the alphabet, and he came to consult Pharaoh Thamus whether it ought to be made public."

However, be this as it may, the utility of the new invention was very apparent; it diminished to a prodigious extent the difficulty of writing, it shortened the labour of memory, and was capable of expressing all subjects, all ideas, every possible thought, in the utmost variety with which they can affect the mind. The Phoenicians appear to have been the first who obtained a knowledge of this system; they imparted it to the Jews and Arabians, and carried it over to Greece. From that country, it was exported to the several northern islands, and spread over the Continent, until it gradually became diffused over the whole world.

The Chinese alone rejected, and still continue to reject, the invaluable discovery; proud of the antiquity of their social establishment, and believing themselves superior to the rest of mankind, they still adhere to their ancient mode of writing (which approaches somewhat to the Hieroglyphics of Egypt), and afford, to this day, a practical illustration of the old proverb, that " pride and ignorance go hand in

hand."

Thus have we given a faint sketch of the rise and progress of the art of writing, from the first attempts of mankind in picture-writing, down to the discovery and adoption of the alphabet. And in this state, with but little alteration, it still continues. The number of letters, and the mode of delineating them, have varied at different times, and in different nations, but the system remains, and will probably for ever remain the same.

THE DUTCH SHIPMASTER AND THE
RUSSIAN COTTAGER.

THE following interesting anecdote occurs in a German work, lately published, intituled A Picture of St. Petersburgh.

In a little town, five miles from St. Petersburgh, lived a poor German woman. A small cottage was her only possession, and the visits of a few shipmasters, on their way to Petersburgh, her only livelihood. Several Dutch shipmasters having supped at her house one evening, she found, when they were gone, a sealed bag of money under the table. Some one of the company, had no doubt forgotten it, but they had sailed over to Cronstadt, and the wind being fair, there was no chance of their putting back. The good woman put the bag into her cupboard, to keep it till it should be called for. Full seven years, however, elapsed, and no one claimed it; and though often tempted by opportunity, and oftener by want, to make use of the contents, the poor woman's good principles prevailed, and it remained untouched.

One evening, some shipmasters again stopped at her house for refreshment. Three of them were English, the fourth a Dutchman. Conversing on various matters, one of them asked the Dutchman, if he had ever been in that town before. "Indeed, I have," replied he, "I know the place but too well; my being here, cost me once seven hundred rubles." "How so?" Why, in one of these wretched hovels, I once left behind me a bag of rubles." "Was the bag sealed?" asked the old woman, who was sitting in a corner of the room, and whose attention was roused by the subject. 'Yes, yes, it was sealed, and with this very seal, here at my watch chain." The woman knew the seal instantly. "Well, then," said she, "by that you "Recover it, mother! may recover what you have lost."

No, no, I am rather too old to expect that: the world is not quite so honest-besides it is full seven years since I lost the money ;-say no more about it, it always makes me melancholy."

Meanwhile, the good woman slipped out, and presently returned with the bag. "See here," said she, "honesty is not so rare, perhaps, as you imagine" and she threw the bag on the table.

The guests were astonished, and the owner of the bag, as may be supposed, highly delighted. He seized the bag, tore open the seal, took out one ruble (worth 4s. 6d.,

| English money), and laid it on the table for the hostess, thanking her civilly for the trouble she had taken. The three Englishmen were amazed and indignant at so small a reward being offered, and remonstrated warmly with him. The old woman protested she required no recompense for merely doing her duty, and begged the Dutchman to take back even his ruble. But the Englishmen insisted on seeing justice done; "The woman," said they, "has acted nobly, and ought to be rewarded." At length, the Dutchman agreed to part with one hundred rubles; they were counted out, and given to the old woman, who thus, at length, was handsomely rewarded for her honesty. LIFE, AND ITS END.-Remember for what purpose you were born, and through the whole of life look at its end; and consider, when that comes, in what will you put your trust? Not in the bubble of worldly vanity; it will be broken not in worldly pleasures; they will be gone: not in great connexions; they cannot serve you: not in wealth; you cannot carry it with you: not in rank; in the grave there is no distinction: not in the recollection of a life spent in a giddy conformity to the silly fashions of a thoughtless and wicked world; but in that of a life spent soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.BISHOP WATSON.

