The New York Herald Newspaper, December 30, 1871, Page 4

Py Ke NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR, Volume XXXVI.. No. 364 NIBLO’S GARDEN, Broaaway, between Prince and Houston streets.—BLack CROOK. Matinee at 2, BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Tnn Frencu 8! HouseBackK—Jack SHEPPARD ON HORSELAOK, sie: OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway.—Tur BaLLRT PaN- ‘TOMIME OF HUMPTY DUMPTY. Matinee at 2, ACADEMY OF MUSIC, Fourteenth street.— Orexa—Matinee—MIGNON. Perak BOOTH'S THEATRE, Twenty-third hi JuLtus Casan. Matince xt St. corner Sixth ay, GRAND OPERA HOUSE, corner of ‘ts ay. and 23d sh— Tioker or Leave MAN. Matines at 2 AIMEE'S FFE, 720 OPERA BOUFFE, 720 Broadway. —| igceeee ae 'E, roadway. —La GRANDE -BARBE BLEUE. corner 33th st. Perform: WOOD's MUSKUM, Broadway. ences ENEDIOT ARNOLD, £0. nm and evening, — FIFTA AVENUB THBATRE, Twoaty-fourth strest. — Tur New Draxa oF Divonce. Matinee at 13g. WALLACK'S THEATRE, Broadway ani 13ih street. — Joun Gaura. MRS. F. B, CONWAY'S BROOKLYN = Tur TuReR GUARDSMEN. none Laces cdid PARK THEATRE, opposite City Hall vats Poverty Fiat. a eesti omic THEATRE COMIQUE, 514 Broadway.—CoMro Vooale 15MS, NKGRO Aca, ac. Matinee at 234. UNION SQUARE THEATRE, Way.—NEGRO ACTS—BURLES: urteenth st. and Broad- BALLET, &¢. Matinee. TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, No. 201 Bowory.— NrGbo Ecornreicrtins, BURLESQUES, £0. Matinee. BRYANT'S NEW UPSRtA HO. Ni SB, Wa at, bets and 7b avs.--BRYAN?"S etwreen 6th 18, Matinee at 2 L HALL, 685 Broadway. — TRELS. SAN FRANCISCO MI THE SAW FRANCISCO ME NEW YORK CIRCUS, Fourteowm sire%.—SoRNRS IN THK RING, ACROLATS, Matinee at 24. * NIXON'S GREAT SOUTHERN CIRCUS, 728 F, ea SOENFS IN TUE RiNG, Matinee, rere: M OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— NEW YORK MUSE! SCLENOK AND Apr. DR. KALIN" Seirnce anv NATOMIOAL: MUSEUM, 745 Broadway. — New York, Saturday, December 39, asm. COXTENTS GF TO-DAY’S HERALD, Pace. 4~ Advertisements. 2~ Advertisements. 3—Procecatngs Poisoned. tu the Courts—The Solar Kelipse— ‘ by Aconite—Smalipox in Jersey C ity— Advertisements. 4—Editorials: Leading Article, “Our New Legisia- ture—The Speake rship—Grant—Conkling— Fenton-Grecley, State - and ‘sonal intelligence—Ihe Wea- irom Washington—Italian Opera, ‘—Burning Coal Mines—A Lunatic allen by a Rail Car—Amusement Announce- $—Spain and the United States: The Recall of Minister | Roverts and of Captain General Valmaseda—The Prince of Wales: Queen Vic- toria's Thanks to the Nation for Its Sympathy with Her Family; Starting Story that the Prince of Wales was Polsoned—Interesting from France, Germany, Engiand and Cuba— News trom the State Capital—Tammany Hall: Marshalling of the Clans—The Fourth Avenue Property Owners in Mass Meeting at Terrace Brigaie Sree a of the Grand Duke—The gal ‘abach—Miscellaneous Te Business Notices, oe ee 6-The Grand Sachem Succumbing: Mr. Tweed Re- signs the Commissionership of the Public Works; Mr. G. M. Van Nort Appointed His Successor; An Interview with Mr. Tweed and What He is Going to do About it; “The Boss’? Surrenders to the Sherif—Testing Tweed's Bondsmen: A Prolessional Bond signer Under Exatmination—.Another Broken Bank—Amuse- ments—The Harbor waster Investigation: The Case Kesumed Before the Port Captam—The City Deparcments—Connolly’s Case—The Chol- era Tnvestigation at Halifax—Bishop and Priest: The O’Hara-Stack Controversy in Wil- Mamsport, Pa.—Late Suicide in Wali Street— The Pennsyivai bor Conventon—Rapid Transit—A Nice Gang in Philadelphia. 7—New York Legislature—1872: List of Members of the Senate and assembly—A Mercantile Triumph: he ‘“‘Hawks” of the City of Rich- mond Beaten—Harry Bassett Against Lexing- ton's Four Miie Time—A Wuliamsburg Whis- key Murder—Ine Staten Isiand Steambvat Investigauon—Financial and Commercial ke- ports—Marriages and Deaths. ®—Defeniing Mrs. Wharton: Washington, Balti- more and Annapolis in a Ferment; Specula- tions as to the Prisoner’s Guilt; What Her | Friends and Enemies Think; A Peep at Wharton in the Court Room; MeCaiough Slaughtering the Analysis; His Iilustrations vo the Court; Professor Toney’s Spots Not Spotless; The Turning Point of the Trial— Brookiyn Reform— Elevator Accident — Oil Works Barned—Shipping Intelligence—Bust- ness Notice: oF THE SENATE COMMITTEE —Senator Tweed. Av tHe Tat ON State Prisc Reportep ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE THE Princk or Wates sy Poison.—We print on another page of the Heratp this moraing a communication, forwarded us from a correspondent in London, relative to the ill- ness of the Prince of Wales. The writer says that he was informed by one who, he has reason to believe, is well posted regarding the secret societies of Europe, that the Prince of Wales was not suffering from typhoid fever, bat from an attempted assassination by poison by a secret agent of | This organization, | the International Society. itis said, has resolved upon the death of the Prince, and the public assertions of some of its members is urged in corroboraiion of the fact. The manner in which the Prince is alleged to bave been poisoned is given. We publish the story without endorsing it. It seems (0 be the practice now to impute every- thing of a calamitous character to this organi- | zation. No doubt it has enough sins of its own to answer for without originating new ones. Jvuvce Hiron offered to back Van Nort’s bonds to any amount as soon as he heard of Van's appointment. Having bad ample op- portunity to test his integrity the Judge's offer was espocially complimentary. Mr. Tween Comes Forwarp, Reports Procruss anp ResigNs.