The New York herald., 1865-04-23

such as the world never saw before.
The preparations for the reception OF Mr..
remains upon their arrival tomorrow
forenoon are now nearly complete. The
military display will be superb, and for the
civic arrangements it is only necessary to say
that on Tuesday the whole city will follow bis
coffin. The committee of the Common Coun-
Gil have decided to lay the body In State, not
within the Governors Room in the City Hall,
as was supposed, but In temporary
p0rtico in front of the door, erected
for that purpose. This portico is directly at the
head of the double staircase leading from the
rotunda to the Governors Room. The people
will be permitted to ascend one stairway, pass
the body, take a last look at all that remains on
this earth of honest Abraham Lincoln, and
descend on the other side. With proper arrange
ments and o strong military guard, all who
desire to pay this last sad tribute to the dead
may do so with convenience and in perfect
order. 1t is calculated that hundred persons
a minute can thus view the body, so that there
will be ample time for every one to do so. We
remind the people that all efforts to crowd upon
each other, or disarrange the order set down,
will only obstruct the proceedings, and cause
disappointment to many. The vast stream of
visitors can enter the hall by one door and
retire at another, without causing the least con-
fusion, if they are only patient and forbearing
with each other, and with those who have the
management of the solemn ceremonies.
We would have preferred, and if it is not too
late would now suggest to the committee that it
would be infinitely better to have selected the
fine esplanade in front of the hall for this oc-
casion. A temporary covering might be raised
70 protect the catqfalque and coffin from the
weather, strong railing enclosing the esplanade,
and military guard surrounding the whole
enclosure The public could enter at Broadway
side, and retire on Park row. This would enable
a much larger number to see the body, and it
would avoid the crush in the rotunda, doOrways,
and on the narrow stairs, which, we may add,
ire only protected by very low balustrade.
Besides, thousands in the Park and in the
adjoining houses, who may not care to venture
within the building, would be content with
sight of the magnificent catGfalque and colin.
They would thus, at least to certain extent,
become participators in the Obsequies. We
regret that this plan was not adopted.
The Plague In Russia--Origin, Extent
and Effects or the Visitation.
The city of st. Petersburg, the capital OF
the Russian empire, has been afflicted since the
last days of March with the presence of severe
and very fatal epidemic, which has carried of a
large number OF the inhabitants; and, culmina-
ting recently in frightfal mortality among the
aboring and more destitute classes, its ravages
have assumed the proportions and received in
some quarters the classification OF plague.
This fact has naturally alarmed the authorities
having charge Of the public health in the cOun-
tries lying adjacent to the empire, while the
Custom House and Quarantine officers Of New
York; city which has such rapid and almost
uninterrupted communication with the subjects
of the Czar-sounded noie of warning in the
HERALD yesterday morning.
The malady has been called the Siberian
plague and some Of the enthusiastic friends ol
freedom in Europe have not hesitated to assert
their belief that it has been sent al mark Of
Divine retribution on Russia for her executive
severity in driving so many persons yearly to
sicken, die and rot in those dreary wastes in
which the disease has, as they allege, origi-
mated. and from which it has been blown to
the more thckly inhabited frontier posts, and
thence to the gided city OF the Alexanders
Be this as it may, there is no doubt that
st. Petersburg, as well as many other parts
If Russia suffers under an affection which is at
once sudden in its appearance, acute, febTle
and malignant in its attack, aud very mortal in
it's consequences; and, although we do not be-
!ieve that this "plague" will ever be num-
bered with those which have desolated, at diffe-
rent periods in the history of the world, Egypt
syria, Turkey, Italy, and the cities Of Rome
COnstantinople, London and Paris, we do not
hesitate to say that the presence of the disease,
jus; at this moment, will have a very damaging
effect on the commerce and finances of Russia.
Tracing the course of the malady, 1t appears
10 have originated on the Asiatic side of the
Ura Mountains, whence it slowly threaded
its way to St Petersburg. increasing as II
went by feeding on numerous victims taker
from an impoverished, under-fed, ill-clad and
overworked population. Wherever it appeared
all employment WAS at once suspended. Th,
alarmed and excited people fed before
it towards the towns. and thus aggregated
the contagion in municipal centres. from which
It spread 10 the metropolis. So numerous
were the deaths in St. Petersburg for some
days, that the publication Of official returns o
the number Of cases ceased about the Sd o.
April, the hospital accommodations failed. and
hundreds OF thousands OF rubles, taken from
the government treasury or private purses
were in process Of appropriation, with the
view Of securing shelter and relief appliances
for the patients. Physicians reached the city
from Cracow, Warsaw, and some Of the towns
Of Poland, to tender their services to the
sick; but, Notwithstanding oil this liberal and