Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-09-27

NC l>cW IOrk papers dpPrizcu us OF the APP
pearance on Monday last for sale in the book-shops
Of that city, of pamphlet embracing much very
curious matter, the most exciting part of its con-
tents being copies of great number Of letters to
JESSE HoYT, former Collector of the port Of New
York, from political and personal friends who have
had great agency in the politics of the country,
and especially Of the State of New York, during
the last twenty-five years. From friend in the
city Of New York we have received by mail copy
Of the work, the title Of which is as follows:
"The Lives and Opinions of BENZ. FRAsKLIS BUTLER,
United States District Attorney for the Southern District Of
New York, and JESSE HoxT, Counsellor at Law, formerly
Collector Of Customs or the port of New York. with anec-
dotes biographical sketches of Stephen Allen, George r.
Barker, Jacob Barker James Gordon Bennett Samuel r.
Belts Isaac w. Bishop, F. p Blair, Walter Bovine, O.
@. Cambreeng, Moses l. Canine, ]. l. Coddngton, W.
H. Crawford, Edwin Croswe, John w. Edmonds, Aza-
ah G. Fagg, Lorenzo Hoyt Jeromus Johnson, Isaac kb
be, Cornelius w. Lawrence, Isaac G. Leake, Charles L.
Livingston, Edward Livingston, William L. Marcy, Nor
deca M. Noah Thaddeus Phelps, Elijah F. Purdy Roger
Skinner, Peter w. Spcer, Samuel Swartwout, Enos I.
Throop, Henry Ushoefer, John Van Buren, Martin Van
Buren,, Prosper M wetmore, Campbell P. White, Levi
Woodbury., silas Wright, Samuel Young, and their friends
and political associates by WILLIAM L. Mackenzie"
We have hastily run our eye over this publica-
ton, and notsurprised at the curiosity which
it has excited, and that not among the lovers Of
scandal merely whose appetite the contents of the
compilation well calculated to crafty, but among
of all classes and all parties. The letters
tainly contain strange developments. They are,
however, letters evidently written in all the free
dom of intimacy, and with the most entire conf
dence in the sanctity of private correspondence the
violation of which no circumstances Of political
animosity or personal difference can justify. 1t is
hardly possible to refrain from reading such matter
when placed in print before one, but we cannot re-
conce it to the rule of conduct by which we have
ever been governed to be instrumental in extending
the publicity already given to these private letters.
We therefore refrain, however strongly tempted,
from extracting from this book any part of its con-
tents The other matter in the book consists chief
ly Of facts extracted from the report made by the
Commissioners appointed in the year l84l by the
Executive Of the United States to investigate the
affairs Of the New York Custom-house. Those
facts, officially ascertained important in themselves
and fit subject for exposition, have not before been
prominently presented to the public attention, nol
animadverted upon as they ought to be- The large
volume of the reports deferred public journalists
from the attempt to publish them; and the labor
Of an analysis of them was almost as appalling.
Such at least is the reason why readers have
heard SO little of these reports, of which small
number of copies only were printed for Con-
gress and still smaller number of these of course
found their way into the hands of individuals. Re-
minded by Mr. Mackenzie's publication of the in
teresng facts disclosed in these reports, it is per
haps not yet too late to bring them to the particular
notice of our own readers. We will think Of it.
With regard to the general character of the ex
citing publication to which we refer, find in thu
New York Courier and Enquirer the following re
marks, corresponding much with our own frs
impression on the subject, that transfer them t.
| our columns
ga pamphlet sent to yesterday containing wha
purpo be private letters addressed by various politician
and personal friends JESSE Horn, late Collector of hi
port They published by WIN. L. Mackenzie, fugi
tive patriot from Canada, who appointed by Mr. Van
Mss, while Collector officer in the customhouse Of this
city, and of Office with his patron II is insnuaed
in preliminary notice that these papers obtained by the
Poindexter commission, and carried Washington, and in
that way, by unavowed means, have the light
We do believe this story, and rather imagine will
turn out suppose undoubed the letters be genu-
ne-that they have been feonousy puroned from locked
depository in of the Of the customhouse where
they left for sae-keeping by Mr. HorT, and now
given the public from mingled feeling Of personal
geance and mercenary speculation.
In this shape the publication is Infamous and should be
denounced by all who value the nvoaby of private papers,
which, than the nvolabty of persons goes to
make freedom secure.
'The consequences Of this publication, however, to the
chief correspondents of Mr.. Horn, the influence it is
ercse upon their character and the unwilling of ngues and
Of hearts thus brought about be recalled There
those made manifest these pages who might gladly invoke
the mountains fall on and them.
'sThe pamphlet was sold yesterday by thousands
Z The following paragraphs from two Of the New
York papers of Tuesday evening, referring to the
aforementioned publication as having created great
excitement in the city Of New York, possess some
interest for all readers
FROM COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER.
That pamphlet of which merely gave notice yesterday,
having only received it an hour before going press
is very curious and very disgaceul revelation We read
as much Of il last evening as could be got through
hours and to doubt that its contents are
genune-ha the letters actually written by the persons
whose names are appended them But the story of their
being left in the cusomhouse take to be transparent
fetch = very many Of them bear date twelve fifteen,
twenty wears agoong before Mr. Jesse Hoyt had any thing
TO do with the custohouse We help thinking that
the publication has been made without the knowledge and