The New York Herald Newspaper, January 20, 1877, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 1877. pierre tre. 3. ananassae ach ihe 2c NEW YOR K HER. ALD | The Electoral Bill-Great Probability BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR. THE DAILY HERALD, pulliched every day inthe year, Fee cents per copy (Sunday excluded). Ten ‘loliars pet yer. ‘or.at rate of one doliar pr onth for any period loss: ‘six months, or five dollars fer six months, Sunday eilition included, tree of Ali business, ne a itclegrapbic despatches must rly seated, ive properly cen deinen OFFICE—NO 112 SOUTH SIXTH @ LONDON veneer ors tA iaag SEW YORK HERALD~— NO. 46 ¥F: Ce DE L'OPEKA, NavlLes OFFICE. TRADA PA! Subscriptions and advertisements wi! forwarded ont sin Now Ye communica: WALLACK’S THEATRE. BROADWAY THEATE: UNION SQUARE TIi NIBLO'S GARDEN. BOOTH'S THEATRE. BOWERY THEATRE. COLUMBIA OP# THEATRE COMIQU TONY PASTOR'S TH KELLY & LEON'S MINSTRE, NEW YORK AQUARI 18 ““NOTICK 10 COUNTRY DEALERS, The Adams Express Compauy run a special news- Paper train over the Pennsylvania Railroad and its connections, leaving Jeracy City at a quarter past four A. M. daily and Sunday, carrying the regular edition ofthe Henaxp as far West as Harrisburg and South to Washington, reaching Philadelphia at quarter past six A. M, and Washington at ono P. M. From our reports this morning the probabilities are that the weather in New York to-day will be warme® and partly cloudy or clowdy, possibly with light rain. Wat Street Yesterpay.—In the stock spec- ulation New York Central and New Jersey Central advanced. Other shares were generally steady. Gold opened at 106% and closed at 1061). Money on call was supplied at 5 and. 4 per cent and closed easy at 3 per cent. Government and railway bonds were in fair demand and steady, Investment shares show considerable strength. Tre MILLeNstum must be near at hand, for tho | partisans at Washington aro becoming weak- | kneed. i Tne Massacnusetts Macutne evidently needs to go to the repair shop. It disappointed its friends badly in the Senatorial af i 1 Centennial Exhibition, and no stockholder steps forward to offer his sympathies. Tue Errecrs or tne Disasters to the Glou- cester fishing fleet can hardly be estimated ex- cept by comparing the loss of life with that occasioned by a battle. j Tre Wau, Street Brokers do not tako much stock in the prayer meetings organized for their benefit, but the brethren should have pa- tience ; Wall street never did know a good thing at sight. Jupce Pratt's Decision ordering the appoint- ment of a referee to review the action of the receiver of the Continental Life Insuranee Com- pany is full of good points, but most of the pol- icy holders made them long ago. Ir Now Arrears that it was the president of ® strect railway who suggested the reference of the car-heating question to the Board of Health, How strange that people should suspect the ref- erence as a move toward farther delay! Now Tat Mr. Minter rae been vindicated the public will follow with interest the case against the supposed perjurer. It seems impos sible to devise a punishment too severe for a physician who could prostitute his professional position in the man arged against McManus. Tne State or Trav failures of 1876 ex ! year by twenty per cent our report on the condi- tion of trade is an encouraging document. The failures were for a less amount of money than those of the preceding year; they were neither 60 numerous nor so disastrous as those in Eng- land during the same time, and they greatly de- crease the quantity of fictitious values which have done so much to create distrust in business | circles. Tue Resvxt of the coming conference between | the Mayor and the merchants upon municipal affairs will be awaited with unnsual interest. There is something radically wrong about the affairs of a city where one out of every fifteen voters is in tho city’s employ, where the aggregated salaries are out of all proportion to the services rendered, and where the annnal expenses exceed those of many a great State. The only hope of the suf fering taxpayers is in the interposition of Imsi- ness men who will test the ulininistration by business rules and principles and will expos its failings as mercilessly as they would those of | a mismanaged firm. | Tur WeaTurr. esterc vailed over the Gulf States, along the Atlantic coast as far north as New London, and in the Lower Ohio and Upper Mississippi val- ay morning fog pro- leys. It continued. during the day at | as few points in the latter region | and in the South. The temperature has | risen decidedly in the West, Northwest and Northeast, and continues comparatively high in | all other districts. This change in the northern | vane sections has been produced by the « of an | area of low pressure, attended by brisk winds, which moved rapidly