The New York Herald Newspaper, February 14, 1879, Page 6

NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, TROPRIETOR. THE DAILY HERALD. puiished snery doy ed). Ten Three cents per copy ‘Sundays oxelud cur, five dollars for six im: two dollars for three months, or at a rato of one dullar per month for sd leas than éhree juonths, Sunday edition Included, stag LY HERALD—Ono dollar por yenr, free of post: are. ‘NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS.—Remit in drafts on Now York or Post Office money orders, aud where neither of these ein be procured send the money in a reyistered lettor, All Money remitted at risk of sender. Tn order to insure atten- tion subscribers wishing their address changed must give their old as well as their new address, ‘All business, news letters or telegraphle despatches must De addressed New Youk Hxnaun. Letters and packages should be proporly sealed. Rejected communications will not be returned, be No PHILADELPHIA OFFICE—NO. 112 SOUTH SIXTH LONDON OF! NO, 46 FLE! PARIS OFFIC NAPLES OF! shubecriptions and tl AMUSEMENTS 'TO-NIGHT. WALLACK'S—Oors. UNION SQUARE THEATRE—Tie Banker's Davourem NIBLO’S GARDEN—H. GLOBE THEATRE. FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE: BOOTH'S THEATRE—Tne € THEATRE COMIQUE—MuLuicax Guar Bau. TIVOLI THEATRE—Vanixty. NEW YORK AQUARIU SAN FRANCISCO MINS ACADEMY OF DESI WINDSOR THEATR TONY PASTOR’S—Vart LY 14, 1878 The probabilities are that the weather in New York and its vicinity to-day will be cool and partly cloudy or fair, perhaps with light flurries of snow, * To-morrow it will be cold and fair. Wat Srreer Yesrerpay.—The stock mar- ket was fairly active and prices were irregular, Government bonds were weak, States steady aud railroads strong. Money on call was eusy at 11g a2 percent, advanced to 6 per cent and closed at 219 a 3 per cent. Soctery 1x SAMOA has a choice bit of scandal in the elopement of the Princess Toe with the Prince Malietoa. THE EXTRAORDINARY Speen of seventy miles an hour is said to have been made by one of the ice yachts on the Upper Hudson yesterday. Mayor Coorer is evidently determined to keep Commissioner Erhardt’s nose at the grind- stone. His last letter looks something like busi- ness. Tue Cavcusine of both parties in Congress on the wind up of the session makes a rather gloomy outlook for the lobby and ‘the office- ecekers. Iv Owen Murrny were around he would quickly settle the quarrel between the old and the new Excise Commissioners as to whom the license moncy belongs. i Youne Hors, who is accused of complicity in the rovbery of the Manhattan Bank, may be in- nocent, but unless several witnesses are very much mistaken he was in and around the build- ing the morning of the burglary. His examina- tion has not yet been finished. Tux Story of the two survivors of the schooner Estella, which was capsized in mid- ocean last month, forms a sad chapter of human suffering. For fifteen days they were at the mercy of the waves on a water-logged craft, their only food being a few apples and some sulted fish. 2 Tur Testimony in the Smith murder trial yesterday was a curious jumble of comedy and tragedy. Mrs.- Smith, it seems, was stage struck. One of the witnesses testified that he had heard her recite Shakespeare—at least it sounded like Shakespeare to him, because “it had something in it like, ‘Begone, villain! ” Ir tue Bit introduced in the Legislature yes- terday providing for the consolidation of tho small towns around Brooklyn and their govern- ment by a commission becomes a law it may be the means of effecting some needed reforms. At all events it would be difficult to conceive of a worse condition of affairs among them than exists at present. Tux Amern, according to our special despatch from Tashkend this morning; has resolved to invoke the protection of the Czar, the embassy whieh will arrive at Samarcand in a few days having full power to treat. No negotiations will be entered upon and no terms made with the British. Shere Ali appears to be entirely oblivious of the fire in his rear by his model son, Yakoob Khan. Tue Weatner.—The storm centre is vow moving northeastward over Newfoundland, hav- ing made quite a rapid progress since yesterday morning. The pressures behind the storm rep- resent lower gradients than they did when it Was on the coast, but they are sutfliciently steep to induce strong winds northward of Sandy Hook. The barometer continues highest in the West and is increasing southward toward the Gulf; but a low pressure has moved southeast- ward from Texas into the Gulf of Mexicoand will intluence the weather along the coast to Florida, and, perhaps, northeastward during the next Light snows have fallen northward of e. As might be expected the prevail- ing winds are northwesterly and westerly. ‘Tomperatures haye fallen briekly at all points west of the Alleghanies, in Canada and New England, and even in the South Atlantic States. They are lowest in Manitoba. Cloudiness ia general through the Ohio Valley, the Middle Atluntic