The New York Herald Newspaper, December 8, 1873, Page 5

expectation was entertained that, at some fature day, it Would be ceded by her, Such are, in part, Lhe olficlai manifestations as made by the United States cp this occasion and now existing on file im the State Department at Washington, In Jact, the administration of the government Was then controlied by slave power, and the Andependence of the island, upon the base of abolition, was not regarded in keeping witn 1ts interest, and the preservation of the colony to , Spain was preterred, Some years Jantar, from 1848 tO 1850 and 1854, the government of the United States, controlied’by spe slave interest, took some steps ‘in favor of the annexation of the island, The Southern States saw with alarm the grow- ing influence and increasing development of Northern principles, and out of this grew this movement tor annexation. The Cubans, though they have always been Inclined to substi- ‘vute Iree labor jor slave, accepted the propositions made to them favoring their insurrection, and on the 4th of July, 1850, the most select part of Camaguey took the fleld; but as their chief, Joaquin Aguero, was & recognized abolitionist, who had scandalously freed all his slaves, the movement was not efficaciously favored by the South, as promised, and it tailed, resulting in tho execution of many victims. In 1854 another annexa- tion scheme was presented in the slave interest. General Quitman, of Mississippt, was to command a formidable expedition, ‘Lhe conspiracy was dis- covered, and Pinto and several others were exe- cuted by the Spaniards, Tne interest of the domi- nant party lay in the acquisition of the Gem of the West Indies, to be divided into three States, to add to the influence of the South; dnd if this scheme aid not succeed it was because France and Eng- laud intervened in the matter, proposing Lo the United States THE TRI-PARTITE ALLIANCE to guarantee to Spain the possession of Cuba. It is true this nation then declared that it considered the question an American one and that it would never engage itself to any line of conduct in the future regarding the island, But, nevertheless, it was compelled to postpone its annexation proj- ects, Which were at the same time opposed by the republican party. Such has been the interest of ie United States in relation to the Cuban ques- 400. Second—W hat is now the interest of this nation? When the American civil war brought about 4g a trophy of victory to the North the abolition of slavery the government changed entirely its funcamental basis. It had no further reason tor desiring the preservation of the island in the power of Spain or to accomplish annexation with Slave labor. Spain, instead of being a nation with- out @ navy, as it was in 1826, had become a mari- time Power. Cuba, instead of being, with her blaves, a pleasant picture tu,yne United States, be- came a monument of their own past ignomimy that they could not tolerate at their own doors— and this, even though the island remained faithful to the Crown of Spain. Tite Cubans, as has been so often repeated, in 1868 took to the fleld to gain their independence. They took possession ola large portion of the island, and trom the very beginning eclared free all O1 its inhabitants. The new Republic was in accordance with the regenerated Repubiic of the northern Continent. At this moment this nauoa was compelled to look to its interest in the question, and it appears the govern- ment thought it had found it in the propositions made by Mr. Sickles to the Cabinet of Madrid, If it is true that those propositions were for the Cubans to purchase the island from Spain, with the guarantee of the United States, it is to ve sup- posed that they would be advantageous to tne Ubree contracting parties. But Spain did not accept them, though she employed the diplomatic arts re.erred to, and such a@ solution should bave been abandoned. Was it the interest of the United States after that to preserve the statu quo, tat the horrors of the war should be continued, tue natives not being allowed to arm themselves? This ‘Was in some respects the interest of Spain, but certainly not that of the United States, it appears that the United States—abandoning the Cuban question to itself and without reference to justice—thought it was their interest to retain their connection with the slave power of Cuba as long as possible. Tue recognition of Cuban belligerency would produce a declaration by Spain of the blockade of the istand, and, as a conse- quence, the right of the Spaniurds to search American yessels according to the treaty of 179: this, of course, was @ bad prospect for the com- merce sustained with the slaves power. Maybe it was considered that the continued arrival of sugar and tobacco from Cuba, paying {ts high duties, amounting to several millions of dollars, Pee pioteraple to any other solution for the pre- en It is true that such commerce grew out of slave labor, and that the United States have made it ap- pear that they desire the abolition of such labor in Cuba and everywhere; but the question of slavery could be treated diplomatically, and extended through an indefinite period, the United States meunwhile deriving all the advantage trom such trafic and frum the duties on such articles, mhougs the Cubans, notwithstanding the course of the United States, persisted in imitating the founders of the great nation who fought tor inde- pendence, nothing could be done which would chadge the retauon of the ccuntry to such slave power, * * * ‘the an cersigned will not say that this policy has been adopted by this governmeut; but, not know- ing its profound views, 1t would seem to havo ie- arded the best interest of the United tates enhanced by it. Be this as it may, the events of the past five years, the horrors of every description witnessed by the civilized world and the oft-repeated insuits to Americans aud the American fag which have brought this nation to the eve of declaring war against Spain, tend to show that it was uot # pol- wa in the interest of the United States. it were usciess to actempt to show that the inde- pendence of the island and aciuse- ALLIANCE WITH THE UNITRD STATES would increase enormously the wealth and pros- perity of this nation, It is true that the income derived from the duties paid on the sugar and to- bacco imported into this country from there Would cease entirely; but it 1s also true—as ig reported to have been said by the intelligent head of the finance department of the govern- ment—that tne internal revenue accruing from ‘these articles, especially the tobaccu, would mere than compensate lor this loss. It_ia very easy to comprehend, moreover, that, with the abolition of the custom houses in Cuba or—if, unhappily, this measure should be considered too progressive—the suspension of the export duties on these commodities and the reduction on the import duties there imposed upon the sup- plies and machinery required by the planters would result in an immense saving to bota these pasen and the merchants in the United States. ‘his would more than recompense the former for the losses consequent on passing Irom slave to free labor, while the latter would find their remunera- tion