University of South Carolina Libraries
* ?S' . COLUMBIA. ,-3 Stuiday Morning, February 4,1866. The KeTenae KAW?. The commission appointed to re rise the revenue laws has made a long re? port, which' we find published in the New York papers. Among the recom? mendations to Congress in the report axe the following: .A tax of five cents a pound on raw cotton. A reduction of the tax on whiskey to one dollar per gallon. A reduction of the number of arti? cles upon which taxes shall be laid, and a gradually increased burden upon a few luxuries and necessaries. The removal of all taxes from mau xtfactured articles in time. The exemption of all incomes be? low one thousand dollars, instead of . six hundred dollars as at present, the tax to be five per cent, on all incomes above that sum. No tax upon leaf tobacco. No taxes upon retail trades, shoe? makers, tailors, dress-makers, etc. Two VIEWS OP GEN. HOWARD.-The editor of the Worcester (Massachu * setts) Spy is a member of Congress, and a letter from Washington to his paper, dated December 27, shows that a favorite radical idea is to divide the lands of the -white men of the South among the negroes by military de? cree. The letter says: ' 'Nothing can be more evident to any observant student of Southern arlairs, than that the vast landed monopoly ?which slavery built up needed to be destroyed with the institution. After looking over the whole field and then being required to choose between giving each slave, head of a family, rive acres of land or an endowment with the ballot, I think I should have chosen the land and left the siiffrage to come, as it surely will. This trans? fer from slavery to free landed pro? prietorship, could have been inaugu? rated by the Freedman's Bureau. That it would have been, is evident from Gen. Howard's report, had not the President's policy interfered, first, cramped, aud ultimately de? stroyed any hopes thereof." The Washington correspondent of the Commonwealth, having nothing better to do, writes as follows: "Gen. Howard has 'put his foot into it again, ' to use a homely but expressive phrase. He went to the annual resurrection of that fossilized piece of pro-slaveryism-the Ameri? can Colonization Society. In a speech there he committed himself in favor of colonization as the key to the colored man's future! Since then he has lent his sanction to a scheme, got up by one of his subordinates, to purchase one-half of the State of Florida, for the purpose of negro settlement. Is Gen. Howard weak minded? Can't ho learn the new thought, or unlearn the old? It seems not. He is full of good intentions, without douht; but you know the old proverb as to the pavement of a cer? tain place." COLORED TROOPS AT MEMPHIS.-On the 10th of December, a number of the citizens of Memphis petitioned the President, ' 'that the 4, OOO colored troops at that place be disbanded, that the guns in their hands be taken from them, and, if necessary, placed in the hands of white troops at that point." The petitioners alleged that "bad advisers had inculcated in the minds of the negroes a false and im? proper influence, to an extent that an outbreak" was apprehended. The petition was referred by the President to the Secretary of War; by the Sec? retary of War to General Grant; by General Grant to General Thomas; and by General Thomas it was en? dorsed as follows: "Respectfully referred to Major General George Stonenian, command? ing Department of Tennessee, ut Memphis, Tennessee, who will inform the Mayor of the city of Memphis, and others in civil authority at that place, and the signers of this petition, that if they and the eourts aro pre? pared to guarantee equal rights and justice to all men within their com? munity, it will be time to consider the propriety of removing the troops altogether, or of conceding to their request, that only white troops be employed among them. Until they are prepared to give such guarantee, it is not considered that they have any right to expect that their petition should be favorably considered; but that while their own conduct renders it necessary to keep troops among them, wo must use such as we have, be they white or black, without regard to their feelings or wishes on the subject. " The Holly Springs Reporter says that the negroes are contracting in that county, but adds, that "if all tlie freedmen in the county were now i'm ployed on tho farms, not one-half of tho open land could be cultivated the present year, for tho want of la? bor, as several thousand of our best field laborers have left during the war, and but few have returned." - "On thc Wing." DOKO, S. C., February 1, 1666. DEAB PHONIX: Somebody WM'very much disappointed, on Wednesday morning, in being coldly prosed by the stage-coach en ro ute for Bidgeway. "We had made all necessary arrange j ments on the previous day, and had not anticipated ?ny misnnderstanding of plans. However, it was all right, ani when ferreted out, it was found that Mr. Harvey had simply forgot to give the proper directions