The New York Herald Newspaper, January 16, 1870, Page 6

NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. eee JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR. All business or news letter and telegraphic Gespatches must be addressed New York Herat. aiciade Rejected communications will not be re- turned. ‘ Letters and packages should be properly sealed. THE DAILY HERALD, pubdttshea every day tn the year. Four cents per copy. Annual subscription price $12. THE WEEKLY HERALD, every Saturday, at Five CENTS per copy. Annual subscription price:— One Copy... 82 Three Copies. 5 Five Copies 8 Ten Copies. - Volume XXXV..... seseeereeceseeeNOs 16 AMUSEMENTS TO-MORROW EVENING, THE TAMMANY, Fourteenth street.—Tux BURLESQUE or Bap Dickey. 6a, THEATRE, Broadway and 18th street.— GRAND OPERA HOUSE, corner of Bichth avenue and 38d st.—Davip Gaukiok—A PROTEAN ENTERTAINMENT. BOOTH'S THEATRE, 28dat., between Sth ana 6th avs.— Hamurr. OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broacway.—Paut Pry—Rovert MacalnE. FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE, Twenty-fourth st.—SuRF; OB, SUMMER SCENES at LONG BRANCH. NIBLO'S GARDEN, Drama oF Ruy Bias. nal WOOD'S MUSEUM AND MENAGERIE, Broadway, cor- ner Thirtieth st,—Matinee daily, Performance every evening. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery—Buox, Buck, How Many Honns; Of GOLD Ur to 165, Brosdway.—GRAND ROMANTIO WAVERLEY THEATRE, No. 120 Broadway.—Music, MiBTo AND MYSTERY. MR&. F. B. CONWAY'S PARK THEATRE, Brookiya.— Tux Lotreny or Lire. ee TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, 201 Bowery.—Comio VOCALISM, NEGRO MINSTRELSY, 40. THEATRE guar. 14 Broadway.—Comio Vooar- 4am, NEGRO ATS, £0, BRYANT'S OPERA HOUSE, Tammany Bullding, 14th a eavani’e MINSTRELS. r. BAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, 585 Broatway.—ErH1o- PIAN MINSTRELSY, NEGRO Acts, £0.—“Hasn.” STEINWAY HALL.—Mur. Dm Lessav’s ANNUAL Con- OkBT. NEW YORK CIRCUS, Fourteenth street,—EQuEsTRIAN AND GYMNASTIO PERFORMANCES, &C. HOOLEY’S OPERA HOUSE, Brooklyn.—Hooury's MONSTRELS—PErER Pirek PerrEr Popes, &0. NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway,— SCIENCE AND, ART. LADIES’ NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 61834 roadway.—FEMALES ONLY IN ATTENDANCE. TRIPLE SHEET. New York, Sunday, Januar, Pace. 1—Advertisements. ‘2—A dvertisements. 3—The State Capital: Preparing for the Battle; The New Model for City Government—The Oester- reiches Homicide—The #all Season—Brooklyn City News—The Kings County Election Frauds—Fire in Brooklyn—Hayti: Flight and Capture of Salnave—Murderous Affray in the Bowery--The Underhill Defaicatton—A Truant Prima Donna—New York City News—The Wo- men’s Conclave—Smalipox. 4—Europe: News from England, Ireland, Spain, Rome, France, Germany and Russia—Foreign ‘Miscellaneous {tems—A Shameful Act—A Story of Woman’s Wrongs—The Liquor Dealers and the Internal Revenue Laws. S—Proceedings in the Courts Yesterday—Presenta- tion to Judge Kelly—Peru: Political State of the Country; Chinese immegration; Rall- ways—Religious Intelligence—Nassau, N. P.: How the Seizures of the Tweed and Violin were Brought About—Delence of the Iron-clad Miantonomoh—Marine Transfers. ° @—Editorials: Leading Article on The Pope and the Council, the Latest and the Biggest Bull— Amusement Announcements, Y—Telegraphic News from ail Parts of the World: Paris Tranquil and the Radical Press Under Control; Death of the Austrian Mimister of Finance; The Winnipeg War—Wasnington: Wall street Operations Under Investigation; Assessment of Incomes for 1869—The Stanton Fund—Ovituary—Personal Inteiligence—Busi- ness Notices. S—Internal Revenue: The Seizures of Whiskey, Tobacco and Cigars—The Delancey Street Tragedy—Obsequies of Felix Ingoldsby—Pro- ceedings of the Police Board—The Gray Bond Robbery Case—The Strikes of the Telegraphers artd Erie Railroad Men—A Crusade in the Siunts; Reform in Water Street—A Bold Day- light Ro&bery in Broadway. 9—City Politics: Excitement Over the Spoils in this City—Prison Reform—A Nineteen Million Heiress—Heavy Verdict ina Crim. Con. Case— Financial and Gommercial Reports—Real Estate Matters—Marriayes and Deaths. 30—The Fashions: Costume Representatives in the French Capital and thé Eternal City— The Wealth of Westchester: Meeting of the Taxpayers of West Fas ‘Sub- urban Intelligence—A Lovers’ Qvgrrel— A Burglar Caught in the Act—An Old Swindle Revived—The Base Ball Season—The Hudsox River Rallroad Robberies—Animal Structure — Supposed Stabbing Affray—Shipping Intelll- gence—Advertisements, 11—Advertisements. 12—Advertisements. InteRNaL REVENUE.