Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-03-30
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Tbs Anticipated Duel The wonder-mon-
gers in Warrington connected with the distant
press, are having high time of it over rumors
concerning the current affair between Nessrs.
Cutting and Breckinridge; column on column
OF balderdash in this connection has gone FROM
their pens, over the wires. They have snatched
up all the floating bar-room stories concerning
it, and have duly sent them north on the wings
enterprising gentlemen fought the duel yester-
day, and had both B. and c. wounded-s'shot
in the neck" Another killed Mr.. Cutting.
Still another says, in his account of imaginary
fight taking place yesterday morning that
breckenridge may thank his lucky stars
and the magnanimity of his opponent, who
could have spotted him, had he been SO dis
posed
Yet another has Mr.. Breckenridge '' shot in
the ARM" others "call i'm Col. Benton, as a
mutual friend to settle the difficulty
Now, the truth it, that at least Mr.. Cutting.
accompanied by two friends went to Alex.
aHdria yesterday afternoon. That is, after
we went to press. We know that he was there
in the course of the afternoon. No one, not
in the secret, could find Mr.. Breckenridge,
though there we're twenty or thirty solici,ous
gentlemen who had q sort O. called themselves
i'm hunting him in all places in Washington
where he was not likely to be, under existing
circumstances. We apprehend that neither
Gel. Benton, nor any one else, has been Scaled
by the principals or the friends to whom they
mutually committed the affair. The interfer-
ence of outsiders under the impression that
they were more likely than the friends volun-
tarily consulted by Messrs. Cutting and Brock.
inridge, to effect an amcable adjustment of
| the affair, has, rs usual, simply served to
make the mares nest the more wonderful, and
increased the probabilities of an exchange Of
shots, by giving rise to stories concerning it,
| helping to throw the police officers endeavoring
to arrest them, of the scent.
| Now, as for the facts, we have to say that
we have every reason to feel assured that at
halfpas eleven O'clock to-day the matter
| had not been accommodated; and that the gen.
tlemen whose names we gave yesterday in
connection with it, were still engaged in effo,ts
to bring it to a satisfactory conclusion without
an exchange of shots. Others, as we'll as the
police, we're still seeking the parties, with the
view to endeavor to make a settlement. The
Speaker left the chair Immediately after the
House assembled to-day, it was believed in the
Hall, to do what he could, possibly, by way of
efecting that object. We, however, take il
for granted that he was quite as ignorant of
the particular whereabouts Of the principals,
as all others of their friends who had not been
'scalled i'm
We may add that M. Cutting is understood
to have been seen in Washington last night
after his afternoon trip to Alexandria.
The Report Of tho Committee on Mexican
claims, which was on Tuesday presented to
the Senate by Mr.. Brodhead, embraces, be.
sides the report itself, the journal of the pro.
ceedings of the committee, the testimony taken
before them, and the report of the Commits
sioners (of whom the Hon. Henry May was
chief sent to Mexico by the committee to in.
vestigate the cases of George A. Gardiner and
John H. Mears. This latter report embraces
the journal Of the commission, kept by Mr.
May, detailing very minutely the action of the
eommi sion, and also various dispositions and
| authenticated official documents, as well al
the correspondence between Verastique and
John c. Gardiner, proving eonclusirely, and
| beyond the shadow of a doubt, not only the
| guilt Of the accused, (Gardiner,) but revealing
his accomplices in Mexico. The testimony
taken before the committee will tend to show
who were his accomplices in Washington. The
claim of Mears for quicksilver mine is shown
to have been, from beginning to end, fabri
| alton and fraud. From many of the memorials
in reference to the adjudications of the late
Board referred TO the committee, they ask tt
BE discharged-the committee being of opinion
that the claimants received not only what they
were legally and equitably entitled to- but, il
| some instances, much more. This remark ap
plies particularly to the class of cases arisins
out of the seizure Of the schooners "Juliu
| Cesar" Champion, and Louisiana IL
the case CT Alexander j. Atocha, the commit
tee we're equally divided as to the merits Of
the claim The claim of Jarrero they pro
nounced to be eminently American, and, a
| such The claimant entitled to relief. In the
case of Jonas P. Levy, the committee report
favorably upon one item of the claim, but re-
| ject all the others.
| MIR. Brodhead is entitled to the thanks Of
the country for the ability and energy with
which he has prosecuted these Investigations
rhe appointment of Mr.. Soule to foreign
mission devolved upon Mr.. B. responsibilities.
| from which he did not shrink. The presen,
| report is 10 less an evidence of his industry
| han of mis- ability. MsssIs. Bayard and Pratt,
were a.so diligent members Of the committee
| md deserve the thanks Of all honest men fol
| heir efficient labors on this committee Mr.
| f. McNerhany, as clerk Of the committee
performed his arduous duties to the entire
satisfaction of the committee.
The whole report will cover some FIVE or six
hundred pages of printed matter. 1t will
prove highly Interesting document to readers
| generally.
Reform in the Eavy.-Those at distance
interested in the fu u of the American Navy
may rest assured thai the Navy Reform bill
| which is heinz natural nv the House commit