The New York Herald Newspaper, February 1, 1870, Page 8

8 THE PERSIAN GULF City Life and Social Customs in Arabia. ‘Fhe Slave System and Slaves from Abyssinia. British Encroachments at Muscat. Decline of American Commerce on the Coast. Mrscar, Dec. 10, 1869, Although there ts @ direct m ail line between Mas “At and India were is probably as litte really known M™ Calentta or Bombay of what life and society are Angio-Indiaps “will tell you that Muscat is ® “beastly little Arab @ty”—the hottest bole ont of pandemonium—in a @hronic state of opidemic typhoid fever—containog Rotbing to eat put dates, fis and camels’ milk, and Reve like as tm Paris or New Yor! fmhabited by a band of ferce and intolerant fana- ties, who count It a plous act to cut the throat of an infidel. This 1s a somewhat exaggerated version of She trutn. Your correspondent has stayed here a eouple of weeks, and has had rather a good time ‘Man otherwise, and perhaps the results of his ob- servations muy be of interest, But it ig not everybody who Knows where Muscat te without frst consulting a geographical diction- ary. itis therefore as well, perhaps, to state that Muscat is the capital city and seat of government ef the province of Oman, which consists of a long Strip of country along the southeastern aud southern bores of Arabia. From the time of Mahomet until the fifteenth century Oman was part of the Saracen empire. Then it was conquered by the Portuguese under Albuquerque, who heid it for a century and e@ half; and after passiag fora short time into the Bands of the Persians @ patriotic sheikh, named Abmed-ebn-Saeed, declared the country tndepen- @ent and proclaimed himself Sultan. The sover- ergnty of Oman has ever since remained in his family; and until very lately the dynasty was an Muscat was in ite zenith exceptionally good one. about thirty years ago, It could thep boast a navy ef thirty vessels; and asthe Sultan furnished con- woys for tue protection of traders against the Btrates, who then infested the waters of the gulf, Muscat became the centre of trade, Tue English gunboats have, however, now effectually suppressed mccaneering, aid a great deal of commerce which waed formerly to come to Muscat now flows direct +to the other parts of the guif—to Linga, Bunder Abbas and Busiure. From this cause aad the folly @f ite later rulcrs Muscat is sivadily deciining. The e@nly civilized sailing craft that now come here are Sour or five Americac ships, who load dates for Bos- ton, and occasionally a little French schooner. The English trade is ail done by means either of the steamships which cali nere fortnightly on their way ‘|p and down tue Persian Guif or of native bugga- dows. It may here be mentioned that the United Btates is one of the three Powers that have secured Wo thelr citizens by treaty the privilege of commer- eial intercourse with Muscat, For scores Of tuiles aiong thls #ide of Arabia the couat line is formed by # chain of barren mountains, and Muscat is situated at the head of a littie bay formed by two spurs running down from this range ‘Inwo the sea. On cach of tts land sides the city is @urrounded by masses of dull brown rock, over Which you will wander vainly in search of a tuft of moss or a biace of grass. They are avsolutely bare of vegetation; they cannot boast of possessing even abint of veraure. but perhaps it is us very sterility of its surroundings thas gives Muscat such @ pleasing appearance, when viewed from @ point suicientiy remote from the smeids oi its least re e@pectable quarters to alow of impartial criticism, only the dwellings inside the walls be reckoned the city 1s somewnst leas than balf a mule square, nd 42 none but tue better class of people can afford She expenses entailed by living within the gates ‘these houses are ali of cunsideravie size, and veing faced with light colored stucco ana huddled to- her in such & Way that it is hard at a short dis- to distinguish the narrow pi that @ivide them they seem but a single mass of white Duildings, and show out very strikingly against we @arker Unt of tbo Dilla that rise saarply op ou each Bide of them. As you comie nearer, however, and as foul smelis, more humerous ana revolting than the e@elebrated hundred smeiis of Cologue, begin wo Mmvade your nostrils, you notice that tuexc splendid” piles of buildings are in a very lapidated condilon, many of them, in fact, Deing merely a mass of Tulus. AS Lo siveets, there are uone ; lucre are pessyges between tne hot certainly; bu: these are rarely more than six or seven. feet in width, frequentiy fess, and are never tra- versed by & wheeled venicle. ‘The Sultan, when he $akes au airing, geveraily goes our on foot, and semetimes on horsevack. 1 am told there t# no car- Fiago Of any description m the couniry. in Muscat ail the houses are DuLit ou pretty mach ‘the same model—a thin aneil of buildings, one room thick, enclosing an interior quadrangle. Some of them have balconies running round tue outeide, but ‘More have verandas round ihe little open square 1a tho centre. ‘Ihe roofs are dat, and the windows a! merely oviong hoies, provected from tae genera public partly by wooden shutters and pariy by vcreens of plaster Jattico work. All of these houses Gate back to remote antiquity; there are very few in- Geed less than @ huudrea years old. ‘The one 1 am living in was built of the beginmng of the last century, aud has not beeo re- paired or even waitewashed within tie memory Of man. Its walls lave suffered sadly from ume, dli-asage and 1ough weatuer; on the outside the plaster has in many places fallen away, exposing she rough stones that form the body of the wall, ‘while on the inside the chunam as acquired a pe- culiar dingy brown hue from smoke and constant contact with the akios of Evpiopian slaves. in the room where we dine part of the wall las been car ried away bya cannon shot fired during the revoiu- tion of threo years ago. My host preserves Ute bail @8 & curiosity; Le Was suaving When It took the lberty of eutering the room. ‘Then one staircase is partly oroken down, uaa the wooden columas of the veranda, cracked with the heat, have staggered away from tue perpendicniar ana threaten soon to Tall, And the Whole house has an wir of feebdleness and decay, and It requirea but @ slight exercise of Sancy \o people its gioumy corners with the ghosts @f generations of lazy Arabs and of their wives, concubines, eunuchs and negro slaves, who lived here before it came tuto the occupation of @ Frank. Muscat has but few public buildiags. In fact, the only ones of apy importance are tue forts, of which ‘ahere are two of Coasiderable #1Ze, one at each Bide ‘of the city, wiilie there are four smaller ones perched 0 various oill peaks, two of tuem commanding the pass which leads into Muscat from tne interior, ‘and tue other UWo guarding the extreme mouta of the harbor, All tliese forts are very old, aud when # salute 18 fired the dust falls out from the cracks in she walls, and the whole structure shakes and trem- bles as though it were woout to tumbie down, The Imaum lives in a large house, in nowise remarkabie for cleanliness or neatness. The ruins of tue oid Portugese Governor's palace are still standing, but are remarkable lor nothing except their age. AL the poorer classes itv@ outside the gates in mniserable little huts, made out of a few poles and palm lesl tiatching. Here also a ‘0st Of tue pro- ‘Vision shops, dates, cameos’ muik, Meu, locusts and a@sweetment known as hulweh being the principal