southcastward over the lake region and the Upper Ohio Valley, where it caused a light precipitation, In the afternoon a general cloudiness prevailed, with indications of clearing in the West. Tho highest pressure is | now in the South Atlantic States, whence it is rapidly moving eastward. Tho changes in the river levels during the last twent four hours have been [ns follows:—At Pitts burg a fall of 4 feet 1 inch, At Cincin- nati the river is falling, but is still 2 feet 7 inches above the danger linc, At Louisville thé height is 27 feet 3 inches, showing a rise of 1 foot 9 inches; at Cairo a rise of 4 feet 5 inches ; Vicka- burg a rise of 1 foot 2 inche: The Cumberland River at Nashville is still ng, being now 87 |sion. It is ef Its Passage—Weakness of the Opposing Arguments, All the indications from Washington and from the country at large are favorable to the passage of the Electoral bill. Even if it were to be submitted to a vote without debate merely on the first impressions of members and the confidence felt in the joint committee it would probably pass both houses by handsome majorities. But a measure of such grave importance ought to be, and will be, fully debated; and it will grow in favor with every day's discus- certain to be greatly strengthened in the course of the debate not only becauseit is a wise, timely, just j bill will | Their violent partisanship would impair | but a feeble opposition in the House, for by | it has passed the Senate, and in the Senate fect 8 inches above low water, The weather in New York today promises to be foggy in the morning, warmer and partly cloudy or cloudy, gossibly with light rain, o and indispensable measure, but because the soundest legal ability and the best debating talent in both houses will be srraycd on its side and give it a vigorous support. The bill will be first acted on in the Senate, and when it shall have passed that body will go to the House for concurrence. This order of consideration will powerfully conduce to the success of the bill. The | Senate is, asa whole, a much abler body | than the Honse, and the arguments, pro and con, will be exhausted by the Senators and produce their proper effect on the public mind of the country before the turn of the House comes to discuss the bill and act upon it. Its passage by the Senate will sweep away all the ob- stacles to its easy success in the House, because the arguments of Senators will be so powerful and so well put that public i; sentiment will be fixed in favor of the | bill before the House comes to act upon it. The four best equipped constitutional law- yers in the Senate are Messrs. Conkling, Edmunds, Thurman ond Bayard, and these four, having been members of the joint com- mittee which prepared the bill and signed the report, will be its foremost champions in the Senate debate.’ It will be a great occa- sion, and these distinguished Senators will rise to the full height of its requirements, They will have o great advantage over their adversaries in the perfect familiarity with the subject which they have acquired during their service in the joint committee. Mr. Conkling will make the ablest speech or series of speeches in his life. Mr. Edmunds, Mr. Thurman and Mr. Bayard, unequalled } for their power of reply ina running de- bate, will riddle the arguments of the oppo- nents of the bill. They will be reinforced by sound lawyers and good debaters like Mr. Frelinghuysen, who was a member of the joint committee, and other able Senators of both parties. The opponents of the be at ao great disadvantage against this strong array of talent, more especially as they are on the weak side of the question. The foremost adver- saries of the bill in the Senate will be Mr. Morton and Mr. Sherman, neither of whom has any reputation as a constitutional law- yer, and both being well known to the country as extreme and bitter partisans. their influence even if they were not under other fatal disabilities for securing public confidence in a crisis which requires subor- dination of party to fairness and justice. Mr. Morton, although he has little standing as a lawyer, has given more attention to questions connected with the counting of the electoral votes than any other man now in public life. He had tho sagacity to appreciate earlier than anybody else the precise dangers which confront us in this Presidential election. In the last session of Congress Mr. Morton prepared and advocated a bill for dealing with such emergencies as the present, and he then took a position which will nullify his influence as the chief opponent of this bill. He can employ no argument now which may not be refuted by his own utterances last winter. Last winter he expressed his delib- erate opinions, formed after careful investiga- tion, and ‘the fact that ho now renounces as a partisan the views which ten months ago he