The New York Herald Newspaper, November 7, 1874, Page 5

Se EE “POR DIOS Y REY.” The Story of the Carlist Wars from 1833 to 1874. From Father to Son Through Three Generations, Forty Years’ Warfare For a Crown. “For God and the King!” has been the cry Yaised for these forty years in the north of Spain. Since the year 1833, when the death of Ferdinand Vil. served as the signal for the outbreak of the partisans of Don Carlos, tue King’s brother, and the frst in the list of claimants of that name to ‘the Spanish throne, the bloody romance of Carlism jhas periodically played a prominent part on the political stage in that country. ‘The birth. of the ex-Queen isabella, on October 10, 1830, Was the apparently trifing prologue to the drama of war which has already lasted forty years, with occasional intervals of peace, and which promises to continue indefinitely, unless, ‘adeed, some casual Don Carlos shall finally suc- ceed in the future im reaching the throne and establishing his dynasty there (or all time, or that that branch of the Spanish Bourbons snall bave become extinct in the male line. ‘The story of the successive Carlist risings 1s full ofromance—not only the romance of the conflict of arms, bus the romance of long and persistent Gevotion on the part of the Carlists to their motto, “Por Dws, Patria y Rey! aud the romance of Personal perils undergone by food and fleld by each successive Don Carlos in his efforts to make good his claims to the throne. The wanderings of Prince Charles Edward in the Scottish Highlands, after the fatal battle of Cul- loden, would serve as a text for a description of similar wanderings Of the Carlist pretenders; and the village annals of the Basque provinces, wherein has always lain the chief strength of the cause, and where most of the battles bave been Jought, are full of memories of the Carlist wars, The first Don Carlos, the grandfather of the pres- ena pretender, was born in 1788. He was the sec- ond son of Carlos 1V., King of Spal, who reigned {Tom 1789 to 1808, He shared in the exile and mis- fortune of his family in consequence of the occupa- tion of Spain by Napoleon, and when the over- throw of that conqueror in 1814 restored to his elder brother Ferdinand the throne of which he had been despoiled ne went back to Madrid, Up to the marriage, in 1829, of King Ferainand to Maria Christina, of Naples, his fourth wife, a hana- @ome, ambitious and intriguing woman, much younger than her busband, the succession of Don Carlos to the throne had seemed unimpaired. Ferd- inand had bad no children by his former marriages, and in the contingency of his dying without male issue Don Carlos, under the Spanish law of suc- cession, would have ascended the throne. Soon after the King’s marriage with Maria Christina, | however, the fact having become apparent that | the union would not be without issue, the ambi- tion of the Queen dictated to the weak and infirm King a banelul policy, which was destined to en- tall upon Spain uptold horrors. The Salic law of Philip V., proclaimed tn 1713, made the succession to the throne inmeligiole to femule heirs of the sovereign, and this law Ferdinand, at the instiga- ton of Maria Christina, was induced to annul, by what is called the pragmatic sanction of March 29, 1820, it was decreed that the child of the Queen, Irrespective of its sex, should succeed to the | throne on the death of Ferdinand. When this decree was Made public the nation was seized with anxious tears. The birth of a son would have given Don Carios no reason to complain, since in | the succession of @ male heir no iniraction of the old Salic law of the Kingdom would have occurred; but in the contingency that a daughter should be born it was felt throughout Spain that Don Carlos and his {rieads Would resort to arms to defend the succession which, under the only law that they recognized, and which was sanctioned by the usage of a century, should be his. On October 10, 1820, the doubt was ended. Isa- bella was born and the voice of the oracles had spoken for war. Divided by bitterly hostile fac- tions Spain uneasily awaited the result. The Carlist party comprised the absolutists of tne King- dom, together with the clergy; the supporters of Queen Maria Christina, who really wielded the aceptre of Spain, were the moderates and Itberals, The Queen’s party hailed the birth of Isabella with joy. The Carlists, on the contrary, not only pro- tested vigorously against the (ulfilment of the pragmatic sanction as unjust to their chief, but they went further. They declared the iniant Isa- bella to be illegitimate, charging tnat she was not the daughter of Ferdinand, but the cffspring of an @mour of the Queen’s. Ferdiuand, becoming glarmed at the troubles that prevailed, was in- duced by triends of Don Carlos, during an illness Jrom wnicn he suffered, to abrogate his decree and to restore the law of Philip V.; but again the tn- fluence of the Queen prevatied, and lor the second time he proctaimed the pragmatic sanction, and declared Isabella his successor. in consequence of the known determination of Don Carlos to proceed to war to maintain his Claims to the throne in the event of the death of the King without a male neir, the intrigues of the Queen’s party were so directed against him that he and many of his most influential partisans were anished from Court, Don Carlos took up uis resi- eace in Portugal, and be was in that country when the news of the King’s death, which oc- curred in September, 1833, reached him. After tne | death ot Ferdinand nis daughter was proclaimed Queen, unaer the titie: of Isabella II. and Maria Christina wus declared Regent to govern during her minority. fverything luvored the Christinos, a8 the Queen-Regent’s party wus called, and fate seemed to frown on Don Varios, whose preten- gions received only the weak recognition of the Pope and some of the Bourbon sovereigns of Italy. But on toe otner hand the Christinos possessed the army, navy and treasury, while Isabella's suc- cession was recognized by the courts of England, France and Portugal. The first Carlist war was now on the eve of commencement. With the hope of rallying his partisans by his presence Don Carlos, accompanied oy 200 followers, crossed irom Portugal into Spain, news having reached him of a rising of ms friends in several of the provinces. But tue hope that had inspired bim roved visionary, and he was driven back wto ortugal, With his wife, a princess of the royal house of Portuga!, and several of bis most | devoted friends, he wandered about, a lugitive, undergoing many ‘hard experiences and con- stantly pursued by the Christinos, who often seemed on the point of capturing him. On one oc- casion he and his escort were followed 80 hotly thay all his luggage fell into the hands of the | pursuers end be and his party escaped with only the clothes they wore. At another time, after a | long day’s journey, footsore and weary, they took refuge’ on a small giarm, and wile the pretender and bis male companions apt on the ground, the scanty supper was prepared by the royal iadies, The intervention of the British Minister finally tnduced the Christinos to aban- don the chase of the fugitive prince, and Don Carlos was enabled to make his way to Kngiand, it was in June, 1834, that he set foot on i soll, and while in London he rejected with indig- nation Lord Palmerston’s proposition to him to forsake his pretensions to the Spanish throne and accept a pension (rom the government of the CY. In the meantime the robust, mountaineers of the Basane provinces, aided by the expressed determination of the Queen’s party to deprive them of their time-honored /ueros, or iree Constitutions, which had been granted them centuries belore by the Old Spanish kings, ¢s- poused the