List of Letters- List of Letters remaining in the Post Office at New Orleans…Persons calling will please mention that they are advertised (a very long list of names..several hundred).
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Arkansas- The Little Rock Gazette complains of the irregularity of the mails in that section of the state, and says:
It is bad enough to receive no mails, or to receive them irregularly, when the roads are in an impassable condition, or even when they are so bad as to afford some shadow of excuse for the failure. But now, when there is no obstacle in the way, and when stages arrive regularly with passengers, there is some great fault, either in the mail contractors or the Post Office officials, if we do not get our mails regularly.
On the 18th the river opposite Little Rock was still at low water mark, with little prospect of a rise.
Crops- Of the crops in Drew county the Monticello Sage says:
Never in the history of Drew count y has there been a more flattering prospect for crops than the present; we have not suffered form drouth, and our branches, which usually are dry at this season are now running, and the corn crops early and late, which require much rain in our natural thirsty soil, will be abundant. This product, which has been bringing from $1.50 to $2.00 per bushel, will, it is thought, bring only fifty cents, and if the mast crop is as abundant as reported, much corn will be sold at more reduced prices still. The cotton crop is truly promising throughout the entire county, and also in the adjoining counties. The stalks are large, healthy and well bolled, and if no casualty comes, more cotton will be raised than can possibly be gathered.
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Slave Insurrection In Virginia- Four of them Killed.- (see yesterdays Boston Evening Transcript, an exact copy)
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The Cincinnati Shooting Affair.- Geo. J. Caldwell, who shot and killed Charles C. Brown, U.S. Commissioner, on Saturday, has been rearrested and held to bail.
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The Prospects of the Crops- …the probable yield of the great staple products of the nation…In some states, also, the corn crop has done well; but looking at it throughout the Union, and particularly in the slave states, the deficiency will be very serious, indeed. The same cause, long continued and extreme drouth, has done serious damage to the crops of tobacco, hemp, cotton and sugar, and it is apparent that the quantity of each of these important agricultural products that may be expected in market will fall below that supplied in the business year now approaching its close. The extent of the falling off in cotton it is yet too soon to guess, so much depending on a season favorable to picking; nevertheless, sufficient is known to satisfy the greatest sticklers for a large crop, that, compared with the past season, the deficiency will be very considerable. The general prosperity of the country and the healthy condition of trade in Europe, may confidently be expected to moderate the harsh effects that would otherwise result from the great falling off in the corn crop of the South; still the pressure of the times upon all who have heavy engagements to meet will make the demand for money more active than it has been found of late years. The sensible legislation of our State, which has removed every restriction form the free circulation of money, by leaving to borrowers and lenders the entire regulation of interest, subject only to the laws which govern every other department of trade, demand and supply, has relieved the community from those gloomy anticipations so common in the olden time, when, apprehensive of a scarcity, each one was bidding against his neighbor in bank, and with those who disregarded the usury laws, and long before the actual necessity to make provision for future liabilities had arisen. Now, on the contrary, since it is no longer criminal to do with money as with every other marketable commodity, obtain for it what those requiring it think it is worth in the open mart, nobody is in a hurry to lay up a supply, each one being satisfied that at a higher or lower rate, in any event, he can make his negotiations at the required time and without disturbing the market or inflating it unduly, by being in advance of the requirements of his own demands and wants. The nonsensical folly of those antediluvian free-traders who imagine that unrestricted interest was only another name for insupportable exactions, has been made very transparent since the first change in the law, for never has money been so abundant here, and at no past time have loans been so easily obtained, irrespective of all other considerations, than the needful one of ability to pay and the integrity of the borrower. Houses, whose paper is on the street, as the phrase is, are now classified like ships, according to their supposed staunchness, and any man having money for the market can ascertain in half an hour the rates at which the acceptances of every business establishment can be obtained, and the reason of the discrepancies in price. Mr. Snooks is No. 2 in broker’s classification, because he is known to be a large acceptor for new lands and negroes of only prospective availability; and Cotton, Corn & Co., are at the moment slow of sale, because their maturing obligations for some large planters, whose crops are short, are known to be heavy. In this way the paper in brokers’ hands is now put upon the market and its price is regulated by the presumed strength or resources of the maker, his integrity as a merchant, and the prudence with which he is believed to conduct his affairs. The enlightened wisdom of relieving the pecuniary transactions of the public from restrictions only respected by fastidious observers of law, is now universally admitted, and if panics in finance should hereafter occur, as is likely enough, their duration and extent must, from the free trade of money which exists here, be brief indeed.
