The New York Herald Newspaper, January 26, 1870, Page 8

UP THE NILE. 4 Modern Guide for Travel on the Great River and Grand Fluvial Contrasts. From Caito Onward---The Halting Points and Shore Scenery. The Guests of the Kheidive in Associated Sight-Seeing. Who They Met and How They Were Amused. Caro, Egypt, Dec. 26, 180%. I were asked which was tho greatest of all tvers I should answer the Nile. I say this after ‘travelling up the Mississippi as far as St. Paul, the Atiesouri as far as Fort Benton, the Arkansas as far a8 Fort Dodge, the Hudson ae far ag Albany; after Raving had @ squint at tue Amazon, having geen the Thames, the Selne, the Rhone, the Tagus, the Guadalquiver, the Danube, the Dnesper and many lesser streams of Europe and Asia. Ah! to me it is an old, old friend. Did I not lunch at one of ita head waters where it was known as tne Ta- eazze? Have I noi seen it braved in those everlast- tug old mountains of Wodgerat, in Abyssinia? And efter gazing at the mysterious dew’ and drizzled mist, after seeing the frat smali rill pour down the ateep slope of the Amba, and, gathering strength ‘asit went, rush like a racer towards the sea through the thousand defies cf Abyssinia and Nubia’ end mow, contemplating the grand river which that tor- rent finally becam, could I nesitate in my answer that the Nilo was the greatest of ali rivers? It seems a dream, yet am Tawake. I realize it after an’effort, after Lard, serious, deliberate analyza- tion of eelf, and come to the conclusion that I have voyaged the Niic. As the eky eastward over the Mokattum range ohanged its color from gloom to gray, irom gray to saffron, then blushing red changed again to a watery biueness, streaked here and there with crim- son ribbons, gauzy whiteness and grayish shadows of clouds, and as a crescent of molten light peered over the Mokattum, painted the Nile tn silver, tinged the adobe huts of Ghizeh and the pyramids with lustrous brownness, wlumnined the mystic groves of palms with greenish buesyaud fnaliy became one @reat ball of living light. The Kgyptian government @teamer, the Ferus, leit her pier at Boulac and steamed up the Nile, bearing a number of mvited guests of the Khedive. We left Catro-Boulac and Ghigeb astern, with thetr agglomeration of palaces und palms, mud huts and palms, jateen yards and palms, clumped tamaish and palms, with Mokaitum range gray, bungrily ‘arid above all. Above Rhoda the Nile expands into one stately fatherly river. Another island, green with waving corn, bifurcates it into two streams 500 yards wide, Passing this the Nile makes a bola curve westward. ‘The pyramids are geen ahead, Sakhara 1s leftward, Then anviber curve, and the stately fow of its ‘Waters, 18 expansive breadth, its glorious reach, tte banks teeming greenly witn paim trees, its bosom shadowed by ibis-winged feluccas, and we are reminded that we are on the Nile, Come, let us American travellers see the Nile and its snores together. Let us read chem aright; not by twisting our tongues out of their sockets in pronouncing Bard woras, nos in fine frenzy of poetry sonorously rottug through folios of high-sounding adjectives, bat ina sensible way, out of which practical use may be derived. The Nile becomes one broad river two hours after you leave Cairo. ‘Treading the decks of the steamer you may have a clear view of all your heart may Gesire of Egyptian sceuery. You can watch the world. They ways , you know;’? ‘#0. demmed ine, you know” “such travellers, rte a ach fine, anes ” «When I was im the Pu a said another. “When I was at ‘Sunia, p @ major, poling quartermaster gen- “Oh, really,’? coprespondent asks the latter, In that wondering, half inquiring way whlch invites a!) manner of confidence, “you have been to Sunla?? “On, yes, God biess you; 1 was Cony quarter: master general there. D—— fine Lo a it, to, pon word, My names Harvey rgast Walsh—Major Prendergast Walsh, a& your service. ab tare, a those, I used Lo get 760 rupees a m $350) e you been much in otner parts of India” asks correspouden: 2 “Ob, bless your heart alive, that I have. Satkar- ried tigers i the Punjab, Wrestied wp big shakes for dear life im the Deccan, pickmicked on the Huna- parpe. f00e miles upon miles in Casumere and “Holy Moses |’ correspondent feels jike exclaim- ing; ‘and you have been to Persia, too, | 81 iv “ah, 1’ve been only once in Persia. ‘iravelied through it, you know, from Bom! to Constan- Unople by way of Ispahan ad Diaibekir,” said Major Prendergast Walsh, ina deprecating toue, What kind of man, thought 1, was this who made so light of traveling through Persia? ‘T are to be met only among English routiste—lying itine- Tanté almost all of them. I baye met severas of them, and they were mosily all Angio-indians. But # truce to this retaiitog of Briush gossip, The HERALD reader ie by this suilieiently acquainted with oe kind of company with whom tne special did tue dt was about noon of the grat day that we began to realize wuat Egyptian hea. 1s as it vrooded over the Nile scenery. “The mornings are chilly on the Nile, and vo; 8 find shawls and overcoats com- fortabie at that time, But af uoun the paling swig im the mirage, anu thelr tufted tops appear like dark wieis in mid-air, ‘The Arabian mountains ap- pear dim in the fervid haze. Far aiead tue tail chimacys of ugar manufactories aad the slanting lateen yards appeared like my sic Shadows. ‘Tue low banks on the westert side vepregented the several Phases of Egyptian svenery. id huts thatched With paim branches rose @ few feet above the ground, bordered over by a minaret or the cupoladed Toot of a sneikn’s tomb, On the river we saw what reminded us of the Scriptural saying, ‘sine land suadowy with wings.” For at all times during the day one may see the gracetul dabavisch or the stil more graceful Kanjeah, or perbaps tne leaviiy lauen feiuceus, buiwarked Witn dung-piasier, with their huge lateen sails spread to- catch each breeze, dreamily gliding on Ue Nile’s broad bosom, heed. Jess of ruins, beedless Of shelcus’ Lomys resting Bo! lary under the wnbrage of pi And of the honey- combed mountain ruaged Which”have seen many fod a through 10ng, loag eras, glide apd Soutuward we glided, with the eastern ra! of mountains on our leit standing, stuvborn and for- imidabie, wituln a mue or so of Lhe river, never changing aspect, with neither peak nor ravine to break weir grim front, sueiterimg che poor fellan Dabivations at their bage, and reflecting toelr tlerce imeandescence upon the delicate green of the palin groves, and with the western bank on our right expanding broadiy, dark with exuberant vegeta- ton, Uni sunset, When we fould ourselves at Belnsovef, about seventy miles souta of Cairo, As 1 ac oniy writing of what | have sven and of the places traveliers oy Nile steamers stop, of course ib must Dot be expected tuac 1 mail have auything to pay of places not visited, Aiver hauling alo: of the mud bank, which on the Nile auswers wil “the purposes of a pier, the passengers sprang asbore for a iriendly invasion of tue bury of Beuiwooel. Two Abyssinian voy saves aud @ governmeut cawass icd tne way, hojding ship lanverus avove their beads, in order that toe homo- geneous but well dressed army who brought up tue Tear igi not fall headioug tuto the pitfalls aud ditches with which the path was cut. We were a curious army, delgoted wita everything we saw; mauilesting our delight with shouts aud laughter, to the “marualiaus” of tue inbabitants, We asxed