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Uftrror of (j)t ®iwf«, MACON, GA., JANUARY 6, 1866. The New Year. Another year, like a bubble borne upon the stream of time, has floated into the past, and is numbered with “ the things that were.” What changes have been witnessed by the year just gone—what joys and sor rows—what temptations and trials—what defeats and triumphs—are only known to Him who knoweth aH things ! Where is the old year ? And where are all the years — first new and then old—which have come and gone since that night on which the Shepherds of Bethlehem hailed the Star in the East, nearly nineteen centuries ago ? How long a time and yet how short a time! How long compared to the period of man’s life on earth, and yet how short to those who, already embarked on the vast ocean of eter. nity, look back upon it. Time has been said to resemble a varied extent of country, diversified with fields and flowers, hills and dales, mountains and valleys. We wander on, as went the Chil dren of Israel through the wilderness—as we fall by the way our posterity continue the ever onward march. Viewed through its minute experiences, their toilsome journey ieems to be long—but the old man who, from some high eminence to which he has attain ed, sees the sun set for the last time, finds that the point from which he first set out upon his pilgrimage, lies on the opposite side of the little valley of his life, and is almost within his reach. And the history of these departed years is the same old story. “Man springs up, flourishes and ripens; the old Reaper comes forth with his keen and well-tried sickle, to gather in his harvest. Seated on his pon derous car, he swiftly urges his mettlesome and tireless steeds on to eternity. He hur ries through the living human field, to cut its tenants down. Thus, year after year goes he by, bearing in his train the hopes and joys, the cares and sorrows of man- Mnd.” To no people has the year just past been more eventful to those of the South ern States—to none has it brought more of disappointment and of loss. The rich and prosperous have been reduced to beggary— and the old year leaves in penury, in many instances in abject want, thousands to whom the newyear brought “enough and to spare.’' The land is full of mourners—widows and, orphans—whose dear ones have been torn from them by the hand of ruthless war; and although peace now smiles upon our land, it is to a vast multitude a peace that brings no “healing on its. wings.” It has been a sad—a bitter—lesson, and it be comes us as a people to heed its teachings. Let there be no such thing as despair or despondency in our hearts. “Let the dead past bury its dead,” while we look to the fu ture, hopefully and prayerfully. “What though Fortune, in her bitterest mood, may cast the clouds of sorrow o'er our path ?—* V hat though the merry laugh of joy may find its echo in the mournful cry of sadness or of misery ? What though the tide of For tune, like the mighty ocean’s Wave, shall rise, and sweep resistless over us ? We are not conquered yet; our spirits still are free • we dash its blighting spray aside, and 'like a goodly gallant barque, we breast the storm. There is a beacon-star which burns with un diminished lustre to light us on our way. And lo! high o’er the ramparts of the wished for goal, a flaunting flag is given to the wind ; behold the talismanic words, in scribed in living characters of fire, upon it— Hope amj, Persevere ! Yes, hope, in all our cares and sorrows, shall cheer us on our way, hope so sweet that danger is forgot, and sor row flees before its inspirations.” In conclusion, we-wish our readers health, prosperity and a ‘happy New Year!’ The Cattle Plague in England. Recent English advices show that the terrible' plague among the cattle has been increasing in England during the past two months most alarmingly. i n November the 1 attacks had risen, compared with a previous monthly average, from 14,000 to about 27,- 000, and the deaths, destruction included to upwards of 20,000. Between the 4th and 11th of November, the number of cases in creased by fifty per cent. In the ensuing week tnings were not quite so bad, but there was a further increase still. The London Times assumes that the deaths, instead 6f 700 a week, are at least four times that num ber, and if winter does not bring a change for the better, the losses may be 5,000 or 6,000 a week before Christmas. The recent action of Congress, prohibiting the importation of cattle into the United States, having been signed by the President, is now a law of the country, and it is hoped that worn ay escape this terrible plague. Who will Advertise ? The Mirror of the limes appears before the public now, soliciting a good