wires, “Snes

MMERSI

and tact of Lieut. Warrren and his admir |
al staff, have smoothed down Moslem}
prejudice, removed local @pposition, and)
thus brought about opportunitics for ex: |
ploration and excavation such as never
occurred before; and besides large num
bers of Arab laborers have been trained |
to the work, and are eager to be employ |
ed; and the exact points for successtul ex-|
ploratigus are now well known.”
EES

DISTRESS IN LONDON—FEARFUL FA-|
MINE IN ALGIERS AND PALESTINE. |
(London Cor, Halifax Chronicle.) |

t

But thore is worse than the hard weather to
distress Furope now; there is an awful cry of |
hunger in London, and a wail more terrible}
still from the peasants of Est Prussia and!
their neighbors on the Russia side of the line; |
und inore appalling still rises the cry of the
starving populations at both ends of the Medi-
terranean, in French Algiers and in Palestine.
‘There would seem to be recurring years of
famine to sweep the nations—what a French
writer, I observe, terms ‘the T'yphus of
hunger”—just as the cholera has its periodica!
rounds.

before this new apparition of so many coun-
tries starving simultaneously strikes the heart
with new dismay. As for London, the poor
she has always with her, yet never before
were her poor so gréatand so miserable a
multitude. The finincial embarassments of
commerce, the costly strikes of traces anion,
the failure of foreign:markets have all told
hard upon the humble working classes, and
transformed hosts of them into helpless pau-
pers. There aro nine parishes in Hast Lon-
don from which the spectres of want and dis-
ease are neyer wholly exercised, in spite of

all the charity and poor law machinery used |

to charm them from their lurking places.
‘This winter the distress has been aggravated
hy the dullness of trade, which threw thou-
suns of shipwrights of the river, and others,
out of work, and by the bitter cold. Week
by week misery and wretchedness spread
more widely. Week by week the great and
generous stream of English liberality flowed
in a golden current to assist the poor: guardi
ans of these parishes. But the distress in-
creased, till its enormous proportions expand-
ed, not merely week by week, but day by day.
The sufferers are not of the usual pauper
classes; they are, forthe most part, workmen
on whom the ruinous depression of trade has
fallen as heavily as the cotton famine on the
Lancaster operatives. Recently a mass meet-
ing of the unfortunate Poplar and Bethnal
Green hands was held in the silent shipyards
of the Isle of Dogs; and resolutions were
passed earnestly praying, not for ¢ ry, but
for a chance to earn something, no matter
how little, at their trades. Some ofthe stories
told at these meetings were inexpressibly sad.
Most of the men for the last two years had
been unable to “doa hand’s turn” for the
maintenance of their fumilies.—Three me-
chanics who had heen honest and industrious,
when they lost the chance of work {u London,
went off to tramp in search of employment,
and walked everywhere fur it, besought every-
where for it; and everywhere found neither
help nor hope; till after seven months weary
travel, they returned shoelcss, ragged, fout-
sore and heartscre to find their unfortunate
families woefully reduced by want, and the
bailiffs in the house to destrain for arrears of
rent. Menwho wrought hard for years, wives
who toiled and sated and took pride in their
neat though humble household stock, and
never let themselves think of coming on the
parish, are now huddled together with their
famishing children like rats in cheerless attics,
syithout food to eat except a morsel of work-
house bread which.mocks the hunger of the
youngest among them; with scarcely a stick
od Gerrepresencas.gro,v ta ha nledaod 9d
significantly numerous in gach wretched
dwelling. Of course, the greater the destitu-
tion the more the relief is diminished by its divi-
sion among so many, and when you hear that
a family of nine persons receives from the
parish six loaves and three shillings « week,
you can readily estimate how heavy a charge
is laid upon the hands of private charity, The
poor-law guardians endeavor to get some
work in return for the little relief they afford;
yet men and women wasted with want and
with aching hearts cannot work Jong; nor,
would those waiting for their turn permit the |
others to enjoy too long the chance of earning
the pittance for which they are thronging
round the * Union” doors from morning till
dusk—shivering and waiting, hour after hour]
in silent suffering.

