The New York Herald Newspaper, January 9, 1870, Page 6

6. NEW YORK HERAL: BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. deaniparnnenanectet JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR. ae All business or news letter and telegraphic v NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 1870.-TRIPLE SHEET. Church and State=The French Chambers and the Council. A cable despatch has just informed us that the Ecumenical Council and the relations of France with the Holy See are, by government consent, to form the subject of discussion in the legislative body on the 11th instant. This, it must be admitted, is a significant move- despatches must bo addressed New York | ment, but it cannot be called a surprise. Bavaria has already, in a manner more or less HeEnatp. ye i formal, gone into the same questions. So, Reened 09 Ree, AU mat “he, too, has Spain; and both Bavaria and Spain serps have come to the conclusion that the decrees Letters and packages should be properly | of the Council are to be rejected if in any sealed. way they interfere with the civil government. Action of a similar kind has, in fact, beea SBR DAT RRA LD gopianes enery 7th Be taken by all the Catholic governments of year. Four cents per copy. Annual subscription price $12. THE WEEKLY HERALD, every Saturday, at FIVE Cents per copy. Annual subscription price:— One Copy. ‘ —— ——— = AMUSEMENTS TO-MORROW EVENING. OLYMPIC THEATRE, Erosaway.—Tns Waittxe on wax Wau. FIFTH AVENUB THEATRE, Twenty-fourth #t.—Tum Busrpopy. NIBLO'S GARDEN, Daama or Ruy Bias. WOOD'S MUSEUM AND MENAGERIE, Broadway, cor- ner Thirtioth st.—Matinee daily. Performance every evouiny. Brosaway.—G2anb ROMANTIO BOWERY THEATRE, Rowery.—Tom anv Jrmny— Tuisn OurLaw—Rovrut MAcainr. THE TAMMANY, Fourtecuth street.—Tux BURLESQUE ow Bap Dioxey, RAND OPERA HOUSE, corner of Eighth avenue and ai 28d st.—Linganp's Busirsqe MF COMBLN ATION, BOOT!H'S THBATRE, 2d Hamurr. eon Sth and 6th ars WAVERLEY THEATRE, No. 720 Broadway.—MUsio, Mira anp Mysreny. MRS. F. B. CONWAY'S PARK THEATRE, Brookiyn.— Tux Lorrery oy Live. TONY PASTOR'S 0) ‘A HOUSE, 201 Bowery.—Com1o Vouatiem, NEGRO MINSTD: LOY, £0. THRATRE COMIQUE, O1f Lrondway.—Comto Vooar isu, Nxano Acts, do. BRYANT'S OPERA Wo Tammany Building, 14th s.—BRYAN1'S MINSERELS, BAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, 585 Broa lway.~Er110- PLAN MINOTRELSY, NeGRo Acts, &0,—“HAsE.” EW YORK CIRCUS, Fourteenth street. EQUESTRIAN 'D GYMNAGTIO PERFORMANCES, £0. NOOLEY'S OPERA HO! Brooklyn. MINSTRELS—ILL RAG1O AFRIOANO, 40. Hoouny's NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway,— ECIENGE AND Art. LADIES’ NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618); Broadway,—FxMALRS ONLY IN ATZENDANCE. TRIPLE SHEE Now York, Sunday, January 9, 1870. Pacr. 1—Advertisements, 2— Advertisements. 3—Waslington: Government Heading Of tho Wall Street Gambiers—The Haytien Minister's Optaion of Hayuen Afairs—Fine Arts—AMmn- ity v8. Matrimony~—The New York Gcneologi- cal and Biographical Society—The Telegrapn- ers’ Strike ; No Probability of an Early Adjust- ment of the Dificulties—The Detault- ing Bank Cashiers—Naval Inteliigence— The Logan Murder—The Sickles Family—Curt osities of Ciub+ Life—T'ne Newark Political Imbroglio—The Alleged Bond Swindle, 4—Europe : Interesting Correspondence from Lon- don, Londonderry and Paris—Important Dts- closures Kelative to Dr. Paul Schoeppe, the Condemned Murderer—Religious Intelligence— Suicide of a Catholic Priest—The Late Storm in New Hampshire. S—The Pirates of the Port: Startling Facts by a HERALD Detoctive—The Climate of Oregon— The Fashions in Rome ana Fashion Gossip—A Home for Consumptives—The Income Law Dead as Regards Taxation. G—Eitorials: Leading Article on Church and State, the French Chambers and the Council— Amusement Announcements, J—Editorials—Telegraphic News from All Parts of the World: French Cabinet Consolidation and Keform—Personal Iniejligence—A Voice from the Cuban Junta—Buniness Notices, S—Mormonisim : The Peaceful Revolution of Ideas In Mormondom—Lecturea Last Night on the Rab- binicat CouncH and Antmal Life—Marine Trans- fere—The Philadelphia Mint—Annual Message of Governor Claflin, of Massachusetts—A Sea- sonable Record of the Hudson River—The Total Vote of Virginla—Proceedings of the Courts— Brooklyn City News—The Trip of the Mutual Base Ball Club to New Orleans—The Police Aid Association. 9—Baring the Bore : The True Nature of the Broad- way Excavation Disclosed—Business at the Custom House—Another Railroad War—The Turkish Government Puying Second Hand Muskets—Fiuancial and Commercial Re- poris—What May Be Seon in a Tea Chest— Pennsylvania Government Pardons—Mar- riages and Dea: 10—New York City News—Jeferson Market Stra- tegy—Suburban Intelligence—Fisk and Gauld ag Conzpirators—Rumored Express Rob- bery—The Naval Academy Bail—The Ball Season—Amnsements—The Deutscher Lese Club-—-Attempted Assassination tn Daxter —The Lingard-Danning Infe- licity—Local Items—Shipping News—Adver- tisements. 