The New York Herald Newspaper, December 28, 1869, Page 4

€ NEW YORK HERALD STREET. BROADWAY AND AD JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR. All business or news letter and telegraphic despatches must be addressed New Yorke ieraty. Letters and packages should be properly sealed. Rejected communications will not be re- turned. Volume XXXIV. = = AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway and 13th street.— ILD Ovvs. THE TAMMANY, Fourteenth street.—THE BURLESQUE ov Bap DIOKEY. oes corner of Eighth avenue and ' GRAND OPERA HOUS LEBQUE COMBINATION. 33d street. —LINGABD'S cween bth and 6th avs— \ BOOTH'S THEATRE, 23d at. @0Y MANNERING. OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broac qonn. ay.—-UNDER THE GAS- * WIFTH AVENUE THEATRE, Twenty-fourth st.—Tax Dove's Morro. esate ACADEMY OF MUSIC, 1th strect.—HEREMANN, THE GwEAT PRESTIDIGITAIEUR. NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—Tun DKaMA OF Lawrie Ewvy, WOOD'S MUSEUM AND MENAGERTR, Broadway, cor- per Tbiriieth st,—Matinee daily, PerCormance every evening. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Gio, THE ARMORER ‘or Trxk—Tue Borie inv. MRS. F. B. CONWAY'S PARK THEATRE, Brooklyn.— {ux Docurss or Noruinc—Tue ELvEs. TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, 201 Bowery.—Comro VOOALIsM, NEGRO MINSTRELSY, £0. THEATRE COMIQUE, 514 Broadway.—Comio VocaL- au, NEGRO AcTs, kc, | BRYANT'S OPERA HOUSE, Taromany Building, Mth —BRYANT'S MINSTRELS, 8AN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, 585 Broa !way.—Ergio- PUN MINSTRELSY, NeGuo Ai &0.—"Hase.” 0.— "HASH. WAVERLEY THEAT! PIAN MINsTRELSY, NEGxo 20 Broadway.—Eruio- &c. NEW YORK CIRCUS, Fourteenth atreet.—EQuestRtan WAND GYMNASTIO PERFORMANCES, 40. Matine’ % HOOLEY'S OPERA HO Brooklyn.—HoouEy's MiNstRELs—Tar Peraiviny G NT, do. APOLLO HALL, corner h street and Broadway.—Tue Cauvirr Grant. NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 613 Br; SPoIENcE AND Aur. LADIES' NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, #18%y Broadway.—Frat. ONLY IN ATTENDANCE, — ~ New York, Tuesday, December 2%, 1869. dway.— CONTEN Paar. Advertisements, 2—Advertisements, B—Advertisements. @—Faitortals : Leading Article on Mr. Washburn’s Postal Telegraph BUl—A German Woodturner With Ais Black Afinity—Ovituary—George Peabody—Indignant Remonstrance—A Tem- Perance Reunion—Italian School Festival— Suicide of @ Spaniard—A Mysterious Uase— Grand Ball of the Plate Printers’ Union— Amusement Announcements, G—News from all Parts of the World—Obsequies to Stanton—Wreck of the Brig Meteor, of Boston—Personal Intelligence—Amusements— Business Notices. 6—The Courts—City News and Police Intelligence— ‘The Spanish Corsair Fleet—The Lewis Kidnap- “ping Case—A Hygienic Nuisance—The Lunacy and Contempt Imbroglio—Municipal Affairs— Oid Cash—Histrionic Infelicities—Cock Fight- ing Extraordinary. 9—Financial and Commercial Reports—Fentan Ac- Uvity in Boston—Marrlages and Deaths—Ad- vertisements, S—Erie go Bragh—Brooklyn Board of Aldermen— American Imports and Exports—Postal Tele- graph and International Cabies—Reported Bank Robbery-—Robberles on the Hudson River Ratlroad—An liahan Vendetta—Aileged Heavy Swindie—Fires in the City—The Chariton Street Mystery—The Newark Mur. der—“A Clean Breast of 1t’—Shipping News— Advertisements. HERALD. Wasbburn’s Postal Mr. Bil. We publish in another part of to-day’s paper the text of the act to establish postal tele- graphs in the United States which General C. C. Washburn has prepared, and which he intends to bring before Congress on the reas- sembling of that body after the holidays. The bill is admirably drawn, concise, to the point, and is divested of all that unnecessary legal phraseology which too often encumbers acts of Congress. Jt shows that Mr. Washburn understands thoronghly the subject and what he is about. ‘The proposed act is not a half-way measure. It does not leave the business of telegraphing to private companies at all, or to any rivalry on the part of companies with the government. It places the telegraph system on precisely the same footing as the Post Office service, which does not allow any individuals or com- pany to interfere with the business or revenue of the Post Office by conveying letters. The first section provides ‘“‘that from and after the 24th day of July, 1871, it shall be unlawful for any person, other than such as are berein- after authorized, to transmit by, electric tele- graph, or by any device equivalent thereto, any message, information or intelligence of whatever description for hire, or to receive any moneys or reward of any kind for such transmission.” In order to make a fair settlement with existing telegraph companies for their pro- perty, which it is proposed the government shall take if these companies choose to accept Buch a settlement, the second section provides that the Postmaster General shall appoint two appraisers and the telegraph companies two, who shall act in conjunction, to appraise the property of the companies, and that a fifth appraiser is to be selected by these four, as a sort of umpire, to facilitate the work of reach- Telegraph ing a decision. When the cash value is thus ascertained the Postmaster General is author- ized