Government. It is thought that the manifold abuses | fifty years of age has been ordered, as it is said the which have been practiced will give the movement a good deal of strength. The new members of the Land Commission met on the 8th. Disastrous fires had occurred in the towns of Ophir and French Corral. The attempt to establish steam navigation on the Colorado had failed, in consequence of the loss of the steamer employed. It is satisfactorily proved that the river is navigable for forty or fifty miles above its mouth. Anthracite coal has been discovered in the neighborhood of Shasta. The papers abound in reports of murders, thefts, and accidents. From Oregon there is little news. Governor Lane has been elected delegate to Congress by a large majority. Crops promise well throughout the Territory. There are four steamers building, and nine running, on the Columbia and Willamette rivers. New coal discoveries are reported within a few miles of the Columbia River; and gold is said to have been found near the head waters of the Santiano. The mines in Southern Oregon are doing well.

army is not yet sufficiently organized to undertake the defense of the country. The Count Raousset de Boulbon, whose invasion of Sonora some months since excited a good deal of attention, has reached Mexico, and been introduced to the President.— An immense army of grasshoppers-three leagues long and half a league broad-has made its appearance on the northern confines of Guatemala, and extended into Mexico as far as Oajaca. It travels at the rate of twelve miles a day, and has already traversed one hundred and fifty leagues of the country. It devours the indigo and corn, not having yet injured the sugar cane. -The Mexican papers generally treat the seizure by the American forces of the Mesilla Valley, as a flagrant insult, perpetrated for the purpose of provoking renewed hostilities. The chief of the Mexican Boundary Commission has published a work upon the subject, urging the perfect and indefeasible right of Mexico to the valley.

SOUTH AMERICA.

Intelligence from Venezuela to the 27th of July represents the insurgents as having suffered disastrous defeat in the Baul and Pao. The action took

From Washington Territory and Puget's Sound we have news to June 18. Emigration to that section was largely increasing, and indications were evident of steady and rapid improvement. The Hud-place on the 22d of June, and the government troops son's Bay Company claim a large extent of territory upon the sea-coast, which gives rise to considerable uneasiness, and calls for the action of our Govern

ment.

From the Sandwich Islands our intelligence is to June 11th. Drafts drawn by ships belonging to the American whaling fleet, touching at Honolulu and Lahaina during the last season, amounted to $300,000. Reports from the Royal Agricultural Society represent the farming interests as recovering from their depression. There is a steady increase in the culture of sugar, and the crop for the coming year promises to be twice as large as that of last year. The small-pox was raging frightfully at Honolulu. The King had issued a proclamation for a day of fasting and prayer on the 15th of June. In the Society Islands the Empire was proclaimed on the 17th of April, with appropriate ceremonies.

MEXICO.

under General Silva, completely routed the opposing forces, of whom five hundred were taken prisoners. An official proclamation announcing the result, states that the war is nearly at an end, as vigorous measures have been taken to pursue the rebels in the adjacent provinces. A decree has been issued authorizing the capture and destruction as pirates of any of the insurgents who may escape to sea.From Peru we learn that affairs are rapidly approaching a state of war with Bolivia. Peru has hitherto mainly confined her operations to the promotion of civil dissensions in Bolivia; but she has now committed sundry overt acts of hostility, which have been retaliated by the other side. The first was the seizure of sundry articles of commerce stored in Africa and belonging to Bolivia, and the decree of Peru levying 40 per cent. transit duty on all merchandise passing through that country for Bolivia. Next came the seizure by Peru of the port of Cobija, thus cutting off all communication between Bolivia and the Pacific coast. The place was vacated by the Bolivian forces as soon as the Peruvian

issued orders to prepare immediately for war, declaring an absolute interdict on all commercial traffic between the two countries, and ordering all goods in transitu to be seized. All citizens of Bolivia are prohibited from passing out of their own territory. The meeting of the Bolivian Congress has been postponed.-From Chili there is no news of inter

Intelligence from Mexico to the 22d of July, represents affairs as tending steadily toward arbitrary rule. Santa Anna seems to retain his popularity as yet, and avails himself of it in laws for the more rig-ships appeared in the harbor. General Belzu has orous government of the country. Rumors had been widely circulated of an intention on his part to form a close alliance between Spain and Mexico, restoring the latter country, in fact, to its ancient condition of colonial dependence upon the former. The project is openly advocated by the Universal, which is the conservative organ, but is warmly opposed by the liberal papers. Indications daily appear of an alliance between Church and State; a commission has been named for drawing up rules permitting and regulating the return of the Jesuits. The penalty of death has been established against defaulters in the Treasury Department and defrauders of the revenue. An order has been issued abolishing all crosses and decorations conferred for services during civil war, and permitting only such as have been conferred by foreign powers or in service of Mexico during a foreign war. The reason assigned is a desire to efface all recollection of the political struggles that have destroyed the country.

