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between this city and the suburban village of West Troy. A very nice road it is. A cheerful cemetery nestles beside one portion of it, and close to the cemetery a widow lady keeps a tavern, where she dispenses hot drinks to cold customers. The air to-day is sharp and bracing. In the clear splendor of the winter sunshine the snow flakes glitter like diamonds, as they lie closely packed and hard on the frozen ground. Everybody is on the road. Merchant princes, politicians, gentlemen of leisure, men of business, lovely ladies and laughing children join in the general sport. Riding behind a team of bay horses you may see Erastus Corning, who seems of late, to have gained a new lease of life, and who is looking remarkably well and happy. I know of no man past middle age, with the single exception, perhaps, of Cornelius Vanderbilt, who has so handsome a face as Mr. Corning. More than half a century ago he came into Albany a crippled boy, friendless and penniless. By an industry marvelous to me, and a skill unknown to newspaper correspondents generally, this poor boy grew to be a very rich man; but unless the benignant mouth and mild, kindly eyes greatly belie him, he has not forgotten the suffering which poverty fetches and which wealth may relieve; and he cultivates that attribute which is of the three, greatestcharity. He bows pleasantly as we pass him in our cutter, and the fact that our horse can beat his team doesn't seem to trouble him as it would the Rev. Dr. Corey, of Murray Hill. Speeding along to the music of the tintinabulating bells, we presently met Governor Hoffman and his private secretary, Col. Van Buren. The governor handles the ribbons very skillfully, and seems to enjoy greatly this hour's relaxation from the trying duties of his official position. He is looking extremely well. The exercise has given a glow to his cheeks, which are ordinarily rather pale, and added new brilliancy to his eyes, which are never dull. not in such a hurry, I'd stop him and inquire whom he was going to nominate for health officer of New York. The name of that gentleman would make an interesting item. Now comes William Cassidy, editor of the Argus, and the most accomplished and genial gentleman in Albany. He is driving at a very moderate pace, and is not, I should judge, much of a horseman, but he is a stupendous pedestrian. I took a walk with him the other evening, and after a few hours' experience I felt ready to back him against Weston or any other man. I have sketched but a few of the many who are enjoying this wintry pleasure. But I shall interview some more men who own 2: 40 nags, and may hereafter meet other citizens worth describing on the road to Troy.........Catharine, wife of John Walsh, died, aged 52. Mrs. Catharine Burns died, aged 75.

If he was

7. John Cooke died, aged 69. Mrs. Anna I. Kane died, aged 74. 8. Jane, wife of A. A. Dunlop, died, aged 49. Dr. P. B. McKelvey died in New Orleans, aged 63, formerly of Albany.

9. John De Coffs died, aged 64. Bridget Quinn died, aged 91. 10. James Lillis died, aged 65. Mary E. Clapp died, aged 21. Catharine McCarty died, aged 71.

11. Margaret Grady died, aged 75. Jesse C. Van Patten, formerly of this city, died at Joliet, Illinois, aged 40.

12. The church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, the well known building situated on the north side of Hamilton street, between Grand and Fulton streets, was solemnly dedicated to divine worship by very Rev. E. P. Wadhams, administrator in the absence of Bishop Con

