The New York Herald Newspaper, February 19, 1870, Page 4

* a NEW YORK HERALD |" BROADWAY AND ANN STREET, JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR, ‘ees Velume XXXV. AMUSEMENTS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE TAMMANY, ov Tux SxvEN. Mat WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broaaw: atreet.— ‘MASKS AND FACES. Matinee — ~~ aga mm » BOOTH'S THEATRE, 234 at., det hand = Motinee—Hamugr. Evening-Guy Maw ee Fouctoonth street.—Tam BURLESQUE GRAND OPERA HOUSE, corner of Eighth avenue and ‘98d LTH TWELVE TEMPTATIONS. Matinee at 2. FRENCH THEATRE, Mth at, and 6th av.—Tux Oreza or Faust. OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broaaway.—New VERSION OF AMLET. Matinee at 2 . FIFTH AVENUE z3 fourth st! prov. i, Ravn THBAD: 1B, Twenty-fo .—FRov ae GARDEN, Broadway. aaGRpY or Ham- WOOD'S MUSEUM AND MENAGERIE, Rrondway, cor fer Phirtreth s.—Matines daily. Performance every oventag, ACADEMY OF MUSIC, lath strect.—lTALIAN OrEEA— Batings at 1—RicoLzrro, BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Gi HE AtwORER Or Feat OLOCKMAKES's Haz, 40. Matinee ab. MRS. F. B, CONWAY'S PARK THEATRE, Brooklya.—~ Wo. Tom's Canin, ‘TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, 21 Bowery.—Cou1a Focarism, NXGRO MINSTRALSY, 40. Matinee ai 234. THEATRE COMIQUE, 514 Hroadway.—Couto Vooat- ‘Bem, NRowo Acs, dc. “Matinee at 254. + BRYANT’S OPERA HOUSE, Tammany Building, Mth Weebaxani's MiNerEKLS. ee \ GAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, 585 Brox !way.—Eturo Pian MiverReisy, Nzcuo Aots, &o.—“Hasi.” € eruiy 2 LEoW's MINSTRELS, 120 Broadway.—Ernto- Pian MiNsreriery, Neoro Acts, 40. NEW YORK CIRCUS, Fourteenth strect.—Eaunattran ND Graunastic Przroumances, &¢. Matinee ai 2's. HOOLEY’S OPERA HOUSE, Brooklyn.—Hoo.ry's (STRELG—TUE THEATRICAL AGENCY, £0. Matinee. APOLLO HALL, corner 28th street and Broadway.— ux Naw Hwessicox. = NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— Science anv A New York, Saturday, February — SS {,. GONTENTS OF TO-DAY’S BERALD. Pian. “3 1—Advertiseme nts, 2—Advertisements, 3—Advertisem ents. @—Editoriais: Leading Article on Our Shipping 19, 1870. Interests, Report of the Congressional Special Committee— Anneal Banquet of the aTheta Deta Chi Fraternity—Personal {ntelligence—A Haytien Diplomat tn Trou- bie—Fires Last Night—Confidence Operation— The British Iron-Clad Monarch—Amusement Announcements, G—Telegraphic News from ali Parts of tho World: Irish Legislative Support of the Gladstone Land Bill; British Mercantile Aid to the Spanish Cu- ban Cause—Shocking Brutality in Brooklyn— New York City and Brooklyn Intelligence—a Maniac Attacks a Priest—A Cure for Suictde— Army and Navy Intelligence-—Alleged High- way Robbery—Woman Suffrage—Storm Along the Hudson—Smash Up on the Ohio Railroad— Business Notices. G=—The State Capital: Payment of the Ante-War State Debt in Coin; The Bill Abolishing the Court of Special Sessions passed in the Assem- bly—The Sheridan Uxoricide—New York City and Brooklyn Courts—Christian Muscle— British Aristocracy: The London Season—The Sons of Toil: Gloomy Reports from Working- men—tcriticisms of New Books—An Old Quar- antine Ring. Q—Financial and Commercial Reports—Real Es- tate Matters—Marriages and Deaths—Adver- tisements, S—Washington: Nebraska Ratifles the Fifteenth Amendment; The People Petitioning Congress to Acknowledge Cuban Independence—Musical and Theatrical Notes—Baiting the Wrong Bull—Board of Assistant Aldermen—Burglars in Jersey—Strikes tn Jersey—Convention of Irish Soctewes—Shipping Intelligence—Adver- tisements, Tne Bui. to Remove, tHe Court or Sproat Sussions has passed the Assembly. It appears to be a bill of special spite against Justice Dowling. Tue AsseMBLy has agreed to pay the ante- war debt of the State in coin, The discussion developed the fact that some of the members consider the Supreme Court of the United States rather small potatoes. SHERIDAN, THE WIFE MurpeEregr, has been fully committed by the Coroner's jury. He seemed on the inquest to be indifferent to the proceedings, and probably has Reynolds’ Notion about hanging in New York. A Maaisrrats in Worcester, Mass., yester- day held a man on his own recognizance in $500 not to commit suicide, he having previ- ously attempted to blow out his brains. The magistrate evidently thonght that money was of more value than brains in Massachusetts, Muier.—An attempt is being made in the House to oust Mr. Mullett, the supervising architect of the Treasury. It is shrewdly sus- pected that Painter with his committee is at the bottom of it, and he lays his colors on pretty thick, as usnal where there isa golden prospective. UNEMPLOYED EvROPEAN CAPITAL.