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stricfed to the coast and the immediate vicinity of the Treaty Ports, but the great barriers which recently forbade or deterred efforts to reach the interior, are now partial ly, and almost wholly removed. The sup pression of the great “ Tai Ping” Rebellion and a more liberal policy on the part of the Imperial Government have opened up the highways of China to the Prince of Peace, and vast numbers of the people, especially those in the great valley of the Yang Tsz , where the “ abomination of desolation ” stood the longest, are willing and ready to welcome his advent. Having sought and round refuge, during tho desperate years of ’62, ’63 and ’64, in the sea ports, where the foreign flag , brazen-serpent like, assured and protected them from future harm, they have at last returned to their homes, which foreign powers, too, restored them ; but they have not been permitted to return »s they came. Missionaries, early appreciating the wonderful opportunities their presence af forded of extending the influence of Chris tianity, took ad vantage thereof and the result is, they have returned carrying with them kind if not grateful remembrance of their contact with foreigners ; and in numerous instances, “■ impressed with the truth of Christianity, and bearing with them its pre vious seeds. Throughout this vast Province and even beyond, not less apparent and perhaps not less real the change wrought in the hearts and minds of the people than upon their homes and country. And now that such a marvellous change has been effected in Government and people, and this extensive valley, once more populous than thb whole United States, been thrown open to our coming, with here and there throughout its extent a Christian Church member ready to welcome the Missionary, and make his house a sanctuary for Christian worship, and his family and relatives a nucleus of future suc cess, who can ignore the indications of Providence, or say that this is not a field peculiarly prepared and white with the har vest ? Oh ! that we were prepared to enter and occupy it fully. Already have Christian colporteurs gone before us and circulated numberless tracts and books, but the great, ■*the pressing, imperative want is men, both foreign and native, to perfect the work alrea dy wrought abd perpetuate the saving influ ence which begun during their captivity at Shanghai. I have been endeavoring by means of a system of weekly and monthly itinerations to supply, in a small measure, instruction and preaching to those of our little Church who have returned to their homes in the interior, and I find it both a more extensive and hopeful work than that immediately at Shanghai, where there is so much to conflict with and modify the influ ence of our teachings. Here in this place daily public and pri vate preaching and teaching have been maintained for years, until there are but fdw who have not learned the name of Jesus and more or less of his doctrines ; but a deep deep seems to have fallen upon this people, an oblivious indifference, from which all efforts seem vain to awake them, and the time very nearly if not quite arrived when Missionaries shall be called to shake off the dust of this city from their feet as a testi mony against them and proceed whither the 'Lord seems directing them. The lloman Catholics, alive to the pres ent emergency seem destined to overrun the country. With an agency and energy pe culiar to themselves they outstrip us all; and the recent concessions of the Govern ment in their favor will go £ir toward estab lishing the influence of the Pope “ under heaven,” as the Chinese say, of tho Empire 1 have not yet been able to ascertain, whether the Catholics demanded it, or whether official representations moved the Government tq take the initiative in this matter; be that as it may, the Roman hier archy or Priesthood in Chiua find themselves suddenly elevated among the Chinese to official rank and station equal with that of the Magistrate of a third class or district city, and their bishops in contact and com munication with the higher Mandarins of the Empire. The alleged object of this movement, whether originating with the Priesthood or the government, is to guaran tee and secure the execution of the law and punishment of crime which often finds a refuge and hiding place in that Church. Their numbers are considerable, amounting to several hundred thousand, and as they arc more or less in contact with their foreign spiritual guides, Chinese officials, since the experience of the last war, have been exceedingly cautious of conflict with them ; hence many Chinese criminals, not adherents of the Church, often seek it and aVail themselves of it as a shield from tho law. The present movement therefore seeni3 to be somewhat mutual: the Catholic Church claims the right to adjust all difficulties arising in the Church or between adherents and non-adherents and the Government have conceded the demand, and officially proclaimed them Mandarins. How char acteristic this wholo matter of the subtlety and greed of power on the part of the one, artd the reticence and timidity of the other. It remains, however, still to be seen what influence this new inauguration of power is to haye on the future destinies of this coun try, whether the “Son of Heaven,” or the cause of Protestant Christianity be the ulti mate victim About the close of last year or beginning of this, two