The New York Herald Newspaper, January 5, 1868, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR. Volume XXXIII...... terereeeers NO 5 RELIGIOUS SERVICES TO-DAY, ANTHON MEMORIAL CHURCH.—Rav. T. A. Jaqcan. “Sexuons 10 tax Youna.” Evening. BLEECKER STREST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.— Moruing and evening. BUNYAN HALL.— “New Yorn Pauss Dioxens.” Afternoon. UHURCH OF THE REFORMATION.—Rar, Brown. Moruing and afternoon. | ead CATHOLIC APOSTOLIC CHURCH.—Rav. vort, on ‘Cunist Jmsus Anoinrep To Prmaci ‘t0 THE Poor.” Evening. OHURCH OF THE STRANGERS, Chapel of the Uni- versity, Washington square.—Kev. Di. Dees, Morning nd evoving. CHRISTIAN CHURCH, Twenty-eighth street.—Rev. Avrazp N. Gitsent, Morning avd an iny ass. B. Suvra, on THE Demons, DOLLaks AND THE Daven- Gosren DODWORTH HALL.—Sriairvatistic Socterr. Covonzn Lane, on “Immouta.ity ann May's Destiny.” Evening. LYRIC HALL, (Reformed Dutch Church).—Morning and evening. MASONIC HALL.—Tax Assoctation or Srimirvatists. Morning and evening. METHODIST CHURCH, Harlem.—Rev. Sraruen 1. ‘Trxe, D, D. Afternoon, PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Forty-second street.—Rev. W. A. Scorr, D. D., on ‘Tux Preciouannss OF THE PERIOD or Youra."* “Morning and evening. SIXTH UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF OUR SA- VIOUR.—Rayv. Auxt C, Tuomas. Moraing and evening. SEVENTEENTH STREET P. Conair. Morning and evening. E. CHURCH.—Rayv. Wu. 8ST. ANN'’S FREE CHURCH.—Szavi ‘Meee Pg ion won Dear 8T. STEPHEN'S EPISCUPAL CHURCH.—Rav. Da. Prick. Morning. ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH.—Rav. Joux Corton Stn, Qe tam Linemal Paimorrats or rus Kriscorat Cuvncu.” vening. 8ST. PETER'S CHURCH, West Twentieth streot,—Rev. A. H. Veco. Evening. 8T. FRANCIS XAVIER'S CHURCH.—Sacnep Concert For Tue Bensrit or tum Poor. SRINITY CHAPEL, West Twenty-ffth street.—Suort Musical Senvicz axp Sunmox. Evening. TRINITY BAPTIST CHURCH. Morning and evening. UNIVERSITY, Washington Mk APPROACHING CxASu oF ‘Rev. J. 8. Home, D. D. are.—Bisngr Sow on iOns.”” Aftérnoon. UPPER CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION.—Morning and evening. ZION CHURCH.—Ruwy. C. Sworr. Evening. New York, Sunday, January 5. 1868. Tana NAWsS. EUROPE. By special telegram through the Atlantic cable, dated fn Naples yesterday, wo learn that the eruption of Mount Vesuvius has become quite alarming. A perfect river of fire was running down the side of the volcano {0 a westorly direction, and the, burning flood nearing ‘tho town of Cercaia. The volcanic action is accompanied ‘with shocks as of an earthquake, and detonations as loud as tho roar of artiliery, A geveral panic prevailed in tho neighborhood. ‘The Turkish Minister in Vienna was to leave for Lon- don on @ special mission to ask English protection against the intrigues of Russia, The Fenians entered the magazine at Cork, Ireland, ‘and took away hdlf a ion of gunpowder, They were not cbailenged, and the people are said to stand “aghast” at their effroutery. Tue clergy of Limerick declare there can be no peace in the island until Ireland fs treated as Hungary ts at present by Austria, Baron Ratazzi was entertained at a banquet fn Naples. General Menabrea, Premier of Italy, charges that Raiazzi encouraged and Gided the Garibaldian invasion of the Roman territory. ‘The Danish West India sale treaty is to be submitted to the Legisiature in Copenbagen, Switzerland officially as- gures the Mexican repubtic of her sympathy, Spain re- organizes the law courts of Cuba, ‘The Christians imprisoned at Nagasaka, Japan, have Deen released. MISCELLANEOUS. Our files from Mexico contain the intelligence that Genera! Jiménez had captured the town of Tiapa, in the Btate of Guerrero, and, as the result of his victory, the Alvares family had gone to Mazatlan, The latest report states that they would leave tuat port for San Francisco, ‘Thus the troubles of the State of Guerrero are at an end for some time. Captain General Lersundi has issued a stringent order ‘against the banditti and incendiaries that of late have Doon so pestilent in Cuba They are to be summarily tried by military commissions whenever caught, ‘Wo have received intelligence from Port au Platt to he 16th ult, Captain Coumans, of the schooner Lord of the Isles, which left there on that date, reports that on the 13th the nai bad had a fight, in which thirty thon were killed and a amber wounded, ‘Tho Louisiana Conventions still without funds to pay ‘he members, or for any other purposes, and yesterday the ‘Committee on Finance asked to be discharged from the Consideration of the subject of raising a loan as a bad Job. A member proposed to seek advice and assistance from Congress, and to adjourn in the meantime; but (gm the confusion ensuing on this proposition 0 action “was taken on the request of the committes, and the ‘Convention adjourned uatil to-morrow, in the Virginia Convention yesterday resolutions of inquiry into the expediency of making eight hoursa work for hired iabor; settfing all debts incurred during the war at twenty-five cents on the dollar; requir- ‘ing residence of teu years for foreigners before voting; legalizing the birth of children in slavery so that they may hold property ; admitting colorea persons to colleges, and for other purposes, were referred. ‘The sternwheol steamer Harry Dean exploded her Dollers near Gall polis, Obio, yesterday, and was burned to the water's edge, Seven or eight persons wore re- ported killed or fatally injured aud several more were