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8 “LONDON GOSSIP. | Remarkable Crimes in the United Kingdom. POLAR EXPEDITIONS. Offenbach’s New Opera,“ Madame Favart.” DISASTER. THUNDERER — THE Lonpvoy, Jan. 14, 1879, We are in the height of the burglary season, and the severity of the weather, which naturally inclines people to court the fireside instead of the street, makes an item in favor of those who pursue this ex- citing handicraft. The burglars at the present time, to use a Parliamentary phrase, “have it.” Peace, the prince of burglars and the alleged murderer, is again | the object of revived interest, in consequence of the | arrival from Ohio of Mrs. Dyson, widow of the man he is alleged to have murdered near Sheffield three years ago, and who will, it is said, be able to identify the murderer. Then the minds of Londoners, es- pecially those living in the suburbs, have been ex- cited of late by the unusual number of “cracksmen”’ who have been levying blackmail on that respectable class of persons who are in a position to possess & sufficiently tempting quantity of plate and valuables of other descriptions to excite their cupidity. THE KASTON OUTRAGE. But the latest thing in this line far ontdoes any- thing of the kind that has happened for some time past, and has roused not @ little indignation. On Friday night iast at Easton, some six miles from Bristol, the house of a maiden lady named Smith was entered and robbed of a considerable sum of money. ‘The most dastardly part of the crime was that it was | accompanied by 4 most murderous outrage. Miss Smith, who has exceeded by some years the allotted three score years and ten, oce‘pied a lonely farm, and was in the habit of keeping large sums of money in the house, Her only companion was a domestic almost as old as herself, the farm servants residing at some distance. Two watch dogs which had form- erly been intrusted with the protection of the prem- ises she had been compelled to tie up in an outhouse in consequence of complaints of their ferocity by the local authority. The house, therefore, was comparatively unprotected when on Friday evening Jast the old lady and her old companion, after the fatigues of the day, had sat down at the glowing kitchen fire to take a glass of ‘something hot’ before going to bed, as their custom was and as the ruffians who were watching outside probably knew it to be. It was between eight and nine o'clock. The village watchmaker had called with a clock which he had been repairing, and the door had been locked bebind him. Ii was snowing hard outside—just the sort of night when an industrious old lady finds comfort in Bcheering glass. The old housekeeper was bustling about getiing it ready, and sharing her mistress’ cheerfulness, when a knock came to the door. The visitor was challenged and described himself as “a policeman” who had come to tell her that there was “something the matter with one of her pigs.” Miss Smith thought it very oblig- ing of the policeman, no doubt; called out that she “thanked him kindly for calling,” and told her servant to open the door, Her visitors did not require a pressing invitation to enter. Having thus unguardedly put themselves at the ruffians’ mercy, the two old women were roughly dealt with, The housekeeper, Mrs. Davis, was seized by the throat, and so far was she from suspecting the nature of the visit that she thought it was a rude country jest. She was soon undeceived, however, and only escaped worse treatment by offering to con- duct the thieves to the money box. A BRAVE OLD Lapy. Meanwhile Miss Smith, who was of tougher ma- terial than her servant, offered a sturdy resistance and endeavored to give an alarm, and was in conse- quence disgracefully maltreated. She was beaten on the head with bludgeons until she was insensible end her hands were then bound behind her. One of the number was then left to watch lest she should return to consciousness, while the rest, under the terrified housekeeper’s guidance, quictly took possession of the booty the house con- tained—£160 in money and some plate, Before leav- ing the house, finding the old lady returning to con- sciousness, the brutal ruffians again attacked her, beating her about the head and body with bludgeons snd crowbars until she was a mass of wounds and bruises, They then decamped, and shortly after- ward the housekeeper summoned enough courage to raise an alarm. Several days elapsed before any trace of the scoun- drels could be found, and the Treasury were induced to offer a reward of £100 for their apprehension. When the news of this decision reached Bristol, how- tver, four of the men had been captured, and had run a narrow risk of being lynched by a posse of in dignant Severn boatmen. The police are on the track of the fifth man. Miss Smith, despite her ad- vanced age, is gradually recovering from the effects of her terrible wounds. MORE FIGHTING IN CHURCH. St. James’, Hatcham, has won such an unenviable notoriety in regard to ritualisin that its doings here are watched with peculiar interest. Sightsvers who have nothing else to do make pilgrimages there on Sundays, because, they say, it is “as good ax a play.” Last Sunday proved another “gala day” for these spirits. In cousequence ot some extreme ritualistic “priests” having oificiated there lately some of the parishioners wrote to the Bishop, desiring him to cancel the appointment ot Mr. McColl (the incam- bent), The Bishop accordingly insisted on his re- signing, and on Sunday ministers from St. John's, Deptford, officiated. In the morning, on the min- ister kneeling down on the north side of the table to commence communion service, one of the most advanced ritualists retired from the church, aud was followed by a number of others. Simultaneously the choir rose and retired into the vestry. The service then proceeded quietly to the end. in the afternoon another ‘scene’ occurred. When the service was about to commence a rush was made toward the chancel from the west door by a number of the choir who left in the morning, but they were prevented — entering, by the congregation rising and obstructing their , either by the vestry door or the chai : some obnoxious ‘mauifestations by the the officiating minister came to the res- them got to enter the chancel, however, and for some time endeavored to promote discord in the responses, And yet we are told by a worthy lecturer of the ritual- | istic ilk that ritualism is “common sense applied to divine servic A COSTREMONGERS’ TRA PARTY. ‘The other evening ® large gathering of coster- mongers and ther wives and little ones took place at Vilmington Hall, Clerkenwell, I find I should, how- on second thoughts, use the term dealér”’ instead of the old fashioned “costerm This is an age of “refining,” if not of retine tad the humble coster has come to dislike t pellative and