The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-03-16


venth of November last the city of Jeddo, on
the southeast coast Of the island Of Ni1hon,
and the 'second capitsw of the Japanese en-
pire. was partially destroyed by an earth
quake. One hundred thousand houses were des-
troyed. and thirty thousand persons killed. II
any reliance can be placed ON the reports Of
the few travellers who have seen ything OF
Jeddo, the city contained nearly twice as many
houses as the number mentioned as having
been destroyed. One half the city, according
to this account, would be left standing Seven
minutes after the great earthquake at Lisnoa
in November, 1855, there was hardly house
lett standing; and the destruction OF life vas
far greater in actual numbers and infinitely
greater in proportion than at Jeddo The old
story was that the population of Jedio vas
over eight millions probably one would ne
nearer the mark, especially as the houses ara
built low, like those of Central America aud
Chill, on purpose to withstand earthquakes.
The island of Niphon, contains two of tie
greatest active volcanoes of the present day,
Fusi and Siro Yama is quite comm only visit
ed by earthquakes. The old records meatiou
several which have been severe; and they ace
matters Of such common oc ,urrence that the
| Japanese at Simoda-who had themselves sut-
| tered go much BY the earthquake OF September,
| lS54-were not at all shocsed at the news Of
the late convulsion at the capital.
| The simultaneous news of earthquakes 10
| California and in Japan suggests the prosecu-
ton of the old inquiry as to the extent of sur
face affected by earthquakes. The eartol1ake
which overthrow the city OF Sinoda, AMI
wrecked the Russian ship Diana, fifteea months
ago, crossed the Pacific Ocean in five hours ana
few minutes the sea wave struck the wharves
at San Francisco heavily and drove one o.
two vessels aground. The earthquake of No
vember II, 1855, was not 50 distinctly fell;
but it was felt on many parts of the COAT
Other older commissions Of the same natare
have in like manner extended across tue
ocean.
Should the rule be universal we shall short
| " learn that on the night OF the l4-l5sh Feo-
ruary last, about midnight, the mains of tn
| city Of Jeddo, and the rest Of the shore of the
island Of Nippon were visited by an earth
| quake unparalleled in violence. The shock
| will in all probability have levelled cities.
| damned up rivers, overthrown mountains aud
laid the whole country desolate. 1t will be Ia
| fact the usual eliminating convulsion OF
| which the earthquakes Of December, 1854, and
| November, 1855, were the precursors.
| THE New YORK AND NEWFOUNDLAND TELE-
GRAPH COMPANY VERSUS LLoYD's INSURANCE
| COMPANY Our readers have already beea
made acquainted, through the columns Of the
| HERALD, with the unjustifable reputation by
the Lloyds' Insurance Company, of London, Of
| the claims Of the New York, Newfoundland
and London Telegraph Company, whose SUD
marine cable was lost during severe gale IN
| the Gulf Of st. Lawrence. The cable was ir.
sured at four per cent against call risks
incurred by the laying down Of the same"
and from the moment it was placed on board
ship till its safe landing at its place of desti-
nation. Nothing could be clearer or more def
mite than the terms of insurance, and yet the
company, without even pretence of justifca-
ton, refuse to acknowledge claim based
| upon their own solemn and legalized agree
! ment, and bearing the signatures of forty
three Of it's members. But this is not all, for
while they have repudiated the claim they
have acknowledged its justice and their own
liability, by offering as compromise
to pay ten shillings sterling on the
pound, and to allow the telegraph COM
pany to keep the old cable. This proposition,
| it is true, was only made after they were sued.
and has not been accepted by the claimants,
! who will be satisfied with nothing less than the
| whole amount claimed, which is fifteen thou
sand pounds sterling, or about seventy five
| thousand dollars. The conduct of the Lloyds
! Insurance Company in this affair has receiv-
ed that unqualified condemnation on this
| side the Atlantic which it deserved, and we
| feel certain has met with equal reprobatiol
| in England. 1t cannot be sustained in any
court Of law. and must react greatly to the
prejudice Of the character and interests Of the
company. Mr.. Field, acting for the Telegraph
Company, would have accepted the compro-
mise had he been satisfied Of their inability to
pay the whole amount Of insurance; but know
ing the justice Of the claim, and having re-
ceived advice from some of the best counsel in
| England of Its legality, he would not consent
to take less than what he considered justly dus.
| He was willing, however, as he Informed the
| attorney Of the company, to leave the matter
to the decision Of any one Of the firm of Messrs
George Peabody Co., or any two honorable
| gentlemen in London, with the privilege Of
adding third to their number, if they should
disagree What could be faircr than this pro-
| position?
THE RHODE ISLAND Know NoTHINGs BLACK
AS THE ACE OF SPADEs--See the resolutions of
| the Rhode Island American State Convention,
in another column. They are ahead Of The
Pittsburg Niger WoRsHIrrERs-they arc al
most shoulder to shoulder with the intense
abolition niggerism of Lloyd Garrison and