Year: 1860

The CONDITION OF THE FREE NEGRO IN NEW


I DIRK CITY.-The last report of the Almshouse De-
partment informs us that of the ten thousand and
odd colored persons in New York, 1874 were on
the list OF outdoor poor, who received assistance
either In the form of money or fuel which is about
80 per cent, or three in every ten. Let us 90


little further, however, for these are not the only
colored persons who are dependant upon CHARITY
In the Colored Home there at present about $50
inmates and in the COlored Orphan ASYLUM about
ZZo, making altogether total of $50. Now, if we
add this to the number who are on the list of out
door poor, we will have total in round figures of
$500, which is an enormous per centage of the
whole colored population-more than one in every
three; and this does not include any OF those who
receive assistance through the numerous avenues of
private charity. The proportion of white persons
IN our metropolis who are either partially or Who'll
ly dependant on public charity is about one in
every ten OF the whole population. We have
shown that about one-third of thg coored inhabi-
tants of our city are partially or wholly dependant
upon charity for substance; and as there is only
about another third having any settled occupation
the remaining third without any employment
whatever, and live on their wits-that is, on what
ever comes within their reach, or in other ways
that are not conducive either to their own
well being or well doing. Now, as the colored
population OF our city numbers about eleven thou
sand it follows that between three and four thou
sand must belong to this last named Glass; which
considering their limited numbers, is an enormous
proportion. The criminal statistics for the wear
1898 show that, while out of every twenty
four OF the white population of New York was
committed to prison for various offences against
the laws the proportion among the coored popu-


alon was one in every eleven, or about two color
ed to every one white criminal. This certainly
does not speak very highly of the moral condition
OF the colored race In our midst; but while they
take up so prominent place on the criminal caen-
oar, when their limited numbers considered, it
must be acknowledged that they are not so
daring QesDeratp in crime the Uhitas Time
there are comparatively few burglars, and, we be-
lleve, forgers are also very amongst them.
Grimes, in fact, that require high intellectual de-
velopment are seldom to be found among the negroes
of New York, and we might add among the negroes
OF any other place. OF the eleven thousand coored
inhabitants of New York, it is estimated that not
more than twenty are taxpayers, and this is con-
sidered a most liberal calculation. The aggregate
amount of real estate possessed by these does not
exceed three hundred thousand dollars; so that,
even through the form of taxes, they pay little or
nothing toward the support of their own poor.
They do not appear to possess the faculty of accu-
mulating wealth, and rarely sufficient to
supply their future necessities They live from
dav to day, and trust to the morrow to take care
of itself.-N. Y. Herald.


DIR. HAYES PROPOSED Arctic EXPEDITION. The
Special Committee of the American Geographical
and Statistical Society appointed to Cooperate
with Dr. Hayes on his plan for further research in
to the Arctic Regions" appeals to the public for
pecuniary aid upon the following substantial
grounds l. 1t will, if successful, solve the great
geographical problem of the present day concern
ing the existence or existence of an open Po-
lar The existence of this sea is maintained by
all the scientific men of America, and has been de.
MED by many of the of Europe. The question
has thus become a national one 3 1t will throw
important light upon some of the most interesting
and important subjects of physical investigation;
upon the sciences.of falluvian magnetism and me-
teoroogy: upon the Aurora Borealis, and upon
marine geography. 8. 1t will accomplish much
needed charitable object, in enabling the isolated
and fast-de caying Esquimaux of Smith Sound to
escape to. the less severe regions of Southern
Greenland 4. The perils and hardships once Incl
dent to Arctic navigation have been mostly over
come by enlarged experience and the advancement
of science. Scorbutic diseases no longer prevail
and the loss of life in the Northern seas has been
reduced to less than the ordinary per centage.


LATER From BUENos AYkEs.-We have Buenos
Ayres papers to the 7th of February, one day
later than our former dates.


The Convention to amend the Federal Constitu-
tion still continued its deliberations and had ap-
pointed Commissioner to report upon some of its
provisions. Much variety OF opinion existed as to
the location of the Federal Capital, the Nacional
argentine of Parana being of the opinion that the
Clty OF Parana is the natural capital, and will
douptedly continue so indefinitely, while the Tri-
ouna OF Buenos Ayres contends that the Conven.
ton must establish the Capital in the latter city.
Senor ID. Jose Manuel Lafuent had been charged
with the ratification of the treaty of peace on the
part OF Buenos Ayres, and Senior Edusquiza on the
part OF Paraguay.


Mrs. Jane McNally, the sister-inlaw of MIR. Ben
nett who was bereft of his entire family on Wednes-
day night last, by the burning of the tenement
houses, died on Sunday at the New York Hospital
in consequence of the injuries sustained by Jump
ing from the third-story window to escape the
flames,