The Sun. — London, England, 1867-04-22 00:00:00

Trades' Unions. In The Sun of Saturday the first part of the evidence of Mr. R. Applegarth, the secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters, before the Royal Commission on Trades' Unions was given. That and the following evidence was given before Sir W. Erie (chairman), the Earl of Lich field, Sir E. W. Head, K.C.8., Mr. 11. Merivale, C. 8., Mr. J. Booth, C. 8., Mr. Roebuck, M.P., Mr. T. Hughes, M.P., and Mr. F. Harrison. After the evidence on piecework already given in the Sun, the witness was examined by Mr. Roebuck with regard to a rule in the society to the effect that any man who upbraided another for coming back to his work on being declared by the Executive to be in the wrong was to be fined. The witness ex plained that a man might consider himself in the right on any question, and would appeal to the Executive, who might say, " You are in the wrong, and not your employer." " That man would go back to his work, or should do so. Now" (and the point deserves attention) " if there were a member in the same shop who upbraided him for coming back, that would be a finable offence according to the rule just read." It was thus left open to men to say and do what they liked in cases where men used their own judgment in resuming or continuing work. The question, a very wide one, as to the organi sation and the results of strikes was gone into, on an examination by Mr. Harrison and Mr. Hughes. Mr. Harrison asked, " On what principle does the Executive proceed when it considers the desirable nessor the reasonableness of an application to strike? What data have you for examining the state of trade, and on what principles do you come to a de cision ?" The witness said, " We have before us the monthly reports, compiled out of returns which are carefully filled in by the branch secretaries all over the country, sent to the general office, and then com piled by myself and issued again to the branches, stating the condition of trade in each locality and the number of members unemployed. These are carefully preserved from year to year. In addition to that we have a table of statistics as to the rate of wages they are receiving, and the number of hours they are working for those wages, and the general conditions of their work. These statistics are referred to, and they are compared with the price of provisions and the conditions under which other branches are work ing. We have a correct record month . after month and year after year of the state of trade in any given town. We will take, for instance, Liverpool. We have a record which has been kept ever since the society has been in existence, telling us how the trade has been in Liverpool each month during that time, and we know the rate of wages that the men have received, and the number of hours they have had to work for them. When they apply for leave to solicit an increase of wages we say, Liverpool is working under such conditions ; what is Sheffield doing ? what is Manchester doing ? what is London doing ?' And then we consider the question whether Liverpool has got its fair share of wages when com pared with other towns." Mr. Harrison—" When you say the state of trade, does that mean the price that the article is fetching ?" Witness—" No ; I am referring particularly now to whether trade is brisk or dull in our particular line." Mr. Harrison—" Does not the price that work is fetching afford you the indication of what ought, to be the rate of wages ?" Witness—" We have no means of knowing what price our employers' work is fetching." Mr. Hughes —" You take the cases where the men in your trade are well employed to guide you in your decision ?" Witness—" Yes." Mr. Harrison—" Have you any means of ascertaining what is the amount of demand for your labour, what is likely to be required by the public, by contractors, and so forth ?" Witness—" Yes we have the Builder and other very excellent news papers which give accounts of tenders and large jots, and if there is any doubt at all on the question, two disinterested parties (or one, as the case may be) are sent down to ascertain what jobs are going on in the neighbourhood, and to make the fullest investigation into the state of trade, so as to know whether the men are really asking what is reasonable, and whether they are pretty unanimous in - what they are asking." Mr. Ilarrison—" Can you bring any thing to show whether strikes have been more fre quent or less frequent since the time that your society has been in vigour, as compared with the time when it was not in full operation, or as between districts where your society has not many branches compared with districts where it is strong in branches ?" Witness—" As far as my experience goes, strikes have been rather more frequent, but on a very small scale, during the last four years. I have not ascertained accurately what strikes there have been outside of our own society ; but, taking the past ten years previous to the existence of our society, I think that certainly, so far as I am able to judge, there would be more strikes then than now ; yet during the last four years they have been frequent, but of very short duration." Mr. Harri son—" Can you compare the strikes in districts to which your society does not extend or in which similar societies are not in existence with those in districts where your society is strong ?" Witness— " We have no means of getting accurate informa tion. Generally speaking, men not in association accept terms less favourable than the men in asso s ciation." The witness then went on to show, from the report of the society, the effects of combination in raising wages and in lessening the hours of labour. During the past year " in no less than 52 towns had the combination caused advances of wages varying from Bd. to 45." a week to each man, and in thirty different towns the members had obtained a reduc tion of the hours of labour. Mr. Roebuck was told, in answer to a question, that facts were taken as profs of the real advantage of the society, and ho asked, " You do not know the effect that the so ciety has had upon the employers I suppose ?" and the witness answered "No ; in a selfish world the employers look out for their own interests as well as we for ours." The witness further acknow ledged, in answer to Mr. Roebuck, that the fact that the society was doing what was favourable towards the members was not to be taken as proof that it was doing what was favourable towards the public. Sir W. Head questioned the witness as to the interests of labour and capital, and the latter acknowledged that the interests of the men de pended upon the amount of capital employed in the trade, and that this depended upon the profit made by the employer. Sir William then asked, " There fore your interests may be affected indirectly through the employer, although the direct benefit is gained. by the workmen?" The witness replied, " Yes ; but 1 would ask what we should do in the event of all the rest of the trades getting an advance of wages and the price of things going up, if we were to stand still?" The witness was then questioned with respect to the fact of woodwork fur buildings, such as doors and sashes, being manufactured abroad and brought to this country. Ile said he understood that there was a great quantity of this work lying at the east of London, but he said " the employers themselves are fighting shy of it." He was asked by Mr. Roebuck, if it were better and cheaper than English work, whether the men would oppose the introduction of it into this country, and he answered, " Not in the least. If they can pro duce it better or cheaper abroad, let them do so. I say that either they are doing it at starvation prices, or we must go there ourselves and manufac ture it and have a share in the advantage." At a further stage the subject was again spoken of, and the witness acknowledged that lie could not say the foreign work was inferior to English work ; but he said he had heard that it had been offered at a ridi culo ss i y - low price, but he believed this was owing to it having been imported in a ship which became waterlogged, and that the work was damaged. Ile believed that the work came from Gotten burg, and he had heard that the price of provisions had doubled in that place since the work