sel, was referred to arbitration by mutual consent, | coast trade between the States bordering on the and has resulted in an award to the United States Atlantic and those bordering on the Gulf of Mexfor the owners of the sum of $19,702 50 in gold. ico is cut in two by the Bahamas and the AnAnother and long-pending claim of like nature, tilles. Twice we must, as it were, pass through that of the whale-ship Canada, has been disposed foreign countries to get by sea from Georgia to of by friendly arbitrament during the present the west coast of California. year. It was referred, by the joint consent of Brazil and the United States, to the decision of Sir Edward Thornton, her Britannic Majesty's minister at Washington, who kindly undertook the laborious task of examining the voluminous mass of correspondence and testimony submitted by the two governments, and awarded to the United States the sum of $100,740 09 in gold, which has since been paid by the imperial gov ernment. On the 29th of October last a peace-conference under the auspices of the United States was opened between Spain and the allied South American republics, attended by the ministers of Spain, Peru, Chili, and Ecuador, and presided over by our Secretary of State. In consequence of the absence of a minister from Bolivia, the conference was postponed. The time is not far distant when the European political connection with this continent will cease. Our policy should be shaped in view of this so as to ally the commercial interests of the Spanish-American states more closely with our own, and thus give the United States all the pre-eminence and advantage which Mr. Monroe, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Clay contemplated when they proposed to join in the Congress of Panama. It is to be regretted that our representations in regard to the injurious effects, especially upon the revenue of the United States, of the policy of the Mexican government, in exempting from impost duties a large tract of its territory on our borders, have not only been fruitless, but that it is even proposed in that country to extend the limits within which the privilege adverted to has hitherto been enjoyed. The massacres of French and Russian residents at Tien-tsin, under circumstances of great barbarity, were supposed by some to have been premeditated, and to indicate a purpose among the populace to exterminate foreigners in the Chinese empire. The evidence fails to establish such a supposition, but shows a complicity between the local authorities and the mob. government at Pekin, however, seems to have been disposed to fulfill its treaty obligations, so far as it was able to do so. The The ratifications of the naturalization convention between Great Britain and the United States have also been exchanged during the recess; and thus a long-standing dispute between the two governments has been settled in accordance with the principles always contended for by the United States. No conclusion has been reached for the adjustment of the claims against Great Britain growing out of the course adopted by that government during the rebellion. The cabinet of London, so far as its views have been expressed, does not appear to be willing to concede that her Majesty's government was guilty of any negligence, or did or permitted any act during the war of which the United States has just cause of complaint. Our firm and unalterable convictions are directly the reverse. It is recommendpointment of a commission to take proof of the amounts and the ownership of these several claims, on, notice to the representative of her Majesty at Washington, and that authority be given for the settlement of these claims by the United States, so that the government shall have the ownership of the private claims, as well as the responsible control of all the demands against Great Britain. The treaty for the annexation of San Domingo failed to receive the requisite two-thirds vote of the Senate in the last session. The moment it is known that the United States has entirely abandoned this project a free port will be negotiated for by European nations in the Bay of Samana. A large commercial city will spring up, to which we will be tributary, without receiving corresponding benefits, and then will be seen the folly of our rejecting so great a prize. The government of San Domingo has voluntarily sought this annexation. It is a weak power, number-ed, therefore, that Congress authorize the aping probably less than one hundred and twenty thousand souls, and yet possessing one of the richest territories under the sun, capable of supporting a population of ten millions of people in luxury. The people of San Domingo are not capable of maintaining themselves in their present condition, and must look for outside support. They yearn for the protection of our free institutions and laws, our progress and civilization. Shall we refuse them? The acquisition of San Domingo is desirable because of its geographical position. It commands the entrance to the Caribbean Sea and the Isthmus transit of commerce. It possesses the richest soil, best and most capa-vention of 1818, between Great Britain and the cious harbors, most salubrious climate, and the most valuable products of the forest, mine, and soil of any of the West India Islands. Its possession by us will in a few years build up a coastwise commerce of immense magnitude, which will go far toward restoring to us our lost merchant marine. It will give to us those articles which we consume so largely and do not pro-years to give to intruding fishermen of the United duce, thus equalizing our exports and imports. In case of foreign war it will give us command of all the islands referred to, and thus prevent an enemy from ever again