in the increased profits on their wares, thus relieved of the onerous duties now impused upon them. At the same ume, Cuba would become a market fora large number of exports {rom this country Which are Dow shut out irom the isiand by the bigh duties imposed, in order that they may not compete with the productions of the Penmsula, And, in adaition, many branches of American industry, which, through the :retro- rade policy of the Spaniards, are now also shut out ‘om the Antilles, would then find there an exten- sive patronage. Even sugar would be exported from this country to Cuba, coming from there as a raw material, and sent back aiter the process of Betining, so extensively carried on here. That country is peculiarly an agricuitural one, aud all the industrial arts of this Republic would, in the changed condition which has been referred to, find in her a liberal and continuous patron. It is not aimcult to prove that the United States were im- mensely benefited by the acquisition of California, and it is sale to say that Cuba, allied to the Re- public, would show equal, if not far greater re- sults. These undeniable facts being borne in mind, it seems that the interest of the | United States, at the breaking out of revolution was to favor, at least morally, the Cubans in their eforts to become independent. Moreover it is not a contemptible matter to accept, rather than decline the syinpathy aud good will of a@ neighbor proffering them. Those great nations who ave been destined by Providence to extend | their superior civilization over the lesser States around must appeal to the.elements of sympathy and attraction in tne periormance of their great duty, and not rely only upon the power of arms. 1tseems that it would have been more easy for the United States to extend its moral support to the Cubans, a8 the great American people enter- tained sentiments favorable to them. The Amert- can government has maintained, in an official note, that certain acts involved the logical con- clusion of a recognition by Spain of a state of war mm Cuba, Spain has periormed such acts, and so it must be concluded such war exists. ‘The recog- Nition of this war by Spain should be followed py the recognition of it by the United States and a declaration of fts neutrality therein, Tis would be sufficient, and this only will free America of the ignominious presence of the never-wearyiug inure lerers who have established themseives in that wealthy und beautiful isiand. ‘This would increase the glory and wealth of this great nation, The Cubans await the decision of thé American governinent at this critical moment. Lf it isin fa- vor of justice, humanity and freedom, they wiil bow in gratitude to Providence, acting in conform. ity to the sacrifives already made. If in javor of the maintenance of the present condition of amairs they shall continue to the end in the struggie in which they have so long, und ut the cost of so much blood und treasure, been engaged. Supposing that the impending confict be averted, tne pro-siavery party—that is to say, the native Spaniards established in Cuba—consenting at last to the restitution of the Virginias, the sur- render of the surviving passengers and crew, the indemnification demanded and the salute to the American flag, what would be the result of the continuation of the present policy of the United States of not recogaizing the siute of war existing in the island? ‘This question must de considered in the light of the facts so clearly stated by Your Excelien your Message. In that document it 1s recognized that in Cuba, besides the forces of the government ‘of Spain, there exists what is called the insurrec- tion of Yara and the prossiavery party, the latter being “an element,” says Your Excellency, “op- posed to granting any relief from misrule and abuse, with po aspirations alter freeduia, com- manding no sympathy tn generous breasts, aiming to rivet still strooger the shackles of slavery and oppression,” Such aneiemenut, which ‘has seized Many of the emblems of power in Cuba, js still a power in Madrid and recognized by the govern- rent.” Accepting those premises, baxed as they are upon facts, it is seen that the government of ward is ip realityan accoinplice of the aboiminae tions committed by such power im Caba, And can | aw Lment wich 18 an accomplice of those NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1873—TRIPLE SHEET. sented by Your Excellency? According to the words of Your Excellency the interest of hu- manity, civilization and of progress demands that the “evil influence o! the siavery party” relerred to “may be averted.” As this party constitutes an arwed organization, which not only controls the Spanish government in Cuba but in Madrid as well, is it possible to avert it, and speedily—as is hoped by Your Exceliency—without the force of arms? It is not; and, consequently, the only possible way of accomplishing the desired result is to give the native population of the island, composed of the more enlightened, wealthy aud progressive peopie—a people whicn, wanting foreign aid, has shown itself stronger than any other people which has struggled for independence—at least recognition of belligerency, which they have been asking for through five years, that they may sweep from the face of the i8iand those men and the government which are soiling it with their crimes, Whli the volumes of the Secretary of State and his dignified and amicable notes to the government of Madrid upon liberal principles and the abolition of slavery extinguish the power ol this elementin the island ? Certainly not. And there remains no otuer course than the one demanded by the great American people, ‘The undersigned, in the name of the government Which he has the honor to represent, anucipates the expression of his gratitude to the government of the United States, For it 18 impossible to suppose that the high- minded statesmen of the Great Republic have de- termined upon a status quo, which will leave the Cubans unable to obtain their independence though want of the requisite arms and materials— the Spaniards at the same time unable to suppress their efforts—until both parties become so weakened that the island-will fall an easy prey to the govern- ment they represent, This would be far more ferocious and cruel than the conduct of the Span- ish Volunteers of Havana, which is s0 much de- precated by the civilized world. No Machiavelian policy ever adopted in the history of mankind could be compared with this, No; it wouid be un- Just so to insult the high and Christian members of the American government, Your Fxceliency’s obedient servant, M. QUESADA. New York, Dec. 4, 1873, THE POLARIS. The Heroes of the Ice Floe—Their Appeal to Congress for Payment for Shattercd Health—Senator Sumner’s Aid In- voked—What the German Government Did for Their Arctic Explorers. A mecting of five of the crew of the Arctic ex- ploring sip Polaris was held yesterday morning at Mr. Smith’s sailor boarding house, No. 59 West street, to take steps toward petitioning Congress to give extra compensation for loss of health to the men who had miraculously escaped on the ice floe after undergoing terrible privations, The meeting was called to order