The national Republican., 1860-12-29
LOCAL NEW S.


the New York press of additional robberies in
the Government Departments here, are far
from being groundless. Several weeks ago, we
had similar intimations, given out in rather
an obscure manner by those who had good
means of knowing, that we might soon expect
some startling disclosures, not only in the In
terror, but in the other Departments. That
none of these have been positively ascertained
as yet, with the exception of the Interior De-
partment, we believe to be true but just
another such accident as caused the Interior
Department transaction to be divulged will
probably also bring these to light. There are
those on the track who have very good nostrils,
and are somewhat acquainted with the art OF
seeming out these things.
The INTERIOR DEPARTMENT DErALCATIoY.-
We have very little additional information in
relation to this matter. Things remain pretty
much as they did when we closed our report
Yesterday. 1t has been found impossible to
secure bail sufficient for the release Of Russell.
Hon. j. r. Barrett, of Missouri, has offered to
90 $4,000 additional of the outside bail, leav.
ing $4,000 bail outside Of the city yet to be
obtained, but there has been no more local
bail obtained.
New features of this matter, however, are
hourly coming to light
EXCITEMENT YEsTERDAY.-Consider ex.
citement prevailed throughout the city yester-
day, caused by the news received from Charles
ton. Many rumors were in circulation all
day and during last night, of a character we'll
calculated to startle the quiet citizen. Most
of these rumors we know to be false; but we
have ascertained that good many old mus
kets are being brushed up, ready for use, in
case of an emergency. The numerous threats
that have been made against the city by South
ern ultraists have awakened some of them to
the true state of the case. We saw rather
more secession badges than usual on the street
yesterday but, as an offset, the Union badges
were also greatly on the increase. Most of
the secession badges were worn by those hold
ing Office under the Federal Government.
Some of these office holders were South Caro-
linians, who seemed fully TO endorse the action
of their State in seeding, but were not at all
disposed to give up their hold on Uncle Sans
Treasury.
LECTURE AT The SMIrHsoNIAN.-The lee.
ture last evening at the Smithsonian nstitu
ton, by Prof. Chadbourne, Of Williams College,
Mass, on Iceland and the Icelanders, was one
of interest, and the amusing scenes through
which the lecturer passed while there four years
ago, kept the large audience in excellent humor.
He said, that although the Iceanders were
an isolated and cutoff land, yet its inhabitants
have some noble, marked traits of character,
which our mutual Teutonic stock makes inter
estng. Not only its people, but its geology,
present themes for study and admiration, far
beyond that of many more genial cline.
They tell us that America should have been
called New Iceland, inasmuch as they were its
first discoverers nine hundred and ninety. nine
years ago.
The first really permanent settlement in
FL l.. L. IL .k
which time they established a republic, which
existed for five hundred years, when the Crown
of Norway united it to their dominions, where
it remained until Denmark took it under her
sovereign protection, where it now belongs
They were a noble people. Their ancient re-
ligon, the relics Of which may yet be found
and Odin, will ever be remembered in the le
gendary lore of Iceland.
The Catholic form of Christianity had made
considerable progress up to the year one thou
sand, and continued until the Reformation, since
which the Lutheran church is the prevailing
form of Christianity.
The Danish Government send out six steam
ers each year to Iceland. The Icelanders liv,
in small, wet, cold huts, and, in order to keel
warm, many occupy the same uncomfortable
: ill-ventilated, apartments in consequence o
which, that terrible disease, the leprosy, desc
lates many household.
Mr.. johnson, the rector of the Icelandic Col
lege, is one of the Gnest.looking gentlemen an'
one of the most intelligent men Of the age. HI
is fine classical scholar, and upon his shelves
are found the reports of the Smithsonian Insti
tuition. The college ediice is the largest build
ing on the island. 1t is built of wood, and tw'
stories high. Their Parliament also meets il
one part Of it.
He also described his journey to the Ho
Sprinuc tho IF THAR aruntinn md III
surroundings, with fine effect.
The island contains 10000 inhabitants
Every part of the island speaks Of fire, with it
devastating effects. The most terrible eruption
occurred in 1883, at which time twenty.on
villages and nine churches were destroyed
They had a revolution in 1909, when eight so
diers took the Government, and their Prime
reigned four weeks when things resumed thei
usual course, and went on as harmonously a
ever.
HoP AT THE WASHINGTON HoUsE.-Quit
large and agreeable party participated in on
of those pleasant little AFFAIRS for which tn
Washington hotels seem to have become ft
nous, on Thursday night. 1t was, we believe
the first of the season, and was greatly relish
ed by those who were so fortunate as to
present. Everything went off in the most pleas
ant.manner, the dancing being kept up till
very late-we should have said, early hour.
LOOK OUT FOR THEM.-We are constan
ly hearing of boarding house keepers bein
swindled by the many nicely dressed scour
drels who flock 10 the Federal Metropolis q
this time of the year, and are surprised tha
they are not more cautious as to whom the
take into their houses. The last case of tn
kind that has been brought to our notice is tha
of a very respectableooking young man, hal
,pr from, tba 0ll mi ,hn
since presented himself at one of the fashions
Lle hnardinn. hnuaes ON Pnnns ulua nia aunnnI