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ploy men t of mercantile ships and steam- •tuZnof^Wurand'lltjp Secretary of ihe N«ulf”» fo T ' ,,e d «i r fw* of ports, in co^pera- vy tlrtfie committees of botli tiottscs of Con-1 l "> n wsidenl citizens, would be at- 3 ‘ tended ^ with ■ lew aggregate cost; and the fertility of invention, and activity of mss, by which it will be seen what the re commendation's .were which they made, and which the President sanctioned • The milimre and naval committees of Conews*, according to a long established tisaiKvcoiniminicnied with llie departments and asked, their views as loihc merense of our naiionnl defences. department, in the first insinnee, referred the injuries thus made 10 the proper military and na val bureaus. .The Durcan* took the inqtu- riesofihe commitlccs inio consideration, mid made llicirestimates; but they made them ns if with reference to a slate of actu al war. The Secrelaiys of n ar, and of the Navy, after examining those estimates re spectively, made, with the sanction of the President', specific recommendnlionr, having in view precautionary measures of defence. They did not think proper to withhold from the committees of Congress the esti mates and suggestions of tlte bateaus.— These were also communicaied, and in ilie visual manner, without any injunction of secrecy whatever, except that the Secretary of War very properly suggested that some foci*, ns set forth in the reports of the mili tary bureaus, and understood to relate to the weakness of some military positions, should not he made-public. The recommendations made nnd sanc tioned will heel appear from the letters of ilie respective secretaries, which we subjoin. It is to be regretted that'the chairman of the Naval Committee of the House, when lie slated his uncertainly as to the accor dance of ilie Secretary of the Navy with the suggestions of the bureaus, had not communicated to the House the secretary’s letter of January 81 It, which accompanied the reply of the bureaus to the resolution of the House committee. Had lie done so, misapprehension would have been avoid ed. • Hera arc .the letters of the respective secretaries. They contain t lie views which the secretaries recommended, and which had the sanction of the I’residcnt. Il'nr/iis-lon Union. Letter of the Secretarij of tic Nary to Hon. Imac K. lloTu’ct, chairman o) the Natal . Committee of the House of Representatives. Navy Department, January S, 1SJ6. C trintism, would, as danger approached, quickened to -devise methods of tie- fence, which, though somewhat irregular, would prove effective, till a force could be organized suited to the emergency. Inquiries are now making into I be ca pacity ofour mercantile steamers for be ing Jhus employed, and the result shall lie communicated to you so soon as received. The danger to be apprehended from inroads upon oar territory by hostile fleets will he greatly diminished by the disas ters consequent on storms; the necessity of frequent returns' to port lire supplies of provisions nnd water; the supcrttldcd want to steamships of fuel; the general inaccessibility of the const, from shallow ness nl: water; the certainty of vigorous resislanae on the part of our citizegs in the more densely-peopled regions; nntl the uselessness of naval attacks on n sparsely settled const for any pcrniamenl influence on the issue of u war. These circumstances have, in nil times pnst, made great nnval expeditions almost fruitless of results against remote settle ments on lund. The measures recommended, if adopt ed, will not involve useless expense, even on the continuance of tranquility, and peel of our foreign affairs, this mode of augmenting the regular force of ilie coun try commends itself to my judgment.— Those regiments, should they be. raised. are to be in addition to thetronps proposed a the chain bf posts to the Rocky Mountains. to be raised to gairison i With this communication, I *f-ttd to you a statement from the General command ing the Army, containing his views of the numlter .if troops required to man the for tifications, Ac. With a view to give you full and au thentic information in regard to the sever al matters embraced in the resolution which you sent to me, I have required statements from the Engineer and Ord nance Bureaus, and herewith transmit them to you. It-is; in my opinion, im portant that the information, in nil its de tails, as set forth in these' documents, should not be made public. I trust the committee will concur in the propriety of this suggestion. 