The New York Herald Newspaper, November 16, 1869, Page 6

6 NEW YORK HE RALD STRELT. BROADWAY AND AN JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR. All business or news letter and telegraphic | New Y { despatches must be addres: and packages should be properly sealed. Rejected communications will not be re- turned, : ‘ THE DAILY HERALD, pubttshed every day in the | Four cents per copy. Annual subscription erer. price $22. ADVERTISEMENTS, to a limited number, will be tn- serted in the WEEKLY HenaLp and the European Edition. Volume XXIV BOWERY PHEATRE, Ipior Jack —TuR CoUNTE imen street. — | Browaway anit WALLACK'S THEATRE. Home. FRENCH THEATRE. 14 on, LiGhTS AND SHADOW! THE TAMMANY, Fousteenth HANLON BRorarns, & ¥ :: GRAND OPERA HOUSE, corner ot Bighth areoue and 28d street iibH OPRRA-OROWN DIAMONDS. WAVERLEY THEATRE, 220 Broadway.—A GRAND Vanigry & BOOTH'S T Tux Dowes: Bronaway.—Tur_ Do: OLYMri Tue A BULL IN A CHINAS Brana oF FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE, Caste. ‘th avenue and Sith st.— NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—LirrLe Nott MAROHIONE: D THE WOOD'S M ner ‘hirtieth si. ART UNION, ‘MOP ANATOMY, 613 LADI Broadway. ANAT SDANCI MY, 618% TRIPLE SHEET. New York, maaedey, November 16, is6e. % oO ADVERTISERS. Incressiag Circulation of che Herald. We are hand in the ned io ask advertisers to espossible. Our immer compel us Kane at Alderman Miller's barroom, NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1869.-TRIPLE SHERT, 898 Grand street, at about eight o'clock yesterday morning. ‘The two had been together on a drunken spree, and at the ime of shooting are supposed to have been tn an altercation, in which Kane is said to have struck Lee with a tumbler, Kane died during the day at Bellevue Hospital and Lee was committed, ‘The Coroner's inquest in the case of Thomas Ham- mond, Who was Killed recentiy at the junction of the Harlem and New Haven Railroads, was concluded yesterday, the jury rendering a verdict that death was caused by the carelessness of Patrick McGerty, the switchman, and cenasuring the company for ke lim in thelr employ, be, it is alleged, bay- paused a similar accident a few montis ago. y surrendered himself and was held to an- ‘The soldiers and sailors of this city who have been defrauded of their bounties by dishonest claim agents have instituted a test case in the United States Ctreait Court against ex-Assistant Treasurer Van Dyck, A committee was appointed to watt upon Judge Pierrepont and have their case put for- ward on the calendar so that It could be ried in the present term, Mr. Henry Metzgerdid, a fat boiler, in West Thirty- glith street, was arrested yesterday and held in 00 to answer to a charge of carrying on au obnox- fous business. ‘Phe steamsiip City of Boston, Captain Halcrow, of the Inman line, will leave pier 45 North river at one P. M. to-day for Queenstown aud Liverpool, calling at Halifax, N, to land and receive mails and pas- sengers, The mails will close at the Post Ofice at twelve M. ‘The Hamburg-American Packet Company's steam- ship Westphalia, Captain Schwensen, will sail from Hoboken at two P, M, to-day for Hamburg, touching at Plymouth, England, and Cherbourg. The mails for Europe will close at the Post Office at twelve M. The stock market yesterday opened dull and heavy, but became strong and closed steady. Goid advanced u ; The demand for beef cattle yesterday was pas- sably active, and, with only moderate offerings, prices were firm, and in some cases higher. Extra steers were quoted at 1c, a 1034; prime, 15c. & X fair to good, I4e, a ibe., and {nfertor to ordi- nary, 9c. Al3%c. The quality of the bulk of the offerings was fatr to good. Mulch cows were dull at $95 @ $125 for prime and extra, $80 a $90 for fair to good and $50 a $75 for mfertor to common, sVeal calves were im demand and firmer, prime and extra selling at Ie. &@ Me, fair to good 11sec. c., and inferior 10%¢, a Ne, Sheep were selling at from 3c. to Te. for common to extra, while lambs were sold to a fatr extent at 6c. aS\ec. Swine were firmer, closing at lo\ec. a“ile. for common to extra, ‘The arrivals were 7,648 nead. Prominent Arrivals in the City. . A. Walker, of Washington; J. 1. Wal- » C, Palmer, of South Carolina; n, of Chicago; J. C, Gorham, of Texas, tchell, of Washington, are at the Metro- polltan Hotel, ‘rederick Whitemore, of Farmington; W. G. Deyr Emanus, of Aibany; H. S, Mumphrey, of Philadel- phia, aod John H, Hand, of Mount Vernon, are at ‘he Coleman House. A. M. Osgood, of Ilion; E. A. Ullman, of Utica, and H, Anderson, of tue Coast Survey, are at the of