NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR. All business or news letter and telegraphic clrspttchex must be addtvwted New Yoke HBtIA Letters and packages -hotihl be properly sealed. Yelwme XXXrt No. 3M AMUSEMENTS TWS AfTENNM* AM EVEMML BOOTH 'a THEATRE, Tvnt|4ktnt it., corner Stint it.? Ivuti* Vaua GRAND OPERA HOUSE, corner or M.0 nod W at? Tnarr or Lbavs Mam. Matinee el a~w Acurtu WOOD'S MUSEUM, Broadway, oorttsr .'tub ,i. Perform* ancoe afternoon and erenu>?.?Satan in Pabin. Ao. tirra AVKNUB TIIKATBK. Twentr-fo.irta' etreot. Tit a aanr Drama or Dcvowos. Matinee at Ife UNA EDWIN'S THEATRE. No. T*? Rroad WRr> ?OTKRA Aoorrs-Nabob Hi ma Matinee at 1 WALLACE'S THEATRE, Broadway an I USh street.? loan Oabth NTBLO'S i! vnORK, Brovwu,. be rran Prmie aod Houston (trtlle?Hi.AOK CBOUK. Wntmee at B AIMER'S OPERA BOUFFB, 7? Bro dway.?HABBS Birra. Matinee?La raatcuoLK. BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.? Ma*, kit A QaLB Bbbsuly. Matinee at 3. OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway Tint Ballet Pan TOMIMB ?p Humptt DtXMFTT. Matinee at 1 HTADT THEATRE, Mob. 48 and 47 Bowery.e-THc Iron MaSK. STFINWAT HALL, Fourteenth etreet. liAWnaL'a Ora Toato or tub Masaiau. MRS. P. B. OONWAY*B BROOKLYN TftEATBE. Tua Tasaa OlaKdsmin. Matinee at 2. BROOKLYN ACADEMY OP MUSIC. Montague Croat ?mrrioamb in Taris?His Last Lena. PARK THEATRB, oppoalte City Hall, Brooklyn.? PovBBTt Flat. THEATRE OOMIQUB, 614 Broadway. -C#mio VooAL ISMS, Nbuko Ana. So Matinee at 9. UNION SQUARE THEATRE. Fonro-enth at. and Broad Way?hrtiRo Aotb?Buslesqpb, Bali.tt, to. Matinee TONT PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE. No. 201 Bowery.? hruao EoCBNTKIOITIBb, BCBLKauCFtt, Ac. Miitlnee. BRYANrs NEW OPERA HOUSE, 211 at., between 6th and7than.--BbvaNT's Minstrvi.a Matinee at L SAN FRANCISCO MINSTREL HaLL, MW Broadway The Sam PttANOieoo Minbtbbls. Matinea at 2. THIRTY-FOURTH STREET THEATRE, near Third are bue.?Nxoao Eoubntbioitibs. Yooausms, An. Mutinee NEW YORK CIRCUS, Fourteenm aireeu -MndNte in Ens Ring. Aobohatb, Ao. Matinee at 3%. NIXON'S ORE AT SOUTHERN CIRCUS, 728 Broadway.? Bobmms in tue Ring, Ao. Matinee. WABHINOTON HALL, WUllatniburg?Blind Tott, the Mdsioai. Pnouior. DR. KAHN'S ANATOMICAL MUSEUM. 746 Broadway. Beta a oa amd Art. MRW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway? WOOUlOR AMI ART. New York, Monday, December 23, 1871* COJTEim OF TO-DAY'S HT.HAI.D. PASS. 1?ASrert isenien ts. Adverruemcuts. W1? War in Mexico: The Greatest Revolution that Bvcr Desolated the Uaiortunatc Repub lic; The Heat Generate Keroltlug; Murder and Rapine the Order ol tue Day?More Murder and Lynching In Termeeeec?Viowa ol the Past?Jte kn Klux Trials: Fnli DcmonMra tion of the Political character of the American Vetimgerichte. 4?Bdttonait. Leading Article, Chriatmaa iTogrosa and Power ol Ohrtsilanity?The Mission ol Americana"?Political Movements and Vlewa?The Hunter's Point Hiole War? Votcanie KrnpUon?Kuictrte oa a Business Basis?The Dekalb a ad Dr. Lav tngmbne?A somewhat Snspicous Case?Amusement An* nou nee ni on ts. g_uermanr: The Emperor Wlfltem Lfkely to visit tltc cr.nr of Russia?The Prince of Wales' Henllh?Weather Report?The Tornado Trav elling?The International Federal Council? Smothered to Iieatn?sews from Washington ?A Trap Cnn TrBgixly?Gloomv Gotham. The Upper Portion or the Cut Still Shrouded In Darknej*?A Cannibalistic Female?Mia* ceilaneous Telegrams?Business Mottoes. #?Religious; sermon and 8oag in the sanctuaries ol ilie City Vestoruav; Discourses on the Ap proaching Holy Festival?Tlie Death o( Catha rine cstulL 9?The City Charter: Draft of the Pi opoeed Charter of the Committee of Seventy?News of Dr. Livingstone?Firo in Kldridge street?Ftaaa* rial and Commercial Reports?(ante Market? Jtomesilo Markets?Dry Goods Mark etc? Ad vertisements. 