Biterary, Briratifir, and latistical rms. GOLD AND SILVER-We are to have more silver as well as more gold. Besides the increasing yield of the California and other silver mines in the United States, a new silver region has been discovered in the Argentine Republic, at the foot of the Andes. The ore is found in a tract one mile by forty in extent. In the British colony of Victoria, also, very rich deposits of silver have been discovered. It is thought that the appreciation in value of silver as compared with gold will receive a temporary check. EXPENSES OF A EUROPEAN TOUR-A writer thus estimates the expense of a five months' visit to the Old World: A first-class passage from America to Liverpool costs $80; the passage back by the same line, $79; traveling and board in England and France, $119.42; tour on the Continent, $106.13; fees and fares to waiters, hacks, etc., $15.45; thus making the total amount of $499 for five months. This estimate is made, however, on the basis of the ordinary value of foreign exchange, and not at the present high prices. IRON RAILWAY CARS.-The days of wooden freight cars appear to be numbered on the New York Central Railroad. For the past two years iron freight cars have been built at Albany for this road, thin plate iron being used for the purpose. Such cars are lighter than those made of wood, and are at the same time more roomy and stronger. They also possess greater durability, and are incombustible. AFRICAN COTTON.-Western and Equatorial Africa is rapidly entering into the production of cotton. Six bales of this staple from the Niger have just arrived at Manchester, the first result of a screw press fitted up far inland on the banks of that river by the cele brated African, the Rev. S. Crowther. In Yoruba the amount of cotton gathered in the hands of the merchants and traders, owing to the wars and feuds of that region, is estimated at 1,000 bales of 120 pounds each, which, at present prices in Liverpool, would be worth $60,000. Attempts have been made by the Liberians to raise cotton, but whether the planting has been done at the wrong season, or the seed, from the sea islands of South Carolina, was not adapted to the soil and climate, is not known. Certain it is that it did not thrive well. Attention is more particularly given recently by the farmers, with signal success, to the production of coffee and sugar. Cotton is, however, raised by the natives on the territory east of the Republic, and in small quantities is finding its way abroad. A lot received in this country has a long fiber of the finest texture, white and soft, and seems to possess the characteristics of the finest quality in our market. As the plant is indigenous and perennial, it may be easily grown to a large extent, and that region become a desirable source of supply. FOREIGN SLAVE-TRADE.-Mr. Crawford, the English Commissioner at Havana, reports that the number of crease slaves landed in Cuba in the year ending September 30, 1862, was 11,254 against 23,964 in 1861. The dewas doubtless more marked and gratifying during 1863, as the treaty between our Government and that of Great Britain for a right of search within a certain distance of the African coast and of the seaboard of the Island of Cuba, was then put in operation. Cuba also clears herself from a complicity with a barbarism which daily draws nearer to its death. The Captain-General recently arrested several wealthy and prominent planters for their complicity in the trade, and fined and banished them from the island. The matter was brought before the Home Government, and the conduct of General Dulce approved. The conduct of General Dulce being thus indorsed, his language on the subject becomes of moment. He said that was sent by her Most Catholic Majesty Isabella II to carry out the treaties made with other Governments for the suppression of the African slave-trade, and that they might depend upon his doing it." he UNITED STATES CHRISTIAN COMMISSION.-The following figures will show the immense amount of work performed for the army by the Christian Commission during the past year: .