The New York Herald Newspaper, December 10, 1873, Page 6

6 NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. —~——_—— JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR. Wolume XXXVIII. AMUSEMENTS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. ACADEMY OF MUSIC, lath street and Irving place.— Sansox THEATRE COMIQUE, N Eyreataiyueyt. Matinee at OLYMPIC THEA adway, between Houston aud Bleecker st8.—Tux Mansux Hkanr, Matinee at 2. 514 Broadway.—Vanierr NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broxdw Houston sts.—Lux Carpe Kn between Prince and ax Woop, WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway and Thirteentn street.—Home, dare UNION SQUARE THEA! Broadway.—Lep AstKay. Woon’s MUSEUM, Broadw Evenraopy's Prizxp, dc. Att Union square, near corner Thirtietirst.— oon and evening. GERMANIA THEATRE, lth strect and Sd avenue.— dur Homer Sux. BROADWAY THEATRE, 728 and 730 Broadway.— Duns. GRAND OPERA HOUSE, Eighth ay. and Twenty-third st—Humery Dumpty AbRroap. PARK THEATRE, Brooklyn, opposite City Hall— Tax Guapiaron. FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE, 28th st. and Broadway.— Acrxe, BOOTH'S THEATRE, Sixth av. and Twenty-third st— Eugen Ogn. a METROPOLITAN TE Ewyrertarsmeyr, Mati MRS. F. B. CONW. Geneva Cross ye TONY PASTOR’S OPERA HUUSE, No. 201 Bowery.— Vaauary EXTERTAIxoCEN7, STEINWAY HALL, 1th st, between 4th ay. Erving piace.—Guanp Concert. 185 Broadway.—Vanrery | BROOKLYN THEATRE.— and BRYANT'S OPERA HO! wenty-third st., corner Sixth av.—NeGro Minsrae Cm BAIN HALL, Great Jones street, between Broadway and Bowery.—Tax Picnim. THE RINK, 3d avenue and 64th street.—MrnxaceRis AND Museum. Afternoon and evening, ‘SHEET. TRIPLE New York, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 1873. THE NEWS OF YESTERDAY. To-Day’s Contents ot the Herald. “THE PROSPEROUS CONDITION OF THE CUUN- TRY! OUR RESOURCES IN PEACE OR WAR”—LEADING EDITORIAL TOPIC—SuxTH Page. THE CUBAN CASINOS, THE SPANISH VOLUN- TEERS AND THE AMERICAN DEMANDS! FURIOUS THREATS AND RESOLVES NEVER TO GIVE UP THE VIRGINIUS! THE LABORANTES! THE CAPTAIN GENERAL “IN A BAD FIX!” THE SPIRIT OF THE PRESS AND THE CASINO—Turrp Pace. THE PUBLIC FEELING ON THE CUBAN QUES- TION IN THE METROPOLIS—WHAT THE NAVY IS ABOUT—Turep Pace. RIOTS ANTICIPATED AT THE E: LAND) ELECTIONS! THE CO! RVATIVE NOMINEE SUCCESSFUL! LONDON WRAP- PED IN A FOG OF EXTREME DENSITY! ALL TRAFFIC ESTOPPED—SEVENTH PAGE. RBESIDENT MacMAHON AND WIFE CUN- TRIBUTE 5,000 FRANCS TO THR RELIEF OF 1HE VILLE DU HAVRE SURVIVORS— SEVENTH PaGs. JUDGMENT IN TRE BAZAINE COURT MARTIAL WILL PROBABLY BE GIVEN TO-DAY— IMPORTANT GENERAL NEWS—Sevenra Page. {RISH UNION FOR HOME R THE GREAT | NATIONAL CONFERENCE AT BELFAST! “THE FATHER OF HOME RULE” ON His | POSITION! THE RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED— | FOURTH Pace. REPENTANT AND UNREPENTANT BACK- PAY SINNERS INVOLVED IN WORDY WAR- FARE IN THE HOUSE! COX VS. NEGLEY! | A HISTORIC PARALLEL! THE FINANCES | CONSIDERED LN THE SENATE—Firra Pace. | INLAND STEAM TRANSPORTATION IN THE | UNITED STATES! THE NEUVESSITY FOR | CHEAP TOLLS AND THE RECKLESSNESS | AND LACK OF PRINCIPLE THAT HAVE | INCREASED THE EXPENSE—Fovurtu Paces. SMALLPOX PRECAUTION — THE DISPUTES OF THE TROTTING TURF—TENtTH PaGE. AID FOR THE IDLE ARTISANS! THE CHARITA- BLE MINDED COMBINING LN FAIRS, MASS MEETINGS AND OTHERWISE TO PEND OFF THE WORST RESULTS OF HARD TIMES— FirTH PaGE. A PETITION Tu THROW HOWES & MACY INTO TER (ENG- THE BANKRUPTCY! GENERAL LEGAL BUSI- NESS—WHERE IS SHARKEY!—Eicura PaGE. AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL AFFAIRS! WHAT CONGRESS SHOULD DU! GERMANY’S NEW COIN—THE COIN RESOURCES OF AMERICA—NINTE PagE. WALL STREET'S LATEST DEFAULTER—THE POLICE NOT TO BE CLASSED AS DEAD. | HEADS—SINGULAR CONDUCT OF A CORO- NER—FirTH PaGE. INTERESTING PIGEON-SHOOTING MATCHES—A HEATED SESSION OF THE EMIGRATION BOARD—FourtH Pace. Curtsrmas Appran For THE Poon Cum- pren.—The Children’s Aid Socciety of this city have issued an appeal for money and clothing to the poor little ones. Last year 11,503 boys and girls were relieved in the dif- ferent lodging houses; 172,453 meals were supplied; 9,584 children were admitted to the industrial schools, and partly clothed and fed, and 3,701 were sent to good homes; 24,788 had been under the charge of the society dur- ing the year, and there have been 5,115 orphans in the lodging houses. The society hopes to extend its benevolent usefulness, and calls for additional aid this approaching hard season. Its appeal, we believe, will not be in vain. Let our wealthy people respond liber- ally to the appeal on behalf of the good work. Bewiicerent Ricuts.