The New York Herald Newspaper, February 3, 1872, Page 4

SHERMAN IN Visit of the American Tourists to the Escurial. SPAIN. PRINCE FRED AMONG THE BEGGARS. The Palaces, Pantheons, Gardens, Churches and Curiosities of the Escurial, THE TOMB OF ITS FOUNDER. Burial Place of the Span- ish Monarchs. ROYAL SUMMER RESORT. MADRID, Jan, 13, 1872, I propose in this letter to give the readers of the HERALD an account of the visit of General Sherman and his party co the Fscurial, having had the honor of accompanying him by his kind invitation, In addition to General Sherman, Lieutenant Grant and Colonel Audenreid, our party included Mr. and Mrs, Scnolefield, of Columbus, Ohio, and another Jady, Eight o’clock on Tuesday morning, the 9th, Tound us snugly ensconced*in a compartment of @ first class carriage at the Northern Ratlway depot, It was a bright, joyous morning, and though ‘the sun had not yet begun to shine, yet we felt per- suaded he was going to honor our visit to what the Spaniards call the octava maravitia, or FIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD. The Spanish railroad cars are constructed on the ‘English principle, divided into compartments with side doors, When travelling in a party, as we were, ‘I must confess a great liking to this system. The rains go slowly in Spain, Ours took two hours and ‘a half to do the twenty miles between Madrid and the Excurial, Tvere 1s nothing interesting on the Une to beguile the monotony of this snail's pace. ‘We stopped four times before reaching our destina- ‘on, viz., at the depots of Pozuelo, Las Rosas, Tor- Telodones and Villalba, all of them petty and in- significant “pueblos.” Villaioa is the depot you stop at if you are going to La Granja; but we were ‘bound to the Escurial. About half-past ten we Feached the latter depot and eft the train, There are two villages bearing this name, ESOORIAL DE ABAJO AND ESCORIAL DE ARRIBA, or, in plain Saxon, Lower ani Upper Escurial. ‘The ratiroad separates the two, or rather it blocks Off the small collection of huts and a church called Lower Escurial from the approach to the Upper Escurial, the latter being some two miles up hill from the depot. A dingy, primitive omnibus, evi- dently one of the first of these useful venicles ever constructed, conveyed us up the lull. As it contained ‘only tight fitting room inside for six, and we were seven, Lieutenant Grant pre‘erred to “take his watch on deck.” He greatly astonished the beggars who surrounded us by planting himself squat on the top, Anstead of taking hts seat alongside the driver; and he equally astonished a crowd of more beggars who greeted our arrival up the mill by jumping down at one agile bound, instead of the grave aud dignified Manner in which the Spauiard ever asceuds and Gescends, THE BEGGARS AT THE FSCURIAI. GENERAL, The beggars, you must know, are an institution atthe Escurial. From the moment you plant your Toot in the place to the moment you depart wey mever leave you. They use the most endearing expressions to coax a cent out of you. They don’t call you “Sir” or “Madame,” but they address you as “My dear litte sir’? “My dear little lady J” They invoke all sorts of blessings on you in anuci- pauon. They try w stir up your religious senti- AND BEGGARS IN ment by telling you tbat “God will repay youl) “The Virgin and tne Saints will repay you? All ‘this for an ocliavo, the fourth part of a cent—an “ochavito,” as they call it—that is to say, a “dear ttle ochavo !” Their perseverance is omndiug. If their countrymen only displayed ¢ perse- verance in the ordipary afiairs of iife Spain would be @ aifferent country. ‘Yue impor- tunity these beggars display is something awtul, The Irish are nothing to them. At the | Escurial they swarmed. They attac us on all Bides, as the mosquitoes do “away down South.” } Colonel Audenreta thought the best way to get rid of them at first was to yield to their demands ana give them money. No greater mistake could possi- bly have been made, The news spread like wildfire throughout the whole vbegeing community, and at every step we took we were besieged by tue whin- ing importunities of ragged men, ragged women and ragged children, with babies ad ‘ibicum. They tracked us everywhere—to the hutei where we breakfasted and dined; they escorted us to the door of the great temple .tself; they met us 9s we emerged; they accompanied us to the Palace of the Principe; they watted for us tll we came out; they led the way for us to the depot as we prepared to depart, they even took kind farewell of us on the platform. Afcer we had done sight-seeing and re- turned to our hovel a fresh crowd of little raga+ muffins gathered around the door. By this time our charitable funds and our tempers were alike exhausted. We refused them anyuung. They pleaded, they urged. One of the boldest followed us into the dinlog-room of the hotel. She wasa slip-shod dirty looking girl of some ten or eleven summers, Of course we looked daggers at her. The waiter resented her attempe to poach on his Vineyard by summary ejecuon, As she was put Out of the door Loverheard ner exclaim, “What a shame! hav’n’ we veen waiting for the gentlemen ever since this morning!” General Gherman seemed w me to escape much of their importunitic I can only account for it by their being made aware, through that unlucky act Of generosity of Colonel Audenrei, at the depot, that the gallant Colonet was the treasurer of the party, This system of begging 1s nownere so au- boying as in Spain, and it has US origin not so Much in real distress as in superstition. To give so much a day to.the poor isa duty of religion, and, the duty performed, the Spanish conscience ts clear. Hence tt is that you wil! see the portico and steps of every church crowded with beggars, No police- man or guardia civil ever thinks of sending them away. You will notice the plous ladies, who have been to mass or to confession, always give money to those cringing mendicants on their way out. The ceremony within would not be com- plete if te donation without were with- Beld, In Madrid the beggars were a fearful nuisance at the time Of the revolution. Queen Isa- bella was, tudeed, 4 bursing mother and her gov- ernment a nursing father to them. Get into an altercation with one of them, anu no policeman would take your part. If yon spoke roughiy you were answered with redoubled importunity, If your temper overcame your charity and you ven+ tured to tnduige 10 a little “muscular Curistanity” to rid yourself of them you instantiy found tne pessers-by first aghast and then angry, not at the beggar, but at you, The result was you always came off second best, After the revoluuon the evil NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY. FEBRUARY 3, 1872.