cause of Don Carlos, which they matn- tated ander the command of Zumalacarregal, a chieftain Whose military merits and success were so noteworthy that the Duke of Wellington pro- nounced him “one of the greatest captains of the age.” These provinces, sitnated among the Pyr- enees, and comprising Upper Navarre, Biscay, Guipuzcoa and Alava, have ever jealously guarded their liberties from the encroachments of Madrid. The Basque peasantry are a singular race, proud of their history, the men brave und strong and the | women of unusual beauty and grace, devoted Catholics in their religious faith and extremely obedient,to their spirituai directors, while their mode of life is of the most primitive and simple kind, Prominent in tueir military annals Je the Story, half legendary and ‘half his- torical, of the ‘dolorous rout’ of Ronces- valies, or, as the French. call it, Roncevaux, in Navarre, wherein a force of Basque soidiers tell ery the rear guard of Ohariemagne’s army while that monarch, 1n 778, Was returning to France, through the pass of Roncesvalies in the Pyrenees, alter an invasion cf Spain, and with the mantiesta- tion of prodigious valor routed it, In this pattie | which poetry,song,music and legend have compined | to elevate among historical myths, 1¢1) Roland with Dl | ors ons, by {ntrigting with his partisans in Spain, Freneh romance what Sir Lancelot is to that of provinces by the Romans under Metellus, offered a savag but heroic example of virility and civic patriotism @t the expense of natura) aNections, When starva- ton threatened them, they slew their wives and cil- dren, partly to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy and uy in order, by feeding on them, to prolong their own existence 80 as to Keep the invaders at bay. The Carists, under Zumelacarregul, suffered | trom the lack of arms, but with the courageous use of their most Important offensive weapons, the bayonet and the pike, they more equal- ized 1p mapy ferce combats the disproportion that existed between them and the Upristinos in thia respect, Famihar with all the passes and retreats of their mountains, their plan o! cam- paign was to swoop down on the O'ristinos, in- flict what damage they could and then retire to the security o1 their defies, inaccessibie vo the enemy, At the earnest solicitation of Zumaia- carregut Don Carlos determined to leave London and join ms partisans in Spain. But the ditticul- tes ‘that jay in the way were many. His move- ments were closely watched by the authorities of the three Powers—Great Britain, France and | Portugal, which had formed a quadruple alllance with Spain to keep him out of that Kingdom and to protect the hte of the young Queen Isabella. Fortune favored him, however, and h id friend, travelling disguised and under the nam of Selores Sorez and Sabot, succeeding in_reaci ing France. Thus travelling en mufti Don Carlos and his companion passed through Paris, On the Place Louis XIV. in that city he encountered Louis Philippe, cousin, To the prince’s respectful salute Louis Philippe made no response; and whether because of the excel- lence of nis disguise or because of preoccupation, the King of tne French failed to recognize him, Noticing this Don Carlos laughingly observed to his companion that his worthy cousin of urleans little suspected that he was passing througn his dominions without his permission and was pre- paring to rend with his sword his treaty of the quadruple alliance, Don Carlos finally reached the Basque provinces and was received with joy by his follcwers. Un- familiar, however, with military affairs aud having littie taste ior the practices of war, he was soon sutrounded by a throng of ecclesiastics and civil- jams whose ignorant counsels seriousiy hampered the movements of Zumalacarregul, Altuough that general spread terror in Madrid by hs bril- lant Victories m the North, the campaign became fiercer and the Curistinos more importunate when 1¢ was Known among them that Don Carios was in the provinces, The commander-in-cnief of the vational forces, General Kodil, was tho same officer who had previously led the pursuit of Don Carlos in Portugal, The war soon assumed savage and sanguinary characteristics. Unoheard of | atrocities marked the conflict on both sides, the Carists returning with added bloovy interest the cruelties heaped upon the Basque peasantry by Rodil's soldiers. risoners captured on either side were at once shot, and every norror known to civil war aided to devastate the country. The experiences of Don Carlos in the north of Spain were not unlike those that he had knowa in Portugal, More than once was his life saved, or was he preserved (rom capture, by girateay or oy the devotion of his followers, But finally the pro- logue to the overthrow of the pretender’s hopes occurred in the death of the valiant Zumalacar- Tegui, who, mortally wounded beiore Bilbao, in Biscay, died on June 23, 1835, @ few days after. The finishing stroke came when tne British Legion, 10,000 strong, @ body of men recruited in England, arrived in Spain ana marched against the Cariists, General Ramon Cabrera, another eminent leader, had suc- ceeded Zumalacarregul in the command ol the Priuce’s forces, and @lthough the Carlists contin- ued a desultory warfare jor nearly five years longer, it was a struggle against fate. The Chris. tinos were led by “spartero, then in the height of his military career. About tne beginning of the year 1837 Don Carlos, whose perpecaa banishment from Spain had veen decreed by the Cortes in the previous year, re- ceived pags from Madrid informing him that his presence in that sity would be the signal for a rising in bis favor. He immediately set out for the capital. He was welcomed on the journey with many manifestations of enthusiastic affec- tion by the people, but the continued loyalty of Madrid to the Queen prevented the success of the scheme. Dissensions among the members of the expedition tended to dishearten the Prince and he retraced nig steps and marched to rejoin his friends ip the norch. In 1839 he retired into France and in 1840 the war ended with the dis- bandment of hig forces by Cabrera, who followea his Prince into Frencn territory. This event as- sured the estabiisnment of Isabelia’s authority throughout Spain, When Don Carlos retreated to France it was to become a captive. He surrendered to the French authorities at Bayonne. By order of Louis | Philippe ne was subsequently transferred to Bourgea, where, ostensibly tree, but 1m reality @ prisoner, under the supervision of tne Governor or that city, he remained eight years, living in a palace, claiming to be the rigntful King ot and surrounded by his jJamily and retinue, maintaining the dignity and the etiquette o1 the ancient Span- isn Court. During this long interval he could have ended this enforced residence in Bourges by fore- going bis claims to the throne; but for eight years he persisted in his pretensions to the crown of his fatner, CarlosIV, But in 1845 he altered bis decision, and in thatyear he formally renounced his rights in favor of his eldest son, the Count of Montemolin, also a Don Carlos, and, the French Court having granted him permission, ip 1846 re- Paired to England, Aiver ® year’s residence In London Don Carlos went to Trieste, the Austrian government having offered bim a residence in that city. Here he passed the remaining years of nis lie in strict seciusion. He died in 1855, leav- ing three sons—to wit, the Don Carlos just men- tioned, Don Juan, the father of the Don Carlos now waging wer against the Serrano govern: ment, and Don Ferdinand. Don Carlos was a man ol marked virtues and excellencies 1n private ule. AS a husband and father no reproach attacued to | him, and if he lacked that sound judgment and those