CLEANING PAINT. Soiled paint, whether on wood-work or on canvas, may, it is said, be cleaned perfectly by first dipping a rag in finely powdered and well sifted Spanish white, and then rubbing the surface in question gently with it, thereby removing dust, grease, etc., from the colors. The surface is then to be washed in fresh water by means of a sponge, and rubbed off with a piece of soft chamois leather, and dried. The colors appear as fresh as new, and the whole process is said to have many advantages over the use of soap. FREEZING MIXTURES. Again, if a mixture of seven parts of sal ammoniac, seven of saltpetre, and eleven of Glauber'ssalt be dissolved in twenty-two parts of water at 50° Fahr., the column of a mercurial thermometer immersed in the mixture will fall to 4.10° Fahr., or nearly the same as the preceding reduction. This, therefore, may be considered as much superior to any other combination yet proposed for practical use in the production of a low degree of temperature. The nitrate of ammonia has, however, the advantage, even if more expensive, that it may be used over and over again, it being only necessary to evaporate the solution to the point of crystallization, while the mixture just referred to can only be used once. In one instance, with the air at 60° Fahr. and the water at about 54°, a thick, cylindrical cup of very hard ice, about eight inches high and several lines thick, was produced in about fifteen minutes. It is well known that there are certain so-called freezing mixtures which, by their solution in water, tend to produce a greater or less degree of cold-the most familiar illustration of the fact being seen in the application of salt to ice in freezing ice-cream or cooling Champagnethe ice melting, but the saline liquid indicating An interesting experiment bearing upon the a temperature much below that of frozen water. same point may be made by melting together There are other substances, however, the use of 59 parts of tin, 103 of lead, and 183 of biswhich produces a much greater degree of cold muth. If this be finely rasped or powdered, and than that obtained by means of salt, the most introduced into 108 parts, by weight, of quickconspicuous among these being finely pulverized silver, we shall find that the thermometer imcrystallized nitrate of ammonia. If this be dis-mersed in the mixture will sink to 3.20° Fahr.; solved in an equal weight of cold water, at 50° Fahr., a reduction of temperature to 3.20° Fahr. will result. and water placed in a thin test-tube, and allowed to remain for a few minutes in this bath, will be completely frozen. Editor's Bistorical Record. days, found little time for attention to general business, and even the necessary appropriation bills were hurried through. The session closed without any measures having been taken for the revival of navigation and commercial interests. The Senate bills for a postal railway between Washington and New York, and for the removal of the Brooklyn Navy-yard, were not acted on by the House. Over a hundred Senate bills remained on the Speaker's table, of which twenty-six demanded grants of land to the aggregate amount of over 100,000,000 acres. The Senate bill increasing pensions by twenty per cent. was not passed. The bill for the repeal of the income tax was not reached on the calendar of the Committee of the Whole. Over four hundred bills awaited action in the Senate at the close of the session. The Steamboat bill, passed by both Houses of Congress, and awaiting the President's signature, is more careful and stringent than any similar law heretofore enacted. Among its provisions it requires steamers to attach suitable steampipes and valves to the boilers to convey steam into the hold in case of fire. All wood-work exposed to fire from stoves, furnaces, etc., is to be protected by some incombustible material, and special care is to be used in the procuring of life-preservers and life-boats. Hay, cotton, benzine, powder, and like dangerous articles are to be placed beyond danger of fire by the machinery, and watchmen are to be kept continually on the alert to guard against disasters. Boilers and machinery are to be more carefully inspected, especially such parts as are subject to special are to be examined as to their characters, skill, and capacity. Sea-going and lake passenger steamers, the building of which shall be commenced after six months from the passage of this act, shall have not less than three watertight cross bulk-heads, to be made of iron plates sustained upon iron frame-work. Any officer or employé on board of any steamboat, by whose negligence, misconduct, or inattention to his duties the life of any person shall be destroyed, shall be deemed guilty of manslaughter, and, upon conviction, shall be sentenced to not more than ten years' imprisonment. The hull and boilers of every ferry-boat, canal-boat, yacht, or other craft propelled by steam, are made subject to the provisions of this act. The Senate bill to incorporate the Texas (or Southern) Pacific Railroad Company was passed by the House, 135 to 70, February 