-TRIPLE SHERT. ‘Those who did not belong to Madrid were to be sent to their native provincea, ‘The thing worked like a charm. For along time we bad nota beggar in Madrid, save a few who neld special licenses for some reason or another, But at last El Pardo got filled to repietion, and then the evil reappeared, It 18 rampant to-day, thouzn not quite as -bad as it was formerly. The curiosity about a Spanish beggar is that while imprecation fails to move him, hypocrisy generally manages to rid you of his agreeable company. If any of my readers ever visit this country, I warn them against bidding the beggar go to him who is che father of lies, Let them rather commend them to God, “Vaya vd con Dios!" (Go you with God), is the hypocritical form yon must use, all the while your heart ts tempting you to bid them gv to the devil! AT THE BSCURIAL. Ihave said we reached the &scurial at half-past ten and were driven to the village in the ricketty old omnibus Ihave described, We were received with marked attention by Sefior Geronimo Mar- tinez, the chief guvernment official of the place. His Spanish title ts ‘Conservador del situ Real det Escorial,” for you must know that the Egcurial is part of the patrimony Qf the crown, Sefior Mar- tnez had only received General Gandara’s telegram half an hour before our arrival, owing to the bad state of the telegraphic lines. These always get “out of order” in Spain with the least change in the atmosphere, the least “thunder, lightning, half or rain.” You never can be sure of the com- munications twelve hours at a stretch. Owing to the shortness of the notice Sefor Martinez was unable to afford us a treat Mr. Layard and some of the Ministers enjoved last year, namely, the ratsing of the massive lid of the garco- phagus of the great Emperor, Charles V., anda peep at his shriveiled remains, but he did all that was in his power to render our stay agreeable, While we were breakfasting at the old Hotel Mi- randa, which has now been modernized (and not before it was time), the Conservador went ahead to have all the departments of the mighty edifice opened and made ready for us, that we might lose no time when we commenced our inspection, Our breaklast was served in excellent style, with French cookery, quite as good as at Del- montco’s, The only thing to be found fault with was the wine, and that was execrable, Breakfast over, we lost no time tn commencing our rounds, Sefor Martinez accompanying us. The Escuriai was no new sight tome, Ihave often visited it before, each time with increasing interest. Its stately grandeur and architecvural proportions strike awe into the soul, The effect is surpassing on crossing the vast courtyard called the Patio de loa Reyes (courtyard of the kings), and passing up the steps into the majestic entrance. ‘rhat entraace, that vestibule, that church Itself, all seem to speak of the bygone days of Spanish great- ness and Spanish superstition, ON UNTERING THE SPACIOUS TEMPLE, with its organs and pulpits, its pavement of marbie, its lofty frescoed roof, its magnificent altars and imposing choir, or wandering through its now silent cloisters or mounting by its stupendous siair- case to its matchtess library, tmagtination is carried back to the records of 300 yeurs ago, to the days of its great founder, Philip IL, and the vicissitudes of Spain in those three centuries come vividly before us. Every stone, every door, every window in the building, and every tree in the garden outside, seem to take volce and sing eloquent leasons of the past, The family of Philip completely extinct, the Bourbons expeiled and the Savoyard now on the throne he left, all tell of the mutability of earth’s glory, while the vast building by his caprice erected amid the solitude of the granite mountains of Guadarrama re- matos proud and firm, rearing its Idfty dome to Heaven and presenting its massive sides to the storms and tempests of three centuries. THE FOUNDER OF THE ESCURIAL, 1am not going to attempt a description of the Escarial. That would be quite out of place in a newspaper. The only time Phillip II, ever wore bts armor was at the siege of St. Quentin, in Picardy, in France, The violation by Henry III. of France of the truce of Vancelles was the cause of tne war. Philip assembled a powerful army in the Netherlands, which, strange to say, he placed under the command of an an- cestor of the present King Amadcus—viz., Emanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy. The Prince of | Asturias, Amadeus’ eldest boy, and heir to the | Spanish Crown, 1s called after this great warrior, | Manuel Filiverto. To the army Philip had ratse: | his wife, Queen Mary, added 8,000 English, under the Earl of Pembroke. The great battle was fought on St. Lawrence’s Day, and the superstitious Philip, who was more of a monk than a soldier, vowed | thatif he won it he would erect a temple to St. Lawrence, or San Lorenzo, which should eclipse all other temples in the world, While Philip crossed himself and prayed, bis brave generais—the Dake of Savoy and Count d’Egmont—fougut, and after a day of terrible carnage won the battle for their lord and master, When ail was over the Duke of Savoy approachea His Majesty and knelt to kiss his hands. Philip did the only grateful. thing he ever did in his life, He raised him in his arms and said, “It becomes me stools for nis legs; his simple wardrobe and book shelf, General Sherman was invited to sit tn the unkingly seat, and then Sejior Martinez placed in bis hands a dirty folding board, on wnici King Philip signed the Treaty of the Hague. Just before lus death he was carriet on a lifter all over the building of his creation, and then placed so that from his bed he could see the altar. There, on the 13th of September, 1598, he died. Morning service Was going on at the time, Philip's eyes were fixed on the altar and the host, and he held in his hands the very crucifix his great favner, Charles V., had held when ne died, * Inthe Palace they showed us the bed on which Ferdinand VIL was born, and the high chair and table where he sat ana played asa child, Descend- ing some stone steps we enterea THE CHURCH. A8 we did so the sounds of sweet music from one of the organs burst upon us. The Conservador had kindly hunted up the organtat and set him to play- ing for