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Jfrvxjif and Jacis. At the battle of Gravelotte a trumpeter was killed by a ball which went in at the mouth of his instrument : Josh Billings says: "A man who starts on the day of his marriage as first lieutenant in his family, need never expect to be promoted." A person being asked what was meant by the "realities of life," answered, "Real estate, real money, and a real good dinner, none of which could be realized without real hard work." At Louisville, Ky., the fines collected for drunkenness are placed in the school fund, any many of the prominent men get drunk every week, just to contribute to the cause of education. Two new States will probably be admitted into the Union during the present session of Congress?Colorado and New Mexico. The name of the latter will probably be changed to Lincoln. What more appropriate New Year gift can be made to a friend at a distance than to send a good weekly newspaper, wbicn wiii keep the donor in constant remembrance throughout the year ? A couple out West have been divorced on account of a difference of opinion on the subject of baptism?one maintaining the necessity of immersion to salvation, the other the sufficiency of sprinkliug. The New York Commercial Advertiser says that "in the name of England, Ireland, Scotland, America, and all civilized .countries," Mr. Gladstone, Prime Minister of England, pronounces George Francis Train a "oorifirmed lunatic." Otto Goldschmidt, Jenny Lind's husband, having squandered his wife's fortune, the nightingale is now so reduced as to be compelled to teach music for a living. The ill-matched pair have separated by mutual consent, and the spendthrift must now shift for himself. It has been discovered that the Home Fire Insurance Company, of New Haven, Connecticut, has been deceiving the public. Agents have been notified to stop insuring. A false report is said to have been made in 1867. The nominal stock was said to be $10,000,000, whereas it was but $400,000. A resident of the St. Lawrence county, N. Y., jail has discovered a new use for soap. Having thoroughly soaked his right arm in soft soap, he was able to thrust it through bars that would scarcely have admitted an infant's, and then uulocked the door, when, by the connivan e of friends outside, he made good his escape. The United States Consul at Jerusalem, Mr. R. Beardsley, has sent to Vice-President Colfax a speaker's mallet of olive wood, with j heads of oak from Araham's oak at Hebron, I a chalice of olive wood from the Mount of Olives, and an inkstand and sand box of asphalt from the Dead Sea, all beautifully carved and polished. There will be four eclipses in the year 1871?two of the sun and two of the moon. The first will be a partial eclipse of the moon, January 6th, partly visible here; the second an annular eclipse of the sun, June 17, invisible here; the third a partial eclipse of the moon, invisible; the fourth a total eclipse of the sun, invisible. P. T. Barnum will send out a combined museum, menagerie and circus next spring. He recently told a correspondent, alluding to his proposed new traveling show: "1 am nearly dead with ennui. I have been playing the gentleman for four years, with plenty of money and nothing to do, and I am nearly dead. I don't want money ; I mean to give away everv dollar I make. But I must work or die." After the first instant, there ought to be some abatement in the prices of tea, coffee, sugar and spices. On that day, a reduction takes place of fifteen cents a pound in the duty on tea; of about one and a quarter cent a pound in the duty on sugar, and two cents a pound in the duty on coffee. On spices there will be a large reduction, and also a considerable addition to the free list. A company has been formed in New York which will seriously interfere with the manufacture of American shoes. Contracts have been made with shoe manufacturers in Vienna to make "American brogans," similar to those of Massachusetts manufacture, from Austrian leather, and ship them to New York. They will cost per pair, duty paid, about twenty-two cents less than American shoes. A man stopped at a hotel at Pike's Peak, and on settling his bill the landlord charged him seven dollars a day ror nve aays. "Didn't you make a mistake ?" said the guest. "No," said the landlord. "You did," retorted the wiry-looking fellow; "you thought you got all the money I had, but you are mistaken ; I have a whole purse full in another pocket." New Orleans was marked on the 16th instant by a notable event?no less than the presentation by General Longstreet of a State flag to the First Regiment of Louisiana Artillery, Hon. T. J. Serames, once a member of the Confederate States Senate, responding in behalf of the organization. The First Regiment is made up largely of those who were members of the Washington Artillery of Confederate fame. The lottery fever has broken out among the school-boys in Grass Valley, California. They have got up a grand gift scheme, the first prize to be 10,000 marbles, and the lowest twelve marbles ; the tickets are to be sold for marbles, and the surplus marbles, after paying expenses, will be given to a lame boy, who cannot play well enough to win any of those so necessary elements in a boy's happiness. The claim that the maize, or Indian corn plant is indigenous to the soil of the New World, has lately been contested, and recent investigations of certain Chinese records are cited to prove that it was cultivated in China prior to the discovery of America. Chinese authors maintain that it came originally from west of China, and that it was intro^^^Oucedinto that country long before the first arrival of the Portuguese in 1547. The operations of the income tax are peculiar. In nineteen States the amount collected last year was less than $75,000 for any one of them, and A. T. Stewart paid more than any one of twenty-seven States, and more than Arizona, Colorado, Dakota, Florida, Washington, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, and Montana, combined. The whole revenue from this source was $25,025,068.86, and seven States paid nearly nineteen millions of this, or three-fourtns of the whole. Gen. "Woodford the defeated candidate for Governor of New York, said to a Washington reporter, a few days ago; "I was vau?uished, and, without feeling a bit unhappy, '11 just turn round and work at ray old profession once more. You never heard the story of the Dutchman in Buffalo who kept hotel. He was defeated for the nomination as Canal Commissioner, and, on being told he was defeated, 'Wot, wot!' he exclaimed, 'shust zay dat again; deveeted, deveeted. Veil, I shust go back to Buffalo and keep the Mansion House like h?11.' A correspondent of the Rural New Yorker offers this remedy for burns or scalds : "The most efficacious remedy ever tried was to apply common starch just moistened with cold water, and spread on a cloth to effectually cover the wounded part. A little girl who was badly scalded was instantly freed from pain by the above remedy. Keep the starch j moistened and in a few hours the inflamma- i tion will be gone, leaving the scalded part , perfectly white. After tne inflammation is out, apply a linen cloth dipped in sweet oil. , It is a speedy cure." 1 The oldest stove probably in the United 1 States is the one which warms the halls of Virginia's capitol, in