8?Cnristmas: The Religions and Moclai Aspect of the Christian Festival: Choral Music at the Churches; The Car# of Pious Cliarltv forth# Poor and Homeless; How Christmas is Kept bv the Germane; Mtduiglu Services at st Al lan's Church and St. Man Hoboken?The Grand Duke Alexis-Slilppint Intellicence? Marriages and Deaths?Advertisements. A "Tempest n? a Teapot"?The rebellion fn Pennsylvania against Grant. Dentists in Council.?Look ont for jaw cracking speeches when the present contro versy among the dentists comes into Court. A Great Relief?The relief which we experience from the adjournment of Congress till after New Year. Thanks for tills great mercy. And all the people will say Amen! Tint Grand Duke, Instead of spending bis Christmas, ns it was enppoBed he might, In hunting down the buffalo, has been hunted down by the Buffaloes, and will devote the day to Buffalo. Gominq To It At Last. ?'The Bsnk of France is to be authorised to increase its oir oulatioo to the extent of twenty-seven hun dred millions of francs and to issue small ?otes. Chicago has just discovered that she has a city debt of a little over four hundred thousand dollars. Pooh! a mere bagatelle. New Tork oan see that four hundred thousand and go noarly a hundred millions better. The Emperor of Germany contemplates visiting the Ostr of Russia at an early moment next spring. So we ape specially Informed by cable telegram. The compli ment will be quite natural, in Ike way of a friendly family greeting. Misplaced Indignation?The indignation jaf the people of California In failing to get the destructive storm which they had been looking for. Let them be patient; they may get it grt, and as muoh as they want. The Clerk of jthe Weather baa lately bad bis bands foil with file late storms In the East; but now, we think, ho win he able to attend to California. "Brawns Divine"?The spirits tn Henry Ward Beeehers church. The First Cardinal?if the report we Wws from Horns on the subject Is correct Axohbishop McCloskry has been promoted to the red hst of a Cardinal, and he is the drat Cardinal of Mother Church chosen from the felergy of the United States. At all events be Bi serves the honor, end if appoloted he will ho aa important accession to the College of OhrdiMals. Tub Demooba no paper* in California, as a general thing, deprecate the passive If so aoon I am to be >lone (or Won lei what I was begun ivt, qtiWM Priiriw ail. p?wer ml Itaalty-Tht BUwIoa mt Aaerlna*. At no other season of the year are all the sweet and sacred sentiments of the human heart so universally awakened as at Christ mas. This is because the immortal system founded by Him whose birth the season cele brates is so perfectly adapted to the nature and necessities of mortals. When the reign of perfect peaoe and universal brotherhood shall have been established Christmas will have then become the day of days, the univer sal holy day among all the nationa. Though that promised period, "which kings and prophets wilted for," has not yet arrived, chimes of consecrated bells in Christian coun tries will this morning summon multitudes to celebrate the anniversary of the nativity ofi Jesua. And in response to the snm mona of the chimes and their own convic tions millions of worshippers will assemble for that purpose in churobea and cathedrals. To those who are lees Impressed by simple ser vices than by imposing religious ceremonials the effect of songs of adoration and of praise will be increased by the aid of magnificent instrumental musio, and the solemnity of the scene will be augmented by the "dim religions light'' that shines through the crimson and pnrple of the painted windows. The Christ mas carols, songs and symphonies that will be chanted by choirs and congregations are bnt the echoes of the celestial voices of that heavenly host which accompanied the angel who annonooed to the astonished shepherds the advent of the Messiah whose appearance had been prophesied for ages. They are but the echoes, also, of the songs of faith and praise that have subsequently lingered on the lips and immortalized the memories of mar tyrs. Viewed in whatever light it may be, the missiou of Jesus Christ to humanity is sopreme in its importance. We need not enter into a discussion of the character of Christ or of the system which He founded. Rival religionists who exclaim "Ecee Homo!" and "Ecoe Deu$!" may rejoice respectively in their opinions. Whatever peculiar forms of faith scots of mod ern Christians may adhere to, it is enough to know that nil concur in acknowledging that Christ was the most perfect cbaraoter that ever trod the earth, and that the snfest and sublimest rules of human conduct are those which He expounded. Though faith, sublime in its simplicity, questions not bnt justifies "the ways of God to man," those ways