The New York Herald Newspaper, December 20, 1869, Page 4

o~_ J 4 NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR. All business or news letter and telegraphic despatches must be addressed New Yore Higraty. Letters and packages should be properly sealed. Rejected communications will be re- not Volume XXXIV AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway aud 1th street.— WILD Oars, THE TAMMANY, Fourteenth swvet—Tar Burn EsQue or Bap Dickey. GRAND OPERA HOUS 28d atreet.—Lingany's B rer ot tn avanne and LESQUE CONSIN ATION. BOOTH’S THEATRE, beoween Sib ang 4th eve— Tuk MEuRY Wives OF . FRENCH THEATRE, [4th st. and ith av,—Russtan OPERA—ASOOLDOVA Mout OLYMPIC THEATRE, Brosaway.—Unpxt tus Gas- LigHT. oofe ACADEMY OF MUSIC, ith street,—HenMaNN, THR Gaewar Parorinaitarkuy FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE, Twenty-fourth st—Tux Doxe's Morro, NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—Tus ComEpY oF Litter En'.y. HOM AND 3 nutways OF ary evening. WE Divi.'s PEAK. * hie ike BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery. MRB, F, 3. CONWAY'S PARK THEATRE, Rrookiya,— A Mipsvuurns Night's Dean. NEW YORK’ HERALD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, The Lettery belloy War in the Supreme | Tho Chroutc Disease of Mexice Getting bor at Lewes, Del., about three »elook and went to 88 Ot quarter-past four yesterday. Several de- Spatches were sent off to her during ner stay in the harbor. ‘The total shipments of gold from San Francisco since the 1st of January, 1869, amount to $37,024,000. The City. The German democrats of the Tenth and Seven teenth wards held a massa meoting yesterday de- nouncing Tammany in strong terms, warning the democracy of the country not to trust to the leaders of Tammuny Hail, proposing to contest the last election of judicial oMcers in these wards and call- ing upon Congress to pass a stringent election law under the power given it by the fifteenth amend- ment, a8 800n as that should be adopted. A letter was received promising aid purporting to come from the Vigilance Committee. The United States frigate albany arrtved at this port yesterday morning from St. Domingo. having on board Comtnissioners Porter, inglas ana Sacket. These gentlemen have succeeded, in the name of the United States, ia leasing from the Dominican au- thorities the bay and peninsula of Samani for the porlod of filty years, at the rate of $150,000 in gold peranoum. The first payment has been made. The menibers of the New York bar have petitioned Congress for an increase of the salaries of the judges of the Supreme Court. Tno petition meets the untl- versal approval of the legal profession. At ten o’clock yesterday morning the Spanisn gun- boats, convoyed by the war steamer Pizarro, took their departure for Cuba, When opposite Govern- or’s Island one of the gunboats halted in order to adjust some machinesy, the rest of the squadron proceeding to the Lower Bay, where they waited for their consort. it is reported that some of the fire- nen and engineers of the gunboats are in the Capan interest and will make some efforts to destroy the vessels alter they have left American waters. The Assiastant Treasurer in this city has received orders to omit the saies-of gold on Tuesday and Friday. Thursday’s sale will take place as adver- Used, Prominent Arvivals tu the City. General J. T. Boyle, of Kentucky; General D. B. Sackett, of the United States Army; Dr, Rubdke, of Montpelier; J. L. Swift, of Boston; W. W. Worth, TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HO ML Rywary.—Comto VooALisit, NEGRO MINSTRELS YE. THEATRE. COMIQUE, 514 broadway.—Cowro Vooar WOM, NEGHO ACTS, BO, PERA HOUSE, Tammany Butiding, Ith MINSTRELS. TRELS, 685 Bron lway.--rat0- 0 ATS, eo. ‘ WAVERLEY THEA’ 20 Broadway.—Eruto- PIAN MINSTRELY, NEO NEW YORK CIRCUS, Fourt AND GYMNASTIO PERFORMANCES, tb strect.EQuestaIAN HOOLEY'S OPERA HOUSE, Brook!yn,—Hoouer's MINeTEELS—A TRIP TO THE MOON, «0. APOLLO HALL, corner 28th street and Broadway.—THR CARDIFF GIANT. " NEW YORK MUSHUM OF ANATOMY, 613 Broadway. BOIENOR AND Ant M OF ANATOMY, 61835 PIRADANGZ. New York, Monday, December 20, 1869. ‘TO ADVERTISERS. Increasing Circulation of the Herald. We are agein constrained to ask advertisers to hand in their advertisemonts at as carly an hour espossible. Our immeuse and constantly increasing editions compel us, notwithstanding our presses are capable of printing seventy thousand copies an hour, to put our forms to press much carlier than usnal, and to facilitate the work we are forced to stop the classifications of advertisements at nin’ o'clock P. M. THA NaWS. Europe. Cable telegrams are dated December 19. Cardinal Pentini died in Rome, There are sixteen “Hats” vacant in the Holy City, but the Pope ts not likely to dispose of them during the session of the Conncil. General Prim still advocates monarchy and condemning republicanism ta Spain. Asia. By mail from the Last Indies we have interesting details of ovr cable telegrams from Asia, dated at Calcutta, ‘rom the 26th ef October to the 9tn of November. ‘The Russians are reported to have sent large rein- forcements to their army in Turkestan. The British steamers Tweed and Calcutta left Bombay with the Persian Gull Telegraph Cable on the 18th of October. It appears that the steamer Clyde was fired at in the Persian Guif under a misapprehension, and that an apology has