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should not have affected our respectability as it did. The absorption of the church by them—the unremitting attention required of the pastors to all their demands, whether reasonable or otherwise, and the prominence which their numbers and demonstrative mode of worship gave us in the city, placed us in a false light before the community. This you know, and, if I mistake not, with so unfortunate an evil your progressive spir it inolined to contend when you were here. The evil has been removed and our ad vancement is very perceptible. With God’s blessing it is destined to be unprecedentedly glorious. This is my humble judgment. We have just organized a good choir and introduced an organ in Trinity. Capt. Chichester, a man of piety, is the leader. We have no operatic or new fangled music and do not intend to tolerate it. Our ob ject is to make sacred music as acceptable and congregational singing as much admir ed, at least, as the quartette and highfalutin performances which are turning the heads of the young and giddy from and not to the spirituality and solemnity of God’s worship. By fur the best church music I heard last summer whilst at the North, was at Henry Ward Beecher’s Church, where a melodeou was played, and a stiong choir led off in the good old, soul-stirring, time-honored, and God-blessed songs of Ziou, whilst the vast assemblage standing, thundered forth, from the preacher down to the sexton and from the lowest floor to the second tier of galle ries, the high praises of God. Yours, die , E. J. Meynardie. LETTER PROM PRANCE. An express train from Paris to Lyons will convey you in teD hours 800 miles through a picturesque and interesting portion of Franco. On this route, the soil is much better, and in a higher state of cultivation than between Brest and Paris. I have seen nothing in France to compare with the bar renness of poverty-stricken Brittany. A traveler looks in vain for neat and comfoi ta ble farm-houses. The frequent wars in France made it necessary in the early set tlement of the country for the inhabitants to live in villages. The French are famous for clinging to old habits. The farmers live in low houses; the stables, cow-stalls and pig-pens all un der the same enclosure. Instead of a neat flower-garden, a huge mass of manure is piled up in front of the door. The people generally look cheerless and com tortless as if they found it hard work to keep soul and body together. As you approach a town, avenues of majestic poplars line the splendid macadamised roads on each side, and you are prepared to find stately mansions—but when you look at these trees, nearly a cen tury old, rising more than a hundred feet iu the air, and then see the little squalid houses ten to twenty feet high, surrounded by scrubby weeping-willows —it looks like descending from the sublime to the ridicu lous. On our route we passthrough Burgundy and Champagne, the celebrated wine districts of France. Near Dijon begins a chain of hills, averaging about 1,000 feet in height. These are covered with vineyards which ascend in rows on the sunny sides of the hills, and spread along the table-land on the summit. The vines are planted in trenches two feet apart and are trained on poles three to four feet high. It is said the quality of the grape improves with the age of the vine. The young vines produce larger quantities, but of inferior quality. An acre of ground will yield about 400 gallons of wine. Po tatoes, clover, grass and maize are inter spersed with the vineyards, and the cherry, prune and almond and walnut trees are dot ted over the fields. For the red wine, grapes are thrown into troughs and are trodden down by men and women with heavy wooden shoes till the grapes are broken. They are then transfer red to vats into which the juice of the grape as it ran from the treading had been con veyed. Fermentation takes place generally in a few days. As it slackens, the liquor begins to subside, and finally sinks within the top of the vat. The stalks and skin of the grape float on the top. The wine is then drawn off into larger hogsheads and barrels, but is not generally offered for sale until it is two or three years old. The champagne wine is made from a. small but extremely sweet grape. The pre paration is much more difficult and expen sive than that of the ordinary wines. Af ter the champagne is bottled, a second fer mentation is produced by putting into each bottle a small glass of sugar-candy dissolved in wine. The bottles are closely watched and the temperature