Newbern weekly progress., 1860-10-02
RT REV. BISHOP ATKINSON


This eminent Divine preached IN the Metho-
dist Chu,>:h in this place on thursday evening
last, to a large and appreciative audience.
The discourse was characterized by profound
thGsIght and heart felt piety, which seemed to
touch every bosom present in response to the
feelings of the speaker. The sermons of Bishop
Atkinson always interesting but this one was
unusual so. Even the frivolous, and verv young
persons lent their undivided attention as is rare
ly their wont to do, and appeared to regret when
the words of wisdom and piety We're brought to
close, at rather late hour One person received
the rite ofconfrmation. The friends of the Bish-
op will be pleased to learn that he was in good
health.-hc Express.
NEW FEAT IN ENGINEERING.-A traveller over
the railroad between Houston and Eagle Lake.
gives the following singular feat Of Texas engi-
neering:
On the railroad between Houston and Eagle
Lake, in Texas feat is performed which, I pre-
sumo, is entirely unprecedent in engineering
At the crossing of the Brazos river. the road is
finished on each side to the bank, and temporary
track laid down each bank and across temporary
bridge which is some 80 to 40 feet below the level
of the permanent road. The design was to cross
this bridge until the permanent one was complet-
ed, by letting the locomotive and ears slowly
down the bank with ropes, and then hauling
them up on the other side. But at one time the
locomotive in decending, broke loose and sweep
ing through the hollow by its momentum ascend
ed the opposite bank in safety. Since that time
passenger trains are run through the hollow in
this manner sweeping gracefully downward and
rising the opposite side, like the swoop of
hawk on its prey Ihave been something of trav-
eller but this was the first time that ever followed
l0comO tive down a steep bank of river! 1t is
said that the civil engineers object to this
mode of proceeding, on account of the tremen-
dous strain on the road-bed in that part which
changes the line of motion from the descending
to the horizontal direction.
AN IMPORTANT COMMERCIAL CUES
TION
question which will affect, to serious ex-
tent the interest of commerce, recently was
brought before the United States Circuit Court
in New York city.
An act of Congress provides that all home
manufactured articles which returned again
in their original state, shall be free from duty
Under this act, millions of barrels and hogsheads
have been exported to return again, filled with
sugar and molasses. The government, in the suit
in question, claim to recover duties upon large
quantity of barrels sent to Cuba and returned
with sugar. i he government claim that these
barrels are not returned in their original state,
and become part and parcel of the package of
molases or sugar; or whatever the contents may
be. The question being one of great inter est,
both to the government and commercial commu-
nifty the federal judges here have certified to
division,of opinion, which thus brings the mat
ter to the Supreme Court of the United States for
adjudication. 1t is estimated that the result will
affect the revenue to the extent of between three
and four millions of dollars annually.
ANOTHER TRADGEDY IN New YoRK.-On Mon
day, in New York, a named Henry W.
Pierrepont made an attack upon widow
named Hannah Jones, keeper of small board
ing-house, to whom he had been recently pay
ing his addresses, but had been rejected, and
after cutting her badly and driving her across
the st,eet into the house of a neighbor, drew
horse pistol and shot her, causing injuries that
must prove fatal. Mrs. Jones, in endeavoring
to escape from the ruffian, had entered a sec
ond-story room and placed herself against the
door. Pierrepont fred through the door, the
ball entering the unfortunate woman's eye, and
lodging against the brain. Pierrepont, when
arrested, boldly ayowed his determination to
murder her. Her recovery is doubtful.
Cornelius Clements died recently at Ruther
fordton. NJ G. He was in his 10th year, had
served in the battle of Kings Mountain and al.
ways took delight in telling of the skirmishes of
his early days.
The Rocky Mountain News estimates the
population of the proposed Territory of Jefier-
son 1t eyer 60 600