been gitered since the date of our special correspondence ahnouncing the fact. Mr, Haward, the Turkestani travelier, states that the maps of that country are altogether wrong, Kashgar, one of the principal towas, being placed sot least two hun- red miles {rom its real position. The Anglo-Indian government advanced 15,000 rupees towards the erection of 2 Roman Catholic Orphanage at Mua- soorie, ’ Paragany. The latest accounts irom Paraguay say that Lopez is at Curuguaty; other accounts say be has crossed the mountains into the disputed territory between Braz! aud Paraguay. The allies were pursuing him 8 fast as their limited means admitted, but they were too greatly straitened for {ood to make rapid marches, Lopez is reported to have with him twenty pieces of artiliery and over 4,000 men, many men boys pressed into the service oa bodies of from 100 to 250 men whom Lopez had killed tor tnsubordination. The provistonal govern- ment has abolished slavery in Paraguay, to take effect April 1. St. Domingo. The government of St. Domiugo has negotiated a loan tn London for nearly $4,000,000 ta gold, for the repayment of which the revenues of the ports of St. Domingo and Puerto Plata, to the amount of £58,000 per annum, and tite royaities produced from the ex- port of guano from the tsiand of Alto Vela and duties from coal and mahogany from the peninsula of Samané are set aside, Miscellaneous, The Apache Indians in New Mexico are on the warpath. On the night of the 14h ult. they stole a herd of cattle from a settler near Fort Stanton. A Oetachment of the Third cavalry were despatched in pursuit of the marauders, following the:n 209 astiea among the mountains, most of the time without water and food, aud finally overtaking them. Aster fighting three hours the savages, avout 100 in num- ber, were compietely routed, with @ loas of fi{teen in killed and wounded. The Secretary of the Treasury has given orders for the payment of the January interest off and afver Friday next, without rebate. It is expected this anticipation of payment wil! induce ai! holders of coupons to present them for redemption before the let day of January. The com now in the Untied States Treasury amounts to $118,000,000, $30,000,000 of this sum 1s Tequired to pay the January interest, and $33,000,000 consists of deposits for which gold certificates have ‘Deen isaued. It was rumored in Washington yesterday that Secretary Fish intends to resign the portfolio of Secretary of State, and that bis successor will be Judge Pierrepont, The nomination of Attorney General Hoar for Associate Justice of tne Suprome Court 18 sald to meet with great opposition in the Senate, and his rajection by that body is deemed guise certain. As 1h South now has no representative on the Supreme ‘Bench tt has been suggested that the vacant judge- ship be filed from that section, The Senate bill to perfect reconstruction in Goorgia will, it ls said, be reported to the House by the Reconstruction Committee on Tuesday and, under thé operation of the previous question, be passed the same day. A party of 800 Chinese laborers le San Francisco yesterday, via the Pacific Railroad, for the Soutvern States, They are under contract for three years. > Tho ram Triumph, lave Atlanta, cage Wm the bar of Leavenworth; ex-Congressman John L. Dawson, of Pennsylvania, and J. ‘I. Hatch, of Buifalo, are at ihe Fifth Avenue Rotel. Surgeon H, C, Nelson and Lieutenant Commander A. B. Brown, of the United States Navy; General D. K. Jackman, and Professor H. W. Adams, of Phila- delphia, are at the fofman House. Renry S. Lane, ex-Senator of Indiana; Colonel T. M. Taylor, of gye Untted States Army; George Pendleton Bowler, or Cincinnati; Edward Kemp, of New York, and Colonel C. A, Wilcox, of Knoxville, Tenn., are at tne Everett House, Dr. J. O, Mansfield, of Springfield; Joun Marr, of Cleveland, and Cari Muller, of Chicago, aro at the Coleman House. Charles Dwight and Samuei Frothingham, of Boa. ton, are at the Albemarle Hotel. T. Dietendorf, of Denver; George B. Strong, of St. Louis; N. B. Sway of San Francisco, and £&. Bittner, of Nevada, are at the Metropolltan Hotei. Edward Devoe, of Albany, and George C. Dupee, of Boston, are at the Weacmoreland Hotel. Governmental Progress in Europe-A Mom- orable Year. An enlightened spirit of progress, prolific in great works of modern enterprise, industry, art and science, has vigorously invaded the effete political institutions of the Old World, and we have seen it earnestly combating reac- tionary ideas and actively engaged in hiberal- izing monarchical systems which were an incu- bus and a barrier to the prospects of popular government. Reformatory measures have been fairly inaugurated which will tear away many ot the bulwarks of absolutism and. promote developments in the interests of the people and against despotiam. Among the cham- pions of governmental progress in Europe are earnest, representative men whose intelli- gence, wisdom and position give weight to their opinions, and in whom we recognize many of those essential elements of persever- ance and power which tend to insure ultimate success. In the work of reform France has taken the lead of the other Continental Powers, and of the movement there we shall speak more par- ticularly. When Napoleon leads other poten- tates must follow. The elections in May, fore- shadowing the doom of personal government, have already