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j. Vi. BURKE & CO. SEORGIAJODRNAL& MESSENGER . n -r AUI!- rn HO O 0 [ 'V L '' six Months 5 w) Three Months 2 50 “ o n e Month 100 Tr.i-tt iff ll ' * Hix Months 250 " .. Three Months 1 50 J'erKhT,per Annum ~ - 300 hix Months 1 <SO J W BURKE A CO„ Proprietors. A- « • I* EK * K ’ ' Ediur.. m»sr* > THE BEST IWKSIMKM. With flush pockets from cotton at twen • -eV en cents a pound, farmers will nat urally be looking for investments. They , anuot And a better one than some real 0 ,1 fertilizer. Those who tried it last are willing to give any kind of cer tili' ite as to its utility. Those who spent the most money will give the strongest certificate, too. Probably there will be m ore money expended this way the pres eDt year than at aDy previous period, and we are optimist enough to belive that its results will exceed the most sanguine cal culation. We have no opinion to express as to the amcial merits of any particular bind. We leave our readers to judge for themselves, from our advertising columns, and their own experience. We may mention, en yaisant, however, that our townsman, Mr. B. J. Gustin, is just now receiving ome high testimonials as to the merits of his superphosphate. A good fertilizer, made at home, it seems to us, ought to have the preference. I'ERMONAL. Hon. B. H. Hill was iu this city yester day evening, and stopping at Brown’s Hotel. From the following paragraph we judge Mr. Hill has great faith in Georgia’s future, even if subjected to the most mischiev ous manipulations that Radical malice can suggest. We are glad to chronicle these evidences of faith in the good time ahead, by such men as Mr. Hill. We quote from the Albany News, of yesterday : Hkavy Land Purchase.—Messrs. R. R. Groves & Cos., of New York, came down alter the close of the war and bought two of the finest plantations in Rougher y county—the Hickory Level aud Raily places. They paid, we believe, $150,000 for the two places, which contain 8,500 acres. Failing to make the cotton plant ing business pay, they sold a few days ago, to Hon. it. H. Hill onehalf interest in the entiie estate -including seventy-live mules 10,000 Inisbels of corn, Fodder, cotton seed, plows, harness, wagons, gins, &c. For s4o,ooo.— Mr. Hill to have the control aud management of the establishment. Fkdkkaij Court at Knoxville, Ten - nessee.—The regular term of the United Sta’es District and Circuit Courts for the District of East Tennessee, commenced at Knoxville, on Monday last. On tin* criminal docket there are yet about one thousand cases of treason. In most of these cases, however, no arrests have yet been made. In the list of those indicted are JetFDavis, Gov. Harris, Gens. Bragg, E. Kirby Smith, Buckner, Breckin ridge, McCown, Longstreet, Wheeler, For rest-ill fact nearly every Confederate General or Colonel, who commanded a brigade or a regiment within the limits of Fast Tennessee, at any time, during the war. Gold Comfort. —The Washington cor respondence of the World gives us this bit of information concerning certain very distinguished colored gentlemeu of this State, recently in that city : The three distinguished colored nieni (instill, Turner, ami Simms, courageously sought admission into leading hotels, but were refused accommodations, and had to put up with quarters in a negro hourding ucuse downtown in Murder Bay, near tlie Cong bridge. They departed three days ago. with little hope of anything being done in their interest. It is understood that the case of Virginia, at least, will pre cede Georgia in the Judiciary Committee of the Senate. Death ok I)r. C T. Cushman.—This gentleman, who accidentally shot himse f on Bat unlay afternoon,died Sunday morn ing, about nine o’clock, at his residence, upper eml of Randolph street. As we stated Sunday ,Jhe was examining a large army revolver, “a self-cocker,” on which lie had no idea ttiere was a cap. Some how the pistol became discharged. The ball entered his left leg just below the calf. It ranged downward and lodged in the ankle joint. The ball lias not been ex tracted. He was alone at the time of the accident in his office over Spear’s jewelry store, but walked down stairs to procure medical aid, and fainted while being car ried back to his room. He was afterwards carried to his residence. He suffered excru ciating ngony. His nervoussystem could not react from the debility caused by tlie h'ss of blood aud sutfering. —Columbus Sun, 12th. Cotton from Memphis to Norfolk.— Hie Huntsville (Ala) Democrat of the tUhinst... says: A large amount of cotton is making its wav from Memphis via Norfolk to New •°rk. We understand that nearly every hastern freight train that passes Hunts ville hears some of the rich fleece of South ern fields bound to Norfolk. On Sunday last an extra train of thirty-five cars, aud on yesterday another of eighteen cars, • aded on the same destination. The cot l9u goes on the same train all the way to Norfolk, without breaking bulk. We are l»Id that it cos's no more to send cotton from Memphis than from Huntsville to Norfolk. The reason assigned for this ap parent discrimination against Huntsville ls the great competition betweeu the sev eral railroads runninginto Memphis, each trying to underbid the other for freight. A Scotch Judge. —ln a note to a pas sage in oue of the Waverly Novels, Scott tells a story of an old Scotch judge, who, iis an enthusiastic chess-player, was much ®ortified by the success of an ancient friend, who invariably bea; him when they tried their powers at the beloved fame. After a time the humiliated chess- P’ayer had his day of triumph. His con lueror happened to commit murder, aud ttie judge’s not altogether pain ■ulduty to pi ss upon him the seutenceef law. Having in due form and with ’“‘table solemnity commended his soul to Divine mercy, he, after a brief pause, Ruined bis ordinary colloquial toue of " and nodding humorously to his old ;; en d| observed: “And uoo, Janmiie, I ln h ye’ll nlloo that 1 hae checkmated Jouforauee.” Joi’rnai. and Messenger. —We have jeu waiting for some days to pass, before a , e w °uld venture our modest little uotiee, eo° U i * ar S e and fine a p iper as the Ma » Journal and Messenger now is. re,. 1 ?* Brown to be the largest paper we uene in exchange from Georgia, aud tv . ,I s editorials are marked with abili the man who wields the scissors, ,J° W 8 how to use them, judging from the made. nrn Con ß ra tulate our friends on their ferity, and trust it may loug cou- Netvs, 11 Ih. K m IIAT . Forty Acres of Land Did qk: A —Walter L. Newbury, of mnriH g0 ’ 0,1 koaid the Persia", last famiiv'i "i! 11 e 0,1 hiß way to join his 1833 ■ ll J ar > 9 - He went to Chicago in °theV '^ rC at an ear 'y among *lti, PP J,. r ?P forty acres of land, on •oateni'i!^ e Wellsstreet, and per tittm nf , e . tail ? eil possession of it to the himM ifJ, 118 c \ eath - This property cost this Y’ loo, and 18 worth $3,500,000. And He w? ° n , y a P art °f P's vast estate, countv \ f ° rmerl y a resident of Oneida to Chi« nnd was a P oor Hoy when he went Chicago.