THE DAILY MEKING TKLKCSR Ai'll FI I1LADE LP11IA, TUESDAY, PKBllUAItY 8, 1870.
"Z&USCXXACXIXTO EXXO."
UT JitiH INOtXOW.
I hare a brother who is a midubJpman.
That announcement in easily mtvle, and to
inters who are not in similar case it is of no
particular signification, but to .those who are
it suggests a great doa). For midshipmen,
like other boys, come homo sometiiuos to
cheer the heart of their relatives; and how
they spend their time when enjoying these
visits is well known to the initiated, bat the
world in general can form but a meagre no
tion of it.
A midshipman, when he comes home, soon
makes his family feel that no part of the
bonne, inside or outside, is inacoessible to
him; windows are handier things than doors
to come in at, if one may judge of his habits;
there is no tree in the topmost branch of
which be will not sit cross-leggod, cracking
filberts; there is no rook's nest, however high,
that he has not poked his fingers into; pop
lars are a joke to him, and he makes no more
of oaks and chestnuts than he does of hay
stacks. Other boys are contented ( to sit on chairs
and eat their lunch in a dining-room, but a
midshipman loves to eat tip aloft, and carries
his provisions, sometimes plate, glass, and
all, to the top of the green-honso, where,
strange to say, he never breaks the glass; or
to the top of the pigeon houBe, whioh is a
ery handy place, because of the weathercock,
upon which he con hang his cap and jacket.
He comes in smelling of smoke, and pre
sents you with some sooty young jackdaws,
which he has jnst got out of the top of the
chimney.
He spends a sovereign in rope, such as
boxes are corded with; it comes home from
the shop in a cart; some of it he makes into
rope ladders, and runs up and down thorn
like a squirrel; other lengths are twisted into
cats'-cradles up in the trees, or festooned
from one to the other, and upon these he
disports himself and travels audaciously from
tree to tree without touching the deck. Oh
that her Majesty could conveniently be served
without so much agility and such marvellous
powers of swarming !
Finally he goes away again upon his conn
try's service, and his relatives have the com
fort of knowing that, whatever he may have
done at home, the feats that he is performing
perhaps at that very moment in the rigging
of II. M. 8. the , make his other feats
nothing and not worth mentioning.
The best receipt I know of for keeping a
midshipman on terra firma is to tell him a
story. Under favorable circumstances I have
known tins to succeed for two or three hours
together, if it is done in the open air and
among newly-cut hay; the lines of hay, I sup-
rjse, remind them of waves; for certain it is
never knew a midshipman run off over these
lines, and I have tried the experiment several
times, and on more than one of these gene
rally refractory subjects.
Sometimes my brother could be drawn into
relating a story himself; some adventure that
be had met with, or some wonderful thing
that he had seen; for this said midshipman,
though scarcely yet fourteen years of age, has
visited every quarter of the globe, and known
both shipwreck inA tornado.
Onoe he told me such a curious story, show
ing the value of presence of mind, that I wrote
it down shortly afterwards, and I now offer it
to you, divested of nearly all the language of
the sea; its interest partly depends, in my
mind, upon the fact that but for this singular
tresenoe of mind he probably would not have
ived to tell it.
"I suppose you have heard of Cumano ?"
he began; ignorance on such subjects as ter
restrial magnetism, navigation, and the in
ternal arrangements of a ship seeming to his
mind inconsistent with knowledge on any
other pomts.
"How can you ask such a question ?" I an
swered. ' Yes, of course, I have, and I have
read an account of it in Humboldt; it ' is a
town in the northern part of South America."
"Oh, well, I thought you might not know
about it; at least I thought you might not
know about the experiments that have been
made there; about the variation, and all
that. He then added something about a
volcanio country, and the "inclination," and
the "dip," and! thought I would not commit
myself, so I merely said that I had read Sir
John lloss's book, and how he went in search
of the magnetio poles.
"Oh, well," he answered, "then I needn't
explain it to you. I did tell you that we lay
oil Cumano for some time, and that we were
sent up the country to that convent on the
mountain; Talbot and Owen and I were sent
with the second and third lieutenants and the
doctor, to the heights above Cumano, with
the chronometers and tne instruments.
"Was it a long journey ?" I inquired.
"No, not long, only difficult; it took several
days. You cannot think what an extraordinary
shore there is in that part of South America.
"When the tide goes out it uncovers acres of
trees; their stems and lower branches are
thickly incrusted with slimy mud, and yet
they live and grow in the salt water. They
are mangroves, and have great, flapping,
fleshy leaves, almost as thick as a person's
hand. You never saw such unwholesome
looking trees; they steam with the heat till
the mud is dry and caked upon them, and
then the tide comes up and wets it again.
