The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-01-30

The News.
Our special despatch this morning furnishes an
account of the excitement existing in Washington
relative to the election Of Speaker Of the House
of Representatives. All the factions appear to be
in a state Of excitement, and personal explanations
from democrats and republicans, it is expected,
will be made in the House to-day relative to their
votes for Mr.. Smith on Friday. The proceedings
will, no doubt, be Of very animated character.
Our European files by the Fulton contain some
very interesting extracts, which we publish to-day
in addition to our full Geographic summary from
Portland, given yesterday. The Napoleon pamphlet
war still ragged at all the Continental Courts. The
leading papers in London copied the Message of
President Buchanan in full, and we reprint the tone
of the comments made by them on the paper. A
highly important document on the difficulties and
dangers attending the abolition ofsavery in Russia
will be found elsewhere, as also report Of Ma
caulay's burial in Westminster Abbey.
The Empire City arrived from Havana yesterday,
with dates to the 23d instant. Sugars were dull.
Freghts better. Exchange on New York 81 to 4.
Havana was healthy, and large number of Ameri-
cans were in town. The birthday of the Prince Of
The Asturias was celebrated with most excited de.
monstratons of joy. The steamship Quaker City,
from Havana, arrived about one o'clock this morn
ing, with dates to the 25th. Sir VIM. Gore Ouseley
had arrived at Havana on the 23d inst, on his way
to Europe. Markets and exchange as noted above.
Interesting intelligence from Central and South
America, with letters from our correspondents in
Nicaragua, San Salvador, Ecuador, New Granada,
&c, detailing the progress of events in those coun
tries, are given elsewhere in our paper this morn
ing,
We have news from the West Coast of Africa
dated at Fernando Pc the 1st Old Calabar the 4th,
and Sierra Leone the 2Ist of December. At Benin
the health of the residents was good and trade
brisk. Fernando Pc was healthy, and the new
Spanish Governor was doing much in the way Of
improving the island. The Cameroons were
healthy, but trade rather dull. The natives were
quiet, and the recent disturbances had been ami
cably settled. The dry season continued very
long, but rain had fallen. Brass river was un.
healthy and trade stagnant. At Bonny trade was
rather dull, but the health of the place was good
Trade good at Lagos. Cape Coast healthy and
trade brisk. serious riot took place on the oath
of November between the Intins and BentI quar-
tiers, or companies into which Cape Coast Castle
is divided, and several persons were killed.
We have st. Thomas paper of the 18th of
january, but it does not contain any general news
of interest.
The Young Mems Central Republican Committee
held an adjourned meeting on Friday evening. The
committee appointed to investigate the claims for
seats in the committee from rival delegations from
the Sixth ward, reported in favor of the Brennan
delegation. A resolution was adopted and carried
into effect excluding all persons from the room
If thn
caused considerable excitement and disorder. Mr..
Chas. A. Spencer was then elected permanent Pre-
Bide0t Of the Committee. After being conducted
to the chair he delivered an address on the cur
rent political events of the day. The following
other officers were then elected:-P. c. Buckley
and Arthur Boyce Vice Presidents; E. G. Thomp-
son, Recording Secretary; A. G. Hills Correspond
ing Secretary; VIM H. Gedney Treasurer, and
ChAs. Missing SergeantatA Arms Mr.. Clarke pre-.
scented motion which was carried, that the rules
and regulations Of the committee be the same as
those OF last year. 1t being now about halfpast
eleven o'clock, the meeting adjourned until the
third Wednesday Of February.
A very destructive fire occurred in Ann street m
SUNDAY morning, by which several of our enter
Prising business firms were entirely burned out. Mr..
Robert Bonner, proprietor of the Ledger, occupied
SA0 hot uoof VI He DuilQlng, anu MS presses with
about $4,000 copies Of his paper intended for this
weeks issue, were destroyed. Mr. Bonner's loss
was about $4,000; insured for $50 900. The names
of the other occupants, with their losses, will be
found under the appropriate head.
The fifteenth anniversary of the Scudder Mission
ary Society was held last evening at the Carmine
street Presbyterian church The reports of the
Treasurer and Secretary were read, showing that
during the fifteen years the society has been in
existence it has vigorously prosecuted the mission
ary work The Rev. DIR. Perkins, the first American
missionary to the HISTORIANS, addressed the au-
dience, and, In the course Of his sermon, gave Q
description Of Persia, its geographical position,
rivers, mountains. &c. We are compelled to omit
ths morning our report Of the proceedings
Henry D. Glpin, Attorney General under Prssi-
dent Van Buren,, and ex-Mayor Of Philadelphia,
died In that city yesterday morning.
Francis Michel, formerly attached 10 the steam
ship Marion, found guilty at Charleston, s. c., of
assisting slave to leave the State, was on Satur.
dAy sentenced to be hung ON the second of March
next
No news by The Nova sooan bad no psroeptbie ecss