ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.-The earnings of the Atlantic Telegraph Cable during the past year have been over a million of dollars. After heavy deductions, resulting from the two accidents to the cable of 1866, there remained to the credit of the revenue account $140,670, out of which a dividend is declared at the rate of 4 per cent. free of income tax, upon the first 8 per cent. preferential stock. But for these accidents and a charge for back interest, the net earnings would have paid 7 per cent. on $12,000,000, leaving $70,000 for a reserve fund. INCREASE OF LARGE CITIES-A new French volume presents some interesting statistics concerning the increase in population of large cities: In 1865 the population of Paris was calculated at 1,863,000; of London, at 3,028,000; of Vienna, at 560,000; of New York, a year earlier, at 1,025,300. The annual ratio or increase per inhabitant, was, in Paris, 0,002-in other words, 100 inhabitants became 102 in the course of the year; in London, 0,017; at Vienna, 0,016, and at New York, 0,035. The average number of inhabitants in a single house is for Paris, 27; for London, 7; Vienna, 54, and New York, 14; so that Vienna is the most densely populated town of the four. From these data it ap pears that the increase of New York is equal to that of three other cities, taken together-a circumstance owing, of course, to the stream of emigration constantly flowing in that direction. In 1790 the population of New York was 33,131, and it has since been four times doubled. With regard to the other towns, Dr. Vachar attributes their increase to the tendency of the country people to migrate to the large centers of population, for the mere excess of births over deaths can not account for this increase. Paris has doubled in the course of 32 years, London in the course of 40, and Vienna in the course of 44. Yet the excess of births over deaths in Paris was only 41,934 from 1836 to 1856, while the increase of population, during the same period, was 305,908. In London, from 1811 to 1861, the excess of births over deaths was 321,189; the increase of population, on the contrary, was 926,026. FRENCH AND AMERICAN SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH.The new submarine cable proposed to be laid from France to the United States will extend from Brest to St. Pierre Miquelon, following a plateau which has been sounded very carefully. From St. Pierre Miquelon the cable, in order to reach New York, will follow the English coast of New Brunswick and the American litoral of the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. At first sight might appear desirable to carry a line from Brest to New York direct, but, to achieve this object, it would be necessary to carry the cable across parts of the Atlantic which are utterly unsoundable. The operation of submersion is expected to commence in May, 1868. The Portuguese Government has granted to Messrs. Darley Rose, Charles Cooper, and Stephenson Clarke, the concession of a line which is to be established between Falmouth and Peniche. The concession is granted for ninety-nine years, dating from 1869, by which date the line is to be established. A telegraph station will be formed at Lisbon, and will be in communication with that at Peniche. EMPLOYMENT OF SWISS WOMEN.-Twenty thousand Swiss women earn a comfortable living by watchput them together. A few women are finishers. The making. They make the movements, and even mostly Englishwoman's Review says: Geneva has refused to employ women, and totally lost the watch trade. None of the so-called Geneva watches are made there, but in Neufchatel, where women have always been employed. A traveler says: We see women at the head of some of the heaviest manufactories of Switzerland and France, in the watch and jewelry line. In England are employed in one London establishment, and in several principal towns. Five hundred women are employed in making interior chains for chronom Women eters. A NEW ANESTHETIC.-A new anesthetic has come into use of late. It is quadrichloride of carbon, which possesses an agreeable smell of quinces, and can produce insensibility in less than a minute. This insensibility may be maintained with or without loss of consciousness; its effects cease speedily when desired, and are not followed by vomiting. It has also been successfully used for obstinate headache. SQUEAKING BOOTS.-A correspondent of the Scientific American says that the unpleasant squeak of boot and shoe soles can be stopped by simply confining the layers of the sole by one or more rows of pegs, driven from the toe toward the heel, as the noise is caused wholly by the friction of one sole on the other. The only objection is that the rows of pegs unpleasantly stiffen the soles. NUMBER OF LAWYERS.