ber of births in Paris in the last year was 52,312, of which 26,505 were boys and 25,507 girls. Of the whole number, 14,501 were illegitimate and 37,721 born in wedlock. The number of deaths was 42,185, and the excess of births were 10,127. The marriages celebrated were 15,916.

FREAKS OF EARTHQUAKES.-The phenomena attending earthquakes, says an article on "the God of Earthquakes" in the London Spectator, are more apparently preternatural than those of any other human

event.

The ground assumes the appearance of running water in the ocean itself. Not only are valleys exalted and hills made low, but nature appears to be working out on an awful and tragic scale the wonders of a pantomime. After the great earthquake of Quito in 1797, many whom the earthquake surprised in the town of Riobamba were found as corpses on the top of a hill separated by a river from the place, and several hundred feet higher than the site of the town. The place was shown to Humboldt where the whole furniture of one house was found buried beneath the ruins of another, and it could only be accounted for by supposing that it had sunk into the earth at one spot, and been disgorged at the other. In Calabria, in 1783, whole estates were literally shuffled, so that, for example, a plantation of mulberry trees was set down in the middle of a cornfield, and a field of lupiues was removed into the middle of a vineyard. For several years after, lawsuits were actively carried on in the courts of Naples to reclaim landed property thus conveyed, without legal forms, from one to another. Who can wonder that people, who thus see what Englishmen emphatically call real property flying like shadows before their eyes, prostrate themselves before the great earthquake, in paroxysms of fear and superstition?

MAMMOTH TREES.-When Dartmouth College was founded there was a pine on the college plain 210 feet high. So the sycamores and maples of the Ohio Valley have attained from 16 to 20 feet in diameter. But the largest American trees have grown west of the Rocky Mountains. In Oregon these monster trees are seen towering to the heavens, without a limb within a hundred feet of the ground. Lower down, in California, they are larger still, some of them measuring from 30 to 60 feet in diameter and 400 feet in hight, of ages estimated at from 3,000 to 5,000 years.

The story of the California pines is almost incredible; we can not think of a tree that has survived the great flood, or existed in the days of Moses, or Solomon, or Paul, as fair and green as if planted by our fathers; but they tell a story of a banyan-tree yet growing upon an island in the Nerbudda River, India, which is mentioned by Nearchus, in the time of Alexander the Great, as being capable of sheltering 10,000 men at

etc., and not exceeding twenty cents per pound in value. This is mixed with the finer wool of our country, and used in the manufacture of coarse woolen goods. Of this species of wool, we import twenty-five millions of pounds per annum. The growth and culture of sheep must for several years to come be a very profitable business. Cotton will never, perhaps, be as cheap as it has been, and it will take some years to bring the cotton-fields back to their former productiveness. Wool will, therefore, be more in demand, and the greater perfection of woolen machinery, in cheapening the manufacture, will increase the consumption and the profits of woolen goods. There is every inducement, therefore, for farmers to raise sheep.

WEIGHT OF PEOPLE.-We read in All the Year Round, what is the average weight of a man? At what age does he attain his greatest weight? How much heavier are men than women? What would be the weight of fat people, and what of very fat people? M. Quetelet, of Brussels, some years ago, deemed such questions quite within the scope of his extensive series of researches on man. He got hold of every body he could, every-where, and weighed them all. He weighed the babies, he weighed the boys and girls, he weighed the youths and maidens, he weighed men and women, he weighed collegians, soldiers, factory people, pensioners and as he had no particular theory to disturb his facts, he honestly set down such results as he met with All the infants in the Foundling Hospital at Brussels for a considerable period were weighed, and the results were compared with others obtained from similar establishments in Paris and Moscow. The average returns show that a citizen of the world, on the first day of his appearance in public, weighed about six pounds and a half-a boy baby a little more, a girl baby a little less. Some very modest babies hardly turn the scale with two pounds and a half, while other pretentious youngsters boast of ten or eleven pounds. M. Quetelet grouped his thousands of people according to ages, and found that the young men of twenty averaged one hundred and forty-three pounds each, while the young women of twenty have an average of one hundred and twenty-nine pounds. His men reached their heaviest bulk at about thirty five, when their average weight was one hundred and fifty-two pounds; but the women slowly fattened on till fifty, when their average was one hundred and thirty-nine pounds. Men and women together, the weight at full growth averaged almost exactly one hundred and forty pounds.

AN ITEM OF INTEREST.-The average of human life is 32 years. One quarter die before the age of 7. To every 1,000 persons, one rarely reaches the age of 100, and not more than one in 500 will reach the age of 80. There are on the earth 1,000,000,000 persons. Of these about 93,333,333 die every year, 91,824 die every day, 7,789 overy hour, and 70 every minute. The losses are balanced by an equal number of births. The married are longer lived than the single. Women have more chances of life previous to the age of fifty years, but fewer after than men. The number of marriages

is in proportion of 70 to 100. Marriages are more frequent after the equinoxes than during the month of June or December. Those born in the Spring are more robust than others.

GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH.-The statistical report of the Synodic year gives the following results: 2 Synods, 29 classes, 475 ministers, 1,162 congregations, 109,258 members, 70,432 unconfirmed members, 11,088 baptisms, 6,811 confirmations, 2,392 received on certificate, 90,972 communed, 196 excommunicated, 1,244 dismissed, 4,169 deaths, 926 Sabbath schools, 29,167 Sabbath school scholars, $60,882.46 benevolent contributions. The increase during the year is 1 minister, 33 congregations, 6,927 members, 4,143 unconfirmed members, 1,803 confirmations, 220 receptions on certificate, 59 Sabbath schools, 6,063 Sabbath school scholars, and $16,182.80 benevolent contributions. The decrease is 546 baptisms, and 435 deaths.

REV. DANIEL WEBB.-Rev. Daniel Webb, of the Providence Conference, died at his residence in Barnstable, on Tuesday, March 19th, aged eighty-eight years and eleven months. For more than threescore years he labored in the Gospel ministry, sustaining through that long period a spotless reputation. A man of em

inent gravity, of winning courtesy, of rare practical wisdom, he was a type of those old Methodist preachers who, as Wesley said, "were at it and always at it," and to whose aggressive faith and unflagging endeavor the success of the denomination is so largely due. He retired from active service in 1853, but not on account of any failure of his intellectual powers. These continued to the close of his life. He died because the body was worn out; going to his last, long sleep as calmly, sweetly, peacefully, "as flowers at set of sun." A portrait and sketch of the old veteran was published in the Repository for June, 1860.

PROTESTANTISM IN BELGIUM.-The progress of the missionary work in Belgium continues uninterrupted. There are about sixty Protestant laborers at work, of whom thirteen preachers received salaries from the Government, twenty-three from the Evangelical Society, ten being converts from Popery, and the remainder are colporteurs, Scripture-readers, and school teachers. Nearly all the Church members are converts from Romanism, in some Churches there not being a born Protestant, and in several only one. The Evangelical Society has added a Church for the last eight years to the number of its Churches.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN AMERICA.-This was ir regularly formed in Providence, Rhode Island, by Roger Williams, in 1639. In 1744 Elder Gregory Dexter, who was regularly baptized and commenced his ministry in England, took charge of the Church.

BAPTISTS IN ILLINOIS.-There are twenty Baptist Churches in Illinois which use a foreign language, with seventeen ministers and seven hundred and fifty-three members. Eleven of these are German, three Swede, two French, two Welsh, one Danish, and one Norwegian.

A VISIT TO ASHLAND.-During our visit to the recent Kentucky Conference at Lexington, we were invited by Mr. Bowman, Regent of the Kentucky University, to dine with him at Ashland, the former residence of Henry Clay. We had previously visited the cemetery in which is found the tall and graceful monument which covers the sarcophagus containing the remains of the illustrious statesman. We were glad of an opportunity to see where he had lived, to pass along the avenues through which he had walked, and where doubtless many great thoughts and patriotic schemes were born. The estate contains three hundred and twenty-five acres, commencing in the suburbs of Lexington and extending for more than a mile along a beautiful turnpike thoroughfare. We could not see the old house in which Mr. Clay had lived. It was torn down nine years ago, and a magnificent structure, standing on the same foundation, and, therefore, retaining much of the form and many of the arrangements of the old homestead, was erected by James B. Clay, son of the great Senator. The son, sympa

thizing with the rebellion, and becoming involved in its dangers, escaped to Canada and there died. The estate was purchased by Mr. Bowman for the uses of the University, and has now become very appropri ately the center of what is destined to be one of the greatest educational institutions of the country.

We shall not attempt to describe this magnificent building, or even our own emotions, as we passed through its halls, and rode through the avenues of the estate, and visited various buildings now used by the University.

One circumstance enabled us still more to feel some

thing of the presence of the departed statesman; it was an admirable painting executed in 1866, by P. Staunton, of New York. It occupies a large space on one side of the room, and contains a group of which Mr. Clay is the center, and around him are gathered the illustrious associates of his last days. Mr. Clay is represented as delivering his last speech in the Senate chamber, and exhibits his tall figure in a commanding attitude, and his noble face animated with the interest

of the occasion. On his right sits Mr. Seward, as he was sixteen years ago. On his left is another honored son of Kentucky, Mr. Crittenden. In the background are Webster, Scott, Robertson, Letcher, Hunter, Underwood, Douglas, Benton, Cass, and Houston. The picture was painted for the Senate chamber of the State of Kentucky, but was set aside for what most people think an inferior one, for sectional considerations.

