The New York Herald Newspaper, December 24, 1865, Page 2

2 FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL. Sarunpax, Dec. 23-6 P. M. ‘The stock market was dull but firm to-day, and there ‘was a growing disposition shown to operale for @ rise througheut the list. At the early sossion of the open board Michigan Southern and Cleveland and Pittsburg were the most active shares, the former selling at 75 and the latter at 64%. Reading sold at 106%, Northwestern 35%, Fort Wayne 105, preferred 193. At the first regular board the business of the members was mainly confined to blowing their own trompets; but the bulls threw out a practical illustration of the probable course of the market next week and in January by letting loose a numbor of scarlet balloons, which soared majestically towards the ceiling, and then, to please the bears, came down again like the King of France with his historical twenty thousand men. The board room was transformed into @ spleudid toy shop, anda howling Babel of discordant musio (?)and lavish wishes of a ‘Merry Christuas’ were uttered in amusingly prodigal profusion, generally accompanied by a tip of the hat which caused the recipicnt of this abundant com- pliment to stoop before regaining it. New York Central closed 44 higher than at the balf-past two board yester- day, Pittsburg %, Northwestern 3, preferred 3{, Quick- ailver 9. Eric was steady. Michigan Southern was 3 lower. A member of the board (and of the frm of Cammann & Co,) proposed that the certificates of the Union Trust Company be considered @ good delivery for Mississippi and Missouri Railway bonds, on the ground that the sale of the latter road to the Rock Island Com- pany had been perfected: In view, however, ‘of the in- Jynction which has been granted restraining the Rock Island Company from proceeding in any way with the negotiation for the purchase of the: Misaissippi and Mis- souri Railway,”tinis proposition seems somewhat anoma- lous, The sale, # is understood, was not perfected when the injunction wasissued, and it is, therefore, hard to discover how it can be completed now, Government securities were firm. Coupon five- twenties of the third issue were 3 higher, seven-thirty notes of the first series ty. At the open board at one o'clock the volume of transactions was large. Erie sold at 95%, New York Central 9534, Hudson River 108%, Reading 107%, Michi- gan Southern 74%, Cleveland and Pitsburg 8414, Rock Island 10745, Northwestern preferred 61%, Fort Wayne 1053, Schuyikill 1414, Mariposa 15, Cumberland 4414, coupon five twenties of the old sssue 1033, At the half-past three board there was very little busi- d, most of the brokers having left the viously. New Yo.k Central sold at 9544, Erie 34, Michigan Southern 74%, North. erred 61%, Quicksilver 44, Sehuyl- 53; 5%, wostern Kill Coa! (5.10) 14. Afterwards, on the street, the market closed sirong, Ere selling at 95% a, Cleveland and Pittsburg $43; a %y, Michigan Southern 74% a 75, Ohio and Mississippi certificates 39 The money market was easy at seven per cent, with the excoption of « few balances loaned at six. Gold was weaker, and loans were generally made flat. The opeuing price was 14534, and the closing one 145; Foreign exchange was inactive, at 100%, a 34 for bank- ers’ bills at sixty days. ‘The export of specie aggregated $435,200, of which the Teutonia took $176,600, the City of Boston $76,000, and the Fulton $1$2,600; making for the week $463,339. The interest on the public debt payable in currency dofore the end of January Is as follo Pacific Railroad bonds, payable after November 1, 1895. $19,200 Pacific Ra 16, 180 Three yours’ Treasury not The interest on tho same pay ond of Junuary is:— Sixes of Sixes of Fives of J Sixes of Febri Bixes of July ust 5, Sixes of July 17 and August 5, Sixes of March 2, 1801. 1861. Petroleum stocks wee dull. At the first board Pithole Creck closed 20c. lower than at the same time yester- day, sciling at $14 50; Palmer Petroleum $2 75, Ben- nehot Run $15 90, Beadley 52c., Brevoort $9 50, Empire City S5c., Germania 290., Rynd Farm 62c,, United States $27 60, Webster $1, Gunnell Gold $1 05, Wallkill $1 85, The Worcester Kailroad Company have declared a divi- dend of 534 per cent, payable January 1. ‘Tho Boston and’ Maine Ra.lroad Compang have declared 8 dividend of 4 per cont, uct, payable January 1 to hold- ors of stock 16th inst, ‘Tho Boston and Provdence Railroad Company have declared 4 dividend of 5 per cent, payable January 1. { The Boston, Newport and New York Steamboat Com. pany have declared a dividend of 6 per cent, payable January 1 to hoklers of stock 15th inst, The fuilowing talfle shows the balances and clearings ‘at tho Clearing House in Chicago fof the week ending on the 161i inst. :— Clear’ Dooomber 11 - $1,013,661 December 12 + 942/555 Decembor 13 Docember 14 Decemb 115 December 16 + $5,914,378 $876,619 + 5,364, 820,507 Tho Now Orleans cotton ssatemont of tho 10th inst. makes the following extibit:— Biles. Stock on hand Septemb r 1, 1866. Subsequent recoipts,.......s Exported On hand Decemiber 10, 1865,......+.++++ ' The London Bankers’ Magazine furnishes the returns Of the circulation Of the private and >,.né stock banks in England and Wales for the four weeks euding the 11th of November, These retarna, combined with the circu- oth and Insh banks for the samo period and the average circulation of the Bank of England for the four weeks ending the $n of November (tho nearest date furnished by their returns, will give tbe following results of the cirdutation of notes in ihe Cuited Kingdom when compared with the previous month :— k of England Private Danks.. Jowut stock banks: Total in England. Beovland . 4,515, 404 Trotaad, 6,607,715 United Kingdom. ....... £30,120, 789 £39,475,704 —And, a5 compared with the month ending the 12th of November, 1864, the above returns show an increase of £917,044 in the circnlat.on of notes in England, and an increuse Of 22,101,910 in the circulation of the United ng the above with the fixed issues J banks, the following is the state of the cir- culation: ‘The English private banks are bclow their fixed £1,005,641 383,496 Total below fixed immue in Engtand .........£1,820,097 Tho Scoich bucks aro above their fixed issue,. 1,947,414 The Irie’: banks are above their fixed issue... 