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

NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR, = Volume XXXV. NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway.—Prprin ; oF Tum GOLD MINuS. Matinee at t 2. ie haan a BOWERY THEATRE. Bowery.—JONATRAN | ¥ORD—GYMNABTIC EXERCISES, £0, Matinee at PMP: THE TAMMANY, Fourteenth atreet,— ENTERTAINMENT, Matinee at 2 ee eee BOOTH'S THEATRE, 234 at., betwee: _ Matineo—LaDy Ov LYONS. ‘Evening MacpETie WALLACES 3H ~ Pe cap ch IEATRE, Broadway and 13th street. OLYMPIC THEAT ual see ar. Broaaway.—New VERSION OF FIFTH, AVENUE, TH! ~FRo} yeLiee AvenUs, | EATRE, Twenty-fourth st.—Fnov GRAND OPERA HOUSE, corner of Eighth avenne and 28d st.—THe TWELVE TEMPTATIONS. Matinee at 2. WOOD'S MUSEUM AND MENAGERIE, Broadway, cor - ner Thirtieth st,—Matinee daily, Performance every evening. MRS. F. B. CONWAY'S PARK THEATRI:, Brookiya.— OLIVER Twist. SEEINW AY HALL, Fourteenth street.—GRAND Paris MATINEE at 1, TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE. 201 Bowery.—Com10 Vocautsm, NkGkO MINSTRELSY, £0. Matinee at 2%. THEATRE COMIQUE, 514 Broadway.—Com1o Vocar ea, NEGRO ACTS, Gc. "Matinee at 234. BRYANT'S OPERA HOUSE, Tammany Building, Mtb Si.—BBYANI'S MINSTRELS. SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, 585 Broa iway.—Etuto- PIAN MINSTRELSEKY, 4c. SET & LEON’S MINSTRELS, 720 Broadway,—Cuine- Cuow-HL HOOLEY'S OPERA HQUG, MINSTRELS—FROW Frow. Brooklyn.—HooLey's NEW YORK CIRCUS, Fonrtesnth street.—EQurarniaNn AND GYMNASTIO PERFORMANCES, £0, Matinee at 2. APOLLO HALL, corner 28th street and Broadway,— Tusk New Hiseanicon. Matinee at 2. NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway,— SCIENCE AND ART. TRIPLE SHEET. ‘Saturday, hast 9, 1970. New York, CONT: Page. 1Aavertisements. 22— Advertisements. 3—Washington: Application to the Supreme Court to Reopen the Decision on the Legal Tender Act; Justice Bradley to Sitj on the Rehearing of the Case; The Increased Appropriation for the New York Post Office Defeated; Lively Tilt in the Senate Chamber—Pro- ceedings mm the New York Legislature— Affecting Scene in a Massachusetts Prison— Brooklyn Intelligence—A Literary Entertain- ment—The Entranchisea Rejoicing: Immense Turnout of Colored Citizens—The Army of the Potomac—American Jockey Ciub—Ho for St. Domingo. 4—The McFarland Trial: Opening Speech of Coun- sel tor Defence; The First Trace of the Tempter; The Intercepted Letter from Rich- arason to Mrs, McFarland and tne Elopement; Testimony for the Defence; Hereditary Taint of Insanity the Plea—United States Commis- sioners’ Court. S—BExecution of Jack Reynolds at the Tombs: Scenes Inside and Outside the Prison—Cuba: Movements of Captain Generali de Rodas; Confagrations on the Increase Throughout the Island—The Methodist Episcopal Church— Army Intelligence—Europe: Progress and Sweep of the Revolution in Religion—Sectarian School Appropriations, @—Edltorials :—Leading Article on Our Great City Government; A Good Prospect Before Us— Amusement Announcements. ‘y—Telegraphic News from All Parts of the World: Napoleon’s Health, Exciting Report of its Con- dition Yesterday; Spain Quiet All Over the Country; French Riots in the Iron Districts and the Strikes Ending; The Sceamsbip City of Brussels and the City of Boston—Lectures Last Night—New York City News—Amuse- ments—Political Uorruption in Jersey—Per- sonal Intellizence—Old World Items—Egypt— Another Nitre-Glycerine Explosion—Business Notices. 8—The Pierre-Bonaparte Trial: Closing Addresses of Counsel to the Jury; The Prisoner in Court on the Last Day—Financia! and Commercial Reports—The Case of Supposed Suicide—~ Marnages and Deaths. 9—Police Peculiarities—Unsafe Buildingse—Aadver- tisements. 10—The Hero’s Obsequies: Last Sad Rites to the Remains of General Thomas—Custom House Manceuvring—Journalistic Notes--Shipping In- telligence—Advertisements, 11—Advertisements. 12—Advertisements. NTS OF To-DAY's HERALD, A CuHance For Sparn.—Tie cable report from Madrid states that Spain was quiet all over the country yesterday. It is to be hoped that it will remain so—that the Spaniards, having attained a fair balance, even for a day, will be be able to maintain it. A Day oF p REMARKABLE Events—Yester- day, with such events as the faneral of General Thomas, at Troy; the African jubilee in this city; the execution of Jack Reynolds; the McFarland trial, and the initial proceedings of the Tammany chiefs towards the practical re- organization of our city government under the new Charter. Tne Emperor Narotzon is reported to have had a fainting fit of some considerable duration yesterday. His Majesty had returned to the Tuileries after attending a military review. If the rumor had not its origin in a Bourse canard it deserves serious attention. Should such a syncope come on again, and be prolonged to the dissolution of his life, Europe may close its eyes on the past and again open them on a wonderful, terrible present. Tne Sexare AMENDMENT TO THE DEFI- orency Bint, increasing the appropriation for the new Post Office of this city, does not meet the approval of the House Committee on Ap- propriations, and it has been agreed upon to recommend non-concurrence in the amend- meat. This means, ing, instead of being erected with despatch, ig to continue in process of coustruction any number of years. Capra Haui’s Arctic Exveprriox.