The New York herald., 1864-12-12
80 g. ~ a~<
A Atf.nnmn -. m.s nxA,


and caustIc political brochures of the day, we
publish this morning special letter from
Rufus +. Andrews, late Surveyor of this port,
to Tburlow Weed. In this letter the venerable
chief cook and bottle washer, and compiler OF
statistics Of the lobby, is handled without
gloves Mr. Andrews broadly hints or boldly
charges that the venerable, reverend and
demagogue, hypocrte and ingrate"-the
"Lucifer Of the by"-"Fagin the Jew"--a
dead man, who has come out Of his grave--"a
melancholy Jacques"-"KroOk the Second"-
'an unscrupulous old liar'--"a wretch, who is
by trade liar"-and who is, withal, boldly
accused Of being slandcrer Of the Presidents
wife.
This last charge, according to Mr. Andrews,
involves the secret of his removal from the
Office of surveyor Of this port He had in
formed Mrs. Lincoln that Weed had openly
accused her Of Unreasonable conduct" and
had followed up this accusation with the ex-
traordinary news that by an order Of the
Secretary OF War that lady had been banished
the Capitol" Weed posted of to Washington.
was forgiven. But Andrews was not forgiven
for Weed, as it appears, made the removal Of
Andrews from his Office the condition upon
which depended Thurlows support OF Old
Abe in the late Presidential election. Thus
Andrews fell, aud thus Weed had his revenge.
1t is strange story this Of Andrews, an awful
budget Of sharp practices on the part Of the
accused, which, IL only half true, would justify
the change of the familiar title Of g the old
man" to that Of the old fool. Andrews has
evidently been 'taken in and done for;" but
in making sworn enemy Of him Weed has as
evidently made q bad blunder.
This rupture, however, between Weed and
Andrews is but another item chargeable to
the account Of the original rupture between
Seward and Greeley in 1860. Since that fare
up we have had in this State Seward faction
of republicans and an anti-Seward faction, a
Weed and Raymond faction and Greeley and
Opdyke faction, Chase-Barney faction and an
anti Chase Draper faction, Wsed.shoddy fac
tion and enthusiastically faction-all of
which may be comprised now in one Presden-
tial faction for Seward and two or three against
him. This letter Of Andrews reopens the fight
against Stewards good man Friday, while it
lets up the Secretary Of State Is first class
statesman. The Opdyke libel suit, before 1t il
ended, will probably throw good deal moro
light upon the subject. We want more light
Let us have IT, Meantime, if half the charges
of Andrews can be made good against Weed,
we can only say, in view Of his age and inHrmi-
ties, Lord have mercy upon him, miserable
sinner"
The NAVAL APPRENTICESHIP SYsTEM.--Among
the suggestions contained in the report Of the
Secretary Of the Navy is one which will COM
mend itself favorably to the attention Of Con-
gress. He recommends that one half tho ap-
pointments Of mdshipmen be selected from the
naval apprentice school--a plan that has re-
GENTLY been revived with success to replenish
the navy with young and efficient seamen. Z.
The apprentice schoolship, the frigate
Sabine, commanded by Captain r. B.
Lowry, now stationed near Norfolk, has
on board some two hundred and fifty
healthy and intelligent youths, whose ages
range from fourteen to eighteen years. They
are regularly instructed in all the minu-
tie Of man-of-war details, Including rigging ]
and unrigging masts and yards, bending and
unbending sails, knotting, splicing, strapping
blocks, heaving the lead, steering, making sig
mails, pointing, grating, weaving mats, making
gaskets, roofing, furling, using muskets, pistols
and cutlasses, exercising great guns target
firing, pulling oars, &C., &c According to In
structions from the department, schoolmasters
will be assigned to each schoolship, to teach
the rudiments Of education, including
navigation; and proper allowance of
books, stationery and necessary ipstru-
ments. Practically, this naval apprenticeship
system is Of more service to the national navy
in supplying 1t with able and efficient men than
the highly scientific and aristocratic Naval
Academy at Newport; end it is therefore but
just that the youths employed in it should be
entitled to share in the disposition of the
higher grades Of naval appointments
Captain Lowry, who has so acceptably
discharged his duties as commander of
The schoolship, has been careful in the
selection Of his subordinate officers and
instructors. They are all humane and capa-
BILE persons; and not a word Of complaint
has been heard from the schoolship in
regard 10 harsh treatment, improper or scanti-
ness Of food, uncomfortable quarters, insult
cient clothing, medical care and attention, or
in regard to hours OF rational recreation and
liberty. BY their evolutions in battalion drill
md rife exercise on shore the boys become
familiar with military duties, while the hand
ing, loading and firing Of great guns and tar
yet practice make them acquainted with ar
tillery practice, serviceable both ashore and
anoat. The discipline is strict, moderated with
xindness; for It must bs understood that the
naval schoolship is not a reformatory instiiu-
lion, to which bad and intractablc boys can be
tent for correction. AS at present conducted,