The New York Herald Newspaper, June 26, 1870, Page 5

pom ~” IMPORTANT FROM ROME. The Ecumenical Council—Its Work, Pro- gress and Approaching Deeroes—Special Exposition to the Herald—The Di- vine Commission and Infallibil- Sty—Is the Human Braina “Fosforo?”—The Ban- ner of the Church and Its Inseription. By a special correspondence from Rome we have the following highly important detail in Catholic ex- position of Ecumenical Councils—their commission and decrees—and an anticipatory proclamation of the final work and consequences of the present Council of the Vatican. Obarch Councils, Divi: Commisaton, Dis- cipline and Infallibility—Special Definition to the Herald. Rowe, June 9, 1870, ‘The ceremonies of the Sth instant, Pentecost, have been somewbat dimmed by @ heavy rain that has Prevalied all day. Even with fine weather they would not have been very remarkable; this is not one of the grana field days of the Church. “The solemnity of Pentecost’—as they say nere—was ushered in by adischarge of the guns at Castle San Angelo, and the Apostolic banners were hoisted on the two bastions of that fortress at early dawn, In crossing the bridge to go to St, Peter's I observed ‘that the flags, displaying the tiara and keys, looked rather dingy and unprepossessing as they flapped about under the hard rain; m fact, they could wearcely have been considered anything but two dirty aprons hung out to be washed by the rain, had it not been known to me that they wore the arms and the pennants of Pio Nono. However, they served their purpose; the zonave sentinels paced up and down under thelr protection, and old Tiber, flowing past, looked yellower than ever. At St. Peter's @ cardinal, of the order of bishops, was to chant mass, as the Pope would not publicly intervene tu the ceremonies of the day. Arrived at the church I found a very scanty congre- gation of the faithful m attendance to hear the Car- dinal, The footsteps of ihe few present, as they’ moved about, re-echoed silently under the high vaults, and there was no bt hum of voices as on grand Occasions, when St. Peter does its level best or the Eeumentcal fathers do theire, The bronze lamps on the balustrade around the Apostie’s tomb were lighted, as also the six candles on the main altar, while two tall tapers burned betore the bronze statue, whose lefg toe has been so worn away by fre- quent kisses of the pious. The effect of this illumi- nation at tne main entrance was such as to render the church even more gloomy, cold and majestic than usual. Besides mass in the chief of cathedrals there was also the Jesta of the Holy Ghost in the Giulia church and a display of the sacred relics in the Church of St. Mark, with plenary indulgence for all visitors who should drop into worship. The Council, however, was neither at work in a solemn or ordinary session. Rome is now fairly given over to her native popu- Jation, which amuses itself by walking out of doors almost all night, especially in the Corso and squares thereto adjacent, where the cafés and musicians offer their refreshments, Nobody here at all thinks about or attends to the Council, sitting, so to speak, entirely perdu on the other side of the Tiber, at the Vatican. COUNCIL PROGRESS—A MONSIGNORE ON SPECIAL EXPOSITION. Notwithstanding all this the fathers are going ehead with their discussions on the “material of faith; for their efforts are put forth not only for these Roman gentry, always a little wicked and care- less, but for a much larger audicnce—for the im- mense world of Catholicaom. The nullity of those efforts, as of the prestige or the Council in the eyes of the natives here, is in no wise a sign that outside Catholics and non-Catholics in the rest of Europe have not an ear or an eye extended Romewaras just now. As to these Romans, their case is very clear—they have little love or respect for priests in «particular or general, and, as faras I can see and hear, are rather looking to Victor Emanuel than to the Holy Ghost for their future happim But the out- side world, not being under the necessity of looking tw Victor Eman 13 still waiting with anxiety to see and read the final decrees which are promised shortly from the Council hall. Whether those de- crees Will be forthcoming on the festivity of Corpus Christi or of Si. Peter, during this June, is now the question of the day. Having just had a conversation with one of the monsiguori attached to the Holy See in the capacity of apostolical notary with regard to the nature, ob- Jects and resuits of the present Ecumenical body, 1 Tepvat the substa nce of it, from which you will see that the reverend gentleman, who has ‘spoken and written much on Council and ecclesiastical affairs, is at least-hopefal for the best if not an optimist on his side of the question, or Rome against the modern world. CORRESPONDENT—Monsignore, do you think the Council is working well? MONSIGNORE—I do, certainly. The divine origin counellg cannot be doubted. Jesus Christ especially referred to them when he said, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there will I be in the midst of them.” With these evangelical words He signified the assembling of Ecumer councils, prowising his assistance to the same; for these words are not to be taken in the sense of Caivin—that 1s to say, literally—that the decisions of two or three persons are infallidie, If Christ is to be found in the midst of two or three longing to His Church ana co! ated in lis name, how much more must He be found in the midst of the entire Catholic Church assembled in council? Sestdes, there stands the testimony of the Evangelist St. John, according to which Jeaus Christ promised to his Apostles and their successors that He would send the Holy Ghost to teach them every truti. Clearly such & promise announced the presence of the Holy Spirit in councils; and hence I am convinced that the present one sitting at the Vatican cannot and will not fail of its holy object. CORRESPONDENT—WhO do you consider to be su- yor in the Churéh—the Pope or the Ecumenical vathers? MonsigNore—In ordinary times the Church does not need the convocation of general councils. Inno- vators pretend that the Ohurch is a gathering tn ‘Which ail the faithful are equal. Now if that were 80, it would be in a state or chaos and not the well regulated society ordained by Jesus Christ which 1t is. It would uo longer in that case consist of teach- ers and disciples of those who command and those who obey; the impious theory once admitted, it would follow that all in the Church would be pastors, and there would be no flock to feed ortend. Such a tuecury would bear in itself the germ of destruction, for any lay person or sovereign would then have as much Fight as the bishop to lay down the laws tor the guidance of the Church, The Catholic trutn is tnat SS ae have a right to intervene in a council whom Christ cl d with the duty of feeding and governing his flock, which is the scope for which the present Vatican assembly was called. CoRRESPONDENT—Then you think that no lay power I Bis a right to accredit an ambassador to. the coul MoNSIGNORE—It is true that sovereigns have attended both in person and by proxy at pes coun- coils; but they were admitted only through the sui ferance of those bodies. Those sovereigns always recognized in an Ecumenical Council a higher than @ royal and imperial dignity. Such ami ors always attended both as an honor to'theinselves and asan act of reverence for the greater glory and splendor of the Council. The newspapers have as- gerted over and over again that several goveramepis had gent, or intended sending, ministers to this Council, Well, if they had ‘come to learn, and not to disturb the teachers, {hey would have been ly wel- comed, The doois of the Vatican would