of the air carefully regulated often by the use of ice, to pro-* mote or check fermentation. It is said at least ten per cent of the bottles burst from fermentation. The high price of genuine champagne may be accounted for by the loss from break age, and the cost of manufacture, and the immense demand for it. You seldom see the Frenchman drinking champagne. The cheap claret and beer are their constant drinks. As we proceed South, we pass through a number of fertile valleys filled with orchards and green pastures, on which fine herds of cattle and sheep are to be seen, and frequent ly immense flocks of geese and ducks You seldom see chickens around the farm houses; but thesplendid fat cow is the most comfortable looking animal in or out of the establishment. And now we are in the beautiful city of Lyons. Like the city of Charleston it nes tles between two rivers, the Rhone and the Saone. Lyons was founded bOO BC. Few cities possess historical associations of such deep, and thrilling interest. Large silk manufactures were established here as early as 1450. It was here the Roman Catholics and Protestants carried on a war in the 16th century which was only exceeded in atrocity by the French Revolution of 1793. At that period, Lyons was the second city in France in size and population, and superior to Paris in commerce and manufactures. In 1793, the Jacobins under Chalier, made an attack on Lyons. The merchants and manufacturers united with the royalists, and after great slaughter on both sides were vic torious. The notorious Chalier was captured and the guillotine which he had sent from Paris to destroy his enemies* was used in severing his own head. This only the more excited the Jacobins who were led on by such blood-thirsty men as Robespierre,Marat, Calet dTlerbois, Fouche and others The national convention ordered Kellermann, commander of the Jacobins, to concentrate his forces around Lyons. The loyalists, priests, and royal families had fled to Lyons from Paris and from all quarters. The city was under the command of Precy who with 30,000 citizens and refugees gallantly de fended it for more than two months. Lyons was not surrendered until 40,000 had per ished by shot, shell and fire. The royal forces were reduced to a few thousand — their ammunition exhausted. Famine and disease arrested the power of all further re sistance. Precy with 8,000 of his brave comrades made their escape from the city, but were pursued, and the most of them slain. The total annihilation of Lyons was decreed by the National Convention, and faithfully carried out. It was ordered that the very name of the city should perish, and it should henceforth be known as the “Free City.” A monument was erected amid the ruins with the inscription, “Lyons took up arms against liberty. Lyons is no more." The Jacobins after the fail of the city, to further enrage the soldiers, exhibit ed in the streets an urn containing the ashes of Chalier—“ Chalier,’’ exclaimed Fouche—“the blood of the aristocrats shall be the iucense we will offer you. We have sworn the people shall be avenged, and all that vice and crime have erected shall be destroyed. The traveler shall behold in the ruins of this superb and rebellious city naught save a few huts inhabited by the friends of equality.” More than 20,000 men were employed for weeks in destroying Lyon 8. The .prisons, dungeons and cellars were filled to overflowing with the citizens, and the royal families who had taken refuge in the city. The guillotine was kept at work night and day until the public square be came so flooded with human blood that the Terrorist chiefs fearing to rouse the sensi bility of the people decided on a wholesale massacre. The prisoners were conveyed to the opposite of the Rhone. As they marched through the streets in chains to the place of execution they united in singing, “To die for one’s country is the happiest and most enviable fate.’’ They were placed in long lines of a hundred each, and mowed down with grape and musketry. Those who es caped immediate death were charged upon by the cavalry, and with the Loises’ feet, sabre and pistol shots were slain to the last victim. Their bodies were thrown into the Rhone. Thus perished the flower and youth of Lyons and those who had taken refuge from the surrounding country. The clergy, nobility, citizens and tradesmen, all who op posed Jacobinism shared a similar fate. The reign of terror was at its height. Rea son, religion and justice had fled. The teachings of the Jacobins were: That all things were adiuissable to those who acted in the spirit of the revolution (or the devil) From those who opposed them life, property and every thing was to be taken. The rich were to be stripped of their wealth, under the plea of replenishing the National Treasury, i. e. their own lustful pockets. All forms of worship were abolished. The Roman Catholic was as obnoxious as a Protestant. The Republican’s God was his country! Fouche on entering the city issued the following proclamation.: “All those who favored rebellion in any way, have forfeited their* beads to the block. If you are patriots, you will be able to dis tinguish your friends—you will sequestrate all others. Let no consideration stop you— neither age, sex or relationship. Take by force all that a citizen has that is superfluous. For any man to have more than he requires, is an abuse —extirpate all forms of worship —elevate the temple cf reason—aid us in striking these great blows or we shall our selves strike you.’’* What a pity Brownlow and Butler were not born in France, instead of America. They are as full of the Jacobin spirit as Robespierre or Fouche. There are men now living in Lyons who wi nessed the horrid massacre of 1793. They have seen the beautiful city which was leveled to the ground and the plowshare ordered to pass over its edifices, spring again into life and prosperity. So may it be with the desolated cities of our own Sunny South Lyons has now a population of 300,000 and is one of the most important commer cial and manufacturing cities of France. There are 8,000 establishments for the man ufacture of silk, employing 30,000 looms. In the manufacture of silk, Lyons surpasses any city in Europe. The weavers are a boisterous set. In 1834 there was a revolt among them and they held the city for sev eral days. They were put down by the military, but not until several thousand were killed. It was found for a long time neces sary to keep a standing army in Lyons of 30,000 to preserve order. A large number of the male operatives have gone into the army, and the women have taken their places at the loom, and are not so difficult to manage. A commercial tribunal has been established composed half of masters aud half of workmen to settle disputes respect ing wages, etc. This council has been found to work well. From the observatory you have a magnifi cent view of the city.and surrounding coun- SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. try, and I was told we could see Mt. Blanc There was, however, toomuch smoke arising from the factory chimneys to see a hundred miles in the distance. In Lyons I hear the familiar buzz of musquitoes and feel their friendly salute. lam thus keenly remind ed of my own sunny home. Lyons, 1866. G. W. W. Betas from % C{jurejus. Hamilton Circuit, Ca. Conference. Mr. Editor : We have not only held our own in this circuit the present year, but ad vanced gradually aud slowly all the year.— All the interests of the Church have been attended to in such a way as to keep up an equilibrium. The people generally endorse the action of our last General Conference The regular Church Meetings are increas ing in popularity as the people become bet ter acquainted with them. All of our Sab bath-schools have been in healthy operation during the summer months. There is, how ever, a great want cf books, which the scar city of money has prevented us from procu ring. The Advocate is pretty generally cir culated where we have mail facilities. There are a few persons who think themselves too poor to take it, and yet they take a political paper—some of whom I have advised to fast once or twice a week until they save enough to take the Advocate , and thereby feed the soul as well as the body. In finan ces we are very much behind, but as cotton is getting ready for market, we are going to make one long and steady pull and see what we can do, and where there is a will, there is a way. Last year there were ODly three Churches on the circuit—one more was added this spring. During last fall a series of revivals occurred, which resulted in the addition of about 55 probationers in the bounds of the circuit. This year we have received 36 into full membership—B have moved off, and 6 more are expected to be received yet, leav ing about 7 that we cannot account for.