GIBSON' PEACOCK. Editor- 1 VOLUME XITIL-NO. 214. HOLIDAY GIFTS. i'ur A BOX Or MA FNMA CIOANS. , • o W l n es, Liquors and Cordials. Chotem Drawls of' Ohm:ups/no. Pickle', Sauces, Sar dines. &c, TIINO. 11. SITALLA. _ delT•itrp. 804 Chestnut street. il..viL.Alo4.7l l— irotprarTOS,: DIAMOND lJ work fine watches and chains, at reduced rates, at . . DAILY'S, 022 Market street. Etandsotne presents or the holidays. It§ .._ loir ED DI NO °ARDS. .INVITATIONS v V to/ Parties, Ad, Now styles. MASON aOO • anSUR 907 Olteotnnt , strait. ________ W_ A EDDING INVITATIONS EN ' In the newest and beat manner. LOUIS D ILA Stationer and . Sumac, nu latedrint areal. tello tf MARRIED.. KNOX—TROMPSON.—Drcember 1601, in the Woet Spruce Street Church by Rev. Charles W. Shields, D.D. Rev. James II Mason Knox, D.D., to Rehm n., daughter of the late Oswald Thompson. LAMSON—GASKILI.,.—On Thnrsday, the lath lat., at the residence ot the bride's parents, Twentieth and Tioga streets, by the Rev. S. earrington, Mr. A. D. Lamson. of ilostod, )18F0., to Miss Anna Y., only dauth ter of J. W. Gaskil Esq. McCULLAOII—KERIL—On the 16th instant, at the residence of the bride's father, Alex. Kerr, Rag., 2812 Race street, by Rer. David Steele, D.D., assisted by Rev. .1. A. Henry and Rev. Dr. S . W. Crawford. Mr. Archibald McCullagh, of Now York, to Miss Silo S. Kerr, of this city. NOLEN—SAYERS.--in St. Louis, on the 14th inst., by the Rer. W. Carlos Martyu, Captain Franklin No len. of Wilmington; Delaware, to Miss Mary Sayers, of Vt. Louis. POW,KLie—SAWYER.—O Thursday, the lath inst., at the residence of the bride 's mother, by the Rev. Dr. Sheppard, Mr. John R. Powell to Miss Mary K.. daugh ter ot the late Robert Sawyer, Esq., both of tide city. No cards. DItP. ADOIPII.—On the morning of the 17th lust., Alfred W. Adolph, In the 4ith year of hie age. Due notice will be given of the funeral. 111DDLE.—In Allegheny City, Dec. 14th, Mr. Samnel Diddle. aged 79 years: JACKSON.—On the morning of Friday, December 17. nt his rekdonee, No. 1316 Pine street, Samuel Jackson. M. D./formerly of Northumberland), in the 874 Year of hisage. aIIITH .—Thia morning, 17th Inst., 'Eliza P., relliA of the late Jacob 11. Smith. in the Cti year of her age. • Due notice will be given of the funeral. D IA CAMEL'S FiAnt SLUR Ffi • R CIIRISYDA FO 8 FRESENT3 Olt VALVE. BYRE & ILANDELI., FOURTH' AND ARCH. - orecrw -- NOTICEB. pv't, ,wmr7lm SAMPLES OF THE PRICES Now Prevailing at the C; rand Clearing Sale In Progress at JOHN' WANAMAKER'S 818 and 820 CHESTNUT STAHEL A Fine Petersham °remota, tHaridsoluely Trimmed), worth . 7'f';.22; re duced to Sl3 50. • A Fine Chinchilla Overcoat, Worth $3B, reduced to $4...V A Business Solt of Tricot or Mellon, Worttr $I)", reduced t0:422 A Black Dress Coat (Swallowtail), Worth 81.33, reduced to $lB A Pair of Fine Pants of Fashionable Hake, Worth $9, reduced to $5. A Vest of Cloth versos,' Cassimere, Worth $3 30, reduced to $1 The Whole Present Stook is to be Disposed of at Prices Like the Above The Chestnut St. Clothing Establishment SIS and 820 CHESTNUT STREET, JOHN WANAMAKER. Bab COACHMAN'S OVERCOATS DRIVING GAUNTLETS. .0 lt7 ACADEMY OF MUSIC.- THE STAR COURSE-OF LECTURES. Young Folks' Series. Day Lectures by PAUL B. DU CHAILLU, THLRD AND LAST LECTURE. ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON, December 18, "LOST IN THE JUNGLES,” identical occasion Mr. by CHAILLU travels.ppear In the costume worn by him in his Re will also describe the LAND of the DWARFS. Admission to each Lecture........... _........... .__...,.? 6c. Resorted Seats( extra) Doors open at 2. Lecture at 3 o'clock. Orchestral Prelude at 234. Tickets to be obtained at GOULD'S, 923 Chestnut street, and at the Academy on the afternoon of tho Lec ture. deliF2t9 'Om LADIES' FAIR, ' IN AID Off BROAD STREET . SYNAGOGUE, NOW OPEN. itaeelet's Promenade Band in attendance. 4e13 are toy CHESTER VALLEY RAILROAD COMPANY.—The annual meeting or the Stock holders of the Oheeter Valley Railroad Company will be held in room No. 23, Merchante Exchange Philadel vld a, on MONDAY, the 10th day of January]A. D. 1870, st 12N, o'clock P. M. On the same day mill same place, Leta Gen the hours of 1 and 2 o'clock P. M., au election will be held for a President and seven Directors, to serve for the ensuingyear. dein' to tilljaB§ WM. 11. 