THE PRESS. YUBLIBHID DAILY, (SUNDAY® CXOBPIKD,) BY JOHN W. FORNEY, OrviOß No. 41T CHESTNUT BTBEBT. THE DAILY PRESS, XlfILYi Oxnts Psb Week, payable to the Carrier. Hailed to subscribers out of the City at Six Dollabs In Aim, Ton* Dollars roa Bight Mouths, Ysau Dollars fob Six Mouths—iuTariably ia ad vanes for the time ordsrsd. THE TRI-WEEKLY PRESS, Mailed to Subscribers out of the City at Thebe Dol &ABS Fax AHHUM, in advance. DRY-GOOr>S JOBBERS. . %v wt. , WVWVVV , >'A **. vwwv^a.-s^A.-^wvvvswVSVVVVt SPRING IMPORTATIONS MEN AND ROYS’ WEAR. Including Goods suited for MILITARY PURPOSES. Novr in Store, NO. 631 CHESTNUT STREET, And for Salo by DE COUESEY, LAFOUKCADE, & CO. mb2o-lm 1862. SFRING - WHOLESALE DEPARTMENT. J. R. CAMPBELL & CO.. No. 7ST CHESTNUT STREET, HAVE NOW IN STOKE, LINES OF CHOIOB GOODS, TO WHICH THEY INVITE THE ATTENTION Ob CASH BUYBBS. ’WHITE GOODS—Iu all tbeir.Varietios. ILINEKS—AII dualities and bo st makes. TABLE DAMASKS—Napkins and Doylies. ■L. C. HDKFS—Towels and Toweling. GINGHAMS—Super. Fancy and Solid Checks. XAWKS—New and Choice Styles. ORGANDIES, and Paris Printed Jaconets. ,HRESS GOODS —Iu very desirable Style*, i BLACK SlLKS—Choice Brands. FLANNELS—Of the best makes. 'BLEACHES GOODS—A full line. PRlNTS—American and English. •CHINTZES, BRILLIANTES PERCALES. "TOGETHER WITH MANY -OTHER GOODS, ADAPTED TO FIBST-CLASS TRADE, ALL OF WHICH WILL BE OFFERED AT LOW PRICES; 1862. apHINO - 1862. W. S. STEWAIiT & CO.. IMPORTERS AND JOBBERS OF ' 3ILKS AND FANCY DRESS GOODS, NO. 309 MARKF.T STREET. ’ "We invite the attention of the trade to a full line Of BLACK AND OTHER STAPLE SILKS, As also a great variety of NEW STYLES OF DRESS GOODS, Bought for cash, and which will be offered on tbe most ’ favorable terms. fe2s-3m SPRING GOODS. IVL L. HALLO WELL & Go., 333 MARKET and 27 NORTH FOURTH STS., Wholesale Dealers in i SILKS AND FANCY DRY GOODS, Have open a large variety nffreiMy-importei ' : SPRING DRESS GOODS. To which, vrith a handsome assortment of BLACK AND FANCY SILKS, •SHAWLS. MANTILLAS. WHITE GOODS. EMBROIDERIES, - And other geode in their line, they invite the attention of city and country dealers. mhl-tf YAKD.GiLLMORE, & Co., HOB. 617 CHESTNUT and 614 JAYNE Street*. Have now open their SPRING IMPORTATION Or SILK AND FANCY . DRESS GOODS, SHAWLS, WHITE GOODS, LINENS, EMBROIDERIES, &o. Bought in Europe, by one of the firm* To which the attention of the trade 1 0 particularly in* Yited. fazi-am IMPORTATIONS. •HOSIERY, GLOVES, GENTS’ FURNISHING GOODS, LINENS, SHIRT FRONTS, WHITE GOODS, AND rHOS. MELLOR & Co.. SftlQ-Su 40 and 43 North TQI&D Street, 1862. spking. 1862. RIEGEL, BAIRD. & CO, IMPORTERS AND JOBBERS OP DRY GOODS, N». 47 NORTH THIRD STREET. PHILAOF.LPBTA, Werclants visiting thu fit? to pUnbMO DRY OoiJss will find our Stock largo and admirably assorted, and at low Figures. In certain olsbsm of Goods we offer Inducements to porohwers unequalled by any other bouse in Philadelphia. mhlB-2m gPRING STOCK SILK AND FANCY DRESS GOODS. A. W. LITTLE & CO4 mhU-tf No. 333 MARKET ST. JELLING OFF 6TOOK Of CASSIMERES, VESTINGS, DRIL LINGS, MARSEILLES, &o. Twenty-five per cent, under former pricey A. H. GIBBS, fen.lm No. 331 MARKET Street SEWING MACHINES. & WILSON SEWING MACHINES, 628 CHESTNUT STREET, ■Uia rSiusiiifEU, 1862. EMBROIDERIES. VOL. S.—NO. 197. WHOLESALE HOUSES. 27 AND 5 4-INCH SKY-BLUE KERSEYS, SUPERFINE INDIGO-BLUEJSATINETS, BLACK CADET AND OXFORD bo. PRINTED Do, in variety. BLACK AND FANCY MIXED DOESKINS. FANCY CASSIMERES AND MELTONS. IH STORE, ASD TOR SALE BY JOSEPH LEA, fe2o-lf 139 AND 130 CHESTNUT STREET COMMISSION HOUSES. COFFIN, & CO., SSO CHESTNUT STREET, Agenta for the following makes of goods: PRINTS. DUNNELL MFG. CO GBESNB MFG. CO. LAWNS. DUNNELL MFG. CO. BLEACHED COTTONS. Lonsdale, Fores Male, Auburn, Slatersville, Centrodale, Jamestown, Blackstono, Hope, Bed Bank, Dorchester, Newbnryport, Naumeag, Zouave, Burton, Greene Ufg, Co.’a A. A.* B. A. i C. A.j and other styles. BROWN COTTONS. Bnmsido, Trent, Groton, Ashland, Chestnut, Glenville, Mechanica* and Fanners’. CORSET JEANS.—Glasgow, Manchester. DENIMS AND STRIPES Grafton, Jewett City, Madisou, Slatersvitle, Agawam, Keystone, Choctaw. CANTON FLANNELS Slatersvitle, Agawam. SILESIAS Smith’s, Social Co., Lonsdale Co. WOOLENS. ARMY BLUE CLOTHS, KERSEYS, and FLAN NELS. BROAD CLOTHS.—Plunketts', Glenham Co., *o. CASSIMERES.—Gay & Son, Saxton’s River, Ac. SATINETS.—Bass River, Convorsville, Lower Val ley, Hope, - Staffordville, Converse and Hyde, Converse Bros. A Co., Shaw Mfg. Co. KENTUCKY Mystic, Cold Medal. DOMET FLANNELS.—WILLIAMS'S Angola, Sax ony, Merino, and other stylos: LONSDALE Nankeens and Colored Cambrics. PLAID LINSKYS, COTTONADE9, &c. [fo26-3m QHIPLEY, HAZARD, & O HUTCHINSON, No. 112 CHESTNUT STREET, COMMISSION MERCHANTS FOR THE SAI.E OP PHILADELPHIA-MADE GOODS. «e28.6m CARPETS AND OIJL CLOTHS. Q.LEN ECHO MILLS. GERMANTOWN, PA. McOALLUM & Co., MANUFACTURERS, IMPORTERS, AND SEALERS 609 CHESTNUT STREET. (Oppositelndependence Hall,) CARPETINGS. OIL CLOTHS, &c. We have now on hand an extensive stock of CArpetinge, of our own and other makes, to which we call the atten tion of cash and ebort-timo buyers. mh7-3m JjIOURTH- STREET CARPET STORE, No. 4Y ABOVE CHESTNUT, No. 4T. J. T. DELACROIX Invites attention to his Spring Importation of CARPETINGS. Comprising every style, of the Newest Patterns and Designs, in VELVET, BRUSSELS, TAPESTRY BRUS SELS, IMPERIAL THREE-PLY, and INGRAIN CARPETINGS. VENETIAN and DAMASK STAIR CARPETINGS. SCOTCH RAG and LIST CARPETINGS. ITLOQR OIL CLOTHS, in CTery width* COCOA and CANTON MATTINGS. POOR-MATS, RUGS, SHEEP SKINS, DRUgGETS. and CRUMB CLOTHS. AT WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, LOW FOR CASH. J. T. DHLACTtOIX, jnhS-tm 47 South FOURTH Street. CARPETINGS. J. F. & E. B. ORNE, NO. 519 CHESTNUT STREET, (OPPOSITE STATE HOUSE,) Have per steamer Edinburgh , and other late arrivals, their SPRING IMFOitTATIbN OF NEW CARPETINGS: CROSSLEI’S YARD- AND,A,HALF- WIDE YEL VS TS, Q-4 MEDALLION DO., ENGLISH BRUSSELS, ENTS A-QUALITY TAPESTRY, BR USSELS CARPE TS, WITH BORDERS, (of new designs, for Halls and Stairs). INGRAIN AND THBEE-PLY OABPETINGS, of extra Quality. ALSO, 500 PS. J. CROSSLEY & SON’S TAPESTRY BRUSSELS CARPETS, FROM 8?i TO $1 PR. YD., Together with a complete assortment of OIL CLOTHS, STATE AND FLOOB DRUGGETS, BUGS, MATS, &a, All of new* choice selections, and AT MODERATE PRICES. J. F. & E. B. ORNE, Dh3-tf OPPOSITE STATE HOUSE. _ CARPET WARE- HOUSE. OLDDEN & RICKNER, 832 ABCH STREET, TWO. DOOBS BELOW NINTH, SOUTH SIDE, Have tbia day opened tbeir New Stock of CABPETS, of the best English manufacture. The newest Patterns in Velvet, Brussels, Tap, Brussels, 3-Ply Ingrain, and Ve netians, Oil Cletlts in all widths, Oanton Matting, Mats, Druggets, Ac., bought before the late advance, selling at the lowest prices for cash. mhls-12fc LOOKING GLASSES. JAMES S. EARLE & SON, MANUFACTURERS AND IMPOBTEBS O P LOOKING GLASSES, OIL PAINTINGS, FINE ENGBAVINGS, FIOTUBE AND POBTBAIT FRAMES, PHOTOCBAPH FRAMES, PHOTOGBAPH ALBUMS, OABTE-DE-VISITE POBTBAITB, EARLE’S GALLERIES, 818 CHESTNUT STREET, JaM PHILADELPHIA. HATS AND CAPS. 18A9 SPRING STOCK 10£0 -LOILO. COMPLETE. lOU/6. C. H. GARDEN & Co., Manufacturers of and Wholesale Dealers iu . HATS, CAPS, AND PURS; STRAW GOODS, FANCY SILK AND STRAW BONNETS, Artificial Flowers, Ruches, Feathers, Ac., No. 600 and 602 MARKET Street, S.W. corner of SIXTH Street. tgr A large and complete stock. The beet terms find the lowest prices. Cash and prompt 11 time buyers’ l are particularly invited to examine our stock. mhl-2m WATCHES, JEWELRY; &o. | A FBESH ASSORTMENT, at LESS THAN FORMER TRICES. FARR & BROTHER* Imnorten, 824 CIIKSTNCT Street, below Fourth. mhSO-tt Kerosene lamps, whole- SALE DEPOT AND MANUFACTORY, No. 114 Booth SECOND Street, below Chert nut, and No. 1 OAR TEB Street, Philadelphia, In WtWHWnwtf now im« proTem«ntß in machinery and increased facilities for manufacturing, we are prepared to furnish the trade with LAMPS and lamp-trimmings of every description at neatly red need prices. COUNTRY MERCHANTS are invited to examine our stock which consists of new styles andpatternsoflanips, and all articles pertaining to the N*toes3| <ib !w ns s«u bs pnrclmood elsewhere. mhS-lm*lp M. B, DYOTT. %\t fuss. MONDAY, MARCH 24, 1802. Municipal Taxation. Real estate is tangible and immovable in its character. It cannot be concealed. It forces itself on every eye ; and, thorcforc, it lias ever been a favorite object of taxation, and has paid more than its just proportion of the reve nues of our city. It is not, liowevor, to call