—We publish elsewhere an interesting article showing how business is carried on in the office of Collector Bailey, in the Thirty-second district, which is the richest do the country. , AnoteR Water Srreer Revivar is in prospect, Kit Burn’s dog pit having been leased for three years to missionaries, who propose to revive the good work so bunglingly done o year or 80 ago. The plan is feasible enough if the object is to save souls instead ef to make money. Tae Wuereasouts oF Lopzz.—A cable telegram from Lisbon reports that Lopez did not retreat into Bolivia, At last accounts he was said to be wandering with a few followers in the deserts of the Brazilian provinces. Where he will be located next we cannot imagine, but it would not surprise us to hear of his turning up in disagreeable proximity to the allied forces remaining in Paraguay. Sentovs Sport FoR Cutpren.—The fatal shootings, drownings and maimings that chil- dren commit in sport amount in a year to an almost incredible list of casualties. A star- tling accitlent of the kind occurred yesterday in | One boy tied a rope around | Pawtucket, R. I. another’s neck and threw it over the shaft- ing ofan engine. The little victim was carried ap to the ceiling and probably fatally injured, NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, JANUARY 16, 1870.—-TRIPLE SHEET. and the Council—The Latest and the Biggest Bull. A private letter from Rome to Brussels, and telegraphed from Brussels to New York, informs us that the Pope has begun to be afraid of the assembled bishops. The latest news is to the effect that the Popo is ‘‘cha- grined at the drift of the Council, éhd that an early dissolution of the same is by no means an impossibility, The telegram has no doubt been begotten by the latest Papal Bull, or Brief, or what oiir readers choose to call it. It was our opinion that the Council was in some sense convened in the interest of what the world has been taught to call common sense ; certain circumstances gave ug ,reason to believe that we were right ; but facts, which are stronger than hopes and beliefs, have con- vinced us that the Pope and his cardinals are proof against all reasoning and all sense, whether common or uncommon, The Herarp of Fridgy printed the latest Bull or Brief which has been issued from the Vatican, It is, we observe, called Late Sen- tentia. No one who has read that document can refuse to admit that Pio Nono and his friends have made a big mistake. We do not dwell on the fact that the Brief insults all the bishops who, before October 12, either were in Rome or had left all the ends of the earth to be in Rome, although the fact is deeply sug- gestive. It might have been better if this latest Papal manifesto had been issued some six or ten months in advance, But policy is policy. As itis, we have no great cause of complaint. The Brief—Latw Sententia—is no more, no less, than a delicate improvement on the Syllabus. The obnoxious character of the Syllabus is now well known to our readeré, Those who know the Syllabus know what we have said of it. It carries us back to the Mid- dle Ages, It does more. It says that the age of Hildebrand was right, and that the nineteenth century, the age of steam- boats, of telegrams, of railroads, of printing presses and of newspapers is all wrong. We can only say that if the Pope and the cardi- nals, who, somehow in this case have not been kind to the assembled bishops, have acted up to the best of their judgment they have not been doing themselves justice in reading up the facts. This latest ~ manifesto is the greatest indication we have yet had of the persistently mediwval character of the Papacy. It shows that nothing has been learned, nothing unlearned in these nineteen centuries. Pope Pius IX., with the bishops of the Catholic world around him, and with the full knowledge that all the world, Catholic and non-Catholic, is watching him, has openly and unqualifiedly endorsed sentiments which are neither more nor less than absurd. Bad as was the Syllabus, the Bull of the 19th of October makes it good or almost as good. In other words, common sense is deplorably wanting in both. We are degirous of being on good terms with our readers. We have no reason to be or to feel otherwise. In this Ecumenical Council business we did think thata grand opportunity presented itself to rectify the ab- surdities or nonsense of the ecclesiastical world. This opinion we freely and unquali- fiedly expressed. To this opinion we clung through good report and through bad. It is our sorrow to-day to have to confess that at the Vatican, where the old slow-coach princi- ple still rules, modern progress is called sin ; that if the law could be carried out there is not a man of us who would not be excomimuni- cated, and that