The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-25 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 25 1867.

nental war would have been too great for any

nation at the present moment, when so noble an in-
vitation to universal peace and goodwill has been
inaugurated by the Emperor of France. There are
alarmists who yet pretend that the lull will be but
for the instant, and discern still in the political
horizon the cloud no bigger than a man's hand,
which will yet pour out its wrath upon the Conti-
nent in the thirst for territorial aggrandisement,
which has been lately evinced by more than

one potentate, and which forms the more espe-
cial characteristic of the barbaric princes of the
East. Thus it is said that Russia, whilst

rivetting still more closely the fetters of that
hapless nation, Poland, with the evident and avowed
intention of annihilating every feature of its na-

tionality, is tampering with Sclavonia, Croatia,
Gallicia, and others of the serf States of Austria.
Whether the accusation, however, be true or false,

I yet trust and believe that Eastern or any other
ambition will have to succumb before the influence

of enlightened Europe, and the thorough under-
standing which daily increases in force between its
two most powerful sovereignties--France and Eng-
land ; the latter especially has learnt the lesson that
colonial possessions at a great distance cost nearly,
if not more than they are worth, as has been
evinced in the attitude assumed by that Power

in respect to the acquisition of Russian Ame-
rica by the United States, and it is clear
that her statesmen consider the enlightened policy, to
which we have already alluded, as the best safe-

guard for the events of the future.
The Exposition continues to prove itself a great
and undoubted success, and, from an estimate of

the daily receipts, it is calculated that at the period of
closing they will have amounted to 10} millions of
francs, or 2f millions in excess of the amount gua-
ranteed to the Imperial Commisssion, from the
impetus given by the ratification of the Treaty of
Peace, and the announced arrival of the greatest
Sovereigns in the world, it is probable that the
estimates will exceed rather than fall under the
mark.

The arrival of the Czar, who will be lodged at
the Palace of the Elyse; is announced for the
2d of June, and preparations are said to be
making at the Ministere de la Guerre for a grand
military review which will be offered by the Empe-
ror Napoleon to his illustrious guest, as well as to
the King of Prussia, who, it is said (aud as indeed is
more than probable), will be accompanied by his

Minister, Count Bismarck.
Queen Victoria is looked for at the latter end of
June, about which period it is said the Queen Isa-
bella of Spain will also most probably honour Paris
with a visit. A grand ball took place on the even-
ing of the 19th at the Tuileries in honour of the
foreign Sovereigns and Princes, the Emperor con-
ducting the Queen of Belgium, whilst the King had
the honour of giving his arm to her Imperial
Majesty the Empress. It is scarcely necessary to
observe that the ball was of the most brilliant de-
scription. It commenced at six in the evening, and
with the interval of a magnificent collation, at
one a.m., the votaries of terpsichore prolonged their
enjoyment until an advanced hour of the morning.
The Imperial ball has been followed up by
Matinees Dansantes at the hotels of the various
embassies. At that of England, Earl Cowley, who
has for fifteen years represented his country at
the French Court, gives place to Lord Lyons, who,
whatever may be his diplomatic talent, possesses at
least the reputation of one of England's bravest
defenders.
Amongst the myriad attractions of the Exposi-
tion one of the greatest has been the in-
auguration, with all the ceremonies of the

