The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-03 00:00:00

It is sad to reflect that when all possible reforms
have been made, in a sanitary point of view,
much evil will abound on account of the
very bad state of the houses themselves. In
the busiest parts of London acres are covered
with two-storied houses, where, if lofty, well-built
houses occupied the same space, far greater numbers
could be accommodated, and health and conveni-
ence alike studied. The Society for Improving the
Dwellings of the Poor have dose much in the right
direction, but it still remains a very up-hill
task. One point of encouragement may
be furnished in the fact here stated, that
the poor in " squalid quarters" pay such high rents
that there is a hope that rebuilding their homes
might bring in direct profit to the " shareholders
as well as the ratepayers, and that part of the com-
munity whose fortunes are made and maintained
by the health and labour of the working classes."
During the approaching session nothing of more
interest and importance can engage the attention
of Parliament than the condition of the poor. It
would seem as if the present state of the laws
affecting sanitary matters was so constituted as to
encourage those who prey upon the poor, keep the
wretched from ever raising themselves out of their
low condition, and render the homes nests of fever
and hot-beds of disease. It is quite time that a
change for the better took place; and if the adop-
tion of remedies be much longer delayed, some un-
favourable season will develope the evils now ger-
minating, and we shall have an epidemic of an

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JAIN UARY 3, 1866.

A painful interest attaches itself to the letter
which H. JEAFFRESON, M.D., late resident
medical officer to the London Fever Hospital, has
addressed to the Times. It concerns a subject
which ought to be taken up at once, and dealt with
discreetly and vigorously. The letter commences
with a reference to the communication made the
other day by the secretary of the hospital, in which
he asked fcr assistance from the public, and stated
that for the last month the daily average of patients
was 260, and during the last four years the number
of cases amounted to 11,589. Mr. JEAFFRESON truly
adds that such a statement proves the unsatisfactory
sanitary condition of the metropolis, and therefore
we are sure that the public must turn with interest to
peruse this report here given of the state of those
portions of London most affected by fever. The
object set forth here is a very desirable one ; it en-
deavours not only to announce the effect of the
evil but to do more, and seeks out the cause. It is
truly stated here that the details of our low house
property district and its surroundings may well
furnish a type of all others, and a more depressing
subject of contemplation e.an hardly be found than
this picture of the dwellings of the poor, or tpphus
nests, as they are appropriately called. The supply
of water is most deficient in the first place. The
best supplied among them have a butt holding
80 gallons, into which the water flows from a
stand-pipe for half an hour a day at the utmost,
and this quantity is supposed to be sufficient for 20
persons for the purposes of washing themselves, their
houses, and clothes ; in other parts a less quantity
of water is furnished; and on Sunday even this
scanty supply is absent, and the water required for
the Sunday cooking is begged for from neighbours
who are better off in this respect, and, as is quaintly
put here, are more provident or " more dirty."
The wretchedness and misery of this mismanage-
ment cannot be misunderstood, nor can we overrate
the extreme unhealthiness of such a system. To
add to the bad state of things often these
water-butts are so constructed that they have
110 covering ; hence the drippings from the
houses are received with the insufficient
scanty supply, and the result may be imagined.
This water question is one which should
be seen to without delay, as so much mischief en-
sues from the present condition of affairs in this
The backs of these houses are important respect.
also in a disgraceful state, and so foul and offensive
is the condition of them that the inhabitants have
often to shut the windows that look out on them.
Can anything be more provocative of fever than
such a state of things, and can we wonder that so
many cases present themselves to notice when such
horrors abound ? These houses are divided, gene-
rally
speaking, into three classes, the first of which
is a numerous one, and contains four rooms ;
" wet walls,"Zsodden floors, and loose ceilings, and
roofs permitting the rain to come through ; another
class has no means of regular ventilation or stair-
case windows, so that the inhabitants of the upper
rooms only breathe the u •
'Pure from the dower

alarming and extensive eharafter pervading the
metropolis, entirely brought about by mismanage-
ment and neglect.