A CURIOUS anecdote of the Raven is related in the Gentleman's Magazine. He lived many years ago at the Red Lion Inn, Hungerford, and was called Rafe. It is given in the words of a gentleman who lodged at the inn.

Coming into the inn yard," says he, "my chaise ran over and bruised the leg of my Newfoundland dog; and while we were examining the injury, Rafe was evidently a concerned spectator; for, the minute the dog was tied up under the manger with my horse, Rafe not only visited him, but brought him bones, and attended on him with particular and repeated marks of kindness. I observed it to the ostler, who told me that the bird had been brought up with a dog, and that the affection between them was mutual, and all the neighbourhood had been witnesses of their many reciprocal acts of kindness. Rafe's poor dog after a while broke his leg, and during the long time he was confined, Rafe waited on him constantly, carried him his provisions, and scarcely ever left him alone. One night, by accident, the stable door had been shut, and Rafe had been deprived of the company of his friend the whole night; but the ostler found in the morning the door so pecked away, that had it not been opened, in another hour Rafe would have made his own entrance. My landlady confirmed this account, and mentioned several other acts of kindness shown by this bird to all dogs in general, but particularly to maimed or wounded ones.' -HANDCOCK'S Essay on Instinct.

EPITAPH

IN THE CHURCHYARD OF FARNBOROUGH, IN KENT, ON A YOUNG
LADY, WHO DIED AT THE AGE OF SEVENTEEN.
Ar that blest age, when hope, like life, is young,
And the warm feelings start upon the tongue;
When all th' affections, passions, charities,
Glow in the cheek, and sparkle in the eyes;
She left her parents' arms, her sister's side,
And, after years of suffering, calmly died.
The memory of her worth remains behind,
In hearts, not stone, in thoughts, not words, enshrined.
Her loss has left a wound no time can heal,
Which poets cannot paint, but mothers feel.

AMELLUS-LIKE KAULFUSSIA. THIS flower, which, in spite of its ugly name, is beautiful, has been lately introduced from the Cape of Good Hope. It produces seeds very freely; and will, doubtless, be soon as well known as Mignionette and China Asters.

A great number of vegetables have some change of character, either by folding their leaves, closing their flowers, or other mode of protection, during the night, or the continuance of unpropitious weather. The Kaulfussia amelloides, (Amellus-like Kaulfussia,) as shown in our figure, possesses a peculiarity which is, in some degree, contrary to the usual laws of floral protection. In general, such plants as occasionally vary the position of the corolla, close it, more or less, over the centre of the flower, to guard the internal

organs from dew or rain. But this plant, at night, or in overcast weather, has its petals rolled back, apparently for their own protection, leaving the centre, or parts of fructification, wholly exposed.

The Amellus-like Kaulfussia.

WEDNESDAY, 13th.

565 Belisarius, the celebrated Roman general, died. 1634 The French Academy founded by a royal decree. Its principal object was to keep up the purity and perfection of the French language.

1695 Jean de la Fontaine, the French poet, author of the Fables, died in his seventy-fifth year.

1757 Thomas Herring, D.D., archbishop of Canterbury, died at Croydon. He had been previously bishop of Rochester and archbishop of York.

1781 A new planet discovered by Dr. Herschell, which he named, in compliment to his royal patron, King George III., the Georgium Sidus.

1808 Died, Christian VIII., king of Denmark.

THURSDAY, 14th.

