The New York Herald Newspaper, March 7, 1874, Page 4

THE NAVAL DRILL, Important Experiments with the Torpedo. ELECTRICITY AND GUNPOWDER. “Large Ships at a Low Rate of Speed Cannot Use the Torpedo Effectively.” TARGET FIRING AT SEA, Destructive Capacities of the Sub- marine Projectiles. Water Thrown to the Mizzentop of the Wabash. AN INTERESTING SPECTACLE. | Tossing a Barrel as High as the | Main Truck. The Shenandoah Did the) Best Work. GRAND SCRUB RACE. | GULF oF FLORIDA, Feb. 24, 1874. | ‘The great naval fmnction now approaches the end. There is every reason to believe the fleet ¢ ‘will sail from here on the 27th, and after stopping at the Tortugas over Sunday will return to Key West. ‘The only exception will be the fagship Wabash, which will make a short trip to Havana. The function will end at Key West about the 10th or 4th of March, | There are very many rumors regarding the des- ‘ination of the vessels of the fleet. Some assert that the Wabash will return to Europe, others de- clare that she is going to New York to go out of commission. It is generally believed to be true ‘that the vessels will return to their stations. Of ‘course this does not apply to the Ticonderoga or ‘the Brooklyn, which have just come from South Atlantic stations. now resume the story of this cruise:— THURSDAY, Feb. 19, 1874. The sixteenth day of the cruise was clear and Pleasant, a light breeze from the northeast blow- ing most of the morning. The Dispatch returned trom Havana and the Pinta from Key West. The feet weighed anchor about the usual hour and Stood west in column of vessels, natural order :— 1. Congress. 7. Kansas. 2. Ticonderoga. 8. Dispatch. 3. Ounandaigua, 9. Lancaster. 4. Wyoming. 10. Franklin, 4. Colorado. lh. Alaska. 6. Shenandoah. 12, Fortune, The column was headed north by signal at nalf- past ten, and at ten minutes of eleven, or when the last vessel of the Second division headed north, the signal “Divisions, by the leit flank,” was made to the First and Second divisions (or the first eight vessels), and the signal “Division, jorward, into line, left oblique,” to the Third division, Each ‘vessel of the First and Second divisions came eight points to port and continued onward. The Third division executed the order as has already been described. This brought the vessels into line, | heading west: 1.4 a Ms ee The generai signals, “On the centre divisions form column of divisions, rigbt im front,” was made at a quarter past eleven. The right division steered two points to port, the left division eight points to starboard; the centre division kept its course at half speed. This brought the fleet into ‘column of divisions, heading in same direction:— > - - > ~ oe - > - - - > ~ The signal, “Fieet by the right flank,” twice Doisted, merely changed the direction of the col- uma and headed it toward the eastward, in re- verse order. The general signal, “Fleet by the right flank,” converted the fleet into columns by divisious, heading north:— + r+ + + The fleet was then signalled, “By the left flank,” which brought it into the same form as did the Signal made at a quarter-past eleven. This was followed an hour later by the signal, “Fleet by fours, left wheel.” Tnis brought the flect into line Of Vessels abreast, heading south:— t Hees SO ae a 3 This manceuvre was followed at two by the same signal, of divisions, reverse order. the left flank,” brought the feet into the following formation, heading north :— FP €% 4+ Wabash. 44 46 + 12 43 47 $u +3 +6 4 10 1 45 +9 The next signal, ‘Fieet, forward into Une, left oblique,” has been frequently explained,~wand re- sulted in bringing ¢he vessels into line, heading orth, At thirty-flve minutes past two the follow- ing signal was hotated under the Oolorado’s pen- Dant:—“On the vessel whose distinguishing pen- Dantis over this signal form at balf distance.” ‘The effect of this was merely to close the vessels ‘Up in the same order, The general signal, “From ‘the left in two lines, jorm order of battle,” having ‘been made at a quarter past three, the even-num- bored vessels maintained their speed and the others slowed to steerage way, until the former Dore from them at an angle of forty-five degrees ‘west the course, when they resumed their speed. The result was this formation, heading north :— 4 Wabasn, 4 4 4 4 4 ‘ r ‘ Signal having been made, “Fleet by the right flank,” the fleet took the following formation, Heading east :— + In this formation the feet anchored at five. The Wachusett and Brookivn returned during the and the fleet headed east in column | The signal, ‘Fleet by | NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 1874.—-TRIPLE SHEET, ] Might and reported the arrival of the Dictator at Key West, THE SEVENTEENTH DAY'S EXERCISES, Friday, February 20, the seventeenth day of the cruise, was devoted chiefly to target practice. A target was placed 800 yards to the eastward of the station buoy, which is located in latitude 24 deg. 9 min. north, longitude 82 deg. 9 min. west. ‘The Fortune and Dispatch were stationed respectively to the northward and southward in a line with the buoy. At half-past ten the feet formed in columa ol vessels, with the Wabash leading, and passing close to the buoy, heading north, each vessel in succession fired at the target. The target con- sisted of a square platform of timber, with twenty- | four casks lashed to it, above which was @ cubical turret of cotton cloth, with three ports painted on | each face, The dimensions of each face were ten ieet wide by thirteen in height. | Alter repassing the target three times the vessels drew up In columns of vessels by divisions, and at ive o’clock ancuored in that formation, SATURDAY, Feb, 21, 1874. There were no exercises on this day, and the ex. perience of last Saturday did not encourage fisher- men. The fleet remained as anchor. The day was clear and pleasant, with @ light breeze from the north, The Pinta and Fortune went to Key West. On Sunday, the 22a, the Gettysburg arrived from Key West and sailed