The Sun. — London, England, 1867-12-19 00:00:00

In payment of all its debts the plighted faith of the Go vernment should be inviolably maintained ; but while it acts with fidelity toward the bondholder who loaned his money that the integrity of the Union might be preserved, it should at the sametime observe good faith with the great misses of the people, who, having rescued the Union from the perils of rebellion, now bear the burdens of taxation that Government may be able to fulfil its engagements. There is no reason which will be accepted as satisfactory by the people, why those who defend us on land and pro tect us on the sea, the pensioners upon the gratitude of the nation, bearing scars and wounds received while in its service ; the public servants in various Departments of the Government ; the farmers who supplied the soldiers of the army and sailors of the navy : the artisans who toil in the nation's workshops, or the mechanics and labourers who build its edifices and construct its forts and vessels of v._ war, should, in payment of - their just and hard-earned duns, receive depreciated paper, while another class of that countrymen, no more deserving, are paid in coin of gold and silver. Equal and exact justice requires that all the creditors of the Government should be paid in a cur- rency possessing a uniform value. This can only be ac complished by the restoration of the currency to the stan dard established by the constitution ; and by this means we would remove a discrimination which may, if it has not already done so, create a prejudice that may become deep rooted and wide-spread, and imperil the national credit. The feasibility of making our currency correspond with the constitutional standard may be seen by reference to a few facts derived from our commercial statistics. The production of precious metals in the United States, from 1845 to 1857, inclusive, amounted to $579,000,000 ; from 1858 to 1860, inclusive, to $137,000,000; and from 1861 to 1867, inclusive, to $457,500,000 —make a grand aggregate of products since 1849 of $1,174,000,000. The amount of specie coined from 1849 to 1857, inclusive, was $439,000,000 ; from 1858 to 1860, inclusive, $125,000,000 ; and from 1861 to 1867, inclusive, $310,000,000 making a total coinage since 1849 of $874,000,000. From 1849 to 1857, inclusive, the net exports of specie amounted to $271,000,000; from 1358 to 1860, inclusive to $148,000,000 ; and from 1861 to 1867, inclusive, to $322,000,000 ; making an aggregate of net exports since 1819 of $741,000,000. These figures show an excess of produCt over net exports of $133,000,000. There are in the Treasury $111,000,000 in coin, something more than $40,000,000 in circulation on the Pacific coast, and a few millions in National and other banks—in all, about $160,000,000. This, however, taking into account the bpacie in the country prior to 1849 leaves more than $300,000,000 which have not been accounted for by ex portation, and therefore may yet remain in the country. These are important facts, and show how completely an inferior currency will supersede a better, forcing it from circulation among the masses, and causing it to be exported as a mere article of trade to add to the money capital of foreign lands. They show the necessity of retiring our paper money, that the return of gold and silver to the avenues of trade may be invited, and a demand cc eatod which will cause the retention at home of at least so much of the _ _ . productions of our rich and inexhaustible gold-bearing fields as may be sufficient for the purposes of circulation. It is unreasonable to expect a return to a sound currency so long as the Government, by continuing to issue irredeem able notes, fills the channels of circulation with depreciated paper. Notwithstanding the coinage by our mints since 1849 of $874,000,000, the people are now strangers to the currency which was designed for their' use and benefit, and specimens of the precious metals bear ing the national device are seldom seen except when pro duced to gratify the interest excited by their novelty. If depreciated paper is to be continued as the permanent cur rency of the country, and all our coin is to become a mere article of traffic and speculation, to the enhancement in price of all that is indispensable to the comfort of the people, it would be wise economy to abolish our mints, thus saving the nation the care and expense incident to such establishments, and let our precious metals be ex ported in bullion. The time has come, however, when the Government and national banks should be required to take most efficient steps, and make all necessary arrangements for a resumption of specie payments at the earliest practi cable period. Specie payments having been once resumed by the Government and the banks, all notes or bills of paper issued by either of a less denomination than $2O should by law bo excluded from circulation, so that the people may have the benefit and convenience of a gold and silver currency, which in all their business trans actions will be uniform in value at home and abroad. Every man of property or industry, every man who de sires to preserve what he honestly possesses, or to obtain what he can honestly earn, has a direct interest in main taining a safe circulating medium, such a medium as shall be real and substantial, not liable to vibrate with opinions, nor subject to be blown up or blown down by the breath of speculation, but to be made stable and secure. A dis ordered currency is one of the greatest of political evils. It undermines the virtues necessary for the support of the social system, and encourages propensities destructive to its happiness. It wars against industry, frugality, and economy, and it fosters the evil spirits of extravagance and speculation. It has been asserted by one of our most , profound and most gifted statesmen that of all contrivances for cheating the labouring classes of mankind none has been more effectual than that which deludes them with paper money. This is the most effectual of inventions to fertilise the rich man's field by the sweat of the poor man's brow. Ordinaty tyranny, oppression, and excessive taxation, these bear lightly on the happiness of the com munity compared with a fraudulent currency and the rob beries committed by depreciated paper. Our own history has recorded for our instruction enough, and more than enough, of the demoralising tendency, injustice, and in tolerable oppression on the virtuous and well-disposed of a degraded paper currency, authorised by law, or in any way countenanced by the Government. it is one of the most successful devices imptimes of peace or war, of expan sions or rovulsions, to accomplish the transfer of all pre cious metals from the great mass of the people into the hands of the few, where they are hoarded in secret places, or deposited in strong bo'es under bolts and bars, while the people are left to endure all the inconvenience and sacrifice, and demoralisation resulting from the use of de preciated and worthless paper money. The condition of our finances and the operations of our revenue system are set forth and fully explained in the able and instructive report of the Secretary of the Trea sury. On the 30th June, 1866, the public debt amounted to $2,783,425,879 ; on the 30th of Juno last it was $2,692,199,215, showing a reduction during the fiscal year of $91,226,664. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1867, the receipts were $490,634,010, and expenditure, $316,729,129, leaving an available surplus of $143,904,880. It is estimated that the receipts for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1868, will be $417,161,928, and that the expen ditures will reach the sum 0f!5393,269,226, leaving in the Treasury a surplus of $23,892,702. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1869, it is estimated that the receipts will amount to $381,000,000, and that the expenditure will be $372,000,000, showing an excess of $9,000,000 in favour of the Government. THE REVENUE SERVICE. The attention of Congress is earnestly invited to the necessity of a thorough revision of our revenue system. Our internal revenue laws and impost system should be so adjusted as to bear most heavily on articles of luxury, leaving the necessaries of life as free from taxation as may be consistent with the real wants of Government economically administered. Taxation would not then fall unduly on the man of moderate meane, and while none would be entirely exempt from assessment, all in proportion to their pecuniary abilities would con tribute toward the support of the State. A modification of our internal revenue system by a large reduction in the number of articles now subject to tax would be followed by results equally advantageous to the citizens and the Government. It would render the execution of the law less expensive and more certain, remove of structions to in dustry, lessen temptation to evade the law, diminish viola tions and frauds perpetrated upon its provisions, make its operations less inquisitorial, and greatly reduce in numbers the anny of tax-gatherers created by the system, who take from the months of honest labour the bread it has earned. Retrenchment, reform, and economy should be carried into every branch of the public service, that the expendi tures of the Government may be reduced and the people re lieved from oppressive taxation, a sound currency be