ject for the communication of the Army and Navy by signals common to both services is under consideration.

The First Military District comprises the State of Virginia, under the command of Brevet Major-General Schofield. This officer served with distinction throughout the war. At the close he was sent on a special embassy to France, and on his return was appointed to the command in Virginia. In this district, trial by jury having become impracticable, through prejudice and antagonism between the whites and blacks, and the loyal and disloyal citizens, resort was had to a system of military commissions, composed of officers of the army and of the Freedmen's Bureau, acting as justices of the peace and ultimately as circuit judges. The system has worked successfully, and all classes of citizens have received protection. Boards of registry were appointed throughout the State, and at their session, September 15, 1867, returned as registered one hundred and fifteen thousand and sixty-eight whites, and one hundred and one thousand three hundred and eightytwo colored citizens; rejected or disfranchised, one thousand six hundred and twenty whites, and two hundred and thirty-two colored per

sons.

The Second Military District comprises the States of North and South Carolina, under the command of Brevet Major-General Edward R. S. Canby. Major-General Daniel E. Sickles was originally assigned to this district, and administered its affairs until removed by the President, August 26, 1867. The latter commander is well known. He was a member of the Thirty-fifth and of the Thirty-sixth Congress, and attained the rank of major-general of volunteers by his services in the Army of the Potomac. In this district the sheriffs and other municipal officers were placed under the control of a military of ficer. Illegal imprisonments and punishments were thus detected, and the release of many Union men and freedmen obtained. A Bureau of Civil Affairs was established to take charge of the registration. Returns from North Carolina, divided by the bureau into 170 precincts, show that 103,060 whites were registered and 71,657 blacks. In South Carolina, consisting of 109 precincts, there were registered 45,751 whites, and 79,585 blacks. Of the appropriation made by Congress, $54,802.87 have been expended. Outstanding liabilities will exceed the balance ($45,271.07) on hand by $194,802.87.

The Third Military District comprises the States of Georgia, Florida, and Alabama, under the command of Major-General Geo. G. Meade, the well-known commander of the Army of the Potomac during the latter part of the late war. This district was originally assigned to Brevet Major-General John Pope, who was removed by the President, December 28, 1867. During the war General Pope acquired distinction in the West, and for a short time commanded the Army of the Potomac. He afterward con

ducted the war against the Indians in Northwestern Minnesota. On assuming command of his district, General Pope continued in office the State officials, but forbade their opposition to the reconstruction acts, or giving their patronage to papers that opposed them. Very few civil officers were removed. Juries were ordered to be drawn indiscriminately from the black and white registered voters. In consequence of the riot at Mobile, Ala., city and county officers were held responsible for the preservation of peace at all public meetings. The State Treasurers of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida were forbidden to make payments after the appropriations of the present fiscal year had expired except on warrants approved by the district commander, as it was believed that a new Legislature would not continue or approve many of the appropriations made. The registering boards were appointed from the citizens of the district, each consisting of two white men and one colored. The returns for Georgia show the registration of 95,214 whites and 93,457 colored; Alabama, 74,450 whites, and 90,350 colored; Florida, 11,180 whites, and 15,357 colored. The expenses of registration were $162,325.

The Fourth Military District comprises the States of Mississippi and Arkansas, under the command of Brevet Major-General Irvin McDowell, widely known from his connection with the Army of the Potomac in the early part of the late war. He was transferred from the Department of California by order of the President, December 28, 1867. His predecessor, Brevet Major-General E. O. C. Ord, was made majorgeneral of volunteers early in the war of the rebellion, and was twice severely wounded. He participated in the battle of Iuka and the siege of Vicksburg, and in January, 1865, succeeded General Butler in command of the Army of the James. When originally appointed to this district, he found but slight opposition in executing the reconstruction laws. cases of Union citizens and freedmen were removed from the civil courts and disposed of by military commission, particularly in Arkansas, where the freedmen needed greater protection. The State officials were continued in office, except where they failed to perform their duties. It was found difficult to obtain competent civil officers, as very few could take the test oath, and these were not willing to defy public opinion by accepting office. Some of the offices were therefore vacant. Extension of the suffrage to the freedmen excited hostility toward them, and General Ord was of opinion that a larger military force would be needed to protect them.