possessing himself of a rendezvous upon our very coast. At present our The course pursued by the Canadian authorities toward the fishermen of the United States during the past season has not been marked by a friendly feeling. By the first article of the con United States, it was agreed that the inhabitants of the United States should have forever, in common with British subjects, the right of taking fish in certain waters therein defined. In the waters not included in the limits named in the convention (within three miles of parts of the British coast) it has been the custom for many States a reasonable warning of their violation of the technical rights of Great Britain. The imperial government is understood to have delegated the whole or a share of its jurisdiction or control of these in-shore fishing-grounds to the colo nial authority known as the Dominion of Canada, and this semi-independent but irresponsible agent has exercised its delegated powers in an unfriendly way. Vessels have been seized without notice or warning, in violation of the custom previously prevailing, and have been taken into the colonial ports, their voyages broken up, and the vessels condemned. and of which only so much is asked as Congress may choose to give. The appropriation for the same works for the present fiscal year was $11,984,518 08. The average value of gold, as compared with national currency, for the whole of the year 1869 was about 134, and for eleven months of 1870 the same relative value has been about 115. The tax collected from the people has been reduced more than eighty million dollars per annum. The naval appropriations made for the last and current years were evidently intended by Congress, and are sufficient, only to keep the navy on its present footing, by the repairing and refitting of our old ships. This policy must, of course, gradually but surely destroy the navy, and it is in itself far from economical. It can hardly be wise statesmanship in a government which represents a country with over five thousand miles of coast line on both oceans, exclusive of Alaska, and containing forty millions of progressive people, with relations of every nature with almost every foreign country, to rest with such inadequate means of enforcing any foreign policy, either of protection or redress. The civil service reform is advocated. It should go beyond the mere fixing of the tenure of office of clerks and employés who do not require "the advice and consent of the Senate" to make their appointments complete. It should govern not the tenure, but the manner of making all appointments. There is no duty which so much embarrasses the executive and heads of A like unfriendly disposition has been manifested on the part of Canada in the maintenance of a claim of right to exclude the citizens of the United States from the navigation of the St. Lawrence. This river constitutes a natural outlet to the ocean for eight States, with an aggregate population of about 17,600,000 inhabitants, with an aggregate tonnage of 661,367 tons upon the waters which discharge into it. The foreign commerce of our ports on these waters is open to British competition, and the major part of it is done in British bottoms. If the American seamen be excluded from this natural avenue to the ocean, the monopoly of the direct commerce of the lake ports with the Atlantic would be in foreign hands, their vessels on transatlantic voyages having an access to our lake ports which would be denied to American vessels on similar voyages. To state such a proposition is to refute its justice. Our depressed commerce is a subject to which special attention was called at the last session, and it was then suggested that we would have to look more to the countries south of us and to China and Japan for its revival. Our representatives to all these governments have exerted their influence to encourage trade between the United States and the countries to which they are ac-departments as that of appointments; nor is credited. But the fact exists that the carrying is done almost entirely in foreign bottoms, and while this state of affairs exists we can not control our due share of the commerce of the world. That between the Pacific States and China and Japan is about all the carrying trade now conducted in American vessels. A liberal policy is recommended toward that line of American steamers; one that will insure its success, and even increased usefulness. The cost of building iron vessels, the only ones that can compete with foreign ships in the carrying trade, is so much greater in the United States than in foreign countries that without some assistance from the government they can not be successfully built here. There will be several propositions laid before Congress in the course of the present session looking to a remedy for this evil. Even if it should be at some cost to the national treasury, it is hoped that such encouragement will be given as will secure American shipping on the high seas and American ship-building at home. It is recommended to transfer from the Department of State to the Department of the Interior all powers and duties in relation to Territories; also the transfer from the Interior to the War Department the Pension Bureau, so far as it regulates the payment of soldiers' pensions, and to the Navy Department the payment of naval pensions. there any such arduous and thankless labor imposed on Senators and Representatives as that of finding places for constituents. The present system does not secure the best men, and often not even fit men, for public place. Reform in the management of Indian affairs has received the special attention of the administration from its inauguration to the present day. The experiment of making