21, but with important amendments. The difference between the House and Senate bills may be thus stated: The latter provided for six different branches, in the aggregate almost double the length of the main line, and for more than double the subsidy. The House bill provides for a simple trunk-line from Marshall, Texas, to San Diego, California. The Senate bill fixed the gauge at five feet, while the House bill simply provides for a uniform gauge. The latter fixes the capital at $50,000,000, and allows consolidation of the road only with roads already chartered. On account of the disagreement between the two Houses a conference committee was appointed. A compromise was ef to the absurd and corrupt system of Indian treaties, the Senate agreeing to renounce its right to treat with any Indian tribe or nation hereafter as an independent power capable of contracting with the United States. The bill also contains provisions intended to prevent frauds by Indian claim agents and Indian contractors. fected, in which each House yielded some of its | hands of the conference committee, puts an end positions. The bill reported by the conference committee, and passed March 2, provides, in addition to the grant of 13,000,000 acres for the main trunk-line, for two branch lines-one from New Orleans to the eastern boundary of Texas, and one from San Francisco to the western terminus of the line, or to connect with it on the thirty-fifth parallel at or near the Colorado River. The additional quantity of land given to subsidize these branch lines is loosely estimated at between four and six millions of acres. The Deficiency Appropriation bill, passed by the House February 22, appropriated $10,677,525, including $500,000 for the New York Post-office building. A bill was passed by the Senate, February 23, amending the bounty law, and granting $100 to all soldiers mustered in for three years between May 4 and July 22, 1861. The amount thus voted is about $410,000. At noon, March 4, the Forty-first Congress was adjourned sine die, and the organization of the Forty-second was effected. Of the nineteen Senators whose terms had expired five had been re-elected, namely: H. B. Anthony, of Rhode Island; A. H. Cragin, of New Hampshire; M. C. Hamilton, of Texas; L. M. Morrill, of Maine; and T. J. Robertson, of South Carolina-all Republicans. Six of the newly elected Senators are Democrats. There is still to be elected a Senator of Virginia, to fill the place of J. W. Johnston. As at present constituted the Senate consists of 53 Republicans and The Congressional Election bill, an amend- 15 Democrats. Objection was made to George ment to the act of May 31, 1870, "to enforce Goldthwaite, of Alabama (Democrat); and the the rights of citizens to vote in the several States seat of M. C. Hamilton, of Texas, was contestof this Union, and for other purposes," was pass-ed, but in vain, by J. J. Reynolds. Foster ed by the Senate, 39 to 10, February 25. It had Blodgett, of Georgia, succeeds Mr. Miller, for previously passed the House. whom a special oath had been provided by the previous Congress. John W. Stevenson succeeds Thomas C. M'Creery, of Kentucky. The Senate, February 25, passed the House bill to provide for the celebration of the centennial anniversary of American independence by holding an international exhibition of arts, manufactures, and products of the soil and mines in Philadelphia in 1876. A letter from General Pleasonton, Commissioner of Internal Revenue, dated February 21, was read in the House on the 25th. In this letter he said that, in view of the possible repeal of the income tax, he had delayed until the last moment before authorizing any expense in connection with the assessment of this tax. Delay was no longer possible, and he urged that the question might be pressed to an immediate conclusion. Mr. Hooper gave notice that he should take the earliest opportunity to move to go into Committee of the Whole to consider the bill to repeal the income tax. A joint resolution to repeal the duty on coal was passed by the House, 143 to 46, February 28. The resolution failed to pass the Senate. On February 28 the Senate adopted an amendment to the Army Appropriation bill, directing the Secretary of the Treasury to pay over to the Pacific Railroad one-half the compensation for services rendered to the government. In the House, March 2, a resolution was adopted, 134 to 52, exculpating General Howard from all the charges made against him in connection with the Freedmen's Bureau. Both Houses, March 3, passed a bill prohibiting the consolidation of ocean telegraph companies, and the establishment of rates above $5 for ten words. Just before the close of the session a section was added to the Civil Service Appropriation bill authorizing the President to make rules prescribing the qualifications of government employés, and providing the means of testing the fitness of candidates, and regulating the nature and length of their tenure of office. The conference report on the Indian Appropriation bill was presented in both Houses and agreed to March 1. The bill, as