A considerable advances in price will probably be experienced in most of our marketable products if the falling off in yield be as great as looked for; still, viewing at the country through all its interests alike, we can see no ground to apprehend any disturbances of affairs or any serious obstruction to the general prosperity.
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Department News.- The Constitution of the 18th gives the following items;
Naval.- Lieut. James M. Duncan, who recently arrived in New York in charge of the prize brig “W. R. Kibby,” has been ordered to proceed to Havana and rejoin the United States Steamer Crusader.
Master Nathaniel Green, who returned from the coast of Africa with the prize brig “Thomas Achorn,” has been detached from duty, and will await orders.
Carpenter Jonas Dibble has been ordered to report for duty at the navy-yard, Philadelphia.
The United States brig Dolphin, Commander Charles Steedman, of the Brazil squadron, has been ordered home, and will enter the port of Norfolk.
The United States Steamer Susquehanna was put in commission at New York yesterday, and is expected to sail for the Mediterranean sometime next week.
The Utah Indians.- A letter received at the Indian Bureau from Major F. Dodge, Indian agent for Western Utah, dated “Camp at Lake Bigler, Sierra Nevada Mountains, July 8th,” reports his arrival there and a conference with the Washoe tribe. Although efforts had been made to precipitate this tribe into war with the whites, the policy of the Government has proved as successful with them as with the Pah-utes at Mono and Walker Lakes. Major Dodge arrived on Sunday and made the poor Indians happy by feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. He writes: “They are now in their camp rejoicing and blessing their Great Father in Washington.”
Army Order.- A general court-martial has been ordered to meet in this city on the 11th of September, or as soon thereafter as practicable.
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The Effect of Meteors Upon Animals, A correspondent, writing from Nashville, Tenn., thus describes the effect upon animals of a late meteor there:
A gentleman on horseback states that his horse bounded as if had been shot, and tried to run off; the report frightened the animal still more; he succeeded in stopping him at the front door of an old lady. She had run out in her nightgown exclaiming, “Great God, stranger, has the world busted?”
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The Slave Trade- Lord John Russell’s Plan of Suppressing It.- Lord John Russell recently submitted to the consideration of France, Spain, Portugal, and the United States, certain very important propositions relative to the slave trade and coolie emigration. The substance of Lord John’s propositions we give as follows:
His Lordship, and through him the government of Great Britain, proposes to initiate proceedings for more energetic action on the part of the Christian nations of the world for the suppression of the slave trade. This is to be effected by greater vigilance on the part of the United States, in preventing the fitting out of slaves in our ports, by increasing the number of cruisers in the waters surrounding Cuba, by Spain, the United States, and Great Britain. The extinction of the trade, however, it is judged, will be materially impeded by the very great demand that there exists in Cuba, and other tropical countries, for laborers suited to a hot climate. It would, therefore, be necessary to supply this demand in a legal manner, by which means the price of each slave might be enhanced to such a degree as to make the employment of the free laborer a matter of economy. Her Majesty’s Government proposes that this supply shall be drawn from China, through the instrumentality of the coolie trade. In making the suggestion, Lord John Russell acknowledges the great abuses that have marked the trade in certain parts of China, but purposes to place it under such regulations and superintendence as to insure its being conducted in a manner to prevent the evils complained of. The following are the propositions contained in the dispatch:
1st. A systematic plan of cruising on the coast of Cuba by the vessels of Great Britain, Spain and the United States.
