The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-22
MIsCELLANEOUs ITEMS.

e--0
The Russian Government is doing its part
towards the progress of geographical kno Wedge.
Not long ago an expedition explored the kalmuk
steppes, and especially the valley OF the Man1tch.
The report IL now being pubisheu. me plaln
OF the Manltch has been found TO oe salt desert
which can never be made inhabitable Tue
Kalmuk steppe is divided into two zones; the
highest is adapted for agriculture, while the
other resembles the Man1tco valley; sclentlnc
expedition has also been organized by the Rus
sian Government to proceed to the river TchIi,
in order 10 continue the scientific researches
begun in 1864. 1t is numerous and well pro-
vided with instruments, and Is divided into two
mathematical and physical. The for
mer is under the direction of M. Charles Struve,
director of the Pulkova Observatory, and will
make astronomical and Typographical observa-
tions. The latter will collect statistics of the
industrial resources OF Turkestan.
Commodore Rogers communicates to the
Navy Department information that the United
States steamer V0nderbW arrived at Acapulco
on the 30th of May, with the Monddnocb, after
passage OF 81 days from Panama. The town,
he says, is occupied by the French with single
vessel the LuciIer, of guns lying at anchor
before it. The shores OF the bay are beleaguered
by the Liberals, so that the cocoanut groves
within cannon shot of the town cannot safely
be approached The coal agent desired the
protection OF the American flag in giving coal
to the MOnddnOck. We shall, he says, probably
be detained bere for this purpose three or four
days, after which l shall proceed to San Fran
cisco, stopping at Magdalena bay to transfer
coal IRON the Vanderbilt TO the Monddnock. Dhe
average number of knots run per hour by the
latter vessel has been 81, the greatest distance
run in one day being 154, and the least lat
knots.
Commander Worden, of the United states
steamer BienuWe, III a communication received
by the Navy Department, dated Aspinwall June
IL, gives the particulars of the fire at MaYaguez,
Porto Rico, by which 200 houses we're destroyed.
At the request OF the Military Governor and the
Mayor OF the town, Commander Worden des-
patched force in charge OF the executive officer
to the assistance OF the inhabitants. He enclo5es
copies of two letters from the authorities saying
they will ever hold in most grateful remem-
brance the important and humane services
rendered by the crew in tie extnguishment of
the fire.
AT the anniversary meeting of the Royal
Geographical Society, held on the 29th of May,
the founders gold medal was given to Dr. 7.
Thomson, for his labors in the Western Hima-
layas and Thibet, and the patrons, or Victoria
gold medal, to Mr.. W. Chandless for his eXplora
ton of the Purus river. A testimonial of one
hundred guineas was presented to Mr.. p. B. du
ChaIllu, and a watch valued at twenty-five
guineas to NICOLA Abdul-Mediid, for his Journey
over the Pamir steppe in Central Asia. The in
come of the society for the last year was f4905
S. 3d., the expenditure 69307 As. sd. There was
spent in expeditions $500 IS. Sd.
Isaac Sheen writes to the Chicago Tribune in
relation to the widow of Joseph Smith, the orr
ginal Mormon "Prophet:"-
'That Mrs. Smith is firm unbeliever in Brig
ham Young Mormo onism there is no doubt. The
True Latter Day SAINTS Herald, of May, 1850,
shows on pages 104 and LOG that she united with
the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints under the presidency of her son
Joseph, on the 9th of April, 1860. She has con-
tinued to be firm mot 'stuOborno member of
said Church to this time. All her SONS are active
ministers of the same Church"
General Lersundi, the new Captain-General
of Cuba, has issued circular to the Governors
and Lieutenant Governors OF the different dis
tricts, declaring that the African slave trade
must be stopped.
presses on DR.. ]. j. Cravens Prison Life of
Jefferson Davis, - and is far behind the orders
ior the work, which promises to be the sensation
book OF the season.
-Gustave Dore's new edition of Lies Fables
de La Fontaine" is to be published in Paris by
Hachette in weekly numbers, at fifty centimes
each. There will be about three hundred illus
trations.
--Berstadts picture, the North Branch of
the Platte River" was painted to order in 1851
for $500. 1t was sold few days ago, at the
Dusseldorf Gallery, for $1,000.
M. Drouyn de Lhuys has been decorated by
the King of Denmark with the Order OF the
Elephant, which has been con erred upon only
two Frenchmen outside OF the Imperial family.
The Emperor Alexander since his escape
from the assault of the intended assassin, has
been moved to issue a rescript in regard to GER
tain dangerous tendencies OF the day.
The hoop is, after ALL no novelty. In 1853
the sex were reproached for making
"Their petticoats short that hoop eight yards wide
Might deCently show how their garters were tied"
-Leutze is engaged on a new historical pic
ture, the subject OF which is passage in the life
of Mary Queen of Scots.
"A. T. Stewart has purchased Kelloge's "Prin-
cess after the Bath" said to be marvel of color
ing, for the nice little sum OF $25, 900.
The IItin and s!xth volumes of the German
translation of Byron, by Otto Gudemeister, have
lust appeared, containing "Don Juan.n
Memphis is excited by a rumor that John H.
Smratt was recently IN that city, ON his way
from Northern Texas to Missouri.