The New York Herald Newspaper, December 20, 1873, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1873—WITH SUPPLEMENT, NEW YORK HERALD "cw, sorters eet BROADWAY AND ANN STREET, JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR seeeee NO. 354 Wolame XXXVIII. AMUSEMENTS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. UNION SQUARE THEATRE, Union square, near Broadway.—Lxp Astray. Matinee at lig. ‘WOOD'S MUSEUM, Broadway, corner Thirtieth st— Saw Inisu Derxctivs. Afternoon and evening. BROADWAY THEATRE, 728 aie 730 Broadway.—* ‘Tux Woman uc Warns, Matinee at 1! GRAND OPERA HOUSE, Bin ay. and Twenty-third ot.—Humpry Domrty Asnoap. Matinee at 14. FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE, 28th st. and Broadway.— Panuicws. Matinee at 1s. BOOTHS THEATRE, Sixth av. and Twenty-tnird st.— iv; on tus Ankaysas TRAVELLER, Matinee atl. METROPOLITAN THEATRE, 585 Broadway,—Vanierr Eyrertatnaent. Matinee at 23g. GERMANIA THEATRE, Mth street and 34 avenue.— ‘Mania Stvanr. BROOKLYN THEATRE. t2—Lintan's Last Lovs MRS. F. B. Cf Davr or Lroxs. M LYCEUM THEATRE, Fourteenth street.—Lapr or rons. Matinee at 2 ACADEMY OF MUSIC, Lith street and Irving place.— Biatince at2 Buwanera, Quen or BNGLAND. THEATRE COMIQUE, ‘Enrerrainaent. Matinee sot Broadway.—Vanierr OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway. between Houston Bnd Bleecker sis.—Dsan' Hxant, Matinee. NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway, between Prince and Wouston sis —CuinpRkw ix THE Woop, Matinee at 13. WALLACK’S THEATRE, Broadway and Thirteenth Btreet—A Man or Honor. TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, No. 201 Bowery.— ‘Vanisty Extkutaiyuent. Matinee at 2. STEINWAY HALL, lth st, between 4th ay. and Irving place,—Matinee at 14—Gnanp Concans. ARMORY, corner of 14th st. and 6th av.—Gaanp Prowenane Concent. BAIN HALL, Great Jones street. hetween Broadway and Bowery.—Tux Pircrim. Matinee at 24s. BRYANT’S OPERA HOUSE, Twentv-third st., corner Sixth av.—Nxcuo Minstuxusy, &c. Matinee at2. THE RINK, 34 avenue and 64th street —Menacente 4nd Museum. Afternoon and evening. NEW_YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, No. 618 Broad- way.—Scrmnce AND Aut. WITH SUPPLEMENT. New York, Saturday, Dec. 20, 1873. THE NEWS OF YESTERDAY. To-Day’s Contents of the Herald. THE PRISONERS SURRENDERED AT SANTI- AGO! IS THE CASE CONCLUVED ?"—LEAD- ING ARTICLE—Fourts Pac. OUR IMPRISONED CITIZENS AT LAST GIVEN UP BY SPAIN! THE JUNIATA, WITH THE CAPTIVES, AND THE VIRGINIUS, CON- VOYED BY THE OSSIPEE, ON THEIR WAY TO NEW YORK—FiFTH Pacs. MINISTER SOLER ON SLAVERY EXTINCTION IN CUBA! SPAIN RESOLVED ON IT! IM- PORTANT PATRIOT SUCCESSES IN BaT- TLE! ANOTHER EXPEDITION SAFELY LANDED—FirrH Pace. THE SLAUGHTER HOUSE AND ITS SURROUND- INGS! MAP OF THE CITY AND HARBOR OF SANTIAGO DE CUBA—TurRp PacE, ESCAPE INTO FRANCE OF THE CURE OF SANTA CRUZ! THE NEW CAPTAIN GEN- ERAL FUR PORTO RICO—Frrtn Pages. ASHANTE DURES AN ALLY AGAINST THE BRITISH IN THE KING OF DAHOMEY! DIRE EFFECTS OF THE FEVER—FirTa PaGR. NT MACMAHON’S SALARY INCREASE NCTIONED BY THE FE CH ASSEM- —THE FAMOUS TICE TRIAL SLAYED BY ILLNESS OF COUNSEL— Fir7H Pace. PRESID! SAMANA SCHEME AND ITS CHIEF PRO- MOTER COME TO GRIEF! K DD J THE AB ‘TER OUT- CHIEF JUS’ HIP MUD- AL HOWARL NARROW < ! THE PACIFIC RAILROAD BOND INTEREST—TENTH PAGE. ANOTHER PHASE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS AGI- TATION! A COLORED CUNGRESSMAN’'S WRONGS! THE SENATE SALARY SUBSTI- THE RECESS—SixtTH Pace. THE BRITISH PRESS CONSIDERING THE VIEWS ADVANCED BY PRESIDENT GRANT IN z iT MESSAGE! CUBA AND AN- uw THE N—EIGHTH Par. THE POLYGAMOUS PROPHET'’S FIRST WIFE! A PAGE OF HIS EARLY HISTORY—sixtH Pace. WARRY GENE’ TO BE PRUNOU NERAL LEGAL SUMMARIES—EIGHTH PaGE. STOCKS TUMBLING! A CHANGE IN THE FI- NANCIAL SKY! BUSINESS YESTERDAY— NINTH PAGE. THE WORLD IN MINIATURE! YOUNG AMERICA’S CHRISTMAS DELIGHTS FORETOLD! THE WONDERFUL THINGS WITH WHICH THE EVERGREENS LL BE LOADED—WEST- K COU) ’S DEBT—Tuikp PAGE. REVIEW OF THE CATHOLIC SITU- ATION—CAPTAIN SURMONT’S SWORN T OF CALAMITY—SECOND Pace. On Anotuer Pace will be found a map showing the harbor and fortifications of Santiago de Cuba, to which we invite the attention of our readers. It is of especial interest as being the scene of the late mas- sacres committed by the Spanish authorities, and the dehvery of the survivors of the crew and passengers who were captured on board the unfortunate steamer Virginius, . ~The Senate has agreed to the Louse resolution to adjourn till January 5. That dreadfully over- worked body of patriots has consented, after hours of anxious deliberation, to give itself some sorely needed rest. For nearly three weeks Congress bas worked with a patience and an industry almost without parallel. It has discussed the Salary bill with paroxysms of moral heroism, but has not repealed it. It has supplied five million dollars which the Secretary of the Navy lost in a