The New York Herald Newspaper, May 13, 1866, Page 6

ruary of this year, through a lawyer named Mr. Howes, applied to the Supreme Court im this city for and ob- JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR, tained @ divorce from her husband on the ground of adultery, It is alleged by the defendant that ho knew nothing of the divorce until he saw it in tho newspa- pers, and he now seeks to open the decree and be allowed to. come im and defend. The case develops some strange facts relative to the procuring of divorces in this State. Judge Barnard remarked that he would in future have all witnesses in divorce cases ox amined before him in open court and not send them be- fore referees. Further proceedings were adjourned to ‘Thursday next. In the Brooklyn City Court yesterday Albert Bryson recovered damages to the amount of $4,000 against the B.ooklyn City Railroad Company. The suit was for per- OFFICE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU STS. TERMS cash in advance, Money sent by mail will be atthe risk ofthe sender. None but bank bills current in New York taken. THE DAILY HERALD, published cvery day in the year, Four cents per copy. Annual subscription price, $14. THE WEEKLY HERALD, every Saturday, at Five ‘eents per copy. Anaual subscription price:— One Copr.... $2 | sonal injuries by being run over by a car belonging to, Three Copies. 5 | and through’ the carelessness of one of the employes Five Copies... 8 | of, the defendanta, Ten Copies........+eeeereeee .. Us | ., Inthe Surrogate’s Court of Kings county, last week, the wills of the following named deceased persons were admitted to probate, viz:—James T. Hartnett, David T. Lanman, Wm. Stowart, H. H. Selleck and John Henly, allof Brooklyn, and Harvey Hoag, of New Lots. Let- ters of administration were granted in the estates of James W. Seaman, Thomas Burton, Richard O'Grady, Xsther P, Craig, Isaac P, Schuckerly, Fannie Church- nard, Herman Berger, Jos. Reynolds and Edward Petit, ail of Brooklyn; James H. Shaw, of New Utrecht; Wm. B, Reed, of Cranberry, Middlesex county, New Jersey. Amecting of the Tammany Socioty was held last evening, When the Sachems and other officers of the society were olected for the ensuing year, and at an in- formal méeting of the Sachems Hon. Joha T, Hoffman ‘was unanimously elected Grand Sachem. ‘The stock. market was firm yesterday and closed strong, Gold closed at 129 a 34. Governments were firm. There was not so much activity or buoyancy in the markets yesterday as thero was on Friday, and prices generally tended in favor of the purchaser. The down- ward movement in breadstuffs continued, and prices are now lower than they were before the late speculative spirit, Groceries yesterday were quiet and heavy. Cotton was very firm. Refined petroleum was also steady, white crude was a shade lower. Freights and dry goods were very dull. On ’Change flour declined 20c. a 40c., wheat 3c,a5c. Corn washeavy. Oats quiet, Pork lower. Beof steady. Lard dull but un- changed. Whiskey dull and nominal. MISCELLANEOUS. Our despatches from Washington state that Jef! Davis will be tried at the next session of the United States Circuit Court, which will take place at Richmond in June next, and that Chief Justice Chase will preside, The prosecution will be conducted by Attorney General Speed, assisted by Judgo Clifford, of Massachusetts, and William M. Evarts, of this city. A full and interesting report relative to the failure of the Merchants’ National of Washington was yesterday made to the Comptroller of the Currency by Bank Ex- aminer Bull. This report gives ample evidence by facts and figures of gross mismanagement in the affairs of that institution, and clearly sets forth that so long ago as the 20th ultimo it was well known by parties whose Bames accompany the report to be ina very “shaky” condition. The Chilean official report of the bombardment of Va - paraiso by the Spaniards appears in our columns to-day. Ibis addressed to the Secretary of the Interior of the Re- public, and fully bears out our previous accounts as to the malignity with which the Spanish Admiral carried his sanguinary orders into effect. An approximate esti- mate of the loases, foreign and native, sustained in the city, is embraced ia the document. From Brazil we have important news, dated at Rio Janeiro on the 3d of April, The Peruvian war rams reached the port of Rio on the 1st of April, having in company a Spanish brig which they capturod at sea: The Brazilian authorities would not permit them to re- main in port, so they put to sea again on the 2d ult., and carried the prize outside the harbor. The Emperor of Brazil was determined to remain neutral in the war on the Plate river, but there was considerable anxiety in Rio to learn what ocourred after the allies passed the de la Patria to advance against Humaita, Brazil was making much material progress, naval and agricultural. Our Paris correspondence of the 27th of April, pub- lished to-day, contains mattor of great interest to the world of fashion, as well as of importance to tne capi- talists and hands engaged in the manufacture of crino- Ine and all the material pertaining thereto, At that time a great question in the French capital was the cast- ing aside or retention of crinoline as a garment of Iadies’ dress, and the writer gives the arguments on both sides. The nowest styles of