Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

228 LITERARY. WILLIAM W. MANN, Editor. SATURDAY, DEC. 10, 1859. TRAVELING AGENT. Jobs L. Stockton, of this city, is General Traveling Agent for the Fikld and Fikesipr, and the Constitu tionalist. ■♦*» NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS. We do not send receipts by mail for subscriptions re mitted. The receipt of Tn* Soutbekn Field and Fikbsidb, after the money is remitted, will be e dence to each subscriber that his money has been re ceived and his name duly entered on the mail boot. . BACK NUMBERS. Persons subscribing to the Field and Fireside can be supplied with all the back numbers. It affords us much pleasure to announce that in January, or early in February, we shall commence the publication in The Southern Field and Fireside of a series of articles from the brilliant and able pen of Prof. J. H. Ingra ham, author of “ The Prince of the House of Da vid," “ The Pillar of Fire," and of numerous works of Fiction in early life, which have given him rank among the most admired and popular writers of this country. TO CORREBPONDENS AND CONTRIBUTORS. We have to acknowledge the reception of the following articles, prose and poetry, during the week: The Proper Training of Woman —by E. C. B; The Rain-Drops —by M. E. M. Three Articles from Yir. Our “ Mammy”—by Laura Lincoln. December —by Abraham Goosequill. A communication from an “ Old Maid.” Wooing and Winning—by L’lnconnue. “Weep on,” by Louise Belmont, is, we are sorry to say, inadmissible The second article from the same pen, is accepted. Would our fair correspondent know why we decline her lines entitled “Weep On?” Wo will tell her. It is for her utter contempt of the rules of versifica tion. She offers the twenty-nine lines as blank verse; but only six of the twenty-nine lines con sist of the ten syllables, which, if Sbakspeare, Milton, Young and Pollock knew anything about it, the composition of blank verse requires. We have taken the trouble to make the follow ing calculation: One of tho linos is of four syl lables, two of six, one of seven, twelve of eight, two of nine, six of ten, two of eleven, and three of twelve. Can our correspondent show any respectable precedent for this contempt of rule ? Has it any excuse, but in unwarrantable poetic license ? If it have, we would like to see it. Does our correspondent wish to institute a new style of verse ? If so, she must seek some other organ than The Field and Fireside. We make no pretension to the authority in lite rature that would enable us, without ridicule, to support or connive at so high-handed an innova tion. There is a sad want of euphony, too, in the lines before us. Our correspondent has a very uncultivated ear for blank verse. We re commend to her the reading of Milton and Shaks peare aloud. We are obliged to C. D., of Jacksonville, Fla., for his offer of correspondence, hut the restricted limits of our paper will not admit of its accep tance. The long Report with which he has fa vored us is not exactly of a character appro priate to our columns, the Fieed and Fireside not being specially a Religious journal. >«i NEW PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. Messrs. Richards <fe Son have kindly laid upon our table copies of the following new works—all from the press of the Harpers, of New York. The Queen of Hearts —by Wilkie Collins, author of “ The Dead Secret,” “ After Dark,” Ac., Ac. Preachers and Preaching, by Rev. Nicholas Murray, D. D., author of “ Kirwan’s Letters to Bishop Hughes,” “ Romanism at Horae,” “ Men and Things in Europe,” Parish and other Pencil ings,” “ The Happy Heme,” Ac. Handie; Stories of Rainbow and Lucky, by Ja cob Abbott—a pretty book for Christmas pres ents to children, illustrated with seven hand some engravings. We find also upon our table (obligingly placed there by the author) “ A Practical Grammar," based upon the structure of the language, with Progressive Exercises in which words, phrases and sentences are classified according to their relation to each other, adapted carefully to the use of schools and private students, by P. F. Lamar." Published by J. 11. Christy, Athens, Ga. This grammar, the author says, is distinguished by its opposition to “ those prin ciples of Murray’s grammar, intended by him to be thoroughly memorized before commencing the study of Syntax.” To Murray’s Syntax Mr. Lamar does not object. We really have not been able to judge, by careful examination, of the merits of this work and must, therefore, refer readers to the advertisement, with recommenda tions, which will be found on our fourth page. We thank the State-Registrar Robt. W. Gibbes, Jr., M. D., for a copy of The Fifth An nual Report to the Legislature of South Caroli na, relating to the Registry and Returns of Births, Marriages and Deaths in the State for the year ending December 31,1858. This is an interesting document, which we are glad to have O i our shelf and will take occasion soon to refer to. We acknowledge also the reception of The Southern Episcopalian of Charleston: Rev. C. P. Gadsden and J. 11. Elliott; —Russell’s Maga zine for December; The Little Pilgrim