game of bluff. It has discussed the finances, and now it is going home, Let not this last fact excite un- timely rejoicing. It will return. Grxrrat Cortina has been chosen Mayor of Matamoros by a popular vote of the municipal electors, The minority opposition remains deeply excited over the result, and it is anticipated that forcible opposition will be attempted against the official declaration of the judges on Sunday, the 2st instant. The ‘national Mexican government has refused to send troops to the border city, having, per- haps, determined to permit the local politi- ywians to fight out their civic battle and thus permit the really strongest party to enjoy the pola of wbicwe THE VILLE DO HAVRE | With the despatches published elsewhere, noting the fact that Spain has surrendered the surviving prisoners of the Virginius at Santiago dé Cuba, public interest in the catastrophe which almost precipitated a war will generally cease. There are some paltry pieces of Spanish policeman- ship to be done by us at the order of the State Department, some few dollars to be wrangled over, before the story of the Virginius can be docketed for history. We are bound to bring the vessel to an American port and try her, and Spain has bound herself | to look about and discover whether any of her officials violated any treaty provision. Itis a victory for President Castelar and Captain General Jovellar ; it is a compromise which secretly gladdens the slave owners of the Casino Espaiiol; for America it is a compromise in which national honor and dignity have been deliberately surrendered while apparently stickling to uphold them. ‘The Spaniards have indeed surrendered the Virginius, but in what condition and how? If our State De- partment had possessed the ‘‘backbone’’ of the days of Marcy it is highly improbable that the Spaniards would have been allowed to choose a miserable secluded harbor wherein to fur- tively hand over a ship reeking with filth by way of reparation for an outrage to the American flag. If the Spaniards were a clean people they would be ashamed of such conduct on the part of their officials. As they are not a clean people, and know that Americans are, we can appreciate the insulting confidence with which they perpetrated the various out- rages against decency as additions to the outrages against civilization and humanity for which they were called on to atone. To have the slightest respect for the suscepti- bilities of a nation of brutes like those who defiled the decks of the Virginius is to act without any knowledge of mankind. These people did not feel their humiliation while they could have the surrender take place under the sneaking and disgusting circum- stances already madeknown. America, there- fore, cannot feel that her government has ob- tained satisfaction for the injuries done. The surrender of the prisoners was delayed until the 18th inst., when we learn that they were placed on the steamship Juniata, under Com- mander Braine, and that the steamer had put to sea for New York. §o ends the reparation. While these facts are being placed on record thg press of Havana has succeeded in obtain- ing copies of the President's Message. The temper of the subdued islanders can be fairly | tested by the journalistic comments. Every strong term of vituperation which they are allowed to use is hurled at the President. They think it is none of our business, and that the sooner we recognize the fact that they are willing to die a thousand deaths rather than suffer interference in interior affairs the better for ourselves. Before the sneak out of the Virginius from Havana the same editors announced their willingness to die the same deaths a similar number of times rather than she should be surrendered. We may, therefore, take these lucubrations as figurative. Stripped of their fantastic frip- pery, they signify that the so-called settlement has settled nothing; that the intentions of the slave-owners to defy civilization are unaltered. We have learned from the late difficulty, which has been so shabbily settled, some valu- able tacts. We are now aware that the only question for which the Spaniards in Cuba would fight to the bitter end is that of slavery. When the news was spread in Havana that the abolition of slavery was among the demands of America the Spaniards were ready to fight. They said so, and pos- sibly would have kept their word, if there was the slightest chance of assistance from Spain. Asa dog fights for nis bone Spanish Cuba might have fought for slavery. To lose it would be to lose all. We have learned that, weak as is the Spanish Republic in the Penin- sula, the mere threat of isolating Cuba in case of disobedience to home orders sufficed to cow the Casino Espafiol tito submission. Of course, the alternative of war with us with- out aid from Spain was what induced the submission of the Casino; but we have in this the foundation of an argument for'the