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.