for De cember, a Children’s Monthly, by “ Grace Green wood,” of Philadelphia. This is a delightful publication, (only 60 cents per annum.) The present number contains an illustrated Southern story for children—“ Little Hobby Bun"; The Chicago Medical Examiner for January: N. S. Davis, M. D. and E. A. Steele, M. D., Editors. XR£ SOUSBHEKII BXELB AND FIBJ6BXH*. OUR PARIS CORRESPONDENCE. Paris, November 17, 1859. A week ago yesterday, just while your cor respondent was making up liis little report on the affairs of Europe, the plenipotentiaries of three of its Powers were signing the treaties of Zurich, —or on their wav, escorted by Swiss dig nitaries and soldiers through a crowd of spectators becomingly agape, to the Hotel de Ville of that town,' where at last, with considerable attendant pomp, they set down their names. The first of the treaties, as you know, is between Austria and France, and stipulates the cession of a part of Lombardy to France and its conditions; the second, between France and Sardinia, cedes this province with the same conditions to Sardinia; the third concludes peace among all the parties. The various clauses of these treaties are but the filling out of the preliminaries of Yillafranca.— A circular, addressed by the French minister of Foreign Affairs to the Emperor’s diplomatic agents, purporting to explain the treaties and their bearing on the Italian Question, is given to the public in the Moniteur. It is chiefly inter esting as an official representation of the policy Napoleon intends to pursue, toward Italy and Europe, for the settlement of this Question. It is the policy indicated in the famous September note in the Moniteur and in the recent letter to Victor Emmanuel. “ The two Emperors have agreed by treaty to unite their efforts to obtain from the Pope a system of government answer ing to the wants of the population.” Now read this perfectly clear sentence often and thoughtfully, and you cannot tell what it means. And so it is with most of the explanatory part of M. Walewski’s circular —clear in style and diplomatically indefinite. “A government an swering to the wants of the people 1” Nothing could be better than that in the way of “ brave words.” But the inquisitive reader is curious to know what forms such a government will be ex pressed by;—considering that it is to bo asked for by the Emperor of Austria and Louis Napo leon from the Pope, his curiosity increases. M. Walewski docs not fully gratify it in another passage by saying that “ the Emperor is assured that the holy father only awaits the opportune moment to make known the reforms which he intends to grant to his States, the effect of which will be, by securing to the country a generally lay administration, to secure a better distribu tion of justice and a control of the finances by means of an elective assembly.” All this clear ly indefinite talk about reforms in the Papal States is, however, in one respect highly signi ficant. .It is the reply to and the refutation of the arguments and violent assertions of certain of the bishops and other leaders of the ultra church party in France, who maintain that the Papal government has no faults, in the first place, and that they must not be interfered with by outside powers, in the second place. Re garded from the point of view of French do mestic politics, it defines Napoleon’s position toward the clerical party, and must persuade them that he intends to hold it. Their manifes tation has proved a failure, thanks to his cool ness and prudence and to their own extrava gance. It must be homo in mind, to be sure, that, although it was led on by a few able and influential men and supported more or less bold ly by some journals, that the majority even of the bishops and lower clergy took nono or only a lukewarm part in it; it had but little effect on the mass of the religious population. For it is on the majority and the mass that Louis Napo leon has been working the last ten years. Noth ing is better worth noticing than this, liis con stant policy of making liimself independent of leaders by seeking support from the people.— There is hardly a parish church in France that has not been repaired at government expense or received a present of an altar cloth or a picture from the Emperor since 1851; and every parish priest who received from his bishop one of those political pastorals, which were so much talked of a few weeks ago, if his innocent sense were acute enough to seize their allusions to a back sliding Emperor, had only to step over to the mairie to read in the government journal, posted on the official walls, all those expressions of profound respect for the church and its head, in which the government journal abounds. The political bishops could not be directly prevented from, nor punished for, issuing their protests, cir culars, pastorals, or by whatever other name they chose to style their “political articles.” Nor if they could have been legally punished, would they have been. No danger that so shrewd a man as his majesty would commit the blunder of persecuting them. But with the newspapers it was different. For them there is the “organic