to the driver. No one was to blame-it was only my misfortune. But never despairing, I hurried to the stage house, and took passage on a superannuated ambulance, expect? ing to overtake the .stage before it reached the present terminus of the railroad, but was sadly disappointed. There were on board three freedmen, besides my little self-one to drive, one to furnish switches, and tho other to point out the way. The mules were old, poor, sluggish and lazy; the sand was just dry enough to be deep and heavy, and tho mud was wet enough to exert all its native suction power. We were using every element of muscular power to expedite the locomotive powers of our mules, when, lo! our pilot fell asleep, the driver took a wrong road, and conse? quently we traveled several miles out i of our way. This detour, with other unfavorable circumstances, prevented us reaching the desired goal. About the time that the glorious king of day was withdrawing his last beautiful pencillings of light from the otherial concave, we reached Doko, and I found comfortable quarters under the hospitable roof of Mr. J. A. Book hart. j On the next morning, with two blooming lasses, I visited the Blythe? wood Institute, one mile from Doko. Dr. S. W. Bookhart. A. M., is prin? cipal of the abovo institute. He is quite a gentleman and a scholar, and has already attained reputation as an educator. This institute is in a quiet community, and within 100 yards of a neat Baptist Church. Dr. Book hart, assisted by a competent corps of teachers, will resume the exercises of the institute in March. Blythewood is no doubt derived from blithe and wood, meaning a gay or happy wood. If so, the jiame was highly appro? priate; and, further, the climate is delightfully healthy. Many years of increasing prosperity to the Blythe? wood Institute. The Charlotte and South Carolina Railroad is in process of rapid re? construction, under the skillful and energetic superintendence of Mr. James Anderson, and will be com? pleted by the 1st of May. The capi? tal stock of the company is two million dollars, and when the road is completed, its indebtedness will not exceed live hundred thousand dol? lars. A very solvent condition for a road that suffered so much by the lato war. I am under many obligations to Mr. Anderson, Superintendent, for his real Scotch kindness and gentle? manly suavity. May he live long, and his hair never become grav. More anon. OMEGA. WJKNSBOKO, S. C., Feb. 2, I860. j DEAR PHONIX: I reached this place ! at 10 o'clock last evening. By-tbs- i way, this place reminds me of a little j episode in my college days. Ono day, in the town of Spartanburg, S. | C., I was walking down street, and I was attracted by an old gentleman making shoes. On inquiring after his past history, I learned that lie had ranked as captain in the lato war with Great Britain, and that he was a son of General Wynn, of revolu? tionary celebrity. The latter distin? guished himself in the war for Ame- j rican independence, and was, subse? quently, sent to tin; United States Congress by his grateful country? men. At one time he owned a large tract of land, embracing what is now Winnsboro. His son, the shoe cob? bler, had always been a temperate, I hig?i-toned gentleman, but, by some I strange freaks of fortune, had been ? reduced to deep poverty. With tears in his eyes, he said that he had two j sons iii the Confederate army, and j that ono had been killed. Winnsboro has 24 stores, 5 churches, i 5 schools, with a corresponding nam bar of intelligent citizens. Thc Winnsboro Female. Institute is flou- j rishing under the care of Rev. A. G. ' Stacy, A. M. Mr. Stacy is an enthu siastie and competent educntor, and is assisted by proper teachers. Dur- j ing my trip here, I was in conver- ; sation with an intelligent gentleman directly from Marshall, Texas, who Bays that all things are quiet and orderly; that they have plenty of j specie, and that unusual prosperity is hopefully anticipated. I am stopping with Mr. Brown, I who knows how to entertain his ? ?uests hospitably and elegantly. Mr. j *hcenix, if you wish to fare well in I this town, stop with Mr. Brown. More anon, OMEGA. Our Northern exchanges announce ! the death of tho venerable Eliphalet Nott, D. I)., LL.D., President of Union College, at Albany, on the 29th | ult., in the ninety-third year of his age. He had been for sixty-two years j President of Union College, during ! which time more than 4,000 students ! were graduated from that institution. ?.'Jj ? .A m i ? - fit T liettcr from Mri ico? The following letter (says the Rich? mond Times) from Colonel Richard ! L. Maury, son of Commodore M. F. \ Maury, written to a friend in this city, has been furnished us for publi? cation. While wo cheerfully give place to the'letter, we cannot forbear to give expression to the hope that the brilliant inducements held out to emigrants will not be successful in inducing many of our people to turn their backs upon their good old mother State. Dark days are upon her; but eveiy