and New England States, the lake dis- triet and Canada, The storm at St. John, N. B., during Wednesday and yesterday was very severe. The Dutterin breakwater is almost wholly destroyed and much damage inflicted along the water frent of the The snow prevents communication by railroad in Canada. Jleavy ice gorges ore feared at Port Jervis, Ow special weather cable despatches from London announce that last evening the weather ut St. Catherine’s Point was stormy, with southwesterly winds. At Plymouth a fresh southerly wind prevailed, with thick, cloudy weather; barometer, 20.54 inehes. At Holy- lead the wind was southeasterly and moderate, ‘Yhe stonn centre referred to in the cable warne ing seut by the Hunatpy Weather Bureau on the 11th inst, is now close on the British coasts. In New York and its vicinity today the weather will be cool and partly cloudy or fair, perhaps with light flarries of snow. To-morrow it will be cold and fair, NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1879.—TRIPLE SHEET. Political Journalism. Comptroller Kelly took occasion, in ad- dressing a democratic meeting on Tyesday evening, to urge upon his audience the im- portance of supporting their party organs in this city. Cards were passed around giving those present an opportunity to subscribe for Mr. Kelly’s morning organ, and accord- ing to the report the meeting rapidly thinned out at that stage of the proceed- ing:. Mr. Kelly isa shrewd politiciun and an able nan of business, but he hassomething to learn respecting the success of newspapers. It is creditable to his intelligence that he recognizes the great part played by the press in moulding public opinion, but he does not yet understand the means by which the modern press exerts its mighty influence. The memory of the colebrated Fletcher of Saltoun is preserved from oblivion by his pointed saying, ‘‘Let me make the songs of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws.” This saying was uttered before there was anything deserving the name of a public’ press, in an age when songs and popular ballads were almost the only means of reaching the popular mind. But tho sagacity of the remark has redeemed the memory of a man who would otherwise have been irretrievably forgotten. By the songs of a nation Fletcher of Saltoun did not mean stupid doggerel, written in the interest of a party, but productions of genius, like, for-example, the chansons of Beranger in more recent times, which were so potent in the politics of France because they touched the deepest chords of popular foeling. ‘The political aim without the genius would have fallen flat. Another instructive parallel is found in the theatre in those bygone ages, when the stage wasa great power in stimulating polit- ical sentiment. ‘Lhe diverting play which is just now the rage and the toast of theatre- goers in New York is a flimsy enongh play, but it assists us in realizing the great power of the stage in those eras when the stage was the best substitute for the modern press, ‘There could not be a more apt illustration. The wonderful success of this play in London, before it was trans-, planted to New York, was owing to its effective satire on Mr. Smith, the enter- prising newsdealer, who was so surpris- ingly put at the head of the Admiralty. But, although the satire is pointless in this’ country, the farce, or opera, or whatever you choose to call it, is so amusing and so abounds in happy hits that the drollery makes it infinitely popular even in ao country where the audiences fail to per- ceive the main point of the satire. It is easy to see how the rollick- ing fun of such a performance must have contributed to its -political effect upon a London audience. But..nothiag could have been more tame and insipid thas an invective against the appointment.of.a London newsdealer as First Lord of. the Admiralty if the play had had no merits as @ popular entertainment. Its effectiveness as a satire depended on its drollery as a play. Apart from the comic talent, whigh attracted laughing crowds, this farcical play as a mere political diatribe would have fallen flat and have made no impression. Let us apply these illustrations to the publication of newspapers. A newspaper which Itas nothing to recommend it but its politics must necessarily bore its readers. It is like Fletcher of Saltoun’s songs with- out the genius which. take the populay heart captive. It is like a. play .comy sisting of mere invective, without the droll- ery and comical hits which force people to laugh who care nothing for the main pur- pose of the satire. Mr. Kelly as a journalist resembles a song writer whose productions have no power to kindle; he resembles a playwright who thinks mere invective will be accepted as asubstitute for the enlivening power by which an audience is captivated. A modern newspaper differs from the old methods of stirring: popular sentiment by appealing to its appetite for news and novelty. Everybody desires the earliest in- telligence of what is going on in the world, and