The New York herald., 1863-04-10

usual hour, as the regular weekly steamer Oh She
line.
The British steamship Louisiana. from Liverpool.
arrived yesterday. brought $40 bales Of cotton.
and the British steamer Celt. from lIavrc. brought
679 bales, making a total Of 2.52s bales.
Governor Morton, Of Indiana. gss eltaut.s.;ncd
last evening eta eOYpiimsntary dinner, rendered
TO him DSome Of the leading republicans Of this
city. Mayor Opdyke presided. and speeches were
made by Governor Morton. d. d. Field. General
Wool Robert Dale Owen. Judge Bonney, H. J.
Raymond and M. Cowden. We give a condensed
report of the proceedings.
The Committee on Water Defences OF the Har-
Dor Defence Commission met yesterday. to hear
Mr.. Stevens in regard to his celebrated floating
battery, now lying at Hoboken; but in cOnse-
quence of illness in the family of Mr.. Stevens the
committee will hold a meeting to specially hear
him on Tuesday next at one O'Clock. Mr. N. N.
Stanley presented the result Of experiment by
a new gun making by him. which sent haf-inch
steel spike through four and half inches of solid
wrought iron plating, being fired from an ordinary
riied barrel. The name szed spike from the same
gun was driven through fifteen feet of solid pine
plank. Mr.. Malafert, the contractor who restored
Diamond Reef, explained his plan for an internal
machine; and Mr.. L. H. Dunkin explained his plan
for an iron-clad to be wholly impervious to any
shot or shell.
There are now 6, ZIG inmates in the public insti
tutions Of the city decrease Of thirty-one since
last week. The number admitted during the
week was ,465, while those discharged, transfer
red or who died numbered l.496.
The investigation into the circumstances attend
ing the death of Peter F. Fletcher. of No. lls
Washington street, supposed to have been poison
ed by his wife, was commenced yesterday by Co.
roner Ranney. number of witnesses were cxa-
mined, but nothing definite was elected. The in
quest was adjourned over until to-day, in order
that the contents of deceased's stomach might be
analyzed.
In the Court Of General Sessions yesterday.
before Recorder Hoffman, Bridget Breen, servant
girl. was indicted for grand larceny. in stealing
$l56 from her mistress, Mrs. Emma Kngsbury,
early in March last. The jury. after remaining
out about two hours, stood eleven for acquittal
and one for conviction, with no prospect of
nearer agreement, and were accordingly discharg-
ed. The Court adjourned until this morning.
1t is proposed to clear the timber of all the
islands in the Hudson river in order that the free
passage of the ice shall not hereafter be OBJ
structed.
The market for cotton very dull yesterday, as
buyers reluctant to pay 80 for mddngs
Prices Of breadstu, provisions and groceries tended
downward yet business was quite limited. Tallow
active but cheaper. very slack demand prevailed for
nearly all descriptions OF domestic produce and general
merchandise, at dropping rates. Tho competition Of
steamers with sailing had very depressing
effect the freight Market leading to great
stricion Of engagements aud material reduction in
rates.
Gold was active yesterday, but the fluctuations
less active than the previous day. II opened at l48X
sold down to LAG, aud closed about 147X. stocks
were irregular and generally lower in the morning, but
rallied in the afternoon, and became quite strong with
the exception OF Harlem. Exchange was dull at 162
1e3 Money was exceedingly easy; call loans per
The trade tables Of the port for the month Of March will
be found in the money article
The Conduct OF the War . Disgrace to
the Nation.
Since the rebellion began nething has seen
the light which is 80 calculated to give aid and
comfort to the enemy and to dishearten the
people Of the loyal States a. the disgraceful re-
port on "The Conduct Of the War" issued by
the joint committee Of Congress. "Oh, that
mine enemy would write bookl" is proverb
Of very old date; and JefL Davis may we'll
exult that his enemy has not only written and
printed q report, but that he is about to repro
duce it in pamphlet form, as If it were not
sufficiently humiliating to the nation that il
should appear In the newspapers. The COM
mittee have been two years at work, and
what they have produced at last recalls the
fable Of the mountain in labor, which brought
forth ridiculous mouse.
The main design Of the report is evidently to
damage General Mcclellan; and so one-sided
q document never before emanated from Con-
gressional committee. II Is more like the
speech Of public prosecutor against prisoner
than the charge Of an impartial Judge,
exhibiting the evidence on both sides,
without fear, favor or affection. But in
their anxiety to injure him they have effectually
damaged themselves, and brought reproach
| upon oil in military authority, from the Presi-
dent down to the bnigadier general. For who
is responsible for the conduct Of the war? Not
the subordinate generals, but the authorities at
Washington who appoint them. The aippancy
| with which committee Of civilians give express
sion to military opinions, and speculate upon
what would or might have been had General
Mcclellan done this or omitted to do that, is
quite In keeping with their profound ignorance
Of the subject on which they treat. 'Fools rush
In where angels fear to tread" They are all
like set Of schoolboys playing soldiers when
the school master Is out. The most burly Of
them, Ben. Wade, shouts that they are oil
| wrong, and strikes right and left, after the
fashion Of bull in a china shop. He hits the
tall boys like Lincoln under the fifth rib, and
the short boys like Mcclellan ON the bridge Of
the nose. The military criticisms of Wade &
Co. are about as valuable as the prattle Of
children. But, while their opinions are not
worth rush, the facts which they bring to light
present melancholy picture of the folly and
incapacity which have marked the conduct Of