Riterary, Briratific, and Statistical tems. A CHAPTER ON WATCHES.-An Almanac Watch.- | pendant marked twelve o'clock. In the center of the In the year 1769 a curious watch was presented to King George III, a kind of mechanical almanac, it being designed simply to point out the several months of the year thereof. On a plate by means of a brilliant the sun was represented, which regularly performed its diurnal revolution. On the plate was a movable horizon, to show the variations of the days according to the seasons of the year. This watch, though of complicated mechanism, was not larger than those then in ordinary use. A Chanting Watch.-During the reign of Catherine II, of Russia, an ingenious Russian peasant named Kulubin, constructed a musical watch to perform a single cbant. The machine was about the size of an egg, within which was a representation of the tomb of our Savior, with the Roman sentinels on watch. On pressing a spring, the stone would be rolled from the tomb, the sentinels fall down, the angels appear, the holy women enter the sepulcher, and the same chant which is sung on Easter Eve be accurately performed. A Musical Watch." The Sieur Ranzonet, watchmaker of Nancy, in Lorraine," records the Annual Register for the year 1770, "has made a watch, of the common pocket size, in which he has fixed an instrument of his own invention which plays an air enduo. All the parts of this little mechanism are distributed with such art as not in the least to affect the movement of the watch. It is also so nicely constructed as not to be affected by either heat or cold." A Transparent Watch.-In the year 1840 a watch, of small size, constructed principally of rock crystal, was presented to the Academy of Sciences at Paris. It was made by M. Rebellier. The works were all visible; the two teethed wheels which carry the hands were of rock crystal, and the other wheels of metal. All the screws were fixed in crystal, and all the axes turned on rubies. The escapement was of sapphire, the balance-wheel of rock crystal, and the springs of gold. This watch was found to keep excellent time, which circumstance is attributed by the maker to the feeble expansion of the rock crystal in the balance-wheel, etc. Pedometer.-The Emperor Napoleon I had a watch which wound itself up by means of a weighted lever, which, at every step his Majesty made, rose and fell; and having a gathering click to it wound up a racket attached to the barrel, if it was not then fully wound up. The instrument called the Pedometer, which is not larger than a common watch, is on the same principle; its use being to register the number of steps you take while the instrument is in your pocket. It is capable of adjustment according to the number of steps the wearer usually takes in a mile, which he must first count, and set the instrument accordingly. Without such adjustment, it forms no measure of distance at all. A Touch Watch, by which the Time of Day may be Felt-Brequet invented a watch, une montre de touche," in which the hours were indicated by eleven projecting studs round the rim of the case, while the back of the case was placed an index or hand, which, when moved forward, would stop at the portion of the hour indicated by the watch, which by means of the studs and pendant could be easily felt and counted; for instance, at half-past two the index would stop in the middle of the space, between the second and third studs from the pendant. The late Duke of Wellington possessed a fine watch of this description, presented to him by the King of Spain. THE STEREOSCOPE.-Sir David Brewster, inquiring into the history of the stereoscope, finds that its fundamental principle was well known even to Euclid; that it was distinctly described by Galen fifteen hundred years ago; and that Giambatisa Porta had, in 1599, given such a complete drawing of the two separate pictures as seen by each eye, and of the combined picture placed between them, that we recognize in it not only the principle but the construction of the stereoscope. THE DESTROYER OF ARMIES.-The statistics of the Chef d'Etat Major quoted by Carnot, who was War Minister, give the numbers of the invading army which crossed the Niemen on the 24th June, at 302,000 men, 104,000 horses. On the advance to Moscow was fought the great battle of Borodino. In this battle there were put hors de combat, that is, killed and wounded, on the side of the Russians, no less than 30 generals, 1,600 officers, and 42,000 men; while the French, according to Marshal Berthier's papers, subsequently taken at Wilna, had in killed and wounded 40 generals, 1,800 officers, and 52,000 men. The French, however, claimed the victory, inasmuch as the Russians fell back after the battle, and left the French in possession of the ground. The cold began on November the 7th; but three days before the cold began, namely, on the 4th of November, there remained of the mighty host that had crossed the Niemen but 55,000 