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POSSESSIONS.

I. POSSESSIONS IN AFRICA.

Cape Verd Islands (nine in-
habited)...

In Senegambia (Bissao, etc.).
Islands of São Thomé and
Principe...
Ajuda...

Angola, Benguela, Mossa-
medes..
Mozambique, Sofala, etc......

II. POSSESSIONS IN ASIA.
In India:

Goa, Salsette, Bardez, etc..
Damaun and Territory..

Area in Square
Miles.

Population.

1,487

25

90,704 (1875) 9,282 (1878)

417

14

812,532

852,692

2,000,000 300,000

81,692 (1875) 700 (1865)

Kriegswesen der Urzeit in seinen Verbindungen guese possessions in Asia and Africa (see Behm und Wechselwirkungen mit dem gleichzeitigen and Wagner, Bevölkerung der Erde, iv., 1876): Staats- und Volksleben" (3 parts, 1860-'64). PONROY, PIERRE GABRIEL ARTHUR, & French author, born March 25, 1816; died in March, 1876. He took the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Paris in 1837, studied medicine, and afterward went through a special course of mental discipline. He made his first appearance in literature in 1841, through some sketches in prose and verse, which, however, met with but little favor. A tragedy called "Le Vieux Consul" was his next effort, but was not successful. He published many pamphlets and feuilletons, and contributed to several reactionary journals at Paris and at Châteauroux. In 1854 he presented at the Théâtre Français, in Paris, "Mirabeau" and "Minervine," prose dramas, each in five acts; but the representation of the former was forbidden by the Government, and the death of an actress prevented the representation of the other. In 1861 he reopened the Salle des Bouffes, and attempted to produce his plays by a company formed by himself, and presented his play, "The Wedding-Gift," taken from one of his novels, but the attempt was a failure. Among his other works are: "Forms and Colors," "The Roman World," "Oriental Legends," "A Daughter of Monck," and "The GalloRoman World."

PORTUGAL, a kingdom in Southwestern Europe. King, Luiz I., born October 31, 1838; succeeded his brother, King Pedro V. November 11, 1861; married, October 6, 1862, to Pia, youngest daughter of King Victor Emanuel of Italy. Issue of the union are two sons: Carlos, born September 28, 1863, and Alfonso, born July 31, 1865.

The area and population of Portugal were, according to Pery ("Geographia e Estadistica geral de Portugal," Lisbon, 1875), as follows:

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Diu and Gogola...

Indian Archipelago:

Timor and Amboina..

China:

Macao....

Total..

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1,598: 400

25,062: 727

The public debt of Portugal dates from the year 1796, when the first loan of 4,000,000 milreis was raised. In 1835 it amounted to 55,000,000 milreis; in 1875, to 348,601: 250. The movement of shipping in 1873 was as follows:

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85.843

The area of the Portuguese possessions, as given below, differs over 35,000 square miles from the statements of previous years. This is due to the fact that in Senegambia the area of the Portuguese colonies had been stated to be 3,000 square leguas (35,867 square miles). It has been recently found, however, that the Portuguese possessions in Senegambia include but very little territory, its area not exceeding twenty-five square miles. The following table shows the area and population of the Portu

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The aggregate length of telegraph lines was 3,533; and of telegraph wires, 7,656 kilometres. The military system is based on the law of June 23, 1864, which has been modified by several decrees of the year 1868, as well as by decrees of October 4, 1869, and December 15, 1875. The strength of the army in 1876, on the peace-footing, was 1,615 officers, and 32,356 men; on the war-footing, 2,566 officers and 71,378 men.

The trade of Portugal in 1872 was as follows (value expressed in contos; 1 conto = 1,000 milreis):

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Schools of Lisbon, Oporto, and Funchal there were in all 277 students. The principal special schools are the Academies of Fine Arts at Lisbon and Oporto, with 277 students; the Conservatory of Music at Lisbon, with 95 students; and the Industrial and Commercial Institution, with 388 students. The total annual expenditure for education was $1,200,000.