loudly for peruission to see a fantasia, or au Arap dance, ‘The inbabiiants asked loudly in return jor 01 “Buksulsh,” the army re- plied, with more gloutug and laugater, ‘Bux- shisn? Certamiy, alter tue fantasia, ‘aib, how- aggee; Taib. (Good, sir; goou.) Talib, howaggec; tais Way,’ and our glad cicerones led the way through dark janes und arcues and through the bazaur of Beuisvoel. “ Mashalan,” grunted the portly Turkish mer- chants, siltlug in,ueir dark recesses, Surrouuded by their wares of sien kerchiel, crimaon cloth tar- hilans, Bedouw siawls and Kaltans, piges and nar- nutes, and iruiis aud spices irom Kyypt ana ubia. “‘Masnallah,” echoed the boys and girls, who Were the half-naked, hungry*eyed gamia of Boni- wove, © Mashalial,” chorused the goitrous,-blind gad iithy beggars of Benisove!, as our army aef.ed past, one by One, im all the giory Of Frankish cos- tame. In a secluded part of the town of Bentsooef lived the ostrucized ubawazee—the ira females of the burg, for like almost all females professing ferpsi- chorean art With tae abandon necessary to elicit pub- lic applause, the Guawazee ave lmmoral, Banished by zealous Moslems, the Ghawazee live apart from the females of Massutman society, wiither gravitate ‘The its population. ong extravagantly beautiful, but they were graceful great pyramids of Ghizeh, which, if you have pone Cena peop rosa Previously ascended, you will have a feel- | for tne entertainment. tigeaenll anna lie ing akin to reverend love for tem as Turee Gaawazees nami meh, Ismeh and Ze- Buba, we:e 1d to dance at tive dollars each. ‘wey sadly fade in the distance. You | We formed since, upwards of sixty of Us, and an see the pyramids of Sakhara and Darbor with pleasure and wonder, the quarries of Toora anda multitude of strange sights. You have hardly time to name what you do see; the steamer gocs too quick for fresh young eyes. It mayhap at first destroy your romantic ideas about a Nile voyage. You go gilding past groves of delicate palms, past gardens verdur- ‘ous beyond imagination, varied peyond belief; past an array of gray rocks from Arabia-ward which run to the Nile banks in formidable array, penetrating through the groves and leaving but a narrow line of Vegetable lie between it and the rive Presenuly you will get accustomed to these mant- foid sights, to the coniguration of the laud, to the mayatic'colors which tinge tae sky, to the profile of Diuff and piaio, to the picturesque outlines of palm groves against the sky, to the grou figures of men and women on the banks, naked boys bathing; to the stratum of dark heads rising above the ban! peering Ifstiessly at the steamer us she passes; to tne wolitary drothedary and nis rider sharply defined in the foreground of a picture often seen on te Noe. Your eyes failing to take in the details of the rapidly succeeding sketches of nature with the same avidity as ut first, look heavily, perhaps a Mttle dreamiiy, around, take in all, from horizon to horizon, and, upon seeing nothing but paims and moud huts and sycamores, forest clumps, near lowly mabitations, or standing clustered together under the shadow of tabular lulls or alone on the plain, with flocks of crows or pelicans, ibis, harpeos, @ailing overhead or in the water, lapse into a mournful, semi-drowsy state, out of Which you can mo more awaken than you can fly. Having resolved Nile scenery in this wise, having atrived.at this ruined Nile stage already, having cast the lengthened Nile vistas, however verdant. how- ever grim, however romantic they first appeared, auto mere shreds of descriptive paragraphs, I must inform you of the company | am with and whom we are. We are a company of notables, numbering seventy, whom the Khedive invited to visit Egypt. Among us are many of the first rank of all classes of European society. William Howard Russell, LL.D., author of Crimean and Bull Run _ letters poet Times, recoguized by London MN as the king of corfespondents— y one, with his daughter, 1s of ws; Lord Pratt and the female Pratt, her ladyship and three or four British colouels and captains—honora- Dies are of us. The principal personages of the remaining ceiebrities are Professor Ricnard Lep- a@lius, the great Egyptologist; ’roiessor Friederichs, archeologist of the Berlin Maseum; Commendatore Negri, President of the Italian Geograpical Society; Comte Francesco Misnialcii, Senator of the kingdom of italy and Vice President of the Italian G. 8., with nis son, Comte ncesco; General Chiosto, wio pianoed the military haroor of Spezzia; Rear Ad- murai Isola; the painters Uzzi, Benattt and Marnielii; Commendatore Ubaidini Peruzzi, Deputy of the Italian Chamber, formerly Minister, now Syndic of Florence; Professor Longo, director of the Perseve- ranza, ® Milanese journal; M. Kectus, a French Uuerateur, a frequent contributor to Putnam's Mag- azine, New York; Signor Charies Esculle, editor of Journal @ /taue, Florence; P. Hansen, editor of the Dagdladet, Copenbagen; Adolfo Rivadeneyis, Span- fen Consul at Damascus; Wilhelm Lauser,’ corre- apondent New Free Press, of Vienna; besides the entire Swiss Legation, Sefor B. Orvuzar, Sécresary of Chilean Legation at Loudon, and several others of leaser note. ‘This party jas been distributed over two steam- ers and two dahabisches in tow of the steamer Ferus. Within two bours of our departure from Cairo the Ferus party, of wuich your special was one, got acquainted with each other with a rapidity quite astonishing. Your correspondens was cou- fronted by Professor Friederichs, of the Berlin Uni- versiiy apd Museum. he distinguished Professor aniorvunately bad @ lady iriend residing at New York, who, 1 seems, bad corresponded with hia upon American topics and had heediessly led him ail astray upon such things. ‘The Professor argued with me very waruily upon the subject of liberty of conscience 1i America that first morning. He main- tained from the New York lady's standpoin. that tnere waa 10 liberty of conscience in America, wat our preachers were the most iil-educated of any vlher nation, that they were most corrupt and hypo- critic. A lew, certainly, such as Beecher, Tyag, Dix, Chapin, might be exempt srom that category; that though our churches had no art, whey yet were tue most luxurious of any in the world, and that a poor man could find no sitting room in God's House; that Mr. Bancroft, our Minister at Berlin, who was one of the inest gentiemen he ever knew, preferred Germans to his own countrymen, because American students at Berlin did not adaress Mr. Bancroft as “his Excellency ;’’ that Mr. Bancroft lived In better styie than any German prince, which quite aston. dshed hija (the Professor), as he had imagined that American ministers would have imitated the virtu- ous Franklin. Projessor Friederichs being a very eminent man, of the methodical German school, having @ great contempt for young men, your cial sat silent, listeued and reflected, aud ually termined upon communicaliog thus much to ALD readers. for our British companions on the Nile, they were such pe one Mundy thew I al) parte of tue gat ourselves on kirshee benches. Coffee, Mocha Of the finest, was served to as iu brass Mugaus. Thus was in liself romantic. Sixty Franks, muie and fe- male; counts, artists, baroas, aud wWerati, great aud small, London 7imes and New York HERALD specials seated on kirshee benches, under sighing Palms, drinking Mocha of the iinest, expectant of an Arab fantasia. An old man, who had