One poor young mechanic witha eenitul
hand for his proper work, anda proud English
heart, left his wife and two children thé other
morning to seek bread for them from the
workhouse table. Ile was sent to earn his
share by breaking stones in the yard—and he
tried his best. But the hunger that had sub-
dued him so far as to ask for relief. had cruelly
reduced his strength; yet he toiled the bist
part of the diay and was piid—two_ pence,
‘Pwo pence—and three at home besides him-
self to keep alive these bitter and sorrowful
nights! Ie durst not gu home to meet the
misery of his disappointed children with his
two pence. He never went home. He went
mad. He went down to the old empty ship-
yard; und when his white faced wife—God
help her—come to look for him, there he
swung from the beam whereon he liung him-
self in his frenzy. Another .) an, while
her husband was absent in search of werk,
had to carry almost the last ragsgof needful
clothing left her to pawn for a mouthful to
eat. She wrapped her childin a shawl she
meant to pledge, and clasping itin her half
naked arms went shivering in the biting wind
of one of the coldest days I ever saw in Lon-
don. The poor creature was as cold as an
icicle herself, yet she suddenly peel with
ascream as she feltsom thing cdider still
meet her breast, and knew witht t@frible in-
atinct what it was—the dead body of her child
killed by want and the wind. $

Yrom other parts of the country come tragic
stories of starvation. Martha Harris was the
widow of a railway contractor who had been
one time well off but died insolvent. She
parted with her furniture bit by bit, and like
many a poor, downliwartod woman in London
to night, sold marriage-ring for bread, and
then went tothe poor hotise. It was crowded
and repulsive to her, and before phes@uld
sufficiently forget what rhe had been to take
quietly to its dreary life, she came out and
looked for work. She found none, and gar-
mentafter garment was sold to keep body
and soul together. One December morning
she lay before a firelers grate when all the
sweet glad bells from the venerable spires of
Oxford rang out the holy chimes that told it
was Christmas morning. ‘The poor heart
took a faint hope of life from these sounds—
surely Merry Christmas that filled so many
homes with joy would not forget her. She
threw her petticoat down to a neighbor nearly
as pooras herselfin the lower story of the
wretched tenement, and begged i it might,
for God's sake, be pledged for a,ORe of bread.

tale Goce no shops open that happy holiday,
nd again she replied with

A fot the sake of Him who
: pissed. The charities

¥ ne purest acts of
aT y!0e@ netytibor was

ie ME of 1,
last article OF dress penta a rw to ‘s bd
r ie

es
slipped her hand out at ey '™* bad
Christmas gift—and wax the Iantooe toy se
living. Nothing was heard of her thir (tthe
the next, till at evening the nei day or
up and founda naked ts went

Corpses:

tattered wr;

Lhe horror of the fuminein India, |
and of the famine in China, hardly sifeided |

These are heert-rending incidents, yet they ed at Vill:
are told as necessary and exact illustrations; ent of the London Daily News says:—-

of the fearful calamity which now burdens |
the community. Of the whole number of

| suffering poor in London, I cannot give an) Prench

accurate estimate, but it is announced tat in|
East London alone where the workhouses |
are all crammed more full than sheep-pens }
would'be, there are still nearly fifty thousand |
paupers who cannot be housed by the Unions |
and get ‘‘ outdoor relief.” If we add to these |
large proportions of the poor who struggle

proudly with their misery rather than hold!
out their hands for parish aid, we may guess |
that this mighty Babylon almost as far sur-
passes other cities in her sorrows as in her
glory. Itis cheering to know that Govern-
ment and the public are combining to provide
a proper machinery for immediate relief in a
more substantial manner than heretofore, and
1 hope to be able to write more asians
of “poor humanity” in East Londorrmext
time,

SSS |

By the arrival ot the steamship -City of}
Washington at Halifax, we have European |
dates to the 9th inst. A fresh element is
to be introduced into the Alabama contro-
versy, by a statement about to be publish:
ed by « London underwriter, ‘The purport
of his return will be to show that a very
large proportion of the loss caused by the
depradations of the Alabama has fallen
upon England and other European coun:
tries, whose underwriters have insured the
vessels destroyed and damaged, ~ The
longer this affuir remains open, the more
it will become complicated, — The offi-
cial returns of the Bank of England show
a decrease of £149,000 in specie in its
vaults duriag the weck ending Feb. 15th.
——In the House of Commons, M. Leferre
gave notice of his intention of calling the
question of tie Alabama claims on the 4th
of March. ‘This, no doubt, will create a
lively discussion. Mr. D'[sracli brought
in a Bill to prevent bribery and corruption
in elections, _—The great distress in star-
yation in London still continues. In
another column we publish an extract from
a letter in the Halitax Morning Chronicle,
which is most appalling. ——In Cork the
Fenians are still attempting outrages, and
riotous attempts have been made to rescue
Capt. McKay. Iwo men have been ar-
rested and identified as the men who shot
the two policemen on the above occasion.
On the 11th another attack was made upon
the police in the street by a mob, who
pe
The police fixed bayonets and charged
upon them. A short and desperate fight
followed, in which several of the Fenians
were bayoneted, one was killed, and seve-
ral were wounded. The trial of Lennon
ended, and a verdict of guilty of murder,
felony and treason was givemrgainst him.
No doubt he will meet the same doom as
did Allen and other Fenians. Mr. Sulli-
van, of the Dublin Zrishman, has been in-
dicted for publishing seditious articles.
This is about all the Fenian news we
have.