General Sherman's special entertainment. We were shown all over the vast temple, with its nine organs, its forty choir, 1ts fifteen cloisters, its Jasper steps, its gorgeous pulpits. Then we monnted to the altar and sata while listening to some of Schubert's brilitant compositions on the organ, We each 1m our turn sat in the little seat in the corner where King Philip used to sit when he was well, We then passed to the Panteon de los Reyes, THE BURIAL PLACE OF THE SPANISH MONARCHS, This and the staircase leading to it are composed of the finest Italtan marble, The vault is circular, and the bodies Ite on shelves in rich sarcophagi of marble. They are in the following order:—To the right of the altar a row of four, We read the names on each:— Charles V., Philip IL, Philip If, Philip [V. N Carlos I, Luis L, Carlos 111. and Carlos {V, EXT ROW. Ferdinand VIL, with three unfilled sarcophagi underneath his, TO THE LEFT OF THE ALTAR—FIRST ROW. Empress Dona Isabel, wife of Charles V. Vona Anne, of Austria, lourth wife of Philip IT. Dona Margarita, wife of Philip HE Dona Isabel, of Bourbon, first wife of Philip !V. SECOND ROW. Dona Maria Ana de Austria, second wife of Philip tv, Dona Maria Luisa de Savoy, first wife Philip V. Dona Maria Amaila, of Saxony, wife of Carlos LIT, Dona Maria Luisa de Bourbon, wile of Carlos LV. CHOOSING HER OWN GRAVE, it ts said that one day Dona Maria Luisa, of Savoy, wife of Phiip V., visited this mausoleum, and being asked to choose a sarcophagus for her- self, she selected one, aud scratched her name, “Luisa,’’ thereon with the point of the scissors she carried in her pocket. We were shown these leters distinctly traceable on the solid stone, PANTHEON OF THE INFANTES, We did not visit the Pantueon ot the Infantes for want of time; but we were shown over a new pan- theon for them, in white marble, Queen Isabella was constructing when the revolutionceme. If ever it 1s finished it will be the finest collection of underground tombs in the woria, IN THE LIBRARY. Glad to leave these records of the mighty dead, we proceeded to the Biblioteca or library. Here, and especially among its manuscripts, rarely exhib- ited, we lingered tong. General Sherman was much mterestea in that vast collection, probably the most extensive and most valuable in the world. The good priest who has the custody of these liverary treasures took great pride in showing them to us. We found him a man of wondrous learning, a3 be- fitted one who has such lore in his charge. He spoke and conversed with us fuently in seven lan- guages—viz., Spanish, English, Latin, Greek, trench, German and Italian, We parted from nim with regret. RELICS, Time prevented our seeing the collection of relics of which the Kscurial boasts no fewer than 7,422. ‘The afternoon was wearing on and we had to hasten to visit a sinall royal palace sttuated in THE GARDENS, 1v1s called the Casita del Principe, or House of the Prince, It was built just 100 years ago for Charles 1V. Itis most superbly furnished, for a palace in miniature, and its wails are covered with pictures, Here we had to leave General Sherman and his friends, who took the train for France, en rvtéte to Nice, while the rest of our party returned to Madria, COLLEGE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK. Tho Examination Drawing to a Close—The Juniors Alone on the Anxious Bench, The severe and trying ordeal to which the students of the College of New York have been subjected this week is over at last with the exception of the Junior Class, whose examination will be concluded next Monday. Of course it is a source of great reliet to most of the students, who have been unduly ex- cited, and are now quite used up with their intense and sometimes prolonged mental efforts. They are now resting their weary brains and waiting, al- though far from serenely, to hear the results of the examination, which wii be ready in a few days. The Senior Class were examined by Frofessor Huntsman in international law. The questions em- braced an extended range of topics connected with tis Important branch of study, For mstance, they were required to state the basis of international rather to kiss your hands, which have gained me such @ glorious victory!” On his return to Madria Philip set about the fulfilment of his vow. It be came the hobby of his life—the one thing of which he thought, The selection of a suitable site puzzled him much. He wished it far away from the noise and bustle of the capital, for ne was exclusive in his selfishness. At last, after two years’ delibera- tion, he chose the rocky and desolate hilis of the Gaudarrama range, close to the village known as Ei Escorial. The name ts derived from the dross or “scorte” of iron, the ancients having had ex- tensive iron mines im the vicinity. Philip entrusted the plan to the great architect, Juan Bautista de Toledo, ovut gave him many notions of hisown. Thus the building wag to resemble an inverted gridiron, in celebration of the martyrdom of San Lorenzo, who was frizzled to death on a magnified specimen of that useful culinary utensil. Oa the 23d April, 1565, the first stone wastaid, In 1567 the architect died, ana was succeeded by his great pupil, Juan de Herrera. On the 13th September, 1584, the edifice was complete. For twenty-one years Philip had delighted to watch its progress. His seat was a rude stone cut in the side of the opposite mountain, and is still shown to visitor Among the archives is stili to be seen Philip’s “Varta de Dotacioa,” or fouadation letter, It reads as follows:— KING PHILIP’S FOUNDATION LETTER. Prinie, Rex.