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BATES OF SUBSCRIPTION.?Two Dollars per annum, aad Ose Dollar for six months. Subscriptions are not taken for a less period than six months. Liberal deductions made to dabs of ten or more subscribers. RATES OF ADVERTISING.?One Dollar per square ol one inch for the first Insertion, and Fifty Cents per square for subsequent insertions less than three months. Mo advertisement counted less than a square. Liberal contracts will be made with those wishing to advertise for three, six or twelve months. Ad? vertising by contract must be confined to the Im? mediate Dullness of the firm or individual contrac? ting. Obituary Notices exceeding five lines. Tributes of Respect, and all personal communications or matters of individual, interest, will be charged for at advertising rates. Announcements of marriages and deaths, and notices ofa religious character, are respectfully solicited, and w?rbe inserted gratis. BY HOYT & CO. ANDERSON, S. C, THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 1876._VOL. XI--MX 37. LEGAL ADVERTISING.-VIc are compelled to require cosh payments for advertising ordered by Executors, Administrators and other fiduciaries, and herewith append the rates for the ordinaiy notices, which will only be inserted whea the money comes w ith the order: Citations, two insertions,' i - ? - - $t.06 Estate Notices, three insertions, - - 2.M Final Settlements, five insertions - - 3.00 TO CORRESPONDENTS.?Jn order to receive i! attention,.communications must be.accompanied by the true name and address of the writer. Re? jected manuscripts will not be returned, unlessahc necessary stamps are furni&hed to repay the postage thereon. We arc not responsible for the views and opinions of our correspondents. All communications should be addressed to "Ed? itors Intelligcncor," and all checks, drafts, money i orders, &c, should be mode pavabic to the order of IIOYT 4 CO., Anderson, S. C. fttginxl Jfoff. BERKLEY HALL. BY "LA CAROLINE.' CHAPTER XIII. "We are a people yet." Another year its course had rolled? another Christmas morn had dawned upon the ruined homes and bereaved hearts of oar loved, sweet South land. If it brought to that blood-drenched land and those weeping homes no earth born joys, no fireside mirth, no Christ? mas gambols, no merry Christmas tales, yet to the great heart of the people it brought a restful feeling of calm reliance on Him whose wondrous love displayed in the gift of Jesus proclaims him God! On the listening ears of our war-worn soldiers; on the aching hearts of our mothers, wives and daughters, how sweet? ly, how softly soothing fell the message of peace and good-will proclaimed by the heralds of the virgin-born?the princely Babe 0*f Bethlehem 1 Yes, grieving hearts weeping over your land's "broken gran? deur," youpdesolated^heartnsiones, wipe away your falling tears, look up and re? joice?ye are a people yet! Hear the gracious words of the Lord Jehovah: "Fear not, for I have redeemed thee: I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. Thou, art my servant O, Israel,, thou; shait^ riot be forgotten of me."? Then,' fear not; let us raise our loud hozannas! let us sing and rejoice, for this is not our rest! In the bright land of glory?in those promised mansions so beautiful, so fair?there where Jehovah dwells, where Jesus reigns?there, it is there, in Immanuels land, His people find their country and their Homes! Thus it was in those old homes of Berkley. In the parish church they had gathered a little broken band of kindred and friends. There were vacant seats, and there were missing yoices whose fervent responses had made glad chorus to loving hearts; but the deep anguish of those hearts had been hushed, or toned to the exulting strains of? "Glory to the new-born King!" That Christmas morning at Berkley Hall formed a sad contrast to the first gay Christmas on which ? I introduced yon, dear reader, to our friends, the Ma hams. No boisterous and innocent hilarity resounded through the now desolate looking rooms of Berkley Hall. Not one "merry Christmas" greeted the ears of the once loved owners of Berkley Hall. The Christmas breakfast of the mistress of Berkley Hall was prepared with loving care by the delicate, white hands of Marion Man am and her soldier brother. Their cook had left a few days before Christmas, declining to work until after the new year. Hanry had tided to shout in his old boyish tones, "Merry Christmas!" but the words had sank into a low murmur, and there was a tearful lustre even in his brave, merry blue eye. And yet there was no bitterness in their hearts; in tho?e tried and thankful hearts-there was no place for wrath on the blessed Christmas season. On having the altar rails of that little woodland church, the bereaved mother and her children carried away with them as a talisman in the following new year's struggle, the gentle admonition, "be thankful." Returning' to the old home, picture their surprise and extreme satisfaction at finding Maum Chloe, dressed up in her brightest and best, in the kitchen preparing a nice Christmas dinner, and a very nice one it was, considering the condition of the larders in Berkley. Maumer was there, too, although she was still unbending, and alluded to the services rendered her kind owners as Egyptian bondage. Once when she spoke of Walter, Marion saw a tear drop from hef lashes. Hailing it as a happy omen of better feelings, the gentle girl laid her hand affectionately on the old woman's arm and said: "Never mind, dear Maumer, for our Walter is very happy, and we may all hope to meet him again in the better land. There we will not judge each other hardly, for .there we shall see clearly and understand perfectly the kindly feelings of our friends. There you will know, Maumer, how we your nursling have loved you, and wished to do you good." That was the first time either Maura Chloe or Maumer had been up to the Hall to see the Mistress and her children since their return home. Mrs. Maham wondered what had carried them that day, then sighed and said: "I suppose the blessed anniversary of peace and good? will fr>m heaven to man, has touched their hearts with holy power." But Marion knew it was "the soft answer" which "turueth away wrath." Early Christmas morning, Marion had sent by a little negro whom she found skulking around the Hail, two packages containing Christmas gifts to those still fondly remembered friends of her child? hood. The girl's heart had yearned with love towards those favorite servants, and she said within herself: "Little acts of kindness or gentle words may win them back to their true friends and the better way." Maum Chloe was touched by the girl's little tokens of regard, and her really generous heart reproached her for her unprovoked alienation from her "white folks." Sidling up to Marion, she said in a low and deprecating voice: "Ah, missie, chile, I been long miss