—The vast accumulation of money inthe banks of London and Paris and the reduction of interest in Hol- land is but a reflection of the political state of Europe. Capitalists prefer letting their money lie idle fora term than to risk the issue of pending difficulties. Under these circum- stances it is but natural that United States A Srrancer who visited the midday prayer meetings at the church corner of Fulton and William strects yesterday was assaulted and put out of the church by the sexton because he persisted in praying aloud more than the five minutes stipulated in therules, ‘Be not weary in well doing” is the Scriptural injunc- tion the stranger was trying to fulfil, but he did not calculate on wrestling with the Lord and the sexton too. Tur New Rairoap SvsPEeNsion BriveR at Louisville, Ky., was completed yesterday and thrown open with most untoward cere. <« monies, A locomotive attached to a train, with two thousand persons aboard, while crossing ran off the track, but a remaining Jocomotive carried away some of the passen- gers in safety. Then another locomotive was ent to bring back the rest of the passetgera, and it also ran off the track, thus blocking up _ the remaining fifteen hundred passengers on the bridge, At the latest news they had not heen rescued. The strength of that bridge has certainly been found equal to a very severe strain, Rupping rejiroad trains off the track jose elo i a NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1870. Means | Tee Copporbend Press en the New Oburter, Shipping Intereste—Report of the Con- gromional Special Committe. The special committee appointed by the House of Representatives to inquire into the causes of the decline of our meroantile marine and to ascertain what can be done to restore it has just submitted the report, which was pub- lished in the Hznatp yesterday. Credit is due to this committee for the labor it has bestowed upon this important national subject. Not only has it been in session for a long timo at the Capitol in Washington, examining wit- nesses and a vast amount of materials within its reach, but it has visited also New York, Philadelphia and other shipping ports for the same purpose, besides collecting information from American consuls at the principal ports of foreign countries, The report shows that in the decades from 1880 to 1840 the increase of our tonnage in the foreign carrying trade was about sixty percent; from 1840 to 1850, seventy-five per cent, and from 1850 to 1860, sixty per cent. The increase in the Inat deoade was twenty per cent over that of Great Britain. Our tonnage engaged in the foreign trade reached its highest point in 1861, when it was 2,642,628 tons. That of Great Britain at the same time was 3,179,683 tons, We held the second rank among nations, and approached the first in the extent of tonnage engaged in foreign trade. In the total tonnage registered and enrolled we believe we stood first. From 1861 to 1866 our tonnage engaged in foreign trade declined to 1,972,926 tons, being a loss of 1,149,902 tons. Great Britain gained in the same time 984,715 tons. The cause of this loss to us and gain to Great Britain as consequence, in a great measure, was, we all know, the war and those rebel cruisers which were let loose upon American commerce by England. Hypocritical pretences of England to friendship, inter- national good will, morality, neutrality and high regard for national honor go no further than her interests are concerned. She saw & fine opportunity to break down a maritime rival and to build up her mercantile marine on the ruins, and she seized it with avidity. It has always been so in the case of maritime rivals, and will bo to the end of her history. It is the nature of England to act thus. She studies only British interests. The committee remarks that the change of the business furnished by our own country in exports and imports from American to foreign vessels is still more striking. In 1850 seventy- five per cent of our total exports and imports were shipped in American vessels, It was the same in 1855. In 1869 thirty-four per cent only was shipped in American vessels, while sixty-six per cent were in foreign vessels. Thus, as the committee says, our own exports and imports are passing in foreign bottoms, the freight going to earich commercial rivals and to swell the foreign balances against us, which must be settled in gold, Nearly seventy per cent of the imports at New York, the great commercial centre, are in foreign steamships, That something ought to be done to revive our shipping interests no one will deny. Indeed, the people will willingly submit to some exceptional legislation to accomplish this object. But the question is, what can be done? Has the committee hit upon the right plan? The bill it has reported does not meet the wants of the country. It is framed upon the principle of protection to certain interests more than for the general welfare or national maritime greatness. The committee has been governed evidently by its protectionist pro- clivities and by the influence of interested classes or parties. Under the exceptional circumstances of our declined and declining shipping there might be no objection to sub- sidies to important steamship lines, provided the government protects the Treasury from imposition by mere speculators ; that the vessels be built in the best manner, and that they be subject to the control of the government for mail ser- vice or war purposes. Nor can there be any objection to taking off the duty or allowing a drawback on the materials that enter into the building of vessels of any description that are for the foreign trade. So also might tho duties and taxes upon all ship stores and coal to be used and