The New York Herald Newspaper, December 8, 1867, Page 6

6 NEW YORK HERALD. Train. Resolutions were adopted domapding that the | government Yasist upon the release of all American citizens in Eagiand, and demand reparation for injures sustained by such citizema, A similar mass meeting was also held in St. Louis, In the Virginia Convention yesterday eight dollars per diem was agreed upon as pay for the members, with the usual mileage In a caucus of radicai members it Was decided to require the test oath from all delegates, Tu this case it is probable the whole conservative dele- gation will retire, General Sherman arrived in Washington yesterday. The rest of the Indian Peace Commission accompanied him, In the famous Petersem abandonment case yesterday the closing arguments of counsel on both sides wore heard, aod the Judge anmounced that he would render his decision om Saturday, December 21, The stock market was firm yesterday. Gold closed at 156% 9 1867§, Government securities were inactive. FROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR.’ Volume XXXI0..... RELIGIOUS SERVICES TO.DaY, BLERCKER STREET UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.— Rev. Dav B. Leon “It & Never Too Late vo Meno.” | Moruing and evening. | BROADWAY TABERNACLE CHUROH.—Da. Tuomr- BON ON “IELIGION IN *” Evening. . CATHOLIC APOST CHURCH. —“Tus Necessity Or tum ComiNe oF 18 LORD.” Byening. CHURCH OF THE RESURBRECTION.—Da. E, 0. Fiaca, Morning, Lord Stantey om the Alabama Claimne—Our Policy the Cash or Reprisals. We have a cloudy despatch from London, according to which the Times, in an editorial, says:—“ Lord Stanley is right in refusing.to permit the foreign policy of England to be re- viewed by any foreign Power whatever. On all other points (on the Alabama claims) Eng- land will gladly meet the United States half way, as she is thoroughly tired of the dis- cussion.” This is the British side of the ques- tion. In the next place President Johnson, in his annual Message of the 3d inst, eays:—“ No arrangement has yet been reached for the settlement of our claims for British depre- dations upon tho commerce of the United CHURCH OF THB REFORMATION.—Rev. Anvorr Brows. Morning. CANAL STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH .—Rev, Daviw Mitouxut. Moraiog. IGURATION.—Rev, Dr, " CHURCH OF THE Mongan. Evening. * ROH.—Rev. T. M. Morning and evening. SEVENTH PR Dawson on “Tux CHURCH OF THE PURITANS.—Rey. Martugw Hata xita. Evening. F STRANGERS, Hall of the Univer. juare.—Rey. Da! Houstox, Morning CHURCH OF THE HOLY APOSTLES.—Ray, Dr. 8. H. Tysa. Bening. CHURCH OF THE DIVINE PATERNITY.—Rey, E. B. Cuarun, FREK METHODIST, Bighteenth street and Eighth ave- bio—Key, B. 7. Rongars. Morning and evening. States. Ihave felt it my duty to decline the i ” proposition of arbitration made by her Majesty’s € ithe cnee * Fe Gear Meranda ee “ government, because it has hitherto been ac- companied with reservations and limitations incompatible with the rights, interest and honor of our country.” But he further says:— “It is not to be apprehended that Great Britain will persist in her refusal to satisfy these just and reasonable claims, which involve the sacred principle of non-intervention—a principle henceforth not more important to the United States than to all other commercial nations.” This is the American side of the question, and with the two sides placed vis-d- vis the controversy begins to assume an ugly complexion, and at al favitiag juncture for decisive action. Lord Stanley “will not pormit the foreign policy of England to be reviewed by any foreign Power.” What is the meaning of this? We presume that, in the lengthy correspond- ence which has taken place between the two governments on these British depredations, Mr. Adams, in overhauling the record of the foreign policy and international transactions ot England, has found some precedents which sustain his case, and has put the present British Cabinet in an awkward dilemma, from which Lord Stanley could only extricate himself by impertinently closing the discussion. He will not permit the foreign policy of England to be reviewed. If she held one position yesterday and holds another to-day on theso piratical depredations upon our merchant ships, what business is this of ours? He will not be called to account for it, Very well. If his Lordship will no longer listen to reason and fair argu- ment (and we think we have had talk enough on the subject), the only course left to our government is that of General Jackson’s touch- ing those claims for certain French apolia- tions—the simple submission to her Majesty’s government of the alternative of the cash or reprisals, The policy pursued by England and France, but especially by England, toward the United States, from the breaking out of our late South- ern rebellion until all hopes of its success had vanished, was eminently offensive, treach- erous and unjust. With unseemly haste, as if he gloated upon the opportunity, Lord Russell proclaimed his policy of neutrality, which con- ceded equal belligerent rights to our rebellious States, If President Johnson, on the informa- tion that the Fenians had set up in Dublin an Independent government for Ireland, were to proclaim his recognition of the belligerent rights of the Irish republic on the same footing with the government of Great Britain, it would be only a Roland for an Oliver. But if the policy of England touching the belligerent rights of our rebel States was an unprece- ST. ANN'S FREE CHURCH.