-The Algemeine Zeitung states that in England there is one lawyer for every 1,240 of the population; in France, one for every 1,970; in Belgium, one for every 2,700; and in Prussia, one for every 12,000 only. In England the number of persons belonging to each of the different professions is nearly the same. Thus there are 34,790 lawyers, 35,483 clergymen, and 35,995 physicians. In Prussia, on the other hand, there are 4,809 physicians to only 1,362 lawyers. THE OLDEST RELIC OF HUMANITY.-The oldest remnant of mortality extant is the skeleton of one of the earlier Pharaohs, incased in its earlier robes, and wonderfully perfect, considering its age, which was deposited about eighteen or twenty months ago in the British Museum, and is justly considered the most valuable of its archæological treasures. The lid cf the coffin which contained the royal mummy was inscribed with the name of its occupant, Pharaoh Mykerimus, who succeeded the heir of the builder of the great pyramid, about two centuries before Christ. Only think of it; the monarch whose crumbling bones and leathery integuments are now exciting the wonder of numerous gazers in London, reigned in Egypt before Abraham was born, and only about two centuries or so after Mizraim, the grandson of old father Noah and the first of the Pharaohs, had been gathered to his fathers! TOBACCO-The consumption of tobacco in France is increasing with a great rapidity. In 1789 the revenue produced by the sale was $30,000,000, which sum in 1811 had declined to $16,000,000. Since the latter date, however, an uninterrupted improvement has taken place, and in 1835 the revenue was $175,000,000. CEDARS OF LEBANON.-It has been generally supposed that the cedars of Lebanon, so famous and plentiful in Solomon's time, had mostly disappeared. But several extensive groves have lately been discovered in these mountain wilds by Rev. Mr. Jessup, missionary of the American Board. A single grove in southern Lebanon contains 10,000 trees. RELIGIOUS BELIEF OF THE ESQUIMAUX.-The distinguished Northern voyager, Dr. Hayes, in a recent lecture, gave a brief description of the Esquimaux, their habits, mode of living, religion, etc. They believe in a future state, a good and bad spirit, a heaven and hell. The abode of happiness they consider a green island where no ice is, and there is plenty to eat and nothing to do. The place of punishment is about the reverse. The evil spirit is said to be the good spirit's wife. She lives under the water, and has power to call down the seals and walruses when she is angry; so the Esquimaux try to propitiate her by throwing salt meat in the water, thinking if she is well fed she will be good natured. They were described as a peaceable, well-disposed people, deserving sympathy, but rapidly dying out from the increasing severity of the climate. Dr. Hayes thinks that one or two generations more will see their extinction. This refers to those in the northern part of Greenland. In the southern part they are more civilized, quite Christianized, and lead useful lives by hunting, selling furs, etc., to European traders. THE EXPRESS COMPANIES.-The various express companies doing business in New York, for the first seven months of 1867, made the following returns of receipts: Adams Express, $1,990,080; United States, $1,312,858; American Express, $1,216,640; Merchants' Union Express, $2,043,151. GOLD FISH IN THE HUDSON.-The Hudson River has become so full of "gold fish" that fishermen take them by thousands. They originally came from a private fish-pond near Washington's head-quarters, at Newburg, which communicated with the river by an outlet, through which they made their way to the main stream. They have bred with great rapidity, and have stocked the river. Belrospect of Bligions telligence. THE SHAKERS.-So much has been said of late in relation to the Shakers, that public attention has been more drawn to that community than heretofore, and information respecting them will be of interest. A writer in the New York Tribune speaks of this sect as follows: The Shakers are divided into families of from 100 to 200 each. Property is held by the Trustees for the common good. There is no such thing as wages, but each is supplied with all things needful. They eat at long tables in one room, the ladies at one and the gentlemen at another. Their food is plain and wholesome. They use but little meat. Graham bread is common, and only the older members have warm drink. Now and then one uses tobacco, but it is their abomination. They have cattle, sheep, horses, etc. The following is a list of the Shaker communities in this country. There are none in any other part of the world, and they average about 200 members each: New Lebanon, Col. co., N. Y.; Watervliet, Albany co., N. Y.; Cleveland, Livingston co., N. Y.; Hancock, Berkshire co., Mass.; Tryingham, in the same county; Harvard, Worcester co., Mass.; Shirley, seven miles distant from the last; Enfield, Conn.; Thompsonville, Conn.; Canterbury, Merrimack co., N. H.; Enfield, Grafton co., N. H.; Alfred, York co., Me.; Union Village, Warren co., Ohio; Watervliet, Montgomery co., Ohio; White Water, Hamilton co., Ohio; North Union, Cuyahoga co., Ohio; Pleasant Hill, Mercer co., Ky.; and South Union, Logan co., Ky. No new ones have been formed for many years, and, on the whole, they hardly keep their numbers good. THE FIRST CHAPTER OF ROMANS.