The New York Herald Newspaper, February 28, 1874, Page 4

4 ss ASHANTEE. General Wolseley’s Personal Ambition and Pledge of Conquest. —- Scenes Around the Camp Fires During a Difficult and Dangerous March. “sailors Can’t Sing, Sir, When They Have No Rum.” THE BRIGADE ONWARD. Fantee Allies and Their Services, or African Indians at Work. Lvery-Day Life on the Prah Contrasted with That on the Banks of the Hudson. PRauSU, Jan. 14, 1874. Despite the frigid reticence and chilling reserve | NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1874.—TRIPLE SHEET. fellow measures about three feet in length, and affords wonder and amusement to all who look upon him. Wonder, at the peculiar way in which nature has fittea him for voth land and water, at the strong, flexibie, ridgy tail, at the scaly armor on his back and neck and the horny shield which covers his eyes; amusement, at the way in which he takes his imprisonment, his unconquerable suilenness and the way in which he affects death. ‘There canbe no doubt that there are crocodiles in the Prah, but so far we have escaped an accident for which, in my opinion, we may congratulate our- selves, AFRICAN INDIANS. We are collecting cattie here to an tmportant number, but the mismanagement of the Superin- tendence, in surrendering them to the charge of worthless natives, nas caused the loss of some of tae finest of them. Even the very light work of tending cattle requires to be superintended by a European, otherwise the miserable Fantee per- the most meagre vegetation can be procured for their subsistence, and where they drop down quietly to the earth from sheer starvation. Apropos of the Fantees, the Kossos, a tribe of hunters from Sierra Leone, wno have the faculty of scouting and searching out paths and traces of human footsteps almost as much as our North | American Indians, have discovered the hiding | place of the Pantees, Away, deep in tangled | woods, surrounded bya fetid morass, an unin- habitable spot, but one of the best hiding places that could be imagined, these deserters had sought and found a locality which Ashantee scouts would not find, into which no Fantee policeman could penetrate anless guided thither ‘by the unerring instinct of a Kosso man. Hither they had invited a few trustworthy women, who were made to pur- vey food for them, while they enjoyed themselves mits nis charge to wander astray where nothing but | maintaine1 by Sir Garnet Wolseley and his staff | serenely after their brief period of hard toil and toward newspaper correspondents respecting | nign wages. Afew bruised twigs, a few crushed future movements, the past week has furnished Us | >,aGeg of grasa, were suMcient for the Kossos, and with suMcient food for comment, We have see0® | tne trail was followed swiltly until the deserters’ young, ambitious General, who at the War OMce | igir was discovered and the recreants were drew up an elaborate plan of the Asbantee cam- | broggnt to camp for punishment. sut in these paign, and, subsequently, on his arrival atCape | fastnesses of nature many such lairs might ve Coas army should cross the Prah, as confidently as if his army had already crossed that river, struggling to keep his word mtact; though most men, seeing the lack of material at Prahsu, belleved the thing to be impossible. Jengths to secure the fulfilment of his promise; he has employed Colonel Wood's men, the First and second West India regiments, 4s carriers to bring wp supplies from the down stations, and finally tue famous Black Watch, the Forty-second High- landers, have volunteered to carry provisions, Sir Garnet has gone to great | | the employ of t!e British General. proclaimed the date on which his ttle | rouna, if it were worth while to discover them; | but time presses. The Kossos, 9 well as other men, are needed for other pressing services, 80 that | the majority of the deserters will never be appre- bended. PUNISHING THE NATIVES. But justice is to be meted out to the togues who | bave thus placed obstacles to our progress, by not only refusing to despatch their men to aid the ex- pedition, vut digressing {rom their way to preach sedition and mutiny among the disaffected still in The King of which in such an enervating climate as this isan Abra was tried by acourt and sentenced to be act deserving of as much praise as the most con- splcuous bravery on the field of buttle. THE PRESS AND THE ARMY. While waiting for the advance let me tell you sqinething of ourselves. We are now told tnat certain regiments shall move on to-morrow. These »vill comprise Colonel Wood's regiment of mixed uatives and the Second West India, and perhaps he naval brigade, though the latter name has not transpired as yet, They will proceed to Essiamao and the next day to Acrofroom. We are not told, however, how these troops are to be fed, what supplies there are In front, what arrangements have been made for the regular transport of pro- visions from Frahsu to the advanced posts, There cannot be a large supply at the front, as Major Kussell’s force has been engaged in improving the road beyond the Prah. It is very probable, how- ever, that each regiment will convey a few days’ provisions with it, which will allow for certain ar- rangements to be made after their departure. When a staff officer was asked the other day whether the white troops would depart on the 15th he replied that whem the white troeps would march they would proseea from the down stations Qirectly for the iront, This reply is in the usual vague way the staf!employ, according to the in- structions of Sir Garnet. The Twenty-third Fusileers have been wondering all this time what is tobecome ofthem. The day had arrived for their debarkation after a weary cruise some distance out to sea; but, after our wing had debarked, an order arrived at Cupe Coast that they should stay on board. Indignant At this treatment, the first wing continued its march through Cape Coast, driving its ancient goat ahead, which presently died from sheer old age and change of climate. On arriving at Acero- ful this wing was halted until further orders, We are Informed that only 100 men of this regiment | sentence | should be hanged, and not s.ot. The King was shot. When Sir Garnet Wolseley heard of the he at once orderea that the King @ traitor, apd did his best by precept and example to disaffect others. AS regards tne natives, the English government cannot be accused of crnelty or tnjustice, but certainly of gross leniency. The British have treated Africans as we treat dainty children, They bave petted them and spoiled them, but they have never pun- ished them. Sir Garnet was one of the first to dis- | cover this fact, and endeavored to act justly by hanging, or sentencing the King of Abra to he hanged. Leniency is weakness with the vulgar and ignorant, and im future dealings with the native Africans England will do well to remember this. In @ great measure this excessive leniency aided to