ladies’ hats, hat strings and dress patterns are also described. The efforts made by the European money speculators w turn the German war difficulty to account on the Bourse are detailed in one of the foreign news extracts given to-day. ‘We publish elsewhere this morning a highly interest- ing comparative statement of the forces, vessels, guns, &c., of the United States and Engliish navies, It is care- fully compiled from the best authorities; and as showing tho relative strength of the two nations, is very import- ant. Itembraces full lists of the foreign squadrous of both powers, and fairly illustrates the strength of the twe nations on the seas. We have advices from the West Indies dated at Saint Thomas, on the Ist of May. Our commercial report states:—The stock of American imports, with exception of some few articles, is sufficient for the small demand existing, there having been some three or four arrivals from New York and Philadelphia with assorted cargoes. Flour, for extra Ohio, $8 60; Georgetown $9. Pilot and navy bread $4 a $460, Meas potk $28; prime pork $23 a $25. Mess Beef $14 American hams, none. Codfish, in boxes, from Boston, $475 a $5 per box. Exchange, banks drawing rate, 90 d. . on London, $490} American gold 14 a 2 per cent premium. ‘At Antigua, April 27, the market was but moderately supplied with American imports, and prices were fully maintained. Flour—Store sales, in lots, $9. Pork in good demand, with sales at $28 83, Codflsh lower. At St. Johns an additional tax of 25 per cent. on all duties im- posed since March 9. Our report from Trinidad is dated on the 23d of April. Tue trade advices are to the following effect:—Flour, $7 75 a $8; Pilot Bread, $450; Pork, $23 50; Beof, in half barrels, $13 50; Lard, 15c. Many of our dealers are bare of these articles, and first cargo will fetch about the same rates, Coifish—$16 a $17 for tlerces; boxes, $5.0 $6 50. Haddock, $12 a $12.50 per tiorce. Some freight ehar- ters have been made at 2s. 34. a2, 6d. There is but little Cocoa coming to market, and owing to the great de- mapd that exists, $14 per fanega 1s freely obtained. The nows from Barbadoes is dated to the 26th of April, It is also of a commercial character, and a market cir- cular says: Dur imports from the United States during the past fe ght have not been above tho average, but the previous heavy accessions to our stock of breadstuifs haye not been cleared off in any considerable degree, ‘and in the absence of any speculative feeling sales can only be made at losing prices to importers. There is still a large lot of old and inferior Nova Scotia fish at market that must be got rid of at any price, and until it is cleared off sates of Newfoundland @ill be siow."’ A telogram from Eastport, Maine, states than an Eng- lish steamer lying at St, Andrews on Friday night, fired ata party of ladies and gentlemen in a pleasure boat from Rabbington, The ball struck noar the boat, and richocheting, landed in front of a house in Rabbington. ‘The ball was sent to Admiral Boggs at Eastport, Postage five cents per copy for three months. VOLUNTARY CORRESPONDENCE, containing im- portant news, solicited from any quarter of the world; if used, will be liberally paid for. gge Our Forsicx Cor- RESPONDENTS ARE PARTICULARLY REQUESTED TO SEAL ALL LSTTERS AND PACKAGES SENT US. Volume XXXI..... se cecrcceccverscenccs «No. 133 AMUSEMENTS TO-MORROW EVENING. BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway, street,—Nagkrra. WOOD'S THEATRE, Broadw: .— Tate ELvKs—CRossing near Broome opposite the St. Nicholas LINE. GEORGE CHRISTY'S—O.p ScHoou or MINsTRELsy, Batiaps, Musica Gums, &c.. Fifth Avenue Opera House, Nos, 2 and 4 West ‘Twenty-fourth street.—Psrar Pires, On Tux Man Azour Town. TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, 201 Bowery.—Singe Biv Danone, Buniesques, &¢.—Tux Outcast or Kit- SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS. 585 Broadway, opposite Metropolitan Hotel.—£ Sunaina, Dancine, &c.— James STRPUKNS AND BRYANTS' MINSTRELS, Mechanics’ Hall. 472 Brovde FAY Nesno Comicaninus, Bunuesques, £0.—Tux LRARNED PANT. HOOLEY'S OPERA HOUS! STRELSY—BauLans, BuuLxs NEW YORK MUS! Open from 10 A. M. till 10 IRVING HALL, Irv Geanv Concent. rooklyn,—Erirorran Mane WD PANTOMIMS. OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— ace.—Turopors Tomas’ SOMERVILLE ART GALLERY, 815. Broadway.—Mr, m. Jbeaproxp’s Victoxy, “Seausns Cxusmxp wy lox: SUNDAY EVENING.—Granp Orcan Concert oF SacreD Music, at Irving Hall. TR New York, Sunday, May 13 TO ADVERTISERS. Advertisements to insure a proper classification should be brought in before nalf-past oight o'clock in the evening. THE CITY. Head Contre Stephens was occupied yestertay with to Exccutive Committee on important matters, Hegiso received many visitors, among whom were Judge Con- nolly and ex-Senator Meany. The chief business of the day was the coming celebration at Jones’ Wood. A summons has been issued to all the Fenian Circles in the Department of Manhattan to be in attend- ance. Four regiments will also turn out, The Irish societies of New York are invited. Stephens will be the principal speaker. Tho prospect of a recon- clliation becomes clearer between the rival factions. Almost the entire of the old staff have resigned, and Colonel Kelly has been appointed deputy to the Head Centre, Aproposition will be made on Monday to