The Washington Tragedy!
The following are the particulars of t c late
murder at Washington, a brief notice of which
we gave last week :
A correspondent of the Tribune adds :
" For more than a year there have been
floating rumors of improper intimacy between
Mr. Key and Mrs. Sickles. They have from
time to time attended parties, the opera, and
rode out together. Mr. Sickles has heard of
these reports, but would never credit thein un
til Thursday evening last. On that evening,
just as a party was about breaking up at hi<
house, Mr. Sickles receive! 1 among his papers
an anonymous letter. Without opening his
mail, or knowing the contents of the letter, he j
accompanied his wife to a hop at Wil'ards's.
On his return home, at midnight, Mr. Sickles
opened the anonymous letter, which informed
him of the infidelity of his wife, of her intimacy
with Mr. Key, and stating all the details of
the manner of their meeting, and naming the
place of rendezvi us. The letter was so plausi
ble in its statements, and gave such precise
directions for the detection of the parties in
their assignation meetings, that Mr. Sickles
decided to investigate the facts. Accordingly
he placed the letter in the hands of two of his
most intimate friends, who last evening pos
sessed themselves of the evidence satisfactory
to Mr. Sickles that Mr. Key had rented a
house of a negro in Fifteenth street, which he
used as a place of rendezvous with Mrs. Sickles. I
"This morning, being in great agony of mind '
Mr. Sickles, in the presence of two witnesses,
charged his wife with having had illicit inter
course witn Mr. Key. At first Mrs. Sickles j
declared her innocence. Mr. Sickles then par
aded before her the evidence of her guilt. She
became overwhelmed with the sudden arraign- i
meat, and fainted, and finally confessed her
guilt. Mr. Sickles was not satisfied with this
verbal confession, but desired Mrs. Sickles to
make the confession in writing. She complied.
She also informed hirn how often Mr. Key had
been in the habit of seeing her, and his mode
of telegraphing to her by a wave of his hand
kerchief when he wanted to come out.
" After Mrs. Sickles confessed her guilt, her
husband demanded her to return to him her
wedding ring, aud desired her to write to her
father to send for her and take her in charge.
" Mr. Sickles's residence is No. 7 President's
square, in view of the Jackson statue, which
i§ opposite the White House. In full view of
Mr. Sickles's residence, on the other side of the
square, Fifteen-and-a-half street, is the Wash
ington Club House, which Mr. Key frequent
ed, and from the windows of which Mrs Sick
les says he was in the habit of telegraphing
her with his white handkerchief. If Mr. Sick
les was absent, she was in the habit of return
ing the signal.
" About 2 o'clock to-day Mr. Sickles saw
Mr. Key come out of the Club-house ai.d go
round the square and walk past his (Sickles's)
house two or three times. He made the signal
for Mrs. Sickles once or twice, when Mr. Sick
les, arming himself with a five-bore six-inch
revolver and two single-barrel Derringers,which
carry each a ball double the size of the revol
vers, went out of his house and walked down
{)BBt the President's and met Mr. Key. The
atter greeted the former, and was about offer
ing him bis band, when Mr. Sickles, refusing
to take Mr. Key's hand, said, 'Sir, you have
dishonored me ; prepare to die ! ' Mr. Key
started back a few feet exclaiming. ' What
for? What for? Dont't ! don't !' and made a
movement as if seeking for a weapon in his left
breast, but which proved to be an opera glass,
which he threw at Sickles.
"Mr. Sickles then drew one of his Derring
ers and shot Mr. Key, who staggered some ;
Mr. Sickles shot at Mr. Key again with his
secoud Derringer, which sent him reeling against
a tree ; he cried out ' Murder,' when Mr. Sick
les fired a third time from his revolver, and
Mr. Key fell. Mr. Sickles, believing him dy
ing, desisted, and did not fire again.
The Washington Star, of Tuesday evening
gives the following particulars of the funeral
ceremonies of the late unfortunate Philip Bar
ton Key:
The funreal of Philip Barton Key took place
at 2 o'clock P. M., from the late residence of
the deceased on C street, nearly opposite Col.
Benton's house. In the parlor, the corpse,
which had been placed in the coffin, was ex
posed to the view of the numerous friends who
desired to behold in death him whom they had
loved during life.
The coffin was of mahogany, covered with
black c!oth r and heavily silver-mounted. In
it lay the body in full dress, viz: black cloth
coat and pants, white vest, and white kid gloves.