ed from the Abyssinian Expedition, Gen.
Napier was at the front pushing in the
advance, and the hostile forces were draw-
ing nearer to each other, Reports have

Ited them with stones and brickbats. |

The Paris correspond-

oS see

ANCA,

* Nothing but a yeneral war can now
Italy from whatever tate it may please the
mperor to decree for her... Vie~
tor Emmanucl is paralysed, and indulges
no other hope of preserving his throne, or
aw remnant of it, than the protection he |
may get in return for obedi to oyders
from the Tuileries.” ‘The Provincial Potin-
il at Cosenza has recently given a positive

ci
contradiction to the assertion made by aj
portion of the foreign press that the south-
ern provinecs of Italy desired sepsration-
from the kingdom, :
Although Russia has recently assumed
& more modest attitude.in the Eastern
question, fears are entertained that the in-
trigues she has been carrying on for some
time are likely to produce trouble. In
Bulgaria, Bosnia, and Serviathere is great
agitation, and proclamations are in cireu-
lation calling on the Christian populations

| to vise in arms ander the guidance of the

Czar, to put down the Ottoman empire
and humiliate the ‘rotten West.” Ac+
cording to the Independance Belye, M. de
Lavalette has drawn up and forwarded to
the Emperera report on foreign affairs
Llis Excellency i saclose alliquee
between France, Prussia, and Austria,
with a view to go to Russia, —The Czar,
j 1, asserts that. according
nee received from War:
ny of 200,000 men ig ta, be age

saw, wu
sembled in the Kingdom ot Poland as soon

asthe weather permits. The troops are
to be chivtly stationed in the districts ad-
joining the Austrian frontier, and some of
them will live in tents, their maintenance
being exacted from the owners of lunded
property in the kingdom, The Berlin
correspondent of the Zimes says that **il
this intelligence is correct, the national
party at the Court of St. Petersburg must
be assumed to be strong enough to attempt
acertain pressure upon the resolves of
the Austrian Government in Eastern af-
tairs."——All the Russian fleet available
for service is being equipped for a foreign
expedition,

UNITED STATES.

Advices received from Alabama report

| the elections progressing favorably for the
\rew  constitution,——Twenty-five

hots
recently arrived in the United States trom
Havre, under charge of the Bishop

; been nominated for the presidency of the’
| '‘exas Pacific Railroad. Philadelphia 4
| said to be the second manufacturing city,
of the world, It has 1,266 mills and man-
ufacturies. Dickens is proferred $20,-,
000 in coin to read thirty times in San
Francisco.— Rogers of the Journal, is,
the richest newspaper man in Boston; —~
It costs New York $100,000 per day for
‘sleigh rides,—A singlo mile of, the
Western (Mass.) Railroad cost. $220,000,
—aA new Mormon Bible has been pub-
lished in Mlinois. A few years ago for-
tunes were made in San Francisco by re-
ceiving imported grain and distributing it
through the State. Fortunes are now
made by exporting grain from San Fran-
cisco, In Europe ten years ago they
kwew California only as the land of gold;
but already more Californian grain in
value is sent to Europe than California
gold, ‘The grain crop of 1867 was more
valuable than she gold crop, The dis-
parity will be greater the present year,tor
gold has seen its best days in California,
while during the coming season the culti-
vated aaa Uadhe State wall, be soubleds
American journals state that the recent
sensational despatches from Washington,
respecting the Alabama claims were tere-
ly intended for political effect and: stock-

reached Annesley Bay that skirmishes had
already taken place between the British |
advance and the forces of King Theodore, |
butno particulars cf the fighting are given. |
Official despatehes from Gen, Napier are
anxiously awaited. |

It is reported that the Pope has declined
to enter into negotiations for the revision
of the Austrian Concordat, and that Prus-
sia has made advances tor clos€f diplo-
matic relations with Rome, In reply to
an address presented to the King of Prus-|
sia by a deputation of Roman Catholics |
from Rhenish Prussia, his Majesty avowed
his determination to proteet the interests
of his Catholic subjects and the dignity
and independanee of the Pope,