for Pensacola at tweive noon, The usual order was issued regarding the observ- ance of Monday as the anniversary of Washington's birth, Monday, the 23d, was observed, according to a navy regulation, as the anniversary of Wasbing- tou’s birth, Whenever the 224 of February falls on Sunday it is ordered that the 23d shall be observed: Tne national colors were displayed at the three mastheads and the peak of all vessels in the feet, and at noon, although a violent storm of rain was felling, @ salute of twenty-one guns was fired by all saluting vessels, | Days of Rest. | THURSDAY, Feb. 24, 1874. The Osstpee arrived durimg the night and was assigned to the First division, taking the Wyo- ming’s place. The day was clear and warm. fleet weighed anchor by signal at ten A. M., and Stood east in column of vessels, the Wabash lead- ing. A target exactly similar to that described in a preceaing day’s account was stationed 800 yards tothe northeast of the buoy. The feet steamed | past the buoy in column of vessels, heading north- west, and discharged as many guns as could pe brougut to bear on the target during the interval occupied in steaming 100 yards on each side of the buoy, or 200 yards of distance, Tarcet. » < | - | | the third passage concentrated the broadsides on | the object. It is fair estimate to say that nine | out of every ten shots would have hulled a sloop- of-war. The concentrated broadside of the Wa- | bash was exceptionally good, all the shots striking the water within @ space of twenty-five square | feet. The fleet then formed in columns of divisions | aud anchored at three. Torpedoes in the Gulf. UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP WABASH, GULF OF FLORIDA, Feb. 25, 1874, } This day had been set apart for torpedo experi- ments, and the resulta were altogether quite satis- | factory. | The day's experiments have tanght all observing | ofMcers much that is valuable, and which will be | of great advantage in future naval battles. The old fogies got a good snaking up, and possibly lost | some of their umidity. Experience 18 the only school which .can teach an officer to be cool when manipulating the electric key which fires a mam- | Moth torpedo. The few slight blunders of the day | only served to show to every officer uf this vast fleet just what to avoid, The weakness of the fit- tings of the torpedoes to the spars was a slight | Mechanical oversignt, which will probably never occur again. It was proved clearly, also, that large ships at a low rate of speed cannot use the torpedo offensively, and that, | while the torpedo might be @ very efiicient safe- | guard against boarding parties or the torpedo , boats of the enemy, itcannot be used against a | Vessel which cannot be overtaken. As an offen- - sive agent it can be employed with ease by a fast | steamer, even in mid-ocean. Spars might be | riggea along each vessel’s side, ao that they could | be swung into place on the approach of a heavy | Tam, against whose sides guns would be worth, | less, and her bow blown off before she could deal’, | the fatal blow. All these things seem possible. } THE ELECTRIC TORPEDO | 1s certainly a great improvement over the old sys- tem of percussion weapons. They are as dangerous | to friend as enemy, and if a guy rope carried away | Or atackle-block broke the officer of a ship hada perfect assurance that he ana not his adversary would go to the bottom, “The application of elec- | tricity, however, does away with all this, and takes all the responsibility and danger out of the hands of CARELESS AND TIMID SATLORS who are employed to put the torpedoes in place, and lodges it with a competent officer who has | been trained for that very service at Newport. | While the key remains open the torpedo ts as | barmless as any loaded shell in the magazine. The torpedo officer has the entire system of submarine defence completely under his control, and can ex- plode the serrible weapon just at the desired in- stant. 1 saw enough to-day to satisfy me that any man-of-war Would have sent her to the bottom. do not believe service, only a: plosion should occar, | Indicating a spot at which the ex- mighty upheaval of the water which floated it, There should have been a hulk, then the experi- ments would have been more useful, The résumé of the day's work is given below:— WEDNESDAY, Feb, 25, 1874. The weather was clear but intolerably warm, the | thermometer ranging among the eighties. A raft, | composed of a héavy mass of planks, buoyed by | about filty casks, was set adrift about noon. The | vessels were all fitted with torpedo spars, pursuant | to a general order tssued on last evening, which I | send you by telegraph to-night, and they were | directed to steam as near the float as possible, exploding the torpedoes as they + passed. The torpedoes were of cast iron, | attached to spars fifty feet in length, | and contained 100 to 125 pounds of powder. The | Fortane was ordered to steam at the target under | fall speed, but the resistance of the water against the spar Was 80 great as to break the torpedo short off and to send it tothe bottom of the Gulf, The following 1s the official report, which is only sent as @ supplement to the despatches :— Number Number Ni wo be ses Fired, ii: . Fy Congress. . | Canandaigua Pt tt a Pp Brooklyn. Wachusett. . | Shenandoah i bree ol mmoncsowocecce LS er eyere rer eyerererereny To comment on the firing by the various ships it Might be said briefly that the greatest execution The fect passed the target three times, and at | The | | into column of vessels, heading north; then, at It was light, fragile and of | insufficient draught or bulk to show the effect of a | hi Tull rate of speed. of those charges exploded under even a 4,000 tons bets “i ) a the raft used was of any sort of | | ploding it in the most approved style. j and we all say, gladly, “Florida Bay, farewell!” ’ respecting the improvements, both in naval archi- , teéture and in machtnery, which are required to was done by