more robust qualities which mgake men con- querors Of difficult circumstances, the tact was his misiortune. ‘The second Don Carlos, or, as his partisans called him, Carlos VL, was born tu an inheritance of war, and his /ortunes and experiences were destined, Sresaey enough, to be aimost identical with those of his father. le was twenty-eight years of age | when the elder Don Carlos resigned bis rights into | his Hands, and at about this time he found bim- self the central figure, witn bis cousin, tne youu: Queen Isabella, then a little over sixteen years 0: age, of a well-intenttoned conspiracy of the triends. Ol peace In Spain to end by a masterstroke of | diplomacy the dispute between the rival houses, | An effort, joined in by both parties, was made to bring about a@ marriage between tne Prince and the Queen. Don Carlos was not averse to this settlement Of the difficulties, and indeed he went | 8o far in his wooing as to appeal, in 1846, to bis friends in Spain to aid him with the force of arms to secure Isavella’s hand, But a strong influence at Court opposed the union and frustrated the hopes of peace. Disturbances followea in. the Basque provinces, which, however, were soon | suppressed, and the romantic episode ended in the marriage of the Queen to her cousin, Don Francisco de Asisse. In the meantime Von Carlos, with an ultimate view to another military attempt to substantiate nis claims, Was not idle. In 1849 the Basques rose ayatnst the Queen’s authority, General Cabrera | having again entered Spain and assumed com- | mand of the Carlist forces. Don varios disguised himself and attempted to cross France {n order to join his triends, but he was recognized and was arrested, He was sent to the castie of Perpignan | and was for some days kept a prisoner there. The revolt was soon alterwards quelled, leaving be- hind it, however, the smotiiered embers of revo- lution, which ere many years should have passed away were again to break iorth into the fames of war. The third Carlist struggle commenced tn_ 1860, | and the hopes and determination of Don Carlos and his parusans were pitched to as bigh a key | asever. Chie( among those who assisted the pre- | tender inthis last venture was General Ortega, commander of tne Spanish jorces tn the Balearic Isle. This officer espoused the Prince’s cause, and with 3,000 men, whom he kept in igno- rance of his intentions and nis destination, he Baued irom Majorca jor Spain. On Aprii 1, 1860— ominous day—he landed his command at the mouth of the Ebre River. Here he was joined by Don Carlos and tis youngest brother, Don Ferai- nand, and the march was taken up. Murmurs were soon heard among the soldiers, who had be- gun to grow impatient at the mystery that aur- rounded their movementa, and the final catas- trophe overtook the rash attempt when, Ortega having confessed the truth to his men and called upon them to declare for Don Carlos, a general cr of “Live the Queen!” broke from his duped sol- diers. Ortega was compelled to fee from the rage of his Mae and his lle was preserved by the fleetness of his horse. But at a later date the un- sorvunate officer teli into the hands of the Queen's forces and was tried and executed for treaso’ Don Carlos and his brother were also made prison- ers, Upon a renunciation of their claums to the throne they were released, and after regainin; their liberty they returned to Trieste, where bot: died, without issue, in the month of January, 1861. ‘rhe deatu of Don Carlos without tssue left the second brother to inherit the traditional etrife that had been go long carried on. Don Juan, however, appeare to have been leas anxious to fight for bis crown than to make proclamations to his parti- sans. Of these he tssued @ great many from ‘Tneste, which, although profuse of promises of reiorm if be suould be called to rule over Spain, did not produce any marked effect on the Spanish people. Don Juan finally availed himself Of the Spanish revolution of 1868, which drove Isa- bella from the throne, toretire from all pretence of claiming the throne, His eldestson, Don COar- Jos—the present Don Carlos—Duke of Madrid, was at Sais pesias twenty years oid, and, being acton of the old Catnolic stock, was read: enxious 10 try once more what virtue lay if the Unaer these circumatances Don Juan soi- favor of Don Cu made active prep- to resume the war at the first tavorabie oppor- tunity. Don Carlos, who Is a native of Venice and whose mother was aduchess of the imperial family of Austria, Was born March 80, 1 Educated at the Austrian Military Academy, he prepared him- self in advance by suttadle studies to be in con- gition, when the inevitable time should come, to take the fleld at the head of nie followers. He was arried at Frohsdorf on Feoraary 4, 1867, to the | Princess Marguerite, daughter of the late Charles, Dake of Parma, and a Biece of the Vonnt de Cham- his good sword “ Duran in Rand—Roland, the phielest of Chatiemacne’s naladins and he wLo ta | the theatre of war have fully explained the situ- bord, The Ces in Spain resulting from the overthrow of Jsabella’s goverpmen: were followed by the Cartist revolutionary agttations which have continued almost unbrokenly to the present day. The war began iD ENDERAIY, 1670, and, as usual, in the Basque provinces. Jt was of prief duration, however; tor before tne close of the ear the Cariist forces had either surrendered or jad been defeated and dispersed. Don Carlos, assoming the name of Marquis of Alcantara, eD- deavored, whtie the struggle was going on, to reach his partisans by crossing the French 1ron- ter, He was furnished with an Austrian pass- port; but this and nis incognito taliea to save bim irom detection, Recognized by the French fron- tier guards, he was put under arrest, and the authorities at Paris were notified. By order of the French government he was aiterwards sent under escort to Switzerland, In the meantime, the Spanish Cortes had elected Amadeus, 0: Italy, King of Spain, and the new | monarch had accepted the crown on December 4. For more than year Amadeus managed to main- Tain peace in bis dominions, although the eml: saries of Don Carlos were constantly at work ¢i deavoring vo incite the Biscayans ana thelr nel; bors and allies to revolt. Finally came the ele tions to the Assembly of 1872, in which thirty: eignt Carlist representatives were elected. Tie disturban: arising from these eiections led eventualiy to the second Varlist rising of the last two years. On April 8 Don Carlos tssued a proc- lamation calling the Carliste to arms. He protested | vigorously against the elections, denied the le- | gaity of the Assembiy and of the government of | ing Amadeus, and declared that thenceiorth he would appeal to the arbitrament of the sword in | the assertion of his rigats, The elected Carlist | Deputies declined to take their seats, and through. | out Navarre, Guipuzcoa, Leon, Huesca and the other northern provinces the Carlists rose with cries of Viva Carlos V11.!? The Biscayans rallied | to the pretender’s standard with their customary promptness and enthusiasm, and by the beginuin, of May the Carlists numbered 15,000 men, and of the forty-nine provinces of Spain twenty had pro. Bounced for Don Carlos. The chief command of the Carlist forces was immediately conferred on General Diaz de Rada, and in a few days Don Carlos himsell, managing to evade the surveillance of the French gendarmes, crossed the irontier into Spain on May 2, He was received by General Rada as soon as he had crossed the line, and was everywhere prociaimed King of Spain by his enthusiastic and delighted partisans. While the Basques were thus arming, how- ever, King Amadeus had displayed equal Vigor in preparing to crush the new insurrection. Serrano was despatched to the