Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-12-30

mer by the crevasss OF the west bank CT tho
river, is the destruction of the oyster-beds in
the bay and bayou of BarratTia, which have
long been the chief resource and dependence
OF our oyster dealers. Every day since tho
oyster season has opened, the extent OF this
damage becomes more manifest. The enor'
nous body of Mississippi water which has
been forced through these outlets 10 the Gul!
| has left q thick and heavy deposit OF scdl-
ment, th4t has proved like the water Tor poor
OPhelia, ''too much Of mud Tor the ror
crustacea.
\ considerable fire occurred at the Aims
house 10 Philadelphia on Wednesl lay night
last. 1t appears tia! 40 area widow OF tic
basement was blown Cpet by t5c high wIad
some time in the night, nd the fire IN the
! oveh of the bakc-hJusc vas famed M, and be-
coming very hot the 1T above having be
come much cbagredr lighted, and the fire
burned through the floor Of the stcre-rot IN
above in which was packed about seventeen
hundred suits OF raupers' clothing which were
all destroyed The fire was discovered by
one Of the watchmen, about half past = O'Clock
and soon subdued by the apparatus OF the In
sti,ution.
Chill has been for many years, except &C.
c,sionally when there has been deficient
harvest, the great granary of the Pacific, but
recently California has shipped more or less
grain there. The last intelligence announced
the arrival at Valparaiso Of fall cargos CT bar
! lev which paid freight and nearly fifty cents
! "a n, Er \ cav
beans from California also sold al fair pro-
fit A letter say: Next year California
wines will be introduced, and her sparkling
California Angelica aod champagne will be
all the rage"
A large failure has just occurred in the
leather trade in London. Tue firm is that
of Jas. Davis & Son, exporters Of boots and
shoes to Australia and the other colonies
Their liabilities are equal to $1,000 OOO, OF
which $3.50 900 are unsecured. Tue sus pen
sion of Hicks & Gadsdcn, an American house
in London, for alb u. $3.50 900, is said to have
been caused by large purchases CT cotton at
very high figures, which is now coming Tor
ward.
Roger A. Pryor, esq is to be the recipient
of service of plate, during the first week Of
the coming year. The Petersburg Express
contradicts q report that it was o testimonial
to Mr.. Pryor for bis efforts in the Virginia
State Convention, and says that the project
was originated prior to tho convention, ''by
a party of personal friends, GU. Of regard for
the genius and character Of the recipient
and il view of his removal from the State. ]"
Deputy Sheriff Irish, of Boston, visited
on Monday the brig William Pairingiop,
which arrived below from Wilmington,
| North Carolina, with a fugitive slave, who
vas discovered secrcted on board, but whom
the captain was unable to return co account
of head winds. The fugitive, however, was
not found, the captain alleging that he bad
escaped, and that he had probably swan
ashore!
Colonel Smith, the Superintendent Of the
Virginia Military Institute, has returned
from Europe where he has visited the pFin.
cipal military academies and schools. The
| Colonel, Oh his return, presented the Adju-
tant General Of the State (RichardsOn) with
handsome sword, purchased in Europe, as
a mark oil bis affection and esteem.
While We arc so slow to secure for this
country the advantages to be gained by
railroad communication with the Pacific, the
British government aud British capitalists
have determined to push forward at ooce the
great enterprise Of a railway connecting the
Atlantic and Pacific through her North Ame-
can colonies.
The most delicate white cambria handker-
chief, or tleecy gauza, or the finest lace, may,
by simple soaking in weak solution OF
chloride Of zinc, be so protected from blaze
that if held in the flame Of q candle 1t
may be reduced to tipder without tlazng.
Dresses go prepared might be burnt by acc!
dent without the other garments worn by
a lady Icing injured.
The price demanded at the Florence foun-
dry for putting in;o bronze the colossal statue
Of Clay, by the sculptor Hart, was abou.
| Sc 900 "A tho work could be done at Mu-
nch for $1,000, or one-balf, including the
| transportation OF the model to the foundry,
and of the statue to Amsterdam for ship
mont when finished, the artist has made an
arrangement to have it done in that city.
Mickey Free, the famous pedestrian has
just performed at Allentown, Pa, two aston
ishing feats of pedestrianism which was &C.
complishcd last Saturday. Oae was to walk
one hundred and fourteen consecutive hours;
the other which was accomplished Mon.
day, was to walk SO last out Of town, that his
creditors could not Overtake him.
The Masonic board Of San Francisco has
established an employment cgice 10 that city,
to aid strangers and others to tiud employ
ment. Such we'll directed charity is most
coumendablc. The bay city is filed with
strangers, lrcm the Atlantic and from Fra
ger river, ard large number Of them are in
destitute condition.
The agitation in England, relative TO the
alleged dec!iae Of tie British shipping inter
ests, and the ascendancy Of foreign ehipOTn-
ers in British waters, seems to he ca the in
crease. A great meeting was about to be
held in London when the last mail lett
Edward o. Baker, The New York policeman
who permitted the French DR.. GAi.lardet to
escape, has been held to bail in the sum Cf
81 900 to answer the charge Of wil!ul nesl ect
If duty.
The Laurel Beacon says that Alexander
Keech, esq. Of Prince Georges county, will
D.,fassor of I in