it isthe great object of our present journalism to minister to this eager curiosity. The journals which most promptly and co- piously satisfy it are the most success- inl, and the time is past when any other description of journalism can se- cure public attention. A great jour- nal is ao universal news gatherer, a universal trpth teller. It cannot afford to have any aims which are inconsistent with its telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, let the truth wound or help whom it may. Every other kind of journalism is obsolete and behind this age of expensive telegraphs and more expensive ocean cables. The day is long past when any newspaper (falsely so-called) can gain and keep public attention by the everlast- ing reiteration of dull political platitudes. The Evening Express is pleased to say of the Henatp:— ‘The Henri isa great paper. It is one of the institutions of the city. It is really independent, and if it helps the democratic cause it is because the truth compels it todo so.” So faras the simple unvarnished truth may help any party the Henarp may help it, bat the Henarp is as indifferent os to whether, it helps or harms any party as a mirror or o@ photograph can be as to whether the image or the portrait is handsome or ugly. If Mr. Kelly and his party can be benefited by the truth that is a fair advantage, and they are welcomo to make the most of it; but they must not, squirm when the truth does not help them. The only point on which we are disposed to insist is that the publication of a party organ of the obsolete type is not jour- nalism. The substance of Mr. Kelly's appeal for subscriptions to his morning organ was that the democratic party of the city needs local democratic organs to support its claims. Would he have his organs state anything but the truth? A newspaper which sup- presses or disguises the truth when the truth is unfavorable, a newspaper which distorts or exaggerates or calors the truth in the interest of its party, soon comes to be distrusted in every political statement it makes, and can gain no hold on public con- filence. The true way for a party to suc- ceed is by doing nothing which requires concealment or apology, Independent journals, like the Henaxp, will always give correct accounts both of the merits and shortcomings of a city adminis!ration, and the public judgment will be formed on the impartial information furnished by the independent press. A man of Mr. Kelly's sagacity should know that all the mero personal or party organs which he may start and strive to support by ingen- ious appeals will not enable him to hide from the public in general, nor even from the bulk of his own party, the truth that the public is not well served, and that hum- bug, lucre and personal aggrandizement, not the public good, are the impelling motives of our city politics. Many efforts have been made to ‘establish party organs here and elsewhere, but they have failed, as much by their constant suppression of damaging truth as by the absurd ex- peotation that the public. would accept party zeal as a substitute-ior enterprise and expense in supplying their readers with in- teresting news. Everybody gets tired of the everlasting thrashing over of the old political straw aftor the little grain it held has been extracted. The hold of a journal on public attention depends upon ever fresh supplies of important news given so early as to preserve the full gloss of novelty and with such unswerving fidelity to truth as to satisfy readers that thoy are honestly dealt with. Party organs are always des- tined to failure: because the principle on which they are conducted violates the tun- damental condition of true journalism. President Hayes to Collector Merritt. It is an unusual and, so far as we are aware, an unexampled thing for the Presi- dent of the United States to address a letter of congratulation to one of his appointees onhis confirmation by the Senate. The circumstances of General .Merritt’s case perhaps justify so singular a proceeding ; but if a President were to write letters of congratulation to all his appointees on their confirmation he would be burdened with a needless amount of correspondence. The simple fact that the President makes an ap- pointment is a sufficient proof of his con- fidence and good will. This exceptional letter was evidently written with a view to publication, and is a convenient vehicle for removing, or attempting to remove, the im- pression made by certain letters written to Collector Arthur, which were read by Sena- tor Conkling in the executive session when the confirmation of Mr. Merritt was under consideration. ‘Those letters have not been published, but according to the reported summary of the contents they consisted of requests to appoint personal friends of tho President and of the Secretary of the Treas- ury to offices in the Custom House. The note to General Merritt seems to have been..,.waitten, to efface the impression made,on;the public mind by those letters. The President says to