be in possession of the Admiral. I have letters from Oregon to the 1st of May, which report considerable political excitement among the settlers, and manifestations of hostilities from the Hudson Bay Company's people. Every obstacle is thrown in the way of American settlements north of the Columbia.

We have had intelligence from Tahiti to the 1st. ultimo. The French retain the Islands, and there is not the most remote prospect that they will ever give them up. The loss to our whaling interests is very serious, as the French authorities prohibit traffic with the natives, and there is no other port for obtaining supplies in that vicinity. An American vessel has been despatched to the Fejee Islands with arms and ammunition for the natives, to enable them to fortify themselves, and maintain their independence against an expected attack from the French or English.

The following vessels of war are now here, viz; frigate Savannah, Com. John D. Sloat; sloop of war Portsmouth, J. B. Montgomery, commander; sloop of war Levant, H. N. Page, commander; store ship Relief, Lieut. commanding R. G. Robb. The frigate Brandywine, sloop St. Louis, and brig Perry from China, have returned home. The terms for which their crews enlisted have expired, and in their stead we expect the Brazil squadron. Our vessels of war will remain here until the U. S. schr. Shark arrives from Panama, when the Commodore expects to receive information regarding Mexico and the United States. We expect the Shark here in 15 days. It is now 12 o'clock, and the vessels of war in port have just commenced firing the national salute. It is a joyous sight to see seven vessels of war all firing at the same time.

H. B.

M. ship Calliingwood, 74 guns; H. B. M. ship Modeste, sloop of war; French sloop of war Triumphant; H. B. M. ship Cormorant, a steamer.-Sun.

PARAGUAY.-A letter which we have received states that, on a stranger presenting himself at the frontiers, numerous interrogations are made as to his occupation, religion, and opinions. He is expressly told that he must neither speak of the forms of his own government, nor make any remarks upon that which he finds established, and that if he indulge in any conversation that can be considered political, he will be sent out of the country under an escort of Indians. One of the singular circumstances attendant upon the dictator's death, has been the marriage of a large portion of the population previously living together on very equivocal terms.

Dur.

ing his life no one was permitted to marry without his special permission, which was not very easily obtained. Fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, grandsons, grandaughters, nay, even the fourth generation, as the female is marriageable at the age of twelve, have availed themselves on the same days of the benediction of the priest, and the holy bonds of wedlock have been entered into by whole villages. The society at Assumption is described as singular, in consequence of the severity in which ladies were treated who decked themselves with much finery. Their dress is formed of one single large vestment, with a belt round the waist.—Polytechnic.

Mr. Day further states, that the instruction of idiots is also engaging the attention of European philanthropists. In Prussia and Saxony their efforts have been attended with considerable success. Mr. Sægert, of Berlin, in a memorial to the government for the establishment of an institution for their benefit, states that he had taught 12 who were perfectly imbecile; 4 to speak, read and write, and 2 to speak; the other six are learning to talk. Other German teachers are turning their attention to the same subject.

THE NEW YORK NORMAL SCHOOL AT ALBANY.

The examination or general review of the several branches of study pursued in this institution, during the past term, was brought to a close after four entire days. The principal is Mr. Page. Over the mathematical department Professor Perkins presided. The classes in Natural Philosophy and Chemistry are under the charge of Mr. Clark-those in Ceography under Mr. Losee-those in Reading under the Misses Hanse and Smith-and several other classes by the more advanced pupils, and the classes in Physiology and Grammar

under the immediate supervision of the Principal. The exercises were interspersed with vocal music under Prof. Ilsley. Specimens of linear and perspective Drawing, exhibited by the Port-Folios, showed the advancement of the pupils in this important accomplishment, under Prof. Howard.

The exercises were terminated by a series of interesting addresses before the various associations by Messrs. Eaton and Moses of Chautauque, and Allen of Ontario, interspersed at intervals by singing, by the pupils of the experimental school-Valedictory, by Mr. Stetson, of Franklin, an address to the pupils of the school generally, by the Hon. N. S. Benton, Superintendent of Common Schoolsand a parting Address by the Principal to the graduates-thirty-four in number-to whom full Certificates of qualifications as Teachers were granted by the Executive Committe and Board of Instructors of the Institution. Taken as a whole, the examination and review were exceedingly interesting and impressive; and were attended throughout by a large auditory as well of citizens as strangers from different sections of the State.

Prof. Silliman to the Editors of the Express:

EXTRAORDINARY FOSSIL ANIMAL.-Permit me, through the columns of your paper, of which I have been many years a reader, to invite the public attention to the wonderful skeleton that is now being exhibited by Dr. A. Koch, at the Apollo Rooms, in Broadway.

