tween the gulf of Guinea and the Mediterranean, none have yet reached Timbuctoo and returned. The only European traveller who has reached this inland city, and returned to give an account of it, is Caille, a Frenchman, some ten years since. The expedition now projected, it is said, will have an escort of eight hundred armed Europeans, and four hundred Africans.

Liberia.-The Rev. Mr. Gurley, agent of the Colonization society, in a recent letter, thus describes the residence of the President, and the appearance of Monrovia:

"President Roberts lives in a very commodious brick house, furnished with taste and elegance, and the hospitalities of his mansion and table are set off with a refined good breeding which commends him and the republic over which he so ably presides, to the respect and confidence of visiters from the whole civilized world."

Of the appearance of the town of Monrovia, and the beauty of its ornamental trees, as well as the great improvement which has taken place, Mr. G. writes:

"The beauty of these large trees, (the orange,) loaded with fruit, as well as that of the heavily laden coffee trees, one of the handsomest trees you can imagine, with the deep green of its magnificent leaf, it would be difficult to describe.

"When I behold what has been done since my former visit to this coast, the many substantial and convenient houses and stores that have been constructed, the general aspect of health, contentment, and hope, which this people exhibit; the great good order, and respect to religion which prevails, I am impressed more than I' ever was with the vast dignity and beneficence of the colonization of Africa."

2d. Steam-dried Meal.-The invention of J. R. Stafford, Esq., of Cleveland, Ohio, for steam-drying corn, is getting into high repute. He has already a contract to supply the navy with corn meal; and has published a very interesting pamphlet on the preservation of cereal grains.

The theory is, that without the presence of air and moisture, no organic body can change. The advantages claimed by the patentee for his revolving drier over all others, are, mainly, that it dries all substances without the possibility of change of quality, colour, or flavour, and removes all danger of the meal dried by that process undergoing any change under any circumstances of exposure. Mr. Stafford affirms that when grain is ground into flour or meal, and is dried by his process, by packing it into casks its cohesive properties make it impervious to air, and, being divested of internal moisture, vermin cannot exist among it; and from this cause it is susceptible of being kept in any climate an indefinite time.

The theory is sustained by incontestable facts.

Rice Culture in France.-The culture of rice has been lately introduced with success into the southern departments of France, and also into the Gironde. M. Ferry, a skilful and successful farmer of that department, at an annual agricultural festival, presented a specimen of rice which he had raised, having sowed several hectares, on which he produced a crop of thirty-five hectolitres per hectare. As this may not be intelligible to some of our agricultural readers, it may be proper to explain that this rate of produce is about thirtyseven bushels per acre. This culture, it is stated, is about to be continued on a vast scale, and it is likely to contribute greatly to the riches of the south of France.

Cotton Culture in the East.-Specimens of cotton from Algeria have been exhibited and pronounced of good quality. The London Morning Chronicle declares the attempt to cultivate cotton in Bengal and Madras a failure. In Egypt, the introduction of cotton, now one of the greatest staples of the country, and in quality ranking nearly at the head of the Manchester market, is wholly attributable to Mehemet Ali. It is not, however, a favourite production among the fellahs; it requires too much labour and attention, and its gathering is troublesome.

5th. Railroad Accidents.-As the train of the N. York and New Haven railroad was passing Morrisania, it came in contact with a drove of cows, fifteen in number, which threw the locomotive off the track, and at the same place the express train out of New York was passing at a great speed, causing a collision of the two trains, killing eight cows, and throwing both trains off the track. The last car of the upward train contained the Marion Guard, going on a target excursion to New Rochelle. This car was nearly destroyed by the locomotive of the downward train running into it. Several members of the Guard were injured. Mr. George Bailey had his leg badly broken, and Mr. Wm. Swinnard and four others. were injured in various parts of the body. We understand there was no serious injury sustained by any others in either train, but the destruction to the cars, particularly in the upward train, was very great. The 2d, 3d, 4th, and 5th passenger cars were nearly destroyed, and the 1st and 2d cars of the downward train were more or less injured.

At Whitehaven, in England, a remarkable railroad accident occurred. A locomotive, by some mismanagement, passed the station, ran through the outer wall of the house of a Mr. Pennington, and through another wall into his back parlour. A little girl, his daughter, was at the same time sitting singing in the kitchen, when the engine passed over her, causing immediate death. The engine, on dashing into the parlour, knocked the fire-grate out of its place, throwing the burning contents over the forehead and breast of a little boy eight years old.

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The Lake Trade.-There arrived this day at Buffalo, N. Y., teen steamers, two propellers, two brigs, and twenty-one schooners, bringing 160,000 barrels of flour, 49,000 bushels of wheat, 800 live hogs, 2,500 boxes of cheese, and large quantities of other produce. The propeller Illinois was on her way down with 4,445 barrels of flour, and 2,114 bushels of wheat, equal to 580 tons of merchandise; and the steamer Empire State was on her way down with 7,000 barrels of flour, said to be the largest cargo ever brought by one vessel.

In 1825, there were but 30 or 40 small craft, and one steamboat on Lake Erie. In 1845, there were on the lakes 60 steam vessels, and 320 brigs and schooners. In 1846, the amount of merchandise transported was 3,861,088 tons. The value of the lake commerce in 1847 was $141,000,000. There are now six large states in the vicinity of these lakes, containing between four and five millions of inhabitants.

6th. Mr. Rives, the American minister, was presented to the President of France.

Sir James Ross returned to England from an unsuccessful expedition to the Arctic regions in search of Sir John, Franklin.

The government of the Pasha of Egypt neglects the prosecution of the improvements made by the great Mehemet Ali.

