AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER 
Items of News. 
New York Legislature 
Punch advises the English admiralty to name 
the next government ship launched The Hartstein, 
or The Resolute, or The Resolute Jonathan, or The 
Jonathan Resolute. 
The grant by Congress of 46,000 acres of land 
to the University of Minnesota, will enable that 
institution when in operation, to do a vast deal 
for education in the territory. The University 
will be erected on a site containing 27 acres of 
choice ground. 
Twenty-five Dakot a families, living at Hazle- 
wood, forty miles above Fort Ridglcy, on the St 
Peter’s river, Min. Ter., have renounced their tribal 
character, donned civil dress, and formed them¬ 
selves into a sort of Republic, with a written Con¬ 
stitution, President, Ac. 
Tukue are now living in Marblehead, Mass,, over 
fifty of the Dartmoor prisoners,—most of them in 
comfortable circumstances. Marblehead had 392 
of her sons immured within the walls of Dart¬ 
moor, which, It is stated, was considerably more 
than belonged to any town or city in the Union. 
It is stated that there was a train of cars at 
Amsterdam, about thirty miles west of Albany, on 
the 27th ult., which had been there nearly a week. 
They were loaded with hogs, and the poor brutes 
were so famished that they were devouring one 
another. 
It has been calculated by a great French politi¬ 
cal economist, that the amount of gold which has 
been imported into Europe from California and 
Australia, reaches now, in round numbers, the sum 
of $514,000,000— a sum equal to the whole amount 
of coined gold which existed in Western Europe 
before the year 1849. 
Senate. —Mr. Brooks’ bill to create a Board of 
Canvassers in New York city, was amended so as 
to include Brooklyn, and ordered to third reading. 
The Senate in Committee of the Whole discuss¬ 
ed at great length the principles involved in the 
bill to tax foreign Insurance Companies on their 
oarned premiums for the benefit of the New York 
fire department fund, hut it was finally reported 
to the Senate and ordered to a third reading. 
Assembly.— The supply bill passed, after strik¬ 
ing out appropriations of $1,600 to cover costa of 
suits in the case of Davies against Cowles. 
The order of unfinished business being reached, 
the question arose on confirming in the report of 
the Committee of the Whole on the bill, granting 
consent of the State to purchase the Brick 
Church and other property in New York by the 
United States, and ceding jurisdiction. Mr. 
Spencer moved that the bill be recommitted with 
instructions to restore it to the condition in which 
it came from the Senate. After voting down all 
other motions the House agreed to the report of 
the Committee, and the hill was ordered to athird 
reading. 
Mr. Clinton called up his resolution, asking the 
general government for an additional appropria¬ 
tion for the Post Office and Custom House building 
in Buffalo. Mr. Adams moved an amendment, 
asking an appropriation for the improvement of 
the piers at Buffalo. The amendment was adopted, 
and then the resolution, as amended, was lost. 
Mr. Sherman moved to refer all reports relating 
to Banks to the Committee ou Banks, with the re¬ 
quirement that, as the close of the session, they be 
deposited with the Bank Superintendent, 
Mr. Harpending moved that all members of the 
Legislature of 1842, who did not secure a copy of 
the Natural History of the State, have the privilege 
of purchasing the same on the same terms as their 
colleagues. 
The supply hill of 1856, was received from the 
Senate with the amendments. A motion to agree 
with the amendments, adding a proviso to the ap¬ 
propriation for the Cayuga marshes, was adopted. 
Pending the consideration of the other amend¬ 
ments, a motion to adjourn was carried. 
Senate. —On motion of Mr. Seward, it was re¬ 
solved that the Secretary of War be requested to 
direct the topographical engineer to inquire and 
report whether the public interests will be pro¬ 
moted by surveying tbe Niagara river or any part 
of the same. 
Mr. Wilson presented the petition of the Com¬ 
mittee of the Humane Society of Mass., asking 
Congress to grant $20,060 for establishing and 
supporting life boat and mortar stations on the 
coast of that State. Mr. Wilson Baid that this So¬ 
ciety was the oldest in the country. They have 
CO life boats, 6 mortar stations and several build¬ 
ings for the safety of shipwrecked seamen. 
