VAUGHAN, Rev. ROBERT, D. D., an English clergyman, editor, and historian, born in 1795; died in London, June 20, 1868. He was educated for the ministry at Bristol College, was for six years pastor at Worcester, and was subsequently settled as minister of the Independent chapel, at Kensington. Soon after the organization of the London University, he was appointed Professor of Ancient and Modern History in that institution. In 1843, on the removal of the Independent College from Blackburn to Manchester, he was elected its president, and for fifteen years also filled the chair of Professor of Theology. In 1857 he resigned on account of failing health. In 1844 he founded the British Quarterly Review, of which he continued to be the editor until 1867, when he retired from it, and a purse was made up for him in testimony of his great services to literature and religion in its management. During all this period he was a diligent student and a careful and laborious writer on historical subjects. His principal works are: "Life and Opinions of John de Wycliffe, D. D.," 2 vols., 1828; "John de Wycliffe, a Monograph, with some Account of the Wycliffe MSS.," 1853, a revision of the preceding; "Memorials of the Stuart Dynasty," 2 vols., 8vo, 1831; "Causes of the Corruption of Christianity," 8vo, 1834; "Thoughts on the Past and Present Religious Parties in England," 12mo, 1838; "The Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell," 2 vols., 8vo, 1888; "History of England under the House of Stuart," 2 vols., 8vo, 1840; "History of Revolutions in England," in 3 vols., 1859-1861-1863; "Memorial of English NonConformity: a Treatise on Ritualism and Family Prayers," 1865; besides several smaller works. His "History of Revolutions" was his most elaborate work, and he had devoted many years to its preparation. At the time of his death, he was pastor at Torquay, to which place he had removed in 1867.

VELOCIPEDE, THE. Within the last few months, the velocipede, introduced from Paris, has in this country attracted much attention. The original French machine has been improved in design and detail. Patent upon patent has been issued, and there is hardly now a city in which there are not schools to teach velocipede riding, and courses and races for prizes. There are velocipedes of one, two, three, and four wheels, driven by foot-cranks, hand-cranks, by gears, by straps, or, like the Rantoone of three wheels, a sort of spike arrangement of wheels, with cranks on the double-wheeled axle actuated by either hands or feet, or by both the steering being done by a gear arrangement in one of the handles, and turning the leading wheel. But the velocipede par excellence, or the French one, is a two-wheeled machine, a bicycle, as shown in the cut, in which motion is given by the feet working cranks on the forward axle, and guidance and stability secured by the handle controlling the front wheel. Few, however old,

but can recollect velocipedes, as machines or playthings of their childhood, and even twowheeled velocipedes similar in general appear ance to the present machines. The propulsion

CL THE PICKERING."

was not by a crank, but by the toes touching the ground. The wheels supported the weight of the body, and with very little fatigue the legs were able to accomplish the work of pro pelling the machine. In the Engineer and Architect's Journal, some twenty-five years ago, appeared a design for a horse-velocipede for railroads, in which the animal could be sup ported in slings attached to a car, with his leg just touching the ground. These two-wheeled man-velocipedes were sometimes made very light, some eighteen to twenty pounds, and good flat roads as many as thirteen mile have been run in an hour; but these machines have been briefly popular, and only the three wheeled plaything for children has kept a permanent position. In 1830, M. Dreuze, a public postal functionary in France, got up i two-wheeled machine, in which the feet d not touch the ground, but communicated the motion directly to the axles of the wheels, and stability and direction were given by the arm M. Dreuze distributed these machines among the postmen of the rural districts, and it w expected that they would be able to go ther rounds with greater dispatch, and much les fatigue, but the winter came with its snow D ice, and the velocipedes were laid up made no further public appearance until abet the time of the last Paris Exposition, when ther were again resuscitated, became a fashion, spread through the provinces. Courses set up, with the usual accompaniments of bese racing, purses and betting.

The average length of the courses are one thousand eight hundred mètres, nearly a m and a furlong. At Enghein this distance whe traversed in four minutes and twenty-five seconds by a velocipede with two wheels, and six minutes and twenty-eight seconds by i three-wheeled velocipede.

Greater speed was attained at St. Consi when the course of two thousand four hundre. mètres, almost equivalent to a mile and a ba

was traversed in four minutes and fifty seconds; whereas the final race at Vincennes over a level course of three thousand six hundred mètres twenty yards short of two miles -was accomplished in nine minutes and ten seconds. But at these races prizes are not given for speed alone; they are also accorded to those who occupy the longest time in traversing a specified distance, a far more difficult performance than accomplishing a mile in a few minutes, because, when going at a snail's pace, it is almost impossible to preserve the proper balance, and horse and rider are usually both capsized. In a contest of this character at Vincennes, over a course of some one hundred and sixty yards in length, out of six experienced amateurs who started, only one succeeded in reaching the goal.

