The New York Herald Newspaper, December 12, 1876, Page 5

« EAD TTS Be wi Met SCHLIEMANN'S DISCOVERIES .A Mine of Gold and Silver Jewelry. EXPLORING UNDER DIFFICULTIES, * The Great Archeologist’s First Visit to Mycena. WHAT AMERICAN SAVANS THINK OF IT. | fhe great interest which Dr. Schiiemann’s wonderful discovery at Mycenw bas aroused among the gencral public, as well as among anliquarians and classical scholars, renders the present an opportune time to lay before our readers some account of his former visit to Mycenm and, as faras is known, of his present dis- coveries. Tne ruins of Mycena are, beyond all ques- tion, some of the very ol’est in Europe, and every- thing which pertains to thom must be of ‘intonse in- terest to us who derive so much of oar literature, art and science, from this almost forgotten race. To us atthe present day, the age of Agamemnon seems so far back in the dim pust that it is difficult to believe that a race of men then lived who, venturics belore tho first written history, wero possessed of many ot tho arts and sciences which make iifo pot enly comfortable but even luxurious. But, as Horace truly remarks, ‘Vixere fortes anti-Agamemnona,”’ so wo may safely conclude that many great and powerful monarchs reigned on the throne of Pelops before the alghty “king of mon” ascended it. In fact, there is ample evidence to show that that dynasty was founded on the ruins of another, and that the former succeeded to the origina! Pelasgic rule, ‘TUR SITUATION OF MYCENA, Mycensw was one of the capitals of the little State of Argolis, The latter lies along the castern seacodst of the Peloponnesus, and wi from its position, one of the first partsof Greece invaded by the Phenicians And hardy sailors of Asia Minor, Besides Mycen» was also Argos, a place of most likely greater size, but of less importance tban Mycens, where the royal palace was, Or. Schliemann visited the scene of the present exploration 1n 1867, and early in the present autumn he began the work which has just culminated in the present valuabie discovery. LETTER FROM DR. SCHLIEMANN, The following letter from. Dr. Schliemann to a friend In Letpsic is of interest: — Mycena, Nov, 15, I found below the three sculptured tombstones, of which I sent you the drawings, a square tomb 264; tect long and 11 2-3 feet broad, The depth of it 1 cun- Qot yet determine, as it bas not been entirely emptied. 1t certainly exceeds 14}¢ feot below the sur- face of the rock and 53 ieet below the surface of the Acropolis, o8 it was when I began my excavations . there, @ tomb borders on the wall which supports the doubie circular parallel rows of tombstones; nay, tho wall goes through the northwestangle of the tow! This fixes their relative age. When that wall w being built the old tomb was evidently emptied, and I found in it only thirteen gold buttons (one of them as Jarge as a five-franc piece), with splendidly engraved Spiral lines, and with the sign which some archwolo- is call the Svastika or Aravi, from its similarity ‘n the Indian symbols of that name. Thero was a mass of gold bla with impressed circles or spiral ornaments, but nothing in situ, and scattered about at intervals of three and six feet. In the second row of sculptured tombstones I found beneath two slabs a square ditch 11 2:3 feet broad, 21 feet long, and cut 1449 feet deep into the rock. Its \ bottom reaches, therefore, to 3u fect beluw the surfuce of the mount, Around the four sides of the tomb is a Oyclopean wall 5 feot high and 2 feet thick, It con- tained bodies reposingon the rock. They had evidently been burnt; the bunes were embedded in black ashes and covered with a layer of large storcs. It 1s impos- sible as yet to determive the number of bodies con- tained in thistomb. ‘The bones of one person dug up atthe south corner were covered with live immense id Ieaves—tho first leat 47 centimetres long and 10 road; the second 474, centimetres long and 645 broad; the third, 55 ceutimotres long and 63; broad; the fourth, 63 centimetres long and 634 broad, and the filth, 63 contimetres long und 644 broad. Upon these gold leaves were found five crosses, each 18 cent- metres long and'4 centimetres broad, and 1ormed each ot four gold leaves. There were besides four gold blades of circular form—one 8, the other 534 apd the third 2% centimetres in diameter—and numerous ornaments which | cannot hero describe, I have now begun to dig up the tomb beneath the stone with the bas-relief of the two serpents, and Another beneath two unsculptured stones in the second tow. There are more such tombs in the large circle of the double paral'el row. I snail not leave Mycenw MILL have examined them all, ‘ As the wall with the circutar rows of slabs passes through part of the first tomb, and as the second tomb, ‘which was undisturbed, contains only more ancient band made pottery, it seems clear that these tombs are far more ancient than the double parallel rows of slabs; which were probably erected in honor of the heroes who, us tradition has it, lay buried in those immense Square tombs. The treasury has given me immense trouble, and though I have been working at it tor more than two months with a large number of laborers and carts, it is from boing entirely cleared out, The centre of itis clear down wthe virgin soil, likewise tho threshold. Nothing of particular interest bas as yet been found there. On the 17th of November Dr, Schliemann write: I hasten to inform you that in the sume tomb were found the calcined remains of two more bor each with precisely tho same number of gold leaves, round blades and crosses. All these objects have the samo beuutiful oroamentation of spiral lives and circies, In aday or two I shall know how many more tombs thei ‘e. lam now cloaring the whole circle down to t rock. RELICS ALREADY FOUND. In tho great circle of parallel slabs beneath the archaic sepulchral stones, which Dr, Schliemann has shown to be the tomb of Agamemnon and his compan- fous, he has discovered immense tombs containing Jewelry. He found jn one portion of atomb buman bones, male and female, plate, jewelry of pure archaic goid weighing five kilogrammos, two seeptres with _ heads of crystal, and chased objects in silver and bronze, anda great quantity of women’s jewelry in gold, handsomely worked. Immediately alter com- mencing excavations at an adjoining tomo a large bead of a cow in silver, with im- mense horns of pure gold, was found. A large girdlo of gold, fivo gold vases and immense golden buttons wero also found. All these objects were marvellousiy worked, Among other discoveries aro nine silver vases and numerous swords of bronze, but no trace of ironwork, The following articles of pure gold and splendid ornamentation were also found:—A helmet, two diadems, a woman’é large comb, a large breast- plate, three masks, six vases, two bracclets, two rings, three brooches, an immense mass of buttons, leaves and other articles, three large girdles, a silver vase, a stag cast in load, with a mass of swords, daggers, axes and warriors’ knives, all of bronze, with twenty-five flint-headed arrows. A VISIT TO MYCENA, ‘The following account of Dr, Schliemann’s first visit bo Mycens and his abortive attempt at exploration will amply repay perusal:— ARRIVAL AT MYCENR, noon, at tho dirty ise arvati, which occu- pies purt the site of the ancient city bt Mycen®, once the capital of Agamem- pon, and renowned for its immense wealth, My guides and the two soldiers haa traveiled on toot the whole way from Corinth, and were so fatigued as not to be able to tollow me to the Acropolis, which was wbout two miles from Charvati. Jallowed them feat in the village until my return, the moro willingly as wo bad passed the mountains, and | had 00 more to fear from brigands. Besides they knew nothing of Myconw, not even the name, and nO potion of the heroes to whom that city is indebted for its glory; Consequently they could not have been of the ieast use