re:- tored, and the public faith in regard to the national debt sacredly observed. The accomplishment of these impor tant results, together with the restoration of the United States upon the principles of the constitution, would in spire confidence at home and abroad in the stability of our institutions, and bring to the nation prosperity, peace, and good will. TIIE WAR DEPARTMENT. The report of the Secretary of War ad interim exhibits the operations of the army and the several bureaus of the War Department. The aggregate strength of the military force on the 30th September last was 56,315. The total estimate for military appropriations is $77,124,707, in cluding deficiencies in last year's appropriation to the amount Of $13,600,000. Payments at the Treasury on ac count of the service of the War Department from Jan. 1 to Oct. 29, 1867, a period of ten months, amounted to $109,807,(:00. The expanses of the military establishment, as well as the numbers of the army, are uow three times as great as they have ever boon in time of peace, while discretionary power is vested in the executive to add millions to this expenditure by an increase of the army to the maximum strength allowed by law. TILE INDIAN DIFFICULTIES. The comprehensive report of the Secretary of the Interior furnishes interesting information in reference to important branches of public servica connected with his department. The menacing attitude of some warlike bands of Indians inhabiting the district of country between the Arkansas and Platte Rivers, and portions of Dacotah territory, required the presence of a large military force in that region. In stigated by real or imaginary grievances, the Indians occa sionally eommitted acts of barbarous violence upon emi grants and our frontier settlements. But a general Indian war has been providentially averted. The commissioners under the act of the 20th of July, 1867, were invested with full power to adjust existing difficulties, negotiate treaties with disaffected bands, and select for them reservations remote from travelled routes between the Mississippi River and the Pacific. They entered without delay upon --- the execution of their trust, but have not yet made an official report of their proceedings. It is of vital import ance that our distant territories should be exempt from Indian outbreaks, and that tho construction of the Pacific Railroad—an object of national importance— should not be interrupted by hostile tribes. These objects, as well as the material interests and the moral and intellectual im provement of the Indians, can be most effectually secured by concentrating them upon portions of the country set apart for their exclusive use, and located at points remote from the highways and encroaching white settlements. PACIFIC RAILROADS. Since the commencement of the second session of the Thirty-ninth Congress, 510 miles of road have been con structed on the main lino and the trenches of the Pacific Railway line from Omaha, and is rapidly approaching the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains, while the terminus of tile last section of the constructed road in California, which was accepted by Government on the 24th of Octo ber last, was but 11 miles distant from the summit of the Sierra Nevada. The remarkable energy evinced by the companies offers the strongest assurance that the comple tidn of the road from Sacramento to Omaha will not long be deferred. SALE OF PUBLIC LANDS. During the last fiscal year 7,041,114 acres of the public land were disposed of, and cash receipts from sales and fees exceeded one -half million dollars more than the sum realised from these sources during the preceding year. PAYMENT OP PENSIONS. The amount of money paid to pensioners, including the expenses of disbursements, was $18,619,956, and 36,482 names were added to the rolls. The entire number of pen sioners on the 20th of June last, was 155,474. ISSUE OF PATENTS. Eleven thousand six hundred and fifty-five patents and designs were issued during the year ending Sept. 30, 1867, and at that date the balance in the Treasury to the credit of the patent fund was $286,607. NAVAL AFFAIRS. The report of the Secretary of.the Navy states that we have seven squadrons actively and judiciously employed under efficient and able commanders in protecting the per sons and property of American citizens, maintaining the dignity and power of our Government, and promoting commerce and the business interests of our countrymen in every part of the world. Of is % o hundred and thirty-eight vessels composing the present navy of the United States, fifty-six, carrying five hundred and seven guns, are in squadron service. During the year the number of vessels in commission has been reduced twelve, and there are thirteen less on squadron datytthan there were at the due of last report. A large number of vessels were com menced and in course of construction when the war ter minated, and although Congress has made the necessary appropriation for their completion, the department has either suspended work upon them, or limited to slow completion the steam vessels, so as to meet contracts for machinery made with private establishments. The total expenditures of the Navy Department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1867, were $31,034,011. No appro priations have been made or required since the close of the war for the construction and repair of vessels, for steam machinery, ordnance, provisions and clothing, fuel, hemp, &c., the balances under these several heads having been more than sufficient for current expenditures. It should also ba stated to the credit of the department that besides asking no appropriations for the above object for the last two years, the Secretary of the Navy on the 30th of Sep tember last, in accordaece with the act of May 1, 1820, requested the Secretary of the Treasury to carry to the surplus fund the sum of $60,000,000, being the amount re ceived from sales of vessels and other war property and remnants of former appropriations. POSTAL AFFAIRS. The report of the Postmaster General shows the busi ness of the Post-office Department, and the condition of the postal service, in a very favourable light, and the at tention of Congress is called to its practical recommenda tions. The receipts of the department for the year ending June 30, 1867, including all special appropriations, for sea and Vaal service, and for free mail matter were $19,978,693. The expenditures for all purposes were $19,235,834, leaving an unexpended balance in favour of the 3epartment of $743,210, which can be applied toward the expenses of the department for the current year. The increased postal revenue, independent of specific appropria tions for the year 1867 over that of 1866, was $850,040. The increased revenue from sale of stamps and stamped en velopes was $783,404. The increase of expenditures of 1867 over those of the previous year was owing chiefly to the extensive land and ocean mail service. During the past year new postal conventions have been ratified and exchanged with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, North German Union, Italy, and Colonial Government at Hong-Kong, re ducing very largely the rates of ocean and land postages I to and from and within those countries. TILE AGRICULTURAL BUREAU. The report of the acting commissioner of agriculture con cisely presents the condition, wants, and progress of an in terest eminently worthy of the fostering care of Congress, and exhibits in a large measure the useful results achieved during the year to which it refers. FOREIGN AFFAIRS. The re-establishment of peace at home and the resump tion of extended trade, travel and commerce abroad, have served to increase the number and variety of questions in the Department of Foreign Affairs. None of these ques tions, however, have seriously disturbedour relations with other States. The Republic of Mexico, having been re lieved from foreign intervention, is earnestly engaged in efforts to re-establish her constitutional systemof Govern ment. A good understanding continues to exist between our Government and the Republics of Hayti and St. Do mingo, and our cordialrelations withthe Central and South American States remain unchanged. The tender made,from conformity with a resolution of Congress, of the good offices of the Government, with a view to an amicable adjustment of peace between Brazil and her allies on one side, and Paraguay on the other, and between Chili and her allies on one side, and Spain on the other, though kindly received, has in neither case been fully accepted by the belligerents, The war in the Valley of the Panama is still vigorously maititained. On the other hand, actual hostilities between the Pacific States and Spain have been more than a year suspended. I shall, on any proper occasion that may oc cur, renew the conciliatory recommendations which have been already made. Brazil, with enlightened sagacity and comprehensive statesmansnip, has opined the great chan nels of the Amazon and its tributaries to universal com merce. One thing more seems needful to assure a rapid and cheering progress in South America. I refer to those peaceful habits without which States and nat'ons can not in this age well expect material prosperity or social advancement. THE PAIL'S EXPOSITION. The Exposition Universal of Industry at Paris has passed, and seems to have fully realised the high expec tations which were formed