The Placer herald., 1856-04-12
From Our New York Correspondent.
New YORK, March 4th. 1856.

III these you will find something else.
| There actually seems to be some founda-
ton for the theory Of the German Astrono-
mers, thai the earth IS continually recedinq
from, tile sun; the force that keeps it in its
orbit is growing weaker and weaker, and
that some dav or other before it flies off in
a tangent, we are all to be frozen to DEATH
Judging from the last three months in this
portion Of the world, there are strong proofs
in the affirmative. Such a winter, it is said.
has not been known for more than twenty
years. 1t began pleasantly enough about
the time of the holidays, with good sleghing
and weather moderately " cold. Sleigh riding
and red cheeks were all the 90; the jingling
of bells never ceased, and every body was
happy. But from the manner in which it
has held on, those who sought pleasure in
the way of sleigh riding, have had a surfeit;
no one steps into a sleigh now except those
who are obliged to, and sleigh bells have be-
come dissonant and harsh to the ear Rail
roads have been showed in for weeks in sue
cesson; ships carrying lee, from Boston to
the South, have been frozen in just as they
arrived at their destination, and vessels pass
ING to and from Europe have never encoun-
teTPu SO llucu ice SO ltlT SOuJn. Inc Ice
King from the North has come down and
probably thrown his cold fetters around the
illfated Pacific, and taken it and its untortu-
nate passengers as its prey. The inconven-
ience of the present winter, has, perhaps,
been felt most severely farther south where
they do not expect and are not prepared for
it. However, it has been enough, even here
at the north, and there was never ANYTHING
so welcome as will Ire the coming spring
Gotham never was SO peculiarly Gotham
as it has been during the past two months.
But very little of the snow which has fallen
has melted. That from the tops Of houses,
and the yards and sidewalks was shoveled
into the middle of the streets, making them
two or three feet higher than the walks and
in some cases almost impossible. In Broad
way the snow in few days became ground
up like coarse sand, and looked something
like ashes-more like pepper and salt when
mixed for oysters. This pepper and salt was
about knee deep. The first warm day made
it slush Of about the same depth, and a cold
night following turned the whole to ice,
breaking up into bumps and making it worse
than ever. The Street Commissioners then
had it picked up and shoveled into the mid
die of the street where it remains now
great bank of snow and dirt, from two to
five feet high, occupying about one-third Of
the width OF the street and running up town
don't know how far. They call it the Lit
tie Andes and as Broadway is very much
crowded, they talk of starting mule train
to run over them. l will not attempt to tell
how that, owing to this bad state Of the
streets, there is frequently jam among the
carts and omnibusses which lasts for hours,
nor of the vast amount of profane language
which this snow seems to give rise to. But
the sun of June, presume will clear Broad
way and places further North, Of SNOW; and
as for the theory of the German astrono-
mers, it need not trouble Caitornians as yet,
for they can live when Canadians and New
Workers are all frozen to death,
There is now exhibiting in this city Smiths
Panorama Of California, The painting is
well enough in its way, although some Of it
in a very poor way; but for the person who
explained or exhibited it, permit me to say,
that after looking in one day at the perform
ance, came away very reluctantly because
could not boot the gentleman. He had,
probably, never been to California, or if he
had, he lied, and could readily understand
why some here have such erroneous impress
sions in regard to our State
Last evening in this city, at the Academy
of Music, Edward Everett delivered an ora
tion on the character of Washington. 1t
was noble tribute to the character of that
great and good man, and was listened to
with almost breatlless attention by an au-
dience numbering it is said, over five thou
sand persons. Nothing could more fully
evnce the sacred reverence in which that
name is held than the perfect stiffness with
which some of the most eloquent passages Of
the Grafton were received. Not that there
was no applause, for there was, and might
have been more but it seemed as if the spirit
of the dead were present-there was that ST.
lent applause which is too deep in the heart
to be expressed.
The Horse Opera is having run at pres
ent at the Broadway, in the shape of "Herne
the Hunter" dramatzed from Windsor Cas-
tie" | forget how many dozen horses they
get upon the stage at once.
They say there are always too sides to a
question: and so there are to the one now in
controversy between this country and Eng
| land-but one side is this side of the Allan
tic, and the other upon the other side of the
water. | have not seen, neither have heard
of, sing lie paper or individual which does
not sustain the administration; and while no
one wants war, all are ready to make Johnny
Bull take water if necessary.
Although New York occupies very prom
inent position in the political world, yet when
one wanders along her crowded wharfs and
looks up the East and North rivers, through
forests of masts, and sees line after line Of
rugged sailors going and coming, it is easily
seen that the great interest is commercial
Commerce is pouring into her lap millions
yearly, but they have the candor to own that
-, Al.