an Francisco, are at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. d, of Engiand; E. R. Vanstel and oll are at the Glenham Hotel. vernor liotman, of Albany, is at the Clarendon Ramored Financial Policy of the Adminise tration. We havea rumor from Washington to the effect that the President, in his forthcoming message to Congress, will make particular reference to the national finances, and that he will suggest the desirability of adopting mea- sures to insure a speedy resumption of specie With regard to the action of General Grant’s administration on the national es nothing can be said but in commenda- payments. capable « yur, tO j smnch earlier than ik we are forced to usual, and to stop the classifications of advertisements at nine o'clock P. Ha MEW s &. | months of his administration. So far, then, as Europe. Cable teleg dated Novem Ry syecia gram from I we leara that Nape to attempt ment of bis he will the tranquil certain, ined igne reviewed the | troops statione erday and was reccived with great ¢ Cabinet pro mises a comple vonial reform to Porto Rico. towards Ge Getatis of ot teverles by Le ported so Killed hi al, others had been s of the per tu the U ns 5 and one, the Vice President Sanchez, was still living. General Sherman, Ce nlasioner Parker, Generais Giles A, Smith, Verrell, Hunter, Morgan L. Smith aud others left Washington last evening for Louis. ville to attend ine reunion of the society of the Army of the see, The Alabama Legisiature met y Governor deiivered an une message. Treasurer Spinner is very ill. sterd ly ¢ Kleven dead bodies have been recovered from the Wreck of the collision on the Western Pacific Toad, near Alameda, Cal. The cause of the collie! ig ascribed vo a mistake on the part of th master, Ned U'Baidwin, the ish giant, who was arre with Joe Wormald for prize fighting to 1, Mass., in Occober, 1868, was sentenced yeste eighteen months’ hard labor in the House of Correc- tion, O'F vin stated in nis defence that Wor mald had doggea him and assaulted him until he | was bound to fight, over bis sentence and said it was all up witt now. Wormald escaped some time ago by gi siraw bail, his bondsinan being sent to jail for p jury. A botler explosion occurred In Catskill village at Slorm’s paper mull yesterday, by which severa: ives were lost and severai adjoining houtes were de- A large icebouse aiso Wouk fre He appeared deeply afected nim and was Buell, caahier of the Second N nd, Ohio, committed ay tn Aft of depression over his losses m the late panic. | The directors of the bank, in reply to a report th he waa a defauiter, state that ail the bank's obliga. tions will be promptly met, | The City. | The case of the frauds in the Custam fouse in | this city has veen placed by the Treasury Depart. | ment in the hands of District Attorney Pierrepont, With instructions to mvestigate the matter (hor oughly, no matier who may be involved, James Lee, a calker, shot ond killed Wiliam I Bonk nicide yester ; government in this | tt | people. subject. | eminently practical. | ought to be reduced. | which the \ grey | ing to spec tion. The President set out with the purpose 8 and to collect faithfully ad he has succeeded. We see the result in the enormous returns of the reve- nue, in the expenditures that have been cut down and in the surplus of forty-five millions applied to the reduction of the debt, in excess of the sinking fund, during a period of eight to e. the administrati action of General Grant's matter goea the President can speak proudly to Congress, and the country will endors at he may say. The policy, too, of the President, as {ndi- cated by our Washington news, relative to funding the debt ata lower rate of interest and of keeping up the income of the Treasury till that can be accomplished, will meet with approbation of both Congress and the tis the common sense view of the In all such matters General Grant is Every one, except, per- the bondholders, will admit that the rest on the public debt is too high—that upon the people is too heavyy—and that the resul s high rate of interest and untaxed in in government securities is io absorb the active capftal of the country haps, in the bur men check nd to our material progress, People will not invest in enterprises Ww tend to develop the country while they can get six per cent in gold or e per cent in currency on money put into United States bonds, which are free also from taxation. In every way, both as a heavy burden upon the taxpayers and as absorbing a capital that would be employed in the development of the country, the present high rate of interest on the