the new Collector:— “Neither my,reeommendation nor that of Secretary. Sherman, .nor of any member of of Congress or otherinfluential person must be specially regarded.” But would it not be better for President Hayes and Secretary Sherman to refrain from recommending their friends at all? A Collector who feels so deep a sense of obligation to them as Mr. Merritt must naturally feel ought not to be embarrassed and made unconifortable by rejecting the applications of these high functionaries, to whom he owes +so much,,and,, who. are his official supe- Tigrs;:to0-,7whom he is accountable. The principles stated in this letter are ex- Gellent,like all.the general declarations of Pregident,-Hayes. But if hemsks the Col- lector to give places to his personal friends, Mr. Merritt will be tempted to discover qualifications which do not really exist by a natural reluctance to thwart the wishes of the President, We wish that instead of telling Collector Merritt to pay no special regard to his own recommendations the President had assured the Collector that hoe would relieve him from all embarrassment on that head by abstaining from making any requests of the kind. Two Great’ Fires, The principal conflagrations of yester- day were not as destructive to property as some others which have occurred of late, but they will appear more promi- nent because of their peculiar nature The Rogers Locomotive Works, which were the principal feature of tho Paterson fire, were claimed to be the largest in the world, and their destruction will undoubtedly cause serious‘annoyance to some American and foreign roads which had work in prog- ress there, The number of residences consumod by the fire which spread from the Rogers works was unusual in city conflagrations and naturally ex- cited serious apprehensions for the safety of the city. The fire at the Tattersall Stables was remarkable for the lamentable loss of animal life which it occasioned, and it emphasizes the need of some intelligent system of removing enimals rapidly from buildings so quick to burn as even the safest stables are. Horses are easily terrified and made uncontrollable by the sight of tiré, but there are methods of safely removing +them from burning buildings, and in stables where valuable animals are as numerous iis they are in New York every hostler and stable boy should be made acquainted with them. u Another Change in Venezuela. Aspecial cable despatch tothe Herarp from St. Thomas, West Indies, announces the defeat of the Venezuelan insurgents by the government troops, and the triumphal entry of the latter into Caracas, the capital. This news will surprise many observers of South American affairs who have imagined that the name of ex-President Guzman Blanco, in whose favor the in- surgents - “pronounced,” would prove a password to successful revolution. Blanco himself has left Paris, whither he went as Minister of his country, but had not, at last advices, reached his adherents in Vene- zuela, Whether the occupation of Caracas was 9 complete success will remain in doubt until fhe result is learned of the naval expedition which left Maracaibo o fortnight earlier to bombard Laguayra, tho port of the capital. Tho very slight arma- ment of the fleet, however, would seem to indicate that the Laguayrans have little to fear, particularly as they have the govern- ment forces within call. Drought, Famine and Plague in ‘Ceara, How m ny of our readers during the past twelvemonth have paid any heed to the con: tantly repeated telegraphic announce- ments of pestilence and famine in Ceari? Not many, wo suspect, could readily find Ceard on the map of South America, and of the few who know that it is a coast province of Northern Brazil there is, perhaps, not one who can at the first blush realize the possi- bility of the amazing catastrophe so graph- ically portrayed in our columns this morn- ing. It is a talo calculated to stir the blood of the most apathetic and to excite in the breasts of the compassionate such pity as rarely ina lifetime can be felt for suffer- ings not present to the bodily eye. ‘The world heard mach of Bulgarian atrocities during the past year and but little of drought in Brazil, It will doubtless be reluctant to believe that the whole mortality from the Russo-'Turkish war falls far short of that resulting from the drought in the two Brazilian provinces of Ceani and Piauhy, but such isthe appalling fact as presented by trustworthy witnesses. ‘The letter of our correspondent presents a pic- ture of woe such as can scarcely be paral- leled in history except by the giege of Jeru- salom and the black death which desolated Europe in the fourteenth century. Com- pared With the tragic tale of Ceari the epi- demic which has lately visited our South- ern cities seems a merciful visitation. Reassembling of the British Parlia- ment, The terrible reverse to the British forces in South Africa was not a pleasant subject with which to greet the members of the British Parliament on their reassembling yesterday ; yet it