The New York Herald Newspaper, October 10, 1869, Page 4

3 GEORGE LAW. Tho Great Artificor of High Bridge the Architect of His Own Fortunes—The Humble Hod-Carrier Becoming the Fourth Richest Man In America— His Maimmoih Railroad Vontures, Fo.ry Franchises and Steam- ship Enterprises—Wealth, Charities, Political Career and Personal -Life, Sturdy grandeur of physique, energy, daring ana paccess are 'n no living American of the present age more brilliantly personated than in George Law. He ta the Hercules of our young America. He is a representative man of our growing repubilc, Begin- ning life poor, he wrenched proudly asunder the shackies of pressing poverty. With that sublime spirit of Ajax defying the lightning he dared any- thing and cared for nothing. By resolutely opposing obstacles he overcame them. With bold hana he struck down every barrier in his pathway, The story of hi life 13 one of eary struggles and final supremacy, of patience and perseverance ennobled by unflinching honesty of purpose and dealing, and bringing wij them riches and power seldom achieved vy any one man, aud that giving brightest lustre to his rare and spleadtd success, the glory of an untarnished ie. A sketch of his life does not present a rovord of startling tucideats, giving pleas- ing and r tic Vivacrty to murrative, but the Persistent, progressive plodding of an earnest, de- termincd ian, who, making the most of present opportunities, by the stubbornness of unyielding purpose, pusied his way onward, bravely batting dimeuities aud making them submissive to his tp- flexible and imperious will, American youth wil fod in hws carecr @ notadle example for emulation—the emulation of houest toil, that true nobility of labor, investing the humblest work with grand dignity, and which, stamp- tng its foot upon the prejudices of pride, willingly, by menial employment and hands hardened and browned by rude industry, Works its way with stead- fast aim to the joftiest heights of the temple of toll— to fame, wealth, place, power, tae full fruiticn of the glorio: rds of industry. CUILDZOOD AND BARLY TRAINING, The youngest of three sons, of whom he is the only survivor—there were also two sisters, One of whom 1g still living on the old homestead—George Law was born tn Jackson, Washington county, this State, October, 25, 1303, His father, wo was born to ty, Ireland, settied there just after the ‘y war, His mother was also born in His fatuer owned a farm of 100 acres and n rmer, and by his industry, d frugaltty inereased his farm Je was one of those plain, practical wort of m however, who believe that the utility of boys is proportionate to tho amount of work tucy can do, As he kept a dairy George's earliest empoy sent was looking atter the cows and helping to churn—a preliminary process in batter making in which the rising generation in that mem- orable sei 1 of dairies are still doubtless largely Ireland, was an active, a g00d mMavagemont to 590 acre: employed. ‘ihe monotony of his early cnildhood was broken !n upon only by one memorable incl- deat, He he thundoring roar of cannon on the occasion 0 modere MeDonough's spiendid on Lake Champlain. He went to see as they were marched through Young as he wags this spectacle of prisoners led along by their handful British of American captors made an impression upon his mind which the Jong lapse of years nas never served to efflace—a coniidence in the superior prowess of Americans over foreigners that mever has been shaken, and, he says, never can be. “Lam a erican by ali the prerogatives of birthright," he has been heard to say, when referring to ts memory of his youth; “but this made me a native Ame: in the fullest and broadest sense possible. in those humbied Britishera | saw the glory of Arerica, and | have stood up for Ameriga aud sworn by her ever since, aud have always lived in the lustre of her glory, as L hope I ever shall.” As George giew older the sphere of his duties was enlarged. He bad to help milk the cows and heip clea ew land and plough and plant and sow and hoe and go to mill, and once he went for his father to Troy. ‘This modern Troy, in his youthful eyes, had a ci.arm and magnitude as great as those of ancient Troy to Anchises, or .2neas, or Priain, or even the beautiful and imaginative Helea, It Opened anew world to him. by the flickering light of the firepiace of his birthplace and home he had read of the great world, and bere it was, and he was in it Sorrowfully he turned his back upon ita great buildings, each one to him a modern Partuenon or Coliseum, upon its great streets, longer and broader than tae Appian Way of ancient Rouie and its moving floods of people. This Was in his fifteenth year. He had been to school only winters. He couid read, write h!3 name legi- bly and understood arithmetic to the rule of three— the great pons asinorum then of youthful arithme- ticiaus, beyond which, to the generality of teachers even, all Was deeply and darkly shadowy and con- fasion worse confounded. But it he did not learn much at school he read a gool deal out of i His father had but teow books, but ail these ne read with avidity, and he read all he uld borrow. Burns’ poems pleased him greatly, 2nd he learned to repeat nearly all the roductions of the great Scottisn bard. “Plutarch’s Lives,’? Josep works, “Hume's tistory of Enyjand” and a “Life of Washington” gave him solid ménial ailment, while Smoilett’s novela and books of travel furnished him lighter reading, The life of William Kay, and how, a young farmer boy going from home fi the wide world to seek his fortune, be ach “dl great fame and riches, and 3 his o tip to Troy exerted a powerfully combined infuence upon his youtusal mind, He was now eigites years old. ths life on his father’s fa did not satisfy the cravings of his juiéuile ambition, He believed he ter. He determined to go away from we out bold the wide world and ortunes. Knowing the parental oppo- Ww his making kuown lis pur- e Was to run away from home. 18 parents Inclined him to make wishes, He went at it bluntly, throughout his life whenever ind on any potut. uty knowa to thom as he has always dor he has made up nis “} am going from hoino,” he Said to uis father. “What a meat whe father ia gut prise. ‘ “Lam going to earn my own living." “You do (uat now “T want to do be “How?! “Don't know yet; thavs what Iu going to find out.” “30 you are tived of farm work?” “It's not the work for me.’ “What elise caa you work att “Tl fine to do." pick; you shali have a trial,’ continued bis foiser, ‘There ain’t work enough for all of us now; if you'll take care of yourself I'l give you all you earn.” r “Tuauk you,” eaid George. “You have given me three years’ start of most young men; but l’ll pay one of these days for the time.” It was rather more dimcultto persuade his mother of the wisdom of bis intentions, but ste finally, though reluctantiy, jowmed her consent to that of her husband, TARTS OUT TO SEEK 113 FORTUNE. We have now reached the startiug potat in young George’s career. Having saved up forty dollars, earned by working ona neighbor's farm, he bid an eternal adieu to farm work and set out for Troy in quest of his fortunes. He carried little with hina, except @ uiuscolar, well-knit frame, a determined ‘Will, the good wishes of his father and his mother’s Diessing. it Was a raw, gusty, Li! day io autumn, Alone and oa foot, and the road almost impassable from the avtu.nnal rains, he set forth from tac nome of hig boyhood, with strong and manly heart, to commence inis battle of Jife tn the great World. “Hadn't you better wait lor the storm to end, and the roads to get betters” suggested his father. 