GIB,SON ITMOCK. Editor. VOLUME XXIII.-NO. 23.6. FRARTH CLOSET COMPANY'S COM MAlloEf4nil apparatus Mr fixed elosetai at A. 0, AWCifftCUS & CO.'B,sl,l3lnrket st. dattit th H3OO WEDDING INVITATIONS EN ATECll:titotrnetlat aiggtigrorTalgr . 'eterniii street, beent 31ARItl L.D. CIIKPMAN—POLK.-1 n No* Orlmmo, Jan. 8, WO, at Christ Church. by tholter Dr. Leacock, Mr, 14derrtrd Charnum to Luria It., youtoyeet daughter of tbo late litalthp Polh. • faRWIS-rBUTOFIEIt.—iin the Lath inst., at the Second Preebyteriati ()Lurch, Germantown, by Wee. W. E. Ijatros, Percy M. LIIWII3 to Ella 11., daughter of Theo. B. utoher„ DIED. BACB,E.—At Philadelphia:, on the 18th inst., 3fro. N. C. Bache. relict of the late Alexander Dallas Bache, (Washington papers ale:L.6e copy.] HAINES —On the 12th inst., Annie E., daughter of fiat:mei and the late Sallie A. Baines, aged 20 years. k'uneral frith) het father's residence, 11'21, Callowldlt street. ill Erhlay next, at 11 o'clock A. M. Interment at South Laurtil 11111. b1eD11111,1,A.N.7-4/is the 11th inst., James 31cMullan, aged .!.1 years.. Ills relatives and friends are respectfully ini.i4 , ll to at tend Ills funeral from the residence of his hrother-ht hs . Andrew Brown, Mt Callgseltill street, on F riday afternoon, the 14th lust.. at 2.o'clock. 'Set vices at the . Church of the Covenant, I , ilbott street. West of Seven teenth. • 'reoStneta d to 'Woodtgadg. TItIER,II.-s•Suttlenlyom Tuesday mOrning, Ilt It lust, Charles 5e..111 the C.Stli year of Ilk age. The rebid vett'and bla wale friends , are respoctibliv in 'died to a trend hie fuser 1. from hie late ree deuce. KC/ It Fifth ottett.oallatarday tuaraing 15th last. ;it 11rlock,,. Interment at tientli Laurel ' WIIISTLEB.—At Brighton.lingtand; Pee. 24111 i IRO, George formerly of Baltimore, Md., in the 40th 'ear of bin age. 111r.SSO,N ,SO:J • WILL OI'EN TO-DAY. I case !flack find Pttrple rigor -1 be Laines, 22e. I ease Mark and White 412).• do. , 22e. I csie Illack ALId jowl do. 22c, firay_4ll4 111s6: Chinfz , e's, MOURNING liltY GOODS IMusE, No.')ls CHESTNUT STREET. 7, i NGl,lBrl BOM ZiN Et 4. • • l_4l .11yr teveivod. ono Botabaziues, all qua „.:10,1itnia e t LUto Ett a gacrl: britONtti-31011"..104 I N4l" IMLY .GOODS. ESTN UT RTREET. .3aB 6I CI I'll ICI'M ENT. f---• NOW IN st ,, re. ei ery quality of • YNCI.Ir I II T12131511NG YZII,CRAP.Es. ./ • A 146, • ENGLISH 111/APE:4E2LS C.! • yo•r) yualiil ;as{ 'lcc LlD , DtljettllTM. • ISE' StiN Mourning I>nr:Guoth, 910 Ukeortiout VANCI" SiLI 5,• , • LEDUCEI) IN PRICE; TO El,Oht THEM. LIGHT p OIL EVENI'VGS WHITE CLOTH tuvi Ar•TRACIIhNI4.ior the Clpira ISEST,J3I/ACti. lAILKS IN THE CITY • lEVIIE a LAIN SPECIAL' NOTICES. --- ~ _~- --..--.oani a • A:.1; , COST AND, , LESS THAN,'`` COST. Finest Beady-Made Clothing at COST AND LESS THAN COST. The Balm:tee of Our Whiter Steel: 'at COST AND LESS THAN COST. All our Boys' Clothinz and Flaiiiis-bing Goods at COST AND LESS THAN COST. Elegzolt Piece Goods in the Qnstom Department at COST AND LESS THAN COST. Coats, Coats, Pants, Pants, Vests,Vests, AT JOHN WANAMAKER'S CHESTNUT STREET Nos. 81S and 820 CLOTHING Chestnut Street, Establishment. Philadelphia to. YOUNG- MAINNERCHOR GRAND , JUL 3IASQUE, HAL MASQUE, DAL MASQUE, AMERICAN ACADEMY OF 3fUSIC, . THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 27TH, WA/. TgeKETS, ADMITTING • A GENTLEMAN ' AND -- ONE LADY. • FIvE DOLLARS. _ EXTRA LADIES' TICKETS, EACH oNE DOLLAR. ' FOR SALE AT THE PRINCIPAL MUSIC STORES, NEWS STANDS, CONTINENTAL HOTEL, AND OF THE MANAGERS. jab th et t &um§ Eub THE PHILADELPHIA, WIL MINGTON AND BALTIMORE RAILROAD COMPANY January IS. ISTO. At an annual meeting of the Stockholders. held this day, the following persons wore elected Directors for the ensuing year Isaac Illnckloy, Samuel M. Felton, Wm. Sellers. Samuel Welsh. Jesse Lane, J Samuel Harlan. Jr., Edward At a meeting of the Board ISAAC HINCKLEY wac dent, ENOCH PRATT Vice ROHNER Secretary and Tr jail It Thomas Kelso. Enoch Pratt, Thomas Donaldson, Thomas Whitridge, S. M. Shoemaker, Jacob Tome. , Nathaniel, Thayer, Austin. - 4 of Directors, held this day, unanimously elected Prost e President, and ALFRED 7( . l:wirer. . • A. HORNER, Secretary. aye THE BANK OF NORTH AMERICA: . PHILADELPHIA, JAIL 12, 1870. At the annual meeting of the Stockholders on the 11th ;aslant, the following gentlemen were unanittiouslY elected Directors of the Dank for the ensuing year : 'lliondts Smith, ' • James C. Hand, la rid Scull, John 11. Brown, John M. Whitall, Israel Morris, Lemuel Coffin, Lewis Audenreid, Emupton, John 11. Irwin, A J. Lewis, Win. L. Itehn. At a meeting of the Directors held this day, the fol lowing officers Were unanimously' elected : !resi nt—IROMAS SAI ITII. -_Cachirs—JollN .IL WATT. • ... . RU NDL 1.1 SMI TH. • , Xottir9- 1 X M J. DELLEIi ER. jiil32t JOHN 11. WATT, Cashier. IL -- ? OFFICE OF THE DELAWARE AND RARITAN CANAL AND CAMDEN AND ANIMA' RAILROAD AND TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES PHILADELPHIA, Jail. 6, 1670. • The holders of the new scrip in the above Companies ure hereby notified that the time for paying the last in stalment will expire February 10, 18,0. At any time Lef,re that date it may be paid by those holding the re ceilts of RICHARD S. TROWBRIDGE, Cashier, or F. tIONOVER, Transfer Agent,to Mr. TROWBRIDGE, at his office. who is authorized to receipt for the same , on the back rf the receipt for first inetallment. julodfeerp . RICHARD STOCKTON, Treasurer. U.. EVENING HOUR LECTURES AT THE MERCANTILE LIBRARY. Professor MENET HARTSHORNE, M. D. will deliver the tiret Lecture of this Course on SIXTH DAY (Friday), the 34th test ,at 6 o'clock. Subject—". Mental 'Health and 31ental Power." ~Tickets, 21 cents. For sale at 30-I Arch street, 109 North Tenth street, and at the, desk of the :Library. , . ` • It* na. MERCANTILE LIBRARY.