the Board of Aldermen to set apart the Governor’s Room in the City Hall for the purpose of enabling Stephens to givo an audionce to his friends and admirers, Up to yesterday afternoon there were four thousand five hundred applications for license filed at the office of the Inspector of Excise. The total receipts for license fees is one hundred and forty five thousand dollars, The restaurant keepers will no doubt drive a brisk business to-day under the recent moditication of the law, which ‘allows them to serve their customers with liquor while partaking of a meal at the table. Another daring highway robbery was perpetrated in this city early yesterday afternoon. As Mr. J. H. Hig- gins, cashier of E. 8. Higgins & Co., carpet dealers, doing business in Broadway, was proceeding through Forty-third street, between Soventh and Eighth avenues, with a carpet bag containing $16,400, which he had just drawn from the bank for the purpose of paying off the hands employed in the factory of the firm, he was brutally assaulted and knocked senseless to the ground by a ruillan, who was immediately joined by two others, one of whom sprang from a butcher's cart and doalt Mr. H. a powerful blow on the head with a heavy weapon. The robbers then seized the bag, jumped into the cart—in which was the third accomplice—and made off with their booty. After his recovery ffom the shock Mr. H. was able te give such a description of the villains a8 to lead to the hope of their speedy arrest. About ten o'clock on Friday night a woman named Burns made a murderous assault on Patrick O’Brien and bis wife, living at No. 422 East Thirteenth strect. While the victim and his wife werg sitting quietly togother in their room the assailant ru: in upon them, and with- out a word of warning assaulted O'Brien with a large carving knife, with which she inflicted a severe wound in his neck, and then turned upon his wife, who fortu- nately escaped toa neighbor's room. The would-be mur- deress then made her escape, and has thus far eluded the pursuit of the officers, Jealousy is assigned as the cause of the horrible outrage. Among the passengers by the steamer Georgia, which arrived at this port yesterday from St. Thomas, was no leas distinguished a personage than General Santa Anna, once of Mexico, accompanied by a staff eight in number, Shortly after the arrival of the Georgia the General went on board the Red Jacket to Elizabethport—without land- ing at New York—where he is the guest of Senor Baiz, an old friend. The object of Santa Anna's visit is, it is un- derstood, to promote the interests of the liberal cause in Mexico under Juarez, and the consequent expulsion ot Maximilian. The friends and admirers of the General propose to give him a public reception in this city in the early part of next week, and a public meeting is also spoken of, at which the fllnstrious Mexican is to express his views and state the objoct of his visit. The second annual meeting of the American Temper. ance Alliance took piace yesterday afternoon at Cooper Institute, Between four and five thousand children were present, and interesting addresses were made by Major Merwin and Rev. Dr. Smyth. We publish this morning a very interesting and enter- taining article, narrative and descriptive of the various Christian and Jewish churches of New York city. Out. lines of the history of Trinity, St. Paul's and all the older churches are given briely and in entertaining style, to- gother with admirable descriptions of the same. The ‘account embraces the origin, foundation, history, condi tion and appearance of the principal Episcopalian, Bap. tist, Methodist, Moravian, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Ha quonot, Universalist, Unitarian, Jewish, Quaker and Ro. man Catholic churches in the city ‘A mass meeting to consider the propriety of support. ing the Society for the Prevention of Cri was held at Union square last event Numerous specchos wore delivered, and complimentary resolutions adopted, Wo publish a fall report. Previous to bis departare for Washington Collector Smythe wns presented with an elegant gold-headed cane by the clerks of the Central National Bank. Mr. Smythe ia at preeént in Washington, whither he progeeded for Lhe printipal purpose of filing his bond, A meeting of the ShipJomers’ Association in reference to the strike among the ship carpenters, ship caulkers and ship Joiners was held Inst evening at No. 21 avenue \! subsoriptions were handed (n in ald of the { the society who from physical inability nto work. Nearly all the members employment at housework, and in rather confident terms that Cuvrcurs.