Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-05-08

mentary testimony was read on the behalf of |
the Government, and put in ere we went to |
Before Court No. 8, 1t D. D. Porter, (called |
by the Goyernment,) has been the only witnsss \
examined in thepending case of Captain voor- |
hess since the Star was published yesterday |
He ID SIN under examination. 81
TEE WArx1 Works LErrINGs.-Last even
ing, at a late hour, Capt. Meigs got through |
reading off the bids for this work in the pres
ence of the large concourse of bidders who at
tended
1t will require week, perhaps, ere the cal
culations can be finished on which the contracts
will be awarded These calculations must, of
necessity, be referred to the Secretary Of War,
who is charged with the duty Of approving the
awards of the Engineer in charge.
Shortly after the opening Of the bids was
commenced yesterday, letter was received
from the Secretary of War; transmitting the fol.
lowing note from the President, the directions
embraced in which, we are sure, must com.
mend themselves to all. 1t is, indeed, model
letter Of its kind: DIE arE
-..-- .-. ..,-' WASHINGTON, May Z, 1857
- SIR: In answering Your inquiries in relation to
the biddings for the Washington Aqueduct 1
have only to say there ought to be but one rule,
and that is, to assign the work to the lowest bid
der, provided he be responsible and able to give
the necessary security. This is in accordance with
the practice Of the Government-will secure the
greatest economy in the public expenditure-and
themselves. Any other rule would produce much
dissatisfaction with the conduct Of the Depart
ment. Yours, very respectfully,
Hon. JOHN B. FLOYD, Secretary of War
GA SLIP 'rw1xr Cur AND Last week
distant newspapers announced the appointment
of Mr.. j. A. Gibson to be the U. S. Marshal for
the western district of Pennsylvania. The Star
took occasion to say, with reference to that ap-
pointment, that. whatever might happen in
time, it was very certain that Mr.. Gibson had
not been so appointed As late as the day be-
fore yesterday the same mistake was repeated
| in other papers. Yesterday, Mr.. JOS. g. Camp
bell was appointed to the post.
DECLINED.-Ex (U. 81 Senator John Petit,
of Indiana, who was rendered by President
Buchanan, one of the United States Judgeships
in Minnesota Territory, has declined that posi-
ton, we hear. He is gentleman of great legal
learning and independence and energy of char
he accepted he would have greatly strengthened
the Minnesota bench.
RENovED.-We hear that the Civil Engineer
at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, John Mcleod
Murphy, ESQ, was removed this morning
LIST OF PArEsrs-The following is the list
Of patents issued from the United States Patent
Office, for the week ending March 5, 1s57-each
bearing that date:
Bryan Atwater. of Berlin, Conn-For improve
ment in sewing machines. ........
VIM. N. Adams, of Olmsted, Ohio.-For i'm
provenent in screw cutting machines.
N. r. Bates, Of New York, N Y-For i'm
! provement in stunning boxes.
Erastus B. Bigelow, Of Boston, Mass.-For
Gilbert Bishop, of New York, N f,-For i'm
sherlock II. Bishop, Of Orange, conn.-For
improved adjustable pole for carriages.
Robt Boyle, Of Rock Hall, Md or improve
| ment in boats for duck shooting.
Samuel Bowen, Of Lowell Mass.-Fo or improve
! ment in picker motion for looms.
Stephen d. Carpenter, Of Madison wis-For
| Improvement in machines for printing subscri-
| bers' names on newspapers.
1 Brooklyn, N. Y.-For improvement in surgical
splint apparatus.
| jeremiah Carhart, of New York, N. Y.-For
4 improvement in swells for melodeons, &c.
Richard II Cole, Of st. Louis. Mo.NFor i'm.
provement in nut machines. -.
John b Cornell, of New York, N. Y.-For i'm
| proved vault cover.
| John b. Cornell, of New York N Y-For i'm
provement in vault covers.
George w. Cotton, Of st. Louis, Ms.-For i'm
provement in metal packed pistons for steam en-
Ezra Cole, Of Fairfield, Mich.-For improved
portable field fence. -
solomon Cole, of Rochester, NJ Y-For i'm
proved method Of opening and closing gates, by
| approaching vehicles
George Cfangle, of Philadelphia, Pa-For i'm
Provement In rotary brick machines.
jeremiah NJ Crosby, Of Norwalk, O.-For i'm
| proved door bolt. o.. ..
Charles Crock of New Hope, Penna.-For i'm
Pr3vement in reaping and moving machines .
| nibuS Golfer. - -. P.
&c Gushing, of Dryden, N Y.-For improve
| Peter ;. Ebert of Chicago, Iu-For improve
tives.
Thos Esllack, of Philadelphia, Pa-For i'm
| sells.
Isaac d. Garlick, Of Lyons, NY-For i'm
proved method of uniting and sustaining the pan
els or portable field fences
Thos. c. Darlington, of Lafayette, Ala-For
| improvement in plows. .....
Jackson Gorham, of Bairdstown, Ga.-For i'm.
| PTovement in the construction Of plows
Horace Gray, of Boston. Mass.-For improve
| ment in locomotive engines
| Robt. Haering, of New York, NJ Y-For i'm
| ioi purifying guttd percha.
RObt. Hale, of Roxbufy, Mass IF or improve
ment in means for directing the exhaust Of loco
Robt. Hale, of oxbury, Mass.-For improve.
ment in machines for making India rubber belt
| ing.
Jas Harrison, Jr., of New York, Y-For
| Improvement i'm chain pumps
Andrew Hett, of Augusta, Ga-For violin at
| tachment =
David Hodges, of Suffolk, Va.-For improved
adjustable bed guage to regulate tenoning.
Jos. w. Jayne, of Sandusky, Ohio-For i'm.
| prOvement in brick machines D..
Henry l.. Justice and John ii. Galbreath of
1oodlettsyiile, Tenn.-For improvement in cot
| ton seed planters. D.. '..
Matthaus Kaefer, of Alexandria, Pa.-For i'm.
| provement in transmitting motion : -
Hiram Kellogg, Of McHenry, ILL For i'm.
| grain. ..''0'-e -''--''.' ''s
John p Marston, Of Charlestown Mass.-For
| cloth. .- . -
Geo r. McIlroy, Of Covington, Ky.--For i'm