Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-12-07
ITEMS OF NEWS.

The Commissioners sent by the Govern
ment to Chiriqui to ascertain the possibility
of establishing another transit across the
Isthmus Of Panama, have returned and an
nounce the entire success of the expedition
The harb0rs on both sides We're found all
that could be desired, and coal of a superior
quality, and in apparently inexhaustlble
quantities, was found at the Chiriqui La
COON. \ practicable pass through the Cor
dieras was discovered by Lieut.. Morton.
A hornets nest was found lately near
Dickson, franklin County, n. Y, supported
on five branches Of Il large maple tree, and
measuring five feet in circumference 1t has
been deposited in the State Agricultural So
eiety's collection.
There was large fire in New York on
Sunday morning, destroying twO large
buildings on Warren street, occupied by sew
eral dry goods firms The loss is estimated
| at over $50, 900. The fire originated
from a defect in the heaters connected with
| the hotair furnace used for heating one of
the buildings. The steam fire engines at this
fire did very effective service.
There were six other fires in New York.
that morning.
Three fugitive slaves passed through Syra-
cuse last week, on their way to Canada.
II is stated that during the past week, l2l
passengers, who sailed from New York to
Charleston and to Savannah, were not per
mitted to land, and have been returned free
Of expense. Most Of them are mechanics and
laborers. and one reason assigned for their
return is, that owing 10 the suspension OF
business, they would have been unemployed,
and might have become burden 50 the city.
Several Of the passengers and the command
ers Of the ships say that that they were not
offered either violence Or insult-that they
were told that, owing to the excited state OF
feeling. it had been deemed best that they
should not land.
Among the various reports of Ihanksgiy-
lng Day celebrations, 1t is stated that the
Elm Place Church, of Brooklyn, gave a a
dinner in the church. to rich and poor, and
nearlya thousand guests were present.
The South does not find itself quite indie
pendent yet 4 large order from Columbia,
S. C.. for tacks. has been received and filled,
since the election, at Taunton, Mass, and
they were sold On credit, too.
The Philadelphia Press says that charges
are made that the census marshals of an ad-
joining slave state, and of one of the larger
Northern States, have extOrted from their
deputies 334 PER cent. OF their salaries. The
| fact leaked olt by refractory deputies refus-
ing TO pay the percentage, and thus bring
ing the matter to the attention Of the Presi-
dent.
Charleston dispatches to New York
say that MIR. Hammond we pre-
sume-s'has written q letter 10 the Georgia
secession meeting, saying South Carolina
will be out of the Union, high, dry, ana f0I
ever, by December 18th at farthest-"
The very next sentence states that the
Carolina representatives are leaving Tor
Washington Hadn't they better wait a
few days and 90 as Consuls, Ministers, &c.
Fort Moultrie has been reinforced with
ordnance and ammunition. 1t Is said that
the disposition Of the people is decidedly to
resist the landing Of more troops there.
During the gale of Saturday and Sunday
| the wind drove the water nearly all out 0t
| the east end Of the ''long level'' on the Erie
! Canal between Syracuse and Utica, 50 that
boats could not pass for ten hours. In some
nlaces the water of the canal was carried
| over the banks in large volumes by the force
| of the wind. One boatman reports that he
saw light boat high and dry upon the bank
of the canal, where it had been swept by the
high waves.
A locomotive engine is a strange kind of
pulpit, vet such pulpit was improvised In
! England the other day, tho preacher beng
| the Bishop of London, the congregation
, 600 of the workmen of tho midland Rail
way. and the church the Derby railroad ST Ia
! ton. The sermon was preached by the
request of the workmen, who heard of bis
lordship's presence in Derby; and an En-
| clish paper thinks such an auditory under
such circumstances must certainly be WITH
out parallel.
The great storm OF Sunday, the 18th uit,
was one of the most severe which has &C.
curred on the Lakes for many yeaIs. At
the time when 1t broke out over one hundred
vessels, it is supposed, were on their way
from the Western ports to Buffalo. Dunklrk
or Cleveland most Of them laden with gram
it being the closing trip of the season. The
list of wrecks on the upper lakes inciuues
over thirty vessels, about bali dozen Oh
whose crews have also psrished. Fhere WIZ
probably be many other cases oil the ssli'
sort head E.on IN day or two no-e.