to prefer the higher sounding “gene: dealer,” sweeper has learned and to call himself a or, still lordlier, a‘ chimney cleane The host on the occ Mr, William Catlin, Superintendent of the Cow Cross Mission, who has long cultivated a close ac- yuaiutance with the poor of every class. The better halves of the general dealers were the earliest and imost numerous appreciators of the cheering cup; but one by one, with the most pleas- Ing irregularity, the costermongers appeared in per- son and received @ hearty welcome from host and comrades present, It waa curious to note how the coster’s Usual salaam, a jerk of the head sideways and a broad grin, struggled with a conscious attempt #4 salute more in accord with the occasion, and how habirude triumphed, Curiously in contrast with whut one would have expected from these rude sons of the street was the modesty manifested by most in Wishing to take @ seat as near the bot tom of the table as possible, But none were allowed thus to obliterate themselves. No sooner was ono thus neon to court obse than his name, generally his Christian or, often, his nickname, shouted trom ‘several throats and he was compelled to yo through the Guntict of yrectings, hearty enough, though o Uproarious, and coster uf.” The merriest gree ing of all was, perhaps, accorded to an individual @ho responded’ to the sobriquet of “Cori ” This worthy bad paid a shilli row for twenty-four years, uw having been able to wecumulate £3 168, to yet one for Limescif; and gia there is wow aciub which yives barrows, to aid for by instalments, he could never avail him- ni the institution for wa wourity” 4. @, Kee urity. “Corduroy” had t © ot the finest cries in Loud told how, in his younger days, he had often f » another quarter, But all at the tea party Were nut “Gurduroys,’ Some were prosperous men, as costers go, and could boast of their own barro: aad even of their own donkeys, But these were fe generally Ly Seenys the poorest of the poor, such as could enjoy Host Cathan’s bread and butter and mar- mualade and other good things, feeling that they were luxuries, and not to be had every day. ‘To the chil- dren—for the most part sturdy young imps—it wa Luxury indeed, that tea, and will no doubt be dreamed about often @ the year, The evening was brought toa close by addresses from Mr. Catlin, a reformed costermonger, and others, interspersed | with Moody and Sankey hymus and a ferveutly offered up prayer. A POSTPONED POLAR EXPEDITION. Commander Cheyne has just announced that his Polar expedition cannot sail until i850, He has re- ceived letters from Glasgow and Aberdeen, where he has received a ood of encouragement, request- ing him to forbear for 4 time the promotion of the movement in Scotland in consequence of the great and painful distress caused a the failure of the Glasgow Bank. Sir James Watson has also asked Mr. Cheyne not to recognize for the time being the offer of Glasgow to bear one-third of the cost of the proposed expedition. Captain Templar has prom- not only to accompany the Commander without pay, but also to provide a balloon for the expe- ition free of cost, The two are going to Paris in order to further the movement by means of lectures, and with the view of showing that balloons can be directed by means of currents of air; they in- tend to make the journey to Paris in a balloon. There have been so many projected aeronautical voyt of lute that we shall be anxious to see pacar vad Commander Shaynele performance will tall short of his promise equally with the rest. ANOTHER ARCTIC SEARCH EXPEDITION, It is reported from Berlin that Sibiriakoff, a wealth) Russian patron of geographical science, has a nounced his intention of despatching in the spring vessel for the discovery of Professor Nordenskiold’s steamer, The expedition will sail from Malmo and proceed by way of the Suez Canal and the Indian Ocean to Japan, and thence through Bebring Strait to Lena-Bartz. ‘THE ROYAL ASSASSINATION SCARE. The Whitehall Review reports, “on excellent author- ity,” that the Duke of Cumberland on his wedding day, and the King of Denmark alike, received a com- munication of the death’s head variety, and that the Princess Thyra feels considerable alarm in conse- quence, The same journal informs us, now that the marriage is a fait accompli, every effort will be made, for obvious political reasons, by the Court of St. dames to bring abouta reconciliation between the Duke of Cumberland and his feudal superior at Ber- lin. “One man, however, may take @ horse to drink, but ten, &c."’ It is well to remember this old adage. WANTED—A LORD CHAMBERLAIN. There is a rumor afloat that Lord Hertford, the present Lord Chamberlain, is about to resign his office, There have been a number of statements abroad as to the reason or motive of Lord Hertford’s retirement, but the tact seems to be that the inclina- tion to resign was prompted by private motives. The osition is not a bed of roses, 48 One May imagine, says:— When Lord Hertford does resign be will probably be succeeded by Lord Coventry, Lord Mount-Edgcumbe or Lord Barrington, The promotion of the last uamed peer would involve his being granted an English peerage. HOW TO FIND A THIER, A remarkable cuse, as showing the amount of superstition still prevalent among the lower orders in Stugiand, came betore the borough magistrates of Ludlow, Shropshire, on Tuesday. A woman named Collier was summoned under the local bylaws tor using #busive language toward another named The parties, it appeared, were neighbors, heet having been lost off a garden line the practice of “turning the key and the Bible’ was re- sorted to with a view to the discovery of the thief. ‘The complainant said Oliver met her in the street aud told her the Bible had been “turned down” to several houses where suspected persons lived, and that when Mrs. Collier's name was mentioned “the Bible fled out of their hands.” The Bible was then turned to see it the sheet was stolen during the day or night, and, the latter was indicated, Mrs. Collier called her ‘a daylight thief.” ‘The Bench dismissed the case, remarking that the superstition was: ore like wrelic of the past” than # beliet of this “advanced age.”’ It is curious to remark how this method of divination, very commonly practised in the Middle Ages, bas survived almost without modification. The Bible is opened at the Book ot Ruth, and, bal- ancing the key on the forefinger of each hand, which are formed in the shape of a cross, the verse is re- peated commencing, “Whither thou goest I will go.” Where it turns the guilty party is to be found. M, OFFENBACH'S PROLIFIC MUSE. Preparations, I understand, are being made to in- troduce M. Otfenbach’s new comic opera, ‘Mme, Favart,” to the English public. This, the latest of the composer's works, although in a line somewhat different to his former-operas, has proved an equal success to any of his others, at least in the French capital, as it no doubt will in the English. By the way, Truth gives an amusing, and at the same time characteristic anec- dote respecting the fertility of Offeubach as a com- poser. The maestro, it appears, had agreed to write the music of an operetta under the title or “L’Apotn- cuire et le Perruqumer.”” When called upon to fuitil his promise, however, he did uot cure much to do so, and the young author had to remind him more than once of the treaty between them. Some coldness en- sued, and finally matters came to a hot discussion, which took place in Offenbach’s study. ‘Well, sir, ou Want your music, do you?" the maestro said at last Ja ant of passion. “You shall have it too, and all ut once. Please to sit down there. Here is a newspaper and a cigar for you.” He jumped at ruled paper, pen and ink and began to write away for ‘an hour or so. ‘Then turning round to his foe:—‘Here is the music; you can take it away with you and have it played it you like.” ‘You cannot mean it,” objected the au- thor, “for the sake of your own fame?” “I tell you, sir, you can take it, as you shall have no other.” Seeing that he could yain nothing more, the author went away with the manuscript. He took it to some friends, and, on examination, it was found that there were five or six charming melodies in this musical scribbling, quite enough for a one-act cperetta. Otfen- bach was prevailed upon to’ revise it, and within a month the work was presented, It proved a com- plete success."” ‘THE THUNDERER'S BURST GUN. You may imagine the dismay—downright in- credulity at first in artillery headquarters at Wool- wich—with which the news of the bursting of one of the big guns of the crack turret ship was received. ‘There was an indignant protest trom the arsenal. “One of our guns burst! Impossible! They cannot burst with fair treatment.” Well, to do them justice, it is a fact that the Thunderer’s thirty-eight-ton gun burst owing to the ball—if one can so call a mass of iron as long as # bolster—having slipped forward, The Thunderer’s guns are muzzie-loaders and the method of loading them is, I believe, by depressing the gun so that it can receive the charge from below the deck outside the turret, a huge rammer worked by machinery sending the powder and projectile home. On the present occasion the rammer did its work apparently, but the projectile had slipped forward betore the gun was levelled, aud of course when the immense cartridge was fired the yun broke in two, instantly reducing the ship's crew ii fifty men—one-tifth of them killed on the spot. ‘ell, as I was saying, the artillerymen scouted the idea of Woolwich guns bursting, and Lord Charles Beresford writing to the Times said, “That any ot the Woolwich pattern guns could burst excepting under conditions unfair to the guns I do not believe.” AN INCONVENIENT PRECEDENT. In to-day’s Times, however, a rear admiral has his say, and this is how he says it: uk for themselves. command of hh 250-power L2-ton during target pract reoch of the gu hing ut, striking the bufior in rear, againat which the carriage recoils. Several large pieces of metal were ut and through the apertures of the turret. red, although I think ide the turret. An offi- lately sent to inspect the that its bursting was due butable to careless loading, £¢. [am not quite sure as to the uamber of tinies the gun had been fired before bursting, but [ am under the impression it did not exceed sixty. The remaining guns there were thirteen p cer fom Wooiwic woro, by Admiralty order, never fired again, aud when | paid the ship off somo months later they were returned to the Ordnance Depa ere as far as I know, they may be , what in mare probable, broken up. G. A. . BROOKER, Koar Admiral, To those English artillery officers who are not ashamed to cut Iree from self-adulatory prejudices and do not believe that the English system of muzzle- louding artillery is right and the Dreech-loading system of the whole of the rest of the world wrong, it may be satisfactory to know that the Thunderer accident may be the death knell of the muzae-loaders, for naval tse at lent. he ‘The Thandere? explosion will, it is expected, be at once fullowed by « change iv the juading system, it is pot unlikely that it will facilitate a change which tor some time past been thought inevitable from muzal ue for, use on. board ship elug the first necessity ot © modern iron clad, the batteries must necessarily be reduced in sine if 0 to float safely, and while it Will also be requisite to maintain the aggressive power of the ships by crowding heuyy guns into them, they must be made to open for that purpose ai the breech. The seionsitie artillerists who have — studied for many years past and maintained the superiority of the mueale-loading system for its strength, simplicity and power, are surrendering their Uroweh jonders for ey, on thy ity whieh hay arisen dod space for bo war. It is h «Th n breech loaders in stead of the mugaie-loading guna, such aceidents being fext to itapossible with breech loading guns frum defective loading. ‘The wag said it would be necessary that ® bishop should be Killed in an accident to insure an, improve. ment in the railroad system, VPerhaps ten ‘lives, vio- lently lost, will do the same for the British artillery, EMMA MINE FRAUDS. [Prom the London Globe.) Mr. Justice Denman gave judgment on Saturday (January 13) in the case of the Emma Silver Mining Company vs. Lewis & Son, which had been argued for several days before him on points reserved for further consideration from the trial. The defendants aro metal brokers in Liverpool, and one of the firm, the younger Lewis, was in Utah in the sum- mer of 1871, Helthen made an exiination of tho Emma Mine, and agreed to assist Park in the sale of it in England, The elder Lewis, on Park's Jand, introduced him to persons likely ne, and it was agreed that, in consideration of the services of the firm, K should pay to the firm 250 suares of £20 in the ny to formed, peared on the prospectus aa # voucher Luz ‘The name of the firm ap- tue wie, and the defendants answered a great number of let- ters from inten ling shareholders in an encouraging tone. After the of the mine the 250 shares were transferred to the defendants, and were sold by Al- bert Grant on their behalf. The plaintiffs claimed, first, damages for a conspiracy between Park and the defendants to palm off on them a worthless mine at £1,000,000; and, second, a return of the profits made by the defendants out of the shares transferred to them with intergst. Yhe jury did not agree on the question of conspiracy, but found that the defendants were “‘promoters” of the company, and, as such, li- oe se refund the profits and interest, amounting to 5,158, Mr. Justice Denman now held that there was evi- dence of