had been imported. The very delicate subject of " rattening" was then entered upon. He said, speaking of his own society, that he had never known a case of intimidation, but acknowledged that he bad heard of such cases among members of the General Union, another and larger society in the trade. Mr. h arrison _ « Has it ever come to your knowledge since you have been secre tary of the society that any practice analogous in any way to that of rattening at Sheffield has been practised in your trade ?" Witness—" Yes." Mr. Harrison— ,, What is the practice ?" Witness— " As far as my experience of trade matters goes the rattening that we have heard of only in reference to the Sheffield trades is common to every trade, and what is meant by rattening is that if a man renders himself objectionable to those he is working with they try to make it unpleasant to him in some way or other. I will mention an instance of rattening that took place at a large job at Trollope's, in Pim lico. Two men were discussing over their break fast, and one struck the other. On that occasion the other men agreed among themselves to put the man in Coventry' for a month who had struck the other—that is to say, not to speak to him at all. Every man on the job pledged himself under the penalty of a fine not to speak to him, and they car ried out their decision. That is the mildest form of rattening, and that is common to all trades. Again, it is the practice in many trades to remove a man's working tools, not to steal them. Now that is a thing which I do not sanction or believe in at all, and it is a thing that is very fast dying out, but it is only fair to the Sheffield trades to say that it is not peculiar to them. I believe these practices are to be foundramong the trades that may be considered the most highly educated trades." The Earl of Lichfield—" You have a great many offences men tioned in your rules as subject to fines; have you any fine for a man acting in the way you have de scribed, using violence, or making himself dis agreeable in any way to another man with whom he may be working ?" Witness—" We do not take cognisance of the conduct of members, so long as it has not any connection at all with the matters pertaining to the society, unless it be that they are guilty of felony." Mr. Roe buck—" Striking a man in the face bas nothing to do with your society, as I understand you, then?" Witness—" No ; I mean that we have no rule what ever to enforce a penalty in a case of the kind I have mentioned." Mr. Roebuck—" You'spoke of ratten ing, and made use of the mild phrase of removing' not ' stealing' tools. Now, removing tools from a man I suppose takes away his power of doing his work ? Witness—" Yes." Mr. Roebuck—" And therefore deprives him of his wages?" Witness— " Yes." Mr. Roebuck—" And therefore reduces him to starvation ?" Witness—" Yes it may be carried out to that extent." Mr. Roebuck—" That is rather a heavy result, is it not ? Witness—" It is, but you will remember that I said I did not agree with the practice." Mr. Harrison—" Does your society officially recognise the practice ?" Wit ness—" Certainly not." Earl of Lichfield—" Do they discourage it?" Witness —" They do dis courage it." Mr. Harrison—" If a member of the union finding, for instance, that he could work a great many more hours than was stated in the rules, that being a strong man and a very skilful man he could work piecework or overtime in the way not recognised by the rules, and if for that purpose he proposed to leave the union, could he do so without molestation ?" Witness—" Yes, certainly, we say to every man When you are no longer willing to work under the rules you must leave us.' " Mr, Roebuck—" Would there not in such a case be that milder form of rattening of which you have spoken already ?" Witness--" I am not prepared to say that it would not be done in the workshop, but the society countenance nothing of the kind." Mr. Harrison—" Then the restriction upon freedom of labour which your society imposes amounts to this, —that the members of the society will voluntarily consent to work under certain conditions so long as they receive certain benefits?" Witness—" Cer tainly." Mr. Harrison—" And if they choose to work under different conditions they must forego those benefits and leave the society ?" Witness— , " Yes." These are the chief points of evidence given by this witness. Mr. Geoige Potter was then ' examined, but his evidence disclosed no new facts beyond those already given. This is all the testi mony that has been given up to the present time, and the Commission has been adjourned over the Easter holydays. MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN NETT/S. (From Correspondents of " The Anglo-American Times.") PARIS, April 18. France is at present proving to Europe and the world that she is prompted by nothing more than an earnest desire for the maintenance of peace, and even when war would seem necessary and justi fiable she tries to avert it by conciliatory measures, which appear inconsistent with the proud, war-like spirit that animates her whole people when her national honour is at all concerned. In withdraw ing from Mexico she made a concession to the ami cable relations between the United States Govern ment and herself ; in suffering the humiliation of Austria and the unity of Germany she perhaps endangered her future tranquillity, but still per mitted the desire for peace to prevail over personal interests. She now gives another evidence of her reluctance to unsheath the sword by consenting to a settlement of the Luxembourg question in refer ring its solution to a conference of the Powers which signed the Treaty of 1839. Should the Prussian Government consent to sub mit the subject to the conference all will be well, (for a while at least) between the two rival powers. But if Bismarck, as is supposed, intends to qualify his assent to the decision of the conferring powers, with certain reservations, all further at tempts to solve the question peacefully will be abandoned, and war, prompt and immediate, the only alternative left for France. As a justification of their continued occupation of the fortress of Luxembourg, the Prussian semi official journals are asserting that the garrison could not be withdrawn without affecting the security of Belgium. They say that the question of the Luxem bourg is not simply an object of litigation between France and Germany,—that if the fortress, in a German point of view, was destined to the defence of the Germanic Confederation, it was also, in a European point of view, intended for the guarantee of Belgian neutrality. Belgium herself will not feel flattered in discovering all at once so many zealous protectors in a nation whose hypocritical sympathies find a most worthy mouth-piece in Herr von Bismarck. Prussia must evacute Luxembourg. Upon this point there is scaraely any possibility of compromise, as France is determined that her rival shall no longer occupy a place of so great an im portance to the defence of her country. From Berlin we learn that the probabilities of an early war were being generally discussed in every quarter. Building enterprise, more especially, is flagging, and being abandoned, because, says a French writer, the expectation of lodging soon under tents induces the inhabitants of the city to postpone for other times the erection of their houses. In Paris and in London the Stock Exchange has been under going something like a panic on account of the fast multiplying rumours of war. Apart from the un easiness manifested by the holders of certain "foreign securities," there are r,o symptoms of alarm among the French people, and business seems to be progressing smoothly and prosperously. On the Ist of January of this year the effective of the French army, including the forces in Algeria and Mexico, was 395,485 men, and the reserve 255,614 ; making a total of 651,099 disciplined troops. France, if necessary, could readily increase this force to over one million, and by resorting to general conscription could raise any desired number of fighting men. The soldiers are accustoming themselves daily to the use of ucw breech -loading arms. The favourite weapon is the ChaKepot gun, by which twelve shots per minute can be easily fired. Recent and thorough experiments have proved the