"We travelled up the country on mules; it
was intensely hot, and so steep when once we
begin to ascend the mountain that I should
no more have thought the mules could climb
up with us than I should have expected them
to get up to the masthead, and yet they did
contrive it, and took up the instruments too.
Where there were no trees for (shelter the
country was nothing but dead grass, dust,
and rents cracked in the ground some of
these rents were three feet across, and had
lizards hiding in them and craylish but
under the shade of the forest everything
dripped with moisture, and we were so wet
when we came out that our clothes and the
mules steamed visibly, but the sun soon dried
it up.
"We Bpent three days at the convent on the
mountain, and the monks were very kind to
us and tried to teach us some of their Spanish
words. I used to think that monks were dark,
dicnified fellows, solemn and rather silent;
but these monks were very greasy ones ! and
they had such dirty hands and gowns, that
l ve no doubt soap must be very nam to get,
up there, and water too. !
"There could not be a stranger place than
that convent. It was built on a liat piece of
land at the top of the mountain, and about ai
large as this field (four acres); on three side)
there was a precipice, and if you walked to
the edge you could see the trees growing be
low, and the apes springing about them. On
the fourth side you could drop stones into a
tara or lake a thousand foet below you, and
Jet almost overhanging this lake is the path
ownward.
"You would hardly call it a path at all.
Imagine the steapest descent down which it
would be possible to slide without danger of
tumbling head foremost, and then imagine
that upon it was built upon it a wall thirty
or forty feet high, and that tho puth was the
top of the wall, and yon will have a very
good notion of what it was like."
"But do you mean that there really was a
wall ?" I inquired.
"Oh, no; but I moan that up a great part of
that side of the mountain runs a sort of spine
of rock scarcely wide enough in some places
for two mules to walk npon abreast; it is flat
at the top and bare of trees. The mountain
itself is covered with snoh dense forest that
you can imagine nothing like it here; in some
parts the 'spine' is higher than the forest, and
you look down on the taps of the trees; in
others they reach above it and overshadow it.
"Well, we throe youngsters were left w'th
the old monks for a day after the rest of the
party were gone down again; and then we
Bet off, Talbot and Owen and I, with two
Indians and two of the fattest of the old
monks, who seemed so infirm that it was sur
prising to see how well they rode. It was the
most piping-hot morning and the stillest that
yon can imagine when we rode out at the
court-yard of the convent. We thought we
sever were to begin the descent; those
monks were so afraid we should be playing
some tricks or getting ourselves hurt for want
of care, that they all collected round ns, shak
ing their heads at us, and, with the greatest
gravity, trying to let us understand that we
ought to be grave and serious, as if we had
not come up the very same path. However,
I must say it's tan times easier getting up
than going down, and it was very kind of the
old fellows to be sorry to part with us, for we
led them such a life while we were there; in
fact, our clambering about really frightened
them out of their wits.
"So off we set, and at first we madescaroely
any way; the mules are cunning creatures,
and would not go a step faster for coaxing or
whipping; they stepped along the spine as
daintily as a lady who is afraid of wetting her
feet, first a little to one side, then to the
other, so that I could have thrown my cap
down right into the water if I hod liked, and
I would nave done it, only one of the monks,
when we frightened him, used to heave up
such deep groans, that we all knew how
thankful he would be when we were safe out
of his hands.
"There are two forests there, one
above the other; first, there are the trees with
branches like our oaks and elms, only covered
with flowers, large white, yellow, and scarlet
blossoms; great creepers twine over them;
they are like cables, only green and hairy, and
here and there bursting out with queer
flowers, some like wax globes, some like tufts
of feathers, others all thick and powdery,
with red pollen strewing the gronnd beneath,
and others dripping honey. This was under
forest, out of it sprang tall trunks, bare, like
mists, and spread out their tops just like um
brellas held out to shade under the trees from
the sun.
"We were nearly an hour going down the
first thousand feet to the lake; after that, the
way was not so steep, and the spine of rock
was lower, for the trees of the upper forest
overshadowed us. Nothing seemed to live in
them; but the under forest perfectly swarmed
with monkeys, squirrols, lizards, yellow
snakes, birds and butterflies. You can't think
what a noise and fuss was going on there; it
was perfectly stunning. First we would
eome to a whole flock of blue par
rots with rose-colored top-knots; they
were tearing to pieces a quantity of
white, fleshy flowers with their strong
beaks, and feeding on a yellow seed that was
in them. Sometimes the way was perfectly
white with these flowers, and not one was left
on the tree, while the birds sat on the boughs
absolutely panting with the toil of tearing
them up. Next we would come to a wnole
tribe of little monkeys, screaming, and squall
ing, and boxing one another's ears, and alto
gether making such a distraction tnat tne
cockpit, when we are all making as much
noise as we possibly can, is nothing
to it."