Catholic Priests were mntdere i in the remote Province of Sz Churn, at the instigation of the literati , who were as sembled for their annual examinations, and a more horrible and extensive mas-snore, has been recently perpetrated in Corea, a small tributary kingdom to the north -east<*f China. Recent intelligence from the North of China, Peking and Che-foo, intimates that a lively sympathy has been manifested for the victims of the recent Corean prosecu tion, and that measures will be forthwith taken, especially by the French, to avenge these wrongs and throw open that hitherto unknown region to the commerce of Foreign Nations. Most important results are antici pated to flow from this blood-thirsty out rage, and especially from the part the French are expected to act in view of it. “ Blood is thicker than water,” said Commodore Tatnall at the battle of the Pei ho, on see ing his men go to the assistance of the wounded English Admiral and his brave boys ; and this bloody event, we may safely say, is the cement of the Church, a crown ing stroke and pledge bf her success in that region. Already great inducements are be ing offered to emigration and exploration. The country is described as being beautiful ly situated and abounding in gold and sil ver. “ One town situated on a hill is said to be built on a silver rniue of nearly pure ore. Nearly all the rivers contain gold dust, and gold has been found at a few feet from the surface in many parts of the country. One of the French Missionaries, formerly in California, has given it as his opinion that Corea is much richer in gold and silver than California or Sonora. The Government prohibits all search for gold, etc., except lor its own use.’’ Such statements as the above are current rumor here, and though evidently circulated without scrupulous regard to their truth, are producing a sensation. Trade in this p’ace is excessively dull, and there are num bers here ready to avail themselves of the first opportunity to emigrate to this new El Dorado. It is now mid summer here and the heat, is quite oppressive. So far, however, we have not been visited this year with any plague or epidemic. A few cases of sun stroke have occurred—three were reported yesterday, the 2d August. Cholera has occurred, but of milder type and less alarm ing than formerly. Indeed, Shanghai is one of the most healthful regions iu all China, early impressions to the contrary notwithstanding. Dysentery and diarrhoea are our most common and fatal diseases; fevers are almost unknown —except inter mittent, and rare cases of what has been called Shanghai fever. Our Mission families are in good health at this time. I shall, I think, be able hereafter to make regular communication of any items of in telligence or news, which may come into my possession in this far off region, that may interest your readers. 1 would not complain, but I must suggest that your Missionaries here begin to feel most keenly, the great neglect and silence with which they have been treatel. It is now the 3d of August, and not a paper or letter, except a few private ones, from per sonal friends, has been received. We should have been in blissful ignorance of nil that has been going on in the Bouth, in the Church especially, had it not been for the few items gleamed from “ unwelcome sources.” [have seen “The Methodist,’’of New York, and hence am more or less acquainted with the proceedings of the (General Con* fercnce, but far above “The Methodist’’ I esteem your noble sheet, and hope ere loug to see it once again on my table. With prayers and best wishes for you and your enterprise, I remain, Yours affectionately, Young J. Ar4.Es. Shanghai, China, Avgust 3d, 1866. ~ ■ ' ■— EUROPEAN LETTER. From Lyons to Strasburg, you pass through many fertile valleys, bounded by precipitous mountains of considerable height. At Mill house I stopped a few hours to look through that interesting manufacturing city of 60,000 inhabitants. Here I find large warehouses filled with American cotton. From the ragged and soiled appearance of the bales it looked as if it had run the block ade. I doubt not some of it was hid in the swamps of Carolina and Georgia to escape the torch of Sherman’s army. Millhousc is one of the greatest manufac turing cities in France. The mills are turned mainly by water conveyed through canals from the river 111, which flows in the suburbs of the city. The operatives do not live hi houses near the factories as with us, but many of them come from small villages for miles around, bringing with thorn their scauty meals. The most of the mills are employed in the manufacture of cotton prints and muslins. It is said that the quantity of prints manufactured here ex ceeds that of any other city in the world. The goods are of a very superior quality and have a fine reputation in Paris and oth er large cities. There are a number of mills for the spinning of cotton, hut in this article they find it difficult to compete with the English manufactories. Here is a manufacturing town that labors under the great disadvantage, of having to transport the raw cotton from America, 8000 miles by water, and 500 miles through France by rail, with the further disadvan tages of a great scarcity of coal and wood. Our manufacturers have the raw material at their very door —water, coal, and wood in abundance, provisions cheap—and yet the cry is ptoteetion! protection! The time will come when the high lands of the South ern