SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY. “At midnight the thermometer was down to 300

MR. VAN SCHAICKS PETITION. Hon. WILLIAM C. HASBROUCK, BASBROUCK. I || and the wires to 444, and this evening at 6, the ther

A memorial was presented in the House of Assemmometer is at 26 and the wires 45. OF ORANGE COUNTY.

bly in January ult., purporting to be signed by

“A gale of wind blew most of yesterday and last In reprinting the list of members from a legislative

Myndert Van Schaick and others asking that the night, and this morning presents the appearance of a rejected amendments to the City Charter may be document, the office of Speaker was omitted.

snow storm operating at a distance.
“ The wires and thermometer were both in equi.

again submitted to the people. Mr. Van Schaick

informs us that he has not signed such a Petition, and LIGHTNING IN WINTER. librium nearly the whole of Tuesday."

that he voted against the amendments at the No

“E. M." The lightning storm noticed below traversed the

vember Election-he adds further that he was applied great electric current in unusual haste, and no doubt

STORM AND LIGHTNING.

to for his name to the Petition and refused. The was the offspring of a convulsion rchich shook the ter. Letter from the Hon. Tunis G. Bergen.

House of Assembly should investigate this subject, restrial surface it first set out from on its north-eastern

and the member who has offered this petition should

NARROWS, L. I., Feb. 11, 1847. mission. This lightning storm presents an interest

ascertain who has thus imposed upon him. ing fact :-at Brooklyn, but a single clap of thunder

Dear Sir-Understanding that you keep a record was heard and a single flash of lightning seen-at of electric phenomena, I take the liberty of inform

AMENDED CITY CHARTER. the Narrows, 8 miles distant, the same fact is noticed ing you that on Wednesday the 3d inst., during the by Mr. Bergen, in his letter, a copy of which we give violent storm of that day, towards evening, there Since the remonstrance against certain very objec. and we infer from the tenor of Mr. Thompson's letter was one vivid flash of lightning, and one heavy clap tionable provisions of the New York City Charter

were transmitted to His EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR that such was the fact al Hempstead, still it may be othcr.

of thunder. I am credibly informed that the same wise, for that place being still further along the electric struck the house of Coert Barre, in Gravesend, com Young, and by him transmitted to the Hon. THE current, another discharge further north east might

mencing at the chimney and following the same to HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, together with the official have taken place from the storm, and Hempstead may

the cellar so as to crack it: it also damaged some of printed copy of these amendments, several of the have been its extreme southwestern verge of reverberthe furniture in the house, and done some trifling in

Gentlemen who had signed a Petition to the Legisla.

ture asking to have the rejected amendments ation and of illumination. jury to the building.

resubmitted to the people have held

Yours respectfully,
DESTRUCTIVE STORM.

two mee.

TÚNIS G. BERGEN. tings at the house of Thomas Suffern, Esq., and one The following letter gives an account of a most

E. Meriam, Esq.

meeting at the house of H. W. Field, Esq., and terrible storm at Union Mills, Carroll co., Md., the ||

agreed to ask the Legislature to amerd the amendresidence of Andrew Shriver, Esq. :

Letter from BENJAMIN F. THOMPSON, Esq. ments and have stricken out several of the provisions Correspondence of the Baltimore Patriot.

HEMPSTEAD, February 15th, 1847. noticed in the remonstrance transmitted to His ExUnion Mills, Feb. 3, 1847. My dear sir :---I have but a moment to reply to your

CELLENCY GOVERNOR YOUNG, thus sustaining the Our neighborhood was visited to-day, about 9 last favor, and only to say that the lightning was seen

remonstrants, and with a frankness and candor o'clock, by a most terrific hurricane, which has proved | in the south-east on the Wednesday evening you

highly commendable, thus admitting that the applica

tion to the Legislature for the loose resubmission of most destructive to property. We were warned of niention, by myself, and the thunder was heard by its approach by several peals of thunder-darkness

the Charter, was not well considered. We like to those whose organs of hearing are better than mine, and a distant howling of the winds. I was at the but I do not know how far it was witnessed further

see good men reconsider a hasty act, and make

amendments. We learn that these amendments thus time in an upper apartment of the house, and on look on the island.

made, have been transmitted by these Gentlemen to ing out, I saw the gigantic hickories whirling about

In haste, truly yours, like reeds and bending flatly under the weight of the

B. É. THOMPSON.

the Hon. the CHAIRMAN of the COMMITTEE on Cities storm. I immediately hastened down stairs to ap. Eber. Meriam, Esq.

and Villages, and that the Bill before reported with prize the family of approaching danger, but before I

amendments, as set forth on page 690 has been rereached, them, a sudden blast struck the house with

committed. Thus the Anti-Assessment Committee so much violence, I thought it would have been

COLOR OF SOILS.

have been nobly sustained in their movement in this shivered to atoms.

