AMERICA AND AMERICAN FRIENDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 296, 24 October 1864, Page 5

AMERICA AND AMERICAN FRIENDS.

Theke are few old residents of Auckland who do not remember, with a very hearty regard, the brothers James and Charles Nicoll'.of the .Xew Bedford whaling ships. 'Kainbow' aud * Seagull.' lioth of these gentlemen, with their faniilies.'have been frequent and welcome visitors to this port. James, in especial, has been so constantly a friend and trader, and has so invariably manifested the most kindly interest in our progress aud prosperity as to entitle him to be looked tfpon as ti/ir of ... When the ' Rainhow' took her departure from this port some twelvemonths since, there were none, even of the most earnest of Confederate sympathisers who did not heartily pray that tlie • 'Rainbow' might escape the tender mercies of the 'Alabama.' It will be seen that she vcrv rinrrowly did so ; and that James Xicholl was as fortunate as his brother Charles in arriving rafe'v in the land of his nativity. We publish a letter just received by a friend of Mr. Niclioll. Bearing in mind that the writer is a Federal, that he has had a dear and much-loved son slain in the horrible internecine war that is ruining and desolating the dis-Uuited States, we incline to think that few more graphic pictures of the condition of that unhaiipy couutry. or one more impartial or truly Cosmopolitan lias yet been made public. "We hope, therefore, that Mr. ielioll will pardon us lor jiving currency to his very interesting, though private, letter. North Scituate, Rhode Island, July 10, IRGI-. Respected Friend. —According to promise, I send vou a few lines, trusting they will come acceptable. May this find you as it leaves us, iu the enjoyment of perfect health. Wo arrived homo all safe after a rather Icnsthy passage of one hundred and eight days from Auckland. We had a very good passage up to Cape Hern, but after passing the Cape encountered light winds nearly tlie whole distance from there home. We sighted the island of Trinidada, south latitude, on the 23rd of April. On that day the Alabama burnt a ship due north of mc, about five degrees directly in our track, but we were favoured fo steer clear of her. No doubt, long before you receive this, you will have heard that the career of the Alabama has been cut 'short in her first encounter •frith a vessel anywhere near her equal. So much for the boasting of Semmes, that lie could and would siuk any United States man of war of equal armament as the Alabama. Instead of that she was sunk by a vessoi of much lighter weight of metal and mounting one gun less. Of course, we seafaring people are miu'h elated to think she is destroyed, for her whole career throughout has been most dastardly, destroying unarmed merchantmen, and running away from all of her kind excepting in this last case. In regard to the war, it is still ragiug furiously at the Jjresent time. The army is besieging Petersburg and Richmond (that is the army of the Potomac) under General Grant, and the army of the south-west, or a porticrii of it, is operating in Northern Georgia, at or near Atalanta (the Richmond of the south), under Shearman. How they will succeed time will show. Our Northern troops have to conquer the ground inch by inch, and you well imagine what a task they icust have before them, marching up to naked batteries and up to riile pits, and against sharp- ! shooters placed in every conceivable point. Such carnage the world never saw before. It is estimated in this last campaign, before Richmond, that the loss in killed, wounded, and missing on the side of the North reaches as high as 70,000 or 80,000 men, and fully as many, if not more, on the fide of the South. Tlie North has now upwards of <50,000 prisoners taken in this last campaign. All I can say is, that our country is in a most fearful state, and worse than all, there is no end in view. Bu>inc-5S is brisk in most of the principal cities at the North, and if it was not for an occasional meeting of' a company of soldiers bound for the seat of war, you would not know there was a war in the country. But go into the country, and there you will perceive it. The most in all of our New England villages, for a? von are aware, there many cotton mills, as well as other small manufactories of different descriptions in f-uch places ; now, however, you will scarcely find one of any kind in operation, and the farmers an hardly procure help enough to take care of their crops, all the young men having gone into the arm}'. There is scarcely a family but has had to drink of the b:tter cup of sorrow-. There has been many hearths and hearts made desolate. My earnest prayer to Go i is, that this unholy war may soon cease. My bro'her Charles and family are in the enjoyment of their usual health, and wish to be kindly remembered to you. They are very comfortably situated, living about a mile from me here in the country. He does not intend to go to sea immediately, but you will most probably see him at some future period in Now Zealand. Please remember us to our mutual friends la Auckland. I will now close for this time, trusting to be able to write something more interesting at 63ine future period.