In the hands was placed a bouquet of fragrant
flowers, and inside the coffin were strewed
japonicas, geranium leaves, and other exotics.
On ihe coffin lid was a silver plate, bearing the
following inscription: " Philip Barton Key,
died February 27th, 1859, aged 39 years.
The features of the deceased wore so life
like an expression as to make it diflicult for
the spectator to realize that that once noble
form lay in tbe stillness cf death. At one
o'clock P. M., tbe members of the bar and the
officers of the court met at the City Hall, and
proceeded in a body to the house of the de
ceased, where the last rites were soon to be pro
nounced over the inanimate iorra of their
friend and companion. At two o'clock P. M.,
a large crowd of people had assembled iu the
street in front of Mr. Key's house. The doors
were thrown open for the admission of such as
could obtain places inside, and shortly after
wards the funeral service of the Episcopal
Church wns read over the remains by Rev. Drs.
Pinckney and Buttler.
The coffin was then placed in the hearse,
and, followed by a large concourse of people,
was conveyed to tbe railroad depot for trans
mission to Baltimore city, accompanied by the
pnll-bearers aud other intimate friends of tbe
deceased.
Mr. Hutterworth has published a minute
statement so far as be is connected with the
late tragedy, in which he says that when he
left Mr. Sickles' house he had no thought of
meeting or seeing Mr. Key, his object being
to see a Mr. Stewart. He had no arms with
him, and did not know that Sickles intended
to take arms. He (Sickles) left the house
after Mr. Butterworth, and without any sug
gestion from Mr. B. came toward the club
bouse. When Mr. Key saluted Mr. Butter
worth, the latter did not know that Mr. Sickles
was approaching, nor did he see him until he
turned to leave Key. It is not true that he
sought or detained Key, who first addressed
Butterworth. Hon R. J. Walker appends a
statement confirmatory of Mr. Butterworth's
narrative.
tor A mob at Qnincy, 111., has sacked eigh
houses of ill-fame, situated on York and State
streets, in retaliation for the murder of a man
in one of tbern a few davs since.
srafofori Ilrjiorter.
E. O. GOODRICH, EDITOR.
TOWANDA :
Thursday Morning, March 10, 1859.
TKKMS— One Dollar per annum, invariably in advance.—
Four weeks previous to the expirulion of a subscription,
notice will lie if inn by a printed wrapper, and if not re
newed, the paper will in all cases be stopped.
CLI'DKIS'I?— The Reporter trill be sent to Clubs at the fol
lowing extremely low rates :
6 copies for $5 00 jl5 copies for $l2 00
10 copies for 8 00 | 20 copies for 15 00
A nvKRTiSKMKNTS— For a square of ten lines or less, One
Dollar fur three or less insertions, and twenty-five cents
for each subsequent insertion.
JOB-WOKK —Executed with accuracy and desnatch, anil a
reasonable prices—with every facility for doing Books,
Blanks, Hand-bills, Ball tickets, •
MONF.Y may he sent by mail, at our risk—enclosed in an
envelope, and properly directed, tee will be responsible
for its safe delivery.
DEATH OF THE POST MASTER GENERAL.
Postmaster General BROWN, died at Wash
ington on Monday last.
THE DOINGS OF CONGRESS.
For the information of our readers we give
a resume of the most important measures acted
upon durintr the Secoud Session of tlieThirty-
Fifth Congress. Such a statement cannot fail
to prove interesting to all. A bill providing
for a Railroad to the Pacific was introduced
by Senator Gwiv, of California, debated at
great length, and finally killed by striking out
all between the enacting clause and the final
section. In this mutilated condition the bill
was suffered to remain for the balance of the
session. The bill granting pensions to the
officers and soldiers of the War of 1812, was
passed by the House but defeated in the Senate.