future, There are signs, since the surrender of the Virginius, that another of those spas- modic efforts to crush out the rebellion in Cuba is about to be made. The project of arming the slaves to wage this war is spoken of, and emancipation in this form is hinted at. The Spanish Republic is pledged to abolish slavery in Cuba, but excuses her non-fulfil- ment by saying that it cannot be while there is an armed insurgent on the island. The fact is that at the time this condition was made the volunteers were sole rulers in the Ever Faithful, and Spain had not learned to coerce her superserviceable children by plac- ing them under a cross-fire. She has now an opportunity to test the value of this discovery by proclaiming the abolition of slavery in Caba. To fall back upon the old condition of an island free from rebels is growing more and more puerile. The patriots in the Eastern Department have made success their own. The reported landing of another filibustering expedition on the south- ern coast and the continued triumphs of the Cubang in the field look as though the fortunes of Spain were growing desperate in that quarter, Emancipation as a war measure is, then, an idea that may bring some conquer- ing force at the last hour to the Spanish side. It is one of the tramp cards of the patriots that they free the slave wherever they go, and Spain may feel herself encouraged to succeed by playing it also, There is indeed little use in Valmaseda the butcher, De Rodas the bully and other choice spirits uniting to form a plan of campaign against the patriots while Spain is cramped for men and money. It is, of course, doubtful that anything will deplete the ranks of the insurgents except the sword, It is very doubtful that either Spain or the Spaniards in Cuba can give them enough to sword accomplish this. Yet, as ao last resort, Spain should try the effect of emancipating the slaves. Castelar can, we have no doubt, induce the obliging Mr. Fish to keep the American fleet in Cuban waters until the order from Madrid arrives. Let him, therefore, strike at once at slavery and he may bring down the rebellion. In any case, there is some reason to doubt | that the scene of the surrender of the unmur- dered prisoners at Santiago de Cuba quite closes the case between this coantry and ASvanish authorily ia the ialaud. What waa le due toour honor and dignity hag not been paidin the miserable affair of Bahia Honda or the tardy surrender of the captives at San- tingo de Cuba. The bungling and truckling and accommodating of Secretary Buchu have robbed us of all that we had a right to expect in this matter ; but there are some points out- side of the Virginius case in which America’s honor is deeply cencerned. The contiruation at our doors of slavery and of the horrible war waged so relentlessly must at length pro- voke this country to interference in some shape, and there can be no better time than the present. We cannot afford to have Vir- ginius cases occurring every month or two, and the only way to prevent them effectually is to settle the whole dispute ourselves finally and fully. The Conviction of Genet. Henry W. Genet was convicted yesterday in the Court of Oyer and Terminer of the charge upon which he was on trial. His case was s clear instance of that kind of official ‘‘irregu- larity’’ which is, in fact, fraud. There can be no question as to the wholesome effect of the sentence of Tweed and the conviction of Genet upon the morality of our city politics. Now, that so much has been gained in the me- tropolis, the time is propitious for the punish- ment of national thieves. The legislation of Congress during the last few years has been the source of great bribery and corruption. The Orédit Mobilier exposures, which are only asample of the crimes of the public men at Washington, showed a condition of affairs as bad in every way as at Albany and in the city government. There is no reason why Tweed and Genet should be punished and Dawes and Kelley and Garfield and Patterson and the rest go unwhipt of justice. If we wish to purify our public offices we must punish republican as well as democratic evildoers. Party lines must not be allowed to interfere with the punishment of crime. There are powerful criminals who stand to-day on the books of the Treasury Department as defaulters to the government who have not even been required to settle their accounts because of their influence in the party. Gen- eral Howard, as the head of the Freedman’s Bureau, was known for along time to have misappropriated the public money, and yet no effort was made to convict and punish him. The exposure of General Balloch a year ago was in itself Howard's exposure, and it was as much the duty of the Secretary of War at that time as now to ask Congress to provide for his punishment. The case of Stokes, the Ten- nessee politician charged with committing bounty frauds, has not been disposed of, or has been so