consumed by vessels in the foreign trade be taken off, as recommended by the committee. But it is a very question- able policy, and must lead to imposing heavy burdens upon our people, who are taxed already enormously, to give bounties upon the materials of American production used in building vessels, and an annual bounty upon each ton of steamships or sailing vessels that may be constructed here. A bounty on home materials equal to the duties on foreign that enter into shipbuilding, and a bounty of two, three or four dollars a ton annually on vessels built in the United States, will amount to an enormous tax upon the Treasury and people, We are disposed to go a good way in measures to restore our shipping, but this stupendous bounty system will never do, There is all the appearance of monstrous jobs in it tor the ben- efit of a few shipbuilders. The mostimportant means of increasing American tonnage are ignored by the committee. If the registry and navigation laws were modified so as to permit American capitalists to build or buy vessela where they can get them cheapest, or to per- mit the re-regiatry of those that once were under our flag, there would soon be an increase of our tonnage, The large profit of freights which has gone into the pockets of foreigners would come back to usagain, This ia a far more important consideration than the interests of « few shipbuilders, With the augmentation of our tonnage in the foreign trade in this way, and with the incidental pro- tection that can be given to shipbuilding, as proposed in the bill referred to above, our shipyards would feel the impulse, and, so far from being injured, a steady business would grow up in them, Extravagant bounties are out of the question, It is to be hoped Con gress will take a sensible and practical view of the matter and restore our shipping interests in eome euch way a8 we have suggested. Taz New Jersey Grazat, Ratcroap MONSb0ix have achieved another trlumph in the defeat of the National Air Line Railroad hill in the State Legislature. The Camden and Amboy monopoly still ring the changes in the lobbies at Trenton, ang carry their points with scarcely ® murmur from any quarter, The business of running railroads through the different States belovgs to and can be exes- cised by Congress under the power to estab- lish and regulate post roads, And if the people allow themselves to bo ridden over by such huge monopolies as the Camden and Amboy Company it is their own fault in not sending proper men to Congress, An air line route from New York to Washington is an imperative necessity, and all the powers of the Jarsies should not be permitted to delay or obstruct its speedy construction. Another Earthquake in San Francisco. We have some details this morning of another earthquake in San Francisco and at various other places over a large area of the State of California. It occurred about noon on Thurs- day last. The duration of the shock was seven seconds, and its direction was from the south- east to the northwest. An instantaneous panic was of course created by the dreadful visita- tion and there was the usual unceremonious rushing of the people into the streets on such occasions; but so far there are no reports of any loss of life or destruction of property from this subterranean tidal wave of liquid fre. Real estate, however, in San Francisco will not be enhanced in value by this unwelcome intruder, for the uncertainty aa to the time and strength of the next vibration will make speculators in town lots and houses dubious about investments in a city liable, with- out warning, and within the short space of ten seconds, to be shaken to pieces, The case would be different if this were the first shock ‘‘within the memory of the oldest inhabitant,” because there is hardly a place in the world which since its occupation by man has escaped the warning of an earthquake, either directly under the place or near enough to suggest that there is no place on the dry land absolutely safe from such disturbances. Old Egypt, for instance, which one would suppose to be dead for thousands of years to the pulsations of earthquakes, had a shaking and waking up some seven or eight years ago, very much like this latest sensation at San Francisco. But these California earthquakes have been sufficiently frequent during the last six or seven years to convey the idea that in that quarter they are a sort of chronic disease, never absolutely dormant, and certain to break out in some terrible paroxysm when least expected, even after many years of compara- tive quiet. We incline to the opinion, how- ever, that the Pacific seaboard of Califprnia, and all the States lying west of the Sierra Nevada range of mountains, lie west of the direct line of these volcanic forces, which run along or gear the backbone of the Continent from Patagonia into Mexico, and thence through Arizona and Nevada on the east side of the great mountain chain which divides that State from California; and thence by way of the volcanoes of Oregon and of Washington Territory into British Columbia. It was only 8 few weeks ago that they had in Nevadaa very extensive and a very lively earthquake. Indeed, all that immense desert region, in Ite