$358,239 29 .385,829 07 Cash received at the Central Office and Branch Of- Value of Scriptures contributed by British and For- Value of railroad facilities contributed Total.. Cash expended in purchase of stores, publications, 45,071 50 1,677 79 44,210 00 9,390 00 72,420 00 $916,837 65 .265,211 28 Balance on hand at Central Office, 1st January, 1864, 43,547 41 1,207 465,715 371,859 1,254,591 39,713 120,492 2,931,469 11,976,722 3,285 A very large proportion of this good work has been accomplished through the Cincinnati Branch, A. E. Chamberlain, Chairman, Rev. J. F. Marlay, Secretary, 51 Vine-street. CONSUMPTION OF WOOL-The consumption of wool in the United States during the past year has been unusually large, amounting, in the aggregate, to some 120,000,000 pounds. The quantity of raw material required for army supplies alone, during the past year, is estimated at 50,000,000; for the navy, 1,000,000; for civilians' wear, 65,000,000, and the amount required to replace cotton, formerly incorporated to a much greater extent in mixed fabrics, 10,000,000 pounds. BRITISH HOUSE OF COMMONS.-This body is often spoken of as the popular branch of the British Gov ernment, but the strength of the aristocratic element in it may be inferred from the fact that in a recent House there were 53 eldest sons of Peers, who would in due course pass from the lower to the upper House; 30 junior sons of Peers; 47 brothers of Peers; 45 Commoners married to Peers' daughters. Besides these, though in some cases combined in the same persons, there are 49 placemen, 88 naval and military officers, 78 railway directors, 76 patrons of Church livings. GERMAN UNIVERSITIES.-The universities are largely attended. The number at Marburg and Giessen is not ascertained. Bonn has 800, Gottingen and Halle from 700 to 800, Leipzic 1,000, Berlin nearly 2,000. But the number of professors is still greater in comparison with American colleges than that of the students. None of them have less than 50 to 60, Leipzic has 100, and Berlin nearly 150. Of course it is evident either from a large subdivision of the different departments, or from the different professors overlap ping each other, that only few lectures are required from each. LUMBER TRADE AT CHICAGO.-The total receipts of lumber by lake at Chicago during the year 1863 were 393,074,882 feet. These are largely in excess of the receipts of the year before, and do not include the receipts by railroad, which were considerable. The Journal says the past has been the most prosperous lumber season ever known in the West, and the prices have been higher than ever before. PROGRESS OF EDUCATION IN SOUTHERN ITALY.In 1861 there were in the Neapolitan provinces 1,746 schools for boys and 836 for girls, 1,755 masters and 835 mistresses. The pupils were, boys, 34,198, and girls, 29,160. There were also 48 evening schools, with 1,002 pupils, and 5 infant asylums, with 358 inmates. weather. In this prophecy he confirms a previous one by Lieut. Saxby, who declares that between December 12th and 15th we shall be visited with one of the severest storms ever known in England. Another writer holds that not the moon only, but the other heavenly bodies influence our meteorology. "For example," says Mr. Pearce, the advocate of this theory, "Saturna body one thousand times as large as our earthcrossed the equator on the 1st January last; and again on the 16th of that month, being stationary on the same day, and the sun 30° from Jupiter on that day also; consequently, the New Year was ushered in with a gale, and on the 16th gales commenced which lasted till the 20th. Saturn again crossed the equator on 2d September last, and accordingly another stormy period Mars on the 2d of the last month again demonstraoccurred. The solar conjunction of both Saturn and ted the power of these bodies-they having been conjoined on the previous day. A confirmation of their influence will be found when we remember that the Great Eastern was disabled in a fearful gale on the 11th of September, 1861, these planets being in conjunction on that day. Now as to the storm period of December 10th to 13th. Let Mr. Saxby observe that on the 10th the earth will pass between Mercury and Uranus, and on the 15th between the sun and Uranus. These positions have for years been observed to produce heavy gales." What a pity it was that the astrologers did not devote their observations to the foretelling of the weather, instead of the casting of horoscopes! They would then have been of some use in their day and generation. RELIGIOUS PROGRESS IN GREECE.-The priests, here as elsewhere, are not men of progress, but of form. They love ceremony because ceremonies bring fees. The Holy Synod, in its annual application to the Government, makes no complaint as to Sabbath preaching There are now 2,367 schools for boys, 1,364 for girls, by allowance of the authorities. But there is one voice 2.488 masters, and 1,479 mistresses, the pupils being 77,864 boys, and 52,153 girls, as well as 677 evening schools with 14,341 pupils, and 29 asylums with 2,765 scholars. In Palermo there were during the time of the Bourbons only eight schools; there are now one hundred. INDIAN PAGANS IN NEW YORK.