—The Senate bill for the Arctic appropriation to Captain Hall is still pending. Captain Hall has proved himself a thoroughly practical, go-ahead man, and his very physique is emi- nently that of an Arctic explorer, He has expressed himself in favor of testing the | new theory of reaching the Pole by follow- { jog the Gulf Sircam oe See suggested by the dis- | P tinguished hydrographer o| er of Coumodore B Perry’? Japan expedition, Captain Silas Bent. Should he prosecute this design Captain Hall would be guided in his movements towards the Pole by the first suggestion for reaching it yet offered by science: we suppose, that the build- | NEW YUKK HERALD, SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 1870.—TRIPLE SHEET, ‘Our Groat City Government—A Good Pros pect Before Us. The city of New York has obtained at last « wood Charter, After twenty years of changes-— twenty years of modelling and remodelling our municipal government—to suit certain parties, factions and cliques, we have got back to the fundamental principle of our republican insti- tutions, local self-goverament. The founda- tion of the liberty of England, of the United States as an offshoot of England, and of the free cities of different parts of Europe which rose in former times to great commercial emi- nence and power, was local self-government and the civic rights of municipalities. No more fatal error was ever committed in politi- cal science, and none more inimical to the republican institutions of the United States, than the attempt to govern New York by inde- pendent commissions appointed and controlled by the State authority at Albany. As a party measure, too, it failed. It neither gave us a better government nor promoted the interests or political power of the party which was the author of it. With all the evils the city endured under preceding municipal govern- ments, with bad men, and too frequently the worst men in office, and with the arbitrary rule of faction, none proved worse or such a failure as the incongruous and hydra-headed one that has just been abolished, We know that the virtual disfranchisement of New York by 8 radical Legislature, under the pretext of reforming abuses, was a political measure only; but so badly has it worked that no such pretext remains any longer. Indeed, the republican party in the Legislature gave an overwhelming vote for our new and excellent Charter, and thereby acknowledged the error it had committed before in taking away muni- cipal self-government. In one sense the new Charter may be called a party measure, for it was framed by the democratic leaders of the State, and could have been carried, no doubt, by democratic votes, even after the small faction, preten- tiously called the young democracy, opposed it; butit must not be forgotten that the repub- licans, with a few exceptions, voted solidly for it. The motive for this action of the repub- licans is impugned in certain quarters, and by the defeated faction. It is said they were bought. While we have not much faith in the incorruptibility of some members of the Legis- lature, we cannot doubt the honesty of purpose of a portion of them, atleast, in this case. They desired, undoubtedly, to give a good government to this great metropolis. They may, it is true, have obtained certain conces- sions or promises with regard to the Excise law, Electoral law, or to some of the commis- sions unffer the new government; but this may prove beneficial to the city, and should not be regarded as bribery. We think, therefore, that the Legislature as a body, with the excep- tion of a small faction, acted conscientiously and for the best. Under these circumstances there is reason to expect we have a Charter now that will stand. It is, on the whole, an excellent piece of work, and, if properly administered, there will be no motive to abrogate or materially change it, whatever party may come into power in the State hereafter. The responsibility now rests with the dominant democratic party, and in the first instance particularly with Mayor Hall, who has the power of sppointment to the various and important offices in the city. His position is a more important