The intelligence which we receive from the United
Statesby the City of Boston is of some importance.
President JOHNSON is evidently determined to show
that neither the threats nor intrigues of the Radi-
cals can turn him from the just and patriotic course
upon which he has entered. He has lately taken an
important step by setting aside the Provisional
Governor of South Carolina, and directing the
Governor Elect to assume office. South Carolina,
as every one knows who has followed the fortunes
of the war, was the very stronghold of secession,
and therefore the substitution of the Governor
elected by the people for the provisional authority
appointed by the Washington Government, is
a great gain in the work of reconstruction,
and affords the Southern people an additional proof
that President JOHNSON is resolved to rule over
them in accordance with constitutional law and
national feeling, not with that rod of iron which
the Puritans of New England would fain wield
over all who differ from them. Meanwhile, in the
Senate, there are tokens that the Radical party
begins to feel that the temper of the public is
opposed to the extremity and intolerance of their
views. Mr. WILSON, a Senator, said that, although
he believed the rebels to be committing outrages
against
freedmen, he had no issue to raise
with the
PRESIDENT upon the subject, and
that with regard
he had no to his honesty and patrotism
raisgivings. The Democratic
party would,
he added, look in vain for a conflict
between the Republicans and
isnpeetchhatinHcoounster
°ay e3nitri.onitolfY7lrN.BS
the PRESIDENT in
TraEavdEeNsa,s powerfuldoetrdoctrine
of the separation of the rebellious States from the
Union, though he considered they should be called
upon to give a new guarantee before being admitted
to representation in Congress. The Southern
members elect have held a meeting, at which they
decided to disperse and return home, assembling
again in Washington on the 4th of March. The
great question of Southern representation still re-
mains unset tled , though it is absolutely imperative, for
the interests of both w:iite, and black that it should
be decided. The Radical portion in the House of
Representatives are troubled with no scruples as to
differing from the President. On the 18th, Mr.
THADEUS STEVENS made a most intemperate
harangue, in which his policy towards the
South was plainly indicated. He declared
that the rebel States were " dead as to
all national and political action," " dead carcases
lying within the Union ;" and he stigma-
tised those who uphold the theory of the
Union Laying nem been really broken as

dangerous is because the Radical party in the Lower

House have already shown that they are adepts in
the art of finesse and political intrigue. For in-
stance, after the harangue of Mr. STEVENS, to which
we have been just referring, Mr. RAYMOND, who is
a Conservative Republican, rose to answer him; but
as a Radical was the chairman of the committee in
which the House was sitting, be refused to see Mr.
RAYMOND, and called for a totally different speaker.
Mr. RAYMOND, however, as we have seen by
yesterday's mail, obtained a hearing a day or
two later, and made a powerful reply to
Mr. STEVENS'S intemperate speech. Another
transparent trick was played by Mr. STEVENS him-
self. He was going to bring in an obnoxious reso-
lution, against which a Conservative Republican
intended to speak. He went to Mr. STEVENS and
asked if he would bring it on that day, to which
Mr. STEVENS replied that he could not do so, as his
State would not be called. No sooner, however, had
the gentleman left the House, and agood many of hig
colleagues with him, than Mr. STEVENS went to a
member whose alphabetical position was higher,
and asked him to bring forward the resolution,
which he did, and the Conservative-Republicans,
coming in a good while later, found the House
dividing upon Mr. STEVENS'S resolution. So much
for Radical finesse; and if a trick of this kind be tried
successfully, Mr. STEVENS' confiscation scheme may
attain an importance it does not deserve. There is
no fear that the Senate or the PRESIDENT will sanc-
tion such a measure, but these things end to keep
up disaffection and alienation.