the Shenandoah, the highest column of water was thrown by the Colorado, and the most picturesque water grotto took shape from the explosion by the Brooklyn's torpedo. DISCOUNTING AN EARTHQUAKE. The Wabash, Lieutenant Bradford torpedo of ficer, exploded only one of her three torpedoes on the first circle, It was the one rigged on the star- board quarter. I was standing in the miazen top with several officers of the ship, and we were all drenched. The sensation was very unpleasant—it Was something decidedly unearthly. The good ship Wabash trembled in every timber. The shock was far greater than a double broadside trom both Uers of guns, After all the vessels had passed tbe Wabash returned again to the tray, and the tor- pedoes on the bow and abeam were exploded. A solid column of water was in each instance thrown higher than the topof the mainmast. Tons of water descended on the deck and on the awnings Which had been spread over the poop deck. It is | very doubtful whether such shocks do vessels of the Wabash’s size any good, The Congress, whose torpedo officer was Licu- tenant Commander Sampson, fired her charge at the proper moment, directly under the raft; bat, owing to the lateral expiosion, altnough the rait | was lifted bigh into the air, it was not destroyed. The Ticonderoga’s torpedo, under charge of Lieu- tenant Houston, was exploded too soon, The spar was not under the raft, and no effect was ob- Servable, The Canandaigua, on account of some derange ment of the galvanic current, could not explode her torpedo on first passing the rafi; but Lieu- tenant De Blois repaired the fanity spot and dis- charged his torpedo at the fragment of a rait which then remained, The Ossipee had the same ill fortune at first; but Lieutenant Rich made amends alterward by rigging out his torpedo @ second time and ex- ‘The Colorado’s torpedo apparatus, in charge of | Lieutenant Longnecker, was in perfect working order, Asolidcolumn of water rose like one of Cleopatra’s needles toa height of fully 350 feet, and seemed to settle rignt back into the hole which it left, without dissolving into spray as was gener- ally noticeable. The explosion sadly deranged the | raft, and the spar became entangled with it to such an extent as to require cutting loose. The Brooklyn, whose commander has lately been at the head of the torpedo school, did the work assigned it in 2 very neat, shipshape way. There were no delays. Lieutenant De Long manipulated the electric key, and although the raft was in tow of the Coiorado at the time, discharged his torpedo at the exact spot and atthe proper moment, Only one of her three torpedoes was fired. The torpedo on the Wachusett, in charge of Lieu- tenant Cornwell, tossed a barrel as high as the mainmast, Fortunately it fell outboard. | ‘The Kansas was @ general favorite and great ex- pectations, only partially realized, were ente: tained of her. Lieutenant Stone did well, arriv- ing 60 late in the line, The Lancaster, after waiting her chance, steamed for the raft and exploded her torpedo in good style. Lieutenant Newell bad charge of the cere- mony. ‘rhe Alaska steamed too close to the raft, so that it passed between the torpedo (at the end of the spar) and the side of the vessel. Lieutenant Per- | kins stood by the electric key, but the connection | was either broken or he deemed it undesirable to discharge the torpedo. It was not exploded. The Shenandoah, all things considered, did the greatest execution. Lieutenant Commander Evans was fortunate in getting close enough, | without being too near, and the whole of one side of the raft was blown to fragments. The Franklin was not so fortunate. Lieutenant | Parker did not get close enough to damage the rait. The Fortune, whose torpedo was in charge of her courteous commandant, Lieutenant Commander Green, was ordered to steam at full speed. This . she 4id, but the resistance of the water was so great that the torpedo was broken off from the spar, and, consequently, was not discharged. ° The Last Evolutions. UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP WaAzas GULF OF FLoRipa, Feb. 26, 1874. This is the twenty-third day of the cruise. The weather is clear and mild, The fleet weighed anchor at half-past ten and stood east in columns of vessels by divisions, natural order :— - + - - tf + Wabash. - - - - a + - + The signal, “Guide ship N. E.,” was made at eleven, after which, at twelve, the feet was formed | twenty minutes to one, by the left flank into line, abreast, heading west. The flagship displayed No, | 256 at twenty minutes to two—‘From the centre | division of the fleet form echelon of divisions.’ The result was :— ~- ~ - es - - -~ a ~- The First and Third divisions, at ten minates past two, were ordered to form echelon of vessels, which gave the fleet the formof a section of a truncated cone. Then the entire fleet formed tnto echelon on No, 6 a8 a centre, and at three o'clock all were signalled to make the best of their way to the anchorage. A GRAND SCRUB RACE ensued, The fleet was entirely unprepared for any such signal, and as they had onty been steaming about four knots, only a portion of the fires were lighted, None of the vessels, therefore, developed The Canandaigua and Alaska soon showed up in front, both making about seven anJ a-half knots. The little Kansas, carrying the heavy set of spars which will one day capsize ber, was among the few closely behind the Alaska, On the latter vessel every man was sent aft to bring her down by the stern, and her two smokestacks belched forth columns of smoke which made the heavens black. The large snips, unpre- pared, as I said, for this race, came quietly along at about six knots, the poor Shenandoah bringing up the rear. This is the last day’s evolutions here, FUTURE NAVAL ARCHITECTURE. What Our War Vessels Lack, and What Those of Other Nations Possess—An In- terview with the Ficet Engineer of the North Atlantic Squadron. Usirep STATES STEAMSHIP WABASH, GULF OF FLORIDA, Feb, 26, 1874, } I called on