articles of trade, Put these villages are oniy allowed tostay here during we “piping Wimes of peace.” Whenever Muscat is besieged (as It generally ts once every three or four years) the defencers burn teem down, lest they should give cover to the enemy, ‘while their inhabitants are brought inside the walis to fight under the white banner of the Imaum, un- Jess, ag they generally do, they sensibiy betuke Luem- selves to the quietess corper vi the Geuniry tuey can fod. ‘The population of Muscat comprises Arabs, ue- Hindoos and Beivcchees. Che Arabs foria about a third abd the negroes another turd, Toe Hindoos are nearly all merchants, of the ‘baotan’? caste; they come almost exciusively from Cutca and jpootaue; and Now nearly all the trade o: tne piace isin their hands, The Beloocbees are Mussulinans, but are looxed dowa upon by the Araba as au inse- rior race. But of course the main staple of the population Bre the Arabs and their negro slaves. The Arab here Bas much the same appearance and character that he is credited with in ite” and the ‘Arabian Ni elsewhere. He weara the same long beard, not un- frequently dyed t burn red, which, according to tradition, was tho nue of that or the prophet; nis head ts covered with the same Duge turban; his clothes, such as are of the loosest and easiest shape; his girdie is stuck a curved d: , with a highly decorated hiit; and Be js a of laziness and patience and placid contentment and inactive benevolence. How ho lives 4 & mystery. Same Arabs ere certainly to be seen fishing and camel-driving and even carryiug water; but @f the really hard work of the placo ia done by tho there are afew Arabs aiso who are not alove menial service. The men who ‘wait on my host aud myself are Arabs, though they wear big daggers in their girdle and keep their own establlsiuments of wives, concubines and negro slaves. They get the enormously high pay of ten dollars & mont which in this poversy-stricken land is enough procure ail the luxuries alluded to; and, under these circumstances, they deem it no Gegradation to eat the bread of the inddel. avery flourishes here as @ highly cherishea Bational institution, But domestic slavery among S00 Ayobp is Of who mildest postible type; Ib more NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1870.—TRIPLE SHEET. ee Reary, resembles the bond service rendered to fea ee the toll exacted from @ plantation ves are all n 6 Javier are far 0, owing to their intelligence; put then they are much Tarver and dearer than the Seedees, or Zanzibar slaves, ‘The latter are frequently hawked about the bazaars of Muscat by proicasonal dealers aud seem to be worth trom $10 to $35, according to age, condi aon, &c. An Abyssinian is valued at from $60 to Theae are, of course, only the rates for men, ‘or Women, who are mainly bought for purposes of concubinage, the are consi ly higher, Even @ Seedee woman, black as the ace of Kier’ wits blubber lips and wool-covered skull, will bring from $35 to $40, while a better featured Abyssinian, unless she be past child-bearing, cannot be bought for leas than $75, and may bring anything up to 3900, ‘The trade in women 1a mostly 1 the hands of the larger dealers, [t is against tie fatth of @ Moslem to expose the face of a wouraa in the strest, and buy~ eré have therefore to go to the dealer's house and make a selection. Nothing can be more curious than the syatem of concubinage establisbed among the Arabs. At pre- seus, according to the sect who hold sway im Oman, Mt is only lawful to have one wile. But this wife hag no right to be jealous, though her husband should buy hall a dozen negro slave Women and open! live with vhem. All these slaves are, however, nomi. nally subject to tne legal wife; they have to obey her and kubmIt to personal ckastisement at her hands, if she be pleased to infiiot 1% But by far the Most Singular feature of this system is, Uhat the children of the slave woman rank on @ perfect equaliy with we children of the legal wile. As soon a8 she bas @ clild by her master the slave woman is declared free; her offspring 18 formally acknowledged as belonging to his father’s family, and the estate of the father ts equally divided among ail hus cluidreu of pure or mixed biood alike. Even in the royai family he same rule hoids good, and the two Sultans who preceded the present one were bota the offspring of # siave mother. There 1s, therefore, no var whatever to miscegenation i Muscat, and on the side of the slave woman, at any rate, there is every inducement to it. But in some unexplained manner the purity of the better Arad iamilies is pretty well preserved. Sometimes LT have heard it accounted for by the dying out of the mixed race; and certainly, considering the enor- mous number of bastard colored childrea bora here every year, there are remarkaoly few hail-ploods about the streets and bazaars. it must be remem. bered, too, nat this is ali the more strange, since inost Arabs Keep @ couple of concubines, and gaany of tusm half adozen or even more. On the other band, owing to the dark complexion of tne Arap himself, 1t 18 somewhat hard to detect the admix- ture Of race, where the child happens to inherit the features of either of its parents in a very marked de- gree. Now and then one comes across’a man of im- pure race, with @ Very light complexion, but witn Une thick lps and wooily hair of the African. In big Case there can be no doubt. But if one meets a man with Arab foatures, and m whom tne solo ground of suspicion consists in @ slightly darker Unge of color than usual, it i very hara to give a Gecided opinion as to his pareniage. There ig but ltue jeaionsy of race, however, between Araba and negroes, An Arao prefers a wile of ls own biood, simply because she hay more regular features and helongs to a higher type of beauty, hot because he would be ashaaied to have legitimate cuildren by an Bt waieh speak well for the humanity and benevolence of the Arabs. Miavery here {3 not even iu theory absolute. Tue chattel, ailhougn he may be vought and soid, has rights which are acknow- ledgea and which meet with universal respect. It a Taster ill-treats @ slave, either in the shape of ex- cessive personal violence or overwork, or in any other manuer, the bondman has the bringing the case before the cadi, and @ppear to the iatcer that the master Is unfit to own @pondman the slave is declared free, And in the case of & female slave the Jaw 18 almost equally charitable. No master can com- bis slave to be bis concubine, but ersist in making overtures to her against her inctination she can go to the cad! and demand as a right to be sold to some other owner. In tact, the relations vetweeo master and slave in Muscat have very strong elements of sympathy, Tespect and affeciion. Nearly every good Mussul- man at fis death frees his slaves, too, by his will; and if they have been good servants he probably leaves them a small legacy. When this fact, together ‘With the custom of freeing woinen who have borne a child to @ white man, and the lega! equality of child- ren of pure and mixed blood, are taken ito account, tu will be easliy credited that negroes are not in Muscat looked upon &# necessarily a race of slaves, and that they are at any rate not regarded as a ger- Vile race in tbe same Itt tnat they used to be in the South, Ad Arab secs only in bissiave a victim of excessively hard luck, and aithough it has pleased Ailan to piace so wide a distinction between them, it may also please Him at any time to