The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-02-11
Albany,
Correspondence Of the HERALD

ALBANY, Feb. 9Th, l644-
No more Chowder-D guefreotype Likeness Of The
ADMINISTRATORS Prooeedings--Fselimgs
about Spe,cers's Rejection
We have but little ofinterest going on just now in
this city, and were it not for the occasional balls at
Congress Hall and oyster suppers at the Governors
House, living here would not be bearable. fire.
quently wish the Governor had some two or three
thousand more Offices left him to give away, that
the rich scenes of last winter might be revived and
Albany again made place of life.
In legislation, matters progress but slowly. The
Committee on Constitutional Reform have made
their report, consisting of three or four amend
ments, which is about the extent which the COM
mttee is prepared to go in this matter. Hoffman
looks on and acquiesces in these movements, but
to my knowledge it is to hull them into confident
repose, from which they will be startled when
least aware oft, by the Introduction of his bill for
a Convention and as things now look, it would
not be very surprising if he should find force sufi
cient to carry his darling project.
men in the Legislature standing, ia. nts and
influence. Let me begin with the "Old Admiral"
as he is facetiousy called; name given him in
Congress, when Chairman OF the Naval COMMITTEE,
because Of his opposition to the recommendations
ofthe Navy Department to create the grade OF ad-
mras in the service. Well, then, the Admiral is
about fifty years old, five feet eight or nine INCHES
in G and rsss
large and splendidly developed head, covered with
thick hair, almost white, but which falls upon his
back and around his neck in long and graceful
ter sui gcneris, consisting of trock coat, some
thing the color Of his hair, pantaloons made of the
same material, and double-breasted black cloth
This is the outward Admiral, as he. is strol!ing
through the House, with his spectacles .twirling
round his finger, after the fashion Of Willis with
his walking stick, and conyersing with the mem
bers, or moping over the bills the Clerks table
An interesting debate Is going on-"Mr. Speaker"
is heard from the centre of the House, or at the
corner or somewhere else, for the Admiral has no
You iGe the bsrs
enabled to see him. Hisexordium isslow, distinct,
and disposed to create mirthfuness in the House
his head is much BENT resting upon his breast, and
but little of the face is to be That is through
with-he seizes upon the argumentative points of
the subject-now look at the man as he warns
into the discussion, tearing from and throwing
aside the reasonngs OF his adversary as though they
were but play things for him to handle, and it only
for the amusement OF the House. He is not the
same person-he Is full six feet in heigfhis pier
cling black eyes tell you Of The mind which they
rehecthis Grecian face is all expression-his lips
come together at the close Of each sentence with
frmness calculated to heighten the effect Of the en-
sembe-every eye is upon hlm--there is no pauslng
in his speech-no stopping tor words or ideas, they
COME db IdSt as lie can kVc uttcIdHCC u tHcHI-OH
he leaps from point to point from argument to ar
gument, until nature gives way, and the old man
is forced into his seat minute passes
before the House RECEIVERS itself, when "Mr.
Speaker" is again heard, and the Chair announces
"the gentleman from Oswego." This is Michael
Hoffman, the generous, kind, frank, intelligent,
and all powerful Michael Hoffman, End what do
you think of him!
petition was presented last Tuesday from a
few capitalists of your city, requesting the egisla
ture to instruct members in Congress to vote
grant to them of some fifteen millions Of dollars, for
losses which they sustained some fifty or sixty
years since in the seizures of their vessels and pro-
perty by the French. 1t was opposed by some on
the ground that the legislature not the proper
place for these claimants to press their cause
majority thought different and it was referred to
select committee, having for its chairman Major
Davezac. Do you know anything about this mat
ter? Report says here, that it is peculating piece
of business, but whether true or not am not pre-
pared to state. 1t might, however, be we'll to look
into the matter
am informed that all the members Of the legis-
lature have signed paper to the President OF the
United States for the appointment of Chancellor
Walworth for the vacant judgeship in the Supreme
Bench, and it is here thought that he is to be the
successful man after all. The wings in great
glee at the failure of Spencer, but curse the folly
of the Senate in their ndiscrlmlnate rejection, as
it is calculated in the end to injure them
JOE SMITH, JR.