and responsible one really at this time than that of the Gov- ernor of the State. No Mayor ever had an opportunity of acting more independently and for the welfare of the city. If he use his power wisely he can become very popular with all classes of our citizens. He can make New York the model city of the country and the government of which other cities will be glad to copy. He can, in fact, acquire na- tional fame and rise to higher honors. The first thing to do is to reorganize the several departments of the city government in a manner that will command the respect of the intelligent portion of the community. The most respectable and capable among our citi- zens should be placed in control of all the commissions, Gamblers, low grogshop poli- ticians and corrupt men should be ignored. There could be no finer opportunity for revo- lutionizing the city government and making it respectable. If those who have reputation and interests at stake in the city should be placed in responsible situations we should soon see the happy effect. Governor Hoffman began making an important change in dispos- ing of offices when he ignored the old politi- cians and appointed Dr. Carnochan Health Officer of the Port, In his case professional and personal merit was the first consideration. Every respectable citizen hailed the appoint- ment, consequently, as a good and proper one. Let Mayor Hall do the same with the different and important appointments he has to make under the new Charter and he will become the most popular man in the city. New York is destined to be the first city in the world. It is the third now. Its future wealth, commercial greatness and magnificence can hardly be imagined. But much will depend upon those who rule it, There is a great work to be done and vast improvements to be made. At present the city is in a rade state, comparatively, some- thing like the new cities of the West. Look at our wretched piers and wharves, our filthy markets, the want of convenient and cheap locomotion, badly drained streets, imperfect gas lights, and many other defects that need a remedy. The situation and topography of | this island are such ‘that the city could be made, and ought to be made, the most beauti- jul and healthy in the world. What a splendid opportunity for the men in authority, if they have the ability and taste, and can see the future of New York! Will Mayor Hall and the leaders of the democratic party compre- hend their mission and their opportunity ? Time alone will show. By their deeds we shall know them, Tne ALiecED Corrupt Use of the fands ap- propriated by the State Legislature for the sup- port of the Inebriate Asylum at Binghamton was the subject of debate in the Assembly at i ' Albany yeates ggtepday, Mr. Jacoby 9 Saks a | pill authorizing the mee thrde This. tees by the Governor to take charge of the institution, which Mr. Littlejohn opposed. The bill was finally recommitted to the Ways and Means Committes, The Hanging of Reynolds. The poor wretch who murdered old Mr. Townsend, in the secure conviction that hang- ing for murder is “‘played.out,” expiated his crime and disproved his theorem yesterday on the scaffold. The old plan of execution, it seemed, was actually played out ; for, instead of the traditional way of dropping the con- demned man through a trap, the new mode of having him suddenly pulled off his tect up into the air was substituted. If the intention of execution is to make a rapid and easy exit for the condemned this plan was a failure yesterday ; for Reynolds, after being whirled round in the air like the cracker of a whip, fell the length of the rope and for seven minutes struggled in the agonies of strangula- tion. Thirty minutes after the body was taken down and no trace of the terrible agony was visible on the pale, lifeless features. Our humanitarians have not improved on the old hanging plac. The dull drop does the work more ‘quickly and effectually than this new- fangled notion of killing a man by a sud- den pull at his neck and then hanging him afterwards. The improvements of the humani- tarians had better be devoted to the adjuncts and the surroundings of these public execu- tions. Only yesterday a party of female pri- soners in passing from one part of the Tombs to another had to go over the scaffold and under the rope. Of course they had their coarse joke on the amusing circumstance. In commenting on the fate of Jack Reynolds we cannot fail to notice how rapidly his case has been disposed of. It is to-day just ten weeks since he killed his man and uttered his philosophical remark about hanging being played out, and he is already hanged. There are five or six murderers yetin the Tombs and out, who killed their men many years ago, who bave had two