Richmond. It was made in England and sent to Richmond in '' 1770. and warmed the House of Burgesses for ! \ sixty years before it was removed to its present location, where it has been for thirty years. It has survived three British monarchs; has been contemporaneous with four kingly monarchies, two republics and two imperial governments of France. The great Republic of America has been torn by internal strife, the breaches partly healed, and still the old stove remains unmoved in the midst of all. ifa IJfltMle (inquirer. YORKVILLE, S. C.: THURSDAY MORNING, JAN. 5, 1871. Watch the Figures.?The date on the "addresslabel" shows the time to which the subscription is paid. If subscribers do not wish their papers discontinued, the date must be kept in advance. Cash.?It must be distinctly understood that our terms for subscription, advertising and jobwork, are cash, in advance THE PAST YEAR. Eighteen hundred and seventy is no more. It belongs to the past. We can now look back upon it and reflect. In many particulars i^gs a remarkable year. The spring was c8g|ftnd dry; the summer long and hot, and the autumn *he longest and most pleasant within the memory of many living men. ' Winter lingered on the lap of spring; but autumn more than regained what was lost by the backwardness of the vernal season. Seldom has the husbandman been more bountifully recompensed for his toil and industry. Blessed with copious rains and genial sunshine, the fields yielded exuberant crops of all kinds. Fruits of every variety, common to this climate, were in profuse abundance and of the choicest quality. Politically, the past year was one of confusion, and in some respects of sad and ruinous blunders. Party animosity was carried to an unpleasant extent. The contest for office was fierce and stubborn, and often, no doubt, pushed to a degree, which, in the end, will prove highly detrimental to the public good and disgraceful and ruinous to lncnviuuais. We can now reflect upon our faults and strengthen our weak places. Some diversity of opinion is, perhaps, beneficial to a country; but it is always a calamity for any people to be harassed and annoyed. It alienates the affections of the citizens toward each other and digs chasms between parties that time cannot filL Every good citizen must deplore the political phenomena which South Carolina presented during the past year. It is unprecedented in the history of any country. The wise and prudent look upon it with utter astonishment, and look forward to its results with anxious forebodings. While South Carolina was convulsed from the sea board to the mountains, Europe was shocked with the clash of arras and the tread of martial troops. France aud Prussia were in arms, and the fair fields of France were desolated by the invading Prusian and his allies. Sad is the condition of Europe. The i city which rules the fashions of the world is beset by a veteran army flushed with many [ victories. The true patriot cannot but sym-1 pathise with the inhabitants of Paris. The j brave man hates and weeps over the suffering j and unfortunate. The friend of humanity i must feel his bosotn swell with emotions of j pity for the widows and orphans of both na-1 tions. War is a great calamity. It turns fat lands into barrenness, and happy homes into weeping and wailing. Thus the year closes. I Our barns and granaries are full, and our prospects are better than they have been for several years. There is no need for despondency. All that is required to enable our people to rise to comfortable worldly circumstances, is industry and economy; and all that is necessary to secure to us our political rights is prudence and firmness. THE COMING YEAR. With this number of the Enquirer we begin the labors of the year eighteen hundred and seventy-one. It fills our heart with joy, that the DrosDectsare encouraging. Provisions A A ^ ^ of all kinds are unusally abundant. By the blessing of a kind and merciful Providence, the seasons of the past year were most favorable to crops of all kinds. The farmers, especially of this county, are less trammeled than they have been in the last five years. Most of those who were involved in debt at the surrender, have in some way or other, in a measure, been relieved of this incubus. The farms which were deprived of domestic animals have been re-stocked. Property which, for the last five years, has changed hands at a mere nominal price begins to command a price approximating to its former value. The people of this State, in common with all the southern states have had a sore strug- | gle for the last ten years. First, a fierce and terrible civil war, then all the calamitous effects of war aud misgovernment; but the day begins to dawn. Our people have learned, or are beginuing to learn, their true situation, and are prepared, or are preparing, for its responsibilities. We congratulate our patrons on the prospect that the darkness is beginning to flee awav, and the light of a more prosperous future for our country is already appearing. We have still many evils of which we might complain. Some of these industry and economy will remove; others are deep-seated sores that can only oe removed by time and prudent treatment. Just at the present juncture of affairs, we are in danger of making fatal mistakes. The sooner our people get rid of the old and practically exploded idea, that "cotton is king," the better it will be for the whole South. If we are permitted to advise our patrons in any respect, we would admonish them that they, at the very out-set of the present year, make all their arrangements and so concert their plans that provisions may be abundant. There are providential occurrences, such as protracted droughts, which cannot be provided against, fully; but the main reason why corn is so often scarce in South Carolina, is that there is not a sufficient amount planted, and what is planted, is not properly cultivated. Experience teaches that when bread-stuffs are scarce, even if the cotton crops be good and the price reasonable, little money is in circulation, and property of all kinds is depressed in value?and worse than this, the people are depressed in spirits and^eady to get up and J go to some country where corn is plenty. Ob-; servation will show us that those farmers are ' in the best pecuniary condition, who have al-' ways made it a point to make an abundance i of provisions and as much cotton as they ; 30uld. The close of the war found but few of this class of farmers involved. We earnestly hope that the day is not far distant, when Farmers will cease to be corn buyers. ; To all our patrons we extend the congratu- i lations of the season and sincerely desire that , the year may end as propitiously as it has be-1 jim. 11 DIVERSITY OF RESOURCES. Few localities are more favorably situated than the region known as York county. The soil and climate are admirably adapted to the production of all the necessaries, and many of the luxuries, of life. Indian corn, wheat, rye, oats and barley, may be grown with profit. The soil in many portions of the county is noted for its adaptation to cotton. Clover and many of the grasses do well. In fact, when proper attention is paid to the preparation of the soil, previous to sowing, clover seems to grow as rich and luxuriant as it does in the valley of Virginia. York county is adapted, both by soil and climate, for