Newspaper of The New York Herald, February 1, 1855, Page 2

nnt coimHSMMmg of okuthm. Mayor Wood I* Ik* ?? rd-th? Annaal ?** port? Tbe fUrdinlao PMpcri and Crtmliwh A regular meet ng of the Commissioners of Emigration >u held yesterday, at 4 P. M , at their rooms in Aothouy street. Preasnt, Commissioners Verplanck, Witthaua," tiarrigau, Crabtree, Kelly, Dun lap and Pnrdy. Mayor Wood, who U m Commissioner ex- officio , waa also present, and participated in the proceedings:? OoBmiuiooer Verplanck occupied the chair. The mi nute* were read and approved, after which the annual report was read. Some discussion ensued a* to the omis *ion of certain money* from the German and Iriah Emi grant Societies. It| appear* it ha* been the habit when remitiance* were received rom other than the u*ual source, no account waa taken of the same. Mayor Wood strongly objected to this proceeding a* it lett the Com miaaion open to suspicion. Commissioner Witthacb moved the followisg, which waa adopted: ? Resolved, That the annual report of thin Commission whall hereafter make mention only of such moneys ay are actually received by the Vice-President, aud are duly accredited by the bockkeper on the regular book of '?hi* Commiaaion. The report waa then adopted, after having been duly corrected. The followiug i* the document:? AHHtML ri:pokt or TIIK commifhionkrh ok kmiii ration ? m TKRKfcTlNG ?ACTM IN KKKKKKNVK TO KOBK1G.V KMltiRATlON. The year 1854, being the eighth of th* operation of this commission, wag marked by many circumstances and events highly unfavorable to the multitude of emi grants who arrived here during that period. Their num itr much exceeded that of any loriner jear. The pre valence of disease in the countries tliey bad left, and which ctten broke out on fhipboard, or iinme liately after their arrival ? the uncommon number of ship wrecks and accidents at sea, casting the passengers in a Mate of destitution upon our shores? tlie appearance of contagious dise4*e in this aud other cities ? the failing of the customary demand for labor from ttie derangement ef business lis well as tlio high price of provisions from the abort crops of the year, and tho unusually early and severe commencement of the present winter, all con tained to throw upon this Commission avast amount of labor, responsibility and expenditure. Similar circumstances in the yearn immediately pre vious to the formation of this Commission, and also in the first year* of its operation, wb-n it was unprovided with hospitals and otter niseis of assistance, and its fund* were embarrassel by refusal to pay foam-nutation, and con<equent litigation, (although tbe immigration at tin* port was hardly h:tlfof that of the lust year,) were prodnctive of intense distress among the emigrants, and tbe spreading of disease ana alarm in all directions, not ?sly in this city and neighborhood, but alonsr all the great tints of inUrnal communication throughout our land. It is mainly due to the effect of the preheat laws of tha State relative to alien passengers arriving In the port of New York, thatwbatever may be the imperfection at the system, or the defects or errors of its administration, yet the evils which otherwise must have existed to an incalculable extent, have been checked or alleviated, that the approach and spread of pestilential disease was long averted, and when it appeared that ainplw provision was made for the largest class of sullerera without bur den to the city treasury, as well for re-imbur.sement to the counties when the duty of providing for this class of poor fell lirst and immediately upon them Crowds of destitute persons, who would otherwise have swarmed as beggars in our streets, or filled our alms house*, were torwarded to distant places where they found em ployment and support, whilst the diseased and entirely helpless were provided for and relieved witaout adding to the taxation of city jr county. The immigration to thi* port in 1854 was much greater than in any former year. The whole number of ali?n passengers who arrived here, and for whom comma la tion money was receive 1 during tho year was 319,223, being 34,278 more than in the year preceding, and oven exceeding tbe emigration of 1852 (tie largest on re<;ord) by 1,831. Ibis :ncrease was occasioned entirely bp the nngmented number of G.irtnan emigrants, being 57,342 (or about one-bad) mote than in 1853, and about three times the average of preceding years. The number of emigrants from Ireland continued to dtcrea.se, being in 1864, 30,8ti2 lets than in the year preceding, and 81, 42b, or nearly one half less than in the remarkable yar of Irish emigration 1 ' ?'? 1 . The emigration from the other countries of 1' uiope has also increased, but not m aav laige proportion, except that from Switzerland, which has risen from 4.014 in 1853, to 8,883 in 1854. The number of patients Effected with contagious or wftctiouA diseases, and received at tho Marine Hospital at Quarantine, was le-s than In the two preceding years; bat a larger proportion suffered under the attacks of Atdatic cholera aud other severe diseases. On the other band, the aggregate number of the diseased or belplesi re eived at the hospital and refuge on Ward's Inland, still increased, as it hail for some years past, bsin^ about one tenth more in 1854 than in 1H63. This awe partly from the larger emigration of the {ear, and in pait from the number of in im or destitute rerson* who had become en MWd to tb>; benefits of the commutation fund daring the last five yeais. Tbe number of v?ssels employed in conveying citizens and alii'n passengers was I,5ft6 Number conveying citizens only ->26 Total passenger vessels 2,031 Nasaber of pa-sengers landed 367,354 Of theRe 48 151 were citizens, aud 319, 223 aliens, tia. ? Natives of (lermany * Ireland 82,302 '? Kngland 30,578 " other countries 29,357 Volal alien* arriving in the port of New York in 1854 319.223 Number in Marine Hospital Jan. 1, 1854.. 324 Admitted during tlie year 4,438 Total number of patient* treated at Marine HeapitaJ : 4,762 Being ."4 lea* than in the year 1853. Numb) r in Kmigrant Refuge and Hoapital, Ward'a Inland; January 1, 1854 2,702 Nnmber torn there during the year 701 Number admitted 12,487 Tetal number rared for and treated ? 15,950 Number of nick received and paid for at the New York Hospital 128 Number of do. at U. Vincent'* Hoapital.. 1 Total caee* *ent from l'ark office - 129 Nnmber of lunatic emigrant* supported in C.ty Aayluin, January 1, 1854 100 Nnmber admitted during the year 100 Total lunatic* 260 ?f the inaane aupportcd by thi* Commission, 47 died during tin* year, 101 were discharged, 117 remained at tbe end of the year. There were temporarily relieved in thi* city, by food, money. or other article* 17,510 Forwarded by tlie Commission to various place* inland, and paid for in whoNor in part 4,101 Rupplied temporarily with boird and lo.lgiog In the city 01,409 Oat deor poor in the city buried at the ex p?n*e of the Commiteinn, in whole or in part 1,622 Nnmber aent back to Kurope at tbe charge of the Oommi*rlon, in whole or in part 444 Peraon* supplied with situation* at the intelli gence office in C?n*l street, males 4,908 " '? females.... 8,998 13,964 Total 110,390 Nnmber relieved or forwarded in the eevaral eountiei of the State, by or at the expenae of thi* Commission, abou* 9,000 Grand total of persona relieved or asiisted by the Commission in the ,wtate of New York. . 119,390 Number of days spent in Marine Hoapital. .. . St, 239 " in hopital an>1 refuge, Ward'* island . .1, 171,398 X Number of lettera written to friend* of lataly arrived emigrant* 1,512 Amount of money received at tbe office in re ply thereto 13,601 24 '? " at the office of tke Inah Kmi grant Society from friend* of recan'Jy arrived emigrant*, aad applied to tne forwar Ting of emigrant* chargeable to the Comnn asioo. .112,530 90 Received at tbe office o' the German Society and appliel solely to the relief of emigrants who would have been other ?*? eharjeahle to the Comm avion 818,917 70 The *lek report# d aa received aot paid for at the N aw York Hospital were *o received by a cmtr?-t with that Corporation, now continued for aereral year*, by which peraona chargeable to thia commiaaion suffering from aueh Hidden ca?ualitie* a* woull not permit re.novat to the em grant hespirals out of town. were there receive | at the charge of thi* eoiun aai'.n. Case* occurring at m<ht, in the city, of auch per on*, are alao reel re i no til they can be conveniently removed. The Inatituttoo for tbe Blind haa received and iaatructed persjus at tja ?barge of the Commi?