advocated asa statesman, and that his own arguments can be turned against hit, will cripple him in the coming debate, Mr. Sherman, the other principal antagonist of the joint committee's plan, has destroyed all respect for his candor or impartiality by the virulence of his partisanship during this session. The two leading opponents of the bill are lame ducks; they will be unable to stand against the annihilating array of talent and argument on the other side. We cannot doubt that tho bill will triumphantly ; pass the Senate, and if so it will encounter that time an irresistible public sentiment will be developed in its favor. Mr. Hoar, who was a member of the joint committee, will be its foremost advocate in the House, and his recent election to the Senate by the Legislature of Massachusetts, after it was known that he had signed the report of the joint committec, will strengthen his influence as an advocate of tho bill. We will be vigor- ously supported by Mr. Lamar, the ablest democratic member of the House, and by a strong array of talent on both sides. The success of the bill will not be doubtful after. all the advantages are on the side of its ad- yoentes, Every objection which has thus far been urged against the bill is futile and frivo- lous. There is an outcry against making judges of the Supreme Court members of the commission, as if it were incompatible with their judicial stations. This is sheer ignorance or captionsness, There might be a reasonable difference of opinion as to whether the Chief Justice or a selection trom the other judges should be taken, but the propriety of judicial officers serving on the commission cannot be successfully controverted. The venerable Judge Nelson, the most respected member of that Bench, was called to serve on the Alabaina Claims Commission in 1871, nobody objecting and the whole country approving the wisdom of the selection. The patriotism and public spirit of our highest judges for. bids them to refuse their assistonce in na- tional emergencies which justify the Repub- lic in calling for the service of its most emi- nent citizens. John J at that time Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, ap- pointed, with his own consent, a specinl enyoy to Great Britain to negotiate an im- was ' | i his appointment. his office of Chief Justice to take that mission. He continued to hold it during his absence and after his return, and only re- signed as Chief Justice when he had been elected Governor of New York. It was no less a President than Washington who se lected the Chief Justice of the United States to perform duties not connected with his ju- dicial office, on the theory, we suppose, that the country hasa right, in great emergencies, to command the services of any citizen who has eminent qualifications for the duty re- quired, This conforms to common sense and to the practice of other free governments, As a conspicuous example, fresh in every- body's recollection, Lord Chief Justico Cockburn was appointed by the British government as a member of the portant treaty, and the Senate confirmed Geneva Court of Arbitration. Tho objec- tions made by heated partisans to the selec- tion of federal judges as members of the Electoral Commission will not stand half an hour's discussion in Congress if this topic of opposition should live long enough to lift its head in the debates. Asto the constitutionality of » commis- sion to determine disputed questions con- nected with the electoral votes, that point was decided in the first year of this century by as able a Congress as ever met. In the year 1800 both houses assented to a bill for creating what was called a Grand Commit- tee to decide such questions, a bill which failed to pass only becauso the Senate wished the committee to consist of seven and the House wished it to consist only of four members of each branch of Oongress. Among the advocates of that bill was the illustrious John Marshall, then a member of the House, but appointed the next year | Chief Justice of the United States, and for the ensuing third of a century the greatest judge on any Bench in the world. When men like Morton. and Sherman set themselves in opposition to the deliberate opinion of John Marshall they should not expect many intelligent followers. Palwocrystic Pavements. Arctic discovery is certain to receive a new impulse from the wonderful success that attends the explorations made underthe auspices of the Scientific Street Cleaning Bureau. The expedition fitted out by that ! organization was directed to rendezvous at Broome Strait, and, being fully equipped with sledges, crowbars and picks, have com- menced ao thorough examination of the paleocrystic ice of Broadway Sound and Bowery Bay. Itis sufficient to say that, so far, their efforts have been entirely success- ful in demonstrating the fact that bottom can be