Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-08-19
FOREIGN NEWS.

Count Menabrea, the Italian arbitrator on
the Alabama claims, was Minister of Foreign
Affairs and Chief of the Cabinet in Italy from
1867 to 1869. The remaining arbitrators will
be appointed by the President of the
Swiss Confederation, and one by the Emperor
of Brazil.
The Paris Patric somewhat confirms the re-
cent reports of an amicable understanding be-
tween France and Russia and joint hostility
to Germany Both Germany and Russia are
making active war preparations.
Tuesday next is now. appointed as the Jay on
which the French Assembly will commence
debate on the continuation of Theirs term in
the Presidency Dispatches still report con-
fdcnce that the motion will be successful
EXTRACT OF Bark is known to but few
Of our citizens ESQ quietly has the thing been
DONE, that the buildings below Rocket >,
formerly occupied by Styll & Davis az distill-
lishment for the manufacture of the extract Of
oak bark Very quietly but theoretically the
new works have been erected, and machinery
Of great power and most superior finish has been
put up. The machinery is well worth seeing,
and requires $50 horse steam power to work
it, Enormous quantities of oak bark have
already been collected and piled up all around
the mandatory, covering space Of several
acres. The collection of this bark gives en-
ployment to a great many hands, and moreover
as fast as the trees in the forest are denuded
stave.makers convert them into slaves. Oak
bark is used in tanning and dyeipg, and the
extract made in Virginia is highly priced Il
is not many months since Thomas Stears, Jr.,
& Go. commenced putting up their machinery
and it is gratifying to be able to say that they
will make this week their first shipment Of
extract, consisting of some hundreds Of
barrels Richmond Enqmrr.
WAsHISGToN ITEMS. On Thursday nigh!
the little daughters of Mr.. Michael Duffy gave
party to their young friends. After the chill,
dren had partaken Of cake and cream, some
eight or ten Of them, as we'll as two or three
adults: we're seized with vomiting and spasms.
Medical aid was at once summond, and the
case was pronounced enc OF poisoning. By the
immediate use of remedies the spasms were
checked: and the children are now considered
out Of danger. 1t seems that rat poison had
been used about the house. and it is supposed
that the cook, who was under the Influence Of
liquor when making the cake, accidentally
placed a portion Of the poison in the -four.
A woman giving her name as Mrs Judge
Watson has been arrested in San Francisco
California, charged with obtaining money un-
der false pretences and defraudng the Cole,
man House in that city Mrs W. was married
ten years ago at Washington, where they stay
ed some time, at Wizards Hotel She was
considered the belle at the time, and dressed
in the richest style, aud wore costly and magni-
fccnt diamonds.
4 WILL CAsE-In 1862, a prominent citi-
zen Of Southampton county died leaving will
which manumitted his slaves and applied the
whole Ct his property, then worth $l2O, 900, tC
their benefit sufficient sum to be used by
the administrators in sending the freedmen to
some State where slavery was forbidden by
law, and the remainder to be equally divided
among the lcgatees. During the war it was
impossible to carry out the provisions of the
instrument, and now the colorcd men sue for
u division of the property, worth at present
| So, 00O), claiming that as Virginia is a tree
State, the special conditions Of the will form
now no bar to an immediate distribution Of the
estate. One or more Petersburg lawyers have
been retained by the plaintiffs, and there seems
no reason to doubt that the colored men will
gain their case, and become comparatively
wealthy citizens. - 'tersJ"rg PnyresS.
On the charge of def;llcation the name OF
! Paymaster Forbes Parker has been dropped
| from the ROLL
The restaurants of Petersburg have been
supplied with sora for ten days past.