goverely injured. A German butcher named Jacob Sheer, while altending to his business in his store in First avenue, ‘was stabbed with a large butcher koife last night, and fa not oxpected vo survive, ‘The Mayor yesterday, in accordance with the late or- Ginanes of the Common Council. Issued two licenses to getl liquors. No more will probably be issued until the courts have adjudicated upon the constitutionality of the ordinance, William Meorsor, publisher of the Philadelphia Sun- day Mercury, who was convicted of publishing a libel On the District Attorney, has been refused a new trial and sentenced to imprisonment in the county jail and to pay a fino of $500. The parties charged with the robbery of s Wall street lork of $3,600,000, wore all discharged by Justice Rogan day, the complainant not being able to idenuify them, They wore all but one immediately Fearrested, however, on othor charges, A man named Jobn Bishop shot his wife and killed Dimsoif at St. Albans, Vi, yesterday. His wife wiil Probably die, The cause of the trouble was jealousy. Another business failure, that of Mossrs, Levitt & Bevis, Gry goods merchants, occurred in Cinoinnati yesterday. The stock market was strong yesterday morning and Prices advanced; but it afterwards roncted slightly and closed steady. Government securities were steady, Gold was strong and closed at 134% a 135. Transactions in both domestic produce and merchandise ‘Were genorally limited to the immediate wants of buy- ers. Prices were materially changed in some cases. Cotton was long active and declined 6. per lb, Coffee ‘Was dull and unchanged. On ‘Change, flour further ad. wanced 100. a 25¢, per bbl, while wheat was firmiy hold, and corn and oats firmer, Pork was quite steady At the opOning, but 12}¢0, a 25e. lower at the close, Boef was siondy and lari in good demand and firmer, Freights wore quiet. Naval stores wore without change, Petroleum was almost neglected and offered at io. Mower prices. The beef cath market wae unchanged, @emmon to good grades selling at from 240, to 18e. per Bb. ; 35 head arrived at the Hodson City yards, The Grrivals of swine wore 1,560 head—1,200 at Fortieth rest and 250 at Communipaw gelling slowly at Tos ‘Vd60., inditating @ decline. NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, JANUARY 5, 1868. business down town. It will not be long | to the city on the funded moneys of the city The Great Isene of the Day—The Coming Bovolution. The politicians and partisan newspapers begin to be very busy about the Presidential election. In Washington, the focus of plots, schemes and bargaining, they are both active and greatly puzzled. They are trotting out the various candidates and prominent public men to try their mettle and points of qualifica- tion. Grant, Chase, Butler, Hancock, Sey- mour, Pendleton and a number of others, are put through their paces and examined. These shortsighted politicians are foolish enough to suppose the approaching election is to be de- cided upon the merits or popularity of indi- viduals alone. Never was there a greater mis- take. They are burrowing in the ground like blind moles when there is one great highway to march along in broad daylight. They are spending their time uselessly upon side issues and little party schemes when there is a great issue before the country which involves the very structure of our political and social ex- istence. : The negro, as an element of political power, and ultimately as an element in our social life, is the vital and paramount question of the time. Upon this the Presidential election must turn, and men—heroes of the war or prominent poli- ticians—will amount to nothing with the people when they will be called upon to solve it next November. It will overshadow all others, and the public mind is ripening fast for the issue. Congressmen, managing politicians, the partisan press, and even the sharp newspaper corres- pondents at Washington, do not see the bear- ings of this mighty question and the inevitable solution of it in November. The balderdash about rebels and rebellion, when there are not and cannot be such things in existence, is simply ridiculous. No one is weak enough to believe the old rebels are not effectually squelched or that they ever dream of raising their heads again. The people are tired with such radical trash, and it is so thoroughly played out that it cannot have any influence hereafter. The great question, then, is as to the status of the negro, politically and socially, in this country. Shall the semi- barbarous negro, just emancipated from slavery, hold the balance of power— may, become the controlling power— in the republic? Shall this ignorant and brutal people—ihe lowest type of the human race— outweigh the votes of the white people ‘and control the destiny of the republic? Shall the prcud Caucasian race—ihe highest type of mankind—be put in subjection to a people little removed from barbarism? It is impoasi- ble. The mind of every white man or woman revolts at such an idea. It is contrary to nature, repugnant to their sense of decency, and utterly subversive of the whole political and social fabric of our country. Yet this is the great issue before the country. This is the question to be settled at the coming Presi- dential election. Who can doubt the result? The issue is represented on one hand by our radical Congress and politicians. The whole framework of Congressional reconstruction is based on giving the negroes political power in the South, with the view of controlling the government. The