41—Siaugntermg the Dogs—Common Sensa on Phobla— Advertisements. 12—Advertisements, Tue Wortp Torxep Ursips Dowx—Over in Jersey, at Newark, upon the awful event of an independent democrat in the Cominon | Council voting with the republicans on a list of city appointments and thus making a tie and a deadlock, Talk of earthquakes. Such ashock was never known in Jersey before, News rrom Mextco.—The Mexico, which will be found column, is most melancholy. The province of Cheapa has been visited by severe freshets and a loss of two hundred lives is reported. The injury to farms and the destruction of pro- news from in another perty is very large. Fear of a general reve lution throughout the country prevails, and from the present insurrectionary display there is little doubt that the fear entertained will be realized. Dz Ropas’ Largst.—The latest proclama- Europe. Austria and Italy have spoken out with an emphasis quite as remarkable as that of Bavaria and Spain. It is notorious that every Catholic government in Europe Is, on certain questions, in open antagonism to the * 5) Council. As yet, however, the Parliaments have 15 | taken no formal action, We know how the governments feel, but the sentiment of the nations, as expressed by their chosen repre- sentacives, we wait to learn, The discussion on the Council and the relations of France to the Holy See which is to take place in the French Chambers on the 11th will be the most important event to whigh as yet the Council has given birth. Napoleon stands forth before the world us the protector of the Holy See. But for French bayonets the Holy Father would have found it impossible to live in Rome any time these last twenty odd years. If French bayonets were removed to-morrow from the Holy City there would be such a flutter among the old women of the Vatican as has not been witnessed in many centuries. Are French soldiers in Romo with the consent of the French people, or only because of the imperial mind and will? Does France approve, or does she not, of the arrangement which fastens upon her the charge of wild and wicked inconsis- tency? Is liberty valuable only in France and for Frenchmen? These are a few of the ques- tions which the approaching discussion will raise, and which in some form it must settle, To our untutored minds it does seem an unreasonable and outrageous thing that Frenchmen, while they claim liberty for themselves, should deny liberty to the Italians, or, if you will, to the Roman people. It will not surprise us if the approach- ing discussion prove thé death of the iniquitous September convention, We have no objec- tion to Rome being proclaimed a free city. We have no objection to the Pope being left in possession of the Vatican and of the Church of St. Peter. But with every lover of liberty in ali fhe world, we must and we do protest against {ite indefinite prolongation of the Freneh occupation of the Holy City; and we shall think less of ste Freych people than we ever have done if as oné af thé Gxst results of the new régime period is not fixea fox the termination of the French occupation of Rome. This, however, will be but ono of the many questions which the free Parliament of France will have to consider in connection with the Ecumenical Council and the Holy See gen- erally. It will have to cons!der the qhestion of Papal infallibility, the new dugmas and the propositions of the Syllabus. It will be something marvellous if the countrymen of Voltaire and Roussean, of Massillon and of Hyacinthe, now that their mouths are opened, do nos frighten the Vatican into something like respect for common sense, At any rate we expect such speaking as shall leave the authorities of the Cutholie Church no longer in doubt that the time is no more when the Church, as in the days of Hildebrand, can dominate civil governments. The action of France will prove contagious. In Austria, in Bavaria, in Belgium, in Italy, in Spain, in Portugal the discussion will be carried on, and, unless we greatly mistake, Rome will be taught that whatever she may be to certain weak consciences and timid souls she is no longer in any sense the mistress of the world. If matters turn out as we expect the Ecufneni- cal Council will be a blessing to the world, although ina sense exactly the opposite of that which was intended. It will complete the breach between Church and State, and work another and even grander reforma‘ tion. All this we say in spite of our belief in the continued usefulness of the Catholic Church. Nay, all this we say because of our conviction that a little more common sense is all that is required to make that Church one of the best agencies in the gov- erning of mankind. A little less of the old wife in the Vatican, a little less of petticoat nfluonce near the Holy Father, and al’ will bo well, But ifthe Popp and his friends have no nobler work to perform