or three trials each, and yet with them it is actually the fact that hanging is played out. It was probably Reynolds’ indiscretion in making such a damaging com- mentary on the maintenance of the law he had outraged that finally drove the authorities to vindicate the law and themselves from his assertion, and to set off by contrast the delay in the other cases by hanging him on the first trial, without a respite or stay of proceedings, and within ten weeks of the commission of his crime, Revolutionary Aspects in Europe. it has been our duty and our privilege on many occasions in the past to point out and compel attention to certain important political and social changes in Europe. Since 1848 we do not know that the European Continent has experienced the action of more dangerous forces than it is experiencing at the present moment, nor do we believe that since that time the revolutionary changes have been so sweep- ing or so alarming. Great Britain, France, Spain, Austria, not to speak of other nations, are allin the agony of a revolutionary crisis. Great Britain is saving itself by yielding to almost every popular demand. France has caught a similar impulse; so has Spain; so has Austria, In Great Britain there can be no doubt as to the final result. The Gladstone administration, aiming at justice, conciliatory yet severe, is gradually disarming all opposition and laying broadly the basis of a strong and healthful future. It is not other- wise with France. Napoleon knows that it is idle to fight with fate. Fate made him what he is, No man so well understands her teach- ings; nor does any man know better when and how to obey her high behests. Fate is against the perpetuation of the one man power, and the Emperor, by every means at his com- mand, assists at and presides over the pro- gressive movement. Spain is in agony, and Austria is in doubt and uncertainty. But all over the onward and upward movement is visible. The people are wrenching the power from the aristocrats, and cunning statesmen who have trained themselves to understand the times are making tame and fortune, No one can deny that the times are stirring, so stirring that it is hard to predict the immediate future; but, looking at the ultimate result, there are but very few men who have the faculty of thought who do not rejoice in the present, Retrograde LegislationThe Disgraceful In- come Tax Retained. The United States Senate has voted to retain the income tax in the assessment for internal revenue for the current year. This is the worst specimen of legislation that has characterized Congress the present segsion. It is retrograde legislation in its most wretched shape. It stains the journal of the Senate with an act that is in wanton disregard of the wishes of the people, and a deliberate viola- tion of justice toward all honest taxpayers. The income tax is universally detested. It offers a premium on crime, and is the hand- maid of perjury. While some men swear to incomes of a lesser rate than they actually receive, in order to escape taxation, rascals swear to a higher income than they receive in order to obtain credit they would not other- wise be entitled to, The law tends to public demoralization, just as it was with the bank- rupt law of a year or two ago. That law was passed with proper regard for the public wel- fare. The motives of its framers were in the main correct; but in course of time honest men were induced to take advantage of its pro- visions, and by fraudulent representations cheat their creditors. Any act that has a tendency like this should be expunged from the public statutes. The act imposing a tax upon incomes has this tendency, and as such should be blotted from the official records by Congressional action, as it already is by com- mon consent among the people. A Fruit or Tue Suez Canan.—From Lon- don we learn by Atlantic cable that Bombay cotton sent to England by the Suez Canal has been returned to India by the same route in the form of cloth in forty-five days. By the old route, via the Cape of Good Hope, the shortest period on record for a similar result is ninety days. Between India and Great Britain, and thus by implication between India and almost every known centre of modern activity, the Suez Canal has reduced time and distance by one-half. In spite of admitted drawbacks the Suez Canal must thus be regarded as : grand success. It is one of our gr Moderns acigntific triumphs, and its value is a to be defarmined By that it aaems or is than by what it promises to become and do. Wis an example which must be extensively followed to the advantage of manklad. Colored Celebration of the Fifteenth Amend- mapeGignidcans Pisye Withio the last day or two our newly enfran- chised American citizens of African