to me, citherto pointout the monuments or to stimuiate my onthustiasm for archwology. | took with me, then, only a boy irom the viliage, who know tho citadel by the name of “tho fort of Agamomuon’’ and tho great treasury by that of ‘*Agamemuon’s tomb.” ‘The celebrity of diycenw belungs only to the heroic age, jor the city lost its importance alter tue revarn 0: the Heraclidw and the occupation of Argos by the Dormans, but tt retained its independence and sup- rted the national cause against the Versians; eighty ycenians jought and died wiih the littie band of Bpartans at Thermopyle® and 400 Mycenians and Tyrhenians took a share in tho batile of Plainw, The Argives, who romained neutral, envied the honor which Mycenians had acquired by their part in these battles, and, b ing the ancient glory of thoir y, begemony of the Argolide; jo reasons they laid siege to Mycena, wok it and dostroyed it in 466, B. C, When Thucydides visited the city, after the lapse of acontury, he found iin ruins, Strabo says:—'My- cepm no longer exists to-day; butte dues not ap- ar to have ever been thore himself, for surely if he jad he Would have made mention of its ruins and is citadol. When visited Mycenm, eenturies anda halt atter Thucydides, bi Of its tortress, the gate with the two li suries of Atreus an tom! ‘of the companions of Agamemnon, assassinated Mwiathus: those of Cassandra, af Agamemnon. of a Na AG i NEW YORK HERALD, the charioteer, Eurymedon; ot tne gon of Vassandra, of Electra, of Lgisibus and of Clytemuest As these Inst two tombs were ‘a thort ance out- side the walls, tor they ¢4gisthus and Ciytemuestra) were considered unworthy of being interred in the in- terior, where Agamemuon rested, together with those assassinated with bim,” we are obliged to concinde that Pausonias saw ail the mausoleums in the Acropo- his itsetf, and that those of 4] hus and Clytemnestra were without the enclosure of the citadel, There now Temaivs no vestige of any of these funereal monu- ments, but there can be no doubt but that they would be found again if excavations were made, On the other hand, the Acropolis is well preserved; and, in any case, itis even to this day in much better condition than one would presume to hope for, after the ex: pression of Pausanias “Meanwhile there are still wome remains of the citadeif and, among others, the gate above that of the lions.’’ In fact, all the walls of the enceinte of the, citadel still exist; thev have a thickness o! (rom sixteen to twenty-three feet in many places, and a ht according tot he nature of the ground of from sixteen to thirty-nine leet. In teveral places these walls are built of immense blocks of stone, ‘rregular in shape, and hav- img between them spaces filled up with smaller ones, But the greater part is but of polygonal stones hown gre so as to ft togethor, the ex- tremities being pertectly jointed for the purpose of giving a smooth appearance to the masopr’ In some places, and notably in the neighborhood of the great te, there ism third kind of wall, which is formed of almost quadrangular stones of {rom five to filteen feet long by three to five bigh and three to six im thickness, APPEARANCE OF THE CITADKi. The citadel is about 1.100 feet tong and forms an ir- regular triangle; it is situated on a small but steep hill, between two water courses, and at the foot of two mountains of about 1,000 feet bigh each, Within tho ground rises from all sides toward the centre, nm the form of terraces supported equaily ou ali sides by tho Cyclopean wails. 1 tound there three cisterns and 1 descended into tho largest, but got out in a hurry, as it was full of poisonous serpents, The great gate, of which I have already spoken, is situated on the north. west side, at the right extremity, where the neighbor- ing walls mect. ‘the way up to this is by a passage about forty-eight feet long and thirty wide, formed by this wall and another parallel ono on the outsi which seems to had _ no other purpose than the dofence of this pa: same door is about 10 feet bigh and 9 wide. formed of two stones set on end, each 3 feet wide and Gdeep; acro: eo top isa third, 15 feet long and 4 cep On this last stone, which in tts middle ts 6 feet high, and which diminishes toward the two ends, a triangular stone {8 placed, measuring 12 tect loug, 9 high and 13g deep, On this two lions are carved in low reliel, standing on their hind paws and resting on a circular altar, which is placed between them. ‘The altar surmounted with a column, baving a capital Jormed of four circles, enclosed in parallc! chapiets. According to Mailer this column is the common sym- bot of Apollo Aggieus, the protector of portals. ‘These bas-relicis of the lions are executed with great grace and finish, and as they are the sole remains of the plastic art of the heroic age of Greece, they are of Immense interess to archwology. In the lintel and threshold of the great gale tnere can be plainly seen the marks of the boits and hinges and inthe great stones of the pavement the ruts of chariot wheels, ‘There is a postern gate on the northeast side, seven feet high and four wide; itaiso is formed of three stones, but is unsculptured. The wholo surface of tie ground in tho citadel is covered with tiles and pieces of pottery, and, as Lbad an opportapity of remarking in Uhe case of a ditch which a peasant dug, débris o1 this kind was found even to a depth of vightcen feet Therefore there can be vo doubt of the fact that anctently all the Acropolis was inhabited, and {rom its imposing and extensive position we must conclude that it contained the palace of the family of Atreus. AGAMEMNON’S TOMB, [ then turned to the Treasury of Agamemnon, com- monly called “Tomb of Agamvinnon,?” which lies about three-quarters of a mile trom the citadel. It ts dug in the side of @ little bill, lacing a deep ravine, A pase sage, 147 feet long and about 20 wide, jormed of two parallel walls, each cet high and built of hewn stones of abvut 3 feet by ids to the grand entrance, which 14 13 feet high and, at the top, 6 wide, but its width gradually increases, and it is 9 feet at the base, ‘This gate is covered with one block of beautitully hewn Stone, 27 icet long and 4 high, above’ which there is @ triangular opening’ of 12 feet high and the same width at the base. Curi- osity having made me climb this gate 1 found in the triangular opening some traces which convinced Me that statues or little columns were placed there, ‘There was lormerly on each side of the great gate a column with base and capital, and enriched with ele- gant sculptured ornaments, which, according to Leake, bad no resomblance to any other sculptures ot avcient Greece, but which approached the style of carvings at Persepolis, 1n the great entry the marks of the bolts and binges of the doors are visible, and on the same line with theo marks a series of little round holes of avout an inch and a half diameter and halt an inch deep, and at the bottoms of theso two litue holes which evidently beld nails of bronze. The treasury contains two chambers, the first of which is shaped like a cone, of filty fect diameter and about the same height. It communicates by a door with on imterior chimber ot quadrai r shape, which is only twenty-one feet tn length and width, and is roughly dug into the rock. A VIEW OP THK IXSIDE, This last was entirely dark, and, unfortunately, I had brought no matches with me. { told the boy who had come with me from Charvati to go and get some, but he assured me there was not such a thing in the village, Being convineed that, even in tho houses of the Pelopoanesus, there must be some matches, I told him I would give bim a ball drachma (oight cents) for three matches, Tne boy stood siupelicad and aghast at such liberality, but could not briug himself to be- lieve 1t at first, Three times over he asked me if I woula truly give him “itty lefia’? if he would seck some matches; twice I gave him a_ simple affirmative