ra ripple of the waters at New Orleans brings them over
the banks and floods the streets, but the banks are still safe.

* * * * *

England has just presented a very valuable manuscript to us, that has long
been kept in the Bishop of London's palace at Fulham.

This book is called the log of the _Mayflower_, and is an account of the
first voyage of the Pilgrim Fathers, and a history of the Plymouth
Plantation.

Several previous attempts have been made to get this manuscript from
England, but it has remained for Ambassador Bayard to secure the gift for
us.

The manuscript is supposed to have been written by Gov. William Bradford,
and if this is true, it can hardly be the log of the _Mayflower_, because
the log is usually kept by the captain.

Every ship that sails the sea keeps a log, or log-book, in which is
entered the progress the ship is making, and any facts of interest as they
occur. It is in reality the ship's diary, but it is called a log-book,
because its chief object is to record the speed of the vessel.

This speed is found by using an instrument called a log, which is attached
to a line, divided into equal spaces by knots. These are placed certain
distances apart, so many to a mile. The log is made in such a way that it
will remain almost stationary in the water when thrown overboard. The
line, wound upon a reel, is allowed to run out for a few seconds; the
number of knots that have been paid off the reel are counted, and in this
way the speed of the vessel is calculated.

The book in which the record is kept is called a "log"-book.

The book that England is giving to us is probably the diary of William
Bradford, which he kept while on board the _Mayflower_, and it is said to
record the account of the colony after the landing, and to contain many
interesting accounts of the treaties with the Indians.

It is to be kept in the Boston Public Library.

* * * * *

The Tariff Bill has been hurried through the House of Representatives,
and, having passed that House, has now gone up to the Senate.

There seems to have been a good deal of haste in the manner this was done.

Talking over alterations was not allowed, and the bill was forced to a
vote, in spite of the fact that many of the Republicans were against it.

Several Congressmen said they would not have voted for it, unless quite
sure that it would be much altered by the Senate before