The French Spoliation bill was defeated in the
House. The bill to admit Oregon into the
Yuion was passed. A resolution requesting
the President to take such steps as he thought
necessary to abrogate the Clayton-Bulwer
treaty, was defeated in the Senate. A bill
appropriating thirty millions to facilitate the
acquisition of Cuba, after baring been endors
ed by a test vote in the Senate, was suffered
to go over until the nextsession. The Home
stead bill passed the House, but the Senate
refused ti consider the subject, and thus the
bill failed. A bill donating some six millions
acres of the public lauds to the States and
Territories, for the purpose of establishing
Agricultural Colleges passed both Houses, and
was vetoed by the President. The proposition
to revise the Tariff act of 1857, so as to put
it upou a footing that would produce more
revenue, was not acted upon favorably. These
are the prominent measures of the session, and
the discussion upon some of them was protract
ed and pointed. In addition to these bills,
some one hnndred private bills were considered
and acted upon by the Houses of Congress,
and a large number of joint resolutions dispos
ed of under the rules of the Houses.
tor Tbe Luzerne Union is a newspaper in
which we might lie expected, of course, to feel
some interest—at least so far as to desire that
its course should be a fair and courteous one.
Consequently, we were surprised and pained
to see in the last number some comments upon
the late amalgamation case in Susquehanna
County, in which it is charged as the natural
result of the teachings of WILMOT and GROW
declarations false in the inference and uncalled
for iu the utterance. It hardly becomes tbe
editor of the Union —(and we say it with all
due respect)—to utter such a calumny upon
the doctrines of the Republican party, or to
make a personal application to those who have
been prominent iu advocating those doctrines
—because if tbe principles of that party con
tain any such poison, the editor himself has
much to answer for in the demoralization of
this community.
It is a very common and senseless custom to
accuse the Republican party of sympathy for
the colored race, to stigmatize it as " Black
Republican," iu order to arouse prejudices
which are deep and general. It would need
but little space to show the editor of the Un
ion what he already feels—that the doctrines
of the party in which he is enrolled, tend to
ward the degrading result chronicled in Sus
quehanna. We pass by the fact, that every
slave plantation is a harem ; that slave barra
coons are a source of revenue to the F. F. Y.'s;
to the grand tendency of Slavery, which is to
reduce the poor whites to a state of poverty
end degradation, until amalgamation becomes
neither repulsive nor shocking to the moral
sense. While upholding the social putrefac
tion of Slavery, the silly and inexcusable con
duct of a young girl, who marries a quadroon
against the wishes of her family and the sense
of the commuuity iu which she resides, is hard
ly available for political capital.
THE POST OFFICE APPROPRIATION* BILL. —
The failure of the postal bill iu Congress, is a
mutter of general congratulation. Tbe Seuatc
had engrafted upon that bill provisions which
increased the rates of postage upon newspa
pers and letters, and upon its return to the
House, Mr. Grow offered a resolution, assert
ing the constitutional privileges of the House
as follows:
Resolved, That house bill No. R72, making appropria
tions Tor defraying tbe expenses of the Postoffice Depart
ment for the year ending 30th of June, 1860, with the
Senate amendments thereto, be returned to the Senate,
as section 13th of said amendments is in the nature of u
revenue bill.
The House adopted the resolution by a vote
of 117 to 76, aud the bill was returned to the
Senate. Although a committee of couferenct
was appointed, and a bill agreed upon, yet the
Senate refused to pass their bill, aud no pro
vision is made for the postal service for the
coming year.
FORBIGN X KWP. —The screw-steamship Jura
of the Canard auxiliary line, arrived at New
York Monday morning, bringing European ad
vices to February 18th. The proceedings of
Parliament are without interest. Iu France a
great sensation had been produced by a min
isterial warning which had been addressed to
the Pressr , in consequeuce of an article of the
same warlike character as it had been uttering
for several weeks previously. The warning
was rumored to have been demanded by the
Austrian Ambassador, under the alternative of
demanding his passports ; and to have been en
ergetically resisted by Prince NAPOLEON. The
effect upon the Bourse was favorable, produ
cing an immediate rise iu the rentes, which,
however, was lost in a few hours. It was
adroitly neutralized also by an official recom
mendation to the Provincial Chambers of Com
merce and journals to cease their pacific memo
rials and discussions. The preparations for
war continued without abatement. The Paris
correspondent of the Times states that he has
information from an unquestionable quarter,
that the King of Sard nia will undertake the
war at an early dny, single-handed, relying up
on the active cooperation of France at the
right moment. Much apprehension was felt in
political circles in consequence of the threat
ening state of affairs on the Danube—Turkey
having declared against the consolidation of the
Principalities, as a violation of the Treaty of
Paris. From India, the war upon the insur
gents had been attended with uninterrupted
success. The campaign iu Oude was ended.