than to proclaim humanity infallible, to multiply absurd dogmas and to denounce all that distinguishes this age from the dark ages of the past, they must make up their minds to lose whatever respect the world is yet willing to give them. We live in active times. We move on with the specd of the lightning. We are atill willing, however, to cling to what is reasonable in religion, If the Church will advance with us we shall be glad of her company. [If she will not, she must remain behind. In all fairness of spirit we say it, the present attitude of the Catholic authorities justifies the belief that the proudest Church the world has known will soon take its place with the beautiful but lifeless mytholo- gies of the past. We await this forthcoming discussion in the Freneh Chambers with much interest. Vv Tug ANNEXATION oF Dominica.—Some of our cotemporaries have at last made the dis- covery which we announced to cur readers two or three weeks ago, viz., that a treaty for the annexation of the republic of Dominica (about three-fourths of the island of Hayti), agreed upon between the high contracting parties, will very soon be laid before the Senate. As the cost to our government of the acceptance will, all told, be only some twa or three millions, and as the harbors, forts, tion of the Captain General of Cuba announces | public buildings and public lands will be that he has sufficient troops to stamp out the | worth much more, we can entertain no doubt revolution, and gives a3 his reason why so | of the ratification of the treaty. The Haytien many more troops were coming from Spain | republic then vill have no alternative but to was that the Spaniards at home desired to | come in, and 60 before next December we share the sacrifices of their fellow-countrymen | expect the whole of that magnificent island abroad. Can the Spanish government afford | will belong to the United States. With this 1o. support such expensive magnanimity? | soquisition Cuba cannot remain long behind, Spanish troops, like all other soldiers, require | however gloomy things may now look in that {0 be supported, quarter. ite ‘Tho Cuban Protest. We publish elsewhere to-day a document which was unintentionally omitted in yester- day’s issue, and which purports to be an answer to some of the allegations made in one of our Washington telegrams published the day previous, It attempts to prove the incor- rectness of the charge previously published by a denial. From Havana, however, we recelve the news that the alleged proclamation of the Cuban Junta of this city is regarded as a hoax, gotten up by “newspapers in the Spanish interest. We shall be pleased to learn that that this is true, as we have watched with interest the progress of events in Cuba, sympathized deeply in the cause of its people, and hoped for the day when the Cubans would succeed in securing their inde- pendence; but so many failures have befallen them, dissensions in their own ranks have so multiplied, and so many opportunities have been allowed to slip by, that the time has come when the United States should take the matter in hand, and by the purchase of Cuba settle the whole question and stop the further effusion of blood. The time is opportune. Spain wants money; Cuba can never again be to the mother country what it once was. In view of these tacts the true American policy is to open negotiations for the purchase of the “Ever Faithful Isle.” The Annual Meport of the Metropolitan Police Coramissioners. We have already referred editorially to this report as in the main satisfactory, and in par- ticular to its evidence that the force is insuffi- cient for the work, there being only one officer to every five hundred inhabitants in this city and to every thousand in Brooklyn. Without recapitulating the details of the report, we must now add that the statistics which it gives of the arrests in New York city throw a flood of lurid light on what may be called “‘our dan- gerous classes.” Tho total nafhber of arrests during the year was 72,984, of whom 51,446 were males and 21,538 females, The decade of 4ge from twenty to thirty furnished the largeet number of offenders; hut the most numerous arrests of females were above thirty. Ireland takes the lead of the various nationali- tfos which contributed to the grim list, but this fact may be satictendly accounted for by the larger number of Irish immi- grants and by their proverbial convivial and pugnacious propensities. Matrimony would scem to breed less crime than celibacy, from the fact that while only 29,249 persons arrested were married 43,735 were single. But the prevalent idea that education tends to decrease immorality and crime is ap- parently contradicted by the startling fact that nearly six-sevenths of all the arrests were of individuals that could read and write. More- over, the widespread demoralization of the day is fearfully indicated by the statement that among those arrested were