1 forbear to reiterate the suggestions in the report of the Chief Engineer in regard to the fortifications, temporary defences, ; and ' the Somers, and on her arrival their Coin- not mndore Conner hoisted his broad peoaot on board of her. The frigate Ilaritan will sail from this place destined for Verm Cruz,! to morrow or the next day. The Somers it is said will sail for St. Domingo in a few days with despatches, the nature of which lam at a loss to conjecture. It is reported that Mr. Slidell had left Jnlapa and is now in the city of Mexico. Yogrs, respectfully, ' • MoNTooxeny. MseoN, April 1st, 1846. I furnish tba press with the following decision of the Supreme Court of Georgia, which, as it settles, to some extent, the con struction of the Act of 1845, organizing the Court, nnd regulating its proceedings, may be beneficial to those who* have busi ness in lltnt Court. JAMES M. KELLY, Reporter. MqneM Court at CassvJUIe. Holden in and for the 4th District, March Term, 1846. Doc Ex. Dcra j Ejectment and writ of Trulack, cl a! pills in error ( Error to the Superior vs. | Court of the County Peeplc's et at debts in error. J of Cats. This was called up in its order, when u, ■kiimk.uuoii,, unu|s,(ufj qeicnurs, Aikin, pf counsel for tlto dependents in Er- &e., hut commend them to the fovorulile 1 ror , .moved to dismiss the writ, upon ilia fol- r±?± U :b! h h e h COra, . ni r : Tl }° n P" j*°')|| n |jecn..se it did not appear front the prbprtnttoiis which he suggests ore lurge, I rccor( , , )cforc lho Court ,1^ (he um of hut not. more so limn the calely ofthe | Exceptions was made out, and certified by country requires in the contingencies hej lhc presiding Judge, within four days after contemplates. The increased expendi- j the trial, nsrequired by the act organizing lure upon permanent works is an outlay tin; Supreme Court. j that must be made in the courseof a very ‘ 2. That the llill of Exceptions did not seems lobe sufficient as piecititiionary | lew years; and, in my judgment, sound ; show the grounds upon which the decision against any contingency that is likely to policy indicates thiit it should lie in the I *'“* ,, 1 ,ndc f ;.„ , r. .. o.-cur. and ns preliminary to a more ex- power of the Government ,« expend ira- j 3 ' T'' a “ l,a ‘:° f E « e P" ons *“ 100 tended organization, in the event it should mediately what, under other circmnstan- 1 ^4° Thai the oriaina become necessary. It will place'lltc navy in n condition to inspire respect to rentier aid in protecting our commerce, anil to contribute effectively towards the pre servation of peace. I have the honor to he, very respectful ly, your obedient servant, GEORGE BANCROFT. Hon. I. E. Holmes, Chairman of the Naval Committee ofjhe House ef Representatives. Report from the War Department. The following is the report of Mr.'Mar- Sir : In reply to the inquiries proposed ^ em ,n 10 dle Committees on Military in your letter of the 22d ultimo, l.ltave 1 Affairs: the honor to enclose to you a report from War Department, Dec. 29, 1845. the heads of bureaus of this department. : Sir:—1 herewith return to you the res- Althnugh the naval prejiatat’tons of olulion which you sent to me ott the 23d commercial nations, which are struggling inst. The recommendations in my report to maintain themselves in an unnulural; to the President, of the 29llt till, have position -of greatness, is no criterion for reference In a permanent pence cstuhlish- u country like ours, which seeks only the ( inenl. Under any circumstances I 11m occupation and defence of its own terrilo- convinced that our seaeoast and northern ry, the protection of its citizens anti their | frontier should have a larger force sin- intercsts, and the development of its own j Honed on them tltnn they now have, or resources; mid although .the existing na-jlhe Department can now place there by val establishment ofthe UniirdtStates np- i any proper disposition it can make of the bears sufficient in nlf but sea-going steam- regular army at this time. The number pears sufficient ini ers for a condition of asscertained and undisturbed ponce, yet, the present ns- pcct of our foreign relations makes it a duty to suggest to the Committee on Na val Affairs the propriety of greater pre- egolnr army 1 of troops now in Texas canuot, ui.tler present citcumstnnccs, ho lessened.