<'.?uera. The number of person* for whom plaee* of permanent employment in city and country were proearal w?a 370 lea* thaa during the past ye.ir ; thi* wm aauaed by tha vexatlou* interruption of the ilut.e# of the office, by an injunction, whi-h cloaed it for the two Brut *eek? in May. tbe mo?t important period in t ie year for thi* putpoae. Tlie Injuuc'.ion waa then li* ?,lved. Had the operation of thi* part of tlie e->tabliah< ?nent not been thua *u*pen ted, the number ?o provl le 1 for would prooably have etceejed that of the laat year by more than a thouaand. During the greater part of the year there wa* r <moara Mvely little demand or nwe?s ty for temporary out doo aaaistance in tbe city, hut th# severity with vhlflh t r? winter art in at an early period, when tbe city *aa ti.le i with emigrant* jnat landed, protued mtny citlma o tbia nature duriog the laat ?l* we*** of th* jeir H'.l, which could not be rejected. The bestowing o' *u -h r ? kef i* open t<> continual abu*e from im|ioiitno, tn I even where tbere I* qo ground to suspect intout inkl deception, le subject t? the general objection of foit-'ring habit* of relying upon the public or private chanty tor support, to the neglect of Induetryaul econ my. Yet in severely inclemest seaaous. an l in ti n?? Hte the present, when the ordinary dem* i li for labcT are suddenly diminished, maiy .-aa** ?ill j;cur which ne ther humanity nor laati^e can suffer t*? be Uft ucai' ed, and which may be aided w.th more eiono my and with a t'etter elTe;t on themselves, in ot!t?r moi'ea than by *en ing them to a r?ft<* or alma house. Su^h have been aided bysmill allow meat of varioo" tint!*, ami by temporary provision for lol< ng destitute emigrant# for a night or two. In caaei or uege?t dietresa larger aid haa been given, an I m my aueh are viait?d an 1 pr> *riil)ed for at 'heir hom?s by the physician of the office. The vhole number of farallief thaa aa#iated la 1W>4 wa? 4.574. The w.nter ha* tftna far proved very unfavorable In thia roepect, and the evje-n itore ao r nisei baa driwn heavily on the fund* <>f the ''ommia?ion?ra. ?|nce the 1*< of Jenonry it ha* been 'onnd nec??,?ary to %ppo nt special aelarie1 vi?itera 'or the Winter, to prevent im] po-i'.ion *nd seture aa efliearinits and econom cal ail .vp p i -at Ion of the m?*os of rell#f aa possible It ia h n>e<| ami *rti?ta<l that thia tuta ol th ng* will be of n? 1 mf duration. The wboi* number of alien pa<*enger? who have paid commutation monay nine* the organ iiation of this com miasion, in May, 1847, to Slat DaeembO*, 1854, I* 1,93b, 336, of whom 518,948 arrived daring the ftrat three 2?ara of tin operationa, and the survtvora of them are bj kw do long?r entitle*) to ita benefits. Making the Urgent >]? dnctlons for Deaths ami for permanent removal* to distant Stataa or Territoriea, ?tilt the compariaon of the probable number remaining and entitled to the aid of thia fund, with tbe number* actually having racourae to ita aasistance, will show how large a proportion of the whole bare been able to plaee themselves above the ne cessity of public relief. During the year the attention of the Commissioners baa been repeatedly called, through tbe vigilance of their officers, to the fact of cargoes of balpleM and broken down paupera having been shipped to thia port by the local authorities of tbe cities or Tillages in Europe upon which they have been a charge. Occasionally, too, there appeared sufficient evidence that convicts for crimes dangerous to society, had been sent out by the governments or other authorities abroad. It would be most desirable to return to their own countries all of tbe latter clasa, and most of those of tbe lormer; but this direct power la not granted by the existing laws of tbis State, and is, perhaps, a regulation of the inter course with foreign nations not within tbe competence of State legislation. Tie subject has been brought before the Congress of the United .State*, where it is trusted that a remedy will ba furnished for this great evil. But t lie Commissioners have not been negligent in applying the powers slreacy given to tbem by tbe laws under wliit h they act, in requiring tbe full bonds and enforc ing the penalties now provided in certain cases of this claw, or of commuting them at a rate nufficient to pro vide for the proboble expense of tbe support of such paupers, or oe condition of returning such persons (Es pecially if convicts,) to tbeir own country. Should no more stringent remedy be provided by Congreita, it is submitted whether an enlargement of the present puwer* of the Commission, confide 1 to tbeir discretionary exer cise, both as to the amount of bonds and penalties and tbe class of persons, (especially convict* for oflenc*a other than political,) might not be expedient. Tt e number of patients under treatment at the Marine Hospital, Staten Island, whether landed from ship-board or st-nt from the city, as alfected with contagion* er in fectious disease, (to which the legislation of 1849 has specially devoted this hospital.) was 4,762 during the last year. Tbia number is little more than hall' that re ceived in 1852, (8,887,) considerably below tbe average since 1849, and JtS less than in 1853. But the proportion of severe ami ordinarily fatal diseases was unusually large ? there having been no less than 050 ea?e* of A*ia tie cliolera, or neatly one-seventh of the whole number of patients under treatment during the year; many of tbem were beyond tbe reach of medical aid, whsn re ceived, in consequence of tbe time Ion between the llrst attack of tbe diteaie and the reaching of the hospital? either from the shipping or from the city. There were sixty five yellow fever cases from ship- board. 108 others were landed ina dying state? thus indicating, with othar thine*, a greater prevalence of disease ou{-tDip- board than ha* lately occurred. Tbe following summary of monthly reports of the Ma rine Hospital, *bows the aggregate results of ita opera tions tor tbe year. The details will be found in tab!e No. 2 in the appendix accompanying tbis report, stating the nature of tbe diseases anil other particulars . ? Number remaining 1st January, 1854 326 Received during the year 4,438 Total treated 4,702 Of whom were discharged 3,558 " died 909 4,407 Remaining 1st January, 1855 295 The proportion of deaths to ea>es under treament thin appear* to bo IV 1- 10 per cent, a larger proportion than ban been usual, but which in to be accounted Tor from the malignant character of ureases, and perhaps the pre vailing influences of a generally unhealthy year. In their last annual report, the Commissioner* en .vie a statement of certain difficulties occurring and likely to occur under tho laws concerning the public heiltb. A repetition of similar occurrences during the year 1854, induces them ag.iio to prerent the subject to the legisla tive consideration. During the last months of 1853, and again repeatelly in 1864, vestels tilled with emigrant alien** arrived, in which Asiatic cholera had broken out d iring the voyage. The Health officer, under the direction of the Boird cf H< alth of this city, has in sneli case* of teasel* arriving after losing part of their passengers or crew by cholera, or other lufeotion, breaking out at sea, ordt-rel the 'ant ing and defining of all t:.e passenger* at quaraatine, though app< rently in good health, for the purpose of demising them and their baggage, ami cleaning aud purifying the Y?