governments, concerning the future Constitution of the German Empire. Notwithstanding the differences of opinion which were found to exist on some points, the treaty providing for the incorporation of Bavaria, Wurtemberg, Baden, and Hesse, with the new German Empire, was soon concluded, and on January 18, 1871, King William of Prussia assumed the title of Emperor of Germany. It was acknowledged on all sides that Bismarck was in fact the restorer of a united Germany; and the new Emperor and the German Reichsrath did not delay to give expression to their feelings of gratitude. By a Cabinet order, dated March 22, 1871, Bismarck was created an hereditary prince of the German Empire; thus receiving the highest rank, next to the sovereigns of the German States. After the Constitution of the German Empire had gone into operation, Prince Bismarck's title of Chancellor of the North-German Confederation was changed (May 12th) into Chancellor of the German Empire. By an order of June 24th, the Emperor transferred to Prince Bismarck a large estate in the duchy of Lauenburg, which the Diet of this duchy had presented to him. As regards the foreign relations of Prussia and Germany, Bismarck cultivated with particular attention the friendship of Russia, and the outspoken sympathy of the Russian Government with Germany, at the beginning of the Franco-German War, was considered as a result of this policy. At the close of the year 1870, he succeeded in gaining the full consent of Austria to the reunion of the South-German States with the North-German Confederation, and the reestablishment of the German Empire. The relations of Germany and Austria remained throughout the year 1871 of the most friendly character. Toward the French Government, which was particularly anxious to shorten the time of occupation of several French departments by German troops, Bismarck showed a very conciliatory spirit. But, when the French courts repeatedly acquitted the assassins of German soldiers, Bismarck, on December 7, 1871, addressed to the German ambassador in Paris, Count Arnim, one of the most remarkable notes which he has issued during his long diplomatic career. He remarks that, if the principles which caused the acquittal of French assassins by the courts of Paris and Melun were adopted in Germany, the killing of Frenchmen within the jurisdiction of Germany would cease to be liable to punishment. But such a retaliation was repugnant to the moral ideas of the German people, who, however, on the other hand, were not willing, in case of the repetition of such crimes, to accept the plea of the independence of the French courts as a satisfactory explanation. The German generals, in the occupied departments, have therefore been instructed to declare a state of siege in order to subject the crimes committed against the German troops to miliVOL. XI-6 A tary jurisdiction. Should those who murdered German soldiers within the territory occupied by German troops escape, and the French Government refuse their extradition, as had been done in the case of Tonnelet and Berlin, the German Government would order French hostages to be arrested and carried off, and, if necessary, would have recourse to even more stringent measures. In view of the hostile disposition toward Germany, as revealed by these acquittals in Paris and Melun, the German Government, during the future negotiations with France, would have to think, not only of securing the execution of the conditions of peace, but also of strengthening its defensive position in the departments occupied by the German troops. The note produced an extraordinary sensation throughout Europe. President Thiers, in addressing the National Assembly on December 29th, branded the act of Tonnelet and Berlin as criminal, and remarked: "Such deeds bring down upon us harsh words, with regard to which silence is the best answer." The Assembly applauded his remarks. BLAKE, Commodore GEORGE S., U. S. N., a gallant and accomplished naval officer, born in Massachusetts, in 1801; died at Longwood, Mass., June 24, 1871. He was appointed a midshipman in the U. S. Navy at the age of seventeen. In 1827 he was commissioned lieutenant, and in 1829 was attached to the West India Squadron. He was occasionally connected with the Narraganset Bay Survey, and detailed for duty at the Philadelphia Navyyard. From 1837 to 1848, he took part in the Coast Survey. He was commissioned as commander February 27, 1847, and was fleet-captain of the Mediterranean Squadron from 1850 to 1852. For two years thereafter he was in the Bureau of Construction. He was commissioned as captain on the 14th of September, 1855, and detailed on special duty until 1858, when he became Superintendent of the Naval Academy. This position he held until 1865, when he was retired from active duty, having been, in the mean time, commissioned as commodore on the 16th of July, 1862. He was a man of fine culture, a graceful and elegant writer, of good executive ability, and genial and affable address. BOLIVIA, a republic in South America. President, Colonel A. Morales, elected provisional President, for the term of one year, on June 20, 1871. The ministry of the provisional President