reached in all parts of the chan- nel and estuary named. It has been rashly stated by the leader of another expe- dition that the route to the North was im- peded by an unbroken mass of ice, the sur- face of which was rendered impassable by vast hummocks and the heaped up débris of old floes, This is noyentirely disproved, and we are happy to anfounce that one of the present expeditionists who had ad- vanced some distance ahead of his compan- ions, with a view to reach Cape Restaurant for the purpose of selecting a s@itable spot for a caché of provisions, sud- denly sat down in aon extensive polynia and shouted, ‘Open sea!” When he had risen to his feet and expressed himself with extreme emotion as to the discovery his com- panions knew that the great mystery of the North was unravelled aot last. It is ru- mored that the northeast passage to Astoria, via Nowton’s Channel, has been found again. The existence of this route was regarded as a myth by most modern geographers, but we cannot offer an opinion on the subject until all the facts relating to this latest exploration are before us. Wo admire the energy with which the Scientific Street Cleaning Bureau are pushing on this laudable work. In the face of an exceptional season the daring ex- plorers are slowly but surely cutting their way northward, Itis believed that by the commencement of the summer they will have penetrated as far as Forty-second Strait, and that by the Fourth of July the Stars and Stripes, borne by these intrepid men, will beproudly planted at the corner of Fifty- ninth street and Fifth avenue. How the Plan Strikes the Poepids From different parts of the country come vory satisfactory expressions of approval of the plan conceived by the joint committee for the settlement of the the Presidential count, and the mind of the nation seems to favor the scheme in precise proportion as it judges it intelligently ond without perver- sion and bins, An extreme = spirit of partisanship is never favorable to fair views on issues of this nature, and, con- sequently, the subject is regarded with some suspicion wherever this spirit prevails ; but wherever tho wants and welfare of tho coun- try are considered as of more importance than party doctrines there is a most encouraging support of the project and faith in its success. In the Connecticut State Sen- ate this has taken the form of a resolution instructing the Senators in Congress to support the measure and requesting that the Representatives witl do thesame. Although the other branch of the Connecticut Legislature does not come frankly forward in support of this action it so far perceives the general drift of public opinion that it opposes only by way of de- vious pretexts. The despatches from or- ganized public bodies and from distin- guished individuals in different sections which were showered upon members of Congress yesterday assumed the char- acter of a patriotic demonstration in support of the proposed course. By the Detroit Board of Trade it was telegraphed that the measure received in that city the “hearty support of all, without regard to party.” In Boston, os declared by on eminent citizen distinguished for his legal attainments, ‘the community, independent of party, rejoice in the proposed mode.” It is reported that the struggle in the Massa- chusetts Legislature for the United States Senatorship was decided in favor of Mr. Hoar by tho high opinion entertained of his efforts in the joint committee to secure tho agreoment which the country thus accepts with outspoken enthusiasm. The best part of this action of the people is that it has already strengthened the plan in Congress and convinced different gentlemen who difficulties of ; He did not resign | might have indulged in various party vaga- ries that they cannot safely trifle with a cause that the people so warmly espouse. Tarkey’s Decision—What Next? Two hundred and thirty-seven digni- taries and officials of the Ottomen Empire, organized as a Grand Council, have declared that Turkey must fight rather than submit to further conditions proposed by Europe, and have refused to remit the decision in the case to the Sultan, but have dictated to him that he, as well as Europe, must accept the decision thus given, In this there is an exhibition by what might be called political vivisection of a process not uncommon in the growth of nations, in which an execu- tive not theoretically subject to popular control gives place to one that is admittedly and professedly the organ of the popular will. His Majesty the Sultan has become a puppet in the most extreme degree, and His Excellency the Grand Vizier is the lord and leader of the Ottomans, For seven hundred years the office of Grand Vizier has existed in the Ottoman scheme of politics, and the holders have been practically the lieutenants of the Sultan, The word vizier is