"This I thought was saying a good deal for
the powers of the monkeys, and bo I inti
mated to my brother.
"Ah, wait till you hear those monkeys,"
was his reply;" "in the hardest gale that ever
blew, .when the canvas was tearing and the
spars splitting, I'll engage to say they would
nave been heard as clearly as in a calm.
"But the noise subsided as it became hot
ter, and at noonday there was not a sound in
the forest; and it was droll to see tne cocka
toos hanging to the branches by their beaks,
just like game in a shop, and with 'he white
film half drawn over their eyes, showing as
plainly as possible that they were so hot that
they did not know what to do with them
selves.
"At noon we came into a sort of bower in
a level place; it was perfectly overhung, and
the trees were so matted and laced up with
the creepers that not an inch of sky could be
seen nor a waft of air felt; drops of water fell
from the leaves, and a warm steam rose from
everything. But there was a perfect shade,
and as there was abundant room for us all to
sit down and rest and unsaddle the mules,
we did all we could to persuade the monks to
rest there, .besides, we were hungry, and we
kept putting our fingers to our months, and
telling ns well as we could that we wanted
something to eat; but they shook their heads
and made us understand that this place was
infested with sunken.
"We looked out from under the trees, and
there again in the glare of the sunbeam was
the spine of rock, now winding downwards
almost across the mountain; the scat striking
up from it made our eyes burn and our head
ache; but it wns not very steep now, and it
was nearly as broad as tho turnpike roads
here, so that I could have got down by the
help of my hand and the plants, bo off we
set again; and now, as there was no danger,
we went as we liked, and 1 led the way.
"I noticed a great lump of something lying
in the path; it was as big as a calf, of a gray
color, and covered with white; if I thought
about it at all, I thought it was a stone. I
never absolutely looked at it till we were
wunin one pace oi it, and then my eyes
seemed drawn to it, and fixed upon it. It
was a serpent. The mulu sprung back and
snorted; her eyes looked as if they would
start from her head.
"There she lay, the odious thing, sleek and
fat, all coiled up and knotted, and her little
eyes leering at me with a horrid sort of deceit
ful smile in them. It could not have been
more than one moment that I sat gaping at
ner, out it seemeu a year, ana men tne mule
cried out almost like a human creature, and
I turned round .and tore up past the other
mules, straining and stumbling, sad still
uttering that fearful cry, till in two or three
minutes we were up again in that level place:
and I turned and saw all the other mules but
one toaring up the asoeut, and poor little
Owen straining up on foot.
"There was dust in the road first I saw
only that then in the twinkling of an eye I
saw Owen's mule creeping up slowly, and my
first thought was wonder where the sorpent
could be; and my next wonder at the tre
mendously long tail that this mule was trail
ing alter ner. m auomor insiani mis tan
was reared up, and brandished over her back,
and Bhe was sprawling on the road; and the
toil was that great serpent. Directly the per.
rent and the mule were rolled up together
into one mass, and rocking from side to sido,
and writhing and struggling, At last the
wretched mule kicking still they both fell
together over tne edge or the precipice, and
went plump into the top of a tree, and while
we sat quaking and looking on, they crashed
down from tnence, ana roiled among tne terns
and canes, ana were lost.
"It was a horrid sight: and when I cot over
my surprise a little, I found we had all dis
mounted, and that Owen was standing" wring
ing his hands and crying with all his might;
and then, after that, he stopped and burst out
laughing till he made nlmaelf cry again.
Of course we aia not like those old monks
to see an English boy crying, and we kept
patting him on the back, talking to him. At
last he seemed to wake up all on a sudden and
begin to look about him.
"Well, old reuow, Talbot said to him,
'how are you now ?'
" 'Oh ' he said, 'I'm all right. What are
we waiting for?'
"But presently he remembered all about
it. He was last, it seems, and as each mule
came up to the serpent it shied and dashed
up the ascent, but his mule actually put her
foot into the middle of the creature, slid it
down among the sleek folds, and at once
seemed paralyzed, and never stirred, but
kept gazing at the thing as it uncurled itself
and began to hiss softly.
"Uwen Raid he did not remember how be
got off, nor anything else, till he found us all
shaking him, and telling him that he was
quite safe; and he kept shivering and crying
out, while he described the serpent's eyes,
'Oh, the hissing monster ! I hate her I do
bate her!' And, do you know, it has seemed
to me rather shocking ever since, that instead
of feeli re thankful that we were all safe, I
could think of nothing but that text in the
mule about uaman J
"What text, my dear boy?" I asked him.
