The New York Herald Newspaper, October 17, 1866, Page 6

8 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND RIETOR, orriOB NM. W. CORNER UF FULTON AND NASSAU STS, ‘HR DAILY HERALD, published coery day in the year, Foon cents por copy. Annual subscription price, $14. JOB PRINTING of every description, aleo Stereotyp- ng and Engraving, neatly and promptly exeouted at the Bowest rates. Votume XX THRATRE FRANOAIS, Fourteenth sirert near Sigth erenue. PRRs. BROADWAY THEATRE, Broatway, near wu 0a0—FaMoHON, Broome N#W YORK THEATRE, Broadway oppovite New York Botcl.—A Nigut in Rome—Wanren Onn Tuowsay Minut- ween. ORRMAN THALIA THEATHE, No. 51¢ Broadway.— Dim Momnoms. GERMAN STAD? THEATRE, Nos. 40 and 47 Rowery.— pans J0MROX ODER DIE PxRLAN ScHNUR—Die Uncivee OnmeM, TRYING HAL, Irving piace.—Mu. xp Mex. Howaro Paor in rin Mustoat, Comic anv Ceanactnurszic Exe fevers KMMNT, . WORTH'S HALL. 806 Broadway. —Prorrsson Hants iM mis Mimacurs Ld BAN YRANGISCO MINSTRELS, 585 Mrosdway, opvostte the Motropoliian Hotel—[n tacit Kamoris ENTSataine MENTS; SINGING, Dancing ANp Buy o—SPeOTRAL Saves Oo” Puantom IuLosi0Ns. and 4 West Error aN: © AND Mupt- MIVTH AVENUK OPERA ‘wonty-fourth straet.—Brpwor: INHTHMLSY, Babtaps, BULLE cre KEOLY & LEON'S GREAT W way—Le TILER SONG! ~My-pg-an Rus-Toas-Her. ‘TREN MINSTRELS, Daxors, Eccunvaicrins, TONY PARTOR'S OPERA ROUSE, 2M Row! Vooxus—Neaxo Minsraeisy Bautxr Dives a Dereu AnD Lowsk Tex Tuovsaxn. 3 tock. CHARLEY WAITR'S COMBINATION TROUPR, at sohvsics’ Hall, 472 Broadway-wIx a Vanixry or Ligut ep DAUGHASLE ENTERTAINMENTS, Cor? Bau we Suapow PaNTommmn. Kk —Cowra MENT, tince at STUDIO BUILDING, 61 West Lonth atrest.—Exuinirtos » Manure Starvary. vita. PB. CONWAY'S PARK THEATRE, Brookyin.-- Avitozd FLOYD, HOOLEY'S OPERA AO eit, BaLtaps, Buriirsa Brooklyn. —Ermtoriay Min- AND PANTONIMES. SHAVERS OPBRA HOUSE, Wiiliemsburg.—G@naxo Brvorian EXTeRTAINMENT, NEW YORK MUSEUM OF 4 certs 3 wire ri Oxz-lrpnoors aly, ea AxD Rigur Anw or Prous AN UNIO M New York, Wednesday, October 17, e “2 cleat TO ADVERTISERS. We dog and entreak of our advertisers to eond in their semonts as early in tho afternoon as possible, in to enable us to clavsify them properly and to roiiove us in some moasure from the increasing pressure ~ @nourcolumns. Fora long timo past the circulation of tho Hiaarp im the metropolis aud tho surrounding elttes has exesoded that uf all the other papers put togethor, Beiag the vehicle of communication with the public upon ull subjects relating to their social, polilical and com- mercial interests, no one can well go to business in the morning without reading the Hexata, from which he can sacertain the state of the markets, what is to be sold. and whore he can buy what he requires, &c. Our edvorfwers, therefore, will see the advantage to us and to ‘homselves of sending in thoir advertisements at an early hour, so that we can insert them in such place and fm such regular form as will render them most available for the public benefit and secure the greatest good for Gee wlvortieors. THE NEBW SB. EUROPE. ‘Ti Atfamtic cable furnishes a financial and commer- ola! roport dated in London and Liverpool yesterday evening, October 16, Consola closed in London at 891; for money. The mouey market was steady. United States five-twenties ware at 6854. Tho LAverpool Sotton market was quite active. Mid- Glog uplands was quoted at fifteon and one-fourth pence, Breadstuifs tonded upward, as the weather was pull on- favorable for the crops in England. By the steamship Scotia, at this port yesterday, we Feceived special despatches and correspondence, with ‘our foreign files, datod to the 7th of October. Napoleon was convalescent at Biarritz from a severe aiiack of fMiness, which confined him to his bed and room during five days. Our correspondence dated at tbe im- Por'at rotreat is of @ very intere-ting character. , ‘Tue Kimpress of Mexico hae had an Atlantic cable doxmich in cipher from Maximilian which cost five thousand dollars. } Tue London Times’ article on the subject of England's fosition and duty towards the Alabama claims—of which weave had an ample synopets by special tolegram— epprar in our columos im extenea ‘The Tureo-Ezyptian army in Candia was severely de- foaled by the Chriatinns in the eugagements already reported in the Haan. ‘10 ts said that Romie is rapidly removing her troops from Poland and marching them towards the Danube, and (hat agents of the Czar are engaged in recruiting interrs"’ in Greece for “a Turkish campaign;'’ otficors of the King of Greece being engaged in a eumilar avy. France is reported to be very much “ irritated ” Againt Prussin—indeod, unusually so—and it is said that there is every probability of a war between the two countries ata time not far distant. ‘Vhe Berlin Journals treat the Napoleon Foreign OMce Circular im @ very calm and easy mannor, thauking the “Superor for the exhibition of pacific and most excetleat » aahone italy i# free Dy the perfection of the Ivalo-Austrian waco treaty, Tho London Times tenders some very rholesome advice to the newly enfranchisod people. The London Post of the 6th inst, received at a late jour Iaat night, bas an article on the subject of Presiaent Founson's difficulty with Congress, in which it mys: "Lhe compoattion of the Senate will be unatferted by the Qpproaching elections, and hitherto the Presitent bas been enabled to rely on the support of one-third of ite mombers. With such support he will be in a position to ma stain any vetoos which he may deem |: expedient to Pproaounes.”” THE CITY. Alice broke owt last night about ten o'clock inthe Mp chandiery warehouse of J. C. Baxter & Son, No 308 Woe wtroot, which, owing to the combustible materials florod on the premises, spread rapidly to the adjoining bo iding, No. 907, and communicated with a large stor- Ber store at Nos. 608 and 610 Washingion street, in Prbich waa stored a large quantity of cotton and other Bworchandise, The houses adjoining the chandiery store fan storage store were occupied by poor families, some twouty Ove of whom were temporarily dislodged. The ry ut of loases oF insurance could not be readily arcer- Rained, bat the damage will ja all probability amount to $300,000. (y Not « single case of cholera was reported im this ctty pesterday. Twenty two caves and eight deaths were re- ported yomorday in Chicegs At inquest wae held yosterdey on the body of William Davis, of Twenty-second street and avenoe A, who was fun over by @ Harlem car in the Thiet rh street fuvvet The company ts severely ce: An inquest War also hold on the body of Mre. Pratt, and a Werdict of suicide by taking potson w: nd. A third on tho body of an unknown man (tepporrd to be Fred. erick Cameron, of Middletown, Orange county, N. ¥.), rosvited In a verdict of drowning. ‘The Investigation in the case of Edyer! Urwick, the slioged bank check forger, was held at the Tombs Po. Dice Court, before Justice Dowling, yesterday. Depow of the Hanover, Park and ‘Tho case has passed into the hands of the District At- torney. Generai Santa Aana denies the story of the purchase by bim of ten thousand Enfield rifles. James Wilson was sent to the Penitentiary yesterday after trial in the Court of Special Sessions, for running away from Karle's Hotel without paying his board bill: In the Court of General Sessions, William Hughes went to the Penitentiary for six months for stealing a watch from Michac! Whalen; Henry Ashton was sent to State Prison for two and a half years for stealing from Ra- phael Frapk, and William Conner and John Reynolds were acquitted of charges of theft preferred against them, Migs Anna D, Ward, of No. 14 North Third street, died yesterday from the effect of burns received the night before, ‘The steamsbip City of Cork, Captain Bridgman, of the Toman line, will gail from pier No. 45 North river et noon to-day for Liverpool, calling at Queenstown. The line steamship Eagle, Captain Greene, will gail punctually at three o'clock P, M. to-day, from pier No. 4 North river, for Havana, The mails will close at the Post office at balf past one o'clock. The stock market was excited yesterday, and closed strong atam advance, Gold was ir:eguiar, aud closed at 149. The continued violent finctuation# and downward course of the gold premium yesterday, without materi- ally interfering with the progress of general trade, ex- erted @ more marked influence ou commercial values than was. apparent on Monday, and though the volume of business was quite as large, the prices realized in most, cases wére decidedly lower. Cotton was fully 10, in gollers’ favor, Sugar easier but oot quotably lower, Coffee steady. Dry goods quiet. On 'Change flour closed rathor heavy. Wheat 1c. a 2c. lower. Corn Ic, lower. Oats steady, Barloy heavy. Pork firm but quiet, Beef jheavy, Petroleum nominally }4c. lower, Whiskey and freighta quiet MISCELLANEOUS. The Swedish bark ’enclope has been reported in dis- tress in latitude 31 30, longitude 80 20. The British steamer Palmyra, for London, put in at Newport, R. L, yesterday in distress, having lost her bulwarks and stan- chions, strainod her forecastle and received other dam- ages. The steamer Alabama put into Norfolk short of coal. Tho schooner Sarah Ellen, reported disabled off Cape Henry, was not found by the gunboat sent in search of her. Tho Eilon Lacy is detained by weather at Fortress Monroe. We publish this morning a full list of tho passengers and crow of the lost cteamer Evening Star, The late terrible hurricane was folt in the vicintty of the Bahamas with the most destructive offect, the wind being more violont than during any previous gale, wrecking many veasela, blowing