The PRESIDENT has a hard battle to fight, but
hpapily he is a man of strong character and resolute
will. He does not deal in finessing and political
manoeuvres, but what he thinks best and wisest he
carries out undeterred by opposition or clamour.
He holds that the first call is to provide the freed-
men with the necessaries of life, and to
do this he must be provided with employ-
ment. There is no room for him in the North,
while in the South his labour is greatly
wanted. Therefore the Southern landowners
must be restored to their civil rights and public con-
fidence, that they may resume the cultivation of
their lands, and by their enterprises afford abun-
dant occupation for the negro, no longer as a slave,
but as a freedman. Surely such a theory as this is
fair and reasonable, as well as eminently calculated
to restore peace and prosperity to the country. It
does not, however, find favour with the Radical
section, who appear to desire a complete dismember-
ment of the Southern States and a reign of anarchy

and terror.
The PRESIDENT has sent to the Senate the nomi-
nation of Mr. CAMPBELL as Minister to the Mexican
Republic—a significant fact. Another item of news,
which is suggestive of a change in the popular feel-
ing, is the advocacy of the liberation of JEFFERSON
DAVIS by the New York Herald, which has just
discovered that the Southern people rose in the
spirit of freemen who believed themselves oppressed.

TRADE WITII THE UNITED STATES.—The Trade
and Navigation accounts for the month of November show
what extraordinary activity has recently prevailed in the
trade of this country with the United States. In the No-
vember of the last three years the export to the United
States of cotton piece goods, the manufacture of the United
Kingdom, has been as follows :—Nov., 1863, 5,247,096
yards; Nov., 1864, 1,381,404 yards; Nov., 1865, 27,178,583
yards. Of our linen piece goods we sent to the United
States 6,995,509 yards in Nov., 1863 ; 3,900,683 yards
in Nov., 1864; and 15,397,052 yards in Nov., 1865.
Of our woollen cloths 450,803 yards in Nov., 1863 ;
43,000 yards in Nov., 1864 ; 505,454 yards in
Nov., 1865. Carpets, 260,358 yards in Nov., 1863 ;
23,236 yards in Nov., 1861 ; 424,483 yards in Nov., 1865.
Worsted stuffs, 5,139,541 yards in Nov., 1863 ; 465,679
yards in Nov., 1864 ; 8,264,784 yards in Nov., 1865. Of
our iron, pig and puddled, we sent to the same destination,
in Nov. of the last thre.3 years, 3,402 tons, 380 tons, and
12,120 tons respectively ; and of railroad iron 8,734 tons,
97 tons, and 7,141 tons respectively. Of cutlery the value
only is recorded, £9,177, £6,196, £27,465, in Nov. of the
three years respectively ; and of Britannia metal and other
hardwares, £43,590, £14,953, £70,332. The export of steel
manufactures does not show so remarkable an advance.
Of haberdashery our November export to the States in the
last three years has been of the value of £79,065, £11,233,
and £114,045 respectively. Up to the end of October the
exports of our produce and manufactures to the United
States in 1865 had reached only to the value of £14,844,708,
which was a smaller amount than in the corresponding
period of 1864; but the November exports have made the
difference for the 11 mouths to be largely on the other side.
Of raw cotton we imported from the United States
46,201 cwt. in the first 11 months of 1863, 119,095 cwt. in
the corresponding period of 1864, 433,773 cwt. in that of
1865, even the last an insignificant quantity compared with
the years before the war. The great decrease in our im-
port of grain from America this year has been recently
mentioned.

