The New York Herald Newspaper, January 6, 1876, Page 5

‘ NEW YORK HERALD, THUKSDAY, CONGRESS. |§ Work of Both Honses After the Holiday Recess. —_—-+ ——- SPECIE PAYMENT LEGISLATION. A Movement for Investigating Recent | Naval Expenditures. TUB MEMBER PRON BUNOOZBE ON THR FLOOR. SENATE. Waasmeorox, Jan. 5, 1876 After prayer by the Rev. Joseph Cross, an Episcopal | @lergyman of lilinois, and the reading of the journal of Monday, December 29, the Chair laid before the Senate @ communication from the Secretary of War, tran-mit- | Qing the report of the Chief of Engineers in regard to the amounts appropriated for the improvement of the mouth of the Mississippi River, Fort Jackson and Fort | St Phillip, Ordered to be printed and lie on the table. Also, a communication from the Secretary of War renewing the recommendation made by him some time wince that the military reservations at Camp Crittenden and Camp Grant, Arizona Territory, be transferred to the Interior Department tor disposal ander the Public Land laws. Ordered to be printed and lie on the table. Mr, Corxusna, (rep.) of N. Y., presented a petition of citizens of New York city asking the passage of an amendment to the Constitution of the United States prohibiting the appropriation of money for any religious sect. Referred to the Judiciary Committea, Also the petition of David Ogden and other sbip- owners of New York asking the return of cerwin money, paid as permit money on the entrance of cer- tain snips. Referred to the Committee o! Commerce. BILLS AND MEMORIALS. Mr. Morais, (rep.) of Vt, “introduced a bill to furthor provide for the redemption of United States legal tender notes in accordance with existing laws, Urdered to be printed and lie on the table. ; The following is the full text of the bill introduced by | Senator Morrill: — Be it enacted, &c., That, to further enable the Secretary of the Treasury to'provide for the redemption of the leyal ten- der United States notes in accordance with the existing law | he is authorized to. issue, sell or dispose of, at not less than par in legal tender Uniled States notes, cither of the de- scriptions of th i i percent per an- pproved July 14 funding of the N , described ntitled "A my 1870, €1 act to Authoriae the Re: tonal Debt,” with like qualities, privileges and exemption to the exteut necessary to carry into full effect the act of Con- 88 approved Janu: titled “An Act for the umption of Speci thereof for the motes so obtained upon the issue of said bonds shull be be! and considered 4s a part of the final redemption of such notes provided for in the act of Congress herein Inst mentioned, ad shall be sreated accordingly, and cancelled.” Provided, that the principal of the bonds herein authorized may be made redeemable at any time, not less than thirty Bar exceeding forty years trom the date of fseue. Sxc. 2.—That ail contracts entered into or made after th of January, 1873, shall be payabl legal tender standard of gold groyiced. at the time of the contract. xc. 3.—Thut all nationa: banking associations shall be and hereby are required to holdin coln as part of their | lawful money reserve on and after the 1 of January, 1877, rth; after the Ist day of January, 1878, one: 1 the Ist day of October, 1878, three-fourths, | Mr. MorRiLL said be introduced the bill upon his | own responsibility. He presumed no Senator here ae- sired to repeal the act last session to provide for specie resumption. 18 purpose in introducing this ‘Dill was to make the execution of that law easier. He gave notice that he would ask leave to submit some remarks explanatory of the bill atter the expiration of the morning hour to-morrow, Mr. SanGenr, (rep.) of Cal., introdaced a bill relating to the promotion of commodores on the retired list of the navy. Keferred to the Commitiece on Naval Af- fairs. 14, 1875, in accordan id silver, unles: Also a bill to grant the right of way for railroad pur- 8 through the United States Arsenal grounds at Benicia, Cal, Referred to the Commutiee on Military fairs. The Cuare laid before the Senate a communication from the Secretary of War, stating that since the close of the last session of Congress the preparation of the | official records of tne rebellion, both Union and Con- federate, have rapidly progressed, and showing the amount expended on the work, the balAnce on hand, &c. Referred to the Committee on Appropriatons Also & communication from the Secretary of War, calling attention to bis letter of December 18, 1872, aud renewing the recommendations therein contained for ‘the transfer of the Military Reservation at Fort Ran- som, Dakota Territory, to ithe Interior Bepartment for disposition as otber lands. Ordered to be printed and le on the table. i Mr. SanGsx7, of California, presented acopy ofthe me- | ‘moria! of various officers and seamen of American ships ‘which were destroyed by the Shenandoah, stating they have been absent from the country, and asking that the time for tiling such ciaims before the Alabama Court be extended. Referred to the Judiciary Committee. Mr. FReuincuvyssy (rep.) of N. J., presented the me- moria) of George W. Hunt, forthe extension of his it for paper and cloth collars. Referred to the | mittee on Patents. Mr. greed of Oregon, rial of the Portiand (Oregon) b appropriation tor the construction of a canal around cascades of the Columbia River, Referred to the Committee on Commerce. Mr. Hows (rep.) of Wis, presented a memorial of the citizens of that State for the completion of the Fox River improvements. Referred to the Committee on Commerce. ‘The Cuain (Mr. Ferry) and Mr. Cunistiancy presented | various memorials of the citizens of Michigan in favor ‘of a law giving $200 bounty to each Union soldier and sailor in euot a homestead donation without actual settioment Also a joint resolution of the Michigan ‘Legislature asking an appropriation for the construc- tion of a lighthouse on the west bar of the Mackinaw barBor; the improvement of the harbor of Hol- Jand, Mich. ; for an amendment to the Pension laws so as Lo grant pensions to the soldiers of the war of 1812 who served five days and were benorably discharged, and tbat the homestead law be so amended that soldiers, and sailors who by loss of limb or equivalent disability are prevented from making settlement, shall be en- titled to an amount of land equal to that which they would ni obtained with settlement, All of which were — Teferred to appropriate committees. j Mr. Harvey (rep.) of Kansaa, presented the memo- — rial of the Kansas State Horticultural Society asking | Congress to vide for an investigation as to the | habits of the Rocky Mountain locust or so-called grass- | ‘s. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, | RSEY (rep.) of Ark., submitted a resolution di | portation Routes to the | Seaboard to inquire and report whether the interests of | the general government do not demand that a complete | hydrographic survey be made of that jon of the | Arkansas River between Fort Smith, Ark., and Pueblo, | im the Territory of Colorado, to determine whether | that portion of said river is now or can be made navi- | gable by the removal of any obstructions that may be | ip existence. Referred to the Committee on Trauspor- tation Routes, Mr. SuxrMay, (rep.) of Ohio, submitted a resolution, that the Commissioners of the Freedman’s Savings and | Trust Company of the District of Columbia are hereby | directed to communicate to the Senate a detailed state- ment Of the assets of said company remaining andis- tributed, and ail the assets collected or changed in any way since the date of their report transmitted to the | House of Representatives on the 14th of December, | 1874. Agreed Lo. Mr. Dorsey, of Arkansas, submitted a regolution in- Siructing the Committee on Transportation Routes to inquire as to the feasibility of improving the naviga- tion of the White River by removing the obstructions at Buffalo Shoals; and, further, as to the practicability of deeponig the channel aud removing such other ob- Btructrons as may exist in said river, so as to open it for navigation by light draught steamers trom Newport, Ark., to Forsyth, in the State of Missouri, Agreed to. Mr. Mircmett, of Oregon, mtroduced a bill extending the time for the completion of the Oregon Central Rail- road and Telegraph line trom Portiand to Astoria and McMinnville, Oregon. Referred to the Commituee on Railroads, Also a bill for the further improvement of the Willa- metic River, in the State of Uregou. Referred to the Committee on Commerce. Also a bill to provide tor the construction of a mili- tary telegraph line from Fort Canby and Cape Disap- pointment, Washington Territory, via Fort Stevens and | Astoria, to Portland, Oregon. ferred to the Com- | mittee on Military Afairs. Also a bill providing for the removal of the Walla ‘Waila, Cayuse and Umatilla tribes and bands of In- dians on a permanent reservation, and to open to set Mement the Umatilla Reservation, in Oregon, Re- ferred to Committee on Indian Affairs. Mr. Covx.ixe, of New York, by nest, introduced &@ joint resolution authorizing the President of th United States to nominate Will Welch as Commo-' dore in the United States Navy. Referred to Commit- ‘tee on Naval Oflicers. Mr. Au.ison, (rep.) of Towa, introduced a bill to | divide the State of [ows into two judicial districts, Referred to Committee on the Judiciary, Mr. Key, sour hg Tenn., introduced @ bill for the — . Brock, to Committee on ms. Also a bill to amend section 1,225 of the Revised Btatutes of the United States in regard to the detail of rr eat officers, Referred to Committee on Military | Mr. Boorn, (ind.) of Cal., introduced a bill (n relation to fruit brandy and to punish frauds regarding the fame. Referred ‘o Committee on Finance. Bi. br a pot N. mag bonghenmneae cs bill age . peon, iate captain of the First South Volunteers. Referred to the Committee mentary myn eas mp introduced a bill — seve; acts rei wo 1008 al Referred to the Comme ba Pensa | 1 albert Puller for the e: | on Patents. ' lands. Referred to the Committee on Public Lands, | dered. | into the fertile States and Territories. | death of any of the present commissioners the sur- | shail be | len minutes past one o'clock the dovrs were opened | On trial in Umnted Distriet of Columb: Referred to the District Commit- Mr. Howr, of Wisconsin, introduced a bill for the re- Nef of Sarah EB. Wedelstedt, of Wisconsin. Referred to the Committee on Claims. Mr, SrevENsoN, Pry pe introduced a bill to refund to William Watts, of Kentucky, certain taxes er- oe col Referred to the Commitice on ‘mance. IDENT. Bourwen., (rep. Mass., gave notice that on ay of next week he would submit to the Senate resolutions relating to the services and public charac- the late Vice President Wilson. Kennan, (dem.) of N. Y, Cpr the [ ucer! ion of & ot gran! tothe Committee to bum for a water faucer Mr. Sanoer, of Californio, presented the petition of Henry (, Bateman for an extension of time for filing claims before the Alabama Court Referred to theJudi- ciary Committee. Mr. Boutwsit, of Massach: resented peti- setts, Di the tionof H. A Brown, late Special Agent of the United States Treasury, asking a hearing wn regard to revenue frauds by systematized undervaluation of imported mer- chandiee, cooked invoices and other devices, the extent thereof, and the facilities provided by loose conduct of customs business. Reterred tw the Committee on Fi- nance. Mr. Meer veg eg of Neb., nted the petition of lawycrs of that State for the holding of one or more terins of the United States Cireuit and District courts per year, at Lincoln, the capital of the State. Referred to the Committee on Judiciary. Mr. SarGeyt, of Calfornia, wtroduced a bill for the relief of Lewis Rose and other persons claiming title to lands within the lines of the military reservation at cin Cal, Referred to the Committee on Puvlic Law Mr. Kxuxy, (dem.) of Oregon, introduced a bill to pro- vide for the removal of the Walla Walla, Cayuse and Umatilla Indians from w Umatilla reservation, in Oregon, and for the sale of their lands, Referred to the Committee op Indian Affairs. Mr. Dorsey, of Arkansas, introduced a bill to define certain crimes and the x pnpnment thereof, Referred “to the Committee on Judiciary. Mr, CLayron, of Arkansas, introduced a bill to change the boundaries of the judicial districts of Arkansas, Referred to the Committee on Judiciaryr Also @ bill authorizing terms of the United States District Court to be held at Fort Gibson, 1. T. Re- ferred to the Comiittee on Indian Affaire, Mr. Conxuina, of New York, introduced a bill to amend the act entitled “An act to provide a national currency secured by a pledge of United States bonds, and to provide for the circulation thereof.’’ Ap- proved June 3, 1864. Referrea to the Commitice on Finance. This billisacopy of tne bill of the sai ried (rom the Senate Finance Committee April 1 Tera, relating to the national banks in liquidation an: | pr es iat to enforce the individual liability of stock- olders. Mr neat of Kansas, introduced a bill for the re- Lief of Jamea Duslayy asettler on the Kansas Indian i re- ‘Alo a bill for the relief of S. K. Thompson, late second lieutenant Twenty-Alth infantry. Referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Morxtny, (rep.) of Me., presented the petition of James N. Carpenter, paymaster United States Navy, praying for the passage of an act authorizing the ac- counting officers of the Treasury to credit bim in the settlement of bis accounts with certain amounts lost m consequence of the embezzlement of bis clerk and loss by the failure of Jay Cooke & Co, Referred wo the Committee on Naval Affairs, STATE RIGHTS, The Cui laia before the Senate the resolutions sub- mitted by Mr. Morton before the holidays in regard to State rights. Mr. Morton said he understood his colleague (McDon- ald) desired to offer a substitute for those resolutions, and he was not present to-day. He also understood that Senators cesired to discuss the resolutions, and he, therefore, asked that they be laid over. So or- THE MISSISSIPPI INVESTIGATION. The resolution submitted by Mr. Morton before the holidays, providing for the appointment of a committee ‘Wo investigate the circumstances attending the late elec- tion in Missiseippi, was laid betore the Senate, it being the unfinished business. Mr. Moxton said unless some Senator desired to speak to-day he would ask that the resolution be laid er until next Moaday. So ordered. Mr. Harvey, of Kansas, introduced a bill to provide an investigation as to the habits of the Rocky Mou! tain locusts or so-called grasshoppers. Reterred to th Committee on Agriculture. It directs the Comm: sioner of Agriculture to appoint three commissioners | to make the investigation and ,report as to the best | method for preventing the incursions of said locusts Mr, Surman, of Obio, introduced a bill to amend the act of June 20, 1874, amending the charter of the Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company, &c. Referred to the Committee on Finance, ‘The bill provides that in case of the resignation or vivors shall carry on the work. Authority is given to | sell property at public or private sale and to compro- mise debts. It also provides that when the commis- sioners are prepared to make dividends said dividends paid by assistant treasurers or government cepoeiaeiys throughout the country. ‘he Sepate, at ten minutes to one o’clock, on motion of Mr. Sargeant, went into executive session, and at aud the Senate adjourned tll to-morrow. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wasuixcrox, Jan. 5, 1876. | The House reassembled after the Christmas holidays. | The Speaker occupied the chair, in apparently good | health, and there were but few members absent. \ The oath of office was administered to Mr. RL | Riddle, of Tennessee, elected to Gil the unexpired term | of Mr. Fite, deceased. | A large number of Executive communications, which — had accumulated during the recess, were presented by : the Speaker, and referred to appropriate committees. The Sreaxer then proceeded to call the committees for reports, but no committees bad any business to report. On motion of Mr. Mornisox, (dem.) of LiL, the House, at half-past twelve, went into Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union, Mr. Wheeler, of New | York, in the chair, and the usual resolutions distrib- uting the President's Annual Message to the appropriate committees were offered by Mr. Morrison, and were adopted. | ‘THR CURRENCY QUESTION, The committee rose and reported the resolutions to the House, when Mr. Kasson, (rep.) of [owa, called at- | tention to the fact that among the subjects referred to | the Committee of Ways and Meaus were those of the | redemption of United States notes, the partial repeal of the Legal Tender act and the gradual reduction of legal | vender notes. | Mr. Kasson suggested that inasmuch as these sub- Jects were specially within the jurisdiction of the Com- | mittee on Banking and Currency, the reference of them to the Committee of Ways and Means would be | apt to cause clashing between t ro Committees, | Mr. Moraison, (dem.) of Ili, in reply, that it ‘was almost impossible in distributing the Pres’ us Message to sepa: gubjects so that there shou: tions, bad followed the precedents and tried to keep several committees within the line of their re- spective duties, ‘The subject was further discussed by Messts. Town- send, of Pennsylvania; Cox and Wood, of New York; Burchard, gf Llinois;' Keliey, of Pennsylvania, an Garfield, of Ohio, the point of discussien being’ that | legisintion referring to legal tenders notes belonged to the Committee of Ways and Means, while that refer- ring to national bank notes belonged to the Commitice on Banking and Currency. Finally, the resoluwons were adopted—that refe to the Committee on Banking and Currency, gi to that committee con- trol of the subject ef banks, king and currency and the resumption of specie payments by national banks. The SrkakeR called attention to the fact that Mr. Hewitt, of New York, a member of tue Commitee on Public Buildings and Grounds, desired to be re- heved from service on that committee on account of his business relations, which might frequently arise between his duty and bis interest, and as his colleague, Mr. Ely, now on the Committee on Foretgn Affairs, was willing to exchange committees with Mr. Hewitt tho Speaker asked that the exchange shouid be autnorized. 1k waa #o ordered. The Srxakxe then proceeded to call the States for bills and resoluvions, ' Under the cail bills were introduced and referred as follows :— BILLS INTRODUCED. By Mr. Hata, (rep.) of Me., to relieve certain ships and vessels from pir penn’ pilot By Mr. Frye, (rep) of Me—To provide for the pay- me he judgments of the Alabama Commissioners as n as possible after the 22d of Jan Also for an equestrian statue Taylor, twelfth President of ‘by Mr. Buam, (rep.) of New Hampebire Legislature — xt. chary H.—Resolutions of the for of specie pay- } Jowns, (dem.) of N. H.—For a commission on tof the alcoholic liquor traffic. By STARKWRATHER, rep) of Conn.—For the Im- provement of Stonington Harbor, Connecticut. By Mr. Wiis, dem.) of N, ¥Y.—To repeal the Bank- Pupley set, ly Mr. Davy, (rep.) of N. Y.—To allow ail persons es courts to be competent wit- besses. By Mr. Warp, (dem.) of N. Y.—To establish a coinage Otice, department in New York 77%) iy Mr. Maereacr, (dem.) of N. To improve the navigation of the Bast Rockaway channel. By Mr, Larman, (rep.) of N. Y.—To simplify and se- cure uniformity in the practice of tho courts of the United States and of the several States relative to the rules of evidence and to the competency of parties as witnesses, by Mr. Hanpexneron, (dem,) of N. J.—A resolution of the New Jersey Legislature relative to General Fitz Jobn Porter; also a similar resolution in favor of Con- gress passing AN act recommending to the people of the several States that they assemble in their several coun- ties on the approaching Centennial anniversary and have delivered b~ such hp dh & historical sketch of had county, copies thereof deposited with the clerk the county and with the Librarian of Congress. By Mr. Cotten, (dem.) of N. J.—Constivating Jersey City on. port ot cate, yrs i Mr. Morten! (dem, —To regulate the sc- ieaos f jurors io United stares court” By Mr. Rawpaut, (dem.) of Pa—To secure the at- tendance and payment of Witnesses ip naval courta. By Mr. O' Baan. | righta™of the inmates of insane asylums; also # resolu- | unless We now by law secure indemnity. the Committee on Naval Affairs to investigate the disbursements for the support of the marine corps and 'y of abolishing such eorps ng ye army. Adopted. Also a resolution calling on the Secretary of the Navy for information as to whether any officers of the navy or marine corpse over the age of sixty-two re are | still retained on the active list, and, if so, why they have not been retired. Adopted. THE NAVAL APPRORIATIONS By Mr. Goopx, (dem. ) of Va —Calling on the Secretary of the Navy for information as to whether the co ad steam vessels authorized by the act of the 10th of Feb- ruary, 1873, baye been constructed, and if so, what bas veen their cost, ted. Also imstructing the Committee on al Affairs to inquire and report whether any materials belonging to the government have been fraudulently or wrongfully re- moved from the navy yards, and whether there have been combinations for the purchase of the same; also er any partof the money appropriated for the construction of the eight steam vessels of war authorized by the act. of the 10th of February, 1873, has been misapplied for political purposes or used” ‘mp apy manner to promote the success of the republi- can party, and especially whether any money has been paid to incompetent persons, possessing no mechanical skill, who have been employed in the navy yards on the condition expressed or implied that they would vote for the nommees of the republican party. Mr. Kasson, of lowa, suggested that the Inquiry go back a few years further and include the democratic rty. Mr. Goopr preferred the resolution in ite present form, not caring to go back to the times before the Deluge. Mr. Lawrence, (rep.) of Ohio, remarked that the | resolution specified no navy Bat Mr. Goove—It specifies all the navy yards of the coma. Mr, Hotman, (dem.) of Ind., suggestes to strike out the words “republican party” any ‘titute for them the words ‘any political party.” Mr. Goopr agreed to modi: ingly, whereupon Messrs Hale, of M. field,’ of Ohio, and other republicans ‘was bo opposition to the resolution on tt The resolution, as thus modified, was ag By Mr, Doucuas, (dem.) of V: pointment of a select committee to investigate Sikiss of tho. Fvtndman's Savinks ena Traor Company and its several branches, the cause of its failure, the parties responsible therefor, &c., with the names aad residences of all the debtors of the company. Adopted. By Mr. Terry, (dem.) of Va—To establish a aniform | rule of naturalization. By Mr. Haris, (dem.) of Va.