Bradford reporter. (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, December 16, 1854, Image 1
ONE DOLLAR PER ANNUM, INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE. TOWA N P A : SatnrDan fßomiuc, December 18, 1854. JMtctfi) Ijoetrj. THE DANCE OF THE AUTUMNAL LEAVES. Borne by the restless winds along, Where the sorrowful woodland grieves, Hither and thither a fitful throng, Merrily dance the autumn leaves. Upward they mount to the murky sky. Downward they.plunge to the earth below; Now in a giddy whirl thev flv, Now in a madcap chase they go. Tinkling gaily, their feet advance Over the graves in thoughtless glee; And the music to which they dance, Hark! 'tis a dirge's melody. Onward merrily still they go Through the wood and over the wave, 'Till they find in the wintry snow, Chilly and dark, their lonely grave. Borne by the tempter's power along, While kind heaven in pity grieves, Giddily pass the human throng Thoughtlessly as the autumn leaves. Upward they mount in fancies high, Downward they plunge in pleasures low ; Now in the passion's whirl they fly, Now in Ambition's chase they go. Merrily still their feet advance Over the graves in ihoughtless glee; And the music to which they dance, Hark ! 'tis a dirge of melody. Onward! giddily on they go, Over the earth and over the wave, Till they find in the depth below, Chilly and dark, their lonely grave. PUBLIC GDCMITCNLS. Postmaster General's Report. There are 23,548 post offices in the United States —the annual compensations of 257 ol which amount to 81,000 and upward*. During the las', vear, 1.842 offices were established, and 614 dis continued. Number of Postmasters appointed dur ing the same time, 8.618 R-movaie. 1,967 Num ber oi mail rou'es, 6,697. Number of mail con tractor*, 5.167. Tolal annual transportation of mail*, 63 387,005 miles, at a cost ol 84.630 676 ; thus 21,- 366 603 miles by mode* not specified, at 5 cent* per mile; 20.890,530 mites by coach, at C cents per mile ; 15,133 387 miles by railroad, at 12 cts 4 raids per mile; 5,792,483 miles by steamboat, at 8 cen's 4 mills per mile. Increase in the transport ation during the past year 2} per cent. The expendi'ures of the department during the past year were 88.577,424 12, and the revenue $6,955 556 22. To the former must be added <133,483 33, balance due foreign offices, which would leave the to'al deficiency lor the y ear 1854 at 51,755,321 23 The deficiency for the year 1853 was 82,116 078 20— leaving a difference in favor of 1853 of 5361,756. The increase in the revenue of 1854 compared with the revenue of 1853, is $970,399 48—or about 19 percent. The Postmaster-General alludes at considerable langth to the difficulties between the department and railroad companies relative to the rates of compensation for carrying the mails. The com panies, he says, allege that the government should not a*k or expect them to perform for it any ser vice at a less ra!e than that paid by individuals for similar services. This principle, he con'ends, he has always been willing to recognise in the ad justment of prices. What is now required,-he be- is, that the railroad companies should be paid according to tire bulk of the mails, the speed with which they are conveyed, and the accomoda tions required. The sums paid by expresscorn panies are no fair criterion ; for, as they are unin fluenced by competition, they can pay any price demanded of them, and assess it upon their custo mers. England, France, Germany and Canada, pay less lo railroads for mail service than is paid by the United Stales. Complaint is made of the insufficient accomodations, as a general rule, (or route agents. Allusion is made to the habit ol ir responsible parties obtaining, by gross misrepresen tation, mail contracts, and subsequently throwing them up because ol failure on their part to sell the same ai a profit. Owing lo cases not within the control of the de partment, the expenses of the current year will greatly those of the past year. They are estimated at 89,841,921 33. This increase will be owing to the additional compensation ol postmasters and the enhanced prices demanded by the contractors at the last letting?. A uniform plan of registration is warmly recom mended as an additional protection for the safe de hvery ol letters of value. The want of such a safe guard has long been felt; and as the cost of its maintenance will fall directiy upon those who will cherluily bear the expense, we see no good reason w hy it should not be incorporated into our postal Ajstern as one ol its principal leaturcs. During ihat three years commencing July 1, 1851 -5 50t ,022 03 postage-e'.amps a:.d stamped envel opes have been issued by the department, of which ?5,002 301 were sold. For the last year the cost of the service on the YRriojg United States mail steamship lines, and across the Isthmus, was as follows; Collins line, '\venty six round trips $858,000 ; New York and Havre, eleven round trips, $137,500; Astoria and Panama via San Francisco, twenty-four rounJ trips 