—The Tweed mystery is settled. ‘Richard is himself again”—that is, as far as could be expected under the disa- greeable circumstances, Mr. ‘Tweed, yester- day morning, reinforced with a large posse of | friends, put in an appearance before the Sheriff, released Mr, Terence Farley from his bail bond, and brought in substitutes to the full measure of a million of dollars security, and then gracefully, and smiling like a May morning, red. He was not out at Green- wich, nor up the Hudson, nor down in Jersey during the two days he was invisible in the city to the naked eye of the Sheriff; but he was just waiting, you know, quietly that bail with bis friends. On reiurain office—that of Commissioner of Public Works— the report was spread abroad that Mr. Tweed | had resigued this important position, and the report, on inquiry at headquarters, was found to be true, and trye also that Mr. Van Nort, of the Public Parke, had been chosen to fill the vacancy, It is supposed that Mr. Tweed will bardly get off to Albany before Monday morning, where his official duties now call him asa member of the Senate; but it is sup- posed inat if he goes to Albany he will not stay long. He bas had enough of Albaay- ae NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1871 Our New Legisiature—The Spenkorship—The Republican Complications—Grant-C sukling- Murphy vs. Fentou-Greeloy, State and National. Our new Logislature meets on Tuesday next, and from the start, between the Grant- Conkling-Murphy vs. Fenton-Greecley republi- cans, a lively time is expected. The great revolution of last November in the city and State has given the republicans, hot only the Assembly and the Senate, but a two-thirds vote in each House, so that, if they are only united, they can pass their whole budget of reform measures, whatever they may be, over the Governor's veto if necessary. The first, and we presume the decisive, struggle between the Conkling and Fenton men will be upon the choice of the Assembly Speaker. There will be, as usual, and we expect this evening, a party caucus of each House for the nomination of its officers, and from present appearances the contest in the Assembly caucus will be be- tween the friends ot Alvord (Fenton man) and Henry Smith of Albany, (Conkling man). Mr. Alvord is a prominent man in our State affairs. He has been five times clected a mem- ber of the Assembly, has been twice chosen Speaker of that body, and has served, as Lieu- tenant Governor, one term as President of the Senate. He isa man of decided abilities, a keen politician, a good debater and an expert in legislative business; but his adversaries say that he carries the mark of the ‘‘Ring,” and that he has been too deeply concerned in the trades of Tammany to pass inspection as a reformer, Mr. Smith, of Albany, is also a man of ability, a lawyer distinguished in his profession, and is aman, too, whose popu- larity has twice elected him as a republican to the Assembly in districts strongly demo- cratic. But the objection which overtops all his merits with the Fenton-Greeley men lies in the fact that Mr. Smith is identified with the Conkling-Murphy men, and goes with them for the re-election of General Grant | against all comers. The republican Assembly caucus will settle this Speakership question, we suspect, in favor of General Grant and against Mr. Greeley; but we do not believe that this set- tlement will be satisfactory to Mr. Fenton, Mr. Greeley or their legislative followers, who have been cut off from the roast beef and plum pudding of the Custom House. In yesterday’s Tribune our chopfallen philosopher of Chap- paqua gives a most dismal howl over those Custom House spoils of which he hag been deprived; and this dismal how! is doubtless intended as the war-whoop to his friends at Albany. The result may possibly be the de- velopment in the Legislature of an inde- pendent anti-Grant republican faction, which will play into the hands of the democracy by making the veto of Governor Hoffman effec- tive. But we shall see. For our new Senate the presiding officer is provided in the democratic Lieutenant Governor, Mr. Beach, elected last year; but on the other officers of the body there will, it is thought, be a stiff republican fight. Mr. Greeley and his friends have resolved to move heaven and earth to defeat Terwilliger for the office of Secretary, and for the stupendous reasons—first, that Terwilliger, under Collector Murphy, has had full swing in the Custom House, and is all the time on the side of Marpby, Conkling and Grant; and, secondly, that he has declared it as his opinion that Horace is an old humbug. Still, it is possibile that the Grant republicans may be strong enough in