—Morning, afternoon and eveuing. TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH,—Rev. Morning and evening. J. Stamroxp. UNIVERSITY, Washington square.—Bistor Sxow ox “Tue Harvest axp Vintage.” Afternoon, UPPER CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION.—Morning ‘TRIPLE SHEET. New York, Sunday, December 8, 1867. THE NOW SB. EUROPE. The news report by the Atlantic cable ts dated to two o'clock yesterday afternoon, December 7. The Paris Presse states that the Roman Conference ‘will assemble tu Paris, not in Munich, to-morrow, and that the ambassadors of the great Powers now at the French ,Court will represent their sovereigns in the assembiage. The London Globe, on the contrary, says the Conference 4s rendered impossible by the “attitude of France,” *Italian politics created much anxiety in financial circles in England, Ttaly has amnestied Garibaldi’s ad- Mherents. .Baron Ratazzi was proposed for President of the Italian Legislative Chambers, but defeated, Her Majesty's theatre, London, was destroyed by fire On the night of the 6th inst,, with a very heavy joss of ‘Property. Cogsols were at 92 13-16 for money in London, Five- twenties were at 70 13 16 ia London at noon, » The Liverpool cotton market was quiet and steady, ‘with middling uplands at 7% pence. Breadstuis quiet, ‘Provisions unchanged, . CONGRESS. ‘Tho Senate was not in session yesterday. In the House, the resolution for the impeachment of ‘the President came up in order, the preceding question ‘being on Mr. Wilson's motion to lay the whole subject on She table. After a few fillbustering movements Mr, ‘Logan aareed that if Mr, Wilson’s motion was withdrawn and a square vote on the main resolation was permitted ‘the radical minority would withdraw all opposition, Mr. {Wilson consented. The vote was accordingly taken on fhe resolution for the impeachment and resulted yoas ‘ST, nays 108, So the impeachment of the President fails to the ground. The bill suspending authority for Nhe retirement and cancelling of United States notes (fas pasaed by yeas 138, nays 37. In Committee of the “Whole the finance question was further considered, and ‘she House adjourned till Monday, MISCELLANEOUS. By our epecial telegrams over the Cuba cable wo have Further advices from Mexico to the 27th ultimo, Congress ‘was Yo commence holding open session on the 1st inst Several of the State Legislatures hed convened. Excessive tolis throughout the country have been abolished. The Apache Indians continued their depredations, Destruc- ‘ive inundations bad taken placo in Oaxaca, The con- qlition of the treasury was improving. The peonage Rystem bad been gbolished, Romero would probably succeed Lerdo in the Cabinet, The concession for the Building of the Mexico and Vera Cruz Railroad had been Yenowed to the old English company. Padre Fischer ‘was still a prisoner and Marquez wag believed to be se- ereted in the capital. Nowa from ire Bico to the Ist instant is furnished | qonted and shameful concession to a rebellious ‘by our Bpecial Cubs despatches. The reports of recent | 1 iracy, his ingenious underhanded devices rarthquakés are confirmed. Nearly all the houses in Bt Jobas were damaged. Tho island of St. Martin is reported to have nearly disappeared and that of St. Bartholomew to have been almost destroyed by a vol- Cano. In the Constitutional Convention yesterday a propo- gition was made to secure another building for the holding of the sessions, as the Legislature will soon require their chambers for their own use, A resolution to amend the article relative to the salaries of members of (he Legislature was tabled, and, pending further oon- sideration of the judiciary report, the Convention ed, journed untti Monday evening. The December statement of the public debtshows the otal debt to be $2,630, 382,572, with a coin and currency total In the*Treasury of $138,176,820, Compared with the November statement this shows an increase in the debt of $9,701,301, and compared with the staiement of December, 1868, a decrease of $43,425,487. The Canal Commissionors haye extended the time in- Gefinitely for the closing of the State canals; but Jack Frost will probabiy decide the matter without their Interference. The canals are rapidly filling with ice, mod most of the boats detained near Albany are tied Thoir officers having no hopes of getting out, At mectady steam tugs were hard at work pusbing the boats through to tidewater. A conspiracy in the New Jersey State Prison, at ‘Trenton, yesterday, resulted in the escape of nine con- victa Kight of them were recaptured after a hot pur- suit, In the case of Spencer, who was charged with counter- feiuung