'BUS43L The average stock of bullion helt by the Bunk of Eng- Jand in both departments during the month’ ending the Sth of November was £13,145,813, being a decrease of £980,595 as compared with the previous month, anda decrease 0; £141,489 when compared with the same pe- riod last year. The following are the amounts ot specie held by the Scotch and Irish banks during the month snd'ng the 11th of November:— Gold avd stiver held by the Seoteh banks £2,646,198 ol aud silver held by the Irish banks 2,41,904 . Ug an inefease of £375, 6% Pie.tous vetuin, and an increase of £669,571 when com Pared with the corresponding period last year, The ainexed figures atow the comporative earnings of a a Principal railroads during the month of No- Now 1864. Now. 1865, Kew York. sna Rete 222,568 "$1,451,217 chigan Svuthurn 23 "408, 42h Michigan Centr Iiinois Central... Chicago and Alton...) Chicago ahd Rock Thana’, Chicago ahd Northwestern. . Marietta and Cincionan Miwoukee and Prur e du Cyen Pitts, Ft, Wayne and Chic St. Louis, Aiton aud Terre Toledo aud Wabasti.es... Atlantic and Great Wostern Cleveland and Piisburg. Chicago and Milwaukee. 98,307 The directors of the Fifth National Bank of this city have declared aremi-annunl dividend of five por cent, Payable on the 2d of January next, NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, DEUVEMBER 24, 1863. ee. ‘The railroad case recently referred to as being before the Supreme Court of the State of Pennsylvania, sitting in Philadelphia, involves a large interest, and is one to which the people of this city wilt look with a great deal ofanxicty. It arose from the intentions of the English capitalists who were Plately in this country to construct a broad gauge railroad westward from New York through Pennsylvania and on to the Mississippi river. The case stands between the Philadephia and Erie aad the Pona- sylvania Railroad companies on one side and the Catta- wissa Railroad, the Central Railroad of Pennsylvania ‘and the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad companies: of New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, on the other—the ‘two first named corporations asking for a special injunc- tion restraining the defendants and declaring null and void the lease of the Cattawissa Railroad, dated Novem- ber 1, and also the contract, dated October 31, between tho Philadelphia and Erie and Gattawissa Railroad com- panics, and that the said contract be delivered up to be cancelled. The party who propose to construct the broad gauge line have already leased and taken posses- sion of the Morris and Essex road, extending through New Jorsey, from Hoboken, on the Hudson river, to near Easton, on the Delaware river—a distance of eighty miles—and tho Gattawissa road, which starts from the bead of the Schuylkill valley, near Tamaqua, and runs westward to Milton, om the west branch of the Susque- hanna river—a distance of sixty-five miles—and then to continue the chain from the western terminus of the Cattawissa road to the Alleghany the charter of the Lewisburg, Contre and Spruce Creek Company will first beused. This latter company obtained a.gharter last, ‘winter to connect with any company'in Northumberiand county, and to make their western terminus at Belle~ fonte. From Lellefonte is the Snow Shoe Railway to Phillipsburg; from Phillipsburg another route is secured to Clearfield, and from Clearficid another to Franklin, on the Alleghany river. From this point a connection cam easily be obtained with the Atlantic and Great Western Railway, already constructed—thus giving an entire new route from the West to New York, indvpendent of tha Erie and all other roads, and entirely under the controt of the Atlantic and Great Western Company. The con- struction of this line, 1t is claimed, will not only materi- ally injure the corporation asking the injunction above specified, but will also direct a large portion of the West: orn trade from the clty of Philadelphia and throw it into New York. ‘The following table shows the receipts ot flourand rrain at the principal lake ports during the week ending December 16:— Flaw, Wheat, Corn, Quts, Barley, Rys, u sh.’ buh. Bush. hush.’ bush: Chicaro,... 1 0 718 11,566 8,385 yi > 14,651 1,497 0 275 = 6 1148 419 11,706 1,717 650 9 107,008 10,07 120,03 106/189 2 The earnings of the Marietta. and Cincinnatt Rajirond during the secoud week in December: amounted to $25,629; increase over the recvipts for the same time tast year, $3,327. The route of the Huron and Ontarlo ship canal, extending as it docs in almost a crow ling from the waters of Lake Huron to those of Lake Ontario, compasses a distance of four hundred and twenty-eight miles, and is intended to save about three times that number of miles of dangerous and tedious navigation. The enterprise is under the direc- tership of Mr. Frederic €. Capreol, of Toronto, Canada, and is likely to prove one of the most impgrtant works of internal improvement at present jn contediplation. New York Stock Exchange Deceamen 23, 1866. iss A. M. 100shsChic&RkLb10 107% 2500 Roading RR..,. 107 1000 do. 5000 Mi 2000 do 10000 Mo 6's, is 7 10000 Ohio&al cor. b10 28% 20000 Benne . 28% 1000 Erie Ist m. - ~ ‘24 sbs 4th Nat Bk.. 100 500 NY Cent RR. 95% 200 do. 9534 100 Cumb Ce “4 100 West Union Tel. 60 100 Quicksil'r Big Co. 43% 100 Chic & pt . dhe 100 do, 100 700 bt 200 Mari oo do, ast anne 5 a 25 Pac Mail Ss 1100 Chic & NW pref 61% 800 Erie RR. 200 do. +A OL do, 100 dow. 2d call 6135 500 Clove & Tol RR. 113 60 Chic, Bur & Qy.. 113 100 Morris & Essex... 9935 50 Chic & Alton RR 105 60 Mil & St Paul prof 8144 Board of Aldermen. Tho Board met at three o'clock yesterday afternoon, Alderman Jeremiah in the chair. A resolution was offered directing the Street Commus- sioner to completo the soldiers’ monument in Calvary Cemetery, in wecgrdance with the plans and spcolfion- tions, and authorizing the Comptrolier to pay the ex- Ponses, not exceeding the amount provided by law for tho purpose, Laid aver. Sometime since te Common Council passed a resolu- tion setting apart plots of ground, at the junction of Broadway and Sixth avenue and Thirty-fifth street and Sixth avenue and Broadway, for the purpose of erecting statues to commemorate the services rendered by Robert Fulton and Professor Morse, the Mayor being directed to open subscriptions to obtain the funds neces sary to carry out the object. Yesterday Mayor Gunther returned the document, with a letter setting forth his objections, He ciains that Central Park .is the appro. priate place for these statues, and that the method pro: posed. for obtaining the money is impracticable. He therefore vetoes the execution of the plan. The Financ> Committes made a report in faver of taking an appropriation of five thousand dollara tm aid of the fund of the Ladies’ Union Aid Society. ‘Latd over. Tne Committee on Strocts to whom waa referred the resolution dirécting the widoning of Morris street on the northerly side from West strect to Broadway, and the extension of