Mr. Trumbull presented the credentials of Hon. 
James Harlan, elected Senator from Iowa, who was 
qualified and took his seat 
The official notification of the death of Hon. 
Preston S. Brooks having been received from the 
House, a eulogy was pronounced by Mr. Evans, 
who expressed his regret that this tribute to the 
memory of the deceased could not be paid by his 
worthy colleague, Mr. Butler—but the deep afflic¬ 
tion which this sad event has occasioned him in 
the loss of a dear friend and relative, had unfitted 
him for the performance of that duty. The usual 
resolutions of sympathy were then adopted. 
House. —On motion of Mr. Quitman, the House, 
under suspension of the rules, passed the bill in¬ 
creasing the pay of commissioned officers in the 
army, and military store-keepers, $20 per month, 
and commutation to 30 cents a ration. 
The House passed the bill to enable property to 
a considerable amount, belonging to an emanci¬ 
pated slave who died intestate, to descend to his 
slave wife and children, their owners being willing 
The reasou for this act is he- 
Additions to Clubs ar« now In order, and can be made 
at the Club rate—SUM) per copy. Agents and other friends will 
please bear this in mind, aud receive and forward Lhe subscrip¬ 
tions of all who desire to secure the Rural. 
C'g'-BACK N rumens.—In order to supply the supposed de- 
maud. we commenced this volume by adding 20,000 copies to our 
former edition, The prospect now is that this extra edition will 
be exhausted soon ; hence those who wish the volume complete. 
ROCHESTER, FEBRUARY 7, 1857 
THEBE IS YET TIME AND BOOM 
and Supporters from Maine to Minnesota, ana from 
Canada to California, the Rural has made far greater 
progress unthin the past month, than during any cor¬ 
responding pa'iod since its establishment, And yet 
there is abundant time for all its well-wishers, who 
would aid its prosperity and benefit community , to 
prosecute the Campaign to a still more successful 
issue. There is “ ample room and I'erge enough '’ on 
our Subscription Books for all the names with which 
we may be favored. Those, therefore, who have formed 
clubs can make additions to any extent ,— while there 
is yet time for such as are disposed to commence and 
complete new clubs, and secure the liberal premiums 
offered therefor. All that is necessary to largely in¬ 
crease our list in almost every locality, is a little per¬ 
sonal attention on the part of friendly readers. Will 
not each and all see that their neighbors and acquain¬ 
tances have an opportunity of subscribing for the 
Rub al 7 While sparing neither effort nor expense to 
make the Rural by far the best journal of its class in 
the world, we frankly ask all who believe it is accom¬ 
plishing a good work, to promote its circulation in 
the manner suggested. 
Back numbers of the present volume can still be 
supplied to new Subscribers, so that sulscriptions 
can commence with the year or any number desired .— 
Extra numbers, show-bills, Spc., cheerfully and prompt¬ 
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tending the circulation of the Rural. For Premium 
List, Publisher's Notices, fi-c., see next and last pages. 
to set them free, 
lieved that the property under the laws of the Dis¬ 
trict of Columbia vests in the United States with¬ 
out such legislation. 
The tariff bill modified, as reported by Mr. 
Campbell, of Ohio, embraces the following fea¬ 
tures:—Schedules 6,10 and 15 per cent, of the act 
of 1846, with few exceptions, are absorbed in the 
free list. The 40 per cent, schedule, principally 
spices, is also, with the exception of a few items, 
carried to the free list, which reduces the revenue 
about. $6,000,000. The 100 per cent schedule, 
spirits, is brougbtdowo one-half. Sugar, molasses, 
lead, salt wool and hemp, are put at 10 per cent, 
reducing the revenue about $7,000,000. Iron, cot¬ 
ton, woolen and silk manufactures are retained as 
now. The 20, 25 aud 30 per cent schedules are 
not materially changed, hut some items in them 
are carried to the free list The direct reduction 
of the revenues annually will be about $13,000,000, 
which it is supposed will be increased some mil¬ 
lions by the effects of the measure in substituting 
home manufactures for those imported. 
