The Sun.
London, England, 1869-09-09 00:00:00

AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

(From the Anglo-American Times.)
NEW 'ironic, Aug. 19.
The London detective, Inspector Spittle, arrived
on Tuesday in the Scotia to take charge of Messrs.
Harwood and Hatcher, but finding they had already
returned with their own consent, he found his
journey had been made for nothing, and he had to
go back etnpty-handed. Rear-Admiral Hoff arrived
in the Albany early on Tuesday morning. That
steamer left Santiago de Cuba, July 23d, under
Capt. J. A Balscorub, touching at Key West, and
arrived at the Lower Quarantine with yellow fever
on board, of which assistant engineer Steele had died
the previous day. Although she is to be detained
there six days Admiral Hoff has been permitted to
proceed to report. Secretary Robeson inspected
the Brooklyn Navy-yard on the 17th, with Admiral
Porter, ex-Secretary Borie, and General Sherman,
and highly complimented Admiral Godon for its
efficient state. After inspecting the fortifications
on Governor's Island, the 7allapoosa proceeded
with the party east. Poor Nagle, the Fenian gene-
ral, committed suicide by throwing himself from a
second storey window last Sunday morning. He
had lately been appointed clerk in the Tax Com-
missioner's office. During the war he was a captain
in the Irish Brigade, of which his regiment, the
38th, formed part. On Monday many gentlemen
assembled at Sweeney's Hotel to take steps to do
honour to the deceased. A committee was appointed
to adopt resolutions of condolence, of which the
first declared that he had departed this life in con-
sequence of the " culminations of diseases resulting
from his severe and unjust treatment while unjustly
incarcerated in an English dungeon therefor." It
is a pity that Nagle should have taken so public a
measure as a header from a second storey window,
or there would have been much more force in the
resolution. There has been a row among the
Fenians about that $20,000. Mr. Barr, the receiver,
was accused of pocketing the lion's share, and keep-
ing the rest to finish that off too at a more con-
venient season ; and, of course, Judge M'Cunn,
who appointed him was supposed to have an inte-
rest in his proceedings. The former has been de-
nounced, and the latter is never again to receive
an Irish vote ; but Mr. Barr writes to show that
the only sum paid was $l,OOO, given to the very
man who brings the charge to cover his alleged
disbursements, $1,500, to meet his law expenses.
They have a vicious habit these Fenians of throw-
ing dirt at each other and all who come near them.
A daughter of Commodore Vanderbilt had a nar-
row escape at the Cliff House, Rye, when her
horse having run away the coachman was thrown
from his scat, but Mrs. Barker, watching her op-
portunity, dropped on the grass Mrs. I. P. Pierson's
little girl, and while the horse was in full flight
took up her own child and jumped out, all escap-
ing without any serious injury. The great sensa-
tion of the week was the Pratt affair, which has
been blown up by the press almost into a flame,
and a great deal of ill-feeling was being generated,
when, happily,
United States Commissioner Os-
borne discharged the prisoner, which Judge M'Cunn
and his friends represent as a triumph, though the
Commissioner was particular in saying that it was
from want of evidence only that such a course was
taken, and not from want of jurisdiction. Mar-
shal Barlow had an escort of United States troops,
and crossed the water of Long Island Sound in an
armed revenue cutter, his country house being on
Long Island or Staten Island,fearing an arrest. Had
this been attempted, it might have led to very serious
consequences, but happily the course of events
averted such a catastrophe. Pratt, it is said, has
found it expedient to proceed to Canada, under the
dread of being again arrested. The Fenian fillibus-
ters, rebels, and the rest, however they may war
against the Independence of Canada, occasion-
ally find it convenient to have a frontier to get
across. There was a ball at the Continental
Hotel, Long Branch, yesterday evening, to which
several distinguished persons were invited, among
them Mr. Peabody, but who, I fear, is not likely to be
present. This entertainment, being considered the
end of the season, was to be made unusually bril-
liant, the belles coming even from Saratoga and
Newport. Robert E. Sprague, who took the wife of