de ole ways and de ole place, and when Mass Harry speak fur to hire me, I did want to come. But Bob wont let me hire, and treten to pote me to de Yankees, cause dey say a ooman must mind 'em husband. But, Missie, don't you eber bun dese dainty little fingers to cook while ole Chloe" of Buckley libs. If you can't git nobody else, Chloe will cum in spite of Bob and de Yankees. Thank you, chile fur ue Christmas you send me. I gwine to keep dat ruffled apron to bury me in. I tell you de truth, Missie, ole Chloe's heart is fateful." A glittering tear-drop on the wrinkled, black face, stood surety for the sincerity of the sim? ple-hearted old negro. "Thank you, Maum Chloe, for cooking this nice dinner. It is the best present you could have given us, for nobody's cooking can ever eat like Maum Chloe's of Berkley Hall. You are getting old now, and I expect Bob thinks you ought to rest; but whenever I want help I will know where to go for it. I am so glad to see you in the old house once more. We are friends again, Maum Chloe, and now don't let strangers,, with their de? ceiving words, separate the friends of long ago." Old Chloe's heart was melted by her sweet young lady's gentleness and conde? scension, but Maumer was proud and overbearing; she had held the responsi? ble position of nurse in the Maham fam? ily for two generations, and had been treated with the distinction always con? ferred upon negroes who filled such situ? ations in Southern families. Her heart had undoubtedly been moved by the Christmas gifts of her youngest nursling, whose fair, pure, baby face she remem? bered to have pressed so often to her bosom; whose sweet baby smiles and beauty had thrilled her heart with proud pleasure. But she went up to the Hall proud still, and full of bitterness to pass the compliments of the season, "be? cause," as she said, "it was proper-like and genteel." Maumer^had been one of the high professors of the lowly Naza rene among the negroes of Berkley Hall. She had always been honest and faithful to her owners, and the deference and love they deemed her due, had blinded her kind master and mistress to the truth that her religion was too like that of the proud Pharisee's: "Thank God I am not as other men are, and when the day of trial came she was found wanting. The tempter spoke, and she listened, and her ears drank greedily the honied, subtle words that fell from his lips. Great swelling words they were?words from which sweet humility would have shrank abashed. But pride, self-love and ignor? ance echoed- them loudly, until they yielded the bitter fruits of envy, wrath and strife. And so it came to pass that fidelity and love fled from the heart of the old nurse. Marion and her mother were grieved to be disappointed in a servant so ? loved and trusted, but no reproaches fell from their lips. 'Tor past services we will deal kindly with her," they said. That was not a "merry Christmas," but it was one of quiet happiness. Forbear? ing and self-denying love had lightened' the load of "daily life." TO BE CONTINUED. THE GREAT FIRE IN CHARLESTON. Loss a Quarter of a Million?An Hun? dred Families Homeless. From the Charterten Newt and Courier, March '2W. The fiies of Saturday and Sunday last were but a prelude to the most disastrous conflagration that has visited Charleston since the terrible scenes of 1861. With? in the preceding forty-eight hours the alarms of fire had become so frequent that everybody seemed to have a fore? boding of the terrible calamity which impoverished hundreds of families yes? terday morning, and which has laid waste one of the most thickly populated sec? tions of the city. The alarm was sound? ed about half-past 3 o'clock from the Eighth Ward, and although the firemen had been worked hard for two days, they were promptly on the scene with their machines. When the reporter of the News and Courier arrived at the scene of the conflagration the frame dwellings ou the west side of King street, immediately north of Rodgers' alley, were in flames. The fire originated in the store No. 681 King street, owned by Mrs. John Wilson, and occupied by J. B. Greeber, who kept a dry goods store on tue first floor. Mrs. Wilson and her family occupied the sec? ond floor. At this time the wind was blowing moderately from the east, and there seemed to be no danger of a general conflagration. The two buildint south of Mrs. Wilson's house were in flames, but there was every prospect of an early extinguishment of the fire. In about fifteen minutes, however, the wind in? creased to a perfect gale, blowing from the southeast, and the flames were com? municated to the adjoining buildings on the north, owned and occupied by Mrs. Bligh as a grocery and provision 6tore. In the meantime Mr. F. W. Piepers grocery store, on the southwest corner of Rodger's alley and King street, had caught fire, and the building adjoining it on the south, which was occupied by a colored man as a restaurant, was also on fire. The first named building was total? ly consumed, and the latter only partially so. It was now about 4 o'clock, and the fire was rapidly spreading to the north and west. The general alarm was sound? ed, and the entire department summoned. But it was THE 8AME OLD STORY. There was no water, and, although the firemen worked like Trojans, they could not fight fire successfully without water, and they had absolutely no water at all. The neap tides of the past three or four days had reduced the water in the tidal drains to such an extent that the keeper had, on Sunday night, notified the chief of the department that the drains were empty. So the engines were dragged from one point to another in frantic search after wells and cisterns on private \o% which were found, only to be dried in a few minut-es. The tidal drain pits on Spring street contained a scant supply of water, which increased as the tide flowed, but the steamers at work did not have a sufficient amount of hose to reach the leeward side of the fire, which soon began to spread with fearful rapidi? ty AT HALF-PAST FOUR O'CLOCK the wind was blowing a brisk gale, and the sky was lit up with a lurid glare, while large flake? of fire, burning shin? gles and cinders were carried to the north and west and landed on the roofs of the houses in Line street, St. Philip, Coming and Percey streets. The heat had now become so intense that the firemen were driven up King street. A hundred gal Ions of water would have saved the build? ings on the east side of the street, but there was not a single drop to be obtained, and the fire just worked its way wherever it minded. At a quarter to 5 o'clock the grocery store of J. H. Ducker, at the southeast corner of Columbus and King streets, caught fire, and was soon wrapped in flames. From this point the fire threatened to extend eastward in the direction of the South Carolina Railroad round-house; . and it would probably have done so but for the fact that the