one hundred and twenty-three physicians, twenty-three United Riatos officers, ninety-one city officers, fifty Arnggists, thirty policemen, nineteen editors, forty-three reporters (be it remarked, in paren- theses, that itis not an infrequeat practice of involuntary visitors at the station house to declare themselves in some way mysteriously connected with the press), twenty-three tele- graph operators, two hundred and twenty- eight brokers (alas! for Wall street), and, in fine, representatives of almost all “‘the re- apectable classes” in society. The most astounding figures of the report are those which reveal that during the last ten years 270,461 natives of the United States, 465,185 natives of Ireland, 91,986 natives of Germany and 70,857 natives of other countries—making agrand total of 898,489 persons—lave been arrested in this city. More Srasmopio Fieorvations In Gotp.— The world outside of Wall street must be sorely puzzled about the spasmodic ups and downs of gold. They see, for example, that after remaining steady for some time at about 120 geld suddenly jumps to 123, and then again declines, The thermometer in our capri- cious climate is not a8 uncertain and variable. People naturally look for soine cause for these extraordinary fluctuations, but they can find none in the siate of trade, commercial affairs, political disturbances, war, or trouble of any kind. Well, there is nothing strange about it at all. It is all gambling, and nothing else. A certain set of Wall street speculators get control of the market, or there are a certain amount of contraets on paper for the delivery of gold, and as it is found easy or difficult to furnish the precious metal or to fulfil the con- tracis the price goes down or up, The fluctu- ations have nothing to do with the state of trade or condition of the country, This is the true explanation of the matter, and the public need not be puzzled or alarmed at the rise or fall of gold. Toe Erernat Crry av Cnrisraas.—Our special correspondence from Rome presents the Holy City engaged in active preparation for the observance of the Feast of Christmas, the reaffirmation of the great essential of Christianity, according to the canons and dog- mas of the Catholic Church. It was quite different from the city of the period of St. Peter. The writer has to speak of dress cos- tume, fashions, music, jewels, silks, the robes of cardinals and tfe vesture,pomp and ap- pearance of an aged Pope in Council. There ewere bells ringing joyously in the tower of the Vatican, with many of the most beau- tiful belles in Europe in the galleries of tho great church. The on!door scenes were animating and the Corso revivified. “My vessels of gold and silver have I shown unt6 them.” We know how the prophet answered— that it was “‘a foolish thing.” A Brockngap REGIME AT JEFFERSON MaR- KET.—The reporters of the city papers at the Jefferson Market Police Court were notified yesterday that they would hereafter be cut off from the privileges usually accorded them, and it was plainly intimated by the clerk, who took this responsibility upon himself, that they would not be allowed to see the records of the court. This isa bold move to run the court for the purpose of making money for the offi- cials, and not to deal justice. Messrs, Shandley and Cox, Police Justices, were transferred to this court on Friday from Essex Market to suc- ceed Justice Ledwith, and Michael Shandley was chosen clerk. This seems to be the first important move of the new régime, and it isa foolish as well as discreditable one, The sooner they back out of it the better, The Cranston-Bateman Battle. The curtain has at last fallen on the great Manhattan Club drama, which has for the last week not only maintained a tumult in the veins of our city life, but has stirred the Con- tinent to its centre. From the night when General Boum Bateman entered the lordly halls of the Manhattan Club, like young Loch- invar, all alone and unarmed, amid committee men, cooks, waiters and wash boys, he felt, with the keen instinct of a great manager, that The Dramntio Revival Senson. We are now in the full flush of a dramatic A Coming Scientific Catuclysm. We live in an age that is realizing great suo- revival, Wajlack inaugurated the season by | cesses in its conquest of the secrets of nature. the production of the ‘School for Scandal,” and, although since then he has given us a | one has but to compare the body of the physi- few London novelties, still the most attractive | cal science of our day with the collection of and successful plays which have been pro- duced at Wallack’s theatre have been the old | place fifty years since, But our progress hag comedies. Atthe Fifth Avenue theatre the | been unequal. While it is real and tangible season thus far has been devoted to the pro- duction of dramas and comedies with which In order to appreciate what our successes are illusions and fanciful notions that