Flect Engineer Robie, who is in charge of the machinery fn all the vessels in this large fleet, and who partially superintended the construction of the machinery of the famous iron-clad Dictator. The following interview took place :— CORRESPONDENT—I desire to obtain your views piace our war vessels on a par with those of other nations in order to prepare our country for the naval warfare o/ the future. What is the first great requisite ? GIVE US MORE REVOLUTIONS. Fleet Engineer Roste—Speed. It became evi- dent, soon after the beginning of these exercises in the Gulf of Floride, that the maximum rate of speed attainable by the vessels of our navy now here, acting together, was even less than six knots per hour. It is probable that, under favorable circumstances, two or more of the vessels might have been driven up to ten knots; but for the | are herewith annexed, | seen, limits the teams to not less than four or but this provision is | great majority six knots was the maximum steam- ing capacity against a moderate head wind and over @ smooth sea, AESOP'S TORTOISB ECLIPSED. CORRESPONDENT—How does this rate of speed compare with that of the vessels of other navies ? Fleet Engineer Ropig—It is a mortifying truth that, acting in concert, these vessels of our navy would not be capable of making one-half the speed der steam which is regarded as absolutely necessary for the war vessels of every other nation. Such a grave and startling defect is enough to condemn them at once for naval pur- CAN NEITHER FIGHT NOR RETREAT, CORRESPONDENT—How 18 this incapacity most apparent ? Fleet Engineer Ropie—Principally in the fact that they can neither overtake an inferior nor es- cape from a superior enemy in case Oo! necessity, ‘The condition of the great majority of our wooden vessels fitted with this auxiliary steam power, when opposed to the swift war steamers of mod- ern times, is very little better than that of the Congress and Cumberland when attacked by the ram Merrimac in Hampton Roads. IRON-CLADS MUST BE FAST. CORRESPONDENT—You regard speed as of more importance than iron plating? Fleet Engineer Rosre—If you will allow me to qualify my answer I shall say, emphatically, yes. A decided change in the construction of our wooden ships would be necessary. Unless tron-clads are of the monitor pattern the approved guns of the present time can throw shot through the heaviest plating that can be used, Filteen-inch guns can be made to throw shot through the sides of any broadside iron-clad that can be floated. The weak | geatures of our vessels, aside from inadequate | steam power and the vast amount of useless rig- ging with which they are encumbered, are—first, the utter absence of guns which can be trained to fire either directly abead or astern. IN FOLLOWING AN ENEMY it should be possible to fire the heaviest-guns at her without changing direction or losing time by siowing down. The construction of the propeller well in the stern for a hoisting screw also does | away with all possibility of using heavy guns that could be fired directly astern, and it is an element of weakness, as the screw depends on its remain- ing uninjared for its support. The engines ana boilers in our vessels here also require nearly TWICE THE QUANTITY OF COAL to develop an indicated horse power which would be necessary to produce the same effect tl they possessed the improved machinery which is now being so generally adopted in merchant steamers and also in the Tennessee and new vessels build- ing lor our navy. The Wabash now burns forty tons of coal per day to do work which new machinery would do with twenty tons. Then I would have our naval vessels so constructed that they could be effectively used as rams when- ever an Opportunity offered, and with a speed of at least sixteen knots per hour under steam alone, sail power reduced so as to offer the least possible resistance When steam is used; but two masts in any ship, and those to be made of tron or steel, hollow for ventilation and telescopic; a few heavy guns of the greatest attainable range, so placed that at least one of them could be trained to fire | directly ahead and another directly astern. Iam confident our vessels would prove more effective, even Without any iron plating, than those now possessed by any foreign Power. There is very much more which could be satd on this subject, but 1 think that I have sketched out the onief faults of our present slow wooden navy. THE INTERNATIONAL RIFLE MATCH. The Programme Proposed by the Irish Riflemen—Explanatory Letter from Mr. Arthur B. Leech, of Dablin—The Action Taken by the Amateur Rifle Clab of New York. The Amateur Rifle Ciub of New York, composed of members of the National Rifle Association, who have accepted the challenge of the Irish Rifle | Association of Dublin, to shoot a match in the United States in the autumn of this year, recently received a letter from Mr. Arthur B, Leech, of Dublin, containing the programme of the proposed meeting on bebalf of the Irish riflemen, both which This programine, it willbe more than eight men each; not wholly acceptabie. The time set down is between the 15th of September and the 15th of Oc- tober next. It must be understood that the Amateur Rifle Club will not select its own members to shoot against the Irish team as representative American Tiflemen, but that a circular will soon be issued to the “crack shots” of the country, and from those who enlist in the movement a team will be selected to meet the visiting gentlemen. At a recent meeting of the Executive Committee of the Amaveur Rifle Club, called to consider the submitted programme, the toilowing resolution was passed :— Resolved, That the programme, as at present proposed by Mr. Arthur B. Leech, is acceptable to the Hxeauniye Commitwe, with the éxception ot the first paragr which relates to the number of men of which the teams shail consist, and that it is the sense of this committee that this paragraph should be amended so as to read, eats shall consist of