The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

(•• 1 ; IRW ' * ' 1 . V • • > - H - V / ' " * • • • ' • ! cnvw Ukindcakr J. VAN 8LYKE, EWTOB AND PUBUFFLO. McHENRY, - - ILLINOIS. THE PAST WEEK. DOMESTIC mars. The East* THK Manchester paper mills burned lately, in Dntchess county, N. Y., causing a loss of $75,000 Thomas H. Towers, senior partner of a firm of manufacturing chemists, who died a few days ago, AGE^LJJO years, was •he richest man in Philadelphia,estate be­ ing estimated at $8,000,000 or $10,000,000, and his income at three-quarters of a million annu­ ally- Ilka Wmt, A TERRIFIC mine explosion occurred • few days since at Sullivan, Ind., in a cbal mine owned by Handford, Bros., by which seven men were killed and seventeen more were burned or braiBed in a shocking manner. The explosion was caused by fire-damp. The South* A FIRE at Tyler, Tex., recently de­ stroyed five large stores and the United States Court-rooms, together with all their contents. Loss about #100,000; insurance about half. ADVICES from Mount Sterling, Ky., say that a riot lately took place there, in which twenty or thirty shots were fired, two men in­ stantly killed and three wounded. THE National Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, met at Richmond, Va., a few days ago, in its twelfth annual SESSION. Twenty-five States were represented. Reports of officers showed the order in a flourishing condition throughout the country. GEORGE WILLIAMS (colored) WAS taken from jail in Oldham county, Ky., and hanged by a mob. THE notorious outlaw, Jesse Undefr- wood, escaped from the Covington (Ky.) jail the other day- and IB once more at large. Washington. THE Treasury Department has in­ augurated, and will hereafter continue, the practice of purchasing gold bullion with green­ back*. A considerable quantity was purchased at Denver last week, which was shipped East through the mails. Dealings are had directly WITH the miners....Very few notices of con­ test of seats in the Forty-sixth Congress have yet been received by the Clerk of the House. It is expected, however, that there will be a considerable number from the Bouth. The Democrats who give notice of ^CONTEST are Boynton, Greenbacker, who will Jjpnteet the •eat of Dr. Loring in Massachusetts, and Eickoff, in one of the New York city districts. LORD SALISBURY'S reply to the note of Secretary Evarts taking exception to the Hali­ fax award, on the ground of its excessiveness and of the fact that it was not decided upon by the entire commission, has been published. The British Foreign Minister evidently designs that no further discussion be had, since he maintains with incisive directness that the United States is debarred from excepting from the uuuiag of an arbitration by which it was bound to abide, and that this feature of the case Is not open to argument As to the question whether the vote of the majority was sufficient to comply with the terms of the t/eaty, he fails find any precedents or authorities,to sustain the American objection on that score. ANOTHER call has been issued for 45,000,000 of 5-20s. THE Treasury Department will fol- ow the letter of the Resumption act, and re­ sume specie payment only at the New York sub- treasury Secretary Schurz has given Gen. Sheridan and some other officers of the army who have of late made sweeping charges against the efficiency and integrity of the Indian service a pressing invitation to report such specific cases of wrong-doing as have come within their knowledge, and in the event of their failure to substitute distinct specification for general allegation it is politely suggested th&T they will do well to hold their peace. THE estimates of the Secretary of the Treasury for the support of the Govern­ ment for the fiscal year ending June, 1880, other than for the permanent annual appropri­ ations, are $129,197,812; for permanent annual appropriations, $145,939,438. | SECRETARY SHERMAN'S resumption programme is thus briefly outlined by a| Wash­ ington correspondent: United States NOTES will be redeemed at the New York sub-treasury in gold or silver coin, at the option of the holder of notes, without limitation as to amount L«gal-ten4er notes of a special issue of large denominations will be delivered in place of gold certificates, and there will be no further issue of gold certificates. Holders of notes who prefer gold instead of silver will ob­ tain gold, and the treasury will not force upon the holder of notes the kind of legal-tender coin that is Legal tenders, even without F ENACLMU.I.v of any law affirmatively author- jrwhere received for cus- KRRT will be exchanged LAL-bank notes in G-treasury or na- »tea depository, I be paid by the ed, without serious opposition, as his own suc­ cessor in the United States Senate from Georgia. THE Nevada Senate stands 18 Re­ publicans to 7 Democrats, and the Assembly^ii Republicans to & Democrats. The official count of the votes for members of Congress in New Jersey foots up the general result as follows: Republican, 90,488; Democratic, 80,(81*; National, 34,009; Temperance, (MS. THE official Vote of Illinois at the late election was as follows: For State Treas­ urer--Smith, Republican, 215,283; Cronkrite, Democrat, 16<.