grinfrivait Itrsbijtfrian.
--
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1865
CONTENTS OF INSIDE PAGES.
SECOND PAGE - THE FAMILY CIRCLE:
"Blessed to Give"—The Golden Opportunity—Ori
ginal Tables—The Blind Boy—A Curl cut off with
an Axe—Peace with All Men.
Fox THE LITTLE FOLKS: Familiar Talks—Trying
to be a Man.
THIRD PAGE-RURAL ECONOMY:
The Road to Poor Farming—A Defence of Pigeons
—Put it out of Sight—Michigan Apple Crop—Oiling
Leather.
MISCELLANEOUS: The One Humanity.
SIXTH PAGE-CORRESPONDENCE:
Joseph Alicia c—Notes on Hymns and Tunes, with
Special Regard to the Social hymn and Book—The
Study.
Burro tt'S TABLE: Strah an's English Books: "Mis
cellanies from they Collected Writings of Edward
Irving :" "Journal of Eugenie de Guerin"—Alford's
"Meditations in Advent, on Creation and Provi
dence—Tieknor & Fields Books: "Life and Let
ters of Rev. F. W. Robertson:" Holmes.'s "Humor
ous Poems"—American Tract Society, N.Y.: "The
Glen Cabin;" " Ilverton Rector, or the Non-Con
fortnist in the Seventeenth Century;" " Evelyn
Percival:" "Effie Morrison, or the Family of Bed
Braes:" "The Huguenots of France;" "Save the
Erring"— Periodicals and Pamphlets— Literary
Items.
SEVENTH PAGE—RELIGIOUS WORD ABROAD:
Great Britain—France—Germany—ltaly—Turkey
India—missionary Items.
NEW ORLEANS ITEM.—General Canby
has restored the Methodist churches in
New Orleans to their owners. These
is owners" belong to the Southern church,
and of course there will be a pretty gen
eral change of occupants of the pulpits.
Recent accounts of the temper of the
people of that city, indicate the type of
exultation with which this concession
will be received.
MINISTERIAL MEETING.—The Presby
lerian repeats the notice referred to by us
two weeks ago, for the Monday Prayer
Meeting of the "ministers of the Presby
terian Church in the city of Philadelphia"
at the rooms of the Board of Education,
adding, as before—" All the ministers of
our churches are affectionately invited to
attend." It then adds :—" We reply to
our neighbor of the AMERICAN PRESBY
TERIAN, who asks us whether our invita
tion was intended to embrace all the
Presbyterian 'ministers in the city, that
while we are not authorized to speak
for the meeting, or those. who originated
it, yet we have no doubt that if any of
our brethren of 'the Other Branch'
will come in, and join in our prayers and
praises, they will be most heartily wel-
come."
PHILADELPHLA. TRACT AND MISSION
SOCIETY.—We have before us the Thirty
eighth Amtual Report of this institution,
one of the widest felt and most permeat
ing religious enterpriges of our city. It
has been steadily advancing during the
year, its circulation having reached the
number of 499,033 English, 91,066
German, and 1160 French Tracts—in
all, 501,259. Three superintendents,
five missionaries, twenty-nine assistant
superintendents and five hundred and
forty-eight tract distributors, comprise
the laborers in this work. Frequent
meetings—in fact almost weekly—are
held on Sabbath evening, in one or an
other of the churches, for awaking inter
est and collecting the means which are
indispensable to its usefulness.
THE BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY
are republishing, in small eight page
books, the first series of Mr. Hammond's
"Familiar Talks to the Children," which
have appeared in our columns. We
commence a Second Series in the present
number.
AMERICAN UNION COMMISSION.—We
call attention to the circular of the Penn
sylvania branch of this Commission,
which will be found on another page.
Its object is truly worthy, and the officers
are men in whom the entire Christian
'community has confidence.
THE ORPHANS' HOMESTEAD.
The late struggle for the life of the Repub
lic is succeeded by many new and onerous
duties. Of these, one of the most impera
tive is our care for those over whose prospects
orphanage has brought desolation and gloom.
We know that many thousands of the chil
dren of our gallant dead are now looking to
the humane people of the country for that
support which their fallen fathers would
havegiven them. In behalf of these or
phaned little ones thus left upon the coun
try's care, an Association, represented by the
undersigned, has been organized to raise a
fund to found an Asylum in a central locality.