not more than eight nor Jess than six men. A committee was elected at this meeting to make all the necessary arrangements to successiully carry out the proposed match, MR. LEROH’S LETTER. Orrices [rtst RirLe Association. Dvnuix, 110 Grarron Street. Feb. 14, 1874, Daan Srr—I beg to announce to you that ata meeting of the Council of the Irish Ride Association held here on Tuesday last, 10th inst., [submitted a programme of the proposed international rille match between Ireland and smerica for the consideration of the Council. which f am happy to announce to you has been agreed upon and adopted by the Council in the torm which I now have the pleasure to send you in duplicate, You will please to observe that the Council acting on the suggestion contained in your letter of the 20th De- cember, 1873, have omitted the 1,100 yards range men- tioned in my original challenge. With respect to the team you will also see I reserve the right of limiting it to not Jess than four men or more ‘this 1s unavoidable, as you will no doubt see, because it is impossible at the present time to count with certainty on the eXact umber of che tean which can bring with me or who could take partin the match. I need not dwell upon the variety of possible accidental circumstances thatrender it impossible for me to name definitely a larger number than four, although I shall endeavor to increase it, and hope that the climate of America, notwithstanding our sea sickness, will enable us to shoot with sufficient precision to make the match interesting. It does not oceur to me thatI need at present dwell upon any other portion of the programme, which varies so little (rom the original chalienge, save with reference to the period of the year; no other’ time would suit us, We have our meeting in Dublin in May or Jume and at Wimbledon from the lth of July to the e1 that I suggest any time between September 18 and October 15 tor the match, and would be glad to hear further from you as to the date you would consider best. Believe me, dear sir, yours most truly, i ARIHUR B. LEECH, Groner W. Wixcate Esq., Secretary National Rifle As- sociation of America, New York. PROGRAMME, Programme of the International Rifle Match | between the riflemen of the United States of Amer- ica and the riflemen of Ireland, represented by a | team to be chosen from the members of the ‘irish | Rifle Association,” to take place in America not sooner than the 15th of September, or later than the 15th of October, 1874, on the following terms, viz. Team,—Each team to consist of not more than eight or less than four men, at the option of the Irish, whose decision will be declared on their arrival at New York. The American team to be composed exclusively of riflemen born in the United aed the Irish team to consist of men qvfalified to shoot in the Irish Eight at Wimbledon. Ries. Any, not exceeding ten pounds weigh' minimum pull of trigger, three pounds; the Amer! cana shoot witl rides of bona side Americal manufacture, the Irish to shoot with rifles manu- factured by Messrs. John Rigby & Co,, of Dublin. Sights, Ammunition, Targets and Marking—To be according to printed regulations im force at Wimbledon, 1873, Ranges.—Lighnt hundred yards, nine hundred yards and one thousand yards, Number of Shots.—Vitteen at each range by each | competitor. Previous Practice,—The Irish team to be allowed use of the range for practice on at least two days before the match, Position—Ary; no artificial rest to be used either for the rifle or person of the shooter. Mr. Leech, on behal! of the Irish team, guaran- tees to deposit on his arrival at New York, wich the Nationai Rife Assoctation of America, the sum of £100 sterling, alike sum to be deposited by the American team, this sum of £200 to be handed over to the Captain for division among the mem- bers of the winning team. ‘Targets, range and accessories for carrying out the match to devolve on the Americans; the Americans to choose a referee to act for their team. Mr, Leech will act in the capacity of ref- | eree for the irish team. The two reierees shall mutually select an umpire, to whom in case of dil- Jerence of opinion they shall reier, and whose de- cision shall be final. . The terms of tbe match to be signed by , On behalf of America, with the authority of the Amer- ican National Rifle Association, and by Arthur Biennerhasset Leech, on behalf of the Irisn team. Duplicate copies of this programme to be ex- changed, and all necessary arrangements com- pleted on or before the 1st day oi June, 1874. Should either team fail to make an appearance on the day ana hour agreed upon for the match the team then present may the champion- ship and stakes, J of that | month, and the August game shooting also interferes; | | thus | sensible of the lact that he could not safely under- THE PRESIDENTIAL SsPHINX Is General Grant s Candidate for s Third Term as Chief Magistrate of the Nation !—Reasons for the Opinion That He Is Preparing to Withdraw from the Field in 1876— A New Standard Bearer for the Republican Party. Wasminoroy, March 4, 1874. {s General Grant a candidate for another Presi- dential term? Is he the favorite of the rank or file of the republican party for the Presidential succession? Will he or some new man be the republican standard bearer in 1876? and if some new man, will the party be abie to carry the coun- try? The day of the month forcibly recalls these questions and invites us to their consideration. It is the 4th of March. Tnis day, one drief year ago, we had the memorable event of President Grant’s second inauguration, The day was made memorable, first, a8 the coldest day of the winter and the coldest and windiest 4th of March ever known in Washington; second, from the unusual numbers of military and civic socteties gathered here from all sections of the Union, but mainly a8 establishing General Grant and the republican party for four years more in power, and without danger of any serious opposition in the contest for the Presidential