there ls now no im- Imrontant 1 Trus.—The news whieh we find in # rebel journal that Hood, with the rem- nents of his dismantied army at the Tennessee river, near Florence, is in virtual possession of Chattanooga, some two hundred miles or more higher up the stream; that the Unionists have accordingly evacuated Chattanooga; that Sber- man’s marci through Georgia has caused great rejoicing in South Carolina; that General Grant has returned to his home in New Jersey to apend the Christmas holidays, and that Rich- mond is safe till the spring, when Washington will be again in danger. At this rate we may next expect to bear that Jeff, Davis is in Texas. Some desperate remedy fs necessary, and tbe | ITA? GIANT MH Y We none mediate chaane! of communteation between the departments and Congress. It appears to us that the reports of the departments and the dif- erent bureaus under them, which are presented annually, are sufficient to keep Congress well informed as to the action of the exeou- tive portion of the administration. As to the constitutionality of the measure, we suppose there can be no objection; but as a prudential and politic scheme we are disposed to regard it as unnecessary. of Georgia, Alabama and Missjsalpp! for the Subsistence of their armies, they have been riven to the alternative of devoting their oot- ton flelds obiefly to Endian cora and other arti- cles of food, so that, as Sherman has demon- strated tn his experiment with fifty thousand mon, more or less, no base of supplies or hoavy wagon train is necessary to enable “the Yan- keee” to strike now right through the bowels of the “confederacy” in any; direction. Thus the very means adopted by the rebels to save them- selves will contribute immensely to save sup- plies, trains and transportation, depots and guards on the part of General Grant. We turn over this important fact to the special conside- ration of Joha Bull. Cartons or Barrisu Arus ror tas REssis.— Admiral Porter telegraphs to the War Depart- ment that the blockade runner Petrel was cap- tured by our gunboats on the 16th instant, off New Inlet, having a large cargo of arms and ammunition on board. This may seem, in the ordinary course of events, a very insignificant clroumstance; bat, for all that, we think it is S very important and significant incident, as we.sball show. In the early part of this month the blockade runner Vixen was captured by the United States gunboat Rbode Island, off Wilmiagton, witha large'and valuable cargo, consisting of rifles, ordnance stores, medicines and blankets. It will be remembered that we published a letter from our correspondent in London, on the 29th of November, giving the particulars of a contract entered into with an English firm, Alexander Collie & Co., and the rebel govern- ment, for the manufacture and delivery of two hundred and fifty thousand rifles, which were to be paid for at the rate of a bale of cotton for each rifle—the English speculator agreeing to take the double risk of landing the rifles at some rebel port and getting the cotton safely into England. The cost of these guns would be about $2,200,000, and the price of the cotton in England would be fully $50,000,000—thus leaving an immense margin of profit to cover the risk. Now, it is preity evident that we have got two cargoes at least of these rifles and other implements of war which were probably included in the contract with the Eoglich house; bow many have been landed at Southern ports we know not. It will be remembered, also, that among the papers taken by General Thomas recently was a pro- Clamation of General Breckinridge, ‘imploring the rebels to be care‘ul of their small arms and lead; to save up every gun and dig up every bullet out of the earth and sand works, A supply of small arma is then evidently the The Opera. The cocond reprensntstion of Pha Biante drow faghionadie but uot very crowded house last night, CRharvniag as is tho music of this opera, it ts of too light & charactor te prove very attractive to audicnces whtc® have shows B0 decided a preference for works of a higher dramatic stamp, The cast, too, is not in all respects satis- factory. ~ Miss Kvllogg ts a very acceptable Zertina, rote aad sing the when ‘Rot wite ‘B redundant. ry Se fg hii Al Bot come up to the stamdard of excelieace in the part with which Miss