The New York Herald Newspaper, September 9, 1874, Page 4

4 SHAKESPEARE OR BACON? ———_-+-—-— Views of Men Who Have Studied the Subject. —-— Commentators, Quidnunes and Annotators. Identity of the Poems and Plays of the Bard of Avon. GENIUS AND INSPIRATION Opinion of a Man Who Never Notices Anything in the Papers. JOHN BROUGHAM ON THE SUB- JECT. A ring at the bell of a comfortable and tastefully decorated nouse on Bust Seventeenth street was answered at first by the angry bark of a frisky “spitz” dog and afterwards by the courteous Mr, | Whiting, of tue Filth Avenue Theatre. “pxcuse me, Mr, Whiting, is Mr. Brougham—" Here the dog tacked in & suspicious manner to the port Jeg of the questioner, | The genial face of Jonn looked out from the par- lor door and the dog subsided and the visitor en- tered. ‘The following conversation took piace between whe representative of tue HERALD and Mr. Brougham in reierence to the vexed question of the authorship of Shakespeare :— Rerortex—I presume that you have read the discussion tovcling the authenticity of the Suake- spearian plays? | Mr. BRouGHAM—I have, sir; also the article from Fraser which gave rise to it. | RerorreR—Have you formed any opinion upon the subject? | Mr. BrovGHAM—There was no necessity to form an opinion, inasmucn as I have always entertained | and shall ever continue to entertain but one opinion apout it. | ReporTER—You evidently adhere to the Shake- | Speare side of the question * Mr. BRouGuAM—I most decidedly do. REPORTER—And yet it appears to me that the argument in favor of the assumption that Lord Bacon inspired if he did not actually write tue Shakespeuriaa plays, as stated in the Fraser paper, is very strongly advanced. Mr. BrovgHaM—t acknowledge it is, ana con- ducted with skill and plausibility; but to my thinking it does not make out a clear case by any means. To select isolated passages of similar form and purity of expression irom the wor«s of twowriters, Do matter at what literary period, and endeavor to demonstrate therefrom that they were both written by the same hand is manifest- ly absurd, a general resemblance in style and | Manner, modified only by degrees of individual | excellence, being observable through al. This distinctive characteristic is especiaily noticeable | in the literature of the Elizabethian era, when the Saxon tongue, powerful in its plainness, had reached the acme o/ its vigor and intensity. The spirit of the age was heroic, and, being reflected in the authorship of the time, gave both to its poetry and prose a heroic stamp. A_ kind of tamiiy likeness, as it were, distinguishes tbe whole; the same_priliiancy of imagination, the same nervous strength of @iction 1s evident ‘in ail the contemporaries of Shakespeare, wiile he himself combines the ex- cellences o! all. 1 don’t know whether I make myseif understandable or not. 1 talk at random | and must not be critici-ed too severely. I simply | Mean to infer tnat where such a strong peculiarity of style and diction was universal it is not at all | surprising to find frequent similarities of thought and expression throughout the entire group. Rerorrex—You believe, then, that Bacon had | Nothing whatever to do with the Shakespearian | | e as” Hs rt. BRovGHAM—I most assuredly do, for the | reason that he must have been foo fully occupied | with his own philosophic speculations, works of | continuous and taxing labor, to waste time upon | lighter efforts, and in @ spuere, too, that he deri- | ded afd despised, added to which, | do not think it probable that one individnal could combine | witnin himself the elements essential to make him the first of philosophers as well as the first of dramatic pocts. RerorTER—What is the reason that we knew so Uttle about shakespeare ? Mr, BRouGHAM.—Because he was not the popular man of bis own age. Great names come filtered to us through the sands of | me, That in their time those very sands obscured. | With scarcely an exception the higher tntelit- gences are the least conscious of their power. Shakespeare was unassertive and, as I believe. knew Do more the beauty and sweetness of his own productions than the fower Knows of tie fume it flings upon the air. That he was but ittie appreciated is evidenced py the fact that he did not write a single one of the Court masques, which were then the test of celebrity, althougn nearly all of his contemporaries had tnat nonor assigned to them. ‘The signifcant circumstance that he left London at the early age of forty-two | and passed the remainder of his liie In retirement | at Stratiord is still (urther proos that the metrop- | olig was no place for nim, delivered up as it was | to the diversions of bear baiti and the choice dramatic entertainments of “Bartholomew Fair’ | or “The Devil is an Ape.” | RerorTeR—Do you think Shakespeare was a good man’ | Mr. BROCGHAM—I am certain of it; his writings are imbued with the spirit of ioving Kindness, and the broad, comprehensive religion of humanity, If | he was occasionally coarse it was an enforced con- | cession to “the groundlings,” and he was im- | finitely less so than his [ellows. Moreover his | coarseness was merely verbal; he did not cele- brate immorality or clothe the worst of vices in | the most alluring forms, aiter the fashion of a more advanced civilization. ‘That we know next to nothing concerning his life aud personal habits, except what 18 mythtcul, isin his favor; for if were any reports inim- | ical to his name and tame rest assured we would Not be leit m ignorance thereof, but toat bis mis- doings would be handed down to us with those of Marlowe, Greene, surly Ben Jonson and quarrel- some Dekker, A. OAKEY HALL'S CONVICTION. ae Our reporter on the points of his pen impaled Oakey Hall at the gay and testive hour of midnight in bis weil appointed Forty-second street iibrary— one which Thomas H. Morell,-the weil known bibliographer, aiter cataloguing, has termed the best selected one in dramatic literature he had ever met. Mr. Hall was preparing a nig from a recent French play. The Repor' an apology, said, “Can I take you from the George Fawcett Rowe and D’Ennery back Bacon and Shakespeare?” Mr. HatL—Ab, I read your people's articie and screeds on that subject last week at the Lotos | Club. It was clever—meaning the editortal dis- section as well as the club. Your Bacon was well browned. Curious now ff, aiter heating the* craters of Iceland and freezing the wilds of Africa, | the HERALD should succeed in earthquaking his- tory and the accepted traditions of Christendom about Shakespeare. heronrer—How much of early folk lore has already been upset since even our boyhood? Mr. HavL—Yos. Romulus and Remus, and the wolf and the nymph Egeria, and William Tell and Pocahontas and Washington’s morality are sad in- stances for selection, Rerorrer—Have you ever examined tis ques- tion which the HeRALo is dissecting? Mr, HaLL—Oh, yes; aown to the fundamental skepticism, whether Shakespeare is a myth, and 80 on, all through the catechism propounded by the five-and-twenty Diackbirds of commentators and quidnuncs ali in @ row up on yonder shelves, ReroRTeER—Why they \00k more like five hun- | dred and twenty! | Mr. HaLt—You see there isa family curiosity in | the affair, | ReponTen—Yes; Shakespeare's dapghier mar- | fied @ Dr. Jonn Hall, but then it is an awkward circumstance for your geneology that they had no | issue, | Mr. Hati.