The New York Herald Newspaper, January 19, 1874, Page 3

-_ POLITICAL, WTIZENS. APOLLO HALL AND EAST SID: Der Awociaton, 1S HOH. SULLIVAN 6 above orgunlzations ‘as'& candidate of Liberal Organisation’: Twenty-first Assembly | JA is present BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES. ; POKTUNITIE WELL ESTABLISHED REAL ESTATE OFFICE in Pine street, near Broadway, for sale; ready for the spring business; millions of city and county pro- Address INDUCEMENT, box 121 Herald offices A RARE CHANCE.—A GENTLEMAN DOING & large cash business wants a copartner with about $2.000 cash to extend his business. or a loan of that Smoung for which he Will pay # bonus and give unex- oer ity. Address + Foo 9, 79 Nag BUSNess OPPORTUNITY RARELY OFFERE! Grocery, now doing $1,100: has done over a ‘cash bargain only, Call on or address JOHN G: 9 Seventhavente. a OTEL TO LEASE FAVORABLY—RARE CHANCE; Astor Place Hotel; over 100 suits of rooms, stores, restaurants, basements; most sitely and eligibiy located, facing Broadway, between per Institute and Bible House. Apply at 27 Third avenue. ARTNER FOR A FINANCIAL POSITION, WITH $25,000 @n extensive manufac- tori ity of 250,000 inhabitas beral profits on investment cuaranteed and expense: fav ation paid. Apply to GRIGGS, CARLETO) CO, 98 Broadway. ‘ Pagina faue A Watched ges ore Ba eral terms e ri! party, A to CHA! ES Lie PVRS, room 34 Park Hotel, corner” Nassau and ns RINER WANTED—WITH $60), IN A FAMILY ae eae, ell emaptipied, eek phamee bs indoor A ed an U3 Reade street. ’ le aitog RPRLINE.” WANTED-A PARTNER WITH ABOUT $2.00 OR 000 4 5 pA Pe Her aty parabe manufacturing business. Ad. Wares PARTNER WITH MEANS, TO CON- tinue the jobbing foreign truit business, at the old established stand of A. L. Sayre & Co., 212 Washington et, New York; the senior partner is retiring, and’ of- oe bis lane to mataele par. i (ee business . Ae cessful operation. For full particulars inquire at the office, 212 Washington street. ANTED—AN ACTIVE MAN, WITH $10, TO TAKE an active part jna business that will pay $8 to $5 Bday; no risk. Apply at No.9 Bond street, Brooklyn, (n coal office. 4.00, —PARTNER WANTED, IN A WELL ESTAB- » lished and large paying dusiness, requiring two interested; business guaranteed; money to be In- vested in stock ; no bonus. vf Chatham. No. 172 Worth street, corner A —STANDARD AMERICAN BEVEL TABLES AND « the Phelan & Collender Combination Cushions, for sale only by the patentee. H. W. COLLENDER, cessor to Phelan & Collender, 733 Broad yi OHN CREAHAN, CONTINENTAL HOTEL, PHILA- delphia.—8ole agent in PennsyWania for the stand- American ard Tables, manufactured ouly by H. . Collender, ia ak TO HIRE-—5X10 CARKOM BILLIARD ‘able, for private use. Address E. D. H., 16 East Thirty-sixth street. SHIPBUILDING ON LONG ISLAND. What is Being Done at the Yards ‘in Brooklyn—The Workingmen’s Com- Plaint Against the Government—How the Navy Department Could Have Assisted Them—The Work in Progress at the East End of Long Island. The opening of the year finds the shipyards in Brooklyn unusually dutl. Only three or four have any business op hand, and there is but little pros- pect of a change for the better.~ A tour along the river front tells the story of almost general stag- nation in the trade in the most forcible language. Groups of men are observed on every corner in Williamsburg, Greenpoint and Hunter’s Point, andin the majority of instances their conversa- tion is directed to the “rough times,” as they xth call the present dull season, and the; do not indulge in very sanguine’ an- ticipations for the future. In two yards ‘there was found something like activity, and which reminded one of the busy days of other years when scores of vessels were on the stocks at the same tame across the river and thousands of stalworth workmen were engaged in their construction. These places were those of Mr. Joseph B. Van Deusen, foot of North Seventh street, Wilitams- burg, and Mr. James D. Leary, inthe same neigh- borhood, Mr. Van Deusen 1s building two large propellers for service on Long Island Sound, which will be finished in the early spring, in order to open the route, which is to be from New York to New Bed- ford. So far progressed 1s one of the vessels that it is anticipated she will be ready to launch about the 20th of February. These propellers are of the following dimensions:—Length of keel, 175 feet; length over all, 195 feet; breadth of beam moulded), 33 feet; depth o1 hold, 13 feet; eopnnes: about 1,200 tons. The frames are of waite oak principally, and fastened in the most thorough manner, great strength being sought alter in their construction more (yedeaaty Nereis hovel thougn they will be very fast and exceedingly comiortable. The machinery of the vessels is now elamater Iron Works, and wili be ready to put in its place without de- lay. ‘The first of the propellers wiil be named City of New Bedford, and the second City of Manches- ver. Mr. Van Deusen’s work will give employment to 8 goodly number of artisans during the winter, In the yard of Mr. Leary there is being finished a barge 160 feet long and 34 feet wide, tu be used in transporting cattle trom Long Dock, Jersey City, to Forty-second street, North River. ‘This is the third barge of like dimensions that Mr. Leary has built for the same parties, but there is no rospect at present of further work of the kind. jarge number of men are here employed in con- trac fun carriages for the government, which work continue for some time to come. This ends most of the construction of vessels in Wil- Mamsburg and surrounding places, and though it is @ beggarly list to present it affords a striking contrast to the “good old times" for ship carpen- ters few years since. a y In conversing with the’ more intelligent of the unemployed in this branch of business there is Jound a deep seated feeling against the govern- ment regarding what is termed the favoritism and unjust discrimination of the Officials in the Navy Department. These men say that when the late trouble with Spain was at his height and all kinds of Work upon our vessels-of-war was hurried to the utmost there was given large iron works in New York, Philadelphia, Chester, Wilmington and other places, $5,000.000 or $6,000,000 worth of repairing, and directions were given that the establishments should hurry all that was possible their machinist labor at night and op Sundays. While the men who build machinery and construct and repair iron ves- sels have thus been benefited the workers in wood have been leit out in the cold. While our navy ig filled with rotten craft, and tne navy yards running over with workmen from all parts of the country, pat in their places and retained through Polttical influence, the artisans of New York think that the government might have given them a chance with tne toilers in iron. They feel and have long felt that a few hundreds of thousands of dollars expended on the ships in the navy, and the overhauling done py competent men, would be about the best tuing the Navy Department of this administration ever did to