There are match races for all distances from one mile to one hundred. A couple of amaeurs, making a tour through a part of France, challenged each other as to which could perform the greatest distance within four-andwenty hours. One went eighty-seven miles, and then gave out, and the other one hundred and twenty-five miles. Also a party of nine eft Rouen in the morning and arrived in Paris n time for dinner the same evening, having raversed the distance of eighty-five miles at a ate of speed averaging between ten and eleven niles an hour.

In this country, owing to the lateness of the eason at which velocipedes were introduced, here was no out-door racing during the year. VENEZUELA, a republic in South Ameria. President, at the beginning of the year, Marshal Juan Crisostomo Falcon (since March 8, 1865); after the successful revolution of Aujust, 1868, General José Tadeo Monagas, who lied November 18, 1868. Area, 368,235 square niles; population, in 1858, about 1,565,000. nsurrectionary movements against the adminstration of President Falcon were going on at he beginning of the year 1868. General M. 1. Rojas, at the head of the revolutionary roops, approached Caracas and threatened n attack. He was induced to accept the reaty of Antimano, May 10th, which gave im the command-in-chief of the army, and etained General Bruzual at the head of the overnment until such time as Congress should neet for an election of President. Bruzual ollected troops at Caracas, and committing uch acts as forfeited the treaty of Antimano, he army abandoned M. A. Rojas, and recogized General Rufo Rojas as their chief.

General Monagas, late President of the reublic, and one of the heroes of its independnce, formed an army in the eastern States bout 2,500 strong, and issued a proclamation eclaring that he had no other personal aspiraion than that the last days of his life should be pent in behalf of the liberty of his country and ts institutions, in upholding the rights of its itizens, and the constitution such as it is, and o free them from the power of despotic and

arbitrary chiefs. Caracas was taken after a fearful battle, June 26th, and a new ministry created by General Monagas, one of their number, elected by themselves, acting as President until the next meeting of Congress. The adherents of Falcon concentrated at Puerto Cabello, which surrendered to Monagas on the 15th of August. The only place of importance which still held out against Monagas was Maracaibo, which did not surrender until October. On the 4th of October the election of a President took place, which resulted in the election of General José Tadeo Monagas. The new President died on the 18th of November. A new provisional President would be elected by Congress; in the mean while, General Pulgar acted as President.

A large grant of land has been made to Dr. H. M. Price, and others, as representatives of the chartered American, English, and Venezuela Trading and Commercial Company, with a view to secure the colonization of all vacant lands in the State of Guayana, and the district of Amazonas. The terms of the concession, which are set forth in a volume issued by the company, are highly favorable-the company is to enjoy the exclusive right to all mineral and vegetable products found on the land, and various privileges in the shape of exemption from import and export duties, by which salt, iron, machinery, etc., can be taken in free, and cotton and tobacco exported; the company will likewise have the right to establish factories, and construct the necessary railroads, telegraphs, and canals, while the immigrants are to be secured perfect freedom of religion, of press, and of speech, and to possess the right of being represented in Congress, according to the census, which is to be taken every five years.

VERMONT. This State has well sustained its character for enterprise and general good order during the past year. The amount of money spent in carrying on the government was $682,993.95, while $709,548.96 were received into the public Treasury. The State set out at the beginning of the fiscal year, in September, 1867, with a balance in the Treasury of $44,813.48, and closed the year in September, 1868, with a balance of $71,368.48. The balance still unadjusted on the war claim of the State against the Federal Government amounts to $207,222.23. The present funded indebtedness of Vermont is $1,168,000, which shows a reduction during the year of $230,000. The aggregate indebtedness of all the towns and cities in the State is $1,999,198, nearly one-half of which exists in the two counties of Bennington and Windsor.

The State expends about $500,000 for the support of her free public schools, which are attended by fifty thousand children, while the whole number of children in the State, of school age, is 76,000. At the University of Vermont, and State Agricultural College, not more than 175 students have been in attendance during the past year, and the number of

graduates has not exceeded 40. The number of convicts in the State Prison, during the year, was 72 males and 4 females, who were supported at an expense of $13,219. This exceeded the income of the prison by $6,413. This state of things is expected to continue so long as the present contract for labor lasts, which expires in 1871. The buildings of the Reform School have been enlarged and improved at a cost of $2,000, and the current expenses of the institution have amounted to $10,513, while the earnings of the boys in the shops have been $1,779. The produce of the farm reached the value of $2,965, and was principally used in support of the school. At the close of the year, this institution had sixty-nine boys under its charge, twelve of whom were placed out in good situations, to remain during good behavior.