18,250; New York and New Orleans to Aspin 8289,000 ; Charleston and Havana $50,000 Orleans to Vera Cruz, twenty-lour round trips ?37 ,000 ; Aspinwall to Panama $119,727. Total S- "23,010 29. Die service performed by lire several lines of mail steamships is treated at large The ' w - ,rn atter General is of opinion that the compen '4 'on now received is too large, and that the pres- j THE BRADFORD REPORTER ent system is calculated lo drive off private com peiiiion. He also states that the Nicaragua com pany have offered to carry a weekly mail between New York and California for the sum of $600,000 per annum, which he thinks is the highest rale of pay which ought to be demanded. The cost this year lor a semi-monthly mail, by the Isthmus route | i 55757.977 03. No progress has been made since the last teport in the pending negotiations with Great Britain re lative the admission of France into the arrange ment, as coritempla'ed by (lie provision in the 12 h article of our postal convention. No postal conven tion has as yet been'eflected with France ; bufone is about being made with Mexico. Arrangements have been made with the Austra lia line of monthly packets to convey mails regu larly between New York and Australia. The rates on all outgoing matter have been fixed at five cents a letter, two cents each for newspapers, and one cent an ounce lor pamphlets and magazines.— These rates embrace both the United States inland and sea postage. The fines and deductions during the past year amount to $110,486. The amount lor the previous was 537,920. Secretary of War's Report. We learn from that document that the authorized strength of the army is 14 216 ; the actual strength is only 10,745. The ranks, however, are rapidly filling up under the inducements offered by the law passed the 4tfi ol August last, increasing the pay of the so Idiers. The troops have been kept actively employed in preserving peace among the Indians, but the ar my is too small to enable the Department to pre vent or punish outrages In the West, several causes conspire to render extended hostilities more probable, and when they occur, mote formidable. An increase of military lorce is absolutely necessa ry. In Texas, authority has been given to call out militia; but the necessity is constant, and the Con siitution and laws in giving the President authori ty to call out mi'itia to repel invasion and suppress insurrection, did not design that he should keep on foot a permanent force ol the kind now required An increase ot the tegular army is therelore re commended. The recommendations for an increase in the pay of the officers, for pensions to their wi dows and children, and lor retiring, such as are disqualified for service, are renewed. I In Florida, little has been done in removing the | Seminoles. The trade 'with the whi es has been | cut off", and means are being taken to contract roads in their country, and acquire a thorough knowledge of its topography, with a view to ulteiior opera tions should they no! peaceably remove. The most important part of the report is that which recommends a revision of the laws regulat ing rank and command, and fixing the organiza tion. Much difficulty arises from B evet commis sions, giving many officers double rank ; circum stances determine whether the brevet commn-sions shall take effect, and each officer is to judge for himselt wheiher the circumstances have occurred which puts his higher rank in force. Still greater difficulties arie bom doubts whether the staff" are entitled to command troops. Many contradictory decisions by the higher authority have been made, that nothing short ot legislation can regulate the subject. With regard to brevet rank it is proposed that it shall take effect in no case, except when specially ordered by the President. To propose a law as lo the Staff regulating command, is a matter of much embarrassment. On the one hand it is manifestly improper to exclude from command of. ficers olhigh rank whose duties are of a military character, while it is scarcely less lo give the right of commanding troops to officers whose whole time has been devoted to special duties separate Irom troops. It is proposed, therefore, to break up in a great measure the exclusive Staff corps, and entrust their du ies to officers detailed from the troops. A concise account is given of the recent im provements in fire arms, which are said to have increased their effective range threefold. Experi ments made by order of the Deparimni', have confitmed this statement, and the opinion is ex pressed that smooth bored arms will cease to be used as military weapons. No more mu.