general character, lying between the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada, and known as the Great Basin, abounds, as Fromont expresses it, in evidences of ‘fracture and violence and fire.” We are informed that the general direction of this latest earthquake at San Francisco was from the southeast to the northwest. This would indicate that it was an offshoot from the main volcanic gulf stream, if we may 80 express it, which flows under Sonora, Arizona and the Great Basin, from Mexico and Central America. As the crust of the earth, however, judging from the surface, is from four to five thousand feet thicker, even in the valleys of the Great Basin, than at San Francisco, that city, even in a side movement from the main volcanic continental current, is liable to suffer. Accordingly we abandon our effort to show that San Francisco is in no danger, and can only commend the citizens to build no more four story houses and no more brown stone fronts, and to sleep down stairs convenient to the front door for four or five years, and mean- time to go ahead with their business affairs, trusting in Providence that atter their late earthquakes they may be exempt from such dreadful disturbances for many years to come. Narorzon’s Troustes—Anorure Dirri- ovtty.—Among the latest items of tele- graphic news from Paris is one which well deserves passing notice. On the interpella- tion introduced in the Chambers relative to the domestic policy of the government by M. Jules Favre, it is said, immediate action will be urged. It is said that if Ministers do not accept the interpellation the “Left Centre” will vote with the ‘Extreme Left”—that is, the moderate section of the opposition, which has been acting more or less steadily with M. Ollivier—will join the “extremists” or ‘‘irre- concilables,” and thus force upon France the question whether the one man power is to bo restored or whether it is to be revolution, The opposition united will make it impossible for M. Ollivier to remain in office; and, M. Ollivier out of office, there will be left a wap which it will be difficult for any Curtius to fill. &M. Ollivier is, no doubt, doing well in the circumstances; but the circumstances are peculiar, and his misfortune is that in doing well he is under the necessity of acting too much with the Emperor and too little with the people. In the eyes of the opposition the Prime Minister is a partisan. Should the threatened union take place what would fol- low? In all likelihood Ollivier would resign, In that case a successor will be sought, If found, he will have his chance. If he can yield more to popular demand, well. The pre- sumption is that concession in the Emperor's tmind has reached its limit, It scems really, then, to have come to this—revolution or the restoration of the one man power. This new difficulty will be watched overywhere with intense interest, Tux Tenvanrergo Sup Canay SongME.— We publish on another page the letter! addressed by the Mexican Minister of Publis Works to the Congress of Mexico relative to the scheme for a ship canal through the Isthmas of Tehuantepec. Itis pleasing to know that the Mexicans have thought the matter worthy of consideration, Indeed, the latest news from there might lead to the belief that revolution was the only consideration for which the Mexicans had any thought. The Tchnantepec scheme, although it does not entirely dispel that idea, yet leaves room for the belief that the case of Mexico is not altogether hopeless. British Aristecracy—Ite Morality, aud Marriages“Causos Colebres” at Hand in Londen, The special correspondence from London which appears in our columns to-day presents picture of fashionable and aristocratic life— its pleasures, means and consequences—as it exists generally in Great Britain, which is not by any means flattering to the cause of the “privileged classes” ag such, It supplies, in truth, the material for a ‘heavy blow and great discouragement” to the law of property entail as it is just now enforced in Great Britain, Wo have the history of a noble duke— the twelfth of that rank of his house— who, came into the enjoyment of a hereditary income of two hundred thousand pounds sterling o year only eight years since, besides receiving at the same time the sum of five hundred thousand pounds sterling which had accumulated during his minority. Edu- cated and surrounded with every refining influenpe of home this young gentleman per- mitted bimself to be influenced and toadied by | “turfmen,” gamblers and “‘blacklegs” to such ‘an extent that he gave up the society of bis peers, ‘abandoned his home and was compelled to seek shelter from his creditors on the Con- tinent. In such straits the representative of the once soul-stirring ory of ‘The Douglas” was in Paris, The Emperor Napo- leon, a relative, by the way, sent an officer of his household to invite him to dinner at the Tuileries. The reply was, as we are told to-day, that “‘ho had neither clothes nor man- ners to appear at the Emperor's table.” Was it Danton, the great Corsican, or the once special constable of Tower Hill, London, who was thus avenged? The Earl of Jersey, of the house of the ‘Great Villiers,” of Pope's day, was ia debt