̂ 9TT5; Bates, National, (>5,I>~i The figures show 295,780 votes cast for the drain­ age amendment The total vote oast for State Treasurer is 453,113, one-half of which is 226,556. The amendment IS thus ear­ ned by a majority of <59,224 llwr'o Operation# of th**. Sta­ tion'* Servants* t /tummartf of the Annual Reports De- pat4ment* an<tBurr<tus. THE ARMY.. Gen. Sherman, in his annual report to the Secretary of War, refers to the reports of tho different joiumauders of the military depart­ ments, and invites particular Attention to that of Gen. Sheridan. Beyond question, it was hunger which drove the Bannocks and Cheyennes to war this sum­ mer, and similar escapades will occur each The official vote for Governor of Michigan at I year unless these Indians be kept quiet with the November election was: CrosWell, Repub- ! more food. lican, 126,399; Barnes, Democrat, 79,682; Smith, National, 74,333; Snyder, Prohibition, 3,133 The aggregate Republican vote on Congressmen in Pennsylvania is 288,804, the Democratic 279,990, and the Greenback 112,610. Total, 681,464. Ml*cellan*o**m. EXPORTS from seaboard ports last week: Flour, 92,728 barrets; wheat, 2,394,908 bushels; corn, 747,081 bushels; oats, 8,850 bushels; rye, 54,197 bushels; barley. 100 bush­ els; pork, 6,817 barrels; lard, 5,890,517 pounds; bacon, 11,794,355 pounds... .Hon. John W. Foster, United States Minister to Mexico, in response to A request from the Manufacturers' Association of the Northwest, has prepared an elaborate paper giving the re­ sults of a careful study concerning the pros­ pects for the extension of our commerce with Mexico. Mr. Foster states that the prohibitory tariff and revolutionary condition of Mexico form great obstacles to any extended foreign trade, and, until they are removed, our mer­ chants will as a general thing continue to find more inviting markets elsewhere. IN point of newspaper circulation through the mails, the Postmaster General's re­ port shows that New York stands first, Chicago second, Boston third, Philadelphia fourth and St Louis fifth. ̂ THE payment of $5,500,000 on the Halifax award lias been completed by the pay­ ment of the entire sum in gold, Minister Welsh making the tender on behalf of the United States, while Salisbury, for England, accepted the cash and gave his receipt therefor. The payment was accompanied by a formal protest on the part of the United States. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. THE King and Queen of Italy arrived in Naples a few days ago, and were enthusi­ astically received by immense crowds. Sev­ eral persons presented a petition to their I Majesties. A man at this moment rushed I upon the King with a dagger, and suc­ ceeded in inflicting a severe scratch upon I his left arm, and slightly wounding Signor | Cairoli in the left thigh. The King displayed great coolness, and struck the assassin on the I HEAD with his sword.. Signer Cairoli seized HIM by the hair. The assassin was immediately | taken to the guard-house. The Queen and her son, who were in the carriage with the King, displayed much couraga The as­ sassin's name is Giovanni Passaunte. He says he does not like the King No more of the Glasgow Bank directors will be admitted to bail Numerous heavy failures are announced in London There is an in­ creased demand for United States bonds in England Iu appointing a Greek, Caratheo- dorl Pasha, President «f a commission to apply the programme of reforms in Roumelia, the Porte has, singularly enough, consulted for once the interests of the people, the greater part of the inhabitants of that district being Greeks. SEVERAL lives were lost by a very severe storm at Manzanillo, New Grenada, by which the town was nearly destroyed. ;. .Dur­ ing a procession at Florence in celebration of It seems idle to expect that the enterprising white race will cease till every acre of this con­ tinent is susceptible of cultivation. It is net to be expected that these pasture-fields can be used by the two races without everlasting con­ flict The reservations already set apart for the Indians are large enough, and should suffice them to raise nil the meat and grain necessary for their milwistenoo, but meantime they muat have food else they will steal and light. To convert these Indians into a pastoral race is the first step iu the upward progress of civilization; that of culture must be the next stage, though slower of realization. But in this direction is the sole hope of resouing any part of the nomad Indians from utter annihilation. This end cannot be reached by meaua of the present peace agents, because persuasion is wasted on au Indian. ' There must not only be a show of force, but actual force and subjection used. Force will be necessary to compel the nomad to cultivate his own ground. There is a wide distinction among the tribes, and each tribe must be dealt with according to its nature. Large discretion to supply food must be lodged with the President, or some­ where else. Starvation will each year cause wars, such as occurred this year with the Sho- shones and Southern Cheyennes. The army cannot foresee or prevent these ware. All it can do after the Indians break out, plunder, steal, and kill harmless families, is to pursue