The Institution is designed to be erected, as
far as practicable, by the Sabbath-schools of
the land—a national memorial of our perpet
uated Union.
As a means of interesting the schools
therein, they are furnished with photograph
ic copies of the historic picture found grasp
ed in the hands of the dead soldier of Gettys
burg (Sergeant Humiston), together with
copies of the beautiful song composed upon
the touching incident—" The Children of the
Battle-Field." Schools taking "shares" in
the Homestead will receive, if desired, the
full value of their contributions in copies of
these affecting relics of the war.
It is proposed that each Sabbath-school
contributing to the fund twenty-five dogars,
shall be said to hold one share in the Home,
and shall be entitled to name one orphan for
admission into it; as also to have one vote in
selecting the spot where the Instituti6n shall
stand—whether on Cemetery Hill at Gettys
burg, or near Valley Forge, of Revolutionary
renown. .
Our Sabbath-schools are nurseries of Patri
otism, as well as of piety. It is earnestly
hoped that
. superintendents will promptly
second this appeal in behalf of the soldier's
orphan, and as early as practicable have
their schools to co-operate in our interesting,
patriotic and humane enterprise.
But we must appeal to the general public
to aid in our undertaking. Having already
an available fund of twenty-two thousand
dollars ($22,000), we propose at once to re
ceive orphans under the care of ithe Associa
tion in a temporary way in Ate city, until the
fund may warrant the choice of the country
site and the permanent erection of the
Homestead.
•
JAMES POLLOCK, President,
P. B. SIMONS, Treasurer.
J. FRANCIS BOUTINSOLD. '
&c'7/,,
Ari). 330 Walnut Street, Philadelphia.
.Piiiine,Didni'iliA.,4o4:,l,lw,.. 21, .1.663.
THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1865
LAFAYETTE COLLEGE.
This institution, under the auspices of
the Synod of Philadelphia, (0. 5.,) locat
ed at Easton, in this State, is rising to
excellent condition under the adminis
tration of President Cattell. Important
additions have been made to its endow
ment. • We notice Mr. A. Pardee, of
Hazleton, whose munificent gift of
$20,000 was a few months ago record
ed, now proposes to give $lOO,OOO for
the establishment of a Scientific School in
connection with the College, on condition,
1. That the balance of the original en
dowment of the College (about $38,000)
be secured by the let of next April ; and
2. That suitable buildings be erected for
recitation and lecture-rooms, and for the
accommodation of the new students.
The people of Easton have undertaken
to meet the second of the above con
ditions, and a vigorous effort will be
made throughout the Synod, and else
where, to complete the endowment of
the College proper.
By the way, we notice that the Brain
erd Evangelical Society of this College
has chosen Rev. Dr. Brainerd, of this
city, to preach the next commencement
sermon. " A better selection," says One
df our city dailies, " could not have been
made. Dr. Brainerd's talents and learn
ing eminently fit him for such occasions
as the annual litelary festivities of our
colleges, and in this case the selection is
eminently appropriate. The reverend
gentleman bears the name and' s connect
ed by blood with the devoted missionary
whose name the Lafayettee students
have given to their.society. • He has re
cently made a most valuable •contribu
ton to the religious literature of our
country, in an elegant memoir of John
Brainerd, a brother of David, the famous
missionary to the Indians, the scene of
whose labors was in part near where
Lafayette College now stands. We can
promise the young men of the College,
and others who will be attracted to the
commencement exercises, a sermon of
unusual interest and ability."
OUR BOOK TABLE.
We have on our table a document full
of interest to Presbyterians of every
branch, viz : The Catalogue of Books in
the Library of the Presbyterian Histori
cal Society. It is admirably printed, the
arrangement being exclusively alphabeti
cal, the names of the authors being the
leading words. The large collection of
pamphlets and newspapers, and valuable
manuscripts, over eight thousand in
number, are not included in the cata
logue which covers 107 pages. The
catalogue, both in what it gives, and in
what it omits, is a strong plea for a fire
proof building, and the friends of Pres
byterianism should embrace the present
opportunity to secure the necessary
funds.
HOURS AT HOME, for December, is on
our table. It is a noble number of a
mast creditable undertaking,—one wor
thy the support of all who desire their
families protected against the intrusion
of trashy and infidel periodical literature
by pre-occupying them with the pure,
the true and the healthfully attractive.