*?els tbeinwelves. wbic>i are tf.eu per mitted to proceed to the city. The effect has been beneficial in proservin; the city from tho spread of inlection. But thu passenger* iiave been left to be provided for at the expense ot the funis of this commission, during their temporary detention at quarantine. Tbere <lo??a not appea* to be auy legal authority for the use of the commutatiin fund for the g< netftl quarantine pecuniary purposes or for the receiving and supporting at its ch?.ge, per sons not sent to the Mar<ne Hospital as actually affected with an inhctious or contagious disorder, nor indeed would that fund, even with its present increase, be ade quate for such objects, tihould unhappily the Asiatic ehcltra ir any other pestilence hejome extensively epi d? mic abroad during the whole year Hie "Act relating to the public health," section 22, provides that "all passengers under quarantine, who l.all be unable to maintain themselves, st'iall be provid ed for by the master of the vessel in which they shall have arnved, and if the master shall omit to provide for '.hem, they stall be maintained on shore at the expense of such vessel, and such ves>el shall not be permitted to leave quarantine, until such expense shall have been repaid." l'lie power of thus enforcing pay ment is cm lined to the Health Ofli :er, and stoubl he refuse or ne glect to do so, the commissioners ovist either assume the responsibility of the refusing to receive and feed ? uch peraocs, a metsure hard, and it may bo inhum in ana dangerous to the public Health, or they must apply the means in their hands to the quarant'nc purposes, for which tbe law doe* not de-lgn them. Home of the expenses thus incurred have been vol untarily refunded by toe ship owners; in other ?aee-i a previous stipulation has been made by the Health officer as the condition of not detaining the ship, but a.lotviag her to go to tbe city after landing ths passengers at Quarantine. In maxy other cases, where no reimburse ment of the expenses could be obtained from toe vessels, it was considered as an equitable claim again*', the iioard of Health, and this claim is now pending befure them, a favorable report having been made by a committee of the body, l'.ut tbe reimbursement of such expenditures leems to depend contingently upon the view taken of the subject by the Hoard of Health, tbe Health officer, or the chip owuers, as the caso may be, and the whole matter is again respectfully submio 1 to the I*egUlt ture, in the hope that such legislative direction may be given as to leave no difficulty in enforcing the Intention of the law. or otherwise providing for such expenditures, whenever they ni*y be ome necessary. The Coromisrioners of Emigr ition hold in tr l s for the State, lands on Werd's Island, in the county of New York, purchase<i by the Commissioners, from time to time, in ditterent lot* or parcels, during the last five years, being about ninety-*ix acres. The original coif, was tfiu,881 82. Tbe property is now, Independently of the buildings, worth at least $120,000; and taking t'.ie rate of sales in their ricin ty, wo ?ld eotn-nand a higher price The building are valuable, chiefly for tho hospital purposes for which they were erected; but tie j introduction of Ooton water under the arm of tbe Kast river, separating tbe island from Minhattm Island, aud aleo the large r? ??rvoir the wharf, grading, levelling, j and other inipiovements, add largely to the value of tbe land, for otter purposes than those to wnlch it Is at | present appropriated. The whole of the land held by the commi'sioners on j Ward's Island is now held by them in fee. The arrange I men' for an exchange of a partof their unimprovH land j at the extr?mlty of the tract for a r?le ise of the land ; held by tliem und?r l*as? (as heretofore reperted), and authored by law and the approbation of tli" Sta'e offi cer*. has been finally consummated. Tbe buildings originally on the premises held under lease having been valued, the sum of $ltj,8fi8 75, including ail allowance ! for the supply of wa'er, was paid. together with a grant I of e'even acres of vacant land at the south end sf the > island, as the consideration for the release in fee of the eleven a^rts in tin centre of tbe property held by the commission, on which are erected their only wharf and the largest buib'ing. originally a factory, now used for various valuable purposes. The exchange, considered merely as a matter of property, is fair and equal, wh 1st j f<<r all the objects and purposes of the commission It i s I' highly advant .geo is The Commi n'oners have proceeded on the plin Hid down by them and acted ui>on during the Ust three years, of substituting as their m ans w ml I admit, > nif re spacious, substantial an] convenient brick build* i irga for the single story wooden structures erected In ha*te to meet tbe exigency of the first years of the com 1 mission ihoy have adhered to t'ae general nria-iple on ' which th'ir first brick hospitals were erected, as stated | in the report for 185J; that of entirely separated bund ings not wider than I* convenient for a s'ngle warl ' lighted on both sides, and of various slaes. hut all of i considerable lrn/th they have varied from their original 1 plan only in lot 1 mit.ng their hospital edlflcs .o a l Mnule story. Their experiecce has already fully con 1 firmed the opinion expressed by tbem last year, that J where there is no reason for economy ofg-oiol, th e I plan provides more eftectualljr than any otner for con* ?tsnt and tmpl<* ventila' on and ag iliist the d ing?r of fire, and the 'pread of infection, In , Ase of any pe ilen. ' tial epldenrc. (as cholera,.) and also against the genera. tion sir erysipelas, which breaks fortn unaccountably | and often very fatally In crowded hospital wards. ' The effect of this simple hut efficacious arr.in^em'ot i was strikingly manifested dur ng tlie la?t summer by i the fact that in ths populous estaMishna"nt. so pec si | liarly exposed to the ravage* of cholera fr un the ? in - ! stan' arrival of persons from shipboard or infecte I 1 <? alltles, tn whi m this di?e.?<e did not manifest Its ?lf at first, it never spread very w dely over the hoipital at | tlie same time, and several of the.e insn ated war Is en ' tlrely escap . The biiildir-gs erected or undertaken during the year ] are the following ? I wo large substantial brick buildings, 25 by 125. on? of these i? a two story b illdlng, an l tbe other o' three ?terles. The firs: H ior of the t*o story building is one isrge hospital warl, eapxble of a?rommoda: ng sixty ; sdults; the up|>er partof the bu Iding is divble I mt > three apartments, one a hospital warl, another int?nded for preparations ot morbid anatomy and i-op es of such in wax work. The thir l is the surgical amphitheatre. This was planned with great care so as to afford th? best Kght for operations anl all other conveniences which theexp*rienc* of s.milar es* ibllshments h?s polntel oat as conducive to the purposes in v ew. In this, alo. dt* ' Tine service Is performed on ^uniays btth in FngI sh and in Oermsn In th" three story bail ting there are three spa-ious and well venfilste<l hospital wards, large enough to as conimo'late sixty patients in eaeb war ! There are now In course of erect, on three more large hrlck ln.ildlnge, eomwcced in 1M4. whi;h will be com pleted al>ont the middle o' March. The first is of th -ee stories an I baeem-ot. intended for the accommodation of the reeident physicians and others The second s of three stories, 6n feet front, 125 feet long, in which there will be thiee spacious well ventilate! warl* Urge enough to accommodate sitty patients n e?oh war3. The th rd Is 'Dree stories ar I ha?ew\en!, M fr<.nt anl 125 feet V ng, with four large and w?H vent) late. I war Is 1 ap.ibl?o?acccitnnoda't.gei*tj patient# neich war,l. Tte eo?t of these buiidiags it estimated at $32,821, of which $17,105 'U hM)mD paid during the v?ar. 1b addition to thess structures much useful work baa been done during the Year under the direction of toe pupnin Undent in levelling the grounds, grading them in front of the main building* down to the shore, in part filling up to low water murk near the wharf, and pro tecting the made land by a aea-wall. A good deal of draining has also been done to good effect. In this work, the labor of the more able bodied inmates of the refuge was twefully employed. The commissioners bare long had it in view to construct an asylum for the insane under their charge, instead of leaving them, as they are at present obl'gM to do, to be taken care of at their charge in the asylum und?r the cure of tbe Governor* of New York Alms House, and in the counties, according to eucb means as may be there provided. With this ob ject in view hereafter, and in order to give present em ployment to those more capable of suon labor they have commenced getting out stone from a quarry of mate rial suitable for such buildings, on their land on Ward's Island. The erection of a proper asylum edifice will require a larger immediate outlay than can well be spared from tbe present current income of any year, and must there fore be a work of time. No plan has as yet been pre pared and decided upon. Tbe Itetuge department proper receives, as heretofore, the helpless and chronically infirm, pregnant women waiting childbirth, and others not requiring hospital treatment. But tbe whole establishmeut on the isund Is, to a great extent, one vast hospital, and its in ma ten pan* from one of tbe departments to the o'.her; those of the Refuge on access of i! if ease to tbe hospital proper, and those in the hospital often, on recovery, to the Re fuge. Thus the sggregate tt admissions to ea:h consi derably exceed* the total number 01 inmates for I be year in both. The discharges show the same result: ? Tbe following summary gives the aggregate results of ibe while Ward's Island establishment for the year, Irom December 31, 18f>3, to 31?t December, 1854 : ? No. of inmates iu institution on 1st Jan. 1854. 