-kets should therefore be made; but attention should be turned to the improved pattern. The report on the Pacific Railroad cannot be completed for a month or two yet, and no results are ye! stated; some par ies are yet in the field, an J others will be sent out next spring. At the Capitol, the marble work has been re tarded by deficiency of supply. The brick work has gone so far that the two wings will be under roof this winter. The remainder ol the report is occupied with de tails of minor importance. Report of Solicitor of'llic Treasury. This report shows that the whole number of suits brought during the year under the direction ol the Solicitor ol the Tieasury is 586 ; that of these 46 were on Treasury franscrips; 218 lor ike re covery ol fines, penalties, arid forfeitures under the revenue laws ; 144 ola miscellaneous character — 178 ori custom house or ware house bonds in Cal ifornia, and 3 for the recovery of land purchased by the United States and reserved for light-house purposes. Of there 586 cases, it appears thai 286 have been tried and finally decided ; that 48 have been either discontinued or remitted by the Presi dent and Secretary of the Treasury, and that 251 are pending and undecided. Of these undecided cases, it appears from the tables that the greater portion ol them have been recently brough', and the trial term has not yet been reached. The amount of money which appears to have been collected on suits brought during the year is $118,526 11 ; the amount collected <luring„lhe year on suits brought previous to i!s commence ment is $232,709 48; malting the tolal sunt ol $351,235 59 collected during the year. It further appear--that suits are in charge of 'he PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY AT TOWANDA, B " REGARDLESS OF DENUNCIATION FROM ANY QUARTER." office for the recovery of lands in Virginia and Cal ifornia. valued at over three millons of dollars, which are in due course of preparation for trial. The report compliments the district attorneys and marshals generally lor their faithful devotion to the public interests, and urgently recommends an amendment ot the fee bill, PO as to give district attorneys a more liberal and remunerative compen sation for their services. It fuither recommends the enactment of a law by Congress authorizing the compromise ol judg ments and debt* oflong standing. In fine, the re port in question, though a very modest document, shows that the present Solicitor of the Treasury i* an indefatigable, reliable, and competent man for the position of so great responsibility and impor lance he holds. Report ofttio Secretary ofllic \avy. The first chapter of Mr. Dobbin's communica tion is occupied with the movements of our nation al vessels during the pa*l year. Ho says he could not rpprove'' Commander Hollins for burn ing Greytown, though he nowhere distinctly com mends hi* conduct. He rather seems disposed to lay the responsibility ol that transaction upon Min ister Borland. The Albany has not been heard from since Sep tember, tut the Secretary does not give her up;— thinks she has put in somewhere for repairs. The second chapter ol Secretary's report con tains an elaborate exhortation to increase the Navy. He does not think the six fiigates ordered last win ter enough, and one of his reasons for otdering more i.-, that such a mode of expending the public money " gladdens the hearts of hundreds ol cheer ful artisans, who pay it back into the treasury with fourfold interest." That is a new doctrine for a democratic cabinet minister to hold. In his third chapter the Secretary presses the importance of a '* retired list," in which to bestow the superannuated and incompetent from whatever cause, so that merit may be advanced and reward ed. Chap'er fourth, on the subject of discipline, gives the Secretary's views of the opera'ion ol the law abolishing flogging. He is opposed, to the restora tion of that kind of punishment, and quotes the opinion oi Capt. Walker, given upon his return from a four years'cruise, who says: In regard to the first ques'ion, wheiher it is desirable to restore corporal punishment, 1 reply, thai, from experience, as well as conviction, I do not believe it would be desirable, or lor the inter es's of the service." The Secretary suggests some amendments to the present laws as a substitute tor flogging. The subject of yards and dock* is next treated of at some length, in the course of which the Sccre'a ry expresses his conviction of the importance of having a basin and railway attached to the Cali fornia Naval Dry Dock. The report concludes with a reference to miscel laneous matters ol litile general interest, the (acts having previously found their way into the pub'ic prin's. The Annual Report of the Secretary of the Interior. This i* an exceedingly able interesting document. As an exhibit of the affairs of this department, it presents a condition of things of which lie may justly feel p'oud. During the last fiscal year, there have been 1 1 070 935 acres ol the public lands'surveyed, and 8,190,027 acres brought into market. Within the same period, 7.035.735 acres were sold for cash, bringing 89,285,533.58 into the Treasury, being 5,- 952, 210 acres mere than were sold during the pre ceding year, 3,416 SO2 acres were located with bounty land warrants—l 1 033,813 selected for the States, as swamp lands. 