THE SEASON, CROPS, PRICES, ETC 
and second officer* of the Vlllo du Havre, at¬ 
tempted to return, but in spite of the expostu¬ 
lations <>f all the erow who wore left onboard 
the Loch Earn, and the threat* of her mates 
to fire upon them, remained alongside the 
ship. The clothing of the French officers w ho 
reached the deck of the*Loch Earn wan dry, 
showing no signs of their having been In the 
water. Finally some English men seized and 
manned one of the French boats and went to 
the rescue of those struggling in the sea. Only 
one of the French boat's crew assisted In the 
rescue. The Captain of the Loch Earn consid¬ 
ers that the great loss of life resulted from the 
fact that his vessel drifted such a long distance 
from the steamer after the collision before tt 
was possible to shorten sail, front the tardiness 
of the steamer in showing signals of distress 
and from the misconduct of her crew. 
PUBLISHER’S SPECIAL NOTICES, 
•Jonruville, Saratoga Co., N. Y., Dec. 5. 
The spring opened with fair prospects for fail¬ 
ures. Those who had not fall-plowed their oat 
ground were rather late In sowing. Grass 
started well ami for a little time a good hay 
crop was anticipated. But the rains came not. 
The month of May and a large part or June 
were the dryest known in these parts within 
the memory of the oldest dwellers hereabouts. 
The grass withered, and many pieces were cut 
which In a fair season would not have been 
considered worth mowing. Hay prop less than 
one>-hali average crop; oats very poor; corn 
fair crop; potatoes large crop, and many in the 
hands of fanners at this writing. Hay, $20®30 
per ton; oats, 555560c.; corn, 75c,; potatoes, 
$(.50 per bbl.; butter, 324437c. per lb.; cheese, 
LP/jO. per 11>. Ottr llrst snow came on the night 
of Nov. 11, and we have had sleighing from that 
time to this, with about three feet of snow in 
ail. Snow nearly all gone now, with the thaw 
<>r yesterday and day before. No frost in the 
ground.—T. n. w. 
Jersey Lily, Wood Co., Ohio, Nov. 25.— 
Times are rather dull; farmers can hardly sell 
cattle at any price; the cattle market has not 
been so dull for many years. With a view of 
lessening their stock before winter, a great 
many cattle have been killed for beef. In Wood 
Co., the number will probably be near 5,000. 
Hogs are very dull and the same is true of near¬ 
ly every farm product. Feed for stock is rather 
scarce, with the exception of corn, and if the 
winter should prove a severe one, stock will 
suffer for want of food. All kinds of stock are 
in excellent condition. Winter lias set in early. 
We had snow on the 10th of October and have 
had cold weather most of the time since. Win¬ 
ter wheat looks splendid. We have just fln- 
lshed working up the largest crop of apples 
that we ever had; large quantities have been 
shipped East and South and large quantities 
have been made up In older. Wheat is worth 
$1.40; corn. t()c.; oatB, 25@aCkv, dressed pork, 4c.; 
beef, Wide-; tallow, 5c.; lard, 5'-.; butter, 2Pc.; 
eggs, 3(10.; chickens, live weight, 6c.; potatoes, 
75c.@$l per bushel; apples, 40c. per bushel: 
cabbage, 5@8c. per head; cider, $:.* per bbl. n. w. 
Bloomington, III., Dec. 1. -Wetthor very 
favorable the past few weeks; ground in work¬ 
able condition and {armors have had ample 
time to prepare for winter. Products arc in 
r»lr demand and good prices paid. Potatoes 
are retailing at $1.50; beans, $3; farmers having 
a crop of either are not forced to sell corn at 
nresent sacrifice. The recent decisions in itn- 
3 Jfow to Do It.— It is not necessary to have all 
our "documents ” In order to form » club. On the 
contrary, any subscriber, or other reader of the 
paper who knows its merits, can go to V’nrk at oner. 
By showing a number of tbe BCBAt, and talking to 
friends and neighbors, almost any one can form a 
club of from ton to fifty, without other assistance. 
Wo will send all requisite aids, hut if not received 
you need not wait their arrival and a little Timely 
Effort will secure you it VtUuabU*Pmniwu, 
December Is tin* Best Mouth In which to form 
cluos, amt lienee .V»w t* the Very Time for our Agents, 
and all others disposed to secure “Good Pay for Do¬ 
ing Good”—to help the Rural and benefit them¬ 
selves--to open and push the Campaign for 1874. 