it leaves the In the House, 115 members of the last Congress are returned-about one-half. The House, as now constituted (March 23), stands 130 Republicans to 100 Democrats. The elections in Connecticut, California, and Texas have not yet been held. Logan's election to the Senate leaves his seat as Congressman at large from Illinois to be filled. The Fourth District of Michigan and Montana Territory are without representatives. Massachusetts and Mississippi return their entire delegations; New York returns only seven out of thirty-one members. S. M. Cullom, of Illinois; John A. Griswold, of New York; Thomas A. Jenckes, of Rhode Island; and Godlove S. Orth, of Indiana, may be mentioned as among the most prominent members who are not returned to Congress. The new House was organized by the re-election of James G. Blaine as Speaker by a vote of 123 to 93. The first important action of the Senate was the displacement, on March 10, of Senator Sumner from his position as head of the Committee on Foreign Relations by a vote of 30 to 9. Mr. Cameron, of Pennsylvania, succeeds Mr. Sumner in that position. A resolution was passed by the House, March 13, repealing the duty on salt, tea, coffee, and coal. A resolution authorizing an investigation of Southern affairs by a committee of thirteen, to report in December, was adopted by the House March 15, and the committee was appointed, consisting of seven Republicans and six Democrats. The Senate Committee on Southern Affairs submitted a majority and a minority report on March 10. The object of the investigation was to ascertain whether the outrages alleged to have been committed in the South were of a political character, and whether persons and property are secure in the Southern States. The investigation appears to have been confined to North Carolina. The impeachment trial going on in that State necessarily developed a great amount of evidence bearing upon the questions under consideration. The majority report clearly proves the existence of a secret political organization known as the Ku-Klux, consisting of white men, all Democrats, the members of which have committed such outrages as to render life and property insecure. The report speaks of this organization as an "army of criminals at large, with no power in the State tribunals to bring them to justice; with organization oaths, and secrecy baffling and defying all the appliances of the law, and bringing them to each other's aid; with the consciousness that they number enough to turn the scale of political power in favor of the party with which they act, so long as their violence and intimidation are successful against those whom they oppose. The only point worthy of notice in the minority report, submitted by Senators Blair and Bayard, is the fact that the outrages have been committed in only six or eight out of the eighty-seven counties of North Carolina. The reports received during the past month from many quarters in the South show that these outrages are not confined to North Carolina. The Commissioner of Internal Revenue has found it an exceedingly perilous duty to attempt to collect revenue in these States, and says that in some instances revenue officers have been compelled to fly for their lives. On the 6th of March, at Meridian, Mississippi, during a trial of three negroes for riotous conduct, one of the prisoners shot and killed Justice Bramlette, who presided. In the subsequent attempt of the sheriff to disarm the negroes a number of the latter were killed. The murder of Justice Bramlette grew out of a state of affairs in which none but negroes could be convicted for disorderly conduct. Similar outrages in Chester and York counties, South Carolina, are reported, sufficiently extensive to compel Governor Scott to call upon the President for troops to aid him in enforcing the laws. In Kentucky the Ku-Klux organization seems to have claimed the right to regulate the postal service. The election in New Hampshire, on March 14, was so closely contested that there was no choice for Governor. The political complexion of the Legislature can only be determined by the official count. The entire Democratic delegation to Congress was elected. The President, February 27, appointed Mr. Henry D. Cooke, of the firm of Jay Cooke and Co., Governor of the District of Columbia, with a salary of $3000 per annum. Governor Clayton, of Arkansas, resigned March 18, and was succeeded by Mr. Halley. An act of Congress authorizing the refunding of the national debt was passed last July. The object of the act was to put a new loan upon the market for the purpose of converting the fivetwenties, which bear six per cent. interest, into new bonds of three classes-namely, into tenyear bonds bearing five per cent. interest, fifteen-year bonds bearing four and a half per cent. interest, and thirty-year bonds bearing four per cent. interest. The Secretary of the Treasury, on account of the European war, delayed putting this loan upon the market till the beginning of March. In the present advertised proposal the amount of the first class is five hundred