are only known to us as mysteries. And among the most marvellous of these is the manner in which the Creator has at different times revealed Himself nnto His creatures. In the Old Testa ment He assumes the character of awfnl ma jesty to whom burnt offerings and sacrifices were essential in order to appease His wrath and stay-(he avenging hand of jnstloe. In the New Testament He assumes the character of wonderful humility, combined vfih infinite love, gentleness nbd mercy. This is the character in which life appears the dearest to human beings. It is more In harmony with, as we have said, the nature and necessities of mortals, and with the intelligence which has superseded the Ignor ance of departed ages. Hence we gladly lura from the thunders of Sinai to the Sermon on the Mount, and from the majesty of Jebovsh to the simplicity of Jesus. Without fallowing the fortunes of Christianity through all its ereatful epochs we asj remark that tbongh its march has been attended with wonderful vicissitudes, and has been tempo rarily impeded at various Intervals, its oareer has been one of progress from its foundation to the present period. The history of the Church is Ute most remarkable in human annals. Judaism bad flourished end failed, the civilisa tion of Greece was on the wane, the supremacy of the Roman empire was sinking under the power of paganism, when there arose from the most bumble origin a system which, soon spreading along the shores of the Mediterranean, has since fought and won its way over the whole of what is nowdenominatod Christendom. For centuries persecutions followed It Into Asia Minor, Greece, Italy and Africa, until they were in a measure arrested under Conslantine. But while paganism was extinguished and Chris tianity extended the Church became corrupt and continued to become corrupted. The most serious assault that Christianity has sustained came from the system founded by Mohammed, who claimed to be commissioned to restore the true religion revealed by God to Abraham. By the power of compiest his system was carried triumphantly from Arabia over countries where Christianity still, flourished; it spread into 8p*1n, even France was threatened, and for a time the cause ot Christ seemed to he seriously endangered. But Christianity had not lost Its vitality, i hough the Church was weak and its affair* were improperly administered. The Refor mation inspired by Luther came when refor mation wns most needed Luther understood the true idea of Christianity, and he, more than all bis coadjutors, labored successfully to restore it In its spirit Tbongh it has passed through seas of blood, the system of salvation born with the Babe of Bethlehem has survived all the shocks of ignorance and hea thenism, nnd Is destined not only to make the world synonymous with Christendom, but to make the trne spirit of Christianity the guid ing principle of every Individual. Christianity is love, and love ie the moat potent power in all the universe. The mission of the Messiah was not so much to found a Church or sect as to establish and exemplify Immortal principles. Glory to God in the high est, and on earth pence and good will toward men, is the snm and substance of the Christian system. Christ wan the link that unites man to his Maker. He onme I* show the sympathy existing between the Creator and His crea tures to elevalo humanity by presenting In His person a living example of what humanity might be, nnd.tg point ont the way to a glori ous immortality. It is because Christianity is so perfectly adapted to the complex obaractsr of mankind that H wins its tray to onr affec tions. It not only commends itself to thehighest order of intelligence, but it appeals with force and feeling to the sweetest and tenderest of human sympathies. We havo an abiding faith in the divinity of humanity, and none in the "total depravity" that is preached from some orthodox pulpits. We cannot associate the goodness of God and the immortality Of mankind with the idea of everlasting punishment*. Asiuredlv e very human soul will sooner or later receive its full measure of happiness according to its capacities. And to show how these may be increased bj the cultivation of our moral faculties was one of the objects embraced in the mission of Jesus. This could not be better accomplished