1 751,962 for railroads, Thus showing that, while there has beenji large in crease iri the number of acres sold lor ca*h, a sen sible diminution is felt in the various other modes in which the lands are disposed of. The quantity ol land sold during the first and second quarters of the present fi-cal year was 3,- 826.619 acres, and the amount teceived therefor was 83,642,496 44 mote than duting the corres ponding period of the last year. The quantity of land located in satisfaction of bounty land warrants issued for services lendered in the various wars since the year 1790 is 31 427,612 acres. To satis fy Virginia bounty land warrants under the act of 31st August, 1852, a scrip has heen issued cover ing 537 356 acres, and to setisly the remaining war rant*, it is supposed that about 200 000 acres more will be required. The introduction ol the graduation principle into our public land system engrafts upon it a new and important feature. The Secretary considers the law as it is very difficult of execution, and that fully to accomplish the objects contemplated by its pas sage, material modifications must be made. He adheres lo his previous views respecting the policy of granting alternate sections ol land in aid of the construction of great leading highways, where such woiksare likely to be undeitaken and completed in good faith, and prove beneficial to the public at large, and not merely to ai"venturers and speculators. To throw the necessary guards and restrictions around such grants, lie makes some practical suggestions, but submits the matter to tiie wisdom of Congress. The applications to Congress a! its last session, so far as they were brought to the attention of the Department by the committees, contemplated the construction of about 5,056 miles of railroad ; and allowing six sections to the mile they would have required 20,000,000 acres. In anticipation that some of these grants would be made, the Department, upon the urgent solici lions of the delegations in Congress, reserved the lands from sale along the proposed routes of these roads to an extent approaching to about 30.000 000 acres. The Department has carelully reconsider ed the policy ol this course, and come lo the deter mination not to make such reservations hereafter until the grants shall have been actually made by ADFORD COUNTY, PA., BY E. O'MEARA GOODRICH. Congres* The reasonvfor this determination are, its doubtful legality ; that they retard the settlement ol the country; the difficulty ol ascertaining in what cases it is likely the grants will be made; and the fear of injuring the section of country in which the improvement is contemplated by turning thence the tide of emigration. The Secretary rei'erates his recommendation that the officers connected with the survey and sale of the public lands be prohibited by law from becom ing interested in its purchase. Af er the passage of the act of September, HCS9, granting the swamp and overflowed lands to the- States in which they are situated, many of such lands were taken up by purchase or loca'ion as agricultural land*. The act o! 1850 being a grant in prescvti to the State*, the Government cannot make tides to the individual purchasers or locators, and many difficulties have grown up under this head, to settle which and afford the necessary relief the Secreta'y recommends remedial legisla tion. The Secretary a!-o recommends, as indispensa bly necessary to the completion of the vast amount of business before it, a continuation, for another year, of the commission to settte land claims in California. The commissioners have, by their great assiduity, accomplished a great deal, and there is still much to be done. They have adjudi cated 397 claims, which is less than half the num ber presented. Of those adjudicated, 294 con firmed for about 736 square leagues of lar.d, and 103 rejee'ed, covering about 383 square leagues. The Secretary adverts to the irregularities and inequalities produced by the numerous and dissi milar existing pension laws, and recommends some important modifications wi'h a view to uni formity, and also res'ore the system somewhat to the original design ol its projectors, and to increase its benefits and restrict its operation to those who are teally and Ipgitirna'ely deserving objects of governmen'al favor and protection. He renews his recommendation of a biennial ex amination of invalid pensioners, and cites the sin gular fact that while applications are numerous and constantly being presented lor an increase of pen sion on account ofallcged increase of disability, but two instances have occurred of a voluntarily ac knowledgment of a diminution of the disease or wound for which the pension was originally grant ed. The Department has been eminently successful in ferreting out and bringing to punihment the per petra'ors of frauds on the Pension Bureau. Up to the 30th ol September last, and since the 4th of March, 1853, 30 persons have been indicted. Of t!iee, 11 have been convicted; 9 have forfeited their recognizances arjd fled ; I has died; 1 com