The New York Herald Newspaper, January 31, 1875, Page 6

6 CHATS ABOUT BOOKS. | ——— Odd English People Discussed by the Doctor’s Family. | 4 em “My Story"—“A Passionate Pilgrim”’—‘At the Sign of the Silver Flagon.” MNGLISH ECCENTRICS AND ECCENTRICITIRS. | “What a very amusing book this 1s,’’ said the Doctor, giancing at the illustrations in “English Kecentrica and Eccentricities,” by John Timos «Sertbner, Welford & Armstrong). ‘How very grotesque these pictures are. It takes considera- bie faith to believe the story toid vy this frontis- plece of the Earl of Bridgewater and bis dogs. Here are a dozen dogs of all sizes and breeas seated at the dinner table, with napkins about their necks and eating off plates like human be- jogs, and each with a servant being bis chair. The funniest thing in the picture is the piactd face of the eccentric Earl, who is seated at the nead of tae table calmly reading from a book,” The Morner—“Vathek”’ Beckford, as he is called, after a tale he wrote, heads the list of EB lish eccentrics of wealth and fashion, Beekfor Income was over £100,000, and he spent it like water whenever his impulses dictated, His hobby Was to have everything done in the shortest pos- | sible time, and he spared no money to carry out tus plans. He had @ wall tweive feet high and seven miles long bailt around bis grounds, Hs house, Fonthill, cost £27,000 and was orna- mented by a tower 260 feet high. To have this piace built within a certain time be employed 400 | workmen night and day until it was completed. | 1} was one of the most refiiarkable places in all England and was sold to a miser named Far- | guhar. | PeLicia—A strange sort of a miser, too, for he would satisfy his own hunger with a crust of bread | and give away hundreds of pounds to the poor. He spent £200 a year upon himself and gave away £40,000. | blown bis trumpet tn vain, | marriag | and heroine Of the story, receives some sixty-nine | Englishmen, Philip Rowe, a dashing young miner, | and that he does not want to waste words, 1 eee that he is & clever writer, but tt is only in ‘his tales of Australian life that he shows real genius, and proves that bis admirers have not Miss KRAOHEL—Although the sign of tne silver flagon swung from @n mn in ‘merry England,” the larger half of the story is laid in Australia among the gold miners. He brings a theatrical troupe iato & little mining town, where the mana- ger makes money and the ladies of the company receive more than their share of overtures of FE1Jc1A—Margaret, the soubrette of the troupe offers in @ couple of weeks. The manager clasat- flea them as fellows:—Seven Frenchmen, four Germans, One Spaniard, turee Americans, fifty- three Englishmen, Irishmen and Scotchmen and one Chinaman. She ended by accepting one of the bearded like @ bard and wearing his light hair in waves to Ig broad, strong shouiders, Miss KacugL—Tne jealousy of the leading lady, because the yanasome Philip loved Margaret and actualiy threw dowers to her on the stage, 13 very amusingly told, Fe.icta—Farjeon pnts a certain snap into the way he tells @ thing in writing of people and things {0 Australia that 1 miss in his other stories, 1 seems as thoogh the story was the main point, Miss RACHEL—Willam Smith, the enthustastic note! keeper who built the theatre, and then sold both hotel and theatre to Hart & Rowe for a gold’ ciaim, is @ thoroughly consistent character. PELICIA—Phip and Margaret Rowe are the two best creations of Fatjeon’s that I know. Hé doea not often draw sucn admirable characters, They e far ahead of any of the people in ‘Jessie Torin.”’ A theatrical company in the colonies is a good subject to work [rom, and Mr. Farjeon is sumMiciently well posted tn the ways of the stage and the ways of mines to work the two welt to- gether. Miss RACHEL—His miners are very diferent 1rom Bret Harte’s—not so strong and picturesque, but quite as real. FELicia—The burning of the village of Silver Creek is well told, 1 was inconsolable when Philip ‘baving none at all.’ And then he goes on to tell bow in the latter case by years you would be twenty-one and by birthdays only six, ana wants to know if people would be justified 1m giving you @ doll i you were a gtri or a box of soldiera i you were @ boy.” The MoruaR—That certainly is a perpiexing question ; I had not thought of it before, The DocroR—His description of the relative size of the animals in a Nosh’s ark 1s irresistivly funny. Frank, the hero of tue story, ts a little boy Who goes to sleep and dreams of adventures with these animals, and is at last saved from a mon- ster at the North Pole by Noah whoeomes after him in the ark, Frank bas @ great passion for invent- ing, and an old inventor takes him about and suows him some wonderful contrivances, among which 14 a machine for writing pootry, wich, + ina: Middleton was originally placed in the asy- guided by Frank, ground out the following song :— Merrily roundelay, happiness blue, peicily popular meet tumtiddy, PR y calendar, Addle-striogs grow, ering mulberry beet wimliddy: Neither Frank nor his gaide understood this song, but, as the guide sald, ‘Poetry isa’t meant to be understood.” The tlustrations are ciever and grotesque, and are made by W. Brunton and E. 0, Barnes, no mean artists. A PASSIONATE PILGRIM. Frep, entering the room with a book In his hand—You two young ladies who have been cut- ting Henry James’ stories out of the magazines and filing them away together will be delighted to know that Osgood has pat six of them into book form. “The Passionate P:lgrim,” “The Last of the Valerti,"” “Eugene Pickering,” ‘“rhe Madonna of the Future,” “The Romance of Certam Old Clothes” and “Mme, de Mauves.”’ Fe.rcra—t think @ better selection of Mr, James! stories might have been made, but I am so glad to get any of them in this form that I will not grumble. Miss RacHeL—Or those not in this volume “A Day of Days’’ is the vest. His first, “A Landscape Painte ,” made & real sensation in Boston, “Gabrielle de Bergerac”’ is another good story, It has a very clever scene where Gabrielle throws her fan over a parapet, Feticia—“ Adina,” which appeared in Serfdner’s, is good, and so is “Poor Richard.” “Osborne's Revenge," a Newport story, 1s not 20 good’ as the died. It was too bad to cut tue hero down just as others; but | wish that Osgood had given us all | be was beginoing to live. 4 7 o 4 | Miss RacneL—No book of eccentrics would be | wigs RacHEL—Fortunately the story does not complete without something about Beau Brum- | jacx of interest after the scene shilts to England. mell, and Mr. Timbs gives that worthy consider- | Margaret shows up nobly a8 a widow. Lucy able mere g , | Hunter and Geraid Weston would never have got- Feicia—Poor Brummell’ I cannot help feeling | ten married but for