-THE Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of the Mer cantile Library Company will be held in the. Library xecau, on TUEbDAY EVENING, Jau. 18, at o'clock. JOHN LARDNE U. itecordiag SocrotarY. jaL3-th a tu-3trpF, tub 1109 GIRARD STREET. EtTSSIAN AND PERFUMED 'RAVI% Deartments foLadics Baths open from b A. /11. to 91' M. • ' 4.. .. • THE LAST NEW YORK SCANDAL The mysterious: elopement of , the . Bev. Horace Cooke, of, which,, yesterday, we gave the, faCts and :the cireuireitanees attending the same, very nearly terminated in a tragedy last evening. The report which Was published In yesterday's World is totally contradicted by the parishioners:of .Mr. Cooke in Plashing and Mamaroneck. Each one, might bort:lifted partienlariY fur the facts denying them were tarnished ,t, ,our reporter, by representatives of . those_ congregations. Not a word ,of • scandal,. not an . intimation of a dig henorable nature, has ever been attached to Mr. emilie's, mime until this sad occurrence. The attack so , Viciously made was calculated to aggravate the grief of two familieS, already sufficiently great, and to blacken_ the eharae ter of a wan who Las already injured himAelf beyond repair. If the credulity of fhe people is equal to the inventions of those, who_ et:in n-lye(' the scandals, no doubt all this bas.been effected. Miss Johnson returned to her home yester day evening, about 5 o'clock; and about the sametittm Mr. Cooke registered his name as Mr..llaly at Frenet's Hotel. At about ti o'clock in the evening, Mr. Brown, a son of Paul It. Brown, and air intimate friend of Mr: CoOke, met the latter opposite the Astor House, and •walked with him up Broadway as far as Bond street. Mr Cooke was fiercely agitated in manner, and drew his pistol, four times, and suddenly returned it to his pocket. His movements were very nervous, and he exhibited a strange excitability of temper. Mr. Brown sought to calm him, and asked him to go up to ,a restaurant, and take dinner, and enjoy a smoke. Mr. Cooke thiclines_kthe ( invitation, say' g be had eaten nothing, and did not di sire to partake of anything. Ile asked Mr. 3rown to pa with him to the Rork/ o ff ice, and be would " tear the Editor to piece - S." Finally Brown appointed a meeting with Cooke at a later hour in the evening, and they separated_ Mr. Cooke pro ceeded to his house, and, entering the room, his wife saw the revolver, and frightened lest he might do desperate injury to himself, sent into the church adjoining for some one to come in to the parsonage. Mr. Carter, a trus tee of the church, went in, and, engaging Mr. • Cooke in conversa tion, quietly abstracted the revolver from his overcoat, which he had left on the sofa. Suddenly Mr. Cookeleft the house, and ran swiftly down Third avenue and escaped Mr. Carter, who pursued him. It seems he went to the Wdrld office, and remained outside the building some time, when he entered the counting-room and assailed au Editor of that paper. Cooke was so weak at the time that ha was hardly able to stand, and did little more than shake him rbughly. Before proceeding to violence,he introduced himself to 'the editor by announcing that his name was Cooke. An officer was called in, who conducted him to the Second Ward Sta tion House. The editor of the World lodged a complaint against him for assault, his name was booked, and he was locked up in a cell: The Captain left orders that no one should see him. The eloping party have 'been in au adjoining city, and have seen the papers each day. Mr. Cooke said last evening that all reports of indiscretion.; heretofore, as pub lished in the Worid yesterday morning, are lies, and under these scandals, that have been imposed upon the public, Cooke seems most to smart. Cooke alto says that he returns Miss Johnson as pure, so far as he is concerned, as a babe. Mrs. Cooke told our reporter last evening that her husband. the night before he left, took a dose of laudanem and ehlorolorm,which was enough to kill, and he awakened his wife and toldher he thought he had poisoned himself fa tally. She resuscitated him, and begged him never to touch it again, but he said he would go crazy if he did not indulge in these opi ates. lie has been partakinr , of these drugs for a long time past, and has betrayed a nervous ness of manner qttite antagonistic to his- na ture. So marked has been the change in his demeanor that many have referred to it; and inquired of him what so troubled him. His answer was that neuralgia was causing him great pain. Last evening he said to his wife: " Oh, every one has deserted me ; I have not a single friend left." This belief 4eemed must to perplex him. On Tuesday evening Mr. Cooke was seen on Broadway, entering a cigar store, and after purchasing and lighting a cigar he walked out and stood on the curbstone a few moments, when he flung the cigar away and walked hastily away. He has moved boldly through the city. and has taken no extraordinary measures to conceal himself. His speech is disjointed and his thoughts wandering. Miss Johnson has been entirely secluded since her return, and the parents say that if it is proven that !die is as 31r. Cooke says, as pure as ever, efforts will be put forth to have the matter speedily quieted. Reports which 'Showed that 31iss. Johnson was more than imprudent in her relations with Mr. Cooke are strengthened by further information from his wife. When Mr. COoke first entered on his pastorate iii Seventh street, and before his wife had - becoMo `acquainted with the parishioners, Miss Johnson used to enter the parsonage through the ba.4ement of the church