scene of the rising with 20,000 men, and on May 5 the Carlists, surprised by General Moriones, commanding the King’s troops, were routed at a place called Oroquista, Nothing now remained to Don Carlos but again to seek saiety in flight. Closely pursued he fled to the French tronuer, crossed it and thus suc- ceeded in making his escape, accompanied by a | Jew personal attendants, As for the chiels of the insurrection, availing themselves of the King's ciemency, they signed @ treaty, not long alter, with Marshal Serrano, whereby the majority of the Carists surrendered their arms on a promise of @ ull amnesty tor past offences, Thus disappeared | the armed Carlist resistance OF 1872, although the elements of the revolution, notwictnstand- ing their acceptance of the situation, were ready aud prepared to reply with an ailirmative answer to the next summons to the fleld. As the only difference tetween the Basque as a soldier and @ civilian rests in his presence either in camp or tn his mountain hut, as tue case may be, there was little difficulty in gathering them once more under the pretender’s flag at che auspicious moment tor another insurrection, which occurred in the fray | days of 1873, When the current war began Don Alfonso, brother of Don Varios, was general-in-chiet of the Carhsts, General Rada havibg resigned. In a short time 16,000 men were enrolled in the ranks of the insurrectionists. In the month of May Don Carlos joined his ltegemen ta Navarre, where he found an army of devoted followers, who swore to die in his defence. Their natural attachment to the Caritst cause was ianned into @ lanatical devotion by the appeals of their priests, and the Biscayan mountaineers entered with a terribie earnestness into the war. Im the beginning they were destined to undergo great sufferings from various causes, from the lack of arms as well as of supplies. Often without shoes and suitable clothing, they were unprepared in every respect to carry on such a war as this has proved to be. Especiaily were they wanting in artillery, although lately, as has been shown in the H:kALD’s correspondence from the scene of war, they have established a snell | factory at Vera, in the Pyrenees, about ten miles from the French frontier, where shelis for the flity or sixty cannon which constitute Don Carlos’ ar- tillery are made. At the same time fuses and per- cussions are manufactured at Aspatia, where the | Carlists, within a few months past, have estab- lished @ cannon foundry, In their lack of other military equipments the Carlists made up for their weakness by their valor- ous use of the bayonet—their moss effective arm— in battle. They possessed, and still possess, greau advantages over their enemies in this, that they were familiar with all the defiles of their moun- taimous country; that they were of ‘ and temperate habits, and that their janatical fidelity for “God, country and Bing? inspired them with @ resolution which the soldiers of the government did not feel, and which was often half tae battle. General Elio was appointed to tue command of all the Carlist forces when hostilities vegan, aud under him were chieis like Dorregaray, whose recent abandonment of the cause of Don Carios t» reported; Ullo, Killed in one o! the bat- ties near Bilbao a few months ago; Espina, Roda, Tristapy, Perula and others—not to mention the terrible independent guerilia leader, the curé Santa Cruz, whose grim record is tat ol a Gra- ham of Claverhouse of Carlism. The distinguishing events of the war since that period need not part of tne history of the times and are, doubtless, weil remembered by the reader, The investment of Bilbao, the old Biscayan capital, by Don Carios, who had promised to himself to enter tt and within its walis be crowned as Carlos VII., of Spain; the retirement of Moriones, who had been appointed commander-in-chief after the return of Marshal Serrano to Madrid, and the victories gained over him by the Carlists; the appearance last spring of Marsoal Concha in the tleld to succeed Moriones; tne raising of the siege of Bilbao, the retreat of the Carlsts to Durango, and the death of Concha in one of the bloody battles that accompanied that movement; (he coming of Mar. shal Serrano to the north to assume command of the republican army alter the fal! of Concha, and the occupancy by the Carilsts of their present po- sition at Estella, where Von Carlos has nis head- quarters; the appointment of General Laserna to succeed to the active chief command of tne na- tonal army—all these successive incidents in the stirring history of the War, wp to this time, need only be recalled to be remembered. Letters of the HEBALD’s correspondents from the very heart of ation up to date. This situation, to state it briefly, shows the republican forces, 50,000 strong, under the command of Laserna and Moriones, wito their line extending irom Logrofio on the left and Taffaia on the right, in an irregular halt circle around the Carlist line. The Carlists, wita tneir centre at Estella, extend from La Guardia, on the right, to Biurrun, on the left, a distance of sixty miles. Within a few days past Don Carlos | has arrived at Esteila, and the chief command of the Garlist forces has been conferred on General Ello. The object of the repub:ican commander's | strategy is, Of course, to obtain possession of Estella in the first place, and, in the second, to | capture Von Carlos and disperse his army if possi- bie. To prevent the successful consummation of any one of these results Don Carlos has with him 30,000 men, veterans in the matn, and devoted to | his person. The repudlican troops, op the other hand, are largely composed of raw levies, whose experiences of the mountaineers of Biscay have taught them caution. The rumors of the use of Spanish gold among the Carlist leaders, and the | concurrent reports of the desertion of entire Car- Ust battalions, may have a closer relevancy than yet appears on the surface; bat until the two great armies now threatening each other on the Ebro shall have joined battle in @ decisive en- gagement it cannot be sata sately that the san- guinary struggle begins to sce {tsend. When Don Cartos ‘shall have been killed or captured, or shalt haye fed into France for the third time with a Gefeated cause at bis back, the present Carlist in- surrection will come to an end. | THE GRAIN TRADE, A meeting of the grain trade of the New York | Produce Exchange was held yesterday a(ternoon for the purpose, as stated by the president, Mr. Edson, of receiving the report of tne committee Appointed September 22, to confer with the Tailroads relative to the charge for lghter- age of grain in lots of iess than five car loads. Mr. Carlos Cobb, the chair- man of the committee tn question, stated that | they had been unable to agree upon a unanimous | report, and, therefore, both @ majority and @ minority report would be sumitted. The majority report was read vy Mr. J, H, Herrick, and con- cludes a8 follows :— Resolved, That the New York Produce Exchange | adopt she grading system as originally presented to the Grain Trade at their meeting held Juty 15, 1874. by the Spectai Committee appointed April 10, 1874, vielding for the present, under protest, to the tax ot three-quarters of & cent elevation. A long minority report was offered by Mr. Cobb, Tecommending that no surrender ve made to th rajjroad companies, and t! the resolution passed by the trade oo ok 20, 1 ve reaMrmed. Mr. fazleton eupported the minority report and Mr. Herrick urged the adoption of the majority report. Mr, William B. Barber reterred to the political | revolation which bad just taken place and thought | the time had come for the Produce Exchange to break Up this lighterage and elevation business, The minority report was adopted, 8T. PETER’S PAIR, The ladies’ fair in connection with St. Peter's | church, Barclay street, will close this evening, | after @ most successful exhibition of four weeks. | The distribution of prizes takes piace at half-past seven o'clock P, M., under the supervision of the | astor, Rev. Father O'Farrell and the following lies’ committee :—Mrs, Judge Quinn, Mrs. Sny- | der, Miss O’vonuell, Mrs. Clarke, Miss Neville, Mrs, Monroe, Mrs, Colonel Burns, Miss McNiorne; Miss Snyder and Miss MoNally. A Jarge attend- ance of the members of the various Total Absti- NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1874.