wind was blowing from that direction, and the progress of the flames was there? by arrestea. By this time the store of Messrs. Wiley & Jacques, 683 King street, east side, had caught fire; the flames were thence communicated to the old frame house at the northeast corner of Columbus and King streets, which was spared from destruction by the fire which destroyed the store of Mr. F. L. Meyer, next north of it, about a week ago. THE FIRE RAGED now with a fury which the firemen were unable to cope with, even if they had had a plentiful supply of water. The plank road took fire, and even the stone S?sts on the sidewalk were crumbled into ust by the intense heat. Nearly every roof on the block bounded by King, Line and St. Philip streets was by this time glowing with cinders, and the poor people who occupied the houses, not yet realiz? ing the fact that they were doomed to the flames, mounted their roofs with brooms, axes, hoes and buckets of water, in vain efforts to extinguish the kindling flames. The fire engines, with one or two exceptions, were of course powerless, not having water, but the members of the three truck companies fought the fire like heroes, putting a ladder here, a hook there and a Ducket of water in another place. The point of immediate danger now seemed to be in St. Phlip street, in which the roofs of a half-dozen bouses were on fire, and the chief of the depart? ment at once sent the trucks in that di? rection. By the. efforts of the men the entire block west of St. Philip street was saved. A PANIC. From the store of Messrs. Wiley & Jacques the flames were communicated to the building 685 King street, occupied by Mrs. Haeslop, which was some dis? tance north, and which belonged to Mrs. Ross. This was about 5 o'clock, and just at this juncture several loud explo? sions occurred, caused by the bursting of cases of gunpowder in the grocery store of Wiley & Jacques and J. H. Ducker. The explosions, however, did no other damage than to cause a stampede in the crowd which had been attracted to the scene of the conflagration. The houses in King street, north of Columbus, were occupied by poor people?black and white?and was very thickly populated. It was nearly daylight when the frigh? tened and demoralized occupants seemed to realize for the first time that nothing could save them from the fire, and then it was that they first began to move their household goods. The street was soon crowded with men and women staggering under the burden of bedding, trunks, boxes and other articles of furniture, while the store-keepers, very few of whom were insured, rushed wildly about look? ing for help to remove their goods. SACKING AND PILLAGE. This was of course a shining hour for the thieves, and they did not neglect to improve it. There were several hundred drunken negroes in the street who, under the pretence of being firemen, plundered right and left, indiscriminately. A half a dozen burly rascals, raving with liquor, would rush into a store, seize a counter or some other useless fixture, make a pretence of carrying it out to save it, and then returning would steal every? thing they could conceal about their per? sons. At the store of Mr. C. H. Rumo, 693 King street, two policemen were sta? tioned to keep out the crowd. They could not do it. A drunken ruffian would rush up to the door and upon being or? dered back would curse the officer, swear that he was a fireman, and rush "in and steal and pillage. At his back would be a hundred other drunken rogues, armed with spanners and slung-shots, and the officer who dared to resist them would just as certainly be thrown down, beat, and probably murdered. It is due to the firemen, both white and colored, to say that in almost every instance they lent their aid to the police force, but the thieves outnumbered them, and, under the peculiar law which prevents a police? man from arresting a fireman at a fire, unless by the order of the chief or assis? tants, (who can not be everywhere -at once,) nothing effective could be done to stop the sacking. Thousands of dollars of goods were stolen, and from poor peo? ple who lost by the fire what was not stolen from them. When the fire reached the corner of Line street the thieves made for the door of the grocery store of Mr. N. C. Luden. A stream of water had been got on the building, which had a slate roof, and some hopes were enter? tained of saving it. Under these circum? stances Mr. Luden refused to open his doors, and a couple of policemen were stationed at the side door to keep out the thieves. They were just about to over? power the officers when Chief O'Neill and a half dozen white and colored fire? men came up and put them to flight. They went of, making the air hideous with their drunken shrieks and yells, to plunder other places. They had com? plete possession of the streets until about half-past 6 o'clock, when Mayor Cun? ningham and Capt. Hcndricks arrived with a detachment of policemen from the Main Stationhouse. The Mayor then assumed charge, and the streets were quickly cleared, and a dozen of the rogues arrested and sent to the Guard? house. THE PROGRESS OF THE FIRE. At half-past 5 o'clock the wind in? creased and the fire raged with renewed fury. The flames leaped from the corner of Columbus street to the drug store of Dr. A. M. Cohen, a distance of about one hundred yards, while on the west side of the street building after building went down. A half hour later the fire had reached the corner of Line street. In the meantime the house two doors from St. Philip street, on the north side of Line Street, occupied by Mr. J. An? derson, had caught fire and was rapidly burning. Up to this time it had Been hoped that the progress of the conflagra? tion would have been checked, at least at Shepherd street if not at Line street, but the cloud of cinders which filled the air and were carried northward soon dis? pelled the hope, and the distracted fam? ilies who had moved their furniture into King and Line streets were driven once more to "move on." Long before the fire reached Line street the roof of the stable and car sheds of the City Railway Company had been ignited. The horses and cars were removed up King street road, and the employees of the company, aided by the members of the truck com? panies and other firemen, managed to fight the fire until the conflagration crossed Line street; then they gave it up. In a few moments the entire block between Line and Shepherd streets was wrapped in flames, and the houseless women and children who bad assembled in the vicinity were again diiven north ward. But the fire did not even stop here. Through the lurid slcy towards the north could be jseen the light of another fire. An engine and a truck were dispatched to the scene. It was then discovered that the cinders had set fire to the row of buildings on the King street road, owned by Mr. Geo. Addison, a distance of over a half mile from