descent in this clty, at Newark, N. J., Philadelphia, Wheeling, W. Va., Detroit, Chicago and at other places, have turned out in imposing pro- cessions in the celebration of the proclamation of the Fifteenth amendment to the national constitution, establishing itas “‘the supreme law of the land” that neither the United States nor any State shall make any abridgment of the right of citizens to vote on account of race, color or previous condition of servitude, and that Congress shall have power to enforce this universal right of the citizen by appropriate legislation. These celebrations challenge at- tention, because of the order and good feel- ing everywhere attending them; because of the intelligent appreciation manifested by the blacks of the new position which as citi- zens on the broad basis of civil and political equality they now hold; because of the kindly disposition universally shown towards them by the whites of all classes and parties, and because of the numbers of negro voters de- veloped in these celebrations. In the very remarkable procession in this city yesterday all these considerations were forcibly suggested to the thought- ful spectator. The order and good feel- ing which prevailed along the whole cir- cuit of the procession were very significant of a mighty revolution in public opinion, as well as in the national constitution; the deportment of these newly enfranchised citizens was that of men whose sense of gratitude inspires them with the resolution to be worthy of the rights and honors with which they are invested; the conduct of the whites towards this extraordi- nary procession, even from the “dangerous classes,” was that of respectful toleration ; and from the numbers of, men in the procession, and from the great crowds of men, women and children of their race along the line of march, we dare say that this new political element in this city embraces not less than ten thousand voters. These, we say, are all significant signs of a mighty revolution accomplished, not only in law and politics, but in public opinion. The dominant white race, with all its inborn pre- judices and teachings against the negro, as belonging to a naturally inferior and degraded caste; yes, our white population every where, we see, in the developments of these celebra- tions, spontaneously accepts this Fifteenth amendment, and deferentially respects it as the new law of the land. In this we see, too, another manifestation of the universal force of that great American idea—respectful submis- sion to law. The President's proclamation is, by the American people, accepted spontane- ously as fixing this thing and settling it for the present and the future. Hence there has been no collision of races, no riots, no disturbances attending these African celebrations, but uni- versal acquiescence and toleration. But there is a political significance in these celebrations which especially challenges the attention of the managing leaders of our politi- cal parties. We are satisfied from this co- lored procession of yesterday in this city that the black vote of the city is not less than ten thousand. This vote admitted in 1844 could have elected Henry Clay President, and in 1868, with the additional colored vote of the rest of the State, it could have beaten both Hoffman and Seymour. The black vote of this city and State may elect our next Governor; and the same may be said of Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Indians, and some other States north of the late rebel- lious confederacy. From present appearances this colored vote will almost en masse go for the party of which General Grant is the recog- nized head and successor of Lincoln. But the Northern democracy may do much to divide and neutralize this new element; and herein lies a question which to them is a mat- ter of no small importance. Our Cuban Correspondence. Woe publish this morning the latest informa- tion received by mail from the island of Cuba. The Captain General is out again in another flaming proclamation, which, beyond its being more wordy than others which preceded it, presents no feature of difference. De Rodas’ reception at Nuevitas waa by no means as warm as was anticipated, and the fact of his being accompanied by Napoleon Arango, the Cuban deserter, tended to increase the evident coolness of the Spanish sympathizers towards him. Conflagrations are onthe increase. The work of destruction still goes on, and the inactivity of the Cubans in the field is made up by their energy in the destruction of the property of their opponents. Though little is apparently done by the insurgents we can- not lose sight of the fact that Spain is grad- ually becoming weaker and weaker at home, Up to this time the Prim-Serrano government has been able to forward troops to suppress the revolution in Cuba, but each day adds to the difficulties of the situation at home. The Cubans fully understand this. In their pre- sent situation, and under existing circum- stances, it is the best thing for them. Spain weakened at home is a help to the Cubans abroad, and there is little reason to doubt that opportunities which the state of affairs presents will be taken advantage of by the struggling patriots, Tuk Naviedtion Laws AND AMERIOAN Supsvitpine.