excellency of this arm, and I pr•sume it will be generally adopted in the infantry service. A grand ceremony took place at the French Academy a few days ago on the occasion of the in stallation of Monsieur Cmillier Fleury in the aca demic chair, vacant by the de,i,th of Monsieur Dupin. The duty of the newly-elected immortal was to pronounce in his opening speech a eulogium upon the virtues, talents, services, &c., of his pre decessor. Dupin is well known in France, as hay ing been an eccentric and an err; tie genius, who figured in many important events in the present and late century, changing his po;litical principles to suit the regime under whip he was living, guilty of many remarkable inconsistencies which his public life would not suffer to be forgotten ; more celebrated asa humourist tl Jam an academician or statesman, and leaving notl lizg, in the way of THE SUN, LONDON, MONOAY EVENING, APRIL 22, 1867. literary productions, specially bearing the impress of genius. The speaker had a difficult task ac corded him in attempting to portray the merits of the deceased, but he accomplised it gracefully and successfully. The faults of the old man were not recalled, and his virtues only, reviewed. An exhibition of the paintings of the lamented Ingas is now opened at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, and is daily attracting crowds of visitors. More than 300 pictures, many of which are chef dceuvres, are included in this magnificent assemblage of the works of the great master. His " Virgin and In fant Jesus," " Apotheosis" of Homer," "Martyrdom of St. Sympherien," and the " Soiree," are a few of the remarkable productions now on exhibition. In front of the P alais de l'lndustrie an equestrian statue of Napoleon I. has been erected. This statue was executed by General Charles Pajoe, and is in tended for the city of Montereau. The Universal Exhibition is still far from being completed, yet it affords exhaustless objects of in terest to the visitor. The section appropriated to machinery is especially replete with everything in the way of mechanical wonders, which must in terest the most careless observer. One of the peculiarities of this fair is the competition of several of the religious bodies, disputing the empire of souls. In an appropriate section of the Park is a small, neat church, containing all necessary acces sories for Catholic worship. Not far from this an English Evangelical church has been constructed, and was inaugurated yesterday with befitting pomp and ceremony. English exhibitors can now, without going out of the Champs de Mars, perform their religious devotions. Some distance further is a Turkish mosque, where the Mussulman service, no doubt, will be performed for the benefit of the faithful followers of the good prophet Mahomet. It is fortunate that the other 5,000 or 6,000 religious denominations have not also deter mined to be represented at the world's fair of 1867, or a worse than Babel confusion would have resulted from the proximity of the spiritual controversies of this heterogeneous multitude. Two handsome small boats, exhibited by the Empress, have just been ad mitted into the Exhibition. One is a Venetian gondola, and the other a long boat (caique). On the occasion of the reception of these specimens the commissioners of the section in which they were placed sent an exhibitor's card to the Empress with the portrait in the corner. This card, like all others, bears the inscription giving the number of class and name of exhibitor. Prince Napoleon has had constructed at Cowes, Isle of Wight, a small yacht of 10 tons, which will make its appearance to-day in the Exhibition, and remain there until the period for the International Regattas, in which it will take part. A complete American Circus troupe, with two lice Indians, is expected daily in Paris, and will exhibit during the season at the Cirque de l'lmperatrice. Another company, I think, intends giving representations in the Cirque Imperial, so we shall have every oppor tunity of judging of the superiority of American equestrian performances. An interesting cargo of Senegambian negroes will soon arrive as visitors to the Exposition. These negroes belong to the high aristocracy of the tribes placed under the sove reignty of France. In wandering over the World's Fair you encounter representatives of almost every race and colour under the sun. Chinese, Turks, Africans, &c., are every-day sights, and seem to enjoy hugely the wonders exposed. In fact, to an American visitor, the singularities of costumes, diversity of colour, language, &c., constitute one of the greatest attractions of the Exhibition. ROME, April 16. On Friday last occurred the celebration of the Pope's return from his exile at Gaeta. A review was held at the Macao, on the site of the old Praetorian camp. The number of troops on the ground could not have exceeded 5,000, and was probably less. Three lines of infantry in double rank extended across the field, leaving, however, a wide space at each end, besides openings of consi derable width between the battalions, and the field is about 300 yards in width. Besides the infantry there were two batteries of artillery, each contain ing four guns of small calibre. There was also a showy squadron of cavalry. A little after five o'clock the General Commanding, with a large staff, brilliantly equipped and finely mounted, rode duwn the lines at a rapid pace, after which the men pile] arms, and all became dull in the extreme, ex cept when some high-mettled horse got up a per formance on his own account. The carriages, of which a considerable number were gathered at the lower end of the field, began to roll off, and the spec tators on foot threw themselves down on the grass, or against the barrack railings, and it became evident ;hat all was finished until the arrival of the Pope, for whom a small pavilion with a throne had been erected. The number of spectators was the smallest I ever saw at any military parade. Guards certainly had never an easier time. In the vicinity of the throne there were about three lines of lookers-on, among whom monks and foreigners were numerous. The former seem still to think that there is some antagonism between cleanliness and godliness, if one may judge by the discomfort their vicinity occasions. On the greater part of the line the duties of the sentries were merely nominal, no one approaching them except an occasional straggler. A single regiment of militia would have drawn a larger concourse to a " June training" in any New England village. Foreign visitors would very easily have accounted for all the carriages present. After waiting in vain for nearly an hour, the brilliant idea suddenly occurred to my own party that the Pope would not arrive until nearly dark, in order to witness the illumina tion on his return. Though this was conjectural, the chill of the evening air, and the propriety of a dinner, were certainties sufficient to determine our return. ,As we approached the Piazza di Spagna we found the illumination had already begun, and by seven o'clock it was in its full brilliancy. The long line of steps leading up from the Piazza di Spagna to the Pincian were brilliantly lighted, and the outline of the obelisk and cross at the summit brought out in lines of light, the whole forming a very beautiful display. The Piazza Colonna had the semblance of a Gothic temple, covering the whole front of the large building facing the Corso. The square in front of the Pantheon presented more glare than taste, though a few lights within the portico brought out well the proportions of that grand old relic of heathenism. On the Piazza Navona much pains had been bestowed. Around and within, the fountain lights of various colours were burnt, making the work look better than it pro bably ever did by day. Lights, in festoons and circles, extended nearly to the sides of the square, and at either end the keys and tiara blazed within a star. The Via Rissetta was brilliantly illuminated, and the effect of the lightsas reflected in the water was very fine. Opposite the Castle of St. Angelo was a semi circular wood-work, bearing a fanciful resemblance to the front or the tribune of a church. In the centre stood a statue of the Apostle Peter, and in five niches were painted human figures of various