-The Onondaga tribe of Indians, mostly located a few miles from Syracuse, New York, is said to number about four hundred persons, many of whom are still pagans. There are no Christian chiefs among them, and quite a number of the tribe still maintain pagan worship. A Wesleyan mission exists among them, which reports twentyfive hopeful conversions the past year. THE MOON AND THE WEATHER.-Science has again and again proved that popular superstitions were philosophical facts. Another instance of this is recorded with regard to the weather. It is perhaps the most generally credited of popular beliefs, that the weather is influenced by the moon. Scientific men are now coming forward to prove that this is actually the case; and they tell us that the nearer the moon is to the earth the more disturbed the weather will be. Thus, in December next the moon will be 1,800 miles closer to the earth than she is now. This, a correspondent predicts, will cause extraordinarily high tides and rough ner. that stands up for the truth in a bold and able manThe Star of the East-a weekly religious newspaper, thoroughly Protestant in principle, published at Athens, in modern Greek, and edited by a native Greek of the Protestant faith and American education-has a good circulation in the kingdom and in foreign ports, and is a very important agent for the diffusion of religious truth among the Greek race. It is the only Protestant newspaper, perhaps, in that language; and when it commenced, six years ago, it was the only religious periodical. But the Greek ecclesiastics speedily took care that this should no longer be said. So the day of religious polemics has dawned upon Greece. Greek and Protestant meet in conflict, and a religious press opens the arena to the gaze of the people. "The truth is mighty, and it will prevail." DISTINGUISHED DEAD-President Edward Hitchcock, late of Amherst College, died at his residence in Massachusetts February 27th. He was distinguished as a general scholar, but particularly for his acquaintance with natural history. One of the most successful text-books of our country was his Manual of Geology, used generally in our schools and colleges. He was the author of a History and Sketches of Amherst College, a work of great interest, being in part a biography of his own times. iterar (1) LIFE AND LETTERS OF WASHINGTON IRVING.By his nephew, Pierre M. Irving. 4 vols. 18vo. Pp. 463, 492, 404, and 450. $6. New York: G. P. Putnam. Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co.-These volumes are elegantly gotten up. In typographical beauty and in binding it would be difficult to surpass them. Of the subject of these volumes we hope to speak more fully in our next number, as we have had his portrait engraved for this special purpose. The delicate and difficult task of gathering his letters, running through half a century in their dates, and scattered all over the civilized world, has been prosecuted with great diligence, and been crowned with the most satisfactory success. The fourth volume closes with an analytical index of the contents, which is admirably arranged for reference. Of the man and his relation to our American literature we will speak hereafter. (2) LYRICS OF LOYALTY. Arranged and edited by Frank Moore. 18mo. 336 pp. $1. New York: G. P. Putnam. Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co.-The object of this volume is to preserve some of the best lyrical writings called forth by the present rebellion. The style of binding is appropriately "red, white, and blue." Cin (3.) A CRITICAL HISTORY OF THE DOCTRINE OF A FUTURE LIFE, with a complete Bibliography of the subject. By William Rounselville Alger. Large 8vo. 914 pp. $3.50. Philadelphia: George W. Childs. cinnati: Rickey & Carroll.