and the rear entrance of the house, and go into the parlor and play on the piano, with - a view of attracting her pastor to the room. ' At first Mrs: Cooke asked her husband what it meant, add he said he did not know. She went down into the parlor, but the young lady escaped by the rear entrance. For some time Mrs. Cooke did not know who she was. She pretendedia great love for Baldwin,the son; and the week betore the elopement, in coining out of the church, she threw her arms about the boy's neck and said She was very glad to see him. The clay before she left she passed the parsonage and bowed very graciously to Mrs. Cooke ; this was the last that she saw of her. Mr. Johnson told Mrs. Cooke that he bad noticed a little flirtation between her bus= band and'his daughter, but thought very little. of it, and fancied that she would soon cease to engage in it. - --31 - rs7Cooke told him that he did her a great wrong in failing to tell her that. She feels confident that shenould have crushed it all in the beginnirig.:. We have received the following letter,Which tells its own story; and wh i lch we print pre cisely' as' it reached its : • • -•- To the Editor of the Tribune: Sin : Will you give the words. of 4 criminal SPECIAL NOTICES. [U.THE INSURANCE, COMPANY OF ID}: STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.. Jan. 12, MO. The following' gentlemen have been duly elected Di rectors of this Company for the year 1R70: Henry' D. tiberrerd, Henry G. Freeman, Charles blacaleater, I Charles S. Lewis, ' 'William EL Front', George C. Carson. George 11, Stuart, . Edward 0. Knight, Samuel Grant,Jr., John B. Anstln, Thomas B.Wattson, ChrifOlan J. Hoffman, Richard Dale Denson. At a Meeting nt the Beard of itirecters. held, this day, HENRY D. IMIEURERD. Esq.. was nnanlniously• re elected as President of the Company. jal3.3t 110LI,IN8lf EAD, Seeretarit. VPHILADELPHIA AND TRENTONT ILATLEOAD qomPANY. OFFICE =I SOLITS Dit.LA WARE AVENUE. - . Purt.n.nrwittaiJult.l 2 . l r o . The Transfer Books of thin Company will be closed - on the 15th instant, and reopened after February Ist prox. • J. PARKER NOILIUB, Ja1.3.3t Treasurer. IZs/ WA RD HOSPITAL, NOS. 15t3 Il a a si t treatu L rnt :t r .' 3 n i le r :ric t ile i g en Te Y d D" t a u r gc n m ei gi to tho ponv RETURN OF THE ELOPERS Attatk of the ..Beverend O on an Editor A PENITENT/AL CARD 'From tto NI Y. T4bune. PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 13,`1870. • a Place in ,your columns? Ido not ask to:ex cuse mysell,--Oh no!. I only wish the TRUTH to be known. HI could only write, I would " a plain, unvarnished tale"deliver, but my head and my heart hurt me so that I cannot. On this day the young lady will be returned to her home, as pure and as good as when.tirst saw her. She has been with me as my sis ter. Of course we did not intend that, but my wretched heart stung me at the beginning, and my only desire is to reprdr (as far as T can) the injury f have done to, all my': friends—so good to me—and to the church—but "the damned blot" will never out. (Excuse the blots, they were caused by the snapping of the pen.) I wish that I could write, but I cannot. Let me make a few statements, and for Goa's sake iicmnyE : First-1 did not—l hare not seduced Miss Johnston. If I had, why should' I bring her back 7 If I was villain enough to ruin her, would I not have been villain enough to keep her? It is no fear of personal injury that prompted mo, because I could have eluded crolitiody, if I chose, and I am back now,, and ready to pay wet penalty the family may re= quire. only don 3 t let anybody else" come near me ; for inasmuch as the papers say I am a wolf, it must be remembered that wolves BITE. &cond—l did no t correspond with her. when in Europe. nerer visited the school until the tray we left the city. Fourth—l wan never in an assignation hoitse, with her or any one else, in my life. Fifth—No ‘!paiiel-thieves" have blackmailed me, and I defy and challenge.any living man or woman to lay aughtagain.st my character since I have been a Minister of the Gospel. _lf any bod.y—panei-thiefe&or Cotime. elsc r . 7 -"have letters of mine; let them publish them. As I hope for mercy—uó, I don't hope for any; brit on my soul—on everything that men hold sacred, even.the most ilepraved- swear it fs MA true. I have done wickedly - enough, but don't -paint me blacker than I am What I was be fore I entered • the Ministry ouglit not to damage my qbarfteter for veracitY no*.'Many actors •are better than I am, and -because I have turned out a reprobate, that is no , reason why Fueh villalnoi tirades should be launched against the Church. If I could be fiVe minutes in the presence of the man who wrote the report in the Irodd, I would be satisfied. My chiefest anxietyis about the young lady. Oh, I am certain that those who .K ow me, who balle been intimately connected with me, win believe ine. I.never did wickedly at Mama roneck or Flashing. I .don't wonder: they write so; fora man who would do what 4 broie done, it Is very natural(to "suppose ; wcitild do anything. Don't - understand that I am trying to excuse myself.' I am not. I want" neither pity nor inerk-y. Let that be Irriderwtood—perArtlv. I say ; again, the young lady is pnre as snow, and lam ready to do anything that will tend to confirm my assertion. Pardon me for troubling you, and put this in good shape, for I can't wnte—although I want to. Wednesday, P. 31., Jan.ll, 1870. HORACE COOKE. THE COURTS. TUE INFIDEL SOCIETY. A Charitable' Bequest to It Declared Justice Sharswood, in the Supreme Court, this morning delivered the following interest mg and important opinion involving the ques tion of a bequest to an Infidel Society. James