mitted suicide; 2 have eluded the officers of the law, and 6 awai'ed trial. We are surprised to leatn that in so large and important a department as that of the Interior, no appropria'ion ledgers were kept therein, by which the financial condition ol the Department could be ascertained, until the present head ol the Depart ment took charge off it. We do no! see how its affairs cauld have been intelligen'ly managed with out having this information readily at hand. It now appears that an admirable and economi cal system has been devied and is in suecesslul operation, (requiting but one disbursing clerk in stead of three, which the laws allows ) by which uniformity and pronip itude are secured in the dis bursement of the public moneys, and aJvances to disbursing officers regulated by the wants of the public service and the means ot the Department to meet them. On the 31*t March, 1813, the enormous sum of 8948,175 80 was in the hands of agents for paying pensions alone. This new financial system has en abled the Sec re ary of the Interior to call in this amouti', so that on the 30th of June last, those agent* only hajon hand the aggregatesum 0f?393,- SOI -20—an amount amply sufficient for the prompt payment of pensions fable to be called for until oilier advances are made. It was supposed until recently, that the new line of boundary between the United States and the Republic of Mexico would be completed with the time and amount estimated at the last session.- 8 - Recent intelligence, however, indicates that further appropriation may be necessary, but the Secretary still hopes that if made, its use may be avoided. The Secretary recommends the demarkation of boundary line between the United States and the Bri i*h Possessions on the Northwest and particu luly thai portion of the Territory rl Washington, and also the settlement of the claims of the Hud son's Bay and Pugct Sound Companies, before difficulties grow up between the citizens of the two nations, and create embarrasments for the fu ture. He makes some judicious suggestion* respecting die laws and organization of the Patent Office, so a* the belter lo secure the rights ol inventors, and increase l ie efficiency of the office in proportion to die rapidly increasing business devolving upon it. He also recommend* die creation, in connection with the office of Attorney General.of a law depart ment of the Government, the increase of salaiies ol the judges of the district courts of the United Siate, and certain modifications oi the feu bill ol 1853 A large amount of di*cteiion being in the head of the Department, respecting judicial expenses of various kind*, the Secretary deems it safest, and recommends that all such matters, as far as practicable, be regulated by law. A throrough examination of the subject ha? re suited in showing that the expenses incident to the office of coroner of the District (amounting to about 89,900 per annum) are not legally chargeable to the United States, and the drafts upon the Treasury on this account have consequently ceased. The Clerk of the United States Court in this District has also been required to conform to the laws—in some respect heretofore neglected—regulating the lees andjemoluments of other clerks of United States courts in the several States and Territories, and a considerable saving of public money been thereby effected. It seem* that two hundred and twenty three terms of the courts, are annually held at eighty-eight different places, and in alluding to the causes which yeady demand larger appropria'ion* for the support of ihe judiciary, the Secretn-y very pertinently suggests whether the bu*ines* tran*ac'- ed in the cour's justifies the.e nnmerou* term*. Ii appears that lr,r the western district of Virginia courts are held at six different places, in the north em district of New York at eight, in California n' six, in Roniiana at six, and in Florida at five.— The Secretary scum* inclined lo the idea of hold ing courts at but one or two places in each Stale, and of eiec ir g suitable buildings at tho*e poin's for their acoomadation, and with a view of making them independent ol the Sta'e or other local au thorities. The Census statistics called lor by the sopcrate resolutions of the two Houses of Congress at the two Houses of Congress at the last sesion are now ready to be laid before Congress, and the work having been completed, the clercical force retain ed for that purpose has been dibanded. The Sec re'ary, we are glad to perceive, recommends liter al appropriations for improvement of the Federal metropolis, and al*o the erection o! firc-proof build ings for the accommodation of the State, War. Navy, and In'erior Department.