legal tender notes, Colonel Wood, the only wit- moms for the prosecution, at Newark, yesterday, testified ‘that be had no evidence against the prisoner, aud the case was accordingly dismissed, as weil as the charge ‘against Spencer's wife, who Was implicated with him, Simeon Reck, an alleged murderer im SpringGeld, | ‘Masa, bas been declared insane by the medical au- thortties. + The dill providing for the annexation of the British North west possessions to the new Dominion was paseed ‘to the Canadian House of Commons yesterday. The gale whieh is prevailing on the lakes has already caused several marine disasters, The schooner FE. B. Allen was sunk in Kingston barbor, and the Baltic at Oewogo, The gale also extended to the Interior of New York and blew down ® sew Catholic church at Spencer- | port. cash or reprisals, and calls upon the two 4 train on the Oswego aod Rome Railroad ran of tbe | houses for their co-operation, and it will suf- ee ame anaes laces okt t te | fice. The pressure of public opinion, in view | apenas near pera W., was burned down | Of the near approach of the Presidential elec- yesterday, Mrs. Leonard, the indy of the house, who | tion, will compel the two houses to face this ‘wos an invalid, being burned to death. | music; and, mofeover, such « message would ‘The ship Lord Brougham, whieh arrived op the 6b | beg crown of glory to the administration. with cholera of boara, wat anchor In Gravesend ow, | Phe bitter insult and provocations heaped No deaths or. mew cases of sickness have occurred on | upon thie repablle by England during our onterday. 1 a wvSuere were $00-G0ntRe in thie city last week, an tn. late civil war call at least for this atonement. crease of twenty-fout over ine week previous. The | The American people expect it, and the new Panitary Board says be careful of your fanaels. | dominion of Canada awaits only the signal to A large mesting of Inghmen was held in Faneall } joi. 4, Hail, Boston, last evening, to express indigestion a the course of the British government in executing the Manchester Fonians Addresses were delivered by ex- Mayor Wightman, Joho Savage and others, end letter Of pears wostovel was read from George Francie of giving “aid and comfort to the enemy,” and the zeal and industry of England’s ruling oligarchy in every shape and form in behalf of Jeff Davis, including those Anglo-rebel pirates on the high seas, were so outrageous in .their perfidy that only a good round bill of damages or the alternative of reprisals, peace or war, will satisty the American people. We are so well convinced of the truth of this opinion that we do not hesitate to say, that if General Grant were to write a letter or make a public speech embracing the declara- tion that bis position on these Alabama claims could be expressed in four words—“the cash or reprisals”—he would, without writing or speaking another word on publi¢ affairs, bo elected our next President by the vote of every State in the Union. Mr. Johnson under- stands the pulse of the people on this ques- tion, and though doubtless restrained irom the full expression of his own views by his tempor- izing Secretary of State, he has still adhered to the public sentiment of the country in sug- “gesting his readiness to follow the example of General Jackson. In regard to the offensive French usurpation in Mexico, Mr. Seward was kept at it, and by dint of incessant scolding and badgering Napoleon was induced to re- tire; but Lord Stanley closes the door in the face of our amiable Secretary, tells him that the discussion is ended and leaves him no hope for his claim but the last resort in such cases. | With this nptice from Lord Stanley the time has come for a special message on this subject from President Johnson to Congress. It need not be long. Let him say that as all efforts to bring the British government to a settlement or recognition of these Alabama claims bave failed, he recommends the ultimatum of the Waxten--A fire insurance office willing to take risks on Secretary Seward’s purchases | among the West India lalands, vastly divided, by policy and in feeling, on the Roman question, and it looks as if there exists a distrust of meeting the represen- tatives of the French Emperor in conference ona subject which may be made to aesume a very wide range, and evolve some new and important peints of question of international rights. conference Napoleon departed from the royal routine previously observed on such occasions. All the Powers of Europe wére called on to participate in the council—a rather star- Uing infovation on what had become to be regarded as the right or duty of the acting as imperial arbitrators for their weaker neighbors. Our cable reports show that Spain, Austria, and the other exclusively Catholic Powers, with Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, The Impeachment Karce Ended. The national House of Representatives yes- terday finally d'sposed of the question of the impeachment of the President of the United States by a very decisive vote, the report of the committee recommending