The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-03-08

| RECORDER SCOTT UPON ART AND LITERATURE.
The charge OF Recorder Scott, pronounced be.
| fore the Grand Jury on Monday, and published in
our columns yesterday, has several important
features relating TO the rising generation, the
theatres, the model artists, and the trashy itera.
ture of the day, which deserve more than usual
note and comment.
We are glad to see the Recorder take the bold
and novel stand he has done in this charge
particularly in reference to the progress
of criminality among the junior portions of
society, aud the state of utter demoraliza-
ton which certain theatres and spectaces
have exhibited in this city. The Recorder
shows clearly and succinctly the demoralizing
| influence which the trashy literature of the day
has produced, and is producing, upon the rising
generation. He alludes particularly to "Jsck
Shepherd Jonathan Wild" "Dck Turpin,"
and works of such reckless kind no doubt in
GLIDING many ephemera writings of Eugene Sue,
Dickens, and others Ia fact, from some strange
motive or other, our most respectable and pious
publishers have caused an immense quantity o.
these trashy works of the French and English
school of novelists, to be published at cheap
rate in this country, beyond that of any
other period in our history. 1t is painful to
one, as Christian, a morallst, man, and
an American, to look over some of these
| lists of books published and advertised in
several journals, under the names of those who
call themselves the highest and most respecta-
bic book sellers in New York. The searching
remarks OF the Recorder upon this species of lie
terature are we'll merited; but how they will pro-
duce reform, or a change, is more difficult to
ascertain.
| The Recorder also alludes to the demoraliza-
lion which marks several of the theatrical exhi-
bitions and particularly to the whole class named
'model artists" This species of exhibition is
| of recent origin, They commenced somewhat
modestly, chastely, and orderly, at first; follow
| ing in the quiet and classical footsteps Of that
beautiful work of art by Powers, the Greek Slave.
But in the course of the last few months they have
been gradually descending, till they have be-
come nightly exhibitions of almost naked men
and women, both white and colored, throug hout
all the cheap theatres and rooms of this city.
At this momentous moment, New York almost
! exceeds, we believe, the Generalization which
marked the ties of Sodom and Gomorrah be-
| fore they sunk into the centre of the earth,
buried beneath avenging flames, for their crimes
and horrible depravlty. Yet 1t appears, accord
ing to the authority of his honor the Mayor, and
the honorable Corporation, that there is no law
and no power IN the public authorities to regu-
late, reform, or even to put ordinary drapery-
even to third of pettlcoat-upon these naked
men and women, who parade themselves at night
before the public at the places, for from one shl-
| ling to a dollar. Really, we think the Grand
Jury ought to ndict all these exhibitions null
sances and put them down by due process OF law.
|, is duty owing to society, to the community,
and to the character of our city, to make some
attempt to save US from the fate Of Sodom and
Gomorrah-te indct them as a nuisance-that
the whole matter may be brought before the Court
of Sessions, that it may be known ifthere Is law
and moral sentiment enough in our courts and
juries to vindcate the character Of the city, and
repress these exhibitions, in all their beas;liness,
for the future.
We believe there is sufficient ground in COM
mon law, and certainly there is enough in COM
mon sentiment, to put stop at once to these
things. 1t ought Immediately to be attempted.
WORK FOR CoNoREss--Posr- OFFICE NEeoTIA.
TONS We trust that some member of Congress
will lose no time in having resolution prepared
either for the House or for the Senate, demand
ing from the Executive and the Post Office De-
par,ment, full disclosure of the recent abortive
negotiations between Mr.. Bancroft and the Bri-
tlsh government, upen the subject Of our foreign
postal arrangements
! 1t is time that the community should know
something about this matter, and ascertain by
whose fault the present deranged state OF the
| postal intercommunication between this country
| and England is still to be continued. According
10 the best intelligence from England by the last
! steamer, we are informed that after treaty upon
fair principles OF reciprocity had been agreed
upon between Mr.. Bancroft and Lord Palmer
ston, a veto was put upon the whole transaction
either by the President or by the Postmaster &C.
neral, in this country.
1t is time that Congress should institute an en-.
quiry into this matter; for the atrocous situation
in which our foreign postal arrangements have
been thrown by Cave Johnson, is almost as bad
| as that to which our whole domestic system has
! been reduced.
GLOUCESTER FISHERIES. -The Gloucester cor
respondent OF the advertiser states that sixty
three vessels engaged In the haibut fisheries
from that port and beve sailed their voyages Many
Others are nov lifting out and will sa the frat Of
April By the first of June, the Who'll. Get Glou.
csser mum l75 schoonere ed in the codlspd
! nackcrel fisheries, will be fitted out
-----------------
| DUEL IN KINGSTON, u. C.-Two gentlemen Of
Kingston. lltey undertook to satisfy each other
with pistols 0ne OF them was Judge, by the name OF
| Armstrong, and the other a magistrate and Major
rhs Msjor shot OF the Judge and missed him. but tn.
nigs would not shoot at the Msjor they
without loss Of blood on either side
Letters have been received from Lima 10 the 7th ia.
nuary Commodore Jones had gone to Valparaiso, ex-
pecting either the Ohio or Prebs to take him 10
/ had noe an.