The New York Herald Newspaper, May 20, 1869, Page 6

NEW YORK HERALD er canannonaateaal BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. anne JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR. * Allbusiness or news letter and telegraphic despatches must be addressed New YorE Hgracp. Letters and packages should be properly sealed, * Rejected communications will not be ro- turned. —= Volume XXXIV — AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway.—Htooory Drocory Doox. WAVERLEY THEATRE, 720 Broadway.—PYGMALION— 1ol ON PARLE FRancals. WOOD'S MUSEUM AND T: Broadway.—Afternoon and E, Thirtieth street and THE TAMMANY, Fourteenth strect—ROBINSON CRUSOE @ND His Man Faipay, 0c. BOOTH'S THEATRE, 23d st., between Sth and 6th ave,— OTHELLO. ee NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—Ta® BURLESQUE Ex- TRAVAGANZA OF THE Forty Tuizves. FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE, Fifth aveaue and Twenty- fourth street.—BakbE BLEUE. WALLACK’'S THEATRE, Broadway and 13th sireet.— CasTE. ACADEMY OF MUSIC, 14th street,—KNGLIsH OrERA— Luniins. GRAND OPERA HOUSE, corner of Eighth avenue and Séd street.—THE Tempest. unanimously elected President Treasurer. NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1869.—TRIPLE SHERT. excited, and the police are avenging themselves by ‘making arrests on small provocation and with much ‘useless clubbing. One death by yellow fever ts reported at Key West, Fla. A sub-committee of the House committee inves- tigating the charges against Judge Busteed are to go to Montgomery, Ala., to proceed with thetr inquirtes. Busteed 1s said to be in Alabama holding court, although last winter he feared violence if he re turned to the State. senator Sprague addressed the Commercial Con- vention in Memphis, Tenn., yesterday, and hia re- marks were heartily applauded by the delegates. He spoke of the pernicious influence of a centralization of the money power and strongly opposed free trade. Senator Wilson addressed the Charlestown Navy Yard workingmen last evening on the subject of the Eight Hour law. Hon, Hamilton Fish, the Secretary of State, is presiding over the anniversary meeting of the So- ciety of the Cincinnati, in Baltimore, An express measenger, while delivering a package ina room in North Charles street, Baltimore, yes- terday, was gagged by two men in the room and robbed of $16,000, The robbers escaped, In the United States District Court at Trenton, N. J., yesterday, William P, Kelly, convicted of swear- ing falsely to procure a naturalization certificate, was sentenced to the State Prison at hard labor for one year. to three years, Foster, the counterfeiter, was sentenced A counterfeiter named Cummings, tn the State Prison at Trenton, was pardoned by President Grant yesterday. He had served two years. The Exceisior Iron Works in Chicago were burned yesterday, involving a loss of $150,000, The City. In the Police Board yesterday Judge Bosworth was and Mr. Smith At the meeting of the Board of Excise yesterday arguments were heard from the liquor dealers and from @ delegation of temperance men relative to the proposed reduction of the license fees, The matter, after quite a lively debate, was referred to the Com- mittee on Applications, Mrs. Ann Gallagher, of No. 97 Cannon street, made &@ statement yesterday that the uaknown man whose body was found off Riker's Island some time ago, with a rope around it, was her husband, and that she has reason to believe he received his death by foul means at the hands of four men who induced him to goout with them in October last, when he disap- peared. The coroners propose to have the body ex- humed and the matter further investigated. A squad of burglars were discovered in Jersey City on Tuesday night trying to open the safe in the office of Delos E. Culver, where a million dollars in bonds and securities were deposited. One of them alone was captured. He stated that his name was Robert Page and he was a ticket speculator at Niblo’s Garden. The Davis perjury case was continued before Judge Benedict yesterday, the defendant, who ap- parently took poison the day before, appearing in court free from any excitement or perturbation of mind. GERMAN STADT THEATRE, Nos. 45 and 47 Bo wery— RisLer's Impegiat Jaranese TROUPE. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Tu® FRencu Sry—Tur Buinv Bor anv His Doe, MRS. F. B. CONWAY'S PARK THEATRE, Brooklyn.— Daviv Corrggyigyp. THEATRE COMIQUE, 514 Broadway.—CoMic SEETOUES anv Living STaTUE6—PLU10. CENTRAL PARK GARDEN, 7th av., between Sé&h and Goth sts. —POPULAB GARDEN CONOEET. SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, 585 Broaiway.—ETH10- Pian ENTERTAINMENTS—THE UNBLEACHED BLONDES. BRYANTS' OPERA HOUSE, Tammany Building, Mth Bireet,—E1H10PIAN MINSTRELSY, &C. TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, 201 Bowery.—Comio VocaLism, NEGRO MINSTRELSY, &0. EMPIRE CITY RINK, corner 3d av., 68d and 64th sta.