The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-09
CURRENT TOPICS.

before it for consideration. BY the acquisition OF
Russian-America by the United States, tho COM
pany has lost the important right of hunting in
that region. Fur animals, especially Martens
| which are very valuable, are not so plentiful as
formerly in the company's possessions, and it has
become evident to the shareholders that the best
thing they can do is to sell. The last dividend
was merely nominal one. What kind OF 4 titie
the company can give, We hardly know. for
reasonable sum the actual sovereignty OF the ter
ritory can be transferred to the United States
| it may be worth while to invest, though II
might be difficult to say why. we are not
so troubled by an increasing surplus In the
| treasury as to be anxious to spend the pub
lie funds simply to get them out OF the way. Some
one must tako tho government OF the territory Ii
the company gives up the ghost. Perhaps Cana
da may be willing. Possibly England may choose
to set I'D q new colonial establishment, though
British colonies have cost the British exchequer
rather more than is pleasant to the British people.
But Mr. SEWARD has been negotiating with the
Hudson Bay Company, and as they are disposed to
make trade, and as the Secretary Of State has
fancy for real estate investments on large scale,
We are likely to hear good deal of the matter be-
fore long, It is to te hoped that no one will imi-
tate Mr.. SUMMERS treatment of Russian America,
by preparing magnifcently tedious speech upon
the Hudson Bay territory. Such thing would
completely disgust the people OF tho United States
on the subject Of the acquisition OF more land, and
would etfectually kill MIR. SEwARD's reported pro-
ject.
THE BRIDAL PRESENTS on the occasion OF the
| ryit1,
of ST. Adams, were very numerous, exceeding
three hundred in number. Queen VICTORIA sent
o gold chain and locket, with cross in rubies,
and studded with diamonds, together with two VOL
liable Indian shawls. The Prince and Princess OF
Wales gave gold chain and locket, set with dia-
monds and rubies; and .ho Prince Of Wales also
gave superb silver cGp. Prince and Princess
LOUIS, Of Hesse, large gold locket with ruby
centre; the Princess LOUISE, q tdpsts tuzata and
pearl locket; and Princess CHRISTIAN, q handsome
| china vase. The bridegroom's presents to the
bride included, among other gifts, superb dia-
mond tiara and earrings; and her father, General
bGREY. presented o richly mounted dressing case;
| the Earl GREY gave valuable diamond and
opal pendant; the Duchess of Wellington an oval
locket, with the brides initials in pearls and ru
Sutherland, gold bracelet in the shape of book,
set with rubies, diamonds and emeralds. There
were clso valuable pearl ring from the Countess
Of Durham; q handsome silver casket, elaborately
relieved with figures and scroll work, from V1s-
COUNT FALKAND; glass claret jug, richly mount
ed with silver gilt, from Lord MAIDEN; gold
mounted riding whip and chain from Lady DIANA
BEAUuERK; from the Hon. ALBERT DEN1soN, o
gilt clock in the form Of steering-wheel; from
the servants Of General and Mrs. GREY's house
hold, Russian leather envelope box and blotting
case; superb gold vase from the Bestwork Park
tenantry, etc.; from Lady CocHRANE jewoled
inkstand and candlestick suite, inlaid with tur-
quoises, etc.; from the Hon. Mrs. STRUT, o beau
tlful and complete boudoir writing table, set Of
Oriental agate.
A WRITER IN THE Cornhill Magazine describes
o visit to Chinese leper village near Canton. He
says s.Itis situated about two miles and half
from the suburbs of Canton, on slight eminenco,
in the midst of cultivated fields, and accommo-
dates between four and five hundred lepers, with
their children born in the asylum. All persons
recognized or declared by the authorities to be
lepers ale sent to these asylums, Of which there
are three in the neighborhood Of Canton. Neither
husband, wife, nor children are allowed to accom-
pany the leper to the asylum; but they are allowed
to choose themselves new conjugal mates from the
inmates Of tho same. The children born from
these unions remain in the village. saw of thcm
great number. varying from the age Of infancy
to twenty five years, and, in fact, judging from
the great number Of sound people in tho establish
ment, the offspring would seem to be as numerous
as tho legitimate occupants Of tho place. Only one
leper admitted that he was the son Of another
Ieper then in the place. As rulo they try to con-
ceal their descent from diseased parents. The |
village itself forms rectangle, surrounded by |
brick wall twelve feet high, with gate which is |
closed every night. The following description |
may give you an idea Of its inner arrangement. A |
street about fourteen feet wide (wider than any |
street in Canton) leads from the gate straight up
to the temple or joss-house. From this street |
branch out at right angles on each side about four
teen narrow lanes, three feet and half wide, each
two separated by one single low building, partition
ed again by wall along It's whole length, and
crossways by twelve to fourteen cross.wals, so as
to form twenty-four narrow apartments. In these |
small holes that whole mass Of population is
slowed cway every night.
AT AN AUCTION SALE in London, last month, |
copies of several early plays were bought OF high
prices. The Times gives list: T. PRESTON: La
mentable Tragedie, mixed full Of pleasant mirth,
containing the life of CAMBlsEs, King Of Percia;
4to, Ilack letter, f22. The Jovial Crew, or the |
Devil turned Ranter, being character Of the
Roaring Ranters Of these times represented in |
Comedie; frontispiece; 1851; f6 los. SHAKESPEARE:
A Midsom1aer Nights Dreame; first edition (ac-
cording to Mr. HALLIwELL), fine copy, in green
morocco, printed by JAMES RoBERTs, 1000, 641 10.
The excellent History of the Merchant Of Venice,
&C.; first edition; fne copy, in red morocco,
printed by ]. RoBER1s 1000; f31. Tho first part
of the True and Honorable History Of the
Life of Sir JOHN OLDoAsTLE, the good Lord
CoBHAM; first edition. Printed for T. PRESTON,
1900. From HENsIowE's Diary it appears that
this play is erroneousy attributed to SHAKESPEARE;
it was in reality written in 1899 by MUNDAY, DnAY-
TON, WILSON and HALFWAY. This edition is now
rare; the present copy reached as high as flG.
History OF the Life and Death of King Lear, and
his Three Daughters, &C.; very rare; printed for
NATHANIEL BUTTER, 1908; fS1. SHAKESPEARE,
Most Pleasant and Excellent Conceited Comedy OF
Sir John Falstaffe and the Merry Wives of Wind
sor, with the Staggering Nine of Ancient Pistol
and Corporal Nym; fine copy, in red morocco
extra: printed for ARTHUR JOHNSON, 1919, EGG.
SHAKESPEARE, Yorkshire Tragedie, not so new as
lamentable and true printed for T. PRESTON, 1919;
very rare; 12 guineas. JOHN STILL, Bishop OF
Bath and Wells; Ryght, Pithy, Pleasant, and (ssc)
Merle Comedie, intytuled Gammer Gurton's Nede,
playd OH stage not longe ago in Christcs Colledge
in Cambridge; black letter; Is guineas.
THE WAS H1NGToN InteNigencer says: ''There is
on exhibition at the Jewery store OF Messrs GAIT,
the saddle which it is stated belonged to and was
used by the late MACMILLAN, of Mexico. This sad
die by some means came into possession Of Gen.