the street from Broadway to Broad and Beaver strects, were discharged from the further eonside- ration of the ‘subject. They reported that after con- sidering the matter they are of opinion that while the widening of Morris street ‘rom West street to Broadway ig weeded, the extension of the street would be so expen- sive ax to be inexpedient. The report closed with a resolntiow directing the Corporetion Counsel to take the necessary legal proceedings for the widening of the street. Laid over. Alderman Joxxs called up the extra appropriations provided for by the tax levy, which have already passod the Board of Councilmen. Alderman Ryxre requested that a separate vote be taken: on each appropriation. ‘That of nine thousand dollars for the law department was adopted. Contingencies of $2,000 for Croton Aqueduct Board was lost, Opening of new etreote, $2,600, was lost. The vote ‘was subsequently reconsidered and the matter finally laid over, Sewers, rebuilding and _repatri $20, lost; vote reconenaered and miller Ind over’ eo Sowerage system survoys, $1,000, lost; vote recou- sidered and matter laid over. Compilation of laws and ordinances, $13,008, lost, The ordinance was then laid over for (future action, ‘The Bourd adopted a resolution, over the Mayor's voto, increasing tho salary of the Assistant Clerk inthe Fi- nance Department to $2,000. ‘A resolution was adopted authorizing the Cor Her to draw his warrant in favor Alex. Brandon for the eum of $3,119 for decorating the (ity Hall and the various stands about the city on the occasion of eur last national anniversary. The Board adopted a resolution directing the Com- mitteo on National Affairs to purchase a stand of colors i =H Seventy-first regiment New York Stato National juard. A resolution was offered donating $6,000 to the Paro- chial Schoo! in Fourteenth street, near avento A, and lost; but subsequently the vote was recongidered and the subject nid over, A resolution dircoting the payment of $488 to F. Van Ranat, for couches furnished the Board, was lard over. The subject of making additional appropriations for 1865 was then taken wp again, and Alderman Flynn hay ing called up the ordinance to grade Hamilton square at an expense of $2,000, the same was concurred in, The resoiution directing the donation of $6,000 to the Parochial school was then called up and adopted, the yeas and nays being taken on the question. ‘The Board thou adjourned. Tam Oncival. DRart or Prestpest Lincot's Ex ayctra- TION Proctavauox.—The Albany correspondent of the Springield Republican says:— The State Library rooms contain ap objet of great interest now, and which in the coming centuries will be of still greater and increasing interest—vig: the original draft of the proclamation of emo neipate A considerable portion it in the hand writing of Mr. Lincoln, and the remainder in that of the Secretary of State, with the exception of the quotations from the jaws of Congress, which are printed and at- tached tothe manuscript. Thiet orivinal dent pene it Was panied by @ note from ineness, accompanied by given by tho late lamented President to the Albany 8 tary where it was raffled for and drawn by Gerri Smit ho dovated it to the United States Sanitary Commission, from whom it was purchased by the State of York, It netiod to the Sanitary Commission over ) two thousand dollars THE CHAMPAGNE QUESTION. Origin of the Dispute Between the Wine Growers and the United States Custom House. Unmense Frauds Charged Against the Champagne Manufacturers. Interesting Sketches of the (Country, tho Leading Ohampagne Houses and their Mode of Doing Business. a. &o. &o, Our Rheims Correspondence. Rigs, Durarraxyt ov Tua MARNA, Anon Paovivcs ov Cuamracna, Oct. 10, 1865. Rheims and ite Vicinity—Ezcilement Among the Cham- pagns Manufacurers—The Custom House Seizures in San Francisco and New York—Charges of Immense Prawds Against the Champagne Manufacturers—List Of the Consignees and Thew Principale—The Arisiocracy Cliquot, of Champagne—Their Wealth and Social and Politica’ |’ Porition—The Widow Olicquot and the Head of Her Hiwse—The Effect of the Scicures upon the Wine Mer- chanle—Manufacture of Champagne Wine—Primitive Mode of Deing Business Between the Vine Growers and the Manufacturers—Eyject of the Seizures pon Exporia- tim—The Wine Merchants Demand the Intervention of the French Government, to. At tho distance of a fow hours ride from Paris, by the choico of two railways, ties Rheims (prononnced Rant), the commercial alof tho Champagne wine district, and the contre of the territory which produwes the Para- disical beverage. Around and near it, lying upon the banks of tho slugg’sh Marne, or up on the hil- sides, embosomed among vines, are the villages of Ay, Verzonay, Sillory, Bouzy, and othors with names farniliar aa household words to Amertcaws, who have ever—aé who has mot t—indulged in nocturnal “cham. pagno straights,” or in matutinal Libations of ampagne cocktails.” Some of these naines, ind y bring up unpleasant recollections with them; remembrances of restrospertive head vad dimness of vision oral shakiness, but oftener, it is to 06 ones of good fellowsiip, and social et & genial expansion of ideas, and flow of wit, and mirth, and song, and jollity. One or the other of these eftecta of the nomes, familiar as the faces of old friends, w! greet us in the queer streets of thix queer old town, Engens Clicquot, 0, de St. Murceaux, Charles Hetdseick, Piper, and the Widow Glicquot, though foreigners and strangers to us and our land, are wel! known, and {t not themselves, their fartures at least will be loved among us. Just at present, howover, en and ladies, to whom, in years pasi, and now, wohave beeu and are indsbted for muny a sparkling glass off the deiiciods ne tar which bears their several aainos, rv amiable mood, and are not indulging inthe most pleasant and satisfactory feeling toward the goveroment of the Unitod States. In fact, the champagne interest of Rheims, which, in a greater of lesser degree, may be considered to embrace tho whole town and people, is in @ state of fer- ment and agitation equai to that of one of their bottles of tho most Jively and sparkling wine, About Afteen montis ago the Custom House authorities in San Francisco seized sevon hundred and twenty-five baskots of Etyyenc Cllc- quot champagne, invoiced at Bordeans, at forty-five outs a bottle, and charged the consigneesand proprietors with am attempt to defrand the governinent by an un- dervaluation of their merch ise, In the trial, which came on befors the United District Court, Judge Hofman providing, the government ady also wilt result from a = anu- ean gentle aro fa no duced