304 Memoranda of Current Events. [June, 



MEMORANDA OF CUEEENT EVENTS. 



On the 2d day of May, Dr. James G. Perciyal died, at the age of 61 

 years. At the time of his decease he was State Geologist of Wisconsin. 

 Mr. Percival was a poet of some distinction, and was eminent in the 

 department of Natural Science. He was regularly graduated in the 

 Medical Profession, and at one time held the Professorship of Chemistry 

 in the Military Academy at West Point. He was a man of great ami- 

 ability of character, and of the most exemplary life. —Hon. Ogden 



Hoffman, a distinguished member of the Xew York Bar, died in that 

 city. He was a midshipman of the IT. S. navy, under Commodore Deca- 

 tur, and distinguished himself by his bravery on board the Guerriere, 

 under command of that officer, in his battle against the fleet of the 



Barbary Powers. The President has recognized the Padre Vijil as 



the Minister from Nicaragua, commissioned by Gen. Walker's revolu- 

 tionary government of that country ; and this has led to a sharp and 

 angry protest from Marcoletta, the minister previously recognized and 



received at Washington. The President has likewise dismissed Sir 



John Crampton, the English Minister, from his official position with our 

 government at Washington, and at the same time revoked the exequatur 

 of the British Consuls at New York, Boston and Cincinnati. This 

 course has been resorted to on account of these officials having commit- 

 ted a breach of the Act of Congress for preventing belligerent nations 

 from recruiting their armies within our territory. The measure has pro- 

 duced no inconsiderable excitement, and speculation is bui=y in relation 

 to the result. At the Blue Eock Coal banks, not far from the Musk- 

 ingum river, in Muskingum county, four men, miners, were buried alive 

 by the caving in of the earth over the entrance. Most energetic and 

 persevering efforts were made by their fellow-miners and the citizens to 

 extricate them. These efforts were continued, almost against hope, 

 during twelve days ; at the end of this time, and when just despairing 

 of finding them alive, the workmen without were cheered by hearing a 

 faint "halloo" from within. This of course roused those without to 

 renewed and vigorous exertions for their relief. They were finally 

 rescued after a confinement of fourteen days and twelve hours. They 

 subsisted on the " dinner " that one had taken in his basket. In six 

 hours after their rescue, iv\\ fifty feet more of the mine fell in. 