conspiracy, and dismissel the defendant's motion to enter judgment for them on thut head. He further gave judgment tor the plaintiffs for £8,188 on the claims in respect of promotion, BISMARCK’S FUTURE. HIS DOWNWARD COURSE ALREADY BEGUN. (From the London Spectator.) ‘The “logic of fucts”’—to use the phrase invented by the fallen enemy whom Prince Bismarck so much despised—is bringing Prince Bismarck very rapidly indeed on that downward course which can hardly terminate without a catastrophe. There is too much iron in Prince Bismarck's blood for the chief of a parliamentary Stave. When he comes to supplement the victories of the army by legislation the iron in his blood betrays him. He can think of nothin; but compression. He is a mere press incarnated in political life. Prince hydra Blamarck is not disheartened and not afraid. He has behind him the consciousness of having restored the unity of Germany, and that consciousness appears to excuse him, in his own eyes, for now squeezing the life out of the Germany he has resto: He has launched his bolt against the socialists, and, instead of harming the socialists, has aided thein to gain converts, while he has struck down all “free discussion of the most import- ant economical and political questions. And now he is preparing to carry his government of com- bat, first, into a war of tariffs, and next into « war against parliamentary frecdom of h. The Inst step is the worst of all. If it succeeds—as it is to be feared it will—it will abolish all hope of free par- Namentary deliberation, and will make the Reichstag itself a place of serious danger instead of the sanctu- ary of the national life. When Prince Bismarck has throttled free discussion in Parliament, as weil as in the press, he will have shut off tho last safety valve of popular discontent. If he goes on with the measure pA hd in the direct road either to revolution or a coup A SOCIALIST HIMSELF. [Correspondence of the Pall Mall Gazette.) It isa mistake to regard Bismarck as an enemy of socialism itself, Bismarck is himself a socialist—in my opinion, a socialist of the most dangerous kind. For he is an absolutist socialist who dreams of crushing liberal ideas and liberal movements by carrying out in an absolutist manner a great part of the economic programme of the social democrats, Bismarck, therefore, may be an enemy of demo- cratic socialism; but he is no opponent of social- ism itself, On the contrary, he sees in socialism @ means of more firmly establishing absolute gov- ernment in Prussia and Germany. In 1848, when he was still an almost unknown Junker, Bismarck made a speech in the Prussian Chamber, in which he said that liberalism was only to be put down by social- ism. 1 suppose you ow of his relations with Lassalle at the time of his conflict with the liberal party in Prussia, As he conquered the liberal party without Lassalle by the war of 1866 those relations fell to the background, but were not broken off till the socialist movement in passing into the hands of Karl Marx became altogether anti- national and democratic, Meanwhile Bismarck had no need of socialisaa. He succeeded in attaching the liberal party to bimself in two ways—in the first place, by the Kulturkampf against the clerical party. y taking up the liberal struggle against clerical as- cendency he made a double success. He succeeded in attaching to himself a majority which was ready to forget all other points of the lib- eral programme whenever it seemed possible that he might, make ve with the clericals. As long as Bismarck would fight against Rome the lib- erals were ready to postpone all the political postulates of their programme. Next Bismarck succeeded in seducing the liberals to give’ up their principles of freedom one after the other; inas- much as he led them to deny those very principles as soon as the clericals appeaicd to them in support of their own claims. In this way Bismarck has struck a heavy blow inst the liberals. The other way in which Bismarck attached the liberal party to himself was through the idea of German uationality. The liberal party is also the national party in Gert ; and Bismarck strengthened aud extended is power immensely in making use of the national feeling of the liber- als. Ho asked perpetually for some fresh extension of the sphere of the German imperial government; and the liberals, hoping that these ex- tensions would weaken the power of particulerism and of the little German governments, ited all he asked, They did not perceive that their work went beyond their wishes and strengthened the power of absolutism. The most dangerous measure yet voted by the liberal party is authority to buy ‘up all German railways for the German Empire. The liberal party did not see the absolutist.socialist tendency of that measure, With all the railways in his hands tne Reichskanzler will of course have the highways of commerce under his control; and he will be able to ruin industrial establishments or to coerce their proprietors, by tariffs and the like, to sell those establishments to the empire. In this way the dream of absolutist Socialism may be realized. As to their material wel- fare, the workmen may be 4 little better off than now, for Bismarck must attach them to his cause; but politically the whole German nation will be in subjection to absolutism. ‘Ihere will be no more in- dependence anywhere; all Germans will be employes of the State. This is what I mean by saying that Bismarck is not a foe to socialism. He has only manw@uvred adroitly that the liberals have voted their own destruction; and he is not now persecuting socialism, but democracy, in persveuting social democrats. You have evidence of this in the fact that the Christian socialists of Hof- prediger Stécker in Berlin are untroubled; not so the democratic socialists. From my views of the state of German politics, it follows that what Germany needs is the strengthen- ing of individualism. It is not with us as with you in England. In Euyland individualism is too strong; to enhance the power of the State would do no harm’ in England, because that country has nothing to fear from absolutism; with us the contrary is the case. HOW THE AFGHANS FELL. A CAMEL RACE AT PESHAWOR, AS TOLD IN AN ALLEGORY, (From the London Daily News correspondent.) A gymkhana is, in effect, an informal and im- promptu race meeting, and the events age too trivial to excite betting. The “grand stand” at the Pesha- wur gymkhuna consisted of # tent with afew benches in and in front of it, with a table at the side on which were refreshments; but many people used their vehicles as stands, and others were content to seunter up and down on the grass and take their chance of an occasional glimpse of the proceedings, The fea ture of the day was a camel race, gentleman riders up. —— you would care to read the entry list. ere