The Portland daily press., 1866-11-09

WASHINGTON, Nov. s.
The Navy Department has received dispatch
the U. S. Steamer Shenandoah, announcing
the arrival of that vessel, ON the 28th of Sep
tember, at Bombay, British India whence il
was proposed the vessel would sail on the 10th
ult. for Point de Gale. Capt. Goldsborough
states that on the 18th of September, while an
chored off Muscat, he received a visit from the
officers of the Imam, welcoming him to the
port, and Offering the usual civilities. A salute
of twenty-ene guns was fired from the Shen-
andoah, and promptly returned from the batter
les on each side of the harbor. The next day
Capt. GOldsbOrOugh, in company with several
of his officers visited the Imam at his palace
and was Hospitality received. There is no Amer
ican Consul at Muscat, nor are there any
Americans at the present time residing there
American ship Clyde Of Salem, and Hellespont
OF Marblehead, were at anchor at Muscat
waiting to take in cargo. On the morning be-
fore the Shenandoah left Muscat, an uncle OF
the Imam landed with fifty men, took posses
sion of one of the forts and opened fire upon
the town, which Immediately returned the fire
from the opposite battery and from several
field pieces around the palace 1t appears
that this uncle is usurper of the throne. Capt.
i0ldsborough was appealed to by Imam for
assistance, but he declined interfering in any
way except as peace maker, and gave his assur-
cede and endeavOr to bring about reconcilia-
ton. This, Imam thought could be done, and
the subject was discontinued.
Secretary Browning has given decision on
an appeal from the action of the Pension Of
fce in regard to claims for the increase of inya-
lid pensions under the act of june g. 1866. His
construction of the law is in substance contain
ed in the following paragraph quoted from the
decision:
'Three grades of disability are described in
the act, but it is not to be presumed that Con-
gress supposed that all invalid pensioners who
receive the maximum amount under the former
laws would be therefore entitled to its liberal
provisions. The applicant for the increased al
fowance must affirmatiyely prove that his dis
ability is one of the specific character mention
ed in the act, or is quivalent thereto unless the
tact be sufficiently established by the proof ac-
companying his original application. am of
the opinion that the proofs do not bring case
within the act in question unless they show
tnat the disability is permanent and incapaci-
tates the applicant from performing manual la
Dor to the same extent as if he had lost hand
or footn = q u
The President to-day appointed John Wise
man Deputy Postmaster at Washington Iowa,
and 3. Olcott, of New York, and A. s. Sill, Of
New York, Consular clerks. sif
The following has been issued. COSTS -
Special Order No. 555,-- War Department, Adj
jataft Generals Office, Washington, Nov 8th-
A board of officers will assemble at Washing
ton, ID. C., on the 31st day of November, 1866, or
as soon thereafter as practicable, for the pur-
pose OF making inquiries and reporting to the
War Department the rates which should be al
lowed to employees of the Quartermaster's De-
partment in this city. The detail for the Board
is to be as follows: Brevet Mai Gen. A. G.
Sheas, Assistant Commissary Of subsistence,
Brevet Brig. Gen. VIM. Maynadier, Ordnance
Department, Maj. Gen. d. H. Kicker, Assist
ant Quartermaster General Brevet Mai Gen.
A. G. Wright, Corps of Engineers, Brevet
Lieut.. Col. Cilly, Assistant Quartermaster of
Bureau of Military Railroads.
By order of the Secretary of War
(Signed) S. D. TOWNSEND.
Assistant Adjutant General.