weighing altogether 250 tons, (as much as can be put on the bridge at once), the deflection is scarcely perceptible. I have watched trains from the railway track, from the carriage and foot-paths below, and from an outside stand-point (in fact from the workman's platform under the bridge), and have never been able to discern anything like sagging, or anything except the minutest vibration; and then with my eye on the line of the track.

There were about 5,000 persons here on Wednesday last to see Blondin's performances on his rope. He ran a race across the Niagara with a boat pulled by two strong rowers; distance 700 feet; height above the surface of the river, 200 feet; time, five minutes; Blondin ahead. It is true that Travis shot a pistol-ball through Blondin's hat, held by the latter at arm's length; the ball was projected from a boat in the river, distant from B. 300 feet. It is not true that Blondin ever carried a man across in his arms. The Niagara mountebank is a permanency here; he makes about $800 at each ascension. His next will be on the 17th. The Clifton, International and Cataract are all full; and the Monteagle, with its invigorating mineral baths, draws a large concourse of visitors.

ELECTING JUDGES.

Our citizens will soon be called upon to cast their votes for the following important judicial officers: a supreme court judge, the city judge, recorder, surro

gate, judge of the court of general sessions, and several justices of the police courts.

It is a generally admitted fact, that the character of judicial officers in this state, of all ranks and degrees, has deteriorated since the constitution of 1846 went into effect. The opinion of our best and most judicious lawyers and business men, as well as the unanimous voice of the respectable portion of the press, now condemn the new method of appointing judges. The whole, system of an elective judiciary has proved a failure, degrading to judicial station, and poisonous to those great moral principles which underlie and support the administration of public justice. There is danger, indeed, that the whole bench will, in time, be contaminated by the corrupting political influences which to a great extent govern the municipal affairs of the city. Unprincipled and selfish men too often have the power to control and direct legislative and executive functions for their own personal benefit, or the advancement of parties; but the position of a corruptible and unscrupulous judge is infinitely more hazardous to the public, and may be perverted to uses beyond the reach of ordinary political villany. The best and most reliable members of the legal profession begin to avoid competition for judicial office. They prefer the liberal and honest rewards of their business, and that character for unspotted integrity which makes them the counselors of great moneyed institutions, and safe advisers of individuals and families. The most meritorious members of the bar in this city know and realize the dangers of running a muck race for the bench; and the bench

actually suffers under the ignorance and incompetency of third or fourth class men, who in too many instances displace tried, learned and trustworthy jurists.

The practical result of the new system of judicial elections is to reward political services by a seat on the bench. Judicial candidates and judges are seen in political conventions; they take a share in the routine and discipline of party, and so become liable to be unjustly influenced, or tempted into partial judgments. The Tribune, and other journals of the same reckless class, personally vituperate judges whose legal decisions do not correspond with certain popular opinions, and claim that the people are better judges of the law than the courts. The political adventurer is to be petted, but the cold shoulder is turned upon the irreproachable and inflexibly honest man, whose conscience walks above the fascinations of politics, and the clamors of the rabble. With all due respect for the higher judiciary of this state, including the appellate, supreme and superior courts, we can not fail to notice that there has been a falling off in the character of the judges within the last ten years. There are now fewer of these solid, learned, discreet and honest jurists who once administered justice in this state, and who did so much towards moulding and developing those great legal principles upon which our rights and duties are founded. Such men may have been statesmen, but they never dabbled in dirty politics, or contaminated themselves by contact or rivalship with the vagabonds of the profession.

In those courts of this city, in which the great mass of criminal cases are tried and decided, local politics

disturb the administration of the law and the due punishment of crime. Could all the facts of this subject be fully laid before the public; could we make known, in detail, the favors and forbearance extended to political rowdies, drunken emissaries of the pot house, emigrant robbers, dealers with thieves, the race of gamblers, panderers, and that influential but generally depraved class which elect recorders, city judges and police magistrates; could we see how justice is perverted, the truth dishonored, false swearing, subtle and mean pettifogging encouraged; could we penetrate the mysterious secrets of some of the detailed officers and wire pullers at the little court rooms, and look in upon the monstrous deceit and corruption which pervade this system, and the horrid orgies which go on under the name and authority of the law, we should draw back in horror at the spectacle. When rowdies, ruffians and criminals control the election of magistrates, it is time to resort to some better system.

LEGAL REFORM-THE NEW CODES.

Every member of society is interested not only in those great principles of law which guaranty him the undisturbed enjoyment of his civil rights, but also in the means of so applying these principles as to secure him equal and exact justice. The forms and technicalities of law are frequently of immeasurable importance to the suitor, and a mistake in choosing the proper method for obtaining his rights may entirely preclude him from legal redress. It is true, that a man going to

the law generally leaves the machinery of his case to his lawyer; but it is equally true that if that machinery is defective, or slow, or in any way unreliable, sooner or later, he will suffer for it.

The forms or remedies of law under which our courts are now acting [1858] have been handed down to us from remote ages. Originally simple and precise, they have grown into a vast and complicated system. The mother country especially, groans under cumbrous and unwieldy technicalities which surround the avenues to justice and waylay the steps of the unwary suitor. The delay and injustice of the English court of chancery has made it a "by word and a hissing," and will in a few years exterminate it forever. Efforts are now being made in high quarters to reform the English courts; efforts in which Lord Brougham has not been backward, and to which Charles Dickens has dedicated his last novel.

In our country, legal reform has been commenced with spirit, and carried out with determination. In this state, great and important changes have already commenced.

The court of chancery, with all its cumbersome machinery, has been abolished, and has given place to a simple and more efficacious system. The old fashioned distinction between actions at law and suits in equity no longer exists, and there is now but one form for all civil actions. The structure of the courts has been reorganized, and the judges are not appointed for life by the executive, but elected by the people for a term of years. Last, but not least of these eventful changes,