Galileo, if he lived and talked of the earth moving around the sun, would run the risk of losing his head. Only think of it. The man who does not agree with the Pope and the old fogies who occasionally breakfast with him and, perhaps, dine; who never see a newspaper, or who, if they,do, hate it as they pretend to hate all that is evil—that man is condemned. Not only so—he is doomed. Read the Bull, the Brief, or, if you will, the Syllabus. Where are we all? Weare all damned. For us there is no hope. So far as we are concerned we have no great cause to complain. In our hands we hold a plenary indulgence which covers all the offences of this life, and which secures for us a safe entrance to the happier world that lies beyond the present. We do not, therefore, complain for ourselves. But we cannot help thinking of the many millions of miserable mortals who are hopelessly doomed. For our readers particularly, whom we have led or misled—it does not much matter which—we have special sympathy. We can only say to them what we have often said to ourselves, ‘The world moves on; have faith and hope.” ‘ So far as this Ecumenical Council goes we have not nowa word to say. It was a big idea to begin with. The conception was full of promise. We have waited. We have hoped. We have waited and hoped in opposi- tion to facts. We only express our honest gonviction when we say that if the Pope finds it necessary to dissolve it we shall not be sur- prised or disappointed. The Council is a big farce, a grand archeological show, a revival of Middle Age sentiment; but who can say it is more? If itis more, what is it? This, per- haps—for the world there is no falling back. We cannot again become children. No more can the world. If the Pope can dispense with railroads and their companions the New York Heracp cannot. Te Pope of Justice Ledwith—What Is . Self-Government ¢ “An Old Line Democrat” has presented in our columns the view that the transfer of Police Justice Ledwith from the district in which he was elected is proper, because it might be ‘‘safely presumed” that he made pledges during the canvass that could not be kept without the violation of some other under- stood pledges, such as that he would render strict and impartial justice to all men, We need not point out that this argument assumes the corrupt state of political life among us. It presupposes that a judge may be swayed from the performance of his duty to the public by considerations of personal and party favor- itism. Now this argument is the very starting point of the system on which the republican | party has governed this motropolis—the sys- | tem of commissions. The authorities at Albany also thought it might be “safe to pre- sume” that election pledges would stand in tie way of every man chosen for office by the ‘people in this city, and that such pledges mild prevent him doing his duty, therefore Removal they gave us men supposed not to be under any obligation inconsistent with their honesty. But the democratic party, as we understand it, argues that this policy deprives us of the right of self-government. - Does that party propose to adopt such a policy now? Is not the question of self-government as good for a district of the city as for the city itself? The Fifteenth Amendment Nearly Through, The fifteenth amendment of the federal con- stitution, which provides that neither the United States nor any State shall make any abridgment of the general right of suffrage on account of race, color, or previous condi- tion of servitude, and that Congress shall have power to enforce this provision “by appropri- ate legislation” is now very near the required ratifications by twenty-eight States, or three- fourths of the Legislatures of the States of the Union. In the December report of the Secre- tary of State on the subject it appeared that he had received official notifications of the adoption of the amendment by twenty-one States, including New York; but that the rati- fications of Missouri and Kansas (upon tele- graphic information of the text of the amend- ment) were defective. These defects have since been corrected; but New York, demo- cratic at last, has withdrawn her endorsement, which reduces the Secretary's list to Missouri, Kansas, North Carolina, West Virginia, Mas- sachusetts, Wisconsin, Maine, Louisiana, Michigan, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Mlinois, In- diana, New Hampshire, Nevada, Vermont, Virginia and Mississippli—twenty-one States. Add to these the ratifications of Alabama, Nebraska, Ohio and Minnesota, and we have twenty-four. As a condition of restoration, the ratifications of Georgia and Texas will make twenty-seven, and Rhode Island and Iowa, each with