was composed as follows: Dr. C. Corral, Minister of the Interior and Foreign Affairs; Dr. T. Frias, Minister of Finances; Dr. L. Mendoza de la Tapia, Minister of Justice and Public Worship; Dr. M. Reyes Cardona, Minister of Public Education and Industry; Colonel N. Campero, Minister of War. Mr. L. Markbreit is minister resident of the United States at La Paz, and I. M. Muñoz consul-general of Bolivia at New York. area of the republic, which was formerly esti The mated at from 480,000 to 640,000 square miles, was more accurately computed in 1869 by Lieutenant-Colonel J. Ondarza at 842,730 square miles. It is divided into the following nine departments (the new departments of Mejillones and Melgarejo, which had been created by President Melgarejo, having been abolished by the present Government): Inhabitants. 519,465 379,783 1,811,368 2,056,368 2.44 and found the work already accomplished. Soon a large portion of the country had declared against Melgarejo, who left his headquarters at Oruro, and, making forced marches, arrived on the heights above La Paz on the night of the 14th of January. His army of 2,000 men was armed with Remington breechloaders, amply supplied with ammunition, commanded by experienced officers, and had 12 pieces of artillery. When the news of his movements was received in La Paz, the citi zens, from 15 to 60 years of age, were ordered under arms; martial law was declared; the 706,989 city placed in a state of siege; and all estab lishments, public and private, ordered to close their doors, in order that public defence only might be attended to. A national guard was formed, badly armed with guns of all calibres, and rusty pistols of ancient date. Barricades of adobe were hastily constructed at all important strategic points, but were only half finished when the assault upon the city began. The authorities of the city resolved to use a terrible ally-the Indians. By sending orders in every direction, promising to them their stolen lands, even giving solemn decrees to that effect, about 20,000 Indians, armed with the ancient sling, the lance, and the warclub, were quickly thrown in the path of the advancing army. Hatred and revenge stimu76,372 lated them to overcome their traditional timid1.780 ity. They formed a huge and menacing cloud, stretching a cordon around La Paz, and creating apprehensions as to the result of the contest, whatever it might be, since this race had been for three centuries the slave of the other. The king of the Indians was made colonel. The summons of Melgarejo to surrender having been refused, a conflict of the most desper ate character began. Morales fired the city, and by a desperate charge threw the attacking party into confusion. The forces of Melgarejo, being weary and much outnumbered, broke and fled, Melgarejo with them, and he succeeded in escaping over the frontier into Peru. Three hundred dead and nine hundred wounded were found on the field of battle. The city was very badly damaged by the fire, and, after the battle was ended, the Indians plundered it, committing the most horrible outrages. Morales, the successful leader of the revolutionary party, assumed the reins of government, and will hold them until the meeting of the Convention. According to a late (as yet unpublished) census, the population is reported to approach 3,000,000. The population of the capitals of the nine departments is, according to Ondarza, as follows: 4,170 40,678 The standing army of Bolivia, consisting of 31 generals, 359 officers of higher grade, 654 subaltern officers, and 3,034 men, annually costs the republic 2,000,000 pesos. The public revenue for 1869-70 was about $2,500,000, and the public debt (all internal) amounted to $7,500,000. The commerce of the country is estimated at from $5,000,000 to $6,250,000; the total imports during 1868 summed up $4,500,000, and the total exports during the same period $3,750,000. The state mint at Potosi coins annually about 2 million pesos in silver. Peru pays to the Bolivian Government 506,250 pesos for duty levied at Arica on merchandise going to Bolivia. Concessions have been granted for two railroads, one to connect Cobija and Potosi, and the other to form a branch of the Peruvian railroad from Arequipa to Puno. A new revolution against the rule of President Melgarejo broke out in the latter part of the year 1869 in Potosi. Melgarejo marched at the head of his army, took the city, and delivered it up to plunder, and was returning northward, when city after city rose in insurrection. On November 24th, even the capital, La Paz, declared in favor of the revolution. About this time, when fears were entertained for the success of the movement because a chief was wanting, General Morales, the old enemy of Melgarejo, arrived in Bolivia. He had come to stir up a movement in La Paz, BRACKENRIDGE, HENRY M., a veteran scholar, politician, diplomatist, and author, born in Pittsburg, Pa., May 11, 1786; died there, January 20, 1871. Pittsburg was, at the time of his birth, a frontier settlement, but his family were prosperous, and he was sent, at an early age, to Louisiana, to obtain an education. At the old French College of St. Genevieve, he obtained such