the important measures and debates in Congress; the acts of State Legislatures and results of elections; the finances of the Federal Government and of that of the insurrectionary States, and the important public measures of the latter; the discussions relative to peace, and the efforts to obtain it; the commerce of the country and the regulations for commercial intercourse with the South--and all these important occurrences comprised in the history of the nation. The interesting events relating to foreign nations in all parts of the world are presented; also the famous encyclical letter of the Pope, the manner of its reception, and the questions raised thereby. In mechanical industry considerable progress has been made, especially in the department of military implements; and inventions and improvements have been numerous also in other departments. The applications of science to useful purposes have been pursued with much diligence, and interesting results are described. Geographical explorations have been very actively continued in all quarters of the globe, and the discoveries which have followed are very carefully and fully presented. The unusual enterprise which has been awakened by successfully refining and converting to various uses the article of Petroleum, has caused not less astonishment than the unbounded wealth which it is likely to yield to the country. The history of this branch of industry, including an investigation of all the scientific questions relating to Petroleum, has not been overlooked. The record of Literature is not less important than in any previous year. By a reference to that title its most interesting features may be seen. A notice of the principal religious denominations of the country states their branches, membership, views on civil affairs, and the progress of their distinctive opinions. In no year has the number of distinguished men who closed their career been so large. A brief tribute has been paid to their memory. All important documents, messages, orders, despatches, and letters from official persons, have been inserted entire. State officers, committees of legislative and other public bodies, principals of public institutions, whether benevolent, educational, reformatory, scientific, etc., will confer a favor by sending their printed reports and docu ments to the Publishers. THE ANNUAL CYCLOPÆDIA. AFRICA. The whole of North Africa was, during some months of the year 1864, in an extraordinary fermentation, which was supposed to spring, in part, from the fanatical preaching and the influence of the Mohammedan priests. On the 8th of April an insurrection broke out among the Arabian tribes in Algeria against the French, which assumed very large dimensions. The natives were unable to obtain any lasting successes, but at the close of the year quiet was not wholly restored. (See FRANCE.) Simultaneously, a violent outbreak occurred in Tunis. A body of cavalry, which, under the command of Gen. Si-Far-Hat, was sent out to collect taxes, was murdered by the discontented tribes. The insurrection spread rapidly over a large portion of the Tunisian territory. The cause of the discontent was the doubling of the highly unpopular personal tax which at the beginning of the year 1864 was raised from 36 to 72 piastres, and the unpopularity of the courts which had been introduced in 1860. The insurgents, numbering from 15,000 to 20,000, took possession of the towns Kef-Kadgia, Kairvan, and others, and threatened the coast towns Monastir and Susa. The Bey of Tunis, SidiMohammed El Sadak, on May 1, consented to the demanded abolition of the courts, but the insurgents, whose chief leader was Ali Ben Gahum, insisted on more concessions, especially on the dismissal of the Kasnadar (Minister), Sidi Mustafa. This, however, the Bey steadily refused to grant, and the insurrection continued. In July the Arabs marched again in force upon Tunis, and when they arrived within two leagues the army of the Bey surrendered. On the 28th of July the minister of the Bey officially informed the French consul-general of the pacification of the regency under the following conditions: The granting of an amnesty without reserve, VOL. IV.-1 A A the reduction of the personal tax from 72 to 20 piastres, and the nomination, in the provinces, of Caids (native governors), instead of Mamelukes. The insurrection was, however, far from being completely subdued. While fourteen of the tribes were stated to have made their submission, forty others were said to continue in insurrection. One chief who signed the conditions of peace, was obliged to take refuge in Tunis, and several other chiefs who had manifested a wish for peace were killed. Most of the tribes demanded the dismissal of the Kasnadar. The French and Italian admirals despatched ships of war to watch the coast and to protect French and Italian subjects. The French admiral having learned that the Turkish flag had been substituted for that of Tunis, wrote a circular note, on the 26th of June, protesting against manifestations disavowed even by the Ottoman Government, and declaring that France would countenance no intervention in the established order of the regency. Toward the close of the year the insurrection began again to extend. The Arabs, who had submitted, threw off their allegiance to the Bey and surrounded the camp of Gen. Ruthen. On the 15th of December, Prince Alij set out with a body of troops for his relief. The Government of Morocco seems to be disposed to favor reforms. Sir Moses Montefiore, who paid a visit to the Sultan of Morocco for the purpose of obtaining toleration and protection for the persecuted Jews of the empire, was entirely successful. A threatening difficulty with France, arising out of the assassination of a French subject, was promptly adjusted. The four principals charged with the deed were