— There ought not to be less, indeed 1 think there should lie more, troops on the Indian frontier. Should the suggestion . r , , . 4. That the original Rill of Exceptions ccs. might be allotted to such olijects lor (,ad not been returned into this Court, by two or three years. It will be recollect- (he Clerk .of the Court, below, as required etl that the costs of (lie permanent works bv said act. will not be increased by decelerating the: " a. That no Bill of Exceptions had been qnmplelion of them. The same remarks , filed- are also applicable to the expenditures for! . ®- That it did not appear that bondland armaments, ordnance stores, Sec. But if ecc,ir . l !- v » l,a ‘* been given, or nffiidnvtt.filed, * *•* |» !■&*!*"• * committee 10 present-to Cmigtess at th.s,, Iie deci ' ion , complained of \vu* made, time the large appropriations SWggested, Tlte Bill of Exceptions nnd ceriifiralc of in the reports ol tbe Chief Engineer and the Judge hc-lotv, atlnchod thereto, were the officer al the head ofthe Oidunnce without date; tlioiigli the transcript of the Bureau, or if there would lie likt-lv to l»- a record, sent tip, showed Hint the trial wns considerable delay in getting a bill muk-i had on the loth of February, 1846, nnd ing such appropriations through Congress, that notice of lire filing of the Bill of Lx- 1 would respectfully recommend that tire ce P"*'» s . ««* 0,1 «»•« ,3 ‘'' <•/ •["> • • 1 . .. v . .. • 1 .* same monin. rlic ground ol error form appropriations lor fi»rt,hcnlions,..nn«l t«ir |in |||C m of Kxceptiou* WM> lhni ,| lc armiments, ami muniiioiis ol war, :isk«*d i Court below rejected i lie. deed which was lor in the estimates already submitted ‘ ottered in the evidence on the ground, dint trout this Department, should In: granted its execution tens not sufficiently proven, nnd without delay, mid Hint the restriction! thereupon awarded and nonsuit, wit bout which confines the ex|>endituceol’ them! specifying any pailicular defect in such to the fiscal year should Ire so far reinov- i P r, *‘f ° r showing wherein the same was in- erl as to allow n resort to them at oner, i sullicietti. 1_lie rejected deed was cxcctl- on forts and fortificnl.oiis should Ire pr..sc : exccllI( . (1 lliu |m . 9(>ncc ol ! lwo n, (CMlinK cutrd with vigor, mid at the earliest prat- | witnesses, and ticknuwledgctl before a Jtts- ticahle Iteriod ; and that'lire Department ; ticc or the Peace; but there wns neither should know what means it can command dale or place to the acknowledgment. The il. lhe course of 11 lew mtiullis, that it may I paper produced as tlte original Hill of Ex ception did not set forth n copy of tire deed, ground, ncyhac We meet it by saying, that none ia re quired.. The giving of bond and security is optional not compulsory. In' all cases where bond is given, or an affidavit filed as provided for by the law, it operates as a nt- persedeas. Failing to do this, the cppostle party is at liberty to proceed, to enforce his rights by execution or otherwise. The Court are aware, that there are portions of the statute, which seem to militate a- gainsl this construction. They feel confi dent nevertheless, that this interpretation, will best subeeive the intention of the Gen eral Assembly, and reconcile all the pro vision* of the act. They hold then, that the giving of bond, or the filing of affidavit in certain cases, is a conditional precedent, that must lie complied with, when the Bill of Except ions, into operate as a supersedeas. The failure or neglect to do this, will not prevent this Court front hearing, nnd de termining the causes, which may be sent up from the Courts below. The motion is therefore overruled. The Court then proceeded to Ihe hearing of the cause upon its merit*. The ristor House on Fire f!—Probable incendiarism—Fire at the Haseari House.