2,762 No. admitted do. do. 12,487 No. of births do. do. 701 Total number eared for do. do. lfi,?50 Number discharged during the year ? . 11,075 Number of deatbf during the year, in both Refuge and hospital 1,707 12,782 Number remaining on 31st December, 1854.. . 3,lt>8 Number of days spent in Hospital I>.*0 2*8 do. do. Keluge 041,110 Total number of daya spent in both. .. .1, 171,398 ? Number of small pox eases sent to Marine Hospital The Hospital proper has increased in the number of its admissions over tbe last year. Oa the last day of 1854 it bad 1.349 patients against 1.224 of tbe oorre.spon.ling period In 1853. fhe number of days passed by patients in the Hospital* wa* above one-fourth more than n the >ear preceding, being 630,288 in 18i>4, against 409/128 in Tie statistics of the Hoapital Department present the following results, wsich it may be satisfactory to com PJ1" w'"' those of 'he three pieceding years. as bhowmg the ordinary operations and constant extent of the os tablmlment ? 1851. 1852. 1853. 1854. There were eared for in the Hospital daring these years.. ..... 12.273 1-0,970 12, Ml 15.861 Of thete th?re died 1.324 1,201 822 1,438 Diach'gd. cured cr reliaveJ 9,71(3 8,943 10,215 13.074 Kem'ng at end of the year. 1,10? 823 1,214 1349 Thcie wcie born in the Hospital in the several Zr"r" 492 ft 29 644 701 Thus it appears tt. at througli temporary causes, such as prevailing epidemics, the se7?.ity of seasons, the spe cial cbdition ot emigrants when landed, or tbeir eta '.eon embarkation, cans.- considerable fluctuations in the num bers and rate of mortality of patient#; still the general average remains very large, being from nearly 11,000 to n?arly IB, C00 in each year. *o that the Hospital itseir hat b-come t>e largest sanitary establishment in our country, and is outnumbered by few in the civilised world. Hot in addition (o the amount and variety of practice afforded in the Hospital department to the students of medicine and surgery, the adjoining Refuge department is filled with chronic cases, or leas serious ailnv.-nt*. not requiring regular hospital treatment yet demanding more or less professional assistance. During the year, 13 805 such cases were there treated, thus mat mg an aggregate of ?.v;S67 cases of various knds coming under examina tion or observation. The consequent value of tbe Ward's Island establish ment as a school of medical improvement has b?<omj wic'ely known, and the places or assittant* fcave been eagerly sough', for by young phvsiciau* from all par's of the State, fbc certificates of having satisfactorily per formed a term of duty in that eapac ty, granted and * gned by the Commissione's and tbe.r medical board are received in our merchant and packet service, and in olber employ mecta, as among tbe best evidence* of pro feraional knowledge and skltl which a young physician or surgeon can produce. The emigration of tbe year 1854 was, under many very unfavorable circumstances, (stated in tbe begin ning of this report.) and their influence, and that of the prevailing tern . ncy to di?eafi? throughout the country was of course severely felt in tbe hoapiul department. A much larger proportion than in the preceding year were landed from shipboard In a diseased or very debilitated state t maoy ot these came with pbtliisi? already seated Inourablv, wh.le dy sen'ery and aiarrticta were unusually frequent, se vere and fatal; In June, As atic cholera appeared ar.d though arrested by change of diet, an thorough cleans. mi of the wirds, reappeared repeate ly until Oc tober. From these andotbir cans. * both the number and the proprrtion of deaths were much enlarged It >s however, worthy of remark, as shoeing this increase to arise from general causes, and of diseases assuming an epidemic character, anil not from anythng pecuhar to the Ward's Island establishment, that tbe proportional ncrcaae of mortality, as compartd w th the last year, is es* than the average increase of that in the ciiy ol New York in 1854, as compared with 18t> 1. fc.Tbe surgical pract.ee during 1854 has been exten sive anil successful. The new snrgical wards, by the:r improved comforts and ventilation, have contri buted much to the more rapid progress of tbe su rative part of the practice, and th* operating room finished and put into use during the summer has removed many serious inconveniences heretolore expe rienced. Tlie statistics of the year show 4,574 patient^ under treatment, anung which were a n m.ber reqmr ingthe moHt difficult ao?i delicate oporatioriD of surMry 8V died, ami 4,079 were cured and discharged This proportion of deaths is aboat two per cent, being lower than tbnt prevailing in the whoie cltj of New York. The former annual reports of the Commissioners pre sent the record of a constant struggle with inadequate mean* and financial difficulties, from the organisation or the commission until the summer of 1853. fhe*e dif ficulties limited the efficiency or tbe system, compelled 1?, V,CA of ?he,p ani' mere'y temporary buddings, which it is now found necessary to replace by buildings such as it would have been desirable to erect at first and though these difficulties were surmounted, it wai ; by contracting temporary debts, by delay in reimbursing the count.es, and by Urje permanent loans on mortgage, us well aa at the cost o' much vexat on and trouble to tl o?e to wLom at uitfereot times wa* confided the ad ministration of the Commutation Fund. In the first years of the commission these difficulties specially arose from the intended reveme having f-en eedu -ed more than half, by the constitutional objection to the law of ? ? consequent litigati jn, and a terwards from the inadequacy of the rate ol commutatioa, not only to pro vide for the current expenditure of supporting the des titute aliens here and reimbursing the co inties, but al?o for the cost of lands and buildings which were wanted for an efficient an<l economical a im nintratioD. Krotn theiie embarraviwientg the eoinit union wag ra pidly. *nd. It li trusted, permanently relieved by tbe aittf April, I85J, raising the commutation to two dol 8 ^u'1' *nU ?PPropriatiiit the additional fifty cents to the reimbursement of tbe county charges in the first instance. The immediate relief thus given and the large reduction in 1853 or the gradually accumulate] debt of some j.ars, were set forth in the k??t annual re poit. The necessary expenditures of 1854 were m icb raised by the hgh price of all neces.ary articles most entering into the consumption of the establiaaai'nts at Ward s Island and the y larantine, by many u?exp?ct e.l and unusual claims upon th* Commission for aid and by the increased burthen thrown up..n the Hospital and Hefuge. the number cf inmates being ten wr cen' large, than in 186.1 whlht their averag- .oj,"rn ,0 tne waios was lorger, tbe aggregate numb<T of iiay? there spent by tbe patient* and infirm (as has been shown) i hav.ng risen from 9'.H,ti20 iu l^Mito 1 171 run ,u 185J Th s wss not counterbalanced by the small reduction' in the average of the M*nne Hosp:tal. The income of tbe Commissioner* from coinmuti'. on, peraltes con.|;rom..es, Kn., ntvertheu-s enabl-d ttem to uitet *U the ordinary and Mtiaordinary claims upon them, to make their regular quarterly re mburse ment to the counMes in full for aU bills and demands h. n ?"' 