One Of The Western Gunboats

We givu a description of Üio Benton, one of the guuboats to be euiployed in the Mississippi expedition, from the correspondcnce of tlio N. Y. Times : Oue of the boats, the Beuton, has a flag-staíf crocted from the upper dcok; froin the top of wbich fioats the American flag, while on the bottom is nailcd a sign, " For Memphis aud New Orleans.:' The Benton looks as if this somewhat vaunting advertisemeut could be mado true with no great trouble. It is built so that, when rcady for service, little will bo presented above the water line save the ïnuzzles of the guns and the top of the smoke-stacks. All the mahincry is uuder the water, and this part is so divided into water-tight compart ments, that, in case a ball should enter one, it can do no material damage. ïhe Bide3 are sloped at an anglo of about iortj-fivc degrees, and are covered xtitk iron platos two and ono half inchos in thickness, securely boltcd to eaoh othcr and through tho heavy timber beneath. Each píate has been submitted to adequate tests, and 3 calculatcd to resist any missile known to modern warfare. The bow is pierced with four port holes, through which will protrude the muEzles of four 32-pound Parrot guns ; the stern will have two pieces of the same sort; the sidos will have each six of those formidablo 10 inch columbiads, whose range is ouly equallod by anything a trine less than infinity. The magazine is perfcctly inacoessible to accidenta of any kind, aud is placed below the waterline, near tho stern. This brief outline of the Eonton will serve as a specimen for nearly all the others. Secretary Chase's Plan of Finance. The plan of fmauce proposcd by tho Secretary of the Treasury is now ander consideration by the Sonate Committee. The Secretary's views, as laid down iu Lis ablo report and elabórate document, which is now before tho committee, together with a careíully drawn up bilí which it is thought will not only meet tho requirements of the Government, but the general approval of the country. - Greater advautages are to be offered to the banks and banking associatious than they now possess. First, it is proposed to secure to the country a curreney of universal valué ; aud secoud, to oblain a largo demand for Government bonds. - It is proposed that a bureau of curreney be cstablished in the Treasury Department, authorized to reeeivo f'roni all tho banks bonds of the United States on dcpoBit as security for tho payment of such bilis as the Secretary shall certify are reeoived in the Treasury. These bilis to be made payablo by the signature of tho Cashier or President at the bank from wheuce they may be issued, in coin or demand notes. ïhe benciits of this provisión to be open to all asaociations tbr banking purposeg now existing or hereafter to be organized. To add to tho inducements for investing in the Government bonds, it is proposed to receivo and pay out through tho Government agencies the notes of such bauks as have secured their curreney by a deposit of the bonds of' the United States in the Treasury; and to induce oíd institutions as well as now ones to invest their wholo capital in these bonds, tho Seeretary intends to use such banking associations as fiscal agents of the government, with power to collect all taxos and other dues coming to the Government, and with authority to reccivc and pay out all bilis that are secured in tho Treasury. A bilí to carry out all these objects embraced in the Seoretary's Report is now beforo tbc proper committces of the two llouses, and will probably be reportcd in a few days. Sucli a bilí, it is supposed, will cnable the Secretary to obtain all the inoney ho requiros for twenty year bonds. - Washington Cor. of N. Y. Times. ZyST When tho plougb u;ih firat introduued into South Airica, ono of tho Cañre lords exclaimod, ''See how the thing tears up tho grounA with its möuth ! It is worth moiPftlian fïvo wivos !"