—Cela’ depend. Who knows? Perhaps you never mvestigated that subject? RerorTeR—But revenons a nos moutons. mean. Mr. HALL—The first time | heard it seriously dide | | sell | ens, Quincy Adams, Webster, 1 Wibiog | say. M cussed Was one evening in 1856, in the cosey Hud- son street library of Barton, the comedian and Scholar, A clever writer in Putnam’s Magazine (afterwards discovered to ve Delia Bacon, of Hartsord) had just published an essay modestly en- titled, “The Philosopny of the Plays of Shake- Speare Unfolded,” but written to prove that Lord Bacon wrote the plays. Burton tovk from the table a book, written by a Londoner, named Smith, on the very same subject, published in book form almost simultaneously, yet the screed of each was clearly unknown to the other, So out Of that the discussion vegan—if it can be called ; @ discusstion—when Burton had almost ali the talk, as he should have had from bis Shakespearian re- searches, Burton was an anu-Baconian. If I re- member accurately he was quite logical apout it. | It waz admitted that in Shakespeare's lifetime | several editions of his poems were printed with | | nis name to the dedication, One of these 1s in the British Museum. And Burton argued that com- | parison of the poems with the plays shoula com- | plete identity of authorsiup im thought, construc- | ton, taste, aptitude tn metaphor ,and vervat coincidences, and especially as to likings tor pecu- har characteristics in women. [Know he gave so muny citations that I began to long for the pres- Falstat? Hackett shard Grant White to make some counter- diversion. KerorTER—The late Mr. tlackett, I believe, you knew Well. What thought ho of the subject ? | Mr. HaLt-—I heard him discuss it, with tis melo- dious deep voice and cogent reasoning, at the groaning dinner tables of fis son, the Recorder, many times. He was anti-Baconian, The late James 7, Brady, a family imend, would generally (and, f tuink, out of Very mischevious contrariety) take the opposite. Brady would talk as Hoimes wrires avout it, like @ lawyer, beating out the premises into a thin gold leaf, until apy other than the desired conclusion would be too heavy to hung on it, think he made the REPORIER—Then you Baconian theory thin ? Mr. HaLL—Very good that. But what I mean is Hackett talked like an enthusiastic Snakesperian, Whose affective qualities inseusibly colored his in- tellectual. The divine bard was his god. He was ‘an aderent to the inspiration theory, (fl am not much mistaken you will find, by recurring to the HERALD index, that about the time Mr. Holmes’ | authorship of Shakespeare appeared he wrote a SReeeey ably combatting the Baconian eory. A REPORTER—You have read the Holmes book of | ourse. Mr. HaLt—Several years ago and often since. It | combines the logical masterpiece (after assenting to the minor premise), the philosophical essay aud the exciting romance. ReEPORTER—I believe there appears in Moore’s “Life of Sheridau’’ careful denials ol a charge | thac the great English dramatist did not write the “school ior Scandal,” but that a young lady of Tare talent, who sent him the manuscript, did write it, and then, dying of consumption, Sheridan lathered 10, | Mr. HaLL—Oh, yes;and the charge was well ratified, i! you believed the authority, But Moore ound thatthe plan of the comedy was sketched and bints for filing it in written down on loose Scraps some years before the young lady was said | to have writien it. REPoRTER—Which was awkward for Mademoi- | But let us keep tou Bacon. What is your theory to explain how an essentially uneducated | man, like the Bard of Avon (waettier you Speak of education in modern, ancient of sixteenth cen- tury sense), a boy married a. eighteen and torced to Work—an under-actor, or ‘‘supe"’—one who, as manager, and accumulating some money, had to purchase farms and houses and pay tythes in Strat- | lord, and who sued persons ior malt delivered, and | an author who never allowed to live a scrap o1 an | original Manuscript of his play, poem, epistie or prose compositiou—how such a man, arriving in London at twenty-three years oi age, could have begun almost immediately to produce and continue | to produce such fatculess works? } f vi | the beauties of nature hidden from common eyes: Mr. Hattp—“And” (in the apt language of Henry Hudson, the Shakespearean writer), “to become by general suffrage the greatest name in the liter- ature oi any country, Whose genius has made the | worid for all who speak or read the Saxom tongue bet:er worth living living in, and lite a nobler and diviner thing.’? Let we answer your question by | others, Why does the Bible admit that praise to | God Is periected out of the mouths of babes and sucklings’ Why does Paul ask, ‘Are all aposties? | | Are ail prophets? Are all teacuers? Are all work- | ers of miracles? Do all speak with tongues? Do ali interpret?’ And then add, “but covet earnestly the best gilts’ (emphasizin; this last word), Why do you often ind a charming and apparently unsophisticated | woman, and one certainly inexperienced in affairs, instantly solving some diMcult business problem or knosty botheration with her admirable off-hand | suggestions, and giving hints and advice that, taken at the flood of intuition, lead on to good Jortune, but, disregarded, pop you over some ugly chasm ? RePoRTER—Then you adhere to the explanation that Snakespeare had supernatoral gilts—tnat be- hind bis inmost seli stood some spiritua: phan- tom who poured into him thoughts, ideas, revela- | tons, divinations, prophecies, auguries, tore- | knowledge, &c. Mr. HaLL—Sum it all up in the word inspiration | and | answer yes. Vo you velieve @ future lile? | ofcourse. Then do you believe that the immortal | essence which first blinks vacantly in inianey | turough the eartniy eye machinery, and thea grows gradually but surely in sensation percep- tion, reasoning, and finaily passes away irom earta in fui) pienitude 0 inteiiect, uke Humboldt, Dick. &e., &c., ceases to aevelup and expand im tue spirit world? Doesit | not ratuer go on into fuller and fuller pursuit of either good or bad knowiedge? What might not Euripides have become at Shakespeare's Lime ? Or Homer? REpoRTER—II he-ever lived! Mr. JaLL Cig Pea wd then, the man who wrote tiat which Lord Derby and Cullen Bryant have rebathed in immortality of verse. Aiter ail, 1s genius apytoing more than inspiration? May not influences from the spirit world—mind you, I speak of inflaences upon miud, not vuigar mani- | festations over tables and in dark rooms, that | abound in packthread and babble—possess such a soul a8 had Newton, Harvey, Feneion, Tasso, Shakespeare, Scott, Dickens? As St. Paul imphed in our first quotation, “All Go not speak with tongues nor all interpret, but there are gifts.” — Moses and Isaiah had these gilts; so had tne Pen- tecost multitude. Why pot others in more receat | centuries? Has Heaven lostits power of gifts by | inspiration, or Of teachings by soul influences of the whole or parts of knowledge? May there not be gilts of material and then o! capacity to cuiti- vate ideas and tructily toem? Why have hospital | atients, Who were absurdly illiterate in health, abbied, during delirium, unexceptionable Latin and Greek? Have neitner demons nor Satans nor | good angels power to approach and impress | thoughts, feelings and fancies upon the kindred | soul that 18 temporarily casketed? | KeroRTER—Dou’t forget that there was growth | to the mind of Shakespeare—assumipg be was the writer of the dramas—and why could not inspira- tion come full fledged? Mr. HALL—But there is the gift in power of cul- | tivation. Nevertheless, is it so certain that | Shakespeare’s latest were best? “Hamlet” ts a 1689-er, and “Henry VII,” the latest. One must not assume eitier that the inspiration came from only one spiritual source. Shakespeare, ac- cording to Heraud’s absorbingly interesting tome ot 500 pages, on the inacr life of Shakespeare (se- jJecting one irom a huge pile which the reporter | had been tumbling down), gives these periods: | 1, The elementary aod impulsive—covering, for | instance, “fwo Gentlemen of Verona” (earliest Play) and “Hamlet” and “All's Weil” and “Romeo.” 