at noon by Captain John Morrison, of South street, who was elected President, this gentleman having shippea the crew by orders of the Secretary of the Navy and the Jate Captain 0, F. Hall. After taking the chair Captain Morrison made the following address :— I pledge myself to do all I can to help you, in furthering your claims upon Con- gress, lor extra compensation; for I teel that you have honestly earned it by your good conduct - and oravery. Itisan old saying, and a true say- ing, that republics are ungrateiul; but I trust that the United States goverment will take it into consideration your shattered healths and the fear- ful hardships you have undergone in benali ot the scientilic kKne Wiedge of thiscouutry, When I en- gaged you to go to the Polar regions you agreed to go for $25 a month, and signed shipping articies to Temain by the ship, or to go on sledging parties, and to remain absent for five years irom this coun- try, if necessary. Captain Hall explained to me and I repeated It to you that the’ wages stipulated Were a mere matter of jorm,and that il you rendered important services to the government you would be handsomely recompensed, I belfve that Con- gress wil not dispute the justice of your claims; jor you have done good work, and carried our Starry flag to 82 degrees north ltifude, You all shipped on the understanding that you were to be rewarded if successiul, (‘That's so,” from sev- eral voices.) THE MEN OF THE NORTH GERMAN POLAR EXPE- DITION, who went out to the Arctic regions, were paid off with a gratuity of 1,000 thalers in goid to each man, and | hope this country will do at least as handsomely by you; lor that expedition was un- successful, and none of the men rematned—as you all present did—for 196 days on the ice foe, with death staring you in the face hour by hour. Several of your num- ber have been permanently injured in your health, by sufferings endured on the ice. In com- plance with your request, I shall put myself in communication witn Senator Sumner, Senator hhoar and other Congressmen who advocateil the grant of public tunds for the Polaris expedition. r. Henry Grinnell, the great enthusiast for tne discovery of tne North Pole, and friend of Lady Franklin; Mr. Brevoort, the eminent engineer, both ot which gentlemen were intimate triends of our respected triend, the late Captain Hall, wiil also, L feel sure, do what they can for you. In conciusion, I nave only to say that @ petition to Congress shail be drawn up, with the kind aid of Mr. Grinnell, to set forth your ciaims upon the country. Ihad a long taik with Captain Buddington a few days back, who spoke of the services rendered by you all in the highest terms, REPLY OF MR. G. W. CRUGER, CAPTAIN MORRISON AND ComkADKS—On bebalf of My mates let me say afew words. What you say about extra pay being promised to us, if we were successful, is quite true. In August, 1871, in lati- tude $2, alter divine service one Sunday, Captain Hall told us that he felt sure Congress would act generously towards us, and said that he thought we might rely on w gilt of several thousand dol- lars. He said thivto us several times, as can be attested by ali the oificers and crew; and he also remarked that if we were forced to return then and there to the United States we need not be ashamed of what had been accomplished. You never thought when you engaged us on the 5th of June, 1870, jor five years’ active service that $25 a month would recompense us ior trying to navi- gate the Polaris to the Pole, did you, Captain Mor- Tison ? Captain MORRISON—NO, I trusted then, and do | now, that you will receive a gratuity. Mr. Cruger—If the German goverhment paid their exploring crew, which only got to 76 latitude, $1,000 gratuity, I think Uncle Sam might at least do the same to us, All of us present suffered cruelly in the 196 days we were on the ice foe; nearly all of us here are racked to the present day by rheumatism, which we caught while drifting in ‘Polar waters, nOl KnOWiIng how many minutes we had to live, and drinking blood from seals and eat- ing raw seal flesh, Every moment we apprehended we might be separated from our party, by the ice breaking, and when I think ot the darkness and terrors through which we passed, it seems a won- der to me that we are now in the land of the liv- ing. A quarter of @ pound of Jood a day does not put much soul into a man, | can tell you, and so can my mates, We all look upon Esquimaux Joe as Our saviour, alter God, and | hope that if Congress thinks fit to give us anything the biggest sum should go to “Old Joe.” We once wrote a letter to Captain Hall thanking him tor nis kindness to us all, to whicit he replied, and the letter can be produced:—“I need not assure you | that your commander takes the liveliest interest in you all, just a8@ father does for his children, and | thank you for your good will towards mi You have leit your homes and friends to discove' r t the mysterious parts of the earth, and my ferven I r isthat We may be successiul in achieving fresh laurels for 0 untry.” Mr. Cruger termmated his remarks by saying that there were several other little matters which had to be explained—viz., why the secretary ot the Navy had not given discharges to all the Polaris’ men, and also why Captain Greer, of the Tigress, declined taking three of the Polaris’ crew whom Secretary Kobeson had desired shouid return to the Polar regions to search for their lost comrades, and Why other sailors were taken in their stead, Six had presentea themselves by order of the Navy Department and only three had been accepted. ‘The mecting then adjourned for a fortnight. THE TEXAS BLECLIONS, GALVESTON, Dec. a The News gives the following figures from specials :—The returns from 13 counties additional to-day make the total number heard from of which 43 give Coke & majority of 20,793 and the | retaining 14 counties give Davis a majority of 3,463, | thes be Coke's het majority, so lar as heard | rom, 17 DELAY IN CANAL TRANSPORTATION, BurFato, N, Y., Dec. 7, 1873. Some of the most prominent canal men of this city, just returned from the eastern division of the canal, where they have a large number of boats and cargoes of grain in transit, are bitter in their denunciation of Commissioner Barkley, of that division, and the State authorities, tor jailing to render proper aid and facilitues in getting their y to tidewater, They say had proper as- e been given every bout could have reached its destination, EXPLOSION OF A 8TEAMER’S BOILER, Three Men Killed and Five Seriously Wounded=The Wreek of the Vessel on Fire. ie New ORLEANS, Dec. 7, 1873, A Picayune special from Marshall to-day says :— ‘The bowler of the steamer Royal George exploded last night at Albany, between Jefferson and Shreve- port. The mate and three deck hands were in- siantly killed and five others were seriously wounded, Captain Scoville luid his jaw fractured, and the pilot, Mr, McLarey, was slightly wounded, ‘rhe cargo will be saved, | Ittakes some resolution aboninations command the sympathies of the BRU UUs breasts us Lue Aimerival Deovie repre. | A later report says the wreck is on fire and reticf Was scnt frou Shreveport. LITERATURE. --—— LATEST ENGLISH BOOKS. Review of the