a Paris price current, samo wines quoted at from one dollar and thiety cents per and also exhibited a letter written by the house of Eugene Glicquot., offertng to sell bis wine in large quanties at sixty-nine cents at the celiara in Rheims, and also a London letter, stating that he bad but one quality of wine for export, which he sold At aoventy-fonr cents a bottle tm his cellars. The defence, tho character of which, obtamed (rom the parties bere must directly tn. tereated, will be elaborated in the progress of these let- ters, was of no avail, and a decree of forfeiture was en- tored in the caso. be In the carly part of the present year the wine mer. chants of Rheims receivedfrom New York a tegal docu- mont tnforming them that auits for the large sum of $1,780,000 in gold were to be prosecuted againat thoir agents there and against them for defrauding the gov- ernment in the undervaluation of champagne wines. Wines to an immense amount had been seized, but sub- sequently released upon the cousignecs giving bonds in double their present value to abide the dec'sion of the cases by the legal authorities. The agents and* their Principals in thechampagne district and the amount of claim inade against each are as follows: — 4 in N.Y. Am't Caimed. Principals. Mie $50,000 Vve. Fire tate ‘ 85,000) Eugene Clicquot, Rheims. :110,000° Bouché & Co. Mareuil, Sur Ay. B. G. Sabmidt & Co. 61,000 C. ¥.&H.G, Schmidt 15,000 + Widow Clicquot, Rheims, E.V HaughwoutaCo F, Do Darry..;-;-+-188,000 G. H. Mumm & Co,,Rholms, james Meyer 0, . $6,000) % # phair woe 6,300 | Sues Mumm & Co., Rheims, €. Meletta. LFW. Rayaid & Be- L Krugg & Co., Rheims. rard 225,000 100,000 Heidseick & Co,, Rhehns, 000 Widow de St. Marceau. loet & Chayden, Kpernay. Foucher & Co, Repans Francois § 5 50,000't Piner & Co,, Bhoims, These immense claims, aifocting not only the pockets, Dut the reputation for honesty and integrity of atentiro community of business men, must have had, as you can 8 tremendous eflect, and must have causeda oment here, The champagne manufacturers are the aristocracy of tho district, and form a aociety of their own, koeping apart from other merchants and manufacturers; and among them—as, for example, that of de St. Marcoaux—aro some eld and aristocratic names. Most of them are very wealthy, and up to the present time all the great and well known houses have never been charged with anything which would affect their in- tegrity. Parties interested in these houses occupy high, honorable and important positions tn political life. They are protects and mayors and members of the Chamber of Deputies. M. Werte, the head of the house of Vvo, Clicquot, and who is supposed to be worth Aftoen millions of francs, i9 the Mayor of Rheims, and member from this district of the Corps Legialatif, He is 4 Prussian by birth, and came here some thirty years ago, @ poor boy, and bas gradually worked his way up to his Present important position. His prineipal, the Widow Clicquot, (God bless her!) is now in her eighty-neventh year, and has made during *he last thirty years a for- tune of forty millions of francs by the manufacture and sale of wine. About thirty years since M. Clicquot be- came embarrassed in his business affairs, and concluded to emerge from his unpleasant condition in the speediest and most cffectual way possible, which he did by blow- ing out his brains with a pistol, leaving the widow the entire contro! of affairs, which she has wrought ont toa successful issue. She is a little dried up old Indy, only about five feet high, and lives in & splendid obateau, charmingly situated on a hill side, surrounded with vines, at Boursault, near Epernay. The old lady, though she long since gave up all personal control of her wine manufacturing business, stilt manages the grape growing, keops her own farm and household accounts, drinks a good bottle of Vouve Clic- ery day for dinner, and is @ particularly smart . Werle, the Maycr of Rheims, and the Lead of her has @ son married to the daughter of the Duc de Montebello (also of vinous ), and @ danzhter who i married @ son of M. Magné, the Freneh BM Finance. So, as you M. Werié ie an man, and one who, in the resolution of the tion which bas arisen betwee we Custom Ho: ties of the Gnited States a champagae manu torers, will be able to exercive a great tniluence with tly French governtnent in the attempt which te now being made to induce a direct Ingervention on its part, lookin toward an amicable arrangement of this. vexed and vexing question, which shall not #80 eeriously affect the kets of the wine merchants here, and leave their or untarnished, Tho effect of theae seizures has already fallen with | considerable severity upon the wine manufacturers, With these heavy claims hanging over them they find themsely es bereft almost entirely of credit. Bankers re. fuse to discount for them, and the wine growers, whom thay pusvbase the aranes vr Taw wine fron champagne is them for a the usual ousiom yoo year’s credit. poe Bee I bt a of of pow at mus, foW faots retative to the man. ey apest Socunae. It [yg He bora: io x nme cham commerce is casentally # man' wine, Gomenene Meets es Griinn into an im- mense of ognene land on wales the once is grown, somo of them not being larger than an ‘The “ vignerene," or vine growers, a to ralngie with th juice, and that which with ferment. tien. Of thess two sparkling wine ig made; Ieivauit® ‘he third pres, 1. which the sas are a in ‘are lowed to ferment with the juic», thus im to the latter its coloring matter, results ia e very fair, drinkable red wine, which isthe “Vin du, "commonly used hore at table. The fourth and prodecen stuff which neither nor men can abide, and which is-sold toand in the low cabarets. In the early times of the champagne culture and man- ufacture the wine makers owned their yinoyardsand grow Shecoanies 100 eee they coed, teeeaee iow, howevel system chan Widow Mossrs. Met ond eaudon, are still pagne wines are manu: wines taken from the various sections of the champagne district. Neither are theso mixtures made in socurd- ‘ance with any established receipt, or by any particalar ruic, the object of raixing being simply to impart to the ‘compound the difforent ‘desirable qualities of ite various ingredients, and allof which no single one of thom possesses. Thus, the wines of Verzenay and Bouzy are strong, and impurt ‘‘body" to the mixture, while that of Ay and other localities fs finer and Nghter and gives delicacy of flavor and “bouquet,” or aroma, to the maniiiactured wine, The properties of the mixturns ulso vary in yarious seasons, depending upon the more or less varying qualilies of the gt itselt, and