2nd. Laws of registration and inspection in the Island of Cuba, by which the employment of slaves imported contrary to the law, might be detected by Spanish authority.
3rd. A plan of emigration from China regulated by the agents of European nations in conjunction with the Chinese authorities.
The United States Government has peremptorily refused to accede to any such arrangement as that proposed by Lord John Russell. The Constitution, of Saturday last, contains the reply of our government through Mr. Trescott, Acting Secretary of State. We quote the following passage:
The President has long entertained the opinion that African slave trade will never be suppressed whilst efforts for that purpose are confined to the pursuit and capture of slavers between the coast of Africa and the Island of Cuba. To effect anything positive or permanent, the baracoons on the African coast must be broken up, and the slavers prevented from landing their cargoes in Cuba, or if landed, the slaves must be followed into the interior and set free from the purchasers. Whenever her Britannic Majesty’s government shall think proper, in its discretion, to enforce the provisions of the treaty with Spain referred to by Lord John Russell, by which the Spanish crown undertook to abolish the slave trade, and accepted a sum of 400,000 (pounds) to enable it the more easily to do so, then, and not until then, in the President’s opinion, will the African slave trade with the Island of Cuba be abolished. But with this the government of the United States has no right to interfere.
Mr. Trescott then announces that the President cannot give his assent to Lord John Russell’s plan for the suppression of the slave trade, and proceeds to set forth, very forcibly the reasons for such conclusion. The proposed plan of emigration from China, the President also dissents from, and the letter adds:
Nor can the President share in the anticipation of her Britannic Majesty’s government that the Coolie trade can be put on any such footing as will relieve it of those features of fraud and violence which render the details of its prosecution scarcely less horrible than those of the middle passage. And he is of opinion that it would exert a most deleterious influence upon every portion of this country import into it Chinese coolies as laborers. In the States where the institution of domestic slavery exists these heaten coolies would demoralized the peaceful, contented, and orderly slaves, very many of whom are sincere Christians. And in the free States they would be brought into competition with our own respectable and industrious laborers, whether of native or foreign birth, who constitute so large a portion of our best citizens.
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Arkansas Democratic State Convention.- The Douglas Democratic State Convention of Arkansas assembled in the Representative Hall, Little Rock on the 15th inst. The Convention was a large one, and its proceedings harmonious…
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Another $10,000 Match.- O. P. Harr, Esq., has matched his famous colt, Oysterman, against Prophet, the property of F. Morris, Esq., of Westchester county, New York, for$10,000. Both are excellent stock, and the race will be run over Fashion course, about the time of the great sweepstakes between Planet, Congarce and Daniel Boon.- Petersburg Express.
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Texas Items-
The Air-Line Road.- Rapid progress is making towards the construction of this road. The Houston Telegraph of the 21st says:
It seems that since the organization of the company at Austin, the 15th of June last, not a day has been wasted, but that all of the officers and managers went immediately to work. Col. Banks has succeeded in procuring the right of way for a large portion of the first 25 miles of the line, which, in consequence of the good feeling prevailing, has been donated in every instance by the liberal owners of the various tracts of land through which the line has been surveyed; also, Mr. Hector, the chief engineer, has just completed the survey of the first 25 miles, of which he has staked out 7 ½ miles, and everything being in readiness to commence the graduation of the road. Col. Banks has come down to procure the necessary implements and supplies, to have in readiness for the force of hands to arrive, which the Board of Directors, at its last meeting at Brenham, on Wednesday last, resolved to have put on the work for its commencement, and which will be hard at work in a few days hence throwing up the grade.
A Gas Contract.- The Austin Council have closed a contract with Henry and Geo. Lucius, and H. H. Allen, for lighting that city with gas for the term of twenty-five years.
Enterprise.- Mr. Knox, of Hempstead, has succeeded in manufacturing out of potter’s clay found there, the best quality of “delph” and “queensware.” The few specimens he made into bowls and burned, turned out, says the Courier, as white as snow, and ring as clear as bell-metal…. We hope our merchants will bear this in mind, and reserve their orders for Mr. Knox’s Star Pottery.
