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About Weekly constitutionalist. (Augusta, Ga.) 185?-1877 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 2, 1867)
THE WEEKLY OONSTITHTIOHALIBT WEDNESDAY MORNING. JAN. 2.1867. A FAMILY PAPEB. On the first of January the Weekly Consti tutionalist will be "really enlarged. It will be printed upon fine paper, and contain eight pages of readiug matter. One page will be specially devoted to origiual and selected ar ticles upon Literary and Agricultural topics. Other pages will embrace Telegrams. Cori es pordencc, Editorials and Miscellaneous News Items, carefully compiled from the daily edi tions. No pains will be spared to make it the most readable Weekly in Georgia, and a com pendium of everything progressing in Political, Religious, Planting, Scientific, Commercial and Manufacturing communities. Its size will be convenient for binding. Our terms— sß 00 per annum—place it within the reach of all. DELAY. In consequence of the non-reception of ma terial, from New York, in season, we have been compelled to delay, for one day, the pub lication of our “enlarged weekly.” Our read ers, however, get later news by this delay. NEW YEAR. This is New Year. We write at one of the clock. It is the lii»i hour of the first day in the first month of the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven. How many write A. D. who disregard its signifi cance, or who look back vaguely to the grand starting point of the Christian era. It docs seem away off in the past, yet a man eighty years of age might have received the won drous story handed down from sire to son, each of whose respective fathers, had rcaeii <*d->a like four score years by reason of strength, and be only twenty-five re moves from that day on which, more than eighteen centuries since, God, manifested in the flesh, submitted to the sign of the cove nant between Jehovah and his chosen people, j But this view of the subject is too grand—too solemn for our pen. Last year lias just gone. May all the woes and sins which that year witnessed be buried with Lhe dead past, and may the coming virgin moments he innocent of like transgression and pollution. In accordance with the old custom New j Year's Day will-be observed as a holiday and no Daily Constitutionalist will issue from this office to-morrow. Publishers, Editors, Printers imd Devil—all join in wishing you, readers, A Happy New Yeah. THE FENIAN QUESTION. ' It has been said by some that Feuianism is a j bubble, aud if so it is at least likely to unfor-i tunatcly terminate as a bubble of blood. At j ouc time—when two rival chieftains sought to grasp control of the American organization and were backed, each in his turn, by senates and partizans more bitter agaihst the Celt than the Sassenach —it seemed as if the undertaking must share the ignominious fide of how many another Irish uprising, beginning in hope and doomed to die in disastrous dissension. But hate has a strong vitality, and this latest ebullition of Irish feeling seems too full of life to yield even to the desolating fury of intestine squabbles. In some way the breach has been plastered over, so that (here is yet some unity, some organization, and some subordination. Stephens, once arrested, is now at large, and from the method of Ills escape, it would seem that the Grand Head Centre has his partizans even within the strong hold of English power. Stephens is at large, and the doubtful fate of Feniaus in Canadian provinces, under sentence of death, enables him to hold his countrymen both in this country and Jfeland steady to their purpose. To know that Fenian blood has been shed on the field ol battle and that Feniau lives may yet further be taken upon the gallows, is a reflection that lends to his cause in the mind of every Feniau, and determines him, doubtless, yet more fully on a bout with Ills hereditary foe. Thus writing we are, of course, not by any i means convinced by Fenian arguments or in j any way disposed to think favourably of the j chances of Fenian success. The gigantic strength of England is fully aroused, and by late Irish papers we see that theextremesfc vigi lance is incessantly maintained in almost every quarter of the Emerald Isle. So wary are the numerous constabulary tjiat cveu a box •with two pistols, the address of which was not satisfactory, was of late.overhauled and confis cated, and there are doubtless to-day entire districts in Ireland containing acres, if not hundreds, of square miles in which there is not an efficient weapon, save in the hai#!s of per sons well affected to the British Government. With this vigilance, therefore, all along the sea coast aud this thorough disarming in the inte rior, with a constabulary force always large, aud now heavily reinforced and fully armed, with English regiments ordered into the Island aud Irish regiments out, with rnen-of war hovering like hawks upon (he sea board, aud, over and above all, a complete system of espiouage established throughout the whole of Ireland, it will be seen that there is hardly the shadow of a hope but that a Fen an uprising would speedily be, as the London Times savagely observes, “ stamped out.” Like other unfortunate lands the hove of Ireland is not In arms, aud yet out of this Fenian mme we cannot but think, even'though it now terminate in bloodshed and havoc, ultimate good will enure to the Old Sod. A desperate man is no pleasant neighbor, aud acting on the principles which would govern an ordinarily prudent individual, it is not im probable England will adopt some meliorating measures that may allay the dangerous feeling now r prevalent in her Irish domains. If so, it is evident Fenianism, for all its bluster and absurd ity, its foolhardiness aud dissension will not have been permitted iu vaiu. John Bright, it i6 said, has now some reform measures that will go far to a pacification of the Irish mind— and for one we heartily wish any effort in the cause of peace, humanity aud justice, God speed. Theflrish are a gallant people, and have suffered so much and so long, there is surely some retribution of good now due them. That they will get it, is our opinion, as stated; but if denied, it were well for England to remember that oppression, as the Bcripture hath it, makes the wise man mad. Bhe will conquer, doubt less, but st what a cast. New Year. * 1 In the ancient mythology, the Goa*mu* as j regarded as the deity ot gates QU . ' rnA j one hand lie held key u ’ ,• . ’ j to symbolize his opening and g _ At other.time* he was represeuwa wiu 5 heads, and placed m a *Leh • sides, with a door and lb .ree indows In^cu side, as emblems of he four u mouths over which heprciimt u. v * year introduces him imomjfcem on . ir .r’-c, 'he cock bright Star, •*■?