Charles Scribner & Co., New York.
Price three dollars.
We have also received Miss Warner's
" Walks from Eden," a familiar treat
ment of Scripture narrative, with the in
corporation of the results of recent in
quiry. This the author of " Wide, Wide
World" knows how to do, without be
coming tedious or abstruse. The book is
published by Carters, New York, and is
very handsomely printed and illustrated.
PHILADELPHIA NOONDAY PRAYER
MEETING.-The eighth anniversary - of
this institution was held on Thursday of
last week, at its present beatiful and
well-chosen home, in the new hall of the
Young Men's Christian Association, on
Chestnut Street above Twelfth. Rev.
Dr. Newton presided. Our good Father
Martin, the Nestor of the meeting, pre
sented the annual report. From it we
learn that the prayer-meeting has been
in existence eight years, during which
time there have been five removals. It
organized in the session-room of the
Union M. E. Church, on Fourth Street,
below Arch, when six persons met to
gether. It afterwards met in Jayne's
Hall, where on one-" Occasion there were
three thousand persons present. It then.
moved to the Sansom Street Baptist
Church ; then to the rooms of the Young
Men's Christian Association, on Chest
nut Street, above Tenth, and finally to
the place where it now holds its sessions.
It has effected substantial reforms. Men
have become better by its influence, and
drunkards have become sober, industri
ous men. The average attendance dur
ing the year just passed has been from
thirty to sixty. It is hoped that here
after the room will be filled daily.
Rev. Francis Church, Joseph Parker,
Esq., Rev. Mr. Bringhurst and others
participated in the exercises, which were,
as might be expected, on such an occa
sion, unusually interesting. The hall
was well filled.
THE STRANGE THINGS OF THE TIMES.
—The Watchman and. Reflector says:—
" Two of the officers of the late Republican
Convention held in this State (Mass.)
were representative men, whose position
testifies to the revolutionary change of
the times. Gen. Butler, ale ader of the old
democracy, educated by the war, shared
the Vice-Presidential chair with Rev.
L. A. Grimes, a colored minister of Bos
ton. Mr. Grimes has not changed, but
Gen. Butler, influenced by events, has
come to him."
FROM OUR CORRESPONDING EDITOR,
INSTALLATION AT OGDEN
On Tuesday, 21st instant, the Presby
tery of Rochester held a special meeting in
Ogden, for the purpose of installing Rev.
A M. Thorburn, late of Malta, New York,
as pastor of the church in that place. It
was, in some respects, a service of more
than ordinary interest. The church is one
of the stable ones ; and has not needed an
installation Tor fourteen years. It has had
but four pastors since it was founded, and
the aggregate ministry of two of them covers
a period of thirty-four years. The installa
tion service was therefore something of a
novelty. It had not lost - its interest, as it
would seem as though it must in some
churches, by frequent repetition.
After a season of delightful autumn wea
ther, the day was about as stormy and un
comfortable as it could well be, with rain
and wind and snow; and yet the house was
well filled, the whole parish apparently turn
ing out to give a cordial welcome to the
new pastor.
The introductory services were conducted
by Rev. J. P. Fillmore, of Syracuse; ser
mon by Rev. C. P. Bush; installation
prayer by Rev. B. Bosworth ; charge to
pastor by Rev. H. B. Gardiner, of Ber
gen; and charge to the people by'Rev. W.
A. Fox, of Dunkirk, late pastor• of the
church. The charges were both excellent
in manner and matter; and were listened
to with manifest interest and pleasure by
the whole assembly.
Mr. Thorburn has already won the hearts
of this people, and begins his labors under
very favorable auspices. He is a young
man, and we are quite sure that all who
were present at his installation wished for
him a long and successful pastorate in this
place.
OUR DEPOSITORY
Mr. 0. D. Grosvenor has long had charge
of the Depository of the American Tract
Society in this city, which occupies a large
store in a central part of the town, and
seems always to be doing considerable
business. In formg.r . years they sold only
their own publicaiipris, but recently the So
ciety has adopted a 7 more liberal policy, and
keeps on hand the books of all the leading
societies and publishing houses, including
those of the American Tract Society at
Boston, the Presbyterian Publication Com
mittee, the American Sunday School Union,
the Massachusetts Sabbath School Society,
as well as those of the Carters, of Hcyt, and
the like.
