p. 44 | Passing Events

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 1, 1867

Passing Events.

John Bright’s message, intended for the recent banquet to Cyrus Field, but which somehow failed of being sent in season, was in these words:

“It is fitting you should honor the man to whom the whole world is debtor. He brought capital and science together to do his bidding, and Europe and America are forever united. I cannot sit at your table, but I can join in doing honor to Cyrus W. Field. My hearty thanks to him may mingle with yours.”

Mr. Bright, in a note to Mr. Field himself, says:

“The world does not as yet know how much it owes to you, and this generation will never know it. I regard what has been done as the most marvelous thing in human history. I think it more marvelous than the invention of printing, or, I am almost ready to say, than the voyages of the Genoese. But we will not compare these things, which are all great. Let us rather rejoice at what has been done; and I will rejoice that you mainly have done it.”

Gold Medal for Cyrus W. Field.—Mr. Morgan, of New York, on the 12th inst., introduced in the Senate the following resolutions, which were referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs:

“Resolved, That the thanks of Congress be and hereby are presented to Cyrus W. Field, of New York, for his foresight, courage, and determination in establishing telegraphic communication by means of the Atlantic Cable traversing through mid-ocean and connecting the Old World and the New, and that the President of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be presented to Mr. Field.

“Resolved, That when the medal shall have been struck, the President shall cause a copy of this joint resolution to be engrossed on parchment, and shall transmit the same, together with the medal, to Mr. Field, to be presented to him in the name of the people of the United States of America.”

In retaliation for the talk of certain leading Paris papers about the downfall of the Pope, the Unita Catholica of Rome has a few words to say of the fall of the second Napoleonic Empire. It says:

“Napoleon the Third has fallen back; he is lost. He has retreated from Poland from fear of Russia; he has retreated from Germany from fear of the needle-gun; he has retreated from Mexico from fear of the United States; he has retreated from Rome from fear of Orsini and Mazzini.”

Storm in San Francisco.—A storm Thursday night culminated in a gale which has not been equaled since the memorable gale of New Year’s, 1855. A number of casualties occurred among the shipping in the harbor. The steam tug Columbia was sunk, and several small sailing craft were capsized, while quite a number of large vessels were injured by the storm, waves undermining crib work the whole length. Parties interested in the lumber trade are fearful of serious losses at lumber ports north of that city, quite a number of vessels being away at present. Telegrams from Sacramento and Stockton state that quite a severe shock of earthquake was experienced at three o’clock yesterday morning, while in San Francisco the vibration was scarcely felt. A heavy fall of rain, a violent gale, wind, thunder and lightning, with earthquake thrown in, made such a night’s entertainment as is rarely offered the people of San Francisco.

Fenianism.—Fenian preparations are progressing at head-quarters here with secrecy and expedition. Contributions of funds are larger than usual and the supply of arms much greater. It is stated that Stephens has arrived at Dublin. It is a well-known fact in New York that ex-Fenian Senator Stephen J. Meany had not been connected with the brotherhood for a considerable time previous to his departure for London and recent arrest.

The New Orleans Riots.—The committee appointed by Congress to investigate the New Orleans riots commence their work in that city to-day. They expect to complete their labors in about two weeks.

By a dispatch received at the State Department it appears that Mr. Burlingame, our minister to China, narrowly escaped perishing in a typhoon off the coast of Japan on the 15th of September. The storm was the most violent known for years.

Dublin, Dec. 21.—Large seizures of arms and ammunition for the use of the Fenians continue to be made by the police in various parts of Ireland.

Paris, Dec. 21.—As a manifestation of the cordial relations existing between France and the United States, the dinner of Minister Bigelow yesterday was a very successful affair. Mr. Kellogg, in his speech on the occasion, declared he was glad to say that the traditional friendship between the two nations had been restored.