The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1859-04-21
Foreign Summary.


Prescott's History of Philip the Second. of which
three volumes have appeared, is to be completed by
Mr.. Kirk, his amanuensis.
Last year there were on the western rivers of the
United States AZ steamers sunk. - burned, and 9
exploded. 259 lives were lost, and property to the
amount Of l 1924 900 dollars was sacrificed.
The wood of the printing press on which the first
edition of Burns poems was printed at Kilmarnock
in 1856, is now being converted into san antiqne
drawing-room CHAIR to be occupied by the chair
man at the Ayr celebration of the centenary of the
poet.
A great grandson of Penn, the wealthy founder of
Pennsylvania and the friend of James H., has Just
expired. at a very advanced age, in the hospital of
the benevolent Colston, at Bristol.
DICKENS CHRISTMAS CARoL-An anecdote abont
a reading of the Carol, which has come to our
knowledge. is too good to be withheld. The work
named was read in a small circle in a western port.
and at its close the effect upon one of its hearers
miserly, covetous, rich old gentleman,-was such.
that he at once gave $4,000 to be divided between
three useful benevolent institutions belonging to the
otown.-Hastings .News.
A new sect of Christians has sprung mp on the
Continent called ''Transmigrationists." They pro-
TESS to believe in the Hindoo doctrine to q certain ex-
tent. and have printed some curious arguments to
prove that such doctrines are not irreconcilable with
Christianity.
"A CoNTEMPTIBLE BUsINEss.-The selling of ardent
spirits to an Indian is one of the meanest things a
white man can be guilty of, and there is a law forbid
ding this traffic between the two parties named.
Ihls kind of trade is extensively carried on in this
village and steps should be taken to stop the diaboli-
cal and damnable business.-For Lake Gazette.
JAPAN.-The Government have not been slow in
taking measures to turn to advantage the treaty. cor
cluded by Lord Elgin with the hitherto secluded
empire OF Japan. A corps of officials is being assem-
bled, and will soon sail for that distant region
Among the corps are several young men, who 90 ont
expressly for the purpose of learning the Jananese
language and studying the manners and customs Of
the people, 80 as to act as interpreters, and be other
wise useful to British subjects settling in or trading
with that country. Whether by design or accident
we know not, but it is certain one of the future inter
prefers has been brought from the heart of the High
lands, where the Gaelic language is spoken in its
purity-English Paper.
Mr. JARvEs's ITALIAN PrcruRE.-Tbe Boston
Courier informs us that Mr.. James jackson Jarves
whose writings have made his name and his
interest in art somewhat widely known. has been
MAKING q valuable collecion of paintings from The
1ands OF the early Italian masters. During : resi-
dence OF several years ON the continent. he h..
improved every opportunity Of securing the hess
specimens OF the most interesting periods Of Ital;an
art ana by the aid of his good judgment. good FIR
tune, ana untir1ng perseverance, he has rsthered = |
coiecuon, which has been highly praised nv 20
COMPETENT judges as Sir Charles Eastiake and Prof |
mignarlnl, Director of the great U66zu GALLERY A.
: iorence; Inc latter gentleman has written ! long |
ieeeer 20 Mr. Jarves. In which he confidently main-j
ralns tnat one Of Mr.. J.,s pictures is : Genuine
Leonaruo Da Winch. Every connoisseur knows thati
.ne works OF that great master are few Ia num-
per, and are 50 highly priced that il Il only il the
rarest circumstances that one can ever IS sbtainsd
rerhaps no man living is better quali6sd than the
1sEeesor g the Florsntine Gallery 70 deuids WheKr
Ar. Jarves intends 70 dsvots some Seors