Many Iiiivq already commenced, and we trust every 
Club Agent who has not “opened the ball “wilt do 
so at once. Our Premiums are bo libera) that every 
one forming a club Will be WELL IttWABliBD. 
officers of this Grange : Master — 8. F. Brown, 
Schoolcraft; Overseer— Joseph Gillman, Paw 
Paw; Lecturer—H. H. Brunt on. Stock bridge; 
Steward—B. M. Sweet, Stookhridge: Assistant 
Steward Kval Bnrnuin, ljnadilla; Chaplain—C. 
L. King, Kalamazoo; Secretary—8. T. Cobb, 
Schoolcraft; Tr<:a*urer—T>. B. Hull Galesburg; 
Gate NVtpcr—C. U. Mitchell, Kalamazoo: Ores 
-Mrs. C. L. King, Kalamazoo; Potnoiuv— Mrs. 
Samuel Langdou; Flora Mrs. IX Duncan, 
Schoolcraft; Lafiv Assistant Steward— Mra. It. 
Barnuin. Unadilta; Executive Committee, o. 
Duncan, Schoolcraft: C. M. Wood, Pinckney. 
A New Jersey State Grange of Patrons of 
Husbandry was recently organized with the 
following officers*;—.Wither— Ei»\va ui> Howland 
of Hiunmonton; Overseer —Jacob F. Harris, 
Koadostown; Lecturer John G. Drew, Eliza¬ 
beth : Secretary- it. W. Pratt, Newflold; Treas¬ 
urer- C. A. Rulan. Swoedaborniigb; Stevwrrl- 
DarwlnConrow. Morristown; Aw'xbrnt Steward 
—Joel I (urnnr, Merehantsvillo; Chapla'v C. P. 
Steward, Cohansey: Get tc-K re per— A . M. Elation, 
Mount Laurel; Cerfft Mrs. Howland, Hatnmon 
ton; Flora —M r*. Conrow, Moores town; Pomona 
—Mrs Bulan, Sweodsbomugli; Lady Assistant 
Steward Mra. Drew, Elizabeth, and an Execu¬ 
tive Committee. 
Wisconsin State Poultry Society. —Sadi a 
society was recently organized at Janesville, 
Win., with the following officers: Prtn. S. II. 
Sv.am.vnh, Wauwatosa; Sec.—Richard Valen¬ 
tine, Janesville ; Treat, —John L-Mitchell, Mil¬ 
waukee; Vice-Prat'tK,— D. W. Fernandez, Osh¬ 
kosh : H. F. Hobart, Beloit; John C. Spencer, 
Janesville ; G. A. Cunningham, Neenah; A. L 
Smith. Appleton; Geo. E. Morrow, Madison; 
H. S. Rountree. Plattvlllo; H. 8. Bingham, 
Sparta; D. II. Ptilclfor, Shawano; |W. 1). .Man¬ 
chester, Union Grove. 
The American Pomologlral Society in Chi¬ 
cago in Mr. W. C. Flagg, the new 
Secretary, an Illinoisan, s;«y» in the Prairie 
Farmer:—We must, have the next one [meeting 
of Am. Pom. Hoc.] at Chicago In 1875. We know 
enough of the liberality of our Chicago nil izens 
to say that we know the amount can he made 
up In the city to defray all expense*. But w e 
think our State Horticultural Society, whirl) 
has no superior in the effect Ive work in Us fluid, 
should claim as Its right the entertaining or the 
national society in 1675, 
The Androscoggin, Me., Ax. fine., has offered 
a premium of $150, for the best farm improve¬ 
ments for three years, commencing in 1871. 
The premium will he awarded next your. There 
are about fourteen farmer.* iu the county who 
are competing for this premium. 
Western S. Y., Hort. Hoc—The nineteenth 
annual meeting of the Western New York Hor¬ 
ticultural Society will be held on the 7th and 
8Ui days of January next. In the Common 
Council Chambers in the City of Rochester. 
—P. Barry. 
Tile Pennsylvania Fruit Growers’ Society 
holds Its next, annual meeting at Meohunics- 
burg, Cumberland Co., Juno 21-23, 1874. 