object is to make three or four millions of barbarians a political element to rule the destinies of thirty millions of white people through the balance of power they would hold. All the hypocritical talk about humanity and mankind being free and equal is sheer nonsense. It is simply a question of political power with the radicals. On the other hand ts the conservative, wise and consistent policy of President Johnson to re- store the Union upon the basis of a white man’s government, as it was originally estab- lished, and as every sensible man believes it should exist. He wishes to give every protection to the negroes under their new- born liberty and every opportunity to elevate themselves in the scale of civilization. So do the masses of the white people, both North and South. Buthe is opposed to making these ben‘ghted people a controlling political ele- ment in the republic. He knows, as we all know, that this is utterly repugnant and would be dangerous. He knows that this would lead to great social evils. The negroes, with po- litical power in their hands in the South, would soon insist upon social equality and pass laws to bring that about. The leading blacks in and out of the Southern conventions talk very boldly of this, The negro men want white wives, and are looking forward to such a result of their newly acquired position. Over two years the President has stood firmly and boldly on this vital issue against a radical Congress. He, therefore, is the representative of the prin- ciple which is now going before the country. His messages and conduct constitute the only platform on which the conservatives can con- duct the Presidential contest. He has, by great saracity and remarkable firmness, overthrown the radicals, and he is now master of the situ- ation. He cannot be ignored, for he and his policy torm the controlling object of the com- ing political revolution. He must either be the candidate or make one. All side issues and men become insignificant before the great issue of which he is and must be the central figure. City Churches. Hamlet has told us of the vile uses to which things inherently noble might fall by natural mutation. As thus: “Alexander died, Alex- ander was buried, Alexander returneth to dust; the dust is earth; of earth we make loam. And why of that loam whereto be was con- verted might they not stop a beer barrel?” And so we follow the conqueror of Persia intos bunghole. Is there not quite as start- ling @ change in the visible relationships of things when we find an edifice built for a temple, walls once dedicated to the worship of God and sounding hymns of praise, suddon- ly becoming the arena of a city’s disorderly elements and echoing riot? Once the little church on the corner of Houston and Mott streets was the place of worship of the simple, sincere Moravian congregation here—a soci- ety of almost primitive purity of manners; and the latest assemblage within the same walls was made up of the city roughs, congre- gated to glorify “O’Baldwin, the Irish Giant,” and Jack Hicks, a newly imported English pu- gilist. Doubtless the price of property drives the congregation of worshippers elsewhere ; but pugilism can pay more. Changes in the fate of churches are plentiful in this city. All have noted the change of the old Dutch charch to @ post office, and that of the Church of the Messiah to a theatre, and Cheever’s church toa promiscuous show shop. The Quaker meoting | house in Rose street ina leer beer hall and gymnasium for the Turners ; the Quaker meet- ing house in Hester street is a gas house, Half adozen city churches have become distille- ries, One in Amity street is a livery stable and coach house, another on Canal street is the same, and still another on Chrystie and, Delancey the same. It seems hardly probable that our city will ever have many of those quaint monuments of ecclesiastical antiquity in which 8 people see the place of worship of the generations that went hundreds of years before. Old churches go down that new ones may go up. The Theatrical Orchestras. The subject of the orchestra of a tu2atre is one that requires at present constant and per- sistent discussion. The negligence of mana- gers in this respect, to which we alluded last Sunday, is too glaring to be passed over with asingle remonstrance. The worthies who pre- side over our places of amusement are too for- getful of their duties towards the public to be moved by a single exposé of their short comings, and the public will still be afflicted with bad music unless the managers are compelled to change their course. The modus operandi of engaging an orchestra is singular. A manager takes charge of a theatre and makes all bis engagements and contracts, forgetting entirely the necessity of an orchestra, Some person suggests to him that this branch of a theatrical entertainment has not yet received attention. Our managerial friend at once summons two or three fiddlers and asks them how much this necessary evil and orchestra will cost. The first question on their side is what number of musicians will be required. The manager, confessing his utter ignorance of everything connected with music, leaves the matter in their hands. One mildly hints at twenty-five being the least number he.can have to furnish decent music for the theatre, and names his terms at five hundred dollars per week for the orchestra, The manager forthwith has a fit of hysterics, and intimates that he has only appropriated half the money for orchestral purposes. After consultation with