1 pastor, 200 members; West Indies, 152 churches, 94 pastors, 23,070 members; Australasia (tables very incomplete), 6,710 members; Denmark, 17 churches, 123 preaching stations, 1,869 members, 300 Sunday-scholars; Germany (the Baptist Union of Germany includes churches in Germany, Denmark, Holland, Poland, Russia, and Turkey), 110 churches, 1,263 preaching stations, 22,259 members, 6,000 Sunday-scholars; France, 25 churches; Finland, 3 churches; Greece, 1 church; Holland, 19 churches; Italy, 24 churches; Norway, 18 churches; Poland, 4 churches; Russia, 6 churches; Spain, 6 churches, 244 members; Switzerland, 9 churches; Turkey, 1 church, with 6 preaching stations; Sweden, 234 churches, 10,490 members, 16,183 children in the Sunday-schools, 2,115 in the day-schools, 12 mission unions, 4 local missionary societies, a theological school, building-fund, and poor-fund. The annual meeting of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland was held in London, April 23d. The Rev. John Turland Brown was installed as the president for the year. The report of the secretary began with a recital of the part which the Union had taken during the year with reference to several public matters. A memorial was adopted for presentation to the House of Lords, protesting against the Government's "Burials Bill," which, it was asserted, did not even touch the question of the grievances of the Non-conformists, their demand being for perfect equality with Episcopalians in the national churchyards. A resolution respecting the Eastern Question was adopted, to the effect that it was the duty of the Government to further the selfgovernment of the Turkish provinces which had suffered, and to secure British interests in some other way than by upholding the Ottoman Empire.

The autumnal meetings of the Union were held at Newport, Monmouthshire, during the first week in October. A statement was presented in behalf of the Missionary Society, asking for increased contributions to prevent a deficiency in the accounts, and stating that eight or ten missionaries were wanted, to be sent to India at once.

The Baptist Union of Scotland met at Dundee, April 10th. The proceedings of the meeting consisted mainly in the reading of papers, in one of which, on "Our Denominational Work," by the Rev. John McClellan, of Edinburgh, the separate existence of the denomination, as distinguished from the Presbyterian churches, was defended, as not only justifiable, but imperatively demanded.

The 108th annual meeting of the New Connection of General Baptists was held at Leicester, beginning June 25th. The Rev. Charles Clarke was chosen president. The number of churches reported as connected with the Association was 175, as against 170 in 1876; and the number of members 23,747, as against 23,453 in 1876. The churches in India returned

894 members, which would swell the total for 1877 to 24,631. The number of pastors connected with the home ministry was 103, while 65 churches were without pastors. The number of local preachers or evangelists reported was 344, and of Sunday-school teachers, 4,275. Twelve students were pursuing their studies at Chilwell College, and the number of applications for admission to the institution exceeded the vacancies.

BAYLEY, JAMES ROOSEVELT, an American archbishop, grandson of Richard Bayley, M. D., born in New York, August 23, 1814, and died in Newark, N. J., October 3, 1877. He graduated at Washington (now Trinity) College, Hartford, and was for some time tutor there. He studied theology with Dr. Samuel Farmer Jarvis, of Middletown, Conn., was ordained a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and preached at Harlem, N. Y., and afterward at Hagerstown, Md. He then joined the Roman Catholic Church, prepared himself for the priesthood at St. Sulpice, in Paris, and was ordained in New York, March 2, 1842, by Bishop Hughes. He was appointed Professor of Belles Lettres at St. John's College, Fordham, of which he was president in 1845-'46, and from 1846 to 1853 was secretary to Archbishop Hughes. On October 30, 1853, he was consecrated first bishop of Newark, N. J., which under his administration became one of the most prosperous dioceses in the United States. He founded Seton Hall College, and numerous schools, academies, convents, and churches. On July 30, 1872, he was appointed Archbishop of Baltimore. He published a "Sketch of the History of the Catholic Church on the Island of New York" (New York, 1853; revised ed., 1869); "Memoirs of Simon Gabriel Bruté, First Bishop of Vincennes" (1860); and "Pastorals for the People."

BELGIUM, a kingdom of Europe. Leopold II., King of the Belgians, was born April 9, 1835; son of King Leopold I., former Duke of Saxe-Coburg; ascended the throne at the death of his father, December 10, 1865; was married August 22, 1853, to Marie Henriette, daughter of the late Archduke Joseph of Austria, born August 23, 1836. Offspring of this union are three daughters. Heir-apparent to the throne is the brother of the King, Philip, Count of Flanders, born March 24, 1827, lieutenantgeneral in the service of Belgium; married, April 26, 1867, to Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, born November 17, 1845; offspring of the union is a son, Baldwin, born July 3, 1869.

The area of the kingdom is 11,373 square miles; population, according to the last census, taken in 1866, 4,737,833; according to an official calculation of December, 1875, 5,403,006. Of this population 54 per cent. belong to the Flemish and 44 to the Walloon-French nationality. The following table exhibits the population of each province of the kingdom on December 31, 1875, as well as the number of

sideration, and on July 7th was again passed by the latter body, when it adjourned.