-* The City Hall bell began to peal last even ing about 7 o'clock, nnd the thrilling new* soon ran through the city like wildfire, that the Astor House was on fire. The engines were soon on the spot, and a very targe crowd gathered nrouml in Broadwny, Inc Park, Barclay, nnd Ycuscy sis. There was no flame, hut a .dense black smoke teemed 10 be issuing from nil parts of the roof. Tlte wind wus rather high; and had the flames once have burst out, and the fire got fairly under way, nothing could have saved the Astor anti the American House. As it wns, the. fire wns speedily extinguished having damaged only a few rooms in the upper story. The following stores tinder Ihe Astor were materially damaged, but fortunately for the ownersj were fully insured:—J. « S. M. Langley’s bookstore; Bartlett 4* Wclford's do; and Dougherty & Pearson’s clothing store. There was no. dumnge done on tire south side of tlte entrance.— The building was insured in the North Riv er and Greenwich Insurance Companies. We learn Hint it was set on fire in three different places. The safely and security of the baggage of the immal'e* of the Astor House, as well as the property ofthe house itself, tuny be well ascribed to the cool and deliberate organizntion, by Messrs. Cole man A Stetson, of the waiteis, police and firemen. No baggage wns allowed to be removed until 1 he Itopc of safety brightened, nnd then it wns restored in security to its proper place. Nothing lias occitre'd to di- ininis tire comforts of tire establishment, which cannot he impeded by a temporary- disaster like the present.—JV*. 1 Herald. There'could bo n& such thing as ml sasi'JsjwsJSiH if there were no wants to be felt; no such thing as industry, if there were no pains to be taken: no such thing as humility ir sensible infirmities and crosses did not prompt ns to sober thought*, and show ns what we are. We had the pleasure of seeing. General Houston yesterday for the first dine. He arrived in Washington on Saturday nirht and took his seat on Monday in the Sen. ate of the United State* of Texas. Th» The Stale of Texas I The Senate of the United States ! How these word*, nailed together for the strongest association, thrill upon the feelings of the American I—Ok. ALBANY PATRIOT. Aran. u. ml partitions than, the ordinary annual ap-! in the report to increase tlto milk ttntl file prop rial ions contemplate. | ol companies to sixty-eight nr eighty-four These greater preparations should con- 1 privates Iks Eppioved by Congress and sist, as far ns possible, of such expendi-1 carried out, .there would Ire n disposable turee'a* will be but anticipations of what I regular force for the fiats, nnd fiortiGcn- at an early day, would be required, even tions on the seaboard and northern nnd in case ol the establishment of harmony western frontiers; but this force would with nil nations. ' ; not lutnish adequate garrisons in case of They should consist, first, of an accu- aI > apprehended attack. Besides, it | Irest condition .... ...... ...a- tire opinion mulation of naval materials and stores would require some months to raise the | I'T lorlificnliotts, ulreotlv made, have j As to tlte first ground lire act creating ' necessary, for the rapid equipment nl the 1 men, incorporate litem in the old regi-! exclusive rclerenee lo permanent works,. this tiibitiialis explicit, lhni the Bill of Ex- vessrU which are alloat, for such of those ments, anti get them in position. Should j some of them not Itfgun.nntl others in n»; «-|uions, must Ire drawn up by tire party - llic Court below. &c., now wanting to make up a full sup-; The record was silent, ns to whether ply. Considerable tithe is required to j any IhiiiiI nnd security had been given, or lubricate heavy ordnance, Ac., mid pre- i allidgvil iiitulc, and also, us to lire residence partitions cnnn’il Ire safely made in anti- °f Hie pkiintifi's in error, cipation of the necessary appropriations.' , 1 hi* motion was argued by Akin, for Some ofthe material* require In Ire pro- ' efettdents, inLrrur, ami by Haiiscll, Un- not lutnish adequate garrison* in case of vide.l several years More they are in die jnjTlhmoq ‘Judgc , ’LunqXn S delivered f, ' r I he ; estimates, the opinion of tlto Court nt-lbllows : ulreouy made, have, As 10 the first ground tlie ncl crcnting •nee lo permanent works, this tribunal is explicit, that the Bill of Ex- ^ w at Ire gun, ntttl others in m> 'eptions, must Ire drawn up by the party onthc stocks as it mav be desirable 10 i this suggestion meet with favor; 1 etill I state of forwur«lne»s. .Willi all prac-tiea- or . his-attorney, within fot.r days after the employ, and for such others as Congress think that authority should Ire given to | bio dispatch U will require, more than a ; J”“ !!!