complexions, representing apparently the five races, which, at the sides, united to do reverence to the Pope and to receive his blessing. Here, at the ar rival of the Papal cottage, some little excitement was produced by the horses of the dragoons, which be came so frightened at the crowd, the carriages, and the blue-lights as to be scarcely manageable, and whirled about in a way somewhat perilous to those in their vicinity. The street leading to St. Peter's was decorated with boughs of evergreens and circles of lights, in which the wooden hoop was somewhat too pro minent, though the whole effect was pretty. The great church itself displayed only a few lights along the front, leaving the colonnades and the grand dome in shadow. The streets throughout the evening were crowded with carriages and foot-passengers. The private houses were adorned with numerous lanterns, and it was impossible to doubt that the people, for some reason or other, enjoyed the show. Perhaps the explanation of their apathy in the afternoon and enthusiasm in the evening is that they like the Pope, but not the Papal King. It is pretty evident the armed supporters of the latter authority are little admired by the people. On Saturday morning I attended the service in the little chapel at the bead of the Scala Santa, one of the rare occasions when a certain picture is un covered—a picture said to have been painted by St. Luke and finished by an angel. One or both of the artists had a very Egyptian taste, but there were men even of middle age, who very devoutly pressed crucifixes against the glass which covers the pic ture, and under which, at the distance of some two inches, is a cross of silver placed at the waist of the painted figure. Yesterday were performed in St. Peter's the usual ceremonies of Palm Sunday. The day was fine and the attendance was considerable. A large number of Protestants stood on the pavement for nearly five hours, and perhaps it is doing no in justice to any of them to say that no eloquence could have induced them to sit half that time in their own places of worship. The ladies, the diplo matists, and distingui.hed guests had certainly the best of it. i was amused to see an officer of the Colorado, who happened to be iu full uniform, pass on the score of his epaulettes to a position which would hardly have been accorded to an European officer of equal rank ; but it was decidedly comical to witness the long and profound nap of a fat ecclesiastic on the steps of the high altar, and the promptness with which•he woke at the cessation of the chant, just in time to rise and face the altar. You will doubtless have heard before this of the recent descent of brigands upon itocca di Papa. The band numbered about fifty, and exacted as large a contribution of food and drink as the poor little vil lage could yield even to force. It would seem from this that the affairs of the fraternity are not in a very prosperous condition, and this little incident will diminish:still further their possible revenues, by frightening away many who would otherwise have visited Frascati and Tivoli. tator Francia hermetically closed the country for thirty years, and the world Ceased to know or care about a country in which it had no interest. The general idea was ; that the prescribed boundaries were inhabited by simple ani docile Indians, who had voluntarily given themselves up to the rule of a grasping and sanguinary tyrant; while Christen dom accepted the statements of the Government of Brazil, with whom they were in communication. Attention is now being roused to the subject by the unequalled gallantry with which the Paraguayans have kept at bay the combined effort of such com paratively powerful countries to subdue them ; and the creditors of Brazil are beginning to feel alarmed as the war progresses, accumulating a debt, without producing a result. "It must be," says the author, " the wish of all who sympathise with the brave and the just in an unequal struggle, that this free and freedom-loving State may conquer in this war. She will perish rather than give in,—for the freedom of the Mouth of La Plata is essential to her commercial and political existence." The author has spent many years in the La Plata countries, and is per sonally acquainted with most of the influential public men of these States. His bias is strongly towards the Paraguayans, and if his facts be correct he has good grounds for the conclusions at which he has arrived. He ends his interesting pamphlet with this remark :—" For the sake of dommerce and of the world it should be desired by every Englishman that the policy of Paraguay may prevail." The cli mate is said to be the most healthy in the world. The soil is fertile, feeding countless flocks and herds ; while forests flourish, producing the most valued woods, bark, and gum, in boundless profusion. Upon the fertile banks of the streams grow the sugar-cane, cotton, tobacco, rice, mandioca, Indian corn, and a thousand other productions, chief among which is a tea, prized by all the States of the Continent.—Anglo-Atuerican Times. _ MISCELLANEOUS AMERICAN NEWS. W. P. Atkinson read a paper at the institute of technology meeting at Boston, to prove that the national debt, funded at 6 per cent., would be paid off by 1885, with reduced rates of taxation. Ile estimates that the population at that time will be 59,000,000. The average debt per capita will have decreased from $l5 in 1860 to $8 60 in 1868, and the computation is based on a continuance of the same rate. Mr. Butler's proceedings in the house, when he flourished Booth's diary before the eyes of the members, has created some astonishment among the public. This diary is an ordinary morocco covered note-book. It was taken from the breast of the assassin and came into the hands of the Judge-Advocate-General Holt. When received by that functionary some of the first pages were missing, and it has never been discovered who was the spoliator. The most probable surmise is that they were cut out by Booth himself. The Rev. Geo. Trask of Fitchbourg has addressed an elaborately argumentative appeal to Gen. Grant, in which every variety of argument is used to induce the general to give up the habit of smoking. "We address you," says the petitioner, "in relation to an immense evil ; we pray you to abandon your cigar in behalf of Young America." Many of the journals condemn this proceeding as an impertinence, but the Nation confines its remarks to the argu ments used. " Smoking," it says, " may be a bad habit, but there is considerable difficulty in making out a good case against it as regards its effects on health, and its enemies are apt to damage their cause by trying to prove too much. One of the first authorities in America on diseases of the nerves approves of it, which shows that even doctors differ • about it ; and well they may, considering that the civilised world has smoked hard for two hundred years, and the bills of mortality have gone on falling all the time. The example of Turkish lethargy, too, is fairly set off by the example of Prussian vigour. If there be tougher brains in the world than those of German scholars, we do not know where to (Ind them ; and some of the most enthusiastic of German scholars are amongst the most persistent smokers. We are not arguing now in defence of smoking. We are simply deprecating the air of mathematical certainty which too many social reformers seek to throw over their reasonings on subjects about which demonstra tion, or, in fact, anything more than guessing, is im possible." THE FIRST AMERICAN GOLD MINE.