law on the press,” the application of whose se verely repressive provisions has been in nine cases out of ten too agreeable to this very retro gade church party, that they can complain with a good grace of its excessively disagreeable ap plication in the tenth case. A month ago all newspapers were “invited” not to print any more of the Episcopal letters. Now an “ invi tation” addressed to a French editor is much the same thing as your invitation to Sambo to brush your boots. Theoretically the editor, like Sam bo, may refuse, but practically—the likeness holds. That measure went far to check the pop ularising of the Episcopal views. But some few newspapers, organs of Romanist and legitimist partizan zeal, ventured to print similar views, though in more moderate language and general ly under more thickly veiled allusions. The con sequence is, that within a mouth half a dozen of those newspapers have been “warned.” A warning, as some of your readers are pos sibly not aware, is a decree issued by the Min ister of the Interior, or by an officer acting with his approval, in winch the journalist’s article containing an offence against the law on the press is alluded to, its statements denied, and its sentiments reproved. The offending editor is ob liged to publish this decree at the head of his first column, to carry his own disgrace to his own sub scribers. If he be foolhardy enough to criti cise, qualify, or complain of the decree and its preamble, he directly receives a second decree. Any offence after that—and a man may commit one, sometimes, quite unintentionally, so inge niusly wide-spreading and trap-like are the clauses of the press law—may be followed by suspension of the journal, which is nearly as good as hanging or death itself. Hence, this sort of penal decree is termed a warning—one to begin, two to show, and three to go out of existence. I make no apology for what may seem, at first glance, a digression; a second will make plain to every intelligent eye the intimate connection between it and so much of M. Walewski’s cir cular as treats of the Roman question. Now, the Roman question is the knot of the Italian question. It always has been, and, I fear, is for yet a long time to be the knot. A very general opinion is, that the imperial scheme of an Italian Confederation only tangles it the more. My own poor opinion, trying to regard it favorably, is that, at best, it is only a temporary loosening. And the man who seemed most like and most fit to cut it, Garibaldi, has, they say, retired from his post at the head of the army of the league. This is tho saddest news that has come up to us from Italy in all this week of bad news. When I last wrote, I spoke of the election of Prince Eugene de Savoi Carignan by unani mous vote of the Assemblies of the three- Duchies, and of Romagna, as common regent of all Central Italy. Sharing the general thought and liberal hope liere and in Italy, I expressed a confident opinion that he would accept the office. The question whether Victor Emmanuel should approve, that is to say permit, his accep tance. was anxiously and long debated at Turin, in a Council, of which Cavour, d’Azeglio, and Buoncampagni, and other Piedmontese states men. as well as the Ministers of the Crown, took part, and at last decided in the affirmative. But then, and just before the delegates of the As semblies were to have their interview with the Prince, came urgent opposing representations from France. Now came the interview. The Prince, in a brief address to the delegates, nei ther accepted nor refused, and both accepted and refused, the proffered office. He declined, lor reasons of state and propriety, the office for himself, blit “ designated” Buoncampagni to the delegates as a proper person to fill it. But the election was by the Assemblies. Tliey elected the Prince, and no one else. The delegates were mere reporters of their vote. Yet the Prince effectively appoints Buoncompagni as his substitute, and furnishes him with a written mandat to fill, and hoiv to fill, the office transfer red to him. Let me say, before going further, that the limits to which your European correspondence is properly confined, not admitting long quota tions from documents, whatever their' impor tance, I am forced to present them in the shape, not of verbal, but of concentrated extracts. In the above ten lines I have endeavored to repro duce the essence of three or four documents, which, as a perusal of your European files will convince you, are not less singular and seeming ly self-contradictory in extenso than in my essen tial extracts of them. This curious arrangement of the affair appears to have been regarded at Turin as it was here, as an inglorious turning of the difficulty, recon ciling the requirements of France with the re quirements ol Central Italy. Come to think of it, the regency of Victor Emmanuel's own cousin, on the eve of the meeting of the Congress, was a sort of indelicacy; the substantial advantages to be derived from a regency (the advantages to the Duchies and Romagna of a united strong bead, to Piedmont of bringing the hoped-for an nexation so much nearer to a fait