The House Committee on the l’ost Office decided 
to report in favor of Dr. Rowley’s line of steamers 
between New Y'ork aud tbo West Indies and Bra¬ 
zil, touching at Savannah, Ga. Para is the termi¬ 
nus in Brazil. The steamers are to touch at St. 
Thomas, Barhadoes and Demarara, and each way 
at Savannah for the receipt and delivery of mails 
under a penalty of $2,000 for each trip. The com¬ 
mittee also ordered a bill to be reported in favor 
of the line of Blcecker and others, between Pana¬ 
ma and Valparaiso, and in favor of the line of C. 
W. Hanson, between New York and Gluckstadt 
via Rotterdam and North Europe. These are con¬ 
sidered important pioneer enterprises. 
Mr. Keitt announced the deuth of Mr. Brooks, 
saying that hia disease was acute inflammation of 
the throat, and so swift and fatal that even his 
medical advisers believed him to be in no danger 
till within the briefest possible moment of the 
Mr. Keitt then submitted a 
Provincial Items 
On the 25th ult., about fifty of the soldiers of 
Quebec., while on their way to church, had their 
faccB frost-bitten; the thermometer was 30 degrees 
below zero. 
The Montreal Railroad Celebration Committee 
had a surplus of over £300, after paying all ex¬ 
penses of the great banquet, &c., and it was voted 
to appropriate tbe balance to the erection of a 
fountain in one of the public squares. 
A quarry of marble, white, mixed with blue and 
bluciah gray, has been opened at Troy, Elgin town¬ 
ship, county of Hastings, C. W, From forty to 
fifty acres have been explored. This quarry is on 
the Scootomatta river. 
The Elora (C. W.) Backwoodsman states that a 
few days ago, Mr. Wm. Ileddon, of Miuto, was 
frozen to death at his own door. It appears that 
he attended the election at Harriston on that day, 
and ou returning home found the door locked — 
Mrs. Ileddon having gone over to a neighbor’s 
house, and it is supposed he sat down near the 
door to await her return. Mrs. R., however, not 
expecting his to return that evening, remained at 
her son’s house all night, and on proceeding home 
in the morning, found her husband lying at the 
door, a corpse. 
Meteorological Observations 
Eds. Rural:— Mr. Pratt’s “ Observations” differ 
so much from mine, in some respects, that I 
thought I would send you a few observations made 
in Benton, Yates county, N. Y. 
January —3d, Thermometer 4° above at 6 A. M.; 
9tb, 8° below at 6 A. M., 16° below at 8 A. M., and 
7° below from 7 to 10 P. M.—clear—West wind. 
February — 6th, Thermometer 10° below at 6 A. 
M.; 18° above at 6 P. M.—dear day; 10th, 4° be¬ 
low at 7 A. M.: 11th, 30° above at 7 A. M,, 37° 
above at 6 P. M.; 12th, 16° above at 7 A, M., 2° 
below at 6 P. M.; 13th, 13° below at 6 A. M.—clear 
and no wind. 
March —9, Thermometer 12 c below at 6 A. M., 
aud 10 a below at 10 P. M.—clear day, with North- 
West wind; 10th, 10°below at 6 A. M.—West wind 
_clear in the South —cloudy in the North—sun 
shone all day; lltb, 10° above at 6 A. M.—West 
w ind—snow drifted very bad—snow squails at 
sundown—perfectly clear at 9 P. M.; 29th, 17 c 
above at 6 A. M., and 17° above at 10 P. M.; 30th, 
14° above at 6 A. M., and 12° above at 9 P. M.; 
31st, 12° above at 0 A. M., and 12° above at 9 P. M. 
April —1st, 4° above at sunrise, 30° above at 9 
P. M.—saw the first bluebird; 3d, 40° above at 
sunrise—last night tbe first night it has not. frozen 
since the 23d of Dec., 1865—saw the first robin; 
8 th, pigeons in great numbers flew East today; 
12th, peepers began to Bing; 13th, 18° above at 
sunrise — clear all day, did not thaw in the shade: 
21st, ground covered with snow i inch deep; 24th, 
thunder storm—the first thunder this year. 
