This is the November 27, 1858 issue of HARPER'S WEEKLY newspaper. Harper's was one of the most successful newspapers of the time. Other publishers in the late 1800's included Frank Leslie, in New York, and Gleason's and Ballou's Pictorial, and Every Saturday in Boston.  All of these publications were highly illustrated with wood engravings.  This issue is in very good condition for a newspaper of this age. A few pages contain age spots.  Additional pictures are available upon request.  Please include your e-mail address.

ARTICLES:

BEAUTIFUL SNOW – A poem

THE THANKSGIVING DINNER OF THE FIVE POINTS CHILDREN – Thanksgiving Dinner which is given annually to the children of the Five Points by the Ladies Home Missionary Society of the Episcopal Church.  An engraving depicting the dinner is presented with this article.

LAST YEAR’S TRADE – The official tables of the commerce of the United States for the fiscal year 1857-1858 have just been published.  They show, as was expected, a surprising increase in the exports of this country, and a large decrease in the imports.

MEXICO – At latest accounts the Spaniards were about to renew their endeavors to obtain either payment of or security for their Mexican bonds.  Regiments now stationed in the island of Cuba were under orders for a Mexican campaign, but the Spanish government cannot afford to go to war with the Mexicans.

THE CONSTITUTION NOT TO BE REFORMED – The popular verdict is against the reform of the constitution of New York State.  The majority of the citizens recorded their suffrage as not in favor of a reformed judiciary and a purer administration system, and to maintain things as they are, much to the contrary of the Convention.

WHETHER THE BRITISH PROVINCES ARE GOING TO BE ANNEXED – There is some speculation as to the annexation of Canada to the United States, but the Canadians want to remain loyal to the Great Britain, and are bitterly opposed to the idea.

RETROSPECT OF CRIME – The metropolitan police have just presented their annual report, and we are sorry to say that at least half of the crimes committed in New York go unpunished.

THE ALABAMA STATE FAIR – The Fourth Annual Fair of the Alabama State Agricultural Society was held in Montgomery, between the 1^st and the 6^th of November, 1858.  This account is accompanied by three engravings concerning the event. (See picture)

THE LATE MADAME PFEIFFER – Madame Ida Pfeiffer, the famous traveler, died in Vienna on October 27^th, at the age of 61.  Madame Pfeiffer was famous for traveling the world and then writing books of her travels.

ANGLO-AMERICAN MONUMENT AT HONG KONG - In the fork of a road in Happy Valley, there stands a granite obelisk; upon its base is an inscription stating that it was “erected by the officers and crews of the United States steam frigate Powhatan and her Britannic majesty’s sloop Rattler, in memory of their shipmates who fell in a combined attack on a fleet of piratical junks, off Kuhlan, August 4, 1855”.

OUR THANKSGIVING – The center page is engraved with four views of Thanksgiving Day that are accompanied by poetical descriptions of each.  These four half-page illustrations were drawn by Winslow Homer in his second year as an illustrator for Harper’s Weekly.  The four views are “Ways And Means”; “Arrival At The Old Home”; “The Dinner”; and “The Dance”. (See picture)

THE BOY – LOVE OF OLIVER WHARTON – A fictional story

A ROMANCE OF SHIPWRECK – Much like Herman Melville’s adventuresome novel, the ship Wild Wave left San Francisco in February last, bound for Valparaiso.  In March the ship was wrecked during a storm on the Island of Jeno, seventy- five miles northwest of Pitcairn’s Island.  The article describes the journey of the captain and crew.  Three engravings are presented in illustration of their story. (See picture)

WHAT WILL HE DO WITH IT? – A fictional story by E. Bulwer Lytton

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