7 “Thad fixed on to-day to start and I am going,” he answered, avd in the answer revealing that firm- ness of purpose that has always been such a signally marked feacure in h‘s character, And he went. Through thirty-six miles of rain, storm and mud he walked to Troy, the centre of the reat world a3 then pictured to his young fancy. topping at the cheapest hotel he could fad he vegan tolook about for work. He did not seek genteel employment. [He looked along the canal and among the machine siops. Nobody wanted his services, Many would have been discouraged. This was not him. He kept looking and asking. They were putting up a ew building on River street. A hod- carrier fell from tie ladder and broke his leg. “Will you give me that man’s place?’’ George asked the foreiman, as soon ag the injured man had been removed. “Ever carry mortar?’ jerked out tue foreman “No, gir.” “You'll break your neck, sure,” “Dil risk that.” “What wages do you want?’ © What you paid tim.” “That's a dollar a day.” “AL Tl work for the same,’+ And thas he began Work, @ species of work almost the humbiest of manual labor, and a description of which we will be pardoned quoting from an old rytbmic record:— ‘To carry the hod And mix up hot mortar, and euch other work As becomes bis duty as ® Mason's chief clerk. “*T began at the foot of the ladder,” he has been heard frequently to say, iu relating this incident, “ont Twas terriviy afraid T would fall from the wop before f got through,” ‘He Worked here about @ month, tili the house was “1 acm ee tanec ig ge me completed. and then went to Moosic to help to put up @ house there. He bere commenced learn ne trade of a mason: but his employer was anabio at the ‘to pay him, and 80 le left him, leay- ing an unpaid board bill. Returning to Troy he obtained employment asa bricklayer, and 28 soon ag he had earned money enough to pay the board bill walked to Hoosto, a distance of Lwenty- two miles, to tae debt, and then, walking ack to , went to work again. He remained here all winter, earning at the close fourteen shillings a day. In the spring he went to Ulster and hetped to build a lock on the Er.2 Canal, preted 25 a day as ig 3 He worked all this summer here and at High lg and other places on the canal, helping to bulid locks. In the fail he went to the York Mountains, in Pennsylvania, and worked there for a while, getting out stone and biocking ft into shape for locks on the Limes y by rg Canal. When the weather became too cold for this work he found employment on @ stone wall being putup nine miles from Harrisburg. This job fin- ished, he walked fifty miles to Pore it to help get out stone for the Dismal Swamp Canal, in Vir- Cae and North Carolina. With a load of the atone e embarked on a schooner for Norfolk. ‘Thta was his first sea voyege. He walked from Norfoik to the canal, and with six other men worked where several months patting in a lork. lived in a log but and had a negro for acook. climate, miasma of the swamp bard) work — impaired and his’ health and compelled him to come north again, when be speedily found employ- menton the Morris Canal. Money for the laborers falling to be forticoming, and having received one salutary leason in the matter of iho 4 tor pay, he came to New York. The aubdject was then airongly agitated of batting a canal near Harlem to unite the Kast and North rivers, and be waited aome time expecting to get work here, but the project, which le Considered a stupid One at the time, fell through, His next working place was on the Lehigh Oanal, near ton. His skill as @ mason was here rewarded by tac appointment as superiatendent ta the construction of alock and dam—his first step up the ladder of promotion, BECOMES A CONTRACTOR. His years of iabor and tuition, which we have hastily hurried over, inspired him with a devermina- tion to do something beyond working for day wages, He had patiently bided his time, ‘The moment had come to make a bold strike. “L have served out my apprenticeship at day work," he said to his foreman; “1 aw going to put in a bid for a contract.” “You won't get one,” said the foreman; have not got influence or money to back you. “I will try, notwithatanding."” He dtd try, and got a contract for building a lock and aqueduct, Completing tits contract, and with the money he had already saved, he had @ cash capi- tai of $2,800, Coming on to New York he went into Marquand’s, the great jeweller at that time in this city, and expended $300 in the purchase of a gold watch, which watch he carriea to thia day. To fol- low him through all his gubeequent contracts would exceed the limits of our time and space. We will ouly briefly refer to them. His next contract was on the Juniata diviston of the Portage Ratliroad, over the Alleghany Mountains; then followed one on the Columbia Ratiroad, and thea one on the Pennsylvania Canal, and thea the building ot a weigh lock, capavie of weighing 100 tong, 02 the Deiaware division, tor the Lehigh boats. im all these he was eminently successiul. A VACATION AND TRIP WEST AND HOME. In the brief time of our swift record years have come and gone apace. lt was the fail of 1834. He Was now twenty-eight years old. Through a decade of years he had faithfully worked, He had begun to reap the frutta of industry. He had now acash capital of $28,000, He determined to take a brief vacation, There was a strong westward fever, and he fella victim to the mfection, He went to Chicago, Arriving there he caught the fever in earaest, but there Waa an unpleasant ague with it, and-he caine back. He now visited the old home- Stead. His fatber had increased the boundaries of his farm to 500 acres. {t was one of the largest and best farms in that section of the country, Unfortu- nately his father had endorsed for a {riend“and was in danger of losing the farm, “{ have heard of your embarrassments,” he said | to his father. * “So they have told you, have they?’ answered the old gentieman. “You should have told me yourself; mind now, it is all right.’ “How nga?” “] have paid everything up; tne farm ts all yours and there ig not a dollar eucunrbrance upon it." “how shall | ever pay you back the debit!" “You owe me notuiug. I owe you turee years of my earnings and promised when you let we go from home to pay them to you. The oniy diifereuce is that insvead of the first three years’ caraings | have given you the last three.’ AT WORK AGAIN. The restless energies of young Law—for he was yet a young mao—would not allow him to take half the vacation he intended. He was soon busy in har- ness again. We next Gud nim outtding @ vridge over the Lehigh river at Laston, and after that doing, an immense amount of work on the upper division of the Lehigi Canal, between Mauch Chunk and White Haven. Upon these and other eontracts he was employed several years, and witli spiendid pecu- mtary success. The gift of Midas seemed to liave ‘been already imparted to bim. Everything he under- took brought him large profits. Le had money—the sinews of capital at his command—the guarautee of success before him, BUILDING HIGH BRIDGE. Tn May, 1837. be came to New York. His reputa- tion as a skilful civil engineer and builder bad pre- ceded him. He put in bids for three sections of the Croton Aqueduct, and received two of them. Two years laver he put iu a bid for building Hin Bridge, ‘nd Was success{ul above all his competitors. Tae world does not present a parallel to tiis magnificent bridge—magnificent not only In design and size, but in the firm, massive and solid splendor of its con- struction. In building it Mr. Law has built an im. perishable