accompli) were hardly diminished by substituting Buon campagni, an eminent statesman of the mode rate liberal party, and above all, a Piedmontese statesman. Again came urgent opposing repre sentations from France, and Buoncompagni’s en try upon his functions is “ adjourned.” The reason given by the French court for this inter ference in the affairs of Italy is, that nothing must be done to prejudge, anticipate, or c'og the action of the Congress to whose deliberations the two emperors have agreed to submit them as they are. The real rea«on, of course, is, that the French court, viledicet Louis Napoleon, ob jects to the raising of any more fails accomplis in the way of his favorite scheme of confederation. One very ugly one has already been raised. He has not been able to prevent the union of Par ma, Modena, and the Romagna under one chief, who would have immediately resigned his pow ers into the hands of the Regent, had the Prince of Savoy been suffered to accept the office. In the minds of the It alians, the purpose of this triple junction was to bo more effectively carried out by the quadruple junction under a Regent, was to present to tho Congress a common cause, putting the Romagna on the same footing as one one of the Duchies. The two emperors have invited Russia, Prus sia, England, Spain, Portugal, Swedeu, to send delegates to a Congress for considering the Zurich treaties, and deliberating on pending questions. To the representatives of these pow ers and of France and Austria, are to be added those of Naples, Rome, and Sardinia. Whether the votes of the three last named are to count the same as those of the eight powers who sign ed the general treaty of Vienna in 1815, we are not informed by M. Walewski, or any other offi cial authority. Neither are we informed whether, among the pending questions, a revis ion of the Viennese treaties of 1815, the Turk ish question and the Isthmus of Suez question are to enter. It is reported that England has already accepted the invitation to the Congress. I am inclined to think the report premature. That she will accept it, I do not doubt. There has been, of late, a great degree of news paper irritation displayed on both sides of the channel. So violent, indeed, has it become, that timid persons who confound editors with minis ters, fear that it is the prelude to a war between France and England. Ido not share the fear. At the same time, it must be admitted that the causes of dissension are much graver to-day, than those growing out of Orsini’s attempt on Napoleon’s life, over which French and English editors became so excited two years ago. Eng land will not fight for Italian liberty, nor against the Isthmus of Suez — Le jeu ne vaut pas la chan delle. —»»t —i NEW BOOKS. The Christ-Bearcr, or the Hermit of the Ford. By Harriet C. Hunt. New York; Gcn’l ProL Ep. Sunday School Union, and Ch. Book Soc. The Great Tribulation, or Things Coming on Earth. By the Eev. John Gumming, D. D, F. It. 8. E., Minister of the Scottish National Church, Crown Court, Covent Garden. First Scries. New York:-Eudd & Carlcton. Sermons. By Bichard Fuller, D. D., of Baltimore. New York: Sheldon* Co. Boston: Gould & Linooln. Life of Andrew Jackson. In three volumes. By James Parton, author of ‘-Life of Aaron Burr,” “Hu morous Poetry of the English Language,” etc. Motto— Desperate Courage makes one a Majority. Volume first. New York: Mason Brothers. History of Independence Hall, from the Earliest Period to the Present Time. Embracing Biographies of tho Immortal Signers of tho Sacred Belies preserved in that Sanctuary of .American Freedom. By D. W. Belisle. Philadelphia: James Challen * Son. History of the Four Georges, Kings of England; con taining Personal Incidents of their Lives, Public Events of their Eeigns, and Biographical Notices of their Chief Ministers, Courtiers and Favorites. By Samuel Smueker, L.L.D., author of “Court and Beign of Catharine II.,” “Memorable Scenes in French History,” “Life and Times of Alexander Hamilton,” etc. New York: D. Appleton A Co. Bemlniscenccs of Bufus Choate, the Great American Advocate. By Edward G. Parker. New York: Mason Brothers. Self-Education, or tho Means and Art of Moral Pro gress. From the French of Baron Degerando. By Eliz abeth P. Peabody. T. 0. H. P. Burnham, Boston. The Logic of Political Economy, and Other Papers. By Thomas De Qulncey, the Opium-Eater. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. The AVavcrley Gallery. Being a Series of Engraved Illustrations of Female Portraits in Sir Walter Scott’s Bomanccs. With thirty-six steel engravings; with des criptive text New York: D. Appleton & Co. Wild Southern Scenes, a Tale of Disunion and Border War. By J. B. Jones, author of “Wlid Western Scenes,” “War Path,”eta Philadelphia: T. B. Peterson & Bros. True Womanhood. A Tale. By John Neal. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. Carolina Sports, by Land and Water; including Inci dents of Devil-Fishing. Wild-Cat, Deer and Bear-Hunt ing, eta By Hon. William Elliott, of South Carolina. With six illustrations. New York: Derby <fe Jackson. Avolio, A Legend’of the Island of Cos. With Poems, Lyrical, Miscellaneous, and Dramatla By Paul H. Hayne. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. [For the Southern Field and Fireside.] POPULAR ASTRONOMY-NO. 2- The Solar System. —To one who, uninstruct ed in the science of Astronomy, looks up at the spangled heavens, there appears a confused as semblage of stars but slightly varying in size and brilliancy, and seemingly at about the same dis tance from the beholder. Whereas, on better examination, they will appear in clusters, which are called constellations, which, after a little fa miliarity with them become as distinctly appa rent as the states and counties on a common school atlas The lines indeed will be wanting, but the conformations will be easily seen. The color of the stars, too, is variant: some are ruddy, some yellow, some blue, whilst others reveal themselves in purest white. A few also are quite near, whilst others in untold millions in the heights and depths of space, are at such distances that the science of numbers fails to calculate them, or at least human intellect fails in the application. It is with those which are near that we have at present to do. Amidst the numberless orbs which wheel through the vast expanse, is an assemblage known as the “Solar System,” of which our earth forms a component part. The Solar Sys tem is so called from the latin word Sol, the sun, which is the central and controlling member of the system. It consists of this grand luminary, and eight planets, named in the order of distan ces from the Sun; Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. Between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, area number of smaller bodies called asteroids, or more properly planetoids, supposed by some to be the fragments of a planet which once occupied that region of the heavens. All these revolve around the sun, at different distances, and with different degrees of velocity, the speed diminishing as the dis tance increases. Each has its own orbit or path, and all the orbits are confined to a narrow space around the concave heavens, called the Zodiac. By the Zodiac, it may be necessary to explain, is meant a zone or belt 160 deg. in width, running around the heavens; in some parts passing nearly over head, and in other parts declining farther to the South. The Zodiacal belt is formed by a series of twelve constellations, known as Aries, the ltam; Paurus, the Bull, Ac. (see any almanac.) Through these “signs,” or more plainly betweeu us and them, all the planets pass in going round their orbits ; and as already stated, the sun also ap pears to pass through them, as the earth moves in its annual journey. The sun is really station ary with respect to the planets, though it appears to go around the earth every day, and through the “ signs ” once a year. But this appearance, as will be better understood in the sequel, is the result of the earth’s revolution on its axis, and in its orbit; the first producing the phenomena of day and night, and the second making the sun seem to occupy different places along the line of the Zodiac, and to be alternately depress ed or elevated in the heavens at different sea sons. To understand more readily this matter of the Zodiac, let the reader, if he has one, consult an astronomical chart. Standing with his face to the South, let him hold the chart over head, pointing with the bottom in the same direction. He will thus see the Zodiac delinea ted in away that will' give a good idea of its position in the heavens. Or if he will get some friend to point out its actual place and show him a few of the constellations, it may answer a bet ter purpose. Perhaps we cannot find a better place than the present, before entering into par ticulars respecting the movements of the hea venly bodies, to introduce a few remarks on certain properties of matter, viz : Inertia and Attraction. By the Inertia of matter is meant its inability to put itself in motion, and its inability to stop it self when in motion. Some force must be ap plied to start it, and some resistance must be of fered to stop it. In the absence of the force in the first case, it would remain still forever, and without resistance; in the second case, it would go on to all eternity. Since then the Planets which are inert matter, are found to be in state of motion, we must suppose that there is some force exerted upon them to drive or pull them along. And since such is the character of their motion that they are confined within cer tain limits, we in like manner conclude that some resisting or restraining force is exerted upon them. These mysterious forces acting thus in opposition to each other, and yet combining to produce the effect of Planetary motion, are known by the name of Attraction. And as this cannot exist of itself, nor operate of itself, there must be a Self-existent and Intelligent Pow er to produce, direct, and operate through it, just as a stone, attached to a string, and whirled around a boy’s head, is entirely dependent upon the brain and muscle—the intellect and physical power of the boy. If the boy wishes to stop the power, the motion ceases; and this, without urging the analogy too far, is precisely illustra tive of the centrifugal, and centripetal forces, which produce the phenomenon of motion among the planetary, and probably the stellar bodies. The analogy though, we repeat, is not to be pressed too far ; for the boy being a crea ture, is himself subject to conditions. The Great First Cause is self existent, and independent of conditions. But let us pause, lest we get into the deep waters of moral metaphysics. In our next, we will take up in detail some of the members of the Solar System. Lamkin. —Tiie Publishers, Harper.