Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-07
Department News.

Department News.
NAVY DEpARTMENT.--HealM ofthe Secretary
Secretary Dobbin is still at his residence in Fayette
vile, North Carolina, slowly but surely recovering
from his recent severe indisposition. He expects
to return to Washington towards the close Of this
month.
The Po.oer and Jrisdiction Of Courts Martial
It will be recolected that some time last fall several
seamen belonging to the United States ship Inde-
pendence was tried before court martial for mutt
ny and desertion. They were found guilty, and
sentenced to various terms Of imprisonment in the
penitentiary of this District, where they still
confined. On Friday last writ of ha6eds corpus
was sued out, and the men brought before Judge
Dunlap, their counsel contending for their dis
charge on the ground of a want Of power and ju-
risdiction on the part Of the tribunal before whom
they were tried, convicted and sentenced. Judge
Dunlap will make decision in the course Of a few
days.
INTERIOR DEPARrMEsT--Agricultura Division
ofthe Patent Offce-7he Cassa5ar Melon.-There
have been received at the Patent Office quantity
Of the Cassabar melon seed, seven years old, pro-
cured from Persia by the United States dragoman
at Constantinople. These melons, il viii be recol-
ected, are Of a very sweet and delicious flavor
very wholesome and nutritious, and are so simple
In their character that they may be eaten by in
for cultivation should bear In mind that II planted
in the vicinity Of any Of the melon, pumpkin, Gu
cumber, or any Of the gourd-beaiag plants, they
are liable to be hybridized or mixed, which viii
change the character of the seeds and destroy the
purity of the variety; consequently, they should
be planted in an isolated position when influenced
in the manner indicated above.
appointment in the Pension OEee.-Albert W.
Ely, Of Louisiana, 10 frst-class clerkship. Salary
$1,000.
Bounty Land Appiicationa-Business Of the
Pension Office under the act Of I'D March, 1855, for
the week ending 9Th instant
Applications for bounty land received $4,000
Do enveloped, briefed, and num-
Do acknowledged to claimants or
Do registered on two-letter index 1878
Total number Of applications received to
The above is in addition to the ordinary business
The TaI-Paycrs' Record.
Since january lst, there was lodged in the Beth
Iehem Northampton county, Pennsylvania station
house two hundred and ten paupers. Of this num-
Der, there we're
Americans .
Foreigners 208
PHILADELPHIA ALxsHousx- Census Of the aims
house for the month ending April 80, 1855:
White adults, American $50
{" foreign 1908
KMes County IN. " ALMsBoUsE.---w Whole
number In the alms-house 400
Americans IL
Foreigners 49, 45S
Whole number in the hospital AIS
Natives 1874
Foreigners 34li
lin nursery .3il
Natives
NATIVITY OF THE 0YucERs.-In almshouse, mn
tves all hospital, one native and three foreigners;
asylum, all natives nursery, two natives, and one
foreigner; employees, IL natives, 123 foreigners
| We are indebted TO the recent American victory
for change in the nativity Of the officers.
Arreas in Portland, Maine.-Total number Of
arrests for the year 80
Americans 234
Foreigners 64s
Lodgers at the Mem Jersey City lStation-house.--
| The Sentinel informs us that since January l. uT
to Saturday last, (nearly four months, there have
been S64 persons accommodated-442 OF whom
were natives Of ireland, l3l of Germany, 1877 call
! ing themselves natives of the United States, and
the balance divided between English, French
Scotch, &c. 666 admitted the fact Of being with
| out home.
| Americans l31
Foreigners 727
The Sentinel remarks further From the Isl
to the 2sth Of April there has been 200 applicants
2l0 Of whom were foreigners, and notwithstanding
unmistakable evidences Of foreign birth, the rcs
persisted in being natives of this country. About
one-seventh Of the number are females.
COMMITMENTS TO THE JERsEY CIrY Prison.
During the month Of April, there were 81 com
mtments to the Jersey City Prison of the follow
ing nstvites
Ireland, 60; Germany, q; United States 2
England, . Scotland, .; Canada, ] Colored, .
Americans