it a missionary work was tried with a few agencies, given to the denomination of Friends, and has been found to work most advantageously. All agencies and superintendencies not so disposed of were given to officers of the army. During the last fiscal year 8,095,413 acres of public land were disposed of. Of this quantity 3,698,910.05 acres were taken under the homestead law, and 2,159,515.81 sold for cash. The remainder was located with military warrants, college or Indian scrip, or applied in satisfaction of grants to railroads, or for other public uses. The entries under the homestead law during the last year covered 961,545 acres more than those during the preceding year. The opinion that the public lands should be regarded chiefly as a source of revenue is no longer maintained. The rapid settlement and successful cultivation of them are now justly considered of more importance to our well-being than is the fund which the sale of them would produce. The estimates for the expenses of the govern- In addition to the swamp and overflowed lands ment for the next fiscal year are $18,244,346 01 granted to the States in which they are situated, less than for the current one, but exceed the the lands taken under the agricultural college appropriations for the present year, for the same acts and for internal improvement purposes, unitems, $8,972,127 56. In this estimate, how-der the act of September, 1841, and the acts supever, is included $22,338,278 37 for public works plemental thereto, there had been conveyed, up heretofore begun under Congressional provision, to the close of the last fiscal year, by patent or other equivalent evidence of title, to States and corporations, 27,836,257.63 acres for railways, canals, and wagon-roads. It is estimated that an additional quantity of 174,735,523 acres is still due under grants for like uses. The postal expenditures during the last fiscal year were $25,436,698; the revenue amounted to $21,467,315, leaving a deficiency of $3,969,383. On the 15th the Lower House of the North Carolina Legislature formally impeached Governor Holden. During the year ending September 30, 1870, there were filed in the Patent-Office 19,411 ap- The Indian Council at Ocmulgee, Indian Terplications for patents, 3374 caveats, and 160 ap-ritory, was assembled on December 11. The chief plications for the extension of patents; 13,622 patents, including reissues and designs, were issued, 110 extended, and 1089 allowed, but not issued by reason of the non-payment of the final fees. The receipts of the office during the fiscal year were $136,304 29 in excess of its expendi tures. The work of the Census Bureau has heen energetically prosecuted. The preliminary report, containing much information of special value and interest, will be ready for delivery during the present session. During the last fiscal year the sum paid to pensioners, including the cost of disbursement, was $27,780,811 11, and 1758 bounty land warrants were issued. At its close 198,686 names were on the pension rolls. subject of debate was a scheme to organize a Territorial government embracing all the tribes. The plan is in conformity with all the laws of Congress since 1866, and contemplates the protection of the weak tribes against the strong, and is only to be executed with the consent of all. EUROPE. Out of the conflicting reports that have come to us during the month we gather a narrative very unfavorable to France. Near the close of November a combined effort was made for the liberation of Paris by General Trochu from within the city, and by the armies of the North and of the Loire. The Army of the North utterly failed in its movement, and was compelled to retreat. The Prussians occupied Amiens November 29. The same day General Ducrot, with an army (made up from Trochu's command) estimated at 100,000 strong, under cover of the forts southeast of Paris, crossed the river Marne and attacked the Prussians near L'Hay, and at Bonnueil, Champigny, and Villiers. The French obtained a temporary success, taking the positions attacked; but these were subsequently recovered by the Prussians, and General Ducrot recrossed the Marne. The Army of the Loire, under General De Paladines, also attacked the Prussians south of Paris, but the movement was badly managed, the French commander allow Among the bills and resolutions introduced in Congress the following are worthy of mention: In the Senate: a bill to authorize the election of a delegate from the Indian Territory; a bill to prevent assessments on government employés for political or other purposes-the penalty for violation to be dismissal from office and a fine not exceeding $1000; a bill to abolish the ranks of admiral and vice-admiral in the navy, after vacancies occur in the same, and to reduce the number of rear-admirals to three and of commodores to six, by omission to fill vacancies hereafter occurring; a resolution in favor of the re-ing his army to be beaten in detail. Prince moval of political disabilities; a resolution authorizing the President to appoint a commission to visit San Domingo to gather information relating to the island, and report the same to the President; resolutions (which were adopted) instituting searching investigations into the cost of collecting the customs revenue of the country, and the amount of money received and paid out at the several custom-houses. Frederick Charles reported 1000 French left dead on the battle-field, 4000 wounded, and 1600 prisoners. The German loss he reported as 1000. The Prussians followed up their victory, driving Paladines to the left bank of the Loire, and capturing Orleans after a severe battle near that place, in which the French lost seventy-seven cannon, 10,000 prisoners, and four gun-boats. The