tion of all who knew him; was appointed brevet second lieutenant of 1st Dragoons and served on the Plains until the war broke out, when he promptly and heartily offered himself to the service of his country. His rare abilities as an officer attracted the attention of the Government, and he was early made a major in the Inspector-General's corps. His peculiar duties did not give him an opportunity to engage in the leading campaigns until 1862, when he was made a brigadier-general, simply as an acknowledgment of his military merits. In the early part of 1862, he fought under Gen. Pope, in his Virginia campaign, succeeding General Stoneman (who afterward became his commander) on Gen. McClellan's staff, during the battle of Antietam. When the present cavalry organization of the army of the Potomac was perfected, of which Gen. Stoneman was at that time the chief, Gen. Buford was assigned to command the reserve cavalry brigade. He was subsequently conspicuous in almost every cavalry engagement, and at Gettysburg commenced the attack on the enemy at Seminary Ridge before the arrival of Reynolds on the 1st of July, and on the second of July rendered important services both at Wolf's Hill and Round Top. A short time previous to his death he was assigned to the command of the cavalry in the army of the Cumberland, and had left the army of the Potomac for that purpose. He was a splendid cavalry officer and one of the most successful in the service; was modest, yet brave; unostentatious, but prompt and persevering; ever ready to go where duty called him, and never shrinking from action however fraught with peril. His last sickness was but brief, the effect, probably, of protracted toil and exposure. On the day of his death, and but a little while before his departure, his commission of major-general was placed in his hands. He received it with a smile of gratification that the Government he had defended, appreciated his services, and gently laying it aside, soon ceased to breathe.

BURNS, Hon. ROBERT EASTON, was born at Niagara, C. W., on the 26th December, 1805. His father was the Rev. John Burns, a Presbyterian minister, who emigrated from Scotland in 1803, and became principal of the Niagara Grammar School. Educated by his father, young Burns commenced the study of the law at the age of 16, in the office of the late Mr.

John Breckenridge, of the town of Niagara, C. W. He was called to the bar immediately after concluding his studies, and practised for some years in Niagara, St. Catherine's, and Hamilton, with considerable success. In September, 1837, he was appointed Judge of Niagara District, and in the spring of 1838 went to Toronto and entered into partnership with Attorney General Hagerman. When the seat of Government was taken to Kingston the Count of Chancery followed, and Mr. Burns became resident of that city, but removed again to Toronto on the Government becoming established in Montreal. Here Mr. Burns became a partner of Mr. Philip Vankoughnet, the present Chancellor of Upper Canada, and Mr. Oliver Mowat, the present Postmaster-General, but was very soon appointed to the important office of Judge of the Home District, which he held until the year 1848 or 1849, when he resigned to form a partnership with Mr. John Duggan. A very short time afterward, however, he was appointed by the Baldwin-Lafontaine government puisne Judge of the Court of Queen's Bench, an office which he held until his death. A few years ago, he was appointed Chancellor of the University of Upper Canada. His last public duty was performed at the Hamilton Assizes, about two months before his death. He returned home suffering from an attack of dropsy, accompanied by a general break-up of the constitution, and was unable afterward to leave his house. At noon on the 12th January, 1863, his sufferings, which had been severe, were brought to a close, and he peacefully expired, surrounded by the members of his famiÎy. Mr. Burns married first, on the 10th Feb. 1835, Anne Flora Taylor, daughter of Mr. John Thomas Taylor. By this marriage he had four sons, three of whom survive him. His wife having died in September, 1850, in 1856 he married Miss Britannia Warton, of Toronto, who died in 1858. The funeral of the Judge took place from his residence, Yorkville, on Thursday, the 14th of January, at two o'clock, and was largely and respectably attended. Although Mr. Justice Burns never engaged in politics, yet as a leading member of the Chancery Bar, and the occupant of three judicial situations he filled a prominent position in Upper Canada. He possessed a sound judgment, an accurate and retentive memory, and large experience.

CESIUM. Professors S. W. Johnson and O. D. Allen, of the Sheffield Laboratory, of Yale College, still separate this element from the associated rubidium, by their method of fractional crystallization of the bitartrates of the metals. Their analysis having led to doubts of the correctness of Bunsen's equivalent of cæsium, they made with great care four determinations of

the atomic weight of the element in its combination with chlorine, the mean of which giving 133.036, they have assumed as the equivalent of cæsium the round number 133. They conclude that the chloride of cæsium is not only not deliquescent, but hardly even hygroscopic. They find the cæsium spectrum to be, from the number, color, and definition of its lines, per

haps the most beautiful to be observed among all the alkali and earthy metals. Kirchhoff and Bunsen, in the figure originally given by them, had represented 11 lines: to these, which they do not find altogether correct in position, the authors add 7 more; viz., 4 red lines, one of which is as bright as any of that color in this spectrum, a fine yellow line, and two unimportant green ones.

