SOCIETIES. Bibles and 555 Bibles and 39. Prussian Bible Society at Berlin, insti57. Bombay Bible Society, instituted in 1813 139,928 tuted in 1805, with auxiliaries......1,271,194 58. Colombo Bible Society, instituted in Issued to the Prussian troops, since 1812, with various branches in Ceylon 36,114 1830 ... 235,916 59. Jaffna Bible Society. SWITZERLAND AND ITALY. AMERICA. 40. Basel Bible Society, instituted in 1804.. 336,184 60. American Bible Society, instituted in 41. Schaffhausen Bible Society, instituted in 1813.... Serampore Missionaries. 1816... 62,625 ..3,534,260 8,382 61. Pennsylvania Bible Society, instituted 14,656 34,429 13,802 6,430 36,651 32,000 12,267 4,238 5,000 233,039 Total of copies of Scriptures, 11,062,042 2. Missionary Societies. The operarations of these societies continue to be conducted in every quarter of the world stances with more than usual success, eswith unabated activity, and in some inpecially in the islands of the Pacific Ocean. -The following tabular view of the Protestant missions is copied from the "Foreign Missionary Chronicle," for January 1845. "Ministers of the Gospel are classed as 7,377 Missionaries; all others as Assistant Missionaries. Female Missionaries are not included. The column headed Native Assistants' requires explanation, the usage of the Societies not being uniform in reporting this class of labourers. Some report all in their service, converted or pagan; others, only native preachers. Some nse vague titles, such as native assistants,' 'subordinate agents,' &c. It may be presumed, however, that most of the persons reported in this column are members of the church, and that a small part of them 861,105 132.464 491,567 56. Madras Bible Society, instituted in 1820 462,505 are preachers of the Gospel." SOCIETIES-SODA-WATER. 3. Temperance Societies.—The efforts of these associations, also, have been prosecuted with unabated vigour and extraordinary success in nearly every civilized and Christian country. In several of the United States, the strongest evidence of the magnitude of the results obtained has been rendered by the legislative measures that have been adopted in relation to the granting of licenses for the retailing of spirituous liquors. This question has been submitted to the people in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York (with the exception of the city of New York), Michigan, in Marion county in Indiana, and perhaps elsewhere, for their decision; and in the great majority of the towns they have voted that no licenses should be granted. The vote in the state of New York was taken so late as the 19th of May of the present year (1846). Of 731 towns, as many as 603 were opposed to the granting of any licenses. The improvement, too, of the habits of the community in respect to temperance is very apparent at all public celebrations, and especially at such as are in no manner connected with the party politics of the country. Thus, at the late inauguration of the newly appointed president of Harvard College, we are told that "six hundred distinguished citizens of Massachusetts, with numerous literary gentlemen from other states, sat down to dinner without any wine or intoxicating drinks." The cause of temperance has of late made some progress in England and Scotland; but in Ireland it has obtained the most signal triumphs, chiefly through the instrumentality of "Father Matthew," who often administers the temperance pledge to many thousands. In Norway, the government, in order to put a stop to the progress of drunkenness, has appointed a missionary for each of the four provinces of the kingdom, to travel through them, preaching abstinence from strong liquors, and promoting the establishment and extension of temperance societies; and compensation is offered to all such distillers as shall resign their licenses for making brandy, and entirely relinquish their busi ness. No fewer than 300 temperance societies exist in Germany, with about a million of members, pledged to total abstinence from ardent spirits. From other parts of Europe, from the European possessions in the East and the West, from the islands of the Pacific, and, in short, from every region of our globe where the Christian missionary has penetrated, we also hear of the persevering efforts of the apostles of temperance, of the formation 557 of temperance associations, and of the consequent diminution of the previously existing amount of misery and crime. SOCIETY ISLANDS.* Their population, according to the latest estimates, is only 7000.-In 1842, the French Admiral Dupetit-Thouars, after having taken possession of the Marquesas Islands, appeared before Otaheite, and demanded an indemnity for injuries alleged to have been sustained by certain Frenchmen, at the hands of the authorities or natives of the Society Islands. The queen, Pomare, being utterly unable to comply with what was required of her, offered to place herself and her subjects under the protection of France; and a treaty to this effect was concluded between her and the admiral, on the 9th of September (1842). After causing a peculiar flag, indicative of the protectorship of his country over the islands, to be hoisted in conjunction with that of the queen, the admiral took his departure. On returning to Otaheite, on the 1st of November 1843, he found that, through the influence which had, in his absence, been exerted on the queen, by the British consul, Mr. Pritchard, and, possibly, by some of the Protestant missionaries, she had repented of the step she had taken, and had caused the protecting flag of France