—The firot piece of gold found in the United States is said to have been found in Cabarrus county, North Caroline, in 1799. It seems, from the account furnished to Mr. Wheeler by Col. Burnhardi, that a boy named Conrad Reed went with his sister and younger brother to a small stream, called Meadow Creek, on a Sunday, and while engaged along the banks of the stream shooting fish, he saw a yellow sub stance shining in the water, which he picked up and found to be metal. His father carried it to Conrad and showed it to William Atkinson, the silversmith of the village, who was unable to tell what it was. It was taken home by Mr. Reed, and being the size of a small smoothing iron, it was used as a weight against the door to keep it from shutting. In 1802 he carried it to market at Payettville, where a jeweller pronounced it to.be gold, and melted it, producing a bar six or eight inches long. It was sold to the jeweller for $3 50, a "big price," as Mr. Reed thought. UNITED STATES IMPORTS. —The official return for the half-year ending the 21st of December, 1866, the first half of the fiscal year, shows that the imports into the United States (including specie and bullion) amounted at declared specie value to $197,965;845; and very nearly this amount was " marketed," the imports entered for ware housing being but $6,550,000 more than the imports with drawn from warehouse in the half-year. The Customs' duties received, amounted to about $87,500,000, being 44 per cent. The total imports, in specie value, in the year ending with June, 1860, amounted to $326,683,097 ; 1861, $305,004,732 ; 1862, $189,425,112; 1863, $228,652,597 ; 1864, $309,874,330; 1865, $207,426,298 ; 1866,'5423,957,036; first half of 1867, as above, $197,965,845. A SURVEY ACROSS TIM CONTINENT.—Congress has authorised the beginning of a very important practi cally scientific work—no less than a th oroug h geogra phical, topographical, and geological survey of the great middle section of our national territory between the Mis souri River and the California line. A strip 100 miles wide, with the 40th parallel and the Pacific Railroad line as the centre, and embracing the settled and most rich mineral parts, of Colorado, Utah, and Nevada, is to be put under minute scientific examination, and the results mapped and recorded for the benefit of all civilisation. The geologist chosen for this great work, is Mr. Clarence King, a young man from Newport, Rhode Island, a graduate of Yale College, and for several years one of the chief assistants in the field of Professor Whitney in his important survey of Cali fornia. Mr. J. T. Gardner, another of Professor Whit ney's most valuable and experienced assistants, is to be associated with him, and a party of eight or ten scientific persons will be made up for the details of the work, which is to begin this season on the Sierra Nevadas in California, and progress eastward. By experience, learning, and enthusiasm, Mr. King is eminently well fitted for this enterprise, whose initiation and successful progress is, and will prove of immense value to the material interests of all the region to be explored, and whose revelations of scientific knowledge concerning the formation and elements, the history and the wealth, of the vast basin in the:west centre of the continent, will be awaited with curious interest by gavanz everywhere. The nation at large, the section espe cially subject to the exploration, and the young gentlemen to whom this rare, aid most interesting labour is assigned, aro all indeed to be congratulated. Russian America is inhabited by fifty thousand fishing, trapping, fur-bearing Esquimaux, and nine or ten thousand Russians, Russian Americans, and people whom the gazetteers call Alcoots and Kodiaks. They import a good part of their provisions, and export a yearly diminish ing quantity of furs. The country is a frozen wilderness, better known to arctic explorers and whalers than to most other men, and probably of no possible value to any men but them, the semi-civilised tribes that support existence there, and the Russian sutlers who trade with them. Tho territory is rather larger than eight States like New York would be, its area being 394,000 square miles. What we want of it, unless to take a solitude and call it Seward by erecting it into a Territory, we do not know, but we can buy the privilege of flying the stars and stripes over a colony, and a worthless colony, by paying $7,000,000 for it. This we suppose Congress will not do. There is no good reason fur doing it, and several good reasons for not doing it. We do not want far distant, detached colonies, nor ice and snow territories, nor Esquimaux . fellow citizens, nor Mt. Saint Elias, and there is nothing else to be had from Alaska and Barrow's Point, so far as we are informed. The Czar's intentions, aside from his design of getting the seven millions in gold, are doubtful. It may be, that ho thinks New Archangel not worth the powder and shot he may have to expend in its defence in case of a new Eastern war. It may be that he wants to impress Europe with the idea of the closeness of friendship that must exist between Russia and a country for whose sake Russia cuts off a limb. European statesmen, however, will hardly sleep the worse on account of the Plaftutora of an alliance be- The diary of Wilkes Booth will shortly be pub lished. The first date in this diary is the day of the assassination (April 14), and the announcement is made that the writer had forwarded to the National Intelligencer a statement of the plot which resulted in Mr. Lincoln's murder. This document was not received at the office of that journal. We learn that Lord Ernest Vane Tempest, who transferred his services from the cavalry of the British army to that of .the Confederates, is writing a book on the American War. Keat's Life by Lord Houghton (Richard Monck ton Milnes) will shortly be published. Mr. 'William B. Smith, recently editor of 7he Southern Field and Fireside, of Raleigh, being, as we ale in formed by a circular note, impelled by "a combination of circumstances producing events of the kind over which human efforts seem to wield no ultimate control," has be come connected with the publishing house of Messrs. A. S. Barnes and Co. Messrs. D. Appleton and Co. have set an admir able example to the publishers of the country, by con tributing 100,000 volumes to the movement for Southern education inaugurated by Mr. Peabody. Messrs. Scribner and Co., it is said, will do likewise, and others doubtless will follow. Mr. Charles E. Norton, editor of The North American Review, and well known as an accomplished Dantean scholar, will soon publish a version of the Vita Nuova. Mr. Thurlow Weed, in announcing to the readers of the Commercial Advertiser the fact that that long-estab lished and respectable newspaper had passed into his hands, covered nearly five columns of the issue of March 27 with a general summary of its past political career and present political opinions. It is believed that Mr. William Henry Hurlburt aids Mr. Weed in his new undertaking, with all his brilliant powers as a journalist. By the change the world loses the services of this gifted gentleman. During the period of Mr. Raymond's Congressional duties the 11 ew York Times was chiefly in charge of Mr. Weed. H. J. Raymond has been nominated Minister to Austria. We learn that the famous Tredegar Ironworks of Richmond are shortly to be put in operation by J. R. An derson and Co., under a charter from the General Assem bly of Virginia. John Prentiss, the veteran publisher of the Keene Sentinel, entered upon his 99th year on Thursday, March 21. He commenced the Sentinel in 1799, when he was 21 years old, and until 1851 dictated the contents and made up the form of his paper. He commenced business with one $5 bill, and for the material of his office he gave three notes, each of which bore the endorsement "Not to bo sued unless there is evident danger of losing it." Major-General H. W. Benham has been detailed to the command of Fort Warren, in Boston Harbour. General Rousseau is said to have done very good service during the war. We suppose there are plenty of men who could tell off-hand where it was he distinguished himself, and just how much glory belongs to him. In all probability there are official documents, too, that gauge his merits, and prove him to be a brave man and a good enough officer. As to our own knowledge of his record we confess that it is somewhat vague. But we should not have been particularly surprised at his nomina tion for a brigadiership in the regular army, and should have maintained the silence becoming the civilian in regard to it, if last summer Mr. Rousseau had not—we will not say thrashed Mr. Grinnell for words spoken in debate, but gone out attended by two or three friends, while Mr. Grinnell was alone, armed while Mr. Grinnell was defenceless, and made an assault, the manner of which disgraced the assailant as the assault itself disgraced the House of which Rousseau and Grinnell were members. All this ought to be remembered against him, and