They intend thus to be able to fill all.or
ders for Sunday School Libraries, with the
best volumes issued from these Various
sources. Mr. Grosvenor is just the man to
attend to the selection of such libraries,
with all possible care and good judgment,
or to wait upon those wilt) choose to come
and select for themselves. He has had
much experience among the books; knows
every catalogue by heart; and is withal a
a man of such well-known and acknowl
edged business competence, integrity, and
Christian courtesy, that it is a pleasure to
do business with him.
The trade from this Depository with
Canada has always been large, was larger
than ever during the war, and still continues
excellent.
Among the issues of the Publication Com
mittee with which the shelves• of the De
pository are adorned, we notice the " Life
of John Brainerd," by Dr. Brainerd, of
Philadelphia. It is truly an elegant
volume, and deserves to be scattered far
and wide. It would seem as though the
reading of it must do much to quicken the
missionary spirit in all who are favored
with its perusal.
INFINITIVES
An awkward and singular innovation
seems to be creeping into our language.
At least we frequently meet with it, and
much to our annoyance. We refer to the
case of qualifying words or phrases between
the parts of the infinitive verb ; as, for in
stance, "to thoroughly understand," in
stead of " thoroughly to understand ;" or
" to swiftly fly," in place of " to fly swiftly."
We hold this to be a serious error in the
construction of a sentence, awkward and
unnatural in itself, and contrary to all good
usage. And yet it seems to be used almost
daily by some writers. The old way is
better, and we wish it might still prevail.
JUST LIKE HIM
Only last year Mr. C. C. Kingsley, of
Utica, gave six thousand dollars to Hamil
ton College. He gave four hundred dol
lars to Foreign Missions ; four hundred to
Home ; and other large sums in other di
rections. This year he gives one thousand
dollars to Home Missions; one thousand to
'Foreign, and so on; and has just made also
another donation of two thousand two hun
dred dollars to Hamilton College. This
last sum is for prizes to the best speakers,
and is intended to do its work of benevo
lence from year to year 3 so long as such
work is needed.
PERSONAL
Rev. C. E. Stebbins, of Phelps, has ac
cepted the call recently tendered him by
the Presbyterian Church in Ovid, and is
to enter at once, we believe, upon his pas
toral labors in the latter place. Mr. Steb
bins is a young man of decided ability and
promise; a recent graduate of Auburn
Seminary; • has labored successfully and
acceptably in Phelps, and now goes to the
larger church at Ovid with fine prospects of
increased usefulness. The best wishes of
many friends will follow him to his new
and interesting field of labor.
Rev. J. 0. Fillmore has resigned the
charge of the Park Church in Syracuse;
and Rev. A. C. Reed has resigned the pas.
torate of the Presbyterian Church in El
bridge; good men, both of them, and
should not be long unemployed.
We chance to know that it would suit
Mr. Reed to be located a little further
South, say in the latitude of Philadelphia,
and we can commend him as qualified for
almost any pulpit that offers. C. P. B.
ROCHESTER, November 25, 1865.
OUR LONDON LETTER.
LONDON, November, 1865
This is the sixth of November. Yes
terday was " Guy Fawks day," but as
it fell on Sabbath, it is religiously kept
to-day. We have the usual crowd of
little boys, with their " Guys," and the
usual rabble at their heels ; the usual
song from hundreds of treble and a few
tenor voices. I have to-day- heard
the old story that " the gunpowder plot
will never be forgot." But it seems to
me that as a nation we are forgetting it
sadly. Popery is in the ascendant. We
are forgetting its plots—forgetting that
_the wJ.ole monstrous system is a plot
and conspiracy against the liberties of
mankind, temporal and spiritual and
eternal. Every newspaper you take up
chronicles some advance made by the
papacy. As the wave recedes in Rome,
and in Italy, it flows and floods here in
Great Britain. This year the fifth of
November, even, has failed to evoke the
old enthusiasm.
Fenianism, as I wrote in my last, has
collapsed. There is considerably more
of it in Chestnut Street, Philadelphia,
than id Ireland. You know more about
it than we do. It possesses as little in
terest for us as for you. Had it not
been that the arrests and the trials and
the reports have all fallen out at the
dead season" of newspaper life, even
less notice would have been taken of it
than has been. The whole thing has
been as utterly contemptible 'on this side
of the water as it has been on yours.
