Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-03-02
WASHINGTON, Feb. %.

to-day.
Mr.. Willis amendment to the Pacific railroad
bill is considered Identical with that of Mr.
Shields and has probably killed it. 1t is tho't
that MIR. Brodhead's substitute would be adopt
ed. His contemplates merely survey Of the
route at the Government expense.
Mr.. Everett is negotiating consular treaty
with France, which will soon be sent to the Sem
ate; Also an international copyright, similar in
its terms 10 the one between that Government
and Great Britain.
| Count Sartiges, the French Minister, goes TO
France on visit for few weeks, TO be present
at the coronation.
| The caloric ship Ericsson arrived at Alexan--
dria last evening" from the Potomac, where she
had lain at anchor for 81 hours, during a severe
snow storm. Capt LowLer weighed anchor at
Sandy Hook at half past 9, "Wednesday evening,
and stood to the eastward, in the face of strong
gale and heavy sea. The ship stood the test
nobly, her engines making six and half revo-
lutions per minute with the utmost regularity.
Capt Lowber then shaped his course for the
Chesapeake, and in going up the bay, encoun-
tered II heavy snow storm. On approaching the
mouth of the Potomac, the weather became so
thick that the pilot declined taking her any far
Their, and the ship came to anchor at eight o'clock
on Saturday morning. The engines had then
been in operation 10 hours without being stop
ped for moment or requiring the slightest adj
jnstment. Only one fireman was OIL duty ct
time, during the whole trip. The consumption
Of fuel was under FIVE tons for the "a hours
| Capt Sands of the Navy was on board, and is
| highly pleased with the result, and says he
would willingly go TO Australia ia her.
SENATE.-A debate sprung up, embracing the
merits of the original steamboat bill and the
Francis life boat.
| Mr.. Underwood made report on the memo
rial praying for the substitution Of arbitration
for in case of National difficulties, accompa-
MED by resolution recommending that in flu
ture clause be inserted in all treaties with for
egn nations,to submit all difficulties of this ma
ture TO arbitration. Mr.. Mason, from the minor
ity of the committee, said he dssented from the
resolution.
The Pacific Il. Il. bill was resumed, and the
amendment of Weller, which was pending at
last nights adjournment, was agreed 10. Mr..
Seward moved to amend the BILL by providing
that on SO much Of the road may be construct
ed within the limits Of any State beyond the
| Mississippi the p. nj. General shall contract
with said State for the transportation of the mail
over such part of the road, at n rate not exceed
ing 5000 per mile per annum for so years. He
urgently pressed the passage of the bill, for
which he said he was prepared to vote A gen.
eral debate ensued. Gwin supported the amend
ment. Rusk did the same, but still thought the
bill was dead, and had been so since Saturday
night. The Senate then adjourned.
| We regret to learn, as we do from an extra
of the Tecumseh Herald, that on Wednesday
night Il destructive fire occurred in that village,
by which more than one third Of the business
portion of it is reduced to ashes. The Herald
says:
"About midnight on the evening of the 10th
inst, fire was discovered in about the centre of
Grard Block, on Chicago street, and in few
hours the whole block, including the stores of
j. E. Hall, John H. Wshart, S. Van Nest q Co.,
s. Pitts, G. g. J. s. Strong as also the boot and
shoe store occupied by d. J. Bidwe, cabinet
shop of Hand & McKeon, and every building
from Railroad to Ottawa streets, save c. Davis
Grocery was laid in ashes.
The warehouse of p r. Adams, and Patter-
sons block, together with the Herald Office was
saved with difficulty. Very little was saved
The loss cannot be much less than $4,000
insurance $4,000.