down houses and doing immense damage. The wind blew from northeast to northwest and eouthoast. Iarge quantities of wreckod materials floated ashore, aud several dead bodies drifted on the beach, Many of tho islands had not been heard from, but it is supposed that when full accounts come in that the foss of proporty will be great. A convention of the colored citizens of New York as- sembled at Albany yesterday, to discuss the proper Pglicy to be pursued by this class of our population. The nomination of Governor Fenton was ondoreed, and the eight thousand negro voters of the “tate were urged to support the ticket, The proceedings, as given in our despatches, aro highly intoresting as well as amusing. Prince John Van Buren died on the steamer Scotia at sea on the 14th, The report of the defeat of General Escobedo is not credited at Washington, but the information upon which it i@ discredited is falco. General Mejia left Mexico city earlier than the date mentioned (30th of September), and the Emperor Maximilian reviewed lis divisions at San Luis Potosi as early as September 22. M. Elom’s lettor to Maximilian is now declared to be genuine, as published in the Hrraiy. Further particulars of the Quebec fire put the number of buildings destroyed at twenty-three hundred. Six bodies of burned persons, three of them women, had been taken from the ruins. The citizens of the unburned part of Quebec assembled inst evening and subscribed $15,000 to aid the sufferers, The Mississippi Legisiature met on the 15th inst, in extra session, The Governor submitted the constitutional amendinents, with a recoumondation that they be not adopted. The rumors of an outbronk of negroes at Nashville are unfounded, "Tho ‘trotting race between Lady Erama and George Wilkes, for $5,000, at the Fashion Course yesterday, was won by Lady Emma in three straight heats, ‘ume, 2:27—2:275¢—%:285{. In the other race the colt Old Hundred paid forfeit. An exciting race is expected to- day between Ball Run and Ella Sherwood, mile beats, best three in Ave, for $2,000. Governor Fenton vs. Mayer fiman on the Constitutional Amendment. At the republican ratification meeting at the Cooper Institute on Monday evening a letter waa read from Governor Fenton, in which he says that “in the discharge of a high public trust the present Congress has patiently and laboriously investigated the condition of that section of the country convulsed by the recent rebellion; and in a commendable spirit of moderation it has proposed for adoption an amendment to the constitution so reasonable and appropriate to ‘the existing state of affairs that its propriety and jus- tice afe admitted even by those who oppose its adoption;” that “the plan of adjust- ment thus presented is the only one before the people;” that “it bas the sanction of en overwhelming majority of the Senate and House of Representatives;” that “it has been heartily and earnestly endorsed by the people of every State in which general eloction has since been bold;” that “ii will receive the unanimous approval of all the States whose unwavering loyalty bore us triumphantly through the war,” and that “it is a noble and magnanimous peace offering, tendered by Con- gress in behalf of the people” to the States rescued from the late rebellion. As thus de- fined the position of Governor Fenton is satis- factory; and as the adoption or rejection of this amendment is in reality the only issue betore the people, the inquiry is sug- gested how, siands Mayor Hoffman, the Tam- many rump candidate for Governor, on this all-absorbing question ? In a late clectioneering speech at Rochester Mayor Hoffman devoted # considerable portion of his time to his objections to tifis constitu- tional amendment. He argued that it was not constitutional, because it was not passed by a constitutional Congress; that it was insulting in its terms-to the excluded States; that they would never vote to put under the ban of exclusion from federal offices their most dis- tinguished citizens involved in their “lost cause;” that the negro suffrage and represen- tative claase means the enforcement of negro suffrage; that with the ratification of this amendment by the Siates directly concerned they will be subjected to other and harsher conditions of restovatioh, when, wccording to the good old fashioned democratic doctrine of Stuie sovereignty, the ex- cluded States, in laying down their arms, siood at once just as they were be- fore the war, under the constitution as ex- pounded by Calhoun, Buchanan apd the Chi- cago Convention, This is substantially the Southern restoration platform of Mr. Hoffman. It ie the quintessence of magnanimity and brotherly love, “barring the niggers,” and it is the highest bid that Vallandigbam has made for the restoration of the old Southern domi- neering masters democratic