seen sixty summers, drew his zumerra or reed fife, doubdle-futed, from under his Kaiten and view @ melaucholy note; a younger man gave one or two premunitory taps on uls karabuka and the Ghawazco Fatimeh, wita the grace of an apparition, sprang vefors us at she call. Imagine this elf of the tropics as revealed to us by lamplight in a wavy costume of crimson silk #0 loosely covering she body that through its Mimsy tex- ture every ousiine of her form was visible. Beneath, the lower part was tucked up at tne knecs, while the ivlds hung flowing over. <A vest- Ment of bl silk spangled witn gold, haif shadowed the glowing rich color of the luxuriant bosom, but so slight was the material that through it almost burned the deep, browntskin. Acap of gold, set jauntily on her head, was the only head- dress she wore; adown her neck waved her hair in manifold, threadiie piaits. From her neck depended &@ gilttering crescent ol gold, Bracelets of gold en- circled her wrisis and the upper haif of her arms; a natrow gold bana clacturned the waist, and trom this hung several tiny sliver bells, which rung many a melodious peal as sue moved. But how shall I de- soribe the youthiul Facmen, with eyes waich giowed and sparkled like jet diamonds or like twin stars? She burst into happy merriment as applausive Saibs broke irom the audience, and spun her body round with & wanton, intoxicating movement in order to sbow her points to the Franks. The orchestra, composed of a zumarra tarabuka (an oblong drum), a single stringed guitar, com- Inenced the weirdest of weird tunes. It was like a snake charmer’s music—wild, mournful, dismal @ud weird; and, in sympathy with tne thrilling notes, a quiver ran over the Ghawazeo’s body, as if it had been liquid and @ peobie had = = disturbed §=its = placiaity. The music waxed swronger, and while Fatmen rested lightly On @ cane @ succession of these quivers or ripples passed over her body, each ripple being faith- fully delineated in the silken costume. The Zamarra Toue still higher, she tarabuka became noisier, and the one-stringed guitar waxed weirder, and the body of Fatmen revolved in singular sympathy with the music. Tre ol man advanced—an ugly satyr in compari- son with Fatmeh—and with noves bigh and wild as from ® lost soul shrieking its f or its sorrow from the other side of 7 Phelgean lake, he- invited the Ghawazee wo follow him. Fatmeh, under the inftuence of the music, was as docile as @ snake in the hands of the charmer, or a child mesmerized. The eyes were veiled by her drooping eyclids, the face seemed stilied by sleep, while the body rippled and qutvered irom head to foot, as she dreamiiy fol- lowea her charmer. Once around the circle, the Ghawazee broke from the influence of the Zumarra, and wafted herself by two lithe movements into the centre or the circie, where @ carpet had been spread to receive her. It was @ pantomime of love’s ecstacy that here followed, exhib- ted so faithfully that spectators absorbed in the representation half believed themselves actors in it, It was tne illustration of # love dream, wherein all the passions the full delirium of 1s, was vividly acted, Not for delicately reared women or loud voiced morality of priest# 1s such @ scene or its description. Not for virtuous maids or youths is a Ghawazee to exhibit a fantasia; and, leas I offend delicacy, or offend the vircuous, draw a@ veil over scene. Suilicient muss be the suggestion. Cleo- rienced the deiiriam of love as represented by th Ghawazee. Such a vividness of representations ¢ might kindle madness in weak minds, In an artistic sense the actiug was perfect; reality itseif could not have been more. ‘The pulse-Ako motion of the muscies, moving in harmony with the torilling music and the tick-like clatter of her silver castanets; the continuity of movement over her whoie body; the concentration of power in each succeeding inuscle; the undulayons of each and all in rapid: sequence, lixe tiny ripples chasing each other in @ lakelot, Were superb; 1t was the acme of dramatic power, Leltmeh closed her performance FAIRER ZENUBA. ‘There now burat forth a wilder strain and Zenuba Sprang with the celerity of lightning into the arena. Leuba was a ripe girl of fourteen, fair as@ lows flower, a pure blonde of Circassi@n parents, with two full cherry lips, cheek round and rosy as tue pome- granaie, eyes of such profound biueness you would havo thougntthem stolen from the azure sky of Egypt. Sue stood a moment like astatue of Parian Mucbie ia ao Kgyptian robe, lightly resting on one sali plump foot, silppered ta gold, before the old Saiyr ofa reed flower. Suddenly, aympathizing with & chord, sho stirred; rhe bive slimtzan troussrs fall in measure, rusticd like leaves in autumn, and suo again became motonless. Gentier the 2umarra seemed wating, threnody-like, ani Zenuba commenced 4 dreawy revolution, around the circle, her arms ex- vended, ler hands beating time wit two pairs of silver castanets, So naturally responsive was her movement, #0 dreamy her aciton you would nave Sworn lier charmed into it by the gumarra, Having complered te C1KCle BBE Feyoired rapidly tothe where she took her on the carpet full tn the giare of the numerous olive lamps. We now saw the beauty and ase of the WP tex- tle robes abe wore, for movement oes fohlowed were impossible reaurained by a cans fitting heavy dress. 1% was necessary even that her bosom should be uncovered, though it was fair enough to melt an auchorite; nay, an angei might have sorrowed or Joyed upon i. The applause of the Gusting hed fudience met her ear as she gracefully glided to the carpet. Zenuba, from under the influeuce of the mournful chant slowly bent backward, and as a Venus about to toy with wavelets her wealth of auburn hair streamed behind her like w veil. Hay- Ing touched the carpet with her whe slightly Talsed hersel! and extended her right leg, while her body heaved itself in an opposite direction, And in tng posture she caused her muscles, trom her bosom to her feet, to vibrade in unison. with her clicking castanels, the baxs thro! of the tara- Duka and the zumarra’s sweet, melancholy tones. Was 1 sorrow she acted? or was 16 love? I tink the tormer, for Niobe’s sorrow could not have ap- peared more intense or affe: than this. Gently she siidto her knees, aud her body to the and, and each click of the castancts seemed’ to tel a prayer, each jingle of her bells swinging to Movewent by the convulsive movement of the waist seemed to breatne an entreaty. dently her body rose and aw; from side to side without ube least break in the dramauc acting or a disturbd- ance Lo distrast the attention, while still her waist and bosom kept’ up their convulsive movement: Walle still the ead swayed to the measure; While SUil the clicking was faintly audible totime. Slowly uhe lovely head descended to the breast, more mourafuily the castanets clicked their silvery tones, more drawn became the reed notes of the sumarra, sadder becomes the tarabuka; lower, lower sull bent the head, the breasts in to pal- pitate quicker, the body heaved more convulsively, the muscles rose and fell oitener. The head descended to the ground, where it seemed to gwim in graceful circles; tue castanets still clicked their prayer, while the hands were upraised, and each muscle still throbbed as if be- neath each there pulsed a heart, ‘I'he body revolved round its axis, continuing that same delirium of sorrow; Up it rose and then fell slowly