The Western N. Y. Poultry Hoc., is to hold 
an exhibition at Buffalo, Jan. 14-21, 1874. 
The Back Salary Question. 
A Washington telegram saysTbe Special 
Committee upon Salaries have agreed upon a 
hill embodying the principles of “repeal and 
restoration’’—repeal of the law of March 3, 
increasing salaries, as far as the Constitution 
will allow It to he repealed, and restoration, 
not. of the back-pay steal, for that is beyond 
the reach of legislation, but of the old rates of 
pay before the Increase, for all officials except 
the President and the Supreme Court Judges. 
The former rate of $5,000 a year as the salary 
for members of Congress, and the old mileage 
aliowiuice, will be re-established. The bill will 
not bo made retroactive, but the old rates will 
begin with its passage. 
The proposal to make the repeal go back to 
March 4, and oblige members to refund the 
amount drawn by them since that date in 
excess of the rate of $5,000 a year, was dismissed 
by the Committee, but was finally abandoned. 
The argument against it was that the present 
Congress is not responsible for the fault* of Its 
predecessors; its members took the salary 
provided for them by a law which they did not 
make, drawing it monthly, and applying St to 
their own uses, as they had a rigid to do; and 
that to compel them now to refund a portion 
of it would put many of them to great personal 
inconvenience, and be an act of injustice not 
demanded by public (sentiment. 
Club Agents who cannot act for the Ul'KAL dur¬ 
ing the ensuing year, will confer a special favor by 
inducing some active, wulp-awnke and influential 
friend to do so—notifying us of the fact. Extra doc¬ 
uments Premium Lists, Show Bills, Ac.,—will be 
sent to all such new Agents, and Indeed to all dis¬ 
posed to do a Little Good Work for » Large Reward. 
Tlie Documents Bendy,— Our Show Bill, Pre¬ 
mium (.1st, Ate., are cow ready, nnd, together with 
specimens of tho piper, will bo sent promptly—on 
day of receipt of request—to ail disposed to form 
clubs or otherwise aid in extending the circulation 
of the best combined Rural, Litkua ay and Fam¬ 
ily Weekly. Send .tor llw document*! 
Belter tlmn liver! —Our Agent-Friends can 
safely promise that Moore’s Rural for 1874 will be 
better tlmn ever before. See leading article on this 
page, and “don’t fsrget to remember” that we 
mean business. 
CURRENT TOPICS 
The Vlrglnlua Affair. 
A Washington dispatch, dated Dec. 7, says : 
The protocol signed by Admiral Polo with 
Secretary Fish on tho 20th of November was 
with the full approbation of his Government, 
after mature consideration of all its conse¬ 
quences, and since that time it has expressed 
no inclination whatever for a change of its 
tennis. The excitement in the Island of Cuba 
and alleged threats concerning the Virginius 
gave a reasonable foundation for lcar on t ho 
part-Of many persons that the vessel and sur¬ 
viving passengers and crew would not be 
promptly delivered to the United States au¬ 
thority* according to tho term* of the agree¬ 
ment. But such, apprehensions have not. been 
shared by the executive branch of our Govern¬ 
ment, for it can bo positively stated that there 
is nothing to diminish its confidence In the 
sincerity of tho purpose of the Spanish Gov¬ 
ernment or its ability to execute its engage¬ 
ments. The delay of the transactions lias been 
unavoidable, and only recently the arrange¬ 
ment for the consummation of tho terms has 
bet-ii finished. Whatever may have boon sug¬ 
gested heretofore as to tho programme, it can 
now be asserted that the Virglnlus will lie de¬ 
livered to one of our naval vessels within the 
next ton days at a Cuban port in open day, und 
the surviving passengers and crew be trans¬ 
ferred to a United States ship at Santiago de 
Cuba in an equally open manner. The vessels 
to perform these services will soon be. If they 
have not already been, designated by the .Sec¬ 
retary of tho Navy. This is the condition of 
affairs to-night,, which has served to inspire a 
hope of continued pouoe with Spain In order 
that the United States may continue to give 
their moral support to the Castelar Govern¬ 
ment In Its efforts to establish a Republic, 
There is tb<* highest authority for stating that 
the Castelar Government has not asked for a 
modification of the protocol, so t hat the Virgin¬ 
ias may be placed In the custody of a third 
party to await adjudication. Tills suggestion 
came from the Cuban authorities to Admiral 
Folo, and was unofficially communicated to 
Secretary Fish ; but It docs not meet the views 
of the Administration, 
Malignant Diphtheria. 