produce this campaign, My references for this statement are the Blue Books, Those who care to read them wil blush at the depth of self- degradation the Colonial Office and its employés have been guilty of in their written intercourse with the sable potentate of Ashantee in past times, lcannot say worse of England and her colonial government than that in ner intercourse with the King of Ashantee she has deeply humiliatea her- on THE PRAH AND THE HUDSON IN WINTER, But passing by such topics for the present, I will | attempt to describe the vast difference that lies between our life on the Prah and your life on the | Hudson. I have the advantage over you for the slightest effort of the fancy. I can sketcn New York city and its teeming population dwelling un- der the rigid rule of a hard winter; the filthy snow heaps rangea on each side of Broadway ; the Jong, Jong lines of animals struggling amid the d¢bris of winter more than knee-deep; the cheerless faces of the citizens, made more cheerless by the nipping cold, and many more uncomfortable and dismal will be permitted to enter Coomassie with the | things attending residence in New York during European brigade under Sir Archibald Allison, The Royal Engineers, under Captain Buckle, have lett Prahsu for roadmaking and otherwise improving transit. Major Hume, the indefatigable chief of the Engineers, some time ago pro- ceeded to Essjaman, where he nas prepared abun- dant work for his people. Major Russell has ad- vanced eight miles beyond Essiaman, and will immediately prepare a camp jor the oncoming troops. The naval brigade nas been ordered to provide itsown transport, which itis very well qualified to do, having a whole feet whence to draw carriers from Krumen. Four hundred and twenty of these faithfui, hardworking Kru boys will accom- pany the naval brigade in that capacity. SAILORS, FUSILEERS AND ENGINEFRS. For the last few days there have not been heard the joyous chorus and the roaring songs which | made the evenings lively and pleasant at the camp of the naval brigade. A profound silence has brooded over that locality lately. This was so un- usual that inquiries were made as to the reason, and we were told by & weather-beaten blue jacket, in most respectful but melancholy language, that “sailors can’t sing, sir, leastways {t oughtn’t to be expected, when they have norum. It makes us boys think better of this ‘blarsted country’ while we have rum, or we forget it when we sit and sing round a biazing fre; but when there is ‘no rum, sir, ah!’ we begin to tell one another what people Say Ol the lever of this country; how such and such a mate died or how some shipmate was sent to the hospital very much gone, poor fellow, and such stories, sir, curry one farinto the night, and finally to bed with the feeling that something isn’t as it ought to be.” Last might, however, the songs and chorus startled every one into smiles and social chattiness, and we all knew that @ fresh supply of rum had come Up, and the sturdy blue jackets had been fred into blissful unconsciousness of the mortalities and un- Nappy Memories of an Atrican climate. amusements suMice to make life enjoyable ina camp, The press corps have been very fortunate in their mess and surroundings, and eke out what 1s pleasurable in such a country as this, and de- pends upon themselves for amusement and social joys. Our first week on the Prah was passed in con- stracting @ comfortable but, out of which we con- trived to make two apartments, a dining room and @ bath and store room. Our tents, of cours sheltered us at night. Having possessed ourselves of @ but, we sought to increase our comfort with the adventitious aid of architectural improve- ments; we railed offour quarters by a lattice-like rail, and witnin the enclosure still more embel- lished our quarters by making a flower garden, which elicited the admiration of the entire camp, An abundant supply of creature comforts enables us of an evening to contemplate a ionger stay in this camp with philosophic resignation, RESIGNATION. From our hut door we can see across the square to headquarters, which have a very deserted aspect during the day; but towards evening things begin to look livelier. An officer lounges out, gives & yawn or two and casts an eye about fora human face; presentiy another emerges out of his wattied den, and the twoengage in talk and form a nucleus, which attracts a group. By and by Sir Garnet appears, bright and genial jooking, and a promenade is begun which probably ends across the river, At the jate hour of seven P, M. the head- quarters mess dines; atnine P. M. the symposium breaks up, and each member betakes himself to rest. the selves to the river for a ba: sidering that all Airican rivers are peopled With amphibious monsters, immunity the bathers of the enjoyed ‘from the attacks of the croco- lilies. That these animais have their haunts in the river there can be no doubt, for a party of officers captured a sullen youngster of the deep the day before yesterday, ‘This littie 18 singular, Prah | winter. Very few | At decline of day others of the camp betake | what a complete | have | Can you imagine in your turn our life in camp onthe Prah? The terrible sun which has death in its fierce, merciless neat, apoplectic strokes in its beams; the dark earth steaming hot, emitting its baleiul vapor; the dense forest and denser undergrowth whence issues the fever which Jays 80 many of us prostrate in delirium; the long continuous lines of naked olacks bearing bur- dens ef rice, flour, sugar, tea, beef, &c., to the control sheds; the unjacketed officers who pass by us complaining of the heat and the lassitude and fatigue it so quickly engenders, the crowds in tue evening who hasten to cool tueir parboiled bodies in the waters of the Prah; the perspiring people | who defy the heat and the glare ofthe tropics ana | sigh for one drop of coul water to cool their parched tongues, A SCARED SENTRY. | The newly arrived soldiers give us rich 1un. Saliors have always carried off the palm for ingenu- ous Sayings, but in this campaign | am certain tae soldiers will win the day. What they have done has convulsed our camp with laughter, and, a3 it may convulse you with benefit to your heaith, 4 give ityou. The rife brigade, or, at least, a por- Uon Of it, is encamped at a place called Barrocoe. It may be remembered that Prince Arthur is & captain in this corps, and that the regiment has @ very high reputation jor gallantry. Soon alter ita | arrival at Barrocoe one of tne number was Placed at night as sentry at a place looking toward the deepest part vi the forest, whence issued dur- ing the darkest hours of night a@ chorus of unmelodivus sounds which were some-' times chorused by a series of harsh, unearthly screams. The sounds caused by a laughing hyena were a3 music compared to them; the shrill cry of the fish eagle is not half as alarming. These start- ling screams were uttered at regular