to contract for the purchase of the tele- graph property of the companies for the use and benefit of the people of the United States. The contract, however, is to be approved by the President and to receive the sanction of Congress, Here it may be proper to remark, perhaps, that this reference to Congress after- wards might be unnecessary and cause lobby expedients and delay. The approval of the contract might properly be left to the Presi- dent; for by the very passage of this act Con- gress will give its sanction to the principle of tho measure. Section ten provides that if any telegraph company shall fail or neglect to appoiat appraisers before the 1st of Sanvary, 1871, or 4f after appraisement any telegraph company Pall fail or noglect to convey to the Posimas- "4 NEW YORK HERALD, TUHSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1862, ter General the telegraph property, it shall be lawful for the Postmaster General to construct new telegraph lines, and that thereafter there shall be no claim on the government to purchase the lines of such a company. Here we see, then, that while the bill proposes to offer every means for a reasonable appraisement and to make a fair purchase of the property of the companies, the government will act very decisively, and leave no ground for specula- tive hostility or obstruction to the measure. It will leave the telegraph companies as powerless as the old banks were left when the National Banking act eame into operation, or the private letter carrying companies were when government postal systems were inaugu- rated. It is unnecessary to recapitulate the various provisions of Mr, Washburn's bill as to the ay in which the telographs are to be ope» rated by the government. Our readers can learn all that from the bill itself. But it is worthy of remark that the proposed machinery, so to speak, of operating the telegraphs by government is surprisingly simple, and that, in connection with the Post Office Department, it can be carried on with greater facility and at less cost than under the present system. The people will not have to run miles to reach a telegraph office, to suffer delays, or to sub- mit to exorbitant or uncertain charges, They will be able to put the telegraph stamps in their pockets, just as they now do postage stamps, to pay the message in their own homes or offices, and to drop them in conve- nient government boxes, as they now do their letters. They will be sure of no delay, partiality or preference in transmitting their messages; for the act provides that every message shall be sent in the order of its arrival. Then how cheap, compared to the present rates, Twenty cents for a message of thirty words and one cent for each additional word to all distances, Only compare this with the present high rates, and it will be seen what a great blessing the proposed government postal telegraph will be to the people—how it will facilitate business and quicken intelligence. We have no doubt that telegraphing would be increased to such an extent that the postal telegraph would more than make up the yearly deficienoy of the Post Office Department, and that in a short time the rate of charges even in the bill could be reduced. To the press of the country especially this is a most important and valua- ble measure, and every newspaper should urge Congress to pass it without delay. There will be a formidable lobby, no doubt, to operate upon Congress and to resist the passage of the bill. The gigantic telegraph monopoly has become immensely rich and will use abundant means aud a powerful influence to defeat the measure. It will be a fight between this monopoly and the public—a war involving the interests of a few individuals as against the welfare of the community and the progress of the age. Will there be found men enough in Congress who are incorruptible and snfficiently enlightened and patriotic to pass Mr. Washburn’s bill? That is the ques- We hope there will. But should it be rejected the present session or by the present Congress, the time is not far off when that or a similar measure must be passed. The govern- ment postal telegraph system is a necessity of the age, and the people will demand its establishment. JY Tue Samana Bay Lease—A Lossy Jon.— While negotiations are said to have resulted in a virtual agreement between the high con- tracting parties for the annexation of the republic of Dominica, it appears that certain individuals, in the name of the United States, have entered into a contract with President Baez for the lease of the harbor of Samana for a period of fifty years, at the rate of one hun- dred and fifty thousand dollars a year. Now, when it is generally expected that before the expiration of a year from this time the whole island of St. Domingo, including the black republic of Hayti (French) and the yellow republic. of Dominica (Spanish) will be annexed to the United States, this Samana bay job appears to be a very ridiculous proposi- tion for a superfluous squandering of seven and a half millions of public money. The purchase of the earthquake island of St. Thomas for the same sum would be a much better bargain, although we know it would be amore decided ‘‘sell” than Alaska. But the main point is that it is sheer folly to be wasting any more millions in sops to the lobby for real estate which we can get by simply paying off a few trifling mortgages for the tenants. tion, Wartrne For THE Pressure.