The Portuguese Cortes was formally opened by the King January 2d. In his speech his Majesty said that the most friendly relations were maintained with foreign powers. Referring to the happy termination of the arbitration of the question respecting the title to Delagoa Bay, the King said that he had manifested his gratitude to President MacMahon, of France (by whom the question had been decided), for the impartiality and justice with which he had considered so delicate an affair. He spoke of the visits of the Seyid of Zanzibar and the President of the Transvaal Republic, who had signed a treaty giving advantages to the colony of Mozambique. Among the subjects commended to the deliberation of the Cortes were the adoption of measures for improving the condition of the colonies, and for

The following are the chief articles of im- further strengthening the possession of the port and export:

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According to a report on education in Portugal, transmitted to the Washington Bureau of Education by Hon. B. Moran, United States minister at Lisbon (dated December, 1875), the number of elementary schools was 2,244, of which 1,910 were for boys and 334 for girls; the number of pupils was 113,097 (92,834 boys, 20,263 girls); of teachers, 2,609 (2,114 males, 495 females). Secondary instruction was imparted in 18 lyceums, with 2,385 pupils, and in 123 other secondary schools. The University of Coimbra had 52 professors, 15 assistants, and 913 students, of whom 39 studied theology, 343 law, 6 political economy, 56 medicine, 104 mathematics, 262 philosophy, 103 drawing. The Polytechnic School at Lis bon had 174, the Military Academy of the same city 272, and the Polytechnic School at Oporto 109 students. In the Medico-Surgical

Portuguese territories; also moral and material reforms, including an improvement of the system of public instruction on the basis of compulsory education, and measures for the construction of railways in Beira. With regard to the budget, it was announced that the prosperity of the country enabled the Government to dispense with any new taxes. In view of the prosperous condition of the Treasury, Senhor Ardrade Corvo, Minister for the Colonies, intended to ask the Cortes to authorize the negotiation of a loan for colonial improvements, such as the construction of railways, bridges, landing-stages, roads, telegraphs, and lighthouses.

Mr. Watson, British secretary of legation st Lisbon, has published some facts showing that a rapid and great improvement has taken place in the condition of the finances of Portugal within the last ten years, as exhibited by the budgets for 1866–’67, 1871–’72, and 1876–77, respectively. In 1866 the total revenue of the kingdom was estimated at not more than £3,529,000, while the expenditure amounted to £4,694,900, thus showing an estimated deficit of £1,165,900. In the budget of 1871-72 the revenue had risen to £4,915,069, while the amount of expenditure had increased only £220,000, and the two items balanced each other. In the budget for 1876-'77 the revenue was estimated at £5,346,661, showing an increase in five years of £430,000, or of £86,000 per annum; while the expenditures were estimated at £163,539 more than that amount. The increase of revenue is caused not by the application of new principles of finance, but by the greater productiveness of the taxes, and especially of the customs duties. The chief item of increase in the expenditures is in the

interest on the public debt, which has grown from £1,362,137 in 1866 to £2,450,758 in 1876.

The Cortes was closed by a royal decree at the beginning of April, after having had a quiet session. The House of Peers, just before the closing, gave an expression of confidence in the Government, the vote upon the same being 45 to 24 votes.

The Opposition, or Liberal party of the country, have exhibited a moderate degree of activity. On the 19th of March, the Opposition members of the two Chambers, excluding the Republican group, held a consultation upon the propositions for constitutional reform, and other measures which they intended to advocate. On the 25th of March a demonstration of the Democratic party was made in celebration of the electoral victories which had been gained by their sympathizers in France. About two hundred persons took part in the affair, includ

Oliveira Marreca pre

ing several foreigners. sided. The meeting had for a second object the promotion of a union between the two democratic parties of the country, the "Old" and the "New" Democracy.

Several provinces were suffering at the beginning of the year from a scarcity of provisions. The crops of the last year had failed in consequence of the drought, and the present season threatened to be still more unfavorable. The Government was obliged to take measures to furnish the poorer part of the population with corn, and to see to the transportation of the same.