May —4th, hard frost last night—froze ice— 
clear, with cold North-West wind all day: 25th, 
froze some last night—some rain—snow and hail 
to-day; 29th, snowed some; 30th, snowed early in 
the morning, and a little all day. 
June —20th, clear day—90°in the shade at noon; 
21 , very hot day—92° in the shade and 102° in the 
sun at 2 P.^M.; 22d, hot morning—108 C in the sun 
at. 9 A. M.—a smart west wind made it more com¬ 
fortable—rain and hail dreadful hard just North of 
U s—some rain here; 29th, 96°in the sun at 6 A M., 
86 c in the shade, and 110° in the sun at 9 A. ML; 
30th, mostly clear—strong west wind—cool at night 
Benton Center, N. Y., 1857. S. H. Chapman. 
Change of Opinion, 
It is strange how International courtesy will do 
away with the prejudices of nations. The United 
States and her citizens, judging from the tone of 
the English press, have long been a eyesore to the 
masses of the “ Mother Country.” but the Kane 
Expedition, the return of the Resolute, Ac., Ac., 
have bad a tendency to open their eyes, and they 
confess that Brother Jonathan has some good 
points. The London Times contains the following 
very flattering interrogatory“ Who would not be 
the President of the United States—the choice of 
a nation of freemen, the object of most infinite 
care, solicitude and respect to 27,000,000 of the 
most intelligent of the human race, the object at 
which every man’s finger points, the topic on which 
every man’s tongue descants—raised above his 
fellow men by no accident of birth, by no superi¬ 
ority of wealth, but by the presumed fitness of his 
personal qualities for one of the most elevated 
situations that 3 man may be called upon to fill?” 
The New London Quarterly Review, in a sketch 
of the personnel of Mr. Bucu an an, says:—“He has 
the habit (that historians attribute to Alexander 
the Great,) of holding his head somewhat inclined 
to one side, and sometimes partially closing one 
eye, as if to prove, what was undoubtedly the case 
during his mission in this country, that he could 
see a vast deal more with half an eye, than all our 
Ministers when they opened both theirs to the 
fullest extent, as they had to do more than once, if 
all tales he true, during the course of their * trans¬ 
action of business ’ with Mr. Buchanan.” 
The Storm on the Coast. —Richmond and Nor¬ 
folk papers give the details of disasters by the re¬ 
cent storniB. At Norfolk snow commenced falling 
on Saturday evening the 24th ult.., and continued 
till Monday morning, accompanied nearly the 
whole time by a tremendous blow. Considerable 
damage was done in the city, and the harbor was 
frozen over so firmly that people passed in crowds 
over to Portsmouth. The cold was the moat in¬ 
tense ever known in that Region. There had been 
no communication by the road with Petersbnrgh, 
but, telegraphic despatches state that nineteen per¬ 
sons bad been frozen to death in that oity since 
Saturday. Among them were Dr. Joseph E. Cox 
and his nephew, aud R. E. Taylor. The schooner 
Times, which left Norfolk on the 17th inst., for 
New Y’ork, went ashore the same night at Lynn 
Haven Beach. The captain and cook were frozen 
to death. 
time of hie decease, 
series of resolutions expressing the deep sensibil¬ 
ity with which tbe House had reclved tbe intclli- 1 
gence of the death of Mr. Brooks, tendering to the i 
family of the deceased the sympathy of the House, 
and resolving that lhe members, in token of re¬ 
spect, wear crape on the left arm for 30 days.— 
These resolutions were subsequently adopted. 
The House Committee on Judiciary have re¬ 
solved that Judge Watrone, of Texas, shall be im¬ 
peached for high crimes and misdemeanors. This 
is the first impeachment of a Federal Judge for 
27 years. The committee will report the first op¬ 
portunity. 