Shep? herd street. Further north of this, the old Howard House, on the southwest corner of Moultrie street and King street road, and the house on the northeast corner of the same streets, were also con? sumed. The sparks set fire to the roof of an out-house on the farm of Mr. Wm. Ufferhardt, nearly a mile from Line street, but the timely arrival of the fire? men and a vigorous use of axes and hooks saved the building at the expense of the roof. By the time the flames had reached Shepherd street on the west side of King' street, the fire on the cast side had begun to make progress in a northerly direction. From Dr. Cohen's drug store its progress northward to Line street was swift and easy. At Line street there was a tempo? rary halt, the store on the northeast corn? et being covered with a slate roof; but by this time the grocery store of Mr. John H. Thiele, which is the last house north on the east side of the street, had caught fire, and the flames at once spread south and west. There was nothing north to burn. The street and the vacant lots north of Shepherd street were crowded with women and children, poultry and trunks, furniture and bedding, and num? bers had taken refuge in the passenger depot of the South Carolina Railroad. The car shed of the company, some dis? tance to the north, was at one time threatened with destruction, but at the first sign of the danger a corps of the employees wene sent'aloft, ana a bucket brigade lined the entire west front of the roof. The passenger depot was also in some danger, as the fire spread eastward from King street, but here again the bucket brigade with the assistance of the firemen kept the flames back. TELE FIRE IN LINE STREET. . . After reaching the corner of Line street, the flames spread both east and west; destroying everything to the east as far as the South Carolina Railroad track. To the west, the houses on the south side were burnt as far as the lum? ber yard of Mr. C. J. Schlepegrell, while on the north side all the nouses as far west as the northeast corner of St. Philip and Line streets were totally consumed. the end. By 9 o'clock the fire had burnt itself out; that is to say, it had burnt north? ward in King street as far a? the farm of Mr. Wm. Ufferhardt, about two and a half miles from the Court House; west? ward as far as St. Philip street, and east? ward as far as Railroad avenue. Mr. Louis Dunneman's house, north of Shep? herd street, was consumed, together with much fencing, trees, shrubbery and hedg? es north of that. From Dunneman's house to a distance of about a half mile, such early vegetables as were spared by the frost were ruined by the fire. The store on the northeast corner of the ave? nue, next north of Shepherd street, was saved, as was also the soap factory of Mr. M. Storen immediately north of it. The store at the northeast corner of the ave? nue, next north of the one mentioned above, was also saved, but the Addison row of buildings adjoining on the north, and the other buildings as far north as Moultrie street?the street which leads to the race-course?were all destroyed.? The entire district described above was a smouldering mass of ruins, with nothing standing but the naked chimneys. A little after 10 o'clock the wind died away, and a drenching shower of rain fell, which added to the troubles of the hun? dreds of homeless persons who were wandering about the ruins in search of their stolen property. The fire would doubtless have spread further south but for the fact that the drains in Spring street furnished water, which enabled the firemen to check the progress of the con? flagration in that direction. There were no less than eight steamers at the two drain pits in Spring, between St. Philip street and Railroad avenue. the losses. It is of course impossible to give an accurate statement of the losses incurred by the fire, as many of the sufferers are not in a condition to give accurate infor? mation upon'the subject. While'the number ot houses destroyed is probably not over one hundred, it is certain that not less than two hundred families have been turned out homeless and helpless upon the streets. This is accounted for by the fact that many of the lots on King street contained three or four houses each, and each house afforded a home for at least two families. A careful estimate of the loss, including buildings, stocks of goods and furniture, fixes the figures at not less than $225,000, while the insur? ance will not cover one-third of that amount. the origin of the fire. It is known that the fire originated in the store occupied by A. J. Greeber, but from what cause has not yet been deter? mined. It was rumored on the streets that it was the work of an incendiary, and some persons seemed to suspect Gree? ber himself. He was arrested yesterday afternoon by Lieut. Shrewsbury of the detective force, and lodged in the office to await au examination. In an inter? view with the reporter of the News and Courier, Greeber stated that the first inti? mation he had of the fire was upon wak? ing about half-past 3 o'clock and finding the place filled with smoke. Ke says he retired about 12 o'clock on Sunday night, and that he had no fire on the premises. His stock of goods consisted of dry goods, clothing, shoes, and leaf tobacco, and was insured for ?1,200. A Bad Stoby on Gen. Babcock.-? The House committee on military affairs have sent for persons and papers to in investigate a serious charge against Gen. Babcock printed in a Utica (N. Y.) pa? per. The charge in substance is that in 1870 a resident of New York wrote a let? ter to an army officer of high rank wish? ing to have brought about a certain ap? pointment. He offered $20,000 if it could be effected. The officer addressed was quite indignant at the proposition made to bribe him, and came to Wash? ington with the intention of laying the matter before the President. At the White House he communicated the ob? ject of his visit to Gen. Babcock. The latter said he would attend to the matter, and requested the letter written to him. This was turned over to the general, and the officer thought no more of it until he was subsequently astounded upon ascer? taining that the appointment sought for by the New York party had actually been obtained. The attention of the commit? tee was called to the matter by the Hon. Scott Lord, of the Utica district, and it is proposed to thoroughly examine into it. ? In speaking of a clerical friend who possesses a very rubicund countenance, some one said, the other day, "I don't think he drinks. In fact, I know he does not?for he told me so. But prob? ably he sleep* in a bed that has very red curtains." THE SOLOMON'S BANK FBAUD. Report of the Joint Legislative Commit? tee? The Bank Insolvent at Its Birth-. The report of the joint legislative com? mittee appointed to investigate the so called failure of Hardy Solomon's Bank, lately presented to the Legislature, is a lively