vs. Zeisweiss. Error to the Court of Nisi Prim: , it must be conceded that the devise by the will of Levi 'Nice to Mary.A. Conover and Anna 31. James in fee simpe, is reduced by the snlkiequent words to a life estate to the devisees and the survivor of them, determi nable, however, on their both refusing to re side on the hotnestead known as Oxford Lodge for the space of two months. ,The testator declares that in that event the said real estate is to go as directed in the next clause of his will, that is to say, in the same manner as if both of the devisees were dead. The next clause is as follows: " Immedi ately atter the death of both my said grand nieces, then it is.my will that my real estate aforesaid shall go to and be held - in fee simple by the,lnfidel Society in Philadelphia, here after to be incorporated, and to be held and disposed of by them for the purpose of build ing a hall for the free discussion of religion, politics; . If there was an Infidel Society in Philadel phia at the date of the will, 'it was not then incorporated, the testator expressly referring to it as thereafter to be incorporated. If we are to - infer the nature and objects of the cor poration from the name, it means an associa tionof infidels or unbelieveri for the purpose of propagating infidelity, or ..a denial of the doctrines and obligations of revealed, religion. It must be so understood according to the commonly-received meaning of the term. Such an association, it would seem, could not be incorporated under any of the general laws of the Commonwealth. The Acts of April 6, 1791, :s Smith 20, and ,of Oc tober la, 1840 ; Pamph. 2, 1841, p. 5, provide for the incorporation of societies for any literary, charitable or religious purpose, • and beneficial societies or , associations. It could scarcely he considered as wit tall either tbe letter or spirit of these acts. It IS highly improbable that the Legislature will ever in corporate or authorize the incorporation of such an association.. Supposing it, however, to be possible, it is votentia remota—that a cor poration should be. created, : and with that name—a possibility upon a possibility, which, as Lord Coke tells as, is never admitted by in tendment of law. Co. Litt. 2Z-6, 184 a. It is like a remainder to the heirs of a person unborn— that•a person should be born and die during the continuance of the particular estate—or to an unborn son of a particular name. Fearue, 251. Indeed, the very case is put in the old hook that if a remainder be limited either by feoliment or devise to a corporation which is not in existence at the time of the though such a corporation should afterwards be erected during the particular estate, because it is po ttntio remota. Sir Hugh Chartulay's case, 2 Rep., 51 a.; Lane vs. Cowper, Moor, 104: Counden vs. Clarke, Nab. 64; Noc's case, Winch, 55; Simpson vs. Southwood, I I;a1. Rep., 254. In the Year Book, 9 Hen. VL. 21, it is laid down that if one devise lands to the priests of a chantry, Ft of a college in the church of it, at which time there is no chantry and no college, the devise is void notwith standing the devise is by license, of the. I,:ilag; and dotter a chantry or college is made in the same Rlace, yet theyshall not have the land, because at the time of the devise there was no corporation in which the devise could take effect. We must conclude then that this re - minder, limited to a corporation thereafter to be created,was void, because there was no de vise competent to take , at the time, and the' possibility that there might be such a corpo ration during the particular estate for life, was too remote. But it mav,nevertheless,be true that if the pur pose for w . luch the devise over in remainder was made, be a valid, eharitable use, which can be enforced and administered in ar court of equity, it will not he allowed to fail for want of a trustee. McGirr vs. Aaron, 1 Penna. Rep.. 49. Such - an use may be vague and inde finite, so that no particular person or persons May have such an interest as will give them a right,to demand the execution of it, yet that forms an objection to a charity if there be a competent trustee named clothed with discre tionary power, either express or implied, to carry out the general objects of the donor or testator. As was , said by Gibson, C. J., in 'Whitman vs. Lex, 17 S. and R. 93: It; is im material whether the person to take be esse or not, or , whether the - legatee Were at the time of the bequest a corporation - capable of taking or not, or how uncertain the objects OUR WHOLE COUNTRY. may bo, provided there be a discretionary power vested any where over the application of the testator's bounty to those objects." To the same effect are McGirr vs. Aaron, I Penna. Rep.sl.. Martin .vs. McCord, 5 Watts, 495. Beaver vs.-Filson, 8 Barr, 335. Pickering vs. Shotwell, 10 Barr, 23. The Donlestie and leer eign Missionary Society's Appeal, 6 Casey, 420. "A charitable gift," says Comstock, U. J. in Beekman vs Bomar. 