of a Minister or the programme of a Ministry. Universal suffrage is the fundamental basis of reform. Those who obey the laws ought to make them. Those who are obliged to fight in defense of their country should also have the right to elect their syndics and their representatives in Parliament. This, he said, is the basis of social justice. He told those who impugn this that the people to whom the toga virilis is denied were considered capable of first founding with their arms and afterward confirming by their vote the unity of Italy; and he said that the dreaded phalanx of the Clericals is also desirable in Parliament, seeing that the establishment of two conflicting principles will dispel the languor which now renders it impotent and arouse all the energies of which Italy is capable to vital discussions. The meeting organized under the presidency of General Garibaldi. A resolution was adopted for the establishment of a central committee in Rome, with sub-committees in the provinces, to agitate for universal suffrage and other reforms. The meeting also sent a greeting to "our brethren of Italy unredeemed." Garibaldi made a speech, in which he said that the Constitution must be reconsidered, and Italy must be armed to be ready to claim the unredeemed provinces.

Considerable attention was aroused by a pamphlet entitled "Italicæ Res," which appeared in Vienna in August. The author was Aloys Ritter von Haymerle, brother of the new Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs, colonel in the Austrian general staff, and for five years military attaché to the Austrian embassy in Rome. In this pamphlet he spoke of the Italia Irredenta party as a powerful agent, likely sooner or later to imperil the peace be tween Italy and Austria. He described this party as one " which, under the banner of the nationality principle and the theory of natural boundaries, did not permit the country to obtain peace, and in order to bring about new complications attempted to impress upon the mind of the nation the facts that the honor of Italy would remain sullied and its political existence doubtful as long as the smallest part of the Italian-speaking people remained subject to a foreign Government." At the same time he pointed out that the agitation of the party was directed only toward those portions of Italy under Austrian rule. On the other hand, he declared most decidedly that the policy of the Italian Government, as well as the sentiments of the large majority of the Italian population, were hostile to these aggressive demonstrations. In September both Count Andrassy and Baron Haymerle assured the Italian Ambassador at Vienna that they regretted the publication of the pamphlet, and disapproved the political comments contained in it. In Italy the pamphlet was very generally denounced, even by the Conservatives, who oppose the Government wherever they have an opportunity. The pamphlet was answered by the Italia Irredenta Association in another

pamphlet, entitled "Pro Patria," which was very bitter in its tone against Austria, and declared that no friendship between the two countries was possible until the Austrians had left Italy. It defined as unredeemed Italy the gov ernment of Innspruck, including the districts of Roveredo, Trent, Botzen, Brunnecken and the Giudicaria di Glovenza, the districts of Trieste, Gorizia, Pisina, and Adelsberg in Illyria, the Hungarian Littoral districts, and a part of the county of Agram in Croatia.

An eruption of Mount Etna took place at six o'clock on the evening of Sunday, May 25th. The sight was described as being very grand at Taormina. An opening occurred on Monday on the northern side, from which issued dense volumes of smoke and flames. Showers of ashes fell on Messina, where a severe undulatory shock of earthquake was felt on the 27th. Reggio in Calabria was covered with a lurid cloud, and large quantities of ashes also fell in that city. Three new craters opened, distant from each other about twelve miles, in the form of a triangle. A number of brilliant balls of fire were thrown to a great height on the night of the 28th, and burst like rockets, emitting a fiery shower. The stream of lava was estimated at seventy metres in width. The eruption increased on the night of June 2d. The Government on June 4th appointed a commission to visit Mount Etna and report on the volcanic phenomena. The most serious of the openings was that between the Monte Frumento and Monte Nero, an equal distance between Randazzo and Linguaglossa. At this spot the land was highly cultivated, and here the flow of lava was very great indeed. Here stood the bridge of the Pisciaro, which carried the national road over the river of that name as it descended from the mountain to the Alcantara River. This bridge was carried away by the avalanche of lava, and the road was overflowed for about 100 metres. The other two points of outbreak were-one between Bronte and Aderno, on the western slope, the other between Giarre and Aci Reale, on the southern. The former at one time seemed to threaten the town of Aderno, but all three craters gradually subsided in the beginning of June. The eruption was accompanied by a loud, rumbling noise and by earthquakes, and caused consternation and panic among the neighboring population. The loss of property and life was very great.