—To restore to the sion rolls the Dames of persons stricken therefrom | for disloyalty. | By Mr. Surtm, (dem.) of Ga —For the relief of banks and bankers, ‘ By Mr, Chtpweit, (dem.) of Ala.—A resolution call- ing on tbe Secretary of War for infortwation as to the number of United States troops stationed in the States of Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana on the 6th of December, 1875, Adopted. Aiso a bill to allow homestead settlers to make final | affidavit before any officer legally authorized to ad- minisier oaths By Mr. SinGueroy, (dem.) of Miss.—To amend the Homestead laws. 45 By Mr. Morgy, (rep.) of La—To amend the act creating the Alabama Claims Commission ; also author- izing petitions to be Gled in the Court of Claims in cer- tain cases, By Mr. Levy, (dem.) of La.—To determine the rights of riparian proprietors. i By Mr, Sovrmanp, (dem) of Ohio—For the relief of States for arms and ordinance stores furnished to the government, By Mr. Monrog, (rep.) of Ohio,—To protect the postal the resolution accord- <F and Gar- tion instructing the Committee on Education and Labor to inquire into the expediency of making a moderate { appropriation for the ratio of illiteracy for States which have established or will establish & permanent system of common schools for the education of their youth, Adopted, By Mr. Miuurcern, (dem.) of Ky.—To repeal the Bank- ruptey act; also authorizing tobacco producers to sell tobacco by retail in the leaf, By Mr. Gorwam, (dem.) of Ky.—For the benefit of the Christian church of Danville, Ky., aud of the Madison | Female Academy of Richmond, Ky. By Mr. Warts, (rep.) of Ky. at all pensions on | account of death or wounds, or diseases contracted in the service since March, 1861, shall commence from | iso to economize in the | collection of the whiskey tax in remote and out of the way places; also to insure the success of the Interna- | tional Exhibition at Philadelphia and to maintain the honor of the nation; also to pay the soldiers and sailors pe oe entitled to bouyty lands §1 per acre for those an { By Mr. Bricut, (dem.) of Tenn —For the benefit of | the Presbyterian church of Murireesboro, Ind, | THE LATE EX-PRESIDENT JOHNSON. Mr, BriGHt gave notice that he would on next Tues- day move the House ww adopt “suitable proceedings in relation to the death of the late ex-President Johnson. By Mr. Wurrraorys, (dew.) of Tenn.—To improve ‘navigation of the Tennessee River; also authorizing the sale of leaf tobacco in limited quantities; also fix- ing the rate of postage on written legal matter; also to amend the Texas Pacific Railroad act, By Mr, Uimrett, (dem) of Tenn.—For the tmprove- ment of the Tennessee and Hiawaesa rivers; also to establish a United States District Court at Chattanooga, Tenn. By Mr. Casox, (rep.) of Ind.—A resolution recogniz- ing the brave and guliant services rendered by the loyal soldiers to the country in the time’of its greatest peril | | and need, earnestly recommending to the people the utmost care and watchfulness over the rights and in- | terests of these brave men by securing employment to | them. That in al! cases of public employment, all other things being equal, the soldier shall have prefer- ence of civilian, and Geclaring that the House is in favor of giving limited pens ons to diseased and crippled soldiers, their widows and children, and their dependent fathers and mothe! The previous question was seconded by 142 to 9, and the resolution was agreed to amid laughter on both sides of the House. . Mr. Moratson, of Illinois, offered a resolution direct- | ing the several commitices having in charge matters Ttaining \o indian affairs, military affairs, naval af- | ers, post offices, public lands, public buildings and ounds, claims and war claims to inquire into any | buses or frauds in the administration and execution | existing laws affecting those branches of the public | service, wit! jew to ascertaining what changes and | relormations.can be made 80 a8 to promote integrity, economy and efficiency; also instructing the commit: | tures in thé several departments to , a8 required by the rules of the House, into the state of the accounts and expendi. | departments, as to whether all bursed in conformity with the | appropriation laws, and what provisions sre necessary to be adopted to provide more perfectly for the proper | application of the public moneys and to secure tho government against demands unjust in character or extravagant in amount, Adop' THE PACIFIC RAILROAD. Mr. Lawnaxcy, (rep.) of Ohio, offered a resolution, which was adopted, requiring the Judiciary Committee to report w to compel the Pacifle Railway com- panies to indemnify the vanced on subsidy bonds issued to the companies. Ho said the Supreme Court bas recently decided that the government is bound to pay the interest ou the sub- sidy bonds, and no provisi i@ made for reimburse- ment except that where freight or gers are car- ried for the government one-half the charges may be credited on the advance, The subsidy bouds amount to $65,000,000, and the Interest paid by the government over and above freight charges credited i over $27,000,000, The Attoruey General estimates that the railroad companies would owe the government $200,000,000 at the maturity of the bonds, in about wenty years. All (his will be lost to the government This is the object of the resolution—to save the government from 1a loas of $200,000, 000, ‘My. Fort, (rep.) of Ill, offered a resolution, declar- ing that the doctrine just enunciated by the House in the adoption of the resolution offered by Mr. Cason, of Indiana, is so wise and just that it should be followed by the officers of the House in filling the subordinate piaces under them, and instructing them in all such | cases to give to well qualified Union soldiers the prefer- ence over soldiers of the late Conf (Laughter. ) He moved the previous question on its adoption. The previous question Was not seconded, by a vote of 18 to 103. { Mr. Wooo, (dem.) of N. Y., remarking that this waa | the centennial year—a year in which all past digsen- | sions, difficulties and controversi ould be forgot. | ten—moved to refer the resoiution to the Select Com- | mittee on the Centennial Celebration. He wanted the | House to go to business and have no