ones, and it need hardly be said that typhus is rife " dreaming theorists." Surely such a term might iLA TEST INTELLIGENCE
in such places. The " party upstairs " catches the more appropriately be applied to those who expect •
fever first, and thence it is spread through the to keep six millions of intelligent white people in (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)
place ; the third classes consists of those houses an unrepresented subjection ! Of course no
originally meant for better occupants, but which one who upholds the theory of the Southern
now possesses as many families as rooms. In some States having never been out of the Union
of these houses the former traffic to the back-yard contends that the people always obeyed the Wash-
is stopped by a mass of dust garbage and sweepings ington Government, or did not wish to leave the
which has not been removed for years. Union. Their argument is that, as the Confederates
Those who think that they are at all events out failed in their attempt to establish their indepen-
,
of the reach of the infection from such places may be dente, their acts of secession were null and void,
shocked to find that means of communication exist and the great object of the North through the war
between them and these by-places, nests such as was to re-establish the former state of things, and
they little dream of. In many houses, where to maintain the supremacy which the others defied.
typhus had been or was then raging, "smart, warm If the Southerners are to be regarded as having
children's clothing, and good cloth garments for actually accomplished their object and left the
children and men" were being made, and the most i Union—how came it that the struggle is called by
uninitiated may understand how dreadful would be the Radicals a " rebellion," not a " war." A rebel
the consequences to the wearers of such articles. is one who resists his recognised authority, not
No wonder Mr. JEAFFRESON should Eay that " the an equal who has succeeded in establishing
homes of the poor are an Augean stable, to cleanse his own independence. But Mr. STEVENS is willing
which effectually requires the earnest action of a to regard the Southerners as rebels so far as their
more numerous and effective staff than are now punishment goes, though not so far as their claims
brought to bear upon the subject." The courts and to national privileges. They must be made, he says'
allies are in such a state that family after family "to eat the fruit of foul 'rebellion ;" and, soaring
often succumb to its ravages ; and where the fever into the:regions of poetry, he exclaims, "As to these
has not broken out actually, it is easy to perceive famed rebels, they cannot at their option re-enter
that a spark of specific contagion is all that is the heaven which they have disturbed, nor the
wanting to cause it to blaze, and to spread with Garden of Eden which they have deserted, as
fearful rapidity. The second portion of the subject flaming swords are set at the gates to secure their
is the composition of the London vestries, who are exclusion." All the humanity he has to spare,
answerable for both the lives and health of others. which is not apparently overmuch, is turned in
the
It turned out on investigation that the owners© direction of the negro. Congress is bound to
of certain " low typhus infected house property " provide for them, and to furnish them with
were active and obstructive members of vestries, homesteads. If they are left to the legis-
and sometimes even guardians of the poor. This lation of their late masters they had better
have been left in bondage. Such is the summary of
is in itself a very significant thing ; and very
truly is it remarked here that, without being ever in a his fervid appeals on behalf of the black, and his
majority, these men may do great harm, for it takes panacea for the redress of all their wrongs is the
very little self-interest to outweigh a great deal of confiscation of Southern etates and the forcible
removal of Southern landowners. It is openly " indifference, honest ignorance, or even public
ad-
spirit." A table is given of 368 members of these mitted by Mr. STEVENS' s friends that he intends bring-
vestries, and enough is shown thereby to justify the ing in a bill for the purpose of confiscating the lands
strictures passed upon such a construction. The of the leading Confederates and parcelling them
fact is, that all these matters require re-organi- out among the negroes, thus preparing the way
sation, and ought to come under the notice of the for reducing the once fertile and prosperous South
authorities. Old systems are pursued in important to the condition of Jamaica, and degrading the
departments which call loudly for change and re-
negroes by encouraging them in that life of lazi-
form. The interests of the public and the
ness and dependence which is their great tempta-
welfare of the community demand that the rani-
tion. Such a scheme may seem at the outset too
im- preposterous to excite any uneasiness, but there is
tarp condition of our poor be greatly
proved ; and nothing can excuse hesitation and
a double reason for regarding it with some appre-
delay when time is precious, and the seeds of hension. In the first place, such projects are only
disease and death are being sown broadcast in the too acceptable to the negro mind, which is filled by
abodes of poverty. It is stated here that much
its false friends with visions of a life of ease and idle-
harm results from the difficulty encountered in
ness, in which the rights of the black man are para-
" dealing summarily" with the property of thought-
mount to all others. Such ideas naturally enough dis-
less or culpable landlords. These men adopt the courage him from that regular and steady industry
system of underletting two or three deep ; they thus which every one must possess if he wishes to live
in a country full of energy and competition, and
get large profits out of the unhealthy houses in
thus the declamations of the black man's professed
paying rents, for which " the hard-ground poor
have to support a set of persons whose interest advocates are really prejudicial to his well-being.
is all concerned in frustrating the efforts of the sani-
The second reason why Mr. STEVENS'S scheme is
tary officers."

