The New York Herald Newspaper, November 29, 1870, Page 5

4 THE RUSSIAN ARMY. ‘Material and National Inspiration of the Land Forees of the Czar. FIGHTING MATERIAL OF THE EMPIRE, Wield Artillory and Great and Small Guns. The Ammunition and Gun Car. riage Questions. Acarefully compiled exhtbit of the war resonrees and fighting material and land armament of the Russian empire, wAich was prepared and published in England tewards the clese of the year 1869—and m view ot # coming crisis between Great Britain and the Ozar—supplies the following interesting facts, which are of very decided value to-day, when taken tn connection with our cable news telegrams frem the Oid World capitals. Russien Fortresses and Their Lnailroad Arteries—The Strategic System Against Foreign Invasion. Whatever may be the opinion, eays an English writer, of modern thinkers regarding the wisdom of national standing armies, it may be taken for granted that all persons even moderately patriotic recognize the necessity and duty of providing by some means or other for national defence. For+ merly it would have been superfuons to prove that fortresses must be butit and kept in a state ef pre- paratton if a country was to be defended at all. The habit of governments was to over-fortify rather than to neglect this evident means of providing against invasion; but the rapid manceuvres an@ brilliant daring of the first Napoleon and the comparative in- frequency of sieges in later wars, together with the growing democratic tendency of the age in which wa live, have drought about a feeling agatnt sort resses and caused & certain impatience of expendi- ture upon them. There exists an impression that the multiplication of roads and railways has rendered fortification obsolete, because the military engineer cannet promise to arrest the march of an invading army. In truth, there 1s a difference, but net so great as 1s commonly imagined. Fortresses are Bow Rot so much barriers as pivets upon which an army can turn. ‘The old rule, which 1s still found in classical werks on the dofence of States, was that one row of fortresses sheuld pe built within another, sometimes even a8 many as three er feur such ranks, 80 ag to confrent the enemy with a number of Places, each impassable, except after a regular siege. Some military writers considered that those Tortressea should not be more than a day’s march distance from each other, and others believed that their number could not be too — er at least only checked by the financial possibilities of the country, Such ideas were probably never quite right from & Strategical point of view, and the system has given ae to an entirely new one. It would, however, e extremely dangerous to run away with the no- tion that because military nations are demolishing some of their strong places and allowing otters to fall into decay therefere the days of permanent de- feusive works are over. The fault of the old system ‘was that it caused a large number of troops to be taken frem the fleld army and locked up within the parapets of positions which might be passed by the enemy, yet could not be abandoned without leaving him se many points of vantage. No single garrison ‘was large enough toact decisively against the in- vader’s lines of communication ner to harrass him to any purpose, ‘The modern ideas on national defence, so far as they apply to the building of fortifications, are chiefly tese:— First.—The principal lines of approach should be occupied ‘at tmportant positions, such as mountain pasaes, the nar- rowest part of valleys, detiles of all sorts, whether roads over a marshy district. through forests, er great bridges over the last not so much to prevent the passage of an enemy as to facilitate the eafe and rapid trauafer of the ua- tional armies from one bank to the other. 8 Ho fortify all places vitally necessary to the safety e country. Among these may be named the chief arse- dock yards und points of embarkation or disembarka- tion bn coasts, | a | from St. Petersburg and Moscow, and avoid pov 9 NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1870.—TRIPLE SHEET. connecting the capita! with Helsingfors and Tawss- fous, 1b passes Throuth Viborg, a fortress of no great strength, bul having batteries for heavy guns, built since the Ortmean war. A landing here will be no longer easy. Sweaborg is the defence of Helsing- for 3 Cronaindt is of Bt. Petersburg. Want of earth fer c weap batteries es of money for dear ones prevents Sweaborg from being strongtuened to the Tull extent that fig natural capabilities would fom to demand. On the guy de of tg th if of N= land Revel and its port are belng placed In ra! way ommMuniealion with St, Pelersburg. ‘The next line from t, Votersburg runs southwest, through Duba- burg to Warsaw, and beyond the Polish capial bratches off towards Thorn, in Prassta, a) d Cracow, in Austria, both fort fled towns. From the Baltlo coast to this moat important line run already two tributary raiways, owe from Riga and Mittau the other from Gayibinen avd Kowno; the latter is being carried to Wie coast at Libau, ‘The coast town Of Lindau is to be hercatter connected ith ban ide Lines. ‘The other great line from St, ¢ Southeast to Moscow and Nijni- q Raa ak oud ¢ rua neaviy eed igh Orel to Kursk ayd Charkow, and will ve Sinatued io Sebaaiopol. Mar PEAK Ehieit jan troops have to periorm those terrible and slow Ifthe Crumea were again ked the defeaders could recetve reinforcements such tremendous losses as ihe army once suslaine Sebastopol is not to be connected with St. Peters- burg alene. Already is Dunavure in commu. nication with Orel (on tne Moscow-Sebasto- pol line), and two more railways almost parallel With each other, from the morth, are projected, and one of them partially completed. ‘fhe more easteriy Ot the twe is to run from Wilna, through Minsk, Mogitew, &c. The other starts from Warsaw, 13 completed as iar as Braesc Litewskt, is te be con- tnued to Berdiezew, where it falls into a line now constructing te Odessa, and communicates by cross lines with Vharkow, Scbastepol and Kertch, ‘So, then, when the system of railways 1s complete there will be four lines, al) starting from the Peters- burg-Moscow Katlway and running nearly parallel in a southerly direction towards the Black Sea. By these a great army toms fd be concentrated in the south aud supplied with necessaries afterwards. For defence of the western frontier or for attack upen Austria or Germany there will also be feur Mnes—first, the line Petersburg- Warsaw, then a pro- jected liné from Moscow through Smolensk te .zesc Liutewski, The portion between Smolensk and Mescow is already in process of construction. ‘The third line 13 compicte from Moscow to Kiel, and is being carried westward. ‘Thea tuere is the shorter line from Cnarkow, on tho Moscow-Sebas- topol line, te Balta, a station on the most westert of the north and south lines. Numerous cross ratl- ways ace to be found, or will be fouhd some day, but the most important lines have all been named— four ‘rom north to south, four from east to west, ‘The Polish Quadrilateral will be the focus te which a serics of strategical ratiway lines converge. Ail mea who would enter or leave Russia by rall- way must pass through Warsaw. Russian Fusion of Different Races for War Purposes. The writer of the compilation to which we have Just referred says:— In a previous article we have invariably spoken of the Russian army, because, as a rule, tae policy of the Ozars has been to fuse Poles, Lithuanians, Great Russians, White Russians, Russines, £c., inte @ common whole, so that at last there is but one army, with the same medern history and the same aspirations. Nor can it be doubted ‘that the polloy has been successiul. The Russian soldier ts as Russian as the Jew ts Jewtsh. 