1757 Admiral Byng shot at Portsmouth, pursuant to the sentence of a Court Martial. He had previously given numerous proofs of courage, and met his death with the greatest resolution and composure. The justice of his sentence was loudly impeached at the time; and even several members of the court which had recommended him to mercy, made great, but ineffectual, attempts to save him, when it became evident that the capital punishment, which the strict Articles of War imposed upon him "for not doing his utmost," would be carried into effect. 1795 French fleet defeated by Admiral Hotham, and two sail of the line taken. 1803 Frederick Klopstock, author of The Messiah and other poems, died at Hamburg, aged 80, leaving behind him, not only the reputation of a truly sublime poet, but, what is much better, that of an amiable and pious man. His remains were honoured with a solemn funeral, such as Germany had never before witnessed for any man of letters.

above the water.

The ancient botanists also have recorded their observations on this subject; for Theophrastus, more than 300 years before the birth of our Saviour, wrote to the same effect, respecting the Egyptian Lotus; and further observes, that "It is reported that in the Euphrates, the head and flowers keep sinking till midnight, when they are so deep in the water as to be out of the reach of the hand, but towards morning they return, and still more as the day advances. At sunrise they are already above the surface, with the flower expanded; afterwards they rise high above the water."

We have raised the Kaulfussia amelloides by sowing seeds in pots of light soil, put into a hotbed. When the young plants came up they were thinned; and in May, the contents of the pots were transferred to the borders, without breaking the balls of mould. It is not in any degree tender; and will succeed equally well, when sown in the borders; and, as it is an early flowerer, forcing becomes less important. -MAUND'S Botanic Garden.

ANNIVERSARIES IN MARCH.
MONDAY, 11th.

1544 Torquato Tasso, the Italian epic poet, born at Sorrento.

TUESDAY, 12th.

Gregory the Great, born at Rome about 540, and became bishop of that city 590. He sent St. Augustine, with forty other missionaries, to preach the Gospel in England; where his festival was afterwards kept by decree of the Council of Oxford. St. Gregory was an ardent advocate for clerical celibacy, and the restorer of the ancient Missal. He died A.D. 604.

1682 Chelsea Hospital, for the support of superannuated and disabled soldiers, founded.

1689 King James II. landed at Kingsale, in Ireland, to attempt the recovery of the kingdoms he had abdicated.

1712 Queen Anne announced in the London Gazette her intention to touch patients afflicted with the Evil. This is the last time that any of our sovereigns have offered to exercise this imaginary power; but in 1745, the Pretender touched several patients so afflicted, in Edinburgh; with what effect may be easily imagined.

1713 The first number of the Guardian periodical paper published by Sir Richard Steele.

1800 Royal Institution opened,

1808 Dr, G, Gregory died,

1824

The Rev. Dr. Thomas Francklin, rector of Brasted, in Kent, and translator of Phalaris, Sophocles, and Lucan, died. He was also author of two original tragedies; The Earl of War wick and Matilda.

The first pile of the New London Bridge driven.

nicle, died.

SATURDAY, 16th.

1532 Tord Berners, the translator into English of Froissart's Chro1792 Gustavus 111., king of Sweden, was shot, at a masked-ball, by an assassin named Ankerström; of which wound he languished 1794 The island of Martinique taken by the British. until the 29th, when he died.

SUNDAY, 17th.