and capture tliem in detail after infinite toil, then conduct them back to their reservation, and turn them loose to return to the same game ad l ibitum. The General reports that tho Indian PROBLEM is not a single problem, but many; as many, al­ most, as there are tribes. Measures which would be wise in one instance would be folly in another, and whatever department is charged with it niust be armed, not only with force, but large discretion and authority to furnish food in emergencies. Gen. Sherman doubts the wisdom of select­ ing and preparing in advance, as recommended by Gen. Hancock, posts and camps in the South against yellow fever. Tho artillery school at Fortress Monroe is kept to A high fctaidard, and IS fast becoming a post graduate course for officers. The report shows that there are 7,829 enlisted men in the ten regiments of cavalry in the army, 2,630 men in the five regiments of artil­ lery, and 11,205 in the twenty-five regiments of infantry, making a total of 21,(364. Besides these there are in the engineer battalion 199 ; permanent and recruiting parties, music-boys, and recruits M the depots, 1,121 ; enlisted men detached on general service, 372 ; ordnance de­ partments, 344 ; West Point detachments, L'.K); prison guard, 71 ; Hospital Stewards, 188 ; Ord­ nance Sergeants, 114; Commissary Sergeants, 148 ; and Indian scouts, 340 ; a total of 3,097, making the whole number of enlisted men in the army 24,761. INTERNAL REVENUE. Facts from the annual report of Mr. Raum, the United States Commissioner of Internal Revenue, and estimates founded therecn, elicit some interesting testimony as to the character and habits of the American people. The report shows that the total amount of revenue collect­ ed during the year was $111,089,319, a decrease of $8,367,231 from the receipts of the previous year. The receipts were from the following sources: 1677. lt-78. Spirits.. $57,469;480 $60,420,503 Tobacco 41.1 OH,547 40.084.52U Fermon ted liquors 9,480,78!* 9,937,052 UatikH and bankers 3,82'.(,72!t 8,492,081 Stamps, penalties, etc.. 7.10«,tib9 7,155.201 Total $118,995,184 $111,089,319 The decline in tho receipts from distilled spirits and tobacco, shown in these figures, is owing almost entirely to the attempted legisla­ tion in Congress last winter for the reduction of the tax on whisky and tobacco. Pending the result of that agitation the manufacture largely fell off, and the consequence was an King Humbert's HAPPY escape from the dagger IAIV;1Y UII off, and tlie consequence was an . * .T . , , • . L \ actual loss to the Government of nearly #8,- of the Naples assassin, a bomb was thrown'into -- -- 000,000. According to Commissioner Raum's figures, the American peoplo are drinking less whisky and more feeer than formerly. There was man­ ufactured iii the fiscal year of 1878 about 0,500,000 gallons less whisky than during the previous year, and 1,500,000 gallons more beer. were killed in a recent riot... .Great floods are ! THE NUiNBEIV1OF G»LL.OU" OF fermented liquors . , ... _ . , i consunlfcd in the United States last year was reported at Norwich, England. | 317,4T»5,601. Estimating the population at 45,- A RIOT in Santiago, Chili, was the J 000,000, a calculation will show that every man, woman and child in the United States* drank the midst of a detachment of veterans, killing two of them. It is. now believed that there is a general plot to murder all the reigning sovereigns of Europe Thirteen of the citizens of Lemberg, Austria, itiated, conducted, and completed by communi­ cations through the mails. IN his opinion, it would cause a shock to our postal SYSTEM from which it would not soon recover. 'I'he railway companies which have been at,the expense of furnishing postal cars might be slow to furnish us such conveniences a- sooond time, and there is no law to compel them to do so. In relation to the revenues of the service, the report says: "Time and again it has been shown that matter of the second and third class does not pay its way through the m îls, and Congress has been urged to increase the rates of postage thereon. The question has been considered time and time again by appro­ priate committees, and discussed in both branches of Congress, and tho results have shown that it was not expected that tho depart­ ment should be self-sustaining, but that the deficiencies in its revenues should I>e met by appropriations from the general treasury. The amount of matter sent through the mails free is very large, adding greatly to our expenditure and giving us no revenue. " The franking privilege has been restored to members and the chief oftioers of Congress, so as to allow them to send free almost everything which they were ever allowed to transmit through the mails free, except letters. Tons upon tons of books, documents, seeds, shrubs and the like are placed in our mails free of charge on this score. Now, I most respectfully but earnestly suggest that it would be the bet­ ter policy to reduce the deficiencies of the reve­ nues of the department BV curtailing or abol­ ishing the list of free matter, and by incroas- ing the rates of postage on merchandise, than by appropriating sums inadequate to au.effi­ cient, prompt and fast transmission of the