-Dr. Worcester once said that he had been told by a returned mis sionary, that after reading the first chapter of Romans to a heathen congregation, they came around him at the close of the service, and said, "You wrote that chapter for us." The Watchman and Reflector says: We have heard the Rev. Dr. Dean, of China, relate a similar fact. He had been conversing with an intelligent Chinese respecting our sacred books, assuring him that they are very old. He gave him a specimen. Soon after the man came to Dr. Dean, and with a look of triumph and accusation exclaimed, 'You told me your book was very ancient; but that chapter,' pointing to the first of Romans, 'you have written yourself since you came here and learned all about Chinamen.' CHURCHES IN THE UNITED STATES.-There are 54,000 churches of all denominations in the United States; giving an aggregate accommodation to 19,128,751 persons; the aggregate value of this church property being $171,398,532. Of this the proportion does not accord with the respective church accommodation of each-the Methodist, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Episcopal, persons in 2,250 churches. Fifth, the CongregationalBaptist, and Congregational having the most value-ists-956,351, and 2,234 churches. Sixth, the Protestant New York having the greatest amount of this church Episcopal-847,266, and 2,145 churches. There are property, and Pennsylvania next; the value being $35,- 269,084 churches, with 826 places of worship, and only 125,287 in New York, and $22,581,479 in Pennsylvania. 34,412 Jews, with 77 synagogues. There are 6,275 But Pennsylvania has more churches than any other Spiritualists; 5,200 Shakers; 15,395 Swedenborgians; State; namely, 5,337, while New York has 5,287. On and 13,100 Mormons, with 21 churches in Utah, and the other hand, the church accommodation is 2,253,820 1 in California. persons in New York, against 2,112,920 in Pennsylvania. The average value of each church differs very much; as low as $441 for a Spiritualist place of worship, as high as $16,433 for the Unitarian, $14,744 for the Jewish, and about $10,000 each for the Protestant Episcopal, Roman Catholic, and Dutch Reformed. The average value of a Methodist church is set down at $1,644, and of a Baptist at $1,734. The value of all church property in Utah is $888,700. In Pennsylvania there is one church to every 544 of the population; in New York, one to every 734; in California, one to every 1,297; in Massachusetts, one to 752. The aggregate of persons in the whole Union for whom there is no church accommodation is 12,314,570. There is accommodation for 19,128,751, and the whole population is 31,443,321; therefore, where there is room in the various houses of religious worship for 19 out of THE CURE OF INEBRIATES.-Dr. Albert Day, Superintendent of the New York State Inebriate Asylum at Binghampton, publishes a letter in the Binghampton Daily Republican in reply to an article which appeared a few days before in the Mail in relation to the cure of inebriates, from which we gather the following interesting facts. The Doctor says: During the last ten years I have had under my care over twenty-five hundred cases of inebriety, in all its various forms aud conditions. More than four hundred of these had delirium in its various stages. In the first years of my connection with the asylum for the treatment of their cases, I embraced the common error, that liquor could not with safety be entirely withdrawn from the habitual drinker. After two or three years of observation I found this was an error, and that the 32, as many as 12 more have no place to hold worship pathology of drunkenness was not well understood by in. There really ought to be 75,000 places of worship, instead of 54,000. THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.-The Old School has one thousand and sixty-two more Churches than the New School, and four hundred and sixty-two more ministers. The additions to the Churches during the past year average a fraction over eight to each minister in the Old School Church, and a fraction over seven in the New. Another extraordinary item is the difference in the number of infants baptized in the two Churches-10,269 in the Old School Church, 4,387 in the New School Church. Infant baptism must surely be neglected in the latter Church. BAPTIST INCREASE.—It appears that in 25 years the Baptists have gained 69 per cent. in churches, 77 per cent. in ministers, and 98 per cent. in members; and that in 27 years the contributions for Home and Foreign missions have increased 384 per cent. NEW HAMPSHIRE METHODISM.