The announcement of a fresh French |
loan of 440,000,000 franes has not been
received very favorably in Paris. It is
contended that the f ct of the loan not ex-
ceeding the above amount proves the Goy-
ernment to have ouly pacific intentions,as
that sum would be wholly inadequate to
meet the expenses of a war.—Peucolul
relations between Prussia and France are
generally believed to exist. It is said
that, in reference to the Italian affairs and
the Eastern question, Prussia has recently
shown herself more willing to enter into
the views and wishes of the Emperor Na-
poleon than she was former’ nd that
cireumstance has, on the part tte French
Emperor, produced a corresponding dis-
position to avoid all that might be caleu-
lated to displease Prussin.——Reports are
rife in Paris that the King of Italy medi-
tates a coup d'etat, and thay five divisions
of the army have been mobilised. The
truth of this statement is doubted, but
events of a very disquieting character are
oceurring in various parts of the kingdom,
and particularly in Naples, where an in-
surrection is imminent.——Reports are
current in Paris of a contemplated change
in the Ministry in deference to the wishes
and sentiinents of the Liberal Party,——
An article has appeared in the Patrie with
reference to the efforts made at Naples,
and encouraged at Rome, to secure the
restoration of the Bourbonds. The Patrie
declares thatthe French Government has
confidentially communicated to the Court
of Rome the hope that the Papal Govern-
ment will neither Jay itself open to sus-
picion nor compromise the present situa-
tion. The Liberte reports from Naples
that the Jtalian authorities have Jatcly
discovered that one-frane pieces are circu-
lating, some with the efligy of ‘ Francis
Il., King of the Two Sicilies,” and others
with that of * Humbert I., King of North-

orn Ij '
ObVares’ se cet these coins bear on the

remaining furniture; the dead

with one arn to its back; her dahon, clung
had bitten through and through in hee’ she
delirious agony, A coroner's jury was sy
moncd, and when they caine,
stricken hand had found a sack to cover de.
gently the Ledy of one who hed been a lady,

er last| the mea that the

some poverty. now compassing the a
unity and contemplati
theory of a confe

Emperor of the French is

estruction of Italian |
"§ @ return to the
deration, which he broach-

| 638,000.

jobbing purposes. All unite in saying that
it would be madness for the States to enter
upon a war with Great Britain at present,
——The following is a full aud complete
list of losses by the great fire which oe-
curred on Tuesday evening. The total
insurance was $1,137.475. ‘Total loss $2-
Only $35,750 was in Boston
companies, as fellows: New England $20-
750; American $10,000, National $5000,
And in other Insurance Companies, is
follows: In Chicago Companies $114,375 ;
in Cincinnati Companies $57,000; in New
York Companies $380,000; in Providence
Companies $46,620; in Hartford Compin-
ies, $133,125; Albany Companies 329,000 ;
miscellaneous, except Boston, S3L1,H00. °
San Antonio, Texas, Jan. 1868 ;—Des-
patches just received here states that a
severe Indian battle was fought at Cag
Lancaster, which is two hundred and forty
miles north-west of this place off the Hid
Pecos, and is garrisoned by a company ot
colored cavalry belonging to the commind
of General Hateh., ‘The Indians about one
thousand strong, attacked the camp at 4
vclock p. m., while the company were
watering their horsus. In the dark three)
men were killed, a number wounded, and
thirty horses captured; but the colored
soldiers retreated in good order to the
post, where, getting their Spencer car-
hines, they furiously assaulted the savages,
driving them into the old post work near
the camp, Where the fight lasted until late
in the night, when the Indians gave way
in contusion. On the night of the 28th
the Indians renewed the attack, but were
repulsed with great slaughter, leaving the
ground strewn with bows, arrows, guns,
blankets, coats, pistols, and knives, but
carrying off all their dead and wounded.
During the battle a number of white men |
were seen among the Indians, weating
confederate gray uniforms, and apparently
directing their movements, ")

NOVA LOOTIA.

Repeal! is still the cry in Nova Scotia,
On the 17th # very warm ‘and animated
debate took place in Provincial Parliament
on the Repeal resolutions. ‘The. Lion.
Joseph Howe lett Halifax on Friday the
16th, for England, as one of the Delegates
from Nova Scotia to the Imperial Parlia-
ment, to have the Union repealed. He
will be followed by the other Delegates in
afew days. How far they may be suc-
cessful we do not pretend to say, but no
doubt they will get a hearing and be en- |
abled to lay the grievances of the people
of that Province before their Sovereign.
A new anti-Union eta g has been
started in Halifax, called the ** Nova Scotia
Repealer.” A despatch was forwarded
to Toronto thanking the citizens of that
place for the relief afforded the distressed
fishermen, and stating that no further
subscriptions would be required,

WEW BRUNSWIOK.