debt is a great evil and Then itisa wise and statesmanlike idea to keep up the large income of the Treasury by not prematurely aking off xes, 80 a8 to raise the credit of the goy- vent and to fund the debt on the lowest It is evident, too, that the President does not regard the national debt a al blessing; for he wisely desires the tion of it as soon as possible, terms possible, nati¢ liqu A large neut debi, like a great standing army, is inimical to republican institutions and free- dom and should be got rid of as soon as prac- ticable Now, pert however, Pr rep we come to a subject on ident is less practical, if his 1 correctly—that is the sub- ject of returning to specie payments, It is aid he will suggest the necessity of speedily returning to or forcing specie payments, True, this report comes with the qualifying remark that the President has not yet determined upon the manner of effecting this object, and that he may leave the entire question to Con- , after merely suggesting that something should be done. We bave more confidence in this last statement about the President not having determined upon the manner of return- payments than in the practica- bility of the idea. The truth is General Grant will go beyond his depth if he attempts to carry out the notion of the on-to-specie-pay- ment theorists, Eminently practical as he is in military affairs and in administrative action, and remarkable as he is for strong common sense, he will plunge into waters beyond views be his depth if he should’ take up the old bullionist theory of forcing specie payments, General Grant, we suppose, knows little on this subject, and may be influenced by the Secretary of the Treasury and other narrow-minded men who have but one crude idea on the currency question. If a metallic basis for the currency be desirable we can never reach that by any forcing process witbout overwhelming disaster. Unless we are prepared to bankrupt the whole country and to create such a revulsion as has never occurred before in this country we must let the currency alone and leave the return of specie payments to the laws of nature and trade. However, there is little fear of Congress doing anything so reckless and destructive. The country is doing very well under the present currency, and if the debt be funded at a lower interest and the burdens of the people light- ened it will do still better. With our enormous debt now held abroad and the exchanges so much against us we should, with a gold basis, be at the mercy of foreign capitalists. The Bank of England could at any time pause a suspension of specie payments here again and throw the whole business of the country into confusion. The late Wall street operation of locking up gold was nothing to the effect that would be produced by the drain of some mil- lions of specie whenever foreign capitalists or the Bank of England chose to put on the screws. Specie payments would prove a fic- tion, and probably we should soon have to suspend again, The only safe course to pursue is to leave the currency alone and to let the country grow up gradually to. specie payments in accordance with the laws of nature and trade. Livingstone and His Reported Nile Discoveries—A New Cotton Region. We have, from a special correspond ent writing from Bombay, some very interesting intelligence in reference to the great African explorer, Dr. Livingstone, and his reported discoveries of the true sources of the Nile. Since the explorations by Speke, Grant and Baker of the great equatorial lakes Albert and Victoria Nyanza, they have been accepted by geographers as the fountainheads of the sacred and never-failing river of Egypt. The lakes, however, which it appears Dr. Living- stone has discovered to he the real sources of the great river, lie some three or four hundred miles further south than the Albert and Vic- toria Nyanza. If this be so (and we have no reason to doubt it) it will next appear, as our correspondent puts it ‘‘that all these vast inte- rior equatorial lakes of Africa, like the great Northwestern lakes of the United States, communicate with each other and form a con- nected chain,” and all.ind their outlet through the sume stream to the sea, We are also fully prepared to believe that the tropical upland region around these newly discovered lakes will be found as fertile and as well adapted to European colonization as around the lakes Albert and Victoria, and that a flood of light will soon be shed upon the possibilities of this wonderful land, which will result, during the present generation, in developing all that elevated and fertile equatorial region