_ ~ ~ -- Y Y~. yuu ~: - -. ;'.TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, `1860; , I nurr, PAWL —Parliamentary -Defealsi . Annie. Trevor's Thoughts--No. - 3; Poisonerand Politi cal; Letter from Wltabingtini`r Congreesional Pro osedings; The Illinois Deintairatio - Convention: F . 9111112 PAnn:=Pootry—Altifteetive Retrospect ' Foreigh yews; The Courts ; Marine Intelligenie. The Mercantile •Library. This ipstitution,- which has done muoh to foster literarylitite hi biii - citY;'delebratesits -thlrt7 , lseventh - *dversery to-day. -The state' of its'prosperffietift s air be . jtitged from the fol lowing lids; The present rannber of share holders reaches. nearly two thou Sand. " The annual `inceine from ail *sOnro-4.is somewhat below eight thousand ddliars. The total aim? , bar of volumes upon the shelties of the'institu tion is slightly, over eighteen thousand. These minks, though apparently flattering when, campared wfth the condition of the library -ten ,Years ago, arc; by no means satis factory to the mass of the stockholders. Tho contrast with similar institutions, reveals the Melancholy evidence that, so far as The living signs of actual progress are palpable, the Mercantile Library of Philadelphia stands thr behind its rivals. As the affairs of such en institution are matters of commanding public interest, we have taken the pains to make an investigation in regard to the comparative po sition of the two Mercantile Libraries of New York - and Philadelphia. It may be a matter of surprise to many of our readers -to know that at the 'Period when the Mercantile Library of .New York eentaln94, ten thousand volumes, the Meicantile' Library of iThitadelphia contained the same number. At present, the former (which is but two years older than mars) contains. 68,000 volumes, being an increase or over,ten4hOlisand vo itimes in Only the last four years. Tho Phila delphia Mereantile,Library has somewhat over 18,00 volumes. • Even • as far back as 1856, (and the number since is augmented) the number .of volumes taken Out from the New York Mercantile Li brary, in the whole year, was over 160,000, while the number of visitors to the Reading Room was over 147,000, or a total of 807,000, ;sheering a daily average of 780 persons sharing the benefite of the institution. The number of volumes taken oat of the Philadelphia Mer cantile Library, in 1858, was bat 48,800. But the disparity is still more glaring when reference is had to the relative number of periodicals and journals taken in the two in stitutions. In the Mercantile Library of New York" the' number of American periodicals taken in 1869 was.9s; English, 79; 'French and Gorman,:27. At the same time, the num ber of 'American newspapers was 91; of for eign, (and among them papers from India, China, Turkey, Australia, Chill, and all over the continent of Europe,) 60, or a total of 141; making with' the periodicals an aggregate of 842. 'ln the Philadelphia' Mercantile Library, the number of American periedioals Is 21; of English, (there are no French or German) 26; or a total of 47 periodicals. • Of American newspapers there are but . 80 in all, (17 of these from Philadelphia and New tork,) and of foreign, but 8 ; making a grand total of 70 periodicals and newspapers 1 , Asa matter of course, the relative accession of new subscribers keeps' exact pace with these evidences of progress. , To the Now York institution, there were added, in 1867, 810 new members, and in 1858, no loss than 881; the present number of persons entitled, to use the library being vary nearly 7,000. In . the Pfiti/a.difphrOfercantile Library, the total accession of new members in 1868 was but 67, and, in the 'year just closed, but 80 in all ; whilst the total number, of persons using the library in 1863 was but 1;676. In the New York institution, a compara tively larger proportion of the income is made to go into books and periodicals, and a less proportion is consumed by expenses. Frem the last annual report of the =Philadelphia Mercantile Library, we learn that the total in come in 1868 was $7,686.88. Out of this sum, $2,810.12 was expended on books, periodicals, end binding, and the remainder ($4,614.19), or two-thirds of the whole sum, was devoted to expenses of all kinds. • ' ' These factarirllkkjipaak , far tiosely: : and demand no comment, have produced a feeling' of disappointment among Some . of the stockholders., Though, the Mortifying - Contrast ibrnished in the data' we •have pro dueed may be due in part to the lack of In terest on the. 'part of our citizens, yet the opinion Is entertained and expressed by many of the stockholders that the main cause of the difficulty is the ;neglect of the Board of Directors to panne a course calculated'to call forth general public sympathy ;that there is a tendency to foster a narrow and illibertd policy, and a disposition to, Curtail rather thin enlarge the benefits at the institution. The Mercantile Libraries of New York, Cincinnati; and St. Louis are patty regarded by the citi zens of those great cities as a source of public pride, and they ere; at once the central point; of 'intermit to all Strangers. , 'To call the . library here a "Mercantile" library is some what of a' Monomer; for merchants are supposed there least to congregate,‘ • for the reason' that many of the b'ooks, pe riodicals, and journals which merchants . need and wish to use are not to be found in the balls of the library. Works - of fiction, Or of a purely ephemeral character, are given too much place, while standard classics and Works of 'reference in the departments of commerce, banking, naiigatiort, and mer cantile interest* generally make comparatively little show. The - desire. for essential Improvement In thus respects has induced some of the stockholders to nominate a new ticket for directors. The opposition toe