—President Grant’s message to Congress on the subject of the navigation laws, with the Parliamentary discussion raised thereon, are treated in a lengthy editorial. in the London Times, The pith of the argument ig summed up by the writer thus :—‘‘We do not believe that the system of drawbacks, sub- sidies and bounties advocated by the committee and the President can, under the present con- ditions of the labor market and of the manu- facture of iron, place the American yards ona level with the establishments on the Clyde and the Tyne. Free trade, frankly accepted, may do so after a period of trial. The report of the committee asserts that the trade of the Hast- ern seas, with all the commercial wealth of India, China and A is at the command of terprise of pamcnce ie she will only stad Sat her want br i” Faw Bin she hold out her hand so long as she is manacled by a navigation law which compels the American merchant to pay twice as much for his ships as his European competitor?” Jnat go. Tho Financial Revelation of the Age aud the Agencies Preducing It. While financial theorists and writers are racking their brains to regulate the monetary systems of nations, and while our Congress and the press are occupied in discussing questions pertaining to the currency and specie payments, there is a silent power at work which is revolutionizing the ideas of mankind on this subject and changing old customs, The magnetic telegraph and steam power are fast breaking down the dogmas and practice of the past, Statesmen, bankers, financiers gene- rally, and commercial men, begin to see the power of these modern agencies of civilization and progress. Conservative as men naturally are who deal largely in financial matters, whether national or private, and slow as they may be to depart from established systems or practices, they are yielding and must yleld to the revolution that is going on. Nor is it in monetary, financial or commercial affairs only that great changes are taking place; the same agencies are revolu- tionizing the political and social condition of the world, But we see the dawn merely of a wonderful future. The next generation will probably be as astonished at the progress made over the present time as we are at the progress made within the last forty or fifty years. In former times, when it took months to cross the Atlantic, from Europe to America, in the comparatively slow-going sailing vessels, weeks to cross the German Ocean, and years to circum- navigate the globe, commercial nations were very much isolated, Intelligence of events or affairs moved slowly and did not spread far. The rivalry of different countries was in- tensely selfish and created jealousy and hos- tility. A nation that was ambitious of extend- ing iis commerce, or of commercial supremacy, saw no other way of accomplishing the object than by destroying a rival. Eng- land, more than any other country, pur- sued this cour3ze, and made relentless war upon her commercial rivals. Although this old spirit is not entirely suppressed, and there will still be a rivalry among nations for commercial advantages or supremacy, more liberal views are fast spreading over the world. Steam power and the magnetic tele- graph are bringing the people of all countries into closer and more friendly relations with each other. They are breaking down the barriers of nationalities, caste and sects. They are tending rapidly to make all mankind brethren. The telegraph especially is diffusing the light of intelligence over a great part of the globe, and not many years hence it will illuminate every corner of the earth. Prejudices will be removed, and the ideas of people everywhere will assimilate. With regard to financial! or monetary mat- ters, then, we must not go back to the past for precedents. The new age upon which we have entered will require a new financial system, or, at least, a great modification of the old one. Important changes are taking place already. Not long since the rate of exchange between countries com- paratively near each other was high generally, and sometimes even between parts of the same country. This, too, was often indepen- dent of the balance of trade, and resulted from the length of time required to communi- cate