—Mr. Cox could not get up his resolution in Congress to concede belligerent rights to the patriot Cubans, The administration republicans generaliy opposed “ne fPxrospecous Condition of the Country—Our Resources im Peace or War. The rapid recovery of the country from the | commercial crisis which came so suddenly upon us in the early fall, and the manner in which our banks and great business houses, with a few exceptions, stood up sturdily before the storm, are gratifying evidences of the solid | wealth and prosperity of the United States. Few nations in the world—not even England, with all her wealth—could have passed through a similar ordeal with such comparatively trifling damage. There was a heavy decline in certain values, it is true; but this was due in a great measure to the fact that specula- tion had been too recklessly indulged in without sufficient capital to back it, and that our railroad enterprises had overrun the demands of traffic. In a country like the United States the latter evil can only be of temporary duration; for our large immigration develops our resources with marvellous rapidity and adds, year after year, to the demand for railroad facilities. The better class of securities did not, after all, suffer so great a depression as might have been expected. Indeed, it is possible that stocks generally would not have fallen nearly so low but for the stoppage of the Union Trust Company, which at once created a panic. The failures were mainly confined to those buchu houses, which found their rank growth in the corruptions of the war; and it is noticeable that in nearly every instance of bankruptcy outside such concerns the causes were traced, not to an impoverished condition of the country, not to poverty among the people, not to unusual depression of trade, but to reckless, incompetent or dishonest management. Still, the commercial crisis was severe while it lasted, and, as we have said, the little dam- age it has left behind and the speedy restora- tion of business activity are so many proofs of our national wealth and strength, which will be regarded by foreigners with almost as great astonishment as was excited by our rapid re- cuperation after the civil war. So far as our own people are concerned, the lesson of the crisis has been useful, and its value to the country is likely to more than compensate for the injury inflicted on individuals. It has taught us greater prudence both in the man- agement of business and in our style of living, the benefit of which already makes itself appar- ent. According to the statement just published by the Bureau of Statistics regarding our commerce and navigation it appears that for the seven months from January 1 to July 31 the importations in the present year were $19,597,175 less than for the corresponding period of 1872. The figures are, imports, 1872, $412,864,841, and 1873, $392,267,666. At the same time the exports were much greater—that is, for 1872, $322,956,157, and for 1873, $361,944,255, or a difference in favor of 1873 of $38,988,098. Taking, then, the reduced imports and increased exports together, the auspicious state of trade was in our favor to the amount of $58,585,273 in the first seven months of 1873 over the cor- responding period of 1872. But that is not all We exported less specie and bullion in 1873 by $26,490,212. The amount was in 1872, $66,121,088, and in | 1873, $39,630,876. Since July last our | situation has been improving. The im- ports have been comparatively small and the exports large. and we have actually imported specie to the amount of ten or twelve millions of dollars over the exports. We are really in much better condition now as regards our foreign trade than we were in July. The stock of foreign commodities on hand last July was only $77,715,515, against $112,896,691 at the same period in 1872. We are, in fact, beginning to understand the wisdom of de- pending upon ourselves, and to learn that, with very little prudence on our part, the balance of trade may be always in our favor. It must inevitably be so at a not distant tuture day, in view of the settlement of our Western acres by the inpouring emigrants from the Old World, the vast increase of produce, the improved facilities for transportation, the revival of our shipping interests and the de- velopment of our mineral resources. But we can hasten the time if we will moderate our wants, be contented with less Inxurious living, leave our splendid internal improvements to grow up into remunerativeness, and patiently await our customers from less favored lands, who must perforce come to us for the necessa- ries of life and commerce. With wealth and prosperity at our doors, and with prospects before us more brilliant than the most hopeful would venture to pre- dict, it is wise on the part of our government to preserve peace with foreign nations if it can be done consistently with our own inter- estsand honor. The reaction from the com- mercial crisis has set in, values are rising rap- idly, and business is experiencing a revival which should be fostered rather than checked. Through the paths of peace, beyond doubt, lies our true road to that commercial supremacy which we must eventually hold over all the nations of the earth. This is no empty boast, for with the onward