We are inclined to the opinion that soils which

matter, both by the Legislature and the Petitioners. The draft through the aperture of the doors and

possess a color which absorbs the rays and heat of Letter from the Hon. James TallMADGE. windows was so great, that I could with difficulty

the sun is preferable for vegetation to soils having a open an opposite door. Carpets were torn up from

New-YORK, Jan. 28, 1847. the floor, furniture deranged, &c. By this time the surface which reflects the heat of the solar orb. Ex.

Dear Sir-Your note, copy of Constitution, of City storm had somewhat abated. It did not last over

Charter, &c., are received. Confinement from an periments can be easily made to ascertain to what two or three minutes, but during this brief period,

attack of inflamatory rheumatism, has disabled me. much damage had been done. Our substantial old

extent color operates. We know that bright surfaces to give the matter proper attention. I intended to brick mill, which has withstood the shock of the ele reflect both heat and light, while dark surfaces

have seen you yesterday-but could not go out. I ments for fifty years, was about two-thirds unroofed absorb.

signed the petitition to submit the amendments to the both gable ends blown down, together with the large

people without much information, or considerationchimnies on each side. It appears that the front door COAL ASHES A PREVENTIVE OF POTATO

and not feeling committed to the amendments. gave way at the upper story, and the wind rushing

Since your remarks I have read the amendments. in bursted the roof upwards, hurling the shingles and

ROT.

The question is now whether to keep the old or take rafters over a hundred yards distant. The bark mill “I am now collecting coal ashes for next spring, the new. Both have defects. It is a choice only of house, and bark sheds, belonging to the tannery were

evils. I am not now ready to choose. The state and shall try them again, and I hope with the same overthrown.

nero Constitution, has many good parts. Yet the But worst of all, because the most difficult to resuccess as last year. My potatoes that were planted

Court of Appeals, &c. &c., so defective, my vote was place, a large number of our fine fruit and ornamen with coal ashes kept finely, and are as sound as when in the negative. I am not yet certain how to conclude tal trees have been prostrated to the ground in every first dug, and are capital eating."

between the old and the new charter. The powers direction. The old Lombardy, which for ages have

in both are extensive, and unguarded-all depends shaded the premises, the large fine Willows, the

The above is an extract of a letter from W. Bigelow,

(and neither is good) as it may be administered by beautiful Maples, and several large Apple trees have Esq. of Hartford, Con., to Alden Spooner, Esq. of honest men-or tools and creatures of party-aiming all either been torn up by the roots or broken off in || Brooklyn, N. Y.

only at office and plunder-and taxation on those ace the stock. In the neighborhood several poor families

cused of being rich men. have had their houses blown down, and are now seek

In haste, Respectfully yours, ing a home among the charitable around them. One

: ONONDAGA SALINES.

E. Meriam, Esq., JAMES TALLMADGE. poor man, with wife and six children, is left homeless Enoch Marks, Esq., State Superintendent of the and entirely bereft of the means of making his family

Onondaga Salines, in a Report made to the Hon. comfortable. Much damage has been done to the

FEBRUARY 20, 1847. growing timber. In numerous places immediately William C. HASBROUCK, Speaker of the House of

Dear Sir:-Your note of yesterday came to hand, by us the wood is levelled to the ground. Assembly, states that the salt made at the State |

and the subject duly considered. Last evening a

meeting was held near 118-I attended and presidedOBSERVATIONS

Salines in 1846 was three million eight hundred and some 20 were present. Sutfern, Griswold, Astor, Published in the Brooklyn Evening Star of Febru- | thirty three thousand five hundred and eighty one Benedict, Davies, Williams, Phoenix, Schermerhorn, ary 4, 1817. bushels, and 37 56th of a bushel of which 331,705,03-56

&c. We meet again this evening to complete amend“ Thursday morning, 6 o'clock, Feb. 4, 1847.

ments, objections, fc. After to-morrow you can be bushels was Coarse or Solar Salt. “The WEATHER.- From 8 A.M. yesterday to 5 P.

informed of the doings &c., and the result of the conM., the wires were from 540 to 55, and the ther

The import of Salt into the port of New-York

sideration. mometer from 44 to 50. At 6 P. M. both fell sud during the year 1846 was 1.303,663 Bushels.

Signing the petition to the Legislature to submit it denly 3oan earthquake depression!

to the People, is not considered a committal to the “The next hour the thermometer fell one degree

contents of the new Charter. and a half, and the wires half a degree.

WAR AND FAMINE.