East, of the Palace of the Bey of Tunis.
The Palace, the interior of which has been
entrusted to the care of Monsieur Alfred Chapon,
has been constructed under the immediate superin-
tendence of the Baron de Lesseps, Commissary-
General at the Exposition for the Tunisian Govern-
ment. It purports to be an exact representation of
the Bey's palace at Tunis, though whether his
Highness has been so ill. advised as to bring in his
train any of the cypress-waisted, gazelle-eyed
beauties of the East to learn a lesson of insubor-
dination at witnessing the complete liberty accorded
to the fair sex by Europeans, is difficult for me at
present to decide. The reproduction of the Moorish
richly-r.pporcli.a and Reeou t red
Guards and other auxiliaries, was so strikingly
illusory that for the moment I was transported into
the realms of romance, and half looked round ex-
pecting to see the Cid Rodriga advancing to its
assault. A sumptuous banquet had been provided
for the visitors Vlite who had received special in-
vitations from the Baron de Lesseps, the baron doing
the honours with that polished courtesy for which
he is so remarkable.
Prince Oscar cf Sweden also has offered the grati-
fication of an experimental pleasure trip on board
of his beautiful little Swedish steam yacht. The
excursion was to the Palace of St. Cloud, and more
than a hundred persons availed themselves of the
opportunity. The Prince, as well as the Prince de
Galle, both of whom have just quitted Paris, has
been for some time past one of its greatest lions, and
from the Court milliner to the sender of toothpicks,
happy the marchand or marchande honoured with
the patronage of either of their highnesses. The
fortune of the highly favoured one was made at
once in his estimation, and at the entrance of every
sufficiently bewiskered foreigner the heart of the
shopkeeper beat high with the hope, that in the
unknown personage before him he had found one
or other of the above-mentioned celebrities.
A very useful conference is spoken of as likely
andeteenv
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the representatives
et for its
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different
to take place shortly here at the Foreign-office,
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nations are given. If the conference does take
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Speak-
ing of this matter leads me, at the same time,
to observe that, owing to the influence of the Prince
of Holienzodlern, the Sublime Port has accorded to
Iv munania, the currency affairs of which State were
in a most deplorable condition, a new and improved
sys'lt'eh'eulonfricxertalgCe-ommission has decided upon aug-
menting considerably the number of prizes offered
to successful exposants. Thus there will be no
less than a thousand gold medals, three thousand
of silver, four thousand of bronze, and five thou-
sand honourable mentions ; thus, the number of
exposants reaching to about 43,000, there will be
a recompense of one kind or another for nearly
every three persons. _
The Minister of Public Instruction has returned
from a tour of inspection amongst the educational
establishments of the Departments of the North.
The Minister is an able, earnest man. I doubt,
however, the advisability of one of his recent alte-
rations, viz., the deferring classical studies to the
geTrehunentiversal
third or fourth year of the educational course. There
are flood arguments to be found both for and against
this innovation. There can be no doubt that his
Excellency has found that too great a delay has
been involved in conducting the study of the classes
side by side with that of the maternal language, and
that this delay has operated to the disadvantage of
the latter, whilst he doubtless presumes also that
the preliminary course would better prepare the
mental faculties of the Eleve for the comprehension
of more difficult studies. lam apt to think myself
that the defects which have been attributed to clas-
sical study itself should more properly be attributed
to the defective and lingering manner, want of sim-
plification, &c., in which the classes are taught .at
the present day. There can, in my opinion, be no
difficulty in so simplifying classical studies as to carry
them on, side by side with others, for it is not until
we compare our own language with another, that
we can see fully the beauties of either. It is a
rexata questio, however, and it is probable that a
middle course might have been adopted by his Ex-
cellency with success.
It is at present premature to say much upon the
Alsacian question. The hot-headed manifestoes of
the German students weigh little in comparison with
the guarantee afforded by the well-known wisdom
and moderation of the policy of the Emperor of
France, but we shall know more anon.
The weather has been variable and unsettled of
late. Excessive heat at one time has been succeeded
by excessive cold at another, The sewn is, not-

withstanding, gradually endorsing its robe of sum-
mer. The gardens and orchards are already pour-
ing forth their produce.
The Boulevards are thronged with their evening
loungers, whilst the fairy gardens of the Champs

Elysees;witi? their brilliantly-illuminated theatres,
concert-rooms, the soft night breeze wafting from

,hem exquisite strains of vocal and instrumental

melody, resume their place amongst the very first

attractions of the fair city.

On Sunday, the 19th, a grand floral exposition
took place at Versailles, under the patronage of
her Majesty the Empress. The never-failing

. .
attraction to the Parisians of the Grande Eaux is

now continually announced at Versailles, St. Cloud,

and all other Royal pleasure-grounds, which boast
alike of fountains and a good supply of the limped
element. The little wandering Pfifferari are to be
mct with in troops in every quarter of the city,

the police of which have not as yet succeeded in
materially diminishing the evil ; indeed, it would be
to bring one back to the days of King Herod

to use measures of a very hard character
against such infantile transgressions, and thus
the patron who imports all these children
escapes, and finds opportunity to enrich himself at
the expense of public credulity. The patron plays
his cards well, for one mnst have a more than com-
mon kindness of heart to resist the importunities of
the infants, many of whom are pecularly prepos-
sessing. A week or two since I was passing down
the Boulevard, by the Bastille, about nine in the
evening, which bad been wet and stormy, when I
espied, sound asleep upon a wet bench, one of the
most beautiful cherubs, of about six years old, that
that one could imagine. The child was wrapped
up in a greatcoat, with hood attached, and the
smile that wreathed his lips as he slept showed that
he dreamt of the far off Savoy and of. the mother
who had thus only sent him forth to brave the
troubles and trials of a hard world. I awoke him
with difficulty, and after the bystanders had loaded
him with their contributions, in which might be
reckoned more than one half-franc. The petit
bonhomme tottered off into the darkness, clasping
closely a violin which General Tom Thumb might
have envied, and bearing with him more than one
benediction.