< T -ils n- the , And see, He is the With him old Janus doth appear, Peeping into the future >‘ear, M With such a look as seems to say, : The prospect is not good that way. Wr Thus do we rise ill sights to see. And ’gainst ourselves to prophesy; When the prophetic fear of things A more tormenting mischief brings, More fait of soul tormenting gall Than direst mischiefs can befall. But stay ! but stay ! methinks my sight, Better informed by clearer liglHy Discerns sereneness ir that brow, IJiat all contracted seemed but now. Ilis reversed may show distas e, And frown upon the iils are past: But that which this way looks is clear, And smiles upon the new-bom year. The custom of exchanging compliments and visits, aud of bestowing presents on New Year’s day, was observed among the ancient Romans. It is said to nave originated with Romulus and Tatius, in the sixth century be- I fore Christ. The presents were usually figs i aud dates, covered with leaf gold, sent by 1 clients to patrons, accompanied with a piece of I money, which was expended in purchasing | statues of the gods. Cladius forbade this cus j tom ; but it seems to have been kept up by the ! Christian Emperors iu the early period of the ! church, thojugh condemned by ecclesiastical ; councils, because of the pagan ceremonies at | tending it. The Druids used to cut the mistletoe, with a i golden knife, in the sacred forest, and distri | bute sprigs of it among the people, with great | ceremony, as New Year’s gift.?. , Among the Saxons of the North, the New : Year’s festival was observed with great pomp and jollity, the interchange of gifts being a sea -1 tore in their ceremonies. Matthew Paris says that Henry 111. extorted New Year’s presents f, nm his subjects. An orange or lemon, stuck with doves, was formerly often given. It was said that the flavor of wine was improved by suspending an orange or a lemon thus prepar ed, within the vessel, without allowing it to touch the liquor. Latimer, instead of present ing Henry VIII. with a purse of gold, as was customary, put into the king’s hands a New Testament, with the leaf turned down at He brews, xiii. 4. Among the presents given to Elizabeth by the peeresses. Dr. Drake mentions gowns, petticoats, shifts, silk stockings, garters, sweet bags, mantles embroidered with pre cious stones, caskets' studded with jewels and other costly trinkets. He is of opinion that the Queen’s wardrobe and jewelry were princi pally supported by these annual contributions on.New Year’s day. In some parts ot Scotland they generally send gifts on New Year's eve, and on New Year’s day wish a happy New Year and ash for a New Year’s gift. Mu nase choil orsl. “My candle mas bond upon you ” is the customary saluta tion, aud means, in plain words, “You owe me a New Year’s gift.” Undoubtedly New Year's gifts originated in heathen observances, and, in time, came to be employed as convenient cloaks for bribery and corruption; but latterly they.have become a rational and pleasant mode of expressing es teem and interchanging compliments. in Ills “ Companion to the Almanack,’’quoteP the following sentiment from Bourne: “If I send a New Year’s gift to my friend, it shall be a token of tuy friendship; if to my benefactor, a token of my gratitude; if to the poor, which at this season must never be forgot, it shall be to make their hearts sing for joy, and give praise and adoration to the Giver of all good gilts.” New Year’s day, which, in these degenerate times, marks the termination of the Christian holidays, was formerly the zenith in the career of fun. The holidays then lasted from Christ inas to Twelfth Day, the 6th of January. New Year’s day, coming in the middle of the twelve, was cclebrhled with the must furious demon strations of universal good will and delight. “Riding Slang” is a custom which still pre vails in some parts of both England aud Scot land. The “ Slang” is a cowl-staff. On the first day of January multitudes assemble early iu the morning with “slangs” and baskets, who ever docs not join them is mounted across t lie “ Stang,” and carried at shoulder height to the nearest public house, where lie pays his ransom by treating the crowd. Women are seized iu the same way, and carried in baskets. « The Prince of Misrule was as conspicuous a personage at New Year as at Christmas. Mr. Evelyn 6aysin his diary. “ January Ist, 1662 I went to London, invited to the solemn fbolerie of the Prince de la Grainge, at Lin coln’s Inn, where came the King (Charles II.,) the duke &e. It began with a gland masque, and a for mal pleading before the mock princes, grandees, no-* bles and knights of the sun. He had his lord chan cellor, chamberlain, treasurer, and other royal officers, gloriously clad and attended. It ended in a magnifi cent banquet. One Mr. Lort was the young spark who maintained the pageantry.” This season was, m old times, observed with many superstitious rites, almost all of which gave character to some festival. Benedictions were pronounced, with great solemnity, upon animals, and even upon fields and orchards ; New Year’s blessings being supposed to possess peculiar 'efficacy. It has not been long since the following custom was observed iu De vonshire, England, and it may be a custom with the peasantry still. The farmer, attended by his workmen, with a large pitcher of cider, goes to the orchard ; and- there, encircling one of the best bearing fees, they drink the follow ing toast three times: “ Here’s to thee, old apple tree, Whi nee thou may’st bud and whence tliou ma\ ’st blow! And whence thou may’st hear apples enow Hats full! caps lull! - Bushel—bushel sacks full, ■*. And my pockets full, too! Huzzah !”