mails. THE NA T>*. From -the annual report of Hon. Richard W. Thompson, Secretary of the Navy, we learn that during the past fiscal year, under the auspices of that department, sixty-three Gov­ ernment vessels have been either wholly or partially equipped at the several navy yards, at an expenditure of $717,010.36, as follows: For labor, #142,205.21; for material from stock on hand, #487,675.81; for material purchased dur­ ing the year, #97,129.34. Thirtj-ux thousand seven hundred and eighty tons of coal have been purchased for the use of-the navy, costing, including freight, #288,222.09. Two hundred and eighty thousand five hundred and thirty- pounds of Manila hemp have been purchased, costing #23,857.54. During the year #044,140 have beon expended for the equipment of ves­ sels, and under appropriation contingent (equip­ ment and recruiting, 1878), #51,542, leaving a balance on hand of #13, £42. The number of desertions during the year was 609, and during the previous year 818. Five hundred and twenty-tnree boys have en­ listed during the past year. There are remain­ ing in the training ships 440 boys, who are ad­ vancing the tone and morale of the service. With the training system on a permanent basis, our ships will soon be manned by native-born seamen. It is the intention of the department to continue the present system of training- ships. An appropriation for the maintenance of navy yards and docks, etc., amounting to #964,495, and for the Bureau of Ordnance, I #284,886 are asked. TBE MAR DEPARTMENT. Secretary of War McCrary, in his annual re­ port to Congress, recommends the repeal of the posse-comitatus clause of the Army bill. He holds that it operates greatly to the injury of the public service, and cites some instances. He says in New Mexico there have been some mail robberies. He had decided, after looking into the law, that he had the right to use the army in protecting the Government property, and, thinking the United States mails were United States property, he thought he had a right to | protect them. But he was sure lie did not have a right to pursue the thieves and retake tho property, owing to tho posse-comitatus clause. The Secretary gives other instances where he thinks the law has worked to great disadvantage. The Secretary takes no ground on the ques­ tion of the transfer of the Indian Bureau to the War Department. He argues, however, that the army is much too smalt for its work, but he does not recommend its increase. The Secre­ tary says that the Indian war, the troubles on the Mexican frontier, and other cases during the past year all coming together, and each re­ quiring attention, was & sore tax on the small and scattered army. The Secretary nays that, oven in times of peaoe, it is impossible, without a large armv, to concentrate a strong force at any one place without leaving many of the forts, posts, arsenals, etc., without adequate protection. The Secretary shows that there are now in the United States about 230 military posts, eighteen arsenals and armories, besides about forty storehouses or depots. He thinks that the morale of the army has improved. He thinks the army has A right to preserve the peace and enforce order in cities and communities, and seems to doubt that the posse-comitatus clause is constitutional. The Secretary stoutly maintains the right of ~ ~ ernment to pursue with military force cause of the killing of about eighty persons The popular indignation and excitement throughout Italy oVer the attempt to assassinate King Humbert is very great The assassin is a member of the International Society. He de­ nies having any accomplices or instigators, NEWS from London of Nov. 20 states over seven gallons of beer, etc., last year, if each got his or her proportion. If one-half of the people drank none, then the other half must have consumed fifteen gallons per head. Commissioner Raurn estimates that #596,000,- 000, is annually expended for liquor in the United States, an expenditure which, if applied the < the [exican raiders over our border. AGRICULTURE. on the public debt, would pay it iu three years. .. . , . .. _ ... . . . , , , The number of cigars consumed in tliis that no reply to the British ultimatum had been ; country last year were, 1,905,003,743, being an ! J» M Al k __J> i«_1 • i . 1 1 /v»nM i. Ida have E Supreme I a petition j Can- he re- ^avin lhat Bis- 5ress, were iiidi- P0LI been res Court was for a mam vassing Board to MATE a turns of the county, threu been thrown out It is c bee, Republican candidate would have a majority if t counted. AS it is, Hull, the I date, has been declared elected crate and Greenbackers cast a majority 5,000 votes in Wisconsin at the late eloctW being divided, they were beaten by UO) publicans, whose vote exceeds that of the I ocrats by about 8,000. THE Republicans in the Nebraska Legislature will have a majority of 3?kon joint ballot--6 in the Senate and 29 in the HoW). THE Republican majority in Kansas is 34,583 over the Democrats, 44,608 over the Greenbackers, and 8,293 overall. In the Legis­ lature the Republicans wiirfiave a majority of 48 in the House and 32 in the Senate ; majority on joint ballot, 80. / - THE following is the official vote of Wisconsin for