We, and for very much the same reason
as yourselves, have never treated the
matter in any very serious way, except
ing in so far as it has brought a world
of trouble on the poor dupes of the huge
delusion. They will be let off easy.
They have done very little hurt or dam
age of any kind to anybody but them
selves. It is to be hoped that some of
our " wilder" Irish friends may now see
the utter hopelessness of " rebellion ;"
and that chiefly because they may now
see that they have no cause for rebelling.
What do they want? What is their
grievance ? I really could never find it
out.
I had gathered a paper of statistics
for you, as to the number of arrests, the
position of the parties arrested, the de
gree of guilt, and so on, but I have put
the paper in the fire. I have now ceased
to read the column, or columns, in the
newspapers,headed "Fenianism," "More
Fenian arrests," " The trial of the pris
oners," and the like. They have got to
be as tiresome to us as the Famous Wirz
trial was, or is, to you. So by your
leave, I mean to say no more about
Fenianism" till I, can report the con
clusion of the whole matter.
LORD PALMERSTON.-WHY SO MANY EVAN-
GELICAL BISHOPS
The event of the past month has been
the death of Lord Palmerston. I sup
pode there is little that I can say that
might interest your readers on this-mat
'ter. It is a very great loss to us. There
is not a man in the country whom we
could so ill spare. Lord Shaftesbury is
married to a daughter of Lord Palmers
ton ; he is a great favorite with her
ladyship, who is a sharp, shrewd, intel
ligent personage, and his lordship had
much confidence in her tact and judg
ment. The influence of Lord Shaftesbury
was, therefore, very great; and it is
quite generally understood that it is to
him we owe the appointment by the late
Premier of so many evangelical men in
the high places of the Church. Lord
Palmerston has exercised his patronge
in the evangelical direction all through
his premiership. To this influence we
owe the fact that so many evangelical
Bishops now , occupy the Episcopal
Bench. The days of evangelical appoint
ments are, it is to- be feared, at an end.
Not that Lord Russel is not evangelical.
It is my conviction that he loves and be
lieves the Gospel. I have often seen
him in my own church : for he used to
reside quite close to me, and whenever
any of our better known " Scot k Wor
thies" were advertised to preach for me,
he was sure to send-to ask that a place
may be reserved for him and his family.
But he has not strength of will sufficient
to carry out his own convictions of duty.
LORD JOHN RUSSEL.--MR. GLADSTONE.
He is timid ; and in this he is the very
opposite of Lord Palmerston. He would
not face the outcry that would be raised
against him if he were to continue the
evangelical appointments in the Church
of England. Besides, he owes—or will
owe—his continuance in power to Mr.
Gladstone. And he knows that well.
Without Mr. Gladstone's, help. he could
not hold the reins of power, when the
House of Commons is sitting, for four
and-twenty hours. Mr. Gladstone is
now king there ; there he reigns almost
without a rival ; for Mr. D'lsraeli is
only tolerated, and Mr. Bright is erratic
and democratic, and there is hardly an
other man who can compel a hearing in
that somewhat rude and tumultuous as-
sembly. Mr. Gladstone just now Is in
higher favor than'ever. He is beyond
all doubt, at present, the most popular
of all our statesmen. The other day he
received a perfect ovation at Glasgow,
and another at Edinburgh ; and wherever
he goes he is feted and feasted to no
end. Whatever he says is duly chroni
cled, and as duly commented on. And
all are agreed that before very long he
must be prime minister. Nobody knows
all that better than Lord Russel ; and
so he must be guided by Mr. Gladstone
in all his policy, and in all his ways.
And Mr. Gladstone is High Church.
All his " proclivities!! are in that direc
tion, and it will be a heavy blow and
great discouragement to Evangelcalism,
nay, to our common Protestantism, when
Mr. Gladstone is called to take the reins
that slip out of Earl Russel's hand.
But all these things are in wiser and
better hands thal, ours.
DEATH OF LORD PALM.ERSTON.-DARKNESS
AT HIS FUNERAL
Since the death of Prince Albert and
Abraham Lincoln, no death has so stirred
this nation as that of Lord Palmerston.