backward, with the knees stil curlea beneath; it ruse and feil again, with breasts heaving now as if the sor- Tow was about to be expressed in werds. Lower ‘the music sounded, slower bocame the movements, nd one lopg-drawa note of the zumarra, one long- drawn rumble of the tarabuka, one loog-drawa convulsive movement of the ly, closed the per- formance, and the Gbawazee lay almost iifeless on the ground. Our Frankish audtence had been excited to the highest pitch by this last dramatic pantomime, and Silver dollars showered on tho Ghawazee tested Wo weil of the admiration which her supero danc- ing had excited. ing late we did not stay to see ysmeh dance, and we revurned to our several boats well pleased ‘with dur experiences at Benlovel. POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE. HSSISSIPPI POLITICS, ~e Hiram BR. Revels, the Colored Senator fro Mississippi—Some of the Antecedents of Successor of Jeff Davis. [From the Leavenworth l rerl Times and Con- servative Radical, Jan. 27.) The telegraph announced yesterday that Hiram R, Revels had been elected a United States Senator, for au unexpired term, from Mississippi. This ts the firat representative of the colored race elected to the United States Senate, and he will teke the seat left vacant by Jeff Davis when that eminent white man realigned and became a traltor. Mr. Revels is a native cf North Osrolina, aud was educated in Ohio, He 1s now about fortv-five years of age, and has been for many years & men in the African Methodist Hpiscopa! Church. Before the war he preached m St. Louts and Baltimore. The last ver of the war he was at Vicksburg and came from there to Leavenworth. He uas a brotner, Dr. Willis R. Revels, who 1s @ practicing physician aud a man of wealth in Indianapolis. Mr. Revels came here tn the fall of 1865 and took charge of the church .in this city. He helped the church exhaust the debt incurred in building the large church edifice tn this city, and was considered avery able man. Ho isa man of fine presence, of excellent sense, of good business quallfications, and a eloquent speaker. ‘he Missouri Annuni Confer- efice sent lilm from this charge to Louisville, where he remained one year, when he was transferred to the Louisiana Conference, under Bishop Shorter. His present residence is Natchez, At the recent election he was elected State Senator from the Fobrtn district, receiving a mafortty of 3,186, while Alcorn, for Governor, received only 2,460. He 1% & man of genuine courage, and not consent to maltreated or ig- nored by ns of any variety of color or caste. It will not be pradent to snub him tn the Senate, either on the ground of color or beinga carpet- bagger or for intgltectual inferlority. We have ters of his before us, addressed to Captain Will D. Matthews, of this city. The handwriting 1s e: cellent, the style good and the spelling invariably correct, and they are very much superior to the let- tera written by the two white men who were re- elected to the Senate from Kansas. On the 16th of last June Mr. Revels wrote:— Tem alo: well herein the distant am swofking very bara th politice us well an in other mations Woe are determined that Mi pt ‘on a basis ‘of justice ard political and legal equality. On tne 29th of October he wrote:— ‘We are in the midst of an exciting canvass. The conserva- tive party, conslating chiefly of Southern democrats, 1s dolag everptnige in lus power to siect, the demooratio ticket, Ther have afd from the d party North, and are backed by have in'the field the ablest other hand, wo have but litte working ns from thelr minds, We are also meeting the enemy on stump, and he invariably gets tne worst of ft. We have nearly twentg thousand more colored vetes than white in the State, and [ belfeve that we shall elect our State ticket and have a majority in the re. It 1s pleasant to hear a Mississippi Senator talk in this way, and it is safe to say that that Stave will not be guilty of repudiation or treason while she has such men in Congress. We congratulate the country on the successor of Jeff Davis. General Alcorn’s Letter Declining the Office of Provisional Governor. Friar's Pornt, Jan. 7, 1870. GuNERAL—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication enclosing me a com- mission ag Provisional Governor of Mississippi, My failure to have acknowledged the previous letter in whica you informed me of your intention two send me the commission has arisen from the lact of my absence from home. Your soidierly obedience to orders has placed you before the people of Mississippi in & position which has exposed you to their anger. The injustice which they have done you in a paroxysm of passion they will, I am convinced, right before jong, ‘at the bid- ding of tneir sober, second thougnt, While the tin- patience with which you seek to withdraw from @ position so thankless is very natural, I take leave to assure it by suggesting thatin the rapidiy tmproving temper of the pablio miad you may ex- pect before long a reversal of its cruel, unjust judg- ment of you, at the command of its reason. I regret, General, that I do not feel at liberty to Qccept the commission which you do me the honor of placing in my hands. Coming from the military authority, and subjecs for its support to the military power, the fitness of things appears to we to forbid my acceptance of it wuile I hold in immediate prospect the position of civil Governor by that sanc- tion most acceptable to my instincts as an American citizen—that of popular choice. Inasmuch ag I have traurpled upon many prejudices of my education to arrive at the conclusions of sound policy in promo- ting the interests of my fellow citizens of the State in the question of reconstruction, I may, perhaps, be indulged in the frank confession that under the fehowship of error and chastisement by which I am bound to the Southern people, I am constrained by an irresistable force of my heart to draw back from lot or part in their government by any other right than that of their consent. aly people, 1 grant you, are very passionate; but they are, nevertheless, thoroughly rigut hearted. ‘The bonesty which underlies tueir hasty judgments wWilldo you justice in the end. Bear, therefore, a little longer with their passionate unfairness in the evenness of temper and the good conscience that have distinguished your administration of their affairs. While regretting sincerely that they do you and thelr own better nature injustice, { must decline, agi do here with sincere thanks, the honor you would do me, as @ duty to the analogies of my puv- lic jife and sympathies of my heart. Believe me, General, to be, with sincere respect and sympathy, very faithfully yours, J. L. ALCORN. To Brevet Major General AMES, commanding Fourth Miltary Distriot. GEORGIA POLITICS, {From the Augusta Chronicle and Sentine! (demo- cratic), Jan. 23.) Grant and Greeley and the sensible repubiicai jesire ‘‘to be done with reciprocal nates, and spites aud recriminations and to stop wrangling gdout dead issues,’ why do they not stop the wrang- ing at Atlanta and permit the Legislature to ve organized? if obstructing reconstrucwion is “in direct ostentauous defiance of the clearly exprosacd popular will’ why does General Grant permit Bul- Jock to interfere witn our legislation? If they want the fifteenth amendment quickly ratifed why do they permit Bullock to delay action upon itin the Georgia Legislature? The troth 1s, General Grant and Greeley want someting else. That something is the estublisament of their party ascendancy mm ‘this State. EXPLosIon OF A Fire ENGINE—BoY KuLLED.