-New Hampshire has 12,620 Methodists, with 128 preachers, 25 of whom are superannuated. Their 105 church edifices are valued at $320,250. The Congregationalists number 18,153, and have 183 churches. AMERICAN SUNDAY SCHOOL IN PARIS.-A Sunday school established by Americans is flourishing at Paris, France. It makes Paris seem quite home-like to American travelers to hear the children sing "Marching Along," "The Recruit's Song," "Happy Day," etc. CHURCH ACCOMMODATIONS.-The Methodists, who have a total aggregate church accommodation for 6,259,769 persons, in 19,833 churches, are the most numerous of all the sects in the United States. Next are the Baptists-4,054,220 in 12,150 churches. Third, the Presbyterians—265,949 in 6,406 churches. Fourth, the Roman Catholics, set down as having 1,404,437 medical men generally, particularly those who had ventured to write books on the subject. I found on trial that my patients did much better by withdrawing alcohol altogether, never allowing even alcoholic tinctures of any kind to be given. A man may habitually drink his quart or more of liquor per day, as most habitual drinkers do. Confine such a man in some place and put him upon an allowance of one-half his usual quantity, and he will suffer more than he will to cut him off entirely. Absolute abstinence will cure the inebriate; nothing short of it will keep him cured after he is raised up from a life of inebriety and degradation. SPREAD OF METHODISM.-Rev. Luke Wiseman, of the Wesleyan body, writes to the London Times, claiming that the Wesleyan or Methodist body throughout the world equals, if it does not exceed, the Anglican in the number of its adherents. In the United Kingdom he says there are nearly a million and a half Wesleyans; in the colonies, 570,000; in the United States, seven millions. The other Methodist bodies number above a million; and there are thus altogether between eleven and twelve millions in those countries where the English language is spoken. He calculates the adherents of Anglicanism at about ten and a half millions. SECULARIZATION OF MONASTERIES.-The municipal body of Naples has just received the present of 17 vast monasteries, for three of which the Provincial Council has applied to serve as barracks for the Carbineers. Portions only will be given up for that purpose, as some are large enough to receive the popula tion of a small town, and it is to be hoped that these buildings will be appropriated to the use of the laboring poor, who are crowded together in hovels better adapted to wild beasts. The same transfer of the religious houses in Mexico to the State has added largely to the public revenues, and in like proportion diminished the rate of taxation. HISTORY OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. By Abel Stevens, LL. D. Vol. IV. 12mo. Pp. 522. New York: Carlton & Porter. Cincinnati: Poe & Hitchcock. Dr. Stevens announces the completion of his work in the present volume. It brings the history of the Church down to the year 1820, and with his own graceful pen he assigns his reasons for closing at that period, rather than in another volume to carry it to the Centenary Year. "Our recent controversies," he says, can not yet be satisfactorily narrated; the chief acters in some of them are still living, the families of many of the actors in the earlier ones still survive. There is also hopeful tendency of reunion among our denominational parties which should not be disturbed by a return, however guarded, to their old disputes. Not till years hence can the historian safely review these unfortunate events." " These are good and, perhaps, sufficient reasons for ending the work on the safe side of those controversies, but our great regret is, that probably in the years hence," when it would be opportune to write the history, we will not have the eloquent pen and the ample qualifications of Dr. Stevens to write it. We had been promising ourselves the delight and benefit of studying some of these controversies of the past under the impartial and thorough treatment of this experienced historian, and could be reconciled to the thought of still waiting, but the author puts a finality to his work by saying "I have no design of writing that volume, at least not within the next ten or fifteen years." This concluding volume makes, however, a substantially complete history of the Church. It exhibits the inception, organization, working of all the great features and institutions of the Church, its theological and disciplinary systems, its Publishing, Educational, Sunday School, and Missionary operations, leaving the remaining history to be but the continued working, development, and modifications of these characteristic features. The period also fittingly closes," says the author, "with the disappearance of Coke, Asbury, Whatcoat, Lee, and most of the great original leaders of the denomination from the scene. A historian, or even an epic poet, could hardly demand a more befitting denouement to his story, or more interesting and romantic materials for it." We need offer no commendations on this great work. We most cordially congratulate the author on the completion of his chef-d'œuvre, and the Church on the possession of such annals of her heroic age. EZEKIEL AND DANIEL; with Notes, Critical, Explanatory, and Practical, designed for both Pastors and People. By Rev. Henry Cowles, D. D. 12mo. Pp. 472. $2.25. New York: D Appleton & Co. Cincinnati: R. W. Carroll & Co.