A COMPOUND BOMB 5HF.1.1., OR SIIEI.E FOR
ORDNANCE.—Mr. Lorenzo B. Olmsted, of Bing
hamton, obtained, last fall, from the U. S.
Patent Office, a Patent for a Compound Bomb
Shell—his own invention. It is a remarkable
piece of machinery, and docs great credit to
the well kuown mechanical ingenuity and ex
perience of the inventor.
It consists in surrouuding an explosive shell
with a number of chambered segments, each
charged with cartridge or other projectiles,
and discharged by fuses properly connected
with the inuer exploding shell, the whole form
ing a round or outer spherical shell.
The mould was made In that village, and is
a very handsome and perfect piece of work.—
Mr. Olmsted intends going to Washington,
soon, to experiment with his new war annihi
lating invention. The aid of the Government
hae been liberally tendered to him.
Such formidable weapons arc the best min
isters of peace that we know of. A number
of such many-tongued ordnance pointed against
an army, would make them come down like
Captain Scott's coon.
Captain Skillman, from El Paso, ar
rived at St. Louis and reports that a baud of
Apache Indians having stolen a number of
horses, pursuit was made, and the Indians
overtaken at Dog Canon, where an engage
meet took place, resulting in the withdrawal
of our troops with the loss of three killed and
six wounded. Among the latter is Lieutenant
Lazclle, who received a wound in the lungs,
which it is supposed will prove mortal. About
a dozen Indians were killed. The troops num
ber 22 ; the Indians about 200.
EXTRA SESSION OF CONGRESS.—The latest
advices from Washington state that " there is
now no doubt that there will be an extra ses
sion of Congress called by the President ear
lier than the first Monday in December next,
but whether in advance of or directly after the
Autumn elections for Representatives is not
yet determined. Not only the condition of
the Post Office Department, but other branch
es of the public service absolutely require leg
islation before the usual time of the meeting
of Congress."
B6T It will hardly be believed, but it is,
nevertheless, true, tbat an elopement took
place, a few days ago, at Albany, New York,
between a couple of children, aged respective
ly fourteen and fifteen years ! The young Ro
meo actually provided himself with a package
of arsenic, to commit suicide in case of a dis
covery, but fortuuately the father of the young
gentleman overtook him at Utica, got posses
sion of the poison, had the girl locked up, aud
gave the boy a good cowhiding.
fcttr An awful disaster occurred on the Mis
sissippi, near New Orleans, on Sunday morn
ing last. The steamboat Princess, from Yicks
burg, burst a boiler, setting the boat on fire,
which burned down. A large number of per
sons were killed—how many not exactly kuown;
but 100 were wounded, many of them fatally.
The engineer was fouud cut in two, and the
boast is said to have been made by him that
he would reach New Orleans "on time," or
blow up. It is estimated that there were 400
passengers on board, half of whom are missing !
Boat and cargo a total loss.
JBfeg" A new wonder has turned up in the
discovery of a mysterious cavern at Jackson,
Ohio,, containing human bones of gigantic size,
and coins supposed to be cotemporary with
Cicero Africanus, a gentleman, we believe,
whose name is mentioned iu Roman history.
Mrs. Hartung, who murdered her hus
band in Albany, has been sentenced to be
hung on the 27th of April. Although the
crime was great, the mind shudders at the
thought of a woman dyiDg by the hands of an
executioner.
f®- A horrible murder was committed at
Cohoes, N. Y., ou Tuesday night. An Irish
man named MICHAEL O'BRIEN killed his wife,
and then cot aud hacked the body. He has
escaped.
FROM HARRISB URG.
[Correspondence of the Bradford Reporter.]
HAKKISBCKG, March 5,1859.
Ma. E. O. GOODRICH —The general appro
priation bill has passed the Committee of the
Whole. It nnderweut some .amendment, not
very material ; some progress has been made
iu its second reading ; it is about the same as
last year, but iu many respects higher than
in 1857. The chairman of the committee of
Ways and Means has been accused of follow
ing the very unsafe precedent of the democratic
Legislature of last year ; he acknowledges the
corn, but says, it is so much easier to increase
expenditures, than to reduce them, that he
very naturally and easily fell into the error.—
Ou the whole, however, it will be less thau last
year.
