The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-16


past week, which have not been reported. One of
the most beautiful railroads, with innumerable
branch lines, is that which has its principal ter
minus at the White House, Washington. 1t is
known the great presidential railroad, and
celebrated locomotive on it, il is well known, was
named William II. Seward. Thurlow Weed was
the engineer of this locomotive, and was running
at rapid rate, with cars loaded down, conveying
an immense number Of office-seekers and politicians
to great picnic party. Suddenly, while all were
in full glee and in expectation of splendid dinners,
there was found to be an extraordinary derange-
ment somewhere; and, in spite of the old and ex-
periencsd engineer, Thurlow Weed, who has
often on doubtful and dangerous tracks, the To-
connective was run of the rails, upset, and buried
several feet in the ground This locomotive cost a
great deal of money, and the expense of repairing
it, for several years past, has been enormous. 1t
is now supposed to be a total wreck, unfit for any
further use, and will probably be sold for the most
il will fetch.
When the acciden, happened, Thurlow Weed,
whose only hope was in the Seward locomotive,
perceiving the destruction, screeched at the top of
his voice and started the great political whistle
declared that he was not to blame, and that Z" a
power beyond the constitution of the machine
was the cause of the misfortune which had grieved
his soul and destroyed all his hopes. Thurlow
Weed is correct. No principle of patriotism, Of
justice, or honesty, could have restrained him from
running the locomotive to the last. But il is now
broken to pieces, and there may il rest. II would
be folly to attempt patching it up for another
pertinent.
Another accident has occurred in Missouri.
locomotive named Thomas H. Benton, without
any engineer, and with train of cars almost
empty, having only few holders of California
land titles in the tender, started off on its own
hook, ran off the track into crevasse, and broke
entirely up II Is not much of loss. II was
much worn, and was making its final trip when
the accident occurred. New locomotives will sup
ply the places of these two, so completely ruined.
SINGULAR POLICE ExrosUREs-During the last
week several very remarkable exposures were
made at two of the police Offices in this city,
folding some very curious and laughable incidents,
in which digni6ed lawyers, merchants, and "men
of mark" figured to the life. We allude TO affairs
touching Mr.. George w. Niles, limb Of the law,
not yet Topped of, who has been charged by some
of his former associates not with extracting teeth,
but money, in 4 novel and ingenious manner One
or two respectable merchants have already appear
ed in the case-and, we understand, the principal
witnesses-former partners in the concentrate de-
termined TO bring up, with all the solemn pomp de-
manded by the occasion, several other distinguish
ed parties TO give character and pungency to the in
vestigatons The provisional committee Of social
istic freedom, of which George w. Niles appears
to be the presiding spirit have been before two JUS
tees, Messrs Mountfort and Osborne, and, ia a
little while all the other justices in the metropolis
may have finger in the singular pie that has been,
for some time, il the process of baking
We generally give Burton great deal OF credit
for fun, humor, curious representations Of character
and lfe-but the scenes promised by manager Niles
are more dramatic than Burton's, fuller Of origi-
naity, and cost great deal more money before
they are fully presented to the public. The cast Of
characters is extensive and the machinery, though
not entirely completed, will prove interesting as
that of any drama that has been presented for
long time Full programmes, il is understood, will
soon be ready at the principal police ofiices-and
the public win be on tip.toe to have full view Of
the exhibition. Up with the curtain.
Books AND REroRrs ON CALRoRNA-About 6f-
teen books and innumerable number Of reports
have been published about California. One or two
Of them, like Gould Bufums, very readable; and
the rest, like Bayard Taylor's, ridiculously alb
eurd. Mr.. Caleb Lyon, Of Lyonsdale, however,
has gathered some remarkably interesting mate
rials for book on FL Dorado. He has been able
to discover and appropriate some very curious and
important documents, written by the Jesuits and
Franciscan brotherhood, all of which will prove
very valuable in unfolding the history OF that
try and the early adventures in it in the search |
fer gold. He is about to visit London to issue |
work, in the best style, founded his knowledge.
General Persifor Smith, We believe, has confidsd |
to the hands Of General Scott some highly inter-
esting information, of rare character, that might
be given to the public with advantage. There Ia |
90 little reliable information about California that
when IL can be obtained, IL should be made known.
With Mr.. Lyons book, and Gen. Smiths stores
Of information, the sum Of our knowledge would
be almost complete. A book on land titles will |
come, in its place, one Of these days. Ii is not time
for ityet. All the illustrations are not ready.