—The report that the administration is just now about to change its policy and recognize the belligereney of the Cubans may find some confirmation in a consideration of the President's character as a man who would always rather be sure than brilliant. Although the President has hitherto declared his readiness to accept the will of the people as the law of the land, yet his not acting very rapidly on the will of the people in recognizing Cuba may be due to the fact that he wanted some more authentic and responsi- ble expression of that will than any he could get before the meeting of Congress. He is not a man to act on clamor, or on hasty presump- tions, or vague, indefinite notions of popular purpose; but in the general utterance of Representatives and Senators he cannot but be certain that he now feels the real pulse of the nation, How Government OFFIOIALS ARE RECON- STRUCTED iN Vineinia,—There was from the first general dissatisfaction expressed at Gene- ral Canby’s appointment of sheriffs and other officials throughout unreconstructed Virginia, lt now appears—in some instances at least— that the dissatisfaction thus manifested was not without good reason. Several sheriffs throughout the State are publicly charged as defaulters in large sums to the government. One of these worthies, ex-sheriff of Culpepper county, has been tried and found guilty by a military commission of embezzlement to the tune of twelve thousand dollars, and sen- tenced to five yeara, with hard labor, in the Penitentiary, Another ex-sheriff and ex- chaplsin bas been arrested for a similar offence, and his trial fixed for an early day. Recoustruction of @ State out of the Union is od thing; but the reconstruction of embez- ailing officials is not at alla bad thing, Let the good work proceed, Tho Alabama Claims in a New Point of View—“John Buli” in the Confessional, but Not Prepared for Absolution. Our cable telegrams from England to-day indicate very plainly that the Alabama claims question presses as a heavy burden on the national conscience of Great Britain, The despatches render it equally and painfully patent that, notwithstanding the assemblage of the Ecumenical Council in Rome and the distinguished delegation which represents John Bull among the hierarchs, John himself—John proper and in ferox natura—remains ‘‘stiff- necked” or indifferent on the all-important and saving subjects of contrition, confession, abso- lution and restitution, Led away by the carnal vanities and a love of that merely worldly wealth which brought really nothing in the end but trouble and pain to the original Dives, Mr. Bull, instead of ‘‘squaring up” the Alabama account; 80 as to open the new year in 4 Christian-like manner, is, it appears, prepar- ing to balance his right hand against his left, or, as our Western patriots will call it, ‘play *possum” a little longer, A leading British newspaper organ attempts to show that Mr. Secretary Fish @oes not comprehend the situa- ‘tion with respect to the Alabama claims sub- ject, and is, in fact, muddled on the matters of national and belligerent rights, the Union as a whole and rebellion. The English writer says that it is alleged by the Secretary that England should have sold arms to the government in Washington and ‘‘denied them to the rebels,” and “legislated if necessary against the latter.” He then adds, what he no doubt regards as a good ‘Bull Run” piece of sarcasm, that “‘if the Union army were unable to repress the rebels at home England was much less able to check them here”—that is, in England. It is the old, stale statement over again, and show- ing by its reiteration that the Bishop of Birmingham—whom we are glad to know has been named on the Committee of Discipline in Rome—and even the Archbishop of West- minister himself, will find Mr. John a very “hard case” in the confessional before he comes to ‘‘pay up.” If they can force him by any means—the good of hid soul gy dregd of a worldly judgment—to discharge the Alnbama claims debt, we have not the slightest doubt that his Grace the Archbishop of New York has sufficient interest both with the Holy Father and the American people to have his penance made tolerably light. Should John remain p&rverse, however, and permit the “acceptable time” of Christmas to pass, we cannot or will not guarantee to him the return of the anniversary holidays in peace and any very extensive American charity. There is a very old saying, to the effect that some most excellent persons, near neighbors of Mr. John Bull, will first “break your head, and then run off for a plaster,” and it looks as if John’s recent sympathetic communion with this nationality had imbued him with some of the kindly contradictions of its people; for immediately after the Alabama claims subject the London journal republishes from New York a “card” about the conduct of the Har- vard oarsmen during the late boat race on the Thames, expressing its joy at such a “manly” effusion. This is the attempt at balance to which we have referred, and If the American people