The New York herald., 1873-11-21
ON TO CUBA!!|
LATEST FROM WASHINGTON
War Vessels Ready To GO-The Merchant
Marine To Be Availed 0f-England Not
Yet to Move Her Navy-Additional
Argument Showing the Virginius
To Be United States Vessel.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 1873.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 1873.
me powhatan win tow the monitor Manhattan
10 Kew West from Philadelphia tomorrow. The
Dssipee is all ready TO tow the Mahopac
from Norfolk on Saturday. The government has
purchased the tug boat Despatch, said to be the
Swiftest boat in the United States, and has OH.
rered her to day as a despatch hoat.
THE MERCHANT MARINE TO BE USED.
The records OF the merchant marine, so far as
transports and gunboats are concerned, have been
evcrhauled according TO their registers. and
the owners OF those vessels thought best
adapted for that purpose have been re-
qnested to place them at the disposal oil
The government at the earliest moment. The
United States steamer Tuscarora, which has been
for the last five months engaged in the waters OF
the Pacific ocean in making soundings for tele-
graphic purposes, to-day landed all of her sound
ing apparatus at the Mare Island Navy Yard and
rommenced taking on board her armament under
instructions that there should be no delay.
THE TusCARoRA.
Commander Belknap telegraphed that It would
not require more than forty-eight hours to carry
nut instructions of the department. The destlna.
lion OF the Tuscorara is the East India quadron.
She is directed TO report to Rear Admiral Jenkins,
commanding the Aslatic squadron, who will exc
suite the dispatches sent to MIN conadentiay.
ENGLAND TO REMAIN INACTIVE.
The British Minister, Sir Edward Thornton to-
day received a despatch from his government to
The effect that 1t was not the purpose or the gov
ernment to make any disposition OF its navaI
forces until there was fuller evidence OF the need
Of demand upon the part OF Great Britain TO pro.
tect the interests OF its subjects.
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE SALE OF THE vIRGINIUs
The present Comptroller OF the Currency, when
Deputy Comptroller, in May, 1867, sent New
Orleans to investigate supposed defalcation
In the Office OF the Assistant Treasurer
Of the United States Upon investigation
ne found deficiency OF sl,loo,ooo at
This Office. The previous Assistant Treasurer
had been the President OF the First National Bank
Of New Orleans, and the relations of the bank and
tne Treasury were not altogether legitimate. The
bank was taken possession OF by the Comptroller,
for the purpose OF collecting a personal check Of
the former Assistant Treasurer upon the bank, and
The collection OF the check exhausted all OF the
available funds OF the bank, which was found
10 be insovent. The previous Assistant
Treasurer acknowledged TO the Comptroller that the
large defalcaton in the office OF the Assistant Treas
1rer had occurred under his administration, and he
turned over TO the Comptroller a schedule or his
property, consisting OF his interest in the Carroll
ton Railroad, his private mansion in Canal street.
MS sugar plantation, shares in the Variety Theatre
ms check on the bank Tor more than $780, 0O0. the
steamer Virgin and other assets--in all estimated
by him TO amount TO more than 81 100000. The
steamer Virgin was lett by him in the
hands OF the Collector or the Port OF
New Orleans, who is Governor OF
Louisiana, and the vessel was subsequently
brought to Washington and was sold here under
decree OF the United states Court by order OF the
sreasury Department. There Is, therefore, no
doubt about the nationality OF the vessel II the
4 tn
whether by reason OF default in payment OF taxes
Or forfeiture under the Registry laws, the pur.
chaser OF the property is entitled 10 the full pro.
lection OF the United States government, and our
government Is pledged TO this view.
Land Decisions Confirmed.
The Secretary OF the Interior to-day affirmed the
5ecisi6n OF the Commissioner OF the General Land
ONCE that no more than quarter section can
be entered by one individual under the act OF
March 3, ls7a. TO encourage the growth OF timber
The Secretary has also affirmed the decision OF
Commissioner Drummond, requiring parties 70
pay the fee OF $40 Tor additional entry under the
Soldiers Homestead act Of March 3, 1873, and re-
quiring parties making such additional entry to
appear in person AT the local Office and make
necessary application and affidavit.
Illness of Admiral Smith.
Rear Admiral Joe Smith, OF the United States
Navy, and father OF our Monitor notla in the late
war with the South, is now lying dangerously III
u his residence here. None but the immediate
members OF his family are allowed TO see him.
Mr.. W. II. Powell, the painter or "Perrys Victory
on Lake Erie,n is awaiting his convaesence to
PAIN: portrait OF him for the Navy Department
The Remains of Mrs. stanton.
The remains OF Mrs. Stanton, the widow OF Sec
retary Stanton, were brought to Washington 10.
day and deposited in Oak Hill Cemetery with
shose OF her husband.
WE SHALL SEE To THIS Now.-"'WHEN THE
PRESENT RELATION OF COLONIES CEASES THEY ARE
TO BECOME INDEPENDENT POWERS, EXERCISING