-Dr. Cowles has undertaken a great and much-needed work, and in his previous volume on "The Minor Prophets" showed that he possesses eminent abilities for it. He designs to produce a series of popular commentaries on all the prophets, adapted to the wants of both pastors and people, concise and yet lucid, bringing out the true and precise sense of the original, with extended discussion only on points of special interest and difficulty. His comments are very readable, somewhat in the form of running lectures, learned, without the least show of pedantry, courageously attacking points of real difficulty, fully up to the most recent attainments and methods in Biblical interpretation, and thoroughly orthodox and evangelical. The present volume containing the two great prophets of the captivity-Daniel and Ezekiel-is exceedingly interesting, and the author is the master of the learning requisite for the exposition of these peculiarly historico-prophetical books. The remaining volumes on Isaiah and Jeremiah are promised in rapid succession. MANUAL OF PHYSICAL EXERCISES. By William Wood, Instructor in Physical Education. One Hund red and Twenty-Five Illustrations. 12mo. Pp. 316. $1.50. New York: Harper & Brothers. Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co.-It seems to be very easy for men to glide from one extreme to another in matters pertaining to personal wellbeing. At times whole nations seem to become so exclusively devoted to intellectual culture as almost entirely to ignore the physical necessities of the man. Then we have a great awaking in behalf of the neglected and suffering body, and multitudes seem to find the grand desideratum in physical education. Just at present a large share of attention is given to the development of the body, and to so-called methods of preserving physical health. There can not, perhaps, be too much attention given to the laws of health, nor is it possible to reach the highest mental power and culture by any process which neglects or sacrifices the body. We think it is quite possible, however, to spend too much time in play, to substitute a great many exercises which are nothing more than an additional amount of labor under the title of physical culture, to resort to a great many very exceptionable practices under the name of recreations, and to dignify a great many idle amusements as means of preserving the health. There are many excellent things in the book before us; the excellent things far exceed the objectionable; but there are many things in the volume that we would very seriously question, as methods of physical education, that we would very strongly doubt as means of health, and that we would utterly condemn in their moral aspect and tendency. A judicious system of gymnastic and calisthenic exercises should be found in connection with all our schools and colleges, and abundant opportunity should be furnished to all children and youth for outdoor play and exercise, and Mr. Wood's book gives ample and judicious directions for these purposes. Many valuable lessons are here also given to invalids in regard to recovering and maintaining health. The whole of the exercises of Part Fifth, embracing the arts of "Defense and Offense," fencing, sparring, etc., could be spared from the world without any loss in manliness or good health. A DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE; Comprising its Antiquities, Biography, Geography, and Natural History. With numerous Illustrations and Maps, engraved expressly for this Work. Edited by William Smith, LL. D., Classical Examiner of the University of London. Royal 8vo. Pp. 1017. Cloth, $5. Leather, $5.50. Cincinnati: National Publishing Company.-Smith's Dictionary of the Bible is already a standard, and the only question now is, in what form to possess it. The edition lying before us shows that the National Publishing Company knows what is the want of the American public, and how to meet it. In a single volume, well bound, on excellent paper, in clear type, at a low price, the mechanical execution of the work leaves nothing to be desired. The work itself is universally admitted, by all who are competent to form an enlightened opinion, to be the best book of its kind in the English language, and to have no rival in importance for the elucidation of the scenes and facts of Scripture, and is so full, accurate, and comprehensive, as to leave little to be desired in the department of which it treats. It contains every name in the Bible and