—TRIPLE SHEET. NEW CALEDONIA. French Officials Puntshed om Account of M. Rochefort’s Escape—Severe Sen- tences on the Sympathizers with the “Reds. Sypxay, N.S. W., Sept. 26, 1874. Admiral Ribourt, of the French Navy, has caused a8 great a sensation in the new home of the “Reds” as Rochefort and his confréres aid when they escaped, one event being only the se- quel to the other. From oficial documents re- cently published it appears that Ribourt arrived at Noumea armed with autocratic power over all persons in the colony, being authorized to compel the attendance of any witnesses of any class found on the island if {t was considered their testimony could throw additional hght on the mode of Roche- fort’s escape. Jn pursuance of this duty and any Important matters disclosed by the taquiry he had orders to dismiss, remove, or take such summary jurisdiction as he pleased with regard to all the government ofMcers, irom Governor De 1a Ricnerie downward. The imvesti gation commenced on June 2% and may he supposed to have only conciuded on August 21, for up to that date M. l’Amiral was apparently engaged completing his inquiries without having previously given any intimation of the plenary powers with which he was invested. He had taken no one into his confidence, 80 that what [ol- lowed came hke athunderclap upon those whom he considered in any way implicated in the | “escape of Rochefort, Paschal Grousset, Contonby and others,” On the morning of the 22a ult, the French war steamer Cher received orders to get under way to convey the commission home. ward, and it was not until he bad leit Noumea that @ messenger from tne ship astounded the Governor by placing in his Land a despatca cuarg- ing him with the publication of R 4 SPECIAL ORDINANCE dated only the previous day, By this M. Bonna- Jous, chiel overseer of the Deportation Depart- ment; M. Gerdoile, head of the Lands Depart- ment; Messrs, Brevast, Genot and De la Vuliegie, assistant physicians; Berguet, clef clerk; D'lIstria, Lecaute, Caverac, Hans, Fanton and Du- maine, military overseers of the Deportation Bureau, were removed from office and ordered to be sent back to France to be dealt with by the government there; M. Gouet, Captain of the Port ol Noumea, suspended on iiaif pay, pending orders from Paris; De Tremerreuc, chiel of native police, dismissed trom public service; Chanlou, director ot the Department of Deportation, and Lanoe, commanaaut at Ducos Peninsula, dismissed tne civil service and ordered to rejoin their re- spective Corps militaire; Messrs, Cassap, Duserre, Biaise and Pivert, storekeepers, to suffer the loas of their business licenses, and Mme. Lopez, wno had previously been torctbly expelled irom the island, banished trom New Catedonia and all its dependencies. Admiral Ribourt bad laid @ trap for De la Richerie, which did not come off, for on returning @ lortnight later, under the pretence that he had failed to catch the Cailfornia Mall, or, really, to use his Own words, that the Caluornia line had stopped, be found his sentences carried out and some of the offenders on board the Inigate Alceste, en route for France. THIS VESSEL arrived on Angust 9 from Algeria, after a tedious voyage Of 124 days, with 155 Communists sentenced to simple deportation and 41 to confinement tn @ fortified place. These latter were at once sent to Ducos and the others temporarily to the Pines, Every ship- ment oi these unforvunates 1s sald to be the last coming, and still they come, to go dis- tracted Irom ennui, or, by hatching fresh plots, come under the convicts régime. No work, no books, no money, Do hope, save the outside chance that the destinies of France will be 10 the hands of the red republicans, Then, but not till then, do they anticipate becoming free again. There are at this present moment within the colony and its dependencies 810 persons sentenced to deporta- tion and imprisonment, 2,727 condemned to de- beh! simple, and 273 women and children who have been permitted to rejoin their friends at the Pines, so tuat, without taking into considera- tion the thousands who perished before and alter the recapture of Paria, &c., 3,810 victims of civil aoe are at the antipodes ping for nome and werté, POLYNESIAN MASSACRES. Sypnzy, N. S&. W., Sept. 27, 1874. Checked for a time by the presence of the na. Merous fleet now maintained in the South Pacific by the British government, Kanaka massacres have commenced again at Apil. The natives of this island have ever been looked upon as among the most treacherous in Polynesia, a8 well as being the most irreclaimable cannibals. News has recently been received that early in July the trading schooner Zephyr, of Sydney, called off the island for supplies, and sent her boat ashore in charge of the mate and the captain’s son, a young man of eighteen. As they did not return in due course, the schooner stood closer in, and a second ye recapitulated, a8 they form | boat’s crew, well armed, went through the reefin search of their missing companions. The mace’s boat was found smashed and sunk close to the beach, where there were indications of a desper- ate struggie, but no sign of the missing men. That night the agonized fatner heard the natives engaged in the orgies peculiar to their cannibal feasts, without the power to rescue the victims, either dead or alive. Next day he tell in with the trader Loelia, and the two vessels, returning to the scene of the murders, sent five armed boats ashore. The natives mustered in force, armed with poisoned arrows, trade muskets, &c., With which they ineffectually endeavored to prevent a landing, Captain Dawson, determined to know the fate of his son ai any cost, drove them back with severe losses, and captured the village only to discover the merest traces of thelr horrible feast. Emboldened by what they thought a check to their assailants, the natives, who had retreated into the surrounding scrub, resumed firing, which was briskly retarned by one portion of the boats! crews, while the otuer burned down every hutin the place, and returned to their vessels. This might have satisfied the Kanakas; but not so, ior Just three weeks later the French schooner Retne Hortense, having called at the island to buy yams, was attacked by these insatiable wretches and had her mate and @ seaman Killed. Captain L. Dawson’s Account of the Massacre of Three of the Crew of the Zephyr. {From the Fiji (Levuka) Times, Sept. 2.] 