still into the youthful mind a wholesome abhorrence of "the great evil," the "extirpation" of which, ardently as it is desired, must, from present appearances, be the work of the coming generation. But the day will come, and we welcome everything that has a tendency to hasten it. Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa; including a Sketch of sixteen Years' Residence in the Interior of Africa. By DAVID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D., D.C.L., etc. The continent of Africa has, of late, received a large share of attention. The condition and prospects of the western portion were detailed in a very attractive volume by Mr. Wilson, a missionary of the which several editions have been printed, related more especially to the Southwest, while Dr. Barth's three octavo volumes heretoforo noticed in our pages, give us ample information of the Northern and Central divisions. We had the gratification of presenting in THE NATIONAL, for last September an admirable full-length likeness of the dauntless missionary, whose exceedingly interesting volume relative to South Africa is now before us. Accompanying that portrait was a sketch, brief but comprehensive, of his travels and discoveries; but here we have them in detail, from his own pen, in all the luxuriousness of type and paper, and with a profusion of illustrations, from the press of Harper & Brothers. In every respect it is one Presbyterian Board. Mr. Andersson's work, of I of the most desirable books of the season. The Farm and the Flower-Garden. COOKING FOOD FOR ANIMALS.-No person who | swine, as demonstrated by the careful experi keeps stock, be it more or less, can fail to feel some interest in this important subject; it should command the attention of all. Practical results are more surely and satisfactorily obtained by well-conducted experiments in feeding, than by chemical analysis of the food, however valuable the latter may be in the hands of competent men. The aid of science the farmer is slow to acknowledge, whatever benefit he may receive from its investigations: the minds of many are hedged up against its very seeming; but this, we suspect, is owing, in not a few cases, to the pompous and ridiculous manner in which its claims have been presented. That agriculture, however, has received very important services at the hand of science, cannot be doubted; and on the subject of cooking food, few can fail to perceive the advantages to be derived from calling in the aid of the chemist. Our limits will not allow us to do more than note a few general results, and commend the subject to those most interested. There is still some discussion as to what degree the cooking and cutting of food for animals is economical. It would appear that much depends upon the kind of food and the object had in view. The economy of mechanically reducing food by grinding, cutting, rasping, etc., seems to be generally conceded by all who have experimented on the subject; but there is a difference of opinion as to steaming and boiling with out such reduction; and some experiments would seem to indicate that there is no advantage in cooking the food of working animals, such as the horse, but that, on the contrary, it is a disadvantage. The reason of this may perhaps be found in the fact, that to the working animal muscle is more necessary than fat. It may be stated in general terms, as the result of present knowledge, that the mechanical reduction of the food of all animals is an advantage sufficiently great to make it an important item of economy. It may also be stated, that the mechanical reduction and steaming or cooking of food for fattening animals is a very great advantage; so much so in the case of ments of Ellsworth and others, as to be beyond discussion. That steaming or cooking comminuted food hastens fattening is now a wellestablished fact; it assists mastication and digestion, and promotes the assimilation of the food. Though we should fail to understand the precise mode by which this important result is obtained, we should none the less avail ourselves of the fact. The economical farmer, therefore, should provide himself with a good mill, straw cutter, and cooking and steaming apparatus. Mott's boiler is one of the best for farm purposes, and may be had of various sizes: we consider it an indispensable accessory of the farm. A number of contrivances have been suggested for steaming food, some of them complicated and expensive, and others altogether inefficient; but a simple and inexpensive steamer may be made of a common kettle with a nozzle, and a tight wooden box that will hold water. The box should have a cover that fits tight, and a faucet in the bottom to draw off the condensed steam. The nozzle of the kettle must be inserted in the box near the bottom, and should, if possible, be provided with a faucet to control the supply of steam, though this is not indispensable. A few inches above the bottom of the box should be placed a false bottom pierced with holes; on this false bottom the food to be steamed is placed; the steam penetrates through the holes to the food, and as it condenses falls to the true bottom, when it can be drawn off by the faucet after the steaming is completed. The subject of comminuting and steaming or cooking food is of much importance, and we commend it to the attention of our readers. We are convinced of its positive economy in the particulars and in the manner above described, and would no more think of neglecting thus to prepare food for stock, than we would of neglecting to prepare the ground for the reception of seed. MICE AND BORERS. - We lately saw an article