-We have read this huge volume with no little interest. The style of the author is remarkably clear, and his entire work is characterized by vigorous thought and wide research. There is an air of candor, and, indeed, for the most part, great fairness in his statement of the different theories having relation to the future life, and also in his statement of the arguments for and against them. There is a great deal of lumber in the work, but most of it is valuable. The author would have done well had he And, confined himself to history. For when he departs from the historical and attempts the argumentative, he exhibits a strange medley of belief and unbelief. on the whole, we can not regard the book otherwise than a soil teeming with the thickly-sown seeds of infidelity. The inspiration of the Bible, the history of creation, the resurrection of the body, and other essential elements of Christian faith are to him as "old wives' fables," which have been "terribly shattered by the attacks of reason and progressive science." A true history of the doctrine of a future life" is a desideratum, and would be of essential service to the cause of Christianity. (4.) CHRISTIAN LIFE AND CHARACTER OF THE CIVIL INSTITUTIONS OF THE UNITED STATES DEVEL OPED IN THE OFFICIAL AND HISTORICAL ANNALS OF THE REPUBLIC. By B. F. Morris. 8vo. Pp. 831. Price, $3.50. 1864. Philadelphia: George W. Childs. Cincinnati: Rickey & Carroll.-This volume is a rich store-house of facts. And the evidence it gives of the substantial Christian character of our civil institutions is overwhelming. The author says in the preface, "The documents and facts are authentic, and have been collected with laborious diligence from standard historical works and from the political and Christian annals of the nation. The volume is the voice of the best and wisest men of the Republic." This work has evidently been the labor of years; nor is it less evident that it was with the author a labor of love. The excellent classification and arrangement of the topics facilitate greatly the practical use of the volume as a work of reference. (5.) SAYINGS OF SAGES; or, Selections from Distinguished Preachers, Poets, Philosophers, and other Authors, Ancient and Modern. Compiled by E. C. Revons, with an Introduction by Edward Thomson, D. D. 12mo. 294 pp. $1. New York: Carlton & Porter.-Dr. Thomson says: "Here is a book of the best thoughts of some of the wisest men-truths which lie at the foundations of reasoning; principles of great moral importance and practical usefulness; just sentiments in excellent forms of speech, like apples of gold in pictures of silver;' views of human nature and human life, which for their correctness and comprehensiveness have obtained currency among all classes, and embody the opinions of all; and views of God and his relations and claims, which commend themselves at once to the reason and conscience of mankind. In addition, there will be found sayings or apothegms which possess value and force from the character of their authors, those little and short utterances which, as Tillottson says, are like sparks of diamonds." (6.) CHAMBERS'S CYCLOPEDIA.-Nos. 68 and 69 of this sterling work have been laid on our table. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co. 20 cents per number. (7.) CATALOGUES-1. Oneida Conference Seminary— 38th annual catalogue-Rev. E. G. Andrews, D. D., Principal, assisted by eight teachers. Students-gentlemen, 234; ladies, 258. Total, 492. 2. Amenia Seminary-28th annual catalogue-Rev. A. J. Hunt, A. M., Principal, assisted by six teachers. (8.) APPLETON'S UNITED STATES POSTAL GUIDE contains the regulations of the post-office and a complete list of the post-offices in the United States. Price, 25 cents. (9.) THE WESTMINSTER REVIEW for January, 1864, contains the following articles: 1. The Life and Writings of Roger Bacon. 2. The Tunnel under Mont Cenis. 3. Astrology and Magic. 4. The Depreciation of Gold. 5. Gilchrist's Life of William Blake. 6. Parties and Prospects in Parliament. 7. The Inspired Writings of Hinduism. 8. Russia. 9. The Physiology of Sleep. 10. Cotemporary Literature. (10.) THE LONDON QUARTERLY for January contains, 1. China. 2. New Englanders and the Old Home. 3. Forsyth's Life of Cicero. 4. Captain Speke's Journal. 5. Guns and Plates. 6. Eels. 7. Rome in the Middle Ages. 8. The Danish Duchies. The London, Edinburgh, North British, and Westminster Reviews, together with Blackwood's Magazine, are republished, producing fac-similes of the English editions, by L. Scott & Co., New York city, and are kept on sale by G. N. Lewis, Cincinnati. $10. (11.) THE NORTH AMERICAN REVIEW for January contains, 1. Ticknor's Life of Prescott. 2. The Bible and Slavery. 3. The Ambulance System. 4. The Bibliotheca Sacra. 5. Immorality in Politics. 6. The Early Life of Governor Winthrop. 7. The Sanitary Commission. 8. Renan's Life of Jesus. 9. The President's Policy. 