The result of our present meetings will show this. "At 9, two hours after, the thermometer fell to 34 While famine and pestilence is abroad in the East,

My kheumatism and the wet weather embarrass my degrees, and the wires to 46. a people professing the religion of Christ are carrying

efforts and action very much. * At half-past 8 a storm of thunder and lightning war and its awful calamities to the West. A dreadful

Yours, &c., rapidly passed over.

judgment awaits the authors of these calamities. E. MERIAM, Esq. JAMES TALLMADGE..

EMIGRANT TAX BILL,
And Bill delegating Legislative power, and to amend another Act.

IN ASSEMBLY.

No. 73. February, 9, 1847. [Reported by Mr. Develin, from the standing committee on the judiciary-read twice, and committed to the committee of the whole. ] .

AN ACT
To ainend an act entitled “ An act concerning pass-

engers in vessels coming to the port of New-York,"
passed February 11, 1824.

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly do enact as follows:

Section 1. The first section of the act entitled “ An act concerning passengers in vessels coming to the port of New-York," passed February 11, 1824, is hereby amended so as to read as follows:

Every master or commander of any ship or vessel arriving at the port of New York from any country out of the United States, or from any of the United States other than this State, shall within twenty-four hours after the arrival of such ship or vessel in said port, make a report in writing on oath or affirmation, to the mayor of the city of New-York, or in case of his sickness, absence or inability to serve, to the commissioner of the alms-house department of said city, of the name, place of birth, and last legal residence, age and occupation, of every person not being a citizen of the United States, and who shall have arrived at any place in the United States, from any foreign country within the last preceding twelve months, and who shall not have previously paid any sum of money under or by virtue of any of the provisions of this act, or been bonded under the act hereby amended, and also of all such passengers as aforesaid, as shall have landed or been suffered or permitted to land, from any such ship or vessel, at any place during such voyage, or have been put on board or suffered or permitted to go on board of any other ship, vessel or boat, with the intention of proceeding to said city, under the penalty on such master or comunander, and the owner or owners, consignee or cousiguves, of such ship or vessel, severally and respectively, of seventy-five dollars for every person neglected to be reported as aforesaid, and for every person whose name, place of birth, and last legal residence, age and occupation, or either or any of such particulars, shall be falsely reported as aforesaid, to be sued for and recovered as hereinafter provided.

♡ 2. The second section of the said act, is hereby amended so as to read as follows:

It shall be the duty of the said mayor, or in case of his absence, sickness or inability to serve, for the said commissioners to require by a short endorsement on the report of every such master or commander of any such ship or vessel, to pay to the mayor, aldermen, and commonalty of the said city of New York, the eum of one dollar, as commutation money for each and every such passenger so as aforesaid, arriving at said city, and in case any of said passengers are decrepid or infirm or likely to become a permanent charge on said city, then, and in all such cases, further to require by such endorsement as aforesaid, every such master or commander to become and be bound by a bond with two sufficient sureties, (who shall justify before, and to the satisfaction of the said mayor or said commissioner, that they are each residents of the city and county of New York, and are each worth in real estate, double the penalty of said bond, over and above all liabilities, and all other amounts, for which they may at the time, be bound ;) to the people of the state of New York, in such sum as the said mayor, or in case of his absence, or sickness, or inability to act, as the said commissioner may think proper; not exceeding three hundred dollars for each passenger, so decrepid, infirm, or likely to become a permanent charge on said city; and to indemnify and save harmless, each and every city, town and county in this state, from all and every expense and charge, which shall or inay be incurred by any such city, town, or county, for the maintenance and support of every such person, and for the maintenance and support of the child or children of any and every such person, which may be born after such importation, in case any such person, or any such child or children shall at any time within five years from the date of such bond, become chargeable to any such city, town or county, or either or any or them.

And the mayor, or common council of any city, or

the superintendent of the poor of any county, or the

The Emigrant Passenger Bill on this page is overseers of the poor of any town, which city, town

a violation of the Constitution of the United States, or county shall have incurred any expense or charge as aforesaid, shall be authorized in the name of the

See 12 Wheaton 419,; also Sec. 13, of Art. 7, of the people of this State, to bring an action upon any such Constitution of this State, and also of Sec. 16 and 17 bond, and recover thereupon a sum sufficient to in

of Art. 3.
demnify such city, town or county, for all such ex-
penses or charges, incurred as aforesaid ; but no such

PUBLIC STOCKS OF THE UNITED STATES
suit or recovery, shall be a bar to any other action,
brought upon such bond for other expenses or charges,

EXEMPT FROM TAXATION. incurred in the support or maintenance of any such On pages 353 and 354 of this volume, we published person, as aforesaid. And if any such master or com

the opinion of the Supreme Court of the United mander shall neglect or refuse, to pay over to the said mayor, or in case of his absence, sickness, or inability

