The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-07-04
Correspondence of the Republic.
VHj SUIJ 81 p. III.
THE NEW YORK CUsToM-HoUsE.

new collector, 80 far as known, give great satsfac-
ton. have no doubt that the duties of this i'm
portant Office will be discharged with strict fidelity
and the best intentions.
THE" PETER-PENcE.o
Yesterday was great day at the Catholic
churches of this city All were crowded Ii was
the day set apart for the contributions in aid of
Pope Plus the Ninth. At the Cathedral the attend
ance was immense Hundreds were obliged to 20
away, and many hundreds more remained in the
Cathedral yard, clustering about the doors and
windows. Bishop Hughes preached on this occa-
sion. He is a singularly persuasive speaker-not
much given to rhetorical flourish, indulgins rarely
in the higher arts Of the orator, but aiming rather
at the plain, practical style and manner which, af-
| ter ALL best reach the heart and understanding of
the great masses of the people. The Bishop in
dulged In some hard filings at the newspapers
those newspapers which had expressed fear that
the contributions might be misappied. These filings
might have been spared. The Bishop is a great
man, an able defender of Catholicity, an ornament
of his church. But he is weak in some points
WV
is strictly an ecclesiastic He views all things
through the ecclesiastical medium. Zeal for the
church may be carried too far. Yet the discourse
of the Bishop was fine effort, full of many pow
erfu passages appealing to the religious sympathies
of his hearers in manner and with an effect wor-
thy of Massilon or Bossuet.
The contributions were large at all the churches.
AT Saint Peters Church, Barclay street,) the
handsome sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars
was collected AT St. James's Church, (James
street,) over five hundred dollars were taken, and
the sums at all the other churches were proper
tonatey large. writer in one of the city papers
calculates that, supposing the Roman Catholic
churches Of New York, Jersey City, Brooklyn,
and Williamsburg to be twenty-five, (and that's
about the number,) and the receipts to average
two hundred and fifty dollars at each, the total
sum realized would be about six thousand two
hundred and fifty dollars. Multiply this by the
United States, and at least ten times six-that is,
sixty thousand dollars-wil have been received.
RECEPTION OF FATHER MATHEW.
The public reception of Father Mathew took
place to-day. We are great people in New York
for this sort of thing and this affair was quite re-
spectable-that is to say, we had marshals, and
badges, and batons, and flags, and scarfs, and ba-
! rouches and banners, and music, and dust, and
procession, and crowds in the streets and at Bar
NUNS Museum. The committee of the common
council escorted the distinguished stranger from his
temporary abode at Staten Island and arrived at
Castle Garden about four o'clock. He was re-
ceived by Mayor Woodruff, who made brief,
but very neat and indeed eloquent address; to
which Father Mathew replied in appropriate terms.
There was very large assemblage Of spectators
on this occasion. After the ceremonial of reception
where an elegant suite of rooms had been prepared
for his accommodation. The great mass of the
crowd assembled consisted of our Irish fellow-citi
zens. Several of their benevolent societies and
| temperance associations made fine appearance in
| the procession.
SUNDAY LIQUOR TRAFFIC..
Every summer we have great fuss here about
the suppression of the liquor traffic on the Sabbath
Innumerabe paragraphs appear in the newspapers
extolling the effort to tie skies, or abusing it IN
equally unmeasured terms. The present authori-
ties have just begun the usual crusade against in
temperance. Every right thinking man commends
the motives Of the movement but il is not certain
that all approve the means adopted to effect it.
Vain, vain, vain, must ever be all efforts to make
men virtuous by penal enactments sumptuary
laws. There is just as much drinking, just as
much intoxication, just much disorder, just as
many breaches Of the holy day committed, now
that the grog-shops closed by law, there was
when they all stood with open doors, and
"Dealt damnaton round the land"
without any danger Of policeman's visit and a
prospective fine. No, moths is not the way to
correct this evil When will the time come when
legislators and magistrates and all in authori-
men ought to be taught fear crime and sin rather
than punishment.
rELLeRAPHIc LINE.
Another Geographic line is about to be established
between this city and Boston, taking in Norwich,
New London and Middletown. There will soon
be no less than six lines between these two import
ant points.
cRoToN WATER.
There can be no doubt that the abundant supply
of pure, wholesome water has materially aided il
preserving the public health of this city during tn,
present season. Weuse up thirty millions Of gallon,
daily Through every street, and lane, and alley
the healthfu tide crculates cleansing our thorough
fares, supplying innumerablc private and publ,
baths and conveying to every hsbitation the mean,
Of publication and refrcshment
AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN CITIES.
Recently meeting with several intelligent foreign
ers, was struck by the enthusiastic terms in which
they contrasted the aspect of this, an American
metropolis, with some Of the cities Of the Old
/ World. what is the excitement to-day" asked
young gentleman from Ireland. "Why, this is