-“ A more seasonable custom, and one which it is to be regretted has no place among us, is to carry from door to door the “ Wassatl botcl," with singing and merriment. This “ massy bowl, to deck the jovial day,” was everywhere the symbol and the promoter of hearty good cheer among our lusty forefathers. The fol lowing romantic account ol its origin is from Mr. Jeffery's “Antiquarian Repertory:” “ The old waSsell-liowl was :hc delight of our hardy ancestors, who, on the vigil of ihe New Year, never failed to assemble round'the glow.ng hearth with their cheerful neighbors, and then in the spicy wassell bowl, (which testifies the goodness of their hearts,) drowned every former animosity—an example worthy modem imitation. Wasscll, was the word; Was sell, eve>y guest returned as he took the circling goblet from his friend, whilst seng aud civil mirth brought in the infant year. This annual custom, says Geoffrey of Monmouth, had its rise from Louis, of Rowen, 01 as some will have it. R jwend, daughter of the B axon lleng;st; she, at the command of her father, who had invited the British King Voltigcru to a banquet, come in the presence with a bowl of wine, and wtf® 1 corned bite in these words : ‘Loured king wass heii;” he. in return, answered by the help of an intq|B)reU% ‘Urine heiley and if v.p may credit Robert of Ginger, * Ruste hire and sittc hire r.downe, and glad dro*ke hire boil.’ ” SO We have a modern version of Robert Glos ter: “ Health my lord king, the sweet Rowead said. Health, cried the chieftaui, to the Saxon maid : Then g,<yly rose and 'midst the concourse wide, Kissed her hale lips,- and placed her by his side : At the soft scene such gentio thoughts abound. That health aad kisses’motigst the guests went round; Front this the social custom took its rise, We still retain, and must forever prize." The “Loving Cup,” still need at some corpo ration festivals in Loudon, is the only relic left of this social and inspiring institution. Some of the holiday table diversions of the last century were curious, and, we should think, more entertaining iu the narration than ini the performance. Avery popular “diver tisement,” which was used at the beginning and at the ending of the feast, was the follow ing : “A castle made of pasteboards, with gates, battlements, <fec., was put upon one end of the table; at the other end a ship was placed; and in the middle a stag, with an arrow in bis side, made of paste, hollow, and filled with claret wine. Each ot these was set in a large'charger filled with salt and containing a number of egg-shells, filled with rosewater or other per fumery. On either side of the stag was a luge tors.’ *N. x 1 t i BRTTouf-1 b [ its toy guns at thenWP i w« nfd reply,— I This causing a smell ot powTHbYthc ladies and gentlemen would take the eggshells of per fumed water and throw them at each other.— This pleasant disorder being prctlv well laugh ed over, semebod) ’s curiosity would lead them to open the pies, to sec what' was in them.—. The lrogs and birds being thus let loose, the latter would naturally fly towards the lights and put them out. Aud so, with the leaping of the frogs below and the flying of the birds above, wbuld cause a surprising and diverting hurly-burly amongst the guests in the dark. — Paster which, the candles being lighted, tlie banquet would be brought in, the music sound, and the particulars of each person’s surprise and adventure funrisli matter for diverting dis-, course.” • • Prussia. The Alliance with Russia —Diplomatic Service of Young Prussia, &c. Bkklin, December 2. The article in the semi-official Nord Deutsch Zeitung , denying the conclusion of an alliance Russia, has the usual late ol' non-official declarations —nobody believes it, although, as I remarked in my last, it is quite true as far as it goes. As yet no alliance has beeu concluded, but the preliminaries of one have been agreed upon, and if certain complications should arise its signature will be a mere formality. This view is fnlly confirmed by a paragraph in ZeicUer's Correspondence , a lithograph news letter, which is occasionally used as the vehicle of semi-official communications, and which states very plainly that the good understanding between Russia and Prussia is based, on a solid arity of interests which sufficiently points out the course they will have to pursue in the event of these interests being menaced —by whom it is not said, nor was it nertfcsary, -as there is not the slightest chance of their being menaced by any Power but France or Austria. The recep tion of the Crown Prince, at St. Petersburg is another proof the intentc cordiale between the I two courts, which it would be a mistake to at tribute exclusively to the family ties that, unite the reigning dynasties. Relationship is oUlttle account in politics; Napoleon was dethroned 1 by his father-in-law, aud we have just seen the King of Prussia annex the dominions of his Cousin aud nephew. The Stams Anzeiqer or Prussian Momteur gives a rather lengthy de scription of the JJonvn Prince’s sojourn at the cWrt of the Czar, from which it appears that bmcles the Prime Minister, Prince Gortchakoff, he had interviews with the Minister ot War, General Milalin, and his brother, the Secretary of State for Poland -nd one of the heads of old Russian paj;ty, who are the chief promoted of an alliance with Prussia. Among tne per sons presented to his royal Highness was the famous Schamyl, the lion of the Caucasus, who seems to be made a regular hero of by the Muscovites as was Sampson of old by the Phil istines. On the 13th a grand review of the Russian Guards was given by the Emperor iu honor of his illustrious guest, and the next day there was a hunting party, at which the Crown Prince distinguished