any ono of a dozen generals, good as he as mili tary men, and not notorious for any piece of mixed absurdity and ruffianism, might a great deal better have the office. An elaborate, und in parts amusing, appeal has been made to General Grant by the Rev. George Trask, of Fitchburg, praying him to stop smoking, and using every variety of argument—physiological, moral, historical, and religious —against the habit. The Hon. W. Gait and the Hon. W. Langrom have returned to Canada, and were well receivel. A pub lic dinner will be given to the former by his constituents at Sherbrooke. Thomas C. Patteson, Esq., a barrister, of Toronto, has been appointed by the Canadian Governmen a commissioner to the Paris Exhibition. It is belieVed that Mr. Patteson will, on his return, publish his notes of what he sees and hears in Europe. It is announced that. the Emperor and Empress of Russia will shortly proceed to Kissingen to drink the waters, and thence will visit the Paris Exhibition. Rev. Dr. Z. Barstow of Keene and Rev. William L. Gaylord of Fitz william are among the members elect to the next New Hampshire Legislature. William S. Ring, door-keeper of the New Hamp shire House of Representatives, and a prominent citizen of Northwood, was instantly killed by being caught in the shafting of a steam saw-mill. The Winter Garden will be replaced by a finer and larger edifice in a better part of the city of New York, under the management of Mr. Stuart, aided by Mr. Edwin &Booth. Much interest is excited in the building, which will em brace every improvement for ventilation, and for exit in case of fire.—Mr. Pike, of Oincinnati, is about to build an Opera House, and Mr. James H. Hackett will erect another theatre, of which he will take the management. It is said that the Broadway and Olympic are about to be devoted to ether purposes, which will leave room for the new theatres contemplated. . lowa has now 1,145 miles of railroad complete and in running order, which have cost in construc tion $45,480,000. When the roads now under con tract are completed, lowa will rank seventh as a railroad State. In 1850 there were only about 1,200 miles of railway in all the 'Western States. lowa has now nearly as many miles of railway as there were in all the Western States in 1850. Colonel E. D. Brigham is talked of in Boston circles as the successor of President Chapin of the 1r ..° tween this country and Russia, and the Czar himself pro- Western Railroad, when the occasion arises. Col. bably knows, that, not to put. too fine a point on it, Brigham is the successful president' of the Metro the people of the United States know little, and care less politan Horse Railroad, and having lately resigned about Russia. But with all these considerations we have his commission in the regular army has been re no concern. We are to consider our own interests, say lieved as chief commissary of the New England yes or no to Mr. Seward's chimerical project of saddlin g department. us with a frozen desert of a colony—and we imagine there At a meeting of the stockholders of the Boston will be little difficulty in choosing the right answer.—The and Providence Railroad at Boston the directors Nation. were authorised to enter into arrangements with the The coast of Maine, following the line of all its Providence, Warren, and Bristol Railroad for the indentations, is longer than the Atlantic cable. establishment of a line of steamers between Boston Harvard College has lately purchased for $20,000 and New York by way of Brist o l. real estate which it sold twenty years ago for $3,000. The Portland and Kennebec R a il roa d has male' stock dividend of 25 per cent., and p ro mises to fol - Mr. Franklin, of Jamaica, calls attention to the low it with one of cash in July. advantages to be secured by prompt action in procuring The next Legislature will be petitioned for a the selection of that island as a principal telegraphic eta- charter for a railroad from Manchester to Newburr tion for the submarine cable proposed to be laid from the port, Mass., via Exeter. Isthmus of Panama, across the West India islands, to the peninsula of Florida. It appears that three rival com panies are competing for concessions from NOW Granada &c., and that Jamaica, besides being the nearest and safest link in the chain, could afford the best port of call for orders, and most convenient rendezvous for ships and car goes waiting those orders. COMMON SCHOOLS OF NEW YORK.—Mr. Rice, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction in the State of New York, reports that in the year 1866 the number of children over five years of age attending school was 938,000, or about 24 per cent. of the population as enumerated at the census of 1860. The city schools were kept open 43 weeks in the year ; the rural schools (the schools for the greater part of the population) only 30 weeks and 20 days. Mr. Rico speaks strongly of the large numbers in the State grow ing up in ignorance, and suggests "that the time may come when the State will be obliged, for her own safety, to make attendance obligatory ; but he does not recommend a resort to that expedient at the present time. He advises that an effort should be made to accomplish the object by rendering the schools more attractive, by better school-houses and fur niture, more capable teachers and free schools. In order to secure better teachers, he recommends the establishment of more normal schools, of which he thinks there should be at least one for every thousand teachers required by the State schools, at least sixadditional normal schools for the State. The greatest defect in the school system is declared to be the rate-bill system, which should be superseded by a State tax. Mr. Rice holds that "the common schools can never attain their highest degree of usefulness until they shall have been made entirely free." The whole number of teachers employed was 26,494, of whom 5,062 were males and 21,432 females. The whole expense of maintaining the schools was $3,330,886 in the cities, and $3,302,049 in the rural districts, or $6,632,935 for the State. The amount paidto teachers, $4;558,890, averages only $172 each for the year; or adding $478,287 as the estimated value of the board of teachers who "boarded round," $l9O, or about $l4O specie, a very poor remuneration considering the ex tremely high prices of the necessaries of life in the United States. The fact of four-fifths of the teachers being females will to some extent account for the low stipends. The supply is in excess of the demand. The School Board of Cincinnati report a similar state of things in that city, and account for it by the fact that women will teach for less wages than they can earn by manual labour. The expen diture in school building in the State of New York in the last 10 years has averaged very nearly $700,000 a year, and yet the superintendent complains that the accommodation does not not keep pace with the growth of population, and even in New York city and Brooklyn the school-houses are insufficient to seat the children who apply for admission. In rural districts the same deficiency exists to an extent that a New York journal declares is " discredital le to the State." The inferior charcter of many. of the school houses, and the absence of any out-house is lamented ; but the extremely heavy taxation of the past four years is given as an excuse for deficiencies. Mr. M'Pherson, the clerk of the House of Representatives, is writing a life of Thaddeus Stevens. NOTE'S ON TIIE UNIVERSAL EXPOSP TION AT PARIS. This Great Industrial Exposition is fast being developed. Every day brings it nearer into shape In about a month visitors may expect to see it fulls opened ; and then it will, without doubt, be the grandest and most successful world's exposition ever held. We propose at present to speak of some of th e American productions. The United States are ne t as yet largely represented, but what has been sent is, in the main, of practical importance. Among the articles that arrest the attention of visitors, and that we were much interested in, was a cooking stove, the " Peerless," manufactured by Messrs• Pratt and Wentworth, of Boston, Massachusetts; this is a perfect gem. For fine castings, variety of furniture, and beauty of finish, we have never seen it surpassed. It will do anything