stride of civilization and the settlement of the whole country between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, we are des- tined to become one day the centre of the world’s commerce. But while we prefer peace there is no reason why we should dread a war forced upon us in vindication of our national honor and in defence of the rights, the property and the lives of our citizens. There are some conscientious and worthy people who are opposed to war under any and all circumstances. They regard war as 6 deadly sin, which no outrage can justify. They would approach the bravos of the Casino Espafiol as if they were mild-mannered gen- tlemen who never cut a throat, and endeavor to persuade them against their brutal crimes it, though it is well known that many of them are in favor of such a measure. The secret of the matter is that the administration whip is all-powerful, and that the President wants to have his own way in disposing of the Cuban question. Mr. Cox nor any other democratic outsider will be allowed to appro- priate the administration or party thunder, ‘Well, we are not particular as to how the long delayed justice to the Cuban patriots may Come, so that it comes at all, But let there be No jngglery about it on pretence of support- ing the government or to suit the pitiable exigencies of the State Department, Swactpox.—The Board of Health bas been sonsidering this subject, and its suggestions @gR ontiiled to the vublic attention. by good Christian arguments, The prospect is that they would be shot or stillettoed for their pains; but, according to their humane doctrine, the loss of a single life or of a hun- dred lives does not warrant the sacrifice of thonsands. These philanthropists forget that there is something of the savage still in civilized man, and that nations have unpleasant duties imposed upon them which, in self-protection, they must sometimes perform. One of these is to maintain their rights and uphold their honor, even at the cost of war, when either may be unjustly assailed. A government must pro- tect the lives and property of its citizens or States, whose citizens are of different nation- alities, and its neglect would destroy the Re- public. Nothing ever gave us more character as a nation in the eyes of foreign peoples than the firmness with which we brought the Martin Kosta case to a successful termination. While every sane man will admit war to be a calamity under any circumstances, no one outside the tender-hearted class to which we have alluded will deny that there are evils more deplorable than war. If we suffer the world to see that we are careless of our na- tional honor or unable to uphold it—that we neglect or fear to afford full protection to our citizens, we shall entail upon ourselves calam- ities and sacrifices greater than any war can inflict. Some persons, however, affect to believe that we are not in a condition to go to war. No nation ought to be until war is forced upon it without its own seeking. The apprehension of our unreadiness is probably expressed rather with a desire to protect Spain than to protect the United States. If these doubters mean that we have not got a fleet of iron-clads in our harbors ready to sail or an army of a hundred thousand men in camp ready to move they are probably correct; but if they imply that we have not the wealth, resources and power to carry on a war of far greater proportions than a war with Spain they under- rate the condition of the nation. Our country is richer to-day than ever before in its history; our national credit is ex- cellent and our resources in men and material are almost unlimited. The ultimate advantages of a war which could only terminate in the annexation or independence of Cuba, according to the wishes of its people, would more than com- pensate for all the sacrifices it would entail. The upward rise of our securities would scarcely be checked fora moment by such a war, and its immediate effect would be an in- creased activity in all branches of trade and an increased circulation of money among all classes. The expenditures on our navy and the efficiency that would necessarily be brought into that arm of the service would in the end bea national benefit we have long needed. The reunion of the brave soldiers of the Union and Confederate armies under the old flag would bind the States more closely together than they have been bound since the war of 1812. We do not use these arguments in advocacy of war, for we earnestly desire peace. But it must be peate with the Cuban question definitely and satisfactorily settled; peace with the Virginius outrage fully atoned; peace with the savage rule of the past five years in Cuba swept away, as a plague spot on the Christian world; peace with freedom and stable government established in the island at our threshold, or with independence for its people under the protection of the American Republic. We only desire to impress upon our citizens the fact that if