An attempt has been made to fix the 20th
inst., for the final adjournment, but there was
so much buncombe couuected with the ques"
tion, that the day was not finally fixed. There
arc a great many ways for members to set
themselves " right on the record," and none
more prolific than on questions of adjournment.
]f any gentleman should move for an adjourn
ment over night, some member who is seldom
in his seat, and seems indifferent to business
will hop up and call for the yeas and nays,
vote against it, in order to place himself right
before bis constituents, and then in a moment
more will move and carry an adjournment—
"sharp practice."
Mr. SMEAD has read in place a bill to incor
porate the Towanda and Wapposeuning It It.
Co , and also a bill to incorporate the "Towan
da Library Association." The bills are both
reported by the proper committees.
Mr. KINNEY read iu place, iu accordance
with the prayer of numerous petitions, a bill
with reference to fences iu Frankiin township.
The bill has been negatived by the-committee
on Agriculture, on the ground that uo legisla
tion should be had on such a subject which af
fects one township only.
Mr. MEIIAEFEY, of Lycoming, and KINNEY
have prepared and presented a bill compelling
the Williamsport & Elmira lI.It. Co., to fence
their road. They had considerable difficulty
in getting it passed by the It. It. committee,
but it is now reported affirmatively aud will
soon be readied.
The bill lor assessing canal damages as
agreed upou by the Luzerne, Sullivan and
Bradford members lias been reported affirma
tivly by the Judiciary committee. A severe
struggle was had before the committee, the
company opposed it strenuously from the first
to last. Much credit is due KETCBUM, of Lu
zerne, and JACKSON, of Sullivan, iu urging it
through. The committee is regarded as its
severest ordeal short of the Senate. What its
fate will eventually be it is uow hard to deter
mine. The Canal Company evidently stands
in its own light by fighting so persistently
against the people and a fair and judicious
law.
When the general appropriation bill wa3 in
the committee of the Whole a long aud inter
esting debate was had on a proposition of LAW
RENCE, the Speaker, to .appropriate $30,000
to erect a monument to the citizens of Penn
sylvania, who lost their lives in the Mexican
War. Such an exhibition of patriotism and
military glory has been rarely witnessed since
the days of the " Buckshot War." The voh
untcers in the war of 1812 were called upon the
stand by LAWRENCE and handled rather rough
ly and uucourteously, claiming as he did, that
the voluuteers from Pennsylvania never were
in any actual engagements, and deserved no
thing at our hands. He was answered by
Judge MILL, of Franklin, who very successfully
defended those men, the character of the war,
and of those Pennsylvanians who were enga
ged in it. I thought if Major HUNT of your
county had been present the young Speaker
would have met with the rebuke he deserved.
The appropriation was refused by a large ma
jority.
Quite amusing errors occur in the Ilonse,
by reporters confounding THOMPSON, of Butler,
aud KINNEY, of Bradford. Should you see
some inexplicable and funny things in the Re
cord with reference to their sayings and doings
you must not be particularly astonished.
Business is rapidly accumulating in both
Houses, especially iu the Senate. That body
does uot sit so many hours per day as the
House, aud it has been discussing very thor
oughly, if not windilv, some important public
bills. It is feared the session will be prolong
ed beyond former calculations, or business left
undone. It is a fact, however, that more bills
were passed by the House the first two months
of the session, than ever before during the
same length of time.
The FRY divorce case is now awakening
much feeliug about Harrisburg. On Wednes
day evening last the Divorce committee held a
meeting in the Hall of the House, and the case
argued before them by two of the ablest men
in the country. THOS. CORWIN, of Ohio, for
Mrs. FRY, and GEO. M. WHARTON, of Phila
delphia, for Mr. FRY. The House was crowd
ed till near 2 o'clock in the morning by atten
tive listeners to the argument. I have no
room to speak of the subject, except to say,
that abler arguments it was uever my fortuue
to listen to.
Another divorce case, of rather painful char
acter, is now before the House. A daughter
of Capt. BLAIR, of Philadelphia, now but four
teen years old, was married about a year ago
secretly and clandestinely to aw orthless scamp,
with the understanding that it should be kept
secret for three years. The girl has become
sick of the childish act, has divulged to her
father, and asks to be divorced. Her prayer
icill be granted. Yours,
PLIFR KLAUS.
LOCAL AND GENERAL.