recommending gas tar as a preventive of the ravages of mice in gnawing fruit trees. We have some reason to know that the same remedy is quite effectual against the borer. The tar is to be applied with a brush around the trunk of the tree just above and below the ground; it should be of the consistency of common paint. A remedy so simple is readily applied, and will not injure the tree: we should be glad to see it thoroughly tested. The virtue of the remedy, we suspect, consists in its pungent, offensive smell. Where the borer has already penetrated the bark, the gas tar may not, perhaps, in all cases arrest his progress; but we believe it will prove effectual in keeping him out whenever applied to sound trees: in other words, it is rather a preventive than a cure. The reader, therefore, will do well to remember the adage about "shutting the stable door before the horse is stolen." PEARS. It is surprising how little attention has been given to the cultivation of choice pears by the great mass of the farming community. There are comparatively few who grow the pear extensively and in variety, and those few are mainly composed of amateurs, to whom the horticultural world is greatly indebted for the pains they have taken in testing and classifying the many hundreds of varieties now found in the catalogues. The general fruit grower is thus enabled to select at once a list of the very best kinds, without the trouble and expense of testing them for a series of years, which would otherwise be necessary to enable him to judge between the good and the bad. As to the profit of pear growing, our own convictions are most decided; we mean now choice kinds, which will always command a good price, and which are as easily cultivated as those which are worthless. When we speak of cultivation we use the term in its proper signification: "to let a thing take care of itself" forms no part of its definition. We doubt whether neglected and uncared-for fruit trees of any kind ever "pay" well. We consider a good sandy loam the best of all soils for the pear; it will adapt itself, however, to a variety of soils. But whatever the nature of the soil, it should be perfectly dry, or free from standing water. If not naturally so, it should be thoroughly underdrained, more especially if it be a heavy clay. We consider this indispensable for the health of the tree and the perfection of the fruit. In making an orchard, it is a good plan to plow the ground and subsoil it before planting the trees. The holes should not be less than four feet in diameter, and dug out to the depth of two spades. The soil and subsoil thus taken out should be composted with manure and muck: this involves some labor, but time will show it to have been labor well bestowed. Trees are often planted too deep, and their future health in consequence injured. If set about the same depth at which they stood in the nursery, the settling of the soil will bring them about right. The roots should be carefully spread out, and all the interstices filled up with fine soil. If any of the roots have been injured, they should be removed by a clean cut. As to the best age for transplanting, we prefer, if standards, trees from two to four years old, and we should hesitate about recommending any beyond the latter age. Older trees may be successfully transplanted, and grow thriftily, but more skill and care is required than with young trees: the latter ultimately give the most satisfaction and the largest returns. Pruning and subsequent treatment we shall recur to hereafter. To aid the reader in making a selection, we append the following list of choice and approved varieties for general cultivation. We have given them all a fair trial, and can therefore add our personal commendation to the approval of the best cultivators. The list could be enlarged by the addition of others equally good, but for the present we confine it to twenty five kinds: Seckel, Bartlett, Bloodgood, Dearborn's Seedling, Beurré Giffart, Rostizer, Lawrence, Oswego Beurré, White Doyenné, Fulton, Sheldon, Duchesse d'Angoulême, (on quince only,) Beurré Gris. d'Hiver Nouveau, Beurré Diel, Flemish Beauty, Fondante d'Automne, Winter Nelis, Glout Morceau, Louise Bonne de Jersey, Thompson, Stevens's Genesee, Beurré Langlier, Beurré Clairgeau, Beurré Bosc, Easter Beurré. In the above list there are some kinds that are well adapted to the quince stock, having been thoroughly tested in this way; and among the best of these we would mention, Duchesse d'Angoulême, Bartlett, Oswego Beurré, Fondante d'Automne, Dearborn's Seedling, Beurré Giffart, Sheldon, Rostizer, Beurré Diel, Louise Bonne de Jersey, Glout Morceau, Lawrence. Some of the above will bear the first year from the nursery, but the fruit should be broken off; the tree will otherwise be weakened and short lived. Others will not bear till they have been established two or three years. If the future welfare of the tree is consulted, it will not be allowed to bear much till it is well furnished with wood. Dwarf pears on quince stock are interesting objects, bear early and well, and should find a place in every garden, for which they are admirably adapted. THE CHINESE SUGAR CANE. There are two opinions relative to the worth of the Sorghum as a substitute for sugar. Of those who have tried it some speak in the most flattering terms. An officer of the Agricultural Bureau at Washington says that out of several thousand reports, not one shows a failure. On the other hand, there are those who denounce it as little better than a humbug, and a writer in the Rural Nero Yorker is decidedly severe in relating his experience. As we have