regarding it by the French Government. If duo allowance be made for the recent political derangement of industry here, the part which the United States has borne in this exhibition of inven tion and art may be regarded with very high satisfaction. STANDARD COIN. During the Exposition a conference was hold by dele gates from several nations, the United States being one, in which the inconveniences of commerce and com mercial intercourse resulting from divers standard money value were fully discussed, and plans were developed for establishing by universal consent a common principle for the coinage of gold. These conferences are expected to be renewed, with the attendance of many foreign States not hitherto represented. A report of these interesting proceedings will be submitted to Congress, which will, no doubt, justly appreciate this great object, and be ready to adopt any measure which may to ad to facilitate its ulti mate accomplishment. LEGAL TENDERS. On the 25th of February, 1862, Congress declared by law that Treasury notes without interest, as thereafter issued, should be legal tender for all debts, public and private, within the United States. An annual remit tance of $30,000, less the stipulated expenses, accrues to claimants under the convention made with Spain in 1834. These remittances since the passage of that act have been paid in such notes. Claimants insist that the Government ought to require payment in coin. The sub ject may be deemed worthy of your attention. THE ALABAMA CLAIMS. No arrangement has yet been reached for the settlement of our claims for British depredations upon the commerce of the United States. I have felt it my duty to decline a proposition for arbitration made by her Majesty's Govern ment, because it has hitherto been accompanied by reser vations and limitations incompatible with the rights, into rests, and honour of our country. It 5s not to be appre hended that Great Britain will persist in her refusal to satisfy these just and reasonable claims, which involve the sacred principle of non-intervention—a principle hence - forth not more important to the United States than all other commercial nations. THE WEST INDIES The West India islands were settled and colonised by European States simultaneously with the settlement and colonisation of the American continent. Most of the colo nies planted hero became independent nations at the close of the last and beginning of the present century. Our own country embraces communities which at ono period were colonies of Groat Britain, France, Spain, Holland, Sweden, and Russia. The people in the West Indies, with the ex ception of those of the Island of Hayti, have neither at tained nor aspired to independence, nor have they become prepared for self-defence. Although possessing con siderable commercial value, they had been held by several European States which colonised •r at some time conquered them, chiefly for purposes of military and naval strategy, in carrying out European policy and designs in regard to this continent. In our revolutionary war, the ports and harbours in the West India Islands were used by our enemy, to the great injury and embarrassment of the Uni ed States. We had the same experience in our second war with Great Britain. The same European policy for long time excluded us even from trade wt b the West Indies, while we were at peace with all nations. In our recent civil war the rebels, and their piratical ai nd blockade breaking allies, found facilities in the same l orts for the I work which they too successfully accomplished, of injuring 'and devastating the commerce which we are now engaged in rebuilding. We laboured especially under the disad vantage that European steam vessels, employed by our enemies, found friendly shelter, protection, and supplies in the West Indian ports, while our own naval operations were necessarily carried on from our own distant shores. There was then a universal feeling of want of an advanced naval outpost between the Atlantic coast and Europe. The duty of obtaining such an outpost, peacefully and lawfully, while neither doing nor menacing injury to other states, earnestly engaged the attention of the executive depart ment before the close of the war, and it has not been lost sight of since that time. A not entirely dissimilar naval want revealed itself during the same period on the Pacific coast. The required foothold there was fortunately se cured by our late treaty with the Emperor of Russia, and it now seems imperative that the more obvious necessity of the Atlantic coast should not be less carefully provided for. A good and convenient portand harbour capable of easy defence will supply that want. With possession of such a station by the United• States neither we nor any other American nation need longer apprehend injury or offence from any Transat lantic enemy. I agree with our early statesmen that the West Indies naturally gravitate to, and may be expected ultimately to be absorbed by, continental states, including our own. I agree with them, also, that it is wise to leave the question of such absorption to this process of natural political gravitation. The islands of St. Thomas and St. John, which constitute apart of the group called the Virgin Islands, seemed to offer all advantages immediately desir able, while their acquisition could be secured in harmony with the principles to which I have alluded. A treaty has therefore been concluded with the King of Denmark for the cession of those islands, and will be submitted to the Senate for consideration. - • -- • BPI ,IT .0P THE PUBLIC JOURNALS, THE :SUN, LONDOY. TiItHISOAY BVENJNG, DECEMBER 49, 18 7. -------- - LL CASE 47 DUBLIN. of 1866 Under the assumed natie of Mr. Torrence, Dublin When walking on a warm evening in August he fainted and Mr. Webb, of the firm of Cook and Webb, seeing hint • fall, sprang from his buggy, and tended such a warm and kind assistance, as to gain the young man's friendship. He left America in November of that year, and Mr. Webb, a few weeks ago, received a package from London, con taining a letter from his friend, his real name, with a sketch of his family history, and a ring as a memento of undying friendship, consisting of a cluster of brilliants of the first water, pronounced by the jewellers to be worth $7OO. General Hancock was last reported as on board a MissisSippi steamer aground in the river, and General Mower is awaiting his arrival at New Orleans. Among the eua3tments of the Tennessee Legis , laturo a curious ono may hereafter be found, if the Act. now being discussed be passed "to encourage and protect loyalty." Therein will be observed a provision making the possession of a picture of Jefferson Davis or General Lee a treasonable offence. General Hancock had reached New Orleans, and assumed command of his district. An American paper says that Captain Semmes has three lectures on the Alabama ; one on her outfit, and two, on how sho fit when she was out. John S. Reynolds, of Illinois, is candidate for the commissionership of agriculture, but it will be offered, it is said, to Orange Judd, conductor of the American Agri culturist of New York. _ Mr. Jones, the member for Halifax in the Cana dial]. House of Commons, has been putting questions to the Government on the subject of the Reciprocity Treaty with the United States. Mr. Cartier replied that Canada would take the first opportunity of proposing a renewal of the treaty. On Nov. 25 Mr. Jefferson Davis and General Lee met at Richmond, for the first time since the fall of that city. Mr. Stillwell, United States Commissioner at Venezuela, will, it is understood, proceed as Commissioner to St. Thomas's, to take over that Island from Denmark. The Rev. Newman Hall sat by Speaker Colfax on the 25th Nov., and delivered the opening prayer in the House of Representatives. General Sherman has told Brigham Young that he shall hold him personally respntfrAn - if any more Gentiles are murdered by Mormons, and Brigham Will probably find it for his interest to hove fewer murders in his dominions than there have been. General Al.'llowell and staff have left San Fran cisco, to make a thorough inspection of the military posts in Idaho. Fenton Harney, of Albany, ran 64 miles in 11 hours 50 minutes. Since Weston commenced his walk, pedestrian feats have been the fashion. Mr. B. F. Reinhardt, a well-known American portrait painter, has returned to-yiinaerica from London , and opened his studio at 658, Broadway, NOSY Yorli where ho has met with a gratifying welcome and success. Mr. Lirace ii-4315ut to return to New York from a summer in California, in improved health, to carry oil the work to which he has devoted himself among the vagrata children of that great city. His newsboys' Lod ings has, : since its foundation thirteen years ago, honse4 and fed nearly 50,000 boys. Last year 8,000 boys bad in its rooms' nearly _50,000_ jodgipgs and nearly 34,000 meals. The boys have contributed towards its funds $15,000, sea deposited a similar sum in the saving's bank connected with it. Many orphans havetreceived a permanent benefit lac through the institution, by which they have been ped in circumstances Where they have been enabled to become useful citizens. Mr. Brace now appeals for pO,OOO to provide new, larger, and more permanent quarters. Governor Bullock delivered an eloquent address on the 16th November, on the dedication of the illeuw ment at Mount. Auburn. to the memory