— ‘The Mohawk Engine, No. 12, was taken out yesver- day afternoon and set to work pumping near the corner of Kace street and Hamilton road, The en- ine had only been runming at a moaerate pressure ‘or @ short time, when the wp of the copper air chamber was suddenly forcea off. The explosion caused @ stampede of tne crowd, who were standing around watching the working of the engine, and they ran in all directions, Que of them, a iad of eleven years, ran in such @ course that when the cap had riven thirty feet or more in the air tt descended aud struck him on the top of sue head, dashing nim to the ground with a terribly crusbed skull and mu- tiated Iace, The iiitle fellow was immediawiy car- ried into @ grocery near by, where his injuries proved fatal before relief could bo obtained. The Jad’p name is Charice Reumer, apd he ts irow Alex~ “presented to his patrons at the New York Circus lyn Academy of Music in her original character of ‘¥opsey, in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” Jans. . Francisco. Nice, Italy. Opelousas, La. days. Cousin” in New Orleans. With genteel dy. to the mild-mannered citizens of Omaha on Monday eveulng. NEW. YORK HMRALD, WEDNSSDAY. JANUARY 26, 1870,—TRIPLE SHEET. andria, Ky. standing near at th: time mon one Witness to. the custom occur pect An inquest will be held on ailernoon.—Cinclnnali Ohrontcle, January 21. AMUSEMENTS. Woon's Muszum.—The buriesquers, the Piondes, the beasts and the birds, some beautiful and some bewitohing, are still the principal features of the Dumerous attractions at this establishment. Many New adaitions have also recently been added to the different collections of curiosities and wonders, and where there was but one ‘‘stono giant” before there are now two, and said “atone gianws’’—or gypsum gypsies—are now surrounded by @ score or more of sympathizing, mild-featured wax figures, but every One of tnem representing some noted blooathirsty murderer, with “plood, Iago! blood!” tickling down thelr fingers and smeared all over their germents, Im the dramatic department of the Museum burlesque is taken care of by the blondes, and both here flourish twice daily—once in the afternoon and once in the evening. At the matinée performance on Monday Burnaud’s comt- cal burlesque of ‘‘Wijiam Tell” was given in this city for the first ume, and was well received. In fact, 1% was @ and will doubtless have a good ran. it is @ clever travesile upon the story of the “Liberator of Switserland,”” unding in puns, jokes and a vast amount of ® very Jonny, sort and serves its purpose excel. Jently well in Keeping the audience in a continual roar of laughter. ¢ piece, which is strongly cast and handsomely costumed, 1s also furnished with new and appropriate which tends in, a at measure iusure its success. Miss Olivia nd, ag the brave William, acted the part en- trusted to her with considerable dash snd plucl and Miss Rosa Rand, as Albert, made @ most decide hit. Mr. Ward, asthe terrible tyrant Gesler, sus- tained the character with his accustomed vim. Alisses Wood and Bernard were also attractive and ean in their respective rdies, The burlesque ot “William Teil’? will, until further notice, constl-. tute the attraction at the matinées, while the per- formances of the evenings will be of the double- barrelled burlesque order, consisting of the laugh- able “Dorabeila’”? and that wickedest of wicked myths, the irrepressivie “‘Ixion.” New York Crrovs.—Manager Lent last night an entirely new programme, which was as varied as it wasexcellent. The bill included a large number of acts, many of which were very humorous and mirth-provoking. Of course a large portion of the performance was made up of equestrian exhibitions, many of which were very good. Among these was 8 “diversion” entitled “Blind Man’s Buff,” in which four mounted iadies and one gentleman took part. Miss Pauline Hindley also performed some wonder- fal acta upon her cream-colored steed. The four Denzer brothers, really ciever acrobats, dtd some wonderful feats in their business, and fully deserved the enthusiastic encore which they more than once received. Mr. Robert Stickney created quite a furor in an original act upon horseback, which consisted in throwing himself through three balloons back- ward, he standing with his face towards the horse’s tau. Ms, Stickney announced that it was the first time the act had been trieu, and when he had complished 1¢ the comfortable house sounded to pplause, The performance closed “Billy Button’s Ride to Brentford,’ Mr. Nat Austin appearing as the anfortunate tailor, which created roars of laughter. The house was crowded im every part, notwithstanding the bad weather. Musical and Theatrical Notes. Mrs. G. ©. Howard appears to-night at the Brook- Lucille Western ts ‘Child Stealing” In Buffalo, Marietta Ravel 1s sensationalizing the stoical Tro- ‘The Zavistowski Sisters are burlesquing in San Offenbach and the Schneider are rusticating at Dumas is dramatizing the late Pantin tragedy, A blind uight rope walker has been performing at ‘The new theatre in Charleston was built in forty Jefferson is still personating “Our American Edwin Forrest is delighting the sooty Pittaburgers tragedy. Brignoli—“‘the silver volced”’—introduced Martha ing. ‘Miss Bateman presents Mary Warner to tne Creoles of the Crescent City on next Monday e' qi Sangalit and “The Biack Crook” hi succeeded Bonfanti and ‘‘Ixton” at the Opera House in San Francisco. Madame Patti was recalled twenty-eight times after a performance of ‘La Figitn” at St. Petersburg. Boston has prohibited ‘‘fying trapeze” perform- ances, and every other city should*foilow the ex- ample. ine Chinese playing at the Marysville (Cal.) theatre concluded a three months engagement on the Lith inst, during which they performed but one histori- cal and one biographical drama. The Roman censorship has been doing fine things lately. It has ordained that the music of the “Hugue- nots’? in Meyerbeer’s work shall be given to the Catholics; that Mephisto in “Faust” shail be a doc- tor, and that the mouastery in “La Favorite” shall be @ hospital. The re of plays often goes back as far as the Pedigree of jokes. ‘Take in illustration Bane’s well known opera “The Bohemian Girl.” Cervantes wrote a story called ‘The Gypsy of Madrid; on this story a ballet was founded, eatitled, ‘La Gitana;”’ the French ilbrettist St. Georges took the action of “La Gitana” and turned it into an opera book; and the English poet Bunn, in his turn, adapted ti Uvret of St. Georges. Acthe present moment Bunn’s ‘aria inion League theatre, on the 8th of cont di Rohan” at the igh ded for the benefit of the Samaritan Home for 6 ged. Mr. Konconi vuill be assisted upon this oc- casion ea Gulager, who will sustain the rdle of Maria. ‘The Samaritan Home is one of our most de- serving Charities, and the entire proceeds of tne te posed performance will be generously donated to the institution by Mr. Ronconl. An interesting and novel musical entertainment will be given at Steinway Hall on February 12, in the shape ofa grand symphony, composed by Edward Mollenhauer on Collins’ Ode to the Passions. There Will be a chorus of 160 and an orchestra of sixty per- formers, and the poem will be recited by Mr. Kdwin Booth. The symphony 1s dedicated to fessor R. Q. Doremus and faithfully delineates 1 