it is: — Chamberlain «Mission. Viceroy’! - Ultimatum, Filial Piety. ..Frontier Policy. ‘The start was a flying onc, Mission cutting out the ace; but he lost ground at the bend, and Peace with Honor showed prominently up to the straight, but died away. Chicanery was well up as far as the dis- tance, but he compounded when collared, and was not persevered with. Frontier Policy waa never in it, and Retreat bolted off the course, Ultimatum pro- voked great derision by the oddness of his action, and Resistance came down a burster, spilling his rider. Finally Mission, staying well, made up his lost ground, and his rider, coming with quite a Chifney rush at the end, landed him an easy winner. Camels when they cauter are irreatatibly ludicrous quimais; their best pace is the trot, in which they give one a vivid idea of four-legged ostriches, At the trot a good camel can travel @ short distance at the rate of eight miles an hour, but it may be said asa rule that the camel infinitely prefers @ walk, at the rate of two miles an hour, and much prefers squatting down to moving at ail. SNOWBALLS AND PISTOL SHOTS. Louis Quahl, of Taylor street, was walking along Broadway, near Moore street, Williamsburg, yester- day afternoon, dressed so neatly as to attract the attention of his fellow travellers on the sidewalk. His care in preserving the polish on his boots by avoiding anything that would soil them or cause him to slip, drew from a rough crowd on the corner of Moore strect several remarks, to which he paid no attention. Then they saluted him with # shower of snow and ico, some of which latter missiles struck him. He drew a pistol and fired two shots in the air to intimidate them, His action had a contrary effect, however, and under cover of another shower of missites they attacked him and knocked him down, one William Meyers takin away the pistol and running off with it, Quaht took advantage of @ passing car to jump on the rear plat form, where he was followed by two of the crowd, named George Michels and Christian Sehultz, who continued the beating on the car, Sergeant Cort, who had been attracted by the shooting, arrived at this stage of the proceedings, and arrested Schultz and Michels, and, atter lodging them in the Flushing avenue station house, went back to the scene of the disturbance, and after a short search in the neighbor- hood us eoded in nein Meyers, whom he jovked up on @ charge of way robbery for twki | tho pisok. we NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, JANUARY COMPANIES, CITY FIRE INSURANCE ANNUAL REPORTS YOR DECEMBER, 1878, COMPARED WITH THOSE FOR THE SAME MONTH IN 1877, Axpany, Jap. 25, 1879. 'The following contains the remainder of the an- nual reports of the New York city fire insurance companies for December 31, 1878, as compared with the same for December 31, 1877:— NEW YORK, 1878, $405,344 45 200,000 00 48,339 34 160,005 11 99,813 83 96,043 26 1,829,650 00 500,000 00 374,608 00 5,012 OO 2,440 00 “ 525,501 00 NORTH RIVER. aes 499,976 83 481,667 27 350,000 00 16,835 71 124,141 12 65,260 49 66,553 93 “ACIP 706, 200,000 00 $1,392 17 424,382 92 179,571 97 4 161,516 08 153,916 11 PARK, + 335,607 76 330,732 01 200,000 00 200,000 00 33,047 25 26,709 73. Net surplus, 102,500 51 103,962 28 Income....... 73,523 O1 69,115 99 Expenditures + 91,036 97 68,608 20 Assets... 283,104 06 Capital: 150,000 00 Liabilities 25,8) 88 Net surplus 107,204 18 Income... 60,661 77 Expenditures. 61,508 28 Assets... +++ 873,736 72 367,752 97 Capital... se. 150,000 00 150,000 00 Liabilities. 17,711 00 17,278 70 Net surplus. 206,025 72 200,474 27 Income... 53,062 64 44,721 43 53,724 07 51,653 68 310,876 11 200,000 00 49,569 79) Net surplus. 55,754 93 61,308 32 Income.... 132,749 17 129,334 00 Expenditures. 128,148 45 115,43 90 423,840 57 300,000 00 87,018 00 36,824 57 149,905 66 128,966 17 Assets Capital... Liabilities. Net surplus... Income.... 100,359 76 96,916 96 SAFEGUARD. 391,089 22 390,424 00 200,000 00 200,000 00 76,246 61 87,315 00 Net surplus. 103,409 00 Income.... 157,540 16, 150,905 58 292,879 96 Capital. Liabilities. Net surplu: Income... 143,458 95 173,611 26 $ 128,937 7 425,197 200,001 121,269 73 78,513 25 "AR, 417,893 53 600,567 44 200,000 00 300,000 00 Liabilities 89,141 70 129,24 Net surplus. 1 1Qs751 83 171,318 39 Income. . + 146,769 13 190,999 86 166,004 94 71,501 20 388,488 83 150,000 00 57,187 3 181,301 49 114,511 01 i548 22 UNITED STATES. see cess 499,784 50 504,437 00 250,000 00 250,000 00 21,141 63 23,106 00 Net surplus. ++ 225,642 97 231,331 00 Tnecome... 70,037 58. 63,967 00. 72,920 17 64,658 00 TEMPEST TOSSED. ROUGH WEATHER REPORTED BY INCOMING VES- SELS-—-OCEAN STEAMERS MET BY A SUCCESSION OF GALES. Nearly all the vessels that arrived in this port yes- terduy report stormy ocean passages and narrow escapes from foundering. ‘The Cunard line steamer Parthia, Captain McKay, left Liverpool January 11, touching at Queenstown on the 12th. The weather ‘was thick and hazy when she put out. On the morn- ing of the 18th the wind had shifted from west north- west to west and was blowing a perfect hurricane. ‘The Parthia was then in latitude 47 deg. 21 min. and longitude 35 deg. 25 min. The decks were swept by the sea, and all who remained above were in great danger of being swept overboard. ‘The steamer pitched bi etna | shipping large bodies of water. This hurricane di rease in violence until the The three following days they experienced ‘y snow storms, and, although the wind moder- ated considerably, the sea still remained high. A STORMY PASSAGE. ‘The steamer Daniel Steinmann, Captain De Sinct, with merchandise and passengers to Funch, Edye & Co., arrived at her pier in Jersey City after a passage of twenty-two days from Antwerp, having encoun- tered a succession of gales during the entire voyage. On January 9, while in latitude 48 deg. 40 min. and longitude 23 deg. 30 min., the steamer met with a terrific gale and a confused sea, which lasted for cight hours. The gale, somewhat moderated, continued blowing steadily from the northwest, and on the 11th and 12th inst, the sea was so violent that the chart room was stove in and several of the hatches damaged, The steamer Weser, of the North German Lloyd line, lect Bremen January 12, stopping at Southamp- ton the 15th, and during her trip across the Atlantic hal heavy gales and ateurful sea, Last Saturday by when off Fire Island, the vessel was covered with ice. SWAMPED IN THE GALE. Thomas Day, James Paul and Andrew Betz, three men employed on the dredging machine at “Black Tom” Island, in New York Bay, where they also resided, left the island on Saturday afternoon to visit this city for the purpose of inaking some purchases, ‘They returned to Jersey City about midnight, and hired a boat at by gs for the pur- pose of rowing over to the island. ‘Lhey had reached half way across to their