from one place to another. The percentage for making exchange, or the cost of transmitting specie, used to be a heavy charge, amounting sometimes to from five to ten per cent. Even up toa very recent period this was a consider- able burden, as well as an obstruction to trade, particularly toa debtor nation. Nor have we become entirely emancipated yet from the old system. Now, however, a person can pay his debt or establish his credit abroad by depositing money in New York or in some other city, and by telegraphing the fact. fie need neither buy a bill of exchange nor ship money. The telegraph does.the business through certain established agencies. We may see, consequently, that the time is coming when all the financial transactions between different nations, as well as between different parts of the same country, will be adjusted through the telegraph. The balances can be struck in this way just as well as if persons appeared personally with their bills and bags of specie in hand. Of course much less currency or of the precious metals will be required in commerce. A very small amount generally will be sufficient to balance transactions of the largest scale, and covering a large part of the world. By the use of the telegraph certain financial centres will become for the whole commercial world what the Clearing House of New York is for the banks here. Transactions to the amount of hundreds of millions can thus be adjusted or balanced by the use of a few millions only. Specie may become the currency of all na- tions for the ordinary purposes of trade from hand to hand, and the time may come when there will be a universal specie standard; but whether one nation should find it best to have a paper currency and another a metallic one, the course of trade and the intimate commercial relations among all most, under ordinary circumstances, assimi- late the value. Acts of the Legislature are not necessary in this age to regulate the cur- rency; the laws of trade, which are more pow- erful, will do that. Indeed, legislative acts, under a normal condition of things, have almost always proved mischievous. As to our own currency, therefore, the least Congress does the better, except to make it uniform and a government currency purely. The country woul@adapt itself to the amount now in cir- culation, and we should grow up toa specie basis gradually and without any serious dis- turbance of values. This country and the world generally are going throngh a revolu- tion in financial matters and practice, under the influence of those modern agents of civi- lization, the telegraph and steam power, and t would be better to let these solve the prob- lem of the future than to interfere by obstruc- tive or unwise legislation, Tue Lost STEAMER Crry or Bostoy.—All hopes of this missing ship, it appears, are given up. Mr. Inman, of the firm owning the line, is of the opinion that she was lost from a collision with an iceberg, two or three days out from Halifax, and in this opinion he is probably correct. The sail out ie two g three days from Halifax 00r see which is across the track of the Ios come down in the Arctic current jin Basin’ | Bay into the Atlantic with the approach of spring, and thence till the return of summer. The City of Boston—whatever the cause— may be counted as one more to the melancholy list of Atlantic steamers that have gone down in the deep séa and left no living soul or ‘vestige afloat to tell their dreadful story. Prince Pierre Bonaparte Free in Paris=Tho European Crisis in Religion~Diplomacy and Industry. The European mail at this port yesterday delivered a very ample and interesting budget of news, in elaboration of the points which have been presented in our cable reports. The advices are dated to the 29th of March. They are quite refreshing as to the current and scope of Old World life and history, and agreeably varied in tone, piquancy and inci- dent. Prince Pierre Bonaparte was discharged from the dock at Tours, and received in Paris as a free man, who had been acquitted legally and morally of the charge of homi- cide in the Noir case. The moral sentiment finds expression in the congratulations which were tendered to the Prince at his hotel immediately after his arrival. The extempore demonstrations partook, indeed, somewhat of the character of a series of fétes, in which the unprejudiced and justice-loving mind of Ame- rica participated largely and actively. Previous to his acquittal the Prince proclaimed in court—in reply to the Rochefort radical news- paper charges—“I never was tried in the United States for murder. I never committed murder.” The Papal infallibility question was. intensi- fied in interest and evidently sweeping in a serious religio-political undertow among the