The destruction of Pompeii eighteen centuries ago was celebrated in the ruins of that city on September 26th, in the presence of a large number of scientific men and other spectators. Froin a pavilion erected in the ancient Basilica Professor Ruggieri, the director of the excavations, delivered an address explaining the newest mode of prosecuting discoveries, and giving an account of some of the more important discoveries that have been made since the excavations were commenced. He attempted to describe to the guests assembled the city

Loochoo. When, eleven years ago, the feudal system was swept away in Japan, and all the domains of the Daimios were absorbed in the empire, the so-called King of the Loochoo Islands became simply an ordinary subject of the Japanese Gavernment, like all the other local princes who were then mediatized; but he received from the Mikado a title of consolation, which placed him foremost among the nobility of the land. The political sovereignty of Japan was regularly applied to his country, though a certain local autonomy was still left to it on administrative questions. A proof of the application of the sovereignty of Japan to the islands was given in 1874, when the Mikado sent a force to Formosa to avenge the murder of some shipwrecked Loochooans, nearly involving Japan in a war with China, which claimed to be the suzerain of Loochoo; but China finally recognized the right of the Mikado to protect his Loochooan subjects, and paid an indemnity. As China had never abandoned her claims to the islands, the Chinese Ambassador in Tokio has protested against the annexation.

Early in the year the Mikado issued the following decree on the subject of economy:

Order and economy in all things form the basis of all good government. It is essential to avoid unnecessary expense, and, to ameliorate the conditions of existence of the people by all practicable means, every one must conscientiously and strictly do his duty. I desire that henceforth the greatest possible economy be enforced in the construction of the ministries and other public buildings. The prefects of the different fus and kens of the empire will all of them, so far as they are concerned, act in strict accordance with the spirit which leads me to issue this decree. They will seek to reduce expenses as much as possible, so as not to exceed the credits allowed to them by the budget. Above all things, they will constantly bear in mind that they are not to impoverish the people.

The following notification from the Minister of the Imperial Household, published in the Yokohama papers in March, shows how practically the Mikado is applying his decree to his own house:

Of his gracious will, his Majesty the Mikado has notified the necessity of practicing the greatest economy. It is therefore ordered by his Majesty that the expenses of food and all other household matters must

be reduced.

Considerable excitement was produced in July in consequence of the British Minister's interference with the Japanese quarantine regulations. As cholera prevailed in the southern parts of the empire, a strict quarantine was ordered for Yokohama. The United States Minister issued immediate instructions for the compliance of Americans with the quarantine regulations. The British Minister denied the right of the Japanese Government on account of extra-territorial jurisdiction, and declared that any English ship should break quarantine and be protected in doing so by British menof-war. Owing to indignant remonstrances from influential quarters, especially from Governor Hennessy of Hong-Kong, who was at that time visiting Japan, the British Minister

modified his attitude and consented to cooperate with the Japanese Government; but he still asserted his right to break quarantine at that place. The German Minister supported the British Minister. All the other diplomatic representatives were indifferent, except the Russian Minister, who sided with the United States Minister.

General Grant arrived at Nagasaki June 21st. By imperial decree his reception was to be in all respects identical with what would be accorded the reigning monarch of any European country. On his arrival at Nagasaki he received an address of welcome by a committee of thirteen, chosen to represent all alien nationalities there.

JEWS. The sixth Council of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations was held in New York, beginning July 8th. More than two hundred delegates were present, representing twenty-five States. Mr. William B. Hackenburgh of Philadelphia was chosen President. The report of the Executive Board represented that the feeling in favor of a union of the Hebrew people had grown, and recommended for the consideration of the Council the topics of a stricter observance of the Sabbath, the establishment of a young la dies' seminary, the encouragement of agricul tural pursuits, and further legislation respecting civil and religious rights. The Board, to whom the subject had been referred at the previous meeting of the Council, had decided that it was inexpedient for the present to introduce the system of circuit preaching; but, as the decision had been unfavorably commented upon by the small communities which felt the want of Sabbath-schools and able sermons, the subject was again recommended to consideration. A report was adopted favoring the erection of a new building for the Hebrew College in Cincinnati. A clause opposing the opening of a branch of the college in New York was objected to, and was referred back for modification. A report on the observance of the Sabbath was adopted, to the effect that "the religious welfare of the Jewish community depends greatly on the preservation of the Sabbath. It is necessary for us, as for all religious bodies, to have certain ideas in common, and to have certain outward symbols to express them. The means for obtaining a better observance of the Sabbath are, however, not within the reach of the Council. Persua sion, example, and education alone can produce a proper sentiment on the subject; no legislation by us can influence the matter." Some of the speakers on this report desired to have a specific mention made of the seventh day as the Sabbath that was intended; but their views did not prevail, a general agree ment being manifest that no other day could be regarded as the Jewish Sabbath. A report on circuit preaching recommended the prae tice, and gave the names of a number of min isters who had volunteered to engage in that