that can be done with a range or any other stove. It bakes splendidly, giving what many stoves fail in alto gether, a perfectly even heat. It roasts by a rotary spit, and is equal to an open fire, and is , so con' strutted as to use the heat most economically. It is unquestionably the best stove for families, restaurants, and small hotels, now in use. I t attracts great attention from visitors to the Eng' sition, and ladies are charmed with it. The Perry mower is comparatively a new machine , but in the short time it has been before the public it has proved its worth and established its safe' riority. Mr. Perry evidently bas a clear practical mind, mechanical genius, and executive force to produce so valuable a machine, and one that readill, challenges the judgment of the man of science an' the practical farmer in its favour. It is attracting great attention from visitors. Manufacturers °C and dealers in mowing machines regard it wit h much interest, and farmers pronounce it the best machine on exhibition. We predict for the Per r i mower a successful future. Walter Baker's chocolate, of Boston, Masai" chusetts, United States, America, is shown. by te n or twelve varieties. We were kindly permitted W see the different cases opened, and to taste the quality, and we confess that it has never been out , fortune to see this mo s t w h o l esome ar ticle 4 : )1 domestic luxury so neatly put up, of such fine gralu and luscious taste as this chocolate of Baker's. W e do not think it can be surpassed for quality ° t flavour by any goods of the same class in the E2al l ' bition, if in the world. THE DOUGLAS PUMPS AND HYDRAULIC RAIOI W. and B. Douglas, of Middelton,Connectieu t t United States, America, have on exhibition abo ut forty pumps, of different sizes and styles, adapted to houses, factories, and garden uses, worked both 11 hand and mechanical power. This firm make much the best display of pull]P 4 in the Exposition, as to number, variety, excel- lence of workmanship, and perfection of design. These pumps are placed in the annex of theAtn e ' rican department, and call for much praise froL visitors generally, and pump-makers and dealer° examine them with great care, and speak of thea l in terms of high commendation. This is the oldest house of its kind in America, baying been established in 1812. THE WIIALER DIANA.—On Wednesday nig li ! Mr. Andrew Donald, the carp en t er o f th e ill-f a t e d whaliee vessel Diana, arrived in Dundee per train from Aberdeen' Mr. Donald belo ngs t o D un d ee. H e i s very lame an d feels exceedingly weak. The hard s hip s h e h as h a d to endue in common with the rest o f th e crew h ave h a d t h e i r di et upon him. It is unnecessary that we should re capituls w the harrowing description we p rev i ous ly p resen ted, 11 , ° speaks in the highest t e rm s o f th e f or tit u d e a nd ins" courage displayed by the c a pt a i n , o ffi cers , an d c rew. 14° one, he says, ever expected to reach Britain, and the Pr f/ . /1' tons to which they were subjected were calculated to dlr pel even the hallowed associations of home. All the ere"' have now left the Diana, and we understand that it is elr pected that another captain and crew will be sent to Le r , wick to take the vessel to Hull. It was previously state,' that 14 of the crew had died. We understand the nuiabel. is 13. All the others are doing well, and it is expected that they will all get better speedily. For the attention thie suffering crow have received at all hands since their arri vv . at Shetland they are unable adequately to express th e° thanks. The kindness bestowed on them they will never forget. The Diana, as may be supposed, is in a parties" larly worn-out condition. Her rudder i s b ro k e n, and o fle is leaking to a tremendous extent.—Dundee Advertiser. MR. SEWARD AND THE TELEGRAPIL—The Wester° Union Telegraph Company having determined not to Pro coed with the construction of the Russian American Telr graph, in consequence of the success or the Atlantic cable"' thought it right to communicate their decision to X I. ; Seward. In their letter to him they suggested that, i f h would make a representation of the case to Russia thro ai, the American Minister at that Court, the Russian Gove rn ment might be induced to continue its line of telegrap h °, the Russian possessions of North America; and in OP case the American company would extend their line, at P 0" sent terminating at New Westminster, to join the Res sll4li a line in Russian America. The letter therefore conclil d ! l with asking Mr. Seward' to give the weight of his offie is . , position towards thus accomplishing the work now lu t t rupted. Mr. Seward had to answer this letter just be f° , — , ho was able to make known the fact that he was in tr eav for the purchase of the Russian possessions in America" i i i his reply, dated March 28, he writes to the compaeYr—,‘,,o am not one of those who have been disappointed by complete and magnificent success of the Internationa l -I V lantic Telegraph, nor am I one of those who fear that tile United States will enjoy less of its wonderful benefits tbol any other nation. I regard it as tributary to an expansion our national commerce and ultimately of our political instio tutions, both of which I think are important forces / 11 progress of civilisation. I would not have the Atlantic cab become dumb again even if thereby I could immediately cure the success of the Inter-Continental Pacific Telegrar, enterprise, which was committed to your hands. Ne ger r • theless, I profess to a profound disappointment in the 011 0 pension of the latter enterprise. I admit that the rese en ,„,, which you have assigned for that suspension seem to 1;r irresistible. It is impossible for private individual s" corporate companies to build telegraphs without caP!'":o and it is equally impossible for individuals or corporatio. to procure capital for telegraphs that do not promise 1 1 mediate or at least speedy revenues. On the other ha il o f I abate no jot of my former estimates of the i m portane? , 0 the Inter-Continental Pacific Telegraph. Ido not belielto that the United States and Russia have given their fait h , i ,t each other and to the world for the prosecution of t'; great enterprise in vain. The United States Gove rnrsel is enlightened and wise. The Emperor of Russia is li be , t a ,4 as well as sagacious. Prince Gortschakoff is a pleas any well as a frank correspondent.. I will with pleasure 11330 your explanations known to him, and, with the Presidselot leave, I will ask a conference upon the question, shall be done next.' Accept my thanks for the frank" and cordiality of your communication." Births. g a jOgi BURD—On the 17th inst., at The Cottage, Wortten , '— the wifo of the Rev. Charles Burd, of a son. , HUGHES—On the 10th inst., at The Knoll, Ash'' 1 1 ", co South Devon, the wife of Major-Gen. Victor Ilugu" a daughter. LOVE—At 3, Camden Villas, Granville-park, Blacklo3 Mrs. W. M'Naughton Love, of a daughter, stillborn' Marriages. aio ITARGELSIER— S PILLER —On the 16th inst., f at St. Ge; r lith Church, Bloomsbury, Herr Wilhelm llargelier, of —e wer, to Lavinia, second daughter of the late F. ' T• 51) Esq.. of Gray's-inn. ROXBURGII—INNES—On the 17th inst., tat 17, 1 4 ,° Wt 0 1/ terrace, Glasgow, Archibald Roxburgh Esq., of Cl' 36 ' to Katharine, eldest daughter of the ' late glee Innes, Esq., of Tain, Ross-shire. Deaths. norOt h , CROWDY. —OR the 17th inst., at Newton Abbottt:looo 4.1 in his 73d year, James Orowdy, Esq. , formerly v ° Secretary of Newfoundland. r, the WADE—On the 18th inst., at Weimer, in his 75th Yca Rev. Garrod Wade, M.A.' Col d : BURGESS—On the 20th inst., at 3 Norfolk-terr aC ,th yOP harbour-lane, Alexander Innesßurgess, in Ow of his age. ___--......--- ---------- 4 -- AN - 1 11 0 London: Printed and Published by WILLIA3I 9 1 , 40 1 1 ; of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE SUN Oflico, Cod 0 , Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in thO o°l'. Middlesex.