^!*_' tUf A neilraa Rumor. We yesterday saw a letter from a respect able source in Vera Cruz 10 n commercial house here, nnd dated the 1-lilt inst.—-the night before the Oceana nnd Water Witch left The letter stales explicitly that the mail which arrived that morning from the capital brought (lie news Hint Mr. Slidell would not received,.and Hint viihin three or four days lie would leave Jahtpa fur Ve ra Cruz, to embark for the United Stales. This (fillers from all the newspaper reports we hove seen. This Icttet furthcrconliriiis the report we have already given, (bat the iiiuninencv of war between the United States and Mexico has almost entirely in terrupted -mercantile transactions in' nny way dependent upon the continuance of peacestill the writer himself, though governed in business by this consideration, was reluctant to believ'e that wor would cn- sue.—JY. O. Pic. 3l*f uIt. mny authorize t» ire built.' ” if meant are I the President to accept the semccs of; your incomplete them. Should the points j ffiauime — grartled immediate measures can Ire adopt- volunteer companies, squadrons, banal- they are designed to covvr and protect Ire! .^ ()c (li( fi cll !, v is, lhni tire certificates od fur tho collection of such materittls nnd 1 ions, regiments and state troops, for a term I threatened, lire-tlelenee ol litem will tie- |, as no ,| n , c ^ but iniisl not ibis' Court in stores; mid tlto cady purr-base of many i not exceeding one year. Our situation I pond on temporary winks, mid these ■will favor of l’ubtic Officers, presume that lltev ■ require eousider.tlih'e.\|req<e. hnrllu-se, dUrltargc iln-ir duly, in coniplinncc with no estimate h.is been subiiiiiu-il. The! tire law, in the absence of nil proof to the precise character of these icuqtortiry dc- contrary 1 Moreover, it is in proof that no- of them would be but an anticipation of may be such that, for the mere purpose of what tvouhl soon be required for ordinary defence, these volunteer troops or militia, expenditures. The second branch of expense that" should at once lie authorized, at tire dis cretion of the President, should Ire the repair and equipment of all the vessels in ordinary, nnd ofthe frigate; to tire number of fifty thousand, may Ire needed. Under the direction of the Exe cutive, the number actunlly received would Ire regulated by circumstances. The present fortifications of the sen- „ * and sloops mi board, ns well ns temporary defences the stocks. Were such authority and ; which must he resorted to in case of means granted, the President- could cx- - threatened hostilities, must Ire garrisoned; cruise a more free judgment ofthe selec- - ami the number 1 have mentioned, in ad- tion of vessels for immediate preparation, ditioii to our regular force; unless it wns whilst lire actual expe-idimre could Ire j gren;ly increased, would cerininly cot be liiiiiicd to existing urgencies for tlte ves- mure than sufficient lo put lire country *e1s,tuKl unprofitable outlays be avoided, )<u » reasonable * ,H, ° °*" security in case if peace should continue.' of a war with Great Britain. On the northern frontier, where there nre now stntioned only about four hundred nnd eighty men, provision should Ire mode for placing, on the shortest notice, a force equal to that in'Cmmdn, which could be brought to nssail that frontier if hostilities from that quarter should Ire reasonably apprehended. There are at ibis lime about seven thousand regular British troops in that Provice. 1 should prefer, in case it was necessary to call in the nid of the militia for lire dclcnce of the coun try, to obtain the troops required by the acceptance of volunteers rather than by the present mode of making a requisition on the Executives ol tire states, and leav ing it to them to raise the number requir- by draughts, See., though it is probable that in most instances the number requir ed by the latter mode would Ire volun teers.. Volunteers would be likely to do more effective service when first called out than draughted militia men. I would respectfully' refer you to the acts of Con gress bn tbislsuhject. [rice vnl. 9, U. 8. Laws, chap. 470. session of 1836; chap. >919, session of 1839.