reverse the situation. So far I bave been speaking mainly of Seedee slaves, Abysainians are even much better treated, but only because they are capable of much more. Unless the slave when bought 18 too old to learn he ig taught to réad and write, and if he shows a good disposition, and proves htmself honest and trust- worthy, he is employed by hts master as his clerk, or as steward on board a buggalow, or perna| even as supercargo or captain. Nothing fs beyond the grasp of an Abyssinian slave if he only have the pavence to wait, His freedom ia merely a matier of time, and after thathe frequently becomes rich. An Abyssinian slave in an Arao household 18 in no more degrading a position than was Joseph in Potiphar’s household, while, a8 the steward in an,Arab family ig not allowed to approach the harem, he may have even fewer chances of meeting unmerited ce, ‘There is, however, one barbartty connect witn African slavery in Arabia which cannot be too tn- dignantiy condemned, though it has so long existea and is sanctioned by such high Moslem authority that it is not hkely ta be soon abolished, I refer to the inhuman mutilation of boys, so aa to fit them for the Sanctions of eunuch’. This mutilation 18 never periormed in Arabia; the Arab 1s too good- natured and soft-hearted himself to perpetrace so terrible @ crime; but he has no objection to avatl- ing himself of the product of other men’s cruelty, and paying them handsomely for the gutit they have incarred. The operation is therefore attempted be- Tore the slave leaves Airica, and, although the vic- ums are generally of tender age, oniy one in ten survives. ‘This mortality is mo doubt partly the re- Sult of the unskilful manner in which the mutilation fs performea, ‘The vaiue of the eunuch depends to a great extent upon the measure of healto and strength which remains to Dim, There are only three white residents in Muscat, ‘They consist of the Britisa Consul, the British Con- ’s clerk and the steamship agent, who is alsoa well-to. do merchent. But ifie 18 not nearly so dull here ag might be anticipated. There 1s always more political excitement afoat, and political ex- he form in this country of hard knocks and broken heads. Mr. MoGul, the steam- ship agent, has twice had to dy for his life during the revolutions that have taken place nere, and on one occasion he had great diMculty in effecting hia escape. Surely aimancan cheerfully renounce the pleasures of billiards and ballrooms, of theatres and card parties, when he has an ever-present con- sciousness of the uncertatuty of humun life, espe- cially in Muscat, Puritan Blue Laws in Muscat—Dancing, Singing and Smoking Prohibitced—Long Mustaches a Crime—A Ten Years’ Retro- spect—2ritish Interference—Injury to Amere icau Commerce. Muscat, Dec. 11, 1869. Muscat was in former times celebrated as a land of song and festivity ana pleasure; but it is now groaning under Jaws of nltra-Puritanical strict- ness. About & year ago, in & manner which will be more particularly described in a subsequent part of this letter, Azan-bin-Ghes, the present Sultan or Imaum, ascended the throne. Azan Is at the head of the Abadee sect of Mussulmans, who are dis- tinguished by the gloomy asceticism of their life and the flerce intolerance of their speculative opin- fons. Muscat as @ city {s merely clay in the hands of the potter. All the fighting of the country 1s done by the Bedout or wild Arabs, or by the tribes that are not nomadic, and are nevertheless scarcely wholly husbandmen; trines that till the ground, but manage, notwithstanding, to keep themselves in the habit of warfare by an occasional raid upon their neighbors, And as Muscat does an in‘init- esimai share of the country’s fighting she has equaily Uttle to say as to the manner in which the coun- try shall be governed. Each master she has enjoyed has taken the privilege of dictating what she shall believe tn the way of religion, and how the life of her inhapitanta shall be ordered. wut never before has shesighed under ao heavy a ruler as now. Just imagine the aisgust of atown Arab, whose chibonque orlong pipe used to be consiantiy in nis month from “early morn till dewy eve,’ when he is per- emptorily forbidden to use tobacco in any form. And yet such is the present law in Muscat, and it la rigidly enforcea, Every night numberless, abiquit- ous, unbdrivabie spies prow! about the city, ike “the pestilence that walketh in darkness,’ in search of offenders, Woe to the unfortunate wight whose gailt is aiscovered! For him there shall be, first, a sleepless night in the fort, followed by arraignment belore a long-bearded ola bigot, who acts as chief moollat, or priest, and whose name is Kuleyiee. Then will come the inevitable punishment, His pipe will be broken before his eyes and his tobacco deflied and buried, and then, having been forced to kneel down by the manual persuasion of a couple of the Imaum’s guards, his back will be uncovered and @ monster in human form wiil administer twenty- ve or fifty cuts with @ hard stick, according to the terms of the sentence, ‘The other Gay @ boy caugut smoking died under the castigation he got for ln But smoking is by no meana the only vanity Asaaiied by theso Arab fanatics, who are re-enacting in the fatherland of Mohammed the réle of the Con- necticut saints who made their names tmmortai by “blue” legislation. No, indeed. A man is here legally forbidden also to wear silk; nor may he aaora himself with gold—not even with a thread of the precious metal woven into hia turban; nor may he fing, or make & joyful nolae on the tomtom or any other musical instrament; nor may be dance; nor may he wear jong mustachios. For any ot these offences he will) be voutenged to more oF Jone guix us the stick. 1¢1s curious to notioe that the people— and, unlortunately, frequently with truth—aceuse the Men Who have thus legislated Jun and harmless Indulgences out of che world of nameless crimes. Only the other day a mooliah, or it, Was con- victed of an unnatural o.fence of exceptional guilt. It ts singular, certainly, that human nature in Ara- Ee. as in Massachusetts, ele’ ea _ a Lenn juman pitca of spiritual fe hou! uddenty kick the beam on the other aide of the e. ‘This legislation has made Azan extremely unpopu- lar, and, unforwuoately for him, he is detest only by the town people, who can do nothing, but also by tne interior tribes, who are ripe for insurrec- Uon—some of whom, indeed, are at this very mo- Ment ih open arms against the presené foverument. ‘To make the political eituation here intelligible, how- ever, it wil) be necessary to go some distance back. And it will also be necessary to call sttention to ‘the outrageous and unwarrantable conduct of the Britian Resident and his subordtmates—conduct in most fi t violation of international law, and productive of the greatest mischief to the entire Civilized world, To the Unitea States it has been especially mischievous, since it bas ruined one of the markets 1p Which American cotton goods would still compete with English manufactures, notwith- standing the rise in prices, A lew years ago, before Great Britain practically assumed the government of the countries lyimy on the Persian Gull, the United States found a market for 8,000 bales of goods annually in Muscat, Last year an American slup brought out @ Dundred bales, and could not dispose of them. As will be shown, this 1s mainly owing to disorders and anarchy produced in Oman by British meddiiag, To gratify the personal vanity of Coiouel Veliy, the Brit ident in the Persian ulf, Muscat has been prevented srom choosing & ruler whom she desired, and has had # man forced upon her whom she Joath and under whom the country has been already half ruined, while it can never under hin be pactiied, To begin at the beginning. Wnen Syud Saeed aiea, In 185, fis son Thoweyhee succeeded to the Suitan- ate of Muscat, while, according to the terms of nis Will, another brother became ruler of Zanzibar, which had for many years belonged to Muscat, Thoweybee disputed this arrangement! some justice; ior among the Arabs inheritance is not @ matter depending absolutely upon a father’s jeasure, ‘Lhe lmaum, for example, caunot appoint is Successor; the Might to do BO devoives at his death upon we family, or rather tribe, to which he beiongs. 