yielded results beyond the most sanguine expectations of the people, We have seen the great chief of personal rule parleying with the advance guard of the legionaries of democracy, granting legislative concessions and inspiring a Senatus Con- aultum, which, if judiciously improved, will soon operate the transformation of the “fone man power” into an administration reapon- sible to the people. We have seen a prince of the blood bringing his unqualified support to measures which even endanger imperialism and astounding the Senate with a most profound and liberal commentary thereon. We have remarked Napoleon further signalize a new departure in favor of popular principles ‘by proclaiming a general amnesty to“ press and political offenders, which, as is now intimated, may include even the Orleans princes, exiled by the republic. Greater latitude has been permitted to the press and to public discus- sion; the obnoxious Rochefort is, suffered to go at large, receive the ovations of his friends, take his seat in the Corps Législatif and flaunt his jeers atthe imperial family. A now Minis- try, less absolutist and with a healthy counter- poise of “radical” sentiment infused therein, is to be formed, and the Legislative Body, now in session, are to give practical operation to reformatory measures—the outgrowth of par- liamentary government, All this promises much for France, and it remains to be seen what permanent profit will be derived there- from. Henri de Bourbon declares that the prince deceived himself who devoted his thoughts and efforts to the foundation of dynasties, ‘for the universal tendency was towards a repub- lic.” Prince Napolepn asserts that the time had arrived for liberty in France, and the mission of the empire should be to ‘“‘act in unison with the popular democratic aspira- tion.” Victor Hugo tells the Peace Congress at Lausanne that Europe, imitating the exam- ple of America, was destined to begome s federative republic; and, lastly, the good and gifted Pere Hyacinthe condemns the Church of Rome for wishing to remain in antagonism to the progressive ideas of the prosent cen- tury. These are but the sentiments of indi- viduals, yet they may be accepted as pre- cursory demonstrations full of significance for the future. They aro the occasional outburst, the premonitory indications, of an undercurrent of liberal aspiration which is pervading individuals, communities and na- tlons, It has already brought forth a harvest of reform, and Is growing and extending until no one can prescribe its limits or say surely that the measure of good ultimately attained shall not accord with the measure of just domands. The over-zoalous, ultra-radicals or “Reds” of France may temporarily embarrass and bring discredit upon the cause of the oppo- sition; yet they cannot destroy, while they do not advance it. The year now fast drawing to @ close will live as an eventful one in history, The tri- umphs of commercial enterprise, of sciénce and capital which completed such works as the Pacific Railway, the French Transatlantic cable and the Suez Canal will be remembered with the victories of governmental progress which loosened tho fetters of despotism and formed the starting point of an era of enlarged liberties for the peoples of Europe. Great Britain, too, has not been inactive the while in the promulgation of imporignt reforms. We record the extension of suffrage, tha disestab- lishment of the Irish Church, &e. Would that we could add amnesty tothe imprisoned Fenians, ag an earnest of a generous policy of concilia- tion towards Ireland, instead of the hitherto fruitless one of coercion. This year of grace is made furjher memora- ble by the Ecumenical Council now assembled at Rome. It would be premature yet to attempt to define the aims and consequences of this manifestation. If it proceed to endorse a syllabus in hostility to the principles of modern Christianity, to proclaim the infallibility of the Pope, and give countenance to dogmas that ill accord with the spirit of the age, its char- acter must be regarded as purely reactionary. Speculation, in anticipation of the ratification of the decisions of a most ultramontane com- mittee, has already been busy with ominous intimations of a revolt anda probable revolu- tion which is to develop the genius of a second Luther to champion the dissenting element and direct {t in the way of another reformation. Whatever be thd result of the deliberations of Pius IX. and his counsellora, the Catholic Church at large will hardly assume the fruitless task of opposing a barrior to progress, nor is it by any means certain that the Council will hagard the alter- native of revolt by insisting upon such re- quirement. We might dwell at length, were it neces- sary, upon other events in Europe which have characterized the year 1869. The steps taken. to forward the unification of Germany and the vigilant, jealous watch thereat of France ; the Dalmatian troubles, secretly instigated, perhaps, by Russia and Prussia for ulterior purposes ; the Turco-Egyptian quarrel tempo- rarily quieted by outside pressure, and the convulsions of Spain in a wild hunt for royalty, are questions likely at any time to disturb European equilibriums and groatly affect the internal affairs of kingdoms and empires. And in any fAture issue provoking revolution at home or war with rival Powers, who shall say that the people, becoming