Senatorial caucus to nomi- nate Terwilliger; and so, in addition to a Fenton-Greeley bolt in the Assembly, we may have a similar bolt in the Senate, out of which may grow a new combination on the question of the division of our city spoils and plunder in the new charter to be given us. Before we can begin to form an estimate as to what this new charter will be we must have the organi- zation of the two houses. No doubi the Gov- ervor in his Message will have a model charter to recommend; but it is not likely that the republicans in either House will pay much attention to the Governor if they can get along without him. apprebend that the Fenton-Greeley faction will ‘‘come out of the little end of the hora.” The “seven great party principles,” as defined by John Randolp—‘‘the five loaves and the two fishes”—are in the hands of the Conkling men, and they who hold the plunder hold the balance of power in this business. Further- more, Mr. Greeley has been writiog another Presidential letter, which will be apt to operate against him and all his followers at Albany. In this letter to a Missouri democrat, in speaking of the Presidential man for the democracy, Mr. Greeley says, ‘I am not the rect in his view of the situation. He suggests, | of the democrats, his election would place all concerned ‘‘in a false position;” and in this idea we also concur. So far, then, Mr. | Greeley does not hurt himself as a foolish old man with the ‘buzzing bee of the White House in his ear.” But when he says to the Missouri democracy, “You must take some man like | Gratz Brown, or Trumbull, or General Cox, late Secretary of the Interior, and thus help to pacify and reunite our country anew,” it appears that he is ready for any move whereby, in the defeat of General Grant, be can secure his great revenge upon Grant, | Conkling and Murphy. Graiz Brown, Trumbull, Cox, Sumner, Carl Schurz, Fenton and Greeley are all in the same boat, and they are all like the fox in the fable, with his tail cut off. In his claptrap of pacifying and reuniting the country by running next falt an antl-Grant repub- lican as the democratic Presidential candidate Mr. Greeley means only the satisfaction of his revenge in the defeat of General Grant. So in 1868, “Honest Old Abe,”. proving superior to. Mr. Greeley’s absurd demands and motions, the indignant | Dhilosopher first tried to cut-Lincoln out of a second nomioation, with Mr. Coase as the re- publican favorite; aud, failing in this, be was | anxious to have Mr, Chase nominated by the democracy, because of the hope thus beld out of having « fuli satisfaction against Lincoln. We, too, think the democrats made a great mistake in rejecting Mr. Cnase as their can- didate in 1868, but we were entirely satisfied with President Lincoln. Now, once more, in being excluded from his choice of the fat pick- ings of the Custom House, Mr. Greeley is ready for any game, any ‘‘new departure” that In the organization of the two houses we | man you need ;” and so far we think be is cor- * | too, that even if elected President by the aid | promises the defeat of General Grant as a candidate for another term. Thus the mighty philosopher dwindles down to the pigmy proportions of the small poll- tician ; thus, in the paltry personal disappoint- ments and revenzes of these small potato politicians, history is constantly repeating itself. Nevertheless, the idea that General Grant has)become disqualified for another Presidential term, in failing to give Mr. Fenton and Mr. Greeley a free run among the flesh- pots of the Custom House, is extremely ridi- culous. But that is all there is in the impla- cable hostility of these and other disap- pointed party spoilsamen to the continuance of Grant’s administration. They want a change, and are ready for anything that will give them a change and a chance in it for the plunder. We shall probably see at Albany this winter, beginning on Tuesday, with the organization of the two housea, some very curious and amusing manifestations of the spoils and plunder projects of the trading politicians on all sides Our -high hopes in this Lagislature may be sadly disappointed in regard to municipal reform; but we are still consoled with the reflection that almost any- thing in the shape of a new city government will, at least for a time, bea godsend of economy and honesty compared with the awful and sweeping wholesale plundering sys- tem of the Tammany “Ring.” Ar tae TAIL oF THE SENATE COMMITTEE on Pustio Expenpirores—Boss Tweed. TrirteeN Years’ APPRENTICESHIP on the Board of Public Parks ought to befit a man for good service as Commissioner of Public Works. Knickerbocker Van Nort has a chance to make himself famous, The Great Wharton-Ketchum Murder Trial. The trial of Mrs. Ellen G. Wharton at the stiff old city of Annapolis, Maryland, for the murder by poisoning of General William Scott Ketchum, has reached the stage of absorbing interest. There is something in the fate of a buman being on trial for life which, in spite of all preaching about morbid tastes and depraved moral appetite, fascinates and rivets attention, This arises from two main causes. First, un- doubtedly, comes human