Mr. Grow, from the Committee on Territories, 
reported a bill fixing the boundaries of Minnesota, 
and authorizing the people thereof to form a Con¬ 
stitution and a State Government. The bill pro¬ 
vides for admitting Minnesota into the Union on a 
footing with the original States according to the 
Federal Constitution, and for an election to be held 
on the first Monday of June, for delegates to a 
Convention to form a State Constitution, and in the 
event of the people deciding in favor of a State 
Government, the Marshal shall proceed to take the 
census of Minnesota with a view of ascertaining 
the number of representatives sh>. is entitled to 
under the present census. The same provisions 
are in this bill as in former ones, of a similar 
character, relative to public lands for education, 
&c., to be assented t,o as obligatory on both Min¬ 
nesota and the United States. Mr. Grow said the 
proposed State embraces 70,0(HJ square miles,leav¬ 
ing west of the boundary about 90,000 square miles 
to behereafter erected into agovernment by tbe In¬ 
dian name of Dakota. The bill was passed after 
considerable discussion by a vote of 98 to 74. 
Mr. Grow then reported a bill for the relief of 
the people of Kansas, declaring all purported laws 
passed by the Legislative Assembly at Shawnee 
Mission, null and void, for the reasons that the 
members thereof were elected through violations 
of the organic act, and usurped power, and enact¬ 
ed cruel and oppressive statutes. 
The bill provides for holding a new election, 
and any person offering his vote must prove by 
his own oath that lie is a bona tide settler, and by 
the oath of two legal voters that he has been for 
more than one month preceding the election, and 
is on the day of election, an actual resident of the 
Territory, and fifteen days a resident of the elec¬ 
tion district; and fines from $200 to $2,500, and 
imprisonment from one to twelve months, to be 
imposed ou illegal voters, disturbance or control 
of tbe polls by armed or organized bands, and for 
wilful reception of illegal votes by those appoint¬ 
ed for receiving them. 
Mr. H. Marshall offered an amendment, which 
was agreed to by a vote of 71 against 49. 
Toe Snow Gauge. —This instrument is of recent 
invention, aud consists of a thin metal cylinder 
eight inches in diameter and twelve inches deep, 
graduated ou one side to a quarter of an inch. 
This cylinder will penetrate through the snow, 
scarcely disturbing it, and the depth in inches is 
at once seen. By careful manipulation, if the 
cylinder is turned round, all the inclosed snow 
may be lifted from the ground, and removed to a 
wide-mouth bottle to melt, and the quantity meas¬ 
ured. The snow-line is that elevation at which 
atmospheric moisture is chauged into snow.— 
Snow does not usually full at the time of maximum 
cold, and after the snow has fallen, the weather 
generally increases in severity. When the temper¬ 
ature falls to 32 degrees Fahrenheit, water ceases 
to be liquid and becomes ice. 
Rochester Athenajum.— At the recent Annual 
Election of the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechan¬ 
ics’ Association, the following Board of Officers 
was chosen for the ensuing year: 
President —D A KIEL D, T. MOORE. Vice Presi¬ 
dents —William A. Reynolds, James T. Griffin.— 
Corresponding Secretary —George H. Humphrey. 
Recording Secretary —William V. K. Lansing.— 
Treasurer —A ndrew J. Brackett Associate Direc¬ 
tors —Geo. W. Parsons, Oliver L. Terry, Stephen 
Coleman, Daniel A. Woodbury, Joseph Frost, Hi¬ 
ram Smith, George G. Clarkson, Ira B. Northrop, 
W. M. Tompkins, Delon M. Dewey, Stephen D. N. 
Bennett. Commissioners Permanent Fund —Ros¬ 
well Hart, F. Gorton. 
At the first meeting of the new Board $500 was 
appropriated for books to be added to the Library, 
and other measures are being perfected to augment 
tbe prosperity and usefulness of the institution.— 
An effort is soon to be made to secure a Perma¬ 
nent Fund, and thus place the Association upon a 
more substantial basis. The present course of 
Lectures has thus far been very popular and suc¬ 
cessful, having already afforded a profit of over 
$500. Much of this success is attributed to the 
adoption of the system of Course 'Tickets, instead 
of depending upon the sale of single tickets at 
each lecture. Among tbe gentlemen who have 
lectured before the Association the present season, 
are Lieut. Maury, Rev. Messrs. Kino, Chapin, and 
Neely, —B.P. Shillaber, RALrn Waldo Emerson 
and Henry Giles. The course is to be concluded 
with lectures from Theodore Parker, Wendell 
Phillips, Rev. Dr. Magoon and A. A. Willetts. 