share of its advertising patronage. Under the new combination, with its facilities for getting subscribers, it expects a large subscription list; and therefore it has such claims for such patronage as other papers may urge. But it has another claim still upon all liberal men. It seeks to become a public blessing. It is the cheapest 'paper in the country. It commends itself, by its very object, by its news, its miscellany, and, above all, by its moral and religious tone, to every family, as a repertory of choice, in teresting and instructive reading matter; and it wishes to be all it claims to be, most especially to those in humble circumstances, who can afford to pay but little for a paper. But it cannot be sustained at its low price, without a liberal patronage from advertisers. They, therefore, become public benefactors, by helping to fill its columns with their ad vertisements. We trust they will consider this, as one very great inducement toward giving us the patronage we solicit;, and that in Macon, first of all, we may find a host of such friends, and other hosts of them in other cities. Two Papers in One.—We give our readers two papers on one sheet. By cut ting them apart, at the top, they may be read by two members of the family at the same time, and we would suggest that plan where there are several feaders who are anxious to get at its contents. The two papers may also be bound separately, making at the end of the year two handsome volumes. ' “Mirror of the Times.” —A little blunder has prevented us giving this head ing in the type we intended. Therefore, the paper docs not present exactly the ap pearance we had expected. When the type ordered is received, there will be a change. The Markets. —A gentleman whose ex perience, industry and skill make him a most valuable assistant, is to give us con stant aid in the commercial, financial and general business departments of the paper/ We will endeavor to make arrangements to give weekly the latest news of the markets in all the centres of trade in which our cir culation is largest. We hope to commend the paper to general esteem for the accuracy of his reports. Gov. Jenkins’ Inaugural Address. —lt may be that many of our readers have already perused this admirable paper. But it deserves a second reading—close atten tion—and we desire to have it in permanent form. For this reason, and lor the sake of giving it to many readers outside of this State, who may not otherwise see it, we pub lish it at this late date. We do not often find an opportunity of reading so good a State paper—so wise, so just, so high-toned, so full of sympathy with the sufferings of the people he is called to govern, Important Decision* , The Deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue has recently made the following decision, which is of great importance to a very useful class of the community : A newspaper publisher having taking li cense as a manufacturer, may sell his pa pers; or he may sell bill-heads, printed cards, and printed circulars, etc., of his own manufacture or printing, without a dealer’s license. The fact that a manufacturer has taken a license does not relieve him from the payment of the excise tax. The law, in express terms, imposes a tax of six percent. ad valorem on printed bill heads, cards, cir culars, and what is usually termed as job printing. A New Book. W. Gilmore Simms, LL. D., the emi nent poet and novelist, proposes to publish a volume, to be made up of such poems cf merit as have been published at the South during the late war, and which relate to or were suggested by its events and incidents; and he requests that copies of all such may be sent him by their several writers, or others interested, at the earliest possible moment. It is especially desirable that each piece shall bo accompanied, not only by the name of the writer, but also that of the paper or period ical in which it first appeared, and its origi nal date of publication. His address is Charleston, S. C., care of the, “ South Car linian” • newspaper. This work could not possibly be in abler hands, and we wish the enterprise the fullest measure of success. The newspaper press in the Southern States will do the public and Mr. Simms a service by j giving this notice an insertion in their several papers. People talk of the joys of youth. But ara they not bah, need by the miseries of youth ?—• orrow to the experienced is sorrow ; but sor to l he i D expei-i ence and j B despair. The man linßPwl. 