managed that the criminal escaped. The Washington Ring as well as the New York Ring afford fit subjects for trial and punishment.. We desire to supplement our joy over the conviction of Genet by the conviction of other criminals holding higher station than he, and we urge upon the repub- lican party the duty of seeing that all its dere- lict leaders are punished. Sooner or later punishment must come to them as it came to our corrupt city politicians, and if the ro- publicans endeavor to evade their duty the rebuke of the people will overturn the party. British Interference in Central Amer- ican Affairs, The British to-day, as ever before, lose no opportunity to appropriate territory or to exer- cise power in all parts of the world. Insatiable pride in their own might naturaliy leads to this; but they are impelled by another motive also. They are intent on extending their commerce in every corner of the globe and they look far into the future for results when often there does not appear to be much ad- vantage immediately. In this respect our own government pursues o different policy. Our short-sighted public men act merely for the present, and, leaving the future to take care of itself, frequently sacrifice both national inter- ests and principle for temporary expediency. Thus we have in Central American affairs and with regard to Cuba invariably surrendered commercial and political interests through a short-sighted, weak and temporizing policy. Apropos to these remarks we have just re- ceived detailed information of the action of a British war vessel, the Niobe, in supporting indirectly Don Henry Palacios, who proceeded with an organized expedition to overturn the governments of Guatemala, San Salvador and Honduras, and in bombarding Omoa, a port of Honduras, because the authorities either would not or could not pay the sum of a hun- dred thousand dollars as indemnity for alleged damages to British subjects. The expedition of Palacios, which was carried or aided by the- steamer General Sherman, a vessel of which we have heard a great deal lately as being a filibuster and sailing under different flags, was under the eye of the commander of the Niobe. It ap- pears, indeed, from our correspondence that this commander was not contented to remain passive merely, but that he actually employed Palacios as his agent in certain’ matters, and proposed to the agent of the government at Omoa to surrender to Palacios for a certain sum of money. Failing in this attempt he made reclamations for indemnity to British subjects, about which no question had been raised before, and gave fourteen hours for the indemnity to be paid. Not getting the money, and, perhaps, not expecting it would or. could be raised, he bombarded Omoa, while Palacios disembarked at the time and attempted to take the fort. This appears to show the com- plicity of the Niobe with the filbustering ex- pedition of Palacios, The reclamations tor a sum of indemnity money, real or pretended, were not allowed to be disposed of by. di- plomacy. The commander of the Niobe took the matter in his own hands and used his guns. The commander of the Niobe refused even an interview which the general in com- mand at Omoa had requested. ‘This is the way the English are in the habit of treating weak foreign States when they have a griev- ance, or wish to make one, and when they de- sire to exercise a controlling influence. Many of our readers will remember the dif- ficulty we had with Great Britain some years ago about the Mosquito Territory and Central American affairs generally—a difficulty which ended in the humiliating Clayton-Bulwer treaty. The breechless Mosquito King was claimed as the ally of England and a pro- tectorate was extended tohim. This solemn farce was the source of the complications re- ferred to. The trade of Central America and a controlling influence over one of the most important transit routes to the Pacific Ocean werg the real ohicots Kugland bad ia wew She does not lose. sight of them now, This affair in Honduras is in keeping with her whole policy. 80 well do the naval com- manders of England understand this that they know they may even proceed to extremities without reproof when- ever British interests and policy are promoted. How different with our navy and government! We talk about our superior interests in the countries and waters of America, of the Monroe doctrine, of the com- merce that lies at our door, of republican in- stitutions and progress in this hemisphere which it is our duty to foster, and much more of the same gassy palaver, but we do nothing. Europe, and England particularly, takes away a large share of this American commerce that we might appropriate if a proper policy were pursued, and we have really little political in- fluence with the countries of America. This great Republic is short-sighted in these matters, has wrapped itself up in its own selfishness and has abdicated the important rdéle in American affairs which power and geographi- cal position had given. We might take a lesson from England, but it is to be feared that national ambition and public spirit have declined too much for that. Who Is Brigham Young!