DEATH OF THE LAST SURVIVOR OK THE WY
OMING MASSACRE—At (Browutown.) Wyalasing, March
3d, Capt. DAN'IEI. BROWN', aged 88 years, 5 months,
and 26 days.
Thomas Brown, the father of Daniel Brown, emigrated
from Connecticut at an early period, and settled in the
Valley of Wyoming; he was the father of twenty-one
children, of whom Daniel was the last survivor, and two
of whom, Thomas and John, were killed at the massacre.
Patience Brown, the wife of Thomas Brown, Sr., escaped
from the fort with six children, among whom was Daniel,
then about eight years old, Thomas, the father, being a
cripple could not keep up with the family and was over
taken by two Indians who suffered him to escape in con
sequence of being a cripple. After General Sullivan's ex
pedition in 177U against the Indians, Thomas Brown with
his family returned to Wyoming. Some few years after
wards Humphrey aud Daniel Brown settled at Wyalusing
near the place occupied by the Moravians in 17C5, and
called by them Friedens huetten. Daniel Brown contin
ued to live on the same place first settled by him until
his death,and he is supposed to be the last survivor of
the Wyoming Massacre. He was the ancestor of 16 chil
dren, 71 grand children, 44 great grand children, and 4
great great grand children. He was a plain, practical,
temperate man, having many friends and no enemies, and
died with a hopeful assurance of a blest immortality.
lUuGiors NOTICE. Rev. I. CHILD, of
Rochester, N. Y., will preach at the Baptist Church, in
this place, next Sabbath, 13th inst., at 10J o'clock, A. M.,
and at 7 o'clock, P. M.—also at Monroeton at 2 o'clock,
P. M.
The district school house in Wellsbnrg,
N. Y., together with the school books and apparatus,
was destroyed by fire on Friday night last. It was pro
bably the work of an incendiary.
BtsfTAc American Agriculturist has an arti
cle, under the head of '-The Honey Blade Grass Swindle,"
in which it states that this new humbug is nothing more
than a species of millet, not differing materially from the
common millet, and like that may be cultivated for the
ripened seed, or cut up green and cured like hay for
feeding. It states further that the seed is now abundant,
aud could recently be obtained as low as one dollar per
bushel, (of 51 lbs,,) though those who vend it as" Honey
Blade Grass," charge three dollars for a small sack con
taining 15$ lbs., —or over ten dollars per bushel!
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. —This valuable
and popular journal for March has heen received. It is
filled with useful hints for the farmer and mechanic. It
contains a large quantity of reading matter ; printed up
on good white paper ; with many handsome illustrations.
It is a cheap journal, only one dollar a year in advance ;
so cheap that every farmer ought to have it. A single
copy would be of more value to some men than its sub
scription. ORANGE JIDI>, publisher, 18U AVater-street,
New York.
tea?* On Monday evening a farmer like
individual stepped into various stores in our Borough,
(says the Scranton Republican of the 3d,) and purchased
a small article in each, giving in payment in every in.
stance, a ten dollar bill, on the Mechanic's Bank of New
Haven, Conn. They were taken without suspicion, save
we believe, in one instance. Mr. Ziba Knapp, in Mr.
Chase's employ, not exactly satisfied with his bill and on
examining it on Tuesday morning, was still more suspi
cious. His suspicions became certainty, when compar
ing his experience with that of others, it was ascertained
that some #7O had been passed. In qtmy was started as
to the whereabouts of the gentleman who was so flash m
tens. It was ascertained that he had stopped at the Man
sion House and left for parts unknown, early in the morn
ing. Dispatches were sent off" on the various telegraph
lines, and at length a reply was received that a gentle
man answering to the description had got on the cars at
Clark's Green, bound for New Mi'.ford. Orders were
sent to Montrose to arrest him which was done, and on
Tuesday afternoon he was identified by Messrs. Fisher,
Chase and Mowrey, and brought down to Scranton, a pre
liminary examination was had before Esq. Jay, and in
default of the bail #OOO, was committed to the lock up.
His name, he says, is H. N. Southwell, and he is from
Rush township, Susquehanna county. His brother was
sent for on Wednesday to go his bail, but there are other
warrants as yet unserved, the bail on which will we
trust, swell beyond the means of his friends. Despite the
prisoner's protestations of innocence lie cannot avoid the
fact that he offered no other money for his small pur
chases.