sympathy, which breaks down all barriers and sees in the man or woman over whom hangs such a terrible incer- titude of existence a fellow creature in the very jaws of death. Next follows the subtle interest which the display of legal acumen and move and counter-move that, apart from the fearful details of the crime itself, makes every man more or less a juror in the case. Grouped around these are the intensifying causes of a personal or general sympathy with the slain or a deep horror of the crime itself, which are, however, secondary in the view taken by the public in such a cause cél2bre. Since the trials of McFarland and Mrs. Fair no case has excited the same interest as the present one. The two cases cited were looked on as murders arising out of, distorted views of the marriage relation, and were dis- cussed and dilated on as social questions touching every man’s hearth and household gods. Over the present case hangs the mysterious veil of death by poison, the crime of the Borgia, of tHe Brinvilliers, When a man stoops to poison his enemy the same interest is not evoked as when a woman, under the softer exterior of her sex, becomes the pitiless exterminator of human beings for mere prospective monetary gain. ‘I'he woman who revenges a sentimental wrong in slaying seldom pauses to administer subtle poisons. It needs a cat-like tenacity of purpose, an utter want of feeling to the exhibition of physical agony in others, and, above all, a nerve of steel. ‘I'he history of poisoners of this class shows that where the necessary mental and physical qualities are present the first successful crime is only the experiment on which other more daring breakings into ‘‘man’s bloody house” are essayed. It was no wonder, then, that a thrill of horror ran through the community in July last, when the fearful suspicion first assumed shape that General William Scott Ketchum had been poisoned by a woman for the sake of liquidating a debt at the mouth of the grave. When it became known who the suspected person was, and that she had moved in the ‘‘best society” of the first city of Maryland, and that the principal parties concerned, the victim inciided, were of the eréme de la créme of the national capital, arustle of silks all over the land evidenced the deep attractiveness of the case. Rumor became busy, and it was recalled that Mrs, fillen G. Wharton, the accused, had lost her husband, General Wharton, about four years ago, somewhat suddenly and with peculiar: symptoms. Her son, Major Harry W. Wharton, Jr., too, a handsome young man of twenty-seven years it was also recalled had died suddenly, and, as alleged, with simi- lar peculiar symptoms, about fifteen months previous to the death of General Ketchum. Tbe circumstances surrouading these deaths were either unnoticed at the time of their occurrence or else quieted in the minds that questioned them by the thought that Mrs. Wharton was husband of the one and mother of the other.’ Indeed, in the case of the man for poisoning waom this woman is on trial, suspicion first fell on a domestic in the house of Mrs. Wharton, at No. 263 Entaw street, Baifimore. The deceased had been a warm friend of Genera’ Wharton and had continued on friendly terms with his widow, advancing her at one time $2,600, for which he received ber note, On the 24th of June last General Ketchum arrived in Baltimore from Washington and cepaired to Mrs.- Wharton's residence for the purpose of paying her a visit, bent, it is avetred, on asking the latter to pay him her indebtedness, In the evening he was taken sick, and complained of giddiness and sick stomach, but he got some- what better the next day, Sunday. On Mon- day the sickness, with nausea, came on again, and Dr. P. E. Williams was called in, who found the patient nauseated, pale and weak, He prescribed creosote—tvo drops to a table- spoonful of lime water, and left him, On the next day, Tuesday, he cane and found Gen- eral Ketchum better, On Wednesday he was again sent for, The patient was lying on a sofa, his face congested, ard limbs and arms rigid. He prescribed half aa ounce of yellow jessamine, and the sufferer appeared momen- tarily relieved, At this time a glass was handed to bim containing a white sediment, He tasied it aud experienced an acrid, metallic taste, and out of the terrible doubts as to the true ‘cause of the patient's agony the thought flashed across his mind that the dying man (for he soon sank) had been poisoned. The doctor applied to perform a post-mortem ex- amination, and, assisted by Drs. Chew and Mills, made the autopsy. The contents of the stomach were tested for strychnia and arsenic, but neither of these was found. The stomach and its contents were then handed over to Pro- fessor W. E. Aiken, of the University of Maryland, ~2d, after a variety of fine tests, he declared that he had discovered twenty grains of tartar emetic—a double salt, cons ist- ing of tartaric acid in combination with potas- sia and protoxide of antimony. During the time that elapsed between the death of General Ketchum and the alleged discovery of the poison, according to the evidence of General Ketchum's son, Mrs, Wharton, when applied to