Rave been open to all wno should have Soplied or been sent there to receive respectfully the laws which the con- ciliary fathers are now engaged in proclaiming. But no agent or ambassador nas yet, wor is likely to be, accredited to the assembly. CoRRESPOND&NT—Is the right of tree Seanah ale lowed on every topic broached jn the Council hail? MONSIGNORE— Yes, [ 80; there has not been the slightest pressure exer against auy member. Ail the subjects discussed were diligently examined aud spread out in the amplest, manner by learned men from all parts of the world the moment the iuca oi a Counct! was entertained, The Popo had this dou.e with a view to greater diligence and the des- patch of business, so much required by the wellare ‘Of ihe Church. Now, the malignity, or, to say the deast, the immense ignorance of some, especially among journaitst pears mm this, that owing preliminary preparations they have ‘Deen all along. prophes) log that the Vatican Council would bé of short duration, since the bishops would me it Laie by pte ogpentgers eee whatever should pave reviousiy dec! fo1 them. It manifests Tao Soap behets all one other councils were inauguré abhout; just suc preliminary and profooud het eG Toad. for ine fatuers' had to ve cleared a Tithe. Without w# doubt the Hely Ghost assists at all ecumenical ‘councils; but for all that human diligence should be exeroised in them, Inthe midst of the episcopacy of the different natious many, maby of the most emient men are to be nambered, Some of than Dave shown ap iron heart, not only agatust praises and threats, But also when despoiied of propery, condemned to prison, exile and otier tortures, Others, agatn, by dint of tongue or pei, lave ca sod ‘she (rath co prevatl overevds, errors ®ad 6 lanMics. It Js absurd to supposed tial these men, O50) much Drains ued heart, who are Dow NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 1870.—TRIPLE’ SHEEY, deliberating m the Council will finally vote and respond, without questioning, “places” to whatever may be laid belore them, No; they examine and deirberate thoroughly and maturely, according to their conselences, on all the topics that are brought before them, and they spare no labor to fulfil to the uttermost the duties with which they have been Providentiay charged. Only whoa the ast decree sha!! be fully judel by them, togeth With the help of the Holy Ghost, will their decttta | Geneva; Moustunore M, | great objec: of lis ambition, to t voies be cast. It may happen that tits council will | not have to spend mich more time here, and thal the session be closed shortly; but be assured if the | glory of God and the advantage of the Charch Fre- quired the members of the Council would be per- fectly wililng to pass the remaiuder of thelr Hives at Rome. If, after a session of seven months, they should now adjoura the body it would minh pro that their task was more easy of azcomplishneut, owing to previous creased means and facilities those of preceding councils—that 18 all. It is Indispensable that all those who have the right of casting a vote upon such urgeal and welgaty reliminary preparations and tn- a oP working than were H matters as those with which this council Is occupied | should enjoy full liberty to vote as they think just | and proper; for if they should be subje-ted to the slightest pressure from any one, tt would invalidate their decision, and their votes would do irreparasle harm to the Vatican Council. It is clearly to the imterest of all the faithful, of the teachers and the taught, Pay nothing of the Kind should come to pass, and henee there has been the most screpulous care exercised by all in high authority under the Holy See, commencing with the tmiuortal retgnt ponuit, to avoid in the slightest the assumption o| any moulding or directing Influence in the debate wineh have hitherto occurred, The same seruple will be exerel:od to the ead. CORRESPONDENT—Will the new traths, do you Hank ‘De revealed to the Council through the Holy 08h Y MoxsIGNone—Refore all tt is clear that the entire revelation of those things which ave to be believed ‘by all the faithtal 1s contained in thé Holy Scriptures: and in holy tradition. What was necessary to be Inade known Was personaily reveated to the apos- ties, ana with them tinished all revelation: so that the Chorch, im dedning the dogmas of iaith and in establishing moral rules, does not receive new reve- lations, but merely draws up wiih an iafallible mas- tery aud by means of the help promised by Jesus Christ those that are contained in the atoresaid sources; ard as to Mat portioa purely disciplinarian it only inodifies |t according to the cireumstances of the Umes and of person. If the Church, with provident care in regard to the present dean Council and the circumstances of the times, has thought proper to muluply extraoraimarily its pre- cauton dud diligence it Wil be certainly to prove that the Stohs Which are (o emanate from the Council will astonish the world through their Wisdom and pradence, CORRES PONDENT—I! Lue Holy Father is deelared in- fallibl li there be allerwards any use jor ecu- menical councils? MONSIGNORE Ce be mimately persua aly every good Catholic must 4 that (he Pope, through whe aid of the Holy Ghost promised to him in person— being infallible when he teaches pot asa private p son but as the supreme head of the church—has no absolute need to convoke a Counell, but can very well by himself do all the same that he can do with the pasiors of the Church assembled in council. Nevertheless, froin this it does not follow that, when Tor reasons of Which he dlone is judge, he thinks fit to bring around Lim the Senate of Bishops, the latter are not trae and competent judges, or that they also, in union with their chief, do not enjoy the promised assistance of the Holy Spirit. ‘They have by the right mi to thei suflrages, when it should not be ace 9 them through their im- mense knowledge and acquirements, the power to sign as true judges, and heace it is, that, collecting and under the dependency of the Roman Pontit!, they are accustomed to say in council, “Visum est Spirivut Saucto, et nobis” (“lt has appeared to the Holy Spirit and to us”), CORRNSPONDENT—Are the decrees emanating from the Council binding by ther own virtue and author: Ly, or istheir occupation by the faithful necessary yor thatend? MonsiGNons—It is well established that laws emanating from an absolute superior do not depend for their vaudity on the consent of the subjects, but compel obedience tiamediately after thetr legiumate promulgation, Certainly itis necessary that who- ever makes a law should be endowed with the legis- Jative right, and also that he should afterwards have the willand the power to cause such law to be observed by those for whom it 1s made, It 1s always of course understood that the Jaw must be just. All good Catholics must believe, and I am convinced of this their belief. that all the decrees of ecumenical councils are obligatory, independently of whatso- ever consent or acceptation on the part of the faith- ful, because the authority of the Church is not derived from men, but from Jesus Christ, who said to his apostles, “Go and teach all nations, instruct- ing them to observe aii that I have commanded you.” Tue impious are erying that nothing good can come out of this council; that nothing but schisms will be produced in the ranks of the faithful, who will not be able to “swallow” what is being done at the Vatican, There may be a few of them so weak, or ambitious and selfish, as to reject une truth when It 1s put before them; bat almost the entire bulk of Catholics throughout the workd will, you may depend upon it, whatever the Freemasons an socialists and revolutionists may say, to the contrary, readily