arrested, and the governor who assisted the flight of the criminals, was dismissed and also arrested. Of all the native governments of Africa Egypt is by far the most progressive. The commerce of Alexandria is increasing immensely, and the Viceroy says he hopes to see the time when the commerce of that city will demand of him his palace at Raset-tin for the purpose of building docks and warehouses. The difficulty between the Pasha and the Suez Canal Company was submitted to the arbitration of the Emperor of France, whose decision was adopted by both parties. At the annual general meeting of the shareholders of the Suez Canal Company it was stated by M. de Lesseps, the President of the Company, that the principal canal would be completed in 1867. The Egyptian Government also took vigorous measures for the prevention of the extensive slave trading expeditions on the White Nile. A slight misunderstanding between the American consul and the Egyptian Government was soon removed. King Theodore of Abyssinia, who was formerly looked upon as a patron of Protestant missions, treated some of the missionaries with the most severe cruelties. The king, also, through the British consul at Massoowah, the port of Abyssinia on the African coast, sent proposals of marriage to Queen Victoria of England, and when the consul declined to transmit this offer to England he was imprisoned at Guada, King Theodore's capital. At the close of the year the English had not yet succeeded in obtaining the release of the imprisoned consul. The doubts concerning the death of King Radama of Madagascar continued in the Island, and manifestations and movements in his favor were several times renewed. On the 18th of May an attack was made upon the palace, but repulsed, and eighteen of the ringleaders put to death. The prime minister having, while intoxicated, insulted the queen, was deposed from his office. His successor ordered the expulsion of several foreigners who for fifteen years had been in the service of the Government. The progress of the Christian missions in the capital and the surrounding country was, however, uninterrupted. On the Gold Coast the English were again engaged in a war with the King of Ashantee, in which the British troops suffered very severely from the climate. The King of Dahomey made war upon Abbeokuta, but was repulsed with immense losses in killed and prisoners. In the English colonies a considerable sensation was produced by the deposition of Bishop Colenso of Natal, at a synod of the Anglican bishops of South Africa. (See ANGLICAN CHURCH.) AGRICULTURE. While the war has interfered with production in some of the border States, and notably in Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland, and Virginia, and has rendered it impossible to obtain any full statistics from the States in insurrection, the year has been one of agricultural prosperity in most of the States of the North and Northwest. The long drought of June and July, which it was at one time supposed would greatly diminish and perhaps destroy the corn and potato crops, proved less injurious than was feared. The corn crop was everywhere much larger than in 1863, when it was about three-fourths an average crop, but was not quite equal to that of 1862, though much nearer to it than was at first expected. Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Maryland, Kentucky, Michigan, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska Territory, reported materially reduced crops of corn as compared with the crop of 1862, while Rhode Island, Iowa, Minnesota, and West Virginia were largely beyond even that year of plenty in their production, and Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois and Wisconsin were fully equal to it. In potatoes there was a diminution of about 2,700,000 bushels from the crop of 1863, and of about 16,320,000 bushels from the crop of 1862. The heaviest reduction was in the Northwestern States, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska reporting not over three-fourths of a crop, as compared with 1862. Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Ohio yielded nearly as large quantities as in 1862; and Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and West Virginia exceeded the production of that year. The wheat crop was less in quantity by 17,262,000 bushels than that of 1862, and by about 13,000,000 than that of 1863, but its quality is greatly superior to that of 1863. The rye crop varied but a few thousand bushels from that of 1863, but was about 700,000 bushels less than in 1862. Oats were 6,500,000 bushels in excess of 1862, and 7,000,000 bushels in excess of 1863. Barley was about 2,500,000 bushels less than the crops of 1862 and 1863, which were nearly alike in amount. Buckwheat was fully up to the production of 1862, and 3,000,000 of bushels in excess of that of 1863. Potatoes, as we have already stated, were below the amount produced in 1863, fully one-seventh less than the crop of 1862. The hay crop was slightly below the crop of 1863, and about 3,000,000 of tons below that of 1862. The tobacco crop was materially less than in 1863, the principal falling off being in Kentucky, Missouri, and Maryland, and being due to the disturbed condition of those States, and partly perhaps also to the drought. The hop crop, which is confined mainly to a section of central New York, and a portion of New England, was materially less than in previous years, owing to the "blight" which entirely destroyed the product of many yards and deteriorated the quality of others. In 1862 the crop was about 80,000 bales of 200 pounds each; in 1863, 65,000 bales, a considerable portion of it inferior in quality; and in 1864 only 45,000 bales, much of it of poor quality. The crop of flax and flaxseed is nearly 25 per cent. in advance of that of the previous year, and is mainly