2% The Historical and Fantastic—embracing the Richards and three Heaory4 and “Midsum- Night's Dream.” 3. The purely comic—in- | uch Ado,” ‘As You Like It,” “Merry | Wives," “Twelfth Night.” 4. Tne epic and im- aginative, Of simple construction, like “Othello,” | and of comple. slrugtars like “Lear,” and of purely poetic like “Macbéty,” and of abstract aud intellectaal like “Henry VILL" RePoRTER—Vuring all these periods—and they are coronological, 1 see—he certainly had for ini- | pressionable soul influence in the next world a | great many collaborateurs, a8 Boucicault might Yet have you no faith im the cram theory? Mr. HaLL—I beg pardon—the which ? KEPoRTER—Whys, the theory of a cram for a spe- | cial effect. Surely, barristers and advocates kuow | something about that! Mr. Hatt (smiling)—Perhaps. Oh, yes. For in- stance, here 18 @ Trobner book, by one William | Blades, to prove that very theory. To be sure, tue DOOkK is supposed to be ironical; yet itisas ‘ar as Holmes’ in its brief way. The author seeks to prove by the plays that Shakespeare was @ butener, like his father—and who by the way Was turned out of pis office as Alderman tor “neglect of duty’’—a schoolmaster, a farmer, au attorney, a surgeon, a chemist, a physiologist, @ docior of the insane, a soldier, @ sailor, a musi- clan, & botanist, entomologist and ornithologist — and Z0010,18t—and by the way one Robert Patterson | | has published in London several monographs upon the reptiies and insects of Shakespeare’s plays— then be shows him to be Atheist, Catholic, Church | Of England man, and after discussing the Baco- | | Dian thory proves him a non-existant, like as the | Marchioness in “Caste” proved Eccles to be. Then he takes up the cram theory and shows Shakespeare a press reader or assistant in the pubd.ishing shop of Richard Field, an old Avon play mate. “ield’s place Was in Biackiriars close to the theatré, tne taverns, inns of court, and in @ fashionable neighborhood. Hereabouts Shakes- peare enjoyed excelient opportunities of acquir- ing a knowledge o1 men and manners. Field’s | Jatner-in-law had been in tne publishing: | business einee 1574, and the British Museum shows how many books he had puviishea—certamly one upon music, Valvin’s Lible, grammars of lan- guages, North’s “Pintarch” and the works of Ovid (whom Shakespeare four times navues in different plays). The snelves of the barristers also gave him volumes on all known subjects, Kerorrer—But if you concede Shakespeare to be a printer, then the Baconian authorship must certainly fall, because every printer seems to ac- quire Knowledge of everything by @ species of ab- sorption of all the sciences superadded to intuition, Mr. MALL—Ii the latter be your major premise thei | and the Bagonian must adinit the conciusion that the bard cohid master ail things “knowledgable.” Observe how his writings prove him a printer. In his day the terms Of the crait aod its mysteries were occult, In “Winter's Tale” will be round this, “Vor she did ‘prin’ your royal father off, con- cerning youl? Again. in the same play, ‘altho’ l NEW YORK HERALD, | young and rising | @icault cout | that there were at that tim we have only to prove Shakespeare 4 printer, | | the ‘print’ be littie, the whole ‘matter’ ana ‘copy’ | of his father—the very ‘mould’ and ‘frame’ of | band.” By consulting Mrs, Cowden Clarke's con- | cordance you willsee how frequently throughout | tue plays is used the word print as oni: @ printer would use it. In the “Tempest,” “Pwelfth Night’ and “Cymbeline’ appears the word “noupareil,” the name of a type first intro- duced into London trom Holland about 1650, and, for beauty and excellence, much admired. Tuat he had read vroot appears im this apt line in 2 Henry IV., ‘Come we to ‘full pointa’ here, and are ‘et ceteras’ nothing?” In *fimon” “No levelled malice infests oue ‘comma.’” But the instances might be accumulated by the coiumn. ReporteR—Yet you seem to thcline to the im- spiration theory as the summum bonum, Mr. HaLL—Yes. It is in the first place conceded that the stage Manuscripts were tn Shakespeare's hand, He manualized the plays, and the only questions are, “Did he copy or did he originate?” Now, no mere preponderance of imteliectual power stitutes the highest form of genius. It is all the more inscrutable in that its source ts not so much intellectual as spiritual We call it inspiration, which very word confesses it to be a breath of that most mysterious spirit that “bloweth where It jisteth.” its own, Much oi Mr. Holmes’ argument seems to prove that a great man, out of his attamments, like Lord Bacon, coula have written the plays. No one doub's this; but the grave question hinges upon a “did,” rather than a “could.” Juuius— Whoever he was—had a motive for concealment. I cannot find any satisfactory one for Bacon con- cealing the fact, if true, in hip later days. When Joune sats ; OF seaPIRGAY inclined on the reshold of middle lite he my ve kept ineog if a writer of the playa; Aiiay pare Bath wha' he must have Jelt were great masterpieces when in oid age and tn disgrace trom the very effects of reierment? Judged by all the rules of evidence, ts preponderance seems to decide for Shake- speare, Tbe positive 1 with him backed by the circumstantial. Toe Baconlan theory rests alone on the latrer. The moment you start with the affirmative testimony that the divine William (aa the Frenon say) was the | poet and the actor. and versed in the business and mechanism Of the theatre, you have half the brief made out. To believe that Bacon wrote the plays you must believe he wrote the poems published in Shakespeare’s name, and to | ‘he Iraud of which (lt! a fraud) others were privy | and kept the secret. And you must also assume that Bacon was a stage manager and actor, be- cause three-fifths of the business of the acting plays are implied in the text, not added tliustra- tively as a prompter or stage manager might. | Now it must be regarded as certain that Bucon knew nothing of this ‘business’? subject, which is really as clever in its way as tie poetry is great, stage mechanism implied in the Hamlet ‘text is as cleur as Webster, Fitzball, Rowe or Bou- have