the other two fiddlers ho concludes on having an orchestra of probably dozen performers, each being paid the smalil- est possible amount of salary. What is the consequence? The leader, who may be an excellent musician, as many of our conductors are, is completely fettered by the parsimony of his employer, and the other fiddlers, hornblowers and drummers go off every night toa ball or concert, leaving miserable sub- stitutes in their stead. The fault then rests, in the first place, with the manager, who ro- fuses to pay enough money to support a re- spectable orchestra, and in the next place with the musicians themselves, who degrade their profession by allowing musical Barnums to represent them in the theatre. There are some musical unions or societies in this city into which none of those miserable humbugs will be admitted, but the pernicious custom of sub- stitutes gives them entrée into our best theatres, The state of theatrical orchestras in this city sadly needs reformation. The selections of music, as we have said before, are never ap- propriate. The curtain has scarcely fallen on the horrible scene of the death of Nancy Sykes when we are regaled with “Pop goes the weasel,” or some other thing of the kind. Bottom falls asleep in Titania’s arms and the gloomy wood changes by wondrous trans- formation into a scene of dazzling beauty. For this scene Mendelssohn has written music which might have been ,copyrighted in fairy- land. Merry sprites dance on the violin strings, Puck is seated on the leader’s baton, and the wings of countless fairies hum in every part of the orchestra. In this city we have, as a substitute for this delicious music, some con- cert saloon piece played by a-dozen instru- ments. Again, in an opera we have poor chorus singers bawling at the top of their ‘voices, in the vain attempt to be heard above the hideous din of tho orchestra. It has been wrongly asserted that the orchestra is a relief or safety valve between the acts, and should take the mind entirely off the drama. Some of our orchestras not only take the mind off the drama, but take a great many of the audience off from the theatre. There should be some connection between music and the drama in a theatre, and the train of thought or feeling engendered by each act of the play sbould never be rudely broken by the music. The leader should study the plot, scenes and characters of the piece, and endeavor to reflect them on the orchestral mirror. All good leaders will do this and a great deal more if they be only encouraged by the managers. Down Town Building Improvements. No city in the world has taken such rapid and huge strides as New York in the art of building; for the present style of structures, shown either in the stately and costly up town residences, or in the colossal edifices in the down town portion of the city, devoted to com- merce and trade in their more ced de- grees of development, exhibits highest order of art, ennobled by all the perfection of architectural beauty. And something more than mere beauty has Seen achieved. Beauty as vulgarly expressed in the filigree work of gingerbread decorations is very little seen. ‘The beauty of our modern metropolitan archi- tecture is of the old classic period—chaste, simple, massive, grand. What is incomparably important besides, the material from which this beauty is eliminated is lasting-~principally brown stone, granite and marble. Within a very few years these classes of buildings, now #o abundant, have all been crected—a fact evidencing not alone our past and present pro- gress, but the unerring index as well of our city’s fature greatness. The new Park Bank structure, adjacent to the Hasratp building, of which we give an ex- tended description elsewhere, presents a strik- ing illustration of the high degree of perfection which the science of building has attained in this city. In completeness and ornateness of de- sign, in the most exquisite harmony of propor- tions and perfectness of finish, as indicated in the progress already made towards completion, it promises to become # splendid and lasting monument to architectural art. The changes which « very short time has wrought in this locality are astonishing. The woolly horse, with his cracked and husky trombones and creaking clarionets, and daubing caricatures on flannting oanvas of all kinds of monstrosities, eld sway for a while and kept capital and respectability at a distance. But the animal is banished now, and massive marble buildings cover the site of the old catacomb. ‘Thia section of the city ly the great centre of before the whole of the City Hall Park will be covered with costly buildings, including the new Post Office. Tryon row will be greatly improved from what itis. The Staats Zeitung have already bought the ground and ar- ranged for the erection of a magnificent building on this site for their newspaper establishment, Present improvements are the shadows cast before these coming events—the avant courriers of a future to be marked by bolder views, more stirring enterprise, more audacity of business and greater wealth and prosperity. New Masical Publications, In another column of the Hgnaup we give a critical review of the latest publications of our principal music dealers. The list of pieces is mainly confined to piano and vocal works by home and foreign composers. Over a largo proportion we have been compelled to write the word “trash,” as no other expression can do justice to the worthless character of the selections. Some of the other