Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-01-13
News of tho Day.
"76 show the reru age and body ofMe TIMES.

We have news from the French West In
dies, dated at Martinique on the 2Sth Of NJ
vember. The Council General had voted the
introduction of $4,000 immigrants-I,O 900
Africans, and ! 900 Chinese. This large
number was considered necessary i'll conse-
quence Of the great and increasing assertions
of laborers in the island. \ detachment of
5l5 coolies had arrived from Pondicherry.-
The war briggs Mercure and Olivier had ar
rived from France, and jeff to Join the French
squadron under Admiral Pcnaud, Oft Vera
Cruz.
At Il meeting of the Directors of the Nir-
ginia and Kentucky Railroad, held in Abing-
don, Va, on Thursday last, the contractors
were formally notified TO suspend operations
for the present The Bristol News thus eX-
plains this action: "Thc Board of Public
Works of Virginia. last week, after patient
and careful examination of all the facts in
the case, gave decision against the recent
action of the Directory of the Virginia and
Kentucky Railroad in locating the eastern
terminus at Abingdon. and refused to pay
any of the States subscription towards the
prosecution of the work under their recent
contract with Messrs. Hawkins Il Co.; also,
we learn. have determined TO send out the
State Engineer, Mr.. Fisk, to examine both
the Abingdon and Goodson routes, and decide
between them"
Mr. John Burton died at East Barkwith
Lincolnshire, England, on the ID ultimo.-
He was born on the 18th of June. 1860, and
thus lived in the reigns of Georges III, iii. ",
William ", and Victoria. For seventy-hvc
wears he was tenant Of the glebe farm under
six successive rectors of East Barkwith. lie
was a man of remarkable strength and indus
try, being known, even after he was an old
man, to work in the field all day, and re-
main up nearly all night thrashing corn for
the market When more than nincty-slX
years of age he would walk to church and
back, distance of nearly three miles.
The packet ship Isaac Wright, of the
Black Ball line, burned in the Merscy, was
insured in this country for about $4,000.
She was valued at about $4,000 Her cargo
was valued at about 100000, and it was
supposed that nearly onehalf was insured on
this side The Margaret Tyson, recently
lost ON her way To California, chiefly belong
ed to Captain Tyson. and was valued at about
so, 600. About Sl5 900 insurance on her
in Wall street.
Mr.. T. Winans, completely disposrs Of the
very remarkable story that an enormous er-
ror Of lightweight versts had been discover
ed i'm the official measurement OF the st.
Petersburg and Moscow Railway, whereby,
certain American contractors had largely
robbed the Russian Government. Its tOunda-
ton was the accidental discovery OF an error
of eighty eight sagenes tsix hundred and
, sixteen feet) in the distance between couple
of verst poles on the Pcterhof Railway.
The New York State Prison Inspectors
have made report upon the case of the con-
Wet Moore, who died recently from the Ell
5 fects of the punishment of the shower bath in
| Auburn State Prison. The Inspectors ex-
, culpate the officers OF the prison from blame
for Intentional reckessness of cruelty; but in
view of the danger attending the use OF the
shower bath as a means of punishment, have
directed its discontinuance.
Stephen Walsh has recently been elected
representative from the counties of ST. Louis
and Lake Shore, to the Minnesota Legislature.
1t will be recolected that in 1851 he left
New Brunswick, where he resided rs ser
, geant in the British Army, with eight OF his
. comrades, and came to the States. The Brit
$ ish Minister sought to have them surrendered
under the Ashburton Treaty, but was defeat
, ed in the Courts.
The Detroit Tribune says that at recent
election for Councilman, in the Township OF
Raleigh, Kent county, near Chatham, {. W.,
negro named Shadd was triumphantly cleo
ted, beating his opponent. Il white man, by Il
handsome majority. Shadd is las black IA
the ace of spades, and figured prominently IN
a recent slave case as the harborcr OF the tugl-
tive.
, OYSTERS are remarkably abundant and
cheap at Philadelphia. The North Aneri-
can saws the finest extra coves-big, tat iel-
lows. about the size and shape Of i Dutch
baby's foot-are selling at SO a thousand
, Cove plants are bringing but 80 80, about
half the price customary during the present
month, while cuttings are selling at 81 - per
thousand.
1t is announced editorially in the Louis
vile Courier and Louisville Democrat that
the capital prize of Twenty-Five Thousand
Dollars, in the Shelbyville College Lottery OF
Kentucky, was sold a few days ago to a well,
known gentleman of Louisville. Also that
pilot belonging to one Of the river boats IN
like manner drew q similar amount in the
same lottery.
On Thursday last, Mrs. Rebecca killum'
, wife of the late Daniel Killum, of flillsbor-
f ough. y. H., died at her residence, at the adj
yanced age of l02 years, | months and a
DAYS. She was Il native of Bellcrica, Mass
where she was married ~ years ago Tier
husband was drafted for the army soon after,
and was encamped near Boston, under Gen.
Washington.
: The 3Sth anniversary of the Virginia Bible
: Society was held mt Fredericksburg on the
evening of the ID inst, 1t was meeting OF
unusual interest. The delegate from the
American Bible Society WAS the Rev. br;
Iermilye, Of the Dutch Reformed Church OF
New York,
: A storeship will sail about the middle OF
next week, from the Navy Yard, Brooklyn,
for the rendezvous of the Paraguay exped'-
,, ton. at Rosari, and letters for officers or
Il Il. L., Ill hn