The

The Fifth Military District comprises the States of Louisiana and Texas, under the command of Major-General Winfield S. Hancock, distinguished for his eminent services in the Army of the Potomac, and especially in the battles of the Wilderness. This district was originally assigned to Major-General P. H. Sheri

dan, who was removed by the President, August 17, 1867. During an interim of a few months the command was held by the officer next in rank, Brevet Major-General Charles Griffin, and, after his death, by General Mower.

The Military Division of the Missouri, under the command of Lieutenant-General Sherman, embraces the Departments of Dakota, the Platte, and the Missouri, commanded respectively by Brevet Major-General A. H. Terry, Brevet Major-General C. C. Augur, and Major-General P. H. Sheridan. The chief scene of active operations of the army during the year has been in the Indian territories. In the latter part of the year 1866, the garrisons were much reduced by the mustering out of the volunteer troops, and before a sufficient number of regulars could be forwarded to replace them, the Indians availed themselves of this favorable opportunity to commence hostilities.

The Department of the Cumberland comprises the States of Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia, under the command of MajorGeneral G. H. Thomas.

The Department of the Lakes embraces the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, under the command of Brevet Major-General J. C. Robinson, who has a few troops garrisoning the forts on the Northern frontier.

The Department of Washington is under the command of Brevet Major-General W. H. Emory.

The Military Division of the Pacific, under the command of Major-General II. W. Halleck, comprises the Department of the Columbia, under Major-General F. Steele, and the Department of California, under Brevet Major-General E. O. C. Ord. The latter succeeded Major-General Irvin McDowell, December 28, 1867. The newly-acquired Territory of Aliaska, in Russian America, is also embraced in this military division. The troops have been employed in protecting settlers against the Indians in Arizona, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, and California.

The Department of the East, comprising the New England States, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, was until recently under the command of Major-General George G. Meade. The order of the President, December 28, 1867, transferred him, to the Third Military District, and left the department in command of the officer next in rank.

The disposition and number of troops comprising the active army of the United States at the close of the year 1867 was as follows: In the unreconstructed States-First Military District, General J. M. Schofield, twelve posts and thirty-two companies; Second District, General E. R. S. Canby, twenty-three posts, thirtyfive companies; Third District, General George G. Meade, twenty-two posts and forty-eight companies; Fourth District, General Alvin C. Gillem (temporarily), twenty-five posts, forty-four companies; and the Fifth District,

General W. S. Hancock, fifty-three posts and one hundred and four companies, making a total of one hundred and thirty-five posts and two hundred and sixty-three companies. Averaging each company at seventy men, gives a force of over eighteen thousand.

In the other departments the following list comprises the force of the East: General T. W. Sherman, seventeen posts and thirty companies; Washington, General W. II. Emory, four posts, twenty-seven companies; California, General E. O. C. Ord, assigned thirty-one posts, fifty-two companies; Dakota, General A. II. Terry, fifteen posts, forty companies; the Cumberland, General George H. Thomas, seventeen posts, thirty companies; the lakes, General John Pope, five posts, eight companies; the Platte, General C. C. Augur, fifteen posts, sixty-three companies; Missouri, General P. H. Sheridan, twenty-seven posts, seventy-eight companies; and of the Columbia, General L. H. Rousseau, sixteen posts and twenty-two companies. Total, one hundred and forty-seven posts and three hundred and fifty companiesabout twenty-five thousand troops-making a grand total of forty-three thousand.

On the 3d of January, 1867, Mr. Paine, of Wisconsin, introduced into the House of Representatives, from the Committee on the Militia, a bill to supersede the existing systems of State militia, and to organize in their stead, throughout the several States and Territories of the Union, a uniform national militia, under the joint control of the Governors or Commandersin-chief of the respective States and Territories, and of an Assistant Secretary of War, specially appointed for the purpose by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate. The bill provides for the enrolment of all male able-bodied citizens or naturalized citizens of the United States between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, including negroes, and excluding Indians not taxed, idiots, lunatics, criminals, etc., and authorizes the formation from this enrolment of a volunteer National Guard of active militia, to serve for three years, and to "consist of two regiments of infantry in each Congressional district and Territory represented in the Congress of the United States, and also such other forces of infantry, cavalry, and artillery as the respective States and Territories so represented may organize, arm, and equip in accordance with the system prescribed in this act." Provision is made, by the administration of an oath, against the admission into the National Guard of any who have either borne arms against the United States, or given aid and encouragement to those who have done so; who have accepted office under, or yielded a voluntary support to, any authority hostile to the Government. Separate company and regimental organizations are provided for colored troops; and the number of the latter enlisted in each Congressional district is to be made "proportionate to the white and colored population thereof." The forces of the National