himself by killing a wolf, after which, court festivities were inter rupted by the sudden illness of the newly mar ried Grand Duchess, Maria Feodorowna, better known by the name of Dagmar, which is re ported to be quite serious. The Crown Prince returned to Berlin on Tuesday and immediately waited upon the King, with whom he had a of several hours’ duration. That the Altaians are greatly alarmed at the ameni ties passing between their Northern neighbors is evident from a pamphlet that was published a few I (lays since at Vienna, aud which is traced to the inspirations of Baron Beust. It declares a close alliance of the Catholic powers, with France and Austria at their head, to be the only chance oflPviug Europe from the absolute do minion of Russia and Prussia. Catholicism, which is identical with cosfervatisjn, must arm itself for struggle against' democracy, which be {Raster of the world. Both F rupee have everything- tp fear from the democratic agitation which, mamfests itself throughout Europe. At this hour no mon arch is sure of awaking on his throne the next morning. The union ol France aud Austria Sin fine tic sc dangers; but it must be elore democracy meets them with ?o late!” It is rather curious to issia an# Prussia—the Prussia of ud William 1.-—as the representa loeracy, Louis Napoleon, who prides himself upon carrying out the ideas of 1789, will hardly relish life part assigned him as the champion of conseirthtivc principles; but iu spite of this and Othef^bsurdities—the author, encouraged by the success of the Mexican Em pire, very gravely proposes to iustal a Roman Catholic Emperor in Constantinople—the pam phiet is not without interest, as showing the anxiety pensioned at Vienna by the intimate connection that exists between Berlin and Bt. Petersburg. ' • . The increasing extent and importance of the diplomatic relations of Prussia, arising from the new and important position occupied by her iu the comity of nrffious/will involve a pro portionate increase of expense. By the esti mates for 1867, which were laid before the Chamber by the Minister«bf France at the opening of the se*§ion,j£TC expenditure for diplomatic punTOseajls 'fTCcd-'At 534,000 thalers, being 40,000 m»BNWm in the preceding year, uotwithßtandingllf| embassies at Cassel, Han over and Frankfort, the collective expense oi which amounted *4:O thalers, have disap peared with the respective governments at which they were aceredited. ’At the head of the present Budget stands the embassy of St. Petersburg, for the maintenance of which no less than 57.300 thalers arc demanded ; London figures with 51,800, Paris with 42,100, Constan tinople with with 38,400, and Florence wj£k Sti,ols thalers.’ The- envoy at Vf:ikhi|aM and his receive 28,100 thalers, 4hd arc thrbN&ia away in Mexico. (It is likely that this vote will be rejected by the House of Deputies.) A considerable increase will also take place iu the consular establish ments, the expenditure for which is to be rais ed from 148,000 to 204,000 thalers. Os this sum 29,900 thalers are appropriated to the consu lates in China, 19,900 to those in Egypt, and the consuls general in Bucharest aud New York come in respectively for 15,000 and 14,300 thalers. * All this is exclusive of disbursements for traveling, costs of telegraphing, couriers, &c. It will be seen from the above that the pay of the Prussian diplomats is tolerably high and forms quite au exception iu the economical scale on which the salaries of the civil func tionaries are regulated in this country. The ; reason is that the Prussian nobility (common ers are rigorously excluded from the higher diplomatic as well as military affairs) are most ly oor, and would be unable to keep up the aTignUy ol the kingdom and to hold their own 1 against the ambassadors of such powers as England, Austria and Spain, who are often U)oh*<af large property, unless they were lib erally supported by their Government. m mm The Toi*>y Theory How Castor Oil is Mape —‘As strange as it may appear : the colored people here cherish the bcliel that* there is a class of physicians who practice “ barking,” and are addicted to the dissection | of live human subjects for the purpose of man minds that no amount of r will re move Tt, and we know many of them, particu larly juvenile Afjijßns, who will not budge a foot outside theflStlwellings after dark. An otherwise intelligent “Topsy,” employed by us, describes the modus opkrandi of these imag inary ghouls by saying: “ Dey steal upon culiud persons unawares, clap a plaster over deir motif to keep urn from hollerin’, and den drag um away to whar dey lay um on a table and cut um up, aud den bile um down for ile.” This is a cheerful potion for those invalids who use the oil of the palma christa bean as a ca thartic. The Annapolis (Md.) Republican states that a similar belief prevails among the colored people in that section, and it probably exists elsewhere. How it originated it is impossible to teU.-IF«Am i7 to» Star. f of the N'.'v Yoik 1L raid. K,.' Austria. Roman Question of Much faterest hut Not so be Interfered with—Maximilian's Case all j important-—A Masked Ball at Court and Ex l Iraordinary Scenes. , j j v - Vienna, December 1, 1866. T 5& Roman question rapidly approaches a sett Austrian press is very greatly divided as to the effect which may be produced by thdfFrenek evacuation of Rome aud the re sult of subsequent movements. For myself, I sfeqkcertain that the Austrian court or the Em peror’s government will not take a step either and will notrtuix itself iu the affairs of a convention its consent. Beust. a Pro tenant, doedMn find himself sufficiently ’ welL settled in has scat to treat the question as | fee would like; he therefore will leave it alone. The ‘Emperor’s mother is now the Pope’s Lstrongest ally and firmest friend in Austria, r but she has lost very much of her influence ■ over Francis Joseph since the events of the past i six months have confirmed the lolly of hen ad ! vice. The Pope ueed look for no support irpm [Austria, hot withstanding that