occupied ite for the investigations that regard our planet it is altogether halting for the general inquiry the public are acquainted. Indeed, we may | of our relation to the planetary universe. say that the season at all our metropolitan | Astronomy is behind all the sister sciences, theatres has been distinguished by a revival | but there is now some promise that she may of performances that have previously proven | not long remain in that position, We find this acceptable to the public and remunerative to | promise in the fact that there is soon to be the managers. At the Olympic theatre, | given to the world a remarkable book on he had made a hit. True to the genius of that opéra bouffe of which in this country he was the creator and sustaining power, he seized the opportunity to make a triumphant trip to Washington. His progress, we are informed by no less an unprejudiced authority than himself, was a perfect ovation. Crowds gathered at every station to do him honor. Women came with children in their arms to show to Young America the representative of the wounded club honor of their country, and he strode through the bowels of the land like a magnificent enema. At the capital he was met by the matrons of his household, who, in the true spirit of their Spartan ances- tresses, declared that they would have him come as he did, a conqueror, or else be borne to them on his shield. Indeed, General Bate- man, we are informed, is descended from an old Spartan family about the time of Lycurgus, who subsequently settled in Maryland. Ho has the low forehead and fierce will of the Lace- demonian, On yesterday he returned to our city, and, learning that his expulsion was a determined fact, with characteristic magnanimi- ty and self-sacrifice sent in the manly letter of resignation which will be found elswhere. True to the last to his own classic language on the memorable night of his avengement, he vir- tually exclaims, ‘1 will be my own policeman.” Indeed, Cwsar could not have drawn his robe around him more gracefully for a fall, To-day, we understand, he ison the warpath for New Orleans, to flaunt his victorious plume in fresh fields and pastures new. On his return he intends to take a benefit at the Academy of Music. Boxes have been already secured by the Hon. John Morrissey, Jem Mace and many legding admiests oF tho manly art. It ig bub an act of historic justice to say that for the discretion and moderation Mr, Bateman has displayed through this affray he is mainly indebted to the wise and temperate counsels of Mr. James Fisk, Jr. General Bateman has always been one of the few of Prince Brie’s malo attachments, and an occasion like this, which tests men’s souls, will doubt- less strengthen the mutual affection of these two accomplished men and admirable citizens. On the other hand, but little has been heard of General Bateman’s antagonist, Captain Crans- ton. He is said to be entirely insensible to the magnitude of the event with which his name will hereafter be mingled, and with care- less ease to divert his attention is playing with chestnuts in the New York Central. In surveying the field as we do, with the eye of the historian, it is essential t6 m yight understanding, as Macaulay says, to consider the individual character of the combatants. General Bateman, as is well known, is a man of modest stillness and humility. His soft, sleek hair, feebly parted in the centre, and sleeping like sunlight upon a bank, is a fil em- j Dien of the gentleness of his nature; his voice Is ewoot and low as a woman's; his beak has nothing in it coarse or cadaverous. He has never been known to be in a difficulty. Peace smiles around him. In fact, if slightly smaller, he might sit for the infant John of Murillo, Captain Cranstoa, om the other hand, has all the action of the tiger. On the smallest provocation he springs on his hind paws; his angry mane stands ou end; his roar fills the desert, and when he has nothing else to do he seems even eager to swallow up the ground. Can any one look upon these pictures and question as to whom the fault belongs? Let us hope that out of this difficulty the Manhattan Club will pluck some wisdom and mend its ways. This is the second or third member expeHed within the year, ada such necessity implies something rotten in the aye- tem. The club has the misfortune of being’ governed by a number of gentlemen suffi- ciently distinguished in their way, but few of whom ever frequent it or take any interest in its action, and who are only brought to- gether—and even then with difficulty—by such disturling occasions as this Bateman and Cranston row. For any club to prosper under such conditions would bea miracle. Neither is it wise that any member should exercise the right of offering to unoffending ” guests the insult of refusing to serve them dinner and subjecting them to the humiliatioa of a ‘re- moval in the presence of others from a public room. Few men, unless