The Minneapolis Tribune, of Doc. 2d, says 
that a dreadful scourge has broken out among 
some families in a small German settlement 
at Medicine Luke, about, ton miles from that 
city, and there is much suffering there in con¬ 
sequence. The disease is said to lie malignant 
diphtheria, and commences with a swollen and 
sore tonsil, until the throat becomes so swollen 
that It!» impossible to breathe, ami the patient, 
dies. There have been already sixteen persons 
Attacked with this dreadful disease In this 
little settlement! and it, seems to be constantly 
on the increase. In one house the whole fam¬ 
ily, consisting «»f five persons, are down on 
their backs with tho diphtheria, and there is no 
one to care for t hem excepting an old woman, 
who is also (ending other sick ones. Five out 
of the sixteen attacked have died already, and 
the deaths of others are hourly expected. The 
best of medical aid has been furnished the suf¬ 
ferers, and all that they need now is care. It 
is impossible to discover what gave rise to the 
disonse. _ 
PRODUCE AND PROVISIONS 
Minister Sickles’Resignation. 
It is known that the Minister to Spain has 
resigned. It has been generally understood 
here for more than a week. Gen. Sickles’ stay 
in Madrid would be very brief. One Senator, 
who is on good terms with t he Administrat ion, 
remarked that tho Government would receive 
Sickles’resignation with pleasure and accept 
it ai once. Whether the resignation Is volun¬ 
tary, growing out of disgust at having been 
practically Ignored in the management of the 
kite negotiations a humiliation which no 
proud-spirited man would long endure — or 
whether his resignation was asked for by Mr. 
Fish is not learned. Gen. Sickles’ resignation 
will not in the least affect the relations of our 
Government with that of Spain. No late com¬ 
munications with the Spanish Government 
have passed through his hands, and none would 
should he remain in Madrid. 
Exits, bbla. 10,755 Hops, bales. (09 
Flour, bbls. 79,100 Peanuts, bags. 730 
Wheat, bush. i>SS,Xi0 Cut moats, pkgs... 15,100 
Corn, oust.. 119,500 Pork, bbl.. 6,300 
Oats, bush. lirorci Beet, plur*.. 2,400 
Rye. bush. 1.SH8 Lard, pkia. 1.18s 
Bariev, bush.. 5,025 Butter, pkqs. 24,500 
Malt, butdl. 8,500 Cheese, ckgs. 59,922 
Beans. bush. 14^8851 Wool, hales. 1,317 
Corn meal, bbls.... 3,520,Grass seed, bush... COO 
Corn meal, bags... 2ttlDre«8ed Hogs. Nc».. — 
Beans and Penn.— Exports Of beans, past week, 
070 bbls.; of peas, 2,175 bush. The arrivals or beans 
are very llber;il auo prices have dropped a trifle. As 
the (leiiumd is not speculative, but. confined to regu¬ 
lar business, dealers are williofc to meet buyers with 
iihaded figures for but h mediums ami marrows. Pea 
beans are scarce. White kidneys ure wanted. Cana¬ 
dian peas have advanced. Green pens are easier, 
with only moderate demand. Southern B. K. pens 
quiet, and quoted lower for round parcels. There 
are rumored sales of 000 to 800 bbls. to the. Govern- 
W The quotations areFor new mediums, *2 l0«e2.l5 
for prime, and $1.80® 1.95 for othergrades; prl me iuai- 
rowlats. f3.fl0<a2.75: other grades, $2.l0^i2.«U; prlmepea 
bean*, $2.(0 ®l50; do. fair lots down to :: i , -' 
klduey,red,$3.50643.75; kidney whlte,$2.50(«,3.85. Peas, 
new Canadian, in bbls., $1.20; do., ku bulk, $1.00. 
Green, new. $1.51X51.(XI; old, $1.4fi®1.5(i. Southern B. 