men and 12,000 horses, 247,000 men had perished or become ineffective in one hundred and thirty-three days. Of the 55,000 men, however, plus any reënforcements they may have met on the way, 40,000 men returned to France, showing how few men were lost in this masterly retreat, either by the severity of the Winter or the harassing attacks of the enemy. But even if three-fourths of the wounded at Borodino had died, and allowing for those killed in minor actions and operations, there would remain nearly 200,000 men who perished by insufficient commissariat-by want of forethought. The Count de Segur, the historian of this campaign, considers that the genius of Napoleon had culminated before he undertook this expedition, famous among the world's disasters, and that constant prosperity had led him to look on success as so certain, that he neglected the means of attaining it. Any way, here is an instance under the greatest of generals, that it is not the enemy, however numerous or skillful, who effect the destruction of armies. It is fatigue, exposure, want of food, want of shelter, want of clothing, want of sanitary prevention.Westminster Review. DEATH OF GEORGE P. MORRIS.-George P. Morris died at his residence in New York, on Wednesday, July 6th, aged sixty-two years. Mr. Morris was born at Philadelphia on the 10th of October, 1802. At an early age he removed to New York, where, when in his fifteenth year, he commenced his literary career by writing verses for the New York Gazette. In August, 1823, in conjunction with Samuel Woodworth, he commenced the publication of the New York Mirror, a journal which employed some of the best literary talent of the country. In 1843 he associated himself with Mr. Willis in the publication of that journal. In 1844 he established a daily paper called the Evening Mirror. At the close of 1845 he commenced alone a weekly journal called the National Press, the title of which he changed in 1846 to that of the Home Journal, and from that time till his death he and Mr. Willis conducted it. Though well known as a journalist, he was much more widely known as a song-writer, and as such was one of the most popular of his day. Millions of copies of his "Woodman, Spare that Tree," are said to have been circulated. THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.-The Atlantic Ocean includes an area of twenty-five millions of square miles. Suppose an inch of rain to fall only upon one-fifth of this vast expanse. It would weigh three hundred and sixty thousand millions of tuns; and the salt which, as water, is held in solution in the sea, and which, when that water was taken up as vapor, was left behind to disturb its equilibrium, weighed sixteen millions more tuns, or nearly twice as much as all the ships in the world could carry as a cargo each. It might fall in a day; but occupy what time it might in falling, this rain is calculated to exert so much force-which is so inconceivably great-in disturbing the equilibrium of the ocean. If the water discharged by the Mississippi River during the year were taken up in one mighty measure, and cast into the ocean at one effort, it would not make a greater disturbance in the equilibrium of the sea than would the fall of rain supposed. And yet, so gentle are the operations of nature, that movements so vast are unperceived. PAPER CONSUMPTION.-Books have multiplied to such an extent in our country that it now takes seven hundred and fifty paper-mills, with two thousand engines in constant operation, to supply the printers, who work day and night, endeavoring to keep their engagements with publishers. These tireless mills produced two hundred and seventy million of pounds of paper the past year, which immense supply has sold for about $27,000,000. A pound and a quarter of rags are required for a pound of paper, and three hundred and forty million pounds were, therefore, consumed in this way last year. The cost of manufacturing a twelvemonth's supply of paper for the United States, aside from labor and rags, is compute 1 at $4,000,000. A WORD ABOUT LOBSTERS.-Lobsters are found in almost all the salt waters of the habitable globe, but are always finer and better flavored in northern latitudes than toward the South. The British Isles, and also the coast of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, are especially celebrated for their lobsters. The demand in England for these shell-fish is so great that the entire quantity of lobsters taken annually on the British coasts is not nearly sufficient for the supply of the market; indeed, supposing every lobster caught on our coasts to be sent to London, and, leaving out of our calculation all the other towns and cities of Great Britain, the supply to the metropolis alone would still fall short of the demand. Hence we import large quantities of lobsters from the northern countries of Europe, and more especially from Norway, the rocky coasts of which furnish an almost inexhaustible supply of these favorite crustacea. "LIVES" OF BANK NOTES.