of the Boston la" dependent Cadets, who fell in the war. The monument is of Concord granite, 20 feet high , bea rin g on each The panels with appropriate devices, and cost $7,600. The names of 15 fallen heroes are inscribed on it, among are those of Colonel Wyman, Captains Shurtleff and Cabc ) , t, and Lieutenants Dehon and White. A. E. Gibbs, teacher of the Westfield high school , has been offered the superintendency of the Rochester (New York) public schools, with a salary of $2,000. The Hamburg American Company's steamsh i p Bavaria, Captain J. Meyer, from New Orleans on the 2501 November, arrived off Cowes early this morning ( the 12th) with $84,735 specie for England, s2d X 3 ditto for France, and a few passengers for Havre and ilarabere• She had a largo cargo of cotton for Hamburz. The Royal Academy of Arts, last Tuesday , at 5%. general assembly awarded gold medal s, to g ether with sc h o l ar ships of £6O each, to Miss Louisa Starr for the bes is historical painting, and to Henry Wiles for the best torical groups of sculpture. We are glad to record this handsome recognition of the great artistic merit a 5 young lady, the daughter of a well-known and higb i r es t eem ed American gentleman. We believe this first instance in which a go ll medal has been awarded O a a woman. Two other artists receiv e d g old medals, 0' ,hirteen were awarded silver medals. is tlie THE PURCHASE OF ALASKA. It will hardly be necessary to call the attention of Con gress to the subject of providing for the payment to Russia of the sum stipulated in treaty for the cession of Alaska. Possession having been formally delivered to our commis sioner, the territory remains for the present in care of a military force, awaiting such civil organisation as shall be declared by Congress. NATURALISED CITIZENS. The annexation of many small German States to Prus sia, and the reorganisation of that country under a new and liberal constitution, have induced me to renew the efforts to obtain a just and prompt settlement of the long vexed question concerning the claims of foreign States for military service from their subjects naturalised in the United States. in connection with this subject the attention of Congress is respectfully called to a singular and embarrassing con flict of laws. The executive department of this Govern ment has hitherto uniformly held, as , it now holds, that naturalisation in conformity with the constitution and laws of the United States absolves the recipient from his native allegiance. The courts of Great Britain hold that allegiance to the British Crown is indefeasible, and is not absolved by our laws of naturalisation. British Judges cite the Courts and law authorities of the United States in support of that theory against the position held by the executive authority of the United States. This conflict perplexes the public mind concerning the rights of natura lised citizens, and impairs national authority abroad. I called attention to this subject in my last annual message, and now again respectfully appeal to Congress to declare the national will unmistakeably upon this important ques tion. TILE SLAVE TRADE. The abuse of cur laws by the clandestine prosecution of the African slave trade from A merican'ports, or by Ame rican citizens, has altogether ceased, and under existing circumstances no apprehensions of its renewal in this part of the world are entertained. Under these circumstances, it becomes a question whether we shall not propose to her Majesty's Government a suspension or discontinuance of stipulations for maintaining a naval force for the suppres sion of that trade. (Signed) ANDREW JOHNSON. Washington, Dec. 8, 1867. OPINION IN NEW YORK ON THE MAN • CHESTER EXECUTIONS: The executions at Manchester on the 23d of No vember were telegraphed to New York, and reported in that city the same evening. The . Tribune consi dered that the jury could not but find a verdict of Guilty, and the Judge pass other than a sentence of death. At the same time, it holds that the effect will be one of unmitigated evil. The peace of the United Kingdom will not be rendered more secure —the lives of public officers safer—the spirit of Ireland more tranquil or timorous. The New York Times also holds that England has blundered in carrying out the sentence. The New York Herald maintains that American citizens cannot be tole rated in the violation of the laws of other countries ; and it concedes that the English Government has the right to hang murderers even when claiming American citizenship. Frank Leslie, which cannot certainly be accused of overlooking the dignity of the United States, has an article in its issue of the 7th instant on the abuse of the title of American citizen, alluding to the words of O'Brien, alias Gould, at his trial, who said :—" I am a citizen of the United States, and if Charles Francis Adams had done his duty towards me, I would not be in this dock answering your questions now ;" adding, " the American people will notice this part of the business." " They do notice it," says the Illus trated paper, " and they have only to say that Mr. Charles Francis Adams had no right or war rant to interfere in the case, unless there was evidence that the trial was unfairly conducted. Had he interfered without such evidence, he would probably have been informed that his absence would be better than his company in the British capital, precisely as a British Minister would be treated here, who interfered with the proceedings of our courts of justice." The only effect of Mr. Seward's successful interference in Canada was to encourage new violations of the peace, which, says Frank Leslie, " is equally our duty and interest to preserve with our neighbours. This time . Mr. Seward must have understood in ad vance his interference could do no good, and if really made, it was an act of demagogism unbe coming of his age, experience, position, and utterly repugnant to the sentiments of all true American citizens." On this subject the iNation observes— ,‘ Three of the Manchester Fenians have been exe• cuted, as everybody expected they would be. No other mode of meeting their offence was possible, though to call it murder in the moral sense of the term was of course impossible. This severity will doubtless convert the prisoners into Fenian martyrs, which will be an untoward result ; but, on the other hand, it will probably check bush whacking in England, as a mode of redress ing Irish wrongs." Mr. Robinson, when intro ducing the resolution in the House of Representa tives asking for the Impeachment of Charles Francis Adams, brought forward some curious ethnological statistics. Half the members of the House, he said, are Irish ; 15 to 20 millions of the people are Irish ; and in a short time the United States will have a hundred millions citizens of Irish blood. Then, said Mr. Robinson—whose name denotes an Eng lish, not an Irish descent—if England does not be have herself, we will do as the donkey did among the chickens—take a dance. The effect of the news on the people generally, was anything but in keep ing with the terrible threats to which the Irish Americans gave utterance at the recent trials. The excitement was confined to the Fenian circle in New York, and the news came in excellent time for the candidates for the mayorship to extract from it political capital. Fernando Wood, Mayor Hoff mann, and other aspirants for the office, called meetings, and attended those about to be held. The object was stated to be to take measures for pro tecting Americans travelling and sojourning abroad, and to procure the release of American citizens now in prison in Great Britain. Speeches were made denouncing England for imprisoning and hanging Fenian ; and Secretary Seward, Minister Adams, and Consul West were accused of apathy. Generals Slocombe ar.d Barlow were on the platform. On Thanksgiving-day the Irish Societies, 13,0.0 strong, moved in funeral procession in memory of Allen, Gould, and Larkin. lip court of exchange at New l'oe'it ou London for bills at du days' sight is about 1109der cent. At tills rate there is no profit on the importetiou ,►. gold from the IJuiteu t utes. " Gentlemea,—llaving used, and witnessed the beneficial effects of your Pain Killer, I take great pleasure in recom mending it to the public as the best family medicine I ever know. In this establishment are employed nearly one hundred persons, and your Pain Killer has been used with the most astonishing results. For four years not a single case of colic, summer complaint, or dysentery has occurred here that, has not yielded to its magic-like curative powers; while for cuts, bruises, &c., it is in almost daily use, and with like good results.— JOHN TANNER, manager, Wright son and Co.'s Printing Establishment, Cincinnati, July 4, 1867. To Messrs. Perry Davis and Son." None genuine without the proprietors' trade mark, PAIN KILLER, on the Government stamp. Sold by all chemists. Wholesale depot, 17, Southampton-row, Holborn, (W. C.)—(ADvr.) Foreign Mail Packet List. MAILS DUE. A ustralia and New Zealand, via Bouthamptori De4l' 2° Ditto, via Marseilles Jan. 14 Ditto, via Panama Dec. 30 ' brazil, Buenos Ayres, and Monte Video ... Jan. s ' , Ditto, by French packet Deo 23 Cape Verde, by Brazil packet ...... ........ tn. 5; 3. Jape of Good Hope. As.3ension, and it Helena- oo .mina, Penang, and Singapore, via 801141taniptaa.