savoury. They live near lakes and fens. Their wailing noise is referred to, Is. xxxviii. 14; and their migratory habits, Jer. viii. 7. "Where do the cranes or winding swallows go, Fearful of gathering winds or falling snow? Or conscious of the coming evil fly To milder regions and a southern sky?" DROMEDARY. The camel we have already described. This animal is much like it, but is more active and swift, has but one hump on its back, and is used to carry messengers or despatches where haste is required. In Esth. viii. 10, we read that the king's letters were sent by posts who rode on young dromedaries. They will travel over a desert 100 miles a day. CATERPILLAR. This is a species of locust, but distinguished from it in Joel i. 4; ü. 25. APE. This animal is mentioned but twice in the Bible, 1 Kings x. 22; 2 Chron. ix. 21. The fleet of Solomon brought apes from Ophir. They have hands instead of paws, and their ears, lips, and breasts have some resemblance to those of human beings. They can walk nearly upright, and differ from monkeys in having no tail. They are in general mild and gentle, but furious when enraged. In Egypt they are worshipped, and also in many parts of India. MOTH. A winged insect that flies in the night. In its grub state it eats garments, and is of a shining pearl colour, Job. iv. 19; Is. iv. 9; Matt. vi. 19. GNAT. This is also a small winged insect. In the East, liquor was generally strained that no gnat that had fallen into it might remain; hence the allusion, Matt. xxiii. 24. PALMER-WORM. A kind of locust with sharp teeth, with which it gnaws off grass, corn, leaves of trees, and even the bark, Joel i. 4; Amos iv. 9. A PHILOSOPHER'S PRAYER. Kepler, the astronomer, concludes one of his philosophical works with this prayer: "It remains only that I should now lift up to heaven my eyes and hands from the table of my pursuits, and humbly and devoutly supplicate the Father of lights. O thou, who by the light of Nature dost enkindle in us a desire after the light of grace, that by this thou mayest translate us into the light of glory; I give thee thanks, O Lord and Creator! that thou hast gladdened me by thy creation, when I was enraptured by the work of thy hands. Behold, I have here completed a work of my calling, with as much of intellectual strength as thou hast granted me. I have declared the praise of thy works to the men who will read the evidences of it, so far as my finite spirit could comprehend them in their infinity. My mind endeavoured to its utmost to reach the truth by philosophy; but if any thing unworthy of thee has been taught by me a worm born and nourished in sin -do thou teach me, that I may correct it. Have I been seduced into presumption by the admirable beauty of thy works? or have I sought my own glory among men, in the construction of a work designed for thy honour? O, then, graciously and merci fully forgive me; and finally grant me this favour, that this work may never be injurious, but may conduce to thy glory and to the good of souls." CREDULOUS, THOUGH UNBELIEVING. Maillet, an ingenious man, of the age of Louis XV., was too clever a philosopher to believe the Scriptural acccount of Noah's flood. He, however, believed; and wrote a book to diffuse his sentiments, that the whole family of birds had, at one time, existed as fishes; but on being accidentally thrown on shore, had somehow managed to get feathers. He went further. This credulous philosopher taught, that men themselves are but the descendants of a tribe of sea-monsters, that getting tired of their proper element, crawled up the sea-beach, and taking a fancy to terra firma, never returned to the waters, and soon became adapted to live ashore! His philosophy should have taught him that gradation is not progression; that the tall man of six feet has no more chance of rising to twelve feet, than the short man of four feet four; nor is the fish that occasionally darts through the air any more likely to become a bird, than the fish that never for a moment leaves his native waters. A NOBLE SENTIMENT. "Do not be deterred," said the celebrated ichthyologist, Agassiz, to Hugh Miller, who had met in some fossils with an anomaly so strange, that he expressed himself almost afraid to communicate it :"Do not be deterred, if you have examined minutely, by any dread of being deemed extravagant. The possibilities of existence run so deeply into the extravagant, that there is scarcely any conception too extraordinary for Nature to realize." Tows and its dust, its noise, its care, When autumn holds its sway. To court thy parting ray. Naught but the mansions of the great, Windows of gloom and wall of state, The proud inhospitable gate, Whose hinges slowly move- Oft I recall thy social feast; Poetry. Smiles on the sun burnt train; Music, perchance, may tune the reed, And GRACE, the loose-robed damsel, lead Round the tall oak, and verdant mead, Though bred on lowliest plain. How changed the group! A wrangling throng, Jostling with many a curse along, For sultry streets at noon, To see some mortal, plump as wise, Far off the tufted hill, and far Far off the simple scene, SARAH WESLEY. • Pretensions which were actually made some years ago. TO A CHILD, ON HIS SECOND BIRTHDAY. Thou dost not dream, my little