} In reiatina lo raising additional regi ments, I refer you to my views as expres sed it! my report'to the President, and by him sont to Congress. In reference to a peace establishment, I would recommend two new regiments, fences cannot Ire designated ; nor can it be now determined where they will Ire wanted. I would recommend that a con siderable sum fiir these purposes should Ire placed at the discretion of the Execu tive. If not needed it would not Ire used. cniiimue. Ittiulra advisable that the limitation nertlolnrc imposed on enlistments in the . VV ,lt l , *' u "unilret is confined to 7,500 seamen, Ire suspended fi.r a de tinue period, nnd tint further enlistments be authorized anil provided for. h is further projrer. even in tlte even. ...i*** 1 **? IO ln< rrail ' °'tr sea-goingsteam- hut »J^ 1 Eu ' ,ed Stale* have ron rt’7 hC M, *f ,S4i PP' and the Princ- fon-that can crui-e at 6( . a . 1 would re- oumjtend that authority be granted for the construction of throe steam frigates. * l,M P*t att'l two steamers ofn not b« r f* 8 *** un increase would or W*„, , ' prop ? f,,onalc resources or w anu a U(ne 0| . profound , ranquili . crearo ihl d i a 1^7, ne ' : . c *» ar y ‘° in * Thi« _! na , n if aiMl oronance stores, of exnm*e’Jic U v >C an anticipation in-aS^-fo b,< *’ a . 1 a " wr| y day. aSESlX? 1 * °f •rtamert ri reparo,, which ^repetition of t\^ ticc, that the Bill of Exceptions Itnd been certified and signed by the Judge, wns ser ved upon the ndvetse party, on the third day after the trial. It is apparent, therefore, that this act wns performed within the Jour days. Id cerium esl quad cerium reddipotest. The second and third grounds nitty be In my opinion, two to three hundred considered together. The 4tli section of thousand dollars might properly Ire ap- ‘the statute prescribes, that the party bring- pmprinted fiir those objects. In case of . ing ttp the cause, shall specify in the Bill war or threatened iitlai-k a much larger |°f Exceptions, the errors complained of.— sum would be necessary. h 13 very imporu.nl for the correct ndt.un- - tsir.itton of the law, us well as for Ills own ; justification, that the Circuit Judge, in the . language of ihe Legislature, should see 10 it, dial the Rill of Exceptions “ 6e true and Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, W. L. MAIICY. Secretary qf War. Hon. Thomas H._Benton, Chairman of Committee on Military Affairs, Senate. Correspondence ef the Herald and Tribune. . Laic and Important From .Heiico. Pensacola, 'March 30, 1846. GentlemenTlte U. S. brig Somers, Commander Ingraham, arrived here yes terday, 8 days from Vera Cruz, with the important news Hint our Minister, Mr. Slidell, bad been rejected and would re turn home in the U. 8. sloop St-Mary’s in a few days. There was considerable excitement at Vera Cruz growing nut of this movement, anil the opinion prevailed that our squadron would open a fire upop the place offer Mr. Slidell to »k hjs depart ure—the truth of this we shall learn on the arrival ofthe St. Mary’s. There was another revolution anticipa ted lo take place in a very few days.— Geu. Ampudia’snrmy which had been or dered to the frontier of Texas had revolt ed, and ahoul 1,000 refused to inarch any further iu-lhai direction, and the remain-, der, about 9,000, not being very desirous to proceed themselves, would not force thcnlhers, so they canto to n lialt. _ _ 'lire frigate Cumbertand bad arrived consistent tcilh what has transpired in the ease before him," for upon this paper, and Hie transcript of the record alor.e, nil matters in this Court must be heard nnd determined. The omission of a single fuel, or the inser tion of one, which did not exist, may nnd likely will, wholly detent the ends of jus tice. The Court nre constrained to admit that the errors conipluincd of, arc not set forth with that distinctness which is desirable ; still they do not deem the defect in.lhis in stance so palpable, as to force tlto Court to dismiss tlte writ. A copy “in words or figures” of the reject etl deed is. set out in the report, nnd tho Judge certifies that it is 0 true narration of what transpired before him in the trial below. We infer, there fore, that there was no evidence produced as to the