to be removed from association with her own. M. de Petit-Thouars did not content himself with announcing to the queen and the foreign consuls the acceptance by the king of the French of the office of protector, agreeably to his instructions, nor with simply insisting on the faithful execution of the treaty of the preceding year, but took formal possession of the Society Islands, in the name of his sovereign. When the news, however, of this proceed ing reached Europe, the British government remonstrated against it, and Louis Philippe judged it expedient to disavow the act of his subordinate, and to rest satisfied with the protectorship, instead of the sovereignty, over the islanders. But the relations existing between the latter and their protectors are far from being clearly defined; and several hostile collisions have taken place between them and the French, the precursors, there can scarcely be a doubt, of the ultimate reduc tion of the islands to the condition of a French colony. Such, at least, would seem to be their destination, unless the British government should undertake, what is quite improbable, to interfere in their behalf more effectually than it has hitherto evinced any disposition to do. SODA-WATER. This common and re 558 SODA-WATER-SOUTHARD. freshing beverage is, as usually prepared, | eminent military reputation, but was every a supersaturated solution of carbonic acid where, when he presented himself in pubgas in water. True soda water was lic, to his own astonishment, warmly, and formerly, and is still occasionally prepared, even enthusiastically, greeted by the popufor medical use, chiefly as a remedy for lace. On the 12th of May 1839, Marshal heartburn, and certain forms of dyspepsia Soult resumed the presidency of the counand calculous complaints; and consisted cil of ministers, taking charge of the deof one, two, or three drachms of carbonate partment of Foreign Affairs; and again, of soda, dissolved in a pint of water highly when a new ministry was organized, on impregnated with carbonic acid. This is the 29th of October 1840, the presidency often a valuable remedy; but would some of the council, and the department of war, times be attended with mischievous re- were assigned to him. sults, especially if indulged in to the extent to which some persons indulge in the use of soda-water. The mere aqueous solution of carbonic acid, which is made by forcing the gas into water by a condensing pump, and under a pressure of six or eight atmospheres, is an agreeable and, generally speaking, harmless diluent. SOULIE (Melchior Frédéric), one of the most prolific writers of the present age, was born in the year 1800, and was for a time a lawyer, then a custom-house officer, next the business-man (Dirigent) of a cabinet-making establishment, and, at length, he received the appointment of assistant librarian to the arsenal at Paris. He commenced his literary career, in 1828, as a dramatic writer. His tragedy of "Romeo and Juliet" was favourably received by the public, and was rapidly followed by a number of other plays. The most successful among these was his "Clotilde," which was performed no less than 100 times at the "Théâtre français." In 1832, he made, his debût as a novelist; and although he has since published many novels, the merit of which does not reach beyond mediocrity, or fall even far below it, others deserve a very high commendation for the faithful | and skilful delineation which they contain of the existing modes and manners of French society. In the summer of 1840, Soulié made an excursion to Baden and the Rhine, publishing an account of it in the "Journal des débats," which the Gerinans have pronounced to be replete with the most ridiculous errors. SOULT.* On the formation of the ministry of the 11th of October 1832, Marshal Soult was appointed president of the council, and minister of war. His health becoming affected by the labours and fatigues of office, he felt himself obliged, in July 1834, to retire for a time from public life. He represented his country at the coronation of Queen Victoria in June 1838, and, during his visit to England, was not only treated by the prominent individuals of that country with all the respect and courtesy due to his official station and his SOUND.* The number of vessels which passed the Sound, and cleared at Elsineur, in 1837, was 13,102, in burden 2,033,706 tons; including 3417 British vessels, in burden 655,447 tons. The number of ships which passed the Sound in 1839 was 16,175. SOUTH POLAR ISLANDS.* See Voyages of Discovery, (Sup.) SOUTHAMPTON; a sea-port town of England, situated where the river Itchen discharges itself into an inlet of the sea, called Southampton-water, 12 miles S. by E. of Winchester, and 70 miles W. S. W. of London. It forms a county of itself, in Hampshire, with a population, in 1841, of 26,952. It has an agreeable aspect, is well paved, lighted with gas, and is exceedingly clean. From its position on the inlet of the sea just mentioned, Southampton is the emporium of a considerable district, and enjoys a pretty extensive trade. In 1841, no fewer than 555 ships, of the aggregate burden of 78,038 tons, entered inwards with foreign cargoes. Owing, also, to its position with respect to the opposite coast of France, Southampton has been, for a good many years, an important station for travellers to and from the continent. In this respect, however, its importance has been vastly increased since the opening of the "South-Western Railway," by which the town has been brought within a three hours' journey of the metropolis. It