FIRE IN* WILKESBARRE. —On Wednesday
evening, the 2d inst., the old Depot of the Lehigh Rail
road Company, together with the large frame dwelling
house near by was burnt; the furniture of Cap t. Converse
who lived in the house was saved. The Company's ears
were lost, estimated at #2,000 ; the origin of the fire is
not kuown. Supposed to have originated in Capt. Con
verse' ice-house, which stands near by.
I
teg" Our Court proceedings should have
stated that the name of Asylum township was changed to
Terry ; and Durell to Asylum.
FATTIER HERSEV, a Clergyman connected
with the Baltimore Conference, M. E. Church, preached
iu this place, on Sunday afternoon and evening, and Mon
day morning and evening. Father HKRSEY'S age and
long service in the cause of Christ, have gained hiiu a
wide-spread reputation, and large congregations attended
to hear him.
M. E. CONFERENCE. —The East Baltimore
f, onference met at \\ illiamsport, on Wednesday, 2d inst.
The Pre** publishes the proceedings in full, and thus
notices the body :
lhe East Baltimore Conference now in session, is said
to be unusually well attended. Some 105 ministers re
sponded to their names at the railing of the roll. The
presiding officer Bishop SCOTT, discbarges his duties in
an able and dignified manner, and the Secretary, T. B.
SARGENT is very well fitted for the post to which he was
unanimously re-elccted.
" All the ministers have been well cared for, and are
entertained by our best citizens, free of expense. They
seem well pleased with our pleasant towu. It is hope'd
that the sessions of the Conference here will have an in
fluence for good in our community.
" The clergy of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as a
body, are a fine, intelligent looking set of men, and man
ifest by their actions, thus far, tliat they feel a lively in
terest in the canse in which they have embarked-"
fcafOne of the most disagreeable duties of
an editor is to " nip in the bud," the poetical aspirations
of the incipient B\ ROWS and HEMANS, who shower down
upon him their poetical eflusions. We venture to say
that we are in the receipt of least three-score and ten
such productions every year, not one in fifty of which is
fit for publication. A few are modestly offered, but the
great majority arc furnished with a flourish which indi
cates that a great favor has been conferred by bestowing
them upon us for publication, and the chagrin and disap.
pointment is proportionate. A young genius, after severe
mental labor, brings forth, from five to fifty verses at a
litter, which having been a nine days wonder to the fam
ily and neighborhood, are forthwith despatched to the
editor to preserve them and immortalize the author. The
partiality of friends sees in the jiugle of the concluding
words all the requirements of the true poetry—and does
not discover, that there is neither happy conceit, sys
tem, grammar, or sentiment in the production, and they
do not understand or appreciate the kindness which con
veys it amongst the rubbish.
Aery frequently these effusions are occasioned by the
decease of some relation or frieud. The difficulty is then
exaggerated. The memory of the "dead departed" covers
np the defects of the rhyme with a mantle broader than
that of charity, and it becomes painful, mauy times to
deny the publication of what, a a matter of respect, we
should be glad to give place to. But if ~
are generally bad, those Intended as obituari,
.-U, .•, or Went rep,,
such an v nleal. i
If there are any persons who intend to inflict
original poetry, we beg of them as they D *
forbear. And if they are determined that we 1","'
their productions, they must expect us to Jote a
by what we consider to be our duty to both them a
readers. But our advice to those afflicted wth °° r
pensity to write poetry, or verse, or rhyms
it as soon as committed to paper, and it' m
come up in after days to reproach you.
fflS-The editor of the MauchChunkC^. tlt
E. H. RAICH. is an Assistant Clerk in the House of D
prescntatives, aud consequently has an excellent '
tunity forjudging of the qualifications and menu?"'"
members. In a letter to his paper, he pay, tile
deserved compliment to our members *
" Messrs. KINSKT and SME AD are just the KINS .
one would look for from the noble county of itr, ~ ,
delegation can be truer to their constituent* „ d " ' N '°
Bradford have selected men of better judirnnmt COui(!
zeal iu everything than they take hold of. ° r
B®-The friends of Rev. N. ADE P EW •„
pay him a Donation Visit at the M. K. Parsonacs '
village, on Tuesday evening, March 15. j,* 0
meuts. All are invited to attend.
feg-Inonr advertising columns will befoand
a notice of interest to farmers, from the Tioga p
Agricultural aud Junction Iron Works. a
Star The nomination of the Hon.
