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

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 thorough 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 saddling 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 Bristol.
real estate which it sold twenty years ago for $3,000. The Portland and Kennebec Railroad has male'
stock dividend of 25 per cent., and promises 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 the
American productions. The United States are net
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. It
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 with
much interest, and farmers pronounce it the best
machine on exhibition. We predict for the Perri
mower a successful future.

Walter Baker's chocolate, of Boston, Masai"
chusetts, United States, America, is shown. by ten
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 most wholesome article 4:)1
domestic luxury so neatly put up, of such fine gralu
and luscious taste as this chocolate of Baker's. We
do not think it can be surpassed for quality °t
flavour by any goods of the same class in the E2all'
bition, if in the world.
THE DOUGLAS PUMPS AND HYDRAULIC RAIOI

W. and B. Douglas, of Middelton,Connectieutt
United States, America, have on exhibition about
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]P4
in the Exposition, as to number, variety, excel-

lence of workmanship, and perfection of design.

These pumps are placed in the annex of theAtne'
rican department, and call for much praise froL
visitors generally, and pump-makers and dealer°
examine them with great care, and speak of theal
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 nigli!
Mr. Andrew Donald, the carpenter of the ill-fated whaliee
vessel Diana, arrived in Dundee per train from Aberdeen'
Mr. Donald belongs to Dundee. He is very lame and feels
exceedingly weak. The hardships he has had to endue
in common with the rest of the crew have had their diet
upon him. It is unnecessary that we should recapitulsw
the harrowing description we previously presented, 11,°
speaks in the highest terms of the fortitude and ins"
courage displayed by the captain, officers, and crew. 14°
one, he says, ever expected to reach Britain, and the Prf/./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 Ler,
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 arrivv.
at Shetland they are unable adequately to express the°
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 is broken, and ofle
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 XI.;
Seward. In their letter to him they suggested that, if h
would make a representation of the case to Russia throai,
the American Minister at that Court, the Russian Govern
ment might be induced to continue its line of telegraph °,
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 Ressll4lia
line in Russian America. The letter therefore conclild!l
with asking Mr. Seward' to give the weight of his offieis.,
position towards thus accomplishing the work now lutt
rupted. Mr. Seward had to answer this letter just bef°,—,
ho was able to make known the fact that he was in treav
for the purchase of the Russian possessions in America" iii
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 International -IV
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. Negerr•
theless, I profess to a profound disappointment in the 011 0
pension of the latter enterprise. I admit that the reseen,„,,
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 11
mediate or at least speedy revenues. On the other hailof
I abate no jot of my former estimates of the importane? ,0
the Inter-Continental Pacific Telegraph. Ido not belielto
that the United States and Russia have given their faith
,i
,t
each other and to the world for the prosecution of t';
great enterprise in vain. The United States Governrsel
is enlightened and wise. The Emperor of Russia is libe,ta,4
as well as sagacious. Prince Gortschakoff is a pleasany
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.
gajOgi
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'' 11", 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;rlith
Church, Bloomsbury, Herr Wilhelm llargelier, of —ewer,
to Lavinia, second daughter of the late F. 'T• 51)
Esq.. of Gray's-inn.
ROXBURGII—INNES—On the 17th inst., tat 17, 14,°Wt01/
terrace, Glasgow, Archibald Roxburgh Esq., of Cl'36'
to Katharine, eldest daughter of the' late glee

Innes, Esq., of Tain, Ross-shire.
Deaths. norOth,
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.'
Cold:
BURGESS—On the 20th inst., at 3 Norfolk-terraC,th yOP
harbour-lane, Alexander Innesßurgess, in Ow
of his age.

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AN- 1
110
London: Printed and Published by WILLIA3I 91,40 11;
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.