an overwhelming repub- lican Legislature, will make twenty-nine, or one more vote than is necessary, even with- out New York, During the present session of Congress, and perhaps within a month or two, we shall have the proclamation of this fifteenth amendment as to all extents and purposes part and parcel of the supreme law of the land. The power of Congress to enforce it by appropriate legislation will be apt to establish negro suffrage in Delaware, Mary- land and Kentucky, by which States it has been so far interdicted. Any further interdic- tion against the negro, however, by any State, after the proclamation of this amendment, will become a matter of some consequence, especially in the elections for Congress; and so after the proclamation we expect there will be to begin with, in order to avoid any trouble in Congress, a passable observance at least of the amendment in all the States, The Prospect at Albany. In the communication of our special corre- spondent in Albany, published in another col- umn, will be found a fair statement of the prospects of State legislation and what we are to expect in the immediate future. Aftera recess, apparently necessitated by the dan- gerous illness of the Speaker, the Assembly will come together again on Wednesday. It would appear that the interval of leisure has not been wasted, for we are promised an active campaign. Committees are at work preparing reports. Members are hammering their brains over bills tonching all kinds of subjects, not half of which will in all probability be legis- lated upon to that final action which will con- stitute them laws. No matter for that. Mem- bers must do something to satisfy their con- stituencies, They cannot be drones in the living and buzzing hive at Albany. They must ‘assume a virtue if they have it not,” and be active anyhow. This is expected by the people who send them to the State Capital and pay the expenses of their election, We are looking with a natural feeling of curiosity to learn what is going to become of our municipal government. That it is to be turned inside out is a fact already granted ; but there is some satisfaction in the assurance that the best part of the system will not be disturbed; that the commissions, though to a great extent modified and changed in their personnel, will not be disrobed of anything which is good and useful about them. Such at least is the avowed policy of the leaders. The transfer of the authority to appoint officials in the different departments from the Legislature at Albany to the elect of the people in the me- tropolis itself can hardly be found fault with. It is in accordance with all our ancient notions of municipal law, and if the authority is not abused the change may be for the better. At all events, the men who vote at the ballot boxes in the city will have a chance to vote out'of office the man who betrays the trust confided in him; but the voters of this city have no such power over the countrymen elected to the Legislature from Chautauqua to Orange county, who for the last ten years or more have been making laws for the govern- ment of this great city. We look now to an active and profitable session of the Legislature. By profitable we- do not mean to the pockets of the members, but to the interests of the State and city, Enp oF THE HaytieN Revorvtioy.—Our advices from Hayti published this morning tell of the closing scene in the revolution by the flight and subsequent capture of Salnave. The successful rebels had given the British and French commanders assurance that there would be no bloodshed; so we presume that Salnave and the few men captured with him will save their lives. Soon after the occupa- tion of Port au Prince the soldiers of Saget surrounded the consulates and demanded the surrender of persons who had taken refhge there ; but upon the French and British war yes- sels preparing to open fire, as was threatened, the troops were withdrawn and Saget hastened to tender apologies. The revolutionists, bang in complete possession of the country, consti- tute the regular government until some ofher aspirant for political and military fanre indtes another rebellion. ‘ Tus ELECTION Fravups IN Brooxtyy.