Stales will become the great manufac turing districts of the world —cheap labor will find it* way South from the over-crowd ed States of the old world. What we want I now is a united and stable government—a 1 government that will protect life, liberty and property. It matters not so much whether we have a King ora democratic President, so that we* have wise rulers. Capital will go where it is protected and yields the largest return. Scarcely a gener ation has passed away since the first bale of SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. cotton was shipped from America to En gland. A hundred years will work won derful changes in our great republic. The North American States will drain Europe and Asia, not only of their surplus popula tion, but of the vast wealth which has been for so many ages accumulating. We are now at Straeburg. This was for merly a German free independent eity. Louis the XLV seized it in time of peace and annexed it to France—but this unwar rantable act did not make Frenchmen of the people of Strasburg. They look Ger man and generally speak the German lan guage —French is taugh* in the schools. The greatest attraction in Strasburg is the celebrated cathedral with its lofty spire, on which busy mechanics have been at work for 6UO years, and have not yet reached the height of the ambitious architect. The ca thedral is one of the finest Gothic edifices in Europe. Its spire is the highest in the world. It is 30 feet higher than the jyr amids of Egypt and 130 feet higher than St. Paul’s, London.. This is one of the church steeples I did not have the to climb, as I was informed people occasionally drop ped through the open work, falling a dis tance of some 500 feet. The Rishops have found it necessary to issue many indulgences to procure money ft) build the “Notre Dame’’ or cathedral of Strasburg. The church is decorated with so mo tine statues ar.d numerous paintings. Its extreme height has made it a mark for the lightning, and it has been struck more than a dozen times. In 1654, the spire was entirely de molished by lightuing, but was soon restored. In 1728 an earthquake came near shaking it to the ground. Its stained windows are beautiful. One of them is unusually large, being 50 feet in diameter. In 1703, a year long to be remembered throughout France, the cathedral fell into the hands of the Ja cobins. They caused several hundred stat ues of Kings and Saints to be cast into the streets and liver, and converted the church into an arsenal and commissary store. The cut of the Jacobin sabre is to be seen on many statues, paintings and church altars, not only in Strasburg but in Paris and other cities. In the cathedral is an astronomical clock almost as celebrated as the tall spire. Three German professors spent a lifetime in trying to perfect it, but did not complete their worx. It is called “ the clock of the three sages.” This celebrated clock has racked the brain of the German mathematicians for 300 years, and was finally perfected by Schwilgne who is now a resident of Stras burg. It shows the hour, day of the week, of the month, the year and many Church celebrations. Precisely at 12 o’clock its full mechanism is set in motion. At that hour, the crowd is generally so great it re quires a number of police to preserve order. The figure of Death is surrounded by four figures—representing the four ages of life. Childhood strikes the first quarter —Youth the second —Manhood the third and decrep it old age the fourth (on the continent the the clock always strikes each quarter of the hour). As Death strikes the hours, Youth turns over the hour glass that he holds in his hand. At noon, the twelve Apostles pass, bowing before Christ, as they pass, one at a time. Our Saviour lifts his hand to bless them. During that time a cock which is perched on the right flaps his wings,and crows three times. Mr. Schwilgne has recently added an ecclesiastic compute with all its indications, presenting also the revolutions and eclipses of the sun, and moon for an indefinite time. As ari intri cate and fine piece of workmanship the old c'ock surpasses anything I have yet seen. Perhaps, to the majority of Awiericans, it looks like an unnecessary expenditure of time and labor. It proves, however, what skill and mechanism can produce. Strasburg is about as celebrated L.r its Pads de foie gras , as for its tall spire and wonderful clock. The pates are made from the livers of geese which are enlarged to an immense size by shutting the geese in coops too narrow to allow them to turn, stuffing them three times a day with maize made in to paste and steeped in sulphur water to in crease the appetite. The lager beer of Strasburg is very fine, the hop from which it is made grows to a great height in the valleys of tho 111,and the Rhine. One guide pointed out the place where 2000 Jews were burned in 1348. They were ac cused of having poisoned the wells and fountains, causing tho plague which desola ted the city about that time. For nearly a century no Israelite was permitted to live or worship in the town. Now every one is free to worship under his own vine and fig tree. Religious toleration is general, throughout Fiance. Those who choose to keep their shops open and work qn the Sab bath can do so. A true Catholic never fails to go to mass Sabbath morning. Searching, stinging poverty, makes it necessary for the poor to labor on the seventh day of the week. With us wo make a great show