pieces, however, possess real merit, and may be considered as valuable additions to musical literature, There are some suggestions to be made in regard to music publishers which these individuals would do well in attending to. A great many valuable compositions are thrown aside by them because the composer has no status in our numerous musical cliques or in fashion- able society. Some of our soi disant composers ere welcomed with open arms by the pub- lishers, no matter what trash they may eke out, because they havea large circle of musical friends who will buy up their works, or because they have charge of an orchestra and can in- flict these works on the audience night after night. Real merit is, then, often pushed aside, ond unblushing assurance and ignorance stare at us from every title page on the publisher’s counter. We have songs in which the music and the poetry strive for uaastery to see which is the more worthless, and if a good idea ever ocours in them itis invariably stolen. Many of the composérs ring changes on the same- theme in all their works, until there is hardly a piece of tho original lett together. The method of composing a song is simple, accord- ing to the present system. First get a respect- able air feom some opera or classical work and cut out a couple of verses from a poom, either in a book or in @ newspaper. It does not make the slightest difference whether the music and the words suit each othor; that is the “composer’s” business and not theirs. Then the composer has materials for a dogen or a score of songs ; for he has only to change each time a few notes and transpose the key and give the altered piece anew name. Any literary hack will supply words enough for the sake of seeing his name in print. In instrumental music the case is still worse. A new opera becomes the rage, and everybody wants to hear the music, both in the theatre and at home. An enterprising genius goes to work with his scissors to cut out a couple of pages from the score, and publishes them under the name of “Grand Fantasia on the opera of —— by Mr. ——, the well known composer.’’ The salon music, waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, &c., are intolerable as a general rule. Poor Strauss, Lanner, Gungl, D’Albert, Godfrey and Arditi are heavily drawn upon for ideas in the waliz line, and receive no credit from the pilferers. Indeed, the larger num- ber of piano and vocal pieces that are published at the present day in New York disgrace the art, insult the public and foster charlatanism. But it is gratifying to be able to pick up some genuine pearls from the midst of this miscellaneous heap that we review to- day. A few, very few, vocal gems in which poetical thoughts are mirrored forth in ex- quisite melody and framed in a fitting accom- paniment ; some operatic fantasias in which the most attractive subjects of the opera are grouped together artistically, forming a beauti- ful musical bouquet; dance music which goes right to the hoart and to the heels at the same time, and one of those popular ditties which every person unconsciously hums at all times, thereby giving the best proof of its popularity. A fow of the publications are very handsomely got up and will compare favorably with those of Europe; but the larger number are clumsily engraved, and their title pages seem to have been designed with a special view to ugliness and inconsistency. The publishers should be @ little more liberal towards their patrons and composers of talent, and they will find it moro profitable in the end. But let them “respect- fully decline” all the manuscripts of plagiarists and humbugs. The Park and the Public Schools. The value of the Park is not wholly confined to the mere enjoyment of the fresh air which the people can breathe there through one of the finest lungs of the city, nor the works of art which have combined to make nature more beautiful. These are the material contribu- tions which the Park has made to the well- being of the city, and they are not to be de- spised. The intellectual contributions are to be found in the conservatories and the zoologi- cal gardens, from which the mind of the people may learn more than from books. There is no class, we need not say, so impressible as the youth of our public schools, and none, per- haps, to whom the privileges of the Park, such as they are, could be extended with more profit. We are glad, therefore, to see that Mr. Green, the Comptroller of the Park, has ex- tended these privileges to the pupils of one of our grammar schools in the following letter:— Orrics of Tas Boarp tion of this city, and I shall mags | assist in carrying out You" INDE TL. GUMEN, Comptroller Central, Park, Hoan Dorry, Principal Grammar School No, 29, We hope that the same course will be pur- sued towards all the public schools. Let our ‘boys and girls have the advantage of the col- lections of animals and plants in the Park by all means. There is nothing else in this country which approaches a zoological garden, end although it is not what it ought to be we should make the best use we can of it Tun Two Patsns.