The Chambers met again on November 13th, and were opened by the King in person. In his speech from the throne he said that Belgium, faithful to her pacific policy, continued to entertain most amicable relations with all the powers. The last census proved that in 10 years the increase of population had been 508,000. The number of legislators must therefore be increased by 5 senators and 10 representatives. The provincial and communal representation must also be increased accordingly. The law for the prevention of electoral frauds would be completed, and unity of electoral legislation established. Public instruction was in a prosperous condition, and sufficient provision for teachers of all grades had been made. The situation of agriculture was satisfactory, and the invasion of the cattle-plague had been prevented. Notwithstanding the commercial crisis, Belgian commerce had not declined, and the activity of the ports had increased. The execution of new maritime works at Antwerp, commenced on the river Meuse, would soon render it navigable through the whole of Belgian territory. The construction of railways was progressing notwithstanding the financial disasters. Belgium would join the other Governments in the question of the simplification of railway tariffs. Postal legislation would be put in harmony with the principles of the postal union. Maritime legislation was to be revised, and a law would be presented regulating responsibility of transport. In relation

HOTEL DE VILLE, BRUSSELS.

The International Commission for the exploration of Africa met on June 20th, in Brussels. It was attended by a large number of African explorers and others interested in the work. It was resolved that the first station for explorers should be established by the executive committee, and that its principal object be the suppression of the slave-trade. The commission reëlected the King of Belgium as its president.

BELOOCHISTAN. The relations between Beloochistan and India continued to be of a very friendly character during the early part of the year. The Khan of Kelat, having attended the durbar of the Viceroy in December, 1876, returned highly pleased. In February a treaty was concluded with the Khan, whereby the British Government agreed to support the Khan against internal and foreign foes, and to pay an annual subsidy of £10,000, besides a further sum of £2,200, for the purpose of effecting such improvements in the country as the Government might approve. In return, the Government will have the right to occupy the chief towns with troops, to construct railways

and telegraphs, and to erect forts. A British agent is to have his headquarters at Kelat, while another is also to be stationed at Quetta. On February 24th an official notice was given that the friendly relations between the British Government and the Khan of Kelat, which were suspended in 1873, had been resuined. The Viceroy was pleased, in compliance with the Khan's wishes, to direct the reëstablishment of the Kelat agency, and to appoint Major Sandeman as the agent to the GovernorGeneral for Beloochistan. Major Sandeman left Calcutta on February 23d, to assume the position. He was accompanied by an escort of about 1,000 men, half of whom were stationed at Kelat and the other half at Quetta. His first duty was to endeavor to appease the discord between the Khan and his feudatory, the Chief of Mekran, as well as other minor chiefs in western Beloochistan. In this he was successful. The well-known German traveller, Emil von Schlagintweit, gives the following account of the occupation of Quetta:

On April 1st, the city of Quetta, politically the most important one next to Kelat, and strategically the point of junction of the roads from India and Beloochistan to Afghanistan, became the seat of a British garrison, while the British political agent resident there was placed directly under the Supreme Government. A telegraph line was constructed from Jacobabad, the last Indian telegraph station, to Quetta, and was completed in the middle of May, so that the agent could communicate directly with Calcutta. For months the best understanding prevailed between the garrison and the natives, the only complaint being of the high prices of food. In July, however, some native laborers on the fortifications attacked two British officers, killing one and seriously wounding the other. Upon the first alarm, the British commander ordered the occupation of the fortress of Quetta-left hitherto in the possession of the Kelat troops-which commands the city and the entire neighborhood, and therefore afforded good protection. It was soon ascertained that the attack was not made for political reasons. The fortress, however, remained in the hands of the British, on account of various reasons. It was, for instance, stated that the communication with India was so insecure that it became necessary constantly to patrol the road; while the Afghans and the border tribes daily showed their dissatisfaction with the close proximity of the British more plainly. To secure the communication with India, a garrison was also placed in Mitri, halfway between Jacobadad, in India, and Quetta. This town is situated in a fertile country, at the entrance to the Bolan Pass, and is inhabited by peaceable tribes.

The continued occupation of Quetta by the British was regarded with great distrust by the Khan, who complained of it as a direct breach of faith. In October it was currently reported that the Khan and the chief people were all thoroughly convinced that the British occupation was an accomplished fact; that the British Government had no intention of withdrawing the force located in Quetta under the designation of its Resident's escort, and that it was to be essentially strengthened. Many messengers and confidential agents were going to and fro between Cabool and the Khan and the Sirdars. The Amir strongly advised the forci

ble expulsion of the British garrison, offering his aid, and warning the Khan that the occupation meant eventual absorption. He advised a Russian league, and urged, as an inducement, the plunder of the rich plains and cities of India, and the possession of Sinde. The Khan and the Sirdars were said to be willing to cooperate with the Afghan army, but they distrusted the Amir. In the latter part of October it was reported that the Khan had made an effort to raise the Belooch tribes, and induce them to attack the English cantonment at Quetta. The Beloochees, however, professed themselves unequal to such an enterprise, and advised the Khan to go to Candahar and get the aid of the Afghans.

On October 20th the Indian Government sent three more battalions of native infantry, a regiment of irregular cavalry, and one-half of a mountain battery, to Beloochistan. Of this force only a small part went to Quetta, two battalions went to Mitri, and one battalion and the artillery to Dadur. Mitri is situated in a well-watered mountain country on the Nari River; it is the principal town of the strongest of all the Brahovee tribes-the Larawan tribe-numbering 10,000 warriors, and was quite flourishing until a few years ago, when it was destroyed by the Khan of Kelat. Dadur is situated 13 miles northwest of Mitri, immediately at the entrance to the Bolan Pass.