The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-02-08

to occupy his seat during its delivery. AS ne
closed, almost exhausted, every senator, on |
both sides of the chamber, crowded around |
him to shake his hand and congratulate him |
on his truly brilliant effort
The present week promises to be even more |
interesting than last.
ADJUSTMENTS.
We are being literally gorged with enter
tainments of all manners, kinds and descrip-
tions: from the dignified debates of gra e Sem
ators, to the rollicking hilarity of the skating
carnival. The English Opera Troupe are de-
lighting their thousands at the National, and
tie. Davenport Walacl Combination are draw
ing crowded houses at Wallis The skating
is excellent. and almost everybody "and his
folks are docking to the skating park, where
"carniyals" are held nightly by the light of
magnesium burners Roman candles and sky
rockets. And last. but not least, Dickens is
here. The veritable "Boy" is among us, and
the first question now asked is-"Haye you
heard Dicllens?' / haze; 1 went last night,
and never before in my life did attend SO
charming an entertainment. The hall, as a
matter Of course, was crowded, and the APP
plausc was frequent and hearty. In personal
appearance Mr.. Dickens is of about medium
size, with genial, open countenance and
mild, sympathetic blue eye. His hair is quite
grey and he sports very large moustache and
long chin whiskers. His face is what one
would call "a little flushed"-the resalt, no
doubt, of good English roast beef and ga little
something to go with it." His nose is perhaps
a little too prominent for the Grecian style Of
beauty, but on the whole he is very fine look
ing, and his features indicate a man of talent.
He will be fifty-six years old next Thursday,
and probably no man in the world has better
preserved his physical and intellectual health
than Mr.. Dickens. He has none of the POM
pous swagger that charaeterizes so many of
his ceuntrymen, and of which he has been so
often accused. He appeared in plain suit of
black with white vest and necktie-the only
sprinkling of dandyism being small bouquet,
which he wore ON his left breast, and dia-
mond ring which glittered on the middle fin
ger of his right hand. To attempt descrip-
ton of his readings in the short space allowed
me would be folly, so leave that to other and
ADLER hands.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Affairs at the Treasury Department seem to
be getting into rather an interesting predica-
ment, so far as Office seekers, are concerned.
When Mr.. Chandler resigned the Office of As.
sistant Secretary, some two months ago, the
President nominated Mr. Cooper of Tennes-
see-one of his Kitchen ca5net"-for the po-
sition. He, however, has been rejected by the
Senate and there is now general scramble
for the place. The fortunate man will prob
ably be William P. Wells, Esq, gentleman
from Detroit, Michigan, a good Republican
and competent officer, but there are scores of
Richmonds in the field and the result is still
doubtful. The Whiskey Ring" which has
been holding its sessions in this city for sever
al weeks for the purpose of BUSTING Commits
sioner Rollins has at length succeeded in in
ducing the President to nominate their candi-
date for his place; but as Mr.. Rollins refuses
to take the hint to resign, the confir nation Of
the nominee (Mr. Wiswell of New Jersey is
out of the question. This ring" composed of
distillers and rectifiers of whiskey, have been
actively at work for the overthrow of Mr.. Rol-
Inns for long time, and have made charges OF
corruption against him and his agents, but
facts recently brought to light show that near
iy all the frauds practiced upon the Treasury,
been committed by men appointed directly by
the President and for whom Mr.. Rollins is in
no way responsible. 1t is fact that while the
books of the Special Commissioner show that
there should be collected ON this article nearly
or quite $13O,00O,O0O, there was received last
year, only about $27 600, 0OO-leaving a nice
little Stealing fund" of oUer hundred mil
hons which has creased the pockets of some Of
these protectors of the public interests.
FALSE ALARM.
A great deal of anxiety has been felt
throughout the country in regard to the prop
osition now before the House Committee on
Banking and Currency relative to abolishing
the National Banks and supplying their issue
of notes with greenbacks.
A few days since dispatch was sent from
here to the principal papers of the North, tina.
the committee had by vote of five to four de-
cided in favor of the measure, and great was
the CONSERVATION of Wall-street and capitalists
generally, thereat. That report was wholly in
correct, no such action having been taken
and have the best authority for stating that
majority of the committee are opposed to the
bill and will vote against it.
PERSONALS.
Gen. Kit Carson arrived in town yesterday
on business with the War Department. The
old pioneer trapper has been nominated by
the President as Indian Agent for New Mex
leo and Observation-Disclosures WITH the
redskins he ought to make an efficient one.
General Hall, Collector of the Port of Wald-
obo-o, is here comforting with the Secretary of
the Treasury in relation to some seizures re-
Gently made by him in his district. General
Longstreet, G. S. A., arrived to-day. Last
evening the President held Levee which was
very well attended considering the number of
other entertainments. AT the close of his
readings Mr.. Dickens and Mr.. Thornton, the
new British Minister, called in and were pre-
scented to Mr.. johnson.