The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-04
NEw YoKK, August |, 1886.


To the Editor Of the UaiOn!
The steamship Great Britain sailed to-day at p
M, with rs passengers, and large mail.
As the Cambria sailed from Boston about the
same hour the time consumed by each IN crossing the
Atlantic will afford Of test between the compare
1--WE speed Of paddle-wheels and the screw propeller.
The Cambria s the fastest vessel in the CunArd line
and the Great Britain the most rapid Of any craft
ever moved by screw. The trial Of speed will
prove interesting. Taking distance into view,
many think the Great Britain will reach Liverpool
first.
l eonyersed with passenger who came out in
the latter yessol. He represents her an extreme
y comfortable sea.going steamer, and thinks, II IA
VoJed by wind and weather, she ID capable Of ma
king the passage IN ten days. He supposes that she
will some day astonish the world by the perform
anee Of this fete.
Captain HoskiHs lsft to-day in 6ne spirits, proud
Of his noble ship, and confident Of her success.
The power and agency Of steam truly won
derful. Compare the vessels Of Columbus with the
Great Britainl Steam, aided by the art Of printing,
the discovery Of the mariners compass, Of gunpow-
der, firearms &c, has placed modern civilization In
position beyond the ingulfng brute force OF UNI
civilized hordes.
When Baby lon and Nineveh attained rank and
splendor in association with high degree Of civil
Eation, in which the Greeians and Romans made
still further advances the portion Of mankind in the
enjoyment Of II were in helpless minority. When
arts OF defence depended upon personal strength and
power Of endurance, qualities possessed In an equal
or greater share by the Vandal races, forming an
immense majority, civilization necessarily fell be-
meath It's power. It's light went out like taper IN q
damp vault, leaving all in shrouded darkness But,
as the intelleet Of man triumphed the laws Of
matter, civilization revived with new strength. The
strong mind struggling in a weak animal frame
could grupple with the giant. A Lord Nelson, OF
dminudSe stature could fill the world with the glory
Of his deeds. The power Of steam has been the
croVning power Of civilization, placing IL beyond
the subugution and control Of all barbarous nations
The increased intercourse produced by steam will
place civilized men largely IN the majority among
the races Of the earth. Progress must be onward.
RsTocession and obliteration are imposslbln. No
new Nineveh disappear beneath drifting sands,
or Babylon sink beneath the alluyia Of a great
river leaving trace, no memorial Of arts or ciyill-
zation in view behind. Barbarous hordes wer,
vastly in the ascendant TO force and numbers; and
their work Of destruction was complete.
To what humble instruments is civilization in.
debted for having its foundations made "sure and
steadfast," and placed upon the "roek Of ages"
From the days of the fishermen Of Gallilee to the
present time, have the greatest events followed the
labors of humble men with simple means. Empires
have been formed or reyoiutionzed, cities built, and
vast commerce created, by the inventions dscov-
| cries Of few obscure men. The discovery Of the
art Of printing calico by the Of copper rollers,
yerted Sir Robert Peel's father into q millionaire
This wealth educated and gave rank to the son. which
aided by his talents, made him prime minister Of
England, with sufficient influence to accomplish one
of the greatest financial and commercial revolutions
OF modern times.
The combined discoveries Of Watt, Arkwright
Whitney, Fitch, Fulton, and Oliver Eyans-sll self
made and humble men to rank, fortune, oil
| inhuence-have done more for the permanent adj
| vancement of civilization than mighty armies, OF
the efforts of the favored and titled millions Of all
preceding centuries.
The huu,bug Of grtai men What, home valuation
The New York Commercial will have it that ths
foreign, and not upon the home valuation. And SO
| argued Mr.. Webster, and 90 explained Mr.. Critten-
den, in trying to reconcile Mr.. Clay with Mr.. Web
ster Mr.. Clay was in favor Of ad valorems on
home valuations. This satisfied Mr.. Webster
and, as he thought, placed Mr.. Clay with
| him against the revenue bill, on the ground tina
its duties were to be levied on the foreign valuation
What is home valuation 1t is precisely this If
ton Of pig iron is imported which cost in Liverpool
twenty dollars, that s its value in foreign market
On being entered in New York. five dollars ire ad.
ded for freight, and two and a half per cent. for
commissions, charges, &c. The home valuation then
will be as follows:
Invoice $40 0G
Freight 5 0C
Commissions, &c o Sc
IS So
Duty 80 per cent. 7 Sc
If tho duty was assessed on the foreign value, il
would be calculated on $50, instead of sos So II
the former is not home valuation and the latter for
! eign, what is home valuation Now the law OIL
| l642 assessed ad valorem duties on the mode sup
| posed in the of the iron above stated and the
| new bill makes change whatever. Then where
is the Distinction 1t won't do to say, to get at
home valuation, merchants prospective profits mus
be added to invoices and bills Of COST and which
duties are to be assessed.
| Colonel Stevenson's regiment was mustered into
service to-day at Governors island. If they coult
| be shipped via the isthmus Of Darien, they would
reach their destination some four or five month.
| earlier.
The stock market closed firm to-day with consid
cradle sales. 1900 bales cotton sold; prices firm
500 barrels Genesee -four sold at 81 l2l for ship
ment. Last evening 900 bushels Gcnesee white
wheat sold at IS cents; 500, barrels City Crotor
Mills, ground, sold at "a l21. Moderate salei
western corn mixed, at SOL cents. 200 hhds. Portt
Rico sugar sold at 81 II; $50 do. New Orleans, a
81 Ct; 900 do Cuba, at Isl 81; small lost Of do
strictly prime, at II; so barrels whiskey sold a
| 2ll; coffee very dull; beeswax dull at 26 26I
provisions no change. Good Ohio lard sells at 6
g.; good in kegs would bring 7c. No change il
naval stores Spirits turpentine sells at " 37I
80 43l per barrel.
Freg hts to Liverpool Is. Cd. to q. for -four, ant
| Id. a 5.l6d. for cotton. No change to Havrc.
Sterling bills closed firm for the Great Britain a
I'd. a 7sd.
| Yours, &C., C..