— Guanp Conoret, &c. STEINWAY HALL, Fourteenth street.—Granp VocaL AND INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT. HOOLEY'S OPERA HOUSE, Brooklyn.—Hooueys MineTREL8—Covo’s FRoic. NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 613 Broadway.— BCIENCE AND Anr. TRIPLE SHEET. New York, Thursday, May 20, 1569. ro THE HERALD IN BROOKLYN. Notice to Carriers and Newsdealers. Brooktyn Carriers aND Newsmen will in future receive their papers at the Branco Orrice or tHe New York Heracp, No. 145 Fulton street, A. Sawyer, of Dayton, Ohio; The North German Lloyd's steamship Unton, Cap- tain Dreyer, will leave Hoboken at two P. M. to-day for Southampton and Bremen. The mails wiil close at the Post office at twelve M. Tne steamship Morro Castie, Captain R. Adams, will leave pier No. 4 North river at three P, M. to-day for Havana, via Nassau, N. P. The stock market was strong, buoyant and excited yesterday. New York Central advanced to 18744, re- acting to 186. Gold also was excited and advanced to 1444, closing finally at 14354. Prominent Arrivals in the City. Judge H. A. Nelson, of Poughkeepsie; Rev. Rollin Rev. A. Steed, of Clarence, Mo.; Rev. P. Schoonmaker, of Troy; Judge Samuel J. Pearson, of North Carolina, and A. J. Drexel, of Philadelphia, are at the St. Nicholas Hotel. Rey. C. 8. Stout, of Chicago, and Captain E. Wil- Nams, of the United States Army, are at the Astor Hoase, Colonel E. J. Eldridge, of Honesdale; Major R, Higby, of Bridgeport; R. S. Anderson, of the United States Coast Survey; Major R. McCarthey, of Syra- Brooklyn. ADVERTISEMENTS Ietters for the Teceived as above. THES NEWS. and Svsscriprions and all New Yors Heraup will be Europe. The cable telegrams are dated May 19. Joun Jay, American Minister to Austria, left Eng- land yesterday for Paris. The London 7imes and Telegraph contained two more articles on the rela- tions between America and England. The anni- versary meeting of the Peace Society of London was held yesterday. Kesolutions were adopted express- ing regret that the United States Senate rejected the Alabama claims treaty. A fatal disturbance took place Yesterday in Tralee, reiand. Two factions were engaged in a riot, and She police interfered, when botn mobs turned upon them. The police were forced to use their frearms. One of the rioters was killed and several wounded. Minister Burlingame has submitted the prelimi- aries of a treaty between Prance and China to the French Foreign Minister, The embassy expects to Conclude its labor in the French capital about the end of next month. China. Advices received in London yesterday from Hong ong says that Christian missionaries are denounced throughout the Chinese empire. It is rumored that the French Minisier resident in Pekin has been in- sulted by a high Chinese official. Fears of the en- croachments of the Russians on Chinese territory gre entertained in the Celestial empire. Australasia. Australian advices to March 20 state that a fearful drought was prevailing in Victoria, and the sheep were dying in great numbers, Small-pox prevailed &! Melbourne. Military operations against the savages near Wargannie, New Zeaiand, had been stopped by an extraordinary food in the river. Cuba, Our correspondence by the steamer Columbia, dated at Nuevitas, May 11, contains the important announcement that a republican government has been fully organized by the insurgents in Cuba, Cespedes was elected President, Aquilera Vice Prest- dent and Quesada Commander-in-Chief of all the forces. President Cespedes’ inaugural address is published in full elsewhere in our columns, and also his farewell address in resigning his provisional Suthority. St. Domingo. Advices from Porto Plata to the 7th state that the British frigate Jason had gone to Inagua to look Gfter thes teamer Telegraph, which was operating in the interest of the St, Domingo revolutionists under Cabral, and which was hoisting the Amertcan, Eng- lush and Dominican fags, as best suited her conven- tence. Miscellaneous, Great efforts are being made to induce Secretary Boutwell to change his policy relative to buying up bonds, but without effect. Among his visitors yea- day was Mr. S. B. Chittenden, of New York, who fepresented that gold would rise to 175 unless the olicy was changed, but the Secretary declined to be convinced. The Secretary of the Treasury is materially reduc- tng the list of national banks designated as govern- ment depositories. He proposes one in each Con- Rressional district, with additional ones in large bites, Mr. Howard, our new Minister to China, called hpon the President yesterday, accepted the mission And received his instructions. He will go by way of Europe to consult with Mr. Burlingame. One of President Grant's objections to J. Ross Browne was the tone of his official despatches, wherein he ex- presses his belief that the Chinese are opposed to progress, Although there is likely to be great com- Petition between