11 he thinks at all he believes that there 1s & great destiny before the em- pire, and where, a8 in Poland, for instance, nobles and peasants are of diiferent races, it is the peasant who feels bound to his Emperor. positien 1s chiefly to be looked for from the landed aristecracy and that other aristocracy, the traders of the towns, who sigh for liberty amd progress, but wie may also be won over when the new railways are bullt to iacilitate intercommunication and exchange of com- modities throughout the empire. IRREGULARS, There is, however, ono peculiar feature of the Russian military power that must not be entirely overlooked—the irregular troops, estimated by Baron von Kuhn at 229,223 men. ‘ne military colo- nies ef Russia have not been successful, tor tie til- ler of the land supported, net was, the soldier. We have just seen the frontler organization abolished in Austria because the new constitutional dual or- ganiaasinn required it, The crown of Austria has oat thereby a large body of troops, always loyal, ex- tremely frugal and temperate,.but bearing the char- acter of better seldiers for garrison work than the field, Jt was @ characteristio of the ‘Grentzer,” as he was callea, that, among all the temptations ef life In an upwholesome garrison suck as Mantua or Komorn, he managed to save money on his pay and either send it to his wife heme or keep tt until his return. In Russia the system ts different, and the result is, 2s we have sald, unsatisfactory, even from @ military point ef view. THR COSSACKS, On the other hand the Cossacks, a theroughly Rus- sian institution, are of great military value. The Cossack troops are partly regular, fog d irreguiar. Of une former there are always to be found @ con- siderable number, both cavalry and horse artillery, inthe camps. They are handsomely dressed, well Third.—To create strong places, which may serve as bases fot an army destined to marc forth upon am enemy's terri, tery, Tucse wm ve wumerous In proportion 19 the elze of the country and the number of avaliable lines on which the armies may break out. Fvurth.—Oonsidering the frontier forts, whether permanent or temporary, a8 advanced posts, to construct behind each group of them @ great place of ‘refuge, which should be rather an intrenched camp, with a citadel, than an ordinary fortified place. Fi/th.—Bebind all to fortify a great position asthe citadel of the Btate, The capital clty will, for the most part, be chosen for this last purpose. At any rate, where the capital ws of real necessity, it must be fortified. In countries like France and Prussta, for instance, there can be no doubt that the object on either side would be te reach Paris or Berlin, and it would be of the grea‘est importance to know that the capital could hold out for a few days, because then the field armies would be free to form daring combina- tong _ Without necessarily always cevering the capital, The general rnies whick we have given are lable to derangement and complication in particular cases, One of the previuces might be in a chronic state of simmering rebellion. Them smali refuges and a great place of arms must be constracted to save the scattered and suddenly attacked detach- ments, and act as rallying points whence the army may march ferth as soon as collected and recon- quer the revolted districts. If we examine a map of Russia in Europe it will at once be manifest that she has not to fear tavasion from tae East. Her southern boundary is the Black Sea; and here we find her securing the mouth of the Dniester and for- tifying Kertch sirongly against a naval attack. Be- yond this there is little te be done or dreaded. The great steppes and the immense distance Irom a vital point render Invasion in this directien highly improbabie. Nevertheless, the same reluge ts provided tor the beaten on this side ag on the west. That refuge is Kiev, or Kief, the ancient capital ef Russia, a holy city, the key of the lower Dnieper, tae pemt of convergence of many reads, the terminus ef a railway from Moscow, asd now being connected with Odessa ks Boe Seca, in progress. A line of rail projected to run paraliel with the Austrian Gallican frontier, and will connect Brzesc Litewski with Odessa and Kiev, It will be a place of many advantages, and probably the future capital of Russia, Yet one more probable prominence for Kiev. Itis not unlikely some day to be the base frem which a Russian army pene- trating into Hungary will draw its supplies. Passing northwards along the boundary, we meet With no great fortresses, only old werks such as Kamenetz, opposite Ozernowitz, the present termt- nus of the Austrian Cracow-Lemburg Railway, But long hefore reaching the kingdom of Poland, Holy Russia is guarded against her western neigkbor by the great Pinsk marsh, hor could an army march on the high road from Lemberg to Warsaw, along the valley of the Wieprz, because of the defences of Zamoesc, which was once the strongest fortress in Poland, and might stil! do much to check an invader. On the other side of the great marsh 13 Bobruisk, cominanding the country between the Dina and the bnleper, being seated on the Beresina, not un- known to history, IN POLAND. We are now in the Kingdom of Poland, and how comes it that we are brought face to face with the two strongest tortresses in the Russian empire— nay, witha nest of strong fortresses, or fortified camp rather—the guadriiateral ef Kussta’ Partly vecause Peland 1s casily penetrabie by an enemy, chtefly because the kingdom itself needs to be kept down by the strong hand, When Russla attacks at last, unless the time be long delayed, Poland will be one of the first thoughts of the enemy. There wiil be risings in the towns, and many aman will risk all Lo escape and join tie Polish legion that will be ighting agalust Russia. This is why the gov- ernment of the Czar, in spite of enermous yearly deficits, coutinues to spend money freely upon Keeping up and strengthening Warsaw, Modlin or Novogeorgieysk, _Iwangorod and wrzeso Litewski, ‘Tne chief fortresses not yet named are Dunaburg, @ the crossiug of the re lines Warsaw-St Petersburg and Riga-Smolensk! &c., @ most important point; then, on the seacoast of tue Baltle, Riga, with ‘railway to Dunaburg; Sweaborg, newly fortifed and partly armed since the Crimean war, When, according to Russtaa mii- tary anthorities, 11 must have surrendered had the vombardment continued half an hour tonger; and the great Cronstadt works, protecting St Petersburg against attack from the sea. Of all these strong places that we have named the most important are undoubtedly those of the Polish Quadrilateral, with its outpost towards Austria-Zamose, which has tely been souewbat neglected. Then come the seacoast fortifications, and behind them Kley and Dunaburg. The strongest defences in the Russian empire ure the iron batteries of Cronstadt, the great earth beaps of Modiin and Brzesc Litewski, the new works at Kievand Kertch. One mo.e fortress is to ve built entirely by military labor at Czenstochow, on the railway Irom Cracow to Warsaw, because the line runs parallel with and close Co the Prussian trontier from Warsaw until it arrives at Ozenstochow. Warsaw ts, however, now the first potut of real importance on this rath " and the first true line of defence in Poland, con- tainting the base of operations against Germany, would be the Vistula and the Wiepra. RAILROADS. Before proceeding to describe the chief Russian fortgeases, and to draw from the changes which are being made in their detalis of construction seme idea of the views entertained by Russian enzincers, it seems needful to sketch roughly the plan of rail- way communication destined to act as the arteries ma velns of 80 great a military empire; for it must, above all things, be understood that every railway: ip Rasssia, whether im existence, bony mouuted and forma fine body of solaiera; but the Cossack trives—emigrants from other parts