producing the cereals, growing cotton and raising stock. Our people have long had a kind of vague knowledge of this fact; but only in a few instances has this knowledge been put into practice. Most of the farmers of York county, like the other inhabitants of the State of South Carolina, have devoted their energies to the growing of cotton. The practice, especially in those portions of the county best adapted to the growth of cotton, has been to raise cotton, and buy corn and bacon. In .. i? i j j_J tact, tne COttOll crop nits oeen uepeuueu upuu to meet every want. Everything, or nearly every thing, we eat and wear, is bought. The farmer lives very much like a merchant in a large city, depending upon his sales to supply all his wants. Cotton, with some farmers, in. this county, is everything. Such a practice does violence to the laws of nature, and is at variance with the sober observation of the past i It is clear, that it is safe policy to make it a rule to buy nothing that can be produced, and sell as much as is possible of every thing. This principle gives the laboring man diversity of employ men t, which is congenial to his mind. There are many sources of wealth in York county which are yet undeveloped. Stock of some kinds can be raised with little cost and much profit. Our winters are short and mild, compared with more northern latitudes ; and stock, especially cattle, can be supported at a mere nominal cost during the winter and spring months, and require no feed during the summer and autumn. For years stock of all kinds have been neglected, or to speak more truthfully have been treated cruelly; and because they did not grow and thrive under such treatment, the cry has been, "this is not a stock-raising country." Stock would do well in no country treated as | many of our people treat them. We are not opposed to the cultivating of cotton; but we are convinced that it is a mistaken policy to devote the whole of our ener . ii j..?* ? ninA +u.,? gies 10 ine prOUUClUg Ui UUlluu, auu uiuo utglect every other resource. It is always safe to follow the indications of nature. If we have natural facilities for manufacturing, it will be beneficial to the community and profitable to ourselves to engage in manufacturing. The same principle is strrctly applicable to. the other resources which nature grants us.v i If we do not use and develope those resources, we are recreant to the trust reposed in us, and the penalty which will be inflicted upon us will be poverty and dependence. SALEfTlUY. On Monday last, a large number of persons were in town from the country. The Sheriff sold under the orders of the Judge of Probate for partition, the following tracts of land : William Glenn, deceased.?The "Home Tract," containing 386 acres?purchased by D. J. Glenn, at 83.10 per acre; the "Old Place," containing 130 acres?purchased by A. Glqnn, at ?2 per acre;fthe "Stewart Tract," 91 acres?purchased b/j. C. Stewart at 84.05 per acre. John McNeel, deceased.?Two huudred and ; seventy-three acres, purchased by L. McNeel | at 88.75 per acre. j Thomas E. Roddy, deceased.?A lot at Rock j Hill, containing one* acre with a small house on it; purchased by Mrs. Mary G. Roddy, at j 8605. The executrix of the estate of A. A. Coulter, deceased, sold the plantation belonging to the , said estate in three parcels. One tract of : 68 1-8 acres was purchased by John H. Bari ai K -r\r\y o nrn a nntViar* nf 131 g prpci hv I | I J <41 IVV/i KJ j UUVVUV4 VA A V A. MV? W J j S. D. Faris at 87.10 per acre; and the third containing 105 acres, by Thomas S. Neely, at 83.80 per acre. There were no sales of lands by the County | Auditor to satisfy unpaid taxes?the delinquents whose property had been advertised, { having generally paid or satisfactorily arranj ged the various amounts against them. CIRCUIT COURT. The next terra of the Circuit Court for York county will begin on the third Monday in this month, and continue for one week only. The term will most probably be occupied exclusively with State business. The following lists ofjurors were drawn last week for this term of the Court: Grand Jurors.?Walter Brian, p. c., Primus Ellis, p. c., Ella Good, p. c., A. E. Hutchinson, Gilley Hambright, Allen Jones, D. B. McCarter, R. T.May, Thomas McGill,Thomas S. Neely, John R. Patton, Nelson Scott, p. c., Andy Steele, p. c., Joseph N.Steele, Thomas Wright, p. c., Edmund Wilson, George Witherspoon, p. c., Allen Workman, p. c. Petit Jurors.?P. W. Lindsay, sen., D. T. Lessley, T. M. Whitaker, John W. Mitchell, J. F. Workman, T. N. Dunlap, Robert Wright, p. c., Maj. J. H. Barry, T. L. Berry, .T T, Barron. J. A. Carroll. W. E. Campbell. Wm. Howell, J. L. Parish, Fenton Deggs, p. c., J. F. Carothers, Wm. Lindsey, p. c., Primus Johnson, p. c., Noah Banks, p. c., R. R. Darwin, John Thompson, p. c., Jacob Blair, p. c., Grief Brian, p. c., Russell Kennedy, p. c., Perry Dye, Anderson King, J. J. Wylie, John Dulin, W. W. Gaffney, Minor McConnell, p. c., M. H. Currence. THE GEORGIA ^ELECTION. The State election closed in Georgia on the 22nd ultimo, and passed off quietly, both parties voting freely and without intimidation, so far as heard from. The State has gone largely Democratic. The Congressional delegation will stand six Democrats to one Radical; and the Democrats are sqre of a majority of two, and probably more, in the next State Senate. Out of twenty-two Senators elected, the Democrats have chosen at least eighteen, which, with those holding over, will give them twenty-four out of the forty-four Senators. The fifth Congressional district, which, in 1868, gave a Radical majority of 8000, and sent but two Democratic representatives out of twenty-seven to the Legislature, now gives a Democratic majority of 6000, and elects twen- i ty-three Democratic representatives, and all three of the State Senators. The result in Georgia provoked the following recent dis- j' patch from Washington to the New York 11 Herald: 1 "The result of the Georgia election has dis-! appointed the Republicans who expected to j. carry that State. It is now conceded that the i ( entire South will go Democratic in 1872, and the Republicans are considerably alarmed at j1 the prospect If the South goes Democratic J * it will be impossible to elect the Republican ; f candidate, except Pennsylvania, Indiana and j I other Northern States, which are now doubt-: t ful, can be carried. The change of affairs in ( the South was not altogether unexpected to j sharp politicians, but it was thought that a ! few States would be carried by the Republi- 1 cans." ! t THE TORKVILLE ENQUIRER FOR 1871! WITH the first of the year, the YORKVILLE ENQUIRES will enter upon lu seventeenth volume ; and the success with which the proprietor has met ln-the past, in his efforts to publish a first-class Literary and Family paper, has Induced him to present attractions In the future, superior to any heretofore offered. With tills view, and for the purpose of securing ORIGINAL SERIAL STORIES. of a high order, remunerative prizes were offered for the three best competed ve stories. From a large number that were submitted, a committee, composed of disinterested and competent literary gentlemen, selected as the most entertaining, "AVLONA;" "TEMPTATIONand "THE LOST DIAMOND;" which, on opening the seals containing the authors' names, were found tc be from the pens of some ot the most popular story writers; and