Prussian loss, from the 2d to the 4th, was 3200. During the same period the French lost 2000 killed and 1400 prisoners. King William, on the 13th, reported that after four days' fighting the French had retired to Blois and Tours, after severe loss. This movement led to the removal of the French government from Tours to Bordeaux. The North German Parliament was opened November 24. In the House: bills for the revival of navigation and the commercial interests of the country (one of these provides for the removal of all duties on materials used in building vessels for the foreign trade, and two others provide for the American registry of foreign vessels); a bill to abolish the franking privilege; a bill (which was passed) for the abolition of the ranks of admiral and Thionville was captured by the Prussians Novice-admiral in the navy; a resolution author-vember 24, and Phalsbourg December 13. izing the appointment of a commission to inquire into the expediency of negotiating for the acquisition of San Domingo; a resolution (adopted) advocating the abolition of the present revenue system as soon as consistent with the credit of the government; an amendment (which was passed 103 to 65) to the postal laws, abolishing the franking privilege; a bill to admit to American registry ships over two thousand tons burden, wherever built, and to admit free of duty shipbuilding materials for ships of over two thousand tons-the latter to be admitted to the coastingtrade, but not the former. In both Houses bills have been introduced providing for the abolition of the income tax. Count Von Bismarck, early in December, informed the Grand Duke of Luxembourg that he felt no longer bound to respect the neutrality of the Grand Duchy. His reason was that the Grand Duchy had forbidden the transit of wounded Germans through its territory, had suffered the revictualing of Thionville, and had omitted to stop French fugitives. On the 19th the King of Bavaria announced the concurrence of all the German princes and the Hanse Towns in bestowing upon King William of Prussia the imperial crown as Frederick William I., Emperor of Germany. A Editor's Drawer. LITTLE hilarity was enjoyed a few days ago at the Supreme Court, where Judge Brady was holding chambers. A prominent member of the bar, having occasion to make a motion, said: "Your Honor, I have a motion to make in a case where I have a little responsibility at stake." "Proceed," responded the Judge. "Perhaps I should have said, that I make the motion for the purpose of relieving myself from a little responsibility." "But," promptly replied the Judge, "why come here for that purpose when you must be familiar with the fact that there is a foundling hospital up town!" The point was quickly taken, and for a moment Court, counsel, bar, and audience "wreathed themselves in smiles," as it were. THE ingenious Yankee is endeavoring to inveigle the unsuspecting Briton, as we perceive by the following advertisement in a London paper: T SHORT PERSONS.-Any one (Male or Female) wishing to increase in Height and Symmetry of Figure, by means of a remarkable physiological discovery, may send a stamped directed envelope to Captain F. STAFFORD (U. S.), Church Terrace, Kentish Town, London, N.W. In professing to have found out how to add a cubit, or some portion of the cubit, to the stature, in spite of the Bible, Captain F. Stafford (U. S.) has certainly made a very remarkable physiological discovery; but why limit the advantages of it to short persons? Has he discovered something which will make short persons grow, but have no effect on tall persons? Why don't Captain F. S. (U. S.) propose to make a general average-grow them up all to about the same height? AN officer in the Treasury at Washington thus communicates: At the commencement of our recent "little dispute" I was residing in Washington, and witnessed, with others, the hasty return of most of our army from the first battle of Bull Run. All was excitement, and, for a few hours, complete demoralization. Every man had an awful tale to tell, and he told it. Among others was this, given by a colored teamster belonging to a Virginia regiment, to a large crowd in Willard's Hotel: guished widow came forward and said, “Wait a The corpse with care were borne away, -gle with its na-tive clay. THE result of taking a genial view of things generally, as it affects longevity, has a pleasant example in one Captain Morris, whose name is mentioned in a volume received by the last steamer. Many years since the Captain retired to a villa presented to him by his old friend the Duke of Norfolk. Here he "drank the pure pleasures of the rural life" long after many a bright light of his own time had flickered out, and become almost forgotten. He died in his ninety-third year. The good man presented a rare combination of mirth and prudence, such as human conduct seldom offers for imitation. He retained his gaieté de cœur to the last; so that with equal truth and spirit he remonstrated: When life charms my heart, must I kindly be told I'm too gay and too happy for one that's so old? UNWORTHY men will occasionally find their way into the ministry of every denomination. As a rule, however, their misdeeds are generally discovered. The following instance of impertinent clerical officiousness, promptly rebuked, comes to us from a Kansas correspondent: Old Dr. is a Kentuckian, fond of a cigar and a little game of cards. In his employ was a young man who, though professedly a Methodist, had so far backslidden as to play a little sometimes. The two were sitting in the house one rainy day having a game of euchre. The Rev. Mr. the resident Methodist minister, dropped in, and after glancing at the doctor's hand passed around behind the young man, took a seat, and quietly watched the game. The young man was about to play a certain card, when the minister whispered to him: "Don't play that; if you do you'll be euchred, sure." Whereupon the doctor, waxing irate, said: "See here, Mr., I ain't playing this game against the whole Methodist Conference. If the Conference wants to put up a V, I'll play them a rub." "De fust ting we know'd we see de sogers comin', and I should tink dar war millions on mill- This reverend brother was soon discovered to ions de cap'n ob de regiment sing'd out drap be a "mistake," and was deposed from the mindown dar! drap down dar!' but Lor'! 