1 'v 1110 tas * sen mu ch of life knows that, 1 &«:*■** —* THE MIRROR OF THE TIMES. CONGRESSIONAL. The Thirty-Ninth Congress of the United States met at noon on the 4th of December. The names of none of the Southern members were placed on the roll. In the House, the old speaker, Colfax, of Indiana, was re-elected over his oppo nent, Brooks, of New York. A Joint Committee (15 from the House and 6 from the Senate,) was appointed to inquire into the condition of the late Confederate States, and to report whether they, or any of them, are entitled to representa tion in Congress. In the Senate Mr. Sumner introduced bills to grant the right of suffrage to negroes in the District of Columbia, and prescri bing a test oath to be administered at the South. On the sth, the President’s Message was sent in. It contains a statement of the principles by which the President is guided in the administra tion of the government. He insists that the Government cannot consti tutionally interfere with the subject of suffrage within the States, though “good faith requires the security of the freedmen in their liberty and their property, their right to labor, and their right to claim the just return of their labor.”— Whether the two races can live together, is, in his opinion, a matter of experiment. He thinks that the future of the South is “ la den with greater prosperity than has ever before been known,” and that these regions will be peopled by a numerous and enterprising popu lation, which will vie with any in the Union in compactness, inventive genius, wealth and in dustry.” He next delivers a blow against monopolies, speaks a word in favor of the Homestead law, asks provision for a large increase in the pen-' sion list, now numbering 85,986 persons, re quiring annually $8,023,445, and to be largely increased next year. The Post Office earned during the last fiscal year $14,556,148, and expended $13,694,728. At the commencement of the year 1865, there were in commission 530 vessels, carrying 3,000 guns and manned by 51,000 men. There are now in commission 117 vessels, with 880 guns and 12,128 men. On the Ist of May, 1865, the National mili tary force numbered 1,000,516 men. The vol unteer force has already been reduced by the discharge of over 801,000 troops. It is pro posed to reduce the military establishment to a peace footing, comprehending 50,000 troops of all arms, organized so as to admit of an en largement to 82,600, which smaller number will require an annual appropriation of $83,- 814,461. lie thinks that the gradual reduction of the currency, which has expanded from $200,000,- 000 in 1800-to s7oo,boo,qpo in 1865, is “the only measure that can save the business of the country from disastrous calamities ; and this can be almost imperceptibly accomplished by gradually funding the notional circulation in securities that may be made redeemable at the pleasure of the Government.” The President, in referring to the public debt, says that “we should look at the national debt just as it is—not as a national blessing, but as a heavy burden on the industry of the country, to be discharged without unnecessary delay.” The Secretary of the Treasury thinks it may be liquidated within thirty years. It amounted on the 31st of October to $2,740,854,750. On the 6th, the standing committees of the* Senate were announced. The following are the chairmen: Foreign Affairs, Sumner; Finance, Fessenden; Commerce, Chandler; Military Affairs, Wilson; Pensions, Lane; Judiciary, Trumbull; Claims, Clark; Revolutionary Claims, Rarifcay ; Patents, Cowan ; Territories, Wade. Mr. Sumner introduced a bill to regulate com merce between the different States. In the House, bills were introduced 4‘or the repudia tion of the Confederate war debt, and to secure to all persons equal protectiexf and the rights of liberty. Both Houses then adjourned to Mon day, the 11th. Dec. 11.—In the Senate, a memorial was pre sented and referred from 2500 freedmen of the District of Columbia, asking the right of suf frage. A resolution was introduced calling on the President for information as to the foreign occupancy of Mexico; and Mr. Wade intro duced resolutions on the same subject, calling on the President to indicate the policy of this governmeut. In the House, a resolution was introduced and referred providing for reim bursing the loyal lor advances made and debts incurred for the preservation of the Union ; another declaratory of the condition of tne late ly rebellious States and the position of Con gress in relation to them; a joint resolution with reference to the Mexican question. The House retused to suspend the rules to allow the introduction of a resolution to permit Southern representatives the privileges of the house. The following are the chairmen of the standing committees of the House: Commerce, Wash burne, of 111. ; Military Affairs, Schenck, of Ohio ; Naval Affairs, Rice, of Mass. ; Foreign Affairs, Banks, of Mass. ; Elections, Davis, of Mass; Ways and Means, Morrell, of Vt. ; Ap propriations, Stevens, of Pa. ; Judiciary, Wil son, pt Iowa; Banking anddurrency, Pomeroy, of N. Y. ; District of Columbia, Ingersoll, of Illinois. 