—Where Did He Come From?—And Did He Leave a Wife in England? Who is Brigham Young? The answer from Great Salt Lake comes booming through the echoing defiles of the Rocky Mountains that he is President, High Priest and Prophet of the Latter Day Saints, a man of family—yea, a man of many families—a venerable and veritable patriarch of the old school of Israel, “the lion cf the tribe of Judab,’’ the ‘‘chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely.’”’ But next comes the protest of the Gentiles of Utah that he is an impostor, a demagogue, a tyrant and a gay deceiver, and that he has be- come rich and powerful from the credulity of his followers. Then we have the testimony of the dispassionate traveller that the Mormon Prophet is a remarkable man, of rare abilities as a leader, colonizer, law-giver and ruler, and one of the most successful men of the day as farmer, merchant, railway builder and specu- lator. But who is he in his lineage? and where did he. come from? are among the astounding inquiries concerning him made in a letter from England which we publish to- day. The writer of the letter has an idea that he has discovered at Stockton-on-Tees, county of Durham, the first wife of the Mormon po- tentate, and the chain of circumstantial evi- dence upon which he hangs his case is very curious and interesting. The essential points of the story are that an old woman in the county of Durham, England, eighty-one years of age, of the name of Brig- ham, thinks that Brigham Young is her hus- band, who deserted her and their children and disappeared from England forty years ago. It appears that her husband Brigham was the natural son ofa man named Young and a woman named Brigham; that he was adopted bya man named Allen; that after the young man’s marriage he proved to be anything but a devoted husband and father ; that he worked for some time in London asa cooper under the name of William Brigham, and that he left London and his wife and children to join the Mormons in America. This man would be now in the seventy-sixth year of his age, and our inquiring correspond- ent evidently believes that President Brigham Young, of the Latter Day Saints of Utah, is the long-lost husband of the aforesaid Mrs. Brigham. We cannot undertake the task of assisting the interested parties in England in guthering up the evidence required to establish the sup- posed claims of Mrs. Brigham to the position of the first wife of the great Brigham of Utah. That famous English traveller, Richard F. Burton, in his “City of the Saints,” says of the Mormon Prophet that he was born at Whittingham, Vt., on the Ist of June, 1801, and as Burton in this statement is relating‘a conversation held with the Prophet himself we conclude that he speaks by authority. We had supposed, however, that Brigham Young was a native New Yorker. Still, between the general description of the person of Young as given in our letter from England and that of Burton—allowing for the interval of thirty years—there is a resemblance, and upon one point itis remarkable. Burton speaks of a slight droop in the lid of the left eye, “which made me think he had suffered from paraly- sis,’ and our English letter refers to the same peculiarity. However, many distinguished characters in all ages of the world have been claimed in different persons and by different places. Ten cities claimed the poet Homer, dead, F, Through which tue living Homer begged his bread, From time to time some hopeful individual has been set up as Louis XVII. It was logically proved in an interesting book on the subject, published in this city some years ago, that in the Rev. Eleazer Williams, since de- ceased, we had the royal Bourbon amongst us, Another claimant to the same honor now lives in Germany. And there is the Tichborne case, and there are many other cases, all show- ing that it is easier to get up a claim to a name or an estate than to establish it. Nevertheless, as we expect some stringent measures of legislation from the present session of Congress against Mormon polyg- amy, and for the protection of the first wife in her pre-emption right to her Morman husband, if the friends of Mrs. Brigham believe that they have a good case against Brigham Young they would, perhaps, do well to prosecute it to a decisive settlement. Ann Eliza Webb Young, the sev- enteenth wife of Brigham, now prosecuting a suit for divorce and alimony, says that her neglectful husband has only nineteen wives at present, but that upon Amelia Falsom, No. 18, he lavishes all his affections, and that he is afraid of her. But let Mrs. Brigham, of Eng- land, eighty-one years of age, prove her claim, and she may bg yet the reigning Queen of Salt Lake