The Local Legislature of that Province
was opened on the 13th inst, Lis Excel-
lency, in his speech, congratulated the
Members on the prosperity of the Provinea
and the success of its fisheries during the
past your. He further remarked that
** while circumstances beyond our control
have, to a certain extent, damped the
prospects of our enterprising shipbuilders,
yet, I trust, that with the continuance of
peace in Europe and the consequent im.
provement in the trade and commerce of
the world, combined with the facilities for |
shipbuilding in this Proyince, and the ac-|

oa

AL, THURSDAY, FEBRU

of}
| Galveston, ‘Texas. —Mr. Jeff. Davis has

ARY 27.1868,

ment in this most important branch of
business,

The Provincial Exhibition held at St. |
John during the last autumn gaye satis-
factory evidence of the advanced state of
our manufactures. [tis highly gratilying
to me to be able to inform you that the
state of our Revenue is very anvierncy
and that alter providing tor all the ordi-
wary services there will be surplus amply
suflicient to enable you to make the usual
provisions for roads and other public
works, ~

Since the last meeting of the Legislature
of this Provinee, the Act of Parliament for
the Union of the Provinces has come into
force, and I confidently trust that its opera-
tion will be found to advance the social,
material and political interests of the Do+
minion over which tt extends.”

"FARMER'S OLUB—MUSS: L MUD.

( From the Patriot, February \5 )

A large and influential meeting of this So-
ciety, was held in the North American Hotel
last evening, to discuss the question of mussel
wud asa manure. The Koyalty, Brackley
Point Road, Lot 48, St. Peter's Road, West
River, and North River were well represented,
The President, Dr. John ‘f. Jenkins, M.P.P .
occupied the chair, and opened the proceed-
ings with: n address, of which we can only
rive a faint outline. The Doctor observed
tit agricu ture was in all ages an honorable
profession. Lot and Abraham, Prince Pat-
riarchs of ancient times, were Cultivators of
the soil. Cincinnatus the Roman Dictator,
voth before and after his elevation to that high
dignity, cultivated his own farm, in our own
day the late Prince Consort was a practica
furmer and a Patron of agriculture. It was
a Virtuous occupation, Many of the vices
incident to other professions were foreign to
agricultural communities. In this Island,
associations like ours were wanted it order to
bring farmers together, to compare’ systems
and multiply individual experience. ‘The dis-
cussion provoked at these meetings had a
beneficial tendency. If properly conducted
the C.ub would prove a great advantage to
the merchant when he wanted to procure
produce. From its members assembled to-
gether he could purchase a cargo of oats in
five minutes, amd give the runner's commis-
sion to the farmer. A servant's Registry
might also be formed in connection with the
Club,

David Mutch, Esq., of Rustico, a praetical
‘farmer, having been called upon, addressed
the meeting at considerable length, describing
the manner in which he had used mussel mud
on his’farm, and its effect upon the soil and
crops. He referred to our dependence in
this Island on agriculiure; we live by it. We
have long winters, anda short farming season
tocontend. Our fathers, while clearing the
forest, raised good crops; but since their day
the country has been denuded of its shelter.
and the natural fertility of a generous soil,
largely exhausted, Scientific farming and
new manures are now necessities of our po-
sition. Intelligence will give us the first,
wile a beneficent Providence has kindly
placed in the beds of our rivers and bays, one
of the latter. Several years ago, le bought
a farm, and worked it according to the custom
of the country, but found he could not rai
good potatues, oats, barley or wheat. re
soil appeared to be dead. and the fruit of his
labors proving so unsatisfactory, he had al-
most given up turming altoyether. One ton of
hay to the acre was all he could get. He
then tried lime, but it did not answer his ex-
pectations, and wasexpensive. His land was
rather light, to be sure, but he had since
turned his attention to mussel mud, which he
had now used for five years, with the best re-

BEA F FOOLS A eet erase rae ete
is excellent. In the quantity of straw, there
is very little difference. There are various
modes ‘of applying the mussel mud to the
land. Some spread it on the surface, and
then harrow it over, which certainly helps to
pulvorize it. Others put it out in the winter,
and spreadit onthe soil. Mr. Mutch ploughs
itin, For potatoes, he pits out twenty louds
to the acre; then adds twenty loads of barn
yard manure; harrows over the whole and
plants the sets. Next year, for wheat, he
gives the land another twenty-five loads of
mussel mud. ‘This he found by experience.
to be superior to the lime for his lind. Some
used forty jouds ef mud to the acre; others
twenty-five loads; but on this point much
depends on the nature ef the soil. Me, Mutch
also referred to our agricultural implements,
and said that in respect to many ot them, we
were behind thy age. ‘Ten dollars in gold.
would get trom the United States a machine
for cleaning seed grain, which was required,
if we wished to keep up the character of our
grain in the foreign market. He also highly
recommended the introduction of the English
Wheat Drill—a very useful but expensive
machine. With this machine, one horse will
sow 12 0r 15 acres of ground ina day. It
does more work regularly than can be be done
by hand. Italso saves seed It sows three
bushels of oats; 14 bushels of barley, and 24
bushels of wheat to the acre. which ic less
than the quantity used when sown broad cast.