music the Various passions of the human mind, not in the pro- gramine style of Berlioz nor the myaticism of Wag- her. but im the genuine school of classic music. Mr. Molienhauer’s abilities as a composer, virtuoso and director are well Known tothe New York pubiic, and the forthcoming work is exciting much atten- tion in musical circies, MUSICAL REVIEW. Wiliam Hall & Son publish the following:— “Little Footsteps That Are Gone,” ballad. J. R. ‘Thomas. Simple and unprotending, but s waif of genuine melody. “Sigh on, Sad Heart,” song, John Daniel. A very pretty song, @ reminiscence of Henry Bishop, or some other of the old English song writers. “Let Me Kiss those Tears Away,” ballad. Danks. A pleasing melody, well treated. Dodworth & Son publish the followin, “Body Guard Polka.” W. H. Neave, Uninterest- ing and lacking sparkle and dash for dancing pur- poses. ; “Wedding Galop.” W: B. Allen. Mediocre, with one good theme in it. “spring Birds Schottisch.” D. T. Morgan. A gooa dancing schottisch, without any further pre- tensions. “J Heard @ Spirit Sing,” ballad. W. F. Taylor. It must have been in the nursery that the composer heard the spirit; for the song 18 evidently intended for musicians of the most tender years. “In Dear Sventides of Old,” song. W. Malmene. lediocre. Ditaon & Co. publish the following:— “Lingering Joys,” ika mazurka. L. Gerster. Notoing in it to linger in tbe mind for an instant. “Praise of Woman,” polka mazurka, J. Strauss. A characteristic work of this unapproachable dance composer. “selections from Maritana,’? quadrille, galop and waltz. Arranged by ©. E. Pratt. ‘The themes are well chosen and the arrangements sausfactory in every wense of the word. H. M. Fairchild publishes the following number of the Musical Coronet, for G. 8. Dwyer: » Ye Tears;”? “Why Chime the Bella?” ‘Sing, Birdie, Sing;’? “Holl- day Polka” and ‘Maud Waltz.’ Elias Howe, Boston, publishes a choice selection of excelient saion piec by Strauss, Gungi, J’arlow and Faust, and songs of a popular tendency, in one number, which he calls his Musical Monthly. Broadway, publishes a miniature in very handsome style, 11 tweive numbers, consisting of souvenirs of tl rearest, ancient and modern composers. A phow; mh of the composer is 1n the titie p: of each number, Hitehcock’s Monthly Magazine for February con. tains some cholce music, “The Wolf at the Door’ is a popular style of song, by Millard; “so Lonely without Thee’? is a choice work by Pratt, and ‘Talexy’s “Pleasant Dreams,” and the ‘Glenwood Polka,” by Howard Briggs, commend themselves to every musician. Itis seldom one finds suca a collection of really good music in @ magazine. edition, got A Maine soldier has had his name removed from the pension rolis, saying he has regained bis health and does aot need the pension. Comimissioner Van Aernam wrote him that his name “anould go down inco history ag o worthy example for the coimivg geperawous.” ‘The astronomical calowiations are full and complete. The United States constitution, an abstract of the pub- lic laws passed at the last session of the Fortieth resolutions ant edly the best democratic annual published tls year, and as such we recommend it. accurate in its political and other statistics. Al- though it gives everything of interest of a national character, 1t# principal feature is the part occupied by State matters. members of the Legislature are valuavie. tng Journal Almanac iw published at Albany, and, LITERATURE. Critictums of New Books. Tam Lavies ov THE Waite House. By Carter Hollaway. With fifteen steel engravings. New York: United Stutes Publshing Company. While in this coun try the wives, daughters and nieces of our public men are not regarded as hold- ng any bigher position than the women relatives of ordinary citizens, it is yet true their assocla- Uons and connections witn dist hed characters place them prominently before the country. No doubt, then, the personal careers of the wives and daugnters of our Presidents will possess some inter- est Lo the reading peniic, Atany rate, this has been and 1s the evident impression of the fair autnoress of this very neatly printed and bound volume, for she has been tw considerable pains to gather Material for biographical sketches. On her work we can bestow praise. Beginning with Martha Washing- ton she gives biographical sketches of ail the ladies iy times been readents of the use to Mrs. U. 8, Grant, the present occu- = Mrs, Hollaway expresses‘her opinions of these dies with great freedom, and sometumes with charming piquancy and gspiciness. As’ a reminis- Laara cence of gocial life at the White House, the reunions, Feceptions, scandals and other things tuat make up what 18 calied “society,” this book Will, we feel assured, be heartily welcomed by the public, even Wapnan mane peesens, should be iaociined to difer with the author in her expressed opinions of some of the ladies sketched, such as Lincoln, for instance, whose conduct 1s quite severely criticised, Waar 18 Jupaisa? on « Few Worps 10 THE duws. By Rev. Raphael D’O. Lewin, New York: D. Appleton & Co. For some time past there has been a schism in the Jewish synagogues. Some of the Israelites advo- cate reform; others, who claim to be ‘orthodox Jews,” oppose innovations upon establisned cus- tom. The author of this essay is a leader among the Reformed Jews, and he states his case with consid- erable force and logic. 1t seems to us, that his ideas tend somewhat towards a pure Deism; but whether the rejection of traditions which have proven, . Wrough eighteen centuries of persecut.on, their 4 session of greater vitaiity than any others, will or will not benefit Judaism we cannot say; but it seems likely that such rejection will inevitably lead to the destruction of the Jews & & separate and distinct ple. This merging of all nations into a common Brotnerhood ig what Mr. Lewin openly advocates. ‘We musi confess that his views are noteworthy for their broad liberality. That exciusiveness which has been regarded as the most prominent charac- teristic of the Israeilve is nowhere apparent, although Judaism as a religious faith 1s defended with much warm'h. The essay is very interesting reading, and, aside from its literary merits, possesses f the discussion it i likely to give Tam VERMONT BRIGADE IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY, 1864. By Aldace F. Walker. Burlington, Vt: The Free Press Association. ‘We have here a very readabie history of the mil- tary services of the Vermont Brigade in the Snenan- Valley, As a contribution to the history of our late civil war the book possesses considerable vdlue. It ia written in an easy, agreeable style, and will be found interesting. The Almanacs for 1870. In publishing the Public Ledger almanac, and distributing copies gratis to all the readers of his widely circulated paper,|Mr. Childs, of Philadelphia, has given another evidence of his enterprise, and, we may well say, of his liberality; for the almanac is admirably compiled, and will be found valuable for reference by business men and others. In ad- dition to the usual astronomical calculations it con- ains a large amount of information reiating to the t8tate of Pennsylvania, and more especially to Phila- delphia, A chronology of memorable events, occur- ing in the city from the year 1848 to the present time, 18 of real incergst, and is worthy of preserva- tion. It reaily gives the history of Philadciphia in a few words. There isa list of the