Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-01-29

WEATHER PROBABILITIES. var DePdTt-
meut. Office ofthe Chief Signal ODIcer, WASH
,moton, DC, Jan'y. 80. 1S77-lO;3O a. M
Tnthe Middle and Eastern States ioWer pres
and higher temperature s tnsh nH Clear
nertIv Cloudy weather and possibly occasional
f;cht rain or snow in New England ana north
ern New York.
THE R1vER.--Yesterday morning the ice 10
front Of the city commenced breaking away,
and for the first time 10 nearly two months the
Potomac, free of ice and presenting smooth,
unrnfflad surface, met the gazs OF the lockers
IN The ice above and below the city still re.
mains solid, and the space cleared only reaches
from about opposite Shepherds TO Jones
Point, and from the Virginia shore to the cage
Of the fats. The warm weather and bright
sun of to-day are having powerful e1eet on
the ice, and it is believed that should track
be cut through by steamboat It wouio at once 2I
commence to run and sooo disappear. lug
movement 10 portion OF the Ice yesterday IS
attributed to the fact Of its having been broken
last week by the passage Of the railroad tug:
If j. also reported that the tug5oat Kate will
probably make another attempt to come up
from Ouantico this evening or 10 morrow. Ihe
ycssels 10 port are brushing up little and
making preparations for the anticipated re-
opening of navigation.
LatsE-The tug boat Kate, Captaiu Ross,
arrived here shortly before tour CLOCK, TINS
afternoon, from Ouantico, which place she left
At eleven o'clock this morning. Captain Ross
renorts the Ice as quite heavy from Indian
Head to Fort Washington, but from that point
Nm 10 this city it is very soft. Before starting
up this morning the Kate towed three oyster
boats into Quautico from below. Tho river
was clear OF ice, this aIternooo, IRON foft
tootc to the Arsenal and 1t ls expected that
The opening Of track by the hate VIII START
that below to running aud soon clear Inc river
THE SCHOONER ROBERT PoRTNER -Agen.
teman, who arrived here from New York, last
week, having stated that he had seen the new
schooner Robert Porncr, and that the halling
port, painted on her stero, was New 1orE
instead Of "Alexandria, as when she lett here,
several of the stockholders became Interested
10 the subject, aud through Deputy Collector
Corbett scot to New York for information as
TO the truth Of the report. La rclly. lele
gram was received on Saturday night from the
Collector at New York, stating that the halng
mort had been so changed, and the vessel
papers made to conform Some Of The stock
holders, in this city, are quite indignant, as 1t
was their desire and intention that the schoon-
.rshould hail irom this port. AS the law re.
uuires that vessel should hail from The port
where here managing owner resides, anu as MI.
Park Agncw, Of this city, occupies that posi-
ton to the PortDer, it is not understood how
the change was made. The Robert Portner
cleared from New York on Saturday tor Genoa,
and was expected to sail to-day.
For THE PENITENTGARY. Sheriff w. Z.
Wibert, Justice Ben. Austin add MIR. SeWell
Corbctt will start tonight for Richmond, hav-
ing 10 charge the following prisoners, who were
sentenced TO confinement in the penlte0tlary at
the last term OF the County Court Addison
Spillman, ten years for burglary; John Dla'
uoud, ten years, for burglary; JAS. i. Wash.
inpton, three years, for breaking and entering
q storebouse; George Butler, one year, tor the
same offense and Peter Contec. one year, also
for breaking aud entering All Of the coovles
are negroes, and SrilIman and Diamond are
notorious characters in Washington, where
they have long been source OF much trouble
to The police. The promptness and severity
with which justice Is metcd out to burglars and
thieves 10 Alexandria county are working great
deal Of good in the Way OF protecting the prop
srty of the citizens there trnm the inroadS oil
shat class Of people.
CoNsECRATIoN.-Th Rev. &C. Penck now
rector Of a church 10 Baltimore, who has beeu
elected missionary bishop Of Cape PaImas, AT.
RIGA, will be cousccrated 10 ST. Pauls church. IN
this city, on Tuesday, February Is. Bishops
Atkinson, Whittle, Pinkney, Dudley, Howe,
Lyman, and large number of other clergymen
are expected TO be present. Bishop Atchkln
son, of North CaroliDa, will be the consecrator,
and the sermon will be preached by Bishop
White, Of Va. The prosecutors OF the candl-
date for the bishoprc will be Bishops Pinkuey,
Of Nd, and Dudley, of Ky. 1t is understood
that Rev. Mr. Peuick will 80 to his new field
Of Iabors shortly after his conservation.
NJ. T.. CuURCu-Last night the church Was
deusely packed. Rev. W. {. Webb conducted
the exercises. Eleven persons united with the
church, making over twenty since the special
services commenced. The subject OF the SER
mon was 2nd Timothy, chap. and 18th verse:
The Lord grant unto him that be may lind
mercy of the Lord in that day. At the close
OF the discourse, several penltents presented
themselves for prayer. Several persons also
rose, asking the congregation to pray tor them.
The services will be continued to-day. Rev.
w. G. Webb will preach tonight.
Sp1R1TUALIsTIc.- A meeting Of those Inter
cSteu III SeLtluR up q iePe'''iou VI '"o low
spiritual exhibition by MIR. George Everett and
wife, for the benefit of the poor, was held at
the CITY Sergeaut's Office. on Saturday night,
with r, W. Falls in the chair, and j. Marriott
Hill, secretary. Mr.. }. NJ. Hillwas appointed
committee to visit Baltimore, see MIR. Eve
rc,t, and ascertain whether he would appear
Ecrc for the object named, on Monday nj ght
next. He will report to an adjourned meeting,
to lie held It the same place tonight.
The CHURCHES YEsTERDAY.-Thc bright
and beautiful weather yesterday brought out
large numbers Of people and the churches were
all numerously attended. Rev. >. L.: Lighter OF
Washington, preached in the NJ. h. church, 10
the morning, aad the other pulpits were TILED
ty the resident clergy. Rev. Father heating,
OF St. Matys church, made his monthly visit
TO Fairfax station, where he celebrated mass 10
thn