Canada of four members, and (notwithstanding anything in this act) in case of the admission of Newfoundland the normal number of senators shall be seventy-six, and their maximum number shall be eighty-two; but Prince Edward Island when admitted shall be deemed to be compromised in the third of the three divisions into which Canada is, in relation to the Constitution of the Senate, divided by this act, and accordingly, after the admission of

Prince Edward Island, whether Newfoundland is admitted or not, the representation of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in the senate shall, as vacancies occur, be reduced from twelve to ten members respectively, and the representation of each of those Prov inces shall not be increased at any time beyond ten, except under the provisions of this act for the ap pointment of three or six additional senators under the direction of the Queen.

REED INSTRUMENTS (OF MUSIC). The great improvements which have been made in reed instruments within a few years past, entitle them to a place in a record of the advance of mechanical science and art. The first application of the vibration of a free tongue of metal to the production of musical sounds is probably due to that very unmusical people, the Chinese. As might have been expected, there was not much concord or harmony in the sounds they produced. There is some doubt whether an instrument invented by Armiot in the last century, but which never came into use, was or was not a reed instrument. The Eolodicon, invented by Eschenberg, of Bohemia, about 1806, did produce musical sounds by the vibration of elastic tongues of metal, but it was a rude affair. The Accordion, invented about 1821, and claimed by both European and American inventors, followed this. It possessed some advantages, but more disadvantages in its use as an accompaniment to the voice, and has been used rather as a musical toy than as a musical instrument of much value. The Rocking Melodeon, introduced soon after, was at first but little more than a larger accordion, blown by the knees instead of the hands. The principle on which these early melodeons, of which there was a considerable variety in style, size, and form, were all constructed, was that of forcing the air out through the reeds, by means of the bellows, in order to produce the desired musical sounds. As the metallic tongues were not usually made with the most mathematical precision or perfection of finish, and as they were, moreover, very often clogged or obstructed by particles of dust or other slight difficulties, which impeded their free vibrations, there was almost necessarily a hesitancy and trouble in producing the desired note with the requisite promptness; the instrument did not "speak" so readily as the performer wished, and not unfrequently on some notes could not be made to "speak at all. Several manufacturers in New England and New York had, however, as early as 1840, adopted some improvements which rendered their instruments preferable to those hitherto made, and rendered them a tolerable accompaniment for church music, though not a very desirable one. The most important of these improvements was that by which the reeds were each fastened to, and vibrated in a small square metallic pipe, which was inserted through

the top of the wind-chest, with the points of the reeds down; the rear ends of the keys resting on the open ends of these metallic pipes, and thus forming the valves.

The lap, or rocking melodeon, to which about this time (1840) slight legs were added, and a contrivance for working the bellows by the foot, was becoming popular for schools and small churches as a substitute for the stringed instruments which had hitherto been used as accompaniments for church music. It was as yet, however, very far from being perfect. A modification, which greatly improved the tone, was adopted by most of the manufac turers, though it cannot now be ascertained by whom it was first suggested. The reeds were riveted upon a piece of brass, swedged or bent so as to form three sides of a square, the edges of which were then inserted in grooves made for them upon the upper side of the wind-chest, directly over the valve mortice; and in order to bring the point of the reed to vibrate on the inside (the air being forced outward), the reeds were made to pass through their sockets to the under side, and this naturally took the form of a double curve, resembling somewhat the letter S. This curving of the reeds improved the tone, but it rather increased than diminished the promptness of the vibra tions, where, as was yet the case with all reed instruments, the air was forced outward. In 1846 Mr. Jeremiah Carhart, then of Buffalo, now and for some years of the manufacturing house of Carhart and Needham, secured a patent for a certain construction of bellows with other combinations, to operate the reeds by suction or drawing in, instead of forcing out, the air. This process, since known as the "exhaust plan," which had been previously though unsuccessfully attempted, was the first considerable step in improving reed instruments, and rendering them really valuable as accompani ments to the voice. It was only a first step. but it has been followed by numerous others which have made these instruments superior to the piano, and, for home music, to the parlor organ, in expression and feeling. Mr. Carhart's invention, as was justly claimed, gave to the instrument an improved quality of tone, greater durability, more simplicity of construction, increased promptness of utterance, a uniformity of tones, and equal distribution of power through the entire scale.

