The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-06-17
DOMESTIC MISCELLANY.

Our Postal Systsm.-We were disposed to
think it was only in our Southern States, that
our people were suffering from a wretehedly
managed Post Office department. But North
eyn papers are crying out also. The n. York
Observer says:
1--WE observe that the project of putting
the TelegraphS into the management of the
Government does not meet with public favor
1t is a serious question whether the entire
postal system of the country would not be bet
ter conducted by private companies, than it
now is by Government. Ii certainly would
not be worse managed.
At Albany, the other day, at an EcclesiaSti-
cal meeting, We found reporters sending their
reports to their newspapers in distant cities Jy
express, and not by mail. We inquired the
reason, and learned that they ensured speed
and safety by using the express and not the
mail
We sent letter In great haste to New York
from Albany, and it was delivered at its ad-
dress four days after it was sent. If the Tele-
graph were managed by the Government, it
would be like abo6Shing steam and going back
70 post coaches.
The President nominated Hon. Reverdy
johnson to be Minister to England in place of
Mr. Adams resigned, aud the Nomination was
confirmed by the Senate.
Generalship Arithmetically Considered. The
New York World of the 9th instant presents
the following figures aud conclusions:
We have already shown the respective forces
anu losses of Generals Grant and Lee between
the Rapidan and James, and as predatory to
some further historical light on General Grant
soldiership, reproduce them.
Grant on assuming command May 4, 1864
had of effective men besides the reserve, when
he crossed the Rapidan, l25,0o0.
Lee at the same date had an effective force
Of $4,000.
Grants reinforeements up to the battle of
Cold HarbOr, June 3, were 81, 600.
Lees reintorcements up to the same date
were $4,000.
Grants tOtalforce, including reinforcements,
was 222, 900.
Lees total force, including reinforcements,
10000.
Returns to their respective Governments
showed that when both armies hadreached the
James, June 10, the number of Grants army
that had been put hOrS dU combat was H.
0O0.
Up to the same date, the number of Lees
men who had been put hOrS du combat was
$4,000.
The two armies then met in front of Pc
sersburg.
1t will be seen that Grants total force, in
Guiding reinfOrcementS, was l52, 600, and his
loss IS, 600 in excess of Lees, or that with
force outnumbering his opponents three to
one, this Dungler lost every other man In his
army, while Lee lost but two out of every nine,
or, to put it still differently, that Grant lost
just SIX thousand men more than one and
a. half times Lee S entire army.
Improved Instrument for Surveying and Cal
eulating Arsas,-This instrument has been ad-
vertised for some time past in our columns
The Nashville Union and Dispatch, in a recent
Aattering notice Of it says:
This instrument is recommended by very
many Of the most distinguished and scientific
minds OF America, as being the best, simplest
and most accurate now used on this continent
This opinion when given and sustained by such
men as Col. w. Allen, Professor of Applied
Mathematics, Washington College, used by
hun In MS extensive class Church and Davis
OF the U. 5. Military Academy, West Point
Bledsoe, of the University OF Virginia; Ora
ven, Chief Engineer, New York city, and