Louisa Pymp made us familiar some ten oF eleven years ago. We canact (orget the delicious sanmeer in whieh its melodies were rendered by the pure, round (reste voice of that delighfut singer, Hor Zerlina was a part to be remembered, 1¢ te 000 of those associations of tae memory which alagers do not often afford us now-a-days. Tee Pra Diavolo of Lott is 'a very weak pertormades ‘as dest; but it was additionally diluted last evening by am imdisposition which destroyed whatever of vitality he imparted to it on the firetimight. The dri; ts one of those characters which depends ag muoh upoa action as singing for ita effect, Unbappily Sigoor Lotti seoms to ‘De unconscious of this fact. A plessant contrast to bie foantty was the menoer ia which the parts of and Giacomo were played by Dubreull and The Composer, im his new version ‘of the opers, bas given @ prominence to these two characters which affords room for tbe display of all thes stage experience which these artists possess, Those whe have traveled ja italy must have best struck by the Closences with which the peculiarities of low Italian life, with ite ewagger- and ite coarse humor, were represented by thom. They impart a sest to the work which proves the correctueas of the composer's. judgment in giving greater strength to the two characters. Neither Morensi nor Lorial were up to the mark in theig respective role, ‘The former sang carelessly, and the latter had an extine- tion of voice, which was apologised for. Altogether the representation onaid not be called an improvement on Want of the first night. This afternoon Don S.basiian will be given at the matt- nee. The perfermance commences at one o'clock pre- clsely. : City Intelligence. ‘Tus Catasration oy Caristaas of MONDAT.—The fee- Uival of the nativity of our Saviour, falling on Sunday this year, will not be celebrated generally uvtil the day fol- low! The Mayor bas concluded to cfoae bis ofiice om Mooday, and recommeads tbe same course to all the heads of departments, All the bavks, insurance offices and similar offices will be shut up by general consent, we are informed toat a majority of our merchants 4 keepers also iptend to suspend business a ‘Mouday , therefore, may be regarded as a general mies. Exrrosion on Boarp & Steamtud—Tum Evcinsse amp Fingmay Scaupap.—About six o'clock yesterday morning, as the steam propeller Aspinwall was about leaving the dock foot of Eighteenth strect, East river, the steam pipe exploded and almost instantly Giled the boat with steam. Mr, Chase, the engineer, and Joha Pry: a stood wear the pipe at the timo of the explosion, “wore severely scalded about their bands, arms and lower por- tions of their.bodies. Police surgeon Kimbatk was oalted te attend the injured mea, ‘aud aid ov did rete Wear wee bis poyer to uileviate their sufferiuge, after which ¢! veyed to their respective residences. No twee fe owoed “by “More. J. 4 3. Ven Bei wate is losers, i feos extent strect, East river. v4 explosion did not appear. Aociperr ow 4 Brooctrn Farry Boat.—An sosideat ocourred at the Catharine ferry yesterday morning that pearly terminated the life of Mr. R. 0. Morgan, en sidte Colonel H. 8. Olcott, Special Commissioner of the War if the City Govera- y be Practically The corruption and inefficiency of our pre- sent municipal government bave become 60 notorious that a movement fs in progress to change the whole system by act of the Legisla- ture. Among the various plans proposed by the advocates of this movement, that of govera- ing the city by commissions to be appointed by the State Legislature seems to have the strongest adherents. But there are two fatal objections to this plan. In the first place, it would de- prive the people of the right of suffrage; and, in the second place, it would not accomplish the reforms desired. This is 9 demooratic city, and no doubt our republican politicians would be happy to-find themselves appointed to office here by @ republican Legislature; but demo- orate bave quite as good a right to govern themeeives and to hold offices as their political opponents. Besides this; the fact is perhaps not generally koown that two-thirds of the municipal government is now administered by independent boards or commissions ; so that we may regard that system as having already been tried and found to result in failure. Some- thing