easy to be seen how a complete roasting can be effected by it. Probably the most successful apparatus or furnace for roasting, will be the so-called Terrace furnace, substantially a rectangular prismatic room, with a large number of shelves of fire-clay arranged in such a manner that the ore will fall from one to the two underneath and so on, until it reaches the lower part of the furnace, from whence it is removed. The furnace is heated first by a temporary hearth, but the combustion of the sulphur produces afterwards enough heat to keep the ore constantly in a temperature fit to expel the sulphur from the same. Another method has been proposed, and we believe with much success. It is the invention of Mr. Monnier, and consists in calcining the ore in reverberatory furnaces with an addition of sulphate of soda. The whole is calcined at a low temperature, and during the operation the sulphurets of iron and copper are at first oxidized, but partly changed into sulphates during the last hours of the calcination. These sulphates can be leached out, and, so far as the copper is concerned, it can be won by a precipitation with metallic iron. The remaining ore, after the lixiviation of all soluble salts, is chiefly composed of peroxide of iron and the gangue or quartzose substances which were in the ore; the whole containing the gold well disclosed and ready for the attack of the quicksilver. An advantage in this process is the small quantity of fuel needed, and more especially the soft state of every particle of peroxide of iron, which allows an easy access of the mercury to the most minute parts.

In many mines the vein-matrix is composed of quartz, which has both free metallic gold, and auriferous pyrites. In such cases the ore is often treated with mercury in the raw state, or it is at least passed over copper plates, which are alloyed or amalgamated, and retain all the free particles of gold, after which the ore is calcined and amalgamated.

Should the ore have too much copper pyrites and zinc-blende or galena mixed with the quartz and iron pyrites, it becomes often too difficult and expensive to apply amalgamation, and the treatment by smelting is preferable.

The great improvements in desulphurizing pyrites, by which so great quantities of gold are saved, have given an impulse to an active and profitable mining system in several of the Territories, especially in Colorado.

A peculiar method of amalgamation for gold ores has lately been put in practice by a Mr. Wykoff, which he calls the "chloride of sodium" process. The machinery used consists of a wooden cylinder, combined with a shakingtable, with the ordinary mechanical appliances for working them. The process itself is as follows: Two hundred pounds of finely-crushed ore is put into the cylinder or amalgamator, with about one hundred pounds of mercury and sixty gallons of water, to which three per cent. of salt is added. The cylinder is then set VOL. VI-2

in motion, rocking forward and backward, while steam is introduced by means of a tube, and in about eight minutes the water boils, and the mercury permeates the entire mass. After so working for forty-five minutes, a stream of cold water is let in, which suddenly cools the mass and precipitates the mercury. The gate at the end of the cylinder is then opened and a stream of water run through the cylinder, until it comes clear, when the gate is closed and a new charge is put in. The shaking-tables are merely to collect small particles of metal, which may have been thrown from the cylinder by the force of the water. Mr. Wykoff claims to be very successful with his method, and to save in this way nearly all the gold contained in the ore.

The amalgamation of silver ores is much more complicated, and requires more skill and experience for a successful and economical treatment than the gold ores. In order to explain the theory of this process, it is deemed necessary to remark, first, that the silver ores which are subjected to this treatment are generally sulphurets, arseniates, and antimoniates of silver, or compounds of these bodies. The older theory was, and is yet accepted by many authorities, that these sulphurets, when brought together with common salt (chloride of sodium) and sulphate of copper, under proper conditions, are changed into chloride of silver, and that the subsequent contact with mercury would decompose these chlorides into metallic silver, which forms an alloy with the quicksilver, while another part of the latter takes up the second atoms of chlorine, and forms protochloride of mercury, or calomel, which is lost. Another theory is that of Mr. Bowring, who endeavors to prove that the deuto-chloride of copper, produced by chemical action from common salt and sulphate of copper, is changed, in contact with mercury, into a proto-chloride, and the latter, under the influence of atmospheric air, to oxi-chloride of copper, which, in its turn, gives a part of its oxigen to the sulphurets of silver, producing metallic silver, and leaving again proto-chloride of copper and sulphuric acid as products of decomposition. It will thus be seen how many chemical actions come into play in these processes, and how imperfectly they are understood yet. It may be said that during the last few years many experiments were made to improve the amalgamation of silver ores, especially in Nevada, where, amongst a great deal of quackery and absurdity, several inventions of some merit were introduced.