10. Critical Notices. It is published by Crosby & Nichols, Boston, at $5 a year. The North American is now nearly half a century old, having been established in 1815. It has now passed into a new editorial management; Prof. James Russell Lowell and Charles Eliot Norton, gentlemen well known to the literary world, assuming the charge. The articles are timely, important, and the subjects are treated in an able and scholarly manner. The loyal and patriotic tone of the Quarterly is worthy of all commendation. It is an auspicious day for our periodical literature when the Review takes such a patriotic stand. (12) REASONS FOR THANKSGIVING AND SUGGES TIONS OF DUTY: A Thanksgiving Discourse. By Rev. Robert Allyn, A. M., President of M Kendree College. An eloquent and able discourse. (13) EDUCATION OF THE BLIND-Twenty-Seventh Annual Report of the Ohio Institution. (14) THE BIBLE AGAINST SLAVERY. By Prof. S. M. Vail, of the Methodist General Biblical Institute. Concord: Fogg, Hadly & Co.-This able pamphlet contains searching replies to the "Bible View of Slavery," by John H. Hopkins, D. D., Bishop of the Diocese of Vermont; and to "A Northern Presbyter's Second Letter to Ministers of the Gospel," by Nathan Lord, D. D., late President of Dartmouth College; and to "X," of the New Hampshire Patriot. (15) THE OLD HELMET. By the author of the "Wide, Wide World." 12mo. 2 vols. 328, 363 pp. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers-Most of our readers will remember the sensation produced by the publication of the "Wide, Wide World." By a single bound its author passed to the very summit of popular authorship. Since then her pen has been constantly and, we believe, usefully employed. None of her subsequent works have attained the notoriety of her first; but there are none of them which do not contain many of its excellencies. Of these later works the last has been the most decidedly successful, and it is also the most decidedly excellent. a master, and draws from each the lessons it was designed to impart, not merely to an apostate nation, but to all ages and all men. (17.) AN ESSAY ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF TIME By John Foster. Edited by J. E. Ryland, A. M. 12mo. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.-The themes discussed in Part I of this volume are, The Value of Time, the Capacity of Time, the Swiftness of Time, and the Ultimate Object of the Improvement of Time. Part II comprises, Indolence, Intervals, and Solitary Life. It is scarcely necessary to say that these discussions are marked with much of the grasp and penetration of thought for which their author was so remarkable in later years. Though composed in his earlier life, and so far completed that it was embodied in a very neat manuscript, the author seems never to have offered it to the public in any form. And now, after the author has been dead twenty years, it is resurrected and given to the public. THE following books have also been laid upon our table by the Messrs. Carter. We have neither time nor space to give them suitable notices in this number: (18.) THE SAFE COMPASS AND HOW IT POINTS. By Rev. Richard Newton, D. D. 16mo. 318 pp. (19.) CLAUDE THE COLPORTEUR. By the author of Mary Powell. 16mo. 316 pp. (20.) CHRISTIAN CONQUESTS. By A. L. O. E. 18mo. 170 pp. (21) SALE OF CRUMMIE. 18mo. 171 pp. (22.) FAITHFUL AND TRUE. By the author of Win and Wear. 16mo. 368 pp. (23.) MEMOIR OF REV. ERSKINE J. HAWES, Pastor of the Congregational Church, Plymouth, Conn. By his Mother. 12mo. 275 pp. (24.) THE MAN OF GOD; or, Spiritual Religion Explained and Enforced. By Octavius Winslow, D. D. 18mo. 283 pp. ་ (25) WHEDON ON THE WILL.-We must defer our notice of this work to a subsequent number. We have here barely space to indicate its division and It consists of three parts; namely, arrangement. The Issue Stated; the Necessitarian Argument Considered; the Positive Argument Stated. In the first part we have the following chapters: Will Isolated and Defined; Freedom of the Will Defined; Volition not always Preceded by Emotion; Freedom of the Will Causationally Presented; Edwards's Synthesis of Definitions Reviewed; Condition and Limitation of Will's Free Action; Anterior Standard of Accordance; Schematism of Conscious Free Will. The second part has sections on the Causational Argument, the Psychological Argument, and the Theological Argument. The third part is treated under the following heads: The Argument from Consciousness; Argument from Possibility of Divine Command; Distinctions between Automatic Excellence and Moral Desert; the Maxim of Responsibility; Necessitarian Counter-Maxim of Respons (16) THE PROPHET OF FIRE; or, the Life and Times of Elijah, with their Lessons. By J. R. Macduff, D. D. 12mo. 351 pp. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers. The first production of Dr. Macduff which attractibility Considered; Edwards's Direct Intuitional Proof ed our attention was "Morning and Night Watches," an excellent companion for private and family devotions. The volume before us groups the striking events in the life of Elijah, delineates them with the hand of of Necessitated Responsibility; Responsibility of Belief Demonstrates Freedom of Will; Coaction and Necessitation; Argument from God's Non-Authorship of Sin. Freedom the Condition of a Possible Theodicy. ditor's Tablr. THE WESTERN BOOK COMMITTEE.-The annual | results: 1. The receipts of 1863 have exceeded those meeting of the Western Book Committee took place in February. There were present Joseph M. Trimble, Chairman, of the Ohio Conference; R. Haney, of the Central Illinois; Elnathan C. Gavitt, Central Ohio; John Kiger, Indiana; O. V. Lemon, North Indiana; W. E. Bigelow, Detroit; T. E. Corkhill, Iowa; and S. Huffman, Missouri. B. F. Crary, of the Minnesota Conference, and Peter Cartwright, of the Illinois Conference, were absent. R. Haney was chosen Secretary. William Young, of the Cincinnati Conference, was elected to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of John T. Mitchell. The following figures show the business for the year ending January 31, 1864: of 1862 by $159,108.46. 2. The appropriations for 1864 exceed those made for 1863 by $136,502. 3. Appropriations for Home Missions within the Annual Conferences from May, 1850, to December 31, 1863, | $2,128,588; appropriations to the foreign work for same period, $1,388,899. 4. The average yearly appropriation to the home work for fifteen years past has been $141,905. The average yearly appropriation for foreign work during the same period has been $92,593. 5. Total number of foreign missionaries in 1849, 33; of members, 1,532. Total number of foreign missionaries in 1863, 129; of members, 6,122. Showing an increase in laborers of 96 and of members 4,590. 6. Total number of home missionaries in 1849 among our foreign populations, 131; and of members, 8,303. Total number of missionaries in the same fields in 1863, 304; and members, 24,052. Showing an increase in missionaries of 173; and of members, 15,749. 7. There are 900 missionaries among our American population in the frontier work, and in feeble or newlybegun charges, which must have partial or entire support for a short time till they take their places in the self-sustaining work, as thousands of similar missions have done during the forty-five years' history of the Society. DAILY ADVOCATE DURING THE GENERAL CONFERENCE. We cheerfully insert the following announcement, and invite the attention of our readers generally to the enterprise: We, the Agents of the Methodist Book Concerns at New York and Cincinnati, have determined to publish a daily paper at Philadelphia during the session of the General Conference, commencing on the 1st of May proximo, and to be able to meet the expectations of the people, and make the paper what it should be, we have engaged the services of three of the best reporters in the country, who will report not only the acts and doings of the body, but many, if not all, the speeches made on the occasion. The increased cost of materials and labor is such as to render it necessary for us to fix the price a little higher than formerly, but this advance will not be equal to the increased expense. Our terms will be as follows: Single copies, and all numbers less than five, each.. And for any additional numbers, each.. .81 50 1 35 1 25 At these prices we must have a large list, or there will be a loss in its publication; but if the preachers will interest themselves in procuring subscribers by bringing the subject before their people as soon as practicable, and send in their reports at an early day, either to the Agents at New York or Cincinnati, or to any of the Depositories, so that we can have our paper ordered in due time, and our mail-books written up a week or two before the commencement of the session, they will not only facilitate correctness in forwarding the paper to the subscribers, but secure success to the enterprise. It is our intention to forward the paper to subscribers daily by the first morning mail-to the north and east at six o'clock, and south and west at eight. This will enable subscribers to know from day to day what is being said and done in that body. CARLTON & PORTER, POE & HITCHCOCK. |