chief feature is the gradual increase of melancholy interest, as the story proceeds, producing on the mind of the reader a deeper and deeper conviction, that in too many cases in actual life the effect of the abuse of strong drinks is really "worse than death." The character of Leonardo seems to be beautifully manifested in contrast to the weak and vicious lives of those with whom he is associated. We have only space for a single short quotation, which, though not particularly original, has certainly a power and force of its own which the honest enunciation of any undoubted truth, when clearly set forth, must always possess. "No, George,' said Mr. Maitland, solemnly, all my life have I openly set myself against the sin of drunkenness, and I will not countenance it now. James acted in defiance of my warnings, and must take the consequences.' "I do not defend him,' said George, 'but it seems hard that he should lose his situation for so common a fault as that of taking a little too much.' "A common fault!' exclaimed Mr. Maitland, kindling into energy. And is it not because it is a common fault that we ought to set ourselves against it? What crimes ought Christians to denounce, if not that which brings a responsible being down to the level of the brute, makes him add other crimes to the one he has committed already, and even causes some to rush unsummoned into the presence of Him who has declared that no drunkard will inherit the kingdom of heaven ?" " Those who look for anything highly "sensational" in this tale will be disappointed; but on that very account we think it is the more likely to be practically useful. We commend it specially to the notice of all who advocate the cause of total-abstinence. "It is a delight to have gifts made to you by those whom you esteem and love, because then such gifts are merely to be considered as fringes to the garment-as inconsiderable additions to the mighty treasure of their affection, adding a grace, but no additional value, to what before was precious, and proceeding as naturally out of that as leaves burgeon out upon the trees; but you feel it to be different when there is no regard for the giver to idealise the gift,-when it simply takes its stand among your property, as so much money's value." Mrs. Gaskell. STORM. THUNDER, lightning, Cosy, laughing God of blessings And in saving Her from death, Mercy, striving, Gains a wreath. WHO CAN TELL? HENRI WHAT the sorrows each of us must bear- What the hopes with all our future blending, What temptations silently withstood, What the yearnings for the pure and good, What the passions of each darker mood, Who can tell? Christ only to each thought can enter in; He knew our sorrows, suffered for our sin; Each strife for good, each victory we win, He can tell! yes, Christ can tell! STONEY. MONTE VIDEO, AND BEEF AT THREEPENCE A POUND. THE fair city of Monte Video, capital | above 120 miles across, although this of the Banda Oriental del Uruguay, has capital is about 100 miles from the ocean. recently attracted much attention, and Yet even near Monte Video, after the from three several and very opposite not too salt for drinking; indeed, when prevalence of certain winds, the water is causes. The principal, though not the off the point, were it not for this freshness, only port of departure for the cheap food the stranger could hardly tell he is not. respecting which during the last three still at sea instead of in the river, so months so much has been said and written, immense is it. In front of the city is a and from which so much is expected, erected, and higher up a revolving light hill (El Cerro), upon which a fortress is its name will always be inseparably asso- gives notice to the navigator of the proxiciated with the introduction of South mity of a secure and hospitable harbour. American beef into this country; the loss In 1723 the Portuguese fortified the place of a noble ship, the "Bombay," and a where now stands this capital, but were large portion of her gallant crew within Buenos Ayres, Don Bruno Mauricio de obliged to abandon it by the governor of her harbour, will cause the mention of Zabala. Three years afterwards the city Monte Video to recall the recollection of a was laid out, and called San Felipe and national misfortune, and a tear to fall or Santiago de Monte Video, a name which a sigh to be raised in many a home. it still preserves. In 1751 a lieutenantHer own sorrows, however, have in-governor was appointed to the city, which until then was in charge of the military duced us to give this passing notice and commanders who administered the governillustration. ment of Buenos Ayres. The parish church was erected in 1790, and consecrated in 1804. In after years, since 1807, this. coveted city was occupied alternately by English, Spanish, Portuguese and Brazilian troops. Again a prey to those hostile factions whose evil passions alone prevent these southern regions from being a "Blessing and a glory upon earth," it is feared that before the arrival of the next mails from the River Plate the famed city may be laid in ashes by an aggressive and unscrupulous foe. We, therefore give a brief description, hoping that even at the last moment the forbearance of the conquerors or the interference of more enlightened and humane powers may save the subject of our sketch