steeled as Mr. Crans- ton has been by many years of bard hotel life, could so far forget their gentleness of nature as to fulfil sucha duty. Here club life is but in its infancy; but in England, where age has brought a more genial and philosophic mind, no such slight would for a moment be permitted, but the real offender, the inviting member, would next day roceive a warning from the committce, and if the offence was repeated would find the penalty enforced, This mode of management is found far more becoming and effective. Were the Cranston fashion adopted committee men had better dine in coat of mail. Thus ends the play. The lights are all extinguished. Within a week the actors will be forgotten. A somewhat putrid perfume alone remains. Porrrics 1x InpiaNa.—The Indiana Demo- cratic State Convention met in Indianapolis yesterday and nominated candidates for State offices. During the balloting the Convention cheered the New York Legislature for its | renunciation of the fifteenth amendment. GeNERAL WASHBURN AND THE TELEGRAPH Monopoty.—There is a rod in pickle for the telegraph monopoly, and General C, C. Wash- burn is determined fo lay it on with a will. It has been impossible heretofore for the Con- Wood's Museum, Bowery theatre stars and stocks, as in days of | astronomer Dr. Trastour de Varano. This work yore, have been the order of the day, Booth | declares nothing less than that our entire has just produced “Hamlet” in a style far surpassing his previous effort at the Winter Garden—it is the most brilliant success of the season—and the managers of the Grand Opera gressional committees investigating the tele- graphing system to obtain the information they wanted from the monopoly, for reasons very obvious. General Washburn has hit upon a way to cut this Gordian knot, He intends to summon before his committee the telegraph operators themselyes—men who know as well as the monopolists what the committee wish to learn, and are not directly interested in teaching the committee some- thing very different, Niblo’s Garden and the House, who are nothing if not sensational, will shortly produce a thrilling sensation in the spectacular line, Perhaps a more opportune occasion could not be taken than the present to re- view the effects of the short-skirted, centi- pedal drama, the recollections of which are still fresh in the memory of all theatre-goers. There is little doubt but the success of the high-spiced drama was due as much to the elaborate manner in which it was placed on the stago as to the gymnastic antics of the sparsely clothed females who figured in it. We saw what the stage was capable of producing in the way of scenic effects. We learned for the first time how much the success of a play depended on the machinist, stage carpenter, scene painter and gasman. Previous to the “Black Crook,” “White Fawn,” opéra bouffe and British bur- lesque eras, only occasionally were we treated to grand scenic effects and fine stage appoint- ments. When, under the management of Mar- shall at the Broadway theatre, situated oppo- site the ld City Hospital, “The Count of Mokio Cristo” Was produded, fF Whe thought a grand affair. Burton, when he brougt out “The Tempest,” was rapturously applauded by the press and public, Laura Keere won thé most complimentary praise when she put upon the stage ‘‘A Midsummer Night's Dream;” and yet these productions at theso three theatres—the leading ones of their day—fell far short, in point of scenic effects and stage mountings, of the manner in which the trashy sensations of which we speak were placed before the public. If we inherit nothing else of good from the spectacles which for so long the planetary universe, by the accomplished accepted system of astronomy is erroneous. The work upon its appearance will undoubt- edly encounter a desperate opposition from the old school, and a furious war will certainly be waged against it by most professional astronomers. How could it be otherwise, since the author proceeds to show that ‘the astronomy of our day has neither principle, method nor precepts?” Whether the mechan- ism of the planetary universe which Dr. Trastour advances be the true one or not, the high scientific positions which he has success- fully occupied, and his established reputation as @ man of practical observation and of mathematical correctness, will secure his hearing before the scientific world at large, while the serious charges which he brings against modern astronomy and the novel argu- ments which he opposes to the Copernican system, to Kepler’s laws and to Newton's theory of gravitation, cannot fuil to take marly by surprise and to cause a thorough ihvesti, gation into our present system of astronomy to take place. The work touches ¥pon qnes- tions of vital interest, and is “gstined on that account to create a serig”’s commotion among scientific men and te materially change many ofour preconceived notions. It is the first