1 beg to state that I arrived at the Island of Apit on the 24th July and anchored to the northward of the foreland for the purpose of procuring yams | One ‘of my boats, containing my son John Dawson and John Howlin, mate of my vessel, together with a Tannaman named Miackie, were on shore for this purpose, trading, and were off @ village cailea Vackowie, where they bad been induced to go by an Apti native named Tom, a returned laborer from Mary- borough. The boat containing these men bad been absent Irom about ten o'clock, when F, King, master of the Leela, cutter belonging to Fyi, came alongaide and informed me that he had been told by some natives along the coast that two white men had just been Killed @ short distance from where he had been trading. This occurred on the 25th inst. In company with Captain King I immediately proceeded in search of my boat and found her sunk opposite the above-named village, but we were unable to get near her, in consequence of the watives opening fre on us with muskets, On our return to the snips Captain King at once got under weigh to procure the advice and assistance of Captain John McDonald, of the schooner Daphne, another Fiji vessel, anchored some six miles {urther down the coast. On the 26th inst. the Levlia returned in company with the Dapnue, and the masters of these vessels offered every as- sistance, in landing their crews, in order to ascer- | Vain the fate of the missing men. AS the vessels were coming to anchor the na- tives opened fire with muskets and a Snider rifle that had been taken in the captured boat. The natives would hold no friendly communication with the suips, and on the boats being lowered took to the bush, and were up toa late hour of tne evening making preparations to remove their property irom their towns and going into the in- | terior. From these signs {t was evident that the men had been massacred, and that nothing could be done for tneir rescue. The assistance that was tendered to me by both Captain McDonald and Captain King was every- thing that was or could be expected under the cir- cumstances; and, in jastice to them, I here state that the attack upon my boat by the Apti aatives arose from no connection with their vessels or the transactions of their vessels as iabor masters, Captain McDonald having recruited ao labor at Api and Captain King having procured his some distance irom the place of attack ; and I further state, to the best of my belies, that my boat was decoyéd 0 shore by the named Tom, u returned | jadorer from pier rh, DAWSON, (The above is a true copy.) ~ KING, Master, Lovita, THE TRANSIT OF VENUS, Scientific Observers Arriving in Australasian Territory. SYDNRY, N. 8. W., Sept. 26, 1874, Transit of Venus expeditions have become as common at the antipodes as itinerating nigger minstrels, One stam has no sooner leit for their scene of operations than another arrives. Master, Zephyr. nence Benevolent, Mutuai Alliance and other so- Cleties, and also of several fire companies ts ex- | pected to compete for the regalia ana silver | trumpet, The English scientista nave arrived at New \ Zealand, A second exedition (French), ander the | charge of M, Angot, left yesterday for Noumea, and | that sant ont by the German government arrived at Melbourne last Saturday, per steamship Durham, from London, in search of a suitable location. In addition to these the Australian colonies will have at least ten observatories Various parts ol the Continent, so that if anything connected with the visit O1 the lair goddess to the Manin the Moon escapes notice it will not be for lack of watching. | THE WASHINGTON BURGLARY. Close of the Prosecution and Opening | of the Defence—What Testimony Will Be Impeached—Promised Proofs of Alibi, WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 1874, The trial of the alleged safe burglary conspir tors was resumed in the Crimina} Court to-day, John C. Evans, sworn :— Witness is @ resident of Washington; Harrington received trom witness two or three of his account books to take to his of- fice ; witness does not recoliect just how Harrington got possession of the books and does not recoliect whether he accompanied Harrington to his office with the books or not. Cross-examination by Mr. Davidge—The vooks of witness were in Harrington’s care for several weeks at the committee room during the District of Columbia investigation, Richard Wallach, Jr., sworn;—Hasan office tn the same building with the District Attorney and had the same office last April; about the time of the burglary recollects seeing Jonn 0. Evans and Barrington drive up to the oMcein a buggy and get out with a bundle of books or papers and go | into Harrington’s oMce; when they came out again they did not have the bundle with them; Witness is pretty sure this took place the aiter- noon previous to the burglary, Mr, Riddle said he bad no additional proot to Offer in regard to the papers submitted last night, and,as the Court declined to allow them to go into the case, he supposed that was sufficient. Judge Humphreys said he would exciude all ex- cepting the pardon signed by Governor Dix, and that being properly authenticated he would allow that to goin, Mr. Riddle desired to avail himself of the introduction of that paper. Mr. Riddle also said that he had one more witness to present, who | had not yet arrived, although he had despatched & messenger to New York for him, OPENING OF THB DEFENCE. Mr, N. B. Smithers, of Delaware, addressed the jury in behalf of the deience. He alluded to the character of Zirruth anda Hayes, the two principal | witness's for the prosecution, and deciared that their evidence was good for nothing, as it was not corroborated by any other independent evidence. | It was evidence that had come through turgid and | maddy streams and deserved no consideration at the hands of the jury. He fortified bis remarks by reading from law books, defining the status and importance of the evidence of accomplices. Turning to the case itself, he said, outside of the telegrams, nothing nad been introduced to show any connection of one of tue accused with this case at all, so he might be leit out of it entirely, In regard to one of the others (Whitley) there were only four facts that really connected him with tne case. The first was that Whitley sent for Hayes, April 6, to come to the | Bleecker street oMflce; the second fact was the telegram sens from ¢he Metropolitan Hotel to Whitley, asktig ‘What shall I do?” the third fact was the interview between Newcomb and Hayes n Toronto at the instance of Whitley, and the Jourth iact was the telegram sent by Nettleship to Applegate 1p Boston, saying “Securities are ‘vod—invest,”? which it was claimed went to hutley, To substantiate these facts they have the Sestimony of Hayes only, This chain of evidence has been woven by Hayes, and if one link be broken the whole chain falls to the ground. In regard to the first fact the defence expect to prove that on the 6th of April Whitley was in Boston and was there on Monday, April 6, when Hayes saya he met Whitley in his office in Bleecker street. To the second fact they will prove that Albert Cunz, a clerk in Whitley’s office, recetpted for that tele- gram, and that the signature could not be in the handwriting of Whitley, To the third fact they would show that Nettleship was sent to Toronto for no such purpose as was alleged, but that he went for the purpose of getting Hayes to come to Washington and testily in this case; and if he would not come, then to procure an afMidavit from Hayes detailing the true facts in the case. To the fourtn fact they would show that the tele- gram, ‘securities good—invest,”” had no relation to this case, but related toa counterfetter by the ame of Johnson, who had jumped his bail, and for whom Nettleship and Applegate were hunting, so that they might obtain the reward offered for his apprehension. As to Williams only two facts connected him with the case. The first was the interview with Benton tn jail, which amounted to nothing, only that Benton uid not have any money, and Willams did not care to become his counsel In regard to the second fact, whereas Willtams was charged with fanning with some unknown man out of the city, {5 would be shown that Williams was aiding Mr. Betis, of Alabama, a gentleman who was run- ning for Congress. Willams accompanied this gentleman to Che depot. At this point the Court took a recess. On the reopening of the court Mr. Smithers re- sumed by saying :—‘‘When the