and Mr. Secretary Wish will accept the “feathered oars” of Harvard as against the steam and shot of the Alabama the ‘‘claims” may be perhaps quickly and amicably ad- justed, The Great Coal Hields of Gur New West- ern States and Territories. We published yesterday a letter from Evans- ton, in Wyoming Territory, giving an account of the great coal lands of the West, which must deeply interest not only men of scienee, but all American citizens who look forward to the prospective development of the incalcula- ble mineral resources of the United States, Before the Pacific Railroad was built it was thought that the vast tracts which it was to traverse were too poor to warrant the requisite outlay for its construction, Those barren wastes promised no gold, no silver and no coal. But as the road was gradually extended dis- coveries were made that opened an entirely new prospect. Silver was found in Nevada; gold in the vicinity of Pike’s Peak, in Colo- rado; gold and silver in Arizona, and gold in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Gold is said to have been discovered also in Utah, although Brigham Young refuses to have the mines worked, in the fear that it might provoke an undesirable invasion of the Gentiles. All these successive discoveries have directly con- tributed to the npbuilding of our new States and Territories. Thus the beautiful lands of Kansas and Nebraska have been peopled, and we have made States of them. The other Ter- ritories have likewise been opened auspiciously to the enterprise which will in due time con- vert them into flourishing States, But gold and silver and even fertile lands would not suffice to insure the prosperity of these vast and distant regions if still more recent discoveries had not revealed the existence of immense coal fields, stretching from the British possessions almost down to Texas, and indicating an inexhaustible store of superior coal on both sides of the Rocky Mountains, and especially on their eastern side. Dr. Hayden's estimate, to which our correspondent alludes, refers only to the five thousand square miles of coal lands exam- ined by him from the line of the Union Pacific Railroad, in Wyoming, south to the Arkansas, in Colorado. But the coal lands of the West are already known to cover an area of fifty thousand square miles, Only these veins, and not many of them, have thus far been opened in Kansas and Nebraska. In New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah, however, the supply is more than equal to the demand. The Great Basin, which was long supposed to be an utter waste, is now thought to abound in coal. Unquestionably these recent discoveries of coal in our Western States and Territories promise the most substantial enrichment and prosperity to those comparatively unexplored and unsettled portiona of our great country, Bap Rum.—The worst kind of rum yet heard of is evidently for sale in the rumshops now. Men get tipsy, it would seem, only to fall down dead, or to fall to fighting in such a des- perate way that somebody else falls down dead before they have done. The city items for the days since Christmas have been little else than chronicles of these rum deaths, The Suex Canal—An Interesting Fact—Tho Level of the Two Sens, It appears from the report of a careful sur- vey by a nautical man, published in the Lon- don Shipping Gazette, that the Suez Canal in every respect is a great success and is working handsomely; but the most interesting fact reported is that throughout the canal a steady current moves from the Red Sea into the Mediterranean, varying in its velocity from three knots an hour, near Suez, to a knot and a half at the Mediterranean outlet. This cur- rent proves that the level of the Red Sea is higher than the level of the Mediterranean, and the question naturally recurs, if so, why? It is simply because of the tremendous evaporation of the Mediterranean. This great inland sea is fed from the east by the powerful current of the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles from the Black Sea, and from the Atlantic Ocean in the West through the Straits of Gib- raltar, and by numerous rivers on both sides, and yet the hot and thirsty winds which sweep across it from the great desert of Africa keep it down by evaporation* below the general ocean level. The evaporation from the Red Sea per square mile, with a roast- ing desert on each side, and nearer the equator, is immensely greater than that from the Mediterranean; but as the Red Sea is only a narrow gulf running up from the Indian Ocean, its aggregate loss is compara- tively small and easily supplied. At its north- ern extremity, at Suez, therefore, it is kept nearer the general level of the ocean than is the Mediterranean along the African coast. But granting all this, what does it signify in a practical view of the Suez Canal? It signifies that the canal has become a river or an arm of the Indian Ocean flowing into the Mediterranean, and that unless this continual current be checked the flow of this inlet will in time wash down the sandy banks‘of the canal into its channel and fill it up. That is what it signifies in a business point of view. If the report in question is correct (and we have no reason to doubt