-The average period which each denomination of London notes remains in circulation has been calculated, and is shown by the following authentic account of the number of days a bank note issued in London remains in circulation: £5 note, 72.7 days; £10, 77.0; £20, 57.4; £30, 18.9; £40, 13.7; £50, 38.8; £100, 28.4; £200, 12.7; £300, 10.6; £500, 11.8; £1,000, 11.1. The exceptions to these averages are few, and, therefore, remarkable. The time during which some notes remain unpresented is reckoned by the century. On the 28th of September, 1846, a £50 note was presented, bearing date of 20th January, 1743. Another, for £10, issued on the 19th of November, 1762, was not paid till the 20th of April, 1845. There is a legend extant of the eccentric possessor of a £1,000 note, who kept it framed and glazed for a series of years, preferring to feast his eyes upon it to putting the amount it represented out at interest. It was converted into gold, however, without a day's loss of time, by his heirs on his demise-a fact which can very easily be credited. Stolen and lost notes are generally long absentees. The former usually make their appearance soon after a great horse-race, or other sporting event, altered or disguised so as to deceive bankers, to whom the bank furnishes a list of the numbers and dates of all stolen notes. Bank notes have been known to light pipes, to wrap up snuff, and to be used as curl papers; and British tars, mad with rum and prize-money, have not unfrequently, in the time of war, made sandwiches of them, and eat them between bread and butter. Carelessness gives the bank enormous profits, against which the loss of a mere £30,000 note is but a trifle. In the forty years between 1792 and 1832, there were outstanding notes of the Bank of England-presumed to have been lost or destroyed-amounting to £1,330,000 odd, every shilling of which was clear profit to the bank. LOYAL METHODISTS IN EAST TENNESSEE.-A loyal Methodist Convention was held in Knoxville, July 9th and 10th. There were fifty-five delegates present, representing all portions of East Tennessee. It was a loyal and harmonious meeting; and a special committee developed the fact that there are still one hundred and fifteen loyal preachers within the bounds of the Holston Conference. This movement is significant, and the assurance is given that a large majority of the Methodist membership in East Tennessee remain true to the old Church and the Union. (1.) PULPIT MINISTRATIONS; or, Sabbath Readings. A Series of Discourses on Christian Doctrine and Duty. By Gardiner Spring. 2 Vols. 8vo. Pp. 480, 452. With a Portrait. New York: Harper & Brothers. $6.-These two volumes are gotten up in excellent style. We welcome the wholesome, cheerful-looking face of Dr. Spring, whom we have often seen, and whose name has been familiar to us for many years. The author of these admirable discourses has been, we believe, for over fifty years, the pastor of the "Brick Church" which stood for many years near the Park, in the lower part of the city of New York, but which a few years ago gave way to the unsparing demands of advancing trade. Dr. Spring stands in the front rank of eminent American divines, and by his long ministerial life in the heart of the metropolitan city of our country, as well as by his able and fruitful pen, has wielded an influence in molding the social and religious life of the great city and the country second to that of no other American minister. He was for many years a recognized leader in the General Assembly of his own Church. A man of great energy and activity, a powerful debater, quick at a reply and keen in repartee, possessing a commanding person and being widely popular, but few were willing to enter the lists with him in discussion. We rejoice to still find him "bringing forth fruit in his old age." These two fine volumes will be a valuable contribution to the religious literature of the country. Though not fond of sermon reading we have read several of these, examined more, and will read them all. We greatly like their styleplain, earnest, practical, the good and forcible Saxon largely predominating. They treat of some of the most important doctrines, yet in an easy style that can be understood by all. The two volumes contain thirtynine sermons-doctrinal, experimental, and practical, embracing only those great themes common to all evangelical Christians. They are catholic and spiritual. They are characterized throughout by noble views of "God and his Christ," deep piety, and high appreciation of the Christian life. (2.) SAVAGE AFRICA: Being the Narrative of a Tour in Equatorial, South-Western, and North-Western Af rica; with Notes on the Habits of the Gorilla, etc. By W. Winwood Reade, Fellow of the Geographical and Anthropological Societies of London, and Corresponding Member of the Geographical Society of Paris. 