nxecution of the deed, except, tho indorsement of registration, by the Clerk, upon the attestation of the two subscribing ‘ " " "* acknowf- witnesses, accompanied with the edgement ofthe (coffer, in the presence of the magistrate, and that Ihe error, if nny wns committed, consisted in ruling, that, this proof was insufficient to go before the Jury. The fourth amt fifth grounds are aban doned. To prevent tuisspprehensioo, the Court would observe, that (he.Bill require* that ■ a complete transcript of the entire record of the cause below,'’ and also the Bill of Exceptions, Its sent up 10 Ibis Court. The last; and perhapaihe roost impor From Ihe Boston Morning Post. Naval, Ar., from Rio Janeiro. On the 32nd of December, Mr. Wise, our minis ter to Brazil, the empress, the minister of marine, and several Brazilian officers, the American consul at Rio, Com. Stockton, Capt. Dupont, and the offi cers, of the United States, were handsomely enter tained on board the U. S. sloop-uf-war Plymouth, by her courteous Commander,' Capt. Henry. The Brazilian minister of marine examined the ship very minutely, uccompunied by CupL Henry and Mr. Wise, and expressed himself in the most flat tering terms of her beauty nnd efficiency. The following letter from Mr. Wise, addressed to Cape. Henry, shows the high estimation with which the Plymouth was viewed by her distinguished visiters: Legation Uxited States, ) Rio de Janeiro, Dec. 36,1845. S My Dear Sir:—Since my visit to the Plymouth, with his excellency, Holland* Cavalcanti, Minister and Secretary of State for the affiiin of tho marine of the imperial Government of Brazil, on Monday, 33d instant, I have not had the opportunity until now to make the proper and due acknowledgement of the pride I felt as an American citizen, as a pub lic functionary of-my country, and aa one ever alive to the improvements and prosperity of our Navy, in the exhibition o( the perfectly beautiful and efficient ship under your command. You, your officers, crew and corvette an entitled to my testimonial, and they shall have iL For besoty of naval architecture, for order, sys tem and comfort of internal arrangement; for man- of-war like appearance; forapparehtefficiency; for battery, and particularly its preservation; for apace to fight or work; fdr ventilation by porta and pump*; for adaptation especially, in.all respects, to a warm climate; for total absence of all “gim<raetteryi for lightness and yet strength; for elegance without one extravagant or useless ornament; fur quiet discipline, and for the sweet and cordial shipshape entertainment which make* so favorable an imprea- aion of our country upon strangers abroad ,1 have ten a ship, of oar own ar any other naffon, to surpass, and, in some respects^ I might say to equal, the gamsdoeking Plymouth. His Excellency, tba Minister sf Marine, who las a good eye, looked inquiringly about him, and be was so struck with admiration of the naval model he waa inspecting, that be will doubtless seek of you further infonnatiou, to enable him to cause its imitation by the service of which be is the distin guished brad. I trust thst you will furnish him with drafts, if required, and I have the Iwaor to be, with thanks for the honor yon have done our no tional character. Your obedient servant, HENRY A WI8R. Capt Hzaar Hzzet, U. S. ship Plymouth, harbor of Rio Janeiro. at Vera Cruz previous to the sailing of, uni objection, U that embraced in thc6ib The commencement of s new rol ism sssm lobs an appropriate occasioa for s familiar ebat with oar We have been enabled, through yoar Kb- oral support, to increase the size ofthe Patriot with out increasing the subscription price, ft w ;f[ con _ tinue to be issued at the low pries of %i j*, Jnu . payable in advance, or 83 at the end ot the year— This, we hope, will be considered a substantial sc- koowledgemeiiC of oar gratitude for your k indues,, and will stimulate yon to lay ns under still gnster obligations, by assisting ur to extend our circahtim, and consequently, to enlarge the sphere ofour use- fulness. With oar enlarged sheet, we shall a. crease our exertions to render the Patriot still more worthy ofthe confidence end patronage which las been extended to it It will* be our ambition, to place it in the foremost rank of newspapers, is re gards moral