monument ior himself. He introduced new and Siartiing iMvovations in its construction, such a3 pumping water, pile driving and raising Water by steam. He went to Europe and examined all the leading bridges of the Old Worid, but could find nothing suggesting new ideas to bim. It 1s un- necessary to dwell longer on this bridge. He was only ten years butiding it, and it was built to the satisfaction of everybody. FIRST RATLROAD ENTERPRISES. Raising tae old Dry Dock Bank trom a state of almost insolvency to a firmly substantial fnaucial footing is the next tiing we hear of Mr. Law doing. After this he took hold of the Harlem Railroad. With an original capital of $2,000,000 the stock had become nearly worthless, selling at five percent. He ot 1t8 Indebtedness extended, bougiit tron to oulld it from Williamsbridge to White Plains, and raised the stock to seventy-five per cent. In the same way he took hold of the Mohawk Ratiroad. He did away with the inclined planes, carried tt around the hilis, connected it with tue Utica Railroad, and raised the stock from twenty-seven to seventy-tive per cent. His financial management of the tiree enterprises we have named brougat him in @ handsome fortune from each. “There is nothing ao easy,’ he often remarks, ‘aa making money when you have money to make it with; the only thing 1a to see tue Crisis aud take It at the flood.” STEAMBOAT AND 8TRAMSHIP ENTERPRISES. It was long a project of Mr. Law to go into the building of steamboats aad sveamsiips, and when he did so it was, ad ig well Knowu, with all the boldly expansive energy of his nature. In his trip to Karope, to which we have referred, be went over in a packet ship. His friends tried to dissuade him from returning in a steamer, the excitement about the loat steamer President being then at tts hetghe; but he was not to be dissuaded, and caine over in the Caledonia, his object being to make the steamer and ita workings a study. The results of his study he carried (n his head until the proper time to turn them to account, He bought in 1843 the steam- boat Neptune, with which to make personal exportments, and then, in 1944, built bis frst | aivamer, the Oregon. The opening of the rich | treasures of Caltfornia to tue world presented a fit- | ting field tor puttimg in execution, on a scaic of mag- nitude in keeping with hig amo:tion, bis long cler- ished project. This {8 an extended chapter in his | career, but 23 the public are familiar with the de- tails, it is unneceasary to eniarge upon them. He purchased the Falcon, which in December, 1543, started on her introductory trip, taking the first passengers to Chagres, reaching Calliornia. from this city. Everybody knows the far-apreading ex- citement of the gold fever, He bought and built a succession of splendid steamers—tue Empire Vity, El Dorado, Crescent City, Philadeipnia, Silinois, | Cherokee, George Law and others. One Pacific Mat! Steamship Company were strong in their opposition Ou both ends of Lue route, but Mr. Law soon soid out to them the route on tils side the Isthmus and kept the Pactiic side route to himsell. When he re- tired from this steamship enterprise he had a tor- tune of several millions, INTERESTING BPiSODE. An instance occurring during the running of his Catiforaia steamship, we cauuot forbeat reporting, a8 showing not only oir, Law's firmness of decision and independence of character, but his trae Amert- can grit on the subject of the rights of an American citizen. ‘The Captain General of Cuba had issued a proclamation that no steamer of his live having a certain Mr, Smith as purser should land at any port on the isiand, the alleged reason being that Mr, Smith had furnished news to the HeraLD not allow. able by the Cuban authorities, In addition to this it ‘was threatengd tuat the steamer would be destroyed if sue attempted a landing. Mr. Law went to Presi- dent Fillmore and laid the facts of tie case before “you but never him, “The best way to avoid any trouble,” suggested sir, Fillmore, “is to remove the obnoxious Mr. smith and put another man tn his place." “T shall not do 80,” apoxe up Mr. Law, “Then the government cannot undertake to pro- tect your steamer,” continued Mr. Fillmore, “The rights of an American citizen are involved and the government may do asit pieases,"' answered Mr, Law, “I shan’t budge § peg.” President Fillmore forbid the steamer carrying the United States mail, Mr. Law had to insure nis own steamer aod freight, the Board of Underwriters being scared On the subject, The steamer landed at Havana, as usual, and kept landing till tac Captain Geueral revoked bis proclamation, PANAMA RAILROAD AND NICARAGUA, In 1861 Mr. Law bought a large interest tn the Panama Railroad. He went down there himself, roceeded to Aspinwall, located the termini, set men 0 building tne road, @ dock and steamboat dock, Baving gotten everytuing in fine working order he took the crisia at the food, gold out his tnterest, and here realized another hand- } Asyociation, Ame ere renanapie reagent oe ere ere oe NT a I EIT . SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1869,—TRIPLE SHEET. NEW YORK HERALD, specuiation, turned out to have no association with any dlibustering scheme, LATEST BUSINESS ENTHRPRIGNS AND WEALTH. In 1852 Law butit the Eighth Avenue Raitroad. ‘Those obtaining the charter did not have the money. He advanced $800,000 and built it in a little over two months. fe continues one of the largest owners in the road, Geuving from his tnterest alone a princely revenue. A year later be purchased irom Cornelius Vanderbiit, LE ae the Staten Island ferry, He sold uke terry'In 1864, also realizing a handsome for- tune in this venture, He built the Ninth Avenue Railroad and 1s one of its princtpal owners. He is also One of the principal owners of the Brooklyn fer- reg, Hia wealth ts enormous, tte is probably the fourth wealthiest man in tins country, Mr. A. T. Stowart, Ww. B. Astor and Commodore Vanderbilt alone taking precedence ef him, POLITICAL LIFB, Mr. Law has never meddied vo much in the muddy waters of politics, During the great Native American excitement im 1856 he was prominently named a3 the candidate of the party for the Presi- bocaiic widely knowin iis oaaad’at Pelion ateoahe win. oasay al ical speech- making at the Academy of biusic did not incite a very high estimate of his oratorical abihties, but his famous letters to Martin Van Buren ana’ General Gustavus Adolphus Scroggs showed him sdilful in handing the pen. He falied to get the nomima- fe eoepeebay and has not been heard of politicuily i PERSONAL LIFB, In 1833 Mr. Law married a Miss Anderson, of Phil- adeiphia, They nave had seven children, two of whow are di ana Ove living, three sons and two daughters, His wife, Well known in the circles 1a Which they move as a most attractive and amiable Jady, 13 still living, in the enjoyment of excellent health, His father died only a few years since, having attained the ripe and rare age of eighty-six years, is OWN health Was nover better, Advancing years have toushea him very lightly. He stands as massively erect as ever, betug six fect three tnches ta height, and weigha at the present time 209 Vai whiok 1, however, rather i advance of his ordinary weight. His head ts a study for @ sculptor, and im the massive abundance of hair, now of an iron gray color, covering it, is revealed his great vitality, His taco is ruday and lt up with good humor, His only whiskers ts a tuft under the chin, now careless and straggling. ‘The strong point of his character, his great firmness, stands Out prominent in his broad and projecting under jaw. ie