Productions—London Literary Gossip—-What the Great Minds Are Thinking Of—The Cuba Question Among the Publishers, “ Lonpon, Nov. 15, 1873. Mr. John Stuart Mill’s autobiography is the most important among recently publisued works; but it cannot be said to be in any sense satisfactory. It is very ill-eaited—indeed, it has supplied the Pall Mall Gazette with material for the exercise of those functions of reproof and instruction which It 1s never unwilling to administer, vy its short- comings in this respect. It contains many blunders in sense as well as in form, and the in- terspersed phrases in the German tongue are “misused damuably.”” It is of unattracuye ex- terior, horribly suggestive of law reports, printed in paragraphs; in short, a book to choke olf any public less hungry than ours to read what the most impressive of the great thinkers of the time has said about himseli, and the mental and physical processes and influences to which he was subjected. The upshot of it all, when curiosity has oceen satisfied, is, that Jonn Stuart Mill was a very unhappy man; fortunate in not knowing how unhappy he was, because he never had any standard of sound and wholesome human happiness by which to measure his own stunted experiences and eccentric theories, The picture of his child- hood is at once painful and ludicrous, and the portrait of his tather, an impersonation of cold, in- human nihilism, is revolting to minds which refuse to believe that man was made for philosophy alone, The story of the mental processes which have produced so wide and deep an effect upon the age is most interesting, but also painful, because always bearing traces of the unnatural repression of the thinker’s childhood and youth, and falling into the opposite extreme of wild ex- aggeration of the one only strong feeling to which he was ailowed a full and pertectly unquestioned sway, This feeling was his extraordinary admira- tion of hig wife’s genius—admiration to which be gives expression in terms of almost incredible hyperbole. Now, Mrs, John Stuart Mill was doubt- less a clever woman; there is proof of that in the way she managed her first husband, as narrated by her second, and in the fact that Mill says he seriously believed her to be the intellectual superior of all creation, including himself and Thomas Carlyle! A confession of faith which only a very clever woman could extract from a husband and a philosopher, But there ts no concensus of testimony in cor- roboration of this wonderful dictum, and people are inclined to believe that, veyond the above- mentioned feats and the writing of a not remark- able pamphlet on “Woman's Rights,” the phoenix was a case of fetich, The chapter of Mill’s autobi- ography which is devoted to his short parliament- ary career is unexpectedly meagre, and by its clear evenness of tone creates the impression that he took but slight interest in practical politics and, really possessed the philosophical attribute of ine partiality, It 1s, in a word, a twilight book all through. THE GEOGRAPHERS AT WORK. The public pulse is being felt again by the geographers in the interests of Arctic exploration. Ser Robert McClure’s death has revived the oid controversy concerning the discovery of the North- west Passage, and the McClureites and the Frank- Mnites are making statements and counter-state- ments on behalf of their respective clients, while the publication of two interesting Arctic books, and the recent incident of the visit of the rescued crew of the Polaris, aids in arousing public atten- tion to the demands of sailors and savans that England should no longer stand aloof from Arctic enterprise, Last year an attempt was made to induce the government to de- spatch an expedition by the Smith Sound route, but Messrs. Lowe and Géschen would not hear of it. Was not the Challenger raking up the secrets of the deep at a very great expense? and was the British ratepayer likely to respond to the further demands of experimental service, even when backed up by patriotism? So the deputation, a very numerous and influential one, withdrew dis- gusted. The incidents of the voyage of the Polaris, the respect and admiration which American enter- prise and the individual daring and devotion which are exhibited in the expedition of Captain Hall, whose death is deeply lamented here, nave all cumulated to stir up a iresh interest, to arouse a spirit of emulation, and to set the Arctic people looking out for spring with eagerness additionally keen by reason of the motive that they hope the government will be induced to sanction an expedi- tion next year. In this sense both the new Arctic books are written; one by Captain Wells, who urges to Spitzbergen, the other by Mr. Clements Markham, Secretary of the Royal Geo- graphical Society, who is enthustastic over the Smith’s Sound route, Captain Wells’ book, en- titled, “The Gateway to the Polynia, or Siberian Open Sea,” contains a charming account of a voy- age to Spitzbergen, with full ‘details of the animal life in that wondertul part of the world, while Mr. Markham’'s is practically a history of Arctic explo- Tation from its earliest times, including very inter- gsting but for the most part melancholy records of the brave discoverers, followed by the wonders told of the Polaris, and by a well argued plea from that history, of which the second part is looked for here with much interest, in javor of our once more entering the lists of national competition for the prize at the top of the Pole. PHRENOLOGICAL SCIENCE. Another kind of explanation in another part of the world has produced a work which ts giving the anthropologists and ethnologists a great deal to talk of, to say nothing of the believers in tue quasi science of phrenoiogy. It is called “A Phrenologist Amoug the Todas,” and is the result of a close and prolonged study of a primitive tribe in South India, Jt isa most curious book, and conveys a notion of organization and erder much higher than weare accustomed to associate with any prim- itive tribes, and at the same time of a life, within a short distance of British settlement, as widely apart from that of any of the natives of India, who are included among our subjects, as that which was lived in the buried cities of Mexico in: the days when they “ad a history. TRANSLATION. A book of a very different kind of interest is Mr. Van Laun’s translation of Taine’s “History of Eng- lish Literature.” This 1s one of the very ‘ew trans, jations which one reads with periect satisfaction, in which the essence 18 thoroughly preserved aud permeates the form. It is not likely to be a popular book, because Of the inevitably technical arrange- ments to which even M, Taine, Who was in many respects 80 original & thinker, subjects his work, to break through the breastworks which are thus set around the citadel of though? but, forany one who stuaies French analytical literature, it is worth the trouble, MYSTERY. There has been @ good deal of talk preliminary about « bistory of Holland House, written by a young lady who was rather a celebrity in society here, chiefly because she was rather a mystery. ‘This young lady was called Marie Fox, but if any- thing was understood about her it was that she had no right to