, 1871-12-11

NdiudDie ColuuuS. DeluS Oh tue
wing again and full OF memories of
"Olympian " Days, the cacoethes scri-
bendi seized me. Philo.
SanFrancisco Correspondence.
SAN Francisco, Nov. 18, 1871.
Editor Dispatch:
Since I last saw you, and when I
made the thoughtless promise to write
you letter once in while-just from
"Our Occasional" you know-I have
been kept so closely confined to the du-
ties of my Office that I have not had
time to make the attempt to fulfil the
engagement; furthermore the city has
been so stupldly dull in matters of gen.
eral interest, that, were gifted with the
most facile of pens, could not have
hoped to make an entertaining letter.
However, for the sake of my word, 1
must make an effort to redeem my rash
promise; so here goes; and
1st, In financial circles the only nota-
BILE event has been the failure of the
banking house of John Sine & Co., of
this city. This involved and carried
down the long established bank of B. F.
Hastings & Co., of Sacramento. The
failure is deemed bad one, and while
the calculation is that both concerns will
pay SO cents on the dollar, yet ween,
from past experience in similar matters,
that the creditors will be most fortunate
if they get so much. The cause of the
failure is said to be rash operations in
mining shares, induced, so goes the on
dit, by spiritual manifestations to one of
the partners. How true this may be 1
don't know, but true or not, I do know
that more than one defalcation, within
a year past, in this city, was caused by
advice from the spirits, and am told
by those who profess to know, that the
extent to which many men among US of
fair standing as men of sense are given
to consult the spirits in important bust
ness matters, is truly alarming.
I'd, The great topic now is-Was Hor-
ace Hawes insane at the time Of making
his will? As the case will be decided
before you get this, 1 venture to say the
jury will say Eyes" The case has been
on before Hon. Selden S. Wright, our
able Probate Judge for week past, and
the evidence adduced thus far, exhibits
most extraordinary state Of mind of
deceased, long time prior to his death.
1 am told by ladies and gentlemen who
know Mrs. Hawes we'll, that she is one
Of the most exemplary wives and moth
ers, and altogether without reproach; !;
patient and faithful to him and the VOWS
she had taken before God and man, and
that his suspicious of improper conduct
on her part, were infamous, and could
have arisen only in diseased brain.
Harry Byrne's description of the late
Horace, in closing his evidence. is Har-
ry all over, and conveys great deal of
meaning. Said Harry, in answer as to
how Mr.. Hawes looked ON certain oc-
casion, "He Looked like the Genius of
Despair gazing upon the future" Coun-
sci on both sides said, "That is all, Mr..
Byrne."
I'd, I am no gossip or I might worry
you with some of our social Oh dts. but
such would be of no interest to you or
your readers; I will only say, therefore,
that our worthy Mayor gave grand ball
at his residence on Harrison street,
(Rincon Hill) last week; that it was a
complete success, the ladies beautiful,
toilettes elaborate, elegant and tasteful,
the "brave hearts and strong men, the
delirious music of the voluptuous waltz,
"eyes that looked love to eyes that
spoke again." all combined to render
the occasion more than ordinarily mem
orahle, and to give satisfaction to the
distinguished host and hostess.
But I must stop or tire you to death.
I enclose a slip from the commercial
column of the Alta, giving an important
decision of the United States Supreme
Court:
"The Supreme Court Of the United
States has authoritatively settled the
question of certified checks, and has de-
cided-five Judges concurring and two
dssanting-that bank is bound by the
act Of its cashier, and that when he GER
titles ON the face of check that it is
good for the money, the bank is bound
to pay the amount called for, The case
went up from Massachusetts, and the
facts we're substantially as follows: Mel