—We present elsewhere a very in- teresting account of the more prominent churches of the metropolis. There are now two hundred and seventy-four churches in this city and one hundred and seventy-cight in Brook- lyn—four hundred and fifty establishments min- istering to the spiritual and moral wants of one community. This is an exceedingly large pro- portion. It is evident that the influence for good exerted by all these churches would be immense if directed solely to such @ proper and legitimate object as the morality of the people; but, judging from the murders, robbery and swindling so rife at all times, and from the severe repressive laws that are found necessary, there is reason to fear that, numerous as our churches are, splendid as are the edifices in which the congregations assemble, magnificent and costly as are the organs, the moral influence is, after all, very little. And the real reason, doubtless, is that the churches have abandoned the attempt to guard the spiritual welfare of the race as a slow and prosy old business, and thrown themselves head foremost inte volitica to Animals they oxpres the strik A cure Barnan’, in the » was developed before Judge Court, Chambers, yesterday witare Rey. Joseph A. Saxton, of ah AWA Ld YG A eR Norwwutowa, Wouneey The Freedmen’s Bureau—A Striking Parallel. We published yesterday a page of new mat ter relative to the Freedmon’s Bureau. One- half the space was occupied by a report of the proceedings of the freedmen’s anniversary in this city, in which the operation of the Bureau was highly extolled by its chief officer, General Howard, and the other half by the official re- port of Generals Steedman and Fullerton, in which damning proofs were furnished of the corrupt and even diabolical manner in which the affairs of the Bureau are administered in two of the Southern States. The report of Generals Steedman and Ful- lerton is made from facts ascertained on the spot, while the remarks of General Howard were made here in the city of New York before ® meeting of eolored people and white sympa- thizers, and far distant from the scene of the Bureau’s operations. It isa pity the chief of the Bureau was not at hand when the govern- ment commissioners were making their inves- tigations, He might possibly have shed some light upon branches of the subject which were dark and gloomy to the vision of the commis- sioners, But the report of these officers is clear enough in all essential respects, and fully justifies all we have said in regard to the work- ings of the Bureau. We find that in the States of Virginia and North Carolina the Bureau is managed by a cruel and unscrupulous class of persons. In one case we notice a subordinate deciding, in the most arbi- trary manner, cases involving rights in property, punishment for crimes, including fines, imprisonment and death, settling by a peremptory ipse dizit a divorce between man and wife, and acting in other respects more like an Eastern satrap than an officer under the government of the United States. The horrors of the prison pen at Andersonville are overshadowed by some of the modes of torture instituted by these officers as a punishment for trivial offences. In one case thero was a Wirz of infamous memory, in the other there seems to be a Fitz emulous of a similar detestable renown. At one point in North Carolina it appears a settlement of four thousand blacks exists in a condition truly deplorable. They live in huts containing a single room, in which large families are huddled together. This set- tlement was recently scourged by smallpox, aad the most horrifying scenes occurred during the ravages of the disease. The government commissioners report that this settlement is presided over by’a Rev. Mr. Fitz, formerly an army chaplain, and that this agont has exer- cised the most arbitrary and despotic power, and “practised revolting and unheard ot cruel- ties on the helpless freedmen under his charge.” Among the many acts of cruelty committed by Superintendent Fitz the commissioners found that he had in two instances suspended freed- men with cords around their wrists, their feet not touching the floor,end kept them in this position, in one case four, in the other case six hours; that he sentenced a freedman to an im- prisonment of three months for a trivial offence, that of wrangling with his wife. He kept an- other man, who was arrested for debt, shut up in the block house—the prison—for months, while his wife and two children, reduced to abject destitution, died with the smallpox, and took him from the prison under guard and compelled him to bury his last child in the cradle in which it died. On another occasion, when one of his guards re- ported to him that a colored woman had spoken disrespectfully of him, without even inquiring what the woman had said, he ordered her to be imprisoned until the next morning at nine o’clock, when she should be brought before him to answer for the indignity. In one in- stance he imprisoned six children for ten days for playing in the streets on the Sabbath day. He imposed a fine of sixty dollars upon an aged freedman for having told another freed- man that he was about to be arrested by Mr. Fitz. This poor old man, not having the money to pay the fine, was imprisoned until the next day, when his son paid the same, with three dollars additional as jail fees. The com- missioners enumerate many other instances in which this arbitrary power is exercised by some of the officers and agents of the Bureau, and conclude that the Bureau, as at present operated in Virginia and North Carolina, tends to create prejudice against the government, is of no practical benefit to the blacks, and they recommend that the present officers be with- drawn. ‘This, it must be recollected, is the testimony of gentlemen who have served under General Howard, the Superintendent of the Freedmen’s Bureau, and are not likely to speak from pre- judice against him in regard to any matters in which he may be interested. They have gone South at the request of the government to look into the subject candidly and impartially and report accordingly. They have done so, and their verdict is in condemnation of the system as now carried on. (General Howard may make speeches till doomsday in favor of the Bureau, he may dash his remarks with humerous anecdotes in the negro dialect, he may employ all the cant of a Mawworm to wheedle his pro-abolition auditors, black and white, but he can never overthrow the plain and indubitable facts in regard to this Freed- men’s Bureau communicated in this report by responsible, intelligent and impartial agents of the govenament. Sayta Anna—One More Linerator.