— This year we have received 8 members un der the new regulations of the Church. In August last, we commenced a series of meet ings which extended to all the Churches, greatly reviving the membership. Our in defatigable P. E., R. B. Lester, was with us several days at two appointments, labor ing with great efficiency. Bros. G. 11. Pat tillo,T. A. Brown and J. W. McGeheeand the local brethren of the cireuit, labored with zeal and acceptability at the different ap pointments. There was one peculiarity about our meet ings that has not been iul y accounted for as yet. The congregations were large and attentive —the word seemed to be attended with the demonstration aud power of the Spirit—the Church was at times blessed with an overwhelming baptism ; and yet there were comparatively few professed con version, and but a small number added to tho Church. If it be sqid the Church was was not fully aroused, the contrary appeared to be true. In reference to joining the Church, it may be that so many joined the Church last year, that the numbers remain ing for these Churches may be small, or it may be that they regard it as being a lit tle more serious matter than they did under the old probationary system. There is also one other cause that may have its effect.— There is an opinion growing quite prevalent among the young people that they ought not to join the Church until they are assured of their salvation, however deeply penitent they are, or orderly their lives may be. — Now there seems to be an evil in the folds of this plausible pretext. They take the ground that God must give the feeling as they call it, and yet they virtually prescribe the terms upon which lie must givefit; and when they do not receive it after a few fee ble efforts at the altar, they consider them selves excused from taking upon themselves any further obligations. In the palmy days of Methodism our fathers required but one condition of those who desired to enter the Church—“ a desire to flee the wrath to come, and to be saved from their sins aud it seems that this is the only way to secure entire consecration to God. Harris colored charge , is in the bounds of this circuit, and is served the present year by Rev. F. M. T. Brannon on Sabbath eve nings, in connection with the regular ap pointments of the circuit There have been a great many rainy Sundays, and evenings especially, which, with other hindrances, have somewhat interfered with the work. — Yet there seems to be a line state of relig'* ious feeling amoug them at most of the ap pointn ents. Bro. B. catechises large class es, aud labors hard to teach them the Deca logue, the Lord’s Prayer, and the funda mental principles of religion. He encour ages them to learn to read the Bible when ever they can, and a great many of them are doing the best they can. Others are dis gusted with books, and say they had much rather plow than study. Dr. F. E. H. Ste ger, formerly of Huntsville, Ala., has con ducted a Sabbath-school for them in Ham ilton, catechising them orally, and teaching them to spell and read They learn much faster by oral instruction than from theii books. Two weeks ago Bro. Brannau held a luve feast for them in Hamilton. Some of their experiences were good, and really edifying—but many others not so good some rich. The members are generally quiet and orderly —no excitement among them about going either to the M. E. Church, or the A. M. Church. Nor will there be, unless some foreign intermeddler interrupts their peace. Some few of the whites are opposed to the policy of our Church towaid them ; but we have no quarrel with them, believing that they will soon see the wisdom of the course we are pursuing- This lettei is now much longer than I intended or de sired. Yours, &c , A. J. Dean. ST. JOHN’S, AUGUSTA, GA. Mr. Editor It is with profound grati tude we record the fact, that God has gra ciously visited this charge. In entering on the labors of the present year, we found the membership of the church disheartened by the general prostration of religious interest, yet, with few exceptions, still attached to the church of their choice and hopes, and eagerly watching for of a brighter day. Certain changes of internal policy were deemed wise and necessary, and dressed ourselves to the work, which was accomplished with commendable harmony. A lofty and antiquated pulpit wa“> reduced to comely proportions —a nice orgau and a choir introduced, and other alterations ef fected which it was thought would be con ducive to the interests of the church. Soon our congregations began steadily to improve and the religious interest seemed to keep pace with the*dncrease of the congregation. About a month ago we commenced a se ries of meetings and the Lord blessed our efforts witli the gracious outpouring of the Spirit. Sinners were awakened —penitents converted —the church revived, and some who had long