The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-28 00:00:00

Miscellaneous American News.

The Round Table furnishes the following items :
Miss Emma Hardinge, the " meejum," is writing
a "History of Spiritualism in America."
Mr. W. J. Paulding is soon to publish a memoir
of his father, James K. Paulding, the fellow author
with Irving of " Salmagundi," and the writer of
several novels, besides various poetical, political, and
historical works.
Mr. William Gillmore Simms, beside the serial he
is contributing to a Democratic monthly, has com-
pleted a novel pleasingly entitled " The Ghost of
my Husband."
That Mrs. Harriet Prescott Spofford is engaged
upon a novel of New England life we have already
announced. A daily paper describes its characters
as " powerful," when it may be inferred that as the
introduction of Samson, Hercules, or Milo could
hardly be managed without anachronism, Dr. Win-
ship, or some of his followers, will figure in it.
Mr. Bayard Taylor, it is said, will employ himself,
while abroad, upon a novel—his fourth, we believe,
of Americans in Europe.
Mrs. Elizabeth Stoddard has a novel nearly com-
pleted.
Mr. H. P. Arnold, a lawyer of Boston, is soon to
publish a book of his travels in France, Switzerland,
and
Mr. Matthew F. Whittier, brother of John G.,
is said to have a humorous poem in preparation.
Col. A. J. H. Duganne is delivering a lecture
upon the characters of Columbus, Washington, and
Lincoln.

Longfellow is now busily engaged in revising the
proofs of his translation of Dante, which will not be
given to the public for several months, as the revi-
sion is scrupulously minute.
The Worcester County West Agricultural Society
has elected George M. Buttrick, of Barre, and
Charles Adams, jun., of North Brookfield, vice-

presidents, and re-elected Charles Brimblecom and
Daniel Cummings secretary and treasurer respec-
tively. The sum of $5O per annum was voted to
pay the tuition of one scholar at the State Agricul-
tural College when that institution is completed.
The Central Cheese Company at Barre made
156,711 pounds of cheese from 1,531,219 quarts of
milk, last year. The cheese brought $19.72 per
hundred pounds, or a total of $30,903, and the cost
of making $2.84 per hundred pounds.
The business of exporting fine-blooded sheep
from Vermont to the Western States, mainly to
Ohio and Indiana, has been very brisk during the
winter, and seven car loads were sent from St.
Alban's last week. The prices were lower than those
of a year ago, but the sheep-raisers find it still a
paying business, and say that it is the most profit-
able part of their farming operations.
Six ewes were sold by Edwin Hammond and Son,
of Middlebury, Feb. 25, to Abram and John Good,
of Clarence Centre, New York, for $3,600.
Henry M. Burt, formerly of the Northampton
Free Press, will commence at Northampton, in
April, a monthly agricultural paper, to be called the
New England Homestead. lts external appearanc e
will be similar to that of the Albany (New York)
Country Gentleman, and its subscription price will be
50c. a year. Mr. Burt assumes the chief control of
the enterprise, with Mr. A. Perry Peck, of North-
ampton, as his assistant editor.
The maple sugar season has already begun in
some parts of Franklin county, and the prospect is
good for a very large run.
Congress has given permission to Captain John
A. Webster, of the steamer Mahoning, to accept a gold
medal tendered by the British Government in recognition
of his services in relieving a British vessel i❑ distress.
Mr. Fox and other officers of the Miantonomah
have been permitted, by act of Congress, to accept the
presents tendered by the Czar. Among the gifts is a
snuff-box set with diamonds, presented to Mr. Fox. The
customs duty upon these diamonds, amounting to $4,000,
has been remitted by special act.

Longfellow, the poet, was born in Portland, and
was 60 years old Feb. 27.

It is thought that Judge Caron would probably
be Lieutenant-Governor for Quebec.

We are informed that the petition of Mr. James
Freeliug Wilkinson to the Crown for a free pardon has
'been rejected by Mr. Secretary Walpole, who states that
he "is unable to discover any sufficient ground to justify
him in advising interference in the convict's behalf."
Commodore Charles Stewart has been seventy
years in the American navy, having entered in 1797, and
he is still in the full possession of his mental faculties.
Since Mr. Jefferson Davis has been confined at
Fortress Monroe sums amounting to £25,000 have been
received for his benefit in letters. The money has been
carefully kept as his property. On Christmas-day a vast
number of presents were received for him, some of which
came from Boston. Formerly the prisoner's letters wore
opened by General Miles, but since that officer has been
relieved of the command of the fort they have gone into
Mr. Davis's hand unopened.

Zalman Storrs, a prominent citizen of Tolland
county, and the last surviving member of the class of 1810
of Yale College, died at Mansfield, on the 17th Feb.,
aged 87.

Mr. Peabody proposes to return to England in
the spring. Should his life be spared, in about two years
he will again visit America, when he designs to make a
tour through the South, with Governor Aiken and other
members of the trustees, to witness the workings of the
schools intended to be established by his last liberal dona-
tion.

The general expectation and wish is met in the
appointment of Professor Benjamin Pierce of Cambridge to
be superintendent of the coast survey. He took the oath
of office at Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 27.

Secretary Seward has lately insured his life for
$lOO,OOO.

Jack Hamilton of Texas is candidate for post-
master of the next House.

Senator Ira Harris, of New York, who goes out
with this Congress, will continue to reside at Washington
and practise law.
The Senate Confirmed, on the 23d February,
Edward M. King as consul at Canton, China ; Anson J.
Crane, of Huntington, as collecter of internal revenue in
the third district of Vermont ; Alvan G. Gillein and
William H. French of the regular army to be major-
generals by brevet, and the following to be brigadier-
generals by brevet: Chauncy M'Keever, John M. Cuyler,
Madison Mills, William H. Sidell, and Charles F. Buff, all
for gallant and meritorious service. Galusha Pennypaclrer,
Henry A. Morrison, and Luther P. Bradley were confirmed
as colonels in the regular army. Besides these confirma-
tions there were many others of subordinate grades.

Mr. Bidewell, now a member of Congress, is
likely to be chosen the next governor of California.

Mr. Bigelow, late Minister to France, appeared
on the floor of the Senate on the 28th Feb., and W&5
heartily welcomed by many of his friends of that house.
The Senate has concurred in a resolution for the
erection of an equestrian statue of General Winfield
Scott.

W. W. Clarke, Esq., of New York—that go-
a-head American—has taken k house in Paris for a term
of years in the Champ d'Elysees. He has sent to Ame-
rica for a complete set of tools, engine, and an American
model of a petroleum oil well for pumping oil out of a
covered tank, What an important enterprise this is, and
what an astonishment it will create in Paris ! It is said
that pelsote has been found lately in Italy, and Mr. Chande
has been requested to go there and examine it, and, if it be
true, a company will be formed to work the wells, and Mr.
Clarke will be tendered the presidency of the company.
His well-known business talent will insure success in
whatever he undertakes.

Mr. James Eldridge, of St. Manasa, one of the
largest owners of the New Almaden Quick Silver Mines
in California, is on a visit to Spain to examine the Almaden
quick silver mines there. He has been absent there for
several weeks.