attention to this fact, already patent to all interested in the subject, that we now write. IVe propose no reform in the principles or objects of taxation. We <?nly a change in the manner in wUi?h it. is assessed and collected. Wc seek only to do away with some of the minor, yet glaring, faults of our present system. Wc leave un touched the great question, incidentally al luded to in our first paragraph, conscious that, sooner or later, a great and radical ameliora tion of the burdens on Used property is inevi table. The rate of taxation is fixed by Councils upon a valuation or assessment of the real es tate throughout the city, made by the asses sors of the various wards, who arc elected at (lie spring elections. It might reasonably he expected that these gentlemen, thus chosen, and liberally paid for their services, would he competent, pains taking, and just. It might be expected that they would scorn to receive the public money without returning a just equivalent. It might be expected that they would understand the nature of their duties, and perform them justly and thoroughly. But he would be but a sorry student of hu man nature, as developed among us, who would be disappointed at finding these rea sonable expectations ungratified. Few men troublu themselves with scruples about their fitness for lucrative positions, and few regret their failure to properly discharge the duties of offices for which they are unfitted. It is to some extent, In this case at least, the fault of tlic public if it suffers by the incapaci ty or carelessness of its servants. The most important affairs are too often left to the management of little cliques of wire-pulling politicians who recompense party service with office. An assessor should be a good judge of the value of real estate. To insure the selection of such a one, wc seldom or never choose an expert, whoso daily avocations would fit him for the task imposed, as, for instance, a sur veyor, or a real-estate agent, or a con veyancer, or a builder. An assessor should bo incorruptible—a man wiio could in no event be induced to form his estimate of the value of your estate by the depth to which you put your hand in your pocket. Our readers best know whether such officers arc always selected. To secure the faithful per formance of bis duties, by tlie’ruan thus judi ciously chosen, wo exact no security from him, and do not examine his work until after we have paid him for it. It is astonishing that, with all the existing neglect, there should not bo more occasion for complaint than actually exists. To be sure, the work is often done carelessly, and we have heard of cases where an assessor contented himself with making a copy of the book of the preceding year, treating as superfluous any attempt to notice the changes in ownership and value of the property of his district. What is strange is, not that such things hap pen occasionally, but that they are not tlm universal rule. We set a premium on inca pacity and indifference, and yet the supply is not as great as might have been expected. One of the worst evils of this carelessness is, that at present, property is assessed with an almost invariable disregard to certainty of description. It would be vcry difficult to locate with certainty many of the unpaid tax bills of the city. You have paid your taxes, yet you may ally day be asked by a collector to produce your receipt, and, if lost, to pay your taxes again, booanse the assessor has neglected to attend to his duty properly. Much property is no doubt unassessed, and yields no revenue to the city for the same reason. All tills could easily he remedied by the use of ground-plans, and, in the improved parts of the city, of house-numbers in making up the books of assessment. Thus, the muni cipal revenues, and the security of the pro perty-holders, could ho inoroasod, at small expense, and with little labor. The charges made for commissions, &c., on tax bills in arrear, are very heavy. It would, perhaps, be unreasonable to ask that they should he lessened, as they support a small army of worthy persons, collectors and others, who could not without difficulty main tain themselves and families so easily in any more laborious avocation. Although, as we have said, the power of ap praisement belongs to the assessors, subject to tho revision of the city commissioners, ths power is, we have understood,, sometimes ex ercised by other functionaries. In cases of sherifl'S sales hills arc sometimes made out, where none exist, and sent to the sheriff with tremendous costs and charges tacked to them, so that it an unfortunate debtor would have any balance remaining, its loss is insured by the presentation of a wholesale hill of taxes and costs. ■We would suggest to.all lawyers to examine with care the tax bills presented to them for liquidation in the sheriffs office. The valuation of property, under the present system, is full of inequalities. Vacant ground on the boundary of one ward is estimated at twice the value placed on vacant ground ad joining, but fortunately in another ward. The valuations should he uniformly graduated, di minishing from the heart of the City to its cir cumference. As an instance of what the tax department could easily be made, we would point te the water department, almost as extensive and in volving a multiplicity of more complex details, yet there everything moves onward like clock work, easily, regularly, and correctly. The present City Commissioners have, wc understand, purchased for their own use a set of the maps of the city prepared for the in surant companies, showing the numbers of the houses in the improved districts, and their character. This is a move iu the right direc tion. They have displayed a cheerful alacrity in the correction of errors, which, in this con nection, deserves notice and approval. The Legislature, and more particularly the members who represent Philadelphia, should, in anticipation of the new taxes to be levied for the support of tho National Government, seek to remedy the defects of our present system. The following suggestions are worthy of consideration: That the power of appointing assessors be lodged in one of the courts ; the books as re turned to them to pass before a board of revi sion, also appointed by them, in conjunction with the City Commissioners. This would se cure the appointment of a better and more competent class of assessors, and a better and more thorough examination of their work when completed. That all assessments bo made from ground plans, and, where it is possible, that the number of the houses should he designated. That property be estimated by its intrinsic value, and not by its rental—an uncortain and unjust method too much in vogue. That the Receiver of Taxes should receive a regular salary, and not, as at present, com missions to the amount of many thousands of dollars annually. That all registered taxes be collected by the City Solicitor, and not, as at present, by irre sponsible collectors. That no charge be made for such collection, except the arrears of interest, an abundant penalty. That the City Solicitor have charge of all sales, both for taxes and municipal claims— thus preventing any collision between the two classes of liens, and securing the interests alike of the city and the'property-holder. And lastly. That the receipts of all parties thus authorized to receive any taxes shall be a PHILADELPHIA, MONDAY, MARCH 24, 1862. final discharge to the payer; and, in order to secure the city from loss by this arrangement, that a heavy penalty shall be inflicted on any official neglecting or failing to pay over the funds received by him into the city treasury. A Reviewer Reviewed. [For Tlio Press.) Pressing forward with tbo armies of the Unien to the accomplishment of the work to be done, wo have bad little time to look back upon the ground paused over, or to pick up tho counterfeit present, inents of loyalty left by a flying, but disguised and treacherous foe. One of these shall now be no ticed. We have just accomplished the perusal of a pamphlet entitled “A Review of Mr, Soward’s Diplomacy, by a Northern man.” (Clod save the mark.) The motto is an apothegm of Burke, “To a people who once have been proud and great, and great because they were proud, a ohange in the national spirit is tho most terrible of all revo lutions.” We are invited to a discussion of this text “iu a spirit of genuine and rational loyalty.” Philip is sober and can listen. And what does he hear? A toother Sorrowing for her children and will not be comforted ? A father imploring the return