for a settlement of the two thousand six hundred dollars debited to her in the deceased’s books, declared that she had paid the amount and had destroyed the note. She at the same time put in a claim on | the General's estate for four thousand dollars, in five-twenty bonds, which she averred she had entrusted tohim. She had taken no receipt for them, she said, not anti- cipating any such occurrence as had fol- lowed. Her demeanor throughout was cool and collected, and such as we rarely can identify as consistent with that of a woman fresh from murder. These circum- stances at once tended to give force to the idea then gathering strength, that she was the murderess, since it pointed to what is thought to be a cause for killing—the monetary advantage—in the obtaining possession and destruction of the note. She was arrested and committed for the murder. The trial'was from time to time postponed on account of the sickness of the accused, but at length came up for hearing at Annapolis on the 4th of the present month. The case for the prosecution consumed nineteen days, in which the evidence, particularly that of the medical and chemical experts, has been of the most absorbing nature. It was proved that the prisoner had bought tartar emetic, to be used, she alleged at the time, as a plaster for her breast. Indeed, one of the witnesses for the prosecution, a Mrs. Chubb, procured some for herand saw her make this use of it. Linked with the case, although not to be considered by the jury, was an alleged attempt to poison her business agent, a Mr. Van Ness, by the same poison. The chemical testimony of Professor Aiken on the contents of the stomach, while strong and clear in statement as to the finding of antimony, left some points open to doubt. He did not, it appears, preserve the actual | result of his experiments, and it was resolved that Professor W. P. Toney, another chemical expert, should make a second analysis. His examination only con- firmed the evidence of Aiken, but he did not hold out on his cross-examination so well, and | became confused over some arithmetical ques- tions put him. It was cogently advanced, too, that he had made his experiments altogether objective to the finding of antimony or arsenic. With the twenty-first day of the trial, pub-* lished to-day, is given the evidence of Pro fessor McCuilough, of Lexington, Va., which advances the bold theory that the colors and substance which the other professors declared to belong to antimony could be produced from the chloral and yellow jessamine administered by the doctor. It would be, of course, premature as well as unjustifiable to advance any opinion on the fate of the woman who, with no other emotion than that of acute interest, looks steadily in the faces of the witnesses from day to day as tie trial drags awfully along. However decided, it will remain on the minds of the people as one of the most intricate and absorbing trials on record, whether we think of the case alone or the high social standing of the personages involved. Ar tHe Heap or A Senate Sranpine Com- miTreE——Nary a democrat, reform or other- wise. Queen Victoria’s Letter of Thnaks to the British Nation. Queen Victoria has addressed a letter to the British people, in which she returns thanks to her subjects and expresses her ‘‘deep sense of the touching sympathy exhibited by the whole nation at the illness of her dear son, the Prince of Wales.” Her Majesty published the communication in the London evening jour- nals yesterday. Jt makes the most touch- ingly feeling contribution which has perhaps ever been given to the public by one in bigh authority over the multitude. The Queen recapitulates, indeed, portrays, the alternations of fear, of hope and of joy which moved the heart of Britain ‘during the painful and terrible days of the Prince's ill- ness” and in the moments ‘‘of improvement in his health.” The popular exhibition has made ‘4 deep and ineffaceable impression on her heart ;” ‘the sympathy of the people with herself and her beloved danghter, the Princess of Wales.” In all this the Queen of Great Britain reveals the heart of a tender parent, of the generous head of a united family, of a true woman and an amiable sove- reign. That heart is grieved, as it is grate- ful. The Queen mourns as a widow while she gives thanks as a mother. The progress of the terrible fever by which the Prince of Wales was so sorely siricken recalled to her mind the fierce and fatal assaults with which a disease of the same class prostrated the strength and finally extinguished the life of her husband. ‘‘She met with the same sym- pathy ten years ago, when a similar illness to that under which her son is suffering removed the maiostay of her life, the best, the wisest and kindest husband that ever lived.” This matronly and peculiarly affecting tribute to | the character of the late Prince Albert will remain forever. The Queen's words furnish @ settlement of a much disputed point in medical science; for she tells us herself that the Prince of Wales was afflicted with a ‘similar illness” to that which took off his father. She says that the fevers were identical in type, and Hor Majesty