her exertions in their behalf. sorry for bum, his ending was so mtserabdie, FELICcIA—I cannot get used to the meek way in Frep—He did say some pretty funny things | which these young Engitshmen submit to dicta- | during bis priliiant career, Having been asked | tion in affuirs of the heart. If I were aman | | by a sympathizing frieud how he happened to get | would marry the giril loved or none. These weak such a severe cold, his reply was, “Why, do you | tejows ouglt to come over here and learn inde- know, lleft my carriage yesterday on my way to | pendence. town from the Pavilion, and the infidel of @ | qpe Docror—I think it Is very well for parents jandiord age Mec ito @ room with 4 damp | to interfere when a son wishes to marry beneatn stranger.” | him, for such marriages do not result in happi- The Doctor (!aughing)—That was funny, but | negs, the Bean’s best sayings were his impudences, Feticta—But whois the judge? A girl may be #sLicta—It seems to me that the portraits in | peneath a man ina money point of view, and that this book are too grotesque even for eccentrics; | seems to be the gauge in England, but away above some of them do not look human. nim 1 inteliect, which is a matter of greater mo- M RacneL—What a singular institution | ment in this counsry. Gretna Green was, and how wildly romantic some | iss RACHEL—These | rich Englishmen are phic caiagec lating neehag | brought up in idieness and have no tdea of a trade FgLicta—I should like to have heard old Peter | or profession, and if they marry against their Filiots tell of the ‘beautiful daughters of Engiand father’s will and he cuts themoff they are no | whom, with whip and spur and shoat and wild | perter than beggars. It is the force of education | halloo, ne had carried at the gallop across the bor- | der; the pursuing guardian, or jilted lover, or | angry father in sight behind, urging on postboys, | Who also whipped avd spurred, and hallooea, but Took care never tu overtake the fugitives until too | late.” | Frep—One of these miserable knot-tyers testi- fied to having married between 700 and $00 couples | a year. Miss RacueL—One of the strangest miser dodges 1 ever read of was that of Tbomas Cooke, wao used to fail down in @ make-believe ft in front of | @ respectable house, so that the good Samaritans | would take him in and give him something to eat | alter cringing bim to. | Frep—When I want to go into a “side specula- | tion,” ag Volonei Sellers bas it, I shall go to Lon- don and bire out as a dust suiter. To think of one woman finding enough “perquisites” among this refuse vo build @ house and live comfortably in her old age. Miss RacuEL—How very singular for Rassia to have sent to England and bought a dust heap for the rebuilding of Moscow. Pervicia—Even a practical man like Rothschild | believed in luck and would have notuing to do | with an unfortunate man, no matter how clever he might ve. Frep—Rothschild said that his success all turned upon one maxim, which was, that he could do ‘what another man could. “Another advantage I had, 1 was an of-hand man.. I made a barguin at once,” FRLICIA—Just think of that wretched old miser | Bieila leaving £500,000 to Queen Victoria. How thoroughly absurd when he might bave done so much good with it. Miss RacuEL—Bsron Ward’s career may weil be called remarkable; to have risen trom a groom to be a Proves the truth of the adage that trutn is stranger than ficrion. FBLICiA—I do not see why he should come under the head of eccentrics. Frep—tannah Snell is one of the most curtous cases in the book. To think of a woman, disguised as a common soldier, serving for years in war as weil as peace without ner sex being discovered. | her singular adventures are stranger than ro- | mance. Miss RacugEL—lere ta a story toid of Dr. Geerge Fordyce that I have always heard attributed to wr. Abernethy, but Mr. Timbs insists upon its being Dr. Fordyce. FELIcIA—What is the story ? Wiss RacweL—About his calling on a lady on his way home {rom a divuer party and being so full that he could not count her pulse beats. Conscious of the cause of his diMiculty he, in a moment of ir- ritation, blurted out “Drunk, by Jove!’ and rushed out of tue house. The next day the lady sent for him, and said that she lamented that he had discovered her coudition and begged that he would keep tt a secret. Vrep—That is a good story told of Lady Clare- mont, whose physician ordered her to take a tea- spoonful of brandy in her tea. The old laay rather liked the dose, and when pouring out the brandy would turn the spoon upside down, and then when she had gotten a good deal tn ner cup she would discover her mistake and measure out he quantity on the right side of the spoon. Miss RacnrL—It seems to me that it ts drawing a long cow to put Charles Matthews, Hood, Lamb and Mrs. Garrick among the eccensrics. They were no more eccentric than any one possessing @ grain of originality. Toe Docron—The chapters concerning them add to the interest of a very interesting book, and if we define eccentric as departing trom the usual course they come under that head, but so uo thousands of others. AT THE SIGN OF THE SILVER FLAGON. “What miserable weather,” said the Doctor, coming in from bis daily rounds and seating him- self by the library fire, ‘Just hand me that poxer, Pelcia; I want to agitate tnese coals. The MorHee—You will have that fire out, Doctor, if you do not stop poking \t. 1 never saw a man who wouid let a fire alone until he bad ruined it, The Doctor—To set in trontof a soft coal fire ‘with @ poker in my hand, to give force ana unc- tion to my words, is to me what @ giass of old sherry sipped at the festive board is to some men, With every trust of the poker! knock a cinder from my brain, and when the flames jeap ap they warm my heart and set tue biood winging through my veins. The Mormma—Then, after this preperation, we May 100k for wit and wisdom, not to say elo. quence. The Docror—There you are mistaken, for I feel Jess like entertaining aud more like being en er- tained this evening. Now, giris, tell me what book has caused the long hours of tuis dismal day to pass pleasantly with you. Miss Racuzi—We have been devouring Far- jeon’s last novel, “At the sign of Sliver Fiagon” (Harper & Bros.), which ranks next to Grif,” ia my estimation. | sort, the annual dinners given by the same people | Margaret gained her point and the trap was well | who tells the story, is not the sort of a young lady % statesman, and the friend of kings | which makes them weak and dependent. The Docror—And a miserable education it is. I believe in every man or woman knowing how to do something, if itis only to sew shoes. Reverses will come to the best of us, and a nice mess we are in if we bave no means of support to fall back