under a civilized Anglo- Saxon community, with a grand future of unlimited freedom of expansion and abundant material prosperity. From what we know already this great equatorial basin of the Nile sources may be made as productive in cotton, coffee, sugar, rice, tobacco, &e., as our South- ern States or the West Indies, Situated, too, as this vast feriile region is within two or three huodred miles of the eastern coast of Africa, the Suez Canal will bring it into con- venient rapport with England, and thus the canal may, within the living generation, reap a handsome annual profit from these new European settlements in Eastern Africa, which it will surely be the means of founding’ | and building up. As for this prospective African cotton cul- ture, we have no fears of it. of production will produce new markets. time is not far distant when the whole product of the United States will be manufactured here, and mostly down South, and the English mills will have to draw their supplies from Asia and Africa, In England, too, and the United States, under the new facilities of com- merce, the demand in new markets for cotton goods will increase with the supply, Wi such reflections we regard thes: can discoveries of Speke, Grant, Baker, Burton and Livingsione as of the highest importance to the civilized world, from the opening of new fields for civilized o rities soon to be developed into prosperous centres of trade, diffusing their benefits to all the nations, And so we shall await with no com- mon interest the return of Dr, Li from the scene of his African researches, ent / ystone Another Stfand of the Cord! Such was the expression of the Bishop of London in the funeral sermon of George Pea- body, which he preached on Sunday ia West- minster Abbey. The name of Peabody, he said, would be in future “the heritage of two great nations, and would form another strand | of the cord binding England and Ap . The preacher was most happy in that illustra tion. To America George Peabody owed his birth, his education and those early labors which made him a Christian gentleman and a philanthropist, as well as a millionnaire. Eng- land has been largely the recipiont of his mag- nificent bounties. We cannot forget that he was the child and citizen of this country—one who did honor to bis birthright and his citizen- ship. England will remember him as a bene- factor to that class of her poor people who stand most in need of help—the indigent work- ingmen and their families, The disc’ tion of Mr, Peabody in donating hi this country to purposes of a high order of ed- ucation in institutes aad colleges, and in Eng- land to the wants ¢ was his judgmen the immediate requirements of both countries. In this way he has ce birand to the cord bin ica, for the most end id how well he understood added another to Amer- that cord ainl ought to be gra Tim ALABAMA O1atMs.—Some further icial correspondence under the late adminis- tration touching the Alabama claims has been made public; but the only point of any importance made in it is that it leaves the whole question open to future negotiations—a fact which we kuew bef These new fields, the poor—shows how wise | i The |) | street, Kings County ElectionThe Sheriffs Case. It is very apparent that gross frauds have been committed by the canvassers of election of Kings county in making their returns of the votes cast for the rival republican and democratic candidates for Sheriff of that county in the late election, That frauds such as are charged in this particular instance are of ever-recurring commission in this city as well as in Brooklyn is but too well known; but that their first official exposure is due to the latter city is a fact that the proper authorities there to take cognizance of such frauds may well be proud of. There is a cliquo of petty politicians in Brooklyn, yclept a ‘‘ring,” who, in a small and contemptible way, imitate tho véle of the old Tammany ring of our own city, but which nevertheless as effectually nullifies the honest expression of the people's will in all election contests as the heart of the most partisan politician could desire. The ring has complete control of the democratic machine, and runs it, too, in its own especial interest and in direct opposition to the oft- expressed will of the people as demonstrated at the polls. The last attempt to stultify and to render nugatory the people's vote has been brought to lightin a manner, it is to be hoped, that will summarily dispose of this ring. On the Kings county ticket for the late election for Sheriff there were, of course, two candidates— Mr. Anthony