the present board have, we think, with very commends hie judgment, ignored all personal feel ings and all petty issues. Their action is the genuine outburst of a general, - an 'al most universal, desire for reform in a groat public institution which has failed to fulfil its high destiny. Those sustaining the new ticket have no personal grudge to satisfy, re. cognising fully, as they could not otherwise than do, the high personal character and un bleinished integrity of the gentlemen now in the pelmet board. But they feel that the Mercantile Library; lo his what •it should be, should distribute the blessing of real; living knowledge to the thousands upon the , foundation of whose charao ter for integrity and Intelligence depend the future respectability and success of those who aro to beer hereafter the proud title Of-Philadelphia Merchants. To seem° thisfgrand result, there Istnst - be infused the leaven of a truly progressive and liberal spirit, a spirit conservative of all that is good In the paitt,,j'et not hesitating ,to press forward to something better and higher in the future. The election for Directors tekes - plum this af ternoon and evenings as will bo .seen by- refe rence to our advertising columns. Puture• for the " C.Ontlnentals'i We have just learned that a project is on foot to embellish the " Continental"—the mag nificent now hater at Ninth and Chestnut streets, now rapidly approaching completion— with ,one or more paintings by a Philadel phia artist, or artists; the subjeets to have Special reference to the Continental _Congress of the Revolution. 'The matter has been en- United to the hands of. throe of our most pro minent citizens, who have taken' an active part in the hotel enterprise, and we have no doubt will be creditably consummated. The idea la a geed - one; 2.11•. will be a substantial coni. plhient le the artist or' artists to whom the mention of the picture's May be awarded, and it giilFconetitute a noble feature of the aplon. did. edifice It is intended to decorate. The pictures are to be held in trust by the three gentlemen above referred to, and it Is atipu. latedi in' the preamble to the liat of sub scriptions, that whenever the • debt 'of the Continehtal- Rotel 'Conipany shall be faltr'#4,. the trnatees, or their survivors; shall"convey the' ifictitei either to the Com; pang or_, the Pennsylvania Academy. of the' Pixie- Arts. 7Ei8040 Meatqtge: , `The anneal message of Gov...Paoxart has , *Alined the warm approval of the people of Pftwnlvitahi ! - The ,eatiallietory statement it Preatmteit:of the - internal affairs. of ortirstate, 110 the': emend opinions -ft - -expressed oh the 411440,0 IP„ . .dhiettasod.,,hailfwort - for It manyzro4-001tukielidations. :17z,r,yr_ • - • , _ _ .-Zr,W,B:o6ll34elated to Wells ? Pfgo, & for 79dpiiis of , poiore. , , , r 4 Comnierclal. . ' 1 The steamer Vigo, .from Liverpool' bound for this pert:was, for wain of Mel, obligedlo •,) , Mt into-Nor' , York StnicTarlasl , .. "„Th . IYASP ifl belongs to the soWorkePhila,44tlMF4lllf •Liverpoollini f andla laden trtritA;largri;CAo of gook:6r ' inerblizittli„v 4111Nrrive he'd this 'after:mien. learn itimiltoodhtfrifority that when this vessel left Liverpool for this port Were wore goods enough awaiting shipment for merchants in this city to have filled threr; vessels of her size. This furnishes - another proof that the custom house figures of New York are groat li,enlarged impartations legitimately be lohging to , Philadelphie k • We.ruiderstand also that the cargo of the Vigo is already engaged for her return passage, What a pity that we are not living up to the measure of our corn. mercial privileges by affording the requisite facilities far-a direct trade with Europe. Ne vet more than at the present time did policy dictate the beetissity of signet shipping out leefecthe ;vast fthaount• of produce daily ar riying'fromthe Werit and &nth. With a direct live of communication'witb.. the great West, via our own Pennsylvania Central, the Pitts= burg, Fort Wayne, and Chlcago Railroad, and its numerous arterial tributaries, and the pro. spoctive completion, within the present - year, of, the Sunbury and Erie road, the necessity of enlarging our oommercial facilities is fairly forced upon us. Let us fostiri the golden' stream by affording it an:irrviting channel. There is no reason why' we should not have speedily and permanently established a lino of steamers from this port to meet the. wants of our business men, 'without slabjecting them to the humiliating alternitivn of, patronising Jealous rival. That thoso'enterprises have heretofore failed is mainly attributed to the filet of their haying , heeo entrusted to iniprac ticable hands. Let tome gocidishtpping house of, reputation and influence lead off in the matter—a house, say, capable of, and willing, j#, a satisfactory form, to guarantee the pro per management of such an enterprise,rand it would require but little effort to induce our citizens to subeirihe the requisite amount of means to insdre its success. WALNIII , 6I7tEET TUSATRE.