party. Let Mayor Hoffman's Ideas be adopted, and there is nothing to prevent the running of Jef Davis and Breckinridge for the next Presi- ont war given by Urwit. | donoy o@ the olatform of the eonstiintign of the late so-called Confederate States. Restore the Union according to Mayor Hoffman's plan, and a democratic peace adjustment embracing the revival of Southern slavery, the repudiation of tie national debt, compensation for the losses of slaves by the war, or their services, and the re-establishment of the old Southern democratic ruling junta at Washington of Davis, Mason, Slidell, Benjamin, Toombs, Ste- phens, Cobb, Thompson and company, wil! become a hopeful enterprise. This view of Mayor Hoffman's restoration programme affords the true explanation of the otherwise astounding results 6f the late elec- tions. The great body of ‘the people of the North identified with the war for the Union have no faith in the party organization which justified the rebellion of the South on constitu- tional grounds and sought to make peace on any terms, Union or disunion, acceptable to the leaders of the rebellion. Nor have the great Northern majorities any faith in the res- toration of thoee rebel leaders to Congress and the Cabinet, as proposed in the confidence policy of Mayor Hoffman and his peace party of the war. Itis nothing more and nothing legs than the Chicago pleitorm of peace at any price and the recognition of the war agains: Southern democratic, prineiples, South- ern slavery and Southern rights, as a failure, The Northern people, we say, have accepted the issue between the republican and demo- cratic parties of 1866 as substantially the issue of 1864, and hence the overwhelming majori- ties of Abraham Lincoln, in his re-election, have been revived in these recent State elec- tions from Maine to Iowa. And this is the issue between Fenton and Hoffiaan, divested, on Hoffman’s side, of General McClellan’s popularity as a war democrat and Union soldier of the war, and divesied, loo, of General Slocum’s popularity as a Union soldier. The patronage of the ad- minisiration is a two-edged sword, and the firm of Seward, Weed and Raymond, from which\such large accessions were expected to the Tammany ticket, is broken up, dissevered and redaced ton blank in the general eati- mate, Even the Rey. Henry Ward Beecher, who but the other day dilated on the policy of President Jonson as the true policy of the gospel according to St John, has been com- pelled to tack chip and sua with the wind of these October elections, He believes, with the great Napoleon, that Providence is on the side of the benviest artillery. All these things considered, we cannot resist the con- clusion that between Governor Fenton on the platform of the constitutional amendment and Mayor Hoffman on the Chicago platform, Hoff- man’s luevitable defeat in November will be the beginning of the end of the democratic rump and “ring” of ‘Tammany Tall. Street Reforms in New York.-Why Have We Ne Chonp Cabs ? An intelligent foreigner landing in New York is at once surprised to find no cheap cabs like those of Paris and London. It lowers his esti- mate of the intelligence of our people to see them compelled to choose between crowded omnibuses, overcrowded cars and dirty, ex- pensive, lumbering hackney coaches, when they want to travol from one part of the city to another. He hears complaints that the streels are jammed up with stages, and listens to the mournful anecdotes of middle-aged gen- tlemen who are forced to hang on to the car straps and have their feet trodden upon by ruffianly conductors as they come home from business of an evening, and then he wonders why we have no cabs. He boholds our young men working their passage down town in the morning by standing all the way and passing up other people’s fares, and again he wonders why we have no cabs. He falls in with respectable people who are kept home from the theatres, concerts or private parties on rainy evenings because the cars are distant and uncertain and carriages too costly, and still he wonders why we have no cabs. Wisi- ing to cross from one side of the city to the other he discovers that there are no transverse lines of cars and siages, and that he must either expend three dollars or walk, and there- upon he. asks, with augmented wonder, why we have no cabs. The question is very difficult to answar. Everybody admits that it is perfoctly prac- ticable for this metropolis to possess a couple of thousand cabs, which will be equally fast and comfortable, and which will carry passen- gers for twenty cents or less per mile. The system is in actual operation all over Earope, and there can be no doubt as to its advan- tages. In a pecuniary point of view it would be immensely profitable, not only to the cab owners, but to all the interests of this great