fixed only by the taste end judgment of the manufacturor. ‘This ts the secret of the dutlerent wine manufacturers of champagne. All the vn 178 brands are, or at Leas be, manufactarea of the same grape, and their various flavors depend alone upon the maxner ia which the raw wines are combined in them. ‘Theemanuer of delivering and recolving the grapes from the “vigncrons"’ is a very’ primitive and rather un- busiueas Uke ope. They bring the grapes in baxketa, packed on the backe of mules, t tho presses, where they are measured in a tub about the sizo of a half barrel (the measure being known as a cacy’, and holding about one hinds French or one hundred and ten English pounds), & record made of the quality received from each proprivtor, bul uo receipt or youchor of any description given, At the ond of six months the vigneron calls upon the manufacturer and is paid one-half the pint oa claiming the remainder only at the expiration of the r. This yoar, however, as I said Dofure, they are cing away from this custom, aud are demanding caah payments for their produce, which demand the manulacturers Mad it difficult to mect—sucy a house as Viper & Co., with a claim of §260,000 hanglag over it, tinding itsell ent divested of credit, ‘The eilvat of these seizures in New York and San Fran. cisco las beon almost to bring the wine exporting bust- ness, 86 far ag the United States is concerned, to aetand- stil, 1 was informed by one of the prine pal wine dealers here that, whereas, in ordinary nocmul times, the annual quantity of chatapagne wine shipped to the Unttcd States amounted to two milifons five hundred thousand bottles; that from April, 1864, to the same month in this " not more than a thousand baskets were shipped. Im July, Angust aud the carly part of September of ‘the present year, the exportation had considerably increased beyond any quarter of the previous yeur, the merchants here balng informed as they aay, and having reason to be- lieve, that an atnicable settlement wouid be made iu the Sun Francisco oaso, and the trade waa rapidly returning to its norwa! condition, the closing of the war naturally giving a now attivity, when now again {t has been about eatirely suspeaded and the merchants bere thrown into a terrible condition of excitement and confusion by ‘the news of the Judgmont of confiscation m San “Fran- ciseo and the commencement of the New York suite. Yo be sure, under the present tariff, which is virtually fmposos a apeoific duty of six dollars per dozen upon champagne wines, there is'probably no ‘foar of any fur- ther serzures, those already maao being rotroactivo in them effects, the charges of trand by undorvatuation running Oack for several years. Stilt the morchants and manufacturers, with these immense claims banging over them, do not fool disposed to risk <helr property ia the United States, and unless a speedy settloment is made of the affair the result willbe to remove the champagne trade with the United States from the hands of well known doalems into those of irresponsible firms, who wtll make you pay as much and porhaps more, fer a very thferior quality of wino, Another of- fect will doubtless bo to increase the price of the home product, The Jersey cider’ brand, and others, which would be as justified tn augmenting the price of their qile compounds, on account of a diminution in the im- ports of the geauine article, gas, would bs the manu‘ac- turers of mock turtle soup in raiang their prices on ac- count of a failure of the Gallipagos turtle crop. I have thus attemptod to prepare the way, by a little preliminary information, fora full understanding and Appreciation of the question as ft exists between the champagne manufacturers here and your Custom House authorities, The former indignantly disclaim a charge whieh brands a whole community of merchants, whose names are €0 well known throughout the world, with de- Liberate fraud. They acknowledge that there ia-a differ- ence, and aa importunt one, between your ment and them; not that this diiference m a dif- ference of interpretation and an ignorance of the facts in the cuse on the part of your government. They have a defence which they think sets them perfectly right und above suspicion. The statements of fact, and the arguments by which they oxculpate themselves from what they consider the sweeping and ‘unjust Grad oe of the United States customs authorities, and which | have obtained by means ef free informal converstions with one of the principal wine merchants of this place, wil! form the subject of another letter. Tho wine merchants here held a meeting a few woeks since, and decided to present their case to the French Minister of Foreign Affairs. A committee—consisting of M. Werle, Mayor of Rheitns, and representative in the Corps Legisiatif, and M. de St. Marceaox, the head of the firmyf that name, aud both exceedingly able men—was ‘Appointed to draw’ up a representation of the facts and arguments in the whole case, to be presented to M. Dronyn de Lhuys, in the hope of effecting an amicable arrangement of tijs important matter with your govern- ment, and of #0 arranging matters that there can be no Pm agp or ditMculty in the future. This doca- jeut 18, I am tmiormed, nearly completed, and will be Bena by M. Werlé and M. de St. Marceauc to the on gs of Foreign Affairs inthe early part of the coming week, Our Rheims Correspondence. Ramaa, Derantaxxe or La Manws, Ascrent Provincs or Cuamracnn, Oct. 16, 1206, } This Year's Vintage—Superior Quantity and Quality of Wine—High Prices Realised for Grapes, Wine and Land—The Vintage at Versenay—The Champagne Trade—The Red Mines of Champagne—Unromantic Appearance of the Cowmtry—Morality Among the Cham- penotecs—Equal ond Bract Justice—Rzcitement in Toon To-day—Old Houses Stopping and New Ones Springing Up—The American Consular Agent in Rheims, dc, The vintage, which does not usually commence here tiM about the middle of Septomber, was this year com- pleted by that time, having been brought in nearly a menth earlier than usual, owing to the exceedingly dry, warm weather, which hastened the ripening of the grape. Not merely in time, but in quantity and quality kas this year’s vintage been extraordinary—the most so since the yoar 1368, In all parte of the district the wine grounds have had a very abundant recolfe, and the character of the wines is exceedingly fine, and more than usually vinous, Good news this for lovers of the sparkling bev- erage, who, in spito of the high price 1t now commands in the United Btates, will be able three years hence to drink the wine now lying in casks in the cellars of the manufacturers. The vine growers have all