of the prodigal son, inviting him to partake, with his bro thers, of the fatted calf? No, not this, but a cynic gibing at the incoherent ravings of a stricken mo ther, and laughing over the alternate maledictions and entreaties of a too indulgent father. AU this he hears coming from a man clad in the transparent habiliments of grief—one who has made predictions) perhaps, and would aid in their practical accom plishment. We shall not undertake the defonce of Mr. Sew ard, or justify him in making public the archives of his department. His act wtay spring from a desire for self-glorification, and may be indiscreet; but what great good does the author of this review pro mise himself—no, not himself, but his country—from the publication, at this time, of these criticisms on American ministers and their official communica tions? We think his acquaintance with states craft should have instructed him on this matter. We know a oorrupt party politician might resort to tricky means of driving a foe from effioo, especially when that foe has it in his power to pin him—as a martyr—to the wall. We can even conceive that a man actuated by a poverty-stricken “spirit of genuine and rational loyalty” may do this; but we do not think that apatriot can, unless he is governed by some higher motive than appears in the pages of the pamphlet under notice. He who possesses a generous mind would fairly reason upon the immense difficulties of the crisis which found a minister newly seated in the chair of State. He would allow that the tangled thread of diplomatic relations required time to straighten out. But events speed faster than diplomaoy can follow. He would consider the confusion worse confounded ; how the theory of this day’s despatch is lost in the announcement of fact to-morrow; how settled policies of Government in times of peace are scattered to tho winds by the exigencies of war, and the threatened overthrow of Government itself. Ho would admit that our civil commotions found the question of privateering unsettled, and that the claims of belligerent rebels introduced a new ground of difficulty; that it was hardly likely that diplomacy could secure that for a Government whose existence foreign Powers questioned, at such a time, which, under happier ciroumstinoes, the ablest statesmen of the land had failed to secure. He would hardly condescend to disouss the literary merits of Government despatches, and waste time in lamenting the decline of American scholarship as displayed in hastily written official communica tions between a minister and his envoys, all bound together in the same great cause. considerations, we repeat, would present themselves to a generous aad patriotic mind, but they are scarcely to be looked for in a man whose loyalty may be the development of something which, like Mr. Seward’s “ vicious " stylo, has, we are told, “ what lawyers call an inheritable and transferable quality.” The reader of this pamphlet may wonder whether a sentence introduced therein, as a quotation by Mr. Marcy from Valin, did not make a peculiar impression upon the reviewer in its application to Jiis own language. << But this is tho language of bad citizens, who, under the stately mask of a spurious wisdom and a craftily sensitive conscience, soek to mislead the judgment by a concealment of -the surer motive which gives birth to their indifferenoe for the welfare and advantage of the State.” Mr. Seward’s diplomacy, his scholarship, his personal and political qualities, may and will be food for discussion, examination, and criticism in the future. Even now he may, doubtless, learn many things from those who sincerely regard the interests of the State, yet openly condemn his views and policy ; but we cannot see how either he or the public aie to be benefited by an anonymous publication, which holds him up as a man fond of self-glorification, then ridicules his English writing and his foreign adjuncts, (your Pikes, Foggs, Judds, and such plebeian stuff,) and winds up by an unfair estimate of Mr. Seward’s labors, on the assumption that the Secretary ought to have done what we think no American statesman can do—namely, beat generosity into the head of a rival nation and then make it fight for you. Yfij rejoice to think that the view? Of this pamph let will Gnd a resting-place in but few minds. We rejoice to think that the weal or woe of this peo ple does not wholly depend on any diplomacy. We think with the President when he tells the people (the meaning, howsoever it t; struggles for expres sion, ” is very clear,) that “the integrity of our country, and the stability of our Government, mainly depend, net upon them, (foreign States,) but on the loyalty, virtue, patriotism, and intelli gence of the American people.” We should de plore the diffusion of the spirit that prompted this “Review.” Should it become national, it would, indeed, be a change, as Burke says, “the most terrible of all revolutions.*' We have all our life been interested in “geogra phical and ethnological” inquiries, but in all our studies of maps we have not yet discovered the land whereon, nor in our ethnological researches have we made acquaintance with the people among whom, the sentiments of this review, thus pre sented, could be construed to be inspirations of pa triotism, however genuinely or rationally loyal. Iu our humble judgment, the spirit of this produc tion is not this. Wc can picture to ourselves the spectacle of a New Zealander sketching the ruins of St. Paul, from the broken arch of London bridge. We can con ceive the rapt contemplation in which he might moralize upon the rise and fall of empires. To us the Roman chieftain surveying the ruins of Car thage, communing with himself upon the vanity of human wishes, and the mutability of earthly splen dors, has always been a sad but sublime conception. Nevertheless, it is human and natural. But we have not hitherto known, or conceived, the manner of man, whose loyalty is so purely calculating, so reasonable; so rational, that he can nicely weigh the olaims to scholarship of ministers, or coolly oritioise the literary merits of State papers, in the hour of his country’s peril; the man who calmly, as from the stars, can witness the ruin of that mi. jestio edifice which a wise generation h»d dedi cated to freedom, to liberty throughout the land, and to all the parts thereof; who, with savage com placency, can see the walls crack asunder, crying, hark to the thunder; the columns, how merrily they crumble; hew gloriously the black cleud gathers over Us lofty watch-towers--they, too, must soon give way; watch and wait —there must be booty • locked up iu the corner-stone of this great temple. It Bhall be mine. Recorder. Contraband Engravings of our War Vessels. The following communication has been sent to us by a prominent officer of the navy. The evH re ferred to is of so serious ft character that it is to be hoped the Government may take measures for its abatement: Philadelphia, Maroh 17,1862. Editor or The Press : My indignation has of late been several times aroused by the exceedingly unwise and unpatriotic course pursued by the , and several other illustrated newspapers, in giving to the public tolerably accurate representa tions of our new men-of war. What reason can any sensible and patriotic publisher have for show ing the exaot position of a vessel’s powder maga zines, as has been dens in the case of the twenty three screw gunboats lately constructed for the Go vernment, and now in service ? Is it proper for these journals to exhibit the thickness, position, and manner of securing the armor-plates upon our vessels? Does any intel ligent man want better Information than the exact position of an enemy’s powder magazine and the most vulnerable part of her hull? The position and arrangement of our vessels’ armor is a most important piece of information to the rebels. An iron prow or well-directed shot may be rendered harmless by the possession of such knowledge. Again, the number of guns and tho condition of the engines are matters of information vastly more useful to an enemy than to our own people. Ves sels may properly be represented aa they appear to the eye on the water; but pray uso your influence against the vandalism of dissecting them, aifd show ing their vital parts to our enemies. G. Mr. Cox wav, in his lecture, stated that when Fremont received the command of the Mountain department, he remarked to a friend that the honor came just in time, for he was on the point of re questing the Government to give him a colonelcy. Had this been refused, he would have asked for a oaptaincy- In case the Government had deelined to give him either, be intended to enlist as a private. Mr. Conway made this statement on the authority of tho gentleman to whom the remark was made.