"Why that account of how Haman came
borne and told his wife about his riches and
his honors, and the distinctions that the king
bad conferred upon him, and then ended by
saying, 'But all this avails me nothing so
long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting in the
king's gate.'
"1 cannot see any connection between the
text and the serpent," I observed; "how came
you to think of such a subject?"
'"It flashes into my mind directly, and I
thought to myself, what is the good of having
this world to live in, if such odious reptiles as
this are to Bhare it with us. How I did
loathe that serpent; it quite curdles my blood
even now when I think of her!'
I have often heard people speak of that
peculiar hatred,' I replied, 'and refer it to the
enmity that Ood placed between the serpent
and the seed of the woman.'
"Yes; so the chaplain told us afterwards. I
have often heard lions and tigers roar, when
I have been keeping the middle watch, and
have felt a good deal of fear, and a sort of
respect for them, but no disgust. It was
grand in the dark to listen; it made one think.
uii, you jony oiu ienow, iu giau you re not
crushing my bones ! But when you have once
heard a serpent hiss, and seen his sleek body
. il. II. I 1 - T ' I 1 '
and the hideous leer in his eyes, it does not
seem enough to have escaped, only to have
looked at him sometimes makes you feel ill
for days afterwards with disgust and fear.
"Hut 1 was going to tell you what a brave
thing Talbot did; as long as I live I shall
always think it was the bravest thing that
could be. and I shall respect him as much as
any grown-up man, though he is only two
years older than I am.
"X told you that we had ail dismounted in
that shady place; the mules were standing
huddled together, but we were in no fear of
the serpent, for we knew she would not quit
her prey; so we all sat down, and the kind old
monks broke off some branches, and we all
began to fan ourselves with them, while they
got out some provisions. There was a sort of
patty, made of the flesh of iguanas very nice
these creatures are, l can ten you ana men
there was some cake of Indian corn, and some
baked parrots: but just as we put the very first
mouthlul into our mouths, Talbot started up
as if he was perfectly astonished, and said to
us, 'Why, youngsters, we snail never be on
board ship by sundown if we stop to rest
here, and you know what our orders were;'
and in an instant he threw down bis cassava
and bread, and began to saddle one of the
mules with all his might. We were extremely
surprised: wo did not know that the order
had been at all urgent. The monks too were
surprised; they arose witn many bows, and
as plainly as possible let him understand
thut it was their wish and intention
to rest. But the more they said,
the faster Talbot saddled. Their bows and
politeness changed to anger, and still tho
Baddies went on; they thought ne could not
understand, but they understood that he was
perfectly bent upon setting off again forth.
with; and boy as he was, they did not seem to
know what to do to prevent it. We were
rather sullen at being so disturbed; but Tal
bot's manner and determination so amazod
us, that when he oraerea uwen to get up
and mount, the poor little fellow obeyed
instantly. Talbot struck the mule with a
whip, and off she Bet down the spine. 'Now
theB. he said to me, 'up witn you, T
your mules reaay. lie was tremuiing
with hurry ana impatience. ro, i saia, K
suits me to wait a little longer.' I shall never
forget bis face then, it seemed to express
so many things terror, entreaty, and deter
mination, 'ive no time to wait, he said,
'but if you don't mouut this instunt, T , I
must 6trike you. lie was lar stronger than 1
but as he lifted up the whip I knocked up the
handle, and it fell. Instantly he turned to
the Indians, they obeyed him, and set off
without a word, then the astonished . monks
casting melancholy eyes on the j provisions
were somehow made to mount. 1 don t know
how he did it; but I suppose they were
amazed at his behavior and his audacity, that
they had no sense Iolt to contend; and Talbot 1
gave tach mule such a blow at parting, thut
she set off at full speed.
"And then he turned to me. 'Now, then,
be said, 'there is but this one mule left for
both of us; mount and be quick. I felt that
he bad no right to command,' and I was '
angry and astonished. I fixed my eyes on .
him for a moment; his whole face seemed to ;
be changed by his impatience, and worked
and quivered with it. i heard the pattering j
hoofs of the other mules; they were still au- j
dible. If I could buve known ! ; 'No,' I said :
to him, 'I will not go till 1 have- an explana
tion.' !
'"Very well, then,' ha answered, 'there it
is.' He had already got his hand on my
shoulder to urge my mounting; he now turned
his eyes towards the most shady and secluded
end of the bower, and there oh, it makes me
cold to think of it ! there, on a rock, folded
and reposing, lay another serpent, just like
the one we had seen, before. It was watch
ing us, and bathing its long, slender tongue
in a narrow sunbeam. Instead jof springing
up and setting on for my life, I could not
stir, nor breatho, nor get my eyes away from
the fearful creature; but Talbot dragged me
up by main force, and mounted behind me;
and off we set slowly oh, bow slowly I
"We lad no whin to urce on the mn!e with,
for I bad dropped it when I snatched it from
Talbot, and I shall never forget the terrors of
the next live minutes. At last the mme
caught sight of ber companions and mended
bar pace, and in a few minutes we came to an
open sward, where only a few trees were scat
tered nere ana tnere.