Arabic, and significa o porter. The grand viziers have borne the burden of exccutive duties, and the sultans have en- joyed the dignitios, the pleasures, tho glories of the sovereign office. If any honor was to be accredited for great achievement it went to the sultans. Ifany head was to be cut off in expiation of a blunder the Grand Vizier's head was handy. But labor and the conception that its occupant could be made responsible have caused the growth of one office; and immunity from responsibility have produced the atrophy of the other. In the recent advance to foremost position of the extreme Moslem element of the Turkish peoplo there is a great rovolu- tion, and that revolution has put forward as its exponent and organ Midhat Pacha, and has intimated to the Sultan that if he becomes an obstacle to its purposes he will be dealt with as wero Murad and Abdul Aziz. Sultans no longer command the do- capitation of viziers, but the Vizier summons a Grand Council, procures that that council shall promulgate as its own will whatever he has determined to do, and warns the Sultan not to put himself in danger by standing in the way. War might at sucha moment destroy the Empire it finds in a transition state, but a successful war in such circumstances would establish tho change as a progressive stage in the national history. It is to this moment altogether uncertain whether thero will be war. Russia is obviously less eager. for tho fray since it has been known that England would interfere to defend Constantinople. All the rest of Turkey is a bagatelle to Russia com- pared to the city on the Bosphorus ; agd if she may fight and waste her treasure and whip the Turks and yet not gain the goal of her ambition, why should she fight at all? From: this point of view, therefore, it is evident that England really supports the Turks at last, however much she may declaro her indifference to their fate, and Russia probably does not care to fight the Turks on such conditions, A Practicable Canal Route Across the Isthmus. The physical difficulties to be overcome in the construction of an interoceanic ship canal are many and varied in character, It will be remembered that the region of the Isthmus is peculiarly circumstanced ns to topography and meteorological conditions, the latter presenting by no means the least important problems for solution. ‘The ex- treme abruptness of the former is largely due to its volcanic origin and to the violent disturbances to which it has been subjected from the same cause. The mountain chain which connects tho systems of North and South America traverses the length of the Isthmus like a great natural wall. This is broken at irreg- ular intervals by canyons or deep nurrow val- leys, which form the drainage outlets from the watershed of the mountains. As a pri- mary necessity to success it has beon the con- stant aim of the explorers and engineers to discover which of these breaks in tho moun- tain wall presents the least summit elevation. above the sealevel. Every valley or canyon that was deemed by general observation or reported to be among the practicable passes has been carefully explored and the levels through it from the sea ascertained by in- strumental surveys, so that os far as a thor- ough knowledge of the ground can be ac- quired the different routes suggested ns feasible have been examined by United States engincers, In view of this fact, and after a careful comparison has been made of the results of the several surveys, it has not been found difficult to determine which is the most practicable route for an interoccanic canal. The fenr that the merits of any other lines have been overlooked in the complete and patient exploration of the Central American region is entirely groundless, ‘The officers charged with the duty of surveying the Isthmus do not hesitate to give that line known as the Nicaragua route a decided preference over all others. It presents the nearest approach to the horizontal of any examined, and besides possesses the grand and singular advantage of having an inex- haustible supply of water for canal purposes in the great reservoir of Lake Nicaragua, which is located on the most elevated ground through which the canal would pass, A route deficient in water supply, although otherwise extremely favorable, would be practically valueless, because, without water resources to fill the canal levels and maintain the supply uniformly throughout the year, navigation would be impossible, The extraordinary rainfall of the region at certain seasons creates diffi- culties that would be insurmountable un- less there is some natural or costly artificial regulator of the quantity of water flowing into the canal. The steep slopes of the watershed discharge their floods into the valleys with extraordinary rapidity and vio- lence, and, as these natural lines of drainage