The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-25
New York, Friday, March %, 1859.



Our European files brought by the Nova Scotan
reached this city yesterday evening. They embrace
London papers to the 18th inst, containing the de-
tails of the Geographic summary of the news pub
lshed in yesterday mornhngs HERALD The OK
tracts given elsewhere relating to the Italian ques-
ton are unusually interesting The steamships
Niagara and Alps are fully due at Halifax. with
European advices to the 18th inst.
The Pacific mails brought by the Quaker City
have reached New Orleans. The steamers Sonora
and Orizaba left San Francisco the 9TH inst. for
Panama the first named with four hundred and the
latter with seven hundred passengers The brig
Swiss Boy had been destroyed by the Hudson Bay
Indians in Nitinet Sound, and the bark Temandte
had been wrecked, and one hundred aud fifteen
lives lost, at the mouth of the Mackenzie river.
The mails bring later dates from Australia but our
Geographic despatch gives particulars. Ad-
vices from China mention the bombardnent Of Nan
kin, probably by the rebels.
We have advices from Havana to the 10Th inst,
but they contain nothing of Importance.
Several subjects Of local importance were before
the Legislature yesterday, as will be seen by our
telegraphic reports and dispatches. In the As
sembly the Prolibitory liquor bill was killed off
very decidedly and it is not believed that any
alteration will be made in the Excise lawJEs Sc !.
sion. The bill for laying out streets az Fort Wash.
ington was recommtted to the Committee on
Towns and Villages, so that parties interested can
be heard. The bill providing for ascertaining and
collecting the damages caused by the destruction
of the Quarantine buildings passed third reading.
At Washington yesterday the Grand Jury found
bill of indictment for murder against Mre6ickles
AMI counsel on both sides agreed in fixing upon
neat Monday week, the 18th proximo, as the time
Tor the commencement OF the trial.
A political meeting of considerable importance
ana Significance was held last evening in Hope
Chapel. Ii was composed of those who cling to
the memories of the old wing party, and who are
DESTROYS of resuscitatng it. 1t called ostensi-
bly, for the purpose Of hearing address from ex-
Governor Hunt on 4" the political signs OF the
times The meeting was presided over by Hiram
ketchum, assisted by number of influential cti-
zens IA vice presidents and secretaries. In the
Chairman's speech three public men were referred
to those to whom the country might best conlide
the duties of the next Presidency. These were
Edward Everett, John J. Crittenden and General
Winfield Scott. Each of these names was received
by the meeting with demonstrations Of high appro-
val Mr.. Hunt reviewed late political events, and
called on the conservative men of the State to im
tate the action taken by the wings Of Kentucky and
of Virginia and to rally under the banner of union
and reform.
Hon. Joshua r. Giddngs repeated at Plymouth
Church, Brooklyn, last evening to an audience
which twothirds filed the building, his lecture on
the trial of John Quincy Adams by the Twenty.
seventh Congress. The audience seemed highly
satisfied, though the lecture lasted two hours. II
will be repeated tonight before the Young Mems
Christian Union, at Clinton Hall.
A conversational meeting OF the American Geo
graphical and Statistical Society took place las,
evening in their rooms, Clinton Hall Astor place
A paper was read by d. o. King, of Newport r. /,
on "Recent Discoveries in SIAM describing the
physical features resources, botany and zoology
ofthat country, and giving also description of the
great temple of Cambodce, now in ruins Othe
interesting papers were also read and considera
BILE amount of instructive and interesting convensa
ton elected.
The Board of Aldermen last evening io,'. $3.50
letter Of DR.. Foster, Withdrawing hi ......
candidate for the Office of City Inspect,i ;ld asC
the communication from the Mayor nominating Eli
jah F. Purdy to that Office in place Of George W
Morton. Quite an exciting discussion ensued, and
variety Of motions were made, but finally it was
agreed to refer the resignation of Dr. Foster to
special committee and to return the nomination
of Mr.. Purdy to the Mayor.
The Board Of Councilmen we're in session las,
evening, and transacted considerable routine bust
ness. A petition of the Third Avenue Railroad Com
pany for permission to lay rails for a new turn ou
at the end of the Park, was referred. The Comm
.troller was directed to advertise for proposals t.
purchase a suitable location for Engine Compan,
No. Is. The Harlem Railroad Company were d
rected TO remove the r rail now in use in Centr
street, between Tryon row and Broome street, an
substitute the grooved rail in its place. The repor
of the special committee on repairing the City Hal
was called up, and after rambling debate a resc
luton was adopted directing the Street Commits
sioncr to have the building repaired as soon as pos
sible, and appropriating $5O5O0 for that purpose.
The United States chartered steamer Metacomet
of the Paraguay expedition, sailed from Pernam
bucO for the River Plate On the 10th ult.
There was sparring exhibition last evening a
H0yms theatre, Bowery. All the magnates of III.
magic circle were present. See our account of III,
AMIR elsewhere.
The ships Shooting Star and 5kylark respective
II from Portsmouth and New Bedford, bound fo
New York, in tow ofthe stesmtug W. II. Webb, wen
ashore, the former on Tuckernuck Shoai, aud tn
Latter in the harbor of New Bedford. The Sbootn.
Btar went ashore during dense fog, and let go on
anchor to keep from drifting further on. The cabl
parted, and the ship in swinging round struck Ga
anchor, thereby knocking hole in her bottom
and Of last accounts she had eight feet of water i