AMERICA. 



president of the so-called " camera dei spogli. 

 When Pius IX. ascended the throne, the lega- 

 tion at 'Bologna was intrusted to him. The 

 revolutionary movements of 1848 having forced 

 him to leave Bologna, he joined Pius IX. at 

 Gaeta, and was in 1852 appointed to the two 

 most lucrative positions at the Papal court, 

 those of Vice-Chancellor of the Holy Roman 

 Church and archivist of the apostolic letters. 

 He retained both offices until his death, adding 

 to them many others in the course of time. 

 During the latter part of his life he twice had 

 an apoplectic stroke, in consequence of which 

 he was unable to leave his arm-chair ; but^the 

 clearness of his mind remained unimpaired 

 until his death. L. Teste, in his work, " Pre- 

 face au Conclave" (Paris, 1877), says of his 

 character, "He has always been looked upon 

 as an able, amiable, and obliging man, of very 

 independent character." 



AMERICA. In the part of North America 

 called the Dominion of Canada the year seems 

 to have passed in a more quiet manner than 

 usual. Some local excitements in July, which 

 threatened for a moment something serious, 

 happily passed away. The elections resulted 

 in a Conservative victory, and the return of 

 Sir John MacDonald to power. The principal 

 issue advocated by the Conservatives was the 

 protection of home industry. The administra- 

 tion of Lord Duiferin completed its sixth year, 

 and he retired from the office of Governor- 

 General, and was succeeded by Sir John Doug- 

 las Sutherland Campbell, usually called the 

 Marquis of Lome. He is the husband of Louise, 

 one of the daughters of Queen Victoria. Their 

 arrival in December was an event of unusual 

 interest throughout the Dominion. 



In the United States, the depression in com- 

 mercial affairs continued throughout the year. 

 It was mitigated somewhat by an increased 

 feeling of confidence toward the close, and by 

 an improvement in many branches of industry. 

 Prices of necessaries were greatly reduced, and 

 the expenses of living diminished. 



The returns of the State elections were less 

 favorable to the Democratic party than in the 

 previous year ; but the latter still retained its 

 strength in the Federal Legislature. Com- 

 plaints were made by both the Republican and 

 Democratic parties of local interference with 

 electors, and measures were adopted by Con- 

 gress for an investigation. The affairs in the 

 Southern States have resumed a peaceful and 

 industrious aspect. 



Some Indian disturbances occurred among 

 the remnants of the Western tribes, but of less 

 importance than in previous years. 



A very serious and afflictive visitation of the 

 yellow fever occurred in the Southern States. 

 t appeared in New Orleans about May 23d, 

 and spread over a large section of country. 

 The States of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Ten- 

 nessee were the greatest sufferers. Nearly a 

 hundred thousand cases occurred, and about 

 twenty thousand deaths. The loss to industry 



and property has been estimated at two hun- 

 dred million dollars. Prompt contributions 

 for the benefit of the suffering, and for defray- 

 ing the expenses incident to the calamity, 

 poured forth from every part of the country. 



The harvests of the year have been unusu- 

 ally abundant, and the exports far exceed the 

 imports. 



The year just past was marked by no in- 

 ternational strife among the South and Central 

 American states or Mexico ; nor has internal 

 dissension been frequent or of an alarming 

 character in any of them. There was a mo- 

 mentary suspension of diplomatic relations 

 between Chili and the Argentine Republic, the 

 Santiago Government having repudiated the 

 treaty of limits signed by the Chilian plenipo- 

 tentiary, whose conduct was unanimously cen- 

 sured by the Legislature. Toward the end of 

 the year, however, friendly negotiations \vere 

 resumed. 



Chili, so uniformly prosperous for a number 

 of years, was plunged into financial troubles 

 of no ordinary character, the full extent of 

 whicli was realized in the second half of the 

 year. Several unavoidable and a few avoida- 

 ble causes contributed to bring about that state 

 of things : failure of the wheat crop, fall in the 

 price of copper, and decrease in the quantity 

 of silver produced by the mines, construction 

 of unproductive railways, maintenance of a 

 useless navy, and extravagant expenditures in 

 the various departments of the Government. 



In Colombia, public affairs had been gradu- 

 ally returning to their former satisfactory con- 

 dition, overturned for a while by the late dis- 

 astrous revolution. 



CAPE HORN. 



The political and commercial situations of 

 Peru have experienced no change warranting 

 bright hopes for the immediate future ; nor 

 has violent party spirit been as yet completely 

 divested of its lawlessness, as attested by the 

 assassination of ex-President Sefior Don Ma- 

 nuel Pardo in November, he being then Presi- 

 dent of the Senate. 



The recognition of the Diaz administration 

 in Mexico by the United States took place in 

 March. 