—There la but one Camille in the Now World. Matilda Heron oar- thinly gives the finest personation of that chem. tor. We have seen nearly all the Camillo, from Pcgenie Plunkett Dooho, the original Dams aux Cemilias, at the Vaudeville Theatre, in Paris, dorrn'to little Mrs. Elisabeth Bowers. But Ma tljda Heron beats all on this side of the Atlan tis. She played the part at Walnut-street Theatre last night, (where she will repeat it this evening,) and it certainly was great and thrilling noting. She played it better than at any time during bee great star engagement in New York. Since that brilliant aeries of perforncanoes, she has been mar ried; and all that, and that makes all the differ oboe—for true Passion can best be represented by those who have felt it. She played extremely well, but wo do hope that she will recollect that Madame Doohe, whose per formances she repeatedly witnessed, and who cre ated the part, did not indulge in very long pansei in the last not. It streak. us that Camille spoke fairer words in that act than she did at Paris—but took inuoh more time in uttering them. The piece took three hours and a half to play, which was partly owing to' he tedious, but necessary rests be tie= the ants, for changes of dress. The performance went off extremely well. The 17446 On June was very flue. The dresses were ap propriate; except that Mr. Basoombe, who nou rishes a deep affection for one particular embroi dered vest,. of the "loudest" pattern, wore it in this play, where it was out of place. Miss Heron's dresses Were beautiful; her ball-room dress in Aot IV. was truly superb. She and Mr. Showell were called out after the second net, and at the conclusion of the drama. . WO have not time, at the late hour at which we write, to play the 'critic on the performance, and, therefore, give only the general impression. But we are bound to say that Mr. Showell played the part of Armand as well, we honestly affirm, as it could be played, at this day, on any stage in aMerica or England. lle did not give tt a croon. terfeit ,resomblance" of the lover,- but he gave the man himself, So oompletely did he abandon Showell and be Armand. In the fourth Act, par ho was most effective, and ono of his bursts of passion was greeted with a double round of applause from the house. This performance marks Mr. Showell as a great actor., It is proper, though not pleasait, that we should notice a great and constant nuisance to which oc cupants of orchestra seats are subjected in this theatre. The moment that-the ourtain rises at the commeneement of each act, and eoniethierin mid tuition of the play the members of the orchestra - , liadifind all, make `a stampede, through small deers under the stage, into some recesses, whence they emerge, as *hey have vanished, in twos and threes. Every time, the little doors are thus opened --saytimes in the course of a five. aCt drama, a cold gush of mouldy air le distributed among the unfortunates who have reserved seats in the orchestra stalls, near these - aisles. We submit that, independent of this annoyance to a portion of the audience, a °es tate degree of disrespect to the aotors is involved; for ft is thus clearly shown that the musicians take not the slightest interestin what passes upon the stage. Wore we manager, the orehestra should sit the whole p'erformanoe out, even as the audience do. We trust that we shall not agent have to no tice' this. •The house last night was very crowded, and Miss Heron's promises to be a most successful en gagement. ',.ARCIVBTREZT TEOTATRE.—Stirling COyl3o'll now comedy, ,",Eyerybody's Friend," which has had pdeseasion of WaHack's Theatre, for over four weeks, was prodnoed at the Aroh-street The atre last evening, for the second time. The first 000asion of its representation wee about two weeks since, on Mr. Wheatley's benefit night. Its success was as decided then as It was last evening, when the house was crowded by a large and fashionable audiencs. The piece, itself, is a three-act comedy of life in a London suburb at the present time. Mr. Felix Feathrrtey (Mr. Wheatley) is residing with his wife, Mrs. reatitsdey, (Mrs.' John Drew,) In a pleasant villa, when the - play opens. Air. Fnatherley belongs to that extensive class of' people who pay more regard tti, thole neighbors' welfare than they do to their own. Affable, obliging, pod-natured, and shrewd; he makes the service of his friends the oh. jeot of his life, at the same • time neglooting his own interests and those of his family. His friends are Mr'. Irehrook, (Mr. Doll man,) a very timid young gentleman, who is In love with a young widow, Mrs. &panda:en, (Miss H. Taylor,) and who 'stammers end blushes through two sets to break the ice, and declares himself in the third, Major Brellangton De Boots,. (Mr. J. S. Clarke,) a military, man without courage, and the most henpecked of henpecked husbands ; and Mrs. De Boots, (Mrs, Stoneali,) one of Peatherley's old 4( Memel," who has just married the Major, but conceals from him a very Important esoret in connection to her previous life. Featharley, in his commendable endeavors to serve these friends, finds himself In a sea of trouble. He makes love to firm Staandoton to oblige leehrook, and is discovered by his wife ; ho relieves Mrs. De Boots from a delicate moot- Why, and comes near falling a victim to the Major's wrath and a pair of formidable horse-pis tole; he neglects his wife, who in turn makes him jealous, and ho finds himself at length a most happy man. • A getieral reconciliation ensues, how ever, the young widow beeetnes a young bride, and the.eurtainfalls on three of the happiest couples that ever walked through a comedy. , This will give a general idea of the comedy ; the plot IS too minute, in its details for a newspaper. There are tt number of comic scenes, particularly in the second act, where the Major annoys Mrs. Swandown, his landlady, by his complaints of smoky oldraneys, and his ethical knowledge of wall-paper. Mr. Clarke plays this character to perfection, his warlike mien, red hair and whisk kere, together with his dignified swagger, being the perfection of comic noting. Mr. Wheatley Is so muds at home in Featherley that it might have been written for him, while Miss Taylor plays a young, handsome ' hnsband seeking widow with admirable skill. Mrs. John Drew is as good in Mrs. Featherlay as she is In everything else, and makes more of the oharaoter than we bad supposed was possible.