—Fol- lowing -close upon the arrival of James Stephens, the great C. 0. I. R, H. ©. F. B, comes another illustrious liberator, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Thus we are blessed with the presence of two great patriots, two liberators without a republic. The repub- lies will come by and by, no doubt. Mr. Ste- phens promises to achieve great things pres- ently. He comes to stimulate the collections, to get men and guns and other things neces- sary to support “the men in the gap.” Sante Anna makes no promises. We must only judge of what be will do by the consideration of his history, by remembering what a fighter he has been, and all thet. Measoring Sante Anna by the past and Stephens by the pro- mised future, it is evident that they arc both first rate heroes, and we shall soon hear of lively times both in Ireland and in Mexico, We published yesterday some significant cor- yespondence bearing upon the history of Santa Anna. These letters of the great Moxican sound oddly when read side by side with his more recent declarations against Maximilian. It appears by them that Santa Anna once thought that an empire established in Mexico by the great European Powers would be an excellent thing —that, ladved, the condition of Mexico was so bad that the “only remedy was the substitution of constitutional empire for that farce called a republi¢.” But he thought thus when it seemed possible that he might secure a high position in the empire. He bid for that high position by the most fulsome and abject laudation of the foreign prince; but they would not trust him. It was remembered too well how recently he had betrayed the confidence reposed in him by the United States; and France kept him out in the cold. Then it was that he gave the world the benefit of his rhetoric in his denunciations of Maxi- milian. Full confidence may, doubtless, be reposed in the present hostility of Santa Anna to the empire. He hates that institution with the energy of one scorned and disappointed by it. So far he is, perhaps, honestly its enemy. But can he be trusted as a friend of the republic merely because he hates the empire? Is he who is a republican for no higher motive than this worthy the confidence of a people striving for freedom? If Santa Anna’s present advent means an active participation in Mexican affairs, this question should be fully weighed by the friends of the republic. Our New Theatres—The Dawn of a New Era for Opera and the Drama. The inconvenience of theatres and opera houses of immense dimensions has for some time been well understood in Europe, and the experience learned has led to an innovation in the construction of the new Paris Opera House, on the Rue de la Paix, which will n0 doubt be found of great advantage, although at present it provokes some adverse comments. While the building covers a vast space it appears that the room is devoted mainly to the stage and the corridors, while the space allotted to the auditorium is comparatively small. We regard this, from our own experience, as an improvement upon barn-like opera houses, which it was of late years the fashion to con- struct. Look at the New York Academy of Music, for instance, which is the terror of European artists, because they know that one season there has a more ruinous effect upon the voice than ten years’ singing in @ properly constructed theatre. The disadvantages of these gigaatic houses are manifold. They are not filled three-fourths of the time, and nothing is more dispiriting to artists than a large empty house. It is equally disagreeable to the small audience. Then it requires a constant strain upon’ the attention, as well as the eye and the car, to keep pace with the effects of the performance, and it is, in fact, impossible to follow them at all. We are glad to notice that the new theatres now going up here will possess these fea- tures which are so desirable. The interior construction is planned with a view to comfort, to acoustics and social enjoyment. The artists will get fair play, and the audience will have an opportunity to obtain’ what they go to the theatre for—the pleasure of hearing @ good opera or a good drama. The Acadomy will, of course, be henceforth appropriated to its proper use. Political gatherings of too large proportions for Tammany Hall to accommo- date will find ample space in the Academy. It will answer very well for Sunday evening re- ligious meetings. Some of the anniversary so- cieties, too, can be very comfortably accommo- dated there; but it is not likely that any more artists will have their voices destroyed by over- straining their capacity to Gill a half empty house, in which the “carpenters’ gallery” and the amphitheatre absorb more than half their vocal powers. We learn that the new French theatre will open on or about the 24th inst. with comic opera, the Doctor