The weekly Anglo-African. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1859-1861, 1859-12-24

OUR PHILADELPHIA LETTER.
PHILADELPHIA Dec. 10, 1859.

eventful one in the history of our city, as7
will be seen by the account which shallE
sndeavor to furnish Mr.. Samuel NJ
Smith lectured before the Philadelphia
Library Company on Tuesday evening
ast, on Friendship" which was well
written, well delivered, and highly APP
plauded. This was one of the regular lee
lures at Central Hall, and was well Sc
lected subject. When the lecture was con-
Guided the following question was discussed
by Messrs. |. G. Wears and U. B. Vidal
in the affirmative, and John G. Bowers
and David B. Bowser in the. negative:
I" Would the success of the Republican
party in the present convass be advanta-
geous to our causel' This question elicit
ed many facts bearing upon the politics of
the country, and was very interesting.
On Tuesday last the Anti-Slavery So
ciety commenced holding fair and con-
vention at Concord Hall, but by some
strange procedure ON the part of the lessee,
the hall was closed against them, when
they removed to the Assembly Buildings,
Tenth and Chestnut streets, where their
proceedings were continued, / believe,
without any serious interruption. 1t is
that the lessee of Concert Hall lisa
Locofoco, a 1tnaon saUer, and had the hall
closed under the pretense chat he feared a
riot, as speeches were made against the
Union, but the full particulars am not in
possession of-they will doubtless appear
in the next issue of the "Anti-Slavery
Standard"
Geo W. Curtis, Esq, being advertised
to lecture at National Hall on " the pre-
sent aspect of the slavery question:" on
Thursday evening, appeared, and perform
ed the task under many disadvantages A
meeting was called by the " unterrifed
democracy" in Market street, directly OPP
posite the hall where Mr.. Curtis was to
speak, and which was to have been organ
led a half hour earlier than the one at Ma
tional Hall. Mayor Henry ordered 500
police officers to the scene of contemplated
riot, and went himself inside the hall
Judge Kelly presided at the meeting in
side the hall, and introduced Mr.. Curtis,
who most eloquently summed up our griev-
ances and the remedy, as he understood
them. An attempt was made to hiss him
down and prevent him from finishing his
lecture, but by the prompt action of the
police, some of the disturbers were arrest
ed, while others were quieted by the Off
GERS presence. The mob commenced their
work of destruction by throwing stones in
through the windows of the hall. They
yelled and screamed like madmen, while
their leaders harangued them from the tops
of lamp-posts and hogsheads. A bot
tie of oil of vitrol was thrown into the
crowd inside the hall, to the detriment OF
silks and broadcloth; one individual had
his eye impaired by it, which, l believe,
was the most serious result of the affair
another gentleman, with whom | am ae-
quainted, merchant in Chestnut street,
had a twenty dollar coat spoiled by the
liquid He tried to restore it by an appli-
cation of aqua ammonia, but it had not the
desired effect. The freedom of speech was
maintained against mob violence.
Mr.. VIM. Still had a hearing before AL
derman Hubbard on Friday last, upon a
charge of libel preferred by Mrs. Ellen B..
Wells, of st. Louis, Mo Mr. Still was
held in $500 bail to appear before the
court and answer the charge. He had en-
deavored to expose her as an impostor for
trying to raise money to buy her mother
and sister. She seems to be well fortified
with documents.
On Friday last meeting was held In
the little Wesley Church in First street, to
consider certain matters in connection with
Harpers Ferry affairs, Mr.. Geo. w.
Gaines was chosen President, and Mr. d.
ID. Turner as Secretary. The meeting
being organized, a committee previously ap-
pointed retired to consult over matters
There had hsen meeting in the morning
at the church, and certain business given
then to do to be reported in the evening
These gentlemen werepart of committee
appointed at Shiloh Baptist Church on the
I'D inst, whose duty it was to request the
bodies of Copeland and Green lin the event
'of their being executed for decent inter
ment in the North. Their letter, request
ing Gov. Wise to grant the bodies having
appeared in the Ledger" of the 10th inst.
lit was taken up and discussed before the
committees report was brought in. The
] following is the letter, as it appeared ii
the " Ledger:
PHILADELPHIA, Dee. Q, 1862