— Boston Transcript. When Slidell was arrested on theTVrorhe made what seemed a desperate effort to throw him self into the sea through a hole not half ao large as his body. But., s&ys PrOhUdk, perhaps he'felt small enough to crawl through eny hole. ! FROM FORTRESS MONROE. The C'Milft Was it Cut?—Personal—The Re bels Practising at Point —Thp-ltjfi'- rimne Expectnl—A Scouting Expedition— Burnside's Movements—The Order to Cor* respondents—Arrival of Deserters from the Rebels. [Special of Tbe Preen.] Fortress Monroe, March 21. The cable is about to be repaired, and will be in working order in a day or two, weather permitting. A story has bean floating through tho newspaper that the parties who cut it have been arrested. I happen to know that such is not the case, precisely. ‘Two individuals were arrested on suspicion of har ing committed the deed ; but after an examination they were discharged, there being no evideneo tending to criminate them. It is not improbable that the cable was caught and broken by tbo anchor of some vessel. At any rate, an examination will show whether tho separation was caused by cutting Or brooking. TiiO Ofiblo is how being under-run. Tho Prince do Joinville, in company with Miss Dix, arrived here this morning on a visit. The rebels at Sewall’s Point hare been firing at intervals to-day. It is supposed that they are practising with tbe guns of their new battery, which they have erected there. The J\ferrimac : alias the Virginia , (nil outlaws havg an alias,) is expected to pay ua a pop-visit in two or three days. An attractive programme has been prepared, and arrangements made to extend her a warm reception. The age of miracles has passed; sbe cannotescape annihilation. The injuries recently sustained by her, oonld not have been so very serious, or she would not be able to be afloat so soon. It is a part of the rebel tactics to resort to any trickery, however dishonorable and petty, to attain a purpose. That towing her off “in a sink ing condition,” I honestly believe was a new dodge to lull us treacherously into a sense of temporary security. Of course, it has failed, though, if any such scheme was entertained. Four companies of the Now York Tenth Regi ment went off on a scouting expedition up Book river yesterday. After scouting around considera bly, they returned without having observed so much as a t£ foot in the sand” to indicate the pounce of an enemy in Ike neighborhood. It is the settled opinion here that Gen. Burnside will immediately march against Weldon, N. C. He will thus obtain possession of the railroad communication to Norfolk, which ho will invest on the land side, while the fleet operates against it from the sea.' The following is the order referred to in my last letter: JT EAD Q U Al 5 TKB S DEI’ARTMBST OF VIRGINIA, > EoRTUKsis Monuok, Ya., March 21,15G2. J GBNEHAI. ORDERS NO. —. » Iu order to prevent the publication of information re lating to military movements within this department, all reporters aud correspondents for newspapers now present or whomay hereafter be allowed to come into it, uru piu liibiled from transmitting lor publication any matter re lating to military operations without the approval of tho commanding general. Should any articles contrary to tho tenor of this order appear imprint, it will be the signal for sending away the reporters. Lieut. Do Witt Clinton, Aid-de-camp, is appointed censor, to whom all matter intended by the reporters for publication,Will he submitted for examination The attention of all officers writing for newspapers is directed to the 57th article of war. By command of Major General Wool. WM. D. WHIPPLE, Ass’t Adj. Gen. A flag of truce was sent out this morning for tho accommodation of an officer of the French navy, who wished to go South. No newspapers WOTf re ceived from the South. This morning, our pickets beyond Newport News were accosted by three individuals, who, upon in quiry, proved to be deeorters'from tho rebels. One of them is % Kentuckian, and the other two hail from Missouri, according to their statements. They were drafted at New Orleans, about three weeks ago, and conveyed to Richmond. Here they were compelled to join Magruder’s command, at Vorktowp. Thence they were transferred to Great i Bethel. From the latter point they effected their | escape. They state that Magruder has now sixteen | thousand men, who are tolerably proficient in drill, j The refugees were furnished with passes to Balti » more by General Wool. TII£ HOMRAKOWE IST OF ISLAND No. 10 Till* First Dny’g Firing—Hew It was Com mencoil—A Rt a l»cl Hattery Silenced—A Shell Drops upon the Rel»el' Tents—The Experi ment with the Mortars a Success—Precau tions against the Concussion—Slight Injuries iteceivcd. [Correspondence of The Press.] U. S. GUJTOOAT CIN'CINNATf, Near Island No. 10, March 17. A plaiD) unvarnished narrative of Saturday's work may not be uninteresting, and I accordingly transmit it via Cairo. You have doubtless, ere this, had a full description of the position and fortifica tions of the island. I shall, therefore, confine my remarks to the actual business transacted yesterday. About three o’clock several shells were fired in the direction of the island. The distance was such that I was unable to perceive its entire effects. One of the results, however, was to elicit a reply from the batteries on the Tennessee side, from which the smoke could be seen rising in clouds. To this point the shells were now directed, and the battery was very shortly silenced, its de fenders abandoning it'in confusion, as We could perceive through our glasses. The fire upon the island was then resumed, and kept up until nearly dark, with much effect. The discharges averaged twenty per hour from each mortar. One of our shells was seen to burst in mid-air, and fall in frag ments upon the rebel tents, undoubtedly proving most destructive. Their batteries on the island did not once reply. They knew as well as we, that their guns would be ineffective at such a distance— our ship being at least two miles off. The firing of our mortars was merely preparatory to the wori, which will be commenced to-morrow, and intended as an experiment. The only two mortars in notion wore those of Captains Maynadier and Pike. The firstofiicer was forewarned that the effect of the oonoussion produced by the firing might prove serious. He was well aware of the risk in curred, and was by no means assured that some of the blood vessels of bis brain would not be brsken. At each discharge, therefore, officers and crew stood without the iron bulwarks upon tip toe, and with mouths open. With this precaution, very few injuries were received ; one of the officers (whose name I did hot loam) was made slightly deaf, as were also some of the crew. The result of the ex periment, as a whole, was extremely gratifying, -and I have no doubt that we will batter the rebel fortifications to fragments when we get fairly in action. The tugboat leaves for Cairo, and I must close. J. The Second Day's Bombardment A Flag of Truce—its Purpose not Accom» ■ pliglied—A Rebel Transport Reconnoitring— Our Mortar Boats Open Fire—Tile Enemy's Guns—Escape of our Transports—The Fire Ceased—Shells at IVight. Onßoabd IT. S. Gunboat Cincixxati. 