1 1s not by any means necessary even that the eldest gon, or even any son, of the late ruler should be chosen: in fact, irequently the brother of the Sultan 18 appointed in preference to his son. Taking these things invo consideration ft will be seen that Thoweynee was not wholly unreasonable in dis- puting his lather's will. it Was at this juncture that the Briush government stepped in and assumed, without the vestige of aright except that of brute force, the privilege of deciding tue quarrel. First of ail they menaced Thoweynee, if he pressed ma claims to Zanzibar, with the loss of Muscat; but dis- covering subsequently that ‘Taoweynee was in the right they made @ {resi settloment of the case, by Which 1¢ Was arranged that Zanzibar should remain separate trom Muscat, but should pay an annual subsidy—not a tribute—of $30,000 a year. Now, even if Great Britain had the right of appointing her- self judge, Was not this a curious decision? Thoweynee was Not @ very good ruier, but he let things alone, and they did not go very far wrong until the British Resident in the Persian Gulf put his Unger im tue pie, Tnoweynee, besides the Sultan of anzlbar, had yet a third brother, named Thoorkee, who had been in his father’s lifetime Governor of Sonar. And as he was a very good sort of governor and popular with his subjects, he would have kept bis command but that he wag induced, vy a safe condnet, signed by a British Consul (one of the Resident's subordinates), to come down and con- Jer with his brother Thoweynce at some little place on the coast. When he arrived there the Consul suddenly revoked the safe conduct, and Thoorkee was made @ prisoner. Thé Resident, however, dismissed tne Consul who had thus brought disgrace on the British pame, and warned Thowey- uve that the death of Thoorkee in prison would have most disastrous results; but the release of Thoorkee was not demanded, as the Resident deemed the ac- Ug of the Consu! binding, though it had been clearly an act of treachery. But Thoorkee successfully made up the quarrel with bis brother, and even enjoyed a inilitary com- mand under him, and en: m active service, He was not, however, allowed to resume command of Sohar. In 1365 one of the Suitan’s sons, named Selim, who had peen previously hee Sen of trea- son, suddenly murdered his father, ‘Thoweynee, og some say, by cutting bis throat, while ovhers allege that deach was caused oy poison. Selim had no more valid right to the throne than Thoorkee, and the British Keskient refused to recognize ‘him, though, at the same time, he would not declare m favor of ‘Tnoorkee. After a while, ag the parricide was so unpopular that tt was evident he conld not long remain at the head of the govern- ment, Thoorkee was induced by his friends w head @revolution, ‘The British Resident, nowever, inter- lerea just a3 he was on the point of achieving suc- oess, and warned hun that the British having by this tme determined to recognize Selim, he was en- gaged in a hopeless enterprise. ‘Thoorkee then negotiated, througl the Resident, a peace with his nephew, and retired to another point on the coast. A year later, the Lreeorgee b of Selim being yet more manifest, Thoorkee again headed a revolution. ‘This ume he took possession of Muttarah, and his success Was 80 certain that Selim offered to hand over to bun half his dommions—Selim to have the the southern half and Thoorkee the northern half; but Thoorkee refused, stating that he would have allornone, But wi he was thus assured of tri- umph Colonel Pelly, the British Resident, appeared on the scene (he had been absent at come other part of the Gulf), ordered Tuoorkee to desist fighting, to disband nis army, and to surrender bis person to the British, threavening, as the penalty of refusal, that he would bombard Muttaran, a town of some 20,000 inhabitants, already in the possession of ‘Thoorkee. The latter expostulated with Colonel Peily, but the latter stood firm, and Thoorkee finaily gave himself up and was taken to Boinbay as @ po- tical prisoner. Now, what right had the Brit.sh Resident to iuieriere in an imtestine quarrel of tus nature? ‘Then about @ year ago came the rebellion of Azan- bin-Ghes, the present ruler of Muscat. He marched down from te interior, and, as Thoorkee had cone previously, took Muttarah. His claim to the throne ‘was Very slight. He was one of the royal family certainiy, but his chief claim seemed to be on tue round that his father and uncle nad poth been killed in the tine of Thoweynee—tho former after he had surrendered to Thoweynee’s son, Selim. Rumor says, by the way, in regard to Azan’s clain in this respect, that his lather slinply surrendered himself and his fort to Selim because he was afraid of his own son, Azan. But these family treaciertes in Oman, and, tn fact, all over the Gulf, are mere matiers of course. A man Kills his father or his brother or his gon without 9 twinge of remorse. But weak as Azan’s claiin was, thera was no doubt as to his power to seize the government, and Colonel Pelly therefore threatened Azan just a9 he had threatened Thoorkee; put Azan said boldly that the quarreis of the people of Oman concerned themselves aione. Coionel Pelly telegraphed to bis government that Azan bad deified nim, but his government told hin not on any account to resort to force, but to patch up things ag best he could. ‘Azan Was therefore allowed to ascend the throne, but has not even now been recognized. But he was never the clroice of the people, and it !a only by the sword that he can keep himself @ day on the throne. Half the eee of Muscat have run away, and the other half are the penniless hait who are of no account commercially. le at this Lord moment ia almost ate dead standstill, owing tne present insurrection of the Beni Boo Ali tribe having caused the stoppage of ail the passes through the mountains but one. An American gentieman who is here buying dates ta thus scarcely able to make up his cargo. Now, although there can be no doupt that Muscat ‘would have its troubles, even though the British should never interfere with her, ts it not clear that that interference, apart altogether from its wanton injustice, is of the most hurtful character to general commerce, while it brings discredit upon the whole body of “Franks?” ‘The Arabs have but a very faint idea of tho diiference between an American and an Englishman. Tbe odiam created by the meddling = ee intervention of the one recoils upon @ ober, Erie Jobbers Outdone—A Case tor the Law. yors and Questions for the Courts—Are Subs scriptions to one Object Payable when Ine vested in Another ¢ A piece of what might be taken for sharp practice, but what the aggrieved persons term “shrewd