in the ob servance of the Sabbath, by requiring the stores and places of business, to be closed. A conscientious who shuts his shop on his Sabbath, is abo required to close on the Christian Sabbath, while the mammoth rail roads and steamships, employing thousands of tnen and women, are permitetd to run extra trains on Sunday. This looks to me like straining out a gnat, and swallowing a cam el. Perhaps the public authorities are of the opinion that corporations have no souls to be saved or punished. Strasburg is regarded one of the strong est fortified cities in France. The arsenal contains 175,000 stand of arms, 1000 can non There is a cannou factory* here, and one of the largest depots of artillery to be found in France. The country around the city, between the Rhine and the 111, can be laid under water —thus rendering Strag burz, alnfost unapproachable by an army. Louis Napoleon nqide an unsuccessful effort to in 1836. The river 111, runs through it, forming canals over which there are numerous bridges to connect the different quarters of the city. It is a place of considerable commerce, and has numerous manufactories of cloth, linen, carpets, to bacco, beer, ale, &c. It is connected with the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, by canals, and with the North Sea by the Rhine. The city is surrounded by a strong wall. At 10 o’clock the gates are closed, and neither ingress nor egress is allowed. We visited the Cathedral of St. Thomas (Protestant) to see the monument of the famous Marshal Saxe, erected to his memo ry by Louis XV. It represents the Mar shall descendinz to the grave, while France personified in a female figure is en deavoring to detain him, and at the same time to stay the threatening advance of Death. In this church are deposited in metallic coffins, covered with glass, two bodies said to be of a count and his daughter. It is a disgrace to humanity, to exhibit to strangers such disgusting spectacles. \V hen I was a boy in the mountains of Georgia, I rode 24 miles a cold December day to see a man hung up by the neck until he was dead, dead, dead ! From that day to this I have been haunted by that poor fellow. I presume I shall be haunted the .balance ot my life by the horrid Strasburg monuments. G. W. W. Strasburg, August Is/, 1866. Dittos of t|e Mtch. FOREIGN NEWS. (bt the cable.) Berlin, Oct. 25.—The treaty between Prussia and Saxony has been fully ratified. Pursuant to its provisions Saxony is to pay ten millions florins. The army of Saxony has already been dissolved. Baden, Oct. 25.—The House of Deputies has rejeced proposed alliance with Prussia. Paris, Oct 25. —Rumors are current that changes arc imminent in the French Cabinet. Her threatened rupture is Caused, it is said, by the Emperor’s insisting oa the negotiation of large loans It is now said that tho French troops will leave Rome in December. Vienna, Oct. 25. Field-Marshal Bcncdek has been placed on the retired list. Florence, Oct. 2G.—Victor Emmanuel will make his formal entry into Venice on the 7th of November. Constantinople, Oct. 26.—The Sultan of Tur key has formally recognized the ilospodar, and given him a reception at his palace. London, Oct. 29 —lt is said that the relations between Austria and Russia are assuming a menacing character. The Times Bays that the Russian Government is intriguing for a further disintegration of Austria. Paris , Oct. 29.—The project submitted by France and England to the Spanish Government for the settlement of the Chilian difficulty has been approved by the Queen of Spain arfd her mini-try. Florence, Oct. 29.—An arrival from Candia states that another great battle took place on the llth inst. The Greeks report that the Turkish army was repulsed. MEXICAN NEWS. Washington, Oct. 24.—Special dispatches slate that (lie French Government has asked for an extension of time for the withdrawal of the first instalment of troops from Mexico, until January first, offering in that case to wave tho time allowed for the withdrawal of the remain der, and remove all substantially at one time, which proposition is not assented to. Rcmors About Mexico.—A Washington dis patch to the Boston Journal says: “Mexican affairs are assuming a definite shape, and in formation of the highest importance on that subject will be made public in a day or two. Treaties have been agreed upon, and arb now under process of exchange. The French troops and Maximilian withdraw this from Mexi co. The United States assumes the protector ate over the republic, guaranteeing the French claims. In consideration, Mexico cedes to the United States the peninsula of Lower Cali fornia, and other territoiy south of our present sou 1 h-west boundary.” General Sheridan has addressed a letter to Col. Sedgwick, commanding at Brownsville, in structing him to warn all adherents of any par ty, or pretending Government in Mexico, that they will not be permitted to violate the Neu tra ity Laws, as between the Juare? liberal Gov ernment of Mexico, and the United States. Fenian Excitement. Col. Lynch and John McMahon, two of the prisoners captured during the Fenian invasion of Canada, have been sentenced in Toronto, Canada, to be hung on the 13th December. This has created great excitement among the Fenians. They are demanding the intervention of the United States Government. Despatches are coming in from all parts of the province, demanding that no mercy be shown to the con victed Fenians. Mr. Seward has addressed