heretofore given the favorable view of the subject, we quote the material portion of his letter: "Raising cane (Cain) is a familiar term for most kinds of iniquity and wrong. How often in our juvenile delinquencies have we heard the parental command, Quit raising Cain.' Now, sir, if I (and many others) had continued to heed this parental injunction we should have been inuch better off. The fact is, I wanted to be humbugged just a little, and so concluded to 'raise cane.' I have done so, and gone the whole figure, mill and all, and believe I can now reckon out the whole sum and arrive at a correct conclusion. It is this-it will not and cannot be made to pay in this latitude. "Let us see how the account stands. The rent of land that is fit to grow cain upon, is worth twelve dollars per acre. It will cost twice as much to tend it as it would corn, and after being grown, then is the time your labor just begins. Just imagine yourself (with the thermometer at or about the freezing point, with rain half of the time) taking up, singly, twelve thousand to thirteen thousand stalks twelve feet long, (about the product of an acre,) and picking off the leaves and cutting off the tops, running it through the mill, five or six stalks at a time, and see the juice come out as green as a frog pond; yes, sir, as green as the man that quits other work to raise cane. "Now for the boiling. This is a disagreeable, odorous operation, the worst part of all, and takes about half as long as it would to make sugar from maple sap. Next, the product. I have it manufactured in several ways; it is nothing but good boiled sweet apple cider, and never will be anything else; there is no more grain to it than there is to tar. The product per acre is enough, I admit, to satisfy any reasonable man, if it was good for anything. It cannot be used for any thing where boiled sweet cider would not be as good. All kinds of cake turn black when sweetened with it." THE WORLD AT LARGE. A map of busy life, Its fluctuations and its vast concerns.-CowPER. The Thirty-Fifth Congress was inaugurated at Washington on the 7th of December. The weather was beautiful, and the Capitol was thronged with spectators, including the whole diplomatic corps. The President's Message was read in both houses on the 8th, and on the following day Senator Douglas made a very able speech in opposition to the Kansas Lecompton Constitution, fairly opening the political ball. In his Message, the President, in treating of the commercial crisis, directs the attention of legislators, and those who elect them, to the importance of placing our currency on the soundest possible basis. The Federal government, however, can do but little to prevent a recurrence of existing evils, and we must look to wiser legislation on the part of the several states, and to a wiser policy among our business men, for greater security against inflated credits and the disastrous reactions which follow periods of reckless speculation. The President takes decided ground in favor of a uniform bankrupt law, applicable to all banking institutions throughout the United States; and he believes that Congress has the power to pass such a law. The true remedies are, first, a sound currency; and second, the limitation of credits in trade. On the 25th of November General Walker, with less than four hundred men, successfully landed at Punta Arenas. The United States sloop-of-war Saratoga was in harbor at the time, but she made no attempt to interfere with the fillibusters. The party were taken to Nicaragua in the steamer Fashion. Walker surrendered in December, with his entire force, to a detachment of United States marines, sent on shore by Commodore Paulding, who permitted him to go at large, upon his promise to proceed at once to New York and place himself in custody of the United States authorities. Walker arrived in the Northern Light. Previous to his capture he had sent Anderson, with a small force, to Fort Castillo, which he had occupied. He had also seized four steamboats, which were returned to the Transit Company by the commodore. On the 20th of December, at Dr. Macauley's Church, Fifth Avenue, New York, Ex-Chancellor James M. Mathews, for fifty years a minister of the Gospel in this city, preached his semi-centennial sermon, in which he noted the changes which had occurred within his recollection in politics, religion, and civilization throughout the world. His reminiscences of New York in the olden time were listened to with great interest, as was the rest of his sermon, by a congregation which filled the Church.. Bloodhounds are again to be used against the Florida Indians. The Florida The Peninsular notices the arrival of several fine hounds that are to be immediately put in service, and accompany Captain Kendrick's next expedition. Iranistan, the seat of P. T. Barnum, the great successful and unsuccessful showman, was burned in December by incendiaries. He was about re-occupying it, and renewing his former glories, when this fire took place. Last month a terrible steamboat burning took place on the Red River, Arkansas. The boat Colonel Edwards was totally destroyed, and not less than twenty persons perished with her. Over a thousand bales of cotton and a large number of cattle were destroyed. Slavery clause was rejected at the election recently held in the Territory of Oregon to approve the Constitution. The majority was a large one against it... The Slavery clause was adopted in Kansas at the election held on the 21st of December, the Free-State men not voting.. Isaac Buchanan, the candidate for Parliament from Hamilton, Canada, who raised so much persecution