1 Near Island No. 10 March IT. ' j I embrace the present opportunity to send you a brief account of our second day’s bombardment of the rebel stronghold, which has been defended with much greaterjiersistenoe and desperation than we had expected, By seven o’oiook yesterday morn ing we had dropped down the stream to commence the action. In about an hoar or so thereafter a flag of truce was hoisted on the flag-ship Benton by tbe commodore, who despatched an officer, upon a tug, to demand a surrender. For some reason or other, unknown to your correspondent, the despatch boat returned shortly after, apparently without having accomplished her mission. It was evidently not the intention of ft? enemy t» surrender, how ever, so that nothing was lost by the movement. Between ten and eleven o'clock, a rebel steamer, mounting ne guns, hut well protected in her upper works with bales of cotton, hove in view. After having reconnoitred us until she was perfectly satisfied, She steamed 6ff again, and was speedily out of sight. A number of shots were fired at her, bht With What effect I could not perceive, as she was gt no tifne Within two miles of us. Previous to the appearance of this craft, how ever, I should haVo stated that our mortar boats began to pour in a most destructive fire. They were eight in number, and were disposed so as to trouble the enemy most effectually, without being exposed to any great danger. Four of them paid their respects to tbe upper rebel battery, and the remainder resumed operations lower down the river. For a long time, —indeed, until afternoon, —our fire was, in general, ineffectual. The first shells hissed upwards through the air, and descended se veral miles out of the desired point- At length, the gunners’ crew began to acquit themselves more creditably. The shells could be Been bursting around and within the enemy’s works, and evident ly oreated no less havoc than confusion. Meanwhile, their fire produced not the slightest effect upon us, their guns not being sufficiently heavy to attain the range. They have some rifled cannon mounted, nevertheless, and it would bo disoroet for us to keep as mnch out of their rouge as possible. In the after noon it was likewise manifest that they at least have one very heavy gun. While some of our troops were were being landed above tbe upper battery on the Kentucky shore, a tremendous missile, in the shape of a 100-pound shot, splashed in the river a few rods astern of tbe boats. The reoonnoissanee was then effected without the loss of a single life, and revealed the fact that it would be extremely ha zardous to attoek the upper battery with our un aided gunboats. It was growing dark when t he fire ceased on both Bides, as if by mutual consent. The moTtaT boats remained in their position, however, so as to be rbady to resume the action to-day. The flag- ship retired to anchor on the Kentucky shore, while the Mound Ctiy took a position upon the Mississippi side, so as to guide transports. Several times last night our mortars dropped in a shell or two upon the enemy’a fortification. Tho scene presented h§ they circled through the air with a shrill scream, was one of the most beautiful imaginable, and the sound of their explosion could be heard echoing and reverberating among the woods. We anticipate hot work to-morrow. J. THE WAR IN TENNESSEE. A S&IRMISII AT PITTSBURG LANDING* The Memphis and Charleston Railroad in our Possession. THE REBEL FORCE AT CORINTH, MISS. Cairo, March 22.— A skirmish occurred, on Sunday last, between a battalion of the Fourth Illinois regiment and a squadron of rolic-1 cavalry, nom rittstmrg Landing, PoHiililng In ihe defeat of the latter, with some iosa. Four of the United .States troops were wounded. Chicago, March 22.—A special despatch from Cairo, to the Tribune of this city, says: The gunboat from the Tennessee river, has arrived) and reports that our forces are penetrating the country about Savannah, Tennessee, accomplishing notliing of importance besides the occasional capture of scouts of the enemy, and bringing iuto our linos promi nent parties charged with aiding the rebellion. Our forces tavu entire possession of tho Memphis and Charleston Railroad, in the vicinity of Savannah, Ten neesee. The Ohio river is rising rapidly at this point (Cairo). Within tho last twenty.four hours it has risen a foot, and tbe otTeota are covered to the depth of four feet in some placep. A balloon was sent to Flag-officer Foote yesterday for the purpose of making a reconnoisaance of the works of the enemy. A mcHHoiiKur who lias just returned from Cape Girardeau reports that the rumored attack on that point by Jelf Thompson is without foundation. St. Lous, March 21.—The Savannah (Toon.) cor respondent of the J>einocrat) under date of the 17th, saygi No move has yet been made by our army hero. A second hood in the Tennessee river and its tribu taries is prevailing. Tho information in regard to the enemy is still quite meagre. Bis main forte is to l>o at Corinth, Mississippi, whore it is probable ho will be able to con centrate about 50,000 troops. Our force mostly remaius on board of the transports. General Grant has been reinstated in tho commaud of this expedition, and arrived here to-day. It ib not likely that any active operations will take place hereabouts for several days. Capture of New Orleans Probable. Wa March 2Q.—lt is a&aorlud, ns tbo gene rally prevalent opinion in naval and military circles, that by this time the national banner floats over New Orleans, and that it is believed our mortar-fleet attacked the rebel fort at tho Kigolets, within two days after the clerpariuro from Ship Islaud of tbo steamer bringing North tho last hitolligenco from that point. NEWS FROM THE SOUTH. Rebel Account of the Pea Ridge Battle. THEY CL.UiH IT AS A VICTORY. M'CULLOCH AND MINTOSH KILLED. JEFF DAVIS TO TAKE THE FIELD. The Memphis Appeal, of the 12th inst., has the following in its columns : Foot S.witii, March 9,18(12. Our troops, under Generals Van Dorn, Price, and McCulloch engaged tho enemy for three days, the sth, Gth and 7th, at Perry’s Ridge, Benton county, in this State, near the Missouri line. The fighting was tbe most desperate on record. Our loss was immense; that of the enemy unknown. Generals McCulloch and Mclntosh were both killed on the 7th inst. General Slack was mortally wounded. General Price was slightly wounded in the arm. Colonel McCroa reported killed. Colonel Sims slightly wounded in the arm. Our forces are now in the rear of the tBCHiy, and driving them south ward. They ate whipped bey6hd a doubt ere this. IVe are expecting later intelligence every moment. General McCulloch fell while leading his coto msud to a charge, Tho bodies of Generals Mcln> tosh and McCulloch will arrive this evening, Osceola. Later from Fort Smith. Fort Smite, March 9 Up to the present moment nothing further has been heard from the fight, which is still raging. It seems as though our army have gotten to the rear of the enemy, and it is currently reported; were driving them southward. The following, from the quartermaster at this place, has been published. GENERAL ORDER. Fort Smith, March 9. The brave General McCulloch is no longer on earth. He fell whilst bravely fighting at tho head of his division, in a hardly-contested battle with the enemy near Cross Hollows, on the 7th instant. Ilis remains will be interred with military honors on Monday, at twelve o’clock. Tho officers and troops will hold themselves iu readiness to perform this melancholy duty. Later —Additional Funiculars. Fort Smith, March 11. Captain Hickory Rogers arrived here yesterday in charge ef the ammunition wagons. He brings with him an official and some very interesting de tails of tbe battle between our farces and the enemy at Elkhorn, four miles from the Missouri line. Captain Rogers Says the fighting was terrible. A large portion of our troops being armed with the common hunting rifles and shotguns, charged the enemy time and again, clubbing their guns and driving the enemy, who were armed with the best of gups, from their first position. The enemy gained a much stronger position, when, from the exhausted state of our troops, they fell back. General McCulloch’s division having lost so many of their officers, General Van Dorn, fearful that they might become disorganised, deemed it advisable to withdraw, which he did in splendid order. The next day he attacked the enemy in their second position, and, while the fighting was going on, withdrew his whole army. Gen. Van Dorn says he is not whipped, and 4&&- not be with the reinforcements which he shall re ceive, and by giving his troops a few days rest. He says he will drive them back to their starting place. The withdrawal of so large an army In such fine order, after losing so many valuable officers, is looked upon as one of the most brilliant acts of the present war. When it became known to the troops that Gen. McCulloch was killed they were frantic with rage, and his command fought like demons, charging gt times, and putting to flight five times their number. General Mclntosh fell at the head of his com mand, early in the action; also, Goneral Herbert. Genera] Price received a flesh wound, in the arm, the first day of the fight. General Slack, of the Missouri army, received a mortal wound. There were a great many officers of lower grades killed and wounded, and it will be several days yet before an exact list of the killed and wounded can' be got at. Our loss, in round numbers, is estimated at two thousand killed and wounded. Our train is now at Slicker’s, on Boston Mountain, out of reach of the enemy, and will be up soon. Our army fought the enemy on all sides, com pletely passing around them. Osceola . Jeff pavi»to take the