A lively discussion then followed, in which
the President, the Hon. George Beer, Rev.
Angus McDonald, Rector of St. Dunstan's
College, Theophilus Crosby and Henry Long:
worth, squires, and other members of the
Club, took part. While all the speakers
acknowledged that both lime a: d mussel mud
were go.d manure, there was considerable
difference of opinion as to which was the
better. Of the former, some farmers use only
from 10 to 1% barrels to the nere; but 20
barrels seem to be about the proper quantity.
Both Mr. Crosby and Mr. Beer agreed that
lime could be used nowhere better than on
new land, cropped for the firsttime. Put out
in little heaps in the fall, it would give an ex-
cellent wheat crop, and good hay afterwards.
The Crosbys’ farms, West River, were, per-
haps, the oldest farms on the Island on which
the mussel mud had been used, and the result
there was certainly much in its favor. The
Revs Mr. McDonald, who warmly approved
of the object of the Club, remarked that he
had not long since put lim on one part of his
field, and mussel mud on the other. He had
n heavier crop of grain off the latter than he
had off the former, but while this was so, he
hid the first year, good hay on the land where
he put the lime, but no hay at all scarcely
where ho had used the mussel mud. — An ex-
planation of this was more easily asked than
given. Some thought that the heavy crop of
wheat might have choked the grass seed—a
plausible, if not a satisfactory reply. ‘The
coming season's crop may solve the problem.
The question was asked, how would mussel
mud suit after lime, but no one appeared able
to answer it from practical experience. The
discussion of such topics as these, however,
will, we trust, exercise a beneficial influence
throughout the couatry, and induce our
farmers to m: ke experiments year by year,
with a view to testing the relative merits of
the manures we have mentioned, and of the
different modes in which they act under differ-
ent circumstances;

©

Prixce County Acnricu
ng of this Society w
day afternoon, at Strong's Hall, Summerside,
for the purpose of receiving the report of the

| Constitutional Committee, appointed at the

last meeting. and to choose officers for the
balance ofthe year, James G, Wiggins, Esq.,
in the chair.

The Committee submitted a draft of a Cone
stitution which was adopted, with some
amendments. According to this document,—
«The object of this Society shall be the im-
provement and furtherance of Agriculture, by
meetings for mutual encouragement; the re-
lation hy farmers at these mectings of their
practice, and discussions on the different kinds

knowledged energy and skill of our people,
We may reasonably hope for an improve- |

and branches of farming, &c.; by the collec-
tion ot facts having a particular reference to

the capa! ilities of the Soil, and the peculuri- |
ties of the Climate; the general management

of Agricultural produce: the improvement of
Husiindry; the introduction of new and in-

proved varieties ef seeds; the best method of
procuring, preparing, valuing and applying

Manures; the introduction and breeding of
improved Stock of all kinds; and generally

for the encouragement of rural and domestic,
gconomy within this County.”

The officers to consist of a President, Vice

President, and a Committee of nine members,

who are empowered to appoint a Secretary

“and ‘Treasurer, and four additional members

to their body, and regulate the time and place
of mecting of the Society.

After the adoption of the Constitution, the
following officers were chosaen to serve until

the second Tuesday in July, at which time
the Annual meeting is to be held.

President—James G. Wiggins, Esq,

Vice President—Cornelius Howat, Esq.,

Committee—Hon. Alex. Laird, M. P. P.
(Chairman), Daniel Green. Esq., M, P. P..
Stephen MeNeill, George Compton, ‘Thos. H-.
Schurman, Exqrs., and Messrs. George M.
Price, Wim. ‘Taylor, A. Craswell, and Robert
Glover.

‘The Committee have not yet appointed a
Secretery and ‘Treasurer.

It was decided that meetings be held in
Summerside on the evening of every alternate
Tuesday, at 7 o'clock, until April Ist, and
once ® month curing the sa.amer,

Want of space prevents our giving a more
extended report of this meeting; but we can-
not fornear stuting that, as it proper step
in the right direction, and as the Prince Coun-
ty Agricultural Society is composed of some
of the most intelligent farmers in’ this neig
berhood, we expect to sev it prosper, and ere
long embrace in itself, or its branches, the
firming population of the whole County.

‘The price of membership of the Society is
only one dollar.—J’rogress.