—The trial of these cases before Judge Pratt, of the Brooklyn Court of Oyer and Terminer, has now been made to involve the question of the secrecy of the Grand Jury, A motion was made by defendant's counsel yesterday to have the names of the witnesses and the testimony taken hefore the Grand Jury furnished to the court. The points were argued on both sides and Judge Pratt reserved his decision. ‘Tho Situation in Surope—Our Cable Tole= | in the republic of Mexico and &? Unsuccesafully grams and Special Letters. The correspondence from Europe, by cable telegrams and special mail letters, which we publish to-day presents the eltuation as it existed at the main moving centres of the Old World yesterday, besifles elaborating in detail the pews reports of the most prominent events which occurred to the Ist day of January, 1870, The exhibit is of much importance, in- teresting and instructive. ¥ Paris remained tranquil, the English despatches from the French capital acknow- ledging the complete restoration of quiet in the city. The more violent of the radical French revolutionary journals are to be handed over to the judicial authorities and prosecuted by the executive for violations of the press law. Baron Von Becke, Minister of Finance of Austria and a statesman of much ability, died in Vienna—a serious loss both to the Von Beust Cabinet and the imperial gov- ernment in a department which is at present of almost vital importance to the crown. Violent gales have again swept round the coast of Great Britain, causing heavy marine losses. The most serious incidents of this description are given under our telegraphic news head. The English money market re- mained quiet. The Paris Bourse closed dull yesterday, Our reports by mail are important. A special writer in Rome details the proceedings of the Ecumenical Council, so far as the mat- ter has been given to the outside world, and chroniclesthe heavy formularies and antiquated formalities which characterize the proceedings. The relations which are observed by many of the lay rulers towards the Pontificate are also set forth, The latest styles of dress costume prevailing in Paris are presented separately by our special fashions writer in a very attractive shape and fine descriptive style, Sefior Cas- delar’s magnificent oration in the Spanish Cortes in opposition to the throne candidature of the Duke of Genoa, and a patriotic advocacy of national self-rule in Spain, will attract the attention not only of Spaniards but of every man, no matter where born, who loves his country. The condition of the health of Queen Victoria gave rise to the report of the constitution of a British regency at an early day, and, judging from our special narrative from London, her Majesty need not care to partially retire from the active duties of state at her time of life, and with her fine character both as a sovereign, a woman and a mother, The political condition existing in Great Britain, as shown to-day, appears to demand a younger and firmer hand at the oxecutive helm, but the English people of the present generation will never experience the rule of a more gentle yet dignified one. Ireland re- mained distarbed with outrage, gloomy and discontented. France was engaged with Traupmann, Italy aiming at unity and consoli- dation, and Germany in the enjoyment of the benefits of the two combined. Europe was in healthy progress, but far from perfect, at the New Year. | The Radical Defent on the Virginia Bill. Mr. Bingham’s bill for the unconditional restoration of the State of Virginia, on the ground that she has faithfully complied with all the terms imposed by Congress, hada narrow escape in the House of Representa- tives on Friday last, the test vote on the bill being ninety-eight in the affirmative—con- servative republicans and democrats—and a -five in the negative—radical republi- cans, in favor of a little more reconstruction, More than two-thirds of the republicans— ninety-five against forty-two—voted in oppo- sition to the bill; but the solid vote of the fifty-six democrats, with the forty-two re- publican conservatives, carried the day by three votes. The bill is in accordance with the recom- mendation of the President in his late annual message. And this reminds us of a somewhat similar contest between the republican radi- calsand conservatives in the time of Andy Johnson, and that in that contest ‘‘Old'Thad Stevens,” with the aid of the democrats, car- ried through all his schemes, and enabled the radicals to bring the republican conservatives into line and to carry out their entire pro- gramme in Congress and before the country. From this vote of Friday last we see that the democrats have turned over a new leaf, and have already, on the side of the administra- tion, wielded their balance of power to some purpose. The moral is that the President is at last master of the situation, which is a mat- ter of very considerable importance. MexicomMore Treuble Impending. Our latest news from Mexico furnishes evi- dence that unless the Juarez administration discovers some new and novel means by which to occupy the attention of the unhappy people of that country chronic revolution will there assume new