thatname. All sorts of rumors were circulated concerning her parentage; she lived with Lady Holland in the beautiful old his+ toric mansion to Which so many memories belong, and with Lady Holiand she went very much in- deed into society. The Queen had been told the secret of her birth, for she went to Court, and the young lady herself had been told two versions, each differing from the other and both presumably untrue, Last year she married a Prince Lichten- stein, and it Was announced, with all the solem- nity befitting so important a fact, thatthe Austrian ambassador was perfectly satisfied with the state- ments which had been made to him respecting the fitness of the young lady for the tmmense honor of such an alliance, Irreverent outsiders laughed a good deal, but “all London” went to the wedding, especially as that dull, rich, unpopular young peer, the Marquis of Bute, was said to have behaved bad- ly. He had been what persons of his class call “ate tached’? to Miss Fox, but was not so easily satistied fa the Ausirian Excellency, a0 that the young lady | did not become Marchioness of Bute, and it was | taken as likely to vex him, that the mysterious fair one should wed a prince and forget him. So amiabie is “society” and so absurd; because, after all, and some time bejore, the Marquis had married a very | pretty girl, a Howurd of the true blue, about whose birth there was neither mistake nor mystery. The Princess, it was whispered, was of @ literary turn, and by and by came annonnce- ments Of her book, Here is the book itself, brave in biue and silver and devices of ornamental typography, heralded by blasts trom all kinds of trumpets, especially a laudatory fentasia In the Quarterly Keview trom Mr. Abraham Hayward, who 18 Much at all times, but most when he can be archwological, historical and gossipy all at once; and, like most books of the kind, it is ap indiffer- ent specimen of cram. The style is bala, the anecdotes are ancient—in fact, all the people of the past who frequented Hol- land House had £0 many little people to catch them at it and record the fact that the chronicles of the London (and lively) copy of the Hotel de Ramboutllet are rather fatiguingly full, However, the volume 1s a pretty one, the illustrations are charming, and the Princess’ hook may be said tobe one “which no lady's boudoir should be without,’ THE CUBA QUESTION, There has been a “misunderstanding” between the respective publishers of two books concerning Cuba. Mr, Walter Goodman wrote one, which was picturesque and Bohemian, Mr. Antonio Gallenga wrote another, chiefy consisting of a reprintof his letters to the Times, which was politicai and prac- tical; and each gentleman called his book “The Pearl o:the Antilles.” Then arose a tempest in a teacup, and the rival publishers claimed priority of advertisement end registration and the printer's devil only knows what. Mr, Goodman’s book is ciever and amusing, and makes one wish to go there; Mr. Gallenga’s is rather dreary, rather pompous, it rather implies that nobody has ever been to Cuba before who had a head with anything like the adequate supply of brains in it, and it makes oue preter stopping at home. RETIRED. The well known firm of Strahan & Co. has ceased 10 exist, and the business is now carried on by Mr. isbister, @ former partner, under his own name, The difficulties of putting the business to rights have been considerable. The old firm had a knack of discovering prodigies and offering them wildly fancy prices in advance. Somehow or other the prodigies did not develop, the books did not get written and the prices did not get recouped, so the whole thing was remodelled and many of the fiterary experiments were shunted over to Corn- hill, where they have been undertaken by Messrs. H. 8S, King & Co., not, it would appear, with distinguished success. Mr. Isbister has. recently published some very pleasant and interesting one-volume works, including @ poem bythe author of “St. Abe and His Six Wives,” which was, as you are doubtless aware, very generally attributed to James Russell Lowell. This poem, cal'ea “White Rose and Red,” is equal to the first in originality, force and “go,” and the author is Mr. Robert Buchanan. He has bided his time, done his work, held his tongue, resisted the temptation of a sudden and great success, and made his critics eat their words. Since Keats no young writer has been more coarsely and cruelly handied than the poet of “Undertones ;” and here he is acknowledged by the very writers who pelted him with mingled abuse and satire to have | a large property in all those qualities of which they most strenuously refused to admit his posses- sion, “THE EGYPTIAN SKETCH BOOK,’ by Mr. Charles Leland, is one of those attractive single volume books, It is dificult to characterize it in a summary like this, and yet, of all books, it can be tasted in a sip, or rather in a long succession of sips, for you can’t read it through, It makes you laugh tov much for that, more than an Eng- jishman has any business to laugh in a London November, and you would be very sorry when you had finished it. It is as “uncategarinable” a book as “Hans Breitmann’s Ballads” (Mr. Leland is great at manufacturing adjectives; he is weicome to the | above) and as delightful, Mixed up with such fun as all can still happily understand—though we can- | not produce it in this country—there are rare little bits of true criticism, sound sense and reliable erudition, The inevitable dragoman has never been made so amusing as Mr. Lelaud renders him, and it | leges contain few or no ideas except about train- ing athletes, base ballists and boat racers, Sik HENRY HOLLAND knew all countries and had Seen nearly every famous person of the last half century, He remembered six Presidents of the United States, and had been intimate with Talley- rand and Lord Brougham, with Canning and Ma- dame de Staél., His books, though not literary masterpieces, well exhibit the variety of his life and the breadth of his culture, | JouN RUSKIN declares that Pope is the most perfect representative we have of tue true English mind, He says that his poems have expressed “in the | strictest language and within the briefest limits every law of art, of criticism, of economy, of policy, and finally of a benevolence, humble, ra- tional and resigned, contented with its allotted share of life, and trusting the problem of its salva- tion to Him in whose hand lies that of the uni- verse,”? APPLETON & Co, have just published “Miriam Montort,”’ by the author of **The Household of Bou- | verte.” In it a lineal descendant of Simon do Mon- | fort takes for his second wife a Jewess, whose | least recommendation is the wealth inherited by their only child, Miriam, Banned from his own class in England, he builds himself a princely home in Philadelphia, where the sudden and mysterious death of his wife leaves him, together with Miriam, the charge of “a step daughter” of his first wife, ‘This girl, by her surpassing beauty and utter want of principle, becomes the bane of Miriam’s whole life; and yet Miriam to the end, though fully con- scious of her guilt and ingratitude, acts towards her the part of true sister, The foftune inherited from her mother