these productions are pronounced equal to the stories Issued from any weekly press In the country. THE PRIZE STORIES 1 will run through at least twenty-six numbers of the paper, and will be followed by three other Original Stories of absorbing interest, written cxpresslv for the Enquirer, entitled, rtBoectlvely, "DESTINY?A TALE OK BEFORE THE WAR;" "BROKEN CISTERNS;" and "UNKNOWN," making not less than three hundred columns of Original Stories to be published during the year; which, In addition to the "Miscellaneous Reading,'' adapted to all clnsscs; the Agricultural Department, containing practical and useful information for the Farmer; "Reading for the Sabbath," under the supervision of n clerical gentleman of marked ability, whose graceful pen embellishes his department In every number; a column of Wit and Hutnor; together with Editorials on appropriate topics; a cntnpeml of the News, at home and abroad; Commercial and Market Reports, and being one of the largest |>upors published In tlic South, printed In the bent style or a steam press, the Enquirer will supply the want of every fireside, and sustain its reputation as a paper for tlie family circle PRIZES TO SUBSCRIBERS. Willi a determination to keep up with the spirit of the tlmewc the distribution of Prizes being a popular Idea?the Proprlntoi has determined to ndont a system ol GIFT DISTRIBUTION among the subscribers of the Enquirer ; but upon a plan different from Umtito prevalent, In which brass jewelry, "dumh watchen" nnd shilling pictures arc the chief attractions. Ibis deetnee preferable to awanl a substantial gift, in an equitable manner, up on the following plan : Commencing with the first week In January, 1871, the name o each yearly subscriber on the list, who has paid in advance, wll be placed in a box provided for the purpose. On each Wednca day morning throughout the year, after thoroughly rltaing m names, one name will be drawn from the box?the person whoti name shall be so drawn, to be entitled to a prize of FIVE DOL LARS in cash, (pj- As names arc added to the list tl^ejr will b< placed In the box..?|} The name of the pcraon dawn eacl week will be announced in the Issue of the paper succff-dtng th drawing, and the money promptly forwarded to the M I PREMIUMS FOR CLUI^^LgH I The proprietor announces THREE PREMIUbH^^^HH IS-gest Clubs of subscribers to the Enquihf.h amounting in the aggregate to 8EVENTY-FIV4 0?HiABS fi cash. The first premium will represent the value of THIRT3T-PIVI DOLLARS; the second, die value of TWENTY-FIVE DOL LARS; nnd the third, die value of FIFTEEN DOLLARS. The proprietor, instead of designating special articles as pre miums, has adopted die above plan, In order that persons win secure die premiums may select any article diat may be preferrct of the value to which each may be entitled. The person getting up the Inrgest Club, at 82.50 for each sub scriber, will be eritlded to the first of the above premiums; thi person getdng up die second largest, to die second premlum|_an< the diird largest to the dtird premium. Compcdtom mtybegTi to procure suliscrlbers at once?the time of subscription to com mence whenever the name Is handed In, or on the first of Jan uary, 1871, as may be preferred. The money for each subscribe Is expected to lie paid for whenever die nnme Is entered on on bonkR, nnd no nnme will be entered In competlUon until it 1 paid for. To persons who make up Clubs of ten or more nnmes, bu who may fail to obtain a premium, we will send the EsquiREi one year free of charge; nnd to those who send a Club of twent; or more names, but who mny fall to get a premium, we will for ward a copy of the Enquirer one yenr tree of charge, and i copy of the Rural Carollnlnn and die Southern Culdvator, or i copy of die Enquirer and either Godcy's Lady's Book, Peter son's Magazine, Frank Leslie's Lady's Magazine, or any weekl; newspaper published In the United Suites. The premiums will be awarded to the successful competitor at one o'clock, p. in., on die second Monday in April, 1871. TERMS, IN ADVANCE. One copy, one year, ? Two copies, one year, 5 0 One copy two years, 5 0 Ten copies, one year, with an extra copy to the person mnklngthe club, ,_j, 25 p Specimen copies will be sent on application. Address,- ' L. M. GRIST, Yorkvllle, S. C. COLD WEATHER. An unusually cold snap of weather pre vailed throughout the entire country duriw last week and the week before. In this ira mediate section the weather was colder thai has been known for forty years, and ice form ed of an average thickness of two inches Broad river was frozen over on the 27th ulti mo, the first instance of the kind in thirty-sev en years; a slight sprinkle of snow fell heri on the 22nd, extending generally throughout the South. Fisher's mill pond, at Columbia was entirely frozen over on the 25th and 26th and for the first time in thirty years was th< ice sufficiently thick to carry a skater entire ly across. At New Orleans the weather waj unusually severe, water freezing there on th< 22nd. In the West and Northwest the weathe: was particularly severe. At Chicago, Illinois the mercury descended to sixteen degrees be low zero, an$ at Bloomington, in thlr^jJ State, it was twenty-two degrees beloii^^ Ij) New Mexico tiff tkrnmmp^[- W; from eight to'twenty-eight degrees; and sflj in the mountains is from two to three feet d^ which the miners hail with delight, as it wil ensure plenty of water next season. ?hi Missouri river is frozen, and vehicles cross th< river on ice. The Potomac river is frozei over, and river navigation generally suspen ded, on account of the cold weather. STATE TAXES. The Legislature, just before adjournraen for the holiday recess, during which recess, i is worthy of remark, the members are drawin; their regular per diem just the same as if the] were at the capitol earnestly deliberating fo: the public weal, passed a tax bill, fixing thi rates at nine mills on the dollar, which act w< are informed by the Columbia Union, was ap proved by the Governor on the 23rd ultimo At this rate, the total State tax for the nex fiscal year will reach one million six hundrei and fifty-five thousand two hundred and twent\ dollars, which sum, it is modestly hinted, wil meet the running expenses of the government and which, with equal propriety, we think i may be stated, will be absorbed to the las penny, in the way of salaries, fees and "con tingencies" by the insatiable leeches now iy4?k ing at the treasury pap, to say nothing of th< many more new offices which are proposed by bills already introduced. During the late canvass, the condition o: the State finances was clearly shown by Re publican speakers to be in an unusually sounc and healthy condition, and the promises mad< by them of retrenchment and reform, shoulc their party continue in power, led the publi< to believe that'taxation would be light, und the burdens of State government for tho en suing year, at least, would be comparatively easy. - Hence, it is with no small degree oi astonishment, to say the least, that the taxpayers contemplate, as almost the first act oi the Legislature, a bill increasing the taxes one-half more than the amount levied Jasl year, the bill being based upon the State Auditor, demonstrating be impossible to carry on the State go ment with anything less than that which the * " Ml- xt_ _ bill just passed specines?nine mms on me dollar. It