sessed of a considerable vein of wit and humor, which, though perhaps dry and classical, was always effective, and the debates of the Senate prove that he was a man of profound research. BALL, Rev. DYER, M. D., a Congregational clergyman and missionary of the A. B. C. F. M., born at West Boylston, Mass., June 3, 1796; died at Canton, China, March 27, 1866. When he was six years of age his family removed to Shutesbury, Mass., and during a revival of religion at Hadley, where he was temporarily residing, he became hopefully converted at the age of nineteen. His studies preparatory to the college course were pursued, in part, at Phillips Academy, and after two years at Yale College he was obliged to go South for his health. For a time he was tutor in a private family, near Charleston, S. C., and his collegiate education was not completed till 1826, when he graduated at Union College. In 1827 he was married to Miss Lucy Mills, of New Haven, Connecticut. He pursued theological studies for a time at New Haven, and afterward at Andover, and was licensed to preach in 1828, but was not ordained until 1831, at Shutesbury. In 1829 he was engaged in teaching a private school at St. Augustine, Florida; and in 1833 he was appointed an agent of the Home Missionary Society, to labor in that State. At this time, and during the whole of his ministry South, he was much engaged in labors for the good of the colored population. We next find him teaching in an academy in Charleston, S. C. In 1835, 1836, and 1837, in addition to other engagements, he pursued the study of medicine, with reference to foreign missionary work, and received the degree of M. D. from the medical institution in Charleston.

Dr. Ball is said to have been very popular and much beloved at the South, so that he was often urged to remain, and engage in evangelistic labors among the colored population. He was also eminently successful in teaching, and his financial prospects in his school were most promising, when he left it for labors as a missionary of the American Board in the far East. After coming North to go abroad, he was detained a year in consequence of the commercial crisis of that period, and during this time did something toward the acquisition of the Chinese language. He sailed, with his family and with several other missionaries, from Boston, May 25, 1838, and arrived at Singapore on the 17th of September following. For something less than two years he was stationed at Singapore, "teaching, preaching, healing the sick, and superintending the printing of Chinese books." In June, 1841, he went to Macao, for a temporary change, on account of the illhealth of Mrs. Ball, and was providentially led to remain there until April, 1843, when he removed to Hong Kong. On the 6th of June, 1844, he was called to deep affliction by the death of his excellent wife. In 1845 he removed to Canton, and on the 26th of February,

1846, he was again married, to Miss Isabella Robertson, from Scotland, then engaged in missionary labors at Canton, who was his companion for the remainder of his life, and survives him. His medical services here were of great assistance in conciliating the people. He taught a small school of boys, and continued the superintendence of printing books and tracts in Chinese, while his "Almanac" was for many years a most acceptable publication. Taking a few medicines and tracts, he would mingle with the people, first on the banks of the river and on the ferries, and then extending his visits to the villages and markets. In this way he became widely known and respected.

In February, 1854, Dr. Ball sailed, with his family, for a visit to the United States, and was absent from China until March 23, 1857, when he reached Macao on his return. His constitution was already much broken, and he was ever after infirm, and suffered much from pain as well as weakness; but it was his choice to spend his declining years in the land of his adoption, where two of his daughters, also, engaged in the missionary work; and while infirmities multiplied and pressed upon him, he still did what he could. During the last seven years of his life, when not actually confined to his couch, he would slowly work his way downstairs, totter out to his little chapel, which opened on the street, and there, seated in his arm-chair, would distribute tracts and address a few words to the passers-by, working according to his strength. Few have carried into the missionary field more energy and devotion to the work than the subject of this sketch.

BANKS. The first bank under the present law authorizing the establishment of National Banks in the United States, was organized in June, 1863. At the close of 1866 the number in active operation exceeded sixteen hundred, with an aggregate paid-up capital of over four hundred millions, owned by more than two hundred thousand stockholders. The system has won the confidence of the people, and has furnished thus far a currency of uniform value in all parts of the country. It has superseded all existing State banking institutions, and places the entire control of the currency of the country in the hands of the Federal Government. It has also proved, during its short existence, to be a most important auxiliary in the financial operations of the Treasury Department. For Currency, Redemption, etc., see FINANCES U. S. The increase of national bank circulation in the United States has been as follows:

The national bank circulation, April, 1867, was $291,000,000
Legal tenders and small currency...

Total, April, 1867...
Deduct, on hand in the banks..

405,000,000

$696,000,000

123,000,000

$578,000,000

$158,000,000

$415,000,000