answer, but the third time 1 swore on the ashes of Agamemnon and Cly- temnestra, Scarce had TI ejaculated this oath than the youngster made off at full speed toward Charvati, though more than amile distant from the emnon, und came back hot baste brambles In one hand and ten matches ked him why he had brought three 1 had told him to, treasury of Agi with a band inthe other, I timos the nom! of mateb First he gave me evasive answers; on the point, at last admitted that some of the matches would be bad, and that he had brought ten instead of three in order to guaranteo himself against all chances and to carry off the prom- ised recompense when bearrived. He soon kindled a fine fre in the chamber, making hght enough to scare tho thousands of bats which had established their dwellings there, and which made a loud noise in their endeavors to escape. But, blinded by the brightness of the blaze, ee failed to find the door, and flew ros lessly from side to side of the room, annoying us much, flying in our faces aud banging to our clothes. The great hall or dome is built of hewn stones of from thirteen to thirty inches long and elevon to twenty-nve thick, laid on each other without cement. In cach ot these stones there are two little holes containing the remains ot bronze nails, which have veen set in there and, even yet, somo entire wails may be seen in th upper stones of this dome, Bails can only have served to support a lining which exicnded over the whole interior of the edifice, for, while wo might ad- mit that those below, say toa height of twelve fect, served to suspend arms and other objecis, it is ul- torly Out of the question that those which we seo in ‘the stones at the top the dome could have been employed forthe same purpose, Besides tho construction of this edifice shows, even in the smallest details, a wonderful care and art, Alter hav- ing defied the ravages of time for thirty-one centuries, it is still in a state of preservation as perfect as though it were just built. There 1s therefore but little reason to doubt that it was adorned in a most splendid man- ner. So, i am Usain & sure that the whole interior of the groat hall was lined with polished plates of bronze or brase. I believe this the more, as wo sce in veral ai.cient authors, that the Greeks had, at a very rly periord, adorned thoir housesin this manner; for we can in no other way explain the brazen hous and chambers of which the ancient poets and histo- Fians speak. z 4 CLASSICAL AUTHORITY. A HEnap representative waited yesterday upon one of the great classical authorities of the Jesait Order in this city and asked bis opinion with regard to tho re- cent discoveries of Dr. Schliemann in Mycene. Tho modesty ofthe reverend gentleman prompted him to insist upon the withholding of his name, but heis known as one of the most accomplished and profound scholars of the present day. “41 read,” said the venerable son of Loyola, ‘with as much surprise as gratification, in the HeRaxo, the ac- count of Dr. Schliemann’s discoveries, and | trustthat everything may turn out as the telegraphic account represents it, Such an accountis necessarily imper- fect and bas to be largely supplemented by conjecture; bat Iam inclined to the opinion that Dr, Schiiemann bas, in this instance, made a far greater and more valuable discovery than the one made by bim in what was supposed to be the city of Troy. “The book published by him on the latter discovery I read with much interest, but 1 must couless I was dis- appointed, Dr, Schliemann undertook to prove that he had discovered the city of Priam and he did not Prove tt. Consequently his book was much criticised in England and elsewhere and bis conclusions ques. tioned, To my mind they wero very properiy q! tioned, He stated, too, that he bad discovered a treas- ure larger than any royal treasure in existence, It turned out that the whole collection could easily be put ip this room (ao apartment about ten feet square), “Lthipk he stands a better chance of being right this tine, and I will tell you why, Every student of history knowa that, of all the authors who have writ- ten about Greece sifce the beginning of the Christian era, Pausanias was both the most painstaking and the most accurate, This 1 evidenced by the fact that none of his statements ha er been coutroverted. I am inclined to believe that im his recent expiorations Dr, Schliemann has tollowed Pausanias, and | do not think bo could haye had a better guide, “Ho states that he has found treasure enough to fill a.largo museum, and | should not be astonished if this were the case. ‘My reason for so saying is that subse- quently to the herot e thero was no ot Greece which had a less share in her political and svcial con- vulsions than Arg This was simply because she was'practically separated from the remainder of the country. Altuough at only a comparatively short dis- tance from Athens and Sparta, we rarely hear of her having been mixed up in the political or social brvils which came alter the heroic period, which nay b id to bave ended with the death of Agamemnon. Bounded iu the extremity of the Peloponnesus by two deep gulls, and separeted on the land side from the rest of the coun- try by high mountains, she was, as it were, solitary. Consequently, Whatever n lave been Jeft in the shape of treasure at the death of Agamemnon would stand a better chanee of aon preserved here than in any other part of Greece, and lam therefore inclined to think that in thin casa, if Dr.@ehliemann haa fole . Jowed Pausanias ho bas struck av excelient lend, the | importance of which canuot be overrated. ‘Do you forsee any other ulls beyond the mere quisition of treagure irom this discovery ?”’ said the ulive mterloeetor of the venerable ecclesiastic, “{ do,” replied the scholar; “I see in it, if true, the subversion of much nonsense that has been writ- len, not only by professed historians hike Niebuhr, but’ also by many of our modern pseudo-screntific men, The former wanted w persuade us that ail ery Was a myth down to the buniding of by Tarquinius Superbus; and the latier seem anxious to make us believe that we huve come irom a ¢ of savages, Discoveries like that which Dr. Schliemann purports to bave made will upset all this nonsense, and I um, therciore, anxivas that ali that he has staied by telegraph may be more than borne oat by the result, “But of course we shail nave to see what the amount | of treasure discovered by Dr Schliemann reaily is. L ayn uch more sanguine in this case than | was in that Of his Trojan discovery, for the reasons Uha’ *Apropos of ibis matter,’ said the tath teil you that one of our Order bas rec from Cesnola, in which he states that he bas comple! bis excavations in Cyprus, and has got togetuer a mo8t marvellous collection, He gives no details, but simply states that the collection of treasure and antiquities is one of the most wonderful in the world. We do not know where Cesnula is at present, but no doubt he and his treasure will soon be heard from,” WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT’S VIEWS, A Henatp reporter called yesterday at tho residence of Mr. Bryant, in Sixteenth street. A ring of the bell, and the door was promptly opened. “Yes, Mr. Bryont is at hom and im a moment the reporter 1s ushered into a spacious parlor, while the servant carried his card to Mr. Bryant, with a request | to be granted an interview. It was promptly granted, “IT have called, Mr. Bryant, on behalf of the Herato, to ask your opinion in reference to the discovery ot Agamemnon’s tomb, by Dr. Schleimann, as you will doubtless havo noticed through the despatch in Sun- day’s HERALD,” have not bad time to think much about it, but it Dr, Schliemann has realty discovered the tomb of Agamemnon it 18 vory important.” ‘then you are not quite satistied that the tomb dis- a 19 really that of the Grecian leader ?’” 