-A. Y. Express. SMALL farmhand immigration. We have had something to say, hereto fore, on this subject, but fear our land owners are not thinking as much, and coming to the conclusions they ought, upon it. Everybody, almost, is strong for immigration, but then they don’t seem disposed to take the first step towards in viting it. Os course neither Northern nor foreign immigrants are coming down here to settle unless they can get just thequan tity of land they wish. And of course they don’t wish to buy a whole plantation. Well, everybody knows that, and says, “We must divide our huge, wornout farms into small lots, to suit purchasers.” Each man waits for hia neighbor to begin, though, thinking that the aforesaid neigh bor is justin the condition to doit, and that it is his bounden duty to do it. The result, of course, is, that no steps are taken at all in the matter, and as intending Im migrants hear nothing of the inauguration of such a policy in Georgia, they go where it is being done. We fear this negligence is standing a good deal in our way towards Increas ed population, and a consequent increas ed prosperity We mast fill up our ran ks, or else lag behind our neighbors in the race. Georgia, to occupy that position to which she is entitled by virtue of superi ority of soil and climate, mineral deposits and manufacturing facilities, ought to have at least ten producers where she has one now. She never will have them un til the small farm system is thoroughly in augurated. The .best way to get its adoption made known abroad is a matter for the consideration of those most inter ested. We suppose the subject will be exhaustively ventilated in the Agricultu ral Mass Meeting at Atlanta, iu February. It certainly is one of the most impor tant in its bearing upon our future that can be taken up. We look for great results lrom the deliberations of that meeting. We believe it will make or mar our destiny, and therefore no delegate should be sent there who is not fully awake to the wants of the State, and per fectly willing to make many sacrifices of cherished opinions or prejudices, if shown that they militate against the grand re sult. Let the people of the State be put in the right track by their representatives at that convention, and Georgia takes, at once, a mighty bound forward. Since commencing this article, we find some testimony upon the point discussed in the Nashville Banner. We submit it, without further argument. The Banner is speaking of immigration to Tennessee, and says : Little or no immigration flows into those counties where the soil is held by large landed proprietors, who would al most sooner part with the pound of flesh nearest the heart than with a square inch of their hallowed soil. On the other hand, a large immigration is coming to those counties where a different course is pur sued, as evidence of which we quote the following from a letter we have been per mitted to read, from Mr. Thomas Walker, Land Agent, in Warren county, at Mc- Minnville, Mr. Walker says: “There have be liteen farms purchased by Northern immigrants, the aggregate (lum ber contained therein is4,s2sacres. Twen ty-two families have come and settled iu this county, and some half dozen families have come that have not yet purchased. Quite a number iiave gone through to Betsheba Springs and different parts of ttie Cumberland Mountain. There are several Northern men now here, looking at homes. A great many more are coming. Middle Tennessee will be filled to over flowing this coining year.” MONROE COUNTY ITEMS. From tiie Forsyth Advertiser, of yester day, we extract as follows: The Oldest Inhabitant. —Mr. Zacha riah Cham bless, aged ninety-six years, is the oldest inhabitant of this county. He lives on Deer Creek, about seven miles east of Forsyth, where he settled about fifty years ago, when this thrifty aud pop ulous section was covered witli the primi tive forest, and the wild deer aud Indian roamed free over their own native hills. Mr. Chambless is yet hale and hearty, aud often walks several miles at a time. Bale Day. —There was a large amount of property sold here last Tuesday. Laud sold at an average of live dollars per acre, and other property in proportion. There were a great many people in town on that day. They looked more prosperous and contented than they have since tlie war, and all seemed prepared to “ pilch iu ” for tiie crop of 1809. An Otter.—A negro caught an otter about a mile from town, last Wednesday. He measured forty-four inches from tip to tip, aud weighed seventeen pouuds. There were niauy suggestions as to the kind of an annual he was. Some said he was a beaver, mink, black fox, etc. He whipped a pack of dogs aud a negro before be was ca itured. Good Farming.— Mr. Charles Good wytie, of this eouuty, planted seven acres in cotton last year, and realized s9l 71 per acre, without the use of guano or any ottier kind of manure. Who can beat it? Let every one try this year. THE PRESIDENT'S PARDON. A good deal of iudiguation has been ex cited in certain quarters by the President’s recent proclamation of pardon and am nesty to persons engaged in the rebellion. He has been loudly denounced for having usurped power which belongs only to Congress, and a resolution has already been passed in one branch, calling on him for the authority uuder which he claims the right to issue such a proclamation. We presume the President will cite, for the information of Congress, the follow ing section of a law enacted by Cougress iu 1802, and signed by President Lincoln on the 17th of July in that year: “Sec. 13. And be it further enacted, that the President is hereby authorized, at any time hereafter, by proclamation, to extend to persons who may have participated in the existing rebellion in any State or part thereof, pardon aud amnesty, with such exceptions aud at such time aud on such conditions as he may deem expedient for the public welfare.” It is possible that this law, or this sec tion of it, may have beeu repealed. But if so, Congress does not seem to have been aware of the fact, or even that any such law had ever been enacted. It cannot, of course, be expected that the public at larse should remember all the laws that Congress may have passed ; but it does not seem unreasonable to look for a better memory on the part of the members of Congress as to action which they themselves have taken. Unless the law" referred to has beeu repealed, the sec tion quoted would seem to be conclusive as to the power of the President to issue just such a proclamation as the one in question. — New York Times , 9th. Iron Versus Steel. —The use of stee instead of iron for the rails of railroads lias not been productive of the saviug which was first expected. The surface of the steel rail is indeed harder, and therefore wears tetter than iron ; butsteel has not the tough, fibrous character of iron, aud, in frosty weather, it breaks with alarming ease Then, although the first cost of steel is nearly double that of iron, old steel rails sell for little or nothing, while old iron rails are worth half the price of new. Taking all these facts into account, it is fiund cheaper to lay down good iron n.ik than steel ones, except in the vicinity of statious where there is a great deal of f.