—Io acknowledgment of the many and great blessings which it has pleased Goa to heap on us, and to continue to us daily, and inas- much a3 he has been pleased to direct aud guide our deeds and acts to His holy service, and in main- tenance and defence of His holy faith, and of reh- gion, of justice and peace within our realms; con- Sidertng likewise what the Emperor ana King (Charies V.), my lord and father, in @ codicil Which he jately made, committed to our cat and charged us with, respecting nis tomb, the spot and Place where lis body ana that of the Empress and Queen, my lady and mother, should be placed; it being” just and meet’ that their bodies should “be most duly nonored with @ most | betitting burial ground, and that for their souls be sald continuaily Masses, prayers, anniversaries and other holy records; and because we have, besxles, detertnived that whenever it may please God to take us away to Him our body snould rest in the same place @nd spot near theirs, For all these reasons we found and erect the Monastery of San Lorenzo e| eal, near the town of El Escorial, in the diocese and archbishopric of Toledo, and which we dedi- cate in ibe name of the Diessed San Lorenzo, on account of the spectal devotion which, as we Nave Said, we pray to this glorious saint, and in memory of the savor and victories which on his day we continued, Poor Prim was @ terrivie victim. I have often walked with him, during the Orst months of the revolution, the short distance between the Puerto dei Sol and his house, and he was a terrible object of attack, His look was stern, yet tney minded jt not, Often and often he declared he would give notuing, out ere he bad reached his home he would have parted with every cent in his pocket. One day, liowever, Prim got more annoyed than usual. The result was a con- Jerence with Rivers, the then Aicalde of Madrid, and @ resolution to rid the capital of the nuisance altogether, SIX mules out of the city was an old palace called El Parao, once a favorite retreat of the Emperor Charies V., but now deserted and lonely, An edict of the provisional govern- ment was issued giving the beggars three days’ notice to “clear out.” At the endof that time Bll found were to be arrested by the police. Those who belonged to Madrid were to, be re moved to El Pardo, and where cared for, received from God, Moreover, we found it for the order of San Jerome, on account of our special al- fecuion reece, this order, and that which Was aiso bestowed upon it by the Emperor King, my father, 4 oe THE ROYAL PALACE, ‘The first part of the building shown to us was the Royal Palace. The walls are covered with the most wondrous tapestries, principally after designs by Goya, though there are many of very remote an- tiquity. This palace has been a summer resort of the Spanish monarch since Philip's time. He had it very piainiy furnished, as he said “ne wished put for aceii in the palace he had butitio God.” His successors, however, did not share his feelings, and they decorated it in royal style, leaving, how- ever, PHILIP'S OWN ROOM just as he had it. It wasso placed that he could be close to the high altar of the church, and throagn @ slit in the door hear and see mass from his bed, We were shown is bath, mis lamp, bia missal, his wooden chair and law, to give the penalties for its violation, to define @ sovereign State, toexplain the laws governing foreign interference, and the rights of self-preser- vation. In addition to this, they were questioned on the extradition of criminals, immunities of pub- lic ministers, the just causes of war and its effects, the rights of war as to enemies’ property, the rignts ana duties of neutrais, and all about belligerent vessels in neutral ports, and the law of sieges and blockades. Altogether there has not been a more interesting examination, ‘The Junior Class were examined in the English language and literature. Some of their yuestions were exceedingly interesting, as ‘give an argument that the English language will become an accepted medium of intercommunication between all the na- Wad of the globe.” Professor Barton was the ex- amiuer, Proiessor Koerner examined the Sophomore Class in drawing, and their manual skill, trueness of eye and neatness were worthy of all pratse. The Freshman Class was examined in Latin, Greek, French, Spanish and German; that ts to say, those taking the ancient course were examined in Latin and Greek. The demands made on both were translations and grammar, They were also partly examined orally. Professors Herberman, Spencer, Koerner, Morales and Werner, and tutors Fabre: gon, Tisdall and Roberts were the examiners, Algebra was the subject in which the introducto- ries were examined, Commerciai arithmetic aiso engaged their attention, ‘the examiners were tutors Sheldon, Sun, McGuckin and Lydecker, THE GOOD SHEPHERD SOCIETY, Anniversary Meeting at the Church of & Mary the Virgin—Dedication of the Altar, An interesting service was held last evening in the beautiful little Church of St, Mary the Virgin, in West Forty-fitth street. The high marble altar lately presented to the church by one of the society and dedicated yester- day morning was brilliantly: illammated with can- dies, and thrown out in bold reitef py the rich, dark coloring of the chancel, formed a very impos ing spectacle. The arched nave, with its cool gray walis and muilicned windows and clustered Wy nts, the worshipping congregation, the rubed priests, the boy choristers tu their white gowns, were®each elements in @ picture very pleasing to ine ritualistic eye. The reguiar church service was invoned by the rector, with responses from the choir, after which the Rev. J. W. hackelford ad- dressed the congregation upon the special work of @ religious life, referring pariicularly to the society whose anniversary was being lolden. “In @ religions life,” said he, we cannot divorcee the internal element of faith irom cae outward pro- fession, The outward profession ts THE MEREST SHAM without the internal; but to have the internal with. ont the external 18 to stop at the door without en- tering in. Weare not satisfied with what is given us here. Nothing but God can satisiy the soul, This opens defore us a Vast subject. It involves obedience to Oprist in His Church. Christ is our example. We are to follow Hia ive in the world. What was that lue? A ie of seli-abnegation of prayer, of good works. He stopped not to ask of color or race or caste, No matter in what form suffering came He was the divine healer. It was the lile Of one Who went about doing good. There cannot be a true development of tie religious ele- ment without works of love and mercy, Hence such societies as the one Whose anniversary we CELEBRATE TO-NIGHT shoula be hatied with delight; a society with the Parish priest for its head and With definite aims and methods. Every work done in the name of Christ, aone for love to Him, 1 directly helping the worker on in @ religious lite. We are bought With @ price, but are we to sit down with folded hands? Your profession binds you to self-abnega- tion and to activity im works @f meroy. We are ever so near Christ as when we are ministering to them for whom Cnrist died. To go out of ourown by sphere into the ilie of others is to learn how The dedication of the altar at eleven o'clock yes verday morning was the occasion of impressive services, The communion was i ead and Selections of Gounod’s nue Mass were finely rendered by THE CHY