than bj showing us an example that we could understand aud attempt to imi tate. It Is this union of the divine with the human so perfectly presented before ns in the person of Jesus that has led, and is leading, the heart of humanity to appreciate and cherish His character and teachings. The progress of Christianity in the world can never again be seriously interrupted. The periods have passed when paganism oould assume the ascendancy. Much ignorance and superstition prevail among peoples yet, wa admit, but ignoranoe and superstition have been for centuries gradually giving way under the regenerating influence of Christianity, and at no period since the Creation has man kind attained a higher stage of development than at the present. Never before were the principles of progress so prominent or the signs of the times for the future so foil of promise. The arts aud sciences, the hand maids of Christian civilization, are every where aiding the completion of the work commenced by Christ, whose nativity we now commemorate. Steam, elec tricity snd the press are each and all contributing toward the consummation of the grand design of the Creator for the ameliora tion of humanity. By means of rapid com munication all the nations of the earth are being brought closer together, and with it we have repeated evidence of the interchange of kindly sympathies, whioh is one of the funda mental principles of Christianity. With uni versal liberty we shall have universal intelli gence, and this will inaugurate the era of uni versal brotherhood and universal peace?the feeling of the whole human race that as the children of one Father they have a common sympathy and a common destiny. In this grand and glorious work we must not forget our mission as Americans. The eyes of the oppressed in other lands ore turned toward us, and in our influence and example are cen tred the hopes of liberty everywhere?civti and religious. Already the influence of the United States has been felt and followed to a greater or lesser extent in other and older nations. Wo believe that within the present oentury Christianity has received an impetus in the United States greater than it has ever yet received in any other country. The "manifest destiny" of the United States is to establish, Arm as the Rock of Ages, on the whole of the American Continent, the highest possible development of Christian civilization, and to be a bright, and sbiniag light among the nations. Each has its mission to perform and each can render to the other sympathy and assistance in promoting the cause of Christianity, whioh Is the amelioration of mankind by the cultiva tion of all the gifts and graces whioh will enable ns to oi^joy the benefits aud Uessings of a glorious Immortality. The New Charter Prapoaed far New York VHy by the CMBiaiitee of Serettjr. Tbe draft of a new charter for the city of New York, published in the Hxraxd to-day, ie the result of the deliberations of tbe sub committee of tbe Committee of Seventy; and while it ie yet incomplete, tbe groundwork la sufficiently set forth to show the character of the reforms U proposes. It certainly contains some very excellent points. Its underlying principle is to secure to tbe political minority in the city a substantial representation in the government. To this end large and controlling power ie vested in tbe Board of Aldermen, while the Mayor has few save expculive functions to perform. The number of Aldermen is fixed at forty-five, nine of whom are to be elected in each Senate district of tbe city. Every eleetor has the privilege of voting nine Aldermanio ballots, each containing one name, and be can vote for the same candidate nine times, or distribute bis votes in such proportion as be may choose. This, of course, renders certain tho election of a good share of tbe candidates of the minority party in each Senate district. Fol lowing ont tbe same principle in the various branches of the government, all tbe important departments?those of Public Works, Public Parks, Docks, Public Charities and Corrections and Finance?are placed nnder the control of fire Commission ers, one of whom is to be appointed by tbe Mayor, while tbe other four are to be elected by tbe Board of Aldermen. In suoh election each member of the Board ia entitled to cast four open