There is a fair probability of the "malignants" of the whig party here coming into subjection soon, under the banner of Taylorism. Mr. N. B. Blunt has followed David Graham, and, though no one knows exactly "who's the next customer," it wouldn't be very surprising if it were Mr. Greeley himself. His paper has had an unusual squinting that way of late. The separate nominations for State officers by the whigs, hunkers and barnburners have exercised considerable influence toward re-marking distinct lines between the parties. Then there is the great probability of Fish's election, and whig success in the Legislature, which will result in some hundreds of appointments. The latter facts have contributed very much toward a general "harmonizing" of the whigs. The Clay men have a meeting at Vauxhall to-night, whereat the fiery and eloquent Virginian, John M. Botts, is to hold forth. It will doubtless be serviceable in letting the said Clay men drop gracefully into the open and expectant arms of Taylorism. Probably, however, as much mischief has already been done as could be done, on this point. Those among the masses who have been carried over from the whigs to "free soil" cannot easily be recaptured.
John Van Buren is roaming around through the interior of the State. During the last days of last week he addressed large meetings at Herkimer and Utica. All accounts agree in stating that Van Buren divides the western and interior parts of the State with Taylor. In those parts, Gen. Cass may be emphatically said to be "nowhere." In the eastern regions, in Kings county, and in two or three other counties, he does much better.
Capt. Bertrand and Mr. Watson, of the ship Alhambra, (for Antwerp, but put in here) whose case, under charge of murder by flogging a seaman, was detailed in one of my late letters, yet remain in prison here. The bail of Capt. B. has been fixed at $2500
Green, the ex-gambler, is again lecturing in town. He exhibits, at these lectures, some curious diagrams and tricks—quite sufficient to astonish such unsophisticated ones as your humble servant.
Bishop Onderdonk's case is again to come up before the Annual Episcopal Convention, which convenes at St. John's Church to-morrow. His friends are trying to move heaven and earth (particular earth) for a revocation of the sentence on the amorous Bishop, and a general white-washing of his character.
Theatricals are prospering better now than erewhile. At the Park, which was miserably attended for the first fortnight after its opening, the manager has brought out "Esmeralda," the Monplaisirs, Miss Bulan and Corby doing the leading characters. The piece has a good run, and still attracts fair audiences. At the Bowery, last night, Mr. Hamblin appeared as Hamlet, with Miss Mary Taylor as Ophelia! Forty years ago, Hamblin could have done justice to this sublimest drama in the language; he never can any more. Miss Taylor is shockingly out of place as a tragedy queen. Her voice is pleasing, but she cannot even begin to exhibit the beauties which "Shakspeare drew" of the love-sick daughter of old Polonius. Forrest played all last week at the Broadway to crowded and applauding houses. Mr. Collins commenced, last night, at the same place, a round of Irish characters. He is very popular, and really plays better than any Irish comedian at present among us. At the National, "Mose" and "Captain Tobin" continue to attract. That was a capital idea of Chanfrau's (or somebody else's), in carrying out an original representation of the New York rowdy and "b'hoy." It wouldn't be bad if the originality were extended farther and wider. Placide, Sefton and Vanderhoff are enacting "London Assurance"—that flippant production—at Niblo's, Astor Place. Mmlle. Adelaide Lehmann and Charles Winther glide, leap and hop through the "Sylphide," at Burton's, in Chambers street; and there are are concerts, and picture exhibitions, and panoramas, and dioramas, and all sorts of negro minstrels with twenty other kinds of amusements, good, bad and indifferent....The Acadia brought over Macready and Mrs. G. Barrett, who will probably play together. It is not known positively, but it is expected they will appear at the Park. Whichever house they don't play in should forthwith checkmate them by engaging Charlotte Cushman, who has more real genius than all the foreign actors that have come to us since the time of Edmund Kean and George F. Cooke. A plan is in operation for a grand benefit to the family of Mr. Simpson; it will come off the ensuing month.
I see that the Crescent City leaves here on the 2d of October, and is advertised to sail hence again on the 30th of the same month. The new steamer Falcon, Capt. W. T. Thompson, leaves for New Orleans—via Havana, same as the Crescent City—on the 16th of October; passage $75 and $60. The U.S. mail steam-packet California, to San Francisco and Astoria, and intermediate ports, leaves on the 2d of October.
MANHATTAN.