gun shot of a new school against old existing {natitutions, and as it has already some parti- gans, and will no doubt enlist many more in its cause, we may look ahead for a lively time among scientific men, The author sets forth the following conclusions :— Contrayy tp the teachings of the system of Coper- nicas, the ‘oily pe that now gives law to astrouomy, the sun is not pladed tn the centre of whe plauecary system, and the earth and tio plaucts do notrevoly: annually around that hare Contrary to tue belief in the system of Piolemy, the earth 13 not situated in the centre of the uni- verse, and the sun and the planets do not accom- plisa thelr annual revolutions by revolving around it. ‘Contrary to the system of Tycho Braho) the earth 13 not motionless in tue centre of the planetary svstem, and the sun does not revolve annually around our a time held possession of the stage, the fact of | globe, carrying with it, in its revolution, ail the having at the present time better scenery, more appropriate mountings and finer effects is something for which we ought to feel thankful. It is a consolation to know that so much real benefit hag really accrued to the stoge. Trag, neither Actresses gor actors have been benefited. In fact, they had to fake a back seat while the sensation and ballet fever lasted. Good acting was then at a discount. There was no demand for it, and hence we see, now that the legitimate drama has again gained possession of the boards, both ac- tresses and actors, whose playing we had occa- sion to notice cre the sensational era set ip, but little, if any, advanced in their profession. No improvement is observable, and this is the more noticeable when in other respects the stage has been improved. The most unobservant theatre-goer cannot fail to have noticedin the late revivals of stand- planetg taat circulate arouna tt. Contrary to the doctrine of the astronomers of our days, the orbit of the earth an: the orbits of iho planets are circles and not ellipses—Kepler having mnistaken ilusions for realities 10 ascribing to the ellipse a power in space which it does not andecan- not possess. Contrary to thetr doctrine, the moon does not feyolve arouue the earth while tne latier 1s said to pyoLye ple the si "ont : te Goccrine, the earth, the moon and the planets pursue their course continually tn tue plane oi the ectiptic and never go ont of ft, gontary to their doctrine, the dimimution of the obliquity of the ecliptic 1s 4 chimerical idea, ‘couirary to their doctrine, the precession of the equinuxes, upon which the most tuportant works of moder pony are based, 1s something tiat does not exis +» Contrary to their doctrine, the equinoctial pointe and the solstices always preserve their game ppsi- tions, = Contrary to their doctring, the terrestrial meridian varies annually, and the laticudes and the starting Point of longitades change from year to year. Contrary to thew doctrine, our civil year is not of constantly equal duration, as their almanacs repre- sent it, ‘there is never a year Of duration equa! to the one that preceded or follows ibs, Contrary to their doctrine, the Gregorian reoufl. cation was founded upon no astronoimeg! basis. In- siead of preventing it has auginented cohfasion; ata future day Easter will come round again in the middle of spring, although the almanacs wiil call 18 ard plays a vast improvement, as compared | winter, if they persist 1a Keeping the 2lst day of with former years, in the manner in which they March as the date of the spring equinox. Contrary to their doctrine, the c.imates of the have been placed before the public. carta are ae neared invariable, but are subject ta “, extreme Vicissiiu Take, for instance, “Hamlet,” at Booth’s Contrary to their doctrine, the stars have a general aC ing,” | movement that carries them from west to east. theatre; “Much Ado About Nothing, Contuary to their doctrine, at a fuvure day the at Wallack’s; ‘‘Play,” at the Jifth | sun, the p'anets, tue moon and the stars will rise im Avenue theatre; Grand Opera House; ‘‘London,” French theatre, and we might go on and Had our actora improved in the same ratio the American stage to-day would lead the world in dramatic ability. Wedoubt not but the same enter- prise which has characterized other theatres will pe evident during Mr. Fechter’s engage- Now that we have entered | Contrary t» thelr doctrine, Newton's theory of upon a gd, healthy revival, in which there enumerate many others. ment at Niblo’s. isa chance’ for players to develop dramatic ability, we ho,»e they will take advantage of the occasion, ant in improving themselves by close study they cx help to advanoo and im- prove a profession in the labors of which the public is so deeply inte,"ested. , Tue Broapway Exoay.‘TI0N.—We give in another column an interestin,? account of the process of tunnelling Broadway Which is now being carried on by the Pacumaty? Tube Com- pany. Evrore at tie CLost or tHe YEAR.