on. Miss RACHEL—The dinuer of thirteen is a theat rical ending for the book, but then it works in very welland makes a good story. Customs of that at the same place jor years, are of common occur- rence in England. FeLicia—I should think that Mr. Weston might well have feit ghostly as he went to the banquet hall, the only survivor of the thirteen, and being full of wine and not having nis glasses on the appearance ol the twelve ghosts was enough to upset a Jess superstitious man. Mise RacHEL—Although he was a little provoked when be was toid of the deception he bore it well. jaid, If Philip could only have lived it would have made a pretty ending to the story. But, alas, lie does not always flow smoothly even in books, “MY STORY.” Miss RacnE (seated at the dinner table digging outthe kernel irom a badly cracked nut)—l am | not familiar with Mrs. Macquoid’s novels; but if “My Story’ (D. Appleton & Co.) is a sample of her work I shou!d say that she is more than an ordi- nartly good writer. Gertrude Stewart, the heroine, I most admire; still, she is very human, Fevicia (helping herself to an orange)—Too | human, as ! look upon feminine humanity. A giri | who was only certain of one thing in the world, | and that was that she must have admiration to make her happy. | Miss RacueL—One cannot but feel sorry for her. A girl forced into a disagreeable marriage by a | peevish, dying motheris to be pitied, That the | marriage was not a legal one she was not aware; | but she did know that it was a hollow mockery to her. Under some circumstances she might have loved Captain Brand. As it was she could feel no | more than loathing for bim, good fellow that he was. FRLICIA—Good fellow, indeed! There I don’t | agree with you. Aman of thirty who would con- | sent to take advantage of a girl of sixteen, as he | did, does not deserve the name. To ve sure he | can urge his jove for her as getting the better of | his manhood; but I cannot appreciate the situ- | ation, A man’s manhood is best shown under trying circumstances, and if he gives away at tue | first temptation he is no better than a rascal, Miss Racnei—The clergyman ana doctor must have been singularly ignorant of the laws of their land to have countenanced such a ceremony. For- tunately no great harm came of it. | FEeLicia—Gertrude’s repugnance to the Captain 1s very batural. It was no more than might have | | been expected tor ner to fall in love witn the | young and hanasome Eugéne Vaucresson, only a little prectpitate, | Miss RacheL—The unnatural part of the story, to me, is that she ceased to love Eugene alter the Captain had rejeased her. If be had turned out badiy it would have been a different thing. But | he was even better than he appeared at first; |. tion proceeding to ballot for a new Assembly at dreadfully in love with her, young, handsome, rich and a nobleman, and she had loved him to the | verge of distraction. Inconsistency thy name is Gertrude Stewart | Feiicia—If she had never loved Eugene it wouia have been more natural in her to have be- | gun to love the Captain alter he gave herup. She nad the makings of a good girl in her, as old | nurse used to say. I like the way {n which she | spoke up when occasion required; I could not have done better myself. Miss RacukEL—Mue. Le Peyre is a very lovable Frenchwoman, and T maid Angélique is a first rate character, Mrs, Macquoid is fond of aeserib- ing Normandy scenery, aud she does it weil. I think the book is spread over too many pages, but that is so common @ fault with writers that I have ceased to complain. They get interested in their characters and their sayings, and linger over | them ontil the reader is pretty well tired out. | There is more art in curtailing a story than au- thors appreciate, | Priicia—It seems to me that the Macquoia family are well represented in this book; Kathe- rine Macquoid is the author and the illustrations are made by Percy and Thomas Macquota, | “FLOM NOWHERE TO THR NORTH POLE.” “Doctor, what are you laughing at?” said tne mother, glancing up from crochéting to look at her busvand’s beaming countenance op the otner side of the fireplace. “lam reading Tom Hood’s ‘From Nowhere to the North Pole’ (Scribner, Welford & Armstrong), and ldo pot know when I have enjoyed a bit of nonsense more. The very way the book opens set ine to laughing, and I have been smiling ever since, He says:—'t is pleasant to have one birtn- day @ year. To nave two is confusing, and to Have more is disadvantageous, To have one oncd ig two years—or like people born on the 20th of | she tall of the Empire, She bad really acqiirea a | brought me having asked me to question her, I | representatives tl of them, Miss RaonEL—Wheee is Mr. James from, do you | know, Freda? Frep—From Albany originally, I believe, bat New York, Boston and Newport all claim him. He is, I imagine, more of a cosmopolitan than any- thing else. Miss RacHeL—His stories show that, and fur- thermore that he nas studied French models very | closely. FxLIctA—He is more like Nathaniel Hawthorne tome than is bis son Julian. ‘The Last of the | Valerul,” particularly, is very Hawthornian. Miss Racner—‘‘The Passionate Piigrim’’ is the best tale in this volume. It is 8 wonderful story. Clement Searle is @ most unique creation, and so is Miss Searle. The descriptions of English scenery are the best lever read; not wordy, but they show the shady lanes, the soft grass, the big trees and the cloud-flecked skies as vividly as thougn the picture stood beiore you on canvas. Fecicia—W hat a strange, statuesque story “The Last of the Valerit’’ is, Tne pagan count, beauti- ful as @ god, prostrate on the ground before the marble Juno, his sorrowful American wife wonder- ing wnat itail means, makes a charming romance. Not reai, everyday people, perhaps, but all the more interesting for that. Miss Racuei—*‘Eugene Pickering” ts rather an unpleasant story. It reminds me of Tourgénied’s “Smoke,” though not 80 good, of course. One does not have to go to Homburg to flad Mine. Blumenthals—New York is full of them, and 1 imagine that Boston boasts even more. Perhaps not so young and handsome as Mme. Blumenthal, but quite as dangerous. And of Eugene Picker- | ings we have @ plenty; just as innocent, just as near-sighted and just as ready to be dragged into the net of the Blumenthals. An, those passionate novel writing, sentimental, strong minded women, they have much to answer for! Friicia—Do not James’ stories sugges; Howell's somewhat? Miss Racugr—Perbaps Howell’s arethe more Poetic, but not so good as stories, and not so pictul je. Lam very anxious to bave mr.’James write a novel. He has already commenced one in the Adantic, “Roderick Hudson,” which promises well. I imagine that he is more of a romancer than a novelist, although