Impeachment having been rejected by nearly two to one. There was considerable preliminary skirmish- ing on the motion of Mr, Wilson to lay the whole subject on the table; and eventually that motion was withdrawn and the vote taken on the direct resolution reported by the ma- jority of the committee, “that Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors.” Fifty- seven members voted in the affirmative and one hundred and eight in the negative, a ma- jority of the republicans themselves, therefore, declaring against impeachment. Thus ends a farce that has been a disgrace to the nation and a deathblow to the extreme radical party. With the exception of a few members, some stupid and bigoted, and others artful and mis- chievous, the House of Representatives has always been conservative at bottom. The passage of the constitutional amendment a little over a year ago was a ¢riumph of con- servatism over the radical measures of confis- cation, pains and penalties, advocated by Thad Stevens and his followers ; and had Con- gress heeded the popular verdict in the elec- NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1867.—TRIPLE SHEET. — Ecclesiastical Toadytem. In the monarchical countries of Europe, and particularly at court centres, it has long been the reproach of republican America that her sons and her daughters, not always young and inexperienced, have revealed an aff-ction for monarchy and its accompanying institutions which the highly privileged Europeans them- selves but distantly approach. Benjamin Franklin set an example which Europe justly admired and of which America was not uv- justly proud. We have heard it whispered, however, and on the very best authority, that the glory which the shrewd Benjamin won was originally an accident, and due rather to the tardiness of his tailor than to his own integ- rity. Be this as it may, however, the reproach remains, and the experiende of each successive generation justifies it more and more. A fresh example of this American toadyism has just been given, and in a quarter where it was least to be expected. Bishop Potter, of New York, was one of the highly privileged Americans who took part in the Pan-Anglican Synod recently held at Lambeth Palace, London, under the presi- dency of his Grace the Archbishop of Canter- bury. We do not’much wonder that Bishop Potter should have felt emotions of pride at of the community. Why do not these gentlemen, instead of sending resolutions to Congress, go to work themselves, raise a fund and remove the obstructions in the harbor? This would be doing something practical and useful ; but we are ‘afraid that the Chamber of Commerce is not educated up to that point yet. It is evi- dent, howevér, that the removal of obstruc- tions in the harbor of New York is a necessity | which commands immediate atteution. | The Draima, Legitimate and Ilezitimate=The Prospects of the New York Stage- Tt is a little singular that while the world progresses, and art and science make rapid onward strides, the stage; whose province it is “to hold the mirror up to *nature,” should steadily decline, until the degeneration of the dramia has become a subject of common re- mark, This falling off is not in the higher walks of the profession alone. It is not that the theatrical firmament is at present destitute of any particular star whose brilliancy at- tracts the attention and excites the admiration of the world. We cannot expect that every age will yield us a Johu Kemble, a Siddons, a Kean, or a Booth. But the degeneration of the present day extends through every degree of the profession, from the highest to the lowest; so that if we occasionally meet with meeting in council and taking part on equal an actor whose genius rises superior to all the terms with the proud hierarchy of England. tions of 1866, and adhered to that measure as a final settlement of the question of recon- struction, the country might now be at peace and the republican party securely established in power for the next ten or twelve years. All their troubles have been brought about by the abandonment of conservative measures and the adoption of the extreme policy of the radical leaders. The defeat of the impeach- ment resolution by so decisive.a vote is the obstacles with which it has to contend, we are certain to find judgment and taste outraged by the wretched manner in which all the subordinate characters are personated. Varfous reasons are assigned for the decline of the stage, according to the standpoint from which the subject is viewed. The complaint of the managers is that the people of the present day will not properly support the legitimate drama. The people attribute the It was something to be addressed as “My Lord,” to be a peer among many other spirit- ual peers, and to hob-a-nob with his Grace of Canterbury and his Grace of York. Bishop Potter is only a man, and in the company of great people, of people admittedly their supe- riors, most men are conscious of a certain elation of soul. Bishop Potter had no cause to be asbamed of the company in which he found himself; on