418 impossible to form a correct opinion on that subject Without knowing upon what proof Dr. Schlie- mann bases his belief that the tomb in question is that of Agamemuon. It must be very dificult at this remote period to decide whether or not the — objects found belonged to the Grecian leader, It is, however, curiwus that they should have been found in the place which traditioa has pointed out as Agamemnon’s tomb, But 1 cannot undertake to express an opinion as to whether thin tomb found by Dr. Schliemann is really Againemnon’s unui more precise information has been received from the explorer. Iam of opinion that it will be dificult to prove tho identity of the relics, because at the time of the siege of Troy the use of letters or tablets was very rare, Inallthe Homeric pooms | can remember only one instance in which letters or tablets are ro- ferred to. ‘hen it was in the case of a princo | who sont a messenger with a sealed tablet or letter to another — prince, ‘This tablet was his own death sentence; it wus a recom. mendation to put the messenger in some dan- gerous place, Where he would be likely to be killed, There is no other reference to tableis that I can recail, and it in Homer’s time writing was £0 littic used there, atu much earlier period its uso is still lees probable. Dr. Schliemaan, 1 think, does pot say that he found any tablets or engravings with the other objects, and, without something of tho kind, it will be very difficult to extavlish the identity of the treasures found as be- longing to Agamnemnon. Poems in these early days were not written, bat were committed to memory and repeated to the modulations of the harp,” “Then you think that these relics may belong to a later age?”? “It is possible. I believe that Pr. Schliemann has | found the tomb of somo great king, but one who prob- ably lived much Jater than Agamemnon, However, it is best before deciding to wait until Dr. Bchiremann ts | heard from and exhibits his proofs, It seems to me unlikely that engraving in brass or writing with a 'ylus ora pen could be preserved for so long a time. The letter published ag sent by Dr. Schliemann to tho | King of Greece—if it was written by bim—Ddears evi- | dence of having been written in a moment of exulta- tion, provably immediately after he found the relica, He was evidently excited by the success attending bis researches; but it must be very dificult at this remote date to say’ whether these things really belonged to Agamemuon.” “Shou.d Dr, Schliemann be able to prove that the ob- jects found really belonged tothe period he claims, what would be the effect?” “It it should turn oat to be true it would be a com- plete restoration of the Homeric heroes. You know that some very learned men had come to look upon the whole story of the sioge of Troy as fabulous, If Dr. Schliemann can provo that the tomb he found is that of Agamemnon ne restores to history all the characters of Homer, at least thosoin the Iad, Tho Oayssey is more purely imaginary, because the events there related are supernatural.” “Will it not also have a gre research in Greece??? “Yes, no doubt; people will begin digging over the whole country for Jost treasure, much as they rushed to California when gold was mst glacovered there, ‘They ougot now to look for tne tomb of Achilles, at Ithaca. He is known to have been buried there, and could his tomb be found it would prove strougly co: roborat) of Dé. schliemann’s discoveries, Mr. Beonett enterprising perhaps he will send some ‘one out to verily these discoveries.” Mr. Bryant here siguitied that he had nothing fur- ther tosay onthe matter. Tho reporter withdrew, thanking the venerable poet for his patience and courtesy. GENERAL DI CESNOLA’S DIGGINGS, General di Cesnola, after being solicited bya great number of editors to write them an account of his dig- gings in Cyprus, was Qnally induced by the editor of the London Academy to publish his letter on the eub- Ject in that paper, It is published in the last number of the Academy, and as we here in New York havo taken such a lively and substantsa! interest in Di Cesnola’s excavations, nis letter cannot fail to be on- tertaining. He says that bis diggings began in 1966 in an amateur way, but that be became infatuated with his work, and, hike a man runoing down bill, could not effect in encouraging stop had he so desred. He commenced his explorations near Larnaca, a modern town Dut upon the necropolis of the ancient city of Kitium. Here at different periods from 1866 to 1876 ho discovered more than 2,000 tombs, most of which dated trom 400 B, C, to the beginning of the Christian era. Ho also identilled the site of two tem- ples, one Greek and one Phoenician. In the ruins of these temples he discovered some of his choicest pecimens. He next visited Dali, whero opened some 15,000 tombs, which yielded thousands of terra cotta vases, From Dali he went to dig at Golgos; there be discovered iis burial place and two tempies. What he found here he considers among the most important of bis discoveries. This is the collection just purchased by the Metropolitan Museum. It is tho — opinion of General di Cesnola that no other place in the world can present, as does Cyprus, such an agglomeration ot all the different styles of art which have now for many centuries ceased to exist. From Golzos he went to Salamis, but found, aitera fow months’ digging, that there wus nothing thereto warrant the continuation of his explorations. From Salam he went toward Cape Peladium, and iu its immediate neighborhood identified the site of the city ut Leucoila He discov- ered a temple here with many fragments of statucs of Greek art. At this place be found a rock ceravan containing peirificd human bones in large quantities, This caravan uld only be ap- proached from the-sea, and w. y_ dangerous. Alter discovering the site of the cities of Thoom, Car- passia, Aphrodisium, Acle-Achieou, Lapethus, Soll and Arsing, he crossed the mountuins and dug his way, so to speak, to Curium, where the diggings were fuished, In 1872 he carried his treasures to London, where jldest enthusiasm among ane, graved gems found im the treasure rooms at Curium being counted among the most ortant discoveries of the age, General di Cesnola gin conclusion thatthe result of his last three years’ excavations surpassed that of the preceding Ones, and be thinks that the discovery of the site of Curiam, with the identitication of the great temple ot Apollo Hylates, and the discovery of the treasure cbambers of another unknown temple may serve, in tho hands of scholars, to reconstruct the ancient his- tory of the island and to throw no small hight oa that of tne world. General Cesuola denies the statement that he is continuing his diggings at Cyprus, GOING TO ROME. PROPOSED VISIT OF AMERICAN PRELATES TO THE HOLY SEE, Very Rev, G. H. Doane, Vicar General of the Catho- le Diocese of Newar! ated to a HeRALD representa. tive Inst evening that the report of a proposed visit of Most Rev. Archbishop J. Roosevelt Bayloy, of Balti- more, and Right Rev, M. A, Corrigan, of Newark, to the Holy Father at Romo, was true, They start on Wodnesday, in the Algeria, unless something very un- expected should arise to jntorfere, The arrangements are all made looking to the departure of both prelates. The moving cause tn the case of the Archbishop is the vital necessity to ealth of a change of climate and complete reiaxation trom the arduous labors of bis exalted office, Since his translation from the diocese of Newark to the archdiocese of Baltimore Archbishop Bayley’s health has been rather low, Last summer he, hko Cardival McCloskey, went out among the Urange Mountains in search of health, but the good eflect was only temporary, und finally eminent poy- sictans of Baltimore ang Newark decided that a Euro- pean trip would alone be likely to bring him perma- nent benefit, As regards the journcy to Rome of Bishop Corrigan, it will be in accordance with a rule of the Holy see, whieh requires that every bishop shail thuke a de- cennial visit to the Hoty Father, It is more than a decade since the diocesan of Newark has fultilied this duty. Bishop Bayley was in Rome In 1870 attending the Ecomenical Council, but that visit was apart from the ten years’ decadence, On Friday last a circular letter was sent out to the Cathoito clergy of Newark announcing the intended absence of tke Kishop, and Was on Sunday communicated to the people in the various parishes. During the absence of the Bishop the afiairs ot the diocese af Nowark will be adminis- tered by the Very Rev. G. H. Doane, V.G. In the archdiocese the same duty will devoive upon the Very Rev, Dr. Audreuil, V. @, The prelates will be absent till Avril or May nox CESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1876.