cloud has its silver lining, and is not the amor matris tho silver lining to the cloud that now overhangs our State, and is it not the pledge that some day the cloud will be removed, and the sun of prospe? rity will again burst upon us? MEXICO, November 14, 1865. My DEAK SIR: I remember meeting you in the street in Richmond, and that you asked me to write to you after I had looked around in Mexico, and let you know candidly the result of my observations and my opinions upon affairs here, from a "poor Con? federate" point of view. I gladly seize the present opportunity to do so, the more particularly because I hope that my views, ns here ex? pressed, may, through you, be dis? seminated among many of my dear friends in old Virginia, and that they may he induced seriously to think over the idea o: emigrating and coming here. The groat difficulty with many is how to raise the money to get here. That stone has been removed ont of the path of every one by the Impe? rial Decree of September 5, for the Government will pay your passage. But you may say, "What am I to do when I get there?" I answer, "Any? thing you choose, almost." True, you will not make your fortune in a week, but you will make expenses uutil you can look around and settle yourself. ? There are many Confederates here, and all of them have or can get occu? pation, if they want it. In the first place, there are some ten or fifteen milli JUS of acres offered to colonists by various landholders here at va? rious rates, the least advantageous of which aro as much land as you will take-the colonist furnishes the la? bor-the holder everything else-will lend you provisions till you make your own, and will furnish seed, stock, farming implements, and everything, and divide equally tire profits. Will also furnish flocks and herds for stock breeding, on the same terms. And then the yield of a spot of ground, farmed on Virginia principles, would be perfectly fabulous-indeed, there would scarcely be an end to the har? vest. You may form an idea of what it would be from this fact; that land cultivated on the Mexican system of farming, (probably the most slovenly in the world, for they never touch the field after the seed is planted, ex? cept to harvest the crops, ) yields from one to three or four hundred fold, and that, too, two, three and four times annually. Think of it; a bushel of corn yields four hundred bushels four times a year! The productiveness of the country is certainly one of the seven wonders of the world. You know that it must be so, because nobody works, and everybody lives. I know of a lady here who lives off of the natural pro? ducts of her farm. She is considered rich, too-she has not a hand on the place except an agent who sells the natural, spontaneous products of the ground on the spot-the buyers come for it, take it away and paj- theil money. But there are other occupations here which will give a more imme? diate, though by no means so rich a reward. General Magruder is at the head of the Mexican land office; the lands of Mexico never have been sur? veyed; he needs assistants every day, and pays from ?i?50 to $150 a month. This, you may imagine, is an endless job. I don't know whether you are a surveyor, but if you. or any one else who is, will come ont here, you won'l starve, particulerly if you bring youl instruments with you. I am delighted with t he whole coun? try. It is certainly tho most favoret in the world, and most certainly tin pince for you and me, and all like us. What can we do in Virginia ? People abroad have no idea whatever o: Mexi co-all their knowledge is obtainer] from Northern newspapers. The country is far better settlec than the United States. There ar? many robbers, it is true, but thes< always abound where the people make no resistance, but hand over quieth all they have without a word. It i? a notorious fact, that the robber never attack where; they have anj idea of meeting resistance. There is no opposition whatever te the Government. The Liberals an more dead than the Confeels, and tin Empire is gaining strength, populari ty and support every elay. It is th? greatest mistake in the world to thin! that tiie Empire is not stable, popu lar and secure. 1 say to you what ! would say to all my friends, do wha I have done; come to Mexico. 