document. The commmittee was composed of Senators Swails, Whitte more and Jones, and Representatives Gary, Barker, T. B. Johnston and Bray ton, who are Radicals, and Senators Dun? can and Ward, and Representatives Cos grove, who are Conservatives. The fol? lowing is v The Report. To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of tfie State of South Car? olina : The joint special committee appointed at the present session of the General As? sembly to investigate the facts relating to the failure of the South Carolina Bank and Trust Company, the good faith of the board of deposit in increasing the de? posit of State funds in said bank, and the reported expenditures of ($81,000) eighty one thousand dollars for legislative ex? penses, beg leave to report: That they have attended to the duties assigned them with as much diligence as a due regard to other duties and the un? avoidable interruptions by adjournments of the General Assembly, and otherwise, have permitted. The committee have taken the testimony of his Excellency the Governor, the State Treasurer, Hon. F..L. Cardozo, and the Comptroller-Gen? eral, Hon. T. C. Dunn, who composed the board of deposit at the time of the increase of the State deposits in the bank, Mr. ? Hardy ? Solomon and ? Mr. L. N. Zealy, the president and cashier of the bank, ex-Governor R., K. Scott, a large creditor of the bank, and Mr. T. J. Min ton, clerk of the State treasurer. These comprised all the persons whom the com? mittee deemed proper and necessary wit? nesses, and, as no one offered to aid the investigation by suggesting any witnesses or developing any evidence in the matter, they were dependent upon such sources 'of information as they' themselves could' discover. Assuming that the books contained a record of the transactions that led to and would in a great measure explain the failure of the bank, and conscious on their part pf a want of fitness to: make a technical and a systematic examination thereof, the committee engaged the ser? vices of Mr. J. H. Sawyer, cashier of the Central National Bank of Columbia, as a sworn expert and an impartial assistant. The committee feel assured that an ex? amination of their proceedings will show their investigation to have been fair, sincere and thorough, and to . have been conducted throughout with a single pur? pose to faithfully perform the duties com? mitted to their charge; and they respect? fully submit the following expression of their views upon the acts which their in? vestigation has brought to light. CAUSES OF THE FAILURE. In seeking to discover the causes of the failure of the bank, the committee were embarrassed by the absence of any effort on the part of any persons uncon? nected with the management of the bank to ferret out the facts or to give informa? tion of the special points to which their inquiry should be directed, aud so were compelled to suspend their investigation when the president and cashier had been examined and the books had been scruti? nized. When it is considered that these witnesses were not only reluctant to testify upon many points, but were, at times, evasive and contradictory, and that the books bore evident marks of changes, falsifications and transposition of entries, it will be seen that it became well nigh impossible for the committee, with what lights they had before them, to discover more than that certain un? warrantable transactions had taken place, leaving their causes and purposes, as well as the parties in whose interests they were conceived and perpetrated, a sub? ject of speculation. It would seem that the bank, from its organization to its sus? pension, has been covered with a mask, which disguised from view its true condi? tion. On the 2d of July, 1870, immedi? ately after its books were opened, the bank appeared with a nominal capital of $40,716770; yet $25,000 of this sum rep? resented a barren asset in the shape of its charter, for which the bank paid in its stock at par. The further sum of $10,583 was paid for the building in which its business was to be done, and $2,659.23 was expended for furniture and outfit, so that when its busi? ness begun the actual cash on hand was the inadequate sum of $2, 474.47. Regarding the charter as an asset of no appreciable value for the dis? charge of any of the liabilities of the bank, it will be perceived that the bank was insolvent at its birth, and.it is ques? tionable if that infirmity did not attach to it throughout its existence. Though the bank was duly organized by the elec? tion of a president and board of directors, there does not seem to have been any supervision by the directors over its man? agement, nor any regular meeting of its stockholders, nor any dividend declared ; and the only office performed by the directors appears to have been to uphold, by the influence of their connection, the credit of an unstable institution and gave sanotion by their oathes to UNTRUE STATEMENTS OF ITS CONDITION. The committee are indebted for a knowledge of the various transactions which, in a large measure, occasioned the failure of the bank to the thorough and impartial investigation of Mr. Saw? yer, whose performance of the delicate and responsible.duties entrusted to him has been characterized by rare intelli? gence, skill and good judgment. Great satisfaction is, therefore, taken in com? mending his tabular statements and testi? mony explanatory thereof to the conside? ration of the General Assembly. The initial point in Mr. Sawyer's inquiry was the ascertainment of the actual condition of the bank, as disclosed by its books, on the 9th day of January, 1875, when a sworn statement was published. By reference to the opposing statements it will be seen wherein they differ, and what were the recorded assets and liabili? ties, as well as the extent to which the integrity of those responsible for the pub? lished statement is impeached. The de? tailed transactions, of which the state? ment is a summary are too voluminous and intricate to bo overhauled and dis? sected by the committee, even if practi? cable or pertinent for the purposes of their investigation. As Mr. Sawyer well says, in general terms, "the failure was caused by the retiring of capital stock, by enormous expenses, and by bad loans and investments." An examination of the tabular statements for January 9th, June 23d and July 2d, 1875, will show how the various accounts were increased, diminished and absorbed. Neither Mr. Solomon nor Mr. Zcaly attempt any ex? planation which relieves them from re? sponsibility in publishing the untrue statement of January 9th, 1875, or in making the remarkable changes in the entries of assets and liabilities, but seem strangely unaware of the necessity of making an explanation that is so impera? tively demanded. The committee can arrive at no other conclusion than that the failure grew out of long-continued mismanagement, misappropriation of funds, and illegitimate