Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-10-22
Official Dispatches from Rear Admi-
raj Taylor.

THE TRANSIT OF vENUs-A BRITISH MAIL
PACKET RELIEVED, ETC.
The Navy department has received advices
from Rear Admiral VIM. Rodgers Taylor, of tn =
flagship Lancaster, under date of Bahia, Bra
I'll, September 9th, in which he says: Upon
my arrival here we found in port II. b. MS ship
Challenger, engaged in scientific expedition.
having on board Prof. g. Wyyille Thompson, of
the University of Edinburg, which sailed on
the 18th inst. for the Antartic ocean with view
of examining some spot favorable for observing
the transit OF Venus in 1874.
Yesterday morning ] received inform alton
that the British mail packet Cotopaxi was on
shore about fifteen miles from this port. / pro-
ceedcd at once to her assistance. and during the
night received on board one hundred and thirty
four passengers, with their baggage, and about
two hundred and fifty thousand dollars OF treas
uTe. The draft of my ship was too great I'd ap
proach near enough to haul OFF the Cotopaxl
but le.t Oh board of her a force of five officers
and fifty men. The ship was got ahoat the nex
morning.
The health throughout my command ia excel
lent. Some yellow fever prevails here. A
steamer called the Edward Everett, wearing
tie American flag, and owned by American
merchants, navigating the Parana and Para
quay rivers, has met with some detention on a
late voyage, the authorities suspectng her OF
taking supplies to the rebels. The matter is al
ready In the hands of our minister.
AT THE OPENING of the session of Congress
General Butler will introduce his bill providing
for a convertible bond at a low rate of interest,
about 365-1O0 per cent. 1t will be remembered
that he introduced similar bill at the last ses-
sion, and made an elaborate speech in eXplana-
ton of 1t. The central idea is that parties hold
ing these bonds can, IN case of monetary
stringency, present them to the United States
Treasurer and receive currency on demand.
IT is STATED that Gen. Butler is organizing
movement to have the republican caucus
which will nominate officers for the next House
of Representatives, declare emphatically
gNtH IA nl..ra
credit moDilier transactions leading positio ms
on standing committees. His object being TO
punish Dawes, and other me mbers, who opposed
MS gubernatorial campaign in Massachusetts
last summer. 1t is reported, also, that Speaker
Blaine will hold himself bound by the action of
the caucus.
NAVAL ORDERs.-Lieut. Commander II. De
ID. manley to temporary ordnance duty at the
navy yard, Washington; Master q. Blocklinger
TO the Kearssrge; Ensign w. II. Lyman to spe-
f ps duty to the naval station, League island,
John j. Read, from the receiving ship Vermont
and ordered to the Kearsarge as executive Off
GER Lieut.; A. A. Boyd, from duty at the torpedo
statlon, Newport, X. L., and ordered to the
kearsarge; Lieut. Daniel Delhsnty from the re-
cSiviBg thip Independence and order ed TO the
kearsarge; Master f. A. Field from the FroIic
and ordered to the kearsarge; I'd Assistant En-
glneer X. w. Milligan from the Wyoming and
ordered to return home and report arrival.
REPORT OF THE ORDNANCE BUREAU.-The
chief of the bureau of ordnance has submitted
his annual report to the Secretary of War.
The appropriations for the past year were
81 900 1850, and the expenditures 80, 161 5l7
The Springfield rifle of calibre As has been
adopted, and it is expected that the army will
be supplied with them by spring of next year.
An appropriation of $500 900 is asked for the
manufacture of these rifles. An estimate is
made for sl.5O0,0 900 for heavy ordnance. An
appropriation of SIS, 900 is recommended for the
manufacture and trial of cast iron 12-inch
Iiiies for experimental purposes. A recommen-
datlon is made asking for powder depot in the
mountains removed from danger-S1O0, 900
Is asked for the purchase of such q site.
large arsenal is recommended to be estab
ilshed on the Atlantic coast, SO as to concen-
rate arsenal work and reduce the expenses of
the same. An experimental ground six miles
long and one mile wide is recommended for the
trial OF heavy ordnance. Appended to this re-
port Is the interesting and exhaustive report of
Gen. Terrys board on the adoption of breech-
loading rife for the military service. The re-
port Is fully illustrated by photographs of all
the arms presented for examination, and is un-
doubtedly the most complete and exhaustive
report on the subject OF which 1t treats that has
ever been made, either here or abroad. 1t Is
believed that the Springfield arm adopted is
the best In the world.