officers of the United States government, of members of Congres8 and Pennsylvania oiilciais, and of the reigning mon- archs of the world. A vaiuable feature 1s tne United States internal Kevenue Laws, and the Weights and Measures of the United States and other Goun- tries, Altogether th almanac deserves hearty raise as weil for its neat mechanical execution ag for the value of its contents, The fribune Almanac for this yoar is, if anything, &n improvement on the previous year’s number, and Orst session of the Forty-first Congress, with proclamations, the constitution of New York, with the various revisions and amend- ments, and a vast amount of other matter make it as valuable agever. Of course its principal feature pie election returas, which are, if possible, un- ly accurate and complete. The Democratic Almanac, published by Van Everie, Horton & Co., of this city, commends itself toall democrats for the very thorough manner in which it 1a compiled. The usual astronomical cal- culations are over exact and complete. A summary of the laws of Congress, a diary of notable evei for the past year, the fifteenth amendment and mu: other matter of general interest to the pubilc, make the iit matter of more than ordinary value, ‘The omcial election returns are full, and the figures accurately printed. Of course the political bias of the almanac ig @ conspicuous feature. tis undoubt- The Evening Journal d4imanac, published in Al- bany, is, like the others noticed, well compiled and ‘Vue biographical sketches of the ‘the Even 48 migot be supposed, ts republican to politics. FEMALE HEROISN. A Lady Fires Two Shots at Burglars. About twelve o’clock on Monday night Garret E. ‘Winant, residing at 464 West Twenty-third street, was awakened by hearing a noise as of some per- sons ransacking his parlor, and waking his wife in- formed her of the fact. Mrs. Winant, whose room is in the rear of the second floor, quietly got out of bed, and without waiung to dress herself proceeded to- ‘wards the place from whence the sounds emanated, and arrived just in time to observe the form of a stalwart man passing from the back window into the yard, where be Was joined by @ companion, While her busband was proceeding down stairs Mrs, Winant got out of bed and observing her hus- band’s revolver lying on 4 stand, seized it, and look- ing from the window 1n the yard observed the cracksmen in close conversation. Raising tue window, unobserved by the laser, she cocked the revolver and taking deliberate aim fired, the bail whizzing past their ears, when they beat a hasty retreat lor the brick wall which surrounds the yard. As they were endevoring to scale the wall Mrs. ‘Wingut fired again,,the bail just grazing the smalier of the two, who abandoned his effort to get over and took refuge in the water closet. As the larger of the two men, named Joseph McGowan, was in the act of ae tae from the fence he was seized by officer ‘tims, of the Sixteenth pre- cinct, who had been attracved to ihe place by the firmg, and handed over to the ous- tody of officer Gick, of the same precinct, who came to his assistauce. Sims, upon searching the yard, discovered the other burgiar, David Degnan, an old offender, who has been but sshort time out Of States Prison, secreted in the water closet. The two were conveyed to the station bouse and yester- day morning arraigned before Justice Shandiey at Jefferson Market, where @ complaint of burglary was preferred against them, chargiog them with forcibly entering the house by means of removing a pane of glass with some instrument, shoving back the bolt on the window aud stealing property valued at forty-fivedollars. McUonaid stated he knew nothing about the charge, while Degnan professed to ‘have nothing to say.” ‘They were committed, in default ‘of $2,000 bail each, to answer at the Genera! Sessions. CUSTOM HOUSE CARTAGE. The regulations made by Collector Grinueli for the government of the carting department of the Custom House are likely to be received in a very amiabie spirit by both mercnants and carters. Tue first flush of surprise being over, their merits will be seen. The Collector disclaims having had any inten- tion of sligbting or injuring any of the carters, and imsiste that all nad a fair warning and equai oppor- tunities to avall themselves of the opportunity afforded by the change. The lowest pronowale for cartage were accepted after all the bids were in, and tue inspectors were appointed and the prices of cartage diciated by these men themselves. But a limited number of men and horses could be engaged in the business anyhow, aud no diminution is mgue by the recent order. ‘Those who most deservod the gov- ernment favor recetyed it, The conditions linposed by the Collector before taking the bonds of tue carter— demanded in every case under the new regalation— were honesty, fitness and ioyalty to the government. The men now engaged to do the Custom House carte age are expected to discaarge weir duties very ait- ferently from those enguged in the indiscriminate manner whic prevailed hitherto, The saving to the merchants will be thirty-three and one-tuird per cent and vo the goverument tuirty per ceut oy the new plan. The noise mado about the protest of the carters amounts to nothing. They wanted the Collector to certify to the correctness of a copy of their protest, which he had no time to read, forgetting that they should have nade a copy themseives and had it cer- tified to before a notary previous to seeing the Col- lector, That 13 the usual business way of doing things. A copy was obtained yesterday, however, and #0 the matier ends. it is not likely tuat tuere on be auy further trouble about tae Custos House cartage. AMERICAN GEOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTI CAL SOCIETY. Annual Meeting—Election of Officers and Ad- dress by the President, Judge Charlee P. Daly. A large and highly intellectual audience assembled Jest evening in the lecture room of the American Geographical and Statistical Society, ~Cooper Union, on the occasion of the annagl meet- ing of the soctety. The principal feature of the evening wasan erudite and closely studied paper by the president of the socievy, Charles. P. Daly, Uhief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, on “The Recent Explorations and Theories for Reaching the North Pole.” The proceedings com- mMenced punctually at eight o’clock, when Judge Daly took the chair, The secretary read the report of the council of Tast year, which exhibited the society as in a flour- ishing condition, both financially and otherwise. ‘The report was received and adopted. The treasurer presented his annuai report, showing’ @ balance im the treasury of $574 44, to which sum mast be added the uncollected dues of 405 members at five dollars each. The librarian’s report showed that 289 dona tions had been made during the year in the shape of books, Among the purchases has been a large col- lection of geographical books and atlases, amount- ing vo over $4,000. ir. Hull, from the Committee on No in favor of the following officers for the year 1870, who were duly elected wishout 0} Uon:—Presdent, Charles & Daly, LL.D; Mice Frmidents, Henry Grinnell, F. A. Conkling, a Joseph . Thompson, D.0.; Foreign sponding ‘becrerary, ‘Townsend Harris; Domestio responding Secretary, W. H. H. Moore; Reoord- Secretary, E. kt. Straznicky; Hen: Clews; Librarian, H. B. Hammond; Counell, Wil- Remsen, 'T. Batley Meyers, W. Curtis, Theod