delineated with all their ex- And in Shakespeare’s day the mechan- erience. ism and business was not so well understood as | now; yet, tn his plays he really forecast the stage experiences of the next two gundred years. More inspiration, my boy. RerorTeR—Enough. I see that you are not fond of Bacon and Greens a la Holmes. Perhaps aiter all we must rest content with tne simple minded lady's explanation, “Who wrote Shakespeare “Why, Mr. Finis, of course; isn’t his hame at the end of every early edit.on” « E. C. STEDMAN'S OPINION. In an interview with Edmund Clarence Sted- man, the well known poet, in reference to the sub- Ject agitating the wsthetic world, Mr. Stedman said :— “Of course I believe that Shakespeare wrote the works attributed to him A poet 1s net to be judged by the ordinary standards. Poeta nascitur non jit. He receives trath, I may say by absorp- tion, like asponge. He loves God, and interprets he discovers hidden springs of thought and Jays bare motives o! action. Aji this is not by the orai- nary siow methods with whica men are familiar, but by divine inspiration. Ben Jonson's tril ute to Shakespeare sould convince all scholars that the author of the immortal works was no pre- tender, but ifmore testimony be needed take that of John Milton, who lived not long after Shake- speare, It is doubtless true that the poet drew largely from Italian hterature as a basis for his plays; but then Italy at that time was tue Athens of Europe. Most poets take old mythological sub- jects as the basis upon which they gila their own thoughts, William Morris, for instance, in his exquisite “Earthly Paradise’ hag done this, Tennyson, in his Princess,” probably has made an exception to this rule, sor that exquisite idyi 1s wholly born of his rich imagination. In fine, how- ever, { have not heard or read adything in this whole controversy that leads me todoubt tor an instant the authorship of the works of Shakespeare 18 gorrectly attributed to him.” MAYOR HAVEMEYER’S VIEWS. The time and attention which the Mayor of New York has given to Shakespeare, and, in- deed, to all the poets; his world-wide repu- tation as @ turner of graceful love songs, and the generally romantic tendency of his disposition, proclaimed him at once the first objective indi- vidual. ‘The reporter reached the Mayor’s ofice yester- day afternoon just as official business was about concluded, and, being informed by the gentle- manly attendant on guard that a party by the name of Havemeyer was within, took a chair and awaited his pleasure. It wasn’t long to walt. The door swung open, and he stood in the awful pres- ence. The HERALD man had thought seriousty at first of opening the conversauion With **Gadzooks, old Truepenny,” ‘by my ancient balidome, but ’tis warm,’” or some little Snakespearian pleas- autry of that nature. But the stern figure of His Honor, standing erect tn the centre of the room, put puch thouguts to Might. He sald, Good aitsrnoon, Mr. Mayor,” and, simply taking time to notice that Mr. Havemeyer was dressed in blue flannel and had most undoubtedly pat ona clean shirt that moruing, proceeded to business, THE INTERVIEW WITH THE MAYOR. ReEPORTER—You might have noticed, Mr. Mayor, in Sunday's HeRaco an article about Shakespeare? Mayor—No, I didn" never notice anything in the papers. REPORTER—But you must admtt— Mayor—I won’t admit. 1 never admit anything. I’m sorry [ admitted you. Reporter—This article discussed the claims made by Projessor Holmes in the interest of Bacon. Mayor—I don’t know anything about bacon. I’m in the sugar line, REPORTER—I_ mean Sir Francis Bacon. are many scholars who would have us belleve that tne glorious plays which we all enjoy 80 much, aud which, sir, you, a4 a small boy, may have witnessed from the pi of the old Park Theatre, eatin, peanuts—the succulent peanut, the while—that these plays, sir, were not written by Sweet Will Shakespeare, who, I will remark en passant, was born at Stratford on-AVon, Was accused of poaching, and married Anne Hathaway, but by Sir Francis Bacon, & learned philosopher of the time of Elizabeth, author of the “Novum Urganum” and divers other abie works. Now what do you think of that? Mayor—Young man, itis @ wonder to me how you got past tue door, Prithee, art trifling with me? e REPoRTER—I am not, sir. Iam here in the cause ot literature, and simply wish you to express your opinion on this controversy. Mayor—Well, Shakespeare has never been much in my line. REPORTER—Y0u hgve read him? Mayor (indignantiy)—O! course I have. 1 RTBR—Do you think this Baconian claim has at) ohndation? AvoR—I haven’t studied the subject; I can’t say. I might remark that I don’t know, and, were I pressed, 1 would say that I don’t care. Shake- speare is good enough for me, and 1 don’t see any use in making @ row about it. At this point the Mayor vanished behind a screen as if he were about doing @ comic lightning change. The reporter loitered a few moments, expecting to see him emerge as Captain Jinks or the Belle ot the Ball, but he didn’t, and the Snake- Sperian man Wook his leave. OTHER (PINIONS, : The Elizabethan Era. To THE Epiror oF Tak HERALD :— In the discussion of the Shakespeare problem It | has struck me as most singular that no relerence has been made by any of vhe parties to a point which to me is exceedingly important in deter- Mining the question—viz., the great intellectual activity in the Klizavethan era. 1t is well known e writers of plays many ol whose productions were certainly equal to the inferior plays of Shakespeare, J only mention Beaumont and Flewcver. Will ur indefatigavle reporters and interviewers hereafter in their re- searches suggest this pomt to the wise heads Whom they consult Write Plays! To THE Epiror or THE HeRALD:— A very able article, and such as ia tobe found nowadays only in the columns of the HERALD. Bat, if not too great a siberty, may I be permitted advise those who are In doubt j “an ship” that they console lves with the oid, but healthy maxim (Mm instance slightly altered), which is, “Let ‘Will’ alone)? OLD “PUNCHY? WRITER. “Did Bacon Shakespeare’s Shakespeare and Verulam. | To Tak Epiror oF THR HERALD: — | Imprimis—It Shakespeare poached for @ deer, 80, De it. Jn secundus—If so be, where did Bacon get his Justice Shallow from? Auswer me that, Macete Brooke, UWARRICK, alone can sufficiently | account jor the workings of that faculty which con- — The most perfect human organization | must Wait upon the moving of 6 spirit higher than | | association had in reality done some good work, The whole | There | to | ore TH BRITISH ASSOCIATION, Extensive Range of Discussion by the Scientists at Belfast. MR. MACGAHAN’S JOURNEY 10 KHIVA |Wis Courage and Ability | Highly Praised. BESO Rae | THE FUTURE OF THE UNITED STATES. BELFAST, August 27, 1874, ‘The British Association has closed its mee'ings in this town and, of course, the members of that august, learned and highly talkative body are in delight over the result of their work. Everybody | 1s pleased, and everybody 1s complimenting every otner body. Nothing but great British and mutual , admiration all ground. We are all talking | | about the splendid time we have had; | and I suppose there is something in | | ie There can be no smoke without