Bunsen, in a later communication (Pogg. Ann., cxix. 1), states that he found Allen's method for preparing pure cæsium inapplicable in case of sources furnishing very minute quantities of this element. He even avails himself of the great deliquescence of the chloride of cæsium (in an atmosphere at once moist and warm) for obtaining the metal entirely free from rubidium. He now admits the correctness of the chemical equivalent, 133, found by Johnson and Allen. These authors, in their latest communication, agree with him in attributing the want of deliquescence of the caesium chloride, in their earlier experiments, to the influence of an atmosphere at the time relatively cool and dry. Their views in reference to the spectrum of caesium Bunsen does not substantially contradict; and it appears that a part of the disagreement between the two sets of results had arisen from differences in the spectroscopes employed in the respective experiments. ("Amer. Jour. of Science," Jan. and Nov. 1863.) CALIFORNIA. One of the Pacific States of the Union first settled in 1769, ceded to the United States by Mexico, by the treaty of March 16th, 1848, and admitted into the Union as a State in 1850. Its capital is Sacramento, population in 1860, 13,788. The area of this State is 188,982 square miles, and its population in 1860 was 379,994, of whom 23,848 were Chinese and Mexican half-breeds, and 14,555 Indians.

The governor of the State, from December 1863 to January 1868, is Frederick F. Low, whose official residence is at Sacramento. His salary is $7,000. The election for State officers, except superintendent of public instruction, was held September 3d, 1863. Gov. Low, Union, received 63,165 votes; the democratic candidate, John G. Downey, receiving 43,229. In October, an election was held for judges of the supreme and district courts, and the Union candidates, Oscar L. Shafter, Lorenzo Sawyer, S. W. Sanderson, John Curry, and A. L. Rhodes, were elected. The Union majority in the State was about 20,000. The Legislature elected at the same time stood as follows: Senate, 35 Unionists to 5 Democrats; Assembly, 72 Unionists to 8 Democrats-Union majority on joint ballot, 94.

Under the provisions of the amended Constitution the sessions of the Legislature are to be biennial, meeting on the 1st of December of the odd years, 1863, 1865, etc. The time of session is limited to 120 days; senators are elected for four years, one half being elected every second year; the Assembly is elected for two years.

The population of California has probably diminished somewhat during the year 1863, from the great excitement among the mining people in relation to the extraordinary productiveness of the gold mines of Idaho and of the Colorado river region in Arizona, and the large yield of the Nevada and Colorado Territory silver and gold mines. In California, placer mining is almost wholly abandoned in the oldest mining districts, though it pays well in the more recently discovered deposits, and in some sections, where the auriferous earth is deep. The shallow placers, where the gold was washed out in a cradle or tom, are now only resorted to by the Chinese miners who are contented with small gains. Sluice and hydraulic mining are now the processes most in use in placer diggings. The for. mer requires a considerable stream of water, in such a position that it will permit a fall of from twenty to one hundred feet. This stream is conducted through an artificial aqueduct composed of sluice boxes (boxes of rough boards twelve feet long and from five to twen ty feet wide, one end being four inches narrower than the other, so that the ends of the boxes may slide into each other); these boxes are set upon trestles at different angles of depression, according to the character of the dirt-tough clayey dirt requiring a steeper pitch than that which is more sandy. An eight-inch pitch or grade, that is, eight inches for each sluice box, or length of twelve feet, is the lowest grade generally used, and sixteen inches the highest. The sluice boxes have riffle-bars or clusters of slates with spaces between, wedged into them either longitudinally or at different distances across, to catch the gold and fine dirt, and to give the quicksilver an opportunity to come in contact with the fine particles and form an amalgam with them. The quicksilver is usually put in near the head of the sluice, which may be fifty or five hundred feet in length, according to the circumstances, and the dirt being thrown in by the miners, and the water let on, the washing of the gold goes on without cessation, usually from three to ten days, when the miners "clean up" by taking out a portion of the riffle-bars at a time, and collecting the coarse gold and the amalgam, pressing the gold from the mercury by straining it through cloth or buckskin, and sometimes increase the product by panning the fine sand, which is usually rich in gold, which has collected in the rifts and corners of the sluice. Where there are considerable quantities of boulders, the sluice boxes wear out very rapidly, and hence, where it is practicable, the miners often make the bottom of the sluice of cobble stones instead of wood. As water is not over-abundant in most parts of California, and it is desirable to use it as economically as possible, the miners sometimes, where they find a hill of auriferous earth situated near their sluice, resort to blasting to bring down and loosen large quantities of the earth so that it can be

more rapidly thrown into the sluice while the water is running.