23 New York, 308, "d. finite both in its subject and purpose, and madeto.a definite trustee, who is; to receive the fund and apply it in the manner specified, is to be maintained, although it would be void by the general rules of law, because the par ticular objects of the gift or persons to bene fitted by it are unascertained; Such a gift is capable of being enforced by a judicial sen tence ; and it affords neither room nor justifi cation for an exercise of the eyprbe power. So much then of that which is peculiar in the English system of charitable trusts ought to' bo considered as settled in the jurisprudence of this State. But beyond this we cannot go,' without exercising functions which are not judicial; which . in England rest on prerogatiVe, and are there exercised by the sign manual of the sove reign, or by the Court .of Chancery, as the keeper of his conscience." Goddard vs Pomo roy, 36 Barb. 546. Le Page vs. MeNamara; 5 Clarke 124. Owens vs. The Missionary So ciety, 4 Kernan 380. The discretion which must, in such a case, necessarily be vested somewhere, cannot be assumed by a Court, for it would not be a judicial function; nor can it, therefore, be reposed in a trustee - or trustees of their selection. When there hill() competent trustee named, or he dies or. re signs, and no „provision is made by the. testa tor for the continuance of the trust, the charity must fail . Fontain vs. ItaVeael,l7 Howard 8. C. Rep. 369. In that case executors Were di rected to make distribution of the estate among such charities as they should deentinost bone •ficiaLßut they died . without doing so. "There must he some creative energy," said Mr. Justice McLean, to give embodiment,to an intention W hich was never .perfeeted. Nothing shortof the prerogative power, .it would seem, can reach this case. There - is not only uncertainty in the beneficiaries of this charity s but behind that IS a more formi— dable objection. There is no expressed will of the testator. He intended tospeak through the executors, or the survis - or of them, but by the acts of Providence this has become:lin- ' posSible. • It is, then,.as thongh he had not spoken. Can any power new speak for him except the 'wens patrin ? Had he declared' that the residue of his estate Should he applied to 'certain charitable purposes under the statute of 431E1iz., or on principles similar: to those of the )ratute, effect might have been, given to the equest :is a charity in the State of Perinsylva 'a. The wordS as to the residue' Of propert were used in reference to the diScrerion to be exercised by his executors. - Without thei action he did not intend to dis pose of the re. "due of his property." " Power. to act at discre n," says Gibson, C. J., " need not be expressly - yen if it can be implied from the nature of the t st." Pickering vs. Shot- Well, 10 Barr, 28. No übt an unincorporated society may be a trustee, invested with. such a discretion, and may perpetuate itself by the • succession of its members. This is the doctrine of the learned and elaborate opinion of Mr. Justice Baldwin in Sarah Lane's ,will, Magill vs. Brown, Brightly's Rep.,346. nat., sustained and affirmed by the Court in The Domestic and. Foreign Missionary Society's Appeal, 6 Casey, 425, and the Evangelical A&sociation's Appeal, 11 Casey; 316. Now, if the use in this case be a valid charitable use, it is certainly of a sery indefinite nature, and requires to be ad: ministered according to a discretion to be con fided to some person or persons. The testator named the Infidel Society. in Philadelphia, which might have been well enough, if there was such a society, though unincorporated; but he made it an essential quality of the so oietv thus selected, that it should be incorpo rata. That, as we have seen, was a potentia remeta, which made the devise over in re mainder, after the life estates, a void devises There was no trustee then competent to exer-.. cise a discretion in the administration of the`". charity. Buildin g a hall may be an object suf ficiently definite; hin the trust was not to end there.' It is evidently a permanent, perpetual tole. The ball, when built, must be kept up and maintained. Some person or persons must yegulate the free discussion in religion and politics, and determine what is to be in cluded Under the comprehension, "et cetera." It is plain that no court would ever undertake to adrninistera charity of this character, or to exercise the discretion necessary for that pur pose, through a trustee or trustees appointed by them. It would be a matter' entirely for eign to any proper judicial function. If this course of reasoning be sound, it tollowS th at this devise now is void as a 'charity, and that the reversion, subject to the life estate, de scended to Amanda James, the niece of the testator, and his heir-at-law, under the Intes tate Act, and that a conveyance by her and the life-tenants will vest a good title in fee simple in their grantee. In placing the decision on this ground, how- - •ever, it must not be understood that I mean' to concede that a devise for such a purpose t 1.4 was evidently contemplated by this testator, even if a.competent trustee had been named, would be sustained as a valid charitable use in this State. These endowments originated in England at a period when the religious senti ment was strong, and their tendency was to run into superstition. In modern times the danger is of the opposite extreme of licentious ness. It is necessary that they should be care fully guarded from either, and preserved in that Itappy mean between both, which will most conduce to the true interests of society. Established principles will enable the courts to accomplish this. Charity is love to God and love to our neighbor, the fulfilment of the two great commandments upon which hang all the law and the prophets. The most in valuable possessions of man are faith, hope, charity, these three ; but the greatest of these is charity. Love worketh no ill to her neigh bor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. It is the fountain and source whence flow all good works beneficial to the souls or bodies of turn. It is not easy to see how these are'to be promoted by the dissemination of infidelity, hich robs men of faith and hope, if not of charity also. It is unnecessary here to discuss the .ousti on under what limitations the prin-. eiele is to be admitted that Christianity is part of the common law of Pennsylvania. By