—Poter Cooper and Peter B, Sweeny, the Pope of the Citizens’ Asso- ciation and the Pope of the Chamberlain's office, each of whom holds “the keys” of bis respective department, ere both vehemently vealoas about the public interests; but it curiously happens that while the older Peter of the C. A. Church ts denouncing the waste and oxtravagance in the mattor of interest duo and county, the younger Poter, surnamed Bismarck, hands over to the Comptroller the sum of $12,730, interest accruing on public money in his hands for the month of December, over and above the expenses of his office, salaries and all. The Fashions. Can any kind philanthropist devise some sppropriate costume for our wives and daugh- ters in these days, when King Mud reigns su- preme? It is ao painful to the eye—and pocket, too—for a palerfamilias to see a velvet olosk decorated with a delicate em- broidery of mud from a passing stage on Broadway and large rosettes of the same ma- terial nestling amid the flowers of a handsome bonnet. Of course we do not mean s back- woods dress of butternut, but some material that is impervious to slush and mud. The winter toilets during the holidays are the prettiest we have seen for many years, and Dame Fashion seems to have acquired common sense at length and to have forgotten her extravagant notions. Evening and carriage robes are perfect models of taste and elegance, and the cloaks, with their coquettish sashes tied behind, set off the form to perfection. Our Paris fashions cor- respondent relates a. strange event that took Place at a ballin the French metropolis. One of the ladies appeared in a rich black velvet dross and in blushes. The latter article is quite ® novelty, and as the season advances it may come into fashion, although the material is very scarce and unattainable. As a fitting accompaniment to blushes, a mask veil is being worn in Paris. Whether blushes or the concealing veil will be introduced in the pious city of Gotham or not is a matter of uncer tainty. Blushing has been tabooed by fashion so long that our belles will have some difi- culty in learning the modus operandi of getting the blood up into the face again. The winter toilets may be seen to the best advantage in our fasbionable churches. The pews seem like @ parterre of beauty and fashion, and more inquisitive eyes are directed towards their fair neighbors with critical views, we fear, than towards the preacher. At all events, Madame Fashion has brought out her hand- somest styles ‘this season, and we only hope she will not start off on her extravagant vaga- ries again. The Puritans aud the Bible. We have received the annexed appreciation of our observations on the Puritan character, and print it on account of its sound views in regard to “the fathers.”’ As to the volume that accompanies it, it is a very large one and contains a great many pages closely printed, and every page presenis a queer amalgamation of Latin, Greek and Hebrew words. Unfortu- nately, the Hebrew words are printed in Roman letters, and we are familiar with the thoughts of the Jews only in their own “old clo.’”” We are not sure, therefore, that, having to keep our republic straight, having to advise Johnson every day and stir up McCulloch and roast the radicals and manage the solar system, that wo shall be able to spare time for all this theology. However, as there isa possibility that the book may smash up the Puritans, wo wiil see what can be done :— Newarx, N. J., Now Year's Morning, 1868, James Gorvon Bennett, i Dear Sin—I have just read io this morning's Hzraty your spicy article “touching the Puritans,” Thero is decidedly more truth than poetry in the serio-comic manner in which you portray our Pilgrim Fathers. ‘They are never content unless when raising the devil generally, and, unfortunately, don't seem to possess the power of casting out the devils they either raise or Pokmong other accomplishments they have piayod hell in extenso with theology and the and should they keep on at the rate they have been going, in a few years moro we will have little ef either on which wo can rely. Herewith I forward a late work on “The Thoology of the Bible,” by my father. Iam satisfied a perusal of it will interest you, and at the same time tend to fortify your Paritanical notions and enable you with facility to ‘compare the true teachings of the Holy Scriptures with the false lights which bave been set up ail along shore to mystify and mislead. With compliments of the seagon, yours, truly, PET. HALSTED. N, B.—By referring to the notices at the end of the work you will gee that the book has already received favorable commendations as a well put compli- ment, I give the following extract from one of many received since the publication :— “We thank our God and rejoice greatly that He bas raised you up in the midst of so much blindness of mind to be a pioneer in the groatest and -noblost work ‘ever committed to mortal man—that of pointing out the path of life to a death-struck race,’’ Wuat Doss Ir Mzan?—We understand that General Grant has been invited to attend the Americus Club ball, and has significd through Judge Pierrepont his acceptance of the invita- tion. Here is new occasion for the radicals to puzzle themselves over the General’s political status. What doos itall moan? William M. Twoed, Chairman of the General Committee of Tammany Hall and whipper-in of the city de- mocracy, is the great gun of the Americus Club. Thurman of Ohio, English of Connecti- cut, Seymour and Hoffman of New York, will be present as invited guests. Old Tammany is said to perfect most of her political arrange- ments at the Americus ball. A radical Con- gressional committee, headed by Ashley or Butler, should at once wait upon General Grant and demand to know how it is that ho is found in such company. Bravo Wattack, Betts Borp snp Giant O’Bitpwin.