accept the injunctions of the great and poly. body called by their tender and living father, Pius TX. The past is a guarantee of the future. History proves that every time the world has been agitated by elmilar convuisions and parox- ysms of death as those which now afflict it ecume- nical councils have saved it. Not to speak of the others, let us leok only at that of Trent, only 300 years ago. What a blow did not Protestanism re- ceive from its deliberations! Phere may be Protest- ants yet, but certalaly, owing to the action taken at Trent, there is no longer such @ thing as Protestant. ism, which then was extinguished with a slow but sure consumption. Why, then, should not the effect of the present Council be salutary and poweriul? Trae, nobody but Pius [X., endowed as he is with a sublime and heroic faith, could have called an ecu- mentcal council to be celebrated in this year of our Lord 1570, when he has been leit with only a piece of his principality, and when he has at his very doors an infernal revolution that 1s constantly en- deavoring to snatch from him that remaining little Piece. Ah, happily the medicine of the Council is of such potency sooner or ater, it must imfallibly produce a salutary crisis among men. You will see RRESPONDENT—But what was or 1s the new heresy that convoked the present Vatican Council ? You nold that all past heresies were killed by ‘coun- cilg, including Provestantism, MONSIGNORE—What new one? Not only one or two a of 1aith, one or two precepts of morality are contested, but they are all flatly denied, as well as all the miracies and mysteries, while the negation of Goa himself is solemnly and publicly taught. It ig precisely in these-times that a man has been round to deny cating tags ticberig of Jesus Christ. The non-existence of God is shouted from the house tops. Is it not said in these very sad times that man descends in a straight line from monkeys: Has it not been also gffirmed that the human brain is a match, a Josforo? Yes, the Vatican Council will strike with lightning these errors, and will make known far and wie their stupidity and basencss. Since error has hoisted its banner the Council will ubfurl another flag, upon which will be inscribed:— “Whoever wishes top nounce for God let him fol- low me; who is not with me is against me! There is no middle way; either for Christ or for Satan! Ye cannot serve simultaneously these two irreconcila- ble masters.” ‘Such was my conversation with the learned mon- signore, skilful 1n canonical law and periectly au Juit on the momentons question of ecumenical He goes by the meridian of Roma, Pontifical Tactics In the Conncil—‘Shutting Of” the Oppositionists—he Heavy und Light Artillery of Christianity. Roug, June 10, 1370, Napoleon I., who was @ practical man, used to say that the von Dieu, in deciding the fate of battles, always went in favor of the gros battalions. In the Ecumenical battle now raging the Holy Ghost, whose inspiration regulates the decision of the assembled fathers, certainly sides with the majority as far as the result goes, but ft is to be hoped that the recent ruse de guerre adopted by the partisans of 1nfalll- bility will not meet with Divine sanction. The telegraphic wire has already put your readers in pos- session of the conclusion of the general congrega- tion of the 3d instant, and the sudden wind-up of the discussion on the general principle of the schema regarding the Roman Pontid’s primacy and infalll- bility. Ihave delayed writing for a day or two in order to get correct information of the principal features of that extraordinary and unceremontous coup @état, which has completely shut up the munority and closed the mouths of Afty-six impatient orators, who had duly inscribed their names on the official st and were waiting for their turn to break » meta: phoric tance against the infallibility shield. This knockdown blow has the more surprised and alarmed the opposition bishops because at the com- mencement.of the discussion, on the 14th of May, the Cardinal legates announced to the assembly that it ‘was the will of his Holiness that the argaments of all the orators should be attentively and patiently listened to, gud. full liberty of spesch granted; and yet, before getting much more tian half way through the list of orators—sixty-five having spoken and filty-six remaining in expectation of doing so, not. to mention those who might have subsequently ap- plied for permission to speak—the ultra Roman party made a few days since a sudden rush, inter- Tapted the speech of the determined anti-infallibitist, Mgt. Maset, denounced his sentiments as heretical, declared they could stand such speeches no longer, and finally, through thelr spokesman, Mgr. Mer- millod, diminutive in stature and voice, but a giant im ambition, loquence and partisan warfare, pre- sented a petition to the legates, signed by about 100 bishops, demaudiug that the votes of the: fathers present should be taken immediately on the advisa- bility of closing the debate on tho general principle of the schema under consideration. Mgr. Maret, who is deaf and shor ‘whose appearance in the orators’ trib assembly to thy 108! ca@ricst atiention, elimer | e did not hear or did not see the volces ant gestures of the Cardinal Legates, Capalt and De Angelis, who called him to order i the course of his speeok against the Infalibility doctrine. Who will veutare to say, after so signal a pleve of | service, that the Bishop of Hevron (7 4 M48, WHO is also coud\utor to the Bishop of Laasanne and | larilley, ts not deserving of U some archhisnop | as the Pope shall grant a | of Fribourg, so soon primate to the swiss Cathotics, as he has promised ? | AMERICAN POSITION, | PRANG ¢ of the principal ve suits of th the cordeamation to silence panioup, Who had reserved hs Ciusion of the debate, and Was prepar ing reply.to one of the Ameriern bisnoy conipared Gallicants proposed coup de yy sudden victory ing & tan: who r i of the Bishop of Orleans has men prevented by the coup Mas Of the Bishop of ; lebron, aid now the only resouree of une psition consists in a formal pr t, Which the tiheral bishops | have dvawa up and are now etrouiating [or Sigua. tures, Announcement of their intention to this effect WAS given at the time by the German Archbishop Haynald, who, alter the vote for the closing of the debate had been officially promulgated by aie senior legate, got up and ex@iniiiéd =m Latin, “We call God aad men to witness that we have snifered violence, and shall put forth a protest again-t suct violence. Bus, iu tact, no violence was used, since the appel dix to the regulation (article eleven) provided for | the case of & prolonged diseassion, aid authorized the assembly to put an cna to it, 1 so disposed, at the Tequest of onty ten bishops. Monsignore Mer- mailliod had 100 at his back.