phase, and universal riot and ploodshed will reign, the poor, the hungry and the restless noteonly demanding, but appropriating by force, the substance and even the lives of the wealthier classes, The diversion of the people by the grandeur and pageantry of the late national reception and entertainment of Mr. Seward lost its effect before that gentleman had reached the borders of the country on his triumphant march toward other lands, the insurgent hordes failing to discover that plenty and. that glorious future which it would appear by Mr, ‘Seward’s late speeches he saw and predicted. | As usual Puebla, that hotbed of revolution, is enjoying her semi-annual festival of revolt, and it appears that General Alatorre, com- manding the Division of the East, and whose duty it was to have whipped the rebels into peace and a respect for the laws, chagrined at his own inability to succeed, either from the strength or strategy of the enemy, or from his failure to receive the aid needed from the De- partment of War, has resigned his position. The uprising in San Luis Potosi has, perhaps, less significance, as local questions, not involv- ing directly .the general government, often occur in that portion of the country, and although severaltof the ablest generals of the army seem to have attacked thé sovereignty of the State successfully, still later despatches may attach less importance to this movement, The general government, however, in send- ing a force of four thousand men to reconquer the situation, is evidently anxious and on the alert. It is the old question—that of State rights, so frequently and successfully asserted asserted here, The administration of Presiden’ Justez— stronger, perhaps, than any other com. 2 be re- sulting from any revolutionary movem °t— finds itselfsorely perplexed at the frequency vd these revolts, which require for their over- throw the expenditure of life and the last copper in a bankrupt treasury. The exe- cution of General Bocardo by the insur- gents who eaptured him deprives the gov- ernment of one more stanch supporter, and the death of Mr. Zareo, for a long time éditor of the Siglo, and of Governor Doria, diminishes the number of the few liberals who, by tempering their editorial and Congressional influence with a healthy conservatism, have been efficien® props of President Suarez’s administration and policy. For how many decades longer the civilized world shall be content to await and receive the customary budget of news by every mail of executions and revolutiohs in that country it is impossible to say, and how soon the mingled disgust and pity which are felt for ber people may assume such a character by the prepon- derance of the latter as to occasion on the part of nations the serious contemplation of new measures for the establishment of peace in Mexico yet remains to be seen. Eligibility of Georgia Legislators. One of the Senators of the Georgia Legis- lature, whose eligibility is contested, has sub- mitted to the military board convened to inquire into the facts his protest against such inquiry, on the ground that it is not a. legally constituted body; that it ‘has no legal jurisdiction over the question, which belongs to the civil courts alone, and that because of his having been registered a voter and declared such by General Meade his eligibility to vote and hold office was re- cognized and admitted by the government of the United States. The protest is quite lengthy and is very forcibly written; but it will avail nothing. It is a great pity that re- construction in Georgia cannot be syccessfully consummated without resort to military tribu- nals, The Governor of the State and his clique are not satisfied with the political complexion of the Legislature. They are determined that the majority shall consist of men who will do just as they demand without question. Thus it is that we find a board of military officers inquiring into the qualifications of members. Itis s somewhat significant fact, though by no means a remarkable one, that all of the representatives whose eligibility is questioned are either democrats or are republicans opposed to Governor Bullock and his fol- lowers. Filibustering Expeditions from Nassau— Needy British Officials. Our correspondence from Nassau, published elsewhere this morning, furnishes details of the capture by the British war steamer Lapwing of the schooners Violin and Tweed, on sus- picion of intending to land men and arms on the Cuban coast in violation of the neutrality laws of Great Britain. The captain of the Violin asserts that his vessel, which contained a cargo consisting of arms and ammunition, was boarded and forcibly seized by the Cuban passengers on