Congressmen: Republican, 99,578; Democratic, 92,925; Greenback, 13,028; total, 205,531.. ..Official Repub- lican majority in Minnesota, 19,034.... Gen. John B. Gordon has been elect- received from the Ameer of Afghanistan, and orders accordingly had Men sent to India for the troops to advance Countess Maria von Bismarck has been married to Count Kuno von Rantzau, a scion of the ancient Sehleswig- Holstein family of that ilk. THE Indian troops, by order of the Viceroy, crossed the Afghan border, Nov. 21, and captured an unoccupied fort They are still moving forward in four columns toward the mountain passes, and will soon encounter fortifications, the capture of which will prob­ ably require strategy and some hard fighting. The greatest enemy of the invaders is the extremely cold weather. Gambetta and De Fourtou met a few days ago average of over forty-two cigars to every man, woman and child. Assuming that one-fourth of tho population--A very large estimate--are smokers, each Bmoker would have 168 cigars for the year. \ The amount of tobacco, other than cigars KND cigarettes, consumed, was 25,312,933 pouiios, which is equal to more than half a pound to every inhabitant THE VOSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT. Postmaster General Key, in his annual re­ port, places the whole expense of the postal service at #36,571,900, the amount appropriated for the current year being #33,250,373. The net revenue for the year from the sale of post­ age-stamps was #16,839,116, against #15,881,936 /TON. William G. LeDuc, Commissioner of Ag­ riculture, in his annual report, shows that the department during the year has beon engaged !n examining into the practicability of introducing new products, and has been to some degree suc­ cessful. The following extracts and condensa­ tions show in outline the work of this depart­ ment for the year, as stated by the Commis­ sioner himself: Gen. Le Due is an enthusiast on the subject of making the United States independent of for­ eign nations. He has grouped together, and gives In a table, a list of articles annually im­ ported into this country, amounting in value to many millions of dollars, which be is confident might, and he thinkB ought to, be produced at home. Among these articles are enumerated tea? coffee, sugar, Peruvian bark, paper ma­ terial, rice, barley, hemp, flax-seed, wool, fruits, nuts, etc. The Commissioner advocates the building and repairing of tho Mississippi levees at the expense of the General Govern­ ment IF 1 Tho Commissioner states that the wheat crop of the present year has been promising in a high degree during the entire season. A com­ parison of the crops of the past three seasons is given, as follows, the figures for the present year being preliminary and subject to revision in completing and perfecting the estimates of the year: last year. Amount of stamps, stamped en- "on the field of honor," and blazed away at | velopes, etc., sold, #27,375,593, against #25,- each other with pistols. Both proved to be 757,515 in 1S77. Expended during the year for very bad marksmen, since neither was able to hit the other. THE British Indian troops marched through Khyber pass into Afghanistan Nov. 22, and captured the Ali Musjid fort after a brief struggle, in which the invaders are reported to have lost 300 men in killed and wounded. A DISPATCH from Berlin reports that Gen. Kauffman, presenting a sword to the Af- mail transportation, #19,444,179, against #19,- 356,023 the previous year. From the tables showing the operation of the money-order of­ fices it appears that the revenue from this source for the year was #209,647, against #109,14>> the previous year. The Postmaster General devotes a considera­ ble portion of his report to the subject of the present and prospective deficiencies in the amounts appropriated by Congress for salaries of Postmasters and for railway transportation. . . IN regard to Postmasters' salaries, he says the ghan envoy at Tashkend for transmission to ; deficiencies or prevention of them, BO far as the Ameer, declared that whoever sided with salaries and compensation of Postmasters are Ruwsia need not fear that a hair of his head ™ncerned, are not and cannot be controlled by the department. If the amount appropriated Oropg. 1877. Corn 1.340,000,000 Whoat St id.(J00,000 Rye 22,000,000 Oats 890.000,GOO Barley 35,000,000 Potatoes.. 140,000,000 1876. 1.2*3.827,500 289,:iG(),f>00 20.374,800 320,884,000 38,710,500 124,827,000 1875. 1,321,009,000 292,130,000 17,722.100 854,317.500 3fi,908,000 166,877,000 A'OULD be injured. NOT GEXKRALLY KlfOWN. ew people know that there , are about 400 distinct species of humming- j birds, making them one of the most re- | markable of all the families of birds. The differences between these 400 spe­ cies are not in color only, but in form by Congress for the purpose be not equal to the , amount of compensation established by law, : there must be a deficiency. I After describing the rates of compensation J proscribed by law for railway mail service, the I Postmaster General says 'the appropriation [ made by Congress at its last session was not sufficient to pay for the existing service on rail- ! roads, and, should no additional appropriation | IK> made for this service, ho shall feel it his j duty under the law so to curtail tho service as I to fall within the appropriation, however much I he might consider the public interests injured thereby. He is satisfied it would lead justly to and structure and habit; and they are so MARKO<L tliat AFLFT HTWIPM IIUVP niuch complaint. The mails would be detained so marked tliat the 4UU species nave to at oflico8 wf soparation hardiy ever lc88 than be qjassed in more tlmn 100 distinct J twelve hours, and generally twenty-four bourn I Books, papers, and packages passing over greait genera. distances or circuitous routes would be do- Twit C!