MIDLENT SUNDAY.-So called because it is the fourth or middle Sunday between Quadragesima (the first Sunday in Lent) and Loaves, the Sunday of Bread, and Refection, or Refreshment SunEaster Sunday. It was also formerly called the Sunday of the Five day, in allusion to the Gospel of the day, which treats of our Saviour's miracle of feeding the five thousand. The common or vulgar arising from an ancient usage, which prevailed on it of visiting the appellation which this day still retains, is that of Mothering Sunday, mother churches of the several dioceses, and making voluntary offerings at the altar, then called Quadragesimal Pennies. The 17th of March is also the anniversary of ST. PATRICK, the patron saint of Ireland, who, from the eminent services he rendered the inhabitants of that country, by rescuing them from the darkness of nian Church. Very little is known of his real history, though we idolatry, is called the Archbishop, Apostle, and Father of the Hiberhave fables in abundance. It is said that after studying thirty-five years under St. Martin, bishop of Tours, and St. German, bishop of Arles, he was consecrated a bishop by Pope Celestine, who changed his name to Patrick. He landed in Ireland, according to some accounts, in 432, or, according to others, in 441, founded the archbishopric of Armagh in 472, and died 17th March, 493, in his 120th year. St. Patrick's Day is kept throughout Ireland, and by the natives of that country in whatever part of the world they may be residing, with the utmost hilarity; which, among the higher classes, i rendered subservient to the sacred cause of charity. On this day, almost every Irishman wears in his hat the emblem of his country and its patron saint, the shamrock, or trefoil-grass, from the three conjoined leaves of which St. Patrick is said to have illustrated and enforced upon their pagan ancestors the sacred doctrine of the Trinity.

180 Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, emperor of Rome, died. 1640 Philip Massinger, the dramatic poet, died. 1714 Died, the celebrated prelate and historian, Gilbert Burnet, bi shop of Salisbury, author of the History of the Reformation of the Church of England.

1783 The order of knighthood, called The Order of St. Patrick, established by King George III.

1800 H. M.ship Queen Charlotte, of 110 guns, bearing the flag of Lord Keith, took fire at sea off the port of Leghorn, in Italy, and blew up. Lord Keith was on shore at the time; but the acting commander, Captain Todd, and upwards of 800 of the crew perished by the explosion or by drowning.

1828 Sir James Edward Smith, author of several valuable works on natural history and botany, and first president of the Linnæan Society, died in his native city, Norwich.

II. THE HOUSE OF LORDS THE House of Peers, or Upper House of Parliament, uses for its room of assembly, like the House of Commons, one of the remaining apartments of the old Palace of Westminster. The room in which it now meets has only been appropriated to that purpose since the year 1801, when the addition of the Irish representative Peers and Bishops imposed upon their Lordships the necessity of removing from an apartment which had long become inconveniently small for their increased and increasing numbers. The same inconvenience is felt in the present House of Peers; and, if a full attendance of the members were compelled, additional accommodation would be required.

The House of Peers is an oblong room, somewhat smaller than the House of Commons, having the King's Throne at the upper end, and at the lower end lofty folding-doors, by which the Commons are admitted: about one fourth of the room at the lower end, is divided off by a partition, nearly breast-high, called "the Bar," below which, in the engraving, are seen two barristers and a reporter. VOL. II.

In the centre of the upper end of the House, stands the King's Throne, a magnificent chair of state and canopy, which was erected for the occasion of His late Majesty King George the Fourth opening, in person, the first Parliament of his reign. Next to the throne, proceeding down the House, is a seat called the woolsack placed across the House, and covered with scarlet cloth, on which the Lord Chancellor, or the Lord Speaker sits, when the King is not present; next to this are two other woolsacks, placed lengthways of the House, on which are the seats of the Judges when they attend, either on occasion of the King's being present, or their being summoned to give their opinions to the House on points of law; and also the seats of two Masters in Chancery, who are in constant attendance, being the messengers from the Lords to the Commons. Next below the woolsacks, is the "Table," at which the Clerks of the Parliament sit, and on which are laid all Bills, petitions, and other papers. Between the Table and the Bar, are several rows of benches, with raised backs, and covered with scarlet cloth for the Peers. Along the sides of the House, from the Bar to the foot of the