jeorge W. Culium, United States army; Lewis M. ee aeorae Cay Ward. i eck ter the reading of some correspondence sister societies abroad, Judge Daly was introduced and proceeded, im opening nis address, to give a detalied list of the great events that had taken piace and the scoy- eries that had been made during the past year. He sald ee the tags hen i Ps ryp would for ever ‘a bromine lace in the geographical and scientific world. Among the important events which had taken place were the discov ry Southeastern and East Equatorial Airica. Next the additional evidence brought to Nght of & new pianet in the icebound regions of the lo Next the marvellous resuits of tue deep sea dredging. of Professors ‘thompson and Carpenter, revealing the existence of animal lite at enormous a of the ocean, where we should ave supposed the existence of le to be imposmble. The return of Capt Hall from the Arctic regions, bringing back rem: and Iementoes of the expedition of Sir John Frankhn; all these had been great aciievementa of the present time, The completion of she Pacific Railroad was the realization of the dream of Jonathan Carver, the Connecticut captain, and the completion of the.suex canal was the realization of another dream which Mirst occurred to the mind of Alexander the Great. Judge Daly then went on in an interesting manner to speek of tne various expeditions which had been sent forth for the purpose of aiscovering te Nortn Pole—alluding to Captain Dent’s Rheory in 1848—and concluded bis remarks, amid the applause of the audience, by saying that be hoped the govern- ment of the United Siates would take the matter in Nand and afford the facilities to enabie some greas mind of this country to carry oif the palm from other Dations by @ aiscovery of the Northwest . Among the audience were the following prominent gentlemen:—James W. Beekman, Pever Cooper, Chief Justice Davies, Henry Grinnell, Augustus Scheil and Dr. J. J. Hayes, VOISE OF THE PZOPLE. Smallpox in the City. We have received several letters on this subject Their principal burden is complaining against the Board of Health and charging this body with derelic- tion of duty in the case, and asking that some strin- gent measures be adopted not only to prevent the spreading of the disease at preseat, but wW guard against the contagion in the future. Our correapond- ent, who writes a very long letter and a very sensible as well asexhanstive letter on the topic, ry there are abundant of wholesome laws on the sub- fect, but that the dificulty lies in their lack of execu- tion. Through a single act of carelessness on the part of our health officials he says that the most virulent disease may within six caps be spread broadcast throughout the entire breadth of our Jand, from this harbor on the Atlantic to that of San Francisco on the Pacific, dropping its seeds, by the way into the well-tilied soil of every city, vi and hamlet intervening. Tne question, he tn , 18 not one alone of local, but of national im- portance. He thinks a thorough examination of the system of management pursued at the Seamen’s Retreat, on Staven Island, wiil account for a. good deal of the introduction of smalipox and ship fevers. He declares that “patients having the emalipox and ship fever are clandestinely bid away, and that not long since a young but promising physician, who ‘was Assistant House Surgeon. was unceremoniously dismissed for his boldness in pronouncing one of the above discayes by its proper name. It is his opinion that Mr. Ogden, the late worthy chaplain, died of smallpox, as also Dr. Moifutt, the House Physician. Did Not See It. Remotely cognate to the above letter comes one from «‘Jastice,” who recounts the visit to the late “Social Reunion of the Ninth Class, Public School No. 8,” of An old member of the class, who had the mis- fortune to be poor and blind. This biind member of the class, suys the writer, “thought ne would go and see what kind of a welcome they wouid give nim.” He went, and what do you think, he applied for admittance, and was roughly told to get out. Gas Bills. “a Consumer” of the Manhattan Company's gas gives the Ngures of his late gas bills. He shows that for the month ending December 21 bis bill, though using no more than tue month previous, was twice as lange as for the previous month. Fair Play. Roundsman Douglas was credited in the papers with the recent rescue of two children ata fire, An. “Eye Witness’? says the credit should be given to Michael Tully, who rescued the children and de Uvered them over to the roundsman. BALLS LAST NIGHT. Hope Lodge, No. 244, F. and A. M. A large and splendid assembly of ladies anda. gentlemen, the former mostly belonging to the Masonic order, gathered at Apoilo Hall last night in honor of Hope Lodge and in expectation of a revel of no ordinary delight. The oMcers and members of the lodge were conspicuous in thetr attentions, the music was excellent, the dancing good and the beauty and briliiancy of the bail were ali that coula be desired. As at all balis or entertainments given by the Masonic body or under their auspices there was a total absence of that stiffness and coldness which frequently marks such affairs. ‘The officers of Hope Lodge have reason to, congratulate them- selves on the success of last night’s entertainment, Independence Lodge, I. 0. B. B. Irving Hak was crowded last night by members and friends of Independence Lodge, I. 0. B. B., as- sembled together to dance away care, It was an invitation ball, and of course select. The manag- ers, Who were indefatigable in their efforts to please everybody, have reason to exult over the resuit. The ball was exceedingly well conducted and de- lighted all who had the fortune w be present. Dancing was commenced at ten and was proceeding With spirit at two o'clock. THE SUEZ CANAL. Steam gee from Europe to India—Postal Charges. {From the Calentta Englishman, Deo. ay. We understand that the Biue Cross coming to Oa)- cutta, via the Suez Canal, is not expected to reach Catcutta tili tue middle of January, aa she calls at Malta and Alexandria. She is consigned to Mesers. Ernstnausen & Oesterley, who, ag will be seen trom er home Vuyage about the end of that month. From the ist of January next the postage charg- able in India on letters carried by the French packet between India and French offices east of Suez and British or British Indian offices east of Suez, distant More than 2,000 nautical miles, will be imcreased stom four annas per half ounce to five annas and pur pie. STARTLING RUMOR. A Snap Judgment Against the State for , $750,000. (From the Atbany Argus (democratic), Jan. 25.) It 18 rumored 1n official circles that tne two Canal Appraisers, in whose places Governor Hoffman has gent in to the Senate the ngmes of Colonel North, and Mr. Green, of Niagarafhave decided, without awaiting arguinent, the Black River claims, amount- ing to three-fourth of a million of doilars! This, it js said, was done without the knowledge of Ap- pratwser Brovks, aud of course without his participa- tion, it will be recoilected that the resignation of Ap- praiser Brooks, received by the Governor last week, turned out to have been without authority, Wno sentit, aud why IL was sent i, remains ® inystery. If the device to get rid of Brooks was conuected with Uurpose LO Inake Lhese decisions the affair resenis some Curious probiems as to the relations tween Air. Brovks aud Lis colleagues, the outgolug Apprawers,