more aud more enlightened, will not be profited ? As further evidence of the growth of popu- lar principles we will refer, in conclusion, to the strong republican element manifesting ilself in Spain and Portugal, by rebellious outbreaks which exercise the utmost vigi- lance of the authorities to suppress. A cur- sory glance at the present status of European politics will strengthen any one in the convic- tion that progress {s active and working for reforms which must advance the liberal ten- dencies of government gnd redound to the good of the oppressed and rebuke of the op- pressor. The Brooklyn Indictments. The important action of the Brooklya Grand Jury in the indictment of sixty persons, including police and civil justices, for violating the election laws, will not amount to much in the way of wholesome example, unless it is followed up vigorously in the courts, District Attorney Morris has done his part well id exposing the election frauds which disgraced the city of Brooklyn as well as tho city of New York, He is entitled to all credit in pro- curing the indictments against these sixty prominent individuals, and he should be heartily sustained in his futuro course by public opinion and support. That he will meet with much opposition in bringing the delinquents to justice, and that he will have to. undergo much persecution from his party, there is no doubt ; but he must be sustained by the reflection that every right thinking man in the community is on his side. It will never do to let these indictments drop or be smothered up by party Influence or party, threats. The conduct of Judge Gilbert, Mr. Morris and the reapectable Grand Jary, com- mendable as it is, should not be allowed to go barren of fruit. Now that there is a fair chance to get at the real parties to these infamous election frauds it will never do to let them go unwhipped of ‘justice. Tue Deatn oF Stongwatt Jacxson,—It has not been doubted by any person taking pains to examine what was actually known of the story that Stonewall Jackson was killed by his own troops, It is not surprising never- theless to hear a claim made that he was killed by the First Massachusetts regimont ; for if Massachusetts had not claimed this achievement posterity might have supposed there was at least one fact of the war that the Bay State had no hand in, Although the communication we published from General Revere in proving that Jackson was killed by his own soldiers only proves what was known, yet the additional facts given and the particu- lar light thrown upon the whole by the clear statement of what the General himself gave will be of peculiar value in the history of the event. Parry tn Franog.—The movement of Count Dorn for the organization of politics in France on the basis of aggregate action such as can only be had where there are great parties Is one that touches a vital point in French affairs, If France could act with the single purpose such as @ great party would give there is no doubt now such a general consent among all her people that extreme change could be brought about peaceably; but opposition is feittered away by division, and the government triumphs in defiance of uaiversal distrust. Froxtpa.—The whole State government of Florida nearly makes a demand on the Presi- dent for troops to maintain order in that peninsula and protect life, This has an un- pleasant look for the progress of the State in cultivating the arts of peace; but there is so much party man@uvring very often in these demands for military interference that it is not safe to take auch @ demand as evidence that the State cannot tako-caro of itsolf. Coart. There is prospect of a lively time in the The chronic condition of Mexico has beca | Supreme Court of city over the lottery policy entanglement which has been brought there for judicial unravelling. The original parties to the policy suit are the two great captains in the lottery business of this clty— Ben Wood, of four-eleven-forty-four renown, and the Hon. John Morrissey, not unknown to fame. Whatever interest might attach to'an encounter between these doughty representa- tives of the fortune telling, lucky dreams, odd numbers and four-eleven-forty-four fraternity generally, is greatly enhanced by the inevitable collision it involves between two of the judges of the Supreme Court, To the bar and, in- deed, to the general public this 1fter conse- quence of the Wood-Morrissey imbroglio is of far deeper interest than tho mere result one way or the other of the original quarrel. There isa much mooted question in legal circles which of the two legal luminaries of the Supreme Court bench is likely to gain the ascendancy over the other. That there is a struggle going on for the mastery is indisputa- ble, and that it will be carried on toa final result there is no doubt. There have been occasions when encounters which must have proved decisive were imminent, but no oppor- tunity for advantageous attack on either side presented itself, and the event was postponed; but this Wood-Morrissey contest is likely to prove the opportunity for these distinguished and learned rivals to assert and maintain their individual claims to supremacy. The fight is already opened and the first phase of the contest is presented. Wood and Morrissey have furnished the casus belli and will no doubt supply the ‘‘sinews.of war” so long as the action can be sustained thoreby