E. peas. $3 r bush. 
Broom Uoru.—Difficult to sell in other than small 
lots. Quoted at 8@l0e. for hurl; 7©9c. for green, and 
5@"c. for red, 
Beeswax,—The light arrivals ure placed at steady 
prices. Western and Southern quoted at 28©31c. 
Exporters and the home trade are buying for Christ¬ 
mas use. 
Butter, Much to the surprise of many of our 
prominent dealers who have prophesied a dull and 
weak market for winter, December opens with tho 
situation disclosing a really good position forbutter. 
The oppressive times und the unusually dull Novem¬ 
ber Indorsed the despondent t/jno that hai accom¬ 
panied the remarks of sellers latterly. 9 lio main 
renters of improvement that basso recently been 
developed u the very even quality that prevails in 
the slock of buvtor that lius not met a market up to 
this time. Lines of sound summer butter that would 
have boon thought well sold at the inside line of 
medium prices are firm to-day, and fori lint mutter 
have been nearly all of the past week. This butter, 
Cincinnati on Free Banking. 
The Finance Committee of tlib Cincinnati 
Board of Trade has reported resolutions that 
all restrictions limittng national banking as a 
special privilege should he removed, ana the 
right to issue notes should bo given to ail com¬ 
panies lurnieliing capital on the proscut basis 
of security to notes; Mint in this way the pub¬ 
lic debt could be funded ut homo In bonds at a 
rate of not over 4 per cent. Interest, and these 
bonds might be convertible into greenbacks to 
secure the elasticity of the currency when 
necessary. Also a resolution asking Congress 
t,/ forbid tlio payment of interest ou current 
deposits by national banks. 
Tho VIBe Du Havre Steamship Disaster. 
The crew of the Loch Earn, which ran into 
and sank the Vllle du Havre, have arrived at 
Plymouth. They were brought into port by 
tlio British Queen, which took them off the 
Loch Earn on tho 29th ult. at which time she 
was in a sinking condition. The account of 
the Ville du Havre disaster given by the rescued 
crew represents that the captain and second 
mute of thas'icamer came on hoard the Loch 
Earn shortly after the collision, and did not 
assist in saving any of the passengers, and that 
the majority of the French crew exhibited la. 
mentnhle cowardice. 
After first sighting the steamer, and seeing 
that she was coming dangerously near, the 
captain oT the Loch Earn rang the ship's bell 
and ported Ilia helm. Tho helm of the steamer 
was put to the starboard, hut the steamer came 
right across the Loch Earn Vs bows. The people 
in the first boat from the French steamer did 
not say she was sinking, hut tho captain of the 
Loch Earn, observing that the steamer was 
settling down, sent out his boats. Neither the 
first French boat, nor the second one. which 
arrived shortly afterwards, brif’fe'ins the first 
WHAT SOCIETIES ARE DOING. 
Worcester Co. M»m. Hurt. Soc.— The officers 
elect for 1874 are: Pres.— Dr. Gkohok E. Fran¬ 
cis; V'uw-PresL's.— Stephen Salisbury, O. B. 
Had wen, W. T. Merrlneld ; See. -Edward IV. 
Lincoln. At an adjourned meeting held on the 
lfith iUBt., Win. T. Harlow was elected Treas¬ 
urer and Librarian. The time lor the annual 
exhibition was set to commence on the 29th of 
September and continue for four consecutive 
days. Tin* plan of offering premiums for the 
Units, flowers and plants of the different sea¬ 
sons, at their weekly meetings from March to 
October, proved so successful the past year, 
that the society voted a continuation or the 
same for the coming year; and the sum of 
$1,500 was appropriated for premiums and gra¬ 
tuities at all exhibitions of the society during 
the year, 
Congressional Support of the Action of 
tne Secretary of the Navy. 
At least 100 members of Congress called on 
the Secretary of the Navy on Sat nr day, the 
reception continuing from 10:30 io 4 o’clock. 
Then* conversation was chiefly on the subject 
of supplying deficiencies in expenditures and 
placing the navy in a better condition to he 
prepared ior all possible contingencies. Hills 
will he introduced for this purpose this week, 
and also several looking to the independence 
of Cuba, several gentlemen haring already 
speeches prepared on the latter subject. Ihe 
members generally are in accord with the Sec¬ 
retary of tne Navy, and will therefore support 
him in hts measures. 