—-£vgo, What can the op- positionists complain of? ‘Their great mistake was ever to have subiitted to the iiposition of such @ regniation, On the so: authority of the Pope, whereas all preceding ec menical counciis drew up thelr own regulations, Bat the Pouti? has now the upper hand of the Coua- cil, and can exelalin, Aine suo gladio juguio! PAPAL TACTICS. Now that the first trial has answered we may ex- pect the pian to be repeated, aud every tume tlw! she Oppositionists grow prs wine spicy littie infaili- bilist will jamp out with lis closing proposition, sure of bemg backed by te majority, and contident of pleasing the Pope, so thata wind-up at the end of this month, for the fesuval of Si, Peter, is by no means so improbable as it appeared at the date of my last letter, When it was supposed Liat the discussion of 80 important a subject as the Pope's primacy and in fauiibtliy would be pauently and conscientiously carvied Out, in obedience to tue commands of Lis Holiness, WHAT IS DONE. On the 4th fnstaut the pravdum, or pre very important document, passed’ by a unanimous vote of the assembled fathers, It was especially when he declaimed aga.ust the danger of making new and positive dogmat'cal definitions, mereiy out of complaisance to the wishes of a party in the Church, that the legates warned the orator that he Was ouistepping the due iimtis to be observed in the tribune, and it their emtnences were really in the plot, as it is asserted some, if not all five, of them were, this was the precoacerted signal for Mgr. Mermillod to call out “Finis imponatur discus- siont,” and to brandish his previously prepared and sigued petition for the close of the debate, In vain the bishops of the opposition, seattered here and there throughout the assembly, where the fathers ave piacea not according to their opinions, but to their episcopal seniority, iuvited the legaces to Impose silence on the mterrupting parties and al- low Mgr. Maret to proceed with his speech. The Cardinal Dean of the Legates rang his oficial bell and informed the assembly that by the eleventh article of the appendix to the Council Regulation the sig- natures of ten fathers to @ petition for a vote on the advisability of putting an end to the pending debate sufficed to obtain the opinion of the assembly, the fathers in favor of the closure of the debate having only to stand up, wile those in favor of its con- tinuance would remala sitting. As the petition just resented by the Bisnop of Hebron in partibus, r. Merthiilod, to that effect bore upwards of 100 signatures the Cardinal felt justified tn inviting the fathers to vote forthwith, which they accordingly did, alarge majority standing up. ‘The Legate at once rang !1s bell, declared the de- bate on the schema in geueral to be concluded, and announced that the debate on the pariicular clauses would commence on the following Monday. On the Sth inst. it Was anticipated that the two first chapters of the schema, relating to the institu- tion of the primacy over the Church in tie person of St. Peter, and its continuation toh is successors, would also pass without opposition, as only three orators had io speak on the subject—two in favor of and one against 10, if this proves correct the third chapter wiil be of equally easy solution, and we shall expect the chief tussle at the fourth, which weats of the Pope’s per- sonal infallibility, and still more atthe addition of the anathema clause against all unbelievers in the new dogina. pe, MOL a INFERENCES, Some persons think that the Pope's success will be in reality more disadvantageous to his cause than failure would have been; but we must reflect that the moment a dogma has been promulgated by an ecumenical council it becomes the duty of all Cath- olics to subscribe to it, under penalty of excommu- nication. Are the opposition bishops prepared to encounter this awful aliernative ¢ OLD-TIME REMINISCENCES. Interesting Letter from an Old Resident of the Mchawk Valley. {From the Albany Journal, June 24.) We are permitted to publish the following letier from A. C. Frey to Mr. Weed. It will be interesting to every one, but particularly te those who have still lively recoliections of the men and events of the early part of the present century. SPRINGFIELD, Ohio, May 30, 1870, THURLOW WEED, Esq. :— Dear Sir—l took up the Galaxy for May, and read in it an extract from your autobiography, and was 80 delighted, as it brought up renmuiscences of a bygone age that I was familiar with, that I de- termined to thank you for the pleasure it afforded me. Ihave been ail over the ground of the stage ride you describe between Rochester and Albany, and was acquainted with the men you speak of, at east most of them. I lived in Maniius from 1885 to 1819, and I lived at Salina from 1819to 1821. In 1820 I visited Rochester, on my way home from Niagara, wien many stumps were to be seen in Main street, though they were cut oft low. My visitto Rochester was soon after the Carthage bridge fell, and when there was consider- able tittering and jokes in Rochester about “the downfall of Carthage.” I livedin Watertown during the anti-Masonic times, where Perley Keys lived. He was one of the wire-workers of the old Bucktail party, and a formidable worker he was, too; but le could not get to Congress, though he coud get ouhers there, such as Silas Wright, Kudolph ner and others. Keys’ wife Was & warm anti-Mi and he aMason. Of course they did not harmonize. Keys built a new house for himself in 1828, and left the old house to his wife. Being deteated for Uongress in 1828, and a shabby trick played on him by Dr. Sher- ‘wood, his old confidential friend, he soon after died with apoplexy. Weil 1 remember Azariah Smith and the Phillipses, of Maniius, and Judge Towsley, and Nicholas P. Ran- dall and Samuel L. Edwards, and all the promment men oi Oneida county, hot forgetting Thaddeus M, Wood and Judge Forman. When | lived at Salina Mr. Mickles owned the furnace at Onond: and one of his sons was @ lawyer. | Was at Syracuse in August, 1819, when De Witt Chinton and Chief Engineer Wright came through with the first boat that traversed the Erie canal from Frankfort to Syracuse, and tt was a great da: and a proud day for Mr. Clinton. They had a small cannon on the bridge at Syracuse, and as soon as the boat approached the frat loek te cannon vegan to roar, and continued to roar until the boat came up, and the Governor and Lieutenant were escorted by Judge Forman to Casset’s ‘tavern, where the Governor, being elevated on 9 plank, was introduced by Judge Forman, anda hearty shaking 6f hanas took place. But, an! how many who that day shook hands with Governor Clinton are now living? J don’t belleve there are five. How well T remember John Meeker and his father, who lived near Johaos- towa, near the Pine Plains, 1 was also well ac- quainted in Catskill, and knew McKay Croswell and his son Ned, who went from the Catskill Recorder to the Albany Argus, I lived a few miles from Johnstown when the great libel suit was trted be- tween Solomon southwick and Archibald McIntyre. Aaron Burr was one of the counsel in that suit, and many peopie went to Johnstown to see Burr. 1 weil remember Daniel Oady, the father of Btiza- beth Cady Stanton. He was brother-in-law of Peter Smith, of Peterboro’, the father of Gerrit Smith and Peter Sken Smith and Mrs, Walter Cocliran. 1 re- member, in 1810, seeing a tivo horse wagon on wooden springs pass up and down the Mohawk turupike, three times a week, labelled “Utica Mail,” with @ wooden rack behind’ on which trunks were lashed. Sometimes there would be as many as Tout Passengers and sometimes none. Oh, what a change our country has gone through alnce that oo lat lume! How poor wé were in the war of the At that time Ohlo waa out of the world and in ir West. What a miserable ume we had in getting military stores to Sackel’s Aarbor, and how muserably that war was generally conducted, But it had one good effect, and 1 am inclined to think that that good effect Was a compensation commen- surate ih the expenses of the war, to wit; Ut forced us to become @ manufacturing people. In that way 1s hurt John Bull more than our bullets ad. W 1 gay to you that I belong to an old Mohawk river family, the first of whom settled about ‘three-quarters of a mile avove Palatine Bridge, iu bectrrderryn June tpt Serr ah that 1 judge wi @n interest I take in all histories: of Rew York. My encestor, who setiled there, was from Zurich, in Switzeriand. He landed in New York in 1688, the year that the Prince of Orange came to the throne of Hoglands alter chasing of Jimmy T1., his father-in-law. Colonel Dongaa was then Governor of New York. My grandfatier, in your time of travelling by stage along the Mohawk, lived ina stone bouse apout a mile frou Canajobarie Village. His house was at the foot of the hill, and conspicuous from the turnpike for some distance. 