been better repaid this year than for mang years before. In the litde district of Verzenay, whefe the very best wine is produced, grapes were sold at sixty francs for the hecto- litre, or at the rate of about nine cents a pound; and in and about this little village, situated upon the hillside above BSillery, the snug sum of 2,500,000 francs, or about five hundred @housand dollars, has been realized from the grape product, and this has been distributed among the twelve hundred proprietors, many of them owning a Piece of vine land no larger than a good sized buck yard at Verzenay. So delighted have thoge little pro- prictors been at this year’s success, that on Sin- day last thoy had @ grand Te Dewm in tho ohureh to give thanks for it, and at the close of which M. Werte, the Mayor of Rheims, gave five hundred francs out of hia own pocket for the benefit of the poor of Verzenay—although there ought notto be many poor this year, considering the high{prices which grapes, wine and land bring, The Versonay wine, which is used prin- otpalfy by the manufacturers to give “body” to their champagne, has been sold this year, in some cases, a8 high as five hundred francs the “piece” of two hundred litres, or two hundred and forty bottles, the average price, however, being three hundred and sixty francs the piece, Land has been gold also at most unusual prices, some of itas high as two hundred france the are, which would amount to about fifteen hundred dol. jars an acre, although the ordinary vine growing lands ; of Champagne may be purchased at from two to five hundred doilats por acre, . This year, however, is excop- tional in all these things; and T' have been told of one ama! who law eralized from this eonsonta orop of grapes a larger eum than he would last yeartave gold the land on which {¢ grew for. ‘The champagne trado of Rheims amounts tm ordinary times to the exportation hence ef twelve million® of bet- tles annually, and thts asa trade hasall grown up dur- ing the past gixty or seventy years. Although the dell- cious nectar was known es far back as the epoch of Louis XV., and eparkted then upon the table at the prtils soupers given by Madame de Pompadour at Vor- sailles, i is only within the last half century that ithas beon much known. as am article of commerce. In ondi- nary times nearly one-fourth of tho champagne sent wing regions gainer his ideas of them from song and story imbibe vety falso views. This byes ied district, for example, in which the uninitiated and ®nthustastic lover of beautiful landscapes, broad and smilin, river banks and green and sunny hil pled wkha hardy, happy race, whose principal occupa- Ton after the labors of the day love, and sing Anacreonic songs in honor of the vine overflowing foaming flagons,~ will very much disap- point him in the reality. The soil of this whole district is white and Gad abounding in car. bonate of lime, which makes ft vory disagree ablo to the ey The country is generally bgteed little diversified, and the vine itself on which the cl - Ree grape grows is a stunted little thing, never reach- ig more than about three feet in height. Just at present, when tho vintage is past and the sbripped yjnes ‘are rapidly falling into the sere and yellow, the country is particularly uninteresting. Tho ‘“viguerons'’ and their families are very much like the other peasantry in France, living in uncomfortable stone houses, with neither front nor back a to them, totally destitute of vines, flowers or shrubbery, or any of that air pf comfort about them which so strikes the travellor in the home of the English cottager. In the whole agricultural region of France the traveller sees as he journeys along the road no solitary farm houses. He travels miles and miles over cultivated lands without a mark upon them of habitation, until he reaches a village, made up of a long. straggling street, which ia but o continuation of the high ah and on each side of which are built the litue, uncomfortable, unromantic, hot-looking stone houses iu which the peasantry of France live. Champagne, in this respect, does not differ from the rest of France; and the fact that there are no fences or even hedges to separate ‘tho vine growing lands from the roadside, or from each other, the “metes and bounds’? of each little proprietor's land b ing marked by piles of stones, gives the country asingulatly uninteresting and monotonous appearance. Song and story usually tonvey the Idea that the people 1 vine growing regions are not only exceedingly happy, but exceedingly virtuous; in fact, living evidences of tha truth of the motto “Be virtuous und you will be happy.’ 80 far as the femalo portion of the residents in the Cham- pagne district are concerned, . am sorry to be under the necessity of dispelling this illusion, Is it some pecniiarit: in the climate, or the chatky soil which reflects bac! the sun's rays with such burning force; or is it Something in the wine that makes Rhoims, tho commercial centro of champagne, one of the most oligible fielts of operation for the abors of the Moral Rotorm peelge that I have evor dis-overed in France or out of it. tall, well formed and pretty champenciies who “have foft thelr father’s house" andthe labor fn the vineyards and come to Rheims to work at dressuiaking, orto tend shop, or labor fn tho woolen manufactories here, and who, with little bundles in their handa, neatly dressod, with their rich, luxuriant growth of hair, uncon- fined by cap or bonnet, may be seen in great numbers skipping over the tritoirs about eight o'clock in the evening on their way home from work--theao young dadies, although apparoutly very “happy” and cor- ta'nly exceedingly pretty, it ts said mako no claims to being “virtuous”. ‘The cwré who officiates in this splendid cathedral, whose tall heaven-pointing towors ought to direct ‘the attention of these young women to higher things, is said to bo called’ upon much more frequently to baptize infants who tn the worldly wisdom of ‘knowing their own fathers oro profoundly lacking, than he-#s-of those begotten and rn in accordance with the strict rules of riety, virtue, law and che church. Théseare-melancholy facts, and may furnish Interesting subjocts of consideration to moral chemists and. analyzers, What is the cause of it? Isitthe wine, the chaiky soil, the burning sun, or the cathedral * The tribunals of Rheims have o way of administering justice which strikes me rather favorably, and which ‘would commend to tho attention of the chalk-and-water drinking communities.of the American cities. Om tho street corner opposite I observed this morning some freahly printed placards posted up, and, as anything