1 you should come before an agent i appointed in Richmond, who wouh give you transportation, I have antho rity for stating that your passage ex penses will be refunded you on you arrival here. In the meantime, if yoi want any information, or if any on else does, let them write to mr "Office Colorization, Mexico," and I -will most chewrfnlly and gladly tell them what I can. Gen. Price is getting a splendid settlement under way, near Cordova, a place that formerly (before the dar? kies were set free) was the garden of Mexico; but since it has been entirely neglected, where lands are given the emigrant by the Government. Governor Harris, of Tennessee, and Judge Perkins, of Louisiana, are with him. Gens. Hardeman and Terry are doing likewise in Talisco, and there are others being established all around. Of course, there is no limit to the size of these settlements-the more the better. If I only had forty good negroes here from Virginia, I could make my fortune in two years. I would not want more money than I could make in that time. * * * * ? . * Most truly, RICHARD L. MAURY, Colonel, vvc. j American Finance. The views taken by the leading French journals of our finances are far more encouraging than those of Great Britain, though, indeed, throughout all Europe our national financial condition, after so exhaust? ive a war, excites scarcely a less won? der than our large, well-disciplined armies and formidable navy, and the splendid victories each has achieved. After the President's message, per? haps no State paper or report was received and read with moro interest than that of Secretary McCulloch, and none has been so generally re- 1 commended for its clear statements | and kindness of policy. From tho American Railroad Joicrnal we take j the following or this subject, which j will be read with interest. The last sentence we commend ts: the serious consideration of Americans who are ! disposed tu criticise and find fault S with their own country : The remarks of the great leading j foreign journals just now upon the | financial condition of this country are singularly interesting. They J begin to see that "we have a country," and one of some importance. After j exhausting the unusual language of eulogy on our great military men, ! they are now praising without stint Mr. Johnson, our President. So, too, Mr. McCulloch comes in fora full share of admiration. The sound? ness of his views, the frankness of I his opinions, and the resolute tone of his reports excite deserved atten? tion. The manliness with which he accepts the situation, and the una? nimity with which ho is supported by | the large majority of the enlightened press of the country, astonish the foreign editors. We find in the Paris Journal des Deb?is, of the 2d January, a laudatory article on Mr. McCulloch's official report, from which we trans? late a few of the most striking para grar>hs. Of this that journal says, of nil thc reports transmitted to the American Congress, his certainly "merits the greatest consideration on both sides of the Atlantic." After stating in full his plans of finance, it says: "Such are the financial pro? jects of Mr. McCulloch, conformable to good sense and honesty," with every assurance of success. The journal comprehends, as fully as we do, the opposition he will meet to any pian of reducing paper money, that of "powerful associations," combina? tions financial and industrial, who are i benefitted by the high prices, the banks who profit by the emissions of i paper money and the speculators on j 'change, who are strongly represented j in Congress, yet having a deplorable j influence " on morals and the true wealth or nations." The journal advises the American people to close their ears to all dangerous sophisms, and "after having astonished the world by exhibiting their victorious generals submissive to the laws, able presidents without ambition, financiers intelligent and sincere, they will put the finish to these won? ders by setting an example of a ua tion which, after having been a borrower, knows how to pay its debts." Washington Item*. The Postmaster-General, it will be recollected, recommended in his re? port an enactment requiring all mail matter to be prepaid, and tho Honso Post Office Committee agreed to re? port a bill carrying ont that recom? mendation. In consequence, how? ever, of the forcible representations made to the committee by tho pub? lishers of tho country, showing how injuriously the measure would affect their interests, the committee has re? considered its purpose, and decided not to report the bill. It is stated on very good authority that the despatch, before being given to the Associated Press, was revised, and its publication authorized by the President himself. This having be? come known during the day, it ex? cited eonsiderabie comment on th? part of Congressmen, who found it singular that the President should send his messages and communicate his views to Congress through the channel of the Associated Press. [Cor. New York Tribune. The Senate Military Committee have decided to report against the proposition to turn over to West Vir m gin in tilo Government property abd appurtenances at Harper's Ferry. It is the intention ci the Government to keep possession of this property, and, if necessary, to rebuild tn-'? works, which were destroyed during the rebellion. Secretary Harlan has thought it necessary to explain, in a published letter, that when ho. in his recent speech to the crowd that called upon him, said that he preferred ignorant loyalty to intelligent treason-or, in other words, nwgro voters to rebel voters-he did not speak for the Pre? sident, but had merely concluded his remarks "with an expression of con? fidence in