Weekly Trinity journal., 1863-09-19
Our San Francisco News Letter.

SAN Francisco, Sept. II, 1868.
FRIEND GoRpoN THE news from the East has
absorbed public attention in this city during the
week, almost to the total exclusion of other mat
ters We have had no other excitement. Every
body but rebel sympathsers are satisfied with
Rosecrans and Gilmore. On Monday saw the
pirate crew and leaders in the Chapman affair ar
raigned in the L. S. Circuit Court to plead to the
charge Of treason. They are beautiful looking
set of creatures A detachmen: from Acatraz
and of the Provost Guard had them in charge
great crowd collected to see them, and when
they came out ranged between two files of armed
soldiers all kinds of epihets were shouted. a
special jury has been ordered for the purpose of
trying them.
Yesterday body of soldiers pitched their
tents on the western slope of Goat Island and
began throwing up carlhworks. 1t seems, when
one stands at the foot Of Stuart street and looks
at the operation, as if We were really preparing
IA defence against immediate invasion. The spot
is so far into the harbor that little could be done
10y the battery in rcpeling an attack by feet
after it should have passed the guns OF Alcatraz.
Still, it would annoy an enemy somc rs it com
mands portion of the channel at long range
1t was proposed some time ago to throw up
works along the submits of the hills west OF the
city, but | have heard no more from it since.
The iron-clad is coming. ana before long we shall
see her floating about here ready for rebels or
French, whoever may choose to come.
While go much is being done for the military
defence of the city, its moral deienses are not
neglected. Starr Kings Church is rapidly ap
proaching completion, and so also is the Howard
street Church. Both edGces will be ornaments
to the city when done. The Unitarian Church is
the most substantial and graceful Of the two-a
little compact Gothic temple with a Sunday
School chapel attached.
Speaking of morality leads TO queer reflections
The City Hall is place where morals are cor
rtcted. The Police Court room is worth visiting
Nhen the prisoners dock is full. This morning
II saw Harry Courtaine (every one in California
has heard of him) naturally talented and able
actor. He came up into the dock, his hair mat
ted, clothes smearcd with mud and filth, ard his
limbs trembling like a leaf. He was charged
with having been drunk, and plead guilty. As
he went back many involuntarly said, Poor
COurane, you are gone At bis side was q
female arrested on the same charge, She was
brAzen-no shame in her face such as contcndcd
with the palor of Courtaine's. She coniended
that it was sickness which made her stagger, but
it was of no use she had been drunk. and the
Judge said twenty four hours in the city
prison. The front seat is for the accOmm0da-
ti0n of such "drunks the back seat for those
charged with more serious offences Many coun-
tenances become familiar in that dock They
serve short time in prison aud come right back
Sometimes Judge Cowes gives the accused lee
tnre, and often advises them to sign the Pledge,
for the Judge is temperance man, and knows
that nearly every crime which be is called upon
to investigate originated in drunkenness aud its
attendant debaucberes The " Home of the
lncbriatc " receives many accessions to its num-
bers from this tribunal
Menkin has put on her clothes and now appears
in two or three characters in the " French Spy"
Journalists will say What this is a change for the
better in all that concerns the morality of the
Stage. Still even now she cannot dratc unless
she assumes the role of an Amazon, and htitls the
awful and stunning blows Of the " Stage Act"
If she can make n sabre blaze as Dillon did we
will forget that she is a woman Lamonts stecd
still walks very leisurely across the Melodeon
boards before the bowling huudreds who pay fifty
and twenty five cents to open their mouths run
out their tongues and yell at buresqne. | saw
some fellows from Trinity coming out Of there a
few nights since. Can't give names. They we're
laughing Yours truly, DEIIus