, 1854-02-11
News by Express,


the following summary of news from Ore
gon, California, the Atlantic States and
Europe, oniy four weeks ahead of the MALL
1t is particularly At this season of the
year. when the roads are in a horrible con-
ditiOn--the rivers obstrucied with ice, and
the Pacific Mail Steamship Company re-
pentedly outraging the public by failing to
fulfil their engagements, that the advanta-
ges derived from an Express can be the
better appreciated. We regret to find that
the Postmaster General has not, thus far,
asked for proposals for carrying the mail
from the head of Puget Sound to San Fran
cisco direct, but trust that when our Dele
gate 10 Congress shall have arrived at
Washington both himself and the delegate
from Oregon will urge upon Congress and
the proper department, the necessity and
Importance of immediate attention to that
matter.
a correspondent in the Statesman propo-
scs the name of "Hdroaoco," as II substi-
tute for "SALEM'-the Seat of Govern
ment. A very pretty name. By the way,
how would the people of this Territory like
to change the name of Olympia" for some
aboriginal name?
The winter has been equally as severe in
Oregon, as in this Territory, and the snow
has fallen there two-thirds as deep as it did
here last winter, whilst we have, compara-
lively had none. The OCgoRiaA informs
us that there has been excellent sleighing
in Portland; that the Willamette has been
completely frozen ovcr-fastening in its icy
grasp, the steamers Lot WhitcOmb, Multi
noma, Fashion, Fire Fly, Peytona and Ea-
gle, and that it is, estimated that over one
thousand tons of ice will be taken from the
Columbia and Willamette rivers the pres
ent season.
We have dates from San Francisco up
Jan. 10Th, and from the States to Dec. 20,
Unfortunate and singular, no Presidents
Message amongst our files From the
Commercial Advertiser we learn that there
wassa rumored failure Of Adams q Co., on
the 18th, inst, in consequence of an errer
having occurred in emitting the name Of
this banking house in the published list Of
the shipments of treasure, by the John l..
Stevens" and Sierra Nevada" The re-
port grew solely out of the error, as they
had forwarded by these steamers $3TS, 900,
total amount shipped, $l,S45, 1872, and that
confidence has been renewed, which has all
along been felt in this firm, and been, with
al, so well deserved.
The suit of Isaac n. Thorne and Others
against Peter Smith, was pending in the Su-
premc Court, and day fixed upon for a
hearing.
Thomas Francis McOgher, the Irish ex-
lie and great popular orator had arrived in
that city, and had delivered his introducto'
nv lecture-of series-at the Musical
Hall.
Five Indians had been shot in difficulty
with the miners at Trinity river, and nu'
merous fatal disturbances had occurred else
where throughout the mines. The miners
were doing well for the season of the year
The season has been unusually dry.
CoRgressiOnaL-The New York correspor'
dent of the Times aud Transcript, says:
You will by this arrival receive many
startling items of news. On the 10th inst.
about i o'clock, u fire broke out in the en-
gine room of the great publishing house
of Harper 4 Brothers, which Immediately
enyeloped the whole establishment in flames,
and reduced the whole into utter ruin.
Their property, with contents, was valued
at al, $500 of which they saved their
. stereotype plates, valued at $4OO, 900, and
they had an insurance for $3.50, 900, leaving
clear loss of $500, 900 or $6OO,0O0 The
publishing establishment Of Coolidge 4 Go.
adjoining, was also destroyed, valued at
$500, 600; insurance 500, 900. Other bull
dings were also burnt and damaged. In
all, sixteen buildings were destroyed, The
entire loss was about 81 100000,
The ship Roman, bound from Canton,
with valuable cargo of teas, &c, has been
totally lost, The vessel and cargo were
valued at about $500, ,O00-fully insured
She was coming to Alephant 4 Co. Of this
city,
Mr.. Fry, of the Astor Opera House
memory. has obtained verdict Of SlO,-
900 and cost, against j. q. Bennett, of the
New York Herald, for libel The latter in
tends to appeal or get a new trial
| A great banquet was given to John