GOVERNMENT, Loud and Angry Complaints of the City Creditors. COMMISSIONER VAN NORT’S OPINION, The Comptroller Secking the Amendment of the Audit Bill. Estimate of the Public Works Department. NEW ALDERMANIC Resignation of Alderman G@ilsey—Proba- ble Displacement of the Clerk of the Board — Alderman Vance On His Rumored Resignation, TROUBLES. The rumblings that precede a political storm were heard with considerable distinctness around the Court House yesterday, The creditors of the city, who have patiently watted for the payment of their over- due claims, are getting restive, A detachment of these made their complainings neard in expressive language yesterday in the corridors of the Comp. troller’s office. ‘fhe creditors who were demonstra- tive after this fashion were delegates from the Croton Water police, ail of whom had been dis- charged. They had not received any pay since last September, and they had fondly hoped that the passing of the Audit bill would enable them to receive their back pay very shorty after the bill became law. The delegation was de- sirous of seeing the Comptroller, but he declined the interview, and sent Mr, Storrs to try to do the difficult work of pacifying them. The men refused to be comforted; they demanded to see Mr. Green; they said they wished to have a clear, definite answer from the Comptroller himself as to when they were to be paid, They oetieved that there was no desire to pay them. ‘The omy object that the Governor, they alleged, nad in signing the bill was that men like themselves might obtain Peony rellef. Their patience was exhausted. They had leit starving families at home; their children had no ‘shoes to their feet, and their credit at their grocer’s and butcher's was quite ex- hausted, The “pipe” men could frighten the Comp- trolier into paving them and they might as well lake @ coercive course as patiently wait without getting anything for it, After venting a good aeal more of their discontentedness to all who would Usten to them, Mr. Storrs succeeded in pacifying them by telling them that he believed taat they would’ be paid next week. In a conversation that a HERALD reporter had yesterday with Commissioner Van Nort, the Commissioner said Unat the Audit bill gave the Board suiictent power to pay every honest claim against the city. The Comptrolier, however, seemed, for some inscrutable reason, to have a doubt about this, and the Com- missioner was of opinion that there would be considerable delay in paying these claims, In support of this the Commissioner said that he knew that the Comptroller had sent to Albany a bull to amend the Audit bill, This nad been sent by Mr, Green, on his individual responsibilty, and if the bili was entertained by the Legislature the result must be that these claims must remain un- Satisfied for some time to come. Commissioner Van Nort said that as a member of the Board of Audit he was anxious that the Board should act under tue present bill and pay every honest claim. He con- tended that there was no reasonable ground for con- struing any Of the clauses of the second section as Placing any disability upon the Board, in effecting a seitiement and payment of these claims, Any ene deavor to throw any impediments in the way of a ape payment was to unnecessarily prolong the sutferings of those who had already waited tar too long for the p,yment ot their just debts, This is the great topic of discussion around the City Hall, and tis Tast passing (rom the domain of reason into that of passion, Depariment of Public Works. Commissioner Van Nort sent the following com. munication to Comptroller Green yesterday with the accompanying estimate:— New Yorx, Feb. 1, 1872, To THE CoMPTROLUER OF THE Crry ov NEW York :— Siz—Ihave the honor herewith to submit an estimate of the anticipated expenses of the conducting of that portion of the corporate business of the city of New York usually set apart and properly appertaining to the Department of Public orks for the current year 1872 From an examination of the schedule herewith transmitted at will be perceived that for aqueduct repairs and matuten- ance of supplies, printing and stationery tor the various de- partwnents, civil and police courts; repairiag and keeping in order wooden and stone pavements, for meeting the heavy expenses essential to iighting the city (which alone amounte to 81,149,107), aguregates 2,877,107. ‘This very large amount, although less than estimates made and presented for the year precoding, would not be go excessive were it not apparent that repairs on public buildings and other essential matters are absolutely necessary to make the one habitable and the otber prudential as well as finally economi Respectfully submitted, | GEORGE Title of Appropriation’. Aqueduct repairs and maintenance. Aqueduct—New work... Contingencies (Department). Free floating batl Lamps and gas Printing for Dey ; civil Public buildings, construction and repairs. Lega! assistance to Commissioner Public drinking bydrants. . ving obstructions in streets and avenues. Repairing and keeping-in order wooden pavemenis. Repairing and renewal of pipes and stop-cocks, &c. Roads and aven' ‘ For sprinkling #: Salaries for departin Sewers and repairing sai Sewers, cleaning sam Stationery and blank books for department, ‘civil and police courts. vabiatepa Street improvements ns and’ num: bers, resetting boundary monuments....... Streets—Repairing and repaving stone pavements Supplies for and cleaning puolic otic Weils and pumps—Kepairing and clean! Grand total... ... ‘or street The Street Cleaning Commission. A special meeting of this Board was held yester- day at the Comptrolier’s oitice. Recorder Hackett presided. There were also present Comptroller Green, Commissioner Bosworth (as President of the Board of Health), and Corporation Counsel O'Gorman. Colonel Joline was also present, as clerk to the Commission, Mr. Brown, te street cleaner, attended with his counsel, The proceea- ings were conducted in private, and at the close the Comptrolier told the representatives of the oe that the Board had adjourned and he thought it Was useless lor the reporters to wait any longer. Recorder Hackett immediatety came to the reporters’ table and sald that the Commisston had been considering the framing of an answer to the resolntion moved by Assemblyman Healey in the Legislature, requesting the Commission to report to the Legisiature @ statement of ail the contracts made by the Commission up to the present time and all payments made on the contracts, The