Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-12-16
From WASHINGTON

WASH NOTION, Dec. I3.-Ihe reporter OF tho As
sociated Press is enabled 10 state with confidence
that Lord Napier has been transferred TO the Mis-
sion ut the Hague. He will not leave Washing.
ton until the arriy of his successor in two months
Tbi. change involves imputation upon Lord
Napier's conduct. nor any alteration Of policy on
the part Of Her Mnjcstys Government.
The delegate from Utah has received from GOV
Cumming and other officials of that Territory, GER
ti6cates that the Public Library and the Court
Records are in good preservation, which statement
is contrary To the newspaper reports 40 often re-
pesied.
The President has called upon Congress 10 OK.
tend TO Siam the provisions Of the Act Of ls4S,
now in operation with China and Turkey confer
ring on American Ministers and Consul. certain
judicial powers 10 be exercised in cases whero our
countrymen are involved. The treaty with Siam
renders such mn enactment necessary.
The State Department has received dispatches
from Chill. conveying tho gratifying intelligence.
TINT through the perseverng efforts Of the u. s.
Minister, Mr. Bigler, the claims Of the country
against Chill. in connecton with the American
vessels Macedonian and Franklin have 10 far been
advanced towards adjustment. that little doubt is
entertained Of its early contamination. The claims
in the case Of tho Macedonia. have been pending
for more than quarter OF "a century. and involves
one fourth Of n million of dollars.
The large number of appointments made during
the recess of Congress, together with the Chinese.
japanese and other Treaties. were in the execu-
tive session of the Senate to-day. referred to mp
proprate Committees for examination.
The State Department had not, this morning,
received any official dispatches in reference to re.
cent events in Central America. Regarding the
new spaper accounts To he true. our relations with
Great Britain considered as extremely critca.
aud bordering war between tho two countries
This opinion is freely expressed iS gentlemen oc-
cupyng prominent public positions.
AZ Epiu rH
The officers on board the United States frigatc
niagara which touched at New York from Mon
royia direct on Saturday have furnished quite an
interesting log Of their voyage. We quote fol
lows
STRANGE HABITS.
The strnn 20 habits and customs OF these poor
creatures wee constant study and theme Of
mark among the officers and men, aud ut times
afforded M little amusement during the voyage
We had on Ia ard, rs an interpreter, one ol the
crew Of the Echo Portuguese tanned Frank, by
whom alone We were able to hold communications
with them; he talked in Portuguese, which some
portion of the Africans appeared To understand
pretty we'll
Each morning Whom the decks were washed
down, the orrn ion improved 10 give the
whole party cold bath by plying the ships hnse
upon them, which they appeared to enjoy in IL
high degree. shou,ing,y 81 ling, Jumping and laugh
ing with delight They appeared to have n spirit
bl 'iahshll, ana dNluci themselves INFO parties
for mutual protection; this was particularly the
among tie boys. who would not tolerate any
invasion of their rights their blankets, food and
clothing they guarded wl,h great Jealousy. On
account Of their thicying dispositions however.
there were frequent wrnngle*, but the sentry nj
WAYS prevented them from summing serious
form. At nish, old sails, Ia l mocks and loose
bedding were spread upon the deck when they
would roll themselves in their blankets, and the
whole party crowd into a compact MACS for mr.
tual warmth, with occasiCuH'y Il black face
woolly hend pr"trndIne aud sleep until rouscl
up by the morning watch.
ArrEMrr ~ pBowN \ WITCH.
On ono occasion woman. who had the only two
infants TINT were in the party found that Of
the children WIS sick. and she conceived the no
hon that another woman a witch, and Was
killing it by her sprcery. She accordingly com
binel with several others of her friends to throw
the witch overheard They got into furious
fight, and hustled the witch towards II side port.
and had nearly pushed her into the sea, when the
sentry seized and pulled her back The child
lived until it was landed aud then died. Future
pitched battles werc only prevented by placing
handouts upon the slrong-nindcd women. The
redeemng feature If this contest was the evidence
which it alorlel If II strong maternal affection in
the race.
cuNrENir OF pr>ru!
There were mo religious rite, celebrated among
the Africans during the % days they were on
board. and nothing in their conduct which indica-
ted the idea of God or II future state. The usual
religious rites which were uniformly observed by
the commander when one Of their number died
and was buried, excited no attention from them
whatever; but IA one after another Of their com
rades wasted away, the stronger would watch for
l. the Inst breath, and then snatch his blanket, and
appropriate it To his use pom the occasion
ut death. the hody--~ometmes two soweI up in
one blankct-was placed upon plank in one Of
the gun ports. the ship company assembled upon
the quarter deck. when Cant Chauncey read the
the burial service. the inboard end of the plank
was raised and the body, with heavy splash,
disappeared bcucata the waters.