- I)° ' Ditto, via Marseilles Falkland Islands Gibraltar, via Southampton . ...... P D: c eo lc i l 225; ,nclia,via Southampton Ditto, via Marseil es D.:I3. De ,. 20. Malta, Sgypt, &o. Ditto, Marseilles Mauritius, Cape of Good nape, and Natal, via A , Deb. 2''' Southampton Jaa• 13 DM), alareeides a—. „13 , ewfouudla nO ...... •• • ............ ........ •••• • • '' b, Portugal AO' Ditto, by pr. le ship to Oporto ........... Ditto •tto to Lisbon .............. United States. ; alitida, California, &0., by British 26. acket Ditto, by ited ztates packet Ditto ditto New York, Ditto oitto ‘Ntw York) Ditto ditty (Baltimore) Ditto, by Canadian packet Dee. 11 West Coast of Alma, Madeira, and Teneriffe.....•v` — • West Inales and PiWille (except Mexico and Baha i. - pea mas) :Mexico' 3Y . o Cub, and exico .. . Bahamas, via New York Jen . 13 , Bermuda. via Halifax •lV [ADVERTISEMENT.] r Holloway's Ointment hn— 1 0 do Unerring Precision.—When the health is breaking e 0 from the continuance of some weaken in g discharge °Pitt, the ulcers refuse to heal and extending mischief is re '9 110 04 ened, then is the time to try the poten c y of t for Healing Ointment and Purifying P ills. No treatve° rea giving ease and safely leading to a c ure can be cora° tan to this. The Ointment cleans and cools the foule' es ' be most angry sores, diminishes the inflammation, red" r e 9 swelling, prevents the growth of proud flesh, an— it ore both pain and danger. Hundreds testify from th e ' dia personal experience to the unvarying success ettellotca the use of Holloway's medicaments iu cases a "'l ice legs, enlarged veins, scurfy skin, and swel led anule• s ve' [ADVER TlSEMENT.]—llyspepsia(lndigestio n), bility, Consumption, and all nervous, bilious, stornac h, le D 4 complaints in every stage, are only aggravated and l sa,„ a py, o f by thugs of every description, but perfectly crabedp Barry's health-restong R eva l e nta Arabica Food , a sp s o, S - pr thousands of cases which had been considered hope?er 0 rio, as--cough, asthma, also diarrhoea, haemorrhoids , lr e t io 0 :01 plaints, flatulency, nervous ness, biliousness, fevers , diphtheria, catarrhs, colds, influenza , noi ses in tbe ears, rheumatism, gout, impurities, eruptions, hysteria, 11,40, sleeplessness, acidity, palpitation, bear e pr oi ache, debility, dropsy, cramps, spasms, nausea and oc rof, even in pregnancy or at sea, sinking fits, bronchitisl,oo op tightness of the chest, ains at the pit of the st°,' , oVlol9 between the shoulders, &e. We quote a few :—The r 14; i 0e, restored by Du Barry's Food. Cure No. 68," eo4lf 12, 1866.—The health of the Holy Father is excellent, 8,40°0 since, abandoning all other remedies he has ccutl,n e Dicl i pr. entirely to Du Barry's Revalenta Arabica Food, 0 1 ed 4 0 04 0' consumes a Fateful at every meal. It has rroda c cP; praise beneficial effect on his health, and his liolin,e.,,, y eft r e; ,4 (5 , praise this excellent food too highly."—From the ti r Midi, July 25 Cure No. 46,270 Mr James 110"1,011,!.00; merchant, of Frimley, Surrey, of thirty years' dise de w spitting of blood, liver derangement, and partial Lie if Cure No. 1,771. Lord Stuart de Decies, Lord OO. Waterford, of many years' dyspepsia.—No. 4° ' / , " e - if °lls°l 4 years' indescribable agony from dyspepsia, .4091,-. asthma, cough, constipation, flatulency. spasms , sis,i t e. di o' vo miting.—MariaJoly." Important Caution.—Bewa rs .,), unsavoury and more than sloppy imitations to schl'atlsCo lliq authority, Baron Liebig's name is most auciouslY In tins at ls. lid.; 1 lb.. 2s 9d. 2 lbs., 48. cd ; CoUE rod'il 12 lbs., 225.; 24 lbs., 40s.—BARRY DU BARRY ancl o pice A d Ategent-street, London; also Fortnam and Mason, 10: 50. an and at 61, Gracechurch-street; 4, Cheapside ; Oxford-street: 380 Strand; and all grocers and Births. ,„,. stret BRAND—On the 17th inst., at The Drive, '", l l, e ig is 'i Sydenbam, the wife of E. J. Brand, Esq., of n ' ..- : L i, 9.- ' NELSON- On the 13th inst., at 38, Middleton -1 stun, the wife of Alfrcd Nelson, of a son. D orf Marriages. W O, 0.0 BAK/ NS—PALMER —On the 16th inst., at 1 3 rig" of ad' Irwin Daliyus, Esq., to Emma, second daughl. "- Palmer, Esq., of the General Post °face, aw l 3 . ' t Esser:, A I P a i r3l l;' , CHAPMAN-11 ARDING-0 n the 11th inst., at ,- - c l i c es i -i n i l t, Upper Norwood, Frederic Chapman, Esq.,_ °,.„ 1- `,t, .1 4 ' to Annie Marion, the eldest daughter of Ito"' : " Harding, Esq., of Sydenham-hill. Deaths. ' P l° ' G UILLAMORE. —On the 4 th inst. , at Herbert-placet l Co' the Viscountess Guillamore, aged 35. T iot it•L r e• M‘Multoo—On the 16th inst.. at Edinburgh, fries''' ot, John James MiMurdo, of Mavis Grove, Dutp,"tiatt44 WELsu—On the 13th inst , at Taywell House. 5,.10],. 4 Kent, Mary Ann, widow . of the late Thomas e aged 65. . 0a O AN No t t of London : Printed and Publi shed by WILL-J_ 0" 0 , 113 ; e of No. 112, Strand, Pr inter, at Tug SUN the 0i Strand in the Precinct o f the Ss voy, lilidtiletiez.—Thursday , Decem ber 19, 1867. MB B 1 We seem to be in an explosive vein of human affairs. In the same page one may see the particulars of a new Fenian Gunpowder Plot, a submarine explosion in the West Indies, the blowing up of a war steamer in .the Mersey, coal-pit explosions everywhere, paraffins or petro leum accidents, and then something that beats all the fearful powers discovered by modern science, - too terrible, too subtle, too unmanageable for luunan hands. The explo sion at Newcastle is a subject on which the Times founds a leader. Talk, it says, of volcanoes, earthquakes, the bolts of heaven, and other manifestations of the dark and terrible side of nature, why man keeps pace with them. Terrible as is the loss of life by these irresistible causes, the carelessness of a few colliers, the bungling of some labourers, and the reckless determination of some political conspirators to rescue their accomplices at all costs and at all risks will match Nature's death-list. Man can kill, and does kill, many more than can be laid on the much-abused elements, or on accident, the universal scapegoat. We war with Nature, but we have foes within as well as without our camp. It certainly is time that we should all know we stand on a charged mine, so universal, so various, so inscrutable, and so unmanageable are explosive agencies. Gases explode, powders explode ; there are liquids that explode more ter ribly than all, it seems ; solid crystals explode ; cotton explodes; a veil, a muslin dress, apocket-handkerchief fresh from the wash may explode. The worst horrors of a siege or a bombardment may occur at a fireside or in a ball-room. Fabrics proof against fire and all the ravages of time may be upheaved and shattered by the accumula tion of explosive gases let loose by a careless servant or an ignorant child. Great as are the powers of Nature and of art, there is no power greater than that of carelessness and stupidity. A canal boat loaded 'with gunpowder is moored for the night under a block of warehouses ; the boatmen light their pipes, and soon all are in the air. Nothing will ever make miners and colliers prefer perfect security to the pleasure of a little more light at their work. Our steamers will persist in carefully shutting down the gases certain to be generated largely by some quali ties of coal. When all is over, people know how it was. Quarrymen always keep their blasting powder open in rooms, where they move about night and day with lighted candles. Life they hold hardly worth the trouble it would cost to be more careful. We have domesticated the explosive elements, and fear them not. The first act of every British household now is the explosion of a lucifer match, which is nothing more nor less than a diminutive shell. Nay, every labourer, every watchman, in the great London warehouses, at the docks, or the river side, carries these dangerous inventions loose in his pockets, takes them out by ha,ndfuls,sprinkles them on the floor, and treads upon them in the midst of highly inflammable materials, piled all around, and strewed under foot. Familiarity and use breed contempt for the most dreadful of foes, the element that on the vantage ground of a few inches will cover acres with death and destruction. Unless the moral education of the people keep pace with art and science, we bid fair to he crushed under our own inventions and destroyed by the elements we think we are learning to wield at will. If we would. retain these useful servants, we must learn to be wise and careful masters. The Telegraph assures us that nitro-glycerine has no thing in common with Greek fire, or Fenio-Greek fire. It is a petard that would hoist its own engineer, if he played tricks with it ; nor would it serve any purpose which gun powder would not equally effect, except that, weight for weight, it unquestionably has much greater explosive force. The sharp and tremendous ignition of this oil cannot be nicely controlled except by the most skilful ; and the same remark applies to most of the amazing products of de structiveness which have been furnished by modern che mistry. There is no great fear that they will be largely used. To make them safely requires great practice, to use them safely demands the utmost cation ; and they can never be had in large quantities. There are compounds vastly more powerful than nitro-glycerine, which are positively never manufactured, because their energy is so frightfully irrepressible. The stuffs used by modern incendiaries of the pseudo-scientific