and the result remains in doubt, It was a piece of very sharp practice, but, of course, ‘‘of a piece” with the usual tactios of the two lottery combatants that accelerated the judicial collision, all the facts connected with which have already appeared in the Henan in their proper place, t But the most notable feature of this lottery policy litigation is that all the parties to it come into court as violators of the law whose aid they. invoke. This the two judges appealed to in the case know full well, The fundamen- tal, the constitutional law of the State declares the dealing in any way in the lottery business @ misdemeanor and punishable by fine and im- prisonment, and yet John Morrissey and Ben || Wood, notorious lottery policy men, come not only into court to decide their lottery squabble, but each enlists the favor and sup- port of a judge of the bench upon his parti- cular side of the case, and hence the judicial snarl, This is a most barefaced prostitution of the intent of the law and a disgraceful evi- dence to the people who elect the judges of our courts of the degeneracy into which the holders of this high office have fallen. Surely it is time for a reform, and should a vigilance committee ever be instituted its first effort should be directed to a cleansing process of our courts of law, from the highest in the State down to the lowest. More Drivorcz.—There is always some mania at work in the social life of this comma- nity, Just now divorce seems to be the rage, and is almost overshadowing murders and government frauds, The latest case in our Courts is s very hard one for the divorced hus- band, if his statement of the affuir be true, It appears that while a resident in Pittsburg his wife obtained a divorce in New York, of which ho was not aware until a friend sent him an advertisement from the Hxrap containing the fact. The judgment of divorce carried with it an order for five hundred and seventy- four dollars, costs of suit, and for a hundred dollars a month alimony to the plaintiff, It is bad enough to have a man’s wife taken away from him against his will by process of law, but it is worse to b2 obliged to pay the lawyers, The husband took the case before Judge Ingraham, in the Supreme Court, and upon stating the facts on affidavit that he was innocent of the charge upon which the divorce was granted, and charging perjury generally upon the witnesses, the Judge issued a stay of proceedings in the matter of alimony and costs, and ordered the plaintiff to show cause why the decree of divorce should not be vacated. We shall thus have another illustration of the morals of the age in the courts, Tur Faenon Posta, TREaty.—It has been already explained that the French postal treaty which expires at the end of the year might have given place to another and more liberal one at the option of the French government. Our government sent a special agent to Franco on this business and he was compelled to return unsuccessful. The French postal authorities saw the propriely of mak: a treaty such as our government proposed, but the Minister of Finance would not consent ¢o any treaty that gave cheaper postage; hence none at all was made. By his obstinate ad- herence to high rates he loses all rates and will greatly damage the French trade with this country—a trade much more to the ad- vantage of France than the United States, A Prorgsr IN Tus Covnot.—Already there is a point raised in the Council that may prove fruitful in discord, being no less than a point touching the constitutional law of the Church. The Fren¢h bishops protest against the Pope's rules for the government of the Council as an “‘interference,” an unwar- ranted assumption of authority. As the con- stitution of the Church is unwritten, as the determinatign of all such poluts as the Pope's relation to # general council can be found only by reference to precedent, the question raised is ove not to be easily settled, Neither is the protest of the French bishops lightly to be set aside, A Prorrsr ix THe Counot.—It is curious to see the French bishops at the Roman Coun- cil “protesting” against the Pope's interfer- ence with its proceedings. We always thought that the French bishops would give some trouble to the Council, but we did not expect that they would tura Protestants thus early in the proceedings. Tax Marseiiaise.—Rochefort has sung the first verse of the Marsellaise, and no one has interrupted him, Perhaps if nobody tries to stop him he will stop himself and shut up his paper entirely. What is the use of Rochefort if ho Is lot alone? bedi! 1869, ’ Werse and Werse. that of revolution and insurrection for the last twenty or thirty years, or, indeed, through its whole history, and the disease seems to be getting worse and worse. The news we pub- lished yesterday shows that the republic in every direotion 1s like the strata underneath— volcanic. There were armed factions fighting in Querétaro; insurrection in Michoacan ; numer- ous bands in the fleld in Jalisco; at Mazatlan’ & revolution was hourly expected; federal troops had been attacked in the State of Mexico, a fow leagues from the capital; disturbances bad occurred at Tulancingo; the Sixth battalion of government troops had joined the Puebla insurgents; there had been dreadful rioting and an attack upon a Protest- ant congregation at Puebla; the whole repub- lic is full of pronunciamientos, and General