peoples, in the Cabinets and towards the lay thrones. France, Austria, Spain and Italy were deeply agitated on the subject. The first symptoms of the effect, as they appeared when our mail advices were despatched, indicate the inception, the cf™mencement even, of a grand counter movement looking towards a new revolution in religion. Napoleon’s letter of Magna Charta was commented on favorably by the French press. The trade strike demon- strations at Le Creuzot, France, had com- menced. The exciting causes of the move- ment were anxiously canvassed by the Paris journals, The writers infer that these French operative strikes constitute merely part of ‘a social agitation, which will cause a revolution in all the economy of labor, and that capital is preparing itself not only at Le Creuzot but in all France and throughout Europe and America for the result.” The French editors also convey the idea that ‘‘an outside con- spiracy of a character quite foreign to all questions of labor” is at work to inflame and perpetuate the crisis, Such assertions elevate the consideration of the Le Creuzot trade movement in importance far above the range of public consideration which has been hitherto accorded it. Should France become suspi- cious of the existence of any foreign national jealous disturbing influences in her midst it may lead to a European war, which would take her fron-clads from Cherbourg in the direction indicated by the sculptured Anger of the statue of the Firat Napoleon which stands near the great naval depot, and lead her armies across the channel as well as across the Alps and to the Iberian Peninsula. The situation in the Old World is serious and evidently critical. Russian Annexation trom Japan. The Russians, in their grand march east- ward, are achieving good works for modern progress. In the north and east of Asia they are, unquestionably, the pioneers of civiliza- tion; and whatever jealousy the Western Powers of Europe may naturally entertain when Muscovite influence is felt along the borders of the Danube and the Bosphorus, it would seem to their interest to encourage the advance of new ideas through the strongholds of Oriental barbarism. Nevertheless the Memorial Diplomatique expresses some dis-~ content at the acquisition which the Czar has recently made in annexing the island of Seghalien, otherwise known as Taikari or Kioto, in the Sea of Okhotsk. The Russian colors were first hoisted there some years ago, but it is only within a comparatively brief period that formal and complete possession of the new insular province has been boldly asserted by the Emperor Alexander. The island in question is about six hundred miles long by one hundred gnd twenty in breadth, and comprises a super- ficies of some thirty thousand square miles. It has soil and climate adapted to the culture of the chief Asiatic staples, and fine beds of coal have been discovered in the central districts. But its chief importance consists in the fact that it commands the mouth of the Amoor river, holding a position, in reference to that great stream, somewhat analagous to that of Vancouver’s Island at the outlet of Puget Sound. Its locality, however, would be still more menacing to Russian com- merce than is Vancouver to our own were it in foreign hands, since it extends for three- fourths of its length opposite the whole coast line of the maritime territory ceded by China to the Czar along the coast of the Gulf of Tarta The northern part of the island was once claimed by China, and the southern by. Japan. The latter had established military posts there to protect a petty trade with their adjacent great insular possession of Yeso, lying immediately south of it. Over this whole territory Russia has, at last, definitely pro- claimed her sovereignty, and we can but recog- nize with lenient eyes a movement which pro- tects the mouth of a great internal water high- way as vital to the prosperity of ber future trade in the far East as the freedom of the Mississippi delta igs to our commerce in the Gulf of Mexico. THe FUNERAL OF GENERAL THomAs.—The last funeral rites, at Troy yesterday, over the remains of that model American soldier, Gen- eral Thomas, were imposing and impressive, as it was becoming to his memory and in honor of his great services and noble charac- ter they should be. The President, in his per- sonal attendance, with the distinguished civil, military and naval officers accompanying him, has shown that he fully comprebends and shares in the universal public feeling in reference to the hero of Mill Spring, Stone River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Franklin and Nashville, For the full details of the funeral we refer the reader to our special 8 from Troy, elsewhere in these | colum!