The New York herald., 1869-06-23
THE CUSTOM House.

The Custom House wore its customary bustling
appearance yesterday, mp stairs and down. Busy
clerks turned over heavy ledgers with unceasng in
dustry, and busy merchants and merchants clerks
from all the avenues OF downtown trade hurried in
and out with papers aud portfolios from the rotunda
OF the building Every desk bore Its pile OF papers
and through the pigeonhoe openings Of these railed
In places OF clerical labor transactions OF heavy pc
cuniary and commercial import we're carried
on with ceerity and noiselessuess strikingy
curious TO the uninitiated mind. Up stairs,
the second noor Collector Grinnell held
q levee of very various visitors. When the
reporter OF the HERALD entered the Collectors
chamber about score OF individuals were scattered
around on chairs and lounges or leaning against
rosewood desks and huted pilasters. Something ap.
peared be under discussion before the Collector
which interested every ofiice-seeker, or whatever
else might be the character OF the ooker-on anu
very soon 1t became easy to determine that the
representatives OF two rival nationaltcs were
arguing q personal point in no very amiabc mood
towards each other and that the pair were respec-
lively "blarsted Brtisher' and q "universal yam
kee." Il was also very easy TO determine
the spectators, and that the Britisher had only
to be anywhere else, save under the protecting ags
Tor charging the aforesaid universal Yankee'' with
using abusive language towards him. me Britisher,
a tall thin, well spoken ana correctly dressed per-
son, charged the Yankee. Custom House officer Of
stout build, bluff manners and decidedly independ-
ent bearing, with using towards him unnecessarily
curt and abusive language at the Cunard dock in
Jersey City. The Britisher II seems, came out from
'merry hold HinRland" recently, and ordered 10 be
sent after him In the next steamer for New York
package OF old clothes. The steamer duly arrived,
and the native of Albion proceeded to the
Cunard dock TO get his parcel. Clothes, II
seems, according to Custom House regula-
tions, are charged duty provided they are
II old, they pass free but all such tr uck Il sent
10 the general merchandise store after delivery from
the steamer. The owner Of the old clothes inquired
for his parcel and specified It's character He was
treated rudely in the answer that returned but
II appears he finally got the old clothes though with
out the accompanying apology. which he wanted.
ThereuN complaint was made to Collector Grin
NELL and to this tue HERALD reporter had the great
satisfaction OF listening yesterday afternoon, as IL
may yet though OF course II IL 10 I've strongly hoped
not, hasten sangunary settlement OF the Alabama
kes refused TO give IT. the latter looked the iradi.
tonal ideal OF the former the former the traditional
ideal or the latter. The Alabama parallel was
completely reversed, but, nevertheless there was
interest In the alteration. The case OF Brtishcr en-
listed the sympathy OF the judicious and impair
acting influence Finally the Collector, who heard
both sides with that marvellous patience and seren-
iy Of his decided that III the Brtisher brought un-
questioned proof that he himself gave no provoca-
on, desired no illegal favor aud could furnish the
words he deemed "habusivc and hinsultn' he
should get all the satisfaction that was reasonable
Here IL u precedent for England to follow.
After this was over the oflice-seekers made q
fearful seRe on the Collector; but he dispersed them
with wave OF his hand, and started OF early to the
enjoyment Of county dinner IN honor OF his par
ticular friends.