-iction from the frequent breaking up of trains, and but little rapid movement. Experiments are, however, being made, and with considerable suc cess, to manufacture an iron rail with a steel top, so as to combine the toughness and cheapness of iron with the hard-wear ing surface of steel. —Charleston News. —The Superior Court is again in session, and will probably sit about three weeks. GEORGIA RECONSTRUCTED—WHAT THEN! It may be that the most earnest ef forts on the part of the friends of peace, and law, and order, both here aud at Washington, will fail, and that a brutal majority in Congress may decree our ruin, so far as they can effect it by spiteful and wickedly foolish legislation. We are in hope that such a direful result may be averted, but still, it is among the strong probabilities. Where the inspiration for legislation is furnished by passion and not reason, a desire te punish and not concili ate, it is always most reasonable to expect tiie worst. Therefore, taking counsel of common sense, and walking in the light of experience, we may well begin to mark out our path, and settle our policy in the event our worst fears are realized, and Georgia, after beiDg dragged in, is pitch out, neck and crop, from her place in the “ Union.” We know that such a step will stir up much bad blood, and re-open many old wounds fast healing under the influences of quiet and a passable administration of our State affairs. It can not fail to again open the angry gulf that bad men, aud still worse'legislation made to yawn so fearfully between the two races in Geor gia. It will revive, in all its fury, the devil of discord, and warm into fresh life the dastardly vermin who thrive only in the foul atmosphere of strife and lawlessness. It will interrupt trade, dis organize labor, scare off capital and immi gration, and block up every channel of thrift and enterprise. It will cloud the present, and blast the future, causing to settle upon the land a pall even blacker and gloomier than that in whose deadly blight we gasped and fought for existence so many long years. No man who reads these words can question the accuracy of the picture. It is only too true. Granting, then, all these things as in evitable, what will be the duty of our people? Shall they bow their heads, aud fold their hands, aud sink into an unman ly apathy? Never. That would be death, even if they could afford it. But they cannot. There are too many mouths to fill, too many necessities of a struggle for actual existence to minister unto. They must work, and work hard, to keep their heads above water. They must toil, and delve, aud practice self-denial to keep from becoming paupers. They must forego many pleasures, and all luxuries. Come what will, the doom of toil can not be evaded. Shall they, forgetting their past record, glowing with such noble de votion to country and principle, hasten to stain it by slavish haste to kiss the rod that smites? Shall they bless the baud that throttles them, and make them selves cringing, willing instruments of its wicked, cowardly purpose? Hav ing been true to the right in 1867-8, will they basely surrender to the wrong in 1869? We know they will not. The men who loathed, and despised, and battled against reconstruction last year, will not welcome it this. The crucible set up by Tyranny, in its efforts to make Georgians degrade themselves, did its work well. It thoroughly separated the dross from the gold, aud marked the line, deep and broad, between the true aud the base metal. No man’s status iu Georgia is doubtful now. Georgia’s friends and enemies are equally well known. We may submit, taught by a wise philosophy and a tender regard for the fate of those who are helpless, to fresh wrongs, and still more galling outrages, but we will not stoop to avert them by unseemly concessions, or stretch out our hands to welcome them. The true policy of our people seems very plain. It thrusts itself forward, so sharply defined, aud so unmistakble, that “ the wayfariug man, though a fool, need not err. therein.” It is to still occupy the van tage grouud of peace and obedience to law, of reverence for every constitutionl obli gation, and a purpose so clear to perform every duty of good citizenship that honest men everywhere canuot fail to see it. Our actions under similar circumstances in the past, is our best guide for the future. Its wisdom, its honesty, and its dignity have already been fully vindicated. It is the path of safety, as well as duty. It has left no sting behind, no qualms of conscience, and no reproaches of outraged honor. Time-servers may sneer, aud renegades point the finger of scorn, but we can des pise their baseness, aud laugh at their miserable efforts to impugn our motives, aud discredit our judgment and devotion to principle. So much tor our policy as members of the body politic. As true and faithful friends to Georgia and her material inter ests, it is still plainer. We must march straight on towards the goal that shines with the light of resources developed, waste places built up, and every natural advantage stimulated to its highest ca pacity for good. We must dig, aud plough, aud hoe, with an earnest intelligence and an unflagging zeal that shall he proof against every seduction, aud blind to every obstacle. We must work as no people ever worked before, aud with an energy that shall be deaf to all appeals for relaxa tion. We must strive to make the earth aud its fulln ss tributary to our grand purpose of whining back more than our old-time prosperity, and so making sure of that power aud consideration our poverty now makes impossible. We must subsidize every agency, and make an ally of every man who will contribute to the grand result. We must leave hungry greed and scheming falsehood to tight their own pitiful battles over the carrion of place aud plunder. We must be tillers of the soil, real earnest workmen on the farm, and iu thecountiug room, theofficeandthe workshop, and not retainers and hangers on of this “patriot” or that politician. So shall we climb the hill of adverse fortune, and bask at last on the genial plateau of wealth aud independence. So shall we rescue our captive rights, and regain our lost liberties. So shall the ark of our safe ty and freedom lift itself proudly and tri umphantly out of the swelling flood, and rest at last upon the Ararat of peace and power, social, material, aud political. The Flow of Currency South.— The money article of the New York Herald, of the Bth instant, says : “Forty or fifty millions of dollars have gone South, and have been, or will be, absorb ed there. The flow of currency in that direction, at the present time, is still go ing on, but on a diminished scale. More will go in the Spring in the shape of Northern capital, which, under the temp tation of the high price of cotton, is seek ing investment there. Emigration has set iu, and there wid bea strong current iu the Spring. The revival of cotton cul ture is a fever just now with capitalists.” In confirmation of the foregoing, says the Chronicle & Sentinel , we have beeu shown Northern letters to the house of L. & H. McLaws, of this city, authorizing the purchase of a number of small farms, in Middle Georgia, of two and four hun dred acres in extent, and advising that •‘Spring visits may be expected.” MACON, GA- TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1869- THE REVENUE. The Report of Commiasioner Welle*. The New York Sun makes the following neat little abstract of the report of Com missioner Welles: The report of the Special Commissioner of the Revenue for 1868 makes a closely printed octavo pamphlet of over oue hun dred pages. From the mas3 of valuable matter it contains we extract the following interesting items : From July 1, 1865, to December 1, 1868, 1,000,000 natives of foreign countries have sought a permanent home in the United States. The specie they have brought with them is set down at SBO per head, or sßo,' 000,000 iu all; while their value to the country, as producers, is estimated at SSOO per head, or $-500,000,000 iu all; making a grand total of $580,000,000 which has been added from this source to the wealth of the country. The increase of cotton manufactures has been, since 1865, 32 per cent., aud tbe amount of capital invested in tbe woolen manufacture is more than three-fold now what it was in 1860 The production of pig iron for 1868 was 1,650,000 tons, showing a steady annual increase since 1863 of about 8 per cent. Tbe export of petroleum for 1863 was 95,000,000 gallons. The amouut op anthracite coal mined in . 