States in which it was decided that the Stock issued to act, to the said commissioner, such sum of money by the Government of the United States is not liable as hereinbefore required, as commutation money, for to taxation by States or Corporations. each and every such person, within three days after

In the present number of this Gazette page 631 we the arrival of such vessel at the said port of NewYork ; or in case a bond shall be required as afore have reprinted the opinion of the Court delivered by said, shall neglect or refuse to give such bond within Chief Justice Marshall, but omitted to state the case the said three days, every such master or commander,

in which the question was adjudicated. and the owner or owners, consignee or consignees, of such ship or vessel, severally and respectively, shall The decision was made in 1829, in the suit of be subject to a penalty of five hundred dollars for each Weston and others, vs. The City Council of Charlesand every person, on whose account such commuta- ton sc. tion money, or such bond, may be demanded by such mayor or commissioner as aforesaid ; to be sued for

There were two questions involved in this suitand recovered, in the same manner as is provided in the first was that of Jurisdiction, the second, the liathe fifth section of the act hereby amended. And

bility of the Stock to taxation. provided always, that in case any such person or per

It was an application for an injunction to restrain sons, for whom bonds may have been given as aforesaid, shall become chargeable on any such city, county the City Council of Charleston and their officers from or town as aforesaid, it shall not be lawful for the said collecting the tax by proceedings commenced in a master or commander, owner or owners, consignee

local Court, and subsequently carried up to the Suor consignees of such vessels, or the said sureties to take and remove such person or persons from the alms preme Court of the United States. house of any such city or from such other places as The cause was twice argued by order of the Court may be designated by the proper authorities of any

on account of its importance. The Court sustained such city, county or town, for the reception and subsistence of such person or persons without the written

the jurisdiction, and decided that United States consent of the mayor or commissioner of the alms Public Stocks are not liable to taxation by Statos or house of any such city or the keeper of the poor-house

Corporations,
of any county in which such person or persons shall
become a county charge, under a like penalty as last

The cause is fully reported in 2 Peters, 449.
aforesaid, to be sued for and recovered in like man-
ner, and provided also that the refusal or neglect of
any such mayor, commissioner or keeper, to give

CURRENCY AND EXCHANGES. such written consent, shall in no manner forfeit, im The author of a very valuable treatise upon curpair or otherwise affect the validity of any such bond rency, who signs “ Public's,” states that in 1839, or bonds. Q3. It shall not be lawful for any magistrate or other

during the short crops in England, the Bank of Eng. officer in the said city of New-York, having authority land became a borrower of the Bank of France. to make commitments of vagrants, to commit any The present year, during a scarcity of food on the person not a citizen of the United States as a vagrant,

Continent, the Bank of France has become borrower until the said magistrate or officer shall have ascertained whether a bond, as aforesaid, has been given

of the Bank of England. for such person; and it shall appear, that a bond has England is now sending gold to the United States been given as aforesaid, within five years for such

to buy bread—a few years ago efforts were made to person, such magistrate, or other officer, shall not commit the said person as a vagrant; but shall and

| induce Congress to prohibit the exportation of specie. is hereby authorized to give a permit to such person, In the Old World when famine prevailed, Pharoah to enter and remain in the alms-house of said city, or

having all the grain, obtained all the money, all the such other place as may be designated for the subsistence and support of paupers as aforesaid ; and cattle, all the land, and then the people as slaves. every permit so given as last aforesaid, upon which such person or persons shall enter the said alms-house, or other place as aforesaid, shall be deemed a breach

RAIL ROAD STOCKS. of such bond.

Public policy requires that Rail Road Stocks should 4. The said mayor, aldermen and commoaalty be exempt from taxation. Rail Roads are a public ll of the city of New York, are hereby authorized and benefit, and the making of them cannot consistently

empowered to pass all such laws and ordinances, as
in their judgment may be necessary or proper, to

be undertaken by Government, the Government carry into full effect the act hereby amended; and to should therefore encourage individuals who have prescribe penalties for the non-observance or vio capital to benefit the public by its outlay in Rail lation of any such ordinance; not to exceed one

Roads-of such is the Albany and Hudson ; and New. || hundred dollars for each passenger or person, to whom

York and Erie Rail Roads. Rail Roads increase the such non-observance or violation may relate.

value of real estate to a far greater amount than the Ø 5. All and every of the provisions of the said act, not inconsistent herewith, are hereby declared to be

cost of the road-it is therefore the exemption of the

Stock from taxation would not lessen the public and to continue and remain in full power and effect.

revenue, but increase it by producing more value in Ø 6. This act shall take effect immediately.

real estate to swell the tax list.

