The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-02-23

The A. B. G. F.M.-The American Board of
commissioners for Foreign Missions, whose cabal.
lstlc initials we have placed at the head of this
article, mas just completed the first half century
OF its existence, and issued report of the results
1t has accomplished in those fifty years. From that
report we gather some interesting facts The
growth of the institution is quite remarkable, as
well as the consequent enlargement of its field of
labors. In 1872 it sent forth only five missionaries
who have been followed by four hundred and ten;
the eight males and females who composed the
hrst missionary band, stand associated in the
pages that relate the history of the Board, with
company of twelve hundred and fifty seven The
income of the society in 1911 was less than thou
sand dollars; in 1860 it amounted to nearly half
million. 1t supports twenty six missions; some
among the benighted negroes on "Afric's coral
strand; some among the descendants OF the coun-
trymen of Socrates and Aristotle; some among
the Armenlans who have crowded out the children
OF the ancient Samaritans, some among Moham-
medans, some among Greek Christians; some in
Araoia, some In Ceylon, some among the Brah-
minis, some among the followers of Confucius:
the Cherokee Indians and the HISTORIANS, the
Sandwich Islanders and inhabitants of Madras are
alike the subjects of the phanthropic and religi.
Gus interest of this Society. In these missions so
widely spread, more than hundred and sixty
churches have been established, with a member
ship ottwenty thousand, and from the beginning of
nifty thousand. In addition to religious informa-
ton, educational instruction has also been impart.
ed. Nineteen thousand children have been taught
In the mission schools during the last ten years
dlohe, anu as many as a hundred and Seventy-tiVe
thousand since the inception of the enterprise-
FIFTY millions of pages are annually printed for
the benefit and use of the Board, and over one
thousand five hundred millions have been printed
Tor its circulation since 1872 With such results
as these the Society has the best reasons for an
ticipating still more marked success in the future
FROM Fort SUMrER.-A member OF Congress from
New York has received the following important
letter from an officer in Fort Sumter. dated the
inst flor
ters, he says:
My desire Is to give you few reliable data con-
cerDing our situation. From the little news we
see, it is apparent that the majority of the pub
l'shed statements concerning Sumter are very in
accurate and unreliable. We have received no re-
inforcements and know of none that are coming.
To introduce reintorcements to this garrison is an
extremely difficult problem, and the attempt bv no
means lnsures the execution. glance at the coast
survey map will convince you of this. Sumter is
by no means impregnable, and any measures based
upon this proposition will have poor foundation
With the large garrison and abundant supplies this
tort would detain large army before it for long
time; but, as you know, the aforementioned condi-
tlons are not satisfied. large force is still at
work on the batteries around us. The batteries on
MOTHS Island are supposed to be Completed
Steamers and pilot boats the watch at night,
and to US seem quite vigilant. These vessels come
quite near the fort, and justly give much trou-
BILE and anxiety. We have an efficient command
ing officer and reliable set of men. Situated as
more than thousand without There has been no
attempt on the part of any soldiers or laborers to
desert, and can safely say that there will be none
Our greatest fear and anxiety are concerning the
possibility OF reuniting the scattering fragments of
our country. Of this State we have no hope and
| no desire.
| REDUCTION THE HoURs OF LABoR-It is un-
deTstood that number of mills in this city con-
template reduction in the hours of labor and that
notice to that effect has already been given some
| of the corporations On the Lowell ;carp et) cor
| poration it is proposed to only four days in
| the week, commencing next week. On the Massa-
| cnuSetts corporation it is proposed to only
three-quarters time, Or until four o'clock each day
to begin next week. This arrangement is only for
| the coarse work in th mill. We have not heard
| any proposed reductions in any other mills, and
| presume it will only be temporary in the above
| instances.-Lo,veU Neios.
| YANKEE PRIvATEERs-We have heretofore ex-
pressed the opinion that when the South shall put
privateers in commission, she will have no Difficult
ty in obtaining ships and men from those Northern
| ports which already furnish both for the slave
trade We are therefore surprised to learn th 1t
| some Southern gentlemen have lately received a.
number of letters from Boston shp.owners, in
| quiring as to the prospect of prvateers being put
into commission, and intimating that any number
of ships can be engaged by the Southern Confed-
| eracy, ifhostiities should eccur.-Richnond De-
| spatch.
| THE COLD SHOULDER FOR GREELY Il Cove have
| noticed among the political features of Lincon's
| reception at Albany and New York that he has
been surrounded by Republicans of Thurlow Weeds
| way of thinking. Greely met the President elect
! on the railway, but after the party reached this
city the Spruce street philosopher subsidized. Weed
was constantly on hand, and at Grinne's breakfast
the guests were all of the Seward and Evarts stripe
Straws show which way the wind blows.-N. Y.
Herald.
Augendre's white gunpowder consists of one
part ferro cyanide of potassium, one part of white
! sugar, and two parts of chloride potassa. These
| substances reduced to powder separately, then
mixed BY hand in a porcelain mortar. 1t is more
| easily infamed than common gunpowder and it is
excellent for filling shells, but unsuted for small
firearms, because it oxygenates the steel and iron
so rapidly.
THE METHODIST Book CONCERN AND UNIVERSITY
OF THE SoUTH.-A correspondent of the Nashville
| Union, who says he is member OF the Methodist
| Church, asks what will become of the immense
| book establishment in that city, ami the Univer-
sity of the South, located in Middle Tennessee if
that State should refuse to go with the South In
his opinion graver question can present itself to
| the prompt consideration of the Denomination.
| Mr.. Hartley of southampton, England, recent
| y deceased bequeathed $4,000 for the building
and endowment of literary institution in that
city. The will was disputed, the matter at length
reached chancery, and in that circumocution
court the $500 900 was sweated down to $500 600,
which is to be applied to carrying out the testators
design.
The Charleston Courier, of Wednesday, states
that project is on foot among several enterprsing
merchants and capitalists to charter more
steamships, for the purpose of sending them to
Liverpool and other foreign ports, to bring back
full cargoes of merchandise, and sell it at the low
est price, so as to establish commercial indie
| pendence at once.
AT a concert in Lisbon the other day, Gazzaniga
and Miss Hensler assisted by the father of
the King of Portugal. Royalty is either at dis
count, since it is thus lavish of ITSELF is so conf
dent in its prestige as to imagine that nothing
lessen it.
The Governor and Council have awarded to Wm
Deacon, of Boston, the contract for making two
thousand overcoats for the Massachusetts Militia,