The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-02

The News.
The near approach of the meeting Of Congress


has again put in motion the machinery Of newspa'
DeX correspondence, giving to the world any amour.
Of speculation and conjecture, with here and there
. fact more or less important. The subjects that
WIN form the forthcoming Message Of the President,
and the tone and temper in which they vail be dis
sasssd are matters that occupy the attention OF
Me letter writers; and certeiny those inGefasigabes
exhibit . truly wonderful abundance OF resources
and invention. In order, therefore, that our READ
srs may be appraised Of al that is transpring at the
capital, we lay before them this morning interest
Spg letters from our own correspondents, and also
hose Of other journass, to which we invite atten-
zion. 1t ia now ascertained that the Message will be
transmitted to the principal cities in advance OF the:
assembling OF Congress- and We shall, consequently,
ke enabled to publish it on the afternoon Of Monday
aext thus affording our citizens an opportunity
esietly TO digest Us contents perhaps before the
clerk has concluded it's readings OF the Capitol.
We have to record another seizure Of smugglei
goods. As the passengers on board the steamship
Africa we're leaviag that vessel on Wednesday even
ing, soon after her arrival ct her dock at Jersey
City the reveane officers discovered o number Of
watches and quantity of jewery secreted in some
trunks belonging to passengers. The further de-
Aarkaon of the passengers that night was prohibit
3D. and they were all strictly searched the next morn
ing before they we're allowed to depart. The Sur
veycr of the Port has in custody the eontrabsnd
goods, which are estimated to be worth seventy ss
thousand dollars.
The denizens Of Wall street were slightly per.
t0rbed yesterday by rumors Of the discovery of a
defalcaticn involving the respectable amount Of
swo hundred thousand dollars. Toe Particular
have not TRANSFERRED and ii is surmised that they
may not be made public.
communication from Otis P. Jewett, addressed
- the stockholders Of the Parker Vein Coal Con-
papy, relating TO his connection with that COZ
pcraticn, msy be found in another column. As vs.
have heretofore given one side of the question IN
the report Of the investigating committee, it Is
10 msie than fair that the other side Of ths COB.
sovsrsy should receive attention.
We luoish to-day most interesting letter from
cur Kingston (Jamaca) correspondent, dated tn
ID inst, in which the approaching commercial,
financial, and executive endorsements of tbss
portion OF the British colonial possessions ia the
West Indies are clearly foreshadowed, and their
causes set forth. The elections which have jns'
terminated have not produced any decided aissra
ton in the complexion Of the House of Assembly,
nor in the new Constitution bill recommended BY
che Foreign Office in London likely oinfuse vitality
Into system of government long since eGcie through
corruption and attempts at aristocratic centIaiize
soE. Indeed as the writer remarks II can scarcely
be called representative body when only two thou
sAra persons were entitled to vote at the elections
cot Of population Of three hun bred and fifty thou
sAnd-she former being qualified on only fragments
q property, would seem to sho ' that the balance
are imp ,verished seifs. Cholera and smallpox han
declined, after thinning the population. Two or
Hhree hurdre Chinese laborers had arrived dirs,s
nom China and some from Navy Bay. Many OF tie
latter were very sicklv.
1t Is reported thss the Know NothiDgs of Phila-
delpbia on Thursday fred salute Of one rhonsan ;
guns in honor Of their mt victory in that ststc.
steam boat was chartered for the purpose, whi,n
plSd up and down the Delaware river, in front Of,
TIE city. This certainly the most extensive co
baetion of gunpo der that have heard Of lately
The siege Of Sebastopol would hardly exceed it in
noise. Fortunately for the Philadelphians, sroog
northwest wind prevailed, carrying the din ana
moke over TO New Jersey.
The Beard Of County Csnvasssrs Of this city
yesser da succeeded in completing the canvass Q.
the retuns, with tie exception Of the Tenth aud
rwentysecond wards. The final re suit will proba-
by be declared to-day. The oficsl vote for Goy-
srnor, as shown by the footing up Of the County
Clerk, will staod 81 follows: For H,rat,o Seymour,
36,7s0; for Myron II. Clark, 12,233-plurslity for
Seymour, l4,5A7.
Mr. r. s. McCulIo:h was yesterday daily installed
INTO the Professorship Of Aathematc and Natural
and Experimental Philosophy Of Columbia College
The ceremonies were witnessed by large audience.
The Committee Of the Board Of Councilmeu hav
ing In charge the matter OF opening Albany street
held q session yesterday, at which Gen. Sanford
and Mr.. Bacon delivered arguments adverse to the
proposed MEASURE. At the conclusion Of the al
dresses the committee adjourned.
A report Of the proceedings at the meeting Of the
butchers held yesterday. is given elsewhere. Tbs
sasala brokers have agreed to change the market
day. To this arrangement tho butchers object, and
thsir reasons for doing are forcby set forth in
ths resolutions adopted at the meeting.
The examination Of Gray, the vitriol man, before
the Mayor yesterday, result in his commitment
- Prison In default Of bail. There are fifteen COM
Elaints aga INST him, and five hundred dollars bonds
In each eme are required.
Nothing Of particular interest transpred In the
Ohilds divorce trial yesterday. After the examina-
on u several witnesses for the defence, the case
was aojourned till Monday next.
Yesterday IL was considered pretty certain that the
present cold weather would close canal navigation,
(it win officially end on the 9th instantly Jet cue
was dull; and sales limited. There was some pause
h Ne domestic demand, with light business doiuy
fur export. Common brands closed little lower,
while good to choice and extra brands we're
changed. Michigan white wheat sold at % 80, and
Wisconsin red al 81 rs. Corn was one to two cents
Per bushelloxer. Mess polk was ct Sl3 IL SIS Is
asked; contracts for 5000 1000 bbls we're settled,
payt ct sl3 so GA. About 200 bales Of cotton
were sold, the market closing steady. Feights
continued firm and active for English ports. Grain
ssr Liverpool was freely taken at Sd. in bulk, and
esd in ships bags; dead weight was at l7s. Cd,
Ard 500 1000 bales compressed cotton we're en-
A sea & $3.50. 81 le... which wss Al advance.