110LSTE1N. Secretary. fr THE CELEBRATED TRAGEDIAN, JAMES E. MURDOCH, writes that he hoe used Murdoch's Bronchial Comfits - ler thirty years, as the best sad safest confection to be found for the voice. For bale by all druggists. it* MILHATT'S GOLDEN COD LIVEI Oil, puro and reliable, obtained front t'resib, and bra y livers, and uneurpaesed by. any yet produced. hold by all respectable druggists. J. 311L1141335' SONS Broadway, Now York. dolt, w tat —The Cincinnati Sun has two p ges of Eng. lish and two of German. —Our arm L 9 furnished by its quarter masters with 519,000 worth of tobacco monthly. ~ . , . , .. . ' '.,".if .. ' . , . • ... • . . - . . . . . , , • • . e . --....--- . , . • . . .._ . . . .. • . —. . ,'• ' . . '.7:i , ' 1,! , r . • ~ .i•— .. , . ' , . . . : . ~... .... . .„ . ' . . ' . • . . . „ . . 1 ... . .. O li f • , : 7 . .... , .:,. .': . • , ,' ' z ' , „ ... ,- . . , , . 4 • , .• ~ a , .. . .. ... - .., . . . ... _ ... ..• , .. . ... . • 1.. • -...._ r .. . • . , . • ...... . „ . r . , . , .•,. , A ~ • . Pants, Dec. sd, 1869,—The French Chamber has made use of the new privilege accorded to it, and has elected, for the first time under the Empire, what is technically called its Bu reau, or staff of officers; and which must be carefully distinguished' from its Bureau.): (in the plural), or ordinary standing committees, which it has always had the right of appoint ing, as well as of nominating their chair men. The standing committees are, in fact, nothing snore than the division of the whole house into committees for the despatch of business, and each of these committees appoints its own chairman. These latter committees, therefore are no test of feeling of the Chamber, or of the balance of parties, except as regards the appointment of the chairman, who, as the majority of each committee, as also of the Chamber itself, has hitherto always been Imperialist, has himself generally been ot j those opinions. But the nomination of the Bureau VI a different thing, and being made by the vote of the entire house, affords as at once a criterion by which to estimate the strength of the parties in the new Legislature. It is this circumstance which invests the nominations which have just taken place with unusual interest, and makes it necessary for me to consider the results and their signifi cation with some degree of detail.. The first choice to be made was that of President of the . Chamber, and to this high oflice M.Schneider, the late President, nominated by the Emperbr, was re-elested by 151 votes. The question that arises is, what does this vote represent? 'And the answer is: The average strength of the entire moderate and Constitutional party in the Chamber. This party is composed of the entire Cent-Seize, or 116, who signed the interpellation which brought about the July message and all subsequent changes, and who belong chiefly to the Centre and Left Centre, together with a few of the more moderate members of the Right and Left. This is the party which, if it were thoroughly united and 'worked together on all points, as is un happily not the case, would form the standing majority of about 150 in a house of 1:70, and whose numbers would be further increased by about 55 votes of the Left and extreme Left, whenever there arose a necessity for op 'posing reactionary meastires on the part of the Right and Extreme Right. Bat, besides giving us the measurement Of the coaqitu- Ilona party in ltk broadest sense, the above vote for the Presidency show" us the'strength of the Right and Left, properly so called, and who do not act with the 116 and constitutional party. - First, then, we find 55 members of the Right voting for 31. Alfred Le Roux as President, and, twenty-five more of the same party, depositing blank bulletins, expressive only of their dis satisfaction with M. Schneider. These two numbers make up the seventy or eighty depu ties who now represent the opinion of what was the old majority before the dissolution. In the second place, we have a vote of thirty seven in favor of M. Orevy. This represents the strength of the Left (pure) and extreme Left, apart from those who occasionally, and as in the present instance, join the moderate and central party in sup porting a man like M. Schneider. Thus then we have, for the Presidential vote, a liberal central partyof one hundred and fifty, shading ott towards the Right and Left, with the two latter respectively represented by votes of eighty and thirty-seven. Could theie proportions always be maintained, and the above majority be always of the same mind, constitutional reform would go merrily on in the new French Chamber, and