1868 was 13,500,000 tons. The crop of ludian corn was, in 1859, 830,000,000 bushels; in IS6B, 1,100,000,000 busheis. The cotton crop of 186 S-9 is estimated at 2,700,000 bales. The tobacco crop for 1867 was 250,000,000 pounds. Two thousand five hundred miles of new railroad was built in the United Stales iu 1868, making tbe number of miles now iu existence in the country over 40,- 000. The total value of merchandiseannu ally carried over these roads is $7,273,000,- 000. Six thouand miles of new telegraph wires have been put up during tbe past year. Nearly all tbe individual States materi ally reduced their debts iu 1868. From these and similar facts the com missioner concludes that our national wealth as a whole is increasing. He reck ons. however, a number of influences ad verse to our real prosperity. He goes into elaborate calculations to show that while the cost of living has increased since 1860 78 per cent., wages liave increased only from 50 to 70 per cent. As an illustration of tiie general principle, he shows that the wages which, in 1860, would purchase a barrel and a half of flour, now purchases only a barrel and a quarter. Hence, tbe laboring population are really not as well off as they were. In regard to the customs duties and in ternal revenue taxes, the commissioner favors a greater simplification, and a re duction in the number of taxes imposed. He mentions a number ot articles, such as salt, lumber, iron aud coal, on which the taxes anti duties should be made as light as possible, in order to favor the industry of tbe country. Os tbe national finances the commis sioner speaks at some length, and gives figures to show that with proper economy our national debt can be reduced by SIOO,- 009,000 before the close of tbe next fiscal year, Jue 30, 1870. In regard to the tariff, he advocates the imposition of duties with a view to income only, and severely condemns the protec tionist policy, which lias so many advo cates, as exceedingly detrimental to Amer can industry. He concludes by saying : With these feelings and convictions, be would therefore prove untrue to bis trust did be not here enter his most earnest pro test against auy further general increase of the tariff', but would, on tbe contrary, recommend: 1. An enlargement of the free list. 2. A reduction of some rates of duty, and as an exception an increase of a few others with a view to the incFease of the revenue. 3. A reduction of some rates of duty with a view to an absolute abatement on the simple ground that the reduction of a duty is the reduction of a tax, and that the most efficient method of protecting home industry is by tiie removal of obstacles in the form of taxes. 4. The conversion to the utmost possible extent of the present ad valorem duties into specific, as . the only practicable method of insuring certainty and equality in the assessment of duties and tiie pre vention of undervaluations, and tiie abro gation of the privilege which enables re turning tourists to import free of duty an amount of goods corresponding to their real or supposed social position. A CURIOUS DIVORCE CASE IN ST. LOUIS. Singular Monomania in a Married Man. [From tiie St. Louis Republican, Jan. G.J A curious case came to trial in the Cir cuit Court No. 3 yesterday. It is a case in which Elizabeth Brauer nee Lizzie Andrea, a nice, well educated Frauco- American young lady, with eighteen and a half summers smiling on her placed brow, sues fer a nullity of tiie marriage vows pronouuced between her and Henry Brauer, a handsome Teutonic cigar maker of twenty-six. They were sparking for about two years and brought the matter to a nucleus after a year’s engagement by getting married on November 10, 1867, in the church of St. Michael, at tbe hands of Father O’Brien, a Catholic priest. As his marriage drew near Henry, who seems to be of a nervous temperament, it is al leged. got a little deranged in his upper story. The dread of a plunge into the sea of matrimony unmanned him. Hethought tiie world aud the inhabitants thereof were against him. He acted most strange ly, sometimes talking fluently, flippantly and foolishly; at other times he was sullen aud melancholy. The ordeal of the customary preparation of going to confession before marriage iu the Catholic Church was too much for him. The ceremony of marriage was more than he could bear, and, as he signi fied to a witness, “Father O’Brien had signed his death warrant.” His ride from church, he is reported to have said, w r as to be bis “last carriage ride.” He was afraid everybody was going to kill, to stab, to poison him. Even the savory dishes served up by his afllanced he deemed to be poisonous; but like a heroine she per sisted iu running the venture and wed ding him. In the early days of the mar riage his strange mode of acting got worse. He was frightened at every trivial object, aud felt sure he was to be killed. Even a conductor on one of the Bremen cars w s in bis mind’s eye” habited in wo man’s clothes to ass tssinate him. Every dish or goblet handed him should be first tasted by his new bride to assure him there was no poison in it for him. Even of the pills the doctor prescribed for his malady, she had to take two before he would take the prescribed dose. He became so furious that he had to be placed under arrest. From this be was taken to the house of his father-in-iaw and tended six weeks, then he went to a private luua tic asylum, whence be was removed about January 21, 1868, to the State Lunatic Asylum at Fulton, where he remained eight or ten weeks under care. When he returned bis “dear Eliza refused to receive him, and, fully c mvinced that the mar riage was a nullity, sbe enjoyed herself at balls aud parties. She repressed his re proaches with vigor, aud eveu, it is alleged, used a billet of wood and a butcher knife to eject him from the house. The testi mony is very voluminous, and most of it unfit for publication. —The Remington, Peabody, Winches ter, Spencer, Colt and Sharpe gun facto ries are constantly engaged in supplying European Governments. One manufac turing firm has just delivered 40,000 rifles to the Danish Government and $30,000 to the Swedish, having still a contract on hand to furnish 15,000 of the same sort to the Greeks. Another firm has just deliv ered 20,000 rifles to the Cuban Govern meat, to be used against the insurrection ists, while still another has contracted to make 30,000 breech-loaders for the Rus sians. —Ahigh-heeled Howard student, named Alger, having amused himself on Satur day, in Boston, by slapping an old man’s face, had several inches of jack knife in serted in hi3 bowels, and will probably die therefrom. latest from the ogeechee. [From the Savannah Republican, January 12th. j Sunday morning Captain Isaac Russell, Deputy sheriff, went in a private carriage (there no train) to the Ogeechee, aud arrived at the military headquarters at about one o’clock p. m. * On his arrival he proceeded to visit the Southfield and Haywood's plantations. He also seut out scouts with directions to report to him any parties they might see who were named in the watrants in his possession. All was quiet on Sunday. Hearing that Peter Smith would probably be in the city, he returned on Sunday night. Finding that he was notin thecity, he left by the train yesuetday morning and returned to the military camp. He then proceeded to visit the several plantations, aud found all quiet. He asked where certain parties were, and was informed that Dr. Williams had told some parties to come to camp aud give themselves up, and others that they had better get out of Chatham county. Last night Giles Jones, who had previous ly surrendered, aud Maua Forest, who surrendered yesterday to Col. Sweeney, were turned over to him. When he ar« rived at Station No. 1 he sent the prisoners —Giles and Forest —to the city by