new bogins now to be interesting, I immediately rushed over to read them. They proved to be some recent pam ments of the Tribunal of Police in Rheims, and I 4 recommend their perusal to your police judges and legislators. The first was against Francoise Mar- guorite Boise, who, it seems, probably thinkin that the milk which came from her cows was too ric! for the stomachs of the Rheimois, had added to eight litres, or about two gations, of it, a quart of wator, and sold the compound as milk. This fact having deen establish: Francoise was sentenced to pay a fine of a havered francs, suffer the confiscation of ber compound, and to py the cost of fifty copies of the decye, which should ed up in the town, and one particularly ki porenapen Bee door during the of three dl AxeHer of “pure Orange county milk,’ in the city of New York, who would stand by an agreement to adulte- rate fis milk only in the of a quart of water to twogallons of the lacteal fluid, would, 1 suppose, be regarded as a public benefactor and a man to be en- cout ‘Two other judgments followed this—one of a coal dealer, who, for Ccgeant. his sacks of coal a quan- tity of stones to “make weight,’? was fined fifty francs and sentenced to twenty days imprisonmont; and the other of a butcher, in whose pcweesion, exposed for sale, was found a quautity of which was un. peu rhaw, and for which he was sentenced to three months imprisonment and a heavy fine. This rigid administrativa of justice here seoma to apply to large as well as smod. mutters. One of the best known houscs here is that of L, Roederer, whose brand of ne is the most expensive of any sent to the United States (it being princi known and very pepu- Jar among the Atienians of Boston), most of the supply howover, being sent to Russia the early part of last year some young and enterprising men who desired Vo establish tl ves im the cham trade here, and who consideréd that it would be @ advantage w them te commence businéss under the prestige of @ well known name, adopted the following ex, ent — Finding at Strasburg a young man who wns a garcon de cafe, or something of that: named Theophi!o rer, they immedediatety indus him to leave bis menial occupation and come to Rheims, where they established a house, plactag him at the head of it, known as “Roederer & Co; and this brand was placed upon their wine. ie established = heuse = of Roederer breught e ant ot Se oon ony for eer rence illegale,’’ or *“ tion,” and alter hearin, all the oaths Court ‘decided not only must the new firm place upon their labels the first name of its head, but must also give in good-siaed readable figures tho date at which their house was establishod, so that there would be wu danger of confounding it with the original firm. The town isin a ter state of excitement to-day than I have seen it before during my Wei. It js re- ported upen the streot that one of the most important and well known firms in Rheims {9 about suspending, nen it be eee to carry on business under the eure of the olaims made by your Custom House authori- ties. The effect of this is to deprive all the houses at- tached of credit, which has heretofore been extended them to almost an uniimited It would not be surprising several of them should be obliged to stop. in the meantime I am informed that sever smail houses, which bave never done any business with the United States, are preparing to make large shipments of an iaforior quality of cham- pagne, while other houses are ors to supply your market with @ good article, Teplng by this means to sup- plant the old and well knowd firms and brands. The committee appointed to draw up the memorial to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and which consists of M. Werlé, Mayor of Rheims, and head of the house of Widow Clicquot, and M. de St, Marceau, head of the house of that name, two of the ablost men in the dis- trict, are, I understand, busily engaged upon their work, which will be presented next weel ‘The more I travel the more am I convinced that office, like kissing, “goes by fayor.’’ have met installed in the Consular bureaus of commercial ports, gentle- men who never saw asbip ult they arrived ‘at their port of embarkation for their Consulate, who spoke no langnage but thoir own, and that in not the most elegant manner, Here, in this little out-of-the-way town, how- ever, Lind a gentleman filling the Consular agonoy who, if ability and merit were the criterion, and if your govern- ment bad anything Ike a Consular system, would occupy 4 mich more important position. Dr. Tumes—who is the Cunsular agent here, is a gentioman who, during the war, ‘was actively connected with the itary Commission— was formerly the editor of Ha: Weekly, and is known : beg’ ven ad of several interesting works. This ney here is, how properly or not i# perhaps a ques: thon, & perquisite of ho'Patle ‘Consulate, and has, pre- vious to the appointment of Dr. Tomes, been al held ® Frenchman, who was giad to have the office for the position, Inordinary times, howover, it is at of considerable importance, and had always been filled by an American, and itis very fortunate for the govern. ment that during this exciting time it has had such an abie representative aa Dr. Tomes here. It ought, tov, to be elevated to a full Consulate, or, at least, to an inde- Pendent Consular agenoy, A iart glanoe at the noble cathedral whose imposing stares me ja the face a8 I look from window into the omnibus, which is wi 5 ie and down to the railway station and back ria. Such is my aramme for the next five hours, failing not. how! pro- J assistance to Chilo, betel that the onan, panned sufficiently strong’ to destroy or capture ono by one sich chipe-ot war which are now blockading use different ports of Chile. Upon taking possession of the patace, tt Is stated Genoral Canseco asked tho Irvasurer what amount of funds he held at the disposal of the government, aa received the unwelcome ‘answer, “Not a cent.” Aad how could it be different, whon millions have boom gives to favorites under the name of secrct service monegt General Vivanco, for instance, Rove this way ome hundred thowsa id dollars; Mr, Calderon, twe bi thousand dollars; Mr, Fuentes, one hundred dollars; Mr. Gomez Sanchez, three hundred thousama dollars; &c. In ordinary circumstances ‘the income of the country falls annually about ton mliliona short of te exponditures. All the direct and indtrect taxes do produce over four millions, and the sales of guano twetwe millions of dollara. The budgot estimates tho yearly om. pense at twenty-eight millions, but since April, 1864, the expenses have by far exceeded tho estimates. The probable