The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-01-08
DOMESTIC MISCELLANY.

Death of Gen. Harper.--The Stanton .Specta-
tor Of the 3lst of December comes to us in
mourning for Gen. Kenton Harper, its founder.
This officer, wel-known for gallant service in
the Mexican war and the late war, 10 both al
the head OF Virginia troops died at his home
in Augusta Co., on Christmas evening, aged
sc.
New Mineral DiscOveries-A quarry of mar
BILE of remarkable quality and of superior
texture has recently been opened in Green
brier county, West Virginia. The iron ore
and coal developments recently made in Ten
nesSee, on the Nashville and Chattanooga rail
road, are said to be more than satisfactory
Several new coal mines will soon be put in ope-
ration.
Georgia Gold-Since the closing of the war
the gold field of Georgia is again engaging
attention. In former years the yield of gold
was so large that Government established a
mint at Dahlonega, Lumpkin county, in the
western part of the State Orders have been
recently given to have this mint, which was
necessarily closed during the war, opened
again. Three large ingots of gold from the
Lewis gold mine, valued at S4 500, the pro-
duct OF one week S work, at the cost Of | 100,
were recently exhibited in Washington.
Lecture Season in Baltimore.-A correspon-
dent of the Religious Herald says:
THE lecture season in Baltimore is unuSu-
ally varied this winter. Besides Cough and
others from abroad, several Of the distinguished
professors and divineS Of the city have been
engaged to discourse on the varied themes of
the platform Among the latter, Rev. DR.. j.
w. NJ Williams has commenced a course de-
scriptive of his recent tour through Europe.
DR.. Williams narrative is so spirited and well
delineated that wherever it is heard he will
be esteemed among the most popular and
pleasing Of lecturers.
Probably the oldest book extant, ever pub
tshed in America, is now in possession of
General j. W. Phelps, of Vermont 1t is a
dictionary of the Aztec language, and was
printed in the city of Mexico, in l57l-nearly
fifty years before the landing of the Pilgrims
of Plymouth, and more than thirty years pre-
viOus to the establishment of the colony at
jamestown, Va.
The Low Water at Niagara Falls-Remarka-
BILE Phenomena.-A letter from Niagara Falls,
gives the following description of the remarka-
ole phenomena of low water at the Falls and
elsewhere Thursday was a wonderful day
in the annals of Niagara Falls The strong
easterly gale sent the water Of Lake Erie west
ward leaving the Niagara river and its trisu-
taries lower than were ever known before. =
Buffalo creek was so low that all the vessels in
AND Nsaesr., FIJI, 80, =
rivuIot compared with Its native grandeur
The bed OF the American branch was so de-
nuded that you could travel in its rocky bed
without wetting your feet, and mysteries that
were never before revealed came to light on
that day. Rocks that heretofore were invisi-
BILE appeared in their full grown deformity
upon the surface, and great was the consterna-
ton among the fnny tribes The Three Sis
ters were accessible to foot passengers, and
many traversed where human foot had never
trod, with perfect impunity and dry feet. Be-
low the Falls was the wonder of wonders The
water was full twenty feet lower than usual,
and the oldest inhabitant gazed in wonder at
the grand transformation. Near Suspension
Bridge the celebrated rock at Whitmers mill,
upon which drowning man caught and was
rescued several years ago, which barely pro-
jectS its head above the water, was laid bare
twenty feet above the surface.