1 ee rn ey fet fe 1799. much I should enjoy your soctety, in talkin; over New York history; but it must.have’ your book, if L can get it. 1 know tt will interest ine vastly. Judge Alfred Conkling’s wife was a cousin of mine. Her mother was a sister of my father. Not long avo J had a letter irom his gon Roscoe, of ihe United States Senate, informing me that his father was still living and in good health, The Conkling family were setiled in Hempstead, L. 1, about the time, oi a alter, the English took New York from te atch. Comfort Tyler's wife was sister of Judge John Herkimer, and also sister of Mrs. Bradstreet, of On- ondaga. My grandmo wae tor auni; my Seer was the sister of General Nicholas lerkimer, who was mortally wounded at the Oriskany battie tn the Kevolution, Joun Herkimer and Comfort Tvier ruined themselves pecuniarily by furnishing funds to Aaron burr for bis Southern expedition, Yon must have known Johnny Post, who kept a tavern in Utica when it wasa mere hamlet. v Smith one night Post?s, on his way heme from Alt bed, ‘fravelling at that time was a ne on horse- back, Soon after Smith went to bed Phelps and Gorham arrived from the West, itso happened that the bead of Smith's bed and the head of the bed oc- cupied by Phelps and Gorham were «lose to the board partition in opposite rooms. AB’ soon aa Phelps and tup at Jounny ny, and went to Lay Gorham gor into bed they be ran to talk over bust ness and Smith heard every word they uttered. ie earned that they were holag to Albany 10 buy @ tract of land which he knew of, bat did not tit he learned it from o'clock in the morping So about Smith got up very quiety, dressed himself and went tw Posts bodrou and told hin be bad forgotten some important papers, and ue Was obliged Oo gO) «6pack «for them, aa requeste{ phim to get out bs horse, all of two was at Herkimer soun after daylight, and phere heft his horse and procured afresh horse and pushel on, He was well acquainted ail along the road, and when his horse tired out he left him and procured a fresh one, wile Pheips and Gorham jogged along, fed their horses and rested, Smith arrived tu Al- bany, made the purchase of the land and on his re- turn met Phelps and Gorham above Schenectady, bade thei the tine of day and passed on, You can imagine how Phelps and Gorham feit when they ar- rived at Albauy and found that Smith had je the purchase, ‘The Kanes used to do an immense busi- ness at Canajoharie. Archy Kano married a rich nogress in Hayti, a mece of Peltor or Dessalmte, I forget which; but the negro king would not allow Kane to take her DrOpoHNe, out of the island. He once brought his wife to New York, but is friends Would not speak to her, nor a3 much as look at her. Arehy went back with his negress, and dnaliy died in Haytt, With great respect, [ am your obedient servant, ue In a very quiet way, Smith arrived THE PARK YdaTuRDAY. Such @ seethinely sweltering day as yesterday, such a biist-ringly polling sun and such a compara- tively immobile state of the alr, and the very slight breeze bere was conag .from inland—sultry ‘and suffocating, instead of balmy and bracing, as the strong saline breeze borne to us from the broad bosom of the ocean, With health and healing on its wing-—Was not as condusive as many might sappose to drawing a large crowd to the Park, There was, it is true, a good many there when the concert began, at half-past three olclock, but nothing to the im- mense throng two hours later, as the concert was nearing its close, The fact was fully demonstrated that the hour, as at present fixed, for these Saturday afternoon concerts in the Park, 1s fully two hours earlier than i{ should be, and purticularly with the thermometer at the cruchalingly uncomfortable high point it was yesterday. It is undoubtedly the design and wish of the Commissioners to 1urnish mu- sic and recreation for the million, and to do this, and especially as regards the musteal part of it, the concert sould not begin until the tide of visitors has reached its flood, Sweltering suffocation in the compactly crowded city , atan hour in the day when the heat is at its maximum point, {8 more than ourgpeopie will endure, even to enjoy all the magnificent atiractions of the Park, including the finest of music by the finest of our city bands. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the hour for the concert will be made later, and thus the grand symphonies of its swelling harmonies be protracted to the cooler and more enjoyable hours of the setting sun, and not 80 much of its sweetness wasted, as yester- day afternoon, upon empty benches and the sur- roundings ablaze with the light glare of a scorch- ing sun, it 13 unnecessary to say that the music was fine, for Grafulla’s baud never gives anything else than the best music, played la the very best style, ‘Whe following was the programine, which, as will be seen, was both diversilied and seler PART L 1, Central Park March.... 2. Overture, “Die Schoene a 3. Air, “Die Dunkein Linden”. 4 Polka Militaire. & Grand s PART 1 lection, “Der Fretachutz”’ 11. Selection, Aro): 12, March, “Field Day’ National ai And surely a splendid entertainment was this music. An air of stately grandeur characterized the “Central Park March,” such as rarely exhibits itself iu modern musical composiuons, The “Polka Militaire’ was sparkilugly vivacious, and strongly mm Contrast with the low and softly subdued strains from the selection from “Der Fretschutz.”” Richest gem of all was the “Reverie.” It is Cole's “Voyage of Life” set to. A Music, the poetry of dream lie embodied in sweetest of possible sounds, As we have already stated, the music was ail of the best, and most fully enjoyed. The omy pity was that there were so few to listen to the opening pieces, and those arriving late only regretted that they heard so little, As lower sank the sun, as longer grew the shad- ows, a4 less fierce becume the neat, aud as the breeze strengthened and stirred the air and the leaves with 1t8 covllug breath, the enjoyment of ihe gathering multitudes of this great breathing place of the city became more vital and real, Now came the time for enjoying the aporiaon the soft green turf, the sails on the lake, the strolls through the shady walks, and with these also came an increase in carriages, which by sundown could be counted by thousands. A less irequency ef fashionable turn- outs Was evident, however—the unerring index that fashion 1s on the wing for summer watering places and tours abroad. ZWE!. f The Prospects of Beer—The Progress of Im- provements in Browerics—Some of the Re- sults of tho Last National Convention of Brewers at Davenport. ‘The article published in the eRALD of Monday last stating It as @ fact that a scarcity of good lager beer during this season 1s apprehended by many, was read with much astonisiment and commented on in various ways, one of the German city papers even saying that most of the Teutonic population of New York were sadly affected on reading these reve lations in the HgRALD. Some doupted the correct- ness of the statements made, yet no one who had any fair opportunity to know the facts did deny them; but, on the contrary, admitted them to be true in ageneral way, though the effect of the intensely hot weather and the mild winter upon lager in the vaults they claim to have been legs injurious, as in- timated, and of much less extent, even in reference to brewerles most unfavorably located tor the stow- age of the beer. A STROLL AMONG THE BREWBRIES revealed the pfact, wnich will be gratifying Intelli- gence to all beer