deficiency on the 1st of April, 1868, will be about fifty millions, to be provided for by a new loam, t Lone don. . Lot mo notice another instance of Geneml Pexoiie financial skit, General Molgarejo, the Provisional hee sident of Bolivia, needed some funds for the pw either queWing the robollion against his to provide the means ot subsistence during & pombe exile. ro soe rert _ fem geen cary Merry ent, ca, to Lima, with a reques Pozet'to render fit pecuniary nd. General Pine faa so. He entered in nogotiation with Mewsrs. Thomas Lachambre & Co., and obtained for Melgarejo about four hundred and Afty thousand dollars under the following conditions: — Parn owes to Bolivia ome millions, payable in m instalments of fifty thousand dollars each. such drafts for fifty thousand dollars each, with sever per cent per annum tnterest, were drawn by the Bolwen agent und accepted by the government of Pera, ‘aed those drafts Messrs, Thomas Iachambre & Oo. dia. counted for the small consideration of six hundredemd fifty thousand dollars, Tho Bolivian Minister residémg here protested against such a pads and offered thomt one hundred thousand dollars to rescind the combcacts ‘Dut Messrs. Thomas bre & Co. refused. T have at this moment received lotters from Valpaseiee via Cobtja by oxpresa, in which gentlemen.who are’ to be well informed assure me that the difflouues tweon. Spain and Chile havo been amicably ‘unimportant formalities have delayed the publication of this event. In Bolivia the Sa gps spanner: Cente Arequibo repuiates the acta of Melgarejo declares the loan negotiated hero, to which I have alluded abeve, ag not admissible, binding neither the goverament age Bolivia — Military Matters. The following order from Brigadier General dag Aspinwail, announcing his election and commission ae brigadior general, and assuming command of tho Foust brigade, First division National Guard, has just been gre waulgated:— onpars—No. 1. Hang: Fourts Briuape, First N. ¥. 3. N. G., Nuw Yore, Deo. 18, 1866. 1, The undersigned, by virtue of an election ‘3 commission to him issued, hereby assumes th . 2 etoaauade of regiments having 30 recently mage inspection returns, no further returns are at this me fred. dh The ler General commanding desires to retam his best thanks to the officers composing the late a staff for their uniform courtesy towards temporary com! and for their prompt attention to such ‘astiee an devolved upon them Tones tot intmenta of the following staff officers are a ee, 8. Renwick, Engineer, Be- Francia, Onto. Fis 6. Brown, Ai ttisatennat WL, Btmore, Act whenovor theie assistance may be desired. 6. It is hoped that the settlement of the question of the succession in the command vill tend to unite @&e many excellent elements of which the brigade isScome posed. The full effect of the laws of 1802 constituting tho National Guand has never, up to this date, had a opportunity for development. jong bors throng’ ‘and in which the reg which-the country peat o ments of the brigade have, active part, bas hindored the National Guard from taking advantage of the present State Militia laws, and has oom. pelted the State, through ential motives and dowbts ag to the requirements which might be made upon ft te gustaiving {ts ehare of tho conilict, to withhold thas es and oxpenditure which ‘these iaws ‘With the return of peace these obstacles haps rte welt adapted for the arpoaes, for bel to be wel 0 Puts framed.” The Gommander-in-Calet and bis of departments are deeply interested in the Ni Guard, and are fiem believers in the system 4s noing sot of the grent, safeguards, not only of local tranquillity, but of the conntry at large, This opinion Gar teachin; ar tae pon ‘of those who previously derided the mi and Neer ae her ones of those who betieved fa the military tra@éin, e MAsAes. ven! of the, jaw, of the disposition of the Bascal, and of the present public sentiment, that the com: ‘ant calls tipon the officers of the brigade to ald him, to act in ‘one with the other, bearing im that that which most benefits the whole brizade wilt te the long run most benefit cach a Ree whieh the National Guard, as a , € unite could exercise, has nover ‘been availed vf, whilet ac disconnectedly, and often at crosa purposes, thts unde ‘ence {s almost ‘entirely lost Holding these vi de commandant asks and expects the co-operation of the officers in the brigade in promoting the good of the bela. ade, and he assumes command under no other than to strive, to the utmost of his ability to advance interest of all. Commandante of regiments are requested to fumntalt with copies of all orders of tam: com: which they nay issue. order of ro. GOT AShinwart Gon. Com. Paancis C, Brows, Capt. and A D. OLD THEYT IN A STATION HOUSK—A BOLOTER ROBBED BY A SAILOR. A few days since Joseph Brown, a discharged sotdies, arrived in this city en route to Europe, and during tie stay here was relieved of a portion of his wardrobe. ‘The Fourth precinct police arrested a man on suapieiom of stealing the clothing, Wad on Friday night Brown war in one of the lower rooms of the station house yoo the opening of the court in the morning, when Wallen, a sailor, attached to the ship Mouongabola, war admitted to the same room asa lodger. Brown soow fell asleep, after which Wallon crept up beside him sad stole four ‘bundred and fifty dollars in Treasury notes from hig pocket, Brown subsequontly missed lis monep ‘andsuspocted Wallen of taking tt. By order of Captas ‘Thorne, of the Fourth precinct, the sailor was arre: and on searching him the missing money was found his possession. Yesterday morning Wallon was: artaignet before Justice Dowling and committed to the Tombs for trial in default of one thousand dollara bail. The ace is thirty-five years of aye and a native of England A REPUTED THIEF SHOT BY A WATCHMAN. Yesterday morning John Mulleine, a private w wtots man, was arrnigned before Justice Dowling on « charge of felonious assault in shooting Frank Huntington, « th of only nineteen years, Muthoine, it appears, iw Zmployea ‘o watch Invrokandise on pier 37 Norte river, At three o'clock in the morning the watchmaa saw Huntington in the act, as he alleges, of stealing oot- ton on the pier, and asked him what ho was doing, te which question no reply was made. Boooehing Garoad, Frank attem) to eacape, whereupon Mulheine dia. charged one of his revolver at him. Tho bail took effect in the fugitive’s thigh, inflicting a severe wound. ‘Tho injured man was conveyed to the New York Hon. tal and Malheine taken to the station house by officer jeld, of the Fifth inet, After listening to the facta of the case Juatice Hing divchares the vrisoner (rom Quatwi~