city. For instance, a competent and careful theatrical manager assures us that it would add atleast a thousand dollars a week to his receipts. The employment it would glve our carriage builders, the pay of a couple of thou- sand drivers, the feed and keeping of as many horses, the money {t would put into tho pockets of harness makers, blacksmiths and stable men, are by uo means inconsiderable items. Besides this it would create new business centres. Localities now quite ont of the channel of trade and in- accessible to buyers and shoppers would be doubled in value. Building siles iv the vicinity of the city would be in greater de- mand; for the cabs wonld enable us to reach the railroad depots and the steamboats much more quickly and conveniently. Our people would no Jonger assert that it is more trouble for them to go to Brooklyn than to Europe. In all these matters, and in many others, the cab system would inangurate an entire revolu- tion. Our people are the most sensible, enterpris- ing aud Jnxarious on the face of the earth, and yet they voluntarily do without cabs. Capital. ists do not know how to invest their money, and yet they never think of siarting a ¢ab com- pany. At half-past ten o'clock P. M. Fifth avenue is & brown stone desert, and Broadway almost as qitiet as 4 village lane, because we have no cabs, A vast amount of patrouage is waiting for the cab system, and @ vast amount of spare cash is lying sround loose for the cab company to pick up; dot nobody startle the good work, The merohante and the professions! men drive down to business in cabs, roadi ir Henapa es they rolled slong; powrem § end their daughters would cabs to make ae 5 calle and do their ; thousands take cabs for dhe places of emnsement evéry evening; the balls w employ hundseds of cabs; strangers in the would hire cabs by She day te wo the siehis, and inavollass would NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1866,—TRIPLE SHEET. require osbs to convey them to and from the boats and cars. In the afternoon there would be a stream of cabs running up Broadway from the Wall street offices, and up Fifth ave- nue to the Park. The average American cares nothing for a fow cents more or less, and would call a cab at any time rather than walk. The saving in time would more than repay him for the outlay of money, and thus render the cal really economical. There is more profit to be derived from @ cab company than from any of the street railway companies that now pay such high interest. Let somobody organize a cab system, and he will not only make his everlasting fortune, but he will receive the equally eternal gratitude of a long-suffering and cabless generation. National Gamoe—The Great Brooklyn. On the Capitoline grounds in Bedford, one of the pleagantest suburbs of suburban Brooklyn, was played on Monday an Olympian game of base ball for the ohamplonship of America. The contestants were the Athletic lub of Philadelphia; and the Atlantic Club of Brooklyn. Before the contest the latter Our Match in -were, the champions, and now that the honor ablo strife is over they remain. the champions still, for they beat their adversaries by twenty- seven to seventeen runs. : Bvery country from immemorial time has had tts national game, tending to develop the phy- sical qualities—the strength, the muscle and the agility—of its youth. Greece had its Olympic games, at which wrestling, chariot racing and the stimulating contests of throwing the diso— the quoit of modern days—formed the lead- ing features, The more barbarous gladiatorial conflicts of Rome divided the interest of the show loving public with the less bloody rivalry of the arena where strength coped with strength, muscle with muscle and nerve with nerve. In the medisval ages France and England rejoiced in the sham battles of the tournament. In later days racket and tennis supplanted the chivalric and semi-bar- barous tournament in both countries. In France they were very popular in the ante- revolutionary times. At the present day France can hardly be said to have any game so thoroughly national as is either cricket, racket, or hand ball in England, or bull fight- ing in Spain, or as are the athletic sports of Germany, which we see reproduced in this coantry,by the various Turner societies. The national game of America is now, par excellence, base ball We can imagine how readily the English game of cricket was trans- formed into this active game, which is so much more suitable to the habits and temperament of our people. Cricket—although a highly scientific game—is a slow and serious ‘pastime compared with its American prototype. It re- quires more skill perhaps to play it well, and closer etudy for the looker on to understand It; but everybody, ladies and all, com- prebends the game of base ball, which is a matter of quickness