American.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2832, 13 March 1878, Page 3

American.

•3an Fbancisco, February 18 (Midnight). Sinco Ihe departure of the last mail rain has been almost continuous throughout the States.

The Pacramcnta river overflowed the streets at tho capita!, and a vast extent of country has been flirted. The damage is estimated at 750,000-lols. to 1,000 000 dols. . Tho number of unemplovrd people is j very great in San Francisco, ana poverty' and distress prevail to an alarming ex- { tent. Soup houses and freo sleeping places have been established in churches in different parts of the city. Two churches and other properly were destroyed by fire in New York on Feb. 17th, near the Second Avenue. The loss | is nearly I.OOO.OCDdoIs. A bill has been passed in the United States Senate making a dollar of 412-J----grains a legal tender in payment of all debts, including national bonded indebted tiess. The bill prescribes that the President is to invite a Conference of European nations in.the States to adopt a common ratio between gold and silver. The French Minister at Washington entertains fears that the Paris Exposition will be postponed. Among the changes in the New Tariff Bill, submitted by a Congressional Committee of Ways and Means, are the following :— Tho duty on clothing, wool, such as merino, Melz, or Metis wool imported from New Zealand and Australia, worth at the last port of export 32 cents or less per pound (excluding the charges at that port) shall bo 8 cents per pound; if the value exceeds 43 cents, 10 cents a pound. The treaty of friendship and commerce between the United States and Samoa was ratified.on February 11. The harbour of Pagopago has been voluntarily ceded to the United States as a naval depo 1 and coaling station. Tariff exceptions are made in favor of the United Sates Government. Ifc is probable the PaeiGc Mail Co.'s Australian lino of. steamers will call at Samoa for mails. A vessel of war will be stationed at the ceded harbor. The steamship Metropolis, from Philadelphia to Brazil, went ashore on Carnituck Beach, Norfolk, and became a total wreck. Out of 210 labourers on board only 54 were saved. A delegation of women has been heard by the Judiciary Committee of Congress in favour of female suffrages. The Americans have been driven off the Newfoundland fishing grounds by the fishermen of that place. The matter is to come before the respective Governments. The barque King Philip drifted ashore near the Golden Gate, San Francisco, and became a total wreck. A dispatch from the United States Vice-Consul at Shanghai states (bat an appalling famine is raging throughout the four provinces of North China, and nine millions of people are reported to be destitute, and children are daily sold in the markets.for food. • " Sitting Bull" has crossed tho camping border, and is now with 5C3 lodges on the American soil. An attempt to blow up an institute in Montreal, Canada, was prevented by the timely discovery of an explosive package. P. T. Barnum (the showman) and two other defendants have been compelled to Suj 40,000 dollars damages for libel on Ir E. JT. Miles, of the Cincinnati Grand Opera House. The Finance Committees of the Massachusetts House of Representatives have reported a bill making tho entire indebtedness of that State payable in gold. The trade betweon the United States and the Hawaiian Islands has increased one-half lince the reciprocity treaty.