Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-22 00:00:00

But one of Mr. Buchanan's electioneering friend
wrote .hinla letter, setting .forth the advantages or
bestowing the contract on a particular house, on the
ground that it employed more artisans than an
other, and that if it were enabled to keep its full
number of hands at work for a week before the eke
ion, it would, no doubt, be enabled to bring in th,
administration candidate in that district. Ting
letter 'Mr. Buchanan actually forwarded to the
Secretary of the Navy, calling his attention to a
13y an endorsement, with his own initials at the foot.
is the way in which the Presidential machine is
managed, its wheels must be greased with corrup-
tion, or they would not move—that is in the desired
direction.-

Some statistics lately made public concei:nid.,
immigration are interesting, as showing the nature
and extent of the
,accessions that are being
made to the population. It appears that the
total number of immigrants last y6ar
144,352, of whom
,89,648 were males and 54,704
females. Out of this aggregate, 140,511 are set
down as settlers in the United States, leaving only
3,741 for other destinations. Of the nations which
furnish the largest proportions of immigrants,
Germany figures for 23,901, and Ireland for 14,299.
China, strange to say, comes next after Great Britain
—the number of immigrants from that count-47
being set down at 4,808, of whom 320 are females.
In the occupations, we find 10,217 merchants for 255)
elerkA, and 20,406 'fanners for 23,317 labourers, as
unusual disproportion of heads to hands. There
is shown to be a majority of comparatively young
persons, nearly 30,000 of the whole number being
between 20 and 25 years old. But the account show
a.great falling OF in numbers, from those of 'pre-
vious years, the aggregate of the arrivals for 1858
amounting to a little more than one-half of the
gration for each of the previous three years, and to
only about a third Of 1851, ' 52, '53, '54.
I dare say you have little idea of the extent of
the Spanish squadron in the Cuban waters just now.
The ships of the line, and various brigs, frigates,
and steamers, number in all 402 guns, and the steamers
reckon altogether 3,750 horse power. "If to this bril-
liant array,"says the Havana Mare delta Marino, "-sfe
add the reinforeelnent that the station will receive
with the ship of the line Francisco de Asis, the
screw steamer Princesa de Asturias, and the aid,-
wheel steam frigate Isabel 11., we shall see a squa-
dron such as has not for many years sailed in these
seas, with the notable fact that nearly all the vessels
have been- recently constructed, and that all are
equipped and armed in a style equal to that of the
richest and best organised navies'.' Thus it is evident
that Spain is not unprepared to resist any attempt
that the United States government may at any time
make to compel annexation.
The recent shocking tragedy at Washington does
not appear to have interfered with the gaeities of the
season there. It appears that at no period Within
the recollection of its lobitues has the capital been
gayer or more thronged than it was during the last
two or three weeks, The 'hotels were all filled to
overflowing, and strangers continually pouring in
contributed to increase the difficulties of accommo-
dation. The Session being ended, of course there
has now been a general dispersal.
The " Washington Tragedy," as they delight to
call it,—that is the murder of Mr. Kay by Mr..
Sickles, in the streets of the Federal Capital,--c on-
tinues to be a subject of exciting interest. The num-
! derer is the object of a most mischievously morbid
sympathy. The effect of it can only be to convey
the idea that he has done. not only an
a noble deed ; and nothing can be well conceived of
more dangerous to the American mind. That there
was great provocation, cannot be denied. But this
can never justify a preconcerted, deliberate murder.
He had doubtless sustained gross injury and cruel
wrong. But this could never warrant so
fearful and fatal an act of revenge. " Vengeance
is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord." It certainly
was not Mr. Sickles's, either by the law of God or
man. Besides, according to all accounts he was not
himself blameless. And it was evidently a care it
which he that was without sin, and only he—if any-
one at all—should have presumed to cast the faro
stone. The wretched man is in gaol awaiting his trial.
But it will only be as a farce after the tragedy.