ballots, containing each one name, and an Alderman may cast bis four ballots for one candidate or may distribute them In sueh proportion as be may choose. This ?gain enables the minority of the Board of Aldermen to make oertain of electing at least one candidate in each of the above departments, and thus secures the representa tion of the minority party in the city tbrongh out the whole municipal government. While oar experience in New York has aot taught us to place muob reliance in tbe honesty of those republican politicians who have managed to obtain a recognition under democratic city administrations, it Is, nevertheless, a healthy prinolple to secare an opposition representation ia all the oity departments as well as in the Board of Aldermen. Tbe power of the Department of Public Works is greatly increased; among other things, taking In the duties of the present Department of Buildings, of tbe Department of Parka, so far as regards boulevards, streets and avenues above Central Park, and prob ably of street cleaning. In the Department ?f Finance the member appointed by tbe Mayor is to be Comptroller of the City and County Treasurer, while the four members appointed by the Board of Aldermen are to be called Commissioners of the City Treasury. The oflce of City Chamberlain la to be abolished. As a mattey^* Mirse all tha present office-holders are legislated out of office even Comptroller When will not be spared, but will have to take his cbanoe of re appointment by the Mayor, who ie to be elected next April, or of eleotion to tbe Finance De partment by the Board of Aldermen to be chosen at tha same time. The Mayor and Aldermen are to be elected for a single year's term, and in the latter is to rest the whole legislative power. No money whatever can be raised for an/ department of the municipal government except through the Board of Aldermen, and tho moat stringent rules are drawn to proteot the funds and oredit of the city even from that body. The powers of removal of heads of departments are some what less simple and direct than they should be, but the Mayor is to be removable by the Governor for cause in the manner provided by law in the cases of sheriff's and county clerks. On one point the Committee of Seventy make, we believe, a groat blunder. Tbey adopt the principle, first advocated by the Hkbald, of requiring publication of all amounts expended, contracts made, resolu tions and ordinances passed, Ac., by every public department at short, stated periods; but they defeat the whole object of the reform by establishing another edition of the Tran script job, under the name of The City Record, in which these publications are to be made. This probably may be designed to save the city the expense of newspaper adver tising, but it Is a ''penny wise and pound foolish" policy. No parson cares to look in any such sheet for city doings, and not one olttsen out of every ten thousand would ever eee a oopy of the Record. "Pub licity" is the only object of requiring these detailed statements of tbeir operations from the departments, and this oannot be secured by printing them in a job concern such as the Droneeript was, and such as it is proposed the Record shall be. The people desire to see what their publio officers are doing. Tbey know that had the policy of publishing weekly statements of all bills paid, contraots made and liabilities incurred, prevailed during the rule of the Tammany Ring, no snob frauds as have been perpetrated against the city would have been practicable. Our citizens will not begrudge the money expended in laying before tbem the information they desire, and no parsimonious idea of saving a few dollars sbonld prevent this most valuable feature of publicity from being fully engrafted on any new charter that may be enacted. Whatever amount might be used in the publication of The City Record would bo thrown away, and the people have bad sufficieut experience in tho Transcript swindle not to desire to see the experiment revived. We shall have more to say of the committee's proposed charter here after, but the blunder of this proposition is so self-evident that we do not suppose there will be any attempt to adhere to it. Of course the rough draft now pnblished has yet to be re vised and completed, and there will come the question of its