— The family ori ginally came from England and settled on Long Island, near the village of Newton. The father and mother became the followers of John Wes ley, and we believe that a majority if not all the present members of the firm belong to the Meth odist Church, and have pews in St. Paul’s new marble Methodist edifice, in Fourth Avenue.— The Senior, James Harper, ex-Mayor of the city of New York, is fond of a good joke, and enlivens the company he may associate with by relating many a laugh provoking anecdote. John, the next oldest, is an excellent man, with a clear head, active habits and great business tact. Fletcher, the third brother, is a kind hearted, pleasant and agreeable man ; also laughs heartily at a good joke, and is, when not absent in Europe on business, the talking man of the concern, with authors, idlers and out siders in general. Wesley, the fourth, we be lieve, is the youngest of the brothers. He is the local and active business man of the firm, under whose supervision all the various mechanical operations of the house are carried on. Ho is quick, industrious and of few words, but has a mind that is as keen as a briar. The “ quarto ” of brothers deserve great credit for their suc cess. They commenced in humble but respect able spheres the eldest as a printer; and James, the eldest, we are told, in his younger life, worked many a day pulling at a hand-press in a job-printing office. From printers they got to be publishers, and have arrived at the head of their business.— [Richmond Enquirer. — Don’t fret over what you can't help, and don’t fret over what you can help; therefore, don’t fret at all. ’ Thompson* and Quin. —Thompson, the poet, when he first came to London, was in very nar row circumstadces, and was many times put to his shifts even for a dinner. Upon the publica tion of his Seasons, one of his creditors arrested him, thinking that a proper way to get his mon ey. The report of this misfortune reached the ears of Quin, who lrad read the Seasons, but never seen their author: and ho was told Thompson was in a sponging-liouse in Holbom. Thither Quin went, and, being admitted into his chamber, “Sir,” said he, “you don’t know me, but my name is Quin.” Thompson said, that though he could not boast of the honor of a personal ac quaintance, he was no stranger either to his name or merit, and invited him to sit down. Quin then told him he was come to sup with him, and that he had already ordered the cook to provide supper, which he hoped he would ex cuse. When supper was over, and the glass had gone briskly about, Mr. Quin told him it was “ now time to enter upon business.” Thompson de clared he was ready to servo him as far as his capacity would reach, in anything he could com mand (thinking he was come about some affair relating to the drama). “ Sir,” said Quin, “you mistake mo ;lam in your debt. I owe you a hundred pounds, and I am come to pay you.” Thompson, with a disconsolate air, replied that, as he was a gentleman whom he had never offended, he wondered he should seek an oppor tunity to trifle with his misfortunes. “No,” said Quiu, raising his voice, “I say I owe you a hundred pounds, and there it is and, suiting the action to the word, immediately laid a bank note of that value before him. Thompson, astonished, begged he would ex plain himself. “ Why,” said Quin, “ I will tell you. Soon af ter I read your Seasons, I took it into my head that, as 1 had something to leave behind me when I died, I would make my will. Among the rest of my legatees, I set down the author of the Seasons for a hundred pounds; and this day hearing that you were in this house, I thought I might as well have the pleasure of paying the money myself as order my executors to pay it, when perhaps you might have less need of it; and this, Mr. Thompson, is my business.” — Our Minister at Pekin. —The Hungarian's mails bring us full details of the doings at Pe kin of our Minister to China, Mr. Ward. He was well treated at the Imperial city, but failed to obtain an interview with the Emperor, owing to his refusal to submit to certain required forms of courtly etiquette. The Chinese authorities made considerable concessions on this point, but politely insisted that Mr. Ward should either kneel on presentation to tho Emperor or should touch the floor with his finger. A ludicrous compromise was proposed, by which Mr. Ward, on approaching the throne, should bow low, and then two chamberlains should lift him up with the exclamation “ don’t kneel” The Em peror and his council, however, declined to ac cept this ingenious compromise, and so Mr. Ward left