of Alcantara, by Jules Eichberg, a brilliant and amusing work, being first on the list, An excellent company having been se- cured, under the direction of a competent manager, we have every reason to expect that the season about to be inaugurated at this house will furnish us with all that we desire in the way of opera for the present. In the fall Manager Grau will take possession, and intro- duce the graad Italian tragedienne Ristori, aad after her a fresh Italian Opera company, which he is about going to Europe to organize. The other Fourteenth street theatre will probably be ready for a brisk fall campaign of new, light and pleasant dramas, a character of per- formance which, with the exception of two or three theatres, has been entirely excluded from the programme of amusements. Thus there will be no dearth of that class of theatrical re- presentation most welcome to the New York public. We will not be compelled to pass our evenings in a barn in order to hear the music of the great masters; neither shall we be obliged to submit to the martyrdom of listen- ing to their compositions horribly mutilated by ‘overtaxed artists. There is happily a bright day coming for opera and the drama in the metropolis. WinpinG up or THe May ANNIVERSARTES.— The periodical gathering in this metropolis of the preachers, philanthropists, negro and white orators, missionaries, and old women, both in pantaloons and petticoats, to reform the world, has just taken place, The May anniversaries have been held and are over, except that of the Quakers, which takes place the ensuing week. We have spread before our readers from day to day the proceedings of the different societies, and there remains little more to be said. Some of these societies are useful, others of little use, as far as the public are concerned, Sometimes there is little philantropy at bottom, and that is often misdirected. Generally the so- cieties and their orators overlook objects of char- ity at their own doors, and run far away to seek those leas worthy of notice. Still, with all the hypocritical cant, humbug and visionary trash let off by the shallow orators at these gatherings, some good comes out of them to a few suffering people. It is ® question, however, whether the harm done does not outweigh the good. The active agents of the societies are, for the most part, people of one idea, agitators and revolu- tionists. Thoy drag politics into their proceed- ings and become the firebrands of discord. There are some exceptions, but this is so as a general rule, They benefit themselves more than anybody else. The anniversaries give them a fine opportunity to come to the me- tropolis and enjoy its pleasures, They can slip into our places of amusement occasionally un} der disguise, which pleasure they conld not or dare not enjoy at home. They are liorized and petted by the ladies; they get their bellies full of good things at no cost, and they then are enabled to go home renewed in strength, and rajoicing. The white neckerchief orators of these societies are decidedly an honored and a haupy claw Gothaw. ja the month ot Maw, ia their paradise, and they will now look forward eagerly for the coming of the next anniversary in 1867. Prevention of Crucity to Animals—Great Mass Meeting at Union Square. We publish in another column a full report of the mass meeting held at Union square last evening, to take action in regard to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Our pages have been crowded with reports of meet- ings during this anniversary week ; but none of these ‘were of greater or more ‘general interest than that which we now lay before our readers. Since our legislators and the excellent gentlemen connected with this movement have expressed their views very freely, it is only right that the animals themselves should be heard. They have certainly spoken very eloquently and to the point. The chairman seems to have been of about the usual calibre of those who preside over public assemblages; but the speakers were unusually terse, vigorous and spicy. Al- though the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was quite severely criti- cized, yet the good sense of the meeting at length prevailed, and the thanks of the animals were tendered to the society on the same ground that the thanks of the anti-slavery peo- ple were recently tendered to Congress—not 80 much for what had been done as for what amight be done hereafter. We are glad to be able to endorse the com- plimentary resolutions of this meeting. The treatment of animals has already been in some degree reformed, and those persons who are disposed to be brutal are now continually on their guard against detection by the agents of the society. There is a great change, for instance, in the mode, of carting calves through the streets. For- merly these animals were cruelly tied, and their heads were allowed to hang painfully over the sides of the cart. Now they ride along in a sort of triumph, sitting or standing upright, and gazing at the wonders of city life with that calm, innocent, unsophisticated ex- pression peculiar to Horace Greeley and other persons from the country. Fast driving is at an end, and even Bonner restrains his flying steeds. As for the omnibus drivers, they will pull up their teams suddenly and subside into a quiet jog-trot if anybody stares aternly at the animals. A