45

Throne, a similar rows of benches, rising one above anothe. The upper end of the lowest of these benes on the right hand, looking from the throne, appropriated to the Bishops, and the correspondent bench on the other side to Dukes: other benches are also called the Marquesses', Earls', Viscounts', and Barons' benches; but, except on the occasion of a new Peer being introduced into the House for the first time, when he is carefully placed on the very seat belonging to his rank, there is no attention paid to place or precedence in the selection of a seat. The side-walls of the house are covered with ancient tapestry, representing the triumph of the English Fleet over the Spanish Armada. The several pieces of the tapestry are set in broad and massive frames of wainscot-wood, and surrounded with medallions representing the principal officers who distinguished themselves on that glorious occasion. This tapestry was designed by an artist named Cornelius Vroom, and executed by Francis Spiering, for the Earl of Nottingham, who was Lord High-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief of the English fleet, at a cost of 16287. sterling. The Earl of Nottingham sold it to King James the First. The whole floor is covered with plain matting; the house is lighted by day, from the windows visible in the engraving, and at night, by chandeliers and some elegant bronze sconces.

At the upper end of the House are two doors, one on each side of the throne; that on the right hand, is the one by which the King enters when he comes down to open or prorogue the Session of Parliament; that on the left is for the entry of Peers. On the left-hand side of the House, immediately below the bar, is another door, for counsel, agents, witnesses, and other persons who may have occasion to attend the house. Immediately above this door, is a small space, railed off for the accommodation of the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, the principal officer of the House: it has curtains to draw round it, as may be seen in the engraving, and on the occasion of very interesting debates, serves, like the space above the ventilator of the House of Commons, to accommodate and conceal ladies, whose presence at its deliberations, the standing orders of the House strictly forbid.

When the House is in its usual sittings, all the space behind the Lord Chancellor's Woolsack, is deemed out of the House; and is open to peers' sons, and members of the House of Commons. For the general accommodation of the public who may wish to hear the debates, there is the space below the Bar; to which, within the last few years, has been added a gallery along the lower end of the House, for admission to either of which, a peer's order is necessary. Immediately behind the upper-end of the House of Lords is a room, called the "Prince's Chamber," in which is a curious piece of old tapestry, representing the birth of Queen Elizabeth. In this room the King, when he comes in state to meet his Parliament, puts on his royal robes and crown, from whence it is also called the "Robing Room." Having so done, he enters the House by the door on the right hand, and takes his seat on the throne, surrounded by the great Officers of State; the Cap of Maintenance is borne on his right hand, and the Sword of State on his left: and, a little advanced in front, and on the right, stands the Lord High Chancellor. The King being seated, the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod is sent to summon the House of Commons, who, in a few minutes, enter, headed by their Speaker, through the great folding doors at the bottom of the House, and advance to

the Bar, making three reverences; the Speaker stands at the centre of the Bar, with his Mace laid on the Bar before him. His Majesty then reads his Speech, after hearing which the Commons retire, as immediately after does the King, attended by his suite.

When the King visits the House of Lords, ladies are permitted to be present, having tickets of admission for that purpose from Peers. From the great increase of the Peerage these admissions have become so numerous, that the whole body of the House, of late years, has been nearly filled to crowding, with ladies only, and very few Peers, except those immediately about the royal person, are to be seen. The display of beauty, and splendid magnificence of dress, which the Upper House of Parliament can then boast of, must be witnessed to be imagined.

As the House of Commons is an elective, so the House of Peers is an hereditary body. It is the prerogative of the King alone to elevate a person originally to a seat in the House; but, once there, nothing short of high-treason can deprive him, or his legitimate successors in the dignity, of that seat. The Peerage is divided into five orders; Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts, and Barons: they all wear robes of scarlet cloth, lined with white satin, on which their several ranks are designated by an appointed number of stripes of gold lace and ermine, or plain white fur, on the right breast and shoulder. These robes, however, are not worn, except when the King is present, when the royal assent is given to Acts of Parliament by commission, (on which occasion the commissioners only are robed,) and when a new Peer is introduced into the House for the first time, on which occasion the Lords concerned in the ceremony wear their robes. The Peers never wear their coronets but at a coronation.