the contrary, he had every first evidence they have given of returning reason. Let them follow it up by the repeal of the Southern military government, negro supremacy reconstruction laws, forced upon them by their radical associates, and they may yet make some amends for the mischief they have done. At all events, the country will rejoice that the disgraceful farce of impeach- ment is at an end. Napolcon’s Roman Conference—Will It As- semple? To-morrow (Monday, December 9,) was named, or seemed to be accepted by a very general consent, as the day on which the European congress proposed by the Emperor Napoleon would assemble in Mi with the view of adjusting, by diplomatic ference, the serious difficulties which exist between the kingdom of Italy and the temporal guthority of the Pope, and defining, if possible, the future relations which the two Powers shall bear to each other; and the question, will this con- gress assemble, forms, perhaps, the most seri- ous political proposition with which the cabi- nets of the Old World have more immediately to deal. The settlement of the Italo-Roman question has become an absolute necessity to the national life of Italy, and is essential for the maintenance of peace. Napoleon’s plan of s conference indicates 8 means towards that end, but the Emperor of France bas not been hitherto fortunate in witnessing the fruition of hie ideas of general cabinet councils; and it appears, judging from our latest cable telegrams, as if the proposal of the assembiage in Munich wil, like the rest, be dissipated before the moment of organization arrives. The London Globe, a sort of offcial organ of Lord Derby, says that “the present attitude of France” renders the conference impossible, while the Paris Presse asgerted yesterday even- ing that the assemblage will convene to- morrow—but meeting in Paris and not in Munich. The Globe also says. that the great Powers will be represented by their Ambassa- dors now in Paris. The Powers and peoples of Europe are In issuing his invitations for the Munich “Great Powers” alone—that of Portugal and the minor States, accepted the conference plan almost unreservedly; while England, Russia and Prussia hesitated and demanded a definition of bases and outline of subjects for debate. Italy does not wish a con- gress, and the Pope adheres to it only in the firm hope that he is not only to obtain a new lease of his temporalities, but also a restoration ot s portion of the despoiled patrimony of the Church. In the French Legislature the Marquis de Moustier and M. Rouher, Ministers of State, defended the intervention in Rome and the temporalities as they exist, M. Rouber declar- ing that “Italy should never go to the extreme of taking possession of Rome by force.” When the Italian Parliament met in session on Thursday General Menabrea, the Premier, pro- nounced against Garibaldi, but declared that “it was as inconsistent for the temporal power to exist at Rome as it would be for a foreign Power to hold possession of the city of Paris.” Such divergence of opinion between France and Italy, coupled with the fixed determination of both Powers on the subject of Rome, render the European situation really critical, and cause a vast importance to attach to the assemblage or non-assemblage of the Roman conference to-morrow. Should some of the Pewers reject the plan it may be that Napoleon will organize the congress on the principle of a free suffrage State , plebiscite, with as many of them as he can have to attend, and define a plan of settlement of the question by their votes, thus placing the onus of tefusal and the consequent continuance of the agitation on the Powers which absent themselves; or perhaps the Em-. peror will again “defer” to the expressed will of his gseat neighbors, abandon the confor ence “idea,” and put up with another blow to, his political prestige. responsibility to the managers, and charge that avarice, jealousy and ignorance have combined to bring the theatres to their present condition. The profession shrug their shoul- ders, and declare that the flame of ambition must pale before the blue fire of tho property man, and that it is useless for an actor to strive to excel nowadays in anything but roar- ing melodramatic rant and fustian. It is pro- bable that each class has more or less of truth to back up its position. Yet tho pretence that the American public will not patronize a good performance of the legitimate drama is disproved by the experience of those artistes who have realized fortunes by their visifs to our shores—such as Rachel, Dawison, Ristori, and we hope to be able to add Janauschek, although bad manage- tment has done its utmost to deprive the latter of the golden reward to which her gehius enti- tles her. We rather incline to the opinion that the managers themselves are mostly to blame. ‘They put the legitimate drama upon the stage in = most illegitimate manner, and while their wretched stocks are acting to empty benches, stand in the flats and rail indignantly at. the indifference the ungppreciative people. Finding their treasury