'tedsnd allowed, (setti ng the cm.ty bill* la fn 1 to October 1, 1854,) and al>o to lay out $J7 '.173 97 in the erectioo of permanent hosp U1 edifices and the procuring a relea?, ,n fee lor the Isn l and build.ng oa Wards Island formerly held by th. .n r.t a rent under It was mentioned in last year s report that 820,01V) had been repaid on account of the principal of tbe loan en uiortgsge of 9 IW,<>00. Tom the Mutual I ift- Insurance lompany, un'^er th< express nn.lec.tan.. log : 'iat should the J" '** i b V reee??ities of tbe winter r^u je .t, the euin would be returned and the mortgage raisclto na or^ieal m ftunt. The unexpected necessitie* of the winter at ? 'im? whsn the ordinary ncome was reaily *.|.pe'n,ie.| com pell.d ib? commissioner, reluctantly to avail themelvss of this arrangem* nt, and the sgo.UOt) wa- <Siawu m February 18.^. ??d ariplled to th.. eurrent e-pen l.turw. Tlicy wi fe ?l"0 oblige. I trt fescrt t.1 a '.111 >.>riri in-r draft on tlie Mechanl Bank, where ib?ir acciuf'. are kept The latt.r was made gaol ,t the first return of .he ? pr.rg .ncoere an.l tn October the sum of $40( 00 was paid to the Mutual I ife In urancs in redu. ".ion of tlie principal of their mortgage But n view of th? possible . aigetch.s of the approaching ?inter, lt wasdeems.| advisable to proeure tbe sair.e st.p.iUtion as in the preT.f us case, to which the company Ubsrallr as pfnle'J* ' Tb I* money has not yet been required an,| rr t,an. will not I?ast to the whole amount. ft;*noi>e| that the debt on mortgage is g,? ,B ? Srala ?r nert reduction. It is .lue to the form-r Cfettml**! oners under whom the -iebt was eontracte.1 ti r?n. at that I* arose from the purcba-e of ii? ., ami the erectiou of fc?W' ?*' u*'?, comm sloo, in which alone $ too iKki were etpen<i?d prior to 18'i9 The *|?eg?te debt due by th? Commission 09 l?t Jam a rr/>fti, including tliat on mor?g?(? had de-lnflog tk"k , 'I"" ', , 9-01.417 M The ha.anee due on 1st January Is, (s-e annuxl re t>?rt for for ) tit Hi" iji 4? -v. year IVM , .V t sent* a mere favorable re. alt than un !er the c rtum Stance* of "be year the Com*: ..sinners b id agt> ipate I The amount of debt at ti e close of tbe ye*r Is5< na bono and mortgage, was tt!(inojo(> t na'tjustsd b lis of the fiovern rs o' the New York Alm-bo tee and uoii ilt*l b lis the counties for October, November, and Decem ber, lbM 35,000 00 "$146,000 00 Bala DC* in bank JkBwj lit, 1866 .. 01,102 40 Total amount of debt on Jan. lit, 1806 182,807 54 The portion of the above iub of 936,000, which conaisia of the amount* due the several counties other than New York for reimbursement, ia in part estimated, and in part the cQargea of billa rendered since the laat quarterly payment to the counties, aa prescribed by law, made December, 1864. Tueae charges will be duly liquidated at the next quarterly payment. The reat consists of the claim of the Gover nors of the New York Almshouse for the support of in sane peraona chargeable to the commutation fund. In the view of the Commission, this amount ia aubjeot to considerable deductiona, and a large offset for the sup port of native children born of emigrant mothers aa 1 taken care of in the nursery department at Ward'a Iaiand, lor which tbey have not been able to make any arrangement with the New York Almshouse Department. The Commisaioners have proposed and are anxious to ad just these and other differences which have arisen be tween the two Boarda, by an arbitration or amicable auit. The principal heads of expenditure, and the sources and several amoonta of income, will be found in the fol lowing abstract ? AUtract Statement of Commutation Fund, 1864. Jitcivt*. Balnnce of fund on deposit with the City Cham berlain, January 1, 1864 97,006 26 Amount of commutation money re ceived from owners and consig Dees of vessels lor alien pasaen gexs 9633,210 00 For mortgage of real estate 20,000 00 For compromises of special bonda.. 18,013 88 From owners and cor sir Dees of ves sels, for violations of law 102 00 For support of illegitimate children l,3t>6 26 Amtunt re-deposited, having been drawn from bark in August. 18011, to pay for real estate on Ward'a Island, ami charged aa such in re port of that year 6,000 00 Rent or No. 23 Canal street 1,1449 17 From Trustees of Seaman's Fund and Ketreat, for board and medi cal treatment of seamen 499 26 For ahtp fever cases, art in tted into the Marine Hospital 80 00 For advances to emigrants for their transportation into the interior. , 1,171 54 For certificates of release from bonds 96 00 From Irifh Emigrant Sonietv for ad vances to emigrants for transpor tation, &e 60 50 For sales of empty barrels, Wines, fal, ruga. iron. Air ., at Ward'a Uland and Marine Hospital 3.9S1 19 Fortundries 2,019 20 688,802 08 Total 9696,408 23 Kfptmet. For erection of buildings, improve ments and repairs 917,106 10 For purchase o! real estate on Ward's Island 10,868 75 For reimbursements to counties for support of emigrants 78,532 85 For reimbursements to institutions 9,117 50 Co. to Governors of N. Y. Almshouse 27,525 30 For Commissioners' office, (salaries, &c ) 21,316 21 For intelligence office .n Canal street 6,113 61 For disbursemtnta by agent in Albany 5,332 61 Do. do. Buffalo 0,674 33 Do. do. Rncheate r.,.. 880 00 Do. do Utica 2,336 75 For disbursements on acrount of Fmigrant Refuge and lloepital, Ward'a Island 251,447 48 For disbuisementa on account of Marine Hospital 04,280 39 Unclassified expenditures for Com mutation Fund, comprising: ? Fayn.ent to Life Ins. Co. on account of principal of loan on bend uod rr.ortgajic 9-?0 f 00 00 Jn'.ertBt on Joan 10,637 fi 2 Forwarding emigrant-' to interior 19,227 21 Temporary board and lodging to emigrants. . 10,7fll 82 Timporary relief to do.. 7,670 63 Steamboat lure. . . 4,085 00 Bent insurance, and sun dry UDclaesed expenses. 32,090 fO 1:5,?02 78 ro Marine Hospital 7,810 75 Maintenance of well passetgers landed at Quarantiie from chole ra vessels 1,660 24 636,215 77 Valance m MkIiiiiIci' Rank, Jan. 1, 1K.S5 $6l.l<?2 46 One (if the moft etlectii.tl meant ot protection that could tip applied, m tbatlheretofore r?penvelly mentioned in the hepoiis or the Ccmmireioners, the exclusive pos ? union and occupation of a wharf or pier by them for U.c lar ding of newly arrived emigrants In a former year socn a pi?r, in an insulated situation, waa pro cotmI, but it* use for tbe purpose* contemplated w LH in. tauth prevented by the ptoceaa and decision oi the C orut?. t-D.ibu.iu/ such a n>-?as haiardou* to the Health and injurioux <o the comfort of She neighborhood. Ho reaien appearing to tbe Gomm im -why the same result ihould not take place ax to Any other loc&t on which tbey hare had offered to then, they have refrain ed frrm again attempting to exorcito this po?er, though expressly conferred upon them Oy i-tatut". The subject if an am rt-pectfully rteommt nued to tbe attention ol tbe Legit lainrf. ixvitatjo* to t.ov. clark akd tob luxiisi-aturk. ( omaiiiKiocier ri'Knv tffered the following, which wit adeptrd. ? Whereas, Iln* excellency Gov Clark, and Gov Price of Nt-w jertey, ami a joint committee of the I/egialature of New York anil N? w J> r??v are now in the city of New York in the discharge of their public duties, alto 'ha*, .the Gov. of the Mate of Connecticut i* expected to visit ?he city to n-company the distinguished gentlemen all i ded to, and whereas it is itne to the h ,-ti station they - occupy that a proper understanding of the official pro ceedings of thit board abcu d be had and explained to them. Therefore, Pem-Wed, That an iDTitation be given them to vie it M.e charitable institutons at such time as will suit tbe.r convenience Commissioners Purdy, Kelly and Witthius were ap pointed a committee to wait on (iovtrnor Clark and ten tier the invitation. MAYOR WOOD TAI.KH TO Til* CO**lxtlO!fllRt. Mayor Wood announced that be was about to Wive but before doing ao he wiabed to give notice that his huFioess there was to look after the interests of the city. Twi lve i oln'em* n were detailed to keep the emigrants in or<"?r, and their pay came out of tbe city treasury. New it ?a< manifestly the duty of the Commi?sion to pay '.hat expense ami be .oten<ied to take such action as wouid indace the Board to pay for the attendance of polu tKien bereatter. Each |iOl>c?man coat the city (700 a year Commissioner ??.liv ? It would lie well for your Honor to inHuenre the legislature to make non resid? nta and meichanta who live out of tbe city, but do bui-ine** in it, pay their just 'bare of the c'ty taxes This Ccmmis sit n that now tloea so much (or the country, has barely enough to Lay expenses, and it would I* hard to make them spend luore uselessly. Commissioner P. Carrh.a* miggeste.1 the propriety of the Major taxing t)0? place* of amusements throughout the city, who ah-o bad policemen deta.YI io take cha-ye ol them Mayor Wood replied that he had t in contemplation to compel railroad compan.e", manager* of theatre-i to pay for such atti-odanee While tae sity was under bis charge. he was dettrrain-d that private institution* should pay their expenie* from :he.r own fund*. The Mayor then left tbe room. nix CRIMINALS A*n PAl'PKRH FROM BARntflA Comm. scoter ('RAIiTkek d that be tiad an inter v i w, at. tte office of the I'ni'ed State* District Atto - ney, with the Sardinian Min.'ter. .who expressed an ar dent < er ire to comply with all the Laws of ihia country to cbing the -object of bringing .n mnvlcta an I pa i - per#. lie said he had taken measures to prev.