intervals and seemingly in close proximity to the bewildered | sentry. He dared not fire, tor to alarm the camp by a shot fired at random into the black forest | With the hope that the beast or whatever it was | might ve frightened into silence was not to be | thought of. But the sentry concluded that by pre- | paring himself against attack by fixing his sword bayonet be would be guarding himself in some measure against any mantiestations of hostility the beast might exhibit. Thus he stood constantly peering into the impenetrable darkness, vainly seeking to pierce tne almost palpable blackness of the night until the relief party came round. The sentry had no time to recover hiuself and sheath his sword before tbe party in charge of the officer | was close upon him, so he thrust his sword under | his arm, and, after challenging, brought his weapon | toa “port arms” to receive the relieL see. | ing his evident confusion and the sword under his arm, the officer demanded the cause, and waa told by the sentry, “Ifyou plaze, zur, there's some snake of wildth baste @ constantly screaming close by here, Divil a bit has he stopped since of have been standing here, and oi'm thinking the crathur can’t be far off. Sure the divil must be in him, So of just fixed my swurd for bim to give him some cold steel.” “Oh, you mean that lemar which cries Out 80, Vhy, my dear fellow, that wild beast is not ag large as @ raobit, You need never fear anything from him.” The poor sentry, it is reported, has been fearfully chatled by the Rifes for bis iright at an animal not bigger than a rabbit, A SOLDIERS’ CAMP FIRE is acheery sight. Each face as you see it by the firelight seems tinted with a warm, rosy hue, and there is very much of genial life and kindly spirit | around it, As fires are not always kindled for the warmth they give, even a winter fire is as welcome for ivs blaze and cheeriness as for its warmth; but in the tropics, the military camp fire is kindled for the magnetin geniality its Wright blaze evokes. With the Rifles as with the sailors the camp fire 1s a nightly institution, and around these the bonny | jaces are gathered and become wreathed in smiles | as some highly colored story is being told for their | delectation. Every imaginable thing affords a subject for graphic illustration and embellishment, apd the Rifles enjoy the tales with a zest which speaks well for the good fellowsbip which distin- guisbes them, But the stories generally treat of wild animals and their savagery, of thrilling ad- | ventures with beasts of prey. One night the fre circle had sat up rather late, the anecdotes had been frequent and various and more than usually iltustrative of the dangers to be encountered in an Alrican forest, The weird sounds which issued from the deep, dark forest surrounding the camp at Barrocoe and stole through the darkness on their quickened ears, lent somewhat of an alarming | Feality to the themes which had engagea their ears that night, and it tne brave Rifles had been subjected to the coniessional there is no doubt but that many of them would Rave coniessed they would mach preir | encountering the dangers of the 1orest during the daylight than at nighttime. It chanced that @ sergeant was compelled to proceed alone to a dis- tant quarter of the camp, alter @ whole répertoire of alarm ng stories had been exhausted. ‘he night was pitch dark, the tall cottonwoods | seemed to rise to infinity in the darkness, while the noises that issued irom them were extremely depressive to the soul, The sergeant thought ne might as well prepare against contingencies, for who knows, something mignt happen to a fellow | 1 such an unchristian country. He unbuttoned | hia holster, and kept his hand on the stock of his revolver. He stopped once or twice to listen, as | he imagined he heard footsteps. Again he con- tinued his fearful way, and again and again he halted to listen, Thrdagh thé darkness he could faintly distinguish the outlines of a huge beast, | but, whatever it was, the beast remained motion- | lesa when he stopped. Did the thing mean to spriag upon bim—iions and tigers and leopards generally 4id on @ benighted man; that was | the usual mode of attack. Arguing thus | the sergeant dew out his revolver and kept it atreeted at the monstrous thing, which still persisted im following him. As he drew near his own quarters the ser- | geant, whose fears had risen to the highest pitch, shouted out to bis comrades in most agonizing ac- cents, “I say, Bill, Jack, Tom, hurry up, for God's sake, and show us @ light, quick, for mercy’s sake; here is a wild beast going to attack me.’ Respon- sive to the poor sergeant’s cries for assistance came the cheery ‘Aye, aye’’ of his messmates, who sprang out of their tents with lishts and Snyders and swords to the rescue. But imagine the aston- ishment of all when the lanterns disclosed the form oj—a mule! The sergeant, however, is not the only man who , has beed frightened nearly out ha hepa &@ domestic animal, tor it was but the other day when a native, being requested to leaa a donkey to water, started with him gayly enough, until the animal began to bray, when the native ran away from him with the speed of lightning, and never halted until he found himself a good haif mile away from the strange brute, which could exceleven the Aimean lion 1n noise. | "AMERICAN COMEDY---IS IT COMING 2” | English Opinion of the American Drama. | [From the Saturday Review (London), Feb. 14. | Arecent number of the NEW YORK HERALD con- tains an article bearing the title “American Comedy—is it Coming’ The answer given to this question is such a8 one would have expected. | Poor as this country is in current dramatic litera- ture, sne is rich in comparison with America. “Nobody will write an American play,” except, we may remark, Sardou, who does not exactly please American taste. A few years ago a drama was brought out which was popularly accepted as an American play. “It was merely a very literal piece of realism, with a@ cosmopolite series of dramatis persone, and the scenes sdroitly | aid near the Rocky Mountains.” But in order to produce “‘a contemporaneous comedy” it 1s necessary todo something more than provide “portraits of places, furniture of the period and vivification of fashion plates.’ The dramatist who | is master of his artis not content with investing every territorial settler witn the moral propor- tions of a hero—albeit a hectoring hero—and unit- ing highly improbable incidents to @&¥ another by wholly impossible links, His incidents would grow out of his characters, and his characters would | develop irom his incidents just as they do in real iife, “When the truly American comedy comes along we shall entertain no objection to its having just as many handsome dresses for the lead ng lady a8 that somewhat exacting personage could | desire, provided that it is not necessary for the | management to depend upon the handsome | dresses for the success of the play, aud provided the accessories are not made to occupy so large a | space in tue public eye that tne essentials are lost his passage puts the matter very nd we willoniy add that, “when the truly | comedy comes along,” we hope to be in | the way of meeting it. As might ve expected, American managers are even more destitute oO: good literary assistance than we are, and they en- deavor to supply vhis want of talent Dy providing everything that money can buy. We migat be quite sure that, if a good play were produced in America, it would be trougat to England, but pothing of the kind hascome, Anditis tolerably certain that Americans would not be content with that dreary entertainment catied a lecture it they could get anything better, “We want a comedy deriving its elements from civilization im the United States and limiting its eclecticism to what is generically American.’’ One writer who has attempted to satisfy this demand has pro- duc-d “cheap dramatic ferrotypes ot life in concert saloons and slums.” Another writer locaiizes Knglish scenes and characters by heip of @ novel of Trollope; or he assimilates the ‘Buflalo Bil.” element, and fixes his sceve on the border of Western civilization, Another writer ‘concocts & farce in five acts, which yield a number oj pretty women the opportunity 0. Wear ng stylish dresses, and render it necessary for upiolsterers und cabi- netmakers to do their work brilliantly, and give plents o/ it.” but these efforts do not satixly a reasouable demand, and the articie exhorts young writers to set to work aud produce that play | which most young writers fancy they could pro- duce so easily. but it must be something Ameri- can, indigenous, no flimsy transla‘ion fiom & French play, uo unaccredited adaptation irom an English novel. “We should not object so much to the dry goods drama, if it were leavened with American character and genuine wit.”’ | Turning to the musical and dramatic intellt- gence o1 the same journal we find that a play rounded on the ‘Last of the Mohicans” is in prepa- ration at Niblo'’sGarden. “The managers ciaim, we believe, that it 18 the American dra..a, and we do not say that itis not.” all (hat fs insisted on is that a play with big Indian in it is not necessart. ly American. The resort of Ainerican dramatists to Cooper’s novels does not, perhaps, bespeak ter poverty than the reproduction of “Amy art’? at Drury Lane, But it certainly does not indicate wealth. aes 1/ the pew play succeeds at Niblo’s Garden it might be transierred to prary Lane, with real Indians to actin it. That would believe, @ distinct novelty, and ould be likely to have a markevable value. play called ‘Foiline’ has been produced at the Fiith Avenue Theatre. It is an ptation from Sardou, but contains several allusions that are intended tu give it an American air, although the French names of persous and places are retained. A wealthy widow could of course invest in the Northern Pamuoky and Den- ver Central without going a mile trom the Boule- yards, Such @ play might have been produced in England, but it has not, and lor this let us be thankful, Sardou’s characters and situations without his language are intolerable, There is, of course, a lady Who receives a gentleman not her husbaud in ner private apartments. Sve gives nim few drops of |audanuin, intending to put him to sleep, and take trom his person an imprudent let- ter; and he seizes the vottie, drinks the whoe contents and falls insensibie just as the lady’s husband and an officer of police are entering her apartments upon business | connected with the absconding o: a cashie! The husband has lost a large part of his fortu: “by the failure of a0 American banking house,’ | ag is stated, in order, we suppose, to make | ‘Americans feel at home when they see the piay. | At Wood's Museum “trash, buncomve, spret eagieism, morbidity, Mock heroics and coarse- ness’ are said to be prevailing ieatures of the en- | tertainment. The plucky red-shirted heroes who | ao the tall talk at this house are provably the | ‘American equivalent for the British tar who grati- flea our sathers by expressing nubile sentiments In nautical phrasevlogy. Tue critic of the HERALD | thinks thas he ought to rejoice that these plays | are no worse. “But then, if they could be worse, they probably Would be.” In the course of the plotting and counter-plotting between the hero and ruffian of the piece probability 18 out- raged and conerency 18 despised. Catastrophes | here are ensured by devices which an infant could see | through, and astounding discoveries which sur- ptise ho one are perpetually being made, Senti- mentalism is sandwiched with murder, and the “angel mother’ business alternates with negro | breakdowns, We have not at present anything 80 this In London, but then we might have. wever, the tide Of sensationalism has jt} ‘atner ebbed in London | always on the food at New York. Hut the dread- | ful difficulty 1s, if you take away the plays which you put in place of them? | to abandon the project ior a | Fioyd. and it is not likely to be | receive these severe and just criticisms what cama | WHO WILL BE POLICE COMMISSIONER ? f oni dhe The Numerous Aspirants for the Po~ sition—Bargain and Sa for Ofice— Lively Li ng r King Is Dead, Long Live the King Scarcely has the mound covering the remains of Henry Smith, the late Preaident of the Police Com- missioners, been closed before a bevy of candi- dates have appeared, each one possessed of sum- cient patriotism to be desirous of serving nis country at the rate of $10,000 per auum. Even whiie the deceased was lying in the death throes some of the aspirants lor his prospectively vacant shoes were auxiously canvassing the chances of @ speedy dissolution and @ suosequent appointment to the Presidency of the Police Commission. During the period of Mr. Smitn’s illness, and since his demise, up to Thursday noon, the would-be Commissioners possessed delicacy enough to keep their desires to themselves, But yesterday they paraded in full force, if not im propria persone, by their representative (riends, who eloquently ad- vanced their claims upon Mayor Havemeyer in the most dulcet strains. The Municipal Executive who rules over the wel- fare of Gotham was visited yesterday by men high in office, men of wealth and position, and also by poor ‘cusses’? with no position, but willing to take one, aud the endeavor oi each was to impress His Hovor with the grand importance of their cand date and the peculiar fituess of that aspirant, &c., &c. Mayor Havemeyer received all with his wonted Smile, While be ng persuaded by the ofice-seeker direct or the oMice-seeker by proxy he would con- tinue to sign the chécks for the monthiy pay of the Fire Department and listen to what each haa to say with an alarming seriousness, Every once in @ while he would break out into one of his hearty and chuckling laughs and adroitly turn tae con- versativn into other