empty, they substitute some spectacle in which: legs take the place of brains, and pyrotechnicsof poetry, and attract audiences whose money is worth as much to them as that of the most inte!ligent citizens in the community: The character of the drama falls lower and lower as the petticoats of the danseuse and figurante rise higher and higher ; yet who shall say’ that Shakspeare and the higher dramatists, with genius, talent and sense to embody their creations, would not prove as remunerative to managers as all the Black Crooks and Devil’s Auctions that ever held their undress revels on the stage? Years ago, in. the palmy days of the old Park theatre; when the elder Kean and Cooper and Fanay Kemble and Wallack and their compeers were in:the full bloom of their popularity, and when Forrest was a reader of Shakspeare, instead of a melodramatic butcher, there was-no complaint of a lack of patronage of the legitimate drama. Tragedy and comedy walked hand in hand upon the stage, and were suffitient to attract appreci- ativé audiences, while: the managers and the people were in accord. For the past twenty years the scale of. the. profession has been going down lower and: lower, and theatre after theatre has passed out of existence and been forgotten, despite: mutual protectiou as- sociations of managers. and alk other efforts that could be made to save them, except the one simple remedyvof good per or late years the phosphorus, bine: light, bare- legged drama has come into. vogue, and its ephemeral succeas has driven: nearly every other. style of amusament off the stage. At present there are but two or three theatres at which sn intelloetual. rather than an animal entertainment can be enjoyed. Wallack’s holda its fashionable supperiers together, and gives them in return for thair patronage a good stock company and some fine revivals of old plays. But its.novelties have been mainly trash, end the Jast of them, “Maud’s Peril,” does not re- deem their character. Improbable and absurd im its plot, withous any merit in its language, it) belongs tothe lowest order of sensational plays, and is. altogether unworthy of the fine company by whom it is performed. At Wal- lack’s, where-we find almost the last remnant of the old school acting, the repatation of the house should be sustained by new pieces of neal merit, and every point ought to be made good. The Acafemy of Music, onb of the finest theatres in the world, lies crushed under the heavy burden. of meddjesome stockholders and incompetent managers, aad the wildest efforts of the oyster house Bohemians cannot raise & to. ite feet. In every department it showe evidences of decay. Other theatres of the city drag their ‘weary way, all under the cloud of miserable companies, stupid pieces and poor audiences. It tactrue that some ray of light promises to reason to feel proud. A wiser man, however, than Bishop Potter, if he had not concealed his emotions, would at least have been guarded where and how he revealed them. It was nat- ural that the clergy of the diocese of New York should present to their spiritual supe- rior on the occasion of his retarn from Europe a congratulatory address. It was right and proper that the Bishop should make a reply. It is a pity, however, that in his reply he shduld have revealed s0 large an amount of toadyism and should so completely have justified the reproach that rests upon the American character. We are not a nation of toadies, but when men in the high position of Bishop Potter reveal the toady 80 unmistakably we cannot wonder that the charge should be maintained. We noticed the Bishop’s address at the time it first appeared imprint, but we felt no dispo- sition to enlarge upen it. . It would be strange, we thought, if our sharp-eyed English cousins missed the opportunity of having a fling at us. Our exchanges show that they have not missed it The Saturday Review has made it the text of one of its characteristic articles, and has dealt the Bishop and, through the Bishop, the American people,some smart but not’ un- merited blows. In his reply Bishop Potter informed his clergy that he “enjoyed an even- ing with the Archbishop of Canterbury at his palace,” that he found the Archbishop to be a “bumble, exemplary and kind Christian man,” and that he left Lambeth “edified and glad- dened by that well spent evening.” In another part of his reply he aaid that he had “visited the palaces of several of the bishops.” It is mot to be wondered at that the Saturday Review should have its joke about the prominence which the Bishop gives to “palaces,” should ask what peculiar preconceptions he had of the character of the Archbishop, since he felt constrained to men- tion to his clergy that-he found him “humble, exemplary, kind and Christian,” and should wonder whether be expected to leave his Grace otherwise than “edified and giaddened.” We should have imagined that one godly man woald have found and left another godly man very much as Bishop Potter found and left his Grace of Canterbury. It seems, however, that our views of godly men sre somewhat different