This huge city on the day of his funeral
wore a Sabbatical look and was pervaded
by - an unwonted Sabbatical stillness.
The streets were crowded by, it is esti
mated, upwards of half a million of spec
tators ; and the signs and tokens of
mourning were everywhere visible. The
dark cloud that covered the sky at the
moment of his funeral bore a portentous
look. The darkness in the very middle
of the day was quite remarkable. Ido
not remember to have seen the like of it
—and I could but think of that terrible
war of the elements which seemed to
sympathize in the struggle when Oliver
Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Com
monwealth of England, was fighting his
last battle—that with death. I could
not help thinking, either, of the still
darker hour when the sun hid his face,
and the very earth shuddered and trem
bled to its heart. It was but fancy ;
yet the fancy was irrepressible. It
would have its way. Is there a hidden
sympathy between man and his world ?
Does the habitation thrill in unison with
the life and death of its inhabitants ?
Reason answers, with a smile, "No"—
but after it has made its reply, imagina
tion will have its way.
I noticed a strange fact in one of the
reports of the ceremony. It was then
stated, and has not since been contra
dicted, that the chief mourner, when the
coffin had been laid in the grave, and
"dust to dust" had been said over it,
" threw into the open grave,. some gold
and diamond rings as a last offering to
the deceased." What can this mean ?
Have we got back to the days of say
agedom, or of heathenism ? Do dead
men wear diamond rings in their coffins
—slipping oat their stiff hands to put
them on in the darkness ? Do they wear
diamond rings in the other world ? What
can it mean ?* Lord Palmerston was
about the last man to care for a dia
mond ring. I have often been in his
house, and have often met him as a
member of a deputation, often large, and
sometimes small. I have sat watching
him for an hour on end, and if there
was one thing clearer than another, it
was, that he had a soul considerably
above a diamond ring. He was, at
home, about the plainest man I ever set
eyes on. His dress was of the very
simplest and most homely. The last
time I saw him was in his own dining
room. He had a frock coat on his back
which, judging by the cut, style, and
fashion of it, must have been at lest ten
years old. And his whole dress was in
keeping. Good, easy shoes, as if made
to be carried by him, not to carry him ;
carefully-brushed garments scrupulously
clean, but beyond that nothing. And
his speaking It was far from eloquent.
It came at intervals, painfully slow•
sometimes. I have seen him look as if
distressed for a word; ,and then came
plump out a sentence or two of that com
pound of point and humor and wisdom
and audacity—jauntiness—and it was
only when we laughed and looked won
der-struck, that Palmerston himself
seemed to be aware that he bed said
anything at all remarkable ; And then
he, too, brightened up and rubbed his
hands and with!a sly, indescribable look,
added a few sentences more in a con
versational tone that fairly concluded
the business. And now he is gone, and
we shall see his face no more ; and de
pend on it, he will be. sadly and sorely
missed in this country ; we will sorely
miss him in the day of battle.
OTHER DEATHS OP GREAT MEN.
Professor Ayton is dead. I heard
that news before I left this country for
America. It was to me a question of
interest, who is to fill his chair ? He
was professor of Rhetoric and Belles Let
tres in the University of Edinburgh.
The question is settled now. Professor
Masson, who has so ably filled the chair
of English Literature in King's College,
London, has accepted the appointment,
and opens his course next week. Pro
fessor Masson will be favorably known
to many of your readers as the editor of
Macmillan's Magazine, and a frequent
and always acceptable contributor to its
pages. He is the author, too, of a part
of the life of John • Milton which his
new-found literary leisure will, it is to
be hoped, afford him time and materials
to complete. Mr. Masson is a Scotch
man, was a Free Church man, and at
* I see it stated, since the above Was penned,
that "the gold an diamond rings" were taken
out before the grave was filled in with a mix
ture of charcoal and sand, " to prevent the
desecration of the grave by felonious hands."
It had been better they had never been th4swn
in.
all events is a Presbyterian. I fear the
literary companionship of London have
left little beside the name ; but of Pres
byterianism I have heard him speak in
public and in private with the real true
blue ring.