kind are generally solutions of phosphorus in sulphides, and are they not tremendous 1 Let us, however, discuss such topics when the necessity arises : our duty now is to note this melancholy event, which is not less sad because it was due to carelessness. It is an accident —nothing more ; and it is of importance to the public because it illustrates the dangerous nature of the new mining fluid. Politically, it has no signification, gave in warning the community to maintain its self-respect, and not to take every startling disaster for Fenianism. The Daily News thinks the people of Oldham fortunate in the occasion which has enabled them to give expression to the feelings of respect and gratitude which Mr. Glad stone has earned from all classes of his countrymen, and in listening to the eloquent words in which he has pledged himself anew to the public service. The moral atmo sphere, contaminated by the escape of the foul gases of a decaying political morality, is freshened by the healthier element which breathes from the character and informs the language of the great national leader. It does not regret the studious silence which Mr. Gladstone has lately observed. While the air was noisy with the self-gratulations of political manceuverers, and with the vulgar applauses heaped upon the dexterity which in gaining place and abandoning principle has achieved what it deems success, Mr. Glad stone consulted his own self-respect in holding his tongue. It was well to let the coarse exultation expend itself. But, considering the hands which now wield power, the nation is not reminded too soon of the store of high moral aims, • of fervent purpose, and of comprehensive statesmanship which it has iu reserve for the season when Lord Derby and his colleagues have fulfilled once more their mission as stopgaps in the political life of this generation. The advanced brigade of the English troops having arrived at Senafe, the Post speculates on the probabilities of the campaign. With the English approaching from the north and Theodore from the west, the position of the captives must be one of the most intense anxiety, and for every sort of reason it is to be hoped that not an in stant will now be lost in pressing forward to the point where the success or failure of the expedition will be de cided. Should the English force, or even a small portion of it, succeed by good fortune in reaching Magdala before Theodore, the release of those of the prisoners who are there will be easily effected, for although the fort is represented as being of immense natural strength, and strongly garrisoned, it would certainly not hold out without the presence of the leader, who alone appears to be capable of imparting anything like coureie to Abyssi niana. In the contrary event, however, which is but too likely to happen, the difficulties of the enterprise will have to be met by something besides mere marching and fight ing, and it will be a question how best to cajole or to frighten Theodore into giving them up in safety. As he is known to be of the most sanguinary and at the same time of the most treacherous character, this will be no easy task, and our conterop(Fary can only hope that more intel ligence will be shewn in it than has been displayed in the efforts of a like nature made from England. Referring to the stoppage of legislation in the colony of Victoria through the dispute between the two Houses; the Standard considers that it would be as well for us to con sider that there is a largo minority,,comprising nearly the entire wealth, intelligence, and resctability of the colony—of all classes of opinion, and all sections of society—who look to the Imperial Government for help against the insolent despotism which the Ministry has established in Victoria. It is certain that any inter ference from home which would bring peace to the colony, and restore the constitutional machine to the regular and lawful groove, would be gladly welcomed by a large majority of the colonists, and that it would be patiently submitted to by all. As to the immediate question which agitates the Parliament of Victoria, it i 3 only the-members of the Victorian Ministry and their im mediate adherents who have ever disputed the authority of England to act as arbiter in the parliamentary quarrel. The Upper House, on its side, has formally proposed , more than once, th at the whole question should be sub mitted to the judgment of the Imperial Government, and has declared its willingness to be bound by their verdict. The Lower House, at the instance of the Ministry, has declared this the only fair and peaceful means of arriving at a solution of the crisis. This, at least, we should bear in mind when the next step is made in the Victorian revolution. The last calamity at St. Thomas makes it clear, in the opinion of the Star, that our connection with that i sland must cease. If the directors of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company refuse to alter their arrangements, and prefer to place in jeopardy the lives of their crews and passengers, the Government must interfere to subsidise companies more anxious for the vital interests committed to their charge. It wishes the Americans joy . of their purchase. Already the Danish Government has intimated by proclamation the cession of the island ; but a mightier power seems to have claimed the territory for its Own ; and amid convulsions such as the world has seldom, if ever, witnessed, the inhabitants are flying for dear life, leaving their ruined homes behind. A Ruecian paper, named the Invalide Bosse, fears that France and Austria are too and hints that should the present policy of France not bo abandoned, it will convert the armed peace now existing into a serious The Herald tninks that such warnings should not pa,e utterly unheeded by those to whom they are primarily addressed. In accepting the intimate friendship of Aus tria, France has incurred some responsibilities which possibly she may find an encumbrance iey-and-bye. If the terms of the alliance include any violent attempts to interfere with the natural growth either of Germany or of Italy, then Russia undoubtedly . is on the eve of her best opportunity. This, also, is an aspect of the times which is worth considering by those who have at heart the peace of Europe and the balance of power. The day is gone by when two nations can join themselves together in a common policy, in which each has an unlimited liability. Any such intimate union between two of the Great Powers, of which the purpose should be by their joint strength to obtain some advantage over a single Power, is sure to be met by adverse coalitions of the same kind, and to provoke a general conflict. Nations are strong now simp yin pro portion to their internal force. They cannot be made s t ro nger, for any selfish purpose. by treaties and secret engagements, which always in the end defeat their own object. Neither France nor Austria, singly, can fairly be said to have an enemy which is dangerous to the peace of either. They have each a great interest in avoiding arti ficial complications. They will certainly be stronger, when the day of conflict comes, against the only Power whose inordinate ambition can .justify any future Euro pean combination, by keeping themselves not too close on minor questions. The evidence for the plaintiff in the Sidney case was concluded on Tuesday. A clerk in the National Bank proved that cheques were drawn by Charles Bagot up to the end of November. Mr. C. Fitzgerald, solicitor, who acted for Charles Bagot in the action of Begot v. Arnett, deposed that he saw him on the 18th of November last. Serjeant Armstrong then ad dressed the jury on the part of the defendant. His instructions were that the allegation of authority given to Sidney, and recognised, as stated by Mrs. Sidney, was a fabrication. The defend ant said he was the head of a distinguished family in the west of Ireland. He was a magistrate of Roscommon, a magistrate and grand juror of Galway, and his life would challenge the strictest inquiry. Bernard Bagot was a respectable member of the bar, who he retired, and now resided on his property, and assisted Mr. Holmes, the agent of estates worth £BO,OOO. Before the Bagots became acquainted with Sidney ho was overwhelmed in debt. He lost noth in g b y the profession, hem e largely indebted to the Bagots. To Charles Bagot he owed over £1,200, and over £9OO to the defendant John Lloyd Bagot. It would be proved that Charles Bagot was now hopelessly insane. The bill of sale which he got was perfectly bond fide, and Sidney owed him about £1,400 before he got it. The learned counsel repelled the insinuationthat the Bagots were "spongers" upon Sidney, and severely charac terised the manner in which the case had been presented. Henry Hinds and the defendant would prove that the bills were forgeries, and that Sidney acknowledged them to be forgeries. They were not to blame for re. vealing the horrors of his home. It was Sidney himself who had chosen to disclose it. Witnesses would be pro duced for the defendant who would prove that the statements of the Sidneys were utterly false. With respect to the death - warrant letter, it would be sworn by the defendant that on the Saturday before he went away Sidney said to him, " John, before I go I'll leave a letter for you ;" that defendant went to the Farmers' Club and sketched out a letter, but that Sidney, when he read it, said, " I'll