assist deserving work- imgmen whose wants are very pressing. hile duiness . marks the shipbuilding in- terests about Brooklyn the yards at the east end of orgs are very busy. Those of Port Jeffer- son have considerable work on hand, as the an- Hexed list of vessels building will show:—At the yard of Messrs, J. M. Bayles Son is the three- Masted schooner Rosa Spit er, 125 feet keel, 32 feet 6 inches beam, 10 feet hold, and of 600 tons, Her deck is laid and the planking nearly finished. She is owned by Captain Joseph Bayles, with parties in New York, and will be ready about the 1st of April. Also new three-masted, centre-board schooner Anna A. Booth, 103 feet on keel, 29 feet beam, 9 feet hold, and of about 350 tons, Her deck frame is in and is rapidly being Planked. She will be launched in April, and is owned by Captain Samuel H. Bayles, and intended for the general treighting business. The three- Masted keel schooner Clara KE. Bergen, 130 feet keel, 34 feet beam, 12 feet hold, and of 800 tons. The keei is laid, stern in place and frame nearly out. She will be owned by the master, Captain mes Dayton, with Messrs. Valentine, Bergen & of Brooklyn, and is intended for the Soutnern lumber trade. Work has been commenced upon a three-masted schooner for Caleb N. Dickerson, to De 125 feet Keel, 32 feet 6 inches beam, and 10 feet hold, Besides these bet = pa Bes vessels under- ing repairs of considerable extent. one Jonn R, Mather is building at his yard a new three-masted centre-board schooner, 110 ieet keel, B1 feet beam, 10 feet hold, capacity about 400 tons. ‘The deck frame 1s in, and it is expected she will be launched in June nex' Measrs. OC. L. Bayles & Son are building a three- masted centre-board schooner, 125 feet long, 32 feet beam, 10 fect hold, and of 00 tons burthen, The frame is up aud the date of completion set down for June next, The owners are Messrs. Nelson & Hopkins, £. B. Kirk and others, of New York. t the yard of Mr. E. D. Barling there is on the Stocks a scnopuer of 00 feet keel, 28 feet veam, 8 feet 6 inches hold, for Captain Joseph Hudson, of Stony Brook. She is intended for the coal trade. Also sloop Abner, 43 tons, building for Oaptain Edward Hakock. SUDDEN DEATH. Coroner Woltman was yesterday called to No. 321 ‘West Twenty-fifth street to hold an inquest over the remains of Bridget Burns, a corpulent woman, thirty-three years of age, and a native of Irelan ‘who died suddenly, as is believed, from natur causes. Deceased had been under the care of Dr. Morton, of Twenty-fourth street, NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 1874—WITH SUPPLEMENT. ASHANTEE. Herald Special Correspondence from the Seat of War on the Gold Coast. ELMINA AND ITS PEOPLE. The Composition ot Ecra Quamin. “SWORM THE KING'S BIG OATH.” Awaiting the Arrival of the White Troops. A LA MAGDALA. ELMINA, Gold Coast, West Africa, Dec, 8, 1873. Tam writing from the old Dutch town of Elmina, or the “mine,” whence the Portuguese, who farmed the revenues of the Gold Coast in the six- teenth century, obtained ingots and gold dust enough to stir the kings of Portugal to mightier and grander achievements, which finally culmi- nated in the discoveries of the Eastern and West- ern Indies. I love the old town for its associations and its history, for the impetus it gave to civiliza- tion, for the fair promise that it held out to Don Juan and his brave Captain of an empire to be established, of the redemption of Africa by meaus of the Catholic missionary; a dream, however, that has not yet been realized, and never will be by its present holders, but may be by a younger and more vigorous nation, such as Germany, THE CASTLE OF ST, GEORGE, @ tall mass of white buildings, stands on a spit of land to my right; the Castle of San Iago, situate on a mill which commands the town of Elmina and Castle of St. George stands on my left. The har- bor of Elmina, formed by the River Beyah, is be- tween the castles, The town of Elmina groups itself at the base of San Iago, and then straggles in two irregular lines along the shore of the Bay of Elmina, It probably contains a population of 5,000 souls in time of peace, but just now the warriors have peen mustered in as auxiliaries of the English against the Ashantees, white the drones have been captured by pressgangs and enrolled as carriers to convey material of war from Cape Coast to the front. The people do not: like this state of things, itis insuch striking contrast to what they have been accustomed to under the benign rule of the Dutch. They feel aggrieved that they are com- pelled to do service unter a flag which they never acknowledged, that they are forced to fight against the aAshantees, people whom they were accus- tomed to look upon as allies and {frierids in the old days. THE ELMINAS see @ vast difference between their treatment by the Dutch and the English. The Dutch indulged them ia long-winded palavers in the castles, treated their chiefs with deference and respect, were mer- ciful to their foibles, their old customs and their ignorance. The English are brusque and peremp- tory in their dealings with them; absolve them from attending at palavers; content themselves with giving them orders and seeing that such orders are carried out by armed police; pooh-pooh: their antiquated and ignorant objections; keep watch and ward over them with a martial vigi- lance; drive their warriors to fight against old frienas, and press men to transport service with- out so much as asking the consent of their chiefs, All these peremptory doings of the English are sources of grievance, AFRICAN LINGUISTS, Mostly all the Elminas can speak Dutch fluently, because the Dutch were accustomed to keep two- schoolmasters at the fort for the instruction of ‘their subjects. There are several clever mechanics and sailors among them also, whom the English find exceedingly useful at the present busy time. The supertority of this town over Cape Coast as the headquarters of the British on the Gold Coast is at once seen by any one coming here for the pur- pose of comparing the advantages of the two towns. The people, in the first place, are very much more advanced than those of Cape Coast. The Dutch have mingled more with them and in- culcated in them industrious habits, and their in- telligence has been very much more expanded. The casties are stronger and better adapted for defence, the country is healthier and might be made much more so, until, in fact, fevers would be as rare as inany part of Europe. Then, asa last argument in favor of Elmina over Cape Coast, the former has a harbor which is accessible to boats at high tide, and, with a little outlay and a small dredging machine, small schooners under 200 tons might enter with ease and safety—a very important thing for the Gold Coast, which has not a_ single harbor where 4 ship’s boat can Jand with safety. I should say that an outlay of £20,000 would make Elmina a first class harbor. The sand and mud at the bar and in the river-are the only impediments, which, however, are easily removable, As large schooners once