-The ravages of the Indians still continue in the States of Durango and Zacatecas, and the lands were being rapidly deserted. In the latter state a general enlistment of all males between sixteen and

est. Schools of industry are being established in various parts of the country, and an institution for the education of the deaf and dumb has been opened at Santiago. It is stated that the Government has acquired the astronomical observatory lately belonging to the United States Scientific Corps in that city.

GREAT BRITAIN.

Public attention in England during the month has been mainly occupied with the politics of Eastern Europe. The progress of the difficulty between the Russian Czar and the Porte has been watched with great anxiety by the commercial interests, though a very strong feeling exists among the people of England adverse to the pretensions of Russia, which are felt to be indicative of meditated encroachments upon the integrity of the Turkish Empire. The

key. He forewarns him of the consequences of per- tiors already made contingent upon that act. The sisting in this refusal, urges him to represent to the Emperor had, accordingly, ordered a corps of Russian Sultan the injustice and impolicy of his conduct, troops, stationed in Bessarabia, to cross the frontier and declares that in a few weeks the troops will re- and occupy the Danubian principalities. They ceive orders to cross the frontiers of the Empire, not would enter not to make war, but as a material to make war, but to obtain material guarantees, un- guarantee for the fulfillment of his duties by the Sultil the Ottoman Government will give to Russia the tan, and because the action of France and England moral securities which she has in vain demanded in taking maritime possession of the waters of Confor the last two years. He closes by exhorting him stantinople, had created an additional reason for reto sign the note presented by Prince Menschikoff as establishing the equilibrium of the reciprocal situahis ultimatum, without variation, and to transmit it tions by taking a military position. The occupation without delay to the Prince at Odessa.-Redschid of the principalities was not designed to be permaPasha replied to this note by declaring the willing- nent, but would cease whenever the Porte should ness of the Sultan to confirm by a decree all the concede the demands of Russia, which looked not rights, privileges, and immunities enjoyed by the at all toward aggrandizement, but sought only justmembers of the Greek Church ab antiquo, and stat- ice. The inhabitants of the principalities, meaning that a firman had just been issued for this pur- time, would suffer no new burdens from the occupose. But it was deemed inconsistent with the in-pation, as all supplies would be paid for out of the dependence and self-respect of Turkey to enter into military chest at the proper time, and at rates agreed engagements with Russia upon the subject, and that, upon beforehand with their Governments. The Govtherefore, must be regarded as a simple impossibili-ernment did not conceal from itself the important ty. The intention of causing the Russian troops to cross the frontiers was regarded as incompatible with the assurances of peace and of the friendly disposition of the Emperor, and was so much opposed to what might be expected from a friendly power that the Porte knows not how he can accept it. If the Emperor would but appreciate as it deserves the impossibility for Turkey of entering into the stipula-ing: it seemed to be forgotten that Russia enjoyed, tions required, the Porte would not hesitate to send an embassador to St. Petersburg to re-open negotiations there, and to make some arrangement satisfactory to both.

Upon the receipt of this reply, on the 14th of June, the Emperor issued at St. Petersburg a proclamation, declaring that the defense of the faith and of the rights and privileges of the orthodox church, had always been his purpose and his duty that the recent infringements of them by the acts of the Ottoman Porte had threatened the entire overthrow of all ancient discipline; that all efforts to restrain the Porte from such acts had been in vain, and that even the word of the Sultan had been faithlessly broken; and that having exhausted all means of conviction, and tried in vain all the means by which his just claims could be peaceably adjusted, he had deemed it indispensable to move his armies into the provinces on the Danube, in order that the Porte may see to what its stubbornness may lead. He had no intention, however, of commencing war: he only sought a sufficient pledge for the re-establishment of his rights. He was even yet willing to stop the movements of the army, if the Porte would bind itself solemnly to respect the inviolability of the orthodox church.