thy events which • are approaching their culmination at Rome arc 1 sure to be anxiously watched ’uy vast crowds :ol sorapathizers in the Empire. But nothing ‘ more than sympathy need be expected. The ! fact is, that all the ideas aud feelings of Aus -1 tria that are not watching the development of I their own internal questions are bent toward j the western coast of France or England, look j ing for the arrival of their beloved Max. Maximilian is the one subject ol conversa tion, the theme of all political circles and the subject of all thought. He is pitied and j praised by all; his return to Austria will be j hailed with joy, and if he chooses to play a j discreet game and possesses a tithe of the tal : ents which these people attribute to him, his part in the coming history of Austria will he no | trifling one, notwithstanding the little arrange ment made between himself and Napoleon prior to his (Max’s) departure for Mexico. What shall I say of the masked ball which j took place on St. Catharine’s Feast, the 25th •of November, Sunday, of course?- Asa pre i cursor of what one may expect during Vienna’s j celebrated carnival it* deserves more than a | passing notice, particularly as so little is known of the frivolity, passion for every amusement I and frenzy for dancing, which yearly seizes the people, this city at the return ot the. “Fash ion,” s ouJfeix .weeks’ carnival. The particular AUI speak -Ot, the.b&t of many given in Vi- Hn* on the same night, was held in a magnifi ieent suite of apartments in the Emperor’s pal ! acc. No invitations were issued, no exclusion j practiced; any 011 c considering him or herself ; sincerely prepared to stand a considerable I quantity of chaff, to mix with the best and i worst society, to flirt with immunity from se- I rious cousequenees for four or five hours, and ! eujoy the amalgamation of vestals and cyprians, i peers and nobody’s high life with low, had but j to purchase a ticket of admission, don a nfask, I if a lady, and white gloves, &c., if a gentleman, ! and “go iu” for Cremorne turned loose. Before eleven o’clock eight hundred persons ! were iu the room, the ladies, except such as Iweiein the galleries as spectators, masked, while gentlemen, to prevent too great freedom, were obliged to appear without. This arrange ment facilitated the progress of many an in trigue, as the fair sex, for once - relieved from the iron rule of society, cast aside all restraint, .and ovsr cover of black or white dominoes, ex pressed to husband, lover or friend, (in a dis guised voice of their opinion on sub jects usually not broached except—in the con fessional. Some ladies not so particular as to the chances of a recognition, .Were not so care fully masked as others, wbile some, in their en deavors to keep their incognito, walked about the room, the impersonification of a lace, mus lin and crape establishment. With-many of the former, ladies whose reputation or rather, want of reputation was’patent to all. The Arch duke Albrecht, Commander-in-chief of the army, promenaded the whole evening, the Em . peror’s brother and oueof his cousins, Wi.helra also followed the same example, and thus broke the ice of restraint, whiyh the mingling ol these ladies with others of a different mould might occasion. Under these circumstances tp say that the whole affair would have, been consid ered a disgrace to any other country, is super fluous ; yet this.is but a “ preliminary canter” [ to the race of licentiousness which is to he run i every night next January ; it was but a trilling j experience of what will fol’ow—a sort of “nip” j to whet the people’s appetite, to raise their itn j aginations and prepare them for “ carnival.” ] I must add that there was no dancing till two ; o’clock, a. in., when the respectable portion of ! the company had retired. The evening till that ! hour was spent in promenading about the | room, eating ices, sitting in dark corners or I mystifying strangers. But in the small hours ! of the morning, when all restraint had been | east aside and dancing had commenced, a scene 1 of what can be fairly called wild orgies began, | and was continued till four, a. m. This in the Emperor’s palace. The Fenians in Ireland—The Threaten ing Aspect op Affairs—Reward for the Arrest of Stephens.—The Cork Constitution says: $ “ Thai great numbers of cases, supposed to contain arms for the Fenians, have lately pass ed from Liverpool to Cork, there is now no doubt. This fact, together with the departure of Stephens from America, the openly defiant bearing of those who compose the Fenian rank and file toward the police, the presence of so many strangers of Yankee appearance in the country, and the re-appearaucc of some who were kuown to cross the Atlantic since the sus : pension of the habeas corpus net, affords some grounds for the apprehensions that prevail among loyalists. It is rather a remarkable fact that the arras discovered in Blackpool early iu the summer, in an empty house, and which are still at Tuckey street Station, are exactly the same in make and finish as those seized yester day, and bear the same maker’s name.” The following placard has beeu extensively circulated in London : “Description of James Stephens, who styles himself the Head Center of all the Fenians of Ireland : About forty-two years of age, live feet seven inchet high, stout make, broad, high shoulders, very active appearance,, fair hair, bald all round top of head, wears all his beard, which is sandy’, slightly tinged with gray, rath er long under the chin, but slight round the jaw approaching the ears, broad forehead, ten der eyes, arid has a peculiar habit of closing the left eye when speaking, high cheek bones and rather good countenance; bands and feet remarkably small and well formed. The Gov ernment has offered £I,OOO reward to any per son or persons who shall information as shall lead so the arrest of the said James Stephens, and a further reward of £I,OOO to any person or persons who shall arrest the said James Stephens.—Metropolitan Police Office, November 30, 1866. Maximilian’s Manifesto.