—TRIPLE SHEET, PITY THE POOR. The Swelling Tide of Poverty at the Tombs Police Court. A HOST OF APPLICA} TS. Their Stories of Enforced Idle- ness and Want. ee JUDGE DUFFY'S OBSERVATIONS. | phiecpmarenteiieresimajirios Tho indications point to an uncommon state of dis- | tress this season among the working classes. The umber of ‘vagrants’? that have beon sent up to the Island since tho first blast of winter visited us bas been about 800, These ure cases of absolute, want and vagrancy, of men and women who had no place i whereon to loy their heads, who wore not tramps, but honest people seeking work and despairing of getting it, how must it be along through January, February and Murch, with, perhaps, unusually severe weather, an unsettled political muddle and a consequent stagnation in all branches of trade and business. Cases of private distress must, no doubt, be many, These haveto be 1f the condition of things at this moment be such, | sought out through benevolent and charitablongencies, | for it 18 such poverty as shrinks from the public gaze | and prefers to suffer on in stlonce and concealment, WHERR THE POOK MAY Uk SEEN, The police courts are the places where the cases of vagrancy, vow fast multiplying, are to be seon daily, Chiof among these is the Tombs. It is in the midst of & poor and teeming population, and it 1s the best known of any other, The unfortunate and poverty stricken havo all heard of it, and they throng its cold, stony steps and its disma! and repulsive corridors and chambers through all the hours of the day. Court is held in the morning for three hours or so in a gloomy room, a story above tho street. There isa number of high-backed benches, where men and women with oue complaint or another, or who are thoro as witnesses or as vagrants, pass tho dreary time till their cases are disposed of, Drunken people, ta all stages of misery and degradation are momentarily brought in from tho prison cclis, and the atmosphere of the court at euch times is heavy with # sad and unwholesomo breath, THR SHAME OF HONKST POVERTY, When the chance is presented some poor devil whoso feet have tramped the city’s pavements for ments in search of employment, who has slept tho night in sta- tion houses and passed his days without knowing the juxury of awholo meal, rises up and goes forward to the bench. Tho Judge is quick to detect who the man is and what he wants, and ho is promptly committed on his own voluntary application as a vagrant to Blackwell’s Island, One of these cases will be of a full grown, stalwart man, whose hoad iy vowed with hon- est shame ashe moves forward among the criminal and uncleun to beg the bread of public charity. Illit- orate and rudo as he may be, the feeling of manhood in him is for the time overcome atthe consciousness of being herded with the vilo and degraded of his species. Then there isan old Man, with his faded and jhroadbare garments be- Speaking a hard struggle with pitiless poverty, who applies to the police justice to be ‘committed asa vVagrant,’’ and bis voice is werk and husky, his checks are palo and wan, and his legs are scarcely able to sustain him; but the Justice (it is Duffy) speaks to bim a few kindly words, tells him to cheer up and that @ good time is yet in store forhim. Then there aro some half dozen women, but, unlike the men, they area set of unfortunate creatures who brought pov- erty on themselves by drink, and who have made uso of the public charity time and again. + WHERE SOME VAGXANTS COME FROM. Its found that many among the vagrants aro sent here from other places on the pi at they belong originally to New York, in cases where they happen to come here as emigrants and land at Castie Garden. Commis=ioner Gox, one of the Commissioners of Char- ities and Correction, sent back to these places and aurhorities WUO were s@angious to saadie their poot on New York thirteen vagrants, and will continue to reiurn them when he finds they bave any friends in the places where they come from. THK VAGKANTS IN THE Tons. ‘Thirty or forty of these poor men yesterday had themselves voluntarily committed for vagrancy and werd assigned to 4 roomy collin the Tombs. Keeper James Finn spoke to a tew of them in German and to the rest English, so that oll understood him, when he told them what the writer desired to know, Thero wero two or three there who were dressed with toler- able decency and comfort, but the great majority had cleariy wora their clothes and alept tn them for quite atine. A few were old men, but not £0 old 48 to be past the ability to Inbor. All of them told the one pitifal tale of no work to do. WHAT THEY SAY AND LOOK LIKE. William Seeckhardt, 1 man of about forty yonrs, a lithograph printer, out of a situation for three months, Baid:—"You seo, { loose all my vamily, and shust as do s0 I loose my job. Eferytings den goes to de very dyvil wit me. I selis here and sells dere and sells my oie coat, and no work gums to me, and I haas to gum here, and I veel pooty had—yaas, pooty bad—but I might veel vorse only I know dore’s vorse cases den me shoost here,"” iiliam Cutter, agod twenty-six, said:—“I am a marble polisher, und have been off and on in Boston for afew years. I got out of a situation there a few months ago, and when I went to lovk for relief they shipped mo off down here. I bud no place to come to in this city and had to pick up a lodging and a living about the streets the best way I could."? Patrick English, # stout, sturdy, low-sized man, of about thirty-five, said:—1 come ‘all the ways from Chicago to look jor work here. I was out of work there for a month, and they towld me they couldn’t give me any help, but they would send along hero, an’ signs by they packed me off, an’ sure it was [ thought 1 was comin’ to a fine city, but tho divil a thing | ex. pect I’¢ get to do here in a twel’ mouth, though 1 can work with any man of me size and age in Amoriky.”” William Shepherd, aged twenty-two, camo from Whitehall, to the northern ay ot the State, and spent a month ‘looking for work. Ho guld:—“1 nated to give up if there was any cha it all of getting some- thing to ted it was no , and I had to come in bere, but Commissioner Cox promisas to send me home.” Shepherd was the most comfortably dressed of any of the crowd. Joba Smith, aged about twonty-four, sai bin out jesttwo mouths. My business is canal boat- man, bui the canals 13 gittin’ used up bad and there haint no use fer a young felior like me lookin’ tor much of a livin’ out o’ them.” Jatnes Galingher, 316 Rivington strect, sai out of employment four months. My busin papering, and lately {t haa gut to be a poor business. i tried bard for work in other ways, but somehow there was always peepie abead of me, and | couldn't get a thing to do, and 1 have been compelied to come to this.” Henry Harding, aged twenty-four, said:—“I came here from Philadelphia about two months and a halt ago, and I have been or | for employment as a barber over since, but no use, [8 ring a bad busi ness? Yes, it has gotdown puttylow, There never was 80 hes f scrubs in it, and sowe of them work for next to nothing.” Martun O° ,& Man with a comical oy iswered tho question as io where le lived by saying, Bedad, { live nuwhere, bekase if 1 could you wouldn’t sec me here, No, in troth; the O'Days, if they had their righis, would live in a house of their own, and live on the fat of tne land bosides—that is if they could. Times bad, you say? Well, if they could be worse { suppose we'd have to fast fasther than wa’ro fastin’ now. I'm a laborer by perfession and I’m out of work a month, but wid the blossin’ 0’ God we'll have good, aisy times when Tilden’s elected.” Mark Conway, a yenerablo, large-sized man, sald :— “L have been u fireman for forty-five years, but [ nover eaw (his state of uflaira betore, 1 was ten weeks and three days in Belleytie Hospial and L have been seven wevks out of it, without getting anything to do, The times, sif,” Sontinued the old man, with feeling in his voice, “are very hard on the poor who have to do the hard work of the world, Heip us if | Se cap through tho Henao. T lived at No, 139 Eust Thirteenth eek. Michael Moran said:—‘I have no address in this world. 