drinkers, that the brewers them- selves are fully aware of the danger they annually run from such unexpected atmospheric influences, The revelations of the HERALD were no news to them, and they were daily taking measures toobviate the difficulty and neutralize the effect of excessive heat upon the condition of the temperature in the beer vaults, and they were also deliberating what measures 1t would be best to take permanently to prevent the reourrence of a similar state of things. AN 10K “BROTHERHOOD.” Ice is, of conrse, tne only thing that can be relied on, woless the reported discovery said to have been made by a professor in Germany, of reducing air to the freezing point by oe sing and then suddenly expanding and rarifying it, should prove practi ble. But ice dealers are men subject to the same sordid influences as most others, and as little careful of the imterests of the many-headed public, if their own individual interest 13 antagonis- uc to it fence the ice dealers pave united and formed a ‘bro! Se hee juan we jefencé, price of ly, and even doubled it in some cases, This was too much even for the most placid and pigeon-hearted brewer to hear. It touched them all in a very tender spot and com- vinced them of the necessity of some action to relieve themselves in the future of a simular unjust and exacting linposition, THE REMEDY FOUND. The delegation of brewers Which left here the first week of June to attend a general national brewers’ congress at Davenport, lowa, made the trip a useful one to them. ‘They inspected the largest and moet renowned breweries throughout the West, and exchan, views and experiences in the busl- ness with their fellow craitsmen beyond the Alleghanies. Onc of the results of this will soon be made apparent in this city. itis the erection of ice houses by the brewers themselves, to be com- stantly kept in close connection with the beer vaults, and (hus have the temperature in them unchanga- bly within four and five degrees Reaumer, all the yeur round, without regard to atmospheric changes in the open air, Many, {{ not most of ths Western brewertes, have had such tce houses constructed for years,and fad the improvement to be not only a con- Venience and useful in its effect on the beer, bat, moreover, exceedingly profitable. ‘The brewer is no louger dependent on the ice company; and, besides, has a steady supply of ice consiantly within reach. ‘This will be a loss of nearly THREB HUNDRED THOUBAND DOLLARS to the ice dealers of New York and vicinity, for fully that amount is patd by the local brewers alone, for ice Is used by them during the year about thirty ceats pec barrel of beer. Tae brewery of John Kress, on Fifty-fourth and Fifty-ffth streets and Third avenue, for iustance, pays annually about $8,000 for ice; more than hail of which will be saved by the new arrangement; to the delight of tne con- sumera, Who natucaily hope, ag a matter of course, that there will be a consequent reduction In the price of the “gute stom,” be it “wiener bier’? or other, by the barre! as well as by (he glass, PARIS FASHIONS. “Perfect Past All Parallel”—The Em- press’ Toilet—The Prince Imperial at a Queenly *‘Reception”—His Highness’ Choice of 2 Partner in the Danee— An Amerigan Belle Honored— Beau- ty In International Commin- glement — Hussein Pacha’s Dance—Art—Dress Colors, “Make Up,”? Laces, Silks and = Diamonds—Ani- mated Ornaments. Paris, June 8, 1870, It is not only the fashion to be very well dressed in Parisian society tn year; evidences of a taste for the cultivation of the mind are also requisite in court circles, Ladies are expected to say a witty (hing now and then, and gentlemen, hike footstool knights of old, to pay their compli- ments with all sorts of cautions ambiguity, It bas atlength dawned on people of distinction, in this century of equality (when their newest styles are copied twenty-lour hours later by others below them), that the enjoyment of mental acquirements will ever be regarded as the most distinguished sign of superiority. A certain amount of reading 1s therefore being prized, and Whenever a distingue, witty or pieasant speech is made it gets handed round, and sets a “man up’ as high as if he nad imported a new esseace, a new collar, or Dew pan- taloon stripe. Thad the good fortune to come in for the first of the most recent gentiemanly sayings which Is at present being echoed In high life, The lady to whom it was adaressed is the wife of a banker—nothing two do with old aristocrats who wear gold, but who wouldn't work for it; no, not for the world; horrid | ‘The lady [speak of is a modest, charming woman, and vulgarly rich, say duchesses. jlowever, she goes to court inthe quietest dove-colored stiks and downiest Jaces, unadorned by any of her diamonds, in order not to give offence, as she says, to her sis- ter, who is one of the Empress’ ladies. Jn fact, she is @ sweet creature; notwithsianding which, on Monday last, in one of the brillant salons at the Tuileries, she suddenly found herself abandoned and deserted by a parterre of countesses, baronesses and dikes, all huddling their ttties together at the further end of the reception room, I dare say she was just wishing she had not come, when a Frenchman covered with orders and a sympathizer with vrlorn beauty approach- ed, “Madame,” said he, “EL see how siuall a thing {t 1s to be a duchess—so much peeriess beauty and no title, Thereupon the elegant wearer of the mild-hued suk trun and fully muslin pisses look the bedizened courucr’s arm, and was led by him to the Empress, Her Majesty Was never more affable, and gently radiant in @ lovely toilet of mauve. For the first time her son was admitted to her so-called private Mondays, but tn reality a bevy of all the illustrious; it was an exceptional favor. “It happened to be @ Whitsuntide holiday—a **Samt Luni,” a8 the ofi- cers call it, aud General Frossard had consented to an infraction of the general rule, which is—no dissi- pation. The young Prince and his inseparable friend young Conneau inaugurated on ths occasion swaliow-tails and Ugh:s, With sik stockings. They were as de- lighted as are young misses in their tlist long skirts, Another extraordinary occurrence was also solem- nized on this celebratlon—namely, tie Prince chose for his colllon partner an American lady— MISS PAYNE, FROM NEW YORK, What a deathbiow this must prove to the writer of the article I quoted In my last ietter to your read- ers, in which @ Yicomte, speaking of the neat ex- belles, calis them *plebetan feet.” eas de Mouchy appeared at this court ball for the first Umme since the death of Mrs. Standish, a relative of her husband, and who Joss has been a great cause of sorrow to the Chai laine. Among the guests were the Marquis de Ca- nissy, Mrs. Heard, from Louisiana; Mrs, Pratt and the Misses Sims, the Marquis de Gallfet, the Prin- cesses Bonaparte, the Niles. d’Albe and Hussein Pacha, who had danced for the first time at court on the preceding Monday. He is but sixteen, bui promises to become a model cavalie ‘fhe cotiilon is now led at the Tuileries by a M. Batbedat, and it is hoped he will not do as bis prede- cessor did, the Marquis de Caux, and marry the’ most distunguished diva in Paris, This new celebrity is only sixteen, and the public does not wish to see her “taken away.” Her name is Mile, Boyzachi, She isthe queen of the choregraphic turf. Her aéput was mide in the ballet of “Der Freyscniitz,” and she has won all hearts, not only by the points of her toes, but by her light, alry bounds, leaps, and zephyr floating in mid-air between the footlignis and s1 properties rotled up over the operatic ceiling. is notall. Mlle, Bozzacht 1s an ingénue, ter vir- tues and domestic acauirements have already filled the columns of the daily