The Fourth was celebrated in the usual noisy and patriotic manner throughout the United States, in the colonies, and in many foreign countries.

At Boston the oration to the city government was delivered by ex-Mayor Matthews in Tremont Temple, to a large and appreciative audience. In many parts of the city and suburbs were to be found amusements and entertainments as varied as the inclinations of the masses who desired to participate.

At Philadelphia the bell in the tower of the Old Independence Hall was struck one hundred and twenty-three times, one for each year of the nation's life.

At Manila all nationalities participated. The foreign ships and consulates, including the Spanish, raised their colors in conjunction with the stars and stripes. Several hundred boys and girls—Filipinos, Spaniards, and Chinese—each carrying an American flag, sang "America" in a curious mixture of dialects.

At London, Ambassador and Mrs. Choate held elaborate receptions at the United States embassy. A reception was also held at the United States embassy at Paris.

The following letter accompanied the silver loving-cup presented to the French Ambassador, M. Cambon.

The Department of State, June 29, 1899.

Excellency:— The President directs me to request your acceptance of this cup, which he has caused to be made, in token of the services you so kindly rendered us in the negotiations of the protocol of August 12, 1898, which led to the treaty of peace between the United States and Spain.

I am further requested by the President to convey to you, Mr. Ambassador, the assurance of his sincere regard and esteem.

I remain, with sentiments of the highest consideration, your excellency's most obedient servant,

John Hay.

Professor J. S. Schurman of the United States advisory commission of the Philippines, has returned to Manila from a three weeks' tour of the southern islands. He says the masses are awaiting the settlement of the war in the island of Luzon before declaring themselves. He was received in a friendly manner wherever he went, and in several of the principal towns he was tendered banquets. Mr. Schurman thinks that when Aguinaldo is defeated the allegiance of the southern islands can be secured by diplomacy.

Benjamin Trueblood, Ph.D., secretary of the American Peace Society, has just returned to Boston from The Hague, where he has been since the beginning of the Peace Conference. He was the only American besides the American delegation who was present at the Conference. Dr. Trueblood says the Peace Conference was a great success. The delegates themselves think they have accomplished all that could reasonably have been expected.

The annual convention of the National League of Comercial Travelers of the United States opened at Albany, N. Y., June 30. President Dowe, in his annual address, declared that thirty-five thousand commercial travelers had been thrown out of work through trusts, and twenty thousand more had had their salaries reduced. One in every ten was affected. Resolutions were adopted condemning the organization of trusts.

A new statue of Webster has been unveiled at Washington, D. C. It is heroic in size, measuring twelve feet in height, and stands on a pedestal of granite eighteen feet high. The statue represents Webster at about fifty years of age, when he was at the height of his fame. It represents his familiar pose when addressing an audience. The statue will be formally dedicated some time after the assembling of Congress.

The directors of the Boston and Albany railroad have recommended that the road be leased to the New York Central for 999 years. The consideration for the lease is the payment of eight per cent per annum, payable quarterly, on the capital stock of the road, which is twenty-five million dollars. The New York Central has also made an offer for the Fitchburg road, but the offer was refused.

Secretary Long will present to Admiral Dewey the splendid sword voted him by Congress. The presentation will take place on the east front of the Capitol, where the Presidents are inaugurated, on the day the Admiral arrives at Washington. President McKinley, members of the cabinet, Rear Admiral Sampson, General Miles, and other prominent people will be present.

The governor of Texas has telegraphed to Washington asking the assistance of the War Department on account of the recent floods in the state. It is estimated that twenty-five thousand square miles are under water. A large number of lives have been lost, and those who remain are enduring great suffering. All the assistance possible will be rendered at once.

The Society of California Pioneers of New England, recently passed a resolution endorsing the recommendation of Admiral Dewey that Congress pass a law granting citizenship to the sixty Chinese who fought under our flag in the battle of Manila. Admiral Dewey said, "They were good enough to fight for us, and they are good enough to be American citizens."

The United States Treasurer's report for the month of June shows that the total receipts for the month were $47,126,915, and expenditures $31,382,762.

The Treasury deficit for the fiscal year ending June 30, is $88,875,989. The cash balance at the beginning of the new year is $218,380,468.

Captain Dreyfus arrived at Rennes, France, at 6 A.M., July 1. Owing to the precautions taken, the prisoner and his escort reached the prison without being disturbed. Immediately after his arrival Mme. Dreyfus was granted permission to see her husband, and will be allowed to do so daily.

Judge Walter S. Cox, justice of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, has tendered his resignation to the President. Justice Cox has been on the bench for more than twenty years. He presided at the trial of Guiteau, the assassin of President Garfield.

The Edward W. Kinsley Post 113, G. A. R., presented a handsome sword to Major-General Joseph Wheeler. General Wheeler sent a grateful acknowledgment of the gift, in which he said the magnificent sword would be a "lasting memento of Memorial Day, 1899."

The American delegates at The Hague have succeeded in obtaining from the Peace Conference a unanimous vote in favor of having the question of private property at sea in time of war. dealt with at a special conference to be summoned hereafter.

In the race between the Columbia and the Defender for the New York Yacht Club cup, the former won by the narrow margin of three minutes and thirty-three seconds. The race was sailed over a triangle off the Sandy Hook lightship.

Captain N. M. Dyer of the Baltimore, who had just returned from Manila and from Admiral Dewey's squadron, was given a rousing reception by one thousand people when he reached his home at Melrose, Mass., July 4.

According to the statement of the adjutant-general of the army, about thirty-five hundred troops are on their way to Manila, and four thousand are at San Francisco ready to start as soon as transporation can be provided.

Judge Henry Clay Caldwell, presiding judge of the United States Circuit of Appeals, eighth district, indorses the new Colorado law which allows the agreement of nine jurymen to constitute a verdict in civil cases.

The first order for recruiting troops under the clause authorizing the enlistment of thirty-five thousand men was issued June 30. The order is to enlist men for the three skeleton regiments in the Philippines.

Rev. Anna Howard Shaw, one of the American delegates to the International Congress of Women, preached to a large congregation in the Westminster Congregational Chapel, London, July 2.

Mrs. May Wright Sewall, president of the United States Council of the Women's International Congress, has been elected to succeed the Countess of Aberdeen as president of the Congress.

Information is received from Madrid that Spain has decided to reduce the budget estimate of the strength of her army from one hundred and seven thousand to eighty thousand.

The National Social and Political Association, assembled at Buffalo, N. Y., passed a resolution denouncing the war as "an affront to every sentiment of humanity."

The eighteenth International Christian Endeavor Convention assembled at Detroit, Mich., July 5. Eleven thousand delegates attended the opening session.

Albert, Prince of Monaco, has invited Dreyfus to come to his autumn residence in France as "soon as the holy work of justice has been accomplished."

The information is received from Washington that there are about sixteen thousand claims on file in the pension office growing out of the Spanish war.

According to the report of Secretary Baer, there are now 55,813 Christian Endeavor societies, having a membership of three and a half millions.

The disarmament proposal was definitely settled at the Peace Conference by being remanded to the consideration of the respective governments.

Brigadier-General Joseph Wheeler has been ordered to report to General Otis at Manila for service in the Philippines.

The gold reserve in the United States treasury shows a gain of sixteen million dollars in about six weeks.

The cost of transport service on the Pacific coast since the war began, amounts to $5,930,218.

The organization of a union of fifty thousand workmen in Greater New York has been begun.

Last year's product of the Pennsylvania silk industry was valued at $32,334,620.