without seeing the Emperor. He of fered, however to make nine low bows, and it is difficult to see how his personal or official ca pacity would have been more seriously compro mised by once touching the ground with his fin ger, as the Emperor required, than by making this protracted obeisance. The venerable prime minister with whom Mr. Ward conferred, and who rejoices in the eupho nious appellation Kweiliang, received the Amer ican embassy with great courtesy, argued the eti quette question with considerable logical force, and declared that were he a Commissioner to tins country he should not object to treat the President with the same deference he does his Emperor, and would even burn incense before him if etiquette required. He considered that, when it was customary to kneel before the Queen of England or kiss the Pope’s big toe, no offence could be taken at the ceremonies that the Amer ican minister was requested to observe before his Imperial master. Mr. Ward thought differ ently ; and thus President Buchanan’s letter was not given by our Minister to the Emperor of China, but was confided to the courteous Kweil iang, who received it with great respect The treaty was then formerly ratified by tho Com missioners. A letter dated Canton, Sept. 10th, says that Mr. Ward had returned to Shanghai. 1 - The Jewish merchants of Cincinnati have held a public meeting to consider the Sabbath ques tion, and resolved to close their places of busi ness on Sundujf OBITUARY. The instinct of natural affection, which leads us to place the monumental marble over the graves of de pared friends, often prompts the desire of sketching those living virtues which drew forth our admiration ana esteem. When, too, those who die, have lived by faith in the Son of God, adorned with the graces of the Spirit, a sanctified wish arises to record the testimony for tho benefit of the living, and to the glory of God. With these mingled feelings, the writer would lay before the world a brief memorial of Mrs. (.’arouse Elizabeth Smelt, wife of W. I*. Campbell, Esq., who, In the 89th year of herage, after a brief Illness, on the 22d of Octo ber last, sweetly fell asleep in Jesus. The name which has just been penned will recall to many readers a precious little volume, the Memoirs of Caroline Elisabeth Smelt, written forty years ago by Dr. Moses Waddell, and which has been largely blessed both in this country and in England, in bringing many to the feet of the Saviour. It was for many years a pop ular book in our Sabbath-school libraries, but is now, to a great extent, displaced by the more modern publica tions of a prolific press. This passing reference may be useful in again introducing it to public notice. Mrs. Campbell was the daughter of the Cornelia Walker, so beautifully styled in that simple narrative, “the sister-cousin” of Caroline. The unusual affection between the two, which death itself could not extin guish, was signalized in the name given to the infant daughter born in (820, about three years after the de cease of her Christian namesake. Her character in child hood was gently moulded under the influence of a pious mother, and that of Mrs. Smelt, an eminent saint, who received to her bosom with a certain kind of adopting love, the child whose name was a continual memorial of her own departed one. In the spring of 1838, when about eighteen years of age, Mrs. Campbell became the subject of renewing grace; and after a short but violent struggle, took Jesus as her Saviour, and was united by public profession of her faith with tho Presbyterian church in Mobile. With what Christian propriety she fulfilled the duties of a daughter, sister, wile nnd mother, can only be known in that inner little world where these sweet relations were sustained. The desolate homes of a father and a husband remain to testify the greatness of her worth in the depth of their loss. Modest and retir ing in disposition, domestic in all her habits—ever shrinking from public observation, and reserved in tho expressions of her love to those she loved most, only few can know the strength of her natural character, the firmness of her principles, the constancy of her affections, and the self-sacrificing devotion with which all her trusts were discharged. Punctual in ail her public and private duties of the Christian, she was gradually and certainly rijiening for that great change which has now introduced her into the society of heaven. Beloved as only such a one can be loved in the sanctuary of her home, in the wider circle of earthly friendship, not a single word can be treasured against her, such ns the foolish woman ut ters—the bitter words of " the whisperer which separate chief friends.” The happy family is now broken—she has gonoto join her two babes, and with them to look upon the face of God’s throne; while seven children remain with a sor rowing husband to embalm her memory in their hearts, and to shed tears of sodnesß and of resignation over her early grave. “ Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of his saints!” and precious legacy to the bereaved and sorrow ing Is tho memory of their life.—[Arte Orleans True Witness.