we cannot obtain such an honorable and permanent peace there is no cause to dread an appeal to the sword, with justice and humanity on our side, or to doubt our ability to prosecute such a war vigorously, successfully and without embarrassment to the nation. An [Irascible Coroner and an Obe=- dient Jary. A curious scene occurred yesterday at a coroner's examination into the causes that led to the death of a child. It appears that while the physician in attendance was apply- ing caustic to the throat of the child, who was afflicted with malignant sore throat, a small piece of the caustic fell into the child's stomach. It was testified to that the caustic did not necessarily cause the death of the child. The Coroner, at great length, charged the jury, who, after a few minutes’ delibera- tion, rendered a verdict exonerating the physician. This did not suit the Coroner, who, after another long charge, sent the jury outasecond time, and a second time they promptly returned a verdict similar to their first. Here, it seems, the Coroner lost temper, and aftera third charge, delivered in an ex- cited manner, the jury again went out and soon after returned with a verdict agreeable to the Coroner's views, and impli- cating the physician in the child’s death. We repeat this is a curious case. Either the Coroner's jury were twice right and once wrong or twice wrong and once right. The weight of the testimony went to show that they were right in the two first instances, and that it was only by the overbearing conduct of the Coroner—who, it is alleged, has some per- sonal feeling in the premises—that they were induced to yield their former convictions and render a verdict in obedience to the per- emptory demands of the Coroner. When private business jealousies and animosities are permitted to interfere in matters of this kind— literally matters of life and death—it is time the community selected better material from which to manufacture coroners, and that men of more stamina and self-reliance should be found to serve upon coroners’ juries, Ovr Havana Corresponnence graphically describes the excitement in that city over the American demands in the Virginius case and the maniac furor which the order from the Madrid government to surrender the ship created among the volunteers. It is amusing to read of the prettily uniformed Catalan swashbucklers talking tall nonsense about their ability to fight the United States or die a thousand deaths in the attempt. Wo should concede them the blind courage of their opinions if they only tried to keep their word; but those who draw their dollars from the sweat of the slave are likely to care for their lives when the chance of sacrificing the latter includes the certainty of losing their doubloons. The simmering down to the sur- render point of the Casino may, apparently, be counted on. Our reports, attesting the gradual approach to acquiescence in Havana, are one indication. Another and much more reliable indication is that the Hessian press in this city has already commenced to plead for a mitigation of damages on behalf of Spain, The Spanish slave-owners have a right to hire their agents in the press, as elsewhere, and when their Hessians write up the Spanish lawyer's brief it may be judged that the slave- owners have very prudently resolved to avoid the sword as much as they can. Curap Transrortatioy.—Read the proceed- ings, elsewhere given in these columns, of the Cheap Transportation Association at a mect- ing held i this city yesterday. This associa- cease to exist. Especially is this daty in- cumbent moan @ counter like the United tion evidently means that something shall be done to secure cheav transyortation, Congress—The Money Question—The Militia—National Rauiroads, é&c. There was quite a lively discussion in the House yesterday morning on a bill from the Ways and Means Committee providing for the redemption of the loan of 1858 (twenty mill- ions), that for the purpose of redeeming those bonds the government adopts the method of paying all the coupons and registered bonds of said loan on the Ist of January, 1874, at which date the interest thereon shall cease. The bill further provides for an issue of five per cent bonds in exchange for the '58 bonds as the holders may desire. Mr. Kelly offered a substitute for the bill providing to pay off this loan in cash (greenbacks) and thus save the interest. Upon this proposition the great gun of the Pennsylvania protectionists was stoutly opposed by Messrs. Dawes, Wood, Beck and Garfield, and the bill of the com- mittee, providing for the redemption of the bonds of '58 in coin January, 1874, was passed. The debate indicated a strong opposition to increased taxations, and a desire to avoid ac- cordingly increased expenditures, which is a good sign. The afternoon sitting was devoted by the House to the discussion of the bill for the repeal of the notorious increased salary and back pay act, with some amusing personali- ties to mark