Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-12-26

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DRAWBACK ON ALASKA The House Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs Is engaged in inves-
tigating amatter. which bids fair, to have an
important bearing upon the action of the House
10 regard to the appropriation to pay for, Alas
ka.4 5s9f>.s:j '.aialj,.l l:/aayItH gd.n.ig
Private parties holding claim against the
Russian Government for ordnance stores turn-
ished during the Crimean war. the contract
price for which was $500, 900, have fled this
claim, Witbithe committee named above, and
: ask that this sum be withheld by our Gov
ernment from moneys appropriated to settle
with Russia for Alaska =, =. =. E, ~ =; :.
Tt appears that sometime before the Crimean
war closed the Russian Government. sent off.
GERS to this country to purchase arms and
ammunition. Proposals were solicited from
several firms and, finally, upon propositions In
writing from eW. B.. Perkins, of Ma$sachu-
sets, Baron Stoeckl, the Russian Minister in
Washington, agreed to take from Mr.. Perkins
one hundred and fifty tons Of American cannon
powder d. ~ 5tI IL lHn =I Z G tJ1i
A. contract was also made for $4,000 rifles
with Mr.@Perkins, through the advice Of Baron
Stoeckl, but through an. ordnance officer of the
Russian Government sent out for the purpose.
The powder was Inspected and loaded on Ship
board according to the stipulations, and the
rifles were manufactured and held subject to
an order from Russia. At this time the war
closed, and the Russian authorities refused to
receive either the powder or the arms.
The matter was brought to the attention Of
the State Department at an early day, and
Mr. Seward submitted the matter to the au
thorities at St. Petersburgh, urging the just
ness ot the claim, and asking that it might be
recognized and settled.
The Russian Government, however, refused
to- take any action on the matter, or even to ac-
knowledge the debt, shielding itself with the
excuse that the contracts for these military
stores on their part were not made In writing
The question is puzzling the committee
greatly, and Mr. Seward is severely censured
tor not insisting upon clause in the late treaty
providing for the settlement of all just claims
any of our citizens might have against Russia,
as he was well aware Of their character. =
Wash. E1cpreSs.3 i; f.Ies,. nj E4 .f<.
CLERICAL TABLE-TALK.- have heard of
aclergyman who, on his way to church with
some young people, boasted that he could preach
sermon extempore, on moments notice, it
any one would give him the text. One Of the
company Immediately proposed that he should
lott that afternoon. He consented, and the
text selected was, "Ephraim is cake not
turned :" He broke down entirely before he
was. half through. The sermon is still remem4
beredlin thetparish as the half baked sermon
There is an old lady residing in the country
parts of one Of our Eastern dioceses, who is
bishop or any Of the diguitaries of the church
visits her parish, always has dinner party,
and invites thereto the magnates of the vii
age.. GOn such occasions the affairs OF the
church in the Ineighborhood are freely discus
sed: On one of them the fact was mentioned
that former rector had returned to his old
parish In the neighborhood So clergyman
present expressed the opinion that the good
brother, though an excellent preacher in some
respects, failed in one particular, at least
that he did not preach Christ with sufficient
prominence. This started up the old lady,
who considered the person criticized her spe-
cisl protege, and was herself quite character,
Shecaled out from her place at the head OF
the table, 'sSir, you are mistaken: Mr.. T.
breaches Christ as much as you 40, only ne
don't make: great fuss about it. i. .a.aa g..
There was great wedding in a neighborlng
city, in q family which was exceedingly numer-
Gus. The bridal party, with the clergyman,
were gathered ID a small boudoir that opened
into the main parlor by folding doors. La this
main ilparlor were gathered great crowd OF the
relatives, all belonging to this proverbialy nu-
merous family. The sliding of the doors was
a signal for the beginning OF the services. I'M
mediately upon their unfolding and revealing
to the bridal party the numerous company
gathered to witness the ceremony, the minister
began his PRAYER thus Lord what a multi,
tude''-before he could add ''of mercies, the
invited puests had caught an idea very differ
ent from that intended, and were so amused Us
to lose half the solemnity of the occasion. u
A BUREAU Man TARRED AND VARNIsHED.
We were informed yesterday OF scene =, that
occurred few days since at Vienna, village
iD the southeastern portion OF this county "A
sub aoent for the bureau, named Pointer, from
MARSHALL county, desiring to replenlsh the cor
fers of the bureau, or his own, appeared 10
Vienna, and attempted to collect the sum OF a
dollar and half from each negro for drawing up
contracts. The negroes could not see It IL this
light, and refused to pay. the subsidy; where;
upon Pointer, having. iimbibed freely OF corn
juice, abused the negroes at round rate, ours
ing and threatening them. After bearing this
until patience ceased to be virtue, crowd OF
them seized the uckless agent, and besmeared
his face With tar, and afterwards applied coat
of varnish, and with this dress turned him
loose But Pointer s troubles did not end
here. In lis disastrous flight he entered t the
store ofa merchant, where there were some on
ladies, using boisterons and indecent language.
lie laid himself down before the fire. muttef' 'a,
ing and cursing the while, when the merchant
attamnted tn mt him. out OF the house, Al