Walters, republican, and Mr. John Cunningham, democrat, At the count- ing of the votes it was evident that the repub- lican nominee had secured a majority of the votes of the electors of the county, and that he would, therefore, succeed the present democratic incumbent of that important offjce. During the canvass of the voices several fraudu- lent erasures and transfers of figures on the returng in many of the districta have been dis- covered, showing a gross attempt on the part of the canvassers, or on the part of the crea- tures of the ring to whom the returns were temporarily entrusted, to subvert the will of the people inthis matter. All the tricks and devices of political chicanery were set in motion to invalidate Walters’ legal election, and by these fraudulent returns to foist Cun- ningham into the position, So clear was Mr. Walters’ majority that the District Attorney, Mr. Morris, has deemed it his duty to take offi- cial cognizance of the fraud. Te has declared from his own personal investigation into the returns, and thea evidence he has thus far elicited in this connection, that the vote is in favor of the republican candidate, and has expressed his determination to have the whole matter presented to the Graud Jury for their action. It is to be hoped that decisive action will be taken to expose the manner of these election frauds and to bring the parties directly and indirectly implicated in them to condign pun- ishment, If a stop cannot be put to this out- rageons system of robbing the people of the elective franchise which they hold so dear, then the franchise is nothing more than a delu- sion, a mockery anda snare. There has been no more positive and flagrant invasion upon the rights of the citizens of Kings county ever attempted than is exposed in this maiter of the election of a sheriff, and if not reprobated and punished as it deserves, then the whole elective eystem will be brought into utter contempt, elections will become mocker‘es and might as well be abolished altogether. Mr. Morris having put his hand to the plough ought not to turn aside from the duty he owes to himself, to his important office and to the people whose representative he is until he whole matier ia brought into the full light of day, and such punishment as the law pro- videa is rigorously meted out to the offenders, Ifhis sword is double-edged and both parties are guilty, the more effectual will bo his action in the premises, and the sooner will these elec- tion frands be suppressed, Suuday Riots, disgraceful affair which occurred in Chatham square on Sunday, while a funeral procession was passing through that thorough- fare, suggests the uecessity of taking some measures to put a stop to all public displays in the principal streeta of the city. These pageants have long been a nuisance. No matter upon what occasion or by what body of people this kind of demonstration is got up, processions haye invariably proved most annoying to the general public, by obstructing travel, delaying business, and in many cases seriously affecting the interests, to say nothing of the comfort, of hundreds of citizens, Pro- bably the most legitimate and decorous of all these displ: isa funeral; but then the con- ductors of a funeral procession have no right io monopolize the highway and arrest the transit of the city railroad cars or private vehicles. The collision between the proces sionisis and the driver of the railroad car in Chatham square on Sunday was outrageous, | and the treatment of the passengers was still more so. We hope that the offending parties in this business wiil be detected and punished. But we would urge upon tho city authorities that all public displays, where large numbers of people are marching in procession, whether to celebrate a patriotic event or to attend a faneral, should be confined to the least public streets, and excluded altogether from such routes as Broadway, the Bowery and Chatham There is plenty of room elsewhere for these demonstrations without infringing upon the great highways of trafic and stopping, as they ofien do for hours together, the whole business of the city. Wo hope that the Legis- Jature and the municipal authorities will be- tween them devise some plan whereby this great nuisance shall be removed. Prosrzor or A Rise 1s Conreorionrry, The € aga War measure against Spain, have pro ed the burning of the cane mills of the “Ever Faithful Is as losses of this kind are al Juban and num sady reported, Ti Lorrery Portoy Revenue Fracps.