1 Dec. 12.—1n the Senate, a bill was introduced and referred giving certain persons the right to lay a telegraph between the United States and the W eat Indies, and a resolution, also refer red, declaring the writ of habeas corpus restored in every State. A House resolution was called up, for the appointment of a join imipi ,t ‘ , e on the subjeet of the lately rebellious States, and with certain amendments was adopted. In the House, Mr. Raymond, of New York, presented the credentials of the Tennessee members, and after a brief debate, they were, on Mr. Ray mond’s motion, referred to the Select Commit tee, by 126 yeas to 41 nays. A resolution giv ing them the privileges of the House, pending the decision of their case,*was tabled, but they were subsequently invittfti to take seats in the hall of the House. „ Dec. 13.—1n the Senate, a resolution was re ferred to pay the late Senator Collaiper’s salary to his widow, and Mr. Sumner introduced a re solution, which was passed, to find out the em ployees of the War and Treasury Departments who have not taken the oath of loyalty. In the House, the resolution providing for a joint com* mittee to examine into the condition of the Southern States, with Senate amendments, was passed. The Judiciar/ Committee were in structed to report what compensation ought to be made for property in the revolted States de stroyed by the Federal armies. Dec. 14.—Resolutions of respect to the late Senator Collamer, of Vermont, were offerred in the Senate, after which it adjourned till the 18th. In the House, various appropriation bills were passed. .A resolution was offered and passed declaring that treason against the Uni ted States government is a crime and ought to be punished. (Who ever doubted it?) Eulo gies on the late Senator Collamer were pro nounced. After which the House adjourned till the 18th. Dec. 18.—In the Senate, a petition of naval officers asking for increase of pay was referred. In the House, resolutions were referred provi ding that no one of the lately rebellious States shall be entitled to representation in Congress until the Legislature shall have repudiated the Confederate war debt and all claims for slaves emancipated ; declaring that the representa tives shall be admitted of such as have al ■ ready complied with these requirements, and have, in addition, passed laws for the protec tion of the freedmen, and enunciating the theo ry that class rule should not hereafter be recog nized by law, but ibat all should receive equal protection, without regard to social position or race. A resolution was adopted requesting in formation of the President as to the steps taken by the empire of Mexico to obtain recognition by the United States government. A resolution was adopted . endorsing the Secretary of the Treasury’s views in regard to contracting the curroncy. Dec. 19.—1n the Senate, a resolution was offered calling on the Secretary of War for a detailed statement of the numerical strength of the army. A message was received from the President in relation to the condition of affairs in the South, in which he says: “From all the information in my possession, and from that which I have derived from the most reliable authority, I am induced to cherish the belief that all sectional animosity is surely and rapid ly merging itself into a spirit of nationality, and that representation, connected with a pro perly adjusted system of taxation, will result in a harmonious restoration of the States to the National Union.” The President also furnishes a communication from General Grant, in which that officer says, that being in free conversa tion with the people of the South, during his recent toui% he is satisfied the people have ac cepted the present situation of affairs in good faith. Gen. Grant also says, there is such uni versal acquiescence in the authority of the Gen eral Government throughout the country visited by him, that the mere presence of the military force, without regard to numbers, is sufficient to maintain order, and says that the good of the country and economy require that this force should be composed of white troops. In the House, a resolution was adopted, by more than two-thirds, to submit to the Legislatures of the several States an amendment to their Constitu tions forever prohibiting the assumption of the Confederate debt. Dec. 20.