NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE Times states that the United States has purchased the Bay of Samana, in St. Domingo, one of the finest harbours in the world, for 130,000, and has agreed to purchase the whole territory of the Dominican Republic-20,000 square miles, the Times says, but there is a serious question of boundary with Hayti—for £300,000. The treaty has not yet been signed, as President Grant is not sure that the Senate will ratify it by the two-thirds vote necessary to the acquisition of new territory, and we would advise any of our readers who may be attracted by St. Domingo bonds to be very sautious indeed. For reasons stated elsewhere, we doubt if the Senate will ratify the treaty, which will infallibly result in the annexation of the whole island, and the addition of nearly a million of coloured persons to the Union, a number which under a regime of order would speedily be increased. The disorder in the Western half of the island seems to increase, and the last President, Salnave, a man of considerable ability, has been shot by order of a military tribunal.