millions, of the second three hundred millions, and of the third seven hundred millionsfifteen hundred millions in all. Preference will be given first, however, to subscriptions for two hundred millions of five per cents., and then for the four and a half and the four per cents. in their order. Payments can be made either in coin or in the existing five-twenty bonds at par. In no case is less to be taken, or the aggregate of the debt to be increased. The new bonds, or consols, and the interest on them, are to be exempt from all taxes or dues to the United States, as well as from taxation in any form by any State, municipal, or local authority. The impeachment trial of Governor Holden, of North Carolina, was concluded March 22, terminating in the conviction of the Governor upon the last six charges. The High Commission has been in session in Washington since February 27, but until the close of its deliberations its proceedings will remain secret. An army order has been issued by General Sherman, giving the details of the organization of the army after July 1, 1871, at which date it is to be reduced to 30,000 men, in accordance with the provisions of an act of Congress passed last July. Dispatches from Kingston, Jamaica, dated March 11, reported the arrival there of the San Domingo Commission on its way to New York. Before the Commission left Hayti, Luperon, who is one of Cabral's generals, made a hostile demonstration against Monte-Christi, but the crew of the United States man-of-war Congress checked the demonstration. During the two years from March 1, 1869, to March 1, 1871, the reduction of the public debt has been $204,754,413. DISASTERS. On February 23 three cars of an express train on the Northern Central Railroad, which struck a broken rail below Williamsport, Pennsylvania, were thrown over an embankment-a fall of forty feet. One man was killed, and seventeen more or less seriously injured. A tornado visited Jefferson City, Missouri, on the night of February 23–24. Portions of the penitentiary were unroofed, and the walls blown down. The roofs of the Lincoln Institute and other buildings were partially removed. On the 8th of March a tornado passed over East St. Louis. The destructive effects of the storm may be inferred from the fact that the losses amounted to $260,000. A number of persons were seriously injured. On March 17 a construction train on the Cedar Rapids and Minnesota Railroad, in Iowa, having a large force of laborers on board, was thrown from the track; five of the men were instantly killed, and four others severely injured. CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA. There have been several conflicts between the government forces and the insurgents in Cuba, in all of which the latter were defeated. A proclamation was issued by Cespedes in January, and another by Ignacio Agramonte on February 5, in which the former signs himself President, and the latter General-in-Chief of the Cuban forces.—On Advices from Porto Rico, dated Havana, March 7, announced the triumph of the radicals in the elections for deputies to the Spanish Cortes. This defeat of the government party so incensed the Spanish Volunteers on that island that they created disturbances, which, according to some reports, resulted in bloodshed, and they even demanded that the elections be nullified. The Captain-General, Baldrich, refused the request, and showed his displeasure by ordering the Volunteers to store their arms in the barracks, instead of keeping them in their own houses. the 12th of March the Spanish troops in Cuba | partments of Haut-Rhine and Bas-Rhine-with took the oath of allegiance to King Amadeus the exception of Belfort; three of the four arand the Spanish Constitution. The Cuban Vol- rondissements of the department of Moselle, in unteers took simply the oath of fealty to the Lorraine-Thionville, Metz, and Sarreguemines King. -France retaining Briey, with the fortress of Longwy; and two of the five arrondissements of the departments of Meurthe-Château-Salins and Sarrebourg-France retaining Luneville, Nancy, and Toul. The ceded territory embraces 6000 square miles, and contains 1,600,000 inhabitants. The military advantage gained by the Germans consists mainly in the possession of the Vosges, covering the Rhenish frontier, and of the fortress of Metz. The ceded territory is for the most part agricultural; but it includes also some large cities (including Strasburg, with 85,000 inhabitants, and Mulhouse, with its famous factories, and a population of 60,000) and important manufacturing regions. The Meurthe department includes the fortress of Phalsbourg. 2. France agrees to pay to Germany a war indemnity of $1,000,000,000; one-fifth, at least, in 1871, and the remainder within three years after the ratification of the treaty. The project of Governor Pint, of Antigua, for the confederation of the British islands of the West Indies, under Sir Charles Peter Grant as Governor-General, with the capital at Jamaica, begins to assume importance. Early in March Governor Pint sailed for England to submit his scheme to the Colonial Office.