one, How great the change must be, These two years, since the morning sun First shed its beams on thee. Thy tiny hands did helpless fall, As with a stranger's fear, And a faint wailing cry was all That met thy mother's ear. But now the dictates of thy will Thy active feet obey, And, pleased, thy busy fingers still Among thy playthings stray; And thy full eyes delight to rove The pictured page along, And lisping to the heart of love, Thy thousand wishes throng. Fair boy-the wanderings of thy way It is not mine to trace, Through buoyant youth's exulting day, Or manhood's bolder race; What discipline thy heart may need, What clouds may veil thy sun, The eye of God alone can read, And let his will be done. Yet might a mother's prayer of love For thee it would not crave; To joys beyond the grave. Oh, be thy wealth an upright heart, Thy strength the sufferer's stay, When earthly changes cease. LYDIA H. SIGOURNEY. Eminent Persons who died in September. September 3.-MARY GODOLPHIN, wife of Mr., afterwards Lord Godolphin, died in 1678, in the 26th year of her age, to the inexpressible affliction, says Evelyn, of her dear husband, and all her relations,-but of none in the world more than of myself, who lost the most excellent and inestimable friend that ever lived. Never was a more virtuous and inviolable friendship; never a more religious, discreet, and admirable creature,-beloved of all, admired of all, for all perfections of her sex. She is gone to receive the reward of her signal charity, and all other her Christian graces. She was for wit, beauty, good-nature, fidelity, discretion, and all accomplishments, a most incomparable creature. How shall I repay the obligations to her for the good offices she did my soul, by so oft engag ing me to make religion the terms and tie of the friendship there was between us? To the poor and miserable her loss was irreparable. As if she foresaw her end, she received the heavenly viaticum the Sunday before, after a most solemn recollection. She put all her domestic concerns into the exactest order, and left a letter directed to her husband, to be opened in case she died, -in which, with the most pathetic and endearing expressions of a most loyal and virtuous wife, she begs his kindness to her memory might be continued by his care and esteem of those she left behind, even to her domestic servants, to the meanest of whom she left considerable legacies, as well as to the poor. It was now seven years since she was maid-of-honour to the Queen. She regarded me as a father, a brother, a friend. We often prayed, visited the sick and miserable, read, discoursed, and communicated in all holy offices, together. She was most dear to my wife, and affectionate to my children. But she is gone! This only is my comfort that she is happy in Christ, and that I shall shortly behold her again! So affected was her husband, that the whole care of her funeral was committed to me. 16.-MARTIN, Bishop of Rome, died 665. For condemning religious opinions held by the Emperor Constans, he was seized by Calliopas, exarch of Ravenna, and carried to Constantinople. His friends wished the Romans to be permitted to arm in his defence; but he declared that "he would rather die ten times, than that any man's blood should be shed on his account." Though in very ill health, he was compelled to make a long and difficult voyage. He was left a year in the Isle of Naxos. During his journey he was denied every convenience, and even the little comforts which his friends sent him. "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain," he was wont to say. When brought before the court of justice, though too weak to stand unsupported, he was compelled to stand while on his trial. When about to speak, he was interrupted, as were the Expelled in 1849, lest he should utter unpalatable truths, his persecutors exclaiming, in the spirit of the saintly President, "We are Christians, and orthodox!" Martin replied, "Would to God you were! But even on this point I shall testify against you on the day of judgment." "I adjure you by our Lord," said he, at an after-stage of the proceedings, "what you conclude to do with me, do quickly; for, God knows, death is the greatest boon you can bestow upon me." After his trial, he was left to pine for three months in a dungeon, from which, March 26th, 655, he was sent as an exile to Chersonesus. Here he suffered from want of the necessaries of life, praising God, who "orders our sufferings according to his wisdom," till death released him,—who, to the close of a period of heavy suffering of body, was persuaded "that the Lord would take care of him, whether under continual suffering, or with occasional relief." 21.-WILLIAM de Kilkenny, Lord Chancellor, died 1256. During the time he held the great seal, a deputation, consisting of the Primate, and the Bishops of Winchester, Salisbury, and Carlisle, came to the King with an address on the frequent violation of their privileges, and the uncanonical and forced elections which were made to vacant ecclesiastical dignities. Lord Chancellor Kilkenny is said to have written the King this celebrated answer: "It is true I have been faulty in this particularI obtruded you, my Lord of Canterbury, on your see. I was obliged to employ both entreaties and menaces, my Lord of Winchester, to have you elected. My proceedings, I confess, were very irregular, my Lords of Salisbury and Carlisle, when I raised you from the lowest stations to your present dignities. I am determined henceforth to correct these abuses; and it will also become you, in order to make a thorough reformation, to resign your present benefices, and try again to become successors of the Apostles, in a more regular and canonical manner." 