is taken from her by thts step sis- ver and her confederates, and she 1s obliged to fly in disguise to Georgia, in order to escape the per- secution of this domestic foe. Her return thence, her shipwreck, her rescue, her imprisonment in ner enemy’s house in Philadelphia and her marvel- lous escape to wed the man of ner choice, form the matter of thrilling narratives, She follows her husband, an American officer of engineers, to Cali- Jornia, where they build up @ happy and honored home, blessed with lovely children, where the guilty “stepsister” finds a refuge and all the lavish tenderness which sisterly love can bestow, in re- turn for black treason and ingratitude. The book is intended as a picture of the American society of the period, There is no claptrap in it, The reader will recognize gladly amid the personages who grace the narrative the “imperial presence” of Calhoun. The “dificuity between North and South” is touched on with a delicate and tender hand, which argues a deep love of country. THE SEASON'S CHARITY. Fair in Aid of Friendless Children and Young Gir! A fair is now being held in Republican Hall, Twenty-third street and Broadway, in aid of the building fund of the Association for Befriending Children and Young Girls. It is under the tmme- diate contro! of Mrs. Waiter S, Storr, Mrs, George V. Hecker, Mrs. D. T, Addis Emmett and Miss Gu- bert, who are the officers of the dnstitution, ana whose names guarantee that the appreciation of this charity by the pubitc shall not arise from want of effort to make it worthy. The institution has been, since its foundation, at Nos. 245 and 247 East ‘Thirteenth street, and hitherto was able to meet the demands made upon It, but the great iunpend- Ing distress of the present winter renders it an imperative necessity to make provision now for the certain demands that will, during the ensuing months, be made upon the association, and already the painiul signs of absolute distress are mor than assuring of the inaviil the existing sources of reliei to meet the ¢ hunger and cold, which will be growing louder and more eager as tle Season advances, At any time the wants of | children aud poor, desolate young girls should reach every charitable heart with the most power- ful foree, und seldom, it may be said, are the di Viating response; but the present time is so ex- | ceptional and the demands of the poor so general, that children and young girls, who are the most | hopelessly at the Mercy of the hunger pang and the cold sting, Nave especial needs now, and, therelore especial ciaims for remberance and generous aid. As to the fair itself, the mames of the ladies given above are sufmiciently assuring that the tables are loaded with the hundreds of different classes of articies which fancy fairs ever delignt to offer to the good- natured people who patronize them. The display at this fair even exceeds the ordinary excelieut collections Of rare, valuable and pretty things Walon go to make up the stock in trade of these charitable marts. A visit to the hall will well re- pay any person who delights in participating in a would be well it all Nile tourists were compelled to register a vow that they would never do the drago, | man business in books any more. They can’t im- * has been paid to a supply of holiday woods those | prove upon Mr, Leiand, and they might remember, for their warning, that they are quite certain to be compared with him. Miss M. Betham Edwards has been to the Nile and to the Pyramids and .to other places, concerning which she teils us pleas- ant things in a pretty holiday volume. But her style—which would be pleasant if she could keep well-worn Latin and Greek quotations out of the text—grows more and more pedantic. One feels that she never looks at any of the objects which | she no doubt genuinely admires without settling in | her mind ali the time how she Is going to | turn the phrases in which they are to be described, and so her euthusiasm acquires a capital letter—of | flavor which spoils it. COMING PRODUCTIONS. The lists of forthcoming books are very full, but the books wiil not be ready antil the middie and end of this month. Bentley forestalls the Christ- mas illustrated books by a superb English version of “Humbert’s Japan Illustré,”’ translated by Mrs. Cashel Hoey, and an English yersion of “Plon’s | Thorwaldsen,” by the same transiator, A new | novel by Miss Broughton, caliea “Nancy,” is just out, It isa rather flimsy production, chiefly com- | posed of the sayings and doings of as disorderly and | unmannerly a young family as ever was not taught better and the proceedings of a very ill-tem- pered young person, whom a gray-eyed | and “gray-bearded hero marries for no ap- | parently sounder reason than because he could | not have made a more unsuitable choice, There is very little piot, and the inevitable lover tries to win the affections of the married iady by bullying | and rudeness, which would utterly unfit him tor men’s society, but are, of course, his grand qualt- fications for winning hear ording to our lady novelists. **Nancy’’ has tractions, however; very pleasant, sparkling bits; an til-tempered jather, rather imphed than described ail through, and a delightful urchin known as the Brat. Occa- sional touches of coarseness, which Miss Brough- ton seems unable to avoid, therefore most proba- | biy to discern, disfigure the book. “LUCIUS D'AVARE! Miss Braddon’s last novel, ‘Lucius d'Avaren," Is a much better story than any which she has writ- | ten for some time, There is nothing else remark- able ip fiction just now, and all the magazines for this month are preternaturally dull, The Cornattt | is publishing a very extraordinary and powerful | story called “Young Brown,’’ concerning which staid people are much exercised in thelr minds, It is masterly in construction, and most damaging | to the ciass—that of the worthless, idie and un- principled—among the aristocracy, of whose lives | itis @ Merciless exposure, In many instances the clew which leads the reader through the Jabyrinth of vice is not dificult to find; but, in addition to the stories of certain scandalous transactions in great families, by which base blood has been foisted upon noble houses for two or three genera- tions, the writer has a terribly cempendious and accurate knowledge o! “nigh life’ and of the stand- ards which it sets up. LITERARY CHIT-CHAT. vay ae “A HisTORY OF BOOKSELLERS” is announced in London by Hotten’s successors, in which are promised accounts of the leading English publishing houses and their founders, with notes on their principal books, The announcement is accompa- nied With the pertinent motto from Carlyle, “In these days ten ordinary histories of kings and courtiers were well exchanged against the tenth part of one good history of booksellers.” The Christian Union says that college students have been preached to for 20 years on the impor- tance of training their bodies; but it begins to look as if somebody ought to preach to college stu- dents on the importance of training their minas. | rison, Mrs. M. Lipman and Mrs, I. Loth, noble and praiseworthy work. The fair will con- tinue every day irom ten o’clock A. M. to eleven P, M., until December 15, and as