more buncombe. | The motion was agreed to—12] to 91—and the resolu- tion was accordingly referred. | Mr. Hannwox, (dem.) of LiL, offered the following resolution :— Resolved, That in the distribution of the patronage of the Hoase of Mr. Caciriscn, (dem. ) of [I1., offered a resolution stat- ing that certain charges have been made implying traud and mismanagement in the construction of the Custom House and Post Office butiding in Chicago, and instruct. ing the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds to enter on the investigation of such charges. Adopted. is further introduced agd referred as fol- 3 — By Mr. Srrivorn, (dem.) of Ill. —To abolish stamps on bank checks; also to extend the time for dling claims for additional bounty. By Mr. Burcwaap, {rep.) of Il. —To create a Western | Judicial district in [inom The House then, at ten minutes past four o’clock P. M., adjourned woul ort DEATH OF A CENTENARIAN, The death of another centenarian was reparted at the Bureau of Vital Statistics yesterday, The deceased, whose name is Coffee, had attained the extreme age of 106 yoars. She was vorn in ireland and came to this country longs d years by Her health ail through life wag remarkably good, and up to her last days she d' unusual vivacity, ‘The deceased will be buried from her residence, No, 343 Kast Twenty-seventh azreet, to-day. TIRED OF LIFE. On Tuesday ovening Mrs. Catharine Henny, of No 120 Mulberry stree?, was found in room sitting on a chair in @ stupefed condition. Beside her on a | table was empty two drachm botile, lapelled | Mrs. Hen who was a widow, had we destitute circum- od to station house and thence to Hellevue Hospital, where she died yesterday. Her three children, the eldest of whom is seven creak” idem.) of Md.—A resolution direes | were sent tg the Central Office to be taken And this appears in Shakespeare and Dante.” | eineere, JANUARY 6, 1876.—TRIPLE SHEET. LITERATURE. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Julian Hawthorne, Au- gusta J. Evans and Father Thebaud. Philosophy, Travel, Romance, Ancient Re- ligion and Modern Science CLAIMS OF THE BIBLE OVER SCIENCE. Laerrers anv Sociat Ants, By Ralph Waldo Emerson, Boston; James R. Osgood & Co, The veriest miser does not sit down to count over his | boarded gold with any keener reliah than the reviewer | to read a new volume by Emerson. There is little to criticise in the Concord philosopher. We drink at his weil of English andefled and draw in bis thoughts, alike brilliant and solid, with all the eagerness of the follow- ers of Moses, who drank the water from the rock ih the desert, This volume has been long oxpected and eagerly awaited, and now it has come. It was well worth waiting for. Such elaborated thought could not be pat forth like the leaves every spring. It is the re- sult of great study and careful observation on ‘the part of @ great man, When Emerson speaks al) the world listens, The book 18 divided into eeveral parts:—Poetry and Imagination; Social Aims; Eloquencs; Resources; The Comic; Quotation and Originality; Progress of Culture; Persian Poetry; In- spiration; Greatness and Immortality. A poet bim- self, Emerson, of course, ranks poetry and imagination high, and the chapter on those subjects is not without » peculiar interest. “Science,” he says, ‘does not know ite debt to imagination. Goethe did not believe that » great naturalist could exist without this faculty. He was himself conscious of its help, which made him a Prophet among the doctors * © * The mind, penetrated with its sentiment or its thought, projects it outward on whatever it bebolds, The lover sees re- minders of his mistress in every beautiful object; the saint an argument for devotion in every natural proc- ess, “Poetry 1s,” he says, “the perpetual endeavor | toexpress the spirit of the thing to pase the brute body and search the life and reason which causes it to | exist—to see that the object ts always flowing away, while the spirit or necessity which causes \t subsists Its essential mark is that it betrays in every word jnstant activity of the mind, ehown in new uses of = every = fact’ «and = image— in preternatural quickness or __ perception of relations, All its words are poems. It is a presence | Of mind that gives a miraculons command of al) means of uttering the thought and feeling of the moment The poet squanders on the hour an amount of life that would more than furnish the seventy years 01 the man that stands next him. * * * And poetry is the only verity—the expression of a sound mind speaking after the ideal, and not after the apparent Asa power it ig the perception of the symbolic character of things, and the treating of them as representative; as a talent it ig a magnetic tenaciousness of an image, and by the treatment demonstrating that this pigment of thought 18 as palpable and objective to the poet as ts the ground on which he stands or the walls of houses about him. A‘ew quality which Mr, Emerson considers necessary to the poet is veracity, The fault of our popular poctry, he fays, is that it {8 not sincere, news isthe poet When he sings the world listeng with the assurance that now & secret of God is to be spoken, * * * There is no choice of words for him who clearly sees the truth. That provides him with the best word."’ In apoem “we want design and do not forgive the bards if they have only the art of enamelling We wantan architect and they bring us an upholsterer.”” Here isa truth that \s the experience of every ob- | serving person. “The use of ‘occasional poems’ is to give leave to originality. Every one delights in the felicity frequently shown in our drawing rooms, [na game party or picnic poem each writer is released trom the solemn rhythmic traditions which alarm and enffo- Bate his fancy. and the result is that one of the part- ners offers @ poem in anew style that bints at new liter. ature, Yet the writer holds it cheap and could do the | jike all day, On the stoge the farce is commonly far better given than the tragedy, as the stock actors un. derstand the farce and do not understand the tragedy.” There is nothing like rhyme for impressjng acting upon the memory. ‘We shall never understand. political | economy until Burns or Béranger or some poet shall | teach it in songs,”” Mr. Emerson does not think much of “Faust” ia & comparative sense, “To show the merit of Shakespeare,” he says, “read ‘Faust.’ | Gnd ‘Faust’ a little too modern and intelligible, We can find such fabric at several mills, though a little infe- rior, ‘Faust’ abounds in the disagreeable. The vice is prurient, learned, Parisian. * * © The book is un- | deniably written by a master, and stands unhappily re- lated tothe whole modern world; bat it isa very dis- agreeable chapter uf literature, and accuses the author as well as the times"? Saxon Srepirs. By Juhan Hawthorne James R. Osgood & Co. The reader who has not visited Saxony would never be induced to visit that country by @ perusal of Mr, Julian Hawthorne's book. But if he should chance be tossed there by the wave of circumstances he would be most agreeably surprised. Mr. Hawthorne prepares Boston: the traveller to find a soggy country and a bloated peo- | ple, The sentimentality of the Germans which we have been taught to look upon as a thing of beauty he holds | up to ridicwe. He very coolly says in the first chapter that we study foreign countries and customs, not for their intrinsic sake, but in order to compare them dis- advantageously with our own. Such ts undoubtedly the motive that inspired ‘Saxon Studies,” but let us hope that all travellers are not moved by the samo spirit, The anthor gives a rather remarkable excuse for his generally scoffing mood, which ig .by reason of tne “ mawkish tendency, very observable of late, to | make Germans of all people in the world, and Saxons with them, objects of sentimental hero worship.” This book ts about as trae of Saxony as Dickens’ “American Noves"” of America. Certain things aro as Mr. Hawthorne paints them, but they are not seen by everybody (thank fortune!)in the same light The coarseness and vulgarity is often in the way you look atathing. Most persons would think the inscriptions carved oo jambs and lintels of the Saxon front doors a very pretty feature. Ho says ‘it is not a sincero or wholesome practice, rather s kind of religious snob- bishness, '* ness (s in Mr. Hawthorne and not in the simple hearted Saxons, Just the things we have always looked apon as beautiful’ and attract characteristics of German life he finds fault with, The man who goes into ecata- sies over a dazzliug sunset he at once pronounces in- “What true lover of nature,” he says, “should she in a fortunate hour reveal her beauty to bim, would not blush and stammer in the attempt to’ | compliment her to her face?” * * © “Not so the Saxon, who not only delights to wear his heart upon bis sleeve, but is himself the daw that pecks at it’? This writer has not a particle of sympathy with low life, yet 1} is that which he attempts to de- | best society draw- | pict, *Superticiallys’ he say: ‘ng room ia Germ: and im Rpgland appear much ike, © * © The thin skin of the polished man of the world Is a better veli of his soul than is the canvas- like hide of the coarse grained laborer.” In reading ‘this book we Gnd a great deal of brilliant thought and | Deaatifal writing, bat m0 sooner does the author paint a delicate, pretty picture, than he daubs it with pitch and destroys the charm of the first impression. There is nO Question but thet the Saxon peasant woman i¢a bard worked, ill treated creature, and Mr. Hawthorne bas done well to break a lance in her defence. in that ult be will have the sympathy of ail his readers, Women and dogs are harnessed ap together and drag the market wagon to town im the morning; at mightfail the same wagon returning is drawn by the same team, only instead of country produce the man is seated on the empty hampers smoking serenely. Growing oid with these women isa painful process, not a graceful | one, “A nation whose women keep their houses, saw their wood, cultivate their crops and carry them to | | market on their backs, and bear children in season and out of season, may indeed go to war with full ranks for atime. But what use to conquer the world if our sons and dangliters aro to grow up cripples and idiots? For does that pregnant woman whom wo saw straining up hill with her heavy basket injure only herself?” * * “T cannot but feela misgiving about these German triumphs in Bald and rahinet whan | sae man helping “The only teller of | Now we aro inclined to think the snobbish. | themselves before women at table and elsewhere” Mr. Hawthorne says that Saxon souls have no bome in- stinct The peasant looks upon his house as a place to eat and sicep in, He knows no hearth around which to sit and chat; instead there stands a tall glazed earthen- ware stove which suggests the idea rather of a refrig- erator than of a fire. “And,” he adds, how “can @ man converse rationally or affectionately over night with the woman whom he means to harness so his cartin the morning?” Our author scoffs at the musical ear of | Saxony and says that he has never beard worse music | shan in that country, The following is ‘n direct oppo | sition t@ the ideas that have gained ground among | most American travellers:—'' The average Saxon or chestra learns its music by rote, and its perception of barmony is not intuitive but mechanical. They re- | gard a false note as a mistake—never as a sin; and it ‘s only rigid drilling which enables them to do so much as that Listen to a party of young students singing together, as is the custom of young students all over the world; they sing loudly, and tn perfect good faitts, conscious that they are Saxons, and therefore fancy- ing that they are infallible. But there will be more dipcords to a stave than an equal number of young men of any other country could produce. There may be something pathetic about this, but there is certainly much that is disagreeable, Again, tho audiences of the garden concerts are affected by tunes and shght | airs, and are invariably enthusiastic in their applause | of a solo, however imperfectly rendered; because, | Daving actually beheld a man stand up before , ‘hem and produce, with more or less physical exertion, a variety of musical sounds, they are convinced that they have heard what {s, oF onght to be, musi, But they Pass by the great, sublime compositions with sig- nificant silence,” In another chapter he says of the ‘Saxon :—‘Who but he can sit through a symphony of Beethoven's, applauding its majestic merriments with the hand which has just carried to his lips a mug of | beer and anon returns thither with a slice of sausage? | ‘WDo bas published a large volume upon © L' Opposition sous lee Cavars.”” Lady Wood's new novel,“ Below the Sait,” is pro- nounced by the Saturday A-view “three volumes of disagreeable rubbish." The practice of republication of contributions to pe- riodicals, says the Athenaeum, is \ncreasing, and onght to de discountenanced. A good amount of useful information in Formosa, China and Japan is found in Captain Bax’s ‘Eastern Seas; being « Narrative of the Voyage of Her Majesty's Ship Dwarf.’ The Atheneum earnestly praises the Rev. Harry Jones? ‘East and West London," as fuilof the lite and spirit of the laboring classes of that vast metropolis and shrewd remarks on its tra Mr. Joseph Fisher bas written a holding im England.” The Atheneewm is glad that nodody proposed to cele- brate the centenary of the birth of Jane Austen, which bas lately come around, though {t declares that ber “Emma” and “Mansfield Park’! will be read when “Jane Eyre’ ts forgotten, The recently discovered “Common Place Book” of Jobn Milton, containing notes in bis Dandwriting from upwards of eighty works read by him, |s to be printed tp fac-simile at (wo guineas a copy. Miss Francer P. Cobbe has an esaay In the New Quar- terly Magazine, entitled “ Backward Ho'’? which traces the strong \nfuence of medimvalism on modern thought. Hepworth Dixon ts the author of an article, “The Palse Move on Egypt,” in the Gentlemen's Magazine for January. Charles Reade has won his copy Glasgow Herald, which publisne Gazette, bis story, “A Hero and a Mart entered at Stationers’ Hall, The vastness of the Australian co —————— - against the Pall Male eviously nent, which is * © © Ho nods and rolls his eyes at the sublimer | strains. Does he comprehend them? He reminds me | of that class of people who, Indeed, possess the Bible; | who peruse it daily and can repeat much of {t by heart, | and who, yet, have mever read so much as a line of the | Word of God.” Travelling throngh Saxony with Mr. Julian Hawthorne would be like visiting the galleries of | | equal to Europe without its peninsular projections, has been well developed in Mr. Joba t's “Explora- tions in Aus ?