a letter to the British Minister in behalf of Lynch and McMahon, in which he says that the United States Consul at Toronto has been instructed to procure, tor the information of the Government, a copy of the record of the trial and conviction of Lynch and McMahon, and also all further trials and convictions of a similar character, which shall take place in Canada. The Secretary says, “ The President directs me to assure you of his confident hope that her Majesty’s Govern ment will not only cheerfully comply with the request thus made, but that they will think it proper a so to examine the judicial proceedings aforesaid with a careful regard to the rights of he United States, and to the maintenance of good relations between the two countries. For this reason it will be very gratifying to tho President if you should be able to give me aa assurance that the execution of the sentence* pronounced upon convicted persons will be sus pended, if occasion for delay shall arise in tho manner before mentioned to make it desirable. It is the opinioa of this Government that soval policy coincides with the best impulses of a be nevolent nature in recommending tendornooo, amnesty and forgiveness in 6uch casos.” Terrific Gale. Turks Island, on the 30th of September, was visited by a terrific hurricane, destroying over eight hundred houses and their contents. Oxer three thousand persons are rendered houseless, penniless, and are almost naked. One hundred and twenty thousand bushels of salt were swept away, and’six foreign and twelve Island crafts were lost, with twenty of their crews. The center of the hurricane passed over the island of New Providence on the first instant, and the scene of wreck and devastation is marvelous and very sad to see. More than half of Nassau is in ruins. Most of the houses are unroofed, many blown to pieces, and some moved bodily from their foundations into the street. Churches, houses and other buildings of solid stone, are scattered as if by a bombardment. The trees were destroyed, leaf and branch, ns if by a con flagration. Nearly every vessel and boat is sunk, or swept, high and dry, on the outer islands The destruction of properly and the consequent suffering is said to be dreadful. Items —Gen. Sherman has had several inter views with the President the past week. It is rumored that he will be made ad interim Secre tary of war, in Stanton's place—soon to retire. He is reported to have written a letter to the President, endorsing his policy. Gov. Orr has authorized tho South Carolinian to say that he is utterly and unequivocally opposed to the Constitutional amendment, and will not recom mend its adoption by the Legislature. The President has ordered a pardon to issue to Ex- Confederate Secretary of Treasury, Mr. Tren holm. The State Department at Washington has received a copy of the Spanish Royal de cree, intending to make impossible, henceforth, the prosecution of the African Slave Trade in Cuba and Porto Rico, and provides for the emancipation of every person who is in their provinces, whenever they touch the peninsula and adjacent islands. Late Montana advices state that fifty Sioux Indians recently attacked an encampment at the mouth of Milk River; After five hours fighting, they were repulsed with a loss of twenty-one killed; whites, four killed and several wounded. A lengthy let ter from Secretary Browning, addressed to a committee at Quincy, Illinois, in response to an invitation to deliver an address on political topics, is published this morning. He argues forcibly against the Constitutional amendment, and in vindication of the President’s policy, says it is his purpose as the Executive head, to maintain and preserve the Constitution as R is.——lt is reported that Gevernor Wells will reconvene the Constitutional Convention of 1864. He says he has assurances from leading mem bers of Congress, that he will be sustained bf force if necessary. Market Reports. Liverpool , Oct. 29 {h\ —Cotton steady, sales to day 8,000 bales. Middling Uplands quoted at 15d. The weather is unfavorable for breadstuffs. Market firmer. Corn advanced. London, Oct. 29th. —Consols quoted at 891-2; U. S. Five-Twenties, 68 1-4 New York, Oct. 30 th. —Gold, $1.46 1-2; Ex change, 109 3-4; Cotton dull, 38 l-2@40 1-2; Flour firm, sl2 75@17; sales 300 bbls; Wheat, l@3c. better; Corn 6@7c. higher; Oats,2@So. higher ; Pork firmer, at $34 75. New Orleans , Oct. 29.—Cotton unchanged; market firmer; sales, 3,800 bales; Gold 148. Mobile, Oct. 30.—Cotton sales to-day. 500 bales. Middling 35@36c; market quiet, de mand limited. BISHOP’S FUND. The following amounts have been receivod for the support of the Bishops, to Oct 29th : Previously reported, $385 45 Americas—Rev. C. R. Jewett, 20 00 Upson—Rev. J. O. A Cook, 10 00 St James, Augusta—Rev. Geo. Kramer, 18 00 Campbellton—Rev. J. B. McGehee, 10 00 Franklin “ “ “ 8 00 Troup ** 20 00 Greenville—Rev. J. Blakely Smith, 80 00 $5Ol 45 Jos. S. Kky, Chairman. 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 60 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 F.lders please give us the names of candidates for admission, also of locul brethren coming up for ordination. Ministers who expect to bring their wives to Conference, must let us know in due time. Ministers who do not expect to attend Con ference, will do us a favor by letting us know before Conference convenes. Ample provision will be made for all. _ L. M. Wilsoh. Oct 26—3 w W. R. Kirk. 5