horse that has fallen upon the slippery pavement of Broadway is now lifted as gently as an invalid, instead of being kicked into an erect position as of yore. Owners of animals now see in every lamp post an officer of the new society. The cheery whistle has succeeded the cruel whip. In a word, all classes of the community are more careful than before in their treatment of the brute creation. We have noticed a certain resemblance be- tween the mass meeting last evening and the Anti-Slavery Convention a few days ago. The resolutions are not unlike; the conclusions reached by those present are not dissimilar. But the strongest point of resemblance is ia the radical tone of the speeches. The animals, like the abolitionists, are not contented with better treatment than they have ever received before. They demand for themselves that exemption from labor and from punishment which the radicals demand for the negro. They complain because no Freedmen’s Bureau has been provided for them. The negroes, who were groaning under the lash a year or two ago, are now aspiring to seats in Congress, instead of thanking Provi- dence for the boon of freedom. So the animals are no sooner relieved from cruelty than they at once desire to be our masters. The rat objects to being trapped; the cat to being chased out of doors; the horse to being driven. At this rate, if Mr. Bergh’s society and the so- ciety ot Wendell Phillips are equally success- ful, we shall soon have our animals eating us out of house and home, and the darkies whom we freed will be making laws for us at Washing- ton. Still, there was more sense displayed at the animal meeting than at the anti-slavery meet- ing. Although there were a great many don- keys in the Union squareassemblage, they would have nothing whatever to do with the negro question. Would to Heaven that the other donkeys in Congress and among the radicals had as much practical wisdom. Tue Women’s Ricuts Convention.—Among the anniversaries the most prominent and per- haps the most attractive is that of ihe “Wo- men’s Rights Association,” or, as it is in future to be known, the “ Equal Rights Association.” There is nothing very new in the’ ideas set forth by the speakers who participated in the discus- sion of the question whether women shall be encouraged in abandoning their natural posi- tion in soeiety, or shall be legalized by statute in exercising the political functions usually exercised by the other sex. All the arguments and a good deal of the oratory we have heard before. Mrs. Mott and Mrs. Anthony, and Henry Ward Beecher, and Tilton, who once wished to be a black man, and evidently now desires not to be @ man at all, have not told us anything in behalf of woman’s right to unsex herself that we have not heard before. The only part of the discussions which differs from the old-time rhodomontade is the attacks on the President of the United States, and the novelty of that bas been spoiled by Thad Stevens and Trumbull and the other radical representatives of Billingsgate in Congress. Apart from this the speeches were but a reproduction of those which have been prohounced ad nauseam for many years past. The resolutions introduced by Mra. FE. C. Stanton contain the gist of the proceedings, and give us a pretty fair insight into the objects which the ladies propose to effect. The first of them, as declared by the documents, appears to be the united action of man and woman. The introduction of the word “male” into the ‘federal constitution is regarded as a great grievanee and “cruel’ injustice” by Beecher, Tilton and the ladies. In another resolution the Women demand that they shall be put upon “an even platform with mén.” They don’t want to be “in the clouds above man;” know their,position “in the work of life,” and that they insist shall be on “an even platform.” They abuse men generally for their bad legis- lation and their horrible treatment of women, by excluding them from the polls, the fat offices, and the Presidency, and yet they aspire to no higher smbitiondhan to be put on a level with them. In all this nonsense Beecher and Tilton encourage these poor women by their to suggest aioe wetet about the im- provement of their social condition; not a sug- satin ws ta how the widaw ga orovide a Mt oow . larger loaf for her orphans; how vice, es aur tared by the necessities of poverty, can be eap- pressed; but only how woman can be made a cause of mischief to the State by forcing her into @ wrong position and depriving the family household of its strongest prop by converting the modest wife and mother into the brawling politician. The proceedings of these Women’s Rights conventions suggest the question as te whether these women have no husbands, brothers, or fathers, who have influence enough to keep them at home to attend to their domes- tic affairs, The Court Heuse Joh, and the Duty of the Governor Under the New Law. Among the legends in reference to the events of the middle ages is one which ao- counts for the failure to complete the church at Cologne, by the special interference of the devil. As the story goes, his Satanic majesty wanted a.certain number of souls for his king- dom and made a contract for them; but there was some hitch in the fulfilment of the com- tract, and the devil interfered and declared that the church at Cologne should never be com- pleted. This legend gave rise to the