The Weekly Comet

CORRESPONDENCE.

New Orleans, August 11th, 1854

Dear Comet.—There is some consolation in the reflection that this very warm weather will last but a few weeks at most, but the heat of the weather is less oppressive than the drouth We have had no rain of consequence for several weeks, and the streets and fields are as dry as parched corn. We have clouds and winds every day, but no rain, though at a short distance in all directions there is plenty of that kind of blessing.

I have had another ramble "over the Lake," and returned this morning to find a great portion of the city in ashes, still smoking and smouldering though hundreds are already at work upon the ruins, digging therefrom safes and other valuables that may have escaped the devouring flame. The gutters near the burnt district, still run with oil and grease and acids &c., but it is one consolation to the owners of this running stream of "valuable liquids," that it is paid for or will be paid for. That portion of said liquids that belonged to "King Alcohol's" domains, will do just as much good the way it has gone, as it would have done had it gone down the throats of living humanity, instead of down in the gutters. The details of the great fire are already before your readers, and therefore I will not repeat them here. I was told by one who saw the thing itself that arrangements were made by some one, to fire the beautiful block of buildings fronting Commercial alley, but the timely discovery of the materials, and the preparation for the arrest of any one who might be caught near the spot in the night, probably frustrated the design. I have heard also of other cases, in different parts of the city, until it would seem that the very fiends from — down below, had come up in our midst to run riot and destroy every thing before them.

Chandler who shot Highams last week, and whose examination has been going on for several days, was yesterday committed to the Parish prison, to wait his trial before the 1st District Court, for murder (Chandler is a young man of good appearance, a fair face, and has not in slightest look of coolblooded murderer about him. A good deal has been said by all parties about this case and Chandler has been greatly censured for his action in the case, but I am inclined to think that he did the deed in a moment of fear, and under the impression that Highams intended to do him a deadly blow, unless he was officially prevented by some act of his own This is the way I interpret the evidence given by witnesses for both the defence and prosecution. It is indispensable that the man Highams sought a personal quarrel and fight with Chandler, and like too many such cases, he lost his life in the pursuit of it. Though we have much warm weather, still the numbers of people here from the country is large, and cabs, hacks, omnibuses, and drays keep up their usual thunder and racket as they rush and roll through the streets.

Gen. Quitman is in town apparently none the worse for being the particular object of Gov Marcy's vengeance, and the Fillibusters generally seem greatly gratified with the recent news from Spain. Since the departure of the Grapeshot from the Balize, there has been quite a stir about her mission, especially among the Cubanos here, it being their firm belief that she has gone down the coast of Cuba, to put ashore some ten or twenty thousand muskets, and ammunition to correspond. One thing is certain, the Grapeshot had a mission to perform; she will perform it, return to New York and it may be, ultimately not long hence return to the Gulf shore—verbum sat.

The news from Spain is interesting and one fact alone is not a little singular. It is the employment in the ranks of the revolutionists of the great Caravajal who figured out on the Rio Grande a few years ago. This fellow Caravajal is said by those who are entitled to all confidence to be one of the most arrant cowards living, when the "battle is on" but when it is off he can talk louder and bluster more than any other fellow of his inches. The revolution in Mexico still goes on and Alvarez is not dead as was reported sometime ago, but "still lives" the soul and centre of one of the most powerful national movements that has taken place in Mexico since the Great Scott was thundering at the gates of her capital.

If what I learned to-day by some parties just from Mexico, the Sloo grant or contract won't be worth the paper it is printed on, six months hence. The hauntepee is destined ere long to be an independent State with such auxiliaries as will protect it from again falling into the hands of Mexico.