it), a pair of Joke wil bg I yegeenery ft thd Suez inlet #6 regulate the flow the Red Sea. Otherwiso a heavy wind up this sea of several days’ duration may create such a current in the canal as to choke it up with the washings from its banks in a single night. Republican Clubs Among the French Sole . diers. It was reported by cable telegraph yesterday, on the authority of certain Paris radical jour- nals, that republican and socialistic principles are popular in the army; that societies have actually been organized in the Paris garrison and that some seventy-four non-commissioned officers and soldiers have been arrested. This is the first time, sofar as we remember, during these nineteen years that disaffection has manifested itself in the French army, and the news consequently created some surprise, It was Napoleon’s faith in the army that enabled him to say in his address at the opening of the Chambers that he would be responsible for order. Disaffection has been made manifest at the ballot box and in the Gorps Législatif. Not until after the New Year, however, will the tug of war in.the Corps Lé¢gislatif begin. The dangerous 2d of December is past. Paris is tranquil and prosperous, and revolution is not an early probability. We are not at all surprised to hear to-day that the radical mili- tary Secret Society or Army Republican Club of France has ‘dwindled to a small affair.” Some soldiers wished to aid two companions who had been sent to Algeria for attending a political meeting contrary to regimental dis- cipline. They were arrested and punished, as would British soldiers in Ireland who sub- scribed to their fellows who are now in the convict prisons for associating with the native revolutionists. Tne Fisk-Ramsey-Erte Case.—This some- what famous litigation, from its connecting link with the great Fisk-Gould and their oppo- nents’ series of Erie Railway cases, has had at last its termination, and like all the others preceding it has resulted in the triamph of the Fisk interest. Ramsey has been run off the track and, of course, is nowhere in the race. A full report of Judge Balcom’s decision will be found in another column, under the appro- priate head of ‘‘Erie-go-Bragh.” Warm For tHE SEason.—The temperature for Sunday was fifteen degrees higher than for the same day last year, and the average range for the week was eight degrees higher than for the same week in 1868. Our con- tinued mild weather is perhaps due to the prevalence of southern winds, our storms this season having nearly all come from the south- ern side the circle. But we may yet have a good old snow storm before New Year's Day. Wotves IN Suexp’s Crotnina.—Two po- licemen the other day abused the confidence of the public by making themeelves up in the gentlemanly, mild-mannered guise of reporters, and then suddenly arresting the people to whom they had thus gained access. This is unfair towards the press, whose agents will be shut out from many sources of information if it turns out that any person appearing as a reporter may all at once prove to be a police- man. . Breourk Wivxces.—‘But the hypocgites in heart heap up wrath,” said Elihu to Job. Beecher'’s utterances on Sunday against the newspapers verify it. He has a score to settle with these organs of popular thought for their share in overhauling him so effectively in the matter of the Richardson marriage, and he takes his chance to gird at them a little as occa- sion offers. His occasion of Sunday. was the announcement that the pews of his church were once more soon to be sold under the hammer, and he expected thereupon a great “outburst of piety” from the press, We believe the press here aimed at makes no regular pretence to piety; nor does it assume any superiority on that score when it de- nounces the indiscretions, improprieties, blasphemies and sacrileges of those who do make such pretence, It speaks simply as the organ of the general thought when it denounces every act that outrages the public sense of decency and morality, and speaks the more bitterly perhaps when these acts are found among those who should have an especial care for public morals. We are glad that Beecher is sensitive to their discipline. It is » sign there ig virtue in him, — eee EEE — eee Funeral of Mr. Stanton. The remains of ex-Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton were yesterday consigned to their last resting place in Georgetown Cemetery, near Washington. Representatives of all classes of the American people were present on the sad occasion, as also the different branches of the government—ihe executive, legislative and judicial—while the sympathy of foreign governments with the loss the republic has sustained was expressed through the members of the varioas diplomatic corps, who were fully represented in the funeral procession, At the request of the family of the deceased no military pageant marked the high distinction which, as Secretary of War, the late Mr. Stanton had achieved. The gene- ral sorrow had its fitting expression in the observance of all the usual manifestations of respect and mourning in this city in the closing of all government offices, the partial suppression of business for the day in many branches of trade, the lowering of the national colors from the flagstaff, the adoption of reso- lutions to Congress to make a fitting recognition to the family of the deceased of the nation’s estimate of the loss it has sustained, and similar evidences of the national feeling. These have marked the late Secretary's s passing away. May he rest in peace. Tax Rep River RevouvTion.