-Advices from Kingston, of March 9, announced the arrival there of Mr. Hutchins, the celebrated Indian irrigation engineer. His mission is to superintend the great irrigation projects of the Governor, which have for their object the reclaiming of "tacks" land, which, being over lime rock, is useless for agriculture in consequence of the periodical drought to which the island is subjected, the rain-fall being greedily sucked from the earth, and the mountain streams after a rain swallowed in subterranean reservoirs. The Governor also contemplates an extension of the railway systems of the island into the interior. Advices from Mexico, March 11, announced the assembling of the Mexican Congress in extra session on the 8th. The constitution of that body indicated strong hostility to the President, the opposition being led by Lerdo and Diaz. Señor Zamacona, chosen Speaker of Congress, is a Diaz partisan, and he was elected by coalition with Lerdo. All the officers of Congress had been elected over those of the Juarez party by eleven majority. The opening address of Juarez was tame and formal, but Señor Zamacona's reply scathing and determined, indicating a prosecution of the impeachment programme. The investigating committee of Congress had discovered a defalcation of $1,000,000 in the Treasury Department. In the mean time the election excitement was increasing, and a revolution was apprehended. Advices from Colombia down to the 15th of February indicated the speedy triumph of the legitimate government.-Advices from Bolivia of about the same date announced the establishment of the new government in that state in friendly relations with Peru. Malgarejos, the ex-President, had barely escaped with his life, and Morales, who had commanded the revolutionist forces, was proclaimed Provisional President. EUROPE. On the 26th of February the following terms of peace were accepted by MM. Thiers and Favre, and the Consultative Commission of the French National Assembly: 3. The evacuation of France by the German forces to commence immediately. After the payment of two-fifths of the indemnity the Germans to hold only the departments of Marne, Ardennes, Meuse, Vosges, and Meurthe, and the fortress of Belfort. After the payment of three-fifths to keep only 50,000 troops in France, and none at all if sufficient money guarantees are given by the French. 4. The German troops to make no further requisitions, but the French government to supply food to the army of occupation. In the ceded departments the inhabitants to have time to move out if they desire. 5. All prisoners of war to be immediately liberated. 6. The management of the occupied departments to be given to French officials, subject, however, to the German commanders in the interest of the German troops. The treaty was ratified by the Assembly March 1 by a vote of 546 to 107. Early in March the ex-Emperor Napoleon addressed a communication to M. Grévy, President of the French National Assembly, in which he formally protested against the vote passed by the Assembly March 1 decreeing the fall of the empire. He claimed that the Assembly, having been created only to make peace with Germany, had exceeded its powers. In conclusion he appealed to the plebiscite. The German army of occupation in France consists of the Seventh and Twelfth Prussian corps, and the corps of Würtembergers. According to a statement made in the Assembly by M. Thiers, the expenses of the war outside of Paris exceeded 1,100,000,000 francs. The Germans made their triumphal entry into Paris on the morning of March 1 in two columns, numbering together 30,000 men. Approaches to the quarter of the city occupied by them were guarded by French troops, and partly barricaded, in order to prevent a collision between the French citizens and the German soldiers. The French Assembly on the 4th, by a vote of 406 to 104, adopted a proposition for removal from Bordeaux to Versailles, where it assembled 1. France cedes the whole of Alsace-the de- March 20. In the mean while the wisdom of its avoidance of Paris was fully demonstrated. After the evacuation of Paris by the Germans the National Guards still retained their arms, and soon took possession of a large number of cannon, fortifying themselves at Montmartre and Belleville. Detachments of troops on March 17 were sent against the malcontents, and succeeded in capturing some of the cannon and about 400 prisoners. The next day a mob of citizens and soldiers released the prisoners and recaptured part of the cannon. General Vinoy, commanding the government force, posted a cordon of troops around the hill of Montmartre. Angry groups of people mingled with the soldiers, and induced them to side with the insurgents. As new troops arrived, these also fraternized with the mob. Generals Lecompte and ClementThomas were taken prisoners by the mob, summarily tried, and shot. General Chanzy was captured and imprisoned. On the 19th the mob held complete possession of the city; the red flag floated over the Hôtel de Ville, and barricades were erected in many of the streets