Guard are to be separate and distinct in each State, and "the organization of companies, regiments, brigades, and divisions is to be that of the Army of the United States," except that all commissioned officers of regiments and companies are to be elected by such regiments and companies respectively, and commissioned by the Governor, as at present. Four regiments of infantry are to constitute one brigade, and two brigades one division. The discipline, regulations, tactics, arms, accoutrements, equipments, uniform, colors, etc., are to be those of the regular army. The commander-in-chief in each State, and an adjutant-general, to be commissioned by the Governor, are to receive compensation for their services from their States and Territories. Both officers and privates are each to receive from the United States two dollars per diem for each day spent at drills, encampments, etc., to the amount of ten dollars per annum; each division, brigade, regimental, and company commander, when responsible for public property, is to receive fifty dollars per annum; each regimental and company commander, when so responsible, is to receive in addition fifty dollars per annum for the rent of an armory; and each commissioned officer is to receive twenty dollars per annum for clothing, and required to provide himself with the uniform prescribed in the Army regulations. Arms, clothing, camp equipments, etc., for companies, regiments, brigades, and divisions, are to be furnished from the several departments of the General Government, on requisitions approved by the Governor and the Assistant Secretary of War; and it is made the duty of the latter, with the assistance of the staff-officers of the Adjutant General's, the QuartermasterGeneral's, and the Ordnance Departments of the United States, to issue clothing, arms, and equipments, and orders for organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia; to receive duplicate returns, reports, and all official communications made to the Governors or commanders-in-chief in the States and Territories; to take charge of the armories and other public property, and to exercise all authority over the militia conferred upon Congress by the Constitution. The duties of the Governors, as commanders-in-chief in their respective States and Territories, are to commission all officers, including generals of division and brigade; to train, inspect, and discipline the National Guard; to receive reports, returns, and other official communications; and to exercise all authority over the militia reserved by the Constitution to the States. At least three days for drilling are to be appointed annually by law in the States and Territories; and, under the direction of the Assistant Secretary of War, a brigade and regimental encampment is ordered on the last Monday in September annually, as also a semi-annual inspection by the officers of the National Guard, and a biennial one by the officers of the regular army. The National Guard may be called out by the Governor or Legislature o' any State to

suppress local insurrection, or by Congress in time of war or rebellion; and when ordered into the service of the United States they are to be subject to the rules and articles of war, and to the regulations of the army.

The bill further provides for the establishment in convenient locations throughout the country, under the superintendence of the Assistant Secretary of War, of four schools of the National Guard, which are to furnish in future all the scholars for the United States Military Academy at West Point. These schools are to be provided by the Government with the same course of instruction, rules, and regulations, and their cadets with the same uniform, pay, and allowances, as are prescribed for the Academy. Four cadets at large from each school are to be appointed annually to the Academy, in addition to the usual appointments from each Congressional district. The graduates of the schools are to serve three years in the National Guard, or in the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps of the United States.

This bill, although acted upon in the House, failed to pass Congress and become a law.

ASIA. The closer connection which, on January 1, 1867, was established between the United States and Eastern Asia by the opening of a new steamship line, proves a great incentive to the more rapid regeneration of the eastern Asiatic countries. In Japan the change in international intercourse has been specially notable. In 1866 a new Tycoon came into power, who was the acknowledged leader of the party friendly to foreigners. Early in 1867 the old Mikado, or Emperor, died, and was succeeded by a young man of sixteen years, who may naturally be supposed to be more accessible to modern ideas. In April, the representatives of the leading foreign powers, upon the invitation of the new Tycoon, had an important conference with the Japanese Government at Osaca, the greatest commercial city of the empire. The result was entirely satisfactory, the Japanese Government giving formal notice that, on the 1st of January, 1868, they would open to foreigners the cities of Yedo and Osaca, the port of Hiogo, and another port on the west coast of Japan. A new treaty of commerce was concluded with Denmark, so that Japan is now in regular communication with the United States, England, France, Holland, Prussia, Switzerland, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, and Denmark. An invitation from the Emperor of France to a participation in the Paris Exhibition was eagerly accepted. Specimens of the country's products, manufactures, and works of art were sent, many of the people went over, and even a younger brother of the Tycoon proceeded to Paris, attended by a suite commensurate with his rank and the greatness of the occasion. Another special embassy was sent to the United States to give new assurances of the regard of Japan for the peo. ple of the United States, and to look after some commercial interests. Toward the close of the