octave coupler, which nearly doubles the power of the instruments; noiseless safety-valves, to regulate the escape of wind and the pressure upon the wind-chest, and thus prevent the hissing sound so disagreeable in some reed instruments; and the improved combination register, to facilitate the drawing and closing the stops. These improvements, and the great care taken in its construction, have rendered the "Cabinet Organ" the best and most complete reed instrument yet produced, though the other instruments manufactured by the other large manufacturers are greatly superior to the best of the European instruments, all of which yet adhere to the old system of forcing the air outward. So rapid has been the advance in the improvement of the American reed instruments, that the poorest instrument of any respectable manufacturer at the present time is greatly superior to the best of ten years since. Stops, analogous to those in use in pipe organs, have been introduced into the higher grades of these instruments, and add materially to their beauty and variety of tone. One of these, the Vox Humana stop, applied to the Estey organ, is a somewhat complicated contrivance of fans driven by clock-work, to communicate at will a more tremulous motion to the vibrations of the reeds; and, but for its liability to frequent derangement, might prove a valuable adjunct to the instrument. The energy and genius which are devoted to the construction of these instruments, and the vigorous competition which is maintained, render it certain that every modification which will aid in perfecting them, and rendering them preferable to all others for the family, the school, or the smaller class of churches, will be tried, and if found desirable, adopted. The amount of annual production of reed instruments in the United States exceeds three millions of dollars.

REFORMED CHURCHES. I. Reformed Dutch Church.-This church reported, in 1866, the following statistics: One general synod; three particular synods (New York, Albany, and Chicago); thirty-two classes (or presbyteries); churches, 431; ministers, 407; candidates, 11; communicants, 55,917; received last year on confession, 3,120; by letter, 1,855; infants baptized, 3,307; adults, 607; children in Sabbathschools, 44,414; contributions for benevolent uses, $241,129.55; for congregational purposes, $649,540.83; moneys for benevolent uses under control of the several boards-education, in addition to the income from invested funds, $8,500; domestic missions, $24,589.98; building fund, $4,433.58; mission schools, $1,157.14; foreign missions, $55,783.75; publication, $2,175.72. These amounts are apart from what was contributed to the widows' fund, ministers' fund, to the theological seminary at New Brunswick, and to Hope College. There are in connection with the church two colleges, one at New Brunswick, N. J., and the other at Holland, Michigan.

The General Synod of the church, which met

in the city of New York, on June 5th, received an interesting communication from Rer. S. R. Bowen, a missionary of the church at Yokohama, who sent a circular, addressed to Christians, in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Pacific isles, as well as in the United States, asking the active coöperation of all Christians in the conversion of Japan. The young men of rank there, the missionary says, are being instructed in the English language by the missionaries, at the desire of the Government, and much good is accomplished in this way; but although the people are ready and anxious to learn of Christ, the old laws, which are exceedingly severe, are still in force, prohibiting the teaching of Christianity in the empire. A letter of Christian greeting was received from the Free Church of Scotland, and also one from the moderator of the General Assembly of that church.

The following resolutions were passed relative to a change of the official name of the church:

Whereas, It is alleged that many persons who would be glad to connect themselves with the Reformed Dutch Church, and would do so if not repelled by the word "Dutch" in the name of said Church;

and

Whereas, In the opinion of many of our ministers and members, a change in our style and title that would obviate objections based upon this ground would decidedly promote the growth and interests of the denomination; therefore,

Resolved, That a committee, consisting of four ministers and three elders, be appointed to examine into the expediency and propriety of this change, and report at the next meeting of the General Synod.

It was resolved to hold the next meeting of the General Synod in the village of Geneva, New York, on the first Wednesday in June, 1867.

II. German Reformed Church.-The Triennial General Synod of the German Reformed Church in the United States, convened in Dayton, Ohio, on Wednesday evening, November 28th. Both the classes of the church in the Confederate States (Virginia and North Carolina), which by the war had been for some time cut off from the main body, were represented by delegates, and the unity of the church was thus fully restored. The following persons were elected officers: Rev. Dr. D. Zacharias, president; Rev. D. Winters and Dr. S. R. Fisher, vicepresidents. One of the most important subjects which engaged the attention of the synod was the relation with the Dutch Reformed Church. The delegate of the latter denomination, Rev. Dr. Chambers, made an address, in which he submitted an invitation to cooperate with his church in the work of foreign missions. The Western Synod (one of the two particular synods into which the German Reformed Church is divided) requested the General Synod to take measures to effect a closer union with the Dutch Church. The committee, to which the action of the Western Synod was referred, took a favorable view of the subject, and, after some discussion, the further consideration of it was deferred until the next triennial