roy. The building is a recent purchase from the First African Baptist Society. It has been in the possession of the late occupants since 1826, as a church and school-house, and in view of the fact that the residence of a majority of the late congregation had become too remote from the locality, was recently thrown in market and found a ready sale for a fair consideration. The French and Canadians in this city and vicinity have long desired a church of their own. From time to time efforts have been made to erect one, but apparently without success. The number of this class of our adopted citizens is constantly increasing, and the responsibility of the recent purchase having been assumed by competent parties, the African church passed into the hands of its present owners. It has been materially improved throughout. Its late dingy exterior has been brightened with a fresh coat of delicate hued paint, the old fashioned small paned window sashes have been replaced by modern plate glass, and the entrance door has been handsomely grained. Outside, in fact, the old building would hardly know itself. Inside, the busy hand of improvement is even more manifest. Upon the late interior, from ceiling to floor, remorseless time had bestowed a complexion which was indescribable. It was neither mysterious white nor undecided brown, but whatever it was, is undiscoverable now, so completely is the old obliterated by the new. The pews have been repaired, every part of the interior thoroughly cleaned and the ceiling and walls neatly frescoed and tinted. It is really a very pretty church. The sanctuary is of good dimensions and the altar tastefully designed. The altar piece representing The Assumption of the Virgin is a painting of much beauty, and in proportions as well as subject, admirably adapted to the position it occupies. It is the work of a distinguished artist. The services yesterday morning were attended by a congregation numbering perhaps four hundred. The mass was celebrated by Very Rev. Father Wadhams. Rev. Mr. Shehan was also present on the altar. The dedicatory sermon was delivered by Rev. Father Gagnier, of Montreal. It was in the French language, and was a fervently eloquent discourse. The preacher is a man of distinction, and both in manner and matter was well worth attention. At the close of the service, Rev. Mr. Wadhams briefly congratulated the assemblage upon the auspicious event of the day and alluded in terms of pride to the beautiful little edifice which their zeal and energy had secured for the French and Canadian people. The music consisted of what is known as the Gregorian plain chant, and was rendered with good effect by a number of sonorous male voices. It was a relief to listen to it, unpretentious and yet solemn as it was, after the operatic hop-skip-and-jump music of the period. There are said to be about one hundred and fifty French and Canadian families in this city and vicinity who will attend this church exclusive, we believe, of a number attending other Catholic churches.-Argus......... William H. Smith died, aged 37. He had been a member of the old Veteran fire department of which he was at one time assistant engineer.

13. The American Hotel, 100 State street, underwent another transformation, and came out as the Watkins House. It was opened on the European plan, under the auspices of Mr. Charles Watkins, and was so completely renovated that the Hosfords, if they were living, would not recognize the edifice they erected for a printing and publishing house in the first quarter of a century.........Jacob Relyea died, aged 50.

16. John Brown died, aged 33. Alonzo Crosby died at Hubbardsville, aged 83.

17. Michael Scully died, aged 71. Lorenz Ludwig died, aged 44. Rebecca, widow of Peter G. Van Zandt, died, aged 73.

18. Sophia Schoolcraft, wife of John W. Wolford, died, aged 66. Mrs. Margaret Carroll, died, aged 88. George H. Hallett died at Utica, aged 42, and was buried from Grace Church in this city.

The

19. The new Methodist Episcopal Church, corner of Ten Broeck and Lumber streets, was dedicated. This is the cheapest church ever erected in Albany, and yet it is one of the neatest, best looking, cozy, cheerful and inviting chapels in the city. The interior is a model of comfort and good taste. There is not an inch of lost room in the whole structure. All the space is occupied for church purposes. The side porches give an entrance which does not take from the church proper a single foot of room. church will seat about 800 persons. The seats are very comfortable, with reversible backs, like the seats to be found in rail road cars. There is no pulpit in the church, its place being supplied by a railed in platform, some twelve inches above the floor. This allows greater motion to the preacher. As action is the soul of eloquence, it will be seen that better sermons can be preached from a platform than could ever be preached in a pulpit. Think of Demosthenes denouncing Philip in a washtub. He might denounce, but the denunciation would never amount to eloquence, simply because he could not emphasize his language with proper action. The Sunday School and class rooms are divided from the church by folding doors and sliding windows, a very excellent idea to save fuel and make things comfortable. The large class room is some 40 feet long, by 15 wide, nicely carpeted, and supplied with chairs, tables, &c., making it a very beautiful parlor. This room is subdivided by other folding doors, so as to convert it into three smaller parlors. The doors are so arranged that one large parlor can be converted into three small ones in less than two minutes. The church is lighted by two large gas reflectors in the ceiling placed in the centre of two large ventilators so arranged that the officers can always establish the proper temperature for church purposes. The stained glass windows give "a rose scented tint" to the church. The edifice was commenced eleven weeks ago. It cost only $5,500, and yet there is but one better looking Methodist chapel in this part of the state, and that is the Ash Grove Church, which cost $50,000. How the committee contrived to build so handsome a church for $5,500 is something we cannot understand, even when we know that the pastor, Rev. J. W. Alderman, helped to put the roof on, while the building committee all labored gratis. The furniture, carpets, stoves, &c., cost $600. Rev. Mr. Alderman informed the congregation that the late fair and festival yielded $2,000; expenses, $400; balance $1,600, or one-sixth of the whole cost of the church. Such a balance sheet is seldom presented to any congregation. The walls and ceiling are beautifully frescoed in panels, by George Merchant of this city. He has done a neat bit of work in a very artistic manner, and well deserves all the praise bestowed upon him. The painting and graining were done by John Chrysler. The singing is led by S. M. Birch, who has a round, full voice, which eminently fits him for the position which he occupies, as the leader of the whole congregation, for the whole congregation sings at the new church. The architects of the new chapel were Nichols & Brown. The dedication Ilist. Coll. iv.