Summerside Hournal.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1868.

o notice can be taken of anonymous com-
munications. We must know the names and
addresses of our correspondents as a guaranty
of their good faith. We cannot undertake to
aeturn communications that are not used.

SUMMERSIDE.

Ix the year 1852 this Town was com-
menced, and since then has been annual-
ly increasing in size and importance; a
fact which arrested the attention of the
Legislature a few years ago so forcibly,
that in 1861 the representation enjoyed
in the House uf Assembly by Prince-
town and Royalty, was transferred to
Summerside, together with all other parts
of Lot Seventeen. ‘Thc reasons assigned
for this transfer are thus set forth in the
24 Vic. cap. 34, sec. 2 :—** And whereas
Princetown, although intended by the
original plan or design by which this Is-
land was laid off into Counties and Town-
ships, to be the chief Town of Prince
County, has never as yet become inhabi-
ted, and the advantages possessed by the
village or sctlement of Summerside, or
Township number seventeen, as a port
for steam navigation, and for all com-
mercial purposes, as well as the growing
increase in its trade and number of its
inhabitants, render it better adapted than
Princetown as a_ site for the chief Town
in the said County.”

Experience has sinee shown the cor-
rectness of the reasons thus advanced,
and the wisdom of the course then pur-

has grown so materially since 1861, ‘by

mercantile, mechanical and education in-
terests, which now so fully justifies the
Legislature of that year for regarding it
as the place best adapted for the chief
‘Town of this County.

When this Island, in 1766, was laid
off into Countics and Townships, a site
was also laid off in cach County for a
principal Town, and with the sclec-
tion of the site something more sub-
stantial was secured, for the special be-
nefit of the Town of each County, than
the bare announcement of the selection
of the site; and it was these rig'ts and
yrivileges, then secured to the chief
‘Town of each County, that laid the basis
trom which afterwards urouse the privi-
lege of sending representatives to the
Legislature from each principal Town,
when in 17783 this Island elected mem-
bers for the House of Assembly ; and
when in 1861 the Legislature transferred
the right of representation in our Par-
liamenut from Princetown to Summerside,
for the sufficiently just reasons assigned,
we do consider that something more
should have been secured for the chief
‘Town of this County than the transfer of
the representation in the Legislature from
the one plaice to the other. ‘This was
due alike, we believe, to those who be-
stowed and to those who received this
graceful recognition of a privilege, honor-
ably now, and in so far as it went, grace-
fully bestowed, upon Summerside. As
the Government of 1861 halted when it
came thus far, it has thereby afforded a
better opportunity for the Legislature of
1868 to supply the deficiences of their
predecessors, by securing some public
property for the use of this Towa, and
thus in so far as can now be done, correct
the error that was made by those who
laid off the County ‘Town in the wrong
place.

When this Island was divided into
Counties and Townships, there was 7,300

Royalty of Charlottetown, and
acres for the Towns and Royalties of
Princetown and Georgetown, and when
the Government of 1861 went so far in
the right direction, in favor of Summer-
side, it was then, and has been since,
confidently expected that at least two
public squares, and other small plots
would have been purchased by the Gov-
ernment for this Town, ‘his expesta-
tion was a reasonable one, and we ex-
ceedingly regret that it has not been
done,

Queen's County has not only had se-
cured to her chief ‘Town the land for the
Town and Royalty, with the fine public
squares go well laid off in Charlottetown,
but her first and her last Market House
was largely contributed to by the Legis-
lature from the generalrevenue. Offices
have also been built at the expense of
the whole Island, for all the principal
public departments. We do not com-
plain of this, we would complain were it
otherwise ; but we do say that similar

justi

sued by the Legislature, as Summsrcide’

an annually increasing concentration of

|

acres of land reserved for the Town and|
4,000)

ce has not been extended to Prince
County. We maintain, that in these re-
spects, Prince and King's Counties are
also entitled to their fair proportion of
aid in the same direction, It is an old
maxim, but none the less true, that gov-
ernments exist for the benefit of all those
who are governed, and not for the special-
benefit of a favored few. On this prin-
cipal we contend that the chief ‘own of
Prince County is entitled, in proportion
to their wants and the obyious exigencies
of the public requirements, to the same
favor from the general Government, as
is bestowed upon the chief Town of
Queen's County. That such has been
the case with respéct to Summerside, we
do not think there is a public man in the
Island who will undertake to affirm ; but
we do hope that such will not continue
to be so much longer,

