The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-04-14
City Politics.

City Politics.
THE wEsTCHEsTEB HOUSE CAUCUS.
caucus of the members of the Tanmany Society who
are in favor Of the "powers that be met Last nisht AZ
the Westohester House. Mayor MCKEE In the char,
and L. Harrison and John Chambers acting sscret'
res. There about one hundred add fifty members
present.
Speeches made by John Van Buren,, Isaac Fow-
Ter, Elijah rurdy and others An sddress was read by
Isaac V Fowler which refer Oh committee
sstpg of Nelson j. Waterbury, Elijah F. Purdy and iona
than Trotter, 20 prepare II for publication.
II was announced that two hundred and twelve mem
bers were Committed to TIE weschester House ticket
II was also, on motion, decided to pomnat. ticket
next saturday evening IN open caucus all members who
had signed the call being allowed TO vote The meeting
then adjourned
Orphans' Ball at the Crystal Palace.
The ball for the benefit Of the Catholic Orphan Asylum
at the Crystal Palace on Monday night came of with
great ecot Every thing conducted in the most plea
SAINT and orderly Notwithstanding the weather.
for tho night very wet and stormy-over 5000 per
Sons present, and We learn that the number OF
tickets sod but represented the floor owing TO the
inclemency Of the night amounted 10 nearly Is much
more 30 that the orphans will probably be the recipients
of handsome The absence Of all confusion IN the
arrange ments for of large company
in 30 inappropriate building was remarkable, and
offered striking contrast 70 the scenes OF the previous
Thursday night at the other charity ball Ine company
dh not assemble in full strength until after III O'CLOCK,
and previous that time the cold was considerable and
must have been very disagreeabe, if not dangerous 70
Of the supper tables which called out universal complaint
the only drawbacks to the enjoyment OF the eve
reaeing by Mss Teresa Esmonde Of poem Charity
which well rendered, and loudly applauded On the
whole, the ball, whether in peasuraole or pronao'e
point OF view, a Dancing commenced at 0
o'clock and kept up with spirit till five next morning
Dodworths fine band furnished the music.
Meeting OF the Fire Department Representa-
tives- Election OF Fire Wardens.
The quarterly meeting Of the representatives Of the
Fire Department held In the Fremens Hall, Mercer
street, last eveningDsvid Mligan, President in the
chair The attendance very large, and the excite
ment in and around the building was great
ANNUAL wARDENs.
The proceedings commenced by read ng the an
report Of the Board Of Fire wardens which set forth
that although the number Of buildings examined since
the date Of the last report had exceeded that OF any
former year. the quantity Of actual violations Of the fire
laws had materially decreased Many old and dangerous
buildings had either been made safe, or entirely
removed, yet the number Of this class OF houses was
fearfuy large. The insuffciency of the fire laws
was dwet upon at length, as in previous reports
During the past year the wardens examined 1854
buildings course Of erection alteration, and, in
large majority OF Them the law had been strictly
piled with There were 552 violations Of various sections
OF the fire laws, 453 Of which had been removed The
Beard happy 10 state that the laws relative To keep
ing guppowder sapetre, &C. in the city had been very
generally Observed but on" violation coming 10 their
notice The whole number dangerous buildings In the
city the wardens have oognlzance Of Is 20.
detailed and corrected list Of heee buildings sho wing
their character location &C Ia in Of preparation,
| and will in a few days be presented to the Common
Council and also 70 the Chief Engineer OF the Fire De
| partment.
report the President said the meeting would 60 into
the election of four Fire Wardens TO m the vacancies oc
casioned by the expiration OF the term Of Office Of Messrs
Gregg. Meeks, Sanderson and Merritt
There 20 candidates proposed and the first ballot
resulted in Mr.. Meeks obtaining the largest number or
votes motion to oonfne the votes to the eight candi
dates who poed the largest number OF votes was adopted
Meeks and r. Sanderson rbe third ballot confined
the four highest canddses and resulted in the election
Of Enoch Smith and John Clements
yAIurIsE's MANUAL FOR lSbs-On each yearly
pub LEGATION Of the Corporation Manual by the
cradle and talented author and compiler, Mr. ID. I.
Valentine, Clerk OF the Common Council, we have
thought impossible that any Improvement could be
made in subsequent numbers but the Manuel for 1858,
before u.s. convnces that the deep research and
antiquarian lore Of Mr. Valentine their pristine
vigoY. The present volume, numbering over seventy
pages than that Of last year. contains vast amount
Of valuable historical and municipal Information which
TO be ignorant OF 10 know New York 1t tells OF tho
| past movements Of this great city; II contains
complete list Of all the public officials; the of tho
various departments Of local legislature and every ns
tuition and Incorporated company within the limits Of the
metropolis embodies several very artstcay executed
maps representing OF the localities OF the island
they appeared In times long snco passed away and
buildings of ancient structure well some Of
modern date Amonssthe latter the residences Of
Judge Ingrsnam, At Harlem, Mayor rcmann and other
gentleman. Amongst the maps are one " the
STATE Of New Jersey and the city OF New York,
showing the portion Of ground allotted for the Cen
trail Park; n map Of the state OF New York exhibit
ing the Senatorial and Assembly districts
and giving the Of each county, and very curious
antique map New Amsterdam, old New York, a. nrs,
laid out by the Dutch settlers The history Of the do
mestc affairs Of the Inhabitants Of New York anterior 70
and Instructive tells that "he earliest Dutch trad
ers for years AFTER their arrival pursued wander.
ing and unsettled mode OF life, and Assmated 10 many OF
The habits Of Indians The native girls were, with the con
sen, Of their friends, appropriated by the whites com
panons but were seldom hOnored with the dignity OF
wives But when the good ship New Neither.
land, with Ia passenger List embracing thirty families dis
embarked It's freight our shores new era OF domestic
history commenced this region" The historian then
gracefully graphically the progressing manners
and civilization Of the people OF New York. and tells US
when the various articles Of domestic use and household
orpamens were nrst introduced. "n the house OF lead
ing English merchant in this city in 1878 furnished in the
best s,y lie OF that period his best window cursns says
Mr. valentine odd not exceed dollar value the cost
price" II the departed spirits OF ancient Amsterdam
could but take peep at The real ace and aamsss cur
dwellings the how they would blush W soc tho
contrast between the unpretendng simplicity OF the sew
eneenh century and the extravaganza OF the present age
In the times OF the Dutch the table ware consisted OF
pewter and wooden materials How these would contrast
with the modern scrVlCea OF kO1s
were scarce amongst the Dutch and consisted principally
Of the Bible and church service "The hrst law library
Of which have any account" says this interesting his
twas that OF Mr. Broughton the Attorney General,
QT04 which possessed thirty six volumes" We also
find the Manual digest Of city ordinances prior 10 the
Revolution IN which the sale of liquor 10 Indians was
strictly prohibited "That male and female be per
mtied 10 cohsbn before they shall have been lawfully
married. under penalty o. 100 guders." How the city
treasury OF the present day would be augmented N
such law existed In moral, modern New York Then
we have descriptive chapters the manners and Gus
toms OF the Indians Manhattan Island and Of new York
city nifty years ago, and autographs o. nemoefs VI he
city government previous 10 the Revolution.
Put enough We can, in conclusion, say that more
perfect epome Of the history OF New York, both pcto
rial and descriptive would be impossible 10 compile,
and that the venerable author who has served
more apprcntceshTs 10 the work, could accom-
ps zach task The Manual Of 1858 should be the rre
Of every citizen in bis library, In tact, Valentine
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