ef Rus- sia 80 long ago that nething certain is krown about most of them—have free democratic constitutions and retain their freedom on condition of giving mill- tary service when called upon, The Cossacks of the line ef the Caucasus supplied a force of some 18,000 or 20,000 men to act inst the Circassians, and many @ beauty who had hoped to adorn the harem ef a rich Turk, perhaps of the Sultan himself, was carried off to be the mate of a Cossack and produce a family of sons bardy as their fathers, but with their mother's oval face and soft eyes. ‘The mingled race is now the handsomest In Russia. While the Oessacks ef the Don turnisn a large number of cavalry regiments every man is under obligation to serve with arms and horse if called upon. Obvious reasons prevent the government from dcmanding so extreme @ tax upon their war- like communities, but @ very large proportion of them las been more than once called forth. ‘The Cossack ts ossentially a horseman. He and bis little animal can make extraordinary and continued marches. He is used to harass an enemy, to iater- cept convoys, to break up beaten battalions, and all the services usually furnished by the lightest cav- alry. When acting as a vidette he may be seen standing erect on his saddle to survey the surround- ing country and watch against an ineilious foe. He and his animal can live Where erdinary troops weuld starve. He isan excellent hand at pillage, and the sight of a strong man mounted on a small herse, galloping swiftly with tts nose low down so as to pick ils Way without lalling, soon becomes a terror to a beaten army. A line ef Cossacks would hardly stand against a charge of “heavies,” but cavalry that can marci forty miles a day, and for many days consecutively, are not to be despised. It 13 said that in 1812-14 these hardy warrlors formed a chain of posts from the Don to the Selne for the purpose of carrying of works of art and other booty from Paris. “With all his freedom, the Cossack is strictly obedient to mill- tary orders. Indeed, this ts a good feature of Rus- sian troops generally. They know nothing of what 1s going on in the world ouiside their own country. For them there is but one nation, one Emperor, and one religion. Many stories are current to prove their devotion to discipline. What is commanded must be done, whether it be the storming of a fortress, the protection of a post, the persecution of the Catholics in Poland, or the examination of a lady’s private diary. When the Russian brat receives the word, it will march as readily against the Sclaves of Bohemia a3 against the Magyar and German, and carry the eagle with equal satisfaction to Paris or to Constantinople. SERIOUS WANTS. But the time cf Russian aggressive action has not ret come, though no one can tell how soon ti may If a general war were to break out immediately in Europe the Russian armies would almost certainly be defeated in every battle, unless led by some great multary gentus. The one necessity for modern war—the breech loading rifie—is only 10 be found in the hands ef a very small number of the infantry. Three divisions of the Guards are provided with breech-loading arms; but as far as we can learn, from tho most credible sources, all the rest of the army retains the old muzzle leader up to the pre- sent time. Every now and then there is a siourish of trumpets tn the press of St. Petersvurg, asserting that vast siores of bresch-loaders are fust on their way from America or Birmingham, (or where you wil; but somehow . they never arrive, and it 13 perfectly certain that the new arm was not even certainly selected a few weeks ago, if it 1s now. A few old rifles have been “con- verted” on the Carl system—a modification of the needle gun—one of the worst weapons now in Europe; but ouly a very short time ago Count Mil- lnuin, Minister of War, and the hereditary Grand Duke were in hot contention over the rival inven- Mens of an American anda Russian. The Minister has since been til, aud we heard the other day that the Berdan rite was definitely adopted, bul we have heard this aud other statementsso often that {t 1s im: possible to be certain, Russian ofticials talk of con- Verting So Many tiousaud arms a day, but it 1s cer- tain that they don’t get into the hands of the Ris: sian infantry, ARTILLERY. In field artillery very great advances have been made. Even the Prussian artillery retatned a large proportion of smooth-bored fleld guns up te the war of 1866, but discarded them immediately afterwards, and Russia follows Prussia’s lead in such matters to a very remarkable extent. The principle of rifled fleld guns ts accepted tn Kussla, but it Bony lately that the whole army has actually recetved them. If the artlilery of the reserve bs reckoned, and no deductions be made for troops serving out of imme- dilate reach in Asiatic Russta, the total number of horsed guns wili be 972, and itis to be remarked ings that each nature of Russian gun is silghtiy javier and mere powerful than the corresponding iece {nother European armies, Another curious fact is that while all our English experiments lead us to prefer muzzle-loading guus for the field, be- cause of their simplicity, muzzle-loading guns 2180 for coast defence and fortresses, because of their strength and cheapness, the Russians and Prussians have adopted breech-loaders for the field, because they are supposed to siieet better, and breech-load- ers for coast and fortresses, because they are stronger. The reason seems to be that the Russians were grievously disappoluted wivh their first heavy steel muzzie-loadiug rifled guns. They all either eurst or guitered very much in the bore. It was ne- cessary to have tteavy guns, so, instead of patiently working out the question gn@ @iscovering, as Eng- lish artiliertsts did, a means of vdviating the gatter- ing, they selzeu upon the oreect-loader presented to them by Krupp, aud, after a serica of very perfunc- built or only projected, has a distinct strategical 1m- portance. P Norih of St. Petersburg a line {5 in construction tory experiments, adopted @ system which, with the aid of prismatic powder, gives suMclently good re- sulla lo be moderately ‘cused. Lu giving @ list of Russtan guns we must observe that the higher na- tures are only to be found very few and far between, nor are the home eatablishinents yet capable of pro- ducing them, Of the 11 inch guns there are, we be- lieve, only one or two in existence. hey were made by Krupp, of Essen, in Prussia; are not of solid steel, but, on the contrary, are built up of many moro leces than the most elaborate Araistrong gun ever forged, aud resoimble an Ariustreng very tMuch in their outward appearance, If we deduct the breech- loading arrangements. One of trem has stood ronads of service charges with prismatic powder, and gave a very good yelocity to, the Ryvlectiic. Their oot {3, of ohh, enormous, ‘the dificulties in the Way of breech-loading.. Tor ordiance are 80 groat (Hat we must nol surprised to find many diferent means of closing the back of the bore, especially in the heavier nature of gung, 8 favorite in Russia Is just now the arog improve, cylindro-prismatic wedge, with the broad wi sity a5 gas cheok. ere Lyte - ory ‘simple iitle wedge (Kruj wi copper Ly a emer double wedge Werundian and copper ring, ring gas check, the Kral service), wilh steel cup P ig, and the Wahrondor!, wpe Is hawoyen. gone rene be obsolete, So little ly generally kadwn of what goes ont) Kussia, that we think tt well to free more detailed ilst than would otherwiso be suitable to.our columns of the we considered to be adopted into the service of the greatest military empire fa the world, ij It must be borne in mind that the nomenciature dovs not express the true weight of the projectile in this or any other oontinental system of arvitiery. ‘The dimensions and weights are here given in Eng. lish measures:— MOUNTAIN GuN.