Market Men and the Comptroller. A deputation from all the city markets waited on Comptroller Green yesterday afternoon, and pre. sented papers signed by all, or nearly all, the stand owners in their respective markets. ‘The parties delegated from the different markets were James L. Stewart, Washington Market; J. V, ‘Tharston, West Washington Market; William H. Hanshe, Clinton Market; Robert Gow, Catherine Market; David B. Reed, Jeferson Market; Thomas Hi. Brown, Essex Market; J. N. Valentine, Fulton Market; John Douovan, Tompkins Market; Mayer Meyer, Union Market; J. M. Seaman, Centre Market, Mr. STEWART, of Washington Market, in behalf of the delegates and the parties they represented, ad- dressed the Comptrolier, and said that the gentile. men whom he represented wished to express the great satisfaction which all the marketmen feit at the commencement of Mr. Green as Comptroiler. That, knowing the wrongs which had been perpe- trated and the uncertainty which had hung around them im regard to occupancy of stands, they could only sayon his appomtment, “Thank God! now we are in safe hands.” ‘The men doing business in Jarge number of those who d @ much larger number in- dire ‘These are all ready to sustain and the Comptroller in the difMcult work, and on whose support he may confidently rely. The appointment of Colonet De Voe was received by them as assurance of what the Comptrolier was de- termined to accomplish, aud 1 seems to them that ag Superintendent he needed to have greater power to control and regulate those Who are appointed to attend to the care of the several markets, Comptroller GREEN repiied as follows:— GENTLEMEN—I can gather from your remarxs the gen- erai tenor of the petitions you bave been pleased to present to mé, and I am grateful for this evidence of your co-opera: tion in the reforms so much needed in the several markets of this great and growing city. You know beter than L do how tiuch the market Interests bave been lovolved from political , causes, It was one purpose I formed immediately upon com-' ing into office that, whatever influences might be brought to bear upon the sub, intendent of Markets hd be one familiar with the condition of those interested in the markets, and one who with promptness, integrity and entire impartiality should inatitute necessary examinations and correct the abuses which bave so much impaired the in- terests of those oe te a hyo arenes on cap. express 1" able! ion 10 eiforta"t bave made are being aporeciated by those The New Aldermen. The announcement was made late vesaterday after- manic body. The Ajderman states in his letter that the pressure of his own private business affairs pre- vents him giving attention to his public duties, It is known, however, that this is not the real reason. Internal dissension in the Alder- manic body is the operative cause in prompt. ing this resignation. There 13 reason to believe that u 18 only a pioneer resignation; that it will be followed Reodiy, by Similar action on the rt of other members, "It is rumored that General Coch- rane will take the next step in this direction. The Board has not obtained that recognition from the Legislature that they had a right Clg ond they state, {rom a body that denominated itself “re- formers,” and they object to continuing any longer in an anomalous position. The regular meeting of the Board i oe held on Monday next, when wn endeavor may be made to remove the present Clerk, Mr. Joseph Shannon, and substitute Mr. Ary Schaffer. Should this and the remainder of the contemplated pro- gramme not be carried out, the probability is that there will be a general disruption of this governing body, and the present ‘City Fathers’ will go back. to adorn the sequestered walks of private lite. The Water Registrar. The annual returns of the Water Registrar to Jan. 30, 1871, amount to $1,162,448 30, those of the pre- vious year being $1,109,634 65, being an increase of $52,813 65 for the administration of the oitice under Charles G, Cornell. THAT TAMMANY sSOclETY The Question Raised as to the Right of Judge Barnard to Grant the Injunction. After repeated postponements the matter of the temporary injunction against tue Tammany Society, granted by Judge Barnard upon the application of Jonn Scott, reached yesterday the stage of a pre- liminary nearing before Judge Barrett, at Supreme Court Chambers. The nature of this injunction 1s Well known, it having been called forth through tne Sachems of the Tammany Society passing a resolution pronibiting the lacely elected members of the Democratic General Committee from holding meetings in the Tammany building. A similar Prohibition, it will be remembered, was sought to be.enforced against the Young Democracy, in which. case, however, the injunction did not hold. The present matter came up on an order to show cause why the injunction should be continued. Mr. J. Vanderpool insisted that (here was a fatal Ovjection to the injunction as grantea by Judge Barnard—the fact that he was a corporator of ‘tam. many Society and therefore a party in interest. He read an aifidavit to this eifect of Mr. Douglass ‘taylor, and urged that the fact thus being set forth that Judge Barnard was a corporator rendered wholly void the injunction, and taat any argument in the matter was useless. Mr. Devlin protested against any such conclu- sions. The Tammany Sociecy, or Society of the, Columbian Order, its corporate title, he urgea was @ charitable society, and that for this reason the objection raised against Judge Barnard was invalid, He enlarged at coasiderabie length on this point, The Judge asked for the reading of the injunction, which Mr. Deviin read, and then proceeded to show that Judge, Barnard had no pecuniary interest in the Tammany Soclety. A reading of the charter was next called for by the Judge, when both counsel offered to read two different charters, each claiming that his was the original simon pure. The Judge stated that it was clear in his own mind that if Judge Barnard was an incorporator he Was incompetent to grant the injunction. Mr. Devlin said be would get a certificare from Judge Barnard on the subject, and asked till next mentey to produce the certiticate. Mr. Vanderpool repited that he had notified the Opposing counsel that he would bring up this pre- luminary objection, and that the counsel ought to have prepared bimself to meet it. Further than this, there was to be a meeting of the Tammany Society on Monday evening, and it was, he insisted, quite imporvant this matter