— The following is Maximilian’s manifesto: Mexicans! Events of great magnitude in con nection with the welfare of our country, which were aggravated by domestic misfortunes, pro duced in our minds the conviction that we ought to return to you flic power which you had conferred upon us. Our council of our minis ters and, state, convoked by us, decreed that the welfare of Mexico still demanded our perma nency in power, and we have considered it as "our duty to accede to their representations, at •the same time apprising them of our intention to call together a National Congress on the amplest and most liberal-basis, iu which all par tita arc to participate, and this will determine if the Empire is to continue for the future, and its being so decided, to aid in the formation •of laws virtually necessary for the consolida tiou of the public institutions of the country. To this end our council* are now occupied in submitting to us measures: at the same time, in order that all assist in com ing to arrangement on that basis. In the mean time, Mexicans, relying on all of you, without exclusion of any. politieaMendencies, we will do our utmost to follow up with courage and con stanev the task of regeneration whkshyou have confided to your compatriot. * Maximilian. Orazeba, December 1,1866. Ben Butler should be placed on she Com mittee of Ways and Means, for the reason that he has such mean ways about him. Notes from Ireland—Waterford. Waterford is a maritime county in the i sl Munster. It Is bounded on the north and west by the counties of Kilkenny, T’nocrary and Cork, from which it is separated SvTm- vers Sulr and Blaekwater, and on the .?u l and east by the Atlantic Ocean. The Ponntrv comprises an area of 721 square miles, or 4QI 553 acres, of which more than two-thuds arc Under cultivation or pasturage. The popu lation of the county, at present, may be about ifiTi not) It has three good harbors, namely, W«X>rd! Do prv.™ Tow**.' The first -ii the estuary of the river Banow, and is perhaps the finest harbor on the Irish coast. The last is at the month of the Black water river and although a noble bay, it does not afford that shelter to shipping which is fomid at Cork harbor on the one side, oi Dungarvau and JKatorford on the other. , <• ■fl-Ar- 1 is the principal dairy county of IremdWd from its shores are sent annually to England large quantities of butter, eggs, and other farm products, besides numerous head of cattle and oxen. The city of VVatei.oid is situate on the right bank of the Suir, which Is the onlv natural water outlet to the sea of the interior of the counties Tipperary and Waterford, which are chiefly ’W K i ll tural districts. There are some minerals found In the country, but they iiris Wt mucb woi ked. The principal mining district in tne country that at Boumahou and Stradbaliy, where an ex tensive vein of copper has been followed for several miles under the bed of the ocean. These mines and the works attached to them would well repay a visit. They were for many years.under the superintendence of John ieth erick, Esq., whose engineering skill has been tested on this side of the Atlantic also. Durgarvan is a very pleasant town, situate on the bay of that name aud distant from Waterford about 25 miles. It is well laid out and neatly built, and is much resorted to m summer lor its sea-bathing facilities. It has very little trade, however, its harbor being fitted only for fishing smacks and vessels of 150 tons burthen. It has many beautiful coun try seats on every side, aud is on the whole a pleasant place to spend a summer season. ' A few miles distant from Waterford harbor is the town and bay of Tramore, an inlet between two bold headlands dangerous to shipping. It has little or no trade, however. It is also a pleasant place, and is resorted to for sea-bath ing and by invalids. The famous Kuockraelcdon and Curameragh mountains intersect the county Waterford from East to West, rising in some places to the height ol 2,600 feet above the sea level. The estates are mostly large; that of the Marqu’s of Waterford, (Beresford) whose residence, Cur raghinorc, is in the vicinity of that city, com prises 4,600 acres finely wooded and traversed by the river Clyde. Some of the oldest towns in Ireland are in this county, aud the best pre served round tower in the whole island is found standing in the churchyard of Ardmore. The town of Ardmore is situated on a bay or indentation of that name a few miles from Youghall, County Cork. It contains besides the round tower, the partial ruins of a monas try or Cathedral named after St. Declan, a na tive Christian missionary who preceded the good St. Patrick in this labor of love. Declan was the son of Eric, chief of a noble family of the Deise (County Waterford,) aud at the early age of seven years, manifesting a religious dis position, he was placed under the instruction of a Christian teacher whose name is still pre served in Kildimo Abbey, Limerick. The young missionary is described as being in per son handsome, in garb and gait humble, in counsel mighty, in discourse powerful, in char ity ardent, in behavior cheerful, iu gifts.pro fuse, and in life and labors holy and eminent. . St. Declan’s oratory, which is still preserved at Ardmore, is a curious ancient relic, the sight of which transfers the mind back to the early days of Christianity and its int roduction into Ireland in the fifth century. The dimensions of the little house are 18 feet 4 inches by 8 feet 9 inches in the clear. The roof is of modern build, having been erected it 1716 by the Bishop of Waterford for the preservation of the orato ry. The original entrance was at the west end, blit the accumulation of soil even to tiie lintel renders it useless. It is 5 feet 6 inches in height j and its lintel is formed by a single stone more ! than six feet iiv length. The door way tapers 1 in width from two feet at lintel to two feet five inches at base. The windows display the same tapering char acteristic. The entrance at present is through thu north wiudow which has been opened for that purpose. The interior presents no feature of interest save that a large excavation in the southeast angle is shown as Dcclau’s grave.