by hinting that the American form of government was the best one for Canada, has been elected, distancing all his competitors. There is much rejoicing over the result among his backers.. Suspension of specie payments has been legalized by acts just passed by the Legislatures of Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama. Messrs. Appleton, of this city, have donated eight hundred volumes of books to the Prisoner's Library at Sing Sing, through Hon. William Jay Haskett. Hon. William B. Reed, United States Minister to China, reached the Cape of Good Hope on board the steam frigate Minnesota, on the 7th of September, and would go on to China immediately. The Minnesota has been found a good sailer, but her engines have performed badly.. Thomas Crawford, the celebrated sculptor, was born in this city in 1813. He died in London, October 10, 1857. His remains were brought here and interred in Greenwood Cemetery, where his friends intend to erect a monument to his memory... Funeral services on occasion of the death of Mrs. Ann Wilkins, for many years a missionary teacher in Africa, were held in this city on the 14th of December. She was a faithful laborer in the Lord's vineyard, and her memory is precious. Colonel The long-contested Parish Will Case was decided by Surrogate Bradford in December last. The decision is virtually in favor of the contestants, the brother and two sisters of the decedent. Mrs. Par ish will have nearly a million of dollars, and the costs are to be paid out of the estate.. Sumner's trial, for events occurring under his command in Kansas, last season, has been concluded at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, by a sentence of four months' suspension and a reprimand by the commander-in-chief. The finding was simply on the ground of harshness and want of consideration, and nothing affecting his character as a gentleman. Lieutenant-General Scott has confirmed the finding of the court, but remitted the penalty. It is understood that Colonel Sumner will at once bring charges against General Harney, president of the court-martial, and Assistant Adjutant-General Deas, from whom the charges against him emanated; and a courtmartial will be probably convened for their trial... The new Canadian Ministry, about which so many jokes have been cracked, as composed of eleven lawyers and an auctioneer, has already dissolved; having been composed, it is said, of a heterogeneous mass, without any bond of union. A general election is anticipated.. The Intelligence from the Utah expedition is of a most painful and troublesome character. Six hundred cattle had been run off by the Mormons, ... almost in sight of Colonel Alexander's command. It was expected that three divisions of troops, under Colonels Alexander, Johnston, and Cook, would soon be concentrated, and Governor Cummings had expressed his intention to push on to Salt Lake city, if possible, before the setting in of winter, and take with him the other territorial officers. One slight but indecisive skirmish had taken place between the Mormons and part of the United States troops. Late Mexican news represent the situation of Comonfort as materially improved, and several successes won against the pronunciados at Puebla and other points. Comonfort and the Council were duly installed in their new powers on the 1st December. Mr. Thaddeus Hyatt, of this city, has very generously tendered to the Police Commissioners the use of an unoccupied building belonging to him, at No. 120 West Broadway, as a sleeping place for the poor during the winter. The Will of the Hon. George Washington Purke Custis has just been admitted to probate. By it he provides for the freeing of all his slaves, five or six hundred in number, within five or six years.... The Legislature of South Carolina has indefinitely postponed all its resolutions and reports in reference to Kansas.... A letter from Halifax says, Sir Gaspard Le Marchant, promoted to the Governorship of Malta, is to be succeeded here by the Earl of Mulgrave, who leaves England in January. The contract for building the new Arsenal on Seventh Avenue, for the State, has been awarded to Mr. Richard Cabrow, Jr., his bid for the work, sixty-three thousand seven hundred dollars, being the lowest. The ship Abbey Brown, Captain O. L. Bearse, arrived at this port, with a valuable cargo from Marseilles, narrowly escaped shipwreck on the voyage, by losing the rudder, when thirty days out. Two rudders were successively made and lost; but the third, constructed out of most scanty materials, held out until the vessel came safely into port. Her seamade rudder, number three, was an object of much curiosity and admiration.... A Delegate Convention was held at Lawrence, Kansas, on the 2d December, Governor Robinson in the chair. Resolutions were passed repudiating the Lecompton Constitution, and demanding that both that and the Topeka one should be submitted to the people. Resolutions were also passed thanking Secretary Stanton for calling together the legislative body. On the re-assembling of Congress after the Christmas recess, Mr. Pugh, of Ohio, introduced into the Senate a bill for the admission of Kansas, which was referred to the Territorial Committee. It provides for the admission of Kansas under the Lecompton Constitution, and requires that the clause relative to slavery shall be submitted to a direct vote of the people on the seventh of April next; also, that the Constitution shall not be construed so as to impair the right of the people to alter or amend it at any time. In England financial matters were more quiet. On the third of December the English