Death, death, and nothing but
death. Dr. Lindley, a name dear to
all students and lovers of the science of
botany, is no more. The only rival, I
suppose, be has had for years in this
country, as a poker expounder of his
favorite science, is my friend, Dr. Hogg,
a name I was glad to find as well known
and as much respected in New York as
it is in this country. Dr. Hogg has
long edited The Cottage Gardener and
Horticultural Journal—and other bo
tanical magazines—a periodical which
now holds the place which long ago
The Gardener's Chronicle used , to hold.
There are many names of lesser note,
which to you would be but names, which
now we number no more among the
living. In the Free Church of Scotland
the blanks made, the huge gaps, have
been positively fearful. Among,their
wealthy " laymen: , among their noble
" eldership," death has of late been fear
fully busy. One nam e in particular
must be sorely missed—a n elder, Gene
ral Anderson, a man of abundant faith,
and of much prayer. It would have
melted the heart of a stone, to hear him
as I have so often heard him, address .
the supreme courts of the Church and
beseech the assembled ministers literally
with tears, to preach, preach Christ, in
season and out of season. His beauti
ful white hairs were as beautiful rays of
glory round his dear old head. They
are gone, not with sorrow to him, but to
us—with sorrow to the grave. I could
count up at least a dozen men of local
mark, all of them fast and firm standard
bearers in the Lord's army, whose
battle-shout can be heard among us no
more, for it is turned into the song of
victory which here we cannot fully and
finally sing.
The only other events of any impor
tance during the month have been the
" cholera and the cattle plague." Con
siderable anxiety was felt in the earlier
part of October about the cholera, which
beyond doubt had secured a footing in
many towns in the south of France, and
latterly in Paris itself. A perfect panic
was the result in more than one town,
the officials, in some cases, having fled.
The Emperor 'and Empress went and
each separately paid a visit to the cho
lera hospital, sitting by - the bedsides of
the patients and conversing with them.
The reassuring effect of such sensible
conduct was very great. On all sides I
read of the decrease of this fatal disease.
The cold weather, which has now fairly
set in, decreases the chances of any fur
ther spread of the disease to any very
serious extent. It is otherwise with the
cattle plague,. Ido not hear of its
diminution as yet. There are whole ,
tracts of country quite untouched, whole
counties have as yet been free; but it
breaks out here and there in the most
mysterious ways, no reason being ren
derable for its coming or going. A few
days ago " a document was issued from
the Veterinary Department of the Privy
Council Office, giving statistical details
respecting the progress of the disease
among cattle. It appears that the total
number of cattle reported to inspectors
as having been attacked since the first
appearance of the murrain amount to
14,083 ; and that of these , there have
been killed, 5119 ; died, 6711; recover
ed, 707 ; remaining 1545." Of course
these statistics must be very imperfect,
and far within the mark. Conversing
the other day on this subject with a gen
tleman in the London milk trade, he gave
I it as his opinion that the numbers were
far below the mark, and that 20,000
would be much nearer the sum total.
The London provision dealers, of all
sorts, have taken rapid advantage of the
disease among cattle and have increased
the price of most provisions from fifteen
to twenty per cent. .Good fresh eggs
are now selling in London at three pence
a piece. Oysters and all sorts of shell
and other tsh, bring fabulous sums.
With the winter close upon us, and coal
already at 30s. a ton, things do not look
bright at all in prospect.
I have a corner of my paper left. Will
it be comme it fact for me to congratn
late you and your readers on the new
accession to our strength, in our new
Italian correspondent ? When I bad the
pleasure of seeing you lately in Phila
delphia, you authorized me to secure you
a good correspondent in that country. I
named to you a first-class man, and
hoped I should be able to secure his ser
vices for the AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN..
If in the discharge of my duty to you ,
` and your readers, I have earned any
weight for my . own words from you and
them, let them know that they have got
the fittest man in Italy for that work..
Your new correspondent there will be
to you and to them a tower of strength_
Few men know more of Italy than he
does ; few men have done and suffered
more in the, promotion of her best inter—
ests than he.
I am, dear sir, yours,
[We are looking anxiously for the first
letter of our new correspondent, which
has not yet arrived.]
PROMPT LIBRRALITT--New York
papers say that St. George's Episcopal
Church in that city recently burned, is
to be rebuilt. It will coat $120,000.
To raise this fund, the pewholders sub
scribed $52,000 in one day, and deter
mined to continue paying their old pew
rent•.
PHILADELPHOS