bis stories are as good in plot as they are in painting. Fexicia—Don’t you think that his women are unpleasant ? With the exception of Miss Searle, who is rather @ weak sister, they are apt to be cold-blooded, selfish creatures. They are drawn in a way which would lead one to suppose that the author is jast a little of a cynic. WHE LUNATIC ASYLUM MURDER. _—— THY MURDERER POSSESSED WITH A MANIA FOR KILLING--DETAILS OF THE SAD A¥FFAIL— SKETCH OF THE DECEASED. The murder of Mr, Noble 8, Bennett, a patient at the Kings County Lunatio Asylum, on Thurs- day afternoon, by another patient, named Stiles S. Middieton, a (ull account of which appeared tn the H&RALD of yesterday, has, in audition to the natural borror incited by the deed throughout the community generally, caused a deep feeling of commiseration and of inquiry among the nu- merous friends of the deceased and his sorrow- stricken family. This feeling has been greatly tn-. tensified by the fact which has been developed, lum owing to manifestations of ® manta for kilung people, and what prior thereto a hatchet and knife, evidently secreted by him with murderous intent, were discovered by bis irienda, As soon as the sad affair was made known certain of the ac- quaintences and friends of the Middleton family Waited upon the only son of the murdered man, Rev. George 8, Bennett, ant pastor of Bt Peter's Episcopal churon, Brooklyn, with expres- sions of sympathy and made these facts known to him, That this tendency was known to the physicians in charge at the time Middleton was iaced there certain; but as, owing to the po- ittical revolution in Kings county, an entire change in the officials of the asylum had o made, it is Dot impossible those now in charge may truthfully plead ignorance of it, as the luna- tic murderer has for montis been regarded as p | lectly harmless and bas been permitted to roam at | will through the corridors and other portions of | the buriding. The testimony taken on the imguest | showed that Middleton applied to one of the nurses for a hatchet to use in driving a tack or vali tn hig room, which was at first refused Lim, and he went awi Soon after _he returned and it, passed ont into the hail and waiked two-thirds of its length to the room ot Mr. Bennett, who was seated therein, with open door, reading irom the Prayer Book. Rev. Mr. Bennett, in conversation with & HgRALD reporter yester- day, expressed the opinion that death must have been almost instantaneous, as the back portion of the head of the victim was cloven in twatn, and there were several large gashes in other portion of the head. each one of which probably suiliclent to cause death. T' verdict of the jury was simply deceased came to nis death at the hands of Stiles 3. Middleton, and, as stuted by Rev. Mr. Bennet! to whom the text was shown by the Uoroner, é: pressed no opinion as to the responsibility of’ the | physicians aud others im charge, ‘Tne friends of Lue deceased will Gewand & more complete exami- | nation into tue affair, with a view of fixing the re- sponsibility, if any, where it properly belongs. THE DEC&ASKD, Mr, Noab S. Bennett was a native of Connecticut, ana for many years was & prosperous and well known merchant in New Miliord, in that State, Owing to a too close attention to business a soiten- ing of the brain developed itself, and in 1863 | he was compelled to retire. In 1868, under the advice of his physicians, he was taken to the asylum at Bratrieboro, Vt., where he remained until 1872, During that year, his condi- tion being very much improved, he was discharged | and took ap his residence on Staten Island. e subsequently resided with his son in Brooklyn, | and in August last, his disease again developing | itself, he was placed in the Kings County Asylum. The day vefore bis death he was visited by his wile, bis son and other members of his family, when he appeared in the best of spirits and 80 much inprored toat his 1emoval to bis home at an early date was contemplated. After the inquest the body was placed in the hands of his friends, and yesterday alternoom was taken to New Millora, accompanied by his sorrow- stricken relatives. The iuneral services will take piace this morning in the Episcopal church at that place, and the remains will be deposited tn the family burying ground tuere. 2 that the ALLEGED HOMICIDE. ASSAULT WITH A LAGER BEER GLAss. Dr. Tyndale, attached to St. Francia’ Hospital, Filth street, yesterday reported to Coroner Oroker | that Stephen Aust, a German, late of No. 15 Chrys- | tle street, had died in that institution of nephittis and complications, commencing with hemorrhage, which are alleged to have been caused by a blow in the abdomen irom a lager beer glass, which | was thrown at nim on the @th inst. The hemor- Thege occurred immediately aiter the injury was received, Deputy Coroner MacWhinnie will de- “vermine the cause o! death by making a pvst- mortem examination. lt appears that deceased kept a lager beer saloon at No. 128 Broome sireet, and on the night in qnes- tion ' two young men, one of whom wore a gray overcoat, were in the place, and re- fused to go out when Mr. Aust requested them to do 80 in order that be might close up. An angry altercation ensued between them, when Mr. Aust | seized @ bung starter and drove the two men to the outer door, where the one witn the gray coat, who held a heavy veer glass in bis hand, threw 1t at Aust, striking him in the abdomen, Aust sul- | ferred severely from the injury thus received, and treo Making up hie mind that he was going to die, disposed of his place and went to tne hospital, which be never leit again. Deceased tad wis sec- ond wife, who is said not to have been alla good wile should be, and drew to the saluon a class of men deceased did not like. assault on deceased his daughter was in an ad- joining room, and will ve able to describe the men ll their arrest should be required, A MELANCHOLY SUICIDE. WHAT IS COMING IN FRANCE. A SOMNAMBULISTS’ FORECAST OF TERRIBLE SCENES IN PABIS—A GREAT GENERAL KILLED. {Paris (Jan. 15) correspondence of London Times] I had the otner day a singular example, a singular demonstration, of the effect produced py political excitement when it takes possession of women, Iwas invited by one of my tritnas to be present with him at @ private mecthg. He took me into & sumptuous house,| whero @ young and handsome lagy of a very nervous disposition, and passionately addicted to political discussion, had been for some time in @ state of latent somnambulism, during which she related with surprising accuracy of language tne visions which passed beicre her mind, and which were the result of the passion with which she haa Jollowed political even& since kind of extraordinary perception of tnings, and she, so to say, read my thoughts whm I had placed my hand inside hers. The friend who had put her in my turn the famous question, ‘ow do you thing all this will end?’ I was cufious to know how far could go the effect of an olstinate preoccupation on the over-excited systen of a nervous woman, My expectation was jot de ceived, and the answer which she ma@ wasa singular mixture of reflection and imaginary conclusions. It was something like a luci( dream based on reality. She appeared to be looking in front of jer and narrating what she saw. She saw the whole pa- Versailies, The Assembly decided, tn te frst place, that it should return to Paris, and {| put to the vote the con tinma tt n Of Marshal Macfahon’s powera, Tne chief ot the Cabinet intervined to declare that the Marsbal considered thevote of the 20th of November, 1873, a3 incommu The President ot the Assembly, M. Grévy—at last her description of him made us think that it ws he— divided the House on the question whaher it sbould continue the discussion despite theprotest of the Chief of the Cabinet. The Assemily, by & large majority, decided to take no notict ot the | objection. Immediately the whole Cabuet, fol- lowed by @ part of the Assembly, Jeit te hall. AN EX-ARMY OFFICER SHOOTS HIMSELF THROUGH THE HEAD—ANOTHER VICTIM TO ‘‘HARD TIMES.” Information was received at the Coroners’ Office yesterday afternoon that Mr. Louis A. Grill, German, thirty-four years of age, formerly a captain in the army and for a time attached to Generai Grabam’s staf, had committed suicide at his residence, No. 226 Ei Thirteenth street, by shooting himself through the heaa. It is said that the deceased, who was a man Oo! culture and re- finement, entertatved erratic notions, and lacked that stability of character so necessary to a man NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 1875—QUADRUPLE SHEET, | ‘when he was permitted to | > DARING BURGLARY. ‘THE SAFES IN THE SUBROGATE’S OMFIOB OF BICHMOND COUNTY BLOWN OPEN AND TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS IN MONEY AND VALUALDLE RECORD PAPERS TAKEN, The Hon. Houry B. Metcalf, who was elected to Congress from the Firat district of New York at the election last fall, is the present County Judge and Surrogate of Richmoud couuty, the two ofmices being combined. He resides at Richmond, the county seat, and his office ta in tue county build- tog. Shortly before four o'clock yesterday morning residents of the place, who were then astir, nad their attention attracted by the sound of an ex- plosion, apparently of considerable force, the exact location of whicn could not be determimed; but as similar reports Had been heard with more or less frequency from Fort Wadsworth, a few mniles distant, or from shipping in the Narrows, it was generally concluded that the one in question came irom that direction, and no more waa then thought of the affair. The facts in regard to tt were, therefore, not disclosed untti Judge Metcalf went to his office, about eight o'clock, when he was astonished to fina that a party of burglars had been there be‘ore him and had leit things tn 4 con- dition of general coniusion. Two heavy burgiar-proof sates in the office were found upon examination to have been blown open | with gunpowder, the explosion probably having | been simultaneous, | very heavy, us the safes were blown almost to ‘The charges must have been ey and the walls and ceiling o1 the room were adly shattered, Allthe securities todged with Judge Metcalf as Surrogate were deposited in these safes, besides a considerable amount of money in greenbacks, and tne booty secured by the burgiars must amoant to nearly $10,000, in- cluding 81x $1,000 government bonds, mises showed that the An examination of 1 urgiars had first ope! the outer iron door by forcing it with jimmies, bat that their progress tn that direction had been srerped by two inner win- dows which were secure! jarred on the inside. ‘They then went to one of the windows, and forc- ing open the tron shutter, succeeded In displacing the tron bars across the windows, and thus effected an entrance, Thia must have been & work of considerable time, and an hour or two must have been-spent in driliing and charging the sales ready for blowing open. The robbers left behind them a number of hammers and dritls used in ac- complishing their work, ‘The news of the robbery apread rapidly through- out the neighborhood and caused the greatest At the time of the | 1,212, inclusive, and one | who embraces commercial parsuits, tie seemed better fitted for the eventful soldier than the sedentary and monotonous routine of # counting house. His efforts at speculation did not turn oat as his sanguine nature had led him to hope they would, and to their Jailure i ascrived his rash act, which was committed early yesterday and roving life of a | morning. It appears that the Captain had been | entertaining some iriends on Friday night, when he 18 reported to have been in excellent spirits, but alter the company had retired, which hap- ened sume time beiore one O'clock, he went to is room, and, taking out his pistol from the burean drawer, threw away bis lie. Deceased had been in the wholesale drug business at No. 68 Vesey street, but recently jailed, since which time he has been very despondent at intervals, and doubtiess pecuniary embarrassments prompted him to the commission of the deed. Coroner Eickof has the cones nag hes Deceased has ieft a widow and one chiid, ANOTHER HERMIT DISCOVERED. Some hunters, looking for rabbitsin @ piece of woods near the northern part of Jamaica, in the town of Newtown, about a week ago, were sud- denly startied by hearing a strange noise imme- Giately under their feet, and immediately alter ward @ bare-headed man rose literally out of the earth only @ few feet away, The hunters, being much frightened at the strange apparition, took to their heeis, and did not slacken their pace until they reached Miadie Village, where they informed Officer Bunting of the occurrence and returned with him to the spot, under the natural belie that they nad discovered a robber’s den, and with the expectation tuat they would find in it deposits of stolen goods, in which, however, they were disappointed, Un reaching the place they found ® square hole in the ground, about the size of an ordinary rool scuttle, descending througa which they lound an apartment aug in the earth, about ten by Ove feet in area and five teet high. The Alter their departure tne discussion co:tinued. At this moment @ message is brought fhm the | Marshal deciaring the Assembly dissolvi. | indescribable uproar follows upon the re@ing of | this mei The Assembiy decides that the | President is gulity of bigh treason, ire the | Schehezerade lost sight of ber vision fofa mo- | ment, The man who acted the part of magietizer | pressed her hand. She continued her najrative. 