for twenty thousand pounds sterling to money dealers when a school boy, and has “got through” an income of fifty thousand pounds sterling a year at the age of twenty-five. Then we have mention of the monetary condition of the Duke of Newcastle (Clinton), the Earl of Westmoreland (Fane), and the Earl of Winchelsea (Halton), in such terms as would lead one almost to believe in the poetic assurance of the same poet (Pope), that Satan now's grown wiser than of yore, And tempts by making rich, not making poor. The English judges were preparing for the trial of the famous Mordaunt divorce case and that of another grand matrimonial scandal entanglement. Our special recapitulation of the main facts of these cases will prepare the readers of the Hzgaxp for a future legal disclosure of some of the most extraordinary revelations on the subject of marriage and its observances in the European land of bigh lineage and great names and fame which will go far to prove that our American democracy is not eo bad efter all, andthat there are many persons in the Old World whom ‘‘not all the blood of all the Howards” would ennoble. The Democratic Fight. The appearance in the Legislature of propo- sitions to abolish the Board of Supervisors and to remove the Police Commissioners seems to indicate the course that is to be taken by the democratic opponents of the new Charter, and points to the opening of a fight that the people ought to understand very clearly. The viler elements of the democratic party—that is to say, the ex-convicts, the dogfighters, the gamblers, the bruisers and the repeaters—dis- approve of the new Charter, and will not have it it they can possibly help themselves. They fear that under the operation of such a law their occupation would be gone, or, at least, that their several spheres of activity would be limited. They hate the Charter because it does not answer their purposes, and so they make war upon it, an@ on account of it they make war upon the knot of Tammany leaders that is now the only restraint upon their wild instincts. These leaders are certainly the respectable portion of the party as it now stands, None of them have ever served a term in or been sentenced to the State prison. Not one of them has ever been known to cut any one’s throat, or even to lead a riot for the destruction of property and indiscriminate murder of the citizens, We believe it cannot bo charged that any one of them has ever even fought « prize fight. On the contrary, they are men of decorous demeanor, some general culture, and some of them of fair legal ability. Their innocence before the law is their crime in the eyes of the assailants, who now make war on behalf of the scum, and their respectability and culture is the great distinction between them and the party men who open the fight under the lead of Sheriff O’Brien, John Morrissey and kindred spirits. The war Is to drive out of the democratic party the last elements of decency that remain in it, so that there may be no restraint whatever upon the party tactics of plunder and free murder. With the repeaters, bruisers, bullies and July rioters in this onset are some of the silk stocking democrats, like Samuel J. Tilden. These men have been thrust from power in ordinary patty warfare, and are willing to regain power, oven in association with the men wlio néw rebel against the last tittle of party decency. Our interest inthis matter is a great deal like that of the person who was indifferent whether the man or the bear came out victor. If the Tammany leaders win, and we get the new Charter, it will improve the government of the city, and we shall be glad of that; and if the other party wins affairs will soon become so unspeakably bad here that the people will arise some day and put tho politicians in tight places, and we shall be very glad of that. CononkssionaL Biunpers.—The Congres- sional committee in making their roport in regard to the decline of American shipping committed a couple of blunders which were hardly to be expected from such source and upon go important a matter, The committee state that there is a semi-mouthly line of "american steamers from this port to Rio Janeiro, whereas the line runa but once. a month, and the steamers of the line to Aspin- wall do not stop at Havana at all, as alleged, nor have they for three or four years past. If these Congressional committees would bestow a little more care upon their reports they would save the country from a great deal of unnecessary trouble and themselves from the consequences of their ignorance. The impres- sion that the committee propose to readmit to American registers vessels that abandoned the flag duting the war is orroneous, There is a lively breeze astir among the news- papers—almost a storm, in fact—and it blows the harder at every mention of the new Char- ter. From the republicans rage at the new Charter is but natural. They oppose it be~ cause it comes from the democracy. This is party principle. It is but natural that they should talk of corruption now, though they said comparatively little of it when they had the power to mend matters. But the copper- head organ of this city blows the loudest, wrathiest, most hyperborean blast of