Hydraulic mining requires the use of the sluice, but subjects the pay dirt, as it is called, to a preliminary process, and this dispenses with the severe digging required in the ordinary sluice mining. The water is collected either in a natural or artificial pond, flume, or canal, by some of the numerous hydraulic companies, and thence conducted by hose of from four to ten inches diameter to a point where it can be directed, under a pressure of from fifty to two hundred feet of vertical elevation against a hill of auriferous earth. The earth is rapidly washed away, and the stream of mud and water directed into the sluice, when it undergoes the further processes of amalgamation, panning, cleaning up, etc. The water is furnished to the miners at a rental of so much per inch of orifice of hose, usually about twenty cents per inch.

Quartz mining is an entirely different process, though one now carried on extensively in California. The beds of auriferous quartz are found in the mountains, at elevations ranging between two thousand and ten thousand feet. Though most of the quartz veins between these elevations contain some gold, but a small portion of them have enough to be washed profitably. Unless the yield is at least ten dollars per ton of quartz the vein will not pay for working. The quartz is first quarried at a cost of two dollars or more per ton, then carried to the stamping mill to be crushed to a fine powder, and then, by a variety of processes, the gold is separated from the quartz and caused to amalgamate with mercury. The capital invested in these enterprises is large, and when veins of quartz rich in gold are quarried the returns are ample. The Mariposa Mining Company's works yield from $75,000 to $100,000 of pure gold monthly; the Allison Company, in Nevada county, from $60,000 to $80,000 per month; and the Sierra Butte Company, in Sierra county, from $25,000 to $50,000 per month.

In agricultural products California is rapidly becoming a leading State. The climate and soil are admirably adapted to the growth of the vine, and she is in a fair way to become the vineyard of the Union. The production of wine in 1863 was very large, and she exported of her wines to the appraised value of $79,026, an amount which will probably be doubled the Coming year. One and a quarter millions of Ls, of grapes were also sent to market. Coniderable attention is paid to the culture of tobacco, of which a superior quality can be Produced in the State; and in Santa Clara County, as well as in some other portions of the State, a large amount of capital is invested a silk growing. The silk of California is regarded as superior in quality to that of any other country. The worms are fed mostly on the leaves of the morus maretti and other

morus multicaulis is used to some extent in the first two stages of its growth. The silkworms are perfectly healthy, and the eggs are in demand to a far greater amount than can be supplied by the silk growers in Europe. The dryness of the climate, and the entire absence or infrequency of thunder-storms, as well as the strength and richness of the mulberry leaves produced in the fertile soil of California, render it certain that this State must become one of the best silk-growing regions in the United States.

The great staple product of California at present is gold. Of this, $39,938,699 were received from the interior at San Francisco in the year 1863, besides $2,836,973 from Oregon, and $1,347,523 from Victoria, and $2,156,677 from foreign parts.

The wool product of the State for the last eight years has been:

Year. Pounds. 1856...... 600,000..

1857......1,100,000.

1858......1,428,000. 18.9......2,878,000..

Per cent. I increase. Year. 1560. 83 1861 .80|1562.

..40

..66 1563......7,600,000.........19

Of Wheat, 1,983,655 sacks were received at San Francisco, and 1,146,478 sacks exported. Of flour, 124,863 bbls. were received, and 153,454 bbls. exported. Of barley, 607,216 sacks were received, and 50,026 exported. Of oats, 260,366 sacks were received, and 87,075 exported. Of hides, 308,189 were exported in 1863, a falling off of 7,562 from the exports of the previous year. Fruits are sold almost entirely by the pound, box of 25 lbs., or basket of 30 lbs. The receipts of the principal fruits were strawberries, 300,000 lbs.; raspberries, 200,000 lbs.; blackberries, 200,000 lbs.; gooseberries, 15,000 lbs.; cherries, 75,000 lbs.; currants, 8,000 to 10,000 lbs.; apricots, 600,000 lbs.; figs, 10,000 to 15,000 lbs. (grown in California); nectarines, 15,000 lbs. ; quinces, 30,000 to 40,000 lbs.; plums, 450,000 lbs.; peaches, 2,400,000 to 3,000,000 lbs.; grapes, 1,250,000 lbs. ; apples, 75,000 boxes of 25 lbs.; pears, 30,000 boxes, a large proportion of them winter varieties. Besides these there were very large quantities of dried fruit, principally peaches and plums, sent to market.

The high price of turpentine and rosin has led to the collection of these articles from the pines of California. The business is yet in its infancy; but 7,250 gallons of turpentine and 1,150 barrels of rosin were sent to market in 1863, and the quality is so good that there can be no doubt that the production will be rapidly developed.

The income of the Federal Government on

the California coast in the past year has been as follows:

From duties on imports.....
From Postal Department, estimated..

From internal taxation, estimated.

From Branch Mint.

Total income...
Deficit of income.

Total expenditures in 1862.
Total income in 1862

.$1.688.899

2,000,000 200,000 240,000

-$7.128,839

2.757.132

6,726,598

4,150,645

OF.

