rk, for the establishment of a claim to a large amount
of property now in the hands of the Trustees. A division of the American
Methodist Church took place in 1845, on account of a difference in
relation to the ownership of slaves by the ministry of the Church. The
Southern members formed a separate organization, called the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, and have since then claimed a division of the
funds of the Book Concern. The Northern Church, in their defence,
maintained that the separation was a secession on the part of the South,
and therefore that the Church was not entitled to any share in the
establishment. As the property of the concern is valued at nearly a
million of dollars, the case assumed an important aspect, and the ablest
counsel were employed on both sides. Daniel Webster and Reverdy Johnson
were engaged by the plaintiffs, and Thomas Ewing and Rufus Choate for
the defence. The case has not yet been decided, but in the mean time
proposals for arbitration and compromise have been made, which may prove
successful.

The elections in New-York to supply the vacancies in the State Senate,
created by the resignation of twelve senators, for the purpose of
defeating the bill for the enlargement of the Erie Canal, by leaving
that body without a quorum, took place on the 27th of May. Six of the
former senators were returned, and five others, favorable to the
enlargement, in place of those who had resigned: the vote in the 26th
District was a tie. The special session of the Legislature met on the
10th of June. The election secured to the Senate a quorum of the friends
of the Canal Bill, and therefore insures its passage.

The Seventh Census of the United States has been published. The total
population amounts to 23,267,408, including 3,179,470 slaves. The whole
number of Representatives to Congress based on this population is 233.

An attack of "gold excitement," on a small scale, has appeared in Maine.
It is reported and generally believed that the precious metal has been
found in the Northern part of the State, in the streams which flow into
the west branch of the Penobscot and into Moose River. The country is a
high plateau, near the Canadian boundary, where, also, the tributaries
of the Chaudiere take their rise. On the latter streams, it is said, the
Provincial Government of Canada has been quietly carrying on mining
operations for two years past. Several companies of adventurers from the
towns of Maine