of eye, rapid play “of muscle, swiftness of foot, and ever-changing position, that carry the interest of the spectator as well as the player directly into the fortunes of the game. Hence our national game chimes exactly with our national characteristics. The phlegmatic element of the Anglo-Saxon family may be fairly represented in the English game of cricket, during which the original Anglo-Saxon can dawdle off and smoke his democratic pipe or aristocratic cigar at intervals; but the new branch of the family in America, with young, vigorous blood swelling its veins, wants constant life and motion in its sports. Hence the English game has almost fallen into decay among us, while (ie American game is every day attracting the interest which but a short time ago attached almost exclusively to the race course, or, among certain classes, to the prize ring. We might.regard the match played in Brook- lyn on Monday as the culmination of success for our national game. In the first place it was a Leai of the quality of two of the best clubs in the country. [In the next it was the most respeciable and ordetly gathering that ever assembled in the same numbers to witness a contest where diverse intereste—each, of course, sqpported by their mutual friends— were represented. Twenty thousand people were present, and there was not the slightest breach of decorum observed during the four hours in which the issue of the game was being decided. The large force of police on the ground, finding thelr occupation as conserva- tors of the peace altogether gone, sat on the green sward, and watched the game with as much pleasure as the rest. Ladies waved their handkerebiefs and gentlemen shouted lustily now and then; but the Philadelphia Club received as much congratulation as the Brooklyn boys when they made a good ran and a successful inning. The utmost courtesy was extended to the strangers, who were pro- bably struck with the contrast between the good order prevailing on this occasion and the confusion, crowding and interruption which prevented the completion of the match a short time since, when the Atlantics visited Philadel- phia to try their mettle with the Athletics. All the manly sports which serve to de- velop the omecle of our young men should be encouraged. They help to make better materin| for the fatare of our young country ; material for “sound minds in sound bodies,” upon the principle of the ancient philosophers, and we know of no game more calculated to effect this end than our ational game of base bath. Tue Great Fine at Quevnc.—The terrible fire that ocourred at Quebec on last Sunday morning farnishes another Imprestive argu- ment for constructing fire-proof buildings in all large cities. Twenty-five hundred bousee burned and eighteen thousand people left honselesy ts an appalling fact that ought to aroure the attention of the people and legisia- tors to the necessity of passing laws to prevent such calamities, At Portland, Maine, » similar confisgration occurred lately with like dread- fol vewulia, In this city we bave frequently great fires, with @arfal loss of life. So, also, in other parts of the country. Nearly all these painful disasters of widespread loss of proper- ty and life may bé traced to the same canse— badly constructed heme that are mere ohells, and that Hgbt-ap ao Ingo tinder on the approach of the devouring flamer. This was the ease both in Quebeo and Poriland,’ and ft might be so at soy time in some of the thickly populated portions of this city in spite of an efficient Fire Department, In the way that hqjers are comatructed DoW we are alwava tert nt ae Usable to a similar disaster. Yuch fires do aot occur in Paris and some other large cities in Europe, because the houses are substantially buflt and are fire-proof, or nearly so. We again urge upon the Legislsture of the State to pass @ building act compelling all struc- tures, in the cities at least, to be made fire-proof. The insurance that would thus be saved would within a short time be equivalent to the extra expense of constructing such houses, to say nothing of the saving of life, of the sense of security people would feel, of the enhanced value of property and the vast improvement in the appearance of the city. By all means let us have @ proper building act as soon es the Legislature shall meet and while the re- membrance of these dreadful conflagrations is fresh in the public mind. Tse Governmanr Derecrive System.