succession, A year has passed. The 4th of March is again upon us, bright, warm aud balmy as a morning in June; but politically it is overcast, and baiMing and changeable winds in- dicate a gathering disturbance of the clements that may end in a burricane, It is no longer con- sidered certain that the republican party will win THE BATTLE FOR THE NEXT /RKESIDENCY. It is not certain that Genera! Grant will be nom- inated for another term as the republican candidate, It is not Known that he aspires to or desires another term. The republican leaders who expect to #- persede him have their misgivings touching his designs; the republican ofMice-holders who wish his continuance in office for their own protection rest their hopes upon his commanding popularity. But neither of these partics have anything better than inferences and conjectures to support their opinions. Upon the main question on this cot troversy, “Is General Grant looking forward jor another Presidential term?” much may be said in support of the opinion that, while he would accept @ nomination for another term {rom tbe Republican National Convention, he is not engineering for an- other term, and will not depart from the even tenor of his way to secure it, WISDOM OF GRANT'S RETICENCE, It will be remembered that during the last sum- mer he was approached by various parties upon this subject, and that the only expression that could be elicited from him in the matter was this—that “it would be time enough to decline a pom ation When it was offered him; and that it would be folly to decline it in advance.” He reauzes the strength of his position in holding in reserve @ definite answer upon this point. if it were distinctly understood now that he is not, and will pot, be @ candidate for another term, the in- trigues of rival candidates and cliques of the repub- lican camp for the Presidential succession would speedily involve the President in their squabbles for the support of the administration, and they would keep him constantly in hot water. Now, while General Grant holds in reserve the acceptance or declination of &@ nomination for shother term, he holds all the Presidential aspirants of the repnbjican party weil | in hand and continues the recognized master of | the situation. Jackson maintained the same po- sition, alter proclaiming himself out of the contest | for a third term, in bringing forward Van Buren as | his choiee for the succession. General Grant is | take to follow the example of Jackson, and he has no desire to try the experiment. It docs not 1ol- low, however, that in declining to decline another tenomination in advance of the appointed time he 1s a candidate for another term. On the con- trary, from the character of the man and his acts, and irom certain jacts and circumstances, it may be fairly assumed that General Grant is preparing to retire from the White House at the expiration of his present terin of office. A ROBUST SPHINX IN THE WHITE HOUSE. To the politicians General Graut isa riddle, a sphinx, a mystery which they cannot solve, Yet the only mystery about him is that simplicity and directness oi purpose which, in the honest Dr. Franklin as our Minister to France, was a puzzle to the Geekery professionulAiplomats of Europe. General Grant at this time ears in excellent condition. He looks robust, strong, self-possessed and the most contented man in Washington. With the recommendations of his annual Message to | Congress he appears to Lave dismissed from his mind all the cares of State. The responsibilities | involved are with Congress, an leaves them. In his appointments to office he gives himself little trouble to the claims of this Clique, that clique or the other. He selects his man and abides the consequences of his rejection or confirmation. He likes the soldier; he likes the returning Couseder- ate soidier, Mosby, for instance. He has a gener- ous sympathy for the perama ling) poverty stricken people o! the South. He desires to fulfil his obitga- tions to the republican party; he desires to act in harmony with the two houses of Congress; but ne | 1s resolved to get on as quietly as possible, and he wil not be troubled with their family jars if he can help himself. PRESIDENT GRANT’S HABITS. He enjoys life and tne relaxation from the duties of his office. He likes a jaunt on a short notice to | West Point, New Haven, Richmond or Denver. He likes a concert, a ball or @ wedding, an agri- cultural fair or a meeting 01 the Geographical So- ciety. He is eminently a social and sociable man, though as reticent asan oracie. He receives his friends with the unpretending cordiality of a gran- ger. He enjoys a good dinner, and his cigar is his con- stant companion, In the morning he goes through his appointed work with a strict devouon | to business, but does not care to work in a hurry, In the aiternoon he drives his span of shining biacks or his glistening bays, four-in-hana, with | the calm enjoyment and sell-possession of an old stager from the Sierra Nevada. From small be- giunings, by good management he has become a thrifty and prosperous man in the first duty of providing for a rainy day. The whole bent of his mind is evidently directed, not to the party tac- tics and strategy required for a third term, but to the solid comforts of private lile. He is nota politician; his habits and inclinations run in a dif- ferent channel. He evidently does not regard the official drudgeries of the White House as more de- sirable than the substantial liberties of the private: station. He likes Washington, and is building himself here a comiortabie house, to which, “they say,’’ he expects to retire at tue expiration of his present term. He says nothing, put is as dili- gently preparing for a retirement in 1877 asif the question were settled, THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IN 1876. The republican chiela in Congress appear to entertain hardly adount that General Grant will be out of the field in 1876, They expect still to maintain the