work. The sum of $1,000 was appropriated to put into execution a plan to provide volunteer visiting preachers for such communities as are not able to support a minister. The duties of the circuit preachers will be to organize congregations, awaken the religious spirit, and establish religious schools. Each minister will have a salary fixed by the Executive Board, and his expenses, not more than $500 a year, will be paid, except when the community visited can furnish the money. A report on the subject of a young ladies' seminary admitted that the establishment of such an institution would be desirable, but remarked upon the lack of funds for the purpose. A committee was appointed to consider the advisability and feasibility of establishing two self-sustaining seminaries, one for boys and one for girls, and report at the next session of the Council.

A committee of the Board of Delegates to whom the subject had been referred in the previous year presented a report in favor of the encouragement of agricultural colonies and the training of youth to agricultural pursuits, and the following recommendations were adopted on the subject: "That a tract of land should be purchased large enough to accommodate at least fifty families and support a modelfarm school; that managers of Jewish schools and charitable institutions should introduce into the institutions elementary instruction on the subject; that the opportunity now opens for a good investment of money by capitalists; and that the Executive Board of the Council be empowered to select from their number a committee of five on agriculture, to solicit donations of land, farming implements, and money; to allot to each family in the colony from fifty to eighty acres of land that shall be rent-free for seven years, after which the land taken up shall be offered to the incumbent for a reasonable price, the money received to be applied to the purchase of other land, and so on; to purchase such additional tracts of land as may from time to time in the colonial life be expedient, and as the funds on hand may allow; and that the Board's committee should consult with kindred organizations as to the best means of accomplishing the project of the colony."

The Committee on Statistics reported that they had made no further progress. It appeared, however, that 115 congregations were now joined to the Union; that for the last fiscal year the sum of $4,374 had been received for the college from congregations, with yearly contributions of $957, $3,837 as gifts to the sinking fund, and $1,821 for the support of indigent students. The miscellaneous receipts had been $2,647, and the total disbursements $11,619. The college had a balance on hand of $3,055, and $2,453 in the sinking fund. Expressions of fellowship were exchanged with the Alliance Israélite Universelle of Paris, the Anglo-Jewish Association of London,

the Alliance of Vienna, and the Deutsche Gemeinde Bund of Leipsic.

The first instance of the interchange of fraternal courtesies between Jews and a Christian church in the United States took place in St. Louis on June 29th. The Second Baptist Church in that city having been burned, the congregation were given the use of the Synagogue Shaari Emeth for purposes of worship until they could provide themselves with a new building. At the close of the period, when the Baptists were about to go to their own church, a joint religious service of the two congregations was held in the synagogue, with prayer, hymns from the Jewish and Baptist hymn-books, Scriptural lessons, and addresses by the Baptist pastor and the Jewish rabbi.

A plan has been under consideration in England for the reorganization of Jews' College, which contemplates a division into junior and senior classes. Candidates for admission into the junior class must have passed the matriculation examination of the University of London, and be between sixteen and twenty years of age. The course of study in this class is arranged for three years, during which the students shall attend classes at the University College. Candidates for the senior class shall have passed the second B. A. examination of the University of London, and shall occasionally have opportunities of practicing the arts of preaching, reading, and teaching, and of being instructed in the theory and practice of Shechitah and Milah. The Council shall grant certificates of competency to students who have qualified themselves for the offices of minister, preacher, reader, and teacher of religion. An elementary class is also to be established. In Germany societies have been formed among the rabbis and teachers of various provinces to promote a new methodical system of instruction, and the German Board of Delegates is working with the same object. In Austria a sharp impetus has been given to education by the efforts of the Vienna Alliance and the Lemberg "Shomer Israel."

The Alliance Israélite Universelle of Paris has branches in every prominent European capital; its agents are in active communication with the most distant Jewish communities in India, China, Abyssinia, etc.; and its schools in Palestine, Turkey, Morocco, and other countries are making rapid progress. Its political influence was exhibited at the Congress of Berlin, and its schools in the East attest the efficacy of its educational influence.

An International Jewish Convention, under the auspices of the Alliance Israélite, met in Paris on August 12th, and was attended by about two hundred delegates, among whom were some of the most distinguished representatives of the race in Europe and America. M. Crémieux, President of the Alliance, presided. The opening addresses dwelt chiefly upon the stipulation for the emancipation of