—We thought we had done with the humiliating exposures of the government detective system when General Baker was removed. We are disabused of that agreeable impression by the case which was brought before Justice Dowling at the Tombs on Monday last. The detectives used by Baker were bad enough in character; but it seems that the Treasury Department is determined to vie with that official in the employment of persons of the worst possible antecedents, The man Hyer who has just been committed for forcing the complainant in the case (Knox) to buy counterfoit notes from him with a view to passing them off, has, it seems, been in prison on various charges and hag. served two full penal terms. How he came to be in the service of the Treasury we are not informed, and we can only presume that the influence of the system inaugurated by Baker in the State Department haz been allowed to pervade the machinery of the other branches of the government, and that the employment of persons of the stamp of. Conover and Hyer has become a recognized necessity. Now against this we protest energetically. As Americans we cannot consent to the admis- sion of the principle that for the attainment of any object, no matter how good, it is lawful to use unworthy instruments, Such a theory may be admissible under despotisms, but under a free government like ours it cannot for a moment be justified. Its tendency ia obviously to corrupt and pollute ihe fountains of justice and to demoralize¥every branch of the administration, We have witnessed the fruits of itin .the robberies and persecutions which have been perpetrated upon innocent people in the name of our goverment, and in the discredit which is being brought upon us as @ nation by the ,retention in prison of the head of the late rebel confederacy upon charges that are now universally admitted to have been fabricated with a view to bis judical mur- der, It is time that a stop should be pul to such things, unless indeed we desire that our boasted tree system of. government shoulll peat into a term of reproach and ridicule. PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE. Sir Frederick Bruce, tho British Minister; W. Bodisoo, the Russian Minister; G. G. Tassara, the Spanish Minis- ter; A.M. de Zea, Spanish Consu! at Portland, Maine, and Major General Robert Anderson, United States Anay, are at the Clarendon Hotel, Oditon Barrot, of the French legation, is at the Bre- voort House. General Irvine, of Governor Fenton's staff; General H. A. Baxter, of Vermont, and E. P, Koss, of Auburn, N. Y., are at the St. Nicholas Hotel. Roar Admiral! Montgomery, United States Navy, ts at the St. Donis Hotel, Marquis de Chambran, of Washington, ts at the Astor House. Goueral Francis Fessenden ts at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Mansfield Lovell, who was Deputy Street Commis. sioner of this city before the war, and who subsequently cast his lot with the rebels, and was appointed a General in the rebel service, is in this city, He commandedshe rebel troops in New Orleans when it was attacked by the United States deet under Admiral Farragut. MOVEMENTS OF SANTA ANNA. Departure ef Guerillas—An Alleged Moxican Spy--Deuial ef the Reported Purchase of Enfield Rifles—Visit to Fort Richmond, &c. Tho movements of the Mexican chief, who recently created an excitement by his affiliation with the Fenian organization, are’ still wrapt in considerable obscurity, and tho perronnel surrounding him are not only reserved, but seom to treat inquiry with extreme signs of aver- sion. It appears that some party or parties of Santa Anna's entourage have lately been set aside or dismissed from his service for imprudently divulging what they kuew; and it was positively asserted that an American recently from Mexico was in the employ of Maximilian 5 a spy on Santa Anna's movements. Two hundred and eighty-three men, intended as the nucleus of guerilla parties in the interest of Sania Anna, havo left within a week for New Orleans and Havana. 1k is expected that more will leave during the coming woek-—chiefly by way of New Orieams. It is not yot known what effect the fall of Monterey hes bad upon Sante Anna or his cause, Gut the effect of the arrival on the Rio Grande of bis partivans may be looked for ‘with interest, ‘The story about a purchase of arms—ten thousand Ea. field rifes—to be concluded to-day, is denied at Santa Anna’s headquarters, although it is known to be a fact ‘that at least a dozen different samples of army revoivers, as well as Springfield, Enfield and other styles of mus- kets have been left for examination at the headquarters On “taten Island. What can be the meaning of the ex- change in Wall street by cortain parties of a large amount of Mexican gold ouncee—reported to be twenty four hundred—for greenbacks, on Monday. On Monday General Santa Anua drove around sfaten Teland, and was highly interested by the inspection of Fort Richmond, at the Narrows. “TWE BANK FORGERY CASE. The Prisoner Waives an Examination The Papers Passed Over to the District Ate torney. ‘The witnesses summoned to appear in ‘be case of Ka ward Urwick, charged with bemg an accomplice in the forgery of checks on some of the city