floated in the harbor, there is no reason why they should not float again even in deeper water. The civil commandant, Captain Helden, of the Second West India regiments, is doing a good work, however, and in the right direction. It is a step which, if foliowed up by the colonial authorities, would jead towards establishing Elmina as head- quarters and promoting the commerce of the Gold Coast. The ruins that have disfigured the neigh- borhood of the castle of St.George since the de- struction of the native towm last June by the launches and boats of the English fleet are being removed by convict labor, anda wide embankment is being constructed along the right bank of the Beyah, which will confine the waters to narrower limite and enable the swift ebb current to deepen the harbor. When the ruins have been cleared a noble promenade or plaza worthy of a European watering place will be left exposed to the cool breezes of the sea, which will insure to the European quarter, or the town of Elmina, as it is pow, ap unpolluted atmosphere and a healthy future, The prospect is encouraging, and if only the authorities abandon that nest of malaria and sickness, Cape Coast, and remove to Eimina, and continue the good work of improvement, which would be a pleasure to most people, on considering the vast advantages to be derived from them ina sanitary, social and moral sense, Elmin4 wilt have been the means of removing trom the Gold Coast much of the evil character it now bears. By my visit to Elmina I have been fortunate in securing the results of an interview one of the government employés had with a messenger who was sent to Amonquatiah, the Ashantee General- in-Chief. Some things here reported are very start- ling, which those who read may digest thoughtiully. It 18 surprising that while England has braced herself at last, after infinite grimaces of disgust and expressions of discontent, to wage war from Cape Coast to Coomassie against Ashantee, that such a letter as is here spoken of should have been sent to the Ashantees, If true, I take the letter to be most humiliating to the pride of any nation, great or little. I cannot conceive the possibility of an officer stooping 80 low as even to be the bearer of such a letter, Which is nothing more than @ con- fession. of weakness and inability to cope with Ashantee and the African climate, THE COMPOSITION OF RGKRA QUAMIN, OF HLMINA, WHO WAS SENT BY THE GOVERNOR OF ELMINA TO THE SENIOR GENERAL, AMANKWATSIA, IN ASHAN- TEER CAMP, WITH A LETTER, The Chiet Quamina Esferfie sent to call me from my house about the hour of 7 P. M. and I did went; he told me, I'm ing to send you; Will you go or not? but I asked him, Where? he said to Ashantee camp with a letter to the Bi General there; I told him I shall not go, for fear may be killed; but he said, itis quite impossible for Ashantees or any other nation in time of war to kill or detain any ami or, and therefore you must go without lear, . time, Lagreed to go, in abgut the hour of | 3A,.M. In the next morning he came and awoke me, and take me direct to. the Gov- ernor in » then he, the Governor, handed me the letter and delivered one Ashantee man who was taken as slavery dur- ing this war to acc ny me, he the Governor in- structed me not to deliver the said letter to any different person except the General Amankwatsia whom tn his name the letter is addressed, he the Governor gave me and the Ashantee man 10s. and few biscuits &c. as sabeisianes, snastiy after this, we departed from the Governor our journey, in about 12 o’clock in the same day, we met in a distance where require one‘hour’s distance more to reach Ashantee camp two men of the Ashantees whom inquired Were you the mes- sengers that was send from Elmina? | said, Yes; they asked me, what news? I said with a letter to the General, they said deliver to us the letter, I said, nO; but | will do so unless I meet the General face to face meantime they returned quitely wiih us ttl we came to the General, there we greet him meantime he commanded all his Chiels to sit, when they all sat, he the General called me to state or declare the message I brought;.in the ers a I did humbly raise up and said to the jenert Here your setter send by me from the Governor of Elmina with greeting; The General asked me if I know a letter to read it myself, but I said, no, then he said to bring one scholar native of Aquapim 10 Accra and was taken as slavery during the war to come and read or explain the letter, who explained as fellows:— The Queen of Engeland greet you and found you to be the only poweriul in this Coast, wnich she sincerely wish you prosperous victory, The Mer- chant in Engeland greed you and require you to Make out your bill for expenses already rendered during this war and they will pay you, so. therefore I deem it advisable for you to go back your country or go and made your aboad behind the Kiver Pra, for in the place you pow occupy is under the Queen’s protection and also you and your master (the King of Ashan- tee) are not fitto resist her power, The Queen al- lowed you two week to remove this place other wise unpleasant ‘steps will be taken against you, the Queen will be glad that you may not kill the messenger for God sake and to return bim with 3 speedy reply, Governor of Cape Coast first he presented them gold $8 when they went away the next day I also went to him and asked when I may be ready to go my Lord? He said away irom me, you wiil never go toElmina, for you Elminas are roguoes lm going to deliver you to the King of Ashantee, there he will give you answer to go if he please, i Said its not lawfull any messenger to be detained, he said, will you be silence!! said, I will my Lord; he said I will behead you if Bh in mind to Tun away; meantime I sworn the King’s Big oath that if was caught ruuning away my head must be cnt off; in the next day we marched away from that place with a package on my head, and my cloth was been striped off from me, We came to pass by the white troops living at Camp Napoleon or Kakomdoe they said the white troops there are not more, but will go near where their capital is, so we Went a portion of Doonkow im the miidie of tick bush, there we can’t get any thing at all to eat, and we _ take 15 days good to reach Doonkow, during the ume having nothing at al to eat and I could swear upon my ster that over two hundred souls died with hunger during our 15 days journey, after two or three days in the Bush, the White troops came and fired at them where they fought a little and in the evening them both side retreated, but im next day was Thurs- day not a lucky day for them in fighting they said; but the thee iin men, especially the princes, and sons of rds stated, let us go an attack or fired at these foolish Whitemen to-day as because we are the power. When the interpreter these explained, all tne People gave audience; in the same evening another messengers whom were Policemen brought another letter which the interpreter stated it was addressed The King of Ashantee but the General said it must be opened for he