—The two great events of the week to come are tho reappearance on the stage, after a year’s absence, of Mr. Lester Wallack, and the first appearance on « New York stage of Belle Boyd. The closing event of last week was the testimonial to O’Baldwin, the Irish pugilistic giant, at the old church in Mott street, modernized, according to the spirit of the age,into the “New York Casino.” It is evident from these facts that we have not fallen behind the timos, but that we areas great in “events” as any of those countries about whose destinies the Atlantic cable keeps us so busy. ARMY AND WAVY GAZETTE. The Army. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel T, C. Sullivan, Commissary of Subsistence, has been designated as depot Commissary at Atlanta, Qa, in addition te his other duties, Brevet Lieutenant Oelonel HE P. Cressy, Captain Third has been to duty at Carlisi Barresks tl karah 23 end ha will nen rejola bis rou! Brevet Major 8. 0, Green, Captain Twenty-fourth in. fantry, Dg by ~~ oe Ley mer tiene: © Captain Brown, Twenty- in relieved from brvjce and ordered to bis fog! — The Navy. Fri from Pensacola via West. The anne net Doe was ot Key Wee on the ult, but wae Wo call in @ Cow days for New Orleans, for revaire. = Despernde in His Store. Between six and seven o'clock last evening @ gang of corner loafers, who are becoming a pest in the city, com grogated outside the door of the butcher store of Jacob Sheer, 262 First avenue, obstructing the entrance and making offensive remarks in the hearing of his custom- ers, Two or three times Mr, Sheer requested them to leave, which they did, but returned again, when some words ensued between Mr. Sheer and the gang, resulting in ope of the fellows snatebing a knife, about eighteen inches in length, from the stall and plung- ing tt into the stomach of the unfortunate man, The wound inflicted is a feartul one, beginning at the pit of ‘and ending at the lower part of the abdo~ ines being completely severed, As soon as to the ground, and the ruilian who @ murderous assault An officer ome Micseanit peoincs was pon a 4 spot Co] aD laced in a cari sv ‘elleves Hospital.” goons, after making en night, expressed very little hope that the man would jive unl The _ gg) =~ seat was geolreoy ro ped possession of the Eighteenth precinct pol Murderous looking weapon, Upto a iate hour last night the desporado who committed the deed was still ag large, but Captain Cameron feels satistied he will be able toarrest bim, as his officers are already on his track, One man, however, was arrested early in the evening, ‘but when brought into the presence of the injured man he gave signs that he was not the one who stabbed him. Sheer is a German, about twenty-seven years of age, and is Dot married, Desperate Encounter Betwoen Two Mea ta the Bowery—0: of the Parties Fatally Shot—Arrest of the Murderer. Awurderous affray occurred about one o'clock yew terday morning on the corner of the Bowery and Bayard street, the principals in which were two men named Richard Casey and Willham Connell, It appears from the statements of parties who were in the immediate vicinity at the time of the encounter that Connell was passing along the Bowery, when he was accosted by twe women, with whom he entered into conversation, and that the three subsequently walked from the former thoroughfare mto Bayard street, At this juncture, and while thoy were engaged in the conversation, they were met by Casey, who was proceeding im an opposite direction. In passing them, it is stated, Casey thrust his hand, containing some United States notes, into the faces of the party and made a menacing gesture, Connell seems to have regarded it as an in- suit, and immediately sought an ex; ation and pre- pared to resent the affront, A struggle then ensued, im the course of which Casey. fired two shots from a re- volver, bot of which took effect upon Connell, one bul- let entering bis head and the other striking and glanc- ing off his foretsead. Connell fell into the gutter in an insensible condition, and was shortly afterwards con- veyed tothe New York Hospital. Casey wae at once arrested and taken to the Sixth precinct station house, where it 18 reporied that he not only acknowledged the commission of the deed, but stated that he would do so ‘again if placed under similar circumstances. ‘The physicians in attendance at the New York Hospl- expressed themselves as of the opinion that tho in- juries inflicted upon Connell would necessarily prove fatal, and Coroner Schirmer was summoned with a view to taking the ante-mnortem examination of the wounded man, but found bim completely insensible, Connell resided at No: 121 Mulberry street, aud is twen ty-one years 0; age. Yesterday morning tho prisoner was taken before Jus- tice Hogan, rt the Tombs’ Police Court, by Sergeant Kennody, of the Sixth precinct. Maggie Browa, who was witt Connell at the time Casoy shot bim, made an affidavit against tho prisoner, a copy of which will be found below :. Da ggie Brown, resiaing at No. 28 Madison street being duly sworn, deposes and says that about haif-past twelve o'cio:k on the morning of the 4th day of January, 1868, she was in company with William Connell in Bayard street, and Richard Casey was standing on the sidewalk at the corner of Bowery and Bayard street; as said Waliiam Counell and deponent puased said Casey ho shook some money which he had io tis hand at said Connell; Connell asked said Casey why he bad insulted bim, and after some words between the two men Casey struck said Connell, knocking his hat off, aud afver Connell bad regain his feet said Casey drew from bis pocket a revolver ‘and