fire, All the fires lighted by this British Associa- | tion have resulted in much smoke; but after the | smoke had cleared away it was found vbat the notably the discussion on the strike among the Belfast mill workers, in which suggestions were | made for its settiement, and that settiement, 1 am glad to say, has just been effected, as will ve shown further on in this letter, THE KHIVAN CAMPAIGN. With regard to the paper of Mr. J. A. MacGahan, the HERALD correspondent, in reference to his journey to Khiva, it should be remarked that it has been highly spoken of by members of the asso- ciation, After it had been read M. de Khanikol, a Russian gentleman, observed that the expedition | | to Kbiva had ascertained the fact that | the defection of the Oxus to the Sea of Aral was caused by the cutting of five dikes across the old ed of the river. By \ | means of these the authorities of Khiva could reg- | ulate the supply of water to the Turcomans and | thus keep up their authority over them. Mr. Delmar | Morgan praised Mr. MacGahan for the courage and ability he had displayed all through this remark- | able expedition, His journey was a most remark- able one. ‘he speaker expressed the opinion | that there could be no doubt that the Oxus originally flowed into the Caspian Sea, for its channel or bed was distinctiy marked. He as- cribed this deflection of the river to natural agency, to dessication of the land, and to a grad- ual upheaval, The influence of this upheaval, he Temarked, Was apparent on the Voiga and Sir- Daria, It appears that at the present time three Russian expeditions are exploring the country in the neighvorhood of Khiva, and hopes are enter- tained that they will be able to settie dificult questions respecting the former beds of several Tivers of Central Asta, TRADES UNIONS. | | nomic effects of trades unions, and upon the papers tmade a statement in regard to tho Strike. | that even then the millowners never thought of | owners, John Mulholland, had become the owner | to quit unless they would agree to, accept a re- | mit to 1t and they left, It was, thereiore, unfair | | did not allege any freuson for the with the mavagers, who were receiving big wages, | known before. Mr. Brounlee, who spoke | countries, asserted, what is pretty well known to | tleman, when he saw the amount and character of | rate States was as nothing compared with tne | stake. They had even offered to leave the whole and Sir George Campnell having made some re- | ana in America, This gentleman considered trade in Beliast was the cause of the reduction of was proposed, aud that, therefore, tt was neces- he could not submit to the principle that there | | arbitration on this question of wages the mill of the working people, but never would hear of an | up , by Mr. James Hart, Sir George Campbell, Mr. George Campbeii), The arguments used being tween the employers aod the workpeople to an tory to both sides, new light was thrown, Old fossils, who bave for @ question concerning a strike, or a@ dis- | it; but no one cares a pin for men who do hothing the British Association is, untortunately, too true, THR FUTURE OF THE UNITED STATES, On the 25th inst. @ most important debate took place in the economic section of the associa- tion on the report of the committee on tue eco- | of J. N. Fellows on political economy, and of Mr, | Dodd upon the Belfast strike. Mr. James Broun- lee, @ representative of the working Classes, ; He said that during the American war there was & great amount of property tn connection with the linen trade of Bellast, and dividing any considerable portion of their protits witn their workmen, They made immense profits, butlt palaces and castles, and ove of the mill- of @ great landed estate. The workers went on quietly working all this time uwatil | about two months ago, when they got notice duced rate of wages. The belief on the part of the workers was that there was no reason whatever | for this reduction, They did not, however, sub- | to allege that they “struck.’? They simply rejused | \ to work for Teduced wages and they left , | off work accordingly. ‘The miliowners | reduction, and the workpeople, believing that the reduction should not fall exclusively upon | | them, suggested that the reduction ought to begin | and who, under the system of limited liability, were running up the expense of working the mills | toa far greater extent than it had ever been ; With @ thorough knowledge of the sub- | ject, and with an experience derived from | employment in the linen trade in other | be true, that no country in the world has pro- | duced workers in the spinning 1oom equal to the | spinoing overatives of Belfast, An American gen- | the lavor periormed im the Beliast mulls by the | half-nade workers, declared that the black Slavery which he nad witnessed in the Coniede- | slavery borne by those poor workers in the great, | civilized and highiy Christian town of Bellast. | | The workers were not in fauit in this so-called dispute to the arbitration of Mr. Murphy, a large | mill proprietor, but this offer was rejected. MR. JOHN SHEPHERD, OF LIVERPOOL, marks, the debate was continued by Mr. William Ewart, J. P., Who is extensively connected with | the linen trade both in the north of Ireland that the dispute coul not be regarded | a8 a strike between capital and Jabor, He alleged that the present condition of the linen wages; but he did not say whether that condition was good or bad. His inference, however, was that the trade was baa at the time the redaction | sary tO make the reduction, which, he said, was only six per cent, and not ten per cent, as had been stated. Mr. Ewart said should be arbitrauon in a question affecting the | rate of wages an employer should pay to a work- | man. They would enter into “negotiations,” bat | owners never would consent tv. That is to say, | according to the view of this gentleman the miil | Owners were quite ready to reduce the wages | increase, or of allowing them to return to work at | the old rate, a thing which seems to be very hard | and very unjust. The discussion was then taken | P Botley, Manchester; Mr. Bowman, Professor | Donnell, Rev. Dr, Scott, Dr. Farre, Mr. Fel- lowes, Mr. Dodd, and the Chairman, (sir very much in favor of the mill workers, Mr. Ewart closed the debate by stating that he would do his best to bring the present unhapvy differences be- end by introducing it at once ata meeting of the Mil! Owners’ Association and recommending, as jar as he could, a settlement that might be satisiac- OTHER PAPERS were readin other sections. The larger portion of them dealt witi old questions, upon which no | years been attending the meetings of the Britis ‘Assoctation, affect to take an interest in fossilized subjects, bur no one else does When covery of a part of the world hitherto unknown, or something important in sbipbutiding or ratiroad construction Comes up, a general interest is felt in from one end of the year to the other but venti- late their “hobbies” and bore you to death about them. ‘that there are too many such “bores" in On the 26th inst. some Of the sections met again; | put the papers read were of an unimporcant character. save one, which relates to ey paper fias béeh written by Mr. G. W, Norman, ‘8. 