new and something better is needed, and this we are about to suggest. It must be premised, however, that the ques- tion of the reorganization of the city govern- ment is vot necessarily a political question. The democrats bave been in power here for a long time, and they have done very badly; but, with the testimony in the Weed and Opdyke case before us, we are by no moans prepared to say that the republicans would do any bet- ter. When the people have elected a republi- can Mayor, he has not been any improvement upon his democratic predecessors. When the people have elected a republican to the Common Council, he has been geen in all the rings and jobs originated by democrats of the same calibre. Our theory in regard to the two poli- tical parties in this city is very simple. We believe them to be equally pure and equally corrupt. There are good men in each, and bad men in each. “We would trust one of them as goon as we would the other, sside from their : Tepartmens for New York. It appears that the boat had poltial prasilan, Which ovo of mito | OTP price pal fr thom, andy caper, | Sop as sina nl be predominant, is « question which may be large price paid for them; and by captur- | oon ana tbe drop with such violence as to ing these two vessels, with their cargoes, we have virtually won two important, substantial -victories, because the evemy are driven toa strait out of which there is no outiet, as they cannot get small-arms from eny other souree. ‘a Thus people, when they read a. newspaper account of the capture of two blockade ran- ‘ners, with cargoes of rifles, have. very little idea of how important an event it is in crusb- ‘ing the power of the rebellion. Tux Waxwarow Exrrprrion—Braaa on Haw Acam.—The Richmond papers report the arrival of the Butler-Porter expedition off the inlets to Wilmington, and awaiting only for the stormy weather to subside a little to open the ball. The rebel General Bragg, however, is on hand, and reports himself able to take care of any force which the Yankees may bring to bear against him. So the rebels say. This is an old story; but the promises of Bragg, like those of Hood, bave always fallen short, very short, in bis performances. He began his unfortunate oareer in this war at Pensacola, with the pro- mise that Foft Pickens would be taken, cost what it might; but instead of teuking the fort he lost the town. Next, with a considerable army, he started from Northern Alabama for the spoli- ation of Louisivilleand Cincinnati, but com- pelted suddenly to change his mind, be skedad- died to the mountains of East Tennessee. Next, while threatening Nasbvile, he was so roughly treated by Rosecrans that he left between two days, and was never fairly overbauied again till be reached the borders of Georgia. Next, while besieging Cbattancoga, and promising its early capture, General Grant took him in hand, and Missionary Ridge, it was supposed, had ended the career of Bragg. But after a long reat and careful oursing by Jeff. Davis at Richmond, Bragg turns up again at Wilming- ton, bragging as usua), but one of those special pets of Jeff. provided by fute td bring him to destruction. Bragg says he is able to hold Wilmington. Let us wait and see, A Comptioaren Systeu—The operations, commissions, profits and divisions of the spoils of the shoddy jobbers, as developed in the tes- timoay of the Opdyke-Weed libel trial. The Dusiness, in fact, is as much of a mixture as the mixture of old rage that are worked up into the soldier's shoddy overcoat. Sartino Tue Streers.—We learn that two or three of the city railroad companies have again commenced salting their tracks. If they persist in this, and are tolerated in the outrage by the city, government, we shall have plenty of dip- theria. Our carmen, carriage drivers and other owners of herses will lose their animals, and the city will be immersed in slush. Will the ge PCT ce ct ner aha: safely left to the inteHigence of the p:eple at large, and the system of. absoute commissions by legislative sppoiatment is objectionable because it endeavors to supersede the popular decision of this question. It is equally objec- tionable, as we have before stated, because it bas-been tried in two-thirds of the depariments and found wanting. Now, all good citizens agree that what wo, need in this city ig somebody