discharged one of the barrels at said Connotl; Connell tell into the gutter, and Casey discharged a second shot at him immediately afterwards, and ssid Casey then turned to d:ponent, and calling hor by an opprobrious name, said, ‘1 will take it out of you;’? deponent is informed that said Connell was struck, by tho pisiot oxll on the hoad and that he is now in s precarious and dangerous state, the resuit of the injuries inflicted on him by said Casey. Emma Garduver, also of 25 Madison street, who was tn Company with Maggie Brown, corroborated her siate- ‘meat in every importuat particular, In ordor ‘to secure the future attendance of tbe fomalca they were sent to the House of Devention as wit- eases, At the close of the investigation Casey was committed to await the result of Connell’s injuries. At hal{-past eleven o'clock last night the injured man was still in an insensible condition, and no bopes are entertained of his recovery. Casey has the reputation of being a very desperate man when under the influence of Liquor. BROOKLYN CITY. UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS’ COURT. with Causing the Death lor by Cruelty. Before Commissioner Newton. United States vs, J. Howzll.—This case came up before liberty of the defendant, who is a captain of the schooner John Rose, of Brookhaven, L. 1, It appears from the sworn statement of the caso made by the deceased, in whose death the captain is alleged to have been impli- cated, that the schooner John Rose sailed from the port of New York on the 3d of Ociober, 1867, for Demerara, ‘W. L, and loft the latter place November 16. Shortly after the departure of the vessel from Demerara @ seaman attached to her, named George Osterlob, was taken sick and was unable to perform bis ac- customed duties on board, The captain and mate of the schooner then, as alleged, commenced a course of cruel treatment of the dece: |, beating, kicking and knock- ing bim down, and on one jon, ag set forth, put a rope around the neck of the sailor while the latter was im bis bunk, and threatened to throw him overboard. On arriving at New York was at his own request conveyed to bis home by his fellow sailors, and died there a fow days afier- ward. Before his death he summoned the United States Commissioner and made @ sworn statement to the above effect. The case was disposed of yesterday by the dofendants being required to give bonds to the amount of $10,000 and to go before the Grand Jury. Thesallors, who are hold as witnesses for the government, were commitied to the Raymond street Jail for safe keeping. BROOKLYN INTELLIGENCE. A Frvaxctat Muppta,—The City Treasurer was some ‘what nonplussed a couple of days ago by discovering a @iscrepancy in his accounts of $40,000, which it was subsequently ascertained grew out of an over payment of that amount to the account of the Board of Educa- tion, Itseome that the joint board voted the sum of $337,000 to the Board of Education, and the latter Board asked @ further appropriation of $40,000 te meet the pro increase of ealuron, ‘The last named amount be was to inserted in the ostimate for 1868. Through some error or other the entry allowing tho latter amount was ‘not mi in the official record, and the Board of Educa- tion drew the entire amount from the city treasury te pay the increased salaries for 1867. They have made an outlay of $40,000 of their revenue for the cur- rent year. In the official statement of “the joint Board twansmitted to the Clerk of the Board of to be levied, there was $741,502 set educational purposes, of which $115,200 was desi pat sonnel of interest and instalments of {cates offindebtedness for new school bi ‘was, of course, due to the city creditors, Board of Education, but the City Treasurer, failing to compare the amounts with the official statement, paid tho entire $741,592, The Board of Education have re- funded the $115,000, with exception of $40,000 already expended in payment of salaries of teachers, Oncamzation oF Tre Boarp oF SUPsRINTENDENTS OF ras Poon —This Board has organized for the curreat year by choosing as its chairman and treasurer Superim tendent John Delancy, and appointing committees, A new office for the reception applications for relief from the poor of the Western District will be opened shortly at the corner of Flatbush and Atiantic avenues, The district will thus be divided and greator facilities Will be afforded to those in need of relief. Annests rou tan Wann.—Notwithatanding the fact that Now Yoar’é calls wore made pretty extensively in Brooklyn during the past week by both ladies and gents, And intoxication was not rare, as might well be sup posed, the police record of arrests does not exbibit any Material increase in number as compared with the wook previous, The total arrests for various causes through. Out the ten preci! was 353 only. “Serv Mapa Mex."—Horace Greeley will lecture on this subject at Academy of Music, Brooklyn, on Tuesday evening next, under the auspices of the Catholio Library p thewn Dron She ws the second lecture of the course for the yoar 1867-8, Tas Tmerseeta Reorvent, N. G., 8 N. Y., Concent, Last evening the second promenade concert given by Arsenal. There was « large and very brilliant assem. y was selected ft iT sion of the instrumental portion of the was Commenced and kept up until midnight, the Thirteenth regiment band took place at the stave { , i Anane? or Atiacep Bangtans—John Ohrystic and ‘William Myore were arrested inst evening by (wo of the Contral office deteoti on a charge of having been , a |