is at liberty todo what he seems right, but nis Chiets oppose to it, afterwards 1 learned the letter was been opened in private and the contends is just same as the avove, in case one will not reach the other might reach him; Before was not yet send with the above letter to the General, The General has made his mind to remove little further, having heard the White troops were in the same bush preparing to come against him, but his Mahometan nests profesy, and swared to the General. The great forbidden oath of the King of Ashantee that he must n’t remove the place so soon for two separate Messengers will be send to him, which one will come from the left ana the other from right with-. in 3 days time and if this statement will notiuliil at the specified time their heads might be cut off; The said mgeacn gers was the policemen ana myself, e both Messengers reached the General at the very fixed time, and I saw these Mahometan Priests myset! when the above letter is explaining. When they the Priests chewing medicine, praying in the Mahometan form and manner with both their fect kneeled down .covered their faces with their hands, with their head towards the earth, alter the General finish rin the said letter, and found them to be the faithfull he presented them sheeps and money $36 and one sheep for uring the 3 days they never eat; the next day the Gene- Tal called the Police messengers and make them ready with 3 Ashantees men to the Gov. powerfull ought to occupy the Soe ey road ([ mean the road trom Doonkow to Pradoe) moment arr sworn the Big oath, that, by that road tney will pass through, and it is also impossible that they shouldn’t fight om Thursday but it was on Thursday they fought at Djukwa and killed all their royal families and just as it is this Thursday, let us goand fired them and take the road and go away as we feel too much hungry in this place. When these Princes siete 4 how. they might go and fired at the hite troops the Senior General <Aisamocakwanta (the first person) who came and sworn the Big oath before Amankwatsia that having heard the White troops nave occupied all the roads and he qill go to fired and drive them away 80 as We may have the chatce, who went in those days fougnt battle, but never succeed— same time these princes and all the troops of Amankwatsia marched about one hour aiter I heard fre was given and as a prisoner I lay down my package and seated where the Big General is, the General immediately put on his war dresses and took something to eat from his package and opened his eyes into it, but he tound the thing showes him bad thing which he uarshed with his teeth, and smote with his hands upon his breast and prayed to his several gods of stools, drams, &c., they tryed 41 with their power if they could overcome the white troops, s0 do so claims the General road, bmunitions and eatable from the White troops but in vain; The Princes sons of Lords and Chiefs, both soidiers that was died above 2,000 and the numerous that was wound is not to be supposed td live in this world, even the General’s body guard troops been assist, but in vain; Indeed the General feld great sorroy that day in the next morning early we heard 3 guns fired inviting them again to go and fight immediately eating to spy the bush; shortly alter we heard the White troops are com- ing and 1s very close to us, I assure you, we aid ran as much fast as we could, the General himself did actually rup, his great many things taken by the White troops, although lot of his best things is sent by his wives to Ashantee, but the royal things he got from the Fantees, part of his own things, the royal death bones, ail is taken from him-even the very day of the Battle had not his Senior General Aisamoeak wanta sent fresh troops to assist him, otherwise it would be very bad altogether lor him, ®@ bout one week after this the Senior General Aisamocakwanta, took great vex wuo draw his sword and, said, You Ashantee peopie swared before the King his great oath, that you wiil fight to the last drop of your blood to claim Cape Coast and Elmina Castle, which the King sup- ply you all amunitions and great deal Gola dust, now you Ashantee people disappoint him and in- stead of olatotingy any of these forts, you consume all the Chieis Princes and Sous of Lords, O upon ae “ster? I will not forbear it, so he and his troops went to the tick Bush aud sur- rounded, short.y aiter the black troops of the White troops came and firea at them, bat the Ashantees did not fired only laying down with breast to the earth when the Fantees tinished firing and ya ey to their Commanding Officer tor powder and been Ashantecs can understand the Fantees language. they tne Ashantees stwod up with their numerous caught them with hands re- port was brought to Amanquatsia where I live that, 60 boteaged and 70 taken in live, Ashantees is now. satisfy very little and is goin away. I don’t expect any fight again, an they don’t care to get oreginal road this time, they are going through the tick Bushes till the; crossed the River Pra, Because they have receive news from the Prisoners during the last battle that there are troops in Doonkow, Mansoo, Abak- rampa, Yankoemadie and Pradoeand as their pow- der 18 remaining only 800 kegs 20 Ibs, each, so they will take another way and go. The chance I got irom their bands to get free escape is this, when the Battle took place and could not succeed all the people running, the General himself also, so 1 also get the chance and throw my package away, and running but i tear I may be killed otherw! Imay came to rush myself in White troops I thereiore running forward and mixed myself with the Ashantees. 1st 1 went and hide myself in some whole under certain tree, a bout half an hour 8 Ashantecs came to me they ‘asked mn, Who is you, I told them 1 belong the Big General’s troops and I came to find something to eat and I miss my way, and also got Bellacke I therefore leaned in the miadle of this tree, these men pitty me they cut some rope for me to tie my belly if 1 could be little potter and direct me the way to take to reach my General, when these men left me I got up and choose another way there I met another men, In a moment I fell on the earth when they ask any question I can't speak only I make sign with my hands signifies ellacke, these men also lett me. By, and bye I got up and reach the white mens and told my story. The news from the front ia TAME and uninteresting. A skirmish between the ad- vanced forces and the retreating laggards of the enemy happens now and then, which has a local interest, and suMces to give the weary souls of Cape Coast sométhing to talk about; ous nothing of vital importance or interest can possibly happen until the white troops make their appearance. Colonel Evelyn Wood is reported to have had quite a brush, however, between Fassar and Sut- tah, distant sixty-two miles and forty-four miles reconnotssance, and bad reached half way with his force, consisting of a couple of hundred Houssahs and @ few hundred native allies, when large body of the enemy suddenly