the third section of the ninth article of the Cou stkution it is indeed declared " that all men have a natural and indefeasible right to wor ship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences; that no man can of right he compelled to attend, erect or support any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry against his consent tio•bmnan thority.can, in any case whatever, control or interfere with the rights of conscience; and no preference shall ever be given by law to any religions establishments or modes of worship. It is in entire consistency with this sacred guarantee of the rights of conscience anti re ligious liberty to hold that; even if Chrnitianity is not part of the law of .the land, it is the popular religion of the country, au insult to which would be indictable as 'directly tend ing to disturb the public peace. The laws and institutions of this State are built on the foun dation of reverence for Christianity. To'this extent, at least, it , must certainly be considereds - as well settled that the. religion revealed in the Bible is not to be openly reviled, ridiculed or blasphemed, to the annoyance of sincere believers who compose the great mass of the good The of the Commonwealth. Updegraft vs. The Com monwealth, 11 S. Sz It. 394. Vidal vs. Girard's Executors, 2 Howard (U. S.) 198. I can cons ceive of nothing so likely---se sure indeed, to produce these eonsequences, , as a ' hall* deco- Grated in Perpetuity for the free discusSion of, religion, politics, et cetera, .under the dime : - tion and administration of society of, dels. Indeed; I would go further, and adopt , the Sentiment - and language 'of Mt. Justice' Duncan in the ease just referred to : " It would prove a nursery of visas, a school of preparation to qualify young - men for, the. gallows and young women for the brothel, and there is not a sceptic of decent manner's and good morals who would not consider such a debating-club as a common nuisance and oif,gracc to the city." Judgment af firmed. SUPREME CounT—Chief Justice Thompson and Justices Read and Sharswood.—The fol lowing judgments were entered this mornin4 Carson et al. vs. Bird et al. Decree at Nisi Prins is reversed. and the record is remitted to be proceeded in agyeeably to the sugges tit 1:18 made in the opinion. Bradbury vs. Brinton. Error to C. P. of Philadelphia. Judgment affirmed. Rushton vs. ltov:e. Error to D. C. of Phila delphia. Judgment affirmed. ' City of Philadelphia vs. Birelv et al, Error to I). C. of Philadelphia. Judgment affirmed. Barclay's appeal from the Orphans' Court of Philadelphia. Decree affirmed and appeal dismissed at the cost of the appellant. Social Life iu Prussia. The following extract from a private lettet from a Bostonian passing the winter in Ber lin, relates to matters of general interest on this side of the Atlantic. Under date of De cumber 17, he writes : Night before last we attended a grand soirée given by Americans at Hotel der Rom, where we stayed until into the small hours. Several notables were present, among them Herr Von Auerbach, author of Villa on the 'thine,' etc.; also sonic very elegantly dressed German ladies, and altogether had quite a brilliant entertainment. Last evening we at 'tended the reception at COnSuP Kreiss mann's, which •was a still more brilliant gathering than the one at Hotel der "tom,' Among the lions present were our .Minister,;Mr. George Bancroft; Mr. Miss, Secretary of Legation, and his wife; Mt. and Mrs. Burlingame, Chinese Minister; Auerbach and his wile, and a Miss Austin, from Mil waukee, who has, recently become quite a noted singer. She sang two pieces last even ing; accompanied by , the piano, played by a celebrated Berlin , musician, and the music was very tine. As the customs, here of. giving p. reception are somewhat different from ours, perhaps a partial description would he interesting to you. When the guests arrive', • say from eight to nine o'clock, tea, With sometimes a few little .cakes, arer,pask4 around to all. At about hall-patWten, long narrow tables are brought into the receptio,n room, all ready laid with the supper,, consist ing of several kinds of hot meats ready carved, vegetables;-salads, with the usual amount of confectionery and sweets, with a:great variety of wines of greatb-piwity. The German cook ing is of course quite different from ours ;• but we have :•iucceeded in cultivating our taste to like it very much, so that even the children are-very fond of sa.urkraut." AMUSEMENTS. —At. the Academy ut music, fast evening, Korina, wag given, before a small audience. The caste was only moderately good, but the performance was better than NV:Vi expected. This evening a - Mivelty is offered in the comic opera of Pipele, bra composer named Ferrari. Thc story is based upon a comic episode in Sue's "Mysteries of Paris," and it is full of fun. The leading 'parts are taken by Mit. Kellogg and Signor Ronconi. In New YOrV this opera had a most brilliant success during the late season. - To-morrow evening, II Tram tore is to be played, and on Sattirday, at the matinee, Linda di Chainouni. —To-morrow at 4 o'clock, P. M. Mr. Carl W olfsobn will •give his Menclelssolin Matinee " with the following programme : Fantasia, ( F sharp minor) Meatlelasohn A nda nte—Allegro eon mato—Presto. Carl Wolfaohn. Song %Without 'Words, Vi010nce11e...............Mend"145ubu Mr. Rudolph Renhig. Aria—" Magic F1ute."