• Mrs. stone. all 'takes the small part, of Mrs. De Boom, and playe It eaceidingly well, while Mr. Dolman, as the .blushing admirer, the jealous lover, and 7 at last,•the impudent bridegroom, called forth more than his share of the applause which, all through, was very abundant. ' The 'Comedy will be a smelts, and simply be- cause it is well played. There is nothing very striking in the language Or plot, although some of the situations aro irrepressibly funny, while others are rendered so by the consummate acting of the performers. While the oomedx Itself will hardly boar a severe 'Criticism, the 'Capital toting of Messrs. Wheatley. Clarke, and their associates. will keep It In the bills until St. Valentine's day. IE is announced for every day this week, in con junotion with "Peter Wilkins," who will postpone his flight to the upper regions for ono week longer. • • -• • The two !datums now on view bore—Andren pastaldFs ,, Parisiria," arid Charles Lucy's "Be' pertain of the Pilgrim Fathers for America "—are worth - not a single visit, but many visits. The first was .painted by an Italian artist, who studied for some years in Paris, , and is in good repute there The intend gained the price offered by the British Government in Isl 7, and was exhibited In West. minster and subsequently In the principal , olties of England. lye shall notice them fully to morrotio, went of woe fuming us to be thus brief 044, - Public ARIUS ements. Academy of Fine Arts. Letter Irons et Occasional." Annual Meeting or the needing Mille (Correspondence of The Press.l road Company.- Wssuixaeos, Jan. 9, 1850. The annual meeting of the stockholders of the The National Democratic Convention, to be held Philadelphia and Reading ie Railroad o Company at Charleston on the 231 of Aprll, is being eingu- yesterday, llea h c e t l , t r i nro et oerpora inrly usherokinto existence. South Carolina, in Foutli street and a no alloy. The following annual report was read by Mr. tT•o ul6lropolis obwhich this Convention is to as- t Wheolan, chairman of the meeting : tdble.,lB the only State in the Confoderaoy where To the Stoekholdors of the Philadelphia and there use always existed n regular disunion party, I Reading Railroad Company: The of resp . eotfully submit the following and nhore there is now not only an irresistible or. I statement of the business of theyear, showing the ganization in favor of Beeeesion, but where there ie receipts and expenditures, and the treasurer's no recognised Democratic party. You have already g . eneral balance sheet, exhibiting the affairs of the commented upon the refined hospitalities extended yompany on the 30th November, the end of the to a constituent of Col. Florence, of your cit ,by the fiscal year. y [time follows a long statement, In great detail, citizens of Columbia, whore the Legislature of South which we condense as follows :I Carolina is now in session, a Southwark Irish Do- I DECTIPTB or THE none. mocrat, who, for some foolish expressions, uttered From travel 379,406, equal to 120,076 .• I in an unwary moment, was expelled the town, through passengers $318 , 8!8 19 and treated to a winter suit of tar and feathers; Freight on merchandise 331,600 320 • and you will perceive that the Democratic mem- Freight on coal, 1,632,931 11.20 tons, bars of the Legislature have, by a large majority, at 1, 15, 35 outs . 1,883,085 12 refused to recommend that the Palmetto State United States mail 10,610 00 shall be represented In the Demooratio National j Misoollaneoue receipts 27.256 31 Convention, which Is to he held within its borders. These are significant onions. The next question is, whether, in the faeo of this strange sensitiveness, the people of South Carolina will permit any dele gate from the free States to attend the Charleston Convention, who is not in favor of the omission platform, or who does not believe that slavery is pf Divine origin, and that it must be proteoted by all the powers of the Government, against the po. pular will. Moro than a year ago I suggested, in this oorre spondenee, that Charleston was scarcely a fit plane to hold the National Convention of the Demooratio party, and among other reasons I said that its po litics were as unhealthy for a Union organisation as the oilman) was insalubrious at a certain period of the year. What.wag true at that time is twenty times truer to-day. If the agitators of South Carolina were orasynt that time, what must they be now, since the advent ol'John Drown 1 If they are so resolute in °spat t ing a single supposed spy like poor Power, of Philadelphia, how will they feel when their soil ie invaded by whole battalions of men hearing.•the Douglas flag insoribed with 14 No . protection for slavery in the Territories," and ooveied with p4dges of devotion to that popu lar sovereignty 'which South Carolina herself so steadily opposed, not only in the Territories, but in the management of her own affairs. She is the feudal State of this Republic—the State in which the banner of secession Is constantly kept flying ; the State which refuses to allow her people to vote for Presidential eleotors, but chooses them by her Legislature; and the State wherein the Demo oratio party, as I have said, has no foothold, save only as it yields to the exactions of the pro-slavery leaders who control its policy, South Carolinia has not only for yoere refused to acknowledge the Demooratio party or Ile organi zation, but has given a oold,sapport to the Union itself. Its public mon are In the-habit of speaking of the Union as a foreign Government. The most of its representatives in Congress are known for the contempt with which they speak alike of the Na tional Democrats of the Korth, and of the Oonfed oraoy. This is, indeed, a delightful plane in which to hold the Democratic National Convention. Chi cago, where the Republioane are to meet, is the commercial metropolis of a Democratic State, east. ly - accessiblo by railroads from all parts of the country, and on every ground not a motional city. But