1 ha¥e lately cone irom the Homoopathic Hospital and Lam four mouths out of work.” Cain Mansfeld, of No, 15 Roosevelt street, sald:— “I have been laid up most all summer witu the rheumats Vm a mason by trade, aud there was a money was plenty and I had my sbare of it, but these times aro the hardost that ever came on us; there are lots of men like mein the mason trade aod other trades, and I don't eoo what they’re to do no more than these men here tms winter,” William H, Mason, No. 459 Geeenwich street, trank makor, sald he was out oi work for two months, Jacob Weigortner, 1 German, with only a few words of English, a laborer, said he had no home, and had been out of work for three montha. Poter Callahan, No. 10 Vandewater street, a tailor by trade, had done nothing for two mont Patrick Nelins, baving lost one leg, had done noth- ing for three years, was compelled to live on charity, bat found even that hard to get bow, except from the oily. ON THE WAY TO WLACKWELL'S. In speaking with a namber of the unemployed mon Waiting In the Tombs to be sent to Biackwell’s Island, considerable information was elicited as to the con- dition of the ‘emely poor men who are out of em- ployment. A carpenter said:—‘During the © Without Gating food for three days at atime. 1 drank two glasses of ule, to which was treated. I knew of one whole workt eman’s family of six to bo Without food an entire da; Another inter said:—‘'I have walked the streets five nighte, Idid mot like going to @ station hous month I was | among the bummers, My last quarter went fora meal | from the Secretary of State Charities alsposes of the two days ago. | guess | lived on a smoke of the pipe. ed, lived tor three weeks on a from her litte earnings, | and thought I might as well go tothe Island first aa | last. Lt will come to thousands of workingmen before [ the winter is over." Auother stonecutter:—Have lived a whole week on acnpolcofee and some bread once every two days, Tdid not go to where 1 got it until | was almost fam- ished. I slept in the station house every might,” A mason said:—*“Atter four months of idleness 1 thought I might ag well go Grst as jast, The men aroun town are star A blacksmith said who bas & large fami the Istund and watt, Said a waiter:—*l have been out of work nine weeks, and bave been living on the charity of trends for three weeks. Thought it better to go, as tuere no chance of employm gave ail T had to a relative, 4 made up my mind to go to ae E DUFFY’s YiEWws, Judge Dufly was called on atthe Tombs and asked by the reporter for lus views ou the condition of the workingmen, The Judge has, of course, an abundant opportuuity of observing the class of men who apply tu him voluntary to be sent to the Isiand. Further moro, he takes a great interest in the workingman’s avforidnate conuivion at this time, and is anxious to have au opportunity of giving his services in any way that would tend to bring chen: relief in the preseut emergency. On the reporter stating the object of his visit, the Judge suid :— + Phe destitution among the working classes of this city is really alarming. For some weeks past I have ily wbapaant proof of it, tis a pitital thing to sco the condition to which our workingmen are reduced, and, worse than all, the — prospect belore ‘them or the winter promises to place them, as a body, in far worse circumstances than re even in at the present ume. [have sent hua- js of Luem to the Island for shelter, These men would not seck the help of an almsboure if there wus apy earthly chance for them to live by honest labor, AS you know, for the past three years they bave been grauually becoming poorer and poorer. ‘At this ime wu sce them, after some four or tive months of stag- haut trade, reduced to almost absolute poverty. How many thousands of thom there are in. this city hungry who do uvt get a morse) of food the whole day long God only knows, As I have sald, they are daily com- ing before the police magistrates, asxiug, voluntarily, to be sent to the Island. Some anys I nave bad tilty of them before me, not afew of them coming tu sheer desperation to tell me how completely joriorn they are avd then gomg away, pot willing stil to become the inmates of an almshouse, tut, of course, when hunger and cold sting too bitterly, tbey have to sink their manly pride and accept the only re- Lief lett to them, Ihave questioned theso men as to their condition. In nearly every instange they bad been out of work for several months, Not’even an oc- casional Job had they gow. ‘ A GLOOMY OCTLOOR, “The little savings they bad been able to lay by 65 co Iriends or relatives had been able to ue were allexhausted. tut worse than ail, every oflort had been made to get work, aud afier every chauce for the coming months had been carefully can- vaasod, the terrible couciusion bad to be reached that there was to be an idle winter, “They bave told me that for the great bulk of the workingmen there 1s not the remoiest chance for work this winter. I have questioned them as tc what they knew of the condition of the workingmen with whom they aro acquainted, and their reply is invariably that among the working classesas a whole their condition is next to destitution. Sen of family have sold as much of the housebold furniture as was salable, and .the tools of tho mechanics oro pawned for the lito sums that can be raised on them, All the men who hay ome to this Court for relief thus tar have been young, strong and healthy, willing und able to work. You could see in their faces that they had been suffering from want, [ have noticed that every cold day increases the number of ap- licants, and, if we aro to have an imereaso in this way what may we expect’ when the bitter win- tor days and nighis are upon us? There can be no doubt’ that each day will add durmyg the winter months hundreds to the hst of the utterly destitute. Since thore will be no work for the men it follows that there must be an absolute want in their families.” A TERRUILE PICTURE, “Have you had mothers belore you asking for the committal of their children to the ingtitutions 7?” “Yes, anumber of them. But | have had to deal with worse than even that, So great have been the hardships endured by the poor pooplo that families have beon disrupted, wives separated from their husbands, daughters from their parents, This mistortane has been moro extensive than you would at firet imagine. I have had numbers of marriod women brought belore mo charged by the polico with soliciting men in the streets, I bave had parents hero in court seeking to reclaim their daughtors who had made tho first plunge into shame. When I inquired into these cases f found that poverty was the cause. Thero was po work and no bread, and then came recriminations and family troubles, and little by little the desperation that drove the women into the streets! ‘This fearful condition of these poor people surely calls tor help, 1t seems to me that relief cannot come too soon to the workingmen and their families,” “But how ts this relief to be got; is it to come from the city or from private sources ?"’ “1 think that the Legisiature should make provision case like this, or that the city should supply But tho Legislature cannot now meet the emergency, and I do not see any provability that tho city government will take action, Verhaps an excep- | tional distress like the present would best be met by the charity of the wealthy. It would take a large fund to meet the want that even now claims attention. Thave no doubt there are many gentlemen in this community who would give generously to savo tbe workingmen and their families trom the starvation that is awaiting thom. We shall have a torrible win- ter in this city unless some movement 18 speedily inaugurated by which the thoasands of unemployod shall receive such assistance as may be absolutely needed to sustain life.” THE CASE OF MENRY WOODASON'’S PAMIZY. Tho terrible destitution of tho family of Henry Woodason, of No. 9!, Frankfort street, has been ren- dered more intense by the sudden prostration, trom want of food, of the husband and father, A chat le lady, whose attention was called to the case by a par- agraph in Sunday's HeRALD, yesterday paid a visit to the unfortunate family, despite the inclemency of the weather, ana afforded them relief Her description of the miserable condition in which the poor man wis found was heartrending, It is hoped that others will do sometbing to alleviate the terrible sondition of thia unhappy family. ACALL YOR NELP IN BROORLY! A meeting of aclegates trom the various charitable Institutions of Brooklyn was held atthe Polytechnic Institute last evening, Thomas 8. Narris in the chair, with the view of uniting ali the societies on a general plan for outdoor relief during the winter, The session was mainly occupied in receiving the names of persons who volunteered to assist in visitations and distribu- tion of relief. bP A CHARITABLE ASSOCIATION’S Vins. Tho regular monthly meoting of the Now York Asso- ciation for Improving the Condition of the Poor wa: held yesterday afternoon in the Bible House, Howard Potter in the chair, Alter the transaction of the usual routine business tho Treasurer reported a balance in the treasury of $6,400, Mr. John Browne, the Secre- tary and agent of the society, reported that the work of the society for tho winter had fairly commenced, but that up to noon yosterday they had only received 233 applications for rejief, and that more than ono- half of these applicants wore regular professional bog- gars, who made it a point to eke out a precarious sub- sistence by going from one charitable institution to another and seeking wid. A caretui investigation of tho entire question of what was called ‘‘destivato working men” had been made, and the agents of the society tated to find that there was any such wide- spread distress as was commonly reported, but that, on thecontrary, the prospects tor the winter were, on the whore, vi cheoring. ‘The great problem to solve was bow to dispose of tho vast army of vagrants and ‘‘rounders.” Tho re- spectable poor could be taken care of if the charitably disposed portion of the community would only sustain the directors of the various benevolent boards, Mr. Theodore Roosevelt, one of the members of the State Board of Charities, cailed, and had a pri- vate conference with tho Board. Tho entire session was secret, but a Hxato reporter was informed that Mr. Roosovelt bad been instructed to offer the Board $20,000 to aid them in their work, pro- vided that the city authorities should havo a voico in {ts distribution. ‘It has always been the policy of t ossociation to avoid accepting any public funds, and the offer was referred to a committee, consisting of Messrs. Howard Pottor, KE. C. Benedict, George W. Abba, Robert B. Minton and Rutherford Stuyvesant, ‘The meeting then adjourned. AN APPEAL FOR THE DESTITUTE, To Tun Epitor or tum Heratp:— To my mind the problem of how to mect the desti- tution which is im our midst is moro difficult of solution than any that concerns the citizen at this hour. In your issue of Thursday, and again on San- day, an extreme case of sickness and want of food was noticed, and sinco yesterday one of St. Poul’s clergy, a visitor from St. John’s Guild and two young ladies, and as I write this, two other ladies, generously giv- ing $7 anonymously, have thus placed these unfortunate people ‘beyond the immediate dan- ger of starvation. They are without - or wl Prospect of employ- Just before I commonced this the wite of a ment, feoblo from want of ame to mo with the statement that bor husband, if and three children had been without food since Friday last, except a little oatmeal, and entirely with- out fre in their apartments since that time, and almost without bedding, #s that bad been placed in the pawn- broker’s hands, Her husvand is without employment or the prospect of any. How people of whom theso two cases are types are to be warmed and fed this winter isa grave question. Can the Heratp lead in somo movement? We want a leader, * THE DESTITUTE EMIGRANTS. THE STATE “BOARD OF CHARITIES REFUSR TO AID THEM, The thirty-seven Poles who arrived at Castle Garden from Galjicia, Austria, last week, are still dependent upon the charity of the Commissioners, and are likely to remain so all winter if it 1s not decided to send them home. Yogterday morning the mon were ployment ment. forced by Colone! Coonan to clear out the suow in the jaside corridors of Custie Garden, and in the afternoon they wero sent to the Island, where’ thoy will await the action of the Vommissionors, The following lever and the Commis- #0 far w are ners must now help themselve State Boa nated to appiy to emigrants port of New York, wor have the annual Leg- poropriations uuder the act been made to meet t» of this class, ms the case of sas specially. confided by ate liourd. If, therefore, emizrants wero led tor under the act, the appropriatiy and this Roant woald be ns belp- In most of . inbecure tne these a £ al government, as so CHAKL Secretary of . HOY the Board. TO PRISON FOR BREAD. George Klien, Jacob hatter, Lewis Volzr, Hueclschmann, Car! Broduand George Kroener, able-bodied and by no means evil looking men, en- tered the First precinct Police Court of Newark and begged the magistrate in the name of humanity te commit them tothe Penitentisry for three monsne each, They had, tuey declared, tramped trom pl to place, ciiy to city, aad town to town vainly jooki for ev pent, heir request was granted, w they were duly committed, “MAIL SERVICE. THE FAST FLATTERING PROSPECTS FOR ITS BARLY RES TORATION—TNE PENNSYLYANIA RBAILEOAD LEADS OFF, Business men and the reading public never appre. ciated the fast mail service more than when it was abrogated by the refusal of the present Congress to make an appropriation for its continuance, The late Vostmaster General, Marshall Jewell, Jabored hard and earnestly for its establishment, and, having perfected the system, saw his brightest efforts overturned by one fell blow, Not only have merchants suffered by this discontinuance of rapid mail communication South, East and West, but those who patronize news- papers have been inconvenienced by not receiving their journals within twenty-four hours as soon as by the fast mail, s EFFORTS TO REPAIR THY DAMAGE. The action of Congress has roused the mercantile ine terest, and Owing to their clamor a clause was inserted into tho Appropriation bill last summer empowering the President of the United States to appoint a com- mission to investigate the subject and report the re- gull to the present Congress, In accordance with th:s provision resident Grant appointed Messrs. Gardner B. Hubbard, of Massachusetts; Frank WwW. Valuer, or {inots, and = Daniet M, Fox, ot Philadelphia, a Postal Commission for this purpose, ‘Lhese gentlemen have beon attend. ing to their duties ever since, aod