what remains of personal government would soon be at an end. But, unfortunately, such is not the case. A split has taken place in the Cent-Seize, and M. Pmile 0111- vier, with the larger portion of that body, has united himself (so far as such union is pos sible) with the eighty of the Right and ex treme Right, the two sections being nearly equal (eighty each); and this strange and un natural combination of about one hundred and sixty, and not that natural one of one hundred and fifty (which joined pro tern. in the vote for 31. Schneider), seems likely to be the working majority of the Chamber for the present. This coalition was shown when the Vice Presidents eeme to be elected. 11. Du Miral and 11. Che vandier de Valdrlime, two of the deputies of the Cent-Seize who adhere to M. 011ivier,were put up along with the Baron Jerome David,, the representative of the extreme Right, and these three combined the votes of M. Offivier's party and the remains of the old majority, and carried the election by 144, 141 and 137 votes respectively—the Baron David being, however, the last on the list. On the contrary, the three candidates of the more liberal por tion of the Cents Seize, who have declined to follow M. 011ivier in his junction with the Right, and who were therefore thrown upon the Left for support—Napoleon Darn, Buf. fet and Grevy—were able to unite only 98, 75 and 73 votes. I fear I shall have wearied your readers with all these figures. But the organization of parties in the Chamber is so important—so much more important, indeed, at the present time than anything else—that I have thought it degirable to make it as apparent as possible.' M. Emile 011ivier, it appears to me, by his ill-timed concessions and weakness, has voluntarily created for himself, a false' and weak position, when he might have chosen a true and strong one. The main point in dispute was that a' portion of the Cent-Seize insisted 'that an interpellation should be addressed toathe Government on the subject of the unceremonious and perhaps illegal prorogation of the Chamber; and to this very reasonable desire, M. 011ivier, in his new-born zeal for the imperial master whose service be is about to enter, refused to yield. Hence the split; and hence, also, H. 011ivier, instead of finding himself, when he enters the Cabinet, as there seems little doubt he soon will) at the head of a united liberal party, will find himself supported only by the mongrel and heteroge neous group I have above described. The im perialist party, however, and perhaps the Im peror himself, flatter themselves that the "old majority" is reconstituted, and "personal government" safe again until the next elec tions. We shall soon see better, howovor,how the above combination will work in practice; and it is for your better understanding of what may be the issue of it that 'have entered into the above details of its formation. FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE LETTER FROM PARIS. (Correspondence ol the Philadelphia Evening tiallettn.l PHILADELPHIA, FRIDAY, DidEMBER 17, 1869. ,BAD TRAGEDY AT MIRING RUN, MD. Sololde to roame Stossee.".4l. Del4berate fielt-Morder. The Oxford (PA4 ?Mk gives the loartieulai* of a terrible affiur that occurred at Rising Sun, Cecil county, on Friday, 10th inst. The story briefly told is as follows : A short time ago a young man named Via-. cent A. 9. Vandever, a son of Mr. B. F. Van dever, of Rising Sun; went to Philadelphia and :leisured employment as a conductor on thet Chestnut and Walnut Streets Passenger Railway. He 80011 fell into bad company and was in the course of afew weeks arrested on a charge of stealing $3OO from &drover named Miller. Ho-had a hearing and was released on bail. lie then went home and was to re port himself for a hearing next week. His surety, fearing , that he would not appear, sent a city constable after him last Friday. The officer arrived at Rising Sun and attempted to arrest and handcuff young Vandever, but his father interfered to prevent the use of the handcuffs, and promised that be would take the young man to the city in the afternoon train, whereupon the officer released him. Shortly after this young Vandever bought some miriade acid ; after he had bought it, he learned in conversation with the druggist that it was a very slow poison. Subsequently he bought some creosote, saying apparently . care lessly, "He's a poison too." The druggist in formed him that It, like the other, would pro duce