Deaths in Washington, 
Hon. John Barney, ex-member of Congress, 
and long known to the political and fashionable 
circles in Washington, died on the 26th ult. 
The Hon, Preston S. Brooks died on the 27th 
nit. at Brown’s Hotel. He had been in bed for a 
day or two, suffering from the efiects of a severe 
cold. He was telling his friends he had passed the 
crisis of his illness and felt considerably improved 
in health, when he was seized with violent croup 
and died in about ten minutes afterwards. He ex¬ 
pired in intense pain, 
Mr. B. obtained an unenviable reputation in con¬ 
sequence of bis attack on Senator Sumner. Mr 
Keith, his colleague, in addressing the House on 
liiB decease said:—"Mr. Brooks was born in Edge- 
field District, S. C., in 1819, and had served in the 
Legislature of that State aud in the Mexican war ( 
and rendered gallant service. He was sent to 
Congress as the Representative of a proud and 
gallant constituency, whose history has been illus¬ 
trated by the virtue, statesmanship and eloquence 
of Robert Goodloe nopper, John C. Calhoun and 
George McDuffie. 
Mr. Brooks has left a wife and fonr children.— 
Within the sanctuary of that home he would not 
intrude, but would supplicate heaven to furnish 
halm to their crushed and bleeding heart” 
Mexican News. —Advices from Tampico state 
that on the 14th inst. a battle was fought between 
Garcia’s troops and the government forces—the 
former claiming the victory. The affair took 
place at Old Town, which had previously been 
completely pillaged by the invaders. Garcia is 
said to be advancing on Tampico, where another 
battle Is expecte d. 
The American Consul had requested the Collec¬ 
tor at New Orleans to send a revenue cutter to 
Tampico for the protection of the American resi¬ 
dents, and to prevent the pillage of the town. 
Quite Cooi- —The spirit thermometer at Fran¬ 
conia, N. 11., on the morning of the 24th indicated 
49 deg. below 0 at half-past 5. A mercury ther¬ 
mometer taken from a warm room atoighto’clock 
A. M., after the sun was up and shining brightly, 
sank to 40 deg. below 0 in twenty miuntes! The 
mercury itself was solid! Thisis the coldest weath¬ 
er ever known in Frsnconia. 
State Normal School. —The closing exercises 
of the 25th term of the State Normal School were 
held on Tuesday 27th ult. Twenty-eight pupils 
graduated. Those from this vicinity were ns fol¬ 
lows:— Nancy E. Briggs, lloncyoe, Monroe Co.; 
Edward A. Wheeler, Clarkson, Muuroe Co.; Wil¬ 
liam Vanderaark, Phelps, Ontario Co.; Henry J. 
Tanner, Medina, Orleans Co. 
Hurricane. —A terrific hurricane devastated the 
Phillipine Islands on the 27th Oct All tliesulmrbs 
of Manilla, and large mooring villages, were re¬ 
duced to a heap of ruins. The number of houses 
destroyed in that place alone was about 3,500.— 
Official returns show that more than 10,000 houses 
were destroyed within the circuit of about eight 
leagues around Manilla. Six foreign vessels in the 
Roads ef Manilla were also driven ashore. 
A vERYstrongieelingpreviiilsinLondon against 
tbe exclusive manner in which the Atlantic Tele¬ 
graph Co. has been got np, and the exclusive ma¬ 
chinery with which it is clogged. Another Com¬ 
pany is being organized, with the intention of go¬ 
ing direct to the shores of the United States, 
instead of passing through the English Colonial 
possessions. 
Sale of the Columbia College Property.— 
The Columbia College property, N. Y., was sold 
Wednesday at public auction, preparatory to build¬ 
ing elsewhere, for $576,350. 