form necessarily the only available routes for a canal, the latter would become the re- ceptacle of all storm waters and their sus- the pursuit of pleasure | throughout the year, and can, if necessary, be | fully controlled by locks and dams or other engineering devices. The lake itself, with its broad expanse of navigable waters, would forma part of the proposed line of inter- oceanic navigation, and the total cost of the enterprise would be, therefore, reduced by that of a length of canal equal to more than the breadth of the lake. The objections to the other routes proposed are mainly on ac- |, count of the great elevation of their sum- mits and a deficient or uncertain and un- controllable water supply. Fhe Mids ane Law and Equity. In 1870 Charles Fox, of New York, died, leaving about fifty thousand dollars in real estate and ten thousand in personal prop- erty. His will was found to give the whole, after payment of his debts, to the govern- ment of the United States for the purpose of assisting to pay the war debt. The deceased left no children; but a niece and two nephews, infants, his brother's children and his next of kin, contested the singular will. The heirs were living in comparative pov- erty in Brooklyn, The Surrogate decided the will invalid and void as a devise of real estate, Tho United States appealed first to tho Supreme Court and next to the Court of Appeals, and the Surrogate’s decision was unanimously sustained in both courts, By writ of error the cause was then removed to the Supreme Court of the United States for review, and was argued ot Washington on Wednesday, the decision being reserved. Meanwhile, the personal property has been swallowed j up and neither the United States govern- ment nor the heirs have received a dollar. The general opinion will be that the man who could so dispose of his property and leave three infant children, his near rela- tives, in poverty, could not have been of thoronghly sound mind. At all events it | seems like avery small business for the United States authorities to carry the case beyond the Court of Appeals of the State of New York, and it is to be hoped that the State decisions will be sustained by the United States Supreme Court. If it should not be Congress should at once pass an act restoring the property to the infant heirs before it is all swallowed up by the legal ad- visers of the general government. PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE, Ben Hill will speak in Atlanta this eveviny,. The majority of French priests are peasants, Miss Von Hillern, the walker, does not drink beer. Monograms for lockets may be in rubies and penrls, The Empress of Austria likes English literary people. A merchant of Cuddapah, Inata, feeds %,000 poor People. The London Times is to have special wires to Berlin and Vienna, Jobn Bright 1s always nervous just previous to mak” ing a speech. The Duke of Westminster has a roasting jack twenty- two feot long, Mrs, Aldenburg Bentick wears dark violet velvot with lace rufiles, The German is having much influence upon the cookery of Illinois, A German has collected and published all the hateful things tbat have been sald about Wagner. Captain Horatio Ross, in reference to the introduc- tion of steeplechasing, says that the first race of that description officially recorded was one in which he rode Clinker against Captain Douglas on Ratical, from Barkly Holt tothe Billesdon Coplow, Leicestershire, on Qtarch 30, 1626, Many Western papers think that the republicans never had so nobie an opportunity as they now havo to give up to the democrats; and it is singular that so fow papers suggest that tho democrats give up to the republicans. The fact shows that the democrats think the republicans have somo generosity. In 1792 the return 6f game killed by tho King of Naples during bis journey to Vienna, through Austria, Bohemia and Bavaria, was as follows:—To His | Majesty's gun foll 6 bears, 1,820 boars, 1,968 deer, 13 | wolves, 354 foxes, 17 badgers, 15,350 pheasants, 1,121 | rabbits, “16,354 bares, 1,625 roebucks, 1,145 docs aud 12,355 partridges. Tho spot where tho Apostle Peter was wont to baptize has been discoverod in the Ostrian Catacombs, Rome, along the Via Nomentana, An inscription has been deciphered by Signor Armoilini, in which the name of St, Voter occurs, and which would serve to place beyond doubt the previous conclusions as to the Apostie’s connection with the Ostrian Catacombs, A poor woman went to the French War Office to ob- tain some pews of her son. The clerk searched the records and ascertained ho was dead. The poor woman commenced to cry, when the clerk told her such was not allowed in the offico, that bis information was private, but that, in a few days, she would rcecive a letter announcing tho tact, with every form of regret, Evening Telegram:—"Xt is to be hoped that