the wisdom and virtue of the President, for whom he was not authorized to speak, and who had been able in the past, and would be able in the future, to disclose his own views." Mr. Hunter, acting Secretary of State, has written to our Consul at Liverpool, that it is to be regretted that his provision for sending the Shenandoah to this couutry proved abortive, and advises him to retain the vessel, if not already under way, until otherwise instructed, taking measures for her safe custody mean? while. General Butler, and Senator Lane, of Indiana, had interviews with the President yesterday, Ix^fore the meet? ing of the Cabinet. At the Cabinet meeting all the members were pre? sent, including the Secretary of State. A Washington correspondent of the Baltimore Sun, writing under dato of January 30, says the Freedmen's Bureau, or Lazzaroni bil!, as it has been called, is condemned by many of the leading journals, though it passed the Senate by a vote of four to one. Tin: President, as I learn from a good source, is also opposed to it. There is no doubt that it will pass the House, for it creates officers, which will increase the Government patronage to an enormous extent; and it will curse the South with a population of idle and pauper freed? men. It gathers blacks in communi? ties, where they are to be supported at public expense; but, what is more, it dispossesses white owners from plantations, and gives them for three years to blacks. Many judicious men consider the bill as one that will tend to provoke a war of races iu the South. As I have heretofore said, there is no longer much danger of the pas? sage of the Constitutional amend? ment reported by the construction committee, and it was, to-day, recom? mitted to the judiciary committee in the House. This is probably, because it is considered as too good for the seceded States by some. The Presi? dent's suggestion of representation based on qualified voters, and taxation based on property, would not suit the radicals much better, for it leaves to the States the regulation of suffrage. The radicals will not be content with? out some legislation whereby they can force negro suffrage upon all the late slaveholding States. Tho lines between them and the President are now very closely drawn. The report of the internal revenue commissioner will, if adopted, super cede the proposed Constitutional amendment permitting duties on exports. The tax proposed on cotton will probably be adopted as a part of an improved revenue system. There was a full Cabinet meeting to-day, and visitors to the White House were few in consequence, though Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, and Senator Lane, of Indiana, ob? tained interviews with the Executive prior to the Cabinet session. Mr. George M. Fitzhugh, of West Vir? ginia, was pardoned to-day. The President refuses to interfere with General Terry's recent orders annulling the vagrant Act passed by the Virginia Legislature. Several of the Virginia delegation called upon the President to inquire as to the report telegraphed from New York relative to the deposition of Governor Pierpont, and were informed by him that there was not the slightest parti? cle of truth in it. A person giving his name as Roby, from East Cambridge, Massachusetts, was arrested .yesterday in the gallery of the Senate Chamber, for indecorous behavior, and threatening to shoot Senator Sumner. He amused him? self for a time by throwing peanuts on the head of the Senator from the gallery, varying tee occupation with muttered curses and threats. The poor fellow was found to be insane, and has been sent to the lunatic asylum. The War Department has ascer? tained that many of the parties en? gaged in purchasing honorable dis? charges from soldiers, dispose of the same to "conscripts" who evaded the draft by fleeing to Canada. The names of discharged soldiers are removed by chemical action, and the names of the purchasers substituted, so as to enable them to return home and pass unmolested. ARTEMUS WARD AND BILL ARP. Mr. Ward met Bill Arp nt Macon. Artemus considers Bill the greatest satirist living, and gave as a reason for not answering his letters on "re konstruxion" that he could not write so well as his Georgia friend, but lie said perhaps, some of these days, when he felt in tho humor, he would reply to Mr. Arp. Artemus and Bill Arp can do more good at rekonstruct in this Union, and harmouizin this people, than all the bureaus and re? construction committees appointed, or to be appointed. TAugusta Constitutionalist. AdTcrlisument?, to insure insertion, should bc handed in by 4 o'clock p. ni. CASU.-Our terms tor subscription, ad? vertising and job work are cash. We hop? all parties will bear this in mind. "THE CODE."-The Acts passed by thc Legislature relative to the freedmen, for sale at this office. Price 20 cents; by mail 25 cents. Tni BURNING OF COLUMBIA.