94 The Hamming Bird. 



In the National Library of Paris, there is a special exhibi- 

 tion of Maps, Plans and Geographical documents of the 

 sixteenth century. It contains maps on which can be seen 

 an imaginary continent uniting \merica to India, as supposed 

 by Christopher Columbus, In the maritime Maps, which 

 have been used by french Navigators, are marked the areas 

 of wind by which these intrepid sailors measured their 

 course. Their rudimentary procedures, as rough, as their 

 imperfect ships, are sure to produce in the mind of visitors a 

 deep adm iration for these men, who undertook these voyages 

 of discoveries. 



This Exhibition is installed on the first floor of the Library, 

 in the geographical Section. It will remain opened to the 

 public, until the end of October next. 



On the thirtieth of August last, was launched at Barcelona 

 the ship Nina, constructed at the expense of the United- 

 States Government for the celebration of the Columbian fes- 

 tivals at Chicago. The launching was done with great cere- 

 mony. The Bishop of Barcelona has blessed the ship, and 

 the American squadron has saluted the launching with the 

 national Spanish and American anthems. The ship has 

 replied by arboring the Spanish flag. There was an immense 

 crowd assisting to the launching, which was very successful. 

 It is now on its way to Chicago. 



The inauguration of the Chicago Exposition will be done 

 in a wonderful manner. The venerable Marquess of Veragua, 

 the direct descendant of Christopher Columbus, to whom has 

 been attributed the honour of presiding the Opening of 

 the Exposition, not being able to go to Chicago, in conse- 

 quence of his old age, will give the signal from his own man- 

 sion in Madrid. 



At a fixed hour, in his appartment, he will touch an elec- 

 tric knob, which by the submarine cable will transmit the 

 current to Chicago, and will put in motion all the machines 

 at the Exposition. The effect will be magical. 



Captain Andrews, who, on July 20th last, sot sail alone 

 from Atlantic City, New-Jersey, in a small boat only 15 feet, 

 long, arrived at Lisbon safely late on Wednesday night. He 

 intends to proceed to Huelva in order to attend the Columbus 

 celebrations at that port. 



The United Congress of the United-States has just decided 

 that the Oficial Opening of the Chicago Exhibition will take 

 place, not the twelfth of October, as previously state d, bu 



