HE archives of the Confederate Government form perhaps the most interesting set of historical relics in the possession of the government. They were taken at Richmond and were handed over to the war department. They have been carefully arranged, and are now packed away from view in two or three rooms of the big state, war, and navy building. They are never shown to strangers and the greatest care is taken in regard to them. Among these relics is the seal of the Confederate treasury. It is an iron affair with a heavy handle, and its emblem is the palmetto tree of South Carolina.

The die is a little larger around than a trade dollar, and around the outside of it run the words, "Confederate States of America," while inside and just over the pal. metto tree reads: "The Treasury Department."

The great seal of the Confederacy was made shortly before its fall, and after that it mysteriously disappeared. One of its authors was Col. A. R. Botelar, now of the attorney generar's office, who gave the design for the seal. This was sent off to the Confederate minister at London, and the great seal was made of pure silver by Wyatt, the man who has for years made the great seals of England. When the Confederate Government left Richmond this seal was taken along, and I saw a letter from Abbeville. S. C., recently, which states that it was thrown into a well along the way and that the well had since caved in. Whether this be true or not I do not know.

The Confederate Government had very little bullion, and the war department has possession of one of the only 4 silver half-dollars which were coined by it at the Louis

iana mint. This mint was turned over to the Confederate Government in February, 1861, and in April Mi. Memminger, Confederate treasurer, sent out asking for designs for silver half-dollars. Several were received, but the one approved Lore on one side a representation of the Goddess of Liberty surrounded by thirteen stars, denoting the thirteen states of the confederacy, and on the lower rim the 6gures "1861." On the other side was a shield with seven stars, representing the seceding states, and above the shield there is a helmet cap, and entwined around it are stalks of sugar cane and cotton. The inscription is "Confederate States of America." After four pieces had been struck, an order was received from the Secretary of the Treasury suspending operations on account of the dithculty of obtaining bullion, and the mint was closed on April 30, 1861. Of these four pieces coined one is in possession of the Government here. one was presented to Prof. Riddle, of the University of Louisiana, one to Dr.E. Ames, of New Orleans, and the other retained by D1. B F. Taylor, the coiner, who now resides in Louisiana.

As to Confederate paper money the archives contained a great quantity when they were captured. Among them were half a million dollars in Contederate bonds. two large chests and five bags containing millions of dollars of Confederate money, and, in fact, papers giving almost a complete history of the Confederacy. Specimens of this money have been collected into a scrap-book by the clerks of the War Department, and this scrap-book, which is filled with blank orders of the Confederate Government, with money and other curiosities, is now worth more than its weight in gold.

E pray Thee, oh God of might, wisdom, and justice, through Whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with Thy holy spirit of counsel and fortitude the President of these United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness and be eminently useful to Thy people over whom he presides, by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion, by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy, and by restraining vice and immorality.

Let the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress and shine forth in all their proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge, and may perpetuate to us the blessings of equal liberty.

We pray Thee for all judges, magistrates, and other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare; that they may be enabled by Thy powerful protection to discharge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and ability.

We pray Thee especially for the judges of our Supreme court, that they may interpret the laws with even-handed justice. May they ever be the faithful guardians of the temple of the constitution whose construction and solemn dedication to our country's liberties we commemorate to-day. May they stand as watchful and incorruptible sentinels at the portals of

this temple, shielding it from profanation and hostile invasion.

May this glorious charter of our civil rights be deeply imprinted on the hearts and memories of our people. May it foster in them a spirit of patriotism.

May it weld together and assimilate in national brotherhood the diverse races that come to seek a home among us. May the reverence paid to it conduce to the promotion of social stability and order, and may it hold the ægis of its protection over us and generations yet unborn, so that the temporal blessings which we enjoy may be perpetuated.

Grant, oh Lord, that our republic, unexampled in the history of the world in material prosperity and growth of population, may be also under Thy over-ruling providence a model to all nations in upholding liberty without license, and in wielding authority without despotism.

Finally, we recommend to Thy unbounded mercy all our brethren and fellow-citizens throughout the United States, that they may be blessed in the knowl. edge and sanctified in the observance of Thy most holy law; that they may be preserved in union and in that peace which the world cannot give, and, after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal.

May the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, descend upon our beloved country and upon all her people, and abide with them forever. Amen.

