The New York herald., 1862-02-18

r. nee to the purchase of lands ia the vicif
ty Of Fort Hamilton by the national go
erun ent, for public defence. was laid ov
for Nthe present. The Erie Railroad CO
lidaA "a bill Was passed. In the Assembly, favor
bic repo, IS were made the bills regulating o,
Court of q, sneral Sessions, and to punish frauds
! laborers. 4 ills were introduced for railroad
Tenth and OF. ter streets of this city; to preyei
frauds in the pening Of our city streets, and I
compel railroad to employ special police. Bill
were noticed to. reduce the fare oil city railroad
to provide for Nthe apprehension and punisi
ment Of kdnapp ers. and to regulate tn
| public advertising in this city. On the AT
| nouncement of the cA rture OF Fort Doneison an
Savannah all the rules of order were disregarded
and the members rose aA gave cheer after cheer
which was accompanied b. y a general clapping O
hands and throwing up OF hats on the part Of tn
spectators in the galleria :. A resolution, con
graduating the country on the victories, and di
recting an illumination Of then Capitol, was finally
after various patriotic speecba had been made
and amidst great excitement, a 1opted, when th
House a ljourned.
A regular meeting Of the Boara OF Supervisor
was held yesterday, Supervisor Tw, ed in the chai
pro tenn. After transactng some ro% time business
a communication was received from is Honor the
Mayor, stating that he had signed IL g resolution
passed by the Board recommending The issue O
county revenue bonds in anticipation the col
lection Of the annual taxes. His Ha nor also
recommended that the law be altered 20 provide
for the collection Of the taxes earlier period
of the year. an arrangement which weatd 81 70 the
payment of the interest On said county ra 'enue
bonds. Referred to the Committee on AA nual
Taxes. The Board then adjourned until Tues day
next, the 25th inst.
The Board Of Aldermen passed eSpoticn Ia 't
evening to fire a salute of one hundred guns 9,
morrow, as an appreciation of the late successes
of the Union arms. resolution was offeyed I'M
structng the Comptroller to withhold payment for
street cleaning it, in the opinion of the Inspector,
the contract has not been performed faithfully.
The resolution was laid over. Mayor Opdyke sent
in veto Of the bill prohibiting the use of salt on
railroad tracks, the ground of public necessity
and convenience, and that the charges of its deIe-
terious influence had little weight.
The Board Of Councilmen met last evening an
disposed of considerable routine business. On mo.
ton, the Special Committee upon the Celebration
Of Washington's Birthday was increased. Mr.. Ross
offered a resolution in favor Of making the
HERALD Times and Tribune the only organs in
which the Corporation proceedings shall be pnb-
lished; which was referred to the Committee on
Printing and Advertising. The chairman of the
Finance Committee asked TO he discharged frsm
the further consideration Of the Comptroller's es
Inmates for the taxes of the present year, which
was granted, and the subject was made the special
order for Thursday next. The Comptroller trans
mitted a detailed statement of the moneys received
from the Corporation Attorney during the month
Of December, and stated that he paid $Sls AZ to
meet the balance of expenses over collections in
the Office Of the Corporation Attorney for the year
1851. The Comptroller reported that the balance
in the city treasury up to February was
81, 3,l25 ,o5s %. The Corporation Counsel, in
reply to resolution inquiring as to
whether it was necessary to have the
authority Of the Legislature to impose taxes for
the support Of the city and county governments,
says that taxes cannot be imposed upon the
people Of this city or county for any purpose
whatever without the authority of the Legislature.
The Comptroller reported that during the last
month the sum of $74,424 was distributed in aid
of the families Of our volunteer soldiers. The
Board, concurred with the Aller'nen in resolving
to invite some leading oraieY to ueliyer an Grafton
on Washngton's birthday. Tnsy concnrred in the
adoption of the patriotic resolutions which will be
found in the proceedings Of the other Board, and
also to make arrangements for the reception of
Col. Corcoran and other distinguished prisoners.
A number of decisions were rendered yesterday
in The Supreme Court, General Term.
In the case of Simon Kstz, convicted OF arson in
the first degree about ten months since, and SEN
tsaced by Judge Leonard TO imprisonment for life,
the General Term Of the Supreme Courtrendered
decision yesterday reversing the conviction and
ordering trial. The principal witness against
Katz was his nephew, who testified that he fired
the premises at the instigation of his uncle, who
was not present when the offence was committed.
The Court held thst there was an error in trying
the prisoner as principal when the facts showed.
that he was only accessory before the fact.
Yesterday afternoon the United States Marshal
received despatch from Washington stating that
the motion pending before the Supreme Court OF
the United States in relation to Captain Gordon had
been denied; so that it is highly probable the exc
cuiion will take place Friday of this week.
According TO the City Inspectors report, there
were 4O3 deaths in the city during the past week
a decrease Of 10 as compared with the mortality
of the week previous, and @ less than occurred
during the corresponding week last year. The re-
capitulation table gives deaths OF alcoholism, 8
of diseases Of tho bones joints &C.. 81 of the brain
and nerves, of the generatve organs, IL Of the
heart and blood vessels, 1873 Of the lungs, throat,
&c. of old age, 81 of diseases Of the skin and
eruptve fevers. premature births, 40 of diseases
of the stomach bowels and other digestive organs;
90 of general fevers, Of diseases Of the
urinary organs, 2 unknown, and 10 from violent
causes. There were 2s0 natives Of the United
States IL Of England IS Of Ireland % Of Germany,
3 of Scotland, and tho balance Of various foreign
countries.
Professor Agassiz, the well known savan, CON-
menced series of lectures on Natural History"
at Irving Hall, last evening, before very large
audience, notwithstanding the inclemcnt weather.
His lecture was highly interesting and was listened
to with the greatest pleasure by his hearers. The
Professor will resume the subject on the evenings
Of February a. March Z, Ia, 81 and 2s at the same
place.
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