neglected salvation found peace in believing. A marked feature of the meeting was the absence of all undue excitement, and the prevalence of such a a deep, thorough and mighty influence as rendered the house of God solemn and sa cred even to those who came from mere cu riosity. A large proportion of men, some of them heads of families, were brought under the influence of the Gospel, and realized the blessing of j^rdon. Up to this time 26 have united with our church, and one will join the Baptist Church. Old St. John’s feels the vigour of anew life, and rejoices in the promise of yet greater achievements. Augusta has suffered much by the war, yet our citizens are full of industry, energy and hope. In closing this brief notice of a blessed work the pastor must be permitted to ex press his gratitude to the people of his charge for their uniform kindness and con sideration towards himself and family during the year. May the benedictions of the ev erlasting covenant rest on one and all. Arminius Wright. Avgusta, Ga., Oct. \bth, 1866. APPEAL FOR MISSIONS. TO THE PREACHERS OF THE GEORGIA CONFER ENCE. Dear Brethren: The Missionary Treasury having been empty during the year, the Treas urer has been unable to cash the drafts of Mis sionaries. Some of them have been doomed to suffer as he has reason to believe. Ic is un necessary to insert extracts from letters receiv ed from brethren engaged in the missionary work. We only assure you that money is need ed to meet their wants, and let us see that it is forthcoming. Let us urge you to take a collec tion in every Church of your charge, at once, and get. two or ;Viree faithful laymen to aid you. Let the membership be thoroughly canvassed, and every cent obtained that is possible, as we have a pressing need for all the money that an earnest and combined effort can secure. Coma, dear bretlnen, let us not be appalled by the gloom that hangs over the future, or dismayed by the trials of the present, but with stout and brave hearts meet the peri’s of the storm, and hope for calmer seas. Ref- re coming to Conference, please exchange small for large bills, and you will very much aid the undersigned in his duties. Believing that our noble Conference will do its best, let us pray that God may bless the Church with abundant liberality. Yours, fraternally, 2w Arminius Wright, Treas. Ga. Cons. Missionary Society. Augusta , Ga., Oct. \hth , 1866. ftttos of % Wittk. There is great Dearth of news this week : nor have we room for much. New Regulations About Cotton Tax. Washington, Oct. 23.— The Commissioner of Internal Revenue has issued additional regula tions concerning the transportation of cotton in bond. The bond may be given by the consignee in (lie district to which the cotton is to be ship ped and transmitted to the collector of the dis trict in which the cotton is produced. The bond being properly filed, the Assessor will issue permits based upon the weight as reported by the owner. Any want of accuracy in such re port of receipts is to be corrected by the cer tificate of the weigher at the point to which the cotton was shipped. This avoids the necessity of having the cotton weighed by a government officer prior to shipment. The old regulations still remain in force and will be observed when ever parties wish to ship in the manner there provided. „ —4 +■ ■■■ ■ ■ The Constitutional Amendment.— New Or leans, Oct. 16 th. —The Governor of Mississippi considers the Constitutional Amendment an in sult to the whole South, and says he presumes that it will only be necessary to read it to the Legis’ature for that body to reject it. The Leg islature merely ordered the message read. Th e Texas House of Representatives have reject ed the Constitutional Amendment by a vote of sixty-seven against five. Meteoric Shower. —Prof. Norton, of \ale College, who has devoted much thought to the subject of meteoric phenomena, supposes that on the morning of the 13th or 14th of November there will be such another grand display of me teors as was seen on 13th November, 1833. Let every body .keep wide awake. »♦— Terrific Hurricane in the West Indies.— New York, Oct. 19.