destination when their boat was swamped in the gale then blowing. Betz swam to the isi and looking around saw i on the point of drowning. He sprang into the water again and brought him safely to the shore, Paul was not seen is, and not being able to «win his comrades gave him up as drowned. He was forty years of age and unmarried, His body had not been recovered up to last night. MGLORY IN LUCK. “Billy” MeGlory, proprietor of the Windsor Palace, at No. 103 Bowery, was before Judge Murray yester- day inthe Essex Market Police Court. He was ar. rested by Detective Quigley, of the Tenth precinct, on Friday afterno on @ charge of robbery, preferred by Bugene M f No. J16 First street, Brooklyn, and taken to court, but Jndge Murray remanded him back ‘the wight We basse ot station house, where he spent the night. Yesterday no one appeared against ihn and ho Was diocharged. om CAUGHT AGAIN. Jeremiah Quirk, of No. 14 Moore strect, Williams- burg, who has been arrested for numerous offences and “served time” for them, was arrested again yes- terday for # sneak robbery on the premises of Martin Mayer, No. 145 Walton street. Quirk, in company with another man, entered the premises by means of false keys and stole jewelry, &c., to the value of $60, Quirk says he can prove ® clear alibi, and as the property has not been recovered much interest is manifested in police citcies as to whether he will escape punisument on this charge or not. 27, 1879.-TRIPLE SHEET. THE LEGISLATIVE OUTLOOK. Lobbying and Wirepulling at the State Capital. CORPORATION INFLUENCES A WORK. Lobby Reminiscences and What May Again Happen in Albany. BILLS IN HAND AND TO COME. ALBANY, Jan, 26, 1879. ‘The Legislative fever has come upon us this year with unusual vim and promise. By this assertion Imean to convey the idea that the distinguished members of Senate and Assembly have thrown a more than usual animation into the preliminaries of what may be somewhat aptly termed their “annual raid.” To the general public (some of whom, per- haps, only glancing casually at the actual routine of business here) it might prove an entertaining—and an astonishing study, too—to delve a little deeper into the real vital issue and schemes underlying Legislative proceedings at the State capital. This year the study promises to be a very interesting one and will well repay attention. “THE HAZARD OF THE DIE."* It is conceded upon all sides that the work and character of the present Legislature must determine to a large extent the political prospects of the repub- lican party in the State next fall. Many go so far as to say that the national struggle of 1880 will also be seriously affected, more or less, in the same connection. When the political field is scanned from Albany standpoints such conclusions cannot be considered visionary in any respect. Out of the 128 members of the Lower House the republicans can count ninety-seven; twenty Senators sit around the semicircle with their twelve democratic colleagues. Two more Senators would have given the republi- cans a two-third-vote in the latter body. In sucha contingency what might not have been accomplished in the interest of party and partisanship? It is for- tunate for the people, however, that such is not the ease. Governor Robinson to-day stands ready, with pen in hand, to strike down any measure having for its sole objects partisanship and individual or corpo- ration interests, But a great deal can be left undone by the present Legislature which will result in mak- ing its reputation as low as when Tweed and company, aided by the lobby, bought up each member, body and soul, at a stipulated price. Will this be the re- sult of all the work of the Legislature of 1879? The session must have advanced much further before a proper opinion can be based on this consideration. In my last review as to logislative prospects (written before Speaker Alvord bad designated his House com- mittees, and published in the Hrnaup of the 19th inst.) I gave a short hst of what might be considered important measures for action by this Legislature. If they are not attended to people will naturally seck for a reason.’ Well, it will not be diffi- cult to draw conclusions in the event of such neg- leet, The easiest possible way to solve the conun- drum is to refer to that celebrated historian, William M. Tweed, in his narrative as to how the charter of 1870 was rushed through; then make comparisons as to how @ similar course could be adopted now, so | as to prevent legislation against the interests of the New York Central Railroad, the insurance and other rings. Willthe present Legislature of “high moral idcas’’—ninety-veven immaculate Assemblymen and twenty grave and reverend Senators— risk the future of their party in State and nation ‘on the hazard of a die” iu giving the cold shoulder to needtul legisla tion simply because— Well, it is better to let the “free and independent voters” who sent these gentle- men to Albany draw their own conclusions as to specific apologies. ‘THE TEST BILLS, ‘The list of important measures which might oper- ate in testing the immaculate purity of our ‘‘respon- sible majority,” and which, no doubt, ought to be passed upon at once, will bear repetition here. They are as follows :— 1, Passage of a new appropriation bill, by which the thousands of voters in this State, at present unrepre- sented in the Legislature, can have a voice in the mak- ing of 1a 2, The abolition and amendment of statutes by which the taxpayers of New York can be relieved of paying at least $5,000,000 a year in extravagant salaries and for the support of sinecurists who could scarcely earn a living at any reputable employ- ment. 3. Abolishing the fees of Register, Sheriff and County Clerk (which amount annually to from $50,000 to $100,000), and bp era offices salaried, so that the fees might go into the city treasury. ‘4. Passage of an equitable excise law, which will protect the liquor interest as well as lovers of law and order, and prevent the police from blackmailing and Excise Commissioncrs from arrest and removal through misconception of their duties, Reforming the well known abuses in public judrkets in New York city, by which standholders and their friends are said to be blackmailed and the city defrauded of u large amount of revenue. 6. Changing the statutes governing the Dock De- artment in New York, by which the income from ks, wharves aud piers can be y increased and the sinking fund for extinguishing the city debt materially enhanced, 7. Providing additional protection for depositors in savings banks and holders of policies in insurance companies. 