—Three-pounder.—Bronze, with single prismatic wedge; weight, 2cwt.; callbre, 3 4a.; charge, 13 o.; weight of ‘coinmon shell, 9 Ibe.’ 12 oz; abrapnel, bs. B oz. Fiuty Guns,—Four-pounder,—OF this gun there are no Jeas than four natures, but the ammunition is the same. ‘There is @ bronze gun’ with prismatic wedge, w steel gun with doubte wodge russian), a steel gun with priamatie eh there wi os uePaata ae tae calibre of these guns .3 thelr m2. Sow bars, 9 be. to Ocwl, Ogre. 8 lbs. weet, wih pt fo. famatio wrodee service charge, 1 Ib, 8 02.5 reduced charges 7 Ire, Oz. an 04.; common by shrapnel, 16 ths, 2 oz. ; iuittal velocity, 1,04 ft. with service chai Nine-pounder “(two natures).—Bronze, with pi 10 wedge: weight, 12 ewt. 1 qr. 8lb.; and _stecl, prinnatic wedge : weight, 12 cwt. 1 qr. 10 1b. ; callbre, 4. service charge, 3 reduced charges, J tb. 1 oz. and ii oz, common shell, 27 1b. sharpened, 31 1b. 8 02.3 fnlllal velocity; with atvice charge, 1,000 swith redueed charger 69 ft an GUNS FOR SIEGE OR GARRISON SERVICE.—Twolve- Pounder (wo uatures).—Bronza, prismatic wedge; Welzity 18 emis A gr, 17 Ibe; atyel, with cplindro-pris: matle wer calibre, in.; service cl ‘d ; Com Ton shel. 96 be; initial velocity, 1,000 ft. = M ‘Twenly-four-pounder (two natures).—Bronze, with pris- matic wedge: welght, 43 owt. 3 ars, 14 ib. + stoel, with oplia- dro-prisinatic wedge,” rather lighter; calibre, 61n.; charge, 7b. common she.l, 71 1b. 4.07.5 03 2, Eight-inch gun (light).—Solid tion fitted on and fastened with screws; welght, 101 owt. 16 1b; calibre, 8inch; charge, 19 eommon shell,’ 196 1b.j" chilled shel, Gangison Gung.—Twelve-pounder (cast fron).—Som with double wedge (Prussian); welght, 30 owt. 0 qra. 13 1b. others with cyilndro-prismatic wedge; ‘welgbt, 29 cwt. 8 q) 16 Ib. ; calibre, 4.8 inch ; charue, 254 Ib. initial velocity, ‘we -ty-fout-pounder (cast iron).—Two systems of ‘breech apparatus -ike the 12-pounder ; calibre, 6 uch ; charge, 6 | folie: velosity, 818 {1s welght of gun, abut O3'ewt, COAST ARMILLERY.—AIl charges are prisinatic powder.— Double wedge (Prusalan) + welgnt, 10:4 owt | M416 1. common shell, W1b.; harden ll Ib. acl sll, £8 1b. 8 02, jlastial velocities, and 1,)00 ft. . ‘Eight-inch sicel (two naturcs).—Unatrengthened; prismatic wedge; welzbt, 148 owt. 3 qre.; o'arge, 25 Ibs,; common hardened iron’ and stect sheils, 149 1bs.; inittal veiecity, 1,158 ft, Strengthened with outer rings: ¢ylindro-prismatic wedge; welghi, 116 cwt, $qra; charge, 313g ius. ; initial ve- locity, 1,290 Eight initial veloc! stecl, with tri tb.. prismatt der . rismatic powder ; Td th. ; taitlad velocity, d-a-half-ineh steel, unstrengthened.—Prismatic wedge ; wel, 143 ewt. 1 qr. 12 ibs. charge ‘26 Ibs. ; common shell, 196,14 Tbs. ; hardened iron shell, 200.8 Ibs. Nine-och atee!, strengthened with two layer of rings,— Cylindro-prismatic wedge; weight, 292 ewt. Bars.; charge, sf tba. common hardened jron aud’ steel sheils, B00 ive. : ial ae tal ve 0 ft. Eleven-inch siect built-up gun.—Cylindro-prismatic wedge : BS CO IY LOC ced fron abell, 481 Tos.; steel sitell, 860 Ibs.; anitial velociy, As tar as can be ascertained, only one gun of this nature isin exis‘ence, and one rather different, eleven-inch, made parely for experiments. BuEEou-Loantno RIFLED MORTARS.—Siz-inch bronze, for sloge and garrison fervice,—Welght, 20 owt. | Priamatis we . ‘canuon powder); common ; Wardetied fron aholl, 8 lbss toitial velocity, €00 feet” Eightinch (wo natures), for slege nm Bronze, with prismatic wed: 1b. (prismatic powder); comm. i, 195 1b. ; hardened fron shell, 192 1b.; velactiy unknown; steel, with cylindro-pris- matic wedge, same ammunition. ‘The mortars have not_been very successful. The iron hag not been thoroughly worked out. Such 1s neminally the list of Russian rifed artil- lery, but the reader should guard himself from sup- posing that there are many Of the heavier natures in existence. The frequent failure of steel guns and their enormous cost have caused all nations adopting them to lag behind in the race to ebtain good Leavy guns. CONCLUSIONS. ‘We have given the above particulars im detail, be- canse they are not to be found in any English vooks, nor have we met thein ta any langaage but Russian, and we would direct attention to the following ints :— in 13 generally heavier First—That every Russian and decidedly more powerful than the correspond- ing plece in other European armies, Thus our 9- pounder would meet a horse artillery gun throwing projectiles nearly a pound heavier. Our 12-pounder would be confronted by a 14-pounder, our 20- pounder by a 27-pounder, and so en, and this with- Out inereasing the weight of the gun in the same proportion. The Russian so-called 9-pounder wel, Jess than our lightest 20-pounder, yet throws a 27 Jb. projectile, No doubt eur practice would be bet- ter than thetra, but battle targets are not contracted to @ space of six feet by six feet. We belleve the Russians are as right here as they are wrong about their steel heavy guns. Second—In all'their heavy rified guas prismatic powder is used, and by its means alone tney are able to exist. Prismatic powder has mow been adopted by most of the continental nations. It enables them to save their guns wiille getting a very good velocity out of them. There are no private Interests connected with prismutic powder, That is simply the reason why it has not before this been adopted in England. Nobody has anyihing to make by It, so nobody fathers it, Third—The Russian felt artillery, like that of the Prussians and Austrians, carry a proportion of re- duced charges for curved fire, We ao not hesitate to say that im these days of breech-loaders ana field works curved fire will hold a position of in- ents greater importance than it has ever done efore. Fourth—An entirely Russlan peculiarity is the way in which they carry thelr ammunition. Three horses abreast draw a two-wheeled carriage, Instead of a team of four horses drawing a wagon, asin most countries. Jn a hilly district with sunken roads til Would be a great advantage; but Russia 13 a veun- try of plains. Is Apfaae possible that these ammuni- tion carriages may have been designed for service in hilly countries which are not now Russian? FU/th—Russia is for the present dependent upon Krupp, of Essen, in Prussia, for the supply of her heaviest guns, FLORIDA. The Busincas Part ot a Towu Destroyed by Fire. WARRINGTON, Nov 24, 1870, A fire took placa in Warrington, Fla.,on the 23d of November, 1870, destroying eighteen buildings, involving the whole business part of the town. The following gentlemen were not tnsured:—Mr. T. 0, Quayle, grocer and dry goods, two buildings; Mr. McKinsey, hardware, one building; Mr. Kronte, grocer and liquors, one building; Mr. Bell, dining saloon, ene buliding; Mr. Walker, book store, one building; Mr. A, Jones, billiard saloon, one building, Mr. Glass, wareheuse, one building; Mr. Richter, pest oftice, one building; Mr. W. Kurtzman, drug: gist, one building; Mr.’ McMahon, druggist, one building, and several others whose names I could not ascertain. The total less is estimated to be about $120,000 or more. It 1s supposed that fire ac- cidentally took place in the rear of Mr. Kronic’s store. While several citizens and marines were in- ebriated and enjoyjng themselves some one threw a lighted cigar in a@ tar barrel, containing some rub- bish, outside @f the house, which iguited and was not noticed until the flames had spread conside- rably. No lives were lost, though several were tn- Jured. ‘The fire occurred at half-past tweive o'clock mid- Night, and both sides of the strect—Broadway—was burned down. “ATALY ARD THE POPE, Proposition for a Public Protest by the Cath- olics of New York and Brooklyn. To THE EpiTor oF THE HERALD:— Tam not aware of any steps about being taken, or of any movement peing made, to express the feelings and sentiments of the Catholic clergy and laity of this vast metropolls with regard to the treat- ment of the venerable Head of tne Church by the organized (I will not Bay legalized) band of marau- ders who hgve despoiled him and the Church of their rightful posséssions, guaranteed by the authority er God and man and secured by the pledge of nations, If the armed hosts with Judas at their head and with sacrilegious hands have succeeded for a time in plundering the Head of Christ’s Church on earth, is it @ time for loyal Catholics the world over to leok on supinely, with averted head and up- turned eyes, on this work of spoliation and eutrage without expressing thelr indignation, thelr horrer, and loudly protesting against this royal outrage of the uineteenta century? And, if we could not avert, ees not become partivipants by our atlent pathy Let our beloved Archbishop make a move in the Tight direction, and all the bishops and clergy of the United States wili gladly follow. CATHOLIC LAYMAN, GENERAL BUTLER'S NOTIONS AND THE PAESIDENT’S VIEWS. {From the Philadelphia Inquirer, Nov. 28.) It is Teported irom Washington that, motwith- standing General Butler submitted to the’ President the manuscript ef his Boston speech previous te its dolivery, it has not received the latter's entire con- currence. The President 18 not at present in favor of the annexation of Canada, or of settling the “Alabama” claims upon precisely that basis; he does, however, endorse ail that General Butler,said in favor of consummating the Si, Domingo “pur- chase. As this Jatter measure will be likely to en- counter in the Senate the opposition of Senators Sumner, Trumbull and Schurz, tt is probable the Gesire of the President, that this bargain ghall be arcigd Qui, WUL agt be grated. YACHTS, SHELLS AND TRAINING, Cius House, Fortress bgt ead Nov, 20, 1870, 1870 has been an eventful era in the annals of aquatics, and many improvements have been made which not only renaer “boating” a science, but an art, The principal questions ef the day which agitate the minds of boatmen and the patrons of the amusement are those appertaining to the long and short stroke, slido and steady, and keel and contreboard yachts. And among all the improve- ments and numerous races no one can tell which is the most advantageous, for the simple reasoy on thay races occur every day in which both modes are dis- played and the result is very nearly the same, But this should not be taken ag a orlterion, as by a care- ful examiuation of the races of 1870 and of the man- ner of pulling the proportion ig three to one in favor of tho long slide stroke (about a stroke in 1 11-19 seconds), the short stroke being one every 1 13-47 seconds, making a difference of about nine strokes @ minute. Although this seems conclusive proof, races occur every day that seem to belle the fact, Take the three mile race between the Quaker ities, of Philadelphia, and the mid- shipmen at Annapolis, Here was a splen- did exhibition of physical strength and endu- rance, and the mode of pulling entirely different; also in training. The Quaker Cities were coached by the noted boatist, Harry Coulter, The middies were under the skilful hand of Mr. Blakie, the sec- retary of the Harvard crew. Coulter’s metned con- sista besides the regular drilling, of placing the men in the sun naked, and allowing the fleah te peal off, and, in fact, his idea was to pay all attention to the muscles of the’back, paying a litrie or no atten- tion to the other portiens. Mr. Blakie’s idea is te train the whole body, which he did very effectually on the day of the race. The crew pulled Into line. Then came the tive words 80 well known to all oarsmen— “Are you ready ?? The answer “Yes,” came prima’ then “Go!”’ and offthey went, the Quaker Citi with the long, graceful streke of thirty-seven, the Middies with the quick, nervous stroke ef forty-two and spurts to forty-seven and forty-eight. Before they had gone a length the Middies were ahead and kept itup until they reached the boat—one and a half miles. Here the bow broke his scull, but in- stead of giving up they, by a series of spurts up to forty-eight and forty: ala the the mite and a half with threé oars, the fonz stroke fiyg lengths, This 18 almost proof concla- sive of the supertority of the short stroke. But in opposition to this we have the Tyne crew, who pulled a ree. of six angen Jong slide stroke, and caine iu ahead. Now the only general inference fre can pid is that the slide” is the best for courses three miles and tndei And the Jon; stroke for courses over that. Wonderiu a vate ol skil! come before our notice from time tumé which are traly astonishing. All will acknowledge tbe supremacy of paper shells over wood boats; but in San Franctsco, last summer, a race took place between the boats of the Kearsage and Saranac, which resulted in the best time on record, barring paper shells. The boats were two ip number, ono a barge, the other a third cutter, and manned by fifteen nea. ‘The course was nine miles. They were started at forty and forty-twe a minute, and the boat ef the Kearsage came in, after pulling nine miles, with heavy oars, with forty-one and a half a muinute—time, . 4m.—beating the other beat two miles, ‘This was an average of a mile in seven and one-nioth minutes, or a course of three miles in twenty-one and a half minutes, This does not compare unfavorably with the Yaies, who in October only made three miles in nineteen minutes twenty- four seconds, The pulling those heavy boats that distance isa feat unparalleled in the aruals of boating. ‘Truly the tars were om their muscle. The late improvement of the slide stroke is of great advantage, as it brings all parts of the body into play, where befere the upper Wd of tne bedy could only be used to advantage. ‘The Yales have slide scats; Others use groeve. i ‘The question of centreboards and keel hts has been agitated by D. Sachum and others, but no one seems to have a decided opinion one way or another. 1t is my opinion that Captain Shank made a great step when he invented the cemtreboard, and that Ume will prove it to be the best keel for all vessels. First—Take the advant ina yacht. It is evi- dent to all that a vessel will go about fast or slow in proportion to the size of her keel, and the smaller the keel the sooner she will make her stays. Now, this fe one of the most important requisites of a acht 2» Second—A yacht will sail faster and work easier in every way, as all owners of centreboard yachts will assert, In applying this to ether yessels It is of the greatest importance, as it enabica them to carry Jarge loads and draw comparatively little water. The vessel that defeated the fastest yachts in the world was a cemtrebeard yacht culled the Corning. This zeckh meena te many, achieved this notable victory in Long Island Sound. While cruising west- ward she met @ pertion of the New York Yacht Club, consisting of the Gracie, the Magic, Dauntless, Sappbeand Cambria. The Corning rounded to when abreast of the Gracie, and made preparations for a trial of speed with the fleet. An exciting race en- sued, which proved the superiority of centreboards twacertainty. Every exertion was put forth, as the Corning had so boldly thrown down the gauntlet, but they were distauced one mile in the rum, A sec- oud trial took place between the Coraing, Sadie and Gracie, which resulted in another decisive triumph for the Corning, as she sailed over the prescribed course ol twenty-six miles eight and a half mimutes quicker than her competitors. As the Gracie 13 con- sidered the fastest yacht of her size and rig, having won the Ashbury cup for sloops, the Eastern squad- ron, to which the Corning belongs, have reason to be somewhat jubilant over the two victories. The Corning is owned by Commodore R. D. Tucker, of Beverly, Mass., and