was one which the Minis- try could not ignore, and the speeches of Earl Beaconsfield in the Lords, and of Sir Stafford Northcote in the Commons, dealt frankly with the subject. The Chancellor of the Exchequer roferred to the British de- featas ‘‘an unduly severe blow,” which it was not desirable either to exaggerate or depreciate, but proclaimed the determina- tion of the Cabinet to “repair and wipe out the disaster” by vigorously pushing for- ward the reinforcements asked for by Lord Chelmsford. He sugar-coated the bitter pill he was forced to administor with the customary ‘‘ofticial utterances” as to the general admiration for the gallantry of the soldiers and the universal sympathy for the wufferers. But he tendered no explana- tion of the blunder by which a handful of troops had been sent forward to be mas- sacred by an army of savages, and when questioned by an opposition member as to whether the full force originally asked for by Lord Chelmsford had been supplied, the Chancellor of the Exchequer referred his interrogator to the Blue Book with an official coolness which -Sir Joseph Porter, K.C. B., might eavy.’ The Ministerial leaders availed them- selves of the opportunity to exhibit the brighter colors of events in other parts of the world, in contrast to the dark shading of ‘the South-African picture. The cop- mencement of the Russian evacuation of Turkey; the earnestness of the Porte in the matter of reforms in Asia; the success in Afghanistan, where the object of the expe- dition is claimed to be already practically accompltshed, were all made subjects of congratulation., Even the slight allusion to the “present distress prevalent in England” was tempered by the prediction that the trouble wiil be diminished by the improved weather. Wo sincerely hope that the ‘‘offi- cial utterances” of Lord Beaconsfield and Sir Stafford Northcote may prove correct, Yet it is to be feared that the English gov- ernment has not so fair a prospect before it as the Ministry represents. The Afghan dif- ficulty is not yet settled. While England is not likely to hesitate in the employment of whatever force and outlay may be neces- sary to retrieve her losses in South Africa there may be danger of other disasters | before the reinforcements so much needed reach the colony. At the best the terrible blunder that caused the calamity will be, canvassed and criticised by the English people in a mahner that will not aid the populasity of the present rulers. The dis- tress prevalent in England, which Sir Staf-. ford Northcote hopes will disappear before good weather and pleasant sunshine, is not of a character to be so easily removed. In- security has eaten into the heart of moneyed institutions, confidence is impaired, eredit is shaken, business is stagnant, and tho chronic want and suffering of the poorer classes aro becoming acute and unbear- able. We sincerely trust that the pros- pects in England will be better when Par- liament next adjourns than they are on its present reassembling, Mr. of Responsibility. The Henaxp’s prediction that the fluent talk about econcmy which marked the com- meocoment of the present legislative ses- sion would not be followed by a practical reduction of the customary prodigal expen- ditares has been already verified. Yoster- day two reports were before the Assembly irom the Committee on Expenditures of the House. The one favors thd continued waste of the public money on o host of useless, idle and vicious hangers-on at the State Capitol, declaring it inexpedient to inter. fereo with the numerous appointments already made by the Speaker, and provides for an increase of the abuse by authorizing the appointment of two additional sine- curists under the pretence of superintend- ing the mail niatter and the wrapping de- partment. Tho other report recommends the prohibition of any additional or extra help besides that already provided by the Speaker's appointments. Of course the first report was adopted despite the efforts of the corporal’s guard of economists to provent such a result, In the course of the debate, ‘in replying to some just criticisms of Mr. Erastus Brooks on the responsibility of the Speaker, Mr. Alvord took the singular position that he is compelled to make all the appoint- ments which the law regulating and limit- ing legislative expenditures suys the Speaker “may” make, and he is reported to have argued that the word “may” in o law is mandatory and has been declared by the courts to mean “‘mustand shall.'’ We can Alvord’s Sense searcely believe that Mr. Alvord took any such ridiculous position; but if he did he must have laughed in his sleeve at the shal- Jowness of his excuse for an unjustitiable prodigality with the people's money. ‘The law of 1875 fixing the number of cmployés that “may” be appointed in the Assembly uses the language ‘not more, than” sixteen clerks of committees, ‘not more than” six general messengers, ‘‘not more than” seven- teen messengers to committees, ‘‘not more than” twenty pages, &c. As one-half the number could have dono all the necessary work of the session it is difficult to see how the appointment of the maximum force can be justified on any such nonsensical plea as that advanced by Speaker Alvord. News of the Lena. It will be remembered that when the Nordenskjild expedition reached the mouth of the River Lena with the steamers Vega aud Lena it was decided that tho latter should proceed up the river to Yukutsk, remain there until next summer and then return to Europe by the same route as that on which she came out with her consort. in the meantime Professor Nordenskjild was to advance eastward with the Vega and try to make the Pacitic Ocean via Behring Straits. That the latter enterprise mis- carried this season we were well assured ; but now it appears from our special cable despatch, published this morning, that the Lena, which attempted to ascend the river to Vitmisk or Vitein, where her con- signee was staying, has been frozen in on tho xiver on her return trip to Yakutsk. Of course this is not a very serious piece of trouble. Her crew will be comfortably quartered at Yakutsk during tho winter and the steamer will be loaded for her home voyage early in the season. News of her whereabouts is, however, interesting, as she has made, a wonderful trip up a river whose waters were for the first time opened to steam navigation. Political Amenities in the Dominion. Oar Canadian neighbors seem to have more amiable political ways than we. On the assembling of the House yesterday Sir John A. Macdonald, the new Premigr, named the government's candidate for, the Speakership, the nominee being the Hon. Joseph G. Blanchet, a gentleman well and favorably known in Canadian politics, Thereupon Mr. Mackenzie, leader of the opposition, although regretting that the Premier had not followed the precedent established by the English House of Com- mons afd nominated the late Speaker, con- curred in the choice of the government, and Mr. Blanchet .was promptly elected. Imaging any such courteous yet business- like proceedings in our own House! Were tho leader of the minority of that body ever to follow Mr. Mackenzie's example his re- tirement from political life could not be postponed beyond the date of the first Con- gressional election in his district, if, indeed, a small but determined set of Union savers did not previously havo him put out of the way of mischief making and into a lunatio asylum. » ¥ A Head Money. The suit brought by the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company against the City Cham- berlain to recover an amount of money paid, as is alleged, under protest, forhead money on emigrants, isa very important case. It is intended to test the right of the several emigrant lines to recover back ‘all moneys paid by them underthe State law, which has been pronounced unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States, Subsequently to that decision a law was passed by Congress legalizing the acts of the State, and this is held by the defence to be a bar to the present suit. On the other hand, it is claimed that Congress cannot pass a law depriving the parties who have been injured by an illegal act from recovering their rights. The case is an in- teresting one, but it does not seem politic for the emigrant transportation companies to press their supposed claims, It is well known that the companies compelled the emigrants to pay the head money by add- ing the amount to their fare or making it up out of their subsistence, The present suits will prompt Congress to pass an act which will apply to all ports of the United States, and will be less acceptable to the steamship lines than the New York Head Money law. Emigrant ships which bring over paupers and land them here to boa charge on the public ought to be made re- sponsible in some shape or other for tho expense they entail upon us, PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE, ‘This administration is sugar coated. In Now Jersey it costs more to hang 8 man than you could buy fifty voters for, What is the uced of being told to rise with the lark? Tho lark rises about three hundred fect. Associate Justice John M. Harlan, of the United States Sapreme Court, is at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, It is said to be the ambition of the wife of Senator- elect “Cerro Gordo” Williams, of Kentucky, to seat him in the White House, ‘The duty and the practice of an English fanny journal aro to make its readors believe that the Eng- lsh rooster is cock of the walk. ¥. B. Chatterton, leaseo of the Drury Lano Theatre, London, has filed a petition in bankruptey. His Mabilities aro £40,000 ($193,600), Keokuk Constitution: —“Docs the New Yoru Henatp call it the P. I. column because it is so personally pointed sometimes as if set out of the pi box?’ ‘Tho small lobbyist from the country who in Washington claims to control the vote of his Con- gressinan is called by Sam Ward» “centurian.” —* Penzance, Cornwall, the birthplace of Sir Hum- phrey Davy, yesterday celebrated his contennary by an exhibition of scientific apparatus an’ tho electric light. Mr. W. H. Smith, tho head of the British Admi- ralty, says that he has the groatest confidence in Lord Chelmsford, and #0 havo his sisters, and his uncles and his aunts, Mr. Joseph Arch, the English labor agitator, is dis- gusted with the corruption which prevails among the officers of the Agricultural Laborers’ Union, Ho says that it costs $35,000 to collect $90,000, At tho London Zoological Gardens tho big serpents sleep away the winter days on nice woollen blankets, waking occasionally to dine daintily on boiled eggs, mfneed apples, fresh grapes and preserved tame rinds. Two pretty girls were going slong Broadway, noar Barelay street, yesterday, when the extra-blonde ono | said laughingly to the other, “Oh, I didn’t think much of hins! he was a little too sissy, and he parted his hair sissy 1," In 1770 and 1771 there was a great plague in Mos- cow, which is brought to mind by the plague which is now devastating a part of Russia, It was putdown by strict quarantine, Previously, however, were popular riots, FINE ARTS. UNION LEAGUE CLUB EXHIBITION. The Art Committee of the Union League Clut Provided an excellent collection of pictures for the art reception held in the club gallery last evening. * Samuel Colman is represented by oue of the strong- est of his recent works—a view of the market place at Le Mans, Brittany, The effect \of sun- light on the foreground and the groupé and stalls on the market place is excellent, and the picturesque buildings are kept in a quict and-admir- able gray tone, “Pansics for Thought” is a strorig work, by Wyatt Eaton, in which the dreamy, sad yet strong face of Ophelia id admirably modelled, Henry A. Loop's “Echo” is pleasing and shows @ decided advaice. In his “Spring Day” W. 8, Macy has given us “@ peculiar though very picturesque motive, sparkling in “its effect of sunlight, and handled throughout with knowledge and vigor. Acouple of portraita by J. H. Witt are charming. Walter Blackman’s ‘The Wrong Fish” is an amusing and carefully told story. A. F, Bunner’s little con- tribution, “Fishing Boats at Schereningen,” is ex- cellent, A small oblong landscapo, “Little River, Masu,,"" is in the best vein of R. Swain Gifford, Gil. bert Gaul’s picture of a pretty girl ready fora ball has u pleasing motive, well carried out. “1 po ae Century,” ‘by 8. W. Dewing, is skilfully and unconventionally designed work, “in which tho tigurés are well posed and the treatment in a decorative, tapestry-like atyle, Though bearin, many evidences of being the work of a young itshows much promise, A skilful copy of a Turner in water colors, made by Whistler while at West Point, will be found very interesting. . Eastman Johnson's life-size figure of a little girl, “Ready for a Slide," might, with advantage, have been painted om @ smaller scale, but i @ good’ reprosentative of this adinirable artist. Elliot Gregory’s “Ganymede” is an attractive and strongly handled head. Among the other canvases wo note examples of 8. R Gifford, Stanley G. Middleton, A. H. Wyant (0 bold study) H, Humphrey Moore (a clever water color) Alfred C. Howland, F, A. Silva, F. 8, Church, Joseph Lyman, Jr.; James M. Hart, William Magrath, J. H. Dolph, H. A. Ferguson, George orm. Wordswo. Reig # oe 2 uly American genre painting), J. O. , Charl H Miller, P,P yder, Moka teteres: J. Alden’ Weir, F. A. Bridgoman, George H. Boughton, E, M. Ward, Mary. Kollock, Montaguo Flagg and Edmund Palmer, Tho gallery will be open to ladies by cards of invitation to-day, and to-morrow from twelve M, to threo P. M., and from ight P, M. to ton P. M. THE VANDERBILT ART RECEPTION, Mr. William H. Vanderbilt gave an art reception at his residence yesterday afternoon, to which he in- vited a number of friends and acquaintances for the purpose of viewing his valuable collection of pic- tures, a number of the recent additions to which are of great importance and Value. His ‘aquisition of the majority of these, chiefly om his recont trip abroad, has already been noted in these columns, OBITUARY. LIEUTENANT GENERAL JONATHAN PEEL, D..C. La, rR oO A cablo despatch from London’ last ovening am nounces the death in that city yesterday of Lieuten- ant General Jonathan Peel, He was a younger son of Sir Robert Peel, tho first Baronet,and a brother of the colebrated statesman of that name. He was born October 12, 1799, educated at Rugby School, entered tho army and was rapidly advanced in rank, sat in Parliament in, the conservative interest for Norwich, 1826-30, and for Huntingdon for nearly forty years in succession (1831-8); was Surveyor General of the Ordnance uiidor his brother's administration from September, 1841, till July, 1846; Secretary of Stave for War in Earl Derby's second Cabinet, 1858-9, and again in that nobleman’s third Ministry, beginning in July, 1866; but he retired from office on account of a differ- ence of opinion on the Reform bill in Match, ‘1867. He reached the rank of Lieutenant General in 1859, and was