'twa'n'tistry. no use; de bung-shells come and took dar heads clear off! Dis chile tink him dead for suah, and in de confusement Massa Gibbon's mules got loose wid six niggers on 'em, and run smack and smoove into Massa Linkum's lines and captured ourselves!" Most of us have witnessed at funerals scenes that were any thing but funereal. A lady in Elmira mentions a touching instance of the proprieties in a good woman of that place at the funeral of her husband. Just before the sexton was about to screw down the coffin-lid the an AN enterprising and fair-dealing business man in Augusta, Maine, was lately met at the door of his grocery by an honest-looking Frenchman, an entire stranger to him, who asked credit for a barrel of flour. "I can pay half ze cash down and ze bal-ance next Saturday, sure." The merchant without hesitation turned to one of his clerks and, with a kindly smile upon the wouldbe owner of the barrel of flour, said: "This good man wants to get trusted for a barrel of flour; he'll pay half down and the rest next Saturday. I'll risk him; he's good as gold; open a fresh barrel, weigh out half, deliver it in good | I don't know what you think of this case, and I shape at his house, put the barrel away safely, don't care. Mr. Sheriff, take charge of the jury." and take it down next Saturday when he pays the balance; never refuse to trust an honest-look- AN English commercial traveler, in his jouring man for bread." It was done; the money neyings through that country, having a fancy for paid, and the French gentleman departed rejoic-visiting church-yards and quaint old churches, ing in an abundance of flour and unlimited (?) credit. A READY, though perhaps for the moment an unpleasant, mode of payment for live stock comes to the Drawer from Buffalo: A farmer residing in Erie County sold a pair of steers to an Indian named John Smoke, residing on the Indian Reservation near Buffalo, who was to pay for them if they suited. After waiting what he thought was time enough, he went to Smoke and said, "Now, John, it's time those steers were paid for; you must either pay me now, return them, or take an infernal licking." The Indian, with characteristic stolidity of countenance, replied, after thinking a moment: "Y-e-s-I guess that's best way to settle it!" WHEN one writes invitations to dinner one should be careful of one's phraseology. We hear of an instance where a giver of nice dinners appended to his invitation the cautionary postscript: "Come at seven, go at eleven." But one of the invited desiring to have what is sometimes described as a "bender," and noticing rather a wide space between the "go," and the "at," carefully inserted between them the little monosyllable it. Coming in in high spirits our young friend expressed thanks to the host for the jolly sort of invitation he had received. On the host's attention being directed to it he perceived, to his astonishment, that it read, "Come at seven, go it at eleven!" It is understood that at the hour named they went it. SOME years ago there was stationed in Canaan, New Hampshire, a somewhat eccentric Methodist preacher, known as "Happy John"-a zealous, devout man, who had one little failing: when preaching he took no note of time, and would frequently break off the thread of his discourse to allude to any thing that at the moment might particularly attract his attention. On one occasion, when walking up and down the aisles between the services, exhorting, he noticed one of the leading members of the congregation quietly seated in a pew cleaning his nails with a penknife. The sight was annoying to "Happy John," who frequently cast his eyes toward the brother. At last, unable to endure it longer, he called out from across the house: "Brother Johnson, for goodness sake put up that knife, and attend to these souls!" has jotted down and put into a neat little volume a few of the curious epitaphs that have fallen under his notice. We quote six or seven: In Chichester Cathedral yard, on a child aged fifteen months: He woke, and took life's cup to sip; In Aston church-yard, Birmingham, sacred to the memory of John Dowler: My Sledge and Hammer lie reclined, In Illington church-yard, Warwickshire, in memory of William Treen: Poorly Lived, and Poorly Dyed, READER with kind regard this GRAVE survey, In Highgate cemetery, London, the private sleeping-chamber of Richard Hislop, Islington: Life's like a Winter's Day, Some only Breakfast and away; Others to Dinner stay, and are full fed; In Bridport church-yard, Dorset, on a child aged five years: A highly favored probationer, This world's a City full of crooked streets, In Milbrook church-yard, near Southampton, on Eliza Newman, died 1772: Like a tender Rose Tree was my spouse to me; THE anecdote of Judge Chase, of Vermont-I stay with the 3 Our sorrows for to mix, A GENTLEMAN in Alabama writes the Drawer that recently, in his town, a young man was being examined by the trustees of the township for the position of school-teacher. One of these officials asked the question : 66 'Mr. E- do you teach that the world is round, or flat?" "Why, Sir," replied the aspirant, some peo |