The Republicans of Vermont held a convention at Rutland, on the 18th of March, to choose delegates to the National Convention at Chicago, and published the principles which formed the basis of the policy of the party. The platform was as follows:

Resolved, That we still believe in the self-evident truth that all men are created equal, and that this truth only finds its just interpretation and its perfect expression in constitutions and laws which guarantee to every person equal civil and political

rights.

Resolved, That we recognize in General Ulysses S. Grant a soldier whose brilliant record in war has re

ceived additional lustre by his firm, steady, frank love of justice, freedom and truth in his administration of military affairs, and his obedience to the laws in time of peace; and a statesman whose wisdom, moderation, sound judgment, and steadfast adhe rence to the principles of constitutional liberty, have stood as a rock upon which the blandishments and buffets of traitors, whether in power or not, have poured in vain. We best give expression to what is in the heart of every Republican in Vermont in joining our voice to the common acclaim which names this soldier and statesman as our leader in the next presidential campaign. With him as Chief Magistrate, the Republic will once more triumph over its enemies, and order and peace will bring their blessings to this

disturbed land.

Resolved, That we approve the action of Congress in respect to impeachment, and earnestly call upon the Senate of the United States, sitting as a court of impeachment, to proceed without fear, favor, or affection, and we assure them that the people of Vermont will stand by and maintain the just judgment

of the law.

Resolved, That we hail the result of the labors of our Republican brethren in New Hampshire in their late political contest as the harbinger of the overwhelming defeat which awaits our enemies in the coming presidential campaign.

The nominations for State officers were: for Governor, John P. Page; for Lieutenant-Governor, Stephen Thomas; for Treasurer, John A. Page; for Representatives in Congress: 1st District, Charles W. Willard; 2d District, Luke P. Poland; 3d District, Worthington C. Smith. The Democratic Convention met at Montpelier on the 17th of July, and nominated John L. Edwards for Governor. Resolutions were adopted approving the nominations and platform of the National Convention at New York.

The election took place on the 1st of September, and resulted in the choice of the Repubican ticket by a large majority. The entire vote for Governor numbered 57,904, of which Page received 42,615, and Edwards 15.28, by which the former had a majority of 27,826. At the presidential election in November the whole vote cast was 56,212, of which 44,167 were in favor of Grant, and 12,045 in favor of Seymour; Grant's majority being 32,122.

The Legislature met on the 8th of October, and continued in session until the 19th of November. This body consisted of 30 Senators, all of whom were Republicans, and 249 Repre sentatives, of whom 224 were Republicans and 15 Democrats: 12 of the Senators were farmers, 10 attorneys, 3 physicians, 3 merchants and 3 engaged in other pursuits: 151 members of the House were farmers; 20 attorneys; 19 merchants; 17 manufacturers; and 42 of other occupations. No laws of general interest were passed at this session.

VIRGINIA. The convention which assenbled at Richmond, on the 3d of December, 1867, to frame a constitution for the State of Virginia, reassembled after a recess of two weeks, on the 2d of January, 1868. It continued its deliberations until the 17th of April and during the session gave considerable time to the discussion of subjects not immediately connected with the duties assigned to it. Reso lutions were adopted approving the course of the Federal Congress in impeaching President Johnson, and a stay law for the relief of debtors occupied a good deal of consideration. The question of petitioning Congress for a removal of political disabilities was discussed, but nothing was done in the matter.

The constitution provides, in the Bill of Rights, that

"This State shall ever remain a member of the United States of America, and the people thereof a part of the American nation, and all attempts, from whatever source, and upon whatever pretext, to dissolve said union, or to sever said nation, are unauthorized and ought to be resisted with the whole power of the State

"The Constitution of the United States, and the laws of Congress passed in pursuance thereof, constitute the Supreme law of the land, to which permanent allegiance and obedience are due from every citizen, any thing in the constitution, ordinances, or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.

"Slavery is prohibited, and all citizens of the State are declared to possess equal civil and po litical rights and public privileges. Duelling and lotteries are forbidden. Only persons qualified to hold office are permitted to sit on juries.