Nnanciering,” has just been unveiled in Flusning, the end of which ts “not yet.” About two years ago ® number of citizens of Flushing sub- seribed for the stock of the Flushing and Woodside Railroad, which was to be built under the leader. ship of Oliver Oharlick, Orange Judd and others, in opposition to the oid Flushing Raltroad, then owned by Spencer Smith and others. The agreement be- tween tbo Long Island Ratiroad Company and the people of flushing was drawn up by E. B. Hinsdale. AS the project assumed shape interested parties on both sides wended thelr way to Albany to appear before the Committeg on Railroads for and against the measure of granting a charter fora bridge over Newtown creek. The conquest continued untit Over Charlick bought out the old Flushing Railroad and gave the cold shoulder to Judd & Co. The attorney advised that the contract between the Wooa- side and Long Island Railroad Companies was worth- Jess and had not and never had apy binding effect, and that CharBck had sunk hia stock in Woodside. Judd & Co. were out and injured to the tune of $50,000, and to repair their loss got up @ uew sub- scription to the Woodside Road, in opposition to Charlick’s new enterprise. ‘The citizens subscribed liberally that two roadg mig! be had ranning ito Flushing. Waiie the subscriptions were stlll being paid, Orange, Judd & Co. purchasea the Chartick enterprise, and Judd assumed the presidency, carryiog over a large share of the stock of the original Woodaide move- ment to his new purchase. This being made known, the people, who had no desire to dabbie in railway stocks, declined to pay a further instalment on their subscriptions, Could they be compelled to pay t was @ question asked of eminent Jawyers, and the an- swer was, “No.’”? Quietly @ special act of the Legis. latare was obtained to bridge over the difcuity, and now the attorney of the company ts serving them with ® summons and complaint tn the Su- preme Court. The subscribers have held an indig- nation meeting, and passed reaoiutions condemning Judd & Co, in no measured terms. They appointed a committee of three to employ counsel and peret we payment demanded, BROOKLYN CITY. A Justice Under Arrest—Knights of the Skeleton Key — Assault With a Knife—Robberies—Swill Milk— Sneak Thieving. ‘Tho dwelling of Edward Freel, on Lafayette, heat Bediord avenue, was entered last evening, and on overcoast, valued at ninety dollars, stolen. The residence of A. Carlles, No, 22 Willow street, was entered by @ sneak thief on Saturday afternoon, who escaped with fifteen dollars’ worth of silver napkin rings. Last evening 1,000 workmen were discharged trom the Navy Yard in accordance with orders pre- viously issued Dy the authorities at Washington. A large number of other employés in various de- partments were a'so notified that they would not be retained after Satarday next. S. T. Reuther, of Fast New York, accused by Ja- cob Morch, of No. 180 Grand strcet, Willamsbvurg, of defrauding him of $500 worth of meerschaum pipes and cigar holders oF false representations, was commitied yesterday by Justice Voorhies to answer this morning. Coroner Whitehill last evening examined several witnesses In relation to the cause of the fall of the row of tenement houses in Division avenue, 4¥il- Mamsburg, on the afternoon of the 18th ult., by which Joseph Botner lost his Iife. The evidence elicited Was not important, and the inquest was further adjourned until to-morrow evening. Neither the body of John Robinson, of the schooner Gem, nor that of Manuel Antonio, of the brig Ma- donna, has yet been recovered from the river, near Wall street terry, where they are supposed to have been drowned on sSatarday night, Coroner Jones will hold an inquest on the body of Mrs. Kobinson, who was drowned at the same time, this morning. Sergeant Rogers saw two men on Fulton avenue, on Sunday night, whom he suspected to be sneak thieves, He took them into custody, when they ve their names ag stephen Farmer and Frederick Hirsch, laborers. They were taken before Justice Walsh yesterday; but, being upavle to give any satis{actory account of themselves, they were sent to the Penitenwary for six mouths ag vagranis, John McGovern and Thomas Smith,“ two indl- viduais who were observed prowling along Warren street, near Sixth avenue, at a late hour on Sunday night, excited tne suspicion of hg Sade Sheridan, of the Fiftieth precinct, who took them into custody. Upon searching them at the station house two keys of the mght latch and skeleton pattern were found in their possession, They were arraigned belore Justice Walsh and comtuitted to jail tor future ex- Mr. Joshua T. Butts, a well known reporter of the New York press, died on Sunday at lus residence, in Clinton street, near Fourth piace, of cancer of the spleen, after a long and painful illness. The deceased was the son of ex-Senator Butts, of ts State, and avout thirty years of age. He was an exceilent plionograpner, a fair writer, while his excellent qualities of head and heart won him warm friends wherever he was known. His remains were taken to Westerly, R. f,, for interment, yesterday aiternoon, Mr. Butts was latterly connected, with the Brooklyn staff of the HERALD. ‘The case of Bergh against Torgans, the defend- art being, a8 alleged, engaged in the swill milk business, was to have have come up for examina- tion before Justice Thomas Riley yesterday morn- ing, but owning to the absence of the justice from the bench the bi ‘was postponed. “Mr, Bergh, of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Ani- mals, and several witnesses were present at the ap- pomted hour, but were disappointed on being informed that Justice Riley had been arrested for contempt of court, which fact interfered with the usual proceedings before that court, Patrick Lazaros and John Noonan got into a quar- rel at thelr boarding house, No. 106 Sackett street, when tne latter drewa knife and made several passes at his opponent. In one of the passes Laza- rus was deprived of the largest part of his nasal organ, Which will disfigure him for life. Noonan vhen mnade his escape in the direction of the Hamil- ton avenue ferry, hotly pursued by a yelling crowd. He was intercepted at the ferry by Oficer Grogan, when he was arrested. Yesterday he was taken be- fore Justice Delmar, but Lazarus falled to appear against Lim, THE PARKS OF BROOKLYN. Their Cost and Progress—Annual Report of the Park Commissioners. le Yesterday afternoon the annual report of the Park Commissioners of Brooklyn was submitted to the Common Council. It isavery lengthy document, covering thirty-six pages of foolscap, The report commences by alluding to the awards made for the recent acquisition of land to the western angle of Prospect Park, amounting to $1,705,248, which, it is held, was the result of & Jair examination of the claims of the parties interested. After congratulat- ing the public upon the improvements in Brooklyn, past and prospective, the question of sssegsments 1s discussed. On reference to the assessment rolis of the city property they find that since the commencement of active operations there has been added to the tax list the large amount of $77,252,410, the Board of Assessors having felt themselves justified by its very obvious tncrfase in adding twenty-five per cent for the ycar 1869, The amount of such pro- perty 18 now $190,084,110, while im the rural dis- tricts 1t is $11,808,933, making the total amount now standing on the assessors’ hooks $208,433,043; $32,- 