there is no limit to the possible size and thickness. The illustration on page 722 represents a cordon of three of these turrets arranged for the protection of a harbor. They are supposed to be one hundred feet in diameter, with two tiers of guns. They rest upon a structure of iron-clad masonry, in which are contained the magazines and steam engine. The diagram on page 720 presents a sectional view of a turret, cut down vertically through the centre so as to show the interior arrangements. Directly unber the dome-shaped roof is a platform resting upon a central shaft, which revolves independently of the turret, and not by means of the steam engine. This is the station of the commander during action. In the roof is a narrow opening through which, by means of a fixed telescope, he keeps watch of the enemy. At his hand is a wheel, connected by rods and gearing with the shaft so that he can turn the platform in any direction, and thus keep his telescope always pointed upon the object of attack. If this moves, he follows it, precisely as a sharpshooter with a telescopic rifle follows the course of a moving object. By an arrangement of signals he can also give any directions for the management of the vessel or of the guns. As the turret revolves each gun is for an instant brought in the course of every revolution directly in a line with the commander's telescope. If the gun is discharged at that instant, the ball must go straight to its mark. Provision is made for doing this with unerring certainty. Each gun in the act of passing under the vertical line of the telescope, is discharged by means of an electric current. This telescope being held pointing to the object of attack, every gun in the battery is really aimed by the commander. This automatic sighting and discharge are essential features of the invention; they obviate the uncertainty of aim, which is the main objection against the towers heretofore built. The commander aims and discharges every gun in his battery; the gunners have only to load, run the piece to the porthole, and place the fuse in the vent. This can be done in one minute. A turret of one hundred feet in diameter will give ample space for sixty guns in two tiers. If it revolves once a minute, which is equal to about three and a half miles an hour, its effective fire is sixty guns in a minute directed with unerring aim upon any point of the circle-an offensive power greater than that of any fortress in the world. For defensive power, such a turret can be made absolutely invulnerable. The "monitor" turrets are from nine to thirteen inches thick; but in a land turret, if one foot is not sufficient, there may be two or five. The only limit is the crushing weight of the structure upon the steel rollers on which it revolves. The main purpose of a land turret is for harbor defence. The illustration on page 722 shows the adaptation of a cordon of turrets for the protection of the harbor of New York. The point of defence is supposed to be the VOL. IV.-46 A

Narrows, where the channel is about onefourth of a mile wide. A tower is built upon each shore, and another is placed midway. An enemy approaching would be exposed, from the moment he came within range, to the concentric fire of these three forts, each capable of delivering sixty shot in a minute with an accuracy hitherto unknown in gunnery. To pass these forts he must come, with broadsides exposed, within one-sixteenth of a mile of the muzzles of one hundred and twenty guns, aimed with the precision of a telescopic rifle. Should he succeed in passing, his stern would be exposed, so long as he continued within range, to the fire of all the towers. The guns may be of the largest calibres, for it has been demonstrated that the heaviest ordnance can be discharged within a turret with less inconvenience than from the casemate of a fortress. It would seem that nothing that can float could sustain this fusillade for a quarter of the time in which the swiftest steamer would be exposed to it. A single hostile steamer once within range of New York, Boston, or San Francisco, could impose its own terms. To this system of turrets Mr. Timby therefore proposes to add a series of chains. These stretch from turret to turret, and are attached to windlasses turned by the steam engine within. Buoys are fastened to the chains, leaving their specific gravity just sufficient to sink them. In time of peace they lie quietly on the bottom, presenting no obstruction to navigation. On the approach of an enemy they are drawn up, not taut, but so as to hang swaying in the water at such a depth as to prevent the passage of a vessel; the greater part of their weight being supported by the buoys, almost their entire tensile strength is available as a barricade. These chains may be of any required size and number. They possess the character of an immense iron raft, sufficiently submerged to be wholly out of the reach of an enemy. The most powerful steamer striking them would merely sway them back, while its own momentum would be destroyed, and it would be helpless under the guns of the turrets. Outside of these chains it is proposed to stretch a line of torpedoes attached to a chain from tower to tower across the channel. These can be drawn directly under the vessel while detained, and exploded at the precise instant desired by the discharge of an electric current. This obviates the great practical defect in all systems in which torpedoes have. been employed, that the discharge is a matter of chance. The diagram on page 722 shows the details of the system of turrets, chains, buoys, and torpedoes, which combines in itself all the elements of defensive warfare hitherto employed. Its cost for construction and maintenance must be less than that of stone fortresses. The defensive works of Charleston cost more than would be required to render New York impregnable to the combined navies of the world. Masonry having been shown to be useless against modern artillery, the sole

reliance must be upon earthworks and iron. Earthworks being liable to be captured by escalade, must be defended by a force nearly as great as the attacking one; and iron, it is believed, can in no way be as advantageously used as in the system of turrets and its adjuncts.