8vo. Pp. 452. New York: Harper & Brothers. $3.75.Another addition by these enterprising publishers to their already large and valuable list of contributions to the exploration and illustration of Africa. We have already examined their editions of Cumming, Livingstone, Anderssen, Du Chaillu, and Speke, and are still ready to welcome this new work. With all the intensely-interesting information we have received through the labors of the above eminent explorers, Africa still seems to us a great terra incognita, and the great problems connected with its strange people yet unsolved. | Mr. Reade was a cheerful traveler, and is a sprightly writer. "The narrative portions of this work," he tells us, "have been compiled from letters written home to a friend at monthly intervals." From which circumstance, we judge, they are all the more interesting and readable, and none the less true to the facts. The style of the book is well indicated by the author himself: "I make, of course, no pretensions to the title of explorer. If I have any merit, it is that of having been the first young man about town to make a bona fide tour in Western Africa, to travel in that agreeable and salubrious country with no special object, and at his own expense; to flaner in the virgin forest; to flirt with pretty savages, and to smoke his cigar among cannibals." Although written in an easy, sprightly, if not indeed off-hand style, the book abounds in valuable facts, and contains many important suggestions and theories, helping toward the solution of some of the many physical and anthropological questions which still hang around Africa and its people. The author believes in the humanity of the negro, claims to have seen the much-suspected gorilla, bolts a little at the unicorn and tailed men, proves the existence of cannibalism among certain tribes, denounces the slave-trade, and hopes for good things yet in the future civilization of Africa. He considers the debasement of the negro more physical than mental. The book contains twentyeight finely-executed wood engravings illustrative of African life and scenery. (3.) HISTORY OF FREDERICK THE SECOND, CALLED FREDERICK THE GREAT. By Thomas Carlyle. In Four Volumes. Vol. IV. New 12mo. Pp. 510. York: Harper & Brothers. From Robert Clarke & Co., Cincinnati. $1.75.-The period comprised in the present volume extends from the Second Silesian War1744, 1745-to the first campaign of the Seven Years' War-1756, 1757. It is one of the most interesting of the series of volumes written by the inexhaustible author. Every body that reads has read Carlyle, knows his unique style, expects to find himself sometimes struggling with the author through inextricable labyrinths, then wandering delightfully in broad places of great beauty, certain always that he is in the hands of a strong and safe guide, whose irrepressible loquac ity is sure to indicate all places, persons, and things that are of interest, and to make all comments that need to be made on them. The reading of Carlyle has somewhat the same effect as an exhibition of fire works, "displays of wonderful beauty pass before the eye; the spectator is dazzled and bewildered, but before he knows what he is admiring, the sparkling pageant dissolves in smoke, and showers of flame, and manycolored lights." We have here the capture of Prague, the battles of Fontenoy and Hohenfriedberg, the visit of Voltaire, Madame du Châtelet, and Saint Lambert to the Prussian Court, and the blockade of the Saxons in Pirna. Brilliant sketches of the course of events, sardonic derision of the principal characters, cynical comments on society and the world of that time, beautiful description, and well-told anecdote make up the burden of this volume. One of the most interesting chapters is the one which describes the celebrated SansSouci, "an elegant, commodious little 'Country Box,' quite of modest pretensions, one story high, on the pleasant hill-top near Potsdam, with other little green hills, and pleasant views of land and water all round," where Frederick, after "seeing himself on the upper table-land of victory and success," looking forward to a long interval of repose, retired to lead a life of philosophic serenity. A fine portrait of the beautiful Frederike Sophie Wilhelmine and several maps embellish and illustrate the volume. (4) LIFE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, Presenting his Early History, Political Career, and Speeches in and out of Congress: Also, a General View of his Policy as President of the United States; with his Messages, Proclamations, Letters, etc., and a Concise History of the War. By Joseph H. Barrett. 12mo. Pp. 518. Cincinnati: Moore, Wilstach & Baldwin.