— England, Ireland and France supply the mate- rial for the initial of our special retrospect of the condition of Europe at the close of the year i869. Our exhibit from Great Britain to-day is not of a consoling char- acter for the past or very encour- aging in the ent. It paints oppressed peoples, a struggling democracy and priestly attempts at reaction. The popular progress has not been of wing realization, The social elements remain in a state of unhealthy fermentation. Classes are discontented with their lot in life, and a greed for money gain brought many strange revelations In London. The subject of infantile mortality in” France supplies a text for the collation of curioas vital statistics to one of our Paris correspond- ents. PENNAYLVANIANS Disaustep.—The great Keystone State seems determined to get one of her numerous favorite sons into the Cabinet. She sighs for Borie again, or, at least, for a posi- tion equal to the one he formerly came near holding. Her chief consideration all along has been as to what favorite son of hersa place must be given. She has fixed, after dug thought, upon Benjamin Harris Brewster as her preponderating favorite at preseat, and a fall blown delegation called accordingly on the President yesterday and intimated that he ought to be Attorney General in place of Mr. Hoar. The President listened with the patience that overthrew Richmond, and then said there was no vacancy in his Cabinet. Thereupon the Pennsylvanians retired dis- gusted, that little difficulty not having pre- sented itself to them before, “The Tempest,” at the at the | ‘ancesand movements of the planetary bodies, as the west and set in the east, Contrary to their doctrine, the dimensions, dis- 89t forth in their compilations and tapies, no reality whatever; for they have been determined without taking into account oue of the most indis- pensabie conditions. Contrary to tueir doctrine, no comet ever precipt- tates ltself into any sun whatever in the reaims of space, or any event come into coilision wit the earth, Contiary to their doctrine, Kepler's laws are put pure illusions. It 1s only necessary to stuay them experimentaily in order to recognize the fact thas they have not the least connection with the funda- ental law of celestial mechanism. gravitation offers neither evidence nor propability. It is @ fantastic commentary, built upon the chimert- cal ideas of Kepier, radically foreign to all mathe- matical trath and ever transgressing tne limits of common sense, Newton steppea beyond the sphere of the dificult only to enter inco impossibtlities. The author further shows that “‘the errors of modern astronomy proceed from the fact that men have made an article of faith of what is simply and purely a question of science,” and proceeds to disclose the fact that the pro- dictions of eclipses, from which the Copernican system has undeservedly derived so much éclat, is nothing but the result of a long expe~ rimental labor, independent of all astronomical system, and limited to the observation of tie course of the sun, of the moon and of the periods; that they can prove nothing in favor of any system whatever, as they have been and can be calculated in :.ny and every system, After speaking of the intimate and insepara- ble connections existing between astronomy and geology he says :— ; The astronomy of tho time we live in has to under- go the fate of all human aberranows. It clings tena- ciously to what is not, yet does not sco What is. One of the most remarkable arrangeinens that responds to one of the most important astrommmical necess:- ties of the planet we inhabit it overlooks entirely. I refer to the mathematical regulation that las col- lected all the land on one hemisphere of our globe and covered the otier with an immense ocean—a mechantsin tranacendently simple, yet which, more than an sere’ perhaps, throws into reifef the hand So ao by the geometrical regularity of iw But tho work presents so large ‘a muliitude of facts in 60 small a compass that to enu- merate them would be to reproduce the entire volume. We must, therefore, conflae our- selves to the statement that the author not only substitutes an entirely new mechanism of our plenetary system to Copernicus’ solar system, but gives, moreover, » transcendental mechan- ism of the entire universe, and a ‘‘universal law” in lieu of Newton's theory of gravitation. These new ideas, especially the latter, it must be admitted, are characterized by great sim- plicity and semblance of truth. A main featura of Dr. Prastour’s planetary system—and one which woud give it a marked superiority over all other known astronomical systems, should i¢ ever become the generaily accepted one—ig the peculiar advantage offered by its diagrams in enabling one to traco the past and future course of the earth for any number of cen- turies, and the remarkable concordance of the ‘Past course so traced with wll the creat pheno