The Sun.
London, England, 1870-02-28 00:00:00

ships, said a woman in his district had an offer to get her
son into West Point for $2,500, Mr. Scofield adding that
two papers in Pennsylvania have lately published a story
that a West Point appointment had been sold by a Penn-
sylvania Congressman for $5OO. Most of these transac-
tions could be traced, it was alleged, to poor Southern
Congressmen, and impunity has given such boldness to
tho business that cadetships have been advertised f, r sale
in the Now York papers, while it was known that cadets
had been appointed from Districts and States where they
did not reside.
The President has nominated Judge Wm. Strong
of Pennsylvania, and Joseph P. Bradley of New Jersey, to
the vacant seats on the Supreme Bench. Judge Strong's
appointment was confirmed last Saturday, and it is be-
lieved that Mr. Bradley's will not be rejected. He was
born in Albany, New York, 50 years ago, graduated at
Rutger's College, settled at Newark, New Jersey, as a
lawyer, where he attained a high distinction in his pro-
fession, more as desk man than as a speaker. His opi-
nion carries immense weight, as he is profoundly versed in
law, and a fine scholar. Politics he has rather ignored,
though he never flinched from the strong expression of
any op'nion deeply held as an advanced Republican. Ge-
nerally be is unknown, but enough has transpired to lead
the nation into the belief that the selection is a good one.
Fernando Wood had a fine opportunity for a
little buncombe, indeed one impossible to resist, when the
resolution came up for discussion, reported some time since
from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, calling on the
President for information concerning the imprisonment of
American citizens in England for political offences. He as-
sumed strong groun dagainst the British Government, blam-
ing the President for not having taken measures for effect-
ing the release of the prisoners. While he is about it the
President may as well go in for a general gaol delivery in
Great Britain ; a course likely to be extremely popular with
a section of Democrats in New York who appear to have
rather a fancy for criminals. But Mr. Wood was so mode-
rate as to restrict himself to the Fenians captured in the
attempt to raise an insurrection in Ireland, and sentenced
to imprisonment by the ordinary process of law. The Re-
presentative from New York "thought the House of Re-
presentatives should do its duty. Official intelligence on
the subject should be asked from the State Department,
and then it might be that Congress, and if not Congress,
the American people, would demand the- release of their
countrymen from the British people. If negotiation failed,
then they should appeal to the God of Battles—that high
Umpire, which was sometimes the most economical, most
wise, and most judicious."
Professor Maury gave a lecture at the Cooper
Institute on Thursday evening, Feb. 10. He traced on
large charts the course of the Gulf Stream, which he con-
siders 1,000 times greater than the Mississippi river, moving
across the Atlantic on the track of a wide circle of the
earth. Contrary to the idea that Newfoundland deflects
the current from its course, Professor Maury considers that
it moves in obedience to the diurnal rotation of the globe
on the one hand, and, being of a different specific gravity
from the waters of the Polar Sea, it seeks to find an equili
brium by changing places with them. He denied that the
stream turned easterly to the Azores, although an offshoot
—a drift—existed, caused by the south-west winds,. which
are everywhere the same, north of the Tropic of Cancer.
The true Gulf Stream flows in a mighty and resistless
course, and even at Hammerfest, the most northern
town in the world, its presence prevents frost at a
time when St. John's, Newfoundland, 1,800 miles to the
south, is frozen up as late as the month of June. The
lecturer said that though the stream, as it comes through
the narrows of Florida, was 1,000 times larger than the
Mississippi, it is afterwards joined by a body of water
known as the North-west branch, which, being of the
same temperature and specific gravity as the Gulf Stream
proper, readily unites with it after it has passed the Baha-
mas. If this be true, the Gulf Stream would be consi-
dered fully equal to the powers claimed fur it, of breaking
through the ice-walls which surround and guard the Pole.
Professor Maury compared it to the Milky Way, because its
warm water at night was made, by myriads of insects, to
glow and sparkle like a sea of fire.
BUDGET OF PERSONAL—Jay Gould has given
a $lO,OOO donation to Princeton Cillege.—Admiral Frank-
lin Buchanan is the latest Confederate recruit in the life
insurance business.—Washington correspondents, we
are told, say that the new Senator, Revels, has picked
out his seat in the Senate Chamber next to that of Senator
Sumner. —lt is said that on his return from Italy John P.
Hale, ex-Minister to Madrid, is to have a public reception
at Dover, New Hampshire, and is to begin public
life over again by running for the State Legislature.—
A_ Frenchman was lately found to be in a paroxysm of
tears over the supposed tomb of Washington at Mount
Vernon, but it turned out to be only the ice house.— At
Denver they have teen voting for a cane for "the most
popular man in town," and by a strange fatality it fell to
0. J. Geldrick, of the Denver Herald, whereupon he re-
marks, " Verily, journalism and civilization are flapping
their luminous wings over the queen city of the plains "
Ignatius Donnelly is to stump Minnesota for free trade.—
Mrs S towe's"Vindication"is said to have but a limited sale.—
Senator Revels, the coloured Senator from Mississippi,
was entertained at dinner in Washington on Tuesday
evening by George T. Downing, the coloured restaurateur,
at which forty persons sat down at the table, among them
Senator Wilson, William D. Kelley, Mayor Bowen, and
the most prominent coloured politicians of Washington.
On Wednesday Mrs. Revels was in the Senate gallery
whilst her husband sat on a sofa upon the floor. Upon
hearing of the lady's presence in the gallery Senators
Sumner and Tipton at once proceeded thither and were
presented to her by Mr. Downing. A serenade is in pre-
paration for the coloured Senator.— Among the pas -enget s
by the Cimbria last Saturday at Plymouth were the
lion. Thomas Findley and Mr. Colorado Jewett.—J.
Donald Cameron has inherited $1,100,000 from his
lately deceased father-in-law, Mr. M'Cortnick of Harris-
burg.—General Francis Fessenden, son of the late Se-
nator, is a candidate for Mayor of Portland, Maine.—Mrs.
Victoria C. Woodhull and Mrs T. C. C. Ciaffin have opened
an office in Wall-street, NOW York, and 'purpose doing
business. as stockbrokers.—lt is understood that Hugh
Ewing will be recalled from the Hague.—The President,
Feb. 4, nominated A. B. Underwood, Surveyor of Customs
at Boston ; Samuel Bard, of Georgia, Governor of Idaho ;
IL 11. Heath, Marshal for New Mexico ; and John P. S.
Gobin, U. S. District Judge for Southern Florida.—ln
Washington, when Prince Arthur was there, the English
butlers and coachmen resident. in the city gave a supper to
the Prince's servants. One of the speeches was made by his
favourite valet, who was enthusiastic in his praise of the
United States as compared to Caned'. "'Ow his it," ho
asked, " that Henglishmen want to 'av hanything to do
with such a blausted cold place as that, where the people
are French, hand the beer's as weak as water ?"
President Grant receives $25,000 a year; General Sher-
man, $18,780 ; Lieutenant General Sheridan, $14,803 ;
General Halleck, $9,862 ; Secretary Fish, $B,OOO ; Chief
Justice Chase, $6,500; Vice President Colfax, $B,OOO, and
Speaker Blaine, $10,000. Professor John Bascom and
his wife are to spend the summer in Europe. —A man name
Smith in Chicago has brought a breach of promise suit
against a young woman.—A fund is being raised in New
Orleans by the admirers of General Lee to present him
with his portrait. Beauregard hohls the funds.--Among
the recent arrivals at Havre from New York are Constant
Mayer and Leonard Jerome, the New York banker.—The
reassignment of the principal U. S. engineer officers is as
follows : - General H. W. Ben Lam, from Boston to Wash-
ington, vice Bache, retired ; Colonel Casey, General Parker
and General Poe are retained hero ; Colonel J. M'Comb,
from Cincinnati to St. Paul; General Reynolds, from De-
troit to St. Louis ; General Warren, from St. Paul to De-
troit ; Colonel Craighill, from Washington to Fort Monroe
General Woodruff, from Washington to Philadelphia;
Colonel Stewart, from Philadelphia to SanFrancieco; Col.
Hourton, from Newport, R. 1., to Milwaukee; Colonel
Wheeler, from Milwaukee to Washington, Of the assist-
ants, Adjutant-General Vincent remains at Washington,
and Generals Ruggles and Whipple and Colonel Max tin aro
ordered there. General Robert Williams goes to Rich-
mond, Beck to St. Louis, and Kelton to San Francisco.—
The cotton pickeries of Kehliuger and Cullins, at New
Orleans, were burned on the 10th Feb, causing a loss of
$100,600. Charles Merrifield perished in the flames.—
Congressman Dawes's house in Massachusetts has been
robbed.. General Terry's house at Atlanta has also been
robbed. When caught the burglars are to be sentenced
by a military court to take the test oath. —General Sir C.
A. Windham, K.C.8., who died at Jacksonville, has been
buried in Florida. This British officer had been so struck
with the prospects of Kansas when on a hunting expedi-
tion that, he invested in land, which he returned to see,
when seized with an affection of the heart that necessitated