ITALY.

MARSEILLES, JAN. 2.

Letters received hero from Rome announce that
the Pope had written to the Emperor Napoleon
stating that he would accept funds from the Italian
Government for the payment of a portion of the
Pontifical debt, but without renouncing his rights
with respect to the former provinces of the Church,
without treating with the Italian Government, and
without recognising the September Convention. It
is added that the Emperor has not yet replied to the
letter of His Holiness.

His Majesty, however, is said to have previously
offered to guarantee the transmission to Rome of
an annual sum proceeding from the Italian Govern-

ment.

FLORENCE, JAN. 3.

It is believed that Signor Scialoja, the new Mini-
ster of Finance, will maintain the budget as drawn
up by Signor Sella, with the exception of the army
and navy estimates, in which he will endeavour to
make further reductions.

HUNGARY.

lIERMANNSTADT, JAN. 2 (Evening).

The Imperial Rescript has been forwarded to the
Transylvanian Diet, which promises that the repre-
sentatives of Transylvania will shortly be summoned
to the Diet at Pesth.

SPAIN

MADRID, J.ax. 2.

The Correspondencia of this evening says :
" The Government knows the revolutionary pro-
jects of those who mistake forbearance for weakness,
and, in any case, is certain of defeating them."

MADRID, Dec. 30.

The passage of the King and Queen of Portu-
gal through Madrid has again revived the idea of
Iberian unity, to which for some time past the
Liberal press have frequently reverted. The So-
berania Nacional publishes minute biographies of
the young sovereigns, dwelling upon the identity
of origin and interests of the two nations, and
indirectly advocating Iberian unity. The Nove-
dades and Iberia welcomed the visit of Dom Luis
with the warmest congratulations, eulogising his
sincere constitutionalism and his love of liberty,
which had secured to him the respect and affec-
tion of his people. The Reforma, while considering
Iberian unity as utopian, desires that the closest
alliance should subsist between the two countries,
and that facilities of communication and treaties
should daily strengthen the bonds of interest be-
tween them.

The Senate will assemble to-day, to elect the
permanent committees and the committees for draw-
ing up the reply to the speech from the throne.
The moderate and clerical Opposition in the
Senate steadily continue their efforts to secure the
defeat of the Government in that Assembly. The
moderate faction has already given proof of
its activity at the election of the secretaries, in
which the Government candidates were only suc-
cessful, after a strong contest, by 10 votes. It is
reported that Senor Arrazola will bring forward in
the Senate one of the amendments relative to the
policy of Spain towards the Holy See, and that an
amendment will also be presented referring to the
course adopted by the Spanish Government with
the prelates.
The speech from the throne is unfavourably com-
mented upon by the Madrid press, with the excep-
tion of the strictly Ministerial organs. Vague-
ness and obscurity, particularly in the paragraph
upon Italian affairs, are the faults objected to by
several Liberal organs, while the clerical papers
ask what are the rights of the Holy See which
the Government professes that it will protect,
when it has recognised Italy, and allows the clergy
to be openly and violently attacked in its new organs.
The Nocedades say s—
" We remark in the royal speech one of the greatest
defects possible in a document of this nature. It is
not in harmony with the political condition of affairs,
neither does it depict the state of public opinion ; it
conceals the evils that threaten us, and presents no
suitable remedy. While praising the army, the navy,
the Senate, the Congress, and the Government itself,
it contains not a single phrase, not one word of re-
gret for the cities invaded by cholera, which have
given an example of virtue to the world that it will
be difficult to erase from the hearts of the poor."
The Reforma considers that the speech reveals the
singular anomaly that the Ministry have no general
policy. It says : _ . _