attacked it on all sides, Though taken somewhat by surprise he instantly formed square, putting the transport Porters in the centre, with their burdens, and in this position fought, it is said, for three hours; after which he‘retreatea in order to Sattah, the point he started from. He lost but few men com- | Paratively, while the enemy’s audacity was pun- ished severely, Hardly a day passes, however, but a few are Wounded on either side. The Ashantees keep well ‘under cover of bush, and the British allies stick to the protectiou of the palisades until they emerge ont in strong parties to reconnoitre, This state of atairs will, of course, continue until the Prah hag been gained and the white troops will Come out, when something more decided will be done. Sir Garnet informed me the other day that as Great a force will ultimately move upon Coomassie as Napier marched upon Magdala, . This force will be made up of three battalions of the line (white), one battalion of marines and sallors (white), one battery of Royal Artillery (white), one company of Royal Engineers (white), two battalions of West Indians, one battalion of Houssahs, two battalions Of native allies, Total about NINE THOUSAND MEN. You may imagine, then, with what interest we all wait the arrival of the white troops, Their very presence will revive every sick man fn Cape Coast, and inspire every weary correspondent who finds the task of feeling interested in these petty skir- mishes that now take place a work of real diff culty. ‘Their absence in the meanwhile, causes slmost every man to sicken of inactivity more than the malaria, It 1s the inactivity to which we are compelled that I ascribe the sickness and overpowering lassitude which has already pros- trated so many, There is really nothing to write about, nor hardly anything to talk apout. We make the most we can of every little incident that comes to our notice, and in the absence of any- thing of real importance, we are inclined to think skirmishes great battles. Sir Garnet must have felt that he was bound to do something to revive his fading energy, when he last week took to his mind to go to the front to examine personally into the state of the advance stations. He travels slowly trom place to place, as he has found out that it is highly dangerous in this chmate to expose himself too freely. Some Dave expressed an opinion that it is very unlikely that he will see the end of this expedition, simply because he was too advanced in life to begin an expedition into: Africa, and that the climatic in- fluences will tell severely on his frame. With this ‘opinion, however, I disagree. Sir Garnet is not over forty years old, and is the youngest General in the British service, To choose a younger man, therefore, the British government would have had to entrust the command of the expedition to a young lieutenant colonel. However, Sir Garnet looked remarkably well and hearty, and ‘his indomitable energy yromised everything that ‘could be required in a man to fill his position. IfSir Garnet should become invalided through fever or other sickness it will be because he exposed himself too freely to the sun and climate before active operations began, and, to tell the truth, be- cause the doctors of his staff have coddled him too Much. Itisnotevery man that is a doctor who is fit to follow an army to Africa in that capacity. Some medical men, when they have to treat a general with medicine fora slight ailment, make a great deal too much fuss about the matter and confine him to his bed, when, for his health’s sake, he ought to be stirring. 1 think this has peen the case with General Sir Garnet Wolseley. We have lately had auxiliaries from Bonny. Prince Charles Pepple and Prince John Jumbo have arrived with a force of 100 men from King Peppe and King Oko Jumbo—the rival of the tamous Ja Ja Jumbo—of Bonny, to fight against the Ashantees, The young princes have been educated in Eng- land, and are as proficient in what they have ac- quired at school as white boys would be. "ART MATTERS. Foreign Art Notes. Mr. Walter Brackett’s four fine pictures of sal- mon, which were exhibited in New York a twelve- month ago, recently won great admiration at the Crystal Palace, England. During the banquet given to the Shab they were placed in the Queen’s corridor. The President ofthe Grand Trunk Rail- road, Mr. Richard Potter, has since purchased them. Every one who has seen the Prince Consort Memorial, and admired the workmanship of sir Gilbert Scott, its creator, and of Mr. Skidmore, Mr. Clayton, Mr. Armstead, Mr. Philip, Mr. Bell and the Messrs. Salviati, will probably feel interested im learning the following particulars: —The quan- tity of concrete used is 120,000 cubic feet; beneath the steps are 396 piers and 863 arches, The total length of granite steps is two miles anda guarter, and the number of steps are 1,803, Some of the blocks of granite in the podium weigh fifteen tons. The sub-plinths of the bases of col- umns are two stones, each stone weighing ten tons, and the bases themselves in single blocks, when unwronught, weighed seventeen tons anda half each. * The working of each of these stones occupied twelve men sixteen weéks and cost £260, The length of poliahed granite columns is 791 feet im fitty-six stones. The blocks forming the capi- tals each weighed, before being wrought, thirteen tons and a ‘quarter. The mechanical appliances were 80 perfect that the whole of the work above the podium, includtng the great columns, the, arches, the pinnacles, gables and groining, was erected In thirteen weeks. The iron girder which carries the fleche weighs twenty-three tons, and the weight resting upon it is 210 tons. In a book just published in London by John Mur- ray, ‘describing and iustrating the monu- ment, Sir Gilbert Scott says that, though adopting the style of a Gothic cross, he has not lJollowed any existing type, but has strack out one especially suited to this individual object, The great purpose of an architectural structure, as a part of the memorial, is to protect and overshadow the statue of the Prince. This idea is the key-note to the design, and Sir Gilbert Scott’s next leading idea bas been to give to this overshadowing struc- ture the character of a vast shrine, enriching it with all the arts by which the character of precious- ness can be impar fo the object which 1t pro- tects. The idea, then, which Sir Gilbert hag worked out may be described as a colossal statue of the Prince, placed beneath a vast and magnifl- cent shrine or tabernacle, and surrounded by works of sculpture tllustrating those arts and sciences which the Prince fostered and the great ears which he originated. Chatto & Windus, of, London, have brought out, under the title of “A Gallery of fitustrions iterary Characters,’ a reproduction of the sketches by Maclise, representing individuals celebrated in London in 1830 to 1838, The Athenwum safs:— Their humor is of a fine kind, Look at this tailor’s Adonis, Count D’Orsay, the flashy man about town. Whata volume of humor there is _in the slight oxaggera- tion of his swagger! Here is William Godwin, shut Sing along past that bookshop, which many “unoo guid” folk actually believe to this day was a haunt of horrid Feprobates—good folks who would not have been surprised if the earth, opening, had swallowed It Up; there gocs Godwin, with his prodigious hat, his hands linked behind ‘his back, voluminous dress coaton his body, wonderfully badly-cut trousers on his legs, and_yet with's face which, as Maclise saw, had its merits—even something that might be called beauty. Here is a good and rather caricatured sketch of Leigh Hunt, whom it was easy to caricature. Here is Weatma- cott, ‘the editor of the Age; Captain Ross, sipping toddy, Witt his heels on the Nob. Mus Harriet Martinead and her cat—Maclise designed the cat with laughable zost and great artistic spirit. Here is Mr, George Urutk- shank, seated on’a barrel in a taproom, making sketches on his hat; Coleridge, with beautiful, it somewhat in- flated, not flabby, features and weak limbs; Tal- leyrand, seated, a figure ‘like @ frog, ina chair by the side of a firepl and Bulwer, ever conscious ot himself, and highly ornamental. Mr, Watts’ portrait of Mr. Mill ts in the posses- nee of Sir Charles Dilke, to be engraved by M. jon. The collection of engravings and drawings formed at the commencement o! the last century by Mr. Hugh Howard has recently been sold by lessrs. Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, of London, and produced about $25,000. in gold. “Campag- nola,”’ an early impression of St. Join, £1: En- gravings:—A. Ditrer, “Adam and Eve, £595 *Melencolia,” £40; “Angles of the Sistine Chapel,” G. Ghisi, £80; ‘Temptation of Adam,” by Lucas van at 28; “Lot and his Dai hters,”? £181; ates mennaconeal ean ph ds “Hercules Fig! e nt,” by A. Mante; £30; “An Oriental,” by Be Mbniagas, £5. ‘and “Portrait of Aretino,"” by Marc Antonio, £780, the BS geld price ever given lor a single field since the ie, at the same rooms, when haries Price's impression of ‘‘Rembrands’s Hundred Guilder Piece,” bought by Mr. Palmer for £180, was resold for £1,100, and purchased by M. Du Thuit, Kn- gravings by Marc Antonio—“Adem and Eve,’ £60; “Massacre of the Innocents,” £77; “Madonna La- menting the Dead Christ,” £38; “The Laat 51 ir,” £105; “Mary and Martha Egg > os . teps of the Temple,” £81; “Madonna Seated on the Clouds,” £180; + Seated on the Clouds,” £59; “Cupid and respectively irom Cape Coast, He was making a_) Hyacinthug,” £38: ‘Trojan Victorious, a THE COST OF COAL. The Effect of the Miners’ Strike in the Coal Market-Whst the “Combination” Will Aceomplish—Coal to Open at a Low Price Next Spring, with = Prospective Advance of Ten Cents Per Month. The news of the great miners’ strike in the Wilkesbarre, Sugar Notch, Hartford and Plymouth districts, published in the Heap from day to day, bas excited a great deal of interest among the coal companies in this city, particularly among those who belong to the famed “combination.” A HERALD reporter conversed with the presidents and other officers of the leading companies on Sat- urday, and elicited facts and hints which are of great interest m view of the powerful “combina- tion” which has been formed for the ostensible pur- pose of limiting the production of anthracite coal and maintaining its price at a living rate. Mr. Sloan, the President of the Scranton Coal Company, at the corner of William street and Ex- change place, gave his views readily. RePORTER—What will be the probable effect of this great strike of the miners ? Mr. SLOAN—It must undoubtedly have a ten- dency to advance the price of coal, and, if it should continue long, to diminish the production. Of course it is impossible to say at present WHAT PHASE THE STRIKE MAY ASSUME and to what extent even a prolonged strike would be able to influence the prices and production of coal. Thus far we have seen no signs of disaffec- tion in our district, although we are working on @ diminished rate of production. REPORTER—WIl the price of coal be higher or lower this year than it was last ? t Mr. SLOAN—Uuh, it certainly won’t be any lower. You see, the very severe losses year before ‘last compelled the companies to come to this agree- ment, which is so bitterly denounced as a “combt- nation,” and which stmply means to maintain the prices at ‘a living rate,” that is all. We suffered such heavy losses in 1872 that we have now agreed to produce less coal and seli at rates that will pay Teasonable wages to miners and a reasonable profit to the owners. The prices last year did not advance materially, and trade is satisfactory to dealers, who want, first of ali, steady prices and dislike violent fluctuations. This new arrange- ment secures a fair, reasonable profit to all par- faes, and there is not a shadow of truth in the statements that the “combination” means to allow undue exactions and desires to exercise an undue influence upon the coal market. As to the troubles among the miners, which threaten 10 ADVANCE THE PRICE OF COAL, I may state that we bave about 10,000 to 12,000 miners and 5,000 to 6,000 empioyés on the railroad, ,and have thus far had no diMficulty with them. REPORTER—Will the consumption of coal proba- bly be great this year? Mr. SLoay—I think it will be greater than 1t was lastyear. Viltell you why. The tron trade was very depressed last. year and has begun to revive, and this, of course, is a very important item in- deed. Owing to the unprecedented mildness of the winter thus far the consumption of the sizes for domestic use has fallen off considerably. The . anthracite beds, as you know, are in a little dis- trict in Pennsylvania, and anthracite coal must become much more valuable in the future than it has been in the past. Our coat lands are now much less valuable than they are in England and other European countries, andIam convinced that the comparative cheapnees of coal and iron ores in this country willgtve us @ ve! reat advantage in the manufacture of iron. think there ts @ greag future in store for America in its ores and coal. REPORTER—If the strike should spread would it be difficult to replace the strikers by other miners? Mr. SLoaN—Oh, no; there isa great surplus of labor. But it would certainly have a tendency to advance the prices. In a’ few days wetshall be better able to tell THE UPSHOT OF THIS DIFFICULTY. Mr. Quintard, the general agent of the Readin; Company, No. 9 Broad street, was out of town, and his views could, therefore, nor be ascertained. One of the minor officials, however, said:—‘If our miners jotn those of the Wilkesbarre Company in the strike we may have considerable trouble. As to the effect this would have on the general condition of the coal trade there are now so many avenues of supply to this port that the extent of the advance could haraly foretold with any degree 01 accuracy.”” Mr. Tillinghust, of the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Company (this is to be the pew name under which the two old compantes will do business), at No. 80 Broadway, said that the reports in regard to the strike