who may be held responsible for sins of omission and commis- sion. I¢ in a maltitade of counsellors thero is safety, in a multitude of city offtcinis there is corruption. A dishonest public officer, like a plokpooket, is easily lost la a crowd. To re- form the city government we must first sim- plify it, Let the Legisiature begin the work by abolishing the preseat system and organiz- ing another less complex. Let us have a Mayor and a Board of Aldermen, both to’ be elected by the people as at present; but let the election take place every year and increase the Mayor’s galary te $20,000 per annum. Let the Board of Common Councilmen and all the independent boards be abolished. Give the Mayor power to appoint, and to remove for cause, all the heads of departments. Let-the Board of Aldermen be restricted exclusively to their legislative functions. Let the Mayor have the veto power. There, in ten lines, is a practical plan for the thorough reorganisation of our city government and the reform of all ite abuses. Draft an act upon that pl 088 it through the Legislature and have it signed by the Governor, and the press and the voters of New York will do all the rest. If they do not, then they have lost their influence and democratic institutions are a humbug. Suppose this plan to be in actual operation, and see how it will work. All the subordi- nates will be responsible to the heads of de- partment; tha heads of department will be responsible to the Mayor, and the Mayor will be responsible to the people. If anything goes wrong in any department the Mayor is immediately called upon to explain and oor- rect the abuse. The Mayor sends for the head of the department at fault. The head of the department picks out the guilty subordinate and punishes him. That ends the evil and the complaint. If, on the other baad, the head of the department refuses te reform the matter complained of, then the Mayor removes him at ence. If the Mayor should refuse to do that, then in the course of a few months the people would turn out the Mayor at the yearly eleotion. Should the Board of Aldermen legislate badly, pe Shes be disposed of with equal celerity. onest Mayor would keep the whole ma- ohinery in steady and equitable motion, and there would be no chance for.rings or jobs to escape his notice. We believe thet the people thir@ ume whea +! ‘him, conveyed to his residence, and is now ia r recover. va 2 A Srarun to Doczon Barnvss.—As, adjoursed meeting Of the Bethune. Mosument Association was held tast o¥n- fog ato, 42 East Filteonth street, to adopt measures Be | Securing a suitable testimonial to the memory of the tame lamented Dr. Be:bune. pone Mes A. M.Coszens was called” to the obair. | aster om tious views had beea ‘expressed as to the bent moans mhich could be adopted. to, secure, the n red to carry out the 6 Of the: Cag ree Nietato be binned and pieced fa soe mene of ‘the mitioe, to be addressed to those who might feat iis ce to the uadertakieg. Browa exeoute the work, whict s Hi Pe compitmeat is to be Kobert 800, the pilot of the Miller on the oconsion referred Fine us Wasr Turery-riera Sianer.—Betweea one ata two o'clock yesterday arternoon a fire broke out in the tails of the stadbing of policeman Cole on Inst Dignt, They appeal to the public of the viciaity for we esto respectanility and goneral good pi haath The person who stabbed officer Cole they disclaim as @ member of their clab, and assert that be did not take ‘There is another orgamization in the Sevonth ward, known es the “Rutger Base Ball Club;’”” but this is ea Uirely distinct from the other body. Ti Na THE YEOTRRN NAVY YARD COMMISSIONERS. Wo learn, saya e St. Louis paper, that the geutiomen who compose the commission appoloted by governmeut to locate a navy yard at some suitable poiat oa the Weet- ern waters, reached Cairo, from Memphis, a few days age, on the gunboat Fairy, Commander Stivtson, They will reach this oity to-day, rooms haying been alrondy eccured for them at the Lindell Hotel, The commission ts coustituted as follows:— Rear Admiral C, H. Davis, U. 3. N., Chairman. Colonel A. H. Bowman, U. 8. A., late Superintendent of the Military Academy at West Point. Captain A. M. Pennock, Fleet Captain of the Mississipps Squadron. G. W, Btant, Naval Architect, of New York. F. H. Gerdes, Topographical Engineer. * draughts of the ground which thea formed the subject of their examination. This work has been faithfully per- formed in the interim, in a room which was provided for the parpose by the city authorities. During their late absence the Commissiouers have visited and to be made of sites at Mound City and can be relied upon to elect an honest Mayor,| «4 Big Taina on Iom.”