training as was then possible in that country, including the development of his taste for the study of languages. After graduation he studied law, and commenced 66 ex whom 500,000 were Indians; by E. J. Pakenham, secretary of the British legation at Rio de Janeiro, at 9,858,000, exclusive of 200,000. Prof. E. Wappaus, of Göttingen, who is regarded as one of the best living authorities on Brazilian affairs, expresses, in a recent statistical work on Brazil ("Handbuch der Geographie und Statistik von Brasilien," Leipsic, 1871), the opinion that the population of the empire is nearer seven than eleven millions, and that the number of whites is inferior to that of the slaves. The negroes are the most numerous of the unmixed races, but the largest portion of the population is of mixed blood. The population of the largest cities is as follows: Rio de Janeiro... Porto Allegre.. Cará (Fortaleza). According to the "Statistical Tables relating to Foreign Countries," part xii. (London, 1870), the financial condition of the empire, from 1866 to 1869, was as follows: practice in Maryland. But he was soon seized with a longing to return to Louisiana, and, embarking on a flat-boat, in 1811, descended the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Soon after his arrival in Louisiana, he was appointed Deputy Attorney-General of the Territory of Orleans, before it was made a State. At the age of twenty-eight, he was appointed District Judge, and, the better to qualify himself for his high office, mastered perfectly the Spanish language. Sympathizing earnestly with the measures of Clay, Brackenridge exerted a vigorous pen in defence of that statesman's views on the South American republics and kindred questions. He wrote a history of the War of 1812, & short time after its conclusion, which was soon after translated into French and Italian. Over the signature of "American," he addressed to President Monroe a remarkable pamphlet on nationalities, which, being republished in England, came under the notice of the Spanish minister, who at once replied to it. In 1817 he was appointed commissioner to the South American republics, and, on his return, pub. lished the "Voyage to South America" alluded to by Humboldt as containing an traordinary mass of information." In 1821 Brackenridge lent his great abilities to General Jackson, in Florida, where his linguistic acquirements came well into play. This special service ended, he was again appointed Judge of the Western District of Florida, and, after ten years' service, removed to his birthplace, Pittsburg, where he entered earnestly into a political career; was, in 1840, elected to Congress, but, for some reason, never took his seat, and, the next year, was appointed a commissioner under the treaty with Mexico. The rest of his life was mainly devoted to writing, chiefly of a political character, his ablest essay of this period being "A History of the Western Insurrection," known as the "Whiskey Insurrection," which is considered a standard work. BRAZIL, an empire in South America. Em- 4. Interior: peror, Pedro II., born December 2, 1825; succeeded his father, April 7, 1881. His daughter Isabella is married to the Count d'Eu, son of the Duke de Nemours. The second daughter, Leopoldina, married to Duke Augustus of Saxe-Coburg Gotha, died on February 7, 1871; eldest son of the latter, Pedro, born March 19, 1866. The ministry, appointed on March 8, 1871, consisted of Senator Visconde Paranhos YEARS. 1866-1867 1867-1868 Total.... The deficits caused by the war with Paraguay were met by an increase of the public debt, and chiefly by the issue of paper-money. In the budget of 1869-'70, the receipts and expenditures were fixed as follows: 1. Import duties.. RECEIPTS. Interest on railroad shares. Sundry State Institutes. Proceeds of domains.. 1,580,000 Consumption of liquors and of cattle. 423,000 Miscellaneous 87,600 Extraordinary receipts.. 1,791,450 Deposits... de Rio Branco, President of the Ministry and 5. From the municipality of the capital: Minister of Finances; Dr. F. A. Correa de Oliveira, Minister of the Interior; Senator Fr. de P. de Negreiras Sayao Lobato, Minister of Justice; Dr. M. Fr. Correa, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Dr. M. A. D. de Azevedo, Minister of the Navy; Dr. F. M. F. Pereira da Silva, Minister of Public Works, Commerce, and Agriculture. On May 23d Senator Jaguaribe was appointed Minister of War. Area, 3,231,000 square miles. The population was estimated, in a work published in 1867, by order of the Government, at 11,780,000, of Total........ EXPENDITURES. 1. Ministry of the Interior: Supreme administration.. Instruction, Science.. Millreis. 