consequences which might follow this step, if the Turkish Government should compel it to go further: but it had no alternative left. The Turkish Government had taken a position which involved the virtual abrogation of all existing treaties, and which Russia could not concede. All the excitement upon this subject had proceeded from a pure misunderstand

by position and treaty, an ancient right of watching over the effectual protection of its religion in the East, and the maintenance of the right, which it will not abandon, is represented as implying the pretension of a protectorate, at once religious and political, the importance of which, present and future, is greatly exaggerated. The circular closes with an earnest disavowal of all intentions on the part of the Emperor to subvert the Ottoman Empire, or to aggrandize himself at its expense. His fundamental principle was still, as it had always been, to maintain the status quo in Turkey as long as possible-because this was the well-understood interest of Russia, already too vast to need territorial extension-because the Ottoman Empire averts the shock of rival powers which, if it fell, would at once encounter each other over its ruins, and because human foresight wearies itself in vain in seeking a combination proper to fill the void which the disappearance of this great body would leave in the political systems.-Accompanying the circular was a proclamation from Prince Gortschakoff, to the inhabitants of Moldavia and Wallachia, announcing that he had been ordered to occupy their territories, and exhorting them to remain quiet and obedient to the laws.

Sundry expressions in the circular of Count Nesselrode, especially those in which an attempt is made to justify the proceedings of Russia by pleading the example of France, elicited a reply from M. Drouyn de l' Huys, the French Minister, who enters into an extended historical exposition to prove the utter groundlessness of the attempted analogy, and to demonstrate the moderation which France has al

Count Nesselrode at the same time published in the "St. Petersburg Journal" a circular addressed to the Russian Ministers at Foreign Courts, rehearsing the history of the difficulty, and aiming to show that the Emperor had demanded from the Porte nothing more than a confirmation of the rights he had always possessed, and a guarantee that they should be observed in future. This circular was dated June 11, and was followed by another on the 20th-ways shown in her intercourse with the Porte.-Still in which it is stated that the Governments of France and England had complicated the difficulties of the case by sending their fleets to the Dardanelles in advance of the action of Russia, thus placing the Emperor under the weight of a threatening demonstration. The refusal of the Porte to accede to the Emperor's ultimatum, supported thus by the armed demonstrations of the maritime powers, had rendered it more than ever impossible to modify the resolu

another reply, dated July 15th, was issued by the French Government to the second circular of Coun! Nesselrode, in which the pretensions and complaints of the latter are examined and repelled with great ability. M. de l' Huys asserts that the firmans recently issued by the Sultan have removed every possible ground of complaint on the part of Russia, and declares that the agents of the St. Petersburg cabinet every where, when those firmans were first

issued, congratulated themselves on the amicable The Russian armies under Prince Gortschakoff adjustment of the difficulty. He declares that the meantime occupy the provinces. Bucharest is made four powers have not advised the Porte what course their head-quarters and 80,000 troops are encamped to take in this matter, feeling it to be a matter too in its vicinity, seventy-two guns of heavy calibre nearly touching his own honor to warrant advice reached Jassy on the 7th of July, and on the same from any quarter. They have only taken such a day the Russians crossed the frontier of Moldavia line of conduct as their treaty stipulations required at Foskary and entered Wallachia. They have also for the protection of their common interests. The taken possession of Oltenitza and all other fortified cause of the original misunderstanding between places on the Danube. It is reported and generally Russia and the Porte had disappeared, and the ques- credited that strenuous efforts have been made by tion which might suddenly arise at Constantinople the other powers to prevent a war, and that negowas that of the very existence of the Ottoman Em-tiations have been renewed at St. Petersburg in pire; under such circumstances France and England such a form as promises a peaceful termination of could not fail to take steps to secure the degree of the dispute. Sundry discussions upon the subject influence to which they were entitled. The Emperor have been had in the English Parliament, notice of of Russia, moreover, by threatening to occupy the which will be found under the appropriate head. Danubian principalities had taken the initiative, and acted in direct violation of existing treaties. The Porte has an undoubted right to regard that step as an act of war, and the general interest of the world is opposed to the admission of such a doctrine as the act of the Czar implies.