the Tweed, whose commander also claims that he was compelled by force ta approach the other schooner near enough to enable the revolutionists to board her. We regard this, however, as a mere pretext tosave the vessels from the legal penalties that threaten them. The most noteworthy feature in the case is the alleged mercenary motives that actuated the Crown civil officers and the com- mander of the Lapwing. Since the collapse of the confederacy the British officials in Nassau have had infinitesimally small piek- ings and stealings, and the opportunity for making a few dollars offering by the Cuban revolution they have eagerly seized it. Should the schooners be condemned they will reap a fair harvest; but if they are released, as our correspondent thinks is probable, their zeal in enforcing the neutrality laws will be all more than wasted. However commendable it may be for government officials to perform their duties rigidly, it does seem 8 small business when their performance ,is the result of an avaricious desire to make money. Oogan TsLEGRAPH CABLES CONSOLIDA- tTion.—By cable telegraph this morning we have it announced that the negotiations for the consolidation of the interests of the Anglo- American and French Transatlantic Cable Companies, which was referred to in our pages a few days since, have been com- pleted.. Both interests unite on a basis, both of business management and finance, which appears to promise a harmonious future, to the directors at least. The gross receipta are to be capitalized and the aggregate profits divided on an agreed basis, which is explained by telegraph in our pages. Plenty of cables, with all sorts of news facilities from every quarter, are what we require, and this only; but we publish the consolidation facts just as they reach us. Tue Gotp Panto is being investigated by the Committee on Banking and Currency of the House. Mr. Benedict, President of the Gold Exchange Bank ; Mr. Stout, late cashier of the Tenth National Bank of this city, and two bankers were examined yesterday. Fisk, Jr., and Abel R. Corbin have been summoned to appear on Monday. The committee seem disposed, judging from the testimony they are trying to get at, to sift the matter to the bottom. Tue Rvsstan Opgra, which proved a failure in this city some time ago, was revived with a ‘sensation at Jefferson Market Police Court, before Justice Shandley, yesterday, when the prima donna, Nedeva Slavinsky, was arraigned, charged by the director of the opera with carrying away thirteen hundred dollars in gold when she eloped recently with a young Russian named Rogasinna, She returned from her bridal tour a day or two ago and was arrested, but was subsequently bailed. Tue Lonpon HERAtp, an organ of the English tories and high churchmen, ceased to exist on the 8lst of December, 1869, having closed the ninetieth year of its journalistic career. Its demise marks the termination of the era of party newspapers in Great Britain and the real opening of that,of a cheap and ungectarian pres, nt nnntetteiiieditae Our Drives. % It will be remembered by all who take an interest in road matters that early last spring strong efforts were made to have Sixth ave- nue, from its continuation above the Park to the Harlem river, made into and kept as a driving road. A petition, signed by at least one thousand influential and wealthy citizens, Was’ Presented to the Central Park Commis. sioner; Who have sole control of the avenue, both in its Construction and mansgement after- wards, advov sting its being kept as a dirt road. This avenue, it {8 well known, is to be one of the grand bouleya."ds. For some two years work has been progyessing on it, and it is gradually emerging frort & country lame into what will be in the future a fine street. It was proposed by these gentlemen thst it be topped: off with gravel and kept in order, as that would make it the best driving road in the country, the width being one hundred and fifty feet. Exception was taken by numerous real estate speculators against it being mado a dirt road, and @ remonstrauce was sent in to the com- missioners from them against it, the specula- tors contending “‘that once a trotting road, always a trotting road,” and that property would be greatly injured thereby. These gentlemen can know but little of horseflesh if they suppose owners of valuable horses would speed them on a stone pavement. After build- ing actually commences on the avenue—which it may do in a decade or two of years—it would be only necessary to pave it, and have all trotting cease at once. This road is nearly completed, and we hope the commissioners will allow it to be used for a driving road for some years, as the