"When we had found a really safe place
where the rock sheltered us, and where there
were no crevices in which any creature could
bide itself, we all lay down, and Talbot made
an apology to the monks; and I contrived to
explain to them what lie bad done. They were
exceedingly delighted with his presence of
mind, and kept repeating, Muschachito mio,
itunchacMto mio.
"Talbot told us that he saw the serpont the
moment the provisions were served up, and
was so frightened at first that for an instant
he thought of springing on a mule, dashing
down the slope again, and then turning round
when he was safe to warn us of our danger.
As be really did something so different, I
think it was very honorable of him to confess
this first intention."
"Yes. indeed." I replied: "and I think he
showed wonderful presence of mind and a
noble courage.
'I was sure you would say so. lie said tnat
be then considered the confusion and fright
we should all be in rushing this way and
that way, some running down on foot, others
hindering one another, perhaps frightening
the mules and , letting them run away ana
yon must remember our lives almost de
pended on these mules; we could not get
either tip or down the mountain without
them: and then you must remember, too,
that Owen, after the fright he had,
was not fit for much. If it had been any
other wild animal, of course he would have
told ns at once; but as it was a serpent, he
feared we should be paralyzed, and if not
that, get dispersed and fall over the precipice,
besides, be hoped at first that it was asleep,
and dreaded lest any noise should waken it.
As for roe. my behavior when he was
obliged to show it to me makes me think it
should not have escaped. I shall always
think that Talbot saved my life, for the ser
pent was beginning to uncoil himself."
"There can be very little doubt that be
did." said I. "and most probably he was
asleep when Talbot first saw him, and might
have been awoke by the noise you made in
quarrelling together.
"We were told afterwards, that those ash
colored serpents are believed always to live in
pairs," proceeded my brother, "for when one
is killed, another is almost sure to be seen
about the same spot."
"I hone after this second escape you did
not think of Haman," I observed.
"No, I didn t, said my brother, witn a
much more thoughtful face than was common
with him.
"When you think of the fear and hatred
with which you regarded the serpent," I con
tinned, "you should consider that this enmity
was implanted because our first parents were
tempted to sin. by Satan, under the form of
a serpent; and that it is sin which we ought
to fear and dread, far more than the serpent,
which can inflict no injury, excepting to the
body. You should be grateful, too, that the
promise given so long ago has been fulfilled
by our Redeemer the promise that 'tne seea
of the woman should bruise the serpent's
bead.'"
"Yes," said mr brother; "that was what
the ship's chaplain said to us when we came
on board.
And so ended my brother's story.
My brave boy, or, brave fellow.
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PORT Umd DKPAmTMSHT.
rUftWyl Prrmoaala Will be rofllved until I P,
on the 1st it or MAHC1I. 170. for fnrnlfihtnir all
the "Humped Enveloped" and "Newspaper Wrap
pers' which this Department nay require daring
a period of four years, commencing lat 01 )oiy,
1870, VlA, j
No. L Note sue, by ,V Inches, of white
paper.
no, a. urffinary truer bika, b i-io dy ot
Inches, of white, buff, canarr. or creaiu-
eoiored paper, or in anutt proportion of either a
nay De required.
No. 8. Full letter Hire (nnimmmcd on flap, for
circular)!). B V' by 6)tf Inches, of the same eolora m
no. , anu under a line condition aa to tne propor
tion of each.
No. 4. Fnll letter alfte. 8V by BW Inches, of same
colors as No. and under a like oondltlon aa to the
proportion oi eacn.
No. 6. Extra letter lr,e (nntmmroed on flan, for
Circulars), S by V Inches, of same colors as No.
8, and-under a like condition aa to the proportion of
eacn.
No. 6. Extra letter size, 8 v by ey Inches, of same
colors as No. 8, and under a like condition as to the
proportion of each.
No. T. Onictul sice, 8T by 8X Inches, of same
colors as No. 1, and under a like condition as to the
proportion oi ean.
No. 8. Extra oiTlctal slxe, 4 V by inches, of
sanie colors aa No. 9, and under a like condition as
to the proportion of each.
NKWSPAPKIt WRAPPERS,
X D7 Btf Inches, of bull or manllla paper.
All the alKve envelopes and wrapper to ba em
bossed with postage stamps of snch denomination.