...... Mozart Miss Poona& Ninningcr. Polonaioe, Laub Mr. Wenzel Kopta. Variations Serieuses. (op. 64), M.endelsoonn W Carl o Moho. Aria, with Violoncello Obligato,' Sig Barili, and 31 r. Brunig• Trio. (C minor, op. (WA, Menilelscohn Allegro energieoe con Ingo—Andante eepressivo—Scher zo : Motto Allegro quasi Frestorinale : Allegro • aipassionata.. AtetFrt , . olfvohu. Kopta ant 11« , nnig. AU of this music is new to the Philadelphia public. The fanta.sie in F sharp min yis one of 31endelssolin's earlier works. In its first movement we find a sympathetic air elabo rated in a manlier peculiar to - fendelssol.m. The allegro following is fresh and beautiful. It embodies the principal air which the com poser brings in again in the presto. The proto, the last movement, foreshadows the music of theifids - ummer's Night's Dream ,anti this illus trates the fact that many of MendelssOhn's works, like this movement, had already that fairy-like character which is ~ brought to per-. fection in the music of the Dream. The other solo of Mr. Wolfsohn's is of an entirely *different character. Its theme is solemn and church-like, and it is worked up in the different variations in the most ingenious anti scientific manner. -Mendelsohn displays in this piano composi- - tion his entire knewledge and complete mastery- of the instrument. The climax of the programme, however, is the trio in C minor; this glorious composition is more familiar to concert goers than any other in the list, butwe need only remind those who know the trio, of the splendid finale, with its dramatic elaboration, to induce them to be present at this performance. Au additional attraction will, be the performances by Miss Nininger, Mr. Kopta, .Mr. Hennig and 81g. Barili. Miss Nininger is a pupil of the latter gentleman, and is a very competent singer. —At the Chestnut Street Theatre last even ing Miss Keene produced Mercy Dodd, a new play by Boucicault. A large audience was present, and the performance was of the most successful and satisfactory character. The play will be repeated to-night, and the comic drama A husband to Order, will also be given. To-morrow night Miss lieene will have a farewell benefit, when the three following plays will be offered : Matrimony ; h She Mad ? and The Actress by Daylight. 'She. deserves to have a, big house, as she has striven arduously to supply the highest class of entertainments, and has made her theatre one'of the most de lightful places of amusement in the conntry. —At the Walnut this evening the military drama, Not. Guilty, will be repeated. This play has preyed an immense success. —Little Ealy will be repeated at the Arch, this evening, with a great cast and beautiful scenic eilects. In many respects the entertain mentis one of the most delightful ever given in this city. —The American-Theatre °frets a first-rate bill for this evening. Mr. Gibbons the famous gymnast will appear and will perform novel and wonderful feats, such, for instance, as walking upon the ceiling with hiS head doWn wards, and there will be,besides, ballet singing; farce, burlesque, and performances by trained dogs. —Messrs. Carncross & Dixey announce an attractive entertainment at the Eleventh Street Opera House this evening. ; :A number of novelties will be produced. —Messrs. Duprez & Benedict. proprietors of the Seventh Street Opera House, will give 'an entertainment of more than usual excel lence this evening. Their bill includes pan tomimes, farce, negro delineations, vocal and instrumental musici and a multitude of good thingS beside. —Signor Blitz, with his son Theodore will indulge in Magic and legerdemain at Aksem blv Buildings every night this week and on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. —The concert of Mr. Fred. Tiedemann; in aid of the German Hospital; will be given this evening at , the German .Theatre, on. Coates street, near Franklin. A ,fine programme 'has beeri:arranged for the occasion. —A few yeara aga an ingenious gentleman managed to got drunk free of, expense almost daily in the streets of London by filling down hi a ilt; 'with a small laertril on his' breast, Don't bleed rue, but give the a glass of hot brandy and water." F. L FETHERSTON.IIBI# PRICE THREE CENTS. Pennsylvania Prisons and Alms!'Oases The Annual Visit of Inspector Dickinson His Report to the • Governor lqahlon H. Dickinson, Esq., trammaitted,to the Governor the following interesting xeptort of his annual visit to the prisons ands alms houses located in the several counties at this State To His Excellent?' John W. Geary, Goberhir of Pennsylvania—Srft: On the 21st day of 'May. 1867, I had the honor to receive from sot a commission to visit the prisons ' and alms houses of the COmmon*ealth, 'whiCh' dirty I have continued to perform from the time 'elf my appointment until the present moment, and am' gratified to know that some goik low resulted from'the information gained - 'by p6r sdnal inspection of these institutions, and diet the suggestions made in my several repertscto your Excellency, and by you communicated to the Legislature, have received from that body prompt and favorable consideration. The erection of, an additional asylum • far the reception of the insane poor,whom [Olin& claimed in loathsome prison cells, and in 'the damp basements, of county poor-housles,'stiffer ing for want of proper attention, haii beenpro vided for by legislative enactment ; and iat no - distant day these helpless beings will, by this humane and benevolent act of onr,.State : au thorities,_be cared for " and their sufferings mitigated, and, as far as their 'condition permit, they will made happY. • ' A nobler or more meritorious work tieVer engaged the attention of the Legislature 'of Pennsylvania. And in view. of ',the • great' misery endured by the many who are now tOnlined in these. unfit places, or who are wholly unprovided for, the work so well begun ought not to be delayed. The new building should be completed as 'soon :as possible, and those for' whom the in stitution