acceptance by the Legislature. As it is not as much as it might be in the interests of the republican majority at Albany, we do not think its rejection at all improbable. The Legislature will, no doubt, have views of Its own to carry out in connection with our future municipal government. Bono or rax Poor Car Horsk nr Stokht WxATflRR? "A heart bouud down by weight ofirhoal'" C'brUiiuA* From mA SpecnU^itu, One common thought and one theme agi tated the Christian pulpits of this city, and probably oi the whola land, yesterday. The thought was of the wondrous love of God, and the theme the manifestation of that love in the birth of Jesus Christ, whose natal anniversary the Christian world commemorates to-day. And such has been the progress of Christian ity In these latter days that not only through out Christendom, bat in heathendom also, Is this marvellous event celebrated on this 25th day of December. The subject and the occa sion are such as to invite speculation, and some of the pulpit preachers yeslerday in dulged a little therein. The Rev. Dr. Foes, in St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church, while introducing his audience to the manger-cradle of Bethlehem and its Divine occupant, and dwelling on the object of the Saviour's mission, gave them also some historic facts and specula tions regarding the magii, whom be considered to be Persian astronomers, chosen by God to receive this announcement, because the Persian religion was then the least impure, they be lieving in and worshipping one God, the Creator of all things. The ancient fire wor ship the Doctor considered was derived from Moses' interview with God in the burning bush, which was well known to the ancient heathen. The fire was taken as the best expression of the Deity, and thus the unseen God was wor shipped. Because of the fulness and freeness of the salvation provided in the Gospel and by the life and death of Christ Dr. Foss had good hopes to see Socrates and other heathen phi losophers in heaven. And so have we. And many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first there, notwithstanding our theo logical notions and dogmas. The second coming of Christ was suggested to the mind of Dr. Thompson by the recur rence of this festival, and be called the atten tion of Christ church (Protestant Episcopal) to it, and encouraged them not to become dis heartened nor weary by the length of the journey nor the roughness of the way with the thought that by and by tbey shall enter into rest. Dr. Ogilby saw In the Christmas anni versary an occasion for humility in the example of Him whose birth we celebrate, and nrged the Trinity congregation to bow their beads and their hearts if they would know the Saviour and be like him. Bat, according to Mr. Frothingbam, the coming of Christ or His life and teachings has not added anything to the teachings of the old classics and ante-classlo sages of the world, and hence there is no more benefit in trying to be like Him than there is In being like Socrates, Zoroaster, Confucius or any other man. Such faith may do for Mr. Frothiegharo, but it evi dently does not snlt the Christian world, nor Indeed the heathen, who are rapidly forsaking Confucius and Buddha and following Jesus of Nasarstb. And, as Dr. Hall beaniifblly and eloquently explained, it is only through His blood that ws oaa be cleansed and mads meet for heaven. And were we to scale heaven's high wall, and thna enter, we should have no fellowship er sympathy among the blood washed throng who day and night pmhe and magnify His love. The eloquent rector of the Gbnrob of the Holy Trinity tonohed on the supernatural signs which heralded the Saviour's birth and death?a carpenter's oiiild and yet the son of a virgin. Poverty and disgrace were His heritage on earth, aed, with His life and holy example before us, Mr. Tyng thought there was nothing so contemptible to a Christian ts the vaunted pride and caste of life on Christ r? mas Day. If Christ so loved ot we ought to lore one another. "Will you k men for hie money," asked the preaoher, "and yet hope to be eared by the life of a poor man? Thie was a pertinent question, and struck right at the root of anti-Christian customs which prevail all aronnd ne. Two only of our city sermons reported did not touch on the great event of