8. Enacting statutes which will benefit the masses a st the encroachment of powerful railroad and other corporations in their seizure of public and pri- vate property for the benetit of rings. . Compelling a proper accounting for and collec- tion of personal and real taxes where corporations are parties in interest. Of course, these are only a few of the very many considerations which must undoubtedly result in testing the good sense of our republican Legiaature. We have, no doubt, many able and honest men in both branches. Let them come tg the front mantully and present measures which will test the character of many of their colleagues, now looked upon here as simply the tools of corporations sud — cliques. Some of them, too, are charged with being in the receipt of salaries as compensation for legis- lative services. Leyisiatures of former years, of both parties, have thus been again and — brought into disrepute, until all decent men turned away their heads in shame at the record. Accordgmg to resent ap) ces we are to have somewhat sim- lar operations in certain quarters here this winter. ‘The cause and effect, and the men respon- sible for the sume, must be developed as» the session progresses, Whoever throws him- self in the way of ref legislation, jormatory either by the usual underhand trickery #0 prev- alont here in committees or by the more open war- fare on the floor of the Legislature, will be sure to be marked, and must expect to get his deserts at the bar of public opinion, Again, it may be asked, why will those gentlemen take such risks in direct Seeeee to public sentiment? An extract from Tweed's always interesting narrative before the New York Aldermanic Committee might help the inquisitive in deciding such an ixsue, It is as tollows:— SUGGESTIONS FOR THE UNINITIATED. (Questions by Mr. Cole, Assistant Corporation Counsel, Answers by Mr. .) to buy through that we “How was that money raised week lazge part of it wan taleed. by the ‘A large was notes jointl; of Connolly and Smith, made payable to my order, ef Connolly and myself, made payable to Smith's order, or Smith and myself, payable to Connolly's order, as the, case might be, and discounted at the Broadway Bank, I think some were discounted in the Nationa) Central; as ® general thing made pay- ay my order and discounted at the Broadway ou had them discounted in the Browdway Na- tional Bank 7” es, sir.” Well, then, the money having come into your hands, did you use it personally in influoncing mem- bers of the Legisiature 1” did, sir.” id you pay rb sgpeng be them ?”” mn fo some Senators, yes, sir, What was paid in the Assembly was paid, almost all of it, by Mr. A. D. Barber, who was then doing a good deal of that busi- ness in Albany.” Mr. Barber is also in Albany now; so is Mr. “Kd” Phelps, so is Mr. Charles Edwards, so is Mr. Joho Wiley. It i# understood, however, that these gentle- men are here simply in scientific and artistic inter- ests. I saw Mr. Phelps yesterday ¢' ed in a Re. rious study of the outlines of that wonderful daub near the roof of the Assembly Chamber in the new Capitol. It represents several ladies in the act of emerging from the water, Mr, Phelps was lost in admiration. An artistic light beamed all over his handsome countenance. The wrapt attitude of Mr. Phelps convined me beyond a shadow of » doubt that the artistic attractions of the new 1 had alone brought himself and his colleagues, Messrs. Wiley and Kdwards, to Albany this winter. But ba return to the former “Father of the Council” and the express purpose lature to vote f for thi “Yes, sir,” “How much money did you pay?” “I have no idea—hundreds of thousands of dollars."* “As Tanch ae gaon.oaor” pee s ‘ust ut ti that; ut $600, sa ree times that $600,000, ‘ou pay that over to him in money?” that to him in money, direct, because I think after the session adjourned there was some AO ce 41.008 on $50,000 that required to be 4 3 . I iy toc or _ e @ came to my office and I gave him “The check came back to you indorsed?” “Yes, sir; I think it = 36,000; the balance af work done in Albany that winter. ‘stood to be Mr, Barber's business “What is under: 4 eve he has sworn , before the commit tee, that his business is to walk up and down the hill and talk to members. Mr, Barber is a very smart man and very conversant with matters ot legislation, and is very valuable for advice in those matters. He has spent @ great many years there, knows a great many members, and his advice is sound generally.” The above is history it we ure to believe Tweed. ‘The adage is that history repeats itself, Will it do 80 in this instance? We can only wait and see, ee ee Our THE BAITS. we are judge from the numerous refori bills already introduced both iu Sonate and Asuasbiy and the floodgates also about to be opened upon us during the next three months New York city aud State will stand purified, regenerated and disen- thralled after the adjournment of the present Legis- lature—that is if the bilis become law. I hear, too, of # number of excellent measures about to be intro- duced as soon as they receive the necessury finishing touches. Among the Cie, bills already before the- Legislature ‘and those about to be brought up are the follow! 1, Strahan’s bill, throwing additional safeguards apoune the letting of public contracts in New York city. 2. Langbein’s Excise bill annulling the black- mailing liquor law at present in force, or not in force, ax the Police Department ot New York city may determine, 3. Dr. Hayes’ Pespesiton, as to free canals, 4. Mr. Fish’s bill defining the duty of Siate and municipal officials, officers and trustees of corporas tions and institutions in loaning out public and pri- ite trust funds, . Bill abolishing the unnecessary expenses in- curred in publishing session laws every year in two county newspapers, 6, Mr. Sheridan's bill cutting down the fare for passengers on the Union ferries to Brooklyn to one hi = be Rina the day and night. + Mr. Seebucher’s bill reforming Corporation At- torney Boyd’s office, singh si 8, Proposed bills of Dr. Hayes and Mr. Strahan cutting down the enormous official salaries in New York city, amounting, according to Mr. Brooks, to $14,500,000 annually, Dr. Hayes may be trusted to report a good bill on this important subject. Mr. Madigan’s bill compelling railroad com- panies to provide conductors as well as drivers tor their -‘bobtail’”’ horse cars in New York city. 10. Senator Hogun’s bill providing for the appoint- ment of two Special Sessions justices. 11. Senator Loomis’ bill creating a board of three railroad commissioners, who will have supervision of all the railroads in the State. 12. Senator Murphy's bill cutting down the num- ber of justices expenditures in the Marine Court. 13. Senator Murphy's bill transterring the Dock Department to the control of the Department of Public Works. 