The New York herald., 1871-01-18

CRAMPS Second Reception.
The second reception Of Mrs. Grans held this
afternoon, was fully as brilliant and attractive
the one held week ago, when the reception season
In Washington was inaugurated. The toilets Of the
ladies were vivid, varied and delicate as summer
n0wers and the Blue Room-which always looks
brilliant and beautful-was to-day enlivened BY
surging crowd Of faces well known In washington
society. Mrs. Grant was assisted In receiving by
Mrs. Secretary Boutwell, and daughter Mrs. General
Dent and Mrs. Campbell, OF st. Louis. The Presl-
dent stood beside Mrs, Grant and participated in
the reception. The weather was exceedingly favor
able TOR the occasion, and the park In front OF
the Executive Mansion was for time completely
hedged in with the finest turnouts that Washington
can boast. Mrs. Grant was robed In black Lyons
velvet with black lace trimmings She wore o COL
lar Of point lace diamond Iewelry and coronet OF
coral Mrs. General Dent wore black satin trimmed
with velvet white lace collar and scarlet sash. Mrs.
Boutwell, wore brown MORE antique, black tfim-
mings and diamond jewery, and in her hair natural
flowers. Miss Boutwel's dress was Of brown SILK
trimmed with black lace; she also had diamond
ornaments. Mrs. Campbell was attired in black
Lyons velvet, white lace shawl, and wore magnia-
cent ornaments of diamonds, which were universally
admired. Admiral Porter. who has sufficiently re-
covered from his recent Illness to go about was
among the innumerable throng that greeted Mrs.
Grant The reception season has thus far been very
attractive. The Presidents first reception will be
held on Friday evening next
The New York Custom House General Order
System.
The resolution presented in the House yesterday
by Mr. Cox concerning the New York Custom House,
and calling upon the Secretary OF the Treasury for
the latest correspondence between himself
and the Collector touching the restora-
tion Of the general order system to the
bonded warehouses at Jersey City, and Hoboken
seems to have created considerable interest In New
York. Members Of Congress and others here
have received telegrams to-day from prominent
New York merchants urging the necessity Of such
official action may be required to restore to the
commercial interests the privileges, conveniences
and economical advantages Of the old system. 1t Is
stated that the 100 names signed 10 the petition,
together with A. 7. Stewart Co., who participate
in the movement, represent eighty per cent Of the
importing interest OF New York, and both the
Secretary and the Solicitor OF the Treasury concede
that the request Of the petitioners should granted
Transportation of Bonded Merchandise.
The committee of Cincinnati merchants, desig-
mated by tie Chamber Of Commerce Of that city to
confer with secretary Boutwell, in regard to changes
in the regulations prescribed for the transportation
OF imported goods direct to inland ports came to
the conclusion that they could not accomplish the
purpose they were sent for, and notified the Secre-
tary to-day that they had made arrangements with
the officers Of the Baltimore aud Ohio Railroad and
connecting Western pines to carry into immediate
operation the system devisedby the Secretary, under
authority of the act Of July 1870 with the modid.
cations as set forth In his letter TO Congressman
Fnkelnburg, Of Missouri, which has already been
published In these DISPATCHES. The railroad COM
panies VIII Immediately make application 70 bond
under the regulations, and arrangements have been
made to supply any number Of the smalef iron cars
required for the transportation OF small invoices Of
imported goods The object seems to. be to divert
the trade ttht Germany to the port Of Baltimore,
and thereby secufs business to the Mary
land and Ohio faylroads. ~rrssl,Si-,-->-rs..
Tho Free TeIesfsph Gable Bill. @'7css.
1t Is understood that the free telegraph cable bill
which passed the House Of Representatives yester,
day. viii soon bs called up for action in the Senate
several promlaeDtf fsnstoq haya ai&nined their de.
sire for Its speedy passsge IN order that the question
may be settled. 10 that any persons may have the
privilege of laying cables rrom the United States to
foreign copptries, ,~'s ~ ....,--. .-..g.--,
Disorgahfzsa Condition or the South.
Tomorrow Senator Morton will offer q reso-
luton for the appointment OF special
committee to whom shall be referred the Presidents
reply to the Senate resolution calling for informa-
ton as to the condition OF AFFAIRS in the Southern
States. The committee will be empowered TO send
for persons and papers and to make full invest
CATION Of all the causes Of disturbances in the South
They Will be authorized to report, by bill or other
wise at any time. The effect Of this bill win be to
bring any secret political organizations that may
exist at the South directly within the grasp Of Con-
gress = t's1 b s,-Aa',,
LawIessness Ani6hg the wreckers ON the
Florida Coast.
Two Aon hon xUr1 a
ter to the Secretary OF the Treasury from Key West
enclosing q copy OF communication from United
States Marshal Allen, addressed to Senators osborn
and Gilbert relative to reckless and unlawful acts
OF wreckers and others in cases OF vessels stranded
or wrecked on the Florida coast, and suggesting ad
ditional legislation with view to remedying the
evils Of which complaint IL made. The Marshal re-
fers especially to cases OF vessels wrecked that
coast In october last, and TO the plundering
and burning OF Spanish and British vessels lost at
that time, and to the wiful conceament and appro-
priaon Of property derect, in violation of all law
and usage on tnat subject. There Is no present
law that will meet the illegal practices, and the Mar.
shall states that great complaint Is made by the Con-
sus Of the countries to which the vessels belong Of
the practices to which reference is made.
What the Frnnking Privilege Costs tho
Country.
The Postmaster General has communicated to the
Senate statement In relation to free matter pass
ing through the mails 1t appears that in December,
1862 each postmaster was instructed to take an
average monthly account OF all ranked or free
matter deposited at their respective ON.
| ces for mailing for the period Of six
| months, commencing January and ending June
80, 1870. The total number OF of1ces from which
reports were due was 2s,4s2, but the number from
which full or partial reports were received was only
$685. nearly 10000 wholly failing to report The re-
turns Of the $3.50 reporting 6ffices show
| that within the six months there were
transmitted S14o,7se franked letters, the postage
upon which, at the established rate, amounted to
se55,54s, and 2,c41,971 pounds OF other ranked
matter, such as printed documents and seeds, upon
which the postage at established rates amounted to
$2eO, ,s4s making altogether, for six months, FOR
postage on free matter, the sum Of ss1e,3oe At o
fair rate Of estimate for the nearly twenty thousand