the day. Father Grlffln, in 8t. Stephen's Roman Catho Ho church, gave some exoellent suggestions which all would do well to heed, and to amend their ways In the particulars condemned. The Rev. Professor Pottgeisser, formerly of Fordham College, delivered an admirable lec ture, in the Assembly Rooms, on God as an absolute and Omnipotent Being, and on the nature and chnracteristics of faith in Him. Mr. Beechor, while taking up the general theme of the day, treated his subject differ ently from some others. It was not the coming of Christ that interested him so mncli as the growth and development of "the Christ principle" In individuals and nations. And he thought that' we might very properly say that Christ came in every genera tion, and the time will corns when even gov ernments Will be conducted according to the spirit of Christ. We hope that day is near, but appearances do not so Indicate. The Her. II. M. Gallagher Illustrated the relation whioh Christ's birth bears to the future life, and by it enforced holiness of heart and life, which brings peace and happiness here as well as hereafter. Dr. Newman, In Washington, thought that John the Baptist's ideas concerning Christ were not thoronghly orthodox at first, and he explained why they were not, and, pre sumptively, why many others in our day stumble at the same stumbling stone. And at the dedication of a new Presbyterian church in Brooklyn, yesterday, Dr. Dnryea called the attention or the congregation away from the temple made with hands to themselves made temples of the Holy Ghost; and to it and the other discourses printed in the Herald this morning we invite the attention of our readers, to every one of whom also we wish A Merry Christmas." fk? Cold Snnv uud the Storm* of This December. Down to the day before Christmas we have bad this time the naughtiest December through out the United States of many years. The heaviest snows for December within the I memory of the oldest prairie hunters and mountain trappers have fallen this season over I all the vast expanse of country extending from the Mississippi River to that lolly rauge oi the I Sierras Nevada which look down upon the 1 plains of California. With all their appliances for working through snow drills the Pacific j Railway trains between Omaha and Sacra mento have been detained by these obstrnc Rone from ten to twenty days beyond their appointed time. In Utah the snof Is reported W be ten feet deep on the level, and in the fountain Wvines, or Canyons,17 Trom twenty to thirty feet. From the Atlantic eoast to Nevada meantime the intensity of the oold takes the premium for Deo ember. The breaking up of this "cold snap," too, has been as remarkable as the aiuip itself. The 2$d of this December, as a Christmas Spying day, will long be remembered from this city over aa area extending hundreds of miles in every direction, as ?ne'of the rainiest, slushiest and most dismal and disagreeable shopping days eve* known. But out WeBt this same storm waa .a December hurricane, tear ing down and dismantling buildings in Chi cago, and so on from point to point, to 8t. Louis. Io Kentucky it is described as a terrific tornado, doing considerable damage, and to Memphis it waa a gale of great severity, blowing the Steamer Phil AHen across the river upon a sand bar, where she was sunk. But direotly following this terrific oom motion In the atmosphere we had yesterday the warm snn and the soft and balmy atr of a bright May morning. Within the short space ot three days we had here a touch of December, such as they have on The pitiless coast of Labrador. a taste of the wintry climate of Mr. Seward's beautiful Alaska, Where It rains and snows always, and the visitation of a soft and sunny Decem ber morning, euoh as they sometimes boast of In Florida when we ore shivering here in oar freezing nor'westers. We hope that this visit of the genial airs from the Gulf Stream will bo prolonged for many days, although we fear that they came in too good to last. Has Not the civil service question given rise to a good deal of uncivil discussion TEE HERALD AKD DR. LIVINGSTONE. [From the Trenton IN. J.) Gazette, Dec. as.) The New York Dbhat.p ties lost given another evf. hence of Journalistic enterprise that thrown in the shade any of its former great achievements. Nome two