gentlomon on cach side of politics, besides tho members of Con- grees, will speedily give us their opinions in a format shapo about the Electoral bill. We shall like especially | to hear from leaders of the Bar in this city and in the other great commercial centres. Mr. O'Conor and Mr. Evarts will mach gratify the public by speaking or writing upon tho question of its constitntionality.” | About four miles from San Buenaventura, Cal., o1 the river of that name, thero is a grape vino of the Mission variety, the stem of which measures forty Inches in circumference. Itcovers an area of about eighty fect in diameter, This vino yields about 1,000 pounds of grapes annually, The clusters of fruit will measure trom twelve to sixteen Inches in length, and average three and a half pounds, It is on tho rancho of Don José Moraga, and was .planced by that gentle- mnan seventeon years ago. MUSICAL “AND DRAMATIIC NOTES, Miss Kellogg appears as Arline inthe ‘*Bohemian | Girl” at the Academy of Music on Tuesday evening, The Olympic Theatre opens on the 29th inst, with the “Big Bonanza,” to be succeeded by “Round the Clock."” Kelly & Leon's Minstrels have a new op(ra bouffe in rehearsal at their pretty little theatre on Twenty-thira streot. Mr. Nonendorf’s company, at the Germanin Theatre, give Dor Actienludiker,”’ a musical farce, this even- ing for the benetit of Mr. Julius Witt. Mr. Louis Dachaner, the eminent organtst, now in Paris making arrangements for the grand exposition of 1878, will shortly return to New York, Miss Arabella Root, soprano, gave a ballad concort at Steinway Hall last night for the benefit of the destitute poor of New York. She was assisted by Mr. Werren- rath, tenor, and Mrs. Rolph, elocutionist, The attend. | onee was very email. The net receipts of the Murdoch testimonial entor- tainment at the Boston Theatro yesterday afternoon wore $3,400. Several seats were sold at auction to-day, | Joseph Murphy, the comedian, ieading with a bid of $50 tor a single seat. Agrand gala performance, for the benefit of the Young Ladios’ Charitable Union, will be given at the Academy of Music on Saturday evening, January 27, The piece sclectod for roprerentation 1s Benedix's four. act comedy, Dio Pasquillanten,” which will bo ren- dered by tho best artists of Mr, Neucndorfl’s tronpe. The catalogue of Hall & Son, music publishers, was announced for sale at auction by Messrs, Leavitt on Thursday. A large number of leading representatives ding by the annoancement that the executors of the estate of General Hall would contest th sale, Oliver Ditson, of Boston Tt was considered probable yesterday that a compro. muse will be effected, Tho sale was in consequence of of the trade were present, but were deterred from bid- | TELEGRAPHIC NEWS From All Parts of the World. THE DARKENING ORIENT. The London Press Discussing the Ac tion of the Turkish Council. A GLOOMY OUTLOOK Predictions and Forecasts— What Will Russia Do? Editorial WAITING FOR BISMARCK. Russian Preparations for War—Still Mob ilizing and Concentrating. WAR INEVITABLE IN THE SPRING. The German Democrats—A Tere «rible Landslide, {BY CABLE TO THE HERALD. Lonpon, Jan. 20, 1877. No one in London speaks of anything else now but the Eastern question, and all the papers devote Jengthy editorials to the subject. It is universally felt that the crisis has at last been reached and that we shall soon know definitely whether we shall have peace or war. Few are sanguine enough to hope for peace, and the only question which appears to be undecided is as to how the Great Powers will array themselves in tho conflict. WAR CERTAIN IN THE SPRING. The action of the Turkish Grand Council has put anend tothe suspense, and no matter how many attempts at reopening negotiations may be made, itis felt that next spring will witness one of the most terrible struggles that Europe has seen for centuries. THR TIMES ON THE ACTION OF THB COUXCIE The Times of yesterday, referring to tho result of the Conference said:—“This ovent will surprise no- body. Those whom it will disappoint are fewor than thoy may have been even at the opening of the new year, Tho friends of the Turks are naturally delighted at the spirit and courage displayed by the Porto and the supposed humiliation which has befallen the diplo- matists who presumod to trespass on the sovereiga Tights of the Sultan, What will be tho offect of the Porte’s decision on the peace of Kuropo? SPECULATING ON THE RESULT, « “There are those who declaro themselves also lately certain that Russia will not attack Turkey; there are those on the other band who protess to detect consum. mate astutoness in General Ignattef!’s moderation, and who will now say that he knew from the first how surely the fanaticism of Constantinople would force the Porto to open defiance on this subject. We shall be content to form a judgmont on evonts