The Weather and the Crops.- The Galveston News of the 21st says:
The late rains caused a rise of ten to twelve feet in the Colorado river, at Bastrop. We notice that other rivers and streams in the State have risen from the same cause. Grass, also, is springing up finely. The stock farmers will rejoice with all their hearts at the abundant supply of what they were lacking, and what their herds were suffering severely for- grass and water…
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Keeping a Sharp Lookout for Them.- A man calling himself Dr. Jackson was arrested in Liberty on the 20th, and a large quantity of matches found in his carpet bag. As the quantity exceeded that required by the most inveterate smoker, the Doctor is requested by the citizens to account for such unreasonable fondness for lucifers.
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Independence of Hungary.- …The Emperor of Austria, acting under the advice of the Regent of Prussia, has made known his intention of according Hungarian independence on the 18th, his natal day. This wise conduct will not only save fire, bullet, rope and sword, but Hungary itself (for a little while longer) to the Hapsburgs.
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The Toilet.- The reputation of Burnett’s preparations has extended to all parts of the United States and Canadas, and they give the utmost satisfaction. The Cocoaine needs only to be tried to pronounce a most superb hair dressing, being wholly unlike anything ever discovered. The other preparations for the complexion, teeth and handkerchief are admirable for their usefulness and delicacy of perfume.- Southern Argus.
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Home Department.-
The St. Charles and Its Company.- DeBar’s St. Louis Theatre opened last Monday night with Maggie Mitchell as the star. The company now performing there will be brought to this city early in November….
Bell and Everett Gathering- A large and enthusiastic gathering of the Union Guards (Bell and Everett) of the Fourth District of our city, was held last night at Odd Fellow’s Hall…
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The Washington Artillery.- The Washington Artillery, our gallant and energetic citizen-soldier company, were out last night for battalion drill. They marched from the Arsenal to Canal street, where their Captain, Walton, put them through for a considerable time in his usual strict and soldierlike style. The Captain has been North for several weeks past, and has seen the crack companies of New York and other cities, and the famous Chicago Zouaves, but has come back from all their fine military doings, and finds that he has no cause to be ashamed of his own command, as he said in effect at the Arsenal after drill, and in fact he thinks that the Washington Artillery are quite capable of falling into line creditably as need be alongside companies most talked of North and South. Hurra for the military of our town generally, and the Washington Artillery in particular!
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The Carrollton Railroad Collision.- Coroner Beach had perfected the preliminary business connected with the investigation relative to the Carrollton Railroad collision…
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Duel- One of the Parties Severely Wounded.- A hostile meeting took place last evening between Capt. Chandler and Mr. Frank Yates, the terms being dueling pistols and ten paces, and the cause a dispute, during which the lie was given, Mr. Yates being the challenging party. They fired three times without effect, but at the forth fire Capt. Chandler’s ball took effect on his antagonist, striking him near the groin, and causing a very severe, but it is hoped not a dangerous wound. Dr. Choppin attended Mr. Yates when he received the wound.
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Embezzlement.- C. Lehman was yesterday arraigned before Recorder Emerson on a charge of embezzlement and breach of trust….
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Settled It.- John Dupratis, resides on Religious street, somewhere near Race, appeared yesterday before Recorder Emerson to answer a charge of committing violence upon his wife. As Mrs. D. was not in Court to make the old man (old enough doubtless to be much better) face the legal music, the Recorder discharged him, with the good intention, we suppose, of letting them settle the matter at home- the proper place- too.
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A Very Pretty Transaction.- George D. Wolf, who was tried as an associate of Mathew Hughes for the murder of Henry Hyams, was arrested last night by Sergeant Tom Williams for carrying concealed weapons….(Wolf had his father’s remains moved to a charity burial place and then sold the father’s tomb, and with the proceeds he purchased the weapon.)
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A Distinguished Visitor- Richard Burton, the well known English author and pilgrim to Mecca and Medina, is now in this country….
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David Upton