The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-04-13

|. Several appointments were YESTERDAY made at
the Custom House. In another column we give a
list of the names. The business in that depart
ment still continues very dull. The Collector is
expected back tomorrow evening, aud on Mon
day will doubtless resume his afternoon reception
of applicants.
The legislators at Albany were hard at work
again yesterday, driving business through rapidly,
in anticipation Of an early termination to their la
bors large number of bills were acted on in
both houses. In the Senate among the bills passed
were the New York Chamberlaincy BILL the Har-
lem Bridge bill, and the bill to submit the question
OF revision Of the constitution to the vote Of the
people of the State. The Supply bill was received
from the Assembly, with the Senate's amendments
non-concurred in, and the Senate resolved to
adhere to its action thereon. The Senate
adopted the concurrent resolution for the
close of the present legislative session to-day
at noon. The Assembly passed a large number
| of bills, among which was the half million appro-
pration bill for equppng the militia Of the State.
The Senate's amendments to the City Tax Levy
were concured in, and the bill is now in the hands
| of the Governor.
| Yesterday was the eighty fourth anniversary Of
the birthday Of the llustrious Henry Clay, the
cilator in chief Of the feuds which, in the troub
lous times Of 1850 threatened to disrupt the Union.
Strange and melancholy it is, that on this annver-
| sary, that peace which the sage of Ashland sc.
| cured to the country for brief period has fed,
and that the telegraph brought us the intelligence
that fraricidal blood had been shed in the harbor
| of Charleston in a conflict between the army Of
| the Confederate States and the troops of the
United States. The morning had brought no news
| of the fray, and hope yet fingered in many a
breast that hostilties would be averted, and
| on that feeling the minds of our citizens were
anxious to do honor to the memory of the departed
patriot. Flags were displayed in more than usual
number from the City Hall Custom House, the Bat
| terry the Exchange and from all the hotels and
from NUMEROUS stores the flag Of the old United
States threw its broad folds to the breeze, and
many hopeful glance was directed to its naunt.
ing and many an aspiration, no doubt, went forth
that it would again be the emblem of a reunited
people. In the evening the usual Clay banquet was
held at the st. Denis Hotel to which upwards of a
hundred gentlemen sat down. Patriotic toasts and
speeches were the order of the night, while full
Justice was done to the bounteous spread prepared
for the occasion.
The anxiety to hear later rom Charleston seemed
to absorb the thoughts Of commercial circles yesterday
in nearly all branches Of business to the exclusion Of
almost everything elae Many bogus reports about des
patches having come to hand circuated-one de.
clarng that Sumter to be evacuated another that
TO be provisioned. Another account reported the
| wires down and the mails stopped 1t was not until
after business hours between fveand half past five
P. ~, that the first despatch announcing the attack
| on Fort Sumter received The days fighting soon
after appeared in extra edition OF this paper.
The news though late produced the greatest excitement
The sales Of cotton confined to 500 COO bales,
closing at about 1850 for mddng upands. The flour
market less active and sales fair including some lots
for export Wheat closed dull and 1c. &C. per bushe
| lower. Corn without change of moment in prices
Pork steady, with sales of mess at ST. So and of
prime at sl3 Coffee in fair request with moderate
sales, Freghts dull and rather easier, with fair
| engagements to Liverpool and London.