— And now it appears that the lottery policy this island have been defrand- of some forty thon- dollars in evading their bonds and taxes. As these establishments are profitable only to these policy shops and their managers, are otherwise a great source of the sufferings and crimes of our poorer classes, it is to be hoped that the gov- ernment will leave no stone unturnod to bring these policy dealers to 4 full stonemogt, shops of ing sand the ‘Treasury and EE a ee a ea eS ee ee Canadian Reciprocity vs, Annexation, We have the information at Washington that a new reciprocity treaty between the United States and the New Dominion will probably soon be agreed upon by the high con- tracting parties. We incline to the opinion that the interests of this country lie not in this policy of giving the Canadians the reciprocity of ten dollars in profit for one dollar in ex- change, but in encouraging the idea of annexa- tion, Her Majesty’s provincials will have to come to this at last, and they are losing time and money in these tinkering experiments of reciprocity. The wealth of the New Dominion from the very day of annexation would be increased ten per cent in value, and the cur- rent of emigration, which is now from the Canadas to the United States, would be reversed across the border, There is yet another view of this subject which will soon be agitated at Washington, and this is the importance of the line of the St. Lawrence as an outlet for the increasing heavy products of the West. Our present lines of railways and canals are not equal to this transportation, and the line of the Missis- sippi river is a roundabout way for the ship- ment of Illinois breadstufls to England. Give us the British provinces to the north and east of us and the line of the St. Lawrence will become an outlet equal to any amount of Western wheat, corn, whiskey, pork, &c., or it will operate to bring our competing railways and canals to cheaper freights, which will give us cheaper bread and coal in this city and its surroundings— ‘‘a consummation devoutly to be wished.” Hence we say that it is not recipro- city that we want with the Canadians, or that they really want with us, but annexation, and nothing else will harmonize the interests of the two partie: Tho Russian World’s Fair. The Louisville Convention, responding to a suggestion which came from Russia, gave the appointment of six American representatives to the Russian World’s Fair of 1870 to ex-President Fillmore, who presided over the Convention, It provided also that Mr. Fillmore should act as chairman of the delegation. The ex- President has designated but two commission- ers, it having been deemed wise to consult the wishes of President Grant as to the selection of the other representatives of the commercial and manufacturing interests of the nation. These interests cannot fail to be promoted by such a delegation. Headed by an ex-Presi- dent of the United States it would be assured of a reception on the part of the Russian gov- ernment well calculated to increase the favor with which American inventions and American products have already been introduced into the largest empire in the world. Special attention will be paid by the commissioners to the collection of samples of American cotton. Cotton, silk, linen of all kinds, woollen goods, leather, tallow, candles, soap and_ metallic wares are among the most important pro- ducts of Russian industry. Cotton spinning has rapidly developed of late years in Russia under the prohibitive system. The importation of cotton has been steadily increasing, and the demand for American cotton, unquestionably the best in the world, is bound to make Russia ere long one of its most profitable markets. We are all familiar with the immense amount of work which Ameri- can railway and telegraph contractors and manufacturers of sieam engines have already accomplished in Russia under the most favor- able auspices. And the exhibition of the hundred thousand ‘American specimens” which are asked for, samples of cotton, tobacco, wheat, corn, rice, sugar, hemp and other productions, and of all sorts of labor- saving machines, will tend to quicken and extend the commercial relations as well as to deepen the friendly feelings of two countries which may well be called great in the fullest sense of the term—great in extent of territory, great in population and great in undeveloped and unexplored resources of future wealth and power, ? The late Senajor Douglas on his return from a visit to Russia frequently alluded to the deep impression which had been made on his mind by the vast extent of the Russian empire and the striking peculiarities of its immense population, He used to dwell particularly on