14, Mr. Skinner's bill abolishing the Insurance De- partment. ‘The charges preferred against Insurance Superintendent Smyth and the peculiar practices sanctioned under that department must clearly show the necessity for this bill. 15, Mr. Langbein’s bill to break up the referee ri in New York city. It provides tor the appointmen of twenty first class lawyers as standing referees, who shall have charge of all law matters where tho duties of such officials are required. They are to be appointed by the Chief Judges of the Supreme, Superior, Common Pleas and Marine Courts in the First Judicial district. SPOILING LEGISLATIVE TRICKS. It is given out that we are to have lively times before the session is much older. The better element of the republican party in the Assembly, who, it is understood, opposed Alyord’s election to the Speaker- ship, and have been almost entirely ignored in the formation of committees, propose to combine with honest democrats in order to break up the power of corporation rings, who have apparently controlled the organization of the House. This can be easily done and good legislation thus secured as far as the House is concern The bill of Mr. Skinher abolish- ing the Insurance Department will prebaiay. open the tight next week. . George B. Sloan, the defeated candidate for Speaker, is just the man to lead such a movement. He appears to have determination, coolness, ability aud the natural sayacity to carry on Such a campaign. It is conceded by intelligent re- publicans here that a vigorous stroke of this charac- ter, if successful, wo raise their party out of the corrupt corporation influence which, as stated, placed Alvord in the er’s chair, and which aim to run the present islature in the same ve that has disgraced so similar bodies the past. The disappointed a its for places upon committees are for the struggle. They want revenge, and are likely to get it. The able men on their side begin to see that tiie panile thoroughly appreciate how Legislatures are run ehind the scenes und beneath the surface. If tho House should rise out of this deadly control of legis- lation by committee tactics the Senate dare not refuse to follow the good example, MRS. SENATOR BRUCE. {From the Baltimore American, Jan. 25.) Ever since the colored Senator from Mississippi, Mr. Bruce, brought his bride to the capital Washing- ton society has directed a curious gaze upon Mrs. Senator Bruce and wondered what part she would take in the social life here. There was no inconsid- erable fear in some quarters that a grave social ques- tion had arisen, which would not only create much * unpleasantness but might bring out the ‘color line” in an awkward relief. The social rank of a United States Senator is not to be disregarded; hence the position occupied by Mrs. Bruce was felt to be a del- icate one that called for consummate tact in recog nizing it. Two months have passed, however, and there is not a ripple upon the social current. The apprehensions of well meaning persons have disap- peared, and yet Mrs. Bruce has been re- ceived as a member of Washington s0- ciety, and her bearing emphatically ap- proved thereby. This result has been largely Drought about by tho level-headedness of the colored Senator himsclf, Speaking incidentally of this matter to your cosveaponient yesterday he showed how easily was his life made clear of social entanglements, Said he:—-“The social question has never been @ matter of concern to me since I was elected to the Senate. When Icame here I made w bon Pop mg to let the society question adjust itself ithout any of my intervention. have never at- tempted to force my way into society, and in letting things take their natural course I have never had a particle of trouble. I believe that it is only the one who seeks trouble from the ‘color line’ that finds it; and, dismissing all ideas on the race question from my mind, I find my social life passes smoothly and pleasantly.” ‘The Senators good sense in the matter having long been known by his col- leagues, even when he was a bachelor, his card bas- ket was filled with as many cards of invitation = sibly as any distinguished person here. When Mrs. Bruce took up her residence here the first person to pay her respects to the bride was the wife of the President. was so much pleased with Mrs, Bruce's ladylike bearing that she re) her visit, and then soon followed nearly all of the Senators’ and a large number of members’ wives. Of course, the Cabinet ladies were not behindhand in their respects, and, as is the custom here, after the wife of the Secretary of State had by calling formally inducted Mrs, Bruce into Washington society visits became general—so much so in fact that time has not allowed of their being repaid. Every one who has called at Senator Bruce’s residence, at No. 9) M street, where he has recently removed from College Hill, speaks in glowing terms of his wife. Her ity and accomplishments are both praised, and even those who went to see her, more to ae a love of curiosity than anything ¢| accord er a full meed of praise. Mrs. Brace re her marriage was Mise Josephine Wilson, daughter of Dr, Wilson, a wealthy resident of Cleveland, Ohio, She graduated with high honors at the Cleveland High School, and speaks French and German fluently. She is of fine presence; her complexion is a rich olive; her hair jet black, silken, in greed and luse trous in hue; eyes are full and dark, and teeth per- feet. There is a grace in her movements that any lady might be proud of, and, better than all, there is a viuiot dliguity ‘in her manners that bespeaks the per- fect lady, She resembles closely what we all imagine # beautiful Spanish lady to be, and no one cognizant of her birth could trace any signs African blood, T have often heard in the South that these signs wero ‘unmis le, and no matter how fair in complexion and how removed from the negro, the marks of African blood were always visible. Mrs, Bruce puts wuch theories to flight. Senator Bruce is of the color designated in the South as ‘saddle colored,” and is ® cami lb eat ic ANOTHER DEFICIENCY, The State Insurance Company of Jersey City, of which John Halliard, the ox-bank president, now un- dor indictment for embezzlement, perjury and con. spiracy, was formerly president, recently reorganized under anew board of directors and elected Andrew Clerkf president and James J, Reid xocretary. A com- mittee consisting of the counsel to the com- and Mr. John Craven was pany, Jacob Weart, appointed to examine the books and securi- ties of the concern up to the time of Mr. Hailiard’s resignation. This committee discov- ered a new deficiency of about $50,000, Mr. Halliard had under hia control bonds the cities of Jersey City, Hudson City and Bayoone, which he had ro- orted from time to time as being in bank, Tho pnds were not, however, in bank. The directors met on Saturday evening in Jersey City and decided to get over the deficioncy by cancelling one-half of Barber, | thoir present stock of $104,000 and issue an amount of preferred stock tv equal the amount now out,