and unlawful transactions. In the face of all the dis? closures made by the books, Mr. Solo? mon withholds a full confession of the reasons which prompted the failure of the bank or the necessities out of which it arose, and offers no explanation which would show that he is not the SOLE BENEFICIARY OF HIS WRONGFUL In addition to falsification of the books, there are found many entries, during the ten days immediately preceding the fail? ure, that necessarily awaken suspicion and confirm the opinion that, whether the failure was "premeditated or simply unavoidable, Mr. Solomon was studiously and skillfully at work in so manipulating the affairs of the bank as that he might reap the largest practicable harvest while the impending catastrophe was being made correspondingly disastrous to the creditors. During that period, State pay certificates for a large amount and of questionable value were made to supplant other and better assets; an outlawed note, which was never bankable, was made to absorb its amount in cash; ac? counts were transposed; large sums were drawn on the president's individual ac? count; and nine thousand dollars was taken by him for three years' back salary, when the books show that only two years' were due, and that his salary had never before exceeded one thousand dollars a year. The transaction of the bank with Col. C. C. Puffer, late, receiver of the with suspicion. * While both the. presi-' dent and cashier testify that the certifi? cate of deposit for $43,000, held by Col. Puffer, was issued in December, 1874, and represented a sum of money . of that amount deposited at that time, the books of the bank show that the deposit was made and the certificate issued on the 20th day of April, 1875, and represented an equivalent amount of bills of the Bank of the State, which, instead of being counted as cash, were: entered on the "bond account." The palpable mis statement of the officers of the bank, or ! the equally false entry upon the books, with the speoial reasons for the variance, together with the purpose of any deposit being made at the time, stamps this as a transaction outside of justification or de? fence. Among the special subjects requiring, consideration are the following: . Retire? ment of the capital stock, the charge of legislative expenses, and the action of the board of deposit. RETIREMENT OF CAPITAL STOCK. Passing by the abstract right of the officers of a bank to retire its stock with? out Che authority of the stockholders, it seems beyond doubt that- no retirement can be valid and binding upon creditors which is effected by money of depositors when the liabilities exceed the assets. While depositors must'submit to the con? tingencies of legitimate investments by the bank, they cannot be called upon to contribute to the refunding to the stock? holders of the very capital which gives vitality to the bank, and upon the faith and credit of which they were induced to become depositors. At the time of the failure, almost the entire stock had been retired, and the bank had become a mere pocket concern of the president. But the testimony of Mr. Solomon shows that the retirement of the stock was still more reprehensible and unlawful, for, by his own admission, he purchased the stock as president of the bank, for the use of the bank, to a large extent at 55 per cent.; but instead of giving the bank the benefit of the purchase at the reduced price, he sold it to the bank at par and covered the profits of the transaction to his individual credit. For such conduct as this there can be no defence. The claim made by Mr. Solomon that the bank was crippled because the large amount of stock taken by Governor Scott and Mr. Parker was paid for in State bonds, which realized only 70 per cent., is untenable, even supposing the retire? ment had been made in good, faith for the benefit of the bank; for'the stock cost the bank nothing to issue, and, was resold by both of these parties to the bank at 55 per cent., a net gain to the bank of fifteen dollars per share besides interest. t ? t LEGISLATIVE EXPENSES. An unexplained entry of eighty-one thousand dollars ($81,000] for legislative expenses, whatever light it is viewed in, must be regarded as an unwarrantable transaction. So far as the books and testimony are concerned, it is a matter of conjecture to what it relates in its full extent. The refusal of Mr. Solomon, by advice of counsel, to answer the question whether it was money expended lor brib? ing members of *be General Assembly, and the discoveries made by the expert that an erasure occurs opposite each jour? nal entry of "legislative expenses," to? gether with the startling fact that several pages of the ledger upon which the ac? count was entered have been cut out, as well as the inability of the committee to obtain the deposit book in some way con-, nected with the matter, and the further fact that the account was changed from "legislative expenses" to "discount ac? count," and vice versa, as policy promp? ted, all show the transaction must have been bad indeed to have required such nefarious acts to conceal it. The testi? mony, also, of Mr. Solomon and Mr. Zealy upon this subject is strangely con? tradictory and irreconcilable. Though Mr. Solomon claims his privilege not to answer whether it was money used for bribery, yet he admits that the account relates to a claim for $125,000 passed by the Legislature in November, 1873, and that most of the money was paid out contemporaneously with the passage of the claim, while Mr. Zealy says that it had no reference to that claim, but repre? sented losses of the bank upon State paper, running through two years, and was entered as "legislative expenses" in? stead of to the account of "profit and loss," because the president so directed. As ANOTHER MYSTERY connected with this transaction, it is as? certained that the entire amount of State claims held by the bank prior to and for two months succeeding the pass? age of the claim was $51,586.69, while the printed schedule of the claims ac? companying the report of the Senate finance committee was for $103,865.71, and the entire claim passed by the Gen? eral Assembly was for $125,000; and, also, that on the 28th of February, 1874, some days after the treasurer began to make payments on the claims, other State claims, to the amount of $48,475, were put to the debit of State claims. What are the exact and entire facts have not been discovered. Whether there was au actual expenditure of the extrava? gant sum of $81,000 on chums of the bank amounting to $125,000, or whether $51,586.69 was the real amount owned by the bank, and the balance of the ?103, 865.71 was owned by other parties, aud that the difference of $21,135.29 repre? sented interest, are matters beyond the ascertainment of the committee. But this subject seems pregnant with mystery, ACTS. involving not only the officers of the bank and the General Assembly, but