has had, no doubt, excellent professional authority for the assertion, Thankful to God for the mercy vouchsafed: to her, the Queen concludes with the hove that “ther faithful subjects will continue to pray for the complete recovery of the Prince.” This sentence con- veys a beautiful illustration of the oneness and infallibility of Scriptare history, repro- ducing, as it does, the Centurion—the one in command—prayerful in humility for the restoration of the servant to health, Ar tae TAU oF THR SENATE COMMITTEE ON GRIEVANOES—Senator Tweed. Mr. Van Nort, who has received the ap- pointment of Commissioner of Public Works in place of Boss Tweed, isa branch of the old Knickerbocker tree, which has solid roots in this city as well as on Long Island and in Orange county. A sturdy branch from an honest stock. Wasash—Sreamsnre aNp RaiLeoap.—In view of the excitement in Wall street over Wabash Railway shares, we suggest whether some telegraphic order for a purchase or sale of the stock originating in Boston and di- rected to New York was not the cause of the rumor of the loss of so many lives. The brokers have a telegraphic code of words to express fractions, which employed with a cipher and the word ‘‘Wabash” in connection with an order for the Stock Exchange may have started the whole story. See the reports in our news columns and money article. Ar THE TAIL OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON Sart—Jimmy O’Brien. He sprinkled it on the tails of the Tammany pigeons. AnorHer KNiokerBookrr TriuMpo—The appointment of Van Nort in the place of Tweed. Personal Intelligence. Ex-Postmaster General A. W. Randall, now of ira, N. Y., is at the Astor House, Judge ¥. W. Hughes, of Pennsylvania, is stopping at the Grand Central Hotel. Colonet H. L. McComb, of Delaware, has quarters at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. J. Tillinghast, General Superintendent of the New York Central Railroad is at the St, Nicholas Hovel. Professor RB. B. Fairbairn, of St. Stephen's Col+ lege, Annandale, 1s sojourning at the St. James Ho- tel. Judge A. W. Bishop, of Little Rock, Ark., ts among the sojourners at the Siurtevant House. State Senator W. T. Marrobin, of Vermont, ts temporarily domiciled at the Westminster Hotel, Colonel J. P. Willard, of the United States Army, has quariers at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. J. \. McCullough, General Manager of the Pitts- burg and Fort Wayne Ratlroad, 13 domiciled at the | St. Nicholas Hotel. Arthur Cheney, proprictor of tne Globe Theatre, of Boston, has arrived at the Filth Avenue Hotel. Niles G. Parker, Treasurer of the State of South Carolina, yesterday arrived at the St. Nicholas Hotel. Judge E. H. Rosekrans, of Glens Falls, is stop- ping at the Fifth Avenue Hotet. H. R. Hulburd, Comptroller of the Currency, yesterday reached the Giisey House from Washing- ton. Colonels J. B. Burbank and D. S. Dennison, of the United States Army, have taken quarters at the Grand Central Hotel. Congressman C. W. Kendall, of Nevada, arrived from Europe yesterday. His absence irom home Was prolonged by a severe sickness that attacked him in London. He started for Washington almost immediately after his arrival. THE WEATHER. te 22 Wan Dararrament, Orrick THe CHF NAL OFFICER, WASHINGTON, D. C., 30-1 A. AL Synopsis fot the Past Twenty-four Hours. The high barometer which prevaiied on Thursday night on the Atlantic coast has now very generally disappeared, and the highest pres- sure has advanced southwestward into New York. The lowest barometer contin- ues in Kansas and Nebraska, with but very littie cnange. Light southerly winds prevail in the Mississipp! valley, and rain has fallen very generally from Tennessee to New Jersey. Partially cloudy and clearing weather 1s reported from the lower lakes and New England and the same, with fog, in the Southern and Gulf States. The northeast storm has prevailed during the day on Lake Superior, and brisk southerly winds at San Francisco. Probabilities, An area of high barometer with falling tempera- ture and clearing weather will probably extend on Saturday southeast ward over the Middle and New England States; the 1owest barometer continue in Missouri and Tennessee, with lignt winds in the Southern, Gulf and Middle States veer to southeast, With diminished force, extending to Lake Michigan. Dangerous Winds are not anticipated to-night. The Weather in This City Yesterday. The following record wilt show the changes in the temperature for the past twenty-lour hours tn com. parison with the corresponding dav of last year, as indicated by the thermumeter at Hudnut’s Pharmacy, HERALD Buildin orner of Ann street: — 1870, 1871. 