journals, The day after ine night of her first triumph she received a diamond ring in a basket of bonbons and flowers, Who sent it? No one knows; bat the Emperor enjoyed the ballet exceedingly. It is true he could not enjoy anything else; for the music was badiy interpreted. In my last J described the toilet worn on this occa- sion by the Empress; and, althouga it was very rich, the dinner dress she appeared in one or two evenings ago Was just as becommlug. A plain tarla- white, over u white taffeta; nothing but ruche and flounce for ornament. in her hair a bunch of white lilies of the valley, with a few black and red cherries—a most striking combination for a blonde, At the beginning of this letter 1 spoke of the pre- vailing tenaency to utter pretty sayings. The follow- ing was heard by me at the new Ratopolis, or dog show, an arena for the extermination of rats and glory of canine pugnacity, now beli at the avenue de I'impératrice:—Two Partian ladies of the proper monde were joie | very quickly; one was in a pretty ¢oru lawn dress, with plenty of plisses, edged round by narrow Valenciennes; her uoder petticoat was brown flounces all the Way up. ‘Tie other wore a fine stone colored merino, with tafeia flounces of the sathe shade, & casaque of the same, and neither had on sashes, but a bow on the waist behind and an incredible Fornalty, of panier. ‘The ecru dress (buff) wore a long Spray of chestnut blos- som over her hair, wich was in a net, and allowed to fall loose; the other wore @ branch of yellow acacia; boul had marquise parasols of a dome-like shape, with flounces all round. I approached from behind unintentionally, for the walk was narrow and crowded. “it 1s, it really is, a nuisance to be so followed,” said buff totlet, “a whole cigar did he smoke through, machére, before he found out I was not one of the demi, who like to be foHowed.”” MERINO ToILeT—Why didn’t you turn round all of & sudden and give hima pair of —. Ifany of your fair readers have read the accoants of this year’s salon at the Palais de I’Iudustrie, they will remember that one of their sex has received a medal for excellence as a portraitist, Her name is Mile, Jacquemart. She this year exhtbits the por- trait of Marshal Canrobert and that oi 4 lady. The tollet of the latter has struck me as being exces- sively subdued in color, though rich in effect, The titied lady wears a claret train rove, of which she Lee the folds with a lovely and gemmed hand. he 13 standing by a gilt piece of furniture, on which is a Chinese vase and a doeskin pair of gloves; in her bodice, and half on her fair bosom, droops a tea rose, The hair of the transparent skinned beduty is light chestnut, This reminds me that the portrait of Mme. Maurice Richard 1s already com- menced for the salon of 1871 by Carolus Duran, and that the new Minister's bride was at the theatre the other night to see Maurice de Saxe, in a pearl gray robe, with a lovely pink hat. Mme. Knule de Girardin was most vaporous in a cloud of tulle d’illu- sion, worn over light salmon silk, at the dinner given by Lord Kyons to the diplomacy last week. Yellow and all its derivatives are exceedingly fashionable, but few can wear these bait fl shades. Blondes especially should never play with fire or brimstone. However, should the temptation be irresistible, let em geleot tye straw shades, with the same discern- ment a4 the Eropress, Who was most becomingly at- tired at one of her grand receptions in whe or- gandie, trimmed with lace, over pale lomon silk. ‘the muslin was ornamented with ruching of the suk at the head of her lace, and over the nraglin was thrown adouble tunte of tariatan, which fell belind from the oulders in the Watteau style, Her necklace with this was of aria a i her earrings were Syste das An item of much ConiMeit iy the work, Salon is what I should call a new kind of trimming. Mme, Musard has adopted a new green ornament, nothing less tham an adiler cotled round her arm, where it lies, at the opera, latening to divas, as we should ail love to be—were we adders. 1s @ serpent to become soon an Indispensable part of a lady's vollet? ‘There 13 every likelihood that, now the idea is started, we shall svon be buying white mice, yel- Jow toads, grasshoppers and kittens for the orna- ment of wives, sistors and cousins. When #0 cun- spicuous a person as Mime. Musard takes to putung on an adder we may be certain thists & capital ime for whole ménagertes. ‘The papers have all said more or less about the genial aud excelient man whose grave has 80 Teeenuy been crosed—Dr. Cabarrus; he was a famed homopathic doctor, the fmend of alk who knew him and of all the sovereigns who eon- suited him. He was the son hana. some Mme. Tailien whose name has so often been under my pen, and one of the most humoristic uses of our times, A friend of mine who knew iin intimately has related the following to me of his mother, and us it relates to clothes I repeat 1t:— Dr. Cabarrus narrated once thavalter the reyolu- tton of 1830 his mother came two Paris from her cown- try houge Out of curiosity, and as she Was walking down the Boulevards on her son’s arm stopped be- fore @ play bill on which was announce piece, “Kobespierre;” the same Robespierre she so well remembered, “Ob! cried sue, “£ must go, I should so hke lo see this play, and positively there js an actress who 3, 65s vo play the part of your own mother, Mme, Tailien.”” Dr. Cabarrus smiled and Wey tickets for the performance, but for some Cause or other both ‘reached the theatre after the Ploce had begun, and by a strange coinenlence they entered their bux just as au actor, nrowing back @ curtain in Robesplerre’s study on the whe real Bounces ina loud voice, “Mme. fullen |? e real Tailen cast a glance on the actress who was to impersonate her, and fainted Sway. Much distressed, Dr, Cabarrus carried is mother out of the box and had her driven to thelr hotel, He believed for days and weeks after her recovery that some superstitious notion had Weakened her nerves, on hearing am unconscious Actor utter ner name just as she appeared in & public piace of entertainment after so long @ retirement Tou scenes of gayety. He fancied she had had some foreboding of evil and never alluded to it. One day, ver, a third parly being present, Mme, Tallien herself related the incident. When she had done she exclaimed, “And what a horrid fright the actress Was Wiio acted ine | How badly her clothes were put on! ‘The idea of ever cutting such a figure belore ones lerre quite took my senses away, and so I Dr, Cabarrus would often complain that the secret of true love 18 lost in high life. When huis friends on one occasion Contradicted the assertion, and in sup- pot of their argument mentioned all the duets fouxht by lovers, the doctor answered, “Exacuy; that is what I say, To love weil is such hard work Set is ane four of your dundies to love the same an.’ YACHTING. “The Mecting” at Delmonico’s, To THE EpiTos or Tay HERALD: The indignation meeting of the new-fledged yacht club members, backed up by the chronic growlers | and patrtarcnal matcontents calls for a word. ‘The meeting displayed the baldest ignorance of the fundamental prineipte of the Yacht Clab—to wit, | thatit was a yacht club of yacht owners, who are by charter the sole trustees of the club, If the resolution offered at the meeting was adopted and passed by the ciub as suggested tne com- mander and executive ofcers woald be served with awritof'quo warranto by the Attorney General of the State, requiring them to show cause why their charter of incorporation should not be revoked and | ail their property turned over to a receiver for hav- ing viola.ed the main features of their charter. As to the franchise complained of, what propriety Would there be in permitting 900 irresponain oat owners who pay tie paltry sum of Lweaty- dollars & year Lo COnLO] Loe yacht owners and tt property IMvested in yachts, amounting to from $5,000 to $50,000 cach yacht, togetuer wiih the an- | nual expeaditu of from $2,000 lo $5,000 @ year | expended to keep thelr yachts in Soe NRon. an | in addition to thal, comtribadng each twenty-fye dollars annually ? ifthe regulauion are not properly enforced have Lon-boat owners to biame but tiemseives * ‘rhe Regutta Committee 18 by law to be selected, not | froin boat owners, bat from those not interested mm or owning a yacht. It the non-boat owners do not select und Lominate, a thev may dg at the regu- lar meeting, @ competent Regatta Committee for the boat owners to appoint, Who can they blame but sheinseives* dhe meeting again blundered and floundered in bilvaful Ignorance as to ihe powers of the house cominittee—a committee consisting entirely of non- boat owners, Who, lustead of being powerless, have as a body all the power in tue premises required by tuem in everything appertaiming to the ciub house, subject, however, tothe control ta regard to dis- bursements, to the approval of the majority of te executive officers. Among other mournful ee poured forth at the meeting, unvetling the boat owners’ aggra- vated sins of oulssion and commission, Was some- thing about the injury aud inequality of the “Tap- pan muster” pay for the club dinner of the meet- ing. Now all those arrungoments are entirely in the hands of the members present, and the tariff of charges regulated and usted by @ standing rule or regulation which the members present have the full power to enforce. If they neglect to enforce those provisions they have themselves alone to blame, and not the steward of the club, who 18 guided tn his pre- parations by the number who notify him of their in- tention to dine by sabscribing their names the day before. The fact 1s that if the members themselves would only take the trouble to comply with the rules dn (hs connection all ground of complatat would be eutircly remove YACHTMAN, SPANISO BUTCRERIES IN CUBA. Extract from a Letter to the ExeActing Con- sui at Santiago de Cuba from the Brother of the Murdered American Citizen Por- tuoudo. The following letter, received a few days since by Dr. A. EB. Phillips, ex-ecting Consul of the United States at the port of Santiago de Cuba, is in reply to # brief statement of the particulars of the death of the murdered Portuondo, and otherwise fully ex- plains figelf:— 416 NonTH ELEVENTH ald PHILADELPHIA, June 6, 1870, Dr, A. PuHtLLirs, Ariimgion House, Washington, D. © Dean sin—Your esteemed favor of the 26th ult. was duly recetved, and by me placed in the bands of Theo. H. Oelischlager, the solicitor retained by me to represent the interests of my nephew, José Antonio Portuondo. Professional engagements of a pressing character prevented him from giving it his altention during (he past week; hence my de.ay 10 answering. Permit me again to thank you, in the name of the orphan son Of him whoin you strove to save, in that of my Sorrowtug family and myself, for your noble efforts to rescue my deg brother from the brutal hands of his assas-lus, Your efforts of mercy, aa Weil as your patriotic performance of duty, in main- taming the honor and diguity of the fag you repre- sented, Were alike unavailing. My poor, unoffend- ing brother, an American citizen, was shot to death y Spanish butiets, and the emblem of a nation’s pow nd glory dralied In the dust and outraged by Spanish officials. Can these wrongs remain unre- dressed ? y years have not elapsed since an Austrian, who had merely declared his intention of becomin, a citizen of the United States, was arrested and place on board an Austrian vessel of War in the port of Trieste; but an American Consul was there and an American Charge d@’Aituires at Constantinople to cause the guns of the St. Louis, under command of the gallant Ingravam, to cover the Austrian brig and wareaten to blow her out of the water If the out- rage upou the nation’s dignity were not instantly atoned by the surrender of Martin Koszta. Your conduct has given satisfaction to the -Amer!- can nation at least, if not to tts government, and {ull assurance that the noble example in the harbor of Trieste would have been followed in Santiago de Cuba had a monitor or two been at your command to protect your people and maintain the honor of their flag. On the 18th of April our attorney addressed to the iion. Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State, @ leiter upon the subject of my brother's murder, desiring full information as to the action of the Vuited States government in Obtaining such reparation as I was ted to believe bad already been tendered by that of Spain, To thisa brief answer was returned on the @ist of April, simply stating that ‘fuil partic- wars had been sought from our consur oMicers {n Cuba, and that the subject was receiving the careful and earnest attention of the government.”? Since that time no letter or intimation ol any action or Gemand on the part of the Departinent has been received by our attorney or myseif, 1 understaud that Mr. Oehlschlager will to-day address a secona inquiry to the honorable Secretary as to what steps are being taker by the government to obtain indem- Dification and reparation for the orphaned victim of Spauish barbarity and cowardice, and the vindica- tion of the national character. Again thanking you for what you so nobiy en- deayored to do, [remain your grateful friend anu servant, JOSE MA. PORTUONDO. TBE RAM ATLAVTA. The Question of Her Purchase by the Haytien Government—An Interesting Point of Inter- national Law. A Most interesting case under this heading will shortly be presented to the public. The decision of the United States will probably be called on to establish a precedent on the laws of contracts be- tween a citizen of the United States and a foreign government. One Sidney Oaksmith, on the 5th day of August, 1869, contracted with the Haytien gov- ernment, then under the presidency of Sylvain Salnave, for the sale and delivery of an iron-clad calied the Atlanta. The sum to be paid was $150,000 in i GOLD OR COFFEE, $50,000 gold to be paid on the complete equipment and armament of the vessel, $10,000 gold on the arri- “vai of the vessel at Port au Prince, and $90,000 to be paid within @ certain specified time, either in coffee or gold, according to the option of the Haytien gov- ernment, $49,404 55 Was paid on account of we contract, and the vessel was, at the request aud demand of Mr. A. Tate, the Minister Plenipotentiary at Washington to the Haytien government, formaliy delivered to the Been eee the sd of December, 1859, &¢ Philadejphia, he, Mr. Tate, sign- ing the necessary receipt t! and in which he ‘was joined by Admiral dims, the Admirai command- ing the said ram Atlanta. ‘The Atianta sailed from the port of Philadelphia on the 16th day of December last, with her olicers and crew, uni UN THE MAYTIEN FLAG, ® carry on thet foody strife then pending between Sainave and ; but fate ordained that Salnave's su oud ‘Auanta, from the day of her deparve i BE has never been lieard of, Salnave nas fain, aud xiaeege ot nae Preai- Haytien repubtic, att ies ray He eae BILL, ccna pits to $100,506 42, gold. Se ecane the lability of the present go ern tof Haytito pay the amount, From the date of the Restoration aud during the numerous revyoia- tions in France tht have uprooted so many forma of wove ni the coniracts made by all prior gov- eruments have been recognized and tarthfully pers formed, and 10.18 dificult to see why the government of the republic of Hayta should attempt to form any precedent contrary to the eoiablished rules aud laws of al! civilized batons, 2