Mr. Sheftail, Special Deputy Sheriff. He pro ceeded then by land to tiie city on horse back r with one of his posse aud a small boy. i about eight miles from Station rvC7T, ue discovered a negro coming from tiie swamp on a white horse. He imme diately turned his horseand went towards him aud ordered him to halt, but he re fused to stop. Mr. Barkston, a special deputy, was ordered to arrest the negro on the horse. The negro theu came to a halt. Captain Russell rode up to him and asked him what was his name. He said his name was George Wardell, from Bryan county. Captain Russell told him that he did not believe him ; that lie was there as an officer of tbe law, and if he did not give a satisfactory accouut of himself he would arrest him, and in tbe meantime the boy in company with him came up and recog nized the negro as Peter Smith. After the boy recognized him Peter still denied his name, aud said his name was War lell, from Bryau county, but the boy insisted that he kuew him and also knew his blind horse. He then admitted that he was Peter Smith, who is well known to be a captain of tbe pickets, next iu command to Solomon Farley. Capt. Russell arrested him, brought him to the city aud lodged him in jail. Captain Russell has been indefatigable in liis efforts to arrest aud bring to jus tice the perpetrators of tiie outrages on tiie Ogeechee, and lias labored day and night in tiie fearless discharge of his du ties as a public officer. Court of Examination.—A bench of magistrates, P. M. Russell, Jr., the com mitting magistrate, presiding, convened at the Court House at ten o’clock yester day morning, for the purpose of examin ing tiie cases of the Ogeechee prisoners, charged with robbery, insurrection, etc. Hon. H. R. Jackson, counsel for the prosecution, moved a continuance of the examination, on tbe ground that nearly two-thirds of the witnesses for tlie State were not iu court, aud could not possi bly be present to day ; that the charges against the prisoners were of a most seri ouscharacter, and that the ends of justice would be promoted by the postponement of the examination for a few days, to give time to secure the attendance of witnesses for the defence as well as for the prosecu tion. J ustice Russell then granted a continu ance until niue o'clock on Friday morn ing next, when it is hoped none of the witnesses will fail to be preseut. INFLUENCE OF IRREDEEMABLE PAPER CURRENCY ON EXPORTS. Interesting Fuels and Figure*. [Special Correspondence of the N. O. Picayune.) Washington, January 3, 1869. Hon. I). A. Wells, in bis annual report, gives An illustration of tbe influence of an irredeemable paper currency upon exports. Tiie facts are furnished by a manufacturer in one of (he middle States who, previous to the war, had built up an extensive ex port business iu the West Indies, Central aud South America, of a variety of cane seated and cane-backed furniture, suited to warm latitudes. T hus, on the Ist of March, 1861, gold and currency being at par, SIOOO possessed a purchasing power sufficient to obtain for tiie South American importer lllj dozen of what are known in the trade, “ordi nary square post cane seat chairs.” About tbe Ist of January, 1862, gold began to command a premium, and advanced during tbe next three years with great rapidity. This movemeut was not, how ever, participated iu at first to any consid erable extent by either labor or commodi ties, and, in consequence, the purchasing power of gold greatly increased ; so much so that in July, 1864, the SIOOO gold which in 1801 bought lllj dozen chairs, then bought 143 dozen. Under these circum stances, as was to be expected, trade in creased, as the foreign purchaser fouud tiie American market by far the best for his interest; but from July, 1864, a move ment commenced in an exactly opposite direction —gold receding, and labor aud commodities advancing in very unequal ratio. Thus iu January, 1865, the SIOOO in gold, which four years before had a purchasing power of 111 j dozen chairs, and on the first of July, 1864, of 143 dozen, then com manded but 126 2-3 dozen in February, 1866, a still smaller number, viz: 91 j and( zen, and ultimately obtained its tniiii num iu January, 1867, when tbe pur chasing power of tbe sum named was only 89 2 3 dozen. From this point the pur chasing power has gradually increased, and for tbe past year, 1868, has remained at tbe rate of 102 dozen, or nine dozen less than could be bought for the same money in 1861. The result has been that the foreign purchaser now goes to France or Ger many, while the products of American in dustry, in the form of furniture, being no longer available to exchange for sugar, spices or dye wood, gold has necessarily been substituted. An Eccentric Cat.— Marvelous [stories in regard to a cat owned by Mr. Edgerly of Meredith, N. H., are told by the Con cord Patriot. The cat wasa hunter, often going after rabbits and catching them. If any of the family went into the woods Tommy would go too and seek for game, aud if separated from the party would climb a tree to find the direction in which to go. He was very expert in catching squirrels, and the boys would put him on a stone wail while they started the game. One afternoon Tommy caught fifteen squirrels in this mauner. He would wait any length of time when put down in a place and told to stay there. One day the cat brought a rat to Mr. E., who skinned it, which seemed to please pussy very much, and he was told to catch more. Henceforth Tommy made it his sole occu pation to catch rats and see them skinned. The hides were fastened on the barn at the distance of a few feet from the ground, and thirty-seven trophies were in time dis played there. One day Mr. E. being busy, would not skin a rat which Tommy laid at his feet, and drove him away rather roughly. Thecat wentofl'iu high dudgeon, with his back aud tail up, aud never after would catch a rat, though other game con titiued to suffer. Furthermore, he tore down all tbe rat skins fastened on the barn, to show bis resentment! This re markable cat was killed a few months ago by being caught in a fox trap. New Orleans, Mobile and Chatta nooga Railroad.— VVe have just bad the pleasure of receiving a call from James A. Raynor, Esq., of New York, Presidentof the New Orleans, Mobile and Chattanoo ga Railroad Company, aud with his call the pleasure of learning that tbe various contracts for tbe building of that road from New Orleans to Mobile will be let on the 20th of January, as advertised, so that the actual construction of it will be at once commenced and carried on, until jt is completed, a3 rapidly as in these days D f rapid railroad building this can be <jone. — N. O. Picayune. —D. G. Cotting, Secretary of State, is seriously ill at Atlanta. —The murderer of Chas. M. Rodgers, in New York, has surrendered himself. FAINTING at noontide. “What* wearied with life *-^Keble. “The «udcrowns all!" — ShaX-tptarr. Oh, heart, my heart, why flags thy force Thus in the middle of my course. Midway between the sea aud source* The stream that stagnates in its bed Turns no man’s mill. As well, be dead As numb and rigid. Overhead Stands earth's overseer, the sun; “Your work, your work ! It is not done. The night shall take thy place anon: Put out your light, and bid you coma To rest within the idle tomb— To sluggards still a house of gloom !” Mom hears the harvest songs. 'Tis eve’s To see when, mute, the reaper heave* Into the wains the bursting sheaves. The fields are to the harvest white— The laborers only scant —the blight May fall ere all he garnered right. The sickle plies thy lonely lord ; And canst thou hear his loyal word. Nor every pulse anew be stirred ? * “My meat and drink it is to do My father’s will; but this I rue, His husbandmen—behold, how few !’’ Who bear the burden and the heat, If not the throe and bloody sweat. And at his side in patience eat Os His hard bread, aud share His cup Below, they shall be summoned up Beside Him in His joy to sup. [l'ntnam's Magazine for January. THE RAMIE PLANT. [Mobile Correspondent of the Montgomery Mail. J Meeting with Mr. Gallatin McGee upon the cars, lie showed me a specimen of the Ramie fibre. It is longer, whiter, atul more substantia! than tbe Sea Island cot ton, and brings over sixty cents per pound in tbe market—being more valuable than our Alabama cotton. It can be produced iu Alabama at a less cost than cotton, aud promises to become a most important element in our agriculture. Mr. McGee has seut to New Orleaus for clippings of tbe Ramie, sufficient to stock one acre. The success of tbis experiment, and we iiave no doubt of its success, will induce next year a large cultivation of this valu able staple iu the country adjacent to Montgomery. The Ramie belongs to the nettle family. It is confined to warm latitudes. There is one variety found in Florida, and four different varieties in China, Japan, Su matra and Java. It is also fouud in Corea and Japan, as far North as 36, and far South as 10 degrees latitude. The Ramie was first introduced into I’ranee iu 1844, but did not succeed well on account of tbe cold winters. It was theu introduced into Mexico by the Belgian botanist, B. Roezl. After being cultivated there successfully for several years, it was taken to Louisia na in March, 1867, where it flourished aud increa-ed iu a wonderful mauuer, exceeding the most sanguine expectations of those who have engaged iu its cultiva tion. It is started with root cuttings, planted three inches deep, in good, loose soil; and can be propagated by layers, cuttings and divisions of the root with great rapidity, even at tiie rate of a hundred for oue. It can be planted from tbe roots at any season of tbe year, and need never be renewed. Its growth is continuous and requires less labor than cotton; nor does it require labor so punctual as any other culture; arid it is not subject to tiie ravages of worms or de struction by frost. It is said not to sutler from excess of rains, aud to withstand drought without injury. When in its original land, tiie plant grows only five or six feet high ; iu the Louisiana soil it rises to ten feet. That is the reason why Dr. Roezl has, out of many lands, selected tiie Southern States as the best adapted to its culture. Already a number of plantations are progressing in Louisiana and Mississippi, and tbe owners are selling to neighbors enough plauts to recuperate their first investments, and soon the markets of New York aud New Orleans will be fully open to the new textile. In tbe Spring or Fall is tbe best time for planting. The Renaissance Louisianaise, a French weekly issued iu New Orleans, publishes a letter from Mr. Albert Terry, one of tiie most energetic aud intelligent planters of Louisiana, which is destined to set at rest all doubtsconcerning tiie practical culture of tbe Ramie in tbe South. Mr. Terry thinks, as far as his own practical expe rience extends, that tbe Ramie, is tiie most wonderful plant, of easy cultivation the first year and growing of itself the second. He sends a sample of the lint from his first cuttings, which is declared to be equal in quality to cotton of tbe first picking, notwithstanding it is susceptible of great improvement by continued culti vation. When we reflect that tbe Ramie i- peculiarly suited to our soil and climate, that it is easy of cultivation aud more productive than cotton, (for it yields from fifteen hundred to sixteen hundred pounds an acre, per year,) that the lint is equal iu whiteness aud quality to that of cotton, and far superior in strength of texture ; that it is impervious to the attacks of the dreaded caterpillar ; that it is in great de mand in England, where it sells for as much as sixty cents per pound ; and lastly, wiien we are assured that its cultivation requires less labor and expense than al most any other plant, we cannot see why it should not at least receive a fair trial at tbe bauds of our farmers. ANECDOTE OF THOMAS F. MARSHALL. The Hon. Thomas F. Marshall, of Ken tucky, once a prince of good fellows, was defending a man charged with murder in Jessamiue county, Judge Lusk presiding. The testimony against the prisoner was strong, and Tom struggled hard on the cross-examination, but to little purpose, for the old Judge was inflexible in his determination to rule out all improper testimony ottered on the part of the de fence. At last Torn worked himself into a high state of excitement, and remarked that “Jesus Christ was convicted upon just such rulings of the court that tried him.” “Clerk.” said the Judge, “enter a fine of ten dollars against Mr. Marshall.” “ Well, this is the first time I ever heard of anybody being fined for abusing Pontius Pilate,” was the quick response of Tom. Here the Judge became very indignant, and ordered the clerk to enter auother fine of twenty dollars. Tom arose with that peculiar, mirth provoking expression that no one can imitate, and addressed the court with as much gravity as circumstances would permit, as follows: “ If your Honor pleases, as a good citi zen, I feel bound to obey the order of this court, and intend to do so iu this instance; but, as I don’t happen to have thirty dol lars about me, I shall be compelled to bor row it of some friend, and, as I see no one present whose confidence and friend ship 1 have so long enjoyed as your Hon or’s, I make no hesitation in asking the small favor of a loan for a few days, to square up the amount of the fines that you have caused the clerk to enter against me.” This was a stumper. The judge looked at Tom, and then at the clerk, and finally said, “Clerk,remit Mr. Marshall’s fines; the State is better able to lose thirty dollars than I am.” Time Does It. —Time has a wonderful power in taking the conceit oat of persons. When a young man first emerges from the schools and eaters upon the career of life, it is painfully amusing to witness his self sufficiency ; he would have all the world to understand that he has “learned outthat he is master of all knowledge, and can un ravel mysteries. But 83 he grows older, he grows wiser; he learns that he knows a great deal less than he supposed he did; and by the time he reaches the threescore years, he is prepared to adopt as his own the sentiment of John Wesley—“ When I was young, I was sure of everything; in a few years, having been mistaken a thous and times, I was not half as sure of most things as I was before. At present, lam hardly sure of anything but what God has revealed to mat..” —Chicago has erected, this year, thirty eight miles of buildings, worth $25,000,000, and including twenty-five churches. IXOFFKXDIKU CITIZKW MURDERED IXCOLD BLOOD, \K VH M ADISOS AKKAXSAH. Three Tennesseeans Taken from a Ferry boat and “ Double-Quicked ” to Marion. —A General Programme of Robbing and Piumlering—More Militia Erpected. — Outrages Along the Ouachita — A’egro Militia backing Landings and Stores. [From the Memphis Avalanche of the Claytou’s loyal bloodhounds are still murdering, plundering and outraging the unfortunate people of Arkansas. Only a day or two since they fell upon a most peaceable and unoffending citizen by the name of Dillard, as he was returning from his place of business, and for attempt ing to escape, murdered him in cold blood. Yesterday a Mr. John Organ was sot dead at Fifteen Mile Bayou, near Madison, where they now have eight or uine hun dred head of horses and