—A terrific hurricane com- menced in the Bahamas on the 30th ult. It last two days and about half the town df Nas sau, N. P., was destroyed. Trinity Church was demolished ; a portion of the roof of the Gov ernment house was carried away, while that of the Marine Hospital was entirely destroyed. The neighboring islands Buffered in the same manner Large numbers of vessels were lost and damaged. The hurricane was the severest since 1818. FOREIGN NEWS. BY STEAMER TO 12TU SEPTEMBER. The Empress of Mexico had arrived at Trieste from Rome. A letter from Rome, Oct. 2d, pub lished in the Lyons papers, says she visited the Vatican while in Rome, for the purpose of secu ring the sanction of the Pope to everything her husband had done as Emperor of Mexico, which was at first, positively refused, and she remained all day in her efforts to secure this. The writer of the letter does not state the result of her in terview. She is reported to have told the Pope that she would not leave the Vatican unless her request was granted. The evacuation of the Fortresses of the Quadrilateral by the Austrians, and their occupation by the Italians was pro gressing. Rumors were again current that negotiations had been concluded between Prus sia and Saxony. The London Times says of the great meeting of working men at Leeds, that no political movement has, for a long time, at tracted so much attention, as was proved on Monday, by the collecting together of so great a multitude, in order to discuss and support the principles of the Manhood Suffrage Association, which has been established in Leeds. Chole ra still continues in London. Alarming re ports are current in Mexico concerning the health of the Empress. It is reported that she is craxy. The Austrian Emperor has decided to renounce the title of King of Lombardy and Venitia In Turkey apprehensions are enter tained of risings in Thessaly and Epirus. r The patent annexing Hanover to Prussia was promulgated in Hanover October 6th. - -■ ■ LATER FROM EUROPE. (BY THE CABLE.) Paris, Oet. 23.—1 tis rumored here to-day» that another manifesto is about to be issued to the different diplomatic representatives of the Empire. London. Oct. 23.—Reports from Candia state that after four days heavy fighting, the Chris tians had repulsed the Turkish army. Foreign Markets. Liverpool, Oct. 23 —Cotton is firm ; sales to day, 8,000 bales; Middling Uplands. 15Jd.; Breadstuff’s firmer; Flour and Wheat tending upwards. Domestic Markets. New Orleans, Oct. 22.—Cotton steadier; sales 1,600 bales; Low Middling, 36 to 37c. Gold, 146£. Other markets unchanged. Baltimore, Oct. 22.—Flour steady ; Western scarce ; Wheat firm. Tork 35 to 50. Groceries inactive. New York, Oct. 23.—Cotton dull; sales 1,000 bales at 39@42 for Middling. Gold, 146 J. Five twenties, 114 J. Treasuries, 103 J. Flour firm; sales 300 bbls. ; Southern sl2 25@1660. Wheat one to three cents better. Corn 3@6c better Oats I@3 cents better. Pork steady; sales 3,800 bbls; Mess $33 95 Spirits Tur pentine 87@90c 'U gal. Rosin $5 37(3)13 50. Mobile , Oct.. 22.—C< tton sales to-day, 1,300 bales; Middling 36c. Market firm. MARRIED. On Tuesday evening, Oct. 9th, in Trinity Church, Savannah, by Rev. A. M. Wynn, Col. W. W. Holland, of Monticello, Ga., and Miss Lillis. E., daughter of Gen. George Paul Har rison, of Savannah, Ga. On same evening, by the same, Mr. Wm. R. Walker, and Miss Fannie E. Thomas, both of Savannah. In Americus, Ga., on the 17th inst., by Rev. Chas. R. Jewett, Mr. Thos. A. Graham, former ly of Huntsville, Ala., and Miss Olivia 8., daughter of Mr. C. \\. Hancock, Editor of the Snmter Republican. On 16th Oct., 1866, in the M. E. Church, South, at Oaky Streak, Butler county, Ala , by the Rev. 11. J. Hunter, the Rev James W. Glenn, of the Montgomery Conference, to Miss Fannie Ride, of Oaky Streak. By Rev. U. Langford, oh the 11th iost., near Warrenton, Mr. J. B. Willis, of Effingham county, and Miss E. A. Barber, of Washington, W'ilkes county, Ga. In Brunswick, Ga., by Rev. B. C. Franklin, on the 9th Sept., W. II Franklin, to Miss R. C. Gardner, both of Brunswick, Ga. On the evening of 4th Oct., 1866, by same, in Anderson Dist., S. C., Rev. W. A. Hodges, of the S. C. Conference, and Miss Cornelia Hardy. To the Members of the Montgomery Conference. Trains from Selma to Blue Mountain ; distance 135 miles—fare, $9 45. Stage from Blue Mountain to Jacksonville; distance 10 miles—fare, $2 00. Stage from Rome to Jacksonville; distance 59 miles—fare, $8 00. Stage from Montgomery tri-weekly to Tallade ga—fare, $lO 00 Train from Tal adega to Blue Mountain; dis tance 25 miles—fare, $1 80. Presiding Elders please give ua the names of candidates for admission, also of local brethren coming up for ordination. Ministers who expect to bring their wive3 to Conference, must let us know in due time. Ministers who do not expect to attend Con ference, will do ps a favor by letting us know before Conference convenes. Ample provision will be made for all. L. M. Wilson. Oct 26 — 3 w W. R. Kirk. 5