City os Mrs. Brigham Young No. 1. Tur Farvre ot the Samana Bay Company, it is to be hoped, will prove the last of the wild adventures in the West Indies. If it had not been for the hopes of national aid held out by some of the politicians at Washington there would have been no Samana Bay Com- pany. Its formation was simply an annexa- tion scheme in disguise, and the failure is so disastrous thet even American men-of-war are not permitted to go into the harbor at Samana, lest it be construed into a disposition to over- awe gometbing which docs not exist The Late Misty Weather and Its Probabie Import, The strange, misty weather of tho past fort- night, in New York and London, is, perhaps, suggestive of something besides the current fog jokes. The phonomonal fog of this year has been seldom matched in the United States since that of 1819, when, for several days, darkness brooded over the Atlantic States, and in the halls of Congress the speakers could not distinguish the countenances of members. Such visitations, especially of the celebrated dry fog, have often been invested with terror as the prelude to droughts or pestilence, or fearful tempests, and even volcanic eruptions. History abounds in proofs of the cooxistence of these dire events and these remarkable atmospheric changes, while the greatest poet writes of how the sun, thus shorn of his beams— In dim eclipse disastrous twilight sheds On half the nations, and with fear of change per- plexes monarchs. However far fancy may have created this impression science has clearly ascertained that the prevalence of protracted fogs and tog belts, stretching over large districts, are significant’ of great meteorological changes. The ordinary smokiness of our autumnal season, which also marks the Indian summer, is probably due to large quantities of dust and smoke from fires, After the extensive prairie burnings of the West of 1819 tho celebrated black rain fell at Montreal, dis- coloring everything it moistened and showing its origin unmistakably. The first heavy rains wash out the air and precipitate these impurities, so that we are thus safe in assert- ing the last fortnight’s fogs are not due to smoke, They were probably originated by an unusually marked juxtaposition or overlap- ping of the polar and equatorial air currents. ‘The latter seems to have projected itself in a tongue-like shape far north of its December bounds into the Mississippi Valley and east- ward to our Middle Atlantic coast. Its humid presence gave rise to the heavy rains which havo recently flooded the Ohio River. It was condensed by the polar current from Oanada. The mixing of the two currents along this seaboard has also, undoubtedly, occasioned the phenomenal fogs of the past week, The proximity of the two great bands of atmos- phere of opposite thermal and electric con- ditions, as shown by fogs, has often been observed to be a precursor of the most dig, astrous tempests, and our readers will remem- ber the late dense fog at London was followed by the terrible storm and hurricane of tho 16th inst. What the effects of our own strange spell of misty autumnal weather will be remains to be seen. But we ought not to be surprised should it be followed by a frosty and wintry, if not a stormy spell, and also by dangerous gales on the sea coast. Collisions at Sea. The Chamber of Commerce has acted wisely in asking Congress to take some steps towards diminishing the danger of collision at sea. If some general laws of an international character were established the chances of collision would be considerably reduced. Some of the more important transatlantic steamship lines have already laid down a regu- lar course for the ships of their own lines, and the result has been, so far, satisfactory. The disaster to the Ville du Havre has called at- tention to the subject in France, and resolu- tions looking to the establishment of an inter- national code have been adopted by the Assembly. The moment is therefore propitious, and if the matter be taken up energetically by Congress some regulations making ocean transit safer may beagreed upon. We do not, however, think that the mere marking out of highways for steamships will accomplish all that is necessary. The use of lights that shall be visi- ble at a considerable distance ought to be insisted upon. Had the Ville du Havre been furnished with the electric light the disaster which lost so many valuable lives might never have occurred. Tho danger arising from collision with sailing vessels must be dealt with in a special manner; for the mere laying out of ocean tracks to be fol- lowed by the steamships will not meet the case of the sailing ships. These last, from the circumstances of the case, cannot follow a steady course, but must be guided by the con- dition and direction of the wind. The ques- tion is one that well deserves the closest study, and we hope it will receive from our -repre- sentatives the attention it merits, Donen. on THE Guipmon.