the result of the -11 greater breadth sown. Sorghum has also increased in quantity in Illinois, the crop being one-quarter more than in 1862. The amount of cotton raised in the States north of the Ohio River is nearly 40 per cent. greater than in 1862. There has been a serious falling off in the quantity of root crops in all the States except Vermont, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, and West Virginia. The entire diminution of these crops is about 15 per cent. In the Eastern and Middle States the yield of apples, peaches, and pears was large, the markets being for a time glutted with peaches; but in the Western and Northwestern States the great frosts of the winter of 1863-4 destroyed a large proportion of the fruit trees, and there was a scarcity of peaches and apples. The stock of apples in the market was so greatly reduced by exportation and the shortness of the crop, that in January, 1865, apples of ordinary quality brought from $5.50 to $8 per barrel at wholesale. The grape crop was fully up to the average, and larger quantities than usual were absorbed in the manufacture of wine. This has become a speciality at several points on the Hudson River, on the islands in and near Sandusky Bay, Lake Erie, in the vicinity of Cincinnati, Ohio, along the Missouri and Osage Rivers in Missouri, and in California. The production of wine in California has reached an extent and excellence which enables the wine-growers of that State to enter into successful competition with the great vineyards of Europe, and it is rapidly increasing. horses, mules, and swine has slightly decreased from the great demand of the war; the number of working cattle and cows has remained nearly stationary from the same cause, but the number of sheep has increased 9,242,119. The clip of wool for the year, it is thought, will not fall much short of 100,000,000 pounds, while the consumption is about 150,000,000 pounds. The climate of California is found well adapted to wool growing, and the sheep are sheared twice a year there. The fall clip, the growth of the summer months, is short, dry, and brittle, and of inferior quality, answering to the low-priced India wools. Kansas and Nebraska, Central Illinois, and Texas are also excellent climates for wool growing, and the present price of wool has greatly developed the production of that staple. The production of molasses and sugar from the sorghum has increased during the year. The syrup or molasses is now refined on a large scale at Chicago and Cincinnati, and the result is very satisfactory; the unpleasant taste which had proved a serious objection to its use being removed by the refining process, and a syrup resulting which differs but little from the best sugar-house syrups of Stuarts, Woolsey, and other refiners. There seems to be a difficulty in making sugar from most of the sorghum molasses, probably from the fact that the cane is seldom perfectly matured when crushed. Small quantities of fair sugar have been produced, but for the most part it is used only in the form of molasses or syrup. Within the past two years the attempt has been made on There has been a heavy reduction in the a large scale in Illinois to cultivate the sugarnumber of swine fattened for market during beet for the production of sugar. It is yet too the year, owing mainly to the scarcity of corn early to pronounce definitely on the success of in 1863-4. This reduction amounts probably the enterprise, but it promises fairly. Four to nearly 40 per cent. The receipt of live hogs hundred and eighty thousand tons, one-sixth in New York in 1862 was 1,098,712; in 1863, of all the sugar used in the world, is now pro1,096,773; in 1864, only 657,092. The falling duced from the sugar-beet, mainly in France off in the exports of pork from New York as and its colonies, and there seems no good compared with those of 1863, was 60,000 bar- reason why we should not produce it as sucrels, or one-third; of cut meats, 88,000,000 cessfully as other nations.. The amount of supounds, or very nearly one-half; and of lard, gar produced from the maple shows a consider77,000,000 pounds, or about two-thirds. In able increase over previous years, the season Cincinnati and Chicago the amount of pork having been a favorable one, and the high packed was larger than in 1863, but this was prices of sugars creating an unusual demand at the expense of the smaller packing points. for it. The number of hogs packed in the packing season of 1863-'4 was 3,389,427. The season of 1864-5 is not yet (January, 1865) closed, but it is estimated that the number packed will be not far from 2,500,000. The number of swine in stock in 1864 in the loyal States, is estimated by the Commissioner of Agriculture to have been 16,140,712, a reduction of nearly a million since 1859. Of other farm stock, the number, according to his careful and reliable estimates, were as follows: Horses, 4,049,142; mules, 280,847; bulls and working cattle, 7,965,439; cows, 6,066,748; sheep, 24,346,391. The only considerable increase in live stock since 1859 (the year reported in the Census of 1860) is in sheep. The number of Of leguminous plants (peas and beans) the crop is somewhat less than in 1863, the falling off being mainly in peas, the bean crop being nearly or quite an average one. This crop has greatly increased in importance from the large army demand for it. The production of butter and cheese is nearly identical with that of 1863, but owing to the increased export demand and the depreciation of the currency, remarkably high prices have ruled for all dairy products. The following tables give the production of the principal staple agricultural products in each of the loyal States and Territories in 1864, as compared with the returns of 1862 and 1863. They are from the valuable bi-monthly reports of the Agricultural Department: |