Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-05-15
LOCAL NEW S.


view the reduction of the expenses Of the public
schools and ask for a statistical report from the
Secretary of the Board Of Trustees, giving the
following Information: First-In relation to night
schools the number Of sessions actually tang ht in
each school; the number Of pupils entered during
the term; also, the number withdrawn; the aggre-
gate number Of night attendance in each school,
also Of absence; the average attendance the whole
term; contingentexpenses Of each school; whether
any public examinations were appointed ov the
Board Of Trustees; II any such occurred; the stu
dies examined and the general result second
Relating to day schools; the number attending OF
the ages Of I've, six, seven and eight years re-
spectively, and over sixteen years; how many pa
rents have more than one pupil In the schools
and how many are unable to get one In the
schools, as registered on the list of applicants
how many parents having the pecuniary ability
to pay for the education Of their children, are
having them educated at the expense Of this cor
poration; and how many parents unable to edu-
cate their children at private institutions are de-
prived Of seats In the schools by their being oc-
cnpied by children whose parents are able TO
avoid educating their children blythe corpora
ton.
SWEARING THE AUXILIARY GUARD AND NIGHT
WATCH Last night, when the police Of the
night bad assembled at the guardhouse, just be-
fore they were ordered to their beats the Chief Of
Police took the Holy Bible from the trial room
and went into the guards room. Mayor Berret
soon entered, and IL was whispered that he was
going to require the men to take the oath OF
allegiance. The Mayor took the book and adj
Police, and he to the men. The oath ran as fol-
lows:
T., do solemnly swear that will support
the Constitution Of the United States, and that
will faithsully and truly discharge my duties as
a member Of the Auxiliary Guard or City Watch,
and VIII, as such member, faithfully and dill
gently execute the laws and preserve order In
obedience to the constituted authorities, to the
best Of my ability, and without fear, favor, or
affection.
Every guardsman present subscribed to the
oath. The oath, we believe, 10 the same under
which they have always served. and which the
most Of them have not hitherto seemed to think
declared them from aiding and abetting the
carse Of secession to the best Of their abilities.
ltrs to be hoped that a new light has broken in
Eaton them as to Its meaning.
CATTLE IN THE CANAL About 10 O'Clock last
night IL WIS discovered that a number Of Gov
eminent cattle had been driven, had found
their way, from the Monument Grounds into the
city canal. which they followed up for some dis
lance. From the time Of discovery until a late
hour this morning many persons were engaged
In driving them out to the shore near the river
In doing this as many as six fine beeves were
drowned. Much patience and industry were re.
CURED 10 secure the drove; and those who were
engaged In 1t are entitled to the thanks Of the
Government
noticeable fact connected with this matter
vas that the provost guard (under Provost-serg't
Dayton) and many citizens were engaged for q
long time In driving these cattle out Of the canal,
and during the whole time they were thus en-
gagged not a single night Waterman was to be
seen, nor YVES one even heard Of, though the noise
made In getting them back to the mall might
have been distinctly heard half a mile off We
suppose the Auxiliary Guard considered that IL
was as much as they could be expected to do In
one night to take the oath administered to them
by Capt. Goddard, at the guard-house.
FIDELITY TO THE UNIoN-A Baltimore Secs
sion paper having stated that large number of
the Northern troops who had come to w Washing
ton had refused to take the prescribed oath for
soldiers entering the public service an inquiry
msde In the proper quarter elected the following
reply from Gen. George C. Thomas, who was the
Officiating officer:
SIR In answer TO your verbal inquiries as to
the probable number Of the troops from the n ORTIZ
ern States who had refused to take the pledge of
allegiance, think have administered the oath
to some fifteen thousand Of such troops, aud would
consider thirty as large margin for the whole
number who had refused believe in no instance
did the refusal originate in disIoyaIty to the
CH'eS; but the reason most generally given by
the parties Themselves was that the municipal
authorities Of the cities from which they came
mad promised to provide for their families, and
had not done so. Yours, very truly,
NJ AT IA, 1861. GEO. c. THOMAS.
EsIERIAISmEsr-Ab brilliant entertainment
was given last night by Mrs. Frederick w.
Seward and the Secretary Of State, at their new
residence, near Lafayette Square. Among the
Scott and staff, the officers Of the Seventh and
Seventy-frst New York, the Fifth Massachusetts,,
and the r node Island regiment; the diplomatic
corps, army officers, (including General Mans
field } together with brilliant array Of ladies
The parlon and passage-ways were tastefully
festooned with the American flag, while those of
other nations were modestly displayed Dod-
worth's band Of music, which accompanies the
Seventy-hrst regiment, was in attendance, en-
HANGING the general happiness. The Inequalities
were generously dispensed, and tbs festivities
continued to late hour.
PENNSYLVANIA TROOPS ON DRrLL.-Every day,
the Pennsylvania troops qu1rtered in the vicinity
Of the City Hall and the Assembly Rooms, appear
on drill In the fine drill ground contiguous TO
their quarters. Under the instruction of the W est
Point graduates, on duty with them, they are
making rapid progress. and are daily compli-
mented by hundreds Of military critics. who have
noticed them from their arrival TO the present
The practice In school Of the company 10 admired
especially The men are generally stout and
young. capable Of enduring the severest exercise
And they always go to work as II to days job,
ofcers and men in their shirt sleeves, and seem
TO enjoy the exercise thoroughly.
ARRIVAL OF TIE KEYSTONE srArK-Yes.erday
the u. ,. dispatch steamer keystone State arrived
here, IS hours from New York She left New
York on the 18th instant, and at IL a m. passed
steamer Dawn, bound South; at 3k p. m passed
frigate Minnesota, bound South; at D. m. in the
Chesapeake, communicated with steam-tu YAM
fee; on the 18th, at 5k p. m, met steamer Mount
vernon; at \ p IN. met the steamer Pocahontzs,
bound down; on the I4;h, at a m. met steam
ship Bienville, bound down; detained in the Po-
touiac 10 hours by fog.
WASHINGTON Boz AT CAIRo-Mr. Geo. g.
Dom, son Of Justice t. c. Dom, Of this city, has
for nine months past been employed at Memphis
Tenn He, with all who were not positively
committed to the JEFF Davis policy, We're closely
watched He seized opportunity which offered
on the 9th inst. and LEFT Memphis for Cairo
where he arrived on the 9th He immediately
wrote to his father: "Tbank God / am again in a
free country In Memphis a man can neither
speak nor write honest sentiments and be safe .,
He says all 10 right at Cairo.
TIE FIFTH NEW YoRk REGIMENT Yesterday
afternoon appeared In front Of their quarters on
Penn. avenue, fully armed and equipped al IL
for long march. But II turned out that they
were only 10 change their quarters from Wood
wards building 70 those provided In the United
States Capitol Their soldierly appearance drew
together a large crowd Of admirers who followed
them to the Capitol, expressing their qualification
N they went.
EXCHANGING ARMs,-A portion Of the Second
Regiment from New Jersey (hve companies)
marched through Pennsylvania avenue this morn.
ing 10 Four-and- half street, and thence to the
Arsenal, making handsome show. They went
TO exchange the old altered nint lock muskets
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