session of the General Synod. The preceding General Synod had requested the general classes to take action on the omission of the word "German" in the official name of the church, a change which the General Synod deemed to be of vital importance to the interests of the church. It appears that a number of classes voted against the omission, under the impression that it would endanger the title of the church to its property, and that thus the constitutional number of classes necessary for adoption did not vote for the change. The present General Synod, believing that the fear of danger to the church property involved in the change to be entirely groundless, again resolved to request the classes to take action on the omission of the word German.. The new liturgy, which has for many years been a cause of considerable discord, as it is regarded by its opponents as being pervaded by a high-church spirit, came up again for discussion. The Western committee not being able to submit their work, and asking for further time to complete it, the majority of the committee of the General Synod on "liturgy" recommended that the final action on the liturgy be postponed, and that the Western committee be allowed to go forward with their work as proposed, and that the revised liturgy, as presented by the Eastern Synod, be in the mean time allowed for the use of the churches and families under the jurisdiction of the synod. A report from the minority of the committee was presented, in which, for a series of reasons given, viz., that the revised liturgy, in the judgment of the minority, is not adapted to the wants of the church, and is not in harmony with the spirit and standards of the church and involves a revolution of the established order of worship, they recommend that the revised liturgy of the Eastern Synod, together with the work of the Western committee, as far as prosecuted, be placed in the hands of a new committee, with instructions to prepare, from this material, and such other sources as may be accessible, a liturgy adapted to the want of the church, and in full harmony with its standards, genius, and order of worship, and lay the result of their labors before the synod at its next triennial session. After a long and animated discussion the resolution was adopted, by a vote of sixty-four yeas against fifty-seven nays.

RENNIE, GEORGE, C. E., F. R. S., an eminent engineer and writer on engineering topics, born in Surrey, in 1791; died in London, March 30, 1866. He was a son of John Rennie, C. E., F. R. S., etc.; was educated at the classical schools of Isleworth, and St. Paul, London, and in 1807 accompanied his father in his annual tour through England, Ireland, and Scotland. On his return to Edinburgh he was entered a student in the University, giving his attention to classical and mathematical studies and chemistry, and was two years under the tuition of Professor John Playfair. In 1811 he returned to London and engaged in practical engineering.

In 1818 he was appointed Inspector of Machinery and Clerk of the Dies in the Royal Mint, which post he held nearly eight years, acquiring during that time an intimate knowledge of the art of coining, and especially of the machinery necessary. Subsequently, upon the death of his father in 1821, he entered into partnership with his brother in civil engineering, furnishing machinery for the mints of Mexico, Peru, Lisbon, London, Calcutta, Bombay, etc. They furnished, also, machinery of various kinds for the Russian Government, constructed marine engines for the Peninsular, Oriental, Sardinian, Transatlantic, and other companies, planned bridges, and surveyed railroads, besides executing many other works in Great Britain and Ireland. The brothers Rennie were the first to introduce screw propellers into the British navy in 1840. They also laid out the line of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway and carried it across Chat Moss at a cost of £57,000 less than the estimates. In 1822 Mr. Rennie was made a Fellow of the Royal Society, which he served in the offices of treasurer and vice-president for three years, and was subsequently elected a member of other important societies. He was the author of several scientific papers in the "Transactions" of the Royal Society, and of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, such as "On the Strength of Materials," "On Hydraulics," "On the Expansion of Arches of Stone and Iron," and on bridges, water-wheels, dredging, and mechanics. He was also the author of many miscellaneous reports on civil engineering topics.

REUSS, the name of two German principalities. I. REUSS-GREIZ. Prince, Henry XXII., born March 28, 1854; succeeded his father, November 8, 1859. Area, 148 square miles; population, in 1864, 43,924. II. REUSS-SCHLEIZ. Prince, Henry LXVII., born October 20, 1789; succeeded his brother, June 19, 1854. Area, 297 square miles; population, in 1864, 86,472. During the German-Italian war Reuss-Greiz sided with Austria, and Reuss-Schleiz with Prussia. After the war both joined the North German Confederation.