channels beiore the inter- locutor was aware of the diversion, He would not talk about the Police Commission if not very hard pressed upon the subject. The veteran Tourlow Weed has .called upon the Mayor since the death of Commissioner Smith, and itis understood that he is pressing the claim of one of his protégés with all his eloquence. chief argumeut brought to bear on the Mayor is that this candidate is inimical it not diametrically Opposed to the Custom House influence, and con- sequently he has @ claim on the Mayor, as both parties cherish the same feelings. It is further- | more claimed tnat he has great influence in Albany in connection with Commissioner Van Nort, ana if he should be appointed the Pel leis will be apt at letropolitan Police at or A isc Order, and one of the most formidable candidates, is Alderman John J, Morris, one of the most popular Members oi the Common Council. Mr, Morris 1s known to possess the warmest iriend- ship of the Mayor; in fact, he has stood in the breach Many a time to de.end Mr, Havemeyer and press n18 appointments With a successiul issue. | A.dermau Morris 13 esteemed an honest man. & great lavorite around the Vily Halland a stanch republican, If he 18 fortunate enough to receive the appointment of Police Commissioner his nomil- nation would provably be confirmed unanimously. Alderman Van Schaick has expressed hunseli to the effect that Mr. George W. Quintard, now Com- missioner 01 Emigration, might receive the Mayor's nomination, but that would be 0: little importance, as tne Buard of Alderman are the parties of the second part requisite to consummate the arrange- ment, and several Aldermen stated that Mr. Quin- tard, al.hough an estimable gentieman, would stand very little chance of confirmation, Up to tive o'clock last evening tue list of candi- dates developed itseli to the iolowing exten Aiderman John J. Morris, Mr. Weed’s prote, Shepard F. Knapp, Jr. John Morrissey. Ex-Seuator Abram Lent. Ex-Ald, Hear, Jonathan Sturgis. William H. All Jacob M, Patterson, Jackson S, Schultz. D. H. Brower. Gen, Alexander Shaler, ‘Thomas U, Acton. Bernard Casserly, George W. Quintard. Mr. Morrissey Wag about the City Hall for a con- | siderable period during yesterday. It is supposed that he was ‘working a route” lor some [riend, as | he stated positively that he was not a canuidate jor the position, rumors to the contrary notwith- stunding. Alderman Clausen, it is also said, de- clines in advance the proffered honor, Besides the above named, the following gentle- men, Who were aspirants last year, be.ore Com- | missioners Coarlick, Gardner, Duryea and Russeil were appointed, have given notice o1 the fact that they are candidates again. Among this list the following are named :— 4. F, Manierre, Police Commissioner, recom- mended by Rev. Wm, H. Boole. James G. Maguire, recommended by H. Archi- bald—Kiein and Twelfth Assembly District Com- mittee. Jacob M. Patterson, ex-member of Assembly, is | recommended by Aluerman Kehr, Richard Sayre, Cuarles J. Folsom, Nelson Sherwood and B. W. | Henry Bergh, President of the Society for the | Prevention ol Cruelty to animals, recommended by Joseph H. Choate, Royal Phelps, Howard Pot- ter, Joun J. cisco, 3. B. Cnlttenden and Sinclair ‘Yousey. Seth 0, Hawley, Chief Clerk to Police Commis- siooers, is recommended by Henry N. Beers, Council Political Reform, sudge Joseph S. Bos- worth, General James Bowen, Dorman B, Eaton. Shepard F, Knapp, Jr., is recommended by Sena- ‘vor Woodin. Tt has leaked out that @ bargain—for it is no | more nor jess than such—was made that to ill the present vacancy in the Police Commission a | republican should be appointed, and, at the expi- | ration of Commissioner Russell’s term, which will be about the end of April, @ Gemocrat will step into nis shoes. If the arrangement is completed the Board of Aldermen will have a clear Tammany majority, and possess all the powers to run tne city’s affairs according to this pleasant arrange- ment. The nomination for Police Commissioner will Not be sent to the Board of Aldermen until next Thursday aiteruoon, unless a special session is called sooner. What clauges in the programme ot to-day may occur belore that time no one can Proguosticate. LIVINGSTONE’S FATE. Letter from the Austrian Consul, Bren- mer, at Zanzibar, to Dr. Petermann, of Gotha—Civilization in East Africa— Death of Two Young African Ex- plorers. FRANEFORT-ON-THE-MAIN, Feb. 13, 1874. The German geographer, Dr. Petermann, publishes in the German press the following interesting let- ter, which he hus received from the Austrian Con- | sul at Zanzibar, Herr Richard Brenner. It is dated the 14th of January, and reads :— LIVINGSTONE. I have but little more to add to my telegram concerning Livingstoue'’s death. The English tra- veller leit the east coast of Lake Bembe at the commencement of August (11 deg. 30 min. south latitude, 28 deg. 30 min. east longitude), in order to return to Zanzibar via Unyamyembe. During his Journey he passed for two days over watercourses and had to wade through inundated country until ne was attacked by dysentery, from which he died alter a lew days’ suffering. His Zanzibar attend- ants prepared the corpse with salt and spirivs and proceeued to Unyamyembe, A messenger was despatched ahead and brought the news to Cameron at Unyamyembe, and it was by him transmittea on to Zanzluar. The deepest regret prevails that this bel energetic African wanderer is thus carried finally to his rest. His tame will be lasting, not- withstanding that during lile it was criticised by a Cooley or @ Burton, THR CAMERON EXPEDITION, Information from Cameron about his own expedl- tion is not encouraging. Cameron himseli is en- tirely exhausted by violent fever, his companion, Dr. Dilion, has lost his sight, and Murphy is in a miserable condition. There can be no tiought of proceeding to Unyamyembe, and It is assumed that the expedition will return with the corpse and effects of the dead traveller; for it isto be pre- sumed that the Doctor's diaries, &c., are preserved, ee Cumeron does not make any special men- tuon to this effect. SLAVERY. A German botanist and coming African traveller, M. Hildeprand, has been here (Zanzibar) for the past year, preparing for @ Journey to the very beart of the Gaila and Somali lands, * * * ‘dhere is @ calm just now in the much discussed javery question aiter mucn dust had been cast in our eyes to prevent a too close examina- tion of the kernel of the subject. England intends to occupy—and has, indeed, in part done s0—Kiloa, Mombas, Durniord and Kismayo. This is done only ad | in order to be able to cut off the land slave routes. Whavever reasons there may be, the occupation wiil be, at ail events, serviceable in getting a better knowledge of Airica, and, perhaps, of advantage for the occupied Jand. ZANZIBAR LOOKING UP. Zanzibar has visibly recovered from the effects of the hurricane, For a year past Fast Alrica has been