The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-12-22
LOCAL MATTH1a

! LOCAL MATTHRa,
TAs Lecture Of Mr. o p. BaEdsfs. on Fr;a.
evening. the 6rss Of the courss hzfore tbe ycnr
Mens Cnrstian Association, was heard BY larg
At the request Of DR.. Gwathmsy. Rev. N,
Hoge. before the lecture. offered prayer.
Mr. b gave An amusing account of the histar,
OF Spirit Rappings. history marked throuehon
oy fanatcism, absurdity, and inconsistency-o
eoa.tseney only IN this, that the chief actors eve
| Kept steadfast eye to ga dollar ahead
Among several weghty arguments against IN,
participation of Satan In those childish snort,
With which the rappers entertain their pssrons
| Mr. D. brought prominently forward the chsrac
Ter OF tnat great though fallen being Is portrayed
in Scripture and described by Milfsn, Sbsks-
peare and others, showing that his majestic mind
was intent upon enterprise far too vast ard mis-
chevous, to admit Of these triiing occupations -
| Mr described In eloquent terms, those scenes
| where the malignant spirit of the evil one is de
| veoped the bower where unsuspecting innocence
Is ensuared, the council chambers where wars are
| conceived, and. other fields where the ruin OF
mankind is successfully desis I'D and executed by
the arch tiend. This serious line of argument
was interrupted with variety of numerous con.
sideratiors. adduced by the Lecturer, against
spirit rappings Among these was the fact that
me spirits never ask any questions fact which.
| found in Yankee land. was prima facie evidence
mat the spirits were not what they professed to
never propounding interrogatories. la this con
nection he entertained his audience with several
highly amusing illustrations of Yankee curiosity
DE could not imagine the spirits of those he de
scrioed revisiting the world in any other form
than that Of . note Of interrogation
Mr. B. closed his lecture with 4 fine nas.s o..
upon the existence and off :es of ministerins
spirits
The millions of spiritual beings that walk the earth
Unseen both when we sleep and when we wake
which produced that profound impression. that
true eloquence and elevated sentiment never fail
to inspire.
At the close of Mr.. BIS lecture, Mr. Daniel An
nouuced that the next lecture would be deliver
ed in the first Friday in January, by Professor
Schele De We're.
The Nc York and Richmond Coal Company. a.
We have before stated, have purchaeed q large
body of lard In Henrico county including the old
cosl pits, aud are now at work, getting ready To
to commence the raising of coal In q short time
Some few days since we stated on the AUTHORITY
of gentleman living in Henrico that this com
pany intended to employ one thousand white men
laborers in various vocations, and that they de-
sign pushing their enterprise with all possible dis
patch. Since then we have been informed by s.:
H De Bow, Esq, the General Superintendent.
that the policy of the company Is to have all, or
most of its work done by sp cial contract and as
matter of economy. those who do it cheapest and
best, will have the preference, whether the work
be done by black or achits The only requirements
the company oemano, are mdnstry honesty and
temperance, with as much practical experience as
may be expected under the circumstances
Mr. DeBow, in his note to us, says: I'VE hay Q
set no definite limits to the present or future extent
of operations in helping to develop the miner al
or agricultural wealth of the old Dominion
productive beyond the general expectation, or ap.
parently So, and only require enterprise and skill
+, make them the sources of immense wealth 10
th State and the Union
Ua han dnuk AhaS "a.
will find an abundance of good coal ON their lands
aud that they will realize handsome profits on
their capital and enterprise If they succeed, no;
only this city, but the good old county OF Henrico
will be greatly benefited by their operations for
it will require vast amount of agricultural pro
ducts to supply their laborers with the ecesssres
of life, and will therefore enhance the value Of all
the land in the neighborhood of their works
Rarboring a Sidce.-An ancient African dame
bearing the verdant name of Susan Green has
been committed to the shades of private life until
to-day, when she will be required to answer the
serious charge of enticng Charlotte, crow-black
rose, to abscond frsm her hirer, and afterwards
employing and harboring her. Susan ia piously
inclined when At large, and pledges her salvation
on her innocence, but the proof against her is Al
strong as rancid butter, and cause her no little
trouble unless she can establish an alibi.
4 Count that's no count Antonio G. Sonsonon
| . representative of Denmark, was arrested for
begging in the market last Saturday morning and
taken before the Mayor as q vsgrant Antonio
stated to the officers that he was some Count in
the old country; but having run down at the hee
in this land of liberty be was compelled to ask a
"itle aid" to induce bis soul and body to hang to-
ge.her His whole statement seemed to be com
posed of such himsy material that the Mayor
thought it best to lock him up till this morning.
What taN-A middls.aged man called John G
Webber, haling from Buckeye State, and profess
ing to be q Lutheran Minister and teacher of Ian
WIS fOr hpnO n
and disorderly in the second market. When
brought before the Mayor last Saturday, this teach
er of pety and languages, laid his situation to
lager beer" and loneliness, and promised to seek
quarters elsewhere If allowed to do so, but as be
had no one to become his bail, he was turned over
to deputy Sergeant to be feasted and fattened
until this morning.
Saou About five o'clock last Saturday morning.
ths clouds presented . lowering appearance, and
soon thereafter few fakes of snow descended
but the wind changed slightly and the snow ceased
falling At IL O'Clock, however, q rain set In. and
the day wound up as gloomy and dismal as heaii
could wish.
An Ezcitemsat Last Saturday night the resi-
dents of Main street, near 19.h, were alarmed ny
the cry of murder, and on enquiring the cause
learned that q negro fellow had stolen an overcoat
but was pursued by party OF men, one Of whom
knocked him over with a stone whilst he was run
ming, and then beat him severely for the thief
afterwards He should have been handed over u
the police for trial.
Ctrl Warrants.-The Mayor requests as to stats
that no civil docket will be called by him ex
Thursday, that being Christmas day, or the follow
ing Thursday, which will be New Year Such
cases, however may be ready for trial. will be
taken up At IL O'Clock next Wednesday, the "a ID
instant, and disposed Of We have given this Ia
formation for the benefit of such of our readers .
may be in the unfortunate position Of plaintiff Of
defendant a: this par ticular time.
The Csaia Gang is employed in digging ditche
about the city. aud is saw ing the treasury heavy
tax. Officer Perrin has managed the convicts ir
this gang with such skill that each member earn
one dollar per day for the city, and those Gf then
that are disposed be submissive aud industriou
are not required to wear the ball and chain, whei
is invariably appended to refractory subjects
To.Nisat is to bs q grea. time with the Democ
racy of the city, and if the weather is favorable
we have very little doubt that the pageant vii
prove an imposing one, though we can't say tina
we have any particular fancy for torch light pro
cessons and the firing Of cannon The fire work
to be set off In the Capitol square have been Or
dered from Philadelphia for the occasion, and ar
| no doubt Of the very best One of the most inter
estipg features II generally observed, will be th,
illumination. The Marshals are to be mounted OF
horse back, and If the line of march, laid dow
Ia carried out not few of the privates and subsl
terms will be glad to get "buss," before the hou
| of dismissal arrives. We trust that no accideu
may occur, and that every thing win pass of plea