had been exaggerated by some of the news- papers. Two tel ago he had received a letter from his agent at the mines stating that there was no serious trouble among their men. Ina day or two he expected to recetve accurate information Tegarding the cause and extent of the strike if there was one. . een cneee-Wnas is the difficulty, then, at pres- ent Mr. TILLINGHAST—We have stopped our works" for repairs, as we always do at the beginning of every new year. Our men p ARE CONTENTED WITH THEIR WAGES, and I do not think that they propose to array thmseelves against us. We have not reduced their wages, and do not propose doing so. We shall resume Work in some of dur mines early next week, and shall extend the resumption of operations gradually. It is ey possible that the men on the Schuylkill may rther than we have thus far had reason to anticipate, and spread the disaffection among our other men. 1 shall be able to say something definite about this in a few days. ierorTER—Is there any truth im the popular’ rumors that the combination mean to bring about @ coal amine, such as the English peopie have suf- Jered from? Mr. TLLLINGBAST—Ob, 1O; not in the least. We do not want @ “coal jamine,” as you call it, we only want fair prices—the prices oi last year. I can tell you now~that coal will not open higher next spring than it did last year. If the price of coal was to decline in the Spring, with the chance of a still further decifhe in the fall, nobody would buy coal, and the mines would nave to be stopped, while in the fall everybody would rush for coal, thereby causing ® sudden and considerable ad- vance, In order to avold this we ehall open with the same prices which we had last year, with ao advance OF TEN CENTS PER MONTH. The prices on ntl 1, 18738 (with which we shall robably open this spring), were as follows:— ump, $445 per Jon; steamer, $4 65; broken, $4 66; egg, $4 80; Btove, $5, and chestnut, $4 45, The present prices are:—Lump, $5 05; steamer, $5 15; broken, $5 25; egg, $5 40; stove, $5 70, and chestnut, $5 05. Here you have the comparison. tan ee as to the immediate effect of the Tike Mr. TILLINGHAST—If the miners of one company strike it does not necessarily follow that the strike must affect the coal market to any extent. It would be quite a different thing if the miners of the other companies were all to go on the strike, but this Ido not apprehend. For the present the influence of the strike, if there is one, wili not be feared by the consumers and buyers of coal, Dut if the trouble should be prolonged fora long time the effects would probably be penerally, feit, This wall thatIcan say at present and until I have trustworthy information direct from our mines. Mr. Moulton, the General Agent of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, jo, 71 Brosdway, sald that nothing had thus far been decided upon by the companies constituting the “combination,” except that they had agreed to fx the price of coal at a uniform ste: Tate, which was to conform to that of jast year, It would probably OPEN AT A LOW RATE, gradually advancing ten or fifteen cents a ton per Tmonth, as an inducement for people to lay i al early. The general impression relative to this trouble with the miners was that they would come to terms and everything would be harmonized, He seriously doubted whether the strike would spread among the miners, ag he did not think they would be so unreasonable as to expect an advance of wages, considering that this was the only inter- est which was not affected by the recent panic. Coal was now but five or eight cents higher per ton than it hdd been for years past, and some of the fot 3 Stull insisted upon “harping” upon the rightful “combination,” What was this combina- tion? Jt was simply: that haifa dozen gentiemen had come together and agreed as to the vaiue of their products, and also that they would not com- pete with each other in sales. This was all there was in this “combination.” The mysterious cliques and hidden secrets of the combination were all in the Imagination of certain croakers. RevoRTER—Wiil the combination be extended ? Mr. MoULTON—1 think that probably all the an- thracite coal companies will joi it; the bitumin- Ous coal companies, of course, form quite a differ- the Graces,” £25; “A lo and pees this year would ceo ent interest, However, there 1s no need for alarm ; all we want is to have fair, untiorm, steady rates, In order to ascertain the prospects of THE BITUMINOUS COAL TRADE Coal Company, No. 71 this year the Consolidation rat AT, STisee atte ‘cesged that, nis, neta Pignt Dot stared that the English Inight not be mentioned) Pumeasee te pa ce eet eee count a fucreased tnt shipments to the Weat Indies to Frloe ot Baguigh coal was now thirty sollings 79 Pondon—about $8. Last year the bituminous coal trade increased tons as compared to the previous year Out of 2,675,000 tons mined thts year all but 275,000 tons came from Maryland. The vary little from of last year. which were forty cents per ton our maritime frontier. Key West in War Times and in Peace—Life on This Wretched Isle of the Sea—An Excuse for Being—The Fleet and Naval Pre- parations—The End in Smoke. Key Wesr, Jan. 13, 1874, Some cities have days of greatness thrast upon them and, after a time, relapse into the insig- nificance from which histerte events have dragge® them, Key West is a worthy example. From ® nest of fishers’ huts prior to the war a mushroons Prosperity has developed it inte @ city. It is no more the key to the Guif tham the most inaig- nificant port in Yucatan. What should induce any foreign Power to want to possess this poor, wretched key cannot imagine, Commanding & Prominent place in the history of our late war from its being for long time the only Southerm port in the possession of the federal government,. like many individuals who owe their rise to army. contracts, discounting its possible destiny, it aa sumes to be a city of the greatest commercial m- portance, . ITS PAST HISTORY, From being the base of supplies for the Gulf andi most of the Atlantic blockading squagron, 1t de~ generated into a mart famons only for poor cigara! and sponges. Left to govern itself after the war closed, it assumed all the gaudiness of a Tammany municipal régéme, It iound that a large Police: force was needed, and, to facilitate matters, the Major's office was located in the loft overa gin« mill, from which most.ofjthe unbappy victims came: who were mulcted for fines and officers’ fees. It is true that the worthy guardians of the peace ap- pear on duty in their bare feet, smoking cigarai and drinking anybody’s health who will stand treat, but their purpose 1s always firm for the best) interests of the city treasary. They generally ar- rest the wrong parties, but the Mayor assesses his fines impartially. WHY KEY WEST Is, Yet Key West has an excuse for its existence, and Its reason for being & prosperaus outpost on It is the best point of cally on the Atlantic coast, Havana in our hands would, of course, swamp tt in that sense; but Havana, under Spanish