ideality of the administration with the party; they expect the oitice-holders and all the retaimers of the administration to support the Tepublican ticket in 1876. They say that the re- puvlican standard bearer in that campaign will be @ new man, but that he will represent the princi- ples and measures of the administration as the party platiorm. ‘his may or may not prove a true prophecy, but from all the facts before us and all the signs of the times General Grant wil be out of tne field in 1876 and New York may furnish his successor, It is only upon this theory and the understanding, if you please, between the high contracting parties, that we can account, on the one hand, for the general desire of the republi- can leaders in Congress to maintain the | geo will of General Grant, and on the other and, for his comparatively independent course since the meeting of Congress and his apparent | indifference to the troubles or the proceedings of | the two houses on any o! the great questions of the day. They still depend upon him to maintain the integrity and unity of their party for the coming campaign; but he bas no further favors to ask at their hands. It 1s thought from last year’s agita- tion of the subject through the pubiic press and the general public sentiment thus disclosed on the subject that athird term experiment cannot ne salely attempted, and that a new ticket can be bet | ter adapted even than General Grant to a new con- dition of things. At all events, the republican leaders have virtually resolved upon this adhesion | to the ee of Washington, Jefferson, Ma Monroe and Jackson as the true course centennial year of American mdependence, THE LEGISLASIVE LEN’. The srlbedihmene’ Hever of Congress and the Tribulations of the Lobby=— “No Song, No Supper”—Sorrowful, but Still Hopeful. there he | WASHINGTON, March 6, 1874. On the 4th of March a year agoa multitude which | no man could number swarmed in the Capitol, the hotels and streets of Washington, drawn here to Assist in the second inauguration of President Grant. Thousands o1 office-seekers and legions of lobby jobbers were here with their numberless | schemes for gaining a share in the rich harvest of the public plunder. And what @ prospect there ‘was for another tull term‘of four years for fat jobs from the legisiation of the. all-powerful and liberal republican party, with none to call its power to account! But what @ change @ single year has brought about! Washington in the midst of a long session was never so dull, “stale, flat and un- profitable” as itis now. To be sure, We are in the midst of our Lenten featings wod prayer. Our | ting snorter from day to day. feastings and dancings are suspended, tre mo- notonous and metaacholy order of an old Puritan Village reigns on Pennsylvania avenue, but the dulness in the side shows of the two houses and the sorrows of the lobby are so unusual in the fourth montn of a long session that they are posi- tively distressing to the old campaigner. THR BCONOMIC SPASM. The retrenchment fever which has seized upon Congress spoils everything. It is a low, wasting fever, which shows hardly an hour of intermission to the sufferers from day to day. ‘they have fits of raving and tearing on economy, which sometimes keep them dancing and roaring by the hour; but when these spasms are over the Patient relapses into @ drowsy stupidity, from which he can be roused only by @ motion to adjourn. Dropping the figure, Congress 1s retrenching, lopping off aud cutting down expenditures right and left and right or wrong, and the lobby is on short rations. The two houses are ON THEIR GOOD BEHAVIOR and the lobby stands back. The game is trigntened and the hunters are tying low. The lobby is watoh- ing and waiting, and is not disposed to waste its am- munition at long range. No railway land grab- bers, nor steamship or telegraph subsidy en; neers, nor robbers of Indians, nor would-be con- tractors for canals or harbor and river improve. ments are giving bountiful suppers or keeping open house to all comers, because these things this session do not promise to pay. The reaction from the Crédit Mobilier and “back pay grab” of the last session has been 80 Sweeping ag to be ridicalous. Our demoralized republican lawmakers, frightened out of their wite by the last iall elections, realize only the necessity o} retrenchment, good or bad, right or wrong. They will cut down the army, and trust to luck jor the protection of our frontier gset- tiers against the Indians; they will cut down the navy, if we have to pur. chase peace for the future at any price; they will suspend the improvement on rivers an harbors, thoagh the saving of a million this year may require the expenditure of five millions next year; they will cut down the force and the petty salaries of the half-starved clerks of the execu- tive departments to save a few thousand dollars; they will do anytiing and everything for retrench- ment, 80 that we may have a good record to show the dear people in the elections of next autump for the Forty-fourth Congress, THE TREASURY DEFICIT. The late panic has cut down the resources of the Treasury. Itis fifty-two millions short. Itis get- We will do all we can to save it by retrenclment, and the deficit must be supplied by taxes. There’s the rub, To make these taxes 4s Tene ae possible for these coming Congressional electiofis, these gentlemen of the lobby must stand back and bide thei tine. When the breeze of these Congressional elections shall have blown over and the republican party is all right again for two years more We Will reopom the Treasury and scatter its money freeiy all over the Jand, for this humbag of retrenchment will have served ita turn, FASTING THIS YEAR, FEASTING THE NEXT. This, then, is the Congress of fasting and pene ance and prayer; but the neXt, il republican, will be one of feasting and iull enjoyment, and “good times” will be with us again, and will be kept up til after the national and Presidential jubilee of 1576, ‘This