The public spirited citizens who are making great FAMINE.

efforts to get a Rail Road made on the bank of the In the midst of a grievous famine in Ireland—the

Hudson; and these now engaged in completing the Corporation of the City of New-York are urging the

Erie Rail Road ; and those also who are moving with State Legislature to levy a tax upon the unfortunate

the St. Lawrence Rail Road, should be liberally emigrant who has the means of reaching our shores

dealt with by the State Legislature, while they are to obtain bread for himself and children. What incon

thus striving so nobly for the best interests of the sistency!!!

great commonwealth.

PUBLISHED RE THE ANTI-ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE AND DISTRIBUTED GRATUITOUSLr.

EDITED BY E. MERIAM.)

NEW-YORK, MARCH 15, 1847.

[Vol. I.....No. 48.

NEW YORK CITY CHARTER " The common council may provide by law for the

EXECUTIVE AMENDMENTS.
division of the city into common council election dis-
AMENDMENTS.
tricts ; each district containing as near as may be, an

T'enth Amendment.
The Bill for authorising & re-submission of the equal number of inhabitants, which said law after Sec. 8th, Art. 3. Add to this section the following

being so passed shall be submitted to the electors, and words : Amendments of the City Charter framed by the City if approved by a majority of the voters, the same shall

“And that such reports be published.” Convention and subsequently rejected by the people, become a law; each district shall thenceforth be en

Eleventh Amendment. again to the same people, has been passed by the Senate titled to elect one alderman and one assistant alderman, and such other charter officers as may hereafter

Sec. 9th, Art. 2. This section shall read as follows, and sent to the house of Assembly for concurrence, be provided for by law.

commencing at the tenth line, after the word “ assessthere it was referred to the standing committee on

ments."

Third Amendment. cities and villages to which also was referred the re

“There shall be a bureau in this department, the Sec. 6th, Art. 1. Strike out the word “oue," on the

chief officer of which shall be the city surveyor, and monstrances set forth on page 687 of this series. The ninth line, and insert the word “two."

in which there shall be an assistant city surveyor: It Committee reported the bill with numerous amend

Fourth Amendment.

shall be the duty of the said officers to make for the ments, and it was subsequently recommitted to the Soc. 7th, art. 1. Strike out on the fourth live, the

use of the city, all maps and surveys necessary for as

sessments of every description, and to file away and words “ tax or." same Comınittee on the application of several of the

Fifth Amendment.

preserve for the use of the city, all maps and other original petitioners who became satisfied by a re-ex

property belonging to said department; and the city amination of the new charter that it is highly ob

Sec. 9th, Art. 1. The section shall read is follows:

surveyor and assistant city surveyor, together with the * Annual appropriations shall be made by the com

street commissioner, or assistant street commissioner, jectionable. The Committee made the amendments mon council by law, for every branch and object of

shall be the commissioners for making all estimates as below and again reported the bill. These are the city expenditure; but no additional appropriations

l and assessments for opening, widening, grading and

shall be made, except in the event of pestilence or inamendments referred to in Gen. Tallmadge's letters.

altering all avenues and streets; and if such avenue va:ion; when, for such purpose, occasional appropriSee ante. Pg. 695.

or street shall be north of Thirteenth street, the as. ations may be made : and no money shall be drawn

sessment shall be confined to the street or avenue to STATE OF NEW-YORK. from the treasury, except the same shall have been

be opened, widened, graded or altered; but no such No. 132. previously appropriated to the purpose for which it

assessment shall exceed fifty per cent. of the value of was drawn, nor unless the appropriation shall be based IN ASSEMBLY,

the property assessed for such improvement; and they upon specific and detailed stateinents, furnished in

shall perforin such other duties as shall devolve upon February 19, 1837. writing, by the several heads of departments: Every

them by virtue of said office, or be required by the (G. O. No. 148.) warrant drawn upon the city treasury, shall specify

common council: There shall be a bureau in this de. [Engrossed bill from the Senate-read twice, and rethe appropriation under which it is drawn, and the

partment, the chief officer of which shall be called the 1 date of the ordinance making the same." ferred to the committee on the incorporation of cities

superintendent of cleaning streets and sewers.” and villages ; reported on favorably by Mr. Blong

Sixth Amendment.