—Bad men may often escape the punishment due to their mis- deeds, but they cannot expect to escape always. Judge Durell, whose decisions did so much to bring about all those shameful troubles in New Orleans—troubles which perplexed the government and disgusted the American people—is likely at last to have an oppor- tunity of standing forth in bis true colors. General Butler is after him, and the General is not in the habit of rosting half way. It is his habit to finish what he begins. Durell has had his day of notoriety ; and if General Butler’s resolution, passed by the House yes- terday, leads to the exposure of Durell’s in- iquity Durell will be the last man to find good cause of complaint. If, in addition to all the other charges made against him, it can be proved that he has been guilty of the misap- propriation of the public funds, and also of misproceeding in bankruptcy cases, it is high time that this dispenser of justice was himself in the hands of the law. The sub-committee of the Judiciary Committee will no doubt find out and tell us all the truth; andit is not unfair, we think, to say that in this case guilt, if established, will be properly punished. Tae Presmpxnt’s Messace Apnoap.—The British press, according to the shades of sym- pathy for or against the United States which the leading journals display on all subjects of concern to Americans, devotes leading criticism to the Message of President Grant. The Times, which is famous for being wrong on all American topics, cannot agree with the idea that we have suffered an insult to our flag in the capture of the Virginius. Other- wise the Times 1s sympathetic, and declares, in consonance with the Executive utterances, that “Spain must control Cuba or Cuba must be separated from Spain, and a free creole repub- lic established in the island to replace the authority of tho mother country.” The Post thinks that unless there has been a secret understanding between General Grant and Castelar the Message is injurious to the cause of the Spanish Republic. The Slandard is irate, and its writer exhibits premonitory symutoms of the arow) London fom | eee Tue Was of Asnawrer.—Tolograms from the Gold Coast bring the important intelli- gence that the King of Dahomey has allied. himself with the Ashantees in the war against the British. Fever is spreading among Sir Garnet Wolseley’s troops, and one hundred invalids have been removed from the army te St. Helena. The native league between the sovereignties of Dahomey and Ashantee will tend to complicate affairs very seriously for the soldiers of Queen Victoria. His Majesty of Dahomey can place a large army in the field. One of the most extraordinary features of his military system is exhibited in a royal army of native females, which musters be- tween six thousand and eight thousand women, formed into regiments, armed with Danish muskets, short swords and clubs. Tho ap- pearance of this force will serve to test the personal social gallantry, as well as the mar- tial prowess, of Mr. John Bull very severely. Considering, also, that the majority of the subjects of the King of Dahomey are canni- bals, and that the British are inveterate beef-eaters, it may be taken as a fact that the Ashantee war struggle will be fought out, tooth and nail, to the bitter end. po ey Should they be called the Pariahs of Congress who wish to pare down the public expenditures? ‘The new Sultan of Morocco has broken up the harem of his father and will keep only one wife. The King of Siam, according to custom, retired to a monastery fortwo weeks, when he reached his majority on the 25th of September, On the loth of October he relinquished priestly functions and reassumed his royal prerogatives. The New Orleans Times says:—*'The nomination of Mr. Williams as Chief Justice appears to be de- veloping a good deal of undertoned opposition te President Grant.” Rather “high toned’ than otherwise seems to be the general impression. The Rev. John Dymoke, “the Queen's Cham- pion,” has just died at,70 years of age. His family had held the office of ‘Champion’ during 508 years, but his father was the last of its members oMicially recognized as acting in that capacity. Mrs. Frances M, Burling, @ lady who danced with Washington and flirted with Lafayette, Aarom Barr, Alexander Hamilton and other great men of Revolutionary days, died recently in Milford, Pa., aged 96, She was a belle in New York society nearly 80 years ago. Carlotta Bettini, the Italian revolutionary wo man, has just died at the age of 61. She was@ friend of Mazzint and was concerned In all his ventures, She was arrested in 1833, but threats of torture and death could not make her tell who were her fellow conspirators, Mr. Baring, the deceased London banker, has left a fortune of £2,000,000 sterling, exci.usive of the immense value of his art collections. His nephew, Lord Northbrook, the Viceroy of India, ts