-It has been the fortune of Mr. Lincoln to be called to the chief magistracy at an epoch when a long-maturing conspiracy for the dismemberment of the Union has culminated in a war of unprecedented magnitude. The President, tried as none of his predecessors ever were, has so wisely exercised his powers as to command the hearty support of all loyal men at home and the admiration of enlightened thinkers, unperverted by anti-democratic prejudice, in Europe. It was a late member of the British Parliament who pointed out single passages from an address of Mr. Lincoln's, as worth "all that Burke ever wrote." His able statesmanship has justified the confidence of the people, while his sterling qualities of heart, his humane sympathies, his purity of life, and his power of winning the love and trust of his countrymen, have contributed to deepen the earnestness of the popular wish for his continuance, during another term, in the high office he providentially fills. So writes the author, and we accept it all. The book will contribute where it is read to this result. (5.) GUIDE-BOOK OF THE CENTRAL RAILROAD OF NEW JERSEY, and its Connections through the CoalFields of Pennsylvania. New York: Harper & Brothers. An interesting description of a very beautiful and interesting route of travel. It contains a map and twenty-five well-engraved illustrations. (6.) SONGS OF THE SOLDIERS, Arranged and Edited by Frank Moore. 16mo. Pp. 318. New York: George P. Putnam. From Robert Clarke & Co., Cincinnati.A large portion of the songs in this collection were submitted to the editor by soldiers in the Union army, with the request that they should be included in the Red, White, and Blue, series "as they are favorites in the camps." The book contains one hundred and fiftythree of these songs. MAGAZINES, PAMPHLETS, ETC.-1. North British Review, No. LXXX, May, 1864. American edition. New York: Leonard Scott & Co. 2. Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine. American Edition. June, 1864. New York: Leonard Scott & Co. 3. Chambers's Encyclopedia. A Dictionary of Universal Knowledge for the People. On the Basis of the Latest Edition of the German Conversations Lexicon. Illustrated by Wood Engravings and Maps. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. Nos. 73, 74. 20 cents per number. 4. Denis Duval. A Novel. By W: M. Thackeray. New York: Harper & Brothers. 50 cents. THE REPOSITORY.-We had just seated ourself to prepare a little historical sketch of the Repository, when our eye fell on the following synopsis in the columns of the Pittsburg Christian Advocate. It is just what we wished, and perhaps will come with better grace from the gentlemanly editor of the "Pittsburger:" The Ladies' Repository is now unquestionably the most popular periodical in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Its design is, as our readers are aware, to bring into the family circle an elegant and pure literature; such a literature as will cultivate the taste, refine the manners, and ennoble all the aims of life. It was originally suggested by the late Samuel Williams, Esq., an intelligent and honorable layman, who, in 1839, presented a memorial to the Ohio Conference upon the subject, urging the necessity of a popular magazine adapted to the home circle, and especially to the ladies, who were not then any where represented in the Church periodical literature. The proposition was received with favor, and a committee, of which the Rev. J. F. Wright was chairman, reported a plan for the publication of such a magazine, and a memorial to the General Conference for its establishment as one of the regular periodicals of the Church. The General Conference met in May, 1840; the plan was received with high favor; the Western Book Agents, in con Table. junction with the Book Committee, were authorized to commence the publication, and the Rev. L. L. Hamline was elected editor. The first number was issued in January, 1841. At the end of four years Dr. Hamline, who was elected to the Episcopacy, was succeeded by E. Thomson, D. D. His connection with it as editor closed with the July number in 1846, and Rev. B. F. Tefft was elected his successor. Dr. Tefft's official connection with it continued till the General Conference of 1852. In the mean time, he having been elected President of the Genesee College, W. C. Larrabee, LL. D., was elected his successor. Dr. Larrabee having declined the appointment, Rev. D. W. Clark, D. D., was elected editor. The very kind notice of the present editorial incumbent, which here follows, we must clip off, only joining with him in the hope that our career may be one of great usefulness in this department of Christian labor," and wishing the same to the excellent editor of the Pittsburg Advocate. OUR ENGRAVINGS.