Field, The Southern papers hint that Jeff Davis is about to take the field in person. The New Orleans Picayune, speaking on the subject, says: It is with the greatest satisfaction that we hear it rumored, on oredible authority, that Jefferson Davis is about to take the field in person. Should he do so, it would be worth thousands of men to the cause of our independence. At Monterey and Buena Yista he won honors, freely awarded him by the country, for his bravery as a soldier and his conduct and skill as an officer. As Secretary g[ War he evinced high military qualities, and dis played much ability. As President of the Con federate States he has always shown himself pos sessed of the talents that go to constitute a great general, and we doubt not that, at the head of our armies, in tbe contests upon which we are now on the eve of entering, he would signalize himself as a gallant and successful leader. It is thought that he will take command of the Western army, thus superseding both Johnston and Beauregard. A Scene between Mrs.fJames K. Polk and Gen. Mitchell. A correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette, writ ing from Nashville, gays; The following interesting scrap of news is told by an eye-witness to the scene. One day last week, Gen. Buell and all the brigadiers of the department, who were present, went in a body to oall upon Mrs. James K. Polk and her niece, daughter of-the ex- Kev. Gen. Leonidas. Mrs. Polk seemed deter mined that no doubt should be entertained as to her sentiments in regard to our unhappy difficul ties. The gentlemen present, as they were seve rally addressed, simply bowed in silence, until Gen. Mitchell, who was standing somewhat away from the party, was singled out. To him Mrs. P. re marked, “ General, I trust this war will speedily terminate in the acknowledgment of Southern ip dependence.” The remark was a signal for a lull in the conversation, and all eyes were turned upon the General to hear his reply. He stood With his lips firmly compressed and his ey ea looking fully into those of Mrs. l'olk as long as she spoke. He then said : “ Madame, the man whose name you hear was once the Presidentof the United States; he was an honest man and a true patriot; he administered the laws of this Govern ment with equal justice to all. We know no inde pendence of one section of our country which docs not belong to all others, and judging by the past, if the mute lips of the honored dead who lies so near us, could speak, thoy would express the hope that this war might never cease if that cessation was purchased by the dissolution of the Union of States over which he once presided.” It is needless to say the effect was electrical, made, as the remark was, in a calm, dignified tone, and with that earnest ness for which the General is noted; no offence could be taken. Southern (independence was not mentioned again during the interview. Big Snow-drift. —The telegraph operator at Salt Lake oommunioates the intelligence that the snow-on the mountains is about five feet on a level, “4 At one point (a ravine, probably) it has drifted to a depth of forty feet, covering up telegraph poles, wire, and nil. TWO CENTS. Incidents of the War. From a mass of incidents of the war, given by nu merous correspondents, we clip the following. A St. Louis correspondent relates the following incident in the prison hospital at St. Louis : A little drummer-boy was evidently dying. A Indy spoke to him, asking if be wanted anything. “No,” was the feeble answer, but with a wishful look at the kind ftae over him, he said his mother had sent him from Mississippi to fight and defend her home. Ho did not regret it, but wanted to see his mother. He gave his name and his mother 7 s address, still looking wishfully, as if there was some* thing on bis wind. At last he said ; “Jtly mother is a good woman, too. She would treat a poor sick prisoner kindly, and if she were with your Bon, she would kiss him.” “I will kiss you, my dear boy, for your mother,” said she. She kissed him, and in a few minutes he died. God bless the women for t|is good work they are doing. It makes one think better of our human na ture to hear of the work they are doing throughout the East, in furnishing supplies, and in the West by their presence and aid. Attempt to Trap a Federal (ienoral A correspondent, mentioning an interview lately held between General Mitchell , and Colonel Mor gan, relates the following incident. Ho says: Colonel Morgan, in citizen's clothes, sat at the head of his men, on a mugfiiflcefit dappled gray horse. I bad ample opportunity to see him, sitting, as he was, within six feet of me, and should judge him a very handsome man, six feet or more in height, broad, full chest, dark hair and whiskers. A gentlemen of our party, who bad known him from early boyhood, remarked then: “John Mor gan was generally the leader in all the boyish pranks played about Lexington, while he was a boy, and the wild, reckless spirit he then showed, has slung to him through early manhood.” He waa the proprietor of a woollen lactory in Lexington, and bad & large interest in a bank. I neglected to prefix the adjective “ faro ” to that bank. It is said that his avowed object in prowling about our camp in the way he has been lately doing is to capture some general, in that ho may ex change him for Buckner, who is a devoted friend of Morgan’s family, and the latter’s beau ideal of & gentleman and soldier. It may not be amiss to add here that his hopes were very nearly realized & few days since. 'With fifteen oi his men ho lay Cdficealed m a cedar thicket, near the road side, within a quarter of a mile of a toll-gate, between this and Colonel Kennett’s camp. They were scarcely hidden before General Nelson and staff came riding past, and were arrested by the earnest gesticulation of the gatekeeper, who informed them of the ambush laid for them. The General, con cluding “discretion was the better part of valor,” returned to camp. The gatekeeper was found the next day, with his hands tied and a huge stone round bis neck, lying in the creek. As it was very shallow, he was not drowned, but from the water he swallowed, added to the fright of having passed through such rough hands, it is thought he cannot recover. The Dead of the Army, [From the Washington Republican.] So many false statements have been made in re lation to the number of soldiers who have died from disease, that ifis time the public were made acquainted with the facts of the case. Irresponsi* ble persons have been giving the public the moat painful and startling stories about the diseases raging among volunteers, and the thousands carried ofl weekly by them. Thus, the Rev. Parson Bel lows said, a short time ago, in a speech delivered on 2J Sanitary Science/* before the New York His torical Society, that we buried seventy-fivesoldiers a say from disease, and five hundred weekly ; and Mr. Wendell Phillips, in his lecture at the Smith sonian, a night or two ago, said we buried two'thou sand soldiers a month on tho Potomac from diso&so. Now, these are very grave statements, calculated to fill the minds of the people with groundless alarm and to cause misrepresentations abroad in relation to disease in our army, for the statements made by the gentlemen whose names are here given are untrue, and could not have been the result of personal inquiry at the proper sources of information. J)r. Bellows, whose surgical studies have been oosfined to that celebrated medical treatise) King James 7 Bible, and whose scalpel and bistoury have no form save that hidden under the peaceful teachings of that book, has lately given himself up to teaching sanitary science to men who have prac ticed it for-thirty years j but if his researches nave had no better result than to give him a quasi au thority to make statements which are glaringly wide of the truth, it were better that he had remained in his pulpit, and left to those who understand the subject the duty of reporting on it. We have the official returns of the year from two hundred and fifty-seven regiments, which ny|gbsr two hundred and fifty-seven thousand men, and from twenty-one general hospitals- the capacities of which for re ceiving the sick are from two hundred and twenty five each to four hundred men. The returns of deaths in the army are received at the siirgeofi guuQrsl’f office quarterly, and for the past year are as follows, from the number of regiments and the hospitals as stated. The returns from the West have not yet been in quired into by us ; but the deaths in that section have not, for reason of olimatio influences, been near so numerous as those in this region. The fcfl -1 owing statistics are published by authority : Quarters. IteguJars. Ending March 31, ’6l 28 “ June 30} ’6l S 3 79 “ Sept. 30, ’0i,..,.... S 8 749 80S' “ Dec. 51,’61 IC3 2,970 3,078 Grand total One hundred of these deaths were from wounds. Private benevolence has done much towards provi ding the soldiers with jeiiica and other little com forts, but the credit of their extraordinary freedom from epidemie disease, and their successful medical treatment, belongs to the medical department of the army, who have been misrepresented and vilified to an almost incredible extent. The department may challenge the history of all armies to produce statistics showing less deaths from disease than the army of the United States, composed as it is of men who have rushed to the exposures of camp life from comfortable firesides. The “Monitor." A friend has handed us the annexed article, copied from a New York paper, respecting the pe culiarities of the wonderful engine of naval war whOE6 reoent exploits in Hampton Hoads so asto nished the country as well as the enemy. The ac curacy of the statement is assured to us: The Monitor.