2 3h 32 32 3h emp : 2994 Average temperature for corr last year. 23 ITALIAN OPERA—“TARTHA.” Flotow’s sparkling little opera was given for the last time yesterday evening, before a house that ‘was very full down stairs and the opposite among the boxes. Nilsson’s Martha will take rank with the best of her roles, as sie 1nvests the character of | Lady Heurietta with a minglea dignity and tender- ness that enlists the atiention aud sympathy of the audience. But im tne ‘Last Rose of Summer’ Mile. Nilsson creates an effect such as few artists have ever gained on the stage. To say that her singing of this simple melody 1s delicious would give buta faint idea of the effect, She makes it a heart iayl, and infuses into it all the warmth, passion and wa. derness of her mature, An enthusiastic encore fol- lowed, accompaiicd by a handsome stand of flowers. The Diva then vepeated the song in English with eyen more tnriiliag-etfect than berore, Brignoll, Wie created tue role of Lionel im this country, replaced Capoui iast evening. He was in exceli¢at voice and recetved such applause for ins singing in ihe duer, “Solo proiugo” the lovely quartet, “Mezza notie’ aud tue “M’appari,” taat an encore jollowed aiter cach. In tne last of tiese numbers, in patticuiar, his silvery voice dispiayea all rts oid Sweetness and grace. Misy Cary was the Nancy on the occasion, anu Jamet, as Plunkett, sag the beer song in the third act capitally. The tair scene (Richmond Fair i Engiand) presented a very animated appearance, with Italian peasants, Wat- teau shepherdesses, a Swiss village and Mount Chim. borazo in the distance. A matinée of “Misnon’? ‘will be given to-day, and on Wednesday a farewell periormance of “Lucia.” BURNING COAL MINES, Two Imyportant Virg' Mines on Fire= Great Excitem Among the Southern Cont-Denters; Who Fear a Coal Famine in Consequeuce, RicHMOND, Vay Dec. 29, 1871. On Tuesday last the Bright Hope pit of the Clover. Hil coal mimes ta Chestertield county, about twenty- five mies from this city, took fire from @ furnace below. The dames spread with tne utmost rapidity, and soou tne whoie shaft was one great funnel, miting forth fre and clonds of gaseous smoke. verucki, there were no persons tn the shait at the time, and tere are no other Casualties than that seven mules were Eiled in the pit and barned up, fire continues to rage. there is also anuther similar fire in progress at the Midlothian coal pit, 1a the same Vicinity, which creates the greatest scarcity of iuel ia this city, where there is now a periecc famine for coal, Large uantitics of this coal 1a weekly satpped Nort be- cause of the great quantity of gas it contains, but now the sapply is limited owing to the fire disasters in the mines. The operatives ‘have succeeded In covering the mouths of the shafts on fire, and have gone to work vigorously um tie other ois to supply tue uncreasiag demands, “ WASHINGTON. Manan WasHrseron, Dec. 20, 18TL. Russias Commerce with Auterica—Advance ot Kate of Living im Russia—The Unpaid Con sulates. Minister Curtin, writing to the Department of State, recently, says that during the past year reat in St, Peterapurg have advanced from thirty toy fifty percent, Tne cost of Living, the price of fuel, the hire of servants, the cost of clothing ana of alt the necessaries have advanced in almost equal Proportion, The Russian is now the only langage of Russia. The trade with the United States is increasing every month. During the past summer 25,200,000 pounds of cotton, worth 8,000,000 roubles, * have been imported irom the United’ States, to say nothing of petroleum and other articles, Mr. Curtin says in Kussia it will be impossiole to get Americans to fill the unpaid Consulates, and they are all of that Character but two—tnose at St: Petersburg and Odessa; 80 that unless Congress will repeal tne law our commerce will not have the benefit of sacn oM- Cers in most of the Russian ports, Civil Service Retorm—ompetitive Examinas u Ordered. The Secretary of the Treasury addressed the foe “. lowing letter vo all Collectors of Customs:— ‘TREASUBY DEPARTMENT,, } CE OF THR SeoREraRy, Deo. 187: civii service of the government, prepared by the Com- 9) mussioners on the Civil Service ind approved by the President, wul take effect on Monday next, On and atter that day appointments and promotions in your oitice will be made in accordance with those rules, as far as practicable, It will be necessary to desig nate acommittee of competent persons to make competitive examinations of candidates for ap- Polntment and for promotion; aud until an Biason shail have been made by Congress to: iv he expenses It will be necessary to name a8 com- missioners persons who are already in the se of the government and connected with your office, T have, therefore, to request that you will give me the names of taree persons who are in your opinion: best qualified to perform that auty, and unless ob- jection shall appear your recommendauon will be approved. You will receive nere with a copy of the report of the Commissioners, together with tne re- gulations approved by tue President, which, unul otberwise directed, will be the guide of your com, uct in this busines Very respectfully, i 3. BUUTWELL, Secretary. Crime in tie Capital. Two boys were convicted in the Criminal Court to-day for knocking down a man in open daylight and robbing him of a watch, They were sevenced to the Penttentary. It appearing from the evidence that the wateh had @ been sold to @ Mr. Shea, the owner procured a wire rant for his arrest and also a search warrant forthe watch, Shea was arrested and taken to Police Headquarters, but the oMicers deputed to serve the warrant