-nt any nf the piWIBU'Tl Ur.dmg f.om the Sar liaUn fr. gate I>e-i (ieneys, untii re bat made a personal invMtigati u of each rase, and hav.ng made such mi|niry, w.'.l in*ke a report of the ramn to th" offi -e of ih? C-om'a*"on for nstructioo as to the disposal of them He ai?o savs it at J it i- required, they will he sent kack by the fr gate that brcngbt them. tiik Dirncvm wrru tttr ret governor* OPFICl Ol ntK COMtflSKItlVaK* ot KaiOHtTlOt, 1 N?w York, Jan 21, 18&f>. ( IlAAC Towt^KilD, Est}., PmVdent of the R<iard of Oo?*r in rs ef the Mm<h'ja* ? ? 1'fAKMK ? Herwith you Will plea?? Go I copy of pre amble and lesolutiou adopten at '.tie m -ei.n; of tbe fc< ard of CVirmisaionei* ol Kin. .-ra., on, bel l jre.ter.iay, being n reply to a c mmnnicat on !rom your depart ment. A communication from tbe (iovernori o' ihe Alm-hou-e. r?r)a'u.ng the p.iym?at of tlie ti lit rundereit by them for the eup(*)rt ot lunatica, received on the llih ii>st . t-av.pg l>ern considered, it w^a re-olve 1 tttat, Whfieas, the law organ. x ng this ce-m r i??ion dire-'t ti e loninip-'imiTs of Kmlprati' n to n lemnify tb? ii ? n?ys received by their m far a? mty tUt several rli.es towns and rounties of this SUt-v for any e*pen-? or ctarge wbch maybe incurred for the mamtenan:e and ?npport o! any of the (-ergons for whom comm i'a Ion mi ni y shall have heen i^aid, in proportion to As ? xpeeses mcutrel by said cities, to?n?, and 'o-int et e\i rallf , for such maintenao-? and suppo"t; and, W ?rt a?. tl e Coumivinosrs of Ei. gratioa hiv? paid to the Governors of the Alm?bnuae, In f'lU, at U? rate f- rmerly agre* 1 npoa for the support of 'unatica supported by the >1111 Governors up to January, Ht4, ainoiint-ng to 4 w.t'..n the p%?t year, which aareeuunt nf the rate they have since re ?cin? e . and given flue notice thereof . aa-i are ttkerslof*, houndTiy law to pay for such lon*ti:a only the or charge of their ?.-tual m?.n**iiso. e And wh- reas, ?iere are r ?r'ain i-V,*rge?. r?pe?ially tho?* for tbe ?up pert of tat v<> children of alf*n mothers born '.n th s .ty aii ! conatj- incurretl bv the^e COBmtssloneni an l which in their jinlgmeot are ^u'tly chargeable to the Gover n< rt of tte Aimsfcon-e an 1 cotitt.t tte a full, jnat and eqi.itat'ie olt?et, p-olut'ily to th- full am >uots now claimed ? y -..-.e Goternors as du? ti them t ierefore Reiol?ed, Tuat the Oommi's "0?r< of Emigration are ready and des ious to pa ' whatever sums may '-e due v> the G'-TerniT" of tfce Alm'hou?e. a? ? <on as the r' sp-"t ti?e claim" #f the two Board* can t"1 adjusted a id that to this md ti ey r?eew th* pr ip- -.tion rep att- !ly ra vie, of sabmitting a t tec <t o.- a 1 ? .-M uu?e?tl?d ol v. ins of I toth parties, io ti.e de i- on of arbitrators or fy an ami ' cable suit. G. C VTKt'I.A.VJK, 1'ret .??ut, WKKKLY BC 4KAHV ? i Vnmher of al'en emigran VI arrlvml to '1st ln*t. . . . ~.Wi , !>o same pe- n*l , lfU>4 H,&14 peers a- e this year T.i-'i Number of inmates in the iMtitutiwi* un ler eharge of I tne t'.immiet kin ? IB Marine Hospital Ward's Island Hoc pi U I Refuge Department . . . ital . 3T5 ,1,634 ,2,095 Total Receipt* to 31it inst. Ealanee in bank ,3,729 $21,670 22 . 61,192 46 Total Disbursement*, >82 862 79 , 52,948 66 Balance in bank. >9,906 14 Caae of Lleatentnt C. G. Hunter. Unitko Status Bnio Bainbhidmk, ) Off Sandy Hook, Jan. 33, 1855. ) Sir? I have the honor to annoance the return of the United States brig of war Bainb-idge, under my command, to the port of New York, Iron whenoa ?be sailed in November, 1853. I with to inform the Honorable t ie Secretary of the Navy that this haa been done after the moit mature deliberation, and that 1 do not throw myself in the leaat upon the mercy or clemency of the De partment It haa been done apon the t all conviotion of how useless the vessel was, under the circum stances, npon her station, and that being ho, to re main quietly there was to be false to the interests of my government and the honor of its flag. If the Honorable the Secretary of the Navy will contend that a blind obedience of orders is the waole duty of a navy officer, I will remind him that, with this, the battle of Cape St. Vincent would have bjen no victory; and that, with this, the battle of Copen hagen would have been lost to England. I do not wish to assert that these examples are scything more than great truths, showing (hit It may he, under oertaln circumstances, even a praise worthy act to study the booor of a flag in preferensa to a bUnd obedience to orders, nor d > I wish to deny that an officer who diaobejs orders incurs a grava responsibility. I rely solely upoa what I can mike plain to the department, that, un ler the c'.roum Htanns, it is better for the honor of the dig th%'. I frboold return to t:e United States than remain upon the coaat nl Brazil. Upon tns 2fith of January, 1854, the Banbrii^n urivfd in Montevideo, whe-e Omnodore Silter then wan on the Savannah. A difficulty had occur red at the Falkland Islands, known there evun prwir to the arrival of this v^stel. N o communica tion, hown^r, was male me apon that subjeo: until after tbe United States sloop-of-war Germantown arrived oyin too station and sailed to thole island*; then I was informed by Cotnmoiore filter ibt' be would have Bent me " hud he no*, feared that I would ccmpromws the gov*" nmaiit;" he made use cf tie same obieivttion to Commanier Lynou ttf well as to me, as I was luforrotd by the Unrtei States Cod ul to the Falkland Islands. Li; tie flattering as a declaration or tnta kind was, I mad* no c>ro'?st. Again a difficulty occurred at ihe Falkland iBlsnCB, which *as known in Moutovido npon the 20tn June, 1854, and altoouh the Btio brkge wan at that place, Commander Baiter did not wso rer, but ordertd th? (iermantown from Rto da Janeiro more than double the distance? nj doubt, for the frorr* roaaon as bafor?. About the 6th of 0 tobsr, aifficultiea of a very se rious ratnie, involving our Utg, were kaown at Montevideo to have cccorred at Paraguay. Tno flag i-bip had just arrived in the river; ia spite of tte urgett tece-iiity that a vessel of war should go to Assumption, I was ordered on a cruise to ports wbere no d flicnlty wa9 known t? hare occurred. Bn'ore sailing, however, I sent to theoommind ?r-in cbiet a dt tailed plan fur reducing, with th l? a?t pot" ib e force, the Dictator of Paraguay u ^ just re> ajd lor tne rights of foreigners. I <rdeied the officer who was neat with this con uuLication to eta'e to the commander in chief tha manner in which it had been received, and also tba-, eo oonbt exiatfd that serious d'.fficcltie* had jnst occurred in Paraguay ; that if he would order ihe vttfpfl order my command to that point, he anight rely npon a judicious airargement, and one hojor to the (lag. The BrmnaDder :n-chief stated that the B tin bridge cenld not refceh Assumption on aconot of havirg no great drat- of water; bnt the offi *? who had btea sent, by me bad fortunately l. upon the snrvej oi the river to t'-at point, aid assured hin that without her tanks, ar<l other ncnectiiry wight, there w uld be no difficulty. I again urged the cooiiliaader in -chief to he seat to Paraguay , by .et er, da'.sd October 9, bnt a', l to no pnrpiEe. Instead of beui* sett wbeie a serioos difficulty wan ki>o? n to exiat, I wan ordered wbere It was known no difficulties hid amfn-for steam ers twice a month reach M<?nU vi.tto, bringing from every port in Brazil in ?hlcb we nave con In the meantime, the Waterwitch, en tr acred noon ?cii ctific Joiv in ".If waters Dear Assumption, went totbat plsw for tte wrraoflement of exu'.inir d'lft (Oiiite. Lieuti/iaat-oommanding Page vUited Pre sident Ish?z 'biee time* bc'ore ennmaaicating *itn A!;. Hopkins, tne UniUd States Cacsul; f.e or d??ed tba' the officer^ of the Waterwite'i ndioid not vim* "b" aforesaid 0"n?ml, aid, strwge b-yorid be lief, he ordered % licutenajit, by whim, ere this, you Jave received despatches not to t\Se any noine frcm Mr. Hopkins, the United States Consul, whv+e exequatur i ad been withdrawn by President Lopez. If a vottme wer* wriren it wonld not tell more plain y ho * our diffi -allies in Ptriguay have bsen airiDged. Ana final?, since the dep*r:ure of the Weterwitch, President Lepras has sust>eaded tbe ex plo atioi i of those rivers, and the Seminarir,, the enly paper published in Paragniy, is load ia it-i abuse of t lie A.