Washington sentinel., 1853-12-16

Australia free of postage, if sent down direct on
board the vessel"
Capt Porter subsequently refused 10 take the
mails on the terms prodered by the English post
office.
A Neat Operation.-On the last trip down ofthe
Magnolia two very elegantly dressed gentlemen
came aboard at Vicksburg, and took state-room
together Shortly after the boat got under way,
one of the gentlemen came up to the temporary
or acting clerk, worthy citizen, and asked for
some thread and sealing wax, which being given
to him, he proceeded to tie up a small longitudinal
package, which he handled very daintily, and,
having duly sealed and fastened, wrote the words
g valuable. X" and delivered il TO the acting
clerk TO be deposited in the iron safe, il con-
tained bank notes to the value Of $4,000 On the
arrival of the Magnolia, the two strangers told the
acting clerk that they would go up TO the hotel,
and secure rooms, and then return for the package
of money left with him, and then settle for their
passage. The clerk politely acceded to this re-
quest, and the gentlemen left. The next day
passed, and the strangers had not returned TO get
their package. Al night, the captain, on looking
into the passage-book, observed that the two
snowy strangers had not settled for their fare; he
inquired into the matter, and the acting clerk ac
quaned him with the fact of the valuable deposit.
iBy Jupiter" exclaimed the excitable captain, If
they haven't called before this, it is sham. Let
us look AT it," The package was produced, and
proved TO be composed of number of slips OF
newspapers, about the width of bank notes, folded
together, and then enveloped in stout brown pa
per, and duly tied with thread and sealed with
| wax. "Well," exclaimed the amiable and joke
loving captain, " L., you are badly sold that IS
about as neat an operation as j have ever SEEN"
| In the meantime the well-dressed strangers had
taken the shute," and disappeared in the mass
of erring mortality which surges through our
streets.-N. q. Delta.
Small State Salaries Governor Bell, of Tex
as in his recent message to the legislature Of that
State, advocates strongly increase OF pay TO the
governor, and judges of the supreme and district
courts of the State. He tells the Legislature plainly
that these men selected by the people IN conse-
quence of high personal endowments being requi-
site TO fill such stations, and that would presnp-
pose many years Of toll and discipline which
should be rewarded. And he is of the opinion
that il is neither lust nor honest for State to pay
It's officers merely enough to subsist on, for wise
men should in youth plant the tree which wound
shelter and protect them their road 10 the grave
He makes this recommendation more freely, IN
consequence of never expecting again to fill the
chair but for the benefit of his successors The
honorable body is informed that his pay COVER
nor is not sufficient to enable him to extend those
cvtes to his friends and strangers which GUS
tom and his own inclination would have war
ranted
Extensive Robbery--Entirc contents of
JeWelry Store Stolen.--One of the most exten-
sve robberies that has been committed in this re-
gion for years, was perpetrated on Thursday.
The sufferer is man named Mellon who owns
or did own, jewelry store in Liberty street. On
Monday he left the establishment in charge of a
journeyman in his employ. He returned late
Thursday night, after the usual time of closing the
| store Yesterday morning, on proceeding to his
place of business, he found the store closed and
after waiting some time he forced his way in,
when he discovered that the entire contents of
the store had been stolen. The loss will amount
| to between two and three thousand dollars. About
fifty Watches and other articles in the jewelry
line, chains, &C.. &c. were taken -Piasbnrg
Gazette.
Death of Virtu0so.-Mr McGuigan mana
ger ofthe Chinese museum, Philadelphia, is dead.
The Ledger says he was a gentleman of great
scientific requirements and one of the early pio-
neers in natural history in America The init
mate friend of Bonaparte, Audubon, Peae, DIR.
Morton, and other eminent naturalists, he
also one who took part in the celebrated expedi-
ton through Central America, and returning,
brought with him the first Peruvian museum ever
seen in the United States He was, perhaps, the
best living Taxidermist of his time, and certainly
the best in America. His private collections are
very extensive, and most valuable embracing
birds, animals, and shells of every description.
Discovery of Cave In Vallecito.-The Gala
veras Chronicle gives the particulars of the dis
v
cto 1t appears that Frenchman was at work
there at considerable depth, and his pick dis
placed rock which laid bare an entrance to
large cave. party afterwards descended and
explored the subterranean apartments. Their re-
port is most astonishing. They assert that at the
depth of about one hundred feet, they came upon
a collection of over three hundred human bodies,
perfectly petrfed; that the hall contained an i'm
mense number of stalacttes, some of which rested
on and were incorporated with the bodies Should
| This what n glorious subject for
antiquarian research II is said that the skulls
indicate race distinct from our Indians
United States and Great Britain.-An ad-
dtional article to the postal treaty has been agreed
upon between the United States and Great Britain,
by which il appears that in relation to all cores
pondcnce passing between the United States and
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
as well as all parts of the continent which make
the latter channel of transit for their mails Phil
dephia, to the extent of its own immediate postal
intercourse, is constituted, similarly with New
York and Boston, an Office of exchange.
baltimore Sun.
Honduras and Guatemala.-From the Gaceta
of San Jose, we learn that the fortress of Omoa
had been occupied by the Guatemalian forces un-
der General Carrera. BY the terms of capitulation
il was agreed that nothing should be taken out of
the fort, but this agreement was disregarded, and
some cannon and other munitions of were
sent to Guatemala. The government of Hondu-
ras, incensed at this act have commenced a war
of determination against Carrera and his followers
leaving no hope OF reconciliation between the
two parties.
A Curious Scence In Court.-In the Mem
phis common pleas court, in Tennessee, few days
since, man named Smith trial for murder.
After ten jurors had bean empanelled certain
technical objections were started by the counsel
for the defence. The Judge asked the counsel if
they were going to bubble at late an hour on
such point. An evasive answer was returned.
The Judge required direct answer, which they
refused TO give. He thereupon ordered fine of
$50 to be entered against each of them. They
still avoided direct answer, and finally the Judge,
getting out of PATIENCE ordered the sheriff to con-
duct them all to Jail, and they were taken into