Under nearly all circumstances it is necessary to roast the ore, previous to its further treatment, with an addition of salt (chloride of sodium). An exception to this rule forms the method introduced by a Mr. Smith, who amalgamates with but few chemical agents, except common salt, the sulphurets of silver, found in the Comstock Lode, and some other mines. The apparatus he uses is known under the name

of Wheeler's or Hepburn's pan, and it appears that it is principally the friction between the iron parts of the apparatus and the ore which, in this process, causes a decomposition of the silver ore, and its fitness to form an alloy with the mercury. It ought to be remarked, however, that the presence of much antimony or arsenic in the ore is greatly objectionable, and that in such cases the ore has to be previously calcined. With ordinary care, the percentage of silver extracted from the ore varies between 70 and 80 per cent., compared with the yield of the assay, and it cannot be overlooked that this system is of great importance in a country where fuel is so scarce as in Nevada.

The chemicals which are more or less used in the mills in Nevada are numerous; they are employed, with the exception of the common salt, in a state of solution. We give a list of the more important ones:

1. Sulphate of copper (bluestone). Out of a solution of this salt metallic copper is precipitated, when in contact with iron. The freed copper forms an alloy with the quicksilver amalgam, which is again decomposed by sulphide of silver, through electro-chemical action, producing silver amalgam, and probably sul phide of copper.

2. Sulphate of iron (copperas).

3. Bisulphate of soda. This salt gives up one atom of its acid, and is reduced to a neutral salt. 4. Alum.

5. Sulphuric acid. The acid is used in a diluted state, and appears to act directly on sulphides of silver, which may be seen by the development of sulphuretted hydrogen gas, immediately after the application of the acid.

6. Chloride of sodium (common salt). It does not act directly on the sulphides of silver, but must be first decomposed by some agency before its chlorine can act on the ore.

7. Proto and deuto-chloride of copper. These salts act similar to the sulphate of copper.

These and many other substances are used with or without success in the Nevada mills. An untold number of experiments have been made, many patents issued for so-called new processes, while some "inventors" kept their method strictly secret; but to the present day no treatment has been discovered for amalgamating such complicated silver ores, which would give all the silver contained therein, and more especially under such difficult circumstances as prevail in Nevada.

It leads us too far, considering the space for this article, to describe the different systems of amalgamators, and it could hardly be done without figures. But it may be interesting to give a short description of the modus operandi followed in the process of amalgamation. In some pans, chemicals and raw ore are used; in other cases, the ore is first roasted, and often no chemicals are resorted to. In the first case, some water is first put in the pan and finelypulverized ore, enough to give a certain consistency to the mass, which is of much importance,

as too much fluidity will cause the settling of the sand and prevent a uniform division of the mercury, while, on the contrary, the particles of ore cannot change their places quick enough, and prolong, therefore, the operation. The pan being filled in this manner, the quicksilver is added in quantities of thirty to eighty pounds, and, if salt is to be used, it may be done so immediately, while all other chemicals are only applied a little afterward. The temperature is kept, as near as possible, uniform, and near the boiling-point of water. The number of revolutions of the agitator is from ten to fifteen per minute, but they can be increased without inconvenience. The operation is finished in about three or four hours; at that time the mass is diluted with water, and after half an hour tapped carefully in an adjoining vat, where such traces of amalgam are separated as might have gone with the fluid mass. The great quantity of amalgam now on the bottom of the pan remains, and acts on a new portion of ore until it has become sufficiently solid, when it is removed and pressed through a filter of leather or strong linen cloth. As already remarked, the pans known as "Wheeler's" and "Hepburn's " seem to give the most favorable results, in consequence of their peculiar construction. It is believed that they give a better percentage than other pans, and some estimate the difference as much as ten per cent. The actual loss of mercury has not yet been accurately ascertained, or if so, has not been made public.