*, and suggest* tha' a better application of a portion ol the large amount now in the Treamry cannot be made. He also suggests the proprie'y of donating to the ei'y author ities for educational purposes all the vacant city lo's which may not be needed for public pur poses. The wmk on the Li'tle Falls bridge, and likewise the Insane A-vlnm, has been vigorously proseent ed under the able and accomplished officers res pectively in charge of them. The latter will soon be ready to receive the patients for whose accom modations its erec'ion has been authorized. The affairs of the Peni'entiary are noticed, and an ap propriation a*ked to free it of an olil indebtedness. The Secretary conceives that his Chiet Clerk was overlooked, when, by an act of the !a*t Congress, the sal ine* of certain Government officer* were in creased ; and justly appreciated the value ol his services, which, he says, are equally a* arduou* and important as those of the Assistant Secretaries of the other departments,he recommends that hiscom pensation be increased accordingly, and that he be made, r.r officio, Assistant Secretary, in the absence of the Secretary from the Department. Within the pa*t year fourteen Indian treaties have been negotiated, all of which evince a just and liberal spirit towards the poor Indians. The Secretary considers the annuities provided for there in amply sufficient for the pu-poses intended, if properly and judiciously applied, to effect which every ?flort is b--ing made. He regard* it as one of the highest and most solemn duties of the Gov ernment to see that it* engagement with these un lettered children of the forest, who are rapidly pas sing away are executed with the most scrupulous good faith, and that mild ami persua-ive mea-ure* should be employed to induce them to abandon the c!ia*e and become asettled ami agricultural peoplp, as the only remedy against their early and total ex tinc'ion, and that force or coercion *hould not be employed except in the last resort. The jot and humane sentiments of the honorable Secretary ins pecting these wild and barbarous, though in'eres'- ing people, do equal credit to his head and heart, and his report on this subject will, wecannnt doubt, be read with interest and commendation by every sta'esman. philosopher, and philanthrope*!. Summary ot the Treasury Report. For the benefit of those who have neither time nor inclination to peruse ih* lull report of the Sec retary of the Treasuiy, and ypt desire a knowledge of i s contents, we have made the following sy nopsis, which, we believe, contains the substance of ail the important subjects treated in the official docum mt. The report commences very properly whh a view of the condition of the Treasury, from which we learn that the actual receipt* into the Treasury for the fi-cal year ending 30 h June, 1554, from all sources were $73 519.705, which with the bal ance in the Treasury on l*t Ju'y 1863 $3l 942 - ;92, give a total lor the service ol the year ol 895,- 492.598. The actual expenditures for the year were $75 354 630, leaving a balance in the Tieas ury on the l*t July 1854, of $2O 137 967. The re ceip's for the quaitei ending Sep*. 30, 1854, were $21,521 392. The estimates for the remaining three quarters of the fiscal year are $12,500 000 The amount of public debt ou'standing on the lt ol July, 1851, was <17,180 506 The Secretary anticipates a falling off in the cus toms receipts, owing to the Reciprocity Treaty and the short crops. The table of the tonnage of the United States exhibits an increase for the year of 385 882 tons. The table ol exports and imports shows that Ihe imports oi the year were <26 331.- 317 in excess ol the exports. The state of the revenue induces the Secre'ary to again call the attention of Congress to the pro priely of reducing the revenue from customs so that no more money shall be received into the Treasury than is required for an economical ad ministration ol the Government He recommends but three rales of duly, viz: 100,40, and 25 per cent, in place of the eight schedules at present in use. Toe recommendation for a repeal of the fi-h -ing bounties is renewed, and the subject of draw back duties and refined sugar is also recommend ed to .he consideration of Congress. The statement a* to the currency of the country gives the total amount of gold and silver coin in circulation on 30th September at $241,000,000 against which the tolal Bank circulation is $204,- 788,209. It appears from the report on the banks, submitted to Congress on the 6:h of May, 1854, that in 1850-51 there were 879 banks in the Ui:i ted Sta es, witft a capital of $227,907,533, and in 1853-4 there were 1,208 banks, with a capita! of $301,756,071, being an increase of $73,948,538. — vamoses s? a In IPSO—SI the chcn's i"n of the 879 bank* was $155 1C5,251 ; deposit.