the fact that the great annual fairs, like the fair at Novgorod, for instance, not only furnished opportunities for the exchange of native and foreign merchandise, but also, in the compara- tive absence at that date of railway and tele- graphic communications, supplied both Rus- sians and foreigners with the moans of discovering the actual condition of Russian life andindustry. Tourists in Russia have always been fond of describing the picturesque appear- ance of these great annual fairs, with their varieties of costume, language and merchan- dise, The experience of the Russians in con- ducting these fairs, which have been held from time immemorial, will guarantee the success of their World’s Fair in 1870, It will not be sur- prising if this fair surpass the World’s Fairs which have been so successfully held at Lon- don, Paris and other European capitals. The influence which it is likely to exert upon the domestic industry and the foreign trade of Russia cannot be overestimated. Peter the Great himself, with ail his far-sighted ambi- tion, would have been amazed at having had so glowing a picture of the results of his plans for the growth and prosperity of his empire unrolled before him as that which the Russian World's Fair will probably present. Wewt Dong, Jupax Dow1inc.—We refer to the judgment of the Justice against certain presuming fellows who locked up an old lady ina room and took away and carted off the housebold furniture of a Mra, Fay, up town, in default of a balance of forty-four dollars on a bill of sale of one hundred and forty-cight dollars, Mrs, Fay boing absent at the time on a mission to raise the balance due. The pen- alty upon the presuming fellows aforesaid— declared to be in the employ of Kelly & Co.— of two months in the Penitentiary and fifty dollars fine will be apt to prove a wholesome | administration of justice. Gian To Huan ly—That on every side they are making great improvements and exten- sions in the railways of Long Island. We have no doubt that Mr. A. T. Stewart, with his grand Hempstead Plains enterprise, has been waking up those sleepy Long Islanders. In this, to0, we seo the benefits of a good example, Wall Street and the Presidential Pinn of There was less discussion than might have been anticipated over the Washington reports of the President’s views on the resumption of specie payments. The fact is, the merchants who have occasion to visit Wall street to buy gold to pay for their imports are too well aware how futile would be any legislation seeking to subvert the operation of the natural laws of trade in the matter of reducing the premium on gold. They also know that the practical mind of General Grant entertains no visionary theories on the subject of a resump- tion of specie payments, and that he will be among the last to force a measure which would bankrupt every merchant in the’country. The national credit is convalescent and doing well under the present treatment of the financial doctors. Any undue haste would only pro- duce a disastrous relapse. Yesterday the merchants did not seem disposed to wait for lower gold. They were free buyers for their European remittances, and the price felt their influence—rising, as it did, from 126§ to 127}. The mercantile mind is sensitive on the gold question, and apprehensive that a Congres- sional blunder in meddling with the currency would drive gold up again. The Pacific Railroad Disaster. Railroad catastrophes follow each other in quick succession, A disaster on the Harlem road, another of more trifling character on the Hudson River road, another in Jowa, in which twenty passengers were wounded, have been recorded within a few days. Now we hear from the Pacific coast of a terrible collision on the Western Pacific branch of the Pacific Rail- road on Sunday, by which nearly twenty per- sons were instantly killed and a large number wounded. As the news comes by telegraph we have as yet no accurate account of the number who suffered by this accident, but the despatches leave room for conjecture that the slaughter was awful. As to the cause we are not in doubt. It arose from the negligence of a switchman, just as did the late calamity nearer home, on the Harlem road the other day, The question arises, how long are the public to be left at the mercy of inoflficient em- ployés, and by what means shall railroad com- panies be restricted from putting men on their roads who are incompetent to perform their duty? Railroad directors siMuld be held just a8 much responsible for the men they employ as for the condition of the road or the con- struction of the machinery. It