The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-01-04
LOCAL MATTERS.

Negroes on Hre-If owners of slaves were 10 |
adopt the practice of hiring their servants by auc
ton on the lst of January instead of permitting
them to bargain for themselves, many evils which |
the entire public now suffer- would be cured and |
the slaves themselves be greatly benefited By
the change, the present abominable system of
giving board money could be obviated, over work
might be done away with by tobacconists and
others, and good hands would bring the highest
prices at all times. Another advantage would be-
that housekeepers csuld arrange to give their SER
wants holidays at the most convenient season of
the year, instead of in the dead of winter as at
present. and then have their services in the Christ
mas week. And another and most important ar
gument in favor of the change is, that by doing
away with board money and over work, the slaves
would be prevented from Incorporate indugences
which now corrupt their morals, destroy their con
stitutions, and eventually make them worthless
Self interest would be a sufficient inducement to
maFe h;rers both kind and humane to their SER
wants, while the laws of the country are abundant
ly powerful to punish all who, from improper mo-
tYes might attempt to treat them otherwise.
4 ramor has been in circulation for a dav ortxvo
that on effort was made last Monday night to get
into the desk Of the City Collector 10 relieve il of
S:97,O0O then and there deposited; but we put no
confidence In it, from the fact that if rogue had
gotten to the desk. unobserved he would have
forced it open at all hazards The rumor origina-
ted from the discovery of a charred place at the
bottom oil the drawer, which some supposed had
been done by robber who had attempted 10 burn
through IL 10 inc money, Dut Dad been frightened
OFT before he had an opportunity of completing his
design. We think it much more likely that the
charred spot was caused by the careless handling
OF candle by some one employed in the office
The last place rogue would now think of attempt
ing to make raise, would be out of the city trea
sury, which is regularly drained by creditors whose
constant cry is more gold"
Molly Done-On Wednesday morning last. when
Mrs John A. Hutchinson discovered that her
house was on fire, and that there was great dan
ger of every thing being destroyed instead of be-
coming alarmed at the critical condition of affairs
and losing all presence of mind, took command of
the servants i'll the absence Of her husband and by
unring efforts and the well directed application of
water succeeded in keeping down the flames un-
til assistante arrived from the neigh5orhood, and
saved the building and its contents from destruc
ton. The fire accidentally caught in the cellar
and had gotten well under way when discovered -
Had an effort been made to remove the furniture
instead OF extinguishng the fire, the building
would doubtless have been laid in asnes We
commend the coolness and courage of Mrs II to
our lady readers in time of danger, and trust that
should an occasion ever require it, they may prove
equally as vaiarouS and successful Il
Conqaered.-Y esterday morning, free fellow
called John CLARK. was brought before the Mayor
at his sunrise court the charge of aszaultng and
beating Ann Eliza Clark, and as the evidence of
his guilt was most conclusive, he was ordered to
be taken TO the valley, and given twenty stripes
Such tickling before breakfast instead of cooling
Johns courage, had the effect of stirring I'D his
wrath and making him more vicious than ever
As soon, therefore, rs he was released from custo
dy he "bolted Off i'll search of Ann land finding
her attempted to get even by giving her taste Of
the dose he had taken. In this, however, he was
foiled, and on being again brought before the
Mayor, was ordered to receive thirty additional
stripes-making fifty in one r3orning-and then
committed to Jail in default of bail for his future
good conduct.
Holiday Spree.-Patrick Larkin, Mary his wife,
and Richard Traley, were arraigned before the
Mayor yesterday and held to bail to keep the
peace in the sum of 500 each, the charge of as
saulting Margaret folrie, ON the I'd inst. Some
six or seven witnesses were examined, and by
their evidence showed that general row had ia
ken place. in which all hands and the cook had re-
ceived black eyes, fattened noses, mashed mouths
or blue checks.
Trades and Protessions-During the year 1885,
there were in this city SO tobacco merchants, 43
commission merchants, los dry goods merchants,
10 merchant tailors 3S grocers 80 clothing stores
81 coDfectioners % bakers II shoe stores Il drug
giss, 10 dentists, 6S doctors and SO lawyers. and
all, apparently, doing thriving business. How it
is possible for 6S doctors live by their profession
in city as healthy as Richmond, is more than we
can divine, but surprising as that may seem, it is
not half astonishing the fact that 80 lawyers
find enough to do in settling the disputes that
arise between quiet people, to pay them living.
Uater.-The residents of Shockoe Hill had their
supply OF water cut on for short time yesterday,
but Superintendent Davis had the stream
flowing as profuse usual. The stoppage was
caused by the breaking of one Of the large pipes
in the lower part Of the city
Vessels-Durng the year 1855, there arrived in
the Richmond dock 134I vessels of all sorts, and
cleared l44s The cause of the difference between
the arrivals and clearance is owing to the fact that
canal boats are noted when they leave, but not
when they return to the dock
Dr I-aIepfjss will hold lavaa AZ Odd TsIloyxs
Hall this evening" for the benft of the serious aud
downcast and invites them all to visit him, that he
may expel dull care from their minds, and make
them laugh and grow fat.
The Heather continues exceedingly disagreeable,
and the streets are almost lob-lelly.
Taeaare-See the programme for this evening,
and secure your tickets.