A Hepburn pan of ordinary size can treat about four tons of ore in twenty-four hours, and requires two and a half horse-power.

The amalgam, after being pressed, is distilled in retorts, generally made of cast iron, four feet long, eleven inches wide, and nine inches high. The same is connected with a condensing apparatus, which is kept cool by water, and in which the vapors of mercury are condensed and liquefied.

It may be interesting to finish our remarks about amalgamation, with a description of this process as applied to so-called speiss and blackcopper, the first being a product from treating arsenical and antimonial ores, also containing silver, nickel, and copper-the other (blackcopper), an impure metal from mixed copper ores containing 80% copper, and remainder iron, sulphur, lead, and antimony, besides some silver. These classes of ores and products are not yet known well in this country, but there can be no doubt that the amalganiation or humid extraction of the precious metals from these substances, will have to be resorted to, with the increased development of the mineral resources.

The following methods are practised in the Stephanshütte, in Hungary. Black-copper, after being granulated and ground fine by stampers and arrastras, is mixed with 10% common salt, and calcined in a double calcining furnace, with a low, slowly increasing heat during ten hours. The silver is thus converted into a

chloride, and the sulphuric and antimonial salts decomposed to a great extent.

AMERICA. The great task which, during the year 1866, occupied the attention of the Government and people of the United States, was the work of reconstruction. It soon became apparent that the views of the President and the majority of Congress on the subject widely differed. The latter embodied its views in the Civil Rights and Freedmen's Bureau Bills and in a new Constitutional Amendment. The President expressed his disagreement with the amendment, and vetoed the two bills, both of which were, however, passed over his veto by Congress, and declared to be laws. The Thirty-ninth Congress, during its first session, admitted Tennessee, after its Legislature had ratified the Constitutional Amendment. The elections, held during the year, resulted in every Northern State, and in West Virginia and Missouri, in favor of the Republican party, while in Maryland and Kentucky the conservative opposition was triumphant. The late secession States, with the exception of Tennessee, were unanimous in rejecting the Constitutional Amendment. (See UNITED STATES.)

British America was greatly excited by invasions of the Fenians, which, however, were, without great difficulty, suppressed. In order to carry through the Confederation scheme, delegates from all the provinces went to England to confer with the Home Government, and it was understood that a bill concerning the projected Confederation would be laid before the Imperial Parliament early in 1867. (See BRITISH AMERICA.)

France, for purposes of her own, resolved to withdraw from Mexico the French forces in three detachments, the first to take place in November, 1866, and the last in November, 1867. The failure of the French Government to withdraw the first detachment at the time caused it to make then the necessary preparations for recalling all the troops by March, 1867. In consequence of this new turn of the war, the Liberals made rapid progress in the repossession of the country. Maximilian, at first, intended to abdicate, but subsequently resolved to fight for his crown at the head of the Conservatives and Church party. A new split arose, however, among the Liberals. Gen. Ortega disputing the claim of Juarez to the presidency after the expiration of his legal term. (See MEXICO.)

On the Atlantic side of South America, Paraguay bravely defended herself against the united forces of Brazil, the Argentine Republic, and Uruguay. Toward the close of the year the armies of the Argentine Republic and Uruguay were withdrawn, and it was believed that the alliance was at an end. The Presidents of both the allied republics were threatened with dangers at home, and Paraguay was expecting aid from Bolivia. (See ARGENTINE REPUBLIC, BOLIVIA, BRAZIL, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY.)

The successful laying of the Atlantic cable brought North America into telegraphic communication with the Old World. This communication remained free from interruption throughout the year. The rapid progress of the Russo-American telegraph will soon give new guaranties for the permanency of this communication.