*mulinn RTMFTTN BADLY AT more than one such office in very A HE CANADIAN potato crop IS oarny : MANY (.AH0H AND THERE WONL(1 T)E DF.IAY ID ̂ affected bv rot. I I immense number of transactions which are in- THE PUBUC DOMAIN. The annual report of J. A Williamson, Com­ missioner of the General Land Office, showB that during the fiscal year ended June 30 8,086,173 acres of public lands were disposed of, and 8,041,011 acres were surveyed, in addition to the 721,613,728 acres previously surveyed. The total number of acres of public domain still uusurvyed is something over 1,000,000,000 acres. The disposals were mainly as follows: Homostead entries, 4,418,344 acrea; timber-cult- ure entries, 1,870,434 acres; desert-land entries, 310,553acres; CA^hentries,877,555acres; grants to railroads, (i0(i,340 acres; swamp lauds patented, 202,920 acres; other grants to States, 214.992 acres. These figures show a great increase in the quantity of land taken up by tho class of actual settlers as homesteads and * for tho pur­ pose of timber culture. The cash receipts amounted to #2,022,530, being 599,567 more than the receipts for the preceding year. PENSIONS. Mr. Bentley, the Commissioner of Pensions, in his annual report states that the number of new claims of all classes filed during the year was -67,509. Of these 18,812 wore origiaal invalid claims, being more than double the number of the same class tiled in either of tho four years from 1871 to 1874. As many as 1 S,240 were for service in the war of 1K12. One in six only were the claims of survivors, the balance Ueiiig those of widows. ' At the beginning of tho year the number of pension agencies was reduced from fifty-eight to eighteen, having in salaries for the year #142,1X10, making an aggregate saving in the bureau for the year of $4*2.172. Since the con­ solidation the pensions have been paid more promptly than before. The pay service has advanced to a high degree of eracienoy. The Commissioner is of tho opinion that the reduc­ tion in the rate of the agents' compensation made in the Appropriation bill for the current year cannot be maintained without injury to the service, and some further allowances should bo made for their expenses. On tho 30th of June, 1878, there were 223,1)98 pensioners on the rolls, a reduction of 2,045 during the year. It is expected that the number will increase considerably during the current year on ac­ count of the 1812 pensions. The amount paid for pensions during the year was #:J6,530,792.1(1. Of this amount, #:.540,9lii.36 was retained from the pensioners and paid to claim agents for their feea-y*^ THE PRECIOUS METALS. Dr. Linderman, Director of tho Mint, in his annual report, says that all available means have been employed to ascertain as accurately as possible the domestic production of gold and silver. The gold, production during the last fiBcal year he places at #47,226,107; silver production, $40,720,314; total, #93,'.w2,421. Dr. Linderman estimates the probable amount of gold consumed in the arts and manufactures this year at 02,500,000, and computes the stock of gold bullion in tho country at #244,353,390. The amount of sil"er coin and bullion exported during the year above the amount of importa­ tions he fixes at $8,0in,<500, and the probable amount used in the arts anu manufactures at #3,- 'XX), He says this will leave a net balance of 090,557 as the stock of silver coin and bullion in the country June 30, 1878, a total of both gold and silver "of #&,>2,443,<.Hi, which is au increase during the year of #89,588,089. He believes that #26,000,u00 was added to that amount up to October 1. BUREAU OF PRINTING AND ENGRA i' lXG. The annual report of the Bureau of Engrav­ ing and Printing of the Treasury Department shows that the aggregate expenses of operating the bureau during the year wore #538,861.33. In the labor and expense account less than one- fifth the amount appropriated waB expended, leaving #<552,83(5.17 in the treasury unexpended at the close of the last fiscal yoar. Tlie-num- ber of impressions by plate printing was 20,- 244,490, against 18,989,327 during the preceding year. Tho number of sheets of customs and internal-revenue stamps and of United States securities delivered iu the fiscal year ended June 30, 1877, was 9,820,059. The number of sheets of the same class of work during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1878, was 12,518,339. I The value of notes, bonds and miscellaneous securities turned out during the year ended Juno 30, 1877, was #708,414,(545. The value of the same class of work during the fiscal year I ended June 30, 1878, was #1,040,451,380. | RIVERS AND HARBORS. I The annual report of Gen. A, A. Humphreys, Chief of Engineers, is devoted mainly to the two I subjects of fortifications and river and harbor j improvements. It is shown that, during the fiscal year ending June 30, the sum of #^,794,- j 483 was expended for the improvement of rivers j and harbors, and a balance of #1,(508,078, re­ maining from the previous appropriations, is available for use during tho present fiscal year, j The act of June 18, 1878, made provision for ! 