-Under existing circumstances, when we see a number of the Repository complete, we feel like congratulating ourselves when we find it embellished with two good engravings. Perhaps but few of our readers are aware how much labor, anxiety, and even uncertainty are involved in supplying these engravings. Our excellent predecessor, by the very superior engravings he has been securing for the Repository, has created a reputation for us in this department, and has so cultivated the taste of our readers, that we dare not offer them any thing but firstclass pictures. We do not at all regret this. But the former far-seeing editor has widely swept the field of interesting portraits and beautiful pictures, and the first difficulty we meet is that of selection. Then after we have found the portrait and the landscape, the next still greater difficulty is to have them well engraved. There is a great demand for good engravings in the country, and our first-class engravers are crowded with work, so that instead of seeking us, we are obliged to seek them, and even accept the work as a special favor. When we can, under these circumstances, cast our eye on two such engravings as accompany the present number, ready for the eye of the reader, we feel like saying to ourselves, "Well done;" and we hope our readers will find as much pleasure from the beauty and excellence of these pictures, as we find from the simple fact that we possess them. "The Oriental City" is admirably described by Mr. Haven, and we have endeavored to illustrate the character of the remarkable woman whose portrait is before you. WITH OUR CONTRIBUTORS. Mr. Editor,-Will you please insert the following in the Repository if worthy? I am but twelve years of age, and this my first attempt at writing poetry. M. H. Pretty good poetry for twelve years of age-after twelve years more you will do better; but do n't get the idea that you can yet write poetry; write a great deal and burn it up; read a great deal, and then write and then, years after this, send us another specimen, and we will see how much you have improved. From our love of youth and youthful promise we insert this: more, IN MEMORY'S HALL. I am sitting by my window, On it goes through mem'ry's chambers- Till it reaches a dark chamber, Curtained close with sorrow's vail; It tells of a loving mother, How we gathered 'round the bedside, Then I thought her only lying In the paradise of God. Dear Sir,-I have long been a reader, and for some time, by proxy, a subscriber of the Ladies' Repository. It has been a That has the true ring in it. The article, too, pleases us; you will do better the next time. We will hold the present article and will use it, if we can find a place. Dear Sir,-Since my return from Europe and the East, four years ago, I have felt a growing interest and paid increasing attention to home scenery, threading the mountain and lake districts of New England and New York in order to discover their attractions. I am more and more convinced that while foreign scenery is worthy of notice and of record, our home scenery is too little known, and too much neglected by tourists and correspondents. In a recent visit to the lake district of Central New York I was surprised by its charms. A picture of a sample of these I send you. If acceptable, please give it a place in your excellent periodical, and oblige a reader and well-wisher of the Repository. We never prize our home-blessings as we should. We agree with you in the superior excellence of our own American scenery, and if you can make it better known to our people we will lend you our columns for the purpose. Dear Sir,-Congratulating you, whom I recognize as an old schoolmate, in the editorship of the Repository, I send you an article. It is one of a series commenced two years ago. It is some time since I have sent any thing, but I hope to offer you several articles this year. I hope you are well pleased with your new duties. We were greatly pleased to recognize in one of our regular contributors an old schoolmate. A few days ago I visited our native town; how beautifully it sits in the valley, on the banks of the classic Juniata, with its grand old mountains completely surrounding it! We have seen many things since you and I played on those mountains, and along that beautiful river, and sat together in the old academy, but I have never yet seen a more beautiful sight for a lovely country vil lage. The scenes are all there yet-the mountains, the Juniata, the Kishacoquilas-Granville-the old stone school-house, the academy, the church, all are there, speaking of the days gone by, and reminding us by their steadfastness how frail and mortal are we. ARTICLES ACCEPTED. In acknowledging the approval of articles, we give no pledge to insert them at any particular time; it is simply acknowledging their merit, and our desire and purpose to use them as we Frontier Sketches; Camp Convalescent; Moral Power; Thoughts from Common Places; Our Little Ones in Heaven; The Soldier and the Nurse; The Upland Way; Gone. can. ARTICLES DECLINED.-Prose.-Papers from Oak Grove; The Scriptures and the U. S.; Stairs; God has Given us the Night; God a Lover of Beauty-has too much "beauty." Poetry.-A Song, by S. F.-only of personal interest; Dan-very good, but not adapted to the Repository; My Picture Gallery; The Changes of a Year; The Battle's Monument; Sing me to Sleep, Sister; The Farewell of Joan of Arc. |