The concert-rooms and theatres are crowded to
overflowing, the receipts at a concert recently given
by Carlotta Patti having exceeded 6,000 francs.
Tamberlik, and Mademoiselle Neilson have ap-

peared at a grand fete given at the Hotel de Ville,
on Thursday last, whilst M. Perrin, director of the
Opera, has received the commands of the Emperor
to make every preparation for a gala representation
to take place on the 6th of June next.
The great prize of 20,000 francs, to be given to
the author of the best opera for ten years back, will
be awarded, it is said, to Felicien David, author of
the " Herculaneum:
The departure of the King of Belgium and his
son, the Count of Flanders, is spoken of as im-
minent, in consequence of the dangerous state of
the unfortunate Empress of Mexico, who is at
Miramon, Austria.
The Queen of Portugal left on Tuesday last for
Turin, to attend the marriage of her brother Prince
Amedee, Duke of Aosta, with Mademoiselle de Cis-
terna.

The Emperor of Austria, Francis Joseph 1.,
will arrive at Paris with the Empress after their
coronation at Pesth.
One of the greatest attractions in Paris at this
moment is the Park d'Asnieres, which has been
converted by the energy and talent of W. E. Smith
into a Parisian Cremorne, and crowds assemble
daily to witness the extraordinary evolutions of the
hero of Niagara, whose services have beeri secured
for that establishment.
The American circus bids fair to be a complete
success, the enterprising and liberal director has
given a grand entertainment to the Parisian press.
The Prince Royal of Prussia is expected daily at
Paris.

Among the late arrivals of Americans in Paris
are Chas. A. Page, the United States Consul at
Zurich, and Col. M'Clure, who have come on a visit
to the Exposition, and will remain some weeks.
The weather is really detestable, and there
is no prospect of its being any better, as clouds are
always in the ascendancy. The rainy days we
have been ravourea Alm puts a (tamper upon out-
door amusements, and the Champs Elysees even
present a cheerless aspect.
Among the distinguished Southerners now re-
siding in Paris are—General John C. Breckenridge,
Dudley A. Mann, formerly U.S. Commissioner to St..
' Petersburg ; Mr. Slidell, Judge Perkins, of Cali-
fornia; Capt. James I. Waddell, late commander of
the celebrated Confederate cruiser Shenandoah ; Dr.
Fred. J. M'Nulty, surgeon of the Shenandoah ;
Major-General Ripley, the commander of Charles-
ton, South Carolina ; Major A. C. Rogers, and
Major John W. Childress, late of Ray's noted
Texan Rangers.
On Thursday last Captain J. M. Hudson, the
commander of the Red, White, and Blue, had a
private interview with the Emperor.
His Majesty complimented the captain on his
daring in undertaking so perilous a trip, and ex-
pressed his determination to call at the Pompeian
Palace and see the little ship. Great exertions are
being made here by Americans to get the Red,
{Vhite, and Blue transferred from the Palace where
it is now on exhibition to the American department
of the Exposition; and it is to be hoped that the
change will be made, for what is more worthy of
being shown as a proof of what American skill and
daring can accomplish, than this wee craft.

Few people have ever believed that to live in re-
tirement unheeded and unknown is to be happy,
still fewer are content to perform their deeds in
secret. I omit qualifying the said deeds, as the
terms good and bad are liable to individual appreci-
tion. Some perplexity must arise, for instance, in
the minds of readers who were lately favoured with
the following intelligence through one of our lcad-
papers. I quote :—" M. Emile Picard has mile a
second donation of the sum of one franc to the
Imperial Orphan Asylum."
My personal meditations have not relieved my
mind of a heavy burden concerning M. Emile
Picard. Is this franc to be put down as a good
action because " charity covereth a multitude of
sins ?" or is this unit to remain as a stigma on M.
Emile Picard's generosity on account of it being so
very unique ? As the imperial orphans alone can
know what they got for the donation, the disad-
vantages of publicity are in some circumstances
evident.