—Onr latest advices from the revolutionists in the Red River province represent that the failure of Colonel Dennis to incite the Indians against the opponents of the British government saved the lives of Governor McDougall and his suite. As it ig, death has been decreed against Colonel Dennis, should he ever be cap- tured. A newspaper is to be started in the interest of the insurgents, who have become so formidable in numbers that McDougall and his follawers are preparing to get away. In undisturbed possession of the entire region of country, the revolutionists will doubtless strengthen their position as to o175 whe British troop8 & warm reception when they shail enter the ‘territory for the purpose of endeavoring ta reduce them to subjection. Russian AND TURKISH Batns—A. Nui- SANCE,—To those who indulge in the “luxury” of Russian and Turkish baths for hygienic purposes, and more especially all those who: patronize an uptown establishment, we recommend a perusal of a report given in another column, under the head of “A Hygienic Nuisance,” of a correspondence be- tween the President of the Metropolitan Board of Health and Assistant Sanitary Inspector Ingraham, Enongh is there alleged, if true, to subject to indictment the concern referred to, and it lies now with the Board of Health, on the report of their own officer, to institute the necessary proceedings in the mhtter. Tue AnonpisHop or New YorRK At THE HeEap.—At the head of the twenty-four pre- lates who were announced on Sunday after- noon at Rome as appointed by the Ecumenical Council to the Committee on Discipline we find the Archbishop of New York. This is an appropriate recognition not only of the per- sonal merits of Archbishop McCloskey, but of the power of the great Western republic in which the problem of a complete separation of Church and State has been satisfactorily solved. Serious Cuarak or Swinpiixe.—One of the detective force of this city arrived here yesterday, having in custody a merchant of Cincinnati, charged with a little embezzling business to the amount of sixty thousand dol- lars, at the cost of a well known wholesale mercantile house of this city. The accused was delivered to the officer by the Governor of Ohio on a requisition from Governor Hoff- man. He willbe brought up to answer this morning. A MYSTERIOUS CASL. Supposed Suicide in the Mountains of New Jersey. ‘The authorities of Orange, N. J., are considerably agitated just now touching the death of a man named Anthony Gernhardt, @ painter, from New York, whose body was found by some boys, eight or nine days ago, in the woods on the mountain adjoming the property of General George B. Mc- Ciellan, under circumstances of a very suspicious nature. The face was entirely eaten away, and a Pistol, unloaded, was found lyitfg by the side of the corpse, On Thursday last a man named Daniel Kurt, claiming to be an insurance agent, of Newark, called on Coroner Williams and siated that he was just in receipt of a letter dated December 22, from Mrs. J. Shellenber- ger, of No, 826 East Twenty-eighth street, New York, asking him to go to Orange and see if the boay found was that of Anthony Gernhardt, a painter, unmar- ried, who left the house of the woman above men- toned on the 28th of November, with the Intention ne to the letter) of going to Orange, so as to away from any one, and there commit suicide, Kurt examined the body and identified it as Gern- hardt’s. An inqfest was, however, ordered, and Kurt mantfested so much uneasiness during the pre- liminary proceedings that the Coroner has deemed tt proper to order his arrest. The inquest wil! be re- sumed to-day. In the meantime there is certainly good reason for suspicion of foul play. GRAND BALL OF THE PLATE PRINTERS’ UNION, Splendid Music, Fine Toilets, Elaborate Cards and a Sumptunous Repast. The first annual ball of the Plate Printers’ Union— comprised of the employés of the American Bank Note Company, with the engravers of the National and Continental companies, all combined—came off at Apollo Hall last night with great success, not- withstanding the deflant condition of the weather. Wallace’s band discoursed the airs and the music ‘was admirabie, causing the whole block to resound with harmonious echoes. The toilets were fine, but not loud, and there were about 300 couples present. One of the features was the cards—an elegant and intricate specimen of the engraver’s art, one card having @ medallion representing a scene In the com- pany’s room, an Ce trom plates wrought with the most exquisite nicety on steel. This was the ladies’ ticket, The gentlemen’s ticket contained a centre figure showmg the bust of Washingtow with @ fidelity not excelled tn greenbacks or cur- rency. The dancing tickets Were shaded in laven- der, With covers Worked in gilt tracery, the back and front showing iliminated scenes, one side com- memorating Terpsichore and the other