the United States and England for the Chinese trade, the United States mission there Consists of only two persons—the Minister and his Kecretary of Legation, who is supposed to act as in- terpreter. ‘The Metropolitan Police of New Orleans are en- titled by law to jurisdiction over Jefferson City, but the citizens of that suburb have refused to receive them, On Tuesday night about 90 police marched to the police buildings ana attempted to take pos- beasion, but they found armed citizens insiae, who fred upon and wounded tweive or fourteen of them. he Governor called on General Mower for troops and a company went, without meeting any resist. ance, took possession of the buildings and turned qhom over to the police, The citizens are still greatiy cuse, and C. W. Pollock, of the United States Army, are at the Metropolitan Hotel. Captain Edmond L. Berry, of Kingston; Major E. M. Parker, of Cleveland, and George Ross, of Lon- don, England, are at the St, Charles Hotel. Marquis de Bourbel, of England; Colonel Bassett, of Connecticut, and Rev. Dr. Hills, Bishop of British Columbia, are at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Captain Truesdale, of the United States Army; Dr. William Anderson, of Toronto, and Professor Alex- ander, of Massachusetts, are at the St. Julien Hotel. Prominent Departures. John Lothrop Motley, Minister to the Court of St. James, accompanied by his family, and General Badeau, Assistant Secretary of the British Legation, sailed yesterday in the steamer Cuba for England; Judge Reynolds, of Brooklyn; Major General Thomas Swords, Rev. J. H. Rogers and Waldo Hutchins and family left in the steamship Nevada for Liverpool. / Three Months of General Grant. V It is easy enough to say that Grant is a fail- ure, and perhaps from this very ease many have hastily said it. Are the facts such that men must say It after deliberate thought? It is at least quite certain that Grant's de- cadence in one sense is clear; he is not what the people fondly thought him; he does not realize the generous national expectation of his career, and hence he has fallen from that height which popular estimation had accorded as justly his. But is it not possible that the people in their enthusiasm placed him at a point that no man would seem to fit when looked at in cooler moments? Did we not expect too much of him? Did we notin one humor ex- pect him to do things that in another humor and with our jealousy of one-man power we even would permit no man todo? It is anold fault of the world that it exaggerates its heroes and then contemns them that they do not come up to the false measure. Here for ages has the world been standing with folded hands before the grand conception of Marius sitting on the ruins of Carthage. Patriots and soldiers have accepted it on canvas and mused it in verse with peculiar melancholy. Well, Marius never Sat there at all. It was only a figure of speech, Maat we then scout the old democrat altogether because he sat down many a muddy mile from the place we have pictured him sitting? It is for this nation not to vote asa failure in any captions spirit that man to whom it owes the final success of its great efforts; but if he is a failure there is an equal duty plainly to say it. But what did the country expect of Grant? It expected broadly the administration of the government on new principles, It expected a reversion to the primitive system—that is, a revolution against the office-holders, against sort of political and official oligarchy, that in an immunity of fifty years had come to look upon the government patronage as exclusively its own. If we consider only this point fairly we shall see that Hercules had but little to do by comparison with what we ex- pected of our straightforward soldier, For what were the carniverous birds of Lake Stym- phalis, the mad bull of Grete, the Lernwn hydra, the Nemean lion and the wild boar of Eurymanthus but so many ideal types and figures of the ferocity, recklessness, roaring, grumbling, shrieking and tossing of the politi- cians, mad for place and plunder? We ex- pected too much. But then it must be assented that we have got much less than we might even reasonably have looked for. We have got nothing, and here it is that absolute failure {s obvious. Grant was relied upon to do all, because in his whole career he had seemed 4 man of common sense, common honesty and resolute purpose, But his resolute purpose has become puerile vacillation; his common honesty is nepotism, or worse; and common sense is the quality of all qualities that the ad- ministration is most without, Pressed to exclude the grovelling politicians from office, General Grant was ready to meet the public view of the necessity of such a course; but he immediately confounded with these grovelling politicians every public man whose name had strong party affiliations. How great a blunder this was is seen in the reflection that in such a crisis as we