I a move to the mild climate of Florida, where he might
have recovered, but for the exposure following en the
house he was in being burnt.- James Fisk, jun., is called
by the Louisville Courier Journal the "Financial Falstaff."
—Senator Sprague has been in his seat in the Senate but
once during the Fresent session.—General Lee's health
is not good, and his Virginia friends urge him to
make a trip to Europe in the apring.•_Council Bluffs,
lowa, has impeached its Mayor.—Mrs. Admiral Dahlgren
beads au anti• woman's suffrage society at Washington.—
Captain Commerell, of H.B.M. ship Monarch, gave a fare-
well party on board his ship, Feb. 11, at Portland, in ac-
knowledgment of many acts of courtesy and kindness
which have been extended to him and his officers since
their arrival there. About 509 ladies and gentlemen
were entertained. The affair ended with a dance. -
Lieutenant-Cloverner Hendee has been inaugurated Go-
vernor of Vermont, in consequence of toe death of Gover-
nor Washburne.—Barnum has reached Mammoth Cave,
Kentucky, on his return from Cuba, and it is related of
him that, while examining the Cave, ho went to sleep for
the first time in the presence of a great natural curiosity.--
While the Legislature of Maine was vacillating over the
question of attending the Peabody funeral, a respectable
member from the back country said :—" Mr. Speaker, 1 am
disgusted with the conduct of this House. This funeral

at Portland is agoing to bo a great affair; but when 1 see
this House a-tettering and see-sawing, as if it didn't know

its'own mind, I declare I wish Mr. Peabody hadn't died !"
—George Francis Train paid gio for a telegram to the
Queen, addressed "Victoria, give me back my tramways, or

down goes your monarchy." a reducing Anglophobia to

a farce, verily, George is not without his use.