a slow and painful death. He thought the young man, only asking questions from curiosity, and 'supposed his purchases to be for his father, who is a Veterinary Surgeon. After he hadobought these poisons he went out and bought some meat for the family's dinner, and bought a sheet ,of paper, as he said, to write his will. He then went home sat down at a desk in the presence Of his father and mother, and in a cool and collective manner wrote at some lengthwn the paper: After eating his dinner andtaking a walk he went to the stable. Some time afterwards Mr. Vandever went to ' the mow to throw down some hay for the horse and there saw his son lying on his back with his hat over his eyes. lie attempted to arouse him and to his' horror discovered that be was dead. , A crowd of neighbors soon gathered,when on examination it was found that the young man had deliber ately opened his vest, turned it back, placed a pistol against his breast and fired. The ball passed through his heart causing instant death, He lay on his back with the pistol at his feet. ' On his person was found the note he had written before dinner. It reads as follows Itisistt; Susi, Dec.loth, 18e0.—Friends and to whom it may concern : I have suffered for crimes unjust—it has brought me to my tomb at last. I wish to be laid away peacefully in the land of rest. Friends, do not weep- for me,'-but henceforth and forever try to mend your Mother and Father dear, do not weep for ,me; I am satisfied that I will have rest here, after. Give rdysincere love to my dear Anuie. I know alroast break your hearts,_ do not weep for me—the one that wronged 'shall be blessed; I hope. Good bye, friends!' I have no enemies. One -whom trouble has= laid in his grave. Young men, beware of bad- company and shun it. Take your dear mother's, advice—you, will be better off in the end. Please take advice from me. , Have this last' published in all the , public columns. Put My name to it as follows : - V. A: Q. V., THE VICTIM. He was buried at Oxford on the 14th inst. TILE cllClLlklir BEYOLIJTION. Joy in Havana Over the Release of the /vanish G usaboats—The rightist Yinsate —Continued Activity of the Insurgents. HAVANA, Dec. 11,1869.—Spanish Havana' is twice glad. First, that the erudite President of the United States thinks the Cubans not entitled to a recognition of belligerent rights, and second, that under fear of the approach of the Spanish iron-clads the gun boats have been released, for such is the prevailing impression. Indeed, the entire action of the government at Wash ington is considered in antagonism to its sym pathies and interest as well as those of the people, but brought about through the me nacing attitude of Spain. The news is re. garded as bringing with it a practical termina tion of the insurrection, though it is not known that the energy of the authorities in sending troops to the field has at all abated. Business molten and others are, however, very confident, and manifest no alarm at the threatened de struction of the cane fields, which they deem impracticable to any great extent. From Santiago de Cuba we have the Spanish report of the fighting at Negate, which; while as usual claiming a great victory, is most un satisfactory in its details. The' account ap pears in the Bandera Eepaiol of Santiago de Cuba, and is dated from Arroyo Guerra, No vember 22. It states that two brilliant actions had been fought on the 20th and 21st, which proved fatal to the insurrection. Nothing further is mentioned of the second day's opera tions. The first is described as follows : Col. Camaro had been encamped at Santa, Rita, on the bank of the Rio Grande. He had ex pected resistance at this river, but met with none. At an early hour on the morning of the 20th he left his camp with a column of in fantryA company of engineers and a mounted battery,numbering in all 600 men. At half-past ten o'clock he came upon the pickets of the insurgents on some table-land which com mands the Arroyo Guerra. Here the Cubans had determined to make an obstinate re sistance, and had accumulated all the means of defence which their abilities and resources offered. They had constructed a formida ble parapet with a fosse and cheveuz de fris' e. The pickets fired and retired, and soon after the troops advanced to the works and the firing became general. The artillery being brought up and placed in position, twenty-six shots were bred, which compelled the insur gents to abandon their position. Following