Several years ago, the late Judge Creagh, of Clarke Co., Alabama, found similar bones on his plantation, in such abundance, that they were often destroyed, as far as possible, by fire, in order to get rid of an incumbrance that interfered with agriculture: the negroes, also, were in the habit of building their fire places with them. The late Dr. Richard Harlan, of Philadelphia, and more recently of New Orleans, where he died more than a year since, first described and figured these bones, and supposing them to belong to a gigantic fossil lizard-he imposed the name of Basilosaurus or King of Saurians or Lizards.

He several years afterwards carried with him to London, some of the bones, and they were there reviewed by the great comparative anatomist, Professor Owen, of the Royal College of Surgeons-who was of the opinion that the animal must have had more resemblance to the whale than the lizards. This opinion Dr. Harlan had the candor to present to the Association of American Geologists, to gether with the bones, at their meeting in Philadelphia, in April, 1841, where I heard his statements. Not long after, Dr. Bulkley brought to this city, and eventually to Albany, an entire skeleton of the animal, which is between 70 and 80 feet long, and is now in the State Geological Collection at Albany; but I believe it has not yet been set up. This skeleton was fully described by Dr. Bulkley, in the American Journal of Science and Art.

Where is Bishop Rese?

In the August number of the Washington Investigator, conducted by J. F. Polk, Esq., we find the following paragraph:

"Can any one tell whether Bishop Reze, late of Detroit, has been released or not from his confinement in Rome? On going to Rome, a few years ago, he is said to have fallen under ecclesiastical censure, and to have been imprisoned. We have conversed with an American gentleman, now high in Government, who was there at the time, and conversed with the American consul on the subject of Bishop Reze's confinement; and the consul, it seems, refused to investigate the matter, because it was a religious difficulty between the bishop and the church. A shameful excuse, we must say, for an Ameri. can consul to plead, when the personal liberty of an American citizen was the subject. If Bishop Reze chose to change some part of his religious faith at Detroit, as he had a right by law to do, what right has a foreign prince to call him to account and imprison him for it? And what does an American consul deserve, for unfeelingly__abandoning him to his fate? Our consul at Rome should be any thing but a papist."

The editor of the Investigator is referred to the 27th number of the American Penny Magazine, for some interesting particulars respecting the treatment and probable fate of Bishop Rézé; and we trust that he and our editors and fellow-citizens generally, will loudly demand of our government an investigation of the case, (if, as appears to be admitted, he is a citizen,) as well as the appointment of a new Consul at Rome, the present one having forfeited all claim to his his office.

P. S.-Our Consul at Florence. Since writing the above, we learn that Mr. John Albinola, a highly respected Italian exile, well known in this city, who went to Tus. cany, on commercial business, a few weeks since, with his passport as an American citizen, regularly viséed at Paris, by our minister and that of Tuscany, was forbidden to remain in the territory of the Grand Duke, after his arrival at Leghorn; and, instead of being protected and aided by our Consul at that port (Mr. Binda) was, by his misrepresentations, forced to leave the country, to the great detriment of his business. To make the case still worse, the Consul professed great friendship for Mr. A. all the while.

Americans can have but one feeling towards these two Consuls.

SHADE TREES.

In many parts of our country there is a great want of trees for shade, for timber and for fuel. It would require but little expense, time or labor, to supply this want in a few years. If every man should plant but one tree in a year, how important a change would soon appear! If a few individuals in any place should undertake to improve their neighborhoods in this manner, with public spirit enough to overlook merely selfish views, and to aim at the benefit of all, village streets and public squares, many a school house and church yard would soon show a pleasing improvement.

Shade-trees are healthful as well as orna. mental, and increase the value of property in a place, by rendering it a more desirable residence. Landholders, and others interested in the increase of towns, would consult their own good by this cheap and very profitable improvement. The example, when once set, is naturally imitated; and what one begins, others will continue or complete. Shady walks and rides have thus been extended, especially in New England, from town to town, and from county to county; and, in proportion as they exist there and elsewhere, they are admired and valued. In certain foriegn countries also we find attention paid to this subject. It forms part of the charming study of Ornamental Gardening, on which many pleasing volumes have been written, and in which different tastes have prevailed; but that of nature, long most popular in England, has made great advances on the continent.

In some places a tree is placed in private grounds, or in the village grove, on the birth of every child, who looks upon it through life in a sense its own. The avenues to certain towns and villages are shaded by rows of trees, as are those leading to chataux or country seats. Hills, mountains and other uncultivated tracts in Germany are to some extent now covered with planted trees, under the care of men scientifically educated at the universities expressly for the business, who direct when to plant, thin out, trim and cut down different portions in their season, when to turn in cattle to pasture or browse, and who apply with advantage their knowledge of botany, geology and other branches of knowledge. Yet vast tracts of land in Europe, especially in Spain and Italy, are totally destitute of timber, and consequently stripped of their soil by the

washing of rain. Such negligence is excusable in nations deprived of the means of instruction: but Americans should know better and adopt a more wise and prudent course. A beginning may be made this year as well as at any future time; and the easy act of putting a seed into the ground, or that of transplanting a young tree, or protecting valuable shoots while liable to destruction, will soon and long be repaid. We are in debt to some of our predecessors for fine trees which they have spared if not planted. Let us show our gratitude by making similar provision for the benefit of our successors.