-m-rictcs ani the Lieutenait-Cjm nibi'disgot the W?ter#itcb. Ccmmndore Salter wm made aware of these events by Lieutenant Moore, bearer of despatch** from Lienanant- Commanding P?pe to the United States, ana by ibat opportunity of sending me or ders to return, by the same bearer of despatch js, noie were sent. To joo.mand a vetsei of war, and bs smt pur pciely wtere no iiifficu'tUs ex at, when serious oie? werekooento isve ocrurred elsewhere, is in my ejfs, a degradation. I call up n the Honorable the Secretary of the Na?y :o relieve me from that degradation, and I ask olIj at this mo tent orders to go to Assumption and rec;e?s 'he wroigs of our injured cointrynen. If tie lommaccer n> chief plainly and unequivoialiy shirks a responsibility, it becomes imp rative, ia my of.nion, that I should take one. I herewith submif an accompanying detailed plan, markei A, of a probable force necessary to bring President : to a juet regard of the rights jf oar fello ? citiz?bs. Be is now eng\ged in ccnatrustlng Vrttfi atiots upon tbe Paraguay, which would have been unavailable if I had been sent imrueiiv.ely upon the perpetration of the oat rages. I will n it dwei] upon tbe flagranry of thtse outrage*. Tnec v emmet:, no doubt, isfu>ly informed a> to tfie.r ??? acttr ; but property h?s been confiscated, the I ves of ?nr ctniitrjmtn placd in j?ipardy, and our fltg hauled dewn and trampled under foot, in a country in which a mob has never been known. Upon tbe 14th of May, 1854, 1 *ldree**d a letter to tt? H notable tbe >e^retar? of t e Navy, in re f?TC to my prifa'e interests. I have received no answer, save indire tiy. through the con maiderln-cbief. and that not at all in its tore ea'cuiated to lead hm to believe tha* ! enjiied the confidence of the depftm*ut. I have at vbrl.us Umfs, as lfou'.eaiit aid tn iuf?rior gj*d?s, a<?dr??*ed .et:er? to the Hoiorable '.he 4ic letary of tbe Navy, aci aave, I bei e?e. invanat* / b*:'o?e U.11 time, ?eeetV'ad replies, however aiver*e tee Depar ment has be*n to a.ceds to my re quests. Tfj? oomman4er ic-cbief good enough ta seTid m? frcm rtlo de Janeiro to Montevideo, an ex'.raft of a etter, wtiich was in mbstarce a r?ar:mial to mo; it was foanded upon a ae ret report male by htm cf oe to the Department; a part of this rep>rt i am p*sarfd to s o? ia a mn sta^msnt. 1 do net with to nuke a poinr. wit", the H tnoraWe tbe S? r-?tary r.i the Ntvy how far it mien; be con nde;?d b< no? able or ( isb'iu.rablr to m*ke pub>i : a !e :e- nx-kedaid re?.'e>ved as private, unle-M an ab ?olute n? involving tbe hoior of toe reoe.ver rtqu.r'dit. When till* vtiiati)n of my ^ mlienoe, w tLcu; a necessitv, I as been accom. ai.ied b/ a se cret report, ? part < f ?b:ch I am prepared to ah'>v suit ue. an inebartlstxe prsn: aa<ht wi*h ran h sSownf right say that the 'wmmaeder io ctnef oal u> rbject ?o set ve is tot 'jifnrm ng me of the pur p'.-t cf ha latter. I nave ;o state to the H^nortb'e 'he S^-'retary of thi Navy that 1 bope omission in not answer". og my la'Vr * anacc. ien'al one; *har. m aa oOi^r ettumandif g a vassal of war, I fi.nk tbat ? oanm m ? rnittsy o?aardH iirect answers to sn rb oomuuoi a*. i nsas I may mtke. however rtvarh the H^norao.e le Se;retar> ot Navy may dTaap^rov? of tbsir sabkT* ce. If I may ex^rem an opinion, this pro bably accident ?i ?, m.a?ljn may b?ve b ea ai oj?ra tinir cacse in lea ng the comoiatilsr-ln-Jhief tj ?n; ocae tbat be aione wae aresoonsiol* < ffi"er Tae ' -r mmatdsr of a vrR??! of war is always res pouii be I f:< * hi* own seta, and the oommiidtr-in-^hief ctn a?t relive ItUB of UMt reapoiaibilitv. Ti a*.t*mpt ' ?: jtttait a ^fiscfon npon hia cbara:ter as an - Ci'-er: it ia t^nst iside, in my c??e arbitrarily, all tl.at I t?ve pa ced bv a faitbfal ssrr<ce of av 00O I i>y fr>* ibtny #?ars ? it ia to rib me of a JIhtve, eave :he aff-c-'.on# -J* ?'?* wt-o^inor me w.to t.fclr frier iahlp. 1 prefer makiriB any st riB^- ratow than r>a?ly a^d ?>m?ly cd my "imm.ssl'?n when I aoatfnel t at I do K by a tartit silenee aud nerlect of ? 'h rotor*' ? flag fiat aifa r I nave ?er*.-d earneatly iind fa'tffiby. ard f r wliob, wiea ttetim? ar - ves, I boo" w ?bed ti e la-t drop of my b' ?d. Wtlb s^tm barb .r us pvwrj, soca a* Paragit- , on'y an exhibition of force will prevent outrage or cbto'n redreea; a thousand mile* In the interior, Pre ?i dent Lopaa regards hla power aa ample to Main' tain hiantfam or robbery, even In toe f* a of tree ties, and only force will biing him to a Just regard of the right* of foreigners. At Montevideo, among the intelligent merchant*, great hoDea were enter tained thai the <ommander- in-chief would tV a 1 oroe to Paraguay ; indeed, it waa mppoae d by all that the destination of this vessel waa to that point; bat the hopes of our countrymen have been disappointed, atd the citizens rf the Band* Orient*! aid toe Argentine confederation smile at our inav tion, and sneer at onr apparent imbecility. It may be presumed that the inatrn :Vona which the Honorable the Secretary of the Navy save me opou the 18th October, 1853, vera general, and anch aa were given to the command* r-in chief of the Brazil squadron, a paragraph of whic t I take the liberty ot quoting : " You will, at all timet, bear iu mind yeur duties aa the commander of a veeael of war of the Uni'ed States, to protect the citizens, com men e and interests of jour country to the falleat extent in your power." Even without these instructions from the Depart ment, I need not have been neglectful or theae du ties; but, with ii?t ructions so ex oil; itly given, not to be watchful in the highest degree involvea&mjst onerous culpabi'ity. With a commander ic-chief bo neglectful of the in terests and hoi>or of his flag, my exertioss t) that end as a comma: der of a vessel of war have been wholly neutralized, and with the information al ready, I hop*1, in the bands of the Hon. the Secre tary of the Navy, I would in all sincerity ask t > wbat purpose, rueful aid honorable to my cointry. could t? e Balnbtidge remaia upon the coast of Brazil ? If, however, in the good judgment of the Hon. the Secretary ot tre Navy, with such fa:ts as are in his possession, the course I have taken, resoinsible as it is, does not fnlly meet his apprava', 1 shall beg that, at tbe earliest moment, a court of inquiry be instituted for a rigid invrstigation. Tbe eominaLder in-ch;ef of the Brazl squadron / s either wholly ard unequivocally culptbe, or I am, and I now charge him with culpable neglect of the "protection of tbe citizens, commerce aad in terests of bis country, to the fullest ex teat In his power," for which no social order of the depart ment wouid appear necessary. Tfc Hod. the Secretary of the Navy may regard my vitws, already exprewed in relation to rbe neg ie t of tbe c mm?nder-in-chief to tbe interests of hh country, as arising from my personal relation to tbe occurrences detailed. On tbat account soiely T have to stats to the Ocn. the Secietary of the Navr th it, although th a U. S. frigate 8a?ar.nah bad been u ?ou the station a whole year, the commander in- chief neglected to place him'elfin wrsonal cunmuni.