The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-06
sss.. oar New No, Correspondence.


NssO Years Day Ia NsO YOrk--StGhstiea Lsms--Arri.
gal Of The Cherokee and Of The Afriea
Never within the recollection OF the Oldest ahabiani
were there three more gloomy and dismal days than
those which closed the year OF Lord 1854 in New
York and It's vicinity. During that whole period we
wrapped in fog dense that, like the darkness
which overspread the land OF Egypt il could be fell at
midday was impossible TO distinctly the
street, and after nghtfal light however bril-
liant could penetrate illuminate the unalhomable OBJ
security which settled down upon But New Years
eve change came DER the spirit OF our dream The
yapor all at once seemed TO resolve itself into rain
drenchng shower swept of the impurities which had
collected everywhere during the season OF occua.
tom gentle breeze from the south carried of the clouds
which yelled the upper air the stars shone brightly out
by midnight; and on the morning OF the New Year the
rose in dazzling splendor upon genial and glor
a day this oil fesiyity and miTh has
been favored with.
Nor were our citizens remss in improving the oppor-
tunity vouchsafed them by observing the kindly and
courteous usages OF the day. The old Knckerbocker
fashion OF celebrating New Years by friendly calls and
hospabe receptions has been extensively adopted in
almost every portion of country that any especial de.
scrpon of the dongs of the day would be superuous,
and will merely remark that the usual feu doie
kept up spredy and constantly with guns and pistols
from evening till morning, and with champagne corks
from morning till evening The mayor treated his con-
ocks TO Arrack punch and terrapn the fashionables
the beau monde to everything costly and refined; the
commonaty their friends TO everything good and sub
stanta the taverners their guests TO everything stroDg
and the rumseers their habiiues to all sorts OF villa
nous compounds-all doing their best TO make
their neighbors happy, Upon the whole, the occasion
passed off with an unusual degree of cheerfuness and
merrimen and we have heard OF no accidents to mar
the general enjoyment OF the HOLIDAY.
the Just closed city has TO be thankful for
great degree OF prosperity and, although we have had
to mourn sad disasters and caames, bill
Of mortal y is not disproportoned TO great and pecu
liar population sweeping pestlence has visited US,
and the general health has been equal to the usual
average.
From a statistical review of facts and events pre-
pared for of city papers, select items
which may possess passing interest for the casual OBJ
server.
The number OF deaths in the city OF New York during
the year 1851 1860, of which about $500
foreigners and of these latter 400 Irish, and
about 1000 Germans OF the whole number deceased
44O were blacks II the proportion of mortality in all
these classes was the this statement would lead to
the inference that at least third of population
Of foreign birth but that is not the case More
than quarter of the foreign deaths are those of
newly arrived emigrants who die in the hospital 10
which they sent as soon as they come on shore
people placed for and attendance shows that no
less than 1860 of them died there in the past year And
il, in addition to this, adequate allowance be made for
the number OF the newly arrived who die among their
friends and also for the fact that the natives in general
healthy and longerlved than foreigners, the
proportion OF foreign deaths TO native will be about as
five one II may fairly be assumed, them that nearly
one.hfth of the Inhabitants OF New York city are of
foreign birth.
We have already observed that the city has not been
visited by any sweeping epidemic during the past year
still deases peculiar TO the climate have been
markably fatal No less than 2,223 have died of con.
SUMPTION os5 of Inflammation of the lungs and more
than 500 Of other diseases Of the organ or dysen
terry upwards of 900 died. principally in the summer
months Accidental deaths OF all kinds amount to 5i3 ;
80 committed suicide "a were poisoned and IL killed
murdered The total number OF deaths the last year ex
ceeds that of the year before by about 1900 but this
may be accounted for not only by the natural increase OF
population, but by the great excess OF foreign immigration
above only the year $780, but above any former year
There arrived at this port in 1861 less than 2ss,60l
souls from abroad. being about 1000 than in the
previous year Somewhat less than three-fhs OF these
were from Ireland, than one fifth from Germany,
abouth tenth from England, and the remainder from
twenyfour different countries The number OF vessels
arriving during the same period was 3,sss, OF which
1851 were American, 900 British, 1873 Bremen, 81 Nor.
wegan, As Swedish, a Hamburg, 30 French, 80 Prus-
sian 81 Portuguese. 2s Dutch "a Danish, 81 Italian and
the balance from twenty different countries.
The number OF vessels built and launched in the har-
Dor OF New York during the year 1851 81, measur.
ing 65, 93s tons the number building is q, with
tonnage OF 1880 OF those launched 80 were .team
and AZ were sailing vessels; Of those on the stocks II
are steam. and l3 sailing vessels.
The value OF merchandise exported from this port in
1851 was s43sSs $780, and the OF specie drained
from us during the same period S43,740,3ls, being a
very large proportion OF all have received from Cali
forna or elsewhere The value OF imports for the
same time was Sl3l 229, 663, which paid duties
to the amount Of s3l ,O79,2Os.
Three hundred and fory.two fires took place in New
York during the year 1851, and the amount OF property
destroyed by them is estimated at Sll4i520 We have
had no considerable conhag ration in that time.
The whole number Of persons arrested and committed
to prison in this city during the past year 49, 43, Of
whom 10 oo3 were white men, 567l white women, Gao
black men, and 443 black In comparing the pro-
portions OF this estimate with those exhibited in the bill
OF mortality, il would appear that the blacks. although
they constitute but about one-hfheh part OF popua
tion commit about sixteenth OF the crime. very
instructive fac, this and admirably calculated illus
,rae the value OF freedom to the negro il affects his
moral position and of course his general comfort and
happiness In the South, where the black is in his proper
spAsre, The case is exactly reversed.
or those arrested, twelve charged with murder
ten OF these have been tried and two remain to be tried
eight have been convicted and sentenced be hung
convicted and sentenced TO Imprisonment for life, and
acquitted two have been executed four have obtained
new trials and two remain for execution. Twelve were
indcted of whom clio MT