connected by a steamer line from Aden and the Cape; now Zanzibar is connected witn Mada- ascar by @ steam line, subsidized by the French overnment, If the English ratiroad to Uniamwesi + built, of which prominent men are speaking se African travellers will be able to reach this point in the comfortable cabin of a steamer. Next day they can breakiast in Unyanyembe on elephant’s feet and despatch home interesting reports by tel- | egraph. But at present the African Sphinx is ever | demanding fresh sacrifices, both in the east and west. Besides Livingstone, we had to lament a few weeks ago the deeth of two young travellers— | Hagenveck, of Hamburg, and Count Pinto, of Venice. Direct the course of the towards the North Vole, for there @ really fresh aud undangerous air prevails. RICHARD BRENNER. The | —Sir Bartle Frere among them—then future | discoverer | TRISH AND AMERICAN RIFLEMEN. Coming Contest Between the Crack Shots of the Green Isle and of the United States. Meeting and Resolutions of the Irish Sharp- shooters—The Winners of the Elcho Shield Anxious for @ World-Wide Victory. (From the Dublin Daily Express, Feb. 18.) The Irish Rifle Association held its frat meeting ofthe season on Tuesday, at the offices No. 110 Grafton street, to transact business of an impor- tant natare, the Right Hon, the Lord Mayor, M. in tke chair, Before alluding to the business of the day the Chairman, re.erring to the sympathy generally felt by the rifemen of Ireiand with Lord Elcho in his recent bereavement, proposed the following reso- lution :— That this association, having heard with great regret ofthe death of the gallant Lieutenant Charteris, 1rom Anbustee was, desire te ofr their tespestial wondotence des: . 1 toLord and Lady Hleho in their severe adicuon. ‘The resolution was unanimously adopted and Major Leech waa requested to forward it to the Duke of Abercorn, as President of the Irish Rifle Association, jor transmission to Lord Elcho. Majo éch then addressed the Council, and stated that the important matter he had to submit for their consideration was the great match be- tween the Irish (now champions of Great Britain) and the American nation. He tnen read the chal- lenge in which he (Major Leech) offered to bring over a team of Irishmen armed with Rigby rifies, and to compete with the chosen shots of America armed with American made rifles, en their own ground, To this Serie ie the Americans bave responded ; and General Wingate, who is Secretary of the National Rifle Association of America, writes to say that they are ready to accept the challenge, provided the 1,100 yards ange be given up, leaving the range at 800, 900 and 1,000 yards. A programme of the propa match was then presented by Major Leech to the meeting, which elicited con- siderable discussion, and at length was finally agreed to, the Council waiving the 1,100 yards in deference to the expressed wish of the Americans. The iollowing resolution was then carried unanimously :- Resolved, That th dated aoe ‘October Ws nade, nett, Haq. New York by Arthur 8, Leech, Kaq..and the accompatiying challenge to the ‘riflemen of Ameri read the letter J. Gordon Ben- | the Jrish Rifle Association; also the letter dated th of Beeember, 18hs fro George W. Wingate, Esq. tary National Kitle Associati: P of America, and M hy a e 16th jor 'apeply th te organaary, ist PSU ATERA oF The tiene onion have been taken to ia augurate an international rifle maich between Ireland aud America, and trusts that the arrangements proposed will be carried to & successtal termination. It was proposed and carried— ‘That the proxramme before the Council specifying the terns of the match be adopted, and that Major Leech be requested to rorward the same to the Natioual Ritle As- sociation of America, THE CONTEST. The above very interesting match will, in all probability, come off at Creedmoor, Long | Island, N. ¥., about the end of September next, on the range of the National Rifle Assocta- tion of America. It speaks strongly for the pluck of the team who, having beaten the “cracks” of England and Scotland, now go further to seek “foemen worthy of their steel,” or ‘lead’? we | should say. At all events, the reputation of rifle shooting held by America has hitherto been the first in the world, but we th they will meet in the Irish team no mean adversaries, for have they not won the Elcho Shieid? And some of the same men will,in all probability, pull triggers in the ‘iand of the West.” The Americans will, no | doubt, put into the fleld the strongest team they | have—perhaps men culled from the backwoods, | whose daily occupation is eked out with their skill | in the use of the rifle; possibly some of the red men, the Crows, the Blackieet, or the Sioux Indians may enter the lists against us. However, our marksmen may depend on meeting the best men America can produce, celebrated for their nerve, clear sight and judgment. We are sure, | though, that Major Leech, who selects the team, will leave no stone unturned to lead his gallant little band to victory, who then may claim the championship of the world. The Issues Involved in the Challenge— Arms, Men and Money. {From the Irish (Dublin) Times, Feb. 13.) Some time since we noticed that the Irish team, | ‘Who, a8 winners of the Elcno Shield, are now the champion shots § reat Britain, forwarded a friendly chalienge to the dite of American riflemen to compete against them on their own ground. The Irish challengers stated that tney would shoot | with the Rigby rifles, but they leit it open to the Americans to use rifles of any pattern or bore, pro- vided they were manufactured bona fide by an American maker. To this challenge the Americans manfully responded without delay. They agreed to compete against the jamous Irish champions at any range excepting that of 1,100 yards, They objected to this simply because they had no range of that extent to practise at. General Wingate, Secretary of the Nationa Rifle Association of America, agreed to contend at ranges 01 800, 900 and 1,000 yards, These terms were agreed to by tue Council of the Irish Rifle As- sociation yesterday. The international rifle match between ireland and America will take Place in the course of tue coming autumn, and we trust it will be followed by a return match between the rivals at the Curragh, the Phoenix Park or Dollymount. The contest, it will be seen, is not only between the best American marksmen and | the best Irisn champion shots, but between the rifles made by Jo‘in Kigby, of Dublin, and those of the must celebrated American makers, It will be no trivial honor should our team succeed in estab- trom the ritlemen of Ireland, represented by members of | | you members a team, which he will match against att equal number of the representative American rifle shota, to shoot in the United States im the autuma or ate, en the following coudiriona:— aa irgets, sco! Saunt opt the National Lg heh of Great Britain: at Wimoledon, 