Allatore had informed the government that he had no confidence in his troops to defend the administration. Such is the picture presented in one day’s news. The truth is, this. chronic condition of disorder is culminating to a point when the United States will have to be callod upon to reconstruct Mexico and to govern it. That, undoubtedly, is the inevitable destiny of the country, and the sooner it comes the better for the Mexicans and for the world. : Tne Samana Bay Neaoriations,—We ap- nounoce elsewhere the return yesterday of the United States frigate Albany, on board of which, on the 10th of November, three au- thorized agents of our government—Generals Babcock, Ingalls‘and Sackett—mysteriously sailed for St. Domingo. According to our Washington despatches it is no longer a secret that Dominican commissioners from President Baez have been daily expected to arrive with powers to treat either for the sale of Samana or a lease of it for fifty or a hundred years, President Grant’s views are repre- sented as favorable rather to a lease, the advantages of which would doubtless lead before long to annexation, than to immediate acquisition. The prospective possession of the bay of Samana and the entire Dominican portion of the island is regarded in official clr- cles at Washington as far more advantageous than the annexation of Cuba would be. The establishment of a United States naval station on the peninsula of Samana would be 8 states- man-like inauguration of the American policy towards the West India Islands. Yesrerpay’s SzrMons,—It may be inferred fronr the topics of several of the sermons re- ported by us this morning that our preachers are paying more direct attention than usual to questions which have what the French call “the interest of actuality.” Such, for ex- ample, are ‘The Relations of Christianity to the State, with special reference to the Ecu- menical Council and the Question of Public Schools,” by Dr. Adams; ‘The Drama," by Dr, Anderson, and ‘‘The Temptations of New York Life,” by Dr fopworth, Toe Mine Earraquake.—The sudden swallowing up of part of a village in Pennsyl- vania by the caving in of a coal mine comes asareminder of the great nécessity there is that some adequate supervision should be ex- ercised over the working of mines. Our plan of letting things alone on the argument that such troubles correct themselves is founded in a mischievous and murderous fallacy. We need Stato officers charged with the duty of inspecting all sach works as mines and rail- roads where the people’s lives may be in danger, News oF Prim rrom Vieyna.—All the way. from Vienna comes'the story that it is believed there that Prim is manceuvring to bo declared Dictator firat, then King. This only proves that Spanish affairs viewed from differont sides have the same aspect, OBITUARY. Daniel K. Colburn, ‘This well-known citizen of New York arf Presi- dent of the Wall Street Exchange Bank aropped dead in his office, No. 67 Wall street, on Saturday afternoon, at three o'clock, as he was about to casn @check or an old friend. Mr. Colburn has been a prominent broker and banker in Wall street for the past twenty years. In early life he commenced as a clerk for Canal Commissioner Clark, at Albany, N. Y., which position he filled for many years with satisfaction to his superiors. About twenty years ago he resigned and removed to New York and opened a broker’s office in Wall street where, by bis ability as @ business man aoa his strict integrity, he soon assumed & prominent position as one of ‘the Nnanclal men of New York. Some years since he ‘was elected President of the Wall Street Exchange Bank, which position he held at the time of his sud- den death, As a financial man he had no superior, nd in his death the community loses one of its best citizens and the poor, to whom he always lent a helping. hand, a kind benefactor. Mr. Colburn was about forty-seven years of age and leaves a family io Albany, Where his remains wi) be interred, NAVAL INTELLIGENCE, ‘The United States steamer Benicia, Commander Somerville Nicholson, which left the Portsmouth (N. H.) Navy Yard December 14, on a trial trip, arrived on the bar Friday afternoon and came up to the city yesterday, anchoring opposite Bedloo’s Island. Her officers report sne acted admirably throughout the trip. Below is a complete list of her oficers:— Commander—somerviile Nicholgon. ech iad Commanders—W. Scott Schley and 8. . Baker. Lieutenant—George M. Book. ie Sere nee Sehroder, T. C, McLean and Theo. “Surgeon—Henry 0. Nelson. Assistant Surgeon—W liam A. Corwin. Engineers—Cniel, B. B. H. Wharton; First Assiat- ant, jsaao R. McNucy. Paymaster—Arthur J. Pritchard, Mates—Arthur Schley, George 8. Sproston, Joun Swanson and Samuel Lieutenant Marines—Frank A, Mullaney. Captain's Clerk—W. W. Dennett. Payn 14 Clerk—Joaeph W. Daley. Acting Boatewain—Edward Bon@all. Gunner—George P, Cushman. Sattmaker—George T. Lozier, doling Carpenter—Wiliiam H. Richards, Surgeon P. 8. Wales bas been detached from the Portsmouth and ordered home. Surgeon B. RK, Ban- non has been detached from the na tation at Mound ony. Ii, @nd ordered to the 1 hospital at Pensacola. Surgeon A. 8. Aberly has been ordered Wo the Portamouta, — A CONFIDENCE THIEF TRAPPED, Some two months ago @ prepossessing domestic named Margaret Carrigan was hired in this city by Mr. Ernest Burnbaum, of Eastchester, Westchoster county. On the 