—lt is not generally known that this vessel, notwithstanding her light draught of water, enormous strength, and weight of deok.siio armor, and revolving turret, carries upwards of one hundred thousand pounds of ballast to bring her down to her present fighting draught. The im portance of this excess of buoyancy will be readily appreciated. The weight of the turret Is upwards of oho hundred tons, and tie gun-slides, composed of strong wrought-iron beams, form part of the massive turret. The recoil of the guns will accordingly be checked by such an enormous amount of matter that ordnance of any calibre may be employed. The Monitor, therefore, instead of being of limited capacity, is capable of carrying guns of the largest size that we can manufacture. These facts prove conclusively that we have as yet no idea of the real destructive power of the new engine of war, the sudden appear ed? of which has startled this country, ana Will startle Europe still more. Suppose that the twenty inch guns, which the navy department is now erect ing furnaces to cast, had been concealed in the im pregnable turret of the Monitor, and hurled their eleven hundred pound balls against the Merrvmac. How different the result! The first round would have sunk the stolen vessel with her rebel crew. The entire question of the real aggressive proper ties of the Monitor, thus presents itself in a new light. We now perceive that an inorease of tonnage and draught are not needed to render the Monitor absolutely superior in destructive force to anything afloat. We have the impregnable vessel and turret, and we have the excess of buoyancy requisite to carry guns of the proposed inordinate calibre. Can we resist the inferenee that the diminutive representative of the new system, with its twenty two hundred pound broadside, is big enough to sink all the iron- clad steamers in Europe ? Murder near Utica, New York—Heroic Conduct of a Daughter. A hOffible murder took place in the vliiage of Bexnsden, near Utica, Now York. A German, about 61 years of age, named Hoffman, having had a dispute about some land with Mather Beecher, one of the most respeoted and prominent citizens of thfi place, determined to murder him. Accord ingly Hoffman loaded a five-barrelled revolver, put five extra cartridges into his pocket, and took a sharp and heavy dirk, which he concealed about his person. Thus murderously equipped he, called at the house of Col. Beecher, and requested an ex amination of certain papers held by the latter. The Utica Herald tells the rest of the story, as follows]: The old gentleman, in compliance with Hoffman’s wiaheß, hunted up the documents, and the twa gat down to look them over. So soon as Col. Beecher’s attention was absorbed by the papers he was ex amining, Coffman drew h>s revolver, turned, quickly npon the defenceless old man, and snapped two barrels at him, the cap in eaeh instance failing to explode. Mrs. Buckingham, seeing the life of her feeble old father perilled, with a heroism beyond all praise, sprang to his rescue, and grappled with the murderer. With blind and brutal rage, Hoffman turned his pistol upon the devoted woman; at first the cap snapped, the next time it exploded, the pistol was fired, and the boll entered the body of the heroine, inflicting a mortal wound. Notwith standing her terrible iDjury, Mrs. Buckingham still struggled with the murderous wretch, and, by the joint efforts of herself and mother, the revolver was wrested from him. But his appetite for blood was still uhappeased, and, drawing his dagger, be rushed upon Col. Beecher, who, in shielding his heart from the blow, was cut through the palm, disabling his right hand. At this juncture Mr. Burley, a son-in law of Col. Beecher, entered, and the blood-stained culprit was soon secured. Hr, Gaiteau, of Trenton, was at ones sailed, and he pronounced the wounded lady’s recovery im possible. The bullet did not pass entirely through her body, but remains ia the wound. Of (the pre cise nature and extent of the injuries inflicted we are not advised. Hoffman preserves hiS ivdrSe than brutal de meanor. He acknowledges no contrition. With a bloodthirstiness quite incomprehensible, he re marked that, although he had intended to kill the whole Beecher family, yet he was satisfied as it hod turned out—the satisfaction of murdering Mrs. Buckingham compensating him for anything that might ensue. Commander Pouter has written a letter to the Hannibal (Missouri) Messsenger, vindi catiDghis mother’s loyalty. He states that “She has three sons living, all of whom are now faithfully serving their country, and carrying into effeet the practical results of her lessons.” Mr. Kelly, editor of the Messilla Times, Ari zona, was lately Bhot by Col. Baylor, on account of some personality in the paper referring to the latter! Mr. Kelly bad been engaged as a public surveyor in New Mexico for a considerable time. THE WAR PRESS. T«r« Wit Paisa wtu be to nbrtfibira hr mail (per minimi In advance) at,.... ...C8.M Three CJopte* “ “ 9.00 Flye “ “ ** 8.00 In “ “ “ 10.00 Leaser CiabS will be charged at the ana rate. tiuM ; 20 copies will cost 821; 90 copies will cost 090; aad lOi copies £l2O. For * Club of Twentr-oae or oyer, we will eeail m litre Copy to the getter-up of the Olab. mr Postmasters are requested to act as Agents Tat Tbs Wxi Passs. Advertisements Inserted at the usual retea. Hi hues constitute a square. Tax on Milliards. While all acknowledge the neoessity of a Tax Bill, to raise a revenue sufficient to carry on the War and pay the interest on the Debt, a great many object to the proportion of taxation to which it is proposed to subject them, respectively. Hence, the representatives.of the various callings have found their way to Washington, to lay bafora •> the power* that be” in tho Legislature the propriety—even the justice—of variously modifying the rates which aro to bo imposed on them. Among others, Mr. Michael Phelan, of New York, known as an excellent magjj facturerof billiard- tables, and a first rate player of the game, has had an interview with the commit tee in charge of tho bill, in tho House of Repre sentatives, and, on behalf of the whole craft, haa stated some plain and practical reasons for having the impost reduced. Billiards is more intellectual than any other amusement, requiring not only physical but scien tific skill- It is of considerable antiquity—though Sbahspcarc undoubtedly committed an anactjfq nism when he represented Cleopatra amusing her self with it, in Egypt, some eighteen centuries ago. There aro very many persons whose avocations do not permit them to have any other healthy physisal exercises. To place a tax of S2O on each billiard, table, and only So on each separate bowling alley, seems scarcely fair, for several reasons. First, a first-class bowling alley can be made and fitted up for from -¥lOO to 5150, while the cost of a good bil liard table la $4OO. The rent of the bowling alley is generally not a fourth or even a fifth of the bil liard-room. Several games of bowls can bo played, while one game of billiards is in hand, and while four alleys wauld P&y 6hly u-,1 aggregate amount equal to the tax on a Bingle billiard-table, even two alleys would yield greater profit, the invested capi tal being much less. Billiards arc an article of ne cessity rather than of luxury, Tbs them heavily, and a large number oi the establishments must