4 She found berself twenty-four hours algrward within the wails of Paris, where she witrmssed a terrible struggle. She saw on one sije the | of the people arme: mia, and on the otner the joldiers of the rmy commanded by himself, Suddenly she uttered @ plerci one of the generals had fallen; who Was next to him, assumed the commahd. T struggle conciuded by the triumph of tud army, and by the proclamation o: the generai ¥ho had | taken the command. We asked ber jor tle name | of this general, She refused to give It, safing 5 did not wish to point him out betorehani to *! bullet of some fanatic. The scene began to paintul, and at the g ened, and before she nad comple'ely raov nd consciousness [ left with tie Iriend yho had ro’ “Well,” said my friend on coming out “what do you think of 10? “I think,’ 1 repliel, “that Woman ought pot to meddie with poltticajand Li 1 were the husband of the person we ve just seen, I would send the magnetizer about }1i4 busi- ness, and I would treat | wile to @ cpurse of shower baths, trusting that would inducd her to return to family matters and to occupatimns more in accordance with the positton of @ uséiul and respectable woman.” { need not add that my | friend left me, shrugging bis shoulders, ind that | were of earth and the rvof was jormed vy jeving ht me. \t man whom the hunters had seen was there, and proved to be w stout-vuilt German, who, however, could Lp aetae Epgitsh samciently to renaer himsel! intelligible, Nothing was found indicating that the man Was leading up uniawiul iife, and nis own explanation was that he lived there rater than go to the Poorhouse, and for three years had spent bis winters in this underground abode, al- though in the summer time he worked tor the neighboring farmers. The only light in the place was from the entrance, and bat dimly revealed the | peculiariues of this singular abode. The walls tunbers across and covering them with earth ani leaves. On one Side was a low bunk covered with dirty bedclothes, and at tue far end rose an im- provised stove of brick, in which a fire was vurn- ing, and on the hearth was a pan of some kind o/ food, When the trap was stut not a ray of ligut could penetrate the hole, and the only means of ventuatien was through tie stove and pipe, | the nd the steward, Mr. streich, and on Thursday excitement tn the usually quiet locality, Crowds of people collected about the premises all day, eagerly discussing the occurrence. As soon as tlle extent of the loss could be ascertained Judge Metzalf himself came to the city and put himself in communication with the authorities at Poilce Headquarters. The fact of the robbery was not known at the headquarters uf the county police at Stapleton until quite late in the alternoon. Tne authorities are now actively at work on the case, but as the burglars had about six hours the start | of the police it seems at least doubtiul whether any trace of them eau be found. It 18 the opinion oi those who have viewed the scene of operations that not less than three or four men were engaged in the work. It {5 believed that they crossed on the ice over the Kill von Kall from New Jersey and made their escape from tie island in the same direction, as no suspicious characters were seen to Cross either of the ferries early yesterday morning. The job was undoudt- edly the work of professional burglars. THE EXPRESS ROBBERY. TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS’ WORTH OF BONDS STOLEN—WHY THE POLICE WURE NOT NOTI- FIED. it was currently reported yesterday that Adams or packages of bonus to the vaiue of $500,000, Upon inquiry being made, however, at the ofiices of the company named, it was discovered that the facts of the case liad been greatly exaggerated, as will readily be seen by the following statement made by Mr. Hoey, the Superintendent, tn answer to the questions put to bim by the HERaLD re- porter. Mr. Hocy satd:—Iv is true we have lost some bonds, but whether they have been stolen or have | gone astray we camnot say definitely, although trom the length of time that has elapsed since the packages containing the bonds were missed there 1s every reason to delteve that they have been stolen; for if they had simply been put into a Wrong sale and sent to & wrong destination we hould doubtless have heard about them belore this. Weare now making inquiries along the line in regard to them, with @ view to trace out ana dactermine at what point they could have been taken, ‘THS VALUE OF THE BO which were, as I lave previously said, in two packages, 18 as follows:—in the first parcel, shippea from Columbia, S. v., January 14, were twenty-our $1,000 South Carolina consoli- dated bonas, Nos. 1,068 to 1,091, inclusive, and one of $500, No. 266, In the second package, snipped irom Richmond, Va., re vhree South Carolina consolidated oonds of $1,000 each, Nos. 1,210 to 500 bond, No, 265; also 81x consulidated Virgiula bonds, $1,000 each, Nos. 14,660 to 14.605, inciusive, and four conpons, due January 1, 1875, of $80 each; tour Missouri State bonds, Nos. 3,723, 8,725, 8,726 and 3,727. The first package reaciied Richmond in dy course, and was, tt is supposed, shipped: in the same sale with the package irom Kichbmond en route for New York. ‘The saie, as usual, Was sealed, and was so found on being opened bere. On examingtion of the con- tents it was discovered that the two packages of bonds were not in It. inquiries were at once tn- stituted, but up to the present without satisfac. tory result, The messepger who had charge of le from Richmond could not have abstracted the bonds, We think tue fault must either be in the office here or in Richmond, 1 must, however, decline to say anything for the present in regard to any clew tha: we may bave as to wno we think the guilty parties are, for that may deieat our de- termination to bring them to justice, ROUGH ON THE POLIOR, We have made no mention to the police, either in the precinct or at headquarters, of our loss. We never do, for the reason that we consider It better to trust to our own men in discovering and bringing about the arrest of parties who may rob us, We consider this the safest plan, As a general rule, the frst the police authorities ever hear aout any one robbing us, is when they see in the Bewspapers the account of tue trial and conviction of the criminal. To-day a ward de- tective came to me, and said he had heard that our safe had been broken into ana robved of $500,000, and that he thougut we had mot treated him “squarely,” on account of not sending him word. 1 told him we never called in the police but preferred to look own afiaira, a8 We never made compromises e: to get back the property svolen. Our safe has not been