The New York herald., 1845-12-02

"A few days since, two United states melchah
vessels arrived in this poi the majority OF whose
crews were foreigners. The customs authorities
Immediately charged the owners with foreign tom
mage, when at the same time the authorities knew
that the owners could not procure American sea-
men 10 man their vessels This must appear singu-
lar and unjust when il is known that the principal
portion of our vessels, from the same cause, are
manned with foreign seamen-Danes, Swedes,
English and Scotch. lfthe government wish to en-
courage native seamen in preference TO foreign let
them afford to merchants and captains the means of
procuring such, by afording to the mass the means
of learning nautical tactics. 1t is true we have an
academy for midshipmen, and military college for
cadets, supported by the government but the doors
of these establishments closed against the en-
trance of the tax-payng portion Of the community.
Theyarc only open rthe admission OF the ofpo
ltlcal demagogues, government partzans, and those
who are well able to pay for the education of their
children, without being burden upon the communi-
ty. There hundreds respectable youths In this
and other cities, who would gladly avail themselves
of the opportunity of nautical education were 1t
presented to them, who, in all probability would in
time, become ornaments TO the service. There are
numbers of parents who would gladly avail them
selves of such an institution wherein to place their
sons for the like purpose II Is true that some few
years since, marine school was established Ly the
government which, this said, has been lately broken
up not having answered the purpose for which it
was established Blu, it is very much doubted If this
establishment had fair chance of success afforded
it, or that it was properly managed.
Such institutions managed with the greatest
success and most beneficial effects in other coun-
trles-then why not in this In England there
several marine schools, which yearly supply the
government and merchant service with hundreds of
youths many of whom at the present day ranked
among the most enterprlsing and able seamen in
both departments having command OF ves-
sells. Indeed there are two three masters
In this port who their education and success in
life to such schools. Yet these institutions sup
ported at very little pecunlary expense. The various
industrial pursuits adopted in them almost pay for
the support of the pupils 1t Is by this and such like
measures, that England abounds with an over
whelming body of able and intelligent seamen
If the merchants of this and other ports desi-
OF not being liable such unjust charges be-
fore mentioned, let them follow the example Of the
merchants and ship owners of England in establish
ing marine schools. small yearly subscription
will only be needed for the purpose, which in very
few years will be amply repaid them by good and
able seamen-whch will prevent them being liable
TO such exactons as that OF foreign tonnage Not
only will this be the case, but many promising
youth may be saved from ruin through the lnstru-
mentality of such institutions. II any one IS at all
dubious OF the beneficial effects of such establish
ments, let them only peruse the annual reports of
the marine schools OF England, and the continent
of Europe
This subject is every way worthy OF the attention
Of the Legislature Of the country, and it is to be
hoped tha, during the present session of Congress
it will not be lost sight Of Wings, Democrats, and
Natives are alike interested in this question.
THF PoTAToE PANIc.-The deficient harvest of
potatoes in all parts of the world, has advanced
prices for this important vegetable, and set specua
tors to work monopolizlng those in the market.
Not satisfied with this agents have been despatched
into the country to buy up all they can find. On
account Of the probability of their rotng, they do
not purchase for immediate delivery, but make all
the contracts they can with the farmers to deliver
early in the spring. Our advice to the farmers In
every section is to make contracts with these
SPECTATORS to In the spring to sell Tor cash
and deliver at once, hold on to their supplies until
spring. These monopollsts and spectators in arti-
ces OF food calculate that large portion Of the
stock in the farmers hands will rot before spring,
and that the only safe operation for them s to make
as many contracts possible for the delivery Of
sound potatoes, at certain times, after the opening
OF Navigation Suppose a farmer has a surplus crop
OF one thousand bushels OF potatoes, and he makes
contract to deliver that quantity on the 1st OF May
next-he may not be able TO fulfil his contract, on
account of his losses by the rot and he will be COM
PEELED to purchase the balance at prices much above
what he obtained, or pay reasonable damages to the
other party. These spectators anticipate results
OF this nature, and must, therefore, make money
out of the operations, in either case The safest
and surest way is for the farmer to become his own
factor. He, in that case, will receive all the bene-
fit of every advance in prices, and will not be drawn
into contracts which he may never be able to meet
Potatoes are now selling in this market at seven
and eight shillngs per bushe and we have no doubt
before spring, prices will be nearly double what they
are now. Many yfamilies in this city have abandoned
the of them, an article of food on account OF
the disease. We have heard of any fatal results
arising from the of this vegetable but they are
considered unhealthy. 1t appears that thousands
and thousands Of bushels OF this valuable root have
rotted since they harvested, although at the
time they were taken out of the ground, they to all
appearances were perfectly sound. If the disease
spreads IN this way, no one can tell how far it will
progress before another harvest, or how much dis
ress will be produced among the poorer classes by
the scarcity and high prices Of this article of food
We stated few days since, that the St Patrick from
Liverpool, now due at this port, had on board two
thousand bushels Of potatoes, and we have since
been informed, that every bushel has been sold at
seven shillings per bushel, to .Rour spec,alator
ATTEMPT TO CREATE PANIc.-The two demo.
cratic prints here-the organs OF ciigues-
have been endeavorng, for some time past, to Gre
ate panic, and to pave the way for revusion or
failure OF the country banks of this State We al
Iude to the movement recently made by the Globe