this a reserve force attacked the left of the Spaniards, but were routed by a bayonet charge, and, as says the account, "they were hunted' like wild beasts for more than an hour." In their camp forty dead bodies were found. The fact that nothing is said of the fighting on the second day, and itbeingknown that the insurgents hold a number of positions in the vicinity, lead to the conclusion that a different result followed the operations of that day. Fighting is reported in the, mountain pass near Trinidad. A column of 250 men, says the haparcial of the Bth„ went out in search of the insurgents, moving in a circle, and for a, long time finding none. On their return, near Cangrejo, they beard firing near at hand, and a reconnoitering , party was sent out. It was diseovered.that the insurgents were in two positions on either side of a small valley, the ground of which bad been filled with stakes. Eight of the party got separated from the others and got between the two fires, and two of them were killed. The column advahced and took the positions, in which were found cabins enough for /500 men. Twee wooden cannon were found, one of which had burst and the other was useless. The ground was sat urated with blood, but no killed or wounded were,found, they having been carried off by the insurgents. The same paper in another issue states that a column which had gone okt came on to a party who were trying to burn a barn at tached to the residence - "Lleonco." They fied and the troops followed. On arriving at Guarabo it was found that a sentinel stationed. there had neglected Ids duty. The captain commanding the column reprimanded when he raised his piece and shot him'dead. The man was arrested , and the column com menced its return. Arrived near the city it was challenged by the outpost, to which the prisoner returned, "Viva Cuba Libre !" and was immediately killed by the soldiers. The inside party opened fire, and the result would OUR WHOLE COUNTRY. .have been serious bat, for the coolness of the commanding officer, who succeeding in mak ing himself known. , e', • , • ,The Voz do Cubit publishes a. resume, or the casualties in the {lined 'Villas during the month of November. There Irere, according to this, 161 insufgenkkiffed; among them 'ono important chief. - Many' of those wounded had afterwards died in the hospital: 131 had preifented themselvoffor pardon; 482• horses, many arms and large quantities of provisions and supplies were captured. , The Spanish loss hi placed at five men =killed,- two officers and lateen men wounded, and fifteen horses killed or wounded. • Another Barbarous Order. A letter from Espiritu Santo gives the news that Goyenecke, the Spanish commander thete, had recently expedited an, order some what in the nature of the famous one issued by Valmaseda. Article 1 provides that all families who have relations in the insurgent, army shall retire within eight days to points where there are• Span soh forces. Article 2 provides that the families living in the mountains or on the (Anders of the partidos Bane°, Tuinictr, Neiva, Arroyo Blanco, or Gibara, kball go to a point fixed by the Spanish authorities. This makes up a poi ulation of 8,030, and of these there are, at least 3,,W) placed in a state of destitution by the eider. According to article 4, all provi- ' sions that the retiring parties may not be able to remove within the eight days are to be de stroyed or inutilized. A Letter from Ceopedleo. The letter given below was addressed to the ladies of the Junta Patriot lea de &aorta., of New York : My Distinguished Countrywomen. The worthy efforts you 'have plat forth toward aiding the triumph of the cause of our- Independ ence have not been to me matters of indiffer ence. I desire to manifest in a sincere man ner the great pleasure which such signal and important services have given me and to give Government Ofa proof of the fact that the Of the Republic of Cuba estimates them at their full value. These patriotic demonstra tions, which raise your names to an enviable height in the esteem of all free, peoples, will /terve at the proper time for a prominent page an history. Permit me to-day, my illustrious countrywomen, to beg you to continue in the noble task which you have undertaken with the applause of the civilized world, thus giv ing outtyrants to understand that to overturn their empire it is alone sufficient to h a ve your aid. Receive, then, in my name and in that of all the Cubans, who to-day