and boulevards. The insurgents issued a proclamation for communal elections, of which, however, the Mayors of Paris refused to take notice. The government and all the Paris authorities were at Versailles, protected by an army 40,000 strong, under command of General Vinoy. A reaction in favor of order began to prevail on the 21st. Deputies sent from the Assembly to induce the insurgents to release General Chanzy were unsuccessful in their mission. The French government has negotiated a loan of 2,000,000,000 francs from the Rothschilds. The rioters of December 10 have been tried by a council of war. Blanqui, Flourens, Giraud, and Arville were condemned to death. On the 21st of March the legislative session of the Reichstag was opened in Berlin. The Emperor William delivered a speech from the marble throne of Charlemagne, which had been brought from Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle). Upon the Emperor's retirement from the hall a motion was passed congratulating him upon the occurrence of the seventy-third anniversary of his birth. Herr Frankenburg, President of the Chamber of Deputies, on taking his seat warmly greeted the South German members on their appearance in the united legislative body of the nation. Count von Bismarck arrived in Berlin March 9, after an absence of eight months. He has been elevated to the rank of Prince of the German Empire, and General Count von Moltke has been presented with the grand cross of the Order of the Iron Cross. In the British House of Commons the University Tests bill was passed February 23. On the 24th Mr. Disraeli renewed his attack on the foreign policy of the government. He urged the House "to consider the gravity of the Eastern question, and the serious consequences of Russia's repudiation of the treaty of 1856, which it had cost England such sacrifices to make." He said it had been generally believed that Mr. Odo Russell's errand to Versailles was to announce to Bismarck that England stood ready to join Prussia in opposing Russian repudiation. Now it seemed the government denied that such was the object of Mr. Russell's mission.' Mr. Gladstone replied in a strong speech to Mr. Disraeli's inferences, and expressed "surprise VOL. XLII.-No. 252.-60 that the right honorable gentleman should condescend to heed and repeat the rumors on which they were based. The idea of a proposal to estrange Russia at a moment so critical by gratuitous language was simply madness. The London Conference would hear Russia's case in all fairness, and act on it with justice." During the session of the House of Commons, March 6, Premier Gladstone communicated to the House information received from Westmeath County, Ireland, confirming previous reports "of the mischievous tendency of affairs there." He said that "special measures of precaution were needed, for the lives of the Queen's Judges of Assize on circuit in that county were threatened," and he urged the members to take speedy action. The Right Hon. Earl Granville, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, announced to the House of Lords, March 13, that the conference of the powers on the Eastern question in London had closed. A treaty had been signed at the Foreign Office abrogating the restrictions on the admission of foreign men-of-war into the Dardanelles and Bosphorus. The Porte in time of peace may admit into those waters the naval vessels of friendly powers whenever needed to enforce the treaty of 1856. The Danubian commission is prolonged twelve years. The protocol expressly declares "that no power can relieve itself of the obligations of the treaty without the consent of all the signatories. The marriage of the Marquis of Lorne to the Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria, was celebrated March 21 in the royal chapel of St. George, Windsor. The ex-Emperor Napoleon arrived at Chiselhurst from Wilhelmshöhe March 20. DISASTERS. A serious colliery explosion occurred in South Wales February 25, resulting in the loss of 38 lives. The steamer General Outram foundered in Indian waters on the 23d of January. Fifty-two lives were lost. The French transport Le Cerf was wrecked on the night of February 7-8 on the rocks off Cape de la Hague. She had on board 1080 French wounded and convalescents and a crew of 150 men. The number of lives lost is estimated to have been over 1100. A cable telegram dated London, March 7, reported the foundering of the Mistress of the Seas. Seventeen lives were lost. On the 2d of March a colliery explosion occurred in Monmouthshire, England, resulting in the death of nineteen men and boys, and severe injuries to eight others. Shocks of earthquake occurred in the Hawaiian Islands on the 19th of February. They were general throughout the group. In Lauai great rocks were hurled down from the cliffs, and some of the villages were rendered uninhabitable by the débris from the mountains. OBITUARY. The widow of Nathaniel Hawthorne died at her residence in Kensington, near London, February 26. Robert Chambers, an eminent Scotch author and publisher, died March 17, aged sixty-nine. |