1873 (when the Irish eight won the ‘uternational maten for the Elcho shield, beating England and Scotland). . Ranges—800, 900, 1,000 and 1,100 yards, Rifles— Any not exceeding ten pounds weight, but without telescope sights or hair triggers. Position—Any, but no artificial rest permitted, The composed exclusive! of riflemen born to the United states, and to Shoot with rifles of American manufacture, oN Irish team will shoot with rifles by Rigby, of ablin. As this challenge is given to decide the title 10 the rifle championship of the world Mr. Leech will require a sufficient stake to be put down, not for the sake of a trifing pecuniary gain, but as a guarantee that the Irish team will meet the repr sentative shots of America, Mr. Leech desires to draw the attention of the American people to the fact that the laws of Great Britain forbid the formation in Ireiand of rifle corps similar to those which exist in great num- bers in Engiand and Scotland, and that any skill acquired by Irishmen In rifle shooting is the result of individual exertion under difficulties arising from discouraging legislation, REPLY. THE AMATEUR RIFLE CivB, No. 194 Broadway, New YORK, Dec, 20, 1873. A. BLENNERHASSETT LEECH, Esq. :— Deak Siz—Your challenge to American riflemen, pobiae inthe New YORK HERALD, vaving been rought belore the executive committee, I have been requested to address you as to the particulars of the proposed match, with the view of accepting your challenge tf satisfactory arrangements can be made. The main items of your letter are satisiactory. The range of tne National Rife Association at Creedmoor, ts, how- ever, limited to 1,000 yards; and any match would, therefore, have to be confined tu distances not over that limit. Please tniorm me as to the deposit you referred to, whether It is to be a ke to go to the winners or as security that the match will carried out, and what amount is desired. From the high reputation of your team we are not very sanguine of saccess, We will, however, do our best to win; aud if we cannot assure them of dis- Playing ‘any Very @xtraordinary marksmanship, we cal guarantee them a cordtal and nospitable re- ception, ‘Trusting to hear from you, I remain, yours respectfully, GEORGE W. WINGATE, President Amateur Rifle Club, and Secretary Na- tonal Rifle Association, P. S.—Our men will, I presume, shoot with either Remington or Sharp's breech loaders, ; REPLY. IRISH. ASSOCIATION, Donk Ae teee TRERT, THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 1874. Dear Srr—I have had the honor of receiving your letter of 20th uit., which I have submitted to friends who are co-operating with me, and [ am authorized to say that a formal programme on the basis of a challenge already be/ore you of the pro- posed international rine tch will be shortly prepared, which 1 will ve bappy to submit for ap- proval of your asscciation, In deterence to your suggestion, | will, tt ble, waive the 100 yards Tange, altnough to do so |, | ‘ear, detract some- What from the great interest of the match, When T addressed the challenge to the American navion, through the columns of t. sw York HERALD, I was not aware that you sad ® National Kifle As- sociation, which you will please accept ag my | apology for not having addressed it in the first m- stance. Iam authorized to say that my friends are highly gratified at the Qattering terms in which ite. denon et axe oniee, ean the meat not ku ach Othe; hat which- Soar ade ehatin this greet HACE SPoitrand judg. ment, we willhave an agreeable Opportunity of improving the acquaintance, if not securing the friendship, of those we may have the honor and pleasure of being for @ time associated with in your country. Pray accept my thanks for your courtesy, Tkave the honor to remain, your very faitnful, ARTHUR B, LECH, George W. WINGATE, Fsq., secretary National Rine Association oi America, No. 194 Broadway, New York. POLICEMEN Belief of the Average OMicer in His Right to Shoot on Suspicion, To THE EDITOR oF THE HERALD:— Isit not about time, iu view of the recent mur- ders and attempts at murder by policemen in the unlawful use of a deadly weapon, that the au- thority of these men were more strictly defined and prescribed in coniormity with established law? It has been urged, from time to time, whea homicide has occurred from either the careless or intentional use of such weapon by the private citizen, that the law forbidding tne carrying of the pistol by the citizen should be inexorably and universally entorced, even at the risk of his suf- fering great bodtiy harm or loss of life in sudden and extreme emergencies. We all know that our police force includes some of the very worst cla-8 of men. Ignorant, rude,, quarrels0.ne, and even drunken creatures are observed among tuem, Mev wuo have just the least possible acquain- tance with our ipsntutions; men who are fitted neither by nature nor by training to comprehend the laws which regulate their duties; thieves, harborers and colluders with thieves, are boldly asserted to be common among their num- ber, And yet such persous are placed high*dbove the citizen whose lie and property hin Ml ap. pointed to protect, and are armed with Weapons. which are denied to the citizen himself unuer all circumstances. It seems to me that something muat be done in the interest of the community to protect the rights of individuals and insure their safety from insult, bodily injury, and even death, at the hands AND PISTOLS. | of these armed rufflans, What a muititude of our citizens, men and women, couid teli Of insuits, im- pudent and unnecessary intrusions and ail manner | Ol ruthless treatment by scoundrels now on the lishing on the other side of the Atlantic their own | fame as unrivalled marksmen, and the superiority | of the Dublin Rigby guns. The Irish Association has displayed a persever- ance almost heroic against extraordinary diim- culties, It has hitherto been supported mainly by the members themselves, with whatever iriendly assistance they received from the Duke of Aber- corn and Lord Spencer, both excellent rifle shots themselves. Each of these noblemen presents a valuable cup to be competed for annually, and they have in many other ways encouraged the associa- tion and proved their high appreciation of the able manner in which it was managed by Major Leech, Tae Irish rifemen who had the spirit to maintain the credit of their country at Wimbledon did so under circumstances which would have men oi any other country to de- In England the National Rifle Asso- ciation is supported, not alone by the gen- tlemen of England and by the volunteers, who outnumber the regular army, but by tie Queen. Her Majesty every year gives a prize of 260 guineas to be shot ior at Wimbiedon. We have as yet no volunteers in Ireland. Our teams have to be selected from a limited number of gentlemen, who contend for the sake of the national credit, and through their passionate love of honor won by