he will probably have an oppor- tunity of proving again the superiority of centre- board boats in 1871. Aquatics has been reauced down to a fine point, and the training of a crew Is a delicate matter, as, if the men are trained too litule or too much, there 1s a large field fora break down. ‘Lhe traiming that is recognized by sclentitic men 1s somewhat varie But by accurate and close observation I am co yinced that the plainest training 1s the most effec: tive. The first principle ts to diminish the weignt and increase the strength in the same ratio. To do this fs the great problem of ‘c,achers,” and the; succeed with various reaults. A good exampl of the reduction of welght 19 found in Harry Coulter, who, out of tratning weighs 214 pounds, when in 166; thus reducing himself fifty-eight pounds. It has been noticed during the last season that crews who have adopted the moderate training have proved victorious twe to one. But, as in every- thing else, time alone will prove the correct method, MUSICAL REVIEW. Boosey & Co., Londonand New York, publish a remarkably handsome and elegant parlor edition of Mozart’s opera, “Don Giovanni,” and are about to publish other standard operas in the same manner. ‘The work is @ miracle of cheapness and art. G. Schirmer publishes the following:— “Bright Star of Love.” Romanza. V. Robaudi. A lovely melody, @ heart !dy! in its impassioned mcas- ures, and finished in genuine artistic style. “Pas Redoublé.’ Streabbog. ‘This is the second of a trio of little works for small fingers published by this house. It Js, Indeed, for very tiny fingers. “Ventre a Terre.” Galop de bravoure, Kowalski, Arranged for four hands by Samuel Jackson. Mr. Jackson seems to make a specialty of arranging bravoure pieces for two performers, no easy task either, He does full Justice to Kowalski’s brilliant work, of which we spoke.on a previous occasion, gine the themes much strength and not clouding them, as 1s often the case, with over elaboration. “The Avowal.”’ Duo for soprano and tenor. E. Mil. let. A very charming dramatic scena, which would be more appropriate in opera {han in concert, There 1s a strong tinge of Verdi about it, “Forget Me Not Pong: Ganz. A very pretty melody, with a characteristic accompaniment. W. A. Pond & Co. have published the following:— “O Light at My Window.” Ballad. F. Booth. An exceedingly attractive melody, which, however, has got into the wrong hands, for Mr. Booth gives a very clumsy and Inartistic setting. f “Nilsson Waltz.” J. R. airbank., Despite the amount of labor bestowed upon this work it pos- gesses but few qualitics of real merit, The themes are in general ant ay oe the arrangement of them no better. Ne. Nilsson really sings this Moo vere we think she might be more profitably employ; 5 @ Devotion”? A prayer without words. Henry Mayer. Theme rathex commonplace and uninte- resting, and treatment anything but doctrinal. “The Gray Hill Plaid.” Bcowh song. Henry Tucker. Very good in its line; entirely national. Ditson & Co, publish the following:— “You Know How It Is Yourself.” Song. J. Parse. Very poor, we should say. “White Roses,” six easy pieces without octaves for teaching purpeses. T. Oesten. Nearly every publishing Donse is taking up these littie gems of one ef the most graveful composers in Germany. “Le Crépuscule.” Andante, Sydney Smith. “Over the Hill, O'er the Dale.’ Duet. Stephen Glover. Glover 1s unexcelied in those little, grace- ful, playful dialogues which he invests with much real melodic beauty. “Our Dead Not Lost.” Song. Abt, Mr. De Witt C. Sprague has wedded some exquisite lines to a beautiful melody of the Javorite song writer, “my Darling Wife and J.” Bass Song. T. H. Howe. The words, by O. F. Geary, are far too good for the music, whica is very much below par. “Weary.” Song. V. Gabriel. A delicate little work susceptibie of much expression. William Hall & Son publish, ‘Oh, Hush, Our Little One's Asleep.” Song and chorus. Justine Juch, As delighstul a melody as we have heard for some time. “Alone, All Alone in this Wide World of Sorrow.” The great baritone song in Bristow’s “Rip Van Winkle,” and one that bids fair to eclip: even “The Heart Bowed Down" in popularity, u dust made lip apogarauce, INTERNAL REVENUE, Operations of the Last Fiscal Year. How the Taxes Have Been Collected—Inorease of Receipts—The Whiskey Tax Satisfactory— The Tobacco Tax—The Warehouse Sy:tem—Comparative Receipts. ——— MR, DELANO'S REPORT, We have received a copy of Mr. Delano’s report to the Secretary of the Treasury, showing the opera- tions of the Internal Revenue Bureau for the fiscal year ending 80th of June, 1870. THE RECKIPTS EXCBED THE ESTIMATES BY TEN MILLIONS, The Commissioner saye:— ‘The estimate, sabmittea in my annual report for 140, of the probable receipts from internal avenue sources, exclusive of the dfrect tax upon lands and the duty upon the circulation and deposits of na- jonal banks for He fiscal year 1870, has been more an realized. That estimate was $175,000,000, and the aggregate receipts under the then ting laws are shown to be §185,235,867—an excess of $10,235,867, Beyond estimate - gate includes the gums refunded for taxes lilogally assessed and collected, amounting to $1 , a8 wellas the amount of commissions of c LORS. Drawbacks have only been allewed on penctal mer- chandise, under section 271, act of 10 30, 1864, Mmited by the aet of March 31, Ath, 1 ale and pa- tent medicines, amodating to $5, The amount allowed for the same for 1869 was $377,411. The drawback on rum and alcohol is not considered in this bureaa. The total receipts for the fiscal year 1870 are $186,235,867. The total recelps for the fiscal year 1860 were $160,039,344—showing a net gain of $25,106,523, SOURCES OF REVENUE. ‘The following !s acomparative statement of the sources of revenue:—Spirits, increase over last year, $10,655,197; tobacco, $7,820,000; fermented liquors, 215,847; banks and bankers, $1,084,804; gross re- ipts, $593,801; sales, $630,555; special taxes (net elsewhere enumerated), $819,505; income (in- cluding salaries), $2,984,017; legacie: 427,74" successions, $220,456; erticles in schedule’ A, 24,681; passports, decrease, $6,697; gus, increase, fiona; mourocs not ee, ganas nai as cre 653,873; penalties 3 josive betesey ey $125,333; total increase, ‘sah ginares decrease, $612,7! From one of the tables it ap- pears that there has been @ continuous increase 10 the ree my oxchi? fi poms sane 80, 1869, to Sane 70, auuregal 26,106,623, aud averaging for each month, $2,099,7: 9 yesh uli eS There {s no insurmountabie difficulty in enforci: our excise lawd, aud @ proper regard to the quali cations of revenue officers fer ability and integrity is what is mest essenfial to secure the prompt and certain collection of internal taxes. The empplo y= ment of spies and informers and the poliey of pay- inj ms jerte if they were ever Sel. afe, in iny opto |, nO longer hecessary. Ithink the revenue service would be improved by discontinuing such aids, The oficers now termed detectives should be continued in the service under the designation of assistant supervisors. DISTILLERIES. The number of distilieries, other than fruit, regis- tered during the tast year is 770; number of frult distilleries registered, 2,120; total, 2,890, ‘Tho apirit-producing capacity of the registered dis- tilleries for each twenty-feur hours, as ascertained by surveys, 1s as follews:—From grain, abate gal- lons; from melasses, 24,903; from fruit, 271; total daily spirit-preducing bel emt 910,651. It will be geen that fi the distilleries other than fruit were operated to the full extent of their capacity for a period of ten months throughout the distilling sea- gon ineach year they are capable of producing 203,012,800 gallons. ‘This quantity, however, is 1 ly in excess of our consumption, which is estl- mated at from 765,000,000 to 80,000,000 