ba closed, and an extensive branch of manufaotura seriously injured. Mr. Phelan’s letter on this subject, contains tha whole caso which ho.went to Washington to repra* sent, and we reproduce hero, as such : Dkab Sir : I desire, in behalf oftbose who find a healthful recreation at the game of billiards, the keepers of billiard tables for public play, and the manufacturers of them, to offer to your attention some considerations against a tax oppressive in amount, and therefore inexpedient, as well as un just. The bill before you proposes to tax each table kept for use twenty dollars a year. Now, if the sole object of tho measure is to bring money to the public treasury, as it ought to bo, this excessive tax is calculated to frustrate tho end in view. A small impost upon each would yield a larger aggregate amount, and this ought to be conclusive against the tax reported by the com mittee It is erroneously conceived that almost all those to be affected by this measure are in opulent circumstances. This is not the case, The makers and keepers of the tables are only moderately pros perous, not gathering any larger profit from their capital invested than moat other business ocoupa. tions. Nor are the majority of the players, gene rally. in easy circumstances. Tho game is almost the sole means of healthful recreation to mechanics and clerks in cities. Among the German popula tion it is in especial use and favor. One or two ta bles are commonly kept by those who set! beer and wine. These persons are to be chargeable with a license of twenty dollars, and the twenty dollars additional for the billiard table will simply drive it out of use in all such places, There are thousands of other smalt ijtabllsb ments, frequontod by clerks and mechanics after business hours, for the enjoyment of this gamo, whose profits are too small to bear so great a tax. In these the tables will disappear. In those where three have been hitherto kept, one only will be re tained ; and those who have had nine will keep but three. A tax of five dollars each would produce a larger revenue than this proposed of twenty; and, if revenue is the object, it ought to he substituted. If, however, the real aim is to prevent playing tha game of billiards, except by the rich, to destroy the manufacture of the tables, and distress the me chanics thus employed, the measure is sure to effect it. If it is persisted in, billiards will become, what some think it is now, an exclusive amusement o£ the wealthy. Some think they have found a suf ficient justification for this exorbitant tax, in the allegation that billiards is a luxury—“ men can do without playing billiards.” Y'es ! and, if this tax is laid, the majority will do without them; in which ease, how is the treasury to get the money it might have received under a moderate impost ? A. tax so high as to amount to a practical prohibition to large classes of the people cuts its own throat. The committee appear to me to have made an unjußt and invidious distinction between btiliard’ tables and some other articles not of prime neces sity, A carriage worth more than sis hundred dollars is to be taxed tea dollars. It is ah article luxury and display solely within the means of tha wealthy. Forconvenienoe and utility, one worth half as much is just as good. Upon this article, OBly Used t 6 display the luxurious ostentation of the rich, there is but half as much tax proposed as upon a billiard table. The reason why the rata upon the six hundred dollar carriage was put at ten dollars was probably the conviction of the oom mittce that a greater tax would discourses the uss of these particular carriages, and thus defeat itself. IVhy did it not apply this sound reasoning to bil liard tables also? Was it because mechanics, clerks, and others of like station play at billiards as well as the wealthy, while only the latter use the costliest carnages? It is net easy fo imagine any other reason. The proposed tax, by throwing great numbers of tables out of use, will destroy the manu facture of them, root and branch. The capital invested in the business is above $2,00(1,000, and the mechanics the manufacturers employ are num bered by thousands. Mcrecyar, all t!ie materials they use in the manufacture contribute largely to the revenue, and they are to be chargeable with a license as well. In view of these considerations, sir, and others which may with justice be urged, I submit that * material reduction of the amount of this proposed tax will be wise and expedient. It will not, at the rate of twenty dollars each, bring the largest amount into the public exchequer, and this atone should be conclusive against it. Yours respectfully, Arc., Michael Phelan. the Hilliard Cue, a New York periodical de voted to tho amuEement in question, says : “At twenty dollars on each table, a largo number of establishments will be compelled to close. Thejr cannot pay the tax and continue their business. In this manner, the Government will lose quite as much as it gains. A lower rate, say of ten dollars on the table, would procure the Treasury a larger income than the BIOT? onerous amount, because as much larger number of persons tcould be able to pay it; the business would not wholly cease; and then both the Government and the community would be the gainers by the operation.” In various Lunatic Asylums, tables are now in beneficial use. In the New York State Lunatie AsyluOi, there are two billiard tables, and Doctor John P. Gray, the eminent physician of this insti tute, writes favorably of the beneficial influence of Billiards on the patients there. Mr. Phelan, we think, has made out a strong case for the reduction of the proposed tax. Dramatic and Other Items. The Washington National Intelligencer, speaking of Mr. J. S. Oiarke, says: This gentle man made an overwhelming hit lost .evening as Twelfth bis p?rforsBßss> being totfltiyimlika hia predecessors. Comparisons ara generally odious, and no one who ever saw the great Burton, in that greatest of his parts, could have supposed any other actor would equal It in excellence, and in a different way, yet this is what we think has been done by Mr. Clarke, who has succeeded in actually reoreat ng the part. Ullman is on his way to Berlin, to meet Ma dame Histori, and to make final arrangements for her appearaaee Koto in Ootobsr noxt. Niblo's has been secured for the performances of the great tragedienne. She will be accompanied by the en tire of the fine company now playing with her. Byron’s play of “Werner” was performed, the first time for many years, at the Front-street Theatre, Baltimore, on Monday night. It was oast with Mr. J. W. Wallack as IVeriier; Mr. Davenport as Gabor ; Mr. Wheatley as TJlric: and Mrs. J. W. Wallack as Josephine. A new and original drama, in five acts, called “ The Life of an Aetress,” written by Mr. Dion Boucicault, and in which the author and his accom plished wifo appear, was to be produced at the Adeiphi, in London, on the Ist of this month. Mr. Benedict’s new opera, “The Lily of Killarney," has been drawing crowded houses at Drury Lane. It seems to have completely hit the taste of the English public. Adah Isaacs Menken continues to draw im mense houses at St Louis. She has been appear ing in an equestrian drama, “Tbe Female Horse Thief.” They are playing the “Seven Sisters” at tha Howard Athena'um, Boston. Miss Caroline Kichings has brought out tha operatic spectacle of the “ Enchantress” at the Boston Museum. Anderson and Hillard are both in Buffalo, tha former prestidigitating, and the latter showing the panorama of tho “ American Rebellion, ” The Baltimore tragedian, Mr. Edwin Booth, commenced an engagement at the Boyal Amphi theatre, Liverpool, on the 27th of February. Ha chose Ilnmlit for his opefiifig glfiormafiso. A now baritone at tho Vienna Opera House receives $9,000 salary per annum, and the per quisite of four months’ vacation. What a valuable waible ’. Miss Charlotte Thompson oommenced an en gagement at the Louisville Theatre on Monday evening. Uncle Tom’s Cabin is drawing good house* at Wood’s Theatre, Cincinnati. —General Tom Thumb is exhibiting at CSuoin nati, with his Lilliputian ponies. Barnum ia exhibiting Commodore Nutt, the “merest shrimp of humanity,” and the speotaeulac dtama of “ Sadak and Kalasrade.” —At the New York Academy of Musio, Mr. Grau has brought out “Un Hallo ou Masohera, ’* introduoing'Benorita Cubas. At Winter Garden, Matilda Heron is playing Florence Upperton in (ia “Bello of tho Season..” “The l’eep o’ day” hflS boon produced at Laura Keene’s.
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