_ -
" Upon international relations the Cabinet has
not known what to say. Neither in Europe, Asia,
nor America, where our flag confronts the enemy,
does it know what it wishes, to what it aspires, nor
for what it imposes sacrifices of blood and treasure
upon the country. In speaking of Italy it employs
a phrase unsuitable and ambiguous which says
nothing. Respecting the war with Chili it is satisfied
with stating the fact, and is silent with regard to
Peru, except in erroneously alluding to difficulties
as past which may well be considered to have revived.
Finally, the Epoca, in its summary, has the fol-
lowing :
" As an exposition of doctrine, and an anticipatory
announcement of what is to be done in the present
iegislature, it has deceived many expectations. From
the first point of view (continues the Epoca) it does
not even speak of the solution of all conflicts by
means of liberty, although it promises respect for the
laws ; from the second, we only find mentioned a few
measures, some old, as that of the diminution of cre-
dits, others that have been taken up and abandoned
at different times, like the municipal law. Although,
to speak truly, nothing of this should be disdained,
it appears to us there was no motive to represent the
Liberal Union as a transformed and rejuvenated
party, full of life and vigour, and ready to under-
take, without resting from the work, the political,
moral, and material regeneration of Spain."

RUSSIA AND GREECE.
ATHENS, Dec. 24

M. Novikow, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary of the Emperor of Russia to this
Court, presented his credentials to King George a
few days ago, upon which occasion the Envoy de-
livered the following speech :

" Sire,—The Emperor, my august master, has
deigned to appoint me his representative to your
Majesty. In calling me to this honourable post he
desired me, sire, to convey to you the renewed and
unalterable expression of his affectionate sentiments
towards your august person, with his friendly good
wishes for the destinies of Greece. These wishes,
sire, are those of entire Russia. I am happy to have
been selected as the interpreter of our ancient and
cordial sympathy with the Hellenic nation—a sym-
pathy constantly renewed from the source of a com-
mon creed, and to which such noble recollections
are attached. Sire, my august master has deeply at
heart the prosperity of Greece. He will congratu-
late himself upon seeing, under your Majesty's
sceptre, and with the patriotic assistance of your
people, those great principles of public order which
are the surest guarantee of that prosperity become
more and more consolidated. I have the honour
to hand your Majesty the letters accrediting me as
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
of his Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias, and
venture to hope, sire, that your Majesty will deign
to grant me the precious encouragement of your
goodwill in the performance of my mission."

- King George replied :
" M. l'Envoye,—l am touched by the goodwill
constantly displayed by his Majesty the Emperor
of All the Russias towards myself and the na-
tion with whose interests I am charged. Greece
has never ceased to entertain sentiments of the
liveliest gratitude towards Russia, as one of the
Great Powers who have so nobly and generously
contributed to the consolidation of her independence,
and who have overwhelmed her with benefits. As
chief of that nation I entirely partake its sentiments,

and I heartily thank the Emperor for the good
wishes for its prosperity he now expresses through
you. In receiving from your hands the letters by
which the Emperor has accredited you to me, I am
charmed with the choice made by his Imperial Ma-
jesty, and it affords me pleasure to assure you that
you will always find, both from myself and my Go-
vernment, ready assistance in everything which
may facilitate the accomplishment of your mission,
and more and more consolidate the friendship and
sympathy so happily existing between two nations
holding the same creed."

AMERICA.

_.__ ~. _.

ARRIVAL OF THE CITY OF BOSTON.

(REL'TEI'S EXPRESS.)
•
NEW YORK, Dec. 23, Noon.

President Johnson has relieved South Carolina of her
Provisional Government, and for that purpose has, through
the Secretary of State, addressed to tho out-going and in-
coming executives letters exactly similar to those recently
announcing the same change in the cases of Alabama and
Georgia. The new Governor, the Hon. James L. Orr, is to
be formally installed in office on the 26th inst.

Southern advices are unusually meagre, but generally
sustain the opinion recently expressed by General Grant
in his official address to Congress, that the newly developed
loyalty at the South is general and sincere.