battle for lib erty, the most eipressive thanks. Count upon our gratitude and that of the country; which will never fail, and accept, my dear ladies,the assurance of my humble consideration and re spect.' C. M. Dk CESPEDES. Berrocal, May 31;1869. Ale Speauhs,ln the. Halls of the Monte- At a banquet givenat Chapultepec by Pr si dent Juarez to 'ex-Secretary Seward, • Mr. Seward made a long speech, from which we make the following interesting extract : " But what shall be said of the ambition of the United States, and of my supposed share in that ambition? Certainly, only this need be said, that while that ambition is always less • than I would inspire my Government with, 1 am neither its agent nor in any sense its repre sentative. But what shall be said of the am bition of the United Statea as a nation, and of my own complicity therewith? On this point I answer with a 'full and frank confession. The people of the United States, by an instinct which is a peculiar gif t of Providence to nations,have comprehended better than even their Government hoe ever, yet done, the benignant destinies of the American Continent and their own responsi bility in that important matter. They know and see clearly that although the colonization and initiation of civilization in all parts of this Continent was swig: ned to European . monarchical States, yet that in perfecting sO - and civilization here, every part of the Continent must sooner or later be made en tirely independent of all foreign control and of every form of Imperial or devote power, the sooner the better. Universally imbued with this lofty and mannanitnous sentiment, Ithe people of the United States have opened their broad territories, from ocean to ocean, and from the lakes to the gulf, freely to the down trodden and oppressed of all nations, as a re publican asylum. In , their Constitution they have written with equal unanimity and zeal the declaration that to all who shall come within that asylum they guarantee that they shall be forever governed only by republican institutions. This noble guarantee extends in spirit, in policy, and in effect to all other na tions in the American hemisphere, so far as may depend on moral intiuences,which in the cause of political truth are always more effective than arms. Some of those nations are communities near the United States,which, while they are animated like the American people, with a desire for republican institu tions, and will not willingly submit to any other, are yet by reason of insufficient terri tory, imperfect development, colonial demor alization, oriother cause, incapable of inde pendently sustaining them. To these as in the case of the ancient Lonisiana,Florida,Alaska, St. Domingo and St. Thomas, the people of the United States offer incorporation into the United States, with their own free consent, without conquest,and when they are fully pre pared for this important change.-Other nations on the continent, liberally endowed with the elements and virtues of national indepen dence, prosperity and aggrandizement, more matured anti self-reliant, cherishing the same enlightened and intense desire for republican institutions, have nobly assumed the position and exercised the powers of exclusive sove reignty. Of this eiass are Mexico—older'as a nation, but newer as a Republic than the United States—Tene zuela and Colombia, the Central American States, Peru, the Argentine . Republic and Chili. These Republics have thus become, and are gladly recognized by the people of the United States, with all their just claims and preten sions of separate sovereignty, fraternal Re publics and political allies. To the people of the United States the universal acceptance of republicanism is necessary, and happily it is no less necessary for every nation and people on the continent. Who will show me how re publicanism can be extended over the continent upon any other principle or under any other system than these? If I forbear from dilating upon the influence - which North America and South America with all their archipelagoes firmly established and fraternally living under repub lican institutions, must put forth and will put forth in advancing civilization;throughout the world, it is because I have already said enough to show thrt loyalty and patriotism on the part of a citizen of one American Republic is, in nay judgment, not only consistent but congenial with best wishes for the welfare, prosperity, and happiness of ail other American Re publics. 