have re- cently passed through all men disposed to serve the country faithfully in civil life, and who were men of force, became necessarily party men. By the terms of his exclusion, therefore, he forced himself to a choice of respectable, good-natured nobodies, Can the American people be persuaded that there is nothing be- tween that extreme and the miserable place- holders of the corrupt cliques? On this prin- ciple Grant's Cabinet was made. Disgusted with the result he then fell into the other blunder of giving up his efforts altogether, and politicians of the worst stripe had a freer sweep than they have had before this long while. Here is failure. Ina rude age of the world’s history so simple a soldier as the second Caliph could remember that ‘‘the family of Omar had enough in Omar,” and did not need office. He could advise his successor, also, “not to prefer his relatives above all others.” For a President in this age to conspicuously indicate his indifference to precepts so soundly based in all views of public morality and offi- cial purity is a great error. We are, it must be remembered, only in the third month of Grant's Presidency. Popular enthusiasm has cooled into disappointment. Anticipations of a vigorously honest discharge of public duties have faded away, and the common laugh is at the ridiculous anti-cli- maxes of Grant's reforms and the dispro- portion between what he has done and what he might have done. But the causes of the failure so far are not in the grain of the man. He may have been misled as to his own powers and qualities, and the praise of his reticence may have given him the notion that wisdom consisted in holding one’s tongue—a notion that materially damaged the constitution of the Cabinet. We still believe that there is in the fibre of this man what we want to make a President of the right sort; but the President is not there already made. Some of the greatest careers of political history began in failure. Grant can scarcely become so laugh- able a figure as that great genius of modern politics, the Emperor of France, has been, and George Canning was once a great failure also, We shall be reconciled with the failure we chronicle in this third month if from this point Grant shall address himself to his great duties with something of the energy and patient persistency he has shown in another sphere ; for in that way, but not otherwise, he may yet make his Presidency a great success. General Reynolds and the Texas Election. Our telegraphic advices yesterday from Gal- veston state that General Reynolds has selected all the registrars for the State, and that should the President order an election in Texas it could be held in July at the time designated by the late Convention. It is but a few weeks since General Reynolds returned to his command in that State, and this promptness of action in co-operating with the wise efforts of President Grant to restore the complete arch of the Union does him high honor, Parties who find their private interests advanced by delaying the re- construction of the State governments in the three unreconstructed States have represented that an election could not be held in Texas at the time designated, because there was not sufficient time to take the necessary action for registration, But where there is a will there is a way, and General Reynolds has shown that he possesses the necessary will. All that is now required is for the President to issue the necessary proclamation ordering the election to be held, and General Reynolds will find the way to hold it. In view of the iniquitous conduct of the Convention in voting the credit of the State for enormous sums and granting millions of acres of land to advance the schemes of private speculators, the Presi- dent will serve the cause of justice and hon- esty by directing that a separate vote of the people be taken on the question of submitting to the action of the new Legislature all that portion of the work of the Convention which is extra-constitutional and of a purely legislative character. If the schemes are good and of actual benefit to the State they will incur no danger by such a course, and if they are sim- ply plundering jobs they should be submitted to legislative examination, Let us, then, have the proclamation for the Texas election at once, and that for Mississippi as soon as possi- ble. The whole Union will then be ready for a new start on the Ist of December, with Gen- eral Grant as pilot of the ship of state and manned by a full Congressional crew. Goop ror Tattons—Hundred dollar suits. Tne Potsok Boarp OrGanizep.—The new Board of Police of this city organized yester- day under a compromise—a plan of adjust- ment as effectual, it appears, for the arrange- ment of party political difficulties asin the higher path of diplomatic troubles. Judge Bosworth was chosen President and Mr. Smith Treasurer, on motions made by Mr. Manierre and Mr. Brennan, the republican and demo- cratic candidates respectively. The fight being ended, it is to be hoped the metropolitans will go to work with a will. “No More, I Taank You."—The Hon. Reverdy Johnson, en route from London to Maryland, declined the farewell banquet of- fered him by the authorities of Southamp- ton, After Sumner’s speech on that treaty, Mr, Johnson of Laird, the builder of the Ala- bama, of the Alabama claims and of English roast beef and plum pudding, has had enough. thousand Nor tax Rient Remepy.—Accounts of General Dent's vaporing about the White House having reached the public through the correspondents, it is now proposed to throw these gentlemen out of the White House windows. We do not believe this plan would be effective, for the stories would still get out in some way. But throwing Dent out of the window would be « sure oure, ‘The New Republic. The revolution in Cubs has changed its phase, and, emerging from the chrysalis state of @ unanimous popular resistance to the tyranny of Spain, has assumed the mature proportions of a complete republic. Our readers will find in another column of our issue to-day the address of General Cespedes on resigning his provisional authority into the hands of the Cuban Congress, and his subse- quent proclamation to the people of Cuba as President of the new-born republic, Accom- panying these documents are certain official reports of Sefior Aguilera, the new Secretary of State and War, and the proclamation of General Quesada, the newly appointed Com- mander-in-Chief of the patriot forces of Cuba. These documents have come to us direct from Guimaro, the provisional capital of the repub- lic, and bear the official imprint of the newly constituted government, It has been said that true liberty consists in a due respect for all the forms of law; and in this duty General Cespedes has not been want- ing in his action as leader of the revolution. On the 10th of September last he raised the banner of resistance to the Spanish authorities at Yara, and although his example was rapidly followed in the Eastern and Central Depart- ments of the island, and he was recognized by local leadors everywhere as the true chief of the movement, he has been slow to assume the functions of supreme authority, and modest in their exercise. When the representatives of the people met in congress he resigned into their hands the authority which the popular voice had conferred upon him, and submitted to their will. They have exhibited their con- fidence in his wisdom and integrity, and have conferred upon him the first position which the will of a free people can confer, and from this moment his voice will stir every Cuban heart as their chosen and accepted leader. It is not the pomp of courts nor the trap- pings of a gorgeous array which constitutes the true grandeur of the birth of a nation. It is the holiness of the fires which burn upon its altars and the sublimity of the ideas which have given it being. In this respect the words of President Cespedes, though few, are preg- nant with greatness and with life. Though uttered amid the palm-crowned fields of a dis- tant isle, and perhaps beneath the thatched and humble roof of a tropical cottage, they will find an echo in the courts of palaces and in the hearts of freemen everywhere. ‘In the act of beginning the struggle with the oppressor,” said he, ‘‘Cuba has assumed the solemn duty to consummate her independence or to perish in the attempt; and in giving herself a demo- cratic government she gbligates herself to be- come republican. This double obligation, con- tracted in the presence of free America, before the liberal world, and, what is more, before our own consciences, signifies our determina- tion to be heroic and to be virtuous. On your heroism I rely for the consummation of our independence, and on your virtue I count to consolidate the republic.” Words like these fashion the minds of men everywhere, and exercise that control over events which shows that ‘‘beneath the rule of man entirely great the pen is mightier than the sword.” They bring a new power into the struggle for freedom in Cuba, and lead to the conviction that in the contest there against the crown of Spain that monarchy is destined to encounter the same defeat which has ever attended its efforts to perpetuate its sway. Revolution against it has triumphed in Naples and Italy, in Portugal, in the Low Countries, and im the multitudinous republics that once constituted her vast dominion on this Conti- nent, and it has failed nowhere. They will fire the Cuban heart with new enthusiasm and inspire confidence in its efforts and its aims. They will imbue every Cabinet in the civilized world with a feeling of respect for the Cuban leader, and create an antagonism at home and abroad to the claims of Spain which she will find it difficult, if not impossible to overcome ; and we shall not be surprised if, in the pecu- liar condition in which the Spanish