CENTRAL AMERICA, REPUBLICS There are at present in Central America five independent republics, namely: 1. Guatemala, with an area of 1,918 geographical square miles, and about 850,000 inhabitants. Gen. Carrera is president for life. He was elected October 19th, 1851. The receipts of the Government in 1859 amounted to $1,283.594, the expenditures to $1,272,280. The regular army consisted of 3,200 men; the militia of 12,000. The value of the importations was (in 1860), $1,434,671; that of exportations, $1,916,325. 2. San Salvador. According to a decree of 1809, the president of this republic is to be chosen every six years, and the legislative chambers consist of 24 deputies and 12 senators, who meet biennially. The area of the republic is 345 geographical square miles; the number of inhabitants 600,000. The receipts were in 1861, $559,623; the expenditures, $604,847. There were in circulation in 1862, treasury bonds to the amount of $175,245. Besides the republic had a consolidated foreign debt, amounting to $360,000. The army consisted of 1,000 regular troops and 5,000 militia. The importations amounted, in 1861, to $1,319,727; the exportations to $2.310,778. 3. Honduras. The duration of the office of the president is four years. The representative chamber consists of 11 members, the senate of 7, the council of state of the ministers and 7 other members. The area is about 2,215 geographical square miles, and the population 350,000. The annual receipts of the Government amount to about $250,000. The importations are about $750,000; the exportations, $825,005. 4. Nicaragua. According to the constitution of August 19th, 1858, the president is elected for four years. It has a representative chamber and a senate. The area is 2,736 geographical square miles, and 400,000 inhabitants. The receipts of the Government, in 1861, amounted to $385,044; the expenditares to $378,955; the public debt to $4,000,000. 5. Costa Rica. The president and vicepresident of the republic are elected for a term of three years. The senate has 25, and the chamber of representatives 29 members. The area is 1,011 geographical square miles, and the population 126,750. The annual revenue of the Government is about 1,000,000 piasters. The militia numbers about 5,000 men, 200 of whom are periodically called into active service. Propositions for reuniting the republics of Central America have frequently been made. The latest of these is the one made by Senor Iglesias, the minister of foreign affairs of Costa Pica. Under date of November 25th, 1862, he issued a project for a Central American union. By this document it was proposed that Guatemala, Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica should mutually guarantee their territorial integrity, their independence and institutions. To effect this purpose two representatives were to be elected by each State, and remain in permanent session, under the name of the Central American Diet.

These representatives were to be elected according to the law which exists in each State relative to the election of members to the legislature. It was proposed to elect them for two years, with power to continue them in office indefinitely. Their duties were thus defined: In all questions arising between the Central American Governments, threatening to disturb the peace, their decision is to be definite and without appeal; in case of foreign invasion they are to adopt the measures for the general protection, decide on the contingent to be furnished by each State, and appoint the commander-inchief. By them all treaties made with foreign Powers were to be either rejected, accepted, or modified, and all questions of colonization, transit, navigation, or grants of territory, must be submitted to them and approved.

In addition to the foregoing, constituting the principal duties of this body, a power was given to decide in international questions between the States, and to propose the best plan for a uniform system of duties, weights, measures, &c..

After a number of minor clauses, the last article of Sr. Iglesias's project appoints the first meeting to be held in the city of Guatemala, to consider on a permanent location, but the clause expressly declares that none of the capitals of the five States shall be selected.

Many of the statesmen of Central America sympathized with the plan of Sr. Iglesias, but it was not adopted.

On January 23d, 1863, the president of Guatemala, Gen. Carrera, declared war against the republic of San Salvador. Four months before, the president of San Salvador, Gen. Barrios, had proposed to Gen. Carrera to place himself at the head of a Central American league, and march to the aid of Mexico against France. The answer of Gen. Carrera was a declaration of war against Salvador. He left his capital, Guatemala, on February 4th, with an army of 2,700, who were to be joined on the frontier by 2,300 men. On February 18th, he entered the territory of Salvador, and occupied the town of Santana. On February 24th, he attempted to storm with his entire army the position of the Salvadorians at Ocotepec, but was totally routed, and forced to retreat into the territory of Guatemala. Soon after he again invaded the territory of Salvador, but had scarcely crossed the frontier before a revolution broke out against his rule in Guatemala. He at once returned, after having burned the town of Matapan, and succeeded in crushing the insurrection. sumed the invasion of San Salvador, in which he was assisted by the troops of Nicaragua. Gen. Barrios, who was supported by Honduras, encouraged an invasion of Nicaragua by Gen. Jerez, an exile leader of the liberal party of Nicaragua. This insurrection was, however, soon suppressed, Gen. Jerez having been totally defeated at Leon. During this insurrection the steamers of the Central American Transit Company were seized, on April 7th, by an Amer

He then re