other property, stolen from citizens of the surrouudiug oountry. At Madison they broke opeu every house and building in the place, regardless of locks and keys, and the citizen* are fieeing in every direction, leaving everything be hind. One hundred and thirty were expected yesterday evening at Hopetield, where they also have a large number of stoleu horses. VVs heard of two other men who were shot down a day or two ago, near Madi son. but failed to learu their names. Yesterday the steamer Liu ton was boarded, near Madisou, by a number of officers and privates, who robbed the bar, cursed the otHcers of the boat, telling them that they were all damned Ku-Klux, and ordering them to leave. As the boat moved off, it was tired Into, aud the oarkeeper barely escaped with his life. The citizens are reported as hiding in the woods, aud business entirely suspend ed. A number of refugees arrived yesterday evening, who were being hunted down like dogs, and who had to tlee for their lives. Among the outrages committed by these theiviug vagabonds yesterday, was the following, upon three well known aud respectable citizens of Hardeman county, Tennessee—Messrs. L. M. Bray, John Thompson and Archibald Mayfield —who have been back of Crowley’s Uidge to purchase laud: They reached Mound City, from Marion, in the afternoon, aud stepped aboard the ferryboat to come to Memphis. Before the little steamer left, a company of mili tia, commanded by a man supposed to be white, came aboard and arrested the three gentlemen. In reply to questions, they were informed that they must go back to Madison at once. They were placed uu der guard ami sent back. For nearly half the distance, and especially on reaching muddy places, the prisoners were com pelled, at the point of the bayonet, to “double-quick,” and their ears were re galed witti choice epithets from their ne gro custodians as “d—d rebel,” and “d—d Ku-Klux.” Once in Marion they were taken before Colonel Me Wray for examination. The white ofticer who effected the arrest finally arrived and testified. He pronounced Messrs. Bray, Thompson and Mayfield, three men whom he had for some time particularly desired to capture; said they were Ku-Klux, and had been inciting re sistance. Two or three negro militia, whom the prisoners never saw before, swore to personal knowledge of them for two or three years, and pretended to iden tify their horses as the property of certain “ loyal” colored people in the county. Unfortunately for the rascals, they proved entirely too much. The prisoners found no difficulty in establishing that they had been in the (State only three weeks, and in that immediate section sim ply while making the trip to and from the river. Everything sworn to by the white officer and blacks was so eleariy shown to be lies that the Colonel, though steeped in infamy, was compelled toorder the release of the prisoners, who regained the river late in tlie evening, fortunately in time to be ferried to Memphis. The above are fair sample? of the out rages daily committed by order of Gov. Clayton on law-abiding people unfortu nate enough to fall into their clutches. These outrages are all in the name of “ loyalty ’’—all designed to strengthen the government aud illustrate the beauties of reconstruction as ordered by Congress and executed by carpet-baggers and scalawags, And he who cries out against it is de nounced by the Radical press of thecoun try as “ rebel and traitor” to “the best government the world ever saw.” Late repays from parties from Camden, on the Ouacuita, give the following particulars of outrages committed, very recently, by the negro militia appointed by Gov. Clayton, the Radical Governor of Arkausas: “In Ashley county, they robbed Mr. Wimberly, a merchant of Petersburg, of all his money, clothing, bed clothing, goods, and of everything that was of any service to him whatever; robbed Mr. Pugh, a merchant, of Orion, of all his goods and mouey; robbed Mr. A. W. Files, a merchant of Hamburg, of all his goods, caught him, and by threats induced him to pay SI,OOO in greenbacks and SI,OOO in gold, in order to have his life spared and to be turned loose ; met some ladies going to a little social dance in the country; robbed them of their bonnets and shawls and made them dance in the road; injured Messrs. Files & Norris, at Marie Haliue, to considerable extent by plundering their warehouse. They are robbing the people of all their corn and provisions, mules and horses, guns aud pistols, which they either destroy or appropriate to their own use. They do not spare a man’s purse, and by presenting a loaded gun or a navy six, make him shell out the cash. The citizens are in a state of great consterna tion, and many are leaving their homes. They are now going around among the people in the county, with a document, which they make the citizens sign, bind ing them to protect the negro militia which they intend organizing in said county; those who refuse to sign they say they intend to burn out. They are com posed of Kansas jay-hawkers and men from Northern Arkansas. They commit these depredations only in the counties declared under martial law. Neither the lives nor the property of citizens are safe where they are.” At Hamburg, the militia took possession and sacked all the stores in the town. At Marie Saline the militia took posses siou of the store and warehouse-landing of Files & Norris, the Major commanding standiugat the principal door with drawn sword, and with revolvers in his belt, whilst his minions plundered the prem ises. They also took possession of goods lying on the landing at the place, belong ing to many different persons in the county, aud carried whatever they wanted away. DESTRUCTIVE EARTHQUAKE. Ban Francisco, January 9.—A letter from Culima, Mexico, gives an account of a terrible earthquake experienced in that city on the morning of December 20. For several days previous the volcano of Culi ma, thirty miles from the city, exhibited symptoms of internal commotion, sending forth steam, accompanied by a rumbling shaking of the earth. On the morning of the 29th, there was a geu tie rocking of the earth, which gradually increased in vio lence until the walls cracked and every thing breakable in the bouses demolished. Vibrations lasted nearly forty minutes. Cathedrals and warehouse brick buildings cracked from top to bottom. The people, startled from their sleep, rushed frantical ly for the plaza. It is reported that sever al persons were killed by the falling of the National Hotel. The shock was felt a long distance into the interior. At sever al places the ground opened, and trees uprooted, hills leveled, water courses changed, and a general upheaval of eartii took place. At the city of Manzanillo, the Cathedra building, which had stood the shocks of earthquakes aud storms for uearly a century, was riven from top to bottom, even the tiles on the roof were broken. Some eighteen or twenty persons were crushed by the falling walls of the American Hotel, and three others buried in the ruins. —lt was rumored that Bennett had a paralytic attack a few days ago. —The pews in Beecher’s church, Brook lyn, sold for $97,000 last week. VOL. LX., NO U. DIVORCE. A Few malUlle* from Chicago—Xmrl) Fi»r Hun. dred Application* During the Vear. [From the Chicago Time*, December 'Si. During the present year of grace two hundred and eightv-four wives aud on * hundred and seventy-six husbands have filed petitions for divorce in the various courts in tbecity. These lachrymose j>er sons telling tlie sius of the defendants upon their finger ends and {raving nightly for relief, throng the courts amt press their suits wilh overwhelming ini* portuuity. They have been trooping up duriug all the months aud weeks ot the year, pouring a continuous plaint into the ears of patieut justice, and making the high places of chancery ring again with the sometime touching but now rattier wearisome tale of misplaced affection and broken vows. This imposing procession, graced by so largo a number of virtuous dames and hotiorabie men, has alredv eon sumed many years in passing a giving point, and there are no signs of tlie be* giuuing of the end. Fortunately, the preseiit purpose has ouly particularly to do with that portion of the train upon whose banners is iuscrioed—as the year of ho|»e or of deliverance—“lß6B.” And there are four hundred and sixty men aud women, all told. The details of the year’s struggle in this branch of litigation show tiial out of 480 suits, the whole number brought during the year, were commenced by w ive , and only ITS by husbands, leaving a 1 auce of 176 in favor of the superior enter prise of the dear creatures. In the mat ter, too, of obtaining decrees, the wives lead the husbands by 114 eases. 