The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1862-05-08
Foreign Summary.

a French Company, formed for establishing regu-
lar steam communication between France and the
West Indies and New York, are under contract to
provide eleven steamers for the service.
Wool is now higher than it has been for ~forty-one
years. This Is owing 10 the large demand for Army
goods, and 10 the advanced prices Of cotton. II WI!
not soon fall so low again "a it has been of late years.
The Southern Commissioners have been deaied any
space in the Worlds Fair at London, on the ground
that 'be allotment Of a place to them might be con-
strued into an implied recognition Of the Conieder-
acy.
Rev. Edward Arnold. the grandson of Benedict
Arnold, the traitor, rector Of a church in Hartford
shire. has fallen heir to some lands in Canada, d. na-
ted by the English Government TO his Grandfather,
which are now worth over S2OO,OOO.
There are four hundred and eleven female post
masters in the United States. Several of these have
been retained in office for quite a long term Of years.
ore having been appointed in lS2o, another in 1881,
and others respectively in 1885, 1871, le49, 1901,
and 1858.
Mormon woman thus writes to a female friend
"While you Of the North and South have gone TO kill
ling each other of, We of Salt Lake are populating
the country with extraordinary ~rapidity. One of our
elders recently had nine children born to him in one
week"
Mr.. Reisinger, in the Ohio Assembly. recently
novel that the speaker dispense with calling on the
clergy of Columbus to open the House with prayer,
deeming it unjust TO request 1t without COMPENSATION,
and that he call on the members, IN alphabetical or
der, to perform said duty.
The Union Mutual Insurance Company of New
Bedford, have decided TO pay their assurance on the
bark Eden Dodge, of that port, burnt by the pirate
Sumter. and further, that all losses sustained by the
acts Of Southern confederate vessels OF priyateers
shall be paid.
The Congressional Directory" nj the head Of its
alphabetical list of senators aud representatives. saws
in a bracket 1.-The asterisk (%) denotes those whose
wives accompany them" This has given rise to the
new word in Washington sOciety-'How's your as
terisk -
DIPLOMATIC ACcoUcHEMENT.-On New Years day.
Al. IL - .--- C.--.Il 81. D--..-. H.. 49,.
senrei to him a fue heir and TO the Emperor a new
subject. The event has ELECTED many congratula-
tons. Mrs. Stoeckl is an American, nee Miss How
ard, of Massachusetts. She has thus added a new link
to the bond of amity existing between the two ma
tons.
When the news of the surrender of Fort Donelson
was announced in the United States Senate, the au-
dience in the gallery cheered, and Vice President
Htmlin arose rs If to check the feeling thus demon
straied. when the cheering ceased. With joy spark
ling from his eyes. he said 'Cheer away it is in
order TO cheer boys, ~ and those in the galleries
gave the federation its widest latitude.
Nashville is situated on n high bluff on the south
bank of the Cumberland river. The city contains
about 70 900 inhabitants, and has a large number of
public buildings, chief anon which is the capitol,
which is built entirely of stone aud iron, and cost a
million dollars. The university Of Nashville and
several educational institutions are located here,
most of which have been established during the past
few years. Churches abound, there being no less
than - in the munic pality. Five rail reads, all OF
them of considerable Importance, radiate from here,
and make the city n great business centre.
IRoN-CLAD VEssELs.-There are two more iron clad
vessels nearly completed for the Federal Government
one by Nerrick u Son. Philadelphia, n vessel of
wood and iron combined, 220 feet long, 60 feet beam,
% feet deep, ID feet draueht, 3,2J6 tons, and q
knots speed she required nine months to build, and
cost S1SO, 900 and one 10y Bushnell & Co, New
Haven, II vessel iron-clad on the rail and plate prin-
ciple, and TO obtain high speed. She is 1870 feet long,
l2s feet beam, 10 feet draught, to go II knots an
hour requ red four months to build, and will cost,
S235,25O.
\ curious story is told by a letter writer of Wen
ma of one of the Ro,hschilds who, having become en-
amored of n fair damsel, had caused a silver coin to
be struck in her honor, on which was portrayed in
exquisite workmanship, the features of the far one,
The artist committed the imprudence Of adding the
lady's name in finely cut characters, which, though
microscupically small, were detected by the eyes OF n
member of "A rival firm, who Immediately had the
original coins multiplied some hundred told and dis
tributed among his friends.
4 brass 12-pounder gun has been placed in posi-
tion at one of the entrances of the royal carriage de-
partment of the arsenal at WoOlwich, aud tie history
Of thisSweapon is somewhat extraordinary. The gun
W 5 cast in the year 1854 at the royal arsenal, and
afterwards presented by his Mtjesry King George
Ill. to the Emperor of China. in whose, possession it
remained until the last Chinese war, when II was
captured by cur troops at Pekin, an returned to
WOolwich. The gun having been fully tested, has
been found as sound and good as when it was origi-
nally cast.
The CHINESE OATH-It has always been difficult
in courts OF justice to administer any oath sufficiently
binding to insure the truth Of Chinese testimony.
The form now adopted is the printing of tn oath in
Chinese characters on yellow tissue paper, to which
they subscribe and set fire, and as the smoke aScends
they are supposed to regard it as a truth offering to
the powers that fix the higher law. The following is
n correct translation of the oath:
The Undersigned establishes this oath. Now, in
the presence OF the Great Mandarin in the Tribunal,
do | give my evidence to speak according to the truth.
II in NY wanton hear; | should utter false words, or
deceive, the Spiritual Intelligence, (gods,) may crush
me. Wherefore | specially burn the paper before
Imperial Eeaven for illumination and examination.
INTERE>TING FROM R.CuNoND-Mr. George W.
Walker, of WaynesborO', Pa, gives the following high
ly interesting intelligence He says that he was
taken seven months since, while on a visit to Virgin
in, and has acred rs clerk in the Quartermaster's de-
partment at Richmond, performing all duties in
connection with the prisoners, thus securing a parole
that enabled him TO mix freely with the citizens and
soldiers.
He brings with him many unmistakeable evidences
of the fact that there exists in Richmond and the vicin-
ity n strong and gallant band of Union men, who are
willing and anxious at the proper moment to well
come the old flag aud fight it necessary TO maintain
the supremacy. They requested him to make the
fact known to the Government that they claim to be
three thousand strong, and that n full regiment Of
drilled volunteers can be raised ut an hours notice.
The Union ladies are also very numeruu and have
freely expended their means in succoring and CON-
forting the sick and wounded prisoners.
The Union -.en Of Richmond are becoming more
bold aud earnest, and have, for mutual protection
against rebel espionage. formed n league, with grips,
signals, and passwords. They style themselves
prisoners on parole and have long and auxiously
looked for an advance on Richmond, by way of the
RappahaunOck, which they are confident could be
taken and held At any time with a force of three
Thousand men.