r.w Zealand Gazette was published on •Saturday, and contains proclamations extending t-lie jurisdiction of the President Magistrate s Court at Timaru, and disallowing certain Provincial Ordinances at Wellington. There, are also warrants appointing polling places in Otago, and appointing a Petty Sessional District in Otago. The following gentlemen have been placed 011 the commission as Justices of cace —namely, Messrs. W. Mair, Spencer, W - "Von Sturmer. John Ryan, and John Glasson. "William Mair and Spencer William Von oturmer, Jvsqs., have also been appointed Resident Magistrates. The Gazette contains the papers relating to the Seat of Government question ; the return of Col. T. M. llaiiltam, wr tbe Electoral district of Franklin to the .iouse °t Representatives ; the despatches relative to the taking of the Mataitawa pah at - e\y Plymouth ; the appointment of Mr. Willam Ashton, of Queen-street, as Custom House agent ; and the return of the names of the 20 successlul competitors for the Government prizes in rifle shooting, in which the name of no Auckland man appears. ... II)K - N "r Magistrate's Couiit.—Saturday. 0 drunkards were treated in the usual anner. The ease of a breach of the l'ltli _ause 0: the " Building Act, 1858," against Tuesda ro ' )ei ' t ' was a S u i u adjourned until +l/ Jl [i N ' AC T' ai T Callaghan was cliarged in ■?i . kCSl< ''- nt Magistrate's Court, on Saturday, 1 ,cin ;j of unsound mind, and upon the cerot,,i"a 01 Bw- Stratford and Keiulerdine was p' r to be conveyed to the Lunatic Asylum. Ti ' !EACII OKlMpotTxt ruG Act.—John Walters, Eer Aitken. and George Reguell, were all J fined iu the full amount of 40 s. and

costs, in tlie J?olice Oouri, on Saturday, For allowing cattle to stray on the public roads. w ~~ UTlc )j!j l TO Skaiihn.—Two .seamen named William Jlbompson and Albert Cauter, attached to the ' SUsiiuiiaU Guthbert/ were given into custody, oil Saturday by.. Captain .Dixoii, An, a cli'argp o't being" absent ft'&iji tliift vessel without'leave..,' At.the timia the priso'iici's were apprehended they were 'both in-a state of drunkenness, so riiiicli so', indeed, that Thomp- : son had to be carried through the streets by lour constables, and tlie other was compelled to be pinioned to prevent liim from biting. The prisoners will be brought before his Worship this morning. A Stowaway.—On the arrival oftjic 'Prince Alfred' from Sydney, on Saturday morning. Captain Ponsonby gave a man named James McArdell in charge for stowing away in the hold of that vessel, with intent to defraud the I.C.JLM. Co. The accused will be brought before the Ivesident Magistrate this morning. Trr!■: " Octoiioo.n'."—The production of this exciting and wonderful drama has been' delayed, we understand, by the extensive preparations that are being made for its success. It will be presented, we are informed, in a style of magnificence superseding all former efforts ; and this is saying no little when we call to mind, the many successes that have rewarded the exertions of the management. Painters, property men and tlicir assistants have been energetically at work for weeks past, and there is 'irtle doubt that the Prince of Wales will be crowded on the first night of the representation of Bou'rcicault's great Drama.

Professor Parkeh's E.vtkhtai>tm ext. —The new hall was well filled on Saturday night, on the occasion of Professor Parker's entertainment. Miss Annie Beaumont rendered several operatic and other songs very nicely. " Sweet Spirit hear my Prayer" was particularly worthy of notice, and her comic songs in character were greatly applauded. The professor was very successful iu lus sword feats. The sheep and the leg of mutton were cleverly divided, eac!, with one stroke of the sword. Tlie evening's amusement concluded with the celebrated Sir Charles Napier feat, by dividing an apple on the naked hand of Miss Annie Beaumont. This is really a wonderful!}' dexterous (rick. We confess, however. we were glad when it was achieved, and the hand was held up to the audience as a •proof of its entirety.