Howers, The affair, well managed, snc fully initiated and trie umphant without measure, was made yet more agreeable by a sumptuous repast, A GERMAN WOOD TURNER AND HiS BLACK ‘“AFFINITY.”” George Beitner, @ German, and & wood turner by trade, kept Christmas tn true bacchanalian style and threw @ little of the “Satyr” Into the festivities also, Un Sunday he got very drunk on dager beer ana piloted himseif into Broadway about twelve o'clock at night. Standing himself against a lamp post he attracted the womanly solicitude of a hittie colored female named Annie Scate, who invited him to go home with ber and sleep off the intoxicating fumes of the beer. He contided himself to her caro and she janded him safely in her room in Laurens atreet, where be passed the night. She, however, contrived to rob him of fifty dollars—a discovery that was made by him early on Monday morning. He gave iniormation at the Kighth precinct stauon, and with the assistance of detective Casey Annie was found and taken before Justice Dodge, In de QUlt Of $1,000 ball she Was held to answer, SS [ne éommitree OBITUARY. Dr. Thomas Clarkson Moffatt. ‘The many friends and acquaintances of this distia- guished gentleman, as well as many thousands of seamen who have been the recipients of bis kind pro- fessional attendance, will read this announcement of bis death with more tnan ordinary feelings of regret, Dr. Moffatt was born at Blooming Grove, Orange county, in this State, in the year 1825, re- ceived a good education, studied medicine, and ip 1851 entered the Seamen’s Retreat at Stapleton, ptaten Isiand. In 1854 he was appointed physician- in-chief to the institution, @ position he heid untit his death with infinite credit to Nimself and to the general satisfaction of all parties. He was for m: years Vice President of the Richmond County Medi- cal Society, and visiting surgeon of the Smith Dis- pensary, besides holding otner ollices of honor and trust. Dr. Moffatt was also @ village and school trustee, an elder of the First Presbyterian church and director of the Young Men's Christiaa Associa- tion, in all of which offices he displayed an energy, devotion and Christian benevolence that won for him the steadfast triendstip of all who knew him, AS a physician he was sktiful and successful; um social life he was much esteemed for tle sweetness: and purity of his character, 1618, there/ore, no mat- ter for surprise that his death has spread @ deep gloom over Staten Island, Where he was well known and appreciated. SiG John H. Oxley. Another of the “old time’ theatrical celebrities has passed away. But few persons of the present generation are familiar with tbe name of John H. Oxley save a3 the late treasurer of the Dramatio Pund Association; and yet atone time he was one of the stars of the stage, Over @ quarter of a centu- ry ago Mr. Oxley appeared at the Park theatre, In this city, a3 Hastings, in ‘Jane Shore.” His début was eminently successful, and thenceforward he prospered exceedingly. Going to Philadelphia he engaged in theatrical enterprises with Francis 0. Wemyss, amassed a handsome sum of money, and deposited it in the Untted States Bank. The failure of that institution reduced him to poverty, and, though he subsequently made efforts to retrieve bis broken fortunes, all of his exertions proved una- vailing. Then, In addition, unrequited atfection weighed upon ‘his mind, dampening his energies and transiorming him into @ morose and eccentric char- acter. For many years he was supported by the Dramatic Fund, upon which he wholly depended. GEORGE PEABODY. Preparations for the Arrival of the Remains at Portland, Me., and Arrangements for the Funeral aj Peabody, Mass, <7 EL PORTEARD, Me,, Dec, 27, 1800, 2 Tie UF ven appointed by the general committee of citizens to consult with the proper fei- eral and State authorities and with such other per- sons as they might deem proper, to devise a pro- gramme for the action of said general committee on the arrival of the remains of Mr. Peabody, met at the Mayor's office last evening in an tinfore mal manner and talked the matter over. They recommended by resolutions that “when the oMcers of the Monarch shal! have placed the remains of Mr. Peabody in the hands of the civil authorities the remains shall be-escortea to the City Hall and laid in state so long as they shall remain in Portland.” Also, “that the City Building, botn ex- ternally and internally, shall be appropriately draped during the time that the remains are lying in state.” They furthermore recommend “that appropriate music shall be performed at the time of the removal of the remains,’ and “that a pro- cession shall be formed to escort tiem to the station on their departure for Salem,” and “that the city shall extend an invitation to all of the city societies, such as the Board of Trade, Maine Charitable Mechanic Association, Masons, Odd Fellows, &c., to jon such procession.” ‘The chairman of the committee, who visited Peabody, Mass., to confer with the relatives of the deceased, staies that the trustees desired to be telegraphed as soon as the Monarch was signalled, and aiso toat Mr. Prescott, the Suaperintendant of the Eastern Railroad, be telegraphed at the same time, that he pight have a car in