the last stages of this disgraceful grab. In the Senate, Mr. Morrill, of Vermont, in- troduced a bill to provide for the resumption of specie payments and for free banking, and Mr. Buckingham called up his bill to provide for free banking, to secure an elastic currency, to appreciate the national obligations and to reach specie payments without commercial embarrassment. Mr. Buckingham, we fear, promises too much. Mr. Johnston, of Vir- ginia, submitted a bill authorizing the Wash- ington and St. Louis Railroad Company to extend its road to the District of Columbia and to extend its line through the several States to Illinois. Mr. Alcorn brought for- ward a bill providing for the construction .of levees on the Mississippi, and no doubt there is an immense amount of money in this pro- ject. Mr. Ingalls, of Kansas, introduced a bill providing for arming and equipping the whole militia force ot the United States—a grand idea for a new Senator, but hardly ne- cessary unless he counts upon the invasion of the United States by a million of Spaniards and a general outbreak among the Indians at the same time. Vice President Wilson gave notice that from to-morrow he would be absent for several weeks, and that it would, therefore, be necessary for the Senate to elect a President pro tem. It is understood that Mr. Wilson goes to Florida for his health, and that he may be absent till the roughest portion of the winter is over. The dominant party of the Senate yesterday agreed in caucus upon the nomination of Mr. Carpenter as President pro tem. It appears that the standing committees, as organized ‘last March, will not be materially changed. The Trial—The proaching. According to the news which we publish this morning from France it is probable that the trial of Field Marshal Bazaine, which was commenced on the 6th of October, will be con- cluded and judgment pronounced to-day. No military trial in many years has been so pro- tracted or commanded so much general in- terest. Until the result of the trial be known interest will be intensified and expectation will stand on tiptoe. In view of all the facts which have come to light during the trial, and in view, also, of the peculiar political condi- tion in which France at the present moment finds herself, it is exceedingly difficult to say what will be the fate of Bazaine. That his inaction at Metz precipitated and made certain the downfall of Paris is not for a moment to be doubted. That he was more anxious for the welfare of the Bonaparte dynasty than for the welfare of France has, we think, been proved. His great error was that he would not see or recognize a France which was not ruled by the house of Bonaparte. It was most natural that the French people should be angry with him. But public sentiment has greatly cooled down since the Marshal was made a prisoner ; it has cooled down not 9 little since the trial began, and particularly since the collapse of the grand restoration scheme of the mon- archists. There are some men in the French army who, no doubt, could see him die ; but we cannot think the number is great, and we are not satisfied that this bitter spirit of re- venge prevails to any very large extent among the people generally. It is not impossible that the Marshal's sentence may be the severest which the law prescribes—degradation and death. Degraded he certainly will be ; but it is not our opinion that the death sentence, if pronounced, will be carried out. At the very last President MacMahon will have something to say; and we can hardly think it possible, much as he individually suffered from Ba- zaine’s conduct at Metz, that the President will yield the weight of his great influence in favor of the execution of a former companion in arms, Still, if France wills it MacMahon will not shrink from the discharge of his duty, however painful it may be. A few hoursmore and we shall know the result. Tue Porice Deapuxans at the theatres have come to grief at last, and the obnoxious system of blackmailing which was pursued has been abolished by the action of the Police Commissioners themselves, Pub- lie opinion became too strong and too dangerous for them after the disgraceful man- ner in which they acted on Friday last at the Academy of Music, an account of which has already appeared in the Hzranp. Although repentance is tardy in this case, yet we may receive it as an earnest of the desire of the majority of the police authorities to remove objectionable practices, even at the expense of offending some of their associates. Bazaine End Ap- “Enemies iN Wan; IN Pace, Frrenps.’’— “It is astonishing how I like a man after hav- ing fought with him,’’ says the old French Colonel in the play. This is evidently the sentiment of General Sherman in regard to the ex-Confederate General N. B. Forrest. In 6 note from the latter to the former he tenders his services to the government in case of war with Spain. General Sherman sends the ap- plication to the War Department with the endorsement—‘‘I believe he (Forrest) would fight against our national enemies as vohe- mently as he did against us, and that is saying enough.’ This is about as handsome a com pliment as a victor can bestow upon a defeated enemy. and shows that there aro men in the HEET. North, and those who know whereof they speak, who are willing to acknowledge the valor of their late antagonists on Southern fields of war. Tea Drinking Extraordinary. The ladies have not yet fully made up their minds as to what they will do next Tuesday, the one hundredth anniversary of the up- setting of the teain Boston harbor. They have one week remaining, and within that time we hope they will be able to compass definite and useful action, Any strictures, therefore, which this article may be con- strued as insinuating will have refer- ence rather to what we understand the ladies im various parts of the United States intend doing than to anything we absolutely know on the subject. When the sex most interested is ignorant of its own intentions it ought not to be ex- pected that our knowledge should be exact and comprehensive. But we believe certain ladies in Philadelphia, not un- connected with the woman's rights move- ments and owning to a_semi-patriotic, semi-progressive interest in the Independence Centennial, intend holding next Tuesday night a mammoth tea-drinking upon the stage of the Academy of Music, in that city. If so, the sight will certainly be instructive, and will probably draw better than either Nilsson or Salvini. We have heard whispers of a similar movement in Boston, and our prayer is that the beverage may not be too strong for the fragile organizations that are to be subjected to its influence. It will be learned without astonishment that a like enterprise is enter- tained in Salt Lake City. The less hold a woman has over her husband the more she is addicted to drowning her sorrows in the in- toxicating teacup, and when she finds her chances of conjugal tenacity lessened by com- petition with twenty other wives the more certain it is that she will fly to the divine herb of China for relief. We believe that the ladies of New York have abjured Oolong and ‘English breakfast,”’ and have addressed themselves to sterner and weightier matters of the law. Still it is difficult to resist the conviction that the gen- eral sentiment of ladies who have taken the trouble to form an opinion on this matter is decidedly in favor of a tea fight, A conversa- tional skirmish over cup and saucer is what very few of the gentler sex can at any time re- sist. Between their husbands, their children, their servants and their ailments, it is impos- sible that, under social conditions such as this, the current of confidence should easily ebb. How much greater must be the tempta- tion to indulge when dignified by the patriotic and picturesque associations which the remembrance of Boston harbor and Griffin’s wharf presents? With the third cup of tea every wronged woman (and what woman is not wronged?) will imagine she has demolished aman. But it is to be hoped that the avidity with which she quafts the fragrant mixture is not typical of quies- cence under injury, When man is taxed without representation he upsets his tea; when woman suffers in the samo way she sits down and drinks it. Will she similarly swal- low her wrongs? Mrs. Stanton, Mrs. Liver- more, Miss Anthony, ye sacred three, forbid! At the same time, we are willing to admit that their commemorative tea drinking might bemade a pretty and touching affair, borrowing its traits of beauty from the virtue, gentleness and grace of the sex especially partaking in it, and its dignity and sentiment from the heroic flavor of a fact whose renown has survived a century. It is our wish to look at the celebra- tion in its true and legitimate light, divested of those burlesque characteristics which a few earnest but over-zealous ladies unconsciously give to it. An Errrcrent Navan Orricer.—Com- mander Braine seems to have something like special mission or special services to perform in Cuban waters; but whether he has or not he has been very active, and within a very short time has furnished valuable information regarding Santiago de Cuba, its defences, other ports of the island and the naval force of Spain. He has, besides, furnished official intelligence about the capture of the Vir- ginius and slaughter of her passengers and crew. It is but the other day that the Juniata sailed under his command, yet he has ac- complished an important work. With men of that stamp, and we have many of them in the navy, we need not fear the boasted su- perior number of ships or guns of the Spaniards. American activity and grit, with better guns, would go far to overcome the greater number of Spanish vessels. Tae Execrion Excrrement mm Exeter, Enotanp.