is due to Governor Scott to say that he is reported as being very much dissatisfied with the stubborn conduct of the House in refusing to pass the bill without making any effort to reduce the amount levied. In debating the question in the Senate, Mr. Corbin protested against this extravagant course, and believed that money was disposed of in a manner that could not be properly accounted for. At the same time the State was in debt and property must be taxed to liquidate it. In future, as a Senator, watching the interests of the people, he would demand a thorough investigation ; and if officials were found guilty of dishonest practices, hcwrwrid see that j'ust punishment would be meted but to them, let their positions be high or low. 1 In the House, Mr. O'Connell, spoke at length in favor of the reduction of the rate of taxation. He desired that eight mills should be levied iustead of nine mills, although he voted previously for the latter rate. If there svas a deficiency bill introduced he would support it, should it be shown to him that it tvas right and j'ust. The entire expenses of ihe State, at present, were the payment of the State officials, no one of whom received more :han three thousand dollars salary, and he desired to know where this vast amount of mon;y was to go. We can only express the hope that the bill las not been approved by the Governor, and hat further deliberation will result in a nm I . = teaal reduction of the sura proposed. Al- c reidy are the people over-burdened with tax- i ation. e J I ; THE EUROPEAN WAR. , The severe weather in France has caused j intense suffering in both armies, incapacita- j Jing troops from service and of course irape- 6 ding military movements. The Prussians are ( | evacuating the departments east of Paris, for ^ j the purpose, as is supposed, of concentrating ^ i around Versailles. Up to latest advices the { bombardment of Paris had not commenced, , Pifnt preparations have been made for the ( ?work of shelling the city. ( j | THE AGRICULTURE SOCIETY. r From the proceedings published in another ! column, it will be seen that the movers in the initiatory steps to forming an agricultural ' society in-^ork county are earnestly at work, a convention of the township societies having been held on last Monday. It is to be^ regretted that some of the townships were not lTtenresented. but we trust this failure is not r -T-X-- ? - [ attributable to apathy on the part of the farp jners of these townships. Nothing can be - more conducive to the benefit of our farming r community than a properly-organized agri1 ^cultural society, and we hope every township h 4?the county will be represented at the next ~ meeting on the last Saturday in April. j^^HE TOM BLACK MURDER. fHi ^H^Ri*fifndall and John Hix, two otfiW ^^JHftmplicated by the evidence as being nwgage<Hn the murder of the negro, Thomas s Black, near Harmony, in this county, on the night of the 3rd of December last, voluntarii ly surrendered themselves to the sheriff of this 1 county, on Monday last, and were committed I to jail. Subsequently on the same day, they ]_thad a hearing on a writ of habeas corpus be forejudge Thomas, and were recognized to r appear at the next term of the Circuit Court? i Randall in the sum of $3,000, and Hix in the t sum of $1500. ^Mack Byars, who was com* mitted, soon after the perpetration of the murl der, also appeared before Judge Thomas * on a writ of habeas corpus, and was bailed in y the sum of $1000. All the parties proved s alibis in the investigation had before the Judge. I DESTRUCTIVE FIRES. 0 The close of the year just past has been 9 unade remarkable by the number of destructive fires which have occurred in various sections of the country, all within the space of a few days, and many of them simultaneously. Besides the fire in Richmond, noticed at r ' length in another column, a fire occurred at Louisville, Ky., on the night of the 24th, destroying a hotel and all the business houses on the same block, but three?loss $100,000 f property to the amount of $15,000 was destroyed in Lynchburg, Va., on Wednesday of last week; the theatre at Memphis, Tenn., ^ was also burned ; a fire in Harrisonburg, Va., on Christmas morning, destroyed a portion of ' the business section of the town, and on the ' same morning, the building of Randolph Macon College was discovered to be on fire, .though the flames were extinguished before serious damage was done. In New York city there were thirty fires within a week, the loss amounting to $400,000 ; and at various localr ities in the northern States we enumerate from ' our exchanges fourteen fires, destroying in ^be aggregate property valued at $876,000. l proceedings of congress. HQ^V) complete our Congressional reports, we Tcbiitinue the proceedings of the (wo last days' jLflrevious to the adjournment for the holiday season. 3i The Sugar tax bill was disposed of in the g' Senate on the 20th, having originated in ! i the House, and as adopted was sent to the . j President, which he has signed, and it is i therefore a law. The bill provides the folj lowing duties on the different grades of sugar I amiimamaIa/I nil onr*ny nnf oKatto "Ma *7 CilULUCiaiCU VU an OUgai uw cui/vr V ai vi t | t Dutch standard in color, one and three-quart ter cents per pound. On all sugar above No. r- 7 and not above No. 10, Dutch standard in j color, two cents per pound. On all sugar r above No. 10 and not above No. 13, Dutch s standard in color, two and one-quarter cents ?. per pound. On all sugar above No* 13 and - not above No. 16, Dutch standard in color, two and three-quarter cents per pound. On t all sugar above No. 16 and not above No. 20, i Dutch standard in color, three and one-quarter f cents per pound. On all sugar above No. 20, 1 Dutch standard in color, and on all refined ; loaf, lump, crushed, powdered, and granulat ted sugar, four cents per pound. The bill alt so provides regulations for sampling, and enacts that all sirup of sugar, sirup of sugar-cane, - juice melada, concentrated melada, or conj'l centrated molasses .entered under the name of r molasses, shall be forfeited to the United States. f On the 21st the Senate was engaged in dis. cussing the San Domingo question. The de[ bate was exciting and continued all night. > Mr. Sumner arrayed himself boldly against I the annexation scheme of the administration, . while on the other hand Mr. Morton defended [ the President and San Domingo. The reso'Tution, which provides for appointing a comr mission to visit San Domingo, make observaf tions, and report the same, finally passed, . though it is yet to be acted on in the House. ^ Mr. Sumner's position on this question has , created a rupture between himself and the > President and has also excited a feeling of han fret! toward him among the republican Sena ~ :? p in cue nuuae, u ueiug cviuwn umi du^u r amnesty bill would be defeated, he had it'post, poned to January 11th. No other matter of interest was before the House. 