—1n the Senate, Mr. Sumner made a speech in favor of the “bill to maintain the freedom of the inhabitants of the States lately in rebellion,” in the course us which he insisted that the spirit of the rebellion still existed. Senators Saulsbury and Cowan replied. In the House, Stevens introduced a biil to pay pen sions aud damages to the property of Union men out of confiscated property, the pensions to be doubled. Both Houses agreed to adjoui'n to-mori'ow till the sth of January, 18G6. Dec. 21.—1n the Senate, a resolution asking the President to inform the Senate upon what charges Jefferson Davis wars confined, and why he had not been brought to trial, was referred to (lie following committee : Messrs. Fessenden, Grimes, Harris, Howard, Johnson and Wilson. Mr. Sumner presented a petition from some col ored people of Tennessee, protesting against the admission of the delegates from that State until their rights were l’ecoguized ; also, a petition from certain white citizens of Washington City, asking for negro suffrage. In the House, a re solution was referred protesting against Euro pean occupancy of American territory. Fink, of Ohio, and Raymond, of New York, replied to the speech of Mr. Stevens. Both Houses ad journed till the sth of January. Internal Revenue Decision. Treasury Department, 1 Office of Internal Revenue, V Washington, Dec. Bth, 1865. J Sir —l reply to your letter of the sth instant, that it was formerly held by this office that the receipt given for a stamped check was exempt from stamp duly. It is now held, hovrever, that the receipts for a check, note, draft, or order, when received as the payment of a sum of money, or of a debt due exceeding twenty dollars, is subject to a stamp duty, the same as a l-eceipt for money paid. Very respectfully, D. C. Whitman, Acting Commissioner. The State Road. — The report of Robert Baugh, Superintendent of the State Road, shows that since the 25th of September, 1866, the time when the road was turned over to the State by the United States authorities, to the Ist ofNo vembea, the gross earnings were $170,793.38. Expenses sso,o74.so—showing a net increase for thirty-six days of $120,718.87. Eight loco motives and 185 freight cars have been pur chased of the United States Government. Eight of the most important bridges were to be com pleted by the 15th of Dec., and five more ou the Ist of January. About. $200,000 are needed to pay for repairs, purchase iron, etc., but the Superintendent believes the road can be made in a few years to relieve the people of the bur den of taxation. They tell of a tornado iD Italy which blew a train of cars into the Adriatic Sea, and drowned a lot of the passengers. The production of sugar in the Sandwich Is lands has reached from eight to nine millions of pounds yearly, and is increasing. The Pope of Rome was seventy-three years old on the 13th of May, and on the 16th of Oc tober he reached the nineteenth year of his pon-> tificate. The Empress Eugenie has written a pamphlet entitled “Mexico from a Providential Point of View” The Shah of Persia is ihinking of an iron-clad navy, and has sent agents to Europe to study the naval system. English omnibuses have been established which run from Jerusalem and Bethlehem to neighboring places. A merchant who started into business in New York a few years ago, with a capital of $160,000 was admitted to the alms-house last week as a pauper, The Test Oath— Judge R. H. Busteed, of the United States District Court at Mobile, re cently decided that the Test Oath Act, as it ap plies to lawyers practicing in the United States Courts is unconstitutional. Ex-President Frank Pierce was baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal Church at Con cord, New Hampshire, a few days since. New Counterfeit Fiftv Cent Currency How to Detect it. —The most re eent of the counterfeit fifty cent notes are so well executed that they are likely to deceive even the best “experts.” The following in foimation will be found useful in aiding our readers to detect them: The counterfeit is a bout an eighth of an inch shorter than the gen uine. The words “United, States” in the coun terfeit are not ouite as clearly defined as in the genuine. The sword held by the female in the vignette appears as a white speck in the genu ine. In the counterfeit it is more heavily en graved. Under the word “and” in the right upper corner there is a flourish in the genuine which is entirely absent in th® counterfeit. This last defect is one of the simplest means of detecting the bogus noteß. DOMESTIC POSTACES. The law requires postage on all let- (including those to foreign countries when prepaid,)exc putig those written to the President or Vice Pres dei.t, or members of Congr ss, or. (on offi cial business) to the chiefs of the executive depart ments of the government, and the heads of bureaus ana chief clerks, and others invested with the frank ins: privilege, to be prepaid bj stamps or stamped en» velopes. prepayment