moved tuto his present residence on Futh avenue tn 1854, but occupied one of the houses adjointag, which he still owns, two years be'ore. im the saying claimed as being Jesus’ declaration also, John Xviilt., 36, His kingdom was not of this world, consequently { consider the church He was to build would be of His own kingdom and not of this world’s, eae ge church cannot beve Jesus for its builder or prove that, by authority from Him, any earthly one ta erec! Among all the various creeds on eartt, in this day of disputation and wrangling concelt, which church can demonstrace by an unmistakable proof that their form of worship or idea of the Infinite Good- ness is more acceptable to the Creator than the others? Whatman can prove he 1s more righteous than his neighbor? Where no two atoms are alike or two organizations the same, how can one lead the other correctly? God alone understands His own work, and every human opinion can only be conjectured. This arrogant self-authority of churches was at Va je insial would-oo fondors. to prove their title and demon- strate that they belong to an authority not having the loaves aud dashes in view, Ww. Be Auricular Confession Authorized” and De- a fended. “4: To THe Eprron or Tun HekaLy:— WuUl you ve kind enough to alow John Chrysostom to say a word or two in reply to P. L.’4 com- munication a few Sundays ago tn regard vo aurtcu- lar confeasion? His venerable old age, if nothing else, will entitle him to the courtesy of being listened to through your columns, Born in 347, he died in 407—that ts fo say 900 years earlier than the date as- sigued by the Knowing P. L. for tie tnatitution of auricular confeasion. (Ian’t this a little muddled t— Eb. HBRALD.) But let Joan Golden Mouth speak:— “To mortals has been committed the dispensatioa of heavenly things; & dispousation not given by God to angels or archangels, for to these it was not said, ‘What you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you shail looge on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’—Matt. vill, 18, Temporal princes have a power to bind, but the body oniy; whereas the power of the priesthood binds the soul and reaches to heaven. In this sense God ratifies above and the Lord confirms the sentence of his servants, @ word, what cise has He bestowed w them but all power in heaven? ‘Whose sins you hall for- He has a maguificent country place at Cambridge, in Washington county, adjoining the town of his birth, ‘Though very rarely bis name appears on a subscription list his liberaity is unbounded, though principally bestowed unostentatiously ta private ites, “What church do you attend?” a gentleman asked him not long since. “My family go to the Dutch Reformed church,’ he answered, “but Lam not much on churches mysell. I generally spend ry Sunday mosnings reading the Dapers, and they give about as good preaching as any sermoa [can hear, My chucch piatform good one. I want overybody to worsuip in their owa fashion, but above all deliver me irom slow preaching. I want wide-awake sermons, on live vopics, and as I can't often hear them I spend most of my Sabbaths home.’ ‘Do you drive out much?” another person re- cently asked him, “a dozen or fifteen miles a day generally.” ae lappens 16 that [very rarely see you in the “igo elsewhere—that’s the reason, ‘olng in che Park. There is io0 great & crowd goes ere. It’s jumble and contusion, { want searoom where I go.’’ “What is the secret of your success?” he was asked a few days ago, “Determination to work, and working,’ was his laconic response, RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. Religious Services To-Day. Rey. Charica B. Smyth preaches this morning in the Eleventa street Presbyterian church, between Secoud and Taird avenues, At the Presbyterian church in Forty-second street services will be held at half-past ten A. M. and at ha‘f-past seven P. M. by Rev. W. A. Scott. At the Church of the Reformation (Protestant Episcopal), in Fiftieth street, Rey. Abbott Brown will hold services at a quarter to eleven A, M. anda quarter to eight in the evening. Bishop Snow wiil preach tn the University, Wash- ington square, this afternoon, at three o'clock, on “Tue Great Trumpet Sounding.” At the Everett Rooms Miss Nettie M. Pease will speak be‘ore the Society of Progressive Spiritualists, at half-past ten A. M. and haif-past seven P. M. Services will be held in the Jon street Methodist Episcopal church at half-past ten A. M., and in the evening at hali-past seven, by the Rev. William P. Corbitt, Av St. Luke's Methodist Episcopal church Rey. Dr. R. S. Foster will preach at balf-past ten A, M. and Rey. John E, Cookman at half-past seven P, M. Rev. George H. Hepworth will preach at the Church of the Messiah this morning at forty-five minutes past ten and this evening at forty-five minutes past sevea. Rey. Dr. Verren wilt hold divine service in the French Church du St. this moraing at half. past ten o'clock. Manifestations of spirit power will be given through D. ©. Hough this eveulug at 61 Bleecker street, Rey. George J. Mingins and others speaker will address the Morning Star Sunday School at Apollo Hall at two o'clock this alternooa. Atthe North Presbyterian church Rev, Thomas ‘Street will preach at half-past ten A. M. and at half. past seven P, M. Morning subject—“The Unpardon- able Sin." At the Fiftn avenue Baptist church the Sunday school Misstouary Society will hold its montuly meeting this evening at haif-past seven o'clock. T don't Ike Amorlean Bible Society, The stated meeting cf the Board of Managers was held at the Bible House, Astor place, on the 7th inst. Twelve new auxiliaries, three in Missouri, five in Georgia, and tu Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama and Mississipp!, one each, were recognized. Communi. cations were received from Mr. Westrup, in Mexico; Duncan M. Henderson, Secretary of Valparaiso Bible Society, with encouraging accounts from Chile, aud asking pecuniary aid for the society, which was granted; from Rev. Dr. Jacoby, Bremen, with gratifying statements as to printing the Seripiures, and farther openings for the Bible ia Pr from Rev. I. G, Bilss, Con- stantinopie, on U ‘ogress In preparing Scriptures for the blind tu Egypt, and other topics reiating to the bible work im the Orieut. Grants of books were made toa large amount. They were to the Amerl- can Colonization Society, American Missionary can Baptist Publication Society, ciety of the Methodist Episcopal Bible Socie: for sol i $ and Indian Terri. in French, Spanish and Portuguese, for ite 3 ship Lancaster; besides grants to poor Sunday schools, and for distribution at the South, Wiih many smailer grants, including eight volumes iu raised Setters for the blind, The entire number of volumes granted Was 10,042, Desiies others to the value of 38, In addition to the abuve $2,000 was granted to the Episcopal Board of Missions for China. Freedmen’s Aid § hureh Aauiversary of the Founding of St. Anns Free Charch, Tue seventeenth anniversary of the founding of this church was observed in this city last Sunday, | The sermon was preached by the rector, Rev. | Thomas Gallaudet, D. D, The assistant ministers, Rev, S. F. Holmes and Rev. Gi, H. Cole, took part in the services, During the preceding year $13,806 was received for the support of the church; $6,616 being | the offerings of the congregations; $4,634 from the | legacy of Mr. Thowas Garner; $1,000 from Trinity | church, sod $1,555 from donations of indi. viduals, ‘Tis was used in current expenses and in abertee the debs on the church building and | reetory to $15,000, Fifteen hundred was presented