was designed 'gathered within ita walls, in order that they may be; by kind and judicious treatment, improved' in mind, and many of them e it is to be hoped, restored to reason andsociety. , . In my fornier, reports I found it necessary m to sayuckin 'condemnation of some of the prisons visited, especially those located in counties at'a diStance from the great thorough fares of travel, where visitors seldom' leached. These were described as being unsafe ; Where prisoners could not be held, unless loaded with chains; where, the sexes were not sent rated, where there was no discipline, otpny 'efforts made. towards the moral or religious improvement of the inmates ; the buildings totally unfit for prison purposes; and where the prisoners became schooled in vice, 'and eventually graduated, prepared for a life of lawlessness. It affords me great satisfaction to be able to Inform your Excellency that there has .been, within a few years, an awakening on the part of the citizens and authorities of many counties of 'the State to the necessity of refit:4 . m in prison structure and prison discipline! This has been manifested more especiallY in the counties of Lycorning, Northampton. Lehigh, Blair, Carbon, . Potter, Clearfield and Cambria, ' all of which have, since my first visit to them, either com menced or entirely completed ' new 'prisons. These have been erected in accordance with plans given by, and under the direct supervision of, able architects, who have made this branch of their profession a specialty, and who, judging from the struc tures already completed and from the plans of others now being erected, understand the requirements of a Pennsylvania county , jail; where, if those in charge have the disposi tion,they may enforce the discipline established by the Jaws of the Commonwealth. In the above-named counties the authorities, in adopting plans for now jails, have done so, apparently, with a view to. the introduction of the system of separate confinement, as required by existing laws; and where convicts sentenced for a term of years will receive proper punishment and discipline, with moral and religious train ing • and as each coil is large enough for a workshop, be, if skilled as a mechanic, profit ably employed ; or if they have' no trade or calling, be taught some useful branch of in dustry, in order that they may, when released from prison,be enabled to maintain themselves by honest labor. • 31ercadante I regret to say that in some of the 'counties where new prisons have been built, or are in the:course of erection, as strict attentidn , has 'not been paid to the manner of construction as.a due regard for the safety and comfort of the prisoners requires. Centre county has recently completed a new prison. It is built upon an eminence in the town of liellefonte,and asfar as the mechanical work is concerned is creditable ; but it lacks the one great essential for a jail—that of being fire-proof. In a county prison, whore the supervision is of necessity not, so close as in. the penitentiaries, , there is always danger to, be appre hended from fire, either from accident or carelessness on the part of the personS in charge, or design on the part of the prisoners, Wks) may,and have in several instances which have conie within my knowledge, fired' the building in order to effect their escape. No design or plan for a prison should be approved unless it be tire-proof. Another badly designed prison is the one now being erected in Luzerne county. This, though fire-proof, is for, many reasons more objectionable than that Of Centre county, and on account of its architectural beauty and its unfitness for the purposes' of a, county jail, deserves more than a passing no tice. In the spring of 18613 the Commissioners of Luzerne county commenced the erection of a new prison. This building, now closely ap proaching completion, stands on the side of a hill in the upper part of the town of Wilkes barre, fronting the Susquehanna river, and is elevated about fifty feet above the level of the stream, which gives it, viewed from the river, a very imposing appearance. In the rear of the building the ground is so much elevated as to give to persons on the highest paint a full view of the interior of the yard, affording facilities for the prisoners' friends to hold, by signals, communication with them when 'they are permitted to take exercise in the open air. This is tile only objectionable feature in the location ; and will, I fear, be a constant source - of trouble to the officers of the prison. The Commissioners of the county,before de ciding upon any plan, made personal visits of inspection to many of the prisons and', Peni tentiaries in thiS and in the adjoining States, whieli unhappily resulted in the adoption of the design now being carried out in this building. Mr. John McArthur,Jr., a well-known archi tect of Philadelphia, was selected to make the drawings and superintend the erection of the prison. The style of this structure is the castellated, or usual prison style.• • • The pile consists air - centre building, sixty feet wide and forty feet deep, two stories high, exclusive (ifs the basement, with two towers onthe front, each of which has an ad ditionalstory. This portion, contains the residence of the„ Warden, the Registering Office,. and' the Roard‘and ComMittee Rooms. The Sitterior walls of the edifice are constructedofabeauti ful drab sand-stone, obtained from the quar ries .of James liolgate, Esti:, in the :vicinity of Wilkesbarre. • , In the immediate rear of the. centre Wilding. and, divided from it: by- a cerridor:Ntla feet , 'Whie;is a'One-story strnettire, Used for a kitchen, bakery, pantry, and engine and holier °Use. • ,'r;:'J