The subject which excited the warmest de bate in the convention was that relating to the elective franchise. A majority of the committee, to whom the duty of framing the article of the constitution touching this matter was intrusted, reported provisions which would be stow the suffrage upon all negroes without dis

crimination, while a large part of the most intelligent of the white citizens would be deprived of that privilege. A minority of the committee made a separate report, embodying an earnest protest against the adoption of such provisions. The article, as finally adopted after a protracted debate, provides that every male citizen of the United States, twenty-one years of age and upward, who shall have been a resident of the State twelve months, and of the county, city, or town in which he shall offer to vote, three months next preceding any election, shall be entitled to vote upon all questions submitted to the people at such election, with the exceptions designated in the following section: Every person who has been a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President or VicePresident, or who held any office, civil or military, under the United States or under any State, previously having taken oath as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as member of any State Legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer, or who shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. This clause shall include the following officers: Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor of Public Accounts, Second Auditor, Register of the Land-Office, State Treasurer, Attorney-General, Sheriffs, Mayor of a city, or Clerk of a town, Commissioner of Revenue, County Surveyor, Constables, Overseers of the Poor, Commissioner of the Board of Public Works, Judge of the Supreme Court, Judges of Circuit Courts, Judge of the Court of Hustings, Justices of the County Courts, Recorder, Aldermen, Council of a city or town, Coroners, Escheators, Inspectors, of tobacco, flour, etc., Clerks of the Supreme, District, Circuit and County Courts, and of the Court of Hustings, and Attorneys for the Commonwealth: Provided, the Legislature may, by a vote of three-fifths of both Houses, remove the disabilities incurred by this clause from any person included therein, by a separate vote in each case.

All persons, before entering upon the discharge of any function as officers of the State, are required to take and subscribe the following oath:

I, -, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and maintain the Constitution and laws of the United States, and the constitution and laws of the State of Virginia; that I recognize and accept the civil and political equality of all men before the law; and that I will faithfully perform the duty of to the best of my ability. So help me God.

In addition to this, all State, city, and county officers must take the test-oath prescribed by the act of Congress of July 2, 1862, which is in these words:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I have never voluntarily borne arms against the United States since I have been a citizen thereof; that I have voluntarily given no aid, countenance, counsel, or encouragement to persons engaged in armed hostility thereto; that I have never sought, nor accepted, nor attempted to exercise the functions of any office whatever, under any authority or pretended authority in hostility to the United States; that I have not yielded a voluntary support to any pretended government, authority, power, or constitution, within the United States, hostile or inimical thereto; and I do further swear (or affirm) that, to the best of my knowledge and ability, I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegi

ance to the same; that I will take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. and that I will well and faithfully discharge evasion, So help me God.

This not only met with strong opposition from the conservative delegates in the convention and a large portion of the influential citizens of the State, but General Schofield himself, in a speech to the convention in April, declared that it would be "practically impossible basis." to carry on a government predicated upon that "I have been now for more than a

year," he said, "administering the laws in accordance with the reconstruction acts of Congress in this State. I have had to select and appoint registering officers as well as civil officers in the different counties throughout the State. In some of the counties I have been able to find one, and only one, in some two, and in some three, men of either race, who could read and write, and who could, at the same time, take the oath of office. There are, I believe, in Virginia, some counties which will require to carry on the government thirty or more civil officers such as magistrates, sheriffs, constables, overseers of the poor, etc. You cannot find in these counties a sufficient number of men who are capable of filling the offices, and who can take the oath you have prescribed here. They pay a very limited salary, and even common laborers could not afford to come from abroad for the purpose of filling them. I have no hesitation in saying that I believe it impossible to inaugurate a government upon that basis. That provision, if left in the constitution, will, I believe, be not only opposed to the wishes of your friends, but will be fatal to the constitution, and, perhaps, fatal to yourselves. I say, then, that whether your government, organized under this constitution, will be a good one or a bad one is to be determined by the qualifications of the men elected to carry it on. In this view of the case, you should have left open the widest field from which to choose these men, and I have no doubt that both parties will exert their utmost strength, and put forward their best and ablest men to inaugurate the new government."

This provision was not, however, modified, and it was made the duty of the Legislature to frame a registry law, under which every person, before being allowed to register his name as a voter, must take the following oath: I, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am not disqualified from exercising the right of suffrage by the constitution framed by the convention which assembled in the city of Richmond on the 3d day of December, 1867, and that I will support and defend the same to the best of my ability.

the legislative, executive, and judiciary departments of government, on a basis not materially different from that adopted in other States. A system of public schools is to be established in all the counties by the year 1876. The constitution was not signed by the dele

Provision was made for the organization of

gates, but was adopted as a whole on the day of adjournment (April 17th), by a vote of 51 to 36. Several Republican delegates voted against the instrument, including in their number one negro. An ordinance was passed by the convention providing for the submission of the constitution to a vote of the people, on the 2d of June. State officers and representatives of the State in Congress were to be elected at the same time, and the Assembly was to meet on the 24th of June.