-An inter? esting account ol the "Sack and Destruc? tion of the City of Columbia, S. C.," ha? just beon issued, in pamphlet form, from the Phoenix steam power press. Orders can be fillod to any extent. If a man eats his breakfast at half-past 7 or 8 o'clock, towards ll ho will, moro j than likely, feel a little weak and hungry. j The cravings of an empty stomach will be satisfied by a plate of good soup, which can bo obtained at tho restaurant of Jar. John Fanning, on Asssmbly street, next door to Zealy's. BECONSTUCTION cr AMERICA. BV a Member of the New York Bar. New York: W. J. Pooley, publisher. Mr. Glass has laid before us a copy of a , neatly printed work with the above title. ? The tone of the worl: will be understood from the preface, in which the author says I that thc proposod reconstruction of tho , States ?viii necessarily unsettle the nature I of the Government: ho therefore advoeatos j restoration rather than reconstruction. Mr. E. Stenhouse advertises a new stock ? of goods, this morning, in thc grocery line, j Judging from the price of some of his arti ! oles, he is disposed to bring thing? down i as near the old rates cs possible. It . would, perhaps, be as well to give him a ; call. Mr. Sienhoure was burnt out during ; thc destruction >f Columbia, but, nothing ' daunted, he has pushed along, and to tho i ?kiB of Mc.-srs. Moore tc Maxwell, bnildera, I ho is indebted for the commodious es I tablishment which ho now occupies. WEEKLY FAMILY PAVER.-Ou tho 14th i instant, we shall commence tht! publication . of a family paper, entitled "TVie Weekly j (ilenner-A ffiirw Companion^. The paper ? will be double thc size of the. Phoenix, and j will contain the cream of the news, miscel ' laneous matter, editorials, Htories, etc., in ; the daily ?nd tri-wcekly publications. Sub? scription price $4 i>er annum. Specimen copies sent, on application. There will bo an interval of two weeks between tiie pub? lication of the first and second numbera. RELIGIOUS SKRVICES THIS DAY.-Trinity . Church- Rev. P. J. Shand, KU a. m. and 3J p. m. i Presbyterian Church--Rev. Geo. Howe, ! 10.J a. m. and 3? p. m. ? Baptist Church-Rev. J. I,. Reynolds, 10$ j a. m. Rev. W. T. Capers. 3k p. m. St. Peter's Church-Rev. J. J. O'Connell, : 104 a. m. and 3? p. m. Lurheran Church-Rev. A. B. Rude, 10$ a. m. Christ Church Lecture Room-Rev. Mr. Pringle, 10A a. m. and SJ p. m. Marion Street Church-Rev. William T Capers, KU a. m. Rev. W. Martin, ii p. m. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.-Attention isca.ll i ed to the following advertisements, which : are published thi* morning fm* th? first time: J. M. Elford-Admiiiuttrator'o Sale. Weld. Andrews A- beet-Dry Gooda, Ac. E. E. Jackson-Selling Off. Kay, Veal k Hewetson-Architects, Ae. John Waties-Bat Box Lost. P. B. Glass-Valentines. Y. Ysrlosias Tailoring, i Calnan Si Kremier-Fine Groceries, Ste. ! E. Stenhouse - - New Grocery Store. il " -Groceries, Sic. 1). B. DeSaussnre-Wills, Record?, .Vc. ? Mei tin? of City Fire Department. I A. R. Phillips- -Buggies. Into her mighty trumpet famo has i breathed a new word-Sozodont; and she ' is makin? it resound through the civilized world. It is tho Greek fer teeth preserver, but in plain English, Fragrant Sozodont. ! It is the most effective dentifrice that che? mistry has ever yet extracted from tho i oriental vegetable kingdom. t C01WM3ERC?AX. Alf? KrWAWClAI.. CrNCI?TNASI, January 29.-Flour remains unchanged ?nd steady. Wheat quiet, with? out change-No. 1 new red $1.75. Corn firm and demand good, at 55c. for No. 1. Oats dull, at 3'4c. ibr Sb. 1. Rye steady, at 75c. for No. 1. Hogs firm- 25c. higher, closing at $1L25@$11.50 for city dressed, the latter rates on extremo arc generally asked bv holders. Receipts, 1,700. Mess pork is generally held at $28.50. City green meats are in " demand, at 9@9?c. for shoulders; 12?@l2?c. for sides; and 16@ IOU-, for hams, tho latter rates for light average. Bulk meats and bacon unchang? ed. Lard d i, and prices declined to 174c. for prime, . >?ing heavy. Groceries un? changed and quiet. Cotton dull, andprice? nomina 1. Whiskey steady, at ?2.25 for Tree, and 23? in bond. Gold 40. NEW ORLEANS, January 27.-Cotton ac? tive, with sales of4,100 bales, at 48c. Su? gar, fair. Mle. AuciSTA, January 31.- There was some? thing of a better feeling in the market to? day than for some days past, but the. in? quiry was mainly tor iiuo cotton, thero being very little," if any, demand for tho lower grades. M?hlers were asking from .1K<?42.;. for good middling, but wo may quote the inside figures as tho ruling rate. Cold marke t improving. Sales of small lots at 39?40. Brokers buying at 38@39, and selling at 40. Stock on salo light. Silver unchanged. BALTIMORE, January 31.-Flour duii Howard Street supertitle, $8.75@$9; Extra, ?'J.5?r??.$10. Corn dull- white, 93c; yell >w, 78c. "Provisions steadv. Lard 18<i?18?c. Whiskey dall at 12.31._ City Fire Department. TUE regular monthly meeting ??CV-T>, of this Department will be heh! Jgjgj TO-MORROW (Mondavi EVEN -SHfc-INU, 5th inst., at 7 o'clock, Ht their Hall. Bv order of the President. Feb 4 1 C. E. HARRISON, Secy.