becomes a question, also, as to whether we are not push- ing our railroads ahead a little too fast for public safety, with a view to make the largest profits in the shortest space of time. A Knotty Point of History Settled. Premier Gladstone, in his speech in Guild- hall, London, of which we have already published an extended report, by cable, stated in the presence of the assembled municipality, and in the name and on behalf of the Queen’s Cabinet Ministers, that ‘that island”—referring to Ireland—‘‘which we have governed for seven hundred years, has not been brought into harmony with our laws and institutions.” This sentence, and on such authority, settles the very knotty and tuch disputed point in history of how long the English have been in Ireland, besides affording another illustration of Mr, Gladstone’s erudition and accuracy, both as @ finished scholar and statesman, On the Lith of May (“rale” old style), in the year 1169, the English knight Fitz Stephen, accompanied by five others, landed on the Irish coast, near Wexford, Allowing from the 11th of May to the 9th of November in the same year for the work of rolling up their shirt sleeves or ‘“‘get- ting the batteries in position’—as we read daily in our special despatches from the field during the Jeff Davis rebellion—the war between the English and Irish in Ireland com- menced exactly seven hundred years before the night on which the Premier was speaking. It has beon a very bloody and distracting war, tha very lata battle of which was fought in Dublin on Tuesday evening, tho Sains day (9th) of November in the present year, in the shape of a fierce “party” riot. Mr. Gladstone holds to-day a flag of trace, and is likely to bury the dead and arrange a peace. We hope so; itistime. “Great gal- lantry displayed on both sides;” ‘the exact number of the killed and wounded not ascer- tained.” TrerRibie SLaveHrer—Among the turkeys with the approach of Thanksgiving Day. Pro- bably ou Thursday ten millions of turkeys and other fowls will be eaten in the United States, to say nothing of the hard cider and whiskey that will be consumed in the way of thanks- giving. But why not? What better expres- sion can be given to gratitude than in giving a good thanksgiving dinner? FINE ARTS, The D’Huyvetter collection of pictures now on ex- hibition at the Barker Gallery, 845 Broadway, coms prises works by Ferdinand Panwels, Hendrick F. Schaefels, Hollander, Koomans, Koek Koek, Bour- goin, Van Hamener, Bosch, Stroebel and a number of other well known painters. These works will bo offered for sale, without reservation, this evening and to-morrow evening. POLITICAL PROSPECTS IN TEXAS, News from Texas to alate date shows a most favorable change for the Davis ticket. The expected effect of the Yerger decision did not come off, and aS result the Union men feel stronger and more determined, A large assortment of stump orators of all colors are now visiting all parts of the State, and unless there snould occur a consoliaation of the opposite factions the republicans are very sanguine of success. THE EYE AND EAR HOSPITAL, ‘The first regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the New York Ophthaiinic and Aural Institute was held at the hospital, 46 Hast Twelfth street, om Friday evening last, The founder and head surgeon of the inatitation, Dr. H, Knupp, formerly Professor of the University of Heidelberg, iirst gave a report of the working of the Instutution during the past six months. Six hundred and sixteen patients sut- fering trom eye and ear diseases were treated gratut- tously, sixty-nine patients were admitted to the house, and niné-seven operavions, among which were seventeen for cataract, Were performed. ‘The courses of regular lectures on eye aud ear a a wore attended «uring the summer by twelve students, while for ie present winter course thirty-tour are inscribed. = Afier vhis report the members of the Board took a general survey of the hospital and were highly sgcistiod with tag appropriate internal arrangements and the exquistia neatness and cieaniiness of overytuing connected with the estabiishment. The Koara then clectcd {ta officers for the ensuing year:—President, Fred S. Winston; Vice President, Dr. Gurdon Buck; Tren. wurer, Bugene 5 Ballin; Secretary, Philip Bissinger. The then discussed and adopted bylaws for the regulation of the institute, The hospital, ar- ranged to receive patienia of all classes suffering from eye and ear diseases, bas accomvodations for thirty persons. The dispensary connected with it ts open daily from one to three P. M. for Wie gratukous ‘Wweutuent of (he poor,