year, a great change seems to have been effected in the home government. The Tycoon resigned his position, and it was reported that the Mikado himself, aided by a council of Daimios, would assume the reins of the government. Finally, the Japanese Government took the first definite step toward establishing a permanent diplomatic connection with foreign governments, by appointing a consul-general at San Francisco. This appointment, it is expected, will soon be followed by the appointment of Japanese ministers at the capitals of the great countries of Europe and America. (See JAPAN.)

In China, the influence of foreigners shows itself every year more plainly in the numerous ports, and the masses of the Chinese population are rapidly accustoming themselves to a commercial intercourse with strangers. Christian missionaries penetrate in all directions into the interior, and they are, on the whole, satisfied with the protection which the Chinese Government extends to them. China is now on the eve of a revision of the treaty of 1859, which is the basis of the present friendly relations between China and the Christian Governments. The Chinese Government placed a special confidence in the Hon. Anson Burlingame, minister of the United States in Pekin, and offered to him the appointment of special envoy to confer, in its name, with the chief foreign Governments on the revision of the treaty. (See CHINA.)

India is making steady progress in the establishment of schools and the diffusion of knowledge, and the increasing class of intelligent natives appreciate the advantages which India is deriving from the rule of England and from the influence of Christianity. Both the peace at home and the peaceable relations with the neighboring states remained, on the whole, undisturbed; though considerable alarm was felt by the British authorities at the advance of Russia in Central Asia. A number of the native troops were employed for the Abyssinian expedition, and confidence was felt both in their loyalty and availability. (See INDIA.)

The steady progress of Russia in Central Asia, and the consolidation of the new acquisitions into Russian provinces, is one of the most important stages in the steady transformation of Asia. The few independent Khans in Central Asia are too weak to resist the advance of Russia, and their countries cannot escape annexation either to Russia or to India. Civil war continued throughout the year to devastate Affghanistan, which, like other weak nations, seems to be unable to maintain a national independence..

France again enlarged her territory in Farther India by annexing, in addition to the provinces of Ben-Hoâ, Jia-Dinh (Saigon), and Dinh-Tuong (Hitho), which had been ceded by the treaty of 1862, those of Vinh-Long, Hangiang, and Hatien. The French now possess the whole of Lower Cochin-China. It is commonly

believed now to be the fixed policy of the French Government to annex, in the course of time, the whole of Farther India.

In the south the Dutch will obtain a new lease of power when the Liberals triumph in the abolition of serfdom, and, if not, Australia is pushing northward, and will occupy New Guinea, and force Spain to do its duty to the Philippines, or withdraw.

Though five times the size of Europe, Asia is more and more becoming dependent on Europe. At present it contains only nine kings not dependent on England, Russia, Holland, Spain, France, and the Porte. Allowing that Arabis indirectly acknowledges the last, and that the Mussulmans of Eastern Tartary have not yet established their power, there are only the Shah of Persia, the Khan of Khiva, the Ameer of Bokhara, the Ameer of Affghanistan, the Emperor of China, the Mikado of Japan, the Emperor of Anam, the King of Burmah, and the King of Siam. If we omit the Emperor of China, Russia alone rules a vaster and England a more populous and wealthy Asiatic empire than all combined. There can be little doubt that the Khan, the two Ameers, and the Kings of Burmah and Siam, if they maintain their independence at all, will be feudatories of a European power. The only really independent sovereigns in Asia will be those of Turkey, Persia, China, and Japan.