The plan for revolving turrets for vessels proposed by Mr. Timby is essentially the same as for those built upon land, modified only by the fact that there is a limit to the size and weight of a turret which can be borne by a vessel. The essential features of the automatic sighting and discharge are equally applicable to both.

CORDON OF REVOLVING TOWERS AND CHAINS FOR HARBOR DEFENCE.

The vote at the Presidential election was as follows: Lincoln, 13,692; McClellan, 8,470. Majority for Mr. Lincoln, 5,222.

i

The finances of the State are represented by the Governor as "in a satisfactory condition." All the loans authorized by the legislature, amounting to $4,000,000, had been negotiated on favorable terms. The State had ample means to meet all immediate claims upon her, through the considerable sums due from the Federal Government, which it was expected soon to realize. The expenses attending the call for troops in December were not included in this estimate.

The Governor recommended to the legislature to enact some measures which should secure to the banks of the State additional privileges in their exchanges, as under the new burdens imposed by taxes upon circulation and deposits the business of banking was scarcely remunerative. He recommended the privilege should be granted to such as became National banks, to resume their chartered rights under their old organization at any period they might elect.

On Dec. 8th some wealthy citizens were arrested by order of the Federal commander of the Military Department, under charges of having furnished supplies to the enemy. The proceedings of the Governor relative thereto he

thus states:

On the 8th of December, 1864, by order of MajorGen. Dix, commanding the Department of the East,

several of our citizens were arrested and removed beyond the limits of the State. It became the duty of the Executive to inquire into the authority and reasons justifying such a procedure; this was done personally. As the result of the inquiry, it appeared that the offence charged was within the exclusive

cognizance of the officers of the General Government, and nothing further could be effected than to secure the assurance of an early investigation, which it is to be hoped will result in establishing the innocence of the parties charged.

The apparent commercial prosperity of the State continues as favorable as during any previous period of her history.

RICE, JAMES CLAY, a brigadier-general of United States volunteers, born at Worthington, Mass., Dec. 27, 1829, died from wounds received at the battle near Spottsylvania Court House, May 11th, 1864. His early life was spent in a struggle to obtain an education, and in 1854 he graduated at Yale College, with high honors. Shortly afterwards he went to Natchez, Miss., where he engaged in teaching, and edited the lit

erary department of one of the local newspapers, He also pursued the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in that State. Returning to the North he continued his legal studies in New York, and in 1856 entered upon the practise of his profession, in which he was rapidly rising to distinction. At the outbreak of the war he entered the ranks as a private soldier in the New York Garibaldi Guard, and subsequently, by distinguished merit, attained the colonelcy of the 44th New York volunteers, or Ellsworth's regiment. He led this regiment through the battles of Yorktown, Hanover Court House, Gaines's Mill, Malvern Hill, and Manassas, and was only absent from Antietam because on a sick-bed with typhoid fever. He was also at Fredericksburg under Gen. Burnside, at Chancellorsville under Gen. Hooker, where he was temporarily in command of a brigade, and at Gettysburg, where he greatly distinguishel himself by his skill and gallantry. It was his brigade which, on the second day of the battle, held the extreme left of the line successfully under the repeated and desperate onsets of the enemy. For three hours Col. Rice fought incessantly, receiving no orders from any superior officer, arranging and disposing of his men with such skill and judgment that at the close of the day's fight he had extended his line so as to cover Round-Top Mountain, thus securing it against any flanking movement. For this and other gallant deeds he was warmly commended by Gen. Meade, and earnestly recommended by him and Generals Hooker and Butterfield, for the appointment of brigadier-general of volunteers. The President acquiesced in the wishes of these officers, the Senate confirming the ap pointment, and dating his commission from Aug. 17, 1863. In this position he took part in the operations of Mine Run, passed through the terrible battles of the Wilderness, and met his death, at the head of his command, on the banks of the Po. He died shortly after amputation had been performed, his last words being the enemy." Gen. Rice was a man of deep re"Turn me over that I may die with my face to ligious principle, a brave and skilful officer, and thoroughly devoted to his country.

RIVES, JOHN C., an American editor, born in Kentucky about the year 1796, died near Georgetown, D. C., April 10, 1864. His early opportunities for an education were very limited, and he was thoroughly a self-made inan. In 1824 he removed to Washington from Edwardsville, Illinois, where he was a bank cashier, and entered upon a clerkship in the Fourth Auditor's office. During the early part of Gen. Jackson's administration, Mr. Rives, in connec tion with Frank Blair, sen., founded "The Congressional Globe," of which he had been sole proprietor for three years previous to his death. He was never a partisan, and although on important national questions agreeing in the main with Jackson's policy, he recognized the merit of that urged by the opposite party. In his public and private benefactions he was noble