have visited this cy, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, Cinetn} Louis, Chatiauooga, Atlanta, various cities 1 took the overiana route to California via Omaha, a in Califoro:a paid particular attention to San Fran. cisco, Sacramento, Los Angelos, &c., where they made diligent and thoroagh inquiries, not ooly into the fast mail gervice, but also tn regard to all otber postal ser- vice by railroads, all delivery service by carriers, ¢ity deliveries, &e ENCOURAGING TH COMMISSION. Mr. Thomas M. Vail, General Superintendent Railway Mail Service, from the department at lpgton, was in this city y¥ riay, and states that “the very frivudly spirit in which the Commission has been met by all the railroad officials throughout the country and the facilities afforded them for a. proper investiga tion of the affairs connected with the postal service leads him to believe tuat there ts every indication of the favorable action of Congress oa their recommenda- sions. ‘Their report will not only recommend a resto- ion of the fust mail, but lead to a more harmonious attitude between the department and railroad compa. nics, The latter have always claimed that tho ratos of compensation by the government bave not been suffi. ciently remunerative, cousequently the departme! was Dever able to obtain first class service on the trunk roads untilthe timo of the establishment of fast mail trains,”? WHAT SHOULD BE DONE, Tho railroad mail service in this country and that of England cannot be compared in avy thing like a parailel, In the latter tho railway companies name it com) ation, which, If unsatistactory to the governs ment, is determ:ned by a commission, whose decison 18 binding on all parties. The United States govern. tment pays tor transporting the mails by weight, and as the secund class matter, such as newspapers and pori- odicals, 18 very bulky, the railroad companics make more inoney by carrying this species of freight, to the detriment of letters, which are lighter material, In Mr. Vuil’s opinion the government should own the cars that are iitted up for this service, so that in case they are taken off one route they can be placed on another, At the same time the government should pay is mail carriage by the space occupied and by weight, of the Wash- THE FAST MAIL REVIVED. Mr. Vail has been negotiating with the Pennsyl- vania Rotiroad Company to repiace the fast train on their road, He has succeeded in making such ar. rapgements that on Monday next the fret train will Irom Jersey City at twenty-live intuutes past four A connecting with the Boston train of tho night previous. This train connects at Philadelpnia with all the routes leading from that city at eight d’clock, arrives at Harrisbarg at twelve M. and at Washingtoa ut one and thereby gives Pennsylvania, Mary: land and Virgiuia the cariiest possibie accommoda. tions, At ball-past eight A. M. a fast train starts for St. Louis, bearing with 1 a postal car, which connects at Columbus with the postal car for Cincinnati, Indian. apolis and the West, und makes close connection through to New Oricans, This 18 an important im- provoment, as the delivery of this mail is only four hours slower than the old limited fast mail lines lately abolished. The railroad companies stand ready to restore the fast mail service if the government will only pay them 4 Itving price for tueir trouble, Many defects . have bocn fouad out through the lato teat, ch, alter all, was only an experiment, and sug. gested many improvements, can be easily remedied, and which the compavics agree to repair. Besides the half-past eight A. SI. St Louis express train the Post Otfice Department will Re nara a postal car with the six o'clock P. SL train, which makes tho same con. hections as that of the moruing. THE MEAD OF THY DEPARTMENT AT WORK, Ihr. Vail speaks tod | enthusiastically of the e of Postmaster General Tynor in connection with the increased facilities of fast mails General Tyner deains tt of the utmost importance to the mercantile community that mat! matter should travel as rapidly as possible. Ho also takes Into consideration thas thi pudlic orally should receive their newspapers the earliest possitie moment, and alter next Mond the Now York journals will be delivered all throu, Pennsyivania, cast of the Susquehat River, Mary. Jond and all poiuts in New Jersey by noon of the same day. FURTHER MATL FACILITIES. 7 Another popular arrangement is being mado by Mr. Vail, and that is to facilitate correspondence between New York and Philadelphia and vice versa, He pro- poses to station a man the Cortlandt street ferry in this city and at the Market sireet depot in Pniladel. phia, whose duty will be to receive letters up to the dopartare of the express trains, which have no car attached, By these means an early delivery of letters thus sent ia amply secured, and greatly assists the sender in seving a Journey and deluy at the respec- tive post offices. The regalar mail trains have recep- tacles for posting lotters as usual. The work at the Post Uflice yestei usually heavy. Owing to the storm on number of trains were deluyed. One mail from the West, vin the Erie rond, due Saturday evening, arrived yesterday noon, The steamer Wesor brought tnirty. seven sacks of letters and sixty-seven of newspaper all of which were distributed amd sent out im the apace of twenty-five minutes, A NEW SYNAGOGUE, Notwithstanding the considerable number of Jowish temples on tno east sido of tho city below Grand street, and several smaller piaces of worship inthe upper stories of buildings on East Broadway and Catharine street, 1t is in contemplation to erect a large sysagogue in tho Jower part of the Seventh ward. The com gregations «ai now very much scattered in this locality, and it 1 thought desirable to collect the several flocks and unite them under the care of a learned and expericncod rabbi, who will do- vote all his time and labor to their spirivual welfare, The people all live tn the neignoorhood and are on- gaged successfully in busimess, They are puncimal their attendance at services, and seem to be zealous the faith, Butat present the division into small kn and separate organizations doce not soem to wo savisiactorily. As many as four or five places of wor: ship are in one block, and, of course, they can have ai best only the services of a reader, Suflicient means can be raised for the object in view, and if no un. toward circumstances arise the construction of the Proposed edifice will not long bo delayed. The remarkabio fact io connection with this enter: prige 18 that all other denominations oe towa, following the drift of po jon aad leaving thoir old ehnrcn site ied for commercial Purposes. This transier has been in progress for sev. eral years, and still further depletion of the field sonth of Fourteenth street inises to go on ine checked, It is to be remarked, howover, that thero are ho signs of falling off in the residents of the Seventh and Tenth wards” On the other band, there ts rea- son to believe that they increasing. There are several flourisuing Ger gregations in the district, but it is thought the number might be larger, and it is not improbabio several missionary chap will be established there at an early day by uptown societies, The Hebrows constitute the greater share of the new comers, the east sid been found a desirable quarter for their industriai pursuits, There few exceptions to the rule above men. tioned, rivity parish recently ed @ new chapel on the Bowery, and not very long since ti Redemptorist Father consecrated a magnifices chureh (St. Alphonsas) on South Fifth a Canal street, The contemplated synagogue 18, how. ever, intended to supply a perimancut Want, and issig- nificant of tho fact that tbe east side, below Grand sireet, 18 (9 remain /or a long time to come a centre of population, be sig the demands of business interests, which have made sach inroads on the west _ street to aud Deronda,