— The walls of this vault’are of masonry, and the descent- is by a few steps. The earth taken from it (and which is often put into it. that it may be consecrated by lying there) -is super stitiously reverenced by the peasantry, and is considered efficacious in protecting from di.<- ease. The Monastery of Ardmore was founded by Deelan himself, and grew out of the Seminary which) e also established for the training of the converts from Paganism among his people. Its Abbots enjoyed episcopal rank according to the grant of the Synod of Cashel held A. D. 448, when the See founded by Declan was con firmed. The names of his successors are near ly all lost. Moel-Ettrim O’Duibhc-Rathra, Bishop, who erected a church at this'place, probably the Teampul Deiscart , or Church of the South, on the cliff at Ardmore, and who died in 1203 is suoposed to have b6en the last Bishop of this ancient see. In the reign of Elizabeth, Ardmore was incorporated witli Lisraore and merged into the sec of Waterford, and henceforth it i< lost sight of. In 1591, the then Bishop of Waterford and Lisniore, Thomas Witherhead, with the consent of the Dean and Chapter, demised the manor, lordship, castle, town and lands of Ardmore for a term of 101 years to Sir Walter Raleigh. lie was ejected, however, two years later by Sir John foowdall, of Pilltown, who continued in undisturbed possession until "May, 1004, when King James granted this manor to Sir Richard Boyle, afterwards Earl of Cork, with power to take possession without suit, or else by law to recover the same. This bouse was standing till the Reformation, and a portion of its ruins ex isted about a century ago, but no visible trace of it remains at present. Some subterranean passages probably communicating with tiie cathedral, as was the custom of the early Chris tians in nearly all European countries, have been at times discovered but never thoroughly explored. A few years ago an ancient hatchet was found in one of these passages, but, to the no snyill disgust and indignation of historians and antiquarians, this relic of olden times was broken up to make nails. The Cathedral of St. Declan, is an interesting edifice, consisting of a Nave and Choir, erected at different periods, as its style indicates. In the lower part of the north wall of the Choir is ancient masonry of Cyclopoem character, the stones not being laid in courses, but fitted ac cording to their natural forms around each other at random. This portion of the building belongs to tiie age of Declan’s immediate suc cessors in the sixth or seventh centuries. The Nave is in thellibecno-Romanesque style of the 11th century. It was built doubtless when Christianity had extended itself in the district, for the purpose of affording additional accom modation to the worshippers: and the more ancient building, to which it was added, was then converted info a Choir. The ruined west gable presents a series of sculptured niches of elaborate design and execution. About two feet from the ground are two large semicircular compartments, enclosed in a moulded string course. in that to the north are three arched niches, containing scriptural representations aud illustrations of the conversion of the early Pagan Prince of the district and other notables. Heavy buttresses have been built on the north and east ends to preserve the Cathedral from destruction. There were originally three entrances into the Cathedral, two on the south side, into the Nave and Choir respectively, and one on the north side, into the Nave. Accu mulated burials on the south side have raised the earth against these entrances to hearly [half their height, making them unavailable, and the only entrance now used is that to the Nave on the north. The upper part of the north wall within is ornamented with arches and compart ments, such as arc common in Norman designs. There are two sepulchral arches, one in each wall north and south. Excavations have been made beneath them, but no reliques of interest were found. Beven tapered seen in the graveled walks, covered the aestiDg places of brethren ol the ancle at monasterm*^:?'? t This view is coufirmcd by the discover in 1845 of a pair of shoes ol the same kind as those worn by men in a religious order, and which were made by the brethren themselves. It was the custom in Ireland not to bury any person \ with shoos save priests, monks and friars. Hie Choir Arch is of great beauty. The piers arc massive and have capitals sculptured with the lotus in find. From them springs a pointed moulded arch, through which the InterlaJHi seen to great advantage, and appears as it sdt* a frame The Font has been removed to trlj modern village church. In the choir arc of the families of Odell (the lords of the ma nor,) Koch ami Gee. A sculptured flag oi the loth century bears the Smyth arms. The Choir measures within walls «4 feet by L , and the Nave 72 feet by 26. The former was used as the parish church until 1842. There are several objects of interest around this town of Ardmore which would occupy too much space for one paper, and which wo wiil deter for another occasion. The President and His Policy—lnterview with Hon. Benj. Eggleston. A Washington dispatch to the Cincinnati Commercial , under date of Saturday, has the following statement, which the President has prouounced false: j Representative Eggleston, 01 fen, long interview with the Presldcnjtw-'naj’. He 6pent more than an hour in conversing with him on o-encral matters, reconstruction among'the rest” After talking of the result of the election Mr. Eggleston asked the President if lie did not think it would have been better for him to have surrendered his views aud opinions in favor of the popular verdicts in October and November, and not to have pressed his policy iu his message. The President replied to this that he did not think ho had shown any fur ther opposition to the