in money bemn proh bited All drop letters must be prepaid, at the rale of two cents per n&lf ounce, or fraction of & half ounce* by p stag- stamps. If not prepaid, the double rate to be charged. Tne single rate of postage on all domestic mail let ters throughout the United States is three cents per half ounce, with an additional rate of three ee ,ts for each a ditional ha f ounce or fraction of a hall ounce. The ten cent (Pa itie) rate is abolished. Rates of letter postage.to and from Canada and New Brunswick, loc p- r U oz , irrespective of distance, lo aud from ot er Ilrinsh N. A. Provinces for any dis tance not over 3 000 miles o con s. For any d,stance over 3,uOU miles " ...15 e nts. For every add tional half ounce, or fraction o a l.a'f ounce, au additional rale is cliargeu. Prepayment is optional en all lett rs f»r the British No t . American Province-, exc pc New 1* oui dland, to which prepay ment is compulsory. Letter post ge is to be charg and on all handbills, cir-* cul ts, or other printed matter which sha 1 co.tain any manuscript writ ng whatever. Daguerreotypes, when sent in the mail, are. to be cha ged with le ter potage by weight. Photographs on cards, paper, and other flexible ma terial, ( -ot in eu-es) c m be sent at ilie same rale as. miscellaneous primed matter—viz : two cents on each four ounces or f action hereof. Photograph Albums .are chargeable with book post age—four cents for each four ounces, or fraction there of Postmasters are autho ized to pay for each letter addressed to the Un ted States by any se -going ves sel frm a foreign port, (not carrying the mail,) two eents. and for . ach letter addressed to the United States brought by any vessel on inland waters, (not carrying the mail,) or brought coastwise from one do mestic port *o another, one ceu ; but to ei title the eatr er t-> such payment, the lett. rs must be p omptly rie ivened to the post office upon arrival. At the post office where deposited, such letters will be chargt and with double ra es of postage, to be collected at the of fice of delivery . that is to say, six cents for the single v. eight, if mailed, ands ur cents the single weight if" delivered at the office; but if such letter has been ! repaid by United States stamps, at such dou e rale of postage, no additional charge will be tun e. If only jauly pit-paid by stamp-', double the unpaid balance will be charged and c >llectea on delivery. Postage on Daily Papers o subscribers when prepaid quarterly or yearly in advance, ei ther at tin mailit g ofrice or office of deliv ery per quarter, (three tnon hs) 35 cents. Six times per week, per quarter, (3 moutn. )... o eenls. For Tr.-Weekly “ “ 15 cents. For Semi-Vv eekly “ “ 1 cents. For Weekly “ “ 6 cents-. VVekkly Newspapies (one copy only) sent by lite pub li her to actual aunser b rs within the county where printed slid publish d ,free. lostaoe Pisa Quakte > (to be paid quart rly or yearly in advanc ) u Newspapers ad Periodicals issued less' frequently than once « week set t to actual sub-icruers in any paito. ti.e United States: Semi-monthly, not over 4 0z...., 6 cent®. “ over 4 i z. and not aver 8 oz . ...13 cents. “ over 8 oz. and not over 12 oz 18 cents. Monthly, not over 4 oz a cents. ‘ over 4 oz and not, over 8 oz G cents. “ over 8 oz and not over 12 oz.. O cents. Quarterly, not over 4 oz l cant. “ over 4 oz and not over 8 oz 2 ceuts. “ over 8 oz. and not over 12 oz 3 cents-. Publisiixrs or Newspapers and Periodicals may sevuitt© each <>tner from their respective offices of pablic<> tion,free of postage, one copy of <a n pub nation and may also s-nd to each initial subscriber, inelosj ed iu their publications, bills ano receipts for she same, free of pos age. They may al o state on their publications, tne dau; when the subscription expires, to b written or printed. Reiig ■ us. Educational and Agricultural Newspapers of small size, issued less frt quentl loan once t» week may be sent in packages to one address at the rate of one cent f reach package not exceeding four ou ces iu weight, and an additional charge of one cent is made lor each add! ional four ounces or frac tion th roof, the pos age to be paid quarterly or yearly in advance. Newsdealers may vend newspapers and pe-iodicals to regular sub.ciibers at the quar erly xates, iu the tame manner as publishers, and may also receive tm m fr m publishers at subscribers ra es, in both cases the postage to be prepaid at the mailing or de livery office. j. Publications issued without disclosing the < ffice of publication, or co taimng a fictitious statement thereof, most not be forwarded by postmasters un less prepaid at the maili g office atthe rates-of trans ient printed matter. postage on transient printed matter. {All