Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-08-24

improvement as was never before manifested
in that section of Virginia
The increase Of the number of acres sown
70 produce the crops of this season, in it, was
enormous; while it is already evident that
preparations are being made to put under Gull
tivation, for next years crop, a much greater
increase of land, that has literally been wasted
as imperfect pasturage and otherwise, and to
prepare it, too with all the aids to production
that science has of late years been gradually
placing within the reach of all American agri-
culturists. We are satisfied that, in proportion
to the number of hands engaged in agriculture
in the region of which we write, more guano,
and quite as much ground bones will be used
this fall and next spring, as anywhere else in
the United States. 1t is thriving country,
truly.
AN INTERESTING PATENT DEcIsIoN.-In an
swering questions on certain law points referred
to that functionary by the Secretary of the In
terror, the Attorney General has rendered the
following as his opinion, viz:
1. The payment of duty upon a patent or
caveat to the credit of the Treasury is not
pledge or deposit of the money, but an abso-
lutte and unconditional payment.
2. If the patentee or caveator afterward de
mand the money to be repaid to him he must
show that his demand for it is founded in some
law, within whose terms he can bring his cas-
distinctly and clearly.
3. There is but one provision in the act Of
July, 1896, authorizing duty once paid to be
| refunded, and that provision is found in the
| third section Of the seventh section. f'..7
4. That sentence authorizes twenty dollars to
be returned, not to the caveator nor to one who
has made an incomplete application which is
perfect enough to be examined, and which, in
| point of fact, has been examined and rejected.
5. 1t follows that party who merely files a
caveat, paying the legal duty of twenty dollars,
cannot withdraw the caveat and demand re.
| turn of ten dollars.
WHAT THEY CURSE THE POsT OFFICE DE-
| PARrMENT FORA gentleman connected with
the Post Office Department, just from consid-
| cradle tour in connection with his business il.
| forms US that, through carelessness in direct
| ing, large quantities of mail matter-newspa-
| pers especially-intended for Minnesota, 60 to
Maine, it being quite fashionable to abbreviate
the word Minnesota "Minne;" very easily mis-
Offices in which State are often plagued with
extra work occasioned by the receipt of such
laundering favors. Of course, those in Mime
sofa who fail to receive their newspapers, thus
misdirccted, abuse the post and the publishers
roundly for their disappointment, while the
| publishers content themselves with growing at
| the post.
| The RESULT IN ALABAMA.-The recent cleo
ton in Alabama has certainly made an entire
| finish of opposition to the Democracy in that
| State. Every member of Congress chosen, it
will be remembered, is a staunch Democrat,
and in the Legislature the Democrats have &C
tually 1872 majority on joint ballot Such VIC
tory is unprecedented in the history of Ameri-
can politics, unless it may have been equalled
by that of the same party in Texas, at the cleo
ton that has go recently transpired in that
| State.
A NoLLE PRosEQUI ENrERED.-It will be
recollected that some time ago, in the execution
of necessary orders for the removal of trespas-
| sers from tho lands of the Kansas lKaw) half
breed Indians, Agent John Montgomery caused
some cabins occupied by trespassing whites to
be burned, and that for that act he was indicted
for arson, and had a difficulty with Governor
Reeder Recently, the Attorney General, on
reviewing the case, has, very properly, directed
a noUe proseqni to be entered to the indictment
in question. -
To BE SoLD.-The Secretary of the Interior
owing to many applications Of late made for
portions of what arc known Us the Choctaw
orphan lands in Mississippi, now held in trust
by the Government, has directed that proposals
L. ,,o1 e. Al
they are to be sold to those bidding highest
That is to say, such of them as bring more than
the appraisement made j n 1855. The rest will,
then be held subject to sale at the appraised
value.
The SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, the Hon.
Jacob Thompson, is spending few days in New
York, and Moses Kelly, Esq, the Chief Clerk
of the Department, has been appointed Acting
| Secretary until his return.
| The POSTMASTER GENERAL, the Hon A. V
Brown, who was well enough to attend for some
hours on Saturday last at the Department, is,
we regret to say, not sufficiently we'll to be there
to-day. - ...
| APPoIsrED.-George w. L. Kidwell, of Vir-
ginia, has been appointed to a first class clerk
ship in the Office of the Secretary of the Treas
ury, vice Charles F. NJ Kidwell, deceased.
| The WEATHER.-The following report Of the
weather for this morning is made from the Morse
Telegraph line to the Smithsonian Institution
The time of observation is about 7 clock a. m. ::
AUGUST "a, 1857.
New York, N. ...clear, pleasant.
| Phrladelphia clear, cool.
| Baltimore, Md. clear, cool.
| Washington ID. & ........ pleasant
Richmond, Va............ cloudy, cool.
Petersburg, Va clear, very cold.
Wilmington, N Co.. .clea-, pleasant.
Columbia, 8. C.......... .clear, pleasant
Charleston. 3. C..........clear, warm
| Augusta, Ca. clear, pleasant.
| Savannah, Ga ............clear, COOL
| Macon, Gd... .cle1r, cool.
| COlumDuS, VA. Clear, cool
| Montgomery, Ala..... clear, warm.
| Lower Peach Tree, Ala. clear.
Mobile, Ala ..............clear, pleasant