to | the rector, $4,548 was raised for charitable purposes | in the parish, and $1,432 for those out of the | parish, making a total or the year of $20,287, The rector received $1,621 for the church mission to the deal muves of the country. This was all expended in holding services for deaf mutes 1n thirteen of the larger citics and towns, and in supplying the place of the rector Guring nls absences from the church. There were bapuzed thirty-one adults, nlae of whom wore deal mutes, and six’ xX children, 8ix of whom had deaf mute parents. There were contirmed fifty. | 8X, eleven of Whom were deaf muves, There were thirty-seven marriages, five of which were of deat mute couples. There were thirty-four burials, three | of children of deaf mutes. The number of commu- nicants Was increased to 446, upwards of fifty of of whoin are deaf mates, } St Ann's Free church, with its spectal mission among tle 20,00) deaf mutes of our country and wii | its cofistantiy énlarging work tne r an | destitute, asks for the kind remembrance of ail Ohi | Han people—their sympathy, their prayers and their offerings. More About the “True Oharch” Question, To rhe Epiror or Taw HeRatp:— T observe a letter in your Sunday's paper, signed “C. P. P.,! desiring @ certain P. L, to inform him what church, if any, he considers is the one which Christ founded by Peter, &c. It seems to me a use- gome fort During the brief but disastrous career of General Waiker, the “gray-eyed man of destiny,” in Nicaragua, he wad steamships busy lying back and forth; but it 18 now well known ‘wat he had no compiictty in the efforts to subjugate that country. fis purchase of tho 140,000 muskets trom the Uutted States government, waich at the time was quite @ thome of public comment and less Waste ot time to ask auch @ question, The | words attributed to Jesus are, “Thou art @ rock; | and on this rock I will bulid my Church,” &c. Now, | Christ did not order Peter or any of His followers, } disciples or any other mortal to erect one for Him; Ue reserves the Duliding of 14 Lo Himyell gololy: and give they are forgiven, and whose sins you shall retain, they are retatned,’—(St. John, xx., 23, What power, I ask, can be greater than this? The Jewish priests had power to cleause the leprosy of tne body, orrather, not to cleanse it, but to judge whether it were cleansed; but the Christian pricat- hood have received authority, not over the leprosy of the body, but over the impurities of the soul, not to judge of it when ol , Dut to cleanse it Llto- gether. Not only have they the ability to regenerate us in the laver of baptism, but aftorwarde the power of remitting our ins.—Book of the Priesthood. There are seasons in which we must fast and pray moro fervently, and make @ full and exact confession of our sins; for the cuemy knows that we can thea treat beat of the things that belong to our salvation, and obtain much by contereing our sins and disclos- ing to the spritual physician the wounds of the soul. This bee will heal and not reproach the pent- tent for the evils done; would he speak to him alone, without the privity ot any One, and with care lay all before him, he will casily amend his fatlings. ‘The confession of sing is the abolition of crimoa.''\— Homily xxx., on Genesis. Any commentary on my part wouid bo superduous, A GREEK, ‘The Church Troubles in Jerusaiem. There aro new troubles springing up in Jerusalem. The Greek Christians built @ new cupola over the Churoh of the Holy Sepulchre and want the excius- ive use of it for themselves, which, according to Oriental law and custom, would give them the ex- elusive control of the whole church. The Roman Catholics, represented by the French Consul, not only protest against this, but have taken forcibie possession of the building and have even removed the “Holy Cross." Active hostilities occurred be- tween the contestants until the Sultan intervened, drove out both the hostile Christians and placed a Turkish guard in and over the church. The strife has beeu transferred to Constantinopie and is car- metan between the Ministers of France, Russia and ‘Turkey. The Juggernaut Festival in India, Aletter from Calcutta, dated July 23, says:—The great Juggernaut or car festival is over. Accounts have not yet been received from Pooree, but the Friend of India makes the following remarks on the qilserable character of tho festival at Serampore, the next most sacred place in InJia for its celebra- tloa:— The Juggernaut festival av Serampore closed on Monday, atter a pitiadle fashion. The two great cara still stand on tie roadside, half in the diten, because the people will not puli them back to their places. In spite of the numbers hired to pull and to applaud, the cara were moved on the first occasion oaly balf the usual distance, and there they lie in the mud, with the idois on them and flags fying. As usual, the Brahmins appiied to the authorities to “order” she people vo pull, but of course in vain. ‘The common peasantry were heard to reply to the miserable crentures who urged tiem from the car to pull, “It 13 all very well, but come and give a hand yourselves.’ The crowd, of which @ rough census Was taken, Was never more than 75,000 at the highest, and rarely exceeded 35,000—a third of what it used tobe. For one man there were fifty women and ciuidren. The police, under Mr. Rochefort, the en- ergetic district superintendent, kept order weil. There were no accidents and only three cases of drunkenness. ‘The spectacle presented by the cars and idols in the ‘Trunk road, outside ,of Serampore, may be regarded as typical of the state of tdolutry at least in and near the great cittes—tottering, but atill defant, With no enthusiasm and little faita.” Catholic Convents in Prussia, The North German Correspondent of Berlin has the following:— The erection of a small Roman Catholic monastery for a few members of the regular clergy in Moabit, one of the suburbs of Berlin, has excited a good deal of public attention and elicited from several journals the opinion that no convents should be sanctioned by the State except those destined ior educational purposes or spectally devoted to the care of the sick. it we, however, consult the Prussian constitution we shall Ond that it nowhere authorizes the gov- ernment to interdict or in any way to inter- fere with religious societies so long as they restrict themseives to purely ecclesiastical matters, and neither overstep the limits fixed by the laws nor commit any act calculated to disturb the tranquilicy of the community. The thirteenth article of the con- stitution provides that religious or ecclesiastical so- cieties can obiamn corporate rights by no other means vhan special tegisiation. ‘lhe peculiar privileges be- scowed by such rights are, that their possession ena- bles @ society to acqutre real property in its own name, to execute mortgages, to claim legacies and bequests, aud to accept donations. It is only when a convent desires to acquire corporate rights that it requires a@ formal recognition by the State; in all other circurasiances these companies are regarded as private societies, and fail under the control of the Associations’ law of March 11, 1850, ag soon as they assume @ public character. A convent may there- tore lawfully exist without @ special authorization from the State, provided its property be inscribed in the name of a third party, or of one of the members of the order, who is then regarded by the law asthe tenant. An Illinois Hardshell Preacher on the Four Gates of Hell—A Queer Sermon. An Illinois paper is responsible for the following: — Wilham Reynolds, of