27.-WILLIAM OF WICKHAM, who was twice Lord Chancellor, died 1404. He was born of poor parents, at the village, in Hants, from which he took his name. He owed his advancement to the native fervour of his genius, and the energy which enabled him to surmount all difficulties. He early showed a taste for architecture; and it was he who furnished the designs for Windsor Castle, such, nearly, as we now behold it. He entered the Church, and in 1366 was elected Bishop of Winchester. The following year, Edward III., with whom Wickham was a great favourite, appointed him Chancellor. He was unfitted to discharge the duties of the chancellorship, and in a few years he was removed from office. 1359, however, he was again appointed Chancellor. During his retirement from office he had rebuilt the cathedral at Winchester. In 1391 Wickham resigned the chancellorship. He was a great lover of learning, and founded Winchester School and New College" at Oxford. Lord In Campbell says: "I have a great kindness for the memory of William of Wickham, when I think of his having produced such Wickhamites as my friends Baron Rolfe (now Lord Cranworth), and Professor Empson." 29. ELEANOR EVELYN died 1635, aged thirty-seven. She was the sole daughter and heiress of John Standsfield, Esq., and mother of John Evelyn, the well-known author of "Sylva." She was, to use the words of her son, of proper personage; of a brown complexion; her eyes and hair of a lovely black; of constitution inclined to a religious melancholy, or pious sadness; of a rare memory, and most exemplary life; for economy and prudence, esteemed one of the most conspicuous in her country. When near her death, she summoned all her children, and expressed herself in a manner so heavenly, with instructions so pious and Christian, as made them strangely sensible of their loss; after which, embrac ing every one of them, she gave to each a ring, with her blessing. Then, taking her husband by the hand, she commended them to his care; and having importuned him, that what he designed to bestow on her funeral he would rather dispose among the poor, she laboured to compose herself for the blessed change which she now expected. There was not a servant in the house whom she did not expressly send for, advise, and affect with her counsel. She endured the sharpest conflict of her sickness with admirable patience and Christian resignation. When near her dissolution, she again laid her hand on every one of her children, took a solemn leave of her husband, and, with elevated heart and eyes, quietly expired, resigning her soul to God. Original Letters. REV. JOHN BURTON TO REV. JOHN WESLEY. Old Palace Yard, Sept. 18, 1735. DEAR SIR,-It was with no small pleasure that I heard your resolution on the point under consideration. I am persuaded that an opportunity is offered for doing much good, in an affair, for the conducting of which we can find but few proper instruments. It is a happy circumstance that you would offer yourselves on this occasion. May your hands be strengthened, and your endeavours prospered. Your undertaking adds greater credit to our proceedings, and the propagation of religion will be the distinguishing honour of our colony. This has ever, in like cases, been the desideratum; a defect seemingly lamented, but scarce ever remedied with greater satisfaction, therefore, we enjoy your readiness to undertake the work. When it is known that good men are thus employed, the pious and charitable will be more encouraged to promote this work. You have too much steadiness of mind, to be disturbed by the light scoffs of the idle and profane. I heard you were to preach before the University on the 21st. You are desired by Mr. Oglethorpe to come hither as soon as you can. Let me, then, presume to point out your way. Suppose, then, you come to my house at Maplederham, by Monday noon, or night; you come through Wallingford,-seven miles beyond, on the river, lies Maplederham. I will attend and convey you from thence to London, and introduce you to our friends; and will be assistant to you as well as I can. If you write an answer by to-morrow's post, your letter will come to me by Sunday's at Maplederham, near Reading. me put a matter to be considered by your brother Charles. Would it not be more advisable that he were in orders? This would easily be attained. My respects and good wishes attend you and yours. JOHN BURTON. Let BERNARD BARTON TO MRS. S. A. ARNOLD. Woodbridge, Jan. 3, 1838. MY DEAR FRIEND,-If all poets were half as liberally recompensed for album verses as I am for the trifle I sent thee, I fear the number, both of albums and contributors to them, would be fearfully multiplied. But it does not very often happen, that the rhyming tributes of versemen are so handsomely acknowledged; so, as I