On the 24th of April the following order was issued by General Schofield:

HEADQUARTERS FIRST MILITARY DISTRICT,
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, April 24, 1868.
To the People of Virginia:

No appropriation having yet been made by Congress to defray the expenses of an election in Virginia for ratification or rejection of a constitution, and the revision of registration preceding such election, I am not now authorized to order the Boards of Registration to carry into effect the ordinance of the convention providing for such election.

If congressional action on the subject be so long delayed that the election cannot properly be held at the time appointed by the convention, June 2d, Congress will doubtless substitute a later day, of which que notice will be given.

J. M. SCHOFIELD, Major-General. No provision for the election was made during the rest of the year, and Virginia remained "unreconstructed," and under the government of the military authority of the United States. Conventions were, however, held by both political parties, and nominations made in the expectation that an election would be ordered some time in the course of the year. The Republican Convention assembled in Richmond on the 6th of May, and nominated Henry H. Wells for Governor, J. H. Clements for Lieutenant-Governor, and G. W. Booker for Attorney-General. The following, among other resolutions, were adopted:

2. That the sublime declaration of the fathers of the country, that all men are created equal, has become not only a theory, but a great living eternal fact, established by one of the chief fruits of the bloody war through which we have just passed, by the amendments to the Constitution, it has been made perpetual, part of the organic law of the whole country, and canonized in the hearts of all good men everywhere, for the noble homage which it pays to the decrees of the Almighty Ruler of the universe, and to the rights of universal humanity. All men in this Commonwealth are, indeed, free and equal. All persons born in the United States and subject to its jurisdiction are," and of right ought to be," citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State ought or lawfully can deny to any citizen within its jurisdiction, the equal protection of the laws, or the possession or enjoyment of the rights and privileges which it grants, on account of race, color, prior condition, or religious faith.

4. That no republican form of government can permanently exist or be wisely administered without a general education of the people; we therefore favor, and will cordially support, the establishment of a system of free schools for the education of all, and

supported by general taxation.

5. That the Republican party of the State of Virginia pledges its influence and efforts to secure the removal of all disabilities, for participation in the late rebellion, from those citizens of this State who, by their acts and influence, shall heartily coöperate in

the complete restoration of the State in accordance with the principles of the reconstruction laws and the

changed condition and necessities of our country.

7. That the thanks of the loyal people of this State are due to the Republican members of Congress, who, by their earnest labors in behalf of human liberty, have seen the land redeemed from the curse of slavery, and has nationalized the principles of libertrial of Andrew Johnson before the bar of the United ty and equality. That we hail the arraignment and States Senate for his many high crimes and misde meanors as the crowning triumph of the principles of free institutions, and a warning to traitors in all coming time; that a free people will always guard the temples of their liberties with the flaming sword of justice-turning every way-a terror to foreign foes and domestic traitors.

The Conservative Convention met on the 10th of May. No platform of principles was adopted, but nominations were made in accordance with the following resolutions, reported by the

business committee of the convention:

Resolved, That in the opinion of the convention it is expedient that the convention nominate candidates in the approaching election for the offices of Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, and Attorney-General of the State, and a candidate for the United States House of Representatives for the State at large.

Resolved, That in submitting said nominations, it is expedient, in the opinion of the committee, that the convention should select acceptable, competent, the United States, and to the ancient renown and and sound men, who are true to the Constitution of honor of Virginia, without reference to the ability of said candidates to take disqualifying test-oaths.

Resolved, That it is expedient that this convention convention to be held in the city of New York on the do nominate delegates to represent the State in the 4th of July next to nominate candidates for the presidency and vice-presidency of the United States, the said delegates to consist of two delegates from each congressional district and two delegates from the State at large.

The nominations made were: Colonel R. E. Withers, for Governor; General James A. Walker, for Lieutenant-Governor; John L. Mayne, Jr., for Attorney-General.

It was the policy of General Schofield to interfere as little as possible with the regular operation of government in the State, and we accordingly find but few removals from office under his administration. Whenever vacancies occurred it became his duty to make appointments, and, in this way, more than five hun dred officers were designated for various posi tions while he had command of the First Military District. In making these appointments, he found it very difficult to find competent persons who could take the test-outh prescribed by the act of July 2, 1862.

eral Schofield in the early part of the year, was Among the military orders issued by Genone dated March 12th, suspending sales of prop erty under deeds of trust, when every civil remedy has been exhausted, "in all cases where such sale would result in a ruinous and unnecessary sacrifice of property, or where the principal in a reasonable time, can be secured payment of interest, when due, and of the without such sacrifice; and, also, in cases where such sale would leave a family, or per sons non compos or infirm, without means of