In choosing shade-trees, we should have in view adaptation to the situation, quickness of growth, beauty of form and foilage, freedom from the attacks of insects, length of life, then value of timber, and it not in exposed situations, excellence of fruit.

SNAKES AND RABBITS.-Mr. George M. Fulme, writing from Pomona, South Carolina, to the Columbia Carolinian, states that on the 28th ult. he found a large black snake, about six feet long, which had a half-grown rabbit by the head in the act of swallowing it. The snake was killed, and Mr. Fulme gives this account of what followed: "As soon as I struck the snake, on looking back I found the rabbit coming up, and it stopped immediately at the dead snake's head. I moved it away four or five yards with my foot, but it instantly returned to the snake's head. I then moved the snake, and the rabbit still pursued it, and I left it. About 6, P. M., I returned to the place, together with all my pupils, and the rabbit remained in the identical position in which I had left it. My son moved it again, but it immediately returned to its post at the snake's head, and we left it a second time, still charmed by the continuing spells of the dead serpent. I returned to the spot the next morning, but could find no trace of the rabbit. Now, can any one tell what secret power lies hidden in the organization of a serpent which caused this incident?

This is a singular species of the cricket, and the most destructive. Like the quadruped after which it is named, it is subterranean in its habits, and works its way through the ground by two fore legs of a peculiar construction. We copy the following description from Vol. 74, of Harper's Family Library.

It often infests gardens by the sides of canals, where it is an unwelcome guest to the gardener; so much so, that a German author of an old book of gardening was induced to exclaim, "Happy are the places where this pest is not known." These creatures also occasion great damage among the plants, &c., in kitchen gardens, by burrowing, and by devouring the roots, which causes them to wither. The peculiar shape of their fore-arms is well adapted for the purposes of burrowing, hoth by their great strength and breadth. They are turned outwards, like their namesake's, the mole, to whose habits they are very analogous, and enable the insects when sought for to burrow with very great rapidity, leaving a ridge in the surface as they work; but they do not form hillocks as the mole. These animals prefer for their haunts moist meadows, also the sides of quiet and running water, and swampy wet soil.

The House Cricket.

Tender insects, says White, that live abroad, either enjoy only the short period of one summer, or else doze away the cold, uncomfortable months in profound slumbers; but the house crickets, residing, as it were, in a torrid zone, are always alert and merry; a good Christmas fire is to them what the heat of the dog-days is to others.

"Around in sympathetic mirth,
Its tricks the kitten tries;
The cricket chirrups in the hearth;
The crackling fagot flies."

As one would suppose by their living near fires, they are a thirsty race, and show a great propensity for liquids, being frequently found drowned in pans of water, inilk, broth or the like: whatever is moist they affect, and there

fore they often gnaw holes in wet woolen stockings and aprons that are hung to the fire. These animals are not only very thirsty, but very voracious, for they will eat the scummings of pots, yest, and crumbs of bread, and kitchen offal or sweepings of almost every description.

In the summer they have been observed to fly, when it became dusk, out of the windows and over the neighboring roofs. This feat of activity accounts for the sudden manner in which the often leave their haunts, as it does also for the means by which they come into houses where they were not known before, especially new-built houses, being pleased with the moisture of the walls; and besides, the softness of the mortar enables them to burrow and mine between the joints of the bricks or stones and to open communications from one room to another. It is remarkable that many sorts of insects seem never to use their wings but when they wish to shift their quarters and settle new colonies. When in the air, they move in waves or curves, like woodpeckers, opening and shutting their wings at every stroke, and thus are always rising and sinking. When their numbers increase to a great degree, they become pests, flying into the candles, and dashing into people's faces. In families at such times, they are like Pharoah's plague of frogs, in their bedchambers, and in their beds, and in their ovens, and in their kneading troughs.-Nat. History.

CRYSTALS.

When bodies crystalize, they generally increase in bulk; but when they become solid without any appearance of crystalization, diminution of bulk very frequently accompanies the change.

HEAT IN PLANTS.-The temperature of the interior or the trunks of trees, is in general nearly that of the soil from which they draw their nourishment.

ETIOLATION. When plants grow in the dark, they are said to be etiolated, and their color is white.-When such a plant is exposed to sunshine, it speedily begins to assume a green color.-N. Y. Farmer and Mechanic.