Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1842-04-28
ELEVEN DAYS LATER FROM EUROPE.

the 10th of March. The only papers by her
that came to hand in this city, were receiv-
ed by the Messrs. Topliffs. The English
news is quite unimportant. Sir Robert Peel
brought into Parliament, on the llth OF
March, new revenue bill, the principal pro-
visions of which are an income tax, tax on
spirits, and on exported coal.
The most important intelligence, among
much that is important, is the massacre Of
some 5000 British troops in Afghanistan.-
We say probable, because, although Sir Ro-
bert Peel, when questioned on the subject in
the House of Commons on the 18th March,
said sit was impossible to deny that our
troops had met with very serious reverses,
aud by an act of great perfidy and treache-
ry had been attacked on their way from Ca
bool after capitulation," there seems pos
sibility that rumor may have invented or
much exaggerated the story. Such at least
is the opinion expressed in Il published letter
by Capt. Harvey Tucker, an authority in In
dian Affairs-who, in comparing dates and
distances, considers it impossible that the
massacre of the troops from Cabool, said to
have taken place on the 18th January, could
be known at Bombay on LIST February the
day of the latest accountS.-B0St. Atlas.
CONGRESSIONAL REFoRMS.-We await with
no little Impotence the appearance of the
Reports of the Committees i'll the House of
Representatives on Retrenchment and on
Expenditures. They have been earnestly
and vigorously engaged in the work assign.
ed them, and, from the results Of their labors
so far as published, we are warranted in be-
lieving that, after they shall be fully known
to the public, and the protligate abuses which
have been practiced in every department of
the Government, by the party whose rule
recently expired, shall have been exposed in
all their naked detormity, the Loco ocos
will utter their hypocritlcal howlings at the
delay Of the Wings in making promised in
vestigations and in ettecting promised re-
forms, in the taintest possible whispers. We
find some rich items in the Washington let
ter of the Commercial Advertiser, from which
it appears that, in every department yet laid
open to their inspection, the grossest profit
gacy has prevailed. Mr.. Gilmer, for the
able report on Mileage, showing that the an
nual amount of charge to the Treasury for
the Mileage of members is $sl42,Sl0 and he
proposes that the distances be calculated d.
rectly, making thus all annual saving Of no
less than 81 ,436. In addition to this the Com
lnttee recommend that sic dollars, instead
ofeight, as at present, be paid tor every twen-
ty miles; making another annual saving of
$S77,l3S We trust ardently that these re-
Communications will receive the attention
they deserve.
The same Committee recommend bill to
abolish the Franking privilege enjoyed by
Congress; and they support their recon-
mendation by pointing out the Inconvenience
caused by mails thus overwhelmed, by Il
prolongation of Congressional Sessions, by
the higher rates Of postage made necessary,
by the great expense incurred in carrying
tree letters and packages, and by various
o,hermost forcible arguments. Mr.. Stanley,
from the Committee on Expenditures, dis
closes neat job in the employment by Mr..
Kendall of George Pitt as special agent Of
the Department., to travel in Europe at the
expense Of the United States. He Was ab.
sent fifteen months, and received as his
Expenses, at sis IS a day 1916 g.
., Making toa! Of 1855 g.
He had been paid,in 1889 and 1910, $500.
leaving balance in his favor of $946 Ca
TO meet his demands in 1889, Mr.. Van Bu-
rem authorized Kendall to transfer $4,000
from the annual appropriation Of Congress
tor the transportation Of the mail. The
Committee deem this an abuse OF power and
a wanton waste of the public money. They
say that if the the p. NJ. General has right
to send one such agent, he may send doz-
en- and if he can do this every head of eve
ry department may do the same thing
They report u bill to prevent the recurrence
of similar squanderings orthe peoples mon-
ey hercafler.-N. Y. Tribune.
ScnooLs.-We formerly had but two Fee
male Seminarcs of much distinction, those
Of Mr.. Herrick, of New Haven, and OF Miss
Pierce, in Litchtield. What number of
similar Institutions have since come into ex-
istence, vieing with them in excellence, sur
passing them in cxpensiveness! With
grammar schools for boys, and academies
for both sexes, we were better furnished
from the first; vet these institutions have
been of late years greatly multiplied, and
the modes and facilities Of instruction inn
proved and augmented. Among the schools
that have come into existence of late years
for the instruction of both sexes, the Brain
crd Academy in Haddam, the Meriden
Academy, the Academies in Upper Middle
town and Worthington, MIR. RockwelPs
school in Winsted, and the Ellington High
School, now occur to mind as very respect
able rivals, or, as We should say, coadjutors
of such institutions as Bacon Academy, Col
chester, and Westtield Academy in Massa-
chusetts. Among the seminaries Of a more
private kind, designed exclusively for boys.
we know OF none that has deserved or en-
joyed higher reputation than the Family
School of Mr.. Hart, of Pennington. While
we are anxious to see more interest mani
tested by the friends of education in inn
proving our common schools, We cannot
but rejoice in the prosperity OF all those ex-
cellent private Summaries, to which our
best educated youth have been, and will
continue to be sent. There is reason to