administration, with its port charges and port officers, its discriminating tolla against foreign vessels and its extravagant ofMficiay and non-official exactions; stimulates the growth: Of the freer port opposite, Key West is in direct telegraphic communication with Europe. It is ati the entrance of the Guif ana midway between the * North American and South American ports. Thus, vessels leaving Europe with a cargo, of general merchandise to be disposed/ of at. such port in America as offers @ return cargo can be started westward} for a market, to call at Key West for orders. From here, the owners having the advantage of the ume}. consumed in the voyage to gain the latest market intelligence, such vessels can be ordered north or south— say to Charleston or Savannah for cotton,, in which case thay have the Gulf Stream with them to facilitate their passage; or to Brazil, or, further south, which is but a continuation of their voyage, or to any of the Gulf ports. This briefly. is why Key West is. 4 this is its Saree off future prosperity. Althou; not the key of the Gulf, nor so named, for Cayo Bueso, 1 original; Spanish name, means ly “Bone Koy and’ has been merely corrupted into Key West, it: keeps an excellent wat upon the real a Havana—and is a valuable point of observation for @ vigtiant sentinel. A FLEET WITH A HISTORY. After twenty years of get in which ennui and the yellow fever have rivalled each other in depoputating its streets, Key West has become the rendezvous of the largest feet ever concentrated at any one port on oar coast. TO-night the largest: and best vessels of the United Staves Navy ride at. anchor in its harbor, and each comes with a war record more or less brilliant, more or leas gory. Their is ,have been heard at New Orleans, Mo- bile, Charleston and Fort Fisher. Recollections of these stormy days are Occasionally revived by Daval officers, who, paying visits ay need ves- sels of the fees, pont out with a sigh the places where a classmate or friend were killed “whén the deeks were sanded.” Even poor Jack remembers how an old messmate was lost off the fibboom or foreyard of one or other of these vessels. Yet the deck of @ man-of-war is the Utopia of a navak officer, and these at square rigged crafts arq the admiration of the man before the mast. There are many associations connected with life on board @ man-ol-war which cannot be ahaken off in after life. WANTED !—A NAVY, The “penny wise and pound foolish’ ideas of Congress in regard to the navy cannot be better exemplified than by a reference to the fleet which. is now here. Were it not for the three monitors which ate anchored in the upper harbor this vast array of wooden vessels would be completely at the mercy of the first moog Spantsh tron-ciad that came along. An tron-clad of the monitor pattern, like the Dictator, for instance, could steam into this fleet of veasels and sink half of them before the guns at the fort could be manned. A Spanish man-of-war was in sight off the harbor all day yes- terday, and, while there was nothing to fear, con- Jecture was rife with the possibilities of war. Ru- mors more or Tess starting, all alike improbable, float around the fleet, and in the absence of any news serve as subjects for ward room talk most in- teresting. FOR HUMANITY’S 8AKB. Despite the disadvantages under which the United States now labors as regards preparations for a naval war, the unanimous Voice of the portion of the service now here is for a final settlement of the Cuban question. The tsiand has been a con- finual source ef trouble nos only to ourselves but, to every nation having any commercial relations with its ports. Its laws, both State and municipal, are framed with an utver disregard for the best in- terests of every commercial and social relation with every other inhabitant of the worla. The out- Yagea sense of humanity calls for the abolition of @ municipal government raised on all the blind selfishness Or the Middle Ages. This compromise, which, has been effected at the sacrifice of so much national honor, is merely the superficial healing of a@ disease which will sooner or later break out again, American citi- wens are tracked around Havaua by Spanish spies, and the value of anybody's life is not reckoned Worth the trouble which It would give the author- ities to guarantee protection, r, Wretched, homeless creatares are hunted in the forests of Cuba with bloodhounds, while @ nation which sac- rificed thousands of lives to ippress the very same barbarism in its pwn territory stands by and utters not one word of disapprovgl even tor bu- pag sake. With such a spirit, it is but just to say, the American navy does not agree, THE HOUR FOR FINAL. SRITLEMBENT. : The fleet which now lies at anchor off this harbor has been gathered together irom ail of the world either under the supposition that war wes imminent or that the Spaniards were tc be scared without fight. hatever the rea- son here ts the result:-—It will require an equally long dela} at any future time to mags an equal number of war vessels at this point. Ina week, or two at most, there will be an aadition of three more vessels to those al- ready here. This will place the United States in as good a Condition for war aa her present navy can secure to her without the expenditure of Many milltons upon the monitors at Deague Island. Then it is to be hoped that the hour for dipiomacy wilt have passed and the hour for some action i e the a of — in cheer jai ave come. War is not sought alter, of hostilities than trouble one trying to find furtner cause already extats; buc the sentiment 18 that if is coming now is a very good time, ‘TERRIFYING THE SPANISH TIBART, The pr e as it bow devel itself seems to be tosend a fleet, consisting of five or six of the largest vessels now here, to around the island of Cuba. Rumor has it that the Colorado, Congress, Alaska and Massachusetts will go on this cruise at an early day, and that Commodore Parker will have command, The feet will probabi; rendezvous of Havana about the end of next week, and then touch at ali the ports both guing to and returning from Santiago de Cuba, ithe only object to be attained now by sach a mancnvre can be to smite the consciences of the guilty volunteers for past offences, as there are no longer any Americans on the island, out of Havana, to be killed, and the likelihood of the occurrence of another Virginius case does not appear to warrant this Eg ‘of buncombe. Still, here are the war perm boa ; hs a, cannot be any Aayosd profitably a ve a cruise means, Any- thing bat Key West for the winter, A PCLICE OHANGE IN CINCINNATI. Troublesome Effect ef Old Gambling Connections. CINCINNATI, Jan. 18, 1874, There was a revolution here yeaterday in the head of the Police Department, caused by ratner a sin- gular circumstance. The retiring chief, Colonel Kuorued, Mi y bern ge oMce since Al vg leposed because, several years ago, he a6 an intermediate party in renting’ house for bk Purposes, Colonel Kiersted’s successor Mr. ne Daylor, a democratic captain of bolice. of good reputation.