has now, in fact, become the principal station of the steamers from England for Havre, Dieppe, and other French ports, as well as of those for Lisbon, the Mediterranean, &c. SOUTHARD (Samuel L.) was born at Baskingridge, in New Jersey, June 9th 1787. He received his early education in his native village, at a school in high repute, of which the Rev. Dr. Finley was the principal; and he entered the junior class of the College of New Jersey, at Princeton, in the month of October 1802. He was graduated there in 1804, partici pating in the highest "honour" of the institution. In the following year, he acted as duties, although in their performance he was ever most indefatigable. He took an active interest in the cause of knowledge, and of benevolent and Christian enterprise: delivered several literary addresses, which have been much commended; suggested the late "exploring expedition;" and urged the prosecution of the "coast survey. SOUTHEY* died at Keswick, aged 68, on the 21st of March 1843.-Since 1835, he had enjoyed a pension of £300 from the government. assistant teacher in the classical school at | senator for the term of 6 years from the Mendham, in Morris county, N. J., and, in 4th of March 1833, and afterwards reApril 1806, went to Virginia, where he elected for the next term of 6 years. On was for several years engaged as a private the 11th of March 1841, he was appointed tutor in the family of Mr. John Taliaferro. | the president pro tem. of the Senate, and During this time, he also prosecuted the became the permanent presiding officer of study of the law; and he was admitted to that body by the death of President Harthe bar in March 1809. He returned to rison. While occupying this position in New Jersey in 1810, and was licensed the government, he died at Fredericksthere as an attorney in May 1811, and burg, Virginia, on the 26th of June 1842. counsellor a year afterwards. He fixed-Mr. Southard was far from suffering his residence at Flemington, in Hunterdon his attention to be absorbed by the politicounty, but was appointed by the attorney-cal contentions of the day, or by his official general of the state, prosecutor of the pleas for Morris county. In January 1815, he was associated with the late Judge Hopkinson, in opposition to Mr. Thomas Addis Emmet, and other eminent counsel, in the discussion before the New Jersey Legislature, of the great "steamboat case," which originated in the claim of Fulton to the invention of steamboats, and the conflicting legislation of the states of New York and New Jersey upon the subject of steam navigation. The speech which he made on this occasion acquired for him a high reputation with his fellow-citizens. SPAIN.* The population of this counHe was elected a member of the Legisla- try, according to a statement made by the ture in October 1815, and on the last day government in November 1833, and which of that month, when only 28 years of age, is the latest that is entitled to any reliance, he was appointed by the Legislature to be amounted, exclusive of that of the Balearic one of the associate justices of the Supreme or Canary Islands, and of its colonies, to Court of New Jersey. The tenure of the 12,087,991. From the official returns judicial office being, however, of a very published in 1803, it appears that the surlimited nature, Mr. Southard, before long, face of the country was distributed nearly returned to the bar. He was appointed as follows:-cultivated lands and fallows, reporter of the laws of the state, in 1817; 4310 square leagues; pastures and com recorder of the city of Trenton, whither mons, 11,658; forests and copses, 1580; he had previously removed his residence, mountains and rivers, 1342. It is inferred, in 1818; and again reporter of the laws, however, from the nearly total cessation in 1819 and 1820. — In November 1820, of the importation of agricultural products, he was elected to represent the state of and from the increase of the population New Jersey in the Senate of the United since 1803, that the proportion of cultivated States, for the constitutional term of 6 lands is at present much greater than it years, commencing on the 4th of March was at that date, though they constitute 1821. He soon distinguished himself in little more, perhaps, than about a fourth that body by his ability and eloquence as a part of the entire surface. The wars, debater, and was, in December 1823, se- which have of late years been waged in lected by Mr. Monroe to be secretary of Spain, have very seriously interfered with the navy, in the room of Mr. Smith the attention which was bestowed on the Thompson, who had been appointed a rearing of sheep; these are supposed to judge of the Supreme Court of the United have been materially reduced in number, States. Mr. Southard continued to hold a and were estimated in 1841 not to exceed seat in the cabinet until the close of Mr. 13,000,000, or, at most, 14,000,000.—MaAdams's administration, occasionally dis-nufactures are mostly at a very low ebb. charging, ad interim, the duties of another Silks, cottons, and woollens, are made in of the departments of the administration Catalonia and Valencia, for the most part besides that properly his own. From 1829 of an inferior quality. Biscay has many to 1832, he filled the office of attorney-iron-works; and the northern provinces general of New Jersey; and, in the last generally are noted for their tanneries. mentioned year, he was elected governor The only other manufactures, of any conof the state. He was elected a U. S. sequence, are those of soap, paper, hats, |