Twelfth Amendment. ETT, from said committee, with amendinents; which, Sec. 10th, Art. 1. The section shall read as follows: with the bill, were ordered printed, and the bill “No money shall be borrowed on the credit of the

Sec. 11th, Art. 2. After the word “surveyor," in committed to the committee on the whole : recom corporation, unless the common council shall by law,

twelfth line, insert, mitted to the committee on the incorporation of direct the same, in anticipation of the revenues of the

" Who shall be a practical civil engineer.” cities and villages ; reported on by Mr. BLODGETT, year, in which the same shall be borrowed ; and shall

Thirteenth Amendment. from said committee, with amendments, and again provide in the same law, for repaying the same out

Sec. 12th, Art. 2. Strike out on the ninth and tenth committed to the committee of the whole. of such revenue; such loan shall not exceed in amount,

lines, the following words:
AN ACT
twenty-five per cent. of such revenue; but money

“And council and attorney to the alms-house depart. may be raised by loan, whenever a law providing for To amend the amendments to the charter of the city | the same, shall be passed in each board, by a majority

ment." of New York, adopted by the recent convention of of all the members elected, and shall be approved by

Fourteenth Amendment. that city; and to submit the same to the electors the electors, at any charter election.

Sec. 15th. Art. 2. Strike out the first, secoud, thereof, for their approval or disapproval.

Seventh Amendment.

third and fourth lines, these words: The People of the State of New-York, represented in

" It shall be lawful for the common council of said Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows :

Sec. 11th, Art. 1. This section shall read as follows:

city to establish such other departments and bureaus, (Here follows Sec. 1, 2, 3 and 4, of Senate Bill, “ The common council shall have power, and it | as ihey may deem the public interest to require, and to which are set forth in full on pages 687 and 688. See shall be their duty to pass all proper and necessary

assign to them and those now created, such duties as ante. page 687.) laws for regulating the arriving, landing, bonding and

they may direct: But.”
(Offered by Mr. BLODGETT.)

commutation of passengers, for regulating emigrant
boarding houses, passengers, agents, runners, and all

Fifteenth Amendment.
AMENDMENTS

other persons engaged in the business of bringing or Sec. 16th, Art. 2. Strike out on the twentieth and To the engrossed bill from the Senate, entitled “Ankeeping, or forwarding emigrants; for regulating com twenty-first lines, the words. “ Three-fourths," and

act to amend the amendments to the charter of the mon schools, and providing for their support ; and all insert "two-thirds." city of New York, adopted by the recent conven- such other laws for the management, good govern

Sixteenth Amendment. tion of that city, and to submit the same to the ment, and general welfare of the city, as are not, or . electors thereof, for their approval or disapproval." may not be prohibited by, or inconsistent with, the

Sec. 19th, Art. 2d. This section shall read as follows: Constitution of the United States, or the Constitution

"All valuation of real and personal estate, by the Legislative Amendments, of this State, or any law thereof; and to aflix penalties

assessors of a ward, or by the board of assessore, and In section first, article first, after the word “it," on

to the violation of any city law; but such penalties all assessments and awards sball be open to public in. the fourth page and first line, insert " as the same are shall in no instance exceed imprisonment in the city spection, at least twenty days, by public notice thereof, now held and enjoyed." prison for sixty days, and a fine of two hundred and

before being certified to the proper department: And First Amendment. fifty dollars."

the assessments made by the assessors, for the city Bec. Ist, Art. 1. Berike out the following words

Eighth Amendment.

taxes, shall be made between the first day of January on the two last lines of the section :

and the first day of May, in each year."

Sec. 18th; Art. 1. Strike out the whole section. " And for the laying, assessing and collecting, all /

Seventeenth Amendment.

Ninth Amendment. taxes necessary for the payment of the expenses of

Sec. 23, Art. 1. Add to the last line of the section,

Sec. 20th, Art. 2. Strike out the word "seven," on the city government."

the last line, and insert the word "ten.''
as follows:
Second Amendment.
“ Provided, The Legislature shall coucur in the

Eighteenth Amendment, Sec. 20, Art. 1. Strike out the following words in same, by an act to be passed for that purpose, at the Bec. 26th, Art. 2. Strike out the word "taken," on this section: | next session thereafter."

the first line, and insert the word "required."

..

belonging to such banik rateably, to increase the shares thereof, so much as will be sufficient to restore the capital stock to the amount which such bank was entitled to hold, before such reduction was made ; and if such surplus shall not be sufficient for that pur. pose, further calls may be made on such shares as were not, at the time such reduction was made, filled to the amount allowed by law.

0 17. All charters forined or extended under this act, shall be of twenty years duration each.

18. All safety fuud banks shall be subject to the existing provision of the “ Act to create a fund for the benefit of the creditors of certain monied corporations, and for other purposes," passed April 2d, 1829 : and also to the provisions of such other general laws, regulating banking within this State, as have been since enacted, and are now in force ; and also to the provisions of article 8th, of the amended constitution of the State of New York.

19. It shall be the duty of the president or cashier of each incorporated bank, and of each banking association within the State of New York, to prepare under oath, and deposit in the office of the clerk of the county in which said bank or banking association shall be located, on the first days of January and July in each year, a full and complete list of the stock. holders in such bank or banking association ; speci. fying the places of residence of the said stockholders respectively, together with the number of shares owned or held by thein, and the aggregate amount of the same respectively.

