The New York herald., 1845-07-28

ASTOUNDING DrscLosUREs-A NEW GusPowDEB
PLoT.-The most extraordinary and novel disclo
surss are daily taking place in this great city, which
must startle the simps-minded and unsuspcious
denizcns. But few days since, an awful and un.
forseen calamity visited u.s. and the unpleasant
suspicious have been excited to the cause
Again called on to relate transaction so in
iqutous In its character, and which has been SO
long shrouded in mystery and darkness, that we
doubt not the vrtuous and indignant censure of the
press and the public will be brought to bear upon its
authors.
On Tuesday morning last information was COM
municated to the Chief of Police, by Mr. Thomas
Murphy, one Of the Inspectors of Customs, that a
large amount OF gunpowder had been brought into
The city from magazine IN Brooklyn, which it was
feared had been stored in warehouses contrary to
law. This able officer Immediately despatched a
posse of policemen, who were ordered to keep a
lookout for any boat which might be seen approach
ing the wharves so laden. The matter was then re-
ferred to Alderman Hart, chairman OF the commit
for investigating into the of the explosion
at the late fire, who assisted by Alderman Briggs,
succeeded, on Saturday morning, in seizing barge
belonging to the powder magazine, containing thirty
kegs of gunpowder and two cases of canister, at
pier No. 8, East River. They also arrested two
boatmen, and person who represented himself as
the agent OF Hazard Il Co., and took possess
sion of the order-book of Messrs, Hazard 4 Co.,
from which they undoubtedly viii gain much
information relative TO the matter. But what
is most alarming, is the fact that upon further en-
qury ltwas ascerained that six kegs of powder had
haon , .h
had been packed in barrels Of cofee-two kegs in a
barrel, and sent on board one of the Erie and Troy
barges. THIS was also seized The boatmen and
agent were taken before the committee of the Com
Council, to give evidence in relation to the pla-
where they have been in the habit of delivering
powder. Great credit is due the Aldermen for their
industry and perseverance and the skifu manner
in which they conducted this business
We can, however, inform the uninitiated that the
practice of shipping powder thus packed in coffee is
by no means new method 1t is, on the contrary,
one of the most common and ancient practices. A
merchant receives an order for certain number of
kegs for shippng-he applies to the agent of the
manufacturers-the powder is sent to him and is i'm
msdiately packed in barrels or boxes, directed to
the consignee and shipped as &c merchandize"-the
Captains and owners OF vessels perfectly understand
the matter, and no questions are asked. We recol-
lect circumstance which came under our own OBJ
servaton short time since. A merchant in Front
street was called on by Southerner, who informed
him he wished to purchase certain quantity of
powder for the Southern market. 1t was furnished
the following day, when the Southerner d.
rected that 1t should be marked as pow
der The merchant demonstrated with him,
assuring the scrupuous customer that the Captain Of
the ship would receive it, and that was unne-
cessary. The Southerner, however, insisted, and the
cases accordingly marked and sent to the dock
The Captain, as predicted, refused to receive them.
What was to be done! After some delay and dis
cusslon the boxes were returned to the warehouse,
where the Objectionable word was erased-the name
of the consignee substituted, and the same cases in
less than an hour again sent board and received
as merchandise" This is matter of daily occur
renee, and thus the lives of the travelling commu-
nifty jeopardsed. Most of our readers will remem-
Der the explosion of steamboat on the Mississippi
river some years since, when it was suspected that
powder had been received freight, although the
Captain insisted that not keg was on board. II
was afterwards ascertained that large number of
barrels supposed contain Coffee but which in re-
aiy consisted OF powder, had been stored in the i'm
mediate vicinity of the fires, and becoming gnited
had spread death and destruction around.
We hope this subject will be thoroughly nvestga-
ted and some speedy measures adopted to put an end
to this iniquous and dangerous practice. The
blood Of thousands who have been thus made the
victims of a mean and contemplate spirit OF avarice,
calls loudly some public and general remonstrance.
PREVALENCE OF INcENDIARrsM-The number and
extent of the fires that have taken place this year
we may say within few weeks-is subject nor
only for grave reflection, but of fastonshment to those
who pass them in mental review. Such have been
their frequency, their destructveness and the injury
inflicted upon communities, that they will give a
character to the year 1S45 OF most unenvable ma
ture, and such as we hope its successors will not
copy after. Pittsburg, Matanzas, Quebec, and New
York ,.are many sad mcmentos Of devastation and
destruction, of dread casualties, as hard to account
for as to forget.
II is question with many whether they are pro-
perly so termed Strong doubts sexst as to their
coming into the category of casualties, and in.
deed the objection is not without foundation. To
regard all these confagrations as taking place by
accident, must assume that the half of the good
people OF the present generation have lost all their
self possession and ordinary care and caution, for
with reasonable exercise of these vulgar qualities
liability to visitation from fire. would be incompara-
byess than sadexperience daily teaches to be here
and elsewhere. One cannot help pausing to ask are
men and women less sober, less rational Have
they less common sense and prudence than former.
ly! Is human nature degenerating to level with
the lower animals, and lower, in not retaining ability
to take care of and provide against and avoid dan
ger.
1t can hardly be. There must be more than acci
dent in all these fires, hurricanes of destruction and
explosions. Ana yet it is not easily that the mind
entertains these suspicious Dishonesty, vice, and
wrecklessness do unhappiy abound in this city, but
what fragrant and abandoned degree of criminall-
~ must prevail in society, if it can produce ready
instruments of entaillng wholesale misery on unof.
Tending communities The footpad can reye in hi,