—Monday, April 22, 1367. PARAGUAY. Paraguay is an inland country of South America, lying in the fork of the rivers Paraguay and Parana, which join near the fort of Humaita, and flow in a broad stream navigable for ocean ships. Near the sea, the Uruguay enters this river, which then becomes the La Plata, and assumes the pro portions of a gulf, on which stands the great city of Buenos Ayres. The Republic of Paraguay has an area of 100,000 square miles, with a population of 1,500,000. It was discovered by the Spaniards in 1508, and ten years after, the city of Assumption, now the capital, was built. The native inhabitants belonging to the tribe of Guarani amalgamated with their Spanish conquerors, and at once became converts to the Roman Catholic religion. Being docile, amiable, brave, and truthful, they were a singularly easy people to govern, and for 10') years they were peaceably and happily ruled by the Jesuits. After the expulsion of the Jesuits, which arose from causes over which the Paraguayans ex ercised no influence, they continued to derive the advantage of good administration till the year 1810, when the ambition of Buenos Ayres induced that province to declare itself independent of Spain. The first step taken by Buenos Ayres was an en deavour to induce the Paraguayans to join in the revolt, and to place the city of Buenos Ayres at the head of the Republics. This the Paraguayans, who had never been well treated by Buenos Ayres, declined. The army of Buenos Ayres invaded Paraguay, and was defeated at Paraguary. After rallying from this defeat, they were again beaten and forced to capitulate at Ta cuary. Elated by their triumph the Paraguayans assumed national independence, offering to elect as President the Spanish Governor. The post was declined by this gentleman, who felt he could not in honour accept it. The choice then fell on Dr. Don Jose Gaspar Fraucia. This ex traordinary ruler, seeing his efforts thwarted to ob tain the free navigation of the La Plata and its tri butaries, by the grasping policy of Buenos Ayres, closed Paraguay to the world for nearly 30 years. Dr. Francks was created dictator for life, and hebe came the absolute ruler, in whom was centred all power, representing, in conjunction with his Secretary Patino, the machinery of the Govern ment,- and directing the business of the country. Four years after his death, which occurred in 1840, Don Carlos Antonio Lopez was elected President for ten years. Under his rule the Republic rapidly advanced ; the rivers were opened, roads completed, ships built, schools founded (which have taught all the people to read and write), hospitals erected, and an army and navy forme d. T h is was effected with out burdening the resources of tLe country by debt. His son, Francisco Solano Lopez, was sent to Europe to benefit by travel. on the death of the President, which took place in his 69th year, 10th as a gentleman of hi g h a Sept., 1862, ere hi s second term of office bad ex pired, hd was succe eded b y his son, General Lopez. The anturents t , rulerof te n tion ; able and ju dicious, g raceful and refined, of grea t con versational powers , speaking and writing attainments, is described travel, tr, and keen observa tion many languages. lle took up his father's policy ; but in the midst of his patriotic efforts to advance his country, the Republic over which he presided became, against its settled policy, entangled in the complica tions of its neighbours, which has ended in one of the greatest wars of South America, and one of the most gallant struggles ever made by a people for independence. The most powerful and grasping Government of South America is Brazil. Paraguay is but a patch on its extremity, and Uruguay but a bit, at the end of its empire. Brazil, in concert with General Mitre, the President of the Argentine Confederation, intrigued for a cause of quarrel against Uruguay—a State hostile to General Mitre and coveted by Brazil. Through a political adven turer, skilled in guerilla warfare, the excuse was found. General Flores landed in Uruguay on the 18th April, 1863, and at the head of some banditti and cut-throats, plundered the villages on his way to the Brazilian frontiers over which he passed, and in concert with his allies who were conspirators in the plot, was pursued into the territory of Brazil, which that Government represented as a cams Belli. Uruguay was overrun, and Monte Video surren dered, when Flores was proclaimed dictator ; Pre sident Lopez, who justly considered the independ ence of Uruguay necessary for the freedom of his country, protested against the invasion of that State. He asked permission to march his troops through Corrientes to the assistance of his ally—a request refused by Mitre. The delay was fatal to Uruguay, for when Lopez got into motion Monte Video had fallen, and Brazil ruled from the Amazon to the La Plata. With an audacity which has alike surprised his enemies and all other States, President Lopez undertook with his own resources to face the mighty empire of Brazil, joined by all the power of Buenos Ayres, and even the forces of the State, now in the hands of his enemies, in whose interest he had become involved in the quarrel. A glance at the map would give something of the idea of this act of President Lopez by supposing Ssvitz , 2rland to undertake the defence of Denmark against the united power of France, Germany, and Austria. No wonder the attitude of Lopez was the subject of banter in the camp of the allies, or that General Mitni—then at the head of the allied army—de- dared a war with Paraguay would be merely a paseo neilitar, which would take him in three months to Asuncion. Brazil, in concert with her allies, placed on the frontiers of Para- quay an army of 'Moo° men in cc)-opera tion with the largest and best equipped fleet that had ever steamed up the broad waters of the La Plata. For three years the little Republic has held its own, and inflicted on the allies severe and damagi❑g checks. Already the army of the allies has become demoralised through their heavy losses, while their vaunted fleet of iron-clads has been shattered before fortresses of a secondary power. Brazil has in this miserable war spent £40,000,000 in her ineffectual efforts to subdue the gallant little Republic, while the loss to Buenos Ayres has been even heavier in proportion, and she has to mourn not only over treasure sacrificed, but death carried into every family of the city. The great Slave State Brazil has lost prestige, and a feeling of resistance to her usurpation is spreading strongly and widely throughout the States of South America. As yet little interest has been excited in Europe by the noble efforts of Lopez to maintain the inde pendence of the Republic. This is accounted for by the general ignorance of Paraguay. The Die- R• AFTER BIIP, After Di After Atter Ai After of Atter After NI After St Atter Pt onden Slit KIN AI This cel Dn!qi n It is p u , some. som in f by tho I flinlAgn.l4; R GREj Observ e 1 " Rinaliftri! GYUNI PIJRNEs Partic;dal month xt tt AUci 5 . AZar. trr (Ti kNri re,hol4 or ir d rarthip au:muted. ___ T a Trig M x ew, OPf i 'itzti en ' • Bury. w i . ,7 Jongh,,„l, D Rio nDid~r e ti u p , v , 431 nr • nor A Nn T .V!rnb ats, ARGI „. Theße ell clet(Yrated, end ~lnci • lx ILENE E: ic D ki) G llßri rli tialc i r I, ttrelA dg ardo I R e_nrico: I A NelPet* Toi l p „ I° . . "' ttB j ' RiSS A 171 t costum e , ART i i , Nash Fr; tensati on IN IN y m 11, inchia b ./I °3 7 st H, s, and of 3 fr on , he 61. ; 1 ;4 OfTice, het ev ei , —.... j ...: L . L ... .w IVIAD. A I'lew t e em n ,o'r adl b uice es th, Aiof c Zure of "'no va , Xxhibitiol too l i- ra ni s. t ea l a. AN it11(1. f eel ht s ,„ WhOTE ` - ‘ ,l 7ler of of e 188. tensi7l' Cij e 39e etrTFA ee" II" r t: l , t Bl x Pnp H 1 deli .1,„;" 9, Gre it Jtitt ~J G th e des S P, VN - ALF Drryb„ "Tit b' R 11101 4,1); oz , —rnovincra. Elf.* Mr toulte,ol4° " -4141 of F r i -o r REI ALI 011.trtell%t, toral in 0 for 54, 84, HATI Lo l uDertium to thq sk Mid 191st rbiME mkt, ALF P, 2ErA kink S. ,__ or on ae ( ? ---- ti :l fiAli "i S ft il: b it pat P E S e l Wit egtt a of "'Ter f ro 'Daft/74 '' , Stiv e 4 i ) .1 1 the ant lre di. ~r;are d ', ta r , . Els ta , in 4 9. 9,4 . ... Th e ' Li l '"Qh7 rU ONE th C 11 F , 1 Aa .Ittgallolt, Offic es, ---________t RII sto ut P a c i 1.„ 11( See ID t e A ek tary r r liE I,c h, ' Pastt 0 e d p;rl Ez 41 ; 1 ( th" n ": 11,11.1 esR stNi ii 0 A ""Ot No, 52, ()Ifit 01 4 n(") 11 ;hi , `ir " T A RI Arent Bh imr;f: thalri c ry t The t 0 , is ( 14 ' 11 . Year "qirtti Uiberr I .° pn 455 .%•tit of oe e ,. 8 sotto` Xe bee n . ion U t , c , O4rclay L