should be settled before then. The Judge gave Mr. Deviin till noon to-day to pro- duce the certilicate of Judge Barnard, when the case will come up again, and probably with the aamix- ture of some other new and interesting pnases. JUDGE BEDFORD’S GRAND JURY. To-day at twelve o’clock—high noon—the Grand Jury of the Court of General Sessions, now best known as “Judge Bedford’s Grand Jury,” will make their presentments to the Court. Speculation was never more rife nor the public mind more interested as to the probable result of the deliberations or this most responsible grand inquest, But one thing may be relied upon, that under the direction, ruling and advice of the distinguisted Judge, whatever Ping rand JUNCTION, wentment they may wake will be made without favor or hope of reward. Judge Bedford’s Gran Jury have proved themseives equal to the crisis, and the law-abiding citizens of the metropolis may rest aasured that whatever action be to-day devel- oped will have been the result of the most serious and anxious deliberation of men having the fair oe ee credit of the Empire City and State at ear THE HACK AND CAB MEN OF NEW YORK. Dissatisfaction With the New Ordinances. A regular meeting of the hack and cab men of this city was held last evening. Besides the trans- action of routine business the ordinances reiating to cab fares and regulations, introduced by Alderman Van Schaick and passed at the meeting of ane Board held on the 22d ult., formed the subject of much comment, On all hands dissatisfaction was ex- pressed with the fares laid down. For instance, seventy-five cents for a one-horse vebicie and $1 for @ two-horse vehicle within the First district 1s the fare laiu down by the new ordinances. The cabmen say tuat owing to the slow travel in that district consequent on the narrow and also crowded thoroughfares $1 in the first case and $1 25 for the two-horse vehicle is the least fare that would remunerate them. When a cabman takes a fare to aplace distant from the stand he may be on when hired the regu- Jations do not aliow bim tw take up on any stand he may chance to be near. This the cabmen regard as a great hardship. A policeman has some charge to make against a cab driver and arrests him, thereby causing the driver to lose his situation—to lose time, at least, and mouey—for which he has no redress, even though the charge could not besupported. ‘Tne cabmen complain of this and say that it would be an easy matter to take the namber of the cab and of the driver and take proceedings, The cabmen intend to petition the Corporation for an amendment to the ordinances, CONFLIOT OF AUTHORITY IN HOBOKEN. A Canal Boat Captain and a Sub-Sherif in Deadly Strife. Atan advanced hour on Thursday night a row took place near the Hamburg dock which narrowly escaped terminating in a tragic manner. An at- tachment had been issued by Justice Volhardt against the canal boat Covel and a functionary named Phiilp Brandtmeyer was deputed to watch the Covel and prevent her exit from Hoboken, Philip had kept his vigils several days, but uiti- mately was outwitted by Francis Sch.oler, the cap- tain. The latter invited the oMctal to a neighboring op to partake of lager beer, and meanwhiie the Covet cut loose from her moorings and wafted from the Jersey shore. When the bibulous officer re- turned with the hospitable captain he grew rurious and throttled him. ‘ne Captain remonstrated, but Brandumeyer drew forth @ pistol and felled him to the ground three umes, threatening to blow off bis he He rudely dragged him to the station house, where both were detained. Yesterday the case came before Justice Whitney, who dismissed the complaint against the Captain and issued a warrant for the detention of Brandtmeyer, on a charge of drunkenness and assault and battery. ‘The accused Was informed that the Captain had @ right to throw him overboard, and was held to ball to answer. THE SPIRITUALISTIO CASE. The examination m the case of Thomas Perry Sproul, who was accused of stealing a gold watch and chain from a Mrs, Fuiler @ short time since, the facts of which have already appeared in the HERALD, was finally disposed of by Justice Fowler, at the Jefferson Market Police Court, yesterday. The tI the evidence pi ihe examination’ ttlere were hot sufficient grounds for warranting him in holding the prisoner tor trial. Sproul was accordingly discharged, and left the ourt room accom} @ noas of iriends, who deeply MS Cy ‘on account of the bad Tarra et 9/05 wi he had been associated THE JERSEY OLIGARCHY. The Most Oppressed City in * the Union. What It Has Cost Jersey City for Surveying an& Engineering—Twenty-five Per Cent More than New York Under Tammany—A Start- ling Exhibit—The People Aroused— First Mutterings of the Storm. It would appear that the reckless extravagance of the oligarchy who have set aside all semblance of government by the people in Jersey City has no Mmit. The exposures heretofore pablished in the HBRALD were sufficiently startiing to claim the at- tention of the press throughout the entire country. But the following exhibit 18 far more startling thaw any that hasyet appeared. Jersey City can here- after claim the distinction of being what ‘Artemas Ward would call the ‘most’? surveyed city tn thé world. The figures here given form a @ statement of the Department of Surveying and Engineering for the year commencing Feb- ruary 1, 1871, and ending February 1, 1672. Excepting ten or eleven weeks of that period the: city has been at the mercy of the oligarchy force@ on the people by a republican Legislature as muni- cipal rulers, and usurping all the functions of local government by virtue of what is known as tae Bumsted charter, It is hardly necessary to remind! the reader that NO PARALLEL for this state of things, taking the subjoined estimate as acriterion, can be found in any city in the entire world, not excepting New York. Tammany hae not approached this estimate suficientiy near te establish a comparison. The HERALD representa- tive had to encounter diMiculties almost insurmount- abie to complete this investigation. Tao Board Public Works has never pub lished any statement of the expenses of this department, and. never will. But the disclosures: which they fear are here presented sorely againsé. their will, for every obstacle was thrown on the path of inquiry, The, meetings of the bourd fave been recently held in STAR CHAMBER, and all records of the proseenings Rave been cares fully locked up for the inspection only of these within the “Ring.” Since the Grand Jury session commenced the clerks in the various departments’ of the city government have been kept at work night and day revising the accounts and correcting, the records which will be exposea to the scrutiny ofthe grand inquest, For the reasons given the figures are an approximation to tne actual amount, 8 few items Leing omitted, so that this estamate falls Short of the gross expenaiture:— Joha P. Culver, Chief Eugineer, assistance, draugbismen, &C..... $22, 144/ Mallory and Miller, City y 6,480 W. W. Miller (of the above firm). 