A general apprehension seems to prevail at the South
that there will be an uprising of the negroes in certain sec-
tions of several States during the approaching holidays.
Numerous public journals assert that the blacks have, at
the instigation of Northern white men, and, to a great ex-
tent, under their leadership, effected for this purpose a
regular organisation, and that they are well armed. Pre-
cautionary measures have been adopted by the national and
State authorities, and, it is believed, that should there be
any outbreak, it can ba readily quelled. The principal
anxiety is felt for the sparsely settled agricultural districts,
where the negroes could, by concentrating, overcome the
whites, who are mostly without arms. It is hoped, hciw-
ever, that the danger is more imaginary than real. At
numerous mass meetings in Virginia, North Carolina, and
elsewhere, the negroes have manifested a proper spirit,
and have earnestly disavowed any insurrectionary designs.
A majority of the members of Congress elect from the
Southern States have decided to return to their homes and
await the action of the joint Committee of fifteen on Re-
construction, as there seemed to be no prospect of their ad-
mission. It is believed in well-advised circles that the
President will make a determined resistance to the Radical
programme of refusing the Southern States and reducing
them to a territorial condition. That Mr. Johnson in this
course will be sustained by the Conservative Republicans
and Diinocrats is fully indicated by recent Congressional
proceedings.

There seems to be a lack of harmony in the operations
of the Freedmen's Bureau in the Southern States. The
officials of that organization have, on several occasions,
refused to obey orders of the national military authorities.
Major-General Howard, Chief of the Bureau, in order to
correct these abuses, has notified all his subordinates that
any of them presuming to act contrary to the orders of
their military superiors will be promptly removed, and
subjected to trial by court martial.
In tho Senate, on the 21st inst., Messrs. Fessenden,
Grimes, Harris, Howard, Johnson, and Williams were ap-
pointed as the Senate portion of the Joint Committee of
fifteen on Reconstruction.

Mr. Howard, representative of Michigan, offered a reso-
lution, which was adopted, asking the President upon
what charges Jefferson Davis is confined, and why he is
not brought to trial.
Messrs. Simms and Howard presented petitions for
negro suffrage in Tennessee, South Carolina, and the dis-
trict of Columbia.

Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts, introduced a bill, which
was referred to the Judiciary Committee, to ronder null
and void all national and State laws making distinction on
account of colour.

In the House of Representatives, on the 20th inst., Mr
Stevens, Radical, of Pa., offered a bill, which was referred,
to double tho pensions of those who were made pensioners
by reason of the late war, to indemnify loyal men for all
damage sustained, and to meet the increased expense by a
vigorous confiscation of rebel property.
Mr. Lawrence, Republican, of Ohio, offered a resolution,
which was ordered to be printed and laid oa the table, de-
claring that Jefferson Davis should be tried, convicted, and
punished for treason, and that all who were in any way
connected with the assassination of Mr. Lincoln or the
cruelties to Federal prisoners should be tried before a mili-
tary tribunal.
On the `2lst inst. a resolution was introduced, and re-
ferred to the Foreign Affairs Committee, declaring that the
United States ought never to recognise any Government
imposed on any portion of this continent by European
arms.

Mr. Vorhees, Democrat, of Indiana, offered a resolution,
which was postponed till the 9th proximo, endorsing the
President's reconstruction policy, and declaring that no
State can rightfully recede from the Union.
Mr. Raymond, Republican, of New York, delivered a
lengthy and able speech in reply to the recent onslaught
on the President by Thadeus Stevens, of Penn. Mr.
Raymond warmly defended the wisdom and humanity of
the President's reconstruction policy, and effectually re-
futed the theory that the Southern States have been out of
the Union, and should be treated as traitors. He conclu-
sively proved that such theory countenanced the right, if
not the expediency, of secession, and prevented the punish-
ment of treason. At the conclusion of his speech Mr. Ray-
mond was congratulated by prominent Conservative Re.
publicans and Democrats.
Both Houses of Congress stand adjourned to the sth
proximo.