Charleston is the very cynosuore of Southern sectionalism, one of the moat difficult of approach, although when reached, one of the mot refined and hospitable cities in the Union. Is it not a little curious that, at the vary moment when Mr. Buchanan and his friends propose to save th 2 Union from the Republicans and the John Browns of the day, they should be preparing dele gates to meet at Charleston—the metropolis of a State from which alone serious and enceessive de monstrations are made against that Union ? But hew will those Demooratio delegates who are in favor of Douglas be received at Charleston'? They cannot expect to surrender doctrines which the Mercury calls Abolitionism, and go home and be sustained by their constituents; and, if they hold on to them, may they not he compelled to legislate for the Demooratio party under duress? Badinage apart, I have no doubt all these gentle men will be well received, because while the hatred of Northern Democrats is strong in Charleeton,South Carolina hospitalities are stronger. But it would be a retributive sequel to all that has transpired, if the Convention which has been called in the. 'chief city of a disunion State should proclaim from that city uncompromising devotion to the Constitution and the Union, and should put forward, as the embodi ment of this sentiment, the very man against whom the secessionists of the South are now direct ing their most violent anathemas. To the Stockholders of the Mercantile Library. For The Press. I The fooling of opposition to the present board of directors of the Mercantile Library has resulted In the presentation of a new ticket, containing the names of unexceptionable men, largely Interested in mercantile affairs, and pledged by their position and welt known reputittion re• terests of the aasoolotiop. The wish - of th• opposi- Ron *as, if possible, to secure the co-operation Of the members of the present board In measures of reform ; and with that object, a meeting of the board was proposed for the purpeee of a comparison of views, and to this propostion tho present board of directors aneeeded. Aooordingly, ate confer. once, a proposal was made by a committee, repre senting the views of the opposition, substantially to this effeet : that five members of the old board should withdraw, and that in their Oleo should be substituted five nnexoeptionable names, to be suggested by the opposition, whirls names should be acceptable to Ms old board. This pro position was declined by the board as a body. At the same conference a question was asked by the committee of the opposition, why the present beard hod refused to carry out the instruction's passed by resolution at the adjourned annu al meeting, held January 25th, 1859. To this inquiry, the only answer made was by a single member, (the remainder of the hoard con curring by a silent consent,) in substantially these words that "if nine hundred and fifty-six voters (the majority of all the actual stockholders) should give them instructions upon any subject, they would not carry them out, unless they met their Pall ap proval." Mill anxious to conciliate the present board, the committee of oonforenoe waited indr vidually upon the members of the board, with a selection of seven unexceptionable names, and asked them if they would be willing to serve on a board with these gentlemen toleoted by the oppo sition. They all, with a single honorable exception, declined to do so, most of them complimenting the names presented. This course has naturally pro voked a feeling of indignation. Tho present board have also provoked censure from not recognising, in any degree, the opposi tion, which hae been highly influential in point of numbers, and, in the last canvass, sarne within one vote of carrying a portion of their ticket. The opposition ticket has been regularly nominated by an Influential meeting of the stockholders, to which ell members of the assootatlon were Invited, by a4vortigements in nearly all the public journals of the oily. The members of the present board never invite the stockholders generously and fairly to take part in the selection of their Relict ; but have regularly nominated themselves from year to year, and Style themselves the Regular Ticket." Wo think that such tickets are entirely too regular, and that a little irregularity, by way of variety, would be acceptable to Vidal- STOCICUOLDERM. TUB NATIONAL HALL LECTURE.—Mr. 011AIShas published a eard in reply to the referonao to hie National Rail lecture oontained In the communi cation of Mr. Robert R. Randall. Mr. Curtis says: "It is impossible, of course, for any man who speak, in public upon oontroverted topics to oor root the misrepresentations of his sentiments and words which appear in the papers; but the ol reum. station of the delivery of my lecture in Model phla were such that I wish to state to the public' precisely what I said upon that occasion "After speaking of the public opinion of the world and of this country, and of the framers of the Constitution of the YJnited States, 63 expressed by themselves, upon the slavery question, and im mediately after quoting Madison's deolaration that posterity was not to know from the Constitution that such an institution as slavery had over existed in the oountry, I said : ." Thus, therefore, as I believe, the Constitution of the United States, in its ess•ntial spirit and intention, recognises the manhood of Drod 6cott as absolutely sip it does that of the President, of the Chief Junes, or of any Senator of the United States, . . Later in the leature I maid what was certainly not vory original : ...If Washington. or Jetforeen, or Mullane, should entertained noon their native soil the opinion' the; upon this queation, they would be de nounced se fanatical Abolitionists.' These were the only passages In the leoture in whloh I alluded to Washington or Drod Boott." ORPEANS' COURT AND REECUTOES' PEREMPTORY SALES OF REAL ESTATE.