The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-01-26

The Annerati0n QueStioa.-While the coun-
try is cOnvulsed from one extreme to the
other with the question of secession, our
neighborS OF the county of Henrco are CON
siderably excited upon another subject, hav-
ing an entirely opposite meaning, namely, that
of annexation. portion of the citizens
living near the city, petition the Legislature
for an extension of the boundaries of Rich
mond, so to include their domicils perfect
ly willing to pay an additional tax for the
sake of enjoying the conveniences of our va
riouS insttu tions, established for the promo
ton of the public good. Another portion of
the inhabitants, some living near town and
some remote, are firmly opposed to annexa-
ton, and have sent in Il counter petition. and
the ma tier has not yet been finally acted on
The City Council, at its last meeting deba ted
the subject very fully; while considering a
petition from the congregation of Trinity
Church for permission to have the gas from
the city works extended TO their new build
ing. The eGitice has been erec ted few feet
beyond the corporation line, and the Coun-
ell having previously given the benefit OF
the gas TO the Sugar Refinery located at
a still greater distance from the city it
was naturally supposed that the petition
in question would be readily granted -
The Council, however, took different view
of the matter There was, it is true, q diyi-
sion of sentiment, but the advocates of the
petition We're not sufficiently numerous to de
feat the motion to lay ii on the table 1t is
supposed that by the time the Council meets
again, the question of extending the corpo-
rate limits will have been decided one way or
the other. If the proposition is carried
Trinity Church and all our suburban neigh
bors will have gas and water, and the benefits
of municipal protection if negatived, the
church petition will probably fail, and Mr.
Scott will call up his resolution to deprive
every outsider OF the use OF the gas. 1t may
be Regarded rather harsh proceeding to
prevent the introduction of this enlghtening
element into church, located near, and
many of whose members live in the city but
the motto of the Council seems nor to be
Fiat justitid," &c.
Seamen's BetheI.-The presentation of the
bell lately used at the Club House, to the
Chaplain of the Seamens Bethel, is an act of
such commendable import, that we are in
duced to lay before our readers the correspon-
dence in reference thereto. The bell will be
placed in the tower of Bethel Church very
soon, and the basement of the house opened
for worship next Sunday week:
RICHMOND, Jan. 2ith 1881
REV. FRANCIS J. BoGGs, Seanen's Chaplain
DEAR SIR: At the last meeting of the Bell Commit
determined to present you, for the Bethel. the bell
| used on our Club House, knowing, as we do
| your enterprise most worthy, and justly enti-
tied the attention and sympathy of all interest
ed in this useful but neglected class Of society
| been left to my discretion, and though there is
! still considerable amount due me personally
rection indicated by the committee. 1t has done
good service in az Honorable cause, aud regard
This as worthy destination for II.
THos. E. BALLARD Chm'n Of Bell Com.
RICHMOND, jan 25th.
THos Z. BALLARD, Esq.-Dear Sir: have just
received your kind note presenting me, for the
! of the seamen's Bethel, the very excellent bell
| and expressing in Hattering terms Your high ap
probation of the noble cause in which am en-
| gagged. Your present is IL most useful aud desira
| bic one. and have no doubt the direction you
have given it will be gratifying to most of our
| citizens and while il will scarcely ever assemble
| such crowds, as i'll ether days, hope in this
speet Twill lose none Of its power in calling to-
| port, and all Interested in their moral and re-
| Please accept my hearty thanks, as well as those
of the Board Of Managers of the seamen's society
of this city, for this exhibition of your kindness
and for yourself, ,as Chairman of the Committee, onr
| lively appreciation Of your kind aud substantial
| consideration of our enterprise;
| Yours, truly, francis J. BoGGs, Chaplain.
| The Necromancer.-For some time past, a
| splendid scenic piece, entitled The Necro-
mancer," has been in preparation at the Rich
| mond Theatre, and with n view TO make il
surprass anything of the kind hitherto pro-
duced, the managers have employed all the
/ resources at their command, in the way of
| scenery, mechanism and costume, while in
| the outlay of money they have been by no
| means sparing. We are assured that Mr..
| Heilge, the accomplished artist, has exerted
| himself TO the utmost, and by long and per-
| seyering labor has succeeded in complet ting q
| series of scenes of wonderful beauty. The
| author of the play Is Mr.. Burdett Howe,
| whose merits as an actor we have often al
luded TO, and who is deservedly popular with
| the public. 1t is stated by those who have
witnessed its rehearsal, that the piece exhibits
| much literary ability. In its representation,
| a good deal OF the supernatural is resorted TO,
| and as Ii progresses, the beholder is astonished
and bewiidered by those strange mechanical
effects which contribute to make up gor-
| geous dramatic spectacle. The principal parts
| will be sustained by Messrs. Howe, Bailey,
| Meldrun, L1nib, Warwick Phillips, Meer,
| and Others, MRS. Phillips, Mrs. DE Bar, Misses
| Newton and Partington; while lage number
| OF auxiliaries are employed, and nothing has
| been neglected in the minutie OF the piece
| ssThe Necromancer'' will be played to-nigh,
for the first time. We hope the house will bs
| thronged