The Portland daily press., 1864-07-01


% Joshua Coffin, Esq, the historian of New.
pury' died suddenly on Thursday night, at the
age OF seventy-three years He was a most in.
telligent and diligent antiquarian. universally
honored and esteemed.
% California correspondent of the Rock.
land Gazette thus speaks of the wants of Cali.
fornia: ''What California needs most to-day. /.
rain-What she wants tomorrow is serenity fr.
housandJemaies; which would equal the male
population, according to the last census
y Quite an excitement prevails at the Kittery
Navy Yard and vicinity in consequence of sew
eral cases of severe sickness, supposed to have
been occasioned bya contagious disease ON board
the steamer DE Soto. The steamer has been or
dered to quarantine grounds.
B-A few days since dunner called ON n
young gentleman and presented him bill when
he was somewhat taken aback by the gent taking
him aside and blandly saying my dear sir,
call next Thursday, and III tell you when to
call again.
% The London Times says, "a general like
Grant If unsparingly supported by govern
ment, must succeed in making numbers tell
On the terms which he has hitherto accepted he
can probably get to Richmond, and possibly
take the city, too
20 The Springfield Republican says foolish
conscript in Dalton, Mass, cut off the index
finger of his right hand after he was drafted.
supposing he would be exempted for il. But
the game didn't work. When he came to visit
the board of enrolment he was accepted and
sent to camp.
q The Argus of Wednesday, had long
leader on Church Politics. Our neighbor
seems to gravitate towards Episcopacy and
Catholicism, not because he finds superior piety
there butless politics. He evidently would pre-
fer church, if he could find it, that takes high
and independent ground, having nothing to do
with either politics or religion
70 Gov. Seymour, of New York, is very
much dissatisfied with the announcement of the
Grand Jury that they deem it inexpedient to ex-
anime into the subject of the seizure of the
World and the Journal of Commerce. He saws
that as the jury have refused to do their duty.
the matter Of the seizure should at once be
brought before some proper magistrate.
u Rev. DIR. Joseph P. Thompson, of the
Broadway Tabernacle church, New York, hav-
ing preached a sermon on Christian Manhood.
called upon the church to furnish means for SCI
curing volunteers to represent them in the field.
by Monday morning some $4,000 we're raised,
and it was determined to enleavor to raise
money enough to send twenty-five men to
Meade's army.
80 The selection of Electors at large by the
state Convention was very fortunate one Mr..
Brown, of this city, is man well-xnown lin
the state, proyerbal for his public spirit, his
enterprise, his go-ahead qualities, and his ster-
ling devotion to the country. Mr.. Stetson, of
Damariscotta. is one Of the first men in his section
The selection of these gentleman was perfectly
unanimous.
81 sad and rather singular accident oc-
CURED at Calais on Sunday last Mr.. and Mrs.
Samuel Dyer, an aged couple of that city, were
riding home from church after the close of the
morning service, when on descending a hill part
of the harness gave way, bringing the carriage
in such manner and with such force that his
feet went through the dasher, breaking a leg of
each Of the parties named.
q Joseph A. Scoville, the American CORES
pondent Of the London Herald, and most ma
lignant reviler Of his own country, died in New
York on Saturday. He was at one time private
secretary to John c. Calhoun. and subsequently
edited fash comic weekly in New York. He
also acted as theatrical agent for Lola Montez .
short time, which terminated in his being dis
missed with . cowhiding administered by the
irate Countess.
= AT special meeting of the school COM
mittee OF Providence, ON motion of Prof Chase.
the hours of instruction at the High School in
that city were, during the remainder of the term,
to be from o'clock until /. Doctor Arming-
ton moved that the same privilege be extended
to all the other schools, which motion was lost
by decided vote. The privilege of remaining
Ave consecutive hours in school was too much
for the younger children to expect, notwithstan-
ding it was advocated by physician.
& The special committee appointed by the
-'~' VI Auc ECiuONAA u
the State Capital from Concord TO Manchester.
made majority and minority reports on Tues
day The former recommends that the capital
remain there, and that the city of Concord lay
out new street south OF the common and con-
tribute $50 900 for improvements Of the pres
snt building. The minority report advocates
the removal of the capital to Manchester, il her
citizens will raise s35o, 900 for . new State
House.
% The National Intelligencer says it has
been decided, after mature elaboration, that for
the present season, whisky shall be added to the
rations of our soldiers in the field during active
operations. The use Of whisky in the army, in
the opinion Of good judges. has been the cause
of more defeats and destruction Of human life
than all other causes combined. Its tendency
in any quantity, is to lessen rather than increase
the power of the army. So long as it is used,
its abuse may be looked for as an inevitable re-
suit. If the use of it in the army Of Gen.
Grant proves an exception the country will DO
fortunate indeed.