The usual time for the House assembling for public and political business is four o'clock; but the hearing appeals, and other judicial business is transacted in the earlier part of the day. Three Peers are sufficient to constitute a house; and, before any business is entered upon, suitable prayers are read by a Bishop, during which the doors are closed.

The progress and stages of a Bill in the House of Lords are the same as in the Lower House, except that a Peer may introduce a Bill without obtaining leave. Unlike the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Lord High Chancellor (being a Peer of the Realm) is at liberty to address the House on any subject that may be before it; on such occasions, however, he quits the Woolsack for the time, and speaks from his place as a Peer.

When a Bill has passed through all its stages in both House of Parliament, it still requires the Royal Assent, to give it the force of a law; this is always given in the House of Peers; occasionally, but very rarely, by the King in person, generally by Commissioners appointed under the Great Seal for that purpose. The commission is directed to the Great Officers of State, and all the Peers who are Privy Councillors; three to form a quorum. Of this three, the Lord Chancellor is always one, and the other two, generally, one of his Majesty's Ministers and the Chairman of the Committees. The Commissioners having taken their seats, robed, and with their hats on, upon a bench immediately before the Throne, the Commons are summoned to attend; the Commission is then read, and afterwards the titles of the Acts, to each of which the Royal Assent is signified by the Clerk of the Crown, in words of Norman French, varying according to the nature of the Bill. To a Private Bill, the form is, Soit fait comme il est desiré; Let it be as is desired:-to a Public Bill, Le Rai le veut;

The King wills it, or consents to it:-to a Money Bill, the answer is longer, containing expressions of obligation, as well as mere words of consent, Le Roi remercie ses bons sujets, accepte leur benevolence, et ainsi le veut; The King thanks his good subjects, accepts their benevolence, and also wills it. The form of refusal, now so totally obsolete, that it is to be found only in history and the old records of long-past Parliaments, delicately avoided the direct expression of a negative, by the milder phrase, Le Roi s'avisera; The King will consider of it.

The Peers of the United Kingdom enjoy many great privileges; the principal of which, however, are, total exemption from personal arrest in any civil proceeding; and the right of being tried on any criminal charge by their Peers alone, who give their verdict, not upon oath, but upon their honour. All impeachments of high crimes and misdemeanours brought by the House of Commons, are also tried before the House of Lords. On these occasions, the place of trial is not the House itself, but Westminster Hall, fitted up for the purpose.

ANECDOTE OF THE PRESENT KING OF PRUSSIA. NEAR Potsdam, in the reign of Frederick the Great, was a mill which interfered with the view from the windows of Sans Souci. Annoyed by this eye-sore to his favourite residence, the King sent to inquire the price for which the mill would be sold by its owner. "For no price," was the reply of the sturdy Prussian; and in a moment of anger Frederick gave orders that the mill should be pulled down. "The King may do this," said the miller, quietly folding his arms, "but there are laws in Prussia ;" and forthwith he commenced proceedings against the Monarch, the result of which was that the Court sentenced Frederick to rebuild the mill, and to pay besides a large sum of money as compensation for the injury which he had done. The King was mortified, but had the magnanimity to say, addressing himself to his courtiers, "I am glad to find that just laws and upright judges exist in my kingdom." The above anecdote is well known to every reader of Prussian history, but it is necessary to be related here as an introduction to that which follows:-About three years ago the present head of the honest miller's family (his name is Frank,) who had in due course of time succeeded to the hereditary possession of his little estate, finding himself, after a long struggle with losses occasioned by that war which brought ruin into many a house besides his own, involved in pecuniary difficulties that had become insurmountable, wrote to the present King of Prussia, reminding him of the refusal experienced by Frederick the Great at the hands of his ancestor, and stating that, if his Majesty now entertained a similar desire to obtain possession of the property, it would be very agreeable to him, in his present embarrased circumstances, to sell the mill. The King wrote immediately, with his own hand, the following reply:

"My dear Neighbour-I cannot allow you to sell the mill; it must remain in your possession as long as one member of your family exists; for it belongs to the history of Prussia. I lament, however, to hear that you are in circumstances of embarrassment; and I therefore send yon 6,000 dollars (about 1,000l. sterling) to arrange your affairs, in the hope that this sum will be sufficient for the purpose.