5.; but, In bis abwence, Was read by Dr. Farre, | 1; 18 as follows: i | After giving a brief Istory of the United States and the constitution as secared and settled by the ain} thy nz of independence, the paper, recurrin » subject which it proiesses to treat of, But what are we to think of the future | of our transavlantic brethren? { have already | shown that, at any rate, irom the beginning ot the centary the government retrograded; that the leading politicians are far inferior to their predecessors; that their fiscal laws are about the worst to be found in any civilized nation, and that the general system of administration 1s corrupt | and pubic and private moraity im money Watters atalowebb, Should this state of wings continue to exist, the prospect for the future would be dark 3 bat am fully convinced = that Hh not contipue, and that we may Jook hereaiter, notwithstanding the present gioom, for @ brighter day. My hopes arise irom the extent to which power, In the United States, 1s decentralized, One democratic despot. ism could bardly have lasted during nearly a cen- | obt | to | indeed | it wi | tury, It would have tntaliibly have broken up, | Bat there never was any other country In which | power Was so lictie concentrated. Ht 13 exercised | to a considerable extent by the township, through political monads. A certaim numver of townships form @ coanty, and cer. | tain powers are retained by its representatives, Above these are the State | lavors, until we finally reach the } Onisive all these are innumerable Wasteangton. companies with important | corporations and powers, Now it is impossible to imagine that the | inhabitante of a township can allow tue: yes to be deceived aud cheated vermanently. and on a | Hall, Professor Tyndall in che chalr. | new life members, 13, | the funds of £130; to old annual members, 232 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1874.—TRIPLE SHEET. j system, vy tose wno make and ir ther roads and disonarge other manicipal duties. I should believe, too, that the county government was tolerably pure and that jobbery and corruption became frst conspic- uous in the State governments and in that of the large towns—New York, for example. After reier- fog i=} erik race must Jems roe Deez ro, lace bunting w! revaile in America, and by Pehich needy Raventurers de- scended to corruption to get into office, the paper next reierred to the position which tne american upied in the world, aud said that the citizens of the United States occupied a h rank among the na- tions, The Angie, Aang cans might be regarded as @ well educated people, while their veneration for their constituiion must be admired. They prize their constitution dearly, and justly too, as it, no doubt, was one of their best saleguards against revolution, There were few countries in which » papular disturbance was more easily put down. ‘here, when @ disturbance took place, the militia were calied out and the work of repres sion was periormed with despatch and se- verity. In the United States, though there were strong and violent parties, when the ma- jority pronownced their opinion then all opposition ceased. During the late civil war, when the Union was temporarily divided, the armies formed Atttle short Of @ million and a half of soldiers, ana that out of @ population of 35,000,000; and the fact that, with the exception of about 80,000, all re- turned to industrial pursuits on tne ter mination of the. war, was @ strong proof of the universal industry of the inbabi- tants. In conclusion, the paper referred to the great advantage which this country presented to people trom Great Britain and Lreland and to all famopenits who found their limits circumscribed at home. Mr. HANS MoMorp1gE denied that this country is over populated, and he could conceive of no GzeRten fallacy than the statements which had een made that Ireland and Scotland are over populated. He would illustrate his remark by the Statement that tn 1854 the county of armagh, With 334 square miles, was dotted over with small farms and small tenancics, and if the rest of the country were populated in the same ratio there would be eighteen or nineteen millions of people in Ireland (“tlear, hear!”), ana in Scotland ex- tensive districts of country are being depopulated to make room for deer forests, (‘Hear, hear:’’) With regard to the payment of Parliamentary representatives, he trusted the time wouid come before long when in this country the best men would be enabied to appear in Parliament (“Hear, hear!”), and when representation would not depend on @ man’s wealth, (‘Hear, hear!’’) The rapid development of the interests of any country depended greatly upon the spread of edu- cation, such as had made Germany a great and powerlul nation—(“Hear, hear!’’)—which® was the result of @ great system of educa- tion—iree, compulsory and = secular. (Ap- Plause.) Let every denomination teacn its children whatever kind of _ religious instruction they chose—(applause)—but let the | State teach only secular education out of the pub- lic iunds. (Hear, hear!) In Germany millions are spent on education and thousands on jatis and workhouses: but here thousands are spent on eduction and milions on jails and workhouses and reformatories. (Hear, hear!) He was sur- prised to hear an eminent person in this section the other day saying that thousands of the teachers of tnis country are unfit ior their duties, He denied this imputation altogether, and con- tended that they were ciminentiy deserving of More liberal support. (‘sHear, hear !”) Mr. FELLOWS denied he had said that the coun- try is over populated, but he said that if, instead or living in a miserable condition at home, by going to England or America tuey could better their condition, it would be wise to do so, Mr. Moknicur (Edinburgh) expected to have heard something of the material prosperity ot the United States, for there is nothing in the history of the worid equal to it, and it would be well for them to note what are the penitiRet causes to wnicn that fact is due. (‘‘Hear, hear!) It was due 1n the first place to the won- derful progress of common school education. While the English system of education is exceed. ingly defective—tney were betier off in Scotland in that respect—in America it is iree, com- pulsory and universal. (Hear, hear!) Then, with regard to members of Parilament, The ‘seuding of men of wealth to the British House of Commons naa been a great failure, and payment of members as in America would be an improvement. Many men who would be orna- ments to the House cannot get there simply be- cause they have not money. Mr. SPRAGUE said that America is a perfect store of Wealth, which must piace tt among the greatest countries of the world, especiaily when their mines would be worked as they are worked in England. Mr. WILLIAM BOTLEY (Upper Norwood, London) showed that in very many things England stands Al, especially in manu/actures and ayriculture. Mr. JAMES SMITH denied that America 1s a greater country than this. It nad not the car. Yency nor the money. Mr. Ross, B. L., sald that any man looking fairly at the United States must admit that America was a country of great prosperity; but there are some things which are