—Thomas Sons' thirty. first fall sale, this evening, will compriso fourteen properties, including the estate of T. Bailey, A. 0. Coyle, and Margaret Thompson, deooased, by order of the Orphans' Court and Executors. Sale of stocks today at 12 o'oiook, noon. Boa pam phlet catalogues, and advertisements. SALN OF FINE Funt.—B. Scott, Jr., auotlonoor, 131 Chestnut knot, has now arranged for exami nation, to be sold at 10 o'clock this morning, a large and doh assortment of mink sable, Hudson Bay sable, equlrrel, stone marten, and other lash• tenable furs for ladies' and misses' wear, gents' fur ollars, gloves, and gauntlute, fancy raccoon, fox, end genet carriage robes, ac. Destructive Fite at Leavenworth—Loss 1355,000. LELVENWORTIT, Jan. 9.—Two extensive fires ocourred in thin pityyesterday. Among the proportion destroyed were the Illetroro in flouring Mill, owned by vtonorn. Earl nc Bunting ; a warehouse, oesupled by Hensley, Russell, tr. Co. wholesale grocers; the hank 1n boolo of J. B emMi , ngwaY, • and several Inwolfiees. he total loss 'at both ken amounted to $4500, on which the Maumee is from 516 OCU to 80,000. Split in the Kansas Legislature LitAVIINW onnt, K. T.. Tan 9 —The Territorial Legii eters of Kansas passed II joint resolution adjourning to Leoompton, which tiovo flier Medan , vetoed. The Legislature passed it over the veto by a two :hires vote of a quorum. t M adoetton hsving anion as o the constitutionality the vote, the majority - ourned to Lawrence, white the minority remained at Lecompton. Both faotions claim to be the legal body, %nil it is apprehended thst another aeries of legislative difficOties snit be treated by thug diesgreement TIM PRESS.-1 2 111LADEL1411A, 'TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1860. EXPENSES. Transportation $809,221 7t Roadway 233,578 07 lhambaolts and arms 143,380 70— 1,279,180 59 Not profit for the year $1,443,112 75 INTERIM ON DONORL DEBT. Coupons to let January, 1800 $701,091 00 Interest on bonds and mortgagee, real estate, 31,227 00 Total interest for tho TIANEIWAI. FUND. Six unto for 100 tone on 404,591,003 tons trans ported 1 mile during t wolvo months, ending November 30, 1859, ... 202.290 84— $937,617 81 Dividend fund for the year .... . . .. $510,401 02 Which has been disposed of as folforrs, viz : Sinking fund, loan 18.30-1880 $25,000 00 Sinking fund, loan 1340-1870 75,000 00 Sinking fund, loan 1850-1680 60,000 00 . ... .. • Blida tax on oapttal for 11459, 18,828 02 Dividend on preferred stook, 7 per cont. on $1,561,800, 10,628 uu Accrued interest on reserved dividends p. stock 12101 00 281',52 00 Reserved fund, 1860 $223,934 86 During the peat year there baa been a general improvement in the business of the Company. Every department shows en increase In the quark titles married, and In the receipts, while there has been a general reduotion In the cost of transporta- Hon and other expenses. A oomparlson with the business of 1853 shows the following results, via : In Morehaudise, an Inoreaso of 144,880 2-10 in tone oarried, 8138972 73 in reoolpte, and $07,842.54 in profit. In Coal, an inorease of 90,234 14-20 In tone carried, $17,991.71 in receipts, $07,192.87 In profit. In Travel, an inorease of 03,753 In passengers carried, equal to 21,617 through passengers, $lll,lOO 48 in reoeipte, and a demons° of $11,001.31 In profit. Mail and miscellaneous receipts have !mewled $10,411.62. Transportation expenses have beon decreased 7 65 100 cents per ton of coal carried ; 20 68-100 " • " merchandise carried, 24 05 100 " per through passenger. In order to unoonragc local•business by Increased facilities of eourmunteatlon, the number of trains hoe been Noma:led to two daily between Reading and Harrisburg, and on the main line an extra train bas boon run to afford to the inhabitants the advantage of an early arrival In the city. This extra expense will soon be compensated by the in creasing number of local passengers. MTh° net amount of freight and toll received from °eat, averaged, in 1858, 120 91.100 ounts per ton carried ; in 1850, 116 85.100 do, and the per centage of all expenses, excerpt the renewal fund, to gross income from all sources, was, in 1858,47 80.100 per cont., In 1859 48 85-100 per cent., Including re newal fond; the por tentage, In 1859, was 54 24.100 per cent., fu 1858, 55 7-100 per eent. The following comparative statement, whiob in• eludes reoelpts and expenditures of every deserlp• Lion, shows an increase of $117,785.50 in the net profit for the year, viz : Gross roonipts, 4721,293 35 Expotreoe $1,278,180 G 9 Renewal fund 202,295 81 Net profit $1,215,815 92 1868. Gross receipts q 2,510,798 411 Expenses, 81,199,708 35 Renewal Fund ... 182,922 14 1,382,720 40 Not profit OCOMIIONAL harem $117,735 50 The dividend fund for the year U shown an fol lowa, viz: Amount of net prat Lai Interest on bonded debt.... Dividend fund $510,404 92 equal to 4 35.100 per cent.2n Ald-u'r-ci1.22, the rteslap compan y . Laat year it -- vaa $338,392 42, equal to 3l per cent. on tbe'eapltal. This result, considering the unsettled state of the coal trade during the greater part of the year, may be considered satisfactory. The great inerease in merchandise and travel indicates the rapid ratite. ration of activity to the business community on the line of the road, and also the growing importanoe of the Lebanon, and other new aonneotions of the company. Great attention has been paid for the last two years, to developing tiro local trade of the railroad and Its connections; and it la gratifying to find In them a source of business so promising for Its future prosperity. The coal trade, which for four years had been stationary, has We year shown a eetudderahle increase, and as there's little probability of