The Sultan, on the 14th of July, published a protest against the occupation of the Danubian provinces by the Russian troops. It is a temperate document, and still manifests firmness. The Sultan declares his intention to maintain inviolate all the rights and privileges of his Christian subjects, but says "it is evident the independence of a sovereign state is at an end, if it does not retain among its powers that of refusing without offense a demand not authorized by any existing treaty, the acceptance of which would be superfluous for the object in view, and both humiliating and injurious to the party so declining it." Under these circumstances, the Porte expresses its astonishment and regret at the occupation of the principalities, which are styled an integral part of the Ottoman dominions. It denies the right of interference claimed by Russia, and refuses any further apology in regard to the question of religious privileges. The entrance of Russia into the provinces can only be regarded as an act of war; but the Sultan, anxious not to push his rights to the farthest limits, abstains from the use of force, and confines himself to a formal protest.

CHINA.

Additional intelligence of considerable interest has been received concerning the progress and character of the rebellion in China. Sir G. Bonham in the British ship Hermes has visited Nankin and succeeded in holding interviews with several of the insurgent chiefs. He found Nankin nearly in ruim and the whole district in a state of anarchy and confusion. Both Nankin and Chin-kiang-foo were in possession of the rebels who were awaiting the arrival of reinforcements from the south before advancing to Pekin. He procured some very curious and interesting information concerning the insurgents and their objects. They have a good translation of the Bible, hold the doctrine of the Trinity, and are Christians of the Protestant form of worship. Their chief is called the Prince of Peace, to whom a divine origin is ascribed, but who refuses to receive any of the titles hitherto assumed by the Emperors of China, on the ground that they are due to God alone. Their moral code is comprised in ten rules, which on examination proved to be the ten commandments. They are rigid in their enforcement of morality, and are profoundly influenced by religious feeling. Their leaders are described as earnest practical Christians, deeply influenced by the belief that God is always with them. This intelligence, if it shall prove reliable, will give a new and still more interesting character to this remarkable rebellion.

RE WE PROGRESSING? Who really doubts denies. And yet there are some so stupidly stub

even think of asking a ques

so immovably fastened in

theological dogmas, that they will still persist in doubting the fact of a moral and political progress corresponding to this most rapid and remarkable advance of the physical element.

tion in earnest, unless it be the narrow-souled conservative, the stiff-necked doter who can not turn his face from the past, and to whom the world's historical progress gives more trouble than ever the earth's motion caused to the monks in the days of It may be a vain undertaking, but it is to the reCopernicus? The world is "progressing" in phy-moval, if possible, of such a darkened state of mind sical knowledge and physical improvement. That on the part of any of our readers, that we would adno one will have the hardihood to call in question. dress ourselves in the present number of our Editor's A journey from Buffalo to New York in fourteen Table. hours, and soon, perhaps, to be accomplished in ten -regular voyages across the Atlantic in nine daysCalifornia, the medium of communication with the old Asiatic world-the news of an arrival from Europe sent before breakfast to every city in the Union -legislative portraits, historical pictures, or pictures of men making history, fixed upon the canvas with the speed of thought and the accuracy of light itself -progress of this kind, and in this direction, no one

And to come at once to the point, let us in all candor ask these unreasonable croakers what they would really regard as the truest signs or tests of a real moral and political advance? They must answer, of course, that such evidence would make itself apparent, first, in the individual character, and then in its effects upon the public mind or sentiment of the age or nation. Private, social, and political virtue will all present an intimate connection. The

statistics of crime will show an evident diminution, I claimed from every quarter; and shall it be objected or, as an equivalent, there will be a great increase in some kinds of virtue, while the public probity, or the morals of public men, in their public capacity, will furnish a like cheering proof of an onward and upward progress in whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are pure, lovely, and of good repute.

to so noble an aim, and invidiously thrown in the way of its fulfillment, that there may be, what any thinking man would naturally expect, a slight increase of apparent wrong-doing in connection with so great, and, on the whole, so praiseworthy an excitement-this individual crime, too, sometimes springing from the very noblest of motives, or at the worst, from a premature and excusable desire to realize that unrestrained good of which we are as yet deprived by the false and crime-breeding structure of society?