science and skill. Surely the Irish Association ought to be generously supported, if the govern- ment will not permit us to have even @ single regiment of national volanteers it should at leust contribute bandsomely to the expenditure of this association. ‘The Americans present a fitting example for imitation, ‘he beautiiul and commo- dious rifle ground at Creedmoor, near New York, where ‘his international contest is to come off, has been established since 1870, and @ grant of $30,000 (or £6,000) was cheertully 2 3 = 7 rs) the permanent establishment of the institution, Itis unreasonable to expect that a few high- spirited private gentiemen in Ireland sould carry on the association forever by their own unaided Means and exertions, The members must pur- chase their own rifles, buy their own ammunition, Spend much valuabie time in practice, defray the charges incident to the care and maintenance of their ranges, bear the expenses to and from Wim- biedon or elsewhere, and actually purchase prizes to be shot for at the annual contests in Dublin, We hope it is only sufficient to direct public atten- tion to this depressing state of things to secure vhat fair help and encouragement should be given to our spirited and_ enterprising countrymen, Whose prowess at Wimbledon is reflected trom the glittering surface of tnat famous shield which is saiely guarded in the Banqueting Hall o: the Mansion House of the City of Dublin. The International Challenge and Cor- respondence. ‘The Irish (Dublin) Times adds:—Tne following is acopy of the challenge sent to America oy Major Leech, and of the reply received from the National Rifle Association of Americ | J. GoRDON BENNETT, Esq., New York :— SiR—In tatters of enterprise your name occurs to me before any in America as most likely to bring to a successful issue an international nife match, which [ beg to propose between Lre- jand and America, Atte 4 , ing held annually at Wimbledon, eight Irishmen, shooting with lIrish-made rifles, this year beat the picked eights of England and Scotland. As the great American nation long enjoyed @ world-wide reputuation for skill im rifle shooting, tt occurs tome that the enclosed chal- lenge from Irish riflemen, now the champions of Great Britain, would ve epted, and, if $0, @ team would be organized to visit the United States in the autumn of 1874, Lenclose an account of the match at Wimbledon and of the proceedings on the reception of the Irish eight in Dublin. I have the honor to remain your faithful servant, OCTOBER 3, 1873, ARTHUR B. LEECH. CHALLENGE TO THR RIFLEMEN OF AMERICA FROM THE RIFLEMEN OF IRELAND, REPRESENTED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE IRISH RIFLE ASSOCIATION, Mr. A. Blennerhassett Leech, founder in 1867 of } the Irish Rifle Association, will aclect Irom tne a team of en by the United States government to aid in | force, Who are constantly making the name ot de- cency, justice and personal secufity odious! Shalt the citizen be allowed to carry the pistul Now to defend himself against the outrages of the police? Or shall the policeman be a man of average intel- lect, cool and sober, with a preparatory training which shall give nim an adequate notion of the anthority with which he is entrusted and particu- lariy with regard to his duties in the use of a mure derous weapon? I have taken some pains to learn from police. men and from men who are now applying for posi- tions On the lorce as to tneir ideas Of the duties of tue office with regard to weapons, and if sucu as have interviewed are a fair sample of those now on the force | must say that their comprenension Of the subject 1s simply infernal. One man, whois expecting to be replaced in the position, actually believes that the mere suspicion wich may get into the mind of one of these “guardians of the ciuzens’ life’ would justify the shooting down a party suspected, even though be had stvien only a loaf of bread, No matter, of course, waetuer the suspicion were reasonauly iounded or not, nor to What extremity of starvation the supposed cuiprit may have been brought, provided oniy the orticer nsay een cee him, “Stop thief!” and he had re- fused, This man believes that no innocent man will ever scare or run, and that, therefore, he is guilty. ‘Truly, here 1s @ Way of dispensing with the expense and vexations of trials by jury and the services of the Sherif as hangman, Let the community look to it. AN UNARMED CITIZEN. New York, Feb. 27, 1874. Right of Policemen to Force Open Doors— The Law as Understood by an Olid Officer. New York, Feb, 26, 1874. To THE EpiTor oF THE HERALD:— Holding a position in the Police Department and Knowing something of the duties of policemen, C was surprised to see in your paper a remark, said | to have emanated from Superintendent Matsell, that the officers who entered the premises in which McNamara lived had @ lawful right to do so. I pronounce it @ most wanton outrage and a bungling act of police duty. In the first place, a policeman has no right to enter a house by forcing 4 door unless by virtue of @ warrant, except when pursuing a person or persons who have committed a felony and who have entergd the pren:ises when in the presence and in view Of the officer pursuing him. Now we will see in what manmer the detec- tives sent by Captain Irving did their duty. It seems they Were informed that a certain criminal would be found in the apartments of his mistres At best this was oniy hearsay evidence, which di not give them sufficient and lawiul grounds to force a door, particularly at such an hour in the morning. It Was not necessary even 80 to do; for, upon such evidence, it was their duty to have set a watch upon the premises until a warrant could have been obtained, Inthe meantime, with such 4 Watch, the criminal could not have escaped, if he had been on the premises. Then, with the war- | Tant, they could have entered the premises in aue great rifle meet. | ‘at they thought the criminal was there, process of law. After visiting the premises of the criminal's mis- tress, and not finding him, they, without sufficient and lawtul grounds, lorcibly entered the premised e uniortunate McNainara, and in so doing committed a murder. Their excuse for so doing 1s A mere supposition is uot sufficient grounds for an officer to iorce adoor, They had no right whatever to force any doors of the apartments in said building with such evidence as they possessed, unless by warrant, and if Mr. Matsell or Captain Irvin, directed the officers so to do, neither they nor the officers know their duty. I ind so much ignorance among the oMcers oi the department in regard to pole arrests that itis a wonder that we do not ave more Of such sad occurrences, CHARLES CATCHEM, FIRE AT PORTSMOUT. CINCINNATI, O10, Feb. 27, 1874. The distillery of Bryson & Co., at Portsmouth, Onto, was partially destroyed by fire this morning. The ausunlery ven valued’ t at $60,000, upon whico there Was no insurance,