and generous in the extreme, yet wholly without ostentation. In a single year his books report contributions of $17,000 to the support of the wives of soldiers enlisted in the district, besides innumerable gifts in smaller amounts to individuals. He also gave $12,000 toward the equipment of a regiment.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. It is estimated by intelligent and judicious investigators that there are on an average two thousand I Roman Catholics to each priest in the United States. On this calculation there were, in 1860, 4,400,000 Catholics in the United States. The increase has for many years been much more rapid than the increase of the nation. It appears that in 1808 there was only one Catholic to sixty-eight Protestants; in 1830, one to twenty-nine; in 1840, one to eighteen; in 1850, one to eleven; in 1860, one to seven. That is, the increase between 1840 and 1860 was 125 upon each hundred, while the nation only increased by thirty-six to a hundred; 1. between 1850 and 1860 the increase was one hundred and nine upon a hundred, while the nation increased only thirty upon a hundred. Should things go on only as they have hitherto done, the Catholic will be one-fifth of the whole population in 1870, and nearly one-third before 1900. According to the "Catholic Almanac for 1865" the United States had, in 1864, 7 arch2. bishops, 37 bishops, 5 vicars apostolic, and 3 mitred abbots, and in those dioceses from which reports were received, 2,330 priests.

The completion of the new St. Paul's and St. Peter's Cathedral in Philadelphia gives to the Roman Catholics the largest church edifice in the United States. The consecration was celebrated, on Nov. 20, with the most imposing effect. More than seven hundred priests participated, and the ceremonies were witnessed by about eight thousand people. Among those participating were Archbishops Spaulding, of Baltimore, Purcell, of Cincinnati, and McCloskey, of New York, the bishops of Boston, Buffalo, Brooklyn, Burlington, Vt., Newark, Canada, Fort Wayne, Ind., Hartford, Pittsburg, Toronto, Halifax, and the mitred abbot of St. Vincents at Latrobe. The bishops proceeded from the Episcopal residence in full vestments, with mitre and surplice, through Logan Square, followed by the priests, to the cathedral, the choir chanting Te Deum. The usual ceremonies were then proceeded with, Bishop Wood, accompanied by the priests, sprinkling the foundation and walls with holy water, etc. After the customary forms on such occasions, including the Pontifical mass, had been concluded, Archbishop Spaulding, of Baltimore, delivered an impressive sermon. The cathedral is the work of eighteen years' labor, and cost nearly $500,000.

One of the most important events in the modern history of the Roman Catholic Church, is the Encyclical Letter, addressed, on Dec. 8, 1864, to all Catholic bishops. (See PUBLIO DOCUMENTS.)

This document, it appears, was drawn up and discussed some time ago by a body of learned ecclesiastics, and subsequently debated at the Congregation of the Holy Office. The condemned propositions were forwarded to the most erudite prelates of the Catholic Church for their opinions, and when returned again carefully gone over paragraph by paragraph by the Pope and the cardinals. The idea is believed to have originated with Monsignore Gerbet, the bishop_of_Perpignan, who forwarded a letter to the Pope in 1860, containing the draught of the obnoxious propositions. The bishop has not lived to see the completion of his task.

The Encyclical letter produced a profound sensation throughout the civilized world. On the part of the clergy it found a general adhesion, yet some of them expressly made the reservation that they did not consider themselves obliged by the encyclical to condemn modern civilization. The Archbishop of Baltimore, in a pastoral letter to his clergy, expressed a belief that the encyclical letter was directed against the infidels of Europe, but did not condemn the institutions of the United States. The Archbishop of Paris issued a pastoral letter, in which he called upon the Pope to give his blessing to modern civilization, after having pointed out its errors.

The concurrence of the college of cardinals with the sentiments of the papal encyclical was not quite so unanimous as that of the bishops. Cardinal d'Andrea secretly left Rome, and proceeded to Naples, where he paid a visit to the crown-prince Humbert, and declared himself in favor of Italian unity. With regard to the encyclical he openly admitted in a conversation with the correspondent of a daily paper of Paris, "Le Temps," that he regretted its publication, and did not subscribe to all its sentiments. It was stated (by Catholic as well as Protestant papers) that six other, members of the sacred college agreed, in the main, with Cardinal d'Andrea.

The Catholic press of the world showed an entire unanimity in a respectful acceptance of the encyclical. No avowedly Catholic paper of Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Austria, Bavaria, or any other Catholic or Protestant country is known to have uttered a word of dissent. Some papers, which had previously advocated a reconciliation between the Church and modern society, qualified their adhesion by the reservation, that they accepted the encyclical in the sense of those bishops who did not find in it a condemnation of modern civilization.

None of the great Protestant countries of the world-the United States, England, Prussia, Holland, Sweden, Denmark-put any obstacles in the way of the publication of the encyclical. Most of the Catholic Governments of Europe were for a time seriously embarrassed with regard to it. The Government of France concluded to allow only the official proc