especial attention who are making Such purchases at this time may do well to combine charity with pleasure and | spend their money mM heiping this charitable un- | dertaking. | HOME FOR AGED AND INFIRM HEBREWS. | pe Nee Annual Report—Election of Officers. | The annual meeting of the members of this insti- | tution was held yesterday, at 822 Lexington ave- hue, and was attended by a very large number of the ladies comprising the society. Among the | most prominent present were Mrs, P, J. Joachim- | sen, President; Mrs. H. B. Herts, Vice President; Mrs. Zion Bernstein, Treasurer; Mrs. J. 4. Philips, Mrs. L. Woll, Mrs. Leopold Bamberger, Mrs. Isaac Jacobs, Mrs. Elias Schlesinger, Mrs. Henry Mor- | The meeting was called to order at halt-past efeven o'clock in the forenoon, when Mra. Joachim- sen read ler annuai report, of which the following 18 an extract:— At this eur annua duiy of welcoming 5 formation of our last together our instit meeting T di rge the pleasant : the necessary in When we were last any means insuring ils permanency, al the demands tor the | fulfilment of our avowed object became numerons and | pressing. The number of our members was limited to at our roli How is upward of 700 active and ¢ able handsand hearts, We have Leen able to pro home for 320i our own sex and for at least 10 old We have assisted 193 woinen m confinement, by nurse, money and clothing, amt in cases where app exits lor e remainwith their fric i nds tressiul cries allowed to plead without some alle- | | si physician, | ¢ —+ THE SACRED HEART, Consceration of the Archicepiscopal Prow- ince of New York=—The Services Toe day—The, Specaal Prayer—“Ye Deum Laudamus.” ‘To-day in all the Catholic churches of the Arch- diocese of New York there wiil be celeprated most sacred and solemn ceremonies in the consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus of all the adherents ta the faith, together with the churches, schools and all the institutions under ecclesiastical authority in the province, A special prayer has been directed | and a grand Te Deum also will be sung, The following is the prayer of consecration pre- Seribed by the archbishop and bishops of the Prov- ince to be read in ail the churches :— © most admirable and adorable Heart of Jesus? © Heart infinitely compassionate and merciful! our refuge in all dangers, our hope in all trfals, our comlort and consolation in all sorrows! Behold us prostrate before Thee to implore Thy mercy, to claim Thy protection, and to offer ourselves en- Urely to Thee, Thou seest the dangers that sur- round us, the storms by which we are assailed. The powers of darkness have risen against Thy holy Church and against Thy unworthy but devoted servants. They have laid waste Thy inheritance, they have overturned Thy altars, they have perse- cuted those who love ‘and honor Thy sacred pame. ‘They glory in the evil which they have done, and vainly boast that they have triumphed over Thee and Thy holy Church, and they have striven to destroy Thy worship from the face of the earth. But thou art aimighty, and who shall resist Thee? Thou wilt arise im’ Thy power, and Thy enemies shall perish from before ‘Thy face. Thou wiit command the winds and the waves, and there shall be a great caim, Animated with this confidence in Thy power and in Thy love, O Divine Heart! we present our supplication on this day of our solemn consecration to Thee. Deign to receive our oilering, unworthy as it is, and grant our prayer for the Church and for Thy devoted children who now gol- emnly dedicate themselves to Thy hoaor, O merciful Jesus! ever ready to admit us into the sacred and secure asylum of Thy Sacred Heart, we, Thy unworthy but loving servants, wishing to give Thee a proof of our devotion, and to receive from Thee the assistance and protection which, in these calamitous times, we need for Thy holy Church, for the Apostolic See, and for our- selves, do, on this day, publicly and solemnly con- secrate ourselves entirely to Thee; our lives and our labors, our thoughts, words, actions and suf- ferings. We pledge ourselves to Thee as Thy de- voted servants forever. We consecrate to Thee our churches, our missions, our congregations, and all those for whose spiritual good we labor in ‘Thy service; that Thy spirit may reign over them, Thy love sustain them, Thy grace 3anctify them and make them at all umes pleasing in Thy sight, Oh, sweet and aborable heart of Jesus! accept this holocaust which we oder; consume it with the flame of Thy divine love, that 1t may ascend before Thee in the odor of sweetness, and that, united with Thy infinite merits, it may bring down upon us, upon Thy Holy Church, upon our Holy Father the Pope and upon all the members of our coagregations, missions, schools, religious houses and institutions of charity,.the abundance of Thy biessings, the heavenly shower of Thy graces, the rich treasures which Thou hast promised to those who love and honor Thee. De- Jend us, O Lord, Toy servants, with the shield of ‘Thy protection ; guard us against the malice of the wicked, who hate Thy Church because it is Thine, and who persecute us because we love and adore Thy sacred heart and detend the nonor o! Tay most holy name. Let us find in Thee our refuge, our consojation, our hope, se Thou, O sacred heart of Jesus, our support in life, our confidence in death, our perfect and eternal happiness in heaven. Amen, The following is the approved translation of the ancient “Te Deum Laudamus,” which will be sung to-da) We praise Thee, U God: we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord, All tie earth doth worship Thee: the Father ever- lasting. ‘Yo ‘Thee all angels cry aloud: the heavens and all the powers therein. ‘To fhee cherubim and seraphim continually do ry: Holy, holy, holy: Lord God of Sabaoth, Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of Thy glory. The glorious choir of the Apostles: praise Thee. The admirable company of the Prophets: praise i white robed army of Martyrs: praise Thee. The holy Church throughout ail the world; doth nowledge Lhee. ‘The Father: of an infinite majesty. Yhy adorable, true: and only Son. Also the Holy Ghost: the Comiorter. ‘fnou art the King of Glory: O Christ, ‘Thou art the everlasting son: of the Father. When Thou tookest upon Thee: to deliver man: Thou didst not abnor the Virgin’s womb, When Thou hadst overcome the sting of death: Thou didst open the Kingdom of heaven to all be- levers. Thou sittest at the right hand of God: in the glory of the Father. We believe that Thou shalt come: Juage. We pray Thee, therefore: help Thy servants whom thou has redeemed with Thy precious biood. Make them to be numbered wita hy saints: in glory evcriasting. é 0 Lord, save Thy people: and bless Thine inheri- ance. Govern them: and lift them up forever. Day by day: We magnily Thee. Aud We praise Thy bame forever: yea, forever and ever. : Vouchsafe, 0 Lord, this day to keep us without ne © Lord, have mercy upon us: have mercy upon to be our us, © Lord, let Thy mercy be showed upon us: as we | have hoped in Thee. © Lord, in Thee liave I hoped: let me not be con- founded jorever. THE SHIP SUNRISE OUTRAGE, Interview with Captain Clarke, the Convicted Master—He Charges Con- spinacy. . In