It appears that the world has been misinformed as to the nature of the Hudson's Bay Territory—a vast region, uninhabitable, it was thought, by civilized people requiring the comforts and means of life. But a gentleman sent out by the Dominion Government to examine the Nelson River Valley and other parts, denounces the prevailing belief as to the barrenness of the territory and severity of the climate. The country boasts of some of "the grandest scenery in the world," abundance of fertile land, and a climate in which all the common vegetables are raised with ease, so mild that at the end of September the emissary found cucumbers, tobacco, and beans flourishing in the open air. This will be a grand addition to the extent and importance of the Dominion.

The Daily News says :—"The Australasian colonies are piling up their public debt faster than has ever been known. With a population of about two-and-a-half millions they have contrived to owe more than seventy millions—a larger proportion per head than the National debt of the mother country . . . . .In 1872 these colonies owed forty-one millions, now they owe seventy-two."

Two gentlemen belonging to Brazil are about to set up a cotton mill in the town of Montes Claros in a southern inland province—Minas Gems—of Brazil. The machinery is being bought at Lowell; the mill is to be of a capacity of 40 looms and will stand in the middle of "a fine cotton-raising district, the cotton growing wild, and being of very fine staple" (according to the Textile Manufacturer), with unlimited motive power from the San Francisco—one of the largest rivers in Brazil—the Falls of Paulo Alfonso, close to which the establishment is located being also among the largest in the world. This mill is to be "on purely American principles"—which are what?

The Chinese value very highly jade and carvings in that mineral. When a piece of unusual size is discovered the Emperor calls a council of artists to settle how it shall be worked. On such a nugget of jade the artist may perhaps spend twenty years, or even all his life. When such a piece of work is completed it is exposed to public criticism for a year. If it is pronounced satisfactory the artist is duly rewarded, and perhaps made a mandarin; if a contrary verdict is given he gets a bad name and loses his head. Some of our readers may be willing to learn something about this important and well-known material; if so they should read a full and interesting article in the Popular Science Review for October, by F. W. Rudler, F.G.S., of the Jermyn Street Museum.

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It is remarkable how one by one the distinct or peculiar "principles" of the Constitution of the United States are given up. It was almost their chief pride that they welcomed all men of all races and religions to their shores, to their cities, woods, and prairies, to come and live in peace, and happiness, liberty, and equality. But now the people of California have, by an overwhelming majority, decided to stop the immigration of the "heathen Chinee" into that state. In San Francisco a plebiscite was taken on the question of permitting the immigration of Chinese into California. Against permission 154,600; for 883! Fancy the feelings of Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklyn, and others, who died believing in liberty, equality, and the Constitution of the United States.

The caterers for the innumerable wants and fancies of the public have brought out a variety of articles resembling Rolls, Cucumbers, Cakes, Buns, rivalling in deceptiveness that fruit alluded to in Lalla Rookh—the

Dead Sea fruit, that tempts the eye,
But turns to ashes on the lip;

this mimicry ware being in reality a hollow-ware of some papery materal, and forming boxes, with lids at bottom, and each containing a cake of soap, or bottle of scent. Some of these practical and visible jokes sell at One Shilling each, others, larger, and containing both soap and scent, at One Shilling and Sixpence each. They are capital imitations, can be utilized to cause a little fun, and are strong and durable; useful also, we may add, as little boxes for trifles.

According to the Revue Industrielle complaints are rife in France as to want of perfection in the so-called "instruments of precision" now turned out by some of the most eminent Paris firms. The exactitude and finish on which so much depends in mathematical and philosophical instruments, and for which Parisian workmen were at one time so famous, appears to be altogether a thing of the past, the only object aimed at being to get through as great a quantity of work as possible, without the least regard to its quality. In this discreditable state of affairs the Government has arranged to have a number of young persons put through a three years course of training in the manufacture of "instruments of precision," concurrently with their curriculum at the La Villette Institue. The municipal authorities have decided to apprentice ten youths each year to firms well known for the accuracy of their workmanship in these important branches of industry.

The Russian Press is showing its anger at the influence which the English are acquiring in Japan. The St. Petersburg Vedomosti says: "The engineers of England already occupy the island of Yesso, in proximity to our own Saghalien, constructing there a railroad, and developing industries to an alarming extent. In the administrative spheres of Japan the English are also beginning to exert influence, half the foreigners employed as officials by the Mikado being individuals of English birth. Little by little the English are pushing their way into every corner of Japan, and unless some poweful influence be speedily brought to bear against them the policy of the country will pass exclusively into their hands,"