A financial crisis took place in May among the weaker banks. It was relieved by the importation of gold by the Government, and by the discounting of the bills of the suffering banks by the stronger concerns. The crisis was renewed with greater intensity in the middle of August, when the bills which had

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been discounted for the weaker banks had run their course. As the condition of these banks was not improved, the stronger banks refused to renew their bills. The gold which had been imported from England had been sent away again by the operation of the high rate of exchange, and all the banks issuing notes in the country were compelled to close. To relieve the crisis, the Government issued a decree authorizing the suspension of all engagements for two months.

In November, Senhor Bargona, Minister of Justice, was succeeded in that office by Senhor Avelino, Minister of Public Works. Senhor Laurenço Carvalho, former Director of the Douro Railway, was appointed Minister of Pub

lic Works. The Duke of Saldanha, embassa dor to the court of St. James, or Great Britain, died in London in November. Senhor d'Antas, embassador to the Spanish court, was appointed to succeed him, and Count Balboni was appointed embassador to the court of Spain.

PRESBYTERIANS. I. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.The Presbyterian Church in the United States had, in 1874, thirty-six synods, mostly in the North, 172 presbyteries, 4,744 ministers, 5,077 churches, and 535,210 communicants. The following is a summary of the statistics of this Church, as they were reported to the General Assembly in May, 1876:

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and 29,176 communicants; and a decrease of 1 presbytery, 8 licensures, 20 ordinations, 81 installations, and 25 dissolutions. The contributions have also increased $183,629, although most of the specified items have decreased.

The Committee of Ministerial Relief reported that the amount of funds for current use, received from 2,100 churches and from all other sources, had been $78,055.20, the whole of which had been expended. The receipts were $734.23 in advance of those of the previous year, and were $1,145.60 more than those of the most prosperous year preceding it.The Board of Education reported to the General Assembly that their receipts for the year had been $72,040.97, a gain of $3,861.83 over The paythe receipts of the year before. ments in behalf of current work had been $56,989.58. The balance of the debt standing over, amounting to $15,000, and $15,000 of loans made during the present year, had also been paid. The Board of Publication reported to the General Assembly that their total receipts for 1875-'76 had been $293,717.94, and their expenditures $267,946.63. The contributions to the missionary fund of the board for carrying on its benevolent work had amounted to $52,176.06. For the same work there had been directly expended $49,712.59. The board had issued during the year 89,500 copies of new publications, 835,800 copies of reprints, and 5,746,673 copies of periodicals.-The Board of Church Erection reported to the General Assembly that their receipts since their last report had been $125,016. Appropriations had been made to 136 churches, amounting in all to $70,500.-The Committee on Freedmen reported to the General Assembly that their total receipts for the year had been $54,958.84; their expenditures had been $53,137. One hundred and thirteen missionaries had been employed during the year, eight churches had been organized, and 855 persons had been added to the Church.-The Board of Home Missions reported to the General Assembly that their receipts for the year ending April 1, 1876, had been, from churches, $234,677.83; from legacies, $33,103.59; from miscellaneous sources, $19,936.99; total, $287,717.01. Their expenditures had been $284,226.21, in which sum was included the amount of the debt ($24,372.78) reported by the board to the previous General Assembly. The receipts were $25,907.36 less than those of the previous year. During the year 1,035 missionaries had been engaged in work under the direction of the board; 3,500 churches and stations had been supplied, and the largest number of additions to the churches on profession for several years had been made.-The Board of Foreign Mixsions reported that their receipts for the year ending April 30th had been $517,688.69, and their expenditures $515,593.62. Their debt on the 30th of April, 1876, amounted to $36,187.93, having been reduced $2,095.07.-The following are the statistics of the missions:

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The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America met in Brooklyn, N. Y., May 18th. The Rev. Henry C. Van Dyke, D. D., was chosen moderator. The Assembly adopted a report which called the attention of the presbyteries to the importance of the relation of the Church to the German population, urged them to seek all proper opportunities for labor among this people, and to devise means whereby they may be more extensively and more deeply impressed with the Presbyterian faith and order. It advised the presbyteries to seek out proper German candidates for the ministry, and to communicate, in respect to them, with the Presbyterian German theological schools. It made provision for the collection of information concerning the German work, by means of a circular addressed to the presbyteries containing inquiries respecting the distinctive features which belong to the transition from the German to the American condition. A committee

was appointed to communicate with the presbyteries, receive and arrange the desired information, and report to the next General Assembly. This committee was also directed to give attention to the whole subject of a denominational literature in German; to confer, if they thought best, with the Board of Publication in respect to the publication of books in

German; and to consider what shall be done by the Church, if anything, in respect to Presbyterian newspapers, and other means of instruction through the press.-The delegation who had been appointed to attend the Conference of Presbyterians which was held in London in July, 1875, relative to the formation of a general alliance of Presbyterian churches, reported concerning the proceedings of the Conference and the organization of the Alliance. The meeting of the Alliance was to have been held on the first Tuesday in July, 1876; but in deference to the wishes of American Presbyterians, who would be engaged in services appropriate to the Centennial celebration, it had been postponed to July, 1877. The Assembly adopted the following resolution on the subject:

Resolved, That our branch of the Presbyterian Church, as represented in this General Assembly, approves the constitution proposed by the London

Conference, and cordially enters into the Presbyterian Alliance on this basis: That the Moderator and the stated and permanent Clerks of the Assembly, and the Rev. Howard Crosby, D. D., the Rev. James McCosh, D. D., and the Rev. S. I. Prime, D. D., be a special committee to appoint delegates from this Church to the first meeting of the Presbyterian Alliance at Edinburgh, July, 1877.

The committee who had been appointed by a previous Assembly to correspond with the Reformed Church in America on the subject of union, reported concerning the result of their negotiations, which they embodied in the following minute:

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Whereas, These committees were originally appointed to confer in regard to the desirableness and which they represent; and whereas, the General practicability of union between the two bodies Synod of the Reformed Church in the year 1874 declined to continue their committee (as had been recommended) for further conference concerning union," and subsequently appointed a committee to confer with us in regard to "cooperation," a matter which had not been committed to us by the General Assembly; and whereas, a document has been presented to us by said committee containing certain proposals and measures relating to "coopPublication, etc.; and whereas, the "terms of coreration," and by our several Boards of Missions, respondence" already existing between the two bodies provide for the most friendly relations, which we trust will always be continued; and whereas, the main object proposed to be accomplished by this without it: Therefore, be it scheme of cooperation" can hardly be attained

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Resolved, That we inform the committee of the Reformed Church that, in our judgment, the plan proposed by them is inexpedient; and that, in reporting our action to the next General Assembly, we request to be discharged from further consideration of the subject.

This report was adopted.

Rev. Dr. Talmage sent a dispatch by telegraph During the meetings of the Assembly, the to a prominent member of the Southern General Assembly, in session at the same time at Savannah, Ga., asking if anything could be forward the establishment of fraternal relations done by the Northern Assembly that would between the two bodies. He received an anAssembly would receive respectful consideraswer that any spontaneous resolution of the tion. The subject was referred to the Comreported the following as a suitable form in mittee on Correspondence. This committee which to embody the expression of the Assembly:

The committee to whom was referred the resolution on fraternal correspondence with the General Assembly now in session at Savannah, report that they are unanimously and heartily in sympathy with the objects contemplated in the resolutions; and recognizing the fact that the two Assemblies accept and directory of worship, and are closely bound tothe same Confession of Faith, form of government, gether by historical as well as doctrinal and ecclesiastical ties; and

Whereas, These Churches, one in faith, order, and labor, are called by the Great Head of the Church to united efforts for the extension of his kingdom throughout the country and the world, and as no adjustment of differences is accomplished by rehearsal of the past: Therefore, with a view to the expression of the united and hearty wishes of this

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