Parliament was opened by the queen in person, in a speech displaying no points of great interest. No remarks were made in it indicating the course which would be pursued in Indian affairs, though it was currently reported that very soon after the meeting of Parliament a movement would be made for the abrogation of the East India Company's government, and the placing of India under the direct control of the crown. The idea seemed to meet with the most general favor in England... The Chancellor of the Exchequer has introduced a bill of indemnity for the Bank of England in the House of Commons, and steps were to be taken, as far .. ... as possible, for the relief of all the moneyed interests of the kingdom.. A Deputation had waited upon Lord Clarendon to remonstrate against the immigration slave-trade now being carried on by the French from the west coast of Africa, and requesting that a remonstrance should be made to the French government on the subject. Lord Clarendon, in his reply, strongly deprecated the trade, did not believe that it would be carried to much greater length, and promised to use the whole legitimate influence of the government against it... Another move is at once to be made in Parliament for the admission of the Jews, and again there is a belief expressed by many that it will be successful. The national balance sheet of Great Britain for the past year has been issued. The gross income was seventy-one million one hundred and seventy-eight thousand six hundred and sixty-two pounds, and the expenditure was less by a sum of four hundred and eighty-four thousand three hundred and thirty-six pounds. The army and navy took upward of twenty-five millions, and the Persian expedition is set down as having cost nine hundred thousand. At latest accounts the people of Madrid were completely taken up with presenting congratulatory addresses to the queen on the occasion of the birth of a prince royal. Queen Christina had sent a most affectionate dispatch to her daughter on the happy event. The Spanish-Mexican dispute was, at latest dates, in a train of diplomatic adjustment. On the twenty-fifth of January Prince William of Prussia was to be married to the Princess Royal of England. The Russian Government have issued an ukase prohibiting the taking of whales within the waters of their Asiatic possessions, and sent a fleet to enforce the order. It is believed that the move will create some trouble with our whalers.... The act (final) settling the frontiers of Russia and Turkey in Asia was signed at Constantinople on the fourth ult. The latest accounts received from India were of a most gloomy character. There had been very severe fighting at Lucknow, during which General Outram was wounded. General Havelock was at one time surrounded by an immense force of Sepoys, and his position was most critical. He, however, has since been relieved by Sir Colin Campbell. The launch of the Leviathan has been further suspended. An embassador from Holland had arrived in London, and officially demanded the hand of the Princess Alice (fourteen years of age) for the Prince of Orange, son of the king, and heir apparent. The contractors for raising the sunken ships in the harbor of Sevastopol have abandoned the work.... Several thousands of Sepoys are to be transported from India to the British West Indies, ten thousand of whom are destined for Demerara, where their labor will be directed to the culture of cotton, rice, and tobacco. large meeting had been held in London, and resolutions passed strongly favorable to the assumption of immediate control over the East Indian possessions by the British government. In Parliament no direct move had been made to that end. It was evident, however, that it would be at an early day, and equally evident that the movement would be combated by the whole power of the Fast India Company, who have no idea of relinquishing their prestige without a fierce struggle. A decision has been given in the English Vice-Chancellor's Court, which in fact invalidates the marriage of any British subject with the sister of a deceased wife, not only in England, but in any foreign possession. The decision had excited some surprise and much feeling. ... A THE subject of this brief sketch was Breslau, March 30, 1799. His father was a goldsmith, and the son is said to have wrought at the same business in his early youth. After pursuing a course of literature in the University at Breslau, he went to Berlin, and began to study the Oriental languages. A distinguished philologist adopting him as a son, took him under his care, and gave him ample opportunity for literary pursuits. After the death of his patron he was encouraged by another scholar of eminence, while his advantages continued the same. By a dispensation of Providence, of which it was the writer's good fortune to hear from his own lips, his attention was directed to the study of theology. At a VOL. XII.-15 social gathering at the house of the professor, he had been speaking of the death of a student's father, and was showing the good that afflictions and sickness bring with them. "They always have a deep meaning and a valuable lesson," said he; "and now I will tell you what a change sickness made in me. I was nineteen years old, and was driving with all my sails spread into the study of ancient languages. Suddenly I was attacked with a hemorrhage of the lungs, and had to lie in my bed eighteen months. During that time all the physicians in Berlin had told me that there was no more hope for me, and that I must die. I gradually grew worse; and at a time when my friends supposed that death was very near, a dear |