The same may be said with reference to the Duke
of Luxembourg. It must be peculiarly galling for
him to read in all the weeklies and dailies that
he is hot only to knock his own fortress down, but
pay for the damages. That " those who break must
pay" is a very grand principle—it is anti-social ;
society, in fact seems to thrive on it, but it is put-
ting a mau in a very false position, though he may
be a grand duke, to expect he will put his finger in
his own eye with anything like grace. This of
course is a metaphor, but, grammatically speaking,
the Duke of Luxembourg, while knocking down
and paying over will not be a neutral party ; accord-
ing to the rules laid down he is leaving the genders
entirely launchig forth into other moods and times
which are called passive, because they are acted
upon.

Thus itis the papers reveal some very bad cases, and
a great deal of private life besides. Two abandoned
babies were, on one night of this week, found by a
serpent de vale wrapped up, one in a utunher of the
Patric, the other in the supplement of the Consti-
tutionnel.

Alexandre Dumas, junior, is another victim of
journalism. Ile has been lately blessed v ith a
daughter and christened her Jeannine, that being
the name of the heroine of his last piece, " Les Idees
de Madame Aubray." Since the christening
he has been taken to task by one of the
learned brotherhood, and the dramatic author
has had to enter into explanations in a public sheet
for having called his own child by the name he
thought fit. It so happens that he had no right to
call the child Jeannine—it is not an orthodox name,

and the proof is not put down on the official al-
manac. It ensues that, should any man be un-
fortunate enough to become a father in Paris (of
all places the worst for paternity), he should with

all the strength of firm will forego the temptation
of calling his offspring by any heroic name not ex-
tant on the almanac; however Trojan , however Roman,
however uncommon the name, he will get into trouble
if he does not keep all the saints in view, whose
Christian appellations are on record. Some, I agree,
aresimply ridiculous, but even that of Ninyas, which,
though not a saint's name, is orthodox, and proba-
bly derived from Ninny-ass, would be preferable to
all the comments made by the papers, ending in
open defiance of civil law. Dress is another item
that is made somewhat too public in Paris. There
is not a capital in the world where ladies' small
artifices are so heartlessly revealed as here, and that
in the open streets in every shop window. No won-
der that when young gentlemen return from a con-
tinental tour to the bosom of their families, they
startle their sisters and mothers with all sorts of
technical expressions, which nothing but long sta-
tions before shop fronts in the Boulevards could have
imported. There is no longer any mystery in
gutty percba or whalebone; a stroll or two down our
most fashionable streets make a man perfect in what
the ancients called the plastic art. In our times
we may denominate it the plastering art. As I
have received some very urgent demands this week
for a long account of the fashions for June, I will
describe some of the toilets worn at the splendid
balls and matinees given at court or in court
circles. I refrain from mentioning names, as I cannot
think a robe is any the finer for the name of
the wearer, although she may lend it grace.
These papers are not written for the satisfaction
of personal vanity, but for public amusement or in-

formation.
At all the matinees white muslins are now worn
over light-coloured silk underskirts, and very wide
sashes, with immense bows behind, on the waist.
Short costumes are also worn at official morning
receptions. They are of the richest description.
The lightest silks are looped, festooned, fringed,
vandyked, covered with work ; black silk robes
are embroidered with coloured silks, the field
flower pattern, poppies, daisies, wheat ears, encircle
the waist, and look as if they really were flowers,
instead of needlework.

Foulard is a perfect mania, the favourite is light
grey, and these robes are trimmed with plaited
ribbon of a lighter or darker shade. Plaits are
worn on everything.
Some of the most admired evening toilets are
made of tulle, covered over with crystalised leaves
which sparkle like diamonds, or wreathed round
with entwining leaf garlands.
Salmon colour is the richest for poult de soie,
with or without lace tunics. This is very elegant

with the new green flower ornaments on the hair,
on the neck, and sleeves.
A pretty combination for young ladies is the light
green tulle, with rich bouquets of narcissus, with
crystal hearts. This glistens and looks as nymph-
like as girls can look when they will.
Few English ladies adopt straw colour, but it is
the height of fashion--a prejudice calls it yellow;
but straw colour is not yellow. It is becoming to
all women beyond thirty ; that is, perhaps, why
English ladies do not like it when they are on the
wrong side of forty. If so, they are doubly in the
wrong, for when trimmed with an idea of ponceau
and black a straw-coloured toilet is very stylish.
Light Parma violets and brown-coloured tulle are
equally fashionable. Light-green satin under tulle,
looped up with hyacinths ; a rosy mauve satin,
with lilies of the valley, and a black-lace robe over
maize, worn with malachite ornaments, were much
admired at the Embassy. • Powder in the hair will
soon be universal. It is much worn by day time
already.

