The New York herald., 1871-10-08
w ASH IN q TO NJ,

WASHINGTON, Oct. I, 1871.
The Sentence Of Pnyninsfcr Hodge Approved.
The President mas reviewed api approved the
findings and sentence In the case Oi Major Hodge.
the defaulting paymaster, and they will be officially
published on Monday.
The New Professor Of Engineering at West
The Secretary OF War to-day appointed Major
Junius b. Wheeler OF the Corps OF Engineers, as
Professor OF Military and Civil Engineering at West
Point, vice d. II. Mahan, deceased. Major Wheeler
was born in North Carolina, graduated at the Mill
tary Academy July 1855, and served with distinc-
tiOn during the rebellion. He has been Assistant
Professor OF Mathematics at West Point, and since
February. 1870 has been on duty in the Engineers
Bureau IN this city. Tho selection ~ highly com
mended by army officers acquainted with Major
Wneeers qualifications. and 1t Is generally said
that he will be acceptable to the cadets account
OF his superior ability as an instructor
Smugglinx Through tine Mails.
The Importation OF valuable articles through the
mails and evasion OF the Customs Revenue laws mas
Department during the past week. TO what extent
the government has been delrauded It is impossible
say, but the practice OF sending diamonds by let
ter from Europe TO this country. 1t Is known, has
existed for some time past. The Secretary or the
Treasury will submit to the Postmaster General in
few days, a system OF regulations for the protcc-
tion OF the government. IL Is proposed that wher.
ever foreign mails are received such letters con-
tain more than written matter shall be retained and
the party addressed Informed that letter awaits
personal examination at the Post once
II the letter Is TO be forwarded
that city is to be Instructed not to deliver the same
until he IS satisfied that the contents not sub
Ject TO the tariff BY the strict observance Of this
plan the present system OF evadiDg the revenue
law Will be broken
Visitors mt the White House.
The President this morning received Mcssrs. Bout
well, Belknap, Creswel, Brlstow, Spinner and
others, some OF them on business During the day
the English Episcopal clergy men in attendance at
the Baltimore Convention called to pay their re-
spects to the President They expressed themselves
as much gratlfed with the interview. Hon. Robert
$. Hale and others also called upon the President.
Appointments by the President.
Tie President made the following appointments
to-day
Thaddeus O. De Cries. Collector or Customs for
the district OF Nantucket Mass; Robert X. Darrai,
Appraiser OF Merchandise for Boston; George A.
Fades Collector OF Customs for the district or
Alaska; Henry X. smith, Surveyor OF Customs for
Omaha Neb.: Edward lie Favour, Appraiser OF
Merchandise for Detroit Mich; Pascal 7. Kidder,
Collector OF Customs for Dunklrk, N. y; Third
Leutenants in Revenue Service-Edmund Burke,
Charles 4. Brain, John Morrissey, Jr., William X.
0rcutt Wlam ~ n., hawes liam James =. B gnt' AZ a; f.
Buhner.
Meeting Of the Board Of Stenmbo Inspcc-
tlrs.
The Board OF Steamboat Inspectors to-day dis
cussed the relative merits OF IRON aud steel for
boilers. Certain parties who are building steel
boilers want allowance OF higher pressure than
now prescribed for iron boilers. The subject was
referred to subcommittee. The Board also con-
slderec the application OF persons who want TO
carry petroleum on passenger vessels. lhe ue-
practicable way such freight can be carried on the
guards OF the fore deck. number OF devices and
Appliances for steam vessels were presented 10 the
Hoard but action taken upon them.
Postal Trenty with Germany Signed.
The President today signed the Postal Treaty be-
tween the German Empire and the United States.
Treasury Balances.
Tbe balance I'm the Treasury Department at the
close OF business today was-Currency, $3.50 s92
coin $685. as, 223; coin certificates, &l6, ,2944c0