is the republican pro- gramme. This is a session of retrench- ment and reform. The lobby must wait, We can do nothing this year for the Northern Pacific or the Southern Pacillc railroads; tor sieamships or ocean telegraphs, for canals, rivers or harbors, or levees, or anything outside the current necessities of the government, Even cheap transportation must wait a little longer; for it will cost money and Mr. Riobardson has no money to spare. We expect to save some twenty millions In our annual and incidental appropriation bills, and yet we shall have a deficiency of twenty or thirty millions to provide for. Private claim pills will swallow up Some hundreds of thousands of dollars, and other extras will come in and reduce our supplies, and so the gentlemen of the iobby, who are interested in large jobs, calling for heavy grants of lands, bonds, or money, must wait till next December. So much for the Crédit Mobilier scandal and the “back pay grab” and the allegea Senatorial elec- tion briberies and corruptions of the last Con- gress. They have resulted, irom the excited wrath | Of the people, in a reaction in this Congress for retrenchment and reform which is too violent to last long, and which may be compared to the trick ol the Knowing Dutchman who got down trom his high horse only to get on better, ABT MATTERS. Among the Studios. No class of the community has felt more severely the consequences of the commercial panic of fast year than the artists. During the past season the studios have been comparatively deserted, and even where sales o1 pictures have been effected they have brought little profit. The public only buy art works in prosperous times, and only a few wealthy patrons have been able to resist the awful monetary crash which tightened every purse string. The studio butidings look quite deserted, though the artists are beginning to brighten up under the influence of the dawving spring and are hard at work getting ready for the Academy exhibition. Adversity seems to have taught the brotherhood wisdom, and the petty jealousies which, for some seasons, have prevented @ really representative exhibition of American art, are to be laid aside for the common good, | Nothing but friendship and good will are to reign hereaiter. The result of this happy truce 1s vist- ble in the number of important works on the vari- ous eascls which are intended for the Academy. Every one is resolved to do his best and lend hig most important work ofthe year to the Spring Ex- hibition, which promises to be thoroughly repre- sentative. This resolution of the artists is a proof of good sense and @ healthy sign that a proper esprit de corps 1s growing up in the profession. There was much selfishness in the refusal by some of the more successful pamters to send their best pictures to the Academy exhibition, and, as we naturally look for something more than mere money-making, worldly wisdom in an artist, we are glad tnat this cause of complaint has been re- moved, As the Academy exhibitions grow in im- portance the popularity of native art work will increase. The best way to check the growing tendency among art patrons of importing their pictures irom Europe will be to demonstrate clearly that in some paths of art at least work as good in quality as the majority of the pictures brought to this country can be pro- duced by native brushes. Until the public have been thorougily convinced that this can be done— | and there is no reason why it should not—pur- chasers will be prejudiced in favor of foreign works, and the studios will remain as lonely and neglected as they are to-day. Some of the artists give proofof their earnest de- sire tomerit the patronage of the pubiic by close and conscientious work, Among these James M. Hart holds an honorable place. Whe success of bis “Coming Out of the Shade” has turned his atten- tion to landscape and cattle subjects, which he endows with deep poetic feeling, the more effective because the scenes are simple and natural, Without any straining after claptrap effect. Mr. Hart wisely thinks that there is more poetry in nature than he can manufacture, and tries only to transfer the spirit of passages in nature that ha’ impressed him by their beauty, and hence his suc- cess. “At Rest—Evening” is the title of a work now on his easel. It represents a group of cattle in the foreground of a landscape, reposing in the gratetul cool of the evening. The sun has just sank below the horizon and the sky is suffused with & warm glow which is very charming. The composi- tion of the picture 19 careful ana well balanced. General Sheridan, or, as the people love to call him, “Gallant Phil” Sheridan, has been sitting for his portrait to Constant Meyer, who just got through with work betore the Sioux troubles called General Sheridan tothe frontier. ‘The portrait is half length, and is an excellent likeness. Mr, Meyer's contripution to the Academy will be a touching composition, entitled ‘The Orphans’ Morning Hymn.” Two girls in an oratory are ine toning their orisons, and the morning rays falling | on their handsome faces cast a halo over them. ‘The feeling of the scene ts very exquisite, The poetry that dwells in curious gabled oid manor nouses hid away among trees has quite fascinated T. A. Smith, and he paints them so asto impart to others some of the feelings which these antiquated old houses call up in himself, Two companion pictures present to us “The Old Manor ,House,’’ in the days of its prosperity, in calm even- ing glow of the summer tide, and when the winter snows had given to the curious old gables a fan- tastic appearance in cool wintry moonlight, Both eifects are well and happily rendered, RESQUED FROM DROWNING. As the brig William Brae was benig towed out of the East River yesterday one of her sailors fell overboard while taking in the fenders, and but for the timely aid of Captain Lewis, of the steam tug Uncle Abe, would have drowned. Captain Lewis picked him up and put bim on, board the vessel again.