nation finds itself to-day, they found a powerful echo in the Spanish peninsula. Listening to their import-we must hail the fact that a new republic is born. We know that to this announcement the heart of the American people will respond with pleasure, and we shall not be surprised to see an up- heaval of public opinion that will contribute greatly to the early triumph of its cause. It will become our government to give the first recognition to the new member of the family of nations, which we doubt not it will do, and from those of civilized and Christian peoples we look for such action as will mitigate the horrors of a war of revolution and tho suf- ferings which attend a nation in the throes of independence. All hail to the republic of Cuba, the youngest and, mayhap, the fairest of nations! Too Bav.—That General John Cochrane should be kept dancing attendance at the White House at this late day, as if his services in the campaign of 1868 were of no account, Is the hitch with Boutwell, or what is the dif- ficulty ? Mustoirat Riauts anv Riot.—An attempt on the part of the corporate authorities of New Orleans to extend the jurisdiction of the me- tropolitan police force to the adjoining city of Jefferson has induced o serious riot and fatal collision between the officers and citizens. Three hundred policemen, detailed from New Orleans, marched into Jefferson for duty, but their attempted exercise of official functions was resisted by the people to the result of a small battle, in the course of which quite a number of the intruders were wounded, two seriously. Order was restored only by the of United States troops furnished by General Mower on a requisition of the Gov- ernor of Louisiana, The military were not assailed. It is the old question of difficulty— complex olty charters and corporate limits {ll defined or overlapping. The police rely ona judicial decision, but they appear to have acted in a very violent manner, Tae St. Tuomas Treaty.—Somebody is spending money to convince the American people that the St. Thomas purchase ought to go through and the money be paidover. First we had Parton's pamphlet; now we have nicely printed translations from the Danish papers. We do not know who furnishes the money, nor on what scale he is to be repaid when the seven million dollars are handed oven Thirty Days from Yokohama. By our telegraphic news we learn thats merchant in St. Loufs has just received an in- voice of tea from Yokohama, Japan, in thirty days, by the Pacific Railroad. This is only an initiatory step in the vast current of progress and commerce which is destined to flow from Asia to our shores, in which the Pacific Rail- road is to bear the most important part. But it may be that Asiatic commerce, facilitated as it must be by the great link now joining the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, will be confined within the territory that lies west of the Mis- sissippi and Missouri rivers and is washed by the waves of the Pacific. These great rivers, which form a dividing line between Eastern civilization and the wild prairie and mountain- ous country, with its undeveloped mineral re- sources, its magnificent grazing grounds, its boundless tracts of land fitted for wheat rais- ing, sheep growing and cattle pastures, reach- ing as they do all the way through the silver and gold regions to the peaceful waters of our western water boundary, cutting the Continent as it were in two, may also turn out to be the dividing line which will compass within that vast area the profits and results of Asiatic commerce which the western branch of the Pacific Railroad must control. If such should be the case, is it not advisable that the capital- ists of the Eastern States should turn their attention to the proposed water connection with the Pacific through the Isthmus of Darien, or the Tehuantepec Isthmus, or some route which will bring our Atlantic ports into com- munication with the commerce which the com- pletion of the Pacific Railroad will certainly secure us from China and Japan? A canal through the Isthmus of Darien is not an im- possibility, What France has done at Suez, with all the natural disadvantages attending the construction of the canal through that sandy region, American enterprise can accom- plish at Darien, where fewer obstructions in- tervene, We should not leave all the advantages ac- cruing from the opening of this vast Asiatic commerce to be enjoyed by the great West, much as it may be a matter of rejoicing to see the evidences of the value of the Pacific Rail- road so early developed. Tue Gop Exorrement in WALL StrEET.— The ‘‘bulls” engineered a decided advance in gold yesterday, which they put up to 144}. The Gold Room was full of wild rumors and ab- surd reports. The English papers, with the mail accounts of the reception of Senator Sum- ner’s speech in England, were chiefly employed to distract the market. A reaction late in the afternoon carried the price back to 143. Tue ForgicN ReLations or Caiwa.