universal custom during the feudal ages of charging the failure to complete any great scheme or pablie work that was undertaken to the special interfer- ence of thedevil. In those days some imposing edifice, such as a church or cathedral, would be commenced, and contributions would be taken up for the purpose of its conatruction. Thou- sands, tons of thousands and hundreds of thousands of dollars would be raised for that purpose, yet but very little work would be accomplished. The funds would somehow slip into the pockets of those interested and turn up in the purchase of sites and the erection of private houses, chapals and monas- teries. These were always built with astound- ing rapidity, while the edifices for which the people contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars, made but little progress. This qingw- lar state of affairs was always accounted for by the special interference of the devil. The Court House job of this city bids fair te be to the present century what the church af Cologne was to the middle ages. When its construction was commenced our citizens were informed how much it would cost to build it That amount was raised; but before the publie could see any evidence of the expenditure of the money they were notified that the funds were exhausted, and that several hundred thousand more were necessary to complete it. The additional amount was raised, and im the course of twelve months the foundation of the building was so far completed that the pab- lic could form some idea of the size on the ground of the proposed structure. With this the funds again ran out, and another call was made. Several hundred thousand were once more authorized. The indignation waa 80 great that those engaged at the work found it necessary to make a. greater show for the money raised. Thus it has dragged along year after year—just sufficient work done to keep up appearances; but the call for additional funds is regularly made once a year and the demand acceded to; but sti]l the Court House is net eompleted, nor are there any very strong signs that it ever will be. An ungratéMil’ publi charge those connected with it with being corrupt—that they are nursing the job to enrich themselves, and point to rich palaces whick have been constructed ina remarkably short period, while the Court House has been de layed. Now, it seems to us that these charges an@ insinuations against our Board of Supervisors and those engaged on the Court House neither orthodox nor just. The devil { have hada hand in this job the same as he had in the church at Cologne. The circumstantial! evidence is very similar, at least so far as the large amount of money contributed’ and so little to show for it is concerned. Under. these circumstances, and in view of the faos that the charge of corruption is constantly being made against the Supervisors, their friends, the rings, and the builders of the Court House, it strikes us that it is the duty of Gov- ernor Fenton to immediately exercise the power vested in him under the municipal inves- tigation law. He should appoint a commis- sioner to make a thorough investigation of the whole affair and furnish the public with a care- fal report, giving the cause of all this delay. If it is ascertained that it is the devil that is keeping this building back, and that his Satanio majesty is playing his réle of the church af Cologne over again, then let the fact be known, and thus remove the odium from the Board of Supervisors and other parties concerned. Under such circumstances the public would be chari- table enough to exonerate that Board and the builders from all blame. By all means let this question be settled. The Governor has it in his power to decide it, and he should do it without delay. Let the commissioner be set at work forthwith. How to Get at THe Gas Monoro.ies.—We publish to-day some interesting and valuable statistics in regard to gas. It will be seon that a substitute for the gas in common use is re- commended in the shape of petroleum. Any suggestion calculated to assist the community in its righteous war against gas monopolies is deserving consideration. The gas monopo- lists treat their customers like dictators, They establish rules and regulations for the govern- ment of consumers, fix an exorbitant scale of prices, and regulate the amount according to some method of their own, unknown to anybody else. A gas bill is the production of some hidden and mysterious process; and if an ex~ planation is desired the consumer is treated with contempt by the agents of the gas com- panies, and unless their unreasonable demands are complied with their illuminating vapor fe summarily cut off. The citizens of New York and Brooklyn have been too long subject to the dictation and peremptory demands of these gaa monopolists, and, we repeat, any substitute that can be proposed for the common gas should receive attention and, if found sui , be brought into general use. eatadlishing a large Sailors’ Home. ‘The stock of domestic distilled liquors is running very low. Mining stocks are firm. Ophir $650, Imperial $198, Belcher $332, Yellow Jacket $720, Chollar 9390, ‘The British ship Parisian, from Otagn, New Sealand, arrived, bringing dates of the 16th of March. Wheat was qovted'et On ‘Td. for new, and cofn Ta per bushel. ‘The stock of flour bad boon reduced toa tow oun, om holders wore Grmer :