married to a daughter of the first Marquess: of Ailsa. He formerly an active part in parlia- mentary discussions on all matters affecting the army. He was a woll known patron of the turf and won the Derby in 1844 with Orlando, if f ie anata a JAMES A. HENDERSON. < Mr. James A. Henderson, @ well known citizen of Baltimore, Md., died yesterday morning at his resi+ dence in that city, No. 331 East Baltimore street, of paralysis, in tho seventy-fiftth year of his age. He was attacked at noon Wodneaday and never rallied. Mr. Henderson was for many’ years in the shoe business, retired from business about twouty-five years ago, having secured a competency. Ho was twice a director 01 tho of thé city in the) Baltimore and Ohio Rat roud, and was also @ member of the School Board several years ago. He was one of the trustees of the poor from March 1, and a colleague of Joshus Van- sant in the State Constitutional Convention in 1867, With Mr. John T, Ford and others he was assiduous in bringing to their present state of perfection the Baltimore poor excursions, of which he was also one of the projectors. He loaves a wife and several grown children. . EDWARD EMERSON. Tho flags on the Produ Exchange were st half mast yesterday, on account of the death of Edward Emerson, a provision dealer, at No. 31 Water street, ‘The deceased was born in Boston, in 1809, and began his business career in his nativecity about fifty years ago. In 1848 he came to New York and had been a Son Sontgtet ing for Sion y inc bee cusses complaining for along time, but was on" on Eetetay lame. Be ‘ied ‘suddenly, on Wednesday, of heart disease, at his residence, No. 15 Second place, Brooklyn. He was a widower and leaves two sous in the provision business. His funcral will take Beeler be interre’ jn fount Auburn Cemetery. ALFRED KAYNE. Mr. Alfred Kaync,adry goods merchant of this city, died yesterday at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. He was born in’ Charleston, 8. C., and was forty-seven years of age at the time of his death. He com- menced his mercantile career in Cincinnati, Ohio, as a clerk ina dry goods store. He afterwards became business a for the firm of H. B. Chittenden & Co., and remained as such until 1868, when the firm dissolved. He then paid an extended visit to Kurope, and on his: return, in 1872, he became one of the founders of the firm‘of Kayne, Spring & Dale, goods merchants at No. 326 Broadway. His deat ‘was very sudden, having been caused by pneumonia, after an illness of three days. He was a widower and loaves one son. REV. SAMUEL BAYLIA8, Rev. Samuel Bayliss, Superintendent of the Society for Improving the Condition of the Poor, in Brooke lyn, died on Wednesday evening last at his residence, No, 52 St. Mark's place, in that city. ‘The deceased ‘was sixty-seven years of ago and formerly an active pastor. At the timo of his death he was 9 member of the Clerical Union of Br mn. Tho funeral ser vices will be held at the orial Presbyterian Church, Prospect placo, between Fifth and Sixth ave- nues, Brooklyn, at half-past qne P. M. to-dgy. . AMERICAN INSTITUTE. At the annual clection of officers and managers of the American Institute, held at Cooper Union Build ing yesterday, the following named gentlemen were elected :—President, Nathan ©. Ely; trustees, Charles H. Clayton, James Delamater, Edward Sehell and William Sechermerhorn; managers, Charles ¥F. Allen George Whitefield, Alexander M. Eagleson, Walter Shriver, Jobn J. Tucker, John Jardine, William: H. Gedney, Alvro Howell, Apvieton Sturges, Aug, Wetmore, Jr., J. Trumbull Smith, Edwin B. MeCarty, orth se yearan Wililaia A. Camp i pect toed elect ree ip; ine lors tion, Heaton H. Martin, Joseph K Dunham end Thomas B, Briggs. THE BLAIR COURT MARTIAL The Blair court martial at Governor's Island as eembled yesterday morning, st eleven o'clock, A qnestion came up as to tho manner in which the certitied copy of the Scotch marriage was to be ro coived, It was decided to place it on the record as in evidence, A recess of the court was then had tillone o'clock, a8 the Judge Advocate, Major Swain, hourly expocted the arrival of documentary evidence from ‘Washington, At one o’clock the papers had not reached him, and it was resolved to adjourn the court till toxiay, at eleven o'clock. Before adjourn- ment Genoral M. T. McMahon and Mr. Elliott F. counsel for the defence, applied to the court to have the prisoner released from close con. finement and allowed the liberty of the island on hie word, It waa decided that the prisoner would have to apply to his commanding for the change of treatment desired, THE UNITED STATES COINAGE, (By Terxonarn To THR HERALD.) Puttapenpata, Feb. 13, 1879, Tho Board of Assay Commissioners for weighing and testing the coinage of the United States mints during the t year concluded their labors this afternoon, The deviation in ht and fineness of the pieces from the various mii ‘was found to be very small, although the coinage last yoar wae for heavier than evor te, because of the issuing of .