of gallons, The best information which this office has been able to procure on this subject induces the belief that all distilleries other than frutt are operated ter about six months only, and for that period they are not ran to the full extent of their producing capa- city. The returns to this ofice for the last fiscal Si show a total production, in taxable gallons, ym material other than fruft, of 71,837,009; from 254; frem fruit not yet returned, but esti- 000; total yearly production, 72,425,361 allons. The quantity ef spirits in bond July 1, (869, Was 16,685,166 gallons; remaining in bon June 30, 1870, 11,682,458 gallons, Judging from the information in possession of thix oflce there is no reason for believing that there will be any material falling off in the pro- duction of spirits during the current fiscal year. The plan of surveying distilleries on the basis of a forty-eight hour fermenting period for sweet mash, to which attention was called in my last annual re- port, has been fully carrivd ont, and the results are highly satisfactory and advantageous to the govern- ment, The tests instituted regarding spirit-mevers have not yet been completed, and will be made tho subject of @ special communication to Congress aes 'SKEY TAX SHOULD NOT BR ALTERED. The experience of the pass. yeur has served to strengthen my previous epinion as to the impolicy of changing the law tax! spirits, and induce me to repeat the recommendation in my last report that the rate ef tax ana the manner of its collection be left ag they are new provided for. The receipts from this source for 1870 are $55,531,599 18, already within $4,500,000 of my estimate. Time and ex- pertence seem to declare it to be unwise and inex- pedient to change the law in any essential feature, INCREABED REORIPTS FROM TOBACCO. The receipts for the last fiscal year from tobacco are $81,360,707, For the preceding year they were $23,430,707, showing an increase of $7,920,009. This increase of nearly $8,000,000 has not been spasmodic, but a reguiar monthly increase, averaging over $60,000 per month. Mr. Delauo recommends a unt- form tax on tobacce. THE WAREMOUSE SYSTEM. Mr. Delano details some of the evils arising from the tobacco warehouse system, and recommends that the law be so amended asto allow no goods entered for export in bonded warchouses to be with- drawn therefrom for consumption, upon payment of tax, until twelve months from the time they were so bonded, By limiting the time for withdrawal no goods would be entered except such as were actually in- tended for export, and tho privilege of withdraw- ing for consuwpltion.after tweive months woul re- leve parties who, having entered goods for export, failed afterward to export the same. Should it be deemed inexpedient to limit the time before which permits for the withdrawal of U pate on ihe payment of tax are not to be issucd by the Col- lector, then he would suggest that further authority be given tothe Commissioner to establish bonded Warehouses at other places than t ports of entry, prep such factlitjes for bonditig an equal time be- je fruit, mated, 1 fo) parment ‘of taxes to rwitelees ealers aud job! in manufa tye tobacco in other large cities as are now enjoye! by those doing business in the cities mentioned, where export bonded ware- houses are located. AMBIGUITIES IN LEGISLATION, Mr. Delano calls attention to defects, ambiguities and contradictions In the act of 14th July, 187. He says:—It is believed to have been the tutention to retain all the taxes imposed upon sales of distiled. spirits, wines and malt liquors by the act of July 20, 1868, and acts amendatory thereof, Section 2 of the act of July 14, 1870, nevertheless, repeals the tax upon sales of mait liquors, it was evidently the purpose of section 5 to empower collectors to remit at any time prior to August 1, 1872, all penalties for issuing instru- ments nnstamped unless the omission of stamps was with srandulent intent; but, owing to- a change made in the bill as roported by the Senate Finance Committee, the letter of the law is such as to post- pone until August, 1871, the reilel which was de- signed to he immediate. Section 17 provides “that sections 120, 121 and 122 of the act of June 80, 1864, as amended, shall be construed to impose the taxes therein mentioned to opment 1, 1870, and no longer.”? Section 15 provides “that there shall be levied and collected for and during the year 1871 a tax of two and a half per cent onthe amount of all ine Verest on ida eh or bonds or other evidences of debt, issued and payable in one or more years after date, by any of the corporations in this section hereinafter mentioned, and the amount of all divl- dends of earnings, income or gains hereinafter de- clared by any bank, trust company, savings Insutu- tion, Insurance company, railroad company, canal company, turnpike company, canal navigation company and slackwater “company whenever and wherever the same shall be paya- bie, and to whatsoever person the same may be due, including non-residents, whether citi- zens or alleas,”’ Jt is believed to have been the tn- tention to continue the five per cent tax until August 1, 1870, and to substitute a tax of two and @ half per cent therefor on and after that date; but Owing to the peculiar language of the statute no tax n be withheld trom coupons falling due during the last five calendar months of 1570. According to a recent decision of the Cireult Court, in the State of Pennsylvania, no tax can withheld from dividends, coupons or — taterest ayable during the first seven months of 870, and corporations cannot be required to pay apy taxes upon the dividends payable uring the remaining five months, The hy i to withhold a tax from the salaries of persons In the civil, | or naval service of tne United States Guring the first sevem months of 1870 turns also Upon the points involved in thefcase above-named. The amount of tax indirectly involved in this ques- tton tg very little less than $6,000,000, 1t 1s of such J ate that I have not felt at liberty to ac- quiesce in the decision of the Circuit Court until it shall have been affirmed by the court of last resort. Steps have been taken, therefore, to have the opin- jon of the Supreme Court of the United States pro- nounced upon the questions in issue. GENERAL SOURCES OF REVENUE. Mr. Delano presents a table showing the amount Which it is estimated will be annually realized from all sources of internal revenue, except stamps, after the act of July 14, 1870, shall have gone tnto full operation, from May 31, 1871. ‘Tle total Amount 18 $111,418,000. Estimating additional receipts from stamps at $15,000, there will be a total of $126,418,000. ‘The table 1s arrangea according to the revenue value of the States respectively; the total of this esbl- mate May be increased yearly in proportion to the increase of population, business and weaith, but probably not to exoeed five per cent. On the basis OC thus ytimato the Ave post imogctant Staves, New Pennsylvania and Kentucky, 000, oF sixty-three per cent, of Pe entire receipts, exclusive of stamps. These be- be the source ot the nnn rs can anne ‘under the law of July last, AN COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF THE SEVMRAL GENERAL porecns. OF REVENUE FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1857, TO BRUARY 23, 1860 (THIRTEEN MONTIIS). Spirit ‘$41,078,634 29,827,575 Bales.....+++ Income (including salarte: Banks and banker: Special taxes... Legacies .. Suocessions. Articles in Schedule A. Passports a... Qiicies now exempt. Penalties ... .... Adhesive stamps. oer Total from all SOUPCES: .