1 MERE-MENTION. i Some of the Masonic lodges in Boston have both colored and white members. The monthly report of the Department of Agriculture estimates the total corn crop at 1,- ' 100,000,000 bushels?an average yield per acre of 28 bushels upon 39,000,000 acres, i Last year the yield was 24J bushels per acre upon 307,000,000 acres cultivated. A | Radical member of the Florida Legislature i was elected while in jail, awaiting trial for j murder. By raising cotton, the Florida < planters got 845 for an acre's yield ; by raising sugar cane, 8393, with no more work or res- ( ponsibility. The novel excuse of a Hart! ford, Conn., woman for stealing, was that she i "wanted the goods for Christmas presents, ! and couldn't afford to buy them." Sen- ] j ator Revels, of Mississippi, is thrifty beyond < the average of his race. What with lyceum ] , lectures and senatorial pay, he has saved 1 enough to buy an eleven hundred acre plan- I | tation near Natchez. Robert Lincoln, ( 1 son of the late President Lincoln, has joined < the Swedenborgian church, in Illinois. J. ^ M. Morris, heretofore connected with the i Charleston Republican, has purchased the t Washington Chronicle, which will be contin- s ued as the administration paper. Henry !] Ward Beecher recently received a 8500 mar- t riage fee. Richmond, Va., ships flour to t Rio Janeiro. j New York city has about thirty-five htin- j Ired lawyers doing business in its courts. The J i ncomes of these lawyers, range from one thouand to two hundred thousand dollars per anrnm. There are at present in Germany ipwards of 25,000 war widows and 129,000 atherless children. A despatch from Havana states that the insurgents in Cuba are lurrendering in large numbers. Philalelphia has the largest locomotive factory in ;he world, employing nineteen hundred men, ;urning out one locomotive a day, of the valle of $17,000. The report of the fire marshal of the city of New York shows that luring the year, there were 856 fires, totally destroying twenty buildings, damaging sixtynine, and over seven hundred slightly. Over half the fires originated from carelessness, or incendiarism. There are only 202 Indiaus in Florida, according to the census returns. Over five million packs of playing cards are made in this country annually. Massachusetts is the principal buyer. An elderly Indiana pair, aged respectively 78 and 75, want a divorce on account of accumulated incompatibility. There are 74,000 doctors in the United States. STATE ITEMS. ? Gov. Scott has appointed M. L. Owens, of Rock Hill, first Lieutenant and Adjutant of the 14th Regiment of ^uth Carolina National Guards. ? The Union Times contains the formal protest of Col. I. G. McKissick against Col. Wallace's taking his seat in Congress from the Fourth Congressional District. ?James W. Grey, Esq., formerly Commis-" sioner in Equity, and Rev. Pfiillip Gadsden, brother of the late Bishop Gadsden, died in Charleston last week. ? Capt. James McMahon, died in Columbia last week. He for many years held the position of Clerk of the City Council and was highly esteemed. ? Mr. J. M. Silkirk has been selected as Superintendent of the Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta Railroad, vice C. Bouknight, Esq., who returns to his former position as Treasurer. ? General Kershaw, as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the late Reform party, published an address in the Charleston Courier and News, a few days ago, giving formal notice of the dissolution of the party. ? A new bank has been organized in Columbia, under the name of the "Central National Bank. Col. J. B. Palmer, is President. Mr. A. G. Brenizer, Cashier, and Mr. C. N. G. Butt, Assistant Cashier. ? The Charleston papers announce the death, in that city, of Capt. William Corrie, who twenty years ago, rendered himself quite notorious, by landing a cargo of negroes brought from the cc&st of Africa, on an island near Savannah. ? Robert W. Murray, of Chester, recently employed in the office of the Reporter, died in Columbia on the 22nd ultimo, from cold and exposure. We have known Mr. Murray for many years, and whatever failings he may have had, he had virtues as well. His remains were interred in the cemetery at Chester on the 25th ultimo. ? The Columbia Phcenix learns from the report of the chief constable, that during the past year seventy-eight deputy constables have been on duty. Twenty horses were on hand from last year, three of which died, one was captured, and sixteen remain in possession pf the State now. The expense of keeping up the constabulary was 840,696.69 for services of deputy constables; $3,863.41, forage fofcl horses, and $10,223,49 for expenses, incidentals and salary of the chief constable. Number of crimes committed, 365, of which' 27 were murders, 124 assault and battery with intent to kill, 15 grand larceny, 32 petit larceny, and the balance of minor offences. NORTH CAROLINA NEWS. ? North Carolina has 191 tobacco factories, and the bonds given by her manufacturers, amount, in the aggregate, to $911,000. ? The special elections in Guilford, Caswell, Alamance and Nash couuties, on the 24th ultimo, resulted in the success of the Conservatives in every instance. ? A negro, named Green Williamson, fell from the tender of a locomotive on the North mi'l.na/1 of Ptiorlnffo nn TIinwiHiir VtUUllUC* lailiuau UU VUMi iVI/UV vu AUW1WWWJ I and was crushed so badly by the train that he died of bis injuries next day. ? The trial of W. W. Rea, of Mecklenburg county, on the charge of killing his wife about two years ago, was commenced in Cabarrus Superior Court on the 7th ultimo, and continued until the 20th. The jury rendered a verdict that Rea was insane, and recommended his confinement in the asylum. ? Henry Graddick, an engineer on the Wilmington, Augusta and Columbia railroad, who was scalded by an accident on the road, on the 18th ultimo, died in Wilmington on Friday last. His home was in Charleston, to which city his remains were taken for interment. ? Both Houses of the Legislature have passed a bill, which is now a law, annulling the right of the Governor to appoint seven directors, on the part of the State, of the Wilmington, Charlotte and Rutherford railroad, and requiring the old officers to surrender the books, &c., of the company to officers elected by the stockholders in October last. ?The last account of the Siamese twins who are now at their home in Surry county, is by a letter from Eng. He states that their condition is worse; they are exceedingly restless, and Eng, who is palsied, is failing quite rapidly. These brothers, although they lost some 840,000 by the late war, are still in good pecuniary circumstances, being worth about 8200,000. The families of the two aggregate some six or eight children. T? tlftl/Jan'o iTYirvAnnlimnnf frlol ~~J.I1 View Ul HUIUtu o liujjbui/muvuu Wtui, the colored members of the General Assembly have issued an address to the colored people of the State, recommending Friday the 13th instant, as a day of fasting and prayer in behalf of the Governor. The address is based on incidents related in the book of Esther. The General Assembly represents Haman, who thirsted for the blood of the Jews, personated by the negroes of the State; the colored members of the Legislature stand for Esther, and Governor Holden is the Mordecai of the occasion. ? On Tuesday night last, says the Observer, some negroes visited the house of Mr. Edward Smith, some ten miles east of Charlotte, and knocked at the door, asking permission to enter and warm, (it being very cold) and as Mr. Smith opened the door one of the party 3red on him, killing him instantly. Mrs. smith, making her appearance, was knocked lown and left as dead when the fiends projeeded to rob the house of what money and valuables they could find. Mrs. S. having ecovered, made her escape, and after the hieves had got what they went after, they et fire to the building and made their escape. The body of Mr. Smith was consumed with he burning building. The perpetrators of he deed have been arrested and lodged in ail. ? During a recent revival in Raleigh, Gov ernor Holden professed conversion and joined the Baptist church. In view of his impeftding impeachment trial, the New York Herald wickedly remarks that "he goes to his impeachment as if he were going to be hanged. On Friday he professed religion and on Sunday he was baptized." And that impious paper continues?"He might have entertained some hope, even after he chose to accept these familiar accompaniments of the scaffold, but he has cut away all chance of safety by securing Ben Butler as his counsel. Ben was the evil genius of his client in the last impeachment trial he was engaged in, and he is' not likely to be more lucky in North Carolina, where the jury he must influence have doubtless long had an inordinate craving for t-?