215 works and for surveys and examinations ! at 116 places, appropriating a total of #8,201,700 1 in addition to the balance available from pre- I vious appropriations. Upon the approval of i projects submitted by the various subordinate j engineer officers, steps wore taken for putting j the works at once into execution, and they are | now being conducted under the contract sys- j tem, or by means of hired labor and the pur- j chase of material in open market, as appealed t to be the most advantageous in anr particular ' instance to tho Government THE PATENT OFFICE. ! The report of the operations of the Patent j Office during the fiscal year ending June 30, j 1878, shows no abatement of the inventive spirit | of the American people. The number of origi- • nal applications for patents was 19,657, and j 14,100 new patents were granted. There were j also 627 reissues and 722 patents granted for I desiguH. Twenty-seven hundred and thirty- j seven caveats were filed duriug the year. The ! receipts of the office amounted to #734,888, and | the total expenditures were #(K55,9U6. Of the i amount expended, however, #50,000 was for the i restoration of 18,5(53 models injured by the fire j of last year, and, omitting this item, the excess : of receipts over expenses appears to have been #11 8,98& The number of trade-marks regis­ tered was 1,505, as against only 938 for the pre- i ceding year, and the receipts from this source ! and from the registration of 492 labels amounted j to #42,7(52, a sum eight times greater than the ; total expenses of conducting the division. | THE CONSULAR SERVICE. | Mr. Ela, Fifth Auditor of the Treasury, in j his annual report, states that the consular fees ! collected at the more-important consulates of the United States in foreign countries foot up #635,914.11, an excess over salaries paid amounting to #110,240.26, showing the consular system to be more than self-supporting. On the Spanish indemnity fund #519,578.70 was paid; #51,789 for the tribunal of arbitration at Geneva; #150,397.35 upon Mexican awards, and #28,087 to tho owners of the land ceded to Great Britain under the Ashburton treatv of 1842. The entire extra expenses allowed all the lega­ tions foot up #50,308.78. During the fiscal year this bureau adjusted diplomatic and other ao- counts amounting to #687,351,843.16. < INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT. Tho report of the Inspector General of the Army specifically details the condition of the various military posts, and gives the reports of the several commands as an appendix. It ap­ pears that the Paymasters have promptly and satisfactorily rendered their accounts ; that the military pests are in excellont condition, the discipline good, and the character of the officers without reproach. It is recommended that the j enlisted men pay more attention than hereto- < fore to target practice. Altogether, the report shows a gratifying condition of affairs in every­ thing connected with the Inspector General's J department. { THE APPOINTMENT OFFICE. The report of the Appointment Office of the j Postoffice shows that during the past year there j have been 2,784 postoffices established and , 871 discontinued, making an increase in the j total number of 1,913. The total number of j offices in operation Jurib 30, 1878, was 39,258. j Of these, 1,570 were filled by Presidential ap- ; pointmcnt, and 37,<588 Postmasters hold ap- j pointments from the Postmaster General. The ! number of appointments made on resignations ^ and expiration of commissions was 5,117. ! There were 748 removals of Postmasters, and i 833 deaths. 1 I THE REVENUE MARINE BUREAU. ! The annual report of the Revenue Marine | Bureau of the Treasury Department shows that j of Uio vessels wrecked or in distress, with an ! aggregate of 926 persons on board, 192 have ] been assisted by revenue cutters. The estimated I value of the property saved is about #1,7<X),000, ! and 142 persons were actually rescued from J l by drowning. Tli#expenses of the reve-deatli by n'UE-marine service for the year ended June 30, 1878, were #843,001. The number of vessels in the service is thirty-seven. ̂ COMPTROLLER KNOX'S REPORT. The Comptroller of the Currency, in his an­ nual report, shows the total number of banks and private bankers in the country to be 6,458, with an aggregate capital of #(575,770,000, and aggregate deposits of #1,919,1154,000. During the past yoar twenty-eight banks have beon or­ ganized, with au authomsod capital of #2,775,- 000, to which $1,598,800 in circulation notes have beon issued. Fifteen banks failed within this period, having an aggregate capital of #2,712,500, and forty-one banks, with a total capital of $5,200,000, voluntarily discontinued business. Total AIMY'IT of United States taxes collected from the commencement of the system to the present timeis as follows: i . On circulation #&£?6 StT On deposits .