do it far better than that," whereupon the defendant tore up what he had written. No draft whatever of the " death-warrant" had been prepared. It was the spontaneous act of Sidney. The health of Inspector Ryan was never proposed or drunk, and the " death-warrant" was posted by Sidney himself in London for John L. Begot, along with a letter to the postmaster. at Ballymore, directing him to give it to Mr. John L. Bagot. Before the conclusion of counsel's address the court was adjourned LAW AND POLICE. THE LEEDS BANK FORGERIES. - At the Central Cri minal Court the case of Mr. Thomas Edgley came before Mr. Justice Lush, Application was made for the post ponement of the trial on the ground that Mr. Greenland, the late manager of the Leeds Bank, was in Geneva, and iu his absence the defendant could not safely proceed to trial. ~v Mr. Greenland had written a letter to the solicitors for the pr , secution, in which he stated that, having considered the matter, be remem bered that a good deal of the evidence given before the Lord Mayor was incorrect. The concession of the Maydampeck Forest by the Servian Government had been placed in his hands as security, and it was intended to form a limited company so soon as the samples of the timber should arrive in this country. Mr. Greenland added that he believed that but for the stoppage of the Leeds Bank the project would have turned out a successful one. His lordship ordered the trial to stand over till May. TOWN COUNCILLORS CONVICTED OF BRIBERY.—At the• Welshpool County Court, John Jones and David Humphreys, two of the councillors elected at the last municipal election, were summoned to recover the sum of 405., " for that they were guilty of bribery at the last election, whereby they forfeited 40s. to the plain. tiffs." The bribery consisted of treating with ale, and it appeared from what was said in the course of the case, that this form of bribery had become an established custom at Welshpool, where, according to the solicitor for the plaintiffs, a man had little chance of getting into the council except through the public-house. One of the plaintiffs was a defeated candidate who had refused to " treat," and the actions were brought, it was said, for the purpose of stopping the practices complained of. The judge said the cases were fully proved, and warned the borough that it ran the risk of disfranchise ment. Judgment was given in each case for 40s. REFUSING TO HEAR AN ATTORNEY.—At the City Police-court, on Tuesday morning, during the hearing of a case of robbery from a dwelling-house, in which Mr. Ward, attorney, appeared for the prisoners, 'Mr. Fowler, the stipendiary magistrate, said : " Mr. Ward, until you con. descend to give me in writing a reply to the matter about which I sent to you several times, I decline to hear you in this court. You promised to do so, and upon your promise I refused to issue a warrant against you." The case was adjourned at the request of the police-officer in charge of it. —Ma nchester Courier. COMPETING GAS COMPANIES.—The Lord Justices or Chancery Appeal have had before them a case in which the Imperial Gas and Coke Company sought to restrain the West Junction Gas Company from supplying gas to the Great Western Railway Company for their station at Paddington. There was also a bill against the Great Western Railway Company to prevent them from enter ing into any agr, eeement to supply gas to the hotel at Paddington. By the Act of 1860 a certain district was allotted to each company, and no company was to supply gas in the district of another company. Padding ton Station was in the district of the plaintiffs, but the railway company had a meter of their own outside the said district, in the district of the West London Company, and through which the gas was received. The company conveyed the gas to their station from this meter at their own risk. The Vice-Chancellor dismissed both bills, and now, on appeal, the Lords Justices thought that the company sold the gas outside the district, and refused to prevent the alleged threatened wrong. ATTEMPT TO UPSET A RAILWAY TRAIN.—At Cocker mouth, on Monday, two lads, named Joseph Wren and Archibald Collins, the one apparently 15 years of age and the other 12, were charged with having wilfully and maliciously attempted to upset a train on the Cockermouth and Workington Railway. The lads had opened all the points at Melgrum Fitz and put stones in to keep them open. A passenger train was due shortly afterwards, and had the condition of the points not been discovered the train would have run into a siding among some coal waggons, and the result might have been fearful. Near the same place a plank 2i inches thick was laid across the line. The lads were committed for trial. THE RECENT SEIZURE OF ARMS AT MANCHESTER. — The two. men, William Pherson Thompson and William Hogan, were again brought up on remand at Manchester, charged with being concerned in the illegal possession of firearms, and with having taken part in the attack on the prison-van and the murder of Sergeant Brett. Hogan was discharged, but Thompson was committed for trial at the assizes on the latter charge. ACTION FOR LIBEL AGAINST THE LIVERPOOL " Pon. CUPINE." - At the Liverpool Assizes, before Mr. Justice Shee, the case of Wearing v. Shemmin was tried. The plaintiff is the secretary of the Liverpool Seamen's Mutual Friendly Society, and the defendant the editor and proprietor : of the Liverpool Porcupine, a local satirical journal. This action was for an alleged 'libel published in the Porcupine, beaded "Keeping Watch for the Life of Poor Jack." A comment on the last annual report of the society constituted the alleged libel. The defendant in his article stated that while the receipts of the society amounted to £1,555, the expenses had reduced that sum to £B4l 12s. ld., and that about (')0 had been disbursed in benefits. The great feature of the review was that £713 10s. 6d. had been appropriated for the officers, six in number, while only the £6O before alluded to had been expended for the benefit of the members. Plaintiff proved that Or members were quite satisfied with the management of the society, that the accounts were always open for inspection, and that the business of the society was most regularly conducted. The jury gave a verdict for the plaintiff ; damages, £lO. DEATH OF MR. CHARLES RANK KENNEDY.- Mr. Charles Bann Kennedy, who will be remembered for his connection with the great Swinfen case, died at Bir mingham, in very reduced circumstances. He was the son of the Rev. R. Kennedy, a man of considerable literary taste. Charles Rann Kennedy was born in 1303, in the town in which fifty-nine years later he breathed his last. In 1817 he entered Trinity College, Cambridge, as exhibi tioner of King Edward's School, Birmingham. He 'achieved considerable success at his uiiversity, and was elected fellow of Trinity College in 1831. In. 1835 he was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn. FATAL FALL OF A CHURCH.—On Tuesday, an accident occurred at the church of St. Paul, Astley-bridge, near Bolton, by which one man was killed and two others severely injured. The edifice was being widened, and for the purpose of carrying out the extension the workmen had sprung some arches, and it was noticed on Tuesday morning that one of these was fast giving way. The breach became so great that one of the " needles " an upright piece of timber supporting the keystone of the arch—slipped from under, and a tremendous crash followed. The roof of the church and the greater part of the building fell in. Three of the men were caught by the falling walls, and several others narrowly escaped. William Carruthers, a joiner, was so seriously hurt that he died whilst being conveyed to the infirmary. He was a married man. Two others, who are also seriously hurt, lie in the infirmary. MISCELLANEOUS NETT/4S. tFroin the Anglo-American 21mes.) The articles which appeared in the Pall Mall Gazette on the Shoeburyness experiments with the Rod man gun have attrac ed considerable attention in America. The Springfield Republican observes, "England's weakest point at present being her navy, anything that relates to it, or that could in any way injure it, is regarded by Britons with the most lively jealousy and curiosity." It is a great mistake to suppose that England's navy is weak. Admiral Farragut, who had lately an opportunity of seeing some thing of it, should be consulted. If he proclaims it to be England's weakest point, we will bow to his opinion, though much surprised at it. Horace Greeley has written an account of the starting of the New York Tribune in 1841. He possessed $l,OOO worth of printing materials and $l,OOO in cash. If. J. Raymond (now editor of the New York. Times), on a salary of $8 a week, was his chief assistant. He beau with a subscription list of 500, and receipts under $lOO weekly ; growing till the year 1866 the revenue was $900,000, which barely covered the expenses of the publi cation. The story promised by Charles Dickens for the next number of " Our Young Folks" is a Holiday Romance. A politico-religious daily to advocate Ritualism is to be started in New York when the necessary funds are forthcoming. The editor will be selected from half a-dozen reverend doctor; to all of whom rumour gives the post. In the life of Francis Wayland, by his sons, 'Francis and H. L. Wayland, which has lately been pub ished at New York, the following