1 hey are also ahead in another respect. Forty-one wives were found to have committed adultery, while the number of husbands upon ttie same score was only thirty nine. In regard to cruelty and drunkenness, the husbands are, of course, greatly in the majority, though it appears, nevertheless, that the gentler sex has not wholly aban doned the broomstick, and tiiat ail un warrantable degree of inebriety has been indulged in by some few members of that highly esteemed organization. The pro gtess of the divorce epidemic during the year may also he noted with pront. Its greatest ravages 01*011 rred in June. Roth sexes were on the rampage about tbaL time. Prudent persons will mark the month as very dangerous. There were also many victims in March and October. In the case of March, the prevalence of east winds probably contributed greatly as a predisposing cause. Iu the case of Octo ber, the excess is mainly due to the fact that about tiiat time many person* are making their domestic arrangements for the winter. But these reasons do not hold good as to the month of June. The unu sual liability to become a victim to u di vorce suit during that mouth must bo left unaccounted for. During the year there has been a i increase in the number of di vorce suits commenced of lilt: over the number brought iu 1867, ami an increii** in tile number of decrees gianted of J.J2. “UOI.W, liUl.Vli UOVK !” Orange, near Hicks street, in Brooklyn, presented quite u lively appearance yes terday evening. Not only the repr* seiita tives of Brooklyn society—nay, society itself, was there in corpore In fact every body that is anybody was there. I.c hunt monde, la haut finance. Ic bant commerce, le, haut guinqa'illerie— all the e different, strata of modern society were pre* *nt in full force. To do what? To battle for virtue’s triumph ? To w restle in honora ble combat as the heroic youth did of old at tlie Olympian games? To compete for the general applause of the public voice with works of their genius or industry ? No; what they did was merely to attend an auction and outbid each other, if possi ble, for a—seat. At tlje opera? or circus'* or for another series of Jenny Lind con certs, under tlie management of a Bnr num? No; the auction was for scats in a church, and thechurch where it w ; .s held was Plymouth church, Henry Ward Beecher’s temple of worship on Orange street, near Hicks, in the “City of Churches.” Through the portals of the holy edifice, consecrated to the service of God and not of mammon, lighted up bril liantly, like tlie entrance to any show house, the voice of the busy uutionecr within arrested the attention of all passers by. “Five, live, five—eighty do 1 hear, eighty-five, ninety—going at two hundred ninety, going, going—ninety five do I hear —gone!” There was Plymouth Church. Tlie old, white, familiar walls, which had so often eclioed the eloquent appeals of “Father Beecher” shone as bright as ever under tlie glaring light of hundreds of gas jets; there was the organ, grand and majestic in its appearance, but silent, as if hu-hing Us tones in anger at the barterings beneath it; there was Ihe chancel, but within were only busy scribes to note down the names of successful bidders, and the dollars and oeutsof tlie largest bids ; there was tlie reading desk, plainly carved of wood brougbtall the way from the sacred Mount of Olives, where thirty pieces of silver purchased the treason of Judas—but it was “hammered” not by tlie enthusiastic ex pounder of tiie holy word, hut by the crafty auctioneer, who called for more ami still more pieces, no’ of silver, but of greenbacks. And there was the congre gation, filling every pew on tlie main Hour of the church and in the galleries, chat tering and laughing, and merrymaking among themselves, some of the mule gen der even with liieir hats on, o hers noting od the diagram of the church the names of the bidders and the seats they had se cured ; and the female portion, those “dear creatures" who never can be wit bout their chitchat, oriticising and scrut in izi ng each other, and “all creation ” into the bargain. And among all and from pew to pew and iroru aisle to aisle passed the pastor of the church, Father Beecher, patting this one and that on the shoulder, chatting with the ladies, smiling benignant!y on all, and encouraging his fiock by word, counten ance and gesture, not to lag in their bids, but “go it with all their might.” Bueli was the scene enacted last evening at that temple of God par excellence, Plymouth Church. And the remarks which passed occasionally between auctioneer and bid ders were of a kind to suit the “solemni ty” of the occasion. “Put your hands in your pockets,gentlemen, and let’s have it,” exclaimed he at the desk. “What is that you have got to drink up there?” asked aloud someone in the body of the church. “Only Ridgewood. VV e are temperance to-night,” replied one of the scribes, and this sally brought down the bouse. Thus it wenton till all the seats were disposed of, Mr. Henry C. Bowen paying the high est premium, $420. “Going, going—gone!” [New York Herald. A DF.HTRICTIVE FIKK. Ou Saturday morning about 5 o’clock, flames were seen to issue from tbe rear of the three story brick building, No. 423 King street. The alarm wa~ instantly sounded, aud our gallant fin-men were promptly on the spot, hut before the ma chines were at work, almost the entire huildiDg was iu flames, and it became apparent that "all efforts to save it would be vain. The conflagration continued with unabated fury being c nfiued, how ever, to the one building, and tne roof of a one story house adjoining, until aboutO o’clock, when the walls fell. A portion ot the Southern wall failing upon the ad joining house which was only partially burut, completely demolished it, and in a short while the flames were entirely ex tinguished. A young man named John Itiley, a director of the Hope Fire Lugine Company, who was in the disebargeot ms duty, was injured by tbe falling wall, i « was taken up, promptly conveyed in “ neighboring store, and his wounusc re . We are pleased to say that the inju■ received, though of a serious nature, are ' “‘('the bulldii'g* to Messrs John Fraser A Cos., are v.uueu uc 6(i and were Rot in sured. >23 in which the fire Tnebu.ld.ng - - 4 ed by Mr j ]5. originated, Hig stocb( McLlbof* tire) ydestroyed, was insured which "V, of M r . Lowndes to the amount of $1.50®, about half the value of h Tiu?nu’i |din * N°. 421 waa occupied by Mrs Booth as a millinery store. The stock a portion of which was saved, was also insured in Mr. Lowndes’ agency to fie amount of U,000.-Charl*«on 'Jouner, nth.