Mr, Baring’s principal heir, He has also left to each clerk in the house of Baring Bros. & Co. @ year’s salary. The Comte de Chambord, says the Paris Union, his official organ, was recently in Paris for two weeks, He expected to be called for and was de- termined to be ready. Other authorities say thas the Comte was with diMculty persuaded from am intention to present himself before the Assembly, and say to it, “1 am the king.” What a pretty Gallic row there would have been in that Assembly on his appearance! “Alas for the rarity of Christian charity.” Rev. Mr. Buckley, @ parish priest in Limerick, Ireland, had for years been disputing with a parishioner about the ownership of some land on which the latter had put up ashanty. Recently being super- seded by the Rev. Mr. Power, he and the latter gentleman determined to oust the parishioner. They organized a party, who, urged on by them, tore down the shanty and leit without shelter @ sick man, who soon died from exposure, Aman named Robert Naylor East recently took @ queer revenge for his wife's irregularities. He made known his injuries to his neighbors in Old- ham, England, and then committed suicide, Am immense crowd gathered at his funerai to hoot Mrs, East, but as she did not accompany the cortége the mob had to find a new way to punish her. Tney broke into the house and greatly fright- ened her with threats, which they would have carried out but for the vengeful Mr. Bast’s relatives. MOVEMENTS OF THE PRESIDENT. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Dec, 19, 1873, The President and family, with the rematns of Judge Dent, left nere at eight o'clock to-night for St. Loais, NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. Promotions Confirmed By the Senate. WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 1873. The following promotions in the navy were com firmed by the Senate to-day:— Commodore William Reynolds, to be Rear Ad- mirai in the navy, vice Rear Admiral T. A. Jenkins, retired; Commodore James H. Strong, to be Rear ‘Admiral, vice Charles Steedman, retired; Commo- dore Enoch G. Parrott, to be Rear Admiral, vice Willttam Rogers Taylor, retired; Commodore J. J. Almy, to be Rear Admiral, vice G. F, Emmonds, retired; Captains Donald MeN. Fairfax, James Sprotts and James W. A Nichoison, to be Commo- dores, and @ large number of corresponding pro- motions mate in the lower grades, together with various promotions in the stat corps of the navy and appointments of second lieutenants in the army. Naval Orders. WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 1873, The following orders were issued from the Navy Department to-day :— Master C. K, Curtis is detached from the recetv- ing ship Potomac, at Philadelphia, Acting Assist- ant Surgeon J. W, Dillman is ordered to the Paw. pee, at Key West. Midshipman Thomas C. Wood is placed on waiting orders. Extra Work Discontinued at the Charles= town Navy Yard=—The Franklin Ready to Sail. Boston, Dec. 19, 1873. Orders were reccived from Washington to-day to cease all extra work at the Charlestown Navy Yard, and to resume the usual working hours, The work of fitt!ng out the Brooklyn will proceed, but, as the emergency is over, a number of employes have been discharged. ‘The Franklin is expected to sail about Monday. Tne China Squadron. The latest advices, by mail, from China report under date of Shanghai, October 17, as rae ‘The United States war ship Hartford has le‘t here for Nankin and river ports, and the Yantic wilt leave soon for Hong Kong, Manila and a cruise in the Sooloo Sea. ASSET meer ALLEGED OFFICIAL IRREGULARITIES IN BROOKLYN. Last night the Supervisors’ Committee on Char. ities met at the County Court House, and pro- ceeded to inspect the annual report recently made by the commissioners to the Board, They were led to make this scrutiny from the fact that it was whispered that many irregularities might be found. In looking over the report last night the committee found @ certain indefiniteness Which they did not think looked well. Large expenditures had been made and no vouchers returned, and the amount jeged to have been expended for outdoor rel erat down at $100,555. One of the pee stated the commissioners had not done as much ood or afforded the relief which had been afforded 6 F's smait benevolent society. In nearly ev case 100 per cent more had been charged for tt Pe A they were worth; at least, it was so stated, ‘The total amount charged for the support of the county institutions was $386,293 39, KOLWING CONVICTED, Evizapern, N, J, Dec. 19, 1873, ‘rhe trial of Herman Koewing, formerly a purser on one of tue North German line of steamships, for the attempted murder of Lucy Schleman, whom he married fast summer tn Hamburg, under the name of Krai, closed this noon, The jury after being Oot 1b tainutes, bronght in a verdict of atro- cious aAssait, aud be Was sentenced Uo 10 years Um tug fate Prison and WO Day @ Une OF $1,000