Court took a recess he had come down to that period where tne evi- dence connected Harrington with the case; and Orst be would dispose of Hayes’ evidence in the Taatter. As to the interview which Hayes said he nad with Harrington at one o’clock on the loth of April, but which he first swore took place on the 22d, they expected to prove that at this time Harrington was lunching with Governor Shephera, Evans and Kilbourn at Welcker’s. All good men, he said, will be glad that we are able to demolish the testimony which has held ap the good name o: Harrington to ma- lignity in social circies and in the columns of the mendacions press.” sudge Humphreys, interrupting :—“There is no evidence of malignity betore the jury.” Smithers resumed:—In regard to the testimony ot Hayes, about Nettleship meeting Dick at Vesey street, they would show that Harrington was in Washington at that time. in relation to the statement about Nettleship getting the combina- tion of the safe lock from Harrington, they wouid show by the books of the Owen House tiat Net- tesnip left before that interview wus said to have taken place. In regard to the fact of Harrington Meeting Benton in jail they would rely, drat, upon the rottonness of Hayes’ testimony; second, upon his general character ; third, upon the good character of the deiendant, apd fourtn, upon the statement of Harrington himself. The Jury would be called upon to decide upon the tes- umony of Hayes, and we shall show him to be dis- creditable, first, by a general impeachment o/ his testimony, and second, dy an impeachment of spe- | citic contradictions of the witness himself, They | Will show that Hayes endeavored tn March last to get a man named Reese to help him put up a job onNettieship. They would show, instead of Net- | Ueship giving Hayes $50 while nis child was sick in Newark, to go out of the country with, he gave it to Hayes specifically to enavie him to come to Washington and testify. Finally, they would show jrom his general character, his occupation and his¢ associativns that he was entirely unftied to stand Op as a witness, They would show bow it hap- Bere that Harrington and Somerville met at the Jontinental Hotel, and why it Was Madge did not gee him on the train after they left Wilmiugton, but did see him in Philadelphia; and they would show how Harrington’s bill came to be charged to Kubourne and paid by him. In regard to the re- leasing of Benton on bali the facts were related, and Mr. Smithers said the question was not whether the act was wisely done but whether it was cor- raptly done. They would also explain ali tne tel- egrams and explain them Jully, aud show what they meant and that they did mean something en- tirely foreign to this casé. He read the two letters from the Bardell cuse in Dickens and compared the Smith telegrams with them, saying the defence | would tell them who this Smith was Wullams was in New York in search of Kirtland, and these telegrams referred to this man Kirtiand, as they were anxtous to produce Kirtland before the tn- vestigating committee. They would show all the Hs in the despatches referred to Hooper and Howard, two persons who had some cases at the ‘Treasury Department. The telegram reading “Everything ts lovely, and the goose hangs high,’ was sent by one Beason to Whitley, and related to an appropriation veiore Congress, in Which the Secret Service division was | interested. THE BURGLARY. They now came to the burglary {tself, which commenced with the reception of a letter of warn- ing by Harrington, and which he showed to Gov. | ernor Shepherd, Evans and several others, all of whom laughed at it and declared tt bogus. Har- rington fluaily suowed the letter to Major Rich- ards and Detective Olarvoe, and, after along con- sultation, it was deemed best to’ pay some atten- tion to the matter. Harrington, like a good citizen, communicated the fact at once to the police, fad Columbus Alexander done the same thing when his suspictons were aroused by the tuird visit of Hayes to nis house, them the police would have been in posses- sion of Seth sides of the case, and no burglary would have occurred. The details of the burglary were given, and in closing, Smithers asked “Who was in Charge that night, who wus responsible for any mistakes that occurred or might occur?" Major Richards was responsible, and if any mis take occurred he was responsible for it. He posted bis men and directed their movements, Allengaged in the watching process jost their heads and became excited. Major Richards was not equal to the occasion. Clarvue, perhaps, | bight, | tom together in the street cars, and witness and Whitley went over to Bos. Witness fixed the date by s memorandu'y book which he (roas-examiped by Mr. Riadie—Wituess kept a memorandum or diary for avout ten years; the book which he had now was commenced Jan- uary 1 of thi ir, Witness was sharply cross- examined, said bis attention bad been called to the date of April 6, and ne had studied {t. bus had not siudied the others; witness had made an affidavit about this case; did not know where it Was how; had not seen it since; had been sick for some time past, ‘The Court then adjourned for the day, RECEPTION ON THE ROANOKE. ‘The huge tron-ciad which has been anchored off the Battery for some time past as the flagship of | the station was yesterday afternoon the scene of | aM exceedingly agreeable entertainment in the | shape of a reception tendered by Commodore | George H. Cooper and the officers of the vessel. The Roanoke, many will remember, was promptly fitted out nearly a year ago at the Navy Yard to “take @ hand” in the warlike encounters which seemed likely to be brought about by the capture of the Virginius. Her prowess was to be directed mainly toward the defence of the harbor, and, judging by the armament with which she was fur- nished, there 18 reason to believe that Spanish visitors would have been quite warmly re- | i ) ceived im tne vicinity of the Narrows in case the gauntlet had been thrown down by the government on obenaif of its outraged citizens slaughtered st Santiago de Cuba in November last, The arrangements for the reception yesteraay, it 18 almost unnecessary to state, were complete and 1p thorough accord with the characteristic taste and elegance which ren- der sociavie reunions on war ships so generally attractive. Tbe quarterdeck waa handsomely adorned with a profuse Chougn artistic display of | Cags, and, in view of tne broad spirit of the con- stitution, no patriot from any land could bave stepped on board the stanch craft without feeling that his nationality was remem- bered and honored. A galaxy of fasuio: a@ throng of ladies, distinguished officers an civilians, Who, appreciating the charming features which ever attend redipement and wholesouled hospitality, entered most entnusiastically into the pleasures which the occasion sugi ed, Com- modore George H. Cooper, as sterling ana popular @ commandant as ever trod the deck of a man-ol- war, Welcomed the numerous guests with heartl+ ness, and without mucn ado the mysteries of the terror-striking turret, tbe simplicity of breech- loading rifles, sight gauges, spirit levels and the innumeraole other interesting features im con} nection with the great vessel were clearly ex- pisined vy courteous anu painstaking officers, jut while all the decks, all the elegant state- rooms, all the nooks and corners of the Roanoce were full 01 interest to the studeat of naval archi- tecture, the strains on the quarterdeck were far too tempting to be resisted, and, as time was somewhat & consideration, the ofMcers and their guests adjourned to that tastefully decorated art of the vessel, where, amid choice and pleas ng Morceaux by the band from the receiving ship Vermont the brilliant gathering engaged in the dance. It is needless to add that this occasion was an exceedingly joyous one. Fanned by a de- hightiul breeze—not dazzied by the glare of hot and glittering iliuminations—tne assemblage had reason to remember the bright and cheertul tes- tivities which marked the event, Tue Roanoke Will snortly guilt ber present anchorage and pro- ceed to the Navy Yard ior the winter. The list of officers at present attached to her are:—Commo- dore, G. H. Cooper; Lieutenant Commander B. F, Picking, Executive OMicer; Lieutenant Com- mander, Ss. Ki tink neg Lieu- tenants, Wm. B, - ©, Gidson, Jonn T. Sullivan ; er, D. D. Stuart; Chief Engineer, E. Laws; Passed’ Assistant Pay- master, F. T. Harris; Surgeons, George H. Torney and ©. H, Hall; Chaplain, Rev. R. Hudson; Lieu- tenant of Marines, M. ©. Goodwell, it is under- Stood that yesterday’s reception, which, by the way, proved @ brilhant success, will be followed by others during the present month. AMERICAN METROLOGICAL SOCIETY. A meeting of the American Metrological Society was heid yesterday afternoon in the rooms of the American Institute, Cooper Union. Ur. Barnard, of Columbia College, presided, and a@ number of our leading scientists were present. The objects of the society are a8 follows :— The primary object of this association shall be to improve the system of weights, measures and moneys at present existing among men, and to bring the same, as far aa practicabie, into relations of simple commensurability with each other, A further object will be to secure the universal adoption of common units of measure for the ex- pression of quantities which require to be stated in presenting the results of physical observation or investigation, and for which the ordinary sys- tems of metrology do not provide; such as the divisions of the barometer, thermometer and den- simeter; the amount of work done by machines; the amount ol mechanical energy, active or tential, of bodies, as dependent on their mi tion OF position; the quantities of heat present in bodies at given temperacure, or generated by combustion or otherwise; the quan- tity and intensity of electro-adynamic currents; the aggregate and the efictent power of prime movers, the accelerative force of gravity, the pressure of steam and of the atmosphere and other matters analogous to these. Tue society will endeavor also to secure uniformity of usage in regard to standard points of reference, or to those piyateal conditions to which observations must reduced for purposes of comparison, especially the temperature and pressure to which are referred the specitic gravities of bodies and the zero of longitude on the earth. in regard to the denominations of weignt, measure and money which are derived from the unit bases, the society will labor to secure, as far as may be, the acceptance of the aystem of deci- mal derivation; not necessarily to the exclusion for practical purposes of the binary or otuer con- venient methods of division ; but maintained along with such other methods, on account of the facill- ties for calculation, ior reductions, aud for com. parison of values, afforded by a system which con- forms to that of our numericu: notation, Alter reading the minutes of the previous meet- tng Dr. Barnard commenced business by rea copy of @ memorial that the society intend to put belore Congress the next session. The pith of the memorial will be found as follows:— “The prayer of your memorialists therefore is, that your honorable body may see fit to enact, during your present session, such laws as may be necessary to effect thé objects set forth in this memorial as desiravle, viz., laws which shall make practicable as well as legal the use of the metric system of weignts and measures in the estima- tion and computation of customs duties in the custom houses of the United States; which will make it obligatory upon the Post Office Department of the United States to assess post. ages ON Matters transmitted through the mails in accordance with the provisions of the Metric Postal act of 1866, which enall require, in the re- ports of all the great public works conducted under the authority of the federal government, numerical statements involving dimensions, or quantities of any kind, to be made in metric denominations as well as tn those of the metrojogy in common use in the country; and which shall extend this requisition to statistical and other documents invoiving statements of quantities, which may be Issued under authority of any of the departments of the executive Te cree 4 The President then read the correspondence that he had with the Postal authorities on the metric sysvem. Mr. Creswell had always been disposed to Carry it out, but Congress invariably forgets to make any ocoan tens for that spectal urpose, Postmaster Jewell has been written to, ut no answer has yet come to hand. The Presi- dent also stated that be had addressed a commu- ication to the International Vongress at Geneva, in she hope of their influencing their governments to make efforts to obtain an international coinage. ‘Tue iollowing gentlemen were then elected mem- bers of the society:—Prof. E. C. Piekering, Prof. Eustis, J. Pickering Putnam, Cleveland Abbe, Prot. A. Mayer, Hon, J. McAlpine, ‘of, . GS. Samner, Prof, @ T. Brush, Professor F. A. Walker, Professor H, E. Pierpoint, David A. Wells, Morris K, Jesup, Hon. W. C, Fowler, George Cabot Ward, Ab, S, Hewitt, F. L. Olmsted, W. E. Dodge, Jr., Silas W. bart, J. Q. Benedict, Protessor De Volsen Wood, H. Linder- maa, Professor Albert R. Leeds, General ©. B. Comstock, R. H. Buell, G. Leverich, James McKin« lay and Professor J. H. Seelye. On motion Mr. M. K. Jesup was elected Treas urer of the society. Professor Newton then delivered an address on ‘Metric Balance” and after nominating Messrg. Elliott, Beckwith, Gibbs, Davies and Lyan as @ | Committee on Coimage, the society adjourned to meet again on December 29. “A NEW STEAMER, The new screw steamer Suevia, avout 4,000 tons, said to be the largest German mercantile steamer, arrived in thiseport yesterday from Hamburg and Havre. She belongs to the Hamoutg-American Packet Company. Sne was built by Catrd & Co,, of Greenock, on tne Clyde, during the past sum. mer. The following are her princtpat - tions :—Length over all, 370 feet ;"oreadee or beam, 41 feet, and depth of noid, 44 feet trom upper aeck, She is brig-rigged, and her moael is suggestive of great speed. Her engines are compound, and of $00-norse power. She has eight boilers, with two furnaces ach. The diameter of het high preasure cylinder inches, walle that of the low pressure engine is 80 inches. She is provided witn the Most modern steam steering apparatus. She is capable of eae 100 first class passe: 1,000 steerage. She ‘ers, 80 second and abou! sted up in the same elegant manner as the other comprising all the vessels of this line, would have dope better. The only mao who was cool enough to attend proper’. to @usiness and | follow the right man was a. B. Wiillama, { Samuei Chandler sworn—Resides tn Cambridge- port, Mass., and is employed at the Boston cCus- | tom House, Witness lives in the family of Colonel | Whitley, and recollects that on April 6 Colonel Whitley gave @ dinner party to Oollector sim. mons, Deputy Collector Hugely and several others, The party broke up about xix in the evening, and Whitley remained at the house over improvements. Tue steera; Hiated, and contains washnouses and She ts commanded by © mer commander of ‘tne other vessels, ‘aod The jollowing are the other cers:—First, A. Barends; second, Mr, Charles Hopt; third, J, Hartman, The drst engl is Mx. Vogeler,’ “The suevia has a (ull cargo e jor her home passage, consisting principal cotton and provisions. Sh 8 here ‘Tharsday, Her cost ts about £600,000, gold.