from those of Bishop Potter. The Bishop’s ex- perience is no doubt larger than ours has been, and perhaps his expectations were justified by his superior knowledge. If it were otherwise it is difficult to acquit the Bishop of a certain amount of toadyism. The “atmosphere” and “air” in which Bishop Potter found himself in England were such that when he recailed his impressions he waxed positively eloquent. Speaking of the places which he visited and of the scenes in which he mingled, he told his clergy that the “atmosphere which prevailed at these blessed places was such as to cause a glow of happiness and an inspiration of praise to God,” and that “prelates living in such a godly air coald not fall to bring with them a blessing to their work, and. to be successful.” We Americans are rather proud of our “atmosphere” and our “gir,” but when it. is borne in min@ that on this side of the Atlantic there is no “nobility” to co-operate with, the clergy “with a and an energy which are truly streagthening,” that we have no “peers” to ald us with their for- tunes, and to “build us churches and schools,” it is the less to be wondered at that. the ariston cratic tastes of the‘Bishop of New York should incline him to,prefer the “atmosphere” and “air” of aristocratic England. In the Bishop’s reply there waa,much more tosdyism of a sim- ilar sort, over which the English reviewer na- turally makes merry. We havo no desire to follow the Bishop and his reviewer further. The conclusion to whiah we feel eurselves driven is simple and easily stated. If toady- ism coutinues: to be manifested by our repre- sentative men, we canaot wonder, far leas com- plain,.if Mr. Dickens and others who have.oc- casion to describe our national character shold call us by our true names. skies. We are to have anew Opera House, and there isa prospect of its being opened under good management. A new theatre is being built, the proprietor of which might be expected to hare some, desirs, to raise up the draggled standard of the drama from the mad and mire of Black Crookism, At the French theatre, to which the splendid Ristoti first called the attention of the fashionable world, , making the corner of Sixth avenue and Four- teenth street as famous as Irving place, the Grande Duchesse holds court, and disproves the ‘grumbling assertions of unenterprisiag mana~ gers, that the people have no taste for operas and no appreciation of a first class perform- ‘ance. She draws about her, every evening that she gives audience, the bulk of the aristoc- racy of Now York, from silver plate down to shoddy, and could extend her reign toan indefinite period. But Manager Bate- The Wise Men of the Chamber of Cou- merce. ‘There are a number ef gentlemen, as wise as owls but as impractical as any other kind of birds, who, being mewbers of the Chamber of Commerce, undertake to regulate everything that comes before the public. They have re- cently memorialized Cougress concerning the temoval of; obstractions in New York harbor. There is/ no donbt that we have been grievously afflicted with obstructions in our barbor., For instance, there ia the wreck of the © Scotland, lying for more than ® § yearn the channel,,and » good many other wreeks, around which sand banks are collect- fug, to say nothing of the rocks in Hell things affect the business of the gentlemon who compose the Chamber of Commerce pro- bably more than the business of aay other class break through the darkness of the theatrical | PSE NEE SE ELS ae ei man is n ow about to withdraw her temporarily from her {brone of triumph and introduce her anew as La elle Héléne, in a piece immortal- ized by some of the best of Offenbach’s music, so well known no¥ to our people through tho familiar and spavkling airs of La Grande Duchesse. Nor will‘this be the only treat in store for the frequente™s of the French theatre ; for the manager has ma‘le arrangements with Offenbach to bring out alf\ his wonderful and popular pieces in New York simultaneously with their production in Pais. Let us hope, therefore, for « revival of the drama before long that will astonish the citizens of New York and drive all the Black’ Crooks and Devil’s Auctions of the present day off the stage and into their Christian clothes. The Fashions. ’ Ornaments in gold, jet and steel are \amblems * now in Paris, according te our corresp ondence from that gay city. Arrews, lyres and dragon flies are the Tast objects sven of a lady .w she disappears around a corner, and white muslin drapery conceals the low bodices of the consing mode, The Empress appeared before the Les, gislative Assembly in white satin, brocaded| with gold laure! leaves, and over her shoulders was thrown a black lace shawl. Princess Marat was tasteful and brilliant as usualand> in the train of Eugénie jewels fashed from every brow. A lady has got into trouble about an insufficient dressing gown im the French capital. The ladies are vegetarian in their notions of dress at the Porte St. Martim theatre, being dressed up as asparagus; carrots and turnips. There aré, of course, a great many