for further description. Monte Video, the capital of the Republic of Uruguay, commonly called the Banda Oriental (eastern shore or banks), is well built, and presents a most picturesque appearance. Standing on a neck of land, its sides are bathed by the waters of the majestic River Plate, the river being here The port of Monte Video is extensive and secure, and has no equal in this latitude. It can shelter more than 500 vessels of all sizes. Monte Video, on the whole, with its temples and theatres, commodious quays and fine custom-house, amply-provided markets and well-paved streets, lighted with gas, and adorned with numerous public buildings and monuments, is a fine city-the centre, at the present time, of an active commerceand a large population. The rest of this department, with its farmhouses and beautiful country-seats, many of which belong to foreigners, may be called a garden, in which are found the fruits of all countries, many of them improved in size and flavour. It is situated on the left margin of the River Plate, between the parallels 30 and 35 degrees south. It contains a popula tion of about fifty thousand; and, if we except an isolated instance of a bilious fever, which broke out in 1857, epidemics are completely unknown. The society of the place is extremely agreeable, and the best families seem to vie with each other in extending their hospitality to the respectable foreigner. An enlightened government, ruling its actions by a free constitution, sees with pleasure the rapid influx of foreign immigration, under the conviction that therein lies the whole secret of the State's future importance. To the furtherance of this end, no port dues are collected on foreign vessels entering the harbour; and immigrants' furniture, tools, and agricultural implements, as well as all raw materials which can be manipulated in the country, are admitted free of duty. Altogether this is a most enviable field for immigration. The beautiful climate, the rich quality of the soil, the abundance of cereals of all kinds, the facility with which all the fruits of Southern Europe are brought to perfection, and, above all, the splendid results for the employment of capital which are offered by cattle and sheep breeding, hold out inducements to European emigrants and capitalists not to be equalled on the face of the globe. It is but a few years since wheat-growing was introduced here, and now a fair average crop produces much more than suffices for the internal consumption." Already large quantities are exported to Brazil and Buenos Ayres. Besides the innumerable mills moved by wind and horse-power, there are in the vicinity of Monte Video four steam flour-mills of large dimensions. The departments of Monte Video and Canelones, and small portions of those of Maldonado and San José, are devoted to wheat-growing and general agriculture, but the remainder of the Banda Oriental consists of the most splendid pasturelands that nature can produce. Snow never falls, and in what in Europe is depth of winter, the whole extent of the Republic is covered with an extreme luxuriance of grass, capable of furnishing food for a thousand times the number of animals that now graze upon it. Droughts are unusual, and their seve rity is mitigated by the very undulating nature of the country, as in every hollow is found a watercourse, which is never dried up by the most scorching sun of summer. Even should the stream cease to run, deep pools are found at every hundred yards, which keep up a constant supply of cool, fresh water for the use of flocks and herds. Besides the continual supply from springs, and from the rainwater that finds its way into these hollows, the country is everywhere intersected by rivers of considerable magnitude, some of which find their source in the Brazilian empire, and are fed in the whole length of their course till they fall into the rivers Uruguay and La Plata by the innumerable rivulets above men tioned, which carry fertility through the whole length and breadth of the land. With this preliminary sketch of one of the districts to which we must look for a supply of our cheap food, we follow our article of last month. 66 "How the people can be most abun dantly, nourishingly, and economically fed," is a problem, to the solution of which the chief efforts of our statesmen and philanthropists should be devoted. This question being satisfactorily answered, the task of the schoolmaster would be made easier, the labour of the preacher lightened, and the stern duties of the magistracy rendered less painful. It is, we believe, an admitted fact, that in Great Britain, our great emigrations notwithstanding, there is a daily increase in the number of mouths to feed, and this in the face of a diminishing meatproducing power, and, consequently, a constantly-rising market. Surely, then, if there be a subject which may fairly claim all the aid that science, statesmanship, and philanthropy can give, the supply of food to a crowded population like our own, many, alas! too many, over-worked and under-fed, may be accounted one. We have here a field in which all may labour, irrespective of creeds-political or theological-a field made common to us all by reason of our common wants, our common humanity. While the portals of our workhouses are crowded with the hungry and desti |