If Mr. Clay were now living he could not wish for any better fortune for his estate than is now likely to befall it. Ten years ago Mr. J. B. Bowman, now Regent of the Kentucky University, a gentleman of education and fortune, conceived the idea of developing a great educational institution for his native State, and consecrated himself to the work. The result shows

what may be accomplished by an intelligent, energetic, and persevering man devoting himself to a single noble enterprise. After various fortunes, all pointing toward final success, Mr. Bowman a few weeks ago presented to the Legislature of Kentucky deeds to the estate of Mr. Clay and one hundred and twenty-five additional acres, with the buildings thereon, being a real estate worth $200,000, and a half million more in bonds, mortgages, etc., as the foundation and endowment of "THE KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY." The University is already in successful operation, having the various departments of a college of arts, of law, of agriculture, and of theology, and in a short time will have a college of medicine. Five hundred students are in attendance in the various departments. One hundred and fifty students are in the agricultural department. Two hundred and fifty are receiving free tuition and free rooms, and have an opportunity of paying for their board in labor if they so choose. Mr. Bowman, still unwearied in his great work, will move forward immediately in an effort to raise the endowment to one million of dollars! He and his friends say he will succeed.

ANOTHER PICTURE.-On our table we find a large lithograph containing portraits of "the pioneers and Bishops of the Methodist Church," accompanied by a little volume containing "historical and biographical sketches" of the eminent men whose likenesses are given in the engraving. Both are issued by H. F. Brown, in Cincinnati and Cleveland. The engraving is a lithograph sixteen by twenty-two inches, containing thirty-three portraits, representing all the Bishops of our Church, Mr. Wesley, Whitefield, Lorenzo Dow, Embury, Garrettson, Levings, Bangs, Stevens, and other men eminent in the history of Methodism. A portrait of Barbara Heck is also given, evidently a supposed one, as no real portrait of Mrs. Heck is in existence. The corners are ornamented with pioneer scenes, except one which exhibits Tremont-Street Church, Boston. The little book designed as a companion for the engraving, contains well-written short sketches of the fathers and pioneers of Methodism, and conveys a large amount of information in a small space, and may well serve the purpose of awakening a desire to know more of the history of the Church and of its representative men. The price of the whole is $3. OUR ENGRAVINGS.-Our illustrations for this month will carry us back to the earlier days of our life.

Golden Moments, engraved by Mr. Hinshelwood from a picture by Wm. Hart, will carry us to our youth, and suggest by its quiet beauty many golden scenes that we remember in the years that are gone. "Our Father which art in heaven," engraved by Mr. Wellstood, will take us to our mother's arms, to the little trundle-bed, to the sweet good-night, to the prayers of our childhood, and lift us, we trust, through these precious memories to a sweeter communion with the "Father in heaven."

CORRESPONDENCE.-There are few things more strengthening and encouraging to an editor than evidences of the appreciation of his labors by those for whom his efforts are made. We certainly have had our share of these encouragements in the shape of

many letters from our patrons. Thanks to the good spirit and patience of both subscribers and contributors, we have not yet had a bitter letter. Of course it is not possible for us to reply to these kind epistles, nor do we think they are intended for publication, but we give the following as a specimen, with our thanks:

Dear Editor,-I want to tell you how I love the Repository. Ours is a country home-a shady retreat among the hills, and here the Repository has long been a regular visitor. I love it because it does not overlook the country people. In fact, I think it gives us a good share of attention, and seems to admit that, though often rude and uncultivated, we may wield no trifling influence for good or evil.

How prone is the busy farmer's wife in the midst of her varied duties as pertaining to wife, mother, and housekeeper, or it may be to the entertainment of guests, perhaps, like Martha's, a sacred guest, to become cumbered with much serving! For all this the Repository has many an antidote. Often have I, when enjoying a brief season of rest from toil, been refreshed and strengthened by its gentle teachings, and often have I felt its mild rebuke. And how many 66 grand

mother Glades" would there be among us? how many "aunt Hapgoods," were it not for its timely hints? I pity the poor country woman who is uncheered by its sweet society. Send it forth then, kind editor; it is a faithful itinerant, and is ever "going about doing good." Send it forth, and chil dren's children shall rise up and call you blessed. 0. T. S.

THE MISSIONARY RECORDER.-Our missionary brethren in China have just commenced a new paper, to be published once a month, at the rooms of our mission press in Foochow. The first number has reached us, and we are glad to notice the initiation of this novel enterprise. To the friends at home of the Chinese missionaries it will come like a welcome letter, bearing intelligence of their labors, their hopes, their successes, and their prospects. "As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country."

ARTICLES ACCEPTED.-Benevolence; Charles Linnæus; The Soul's Loneliness; Order; The Moral Education of Young Ladies; A Chapter on Doves; A Chapter on Sparrows; The Divine Element in Christianity; The Ambitious Violet; The Hurricane; Missions; A Comparison; Earth and Heaven.

ARTICLES DECLINED.-God is but Love; God made not Man to Mourn; The Isolated Day; A Story for the Boys; Lost; Looking Back at Affliction; The Deserted Church; The Sexton's Trials; A Missionary Sketch; The Old Church Bell; Thought; Imitation; StandardBearers: The Spirit of Gold; Heart Pictures; Silent Cities; A Dream; The Savior's Promise; The Neighbor; and The Pious Poor.