In the Senate, on the 20th inst., the house bill for the
payment of $25,000 to Mrs. Lincoln was taken up and
passed.
Mr. Sumner, of Mass., presented a petition of his con-
stituents for the appointment of Provisional Governors
for all the States lately in rebellion, and for the guarantee
of political equality to all loyal citizens.—Referred to com-
mittee on reconstruction.

Mr. Wilson, of Mass., called up the Equality bill, where-
upon a lively debate ensued. Mr. Sumner, of Mass.,
warmly advocated the bill. He hoped justice would be
done to the negro, and that the fate of three millions of
that race would not be submitted to the machinations of
slavemasters. He then proceeded to read extracts from
letters to the Boston Advertiser, showing that the freedmen
were being cruelly treated, and that disloyal sentiments
prevailed at the South. The speaker then referred to the
President's Address again as an attempt to whitewash the
South, and cast an official mantle of oblivion over its
faults.
Mr. Saulsburg, Democrat, of Delaware, said the Senator
seemed apprehensive that the Democracy would again
come into power under the present Executive. Division
had already begun in Republican ranks. H the President
stood firm in his present policy, two millions of faithful
men in the North who did not vote for him would support
him, and welcome the contest whenever it came.
Mr. Cowan, of Pa., Republican, emphatically protested
against Mr. Sumner's speech. He regarded the President's
address as fair and truthful. The statements read by Mr.
Sumner were prejudiced. The cases of cruelty were ex-
ceptional. Where one man ill-treated negroes, nine hun-
dred and ninety-nine treated them properly ; but of the
latter class Mr. Sumner said nothing.
On Thursday the President sent to the Senate the
nomination of ex-Congressman Lewis D. Campbell, of
Ohio, as Minister Extraordinary to the Republic of Mexico,
in place of General Logan, declined. The name of Mr.
John Biglow, who is now American Minister in France on
a temporary appointment, has been laid before the Senate
for confirmation by the President. General Van Valkeb-
burg, of New York, has been appointed Minister to Japan,
to supersede the recent appointment of Mr. Chancey M.
Depew.
The New York Times, of the 23d inst., says :—" Two
millions of Mexican silver dollars, coined at El Paso, were
deposited on Thursday in one of the banks in Washing-
ton, to the credit of the Mexican Republic."

MR. BRIGHT AND THE CHILIAN BLOCKADE.—The
following communication has been received by the
chairman of the Brassmasters' Association from Mr. Bright,
M.P., in reference to the Chilian difficulties :—" Rochdale,
Dec. 23, 1865. Dear Sir,—Lord Clarendon is, I think,
sanguine that the Spain and Chili business will soon be
settled. The Government, in conjunction with the French
Government, has proposed to use its good offices in the
dispute. The proposal was met in a conciliatory spirit at
Madrid.. The terms are considered equally honourable to
the contending parties, and were agreed to (at Madrid)
without hesitation. They have been sent out by the last
mail to Chili, and if they are received there in a proper
spirit there will be an end of the quarrel. I hope therefore
the disturbance to your trade may soon be removed. A
formal reply to your memorial has, I think, been forwarded
to you, but I thought you would like to know what Lord
Clarendon has written to me on the subject. —Yours very
truly (Signed) JOHN BRIGHT.—Geo. A. Everitt, Esq., Bir-
mingham."

FORTUNATE RECOVERY OF TREASUR4.—A singular
recovery of property has just been made in the port
of Havre. The ship William Tell arrived a few days
back from Para, and a passenger was getting into a boat to
go on shore, with a leathern traveller's pouch suspended
from his neck, when the strap broke, and the bag, which
contained 20,000 fr. in gold and notes, fell into the water
and disappeared. The owner remained some days in Havre,
while attempts were being made to recover the property ;
but all efforts wero unsuccessful, and at lenge; in despair,
he left that town and went on to Paris. Three daysback,
however, two boatmen of the port made another trial with
a line, to which strong fish-hooks were attached, and
which they dragged along the mud ; they at length suc-
ceeded in catching hold of the bag and bringing it safely
into their boat, and then deposited it at the police-office.
The Qwher has since presented them with a sum of 800 f.