- 1-1 ? J f) nis uioou. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Kuykendal <fe Tomlimson?1The York Drug Store for 1871?Squelched?Thy Evil Spirit, Brutus?Never Say Die. Vick's Floral Guide for 1871. J. N. Robson, Charleston?Soluble Pacific Guano ?Compound Acid Phosphate of Lime. The Misses Manigault?Boarding and Day School. J. Banks Lyle, Limestone Springs?Male School. W. B. Wilson?Estate Notice. M. Jones, Agent?De Fence?Subscribers?Sewing Machines. M. Jones, Dep. Collector?U. S. Internal Revenue Notice. R. H. Glenn, S. Y. C.?Sheriff's Sales?Judge of Probate's Sale. T. W. Clawson, Deputy Messenger?In Bankruptcy?Applications for Discbarge?In the Matter of A. M. Gilreath and Jos. J. Acker. T. W. Clawson, Deputy Messenger?In Bankruptcy?In the Matter of Benjamin fi. Bates. Lindsey A Jackson?Dissolution. ' . John M. Steele?$25 Reward. (Carroll, Clark <ft Co.?John J. SmttJP-Country I Homespun?Calico?Cheap Goodsk-jfifleel? J Axes?Salem Jeans?Horse-Shoes?Brown f Homespun?Molasses?Plow Lines. T. M. Dobson A Co.?A Card of Thanks?Clerks' Cards?Pistols and Guns?Ca?J^-Thread~ Our Grocery?Hoods?Ready-Made Shirts? Vslices?Stocks and Bits?How to Buy on Time?Settle Up?No Credit?Ready-Made Clothing?Cotton Plaids. J. W. Avery?Sincere Thanks?D. C. WilliamsSamuel V. Wallace. J. W. Carroll?For the New Year?A Startling Question. S. B. Hall, Judge of Probate?Citation?John Shillinglaw, Applicant?Andrew Shillinglaw, Deceased. Miles Johnson?School Commissioner. Barry & McElwee?Dissolution. Lana for sale?Apply at this office. EDITORIAL INKLINGS. . The Charlotte Democrat. We are pleased to welcome the re-appearance of this sterling paper, the office and materials of which were destroyed by fire some time ago. Bethel Agricultural Club. At the Agricultural Club organized in Bethel Township on Saturday last, we learn that the following persons were elected officers for the ensuing year: Maj. A. A. McKenzie, President; S. D. Stowe, Vice-President ; S. Leroy Adams, Secretary, and John Moore, Treasurer. Masonic Election. At the regular communication of Rock Hill Lodge, No. Ill, A. F. M., held at Rock Hill on the 27th ultimo, the following brethren were elected officers for the current year: A. H. White, W. M; A. E. Hutchinson, 8. W.; M. W. Russell, J. W.; W. M. McCully, Treasurer; E. M. Kirkpatrick, Secretary ; S. M. Fewell, S. D; C. E. Cobb, J. D.; S. G. Kistler, Tiler; R. W. Workman, R. T. May, Stewards. High Taxes. The Albany, N. Y., Journal, furnishes the following as samples of the way in which property in that city is taxed: Two stores on Broadway, which rent for 83,690 a year, are taxed 81,435.80. House 67 Columbia street rents for 8175 a year, and is taxed 890.26. No. 67 ?North Pearl street rents for 81,000, and the tax is 8429. These several-pieces of property are rented up to their full value. No. 67 Columbia street has until recently rented for 8100 a year. Grant in a Jocular Mood. President Grant indulges in so few jokes, that when he does say a smart thing tne wasmngion letter writers seize it witn avidity; and the consequence is, that a "joke" for which a comic newspaper editor would pay seventy-five cents or a dollar, is heralded over the country without a cent of remuneration to its illustrious author. The President's last joke is at the expense of Senator Sumner, and happened in this wise: Senator Conkling was talking to the President about Sumner, and said, among ather things, that he (Sumner) did not believe in the Bible. "Of course he does not,as he didn't write it," was Grant's quiet reply. An Important Question Settled. No question of recent times has elicited more enquiry, investigation and research, and all to so little purpose, as the origin and meaning of the phrase "gone where the woodbine twineth." The celebrated Jim Fisk is the author of it, and by the indefatigable exertions of an "interviewer," the mystery has at length been removed from the famous expression, by extorting from Fisk an explanation, which is given in his own words: "You see I was before that learned and dignified body, the Committee on Banking and Currency, and when Garfield asked me where the money got by Corbin went to, I could not make a vulgar reply and say up the spout, but observing, while peddling through New England, that every spout of houpe or cottage had a woodbine twining about it, I said, naturally enough, where the woodbine twineth. That is all. It seems the Congressional cheese-waxes did not understand my delicacy nor my delicate allusion." The Monnt Cenis Tunnel. The completion of the great tunnel at Mount Cenis, on the railroad from Chamberry to Turin, is near at hand. The workmen from the French and Italian sides shook hands through the small apperture in the barrier of rock that remained, and on Christmas day the barrier itself was removed. It is calculated that the road will be finished to the tunnel at both ends, and the whole be put in operation by the first of July next It is one of the most stupendous undertakings of modern times, being within a fraction of eight miles in length, the longest work of the kind in the world, and has cost near $10,000,000. It was commenced years ago, at the very flood-tide of Emperor Napoleon's greatness, and it was his ambition to have the work com^.1.1. J Imo nrtliiAttrtmonfa /111 US UJ1C UA mo gicav o\/iiicvciuguiOj uuring Bis reign, as the road across Mt. Cenis was a famous enterprise of his uncle, Napoleon I. Such was the height of the mountain immediately over the tunnel that it was not practicable to sink any shafts to facilitate its construction. The entrance to it on the French side is at Fourneau, three miles from Modane, in the Valley of Arc, and on the Italian side at Nordonneche. Exports of Provisions. The exports of bread-staffs from the United States to Europe have been unusually heavy during the few weeks past?supposed to meet the demands of the German army, and also to provide for the re-provisioning of Paris, when military events there reach their culminating point. It is stated that for weeks flour has been exported from New York at an average rate of nearly fifty thousand barrels, and wheat at the rate of half a million bushels per week. The export of provisions has also been enormous?more than eight thousand barrels and tierces of pork and beef and nearly five million pounds of bacon, lard, cheese, etc., having left that port during last week?the total value of the exports of the week being more than five million dollars in gold, or more than double the value of the corresponding week in 1868. The New York World, commenting upon this heavy export trade warns the public against deceitful appearances, and says:" "If there is a large demand for surplus grain, it should be remembered, on the other hand, that cotton is at the present moment at the lowest point it has touched since 1862. The whole condition of trade is unsettled and unnatural, and the very signs which at first look favorable are really the feverish symptoms which are to be followed by disastrous depression." Impeachment of Got. Holden. Since our last issue, the articles of impeachment prefered against Governor Holden,. of North Carolina, have been published. There are eight articles, making quite a lengthy document, of which the following is the substance: 1st. Unlawfully sending troops into Alamance county. 