The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-16

treaty.
The HERALD special cable dispatches from
Geneva, published to-day, give q graphic de-
scription of the assembling Of the High Court
of Arbitration under the Treaty Of Washing
ton, and although very little appears to have
been done except to formally open the Court,
tn account will be read with interest. There
has been so much speculation and such warm
controversy in regard to what the Court ought
to do and what it would be likely to do, and
the whole subject has been so exhaustively dis
cussed, that the people have become anxious
to know something about the tribunal whose
work is to be of so momentous character
Our special correspondents at the seat Of
operations have, therefore, as usual, exactly hit
the public desire and, as they could not tell
us what the important personages assembled
at the Hotel de Vile in Geneva said and did
during the half hour they remained together in
council, in consequence of the exclusion of the
press, they have done the next best thing, and
given us description Of the scene presented
to the eye of the observer Thus we
learn that the Hall Of Congress, which
has been appropriated as the council
room in which is to be decided the important
point Of Englands liability for the destruction
caused by her carelessness during our rebel
lion, is an Ordinary drawing room," with
seats arranged in q semi-circle and furnished
with stationary desks, the latter being GER
tainly a very necessary appendix in considers
ton of the enormous amount Of documentary
evidence said to be prepared for the exami-
nation of the arbitrators. Although the
size of the room does not give us o
very extensive idea Of the Geneva Hall
of Congress, it is gratifying to know that
our case is to be argued in on apartment
elegantly decorated and upholstered in black,
red, gold, pure white and green. These colors
may appear significant to lively imagination.
The black may be supposed to symbolic the
unfriendliness of England in the hour of our
national peril; the red to represent the
American blood shed by the pirates she per-
mitted to go forth with fire and sword to
destroy and murder on the seas; the gold may
call to mind the money the English fear they
may lose as penalty for their singular con-
struction of the laws of neutrality; the
pure white will be accepted as an
emblem of the justice Of the American claims,
and the green may be conceded to portray the
simplicity of our Secretary Of State in his un-
happy management Of the American case.
The prospect of a neat little garden, located
in the very centre of the fowery city of
Geneva, which presents itself to those who
gaze from the windows of the chamber, may
help to keep down the passions of the adverse
pleaders if they should chance to lose their
tempers, and to bring back peaceful thoughts
to their minds. We regret that we are unable
to discover the happy omen suggested as
being contained in the name Of the
ante-room Of the hall of Congress, called the
Marriage Chamber, for passage from such
chamber to court would seem to be ominous
of divorce rather than significant Of o happy
union.
Our special despatch gives us photographs
of the persons figuring in the Court Of Arbi-
tration as well as description of the scene of
their labors. Thus we learn that Count
Sclopis is a tall, stout man, with a round
shaped face, bald head and o frank
expression of countenance. He is the
President of the Court, and we must
confess to feeling of satisfaction that he
does not belong to the thin, sharp-visaged,
peevish class of beings who are always sour
and dissatisfied. We have no doubt that he
led the hearty laugh which, we are told, reached
the ears of those who were waiting anxiously
outside soon after the Court had assembled.
Favrot, the secretary Of the tribunal, is man
of smaller size, sharp and acute looking, as o
secretary ought to be. Citizen Jacob Staempfi
the Swiss member of the Court, is short
and stout, with o fine, weather-beaten
countenance, bronzed by the mountain
dir, which has, no doubt inspired
him with the spirit of q Tell. Chief Justice
Cockburn, the English jurist, is described as
short-sized old man, with long visage and
q red face-a somewhat brief and undignifed
description of the Lord Chief Justice of Eng
land, but borne out by the pictures of Punch.
Mr.. Palmer, the British agent, is tall, amia-
BILE looking blond, and Baron Itajuba, the
Brazilian arbitrator, is short person, with
strongly marked features and STOPPING
gait Our own countrymen are too well
known to need description, but we are
told that Bancroft Davis appeared very
solemn and very silent The ''tons weight Of
printed briefs carried in by the Americans
must have given the jovial President of the
Court shock, and have caused almost panic
in the breast of the acute-faced Secretary. The
small valise full of papers borne by the Eng
lish was in marked contrast to this fearful ex-
hibition of documents, and is, perhaps, signif-
cant of the certainty felt on their part of the
adjournment of the Court and the postpone
ment of the arguments.
The American agent, in accordance with the
provisions of the Treaty of Washington, for
mally laid before the tribunal the final papers
and arguments of the American government,
but the English argument Was not fled It