A National Fast Day

In aecordance with the roqiicst of OoBgrt the President has wued the following proclamation, appwnUng Thursday, September 26, as a dy of fo'etin, Inuiiihation and rayr: A TROCLAMATION', By t5ePrelint of tl)e (Juited Kat o' America. ÍVícrfas. A joint conimiltee of both Houses of Congress liaB waitei od the President of the United States, and requested him to recommend a day of public Iiumiliation, prayer ond fasting, to be observed by the people of the United States, with religious solemnities, and the ofiering of fervent supplication to Almighty God, for the safety and welfaro of these States, His blessings on their arme, and oipeedy restoration of peace ; and Whereas, It is fit and bscoming in all people at all times to ncknowledge and reveré the supremo government of God, to bow ia liumble eubmission to his chastisement, to confesa and deplore their eins and transgres8ions in the full convietion that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and to pray with all fervency and contrition for the pardon of their past oftences, and for a blessing upon their present and prospective action ; and Whereas, When our beloved countrj', once by the blessing of God, united, prosperous and happy, is now afflicted with factiun and civil war, it is peculiarty fit for us toreeogEize the hand of God in this visitation, and in sorrowful remenibrance of our own faulta nnd crimes as a nation and as individuals, to liumble ourselvca before Him, and to pray for His mercy - to pray that we may be spared further punisliment. thoiigb deeerved : that oür arms mav be biest and made effectual for he re-eetablishmentfof law, order and peace throngliout our country, and tbat the inestimable boon of civil and religious liberty, sarned, under his guidance and blessing by the labors and suffuring of our fathers, may be re6tored to all its original excellence : Therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do appoint the last Thursdy in September next as a day of humiliation, prayer and fasting for all the people of the Nation, and I do earnestly recommend to hll the people, and especinlly to all ministers and teachers of' religión of all denominatiom, and to all lieads of families, to observe and keep that day according to their several creeds and modes of worship in all humiüty and with 11 religious Bolemnity, to the end that the united prayer of the nation may ascend to the Throue of Grace, and bring down jlent'iul blessings upon our own country. In testimony whcrcof, I bare hereunto set my hand and eaused the great seal of the United States to be affixed, this 12th day of August, A. D., 18G1, and of the Independtmce of the United States of America the eightysixth. By the President : ABRAHAM LINCOLÍÍ. William H. Sewaed, Seeretary of State. JE3E7 On the even'mg of the I2th inst, a complimentary dinner was given at Syraense, N. Y., to the popular author, Geoege W. Curtís, and nraong the guests present was our friend and fellow-citizen, Frof. A. D. White. After the dinncr had been discussed the "feast of reason" was opened by Prof. White, whointroduced Mr. Cbutis in a epeech such as he always makes, appropriate, well.timed, eloquent. It is thus spoken of by the Sy rae use Journal : "After these topics were all laid off the table, Prof. Andrew D. White, of Michigan Universitj', called op Mr. Curtis in a speech, ■which made U3 tremble for the honors of the Author and Lecturer. For beauty and elegunce of thought and expression, true and friendly appreeiation of the literary labors of the guest of the evening, and delicacy of allusion to bis position in the hearts of the young men of the country, it was, perhaps, the happiest speech for the purpose thfit could be coneeived. The apptanse which followed (cum tuapace, O ! Curtis !) was divided between the sitting and the rising man. Mr. Curtis responded at eome lenglh with a richness and eloquence of thought adapted to the social character of the occasion, that rivalled the glowing pages of the "Howadji," and his periods of unsurpassed elegance in the lecture." jfS" The State Teachers' Instituto held alHudson last vreek, was, notwithstanding the troublous times, vro.ll attended and of more than ordinary interest. The number of teachers in attendancs was 152. The institute at Saline next -week will ■doubtless be equally large. The citizens of Salino are making active preparations to njoy it. féSÜT Before the departuro of tho First Regiment, eaeli officer and private, not before supplied, was presented by the ladies of our City with a beautiful and convenient " Housewife," well stocked with piDs, needies, thread, buttons, and other eonveniences.