The total population of America exceeds at present 80,000,000, of whom about 48,000,000 belong to North America and Mexico, 2,500,000 to Central America, 3,970,000 to the West Indies, and 26,000,000 to South America.

ANGLICAN CHURCHES. The general statistics of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States in 1866 were, according to the "Church Almanac" for 1867, as follows: Dioceses. Bishops.. Priests and Deacons. Whole number of Clergy. Parishes. Ordinations-Deacons

34

44

2,486

2,530

2,305

98

86

226

38

23,974

6,527

808

19,296

14,138

161,224

9,900

16,828

17,570

157,813 .$3,051,669.64

Contributions The following table exhibits the number of clergymen, parishes, communicants, teachers and scholars of Sunday-schools, and the amount of missionary and charitable contributions for each diocese:

The movement for a reunion of the Southern dioceses with the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States, which began at the close of the year 1865, made rapid progress after the beginning of the year 1866. The diocesan convention of Alabama voted in favor of reunion in January, those of South Carolina and Florida in February, and those of Virginia, Mississippi, and Louisiana in May, thus completing the restoration of the national unity of the Church. In most of the diocesan conventions the vote was unanimous in favor of reunion; a notable opposition being made only in that of Virginia, in which fifty-four clerical and thirty-six lay delegates voted in the affirmative, and seven clergymen and eleven laymen in the negative. The bishops of the dioceses notified the presiding bishop of the Church in the United States of the fact, and the president bishop in his turn officially announced to the Church the consummation of the reunion. Bishop Wilmer, of Alabama, who had been elected and consecrated while the Southern dioceses formed a separate organization, complied on January 31st with the conditions provided for his recognition by the triennial General Convention of 1865, namely: first, that he should transmit in writing (to be signed by him in the presence of three bishops of the Church) to the presiding

bishop of the House of Bishops, the promise of conformity comprised in the office for the consecration of bishops; and, secondly, that he should also transmit to the said presiding bishop the letters of his consecration, or, in default of the existence of such letters, other sufficient evidence as to the fact of his consecration, and the bishops by whom it was done, and the other persons by whom it was witnessed. The presiding bishop thereupon officially announced that the necessary regulations having been fulfilled, "the acceptance and recognition of the Right Rev. Richard Hooker Wilmer, D. D., the Bishop of Alabama, is now complete."

as

The annual meeting of the Board of Missions was held in October, in Providence. The receipts of the domestic committee for general purposes amounted to $54,645, and those of the foreign committee to $71,000. The "American and Church Missionary Society" held its seventh anniversary at New York, in October. The society employed during the past year 38 missionaries, of whom 12 were new appointments, and 24 recommissioned; seven resigned. The receipts were $56,412.38, and the expenditures $54,227.62. The balance on hand October 1, 1866, was $2,184.76. It was resolved at the anniversary meeting that "a committee of five be appointed to confer with the Evangelical Educational Committee, already existing,

with power, in connection with them, to organize a General Educational Society." The nineteenth anniversary of the Evangelical Knowledge Society was likewise held in New York in October. The annual report set forth that the new works published by the society amounted to 2,497 pages. The treasurer's report announced that the receipts for the past year amounted to $40,998.32, and the expenditures to $39,596.31, leaving a balance of $1,402.01. The Church of England continued to be greatly agitated by the case of Dr. Colenso, who, in the latter months of the year 1865, returned to his diocese of Natal. The Bishop of Capetown, as Metropolitan of the Anglican Church in North Africa, had offered to Colenso to have the sentence of deposition, which had been passed upon him by a synod of the South African bishops in 1865, revised either by the Archbishop of Canterbury, or by the bishops of the United Church of England and Ireland, or by such bishops of the Anglican communion throughout the British empire as could be assembled in London for the hearing of his case. As Colenso refused to avail himself of this offer, the metropolitan issued a formal sentence of excommunication, reading as follows:

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, We, Robert, by Divine permission, Metropolitan of the Church in the province of Capetown, in accordance with the decision of the bishops of the province, in synod assembled, do hereby, it being our office and our grief to do so, by the authority of Christ committed unto us, pass upon John William Colenso, D. D., the sentence of the greater excommunication, thereby separating him from the communion of the Church of Christ so long as he shall obstinately and impenitently persist in his heresy, and claim to exercise the office of a bishop within the province of Capetown. And we do hereby make known to the faithful in Christ that, being thus excluded from all communion with the Church, he is, according to our Lord's command, and in conformity with the provisions of the Thirty-third of the Articles of Religion, "to be taken of the whole multitude of the faithful, as a heathen man and publican." (Matt. xviii. 17, 18.) Given under our hand and seal this 16th day of December, in the year of our Lord 1865.

R. CAPETOWN.

The Metropolitan of Capetown notified the Anglican bishops of Great Britain, the British colonies, and the United States of this step. In England some of the bishops disapproved of the measure, while, as far as is known, those of the British colonies and the United States were unanimous in sanctioning it. From the senior bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States the following reply was received:

BURLINGTON, VT., May 4, 1866. To the Most Reverend Robert Gray, D. D., Lord Bishop of Capetown, and Metropolitan : the greater excommunication formally pronounced by you on John William Colenso, D. D., late Bishop of Natal, and addressed to me as the senior bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States, has been received and placed on record.

MY DEAR LORD BISHOP: Your official statement of

On my own part, this painful and afflicting work of discipline is perfectly approved, as an act of solemn and imperative duty to the Church of God, and to

her divine Head and Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. And I cannot doubt that it is equally approved by all firmness and fidelity of your whole course were so my brethren, whose sympathy and confidence in the unanimously declared in the resolution passed at

our last General Convention.

With my earnest prayer that the Holy Spirit of grace and consolation may guide and prosper all your arduous labors, and mercifully overrule this strange and mournful defection to the greater glory of the Redeemer, and the confirmation of His Church's absolute faith in the sacred Scriptures as the unerring Word of God, I remain, my dear Lord Bishop, with high regard, your friend and brother in Christ, [L. S.] JOHN H. HOPKINS,

Presiding Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the United States.

At the session of the convocation of Canterbury, which began on May 1, 1866, the Archbishop of Canterbury announced that he had received letters from the Bishop of Capetown and the Dean of Maritzburg, asking in substance the following questions: 1. Whether the Church of England hold communion with Dr. Colenso, and the heretical church which he is seeking to establish at Natal, or whether it is in communion with the orthodox bishops who, in synod, declared him to be ipso facto excommunicated. 2. Whether the acceptance of a new bishop on the part of the diocese of Natal, while Bishop Colenso still retains the letters-patent of the crown, would, in any way, sever the diocese from the mother Church of England. 3. Supposing the reply to the last question to be that they would not in any way be severed, what are the proper steps for the diocese to take to obtain a new bishop? The discussion of these questions showed that the bishops were any thing but agreed. The Bishop of Oxford wished all the three questions to be answered in a manly and hearty manner, while the Bishops of St. Asaph, Llandaff, St. Davids, Lincoln, Ely, and Peterborough, were opposed to immediate action. In the session, beginning June 26th, the discussion of the case was resumed. The Bishop of Oxford moved to reply, in answer to the first question submitted to the convocation, that the Church did not hold communion with Dr. Colenso, and that it did hold communion with the orthodox bishops of South Africa. A majority of the bishops were, however, opposed to committing themselves on the first part of the resolution, and by five against four votes adopted an amendment, declaring that they held communion with the Bishop of Capetown, and those bishops who with him declared Dr. Colenso to be ipso facto excommunicated. The lower house gave to this amendment a unanimous consent. In reply to the second question, the Bishop of Oxford moved the following declaration: "That as it has been decided, on appeal to the highest judicial court in this kingdom, on the one hand, that the Church in the province of Natal, in communion with the United Church of England and Ireland, is in the eye of the law a mere voluntary association; and, on the other hand, as the letters-patent do not profess to confer spiritual power, and have been declared by the court to convey no episcopal jurisdic