Biyits, ana colors, anu w Dear sacn priming on tne
face, and to be made In the most thorough manner,
of paper of approved quality, manufactured specially
for the purpose, with suuh water marks or other de
vices to prevent Imitation aa the Postmaster-General
may direct.
The envelopes to be thoroughly and perfectly
gummed, the gumming on the nap of each (except
for circulars) to be put on not lens than half an Inch
in width tne entire length. The wrappers to be
gummed not less than three-fourths of an inch In
width across the end.
All envelopes and wrappers mnst be banded In
parcels of twenty-five, and packed In strong
pasteboard or straw boxes, each to contain not less
than two hundred and flrty of the letter or extra
letter size, and one hundred each of the oill-
clal or extra olllclal size, separately. The news
paper wrappers to be packed In boxes to contain
not less than two hundred and lirty each. The
boxes are to be wrapped and sealed, or securely
fastened In strong manllla paper, so as to safely
bear transportation by ruail for delivery to
postmasters. When two thousand or more enve
lopes are required to QH the order of a postmaster.
the straw or pasteboard boxes coutalntng the
same muHt be packed In strong wooden cases.
well strapped with hoop-Iron, and addressed:
but when less than two thousand are required.
proper labels of direction, to be furnished by an
agent of the Department, mint be placed upon each
package by the contractor. Wooden cases, oon
talDlDg envelopes or wrappers to be transported
by water routes, must be provided with suitable
water-proofing. The whole to be done under
tne inspection and direction or an agent of the
Department.
The envelopes and wrappers mnst be furnished
and delivered with all reasonable despatch, complete
In all respevts. ready for use, and In such quantities
as may oe requireu to nil tne uany orders oi post
masters; me deliveries to ne made euner at tno post
Onice Department. Washington, D. C. or at the
oince or an ageut uuiy authorized to inspect and re-
j.nitf A t i .1 ueiii. . Iha 1 1 1 ii a n f il.illvnrv In ti. a f tha
V.I W ...V CHIIIV . U fliww 0. U ... 1 u. J W " J u v ...a
option of the Postmaster-Ueneral, and the cost of
delivering as well as all expense of packing, ad
dressing, labeling, and water-proofing, to be paid by
the contractor.
Bidders are notified that the Department will re
quire, as a condition of the contract .that the en
velopes and wrappers shall be manufactured and
stored In such manner as to ensure security against
loss by lire or theft. The manufactory must at all
times be Bubject to the inspcetlon of an agent of the
Department, who win require the stipulations of the
contract to be latthfuUy observed.
The dies for embossing the postage scamps on the
envelopes and wrappers are to be executed to the
satisfaction of the Postmaster-General, In the best
kept in order at the expense of the contractor. The
department p m rves the right of requiring new dies
for any stamps, ur denominations of stamps not now
useu, ana any cnanges or dies or colors shall be
niaue witnout extra charge.
ttpecimens or the stomped envelopes and wrap
pers now in nse may be seen at any of the principal
post oinces. out toese specimens are not to oe re
garded as the style and quality fixed by the depart
ment as a standard for tho new contract: bidders
are therefore Invited to submit samples of other
and different qualities and styles. Including the
paper proposed aa well as the manufactured en
velopes, wrappers, and boxes, and make their bids
accoruwgiy.
The contract win ne awarded to tne bidder whose
proposal, although It be not the lowest. Is con
sldered most advantageous to the Department,
taking Into account the prices, quality of the sam
ples, workmanship, and the Buitlciency and
ability of the bidder to manufacture and deliver the
envelopes and wrappers In accordance with the
terms oi mis advertisement : and no proposal will
be considered unless accompanied bv a sulllclent
and satisfactory guarantee. The Postmaster-Ueneral
also reserves the rlirht to reiect anv and all bids.
If in his Judgment the interests of the Government
require It.
Bciore closing a contract tne successful bidder
may be required to prepare new dies, and submit
impressions tnereor. tub usb of tub fkksknt dibs
MAY OK MAY MOT BB CONTINUED.
Bonds, with approved anu sufnclent sureties, In
the sum of f 200,000, will be required for the faithful
performance of the contract, as required by the
seventeenth section of the act of Congress, approved
the 20th of August, itM'i, and payments under said
contract win oe maue quarterly, alter proper ad.
lustment of accounts.
i ne posimasier-uenerai reserves to nimseir tne
right to annul the contract whenever the same, or
any part thereof, is ottered for sale for the purpose
of speculation ; and under no circumstances will a
transfer of the contract be allowed or sanctioned
to any party who -shall be. In the opinion of the
I'ostmnster-General, less able to fulfill the condi
tions thereof than the original contractor. The
right Is also reserved to annul the contract for a
failure to perform faithfully any of Its stipulations.