4,932,966 3,283,070 7,715,161 13,855,872 15,882,018 1,506,449 8,305,271 2,311,126 2,786,000 in a majority of 28 for the Government. The long-protracted discussion on the eman748,420 cipation bill itself closed on September 27th. The bill was adopted in the Senate by a vote of 44 against 33. The declaration of the result of the vote was received in the crowded Senate-house with great applause, and rose1,004,450 leaves were showered from the galleries upon 6,733,560 the Senators. On leaving the Senate, the Visconde de Rio Branco, the Minister of 1.400.000 Agriculture, and the Senators who had taken 770,741 prominent part in the advocacy of the bill, 4,551,833 were warmly congratulated by their friends 70,786,932 and loudly cheered by the multitude outside. In the evening a serenade was given by the masons of Rio to the Visconde de Rio Branco. The Government received congratulations from all the foreign representatives in Rio and from the local corporations, and felicitations continually came from other parts of the country in proportion as the news reached them. Religious corporations immediately commenced to set at liberty the slaves owned by them, and there were evidences of a movement among the slave-owners, in the direction of either converting their slaves into free tenant farmers or of freeing them upon conditions of a few years' service. Post-Office Other expenditures.. Total..... The public debt, in 1870, was as follows: Milreis. 113,606,445 240,246,800 150,397,628 53,863,800 10,776,495 12,432,262 581,323,430 The army, on the peace-footing, consisted of 16,650 infantry, 4,231 cavalry, 4,322 artillery, and 641 special corps; total, 25,844 men. To these must be added the corps of engineers, the train, and the naval force. The total force of the army in time of war is 73,784 men. In February, 1871, it was discovered in the province of Minas Geraes that the slaves were conspiring to assert their liberty. Three hundred slaves on some estates adjoining the goldmines of the English companies in the province attempted to induce the large bodies of those employed in the mines to rise, expecting that the slaves of some other estates would rally at once under the flag of liberty, and that the movement would speedily extend throughout the empire. The plot was, however, discovered, and about thirty of the ringleaders arrested. This averted the insurrection for the moment, but was regarded as an ominous indication of the approaching doom of slavery, as it would be impossible to conceal from the slaves of the empire that only in Brazil, on the American Continent, were human beings held in bondage. In May, the Emperor and the Empress left Brazil for a protracted journey to the Old World. During his absence the Princess Imperial, wife of the Count d'Eu, was appointed Regent, with full powers. The Brazilian Chambers were opened May 3d. The speech from the throne promised reforms in the administration of justice, in the electoral laws, in the organization of the National Guard, and in the system of recruiting. It also announced that the Government would introduce a bill relating to the abolition of slavery, the time having come for a final solution of the slavery question. In June a vote was taken upon the clause of the speech from the throne relative to the emancipation of the slaves belonging to the crown, and resulted The main points of the bill for the abolition of slavery, as passed by the Senate, are as follows: The children born of a slave from date of this law, within the empire, are considered free-born. While minors, they are to remain in the power and under the rule of the masters of their mothers up to the full age of eight years, the masters being required to feed and to bring them up during this period. At this age, the mother's master has the option, either to receive from the Government a compensation of 600 milreis, or to avail himself of the minor's services up to his full age of twentyone years. In the former case, the Government takes charge of the minor and of his professional education. Every minor may free himself of his bondage by a compensation in money, offered by himself or any other person to his mother's master, the amount of which is to be previously fixed by estimating the balance of his term of service, if no agreement thereupon exists. The master is bound to feed and educate the children born of the daughters of his female slaves as long as the mother's services shall continue. In case the female slave is set free, her children under eight years of age, who according to the law are under the power of her master, are to be delivered to her without any compensation, unless they should remain with the master by mutual consent of mother and master. In case she is sold, her children under twelve years of age follow her, the new master assuming the rights and obligations of his predecessor. The services of the children of female slaves cease, in case it is decided by a court that the masters of their mothers have ill-treated or beyond measure punished them or neglected their support and education. The masters' right, as stated in article 1, is transferable in case of necessary heritage. The Government may deliver those children born of female slaves after the date of the law, when they are ceded or given up by or taken away from their masters, to privileged societies. §1. The said societies are entitled to the gratuitous services of such minors, until they come to the full age of twenty-one years, and may hire them out, but they are bound to feed and educate them; to reserve for their benefit a certain portion of their wages; and after the expiration of their term of service to procure them a suitable employment. The