Opened and the above mentioned bonds ts the extent of our loss. I may say, however, that the securities referred to, although their par value aggregates about $36,000, are not worth provably in the market more than $20,000 at the outside, which wil be—sapposing we do not recover any of them—the exient of our loss. The report which was published in a morning paper yester- a aying that we had been robbed of $300,000, was, in my opinion, gotten up in the interest of some STOCK JOBBING OPERATION, for we have had circulars on the street since the 19th inst, eid forth the description and de- nominations 01 the bonds end cautioning the pub- lic from puichasing or negouating them. I beard bon! on Friday @ report that we had been robbed of $1,600,000, wiich was news to me. From what I can understand this sum was reduced to one-third subsequently and the news given to the paper reierrea to in order to depreciate the value of our stock in the interest of certain par- les. ‘The attempt hus fatied, tor the price still re- Mains the same. This is a pretty good indication that we have suffered no heavy loss such as it was Proposed to make out, R. P. Evans, of Oleveland, Ohio, a young man of Prepossessing appearance and manners, came to the Army and Navy Club, No. 21 West Twenty- seventh street, afew months ago, highly recom- mended, keeper. He kept the small cash and was directly Kesponsibie to Colonel ‘reichel, the treasurer of the club, Recently irregularities in the young and Given the position of book- man’s conduct were noticed by Colonel Tretchel night when asked to account for his small cash he said it had grown to such formidable proportions that the tin box in which he usually kept it afforded. no longer sufictent rom, and that he had depos- ited it with @ iriend in the Gilsey House, He started to go to the last mentioned ho- tel and was followed by Colonel ‘Ireichel, who thought that there was something wrong, but | Sub- sequent investigations made with the aid Of an | after the young man had darted quickly through interpreter prove that the man's name is Chrisdorl oerner, and that six ago be was a German soldier, When he first came to this couuiry he made pis winter | residence in another piece of woods tn Jamaica ow ip; but, finding the place @ resort for chicken thieves and fearing tmplicauon witn them, he four years ago dug the hole ior his pres- ent residence and has occupied it every winter since, preierring it to the County Poorhouse, of which, it appears, he had one winter’s experience, He has worked in the summers for @ Mr. Backus and other farmers, and io this respect his story confirmed. His habit pas been to go ont evening: to make his line patenenes of provisions. A | thoagh hi contented with his present mode of | living it 18 probavie that the obtrusive curtosity Fmacia—When Lread Farieon’s English stories , Fevruary, to have one im four yeare—is worse thiam | he GOW Considers Me UNWorthy Of his comidence. | of visitors Will 4v0n drive bim to some Others ears | Ever since Mr, | being rich enough to make up the | an, the drug store the treasurer lost sight of him. Evans, it is presumed, has travelled incognito through this country, lor the treasurer has not beheid his pleasing countenance ®xpress Company had been robbed of a package | since. The amount with which he has decamped is only $402 aud some cents, which he will probably use for car fare, It appears that he had been gainbling of late, and lost the little money he had, His position was an excellent one, as he had | roum aod board in the ciab and @ salary Of $60 a | Month, and a6 he was a single man no cause of | necessity exists for his crime. The members of the club consider the affair in the itght of @ joke, feflolt without diMoul:y. The detectives in the Central | Office, however, have been informed of the facts, and the result thus tar bas been. what it generally ta—nothing, LONDON GOSSIP. The Pablic Canvass of Gladstone's Resignation and His Parliamentary Successor. Arctic Exploration, the Religious Question and Fashionable Society. LONDON, Jan. 16, 1875, At the very moment when every one imagined that the political programme of the coming ses- sion was, at all events 80 far as the oppomm chieftains are concerned, fixed and settled, Mr. Giadatone throws up the leadership of the liberal party, and in a letter published yesterday and ad. dressed to “My dear Granville,” claims the reat to which his sixty-five years of age and forty-two of public service entitie him. The announcement has come like @ thunderbolt among men of all political parties, “Tories as well as liberals are in utter dismay; for Mr. Disraelt 18 one of those Statesmen who recognise the trata of the apho rism tbat no government can be strong unless t¢ has a strong opposition, and without Mr. Gladstone as its leader the liberal phalanx will be disunited and ineffective. The air is full of rumors and the clubs are besieged with gossips eager to Know who is to have the vacant post, The digerence of opinion existing is enormous, and on whomsoever the choice may tall it wilt be by no means unanimous. Two poasible persona, Mr. Chichester Fortescue and Mr. Carawell, have been recently put out of the question by their re- moval to the House of Peers. ‘ Mr. Bright would ve acceptable to most, but his health is sadly shattered, and he could undertake no loading position. Mr. Lewe'’s horrible temper precludes apy thought of him; Mr. Forster is perhaps the likeliest man of the lot, but he is suspected by the Dissenters, who are now a very powertul body in the State. The Marqais of Hartington would not be acceptable to the radicals, nor would Sir Wil- liam Vernou Harcourt. You wiil remember that in my last letter 1 spoke to you of a second edi- tion of THE CAVE OF ADULLAM, which had been attempted and had fallen through. J should not be surprised now if another attempt were mude to revive it. The best, informed say that the liberal party will setect as leader either Lord Hartington or Mr. Forster. The former nas the support of some influential outsiders, and 1s the President of the newly-lormed, but not yet openea, Devonshire Ciub, whicn is to be the new aucieus of the liberal party, vice the Reform Club, super- annuated;- but he is not generally popular, is a slow thinker and @ heavy speaker, and his adop- tion as leader woula only be for the parpose of putting @ stop to the jealousies and animosities among men of inferior rank, MR. FORSTER is far more generally popular, both with the whigs and the advanced liberals; the Scotch and [rish members too are in his favor. Some say that the Dissenters, who weresalienated trom bim by hia conduct in regard to denominational education, are inclined to pardon him on account of his gal- lant fight last year on the Endowed Schools Dill, if Mr Forster cau get Mr. Lowe, Mr. Goschen and one oF two others to ron yi im, he has a bet. wee gpaney 9f Wie bers adership than any other et ol the party. The TONE OF THE PRESS ii on this subject is curiousto note. On the day before the correspondence between Mr. Gladstone and Lord Granville was published the 7imes had an grticle, written in an obviously offensive spirit, tellmg Mr. Gladstone tnat he had better resign the leadership entirely than keep the guestion ,open, its sabsequent articles have been stilt pions onenaive, jor in hem hie es 10kder has been uilied for his resignation ynd sold tas he j9 giv- ing up the conduct ot political deat 3 Wile he 1s a magnificent master, for the writing of reli- gious pamphiets, at woich he makes a very poor show. The Daily News, which is really the leading liberal paper, frankly expresses its regret, declar- ing that to men of middie age Mr. Gladstone haa always been the ioremost orator in the House of commons, and bis very defects a8 & statesman made bim the object of constant and more close observation. Says the News:— To the not inconsiderable proporti. regard politics and the House of Counmons mere 4 interesting spectacle and subject of conversation habitual absence of Mr. Gladstone from the arena at Westminster will leave the contests bare of nearly all their exciting aaa We may talk as we may of sup- plying Mr. Gladstone's place as a party leader, but we onate talk of supplying. bis as a party orator. ith the single exception of Mir. Bright, who cannot, ‘we suppose, be countea om for the hard work ot regular debate, there is uot @ man ou the liberal side whooren makes any preteuston ty be considered au orator. poor Higblandman in “Waverley” who ofters to give = Up to Knigtish jaw the persons of himself and any halt dozen of his clan if only Vich-ian-Vobr. the chiof, be re leased, could hardly haye more completely miscalta- lated the relative value of chief and followers than the liberal would do who hoped that the joint services of any three or four subordinates could supply to the House of Commons the place of Mr. Gladstone in debate. One feels inclined to condole with Mr. Disraeli in particular. Wio is to come out into the front of the field. aud. 4a Hotspar's phrase, “draw short breath” with that’ re- doubtable master of parliamentary debate? A whole generation has seen Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Disraeli only as ey TN reed hres diag ry: in contro- veray, and co r € one Ww! thinklug of the other. 7 eer The Datly Telegraph gushes in its usual tmpul- sive fashion over Mr. Giadstone, and deciares in him his successor, whoever he may be, “will finda generous critic and a powerful friend.” THE AROTIC EXPEDITION. The puaneemeny for the Arctic expedition are being pushed forward with vigor. The Admiraity are being aavised in the tter by a committee consisting of Admiral Sir Leopold McClintock, Suerard Osborne and Richards, all Arctic men. Toe commander isto be Captain Nares, who has recently been in charge of the Challenger in her scientific expedition round the world, and he ta now on his way home from China. Captain Nares waseducated at the Royal Naval Scnool, New Cross, where he passed a first class examination, and has seen service in various parts o! the world. While @ mate be volunteered for the Polar expedition of 1862-54, and served on board the Kesolute, under McClintock. He served the bes! in the ice, and was in command of a siedge party which, upon one occasion, got over 665 miles im sixty-lve days. He has been in perpetual em- ployment ever since. Mr. lisraeli has authorized the fitting out of this expedition as a sop to the scientific bodies, who nad been more than once refused @ similar request by the late government, There is, however, very little public feeling onthe subject; and it is @ question whether the expense, which will probably exceed £100,q@0, will not be eavilled at when Parliament meets. The one ex- citement about the matter is that the Germ: are sald to be fitting out a similar expedition, ana thus there is @ possibility of a race to the North. Pole between the two countries, PIO NONO, The new number of the ‘terty Review, to be tasued t0-day, is an exceptionally strong one. It contains articies on “The Letters of Pius the Ninth, by Mr. Gladstone”; “The Greville Memoirs, by Mr. Hayward, Q. C.,” andon “The Jesuits, by ir, Cartwright, M. P.’ Already the newspape: are severely condemnatory of Mr. Giadsto! condesvending to so small a subject, and compare it to the employment of & steam hammer for the cracking of a nut, BARON REUTER is alucky man. He came to England many years since in & very small way of business, organ- ized the Telegraphic News Agency, and ts now supposed to ve very rich. He lives tm Palace Gardens, very choice situation, overiooking Hyde Park, and his house 1s supposed to be the most handsomely furnished in London, On Thursday last his daughter was mar ried to Count Otto Steenbdock, Secretary of the Swedish Legation, tn the presence of many distin- guished people in the diplomauc world. THEATRICAL. Miss Amy Sheridan, upon whose performances. the press opened their vials of wrath, has left the Upéra Comique, and the theatre is about to be opened by Mr. Hollingshead, who will produce there the “Lady of Lyons,” with Mr. and Mrs, Kendall tn the principal characters. The revi' of “The Merchant of Venice” at the Prince o! Wales’ may be looked for about the beginning of Maroh. Mr. Sothern has been giving matinces of Lord Dundreary with marked success. A NOTORIOUS THIEF CAPTURED. Tne schooner Mayflower, lying at Gautier’s Dock, in Jersey City, was broken into on the 22d inst. and @ double-barrelied gun, two revolvers, a marine clock and @ case of razors were swien, The captatn of the boat, Mr. Varpenter, informed Chief of Police Champney, and intimated that he suspected one of the employés on the boat, Thomas Whelan, a youth nineteen years old, of the, robbery. A warrant was accordingly issaed, but Whelan was not w be found. Detectives Francia lived with bis mother, The oficers rounded’ the house, aud Whelan, sect took to nis heels, closely Pkt by th detectives. Several shots were fired at him with. outefect. Alter running about a mile be tired out and darted into some bushes, where he lay down. Here the officers found him, and, having Placed handcuffs on him, conveyed him to Jersey ity. Yesterday forenoon he was taken betora Justice Keese, when be admitted he was With @ notorious New York thie/, named McGuire, who had acted as the receiver of tne stoen goods, Most of the missing property was fouvd in New York pawn offices, The Justuce committed bi i In v7 (appa a thorities o mond county w quest of for burglar, at Tottenville, bet aeinted