—The acceptance by Sir John Duke Coleridge of the Chief Justiceship of the Court of Common Pleas rendered it necessary for him to resign his seat as member for Exe- ter in the House of Commons. Yesterday was the day appointed for the election of a mem- ber to fill the vacant seat. The liberal candi- date is Sir Edward Watkins. Tho conserva- tive candidate is Mr. Arthur Mills, The city throughout the day presented scenes of the wildest excitement. Riots were apprehended. Police assistance had arrived from Bristol and Plymouth, as well as a body of soldiers from a neighboring station, with a view to assist in the preservation of order. It is quite clear that the ballot has not gone to the root of the evil of English elections. It is the custom of the British press to sneer dt our elections when the slightest disturbance takes place. So long as we can point to such scenes as these at Exeter, we say, ‘Brother John, take first the beam out of thine own eye.” Tue Muwterean Exrcrion 1m Boston oc- curred yesterday, and as there was but one candidate for Mayor, to wit, Samuel ©. Cobb, and one candidate for Street Commissioner, Joseph Smith (no relation of the old Mormon prophet, but, like all good Puritans, looking after profit of another kind), they were both triumphantly elected. As regards Aldermen there was some difference of opinion, and several tickets were run with chances in favor of the regular citizens’ or combination ticket. Several of the fair sex were elected to the of- fice of School Trustees. Just in time for the great Centennial tea party! OBITUARY. Cnaries MacAlester. Charles MacAlester, & well known and much es- teemed merchant of Philadelphia, died in that ci:y esterday morning (9th inst), He was engaged Xotively in icainees “during half a century and leaves a large fortune. Be served a4 one of the Peabody trustees, SER aE i EE PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE. General D. 1. Casement, of Ohio, is at the Filtt Avenue Hotel. General Joun M, Corse, of Chicago, has arrived at the Gilsey House. Captain Danest, of the Italian Army, is at the Clarendon Hotel. Ex-State Senator John L, Nicks, of Elmira, ta at the Sturtevant House. Ex-Congressman J. H, Rice, of Maine, is staying at the Mctropolitan Rotel. The wife of ex-Governor Harvey, of Mlinoia, is lecturing before the curtain. Colonel Daniel Husted, United States Army, i registered at the Hoffman House. Ex-Congressman T. M, Pomeroy, of Auburn, N. ¥., is staying at the St, Nicholas Hotel. Captain G. D, Ramsey, Jr., United States Army, has quarters at the Albemarle Hotel, Ex-Congressman R. D, Hubbard, of Connecticut, yesterday arrived at the Hoffman House. Judge Advocate General J. H. Wood yesterday arrived at the Hatel Brunswick trom Albany, Governor Howard and Ex-Governor Burnside, of Rhode Island, have apartments at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, Colonel Thomas A. Scott, of the Pennsylvania Railroad, is among the late arrivals at the St. Nicholas Hotel, General Belknap will be married to Mrs. A, H. Bowen, of Cincinnati, at Harrodsburg, Ky., om Thursday, 11th inst. Alter a short visit home Vice President Wilson Will go South, the guest for a time of Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe, in Florida. Governor Noyes, who retires from the guber- natorial chair of Ohio with the close of the year, is in Washington, and it is stated 1s looking alter the Japanese mission. A Cincinnati paper,announces the arrival there ot the main “guy” of a cireus, One would think that the main “guy” in such cases is the clown, but not so in this instance. A Spiritualist medium, named Benjamin Hawkes, recently fell dead in the Athenmum Assembly Rooms, Birmingham, England, while addressing a meeting of members of his faith, Prince Gortschakoff, the Russian Chancellor, is at his desk every morning at six o'clock. He rarely goes to receptions, it being his habit to retire early in the evening. An item for the lecturers om healthful habits, y There is a woman in Iowa, who, although possessed of the usual organ of speech, has not spoken for ive years. Under a state of religious infatuation she made an oath that she would never speak more, and has, 60 far, kept her word. The Marquis Emile de Beaumont de Montfla re- cently died in a monastery of La ‘Trappe, where he had been for 10 years under the name of Brother Ambroise. He was a member of one of the most celebrated families of France, and was Louis Phi- lippe’s Minister to St. Petersburg. Mile, Blanche de Puylaurens recently became & Carmelite nun in Paris. Many members of the lady’s family had previously embraced a religious life. Viscount de Puylaurens is now a monk of La Trappe, and a Countess de Puylaurens i3 Grand Abbess of Puy-Berlaud, in the Gironde. A special trom Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, says:—‘The appointment of Attorney Genera Williams as Chief Justice causes great dissatisfac~ tion to prominent republicans here, as some of- cial action relative to Wisconsin matters has raised doubts in their minds as to whether he is capapie or honest,” MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC NOTES. Mr. Theodore Thomas is to give a concert at the Harlem Theatre on the 18th inst. The Unitarians have never given birth to a com- poser of music, nor have the Quakers. It is likely that the new comedy at the Fifth Ay- enue Theatre will be produced next Wednesday evening. A new comedy, asserted to be the joint work of the late Mr. T. W. Robertson and Mr. Alberry, is coming out at the Royalty. It is at last determined that Mr. Fechter’s first appearance at the Lyceum Theatre on Thursday evening is to be made in “The Lady of Lyons.” Afunny incident occurred at Wallack’s the other evening as the audience was dispersing. The par- quet was already empty, except that one man remained asleep in his stall. This being discovered part of the audience returned and gave him three hearty cheers. A critic of some position had thought proper to auimadvert rather adversely on one of Catalani’s personations, and her reply was this:—“When Go@ has given to a mortal such extraordinary taient as I possess, people ought to applaud and honor it asamiracle. Itis sheer profanity to depreciate the gifts of Heaven.” Itis thus that Bulwer writes of music:—“Vory stupid people olten become very musical, It is a sort of pretension to intellect that suits their ca- pacities. Plutarch says somewhere that the best musical instruments are made trom the jaw bones of asses. Plutarch never made a more sensible observation.” ‘The English system of organizing dramatic com- panies to play the works of some one dramatist must become as great a nuisance as the ‘star’? system. There are already Craven Robertson's “Caste” Company, specially organized to play the works of the late T. W. Kobertson; Richard Younge’s Comedy Company, playing only the pieces: of Mr. H. J. Byron; L. J. Seiton’s London Comedy Company, periorming Mr. W. 8. Gilbert’s mytho- logical and fairy comedies, and a company will start in February with Mr. Alberry’s plays. Mr. Frank Marshall's delightful little comedy “New Year’s Eve; or, False Shame,” was played at the Fifth Avenue Theatre last night before a large audience, with Mr. George Clarke in his old part of Lord Chilton and Mr. Lewis James as Captain Bragleigh. Mr. Clarke played the seemingly indolent young lord in his old manner, which if not English, is at least consistent with itself, Mr. James’ Bragieigh is much better than the impersona- tion of the part by another artist when it was first produced a year ago. The female parts are all weak in the comedy, but Mrs, Giibert, Miss Daven- port and Miss Sara Jewett prought to them all that Was Decessary to make them enjoyable. Miss Jewett essays the part of Alixe to-night, ANOTHER LETTER ON “LED ASTRAY DECEMBER 7, 1873. To THE Eprror or THE HERALD:— What is the matter with your dramatic critic? His notice of Boucicault’s “Led Astray” is unique to say the least. I saw this play on Saturday even- ing, and if deep interest, coupled with tervid hand demonstration, be any criterion of its merits, then is it a decided suecess, At the fall of the curtatm on the last act, the applause was overwhelming. I will say nothing of the moral of the piece, but re- specting its action and dialogue, these cannot be termed dull. From the first to the last act, the in- terest is unflagging. Your critic, whoever he may be, must at times be troubled with dyspepsia, and on the above evening was evidently labor- ing under an overflow of bile. He does not give his readers even an idea of what. the play is about. To bis jaundiced view it was mpl ‘& buriesque—“‘only For a first night (it were good policy for critics ta wait a few days till their minds become evenly balanced, before passing judgment on new dra- matic efforts) the play ran remarkably even; ana, not to mention the minor ee which were undeniably well filled, the acting of Eytinge and Mr. Thorne was really excellent. Ihave no connection with the theatrical world and know none of its familiars, either on or off the stage. aT one of the people and state here merely what I witnessed, as an old theatre~ goer; and had your critic been more observant and his ears leas cottoned to surroundings, he would nave found very few in the audience whe were hot absorbed in the performance of “Led stray. While upon this subject let me ask why, in moat. “parlor sets,” principally at Wallack’s and the Union Square theatres, @ drugget is laid in the centre of a dirty looking green or red baize, or whatever it may be? It would be quite correct, for @ dining room; but for a parlor—well, who ever saw one of any high pretensions thus “adorned?” Another glaring defect 14 4 smooth green cloth or bare boards for @ Wood scene. Once in a while we, of course, have an exception, as im the comedy of “Barwise's Book” ana a few others which have performed at Wallack's, To conclud twithatanding the disike of bilious critic, I shall greatly mistake if, irom what I witnessed On ita first perlormance, “Led Astray” does not have ® Successful run Of bs 7 niantty PO.