Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-04-04
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

the plan OF secretary marcy W seSuIe sAo
services of citizens of cur country not only as
United States consuls, but as United States
consular agents every where. There are said
to have been near FIVE hundred persons, in all,
acting as American consuls, who were subjects
Of foreign powers on Mr.. Maroy's advent to
his present position. Many of the agents in
question were not required, having been ap.
pointed by our consuls abroad rather to crafty
the particular appointees than to discharge
duties in connection with American commerce
This was particularly the case in Germany,
wLere such an appointment was regarded as
a mark Of distinction worth seeking, and, We
fear, was not unfrequently bought with gold
from the real consuls commissioned by this
Government, whose legitimate emoluments
from their several officers were, in most cases,
very beggarly. Mr. Marcy early saw the pro-
pristy Of putting stop to this state Of things,
md went 70 work energetically to correct 1t.
Congress, at its last session, it will DO Icnem-
bsred, emphatically endorsed the pfcprie.y Of
his action in this matter by incorporating in
the diplomatic and consular bill all the new
features in our system which he had so siren.
uously insisted on, without being aided with
the force of law to sustain him in bis purpose
and measures. We look on his reforms in this
connection as among the most important
changes which have taken place in the con-
dnot nf A-~.-:--- r-vrso Affairs for quarter
of a century, though it may be sometime yet
ere our fellow citiz,ns can appreciate Thorn.
An Excitement among the Eavy Cflcsrs.-
For some days past nearly all the Navy officers
in Washington have been ,nervously anxious
about the probable complexion of the Board
of Examiners to form the retired list In the
Navy under the law Of the last session to that
end. This board is soon to be named by the
Executive, and will exercise functions in the
proper management Of which the whole ser
vice, as well as the public (ntercst) have
much, indeed, at stake. This an xiety on their
part ia therefore quite natural. Some wag
played eff a j1ke upon them, yesterday, which
created hearty laugh over the Department
There were quite number Of these gentle.
men there, ell eager to ascertain who are to
be these executioIoTs Of the inefficient and
promoters Of the so1viceable, when come one
wrote out quite fancy list and left it, during
the momentary absence Of Mr.. L. B. Hardin,
upsn that gentleman's desk, where it would
have been appropriately, had it boon official.
The FL st who discovered it soon promulgated
the news, and in five minutes it was all over
the building, carrying CONSERVATION to scme
and joy to others When it IVES discovered
that the list was hoax, those who had been
most essentially sold By it wsro eEite indig.
nant until laughed Cut of the se;:ous temper
in which they took The bogus aeso. They will
wait more patiently next tine.
The Mexican Boundary sszsss.-The fol-
lowing letter giving an account ef the progress
of one of the American parties engaged in
surveying the Mexican boundary will be read
with great interest:
CAMP On THE COLORADO, J
Opposite Fort Yuma, California,
February IL, 1855.
Com. U. 5. and NJ. boundary Survey:
Str: have the honor to report the proyres.
OF the work under my charge up to the present
timo.
An accurate survey of the meanderings of a
portion Of the Colorado river, and of the CHA
for few miles above its mouth, has been
made by party under charge Of Mr. Schott,
and the maps thereof are already completed
lhe continuance Of the survey IF the former
I,yer is new progressing under charge of Mr..
Z. Phillips.
The triangulatiOn fo- determining the initial
point on the Colorado, twenty miles below its
junction with the ella, mas been carried on
under M own immediate direction. A rem
eral typographical sketch OF the couriry in
his reishboraood is in process Of completion.
Inc necessary astronomical observations for
time and azimuth have been made, and bar
cmeiTio and meteorological observations con.
uDued daily.
The survey of the Colorado progresses slow.
ly In confeqUence of the thick growth of under-
brush upon its banks
L have JUS received a Contamination f,om
tho Hon Secretary Of tie Interior enclosing a
copy OF letter to you, dated D.cembsr 20
1854, ard will forward copy of this to in.
FORM MN CT the progress Of the work on this
side Of the boundary line.
move my camp from this place 70 morrow
to be moro Immediately i n the vicinity of the
poiat 10 which the work has progressed. The
escort will then be in readiness 10 accom.
pany ne.
From the experience have thus far b al of
tho country already triangulated. [ am Of
opinion that the measurement Of the ljre from
The Color ado eastward will be a work of much
lime and labor. My own obse1v alton, ard slJ
the information l can procure, tend to SHOW
that it is a sandy desert, destitute of water for
a great distance, and any work upon it will
insolve considers bic difficulty in the transpor.
tation Ct water and supplies for those en-
gagged
regret exceedingly that have not been
authorized to employ a physician A recent
application from me to General Wool, Dom
handing department Of Pacific. for an army
surgeon to accompany the escort has been I'M
successful
The following are the checks drawn By me
upon the Assistant Treasurer Of the United
States, New York, sirce my last advice:
No. A-Jan. 9th, Maj n. W. Browne, $3.50 90
No. 25-Jan. 24,h, George L. Hooper, 26I 81
S51l 80