The number of envelopes of different sizes, and ol
wrappers Issued to Postmasters during the fiscal year
enueu june au, ioov, was as luiiuwa, vik.;
No. 1. Note size 1.114.000.
No. a. Ordinary letter size: (not heretofore
nsed).
No. 8. Fnll letter size, (ungummed, for circulars)
4,160,000.
No. 4. Full letter slze-7,867,fi0e.
No. 6. Extra letter size, (ungummed, for circulars,'
843,500.
No. 6. Extra letter size 4,204,500
No. 7. Olllclal size S04,660.
No. a Extra olllclal size 1700.
Wrappers 8,&90,SM).
Bids should be securely enveloped and sealed,
marked "IToposals for Stamped Envelopes and
Wrappers," and addressed to the Third Assistant
Postmaster-Ueneral, Post Olllce Department, Wash,
lngton, D. C JonN A 3 CRESWELL,
1 11 eodtMl . Postmaster General.
OFFICE OF THE SOUTH STREET BRIDGE
COMMISSION, No. 34 8. FIFTH Street.
IHILiUEU-Hli. jaU. IV, 1B71I.
Rlad Prnnoaile for ereotitiK a briilue orer the river
Sobuylkill a South etreet will be received at the ottioe of
the (Viamiiasion, in tbe Department of hurvev, No. fr4
S. FH'i'H Hueet, until IS o'clock M. of the FIRST DAY
OF MARCH, 1870, fur the oonHtraetion of a wroufcot-
Iron drawbridge, wiio. uorpnj'a moainoation of tne Pratt
tna. To have eaat-iion pier la rtver.land atone abut
ment, with approaches of retaining wall; arches of
briek, and iron 1 girder, as described in the specifica
tion. The entire length cf atruoluro to be 341M feet,
the troa apan to be Ihb feat each, with pivot draw, giving
an opening ol 77 feet on each aide.
-i na proposal to ow ior an aKKTOKate ma, to do a
smuidiuM bv a bond with two aDiiruved euretie to aa
amount of i 60,000. f ifteen per cent, to be retained aa
tbe work proceeds, nntil the same, inclusive of tbe
(60,000 noted in bond, shall amount to fifteen per
cent, ei tne oontract pnoe, alter wuicu tua current eu-
mate will be paid in lull
Plana maw Via UHn
iain in inn.
be seen and neclfictlons obtained at
the ottioe of the Commission on aad after tbe 2tth iu
atant. . n . vnmoY
MUD run A. liivurnia,
President of the Commission,
1 Ktuf6t
M
KRIOK SONS
BUUTUWAJtn. jwwuuiii
No. 430 WASHINGTON AVBNTJB, Philadelphia.
WILLIAM WRIGHT'S PATENT VAKIABLK
CUT-OFF STBAM BNGINS,
Regulated by tbs Governor. (
MERRICK'S BAFBTY HOISTING UACUINB, ..
Patented June, 188. - j -, ,
DAVID JOY'S !
PATENT VALVELESS STBAM HAMMER
D. M. WESTON'S
PATENT SELF-CENTERING, SELF-BALANCING
CENTRIFUGAL SUGAR-DRAINING MACHLNU.
HYDRO EXTRACTOR.
Tor Cotton or Woolen Manufacturers. 1 10 mwf
. TATOEUB HSliWl K. WlIXIAal & MUSIC X,
aJUttsN 9m WrerWa)
PROPOSAL 8.
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS FOR
ntiw rsrrmnN nv rrrni.if! nint.niNfifL
PniLAhRij'ntA, Jan. 17, 1870.
SEALED FK0POSAL8 will be received for the
following work and materials required In the execu
tion of the WALNUT Street portion of the PUBLIC
BUILDINGS, to wit:
For all the excavations, including the trenches
for the foundations. The price to be stated per
coble yard, which la to cover all digging, hauling
away the surplus earth, and cutting down and re
moving whatever trees may come In the way of tha
excavations, without extra measurement or allow
ance.
For taking down the terrace wall, cleaning tho
bricks, and piling them up adjacent to the buildings.
taking down tne iron railings, the gate piers, the
coping of the wall and the steps, and depositing
them on the grounds, and removing all the rubbisn
occasioned by the same. The price for this portion
of the work to be stated in jrroa.
For concreting the entire foundation of the build
ings with small broken stone, and cement, mortar,
and grout, In conformity with the specifications.
The depth of the concrete to be tTwtt feet, and the
lateral dimensions to conform to the plana, The
price to be stated per cubic foot, and to Include all
materials and labor.