10th. The steamer Empire city arrived at N. York with half a million of California gold.

The nomade tribes of Zaatcha, in Africa, defeated by the French; 3,000 camels, and 10,000 sheep captured.

Amnesty granted by Louis Napoleon to the June insurgents. 12th. The ship Caleb Grimshaw was destroyed by fire at sea. She was 987 tons burden, and had a cargo valued at $200,000, with a large number of passengers, stated at more than three hundred. The fire was between decks, and the hatches were kept down for several days, until they were relieved by Capt. Cook of the British barque Sarah, and all were saved. Sixty of the passengers had left on a raft the second day of the fire, but they were picked up. A part of the time the wind blew high.

13th. The State Prisoners in France.-The trial of these persons terminated in the acquittal of eleven, a sentence of transportation for life against seventeen, for conspiracy to destroy the government and excite civil war, and three others, on account of extenuating circumstances, were let off with five years' imprisonment. The conduct of the prisoners, while being sentenced was dignified and manly; the entire party, after bearing the sentence, rose and cried, "Vive la Republique Democratique et Sociale!"

It will be remembered that the leaders of the conspiracy of the 13th June, found means to effect their escape. Of the eleven persons sentenced to transportation, seven are, however, members of the legislative assembly, and Col. Guinard held a high command in the artillery of the National Guard. It is said that Albert (ouvrier) and Barbes, who were convicted at Bourges, in March, of treason, committed on the 15th May, 1848, will share the fate of these later offenders, and that they will all be shipped off together to Fort Zaouzzee or the Marquesas.

Venezuela and Paez.-From the Havana Faro Industrial, we derive the intelligence that a great number of the principal families, most probably the friends and adherents of Paez in the late troubles, are about leaving Venezuela, and emigrating to Cuba and Mexi

This, however, is the ordinary custom with a defeated party, in all the Spanish American Republics, owing to the intolerance which each triumphal junta displays towards its opponents.

The castle of Cumana, where General Paez is imprisoned, has been put in a state of thorough repair at an expense of $4000.

Dr. Angel Quintero, formerly secretary, and the constant friend of Paez, attracts attention by the serenity and firmness which he has displayed. Misfortune has elevated his soul.

Major General Scott was received at Richmond, Va., with great honour, as a "distinguished son of Virginia, the hero of two wars, and of nine great battle-fields." It is stated that some fine toasts and speeches were given. The Governor drank to General Scott, "The most distinguished son of Virginia living." Counsellor Patton gave, "To the hero of two wars and three pacifications." General Scott made an appropriate reply.

14th. Indian Troubles on Lake Superior.-The Indians and half-breeds, under the command of Allen and Argus Macdonnell, and Wharton Metcalfe, drove the Quebec Mining Company from their location. The assailants were well armed, and took possession of the whole establishment. The Indian party offered to relinquish on the payment of their claims. One hundred troops were subsequently ordered on. The M'Donnells were arrested at Saut Sté Marie, and a detachment was sent on to take possession of the mines at Mica Bay, and to arrest the other leaders.

A Fowl Fair at Boston.-This novel exhibition took place at the public garden. The Boston Courier thus notices it:

"The first exhibition of the fowl sects' took place yesterday at the public garden. The show of articles was numerous, and the attendance of visiters large. Considering the short time employed in the preparation for the fair, there has never been any thing of the kind more successful. Every spectator must be struck with the variety and fine condition of these specimens of the feathered creation. The

collection comprises almost every thing of the kind that has been domesticated in this country, amounting to nearly 700 individuals. Among the rarer birds are English pheasants, carrier pigeons, swans, China geese, and summer ducks. There is a venerable old goose belonging to Col. Jacques, of Charlestown, which for progeny and profit may hold up her head with any thing that ever went to grass. Five thousand of her descendants have been sold at a large price."

Grand Funeral Pageant.-The military and civic display in the City of New York, in honor of the remains of Gen. Worth, Col. Duncan and Major Gates, heroes of the Mexican War, was probably the most magnificent that has ever been made in this country. The procession was grand and imposing-the remains were placed in coffins, rich and gorgeous; on these were the swords of the deceased, crossed. They were drawn on hearses decorated with waving plumes. The houses in the principal streets were hung with black drapery-the flags of the shipping were half mast.-The military of the city and adjoining towns united in the solemn pageant. Many distinguished men were present to do honor to the illustrious dead -A funeral oration was delivered by John Van Buren, Esq., and after three volleys were fired over the remains, they were removed to the Governor's room in the City Hall, and there kept until the next day, when Gen. Worth's body was buried in Greenwood Cemetery;-Col. Duncan's was carried to Cornwall, Orange Co., his native place; and Major Gates to Governor's Island.

15th. Steamboat Explosion.-The steamboat Louisiana, Capt. CANNON, bound for St. Louis, loaded with a valuable cargo, and having on board a large number of passengers, had rung her last bell, and was just backing out from the wharf at the foot of Gravier street, when the whole of her boilers burst with a tremendous explosion, which resounded throughout the city. The concussion was so great that it shook the houses to their foundations for many squares distant. The Louisiana was lying along side the steamer Bostona, Capt. Dustin, at the time of the disaster, and the steamer Storm, Capt. Hopkins, had just arrived from Louisville, coming in on her starboard side. The upper works of these two boats were complete wrecks, their chimneys having been carried away, and their cabins stove in and shattered in some places to atoms. The violence of the shock operating on the boilers was tremendous. A part of one of them, a mass of considerable size, was hurled with inconceivable force on the levee. It cut a mule in two, and killed a horse and the driver of a dray to which the animals were attached. It was one of the most terrible catastrophes of the kind on record. The loss of life was very great, and under the most appalling