popular verdict than merely to express his opinions to Congress in what he thought would best conduce to the welfare of the country. He thought the Radi cal party had made a great mistake in speuding so much time as they did last session before announcing upon what terms they would agree to readmit the Southern States, and that great damage to the public welfare had been there*, suit of this delay. Now that Congress had passed the amendment, and it Was to become a part, of the Constitution, lie could see no guaranty that the Southern States would be admitted, even alter the ratification iiad been lull v accomplished. ''t Mr. Eggleston replied to this thatch ere was an implied guaranty in the speedy admisaioi, of Tennessee after her Legislature had ratified the Amendment, and that he thought the part) with which he acted would lie nearly a unit the admission of other late rebel States, as soon as they had complied with the conditions exacted from Tennessee. The President said lie hoped this would prove to be true, but he feared there would be a strong opposition to such a policy, from the extreme Radicals. Mr. Eggleston said he felt little doubt on the subject. There might be some opposition lroin Messrs. Sumner and Stevens, but it was a 1 * good characteristic of Mr. Stevens that if lie couldn’t get what he wanted he would take the best he could get. “Yes,” said the President, “that’s true of Stevens, and I always liked him for it—a prac tical man, though he seems to me to be work ing in the wrong direction.” The President repeated the hope that the South would be admitted to representation on the adoption of the Amendment. It was use j less, he said, to discuss the propriety orimpro- I priety of the conditions embraced in that ! measure. It had been agreed upon, apd all j could now ask was that (Lie guaranty of repre- * ■ sontation upon that basis should he faithfully kept by the party that had offered it. Ile cx- I pressed regret and surprise that so few mem-J hers of Congress had called upon him since * the openitigßof the session. . Mr. Eggleston replied that he did not think members of Congress should carry their an- i tagonism so far as that. He believed in fight ing out old political battles before the people, and thought that opposition to the views of., the President ought not to deter members from conferring with the Executive, or consulting him on business matters. The President concurred in this view exact ly. He would like to have men of all political complexions to call on him and tell him what he wanted. No harm efttild possibly come of such an interchange of Views, and a great deal of good might come of it. Now that t lie quar rel had been settled, as most people thought, there was certainly no reason why Senators and Representatives should so sedulously avoid him. • Thp conversation was concluded by Mr. Eggleston inquiring about the Mexican ques tion. The President replied that it didn’t look M favorable as be had iioped to have it, but sty)# he thought’all would be well. The Financial Policy ok SKCREflrer McCulloch. —But can he do it (return to specie payments)? It is doubtful. At the pre seut time Mr. McCulloch has but five or six hundred millions in the Treasury wherewith to pay the interest on the national debt and meet the current daily expenses of the Government. He will then he constrained for many days, if not many months, to pay in naper the expenses of the Government. Besides the representa tives of the Northern States, of the Northwest and of Pennsylvania—protectionist States who have made their fortune by tiie emission of paper money—will refuse,, perhaps, as they have since 1861, to return to specie payment. Again, all the capitalists who have funds in the innumerable National Banks, established at the beginning of the war, know that, as far as they are concerned, ruin would he the result of a re turn to specie payments. These banks, in fact, have no need of specie to carry on their specu lations - r for they use but paper money and yield magnificent dividends to their managers. Thus, at Philadelphia one of these banks has paid a dividend of twenty-two per cent., three others twenty per cent., and others from seven teen to t welve per cent. Twen y-fivc of these banks Lave given annual dividends of thirteen per cent. These immense results would be im possible with a return to the old system that existed before the war, with specie for a base of operations, which then was not worth a premium of forty-two per cent., as it is to-day. It is this which leads us to believe that the specie payment plan announced bytheSecrc-. tary of the Federal Treasury will for a long time to come remain decreed but not fulfilled. [Han’s Patric , Dee. 1. Tice Weather.—Oar Georgia aud South Carolina exchanges all announce the extreme cold. The Macon Telegraph says : Tub Poor.—Alas, for the poor in such weather as this! So say we; but every one should have their own lass. But it is cold weather aud we don’t like it. We had thought that we were becom ing reconstructed by degrees, But this is several degrees lower than we wish to go. Some man equally unharmonized gets off the Mlowing: “ Oh! the frost, the freezing frost, biting our nose as we go; all sense oi feeling is utterly lost, and our zest for the beaijtilul snow. The Northern kind a tribute has rung, iu the shape of a pearly tear, which a moment ago like a dew-drop hung, from the jtoint often graced with a 6neer. Oh! the Irost, the delectable frost, that finds us wherever we go, wrapped in its fearsome shroud like a ghost, and con veviu" to our mcndUn blood u dis oust For those sentimental donkeys who hypo critically prate of the beautiful snow.” In an old Kinderhook Almanac of 1847 is the following prediction about the United States: When the country is ruled by a tailor bold, A beeear shall stitch with a thimble of KOid ; And the water shall furnish, instead of the Three millions of men, with their first m Apart of this prophecy has The tailor bold rules beggars of I lie Hump .■ _ rtitdi up the lie purse.