extravagances in Parig in the matter of ‘fash- ions; but. the true taste of French women always leads them to adopt some toilet becoaa- ing their age, complexion and height.. Noa’, if our American ladies would only carry om' the disposition they manifest at present: fm choosing for themselves only what is becoming | to them, they will have attained the true*goal. of fashion. There is not the slightest use im selecting some mechanical style of costume for the entire season to. suit all ages, forme'and: complexions. The true idea’ of fashion is: adaptability of the prevailing modé* to: the person who wishes a new toilet. Without this: fashion is a humbug, and ladies of Amerite subject themselves to the ridicule of the world. Some of our leading establishments on Broad-- way and the adjoining streets:seem to have come to this conclusion.this winter, and their’ customers are now suited exactly according to’ their requirements. The holidays are bringing around s great many changes in ladies’ toilets, . and it is a gratifying thought that our better halves are now beginning to think for them- selves and to exercise their own’ judgment'in * matters of dress. Verily, the reign of Paris has departed, and the daughters of: the great: republi¢ feel independent | end : democratic, American Churchea in Fereigu Countries... To exhaust this subject we should have to - travel in imagination over the whole wide field ‘ of American missionary enterprise, wherever Bibles and New England rum have been sent. We should also have to write a curious chap- ter about the experiences of. Mormon elders: and the influence of Joe Smith’s Book ‘of Mormon in the mining districts and nranufac- turing towns of Great Britain and of Northera Europe. Nor world it be right to omit an. account of the missions established or partly sustained by American Baptists im France, in Germany and Sweden. Bat we can only men- tion, in regard to the last named missions, that although the one established thirty years ago in France has met with such serious:opposition, ant Guizot, that it counts only a membership of five hundred out of a population of thirty- seven millions, yet it is an interesting faet that the heroic persistency of a few abscure Bap- tists in the Departement de 1’Aisne in claiming “the right of meeting” was a proximate cause - of the French Revolution of 1848; In Sweden the number of Baptist churches modelled on the American pattern, or at least on the copy of what American Baptists consider the form of the original apostolical churches, was re- ported to be at the end of 1866 one hundred and eighty-three, and their membership at present reaches nearly eight: thousand. In Germany the number of these-churches is less, being only eightyseven, but: the membership has risen to fullsixteen thousand. The church in Berlin has seven hundredand seven mem.. bera, more than one-half of whom, however, live out of tows. Much interest has been taken in America im the history-of this particular -church, and’ the late United States Minister to Prassia, Mr.. Wright, was, perhaps, induced by what he know of its growing influence to cerry ont, all the more earnestly his project: of building. @ Methodipt ehurch in Berlin. A main. object which Mr. Wright had in view was to sepply the increasing colony. of American sejourners in the Prassian capital with opportunities of meeting every Sabbath to join in religtous services conducted in what the late Mr Marcy used to call “ the American language!” The preachers: of dif- ferent American denominations whe might chance to be in Berlin were to be imvited to preach, and all offensive denominational pecu- liarities were to be elimiaated, so that mem- bers of different sects could meet harmoniously on the grounds of'a common faith. It appears, however, from the letier of our Berlin cor respondent, which we pablish to-day, as well. aa from a previous letter, that since the death of Mr. Wright t!.e projeet of a “ Union” church. has not been much more suecessfol in Berlin than a similar project bas proved at Paris. In the latter metropolis. the Episcopalians have deemed it necessary to erecta secend American church, in which only their own clergymen are invited to officiass. im Paris and in Berlin the comparatively few American Pro-~ testants who feel sufficiently interested to attend the religiaus services provided for them seem to have. lost mone of the tenacity with which they adhere to their respective denomi- national differences. The number of Americam residents abroad is large enough to justify them and their friends in erecting in most of -the principal European cities a suliable temple where the mowbers of different American sects might meet to worship God. But we queation whether {t would be advisable to have each and all of these innumerable sects specially represented in Europe, even if it were practi- cable, The bewildering variety of American religious denominations would certainly per- plex more than it would edify the inbabitants of pagan countries, and. could only soom smusing to the philosophical aad sad (o the