have not much practice in returning thanks on such occasions, thou must make allowance if I do not acquit myself in a first-rate manner. Lucy is not at home, or she would have her thanks to add to my own. I have not been in or near London for several years, nor has Lucy, I think, for these three years or better, and neither of us have any present prospect of such a migration; but I can answer for myself, that should I by any chance travel London-ward, I should have great pleasure in renewing my acquaintance with my old friends, the Smiths, with thyself, and of making that of thy husband. Few things could give me more pleasure than an evening's quiet chat with thy father and mother about old times, and old doings: there was a zest and relish in them, that was worth a good deal more than either the fame or pelf of luckier candidates than I ever stood the chance of being in my authorship. Thy good father has had a better calling, and I rejoice that he has prospered in it, because it has not spoiled him, or made him forgetful of old friends. With kindest regards and best wishes to Mr. Arnold, and you all, I am, thy affectionate friend, BERNARD BARTON. J. SADLER, ESQ., TO MR. A. WATTON. Grimsby, December 7, 1846. MY DEAR ALFRED,- I was very glad to hear that you had given up entirely the use of liquor. I am certain that your animal enjoyments will be far greater by so doing, and it will secure you, in your situation, from a vice that has ruined the majority of those who have been exposed to the temptations you are exposed to; who, after a few years of low sensual enjoyments, have finished their course in misery and ruin. Do not think me a severe task-master if I lay another burden upon you, which is, that I hope you will not be a slave to your appetite in any respect. I know that God wishes us to "eat our meat with gladness and singleness of heart," and it is folly to suppose that any hungry man can be insensible to the pleasure of a good dinner; but do not make eating your chief good; so that if, in the course of Providence, you should be brought into a situation of less profusion and less variety, your comforts would be materially diminished. May God preserve you from the plagues which most people catch who live with the great! We have a preacher who is always talking against Dr. Pusey, but who has got the plague-spot of Popery upon himself. He believes in the wonderful efficiency of ordination, so that when I told him I did not anywise reverence an ungodly man on account of his being ordained,--he told me that that was the language of infidelity. He believes that no man can know Christ, but at the Lord's-table; that there is a wonderful communication of Divine grace given to the infant in the ordinance of baptism; that children before they are born may receive grace,—that John leaped in his mother's womb when visited by the mother of our Lord; that children of religious parents baptized by a true minister, are always pious; that he was ordained to be a minister of Jesus Christ before he was born; and that he would not change situations with Michael the Archangel. He adopts the same law of evidence respecting the prayers of ministers, and says that God will hear their prayers before those of common Christians, however pious; and asks whether it can be conceived but that God will hear his prayers before those of his hearers; and considers the care he has taken of the Church of Christ equal to that he would have done himself. He does not like the name of Wesleyan or Methodist, but insists upon calling us and the new chapel we are building, the Church, and would fain have put Church engraved upon a stone upon it if he could have prevailed. He finds sore fault with the house he occupies,-calls it a dove-cote, and wonders how we could think of putting a gentleman and lady in such a place, though he has no family, and the house has been occupied by Mr. Stephenson, who had a large family, without finding any fault with it. This is Mr. Loutit, bred and born in the Shetland Isles, and far more adapted to be a Romish priest than a Methodist preacher. I am informed that the York Methodists have engaged Mr. Caughey for some public occasions. He is, I understand, to be there at Christmas! What will the men say who voted him out of the kingdom? I never approved of the High Church vote of our Conference. All violent measures, as well as violent motions, are apt to jump off the rails; I might not like all Mr. Caughey says and does in his public ministry, but I do not wish to hinder other people from doing So. If he preaches as temperately, and with as good sense, as he writes, no one with reason can find fault. I do think that our Methodist constitution is getting plethoric, and I hope some of Caughey's pills will do it good. It just occurs to me, what Mr. Loutit said to me about the old travelling preachers -that all their store was a fat horse, a pair of saddle-bags, and a sorry old sermon, which they went about with for a month; and that if I would call upon him, he would show me one of them. I told him I knew better; that there were giants in those days, and I wished we had some of them now. God bless you; give our love to all friends at Tamworth. I am, your very affectionate uncle, JOSEPH SADLER. |