now avenues to market being opened for some time to come, It may be expeoted to In- Orove, and tho tonnage of the road to increase. wing to a mild winter, large stooks remained over at the opening of navigation, and It was only toward the sand of the 'arisen the pekes began to show some improvement, and the demand to !a creage. During the whole season, the trade at Richmond has suffered by the irregular supply of vessels, and the mania difficulty was experienced at the other shipping ports. The only remedy is for the trade to own a sufliolent number of Tonle to keep their business motive when, from any came, the arrival of chance Teasels is interrupted. \reales carrying largo cargoes, in proportion to their tonnage, are, probably, the beat adapted for colliers, as the expense of working them would be small in comparison to the fast vessels now in the trade. Steam power applied to coasting vessels lo only successful when they onn bo loaded and un loaded at all times, without delay or demurrage. Tho exportation of oval to foreign planes has hitherto been greatly neglected, while in England it bus become of great commercial importance, find is annually increasing. The advantages of nntlito• cite coal for steam-vessels aro so great that a con stant supply of it at the usual coaling ports appears to be all that is necessary to scours its being adopt ed on board foreign vessels. Anthracite coal hale° gradually making its way as a fuel for locomotives; and there is really no reason why It should not be used on all roads when wood Is seam and dear. All the freight engines on the heeding Railroad burn hard snthraoito, and several of the passenger engines aro using it with complete success, showing that, practically, there is no 11101001 y in its appli cation to this purpose. Attention is onlled.to the annexed report on the rubjeot by Mr. Millhollaud, the master mutilate of the company, whose great experlenoe and perseverance have largely contribu• tad to the successful introduction of this coal as feel for locomotives. The road has boon worked with great eeonomy, and its MSolenoy has been kept up In every respect. It 18 in lush complete order that the weight of the trains has been Inc:reseed ten per sent., and there have been soaroely any aecidonts. The number of ears broken to tone carried We, In 1859 I In 21,955 tons. 1859 .1 In 42,052 The income of the year has been appropriated as follows, viz : Amount of profit. $1,448,112 78 Less renewal fund 202,".96 F 4 Not prollt $1,245,815 02 From whloh deduct for Interest on bonds; $104,001 00 mortgagee..... 31,227 00 Dividend fund $510,494 02 MIA hoe been dlspofed of as Conon: To elnklng fund $160,000 00' Taxes 18,824 0,1 Seven per tient. dividend declared on preferred stook, to be paid bore- Mar 108,620 00 Interest on preferred stock dividendsor fernier years. 12,104 01 • 281,5 LS CO Balanoo oars-but to mono(' fun4..5222,030 06 The amount ut the area of reserved fund at the and of 1858 wee $111,813 79 Add amount of surplus this year 222,93) 88 Mud amount minim] to expense no. $334,250 67 count, to meet losses and depreola lions 106,181 Progont amount of resorrod fund $228 089 03 The appropriation to renewal fund out of income (mount, baa this year" amounted to the sum of r 02,290 34 Add balance unexpended In 1858 12,713 89 • Together $215,010 73 Of which there has been expended this year (u 8 per detailed statement) 208,417 32 Leering a balenee applloablo to next yoar of $6,503 41 Dialog tho peat year 17 wiles of now treok hare boon put into the road between hiohroville and Port Clinton, and tho Fells and Richmond, end new sidings have been Isla at moral stations to a000m• modate ue w business. The relaying of the Willow-street Railroad with now heavy rails has been completed, and the street has been repaved entirely. Everything about it Is now now, and no further outlay tor renewals will bo required for some years to come. For these purposes, and in ordinary repairs of the road, there has boon put In 3,543 tone of new rails, and 1940 tone of old ratio taken out, the difference of 903 tons being the eoeeoe or Increased weight of rails put into the tracks. The vladuot at (Heard avenue bee been °mole ted, and the cost of widening the tunnels at Nice ulxvillo and Manayunk has also been paid out of the renewal fund. This, the most important work of the year, was effected most euttoessfully, without ono day's interruption to the passage of treble and, happily, with few casualties to the men em ployed in the work. During the past year there Las been ex pended on tho.Lobanon Valley branob, to complete depot at Harrisburg 813,091 10 In now turnouts and sidings 10,919 30 In settlement of land damages 44,790 00 Together $74,779 46 474,887 07 $2,721,203 A 5 $735,321 00 and looranzed -- 1,478,477 43 --- 1,128,080 42 $1,245,815 92 735,321 09 735,321 00 Making the regent cost of the bratoh $4,410 • 755.81. Full daalla of the working of the branvh are given in et4emont R., annoxol to this report. Tho result is to follows: Total number of parson• gars carried, 101,144—equal to 43,410 carried the whole length otbe branch; total tonnage of army description, 231,228 tons. Gross receipts $206,624 00 Working expo® w 94,208 23 Profit on the brsneh 112,619 85 Add amount tweed on the main line from•tho sine business 134,168 30 Together.. 