all, which is odd to the people, as they expected that from its occasional pretence to democracy it could support a demooratio measure, Hence they are puzzled to understand the way it splite {ta editorial cheeks with fury and breaks out in pots of worse than variolous horror at every mention of tho new measure, The reason is simple, how- ever. The copperhead organ is horrified at the Charter now before the Legislature, be- cause there is another Charter in somebody's pocket that it would like to glorify. It seems that a Charter was written by a worthy, dia- creet, amiable old gentleman, who once wept on the neck of Horatio Seymour—Mr. Samuel J. Tilden, in fact. Remembering that he was eminent in politics two or three generations ince, this old gentleman awoke, like another Rip Van Winkle, awhile ago and made a Charter, and expected it would be adopted at once, just as the callow poets, who hand their manuscript tragedies in at the box office, wonder when they will be played for the first time. Well, the democrats did not have the same high opinion of Tilden’s Charter that Tilden had, and that is the reason why such terrible blasts are blown on his penny trumpet. It almost reminds one of Roland’s horn at Ron- cesvalles. We hope they will remember that Roland split his horn, and have @ caro for thelr little trumpet. European Political Wonders. A special cable telegram from London in- forms us that “the Irish members of the House of Commons have agreed to support the land reform bill introduced by Mr, Glad- stone, and thai there will be no opposition on the second reading of the measure.” ‘‘All agreed,” for once. If this be so Premier Gladstone has eclipsed the managers of the happy family and all our wizards and presti- digitateurs completely. We suspect, however, that the word ‘“‘all” applies only to the liberal Irish members of the House, and that the tories will still object. If it be correct, however, we sincerely rejoice in the fact that the days of the ‘‘Kilkenny cats” are at an end, and that Ireland will at length enjoy « fair start, We find by another cable despatch that ® party of English economists are now ob- jecting to'the Irish Land Reform bill, so that the difficulty appears to have jumped over the Channel and turned up afresh. ‘We are also told by the cable that Austria and Hungary are perfecting an entente ona land boundary question ; so that the European “golidarities” which were anticipated by Kossuth are being rapidly perfected. Tae Spanish Rient or Sgaron.—By our ship news we are informed that on the 2d instant the schooner Gertie Lewis, bound from Ragged Island to Baltimore, while off Morse Key, Bahamas, was made to heave to bya Spanish man-of-war firing across her bows, subsequently boarded and her papers demanded for examination by the Spanish commander. These being found correct the vessel was allowed to proceed on her journey. Now, this boarding of American vessels by Spanish cruisers on the high seas is a little too much of a good thing. We know of no treaty in existence which authorizes it. Morse Key is in the Bahamas, and not in Cuban waters. The action of the Spanish commander was clearly an outrage upon the flag of the United States, and it is humiliating in the extreme that there seems, from the past policy of the administration, no prospect of the honor and dignity of this government being vindicated as it should be, and as it would be did not the pro-Spanish sentiments of Mr. Fish control the action of the President. PRINOE PxERRE Bonaparte is to be placed on trial in France on a charge of ‘homicide through imprudence.” It isto be hoped that our criminal defence lawyers here will not read this, If they do the ‘‘mora] insanity” plea will be effaced from their bricfs immediately, and the French one substituted, The streets of New York will then be filled with gangs of the most “‘imprudent” poor fellows in the world. THETA DELTA © Close of the Annual Convention—Grand Ban: anet Last Night. The convention of this influential fraternity has been brought to a successful close. The assemblage of the members, comprising merchants, judges, Journalists and iiterary men generally, was, during the two days’ sitting at.the Astor House, marked by the utmost harmony, good nature, thorough friend- ship and genuine sociability. Although the minutes of the meeting were confidential, the grand effusion of heartiness and sincerity exnlbited at the annual banquet last evening proved unmistakably that the objects of the organization are founded on a worthy and substantial basis. Few chapters boast of a prouder and more brilliant record, and most finy did Theta Delta Chi honor its twenty-third conven- tion. Mr. Porteus C. Gilbert presided at the banquet, which, by the way, was a splendid affair. ‘To say that the tables bent with delicactes would do but faint justice to the pleasant groans of sStetson’s mahogavy. The room was brighteued by o uni- versal smile, and ts i only necessary to add that Dodworth’'s band was in attendance and contributea largely to the general enlivenmeut of the occasion, aud a whole-souled affair it was, from the first plunge of the carving knife to the kind adieus of all. The cloth was removed, but nothing 