820,050 of this money Nag arisen in the wards imme- alately surrounding the Park, including the town of Flatbush, thereby increasing the city’s income nearly $1,000,000, On the question of boundaries they could not satisfy themselves that the land which they had taken was all that was necessary, and, least of all, that the ground east of Flatbush avenue, in conse- quence of its iaolated and disjointed character, could ‘be made to harmonize in any tolerable degree with the fine park land on the other side, They conse- quently proceeded to mature a plan for the extension of the Park in a direction in which Jana was cheaper and fortunately better adapted to park purposes, while it took nothing from our own taxable pro- perty. Their reporton this pian was printed and extensively circulated, and met with a hearty ap- proval. Being satisfied with the favorable expres- ion of the public thus obtained, the Commissioners applied to the Legislature for the additional terri- tory required, at the same time asking for authority to sell so much of the land on the east side of Flat- bush avenue as was not embraced tn the plan, in order that they might haye means to pay for what they proposed to annex on the other side. They ob- tained a portion of the land required, but, much to their regret, they were refused the fifty acres which they most desired. They were also refused permis- ston to sell, though It had received the approval of the Senate, and is believed to have influenced that body in the passage of a bill for Park extension, passed the same day. ‘The Commissioners are convinced of the propriety, in consequence of the extended dnanciat opliga- tions of the city, of making a fresh disposition of the land on the cast side of the avenue, in order that it may be sold under their direction, in a way whieh wii not only benefit the Park by giving 1t proper ap- proaches from the north and east, but will at the game time add largely to the value of property ug vicinity. Daring the past season the Commissioners have pushed forward the work of construction upon ail the parks under their control with as much rapidity ag practicable. The whole area under treatment thus Jar is 362 acres in Prospect Park aud 30 acres in Washiogton Park-—255 acres of the former park con- sisting of woodland, shrupbery and meadows with intervening roads, walks, &c., complete. The finest drive extends over a space of five miles in length, and tho bridle paths are of an equal distance, with tour additional miles in progress. ‘Tompkins Park bas been recently placed under the coutrol of the Board, but no provision has been made for its improvement. ‘They trust that autio- rity wiil be given them by the present Legislavure to raise money sufficient to perfect the park ina style corresponding with the small parks of this city. Tue parade ground is now in compfetc order; a substantial shelter house, with suitable accommo- dations has been built for the convenience of the military, the main building being forty feet square, with wings extended to the distance of sixty-four feet on each side. 4 Nothing of importahce has beef done towards the improvement of City Park, which is be- coming lesa frequented as a pleasure ground every day, a4 the superior advantages of Washington Park are being developed, The dts- cussion of the best method of fitting up City Park ay ® plage of amuscinent cagno’ be Tewumod to aavan: the Commissioners think, unti} our city’s dobt shall have been brought within such easy and reasonable proportions as shall cease to be & serious urden to our taxpayers. Public opinion seeins to nave fally endorsed the recommendation to use tt Jor vhe parposee of a market, and they hoped that some ion of the Common Council would ere this have resulted in the es tablishment of that needed accommodation, They think they should no longer delay to act upon that requirement of the law which placed the Park Under their supervision and renders it obligatory upon them to suggest to the Legislature such further legislation in regard to ajt the Brooklyn parks a3 yy shall deem advisable, They intend to suggest | the uge of this park for a public market to the Legts- Jacure, untilitaball be found expedient to resume isp use a8 & park, ‘The Improvement fond in 1868 was limited to $3,000,000, including the bonds which had been pre- viously 1asued. ‘This limit has peen reached—Dbiat a very considerable portion of the park, including the filty acres recently annexed, yet remains to be im- proved—and the Commissioner will be obliged to suspend further operations until the Legisiatare shall bave furnished means for its completion, ‘The cost Of such a work of art ag the perfection .of & public park cannot properly be esumated or exe- cuted by contract, but in the judgment of the Com- genie the amount now required will not exceed 2, ‘The amount awarded for the land firet purchased for Prospect Park, on the 13th of June, 1664, includ- Ing expenses, as a] 8 from the official report fied in the ounty Clerk's office, was $1,387,600; for the second purchase on the ‘Suh of february, 1866, $168,588; for the third purchase on the 27th of May, 1867, $762,745; for the iourth and Jast purchase, on the isth of April, 1869, $1,705,248, making @ tota: of $4,004,158, m this deduct the amount awarded to the city for a strip of iand thirty feet wide, taken trom the Park for the widening of Vanderbilt uve- nue, and pald into the sinking sund to be appi the redemption of park bonds, $28,509, and sent cost of all the land purchased will be $3,9 If wo this we add the amount authorized to be ex- pended for improvement, $3,000,000, the total indebt- edness of the city at this time on account oF this work will be $6,975,648, ‘This property will cost, Kay, $7,000,000; but if sold to-day it would reatize more than enough to pay tie whole debt of the city, and toes its purchase shall have been matared it will im all probability be worth ten times its cost, besides giviig an in- petus to property in its neighborhood that will afford @ tax more thau sufficient to pay the interest on its cost and liquidate the entire debt at maturtty with- out adding anyctuing (0 tue general taxation. EXPENDITURES, Salartes paid comptrolier, superintendent, pe architect and engineer...... $25, Toxurveyors, draughtsmen and assistants. ‘To laborers, mechantes, horses and carts. Materials of construction, tools, &c. Stationery, &C....-.