And now may we not confidently appeal to such a test? In regard to the diminution of individual crime, a certain kind of statistical proof, we are aware, might be brought forward in seeming contradiction of such a view. There have lately been put Our croaking conservative may present his dry forth statements of the kind by which the writers statistics of individual crime. Let him feast on would show, and would even seem to prove, that our such garbage if it suits his raven taste. The nobler city of New York is becoming, in this respect, a per-spirit would rather turn him to the contemplation of fect Pandemonium-that murders, and burglaries, that pure abstract benevolence in which this age so and arsons, are multiplying beyond all former ex- much abounds. Let the one spread before the pubample. A very little thought, however, must con-lic his disgusting detail of robberies, seductions, and vince any candid and rational mind of the fallacy of murders. What is all this in comparison with that reasoning from such evidence as this. Admitting it tender regard for human life which would abolish to possess some degree of truth, still even its statist- capital punishment, and turn our prisons into hosical value may well be questioned, as presenting only pitals of mercy, instead of dens of vindictive cruelty. one aspect of society, while it keeps back what might | What is all this in comparison with that extreme not only give relief to the picture, but also turn the conscientiousness which would prefer that every balance strongly to the other side of the account. individual murderer should escape, rather than the Is the number of crimes increasing among us? So law should exhibit a vindictive spirit? Here is the is our population. Do these crimes present peculiar error of the mere statistical reasoner. The isolated features? So does the progressive genius of the age. cases of individual crime may, perhaps, present some The great advancement of society in other respects appearance of numerical increase. But he fails to has multiplied temptations. It should be remem- set against them, as he should, the still greater inbered, too, that it is a "transition period," during crease of public abstract virtue. To this aspect of which, for a time, the old vices may run somewhat the matter he is utterly blinded by that narrow and faster than the new virtues. Moreover, foreigners unphilosophical prejudice which would lead him to are pouring in upon us, who have not yet become look for the reformation of society in the reformation sufficiently acquainted with the genius of our insti- of individuals, instead of seeing that the latter can be tutions. It may be said, too, that the very virtues rationally expected only when society has first beof the age contribute somewhat to the same temporary come what it ought to be through the progress of phieffect, especially when this is viewed in that one- lanthropy and social reform. He can not see, what sided aspect which mere statistical tables would is so self-evident to the disciple of a more hopeful present. There is so much more tenderness, so and earnest faith, that the elevation of our humanity, much more conscientiousness than there used to be, once accomplished, will most assuredly lift up the that this very cause contributes somewhat to swell individual to a corresponding height of virtue. In that side of the account, when thus statistically other words, let man be regenerated and men are restated. The universal spirit of philanthropy has led formed as a matter of course. thoughtless minds to attach less value to those narrow individual privileges which law must protect as long as they exist, although constantly tempting the weak to their violation. A little farther advance in the progress of society, and this will, in a great measure, disappear. It is the great multitude of our restraining laws which occasions the most of crimes. Abolish these, and then, as a very able writer of the progressive school has most convincingly shown, you have taken a great step toward abolishing all trans-spirit of its literature-the very inner life of its morgression.

Again this statistical estimate of progress is onesided and unjust, inasmuch as it regards the mere outward act as of more importance in determining the progress, whether of individuals or society, than the inward sentiment. Certainly nothing could be more irrational than this. What is a man aside from his principles? And what else constitutes the true character as well as glory of an age, than those expressed sentiments which may be said to form the

als and politics? The conservative calumniator of his But taken at the worst, it is only an evidence of own times goes mousing among the records of crimthe universal movement. When every thing else is inal courts; he drags to light the dark statistics of progressing, it would really be wonderful if crime our prisons: he keeps a daily register of the gallows; should remain stationary. But are not our virtues he gloats over the examples that now and then occur our public and private virtues, making a much more of political corruption. Why does he not rather rerapid advance. That is the real question, and to fresh his spirit with the contemplation of that flood such a question but one answer can be given. If we of noble sentiment which is daily issuing in so many may judge from the almost unanimous testimony o streams from the press, the newspaper, the public our numerous literary publications, our thousands lecture, and the literary discourse. If the cases of and tens of thousands of newspapers, the discourses, crime are rather more numerous than could be the legislative reports, the public documents of every wished, can he not see how much virtue there is kind, there never has been an age like this, so dis- constantly coming forth in books, what glowing extinguished for its light, its truth, its philanthropy, in pressions of patriotism and philanthropy are contina word, its devotion to the great cause of human re-ually proceeding from the mouths of our public men generation. The race, the good of the race, the pro- -how the newspapers actually overflow with zeal gress of the race, the melioration of society, the ele- for the public morals, and with the most decisive vation of a world-these are the great ends pro- I condemnation of all individuals and companies who