years ago It despatched an agent on a news expedition, which was to conclude and end with a search for the famous African explorer, Dr. Llv ingsione. This agent has just been heard from, the Hbrald of yesterday pnhllshing a live comma account or the progress which he has made In his search alter the Doctor, ond the adventures and privations whleh he has encountered In the wilds of Africa. A SOMEWHAT UPBPIGIOPB CASE. A few nights ago a woman, abont thirty-live ycara of age, whose nAme was subsequently learned to have boon Mary Farrell, was found parrtmlty In sensible In a stable in West street, under circum stances sirongly indicating that her person had been outraged by rnflans. There were marks or violence oa her arms and lower extremities. After being taken to the Ninth precinct station house Mary was removed to Bellsvue Hospital, and there died on Saturday. John Beach, M. D? yesterday made a post mortem examination on uio body, which showed that deceased had been of vory Intemperate habits. The maru of violence wero only super ftolal, and in the doctor's optnlon death reunited from arsenic poisoning. No farther information could he obtained concerning dooeaacd. ALLEGED DOUBLE MPRDEB. KittE, Pa., Doc. 34, 1811. A correspondent of the Erla Despatch says a hor rible tragedy occwrod at Kane, Pa., ninety-four miles east of here on the Philadelphia and Erie road, on t he night or the 20th loot. The wife and ohild of Patrick Burns wero found dead Thursday morning under a barn near their home. The physicians who exam inod their bodies say there Is no donnt that both were murdered, me wife having been strangled and the child's aftull broken. burns has been ootnmltted to jail to ewall the re sult of tha coroner's Inquest. THE IP ILUI TRIALS. COLUMBIA, 8. 0., Dec. 24, 1871. Ia the Untied State* court yesterday the Jury in the case of Mitchell and Whttesidea, after neatly twsnty-fonr hoars' consultation, returned a verdict, of guilty on the seoond and fourth counts. The de fence moved for a new trial. The court then took a rccew till Wednesday next, PouncM iOTEiEim iro New PrrtWeM|R, CntMt trra t Ita4l> (rep/,b,lcan) tt? Ot the States, as provtieJ^} 00 *ieotonl vot* wont bill. In divMlog tie w "eW Apport,on ?nd -anco.ites.ed,-' we ?l1UW "COnU,9te<1" Hum which have be? Lr?H, M turn, during the last four y?am anT Ty> tented" those Which h?? aad 'uncon nted those which have uniformly voted on one side, no matter how spirited toe contest ma* nave been. The arrangement as oetwren "repaid,^,, ?democratic" is bused, of course, on Uie latest e nsod or occupied la gay j&!?* i?o??s 'W the pur. pose of reugtoui, exercises, praotioes, in. straction, ruling pj Jforiptares pr the' recitations of tettgloaa prayefo ?lr. Joseph Flosel Hecretofy of the Board of ir us tees, afgnsd the note fl.-ation In the absence of the principal; a copy yu also Mat to the teacher in the school. Authority* over the butluiny tact aimed by me trustees, eat* although they have not the power to decide on the reguiationn of the sohool, which Is vested only in the school Oommtssioacr, yet they hare toe right to close the school building, whtcu they will do nnleas the reading of the Bible is discontinued. Mr. Felset, alter serviqg the notice on Thursday, attended the school durlug tuo morning exercises, and wan preeent at the roautug of the Scriptures by the Prta cipai, notwithstanding ih tnterlero In nnv way either with tha school discipline or property. They say that the Bw!h'h?MNri^l!iWk,or the rtat,?B of botb leLef th? tr"?ee* are limited to tne financial matters of the district. Tne Cnmmm oftnedocnment'ana i?c,prI.?clpal t0 tak? won. 10 font!U"o the reading of the ^n Dse.eSTrtSir t,uh<>u' tftU'lreu. It Is auderntoocfiliat 1 'be Catholics propose to organise a class for reU I gious insirucuon alter school hours. LCA1IC EREPTIUII* Karibgwake in J>Ta nnd Oaikraik af Che Trninli- Volcano. The Butavia NamtobMmt oi ed to Ills deputy, Robert Oosrrovo, dosires the Tatter to settle tola affairs a* beef he can, and to do all tor his wife and babies possible. A letter irom ins wire re rem to some mat-, lers from which tt is luisrreJ that I'lerce was t> Eiciuiluiy trouble, In cousequonoo of wulch he mar aveleit home. lie had beon here hi nee tho utn insL ouir sixty cents wore reuud auioug nln effects,