-+4+ Fitting up offices, rent, & ‘Trees, &¢.. Mannre, &c Water pipe, &c. Draimage pipe.. Patent pavements. . ‘Total expenditures. ae Balance in hand December 31. THE SMALLER PARKS. Washington Park, construction. Carroll Park, construction. City Park, consuruction, Parade Ground... TOtAl...0+ssseeeereceseees EXPENSES OF PARK MAT’ Prospect Park.. Washington Park... Carroll Park City Park... City Hall Park. Total maintenance account. Total consiraciion small park! Total construction of Prospect 766,650 Grand total expense of Park Commission, oe 1809... $924,831 THE BROOKLYN CITY FATHERS. . Thelr Action Looking to the Restoration of Lost Municipal Power and the Obliterntion of Commissions, Tne Board of Alaermen met yesterday afternoon, Alderman Bergen in ue chair. Alderman McGroaRry offered the which was adopted unanimously :— Whereas that portion of the land taken for park purposes lying east of Fiasbush avenue has never been haprove’, not. withstanding the public bas demanded it and nature mace ft the most economical and best adapted for such purposes, as fons in public meetings in op- ‘K-lald land lying east of Fiat- mush avenue; whereas the said Prospect Vari Comm!ssion- u Stp,bare falled to carry out the provislons of the act creating Resolved, That a committee of fire members of this Com- mov Council, in conjunction with his Honor the Mayor, be Appointed to draft anact reorgauizizing the Prospect Park Commission, and for such other purposes as may be deemed necessary in relation to said Park. Tollowing, ‘The clerk was instructed to transmit a copy of this Preamble and resolution to the representative of Kings county. Alderman McGroakry spoke in support of this measure and denunciatory of the present Park Com- Taigsion system, A resolution Was offered by Alderman Cuancy, of the Fifth ward, and adopted by @ vote of 16 in the attirmative against 6 in the negative, providing “Phat the report of the Law Committee and the amendments offered by Aldermen Brien and Whitaey on simendments to the city charter be referred to a committee of seven members to consult with the special commitvee of the Senators and Assemblymen from this county as to the best plan to restore to the municipal auihorities the power of which they have been deprived by the enactment of special comuls- sions.’ ‘Yne committee consists of the following Alder- men:—Guck, ‘Shorne, McGroarty, Travis, Willard, Stryker and Eliot. Two hundred and tifty dollars was voted toward defraying the expenses of the committee. Alderman WH T1na urged the adoption of his amendments, which abolisn all commissions and provide for tne election of a Mayor and nine Alder- Mmen—instead of twenty-two, as at present—ifor a term of five years each, and fixes their salary at $6,000 per annum. It also requires that each of these officials shall dle bonds in the amount of $200,000, Tne Alderman spoke at considerable Jength in advocacy of his proposition. Aiderman BERGEN read his recommendations upon the charter revision question (both amendments were published in these columns) and gave his views im an extended speech upon the necessictes which existed for restoring to the peopie their vesicd rights of self government, of which they have been years each, to be elected npon a general ticket. so long deprived. The Alderman of the Tenth ward argued in favor of nine aldermen for @ term of turee Alderman Whitney’s amendments look to the elec- tion of four of the minority party (republican) upon this ticket, and five upon the mimority ticke:, in order that @ representation may be secured to both parties. e representative of the Tenth ward tho ught that the majority should rule, and was not in favor of according ony such privileges ay pro- posed to the republican party. ‘The whole matter was referred to the Special Com- mittee on Albany legislation. ‘The Board shortly after adjourned for one week. FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR ROBBERY IN WILLIAMSBUAG. Yesterday afternoon the sum of $5,000 was mys- teriously abstracted from the safe in the office of the sugar refinery of Muiler, Sterck, Hencken & Co., foot of Division avenue, Wililamsburg. The money was drawn from a bank in the forenoon by one of the clerks of the firm and deposited in the sale by him. Leaving tho safe door open, the young man retired toa rear room to wash his hands, and on his return tothe office the money was missing, as well as a young mam who had previously been sitting mi the onice. THE LITTLE AOTOMATIC TELEGRAPH SYSTED, ‘From the Baltimore American, Jan. 27.) The National Telegraph Company, under the man- agement of W. P, Westerveit, are making rapid pro- gress in building their new line of telegraph between Washington aud New York, and we are glad to know that we are to have the most substantial and reila- ble line ever constructed in this country for the use ofthe automatic system. The National Company is putsing up the recently invented ‘compound wire’—a steel core covered with pure copper— which, with omly baif the weight of an ordinary iron telegraph wire, has over three times the tensile pogo and nearly four times the conductivity, ‘The first cost of the wire is about douvie that ordinarily employed by tne old telegraph com- panies, butthe new wire 1s claimed to be at least en ‘umes more durable than the common iron wire, wile 118 vast superiority a8 @ conductor of clec- tricity will enable the new compaay to telegraph throngh long circuits promolly m the beaviest om When the ordinary wires are rendered use- jess, ‘rhe new line has been completed some days between this city apd Washington, several gangs of workmen are rapidly setting tho poles between sal- tumore and New York, and 1t 1s expected that the line wilt be completed during the ensuing month, But, in the meantime, we understand the National Company will, within the next week or two, open the Baltimore ‘and Washington offices, and begin to instract bs gor tytn and female—in the man- agement of the new machinery, which, however, is exceedingly simple, and can be quickly mastered any person of ordinary ability. otwithstanding the statements which are being industriously circulated to the prejudice of the new aulomatic system, We adhere to the judgment we expressed When we first saw the new machines ta operation last summer, and coniidently belteve that the automatic aystem 1s destined to effect an entire revolution in the telegraph and postal business of the country, and we should regard any action upon the question of the postal telegraph at Washington extremely unwise until after the approaching tests of the new system of telegraphy. if these tests should prove, as wa have good reason to be- Meve that they will, that the new system can trans- mit intelligence ten times faster than the old style of lines and old systems of telegraphing, it will very greatly simplify tue question as to the future rela- tions of the telegraph aud the Post Oflice Depart- inet. By the slow Morse system apy great reduction in the ratea 1g impracticable, even onder govern- mont contro}, Y HAYTL Intentions of the Government—Salnave’s Family—A Gold Offering—Dominican Soldiers Joining Cabra!—Minister Bassett in Hot Water—Steam- Ship Subsidies—The Com- ing Elections, . The steamer City of Port au Prince, Captain daeke son, arrived at this port yesterday morning, by dates from Port au Prince to the 230 of January. PorT AU PRINCE, Jan. 23, 1870, The government 1s now actively engaged in proe moting the interests of the people and striving to do away with the strong partizan feeling which has 50 long distracted them. All political prisoners Rave been liberated, Salnave’s family, consisting of bis wifc, mother and eleven children, together with the fugitives who had been protected by the American Coasul, sailed for Inaguay, and thence they will go to St. Domingo, at the invitation of Baez. ‘The merchants doing business in this city have come forward to offer their gold to the government forthe purpose of paying off vuhe crews of their naval vessels, The government has accepted this liberal offer and is now paying off the men. The ships are wo he laid up. The captain of the City sails to-day by the City of Port au Prince for New York, togetuer with Arthur Folsom, who. out as Consul for the republic of Hayti at New York. ‘she troops who tought under Sainave at che late engagement at Cuaba with Cavra)’s army, af which piace they were captured wita Suiaaye, have joined Jabral’s forces with the Inteauion of attacking the Dominican troops at Agua. It 18 agserted that the authoriues here