**....., On capital .Vi'..; vJ.V. - I.#19,4*0 banks on Nov. 1,1868, and deposited with tlie Treasurer as seenrity for their circulating notm. pearly three-fourths Ipre inters* at the rate of Ct per cent. Tlie amount of tins class of bonds has since been gradually reduced until it is now lees than one-fourth of 'all the bonds held, while nearly one-fourth of the whole amount bears interest at the rate of 4^ and 4 per cent. Onlv anout one-fifth of the entire Issues of the lattei - class of bonds is now held by the national •banks. - -» The Comptroller defends the nationa 1-Vaakihg system at length, and argues for its continu­ ance. ' . ; A CLERGYMAN'S TERRIBLE DA If CIS. Burleigh writes to the Boston Jour- nal from New York the following in­ teresting story: "I have had, said a well-known clergyihan, some very droll experience. Among the most exciting: was the one that I will now relate. A well-known merchant was very sick-- some thought nigh unto death; He would see no pastor, nor allow any one to speak to him on the subject of re­ ligion. One day he mentioned my name, though he was no acquaintance of mine. He named me two or three times. At length his wife asked him if he wanted me to call. He hesitated some time, and then asked his family to send for me. He added: ' Tell him to come right away.' I obeyed the sum­ mons, and was ushered into the sick- chamber, and at once recognized the gentleman as one who had been an oc­ casional hearer in my church. He greeted me with great cordiality, and asked that all should leave the room. He wanted to speak to me privately. His wife left with evident reluctance. The man was so weak that he could with difficulty turn in bed. As soon as the door was closed, the patient sprung from his bed, turned the key in the lock, seized me with the strength of a giant, and said: ' Now we will have a nice dance,' clasping me about the body, and he, in hi& liight-sliirt, commenced to caper round the room, humming, in a low voice: ' I and my Father are one, equal in power and glory.' He kept his pace for a full hour, till I was neatly dead from exhaustion and fright. He was a wild maniac. Once I attempted to scream. He seized me by the throat. His eyes flashed fire. He said he would brain me if I was not quiet. Bound and round lie turned, keeping up th& refrain, 'I and my Father are one, iiqual in power and glory.' Pretending" to be pleased, I suggested that we call in some of the family to join us. He caught at the idea. He opened tho door to call the household up, and I in­ stantly flew down-stairs, pursued by th& madman. He was arrested, taken to- the mad-house, and in twenty-four hours died a raving maniac. I have never since heard those words repeated without being thrown into a cold sweat. I had dance enough that night to last me the balance of my life." CHRISTIAN CUARITT. An incomplete list of the public sub­ scriptions for the benefit of the yellow- fever sufferers in forty-eight cities in this country, Canada and Europe, shows, a total of $1,359,000. New York stands-' at the head with $395,000, but this does not include the subscriptions of the va­ rious churches, Masonic and other socie­ ties, and from private individuals. Phil­ adelphia gives $132,000; Chicago, $100,- 000; Boston, $55,000; Cincinnati, $35,- 000. Boston is sixth on the list, and Cincinnati tenth. St. Louis and Cin­ cinnati gave more than Boston, while- Baltimore, Louisville and Washington gave more than Cincinnati. It is esti­ mated that the entire amount contrib­ uted exceeded $2,000,000. Even poor Mexico sent liberal donations. THE MARKETS, NEW YORK. Beeves #7 00 <<?) 9 SO HOAR 8 10 @8 40 Cotton "94 Fi.octt--Superfine 8 30 @ 8 (55 Wheat--No. 2 1 06 <£ 1 0S?£. Coax--Went«rn Mixed 4-1 (g) 46 Oats--Afixed 8<L @ 80 Kye--Western 58 (<$ 88^. Pork--Mese 7 50 ($ 7 65 LARD - CHICAGO. Beeves--Choice Graded Steers 4 60 @ 5 00 Co we and Heifers % 00 (it 3 00 Medium to Fair 8. GO <g> 8 75 Hoon 1 75 @ O 05 Flour--Fancy White Winter Ex... 4 75 ((6 5 00 Good to Choice Spring Ex.. 4 00 <09 4 60 Wheat--Xo. 2 Sprint; M <«1 85 No. 8 Spring 70 «§ 71 Corn--No. 2 1 j. 8S @ 88 Oat»--No. 2 20 @ 21 Ryk--No. 2 44 <$ 45 Barley--No. 2 <$ 04 Butter--Choice Creamery. 20 26 Etios--Fresh 17 ($ 18 PORK--Mees 0 00 (£800 Lard 8 MILWAUKEH. Wheat--No. 1 8S No. 2 83 <g 84 Corn--No. 2 82 <g 88 Oats--No. 2 28 21 Rye--No. 1 48 @ 44 Barley--No. 2 8% Ml 84 ST. LOUIB. Wheat--No. 2 Red Fall 88 @ 89 Corn--Mixed HO ici 81 Oats--No. 2 18 (C# 18 Kye 48 # 44 Pork--Mess 7 S6 <<e & 45 Lard CINCINNATI. Wheat--Rod 85 @ §6 Corn 82 88 Oats 22 <T$ 25 Rye # ^ U Pork--Mem. 8 CO <$ 8 25 Lard 6%@ 7 TOLEDO, Wheat--No. 1 White 98 ^ 99 No. 2 Red # 98 Corn 84 ®) 87 Oats--No. 2 28 & 84 DtETR&iT. Flour--White 4 <4# @ 4 75 Wheat--No. 1 White 95* # 96 No. 1 Ambe> 9H & 94 Corn--No. 1 88 & 39 Oats--Mixed 28 24 Barley (per cental) 1-00 (£1 75 PoiiK--Mess 8 50 9 50 EAST MBEICTO', PAi Catilk--Best 4- Ml 0 4, (i2 Fair ivvt, 3 45 (<$4 30 Common 3 (Hi (j -I 40 # Hoos 2 (HI GG N 00 Sheep 3. 00 <^4 V » \ L i t