Egypt and the Egyptian Soudan, although nominally under the suzerainty of Turkey, are really controlled by Great Britain, and it is only a matter of time as to when they will be incorporated into the British Empire. Adding Egypt and the Soudan to the Empire would increase the figures above given to 2,987,755 square miles and 47,951,218 population. † Negotiations have been concluded between Great Britain and Germany on the one part and Portugal on the other, by which the latter sells and disposes of all her African possessions to the two former, which divide the purchases between them. The details are not yet made public further than that Great Britain gets Delagoa Bay, thus hemming in the South African Republic from the sea, save through British territory. The remaining territory of Africa unoccupied is a part of the great Desert of Sahara and the IndependentStates of Abyssinia and Liberia. Even this territory, except the last, is destined to pass under the power of the Europeans. The tabular figures are from "The Statesman's Year-Book."

Egyptian (British) and French territory in the Soudan, according to British claims, touches along the line of the 27th degree of latitude. Prior to the revolt of the Mahdi in 1882, Egypt claimed Darfar, Kordofan, Senaar, Taka, the Equatorial Province, and the Bahr-el-Ghazal Province. Though authority over these was lost by the success of the Mahdi, Egypt did not relinquish her claim, and her full authority was resumed by the victories of General Kitchener in 1898. The French were disposed to dispute these claims and assert a right to territory as far east as the banks of the Nile, thus covering the Bahr-el-Ghazal Province. Hence the appearance of Major Marchand at Fashoda on the Nile, many miles south of Khartoum. But this position the French have now abandoned.

INDEBTEDNESS OF NATIONS.

COMPILED FROM THE ELEVENTH UNITED STATES CENSUS, 1890.

Inclusive of floating debt, but exclusive of annuities, whose capitalized value is estimated by good authority to be not less than $2,000,000,000.

The national debts of the larger nations in 1896 or 1897 were as follows: Austria-Hungary, 1897, $3,225,405,000; France, 1896, $6,218,851,348; German Empire, 1896, $510,006,120; Prussia, 1897, $1,625,000,000; Great Britain and Ireland, 1897, $3,203,868,395; Italy, 1897, $1,182,471,200; Spain, 1897, $1,415,230,000; Russia, 1896, $3,307,512,500; United States, 1898, $1,964,837,130.

RATES OF POSTAGE.

Letters.-Prepaid by stamps, 2 cents each ounce or fraction thereof to all parts of the United States and Canada; forwarded to another post office without charge on request of the person addressed; if not called for, returned to the writer free, if indorsed with that request. If the stamp is omitted the letter is forwarded to the Dead-Letter Office and returned to the writer. For registering letters the charge is 8 cents additional. Drop letters at letter-carrier offices, 2 cents per ounce or fraction thereof; at other offices, 1 cent per ounce or fraction thereof. On insufficiently prepaid matter mailed in Canada, 3 cents per ounce or fraction thereof. Stamped postal cards, furnished only by government, 1 cent each; if anything except a printed address slip is pasted on a postal card, or anything but the address written on the face, letter postage is charged. Postage on all newspapers and periodicals sent from newspaper offices to any part of the United States, to regular subscribers, must be paid in advance at the office of mailing. Second-Class Matter.- Periodicals issued at regular intervals, at least four times a year, and having a regular list of subscribers, with supplement, sample copies, 1 cent a pound; periodicals, other than weekly, if delivered by letter carrier, 1 cent each; if over 2 ounces, 2 cents each. When sent by other than publishers, for 4 ounces or less, 1 cent.

Third-Class Matter (not exceeding four pounds). Printed matter, books, proof-sheets, corrected or uncorrected, unsealed circulars, inclosed so as to admit of easy inspection without cutting cords or wrappers, 1 cent for each 2 ounces.

Fourth-Class Matter. Not exceeding four pounds, embracing merchandise and samples, excluding liquids, poisons, greasy, inflammable or explosive articles, live animals, insects, etc., 1 cent an ounce. Postage to Canada and British North American states, 2 cents per ounce; must be prepaid; otherwise, 6 cents.

Postage Rates to Foreign Countries. To the countries and colonies which, with the United States, comprise the Universal Postal Union, the rates of postage are as follows: Letters, per 15 grams (ounce), pre-payment optional, 5 cents; postal cards, each, 2 cents; newspapers and other printed matter, per 2 ounces, 1 cent. Commercial papers- First 10 ounces or fraction thereof, 5 cents; every additional 2 ounces, 1 cent. Samples of merchandise - First 4 ounces, 2 cents; every additional 2 ounces, 1 cent. Registration fee on letters or other articles, 10 cents. All correspondence other than letters must be prepaid at least partially.

Printed matter other than books received in the mails from abroad under the provisions of postal treaties or conventions is free from customs duty.

Dutiable books forwarded to the United States from the Postal Union are delivered to addresses at post offices of destination upon payment of the duties levied thereon.

Postal Money Orders. The limit of a single money order is $100, instead of $50, as formerly. The fees charged are as follows: For orders not exceeding $10, 8c.; $10 to $15, 10c.; $15 to $30, 15c.; $30 to $40, 20c.; $40 to $50, 25c.: $50 to $60, 30c.; $60 to $70, 35c.; $70 to $80, 40c.; $80 to $100, 45c.

To Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Canada, Newfoundland, Italy, France, Algeria, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, New Zealand, Jamaica: Fees, for not exceeding $10, 15 cents; $10 to $20, 30 cents; $20 to $30, 45 cents; $30 to $40, 60 cents; $40 to $50, 75 cents. To Great Britain and Ireland, and adjacent islands: Fees, for not exceeding $10, 25 cents; $10 to $20, 50 cents; $20 to $30, 70 cents; $30 to $40, 85 cents; $40 to $50, $1. To British India: Fees, for sums not exceeding $10, 35 cents; not exceeding $20, 70 cents; not exceeding $30, $1; not exceeding $40, $1.25; not exceeding $50, $1.50. THE NATIONAL BANK LAW.

The National bank act provides for a limit of capital in establishment of the national banks proportioned to the importance of their locality. To start a bank in a town of 6,000 population or less requires a capital of not less than $50,000. In a town between 6,000 and 50,000 people, the capital of the bank must be $100,000, while not less than $200,000 is required in a town of more than 50,000 inhabitants. Each bank must deposit with the United States Treasury bonds to the extent of at least one third of its entire capital as security for its creditors. The Government then issues to the bank 90 per cent. of the deposits in blank notes, which, when properly filled and signed, become the circulation of the bank. Each bank must report its condition quarterly to the Comptroller of the Currency, and must at all times have on hand in lawful money of the United States an amount equal to at least 25 per cent. of its circulation and deposits. The notes issued by the national banks are thus secured, but depositors run the same risk of loss through dishonesty or mismanagement of funds as with other banks. The act originally provided that the whole amount of notes was not to exceed $300,000,000; but even this limit to paper inflation has not afforded complete immunity against crises.