Lane, St. Nicholas avenue, and Eighth avenue are poor apologies for roads such as the city of New York ought to have in its immediate vicinity. Sixth avenue would make the best possible road for driving pur- poses, and could be used for many years as such without injuring the proporty’owners a single penny. Internal Rev of the ie =Tax—Collapse Brokers. After a long delay and desperate efforts on the part of the brokers to avoid paying the in- ternal revenue tax of one-twentieth of one per cent on all sales made by them, the Wall street and Broad street gentlemen have given up the struggle, and in accordance with the decision of the revenue officers, District Attorney Pierrepont and Commissioner Delano, have concluded to pay the tax. They submit, in fact, to necessity. “Although the tax is amall, and will not bear heavily upon each separate individual or firm, it will in the aggre- gate yield a large sum. It is estimated that nearly ten milligns a year will thus be added to the receipts of the Treasury. The stupen- dous transactions at the Board and on the street upon the smallest margin or upon paper, if an evil in other-respects and a kind of gambling, will have this advantage for the government and public, If twenty millions a year could be raised from this source, that would be still better and might hgve a healthy influence in. checking gold and stock gambling. The next thing to be done is to make the foreign bankers and operators pay a tax on their financiél opera- tions. If the existing law will not reach them one should be made to meet their case. It would be making an unfair distinction and “unjust. to our own citizens to allow foreign bankers, brokers or money dealers to be exempt from taxation. Besides, it would throw nearly all this kind of business into the hands of foreigners or foreign houses. No class of the community can afford’ to pay a tax better than the money dealers ,and brokers, and itis to be hoped that both the revenue officers and Congress will take this view of the matter. The Dramatic Fund. Ball. The annual carnival ball in aid of the American Dramatic Fund will take place at: the Academy of Music on Tuesday evening, Januery 25, under the special patronage of ladies and gentlemen of distinction in society and upon the stage. Arrangements have been made to render this ball as brilliantly attrac- tive as any other of the season. The charit- able object of the promised féte commends itself to the warmest interest on the part of. the theatre-going population of New York. If genius, beauty and conscientious incessant efforts to minister to the entertainment of the public entitle “‘the players” to well-merited applause when they are in the plenitude of health and prosperity, they are surely also entitled to our sympathy and aid when sickness and want overtake them. The families of more than one tragedy king or queen have inherited less than might defray the expenses of an humble funeral. The former, willing subjects of the royal sway which they once held over countless hearts and minds, should not unwillingly contribute to the Dramatio Fund. And the comic actors who have moved us to laughter, as well as the tragedians who have moved us to tears or awed and ennobled. us by sublime representations of passion, have a full claim upon our gratitude. Nor should the rank and file of the dramatie army be forgotten after having bravely borne the brunt and heat of the battle. The American Dramatic Fund has already relieyed the necessities of many members of a pro- fession which is peculiarly exposed to the evils of a wandering, improvident life. Let us hope that the fund will be largely increased by the proceeds of the approaching ball at the Academy of Music. 4 Prison Reform. The proposition of the Prison Association to put all the prisons of the State in the hands of & Board of Commissioners to hold office for ten years has the advantage of all the argumenta in favor of government in general by commis- sions and against it all the arguments that are so familiar against that system. It is the sys- tem, of all in vogue, that is least subject to abuses so long as the commissioners are the right sort of men. In our first use of the commission system it was excellent, because we got a new kind of men in office. It brought out men who had made up their minds that the post of honor was a private station when the very fountain of political life was that hustling dog fight, a primary election, But the politi- cians saw that’ they must change their base, and they at once began to operate for appoint- ments on the commissions, just as before they had operated for 9 place on this or that ticket, Now the commissions are no better than the