The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-11-25
FOREIGN ITEMS.

The Eruption of Mount Vesuvus will proba
bly, relieve the countries of Europe from the
threatened earthquakes The mountain, as
reported by Atlantic cable, is in very vigor-
Gus condition-the streams of lava filling and
overlooking the long, deep crevices in the
side. The direction of the current is the same
as during the eruption of 1855. On the night
of November 10th, the upper cone discharged
columns of ashes, occasionally Illuminated by
flashes of fire. Crowds of spectators are hur-
rying to Naples to witness the grand sight.
NAPLES, November 2l.-The violence of the
eruption of Mt. Vesuvius is increasing. Many
houses and farms have been utterly destroyed,
The market town of San Giargio is in imminent
danger.
Through passengers to China, uia Panama,
are allowed two hundred and fifty pounds Of
baggage, and all over that weight is charged
twenty cents pound
The Commercial Congress recently in session
at Berlin decided in favor of the international
decimal system of coinage, on the basis laid
down at the Paris Conference of 1867. The
civilization of the world will have made grand
step in its progress when the great commercial
nations shall have adopted common system
OF coinage
Democracy of the Chinese.-Rev. DR.. Speer,
formerly Missionary of the Old School Pres
byterian Church to the Chinese in California,
and now Secretary of their Board of Educa-
ton is the author of this interesting Magazine
article
The paper is designed to give an impartial
and intelligent estimate of the political insti
buttons of China, and to call attention to the
amount of freedom and popular intelligence
possessed by the people of the land. The ar
ticle was written by the Rev. DR.. Speer, Sc
cretary of the Board of Education, and the
editor of the magazine, (Harper's) says, with
great truth, of the writer: 1--WE do not be.
leve that there are five men, European Or
American, who are as thoroughly acquainted
as Dr. Speer with the Chinese in their own
country. We think there is no other nan so
fully conversant with the Chinese in Califor-
MA
Large Legacy.-The late Miss Hannah Short
ridge, of Glasgow, Scotland, has bequeathed
to the Moderator of the General Assembly of
the Church of Scotland, legacy of $4,000,
'to be paid and applied" by BIN in equal
proportions to four of the schemes of the
church, viz to the education scheme, the for
eign or India mission, the home mission, and
the endowment scheme.
An English expedition, under the direction of
the Advance Survey, has gone to Palestine to
endeavor to settle the disputed points as to
which mountains Mount Sinai and what course
the Israeltes took after crossing the Red Sea,
as well as to gather other interesting facts of
the sacred country so strangely allowed to be-
come obsolete or doubtful by the Jews.
The city of Glasgow, Scotland, has quintupled
its dimensions during the last sixty years and,
since lS42, has expended five million dollars in
dredging out and improving the channel of the
Clyde With the commercial advantages thus
secured, it has become the third city in the
United Kingdom, and, in point of population,
is said to be second only to London.
F.ONDoN November 2l.-Returns thus far
show the election of 80 Liberal and l6S Con.
sentative members of Parliament
Serious election riots have occurred at vari-
Gus places. At Sligo, Ireland ten houses were
sacked, and at Ripley, in Derbyshire, sharp
fight occurred, many persons being injured by