66

"Consider me always your affectionate neighbour, FREDERICK WILLIAM." TRUTH.-Petrarch, a celebrated Italian poet, who flourished above 400 years ago, recommended himself to the confidence and affection of Cardinal Colonna, in whose family he resided, by his candour and strict regard to truth. A violent quarrel occurred in the household of this nobleman, which was carried so far, that recourse was had to arms: the cardinal wished to know the foundation of this affair; and that he might be able to decide with justice, he assembled all his people, and obliged them to bind themselves, by a most solemn oath on the Gospels, to declare the whole truth. Every one, without exception, submitted to this determination; even the Bishop of Luna, brother to the cardinal, was not excused. Petrarch, in his turn, presenting himself to take the oath, the cardinal closed the book, and said, “As to you, Petrarch, your word is sufficient."

TRUE HUMILITY.

TRUE humility, while it brings to light our own sins, is ever sure to cover a multitude of the sins of

others.

The man who is the most sensible of his own

failings, will always be heard to talk the least of the failings of others. It is the proud man, the proud professor of the Gospel, who is the reviling man, the censorious professor.

Pride takes a pleasure in bringing to light the infirmities of others, that itself may be exalted; while humility delights in contemplating their excellencies, that it may be laid by them still lower in its own esteem, and be led to imitate their graces.

The reason why we are censorious and hardhearted is simply this, we have not the Spirit of Christ, and are none of his. Never let us deem ourselves Christians, till we bear some resemblance to our meek, lowly, and compassionate Master. The religion which he puts into the heart of his followers, softens the character, sweetens the temper, and enlivens all the tender affections of the soul, and fills it with kindness, and with love.-BRADLEY's Sermons. WHAT shall we do, when our favours are requited with ingratitude? Repeat them, though they should seem so be repeated in vain. Let us persevere in our kindness, even when it may appear to be thrown away. There is no reason why a crowd of ungrateful receivers should make us unwilling to deserve their gratitude. Let us persevere in showing kindness, even after we despair of meeting with a grateful return. Cease not from well-doing, but pursue the undeviating course of the just.—SENECA. PASSIONS are the gales of life; it should be our care to see that they rise not into a tempest. CHARLES the Second, hearing the celebrated Vossius, a freethinker, repeating some incredible stories of the Chinese, turning to those about him, said, "This learned divine is a very strange man; he believes every thing but the Bible." -ADDISON.

"In all time of our tribulation, in all time of our wealth, in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment; "GOOD LORD DELIVER US."--Litany IN the dark season of distress,

In sickness, want, or woe;
If friends desert, or foes oppress,
Or trouble lay me low:
If 'reft of those I fondly love,
From earthly ills I flee,

To seek sweet comfort from above,
Good Lord deliver me.

If wealth be mine, from all the snares
Which riches with them bring,
Oppression, avarice, worldly cares,
Ambition's goading sting;

From pride, and from that worst offence,
Forgetfulness of Thee,

Whose hand that wealth did first dispense,
Good Lord deliver me.

When on the bed of death, a prey,
To gloomy thoughts I lie,

Or worn by slow disease away,
Or rack'd with agony;

Stung with remorse for what hath been,
And dreading what may be,
When death hath closed this mortal scene;
Good Lord deliver me.

And oh in that appalling hour,

When clouds around thee spread,
Thou comest array'd in pomp and power,
To judge both quick and dead;
When trembling, shrinking from thy face,
Thy servant thou shalt see,

A suppliant at the bar of grace,
Good Lord deliver me !-

-J. L.