passages about French men in Paris . occur :—" From first to last, all my dealing with Frenchmen has shown me more and more their dis position to lying and dishonesty." And of Paris : "I was glad to be out of a city without God—a city of frivolity, of heartless gaiety, of thorough selfishness, of sensual appe tite and savage passions. There seems to be among the people no moral basis." Alluding to Mr. Robinson, of Brooklyn, the Fenian member of the House of Representatives, and the resolution he lately introduced for the impeachment of Mr. Adams, the Nation notices the difficulty with which Mr. Adams has had to contend : —A Fenian General before he was caught was always an Irish Republic ; after ho was caught he became partly a prisoner of war, partly an Irish patriot, and partly an American citizen ; but owing to his composite character, it has been impossible to deal with him diplomatically. If Mr. Adams had taken him up as an American citizen, the British minions would have assailed him as an Irish patriot, and so on. The Nation then goes on in the "chaffy" style it so often adopts :—" Still we do not say .that Mr. Adams ought not to be impeached. There is hardly anybody that would not be the better of being impeached, now that•something is known about impeachment. In fact, we fe6l satisfied that General Butler himself would be improved both morally and politically by having a few articles filed against him." 'I he Congressional ITnion-Republican Executive Committee denies that Mr. Bradley, the coloured lawyer, who has been working so much mischief in Savannah, is employed by the party, or is in any sense an authorised expounder of its principles. Mr. Richard O'Gorman,. the New York Corpora tion counsel, has made an elaborate and partially success ful reply to the charges brought against him by the Citizens' Association. Representative Windom, of Minnesota, has moved an amendment to the Reconstruction Acts, and it is probable that this will give an opportunity for reconside ration and revision, guided by the light of recent events in the South and of public opinion throughout the country. Colonel Chas. S. G. Doster, one of the staunchest Union men in Alabama, has written to the Montgomery Mail, remonstrating against the majority reports of the Convention (since adopted), as certain to produce the worst consequences for both races, and he points out that, if carried, it will be impossible for white men iu the South to be members of the Republican party. His letter is written in the most impassioned strain, and coming from a man well known to be true to the Union it is likely to carry great weight. General Averill is a candidate for the office of Secretary of War. Hiram Price, of lowa, spoke of the President as an habitual drunkard at a Washington Temperance Meet:ng. Ex-Governor Ford, of Ohio, at a later meeting denied the charge, as his business brought him in contact with Mr. Johnson, morning, noon, and night, and he had nev seen him in the slightest degree affected by liquor. Mr. Dickens, captivated by the statue of B. Franklin, iu Boston, determined to take up his residence where that specimen of sculpture would be constantly iu view, and therefore declined Mr. Field's kind invitation His new Atlantic Story, " George Silverman's Explana tion," will bo au exposition of the causes which led to the erection of the bridge in the public garden, which elicited the author's warmest commendation. John M. Langton, the - coloured orator of Ohio, strongly advocated Chase for President in his address at Boston, Nov. 26. There is little doubt that Chase is the favourite among the negroes down South. Accidents from kerosene lamps appear to be frequent. Mrs. Edward Morgan, of Connecticut, was burnt to death, Nov. 23, by one bursting. The post mortem examination of Governor Andrew revealed a most extensive apoplectic effusion brought on by overtasking the brain in a constitution predisposed to the disease. His death was hastened by the immense brain-work accomplished by him during the war. Mr. Stanton is at Washington, where he states that, although he does not desire re-appointment to the War Department, he thinks Mr. Johnson should be re buked by Congress for his unwarrantable assumption of power in setting aside, in his case, the Tenure of Office Bill. This is rather good in Mr. Stanton, as a great many persons can testify; but it is a different thing to be treated illegally oneself, and to treat others illegally. Mr. Edward L. Cary called the meeting to sup port the rights of American citizens to order, and Judge Charles P. Daley took the chair. The assemblage was so vast that stands and speakers had to he provided round the Cooper Institute ; 5,000 or 6,000 being unable to obtain admiss'ion to the building. Mr. J. A. ll'Caffrey, General John Cochrane, the Hon. John M'Keon, Mr. Horace Greeley and District -Attorney A. Oakey Hall delivered speeches. The proceedings closed by the appointment of these gen tlemen, together with Charles G. Halpine, as a special committee to proceed to Washington, and there lay the resolutions of this meeting before the President in Con gress. England is quite prepared to amend what is ridicu lous in her law, but any support extended to Fenian fillibustors and law-breakers would be resented with an indignation that might take America by surprise, and precipitate a war they had no intention whatever of pro voking. The English mood is growing dangerous on the sub ject, and those whe shake the red rag in the eyes of John Bull ought to be enlisting soldiers and building ships in stead of disposing of war materials. A woman named Cobb has obtained a warrant for the arrest of Chief Detective Baker, on a charge for perjury. Cobb was accused by Baker of obtaining par dons from the President in a way reflecting injhriously on the President's character, the woman's being past reflec tion. The President openly states that perjury has been committed before the Judiciary Committee, the members of which have been summoned as witnesses in Baker's trial. Not only has Horatio Seymour declined being a candidate for the Presidency, but George H. Pendleton also declines, as his party may be compromised by his ad vocacy of paying the debt in greenbacks. Jefferson Davis was discharged on bail at Rich- mond until March 15 next. The grand jury at Richmond is engaged in framing a new bill of indictment against him, and have had General Lee and James A. Seddon before it as witnesses. Mr. Davis will remain in Rich mond for some time. General Sheridan, on the 25th November, was sumptuously entertained by Senator Thomas Murphy, at his residence, Park Avenue, New York. Colonels Crosbie and Forsyth, of his staff, accompanied the General, and among those present wore James T. Brady, Thomas C. Acton, Col. Clarence A. Seward, Mr. Griswold, Elliott C. Cowdin, James Murphy, John A. Kennedy, Gen. Arthur, James B. Nicholson, Nathaniel Jarvis, jun. ; Judges Brady and Daley,• Win. C. Barrett, Judge Bosworth, John Bryan, James Gordon Bennett, jun. ; Mr. Gibbs, of Cuba; Robert B. Roosevelt, Mr. Fay, of Fort Washington; Rufus F. Andrews, Dr. Louis A. Sayre, and a score or trio more of distinguished gentlemen. Hunnicutt has been arrested, and held to bail in Richmond. General Imboden has been granted a nzandanals to compel General Schofield to show cause why he is pre vented from voting. Imboden desires to bring the matter before the Supreme Court in the interest of the white people of the South. Senator Zacariah Chandler of Michigan presented a resolution on the 28th to the effect that hostilities having commenced between the Government of Great Britain and, the King of Abyssinia, that "we (the American people) should maintain a strict and impartial neutrality in the contest, granting to the flag of each belligerent the same rights and privileges," and so on, in the exact words used in the Queen's proclamation issued May 14, 1861, in which the Coniederacy was recognised as a belligerent. General Grant, has reduced the infantry and artil lery of the United States army to 50 privates each com pany, closing the recruiting offices, and mustering out the volunteers. The army thus stands at the minimum allowed by law-45,000 men. The Hon. John A. Masson, United States Assistant P os t mas ter-General, and Mr. John Consul-General of the Swiss Confederation at Washington, were among the passengers of the Hermann, which left Southampton for New York last Tuesday afternoon. The St. Paul's Pioneer tells a story of how the son of an eminent Irish lord came to St. Paul in the summer ArrEA , After Dra After Hay After Ade After Oly After St= After Nov After Si.; After Prie .en Singh THE N LUNCHE( Cm &e. Private stxT OFF TO on and aft P.m. to One ; This celeb Prize Medal. It is Pure, „Sold in Boi ULO Agents i. Obser B ve Gß th han's LL WI UTI I J. NussEL vArrcli Hold or Leah able Perms free 0 T H 'lll:lllnrinzn,gantl( 'ION fror AUX EN? ..Principal a Messrs. Ban mad Chorus CO nA.TIRT SY Ind Miss Ki Mr E.W. STODAR Private be raellade. 4ADA A Life-siz Of Abyssinia of England, °Den frog r alttanoe, is NRGYI ;4; VI r nx egg : ms th A brs r g:e l nl ` 3Ol O Cornet, %IVES The Gret and Sir RI liobOdy'S ,the renowi GEORGE ~u re) Miss STONE an TE DELE (from tho E of 30 perfor Stalls an ' 4 ., can be continence ALF..I Produces w 6d.• sei 248 , High VV ° ln i‘T preparation loving the 248, Hi gh B Lo R dies' or ". 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