Auskxt Without Leavi:.—lames Thompson was apprehended at luilf-past one o'clock on Sunday morning, on a charge of this nature, preferred against hint by tho captain of the ' Glcndcvon.' to which vessel lie was attached. Dksi:rtion\—Two men, named James Bradey and Keevan Fitzgerald, were taken into custody on Saturday night, charged with being deserters from the 1-tth regiment, stationed in Auckland. The prisoners will be brought before his Worsliip this morning. Tkkathk Royal.—There was a very large attendance oil Saturday evening, to witness the " Merchant of Venice" and the I3onnie Fishwife." in both of which Miss Juno's clForts were most rapturously applauded, and those of the other dramatix jicrxome very favourably received. ArcKLAxr* Jockey Club.—At a meeting of the Committee on Saturday it was resolved to accept the offer made by Mr. Hardington of his land at Kpsom for a race course, no more suitable spot having been tendered. Mr. Lewissou gave a very splendid silver cup, value Clti, to be run for at the next races by horses bona Jula the property of members of the Colonial forces, and to be ridden by gentlemen jockeys. Caution to Pctilicans. —Mr. Cole of the Devon and Cornwall hotel, Queen-street, was robbed yesterday morning of the sum of ,€' !•!> K>s. from his bedroom by a man named Donald, described as a baker, who was sleeping in the house. On Mr. Cole discovering his loss lie immediately followed the scoundrel, who had left the hotel, and he was subsequently apprehended by constable G-reen near the Empire Restaurant, and will be brought before his Worship this morning. Cricket.—The Auckland and United Cricket Clubs met for practice on Saturday afternoon on their ground on the Domain, and there was a fair number of members present. PittNCE or Wai.es Theatre. —Saturday evening the drama of the " Will and the W ay" was even more successful than on any evening of its representation. The plaudits were hearty and prolonged at the various points. All engaged in the piece exerted themselves to the utmost and with success. To night (Monday) there is a capital bill for the benefit of Mr. E. Hay garth (the Ghost), a new drama of the "Duel in the Snow," mi act from Faust and Margurite, introducing the ghost illusions for the last time. Dancing by Misses Griffiths aud Corcoran, concluding with the farce of " Slasher and Crasher,' iu which Mr. Martyn. an amateur, will make his appearance. "V\ e believe the drama of the "Octoroon" will positively be produced on Wednesday evening next, with splendid new scenerv by Mr. Massey. Properties by Mr. H. Twiirht; with music and other accessories.

Dei'.vktukk oi" Tin-; 58th Eegimf.xt fob Calci-tta.—We take the following from the Army*awl Ifttri/ (iazrfto o! tin? Otli August The 2nd division, under the command ot Major U. C. Whitehead, left the Curragh on Thursdaj' evening for Queenstown, and embarked on hoard the ' Alfred'at Cork harbour yesterday (Friday) for Calcutta, the ship ' Cowasagee Jehangeer,' which had been chartered for this purpose, having been eondennicd as unfit for the purpose by a Board of Survey. Tin-: regiments now* employed in New Zealand, says the Ariv / and jS'acy Ciuzette, went on foreign service as follows : —The 05tli in Ma}', 1SU!; 70th in January, 1819; 43rd Light Infantry in October, 1851 ; (!Bth Light Infantry in December. 1857 ; 40th in July, 1852 ; 57th in Februarv. 185:!. Ist batt. 12th in July. 1854; 50th in .'June. 1857 ; the 2nd batt. 14th September. 1800 ; and the 2nd batt. 18th Koyiil Irish in April, 180:5. Tne periods ut which these battalions may be relieved depends upon the progress of the war. Should it. be brought to a termination, all will be at once brought home, except the 50th, 2nd batt. 14th, and 2nd batt. ' 18th. Although the (iSfli has only been abroad .since 1857, it is well entitled to relief, from the | fact that it was sent out to India after being at home but a few months from foreign service. In fact, it was, like the 43rd, under orders for England when the increased demands of the New Zealand war compelled the authorities to divert it from 'Rangoon on that service.