1pteresting was carned with it, and at a gentle tap of the gavel silence reigned supreme, whereupon Mr. J. H. Ecob read an interesting and very appropriate poem, which was followed by an able oration by Mi William L, Stone, who eloquently reviewed tno bi tory of the society, pomted out the brilliant which adorned, aud pathetically referred to the de- parted ones who were once Its proudest orna- ments. Mr. Stone was frequentiy interrupted by loud tokens of enthusiastic approbation. Then followed a lit of toasts, waich were duty responded by Judge Morris, Mr. James C. Fitz- airick, General W. 3. Hillyer and Mr. Oscar G. jawyer. Mr. Gilbert, the chairman, presented quiie an entertaining history of the organization and alluded to the many priiitant names that sdoracd its Bur Payn ‘Thompson and others, At intervals Sueioala atri burst upon the ear, combining, as they. a: eloM@ence and harmony, pleasure with momehtary enchantment. Altogetner, a most delightful even: ‘Was spent and the members of the society separated ‘with earnest con; had characteriz Tatulations for the success which ‘the meeting. CuEap Music.—The dime series of music which are published by Mr. Benjamin W. Hitchcock ta great favor with the pubilc. The catalogue of half- dime music, also recently published, already num- bers 183 pieces, We cannot see how music can be brought down to ® much lower figure upon @ rejarn (9 old priced er PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE. Prominent Arrivals in This City Yesterday. Commodore Scott, of the United States Navy; General Brackett, of Rochester; Richard W. Roche, of Albany; Captain Turtle, or the United states Army, aud Judge KR. R. Nelson are at the Hodman Rouse. Count Faverney, Charg¢ d’Affaires of France; ash- burton and Wm. Fletcher Webster, of Mansfeid, are at the Albemarle Hotel. Major General Sheridan, General Forsyth and Major General Baird, of the United States Army; ex-Gov- ernor J. Gregory Sinith, of Vermont; D. Wallace, of New Orleans, and J. Jay Knox, of Washington, are at the Fiftz Avenue Hotel, Rey, G. T. Rider, of Poughkeepsie, is at the Ola- Tendon Hotel. Nicol Kingsland, of Toronto; M. Hawthorne, ef San Francisco, and R. Catlin, of West Point, are as the Everett House. Judge Amasa J, Parker, of Albany; James M. Beebe and J. M. Barnard, of Boston, and Professor Pierce, of the United states Coast Survey, are at the Brevoort House, Major W. F. Spurgis, of the United States Army; J. H, Murray, of Boston, and Colonel W, A. MoDuf, of Florida, are at the St. Charles Hotel. Proteasor D. R. Hurley, of Vhio; Captain Georgs R, Sanders, of the United States Army, sad Dr. Alexander McFariane, of Toronto, ara at the && £imo Hotel. Judge £. M. Paxon, of Philadetphia; J. C. Savery, of lowa; Professor B. P. Tyler, of Connecticut; W. F, Shaw and J. H. Macarthur, of the United States Army; T. P. Wilson, of St. Paul; H. M. Anthony, of Providence, and E. French, of Toledo, Ohio, are at thesMetropolitan Hotel. General E, F. Winslow, of St. Louis; General J. M. Brannan, of the United States Army; Thomas M, Bowen, of Arkansas; ex-Congressman J. Donnelly, of Minnesota; A. P. Stanford, of San Francisco, and Thomas W. Dark, of Vermont, are at the St, Nicho- las Hotel. General Cleny, of the United States Army; Ga- lusha A. Grow, of Pennsylvania, and Hamilton Easter, of Baltimore, are at the Astor House. Cyrus Washburn, of Chariestown; Jamey A. Jones and Kichard H. Jones, of Maryland; D. T. Flagg, of Boston, and Heary Bull, of Buffalo, are at the New York Hotel. IN A VERY BAD BOX. A Haytion Diplomat in Troublo—He Visite a Concert Saloon and Brings Up in a Sta- tion House. Among the guests at the Louvre concert saloon, at the corner of Broadway and Twenty-second street, on Taursday wight Yad Alfred Box, Secretary of the Haytien Legatioa, who for some time past hes been enamored of Fanny Butler, one of the “pretty waiter girls” employed there, unbeknown @o ous family, who, with himself, are temporarily stopping at the St, Germatn Hotel. Alfred, in his personal ap- pearance, may be attractive in his own country, but 1s of rather too dark a shade to pass muster in this, being only a shade or two lighter than @ Simon Pure “ole Virginny” negro. But pretty ilttie Fanny entertained him, probably because he had plenty of money and knew how to spend it, and was con- sidered a liberal, whole-souled fellow. Night after night he remained until the girls were allo togo to their homes, and then be invariabiy accompanted Fanny. On ‘hursday oight, or, rather, Friday morao- , Bhe had wu favorite who requested the’ hitherto allowed the brunette, which the latter “couid not see,’? and commenced upbraiding her, i 2, 28 he alleges, she assauited him, took his dia- oe a ay tle unpleasantness onser ‘Dud, of Twenty-nine -preciuct, came along ang Seae) yw what the troubie was, wheD Fano; ye ings five doer bul from mer nand. As the ed secretary was able to articulate very little jb, the story, which he attempted to rei was not listenea to, and he was to accompany tne ofiicer to the station house in Thirtieth street, which he declined to do. The officer seized him by the coat collar and walked him along in double quick rr which go enraged him that he drew back