had trouble. Going into the house they were ordered out by Mra Shea, who, armed with a long knife, ’ and pistol threatened to take their lives, and to convince them she was in earnest turiously struck at one oi tuem, but missing him the knife mit the counter, cutting off a large portion:of it, The ofiicers, being unarmed at the ume, retired, one of them returning to headquarters for instructions while the other remained on guard untii ne received further orders. In the course of the after- noon Officer wWoyle, accompanied by two other policemen, returned to the house, and having effected an entrance attempted to | arrest Mrs. Shea. Sne resisted thetr efforts, and with a pistol shot Doyle, the ball taking effect im his mouth, from which wound he soon after died, bleeding to death before medical assisiauce could g, be procured. [he other two omcers took Mrs. Shea to the station house, where an examinavion wils take place to-morrow morning. Life Preservers. The Treasury Department has decided to here after allow the use by steam vesseis of all cork life preservers adjustable to the body of a persua, by @ whomsoever manulaccured, when such preservers are so constructed as to meet the requirements of rules 61and 94, adopted by the Board of Supervising Inspectors, viz,:—“When made of guod, sound cork biocks, containing at least six pounds of cork, hav- mg a baoyancy of four pounds to a pound ‘ of cork, with bolts and’ shoulder straps attached in such @ manner to preciade the pos- aibility of their being acftaentally detachen trons the body, and so constructed as to placethe cork underneath the shoulders and around the bodies of the persons wearing them.” in passing preservers ¢ inspectors will therefore pay no attention to the list of manufacturers appoiuted in the Department cir- cular of November 6, 1871. Each local inspector will be furnished with @ copy of the above, Tae Departmental Hdlidays. To-morrow will be ooserved as @ holiday in ali the departments of the government, The department buildings will be closed, not to be reopened for business until nine o'clock A. M. on Tuesday next, ‘The Interior Department wiil be closed to-morrow and Monday. The Treasury Department wilt be closed from thtee o'clock this afternoon unul Tucsday mora ing. Tae War Department will also give its employés @ holiday to-morrow, and in all other public offices bere no business will be transacted alter twelve o’clock to-morrow noon until Tuesday at nine A. Me Owirg to the fact that New Year’s Day will be ob served as a holiday the public debt statement tor the present mouth will not be issued until Tuesday, January 2. The Fifty Dollar Issue and the Counters feiters, The report tiat counterteits on nity dolar new issues have made their appeerance 1s nor credited by General Spinner, he having received no tnjucma- uuon on the subject, whue one of the Treasury Se- cret Service Corps, Who bus made spectal uGgury, pronouaces the report without jouadation, T au Year. The receipts from internal revenue for the first f six months of the preseat fiscal year ending becem- Der 31, 1871, Will fall snort of $66,000,000, The estt- mate for the year is §125,000,000, and, with the ad- ditional receipts from lacreased business, it ts, ex- pected the toial receipts iis fyeal year will exceed the estimate (uly $10,000,090, reasaury Balances, ances at vie Close of business to ‘ ‘The Treasnry «S111, 176,085 10,100,408 35,806, 200 Coin certificates. Currency Outstanding. The following 13 a statement of United States cur. # reacy outsianding at this date:— Old demand notes $22,801 Legai vender note: 161,271,536 Legal tenders, series of 1 200226. ohh One year notes Ot 1463. Tis bat ‘two year notes of 136%. 40 52 ‘Two year coapon notes ol 18 35,3024 Compound interest notes. . LL Fractional curreucy, fret issu 4,301,509 Fractional curren 1% 190,709 Fractional curren $7696.608, Fracuonal curreacy, ‘ourth tssa 18,468,075 Fractional carcency, fourtit issu ‘ety 10,020,773. Total,......6 + $80a4Td LTO g Customs | covints. For the week ending Decemver 23:— Revenue Receipts. ‘The internal revenue receipts to-day are $238,920, Total for the month, $9,275,518. Grand total far the fiscal year to aaie, $65,505,036, A LUNATIC KILLED BYA RAIL OAR, On Thursday morning Frank Fatrell, « saitor,* thirty-two years of age, who lived at 2 James street, took @ position om the tail track near tne corner of Centre avd White str and Tor a tae refased to move, Farrell in a oud wae of youe proclaimed himself the Sou ot God, satd te was going to be arrested ior murder, bueglaty aud other ormes, and $0 condinied himself as te leave no doubt in the minds of those who saw him of his josauity, vinuily Parrot left the track, and, tarning almost, insiantiy, ran violently against @ car, In the fall backward Farrell struck on his heyd, aud, veing takon up ine sensible, was removed to the Centre Street Hospital, where death subsequently eusued from compression of the brain, Coroper Young wus noufed and wilt hold au ing uest tn the case a8 s00n as the Witnesses can be procured, It ts supposed that iriends of me deceased Will claia the remains for Waterniente pace si). wv | ” :