The national Republican., 1860-12-27

""' P'opapiy De mhue up ny cltlzens OF w eSh
ington.
The alleged acceptauces of Secretary Floyt
appear, from the evidence, to have been mer,
memoranda, las had been customary in tn,
Government Departmental that, at such time,
as specified, certain amounts would becon,
due under the existing contract with Russell
Majors, d Co.; and these, it appears, Russell
had been in the habit of using as collaterals te
raise money upon.
CHRISTMAS IN WASHINGTON AND ITS VrcIy
lTY-it cannot be said Of Christmas, as was
generally remarked of Thanksgiving day, tha,
it was the most quiet holiday we have had fo,
a considerable time. Although many portions
OF our city enjoyed an entire exemption from
riot and fracas, yet in others, and particularly
in the eastern portion of the city, there was
much rioting and disorder. Elsewhere in to.
days paper will be found full reports of these
riots.
The central portion of the city, which is gen.
orally more dsorderly on holidays than any
other portion, seemed this time to be entirely
exempt from disturbance.
Long before daybreak, large crowds might
have been seen vending their way to the va.
rious Catholic and Episcopal churches that
we're then open for worship. The services at
these places were in all cases of the most in.
teresting character, and we're very largely at
tended, most Of the churches which were open,
even at that hour, being crowded At st. Mat.
thew's church, high mass was celebrated at
eleven o'clock in the morning. DR.. White
preached from the first chapter of St. John.
The choir, under the leadership of Mr.. Chin.
chila, performed the sixteenth grand mass of
Haydn with full orchestra.
Many took up good portion of the day in
calling on their friends, taking presents with
them for the young folks, and partaking of the
good things that awaited them. Young Amer.
lea, as usual, was desirous OF seeing how many
hire crackers each could send off in the briefest
space of time-in which delightful proceeding
we frequently observed old America taking a
hand.
Santa Klaus-Lammond says his name is
kriss Kringle," and we dare say hammond
knows best-was about the night before, scat
tering beautiful presents among the little folks
with a lavish hand, making us wish that we
too had hung up our stocking so as to receive
share of the good things. Well, it's all over
now, but we are in hopes we will not forget it
next time.
Many brilliant parties came off at night, and
the fun was kept up till late hour on all
sides.
The Alexandria folks went right into the
Esprit of the thing. Everybody was jolly,
and yet everybody was orderly. The,boys kept
up .ontinual noise with their fire.crackers,
torpedoes, and other light ammunition, and the
old folks kept things going in the variety OF
ways peculiar to this old burg. The police
had scarcely any arrests to make, as fun and
jollity were not supposed to constitute disorder.
ly conduct. At Green's Mansion House,
table was spread, the whole length of The dining
room, the entire day, and-every one was priv
legged to eat as much as he desired; an act to
be heartily commended.
The Georgetown folks were not at all behind
in their observance of this time. honored festi.
val.
We met some folks on Bridge street, how.
ever, who seemed to have gone into the spirit"
of the thing little too deeply, as the color Of
their noses and the appearance of one of their
eyes seemed to indicate. We hear of little
fracas which occurred on Bridge street., couple
OF squares above the bridge, about two o'clock
in the afternoon, in which few rather stiff
blows were given and received. But these were
more like the exceptions to the rule; for George.
town, taken as a whole, spent the day in a re.
markably quiet, and, at the same time in a re-
markably pleasant way. One of our reporters
spent portion of the day in town, and he tells
us that he was very 10th indeed to leave it.
fairly upon us. We spent merry Christmas,
and we hope all our readers did the same; and
we hope the pleasures may continue throughout
all the holidays.
SwINDLING.-On Monday evening, gentle
man apparently some forty or fifty years OF age
entered the jewelry store of Mr.. H. Semken for
the purpose OF buying some presents for his son.
After examining several watches and other ar.
ticles, he requested that some of the watches
be laid by, and he would return in the morning
to see how they ran.
On Tuesday morning, he again made his ap.
pearance, and stated that he had been to the
Bank of the Metropolis, which he had found
closed, and was uot able to get his money.
he stopped some time, and spoke of several of
our understanding business men, among them
MIR. George Parker r,of whom he said he had rent.
ed a house on G street. He asked also if his
friend Mr.. Boteler did not often furnish houses
complete, and thought it would be less trouble
to buy his furniture here than to bring it from
Philadelphia He stated that he was stopping
at the National Hotel, and that his name was
A. M. Wainright. He then looked at the
watches,an made choice of one at l42 dollars,
and one at 1872 dollars.
He also concluded to take diamond cluster
pin at l26 dollars, making bill of 400 dol.
lars, for which he asked Mr.. s. il his check
would not do, as it was impossible for him to
get the money from the bank on that day,
and he was very anxious to make his son
Christmas present. Mr.. S. handed him blank !
check, which he filled up and signed, and then
took his leave.
This morning the check was presented at the
bank, when it was found that no account was
kept in the name of wainwright. On inquiry at
the National, it was ascertained that the So
called Wainright left at noon on Tuesday.
Officers are on the alert, and no doubt we
will be able to see his handsome face at the next
Criminal Court. 1t is supposed that this gen.
tleman is the celebrated bigamist, Haines.
RIoTs IN THE SIXTH WARD.-The sixth ward