-.atioa with tne high sut'.orities both in Brizil and tbe republic of Uraguay. During tbe whole five months that t>e Savannah bad been at Montevideo, the comxander-in-obief visited tbe city for a few hours ?nly. neglecting tj ooltivste proper relations with the President of the republic, so necessary, as we have no Charge at that potn'. Tbe abserce of these courtesies amonar polite people is iit'U lly considered as offensive, aad yet a gn ater it jury, whicl the com nauder-iu chief also, in ail probability, ignorautly commits is, that vith ont interoour e with the authorities and intelligeut it habitants, 1 e cannot understand am inform his govenmentcf tbe actual nolitical ondl'.ion of a republican government laboring uader :he danger ous pro'tctoiate of a neighboring en aire. Thia course of toe comm?rde--in cbief involves no tangi ble culpability; but the Hon. the 3e re >7 of the Navy will see tt at it must be in a high degee In junoiiH to tbe general ktercst* of our flag, and ad to tbe s. irit which sends abroad vesssls of we r is supposed, with agents alive to prose cuti;1;,' ~ucb C )iit>e i>s will ?-fF*ctna!ljr protect onr comu.rrce, and estaMish, aa far as nny br, by par sr/.ai inUr curse, r?laMcns of amity and fri-r.dih'p. I have the honor t > be, V8ry resoec'ful'y. C. G. Hunter, Lieut. Command'g. To tbe Hon. Jajjkh C. Dubbin, Secretary of the Navy, Washington. Commander IHoort, of the T<-xm Navy, Nkw York, J.m. 80, 1863 Jac. Corpon Bxxnkit, Esq. : Dkak ^ir -My attention lias been culled to A roost vlo lent attack on me in the New York A tint of last Sun ?'.ay; it occupies four columns, which are filled with misrepresents lions, calumnies, libels, ami downright f&Uthoodr. Tlii* broad contradiction is all that 1 need say on thin occasion, but that I may nut suffer in public ?opinion from these attack*, an a private Oitisen ban but v > trull chance with a person who wields toe power of a presr, I hare concluded that the wiser alternative i* to appeal to the laws of tbe country, and look for jmtice thronvh tka decision of a court and jury. I am a*are that the law of litel is considered oppron Hive by many member* of the press, but to relieve ir. of Its odio isness in thin instance, 1 shall (ive the defend nnta ti e wideit scope to plead tbe truth ax % full justi.'i -a tion. If what the Allot has stated be 'rue, 1 shall ask no damages, ami will w illingly inset all the pen *1 ties which public ccnlemnation indicts upon a (nan who baa not fa'thfuliy pertortned hia duty in a high and im portant public -tat Ion. Very respectfully, your ob't serv't, K W. MOORE, Com. ol la-e Texa* Navy. PoeTfcwiT? Ah illustntivu of public sentiment in T< xa* ii ion the merits of this controversy, you will fur ther oblige me, Mr fCdltor, by giving a place in your valuable < olnmns, to the following editorial from one of the moit widely circulated and Influential journals of the State:? [From tbe Galveston News, Sept. 5, 1K">4] COMMOIH i KB MOOSE'S DETKNCS. We 'o day (nbitsh the defeute of Com. E. W. Moore n?ainst the violent attack made upon hun in the United States Senate on the 1st July, ult. We had determined to have nothing to do with a controversy which is so en tin ly per onal in its character, and which bearsevidence throughout that it has row been renewed with the most bitter feelings of malignity, and that, too, after all tho points in the controversy, in which tbe public have any intt rest or concern, wire actually adjudicated in Com. Moore's favor bv the highest authorities in '.his -"tat# ten years aro. The penile of Texas know very well that all the charges of a public character that Uen Houston has lately thought lit to reiterate <n his official capacity as United testes Senator. w,re actual'y ignore-l by a court martial, composed of m"n appointed ty Ceneral Hoifton h mself, which held its long session ten years ago, in the town of MashingUin, on the Hrazoa. B it, nrt only werethone cbsrges declared to be groundless, but instead of finding Com Moore a defaulter to the re public of Texas, ss charged, be waa found to be a creditor of the republic, by advance* he had made to the amount of about thirty '.houaaod dollars. Iu addition to this, the CongToss of tbe republic lolly recognized this coir pie! ?? ae iiiittsl by subsequent a:ts of legislation. These facts be.n/ well known *o tb" people of Texa*. we could see no gotm res son why we should again encumber our colnmns ty their reiteration after a lapse of ten year*, merely because General Ho istoo should choo?e ut this late day to reiterate his chanre* in the United States tenate. But upon further refiejtlon we have come to the conclusion that the pu blication of Com Moore'* defence is but a simple act of justice, to which he is entitled. He is assailed by a man occupying a hlph position, that gives him overwhelming advantage ever the object of bis vengeance. The charges are now recapitulated under the imposing sanc'ion of high odl cial station, by a man wbo is sworn to the performance of solemn duties involving the welfare of toe country. 1'nder such circumttance*. it is but reasonable to pre sume that these charges, which were so long since <le cined to be false and grocndlea*. by a decree of a court martini to whom they were referred, may now be tie lit v*?l by the vast majority of the people of the Ccite 1 State-, to whom the* will he **nt in newspapers and pamphlet*, published by thousands, anil circulated at the n peine of the government. And more e*pe c ally will th s be the case since ninety nine oat of every hundred who iead thee-- charges now are utterly igno rant of the fact that the man w)n> make* them failed to sustain them by a court uf his own appointment. Beside* thin, we All Imow that it I* utt-rly out ef the pow?r of any private individual .o make a defence that cao bave equal publicity with the charges made by a 8. Sena t< r. Th" latter are djnlaM througbou; :hs length and breadth of the country by official organs as well a* in 1 pamphlet furm. at the expense of the pubic treasury; 1 while (ogive eijiisl publicity to the r.efenc* must re ' uire a private fortune tliat very fee posse?s. I'nder these citcumstance*. we have felt it a dti'y we owe to a 'nithful public servant o the lat" republic to rive hia defence the full benefit of our circuUt a It <loe* ap pear to uf tbst the warmest friends of <>?n. Houston must admit that this renewal of bis att*c< icon Com. M ore was entirely uncalled for and to'sliy out of r lac? snd unjustiiiabW in the Unit id Mates N?uate. I '-rsonal jersecution. evn when based on well grounded ! rh*r<*s, should certslnly cease some time or otli-r, and 1 no? follow its victim to th# grave. Th>) only object W? n. Houst- n ctn have :n his continued hostility to Com. V ore must fce to prevent him an.! the other brave tfl!"ersof our navy from b? dm: reinstated In the navy ot the I riled States. It i* probably chiefly owing to hi* 1 ( pp?s,tlon that this m?usure of juitice has l>e*n d?laye l | until mary of those ofli ers are n ,w in tt'ir graves, after msoy years of bilteT disappoint m?ot and adversity. , Have tbe surviving officers of our little navy uot suffer sd enough* Ito the i?ople of Texas telieve tnat their ' Senator 1* Uncharging bis -.worn duties, anil pr >m-i;.ng ' tbe bonor ao'f welfare of this State, by thus continuing hi* persecution agains* those brare men, who really maii>- our navy a mi ?t efficient irm of deten -e to the re public, and whose deed* w re the (ride an! boast of our c.tiiens, and commande<l the applause <>f otaer nations f EiPt.o^oN of Foe* Htwtno Kimj?op Powncit ? On Thursday evening of last we 'a. at WUkewbar^e, tbe I Urje p?iwd?r manufactory of M?-a?r#. Karr sh. a Iver .* | C->.. situateii about two miles b-h-w the b -fi iffi, ?% I pk-dert, blowing to atoms th" dryinr house atel I gitr or house. Jostroyin ' tbe stock and coat house, ( ard also utterly destroying the frame of one mill j sod ut.r<ioAog the mber Joseph Kh<a"?, and a co lored Hoy nsmc' Jerry Cooper, were foini tt?e,n?xt [ morning, havipg been blown ahoM* '.M> yards had ly torn | and in<ngled ITtere were atio it (?ur hunlred kegs ot powevr tieisli'd and unfiuislied, destroyed. Total ?<s a^out *S,:00. Pintno Hk v HiiiH. M'Oo'Urd, another (wntl# , m io. and > lady, recently w?nt aloft in a bti ion at Url-ans, sat wti?o thev ha i ilaen to .ne be git o' 4,f?o<i f?-et very <|-iet'y Uxik tbeir d-wnT I Ttie e-l tor of tVe l>fsc<w/. eho was on b-?ar I. i!oerr?bes tt.e rep-sst as bstogan excellent one. aorl relished with sn appettite [ ?har| en? i by excli*m*at and a coll Km ?ph?re