hold a lete ter from Salnave, offering $50,000, gold, in two drafts on two loreigh houses In cars City to save hig life, ‘The United States Minister, Mr. Bassett, attempted to obtain the boay of Saloave for proper bul by -hia family, Who, us Was Well kuown, Were at residence of the Minister; but nis request waa de with derision, and iusults and tureats of dcath were es upon him by the infuriated mob. There appears to be some trouvle between tha owners of the two steamers plylayg between this port and New York. Tue provisional government haa granted a subsidy to the steamship Stars and Stripes Tor carrying & monthiy maul bevween tis port an yours, While the owners of the steamsiup City. Port au Prince claim that by @ contract made with: the Saluave government, tue subsidy belongs ta them, and as ueilier are wiling to give up point just yet, it is thougat that both steamers wi return, uri ‘The slate of the new government has been mad@ up with the names of Nassage Saget tor Presiden! Michel Domimque, Governor of toe South; Nortl Alexis, Governor of the North, and Brice tor Senator. The government, desirous of ucting accor ta the essential provisions of ihe constitution of 1867, which was nuilified by the late government, have oraered elections in the different aistricts tor mem~ bers of the lower house. A decree nas been closing all the ports wnich were not ports of entry Jor foreign vessels prior to the revolution; but the port of Miragone, which has be-n closed, is Dow open. NOTHING LIKE LEATHER. Labor and Capital Hand in Hand—Steps To wards the Formetion of a Boot and Shoe Board of Trade—Views of Prominent Manufacturers and Jobbors. An adjourned mecting of boot and soc manu. facturers and jobbers was heid yesterday afcernoom atthe Astor House, the attendance clauning to ré- present $30,000,000 of trade annually. mr. Stephem Hyatt occupied the chair, and Mr. G, F. Andersom filled the partof secretary. Aiter the minutes of the meeting held onthe 17th ult, had been read reports of committees were called on, and that om permanent organization furnished an elaborate re~ view of the question of estavlishing an organization for the protection of the interests of the trade, im which it says:—‘The manufaciure oud sale of boots and shocs in New York city an®@ vicinity require the use of many million dollarg of capital, employs the untiring energy sagacity and labor of thousands of persons of alk ages and both sexes, and the scope of the wade reaches throughout the Western Continent’d Here follows a dissertation on the hazards of trade under which jobbers especially suffer, and tho quea~ tion of the manufacturera competing with those of the East is ably discussed. In continuation ft sayaite “This trade should follow in the steps of many others, and, like them, form a trade union, whereby ita varied interests can be 80 divided up that exch separate intcrest will have allotted to it watchfuk and vigilant guardians.” It finally recommends that permanent and suitable quarters be chosen. The document was signed by Messrs. Richards, Big- elow, Trask, Powell, Dittman, St. John, Elliott, Brint, and Powers. A long and warm debate followed tho reading 6f this document, the questions of credit aud how ta ascertain the standing of members being fally dige cussed, when the constitution was submitted and accepted. Its chief points of interest are:—Object of the association, to promote the general welfare of, vhe trade by affording facilities for frequent meeting and exchange of views and for general co-operation. Standing committees—six are provided for, Viz.:~» Finance, Arbitravion, Debts aad Debtors, Insuranct Transportation and Labor, The duty of the dom mittee on Debts and Debtors shall be to ex- amine, when requested by two or more in- terested members, into cases of mercantile. failures and suspensions, dnd report to tha president or secretary as speedily a3 possible the deptor’s condition, labilities, assets, &c. The com- mittee may also keep @ book asa record of non payment by any debtor of any indebtedness any facts or circumstances which may cast a sus picion upon the character or credit of any debtor, The insurance Committee are to procure insuranc@, in reliable companies on the property of members, The Transportation Committee are to treat on ques- tions of freight and regulate differences betwoom Tmembers and express and other ae | Labor Committee shall have charge of ali qu reat tr ai of labor arising between members an®@ employ Several speakers followed in remarka on the, Tmovement, which appeared to them highly neces+ sary. The labor question, tt waa stated, would receive ample consideration. The question of pene credit seemed highly important, as the trade | many thousands of dollars annually by giving credit\ to persons whose standing cannot be analyzed. The aasociation, which will bear the titie of the Nevw' York Boot and Snoe Board of Trade, must not, how- ever, be hee aon a eet La Eh infor- mation it must giean respecting the standing members will be soiely for the benelit of nena members and to render the association respected. 15 ‘was also stated that as soon as the society is started all differences between the Knights of St. Crispim and their employers wilt be Piet setiied, is] heretofore they have had.to deal with individual members of the trade, and now can appeal to the whole body, where ail fe oar of labor and wages will receive prompt and respectful attention. The following members signed the roll estes d@ay:—Stephen Hyatt, A. G, Trask, A. 8. Ric 4 J Mabie,}David Towns, D. |, M. Dowling, ©. Silver, Po Charles D. Bigelow, Z. B. Powell, James Hewell Cox, J. Parsons, Ditteman, W. M. Hollingshead, Henry Tasker, Rh. Bik, 0. F. Miller, J. St. Jonna, J.B. J. B. H. Edge, George L. Trask, E, Milens, 8. Wilson, G, Munson. The committee on nomimations presented the fole lowing proposals for officers:—President, Aarom Ulafiin; Vice Presidents, W, A. Hall, 3. Hyatt, Je Whitehouse, BE. burt, A. G. Trask; Treasurer, Charles D, Bigelow: Directors, O. 3. Parsons, W. Aw Rangom, N. Southwick, &. B. Currier, G. W. Dubows, q. L. Trask, ©. C. Warren; J. Wiggiis, H. W. Mer- niam; Finance Committee, K. Dutman, J. Newell, J. L, Maynard; Arbitration Committee, Reed, Feeher, H. Elliott; vepta and Debtors 6 A. 8. Richards, G. L. ‘irask, D. B. Powell; Insurance Committee, J. E. Hedges, W. H. Day, D. Tomans, Freight Committee, K. Melias, L. J. Wabte, LL, Stud- well; Labor Commuites, GC. D, Bigelow, E. C. Burt, H. W. Merriam, H. Tasker and George Silver. ‘After some discussion a motion was put and car~ ried that the next meeting take jira on the 7th Inst., attwo P. M., at the Astor House, when the election will be heid. A few remarks on tie present State of the trade were made, and the mectlng ads journed, ed NOTE F20M MADAME ANNA BISHOP. New YorK, Jap. 51, 1870 To THe Borrok oF THB HERALD:—~ Having noticed that a rumor is going the rounds of the press to tle effect that my aomestic relations are so unhappy a3 to induce me to apply fora me to say through divorce, 1 908 Jat (hereja not asolliary Tarticle of y ‘th in the report, and that it ia wholly without foundation, © ANNA BISHOP SCHULTZ, Aeavy SHrPMeNTS FROM CALIFORNTA.—The Cold~ rado, which sailed for Panama on the 1siLh, Look 200 passengers, $1,160,987 treasure, 4,600 gallons of brandy, 2,800 gallons wine, 3,600 dry hides and 167,000 pounds of wool. ‘the buliion shipment to New York last week by railroad wag large——$462,316¢, Nevada (Cal.) Gaxetle, Jan, 20,