58, 849 F. J. Mallory, do.. 4,339 John W. Soper. 84,430 N.G. Vreeland 34,035 Cornelius Vreeland. . W. Ruggles J. Camp, Jr. Levi W. Post, W. W. Vi P. O'’Beirne, TOUAL ....ccecsereesees eeceseeens COMPARISONS ARE ODIOUS. Itis probable that the accurate amount reachea the round sum of $300,000, But taking the figures at @quarter of a million dollars the amount ta twenty-live per cent im excess of the greatest ap- propre ae ever made in any one year by Tamman, for a similar purpose in the city of New York. It is five times as large as any expenditure for sur- veying and engineering in any other city in the Union, Cincinnatt has a population three times as large as that of Jersey City, and yet a storm of in- dignation was recently raised in that city by an ate tempt of the city authorities to appropriate the sum of $45,000 for surveying and engineering—@ som only the sixth part of that levicd on the plundered municipality of Jersey Citv. A prominent surveyor and engineer, of unques- tioned ability and extensive experience, pro to transact the entire business of the deparumel for $25,000 per annum, and this includes the salaries of assistants, rent of offices, and, in short, all con- tingent expenses, And ret the people are plan+ dered 01 @ quarter of a miilion of dollars, mereiy TO ENRICH A FEW, withont any equivalent being rendered. Several of those mentioned in the foregoing list are ite young men, who commenced business only during. the past year. The entire department is a monopoly in the hands of a few Bergen families. Two other surveyors mentioned came lo Bergen about fourteen. years ago, and since the rise of the Bergen Ring, Which is now merged into the Bumsted Ring, or government of the city, they nave AMASSED LARGE FORTUNES. The foregoing figures will be presented to the Grand Jury on Monday by Mr. O’Beirne, a surveyor and enginéer, who has been summoned in relation thereto. Another surveyor, Mr. Bacot, gave his testimony a few days ago. ‘The only remedy for the taxpayers in the future lies in the cnarter amend- ments sent to Trenton oy the Citizens’ Reform Asso- ciation. The surveying and engineering depars- ment should be held by contract and be awarded te the lowest bidder on furnishing bonds specified by law. ‘The quaiifications of the surveyor snould not be left vo the examination of any “ring’’ whatever. It 1s a matter of little wonder that an outr: people should raise such an outcry as that heard at every public meeting in reference to the city gov- ernment in Jersey City. At the meeting on Thurs- day night in Washington Hall Mr. Fitzpatrice warned the District Attorney that the people would not be satisfied if any of the indictments found oy the present Grand Jury shoula be PIGEON-NOLED. Mr. James M. Brann called on the Committee on Legislation to inform the lawmakers at Trenton that if the people of Jersey City should be sold out, ag they were last session, by their so-called representa- tives, and that the Legislature should again be deaf to the remonstrance of the people, the latter should vere regard all the laws suspended in their regard, an 4 LAMPPOST REVOLUTION would take its place. Mr, William Harney also spoke in very denunciatory terms of Asset men who filled their pockets at the people during the late session. Applying the de- cision of the Supreme Court of Michigan as quoted by Mr. Fleming to Jersey City, the people of the latter are in a far lower state of subjection than when the great revolution arose which ended in the establishment of self-government. This cardinal principle of self-government is to the people of Jersey City a thing of the past. NOT A DEFAULTER. Collector Mulford, of Virginia, ‘Wrongly, A cused of a Deficit of $14,300. RICHMOND, Va, Feb. 2, 1872. Some time about the middle of December last there was published in the HERALD from your Wash- ington correspondent a list of defaulting internal revenue officers. This statement was full and em- braced not only actual defaulters; but many ex- revenue officers whose accounts With the Depart- ment had not been settied up. It was called for by a resolution of Congress which was mtended to find out all the revenue oMcers connected with “rings'? and who were real defaulters; but it succeeded in accomplishing a great deal more than it designed; for in the published statement the names of a iarge number who were not de- faulters appeared. Amoi these I find the name of neral John Muiford, formerly United States Commissioner of Exchange and late Collector of Internal Revenue for the Third district of Virginia, against whose name the sum of $14,300 is set fortn as the amount for which he is a de faulter, and the oMcial statement published in the HERALD d_ extensively copied ‘in other papers dves bim an injustice, as the following letter from the Commissioner of Revenue at Washington will show:— TREABURY DEPARTMENT, OFFIOR INTERNAL Ri WAsHINGTON, Jan. 16, Ti Sin—In revard to the statement made to Remy oy, Department, showing a balance of internal Rev accoul ced eae books Stescuingiy the publication, as in many tn- ‘it was taken advantage of by persone rae bose acant Saatt a ment OUgD Ore epation 7a recard to qt thatthe ‘Secreta Con Very respectfuil; ide in easing Pont y Tate Collector of Taterual Norns J. E. MULFORD, of tn vente, retiassirian, Richmond, Va, STREET CAR ACOIDENT, About ten o’clock yesterday morning 4 man named Morris Levy was knocked down by a Fourth avenue car, and his little daughter, whom he carriea tn hi " arms, was sertousiy hart. Levy had left a Th avenue car, and was in the act of crossing the street when the Fourth avenue car No, 44 struck him and Tan over both tatherand child. The litte giri’s legs ‘Were cut Off, one above and the other below the knee, and the surgeons at Bellevue Hospital, where she was conveyed, are under the im, j1on that ane y survive the injuries. Mr. Levy us also dangerously hurt, When the accident occurred and ran away. The the driver jumped off tne car ; in suit of x