the Apocrypha, of which any thing can be said. It gives an accurate account of every place and every name in the Scriptures, of which explanation or illustration is required. It describes every animal, bird, and insect, and reptile, every plant and every mineral, every implement and domestic utensil mentioned or alluded to in the Bible. It gives an account of the manners and customs, costumes, habitations, laws, civil and ecclesiastical antiquities of the Jews and surrounding nations. It also embraces geographical descriptions of the Holy Land and other countries, according to the most recent and accurate surveys; and includes a history and analysis of each of the books of the Bible; biographical sketches of the writers and of all other Scripture characters; while very many of the longer articles, being the results of the most finished scholarship, are complete treatises in themselves, and worthy of a separate publication. It is fully up to the times, giving the results of the most successful and approved Biblical labors and researches of scholars and travelers, including the latest of Layard, Rawlinson, and others, condensed for wide and common use, and constituting an indispensable aid to teachers, families, Sunday school superintendents, and Bible students, and Bible readers generally. HISTORY OF THE THIRTY-NINTH CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES. By William H. Barnes, A. M., Author of "The Body Politic." 8vo. Pp. 613. Indianapolis: Macauley & Co. Cincinnati: R. W. Carroll & Co.-The Thirty-Ninth Congress was a history-making body, completing by legislation the victories that had been gained by battles. The annals of its sayings and doings are but a continuation of the records of the rebellion. It was as necessary in the salvation of the country as was the army. It nobly met the issues that pressed upon it, and its work challenges the admiration of mankind. In a few years the hand of a master will give the world its history, and it will become a classic in our country, and our children will be as proud of it as we have been of the statesmanship, legislation, and institutions which glorified the first Congress after the Revolution. In the mean time Mr. Barnes and the enterprising publishers have done a good work and met a great want by issuing the present volume, conof this memorable body. The bills that were passed, taining a full and well-arranged record of the doings the great topics that were under discussion, the wise and good things that were said are all here, more or less fully reported. The volume itself is a fine specimen of book-making. It contains an excellent steel portrait of Mr. Colfax, Speaker of the House, who also gives an eloquent introductory note, and is supplemented with a valuable "Biographical Index of the Thirty-Ninth Congress." THE ADVENTURES OF OLIVER TWIST. Also Pictures from Italy, and American Notes. By Charles Dickens. With Original Illustrations. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. Cincinnati: Robert Clarke & Co. $1.50.-Another volume of the beautiful "Diamond Edition," small enough to carry in the pocket, yet containing 487 pages with double columns, and three of Mr. Dickens's most interesting works. RAINBOWS FOR CHILDREN. Edited by L. Maria Child. Twenty-Eight Illustrations. Square 16mo. Pp. 170. $1.50. SNOW-BERRIES. A Book for Young Folks. By Alice Cary. With Illustrations. Square 16mo. Pp. 206. $1.50. GRIMM'S GOBLINS. Selected from the Household Stories of the Brothers Grimm. With Illustrations in Colors from Cruikshank's Designs. Square 12mo. Pp. 111. $1.50. These juveniles are from the house of Ticknor & Fields, for sale by Robert Clarke & Co., of Cincinnati. They open in very attractive style the list of children's books for the holidays. Mrs. Child's fairy stories are delightfully told. Alice Cary offers a very interesting little volume in prose and poetry. Grimm's Goblins tell remarkable stories which are illustrated with unique pictures in colors. WINIFRED LEIGH LIBRARY. Four Volumes in a Box. 16mo. Pp. 167, 202, 231, 207. SILVERTONE LIBRARY. Four Volumes in a Box. 18mo. Pp. 122, 94, 178, 232. New York: Carlton & Porter. Cincinnati: Poe & Hitchcock. Two additional boxes of charming books for the Sunday school and family. The first contains the following: "Winifred Leigh, The Story of a Girl who wished to live a true Life." A delightful little book. "The Captive Boy in Terra Del Fuego." Full of interest. "In Self and Out of Self." Interesting and instructive. "Hetty Porter." A beautiful story. The second contains Brook Silvertone," "Lost Lilies," Grace Hall," "Little Harry's Troubles." " A SERMON FOR THE CRISIS. Delivered before the Missionary Society of the Detroit Annual Conference. By Rev. J. S. Smart.-The author feels the emergency that is upon the Church at this moment with regard to our missionary work, and his appeal rings out clearly and earnestly in behalf of the Missionary Treasury. |