OW that he two-cent postage law has gone into effect, the following provisions of the first law of Congress on the subject will be read with interest:

February 20, 1792, was the date of the first act fixing rates of postage on domestic letters, and established the following rates, to take effect June 1, 1792:

Act February 20, 1792, Section 9, by land: For every single sixty miles, eight cents.

For every single letter over thirty miles and not exceeding sixty miles, eight cents.

For every single letter over sixty miles and not exceeding 100 miles, 10 cents.

For every single letter over 100 miles and not exceeding 150 miles, 121⁄2 cents.

For every single letter over 150 miles and not exceeding 200 miles, 15 cents.

For every single letter over 200 miles and not exceeding 250 miles, 17 cents.

For every single letter over 250 miles and not exceeding 350 miles, 20 cents.

For every single letter over 350 miles and not exceeding 450 miles, 22 cents.

For every single letter over 450 miles, 25 cents.

For every double letter, cuble the said

rates.

For every triple letter, triple the said rates, For every packet weighing one ounce avoirdupois, to pay at the rate of four single letters for each ounce, and in that proportion for any greater weight.

HE settlement of the west began as early as 1775. The city of Lexington Ky., was named by the early settlers who had just heard of the news of the battle of Lexington, in 1775. At this time the adventurous Daniel Boone and his companions were pressing their discoveries in the west and attracting the attention of the continent. It was about this time that Philip Nolan was born in the town of Frankfort, a little town in Kentucky. He grew up to be a spirited, brave young fellow, under the patronage of Wycliffe. When the independence of the United States had been secured he was a boy not old enough to know what had occurred. He took to military adventure early in life. He would tell them, as well as he could, what an adventurous life was. We had gained by treaty the right to the eastern shore of the Mississippi River. Kentucky planters, and Tennessee

planters, and Ohio farmers at that time were not inclined to be circumscribed by the route to the sea by the way of the Mississippi, which was denied them by the Spanish government, which held the supremacy in the south. From the beginning of his career Philip Nolan was identified with honest and earnest efforts to secure a passage to the sea, unimpeded by any royal embargo, There were various negotiations and intrigues and interviews set on foot by European governments to maintain their power here.

Philip Nolan first appeared in history in 1791. He was then acting as a merchant, and was thoroughly acquainted with Indian life. He loved the woods, and was well pleased with a life of adventure. He was fond of horses, and traveled far into the wilds of Texas to secure wild horses, which he brought to New Orleans and sold. He longed for a campaign, and was animated by military ardor.

No

The life of Nolan was mostly spent in the depths of the wilderness west of the Mississippi. He had once been encountered and challenged by a company of Spanish Mexicans, who had halted and then followed him, and this was the beginning of that feeling which resulted finally in the independence of Texas. The language of signs which Nolan greatly relied upon in communicating with the savages was explained. Nolan had said that by this means everything could be expressed but the Declaration of Independence. All bread-and-butter talk could be understood. The earth, the sky, and the rain could be easily expressed. lan in his wanderings had obtained considerable influence among the savages, and a traitor in his band had given an exaggerated account of the plan and purposes of his expeditions to the Spanish governor. A company of dragoons numbering 150 men, well armed and equipped were sent against him. Nolan was sleeping in his corral with his little band of 12 men, where he was surprised and surrounded by these dragoons in the night. When daylight came the Spaniards opened fire on the little camp, and the first man that fell was Philip Nolan, who was shot in the head by a musket ball. The little band held out, and finally concluded to retreat. All day long they protected themselves from a force 16

times their number, bearing two wounded men with them.

mean

When night came, a white flag was exhibited by the Americans, and the party surrendered prisoners of war. They were conveyed to Nachitoches and disarmed. There they remained six years, when tardy orders were received from Madrid to decimate the prisoners. They had become, in the time, endeared to their captors, and the Spanish officers humanely construed the order to mean that one of them should be shot. One quiet Sabbath morning, Ephraim Blackman, upon whom the lot had fallen, was taken out and executed. At that time the United States was a weak nation. Spain was strong. Twelve American citizens had crossed into Spanish lands under the protection of the Spanish governor, and some of them had lost their lives and all their liberty in so doing. Yet the United States never made the least complaint of that violation of hospitality.

Nothing now remained as a monument to the memory of this brave man, but the river which bore his name. Yet his fame was not forgotten, and it has been proposed to erect a monument to perpetuate his fame, at Washington, so that the deeds of this brave man should not be forgotten.