The extension of the telegraph wires through Asia promises to have a great influence on the progress of civilization. An English paper of India gives the following account of the Asiatic telegraphs about the middle of the year: "The telegraph and courier service through Russia and Mongolia via Kiatchta, the frontier town, is improving. The time occupied by the couriers between Kiatchta and Tientsin has now been reduced to twelve days. The telegraph wires are complete from London to Kiatchta, and seem to work well, a telegram having been received in fourteen hours. Lieutenant W. H. Pierson, R. E., who inspected the Persian telegraph from Teheran to Julfa on the Russian frontier last August, gives a bad account of the line. Its great defect is its distance from the post road and its consequent inaccessibility. A great portion of the line is condemned, and the Shah is recommended to reconstruct it on a better principle. The offices at Kasvin, Zenjan, Myaneh, and Julfa are only supplied with one Morse instrument each, and from the way which that instrument is connected and disconnected with the line at discretion of a Persian signaller, they can at present only be regarded as impediments to the steady and rapid transmission of messages between Tabreez and Teheran. On the other hand, the Russian wire in the Caucasus is well spoken of. The line itself is a double one, exceedingly well constructed, the posts are very large and strong, and renewed every three years; the insulators are very good. The line is every where close to the post road.

The majority of the Christian population of Asiatic Russia and Asiatic Turkey belong to the Greek Church. Besides, there are a number of other denominations, as Armenians, Nestorians, etc. (See EASTERN CHURCHES.) To the East Asiatic religions a population of about 600,000,000 belong. The number of Mohammedans in Asia is estimated at 50,000,000. The number of Jews will hardly be more than about 500,000.

ASTRONOMICAL PHENOMENA AND PROGRESS. The year 1867 was rich in astronomical phenomena; some of them of a kind that appealed powerfully to the popular sense of the wonderful, and also excited the interest of scientific men. The most remarkable of those events, on this side of the Atlantic, was the meteoric shower of November 14th, which occurred in favorable weather; and every stage of its progress was noted by skilful observers in various parts of the country (see METEORS). The appearance of Jupiter without his satellites (as the phenomenon is commonly described), and the opposition of Mars, afforded opportunity for the study of those planets under peculiarly interesting circumstances. Herr Schmidt's alleged discovery of recent volcanic action in the moon by which the crater Linné was supposed to have been filled up and a new crater formed, gave rise to an earnest discussion among selenographers as to the probabilities of such an occurrence. The year was not distinguished by the publication of any striking new theory, except that of Schiaparelli, Adams, and others, which seeks to identify the orbits of comets with those of meteoric showers; but a decided advance can be noticed along the whole line of astronomical science.

The lunar crater Linné.-The reported discovery by Herr Schmidt, of Athens, of a remarkable change in the crater Linné gave fresh interest to the observation of lunar phenomena during the year. The change apparently consisted in the filling up of the crater

by an eruption of lava and the formation of a cone or mound in the centre, similar to those produced by volcanic eruptions on the Earth. The proofs of this alteration in the structure of Linné are as follows: The crater has been a familiar object with lunar observers, easily identified by the light spot which it exhibits in high illumination, and the shadow cast in the hollow of the crater by its sides, in lower altitudes of the sun. Now, if the crater were filled up with lava, it is evident that this peculiar shadow would no longer exist; and that the summit of the crater would present merely a light spot to the observer, at all angles of the sun when the rays fell upon it. But if, in addition to the filling up of the crater, a mound should be formed upon the new surface, then that object, if sufficiently large to be seen from the Earth, would cast a shadow, entirely distinct in its appearance from that thrown by the walls of the crater. These were the indications of change observed by Herr Schmidt, and explained by him upon the hypothesis presented. In lower altitudes of the Sun and close upon the phase, where in former times the crater shadow was plainly to be seen, no crater is now visible (according to Herr Schmidt), but there appears in good light, with magnifying powers of from 300 to 600, a hill or mound, estimated to be about 1,918 feet in diameter and between 30 and 40 feet high. Several astronomers confirm the observations of Herr Schmidt. Others, after a careful study of Linné, maintain that no change whatever has taken place in the crater, and that appearances to the contrary are to be explained either by defective observations, by unfavorable conditions of our atmosphere, by variations in the angles under which we see lunar objects, or by different incidences of the solar light falling upon them.

Mr. Birt observed Linné in April and May, 1867, and says that he could not detect any object on its surface. With regard to variations