—The Chinese are becoming excited on the subject of the encroachments of some of the ‘ ‘outside barbarian” Powers in the empire, and religious and political agitations reign in Pekin. Pla- cards in denunciation of the Christian mission- aries have been extensively circulated through- out the empire. The flag of France has been hauled down at the office of the legation in Pekin in consequence, it is said, of @ personal assault committed on the representative of Napoleon by a native official of high rank. The government feared that the Russians would make further terri- torial encroachments, and it appears from the tenor of our cable despatches to-day as if the Brother of the Sun has been left to depend in @ great measure both for quiet and safety on the good offices of Mr. Burlingame and the continued friendship of the American people. Gas Exprosions.—An explosion of gas occurred yesterday in the office of the Com- missioner of Pensions, Washington, which, although not attended with fatal conse- quences, produced an effect alarming enough atthe moment. The gas escaped from a leaky pipe, and was ignited by a light in the hands of a workman employed to find out and repair the defect. The floor of the apartment was soon covered with a sheet of flame, which ex- ploded, breaking windows and knocking furni- ture around in every direction. The flames rushed into and down a flue to the office of the Chief Clerk of Indian Affairs, where it pro- duced some trifling damage. This unexpected excitement may have its uses, as our veteran soldiers, as well as the Indian chiefs, have been complaining londly that the two depart- ments just named required a little wholesome “stirring up.” In Brooklyn yesterday a lady was blown through a rear window by an ex- plosion of gas escaping from a leaky pipe. Gasfitters should be very cautious. Dovsiy AGREEABLE.—The Richmond Whig, referring to the departure of Chief Justice Chase, says his sojourn in that city was not less agreeable socially than officially. That's the way to reconstruct lawfully and pleas- antly. Te Gaga anv Gras.—The members of the organized gangs of robbers which infest our large cities grow bolder daily, and become more daring as they become more scientific. In Baltimore yesterday the money delivery clerk of an express company, when about to hand in an amount of cash at a place of business in North Charles street, was seized, gagged and robbed of sixteen thousand dollars when in the very room. This outrage was perpetrated within a few doors of a crowded thoroughfare; yet no. noise was heard and consequently no alarm given. Burglars and thieves of the higher ranks ap- pear to have perfected an intercommunion from city to city by close organization and « constant correspondence. The only means of meeting it efficiently is by a more active and united course of duty on the part of the police, One of the clerks in the Treasury Depart- ment has been receiving three salaries—on account of his inexperience. Inexperience is too plentiful in Washington to bear such 4 price. Hore ror CANADA AND IRgLAND.—Pro- fessor Goldwin Smith, speaking as an English- man and “loyal subject,” replied to Senator Sumner’s speech on the Alabama claims yes- lay. He adduced all the stale arguments the British press in defence of his position, The most gratifying portion of his oration is his permission to Canada to ‘‘go when she pleases” and promise of liberation to Ireland under certain contingencies. Senator Sumner, the Canadians end Irishmen ot large will make ® note, Alleged Criminals as Witnesses. The law passed in the late Legislature per mitting prisoners in criminal cases to take the witness stand and testify on thelr trial has already had one or two practical illustrations in our courts, and thus far there does not appear to have been any evil results from it, although several lawyers in the Legislature took strong grounds against it, on the plea that the practice would greatly embarrass the courts and obstruct the course of justice. Setting aside the fact that the privilege of tea- tifying in one’s own behalf in criminal cases may induce perjury, the law seems to be a good one. The presumption is fair that a man guilty of an offence which is made the subject of indictment by a grand jury will not stick at taking a false oath in order to escape con- viction; but it does not follow, therefore, that an innocent man should not be permitted to tell a plain, unvarnished tale, which may not only establish his own innocence, but per- chance throw such light upon the story of the crime as may point the finger of justice towards the true criminal. In Germany we know that the system of allowing the accused to testify in his own case is the basis of jurisprudence, In France the practice is universal, and we do not know of any instances where more evil than good has come of it. Experience in our