14 1 give you, gentlemen, the health of Pre sident lienito Juarez—a name indissolubly as sociated with the names of Presidents Lincoln, Bolivia' and Washington,in the heroic history of republicanism in America. lir4Seward's remarks were translated into Spanish, and reported by Seiler Ighadas,Min later of Justice, and thus rendered,were loudly and emphatically applauded. Probable Accident at Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Post contains the following Last night a horrible suspicion was created in the minds of persons having charge of, a, freight train on the Pittsburgh, St. Louts and Cincinnati Railroad, that, a brakenian on'thf3 train bad , fallen into the Monongahela river while the ma, were.passing over . the bridge. The train left the Union Depot at eight o'clock last night, the brakethan taking his , lace On the rear . car. VPO II grivins ,on .tho SEWARD IN MEXICO.. A, HORRIBLE. DEATH. south side, and the sigma having been given to apply the brakes, it was ,obserred that the brakeman was hot at Ms post. A search was at once made, but the man could hot be found. We learned at a late hour last night that parties had crossed the bridge on foot and had closely ' scrutinized , every foot of the track between Smith Pittsburgh and the Union Depot in this city, without discovering any trace of the missing man. There seems to be hat slight cause to doubt that , the brakeman , missed his footing, while the train. was cross ing the bridge, and fell into the river below. In this case he must undoubtedly have drowned. Preparations were made last, night to drag the river for the body, which will be done this morning. . ROSE. English Report of a Sunday* Steno Mt St Peter's. A London evening journal of the 3d of De cember reports from Rome as follows :• On Advent Sunday a magnificent ceremony took place in St. Peter's. The opening of the ecclesiastical year plays an important part in the Roman Ritual, and the Pope, after mass, in the ,Sistine, on that day - , carries the Host to the Pontine chapel, and there leaves it on the high altar. This year the number of bishops having a right to assist in the ceremony was so great that it was transferred to St. Peter's. The Roman Patriarch of Con stantinople officiated at mass, which was cele brated at a portable altar erected in front of the Confession of the Apostles, as no one but the Pope can officiate at the high altar. The Pope took his place on the throne at the end of the apse. After mass, he received the con secrated Host, which he carried under a dies of silver brocade, supported by eight bishops. The procession was formed, the whole body of cardinals,bishops, patriarchs and abbots fol lowing in the order of their consecration. The spectacle is described by those present as one of unusual splendor. Mitred prelates from every: country beneath the sun were gathered in St. Peter's—Chaldean; Coptics and. Armen ians mixing fraternally with the Latin bishops, and appearing as completely at home in the Basilica as in their own far-oft churches of Antioch, Ephesus or Trebizonde, and the. long line of the procession had a most bril liant artistic effect. The ceremony concluded with the placing of the Host on the High Altar and the chanting of the Litanies. THE SPANISH GUNBOATS An Attempt to Destroy Them Frustrated. The New York Times says': A desperate attempt to destroy the Spanish gunboats, on Wednesday evening, was foiled by the vigilance of those in charge of the flotilla. For four days two young men, George Abbas and Albert Sang, late of Garibaldi's guerrillas, have been at work to drive the Cubans to some action. They raised ten men and had two boats ready, but the Junta would not even spend 325 to buy combustibles. Their pian was as follows : Twenty-tive men were to be placed at the foot of E'ourteenth street behind a. pile of lumber, and, at a given signal, were to throw hand grenades on the unfinished boats lying , at Thirteenth street. When they were on lire two tug boats were to come up and oiler assistance in towing three or four of the ready-to-sail boats away, while fifty m e n lying at the foot of the same street were to board them, revolver in hand, and run ' the boats out of the harbor. Torpe dties" were ready to assist in destroying the others remaining. In spite of the Junta the men would have made an attacklast night had not the spy Gordon,who is in Mr. Pinker ton's employ, betrayed them to the Spaniards, so that when Sang