Peoria, is well known as an enthusiastic worker in the Sabbath school cause. He 13, perhaps, better known than any other manta tue State, and we give the following story as he tells it, ad near as we remember. ‘The mata facta are all absolutely true. He was in the southern part of the State last week organizing Sunday schools, when he encountered a hardshell Baptist neiguborhood. The Minister gettied over the little flock looked with Jealousy upon the movements of the new lights, and finally announced his intention of preaching a ser- mon against them. On the Sabbath designated the Sunday school men gathered tn force, when the preacher announced that well known text, “Thou art Peter! and on tats rock wiit! build my church, and the gates of het! shail not prevail against it.” After giving Peter a good setting out, the minister closed as follows, in that pecullar singing tone ee - indeseribabie, except to those who have eard it:— Yis, my brethering, ah—an’ the gates of hell shel not pervall agin’ it, ah. Now, you'd like to know about these ere gates o’ hell, Well, my brether- ing, thar air feur gates to hell, ah, ‘Far 13, Orstly, the Sunday school system, ah. ‘That thar 1s one gate to hell, ab, whar they bring young men and wimmin togscast, ab, and onder t! igee ol teachin’ on ’em the Bible, they set ‘em hank: erin’ arter one another, al, and so open wide the gate o’ hell, ab, An’ the next gate o’ hell is wuss’n the fust, ah! That thar 13 Bible so-ci-tles, ah, whar they put the word into the hands o' them as haint larnin’ sum cient, an, fur to understan’ ft, ah, an’ this here, brethertng, 18 ono of the wust gates 0’ bell, ab, of which we read about in the Bible, An’ the next gate o’ hell, my preeniaing ig tem- France societies, ah, whar they go right tnto yer jouge and bust into yer rooms, ah, and try to diskiver efyehev onytiin’, aft, that is good fer the stummick’s sake, ah, and when they @nd it they spill it on the groan’, alt, an’ let it ail run to waste, al. (Signs of dissatisfaction among his church mem- bers. Greatly excited, he continued :—) Yis, bry lati they do, ab, They alr boun’ to bust lp allo out buziness, au—an’, ab, tharby they open another gate o’ bell, ab. These air the men that air, ali, goin’ to come among us, and prevail, an, agin the rock on which will I foun’ my church, ah. Yis, brethering, ah, they air sot out to do it, ah, an’ We must jine hands an’ war agin em, ab, that they shel not pervail, ah, Ant the next gate of hell, ah, my brethering, ah, {a the republikin party, ah. (Signs of approval from his auditors.) vi brethering, an, the repubiikio arty, ah, wot hez set all the niggers free, al, and urned ‘em agin thar marsters, an’ ab, agin them as ut thar money in ’em, an’ hez cheeted and robbed he South, all, outen its natural rites, al, an’ the gates o’ peli she! not pervail agin it, ub. We can give the preacher's name and address if necessary. The party were too much annoyed to take accurate notes. But Mr. Reynolds himself will vouch for the trath of what We bave written. Truth 1s stranger than Oction.; THE GRAND HOTEL. The Hotel of the Future—A Symptuous Resting Place for Travellers—The Splendors of Lace and Damask, of Mirrors and Carpeta—Improve- ments of Construction—Cost of the Undertaking. Some days ago the Heravp chronicled the formal opening of the magnificent caravansera, corner of ‘Thirty-firet street and Broadway, und gave a brief aketoh of its general features. The subject will bear @ inuoh more extended notice, as showing the degree of progreas reached in the architectural embellisn- ments, interior arrangement and general manage- ment of hotela, The mattor ts of more than second- ary interest to a poaple who consider the hotel one of their leading social institutions, and to the fullest development of which a marvellous dezree of inventive aktll and ingenuity has been applied. Where there is room for tuat klud of improvement Which tonds to the greater comfort and luxury of hotel residents, and where there ts that abunaance of wealth ever ready to patronize a higher and more elegant style of living, the man who ventures an extensive capital in tho effort to cater for @ superior and exclusive taste, seldom, in thia city at least, and at this particular epoch of its history, passes unrewarded. The evidences are all around where ven- tures of this character have found appreciation, slowly in some instances, but ultimately justifying the foresight which projected and the expectationa whioh accompanied them. The Grand Hotel, from the vastness of its proportions, in a locality where all else 18 dwarfed and mean by comparison; where business is in embryo and the tide of Broadway travel as yet makes élight tmpression, would appear to have been built for a comparatively distant future, when buildings equally pretentious will rear their mighty Mansard roofa above six and seven stories of marble all the way to the Park. By the light of the past, however, we can ensily determine that very few yeara will elapse before the Grand Hotel wilibe the grand centre of travel, and the thousands who now visit New York and land near its lower extremity will be conveyed to a much higher point of the island, anywhere between Twen- ty-third and Forty-second streets, The Grand Hotel is built of Westchester marble, inthe Romanesque style of arciitecture—a compo- site order affording lavish room for both protty and tmpesing effect. The archicect, Mr. Henry Engle. bert, had an awkward corner to manage, which was noither square nor triangular, but which might be indifferently called either. By cutting off the pomt of the acute angle—the razor-cdgea corner of Thirty-first street—and substituting a narrow front obliquely facing Broadway, the dificu!ty on that score was overcome and the beauty of the buliding vastly enhanced. A giance at the exterior Is sum- ciont to convince one that none but a man with a big account at his banker's could afford to raise such @ palace of marble so high up in air, Mr. E, 8. Higgins, a successful merchant of this city, devoted $800,000 to the undertaking, which gives him a good right to be called the owner, The builder was Mr. Paul, and the auperin- tendent Mr. George Higgins. Each story of the eight it willbe noticea, has a distinctive architec- tural feature in the marble framing of the windows, one set being round, another segmentary, another semi-circular and 80 on. In coming to speak of the interior the chief weight of interest, of course, ts involved, for forms of architecture can but furnish an wsthetic feeling of delight, while physical com- forts have an overshadowing interest for the great majority of people. The entrance to the hotel ts under @ portico, not quite commensurate with tue towering height of the butlding of which tt forms a art, ) Once inside, however, the visitor 1a struck by the royal amplitude of the hallway which opens into @ rotunda where the softened light streams down from the dizzy dome over @ hundred feet above. Branching to right and left are wide areas, one leading up tothe office and the fable d’hole, the other in the direction of the bar, the barber's shop, the reading room and the cigar stand, In this desigo there 1s an easily recognized improvement on the pian of Other hotels, At a glance all these places of neces- sary accommodation are discovered aud the visitor 1g saved the trouble of wandering in bewilderment from corridor to corrtdor to tiud first one convent- ence and then another, Walk upto the office and you will probably find Mr. Robbins, the senior part- ner of the concern; a tall, portly gentieman, busy at one thing or