Ø 20. The safety fund of one million of dollars, together with the continued liability of the safety fund banks to keep it good by annual contributions, as prescribed by the Act to create a fund for the benefit of the creditors of certain monied corporations, and for other purposes," passed April 2d, 1829, and also by this act, and together with the personal liability of the stockholders as prescribed by the 8th article of the amended constitution of this State, are hereby declared to be the “ ample security for the redemption of the notes,” &c., contemplated by the 6th section of the said 8th article of the amended constitution.

0 21. No safety fund bank, institution or association, shall be allowed to be established, or continued, or to come in under the provisions of this act, which shall have been established for the mere purpose of circulation, and which shall not have a regular office and do a legitimate business, by discounting paper, and performing the proper functions of a bank, at the place of its location, for the accommodation and use of the citizens of said place and immediate vicinity, and this section shall also apply to any bank, or association beretofore formed, or hereafter to be formed under the " Act to authorise the business of banking," passed April 18, 1838, or any of the acts amendatory thereof.

322. This act shall take effect immediately.

buted it to the absence of objects of comparison. It || composed of the soft and yielding tuff, is easily ex-
appears to me that it is fully as much owing to the plained.
transparency of the air confounding objects at differ Considering that these islands are placed directly
ent distances, and likewise partly to the novelty of

under the equator, the climate is far from being an unusual degree of fatigue arising from a little

excessively hot. This seems chiefly caused by the exertion, habit being thus opposed to the evidence of

singularly low temperature of the surrounding water, the senses. I am sure that this extreme clearness

brought here by the great Southern Polar current. of the air gives a peculiar character to the landscape,

Excepting during one short season very little rain all objects appearing to be brought nearly into one

falls, and even then, it is irregular ; but the clouds plane, as in a drawing or panorama. The transpa.

generally hang low. Hence, whilst the lower parts rency is, I presume, owing to the equable and high

of the islands are very sterile, the upper parts, at a state of atmospheric dryness. This dryness was

height of a thousand feet and upwards, possess a damp shown by the manner in which wood work shrank

climate and a tolerably luxuriant vegetation. This (as I soon found by the trouble my Geological ham

is especially the case on the windward sides of the mer gave me) ; by articles of food, such as bread and

islands, which first receive and condence the moistsugar, becoming extremely hard ; and by the pre

ure from the atmosphere.
servation of the skin and parts of the flesh of the
beasts which had perished on the road. To the

In the morning (17th) we landed on Chatham Island, same cause we must attribute the singular facility

which, like the others, rises with a tame and rounded with which electricity is excited. My Hannel waist

out line, broken here and there by scattered hillocks,

the remains of former craters. Nothing could be less coat, when rubbed in the dark, appeared as if it had been washed with phosphorus ; every hair on a dogs

inviting than the first appearance. A broken field of back crackled; even the linen sheets, and leathern

black basaltic lava, thrown into the most rugged waves, straps of the saddle, when handled, omitted sparks.

and crossed by great fissures, is everywhere covered March 23rd.--The descent on the eastern side of

by stunted sunburned brushwood, which shows little the Cordillera is much shorter or steeper than on the

signs of life. The dry and parched surface, being Pacific side ; in other words, the mountains rise more

heated by the noon-day sun, gave to the air a close abruptly from the plains than from the alpine country

and sultry feeling, like that from a stove : we fancied

even that the bushes smelt unpleasantly. Although of Chile.

I diligently tried to collect as many plants as possible, A level and brilliantly white sea of clouds was

I succeeded in getting very few; and such wretched stretched out beneath our feet, shutting out the view

looking little weeds would have better become an of the equally level Pampas. We soon entered the

arctic than an equatorial Flora. The brushwood ap. band of clouds, and did not again emerge from it that day

pears, from a short distance, as leafless as our trees About noon, finding pasture for the animals, and

during winter; and it was some time before I dis. bushes for firewood at Los Arenales, we stopped for

covered that not only almost every plant was now in full the night. This was near the uppermost limit of

leaf, but that the greater number were in flower. The bushes, and the elevation, I suppose, was between

commonest brush is one of the Euphorbiaceae : an seven and eight thousand feet.

acacia, and a great odd looking cactus are the only I was much struck with the marked difference trees which afford any shade. After the season of between the vegetation of these eastern valleys and heavy rains the islands are said to appear for a short those on the Chilian side ; yet the climate, as well time partially green. The volcanic island of Fernando as the kind of soil, is nearly the same, and the Noronba, placed in many respects under nearly similar difference of longitude very triding. The same remark conditions is the only other country where I have holds good with the quadrupeds, and, in a lesser seen a vegetation at all like this of the Galapagos degree, with the birds and insects. I may instance islands. the mice, of which I obtained thirteen species on the shores of the Atlantic, and five on the Pacific, and not