216,788 15 Equal to 51 ter oent. on the total oost of the Le banon Valley lailroad. Such a resat, in this early stage of its business, should removed! apprehensions as to the complete stomas of thisbranoh of the company's railroad, and create corddenoo in its future prosperity. Dullness in die iron trade, and other diffloultiee, have thus far prevented the development of the ironore busload, but it has latterly been im proving, and thorn Is now a good prospoot that, In a few months, the demand for the furnaces in the Sehuylkill aid Lehigh Valleys will add very largely to the tonnage of the railroad. Imperfect sonneotiona at Harrisburg have also retarded the tevelopment of the business, and the extension of the road to Dauphin will very soon become a neomeity. Daring the last session of the Legislature, al sot was obtained authorizing this extension. Ater a careful survey, the road has been boosted, dui the right secured to campy some ground that tell permit It to pass round the moun tain withodt moroaching on the public works al ready, looatedthere. This extensbn will oomplete the chain of rail. roads by whirl thelrade from Lake Erie will pro bably be brought to Philadelphia, and it will open an easy route by which the soft anthracite ooal from the Susfuehanna Valley can be brought to Etiohmond fotreshipmont. Bituminous coal from Broad Top.b dready soaking thin outlet, with tie pro!poot of Ron becoming an Important item of buesnoss to the Oompany. The complelon of the East Pennsylvania Rail road has addd another source of bueineee both to the Lebanon branch and to the main line, sand freight and passengers are already taking the di rect route it Ins opened to New York. From its superior advantages in distance and uniformity of gauge, this mast become one of the main continu ous routes botsroon New York and the far West. Arrangemontl aro In progress which will probe. bly open this route during the coming Spring. This road aim places Sohuylkill county in direct oommunioatim with Elizabothport and New 'York, and, by maklog a short link of two miles, to con ned it with the Reading Railroad, a fow miles above Readlrg, the distance may bo so shortened as, to makolt as good a route for coal as that pro posed by the direct Auburn and Allentown Rail. road. Ths difference in diatom° will be thirteen miles dgatut the East Pennsylvania routs; but it will have iu Its favor the difference between the cost of tits link, $2O 000, and that of the now rail road, at lead a million and a half of dollars. Thera can be no d'oebt which route would have the ad vantage in a competition for the ooal trade of Sohuyikill enmity , . Whether either of these routes could com pel) with the descending grades of tho Reading Railroad, and the water carriage from Philadelphia b, Now York, has yet to bo tested ; but there ran be no doubt that the result would not be worth the ha/00M outlay required to try the exporiment. Tho earnestfiesa with whioh tho Auburn and Al letdown Railroad is odvocated in elehnylkill mutt ty, as the only possible means to aompol a roduo tion of the shaegoe on the Reading Railroad, would load to the oonalusion that these charges wore ex orbitant aid oppressive. A little consideration will show that thee is not tho case ; but, on the con trary, that this company has borne morn than its full share of any reductions required to compete with other Nelms. The average freight and toll per ton oarded on the Reading Railroad was, In 1851 165 54.100 Ms. per ton. 18M 115 being a rediotion of fifty cents a ton from the char gee of the wmpany, while those of the other parties interested la the coal trade, except the coal opera tors, reunited umilterod. A moderato amount of liberality on their part, In aid of the dominoes made by the operators and transporters to Philadelphia, would have eafficed to maintain for Schuylkill coun ty Ito formes supremacy. Tim great Increase, this year, in the number of passenger trains, and of merchandise and coal oars arriving der, rendered It absolutely necessary to provide better facilities for the transaction of busi ness in the city, and, as the old passenger depot had bemuse Inadequate to the proper neetnwoda lion of the public, and the prompt dompateh of trains, it vial doeided to commence the new depot on the square owned by the company on Broad street.' The passenger portion of it ban boon built on the south aide, and on the 24th December it was oponed for business, the trains starting and ar riving by ream power, avoiding the delay and annoyance of battling by horse power. The earns building affotdr temporary accommodation for the down merehmdise business, and the rent of two depots will be saved. It will be desirable to pro. coed with this building, so as to conoontrate the business in me place, and dorivo the full benefit from tenoseasieg the best railroad entrance luto the city. Tho oat of this do of is carried to construe- Mon aooount, and when the whole Is completed the depot on Broad and Cherry may be mid in lodes tioa of the cost of the new coo. An agreement has been made for the purchase of a wharf soa tho south aide of the company's wharf, on the 'Delaware, nt Willow greet, which, owing to a 'Meet having been run through it, had bosom too small for the convenient landing and Shipment of hairy articles of =rehandle.. The Mae ou flee Willow-street oontinuea to increase. A lamellae been taken on the Mount Carbon and Port Carbon Railroad, with the engino houses, workshops, de. now in the occupation of the corn puny. Bpimi/ng the entire oontrol of this abort road, somejttiproved arrangements may be made by whieh tee business on the railroad may be in- Mewed, endow economy be effected. .d)urlng `The' year the following additions hare b en readerttr. the cost railroad, .40. us ex ited in Hsefeneeps p show ..( the T realm viz ; Coat of now depot at Mosul street.... $29,121 80 IL Leesport 1,412 80 Telegraph stook 150 DO brew machinery 331 15 New engines and oars 50,091 us, New depot at Harrisburg 13,081 Id New sidings, Lebanon branch 10,550 42 Land damages 45,16 T 88 Total .$156,500 OS/ In addition to the above, the following, which heretofore eppoared RI assets, have boon carried to oonetruellen amount, vls.• Sundry real estate Pottsville Water Co. stook Pottstown Gas Co. stook, Total $202,416 I litakin,r a total addition to cost of tho road,