as thoy oo- cur, without speculation or prediction. RUSSIA IN A DIFFICULT POSITION, “There can bo no doubt that Russia 1s in a most dim cult position, between a war trom which it can expect no pormanont advantage and a pledge which, if not redeemed, will discredit tho throne. In any case, it is not to be assumed that a decision for peace or war will necessarily be made at ones. 1t 1s quite possible that weeks tnay pass amid new diplomatic overtures before Russia thinks it convenient to announce her final reso- intion Perhaps the dissvlution of the Conference marks the beginning of a new phase, in which the Western Powers will be for a time inactive and the three Imperial Courts will onco more concern them- selves with the business,” VIRWS OF THR “DAILY XRWS,’? The Daily News ay; “Tho effort at diplomatic coercion camo far too late; it nover had a fair cbance, Long betore tho Western plenipotentiaries reached Constantinople the Turkish governinent and people had been filled with the idea that England would in the last resource stand the friend of the Ottoman Em. pire, We have shown that oven whilo the Conferexce was sitting only too much roason was given them, despite Lord Salisbury, to cherish tho same convic- tion, REVMEVING ENGLAND OF RESPONSIBILITY. “At the samo time we own to a cortain feeling of satise fJaction that Tarkey bas taken her honor and integrity into her own hands, Wo, a8 a State, have nothing more to do with them, With the break up of the Con. ference ends the old fashioned policy which acceptod Turkey as the hereditary responsibility of Eogland, Renceforward Turkey must patch up its credit the best way itcan and fight its own, battles, We do not kuow how goon it may be called upon te test its now mettle, but sooner or loter it must depend on its own sword, Although the Conference is over the troubles it sought to settle arc troubles still, The world must |} look with some anxiety to seo in what shape and from what quarter the next attempt to bring Turkey to reae gon will arise,” THK “POST” RULOGIZES TURKISM FIRMNESS AND DIGNITY, Tho Post says:—"The important act thus achieved possesses every characteristic of a national determina. tion. Its importauco is only equaliod by its dignity, At atime when treaties have been torn to rags and in- ternational oqnity disregarded, when the might of huge Powers and overwhelming armios aro terrorizing smaller States, when each giant is restrained by a0 consideration of Jaw or justice, but only by calcula. tions of brute force and the weighing of alliances pro and con, it has been erved for Turkey to stand forth boldly as the ehampion of treaty rights and European order. The attitude of the Sultan mast win the admiration of all who are suilictentiy unprejudiced, to admit that tho spirit of chivalry and patriotism has not yet been effaced from mankind. If, as we are contident they will, the Turks, under the able guidance of Midhat Pacha, carry into effective be- ing their new parliamentary system 60 as to improve their government, redeem their finances and estab. lish civil and religious liberty, they will cortatnly wia back the warm esteem of England, which will gladly see in renovated Turkey a nation of freemen whose conduct may open up a new political horizon, showing the dawn of constitutional principles in the East’ WHAT THE DAILY TRUNGRAPH PREDICTS, The Daily Telegraph suys:—"1t cannot be denied that the sum aod substance of thia decision are what the ‘Turkish representatives will report in reply when they next meet the European delegates in conference, The Judgment of the Sultan's chief councillors and ecctesi+ astical magnates will be sarely indorsed to-more row by Saivet Pacha, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Kdheim Pacha, President of the Couneit of State, in the namo of the Sultan and Outoman people, even though it bo accompanied by polite explanations or a slight offer of conciliation, Should the envoys, as cannot be doubted, part to-mor, row, tho chief difficuliy is tor Russia. Her wisest course | Will bo to regard Bulgaria henceforth as of European moment and give Turkey timo and fatr play, Many tnexpectod incidents and policies may now suddenly dovelup, and since these Iie outside our influence ate | tontion must be tnrned to our own. states ity of the | esmen and however, bid $19,000, | countrymen, phone, Groat diversion will follow these negos A WARNING, We wish {ts not too much to hope that after such pended detritus, Lu vke Nicaragua is the great reservoir of a vast watershed. Its outtlow through the San Juan River is regular the foreciosure of a mortgage, The most valuable part of the cataloguo is in the works of Gottschalk and Wallace, Warning as recont events have given the anti-Englist party it might chiefly be aninated by national and iae ternational tnterosis, We must admonish those whe a