Miscellaneous American News.

The Springfield Republican, in discussing the
high-handed acts of the military commanders of
the Southern States under the Reconstruction Bill,
extracts from these proceedings at least this small
measure of comfort. If the commanders exceed
their authority and make military rule odious, this
advantage will accrue, that new motives will be
furnished for speedy reconstruction. Gen. Sheridan
justifies his removal of officers at Nov Orleans on
the ground of their offences in the riot of last year.
He contemplates, he says, issuing an order to regu-
late the hanks in his district enforcing a uniform
rate of interest ; but this Secretary M'Culloch
strongly disapproved. General Ord has removed
the State Treasurer in Arkansas, filling the vacancy
with one of his officers. lie has also forbidden the
re-assembling of the Legislature, and ordered Go-
vernor Murphy to dissolve it. General Pope has
turned out several mayors of cities in Georgia and
Alabama, replacing them with men of his own
selection, while Colonel Sibley, in Georgia, has
prohibited labour in chain-gangs as a punishment
for criminals except in the case of those sentenced
to the penitentiary, alleging that the authorities
have abused their power to inflict such punishment.
The necessity is daily becoming apparent for a de-
finition to be laid down of the limitations of mili-
tary prerogative under the Reconstruction Act.
The superintendent of the New York Metropoli-
tan. police has either discovered a conspiracy or a
mare's nest. Mr. Kennedy alleges the police have
detected an organised plan for a general riot ori-
ginating with the unlicensed liquor dealers and
the Irishmen and Germans, provoked by the en-
forcement of the Excise law, and by an' order of Mr.
Kennedy's closing all shops and stores on Sunday.
A great number of the city population, including
all the Jews and nearly all the Germans, openly
trade on Sunday. There is a law which had fallen
into disuetude by which such trade is forbidden,
and the stock of the trader made liable to confisca-
tion to the poor for each offence. The maim source
of the trouble is, however, the Excise law, which
requires each dealer in liquor to take out a license,
costing him p.m. Secret meetings of the plotters
have been attended by detectives, and the ring-
leaders marked. On Wednesday, Bth instant, Mr.
Kennedy assembled the newspaper reporters, and
informed them of the intelligence he bad received
that a formidable riot had been organised. He de-
sired that these people should be made aware that
he was fully prepared in concert with the military
commanders for the suppression of any rising. The
New York Times reminds the disaffected of the
result to the plotters of the 1863 riot, in which, out
of 1,155 persons killed or mortally wounded, all but
25 were rioters.
The New York Independent is stepping out of its
hitherto narrow sphere. It is no longer to be a
Congregational paper. It announces that its
columns are now consecrated to God and man ; to
religion and civilisation ; to liberty, justice, and
equality; to the family and the sweet human chari-
ties; to literature, art, and industry ; in a word, to
human progress ! In stating its determination to
abandon the discussion 'of doctrines, it says :—" So
many men
possess worse creeds and yet better cha-
racters than ourselves that we totally despair of
forcing the whole world into moral goodness through
the narrow method of one prescribed belief." Those
who read an excellent and amusing article from
the Nation, called the " Genial Critic," transferred
to our columns, may see that the Independent has
other objects besides the admirable ones here
announced. We await with some interest the
answer of the New York Independent to these tel-
ling remarks of the Nation, which are endorsed by
a publisher in the Last number of that journal who
makes this truthful remark. " Elitors may safely
rely upon the fact that the pressure on their adver-
tising columns is regulated by the character and
extent of their circulation." He adds " that lie con-
siders the laudatory tone of literary criticism in
America may be attributed not so much to interested
motives as to good natured indolence."
The Yale University crew has challenged the
Harvard crew to row the next college regatta on
Lake Quinsigamond at Worcester, on Friday, July
19, a week earlier than last year, and the chal-
lenge has been accepted. A. P. Loring, who pulled
second oar in the last race, is the stroke of the Har-
vard boat this year. The Harvard freshmen have
alio accepted a challenge from the Yale freshmen,
and a contest between these crews will take place
immediately after the university race. The Harvard
scientific crew is also reported to be in readiness for
a challenge.
At Cleveland, on Lake Eric, the British schooner
Elk, from Toronto, flying the British colours, was

boarded on Sunday afternoon, the sth inst., by a
party of 30 Fenians, who, on the refusal of the captain,
themselves hauled down the flag. The reason given
for this outrageous act of folly was, that these
worthies had fought the British flag at Limestone
Ridge and other places, and would not consent to

see it flying here or elsewhere. Next day the cap-
tain complained to the city authorities, and the
mayor is investigating the affair, which is charac-
terised by the Cleveland press as an outrage to the
city deserving of severe punishment. Even the

Fenian "circle" term the act foolish and insane.