+4s4isee eves FROM MAROH 1, 1869, TO AUGUST 31, TEEN MONTHS), $32,417,419 085 pt 660 Total from ail sources, 291 ee = age pe ii be! be seen ee ite wtess bh ources: internal revenue for tl first eighteen months of the proventadminist 4 e Sretnte naretad Bose: oF in 1 Sa bseen nonene . d ny Are Lncreased to the amount 41 Saoo, and, fog the same sources of re- venue, the excess during the samo peried of com. parison in favor of the present administration amounts to $101,888,077. In conclusion Mr. Delano says that in retinquish- ing the office he has the satisfuction of knowing that its aflairs ure left in & most excellent condition, AGRICULTURE. Synopels of the sepert of the Coromissioner c of Agriculture, OOO moi! pes WASHINGTON, Noy. 28, 1870, The Commlssioner of Agricuiture, in his annual report, expreises the gratifica ton he feels in repre- senting that agriculiure 4g 12. prosperous condition and pfoductive in a high degree. He saya tt 18 the foundation interest of the country, the source of supply of the physical warits of all classes and the nursery of energy and virtue. Agriculiure is turther equally essential for the recuperation of the leag healthy pursults of life from their waste and en- ervation. The Commissioner also says it is gratifying to believe, from tndubitaple evidence, that the ex- amples of ratienal and recuperative culture are rela- tively increasing, however slowly and gradually they may be making inroads upon the destructive and irrational modes se generally prevalent. These examples are mest numerous in the mid- die States, and may be seen with comparative frequency in the older sections of the West. ‘They are found occasionally in New England, and are beginning to be noted in the Sonthern States, but there fs no State in which exhaustion and frrational culture is not predominant, The industrial colleges under the land grant of Congress of 1852 have progressed during the past year, and the land scrip has been issued in most of the Southern Statea and a portion of ttsold; but the Commissioner has heard of no action toward the organization of colleges, and fears the scrip in some 1 been frittered away by sales at prices, a8 has been the case in of the Northern and Eastern States. Commissioner speaks of steam plougbing, silk cul- ture, couchoua trees, the statistical ‘division, cattle disease, the library department, grounds, &c., mak- ing suggestions designed to be valuable in the future. The number of packages issued during eleven months of the year number 358,391, of whick 133,043 were sent to members of Congress, 7,865 to agricultural societies, 71,400 to the corps of statiatl- cal correspondents, and 7,960 to meteorological ob- servers, The distribution includes seeds of coreala, grasses, hemp, jute, ramie, opium, poppy, sugar beet, tobacco, sorghi m, forest aud shade trees, and many of the species of plants, oleaginous, edible, medical and fibrous, The most abundant and convincin; evidence of the great economic value ef this distri- bution can be obtained frem Whe archives of the re- partment, or gained from the sub-report in the re- Cent anaual volumes.. The total amount expended by the department since November 30, 1860, is $167,175, including salaries, leaving the total balance unexpended of the appropriation for the current fiscal year of $107,370. A MEAN CONSPIRACY. A Leather Dealer and a Locust Swinger ‘“Geing for? a Poor Woman’s Savings. On Thursday of last week Frederick Schultz, of No, 214 East Forty-sixth street, was arrested and brought before Justice Coulter, at the Yorkville Police Court, charged with grand larceny, on com- plaint of Marcus Frank, ot No. 103 East Fourteenth strect. OMcer Patrick H. Larkin, of the Twenty- second precinct, made the arrest, and arraigned the prisoner in court. When the case was called there ‘Was no complainant in court, and Schultz was of course discharged at once. On leaving the court room and on arriving in the outer hall he ‘was there met by officer McWilliams, of the court squad, who told him to wait a while, that officer Larkin wanted to see him, Larkin appeared shortly after and McWilliams asked him if be did not want to see Mr. Schultz. He received a reply im the af firmative. Larkin was accompanied by Frank, but where they had met Schultz of course could not say, It will be seen, however, by what follows that the meeting was not accidental by any means, but wad ‘the resuit of wore YH A DEEP-LAID SCHEME Ng for apurpose not very honerable, but certainly of frequent occurrence. Frank then and there de- mandea of Schultz the sum of $200, and if this amount was not fortucoming—immediately, too—he would cause Schalty’s arrest, It does not appear What coursé officer Larkin advised Schultz to pursue in this iustance, if any, but he certainly did on a watequcut cece fen advise him to. comply with the demand. Schultz, who, for a Teuton, is very inno- cent, was thoroughly {frigntened by Frank’s threat and promtsed te pay down the money at once or give equivalent seourity if they would but accompany him to No. 80 West Forty-sixth street, nstanges nominal many The where his sister, Bertha Lang, resided. Frank ‘and officer Larkin consented, aud the whole ty, including Mrs. Schultz, proceeded directly the residence of Schulta’s sister. It seems that this peor irl had the sum of $300 in bank, At the request of fier brother she placed the bank boek in Frank's hand as securily that the $200 would be paid to him on the following day. With this security in his pos- session he seemed satisfied Schultz would not fail to meet his demands, and with a warning from him- self and Larkin to be sure and see him the day fel- lowing, they separated. Schultz at iast began to SER THINGS IN THEIR TRUE LIGHT, and, after dreaming over the subject the whole of that same night and ta!king abeut it to frau schuits until both were almost heartbroken at the idea of parting with so much money, they broached the subject to a iriend the following morning, aud asked jus advice as to what was best for tnem to do in the matter, He, of course, saw through the whole thing at once, ana advised nim to refuse the payment of a cent of the $200, Accordingly, on the iollowing day, oficer Larkin, who went to see Schultz, was astounded to learn that gentleman’s intention to give nothing to Frank—or, for that matter, any of them—because tiie officer did not deny that he was also interested in the $209, by advising Schultz them and there that it would be “4 BAD JOB” for him if he did not “come down” with the money. Another visit {rom the oficial and Frank also proved frultless. Schultz thought it was his turn now, and at once made application for a warrant for the two conspirators to Justice Coulter, to whom he related the loregoing facts just as they have been ‘iven. The warrant was of course granted, and on Bungay Larkin and Fraak were arraigned before Justice Coulter on the serious charge of attempting to extort money by threats. Mrs. Schultz and Bet- tha Lang appeared against them as wituesses. The prisoners refused to answer any questions, on the advice of thelr counsel, and Frank was held te bail in $5,000, but Larkin was allowed to go on his pa- role until the case Is brought before the Grand Jury. Schultz's story 13 believed to be true. The prisoner Frank is a dealer in leather, and has the reputation of being wealthy. “DOCTOR” EVANS. The Examination in the Geary Abortion Case to Proceed ‘'o-Morrow. The long looked for examination into the merits of the eharges against Dr. Thomas Lookup, alias Dr. Evans, has at last been annouuced to take piace to-morrow morning in the court room of the Court of Special Sessions, tn- ati of the Pelice vourt, Justice Dowling has, notified Evans’ counsel to be in readiness at that time, and the large roem of the Court of Special sessions will alone be available, ,inatead or the Police Court, inasmuch a3 quite a deiegation of victims are expected to confront the wily Doctor. [he revelations expected will, no doubt, attract Uther a crowd of curious spectators similar to the mass whe were Wont to cougregata at the Molare Jwad (la,