RHIGOLENE. Dr. Henry J. Bigelow, of Boston, gives a description of a petroleumnaphtha (for which he proposes the name of Rhigolene), boiling at seventy degrees F., and possessing the property of causing an intense degree of cold by the rapidity of its evaporation. It is a hydro-carbon destitute of oxygen; is the lightest of all known liquids, having a specific gravity of 0.625, and is supposed to be a combination of some of the known products of petroleum with those volatile and gaseous ones not yet fully examined. Several of these combinations are already known in trade as benzolene, kerosene, kerosolene, gasolene, all naphthas, but varying with different manufacturers. Kerosolene, the boiling-point of which is about ninety degrees, has been found to be an efficient anaesthetic by inhalation. The dis

covery by Dr. Richardson, of London, of a useful anaesthesia by freezing through the agency of ether vapor, reducing the temperature to six degrees below zero F., suggested to Dr. Bigelow the idea of using a very volatile product of petroleum for the congelation of the tissues. A petroleum liquid was manufactured at his request (rhigolene), and by its application the mercury was easily depressed to nineteen degrees below zero, and the human skin could be frozen hard in five to ten seconds. A lower temperature would probably be indicated but for the ice which surrounds the bulb of the thermometer. The same result may be approximately effected by the common spray-producer." For convenience, however, Dr. Bigelow has employed a glass vial, through the cork of which passes a metal tube for the fluid, the air-tube being outside and bent at its extremity so as to meet the fluid-tube at right angles at some distance from the neck of the bottle. Air is not admitted to the bottle, the vapor of the rhigolene generated by the warmth of the hand applied externally being sufficient to prevent a vacuum and to insure its free delivery; fifteen degrees below zero is easily produced by this apparatus. The bottle, when not in use, should be kept tightly corked, as the liquid readily loses its more volatile parts by evaporation, leaving a denser and comparatively less efficient residue. Dr. Bigelow claims that freezing by rhigolene is far more sure than by ether, inasmuch as common ether, boiling only at about ninety-six degrees instead of seventy degrees, often fails to produce an adequate degree of cold. The rhigolene is more convenient and more easily controlled than the freezing mixtures hitherto employed, is quicker in its action, cheaper, and comparatively odorless. On these grounds it is believed that rhigolene will supersede ether or chloroform for small operations and in private houses. For large operations it is obviously less convenient than general anæsthesia, and will not supersede it. Applied to the skin the first degree of congelation is evanescent; if protracted longer, it is followed by redness and desquamation, which may possibly be averted by the local bleeding of an incision; but, if continued or used on a large scale, there is imminent danger of frost-bite and mortification. RHODE ISLAND. The election in this State takes place on the first Wednesday in April. The Republican Convention for the nomination of candidates assembled in Providence, on March 20th. One hundred and six delegates were present. Every town in the State was represented. No sooner was the convention organized by the election of officers and the completion of the list of delegates, than a strife commenced to determine who should be the first to nominate Ambrose E. Burnside as the candidate. One Mr. Fay was the first recognized by the chairman, and made the motion. It was seconded, and the nomination urged, for the reasons that General Burnside was well known to the people of the State; he

was the man, of all others, who could unite the Republican party of Rhode Island; the present was a time of great importance, and there should be no differences of opinion. General Burnside was then promptly declared the candidate of the convention by acclamation. William Green was nominated for Lieutenant-Governor, John R. Bartlett, Secretary of State; Horatio Rogers, Attorney-General, and General W. Tew, Treasurer. Committees were appointed, the candidate for Governor was notified and accepted, and the convention adjourned without alluding to any resolutions.

On the next day the Democratic Convention assembled. About a hundred delegates were present, representing nearly every town in the State. After the organization of the convention, a committee on resolutions was appointed, who subsequently made a report, which was adopted without opposition. The first resolution asserted that the Constitution of the United States is the only foundation that can sustain the American republic, and that in every emergeney it should be adhered to in fact as well as in letter, and should be the fundamental and controlling law.

The second referred to reconstruction, and said that, in our system of government, each State should bear its equal proportion of representation as well as taxation.

The third recognized the services of President Johnson in his efforts to preserve the Constitution, to secure to the several States their just representation in Congress, and their rights in the Union; and called upon all men to cocoperate with him, thus showing their confidence in his efforts to stand by the principles of the Constitution.

A discussion ensued on the propriety of nominating a regular Democratic ticket, or accepting the names brought forward by the Republican Convention, for the reason that the popularity of General Burnside was such, that he could not be defeated. It was finally deter mined to appoint a special committee of five, being one from each county, with authority to make up a ticket to be presented to the central committee for their acceptance or rejection. The ticket thus prepared consisted of Lyman Pierce, for Governor; G. H. Durfee, LieutenantGovernor; W. J. Miller, Secretary of State; J. S. Pitman, Attorney-General; J. Atkinson, Treasurer.

At the election, the total vote given was 11,178; of which General Burnside received 8,197; Mr. Pierce, 2,816; Burnside over Pierce, 5,381. The Legislature elected was divided as follows: