The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-27 00:00:00

A NOBLE CAPTAIN.

(11.oni the Anglo-American Times.)
NEW YonK, April 10.

w lic

A grand military ball was given by the Seventh
Regiment on Thursday, the most brilliant of the
season. Very shortly a magnificent hotel and
opera house to cost $1,000,000 will be commenced
between Twenty-second and Twenty-third Streets
on Broadway, by Mr. S. M. Pike, which will make
the third in this city. The Fire Marshal says that
last month there were 79 fires in New York, 12 of
which were caused by carelessness, 5 by explosion of
kerosene lamps, 3 by upsetting of the same, 3 by
children playing with matches, 3 by spontaneous
combustion, 1 by explosion of chemicals, 1 of in-
cendiary origin, and the rest unknown. Total loss
on buildings, $64,790; stock, $237,390; in all,
$302,180. Total insurance, $982,260. Trade is
very bad, money awfully tight, things having ar-
rived at a point which causes real alarm. The
country banks are drawing largely on ours, which
are,by no means in a position to meet the drafts,
and exchange has gone up to a price which pays to
import gold fr to Europe. The ships are accumu-
lating at our wharves. List Saturday the number
was 549, of which 80 were steamers, 73 ships, 145
barks, 162 brigs, and 89 schooner:. Owners say
freights barely cover expenses, nevertheless the
real estate mania continues, though there have
been signs of its breaking. The railroal ticket
agents had a great meeting at the St. Nicholas
llotel, to adjist the freights and p tssenger rates
between the West and the seaboard. Focty-seven
delegates were present., including 11. W. Gwinuer,
of the Pennsylvania Railroad; D. M. Boyd, jun.,
G. A. B Philadel-
phia,Philadelphia and Erie ;
Wilmington, and Baltimore ; and T. N. Raus-
kin, of the New Jersey Railroad Company. The
result of their deliberations will soon he known.
So wig the investigations of the commissioners ap-
pointed to look a:ter the bridge at East River. It is
believed that the bridge would be in the way if
the shipping business was done by clippers as for-
merly, but as it is not, slight inconvenience only, it
is thought, will result. Tio Spirit notifies its sub-
scribers that when they receive the paper in a blue
wrapper, the time for sending in subscriptions will
have arrived. It says that great things are expected in
the coming yacht season in the contention between
European and American yachtsmen. A fine new
schooner, built for Mr. George Lorillard, was
launched during the week from the yard of Messrs.
C. and R. Poillon, who built the Sappho. The
new vessel is called the Meteor, and she follows the
favourite American model, having a length on deck
of 120 feet and 27 feet beam, to 9 feet 9 inches
depth of hold. Senor Mauricio Lopez Roberts,
Spanish Minister to the United States, and P. 1). de
Rivera of the Spanish Legation, are at the Albe-
marle Hotel.

WASHINGTON, April 9.
Mrs. Grant commenced her receptions at the
White House last Tuesday afternoon, and intends
to continue them on that day. Her unfortunate
husband had had a tooth extracted, and being sur-
rounded and beset by office seekers was not pre-
sent, but Mrs. Grant was aided by Mrs. Senator
Williams, and the attendance was very large. The
Secretaries are trying to decapitate long-winded
bores, and it would indeed be a blessing could they
succeed. Secretary Borie has published a notice
asking his visitors to stick to business. The Su-
preme Court intends to hold a session during the
months of October, November, and December, then
to adjourn over the holidays to the Ist of February,
when the Court will hold another session of three
months. If the bill to reorganize the Court,now pend-
ing, becomes a law, the periods and times above
mentioned will thenceforth be a permanent arrange-
ment. Mr. John Jay is here, and is said to have
declined the mission to Austria, while his friends are
pushing him for that to England. It is rumoured that
the President has telegraphed to Mr. Reverdy Johnson
to resign, and the belief is general that Mr. Motley,
who is also here, will be his successor. General
Sickles has refused the mission to Mexico. The
Finance Minister of that country, Senor Romero,
is on his way to Washington on a special mission,
to ask for money, I suppose, as that is what Juarez
seems most to need. General Stoneman is also in

Washington, but leaves immediately for Key West,
where his regiment., the 12th Infantry, are to go
instead of to California as before ordered. His
successor in the command of Virginia, Gen. Webb,
• is turning out Stoneman's nominees by the dozen.
Mr. John Davenport has been in Washington work-
ing on behalf of the Union League of New York
for the re-appointment of the Committee on the New
York election frauds. Longstreet is here, as well as
Magruder, who is delivering lectures on Maximilian
and ;Mexico. Gen. losecrans, it is rumoured, will
be recalled, at the request of the Mexican Govern-
ment, who have made charges against him. Gen.
Whittaker is looking f tf•r the Hartford postmaster-
ship. General G. K. Warren has returned from
investigating the Union Pacific Railroad. Charles
M. Wilder has been confirmed by the Senate as tin)
Co!umbia Postmaster on a salary of $2,800. His
appointm nt is remarkable as being the first negro,
and ex-slave wlo has obtained such a post, and South
Carolina has the honour of receiving the coloured
postmaster. Frederick Douglas has been pushed
for the Haytien Mission, for which a strong party
are bent on nominating an African ; but he says he
would not accept the appointment if tendered.
Laroche is expected here to act as Minister
for th.►t island. Mrs. Thorton has been very
ill with a sore throat; indeed thQ diplomatic

A correspondent of the Daily News records a gallant
deed by Lord Kerr, commander of the English warship
Hercules. Whilst at Lisbon, the other clay, a sailor fell
from the rigging into the water, striking his bead against
a boom. The man was stunned, and would have perished
in the water. Lord Kerr gave the order customary on
board a ship•of-war when the cry " Man overboard !"
was raised, but for the moment 110 one stirred, then in a
twinkling he stripped off coat and vest and plunged into
the river, succeeding in holding the man up until assist-
ance came.