tone, usefulness and general interest. We shall continue to labor with honest zee), ta pro mulgate truth, and expose error; toerreoangu vir tue and censure rice; to staaulste honest industry, diffuse useful information, and hmJcale correct prin ciple! of action. As a political paper, we siml) firm lymaintain our Democratic foith—equality of polit ic*! rights. Whilst we shall occupy the pest sf sleepless sentinels over the rights sad interests sf our country and society, we shall keep oar rrsd- era informed of the most important aews of the day, and in abort, shall endeavor to do our whole daty as public journalists. To the conductors of oca excuazce Tints, we feel that we should be doing injustice, did we wkh- bold the expression of the obligations which wear* under to them. We tender to them our sincere thanks for their kindness, and our best u isfo* hr their success. Dadlins—Pnblir Opinion. In our lest, we attempted to show the heinousnere of the crime of duelling—the absurdity of the rea sons which lead to its practice, and its bsnefal ef fects upon society, as well ss on its votaries ssd those more immediately connected with them by the ties of kindred or friendship. H’e doubt not that s very large majority of those who read that article approved the opinions which were expressed, sud were ready to denounce the practice of duelling, u unchristian, demoralizing and barbarous—it is the almost unanimous sentiment of the public, when ex pressed in tntrds. But the acts of the public give the lie to its professions, and is thus Use real caaae of more duels, tlian all other causes combined— When did the public encourage sad elevate a mas, who had the moral courage to refuse to challenge or accept a challenge, under circumstances dictated by a savage custom 1 Nay, when dal the public sot look coldly upon him, or mutter the vile epithet sf coward, or point the finger of scorn t On the other land; bow many examples could we point to, of men who have risen from comparative obscurity to great favor and influence in society, through tho eclat of a duel, in which, with deliberate parpwr. they have shed the blood of their fellow mao? Ho» ioconaistant is public opiuiod—driving men to foe alternative of choaeing innocence, coupled withfib- lie contempt, or guilt with consideration and world ly honor. Ia it strange, that under such circumstances, mm of lacerated feelings, reined hopes, or onsoccessfd ambition, should sometimes reoast to the duel, fss- getfal or neglectful of all uther considerations, h>- tnan or divine, but the fear of public iafemy, or for hope of pablie favor. This state of public opiaio*- this secret influence, which outweighs positive h*. is an unconscious rebellion of the basest passim* and sympathies ofour nature against the intrllccta- aland ratkmzl—the beastly instincts of the safest againdt the moral sense and judgment ofthe***- How, it may be asked, shall public opinion ta**^ reeled? We answer, let every man correct km °** opinion, by taking a rational view offoe *"*• him sustain and encourage an adherence tafo* 1a«k and frown upon all attempt* at their violation.— When be has corrected his opinion, let him hive fo» firmness, not only to express it when neceafery, bet to act upon it,—so shall public opinioa bs corrects! Wc love the brave man, and are no apologist of the coward—hut he only is truly brave, whom neith er the fear of public opinion, nor any other coosidw atioo, can swerve from a ronscirailinus perform"** of duty; and be ooly is a coward, who dare DC* d* right, regardless of< Smce the President and fronds of the Nser* War Departments have terommeadsd aa fe c ’** - ofour Military and Naval force, several sflfoW position paperm bare raised tha akderys* gance and rain. By alarmlH thaaoe^akklfe great expense that wiH tmve fobs hoeao, thsyfef* to frighten the Gaaanmroak lire making «*g PP eration for dn'snss ‘ Vb ksllsvs aa Imams* di* Naval anfo Mattery fees* base* macy. whstfes** lavranaMhktffasearask. Inthnpreanhfo** atfemrf the world; a Government entirely mumf* entirely ad ftevrar.canoutsuullsSs tilth smseass. IsacS vs spirted. Her Cl—rreafe aahjsrt » noyances, asd hee orttzese to insult. To to vipeed ol these’ feats- w* have only' HrrM The plaaet Mercury ia risible evening*, about half an hour after sun-down. It is Jb .ma