banks, were ai the Tombs, before Justice Dowling, yesterday. Urwick walved a preliminary examination. George H, Andross, receiving teller of the Hanover Rank, deposed that Kdward Urwick presented to him three checks, two of which were In court, One of the checks was drawn on the Chemical Bank, dated October 11, 1806, and made payable to the order of E&. Durand, rhe amoant was and {t was prrported to be cer- tifed and drawn G, Lord. be other check drawn op the Navopal Park 961 18, purporting to be certi- eredited Hy Philip Meyer & Co, Tt war reerived and Pgh dag 2 Secanse the day reviows he hed opened #n scconnt the bath. Tue checks were sent i j i i g H i i H The check Presented to ment for 000 in the Park an 2S hemo prisoner, Urwiek, said he ope anda t of Brooklyn. cherl Broad sates le artne sale PIREs. Extensive Fire in West and Washington Streets. THREE LARGE STORES DESTROYED. Loss Estimated at Three Hundred Thousand Doliars. FIRE IN WEST THIRTEENTH STREET. Additional Particulars of the Great Fire at Quebec. a. &e. &o. The West Street Fire, Tho fire bell struck for an alarm of fire at a quarter Past ton o'clock last night, and soon after fire was seem bursting out of the five story brick building No, 308 Wem treet, The firemen wore promptiy at the promises, tab from the inflammable character of the conteatee? she Duilding the dames epread rapidly from floor te Seen; ‘The two upper stories communtcating with the Ave atoggyt building No, 807, very soon set fire to that batiding, aml the two wore on fire at one time. ’ _ The walls of tho Grst building fell in about twenty minutes after the alarm, crushing the roof and flooring of the two story house No. 309. A portion of the wall, it appears, fell on an extension of the large storage store immediately in the rear, fronting on Washington street, Nos. 508 and 610, thus setting fire to that buil From this ext ion the flames soon into main building, stored on two floors with cotton, the other stories with s gonoral assortment of men chandise, Notwithstanding the energy of the fey men the flames kept gaining rapidiy untit reached the roof. The Chief Engineer, having his men to look out, fearing some floors might give way, five pow streams wore thea: brought to bear from the siteet, and played into windows, and at the time our reporter loft the econe conflagration, at one o'clock, the interior of the store was all on fire, and it was believed the whole of building and its contents would bo dostroyed. @ first and second floors of the building Ne, 308 chandlera, Mr. Baxter estimates his loss at about ‘West street were occapied by John GO. Baxter & Son, hig on which ho ts insured for $12,000, in the f Lenox, Relief and New Amsterdam Inaurauce The third floor was occupied by Bowen & ' gers. Their loss may be estimated at about $2,000;, to be partly covered by insarance. The fourth ‘fifth floors, and the two top lofts of the adj bull ing, was occupied by John Curtin, sail maker. may be catimated af about $1,500; partly insured. No. 307 West street. The first and second floors occupied by John G, Ferris’ liquor store; loss _ at about $5,000; sald to be insured, ‘tho third floor occupied by a tin can manufacturer whose name we not learn, ont! Jonna J. Kelley; it THE QUEBEC FIRE. a ep SPECIAL TELEGRAM TO” THE NEW YORK WERALS, ‘Twenty-Three Hundred Bwitdhigs Six Kuown to Have Beon Death—Several Others Missing—Pablte to Meeting In Quobee—(: Molicited for the Sufferers, &e. Qvensc, Oct, 16, 1968. ‘The Mayor of Quebec tmued « proclamation yesterday morning for a mass meeting to be held last evening, te devige means to assist the sufferers by the great fire. & more numerous and jufiventisl assembly nover com vened in this city. The ¢itieens whose property ‘Coroner Prendergrast held an inquest on the bodies taken from the ring The body taken ont was that of a woman nemed Margaret Weard—the wife of St. Larearcur—whos busband was jon \h Artgo street, near the Meer ea of Anes eee ngelin Vadebenour, C ety ots yeas ‘adebenour, age’ sixty years, the name foe mother Bissouller ie musing, be while stempting to save the furniture from hie father's house on Vaiecr street, a few minutes the house was blown up. Several ether persone are alam nem mirting number of boures destroyed is greater than at free supposed, | think tuey will exceed 2,800, throwing all inne, ond very waves from the fumes aay clovbing except what Was om their persons ‘Out of the Ja io the ey slat teoort during the summer months. 0 different societies of the city have disporal of the authert' thetr balls who were unable the Chey Hall, two @rili “eG General, immediately otter being nott- to Quebee for she sccommodation of placed at the es Me for c=] families procure vente. theds and the Marine a mile. during the day '* Pleasant, but Mort chilly,” Those iPving ta tents com