*, $128,056 712 ; due (o other bank*,s4<s 411 923 ; and together $390.539,- 891 ; and in,1853-54 the circulation of the 1 208 bank? was $205 689,207; the depntit, 5188.188,- 744; anJ there was due to other bank?, $5O 322,- 162 ; and toge her, $443.200.114. makins an in crease of $ll2 660,222, with specie in their vaults in 1850-51 o! $l3 C7l 013, and in 1853-51 of $59,- 710.453, being an increase of $10,739 205. The Secretary is opposed to the circulation of notes of a small denomination. The Secretary calls for further aid lor pro'eoting human life fmrn shipwreck on onr coasts, ant! sug gests whe her the law should not provide greater ecuri'y in the- construction of steam pas*eneec ves sel*. or leave them as now, to ship owners. He al-o recommends (lie continuance of the Coast Survey. In view of recent fraud* by Collectors of Cus toms in Cleveland, o'rwego, , the report calls fir such additional legislation as may be deemed necessary. The balance of ihe report refers main ly to lite operation* ol the various departments of the Treasury. . TMG COCHINEAL. —The Cochineal of Commerce has the appearance of a seed or grain ; and few persons who are acquainted with the natural histo ry of the article which is the principle ingredient in all our most brilliant dyes, would, on inspection, believe it to be a member ol the animal, iniead of th vegetable kingdom. Rut so it i*, nnd million of pound* of the*e mtnu'e insec's are reared and sacrificed, made an important article of commerce, and sol i in 'he various marke's of the whole civil ized world, in order to gratify the eye of man. Two members of the lower animal creation play important part in minis'ering to hnman luxury and pride, viz: hc ilk worm and the Cochineal fly —the lormer in spinning the thread of a'l our most costly tetile fabrics, and the latter in giving them their brilliancy o! hue*. from the flaming scarlet, the brilliant orange, and the blushing crimson, to lite delica'e pink, and the pale-tinted rose. All liie s e colors, in their infinite variety of shade as well a* ai! other* where a tinge of red enters as a component, are made from Cochineal. The insect is obtained from Mexico and the neighboring countries and is raied on a tree of the Cactus family, on the juice of which it teed* When the insects are properjy matured, they are killed by pouring over them boiling water, or by roasting them on plates of iron After being thoroughlyried the insect is packed for the trade. Immense quantities of this dye-stuff are u*ed both in Rurnpe and Ihe United S'ate*, in silk and car pet mannfactories. The belie who, in a five hundred dollar shawl of Can'nn crape, promenades Broadway, captivat ing the hearts and turning the heads of tools and coxcombs by the magnificence of the display, does nor, perhaps, know enough 0 | na'ural history and the mechanic arts, to understand that all the costly paraphrenalia is manufactured out o| the shroud of a crawling worm, and dyed with the life blood of an immolated bug. Ala show dowu east, the audience were suddenly involved in 'ntal darkness by an acciden tal putting out of the lights. Amoi>g the rest was a newly country bumpkin and his pretty bride ; and on the same bench—a stranger to bo h —sat a city gentleman who, profiling by the-daik ness, fell to kissing the bride. She whipered to her husband—"John, John! this 'era tellers a kissin' on me!" " 1 ell him to quit,'' said John : for John it seems probable, s ood a little in awe ot the philosophe from the city, and found himself iheretere, in pre plexed circumstances. " >J., 1 can't," whispered the biide;"you tell him." "Make him quit'" sai I John, now ge ting quite excited. ! don't like to,"' whi-peted the bride. ' hesapc fect \-tran rcr to mc \ , A Mic.\m-.asTANDiNG.The boarders wereassem bled, one stormy evening, in the parlor of a fash ionable boarding house, in Ros'on, when a ra'her amqnatedpnaiden lady lisped cu; (he remark that she loved a rainy day, and always availed of one to arrange her dtawers. "So do,"growled an oi l sea captain, " 1 overhaul my drawers and shirts too, sometimes, anil sew on a button or a string where it is wanted.'' Mademoielle did not fain', but there was an ang r y rustle of her silks, as she swept from the room, leaving all to exchange a suppressed titter lor a good heal hy laugh THE JAPANESE " URRER TEN."— The JAPANESE are fond of eggs, they boil them harj, and eat ihern at the desert like fruit, frequently with oranges Sometime* ihey boil them in soup with vegetables. For the people ol disiinc ioii, fowls are kept in rooms, where they lay their eggs, and are fad wi h ttce. The great j eop'e would not eat ihe eggs o! fowls ihat run about at their wi'.l and pick op what they can find. Many keep also swans, geese and tu key s , but merely for pleasure, aswn do peacock*, which they have also The gall of a beas i made by their? in'o a so!id mass, and used as a strengthening medicine, for weakness in the stomach, and oilier disorder*, ft is highly valued by the Japanese for-its medical vir'nes, and pud for at a high pries. NUMBER ONE —According to the newspapers, Mr Hume, on die presentation of his pic ure, said •' that his chief aim in life had been to promote tho greatest good to the greatest number." The reports omit to state ihalL">rd John Kussell here interrupt ed him with the question— " What is the meatest number ?" Ar.d that Mr. flume, with great promptitude re plied— " Su-nber c e, to be sure." — g. i (fchr- The moit mischievous liars ate those .vi.o keep just on the \erge ni truth.