@ book literally crammed with in formation. . Mr. Matthew Higgins’ “Essays oa Social Subjects’ show how the minor public topica of the day were handled by “Jack Omnium,” which was that shrewd and charming writer's nom ae plume. Italy with that eccentric American who saw nothing in | the exhibitions of statuary buta lot of “stone gals.” | If bia opiniohs be houest—and we have no reason to | doubt them—he is more to be pitied than blamed. One | 18 surprised that the writer who looked down apon | Saxony from such a superior height ‘should epeak, as | he does on page 187, of a man’s “pants.” According to Holmes “pants are for gents.’’ } If we knew nothing of Saxony, if Mr. Hawthorne were writing of a country at the North Pole of which | we knew nothing and cared less, we would very much | enjoy bis book, for it is bright and witty and the | thought is all well expressed. . j | Gewrmism: Region Previous ro Cunisriaxrty. Rev, Aug. J, Thebaud, &: J. Sadlier & Co. An invaluable work {s a volume entitled “Gentilism,” | from the pen of Rey. Aug. J. Thebaud, 8. J., which is | published by D. & J, Sadlier & Co, Ita discussion | of religion previous to Christianity, and while oppos- | | ing with a firm hand all the theories of the Darwinian | and Spencerian schools of philosophy, it treats boldly | and effectively of the religious ideas and practices of | | the ancients. Father Thebaud maintains that the first | relations of society were tribai and patriarchial, and | besieving in the confusion of tongues at the tower ot | Babel, which, by the way, he identifies with the ruins | | of Birs Nimrod, he traces thence the early social and religious history of the race. His treatment of the sub- | Ject 18 at once vigorous and learned. He quotes trom | every authority and confutes every position not tenable | upon any except the bighest grounds of reason and | | historical analogy. But the volume ts not a con. troversial work. It 1s @ philosophical history, rather than & contribution to mere polemics. | Catholics and Protestants will read it with | equal interest and promt, for its high, eat purpose 18 to exalt Christianity above all the forma of worship which preceded It Beginning with the history of the Vedas and the Zends and ending with the teachings of heroic and Pelasgic Greece, the work | will be found as complete in information as it Is con- clusive im reasoning. We have neither space nor tncli- | nation to epitomize Father Thebaud’s work, for the | work itself is only an epitome of the great argument | which it was the purpose of the author to maintain. | | There is no mistaking that purpose nor any evasion on | | the part of the learned divine of the issues raised by | the modern school of philosophers. This is already apparent in the opening chapter, Im which Father | ‘Phebaud discusses and denies the supposed barbarism | Of primitive man and refutes the doctrine of indefinite | Ry New York: D. & J, | human progress, The theory of evolution is knocked | over by a single blow, the champions of the antiquity of man being met by an argument of their own making— | | namely, that no traces have ever been found, not a | | single fossil discovered, of the incipient stages of the | | human organism. This is true pot only of the “ances- | | tors’? of man, but of ancient animals of every | kind. The courage with which Father Thebaud deals | | with this whole question is sllustrated at every step, Ho denies not only the antiquity of man, but shows how utterly ontenable are ali the theories based upon the supposed connection between the savage state and the | stope age, Notonly at this very day, ip spite of all | the efforts of civilization, do the stone age and the iron } age exist side by side, but at no period in the world’s | history was simplicity of lie necessarily barbarism. | Upon such a broad foundation all else that follows in | this invaluable work-is based. The origin of Buddhism | is distinctly traced and the reforms of Zoroaster as clearly established, but the antiquity of both is denied and disproved, The mythology of Greece even was in | Its Infancy when the glory of the Greeks was at its | height, In all things these baser religions became base | as nations steeped themselves in degradation. Idolatry | was born of pantheism and had its origin mostly in the religious epics of ancient times, but 1 was not until a people became degraded that they yielded themselves | to idolatrous worsbip. In the nine chapters in which | these great problems are discussed all that science and research and philosophy have revealed 1s touched upon, and the index to the work is not the least remarka! part of it. Indeed, a few subjects chosen from it will | give a better idea of the scope of the work than any- thing we can say about it Let us select a few of | these, first as touching the ancient religions :— | ‘The god of all Africa; belief in, of great an- | ad no human history; @ part of the culture | identified with graded by subsequent super- myth of; the myth of, ob- | grandeur ot't | scured by mythology. | Bramwa—Tho neater, really the supreme; anterior to creation; meaning of, this name of; absorption in. Bevpmism—Origin of; really idoiatrous for the com: | | mon people; connected with Sivaism; advocacy of, | atheism and annihilation in; the Athenians bad noth- | to do with it. ‘1va,—First origin of idolatry in Hindostan ; opposed | | | to Viehou, Txiourtt.—Source of the subsequent idolatry in Hindostan; flourished later than the sixth century be- fore Christ. Zonoasten —Real age of; the doctrine of, a reform; ‘was pot the source of Judaism, Mohammedanism or | Obristianity ; pot #0 easy corrupted as that of the Vedas; hever raised to godship. | Imregard to the problems affecting the antiquity of | man and the civilization of the race we may still further | | illustrate our previous remarks by some selections from the same source :— Axtigorty of May.—Heconcilable with the Bible; calculations on, Gnrelabie; not proved from the stose period; disproved from the drift. | Bansanten,—Not the first state of man; not the re- | sult of the want of comfort, but of moral degradation ;- | the ase of stone no sign of; not the consequence of the | want of the writing art; no mention of in Central Asia under Zoroaster; of Grecian tribes caused by the bard. | ships of migration, ‘ | Chasen Mankind began by; not barbarism. | Evonetios.—Not pro for geology ; opposed to science, disproved by Proved by the necessity of the supernatural. | | From all this it will be seen that Father Thebacd’s | work is invaluable alike as a contribution to literature, to science and to religion. It is the drst really bold | effort to overthrow the theories of the evolutionists, in many of the positions assumed by the aathor the absurdity of many of the doctrines taught by Dar- | win, Spencer and Lubbock ‘s clearly and satisfactorily | demonstrated. The work cannot fail to receive the earnest attention of scholars, while Christians of every | sect and creed will find it @ powerful advocate of the | claims of the Bible over science, falsely #0 called. LITERARY CHAT. ‘The heroines of the book-collecting mania bare been written up by Mr Jean Gay iD aw volume entitied & Quelques Femmes Bibliophiles.”” be Pi Magnus bas barrowed up the souls of French- m World.” man; disproved by | story ; dis | ‘in snew book entitled “The Last Days of the | alse The Saturday Keview says that Mr. Blanchard Jerroid’s ‘Final Reliques of Father Prout!’ js a catch- penny publication, made up of Mahoney's letters frore Rome to the Jiaily News, amd an estay on Father Prout by Mr, Jerrold in his usual weak and sloppy style Mr. Chartes F, Cox has shown ap the critical philob ogists who have been abusing each other in print se | long, ina litle work entitled “The Amenities of Ver. | Criticism,” (rom the press of T. B. P. on, A life of Nathaniei Hawthorne has long been a desid erstum. Mr. George B. Lathrop, that writer’s son-im Jaw, has written a biographical essay upon him, which will come out with Osgood's new edition of bis works. Jules Verne’s “Courier of the Czar’ is announces | for publication by Seribmer, Armstrong & Co, A new architectural periodical (w Started in Boston with the Grst of Ja: Osgood & Co, Mr. William P,P, editor. k has been vy JR Longfellow is ite LITERARY COLLEGIANS, PROCEEDINGS OF THB THIRD ANNUAL CONVEN- TION—ELECTION OF OFFICERS—SUBJECTS FOR NEXT EXAMINATIONS, The third annual Convention of the Intercollegiaty Literary Association was held yesterday at. the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Delegates Were present as follows:— Princeton, T. Jones, C. G, Greene, RH. Lynde; Dart mouth, W. 38. Sayres, @ A Brown; Willams, J. H. Cowin, J. T. Baton, R. J. Hunt; Syracuse, F. M. Gilbert, E. 0. Kinne, & Frothingham; Northwestern Univer. sity, F. M. Bristol, Charles P. Wheeler, J. H. Hamiin; Hamilton, J. M. Elliot, H. McMasters, ©. P. Woolworth; Rutgers, W. R Taylor, Henry Veighte, W. M, Little. man, New York University, Heury ©. Alvord, Ernest M. Crosby, Edwin B, Rice; College of the City of New York, © Rutsel, L. 3. Barchard, R. H. McOutehen; St Jonn’s College, James Meyer, Joseph V. Sweeney, Walter Willstack ; Lafayette College , J. H. Covede, S- A. Martin, J. B Hendry. The Convention was presided over by Mr. L. Kargé, of Princeton, President of the Association, Mr. James Hemlo, of Rutgera, being secretary. The President opened the proceedings by congratulating the associa- tion on the successes of its enterprises during the year. Reports trom the Executive Committes, the Treasurer aud the Committee on Sinking Fund, atter lengthy dis- cussion, were adopted. The report of the treasurer showed that there was a balance of about $1,224 48 on hand, but this was exclusive of a donation of $500 each from Mrs. J. J. Astor and Mrs. Joanston. The committee on seouring co-operation in raising a sinking fund had nothing material to report. After the ap- inting of @ committee on nominations and one on by- laws, each consisting of a delegata (rom each of tho twelve colleges represented, the Convention took a re- cose. After recess the Committes on Nominations rey as follows:—President, E. H. Crosby, New Yor! nie versitg; Vice President, E. C. Perry; Secretary wn Hamlin, Northwestern University; Treasurer, H. McMaster, Hamilton, Standing Committee, D. J. Tompkins, Cornell; C. Putzel, New York ‘College G. A. Brown, Dartmouth ; stack. St Joba’ J. M. Elliott,’ Hamilton; Bristol, versity; ©. N. Cobb, Syrac Ww. R 8. A. Martin, Lafayette; M. W Jacobus, Jr., ton; H. C, Alvord, New York University; RJ. & Willams The new officers having been installed, a resolution was adopted expressing the thanks of the association to the examiners in Gi eek and mathematics and to the judges on oratory and essays, and to Mrs. J. J. Astor, Mrs. J. T. Johnston and Mr. J, J. H ory, who bad given material aid to the association, and to ‘Rev. Dr. Prime. A new constitution and set of bylaws were adopted. A committee of twelve—one from each coliege—ree- ommended he follo’ mittee, and they wore elected :—Colone son, Whitelaw ki (the retiring Pre J.C. Tomlinson (th chairman of the Standing Committee). The mitwe aiso recommended as sudjects for competit next year—Mathematics, Latin and Mental Science, Im regard to the exelusion of Greek as a subject for com- petition considerable discussion occurred. It was finally resolved to add Greek 48 a suiject for competi- tion next examination. It was determined vo bold the next examinations at such place and tine as the Executive Committee may see fit, and that ihe next contest in oratory be held ia this city, [t was also determined that ip future so membor of the association who bas woo « prize shail be again allowed to compete on the subject on which be won, though he may enter tho contest on other subjects. The Convention then adjourned. THE WEEK OF PRAYER. While the throngs were passing and repassing one another on Fifth avenue yesterday afternoon, between balf-past three and half-past four o'clock, an audiénee of several hundred persons gathered in Dr. Ludiow's Reformed church, on the corner Of Party eight street, and there spent the hour in prayer for godless parents, - for prodigal sons, for children at school or in foreign lands, for those entering upon professional or commer- cial life, for widows and orphans and for all who are mentally or otherwise aMicted. The body of the charch was Glled, and so solemn and fervent was the spirit which prevailed that there was manifest regret when the time arrived to close the exercises, Ir. Hall was to have presided at the meeting, but he was roldably absent. His place was, however, ably filled by Dr. Ludlow, the pastor of the church. Professor Geor, S. Weeks led the singing from Saukey's ok s, which were bountifully supplied, Dra Eider, Anderson, Sabino and others added to the interest | of the meeting by prayer and | rel ‘ka Prayers were requested by some parents, | copecially for their prodigal sons, and Ur. Ludlow, to encourage others who tbe similarly circumstanced, assured them teat would certaibiy hear their prayers if they do their whole duty toward their chal- dren, And if thoy had not yet done that he urged | them to doit ‘away. Dr. Anderson offered a word | to parents touehiag the ordering of (heir homes. He 4@id notask, meaning were they the con: fol- jowers of Christ, but did they so order their dwellingg tn their ornamentations, &c., that it wad easy for them at all times to introduce Christ to tusir children and friends so that they might gota donception of the be- ignity ef His gracious presence, He would like to have the’ Influence of our Cbristian Domes so sirong upon our children that they cannot shake it they go to college or ito business, have our bomos taken out of the worldly our children ot Jesus all their lives. homes do we take an hour to study the word of i Sanday a Is 9 uggents school lessons, our o! easily go to the Sunday school aud cha ; : i nediction asked as we go to the study of His word. Mr rer sean ao tbe joy with B. J t wane brother of bis moots about the conversion poe they twelve years be When he parent es somethi of the ee Cat eng te bog in en couragement faith thay 7 t ‘ i Ty0g, Jr, of the Church of the Hol; Finis, is ex) to jead Unis meeting to-day. Meetings werd id in Dr, Rogers’ church and im the ¥i Men's Christian Associalion room Brooklyn, sag. othe Places as freviousiy announced, the observanns of The latest writer on Cwnarism it M, Gaston Boissier, week of prayer Deve very general,