For furnishing and delivering large-size building
stone, the price to be stated per perch of H cubio
feet, measured In the walls. Also, for select build
ing stone, averaging 8 by B feet, and from 13 to 13
Inches thick ; the price for the same to be stated per
cubic foot, delivered on the ground.
For building all the cellar walls, and the outside
walls of the basement story, as high aa the level
line of the pavement, according to the plans and
specifications. The price to be stated per perch of
S3 cubic feet, laid in the walls, without extra mea
surement, and to Include all labor and all materials)
except stone.
The contract or contracts will be awarded to the
best and the lowest bidder or bidders, who will be
required to give approved security for the faithful
performance of the same.
The plans and specifications may be seen at the
office of the Architect, Mr. JOHN Mc ARTHUR, Jr.,
No. S06 S. SIXTH Street
The proposals to be sealed and endorsed "Pro
posals for Public Buildings," and addressed to
JAMES V. WATSON, Chairman of the Committee
on Contracts, and to be left at the office of the Com
missioners of Public Buildings, in the new Court
House, SIXTU Street, below Chesnut, on the 14tQ
day of February next ensuing, between the hours of
11 and 13 o'clock A M., at which time the bids will
be opened, in the presence of each bidders as may
wish to attend.
By order of the Committee on Contracts.
1 19 wfm lit n. C. PUGn, Secretary.
IIAJREIISTGr'S EDITIONS
OF
THE HOLT BIBLE.
FAMILY, PULPIT, AND PHOTOGRAPH IHBLE3,
FOR
WEDDING AND BIRTHDAY PRESENTS.
ALSO, PRESENTATION BIBLES FOR
CHURCHES,
CLERGYMEN,
SOCIETIES AND
TEACHERS, ETC.
New and superb assortment, bonnd In Rich Levant
Turkey Morocco, Paneled and Ornamental Designs,
equal to the London and Oxford editions, at less than
Half their prices.
No. S16 CHESNUT Street
STRENGTH, BEAUTY, CHEAPNESS COMBINED I
HARDING'S PATENT CHAIN-BACK
moTOGRArn albums.
For Wedding, Holiday, or Birthday Presents, these
Albums are particularly adapted.
Tbe book trade and dealers In fancy articles will
find the most extensive assortment of Photograph
Albums In tbe country, and superior to any hereto
fore made. For great strength, durability, and
cheapness, Harding's Patent Chatu hack. Albums are
unrivalled. Purchasers will find It neatly to their
advantage to examine these new lines be goods bo- '
fore making up their orders for stock.
Also, a large and splendid assortment of new ayice
of Photograph Albums made in the usual mannerJ
No. 326 CHESNUT Street,
IT'
Philadelphia.
rpHE PRINCIPAL', DSPOT
FOB THB BALK OF
REVENUE STAMPS
No. 304 CHESNUT STREET.
CENTRAL OFFICE, NO. 100 S. FIFTH STREET
(Two doors below Chesnut street),
ESTABLISHED 188..
The sale of Revenue Stamps Is still continued at
the Old-Established Agencice.
The stock comprises every denomination printed
by the Government, and having at all tlmus a large
supply, we are enabled to nil and forward (by Mall
or Express) all orders, Immediately upon receipt, a
matter of great importance.
United States Notes, National Bank Notes, Drarta
on Philadelphia, and Post Oillce Orders received la
payment.
Any information regarding the decisions of the
Commissioner of Internal Revenue cheerfully and
gratuitously furnished.
Revenue Stamps printed apon Drafts, Checi
Receipts, etc
Tbe following rates of commission are allowed
Stamps and Stamped Paper:
On and upwards. s per
loo " 3 "
100 " 4 "
Address all orders, etc., to
STAMP AGENCY,
NO. 304 CHESNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA.
J. T. BASTOW. J. M'MAHOV.
1 AH TOW At 9IcifIAllOIVt
ISJ BHIVI'INB AKl COMMIHtUON MtKVBAMTS.
No. 1 OOKriK8 BLIP, New York.
No. 18 HOUTU WHARVES, Philadelphia.
Nil 4fi W. PKATT Btraet. Baltinuira.
We are prepared to abip evert description of Freight ta
Philadeli
ljilii. Mew York, Wilmington, and intermediate
Canal Boata and I
Moain-tugs inrmaneo at tne atioitost notice. t
CTKYI2NSON. HUO., Ac VOH
oits :
19 3a Ha ISa S. SECOND Street,
M. KLINK CAN CURE CUTANEOUS
Kinntlons. A) arks on the Bkin. Ulcers in the Throati
Montn, aud nose, Bora Jeg. anu oorsa oi evorr eoiweiva
llecbaraoUr. Office, No. D. itLKVKN Til, betweas)
I beauut and Market street.