There was a meeting of Protectionists in New
York on the Bth instant, when 200 leading men
assembled and were addressed by Horace Greeley
and other speakers. They adjourned till the 22d
instant to get their machinery into working order.
The Protection League will be in opposition to the
Free Trade League, awl it will organise branch
societies all over the country.
An amusing scene occurred at the Anti-Slavery
Meeting at New York, on Wednesday evening, the
Bth instant. It appears that the speakers are in the
habit of denouncing in no measured language all
who come under their ban. Mr. Parker Pillsbury
abused Senator Wilson, whom he termed " two-fold
more the child of hell" since his conversion to the
Church, when Mr. Stephen H. Foster introduced a
resolution, by way of a diversion, in favour of
woman suffrage. Since slavery has ceased in the
United States as regards the negro, the society may
take up woman's cause, whom some of their strong-
minded sisters term, slaves. Wendell Philips, the
president, did not see this, and declared the resolu-
tion out of order. The mover retorted, alleging
that the president was taking too much authority
on himself, adding that if his resolution was not
passed by the Convention he could not stand upon
its platform. An unexpected ally turned up in
favour of Wendell Philips in the shape of Mr.
Foster's better-half. This lady gyve an admirable
illustration of woman's rights, by suppressing her
lord on the spot, and Mr. Foster and his resolution
were voted down. Miss Anna Dickenson came in
as a good Samaritan with oil for the troubled waters.
She proposed a resolution that the society ought
not finally to dissolve, till female suffrage is estab-
lished, which was tabled, the members being re-
minded that they were to meet as an Equal Suffrage
Convention the next day, when the subject would
be freely discussed.
It has transpired at Washington that the Japanese
Embassy, have more objects in view than one, in
their visit to the United States. The dangerous
task appears to have been confided to them of pur-
chasing ironclads. The fate of the last Japanese
purchaser, on his return to his country with the
latest new thing in war vessels, was very melan-
choly. He fell a victim to scamped work and the
wiles of builders, and was executed by the Tycoon
for investing that Prince's money in rubbish. The
present deputation are instructed to complain of
the swindles then practised. They have made
known their wish to purchase several light draft
steamers, machinery and arms, and they are con-
tinually making purchases of smaller useful articles
to take back with them. If their visit has any po-
litical significance, it is yet to be disclosed. The
ambassadors were presented to President Johnson
on Friday, May 3, the usual friendly speeches inci-
dent to such an occasion being delivered through
interpreters. Next day Secretary Seward gave
them a grand state dinner, which was attended by
the members of the Cabinet and their families ;
since then the Japanese visitors have been engaged
in seeing the sights of interest at Washington and

vicinity.
The number of fires that have lately occurred in
the United States have been a cause of alarm. This
has been more particularly the case at Chicago.
The increase of losses from insured property alone
may be seen from the following figures :—ln 1861,
$18,000,000 ; in 1865, $43,000,000 ; in 1866,
$100,000,000. Judging from the last accounts the
proportion of increase will be maintained for 1867,
and the insurance companies may all be ruined. The
hotels are pre-eminently unfortunate. At Chicago
Samuel Gill's Cattle Fair Hotel has been
destroyed, loss $30,000 ; the Merchants' Hotel,
loss $150,000 : Elevator A, belonging to Armour,
Day and Co., loss s2oo,ooo—all this in one week.
Wendell Philips was the great speaker at the
anniversary meeting of the Alai-Slavery Associa-
tion held at New- York, on Monday, the 6th inst.
The Association desires the Constitution to be
amended, so that the suffrage rwty be secured to
the negroes. The resolutions adopted were in a
hopeful vein, while the condition of the Freedmen
is allowed to be critical. The negroes are warned
against joining
their old masters in a political alli-
ance, awl Congress is accused of relapsing into its
old habits of corrupt bargaining.