The Beagle sailed round Chatham Island, and one of them is identical. We must except all those

anchored in several bays. One night I slept on shore species which habitually or occasionally frequent ele

on a part of the island where black truncated cones vated mountains, and certain birds which range as

were extraordinarily numerous: from one small emi. far south as the strait of Magellan. This fact is in

nence I counted sixty of them, all surrounded by perfect accordance with the Geological history of the

craters more or less perfect. The greater number conAndes ; for these mountains have existed as a great

sisted merely of a ring of red scoriae or slags, cemenbarrier since the present races of animals have ap

ted together, and their height above the plain of lava peared, and therefore unless we suppose the same

was not more than from filty to a hundred foet: none species to have been created in two different places,

had been very lately active. The entire surface of this we ought not to expect any closer similarity between

part of the island seems to have been permeated, the organic beings on the opposite sides of the Andes

like a sieve, by the sublerranean vapours : here and than on the opposite shores of the ocean. In both

there the lava, whilst soft, has been blown into great cases, we must leave out of the question those kinds

bubbles, and on the other parts, the tops of the caverns which have been able to cross the barrier, whether

similarly formed have fallen in, leaving circular pits of solid rock or salt water.

with steep sides. From the regular form of the many

craters, they gave to the country an artificial appear. GALAPAGOS ARCHIPELAGO.

ance, which vividly reminded me of those parts of September 15th.--This archipelago consists of ten Staffordshire where the great iron foundries are most principal islands, of which five exceed the others in size. numerous. They are situated under the equator, and between

STERILITY AND SALT. five and six hundred miles westward of the coast of America. They are all formed of volcanic rocks; a Further inland, during the whole ride of fourteen few fragments of granite, curiously glazed and altered leagues, I saw only one other vegetable production, by the heat, can hardly be considered as an excep and that was a most minute yellow lichen, growing tion. Some of the craters surmounting the larger on the bones of the dead mules. This was the first islands are of immense size, and they rise to a height true desert which I had seen : the effect, on me was of between three and four thousand feet. Their not impressive; but I believe this was owing to my fanks are studded by innumerable smaller orifices. I || having become gradually accustomed to such scenes, scarcely hesitate to affirm that there must be in the as I rode northward from Valparaiso, through Cowbole archipelago at least two thousand craters, quimbo to Copiapo. The appearance of the country These consist either of Lava and Scoriae, or of finely was remarkable, from being covered by a thick crust stratified, sandstone-like tuff. Most of the latter are of common salt, and of a stratified saliferous allubeautifully symmetrical, they owe their origin to vium, which seems to have been deposited as the eruptions of volcanic mud without any lava : it is a land slowly rose above the level of the sea. The remarkable circumstance that every one of the twenty salt is white, very hard, and compact : it occurs in eight tuff craters which were examined had their water-worn nodules projecting from the agglutinated southern sides either much lower than the other sides, sand, and is associated with much gypsum. The appearor quite broken down and removed. As all these ance of this superficial mass very closely resembled craters apparently have been formed when standing that of a country after snow, before the last dirty in the sea, and as the waves from the trade-wind and patches are thawed. The existence of this crust of the swell from the open Pacific here unite their à saluable substance over the whole face of the forces on the southern coasts of all the islands, this country shows how extraordinarily dry the climate singular uniformity in the broken state of the craters, I must have been for a long period.

DARWIN'S OBSERVATIONS.
(Continued from page 674.)

MOUNTAIN TOUR.
When nearly on the crest of the Portillo, we were
enveloped in a falling cloud of minute frozen spicula.
This was very unfortunate, as it continued the whole
day, and quite intercepted our view. The pass takes
its name of Portillo from a narrow cleft or doorway
on the highest ridge, throngh which the road passes.
From this point, on a clear day, those vast plains,
which uninterruptedly extend to the Atlantic Ocean.
can be seen. We descended to the upper limit of
vegetation, and found good quarters for the night
under the shelter of some large fragments of rock.
We met here some passengers, who made anxious
inquiries about the state of the road. Shortly after it
was dark the clouds suddenly cleared away, and the
effect was quite magical. The great mountains, bright
with the full moon, seemed impending over us on all
sides, as over a deep crevice : one morning, very
early, I witnessed the same striking effect. As soon
as the clouds were dispersed it froze severely ; but
as there was no wind we slept very comfortably.

The increased brilliancy of the moon and stars at this elevation, owing to the perfect transparency of the atmosphere, was very remarkable. Travellers having observed the difficulty of judging heights and distances amidst lofty mountains, have generally attri