another, and very likely you Will also come in contact with Mr, Lachimeyer, the other Let singularly youthful looking for one ry who already owned and admirably managed the St. James Hotel. Both are well calculated to render the management @ success. ‘The office rdom embraces considerable space. Even here, where one would tnink there was little room for mnovation, tie spirit of improve- ment on the precedents turnished by other hotels has also entered. The indicator, for instance, is placed directly opposite to where tie hall watiers sit, and thus every call i3 instantly recognized without the necessity of the cierk inside the office exercising his optics. A magnificent safe of Herring's stands tacing the counter, and is profusely gilt and frescoed on three sides. Coming down into the rotunda, already alluded to, 1s a grand double stairway of biack walnut, carved in mediwval design and fit for a regal procession to ascend. We go up to see the ecu of gilded mirrors, Turkey carpets and satin damask haugings. Arrived on the first floor we, find the ladies’ dining room at one side, ladies’ parlors adjacent and suits of rooms for families extending ali round. ‘The dining apart- ment is agem tn its way, perfectly square, with a snowy panelled cetling, from which depend a series of candelabra in bronze and gold, and high-reach- ing mirrors in frames of chastely carved walnut, a centre piece reaching to the ceiling, surrounded by beds, bouquets and vases of flowers. and peren- nially flowing fountains; tables round and square, and chairs with rich upholstering are features that immediately arrest attention. Tue wiiderness of walla afd lonely taoles, 80 common to many hotels, 1s agreeably missed. Strolling into the ladies’ parlor the colors In the upholstering and in the delicate trescoed tracery greet the eye a3 a happy biending of cheerful tints that one might sit down and gaze upon half a day without a feeiing of weariness, Proceeding forward from the dining room the visitor enters, let us say, the front corner apartment, wich is of heptagon shape with five windows hung with deep crimson damask and snowy lace. The foot falls soitly on the yield- ing velvet carpet, the eye ts ravished with the spiendors of giancing mirrors in frames of duiied and gllitering gold, while the screened and meliow light coming through the mi patterns of lace casts an air of subdu repose over everything. The carpets are a study in them- seives, and having come from the three well known establishments of E. 3. Higgins, A Stewart aud W. & A, Sloane, must necessarily be @ choice selec- on, “fhese are rooms in suits for families,’ ox- claims our chaperone, throwing open the yielding entrance to a cosey bedroom with @ marble mante- ee grate. Next ia the sitting room, wall nut table in the centre, walnut chairs around, and from the ceiling ig suspended @ curiously contrived chandelier, which can be moved up and down at Pleasure, These chandeliers and candelabra in gilt and bronze were supplied by Mitchell, Vance & Uo. ‘The suits are compiete in themselves, with ward- robes, water closets, bathtubs, hot and cold water forever flowing, and, in fact, ail the conventences that space alone can limit. The ladies’ reception room, at tne lead of the grand stairway, tg tur- nished with one of the celebrated Axminster car- pets, witn figures in emblem and allegory. Mount- ing higher, to the third floor, we come into the region where all things minister to re » and higner still, to the fourth, filth, sixth ant floors, the din of the busy etrects dies gradually on the ear and ali around reigns the silence of @nother sphere, faintly agitated by vague, rum- bing noises from below. The elevation of the floors 18 graded to the to; and the prices, it 1s to be presumed, are graded in like manner, but on aii the floors sults or rooms, If you choose, are at your service, while a rigid uniformity of accom- modation prevails throughout—that is, you can have your bathtub on the top floor as well as on the bot- tom; but you won't find as high over-arching ceil- ings above as you will below. But cut bono? slcep comes as quick with the plaster of Paris three feet above you as if it were twenty. The glory of the seventh floor—the seventh heaven, let {t be callod— is the view, the allembracing view, if the room be the corner heptagon. The eye sweeps away along the Bloomingdale road, across Washington Heights, to the rugged-ribbed Palisades; down the Hudson to the shadowy out-line of the hilla beyond the Kill von Kull, over the topa of countless houses, through the spires of many churohes, and giddily gazes down on the cease. less flow of humanity along Broadway. It is o happy conceit that of distinguishing each floor by col jor. On this the carpets and upholstery are green, on hat blue, on the next crimson, and go on through he seven Chagas shades, A word for the mirrors, which, without peaniug a joke, cast reflections on every rooin of the nouse. Some of them are simply superb; all are large and elegantly mounted, They cost $20,000 and were supplied by the houge of John S, Willard & Co. In the principal corridor of cach floor, close by the broad area into which the grand double stairwa; of hose, mounted by # brass od Bee hangs suspended on @ hook. Two hundred feet on each Noor 1 tolerably careful provision against fi A guest may act the part of fireman, If anything a conflagration breaks ont tn hia hdorhood, and he can cali nh 10,000 gallons o! head in Ww sobervotr Wop Of the Tgor Vo come to his ante assistance. However, let the floors take care of themselves for te present, and let us bail tnia fair. the ubtermnean rogions of the hotel, 9 glen or ir ts not without its features of novelty. very ou roach the doors of wire netting, matic arrangement, fly o| saving tho ® great deal of trouble and the ascending traveller a trife of time. It ts the latest improve- ment by Mr, Otis Tafts, of Boston, and ts worked by tuirty horse power, muking 300 revolutions per minute. It cost $15,000, and is ctaimed to be su- perior to any other. Arriving in the world of cooks and kitcuens @ sensation the reverse of what one might anticipate is experienced, You find a delight- fully equable vemperature and gentle draughts of alr uncontaminated by the smell of simmering stews avd nolsol vegan leg All le sweet and able. itis effect 1s rt througn He following Agencies ir is @ dry rel r and cooler, structed by Mr. Robbins on Eibes Pawo con- sisting Of @ brick wall of galvant running from the ceiling to the floor. low ‘reeaing polut. producing © dry” asmosphore, point, pr a dry atmosphere, which preserves everything sweet and fresh for weeks; and again by tbe range runs an air shalt to the top of the house, which carries away all the ttmpurittes and disperses them to the clouds. Here all the meats, game and everything carniverous are Geponiton TET cert upon the range, from thence to be transferred to the tables above. Speaking of ventilation, every room in tue house has a current of air passing througa it, conducted by weit holes that open {rom the roof, That is one decided improvement. In the subterranean exploration—a matter of easy accomplishment, as there is an abundance of light— the laundry, the wine collar, the storerooms ant 18 Water clogeta come successively under observation. Yonder girl at vhe counter bas an entire grocery and eae store under ner charge, and from its pro- usely laden shelves sie keeps ceaselessly helping thease sleek, busting, linen clad cooks that swarm around her for & moment and then disappear behind & wide cxtended range, Where che arcana of cookmg ia carried on. The