11

sermon was preached by Presiding Elder Meredith, of this city, from Deuteronomy, 33d chapter, 29th verse. It was a very interesting discourse, solid and substantial. The elder is not a brilliant preacher, and yet he is so intensely in earnest that the earnestness amounts to eloquence at times. From the elder's discourse we learn that the Methodists of the United States and Canadas are only 270,000 less than all the other members of all the other Protestant churches put together, and yet the Methodist church has only been established in this country one hundred years. He attributes the rapid spread of Methodism to its peculiar organization; the demonstrative habits of its clergymen and the social instincts brought forth at its class meeting, prayer meeting and love feast. The Rev. Mr. Alderman, pastor of the church, also addressed the congregation briefly, referring to its history and urging upon the united churches to forget the bickerings of the past, and live entirely for the future. Mr. Alderman is one of those broad minded, out spoken men, who comes from the West; he is earnest, affable and eloquent. The building committee consisted of J. W. Osborn, Wm. H. Young and S. J. Davenport. The trustees are J. W. Osborn, Wm. H. Young, S. J. Davenport, Smith Requa, S. A. Stratton, C. W. Pierce, I. J. Filkins, I. F. Seabury and S. C. Rice.— Evening Post.......... ..Margaret Scranton, wife of Adam Ream, died, aged 24.

20. At a meeting of farmers, held this day, at the Hay Scales, corner of Phillip and Plain streets, to take into consideration the propriety of organizing a society for their better protection, and to make a uniform scale of prices for their products, so that they may have a small profit to reward them for their hard labor, Carey Rushmore was elected president and Wm. Bullock secretary, and the following resolution was unanimously adopted: Resolved, That we, the farmers of Albany and Rensselaer counties, will not, on and after Monday Dec. 20th, sell hay for less than the following prices, viz:

Horse hay

Fine 66

Clover "

75 cts. per 100 lbs.

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22. Peter Fitzpatrick died, aged

23. Ellen, wife of George W. Oliver, died, aged 25. Peter Konz, died, aged 67.

24. William Nixon, died, aged 67.

25. Samuel J. Gordon died, aged 27. Elizabeth, widow of Wm. Doran, died, aged 75.

27. Catharine, wife of Michael McCann, died, aged 33. Anna M., widow of Theodore S. Wood, formerly of Albany, died in New York, aged 42.

28. Anne Rutledge died, aged 54. Norah Harrigan died, aged 21. Andrew Garrison died, aged 62.

29. The ice moved down, and left the river open as far as could be the result of a week of rain and soft weather.... ....Mary Daley died, aged 56.

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30. Died at her residence No. 3 Park Place, Albany, Susan Stafford, widow of Lewis Benedict, in the seventy-ninth year of her age...... She was a woman whose prominent characteristics were of the kind that command respect and win regard. She devoted herself to the duties that belonged to the varying relations of her life. As a wife and mother she was a model of tenderness and fidelity toward her husband, and of love

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