also the Hon. F. L. Cardozo, the State treasurer. By reference to the testimony of Mr. Solomon, it will be found that the State treasurer is charged with having been engaged in acts not only officially irregular, but rlRIMINALI/Y DISHONEST AND -CORRUPT. It seems to be an undisputed fact that a large amount, of the claims of the bank embraced in the printed schedule have been paid out of other levies, and still a larger amount of other State paper sub? stituted and paid by the treasurer, out of the levy for the claims of the bank, in direct violation of the express provisions of the act, which required that the pro? ceeds of each levy should be kept/by the State treasurer seperate and apart from each other, and "be-applied for the pur f)oses for which they are respectively evied and none other," and also provided that any violations of the provisions of the act should be a felony. According to the testimony of Comptroller-General Dunn, these two transactions aggregated as much as $40,000. It will be observed from Mr.' Cardbzo's testimony that even he does not deny the fact efthe payment of some of the bank claims out of other ;levies ?and ttie substitution of outside claims in their place, to be paid out of the levy to pay the claims ofthe bank, and so paid, but that he attempts" to jus? tify, his conduction the ground, that he had no knowledge of the existence of the "printed schedule," and was without data to determine the identity of the claims. Even if this would be an excuse; if it were true, it seems impossible that it. can be true, when it is borne in. mind that the schedule accompanied,the report of the Semite finance committee, was printed and laid on the desks of members, and is found published in full in the reports and resolutions,. 48.73-74, . pages . 10.96-1098. It will also he observed, that, while Mr! Cardozo says'"that he never heard of the schedule "until recently," he is : directly contradicted by Mr. Min ton, his clerk, who states that its existence was not only known to himself at the time of the pas? sage of the claim, but that he called the treasurer's attention to it at the - time the claims were being paid in January and February, 1874. Viewed in any light, the treasurer is either a party in interest or a dupe to a nefarious transaction by which the State has lost'many thousand dollars. board of deposit. In reference' to the action bfthe' board of deposit in increasing the amount of State funds deposited in the bank, the committe find that the resolution is pre? dicted upon a misconception of the amount of the increase; lor, instead of the increase being from "a comparatively small sum to a very large one;" there was $163,000 on deposit in April, 1875, when the action ofthe board was taken, so that the actual authorizedincrease was $87,000. There is nothing in the facts discovered which necessarily shows that the ..board, or any other member thereof, had any knowledge of the instability of the bank, or its censurable for not having deter? mined its true condition. In the light of subsequent events, it would have -been better if a scrutiny had been instituted, into the standing of the bank; but no facts had at?that time been developed which would fairly prove the absence of such investigation to have been culpable. ? The committee have been attended in. their labors by Gen. John B. Dennis, in the capacity of clerk, and desire to ex? press their sense of the faithful and satis? factory manner in which he has-dis? charged his onerous and responsible.'da ties. The committee herewith submit the testimony of the winesses and the tabular statements prepared by Mr. Sawyer. " All of which is respectfully submitted. " B. N. Ward, D. R. Duncan, On the part of tHe Senate. E. M.iBrayton, J. A. Barker, On the part of the House. The Minority Report. . Senators Swails and Whittemore and. Representative Johnston, ajl Radicals, submit a dissenting report as to the action of the board of deposit. Their conclu-: sion is that the board of deposit are not free from "the charge of a neglectof duty and public trusts in the exercise of their official prerogatives, and to overlook such a procedure fas the increase of the State deposits in the Soloinan Bank) would be to sanction the trifling with the funds of the State, or the commissions of wrong, which may at any moment bring ruin upon every public interest of. the State." Mark Twain's References.?Mark Twain made up his mind that be must marry, and that no one else but that par? ticular girl could 'be Mrs. -Twain. He set about that courtship, in bis usual slow, deliberate,. drawling -.fashion, be? cause Mark Twain, in the conception and execution, of every - piece..of business, rates tar above the mere literary adven? turer. He is a man of inscrutable depth. He goes for bis game in the extraordina? ry fashion. He drops on it and makes his points as he does his stories in a man? ner and from a direction least. expected by a looker on. . Well, there was a father-in-law to be won as well as the girl, and.the father in-law bad to be carrid first, like, the outer parallel in a line of defence. The father-in-law was immersed.in.business. He hadn't much time to think of family matters, but at last it occurred to him that Mark bad become very irequent at the house and. that , his objective point seemed to be the daughter.' So be called Mark aside one day and said: "Mr. Twain, you seem to be.pay? ing attention to my daughter. Now, we all like you pretty well, you knovv, and we are of course all acquainted with your reputation as a literary man. Still, in other respects you are a stranger to us, and some references as to your character and standing are desirable." "That's very reasonable," said Mark. "That's very natural and paternal. It's just what I should do were I in your po? sition. I guess I can give you some names that will satisfy you. Now, there's Mr. Goodman of the Territorial Enter? prise. And there's Mr. Frederick Mc Crellish of the Alia California. You write to them. I guess they'll lie for me. I've done the same for them whenever a requisition has been made upon me." But Mark married the girl notwith? standing. A Distinction.?We lately met an old negro trudging along with a heavy side of bacon that he had bought, swinging over his shoulder. Noti? cing that he was miserably clad we felt sorry for him, for a cold wind was blowing, and asked: "Why do you spend your money for meat? You'd better buy a. coat." The old man stopped, looked us full in the face, and said m solemn tones: "Massa, when I ax my back for credit it gives it; when I speak to dis, (laying his hand upon his stomach,) it calls for de cash."