Morning journal and courier., 1884-01-03
The Ceanrs Of Lebanon.


 WAsHNeToN, Jan. 2.-Ths annual report just received at the Department of State, gives some interesting facts about the famous Cedars of Lebanon. There is at Syria no such thing as 8 forest, but only small oak groves which furnish timber for charcoal. In the mountains the oak and pine groves have been destroyed. The famous cedar forest of Lebanon is nothing but a group of trees most of which have been chipped and scared in many ways by relic hunters and others. The remainder of the grove is now protected by an enclosure and depredations are pre- vented. large harbor of the historic grove WAS cut down and burned for pitch.
 Treasures Under the Sea-A sanken Yes
 sel that Contains a Million asd Half
 of British SOvereigns.
 WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-The solicitor of the treasury has made an appointment for Friday next for consultation with representatives of the contractors who have been for ten years endeavoring to raise the treasure laden British vessel Hussar, which is believed to have sunk of Morris Point, New York har. bor, while lat anchor in 17S3 or about that year laden with a million and 8 half of British sovereigns intended to be paid to English officers and troops for service dur ing the Revolution. Teny years ago contract was entered into by the Secretary of the Treasury with a New York firm to raise the vessel at their own expense and risk and pay the government 10 per cent. of any treasure recovered as well as any relics of historic value. The contractors have labored inces- sanity; located and uncovered the vessel and are now ready to raise the hull to the surface and discover the nature and extent of the cargo The solicitor does not know the pur pose of the consultation to be held.
 A senatorship Offered to Carlisle.
 WASHINGTON. Jan. 2.-Speaker Carlisle to-day received 8 letter from a prominent member of the Kentucky legislature inform ing him that if he would allow the use of his name he would be elected Senator. MT. Car lisle refuses to be interviewed on the subject but it is understood from intimate friends of his that he replied declining with thanks ths use of kis name in such connection.
 The Re duetioA of the National Debt.
 WASHINGTON, Jan. 2-The debt statement issued to day shows decrease of $11 743.- 337 in the public debt during the month of December. The cash in the treasury aggre gates $375, ,374, 200; gold certificates out standing. $91 ,O31, ,92O; silver certificates, S1O9, ,89S, ,611. The available cash in the treasury amounts to $142. .478. .445. The to- tai interest and non interest bearing date of the United States on the last day of Deesm- Der, 1882, was $1,6O7, ,543. .67G and on the 31st day of December, 1883, was $1 ,49s, ,O41,- 723, decrease of $1O9, 501, 953 during the calendar year 1883. The customs receipts for December, 1883, were $13, ,341, 183 or about one and 8 half million dol lars less than in December, 1882. The internal revenue receipts were $9, 838. 234, two and quarter millions less than in Dec 8S2.-The receipts of the government from various sources for the calendar year endeds December 31, 1883, were as follows Customs $2o2, ,O41. 19G, internal revenue $131, ,291, ,335, miscellaneous $3, ,493, ,O7O total $369, ,S3O, ,6O1. The expenditures for the same period were as follows: Ordinary ex- penses, $134, 6s2, ,o1O; pensions, s72, 84o no; interest on debt, $55, 704, ,78S; total $262,- 226, ,90s.
 comparison of receipts during the first half of the present year with thoss of the corresponding period of 1882 shows g falling eff of more than $28, ,OOO, GOO. The customs receipts for the first half of 1883 amounted to S1OO, ,949, 113, while for 1882, they were SIS, ,6O9, ,413, and the internal rsvunus re- ceipts during the first half of 1883 were $6I, ,316, ,294, against $74, ,745, 328 durin the first half of 1882.