printed matter (exe-pt single copies of newspa pers to regu ar subscribers) gent via Overland Mail, is to b charge t at letter jwstage lates.] Book-i, not over 4 oz. in weight, o one address, 4 ets. • over 4 oz. and not over 8 oz. 8 ets ; over Boz and not over 12 oz. 12 ets.; over 12 oz. and not over 16 oz., 16 ets. Circulars, not exceeding three in number, to one ad diess,2cts ; over three and not over six, 4 ets ; over six and not over nine, 6 ets.; over nine and not ex ceeding twelve, 8 ets On Mi-cellank us Mailable M'tter (embracing all pamphlets, occasional publications, tiansient news papers, handbill* and poste s, book manuscripts and proo'-sheets whether coirected or not. maps, prints, engravings, sheet music, blanks, flexible patterns, samples and sample cards, phonographic paper, le ter. envelopes, posta' envelopes or wrap pers. cards, paper plain or ornamental, photographic representations of different types, seeds, cuttings, , bulbs, roots, and scions.) the po-tage to be prepaid by stamps, is, on one package to one address, not over 4 oz. in weight, 2 ets.; over 4 oz and not over 8 oz , 4 ets ; over 8 oz. and not over 12 oz., 6 ets ; over 12 oz. a M not over 16 oz . 8 et-o By a recent order of the Postmaster General the fiftlß' subdivision of the 42d instruction of the new Past Office Law, has been amended by striking oat the word twelve and inserting thirly-two b f re the word ounces, so that it shall read as mllows— -The w< ight of packages of seeds, cutti' gs, roots and scions, to be franked, is 1 mited to thiny-two ounces ” A 1 mail matter not sent at letter rates of postage,em bracing books, book manuscripts. proof-s'n ets and other printed rnader, and all other mail matter, ex cept steds, must be so wrapped or enveloped with open sides or ends as to enable the postmaster to examine the package without de-troyi.ig the wrap per, oth-rwise suen packages must be rat and with letter postage. No communication, whether in writ ing or in print, can be sent with any seeds, roots, cut tings or scions, maps, engtavings or other matter not printed, except upon the separate payment of postage upon e«ciiseparate matter atthe established rates. Exeha ge newspapers and periodicals cannoibe re— maileo without being eh rgeubfe with postage - Weekly newspapers am. ail ether printed matter to * the British North American Provinces, although sent fr m countries bordering oft the line, are chargeable with the same rates as when sent to any point in tha Uniteo States. 45P-A 1 transient matter must be prepaid by stamps. But if it comes to the office of delivery without pre payment, or short-paid, the unpaid postage must be co lected ou delivei y at double the prepaid rate. Great neglect exists iu the strict quarterly prepayment of postage o i print and matter ,-et t to regular sub setioers No such paper should he deliver ed, unless ib is either prepaid ai tne mailing office, or at the de livery office for at at least a qua ler. ' f not so pre paid, postmasters must collect p stage on each copy as on ransient matier. If they, ail. they will be charged with the full postage due , and in clear cases removed from office for neglect. To inclose or conceal a letter or other thing (except bills ana receip s for subscription) in, ox to w.ite or print anything, after its publication, upon any newspaper,- pamphlet, magazine, or other printed matter, is ille gal. and six'jects such printed matter and the entire package of which it is a part, to letter postage. Any word or commun’cacion, whether by printing, writing, marks or signs, upon the cover or wrapper of a newspap r, pamphlet, magazine, or other print ed matter, other than the name and address of the person to whom it is to be sent, and the date-when subscription expires, subjects the package to letter postage. Making thb best of it.—A Yankee out walking, in Virginia, at Wheeling, while him self a talking, experienced a feeling—strange, painful and alarmin’—from his caput to hte knees, as he suddenly discovered he was cover ed o’er with hees ! They rested on his eyelids and perched upon his nose; they colonized his peaked face and swarmed upon his clothes.— They explored his swelling nostrils, dived deep into'his ears; they ci’kwled up his trowsers and filled his eyes with tears ! Did he yell like a hyena? Did he holler like a loon? Was h® scar’t, and did he cut and run ? or, did the crit ter swoon? Ne’er a one! He wasn’t scar’t a mite ; he never swoons—nor hollers; but h® hived ’em in a nail keg tight! and sold ’em for two dollars! Rhine Wine.—Some queer fellow, who has tried ’em, says: “There are two kinds of win® in SiQttgard ; to drink one is like swallowing an angry cat; the other like pulling the animal back again by the taiL”