dejective compared with ours. He saw that at a Republican Convention the ovher day & gentleman had been ee in nomi- nation for the office of President three years be- tore the election had taken place. Now, that must have the effect of paratyzing the Executive tnree years in advance. (‘‘Hear, hear!) tow that was to be remedied he did not Know, but he thought our system was preferable with respect to sudden changes of administration and the head of the Executive being unchangeable. But America had splendid resources and 4 Most intelligent people to take advantage of them. (Hear, bear!”) And in America, no matter of what rank a manis, he 13 not ashamed of honest work. (Applause.) IRELAND NOT OVERPOPULATED, The statement made by Mr. McMordie in the course 01 the discussion reported above—namely, that Ireland 1s not overpopulated—is periectiy true. If Ireland were properly governed, and not governed, as she now is, in the interest of fac- tiang, she would be well able to support 12,000,000 ot inhabitants, and even more than that if, by means of ® peasant proprietary, the land were jairly distributed among tue peopie. In this case there would be no necessity for them to emigrate to England, Australia or America, [ne | flight of a whole people trom their native land argues that the government of it 13 incapable or unwilling to rule tiem honestly, and that * hou- sands of Irishmen have found homes and mdependence in America if an argu- ment in favor of some of the social conditions | and institutions existing in that country. At all events, the humble, industrious man is’ not crashed by ‘snobbery’ in the United States. How- ever humble tus birth may have been, he may, by industry and integrity, raise himself to wealti and eminence and never feel ashamed that ne nas done it all by the aid of honest work, and not because he is a flunkey, @ snob or an aristucrat—things that count for little the United States. Nevertheless, my decided opinion is, and always has been, that tne people of every country have a right to live upon | their own lanl, and that tf they have not that right they ought to fight for it at the first tavor- able opportunity, or take the right, u chance or aby other circumstauce should throw it in their way. kmigration 18 4 sad necessity; but it is one that will exist as jong as emperors, rulers, mili- tary despots and landlords in surope have it in | their power to degrade and tyrannize over the people. ‘Tae business of the various sections was brought to @ close py pareine votes of thanks to the chair- men who had presided over them. THE FINAL MEETING of the association was held yesterday in the Ulster The number of tickets issued Was:—To old ile members, 162; to representing an addition to tickets, representing £232; to 85 new members, £170; to associates, 817 tickets, representing £817; to Ladies, 630, representing £630; foreign members, 12, Total number oj tickets issued, 1,951, On the motion of Dr. Carpenter, seconded by Mr. Bramwell, a vote of thanks was passed to the Mayor of Beliast and the local authorities for the kind and hospitable reception tney had given the members of the British Association, The Mayor responded, and, after speeches trom Mr. Ewart, | Professor ‘Tyndall, the Prestdeat of the Queen's Coliege (Dr. Henry) and others, the association adjourned, to meét at Bristol on the 25th o1 Au- gust. 1875. In the evening there was a ball at the Ulster Hall. ‘vhe pall was brilliantly lighted and cle- gantly decorated. The uttendance was Jashion- able, but not large. Among those present were :— Mrs. A, Montgomery, New York: Mr. A. Mont. gomery, New York; Mr. 8, 7, Smith, New York; Dr. Charles 8, Turnbull, Philadelphia, Pa. THE STRIKE AT AN END. After a consultation yesterday between a depu- tation of the mill owners and the mill workers arrangements were entered into by which the strike has been brought to aclose, The terms agreed upon are as follows Roughers aud sorters—proposed reduction 2s, per weex—to be reduced is, per week; women, spinners and preparers—proposed reduction 6d. per week—to be rednced 64, per week; doers and machine boys—proposed reduction 6d, per week—to be reduced 3d. per week. The terms offered to the female workers in the first instance have been retained, and the women now go to work at the reduction as first proposed. Tt is only in the case of the men and boys that the owners have agreed to a compromise. ARRIVAL OF THS PRESENTATION NUNS, Six sisters and five postaiants of the pest known and most revered religious order in Ireland arrived yesterday by the Inman steamship City of Paris. The Rev. Mr. Donelly, pastor of St. Michael's church, boarded the stip at Qaarantine and gave the reltigieuses & cordial recep- tion. =A cead mile Jaille was accorded to the sisiers yesterday by several of his parishioners during tneir visit to the convent wi has been erected jor th in Thirty-first Street, Tne scnools of which they are to take charge Will accommodate 1,000 girls, They will be in | BROOKLYN'S CURSE. All Quiet Along the Line—Mrs Tilton’s Se clusion—Some Talk of Raising Mr. Beecher’s Salary. Strange to say, there was a lull in the great scandal yesterday, and everybody seemed to have grown tired of talking. A HERALD reporter called yesterday upon Mr. Ovington, who said that Mrs, Tilton remained still st bis house. The daughter, Florence, was with her yesterday, and would remain with her in all Probability until she was sent to school. Mr. Ovington added that, as far as he knew, Miss Florence had made no efforts at these visits to effect @ reconciliation, however happy she would be to see such @result accomplished. He denied the truth of the report tpat Mrs, Tilton had been in communication with Mr, Beecher since this in- vestigation began, MR. BEECHER’S INCREASE OF SALARY. Another report, which was in circulation yester day, is that there was a strong movement on foot among the mempers of Plymouth church to in- crease Mr. beecher’s salary tromi $20,000 to $30,000. Some of the members of the church, who were called upon in relation to this statement, said that’ they did not know anything about it, although all the members would be very glad to unite in some handsome testimonial of their unshaken faith their pastor, There is no doubt that the attitude of the Piymoutn told is favorable to the mooted project of increasing Mr. Beecher’s salary or giving him some otner sigual testimonial, but it 1s iikely that it will be deterred until Mr. Beecher’s acquit- tal, Which ail his followers regard as certain. Mr. Beecher’s “Friends.” The Chrisiian Union of this date continues the Policy of last week, Mr. Beecher's associates pnb- lishing, as they say, without consultation with him, along editorial article on the attack upon his character, in whicn they assume to treat him as though he had ngconnection with the paper, It nas also an article on “Mr. Beecher’s Friends,” from which the following extracts are taken:— Since the trial to which Mr, Beecher has been exposed he has trequentiy been heard to say, “My experierce reverses all that has ever been said of the inconsistency of human triendship in adyer- sity. .Never mau had such Irieads as I hive!” Ever since tuis public accusation tie datiy mail of Mr, Beecher has