an interview with a reporter of the San Fran- cisco Call, on the 29th ult., Captain Clarke, con- victed of cruelty upon the crew of the ship Sunrise, of this port, charges conspiracy, and producea the following receipts from the crew, showing that ‘they iad received bribes. The report says:— “Now,” said Captain Clarke. “I want to prove, beyond a shadow of doubt, that Furt lied directly when he denied that le nad accepted money. See, here is the receipt he gave me.” And the follow- ing hd shown to the reporter, with Purt’s auto- graph:— San F. Co,, Sept. 30, 1873, ed from Captain Clarke, of ship Sunrise, 8300, in coin, in full setistaction of wll claims, of wiat- is. Wrongs, every nts, short all ry description ast suid s rise, her ofticers and owne: ate WiTHESE, A Orr. THOMAS R. FURT, ne er and tamili p 1 them With hel; vet. dneliding the paywent of our debt house, the purchase of ne our total expendicure Ly nmittee amounte by p for that th annexed in our Treasurer's ha Ist or December, 1872, Was $5,265 and our receipts auring | he rrent year from donations $446; from dues of $s, $4,002, leaving a baiance on liand, applicable | tw current expenses, to the aiuount ot $3,136, ‘The number ot Inmates at present is 6 men and Women; ot outdoor recipients, tionalities of the inmates ar art Poland, 4; United States, 4; Holland, those inmates are housed and every 'w matter for Your own inspection to-day or w Fou nay flid it couvapient to visit the Home, The bond and mortgaye of the Deresh Amano E Burial Soclety o! ) js still held by this socie activity of a committee of gentlemen, headed true triend, Lazarus Morgenthau, im obtaining the y. able and gratuitous services of Mr, Neuendori! and t artists, at the Academy of Music, on the Bist of Junua last, which We again most gratefully acknowledge, r sulted in net receipts of $5,745, We ha free | The | accounts Nos. 3 and 4 ranks are due to the President and directors of Moutit Sinai Hospital, and to their esteemed Superi tendent, Dr. Trensch, for kindness in cases of sickuess and death. Many sincere thanks to the donors und pas | trons of our charity for their generous support in money and supplies in kind. We can say with a degree of great | satisiaction that our institution has taken proper rank with the sister charities, but we must redouble our ef- | forts to extend its userulnes: Lhope that our Divine | Father wil] aid us 20 that this for those whom He | allows us to befriend Will acquire a world wide r There isan earnest, ant from the Legisiatur Jewish women, will t Dlishment, Wé are tinder special obligations t clergy for their interest with their flocks and to Messrs. Isaacs, Lyons: Kev. Dre, Kuebsch, Gotthiel, Vidaver, and Messrs. Haho and Welsh tor | Visits to the Home, | Thave to acknowledge the active co-operation of the nur | in our benalt, as ig sev our esteemed and venerable Treasurer ot Dr. Leo, our highly efficieat physician and sec- ary, and that of a general committee of ladies, re- Dtly appoited to assist in the good work, and Nave to make honorable menion of the labors of Mrs, Dr. Hol- land and all officers con 1 with the society, Nor can T forget the many favors extended to us by the press of this city. The meeting next proceeded with the election of officers for the ensuing year. re-elected, The meeting then adjourned, SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY RAILROAD BOATS | ATTACHED, Newrvorr, R, 1, Dec. 7, 1873. The Unitea'States Marshal yesterday placed 11 more attachments on the boats of the Southern New Jersey Railroad Company, which makes the forty-fourth thus far. ‘The Iibellants yesterday were:—Jacob J. Van Pelt, of ee Roane Ply- ; i ire, of New York, vs. Empire gave and es teroutn’ Kook; "La Gar Reed, of New York, vs, Plymoutta Rock | Daniel « New York, vs. uth Rock; Kaa eller ot A do., of New Landon, Vs. Jesse The present board of otlicers was unanimously | | nearly 100 of them were arrested om A receipt was aiso produced signed by the whole crew, With the exception of Fart, as fol ‘ounty, Sept. 30, 1873. on beard of the ship ew York to this po: ceived from Capia ne sum of SOU each, he old sati-t inc United’ states Tull aceord gnd name or natur prisonmer di, indeed, all und every elaiy against «ad' ship Sunvisc, her master, own cers, to date. . Sigued in the presence of A. F. 8 HOW THE CREW WAS SHIPPED. “People have said a good deal,’ continued Cap. tain Clarke, “anovt the crew having been shang- I just want to show how my crew came aboard, and the diticulty there was to get a crew acall, Here is an oflictal document I have had seat to me from New York’?:;— Orrick Usitep Starks Surprise Commissioner Now 187 and 18) Cuenny otueer, Naw Youn” To Wuow it May Whereus it having been made known to the ur . United States Shipping Commissioner tor the York, that several ves- s San Fraheisco tor having ews ai this port in violation 2; and whereas it seems just right that all mitigating circumstances attending en, ont and | such engagements should be made known— ido hereby declare and make known teat during the months of April‘and May, 1873, there existed in the port of New York @ large and powerful organiz principally keepers ot sallors’ boarding tio Ding musters, Whose publicly avowed purpose Was to od- struci, hinder and prevent the execation of said Shipping . law, so tur as it concerned the engasiug and rendering on shipvoard of seamen at this port That vigiance couinittees and spies were set on foot y it, by Which the oiticer: potty My AE ard erigaged at this office were watches aud their liv threatened. That there was great detention and trouble caused by this unlawiul combiuation to the outgoing commerce of \¢ port. ‘That itt many cases large portions of a crew that havo been. Jawiully shipped at this ottice verved foomuatiore i somethitig e i Himidations or someth is ea, and. Subset ptain, under the sup- ion Ls rally supplied by the on. the temmbers of White reving a lutse proporvion of all’ the unemployed satior tniporé in their houses and in Welt debt, asvumied ald e ised arbitrary power over thei. ereised dis Was (he. state of aitairs when the ships Sun- rise, aitic, St. Charles and some others left this port for San’ Francisco. That more than 100 of the members of the aforesaid orgaujsation were indicted by (he Grand Jury t - Siltucy to obstruct the colomerce of this porteamd thas these indictments, putin prison and are now out on bail. ‘That after about two Months’ open warfare against the Shipping jaw, during Which time no effortseems to nay beem spared ou their part to bring distrac ” jaw und its executors, the said organization c opposition and declared its intention of obedience to law thereatter, I Phat since the said declaration of obedience there has Ho troube in the execution of the said law, po C, CAN, United States Shipping Commissioner for the port of New York. Coroner Keeuan was yesterday called to hold an inquest over the remains of Mr, J 4. Wend, a gentieman 65 years of age, who a) d dead on be it sava the students’ journals of the various col- Hoyt, Fail River, Plymouth Rock, Long Branch, Metropolis aud kinvire State, the pavement in front of premises No, 68 Broad street, wilie en route to Brookiva, where he lived,