his fist planted it plump in tne ear of the officer, at the same tim@ drawing @ pistol, pointing it at nis head and threatening to blow the ‘‘pecier’a” brains out. He waa prevented from so doimg hy the officer, who wrenched the weapon from his hand. On searching him in the station house @ large dirk Knife was jound concealed about his person. Yes- terday morning he was arraigned before Justice Cox, at Jefferson Market, when @ compiaint was pre- ferred against nim by the officer, charging him with carrying concealed weapons, Fanny failing to aj pear against him. In his informal examination he stated he was thirty-nine years of age, born in Hayti, realdes in this city, by occupation Secretary of the Haytien Legation and not guilty of the charge pre- ferred against him, He was held to bail in the sum of $400 tu keep the peace, Kichard Thackray of No. 44 Exchange place, becoming bis bondsman. FIRES LAST NIGHT. In Cherry Street. Shortly sfter six o'clock last evening citizens no ticed smoke issuing from the secona story of the Union Rice Mills. 1¢ being very foggy at the time they took it to be steam, but finally flames made thelr appearance, which convinced them that tc was fire and not steam. The cry of fire was imme diately heard and communicated to the police, who immediately sent out the alarm. The flremen quickly responded to the call, but on their arrival they found that thelr efforts to save the building were futile, Assistant Chief Engineer Reynolds ordered a secona alarm to be rung, which brought additional fre companies to the scene, and the relay aid good ser- vice in Saving the surreunding buildings. The butid- ing wherein the fire occurred was a #1X story brick building and was solely occupied by James Fitz- gerald a8 rice and feed mill, and was known as tue Union Rice Milla. ‘The tire could have been got under had it been discovered in time, but ere the arrivel of thy firemen’ the flames had nen rapid headway and enveloped the entire eyed af ® sheet of fire. ir, Fitzgerald joss on stock at 0 000, whit sured tor $3,000 in the Wilhamsburg City Insur- ance Company. The loss on machinery will not fait snort of $4,060, And is insured- for $17,000 in city companies, The building, which is a total had & frontage of feet, and extended bi angus seventy-five feet, ia owned by A. T. Briggs, and was valued at about $40,000; tully insured. At nalf- past eight o’clock the walls on the east side of the building 1ei1 with a loud crash and crashed in the two story brick stable adjoining the mill, The stable was owned and occupied by A. I. Briggs. When the walls fellthe crowd, which had gathered around from quite & distance, scattered in every direction. The bulidings Nos, 60 and 62 Rutgers street wero slightly damaged by water. The tenement house No. 244 Cherry street, was in great danger of being @ prey to the fames, but the wind having changed it wassaved, with but alight damage by tire ‘aod Water. ‘ihe tenants, most of whom were at supper atthe time ofthe fire, rushed panic stricken about the building, carrying out what littie furnt- ture they tad. Many of them were over- taken by the dense volumes of smoke and were obliged to get out ere velng suffocaed. Sergeant Sminck hearing that several children were in the building ran up and rescued them from suifocation. The police were under the command of Captain Warlaw, and did good service in kecping back the crowd which had congregated about tue scene. The cause of the fire could nos bo ascertained, but it ts believed taat the loss is fully covered by insurance, but none of the particulars could be ascertaimed. In Irving Place. About six o'clock the gaslight on the second floor of the residence of C. H. Skerry, at No. 50 Irving lace, get fire to the curtains and damaged tho windows, carpets and chairs to the amount of $250. The damage is covered by insurance. Tho fire was extinguisued by officers Davidson, King ud Reid, of the highteenth precinct, CONFIDENCE OPERATION. For some time past a young man of very respect- able appearance bas been in the habit of following. the milk wagons of T, W. Decker, of No. 309 Kast Twenty-seventh street. Mr. Deoker, who carries om an extensive business in the best part of the city, has noticed tne man following him, but until recent- ly he could not find out the reason. At the com- mencement of this Month # man, who answers the description of the follower, calied upon ® namber of Mr. Deckers customers and under pretence thas he wae a relation of Mr. Decker bag collected about $600 of accounts due to that gentieman for milk ae. livered, The young man on sevéral occasions re- celyed bank bills of a higher Sa Or Een than the pill amounted to, and on the exsuse of going to get change, took the bills and negiécted tO return with the balance, The police are looking for the young man, and if the parties victimized will assist them there is no doubt the man will be it to justice. THE BRITISH IRON=CLAD MONARCH, BALTIMORE, Feb. 18, 1870. Atstx o'clock this evening the Mouarch had not arrived at Annapolis. Steamers coming up the bay report her anchored below Sharp's island this morn- ing, fifty miles below Anuapolis. A hoavy fog and a Shick walat Lae hung ever the bay all day.