societies are subject to the control of the Court of Orphans, as are also the foundling hospitals and all persons intrusted with the education of said minors. The Supreme Government reserves the right of placing the minors in public institutions, in which case the municipal government assume all obligations. In each province of the empire so many slaves are to be set free every year as its quota of the emancipation fund will permit. The emancipation fund is created out of the slave-tax; out of tax had on transferring slaves; from the proceeds, free of taxes, of six yearly lotteries, and the tenth part of all lotteries henceforth to be authorized; from the fees imposed by this law; from the quota to be freed in the budgets of the empire, the provinces and municipalities; and from collections, donations, and legacies, for this purpose. The slave is entitled to his earnings, to his savings, and to donations, legacies, and inheritance, which may devolve on him. This property is to be protected by the Government, and in case of death devolves on the lawful heirs; in default of succession, it is adjudicated to the emancipation fund. Slaves who, by their income, or by the liberality of any one, or by a contract for future services, procure the means for purchasing themselves, have a claim to manumission. The ransom is to be fixed by agreement or by estimate. Contracts for future services, for the purpose of manumission, are subject to the sanction of the Court of Orphans, and can only be closed for a term not exceeding seven years. In case a slave who is owned by several masters is set free by one of them, he may obtain his full freedom by buying out the other masters, according to their shares. This compensation may consist in services not exceeding a term of seven years. Manumission by a contract for future services cannot be annulled by nonfulfilment of this obligation, but the freedman shall be compelled to comply with it. In all cases of selling or transferring slaves, the separation of husband from wife, or children under twelve years from their parents, is entirely prohibited. If a family of slaves devolves by inheritance to several heirs, it is to be sold and the proceeds to be divided. The following slaves are rendered free: 1. The slaves of the nation, the Government having to provide for their proper employment; 2. Those given to the crown in usufruct; 3. The slaves of the religious orders within seven years, by agreement of the Government as to the latter; 4. Slaves belonging to vacant inheritance; 5. Slaves who save the lives of their masters or the parents or children of their masters; 6. Slaves given up by their masters; the latter are bound to feed themunless prevented by poverty-if they abandoned them on account of physical unfitness. BRECKINRIDGE, Rev. ROBERT JEFFERSON, D. D., LL. D., a Presbyterian clergyman, professor, and author, born at Cabell's Dale, Ky., March 8, 1800; died at Danville, Ky., December 27, 1871. He was the son of the Hon. John Breckinridge, the author of the celebrated Kentucky Resolutions of 1798, and Attorney-General of the United States under President Jefferson. Robert was a student both at Princeton and Yale, but graduated at Union College in 1819. He studied law and was admitted to the bar of his native State in 1823, where he practised for eight years, having within that time been elected to the Legislature for four successive years. He made a public profession of religion in 1829, and his attention having been turned to the ministry, he studied theology privately, and was licensed to preach in 1832, and soon after became pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Baltimore, in which position he remained thirteen years. In 1845 he was elected president of Jefferson College, Pa., and at the same time took charge of a Presbyterian Church in a neighboring village. After two years in the presidency of the college, he removed to Lexington, Ky., where he became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, and also Superintendent of Public Instruction for the State. In 1853 he was elected Professor of Didactic and Polemic Theology in the new theological seminary at Danville, which office he continued to hold until his death. He published "Travels in France, Germany," etc., in 1839; a volume on "Popery," in 1841; two volumes on foreign travel, in 1845; the "Internal Evidence of Christianity," in 1852; and an elaborate work on theology, incomplete, in 1857. While in Baltimore he edited a Literary and Religious Magazine with great ability. He also edited at Danville, Ky., while professor there, the Danville Review, in which he not only defended his theological views, but gave utterance to his patriotic sentiments during the war with such earnestness as to encourage the wavering and greatly provoke the disloyal. Dr. Breckinridge has been one of the most distinguished of the polemic divines of his age. He believed himself to belong to the Church militant, and fought his way through. In the discussions and controversies that preceded the disruption of the Presbyterian Church, he was the champion of the Old-School party; in every conflict, urging on the wavering, rally |