2ith of November she left suddenty, taking with her about $150 worth of the family On her arrival in this cliy from West- wardrobe, chester Mi t gave her trunk to an expressman to deliver in Ji City, but he failed to deliver it. She caused his eat, and ‘the instru- coocpane | of the Twenty-ninth precinct police recovel the property. rn of the whereabouts of the woman, Mrs. Burubaum went before Justice Stevens, at Kastohester, and secured @ warrant for her arrest. It was in the hands of detectives Evans and Malligan, of the Twenty- ninth precinct, who founa that she was at service in Wayno street, Jersey vity. Yesterday in Bure den sent Margaret word that be wanted to see her at his office, 80 a8 to secure the conviction of the expressman. Not suspecting the trap set for her she came over, and was at o1 arrested, locked up ond will be arraigned at Jefferson pe sis morn. ing All the was re as well iy tiint aE ens at parties by wh under ye wr LITERATURE. a ee ‘The Holiday” Books. We have already noticed son '@ Of the holiday bowxs which have been published this year. While these have not been numerous they ma ‘Ve been unusually (Soribner & Co.), ‘The Desert Worla’.” “The Mys- teries of Ocean” (Thomas Nelson & & 0%), “Lady Geraldioe’s Courtship” (Scribner & Co.), 424 soma~ fow others, possess great literary merit, in addition to elegance of mechanical execution. In “4 he Unt- ay best that we have seen (his year. Almost 4 qual in liverary merit are the two works of Mam "lu, pubes by Thomas Nelson & Sons; their mecha 0- ig superb, AS Worka of art the illustration '@ accompanying Mrs. Norton’s ny ci Praise. it may he objected that tous wo nouced not need fresh mention here, excepting the charm- ing little “Bay: Series,” pubiished by Seribner, Welford & Co., and comprising several exquiaitely gotten up little volumes, which, if not even in- vended specially for tie purpose, mako # moss acceptable present, From we turo to the others which we have not yet nouced. BIBLE ANIMALS. Belng a Description of Every Liv- ing Creature Menuoned in the Scriptures, from the Ape to the Coral. By the Key. J. G. W M. A. F.L.S.,&c. New York: Charies Scribner & Co. Properly speaking this can bardiy be called a toll- Gay book, yet tts publication at this time and the admirable manner io which tt 1s printed, illustrated and bound compel us to place it in the category of such, The literary yalue of the work is decidedly high, It is not, as the title would indicate, a thes- logical book; it 18 properly a work on natural hta- tory, in which every living creature spoken of in-the Bible is described witly accuracy. ‘I'he idea was, to say the least, 2 inost original one. ‘The volume opsus @ new field tor the literature of the Bible, woict holy book we would Lave supposed so thoroughiy commented on that chero was novming lef for another to say, Mr, Wood has invested ind subject with all the charms of popular interest, By ginning with the mammaita he dusoribes the various aniinals, their havits, Secoiasiies, manner of liv- ing, together witn such otner intormatioa regarding thei as extensive research could obtain. The sane minatepess in detail ja bestowea upon the birds, rep- tiles, fishes and invertebraves, wita which last the volume concludes. . Numerous anecdotes illustra. tive of the auimais described add to the value of the work, giving to 1t quite the style of #renca writen whose happy (acuity of popularizing science an history Mr. Wood seema to have caugiit. In the 64 pages of this volume we bave not come across @ dul sentence. it is not unlikely that soine of the author's statements aud conclusions will be questioned and a few sharply criticised, as he wrilos with greut itiveness. We note ere and tere very ques- jonuble assertions, as, for instance, some dt those regarding the pelican aud the crocodtie; but these are few, aud are, at any rate, excusable errors. But the work, a8 a whole, deserves the highest praise. It aids materially tn popularizing Daturat nistory, aud also adds largely t© our kuowledgo of the Sible. The illustrations, which number som 100, are the designs Of hagiish artists of note, and ave finely executed. ‘Bidie Animais” undoubteday ranks high as @ literary production, and we hearai recommend 16 to wll desiring to make a holiday pre ent of a work combining ine livetiest entertammens ‘with the prufoundest instruction. Lost IN TH8 JUNGLE. Narrated for Young People. By Paul du Chailia. New York: Harper & Brothers, If Paul du Chaillu does not tire of recording hia adventures in Africa until people grow tired or reading them his writings are destined to number vory many volumes. “ost in the Jungle” ts bis latest contribution, and asiihough he assures us that the narrative is mtended for young people, we must oonfess to having read it through wich she deepest interest, from beginni to end, ‘The work is a simply worded, but graphic and exciting narrative of the author's adventures when he was Jost in the wilds of Africa, All of the contents are new. ‘Lhe acenes and incidents described are given to tue public for the first time, and they are widely diverst- Hed and highly interestmg. By hig clear, easy Bty!e of writing the author canes the reader quite slong | with him. One shares with fim the excitement of the chase, and when he succeeds in killing nis gorilla we feel with nim the mingled sentiments of exultattion and profound regret. for nis savage friends, too, we algo conceive a deep liking, With reat emotion we near of Queriaouen’s death. Ever dear to our hearts must nis sable majesty ry Foemmness be. May his shadow never grow less fine, M. du Chaillu has written @ most fascinating work, set Lae Se o's AMS a oung, Ever: of the ‘ail of - dereaining reading. We follow the author from the moment he leaves the vil of Goumli to the time he Ls made king of the Apingi with the deepest inter- ext, and close the book regrettiug that there la nothing more of the sorttoread, However, M. au Chaillu promises something more, and while he ia engayed in writing it we recommend to all tie ob- taining of this voluine, Russer Leaves. By James Pummill, 3. B. Lippincott & Co. ‘The author of the poems and prose sketches ta this daintily gotten up Volume is evidently a gentie- man of culture and ability. His pootry, though by no means perfect, is quite pleasant to read, is origi- nal in thought and abounds in poetic imagery. Some of them seem to lack in flush, and are, at least, but half expressed tnoughts; still there is very little in the volume that cau be pronounced eit tively bad, Ii we fave any fault to flod at all tt is at the frequgncy in which water is spostrophized. “We have a “Water Lyrio," ‘“fhirst,” ‘The Silver River,” “La Belle Riviere,’ “Ode to the Beloved Spring,” &c., winch make too muen of a good thing. | ‘ue prose sk@.cnes are of an ordinary cburacter, and migot have beco omitted witnout injury to the book, They are not badly written, but they Qtapiay less evidences of » literary ability-than do the poetry, the meris of which latter, we repeat, is promising and deserves encouraging. As @ holiday book the volume 1s very handsome und does Credit to the publisher. Nearly ail ot the illustrations are adiuirably executed and are engraved from really arustic designs. The paper, priat and binding are excetleat, THE OVERTURE OF ANGELS. Beecher. New York: J. B. Ford ‘This Dandsome littie volume will attract particular attention, both because of tts authorship and be- cause of iis being a portion of the yet unpublished “Life of Christ’? by*Mr. Beecher. It depicts the scenes and events immediately preceding the birth of our Saviour, and wili undoubtedly be read with particular interest atthe present moment, As re- garda its merits as a literary production we do not care about writing at present, preterring to wait un- til the entire work is puvlished. It cau, nowever, be recommended a8 a ioliday book. ‘Tne tilustra- tions, Which are trom uesigns by Fenn, are very fiue and the general mech@uical execution of the bouk exceedingly good. , SHAKSPRARE’S MIDsUMMER Nicut’s DrBast, ton: Roberts Brotuers. It seems to us that the idea was an original ono that tofluenced the publication of this poem in tis present form. tis profusely ilustrated by engrav- ings en silhouetiv, the designs by P..Knewka, Sin- gular ag this style of illustration may appear lis effect is admirablo when weil execuced, as is the case here. The artist has succeeded in imparcng w power aud exprosasion to the figures whicit enavio the reader to at once understand and appreciate te design. As we intimated. vefore, whe effect is quite ” pretty and agreeable. in all ower respecis the yol- ume is deserving of praise. It 13 one of the holiday, books what we most heartiiy recommend to tue public. Songs or Lire. Selected from many sources. New York: Charies Scribuer & Co, Many of our readers will remember the magnid- cent volume, published by Messrs, Scripner & Co, some years since, entitled “Folk Song,” which was subsequently revised and enlarged for @ second edition, The great cost of the work preventing tts obtaining the circulation & undoubtedly deaprved, ita contents have been divided into four par, each forming & volume, of which this is the firat, In a pote the publishers say that the remainder will be published at reguiar invervais, under the titio of “Songs of the,Heart,” “Sonya of Nature," “songa of Home.” [n this way many thousands will beable to obtain a spiendid collection of poems—probabiy the best made in America for sreny tba “songs of Life,” the volume mesos Oo wit! ntl cactioe lilustrations, 103 exqu ypogra) Oxe ‘and ite handsome red and. gold Sinding, corm, with its contents, embracing many of the Qnest poems in the language, the most recnerehké of holiday books. ‘Those desirous Of presenting books of poetry to their relatives and friends oa Christmas ant New Years Day can do no better than obtain to this volume, BuNNY: A (Christmas Batlad. By Annie Chambers, Keichum. New York: 3, KR. Wells. This is @ pleasantly worded ballad appropos to, the times and, from {ts association with the f. tender, affectt thoughts, 1t ts aeaey fallaea and bound, put the fow illustrations are ordinary, aad W i 1K AND FLORIB: OR, THR P1gkON’s WappinG, Jaen ASED. McKeove, Pllladeipuia: Olaxvoa, tem gon & Hasfelfinger. Children will appreciate this charming Uttle story of the pure loves, happiness and suiteriags of a pair of told in verse and prose, with several eres ongravings, iUustratiog the narrative, beg =} Nag net fool JINGLES, uatrate, ‘aries H. Keunebt aud others. Now York: James Miller, ‘This book contajns the usual amount of nursery aonsense, some of whi.h might have been proita- bly left out. ‘there are a number of colored quqray- ing and the bindipg 1s very good, — Philadelpnia: the By Henry Ward & Co. Bos-