criminal courts may establish a like result. At all events, the principle is worth a fair trial, and we are dis- posed to look upon the law with favor. If it is abused or proves to be mischievous it can be remedied by repealing it at the next session of the Legislature. Election Prospects in France. The French elections, which are to come off on the 23d and 24th of the present month, are, naturally enough, engrossing public attention throughout the empire. The government and the opposition are both doing their best to carry their candidates. Riots of a trifling character have taken place ; but it is the gen- eral opinion that if these riots have not been encouraged by government agents they will be a benefit rather than an injury to Na- poleon. It is not the first time that the spirit of opposition has been made use of to destroy itself; nor is the Emperor Napoleon unskilled in such devices, It appears, from a late cable despatch, that the government will be hardly pushed in the city of Paris, but that out of Paris the chances of the opposition are small. We have no doubt that every government official, from M. Rouher and Baron Hauss- mann down to the humblest mayor of the humblest village, will do his work so well that the government victory will be complete. Triumphantly proclaimed once more before the world the savior of France, the future policy of Napoleon will become more and more a subject of general interest. Will it be peace or war? Will France settle down quietly within her present limits, or will she stretch forth her arms to the Rhine and reclaim the boundaries of 1814? How 18 Tx1s?—Does not the steady rise in gold indicate a want of confidence somewhere in regard to matters and things at Washing- ton? Smap Pores.—One hundred and eighty thousand dollars have been appropriated for the removal of rocks at Hell Gate, and half that sum apparently for the removal of shad poles from the North river. At the end of the shad season, too, when the poles would go as they came in a few days more. But it is a queer idea they have of Hell Gate, that it is only twice as bad as the shad poles, British Hvumsra.—A discussion of the Alabama claims by the London press yester- day, but no indication of payment, and the assemblage of the Peace Society in London. Tae Franoo-Beretan ConrEerenocg.—It appears that a conference has at last been agreed upon by France and Belgium on the railway question. The preliminary negotia- tions have been completed, and it is announced that the first session of the joint commission will be held on an early day. Hitherto Bel- gium has been firm on this subject. M. Frere~ Orban did, on the occasion of his first visit to Paris, show some signs of yielding, but he was quickly pulled up, and the exacting tone of Napoleon and his Ministers imparted courage rather than fear. Belgian firmness has had its proper reward. France has yielded. The conference is to be held, and the basis of negotiations adopted is Belgian rather than French. There is no longer any doubt that the difficulty will be got over. Both gov- ernments are loud in their mutual expressions of good will. The proceedings of the confer- ence, however, will command the attention of European diplomatists. It is a matter of some consequence to know that French arrogance has, during the progress of this affair, been slightly snubbed. The Presbyterian Assemblies. To-day the Assemblies of the two great Presbyterian bodies meet in this city. The Assembly of the Old School will hold its ses- sions in the Brick Presbyterian church, corner of Fifth avenue and Thirty-seventh street, The Assembly of the New School will meet in the Church of the Covenant, Park avenue, corner of East Thirty-fifth street. In both Assemblies, according to custom, the proceedings will be commenced by @ sermon preached by the re- tiring Moderator. Some five hundred or six hundred delegates, representing Presbyterian interests in different parts of the United States, will thus take up temporary abode in this modern Babylon. As few of those delegates come alone, and as the business of the churches requires that others besides the actual representatives should attend the Assemblies, it is not over the mark to say that we shall have two thow sand Presbyterian strangers in the midst of us for two weeks to come. If there is any leaven among those good people, it is surely fair to expect that New York society, which so much needs improvement, will benefit by their temporary sojourn. We have no doubt that they will carry away with them some of the leaven of New York in exchange. As we cannot commend this latter, we bid them be on their guard. Some valuable experience they may obtain if they know how to use it, The most important question to come belore the Assemblies this year is that of union. If the divided sections of Presbyterianism can see their way to the consummation of » marriage | many will reioice. Division among Protestanta