The plot of ground adjoining that on
which the drill shed stands, ought to be
bought fora public square; and we know
of no more useful purpose to which that
building could be appropriated than by
handing it over to this ‘Vosvn for a Mar-
ket Hlouse. We believe further that the
time has arrived when the Government
should procure land here for. other public
uses. It is surely time that a Post and
Custom House offices were provided for
this town by the government, not tomen+
tion an office for the Registry of Deeds
and Wills. Surely the time is near when
the absurdity of monopolizing suck offices
in Charlottctown ought to be abolished.
To say that there is but one office in the
Colony where a deed or will can be re-
corded, is a reproach upon our intelli-
gence, and an imposition upon the re-
mote portions of our common country,.
and ore not much longer to be endured,
if there is any real earnestness in what
we have so often heard from many per-
sons on this subject. We do hope that
these matters may not escape the favor-
able notice and actiun of the Legislature
at its eoming session,

ORAPAUD HARBOR,

We are glad to learn from the letter
of Mr. C. Collett, which we published
last week, that the dredging of Crapaud
Harbor, has not proved a failure, as we
had supposed. Important benefits have,
it ap; ears, accrued from their service.
There are many small harbors on this Is-
land, which seem to be demanding. that
efforts should be put forth for deepening
them, and thereby enabling the people
living in their vicinity to avail themsel-
ves of those means of transit which nature
seems to bid them arise and employ.
Would it not be a wise appropriation,
and proper step if the Government would
procure a Dredging Machine, for the use
ofthe Island? We are decidedly of the
opinion that an energetic movement in
that direction, by the Government, would
be as beneficial to the future interests of
the Island, as it would now be acceptable
to many of its inhabitants.

Gopey’s Liapry’s Book for March
has been rezeived. Itis a very interes-
ting number. The Fashion RJates are
beautiful, as are also the steel plates and
wood cuts. Tvery lady should have it,
if only for the valuable receipts it gives.

( During the past week the weather
has been very cold. Saturday and Sun-
day night last were as cold as any nights
we have had this winter.

fo ‘The House of Assembly will meet
for the despatch of business on Tuesday
next. We hope to make such arrange-
ments as will enable us to lay before our
readers a summary of proceedings cach
week,

Le We received a Colonial and Ame-
;rican Mail last night. ‘The latest des-
patches will be found in another column.

b7" We learn that a house belonging
toa man named Joseph Gallant, near
Miscouche, was burnt down on Sunday
night last.

(3 A late despatch from Harbor
Grace, Nfld., reports that a severe storm
hed visited that locality, and upwards of
thirty persons had perished. Mr. A. M.
McKay, Superintendent of the ‘Telegraph
Company, had a narrow escape from
death.
£59 Scrious alarm prevails at Floren-
ce with respect to certain negotiations
going on between the Cabinets of Paris
end ierlin, These negotiations are to
induce Prussia to take part in a diplo-
matic act on the basis of the Convention
of September, for increasing the guaran-
tees in favor of the temporal power.

30,000 lives were lost by an earth-
quake in the Island of Fermosa.

A woman in Haliiax recently gave birth
to three fine girls. :

‘Tne Westminister Review for Janu-
ary has been received. The contents
are :—*t Dangers of Democracy, Physio-
logical Psychology, Two Temporal Pow-
ers, The Church of Scotland, Extradition,
The origin of Electricity, Indian Worthies
The Abyssinian Difficulty, and the Land
Tenures of British India.”

Free Ohurch Sunday School Tea,

This Tea came off in Scott's Hall on Wod-
nesday night, the 19thinst. The ILall was
crowded, many being unable to effect an en-
trance, and the whole affiir reflects great
credit upon the managing Committee. There
was a goodly number of children present, who
appeared to have enjoyed themselves to their
‘heart's content.” ‘Their behaviour through-
out elicited the admiration and applause of
strangers, aud must have been very gratifying
to their ‘Teachers, Speeches were made by
Ifon. Kenneth Henderson, Chairman, Charles
Palmer, Esq., John Arbuckle, A. M., and
F. W. Hales, Esq. The speeches were inter-
spersed by Vocal Music, conducted by Mr
John Scott.

Mr. Hubbard contributed greatly to the
entertainment of the evening by his Magic
Lantern, ‘The hearty laugtrof the children
and adults was an ample proof of their appre-
ciation of Mr. Hubbard's magical ability, The
views were a decided improvement upon
similar ones which we have seen exhibited by
persons upon former occasions. We will
never forget Mr. Palmer's speech, and it was
de.itodly the best that ever we have heard
upon such an occasion, At the conclusion,
a unanimous vote of thanks was tendered to
all who, by their presence and talent, con-
tributed to the entertainmept; after which all
dispersed to their homes, anticipating a simi-
lar gathering at some future day.— Com, to

| Islander,