came to look after things,he found the boats ready to meet any attack, and about I tie armed men patrolling the streets in the vicinity of Delawater's yard. They left disgusted, and went by railroad to some part south with fifty men, where, on the coast of ;Virginia, a steamer will be ready to take them up. They have nothing to do with the Junta, and, only work for the cause of General Jor dan, who, if the gunboats leave the city, will never have a chance to cone back to this con tinent. They are well supplied with arms and torpedoes, and by spits winch they have en gaged they will know of the departure of the Spanish boats from this city in time to lay • torpedoes to destroy the boats. Contrary to the wish and expectation of the Spaniards the eighteen gunboats did not get to sea yesterday. The stores and general out fit were not complete, so that the departure was postponed until to-day. . 7HE ARMY OF TIE CUMBERLAND. Speeehe a of Generals Sheridan and Rose. crane at the Reunion in Indianapolis. General Sheridan, on taking the chair at the annual reunion of the Army of the Cumber land, in Indianapolis on Wednesday, was greeted with round after round of applause. When quiet was restored he said : "Comrades of the Army of the Cumberland : congratulate you upon this, our third anniver sary. It was not my good fortune to be with you heretofore at the meeting of your Society, but I think you all know that I have greater lop and affection for the Army of the Cumber land than for any other army, and although I was not with you in person, I was with you in heart and soul. It gratifies mo much to see that such good feeling is manifested in your pro ceedings, for it was that which enabled us to stand by that old flag so gallantly. I suppose you all, as well as myself, regret the absence of our old commander,'Gen..lhomas. We all regret that he, is not here to-day, that he might contribute by his presence to the !pleasure of the meeting. But other duties have prevented him from coming. But while' he Is absent, we have here the commander under whom we first organized at Bowling Green, on whose banner was Inscribed the name "Army of the Cumberland." It is no use for me to describe the marches we made under his command. It is no use to describe the sanguinary conflicts we fought under his command, and it is not for me to attempt to describe the affection we have always felt toward him." Loud and repeated calls were made all over the housefor Gen. Rosecrans, until he was led forward by Gen. Kimball. He said: "I am not able to express the gratification felt in meeting here to-day. My heart is so full that I will talk but little. Nothing would have given me more . pleasure than to have been With you at former meetings; but circum stances prevented, and now it has been my good fortune to-day, gentlemen, to find my self with you. I render homage to that magnanimity which has made the — Army of the Cumberland so conspicuous among, the armies of the Union, and that which charac terizes the Army of the Cumberland, I tind,is exhibited by all the soldiers connected with it wherever I meet and speak with them. I earnestly congratulate you upon it, and I con- Iratulate you the more and feel proud of it, as was one which went to make up the body ot that Army of the Cumberland and of the Ohio. But, comrades, you must excuse me from try ing to make a speech ; and let rue say that with all my heart I greet you, and whenever I meet a member of the Army of the Cul:fiber land,no matter whether he served in the ranks or has the star of a general, I shall greet him most cordially." • The Humored Defalcation In the Howard National Bank of Boston. [From this Boston Pont, Boo. 15.) In 'financial circles rumors were yesterday in circulation that a heavy' defalcation had occurred in the Howard National Bank, the amount being variously placed at from $50,000 to $75,000. The , rumors arose, from the fact . that .whie M. Ransom mad his assistant, Mr. Eddy, were making the , offi cial examination, .which commenced a few days since, they discovered that a discrep alloy existed in, the accounts of the book.- keeper. An investigation of the circtuu- Atances immediately commenced, and it would P. L. PETNERSTOti. PabMelt PRICE TEMPE °Ens. seem that if there is .a defaleatiors the - keeper is ignorant of, it inasmuch as he' ham the confidence Of the officers of thehank.' Me . states that the discrepancy is owing , to a chid.' cal , •error, and the statement is not