readiness for the committee. ‘They desired no military escort from Portland to Salem, further than a guard of honor. A committee of twenty-five will come to Portiand from Salem, Peabody and surrounding towns, on the solemn occasion. The funeral will not take piace in Peabody till ten Gays aiter the arrival there of the remains. INDIGNANT RESIONSTRANCE. Nicolson Pavement in Sixth AvenueProtest of Property Owners. + A weil conducted, business-like meeting was held last night in the Harvard Reoms, Forty-second street, of the owners of property in Sixth avenue, between Forty-second and Fifty-ninth streets, op- posed to an assessment about to be levied on these limits 1or laying Nicolson pavement on thia avenue. The chair was taken by Mr. Edwards, who cailea the meeting to order, after which Mr. Grafton intro- auced the business of the meeting by stating that he did not think the pavement suitable for the avenue. The pavement as standing now was a trotting course to the Park. It was also well known that the Broadway pavement was taken up without cost- ing the property owners anything. This was the case also with the Fifth avenue and with Bieecker street. A leading thoroughfare like the Sixth avenue ought to be treated in the same way. Ile thought the railroad company, bad a very valuable franchise in the Sixth avenue, but they were not assessed; while the property owners were assessed at the rate of $450 or $500 on every twenty-five feet of frontage. He would suggest the formation of a committee, with power to consult counsels After a short conversation a resolution was passed unanimously appoinung a cominitice of six with power to take any steps they may deem necessary in reference to this matter, 80 a3 to re- move this assessment and to report to a future meeting. ‘The following were appointed on the committee:— The Chairman, Messrs. McUormick, Matthews, Korn, Mead and Grafton. The meeting, which was very infinentiaily at- tended, then adjourned, A TEMPERANCE REUNION, A temperance meeting was held last night in St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church, corner of Twen- ty-second street and Fourth avenue, the audience being rather limited, owmg, no doubt, to the m- clement state of the weather. Rev. Dr. Gillette, of Brooklyn, who has re- cently been travelling in Europe, delivered an ad- “ress on temperance. During his sojourn in Ger- many he discovered that drunkenness was quite common there, and that delirium tremens was also auite common. To speak of intemperance in Ger- many from the use of wine would be a mistake; for it was evidently a beer drinking country. He had known one man Germany to drink thirty- seven glasses of beer at one sitting. ‘The great evi in this country was that one-half the young men were constantly challenging the other haif to arink, and until this custom was stopped we should never advance the cause here. Rev. Dr. Greene and Horace Greeley having made @ few remarks in support of the cause of temper- ance, the proceedings were drawn to a close. ITALIAN SCHOOL FESTIVAL. The pupils of the Italian school at No, 110 Centre street were given a Christmas fegtival last evening by benevolent ladies, Who have interested them- selves in the project for the education and prepara- tion of this class of the children of this city for the Miling of respectable positions in life, During the festival the children sang several very pretty,songs, and were addressed by Mr. William A. Booth, Prest- dent of the Children’s Atd Society, under whose charge the school is, and other gentlemen, After this the children were each given presents of wear- ing apparel toys, candies and cakes, and then dis- missed. This school 18 under the conduct of Mr, A. KE, Cergua, the principal worker for tts establisl ment in 1855, Who, in his annual report to the trus- tees of the Children’s Aid Society, thus quotes from fa SrHety of L'Echo @ Italia newspaper of tunis cit; in iin ‘aling the good accomplished by tne school: would ave been useless and perhas to speak to the Italians of the Five Points of the dignity of Jabor and independence of instruc- tion, &c. Now the noblest examples of integrity and industry come to us from them, Who willglare to assert that all this ts not due to the influence of the school? ‘This is the work of instruction, and nothing else. SUICIDE OF A SPANIARD. Benito Antonio Parades, a native of Barcelona, Spain, and fifty years of age, Who lived on the third floor of premises No. 142 Elm street, yesterday com- mitted suicide. Deceased was 4 waiter and tnter- preter in hotels, he speaking the Spanish, French and Portuguese languages with fuency, At inter- vals he has exhibited indications of temporary in- sanity and therefore his wile has kept @ watchfuP eye over him. Yesterday morning she went out to her work, locking her husband tn the room and when she returned he was found hanging in his room by means Of & rope which he had secured about his neck. The deceased had attired himself in his best suit of clothes, and previous to suspending himself stuffed a handkerchief in his mouth in order to pre- veut respiration and hasten death, Life was quite extinct when the body was discovered, Coroner Rolling was notified to hold an taquest on the body.