wine cellar is a tempting piace for a bon vivant vo tarry, for all at cantain waa selected by a good judge, and that’s recommen enouga. The plumbing materials, which are undent- abiy fine and finished, were supplied by Hayden, Rere & Co. of Haydensville, Mass. The work of putting them in place was executed by McKenale & Clauronaid. Making no invidious distinctions, the following catalogues the names of the reat who nave had @ band in Jurnishing the house:—Edward Htxon & Co., Boston, supplied the furnittre; the exterual marblo work was built by Maxwell, the interual marbie work was executed by Oasont & Isola, the kitchen range by Bramhall, Deane & 0o.; the locks and angunciators are from the manufac- tory of Newman & Capron, and the silverware is from the manufactory of Ames, Chico) Mass. The latter 1a composed of the finest nicl allyer, tripie plated, and really makes & dazzling display, ‘The following is the list of ollicers of the bouse:— Messrs. H. Uiggios, J. S$. Ramsey, formeriy of tue Revere House, Boston; E. 8, Thornton. formerty of the Brevoort; L. 5. Hammond, lately in charge of College Hall Hotel, Poughkeepsie, and J. F, Pearce, steward. Among other details which will admit of being re- lated are the facts that the partition walls are so constructed of ieavy brick, of which 8,000,000 are comprised in the house, that the ordinary noise of adjoining rooms is entirely obviated. new an novel lock is used on every door, which will not ad- mit of pass keys, thereby rendering them inacces- slole to servants at all tunes, The annunciator 18 of &@ new and improved patent, each number being worked by a lever instead of spiral springs. In sum- mer every room wili be supplied with ice water from the ice tanks, thus avoiding the epee, of calling for {¢ trom below. To the house are attached two boilers, heating the building, ranning the elevator, jumping the dre engine and steam pump and heat- ing two large iron tanks with hot water, ‘Two large gas meters, each one working separately in case one should give out, are in instant reach. They are eucased and | , to prevent auy posstbility of tampering with the gas. ‘The faucets in connection with the bath tubs and washbasins are said to be agreat improvement on the ordinary kind, Before taking leave of the Grand Hotel the visitor should take a look in at the gentlomen’s café on. the first floor, a sumptuous apartment, with*heavy paa- elled ceiling, black walnut furniture, green drapery. anda boca. glitter of silverware Proceeding: rom every table, The gentlemen's smoking room is not yet quite finished, neither is the reading reom, bat both are under way to completion. A restaurant Ip attached to the hotel, where young men can live at a moderate rate, The whole cost of the furniture Was $200,000, VOICE OF THE PEOPLE. A Lover of Fair Play. Over this signature an English lady, who Grmly believes that editors are filled with the “milk of human kindness,” gives her experience at a meeting of the Workinewoman’s Association, and expresses surprise and pleasure that the ladies of that body are not the ogres they have been represented to be by the captious critics; but most charming, domes- tic women, whose noble efforts in behalf of those of their sex, who, in the many vicissitudes of Ife stand in need of such help as the assoctation affords. A ‘Lover of Fatr Play,” nevertheless, ele+ gantly expresses a mild repugpance to some of the doctrines which are advocated by the ladles of whom she 80 eloquently writes, Tue Avondale Charity. Replying to a letter in the HERALD of September 10, suggesting that the Sunday coliections in all the: churches of the land be appropriated to the relief of the Avondale aufferers, ‘An Old Subscriber," in Saratoga, asks if it would not be well to consider the claims of the sufferers by the Richmond fire and the unfortunate familics in the East, whom the recent terribie storm left destitute, All honor to those whose benevolence relieved the poor families of the Avondale miners; but ali other charities should not be forgotten. Es Flooded Cellars—A Suggestion. A correspondent suggests to the Fire Commia- stoners the desirability of employing old depart- ment engines, which are lying idle, in pumping out the flooded celiars along the North and East rivera. Every sufferer would be glad to pay a fair compen- sation for their service, so that it would be done promptly. He thinks tt also would do much towards promoting the heaith of the city. A Gymnastum for Young Men. “A Clerk” thinks that the bast means of keeping the young men of our city away from tho haunts of dissipation and vice are gymnasiums free to all of discretionary age who will avail themselves of their benefita, and asks, ‘Cannot some one of our wealthy and noble-hearted citizens erect a commodtous er, suitavle for the purpose?” The establish. ment of reading rooms for young men ta mistaken philanthropy im his opimiou, as they have not sum- cient attractions for youth. The Water Supply. Un this important {subject several citizens offer warnings and suggestions. “P.," who has an intl- mate knowledge of the matter, says that the waste of water annuaily by the use of valve and spring closets—allowing that there are 100,000 of these In use in this clty—is 26,230,000,000 gallons; and *'R.,'? who hints that Providence 1s responsible for the short supply of Croton, expresses the hope that economy wiil not be disregarded after the present excitement 13 passed. It is of the utmost importance to prevent waste and keep our water supply wichioa Teasonable bounds. “Subscriber” says that the waste of water in restaurants and other pubilc places is shameful, and that the inhabitants living above Fourteenth street are suffering great tncon- venience from the dearth of Croton, THE SUEZ CANAL TARIFF, Cost of Navigating the New Routo Betwoea Europe and Asia. We publish underneath a tabular schedule em- bracing the main points of the charges which will be incurred by vessels navigating the Suez Canal, as set forth in the eleventh clause of the tari rules exhibit issued by M. Ferdinand de Lesseps, in Parts, on the 17th of August and published in extenso in the Henan of the 18th of September. The schedule: shows the annexed table of dues payable by vessels. traversing the canal:— ‘Transit dues, per ton burden, 1of. or $2 in gold. ‘Transit dues, per passenger, 10f. or $2 in gold. ‘Towage dues, per ton, 2f. or 400. in gold. Vessels anchoring at Port Satd, famatia or betore the platform at Suez, attor the first twenty-four hours, are to pay @ tax of Scentimes, orl cept, per ton per day, lor any period not exceeding twenty; be ‘ean P08. G08 Pilotage dues for 3 metros (9 ptaceds Ber deel ey meinen rect Priobay jues for 10 inches pa yo \ apapess per dect- etre, 39 3-100 Inches. Eidsives Pilowaue dea for 4% to 6 metres (14 feet 0 Inches to 19 feet 8 inches), pot decimetre, 303-100 Inches... +. +0... Uy 8 Pilotage dues for 6 to 744 metres (iv feet 8 inches to 24 feet 7 inches), per decimetre, 3 93-100 inch teases ‘4 All fractions to be paid for in proportion, ‘A vessel of 1,000 tons burden, carrying 100 passen- gors and drawing say twenty-four fect seven inches, or seven and a half metres, will consequently have to pay 93 followys— ‘Tonnage dues at $2 in gold per ton on 000 oo 100 passengers at $2 in gold per head, 200 Dri ‘water, 7% metres or 24 feet 7 10, a ‘aught of Ym inches, at $4 per decumeire (3 93-100 inches) Total transit chargos.... The charge for pilots, if detained on board ducing anchorage, perday.... 20 iy ‘Vesseln being towed are entiied to a reduotion of Wronts-fve per cant a0 the Raldtage dues,