MCLAKE, as Minister to Mexico, has been VR,-
to the Senate. It is understood that the [.iaee
was offered to General HOUSTON, bat that Le
declined it. It was the intention to give the
position of Secretary of Legation to Mr J
S. THRASHER, aud he was telegraphed to i a
reference to the matter; but, owing to some
difficulty, he will not receive the appointment,
which will be given to a gentleman at present
in the Attorney-General's Office.
The death of JOHN MARBIN, K*}
Third Assistant Postmaster-General, which
took place last Friday at Washington, will
cause a very wide regret. Mr. MARRON has
for many years, and under several Admiuis
trations, held his place, and had the practical
guidance of the financial affairs of the Pos'al
Department. An efficient officer, a warm and
reliable friend, and a man of blameless life
his sudden death is a matter both of public
aud personal regret.
SisT" The President has vetoed the Agricul
tural College Bill. He and his southern mas
ters don't believe in promoting educated labor.
They prefer squandering the public lauds for
political purposes. The bill was supported in
the House by the great body of northern mem
bers, and opposed by nearly all of the southern
members. The bill passed both Houses, but
the opposition of the South triumphs by the
exercise of the " one mau power."
S@~A destructive lire occurred in Memphis,
Tenn., on Monday night, by which property to
the amount of $150,000 was destroyed, inclu
ding five newspaper establishments. Haifa
square on Maiu street was burnt down. The
fire originated in the cellar of the Eagle ar.d
Enquirer office, and was caused by au incen
diary.
BaT- Navigation opened on Lake Erie Wed
nesday, a propeller having left Buffalo for
Cleveland and Sandusky with a full load, and
a line of propellers having commenced ruuuiug
between Cleveland and Dunkirk.
STATE AND COUNTY T. XES. —The present
Legislature, thus far, has been proving itself a
rather "slow term." The have made but lit
tle progress so far as beneficial legislation is
concerned. Several bills, however, of impor
tance hare beeu presented. One of these is in
regard to the collection of State and County
taxes, which provides that the County Treas
urer shall act in the place of tax collectors in
collecting said taxes. The duplicates as made
out by the County Commissioners, shall be
placed in the hands of the Treasurer, who shall
give thirty days notice in the newspapers of
the time and place at which he will visit the
townships in his county, devoting two days
to each township, at which time it shall be the
duty of the taxables to attend and pay their
taxes. The period of the Treasurers visits
shall be previous to the 12th day of July in
each year. Any person who shall before the
12th day of July pay his or her taxes, state or
county, shall be entitled to an abatement ofs
per cent. In ease that any connty or state
tax shall remain unpaid for the space of 30
days after the 12th day of July in each year,
the Treasurer is authorized to place the same
in the hands of the constables of the different
townships, who will, if payment is uot
immediately proceed to collect the same by
levy aud sale of the goods of the deliuquent
taxables.
B6T" A Congressional Investigating Com
mittee have discovered and exposed instances
of gross corruption in the Navy Department.
In these offenses President Buchanan and
Secretary Toucey are implicated. The atten
tion of the Committee has been chiefly direct
ed to four distinct items of expenditure — tbf
purchase of fuel for the Navy, the purehaseof
live oak timber, the management of the
Yards, and contracts for steam Machinery
Dr. Hunter, of Reading, Pa., was appointed
in May, 1858, Agent to furnish coal for the
Navy, The Doctor, who is a practicing pb. v "
sician in Reading, did nothing towards buying
the coal except sign a few papers, the business
being done by Tyler, Stone, A* Co., of I'hiladcl
phia, who furnished coal worth $3,50 a ton, at
$3 85. The Doctor's profits amounted to about
$l5 ,000 per annum, which, in accordance with
au understanding at the time of his appoint
ment, he divided with one John F. Smitb.who
did not pretend to have anything to do
transacting the business.
The contract for furnishing live oak timber
was given to Mr. W. C. N. Swift, an old !i®
Whig of New Bedford, Mass , he having p al
to Mr. Plitt, Treasurer of the Democrats
State Committee of Pennsylvania, $16,00 ,
towards carrying the State for Mr. Buchanan.
Mr. Swift's contract amounted to '
and finally another contract of $166,7000
added, making, as shown by the testimony
fore the Committee, about $25,000 more t a
it would have cost the Government if the
tract had bceu honestly and properly uiuu