2nd. Corruptly proclaiming said county to be in a state of insurrection. ?. __ 3rd. Unlawfully assaulting and arresting Josiah Turner, jr. 4th. Unlawful seizure and detention of JoHn Kerr, Sw P. Hill and other citizens of Caswell county. a ^ 5th. Refusing to obey a writ of habeas corpus, issued by Judge Pearson, in the case of A. G. Moore, of Alamance. 6th. Refusing to make returns to the writs of habeas corpus for the appearance of certain citizens of Caswell. . 7th. Organizing, equipping and SBnmrtww^ band of desperadoes, ana placing them under the command of Kirk and others, and hurling them upon the counties of Caswell and Ala- ^ M mance. Also for confining Josiah Turner, ^ jr., and F. A. Wiley in a dungeon, Ac. 8th. Drawing enormous sums of money from the State treasury to further these criminal and unlawful movements. On the 23rd, Chief Justice Pearson appeared in the Senate and announced that he was present to take part in forming a court for the trial of the Governor of the State; and after having the Senators called and sworn, he proclaimed the Court of Impeachment organized for business. The Chief Justice then issued a summons to Governor Holden, requiring him to appear forthwith before the Senatft of North Carolina, and answer to the ni*> tides of impeachment, Ac., which being served, R. C. Badger, counsel for the Governor, appeared aud moved for the allowance of thirty days for the preparation of the answer to the articles of impeachment The time asked for was granted, and it was ordered that the' respondent file his answer to the article, of impeachment on or before the 23rd day of Jan* uary, 1871, and that the managers of impeachment file their replication thereto within six days thereafter, and that the matter stand for trial on the 30th day of January, 1871. The Chief Justice then gave notice that the Court would stand adjourned until the 23rd of January. During the proceedings the lobbies were thronged by a large and deeply interested crowd of spectators. The Price of Cotton. Speaking of the reduction in the price of cotlon, which depression does not seem to be overcome by the apparent advantages of an increased supply, the Baltimore Sun remarks editori ly: "Cotton is now worth only about $60 per bale; last year it brought $110 to $120 per bale at this season of the year. So that, while our receipts for the current year are a quarter of a million bales in excess of last i ryear, at a reduction of from 9 to 10 cents petpound, the South will not realize by $30,000,- " 000 as much money. This must make a great difference in the financial strength of the cotton-planting interests, as they agree in the opinion that the present price does not cover the cost of production. This state of affairs must necessarily restrict the far Southern trade considerably, as planters will be forced to restrict their purchases to bare ne cessities. There can be little doubt that the production of cotton this year will be largely in excess of the world's demand, as we can see no evidence that Great Britain will take as much as she did last year, and we are almost certain to lose one-half of the export to ' the continent" . . v The same paper also quotes from Mr. Wells, who has given the most careful attention to this subject, and who has the best and most reliable sources of information, the following paragraph, which, in connection with the above, we publish for the consideration of our planting community: < "Coming down to particulars, we find that the effect of the war upon cotton and cotton manufacture has been to almost entirely stop the British export to two of the chief European markets of yarns and goods, the total annual export of which for the last few years has been over thirty million pounds of yarn and 105.000.000 vards of cloth. The expor tation of raw cotton also to the continent of Europe from Liverpool and the American * ports has greatly diminished, and in place of it a reverse movement has to soma extent taken place, 180,000 bales of cotton in store at Harve, France, for the use of the French manufactures, having been mainly reshipped to Liverpool. The diminished consumption of raw cotton on the continent for the year, in consequence of the war, is variously estimated at from 300,000 to 500,000 bales. Under such circumstances, with an increase of product in the United States and an average crop in India, the price of raw cotton has since midsummer steadily tended downward, occasioning to the producers in the United States a loss which is likely to far more than offset any realized or prospective gains to the country from any increased demand for breadstuffs and provisions." ANOTHER CALAMljT IN MOlIMWl Well may Richmond be entitled to the appellation of the "City, of Disasters." Since its existence, it has been visited by more calamities than any other city of the Union, of which, as being more notable we may cite the burning of the theatre, in 1811, when seventy victims, including the Governor of.the State, perished in the flames; the calamftOIIB'lirtNjf A?t.i1 whif>h nwent awav. in a sincle *vwv, r ? ? a? morning, the earnings of lives industriously spent in the accumulation of competency, leaving those hitherto comfortable, houseless and penniless; the fall of the chain bridge, across James river, in 1869; the great Capitol disaster of last summer, with its long list of killed and wounded ; the immense destruction of property by the mighty flood of last fall, which poured in awful torents from the mountains, as if to vie in the work of destruction with its opposite element, the fire fiend; and again, on last Christmas morn, when nought but joy and gladness is supposed to reign, another conflagration occurred in the heart of the city, destroying the Spotswood " Hotel and half a block of buildings, together with sad loss of life. The Dispatch furnishes the following details of the origin and progress of the flames: On the morning of Christmas day, at about 2 o'clock, the night watchman at the Hotel, was sent by the night clerk, to call the women, whose duty it is to scour the floors. Going up stairs, he thought he detected the smell of smoke, and looking more carefully, presently he saw it curling from a fissure in the weather-boarding of the old wine-room, of late used as a pantry. The alarm was immediately given, and Mr. Knowles, and Dr. Latham, of Lynchburg, running to the spot,