—A Maryland rebel | only rivais of St. Louis for the distinction and of and that the best men in the olty would be | pedier, about this time, crossing over the tue Siete dor et Bs BES oe en eee ready to take the office at its increased salary. | f,9zen Potomac with his pack of “Yankee no- | se0sed examination. oes ees ot ost ogee It will then be an honorable thing to be an | tions.” Cees et aces currents a’ the rive? Ginpae Oa Alderman, as it was in times long past. We hevee to Cairo, call u oo The Army. ask the taxpayers of New York and the mem: | yugn pinnin, Hospital Steward of the Tammany rogt- and confer rit them ae ton to the object of their missioa, Much usefi tion thay be given them in this way, Soough,. secession rssh ast to. bers of the Legislature to consider this simple, | mont, has received the appointment of First Lieutonent | Pais and Mound ay we each object fons to practical and comprehensive scheme, and we | in the Fifty-ninth regiment New York Volunteers, for srerpome the ope en mecoans es Satie os pasbinn: should be glad to have it publicly discussed | meritorious conduct. Tabuiy to overtow. Agsinnt tbe ale has the-ade- and finally adopted. Srapr TueaTae.—That we area polyglot people, on Vere a be ‘building ana’ the rls boat, not a flees of gun’ r unboat, oF & Ser eae J Sos coramioanriat rm mirotaente proving the arts, literature and tho habits of social in divers forms and in various tongues, is beginning ‘ bo made more manifest in our theatrical performances of late, @ peculiarity of the community of the metropolis which has been developed heretofore in many ways. It fs not loog since a German actor, Mr, Bandmana, who bad eo thoroughly mastered the foglish language as to ‘be able to command the purest utterances in the origipal twogue, as well as to entirely comprehend the spirit of Shakepere, played some of that author's leading works before American audionoes, and with considerable suc- coe. Wohad inst night an evidence that an American artiot can represent the great English dard in 9 foreign apparentiy to the satlafaction of an exclusively ed (ibsllo in German Pe ere pe kindh Tpeetre lant aigut, Some Vatvante Inronmation vor Joun Butt.—The military critics of the rebel sympa- thizing press of England have argued over and over again during the last three years that, consideriag the immense territorial area covered by the rebellion, the “federals” never could reach the heart of the Davis “ confederacy,” because of the impossibility of holding the long lines of railways that would be required to sub- sist from the rear our advancing armies. Now, for the special information ‘of Jobn Bull, we have the pleasure to announce that this sup- Mrs. Hutobins, recently ee ivenced to "five years’ im. Prisohment in the Fitchburg Mass.) House of Correction, for attempting to send a awd'rd: to the rebel Major Harry Giimor, bas been released by order Of the President, ‘and whe arrived here to 4 svseresy, Eatolveg andy; ormat dod house at tl 7 ace wes evidee ow. W.! posed insuperable dificulty of subsistence bas fee f Noaibaes ‘Was evidently both outtous and critical, aud rmy. been settled by General Sherman. He has ean errant inengcin bom, ite re cre weet im Be r. eae shown that there ts no necessity for a base of rey pede ee Grewterd, Untied “sh “gute nee supplies or a cumbersome army train in order ieennrnire we > meee, Bie een i el ita ‘yeaa Grows to march a heavy force from one end of Georgia to the other. The same may be said of Ala- bama and of Mississippi. In compelling the rebels to rely mainly upon those three States | frest cua of ‘ine rath anowing attempted on vor per cecaalons. made a good I ot neyivani?,,, ‘and Colonel Pierce, Unijed States — are at the ABV yt House, General F. J. Herron, United States Army, Hoo Jona, Conness, Of Washingion; 8 O, Powell and . 'H. Rossing ton, Of Uriitornia, are ab the Metropolitan Hotel. as ir, Leonard Scherer rented out of taste, The per- ee interesting from the