been a most singular and won- deriul testimony to the steadiastness and purity and strength of that Iaith which a long, consistent ‘ite of goodness inspires, Mr. Beecher’s mail olten numbers sixty or seventy let- ters a day. it comes irom every part of America and, indeed, of the word. Very re- cently a letter was received from Australia trom a Methodist missiunary desiring to exchange papers with the Christian Union, and speaking with deep feeling of the great usefulness of Mr. Beecher’s weekly sermons in their Australian missionary swork, Letters have been received from Canada and from England, in which, with a nobie coufi- dence, the writers—some men high in churchly and literary rank, others from among the great masa who read and love him—proiessed their faith in him, sumply from the spirit of pied and purity i his published writings. Many of these letters are from old political enemies; many of them from laces where once his hame was execrated. From Baltimore, from Natchez, irom New Orleans have come noble letters of trust and encouragement, denouncing the slander with a generous indigna- tion, aud expressing unshaken faith that his tano- cence would be made to appear. ‘ctied Now it nas been proved abundantly that Mr. Beecher has made great mistakes 1n this matter. It has been proved that he has given bis con- fidence and his affection with unwise credulity to seeming (riends who have betrayed him. But for two treacherous iriends there have been thou- sands Of constant ones. Save those two those who have knowo him longest and oar have ith in beea most unwavering their fa him. The warm hearted, trusting map, who believes with all his heart and loves with has friends that believe and love with all the heart in return. “Give and it shall be given to you,’ says the Bible. Mr. Beecher gives love aud he haa love given to him, He trusts largely and gener- ously and receives a iarge and generous trust in return. He is prone to believe in good and siow to believe evil of others, and others have proved themselves equally prone to believe good ana slow to believe evil of him, A cold-hearted, wary, pru- dent man never would have made such mistakes as Mr. Beecher has, nor such friends, iriends whose constancy and devotion may well renew our Jaith in human nature. DEATH OF WILLIAM H. ee ee Sudden Close of a Brief bat Eventfal Career. Atten minutes past twelve o’clock yesterday morning the mortal career of William H. Bumsted, of Jersey City, came to an end at the age of thirty- nine years, The disease which carried him of } Was only of three weeks’ duration. Every reader | of the HERALD is familiar with the recent portion all bis heart, BUNSTED. \f this man’s tistory, He wielded an | influence in the municipal affairs of his | city not second even to that of Tweed | | in the neighboring city, Like Tweed, too, his rise | was rapid and his fall abrupt and irretrievable. | His ambition to control governing bodies was to | Morbid to admit of his cumbing to the pinnacle of public distinction through gradual and tortuous courses. When in the zenith of his power he | smiled at the simplicity 01 those who rvlused to | Pronounce him tavincibie. Pubiic opinion and law threw down the gauntiet and he boldly and tear- | lessly took it up. ‘The issue of that briet but ae cisive contest 18 well known. The malfeasance lor which he was indicted and tried was tersely described by Judge Beale to tae jury as the ‘“*pros- | titution of puviic office to private gain.” On his conviction he Was sentenced to nine months in | the State Prison. Mr. Bumsted was born in Norfolk county, Eng- | land, on the 16th day of July, 1835. He was one | year old when he landed in this country with his | parents, who immediately took up their residence in Jersey City. When fourteen years old Mr. Bum- sted was apprenticed to a furniture dealer on | Montgomery street. He stayed in that employ. | ment one year. He then entered the service of Clark & Bacot, surveyors and civil engineers, re- | maining with them three years. Next he served @ three years’ apprenticeship with lus father, Mr. William Bumsted, at the mason | trade. At the end o! this time the well-known firm | of Bumsted & Robertson, contractors, was lormed, ito which young Bumsted was admitted as a | partner. Mr. Bumsted leaves a wife and five chudren, He was of medium size, very robust ana abstemtous in the use of Nquors. He filiea the ofice of Alderman in Bergen and in Jersey City. His last public office was that of Commissioner of | Pubite Works. ‘The funeral will take place from | his residence, on Ocean avenue, to-morrow. THE FLOATING HOSPITAL | Destitute Sick Children’s Relief Fund. | ‘The following additional contributions have becn | received by the Rev. Alvah Wiswall, Master of St. | John’s Guild, and handed to Heury ©. ve Witt, Al- moner:— THROUGH JORDAN M, FOSTER. Proceeds of children’s fair at Cliff House, Tarry- town... : $3.33, 200 100 00 3 =; Baby |, Total,.,. Amount previously Grand total...... 4 + Contributions to the fund are earnestly s at once, and may be sent to the office; Mayor Havemeyer, 0 stable & Cou. No. 885 Broadway; D. Appleton & Co., No. 551 Broadway; August Belmont & Co., No. 9 Nassau street; 8. L. M. Bariow, No, 36 Witlam street; Fred, A, Conkling, President Attna Fire In- surance Company, No. 172 Broadway; H. 3. Claflin jolicited HERALD City Hail; Arnold, Con- Jo., No, 140 Church street, or Rev, Alvan Wis | oat denier Of St. John’s Guild, No. 62 Varick | street. ‘Yne sixteenth excursion of the Babies’ Life Boat takes place on Friday, Septemver 11, leaving piers at foot ot West Tentao street, Market street and Twenty-third street, at eight, nine and hail-pas¢ nine A. Ml. A PERTINENT QUERY. New York, Sept, 6, 1874. To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD: — In reading over reports irom the recent *“Custe Scientific Black Hills Expedition’ [ noticed that | about 100 civilians accompanted it, in various ca- | pacities; that they also “staked off claims,’’ to opened avout the end of the present month, The | be prospected and developed in the future, Now protessed sisters are cin in the simple but \ 1 would like to know i any partied picturesque habit of the Presentation Order, | can go into an Indian country, protected The postulants wore secular costume, The | by @ strong military Jorce, 1 pitch upon Superioress 18 Mother Mary Joseph Hickey, | mining property. Could these same civilians, a name Well known-—indeed, a synonym for piety and benevolence im the counties of Dublin, Kit dare and Carlow. The names of the other ladies are—Mother Mary Aloysius Talbot, Sister Mary Frances Jones, ‘Sister Mary Teresa Roynolas, sister Mary Magdalen Keating, Sister Mary Auve! Griott. Postalants—Miss Mary Falhaser, Miss Mary Shallo, Miss Margaret Everard, Miss Margaret Walton. Miss Buen Ti he. case OF Acquisition of tho Black Hills by the gov- | ernment, have a legal claim to their “staked of” mining clains? Ifsuch be the law of the land, our capitalists had better band together and monopo- | lize the army as @ corps of prospectors. Having great respect for your openiy and reliably ex: pressed opinions, I should be pieased ty read yout Views on Wie above “polmts,”” Youre respoutlully, kee RKADY TO QO.