?Knoxvillc Chronicle. ? When a man to whom you lend money says he will be indebted to you forever, you may believe him, my boy* 2'VoJft the New Orleans Picayune. Be.ni regard on Manassas. New Orleans, March, 7,1876. Dear Sir?I avail myself of the first opportune moment to answer your letter of the 17th ult., inquiring of me, as in command at the time, why the pursuit of the Federals immediately after their rout at the battle of Manassas, July 21,1861, was suddenly checked.and the Confeder? ate troops recalled toward Manassas ? I will'first state that, though with General Joseph E. Johnston's consent I exercised the command during the battle, at its close, after I had ordered all the troops on the field in pursuit, I went per? sonally to the Lewis House and relin? quished that command to him. I then started at a gallop to take immediate charge of the pursuit on the Centreville turnpike, but was soon overtaken by a courier from Manassas, with a note ad? dressed to me by Colonel T. G. Rhett, of General Johnston's staff, who had been loft there in the morning to forward that General's troops as they might arrive by < rail from Winchester. Colonel Rhett thereby informed me that a strong body of federal troops had crossed the Bull Bun at Uuion Mills Ford, on our right, and was advancing on Manassas,. our depot of supplies, which had been neces? sarily left very weakly guarded. I hur ried back to the Lewis House to commu? nicate this important despatch to Gener? al Johnston, and both of,us believing the information to be authentic, I undertook to repair to the threatened quarter with Ewell's and Holmes' brigades, at that moment near the Lewis House, where they had just arrived, too late.to take part in the action.. With these troops.I . engaged to attack the enemy vigorously before he could effect a lodgment on our side of Bull Run, but asked to be re? inforced as soon as practicable by such troops as might be.spared from the Cen? treville pursuit. Having reached the near vicinity; of Union Mills Ford without meeting any enemy, I ascertained, to my surprise, that the reported hostile passage was a false alarm growing out of some movements of our own troops (a part of General D. R. Jones' brigade,) who had been' thrown across the run in the morning, pursuant to my offensive plan of operation for the day, and upon their return now to the.. south bank of the run were mistaken through their similarity of uniform' for ' the federals. I returned to intercept the march of the two brigades who were fol? lowing me toward Union. Mills, and as it was quite dark when I met them, and they were greatly jaded by their long march and counter-march during that hot .July day, I directed them to halt and bivouac where they were. Hearing that.President Davis and General, John? ston had gone to Manassas; I returned and found them between half-past' nine ? and ten o'clock at my headquarters. This will explain to you why.the:par-., tial "retrogade movement," to which you refer, was made, and Why no Sustained '' vigorous pursuit of McDowell's army-' was made that evening. Any pursuit of the federals uext day, . toward their rallying point at and around Long Bridge, over the Potomac,' could have led to no possible military advan? tage, protected as that position was by a system of field works. No movement upon Washington.,by that route could have been possible,^br evetf'if there had been no such works the bridge?a* mile in length?was commanded by Federal ' ships of war, and a few pieces of artillery or the destruction of a small part of the bridge could have made its passage im? practicable. Our only proper operation was to pass - the Potomac above, into Maryland, at or about Edwards'- Ferry,- and' marchjupon the rear of Washington. With the hope, of undertaking such a movement T had caused a reconnoissance of the'country and shore (south of the Potomac) in that quarter to be made in the month of June, but the necessary transportation, even for the ammunition essential to such a movement, had not been provided for 1 my forces, notwithstanding my. applica? tion for it during more than a month - beforehand, nor was there twenty-four hours' food at Manassas for the troops' brought together for that battTe. ' G. T. BEAUREGARD. Hon. John C. Fbrriss, Nashville, Tenn. ? A leading maxim with almost every . politician is, always to keep his. couhte: -nanceand never to keep his' word. ' \: ?? "Minnie has been to see me to-day,"' ? said a little five-year-old, "and. she be-, , havedlikealittleladv." "I hope you did, .' too,"said her mOth"er.: '"Yes, indeedi;' did; I turned somersets for her- on * the bed." s il . ... ?.. - . :? j ? It. is: not proper, to send^ odes, to spring to this office unless each is accom? panied by a ten-dollar bill'. In'case they odes are not used they will be' returned;: 1 The-money will be considered as ode to the writers. .. ? , . .; ? An old lady was in the habit of talking to her friends in a gloomy, de: pressing manner, presenting only the sad side of life. "Hang it," said one, after a long and sombre interview, "she wouldn't allow that there was a'bright side to the moon!" ? While James Buchanan was' Presi ident he was so particular not to receive: presents that when a.lady sent a. pair of slippers he not only returned them, but . directed the messenger to wait and get a receipt from the giver, so that he might have in his possession proof that they were sent back. , ,. ? The Washington Chronicle states that in Pekin is published the oldest newspaper in the world. It is over one ' thousand years old. It is a'ten-page pa? per, with a yellow cover; has- no stones, no "ads," no marriage or death, notices, no editorials, no subscribers. It simply contains the official notices of the Gov? ernment. ? ? The price of admission to the Cen- { tennial Exhibition will be fifty cents,, payable in one note at the entrance gate, and admitting to everything that is to be seen during the time the visitors remains within the enclosure. No season tickets will be sold, nor will two twenty-five cent notes for a single admission, nor a dollar fcr two, be taken at the gate. No matter how often a person leaves the grounds during a day lie must again pay a fifty i cent note each time that he re-enters. The hours of admission will be from 9 A. M, to 6 P. M. each day. ? A remarkable youth is James' Mar? tin Williams, of Boonville, Missouri. Though only four years old, his memory enables him to tell the names of all the planets, their characteristics, their .dis? tance from the sun, and position in the heavens. He can repeat whole chapters in the bible. The first indication ot this faculty came to his parents in this way: They are religious people, and each' morning read from the Scriptures before' prayers. Shortly after the exercises' one mornings-several months ago?his moth? er was astonished to hear him repeating, word for word, the liens from the Bible which she had read 'an hpur or so before. She called him to: her, and found' he could recite other portions of the book. She commenced teaching him his letters, and in an hour and a half he hadlcarnea the whole. He progressed with wonder? ful rapidity, and soon could spell.